Ride Along
[2th of August, 2024]
[Dårligbakke; Varm Kyst; Nystatiszna]
“Alright trainee, what do you know about Dårligbakke. We’re arriving soon enough.” The rough looking kemonomimi spoke up, putting his cigarette out in the van’s ashtray. Her face was weathered, rough texture for her skin and patrolling brown eyes. Scanning the horizon for potential threats, namely the Borean bear. She took a gloved hand to lift up the ‘Royal Cola’ can in the cup holder. “And explain what a ‘cola’ is.”
The younger Kemonomimi, riding in the passenger seat, looked up from his notepad filling it away into his interior jacket’s pocket. “It’s a large farming town, N.I.B. the internal census has it estimated to be between 9,700 to 10,000 inhabitants, all kemonomimi. It primarily grows grain crops such as frosted rice, majority of farmers belong to a communal agriculture cooperative but a handful are owned by the Ingrain. Ethnically it’s made up of Nykea and Ny’T’Akø. Mayor is Eva Ny’Harse, Kurintail Democratic Party member.” He turned to face his mentor, “It’s a soda, it’s a sugary drink and bubbly. Bought us a six pack from the Kroneby to try.” He turned his head back, looking towards the sleeping pale elven reporter. “Want me to wake her?”
“No, let her sleep for a little longer. Long flights tend to be a harsh ordeal. You can wake her when we reach city limits.” The older kemonomimi looked towards one of the road signs, before turning their attention back to her trainee. “How are your studies going?’ The older kemonomimi opened her cola can, taking a sip from it before placing it into the cupholder. “Strange taste.”
“The investigation protocols and the creative investigations are giving me a hard time to wrap my head around. How am I supposed to investigate a crime from just a picture and a few short details about the people involved?” The young man took out his notepad again and alongside it a photo. “I don’t have enough information to properly assess the situation.”
“That’s the point, you rarely have all the information necessary for an investigation. Read the short details and focus on them first, build a fluid image of them in your mind. Take in what detail you can and apply them to an individual, but be flexible to change it based on new information.” She took another sip from her cola, making a turn on the road following the newly constructed electric wires. The city lights coming into the view, giving a look towards her trainee. “Alright wake them up.”
The town lights in the distance could be easily coming into view. The city was still quite rural but still riddled with history. One can see the ancient buildings built in times long before the era of pike and shot. Crafted from stone bricks and bronze fittings near the outer edges of the settlement, as anything closer would have been torn down ages ago. Colonial buildings, built from brick and mortar with red tile roofs. Akuan Socialist architecture, brutalist in design from steel and concrete purely for functionality. Briefly return to wooden and stone brick architecture, after the socialist era. Then a strange era of returning to wooden and stone housing with clay tile roofs. With the newer buildings being built with a mixture of brutalistic designs and more ‘modern’ Akuan designed by some Valkyr architecture firm.
The area around the city was designed around micro districts, legacy from the socialist era but such city planning methods unfortunately went out the window. It became more of a mix spread growing between the districts, the old tree walls being torn down to make way for row-houses and concrete apartment blocks without much care of the ‘character’ of the district. One thing that did stick around from the era, was focus on mass transit options, which mostly means buses or a collective wagon to ride in.
The young kemonomimi took out a cola can from the six pack below them, and reached behind his seat to nudge the woman awake. Already offering the soda in one hand for her. The mentor driving arrived at the parking lot for the Yuyuboks station. Putting the van into park, and putting on their Nystatinne Intelligence Bureau peaked cap on their head. The boy already had his NIB-recruit ushanka on his head, with the fur straps over his chin.
While the younger kemonomimi waited for the elf to stir awake. The agent stepped out of the van, closing the door behind them. Then walked towards the back of the van, opening the door to grabbing two messenger bags and a lever-action rifle with a sling. Putting on the messenger bag, and having the rifle on her back. Carrying the other messenger bag in her hand, as she walked towards the front passenger door, leaning on the engine for them both to come out.
