Prologue

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

While she was aware that Ken was only trying to remain professional, Audrey was still disappointed with his answer. If he knew more than he’d given away during the morning meeting, he evidently didn’t want to elaborate further in private either. He wouldn’t even make any wild guesses, which Audrey herself was busy doing. The new agent could’ve been corrupt, caught using excessive force, sleeping with his boss’ wife… the list seemed endless. Ken, however, quickly took her mind off possible offences through returning to talking about their case.

Audrey should have known that was where she was supposed to direct her attention. Yet, she had to look away so Ken wouldn’t see how she closed her eyes and rolled them defeatedly. ”Anyway, I’m just saying I think it’s weird that we’ve got this new guy that we hardly know anything juicy about when there obviously is something going on. That’s all. Definitely talk to the Chief about him."

She wanted to add that Ken should let her know what Chief Givens said about their new agent, but for once she stopped herself before she blurted it out. Sometimes, Audrey struggled to remember that certain things weren’t hers to know, and if they were, she was positive that Ken would tell her. If not, she would remember to ask him.

In an attempt to shift her focus to their case, she nodded at his question and put her hands together in excitement. "You know I’m always ready”, she said and flashed a smile at him. ”Do you even know I used to be in the Girl Scouts when I was a kid? They have this mantra or whatever that you always have to 'be prepared’, or something like that. I don’t really remember, but I have it in me. To always be ready. Even though I did quit the Scouts after a couple of months, tying knots and selling dry cookies to old ladies wasn’t really my…” Upon realising that she unconsciously digressed into the opposite direction of where Ken seemed keen to take their conversation, Audrey suddenly trailed off. Ken had explicitly asked her to focus on their day ahead, and she had gone into talking about her short venture into scouting when she was nine years old. Audrey quickly drew her shoulders up to her ears and wrinkled her forehead. ”Sorry, Granderson. Yes, I’m up for this. And I agree with you, we shouldn't have any problems with this suspect.”

Focus, Audrey, she thought as she straightened her back in the seat and looked out the window. She knew that maintaining focus wouldn't be an issue once they got down to business, and she didn't quite see why Ken preferred talking about the case when they were only starting to get on their way to get the police. The police headquarters were not located all too far away from the ASA office, but the remnants of the early morning rush hour traffic meant that the car ride took longer than usual. Some chit chatting was more interesting than the briefing on the background of a suspect she already knew too well, but then again, Ken only tried to do his job.

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

Haha, don't worry. You didn't say anything stupid and I'm not easily harassed, so you are completely safe.

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

One down, another to go! As said, I thought I would get it to you at roughly the same time as the other, but it's late where I am and I need sleep so will most likely get to it tomorrow. Have a great day!

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

The whole time that he was speaking, Skye remained silent as she watched him carefully. Occasionally, she nodded in understanding or gave a slight smile, but otherwise, she kept still. The voice of a radio host announcing commercial break was the only sound that waded through the few quiet moments when Stan did not speak, but surprisingly, he did talk a lot. Perhaps, she thought, too much.

There was a reason why she worked where she did. While he told her of his background, Skye felt that kind of itch that she couldn’t quite scratch—the itch that told her that something else was behind his transfer than mere disagreement between him and his superiors. While his story did match up with what little things she had heard about him so far, there was something remarkably generic about the things he said. As far as Skye was concerned, there were no blatant lies, but his words sounded too well-rehearsed, and more importantly, too detailed and yet still lacking in substance. He listed too many details that covered up anything directly related to him, which further rubbed her the wrong way. He seemed to blame anyone but himself for what had happened. People, lawyers, news papers, politicians, and even the officers were mentioned, but he seemed to take little responsibility himself.

Still, it was his first day. She couldn’t expect anything else, and she shouldn’t blame him for being reserved or nervous. In fact, she should be thankful that no matter who he and his background was, he at least had the sense to keep whatever had caused his transfer to himself. It was possible that he was completely honest too. It was not her place to doubt him—while questioning him was inevitable, she was sure that the departments knew what they were doing. Had he been a complete jerk he would, as he’d put it, have been fired.

”Well, perhaps you won’t fight the bogeyman, but I’m sure we can find you a scary vampire or two to wrestle”, she finally said and, for the first time since he opened his mouth, turned her gaze away and instead looked at the road ahead. She thought she heard him commenting something about people and people, but before she could ask him what he had said, he fired questions back at her.

She knew he would ask sooner or later. It was her turn, and rightfully so.

