#and then you meet phoenix in the third case after his incident with the car

[whispers-of-gallifrey]

Cannot stop thinking about an au where Turnabout Trump doesn't happen/happens but Olga is convicted instead so Apollo is still working at the Gavin law offices for his first few cases. He meets Trucy at one of the crime scenes and she tags along on his investigations, but she doesn't tell him about her connection to Phoenix until after their first case together. Ema likes Apollo less at first bc she doesn't like the fop and you work for his brother, who she also hates bc he's very condescending when he cross examines her in court.

When you meet Klavier in the second case you can ask Kristoph about him and vice versa. They don't interact with each other but you get to learn some more things about the brothers, their opinions on each other and their backstory. You also find out that Klavier was the one who got Phoenix disbarred and Kristoph is apologetic about it, given that Phoenix is his "friend" (though they haven't interacted at all since phoenix was found not guilty).

At one point Trucy is visiting Apollo at the Gavin Law Offices when Kristoph returns and "politely" kicks her out. She then reveals to Apollo who the daddy she keeps talking about actually is. You get to meet Phoenix again in the next case and find out more about the incident 7 years ago.

Over the course of the game you/Apollo starts to grow more suspicious of Kristoph and his intentions, alongside a growing sense of horror that you got an innocent person convicted in your first case. It all comes to a head in Succession when Drew Misham finally uses the stamp, which turns up fixed to a letter in the Gavin Law Offices postbox that Apollo collects on his way in one morning. You hand it to Kristoph and he promptly disappears with it, feigning excuses. Phoenix uses this case to finally spring his trap and test the jurist system. Kristoph gets the double whammy of his brother and mentee turning on him at once and the murder of Shadi Enigmar is properly resolved. It's also revealed that Trucy started tagging along on Apollo's investigations to collect intel for Phoenix.

At the end of Succession, Apollo is offered a role at the newly-renamed Wright Anything Agency and there's a final rise from the ashes-style case that serves as Apollo's first proper case as an official WAA employee and helps tie up some loose threads/lets the characters deal with the fallout of Succession.

Idk I just think it'd be fun/satisfying to realise slowly that there's more to everything than meets the eye.

[allthetribbles]

Blondes and Bombshells – April 02, 2085

Seattle continues to be under martial law since the incident at the Pit. There is a heavy police presence and outside the arcology the patrols even include a few mecha. The task force in charge of investigating the Director's demise has found no suggestion of foul play and no mechanical error in the transport. There was also no explosive residue, so the investigators are thoroughly stumped. It just seems to be a very unfortunate accident.

Two days have passed since Director Elwood's demise, and everyone in the office is busy engrossed in work. Around noon, a short blonde woman walks in. She clears her throat to gain people's attention with... less than optimal results. A second attempt gets more attention and she introduces herself as Director Christine LeAnne, informing us that she wishes to be addressed as Director LeAnne. She has recently arrived from Phoenix. She's greeted by one of the other Leads, telling her that the old Director's office isn't quite ready for her arrival. She gives them the boot and says she'll take care of it.

Agent Kory requests proof of ID and is provided with paper credientials. Alan does a little bit of research on our new Director and only comes back with the information that she is competent, reliable, and stable... but not very well liked. She started in the low-end NEG and has worked her way up through the ranks for the last 15 years.

Liv sends off an electronic request to Director LeAnne for access to The Cultists' Book from the Farm. Later, that request was denied.

An hour or so after the denial, Te'ani is requested to join her in her office. When he comes out, another team's member (not the leader) is requested to join her in the office. The Lead of that team is a Nazzadi...

Uncharacteristically, Te'ani is upbeat and smiling when he comes to inform the team of our new assignment - heading to the GIA to request case information be forwarded directly to the Director.

Alan says what we're all thinking, "Why not send an email?"

Maybe she wants us out of the office?

Liv offers to drive. Once in the car, Te'ani gets across the point that we may be eavesdropped upon - so, we try to come up with a game plan of how to request this information from the GIA Director. Liv suggests Chinese for lunch. It seems the general agreement from the group that Director LeAnne is going to be a "little" more difficult to work with than Director Elwood.

We arrive at the GIA offices and we're greeted with an armed detail that asks our business and for our IDs. We introduce ourselves, ask after their Director and say that we were sent by our new Director to request information.

"Why not just send an email?" "Consider us a very personalized email."

The grunt looks conflicted about how long he should stay away for his next coffee break, but directs us to the Director's office. The parapsychics and sorcerer are reminded that if they use their powers, they will be shot. The team has a hard time tracking down the GIA director, Nathan Shirohama. After a wild goose chase, we managed to track him down.

Our initial request for him to forward the reports to our Director was met with a flat "no" - the GIA does not report to the OIS, but the GIA Detroit branch. After heading to Director Shirohama's office for a more private place to talk, Te'ani explains a reasoning behind the request. Our Director is looking for inconsistencies between the reports we've received. Director LeAnne is just looking to be very "thorough" in her research in requesting "all reports" be forwarded to her.

Director Shirohama and Te'ani seem to come to an unspoken understanding... but he agrees. We can report our success in getting the reports from the GIA to Director LeAnne.

The team heads to the Golden Dragon for lunch. Parapsychic abilities are dampened, privacy is paramount, and the team has a frank discussion about the situation. The initial take on Director LeAnne is.. dislike. It's understandable, we're used to Director Elwood's lax take on protocol and she seems a bit more strict in adhering to the rules. Kory and Te'ani pointed out that she seems pretty blatantly racists against anyone NOT human.

