Chapter Text
Angus sat at a large oak table in the moon base library, surrounded by towering stacks of books on the history of magical artifacts. He scribbled notes onto a piece of parchment on occasion and his round glasses slipped down his nose as he leaned over the text. He absentmindedly pushed them back up.
"Excuse me, Angus?" a quiet voice interrupted his research. Startled, Angus looked up to see an older gnome with a white beard and delicate spectacles-- the librarian. In his hands, he held a sealed envelope with Angus's name written on it.
"Oh, thank you, sir!" Angus beamed, taking the envelope from the man. As the librarian walked away, Angus's fingers traced the seal… from the Goldcliff Militia! This was not his usual working area, how exciting that his name was getting around! He broke the wax seal eagerly and unfolded the letter inside, eyes scanning the words quickly.
Dear Angus McDonald, we hesitate to call on you for this case, but we are in desperate need of your assistance…
Hesitate? Angus was prepared to jump on the defensive until he saw the details. The children’s division in traveling talent show— “Faerun's Life in the Limelight Spectacular”— has taken some turns upon settling in Goldcliff. Kids have fallen terribly ill or, disappearing altogether. An obvious case of foul play of course, but there must be some reason they haven't caught it.
It would be a quick case to solve. It had been months since he had worked on one too, and mixture of excitement and trepidation settled in his heart. On the one hand, it was too long since he'd worked on a case out 'in the field', and he craved detective work more than anything! Working for the Bureau was fine, but not near as exciting. On the other hand...
Angus had broken out in a sweat just looking at the words "Life in the Limelight Spectacular", and with children as the victims, it would be very silly not to acknowledge that he would be actively putting himself in harm's way, even if he was confident in his ability to handle himself. He glanced around the library, considering his next move. The obvious answer was to ask the reclaimers for help, but Magnus, Merle, and Taako were undoubtedly busy with their own work. Still... They didn't have an artifact to go after right now either.
Angus stopped to read the letter again.
Six kids. Three sick and three missing. This case needed him.
Angus was quick to pack up his things and return the books before making haste to the reclaimer's living quarters. The three's residence wasn’t far across the moon base campus, and it took little time for him to get there. As soon as he did, he rapped his knuckles on the door a quick four times.
Magnus was the one to answer, grinning once he spotted Angus.
"Hey, Ango McDango! what are you doing here? Aren’t magic lessons tomorrow?"
"Hello, sir," Angus began, perhaps a little too eager to get to the point, "I apologize for any inconvenience, but I require your assistance with a rather urgent case."
"Ohoh, the world’s greatest detective is asking for help with a case now?" Taako teased, his head poking up from where he had apparently been lounging on their couch.
"Indeed, sirs," Angus replied, ignoring the tone. "I’ve just received reports on a number of missing and ill children at the Life in the Limelight Spectacular which has situated itself in Goldcliff. I believe it's crucial that I investigate, and I think even more crucial that I— um— have backup all things considered.”
Magnus opens his mouth to speak, but the information clicked with Taako much quicker. The elf sat straight up.
"Hold up a moment..." There was grin that crept its way onto Taako's face, "you’re going undercover at a talent show?”
Oh he knew he was going to regret this. He was absolutely going to regret this. Nevertheless, Angus responded.
“Yessir, that is objectively the best way for me to get an in and gather information.”
Taako was already scrambling, flipping himself over the back of the couch and landing on his feet.
“Say no more kid! I am gonna make you shine like the star you are, those other little brats won’t even know what hit ‘em!"
“Er, well sir, the point is to find out what, in fact, is ‘hitting’ these kids.”
“Semantics.”
"Hold on," Magnus interjected, furrowing his brow. "If the kids at the show are the ones being targeted, aren't you just putting yourself in danger here, Angus?"
Angus hesitated, drumming his fingers on the strap of his bag, refusing to make direct eye contact. He couldn't deny the risk, but he was a detective, and this was what a detective had do. Plus he was pretty sure he would need these guys' backing him to get the director to agree to this kind of case. If he told her the details...
As he opened his mouth to say as much, however, Merle waved Magnus’s concerns away.
"Relax, big guy," Merle said from his own seat where he read, considerably less invested. “I’m pretty sure you can handle someone coward enough to be fightin kids.”
