Aliquam: The Academy of the Arts - Central SectionAmy hadn't cracked a single smile during all of Lucien's puns, though he himself was tearing up from the ingenuity of it all. Thankfully he had stopped himself before Amy lost it from the constant chatter. He suggested booby traps, though quickly recanted that suggestion with another one instead.
"That might work," she added once Lucien looked to her. "The bear. It might not be able to directly track the thief, but for patrolling and sniffing out anyone else approaching us..." she looked around as she spoke. Indeed the courtyard was so much more spacious without all the exhibits lying around. "It might work."
Amy twirled the staff in her hand. The gem atop it glowed faintly. "Maybe we should split. I can sense movement if it's close enough." She twitched her lips afterwards and again looked away from the duo. It was heartbeat based, and she used this tactic to manuever through dust and fog as she had in Vandrell and Los Paraisos - but anything as simple as a guard or a squirrel could throw her off. Still, it was something at least.
Aliquam: The Academy of the Arts - Southern SectionFrom far away, Trixie shared the same sentiment as her elder. "Maybe we should split! Cuz if we all hang around one side of the garden, you know he could just come in through the other side." She giggled. "That's what I would do, anyways."
The prankster then pointed to her nose. "Plus my nose is really, really good. If I smell him out, I can scream to you guys and then, hurray! We found him! Easy peasy, right?" She leaned forward, rustling her fingers through Sebastian's mane. "And he's really fast, right? So the baddie won't be able to run! Hehe, the guy doesn't know who he's messin' with!"
Trixie hopped off Sebastian and stood by Lute, chucking a thumbs up in his way. "The power of ~friendship~ will stop him, right Echo? Miss Rosy? Yeaaah!"
Without further hesitation or orders, Trixie took a scouting stance, bringing her flattened hand to her forehead and glancing about. "He could be here aaaaany minute..."
Aliquam: The Academy of the Arts - Western SectionWell, Moira and Syed were sure an interesting duo. From what Syed tried to show Angel before everyone decided to split, they really were bonded together, like there was some sort of invisible chain between them. Then when Moira piqued his interest in discussing business again, Syed fiddled with the communicator and set off an ear-piercing screech. So he was an electricity guy? Damn, guilders had such cool powers. Still, he wondered if Syed's static powers had anything to do with the bond, considering he learned both traits one after another - but he promised he wouldn't pry.
Even as the trio headed to their respective sector, the business chat between Angel and Moira had been fairly short. "You know, I've been thinking. This is easily the most exciting thing I've seen happening in the past... forever. I could be barricaded at home with the guards taking things into their own hands, but I'm out here with some superpowered visitors instead. Tell you what, love. We stop this thief and I'll sculpt ya anything you want for free." He winked. "My thanks."
As the trek continued further down, they eventually came cross twin armored statues, both at least a head or two taller than Syed. "Oh right. Hope this doens't bore you guys. The Western section's focus is on sculptures and statues. Really old stuff. These guys," he motioned with a jerk of his thumb, still walking, "are way too heavy to move, so I'm not surprised they remained put. (They were sculpted by hand, mind you.) Others are too spacious, some are fixed to the wall..."
He stopped at a window, placing his hands on the sill. "Aaand it's pretty hard to move sand sculptures if they're actually done outside and not in some sandbox. Hah!" Angel stared outside a while longer, catching a good view of both the sunset and sparkling waterfall, before turning to the two guilders again. He leaned back on the window.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the thief was after one fo these babies. Although that'd be a bit cliche, wouldn't it?" Angel crossed his arms, lax.