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* Michelle opens the door and lets the coat closet step out, "Hall's Open!" * Michelle returns behind the bar. * Zoya pauses in the alleyway and looks at the building for a long moment, her grey eyes vague and distant. Finally, she sighs, opens the lid of the "coat closet," and carefully begins divesting herself of all manner of interesting bric-a-brac. "And if you lose any of it," she admonishes the trunk, "I'll see you sold to a toothpick factory, understand?" <Michelle> ::The trunk's handles rattle:: <Zoya> ::Satisfied that her favorite magic items are not going to disappear, she enters the Hall.:: Good evening, Michelle. I see you still haven't gotten the place settled yet. ::She sits at the bar, leaning against a stool.:: * Michelle picks up a mug, "Can I get you something Zoya? And no, things are still very strange, even for this place. Course part of the problem is that we're not willing to use any magic anymore so it's taking a very long time." * Lisl enters, peeling off an oilcloth cloak and hanging it by the door before stepping over to an unoccupied corner of the room to shake herself. "Evening, all. Bleah. I can't imagine what possessed me to go out today." <Lisl> Zoya, good seeing. ::grins:: You decided to brave the magic-wild watering hole, eh? <Zoya> I'd like some ale, if you can coax it from the taps, please. <Michelle> So why did you go out Lisl? And do you want the usual? <Zoya> Good evening, Lisl. Yes, I thought I'd stop in and see how things are looking. <Michelle> ::turns to the taps:: Ale please. ::picks a tap at random and starts to fill it with a thick red liquid. Michelle stops almost immediately and promptly drains the mug:: Go clean yourself out thoroughly. In fact, get a couple of others to help you. <Lisl> A Sembian brandy, if you please. And I went out because, all in all, it was better than staying in. Too restless, this time of year, to be cooped indoors. ::rubs a hand through her damp hair, making it stand on end before smoothing it back somewhat:: * Lisl raises an eloquent eyebrow at the wall of taps. "Didn't know *they* listened to town gossip." * Alfonse stumbles around the corner, off the corner, and into the alleyway. He's busy untying knots from a length of cord. He barks his shins on the closet before taking notice of it. "Oh. Look. It's a-- you're a-- hmm. Closet. I see. In the alleyway. How peculiar. Unless -- ah! Well. Hmm. I don't think I-- oh, yes I do. A few, at least." He sets to pulling small knick-knacks out of pockets and examining them. Most go back in the pockets. A few go into the closet. <Michelle> ::Takes a second mug and fills it with what appears to be ale. Looking dubiously at the mug Michelle puts it down in front of Zoya:: Give that a try Zoya. * Zoya picks up the mug and takes a swig. <Alfonse> ::he finishes his estimations and enters the Hall:: Good-- yes. Good evening. ::he looks around curiously while fidgeting his way to the bar:: * Michelle fills a snifter from a cask beneath the bar and sets it down in front of Lisl. "There you go Lisl." <Lisl> ::blinks and raises her eyebrows as Alfonse enters, accepting her snifter of Sembian absently:: Good evening, Master... Alfonse, isn't it? <Zoya> ::smiles, with some surprise:: Master Alfonse! What brings you here on such a night? * Lisl glances at Zoya as if she might have had something to do with it. <Michelle> Good evening Master Alfonse. Can I get you anything? <Alfonse> Master, no not, well, as a politeness, I suppose. Not as a ranking. Alfonse is fine. Just Alfonse. Although I am fine. So saying Alfonse is fine is correct. Just not like I meant. But still. Um, water? <Zoya> ::grins at the wizard's babbling:: I had been meaning to pay you a visit, in any case, so this saves me some effort. Though I'm surprised you came here, I must confess. * Michelle smiles, "Certainly Alfonse." Michelle picks up a mug. Choosing a tap at random she places the mug under it and pulls