Liv asked what Te'ani's discussion in the office was about - LeAnne was asking Te'ani's opinions on his teammates. Liv states that her request for the Cultists' Book from the farm was denied and begs Te'ani to go to bat on the request due to the Director's prejudices. She forwards the electronic form to Te'ani, but they need the book. There is the high possibility the cultists have plans to summon the Black Goat - and SOON.

After lunch, we return to the office and Te'ani reports the team's success! Already Director LeAnne's desk is starting to look busier. Te'ani requests access to the book - LeAnne directly calling the farm incident a "team failure." To rectify our failure, the team would like to analyze the book for dates the cultists may be more active. The Director approves the request on the condition the book stays in the office. Absolutely understood, Director LeAnne!

She requests Te'ani send in Gesof from IT on his way out.

April 3, 2085 - Day Two of Director LeAnne's Crackdown

Liv will have access to the Book, but she must keep it within the OIS. Alan researches the Eldritch Society and reinterrogates Luanne. The team has a team-building dinner and catch up the day's activities - Chinese again!

The staff is not surprised.

Liv recaps the reason she wanted access to the book, catching the team up on what happened on March 30th before the Director's demise. The note requesting the Director meet with someone at the coffee shop - an acquaintance of the suspected Tagers, the ones escaped from the Pit. Fearing that it was a ploy to lure the Director out for an assassination attempt, Liv headed out alone. Liv mentioned the contact stated the ones who attacked the Pit were agents of The Endless One, but refuses to tell the reasoning for the attack.

She retrieved the artifact and brought it back to the Director, who called in Bobby. The artifact is in Bobby's possession. It is one of three that can be used to summon the Black Goat. According to the contact, their enemies are in possession of the other two. When two of them are together... they can track the Third. In studying the book, Liv is hoping to decode the dates and locations that are optimal for the summoning so Bobby can have more warning.

Alan informs the team of his research into the Eldritch Society and his interrogation with Luanne. It was mentioned early on but seems to have fallen out of practice... except for in footnotes. The Society seemed to be a group of shapeshifters...

Liv may be jumping the gun when she started making connections - the Ghoul mentioning the Tagers in Tuscon and his future attack on their Enclave. Him showing up where there was a report of a "monster" from the dock worker. The dead bodies of Sage and the others. The mention of the contact's safe spot being attacked...

WHAT IF... The Eldritch Society and the Tagers were one in the same - or at the least, in league with each other.

Alan seemed uncomfortable with this line of thought and mentioned Luanne's wish to be moved from the OIS office to a safer location - or perhaps the possibility that we may attempt to repair her. Liv suggested using clay and sticking her pieces together. Alan didn't think that'd work. He seemed at an impasse on what to DO about the situation... and one of the waiters came over to deliver a fortune cookie to him.

{ Alan's fortune - A man in a clean room often finds enlightenment. }

Alan wonders - "What does it mean?" Liv might have been snarky - "It sounds pretty obvious to me..."

The team raked their brains on the Luanne situation... and then it hit them.

Ricky, the arcanomedic. Maybe he could help her? Liv immediately suggests we take Luanne to him - putting her in a different, more secure location. Te'ani asks why not bring Ricky to Luanne.

Liv points out the nightgaunt pack does not like being seperated from Ricky. And what better security! Between the assigned OIS agents and the nightgaunts (and occasional mecha patrol outside the city limits), what place could be safer at the moment? She says she'll send a message to Ricky asking if it would be okay if they dropped by.

{ The message sent to Ricky -

Ricky, I'm not sure if you remember me, but I was one of the agents present when you were reunited with George and the flock. I've found myself in the acquaintance of a person that has been turned to stone and broken in pieces. She's been in this condition for a while and we were wondering if you would be able to help reverse the condition... or maybe start the process of putting her together at least. We can bring her to you, but it may be a few days. Let me know if this isn't a desirable challenge. Also, please inform your guards so we won't be fired upon. - Olivia Grasse }

The team concludes their team-building meeting. Te'ani and Kory decide to go to a club. Alan says he'll head home to meditate on the situation, Liv offers to accompany him in case he needs a guard.

At Alan's home, he prepares to meditate, Liv doing the same to not contaminate the site. His pip starts going off... which shouldn't be possible. Ignoring it at first, he finally gets fed up with the notifications and finds a message.... from Director Elwood. Dated today. He quickly shunts Liv out of his home to read the message. Liv decides to give him his privacy - even though she could definitely hack his pip if she wanted (It's all about respect, man.)

Te'ani and Kory have a good time at the club.

Liv heads home and arrives to three pairs of eyes watching her. Tory and...

"Hello sister. We've met little sister."

"See you soon" - they kept their promise.

Next Game Friday October 2 6:30PM CDT

DM summary - A new Director has been appointed to the OIS, and she is a Delight, already moves have been put into place and kingdom building begun. The latest guest of the OIS has asked to be moved, lots of Chinese food has been eaten and bombshells have been dropped. Is Director Elwood still alive? What are the Brothers doing with Little Sister? What is Te'ani going to do with all this dangerous information?! Will the GMs head explode? Will he have another nervous episode and require medication?! I don't know! Same time, same channel, see you all in 2 weeks!