Log:Golden Boy, Scene 6

Golden Boy 2013/07/29 	 Danyelle Liam Fox

6

Pied-a-Ciel

''This house is more than slightly odd in more ways than just its location. Furniture can be found on the (generally indistinguishable) floors, walls and ceilings, and people can walk on all these surfaces too, though often only in aisles between the bookshelves or other furnishings lying on the relative floors.''

''The rooms that doors open onto are not always adjacent, although which door leads where remains consistent and the doorways are always bidirectional. Nor do windows in the same wall necessarily look out in the same direction - indeed it's very uncommon: rather, each room gets some sunlight whatever the time of day. ''

''In addition to the floating grounds that the building rests upon, the house's more notable rooms are the entrance hall, the parlour, the libraries, the sanctum and the wonderfully relaxing meditation room. Other rooms exist (kitchen, guest_rooms, etc.), but are rarely seen by casual visitors. ''

Pied-a-Ciel has changed in the time since Liam Reynard took ownership of the flying island, but most of the changes are too small to see from the ground. The building is still a Georgian manor house, but the small front stoop has been expanded to a space large enough for a hover car to park upon: two of the drivers are skillful.

Grounds

''Outside, the house is located at the edge of a flat-topped expanse of rock. The only windows on the front or sides of the Georgian style brick building are a small semicircular pane of stained glass above the front door and three dormers in the third floor attic. ''

''The property is not large (the house occupies more than half of the available space), but what is open contains a short, smooth solid rock driveway large enough for two cars to park end-to-end, a pair of cobblestone paths around a Regency era marble fountain, and several raised flower beds along the path and opposite the short drive. ''

''The back of the house contains a sheer drop to the CBSU campus far below and all the house's windows (although, inside, every room has a window regardless of the room's location). The driveway also ends in drop-offs at both ends.''

Fox is looking over the side, gazing in wonder at the drop below, and contemplating what happens if she were to leap down and open up a hole where she would end up and a hole beside the first, how far she would go upward and other physics puzzles she has not yet completely explored.

Fox 

''Fox looks like a teenage girl, small in stature and adorable beyond words. Big, green, round eyes, often wearing a perpetually curious look, long bright silver hair that falls messily around her shoulders. She could easily be taken for human, though she has a pair of silver fuzzy ears that stick out to the sides, and a thick silver and white fluffy tail that resembles the animal which is her namesake. ''

''She is wearing no clothing, though she has fur covering her to keep her from being arrested for public indecency, white and thick that runs from her breast to her hips, providing almost the bare minimum of covering. Curiously, she does have a pair of highly-advanced looking bracers strapped to her wrists. ''

Danyelle floats outside the doorway, with a glowing feather clutched tightly in her right hand. Using the door knocker, she raps loudly on the front door with her other hand.

Danyelle 

''Dany's an attractive woman in her twenties with a tan skin, dark eyes, and wavy black hair that hangs just past her shoulders. The shape of her eyes hint at an Asian background. She stands about five and a half feet tall, with the trim build of an active lifestyle. She carries herself confidently, and she possesses an air of mischief when she smiles.''

'' Right now, Dany's dressed for adventuring. She's wearing a red leather jacket over a black scoop neck tee, blue jeans, and black boots. A utility belt hangs low around her hips, with pockets, pouches and random trinkets on it. She wears a black glove over her right hand. ''

At the sound of the knocker, Liam lifts his head and frowns. He didn't think he locked Fox out. He rises from his place in the kitchen and starts toward the door.

Liam

''While some might argue that the quiet air that surrounds this man is arrogance (and some would argue that it is confidence), he makes no attempt to hide what he feels with false modesty. He may be a good man, but he is a man used to being in command of his life. ''

''Objectively, he is handsome enough: a hair over six feet tall with a thin "runner's build", black hair with a gray streak over each temple and a neatly trimmed black goatee. He is dressed in a tailored black suit with a white shirt and a round gold cameo at his throat instead of a tie. ''

 Are you still outside, little one?

 I'm looking over the side of your drive...hover-way. It's starting to give me momentum versus portal ideas.

Fox rises, heading for the house that Liam lives in. She waves to Danyelle, "Hi," she offers cheerfully.

 The problem with momentum is that it eventually stops, sometimes suddenly. Why did you knock on the door?

"Yo." Danyelle says waving back to Fox.

