Quest: Investigation of Love, Part 1

[quest_guild]

Client: Starry-Eyed Jill
Location: Budehuc bar
Description: A fanciful local has an interest in one of Budehuc's new residents!
Participants: 1
Objective: Meet the client and find out the answers to a set of key questions discreetly to ascertain whether this local has a chance at romance with their chosen one!
Time Frame: 2 weeks

Reward: 800 potch

---

A young woman sits by the bar sipping casually from her cup every now and then.  Before her is a piece of paper and in her hand a pencil, with which she is furiously scribbling.

Comments

[what_a_pain]

[Shigure entered the castle's tavern and scanned the crowd inside. Luckily, he was good at remembering faces and noticed a woman near the bar who fit his client's appearance. As he made his way over to her, he's grateful that he doesn't have to be sneaky for this part of the job. That was always such a bother.

When he stood right behind her, Shigure spoke up hoarsely.]

Hey, are you Jill?

[1001_npcs]

[ The young woman seems to receive quite a fright at the sudden murmur of a voice right behind her ear, and she visibly jumps, the lead of the pencil snapping against the piece of paper. ]

O-oh!

[ She turns around, embarrassed, to see Shigure. [

Oh. W-why hello there, are you here for the... t-the quest?

[ She seems horribly shy. ]

[what_a_pain]

Yep. That's me. [He takes his pipe out of his mouth.] The name's Shigure.

I was told you were in need of a detective of sorts?

[1001_npcs]

Y-yes.

[ She wrings her hands nervously before a moment before clearing her throat, attempting to quit blushing. ]

You see, I wish you to... I wish you to find out more about S-Sir Caesar. I never took notice of him until now, but now that I finally see him, it is as if the sun has opened up in my life!

His hair is red like the flames of a Rage rune, and he always has this mysterious yet adorable smile across his face, as if he knows the secrets of the universe! He's a genius, did you know that?

[ She looks at her piece of paper. ]

S-so I have these questions I would like to have answered about him... Y-you do know who he is, right?

[what_a_pain]

. . .

[what_a_pain]

[This girl really has it bad.]

Caesar, huh? I never got his name, but I've only met one guy here with red hair so I think I may know who you're talking about.

[1001_npcs]

F-fantastic!

[ She claps a little happily, and then clears her throat. ]

O-okay... are you ready to hear what I would like you to find out?

[what_a_pain]

S-sure. What d'you want to know?

[1001_npcs]

[ VERY DEEP BREATH. ]

... What does Sir Caesar dream about when he naps? What smell does he like to wake up to in the morning? Is it the smell of freshly brewed tea or spring flowers? The smell of dusty old books? The smell of a woman's perfume? What is is his favourite play? I do love to go to the theatre, I hope he loves to go, too...

What are his hobbies? Where would he like to go on a first date? In fact, what are his views on dating!? Should a girl ever ask him first!? I fear that he would never ask any lady to be with him, given how noble he is...

I've also noticed that he has been going to the spa during odd hours privately... I-I must know, is he really in there alone, or is there a girl that he has already given his heart to!?

I would also like you to find out about Lady Agnes... She is always around Sir Caesar, and it is excrutiating! Are they an item? Is she trying to charm him!? Why does she keep making him cookies!? I-it is infuriating!

[ She was beginning to raise her voice there and drop her shy demeanor for a second. MORE DEEP BREATHS. ]

... F-for every piece of extra good information that you have, I will add 50 potch more to the reward. I-I know it is not much...

[what_a_pain]

Hm.

Well.

That's..

That's quite a lot. A lot of questions you've... got there.

[Beginning to wonder what he got himself into. What a pain!]

[1001_npcs]

[ She smiles at him with the most innocent, hopeful expression on her face ever. ]

[what_a_pain]

[SIGH.]

Well, potch is potch.

[Has to smoke his pipe again for strength. ;;]

But not too many questions for me to handle. I'll be able to investigate this Caesar for you.

[1001_npcs]

[ She clasps her hands together in joy. ]

Thank you so much!

S-Shigure, right?

This means the world to me!!

[ She gives him the piece of paper with basically everything she just said on it. ]

[what_a_pain]

[Oh, thank the True Runes. He hadn't been looking forward to trying to remember or write that all down himself! At least that was one less pain to deal with.]

Don't mention it.

[what_a_pain]

[Sometime after his chat with Caesar, Shigure seeks out Jill by waiting at the bar. He hopes she comes to the tavern often enough to run into her again.]

[1001_npcs]

[ Jill is sitting by the bar in much the same fashion as last time, except this time she does not have a notebook but a book that she appears to have borrowed from the library! She is once again alone, and she is reading quietly! ]

[what_a_pain]

[While turning around in his chair about to give up, he sees her sitting... right next to him. Some detective work, Shigure. He immediately bolts out of his seat and stands.]

I was just looking for you. [Tries to seem cool after the embarrassing fact that he didn't notice her sooner.]

[1001_npcs]

[ She looks incredibly startled at the sudden motion by her since she had been focusing on her book so intensely! ]

O-oh!

[ omg it's the detective ]

You finished the quest?

[ SHE DROPS THE BOOK AND STARES AT HIM INTENTLY ]

[what_a_pain]

Yes. I wasn't able to get answers for some of the questions you wanted, unfortunately. He's a much tougher nut to crack than I was anticipating..

[Doesn't know what to say about the admission concerning Agnes. Isn't looking forward to it!]

[1001_npcs]

I see...

What answers were you able to get?

[ She's getting nervous! ]

[what_a_pain]

I learned that his hobbies are, as he put it, "outsmarting his enemies, sitting in the spa, and taking naps".

[Despite his efforts, that was the least dramatic thing he was able to get.]

[1001_npcs]

... H-how dreamy...

[ DELUDED. She leans in closer to him, eager. ]

What else!?

[what_a_pain]

You wanted to know about Agnes, right? W-well, I found out something. [Is now feeling a little bad about having to tell her, but it is his job.] It's... interesting.

[1001_npcs]

Interesting...? Oh no...

[ She bites her lip and puts her hands up to her face, anxious. She already looks like she's about to cry and she hasn't even heard the news yet! ]

P-please tell me what it is!

[what_a_pain]

[He's relayed worse information to people in the past (in his opinion anyway) so this should be pretty easy by comparison! What a pain...]

Well, it looks like Agnes and Caesar are engaged.

THAT FACE

[1001_npcs]

What!?

[ You can almost hear her heart breaking as she buries her face in her hands, and -- okay, she's crying now, Shigure. Crying. ]

Are you sure!? That treacherous woman, posing as his housekeeper...!!!

[what_a_pain]

[Honestly didn't expect her to react so strongly!]

This information came directly from Caesar's mouth. So it's probably as true as you're gonna get.

[1001_npcs]

[ May be letting out a small wail when she hears that, although it's hard to hear over the bustle of the tavern. ]

...

...

...

Th-the money is in the... [ sob ] ... with... the lady...

[what_a_pain]

Ah, thanks. For your business... [Getting awkward and has to leave.]

[You were just doing your job, Shigure. And she'll get over it, right?]

[1001_npcs]

[ Mumbles something about Shigure being heartless and is ready to go cry about this to anybody who will listen! ]