[img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjcyLjcwMDkwOS5SbUZpYkdVLjI/beyond-wonderland.regular.webp[/img]
 [i][b][color=7F2A3C]"Investigator-in-Training! ...With Pals!"[/color][/b][/i]
 [color=gray][i]Current Location: Searching the Great Escape with Mary and Elroy (Post Behemoth Fight)[/i][/color]
It had not been long since Fable had slain the crab rave. But there was no rest for the wicked, and less so for those that would thwart them. They needed to return to The Great Escape and learn what they could before it was too late.

But what do they look for? Elroy had just come out of the men's room when Fable arived. [color=c9272c]”No sign of violin girl here.”[/color] He walked off to look at the rest of the diner. 

[color=1462ba]"Nnngh!"[/color] Mary had arrived right behind Fable. [color=1462ba]"I think they went this way!"[/color] Zi ran off to check by an alternate entrance to the establishment.

The owner was also there, bushy mustache and all. But he looked more tired than anything, and didn't ask why people were examining his establishment. 

 He hadn't even realized how late it was, his eyes focused on the time until he approached Elroy. Nothing huh? Fable furrowed his eyebrows. Home will have to wait a bit longer. He was going to suggested they look for any witnesses when Mary ran off to pursue. The boy simply blinked. Then sighed. He caught notice of the equally tired owner, and decided to ask him:

 [color=7F2A3C]"Forgive me, but have you seen some weird closed-eyed guy leave with a pale girl. Green eyes? Acting weird? Bites on her neck?? I need a description of the male."[/color]
 
As tired as the man was, Fable's discription made him smile. [b]"Bites? like a vampire? Halloween is still a few months off I'm afraid."[/b] 

 [i][color=7F2A3C]Buddy, you have no idea...[/color][/i] The boy thought. But he remained quiet.

He tapped the side of his head. [b]"Though you'd be forgiven if you based that guess based on how everyone else around here was dressed today. Those 'espers' are something else. That gentleman with the red hair can really play."[/b] 

Fable chuckled a bit. [color=7F2A3C]"I'd think so. Unfortunate that I don't do well with loud noises. Buuut perhaps I can look into some of his songs later."[/color] One of the corners of his lips quirked up to a smile. 

He held his chin in thought. [b]"The only pale girl I know of is Betty Barton. She was playing the violin earlier. I was asked about her by another man who I suspected was blind. He kept his eyes closed, quite handsome. HE was interested in her so that might be who you are looking for."[/b] 

He nodded when the pale girl was assumed to be Betty Barton, and his eyes widened when a blind guy was mentioned. He quickly nodded scrambled to get a pad and pencil out of his pockets. 

 [color=7F2A3C]"Can you describe him to me??"[/color] The notepad was a bit worn and the pencil was sharpened to the midway point, slightly nibbled on as if in thought. It really did look old. Regardless, he scribbled down the description. 
 
He looked up into the air. [b]"He was blond, narrow chin, no scars or blemishes to speak of. I can't quite remember, but I want to say his hair came down to his shoulders. And his outfit was exactly what I would expect a vampire to wear."[/b]
 
Once the boy was certain he got all the details down, he nodded to the owner with a determined grin. [color=7F2A3C]"This will help alot, thank you!"[/color] With a ten dollar tip left on the counter, Fable signaled to Elroy that he was following Mary, then hurrried off.

The owner looked at the money. [b]"I didn't do anything illegal, did I?"[/b] No one answered him, so he just slid the dollar off the table and into the resgister.

Mary did not look like zi was having much luck. They were on their hands and knees searching for anything they could find, but sighed in resignation before rolling onto zir back. [color=1462ba]"Yes?"[/color] Zi asked Fable as he drew closer. 

[color=7F2A3C]"Firecracker wasn't having any luck back at the diner, but I got some details on Justin's appearance, if that helps!"[/color] Fable said, waiving his notebook out then passing it to Mary.

Mary raised an eyebrow. [color=1462ba]"Yea? He talked to me. I know what he looks like."[/color]

 At that moment, Fable's face comically blanked out. He was silent. For a moment. Before he gracefully stepped to the side...

 And dropkicked his notebook away.

 [color=7F2A3C]"USELESS."[/color] He said no less.
 
[color=1462ba]"Yea, that was pretty white of you. But! Kinda cute, I guess."[/color] 

 Fable's jaw playfully dropped at Mary's jab, before turning to a pout. [color=7F2A3C]"Hmph! And here I was thinking you wanted a date! [sub]...But what does me being pale have to do with it. I know I'm half-irish but-[/sub]"[/color]
 
[color=1462ba]"Wah?!"[/color] Mary's eyes shrunk into dots. [color=1462ba]"I-I never said anything about-"[/color] zi looked to zir puppet.

