<div class="floatright">(https://i.postimg.cc/bNW52MsN/dbd79ed9f0b31be99521597b98524e6d.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Good Cop, Bad Cop</strong></span><br/><strong>Tagging: Theokleia and La La<br/>Location: Precinct Two: Third Street, outside Mama Bea's Pies and Confectionaries</strong><br/><br/>Aranus was not a fan of calves.<br/><br/>Well, that wasn't necessarily true. But then the little ones didn't seem to like him, so preemptively he decided he wasn't going to be a fan of them either. He stood somewhat awkwardly while Theokleia tended to the young one, trying not to seem imposing despite being eight feet of heavily armored bull. It was only as she sent the child off and saluted him that he felt more comfortable. Like an actor who memorized the wrong play, he was not the best at adlibbing his lines, BUT when it came to military formality, he knew the part like the back of his hand. He nodded once, replying flatly, "Excellent. This will be a joint effort, as the Selesnya Concave was requested to be on site as well. We are expected to meet their operative at the gates to Orator R... Bureaucrat Radu's boat house."<br/><br/>Aranus turned with a click of his hooves and began the journey with every expectation she would follow. The "Boat House" was a massive vessel that he had had dry docked for repairs some half a century prior. It turned out that repair of the vessel as well as transporting it BACK to the water would outstrip the value of the relic by an exponential amount and so, Orator Radu had in his own "foolishly sage" way found that it was considerably cheaper to build a courtyard gate and stairs up to the vessel. He often joked that while it saddened him that it would never touch the waves again, he would drink enough that he could pretend that it was the boat not his equilibrium that lent his legs their characteristic sway. An eight block journey, it was usually a walk of no more than fifteen minutes on two legs. But with the pending celebration and the last minute preparations, the journey was considerably slower and involved a great deal more bumping and shoving than it might otherwise.<br/><br/>The Minotaur in front of Theo snorted, pointing up towards a black stain that had been painted across an Azorius edict boards. A circular symbol, it was crude but deliberately traced, "Lowlifes..." Aranus spat the word out. He was offended by graffiti in general but upon an Azorius board? How would the people know how to comport themselves?!? "Seeing things like that gives me no end of consternation. Something is missing in the soul of a person who would do such a thing! It's wrong. Like an attractive cow without a nose ring! This world is BUILT on tradition!"<br/><br/>As they neared the "Boat House", Aranus came to a halt. A few blocks away there was an explosion loud enough to rattle glass and even silence the dull cacophony of the crowds on the street. A slender plume rose into the air from the point of origin and soon after the thunderclap of the blast, a foul wind hit them. Like a barrel of beer that had been opened some years past its freshness date, the stench was yeasty and dense. Aranus clutched his axe for a moment, his head turning from the Boat House entrance to the smoke. With a sigh, he realized yet again, he was NOT going to be able to go to the battle, his duties leading him elsewhere, "We've no time for it. The orders are specific. Come Legionnaire!"<br/><br/>It was only a handful of steps to the ornately sculpted gate that surrounded Orator Radu's folly (may he rest in peace). Standing between them and the courtyard were a pair of elves arguing with a soft spoken and sheepish looking Loxodon. Aranus had no time for explosions, and so he ABSOLUTELY had no time for any less interesting delays! Thankfully he was possessed of a keen eye and a general's forthrightness! He took note of the Loxodon's garb and admonished the guards', "SEE HERE! We are here at the behest of Bureaucrat Radu and were told that time was of the essence! This young lady is also part of our charge and you do your mistress no favors by detaining us!"<br/><br/>"Uhhh..." The front elf looked at the seal in the Minotaur's hand and recognized Aranus. He gaped like a fish and stammered, "Lor... Captain? Uhmmmm... Aranus, this woman is not on the door list, you see, sh..."<br/><br/>"SHE IS OBVIOUSLY OF THE CONCLAVE! Look at her robe and seal! And if that is not proof enough, when last I checked A RAKDOS LOXODON WAS A RARE SIGHT INDEED! We are late as it is, meat!" Aranus Klint snorted with such fury, the breath of his nostrils sent the guard's cap flying off of his head. Not eager to see him grow any angrier given how squishy the doorman was, he at last held up his hands, "She's your responsibility! Make your introductions INSIDE the courtyard!"<br/><br/>Aranus allowed the ladies to go first gallantly as he muttered at the elves, "Not even sundown and you knife eared buffoons acting like churlish drunks! Your mistress will hear of this!" He quickly turned his attention to the Loxodon girl, introducing himself with a stiff bow. He wouldn't say he had a type, so much as... he was never one to offend a lady whose frame could take the weight of his, "A pleasure. I am Aranus Klint! I DO apologize for them!" He seemed ever more gracious with the Conclaver than he did to Theo, that was certain!