2 ✎ recruiting

[watsonyourmind]

There are two girls in the town square, pressing brightly-colored flyers into the hands of any people who happen to pass by. This is what the flyers say:

CONSULTING DETECTIVES CLUB
Burby branch

Now recruiting! No experience necessary!
Join us for an experience you won't soon forget!
Contact Shirley Holmes or Jane Watson for meeting details.

It's sort of funny how threatening that accidentally sounds. At least the girls seem friendly. Perhaps you should come say hello.

Comments

[pantysniffer]

[Simon stares at the flyer that has been pressed into his hand uncertainly, regarding the two leafleters almost suspiciously.]

Consulting Detectives Club?

[watsonyourmind]

[ Watson tries her most winning smile. ] You don't think there's plenty of work for a few detectives around here?

[nopolicelikeholmes]

[ "No, Watson, he does not," Shirley doesn't say, "because the police force consists of one officer, and she doesn't have anything to do."

Holmes is trying to have a positive attitude, so she just smiles winningly at Simon. Anyone who wasn't a telepath would think she was flirting or something. ]

[pantysniffer]

[See, Simon might think that except for the fact that no one flirts with him. He isn't quite sure what to make of that smile, so he just addresses Watson, his gaze occasionally darting briefly over to Holmes nervously.]

Maybe some work.

[Though he doesn't look convinced.]

[watsonyourmind]

[ Jane steps on Shirley's foot with slow but inexorable pressure. She's not sure what Shirley is doing, but this guy is rather nervous for it to be nothing. ]

It's also fun to sit around and talk about mysteries. We do a lot of that.

[nopolicelikeholmes]

[ Shirley didn't really register what Jane said, because she was too busy registering pain in her foot. It was one of those kinds of pain that just gets worse and makes you want to flail around and shout to make it stop - except that Holmes was less the 'flailing around and screaming' type and more the 'smacking you on the shoulder' type.

Which is exactly what she did, if 'you' are Watson in this scenario. ]

[pantysniffer]

[Simon pretends not to notice that particular interaction. It seems easiest.]

What kind of mysteries?

[watsonyourmind]

[ Jane lifted her foot and didn't acknowledge Shirley's smack. ]

Oh, all kinds. Murders, missing objects... whatever seems interesting.

[pantysniffer]

Do you know about many murders here?

[nopolicelikeholmes]

[ What interesting phrasing! Shirley smirks. ]

Not yet, no.

[pantysniffer]

[Shhh, there is nothing wrong with his phrasing. He's not convinced he especially likes that smirk, but he pretends it doesn't bother him.]

Have you investigated many before?

[nopolicelikeholmes]

[ In a similar vein, she will pretend not to notice that he seems unusually interested in murder. Instead, she just shakes her head. ]

Two. I can't say that we're very experienced.

[pantysniffer]

That's more than most. Did you find out who killed them?

[nopolicelikeholmes]

[ She nods. ]

Neither of them went to prison, though, so don't worry.

[pantysniffer]

[For a moment something close to panic flickers in his eyes, before quickly being hidden by confusion. What if she knows about Sally? Or Tony, or Gary? She couldn't do, but why else would she say that?]

Why would I worry?

[Despite the question there's a definite note of worry. She's thrown him, which makes it hard to hide it.]

[nopolicelikeholmes]

[ Well, that was rather conclusive, wasn't it? She almost felt sorry for this guy. Which was probably why she was going to go easy on him. ]

I don't think you would, if you were a hardened criminal.

[pantysniffer]

I'm not.

[At least not hardened. He can't really deny the criminal part.]

[watsonyourmind]

[ Jane shoots Shirley a pointed look. Why is she interrogating the poor guy? This is not good recruitment. ]

I'm sure you're not. And if Shirley hasn't succeeded in scaring you off, we'd love to have you join us sometime.