the lever. Nothing happens. "Water please." Water starts flowing from the tap into the mug. * Michelle finishes filling the mug and places it down in front of Alfonse, "There you go." * Lisl nods agreement with Zoya, lifting her glass to Alfonse briefly before taking a swallow. <Alfonse> Hmm? Oh, I didn't think that-- oh, thank you. ::he drinks from the mug:: I wasn't-- ::he sloshes his mug around to answer Lisl's gesture:: -- I am, I mean, I've been here before, and nothing happened. So either it's safe or I haven't attended enough for a statistically significant sample. <Lisl> ::mutters softly into her glass:: Safe enough for anyone with the brains of a goat.... <Zoya> Oh, it's mostly safe, certainly. Physically, at any rate. But I understand that being seen here might do certain damage to your reputation, just lately. There are some rather vicious rumors floating around. Surely you've heard? Some of them seem to have started amongst the War Wizards. * Alfonse blinks. "Reputation? Here? Well, since politics, you see, It's that I'm more of a hands-on-- and I've heard the rumors. Who hasn't? I thought I'd come and see if things have changed. And they have. I guess. You have a closet outside. <Zoya> ::nods:: There was a rather severe flux of wild magic a while back, that - at least to all appearances - conflicted with a major upsurge in the more sedate lines... Well, at any rate, the results have yet to settle out enough to be properly cleaned up, and any active magic inside these walls would be just disastrous. <Zoya> ::grins slyly:: Very nearly as messy as politics, aye? <Lisl> ...or at least... a problem. ::coughs:: <Alfonse> I've heard! They posted a warning on the-- you know they had to reset the counter for days without a surge? Very upsetting. Although the research possibilities are intriguing. So stable! But not, I suppose. Local, at least. <Lisl> ::glances at Zoya again:: "Days without a surge"? <Zoya> ::chuckles:: Is that what Niralan was doing in here? Research? He should have said so before he started throwing spells around. Someone might've been hurt. * Zoya winks at Lisl. <Lisl> ::mutters:: Someone still might be... * Lisl takes another swallow of brandy, swirling her glass. "I do hope you're not here to do research, M-- Alfonse?" <Alfonse> Hmm? I don't think so. I didn't ask. I think he was on inspection detail. Can't say for sure. Hmm-- me? No, just a sickle-- simple -- social call. Social call. <Zoya> Inspection? ::frowns thoughtfully and sips her ale:: I didn't know the Hall was subject to inspections... ::she smiles at Alfonse again:: Well, of course, it would be, just like everything in the city, wouldn't it. Just that it never *has* been... I wonder who could've ordered it? <Lisl> ::chuckles:: Maybe the health department was understaffed. That would explain why he went to inspect the bathhouses, after. <Alfonse> We get-- when there's-- if something happens that's maybe magical, and possibly dangerous, we get to-- we look into it. Inspect. Make sure that it's nothing awful. We try, at least. <Lisl> ::dryly:: Yb must've had her own personal response team. <Alfonse> ::looking to Zoya:: And, as you say, it isn't. Someone could get hurt. <Alfonse> ::nodding solemnly to Lisl:: The Windtossed. Some of the finest. Not many survived. <Zoya> ::nods:: Of course. * Lisl raises her eyebrows again and the corners of her mouth start to curl up, which she quickly stifles with an over-hefty swallow of brandy. <Nacheyla> ::there is a loud and ominous crash in the kitchen:: * Alfonse falls over. <Zoya> ::sighs and takes another swig of ale:: I do wish I knew where those rumors were coming from, though. Some of them aren't very nice. ::a little exasperated:: Do I *look* like the sort of mage who would... how did it go? "-engage in unnatural congress with demons"? <Zoya> ::starts and looks toward the kitchen:: * Alfonse stands up. "Fine. Just fine. Happens all the time. Occasionally." * Lisl interposes herself between Alfonse and