A Question

[talkyourwayout]

I think this school might need better security. It seems like people come and go basically whenever, doesn't it? I wonder if there's some kind of sign-in sheet somewhere. Of course, it's easy to just fake a signature. [Louie would know. He doesn't have forgery experience, but he's made sure he knows a bit.] The point is that I saw someone around the school, and I think I know who it is. I'm pretty sure. And if it's them, it's probably going to end badly.

Here's the thing: I don't want to just assume someone's up to something. [He knows Webby wouldn't approve. He doesn't think Lena would appreciate the mentality, either. And he's had enough fighting with friends lately.] Usually when I can tell if someone's doing something wrong, it's because I know them. I can see they're acting strange. This is a stranger.

What's the best way to find out what's going on here? If I knew this would happen, maybe I would have taken the espionage class.

[The post is unsigned, and Louie has taken the time to write it neatly - in strong contrast to his usual messy scrawl.]

Comments

[woo_oo]

If you ask me, I think you should follow your instincts. If you were wrong, all you have to do is apologize. But if you did nothing and something bad happened, you'd feel super bad, right?

So I say - spy away!

[talkyourwayout]

That's true. And I've been right about something kind of like this before.

I'm not sure how good I'd be as a spy, though.

[woo_oo]

Fortunately for you, I know someone who is related to a super spy and has been trained in her ways!

IT'S ME, WEBBY VANDERQUACK!

[talkyourwayout]

[The word "spy" should have been a clue from the start, honestly. But... They're okay, right? The whole "you don't have to threaten murder to help me" lesson had sunk in, he thinks, and they'd recovered easily enough. Still, it takes some time for the words to appear.]

Yeah, I know you, and thanks for offering to help. I'm just not totally sure if it's really what I should do, yet. Everyone seems to have a different idea about that.

[woo_oo]

Well, what about what you think? That should probably count most of all.

What does your gut say?

[paradoxical_personality]

This school needs a lot of things but they're not in a position to provide it...

[Eluding to an earlier conversation she had]

What makes you think this person is up to anything?

[talkyourwayout]

Well, I recognize them from in town, and not in a good way.

[He's going to leave it at that, just in case the possible pirate can see this, too.]

You're right about the school, too, or I might go to a professor.

[paradoxical_personality]

[That is still far too vague for her liking]

You saw them doing something untoward?

[talkyourwayout]

[Not that it can be heard through the bulletin board, but Louie groans in frustration. Why can't people just offer him advice without questioning his motives? Or maybe it just feels like that's what going on because it would almost certainly be the case back home. With good reason, too.

Whatever the case, he's giving up on being discreet.]

I saw them being a pirate, so I think that counts.

[perfectenn]

Are you in the Intimation class?

Or do you know someone in the Intimation class?

[talkyourwayout]

I probably do. I haven't paid much attention to what classes other people are taking.

Why?

[perfectenn]

[Clearly, the professors are not doing their job if 'why' needs to be asked. The note is affixed to the board with a sigh.]

Intimation is used to make inquiries with the goal of discovering the truth.

In other words, if you ask an Intimation student to inquire for you, they should be able to tell you if this person is someone you know and whether they have ill intentions.

Your questions will have to be precise, of course. Yes or no answers are best.

[talkyourwayout]

[In the defense of the professors, Louie hadn't exactly looked into the courses he wasn't taking, or even read up much when the time to pick classes came. Now? He wishes he had.]

This definitely sounds like a class I should be taking!

[There are probably several dozen ways he could make this useful in his business pursuits. Also, the probable pirate has been momentarily forgotten.]

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Do you think they're in trouble, or do you think they're going to be in trouble?

[This one's not signed either, but there's a little frowny face at the bottom of it.]

[talkyourwayout]

No, I think they're going to just be trouble. No "in".

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Oh. I'd say that might be fun, but...I'm weird and I admit it. But you seem concerned. Is there any way I could help?

[talkyourwayout]

Weird isn't the worst thing to be.

And maybe you can. I'm trying to figure out what I should do about this, but everyone seems to have a different idea about it, and I'm not sure I can just go with my own instincts on this one.

What would you do?

[shiningkindness]

If you don't really know them, what makes you think something bad is going to happen?

...I'm not trying to make you feel bad or anything. I really am just curious.

[This is also unsigned, because she isn't sure if that sounds rude or accusatory, and even if she isn't trying to be, she doesn't want to seem that way.]

[talkyourwayout]

A little bit of it's intuition, but mostly it's because I'm pretty sure I've seen this guy somewhere before. And it's not a good place.

[shiningkindness]

I see.

If they might be dangerous, it would probably be a good idea to look into it. Maybe your familiar could follow him around a bit, see if there's anything suspicious?

[talkyourwayout]

Hey, that could really work. He's small enough to go unnoticed, I bet.

[Besides, sending Cash after this guy is just noncommittal enough for Louie not to be worried about choosing this as a course of action.]

[unswervingcompanion]

Is this person's behavior threatening in any way? Are they threatening fellow students if they are in fact, a student themselves?


[This one takes security very seriously.]

[talkyourwayout]

Not yet, but if I know them from where I think I do, they definitely could.

And even if they're not threatening anyone, they're not up to anything good.

[unswervingcompanion]

So they are from your homeworld then, correct?

[A thought]

There must be a way to find out what they are up to, without direct interference.

[talkyourwayout]

Well, no, but I've seen them outside of the school.

Normally I'd just trust my instincts. [Actually, normally he'd count on someone doing something - but he's not sure anyone else is aware of the problem, here.] But I'm not so sure in this case.