Casino

"The name's Casino." The female Skydancer spoke as she leaned back in one of the provided chairs and put her feet on the desk before her, her tail swishing side to side periodically as she positioned her foreclaws behind her neck. "You really that interested in where I got my duds, huh?"
The Guardian looked at her with a mixture of confusion and repulsion at her feet on his interrogation table. "No, not really, I'm mostly interested in those high-grade silver rings that look suspiciously like the ones that went missing from a desert-born kingdom's collection of goods."

"Oh these old things?" She gestured to her rings good naturedly, "And here I figured you'd be more interested in the 23 karat platinum lined, brass plated Delver's lamp considering how rare and valuable they are, especially in this condition."
This perked the Guard's interest. "Ah yes. Those are quite hard to find." he donned a suspicious look, he'd get her for theft on the lamp and then have all the time in the world to investigate the rings. "How did you manage to get your thieving hands on one?"
Casino looked appalled. "Thieving, me? Why officer-"

"Don't give me any of your 'why officer' crap." The guardian cut her off adjusting his hat. Where did you get one?"
"Well, funny story." She began, removing her feet from the table and leaning forward.
"I'll bet it is."
Ignoring the Guardian's snide comment she continued unhinged. "Well as you know, me being a... an airship technician of goods and all..."
"A sky-pirate, yes."

With a frown Casino continued, "Yes, well considering my position, you are aware of the types of jobs I take on." The guardian nodded. "One of them just so happened to be investigating a ship that sunk in an area of a high magnetic field. As you know ships are not permitted in such areas and my crew refused to accept such a dangerous task."

"So I went solo on the operation. Fly in, fly out, try not to get me directional senses knocked out; that sort of business. However it didn't go as smoothly as I'd wished it."
His interest piqued, the guardian leaned on his desk in interest.
"As soon as I'd made it within the border, my senses got boggled and I crashed into the water. I had no idea which way was up or which way was down and after minutes of struggling I let myself sink, the dizziness becoming too much to bear."

"However, under the water was much more comforting, it was as if the magnetic field was much less potent in the water, so I stuck my nose out of the water to breathe before delving down. I was very thankful for my lucky goggles right then." She pulled them from her forehead and snapped them back, "My grandfather gave me them when I was barely out of the nest and they've come in handy more times than I can count."

"So anyway," She grinned, "As I was looking around, I found the ship and got what was requested from it. A single map and the skull of the Captain to be sure he who went down with it was indeed who it was thought did. And so, a good sunken ship is never without treasure, after all."
"That is true. So you got it off the sunken ship? You should know that's not free claim and the property of the-"
"Yes, yes I'm aware; but I didn't get it off the ship."

"Oh no?" This seemed to confuse the guardian, if she didn't get it off the ship, where was this story going?
"As I was saying, I looked around the ship, however I didn't find anything at all. Out of anger, I kicked one of the cannons which fell through the shipboard and deep into the hull where I couldn't previously enter. And with these old ships there was rarely any treasure to be found within there anyways. I had almost turned around and went sunnyside since I knew I couldn't hold my breath forever; but as I swam to investigate, I saw a flicker. Curious I dove within, and do you know what I found?"

"The Lamp?" The officer deadpanned.
"No, and if that's your only answer from now on, then shut up." He was about to rebuttal the insult but she cut him off, "I found the largest gemstone collection I ever did see. The ship had been a smuggler's ship and when the cannon fell through, it dislodged a lock on a hidden compartment."
"So when you got back to shore, you sold them and bought the lamp. I could arrest you for selling stolen goods-"

"Will you shut up? That's not what happened!" She snarled.
Snarling back and considering his options, he sat back in his chair. "Fine. What did happen then? Hurry it up."

"I swam out of the field until I could break the water and fly to shore. I cashed in for the operation and came across this gorgeous delver's mask on my way to turn the jewels into the base of operations for seaward communications, and I stopped to admire it. The merchant told me that he'd gladly take a single gemstone for it, but I shook my head and told him I haaad to turn it in, every last piece, I did." She nodded for emphasis and the guard rolled his eyes. "So he suggested he sell me the Delver's lamp for the chance to turn in the gems to the base, and I agreed, after all i'd just swam out of a magnetic field in the middle of the ocean, I was tired! So we made the trade and I went back to my ship, swear on me head."

He looked at her like she was stupid, "You honestly expect me to believe that nonsense?"
She nodded, "Where did you get those wings then? They're fairly rare too if I had to guess."
"I broke my wing and was prescribed it for medical reasons."

"You expect me to believe your doctor prescribed you a set of steampunk wings for a single broken bone?"

"Well I shattered my wing, and it had to be balanced on both sides, but he didn't prescribe the steampunk set."

"Then where did you get it?"

"A steampunk convention of course!"
The guardian facepalmed.
"I bought the vest and spats there and after seeing the wings on display I got parts and built myself a set."
"And you got the parts from where?" He asked, peeking between his claws.

"Well, I only own an airship; I picked up spare parts from my supplier and checked the junkyards. Simple."
After a moment of silence between the both of them, Casino spoke up again, "Can I leave now? I answered all of your questions."

Being unable to deny it, the guardian had no choice but to wave her out, afterall, he had no reason to hold her any longer.
After gathering his things, and relocating back to his desk, his partner approached him; "Any luck?"
"No." He sighed, "She said she got everything fair and square and without ample research, there isn't evidence to hold her."
"Really? I figured those tail rings were a dead ringer for the Queen's. Did you look for the seal?"

Looking up from the desk, the guardian faced his snapper friend, "Tail rings....?"
"Yeah, that's what we brought her in for....Don't tell me you didn't ask her about them?"
"Oh these old things?" She gestured to her rings good naturedly, "And here I figured you'd be more interested in the 23 karat platinum lined, brass plated Delver's lamp considering how rare and valuable they are, especially in this condition."

"I...I...." His look turned to one of pure hatred, "I swear I'll ring that smart ***' scrawny neck if we ever pull her in again."

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