[color=lightgray][center][h1][color=red]FLASHBACK[/color][/h1] [h3][color=5486ae]John[/color] & [color=D0B4EC]Charlotte[/color] Part 1[/h3][/center] [color=5486ae]Time:[/color] Ignis 1 Afternoon [color=5486ae]Location:[/color] Tough Tavern [hr] The sun bled across crumbling roofs as Charlotte Vikena tip‑toed around a puddle, the hem of her simple sage‑green dress fluttering just above her ankles. It was a far cry from her usual finery. In her arms, she cradled a tattered satchel, the leather worn thin at the seams. The Tough Tavern’s mismatched shutters rattled from the drunken laughter within as she leaned against the wall a moment to catch her bearings. Then she went inside. The so-called good doctor hadn’t appeared in public for a while, but when he did, he looked no different than what was expected of him: some variations of the casual suit and breeches. For today, it was dark blue and black respectively. But at the same time, who would even notice him? This city was known for its short-term gossiping. His ruckus the other day would have already been piled up by other nonsense the people entertained themselves with. John was banking on that to hopefully get some peace and quiet. He entered the Tough Tavern and ordered a cup of lemonade. As he sat with his back leaning leisurely against his chair, he noticed Charlotte. He looked at her and tilted his head a couple of times to see if she’d notice. Charlotte turned her head, sensing the gaze upon her. Her expression softened, and a gentle smile blossomed on her lips. Without hesitation, she approached him. [color=D0B4EC]"John,"[/color] she greeted, her voice warm as she came to a stop beside his table. [color=D0B4EC] "It truly has been far too long."[/color] After a pause, she added, [color=D0B4EC]"I don’t believe I saw you at the banquet the other night. I hope you’ve been keeping well?"[/color] John’s lips formed a flattened smile, his gestures hinted at stuffs but it was indiscernible to whether it was good or bad. [color=5486ae]”Things are good. Peace for once after days of chaos after chaos. I can’t believe how much drama can just spring out of nothing here.”[/color] He gestured toward the seat in front of him, his demeanor was relaxed and his voice equally warm. It was evident he trusted Charlotte, and was not putting up an act. [color=5486ae]”How have you and your father been? Is there anything interesting you are doing?”[/color] Charlotte took the offered seat with an appreciative smile. [color=D0B4EC]"Believe me, I completely understand,"[/color] she replied with a soft, humorless yet knowing laugh. [color=D0B4EC]"Things have been rather strange, to put it lightly. But I suppose we’re doing better than the queen, at least. I’m not sure if you've heard, but she was arrested for witchcraft at the banquet."[/color] Her voice lowered slightly, her expression turning serious. [color=D0B4EC]"Things are tense, to say the least. Do be careful, John."[/color] She paused thoughtfully before continuing. [color=D0B4EC]"As for myself, right now I'm helping a woman I met at the tavern here. Her son went missing yesterday, and she's beside herself with worry. I thought it the least I could do, given the circumstances."[/color] John feigned a shocked response. [color=5486ae]”Really? For witchcraft. The queen herself too? That’s…wow.”[/color] In truth, it was the talk of the entire Society meeting the entire morning. It also did come from a place of genuineness, since he was quite surprised that Edin did what he did. Could he finally give this recreant twat of a king some credits, to actually arrest his own wife, favoring the state’s divine law over his own emotions? But now that he wanted to work openly with Varians to deal with the potential ‘infestations’ of magic in Caesonia, it was very important that they didn’t reveal too much. In truth, this was long due, and Caesonia was finally starting to realize it. [color=5486ae]”For sure, thank you. Really cannot escape drama in this country, though.”[/color] He let out the same understanding and humorless laugh, adding onto it some sarcasm. But that was a problem for the corps of physicians to decide together, not with this lovely lady. [color=5486ae]”Oh okay, that’s very kind of you. What happened, if you don’t mind sharing? I may be able to help in some way.”[/color] [color=D0B4EC]“Yesterday afternoon young Steven went down to the beach… Just for an hour, he told his mother—only he never came home.”