ROLEPLAY HQ - birds-of-a-feather

Trigger warnings: dark themes, violence, sexual content (ALL +18!!!), gore More to be added if needed. (edited)

Rain softly pattered in the windowsill of the apartment, the only light coming from the dim lamp in the corner. The room was clean, but disorganized an dirty, but one of the most interesting things in the room was the occasional feather lying here and there. Why feathers? There were no bird cages? The window was closed. That was until a figure appeared on the fire escape, right outside the window. The figure was dripping wet, and they seemed to be coming from a riding light unseen from the side as they opened the window from the outside. “That’s the last time I take an outside steak out job without checking the weather.” They muttered grumpily to themself as they shed their coat off and draped it over the back of one of the seats. They collapsed into their seat behind their desk and leaned back, relaxing for a moment before they heard a knock on their door, which only caused them to growl in irritation. “For the love of—…I’m done for the day, come back tomorrow!” They shouted. They were only meant with another knock, a louder one at that. The person groaned at the interruption of their break and stood, opening the door to their office. “If you’re trying to irk me in purpose, you’re doing a hell of a job.” They said. @R4B1D

I’ll reply in just a minute bro! )

The assistant was distressed, having knocked on the door several more times before it had been answered. She looked apologetic, but it was clear the frantic nature was shining through as she fidgeted from foot to foot. “Hey- I’m sorry for coming so late it’s just- you’ve worked with us before so you know his haunts- and I tried his cellphone and he was not the one who picked up” The woman was the head assistant of a ‘popular’ socialite billionaire. His connections had made him a wealthy man, but typically he reported his nights out. “It’s about Jacob- I mean Mr. Simons. I went to his lake house to find him and the window was broken to bits- there were feathers?” the woman paced about in the office. Her name was Julie and she was renowned for her abilities to deal with the stress her chosen billionaire caused at any given moment. But it looked to be getting to her. “He hasn’t answered his texts, calls nothing!”

HighFunctioningPsychopath

Rain softly pattered in the windowsill of the apartment, the only light coming from the dim lamp in the corner. The room was clean, but disorganized an dirty, but one of the most interesting things in the room was the occasional feather lying here and there. Why feathers? There were no bird cages? The window was closed. That was until a figure appeared on the fire escape, right outside the window. The figure was dripping wet, and they seemed to be coming from a riding light unseen from the side as they opened the window from the outside. “That’s the last time I take an outside steak out job without checking the weather.” They muttered grumpily to themself as they shed their coat off and draped it over the back of one of the seats. They collapsed into their seat behind their desk and leaned back, relaxing for a moment before they heard a knock on their door, which only caused them to growl in irritation. “For the love of—…I’m done for the day, come back tomorrow!” They shouted. They were only meant with another knock, a louder one at that. The person groaned at the interruption of their break and stood, opening the door to their office. “If you’re trying to irk me in purpose, you’re doing a hell of a job.” They said. @R4B1D

Yo I’m sorry bro. This be the anxious assistant. She be )

Echo was taken aback when the assistant had stepped past then and into their office. They hadn’t even a chance to tidy anything up or completely dry off. With a roll of their eyes, they shut the door and moved back to their seat behind their messy desk. As they sat and tried to relax, they studied the woman. Echo knew them from media articles of her boss, Mr. Simons. She was a shy thing, but was usually level headed. From the way she held herself, she was used to being a doormat, possibly why she had nicotine stains on her fingertips. Maybe starting to use smoking as an outlet. It was a good thing they occasionally smoked as well. Echo pulled out a case of cigarettes and lit it behind Julie’s back with a flash of their abilities’ light. “I wouldn’t be very surprised it the culprit was the neighbor’s bird.” They muttered after taking a drag and blowing out the smoke as they spoke. It was a fruitless attempt to lighten the mood, especially with their irritated and tired tone, which wasn’t a usual thing for them. “Sit, tell me everything you know about what his plans were, any vendettas, habits, anything.” They said. @R4B1D

“Ok- ok- okay” the woman takes breaths with each confirmation, sitting down and running through what she knew of her boss. There had been, some ‘young punks’ inspecting the buildings and abandoned projects by the sister corporate headquarters of a more mainstream firm. She knew her boss felt stifled with the strict regulations via their higher corporate handlers. “He said he was going to the mountain- to look for birds? But he’s never once been interested before. And I can’t fathom why he’d be hunting birds instead of being at his 3:30!” She sighed wearily and ran a hand through her hair, trying to maintain some sense of maintenance. “I’m sorry- it’s just. I heard a voice on the other line and I’m. I’m worried” she admits, finally letting her shoulders drop She went on to explain the habits of a wealthy man with plenty to hide. It was almost simple. But then came the thought of the voice on the line.

