[General Log] Tuning Towers, Sept. 22 onward.

[theearth]

Who: Any and all!
Where: The site of Tuning Towers (and/or en route accordingly), at the heart of the business district in Locke City's downtown.
When: September 22nd and onward.
What: Following that mysterious buzzing sound to its strongest point! Perhaps you made plans with numbered associates for a trip downtown, or perhaps you went a-wandering alone to follow the noise yourself - surely you'll hardly be the only one.



[Tuning Towers, the third-largest building in the United States and Locke City's most prominent feature, from a tourist perspective in one sense and quite literally by another - look up and marvel, if you will, should you not be a bit too distracted by the circumstances.

Even if you needed to focus to tune into the buzzing in your brain at the start of whatever trip you took, you'll find that by the time you come close enough to the tower to feel a rising sensation of tremors beneath your feet - unnoticed, as far as one can tell, by the crowds, which almost never lack presence around the building - you'll be able to hear it very easily without even trying. It isn't terribly intrusive in the first couple of days after the return of the lights in the sky. As September moves on and into October, however, the intensity will grow all the more overbearing.

It is, indeed, even worse if you enter the building - only the ground floor is accessible to the unauthorized by the tower's maintenance and management or personnel of the companies making use of it. Apart from that, among the indoor crowds, you'll find nothing unusual on the ground floor - and if you'll find that the buzzing loses its strength the higher you go if you take a trip up to one of the observation floors.]

Comments

September 23nd | Nick Burkhardt and John Mitchell

[detectivetroll]

Nick's been almost nonstop busy on a case lately, and for the most part, that's been enough to keep him from focusing on the vague, irritating buzzing he's been hearing. As he goes about town, though, it's impossible not to notice that it's stronger in some places than others, and that makes Nick want to figure out some sort of pattern.

When he's finished talking to the ex-girlfriend of the latest victim, it's somewhat late, but Nick realizes he's right by where John works and decides to stop by. Bring him that coffee he can now have, and, if he happens to be close to getting off, see if he's up for investigating.

[allinvein]

While Nick may have been burying himself under piles and piles of work to block out the noise, John has taken to playing music on his phone, one ear bud almost always in place--if not two. It's not the best office behavior, but his coworkers believe him when he tells them that he's recently picked up a case of ringing in his ears, which isn't too far off the truth. Either way, what with the music and paperwork spread out in front of him, he's not exactly paying attention when Nick shows up.

There's a bright smile in place when he does notice though, and the sight of coffee brings a hungry glitter to his eyes. "Fancy seeing you here," he says, standing up to greet the other man. "What brings you here? Not to say I don't like surprise visits."

[detectivetroll]

There's no mistaking that glimmer in John's eyes, and Nick grins a little when he spots it. "You like surprise visits as long as they come with free coffee?" he asks, holding out the drink.

"I was nearby, working on a case," he adds, considering his next words. He doesn't really want to say 'Have you been hearing that really annoying buzzing that no one normal hears, and do you want to help me narrow down where it's coming form?' "I thought I'd stop by and see how your ears have been doing."

[allinvein]

"You are a godsend," he mutters after downing a scorching mouthful of coffee, having listened silently to Nick explain his unexpected arrival. John makes a quiet, "Mmm," sound before allowing his expression slip into one of mild annoyance when posed with a question about his ears. He pulls the one earbud in his ears out and quirks an eyebrow.

"Terrible." He shakes his head and folds his arms across his chest, his voice dropping in volume as he leaned closer to Nick. "I'm starting to think the water problem was easier to deal with. At least it was avoidable." He takes another (smaller) sip of his coffee. "You?"

[detectivetroll]

Nick smiles at that, amused. "Too bad I didn't get that in writing, that's really one to print out and frame."

He makes a bit of a face at the question, as he leans in and lowers his voice as well. "About the same. It's quieter in some places, but never gone." He shifts his weight slightly. "That's the other reason I came by. You don't happen to be getting off work any time soon, are you? I was wondering if you'd be interested in doing a little investigating."

