messbox | ❂

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[ There's a soft, almost undetectable breeze as air is displaced, moving back and forth between one place and entirely another.

Down the alley, the doorway that has opened there has faint shimmers around its edge like it's sliced straight through some other place... but then a dimensional pathway has to go through somewhere.

There's an impossible room inside, pleasantly lit and with an uncomfortable warmth that can only come from a forge hot enough to melt gold. Glittering shields and staves and intricate little pins adorn the walls of the small room. The place stinks of enchantment.

The marketplace of Hrygg hasn't seemed to notice - or if they have, they know better than to get involved. Either way, a man stands behind the counter in that room, polishing a gauntlet that looks like it's been taken apart and put back together better. His one visible eye, and the ruby-red eyepiece he's wearing, are trained on you with the kind of intensity that would make anyone feel they're being watched from all angles and timelines at once.

But that shouldn't deter you, Gladinus Goldenscale. This is clearly an invitation. ]

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[The gaunt, kindly man narrows his eyes down the alley He knows he's being watched and doesn't take too kindly to that, like his grand-daughter there's a brief moment when and where he feels he knows exactly who could be giving him this feeling. Though he knows better than that...

Still, he can't shake the feeling that heading towards the door will finally give him answers over his grand-niece's whereabouts. It'd be rude to decline the invite after coming so far. He removes the specs from the end of his nose and cleans them up against his winter coat before placing them back on his nose. Gladinus marches onwards, head held high with a frown crossing his brows. This person holds the answers to which the questions he must ask - he just hopes the person on the other end is willing to cooperate with him.]

...You know I can't abide traps. I'd rather not waste my time if this is over something trivial.

[ Turo regards him coolly and doesn't move from behind the counter. ]

Nothing I have ever done is trivial. I have great curiosity.

[ He sets down the gauntlet on a prepared cushion of red silk and shiny gold thread. His eyepiece gleams disconcertingly and he turns his full attention on Gladinus - always a highly unsettling feeling. ]

It took me some focus and time to see the thread that drew me to you. [ He drums his clawed fingertips on the counter, just once, a short roll of tinkling gold. ] But you know why I drew you here, or at least you have some inkling.

An inkling, yes.

[So let's not beat around the bush. His hands remain down by his side. His eyes glance around Turo's shop. Already fearing the worst possible outcome but he never shows it. He is a Goldenscale afterall, he will not bend to a complete stranger. He must remain dignified at all times.]

My Grand-niece. Where is she?

I do not know or care. I have not looked.

[ The shop is basically wall-to-wall golden enchanted gear. Everything from swords to sickles to bracers to pauldrons to cuisses to golden heel-accents that ought to be clipped to one's boots. There are even (less intricate, gemstone-less) replicas of his eyepiece displayed on the walls. Gladinus' wandering attention might also catch one or two things with dragon motifs - in amongst the harpy motifs, fin motifs, and other designs he'd have to be an expert to catch. ]

I could find her, if you wished. [ He folds his hands on the counter. ] But I would rather not. I have compelled you here for the opposite reason.

[He recognises a number of dragon motifs, a number of them from families he's all too familiar with as with one or two other creature motifs he recognises from his studies or ones he's encountered himself some time ago...However this doesn't impress him.]

Yes, As of right now I think she's safer away from here.

[He knows his niece will be in good company at least.]

Though I must ask what you mean by that, I doubt I can provide you with anything worthwhile.

[ He draws back a bit, head tilted. Is that... discomfort? ]

Keep her away from me.

Edited 2018-09-18 21:33 (UTC)

[Lords above, What has she done this time?]

I beg your pardon?

[ angrily: ] Keep your charge away from my work.

She won't be understood. She won't be logical. She won't follow instruction.

...

[ He gathers himself, traces the shape of the gauntlet with a claw. ]

And as her keeper, as her guide, as her mentor... I will hold you accountable for the setbacks in future.

[That certainly sounds like his niece and those happen to be some of her best qualities, good sir. Don't be so rude.]

Will you now?

[He narrows his eyes again.] And what exactly was it you saw when you looked at her, Magineer? If you read her as quickly as you did me I'm sure you would have worked out why exactly she reacts in such a way.

That eyepiece of yours. Wherever did you acquire it?

[ It glints. There's no new lighting shift or flicker of the forge to make it do that, but glint it does. ]

I saw what she is, Dragon. But an eyeglass does not let you see someone's motive, nor their habitual disregard for the fate of the world.

[ He looks away, to a sheet of what is probably sales or something. Or, you know, a spell scroll, or a grocery list... ]

I acquired my Eye from a different place. One where a chemical attraction between mammals is not regarded as a potent magic. Perhaps you might explain that to me, instead?

Another time.

[You're most unhelpful and he'd much rather be reunited with his grand-niece and her significant other, As he turns to leave however he notices that there's another person in this room. A human who it seems is in a very bad way.]

Good grief, I hope this young man is receiving a decent medical treatment. It can't be doing your business any good to have a half-dead child sprawled out on the floor.

