\ Haven:Mist and Shadow Patrollogs/Novels Bribery Attempt 241015
Patrollogs

Novels Bribery Attempt 241015


(Novel's bribery attempt)

[Mon Oct 14 2024]

On the Walkway Leading to the Front Steps of Town Hall
This sidewalk has recently been paved and placed, with mortar in between
the thick slabs of concrete. Some grass has attempted to grow between,
sprouting out thickly here and there, though it still remains in good
condition. Some casual indigenous wildflowers have been planted to either
side of the sidewalk, blooming during the warmer months and resting as dark
brown patches in the winter. A few trees offer shade here and there.

It is night, about 44F(6C) degrees, and there are a few dark grey stormclouds in the sky. There is a waxing gibbous moon.

Novel blinks as he strides up, noticing Emmanuel's already got it, and offering a dip of his head. "Hey, Frenchie. Turned out to be Euphie, or was it some other girl that got grabbed by the Syndicate?" He inquires with a tilt of his head as he thumps on up. He gives the deputy a speculative look as he settles in.

Emmanuel strolled casually toward the town hall, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the square. His well-worn jacket clung to his frame, its pockets deep with secrets and cigarettes. As he approached the steps, a lone deputy leaned against the iron railing, pretending to be more engrossed in a half-crumpled newspaper than in the world around him. Emmanuel's boots made a soft, deliberate sound on the cobblestones, signaling his arrival. He offered a half-smirk, flicking his unlit cigarette between his fingers before casually leaning beside the deputy, just far enough to avoid suspicion but close enough to draw attention.

"Afternoon, deputy. Looks like a slow day," he muttered, his French accent betraying a touch of sarcasm. Without waiting for a response, he slipped a hand into his pocket, retrieving a small, neatly folded envelope and pressing it into the deputy's hand with a subtle yet practiced motion. "I am hearing there has been some noise around the town, hm? Would be a shame if the wrong folks started listening, don't you think?" His amber eyes locked with the deputys for a heartbeat, hard and knowing, before softening with a conspiratorial smile. "The Disruptors, well, we appreciate a quiet town, too. You keep our little secretsmaybe things stay peaceful, non?"

The deputy hesitated for a second before his fingers closed around the envelope, the weight of the bribe sinking in. He gave Emmanuel a curt nod, glancing over his shoulder as if to make sure no one was watching. Emmanuel pushed off the railing, casually lighting his cigarette, and tipped an imaginary hat. "Merci, deputy. Remember, eh? That the silence is golden," he drawled, taking a long drag before turning on his heel, his boots echoing faintly as he disappeared down the street, leaving behind the faintest trace of smoke and lingering influence.

It's after chatting up the deputy, and handing over the wee envelope that Emmanuel pauses after near running into Novel, "Oh, Novel." He blurts out with a turn of the lips, "Oui, it was Euphie. She is being safe now, hm? Back at the apartment with Fayad. A little drugged, but non worse for the wearing."

Novel nods slowly in response to Emmanuel and then offers a lazy lift and fall of his shoulder. "Maybe those two can finally talk about their fucking relationship instead of both being weird and mopey. Euphie's been a pain in the ass to work with recently because of it," The man sounds more than a little aggravated, rolling his shoulder some and issuing a sigh as he studies how the other man works the deputy over with interest.

"I am pretty sure their relationship is over, non?" Emmanuel notes back to Novel with a mild raise of the brow, and then clucks his tongue gently. "Ah, she will not be mopey long, hm? Her blood will not let her." The fellow opines with another glance over toward the hSD deputy, especially when they double-dip on the bribes.

"Probably, but there's a difference between it being over and them both acknowledging that shit and moving and when someone's holding a firing line with me behind a shot-up cargo container I don't want the person next to me suddenly bursting into tears and dropping their fucking weapon," Novel answers Emmanuel with a little lift of his shoulders. "Well, yeah, Tabi got over her shit too pretty fast, and I'm pretty sure she's gonna break up with Berlin soon too. Too fucking bad, he's a decent guy."

"Oh?" That gossip definitely catches Emmanuel's attention, even more than the idea of being trapped behind the cover with less than reliable compatriots, "What is making you think this, hm?" He inquires of the other fellow, leaning in a little closer with eagerness.

"Hmmm." Novel furrows his brow. "Mostly because Tabi is letting a catboy sleep in her bed who gets really fucking jealous whenever anyone gets near her and Berlin isn't abusive enough. Plus, earlier today, Chelsea specifically fucking mentioned him and ran off to deal with her phone blowing up and gossip after telling me she was pregnant and it was probably mine."

Novel says "Anyway, you wanna go get a cup of coffee or go hit things out in the wild?"