closed | it's trespassing as long as the door's unlocked

[elevelvetor]

WHO: Elizabeth & Goro; later on, Pharos
WHERE: Ryoji's old apartment; later on, a park by the elementary school
WHEN: September 5th, night; later on, September 7th, day
WHAT: A little investigation for their first case.
WARNINGS: n/a

Comments

9/5

[elevelvetor]

[ Nighttime is the absolute perfect time to sneak into places... as long as they're abandoned. And the apartment belonging to the deceased is certainly abandoned. Goro might have his reservations about all of this—after all, this is still technically breaking the law, and the law has an inarguable presence with the yellow police tape decorating the outside of the place and laid across the door—but it doesn't matter.

They were asked to find an answer to why Ryoji Mochizuki's still online despite being dead, and learning about him is a good first step. Elizabeth already has a vague idea of him herself—she chatted a little with others at his cremation and learned a few things—but none of it's particularly relevant to the matter at hand.

She's turning to Goro after studying the door and its DO NOT CROSS orders, gesturing to it slightly. ]

If we're careful enough lifting these off, do you suppose it'd be possible to put them back up once we're done looking around?

[twostringsonebow]

[He... has serious reservations about this, but it wasn't as if there was any other way to collect info on someone dead besides interviews, and there's a certain amount of bias that goes with that. No, to stand before a place Ryoji Mochizuki and his mother had called home and to go in expecting nothing, inspecting everything, was something that the detectives he admired so had practiced themselves.

And not all of them followed the law to the letter anyway. Goro exhales softly, pushing his thoughts aside and studies the tape.]

I think our best bet would be to remove as little as possible, but in a manner that will allow us both a more or less clean entry. That way we need only to keep the tape on our person until we can dispose of it and it won't be noticeable to someone who isn't looking.

Or we find a different way in, which we may have to end up doing if it's locked.

[Let's pick our crucial points, Liz.]

[elevelvetor]

[ Locked... Elizabeth reaches between some to press her hand against the knob and turn it. It opens easily, which gives her pause, and she draws away. ]

How fortunate for us that it wasn't locked. [ Fortunate's a word for it. Suspicious is another, but she's not going to bother with that train of thought; they were probably just thoughtless. ] Removing as little as possible it is.

[twostringsonebow]

[... They have their different words. She has fortunate, he has suspicious; regardless, he helps her pick out the few and take them down, then holds what tape is left up gingerly to allow her to pass through first. He'll follow and shut the door after them.

It's always an odd feeling, being in someone else's house. Quiet. Apprehensive. It's someplace you're just visiting, and while Goro prefers to have the owner with him... he finds it's the same even without. Thank goodness phones have flashlight features now.]

While we can turn back now, I don't think either of us have any intention to... Shall we begin?

[elevelvetor]

[ Thank goodness indeed. She taps through her phone and puts her on, swiveling it in the darkness carefully. It's... an ordinary apartment. She doesn't know what she expected.

After a moment, she'll kneels to take her heeled boots off, leaving them unzipped when she sets them aside. Better to not track in any errant dirt. And... then she's off, slowly traveling down the short hallway to the living room as she calls softly over her shoulder. ]

Take your shoes off, Akechi.

[ There's pictures on the wall, of Ryoji and his mother... Precious. There's a few in the living room too, and Goro'll find her peering at one closer to the kitchenette when he follows her. He was cute as a kid floats over her head in a lazy, fluffy cloud. ]

[twostringsonebow]

[He's already slipping them off, too used to doing it in his own home, and mutters something beneath his breath. Trots after her dutifully, flashing around his own phone and noting the pictures. It's... no different than his own home, honestly. Pictures of mother and son scattered about.

... Did Ryoji not have a father either? He really was cute as a kid, that's a fact, but it feels a little weird to see such charmingly happy photos and knowing they belong to a dead line.]

Should we split up and cover more ground?

[elevelvetor]

[ There's probably one at least with his dad, but Ryoji would look really young because I snooped on his app and read he wasn't around much and died when Ryoji was a child with him... ]

Excellent idea. [ A beat. ] I'm aware we've come this far, but poking our noses into their bedrooms would feel a little disrespectful, so don't pry too much if you end up in one.

[twostringsonebow]

[MORE THAN HIM...]

The same to you, Miss Velveteen. I'd like to feel as guilt free as I can once this is through.

[Off we go! Not specifically to look for bedrooms, but. Well. There are only so many rooms to an apartment. For the most part, it seems to be a normal house, if disquieting due to the nature of their visit. It's odd to learn about someone post mortem...]

[elevelvetor]

[ NO, SAME... ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TREE, ACTUALLY.

It is a bit odd still, even for her—whose extended family is so, well, extensive, the ones she hasn't met usually get this treatment of not learning too much about them until after they've passed on (or have left the family's sphere of influence, which might as well be the same thing). And this apartment is... very normal, yes, from what she understands normal to be for people who aren't her.

