Welcome to Gaia! ::

*The world rushes by outside the Jaguar--houses, pedestrians, other cars. Bard turns onto Lake Shore Drive coasting at comfortable fifteen over the speed limit.*

That's Lake Michigan over there. *he points at the large area of darkness to the left of the road* It's hard to see. Maybe I can bring you here during the day sometime. Have you ever been to the sea, Mag-- *he turns to look at her and notes Maggie's panicked expression. He reaches for the knob and turns the music off*

I'm sorry. I usually drive alone and play my music rather loudly. It must have seemed a fright. Nothing at all like the music from your time.

*Bard grins*

It's very lovely. At least when you're out on the water. It's not so nice on the shore... One thing I miss about Oregon is the ocean... sometimes, in the summers when dad was busy with work, mom and I... we'd go to the beach and ... we'd never want to leave...

*his expression fades a bit*

*He points ahead of them at a large skyscraper* That's where we're going. Lake Point Tower.

*Bard grins mischievously at Maggie*

It's only seventy stories. The tallest building in Chicago is nearly twice as tall.

We're going to be aaaaaall the way at the top.

You'll love it, Maggie. Once you're up there, you'll wish you could stay up there.

*he pulls the Jaguar off Long Shore Drive and almost immediately they're at Lake Point Tower. He drives the car to front entrance, where a valet waits to take the car. Bard leaves a spare set of keys in the ignition and unbuckles his seatbelt.*

Well, you survived the trip.

*Bard reaches over and presses the button on her seatbelt.*

There you are! Easy!

*he opens the driver's side door and slips out of the car. He accepts a ticket from the valet, then crosses to the other side of the car and opens Maggie's door*

*Bard smiles* We don't think of them as servants. At least most people don't. It's just his job. You might think of him as a stable hand. Only instead of horses, he takes care of cars.

Let's go in to the party shall we?

*The doorman opens the door for them to enter. The lobby of Lakepoint Tower is large and well-appointed. A security guard sitting behind an elaborate oak desk watches them as they cross the room*

Bard K. Awenson and guest for the NCF Party.

*The guard looks down at the the checklist on his desk, ticks a name off the page*

"70th floor, sir. Elevators are to your left."

*Bard nods* Thank you. *he turns to Maggie* Want to see what it's like at the top?

*Bard takes Maggie by the arm and leads her toward the elevators. As they approach the row of elevators, a woman rises from a padded bench. She's in her mid-fifties, with greying hair cut extremely short, except for a single long braid dyed shock purple. She's wearing a conservative business dress in royal blue. with a string of pearls at her throat and matching earrings. She pushes her bifocals up her nose and smiles rather ironically*

"Merry Christmas, K," she says, in a patient, matronly voice.

*Bard grins as soon as he sees her.*

Happy Kwanzaa, Mo. Or ...whatever it is you're celebrating this year.

*Mo shakes her head with a rueful smile. Bard let's go of Maggie's arm and gives Mo a big hug. When he releases her, he turns back to Maggie.*

Mo, I'd like to introduce you to Margaret Dowling of Ainsford, England. Maggie, this is Maureen Stafford, my agent.

*Maureen appraises Maggie, thoughtfully* "Welcome, dear. I've heard quite a lot about you. I hope you're finding... America... agreeable thus far? K hasn't scared you too much, has he? I imagine things are a little different then they were... where you grew up."