gadaboutdetective | PSLs and Meme Overflows

[Watts’ expression shifted to something decidedly describable as a scowl. The case had been frustrating enough as it was, and Derroc had already gotten quite the earful last time he’d been on planet about it while the detective had been in the middle of the investigation. Now that it was behind him, he was honestly even more annoyed by the whole matter.

Taking another large bite of his dumpling with some obvious agitation, he responded a minute or two later.]

Ah, yes. The imperial garrison commander’s wife.

[Another small grimace, as though the matter left a bad taste in his mouth.]

That was a mess, and not my finest work if I’m being honest. Not that you can wrap a case up in a satisfying manner when someone is unreasonable, lacks human decency and is really quite spectacularly stupid.

[Watts didn’t tend to harbour animosity for his clients, but when angry enough he certainly didn’t hold back.]

As it turns out... the entire case was a sham. The entire time I was running around investigating, wasting resources and the time of my consultants for nothing, she wasn’t poisoned at all. Just wanted to make a stir, garner some attention and attempt to lead the investigation in a direction that would benefit the both of them.

I suspect when he hired me, he was under the impression that my being fired from the police meant that I wasn’t particularly good at my job. That I wouldn’t figure out what was actually going on and that he could cast doubt and build a case against someone that was standing in his way.

... For a promotion of all things!

[He stopped long enough to finish off the rest of his dumpling, clearing his throat a little he continued with a huff.]

He was uh— quite mad when I confronted him about it, demanded my files and that was apparently that! Wouldn’t even pay the full sum for my services... rude on top of everything else.

[With a small tug to straighten his jacket sleeves, he glanced sidelong with a slightly more relaxed expression. Perhaps even a bit conspiratorial, as he tended to trust Derroc when he had something under his hat that he was working on.]

What he doesn’t know, is that I keep backups of all my casework.

Mm... And that I might have started a file on him and his wife. I have reasons to suspect that a man so keen to victimize others for status alone has more than one secret, the sort that could use a little light being shed on them once enough pieces of the puzzle get sorted together.

[It wasn’t that he was petty or vindictive, Watts was simply dogged in his pursuit of the truth. He had a hard time letting something go once he sunk his teeth into it. It tended to get him in trouble more often than not; but he hadn’t died yet, so it was trouble that was well worth it in his books.]

Edited (Words I’m picky) 2020-01-31 04:19 (UTC)

[ A sputter of laughter. ] You've gotta be kidding me. How was fake-poisoning his wife supposed to get him promoted? Was she in on it or something? That's wild.

[ He sobers, though, as Watts continues, his expression shading from sympathetic indignation to downright concern. Glances around them, his dark eyes a little too wide to be convincingly casual. ]

Is that - I mean, what are you gonna do? If he does?

Oh she was definitely in on it. It was an uh— ill-conceived attempt at framing someone else that would have been considered for promotion first.

[Watts actually stops walking, head tilting slightly at both Derroc’s expression and his question. His own expression was vaguely perplexed, brow furrowed as if he thought the answer was so obvious.

Straightening his posture a little, he waved a hand vaguely as he answered.]

I’m... going to do the right thing, Derroc. I’ll expose him for what he is and make sure he’s stopped.

[Had he really thought through what the consequences of blowing the whistle on powerful individuals could mean for him? Had he considered the possibility of retaliation or an attempt to silence him? Perhaps... Though it was far more likely that he hadn’t taken the time to, the man was often blinded by the need to make things right.

He squints a bit, trying to work out the wide-eyed expression his friend currently wore.]

Mm... I can’t help but note that you seem surprised by this?

[ He did not, admittedly, plan for this. He knows Llewellyn to be a canny observer, conscientious, well-intentioned, honest by his lights. He hadn't realized until now that he's also blisteringly naive.

Under other circumstances Cassian would inform him of the fact without wasting words, would pin him down with pointed questions until he spontaneously came up with a less stupid idea - but. Well.

He cuts another look over his shoulder, free hand rising to scratch nervously at the back of his neck. ] I just - [ An uncertain half-laugh. ] Don't want to see you in trouble I can't get you out of, you know?

I would never just expect you to get me out of that kind of trouble, that’s uh— a rather awkward position to put a friend in. Potentially dangerous, even...?

[And... He’s honestly missing the point entirely. Not surprising if you knew the man at all, he’s not used to people watching out for him if his surprise at waking up in his own bed were anything to go by.]

Mm... Besides, I’ll only be in trouble if they find out the information leak came from me.

[He’s... still working out that detail. So he sounded less confident than he would have liked to on the matter, but it isn’t like he could just pretend that he didn’t know anything and move on. Llewellyn couldn’t simply collect all these files and then sweep them under a rug because the person was powerful or important in some way, that’s what everyone had wanted him to do when he worked on the local force. It was why they finally fired him.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t afraid of the consequences of pursuing these sorts of cases, Llewellyn knew what it was like to be in danger of various kinds and he certainly didn’t enjoy it. Unfortunately, afraid or not, he was usually driven to see things through to the end.]

You and I both know that I can’t uh— I can’t just not do anything about it. People like that— the whole system... it can’t be allowed to continue as it is.

[ Derroc winces, direct hit to a bystander's uneasy conscience. ] Yeah, okay, okay, just-- just be careful. [ He reaches over, pressing his knuckles against Llewellyn's sleeve for a moment, and his tone softens. ] Okay? Be careful.

[ In the back of his head, he's calculating rapidly. He's seen Watts on a vindicated tear before now. There's no stopping him, but maybe if Cassian can slow him down, keep a rein on the situation, he can salvage this. Throw the weight of Derroc's cowardice behind his concern. Divert some of that righteous energy into winning him over, enlisting his technical aid. Let Watts convince his friend, and get his own hands on these files in the process. Maybe. Maybe. ]

[The tone, and the gesture, go a long way for softening Llewellyn up. It always does when someone expresses their concern for his well-being considering how unused to it he was. It’s a very smart move on Cassian’s part. It would slow the detective down, or at least keep him a little more mindful for a time. How long that would be for was anyone’s guess, probably only as long as it took for him to find something that blew the case open and prompted him to act quickly.

Still, it would stall him somewhat.

But he finally nodded and tried to put on a confident smile. It’s still a tad awkward, but he thinks it should do the trick to settle Derroc’s nerves on the matter.]

You have my word, I’ll do my best to be careful. After all, It won’t do anyone any good if this information gets buried.

Yeah. [ He relaxes visibly, smiling back - reassured, if not wholly relieved - and gives Watts's shoulder a good-natured nudge. ] Yeah, you're right. No point borrowing trouble, right? [ And then, hurriedly changing the subject: ] How's the head? I've got a couple painkillers if you need them.

Precisely.

[He smiles, a little more at ease and glad that he’d apparently settled his friends mood. Even if it was only a touch less concerned than before, it was a win.

Turning his attention to the question, he offered an awkward expression.]

Well, uh— I did get knocked out by a Wookiee, so it could be better? [They pack quite a lot of force behind their punches.] I did take something before I left to meet you though, Derroc. So! I should be fine. I’ll be sure to take you up on the offer if what I took doesn’t work.

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