Owner	Pose
Wu	Most cops wouldn't want to be caught going down Crime Alley any time of day by themselves. Always have someone to cover your back when going down to where the cancer has metastasized from.     Alice isn't most cops.     It could be unfamiliarity, of course. She's not a local. But even her own home town has places you just don't go by yourself and she surely should recognize the signs of them. Yet here she is, wandering down the worst alley in the city, peering curiously at the surroundings and the few shops and diners strung out at irregular intervals like islands of civility in a sea of slime.     "Occult shop?" she murmurs to herself as she approaches a door. A small, barely-visible smirk flirts briefly with her face before vanishing into the aether. "Ardwell..." She stops, next to the door, in front of the smaller of two windows, as her mind goes into overdrive searching dusty old files.     The young woman exiting the shop almost gets knocked over by the immobile Alice.     "Oh! Blessed be!" she babbles, smiling apologetically. "Sorry."     She scurries off as Alice looks after her with a raised eyebrow. "Blessed. Be." Flatly intoned with that air of amusement again. Decision made she enters the shop.
Imbroglio	There's one one employee working today. Of course, given the small size of the place, it seems unlikely that more than one person is ever on duty at any given moment. It doesn't help that the racks and placed closely together and overly stuffed with all sorts of 'antiques,' some recognizably occult (to the initiated, at least) and some just old trinkets.     The sole employee looks fairly young to be working in this kind of shop. Barely an adult, surely. Most of her body is covered in a draping dress, leaving only her hands and head exposed to reveal her pale skin and platinum-blonde hair.     Sensitive individuals might feel something terribly wrong about her even before noticing the subtle sense of uncanny valley about her. Those capable of sensing auras will sense a disturbing absence about her where her's should be.     "Hello! Mister Ardwell is out sick today. Please let me know if I may be of any service," she calls out as Alice enters, a slight nervous timbre to her voice.
Wu	Alice nods vacantly, eyes not really registering the help as they focus instead on the contents of the shelves. "Thank you," she says courteously, albeit with a bit of distance. "I'll be sure to do that," she adds, her voice a touch warmer.     Idly she fingers the jade pendant--looks like a bog-standard image of Guanyin the likes of which you can find a million of in shop stalls all over east Asia--while her fingers trail along the shelves, not quite touching. Her eyes catch on a few items with a lifted eyebrow. Those items which are real occult garner the lifted eyebrow. The trinkets are passed over with a subtle, ghostly chuckle.     This is quite the shop you have here," she says, turning to face Imbroglio for the first time since entering looking directly at her.     And stopping in her tracks.     Eyes widen. A mask of dead wood, practically, is clamped down over her face, but not before a brief glimpse of shock and perhaps even a bit of fear leaks through.     "How long has it been open?" she asks in a deadpan voice, courteous but now guarded.
Imbroglio	Dana, the employee, seems content with this answer. She, herself, presently seems to be sorting through a box of junk. She gives each one a look-over, purses her lips, and puts it onto a shelf. She pulls out a pendant at some point, glances side-to-side, and sticks it a little further back on the shelf, buried behind more worthless trinkets. If someone were looking, perceptive, and at least a little knowledgeable, they would recognize it as an actual talisman, unlike the rest of the garbage she's putting away.     Every so often, Dana gives a peek back at Alice. Checking to make sure nothing is getting taken or broken, probably. Or to see if help might be required.     Dana turns to look at the 'customer' as she's addressed. She gives an awkward smile in return. "Oh, I just work here. It's Mister Ardwell's shop. But it's a really nice shop, mhmm. All sorts of things end up here..." she answers with a little drama in her voice. An attempt at a spooky sales pitch, perhaps. She trails off when she notices Alice's expression.     "How long... what... open?" Dana mumbles with wide-eyes, resembling a doe in headlights.
