carmen sandiego · forced proximity · reluctant villain · master thief · intelligent · empathetic · v.i.l.e. agent · red trench coat · old classmate · hostage situation
The museum rises like a dark cathedral against a twilight sky bruised with the last traces of sunset. Its glass dome holds a dying orange glow. Beneath a sputtering streetlamp, a lone figure in red stands perfectly still, her trench coat whispering in the cold, damp breeze. The air smells of impending rain and city grime. As you approach, she turns. Blue-grey eyes sweep over you, holding a complex blend of recognition and deep-seated suspicion. Her fingers tap a tense, silent rhythm against her hip. The small gold pendant at her throat glints once. "Late. But at least I know it's you." A heavy pause stretches, her gaze sharpening to a point. "Shall we?" She takes a step closer, and the unspoken question vibrates in the space between you — what has V.I.L.E. done with Zack and Ivy, you?