Conversation · Bird's Nest Roy

You can sell things from your ITEMS tab for cash -- but be careful: You might wish you had them later.

"By the way... do you, um, happen to have any guns? Like the ones carried by cops?"

"Someone else came here earlier today asking the same question -- I promptly sold her the gun you pawned a couple days back."

WHAT? Sold?!

This is a pawn shop... And it did feel as if you've met before. Oh god...

The lieutenant shifts from one foot to another, alert.

"Someone else came here earlier today asking the same question -- I promptly sold her the gun you pawned a couple days back."

"You might be able to aid my investigation."

"I doubt it, but I can try to answer any questions you may have."

"Actually, that's all I've got."

The pawnbroker's gaze is already fixed on the dancing colours.

"Think you could help me get a corpse out of a tree?"

"The corpse behind the hostel, I assume..." He looks into the swirling lights, then to you: "I don't have a truck with a mounted platform or anything of that sort myself..."

"Ask around the harbour. There might be some workers there who'd be willing to help."

"Know anything about the recent hanging?"

"I do my best to keep my distance from all manner of butchery. Bad for business, bad for everyone."

He doesn't know anything.

No one likes to see what you have to see every day.

"Ever had any dealings with the Union Boss?"

"He's been by the shop a couple of times." He gives a lazy half-shrug.

There was something awfully deliberate about that laziness.

"Did he buy anything?"

"He purchased a remarkably garish paperweight the first time he was here... Nothing the second."

"I have other questions about this."

He nods reluctantly.

"Did he discuss union business with you?"

"He tried. Wanted to come to some mutually beneficial arrangement around my dealings with the dockworkers... I politely declined to hear him out."

"So you don't know what kind of arrangement he was talking about?" The lieutenant studies the pawnbroker suspiciously.

"As I said, I refused to talk to him. That's why he came back a second time. That's also why he hasn't come back a third."

"What kind of arrangement?"

"Why do I feel like you don't want to talk about him? Are you hiding something?"

"They weren't the most... pleasant interactions. Small-town Big Wigs always want everyone to play a part in the play they're staging."

"But I bowed out at some point. I prefer to watch from afar while the Big Wigs come and go."

For a moment, his jaw tenses up, and his gaze is sharp and clear. Then he relaxes again.

"I heard the forewoman before Evrart disappeared."

"Yes, it was all very strange. That forewoman was... more pleasant than Evrart." He shrugs. "But I guess it's all the same in the end..."

There's more to his animosity toward the Union Boss.

"You're not telling me everything about the current Big Wig."

He sighs. "Tiphaine Holly, the previous head of the Union, was rather more pleasant. Some of us around here... well, we've never understood why she didn't run for a second term. Or where she went after withdrawing from politics. It was all very strange."

"Know anything about the Wild Pines representative that's in town?"

He looks off to the side, then down at his hands. "Can't say I'm a huge admirer of Wild Pines, and I certainly wouldn't trust any silver-tongued spokesperson of theirs. Fortunately, I have no reason to get involved."

"Wait... what do you have against Wild Pines?"

"What should I have for it?"

"Have you met the Wild Pines rep?"

"No, just -- people like that make everyone else see the world somewhat askew... at an angle that is convenient for them. Now -- you have more questions, or are we..."

"Care to share your Pyrholidon with me?"

"Here you go, man." He presents a large cap-shaped object on the palm of his hand. Very odd-looking...

Not so sure about this.

"Thanks, man." (Take the pyrholidon.)

He looks down. "Of course."

Wait, why wouldn't I be sure?

Because it's an anti-radiation drug and you're a cop, not a post-apocalyptic scavenger?

"Actually, I changed my mind. I don't need any Pyrholidon." (Refuse to take the pyrholidon for now.)

"I respect your decision, officer. What else can I help you with?"

"Have you tried it before?"

It's almost like he's worried for you.

The lieutenant steps away, pretending to admire some of the knick-knacks on display. Looks like he doesn't want to get involved...

...go ahead then, he thinks. As long as you can walk straight, I don't care.

He won't be your narc -- but he won't be thrilled about this either.

"I think I've tried it once -- and liked it."