 Yeah, probably. But every part up to the sudden stop is fun. I didn't knock. Some strange person did. And by strange I mean I don't know her, not that she's strange in comparison to me. Very few people are.

Liam arrives at the door, opens it, and looks Danyelle over silently. After an uncomfortably long inspection, he says, "Fox, we need to work on your definition of 'strange'." Then, finally speaking directly to Danyelle, he says, "Good evening. I'm Doctor Liam Reynolds. I assume you have not come to discuss the state of my soul?"

"Two...devine," Fox says with a smile. She examines Danyelle in a similar, though less discomfortable manner, and more friendly, comical even. "Vemale," she says, turning toward Liam, nodding sagely.

 I expressed specifically what I meant when I said strange, just to ensure no confusion would arise. Did confusion arise? If confusion arose, we should probably figure out how to put it back.

 No, I simply used what you said as ammunition to keep our uninvited guest a bit off balance and to warn her that we are in communication.

 So confusion did arise! We must find a way to put it back before it takes over. Because when confusion takes over me, weird things happen.

Liam smirks while waiting for Danyelle to find her tongue.

 Like flying houses?

 I do, yes!

"God, no. I hate those evangelist guys too," Danyelle says. She drops down the handful of inches to the ground from where she was floating. The feather she's grasping stops glowing as she clips it onto the right side of her equipment. With a shrug, she adds, "Plus I have a notion of where I'll end up already -- least all my friends will be there too." She nods greeting to Liam. "Danyelle Root, Dealer of Antiquities. I heard you could use my help, Doctor."

Liam says, "Please come in" and shows Danyelle into the house. Just inside the door rests a small end table with a copy of the latest "Watchtower" on it. Turning a knob on a door that, by its location, should lead back out into the front yard; he shows Danyelle into the parlor. He leaves both doors open for Fox to enter or not as she chooses.

Parlour

''The fireplace affords the parlour a more definite sense of "up" than most of the house has, but the room is nevertheless laid out so that one can sit around the fire on any of several surfaces. Comfortable stuffed chairs and warmly burnished antique furniture give a comfortable, familiar feel to the room despite its oddity. ''

Fox does do this following that she is now known to do. She seems amused by the parlor trick, though it is evident she has some experience with spatial anomalies. "Pweased...meet," she offers along with her hand, toward Danyelle, a smile thrown in.

Liam gestures toward a warmly burnished antique chair. She chair has been masterfully restored with modern upholstery that does not detract from the old walnut.

Danyelle nods to Fox. "Likewise. What is your name?" She glances briefly at Fox's proffered hand. She smiles thinly. "Sorry -- I don't shake." She follows Liam into the parlor, and she groans softly looking at the layout of the room. "Are we still in the Earth dimension?"

With a nod that suggests unquestioning acceptance, Fox smiles. "Vox. Um." She indicates her tail, which she moves into prominent view. "Vurry. Vox." She climbs into one of the numerous chairs not pointed out by Liam presumably for Danyelle's benefit, curling her legs and tail up there and leaning on the arm.

Liam says, "The original builder liked exploring the limitations of the human will. So, as you can imagine, his home was a learning tool for any magic students that tried to tell him what was impossible. We are very much still on Earth... and before you ask, the house is not bigger on the inside, just rearranged."

Liam gestures toward the window with the southern view on what should be a northern wall.

Danyelle has seat in the spot Liam seemed to offer with his gesture. "If it's possible, Doctor, I'd like to get down to business... I heard through the grapevine that you were looking for a magical item of great restorative or healing power..?"

 Do you think I annoyed her? I kind of worry about that.

Fox smiles knowingly, though she has no idea how the house was accomplished, she seems to have a grasp on the concept of redirected space. She leans on her chair arm lightly, not putting significant weight on it.

Liam nods, "You heard correctly. And I assume by your presence at my doorstep that you happen to have such an item for sale?"

"I don't," Dany says, "But I might be able to get my hands on one. It depends... and it would help if I knew what you needed it for."

 Not that I would be overly objecting or anything but is this thing intended for use on myself? Because of the brain to mouth disconnect? Oh, right. I need to see if it's brain damage. Do you know any brain damage specialists?

Liam says, "Are you familiar with the story of Miss Sumner Edgewood, who was recently turned into a gold statue?"

Fox leans on the back of her chair, thoughtful.