Mariete Julidatur, the elven reporter in question, slowly stirred awake. Her light purple eyes blinked as she sat up, slowly rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. A small yawn left her as she stretched out. She was tall for an elf, which meant she was also much taller than the kemonomimi that woke her up. She was wearing a pair of black winter pants, a thick gray knitted sweater while also having black jacket hanging off from her that she was now pulling close to her. It wasn’t exactly the coldest weather, but it was far from the tropical climate of Nyveldet. She pushed her long silver hair to her back before she looked over towards the kemonomimi. “Have we arrived?” She raised an eyebrow at him as she asked. She tried to make it sound polite but it had the same stoic coldness she was raised to use.
The young kemonomimi spoke up in a standard NIB trained monotone voice. “We have, I figure you would want a drink to wake you up.” He handed her the soda, seeing how strange she would overdress for such warm weather, at least by his standards. “Sergeant Njøs is outside waiting for us.” Without waiting for a response, he opened the car door on his side and climbed out of the van. Closing the door behind him.
“Hmm, I thought Akuanists were supposed to be more welcoming.” She said to herself as she looked down at the soda can. Frowning a little bit seeing it having the BKB logo instead of Elvevann, yet she still took a sip from it before looking through her bag. Ensuring she had everything she brought with her, though the taser she did bring was confiscated at the airport. She took out her note book from the bag, putting it into the pocket in her jacket before sipping up her bag. The bag being a black fashion bag from Nyveldian Eagle, which she placed the strap over her shoulder as she opened the door exiting it. Immediately looking around scanning her surroundings.
Opposed to the high fancy fashion of their elven guest. Both NIB officers wore far more functional outfits. Though much too her surprise, instead of the long black trench coats made infamous by decades of films and TV shows portrayal of the bureau. They wore a worn down dark red button jacket, with a black police vest over it and black office pants. Black boots off course, but then those look worn from use, though maintained. Badge of the Bureau’s logo on the left-side of the vest, and on the right-side a far more polite looking badge of pure green, with a black silhouette of a shield over the top of it. The older and presumably the sergeant handed the messenger bag over to her recruit. Fixing her posture upright and readjusting the rifle on her back.
“Had a good rest? My apologies for being rude earlier and not introducing myself. We’re on a schedule and your… ride along wasn’t told to me until the last minute.” She gave a look over towards her right, looking at the building before looking back at the pale elf. “Must say, I didn’t expect a pale elf reporter to want to come along on patrol. Usually reporters want to talk with the spycraft cabinets.”
Mariete raised an eyebrow at being called an ‘pale’ elf. At first she thought the kemonomimi made that comment as a result of different skin tones between Tangrians and Nyveldians, but she had to remind herself that Nystatinnes might never have seen an elf that wasn’t a Z’rei. “Well can’t be helped, I’m just glad I can join your patrol.” She gave a polite smile as she took out her notebook, writing down the description of the agents’ outfits on it. “Hope you don’t mind me asking, but is the NIB having a new uniform code?”
“No. This is investigation cabinet uniforms, the black trench coats are reserved for select cabinets and special divisions.” The sergeant took out a cigarette from her vest’s pocket, lighting it up in the freezing wind. “That is what you were the type of uniform thinking of, yes?” Taking a puff of her cigarette, looking towards her with cold eyes.
“Quite.” The elf said keeping her polite smile as she wrote it down in her notebook, she easily stood a few heads taller than the sergeant. “Shall we get going? I’m looking quite forward to seeing the Nystatinne rural life.”
“Yes.” She gave a short response, being slightly annoyed at the existence of someone much taller than her after so many decades on the job. “This is a Kem town, like most of the country. It’s only the coastal regions you see non-kemonomimi around. You will be stared at by the residents, but they do know of pale elves.” She gestured towards the building they’re next at. “This building is a postal and banking center. It provides billing service for radio and story boxes as well as most things charged by the town. We go inside here first.” The sergeant spoke in her flat tone, turning around and walking towards the entrance. The younger kemonomimi ran ahead to open the door for the both of them. It was at this moment, Mariete noticed the younger agent was much younger than she thought, much younger.
