Nevinia sat comfortably in the Paper Tiger, settled into one of her favorite booths with the sharp refreshment of a Vulker's Sap in one hand. Dressed in plainclothes, she'd left all but her trusty boot dagger at the barracks. She'd probably need another Sap to relax, but it had been an easy day on patrol. It was always the paperwork that made the day seem longer, and a small leather portfolio of completed papers sat folded on the tabletop, ink dry and completed.

Her gray eyes listlessly watched the patrons as they began to file in for the evening, the bar's crowd slowly swelling as the work day crawled to a close. Rainy season only served to remind her how tired she was of Vienda, perhaps even of Anaxas, but the constable had yet to find the confidence to finish her papers of application and transfer.

If she wanted to go somewhere, the dark-haired galdor wanted to do something first. Something worthwhile. She had an idea, but everything was moving so slowly. Impatient, Nia wanted action.

She was sure, if anyone, Zalika would have something to say to her thoughts. Hopefully, she'd gotten her note.

Zalika strolled into the Paper Tiger as though it belonged to her, chin high and dressed in the most current form of dress from Bastia, being a high throated burgandy dress, with a boned bodice laced tightly and slight bustle at the back. Pulling her hair back into a loose loop and a black headband, she glanced around the humble little tavern till she spotted the woman she'd come to see. Stepping upto her table, she bowed slightly.

"Nia. I received your notice and came as quickly as time would allow." Slipping into a seat beside the officer, she frowned a little, turquoise eye's concerned.

"Is everything well with you?"

Nia smiled and bobbed her head in an informal bow of greeting, waving a hand for the younger woman to join her, "Things are well enough, Zalika. There was no rush to meet me ... the night is still young enough. I trust I didn't put too much pressure on you to hurry and meet me?"

She brushed some dark, wavy hair back behind her ears as her smile turned wry, gray eyes mischievous, "I only invited you because I was curious if you feel the same as me ... I think I've grown a tired of waiting for some of our superior officers to set some events in motion, if you know what I mean."

The constable chuckled, raising her drink to her lips, "Either that or I've just grown terribly bored of Vienda and needed someone to talk to. Perhaps a bit of both."

Zalika smiled and rested her laced hands on the table.

"It would not surprise me Nia, Vienda is unfortunately a rather boring place. It was no pressure for me to meet you here, but now you have my curiosity. Indeed, I do feel impatience with our superiors." Lowering her voice and looking around, she leaned closer to Nia.

"I had quite the experience the other day, something truly odd. May I tell you about it?"

"If you want my opinion," Nevinia offered quietly, conspirator sort of grin peeking at the edges of her features, "I think we should clocking well handle things on our own... but—"

The constable tilted her head curiously, fingers tracing listless patterns on the sweat of her glass, "An experience, you say? Of course you can tell me ... Did something happen on patrol?"

((SFSR?))

Zalika glanced around again, shifting closer to Nia and lowering her voice even more.

"Indeed, but I'm not even entirely sure myself, what actually occurred. You see, I was on patrol, when I heard a cry. Upon inspection, I did discover a human man, bleeding and running for his very life, from a galdor." Pausing, one eyebrow raised, she continued.

"My first thought was attempted theft and our own had been defending himself, but something seemed out of place. When I called out for them to stop, the galdor turned to look at me, and Nia, I will swear it, his eyes had no color. Black as the hide on our mounts. It shocked me, and before I could attain him, he dissapeared. I then had to heal the human, he was dying right there in the middle of Vienda. When he was in no further danger, I questioned him on the events prior." Making a face, she shook her head.

"Foolish man wouldn't answer me, too frightened I would hurt him or something. I can't understand our officers sometimes. We are here to protect these defenseless souls, not harm them. It's the wicks we want to be rid of. But I digress. That is my story, and I feel very strongly that the galdori I encountered has something to do with these killings that have occurred."

Nevinia's gray eyes widened as Zalika described her encounter, fading into a concerned scowl at the human's inability to recognize the role of the Seventen as protectors and not punishers. Yet another member of the frightened populace. It was sad and slightly terrifying—that kind of fear led to violence and suffering. The constable glanced down briefly at her drink and gathered her thoughts around the description of the black-eyed attacker.

A galdor?