Right on cue, Danny picked his head up off the floor. [color=9b83de]"If the owner saw him, that means that other people probably did too! Or maybe even... [i]something[/i] saw him! We just aren't looking in the right place!"[/color]

 His eyebrows rose at Danny's suggestion. [color=7F2A3C]"What, you mean a non-hostile monster? Where are we gonna find one?"[/color] He quickly went to get his notebook off the ground just in case.
 
Danny chuckled. [color=9b83de]"I was thinking more like, a security camera. I noticed there were a few of thsoe around."[/color]

The boy blinked. [color=7F2A3C]"...Oh, right."[/color] He dusted off the notebook and set it back in his hoodie pocket.

[color=1462ba]"Well [i]I[/i] for one refuse to talk to that privlaged cis white male entrapenure type! So if someone's going to get footage of Justin, it's going to be you!"[/color] Ze pointed at Fable from zir spot on the floor.

 A sweatdrop fell to the side of the boy's face. [color=7F2A3C]"For real...?? I already paid the guy for the info, going any further and he'd start assuming things!"[/color] He explained to zir.
 
[color=1462ba]"If he took your bribe, he's already been implemented! That's just another reason why you should see what you can do!"[/color] Ze hopped to zir feet. 

[color=9b83de]"Yea! In the eye of the law, he's almost as guilty as you are! But it is his establishment, and the law states that you are allowed to videotape people in public spaces. So there's no issue with sharing the footage with a third party."[/color] Danny bobbed in place. [color=9b83de]"I think that's how the law works. Anywho! You're our only hope, Obi-wan!"[/color]

Fable stood there for a moment. Then quietly groaned. [color=7F2A3C]"Fine. Wish me luck."[/color] He pointed between puppet and puppeteer with narrowed eyes, then stepped back into the diner. Once he caught glimpse of the owner, he hurried back over. he would be observed from a distance by his new friend(s).

 [color=7F2A3C]"Pardon me! I know I've already asked you much, but we may need a quick glimpse at your security cameras. ...That man, the blonde one. He's bad news, and Miss Barton's life might be at stake if we can't figure out where he went. And before you ask, he isn't an esper. Far from it."[/color] Fable explained, slightly bluntly. He was probably due for an explanation anyways.
 
[b]"Whoa! Slow down there, boy!"[/b] The man brought up his hands. [b]"Espers? That was the group that left earlier right? And the blond man was not with them."[/b] He sighed. [b]"You're implying that he abducted her? That would explain why she never returned..."[/b]

Fable nodded. [color=7F2A3C]"In a way, yes! Look, it's hard to get into the finer details but I might as well get what clues I can before he fades from the public eye. I-If you'll let me, of course."[/color] he explained. [color=7F2A3C]"Can add to the tip too, if it takes too much of your time."[/color]

[b]"It's fine, lad. Buisness has been very good today."[/b] He excused himself from the counter. [b]"Let me get someone to watch the counter. We'll see if the tapes picked up anything."[/b]  

[color=1462ba]"I wanna see the tapes too!"[/color] Mary added. 

[color=9b83de]"Me three!"[/color] her puppet chirped.

Elroy just wordlessly aproached and waved to the owner, who only sighed.

[b]"Why not?"[/b]

[hr]

The three espers and a puppet could just barely fit in the great escape's back office. They were all standing a few feet away from a small monitor while the diner's owner looked over the camera's controlls. 

[b]"Let's start here."[/b]

The footage showed Betty just before her breakdown. Elroy hopped up on stage, started to play, and after the first song or so, Betty excused herself from the stage to get something to drink. 

Mary looked at the others. [color=1462ba]"I don't see him."[/color]

[b]"Let's take a quick peak through all the cameras then."[/b] The images cycled through each of the cameras avalable, but there was no sign of him.

Mary groaned. [color=1462ba]"Any ideas?"[/color]

Fable's eyes widened when he realized something, then he facepalmed. [color=7F2A3C]"Right, his ilk wouldn't show up on cameras, or mirrors. Too obvious."[/color] He shook his head, stepping away from the monitors with a frown. A frown that, for some reason, showed itself in seeing Betty's breakdown.

 [color=7F2A3C]"Well... I've nothing else."[/color] With a tired sigh, he shrugged. 
 
[color=c9272c]”Hey now, let's not give up so easily.”[/color] Elroy patted Fable on the back. [color=c9272c]”Maybe he's in one of the restrooms, or just out of range. At the very least, we should be able to see if vampire guy shows up on cameras if we keep watching.”[/color]

The Owner sighed. [b]"You're not pulling my leg, right?"[/b]

[color=1462ba]"Just continue!"[/color] Mary practically growled the words.

And so the tape continued to roll. Betty sat down across from Fable and they talked for a bit. It wasn't much later before Mary walked up behind Betty's seat and portaled her away.