Unsurprising, too. She just gives a quick glance around any bedrooms before situating herself against the wall to wait—she's not the sleuth here really, she's just the Madame President. She can piece together a decent idea of them though—ordinary, sentimental, likely on good terms. His mother must've had to work rather hard if it was just her and her son living here, too... Minako was very close to both of them, so she wouldn't be surprised if she found a picture of the three of them somewhere around here too—Ryoji probably has letters from her somewhere as well? That's a level of search she's not interested in getting into though...

Yipes, actually. What would Minako think of she knew they were sneaking around here...? It's probably best not to think about it. ]

[twostringsonebow]

[Goro lingers uncertainly for a moment, then exhales and presumes an air of business, starting with the first floor more thoroughly; he barely takes note of Elizabeth as he passes, studying the family photos once more and stepping through the different rooms. Everything is so still. So quiet. Untouched, it feels, since the last day either of them last slept here. He imagines the remnants of sudden explosions the same way, Recolle's very own Chernobyl, imprinted on as firmly as the haunting shadows of Hiroshima.

Miss Mochizuki was a teacher, if he remembered his brief research right. The clues point to something of that as well, with research papers and books cluttering one room. Goro hesitates at the laptop, then draws away; that would be too far. They're investigating her son. The few papers he reads he wishes he could linger on (cosmology itself is a fascinating subject, he makes a mental note to look into what articles she may have written in regards to her chosen passion) and treads on, entering what's certainly her bedroom.

I shouldn't be in here, loud and bright as his flashlight. This has no bearing on our investigation.

And yet Goro continues, taking note of the pill box and takes a picture of it just in case. The medicine too. The room is mostly safe from him, frankly speaking, because he'd rather Elizabeth deal with looking into a woman's dressers than doing it himself.

... Which she won't do, because she has a sense of decency.

He doubles back to take a few pictures of the papers and books as well, swearing to delete the former once they had found an answer.]

I'm going upstairs now. Um... I won't be much longer, probably.

[Probably. If he took his dear sweet time with Miss Mochizuki, then Ryoji's room is going to be something else entirely.

... Or so one'd think, but it's so empty. There's boxes laying about, none of them sealed, and a quick look through them proves they're nothing that important. The laptop is, though, but it's quite plainly sealed away. He chews on his lip thoughtfully. Wonders if it'd be alright to take it. Decides no, once again too far, and drops down the stairs with a sigh.]

There's things I would've liked to look into, but I'm too much a gentleman to do so. [Not that it stopped Holmes or Lupin. But they're fictional and this is some kind of reality, and there's real consequences to doing things like that.] What's your perspective of them, Miss Velveteen? As a base line, essentially.

[elevelvetor]

[ She won't begrudge him taking his time; there's not even any thought bubbles pertaining to it. After all, this is his element—he's their head detective. She's in no position to ask him to speed up an investigation.

Even if he's the one who'd been so flustered about it being against the law. Elizabeth looks up from her phone as he approaches, turning the screen off before she slips it back into her shirt pocket. ]

They were very sentimental people. Ryoji's mother likely worked hard to support her and her son, if it was just the two of them... [ She flicks her gaze away, then turns and steps back towards the front with a wave of her hand. ] Let's talk more outside, Akechi. We shouldn't linger too long.

[twostringsonebow]

[... Yes, that more or less fits with his thoughts, he'll nod to that and hold out an arm.]

Allow me to walk you home, Miss Velveteen, and I'll tell you what I found. It admittedly isn't much as I'd wanted, particularly about Ryoji, but... who knows what could be helpful.

[He'll only talk once they're a distance from the apartment, mind, so. Let's go.]

[elevelvetor]

[ She'll take it and they can go out together—carefully putting the tape back up too, Elizabeth adjusting it until she's certain it's correct. The night's getting chilly, and she wishes she'd brought a jacket, but... it's fine.

Once they're a ways away from the apartment, she'll let go of his arm and go a few steps ahead of him so she can walk backwards and talk. ]

Dave told me he'd been contacted by Ryoji, except it didn't feel like Ryoji—it felt more like a child. Crude drawings and word association games. [ He also told her Ryoji had some weird powers, but she... doesn't know if those really have anything to do with this, or if they have something to do with what she's heard from Yu—about Thanatos—so she's keeping mum about it. ] What did you find in your investigation?

9/7

[elevelvetor]

[ The days are gradually growing shorter and shorter, but there's still enough light for it to count as "not evening" yet, and so there are still kids to be found here and there. Between Dave's comment about the person on Ryoji's account seeming like a child and the pictures found in the apartment denoting he'd at least spent some of his childhood here, however brief it might've been—Elizabeth's personally fascinated at all the different places they went to, honestly—they'd decided to check out the elementary school and the parks around it.

Two days of dealing with classes and looking into places lands them, eventually, at the park closest to the elementary school. Elizabeth keeps her hands in her cashmere jacket as she peers around, humming softly. A few music notes, accompanied by glowing question marks, follow the noise.

