The Visage's Ownership pt.2

Tristin gave the Araunda a quizzical look, not sure if Vor was genuinely asking or simply making small talk. From his previous coldness, Tristin figured it was the latter and was about to make a comment when their driver spoke of their arrival to the Expo.

“Looks like chit chat will have to wait, time for work.”

Vor nodded to follow out of the carriage before it drove off to wait. He couldn’t deny the luxury of Lady Ellington was already getting to his head, rather enjoying not having to push for room on a public transport. It however didn’t save them from the rather boisterous crowd of the Expo.
Tristin looked at their surroundings with scrutiny, trying to pick out any suspicious characters among the many faces that they began pushing past.
It didn’t take long for the two to find the crime scene, a small area of the Habitat exhibit being blocked from public entry. Here Vor hesitated, thumbing the small card he had been given before leaving the house. “Private Investigator” had an odd sound to him and while he was sure he could act the part, it didn’t feel right. Tristin saw this and sighed, taking the initiative to move past the simple barrier put in place, Vor taking a moment to swallow his indecision to follow.
A policeman was quick to notice their intrusion, stiffly walking to them and barking orders.

“ Passez derrière la barrière citoyenne!”*

Vor spoke up first, already performing with a stern voice.

“I am an investigator, currently investigating the artifact that was stolen from this exhibit.”

He revealed the card, though Vor noticed the policeman’s eyes focusing to the ring he now wore more intently than the I.D., tipping his hat to the duo without another word. Keeping his bewilderment contained, Vor focused on the staff milling about the Araunda exhibit.
As they got closer, Vor couldn’t hold back a short gasp of excitement at the sight of other Araunda, something he hadn’t expected. He was about to make a beeline towards them when Tristin tapped his shoulder.

“You seem to have this covered, I’m going to look for another lead.”

Vor nodded and watched Tristin vanish into the crowd, still skeptical if he had just been abandoned or set up. He grimaced, pushing the doubt back down in order to move forward with the mission.
He gained the attention of the nearest Araunda, a woman that had just finished talking with the same cop he had dealt with.
While his people were usually able to keep an upbeat outlook on any given day, calling the woman earned him a look that spoke of a long and weary day.
Speaking a traditional greeting softened the glare, though he did feel bad for bothering them any further. The following chat did give him his next lead however, an accompanying Eldren that he learned was the owner of the Visage.

“I tell you, this mess has earned the local authorities quite the bubble around! I was assured my contribution to the exhibit was safe and that I could make a stuffed bird laugh by suggesting hiring my own security. Well, I see who the stuffed bird is now!”

Vor gave his best sincerity to the man, but he had never liked being around such church bells and he tried to steer the Eldren’s thoughts to the artifact.

“Would you have any clue as to any peculiar properties the artifact may have possessed? Anything of note from the previous owner?”

The collector became silent for a blessed moment, before carrying on at a breakneck speed.

“Other than the age of the piece, I have none. I despise thinking of such a delicate work in the hands of ruffians. I’ve only had it myself for around five decades, though I only purchased it so that it could be displayed instead of being hidden away in some vault. Always a shame to see parts of another’s history stolen from them simply based on money, which is why I had so willingly volunteered it to be shown here. Rather drab representation of your people though, not bang up to the elephant as I had been led to believe.”

He jabbed a rather intricate cane into the air, making Vor stumble back.

“It all makes me want to bubble around with whoever organized this whole affair. Terribly sorry I couldn’t be of more help, though if you-”

Before another rant could continue, a distant commotion could be heard, drawing the police away. Vor took the collectors name, Thorbrum, before excusing himself to listen in on one policeman getting a rather panicked passerby’s account. Something about a monster amidst an explosion.
He took this as his sign to leave and made his way towards the carriage. He wasn’t one to look for violence and if it was one of the mad creations they had been warned of then even more reason to leave.
Tristin had already beat him to it, opening the door from the inside with a smirk.

“Ready to leave so soon? Was hoping to take a nap.”

Vor gave a humorous brow before entering, Tristin giving the address back to Lady Ellingtons’. A look between the two confirmed they had both heard of the incident, though Vor couldn’t tell if the Eldren knew anything more. He chose to not push, simply settling in for the drive while working over what he had learned.
*Go behind the barrier citizen!