the door of the kitchen, reaching back to offer him a hand up. * Michelle quirks an eyebrow, "Just a moment." Disappears into the kitchen. <Alfonse> And I don't know, really. What does a mage who would engage with-- I mean, of course you don't, Archmagus. <Nacheyla> ::just as Michelle reaches the door, a boy - about two years of age - runs into the Hall from the kitchen. He is liberally smeared with jelly and other less identifiable sticky stuff. He's quite cute, with shoulder-length curling black hair and bright copper-colored eyes. He also has small silver horns peeking out through his hair, but hey, you can't have everything:: <Lisl> ::sets her glass down on the counter and relaxes:: Chey? What are you-- your father isn't here, is he? * Michelle sticks her head in the kitchen, "Is it alright to let Cheylon run around Nacheyla or should I ask Lisl to nab him?" <Cheylon> Aunni Nise! ::he runs over to Lisl, holding both sticky arms wide:: <Nacheyla> ::sighs and leans against the wall:: He needs to be hosed off... <Zoya> And you should *hear* the things they're saying about my apprentice! At least, I hope *she* doesn't. Or her husband, for that matter. He'd be quite angry. ::glances at Chey, and keeps talking, hoping to hold Alfonse's attention:: I don't suppose you'd know the source of any of them, would you? * Michelle starts rummaging around underneath the bar, "I think I saw a hose down here once. Though I don't know if it survived." <Lisl> Ho, boy... ::holds out her arms for Cheylon and scoops him up, turning him upside down (so that, incidentally, his hair better hides his horns) and tickling him one-handed:: What are you doing here, you rapscallion? <Cheylon> ::giggling wildly:: Chey's gettin' in twouble, Aunni Nise! <Alfonse> ::Zoya is not succeeding, and Alfonse watches the sticky toddler barrel around the room:: Quite... yes... horrible. Is he... No, just... around... * Nacheyla comes into the Hall. She looks like the typical mother of a two-year-old. Badly dressed with unkept hair and smudges of sleeplessness under her eyes. "Sorry about that. He runs so *fast* sometimes. I'll replace the jam-jar. I don't think anyone else'd want it after he had both hands in it." <Michelle> ::still rummaging beneath the bar:: Probably a safe bet. <Lisl> And what else is new, hey? You smell like a strawberry, you know. Let's get you into the kitchen and-- ah. Hey, Nach. I believe I found something of yours. ::holding Chey up, upside-down:: <Nacheyla> ::smiles tiredly:: You want him? I'll sell him to you, cheap. <Zoya> Hmm... Who *does* decide the roster for inspections, Alfonse? Do you just volunteer? I'd have thought, based on your prior knowledge, that *you* would have made a better inspector than Master Niralan... <Lisl> Sorry, nope, try the gypsies, next wagon over. ::grins:: I was just going to take him into the kitchen, though. He's a bit... sticky. * Nacheyla nods. "I think the gypsies got out of the child-buying business." She eyes her sticky son. "I wonder why..." <Lisl> ::grins wider:: They found out about your no-returns policy? <Alfonse> ::still bemusedly watching Cheylon:: We... Wizards assigned to city duties rotate between inspection, defense, and other... I do research. And demonstrations. The city duty mages aren't usually research... oriented. I think he's got some on the bottoms of his feet. <Nacheyla> Oh! ::looks at Alfonse:: I'm very sorry. I didn't even see you. ::she nods politely:: Let's get him scrubbed off, shall we, Lisl? <Lisl> ::glances at Alfonse and makes a show of inspecting the bottoms of Chey's feet, tickling them in the process and then tasting her finger:: So he does. More strawberry. <Alfonse> Quite all right. We-- You-- I get that a lot. When I'm not demonstrating. <Zoya> No... No, I've rarely met a duty mage who really excelled at research. It's such a different mindset. ::she takes a swig:: Who's in charge of making the assignments, though? * Nacheyla heads back into the kitchen, Lisl close