Treasure Hunt! (tags all the treasure hunt people)

[Josef Muller]

It was clear to Josef that the two younger men seemed to be having a bit of…difficulties. Mostly, just arguing over the riddle. Jared seemed to be quite fixed on his bank idea, which didn’t sound right at all to Josef, he wasn’t going to dismiss quite so easily as Jordan did. Mostly because it was an idea and Josef had spent enough time with people who didn’t contribute to appreciate people who did try.

“You can just call me Josef,” he said with a shrug. “Or even Joe if you prefer that.” What did he care? He’d heard it all. And besides, it would be nice not to be “mister”ed or “master”ed to death for once. “And I think I have to agree with Jordan on this, Jared.” He offered the boy a smile in order to soften the blow. “Banks are there to make money, and I don’t know if insurance companies get involved. But why don’t you start thinking of other things that are insured? Like we know it doesn’t have anything to do with cars, and probably not with banks, but what about life insurance? Health insurance? Start with that and maybe you can find the answer to the riddle.”

Then again, these boys didn’t have to worry about either of those things. Hm. Still, it was a nudge in the right direction, maybe.

“My car’s right here,” he added, nodding to a little old Civic that he’d kept in good repair. It got decent gas mileage, ran well and was pretty dependable. Plus, everyone could fit. He motioned for the boys to get in. “I think there’s a Burger King nearby, so why don’t I try to find that while you two brainstorm?”

And maybe they’d even play nice? Well, it was worth a try.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat was honestly not used to the blatant display of excitement over such a small thing but she figured it was fine. What wasn’t there to be excited about? Smiling her arm was linked and she was proceeded to skip along to wherever the nearest bookstore was. Cat had an inkling It was in the opposite direction but couldn’t say anything it would be rude.

To her surprise they came upon an old used book bookstore. Smiling Cat made a mental note to remember where this was so she could come here again. From the looks of it it had many of th books she was looking for but could not find. Smiling she walked into the store with a very happy attitude. She started looking at the books and such but was pulled out of her book world when Robbie asked her a question. “Hm? Oh. I haven’t a clue. I suppose it is somewhere relating to the clue. Maybe in one of the stories?”

With the question answered Cat wet back t the bliss of looking at the books, Wait! Was that the one she had been looking for a few months?! Cat almost squealed. Almost. It was evident her joy when she picked up the book and blew the dust off of the covers. She just wanted to sit down and read, but she figured she better buy it first. It would be rude not to. Frankly the treasure hunt had totally escaped her mind by now. It was all intent on the books.

That was until Robbie, he said his name was, came up and prodded her with a poke. Looking up at him she realized what he was saying and went up to the cashier. Hey she had to pay for the book didn’t she. That after all was her first order of business. Smiling and taking out her wallet she silently paid for the book an easy smile evident on her face. When she asked the Cashier about the treasure hunt Cat couldn't help notice the look of “ what the heck is going on”. Noticing it and the words that confirmed what cat had originally thought, “Guys we have the wrong place.”

Cat watched for the others reactions. Hopefully they would not be too disappointed. Shyly looking up at them Cat tried to find the right words. “Maybe its not a bookstore… Maybe it’s a library or something…” Cat looked down again. She really did not want to offend either of them.

[Jared Park]

The Canadian boy knows he’s really not the brightest bulb in the box and that he has quite the tendency to blurt out nonsensical responses without much thought. He’s done it so often that he’s learned how to retract his statements when called for, and simply shrugged the embarrassment off with a smile. (In fact, he’s made a fool of himself so much that the concept of shame is slowly being booted out of his system). Being this defiant (despite having the sense that he really is wrong indeed) is rather new to him. Then again, Jared could definitely say that he’s never met someone as snide as Jordan before. (Rhett comes a close second, but he didn’t really call Jared ‘stupid’. Or did he?).

For someone so small, the boy has quite the tongue. If it wasn’t for Josef standing right beside them, he would’ve clawed the boy’s eyes out of their sockets already. “You know Jordan, nobody likes a know-it-all. Especially someone as rude as you.” And to show that he’s the more mature boy of the two, he gave him quite the glare (the most menacing that he could muster, which just means it’s more comical than intimidating really) then promptly stuck his tongue out. Nice one Jared.

At least Josef knew how to soften the blow. If it wasn’t for the fact that he knew the Campbell kid would gloat about it, he would’ve been back to his old smiling self now. Unfortunately for Josef, unless Jared hears what he claims to be an apology from Jordan, the quarrel is far from over. “Pilot Ridge has more than those,” he said as he buckled himself up, “There’s a KFC right off that corner and another Starbucks one block away.” Who knew being lost on his way to the mall has its benefits? “The Burger King’s a little far off. Two (or was is three) blocks to the left of the hospital, I think.”

ooc:
ZOMG. I totally forgot about this one. I'm really really really sorry. Please don't kill me. D;
- Jam

[Jordan Scholl]

"I'm not a know-it-all, Jared," Jordan spit out with a low mutter. "I'm just not dumb. But maybe it's hard for you to spot." The tension between the two boys was building up quickly. Despite the fact that Jordan normally went out of his way to not make enemies, he seemed to be having a lot of trouble controlling his tongue around this boy. Something about Jared's personality just irked Jordan.

