and it's my whole heart

[icyhot]

[ Despite an attempt to regulate the use of magic and the preternatural - ranging from artifacts to beings, both human and non-human - there isn't... really much control to be had when it comes to certain aspects of the world around them. Todoroki Shouto has grown up in this, was essentially bred for it, and he's seen a lot more shit than most people twice his age can say they've dealt with. But nothing, nothing, has been more frustrating than the case that he and his father have been hired to work. Jewels, various artwork, and books have gone missing across the city, stolen, with obvious signs of magic left behind.

None of it is familiar, and whoever the thief is? They've been one step ahead of them, each and every time.

Todoroki Enji, named Endeavor by the community, has nearly set an exhibit on fire due to his anger at being bested every time.

With the most recent theft, Shouto is grudgingly impressed, carefully gathering the broken remains of the display case into an evidence bag.

His father practically appears when he gets up to his feet and grips his shoulder, tight. He doesn't loom over him like he used to, even when he was in high school, but the color and movement out of the corner of his left eye, the grip, still makes him flinch a little. Shouto curls his lip in disdain to cover for it, and forcibly shrugs out of his grip. ]

If we don't find the thief, Shouto, you know what that means. That's failure. And we don't abide by failure.

[ Clenching his fists to keep his temper to himself, even as he feels the heat radiating off his left side, he takes the evidence bag with him. While he has specialization in some fields, the traces of magic left behind and the methods used aren't in that range. He has to find someone else that will be able to help them with this damn case.

The first stop he makes, on the quest to get somewhere, is the city's primary shrine. If someone there can't help - a priest, a miko, anyone - then he's not sure where else he can go right now. Maybe an archivist? ]

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[dekuru]

[The Midoriyas have been the primary caretaker of the primary shrine since he could remember. They were also known to be the best at handling the supernatural. Despite his mother still being alive, Izuku Midoriya was the current head. He was very young when his father disappeared and suddenly had to take onto his shoulders the legacy.

What no one knew was that the Midoriyas had a long legacy of being thieves. They were thieves to the public, but what they were doing was avoiding catastrophe. As the world moves forward, the finding of ancient artifacts is becoming more and more common. Artifacts that should be left to where it was laid to rest. It is the Midoriya line that makes sure that the artifacts are not exploited and dealt with accordingly.

Izuku lets out a yawn as he sweeps the steps of the shrine. Last night had been a tiresome thing. Endeavor is really making his job difficult and the ritual that took place after was a long one.

It's been a bit difficult lately for the Midoriyas to continue to act that their magic was just what you expect from a line of priests. Especially since they were actually quite strong and hiding that presence was a fight. Izuku harbored a strong amount that manifested more suddenly than others. It was lucky that his mentor was around. Alongside the Midoriyas were those that held the mantle of All Might. They worked alongside to keep the peace and his mentor had helped him greatly with developing the strong magic that resided in him.

He glanced towards the grand steps to the shrine. Someone was coming.]

[icyhot]

[ To be fair, Endeavor makes everyone's jobs difficult - including his son's.

Shouto hadn't really wanted to work with his father, but he can't exactly start off on his own right now with this case being what it is. It's the biggest one that exists in the supernatural community, valuable artifacts rumored to be powerful magic going missing. People are scared that someone's taking them with nefarious purposes.

Considering how many have gone missing, and that nothing has even happened besides their thefts and the normal youkai attack and haunting, though? He's under the impression that they're being stolen for a different purpose.

Or stockpiled. That one is a little troublesome, but he opts not to think about it.

The shrine looms above him as he makes his way up the steps, hand secure on the weight of the destroyed case pieces in his bag. Shouto thinks it might've been collateral, because nothing else was destroyed. Not even the locks or windows. Whoever's doing this knows what they're doing, and he can at least give them props for that, annoying as it is. Especially considering he doesn't recognize the magic, exactly, that's being used, any markings of runes or known rituals hard for him to decipher. Even his father is stumped, which is vindictively satisfying until his ire is turned Shouto's way.

Maybe the Midoriyas will be able to help.

As he comes to the top of the steps, he breathes out a stream of steam, like he's siphoning away his agitation before he steps through the torii. Frustrated as he is, he doesn't want to bring the negative feelings into the shrine with him. Not at their zenith, at least. ]

[dekuru]

[If only Shouto could be rest assured that it's just the former. They're not out to cause any strife, but merely trying to protect people with what they're doing. It's too bad that they have to do it in more nefarious and illegal ways.

Izuku smiles warmly. It's rare to have visitors this early and he recognizes the other. Of course he would recognize Shouto. He's been stealing artifacts under Endeavor and his nose for awhile now. He feels a little bad and sympathetic, but he can't stop doing what he's doing. It's important for him to keep doing his work.]

