bitchprince | The City, Shilo's World, Wednesday Evening (Reply)

Shilo	Shilo led them out of the house, hurrying down the streets towards the heart of the city. "God I wish I had another wig," she muttered as she tried to avoid everyone's eyes. "Come on, this way." They went through a maze of alleyways, until they found themselves in one where people were spilling out of a building. She looked around. "Where is he?" she said, a note of irritation creeping into her voice
Arthur	"Where you wish he wasn't, I suspect." Arthur sounded like he was more than a little bit used to that kind of exasperation. "What does he look like? We could search the premises." Funnily enough, Arthur was also more than averagely acquainted with the practice of doing searches. He was trying to keep his focus on the task at hand, and not on the rest of the world around him. In comparison, Fandom was practically home - he felt worse an alien than ever before. The clothes didn't help. He looked ridiculous.
Merlin	Perhaps if he was paler he'd fit in... "This is..." Something. "Yes, if you tell us, we can do this faster." And be away from there and all the oddities therein.
Shilo	Shilo grabbed the arm of one of the people leaving the Zydrate support meeting. "Where's Graverobber?" she demanded, harsher than she'd ever been while at Fandom. The junkie shrugged. "Ask one of his bitches," he mumbled. "I don't go to him no more." Shilo let go of his arm and turned to Arthur and Merlin. "Arthur, take her. Merlin, her," she said, pointing to two women who looked as though they might have seen better days. She then turned on her heel and headed for a third woman, who could safely be identified as the least attractive of the choices.
Arthur	Yes, Arthur felt he was allowed to blink for a moment at the formerly shy girl who'd just given him orders and then stomped off. It was that he hadn't wished to deprive the girl of a proper funeral for her father-- and that that impulse had now put him squarely in a situation he didn't have a grip on. No matter. He was pacing towards the girl Shilo had indicated (and perhaps inching towards the other, because he had no clue if Merlin could manage that without tripping over his own feet) and snagged her arm. "You're coming with me." Why, yes, he was a professional at this.
Merlin	Because he was clearly utterly helpless. Clearly. Merlin just signed in resignation as he went toward the woman inquestion. This wasn't exactly what he expected. "Miss?"
Bitches	The woman Arthur had decided to yank away from her corner was less than pleased. "What the hell?" she said, trying to pull her arm free. "I ain't going nowhere. Not unless you're paying me to go there, blondie." The girl in front of Merlin gave him an amused look. "Go home, honey," she said in a husky voice. She took a pull from the cigarette in her hand. "You're not old enough to take this ride."
Arthur	"All I need to know is where to find Graverobber," Arthur said, with heavily faked patience. "Then you'll be free to go, and we can all go about our business." He maintained his grip as it stood, although he didn't manhandle her any further.
Merlin	Merlin made a face at her. "I'm not looking for a horse. A man named Graverobber."
Bitches	The woman with Arthur sighed. "I ain't busting my pimp," she said, glaring. "Beat it, plainclothes." Merlin's attempt was met a little more amiably, as she laughed at his comment. "All right, kid, I'll tell you where to find him," she chuckled, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "He ain't sticking around here. Follow the crowds. Nicky's your best bet, he's only just trying to quit so he's going to be weak." She pointed out the man in question. "He'll know exactly where Graverobber is these days." Meanwhile, Shilo was digging frantically through her bag, while the woman she'd been talking to was wearing a smug expression.
Arthur	Plainclothes? What? Arthur was going to fob that one off as yet another one in a long line of cultural idiosyncracies he really didn't understand. "I'm not looking to 'bust' anyone," he said, letting go of her arm.
Merlin	Merlin ducked his head in ~~flaily~~ graceful manner to escape her clutches. "Arthur!" And that was him making a beeline for Arthur before any sort of fight broke out.
Shilo	The woman with Arthur looked up at Merlin, then at the woman Merlin had been talking to (who was now ~~howling with laughter~~ chuckling at the poor man), and walked towards her. The two departed the alley together. Shilo was in the process of handing money to the woman she'd been talking to, and turned to look at the boys as soon as she was done. "Find out anything?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
Arthur	"Ask Merlin," Arthur said, casting a a wary look at Shilo. "What's plainsclothes?" He kind of needed to know now.
Merlin	"Someone called Nicky?" Merlin offered.
Shilo	Shilo fought the urge to giggle, and lost. "Plainsclothes is a police officer who does his job without wearing a uniform. They're usually employed by the vice squad. Evidently she thought you were going to arrest her or something," she explained. "Merlin, did she show you who Nicky was?"
Arthur	"Well, that's ridiculous," Arthur muttered. And had nothing at all to do with the fact that back home, lifting people off their beds, arresting them and interrogating him was part of his job. "But yes, good question. Merlin?"
Merlin	Merlin scanned the crowds, looking for the man that had been pointed out to them. "There!"
Shilo	"Right," Shilo said. "Now what?" She looked at Merlin. "Is that Graverobber in disguise, or something?"
Merlin	"...how would I know?" Merlin asked slowly.
Shilo	Shilo closed her eyes, put her fingers to her temples and rubbed them in tiny circles. "She didn't tell you when you talked to her?" she asked, suddenly feeling like she was back in drama class, playing the questions game.
Arthur	"Let's not stand around babbling right now," Arthur said, not as sarcastic as usual mostly on account of-- "We might lose him. Ask questions later." Sigh, Arthur.
Merlin	Merlin just gritted his teeth. This wasn't his bloody world. "She called him Nicky."
Shilo	Shilo actually huffed, and then walked past the two of them, and called out, "Nicky!" The man turned, eyes wide, and then saw her and seemed to relax... until she got closer. "You're the-" "No time," she said sharply. "I need to see Graverobber." Nicky looked at his feet and started to mumble something, and Shilo stepped forward. "I know you're not supposed to, but this is important. I was told you could help me." A hand went into her bag, brought out what appeared to be coins. "Please?" The coins changed hands, and Nicky gestured for them to follow.
Arthur	His kingdom for a cloak. Lacking one of those, Arthur merely huddled a little with his shirt (it didn't help. Bloody futuristic clothing was too close for comfort) and cast another wary, exploring glance over the masses while he followed. He really did need to invest in a gun.
Shilo	Nicky and Shilo led the procession down alleyway after alleyway, and Nicky whistled a few bars of a song, and then took off running. Shilo looked after him, her expression bewildered and mildly angered, while before them a tall, pale man climbed out of a dumpster. "Kid?" he said, after a moment. Shilo turned. "Christ, it is you. What the hell are you doing here?" "You know everything that happens," she replied. "I need some info."
Shilo	Shilo and Graverobber conversed quietly for a bit, and ultimately Shilo walked back towards Arthur and Merlin with a slightly crestfallen expression. "He doesn't know for certain," she said, the tiniest of wibbles creeping into her voice. "But he heard one of the Cleaners saying that Dad 'ended up where he belonged'. Excuse me." She dug through her bag, found a tissue, blew her nose. When she spoke again, the wibble was gone. "I guess we'll go check my mother's tomb. If he's not there then... well, the catacombs are right nearby." She gestured for them to follow her again.
Arthur	Crying gírl had set off something in the back of Arthur's brain that left some of the rest of his arrogance ebbing out of his expression, and so he nodded. "Of course," he said, and fell into step to follow. "We'll do everything we can to find your father's body." Sigh. Arthur.
Merlin	Nodding encouragingly, Merlin shifted in his ill fitting clothing. "That's why we came, after all."