While everyone else was scrounging up their own ideas to distract their companions, Reggie did the uncharacteristically smart thing and got a legitimate reason for running around town.
"Bounty! Open up! Zackaria's got something for us to do." Reggie shouted as he pounded on the door to Bounty's room. This lasted for about five minutes before he started plotting how to break the door down. He felt a cold gentle hand on his shoulder.
"No, I can't just have you unlock the door. That would look suspicious as hells..." Reggie said to himself not realizing Bounty was walking up the hall just behind him.
"You're right, you do look suspicious." He said in jest. Reggie almost jumped out of his skin.
"Gods damn... You scared me." Reggie recovered and noticed Whistle standing behind Bounty. The panther couldn't hide well behind the shorter caracal.
Reggie realized a slurry of information infront of him. The two smelled of wine, their hair and clothing were dishevelled, and Bounty seemed to be rubbing his rear; from sleeping and sitting on hard stone, but Reggie didn't know this.
"Did you two..." Reggie stopped as he saw Whistle in the back make a big X with his arms.
"Actually, nevermind. Anyway Zackaria has a task for us in town. Whistle, you can come too."
"Well whatever it is, it can wait. I have a date to get to, and I need Whistle as backup." Bounty countered.
"What?" Reggie and Whistle questioned. This prompted more questioning from Whistle.
"Why do you need backup to a date? You mean a wingman right? How did you even get a date?"
"Long story, and no, not a wingman. I need someone to back me up in case she tries to kill me." Bounty said seriously while rubbing his pained forehead. The hangover was not helping. Reggie jumped in.
"Is it a running theme that your dates try to kill you?" He questioned slightly amused.
"Honestly I think I'm cursed, or jinxed or something. I just seem to attract very dangerous women. (And men.)"
"How many times has one of your dates tried to kill you?" Reggie asked jokingly.
"27." Bounty replied with zero hesitation.
"..."
"And that's not even including the husbands trying to get revenge."
"Dude..."
There was a brief silence between all of them. Reggie picked the conversation up again.
"Well when's your date. We can hit two birds with one stone."
"I actually don't know the time, just the place."
Whistle laughed. "Yep, sounds like a murderer to me."
"Shut up." Bounty scalded. "She might have some info on the blue bird people -- have we even figured out their name?" He said annoyed.
"Nope."
"What does Zackaria even need us to do?"
"Track down his nephew, apparently he's running about town and harassing people. Zach's too busy with a spell or something. We've got to bring him back to his dad, Zeke Wolfbane, who is a priest of the central church."
"That's it?" Bounty laughed. "Come on, we'll find this little fucker before noon."
XXXXX
Much, much later...
XXXXX
Bounty and Whistle sat down at a table a short distance away from a food cart where Reggie was ordering their early dinner.
Bounty hung his head in his hands in complete defeat as he sighed. "I am an expert bounty hunter. I have tracked down psycho serial killers and corrupt nobles across kingdoms, continents, even some across dimensions."
He raised his head with frustration on his face as he shouted to the sky.
"AND I CAN'T FIND SOME LITTLE 15 YEAR OLD SHIT WHO CAN'T LISTEN TO HIS PARENTS! AHHHH! Bounty silenced himself he slumped over the table with a pout.
"Yeah, sorry I can't help that well with this." Whistle apologized. "I don't have my usual network of contacts, so I can't track him down through that."
"What? Like criminal contacts?" Bounty asked with his head still on the table.
"Let's say family, and leave it at that."
"Eh? Alright." Bounty couldn't really care enough at the moment anyways.
Reggie returned balancing three trays of food. He was actually only carrying two, so Lady had to pick up the slack without arousing suspicion.
He gently set down one infront of Whistle, one for himself, and the last on Bounty's back. Bounty simply groaned and lift the tray over his head in a fluid motion and sat up. He placed the tray on the table and sighed.
"Remind me why we're here again."
Reggie finished his bite and cleared his throat. "To find Zeke Wolfbane's son."
"Remind me what he looks like again. Maybe a refresher will help."
"About 5' 4", medium black hair, wears a lot of black. Even wears black makeup."
"What kind of boy wears makeup?"
"Hells if I know... him apparently."
There was a quiet as everyone ate their food. Whistle noticed two figures skulking into a nearby alley.
"Hey, Reg. Did they mention if he ran away with anyone?"
"Yeah, some elf girl named Amber or something."
"Orange hair, 5', scar on her left cheek?"
"Yeah, why?"
"2 o'clock."
Reggie and Bounty turned from their meals to spot the runaway duo. Reggie dropped his sandwich onto his tray. "Fuck... GET 'EM!" He commanded as the trio stood and grabbed their weapons to give chase. Reggie doubled back for a second to take another bite then sprinted back to rejoined the felines.
The three stopped a few feet into the alley as they saw the boy standing in a dramatic pose with a grey rune built in front of him. He channeled all of his teen angst to pull off the most intimidating voice he could manage.
"You better step back, or you'll feel the wrath of DARK PHOENIX!" He shouted, full of cringe worthy edge.
"..."
"Pfft..."
The three tried their damnedest to not laugh, but they broke down almost instantly. Full-hearted laughs that nearly left them in tears. This all did not help the teenage boy's self esteem as he got quite angry, and rightfully so.
The boy pushed as much mana as he could into the rune as a large bird covered in black flame flew out... and immediately dive bombed into the ground and turning into a puff of harmless smoke.
The laughter continues.
Reggie finally composed himself. "Alright Clerance. Time to go back."
"It's not Clerance, it's Dark Phoenix! And I'm not going back!" He pouted. "That place is full of stupid religious nutjobs!"
"It's a church, kid. Deal with it."
"They're still stupid." He sulked.
"And you, Amber. You go home too. I think everyone's had enough of this farce."
She stuck her tongue out and blew like a trumpet. "Things were just getting fun and you had to ruin it." She sneered and stomped away in a huff.
"Real good with kids aren't you, Reg?" Whistle snickered.
"Please, this is nothing compared to the time I burnt down my little cousin's shop so he would talk to his parents." He stated with a nostalgic smile.
Whistle got a concerned look, not sure if it was a joke or not.
"That's a joke, right?"
Reggie continued making his way out the alley with Clerance in tow.
"Reg, that's a joke, right?"
XXXXX
The group separated. Reggie headed for the central church of Arkheim while Bounty and Whistle made way for the Moonlit Musician where they would meet Color.
"Fuck, they're closed." Bounty cursed looking at the establishment before him. The establishment being in a very shady part of the common district.
"It's just a few hours, we can wait it out." Whistle said attempting reassurance; placing a hand on Bounty's shoulder.
"This day has been a mess from start to finish." Bounty sighed to himself. "Please let everything work out from here on out."
Bounty slightly jumped at something grabbing onto his duster. "Hey, mister." The familiar sound of a little girls voice range out. Bounty turned with an annoyed look, but it shifted to a relieved smile.
"Oh, hey Alley Cat."