Ran arrives at a police scene. The air is filled with smoke or fog. Patrol officers are slightly out of focus. Her inner monologue plays over the scene.

Ran walks up to a police scene wearing a t-shirt. Police patrol officers mill about out of focus. The scene is filled with smoke and fog from the pollution of the city. Neon lights illuminate behind the smoke. Police lights are also present. Ran's inner monologue plays over the scene.

A'isha stands in front of a doorway holding a file that she's flipping pages of. Her badge is on display, hanging from a chain draping around her neck. She looks towards Ran and addresses her.

Ran smiles and tilts her head to be condescending towards the police officers. She places her hand on her chest to play up the act.

A'isha looks back down to the file she was reading while still addressing Ran. Ran's inner monologue plays over the scene.

Ran speaks to A'isha while 'Zug arrives in silhouette.

Panel 1: Ran arrives at a police scene. The air is filled with smoke or fog. Patrol officers are slightly out of focus. Her inner monologue plays over the scene.

Panel 2: A'isha stands in front of a doorway holding a file that she's flipping pages of. Her badge is on display, hanging from a chain draping around her neck. She looks towards Ran and addresses her.

Panel 3: Ran smiles and tilts her head to be condescending towards the police officers. She places her hand on her chest to play up the act.

Panel 4: A'isha looks back down to the file she was reading while still addressing Ran. Ran's inner monologue plays over the scene.

Panel 5: Ran speaks to A'isha while 'Zug arrives in silhouette.

Panel 6: Ran in silhouette speaks to 'Zug.

Panel 7: A'isha addresses 'Zug.

Transcript

Panel 1:
Ran (Narration): The client says her brother never misses Sunday dinner at the mother's without calling.
Ran (Narration): He's missed the last two weeks. And no one can reach
Ran (Narration): She handed me a blank cheque and just asked for receipts.
Ran (Narration): Definitely drinking the good coffee while I'm on this case.
Ran (Narration): She gave me the key to his apartment--
Ran (Narration): --Which I'm not going to need since the cops are here.

Panel 2:
A'isha: What are you doing here, Miss Kimura?

Panel 3:
Ran: Apparently your job, A'isha. I'm looking into the disappearance of my client's brother.

Panel 4:
A'isha: Come down to the station tomorrow and I'll let you look at my notes. But this is a potential crime scene, so it's off limits to non-essential personnel.
Ran (Narration): We'll see about that.

Panel 5:
Ran: Good enough. I'll swing by around nine. Is that okay with you?
'Zug: If you bring donuts with you.

Panel 6:
Ran: Leaning into that stereotype a bit, 'Zug?
'Zug: I like donuts...

Panel 7:
A'isha: A bit too much. Why don't you work off some of today's pastries while you go interview the neighbors?
'Zug: Sure, but the uniforms said none of them were home when they arrived on the premises.

Dead shall rise – Chapter 1 page 4

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Maho Noir

A'isha and 'Zug are the primary law enforcement officials that Ran interacts with. They're both detectives on the force so she bumps into them fairly often. Expect to see one or both of them in most chapters for awhile.

'Zug is a half-orc. His mother is an orc and his father is human. Orc society is fully fleshed out in my world building. It's definitely something we'll get into in later story arcs.

Sunday is written here for your benefit. We can assume it's just the day of the week we call Sunday, as the days of the week aren't named what we call them in the world of Maho Noir.