All I Ask of You || Naveen + Claw and Order
After Hera’s Masquerade Ball, Naveen decides to ask for professional help to find Christine, the beautiful and mysterious woman that he had danced with.
Part I in the Search for Christine (tm)
Naveen
Naveen, by nature, was not an anxious person. He scoffed at authority figures not because they weren’t necessary—they were of course, to a degree—but because the rigidity and formality that they always had. As a result, he tended to avoid them. This was especially prudent in the streets of Maldonia when they were trying to drag them back to whatever dry ordeal that they needed him for. Needless to say, it was with a touch of irony that he made his way to the police station. Not a touch of regret, mind you, because he certainly did not regret the reason for going. The situation was just humorous to him, as some situations just happened to be. But, walking in, he only recognized one of the cops—Copper, which was another ironic thing—and Naveen didn’t think he left the most favorable impression (to be fair, his wrist was broken but he supposed that paled in comparison to Lou and wow Naveen was cutting off that thought because he refused to deal with that whole spectacle for now). “Hullo. I, um, got a case for the cops?”
Copper
Copper and Rajah were doing the typical stand-around-the-water-cooler talk. Except in this case the water cooler was coffee machine and for once, they were just idly chatting. Work had come before and work would come later, but it was coffee time, both Rajah and Copper needing a bit of a mental reboot, running circles around their vampire case. He was in the middle of griping about the Guy Fawkes bonfire, which, yeah, was still work, oops, when Naveen approached them. He hadn't seen the man since the trailer (and Naveen was right, he hadn't left the most favorable impression at all.) Copper looked at Rajah and then back to Naveen. "Right," he nodded. "Is this an urgent matter...or?" Something about the way Naveen had acted before (panicked and, honestly, a bit of a drama queen) made him feel like it wasn't.
Rajah
Rajah was in the middle of a sentence, thanks, when the man came in, complainin' right along with Copper about the bonfire (but mostly because Swynlake had fireworks for Guy Fawkes and he hadn't been allowed to shoot some off for Diwali? What the fuck was that?). His eyebrows shot up. He didn't think he'd seen the man before, but the way Copper looked at him, it seemed like they'd interacted. He adjusted where he stood, taking a sip of his coffee-- letting Copp take the lead, which y'know, was only right of 'im.
Naveen
Naveen nodded very seriously. Obviously it seemed as if Copper was doubting what he was going to say. And to be fair, the vampire case was extremely important. Definitely more important actually, what with the possibly death that could happen. Probably—he didn't know that much about vampires actually. But from what he heard, they weren't exactly making leaping bounds of progress. Either way, he needed to find her. Christine. He could still feel her hand, see that shimmering white dress that resembled the movie so much. "Definitely important," he scratched the back of his head, "I'm looking for someone. A missing person."
Copper
Copper's stomach dropped into his knees and he glanced at Rajah. Another attack. That was the first thought in his head. Of course, none of the alarm was immediately clear on his face, but he was sure Rajah could read it there, even if Naveen couldn't. Taking a deep breath, he absently set his coffee down and gestured for Naveen to follow him. "Right this way, Mr. Charles, please, let's go to my office so we can get more information." He turned and walked down the hall to his office. Then, he closed the door after Rajah entered and gestured for Naveen to take a seat. "When did you last see them?" Always the first question. Always the most important one.
Rajah
Not another. Rajah's jaw ticked, and he had to duck his head actually, to hide the flash of concern. He wasn't as good at poker facing the way Copper could. He could do it, course, all cops needed to but he had to be prepared and right now, with his body a bit jittery on the coffee (which was making up from his measly three hours of sleep and the fact it was approaching afternoon, when tigers liked to stretch out and nap), he wasn't on his game. But he quickly found that composure and put it on, following both Naveen and Copper. He stood off to the side a little, eyes flicking between Naveen and Copper.
Naveen
Naveen was slightly pleased himself at the reaction. Not in necessarily a good way, since cases were bad in general, but was glad to see how accepting the cops seemed to be about the case. I mean, Copper even knew his last name. He followed his way into the office, noticing how even the other cop was following. Should probably ask him his name, but...yep there was a badge/nametag. Rajah Patel. And Copper's last name was Russell. Nice that he didn't have to ruin the rather somber atmosphere that had suddenly occurred. "Must be about...three days now? Admittedly I waited a bit because I thought that I would be able to find her by myself."
Copper
Three days. Copper's heart followed his stomach down to his knees. Jesus. A flare of annoyance flashed in him, though he kept it under control behind that stony facade. This was why you came to the police immediately. That was what had saved Kiara, in the end. And if he'd just been quicker with Faline...he shook that thought off internal and sighed deeply. Instead of growling, you idiot like he wanted to, he merely clenched his jaw, and then said. "Okay, we need to know the last place she was seen, her name, and your relation to her. And any other information that can help us, favorite places, friends, enemies. Anything like that."
Rajah
Rajah had already gotten out his pad of paper to record all this information down. He looked to Naveen now.
Naveen
Now that was a lot of information that frankly..he didn't know. Another reason why authority figures unnerved him. Always asking questions and expecting answers that he didn't know but was supposed to know. All with that expressionless poker face. "I'm sorry but...don't know. That's why I'm looking for them in the first place. Because they're missing but I want to find them. I can still give you all the facts I have." See, he was getting nervous again. Trying to compensate for his lack of knowledge that he couldn't do anything about. Why couldn't he have chosen the cop who had a friendly demeanor? Oh well, nothing he could do now but blame bad luck.
