To catch a thief, think like one. [Mission]

[Linally Ragebloom]

Name: Finding the thief
Rank: D
Posts Limit: 3+
Objective: The police are having a hard time find a thief. He’s been breaking into houses and stealing rare items. You’re to find him and bring him in. Do not kill him/her or it will be count as fail mission. The thief is said to have no offense attacks.
Reward: 30 Jewels
Exp: 10 exp

Linally, somewhere between the mission board and stepping out on the main streets of Magnolia, had released Sphinx's arm from her Bear-Hug of strength and moved by herself. She was eager to move quickly, ready to go. She was 'All Revved Up' as a once-famous person from another realm might say. But where to begin? That's right! The Police Chief of course! Linally turned her head and screamed into the Fairy Tail's building. "Hurry up kids! Don't make me catch this crook all myself!" Linally giggled at herself as she started off in a quick jog towards the Police Department Building.

- - - - -

Linally was greeted outside by a large man, nearly seven feet in height and with a thick black mustache. He had a single scar across his forehead that coiled around and across his right eye, which was hidden by a solid black eye-patch. He smiled lightly, peacefully, which looked out of place on his huge uniformed muscular body. He had to be nearly forty, but Linally was certain that he could probably thrash just about any man that came within an arm's distance of him. Assuming he could get that close though.

His right leg was false, wooden, obviously a patch job from having the limb severed completely. He was, without a doubt, a man that had seen countless wars. Linally found herself almost too intimidated to even speak to the man. He was the client though, asking and paying the Fairy Tail guild to catch some elusive creature. Linally glanced at the sky. The sun was fading over the horizon, it would be dark within an hour.

"It's nearly time. The thief has been striking three houses a night, every night. No more, no less. He, and we truly believe it is a he, has been known to take only jewels and diamonds of great value. Rings, necklaces, pendants. His targets are never the poor, never the needy, the sick, the elderly, or one-parent and no-parent homes. His methods are crude, noisy break-ins, takes whatever valuables he wants, and leaves. He is quick, and he seems to have an uncanny sense of just where everything is. He has never once been known to take longer than two minutes in a single house, yet always comes out with what he wants."

Linally listened intently as the large man spoke. His voice, though hoarse and deep, was soft and compassionate. A fatherly voice, calming. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but the chief continued to speak, coaxing her to be silent for a little while longer.

"It's like he knows the very places he plans to hit, like if he had already been there."

The words fell to silence. Linally just ponded a while. Thinking. Was it possible for this person to know each place, each and every home, like he had been there. Certainly not, that would cause suspicion amongst the victims fairly quickly. "Don't worry General! We'll catch this prick for yah!" Linally grinned as she saluted the tall man awkwardly, then turning to her allies (assuming they were here) she would point at them, one of them, both of them, either or. She was taking control of this mission. "If you got questions, ask them now, we are going to hunt this loser down as soon as possible, since he should be hitting a target soon. Thank your Gods for his habit of precise timing and predictable schedule. Listen for any disturbances, that'll lead us to him, if it is a him. I'd say we have to catch him in mid-act." As Linally spoke, it was obvious she was getting into the role, and she hardly seemed to notice that she had taken off her fur coat and handed it to the Police Chief, who seemed confused. "I don't know what you guys can do, except for skewering rats with a giant stick-" She nodded at Sphinx in reference to him going ape-shit on the moles earlier in the day. "but I hope you boys can run. I'm sure this thief will be quick."

Linally grinned as she subconsciously got to work on loosening the belt around her waist. She was obviously having too much fun with this, and even though she may have had the spirit of a leader, the plan was less than perfect, and her speech could have used a good amount of polishing and revising. Still though, the plan was simple, catch the thief with his pants down, in middle of stealing something, jump him, and drag him back.

"Miss, there's one more thing."

Linally turned around as she dropped her leather belt to the ground, which significantly loosened the grip of the pants around her body.

"He knows magic."

[Sphinx]

As soon as Linally broke her grip on Sphinx, the latter immediately smartened himself up. He wanted to do something other than being bear-hugged by a tall woman. The sky getting darker is a good sign for him. Night time was where he excels, and it was the best time of the day to hunt. Among the blackness of the night was where his senses and his powers belong, and it's during this time that he feels being alive the most. He listened closely to the mission briefing as he reached their client. Thieves are easily dispatched, and since the hunt would start during nighttime, Sphinx was somewhat disappointed. He wanted a challenge, not just catching a petty thief. He was about to turn around when he heard their client say something as a forewarning.

"He knows magic."

Sphinx's facial expression turned to somewhat a darker shade. The mission suddenly jumped a few notches up. Someone who uses magic is what he needed to break in his gears. And it also meant that he was given more reason to subdue the criminal. People who uses magic for the wrong purposes must be eliminated. That is what the greater good demands. He punched both fist together, looking rather dark and happy.

"Let's get this one done." Sphinx remarked mistily, looking casual and indifferent.

[Linally Ragebloom]

Linally stared at Sphinx for a moment before smiling, forcing silent a giggle, and began to walk down the street. To be quite honest, for the person that had taken the initiative in the leading the three man group, or two man now as their friend seemed to have misplaced himself somewhere between the guild and their current location. "Alright Sphincter, looks like it's just you and me again. I don't know if you got anything thieving instincts about you, but for our sakes I hope so." It was doubtful. Linally remembered just how strange he had acted earlier in the day, crazy. She hadn't considered that it was the day itself that he hated.

As she walked, Linally spotted a rather large house. The obvious sign of wealth, and that's when the idea hit her. "I've got it. Stop me if you get a better idea, but I think I know how to find this bastard. Since he's not particularly sneaky, but more so quick and knows the target houses like they're his own. We should be able to hear it when he strikes. A broken window, a screaming family, barking dogs, any sign of disturbance. We should be able to get there quick enough to catch him... or something."

Linally sighed heavily as she got to work on sliding her pants off her lower body, forcing herself to somewhat hobble and hop as she did so. Within moments, she was walking in combat boots, black underwear, and a simple t-shirt. She then turned her head to face Sphinx, hoping he'd have a suggestion or two. She felt like she was repeating herself.

[Sphinx]

Sphinx didn't know what Linally was referring to when she said something about 'thieving instincts'. He simply gave her an awkward nod, and watched as she undressed herself in front of him, leaving only a simple t-shirt, a black underwear, and her combat boots in place. By now, Sphinx has become used to this habit of his partner. Before, he was a bit awkward, or shocked when she undress herself, but now, he doesn't mind. He was focused on the mission at hand. His hands were cackling with dark energy, drawing magic from the dark depths of the night time itself.

"Hmm. Let's split up. I will check on the darker parts of this place, seeing as I'm more attuned to the dark than you. You go do what you do best. Errr," Sphinx stared at her for a few moments before continuing, "You do know you're rather distracting. Well, whatever. Just go do what you have to do."

Sphinx was already looking extremely hyped up. His entire body was projecting some sort of dark aura, melding in with the darkness of the night. He made his way towards the nearby wall, where the light from the houses did not reach, and climbed up, looking over the large house. He scanned the darker areas of the house, trying to see if there's anyone looking suspicious. To his disappointment, there was none. He started to move towards the more darker parts of the house, looking more like a burglar than an investigator, but the darkness around him was keeping any prying eyes at bay. It was nearly impossible to spot him during the night.

"Where are you, thief? You should be somewhere here. When I get my hands on you, I'll rip your head clean off your shoulders." Sphinx said mistily, a hint of malice present on his tone.