Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-5999656-20161216022828/@comment-5999656-20161225011655

(No worries, the plot has to move along somehow. Things are going to thicken considerably from here on out, so please bear with me. And Merry Christmas to you too! I like your profile pic)

It took less than twenty minutes for Zanipher to catch a ride back to the Syndicate building. She strode through the double glass doors (replaced after a certain robot lizard broke the old one down) and didn't even make eye contact with the desk attendant - everyone there already knew who she was. She took the elevator eight floors up to her office, and flung open the door.

Two people were sitting in her room. Tez, in a dark blue business suit, was rotating in her office chair behind the desk, while the her beanie-wearing white snake of a younger sister was in the guest seat. Both turned upon her entrance, and neither made the effort to hide their expectant expressions. Tez had his hand placed over his hand in a contemplative gesture, and he raised his eyebrows as Zan's eyes met his. Fen's expression was one of vague annoyance, and her arms rested squarely on the table.

"Sup, sis?" Fen asked after a brief silence.

"Fen, when was the last time you talked to any of your friends?"

The younger girl, features hauntingly similar to that of the Dragon, shrugged.

"A couple months ago? I guess I got busy."

Zanipher stepped forward and crouched before the girl.

"You didn't even bother texting them to let them know you were okay?" Her voice was level enough, but she was obviously trying not to get angry.

"I've been hanging out with the Daybreakers. I thought everyone had already gone home."

"No, Fen." Zan's voice was flat. "They're still here, and they're looking for you. They came after me."

"Fine, I'll text them. 'Yo guys, fyi it's all good, no need to come after me.'" Fen took out her Scroll, but Zan reached out and gripped the rectangular device before Fen could log in.

"No! Stay put, don't talk to anyone. I'm gonna have a good talk with you about blending in once I come back. Tez." Zan nodded to her cousin as she straightened up. He uncrossed his legs, and gave a small smile.

"Is she allowed to talk to me?"

"Yes, but only to you," Zan rebutted, before exiting the room. Time to catch up to Diaboli - she had no idea what his MO was, so the sooner she got back the better. First, though, she would need a good wardrobe change. And a weapon.

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The woman at the front desk leaned over the counter to look at the images and profiles on the screen. She was understandably nervous about the possibility of a criminal being in the fitness center, especially as she had combat experience.

"Oh yes, that's Bernhardt! He's a frequent visitor, holds self-defense classes for the community."

She glanced up at the "detective" concernedly.

"Are you sure he's the one? He's a good kid: he told us he studied at Beacon before the fall. I can't imagine him stealing things from someone."

She looked down at the Scroll again.

"And Automne, that's his girlfriend, I think. She comes by every now and then. And... I don't think I recognize the others. I really don't know if they're the ones you're looking for, Mr. Galloway, but Bernie's in the back room now if you'd like to speak to him."

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The female fox Faunus dashed down the sidewalk, dodging pedestrians and leaping over parked cars as she quickly made her way to her destination. Respersio was panicking; he'd borrowed one of the Kites' drones and, with a tip from Platinum, sent it after a Daybreak Syndicate employee. The last thing they'd expected when looking for clues towards Fen was to stumble upon some underworld conspiracy: The Nine Dragons of Vale, no less.

But they'd been caught, and now they knew Fen was in danger. Automne had to get everyone together so they could figure out what to do next. The police were stretched thin as it was.

She turned the corner and tugged the door open, pausing at the last second to avoid bumping into Diaboli.

"Scuse me," she said, whipping out her gym membership card and sliding past the crime boss, to where Bernie was holding his regular session.