“Besides,” Taako was already taking measurements, holding Angus's arm up as he planned out a wardrobe in his head. "Our boy can handle himself, he has been learning magic from the best after all. What's one disgruntled parent going to do?"
Angus felt a well of gratitude in that Taako thought he could handle himself, even if he didn't think he was taking it seriously. He looked up to address Magnus.
“But I do know the risk," Angus says, "and that’s exactly why I'm here to ask for your help."
Magnus hesitated a moment more. But Angus did trust them to protect him... and honestly was probably going to do this with or without them if he knew the kid well enough. He'd much rather the kid ask for someone's help in things like this, and telling him no would be setting a pretty shitty example.
"Yeah, alright, we'll help you, Angus." Magnus said, only briefly interrupted with a 'we?' from Merle, "But we're keeping a close eye on you, got it?"
"I would hope so, sir!" Angus said, relieved. "Trust me, going undercover as a contestant is the best way to gather information and find out who's behind this. It’ll put me right in the middle of the action."
“And the danger.”
"C'mon, Magnus, stop worrying about it!” Taako said, absorbed in the creative process, his focus on Angus. “Now, what kind of act are you planning, kiddo? Gimme a theme, we've got to coordinate your look."
Angus glanced down at his neatly pressed clothes, feeling a twinge of apprehension at the thought of Taako's extravagant taste in fashion. He pushed the feeling aside for the time being.
“I’m not sure yet sir,” Angus said, “I have a little research to do. I’ll want to be able to stay in competition long enough to get the information I need after all.”
A lie, though he hoped it wouldn't have to be.
“Well the answer’s obvious isn’t it?” Taako said. “I mean listen kid, you’re no Taako, but who do you think is going to put on a better magic show than someone learning from Taako?”
“Er, well sir, I’ve considered that but statistically—”
“He’s a detective,” Magnus said, “he should put on some kind of detective act.”
“Well I suppose, sir, but—”
“How does a ‘detective act’ even work Magnus," Taako retorted, "what does that even mean?”
“Stand up comedy!” Merle shoved in his offer. “Everybody loves a good joke!”
The retorts of “You’re a joke.” and “Yeah, then why don’t you ever tell any old man?” came back simultaneously, and Angus found his nerves getting the best of him as the three of them talked over each other about what they thought he should perform.
“Sirs!” Angus interjects their bickering quickly. “I will let you know what act I’m doing when I find out what does well statistically. That’s going to be my best bet.”
Taako waved his hand dismissively with a roll of his eyes.
“Fine, fine. Only you could find a way to turn a performance into homework.”
“I really appreciate you agreeing to help me sirs,” Angus says, ignoring the comment, “but I have a lot of research to do now! I’ll be back tomorrow to lay out my plan, okay?”
Without waiting for their approval, Angus bounded out the door. The three of them stared after him and his unceremonious exit and, after a beat, Magnus turned back to Taako and Merle.
“You think he’ll be alright?"
“Some asshole parent trying to sabotage a kids talent show?" Taako said, returning to his place to lounge, "He’ll be fine.”
A lot of research was perhaps a strong way of putting it. Angus already had an idea of what was going to be popular in the performer's scene, after all it wasn't exactly a secret to anyone who thought about it for more than a few seconds. Plus he highly doubted it had changed since...
He heaved a sigh, as a night's worth of observation and intercepted messages confirmed it.
Music.
It's not that he disliked music really, he used to love music. Not as much as he loved a good mystery, but loved it nonetheless. His taste for musical performance, however, had gone bitter a couple years back. Tucking his book and papers away-- he'd learned all he needed here-- he tried to think of what other act he could do. Sure there was a magic act, but everyone with half a spell slot wanted to put on a magic show and it had long gotten boring. Those who did make it through had to put in a lot more time and effort in that department than he was sure that he had.
Perhaps he could be quick to pick up something new? Ah, but the Life in the Limelight Spectacular was only holding last minute auditions for one week before the window of opportunity closed itself. Trying to pick up a new act on such short notice would be terribly risky when it came to keeping himself in the game.
No, it would have to be something he could already do.