HighFunctioningPsychopath

Echo was taken aback when the assistant had stepped past then and into their office. They hadn’t even a chance to tidy anything up or completely dry off. With a roll of their eyes, they shut the door and moved back to their seat behind their messy desk. As they sat and tried to relax, they studied the woman. Echo knew them from media articles of her boss, Mr. Simons. She was a shy thing, but was usually level headed. From the way she held herself, she was used to being a doormat, possibly why she had nicotine stains on her fingertips. Maybe starting to use smoking as an outlet. It was a good thing they occasionally smoked as well. Echo pulled out a case of cigarettes and lit it behind Julie’s back with a flash of their abilities’ light. “I wouldn’t be very surprised it the culprit was the neighbor’s bird.” They muttered after taking a drag and blowing out the smoke as they spoke. It was a fruitless attempt to lighten the mood, especially with their irritated and tired tone, which wasn’t a usual thing for them. “Sit, tell me everything you know about what his plans were, any vendettas, habits, anything.” They said. @R4B1D

Holy fuck I live. )

From the amount of information given, there seemed to be more than meets the eye going on between the secretary and her boss. Not to mention the crazed amount of worry she held over him. Echo leaned back in their seat as they listened, drawing possible conclusions and tossing the ones that became unlikely the more she gave them. The bird hunting was something they found interesting. No history of ornithological hobbies yet suddenly decides to drop important business activities to start? A good lead; not to mention a possible clue to the voice on the other end of the line. “Did he have any vendettas other than business? And what of friends, whether via family or work?” They asked. However, under their desk, they produced something people would find unnatural. Echo called them their drones. An eye with a few wings was all it was, but most that have the unfortunate chance to find them call them freaks of nature. They were more effective than any tech, as they gave real time, organic feedback straight to them. It was almost like being in more than one place at one time. They could investigate whilst interrogating and no one would know. They sent it to sneak through the office and out the window without being even. Just a quick distraction to give it time to leave. The drone left Echo’s hands and began to flutter quietly through and behind objects toward the window, only to disturb one of the Knick-knacks on their shelf. Before the young secretary could turn to inspect and find the little guy, Echo slammed their hand on their desk to distract her from doing such. “Anything more?” @R4B1D

“He was looking for- a family friend? Someone he said would be in town with his family. I checked his meetings but nothing familial had been scheduled for- god. Three weeks? Even then it was 20 minutes outside the hospital..” She was beginning to relax slowly as she spoke. An edge remained but she seemed accustomed to a certain amount of stress with her line of work. The way she jumped away from the detective spoke volumes about her relationship with the man she worked for, tears pricking her eyes for a moment before she could mask it. “He hates the founders. I don’t know why or who did what but. He hates the Strode family. Them more than anyone, like it’s a passion or something. Each one of them.” She spoke with a slight tremor. But continued. The Strode family was an extremely well made bunch, a family of stars that allowed no flaw to corrupt their vision and path towards the future. They were brutal in every aspect of their lifestyle, be it business, corporate advancement or their own flesh and blood. “I’ve tried to investigate myself but I couldn’t hide from him if I tried” she sighs, defeated. “I can’t even find him now” @HighFunctioningPsychopath

Echo nodded, eyes flicking to the window just in time to watch their drone escape into the rain and diss spear into the night. “Well, I believe that’s all I need.” They said, lifting themself up from their seat with a strained smile. “I’ll set out to investigate in the morning, good evening.” They moved to the door as they spoke, opening it and gesturing for her to take her leave. “I will inform you of any information needed. Have a safe trip home.” @R4B1D