 I assume you are joking, correct? I *am* a neurosurgeon.

 That must have slipped past my remembering centers. Neat! Do you think I have brain damage? Or is it not a thing that causes mouth disconnect while apparently retaining all functions otherwise?

Danyelle tilts her head a little. "That was magic?" Her eyes dip to the ground for a moment, in thought. "What kind of magic? Alchemy, Fae, Demonic...?"

Liam says, "If you are into categories, I believe you would call it 'dark magic'."

 I'm guessing you would rather I kicked Miss Root out and focused on you right now instead of Miss Edgewood."

Liam glances silently toward Fox.

Danyelle hms. "If I could see her, I'd know for sure." She begins to get up. "Is she here?"

<Mind Link (Fox)> Not at all. This is pretty important, restoring someone from gold statuism. THe brain damage questions are just things I was thinking about. I'll stop distracting you from the matter. Oh, relevant question! What do you need my help with?

Liam says, "She was being held at the Undermoon Embassy until the mages there could verify they could not help her, then she was moved to the Edgewood estates. I believe they have a vault. Assuming her family did not melt her down, I assume she is still there."

<Mind Link (Mage)> At the moment, backup. I do not know this Miss Root. If she has ill intent, it is much harder to fool the mind and senses of two at once than a lone target.

Danyelle frowns at the thought. "Well, then let's get over there before they decide to get greedy."

<Mind Link (Fox)> Oh, I should be watching her. Okay!

Fox turns her attention directly upon Danyelle, still smiling, though it's clear she is scrutinizing, and trying to be subtle about it.

Liam says, "I do not wish to get their hopes up by intruding upon them when I do not have a solution for their plight."

Danyelle says, "If you want to cure the patient, you've got to examine the patient. Yeah?"

Liam says, a bit stiffly, "I have."

Danyelle says, "Of course, Doctor. It just that I'll have a better sense of what you need if I get a chance for a second opinion."

Liam nods, "If you give me a bit, I will see if I can procure an appointment."

Danyelle nods.

<Mind Link (Mage)> and also verify this Miss Root's credentials.

Liam shows Danyelle to the door, but stops in front of it before opening it. Tapping the broach at his throat, he says, "Before you leave, Miss Root, would you permit a brief inspection of yourself?"

Danyelle frowns. "Hm. I do kind of mind. But you'll probably see it sooner or later, so go ahead and get it over with." She folds her arms.

The broach opens like an opening eye and a bright light pours out, washing over Danyelle and illuminating, for not just Liam but for Fox and Danyelle as well, who Danyelle is inside. The light also illuminates the will-based spells that define the local gravity and any other hidden objects in its path. Just as quickly, the eye closes and normalicy returns.

"Jesus," Danyelle curses, confronted with the true image of her arm. She locks eyes with Liam for a moment before storming out of the house.

<Mind Link (Mage)> Do we let her go? I think that arm won't be going anywhere without Miss Root.

<Mind Link (Fox)> Well, she's been okay so far right? I don't even know where to begin with the arm but it's not like freaky body parts bother me all that much.

Liam nods, "If she was aware of the extent of her affliction, she would not have submitted to the scan. I'll draft a letter and see if I can get more information, before I take her - and her arm - into a client's home."

Liam says, "I think I need to do some research. Would you like me send you anywhere before I depart?"

Fox gets a kind of manic grin on her. .oO (How far up are we exactly?)

Liam says, "I'm uncertain, but I've been meaning to measure it. At least 2,000 feet."

Fox does quick mental math. .oO (Further than I can send a gate but that can be quickly fixed via falling. The only question is where it ends and stuff. Also how much it's gonna hurt on impact. Also whether I can survive the fall. I haven't tested that and I'm not eager. So pretty much anywhere on ground level is good.)

Liam smirks and teases, "In Colonial Bay, elsewhere in the U.S., or internationally?"

Liam adds seriously, since Fox might someday need to know, "Japan is well within my range."

Fox points down. .oO (In city. Of bay colonial. Elsewhere would be a nuisance. I don't speak more Japanese than a few simple phrases. Actually I don't really speak those either now. But I have some of them in the learned section of my brain.)

Liam considers something showy, then settles for opening a portal to an alley in the Student Quarter.

Fox does favor Liam with a hug before extracting herself through portalized egress. .oO (Until next time!)

Liam blushes faintly at the sudden hug, but returns it warmly.