Certainly, if there's anyone on the app here, they'd be able to see those, as well as the thought cloud bubbling up beside her head in a shimmery, translucent rainbow color: "I hope we don't spend too much time here. Improv starts tonight. I'd hate to miss it." ]

...It would've been nice if we could've been staking out areas all day, wouldn't it? Then we'd be certain to catch whoever it might be, unless it is just some sort of glitch and Retrospec is messing with everyone... but that sounds out of sorts for the app, even for Retrospec. [ Hmm. Another thought: "Is there anyone who stands out? I don't even know what to look for outside of 'someone who can access the app,' but I did say we should at least try... Especially since it is Akira who's asking." ]

[twostringsonebow]

Unfortunately, our educational responsibilities keep us from doing much. It's simply something we learn to work around, like any other obstacle.

[None of his fictional heroes had to deal with that. They were already out of schooling, at an age they were expected to be living on their own and holding down a job. Goro's smile turns wry and his thought comes clear as day: "How things change. It gets younger and younger every year."

... So out of context, honestly. He shifts on his feet, keeping an eye out for any strange sights among the children still at play. They're kind of outstanding themselves though. Two young adults in a park, obviously watching for something.]

If it is just a glitch, I'm sure Akira would be relieved -- as would I. Things like that shouldn't happen.

[appraiser]

[ In the end, it's not the thought bubbles that catch Pharos' attention, sitting up high on one of the jungle gyms, legs kicking in the air and looking the wrong way entirely, towards the outskirts of the park as if waiting for something or someone himself. It's a name, Akira's, that causes him to look down and around, eyes passing over the both of them, then over the other kids playing down below which he doesn't join in on.

Up high, any thoughts wouldn't be easily read, but that doesn't matter for the frustrated little cloud that grumbles above Pharos' head for a brief second before fading away. ]

[twostringsonebow]

[... Well, that's something that stands out. Goro watches the child for a moment, then nudges Elizabeth with his elbow gently and nods up to the boy on one of the jungle gyms, speaking up again.]

Have you heard anything else? From Akira or someone else that knew Ryoji, like Dave or Minako.

[He's very notably using first names, Liz. Very notably.]

[elevelvetor]

[ She glances up and stares for a bit, trying to place the boy. He... looks vaguely familiar, especially recently, but she's always been bad at names and faces. It'll take her a bit. ]

Not particularly. I haven't asked Minako about this at all—I didn't want to worry her—and aside from what I mentioned earlier from Dave, well... That's all. Aki and I haven't talked about it either.

[appraiser]

[ Akira is a name he recognizes. Minako too, although that one doesn't get a strong a reaction as Akira. Dave's name doesn't elicit any response, but Ryoji's— Ryoji's name makes Pharos angry, clear on his face even without thought bubbles, as he stands up on the bars and steps off.

There's no ten foot sheer drop; in a blink, Pharos goes from teetering over the edge on top of the jungle gym, to standing at its base, ready to walk away. ]

[twostringsonebow]

[-- A child shouldn't be able to do that. What are you. Why.

But Goro finds himself starting over before any second thought, smiling brightly and realizing he has no idea what to say. Don't leave, Pharos.]

Um, hello there. [... At this closeness, Goro can certainly see there's a resemblance between Pharos and the pictures; it's odd, gives him a pause, but he continues on as Elizabeth no doubt follows.] We're supposed to be on the look out for someone for a young man named Akira Kurusu; he's a good friend of ours. I couldn't help but notice that you seem to know the name.

[elevelvetor]

[ Of course she's following; she's also giving the young boy a curtsy when she's close enough. ]

Our apologies if something we said upset you as well. [ Since he seems—or seemed—rather angry. Elizabeth straightens up, studying him for a bit as she picks at her long skirt idly. ] We hadn't meant to ruin your playtime any.

[appraiser]

[ Pharos stops where he is and turns his head to Goro and Elizabeth in turn with two hellos, one for each of them individually. It wasn't really playtime that they'd interrupted, and the uncertainty on his face suggests that he doesn't think he can help. ]

I know Akira. But if you're looking for a friend of his, I don't think I would know any of them.

[ A short week and a half of existence is hardly enough time to know anybody, and besides, a child like him can't possibly be part of a network of "friends of friends." But he wants to help, even if he can't. ]

...What does this person look like?

[twostringsonebow]

Like you, actually. I have poor vision when looking at things farther away, so I didn't recognize the description he gave me at first...

[It's a hell of a half-truth (he really can't see things that are a certain distance away), but anything to keep the weird kid around.]

But where are my manners. I'm Goro Akechi, and this is Elizabeth Velveteen.

[elevelvetor]

A pleasure.

[ Another curtsy, though it's smaller; just picking up the sides of her skirt slightly before she lets them fall. She's doing her best to keep her mind unoccupied, but a thought drifts out like smoke before she can help it: "Ah, that's what it is. He looks like those pictures." ]

[appraiser]

[ He looks somewhat surprised that these people are looking for him— someone like him, Pharos corrects himself, because that's where the root of his frustrations come from: nobody ever came for him, they were always looking for Ryoji. ]

My name's Pharos. [ No last name, as it were. A memory given to him by Retrospec through a dream, but he made it his own because he had no other name or identity to cling to. ] What pictures? Can I see them?