She furrows her brow. “Th-there’s nothing wrong with being formal, is there? But… let me think.”
She takes a few moments to do this.
“He seemed rather, ah, out-of-sorts last Sunday, but I think he must have had a stressful day on the force. A-apart from that, I can’t think of anything. I guess… he got a big raise a few months ago? But I think it must have come with some extra responsibilities, he’s had trouble relaxing ever since it happened…”
Wait, is he…
“…seriously running a racket?” Paprika’s thoughts drifted into the audible realm. She started laughing out loud, not even as a Hex this time.
“How is your pay doing, then?”
“Quite well,” he snaps brusquely. “Worse lately, but I’m still good for what I’m offering.”
Drakor nodded sympathetically. “Has he had to work extra hours? Any late night shifts?”
(when was the cult activity reported?)
“Wrong. We’re on a mission that requires us to.be here. We’re not interested in money.” Zelsh told Rafau thoughtfully, at least considering the offer for a second or two.
Wanderer’s eye twitches.
(it came in during the night between Starday and Sunday)
“I heard from the broadsheets that there’s a noblewomen with a tiefling child out there,” Paprika said casually. “Are there really that many well-off demon worshippers out there? Would you happen to be able to point me in their direction? I’d like to see the look on their faces when I tell them I know.”
(Sense motiving his reaction if necessary, IDK if that’s redundant)
She nods. “He’s been picking up shifts in the evening, yes. I wasn’t so happy about it at first, but they’ve finally started paying him more for shifts like that, so I learned to live with it.”
His eyes widen. “Names? Is that all you want? I’ll give them to you, on—” (he takes a split-second to consider whether to pitch you on Leaving Forever again) “—your sworn word never to mention my involvement to another soul, and the same oath from all your companions.”
(your sense is that he is desperate and looking for a way out that won’t just result in you fucking him over by going straight to the Watch)
Drakor nodded. “As they should. Does he talk about work much?”
“No deal. You won’t be getting out of this scotfree.” Zelsh replied in a slightly disgusted tone. “You must pay for any crimes that you have commited.”
“S-sometimes, yes.” She runs a hand through her hair. “But I probably shouldn’t say too much, in case some of it is related to ongoing investigations…”
“I don’t like making oaths.” Paprika frowns. “And it’d be more fun to figure it out myself, anyway.”
She shakes out her hair, which had become dusty and slightly undone from its braid. “I’ve wrung all the good secrets out of you. I have no business left with such a stupid, pitiful man. Wanderer, you can do as you wish now.”
She takes a step back, satisfied with herself.
What a curious person.
As you’re interrogating the man, you hear two more pairs of footsteps rounding the corner into the alleyway. They’re not particularly attempting to hide their motion; given that they’re all wearing metal armor, it would be rather difficult. Both of them are dressed in the same uniform as Valtyr and Rafau, and both are carrying the same weapons. One of the two is a dwarven man, the other a human woman.
“Don’t move, and don’t cast anything!” shouts the dwarf, currently standing at the end of the alleyway. “We received reports of an altercation between two half-orcs and an officer of the Watch!”
He looks at your group, eyeing Zelsh and Wanderer suspiciously. His eyes linger on Wanderer, looking him up and down suspiciously as he takes in the fact that Wanderer is clearly not armed with several weapons.
Drakor shrugged. “It’s up to you. If you think it’s related to the cult investigation then I would think that would be fine, as seeing we are also working on that case. But I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble either.”
“I- I only have your word for that. You don’t look like you’re part of the Watch — er, that is, you don’t have the uniforms.”