Copper
What the bloody fuck did that even mean? That this person was missing, that he wanted to find them, that he didn't know shit about them. It took a second, a few, long seconds where the gears turned in Copper's head. And then it all clicked together at once and his eyes widened and then narrowed at Naveen. This man had been daft before in the trailer, whining about being cold and needing help for nothing more than a broken hand when there had been people bleeding out with fractured pelvises and a bloody pole sticking out of them. But, this. This was on a whole other level of stupidity. Copper crossed his arms and leaned against his desk, quite close to Naveen, their legs almost touching. He bent forwards a little bit. "Are you telling me that you're simply looking for someone you don't know and you want us to help you get in contact with them?" The rage was boiling just below the surface, but he kept it in check. Oi, he wanted to strangle this guy.
Rajah
Rajah had been pen poised at the ready to start recording info, and he was itching to get the chance to hop in, ask for something of this person's-- because yeah three days, any scent would be minimal, but he could at least pick up something tiny that could point 'em in the right direction. But he frowned along with Copper at the man's answer. He didn't jump to an assumption, 'course; well, he assumed the stranger wasn't going to waste their time, really, that his intentions were in the right place. But as soon as Copper growled what he did, Rajah's eyebrows flew high on his forehead. "Wait, what?" he said and leaned forward again, his face twisted in his confusion, still.
Naveen
Naveen looked at them, confused. Wasn't that what they had been talking about the whole time? Based on Copper's face, clearly not. Which was confusing in itself, since Naveen had stated that he was looking for a missing person when he was, in fact, looking for a missing person. Bit of a miscommunication happening here, on both parts. "I'm with Patel here. What?" Oops, accidentally let it slip that he had taken a look on Rajah's name tag. Or randomly knew his name which was more creepy since they had never met before but less creepy since Rajah was the deputy and all. "Look mis amigos, I met this wonderful, beautiful woman at Hera's Halloween Masquerade Event—a charming lady, by the way—and wish to contact her once again. She...she is Christine and I am the Phantom, you see? Minus all those anger issues, I'm a glücklich man."
[translation: my friends; I'm a happy man]
Copper
If Copper had been holding a pencil instead of a plastic pen, it most definitely would've snapped in half as his anger spiked. "We're not a goddamn dating service," Copper snapped at the buffoon before him. "Missing persons means someone who is in danger."
Rajah
It took Raj a moment, looking at Naveen's wide open face, and then Copper's as it contorted in his rage. It was really the dichotomy between the two--the utter difference, the disconnect-- that ended up making his own mouth split open. He laughed. He couldn't help it-- he just laughed. "You-- you--arre wah!" he exclaimed, and laughed even more. "Waah, ye lajawab hai!" He bent over himself, and then reached for the desk to steady himself as he continued to snicker. "Oh I--can't believe this-- you thought-- you--" More laughter. Sorry Copp.
[translation: oh wow!! wow this is incredible!]
Naveen
Naveen almost smiled again. That is to say, he tried not to but failed. Wasn't his fault exactly; he just found other people's laughter impossibly contagious. He managed to stop from chuckling himself—since the situation for himself wasn't that funny—but his serious facade was broken slightly with a smile. Not even his normal broad smile, but a smile nonetheless. Wouldn't hurt if the same trait affected Copper as well. "You see, I thought it would be...more safe to find her with cops than by myself, you see? Less creepier." he glanced back at the emotionless cop, "Not that it's...I'm sure she'll appreciate it. It's a search for my princess, so to speak."
Copper
Copper could not believe this guy. He was absolutely flabbergasted, didn't know what to say--felt his anger boiling up though. That gave him a voice--and, y'know, normally Copper kept a very good lid on his anger. It came out in short, bitten words of annoyance, but he very rarely ever yelled. Right now, oh yeah, he wanted to yell. Felt it burning in his chest. "We're not a dating service, I don't care if the girl is a bloody princess unless you're part of her royal guard or some shit and she actually needs finding. This is a police station--we solve crimes, not find whatever girl ran out on you, you daft--" Copper cut himself off with a snort, jaw ticking.
Rajah
Now, maybe back in London, he would have agreed with Copper-- shown this guy the door and grumbled and snapped because of course the station would have better things to do. And Swynlake did have better things to do, yeah-- they had open cases and real crime. But most of those crimes had stalled and everyone was so beat down day to day as the town berated them and they didn't get anywhere. This was easy. This was--manageable. This was good. Raj might not be able to save many lives anymore, but he could help a bloke find love. At least somebody would get some. "Wait-- just a second," Raj broke in. He caught Copp's look, knew that his partner was going to think he was daft. But fine then, so he was daft. "I mean it's, it's not really what we do and-- Copp's really too busy, probably but--my, er, light is loader this week. I... can maybe take this on," Raj said with a little shrug. "As long as you agree-- never to use the station for somethin' like this again."
Naveen
Naveen listened to Copper of course, but he was internally thinking of his own arguments, as all humans are prone to do. First of all, he thought that cops should be a bit more politer, even if it was a stupid demand or not. Second, he thought that if a guard had lost their princess then they had bigger things to worry about—like how/why they lost the princess in the first place. (and yes, he was a tiny bit insulted that the cop thought that he would be a guard as opposed to the actual prince he was, but Copper didn't really know better) Third—didn't really matter, since Rajah seemed to be agreeing! Naveen went over and shook Rajah's hand, even though he wasn't holding it out or anything. Better than what his original action what was going to be. "Of course, of course! Heard and understood, I assure you. Ideally I wouldn't need to come since I met the love of my life, but either way, 'course not. Good luck with the vampire case too!"