[/color] She set the satchel on the table and unfastened the buckle. [color=D0B4EC]“I found this in the road just outside the tavern caught on a loose nail. It has his name on it so I believe it may belong to him… I hoped it might tell us where he meant to go.”[/color] She tipped the bag and let a few items spill gently onto the wood: [list] [*]a torn scrap of paper with LIBRA scrawled across it in charcoal [*]seashells [*]a small red rectangular cloth with fringes on each end [*]a piece of chalk [*]folded note: “2:30 beach — J & T bring towels[/list] Charlotte glanced up with a small smile. [color=D0B4EC]“It isn’t much, is it?”[/color] [color=5486ae]”Hmm, I’ve worked with less.”[/color] John said, as he picked up the items one by one to examine. [color=5486ae]”One good thing is, when there’s not much clues, there’s not much you can go wrong.”[/color] The gears began spinning in John’s head. It was more than apparent that the main clues were the torn paper with the word LIBRA, and the folded note. The note did say beach 2:30, which was indeed the time and place Steven was said to be going. But the satchel was found outside the tavern. It seemed odd that he’d just let a satchel fall off him like that. [color=5486ae]”From my experience, we follow the most obvious clues first. Any idea who the J & T’s are?”[/color] John said. [color=5486ae]”Might have to ask his mom. And how young is Steven?”[/color] [color=D0B4EC]“He’s about ten, I’d say,”[/color] Charlotte said gently. [color=D0B4EC]“J and T are likely local children. And these—”[/color] she tapped the shells, [color=D0B4EC]“—confirm they did make it to the beach.”[/color] She lifted the red cloth, considering it for a moment, then she smiled. [color=D0B4EC]“It’s a bookmark. Seems we’ve a little reader on our hands.”[/color] Charlotte shook the satchel gently, grains of pale grit scattering onto the table. [color=D0B4EC]“There now,”[/color] she murmured, brushing the sand with her fingertips. [color=D0B4EC]“More proof of the beach. But for whatever reason, he left the beach. This satchel was outside this tavern...”[/color] [color=5486ae]”Alright, fair reasoning.”[/color] John’s hand rubbed his cheek and chin. He’d like to hear more about these local kids. He felt like if they agreed to come to the beach with this kid, they would have been friends, and the reason why Steven left the beach would have lain with them. The chalk and red cloth felt like personal effects, nothing indicative of his intentions, albeit he could not rule that out definitively. [color=5486ae]”What was he doing that morning before he went to the beach? Was there any notable event that took place at the beach that day.”[/color] John asked before considering the next obvious clue: the LIBRA note written in charcoal. [color=D0B4EC]“I am not certain... I suppose nothing notable since the mother did not mention.”[/color] [color=5486ae]”LIBRA huh?”[/color] He put his thinking cap on, but got nothing yet. Charlotte tilted her head thoughtfully and tapped her chin, turning the scrap over in her fingers, [color=D0B4EC]“LIBRA… It could be a nickname, or short for something, as the paper looks torn.”[/color] [color=5486ae]”Libra…”[/color] That clue snapped something in him. [color=5486ae]”...ry. Library. Is there one nearby?”[/color] If that was true, it could explain where he was going after he left the beach. Still not much information, but it was a step forward. Her face lit up and she beamed at John. [color=D0B4EC] “Yes there is… And how very clever of you to see that, Doctor. And with this bookmark, no less, how perfectly it fits!”[/color] She picked up the cloth and waved it in the air. Then, she tucked it back into the satchel as she gathered the rest of the items. Rising finally, she extended her hand toward him, eyes sparkling. [color=D0B4EC]“Come, let us visit the librarian together. I daresay we may be the ones to untangle this web.”[/color] [color=5486ae]”Oh, that was a b-.”[/color] Only now did John connect the dots to that red piece of cloth. And right after an immediate feeling of uncanny that he didn’t know cloths were used as bookmarks by lower-class folks. For the first time in his life, it occurred to him that he might be more in common with the bourgeoisie than the common people, despite his low-born origin. But then again, cloths were used for literally anything with the folks there. [color=5486ae]”Anyway I’m invested, and I have some time today.”[/color] John said, finishing as much of his drink as he could, then heading over to pay for both their drinks. [color=5486ae]”Let’s go.”[/color] He headed back to Charlotte once she was ready too. And so, they left the clamor of the Tough Tavern behind. [/color]