She let the sergeant walk in first to the building following at first before stopping up at the door giving a glance towards the young kemonomimi. “Tell me, how old are you? I’m young myself and it’s nice seeing other young folk doing important work.” She asked in a quiet tone, giving him a smile.
“I’m eleven miss.” The boy responded, looking up at the pale elf. Causing a noticeable reaction from her as her eyes widened slightly, yet she otherwise kept a calm attitude.
“I see…” She said more to herself as she wrote down on her notebook the boy’s age, adding a small reminder to herself on it to find out if child labour was a normal occurrence in Ingrid’s Nystatiszna. Giving a respectful nod towards the boy as she then entered the building fully, with the boy closing the door behind her as he followed close behind.
The building’s interior was very strange as opposed to the brick and concrete interior. The floors were made from wooden planks, and while the agents themselves didn’t take off their boots. Everyone else in the building had only their socks on. With all their shoes neatly filed into a shelf nearby, The furniture, while clearly mass produced, still looked quite nice and well maintained regardless. In the back there was a series of stalls with glass in front of them, presumably where people paid their bills or sent letters off at. Meanwhile to the left side a series of small booths held landline phones inside of them. On the right side, a small relaxing area or she assumed it was supposed to be a relaxing area had a long sofa and several chairs in front of a TV. There were a few doors around the main room as well.
There were a number of kemonomimi around either working behind the glass stalls, waiting in line for either the phones or for the banking line. Few sat in the strange relaxation air, being rather suspicious of what was being played on the screen. Despite the TV being ‘advanced’ by Nystatinne standards, what was being played looked like it was from the 80s, and some sort of musical. At least given by the small sounds coming from the TV.
Mariete took out her phone from her pocket, taking a moment to take a few quick photos of the building’s interior before putting the phone back into her pants pocket.
“Over here.” The sergeant spoke up, opening a door for the two to come inside. “We’re going to quickly talk with the manager to check up.” The young boy quickly walked ahead to go inside of the room. Few heads turned then looked quickly away from the agents, but then just as quickly turned their gaze towards the strange elf. Whispering among themselves as they give strange stares at the elven woman.
The office was what was to be expected, a rather drab looking thing without windows and a singular ceiling fan slowly spinning in the room. The table was unlike others in the main lobby, it was truly an old piece with various religious carvings along the table legs with brown glass orbs attached to it. The surface had a knitted fabric covering it and resting on top of it was a Jac-brand computer, an older model but it was easily the newest thing in the room. It’s not unheard of that Jotun and its Côtis subsidiary Jætte products made their way into the Nystatinne government offices. Still when compared to the various old looking artwork and family photos hanging on the wall.
An older looking kemonomimi woman wearing a warm jacket sat behind a desk, having three cups of tea prepared on the table placed on the opposing end of her. The sergeant had sat down by the time the other two entered, holding the cup of tea in both hands, bowing her head in respect. “Thank Mrs. Ny’Fiter.” The sergeant gave a gesture towards the elf, “This is Mrs. Julidatur of Nyveldet and my student Onderson of Dotseth.” The child gave a respectful bow, pulling the chair out for the news reporter. Then taking his tea cup with both hands, giving a respectful bow towards the Ny’Fiter.
The elven reporter gave the child a respectful nod as thanks before sitting down, with her quickly writing on her notebook once more. She gave a bow respectfully towards the older kemonomimi woman before grabbing her teacup taking a sip from it. “I do hope you would not mind me asking a few questions?” She had a polite smile on her lips as she put down her cup. “It’s just that the Nyveldian youth is very interested in hearing more about Nystatiszna, to check how things developed with, well, the Fyllikenkrasjlander now guiding the state into a new direction.” She was able to say it fluently… but only because she had to continuously repeat the name several times before coming here. She had her notebook and pencil at the ready.