”Indeed I am”, she nodded again. ”Which means that I'm useless without you since my powers can’t do anything on their own. Magical enhancers, which I’m sure you already know, use their powers to cast enhancements on humans, causing things such as increased strength or agility, but it won’t work on supernaturals.” Many of the enhancers she had met thought their gift quite dull—they could never enjoy the extent of the powers themselves. It was like baking a cake you would never get to taste. When that happened on a day-to-day basis, it easily became frustrating.

While explaining what enhancers were was simple, telling her own story was another fact. Skye didn’t even know what parts of her story he wanted to hear; however, she decided to follow his lead and focus on her career. It was all he needed to know. ”Before joining the ASA, I got my education. You know, the mandatory League of Magic qualifications and all, and then I went on to college. I always knew I wanted to work with supernaturals though, so applying to the ASA came naturally to me. They’re almost always in need of good people, because supernaturals seem to breed like rabbits. And yes”, she admitted with a hint of playfulness in her voice, ”I know I’m one of them. Anyway, I got the job soon after graduation, so I think I’ve been working here for maybe two, three years.”

As they drove through the city and left the downtown areas, the surroundings turned less bustling and more lifeless.

”So, just to make it clear. We’re going to his house to take a look and see if he’s around. Depending on what happens, we’ll see where we go from there. Quite simple, you should know how it works. Turn left here.” She pointed her finger at a road leading to the outskirts of the city. ”And if you have any questions or feel like you want to take a break, just tell me, okay? You don't have anything to prove on your first case."

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

Lucky you. I was in bed all weekend.

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

Haha, then you'll probably already be hungover when I get something back for you. Go to sleep!

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

Just saw you posted both, exciting! I will get to reading them (and hopefully replying with two as well) as soon as possible. Looking forward to it.

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

Haha don't sweat it. I'm in no hurry at all.

That actually sounds good! Thanks a lot for the invitation. I do love me some good apocalypses every now and then, but I usually find the badass part tedious so character-focus sounds great. I'll check it out, but I might have too much work on my hands right now to get involved in another RP, even if I want to. Just returned to uni and already have two essays to write and 250 pages to read for Monday? Uhm? Can't believe I voluntarily signed up for this...

So, as I said, I'm in no hurry haha. And I hope your weekend is amazing too!

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

Today was the day. If there was one day that kept Audrey going, it was the day when the cases culminated in actual action, the day where they could finally start archiving all the papers, and, of course, the day that she could go home from work, feeling that for once, they had actually done something useful. Although their current case was relatively straightforward, she had been looking forward to the finale ever since they started it. She always did. She didn’t enjoy the chase half as much as the actual catch, and it was always rewarding increasing the number of cases finished under her name. 

Today was the last day out on the field where the suspect, or suspects, finally got what they deserved, and Audrey got to demonstrate to any doubters that yes, she was a woman capable of her work. 

As she sat down in the car next to Ken, threw her stuff in the backseat and nodded at him, she couldn’t help but to feel the tingling sense of excitement in the pit of her stomach that only came on days like these. ”All set”, she repeated with a wide grin. ”Today’s gonna be a good day. Let’s get the tacts and then go bust this guy.”

The car came to life and they went ahead on the road leading to the police headquarters. The soft purr of the motor running through the car and the houses flashing by as they drove past them didn’t calm her down. Instead, the impressions only added to her excitement—they were finally on their way. Turning to fiddle with the air con, Audrey started to involuntarily shake her leg out of restlessness as her thoughts ran wildly in her head. 

Like most of her colleagues that day, Audrey kept thinking about Stan. That he occupied most of their minds was not surprising. The team was a tight-knit group of people. Most of them had known each other for a long while. They had seen the best and the worst of one another—it was a natural part of the work they did—and letting someone new in inside that dynamic was naturally unsettling. Whatever the rest of them were doing, the name Stanley Humes most likely haunted their conversation. 

”I’m curious to see how Skye will fare with the our newest addition.” While Skye had been on the team for some time, she was new to the whole leadership thing. It intrigued Audrey that Ken put her together with Stan. It was natural, seeing as her latest partner had just left, but if Audrey were to decide, she would switch the teams up instead of grouping Skye and Stan together. And yet, a part of Audrey was happy that the decision wasn’t hers to make. She looked forward to seeing whether the two would succeed or not, and while she didn't like to admit it to herself, she partially hoped for the latter option. ”Tell me, something’s off about the guy, right? He seems like way too good of a guy to be so easily let off. What’s the catch?"

Audrey hoped that whatever professional facade Ken put on when talking in front of the group would crumble when the conversation was only between the two of them. He must know something.

A Thin Blue Line - Paranormal Police RP. (Prologue and Azseth)

Don't worry, and I definitely extend the same courtesy to you. I'm not doing it out of obligation, only because I feel like it and I'm happy to keep people in the know.