Gustavo
"No problem! Always good to have some extra hands, especially when you technically don't have any!" *Rotary would state this as she held one one of the claws that he had in place of hands, as a little joke, haha. Anyways, the footprints were interesting!*

"Ah, quite peculiar, the culprit probably went that way then no? We should probably be careful, they might have laid traps for anybody who might have followed! :O" 

*Rotary soon enough noticed the berries Ceodore pointed out.. Weird- is this where all the stolen berries were? This thief was quite a strange one indeed, there was only one way to find out the motive...*

"Yep, we probably should confront the thieves by following their steps, maybe someone should stand guard to make sure the thief doesn't come back? I'll be following the footprints either way, toodaloo! (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)づ" *And soon enough after saying that, they were off, what would it find? Rotary would probably find out soon!*
Ty
**• Rust 2 Electric Boogaloo**

As Torstein and Auto followed the path, it seemed to lead in a circle back to the path that led them into the clearing in the first place. However, there was one spot where a skidmark was in the dirt, and a bunch of rust occupied the spot in front of it. It looks like whoever was following this trail last ended up slipping and falling. What a loser.

"Oy, tweety!" Ceodore suddenly called, seemingly referring to Cerul. "Anything you can make of this mess?" 
[
Tasha
❥───────────────────── 🦚 Cerul 🦚 


◈ **"Planks? Why would they..."** Cerul's head turned to the cut wood after February debriefed him. 

꧁~ Cerul was actually pretty focused! For most of the investigation she had loosely followed every thread, but this case seemed to take a turn towards interesting somewhere... He appeared by Ceodore's side and returned the rude name,

◈ **"Well, pin cushion, there's a lot to be made about this. What can't you wrap your head around right now?"**


❥───────────────────── 💎 Aetris 💎
Ty
"Weird footprints that haven't shown up anywhere else? The gathering of lumber and berries without seemingly having a use for them? I shouldn't have to tell you this shit. You have eyes! Tell me what *You* See, smartass."
Nick
Torstein and Auto were led right back to start, leading the cat to let out a huff. "Of course it wouldn't be that simple." 

He did take notice of the trip mark on the way, but didn't think much of it other than "Lmao". Once he got back, he put a paw to his chin. "There were bits of rust on the trail, looked the same as the rust found back in the mayor's house."

"Has it rained lately?" He asked idly. "Is our culprit a Steel type that couldn't get out of the rain or something?"

He didn't really understand any of this. The scratching at his metal beard fibers accelerated, and accelerated, until he came to an abrupt conclusion. 

"I'm getting lunch." 

He strolled over to the Lurantis' Leppa Berry bush and casually began munching on them, seeing as how the other thieves didn't seem to want them. The cat grabbed a bunch of the Leppa Berries and then climbed up on one of the stacks of planks to eat in peace.
Tasha
"Weird footprints that haven't shown up anywhere else? The gathering of lumber and berries without seemingly having a use for th...

 ❥───────────────────── 🦚 Cerul 🦚 


◈ **"Very astute observation~! You can tell these are foot prints?"** Cerul talked down to him, sneering all the way. **"I can tell you the who and how** ***Easily,*** **But the why is something I can't comment on."** Cerul's sneer turned to a cocky grin.


❥───────────────────── 💎 Aetris 💎
Ty
"Oh? Is that so— no bluffs, pal?" Ceodore perked up, crossing his shadowy arms as they emerged from beneath his disguise. Yes, this was *Definitely* A Kecleon, folks. "I can tell they're footprints because of the pattern. Looks like a bipedal mon with some weirdass pointy feet crossed through— though I guess it doesn't explain the sheer quantity of wood. If you know so much, then why don't you tell the class, eh?"
Nick
Torstein initially ignored the first bout of verbal insults, shrugging off Cerul because honestly, he could just kill the bird after this. He doubted Auto would let him just murder the Altaria in cold blood without telling authorities. It wasn't worth it. 