[Gladinus kneels over the figure reaching out to see if there's any more he can do for him. Turo, don't just stand there. Help, won't you?]

[ Turo raises his eyebrows briefly and goes back to disinterestedly etching notes. ]

He is sleeping. He will wake up. [ yeah that's really reassuring thanks ]

Perhaps you can sense in some way, but he will likely become at least partly your problem from now on.

[ Cole looks very peaceful. Kind of, like, peaceful like the dead. ]

Edited 2018-09-18 22:24 (UTC)

[He has too much to deal with at the moment as it is, He doubts he has the mental capacity to want to take on yet another young adult in his home. Though yes, now that Turo mentions it... Gladinus does sense something. More accurately as he sniffs and rubs his nose he picks up on a scent. It's almost as if Cole himself smells like-

Oh that doesn't settle well with him at all.

How very dare you, sir.]

And what manner of experiments did you involve this boy in, One wonders?

[ Disgruntled: ] A medical procedure that spared his life. Likely unperformed before. As much of my work tends to be.

[ If Glad is anything like his grandniece, Turo isn't about to wait for him to jump to conclusions and grill him. Turo fixes him with a bland look. ]

He would have died.

[He sits back for a moment. He knows Saft isn't dead... he would know. True he hasn't been blessed with whatever ability Turo apparently posesses but he's sure he would know if his grandniece were no longer of this world.

Whatever happened here though, she was involved somehow and he doesn't care to ask as of now. He bites down on his lip and tries to pull himself together as more horrible scenarios comes to mind.]

I swear Magineer, if it comes to pass you've harmed her in some way I'll summon every power inside of me to make sure you suffer the same way she has.

[ He looks irritated. You're not part of the contract, and you don't get a say! How dare--? ... And besides, she's fine. Mostly. ]

It lives. [ Remembering to use the right words is a massive hassle. He tries a second pass. ] She lives. [ Diplomacy! ]

My reasons for doing such work is to ensure that more live than die.

Do you believe me, Dragon?

[He sniffs again.] In lieu of the current circumstances I suppose I have no other choice do I?

[He should really find a way to leave though. If Saft is hurt and Corvidan possibly in the same state it would be best to get them both home and then address the more troubling matters of this whole trip later.]

...Was she with someone when she was here? Another Young man perhaps?

The Crow. Bewitched with grey. Yes, it was here. They are safe, to my knowledge.

[ The door is still wide open behind him, leading to the Hrygg marketplace. Turo hasn't made any attempt to keep him here. The only thing he needs is a polite excuse - - or he can just leave, if he's so inclined.

Turo looks at him, though. ]

Keep the half-human from blocking my plans, or I will leave it and its-- her-- links to fend alone when the sky breaks.

My good man, it will do you no good to threaten me or those I hold dear.

[He glowers.] It will not end well for you or your nasty little shop of stolen trinkets.

I do what I must to save a world that insults me at every turn. Your ilk perceives withdrawals as "threats" and yet you won't support what I do when I do it.

[ His visible eye flashes. ] I can finally say I feel contempt for most of the creatures that crawl on this world's strings.

Get out of my workspace.

I fear you might actually be a trifle mad...You say you wish to save our world yet care very little for it's inhabitants.

[He looks over Cole's sleeping form again. Ideally he'd like to remove him from here too and take him to someone who he can trust to give him the care he needs right now, But he's rather unsure as to how Turo would react and acting in haste against a foe he's not sure he can tackle without the likes of his niece to give him backup if need be would be a very bad idea.]

And if I refuse? If I decide to stay and wait for my niece's return... how would you remove me then I wonder.

[ He shoots Gladinus a look that can only be read as mild disgust. ]

I'm one of the fools who has to live in this world, so of course I must defend it if I want to go on living. If I could I would leave again, but one does not get by on regrets alone.

[ He sets the pen down and folds his claws on the counter. ]

You are not an agent of mine. If you wish to stay past your invitation I am afraid you will have to buy something. Or I will have to wake my agent over there and have it escort you outside.

Edited 2018-09-20 16:05 (UTC)

[Glower at him all you wish, but if it weren't for the fact he's concerned over what condition his niece is currently in he wouldn't be sticking around here at all. That last invitation might tempt him though. At least Gladinus would be able to see to it Cole would be as far away from this place and chaperone him until he can seek actual medical care.]

I doubt this shop holds anything I currently wish to purchase, You're a salesperson are you not? Surely you'd know how to make a better pitch than that.

No. You do not fight. Nothing I have would save you.

But it might interest you to know that my agent is not currently fit to walk anywhere.

He will still do it, if I ask. [ ah. ]

Then perhaps it's best he escorts me out of your fine establishment.

[He pushes his specs up as they begin to slip down his shapely nose.]

We Goldenscales do have a habit of occasionally breaking things, A clumsy family trait I must admit. It'd be extremely easy to knock something out of place if I chose to shift into my true form.

[Not entirely true but-]

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