“Ah the Enshrined.” The old woman gave a warm smile, taking a sip from her tea. “Well it’s certainly different, and I’m a bit worried about this whole story boxes nonsense. Don’t want the next generation to waste away watching that box when they could be out living the experiences themselves.” She places down the teacup next to her. “But besides that, most of the changes are welcomed changes. Bit too Western in some aspects but as long we keep our hearts washed with the spirits’ love and guidance. Though I am glad the Prime Minister and the Enshrined kept the spirits in mind when fixing our education system.”
“That is wonderful to hear.” Mariete said with a smile as she wrote down what the older woman was saying. She had heard about how major pushes to develop Nystatiszna had been made, though most had come from claims made directly by the Matriarch. “There any changes you would argue have been directly harmful to you personally? Or somebody you might know?”
“This nonsense with bowing down to the west when it comes to baby murdering.” Ny’Fiter gave a scowl but a quick cough coming from the sergeant calmed her down. Letting out a sigh, “I think this insanity with letting people freely kill their baby while it’s still in the process of being born is too far. We’re only giving them a fine and community service for killing babies? They should be hanged.” She shakes her head, “It’s utterly disgusting to allow such things to happen.” She took a moment to breathe, calming down. “While I can understand the banning of child labor, and I am a supporter of it, I believe the government made some mistakes with the policy. It doesn’t have enough expectations for family owned businesses or farms, it’s too strict. While children should be in school, I support education for them, but family owned farms need extra help around harvest season.”
The elven reporter couldn’t help but be slightly quiet as the older woman went on her rant about the abortion policy. Not even her own grandmother was that conservative on abortion, and her grandmother was a 101 year old Hjørdist elf. She took a small sip from her cup, writing down the little rant before speaking up again. “So, child labor is banned across Nystatiszna now?” She asked for clarification as she readied her pencil, taking a subtle glance towards the young boy before looking back at the older woman again.
“Oh yes the policy was started by that lovely elf, Mr. Hoshi.” Ny’Fiter gave a warm smile, gesturing towards a photo on the wall of her shaking hands with the former Prime Minister. “Though Mrs. Engebretsen has expanded on it greatly.”
The sergeant spoke up, noticing the elven woman side-eyeing the boy. “NIB has slightly different rules, the agency adopts children ourselves. The boy is on what you call a mentorship program, once a month he travels with me to shadow my work.”
“I see.” Mariete kept her smile as she wrote into her notebook, specifically mentioning how the NIB seems to be an exception to laws of the land on this matter. Though likely to include many other matters as well. “According to claims made by… the Enshrined, Nystatiszna seen heavy increase in living standards. Would you say things improved in this town? Like beyond the story boxes that is.”
“Oh most certainly, have you seen the grocery stores? The shelves are full.” The reporter noticed how the old woman was generally impressed by it. “We have running hot water and electricity. You notice our floors are even heated and I didn’t have to have someone chop firewood for it. It’s fantastic, I can even call my grand-daughter in Dotsethby, I don’t even have to write a letter for her. Just pick up a phone and dial her number.”
“That is fantastic, and you didn’t have stuff like that before. Right?” The elf asked, lifting up her tea cup and taking a small sip from it. She couldn’t help but be slightly miffed and surprised that she hadn’t heard a more damning fact about Ingrid. Still she kept her polite smile and polite exterior.
“Not since the era of Naylorbrookiszna.” She gave a proud smile. “While I have some disagreements with the prime minister, but we are on the right track.”
“I think the youth of my region would be quite pleased to hear that.” Mariete said with a smile as she put down the cup. She tapped the table a few times with her pencil before she began writing on her notebook again, stopping up before speaking up once more. “How much would you contribute this to the prime minister, instead of the Enshrined? Do you think people might be… too focused on her Enshrined instead of the prime minister?” She asked in a slightly cautious tone.
“Well, the Enshrined speaks for the spirits, and the spirits are everything as well everyone. However the prime minister speaks for us mortals. Together, they ensure a suitable policy for all. We like to focus on the Enshrined because they are Borea, and we are all of Borea.” The old woman gave a warm smile, taking a sip from their tea again as if she made any sense at all.
