swordofthehawk | ❧ IC Contact

You haven't seen Kotetsu, have you?

[Casca is scouting the town when she gets this message. Would that she could look less troubled, but she cannot, not when her Vice Commander is vanished without a trace and has yet to return her call. Perhaps, because of that, her expression may well answer Izzy's question before Casca has a chance to.]

[She shakes her head, frowning beyond the device at a very busy street.]

I haven't. He didn't report for work today.

[She pauses briefly, only to glance at the other woman and then away.]

I take it that you haven't, either. That's not like him.

It isn't, no. I mean, maybe if you'd seen him, and I hadn't, it would be okay. One shift every now and then is just...you know, whatever. It happens.

[she pauses, wrinkling her nose whether or not Casca is looking at her.]

You don't think something happened, do you?

[except that's sort of a given. Something had to have happened.]

One shift with some kind of explanation I could understand, but not an absence without cause.

[Even when he'd been late, Kotetsu had been helping people, not that he ever admitted it, and that continues to perplex Casca.]

Something must have happened. His Forge is still reachable as far as I can tell, so the only other conclusion that I can draw is that he's lost it or he's unable to use it.

[Or both.]

In either case, if he's made no attempt to contact either one of us, he's likely in some kind of trouble.

Of course he is. [she sighs.] Remind me why we let him patrol things alone? Because we probably shouldn't.

[a beat.]

So what now? We go look for him?

Ah?

[Why do they permit him to patrol alone? Probably because he can be competent...when he wants to be. He means well, even if he's prone to getting carried away. Aren't they the same reasons she decided to promote him? Between that and discovering how long Kotetsu had been a resident of the city, how well he knew it versus most others...]

That's not something to be discussed here and now, Commander Lightwood.

[She turns a corner and leans against a wall. Looking left and right hails no sign of the Hero.]

I'm a step ahead of you, in any case. I thought he might be preoccupied with helping citizens - it's happened before - but no one I've spoken with has seen him, and there's been no other sign. We might need to move to less populated areas.

[Yes. We. Izzy may not be S&R, but she's affiliated with Kotetsu and she's as much a member of the Alliance as Casca.]

Edited 2013-05-01 21:20 (UTC)

Okay. Something to think about, though.

[she's definitely going to talk to him about it. If even just on one shift or something. She shrugs.]

Well, I can start in on the ruins with my brother on my next patrol. But if he's in trouble, it might be too late. I can gear up now, and head out, but I figure we'll be better off in small groups if there is something going on. Maybe it's not foul play; maybe it's just the Mist. Either way, really.

I'd rather not waste time by waiting for a designated patrol, and if Kaburagi really is in danger and not just mucking about the city, we should search with partners, both of us.

Take your brother if that's who you're most comfortable with. I'll...contact one of my own.

[She masks her reluctance by appearing more troubled by the thought of her missing Vice Commander and the problems it is causing, but the truth is, she'd really prefer to work by herself than with any particular member of her team. It isn't that she doesn't trust in their abilities, because Usopp has proven himself time and time again (even if his basic instinct tends to be flight instead of fight), and Uryuu helped her with the division before Kotetsu was even promoted (although she's never seen him in combat). In fact, Sansa demonstrated her unique ability not long ago, and Casca is certain it would be useful in this particular instance, but given the nature of that ability, or more accurately, the nature of the wolf Sansa would possess? It is an ability that would likely be better utilized without her to slow the pair down. And as for Spencer and Karina? Casca can't honestly say she knows them well enough...]

[Which, of course, leaves the ever informal Asellus, whom Casca has difficulty cooperating with...although she would be quick to accuse Asellus of being the uncooperative one if questioned.]

Perhaps Uryuu or...Asellus. [The woman is talented, but even so, Casca would rather not search with that woman. She'd almost prefer to pull teeth, instead!] Or if your brother isn't available, you and I could search together. You know Kaburagi as well as I do, I would imagine.

Edited 2013-05-01 21:50 (UTC)

[she'll have to find Alec, she knows. Maybe get ahold of Magnus too, at this rate. She can only hope that they aren't going to have some kind of domestic when she needs them both.

[But then she's quiet for a moment, chewing on her lower lip as she watches Casca ruminate over her choices.]

Why don't we just go? I'll shoot Alec a message, he can grab another partner and maybe take a look around the city a bit more, in case there's something you missed.

I'm not going to say no to that. It means we can begin searching effective immediately.

[Ya know, among other things. Like avoiding certain green-haired people who like to induce headaches.]

Where should I meet you?

Headquarters? That's where I am right now. I can wrap this up, and be out there in five.

That's suitable. I'll be there in a few minutes, then.

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