Wu	Alice's eyes scan the shop for other customers. Satisfied that there are none, she moves to the door, locking it, as her left hand pulls out a sheaf of rice papers.     "Hold on a moment," she says, flipping her lapel to show the silver GCPD badge. "I think there's going to have to be a few questions answered."     She selects one of the papers, each about 12cm on the side, square in shape, covered in writing. She licks the back of it and sticks it to the door across the jamb like a seal.     "There. We won't be disturbed," she says, turning to face Imbroglio and approaching the counter.     There's no overt expression of hostility or threat, but there is the careful step of a hunter in her movements. And there is that second rice sheet that in classical Chinese simply says "power" that she's just crumpled and palmed.     "Hi," she says with a practiced, artificial smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "I'm Alice. You can call me Detective Gulliver, but ... I somehow don't think we'll be interacting in that capacity."
Imbroglio	The worry on Dana's face looks to near panic rather quickly as the door is locked. By the time Alice has secured the door, Dana has scurried her way behind the counter. Perhaps just to have something between her and this stranger. The badge does nothing to ease her conscious.     "This is bad..." she murmurs to herself, but she does speak the words out loud. If she notices the strangeness of the badge, she doesn't show it. She mostly just looks like a cornered bunny. The sight of the seal only lends her to looking even more defeated.     The introduction catches her a little off-guard, but she does reply. "Dana Derleth. It's, um. It's nice to meet you," she answers. It almost sounds believable. "How may I help you?" she wonders, though something about her eyes (weren't they a darker shade just a moment ago?) indicates she already suspects she knows.
Wu	"Let's start," Alice says deliberately, her face still professionally 'pleasant' but now made of cast iron, "by dropping pretenses. I am indeed Detective Gulliver, of the Hong Kong Police, on attachment to the Gotham City Police Department..." and there's the reason for the strange badge "... but I am also known by a different title. In which I am sworn to defend humanity from..." The smile turns predatory. "Well, quite possibly you. And that is what we're going to have our little conversation about."     Her eyes flicker around the front, fixating alarmingly close to where Imbroglio's book is stashed before moving onward.     "So, let's cut to the chase. You are obviously a supernatural being of some sort. I am human but with ... abilities related to the supernatural."     She takes a step forward to press home a perceived psychological advantage.     "And you're not on your home turf, are you? And I'm prepared; armed, shall we say."     The smile warms a bit. She's doing good cop/bad cop in one body. Somehow.     "But, truly, I don't want to use those arms unless I have to. Most supernatural beings aren't a threat. So ... what are you, Ms. Derleth? A threat or just someone trying to get by?"
Imbroglio	The teen employee looks crestfallen. Seems like it was exactly what she expected it to be. Or at least close enough that she feels her fears were justified.     "In retrospect, this wasn't the best job for staying hidden, huh?" she muses, clearly rhetorical.     "Hey, I'm-..." she starts to protest at talk of being supernatural. She trails off, losing steam as she admits, "used to be human." There is a fire in her tone as she looks back to Alice, insisting, "I'm not evil. I'm one of the good guys, I swear." The fire putters out as quickly as it takes Alice to take that step forward. She shrinks a little. Maybe literally, but maybe she just hunched over.     Of course, it seems like this might still end on a good note for poor Dana. She looks back to Alice, almost looking homework. "I'm just trying to make amends. Buy or hide all the bad trinkets that pass through here. Maybe, um. Fight a little crime on the side." She flinches, perhaps remembering the badge, "... citizens arrests and stuff. Not, uh. Not like a vigilante or anything." This is a far less convincing lie.
