Conversation · Lilienne, the Net Picker

"I'm a proper man. Believe me."

"Oh..." She shakes her head, smiling faintly. "Believe me, everyone here is a 'proper' man. Must be something about poverty that makes all the men real."

Sounds like she'd prefer her men to be less 'real'.

"Can I borrow that sword?"

"No, I'm afraid not." Her eyes are smiling as her hand moves to the hilt. "Attempting to confiscate the blade I use to keep these animals in check? You would put me in an early grave."

She refuses?! But your word is the law. You are LAW!

She's making a joke. Her voice softens.

Is she flirting with you? A little? You think she might be...

"Figures. Typical patriarchal nonsense, mascu-venomosity."

"Ugh... sure. Venomosity." She nods. "But boys will be boys and god knows we don't have many around. So far the sword has been enough to keep them in line."

"Hold on... do you know how to use it?"

"Not really." She glances at the blade. "I know some basic moves and I know it sure as hell beats a knife, when you're in a tough spot."

But not when you're in a tight spot.

"It is imposing." (Nod.)

"It's a regular mass-produced sword, like a shovel or an axe. Nothing fancy, just for intimidation."

"Idiot Doom Spiral over there needs his jacket. Have you seen it?"

"Unbelievable, you are looking for more lost things." She smiles. "Doom Spiral losing his jacket on the other hand is very believable. I mean he has lost everything else already."

"It's a good thing too that he has an actual police officer looking for it." A smile lights up her face. "Good old Doom Spiral, upper-management to the core."

That's odd. Is she actually impressed?

"No one plays Johnny Jacket. I find it -- I keep it."

"Johnny what now?" She's trying to resist a smile. "That's not proper cop behaviour, is it?"

"I've done worse."

"I'm sure you have," she replies with a peculiar look. "I don't have to hear about it, but I do wish you luck finding the thing. Look near the fish market north of here, on the boardwalk. Drunks are drawn to markets."

She's genuinely rooting for you, sire!

"I am the law."

"Sure, sure... that makes it alright." She rolls her eyes, but then suddenly a smile appears. "Still, I do hope you find it. Look near the fish market north of here, on the boardwalk. Drunks are drawn to markets."

"I don't really know why I do things. Everything just happens to me."

"Aye, we all feel that way sometimes..." She turns her gaze towards the beach. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm the protagonist even in my own life story."

A gush of sadness suddenly washes over her.

"Anyway..." She clears her throat. Twice. "I'd look near the fish market north of here, on the boardwalk. Drunks are drawn to markets, for some reason. Was there something else?"

"I'm just trying to help out a stranger in need."

"That's sweet of you. It really is. I'd check around the abandoned fish market on the boardwalk. Drunks are inexplicably drawn to markets... might be why they have such trouble staying in business..."

A phenomenon that the spectral hand theory of the market fails to account for.

"If one of 'em lost something, that's as good a place to start looking as any."

"I'm collecting evidence to charge him with petty theft.

"Not the best use of your time, is it, Mr. Lawman? Harassin' homeless people on the beach and the like..."

"Remarkable..." She shakes her head. "That one already lost everything else and now his jacket too?"

"I'm looking for someone else actually."

"Oh? Who?"

"I'm looking for missing cryptozoologists."

"Ugh..." She frowns, thinking. "I don't think I know what these are. Care to elaborate?"

"People who look for imaginary animals."

"Aha," she exclaims. "Like Snow Men!"

"Snow Men? I haven't heard about those."

"Two odd guys have been wandering around here, nose in sand, talking nonsense about Snow Men and the like."

"Where did they go?"

"I don't really know. Further down the peninsula I guess. I mean that's where they were heading." She points north. "Who else are you looking for, beside Snow Men?"

"Wait, 'the like'?"

"Right," she nods. "Not only Snow Men -- also Green Men, Monkey Men, burning rhinos. You get the picture."

Oh, you're getting it and it is gorgeous.

"People who look for animals, who are hard to find."

"People who look for animals mainstream scientists deny exist."

"I'm looking for a suspect who might have stayed in this neighbourhood."

"Okay, when did this person stay here?"

"Very recently, over the past few days. She might have arrived on Friday."

"Oh..." She looks slightly disappointed. "I've been out on the sea for most of the past week. The weather's been good for fishing, so I usually start at four in the morning."

"Really?"

"Yes, that's the optimal time. Got to make the most of the calm. I've been sleeping like a corpse after. The sea really takes its toll. Now I'm just waiting for the wind to settle to get out there again..."

"Sorry I couldn't help you out." A faint smile runs across her face. "Maybe I can help you find someone else?"

"That's it, I'm not looking for anyone else right now."