<hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f2/Beardycox.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Name:</strong>Avery Burnham<br/><strong>Faction:</strong>Law Dogs (1)<br/><strong>Date:</strong>May 12th, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Morning<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Burnham Detective Agency to Babel's Tower<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Ginny, Bella (mentioned);  OPEN (tho preferably in Babel thread)<br/><hr/><br/>As an awkward silence settled over the little office, Avery found his attention drawn to Ginny's spinning coins despite himself.  She kept the four glittering eagles in twirling flight for a surprisingly long stretch, her swift nimble fingers shifting from one to the next, until at the last the gold discs teetered to a stop on the wood.  Surely an exciting moment for the table; this was the most money it had seen pass over its surface since he'd moved in.  He was not entirely immune to its charms either, especially when she tossed a hefty little sack into the center.<br/><br/>Avery liked to imagine himself a man mostly above such base desires as greed.  He was an intellectual first and foremost in his own estimation, a superior mind that rebelled against the boredom and repetition of what most people considered regular lives.  The detective game was a challenge to him, a way to pit himself against others and best them in a way didn't involve grunt labor or pistol play.   It gave him the goad he needed to get out of bed in the morning, a reason to be.   Sometimes, at least.<br/><br/>Nevertheless the act of having to count one's funds as they gradually dwindled before one's eyes had a way of focusing even a superior mind on such humdrum concerns as food and shelter.  It did not take him too long to pick up the little bag and test its weight.  He'd already accepted the job, after all.  No reason to be coy about taking the payment, although there was something about the easy self-assured manner of the Whateley woman that pricked his pride.  He had a suspicion she'd never doubted it, or likely even considered his refusal a possibility.<br/><br/>He wondered how often it was Ms. Ginny didn't get what she wanted.  And just what that bud of dangerous light in her eye might blossom into when she was firmly denied.<br/><br/>"Yes.  Well.  I suppose that will do," he noted rather unnecessarily, tucking the pouch inside his coat while she informed him of her good intentions.  Not out to cause a scene, wouldn't dream of spreading mischief about Miss Capri, and, oh, be sure to keep a keen eye out for any open bottles of poison left sitting around.  Part of him wondered if that was a suggestion or something of a promise.  He rather hoped not.  This whole situation had the potential to end foolishly enough, without it actually involving anything genuinely malicious.<br/><br/>The word partner - 'pardner' in her slightly irksome parlance - stuck him like a sharp flick between the eyes and he was halfway to being tugged out the front door, snatching his hat from the stand mid-flight, before he had fully recovered.  "Actually, I tend not to work with others.  Something of a rule, never really waver from it.  It puts a crimp on my…ah, personal style you could say.  Style of detection, I mean to say.  You see there's a particular, almost scientific, method to these things.   Have to be approached the right way, requiring a certain degree of subtlety…."  He glanced at her fanciful outfit again and recalled the sack of coins jingling in his pocket.  She looked like she knew from subtlety alright.  "…and, well…"  Avery sighed inwardly, trailing off at that.   It was a pointless argument anyways, as they were almost halfway to the Babel now and it was not as though he could simply send her home.  "So be it.  If you wish to observe me, I suppose you've paid enough for the right.  Do let me handle the talking though.  No mention of poison or poisoning, please.  We just want to start by finding out what we can about Miss Capri.  Subtlety," he reminded her with a somewhat forced smile, carefully straightening his jacket.<br/><br/>Making the rest of the trek to the hotel in a decidedly more orderly fashion, he reached out to get the door as they arrived, indicating she should go first.  When a thing was decided, it was decided, and this 'pardnership' was apparently already that.   There was no point in him being unpleasant about it.  "Miss Ginny.  Let our investigation begin then, shall we?"<br/>