Wu	There is a long, uncomfortable silence as Alice stares at Dana for a while, her face still with the mask clamped down. Then the miracle. The mask shatters. A smile slowly spreads and this time it reaches her eyes.     "Sorry," she says, visibly relaxing. "That can't have been pleasant, but unfortunately I find it's easiest to get the truth out of ... people ..." It's like she had to think to get the right word there. "... when they're off-balance. Please forgive the heavy-handedness."     For the first time since truly seeing Dana Alice looks around the store again without having an eye on her. "So dangerous things like the talismans you hid there?" she asks. "Or whatever it is you have under your dress? That sounds like a good basis for public service indeed." Her face retains the bland smile, but her eyes dance with amusement. "Vigilanteism is wrong," she says, merriment ill-concealed. "Friends don't let friends become vigilantes."     Then her voice goes serious. "Don't get caught doing illegal things while righting wrongs," she says, "and nobody will go looking for you."     Don't get CAUGHT, note.
Imbroglio	There's a bit of a mindless nod at Alice's apology. Dana seems to have a little trouble processing the sudden shift in personality. She does put on a tentative, uneasy smile however.     "It's okay," she answers meekly. Relieved. At least until she goes pale again at the mention of what's under her dress.     "That, um. That one's mine. But very dangerous, yeah. My main job is keeping people from getting their hands on it, I guess you could say. Bad guys, or innocent people who don't have a clue," she admits, her voice wavering with her nerves.     There's an eager nod that follows, "Yes, ma'am. Of course. No illegal things. I'm one of the good guys. Promise. Don't worry about me." It's only her guileless nature that might have those words be at all believable. The forced, awkward smile that follows doesn't help.
Wu	Alice purses her lips and frowns a bit. "You're new to this, I'm guessing. I hope it goes well for you. I know that I can come across as being cruel ... largely because I am ... but I'm not, what's the right word? Gratuitous. Right. I'm not gratuitously cruel. I genuinely do hope it works out for you, especially as someone who's been cast into the role you're in instead of seeking it."     She looks straight into Imbroglio's eyes. Flinching a little. It appears even spiritual warriors can be unnerved.     "I think I should probably watch over you a while, if you don't mind," she says. "And even if you do, but it will be easier on both of us if you don't mind. You're wrestling, I suspect, with humanity and inhumanity. You need some kind of an anchor. Hopefully I can help you with that."     Another lip-pursing. "Now, I'm looking for a small, discreet piece of wood that I can use as the basis of a protective ward for a window. What would you recommend?"
Imbroglio	"Pretty new, yes," answers Dana with some embarrassment but little delay. A little nod of understanding is given to Alice's words, and a slight, pensive frown touches her lips as she considers.     The meeting of eyes doesn't last long. She's not able to hold it. One could swear her eyes were a little less sunken last time Alice looked, but there's no real point where she could point to and say that's when the change occurred.     "I-..." is the start of a protest that Dana doesn't have the heart to complete. She gives a nod, "That... that might be for the best, yes." She doesn't elaborate on any inhuman urges. There might be another brief glimpse of relief, however, at the thought of someone to help keep her from screwing up. Whether or not Alice realizes it, 'help' is the word Dana has chosen for Alice's role.     "Oh! A ward? I'm no carpenter, so I don't know what's good for a window. But for a ward, I'd use..." she ponders a moment, instantly cheering up with the shift to safer conversation, "Ash or birch for more general protection. Alder if you're worried about astral intrusions."
Wu	The conversation lightens as Alice switches away from Imbroglio's status and situation. Her eyes still occasionally analytically look over the girl, but her voice and attention are focused on the matter at hand.     "My problem is that I'm not as familiar with the local materials; in Hong Kong I'd be scouring for gold Phoebe or boxwood or sandalwood or the like. Here? Those are expensive rareties and I need to focus on the local materials. Ash, you say? I'll give that a try then; I mostly need it to temporarily hold something back in an attempt to guide it to a specific spot, you see. Thanks for the advice."
