(( Hope you don't mind me moving Jaq along with Tito ))

Tito looked around at the smoldering debri. It was strange, he had only been here several days ago and now it was gone. There were very few people still around, and those that were were a crying mess for the most part. Shaking his head, he turned to Jaq. "Hey, let's split up and ask around... Make sure to ask beggars. They're more knowledgeable than most would give them credit for, and for a few coins, they'll give you a straight answer."

*(Hey, if you hadn't, I woulda...lol)*


Jaq laughed and ran a hand through her now long hair. "Honey, in this geddup, I can ask anybody but the ladies and get anything I want."

She turned and walked down the street a bit, slowly measuring her walk to gain the most eyes. Her heeled boots clicked on the cobbles, and with each sway of her hips, she made the illusion just that more real. To think, five years ago I was more into chasin butterflies. A lighted lamppost broke the darkness, and she waited beneath its halo for somebody to walk past. 'Course, with what I've got on, I'm more likely to be approached.

Jacqueline attracted some hoots and hollers from men on the street, who could see almost every curve on her body in the light from nearby windows, and filled in the blank spaces with their overactive imaginations.

Tito rolled his eyes as the girl went off, swaying with ever step. Kneeling down, he ruffled Jack's ears and looked him in the eye. The wolf sighed and began sniffing across the dirt. "C'mon, they said this guy was on the fattish side, try finding some greasy scent!"

Jaq heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind her.

"Hey, Daddy. Care to tell me a bedtime story?"

((Jaq, who is coming up behind you? I am confused))

"Not exactly," said a deep voice. Jacqueline felt the freezing tremor of a magical field before she smelled the acrid scent of char on the man. It was a Seventen, clad in his night armor, and he didn't look happy.

"Time to move along, citizen," the guard said sternly. "Nothing to see here."

Jaq's initial instinct was to, in order, freeze and run for it. But she kept her cool.

"Weren't lookin to see anything, ceptin maybe some moths flyin 'bout the lightpost. They look so...delicate...at night, y'think?"

She smiled coyly, her dark hair shining in the glow of the lamp above. "I appreciate you bein' around, stranger. You keep the wolves at bay. Makes a gal want to say thanks."

Jaq bit her lip. "And...I'm lookin for a friend. 'Sname's Gordain. Kinda big, a lighthair. Lives nearby. Maybe you, ah, seen him tonight? I'd love to catch up with him. It's been so long." Her eyes grew about three times in size as she looked up at the guard. "Can't you help a gal out? It'd mean so much to me."

"Gordain, huh?" The Seventen raised his eyebrows, looking Jacqueline over. Her flirting had the desired effect - he wasn't so opposed to staying and chatting now. Besides, the night was chilly and the beat was the same as it always was.

"That's the name of the civ that reported this bungle to HQ. Must have done it on the way home. Our office is near the waterfront." He cocked an eyebrow. "So why you lookin' for that doughy loser, brown-eyes?"

Jaq giggled. "Oh, you know, this 'n' that, repayin a debt, that's all. Needin to catch up on old times and such. An old friend wants me to tell 'im hi for her. That sorta thing."

She took a step closer, crossing her ankles and holding her arms behind her back. "Don't spose a smart, intelligent, strong, handsome soldier like y'self would have heard anything about where he was going, or details on where he was stayin, would you? You know, the formalities an' such?"

"We don't ask questions," said the soldier, quickly losing his grasp of the "formalities" as his eyes drifted towards Jacqueline's cleavage. "Generally when we get a tip we just follow it and leave the man to his own devices. Did notice he was smoking something, though. Sweet-smelling. You got a name, beautiful?"

Under all her makeup and falseness, Jaqueline Hyde blushed. Even in a disguise like this, it was rare for someone to dish out compliments, let alone a member of the seventen. She giggled. "Oh, sure. Jolie Angelin." She fluttered her eyelashes, and smiled. Heavily breathed, she added, "It's ever so nice to meet you, sir."

Jaq caught a glimpse of some purple out of the corner of her eye. What she'd learned, she should probably pass along to her partner. Find some way to get outta this one, cupcake.

The girl gasped and put her hand to her mouth, allowing her chest to heave just a tad. "Ohmygoodness, I almost forgot! My poor li'l kit, I came out to get some milk and was distracted by moths! And then you came along..." she giggled "...and you can see how I'd forget about a sad little osta with an empty tummy."

Jaq turned, flipping her hair back over her shoulder, and began to walk away. "Thanks for the chat, handsom." She paused, turning back to wink and blow a kiss before continuing on into the night. "It was just what the doctor ordered!" She carefully quickened her pace and darted down the sidewalk, eyes peeled for the first sign of Tito. Stay on your guard, girl. Don't get panicky!

Fortunately, this Seventen was a mere working stiff with an ugly wife, not one of the raping types. He grinned stupidly and watched as she sauntered off.

((LOL nice fake name.))

Tito's interviewee was not as scary as Jaq's. He had wandered off to the side under an overhang where a man was sitting with his back against the wall. His cloths were shabby and quite holey--and not in the religious sense. Meanwhile, Jack was sniffing around nearby taking in the smells. The bored bander had already forgotten his initial purpose.

Jaq sidled up to Tito quietly. "Hey, Stripes. I got a lead. This Gordain character lives down near the waterfront. It seems he's the guy who reported the fire in the first place. Mister Guard Man says he smokes somethin sweet. Think we oughta check it out?"

Turning away from the beggar and flipping him a shill, Tito smiled at Jaq. Though he couldn't quote approve of her methods, he had to at least give in that they were effect. "Yea, let's get going before the trail goes cold!" With that he'd make a motion to follow him and begin hurrying off in the direction of the waterfront.

"Indeed! Lead on, Stripes!" Jaq said, following after.