[allinvein]

John just grins; maybe he'll text Nick with those exact words at some point.

But there are more serious matters to attend to, namely figuring out what's going on with those towers. John's gaze flickers to the time on his computer monitor before nodding, lips quirked into a slight smile.

"For the price of a coffee, I think you've found yourself a junior detective," he answers. John's already standing up and grabbing his stuff, and with a slight tilt of the head toward the exit, he's showing them out. "I worked overtime last night, so I'm good to leave a bit early today.

"Your car or mine?"

[detectivetroll]

That'd make Nick's day.

Hey, there's nothing that says that can't have some light-hearted banter while attending to those serious matters. But then, homicide detectives tend to have some pretty terrible gallows humor.

"I'll get you your own badge," he replies with a grin, stepping back to follow John out. He doesn't think they'll get anything solved tonight, but he's eager to at least hunt down where it's the strongest, and do some preliminary investigation.

"We can take mine. It'll be easier for you to drink that without having to take sudden turns while following vague buzzing sounds."

[allinvein]

"You'd better not be joking about something like that," John says, tossing Nick a look over his shoulder as they exit out the door, and he makes no sign or sound of protest about being allowed to drink his coffee in peace.

Nope, Nick won't be hearing a peep from him about that, but... John is seriously contemplating how lame he'd be for texting, "You're a godsend for buying me coffee and then letting me drink it while you drive," to the guy when he has a moment alone. For now, Nick will just have to settle for something less flattering.

"Anyway, I like that idea. I'll try not to be a total shit navigator for you." He grins broadly, his smile not entirely without mischief. "Wouldn't want to spill my coffee after all."

[detectivetroll]

"I never joke about badges," he replies, managing a straight face and a very serious tone while he's talking, but breaking into a grin after he's done. He'll probably get him one, though. He can take one of the junior cadet badges.

It wouldn't be lame at all, man, it'd make Nick happy. He actually would print it out and put it up. Of course, he's the guy who still has a tank of fish and a ferret from kids he helped out, so he might not be the best judge of lame 'thank you' gestures.

"If you spill that in my car, I'm never bringing you coffee at work again," Nick warns as he climbs into the car. "I can get us to the place I've felt it the strongest so far, but after that, we'll have to play it by ear."

[allinvein]

"You'd withhold coffee from me?" he asks, feigning hurt in his voice. For added effect, John clutches the cup closer to his chest, as if trying to protect it from being snatched. "You wouldn't be so cold, would you?"

The expression he wears finally cracks, and he breaks out into a broad smile. "I'm joking. I wouldn't dare spill a drop of coffee that you got for me--in your car no less." John stares out of the window for a moment, sipping his drink quietly before quirking a brow at Nick.

"So exactly where are we headed?"

[detectivetroll]

Nick laughs, grinning back at him. "I know you wouldn't dare, that's why I'm trusting you with coffee in my car. And to answer your question - yes, I really would be that cold. But only if you spilled it."

He puts the car in drive, pulling out from the curb and heading towards the last place he'd been where the buzzing had sounded the strongest.

"I'm not sure, exactly. Somewhere in the business district, but more specific than that, I don't know."

[allinvein]

"The business district." John huffs quietly and shakes his head slightly, like he's not sure whether he should be happy or angry about that. Of course the source of their trouble will be at the heart of the city; where else would it be? "You've been paying more attention to this stuff than I have.

"Then again, I suppose paying attention to details is part of your job..." He grins and shoots Nick a quick look. "All I ever did was think, 'Well, that's certainly irritating. We won't be driving past that block again.'"

[detectivetroll]

He answers that huff with with a bit of a wry grin and a slightly raised eyebrow as he drives. Of course it couldn't be anything but complicated.

And that gets a chuckle out of him. "You said it before I could. Though trust me, there was plenty of 'that's irritating' involved. It's not easy talking to a witness or a suspect with buzzing in the back of your head."

Nick shakes his head, then starts to slow as they get towards the center of the business district. "All right, here's where you come in. This is about where it's felt strongest."