behind. <Lisl> ::lowers Chey a little so that he can, if he chooses, "walk" on his hands back into the kitchen as she carries him there.:: <Cheylon> ::not even slightly repentant, he is enjoying himself immensely:: <Alfonse> Making? Who does? I don't really know. The head city duty mage? * Lisl gives the two mages a backwards glance before disappearing into the kitchen with Nacheyla and Cheylon. <Michelle> Anyone need their drink topped off? <Zoya> ::shrugs:: Ah, well... ::she sips her ale again, eyeing Alfonse thoughtfully:: You're not worried that you might get lumped in with the rest of us degenerates? ::she grins as if unconcerned about the label, herself:: * Alfonse looks down then up then down again at his mostly-full water. "I'm yes. Okay. Fine." <Alfonse> For just this once? I don't know. Thought some more data might be helpful. And to see what things were actually like. Too much of one point of view leads to skewed conclusions. * Nacheyla fills a basin with water and starts peeling off Cheylon's besmeared clothes. <Zoya> ::nods:: Well, that's certainly true... What do you think, then, now that you're here? <Nacheyla> ::in an undertone to Lisl:: Really bad timing on my part, yes? I didn't know he was here. * Lisl helps, trying to keep Cheylon mostly in one place. "You just got here? He's just here on a social call." She grins a little. "Trouble will out." She nods to the squirmy Cheylon. <Alfonse> So far, so right. Mostly. Nothing exactly happened happened. More data wouldn't hurt. Though it's only good for myself. <Nacheyla> ::nods:: It was raining when we ported back. I'd intended to take him straight home, but he had other ideas. I couldn't see him very well in all this wet. <Zoya> Only good for yourself? Why is that? You can't share the data with the others? <Lisl> ::cocking an ear towards the kitchen door:: Sounds like he's keeping an open mind, though, so far. Funny he should come tonight... I just spoke to Zoya a few days ago about sounding him out over this mess. <Lisl> ::grinning a little:: Which is why she's out there asking leading questions. <Nacheyla> ::laughs softly as she scrubs Cheylon's hair:: Leading? Sounds like she's interrogating him. Oh, sit still, you! ::hooks one arm around Chey's chest:: <Lisl> Aye, well, it's a friendly interrogation, at least. ::shucks her jelly-stained jerkin, rolls up her sleeves, and picks up a washcloth:: Dunno what he saw or didn't see, but he's not stupid, for all he's, well, not quite there, I'd say. <Nacheyla> ::nods:: Stupid mages have an alarming habit of going Poof in the night... <Alfonse> Some, yes. Others aren't really. Dandolak's Casters, say. Haven't really been open to things since that thing back when, with the planar travel. Before the king died. * Michelle pours herself a finger of Sembian into a snifter and sips it. <Lisl> ::grunts:: Hm... wonder if he's talking about that one in charge of sending us to the Abyss...? <Zoya> ::raises an eyebrow:: The king himself asked us to do that travel. ::half-smiles:: Not that I wouldn't much rather have left all the glory up to the... Coasters, you called them? <Lisl> ::mutters:: Oh, very good, Zoya.... <Alfonse> Coasters. Casters. Casters. Spell. Casting. Casters. Not fish. <Cheylon> ::amuses himself by blowing bubbles in his bath water. Messily, of course:: <Lisl> ::rescues the bar of soap before Cheylon eats it:: Here, now, that tastes pretty nasty. You don't want to be eating that. ::makes a truly outstanding mock-"gack, horrible"-face:: <Cheylon> ::collapses into the water, giggling at Lisl:: <Zoya> Oh, sorry. Misheard you over the noise in the kitchen. My fault entirely. Dandolak's Casters... I don't recall that name... ::musing:: Well, of course they're offended that the job was given to a bunch of rag-tag *adventurers*, but we certainly weren't about to tell His Majesty "no", were we? <Nacheyla> ::rolls her eyes:: Careful... What if your face *froze* that way? <Lisl> ::grins evilly at Nacheyla:: Then I'd petition the