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 Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:42 pm
"Well, a lot of our staff is still human, or has lived around distinctly humanoid species," Lori said. He shrugged then and smiled to Pixie.
"Yeah, they're an endangered species. We relocated a couple dozen to a protected forest a few years back. This one would never have survived in the wild, though. He has an inner ear problem. It affects his balance."
Pixie gave a little closed-mouth trill and leaned into Amari's touch.
"And now he's basically domesticated..."
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:48 pm
"So? Isn't it a human phrase 'Don't judge a book by it's cover?'" Amari shook her head. "When i was a kid, we heard stories about these monsters made entirely out of eyes. But they eat people."
She looked to Lori, then Pixie. "I'm glad you were able to save them in time," she said. "He's beautiful." She continued to stroke him.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:12 pm
"Panoptes? Beholders?" Lori asked, clearly thinking hard, "If it's anything Lovecraftian, it doesn't exist. Neither does Panoptes, for the record."
Pixie peeped and took flight, lopsided though it may be. he flailed in the air, caught a hold of Amari's hair, held on tight, and slowly shuffled to her shoulder.
"Ah, jeez--" Lori reached out to help, although more so for Pixie than for Amari.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:20 pm
"I don't know what they're called, but you've probably got it," Amari smiled at him. "It's really impressive, all the knowledge this place holds."
Amari moved her hand to help steady Pixie. "I think I've made a friend," she said.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:25 pm
"He's friends with everyone," Lori nodded. "Entities seems to know when they're saved, even when they're no smarter than a common iguana."
He picked Pixie up bodily, gently, and held him over his perch so his feet touched it. With a little scrabbling the dragon caught hold and settled down.
"Well. Do you want to meet the phoenix?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:53 pm
"Of course. Even the simplest minds feel gratitude," Amari said, and petted Pixie one more time. She'd really enjoyed seeing him. She looked to Lori. "I'd love to meet the Phoenix," she said.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 2:03 pm
Not many people had the identification needed to get into the Caves. it wasn't actually caves, of course, but the name had been applied and stuck. Even agents beneath a certain level couldn't go in. Lori, however, was more allowed than most. He had to do research, after all.
The elevator was an unassuming one at the back of HQ, beyond Research, with no light above the sole "down" button. Lori waved his ID badge over the sensor just above the panel and a little blue light came on. He hit the button.
"Don't get any ideas about making surprise trips down here," Lori warned, "You could be kicked-out and mind-erased before you even knew what was happening."
The elevator doors dinged open and Lori stepped inside.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 2:18 pm
So this place was definitely high security... Memory erasing technology really existed? The thought was enough to make her nod and swallow any comment she might've made.
She followed Lori in. "I don't want to do anything to jeopardize my chances here," she said. "It's all I've wanted to do."
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 2:23 pm
"It's alright. I mean, you'd have to steal somebody's card to get in anyway. You don't seem the type, but still. Being an entity you have a little more free reign because they have less to lose, but there's still some things..."
He trailed off, and hit the 3rd floor button.
When they arrived at the proper floor, the doors slid open and showed a plain concrete wall with another card reader and a metal door with no handles. Lori swiped his card and the door slid open, revealing... nothing? Nothing. It wasn't as if it were an empty room, or a wide open chasm that went through the building, or even a wall. It was, inexplicably, nothing.
"It can be a little unsettling your first go."
Lori walked two steps into the Nothing and disappeared as well.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 2:48 pm
No, she wasn't the type to steal someone's badge. That was definitely a good way to lose her job.
When they reached the sliding door, she paused. Nothing? A little unsettling? Yeeeesh. "Lori?" She asked, uncertainly. She followed after him quickly. It was probably some sort of illusion...
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 2:57 pm
Illusion it was, because midway through the second step you were outside again or, at least, it seemed as if you were. The sky was blue and the sun looked and felt natural. They were in a desert. Nearby stood a mountain with a cave in its side. There was not much greenery, only here and there, but the mountain exuded a fragrant aroma.
"Are you going to come say 'hello?'" Lori called up the mountain.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 3:03 pm
"How did you do this?" Amari asked, in wonder. They seemed to be outside, but they couldn't be. They were definitely underground. "Is this the phoenix's natural habitat?" Obviously man--no, entity made.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 3:11 pm
"Well, I don't do it," Lori said. His eyes remained on the hole in the mountain, "We have enchanters and witches and magicky types on-hand for things like this. It's pretty much a new habitat every time. You should have seen the dragon's cave."
Suddenly, from the cave in the mountain popped a ruddy-feathered head on a long neck. Beautiful plumage stood up on the phoenix's head, and when it saw who it was dealing with, it took a couple of steps (limping on one foot) and took to the air with a great caw.
Contrary to popular belief, phoenixes were not constantly on fire. They were if they were dying and they were if they wanted to kill you. That didn't mean that they weren't beautiful, however. With a long flowing tail of impossible fiery colors and subtle glimmering glow it was a gorgeous animal and, he'd admit, did look a bit like it was on fire.
It clearly was not, though, as it flew down toward Lori. He caught the bird in his arms and held it like a child. "Woop! There we go." he shifted the bird's weight (it was, after all, larger than a peacock) and bounced it a little. "He's got a wound under his left leg. Its not anywhere he can reach. Probably an arrow or something." He smiled to the bird, which was ticking its head around, looking at Lori and the new girl.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 3:32 pm
Enchanters and witches did this? The elf was fascinated, and looked around again. "So it changes for every creature?" She asked. They'd had a dragon in this same spot?
Her interest switched gears immediately, when the Phoenix emerged. Her eyes were wide. As Lori held it, she admired it. "Aren't you gorgeous..." She reached a hand to pet it. "I'm sorry you're hurting. I'm sure you'll be feeling better soon."
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 3:38 pm
"When we have to reuse a room, yeah. We haven't ever had to use them all at once, I don't think."
The phoenix shivered and flapped its wings slightly, but then leaned over do Amari could pet its head.
"Like Seamus. Definitely part person," he said. "Maybe almost all person."
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