There is no defense line, but defense territory.

[noonlight]

Who: Illumination & You.
What: Various goings on at the abandoned building that Lu has moved into.
When: Throughout the second and third week of the story.
Where: A former wine merchant (possible smuggler's) abandoned house in the 'neutral' territory.
Content warnings: None, yet.

Comments

For SecUnit.

[noonlight]

On the whole, Illumination has kept to their word and left SecUnit alone to enjoy their media, staring at the walls, or whatever it is that it's doing. Most of the repairs to the building have been easy enough to space out and perform with magic or their own hard labour, but the doorway into the sewer is posing a challenge.

Frustrated with their own inability to move it, and unsure if and when Curze will reappear, Lu decides to approach one of the drones. "When you've a moment, I could use a hand down in the basement. Just past cellar, by the passage into the sewer."

[ugh_emotions]

As housemates go, Illumination hadn’t been too bad, actually. They left it to its own devices, it them them to their own devices, and that was the at SecUnit liked it.

So the request made to the drone is a little unusual.

A few moments later, SecUnit itself appears next to Illumination.

“…What,” it says flatly.

[noonlight]

"I don't like having only one entrance and exit. If things go wrong, I want to be able to get out quickly, that's why I went with this place, because of the door into the sewers." The cellar in the building is narrow, with deep shelves set into the walls for where casks would likely have been stored.

"But, given what's in the sewers, I don't want a surprise coming up. I've warded them, but I can't get the door to hang right. It's too heavy for me to get in place and also slip the hinge-pins in." One or the other might be doable, but both at the same time. "Would you be willing to help me?"

Leaning at an angle against the outside of the lintel, there's a heavy wood door that's been reinforced with metal. It's off the hinges, and the pins for them are resting on one of the cask shelves.

[ugh_emotions]

SecUnit agreed; having multiple potential exits was better. But it wasn't such a fan of the sewer entrance. It was a significant security risk, especially once bits pf dead humans started showing up. (Also, it was disgusting.)

Normally, it would hate being asks to do something like this. It had been forced to do too many menial, stupid task for humans back when it was still owned by the Company and had to do everything the told it to. But the reinforced door would present a significant upgrade in Security; installing it was a good idea.

It sighs. “Fine.” And then it picks up the whole door, like it barely weighs anything at all.

[noonlight]

When SecUnit lifts the door as if it's just holding up a blanket, there's a bright flash of colour over the base of their throat and a sharp scent like crushed lime leaves.

Goodness, that's unexpected and easier than any of the alternatives they'd sketched out.

"...well, thank you. If you could line it up with the hinges, I'll drop the pins in and it should swing just fine."

The sewer is disgusting, but other than leaping from the roof and running along whatever buildings were close by, it was the most secure escape route. Night Haunter was welcome inside, and they did promise to knock, but forewarned is forearmed.

"Keep the rats out."

There are no rats. There were rats. Someone ate them.

[ugh_emotions]

It's not really sure what that flash of colour and scene means. But at this point, it's seen enough of Illumination to know that it means something, even if it doesn't know what.

It doesn't comment on it. Just hefts up the door, and lines it up with the hinges.

"Right. The fauna," it says. "And, you know, the bits of dead humans?"

Yeah. It wasn't happy about that.

[noonlight]

"Night Haunter had better be careful about that shit." As the door is manoeuvred into place, they oil the barrel and knuckles of the hinge before dropping the pin. In the spaces where it's not a neat fit, a little bit of magical mending works the metal into the proper shape.

"Everyone has their little peccadillos, and I won't begrudge him that, but I take a dim view of anything that brings a pitchfork-and-torch party to my door." Another hinge done, and one more to go. "After all, the only thing more difficult than a human is a mob of them."

[ugh_emotions]

"No mobs of humans are going to get you." It says this like it is a fact. Because SecUnit is going to make it a fact. Sure, Illumination wasn't a client. Or one of its humans. But...they'd given SecUnit a space to stay. Helped stop the werewolves from sniffing it out all of the time. It wasn't going to let anything happen to them.

If the pitchforks arrived, SecUnit would be in-between them and Illumination.

"I'd say murder's a bit more than a pecca-whatsit." Whatever a pecca-whatsit actually was. It made a note to look that up later. "They’re not even disposing of the evidence properly, like a fucking idiot."