The thought of it made his stomach churn with something akin to dread and annoyance, and he reminded himself there was a lot more at stake than his own comfort. He'd sold his own instrument a long time ago, but he was sure securing another one wouldn't be too hard.
Angus had spent long enough intercepting what he could about the case, and about the standing of talent acts, that it had long gotten dark outside. With a yawn, he changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed, his mood still soured.
When he slept that night, his dreams were vague, barely remembered anything by morning. Forced smiles, the crushed dreams of young performers, a sense of duty, and a gnawing bitterness.
Angus woke up considerably earlier than the reclaimers tended to, save perhaps Merle. Not wanting to wake them right away, he instead decided this would be a good time to secure an instrument, and there was really only one person who jumped to mind in those regards.
But Johann wasn't there. Instead, at his workspace in the voidfish's chamber, was a small pile of sheet music, a couple of instruments beside the desk, and Johann's violin.
Johann, he had set up to work for the day, and then decided against his initial plan to skip breakfast, leaving to grab something he could bring back. He arrived back down in the hall leading to the voidfish's chamber in time to hear someone playing one of his unfinished works on one of his instruments. Very badly. He was prepared to scold whoever it was, until he rounded the door frame and saw one startled Angus McDonald, quickly step away from the desk. Angus must have seen the look on his face, however, because he was quick to apologize.
"Oh! I'm sorry sir!" Angus blurted. "I-I came down here to ask if you had a spare instrument, uh--"
"You shouldn't mess with someone else's instrument." Johann said, though his initial frustration relaxed upon realizing it was Angus. Angus felt his face grow hotter than it already was, and his response was sheepish.
"Ah, I... know sir, I'm sorry, I guess uhm. It's been a long time since I've played, and I'm nervous." Angus said. "I know it's a long shot, but I was hoping you had, um, a harp?"
Well that explained why the kid was plucking at his violin.
Angus stood stock still as Johann continued to regard him with a slight frown, before he spoke again.
"I've only got my one." Johann said, settling into the room, more relaxed now. "But there's a library of instruments. They get pulled out for... parties."
Angus perked up, moving aside so that Johann could sit down and get back to work.
"Oh! Do you think the director would let me borrow a harp for a while?"
"I mean I guess you can ask her."
Angus would have been frustrated with the noncommittal answer, but Johann had already been quite the help. He turned to leave, and then paused right at the door. He was in thought long enough that Johann spoke to him from over his work.
"Got somethin else you need, kid?"
Angus hesitated for just a moment more before turning back to Johann.
"Sir?" He says. "How do you..."
Another pause, and Johann looked away from his work to Angus.
"How do I what?"
"Well, sir, it's just... I know how you feel about your music, because it feeds the voidfish and all? And so the world will never hear it?"
"I'm aware." Johann deadpans. Angus shifts on his feet.
"So," Angus said, "how do you keep doing it?"
This was cause for pause, and Angus watched Johann appear to think deeply about this, looking back and over at his own pages of unfinished music. Music that, even once finished, would never leave this base. Finally he spoke up.
"Well I get paid to." He said. But before the disappointment of that answer could settle in, he continued. "And there's the Bureau... and the Voidfish."
Johann's fingers absentmindedly ran over the strings of his violin.
"And, I guess I hope one day things will change. That my music will find its way back into the world." He said. "When you make music it's because you have something to say. I think if I didn't play at all that would be worse."
Angus took a moment to think about this. He didn't hold the same sentiment towards music that the bard did it seemed, or at least not to the same intensity, but the words did settle on him.
"Thank you sir," Angus said, "that gives me a lot to think about."
Johann offered Angus a slight nod before Angus headed out once more.
He didn't particularly like that the would have to ask the Director for a harp. Not because he didn't want to speak with her certainly not, but it was sort of an out of left field question. If he said he just wanted to play, well then he would be expected to play eventually, and if he said it was for the case then she would want to know the case. Considering she seemed to have much less of a propensity towards recklessness than the reclaimers did, he simply suspected she'd be harder to convince on that front.
Angus took the elevator up to the directors office, expecting to wait for a meeting to finish up, but was quite surprised when it seemed to be empty save for the director herself. The door was open, and Lucretia was already at work. Angus knocked lightly on the door frame.
"Oh? Angus, you're up early." She said, upon spotting him. "Is there something you need?"