[b]"Did the film get damaged? What happened there?"[/b]

 Mary hid zir head. [color=1462ba]"I think she said she needed to go to the bathroom and pushed right past me. Not sure why it made those strange artifacts, hahahah!"[/color]

Elroy did not look as amused as Mary did, and she looked like she was on the verge of a panic attack.

Fable placed a hand on Mary's shoulder to calm zir down. [color=7F2A3C]"She just excused herself for a moment when you asked to sit with us."[/color] He fibbed as easy as he breathed. Though as he realized what was about to come next, his face cringed up, and he slowly slid his hood over his face.

Elroy and the owner looked at Fable, but didn't say anything. But they did take interest in the monitor, which clearly displayed the back of Fable's head as Mary walked closer to him. Untill the moment he was dreading finally came. The owner practically jumped backwards as Fable from the past splashed Mary in the face with his coffee and darted outside. 

[b]"Boy!"[/b]

[color=c9272c]”Gear boy!”[/color]

[color=1462ba]"It was just some roleplay!"[/color] Mary was still fake laughing from earlier.

The boy refused to look up. The fist that kept his hood low, was it...trembling? 

Elroy shook his head. [color=c9272c]”Whatever! Where's vampire guy?”[/color]

The owner cycled through the cameras. [b]"Ah! is that him?"[/b]

Sure enough, there was a blond man with his eyes closed up on screen. Mary had described the man to Fable, but this would be the first time he could see what he looked like with his own eyes. Mary ceased her alkward laughing and fret her brow.

[color=1462ba]"There he is, that's him."[/color]

 A frown of mixed emotions revealed itself when Fable decided to look back at the monitor, yet it all reorganized when he caught eye on his target. His eyes widened, like a lion eyeing it's prey. [color=7F2A3C]"Bingo. I'm gonna need a clear screenshot of this guy, possibly send a copy of this to GEMINI as intel."[/color] He said, paying close attention to the screen now.
 
Elroy folded his arms. [color=c9272c]”Not so sure they have a reason to take interest in this yet. But a picture of him would be a good idea.”[/color]

[b]"Wouldn't we call the police?"[/b] The owner gestured towards the screen. [b]"But we don't have proof he did anything yet."[/b]

Mary inhaled deeply. [color=1462ba]"Just keep watching."[/color]

Sure enough, Justin made his way towards Mary. They briefly talked, after which he looked towards the men's room. He walked inside and then, nothing. Mary was pacing back and forth, She was practically jumping with excitement. But when Justin came out, he had Betty with him. There was definetly something wrong with her. Even in the videos, she looked like she had been drugged. This was not the lively girl that had dissapeared from view earlier. Mary and Justin talked. It was evident it was getting quite heated, But before it could go much further, Betty threw herself between Justin and Mary and started to scold her. There was no audio of course, but the way she shook her finger and bared her teeth it was aparent she was mad about something. Mary back down, and then she Joined Justin's side and they walked outside. Elroy would show up shortly, but no one was watching the screen anymore.

[b]"Was she drugged or something?"[/b] No one answered the owner's question. [b]"I'll definetly be calling the police with this. If you have a USB or something I can give you a copy if you want to show your friends."[/b]

[color=c9272c]”That would be helpful.”[/color] Elroy turned to look at the other espers. [color=c9272c]”Pac-A-Fist was evacuating everyone as soon as news of the Crab Rave came though. I don't know if anyone outside is going to remember seeing them or not.”[/color]

 [color=7F2A3C]"Doubt it. Then again, The thing targeted at me for some reason so I didn't have time to check."[/color] Fable said to Elroy. [color=7F2A3C]"Within the chaos It'd be easy for them to slip by unnoticed."[/color]
 
[color=c9272c]”Well I've got nothing better to do. I'll snoop around.”[/color] Elroy headed towards the door. [color=c9272c]”You kids coming along?”[/color]

Mary looked away. [color=1462ba]"My parents are going to worry about me before long. They know I went out to eat, but I don't want to worry them too much. Certainly not after my first official Gemini mission!"[/color]

[color=c9272c]”Understandable, I guess.”[/color] Elroy looked to Fable. [color=c9272c]”And you?”[/color]

The boy checked his phone for the time. He silently furrowed his brows. [color=7F2A3C]"Yeah, gotta head back before my family notices I've been out all day. I doubt it, but I can't afford the risk."[/color] he said.

[color=c9272c]”Kids and their double lives.”[/color] Elroy chuckled to himself. [color=c9272c]”See you later I guess”[/color]

Mary dropped through a portal in the floor without saying anything. The owner blinked. [b]"Did anyone just see that?"[/b]

[color=c9272c]”No? Anyway, thanks guy, I'll be in for breakfast tommorow.”[/color] Elroy stepped out of the office, leaving just Fable and the owner. 

 [color=7F2A3C]"Well then. I thank you for your help, really. Maybe I'll swing by some time to perform on stage, who knows?"[/color] The boy nodded to the owner, then walked away.