Good morning. It's pretty early for visitors, so you must be here for something important.

[Izuku was expecting something like this to happen eventually. It was only a matter of time before things got a little bit more difficult. At the same time, he can use this to his advantage to keep the trail off the Midoriya line. He'd have to be careful though. Shouto wasn't someone he couldn't underestimate.

It's also very complex and tricky magic to mask magic signatures as other signatures.]

[icyhot]

[ At least there's a smiling face there to greet him, rather than someone immediately turning him away or something. Shouto finds it disarming, so some more of his agitation eases away. That isn't to say that he thinks the priest in front of him isn't strong - on the contrary, unlike his old man, he finds that kannushi and miko are particularly powerful in their fields.

He isn't stupid, even if he's been raised haughty.

As he approaches, he offers a bow of his head in greeting, shifting his bag. ]

You're right, unfortunately. [ grump ] I was wondering if someone here might be able to take a look at something for an ongoing investigation.

[ Unaware as he is that he's speaking to his elusive thief, Shouto flips open the top of the bag to pull out the evidence baggie with the pieces in it. He'd made sure to pick the pieces with the strongest magical traces, in an attempt to better identify the signatures. ]

[dekuru]

[He wants to laugh a bit, albeit in a nervous manner. It was only a matter of time, but it's still kind of funny to be staring at the pieces that he had left. Life really comes back in full circle at some point.

It's best that he have his mother handle this. It would be a little riskier for him to do it. He couldn, but if the other recognizes that the magical traces are from his very hand, it could be messy fast. At least if his mother handles it, it wouldn't be the same person that left the original traces in the first place.]

Would you like to come and have tea? My mother is out and she is technically the head of the shrine as the eldest. It would be best for me not to act without her jurisdiction. She'll probably be able to help better with having more experience anyways.

[Even before Shouto can answer, he starts to head towards the large shrine.] She shouldn't be too long if you don't mind waiting.

[icyhot]

[ Rather than declining the offer, Shouto moves to follow after him. He reaches up to take off his cap, placing it in his bag in lieu of putting the evidence back. Even if he can't take a look at it without discussing it with the head of the shrine, maybe they can talk about the string of thefts and look over the pieces that he'd picked up. ]

I don't mind waiting. The investigation has been at a standstill lately, and the thefts usually occur at night anyways. [ Plus, it gets him away from his father for a while. Endeavor is probably throwing a tantrum right now, honestly. He feels a little sorry for Fuyumi, who's likely home if she's not at work, herself, and having to listen to his fit.

He'll take hanging out around a shrine over Endeavor in any state of being. ]

Thank you for your hospitality. [ He adds, after a beat, because it's not much but it's certainly more than he's been getting lately on this case. ]

[dekuru]

[Izuku just hums absentmindedly as they enter the shrine. He pulls a pair of slippers for Shouto to borrow while he stays until his mother returns; placing them in front of the other before he slips into his own. He leaves his getas at the door and motions the other to follow him.]

Ah, the thefts that are all over the news? I've only read what's been said in the newspapers. You must be working very hard to catch whoever it is. [Too bad that person...is him. Whoops.] Please remember to stay safe though. It sounds like a dangerous job.

[Izuku leads the other to a simple room with a kotatsu. There's already snacks on the tabletop.]

It would be rude of us to not give hospitality of any kind. I'll make some tea and you can tell me more about it. Please make yourself at home. [Gonna disappear into the kitchen.]

[icyhot]

[ When Izuku moves to retrieve the slippers, Shouto kneels down to undo his boots, since it'll take a moment. But once he's gotten them free, he slides his feet into the slippers and carefully arranges his boots out of the way to ensure that they aren't in the way of any other visitors or residents. ]

It is, but thus far we haven't encountered the thief. It's all been aftermath, and none of the magic used on-site has been harmful thus far. There are theories, but - it's an active investigation. [ Meaning he can't talk too much about theories, of which he has many that don't match his father's.

He trails into the room, and bows his head in response to the hospitality once again. He's a polite kid, at heart, so he'll obey and go take a seat. ] Thank you, regardless.

[dekuru]

[It's a few minutes before Izuku returns to the room with a tray. He had brought out tea and sweet snacks and places it down on the kotatsu. He just smiles as he sits across from the other and starts to pour tea for the other and slides the cup towards him.]

It's fine. If there's anything you want to talk about that I can help with until my mom returns, I'm here though.

It sounds as though none of the items the thief has taken has shown up again. [He imagines they had been watching black markets and what have you, but yielded no results.]

I wonder what a thief would want with those items if not for profit.