Imbroglio	One might almost think Dana had forgotten all the intimidation and threats. Almost. If one weren't paying very much attention. There's still a fidgeting of the hands and an aversion of the eyes that weren't there when Alice first arrived to suggest she's been a bit shaken by this ordeal. And... was that something moving under the shoulder of her dress? Hard to say.     "I'm always glad to help!" she answers back earnestly, eager to prove herself useful rather than a monster.     "I'm honestly only passable at magic," she confesses with a wrinkle of her nose, "But I'll do my best. If you need a little extra muscle for something, I can do that, too."
Wu	"Muscle?" Alice asks, clearly confused. "I generally try not to include bodily parts in my enchantments unless I absolutely must; and if so, I try to limit myself to my own body." She looks with some concern at Dana. "What is your source of muscle tissue?" she asks warily.
Imbroglio	The teen goes wide-eyed at this, blinking a few times. She shakes her head quickly.     "No! No. I mean if..." she has trouble finishing the thought. She instead raises her right arm and flexes it a bit, "Like... beating up the bad guys or other monsters. That kind of muscle."
Wu	"Oh, that!" Alice says with a relieved chuckle. "I'm sorry, but sometimes colloquialisms ..." She mimes her hand like an airplane over her head. "For example 'over your head' took me a while to learn by itself."     Her eyes rake over Dana dubiously. "I generally have the tools I need on hand when conflict is planned, but I will keep you in mind should I need assistance," she says, obviously out of courtesy to the delusional slip of a girl. Even if she is creepy.     "The same, incidentally," she continues, "applies in reverse." She roots around in her pockets and pulls out two business cards: one GCPD and one HKP. These are presented two-handed to Dana with a small bow. "If you need assistance, call on me. The ladies and I are quite adept at extracting those in trouble."     She gestures to the bulges under her arms, concealed badly by her vest. "The ladies," she clarifies.
Imbroglio	"I'm stronger than I look," insists Dana dully. Either she caught the disbelief, or she just assumed based on how the wimpy-looking girl appears. "By a lot," she adds, along with an, "I could prove it some time if you needed." Delusional may still be accurate, despite her words. Who knows.     The cards are accepted and each one is given some examination before she pockets them.     "Ladies?" she wonders. Finding the answer shortly with a faintly unsettled look, she gives Alice a nod, "Thank you. I'll call."
Wu	"The handguns are stock," Alice explains. "The bullets are custom and come in a variety of flavours, some custom-made for a specific target. They're very good at extracting from predicaments."     Her eyes lock with Dana's, and again there's that slight hint of flinching. But the black pools of her irises concealing the blacker pools of her pupils steady quickly. "Make no mistake," she says gently. "My life is violent. You're still new to this, so I suspect ... you don't quite understand what you're getting yourself into. People are violent, especially in places as desperate as Gotham. Or Hong Kong, for that matter."     Her hand sweeps toward Dana, then toward herself. "Creatures like us? The world is a whole lot more violent for. Take care and don't let pride be your downfall."     Terse, humourless smile.     "You'd share the fate of more than a few in my life that way."
Imbroglio	There's another flinch at the talk of the bullets. Girl doesn't like guns, apparently.     Locked eyes leave her uncomfortable again. Maybe slightly less uncomfortable than her eerie features make others.     "I know it won't be fun," she admits quietly, averting her gaze, "But it's the least I can do. I turned myself into a monster, Detective." Her gaze actually attempts to make eye contact now, "If I'm a monster in body, I'll do my best to not be a monster in personality."     "Thank you, though. For offering to watch me and make sure I don't mess up. And for the advice," she answers genuinely.
Wu	Alice nods. "I'll take that ash plate there," she says, all business now. "The one on the leather string. I'll see how well it takes defensive hexes. Thanks for the advice."     She waits patiently while Dana packages up her purchase, handing across appropriate coinage and bills, then pocketing her new charm base.     "It was nice to meet you ... Dana," she says. "And really, I do apologize for the fright. Feel free to call on me for aid, and if you have any knowledge of supernatural events that might be beyond your capacity, pass the information my way. I have ... resources."     With that she heads toward the door.