Looking back to the other woman, Nia spoke quietly, "It is disconcerting that a galdor wouldn't remain on the scene to further accuse their attacker, especially if their attacker was one of the lower races like that human. It's also unfortunate that such a human couldn't recognize your concern or accept your offer of care. These are sad times we live in, Zalika, when our role as Seventen has been distorted into something it was never meant to be."

She shook her head, muttering almost rhetorically, "Are we the only officers who take our work seriously anymore?"

Zalika sighed heavily, gesturing at the waitress so she could order.

"It seems that way, my friend." Ordering from the small human girl, she bought them both a Grand Whice. Turning back to Nia, she tapped her fingers thoughtfully on the table as she waited for the apple flavored drinks.

"What can we do? This man, he was clearly unstable, he's out there Nia, possibly taking more innocent lives. If our fellow officers cannot rally to the cause, what then, can we two do?"

Nevinia bit her lip thoughtfully, suddenly rather thankful for a second drink to be on it's way. Setting both her palms on the tabletop, lacing her fingers together, she stared at her unkempt nails thoughtfully.

"It's our duty to keep order. If our superior officers aren't capable of handling that task on their own, then I'm of a mind to take the initiative ourselves. I mean, as a constable, I know I appreciate a little spark of taking charge when it's for an admirable reason."

The dark-haired galdor sighed, "I don't think this man is someone who should be left to his own devices for much longer. Period."

Zalika nodded in agreement, straight backed and face slightly thoughtful.

"I too feel the same way, and I shall follow your lead. But pray-tell, what can we do?" Nodding to the girl as she brought their drinks over, the brown skinned girl took one, sipping it delicately.

"Is it treachery if we are to act of our own accord to find this villainous scoundrel?" The bastian asked quietly, turquoise eyes curious.

"It's not treachery if we're clocking doing our job." Nevinia scowled at her drink before sipping it, frustrated at the thought of being helpless when she knew it was well within her power and ability to do something,

"We're capable of taking care of this," the dark-haired woman smiled, gray eyes almost mischievous. She shrugged, the hand not around her drink straying to where her snaps would be had she been in uniform, "It's either we solve this and do something with ourselves, or languish in impatience while our superiors waste their time ... and ours. I'm of half a mind to transfer out of here or seek promotion enough as it is."

Zalika nodded, pulling a slightly saddened face.

"Truly, you would think after the disgrace of Bethas 26th, they would have us working double time. Instead, we still run around after vagrent wicks, demanding to see their paper work. Now, I am all for a good spot of kick-the-wick, but I didn't join the Seventen to become a wick-catcher." Sipping at her drink for a moment, she placed the glass on the table gently.

"Transfer? Where would you go? As for promotion, you are more than worthy of one."

Nia snorted into her drink at the mention of late Bethas, rolling her gray eyes, "Tsk. That was a shame, really, though, by the sounds of things, we should both be grateful we weren't there ... even if I'd be interested in the details."

The constable shrugged, leaning back in her seat, "Then again, I've been meaning to talk to Constable Megiro about a promotion or a transfer or ... something new. I suppose I could play a little curious while I'm at it—I wonder what he's heard of these murders, anyway ... let alone the prison mess."

She grinned a little, gears turning, "I don't see why you couldn't come along."

Zalika's turquoise eyes brightened at Nia's words, but she held herself in check like any good standing woman would.

"That is a most generous offer Constable. If it wouldn't be too much of a bother, I would dearly love that." Smiling to herself, she reached out and ran a finger around the rim of her glass.

"Do you have a date in mind to request audiance with Constable Megiro?"

"I did not." Nevinia blinked, "But, at the rate things are going, I have a feeling the sooner the better would be in our favor. Alioe knows what's going to happen next in our lovely capitol."

The dark-haired woman laughed, "Besides, someone has to be motivated around here. It might as well be us. You don't have any lengthy patrols pressing your schedule this week, I hope."

Zalika shook her head with a smile, enjoying this turn of events immensly.

"I have a morning patrol on the 17th, but thats really it. All the other patrols I have are spot shifts, which I'm sure, if my Constable needed me for other...pressing matters...I could have them covered." Lifting her drink, she nodded to the black haired woman.

"A toast, to Vienda, and keeping her safe?"

"Someone has to." Laughed Nevinia, raising her glass in return with a cheeky grin. After a sip, she added with a smile,

"We'll confer on our schedules. I'm sure we can find a day in agreement to visit our superiors and get something rolling in the right direction."

((Guh. SFSR. EoT?))

(( eot seems like a good idea. yay for threadness! ))