Chasing Shadows

Chapter One: Field Day

Mark smiles as he closes his suitcase and zips it shut. It's the first day going into the field and he is pretty excited. Supposedly, he is going all the way to the Oceanic Region, which feels like a long way to him. He's not used to traveling, but, he is still excited nonetheless. With a spring in his step, the plucky twenty five year-old heads out of his little apartment.
He waves to the hot dog vendor on the corner, and to the ice cream man on the boardwalk, who somehow manages the Cali heat every year. He passes by the two adorable cats that fight for scraps in the alley, and waves to the policeman on the corner. Life is good. Mark thinks to himself. The sun is shining, I'm breathing, and well might I add, and I see a lot of smiling people. The young man silently says.
After a nice, peppy twenty-three minute walk, Mark veers off into an alleyway. He looks around, making sure no one followed him and that the coast was clear. He pressed a hand to the brick wall, and says a spell under his breath. A portal blossoms open and he quickly steps through it. He is then greeted with the normal bustling scene of Fae commuting through the city, a couple of elves running the coffee shop and a few seedy looking banshees that run the local gang. He smiles and nods at commuters and heads to his new federal job at the Agency.

He started working a few months ago as a paper-pusher, but was upgraded to working in the the field few weeks ago. He had to go through training and then was deemed ready to go into the field today, but he was still nervous. Breathing in, he opens up the door.

      Once inside the door, Mark is greeted with quite the scene. Apparently, Margie from forensics learned a new spell and was trying to show Paul from evidence, but it backfired and they both have giant cat paws now. Gina, the Head of the Agency's secretary, was arguing with José, a satyr who just started working here the other day, about some sort of affair. Since he wasn't entirely sure what the affair was, or who with, he didn't get involved. Besides, Mark is trying to be a good employee, because Mark was determined to get employee of the month. After all, he graduated top of his class. (So he says.) Anyway, Mark is supposed to report to his head inspector immediately so he can head out to Oceania. He actually isn't all that sure why they're going out to Oceania, after all, it's chock full of sirens. Oh well.
"Took you long enough, Newbie." The inspector says to him, putting out his cigarette. Inspector Lawrence is quite the peculiar fellow. First off, he's an elf, from actual Tolkien Mythology, but... he's rather short for an elf. He's exactly five foot, and rumor has it he might be a half-breed. No one is entirely sure if it's true, and if it is, no one know if he's half-elf, half-human, or half-elf, half-dwarf. All they know, is that he's tiny, but what Lawrence lacks in size, he more than makes up for in anger. Mark can't quite grasp how someone so small, could be so angry all the time. Mark shrugs, and smiles at Lawrence.

"Sorry 'bout that boss. I got a late start this morning, and twenty-three minutes seem to be getting longer and longer." Mark chuckles. Lawrence grunts and nods.

"Sure, whatever, I don't have time to really reprimand you at the moment. We've gotta get going." Lawrence shoves his hands into his pockets, turns on his heel, and heads off at a brisk pace.

Mark catches up easily, after all he does have long legs compared to Lawrence, and starts to chat the poor inspector's ear off. He asks why they're going to the Oceanic Region, if Lawrence is worried about the sirens, are they new or old generation sirens, was there really a difference between the two, how will they get there, why did they have to go so early in the morning, does Mark get a badge, etc. Lawrence sighs heavily and looks at the Mark.

"Did you not read your briefing?"
Mark shakes his head and explains that he spilt coffee on it by mistake. Lawrence sighs again and they meet up with the rest of the team.
Eliot, a fun-loving fae who often changes his size and pulls pranks. Basically, if it's April Fool's, run. Run so far away because this kid starts planning at thanksgiving what he's going to do. And he is very extra and good at what he does. Assumed gay.