But, as soon as Cerul mentioned how much she knew, Torstein sprung into action, jumping off of the wood planks while chucking something at him full-force. 

**Torstein used Fling!**

He fired the Leppa Berry he was about to eat at the bird, and immediately began approaching him— axes drawn. 

"So what you're saying is that you know how to resolve this, but you refuse to tell us," He began. "This would make you a conspirator of a kind." 

He didn't attack yet, wanting to see if Cerul would continue the charade. "But, if you're not going to tell us... Maybe someone should hold you down. Let's see if you talk after I lop off a wing."

It.. Couldn't be discerned if he was threatening or actually intended to do just that.
Tasha
❥───────────────────── 🦚 Cerul 🦚 







❥───────────────────── 💎 Aetris 💎
Gustavo
*Oh! They got led back to the original path, unfortunate, the culprit did trip and fall which was funny. The purrseeker did point out some interesting things, such as the rust.. Rotary could not remember if it did rain recently... Which was weird, he usually remembered the weather. Eh.


Anyways... It seemed like the altaria knew a lot that they weren't telling the two of them! And also they should probably like... Actually do something to stop the fight, though Cerul mentioned something interesting, robots... She was a robot! And also he lived in a area where mechanics were usually common but-*


"Hey hey, let's not fight now, we should focus on finding the criminal who did this! Plus I'm pretty sure everyone here knows what a robot is... Maybe the culprit is hiding in the wood? (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠?)"
Nick
Torstein, regrettably, did not know what a robot was. But he was dead-set on finding out. The cat continued to approach Cerul, not attacking but putting his face right up to hers, or well, as close as he could reach while still being 2' tall. 

"You don't understand the situation you're in, do you?" He mocked. "We're in the middle of the forest, a long way from the town. And you've just outed yourself as someone who knows more than he lets on." 

His eyes were locked onto Cerul's, a firm glare making it clear he had some level of ill will. 

"If we all agree to it — and we have no reason not to — we can do whatever we need to in order to make you squeal," He took another step closer to cement his resolve. "_There's no one coming to save you, bird._" 

Upon finishing, he flew his axe down, the sharp edge hitting the ground right in front of Cerul. Another scare tactic, if you could call it that. "Whatever power you think you have doesn't apply all the way out here. So tell us everything you know, before you start losing pieces." 

As of right now Torstein simply intended on getting info out of this one without having to cut her up. But, he wasn't adverse to following up on his threats, either. He just had to rely on the others to recognize his threats as a means to an end for now. But he didn't acknowledge Auto at all. :c
John
Torstein, regrettably, did not know what a robot was. But he was dead-set on finding out. The cat continued to approach Cerul, n...

*The tiny Floette slipped up in between the two bickering pokemon, using the leafy end of her branch to push Cerul back slightly away from the irate feline.*
'I, for one, do *Not* Agree with pointless aggression. So lets cool it down a little bit.' *The fairy kept a stern look but as was evident by the tremor in her hands she was clearly quite inexperienced with stopping a fight like this.*
'Trust me, I understand the frustration here- I don't think it's productive to withhold information during an investigation but I know for a fact that it's going to be even less productive to start maiming one another... Lets all keep our heads on here and try and work this out together.'
Ty
"Damn," Ceodore scowled. "I was gonna loot em and sell their shit when they eventually fell..." Not realizing he was thinking aloud until after he said it, he... Didn't even try to go back on his word at all. "...Ah, well. I'll get my chance."
Tasha
❥───────────────────── 🦚 Cerul 🦚 


꧁~ Cerul stood his ground like a confident peacock. He knew this shrimp wouldn't have the gal, the cahones to lob her wings off. It lent itself to her ever growing ego to be right.

◈ Cerul nodded to the studious Flowette! She could read Cerul well. Though the bird suddenly squawked at Ceodore. **"If you so much as lay a hand on my items, you're finished."** Angry birds™️


❥───────────────────── 💎 Aetris 💎
Nick
Seeing _most_ of his companions impede him was annoying, causing him to...!