The sergeant decided to help translate for a moment. “The Enshrined speaks for religious policy, everyone in Nystatiszna is religious. So more attention will be focused on her naturally.”
The elf nodded at that, writing it down in her notebook but she was not going to leave the matter alone just yet. “Who do you think people should listen to? If the two were to disagree then? Take abortion as an example.” She put down her notebook for a small moment, as she leaned over the table more. “The Enshrined pushed a full ban on it, yet the prime minister pushed back on it with limited success. Do you think the Enshrined might have overstepped any boundaries by doing that?” She raised an eyebrow at the older woman.
“Oh they should listen to the Enshrined absolutely, she listens to the spirits and the spirits are wiser than all of us. Frankly the prime minister should have allowed the will of the spirits to be done instead of listening to the venomous whispers from those elves. No offense to you of course.” She was about to go on another rant about wanting to have every abortion doctor shot in the streets but she held back her tongue. The elderly kemonomimi gave a warm smile. “It’s strange having a prime minister, I believe we just have to get used to having one.”
“I think my grandmother would like you.” Mariete said in a bit friendly tone as she wrote down about the near cultish attitude the older woman had towards the former princess turned holy symbol. Taking a moment to lean back into her chair, her pencil tapping the table as she pondered what to ask next. Her light purple eyes looked around the room.
“Oh deary me, do you require a refill?” Ny’Fiter looked over towards the elven woman’s tea cup. About to stand up before the sergeant gave a nod towards the boy, having him refill everyone’s cup with the kettle behind the old woman. “Thank you young man.” She gave a warm smile towards the boy before returning her gaze to the elven reporter.
The sergeant looked towards the boy, standing up. “I’m taking a quick smoke break outside, for a moment.” Giving a stare around the room before she left the room. Leaving only the reporter, the boy and elderly city councilor.
Mariete eyed the sergeant carefully, not saying a word until she was finally out. “Thank you, your hospitality is wonderful.” She smiled towards Ny’Fiter, grabbing her cup taking a sip from it before putting it down again. “Say… have you seen any recent increases in arrests in this town? Compared to prior to the Enshrinement ceremony?” She asked her tone, being cautious once again as her finger moved around on the edges of the cup.
Ny’Fiter thought for a moment, before speaking up. “There are more arrests related to smuggling now, not drug related stuff like normal but mostly illegal things like unlicensed radios, unlawful foodstuff and that sort of thing. There has been noticeable less public drunkenness and rudeness. I have seen some reports of ‘strangeness’ arrests.”
The elf couldn’t help but lean in closer at the mentioning of that, her arm on the table as she looked into the older woman’s eyes. Having to look a bit downwards from a simple large height difference between the two. “Strange arrests? How so?” She asked, tilting her head slightly.
“Well they’re strange because it’s stuff usually the community guard deals with. Recently NIB investigation has been doing it as opposed to them, like they’re replacing them or something.” The elderly woman seemed a bit weird about it. “They have been patrolling more towns, having more stations built and holding cells. It’s all very strange.”
“I see.” Mariete gave a nod at that, leaning back into her seat as she reached out to take a sip from her cup before putting it down again. Writing down in her notebook about everything that was mentioned. Especially on the fact that the NIB has been increasing its presence. “I’m mainly asking because there have been the same concerns back in my home over some arrests that have been made in Nystatiszna, so my rural heart was concerned if your lovely town has been dealing with any unjust arrests.” She placed a hand on her heart giving a warm look towards the older woman.
“Every nation has arrests, why would it be a concern elsewhere?” The old woman tilted her head, confused by her statement. “NIB doesn’t make unjust arrests, if someone is innocent then they get released after an investigation and if they are guilty they get sentenced.” She gave tone matching her look, being rather confused why someone would think negatively of the NIB.
“Well you know how my people can sometimes be. We can be a bit overly sensitive, and fake news does spread like a plague.” The elf said with a somber look shaking her head. “Things that over here might be seen as just, and fair. Can be seen as going against civil rights back home.” She kept up her warm look as she kept eye contact. “Of course, I’m here to bring truth to the youth of my region. To write about the genuine improvement happening across Nystatiszna, and disprove these rumors about unjust arrests that have been made.”