When the other boy stuck out his tongue, Jordan was tempted to reach over and pull it. But he wasn't fast enough, for one thing, and he wasn't sure he wanted to touch the guy, for another. Which gave him another idea.

"Thanks for the help...Josef..." Jordan said slowly. He still wasn't used to calling an adult by their first name, so he decided to try to avoid saying the man's name at all. "Health insurance is probably a good idea." He was still on this train of thought when he heard Jared mention the Burger King over by the hospital.

"The hospital! That's got to be it! Because no one wants to go to the hospital, but you have to, or you die! And you have to pay a lot of money, and your insurance does, and the doctors all make a lot of money. That's it!" Jordan could have patted himself on the back for figuring out the clue. "And we can go get the clue and then go to the Burger King and have lunch afterward."

Feeling quite smug and a bit uppity, he smiled cheerfully as they started to travel. Then he glanced out of the side of his eye toward Jared, who was sitting next to him in the back seat. Slowly, Jordan reached out a finger until it hovered half an inch away from the other boy's arm. He held it there as they continued to ride along, challenging Jared to confront him about it.

[ooc: I apologize for Jordan's out-of-characterness. I don't know what's gotten into him.]

[Germaine Sharpe]

Gerri paused in her search to scrutinize Cat, pondering her statement. "Relating to the clue, hm? Something with lots of stories." She glanced back over the shelves, then started pulling out all the books she saw with more than one story in them.

Her search continued with no success until Robbie spoke up. "Good thinking," she praised him, bouncing over to his side. The brunette continued to bounce in place, waiting very impatiently for the other girl in their group to talk to the cashier. It only got worse as she took her time paying, and Germaine verbally prodded her. "Go on, Cat. Ask."

When the other girl did finally speak, Gerri didn't take it well. "Oh no," she said pouting slightly. Her disappointment wasn't overbearing, but she was rather upset that they'd gone to the wrong store. It was extremely exciting to be chugging along in their search, and the news ruined that. Even so, it only took her a minute to get over the fact. "Oh well, I guess we have to try some place else." Of course, when she said that, she was still thinking they needed to go to another bookstore.

The prospect that a library would work just as well didn't even occur to her until Cat brought it up. "That's it then!" she shouted, her excitement returning. "Excellent thinking. That must be why we didn't find anything here, it was just a diversion." Yes, a diversion, not her own incorrect guess. She practically sprang out the door as she came to this conclusion, almost leaving her companions behind once more. It was only at the last second did she turn around, coming to the realization that she didn't know the location of the public library.

"You know where we are going, right, Cat? You should lead the way! It was your idea anyway," she said grinning at the other girl. "Quickly, though. Don't want to waste any time."

[Robbie Wilkes]

[OOC: Might I suggest we go our separate threads now? Or is everyone okay with this arrangement?]

When Cat paid for her purchase and asked the cashier if they knew anything about the treasure hunt, Robbie was so psyched to find out the answer...

Until the answer was a flat no. Like Gerri, he was disappointed and like Gerri as well, he perked right back up and was ready to fly off to the next bookstore when Cat suggested that it could very well be a library.

"Whoa! I didn't even think of that!" Robbie shook his head, laughing at his own stupidity. He followed Gerri out of the bookstore with Cat in tow and he looked around to find any signs leading to the library. "I think it's thatta way." Robbie pointed over to the left.

In Robbie's defense, the building on the left did have a big logo of a book but no it did not mean it was actually a library. How so confusing.

[Josef Muller]

Watching the drama unfold in the back seat, Josef was reminded of a discussion with his ex that had revolved around adopting. That had been an…interesting discussion, to say the least. The ba—man had usually said no. Said they couldn’t handle it, said they were too busy, or maybe they just weren’t fit to raise kids. Josef had argued the point strongly at the time, but now he was beginning to come to the reluctant and glum conclusion that William had probably been right in that one. Here were two relatively older boys acting like children, and already Josef had the urge to hit his head against the steering wheel. He’d only been in contact with them for what, a few minutes? And if he was having problems, he couldn’t even imagine the charismatic William being faced with these two. Perhaps it had been a good idea not to adopt.

That didn’t mean, however, that the man had been right in anything else.

“Hospital it is, then,” he said, keeping his voice mild as he kept an eye on the two in the rearview mirror. Not good. All right. Something had to be done about this, even if it was going to make Josef feel really, really old. He pulled off to the side of the road and turned back to give them both a look.

“Knock it off,” he said. “I mean it. Either you two get along, or I’m stopping right here and we can walk to the hospital. Or not continue at all. If you want to win this, you’re going to have to get along and work like a team.”

What were they, five? Oh well.

“Now apologize to each other,” he continued, voice still stern, “or there will be no Burger King, and I will just sit here and wait you out. And trust me, I’m sure I have much more patience than you do.”

((I have no idea.xD))

[Jared Park]

ooc:
Jared, Jordan and Josef's adventures continue in
Treasure Hunt: Courage, Strength and Magic

[Catherine Novella]

ooc:

An Expedition!
Cat, Robbie, and Gerri continue their expidition here, shall they finally reach the treasure?