goddess who probably cursed my face to grant me mercy. And butter her up by offering more babysitting. <Nacheyla> Heh... don't tempt me... Xarroch's off on one of his Crusades again... <Lisl> ::hurriedly:: I can butter-up just fine without the cursing part, thanks! * Alfonse shrugs. "Not mine for me to say. I was just there as magical support. Weren't happy, but needed more to do the gate." * Nacheyla looks at her son. "Close enough for government work..." She scoops him out of the water and wraps him up in an oversized dish-towel. <Lisl> ::raises an eyebrow:: I didn't think the government generally handled jelly-baby cases. * Alfonse finishes his water. * Michelle looks out the window, "Last call everyone." <Nacheyla> Don't worry. I'm too tired to curse anyone. ::looks around:: Hmm... where'd I leave your spare outfit, Chey, honey? <Zoya> ::nods:: Yes, of course. ::she finishes her ale and sighs:: I do wish your compatriots were as understanding as you, Master Alfonse... ::she smiles:: But I do hope you'll come back. * Nacheyla answers her own question and fishes a blue jumper out of her belt-pouch. Without too much trouble, she stuffs the boy into the clean outfit. <Lisl> Hm. Speaking of... ::looks bemusedly down at her soaked shirt and jellied trews:: Pardon me just a moment.... * Alfonse puts his mug down and heads for the door. "I should. Can. Probably. Depending on how things are. You know. Night." <Zoya> Good night, Master Alfonse. <Michelle> Night Alfonse. * Zoya watches the War Wizard depart, then shakes her head. "I wonder how much of that is just an act... Ah, well. I should be getting back to the Tower, myself." * Alfonse makes it out the door, collects his items from the closet, and then heads out into the city. * Lisl looks around. "Hm... I can't in here..." She listens for a few moments and steps out the back door of the kitchen, returning in a fresh set of clothes in a few moments. <Michelle> Goodnight Zoya. <Lisl> There. Now if all of you are decent, I think he's left. <Zoya> Good night, Michelle. ::without raising her voice:: Good night, Lisl. Give my greetings to Nacheyla and her little terror, would you? ::she grins, and heads out the door:: <Lisl> ::calls:: Night, Zoya! ::grins at Nacheyla:: Zoya gives her greetings to you and your little terror. * Nacheyla looks down at her own splattered clothing and shrugs. "I've looked worse." * Zoya collects her things from the coat closet, eyeing it suspiciously until they've all been recovered. Then she pats it fondly, and heads into the night. * Lisl pushes open the kitchen door and holds it for Nacheyla and her armful. * Nacheyla follows Lisl. "Sorry I wasn't more sociable, Michelle." She holds up Cheylon, who is starting to be yawny and rubbing his eyes. "Want a slightly used child?" <Michelle> Night Lisl, Nacheyla. Cheylon behave for your mother. <Michelle> ::chuckle:: I've got one of my own somewhere. <Cheylon> ::yawns again and snuggles against Nacheyla's shoulder:: <Nacheyla> G'nite, Michelle... g'nite Lisl. Thanks... <Lisl> Missed last call, did I? Ah, well. Not to waste it... ::snags her brandy snifter, which is trying to sneak off, and downs the rest of its contents:: Ahhh... Jaret'd wince to see me do that. <Lisl> Night, Michelle. Want an escort home, Nach, or are you taking the quick way? <Michelle> ::giggle:: Most of us wince when we watch you drink. <Nacheyla> ::shakes her head:: Nope, we're walking... magic's for Dad's home... when we're at mom's home, we do things the hard way... <Lisl> Heh. Well, that's one way to teach him discernment... c'mon, I'll walk you, then. <Lisl> ::nods to Cheylon:: Want me to give your arms a break? <Nacheyla> Sure... ::leaves the Hall:: Nah, I got him. Let's not wake him up if we don't have to. * Lisl waves, retrieves her slicker, and follows Nacheyla out. * Michelle shoos the dishes into the kitchen, dims the lamps, lets the coat closet in, and locks the door behind her. |
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