[noonlight]

As they drop the final pin in place, there's another vegetal-scented ripple of surprise. They truly hadn't expected SecUnit to offer protection, but if it becomes necessary, they'll be glad to take it.

"Dearheart, you're very kind, but if they do show up, I intend to run and encourage you to do the same." With a hum, they stand back from the doorframe. "Let go and let's see if it falls."

"And, yes, a little discretion would do him well, but I think, I don't rightly know. I think he believes he's being neighbourly? Frankly, other than destroying what he brings, I'm not wholly sure what to do with it."

invites self into Various Things

[not_scrap]

Nyla is a snoop. Well, she calls herself spunky and investigative, but the truth is, she's gotta know as much as she can. When you have the physical limitations she has (tiny, light sensitive, and unlike like everyone here NOT naturally armed), you compensate by trying to learn as much as possible about wherever you are.

Never know when it comes in handy.

That's why she's run through the gutters and run straight into Murderteeth (okay that's not exactly true, he did the 'mysteriously appearing from the shadows for Ominous Effect' and it was...Super Effective. But it's precedent--she goes wherever there might be interesting stuff.

Like this warehouse. She wasn't tracking Mr Night Haunter, Flayer Extraordinaire, on purpose, but she's seen him in the area so...you know.

She slips into the cracked open back door. But she's not stupid: she's gathered a bunch of flowers into a loose and probably hideous bouquet, as an alibi. "Flower delivery!"

[noonlight]

Between a ping from the wards and a notice from the drone, Illumination is well aware that there's someone at the back door. They tug on their hated glamour and go to deal with whatever nonsense awaits.

...flowers. Does anyone actually buy that? Flowers for a stranger in the no man's land? After getting their staff to hand, and a suitably unpleasant bit of magic ready, they call through the closed door. "Sorry, no soliciting."

[not_scrap]

Yeah, she heard and saw none of that with the wards and stuff. Just an innocent little delivery person with a bouquet of local weeds.

A-HA though. This place wasn't so abandoned after all! "I'm not soliciting!" Huff. Do you not even capitalism, bro...person? "This is a delivery!"

[noonlight]

"You've got the wrong address. No deliveries accepted at this location."

And certainly not at the back door.

[not_scrap]

Is she a natural actress? No. But has she run into this situation (sorta) before? Yes.

"Listen," aggrieved sigh. "I just work for the guy. Just let me deliver the flowers or I don't get paid." You wouldn't want a tiny little waif to go HUNGRY, you monster?

Or else she's gonna have to drop the act in a sec.

[noonlight]

"Tragic, I'm sure." Maybe it's true, but Illumination isn't opening the door.

"Give them to some other stranger and call it done. Good-bye." They don't suspect that it's angry locals or anything like that, but a thief? Looking to ransack or scout out a building that's being reclaimed? That makes a good deal of sense.

[not_scrap]

Wow, someone's gonna spit in this person's burger, for sure. That's not how you treat the working stiff!

"Listen." Time to drop the act. Though, admit it: totally fooled, weren't you? "I tracked him here."

[noonlight]

It's fair to argue for working class solidarity, and Illumination will be first on the line for labour, but that's not what this really is.

"Oh, I see."

There's a pause. The practical thing to do would be to invite this stranger in before they decided to get stroppy and then Deal With the Situation. That's probably an over-reaction, but it would be the easiest way to do it.

"And you want to deliver flowers to him?"

For Magnus.

[noonlight]

Unfortunately, Illumination can't stay holed up in their safe little hideaway all the time. They do spend a good deal of their time there, but the broader world (and its groceries) calls.

They tend to alternate between days when they have a small stall on the edge of the market: they can tell the quality of silver by touch and charm, identify if an heirloom really was cursed by Great Aunt Hettie, or any other number of simple charms. Some people have also noticed that they have a particular weakness for children and will repair toys at low or no cost.

"What may I help you with, sir?" The glamour is good. Better than the one that was offered as standard to the non-human Readers, but if one is very clever or perceptive, there are hints that something is slightly awry. The scent is good enough to fool a wolf, but occasionally, there's a hint of oddness around where their horns might be.

I AM HERE ... belated, but I have arrived.

