Etraya Inbox

[loveandsin]

This is Vincent Valentine. Leave your message.

[ And he will check it if he can figure out how to do so. ]

Comments

[betenoir]

[Tell the man, his inner voice suggests. Work together and this will be over. But the personal nature of those involved makes it difficult to share information and names. They should find one of those robotic creations and assign them to complete the search in a fraction of the time. He needs to return to the atelier and Vincent deserves to return to his rest.

Except he keeps hearing that voice. Advising him to talk. Telling him to listen. This man is not an expeditioner, nor from the canvas. He can be objective when nobody from their world can do the same. He can help where and when he cannot.

But can he be trusted? Or be trusted with the truth?]

Verso and Sciel.

[Two names given with the coldness that suggests anything but a personal connection.]

You've encountered them on the network. I suppose. They are hardly subtle.

[loveandsin]

[ The tone with which Renoir speaks the names is curious. Clearly, he is familiar with the two. Vincent is more acquainted with Sciel, who greeted him when he first appeared during the mission to Earth. They've spoken a few times since by network, but he wouldn't say he knows her well. Verso, he's not so familiar with. ]

And what would they want here?

[ What would motivate them to break into the museum after hours? ]

[betenoir]

[Renoir is silent for a moment. Sciel. Her name was unearthed from public addresses; those network postings where people answer questions and share trivia about themselves. Her interests are nothing interesting on a personal level. But she has been speaking to his daughter more than once that it makes her suspect - as though she was innocent before - and him suspicious.]

Excitement? Who knows why people steal anything.

[Perhaps he asks they search the archives because he cannot face the truth. Obviously, the expeditioner would steal what is equivalent to a memento. They've done worse. But that his own son would encourage the idea...]

[loveandsin]

Maybe they only broke in for the thrill.

[ Perhaps that was enough excitement without them taking anything. ]

Do you know where they entered from? Some clue regarding their activities may be present.

[ And Vincent isn't sure a bot would notice something like that. ]

[betenoir]

[Does he know? He has a rough idea but explaining would be difficult.]

Not precisely. But I know the time.

[Which he repeats to the closest minute he can remember. He declines to elaborate on his lack of precision, figuring a time is good enough.]

[loveandsin]

That narrows things down considerably. We need only check the security monitor footage around that time period.

[ Provided Renoir can get it to cooperate. ]

[betenoir]

We could use a construct to access the footage?

[One of those they utelised to manage the collections.]

We must learn to rely on ourselves, but there is the pressing matter of time.

[loveandsin]

Good idea. I'll fetch one from the gallery.

[ Vincent will go to find a construct and escort it back to the office. It won't take him long. Letting this contraption search the footage will expedite things. ]

Maybe it can give us a lesson in the process.

[betenoir]

[Renoir murmurs his agreement - better not to waste time - and awaits his return. His attention lingers on the glow of a computer screen and he finds himself relieved not to study the monitor any longer.

The contraption searches for him, for them, and projects the image of Verso and Sciel grappling over the entrance. Then they disappear into the museum proper.]

Of course.

[Now there is no need to imagine the disappointment in his voice. His absence of emotion, combined with his tired and strained drawl, is enough of a clue.]

[loveandsin]

[ The bot works efficiently and finds the footage they need of the culprits entering the museum grounds. They seem like a couple of teenagers up to no good, but was their visit harmless? ]

Track their movements. Show us each camera they pass by.

[ Vincent instructs the bot. Now that they've found the intruders once, they should be able to watch their movements to see if anything in the museum was disturbed or taken. ]

[betenoir]

[The bot projects their path through the museum; beginning with them grappling over the entrance before entering the museum proper. The feed changes from corridor to corridor, revealing how they seem to be stealing nothing, but also appear to be beelining for the atelier he has made his own. They then disappear into the storage room. There is only one collection there that has value.]

I've seen enough.

[Harmless physically. Harmful emotionally. He requests the feed is cut. But the question of what was taken hangs over his head like a sword. He knows the answer, but after living his life under the countdown of death, he does not panic. That does not mean he looks satisfied.]

[loveandsin]

[ Curious how the intruders take no interest in anything except Renoir's space in the museum.

Vincent turns his gaze from the computer screen to Renoir and softly dismisses the bot so it may return to its regular duties. ]

I'd call their visit personal.

[betenoir]

[Renoir feels that expectant gaze upon his form, silently observant and politely considerate, questioning not only those witnessed in the video but himself. His mood and manner remain unmoved. The behaviour of those involved is clearly no surprise. Verso has taken enough from his family, as have the expeditions down the years.

He leans back in the chair with a calm and neutral demeanour, preserving the privacy of his emotions.]

I suppose since you've witnessed the obvious, there's no point denying it... We don't see eye to eye.

[Him and his son. Him and the expeditions.]

[loveandsin]

[ Vincent isn't sure he can gage how malicious the break-in's intentions were based on the camera footage. It all boils down to the outcome of it. ]

What did they take?

[ Renoir has been skirting around this information from the start. If they went straight to Renoir's atelier, he must know if anything is missing or out of place. ]

[betenoir]

[One hand slides across his wrist. His eyes begin closing in thought.]

Some personal effects. I cannot imagine what motivated them, but I hope you understand I wish to keep that information to myself.

[Private matters involving loved ones, whose suffering was your sin to bear. Surely he knows nothing about that!]

[loveandsin]

[ Vincent is also a private man when it comes to personal things, so he does understand Renoir's desire not to share the specifics. ]

Do you intend to retrieve these stolen items?

[betenoir]

[Renoir sighs silently to himself, swallowing his frustration while leaning forward before rising to his feet. He lifts his coat from the back of the chair and rests it upon his shoulders.]

From her at least. But I would prefer they both acknowledge their actions. I suppose.

[Their actions? Their guilt.]

[loveandsin]

[ If they were brazen enough to break in and go to Renoir's private area, Vincent doubts they experience much guilt.

As Renoir gets to his feet and gathers his coat, Vincent tilts his head slightly, observing the man's actions. ]

Do you want me to go with you?

wrap?

[betenoir]

[The question evokes a moment's silence, a second of thought, before he closes his eyes.]

Thank you. But I'll be fine.

[He pauses a while longer.]

Again, my apologies for waking you at this hour.

Re: wrap?

[loveandsin]

[ The pause gives Vincent pause. ]

No apology is necessary. Are you certain those you mean to confront do not pose any danger?

[betenoir]

[Renoir takes his cane from its resting place and grounds his hand upon the pommel. Only one of those people pose a danger, but she is not involved.]

Thank you but no. They do not frighten me. I'll be fine.

[loveandsin]

If you insist. Good luck.

[ Vincent is curious what the outcome of this confrontation will be. He'll ask about it later. ]