video

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty's voice is shaky. She's shooting this video from a dark-ish room, something a little spooky - a room with a lot of display drawers in the background. ]

Sorry. I, erm - I suppose this seems almost - copycattish, 'cause Rincewind - just the other day -

[ She takes a shaky breath, and gives a little shake of her head, like she's denying the complete and utter stupidity of her previous statement. ]

I'm in my garage - the apartment Satya used to live in - and I found...Anyway. If you find bad things - like, really bad things - like, bits of...people...You're not supposed to touch them, yeah? Or anything.

[ And then she runs a hand through her hair and bites out: ]

Someone help me with this, please.

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Video - > Action

[lapwing]

Be right there. Don't do anything that I would do as it takes a certain bit of panache to pull that kind of thing off. And certainly nothing you'd usually do.


Lets just settle with the don't do anything bit for a bit.

[ And instead of letting her reply, the feed cuts off.

It is, at least, not long until the sound of enormous wings breaks the feed of happy detectives, shocked (and curious) bystanders and the occasional concern for Kitty personally.

A moment later, something claws on the side door to be let in. ]

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty, unlike most, hears the scraping of some beast's horrible claws and instead of looking distressed, she perks up. She makes her way over, opens it - ]

Hullo, Bartimaeus.

[lapwing]

[ A griffon sits primely on the other side. Enormous golden wings have a soft glow to them from where they are tucked neatly on its back. The lion watches her with glowing and wise old eyes.

The whole impression of a mysterious and ancient beast is right buggered the moment it opens his rather Library Statue Esque maw and talks. ]

So... what's the damage? I'm assuming this isn't a clean and cover up sort of job, but we can always relocate you somewhere nice, safe and - well, if you were sensible, which you're not - quiet place as to not attract happy murderperson's friends and allies this public blow up endangers.

[ The giant beast, so full of sunshine and optimism, leans past Kitty's leg and sniffs at the air. ]

[rathercommon]

[ Her response is to sigh and to reach down...to dig her fingers behind Bartimaeus' ears in a very pleasing sort of scratch. Sue her. The griffon look is really cute. ]

The happy murderperson is long gone. Ported out.

[lapwing]

[ The griffon, like most cats, flops his weight against Kitty's legs as he leans into the affectionate scritching. That spot right behind the ear was JUST so, if he did say so himself. ]

Sure they were working alone? I could set up a couple of wards quick like.

[rathercommon]

Pretty sure. But -

[ She debates internally a moment. ]

What sorts of wards?

[lapwing]

Oh, the usuals. Something that would let me know if something crossed the line and gave me a handy summons to deal with it. Maybe a few more interesting traps- [ The cat head fixes her a hopeful look from under a rather shaggy brow. ]

You know, not that I need a level playing field, it's just that a few advantages never hurt anyone important.

[rathercommon]

[ She wrinkles her nose just a little, but - ]

Okay. Nothing deadly. Or that'll hurt. But - yeah. I'd really appreciate that.

[lapwing]

Right. I wont set up anything that will hurt anyone.¹

[rathercommon]

[ She puts her hands on her hips and looks him in the face - but he shows no sign of cracking and confessing that, yes, this will be the Ward of Eternal Torment And Damnation or...whatever. So, after a moment, she nods. ]

Right. [ Then, businesslike - ] Can I help?

[lapwing]

You know... Stand over by the corner a moment, would you? Hands out level.

[rathercommon]

[ Um...But she goes and she stands there, brows arched quizzically, and holds her hands out. ]

[lapwing]

[ Bartimaeus makes a rather important sounding hmm and hum.

The griffin paces the line of the room, examining the doors and the windows, pulling a tiny thread, invisible on all but the sixth and seventh planes behind him. ]

Left a little higher. Good, arch your back a bit.

[rathercommon]

[ Suspiciously - ]

Wait, really...?

[lapwing]

On one foot now-

Not at all. [ And he pulls the last thread into place. On the fourth plane, the nexus glimmers green and then goes invisible. ] There. Done. Be sure to escort in any guests.

[rathercommon]

Ooh!

[ She puts her arms down and huffs in outrage. ]

Teach me to help you!

1/2

[lapwing]

[ There's a scathing remark coming. One could almost see it by the way the wings hiked up, and the whiskers went forward. A certain gleam in the eye where Bartimaeus was about to engage in his favorite thing: talking about how useless and hopeless humans were as far as magic went.


... ]

[lapwing]

[ And stops... giving her a considering look.

In fact, he's rather still and silent for a nearly uncomfortable amount of time. He lifts the griffin's paw and points at his handywork. ]

Can you see that? In any form?

[rathercommon]

[ She opens her mouth - and then closes it consideringly, frowning just a little bit. She's thinking hard. ]

I can't...see anything, no. But I can sort of - It feels warmer over in that spot.

[lapwing]

[ And the griffin flops on its side as a cat does. The wings go splaying out over the garage floor in a bit of added dramatics. ]

Nope. No good at all.

[rathercommon]

[ Augh. ]

It is - Well, fine, I can't see it, but that's still sort of sensing it. I think. Look, don't act superior.

[lapwing]

I can't help it! It's my natural superiority leaking out over my amazing, nearly iron clad modesty.

[rathercommon]

Oh, yeah? Your wings are getting grubby. Look, that one's falling right into a little puddle of oil.

[lapwing]

What? [The griffin gets up, angling the wing forward to get a look.]

Why did you even leave that about? That's not a proper mess at all. I suppose I could make a mess of an interstate or two to keep the bragging rights strong...

[rathercommon]

How would that help anyone, Bartimaeus?