"Yes ma'am if it's not too much trouble," he said, "I was wondering if you could tell me where I could procure a spare harp?"
"A harp?"
"Yes ma'am. I'm most familiar with a standard pedal, but I wager I could handle a double if necessary."
"I didn't know you played."
"I don't." Angus said, and at Lucretia's look he added, "It's for a case ma'am. I need something I can preform at the Life in the Limelight Spectacular."
"Ah," she says, "an undercover job?"
"Yes ma'am." He hoped she wouldn't ask too many questions, but already she was eyeing him and he realized his mistake.
"Normally you're quite quick with the details," Lucretia says, "what are you working with here?"
The question was vague, but he knew what she meant, and he cleared his throat.
"Well, it seems to be a pretty clear cut case, but there are children in the junior division that are falling ill and going missing." Angus said, and continued to get as much information out as he could before Lucretia could object as she looked ready to. "It's settled in Goldcliff this season, not my usual working grounds, so they really must need me. And I've decided that undercover is going to be the best way to get information about this particular case you see, since it's pretty much laid out for me. So then, I just need a harp to perform."
"Angus--"
"I've already asked the reclaimers to help me ma'am." Angus said, then stopped, realizing he'd interrupted. Lucretia took a deep breath and laid her hands out on the desk.
"Well that... wouldn't have been my first choice." She said. "There's no denying their abilities, but tact isn't their strong suit, and I mean this in terms of subtlety and in leaving things intact."
"Oh I'm well acquainted with how they work ma'am." Angus said, and couldn't help the smile that formed. "That's why I asked them. I don't need them to do the detective work, but I do trust them to get me out of trouble if it finds me."
Lucretia drummed her fingers lightly on her desk for a long moment, eyeing him, before she finally spoke again. She held a more casual tone that wasn't unheard of, but that Angus wasn't exceptionally familiar with himself.
"Well, Angus, I'm going to level with you." She said. "I am the one who hired a ten year old boy detective, and I think if I didn't show belief in your competence then that would certainly project some conflicting messages. However the work you do here certainly doesn't put you in active peril. So I don't want you going anywhere without one of the reclaimers with you while you're working on this case. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" Angus beamed. He had expected a bigger push back, and he was glad the director was confident in his ability. In fact, between her and Taako, he was two for two!
"Then why don't I make a couple of calls?" She said. "Get back to me this evening. I think a harp more suited for you rather than any old one I pull out of storage is going to make for a much better cover, don't you?"
"Oh." He wanted to object, the offer caught him off guard. He wasn't going to be playing after this case after all, it seemed like an awful waste. He couldn't argue with that logic though. "Yes, I believe you're right."
Lucretia nodded, apparently satisfied, and Angus hopped up from his seat in front of the desk.
"Have a good day, ma'am, thank you!"
When Angus stepped outside again, he glanced up slightly, shielding his eyes. It was late enough in the morning that he felt more confident returning to the reclaimer's quarters now. He felt more confident in general. He hadn't even truly started on it yet and this case was already going so smoothly it was practically solving itself! A shame, being as he loved a challenge, but a good thing in every other regard he supposed. He broke into a jog, towards the reclaimers' residence.
By the time he reached it he was a little winded, and he was glad all over again to have a case on the field. He was delighted to be trusted with helping the reclaimers, and to help look for relics, but his other detective skills were going to get rusty without use.
Stopping at the door, Angus took a moment to fix his shirt, and then he knocked on the door with a quick four knocks. And he waited. Was it still too early?
He knocked again.
"Angus? What are you doing here so early?" Magnus yawned as he opened the door, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Apologies for the early intrusion, sir," Angus began, “though I would like to point out that it's ten. I have gathered my precursory information on the case."
"Precursor... Yeah, alright, come on in, I guess." Magnus yawned again, stepping aside.
As soon as Angus stepped into the living room, Taako slipped out of his own room. Taako being awake before the other two would be cause for surprise, but Angus could see he was holding pins and a bold of glittering blue cloth. He'd clearly already started work on some outfit or another for Angus, and Angus resisted the urge to grimace. At least, if anything, it was a shade of blue that he was fond of.
“It's about time kid, where are those details?”
