Log:Meeting Glimmer

Mystique and Partners 2021/01/20 Mystique Dixon Glimmer 2

The Office
Mystique and Partners. Private investigators. That's what it says on frosted glass of the door of this smallish second floor office in the Leonard Wilson Building, Old Town. Inside the office there are two desks and chairs, set at right angles to each other. The office is located in a corner of the building so each desk has a window behind it. In front of each desk is a comfortable chair. A third chair is against the wall near the door in case it's needed. Not too comfortable though. Time is money and bills aren't paid by clients lulled by comfort and rambling on for hours.

There's a subtle but distinct noir ambiance to the office. A pair of old fashioned filing cabinets complement the data terminals on each desk. Next to the filing cabinets is a wooden coat and hat stand. The wall without either door or window has a large city map hung on it with a dozen or more colored pins stuck in the map. Beneath the map is a small table with a coffee maker and everything needed to utilize it. As well as beans for fresh Colombian roast for normal people there's a jar of Black Label Devil Mountain coffee for the suicidal.

Log
"Welcome to - our - office, Mr Dixon. May I call you Dan? You can call me Myst. But not Misty, please. Pick a desk." Mystique says.

Dixon says, "Dan's fine, Myst. Though most people just call me Dixon." He tosses his hat onto the stand. "Don't mind which desk. Both have light, and both have a clear shot for a shooter through the window, so there's not much to choose between them."

Mystique points to the desk across from the dooor. How is that one for you? It's the desk in line of fire for anyone entering through the door. Caught in surprise I expect you are tougher than I am."

Dixon says, "Sure thing. Though I don't know how tough you are! I've heard a bit about you, but not that much."

Mystique smiles, "Twenty questions then? As we'll be working with each other we should get to know each other. I'll start. I'm not human. I'm the fusion of two elementals. Aquallious, a water elemental, and Glimmer a air headed air elemental.

Dixon says, "Huh. I can't see you as part airhead!" He leans back on his designated desk, thinking for a bit. "OK. If we're going to be working together, I think I'd better tell you the lot. If you swear not to tell a soul. Lives depend on it."

Dixon watches Mystique for her reaction.

Mystique raises a hand palm out in a halt gesture. "Don't. I can swear but I'm not immune to mental powers. If it's that sensitive information telling me doubles the risk factor. If it's not something that would impact on our working relationship it's best kept as close as possible."

Dixon says, "Ok. Right. Part of it then. I've already told you I'm tougher than I look. I'm strong, too. I can lift a bus easily if I want to. But I'm keeping this under wraps. As far as anyone's concerned, I'm just a beefy normal. I want to keep it that way."

Mystique nods, "I'm not sure how long you'll be able to keep thet quiet. As I mentioned before we came to this agreement, while I don't go looking for the weird cases, all too often they seem to come looking for me."

Dixon says, "Sure. No prob. If that gets out, I'll live with it. I just want to keep the element of surprise, if I can, for as long as I can."

Dixon says, "The other thing - and obviously more secret - is that I am, let's say, a master of disguise. I won't say much more, but I figure that could be a useful thing to know, professionally."

Dixon thinks. o O (Without actually using words like 'shapeshifting brick', which a mentalist might pick up on!)

Mystique nods. "It certainly will be. I can remote scry but have to be reasonably close to do so. Now, let me introduce you to Glimmer. You'll have to command her to allow me back after talking with her. Ready?"

Dixon says, "Ok - do I need to know a magic word or something to command her?"

Mystique shakes her head. "No magic word. Just firmness." Mystique changes in an instant to a gasoues form.

When not appearing as a vaguely human shaped gas cloud, Glimmer looks to be the classic blonde air-head. Exceedingly shapely. Dressed in a bright blue halter and hot pants she looks as if she'd be fully at home at a Cali beach party.

Dixon asks, "Glimmer?" Not really expecting a cloud.

Glimmer changes to appear as the totally classic air-head blonde. Dressed in crop halter and hot pants. "Oh HI! Who are you?!!" she gushes.

Dixon cracks a smile. "Name's Dixon. Dan Dixon, P.I. I'm going to be working with Mystique. So, with you too, I guess!"

Glimmer bounces on her toes, "Oh wow..! Watch Mystique though. She's a real meanie. Won't let me go to parties."

Dixon nods. "Poor you. How did you and her get... entangled, anyway?"

You say, "The Lords opened a rift for Aquillious to come here. I wanted to get out and do things so I jumped through it and got tangled up with her."

Dixon says, "I guess that's why they say 'look before you leap'. How do you two get on?"

Glimmer pouts, "She hogs all our time. Keeps me shut away. It's not fair. When she goes let me out it's always for me to be told to do something by someone. Glimmer, go look in there. Glimmer, go switch off the alarm and open the door. BORING!"

Glimmer stamps her foot.

Dixon does his best to sound interested, "Oh, I don't know - what kind of things can you do?"

Glimmer pouts again, "All that detective stuff. Aquillious made me go to classes on lockpicking and shadowing and stuff." She suddenly smiles, "Sneaking in to places can be fun."

Dixon grins. "I bet. I've been learning a lot of detective stuff too, but I'm not so good at the sneaking bit."

Glimmer skips up and down on her toes, "It's easy. She vanishes, then after a moment reappears inside one of the filing cabinets with just her head sticking up out of the top. "See. Easy!"

Dixon grins and applauds.

Glimmer claps herself joyfully, "You're nice." she tells you.

Dixon says, "Thanks, I was thinking the same of you, doll." Hn, too periud there? Well, the Dixon persona is meant to be someone who's obviously modelled himsekf after old detective heroes - hard to judge how much needs updating.... "Do you want me to have a word with - what do you call her? Aquillious - about you? See if she'll let you out for some fun now and then?"

Glimmer nods vigorously, "Yeah. Would you? That would be so brill cool!"

Dixon says, "I'll do what I can! Can you let me talk to her again, then?"

Glimmer switches back without her usual carping and protests so you can tell

Mystique yells in pain as her now solid body is ejected violently from the confines of the filing cabinet. Glimmer didn't think to move into the open before switching. "That darned idiot!"

Dixon winces. "Sorry about that. I didn't think to tell her to..."

Mystique nods, "And she didn't think, did she. I'm almost used to it. The number of times she switches back while flying. Huh. Air-head."

Dixon says, "She is that, and a half. She seems an ok kid, though. From what she says, she helps you out, even though she doesn't get much out of it herself."

You say, "She shouldn't even be here. She pushed herself on us. As she did that she ought to make herself useful."

Dixon says, "She made a mistake. Does that surprise you? Sure, it's her fault, but... Look. I know it's none of my business, but I promised I'd tell you, so I will. The poor kid's bored to tears. If you only let her out when you want something done, no wonder she's so difficult. Maybe if you let her have a bit of fun occasionally, she'll be more willing to help you?" He shrugs. "Just saying, I've said my piece."

Mystique sighs, "Yeah, that's easy to say. But I have to work every hour there is to make rent. Glimmer gets more free time than I do."

Dixon says, "Like I said, I'm just a messenger. If she gets a fair share of the time, that's good. Maybe you can explain that to her. She's not likely to figure it out on her own."

Mystique shakes her head. I can't. To let Glimmer loose I have to retreat to the elemental plane of water. If she's here, I'm not. There's no communication possible between us. I've tried leaving notes. That never seems to work. I don't know if she can even read."

Dixon chuckles. "So pass messages by me. The kid seems to like me."

Mystique nods, "Done. I wish you luck."