[logosmaxima]

"Miracle Max" -- foreign wonderworker -- has been gaining his own reputation throughout Montica's lower-end markets. Soothing incense, lessons in magic, and -- most famously -- healings, offered freely to the most desperate and at exorbitant price to those of means seeking remedies for the afflictions of the rich. It's enough there's always a little eddy of the curious watching for him; with his crimson hair and seven-foot stature, he's easy enough to look for even in a crowd.

But today, at least, he's yet to be swarmed by those in need of his help (or the coin he often gives away). It's enough freedom he can run a few errands of his own, including visiting a stall with a certain reputation for magical efficacy that's convinced even some of Montica's more jaded souls.

That marks its proprietor out as someone he very much would like to talk to. The glamour -- subtle and convincing enough that even he must look more than once to ascertain what he thinks he's seeing -- is further enticement.

"I have," he says, "two curious items I am told you might be able to identify for me." And he sets the first of them -- the journal the Library issued him -- out for examination. Though the journals are not by their own nature enchanted, this one has a faint haze of subtle warpfire wound about it -- a simple thing of his own devising to prevent tampering without his knowing it.

More importantly, it's a proof of identity, and a question asked without words.

[noonlight]

"What a lovely book." Illumination looks it over, acting as if they're just a typical merchant, before gently smiling. "I think I might have another in the series."

With that, Lu flips a sign to show that their stall is closed for now. "I don't have a chair that's really going to suit you, but you're welcome to a crate. Or if you'd rather go for a little walk, my home quite close."

[logosmaxima]

Sign and countersign exchanged, "Max" returns the proprietor's smile with one of his one. "Truly! An individual of distinction and discernment, then."

Exactly who he'd like to speak to.

"Your home would suit. The other item is a rarity, better discussed in a quieter venue than this. Lead on -- I shall follow."

[noonlight]

And so, off they go! Illumatinion's 'home' is an abandoned house that is very well warded and hidden. Approaching the house, most people would suddenly recall that they had left the gas on, needed to be somewhere else, or just otherwise were convinced they were on the wrong street. Past that, it's hard to really see the house itself. (Odds are, none of this works even slightly on Magnus, but Lu has done their very best and it's probably good enough to fool the locals.)

The front room shows that it was clearly once some sort of shop. Maybe wine? Import-export? That would explain the smuggler's exits in the basement.

"I don't have much to offer, but I can put the kettle on for tea - or what passes for it here."

[logosmaxima]

Even if the wards don't compel him, Magnus can feel them plucking at his will like the attentions of little fish to a wader's toes. The strength and intent behind the work is worth admiring, and in fact he does so as they approach the house, eye gleaming with appreciation.

He won't speak a word of what he sees until they're well inside, though. No sense further confusing any poor mortal who is already mazed by a hard-to-see house.

"I would be glad of a cup," he says, warmly. More for the sake of engaging with another's hospitality than any need for the depressingly weak stimulants in the stuff. "Though it does seem they treat the art of the leaf as an afterthought in this poor city, does it not?"

He'll locate himself a chair and suit himself to its bulk, losing a few inches of height to better fit what he finds. No sense being uncomfortable.

"I do not believe we were formally introduced, back in the Library. I am Magnus, called 'the Red', when I am not playing at Miracle Max." Magus extraordinaire, foreign werewolf of mystery!

[noonlight]

"I couldn't really say much of anything about the 'art of the leaf', but it's hot and brown," they call out from the kitchen while they return with two ceramic cups of tea (adjacent beverage). "Close enough for horseshoes and handgrenades."

After offering him a cup, they hop up to sit on one of the shop counters. Better to be at a more reasonable eyeline, hmm?

"And we were not. I'm called Illumination, or Lu if you want to shorten it."

gremlin part of my brain read the first line and went "mmm cup of gravy"

[logosmaxima]

"So long as it doesn't explode," Magnus says cheerily, "I will be content with whatever it may be."

He accepts the cup but does not drink immediately, curling his hands around it and permitting himself time to experience its aroma in full. It is, truly, not a thing of great complexity or subtlety. But it is a piece of offered hospitality, and that flavors it.

"Illumination," he repeats, "and you are a thaumaturge of some subtle skill with appearances. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and witness your works.

"What have you made of this Story, thus far?"