"Good morning, sir," Angus greeted earnestly. "I've sorted through everything I can without being on the scene."
"Alright, lay it on us, kiddo." Merle chimed in from the kitchen, though he seemed slightly impatient more than invested.
"Of course, sirs." Angus cleared his throat, joining them at the kitchen table. "There are three children who fell sick recently and three others have gone missing. This leaves five— six if I make it in— who are still in the competition."
"Do we have any connections between them?" Magnus asked, crossing his arms.
"From what I've gathered thus far no, not outside of being part of the show." Angus said, "but I’m not worried. A case like this is most likely foul play. We haven’t been on the scene yet, and I’m sure there will be a lot more clues there as well. On the unfortunate side, we do also have very little to go on regarding the illness. The symptoms don't correspond to any common ailment, and attempts at broad treatment are unsuccessful. Fatigue and sleep that gradually worsens. So far only one of them is— um— unable to waken though.”
“Good to know Agnes, but I want the important details.” Taako said, leaning down near Angus. “What is going to be that act of yours?”
Angus hesitated here, embarrassment rising up to heat his face. Out of all the people he was worried about telling, it was these three, and he wasn't sure whether it was because they would poke fun at him for it, or become too invested in it. He fidgeted with the edge of his bow tie, eyes darting between Taako, Magnus, and Merle as he tried to find the words.
"Er… well, I've been analyzing the data, and it seems that, uh… statistically speaking… musical acts tend to be the most successful… with audiences." he said slowly.
"Music," Taako’s eyes lit up. "Well that's no magic show but I can work with that!"
"Music, huh? I didn't know you played, Ango." Magnus said.
"Well, I don't. Or, I haven't actually played in a while, and I might be pretty rusty, but... I used to play the harp?"
Taako's enthusiasm shot out the window like a bullet, and he threw his head back with a groan.
“Absolutely not! You're need to wow those people, not put them to sleep!”
“Well sir, as much as I'd like to, I can’t play anything else and I’m not sure I have the time to learn something n—” Taako interrupted Angus, waving him off as he thought.
“Alright what are our options? Violin? Are you a violin kid? You’re definitely not pulling off vocals with that nasally voice of yours, maybe brass?"
Angus blinked behind his round glasses, before adjusting them and retorting back.
"Well sir, I suppose we can’t all have the distinct voice of a deflating horn, but I do believe I could manage.”
A moment of surprise before the room erupted with laughter from Magnus and Merle, at both the comment and Taako’s aghast face. Angus was sure he was going to regret that come next lesson, if not sooner, but in the moment it was worth it.
“A harp will have to do,” Angus said, “but I think you are right sir. I’ll have to put my time into making an act that’s… exciting?”
"What about costumes? Background dancers? Pyrotechnics?” Taako leans in. “Though you will be lucky if I don’t just put you in a chicken suit.”
"Actually," Angus said, his voice growing more confident, "I did consider those. I mean— part of those. I’ve only been to one of these shows once when they came through Neverwinter. The competition is pretty cutthroat, even in the kids' division, so a case like this isn’t surprising."
The idea of a kids' talent show being described as cutthroat made all three adults snicker.
“I'm allowed to have help as long as I'm the main performer." Angus said. "I was hoping Taako could help with making it more visually exciting, and Merle could help with thaumaturgy?”
“What can I do?” Magnus asked eagerly, and Angus held in his breath.
Uh…
Oh!
“Actually Magnus,” Angus said cheerfully, “I was hoping you wouldn’t mind being put in charge of constructing the stage set! We don’t need anything fancy, but—”
“Done!” Magnus says, slamming his hands on the table, startling Angus slightly.
"Unfortunately, we've only got one week to prepare," Angus continued, and his brow furrowed with determination. "And I'll have to be signed up well before that. That’s not a lot of time and we’ll need to use it wisely if we want to make this a success. I'll need practice and determine my songs--"
"Work out a routine!" Taako added.
"I'll have to remember what thaumaturgy is." Merle grumbled.
"And I'm going to have to get my hands on a lot of wood."
Angus ignored the snickering from Taako and Merle, unsure and not exceptionally interested in what joke he'd missed this time. There was a lot of work ahead of them, but they had a plan!
“So with that sirs," He said with a grin, "shall we get started?”