“Ah, I heard around the cup table about such things.” She gave a laugh, well more like a crackle before returning her attention towards the pale elf. “Honestly, I don’t know your people. I just got told a reporter from elsewhere outside of Nystatiszna was visiting and I just hoping you wasn’t one of those elven andies from the West.” Ny’Fiter gave a warm smile, “Where is Nyveldet?”
“It’s a region that belongs to my country, Norgsveldet, it’s. You know it might be easier for me to show you.” Mariete took out her phone, opening the Urth map, putting the phone face up on the middle of the table. Showing first Western Concord to zoom in on Norgsveldet, before going down towards North East Gondwana, zooming in on Nyveldet. “I’m from there, it is… very hot compared to Nystatiszna.” She said with a low chuckle.
“Ah Norgsveldet, I know some things about it. You’re people genocided our siblings around the world century ago.” Her voice turned grim, looking back up to look at the elven woman. “As well our Enshrined is from there.” Her tone did shift ever-so slightly from it. “Such things are in the past however.” She leaned back in her chair, taking another sip from her tea. “To respond to your earlier question, what you consider to be civil rights would let murders and rapists draw breath in some sort of luxury apartment. I much rather have the bureau handle them rather than let them walk freely around.”
“And I perfectly agree, in many ways we should be more like Nystatiszna in that regard.” Mariete said smiling as she pocketed her phone, taking a sip from her own as well before placing it down. “As such it be wise getting a Nystatinne side of the story, right? Our media has been very focused on criticizing the Enshrined for her supposed harsh censorship. What would you say to that?” She lifted up her pencil ready to immediately write down what she was going to say.
“Oh it’s fantastic, though I do wish we would protect the religious values more by using it. I’m not sure what a Hiridist is, but frankly they sound like they need a firm talking to by the NIB. Only people in Nystatiszna complaining about it are the elven thieves in Dotsethby and Fanton. I wished the rest of the Imperial Party got arrested in all due honesty, but the Prime Minister refuses to-do such.” Ny’Fiter spoke with a more calm and steady tone.
“So would you say that you and other people in this town are happy that, as a result of her Enshrined, majority Imperial Party members got arrested? And obviously done in the swift and harsh motion that the NIB is very good at.” Mariete spoke trying to sound supportive as possible. “And on that you would agree that the Enshrined is not abusing her powers when enforcing these new laws, right? Simply ensuring the well being of her citizens, yes,”
“Oh absolutely but it unfortunately would require approval from both Enshrined and the Prime Minister. The PM is rather hesitant about using such powers, only having the most blatant and aggressive offenses for arrests.” The elderly councilor gave a small annoyed look at that. “It is a fairly popular opinion that we should have arrested all of the leadership rather than the worst of the bunch.”
“I see, so the prime minister is the one stopping the Enshrined from fully bringing justice?” The elf asked as she began writing down on her notebook about Ingrid’s clear dictatorial tendencies which only hampered by Mrs. Engebretsen’s involvement. Writing in detail of the conversation, and the use of the NIB to enforce these policies.
“There undoubtedly some others as well, Dotsethby and Fanton folks tend to be on the more softer side of justice compared to us farmers.” Ny’Fiter took another sip from her tea. “Might I ask you a question?” She tilted her head towards the elf.
“Of course you can, and thank you genuinely for this. The Nyveldian youth deserves to find the truth about this.” Mariete said in a warm tone as she put down her notebook. Genuinely happy to get some better things to report on, especially the heavy increase and usage of the NIB be something that she will write in detail about for Unge Konservative.
“Why are you white?” The old woman looked deeply into her eyes, genuinely confused by this. The young boy also perked up his ears, looking towards the pale elf. “You look very strange too, your eyes look like mine rather than an elven one. Are you half-Kemomimi?”
The elf was quiet for a moment, her light purple eyes blinking hearing that before finally speaking up. “…what?”