Back off, actually. Throwing his arms up in a false surrender, he let out a miserable sigh. "Are all of Fey's residents so spineless? No wonder none of your problems ever get solved..."

He glared at February, only saying a bit in response. "All I was gonna do is maim until she let out the information we need. He deserves at least that much, don't you think?"

But, he shook his head. "Maybe you're right. Spilling that birdbrain's blood might not give her the attitude she needs—" 

Despite seeming to have thrown in the towel, the Perrserker suddenly threw himself forward, dark energy enveloping him as he charged. Due to the size difference, the Floette likely posed no threat, so Torstein simply shoved past her, though he didn't hesitate or slow down for her sake at all. 

**Torstein used Thief!**

The attack wasn't used on February, but rather Cerul. But the attack itself was rather weak, just hitting the bird in the gut with the blunt end of one of his axes. It was far from a crippling attack, only something to disorient the bird as Torstein jumped past him. 

"—seeing as how she prioritizes his jewels over her life, a less violent approach is needed."

Cerul's necklace, dangling over one of his axe heads. Seems he really wasn't above cheap tactics at all, a brute through-and-through. 

"Kecleon," He addressed Ceodore (none the wiser lmao). "This necklace is quite detailed. You might be able to sell it for a pretty penny, isn't that right?"

Torstein looked utterly self-satisfied, but still on guard seeing as how he expected either the Altaria or Floette to retaliate.
Ty
"Ohhh, I like where this is going! I like how you think!" Awesome! Now, no matter what the outcome, it'd probably be beneficial to him! Although, to be frank, he'd actually just prefer the immediate profit of the necklace over the actual information that the avian drake held. Still, Torstein pretty much had him hook, line, and sinker.
Tasha
❥───────────────────── 🦚 Cerul 🦚 


꧁~ Cerul's eyes moved faster than his body. His hawk like gems shot towards the cat's movements, all too slow. As the necklace was ripped off of Cerul, he hadn't even moved an inch.

꧁~ The bird stood there in frazzled shock from the minor blow.

◈ For only a moment. **"D-deserve?! You aren't just a vial of lickitung drivel, you're positively mad!"** Cerul held the area that was hit, glancing over at the attacker.

꧁~ The next, Cerul was angrily staring down at Torstein. An angry stare from two deep purple eyes that gored their way through the air and straight at the axe wielding thief. 

◈ She stood silent for a minute, before snorting.**"...Pff... You two aren't seriously thinking about selling that, are you?"** The bird flipped from angry too cocky like clockwork. **"Considering that necklace is one of a kind, it would be v~e~r~y easy to trace it back to petty thievery."** 

꧁~ The bird was actually stepping back from being rash and thrashing immediately. If she started a fight that necklace could be broken, chipped, or destroyed. Cerul wasn't taking that chance, especially when the damn jewels cost more than a house down in this dump of a town.

꧁~ But after a moment Cerul knew this approach wouldn't work.

◈ **"Ugh... Lets make a deal... You're a business man, aren't you?"** Cerul walked up right next to Ceodore, smacking him across the face with a clouded wing ~~un~~gracefully. **"And you..."** She stared at Torstein. **"I don't know what you are, but you want answers to this crime. I'll spell it out for you dolts, clear as day, and in return, you give me back my** ***Shit."*** Cerul spoke through clenched teeth(do birds have those?). **"Sound fair..?"**


❥───────────────────── 💎 Aetris 💎
John
Seeing _most_ of his companions impede him was annoying, causing him to...! Back off, actually. Throwing his arms up in a false...

 *February would huff out a sigh as Torstein seemed to back away- only to squeeze her eyes shut tightly and tense up as she noticed him turning around and charging towards her! She squeaked as she was shoved aside by the attack, fortunately unharmed.*

*Opening her eyes again she saw the Perrserker's smug expression and the stolen jewellery.* 'Thats... Not what I meant.' *Poor thing sounded so dejected.* 'If neither of you are going to work together then why even bother volunteering to help at all?'
Gustavo
"I'm not actually from Fey.. (⁠•⁠ ⁠▽⁠ ⁠•⁠;⁠)" *Rotary would state in response to Torstein's remark, it wasnt a very nice remark at all, but she didn't really wanna fight with the perrserker, they seemed to not be the... Friendliest person currently. 

Soon enough, Rotary watched as February was pushed aside (which was very rude.) and then Torstein stealing the necklace from Cerul as a bargaining item towards the Kecleon (which was very funny.) He didn't really know what to do currently, since it seemed like the altaria was gonna give the info anyways, though unfortunately it did seem like the team was breaking apart, uh oh!* "Maybe we should just let them do their thing-" *She'd whispered to Feburary.*
Nick
"Deal," Torstein said with a smug expression. "Tell us everything you know about this case and these 'robots'. After that, I'll return your precious ornaments, no fuss." 

The Perrserker spun the necklace around the axe handle a bit, finding this situation most humorous. He did address the Floette's concerns. He offered no apology, but did add: "Make no mistake, I'm the one really trying to solve this mystery. This bird is just in the way of progress. Consider it like any other instance of Guardians lending aid to fragile Feylians. A thankless charity." 

Did he have some kind of grudge? Ah well, whatever. What mattered right now was that he promised to return Cerul's necklace upon giving information.
Tasha
❥───────────────────── 🦚 Cerul 🦚 


◈ **"Fine, I'll give you an answer to that..."** Cerul gave a shaky, irritated sigh... **"The culprit of this case is a robot, though unlike our friend here... Rotary was her name? Augh, I can't be bothered. And if you must know, a robot is an incredibly strong construct that toes the line between 'mon and machine, built with complexity and beauty~."** With a flourish, Cerul ran a thick cloudy wing through his two long head feathers. "**...A true showing of neonian prowess."**

꧁~ That was it. All the answer Torstein, and for that matter, anyone would need to solve the case. Of course, Ceodore had already brought up the idea the culprit wasn't from around here, and the mayor mumbled about a 'robot', so piecing those together was easy enough. All Cerul had to do was confirm.

◈ **"Now, give. It. Back. We had a deal."** Cerul gave a fowl stare at Torstein, matching that awful smug neener neener look Cerul got from him.


❥───────────────────── 💎 Aetris 💎
Nick
Torstein let the bird's words sink in. Mechanical, steel construct. Complex and beautiful. Also incredibly strong? 

After a moment, Torstein decided. "Strong, you say... I'd certainly like to meet it."

Being lost in his own thoughts for a moment, he snapped back to reality long enough to fulfill his end of the bargain. 

"Right, then. A man's nothing without his word." 

**Torstein used Fling!**

He threw the necklace in Cerul's general direction... But directly into the air and with enough force to send it flying quite a ways away. It didn't shoot into space or anything, but Cerul would have to go grab it. "Whoops, looks like I don't know my own strength sometimes. Might wanna go pick it up."

Assuming Cerul did leave to do so (though he'd say this even with Cerul present, too), he'd turn back to their group and say:

"I don't trust that one. Far too willing to praise the culprits. But... I'll play nicely until this is sorted out. For now, I'll ask: did any of that information give any of you ideas?"

He almost sounded reasonable when he wasn't being utterly deranged.
John
*'Would a 'fragile' Feylian bust in to defend a stranger from a brute?' Torstein's comments certainly got under her skin but... Now isn't the time.*

*She placed a hand upon her chin to think a little bit.* 'If a machine did this then it makes sense as to why the culprit would also steal things like the crops from the tavern-keep... If they were just following an instruction then they wouldn't know to differentiate trees from berry bushes.' *She paused for a moment before looking thoughtfully over to Auto.*
'Hmm... You said you found rust after following the footprints, right? Metal only gets rusty if it's dirty and poorly maintained-' *The fairy giggled to herself and then whispered out of earshot of Cerul.* '-Some showing of Neonian prowess that must be then.'
*Maybe making a little joke would lighten the mood?*