Post by Liessel on Apr 11, 2024 9:12:42 GMT -5
Flynn and Flynn, to outward appearances, was seemingly dark and desolate... But from upstairs, light could be seen from the parlor. A fire light, if the flickering of flames was anything to judge by. There was a mat outside the door came up from the alleyway-- though it did not say WELCOME. They all knew better than that. Upstairs, Eli kept an ear out for the bell ringing when the door was opened. Or a knock at the door.
She was expected. Liessel had called ahead of her arrival and told Eli that she was on her way. He'd be waiting for her by the time she got there, she knew, and in short order she was opening that door that led in from the side alley. The little porch there was almost hidden by the side of the building it belonged to and the one next to it. It couldn't be seen at all from particular angles out there on the front walk.
Liessel let herself in, the bell above the door jangling happily as she opened it and then closed it again. She'd come wearing light blue and white, with her hair swept back into one of her favored braids. In very short order, as she stepped away from the closed door and moved toward the stairs, those upstairs would hear her say, "It's just me!" even as she started her climb.
"Up in the parlor!" he called back. She'd come up the stairs to find Eli bent over a few books in the floor. He sat indian style-- feet and legs folded, feet bare against the carpet of the room. Four books were spread out in front of him, though he had a notebook tucked under one elbow. He had a pencil in one hand, one book across his other knee, his hair was down, pooled around his face as he studied the book and made hasty notes.
Within the span of a few minutes, Liessel's shadow would be passing the edge of the hallway that led farther back into the flat, and then she'd be appearing in the doorway of the Flynn's sitting room. A momentary look was all she took before stepping in and heading toward the chair that was usually occupied by Felix Flynn, "You look like you've been busy, Mister Whitmoor."
Eli was only looking up as she was taking a seat. He reached up, tucking his his hair behind his ears, and then focused entirely on her. "I'm not too pleased with the lack of information I'm finding." he told her.
Liessel perched herself on the edge of the seat, turned his way, "What have you found? I wasn't able to get much of anything from Lady Ashbroom, myself. I received some warnings, but nothing more than that -- and they were not in regard to 'magpies' specifically, but more geared towards helping Mister Larrow with this instead."
He tucked his pencil behind his ear. "Well, it is my general understanding that glass is a material of transition... Like water is? You can see through it. Bend things around it. Warp it to your needs if you have the right know how. It also has grounding properties. Why else use glass jars to hold magical components? Not always, but you see what I mean, hopefully? I read a book here a little while ago about how a glass bottle can symbolize the womb. Like for a birthing. a transition from one state to another, though not necessarily bad or good."
"That is interesting," Liessel said, giving Eli a small nod. She brought her hands out and clasped them together, her elbows against her knees while she leaned, just a little bit, toward where Eli was sitting, "Lady Ashbroom said that Adam is in turmoil. That he faces 'absolute change' because of taking on the pearl."
He nodded. "Goes hand in hand with what I found out about magpies, then, too... Depending on the culture, they are seen as either good or bad omens. They're associated to various magic users-- primarily witches in these books-- but also different means of foretelling. divination, prophecy, what have you... What those two things could possibly mean together in reference to a person I don't know or have no knowledge of their artifact? I couldn't begin to speculate other than 'absolute change' sounds weirdly accurate."
She felt herself frown a little bit as she considered, "If it is a portent specifically for Mister Larrow, then what of the message: The ground falls away under that glass and that bird, and from under other bottles and birds?"
He shook his head. "Maybe he is not the only one enduring this absolute change. Or maybe the fall triggers it. It's too hard to say, honestly."
Her head turned and she found herself eyeing the closed doors to Felix's workroom. If he were with them, he'd likely have a thread to follow, some supposition that would have been struck by some magnitude of genius insight.
She took a breath, and let it settle before looking back Eli's way, "He said that, when he saw it, it felt as if he were the bird in the bottle, he could see it and feel it testing its strength against the glass, feeling the bird struggle to spread its wings -- as if it were his heart beating wildly for all the fight it had in it to get free."
Liessel drew herself back until her hands rested where her elbows had been, "Maybe it was just the pearl trying to tell him not to fight it so hard," There her thoughtful frown deepened, "I was told to be careful with symbols removed from those who hold them. We could be putting meaning to this that does not exist. If it truly isn't the girl, Eli, and is -- in fact -- Mister Larrow, then we might just have to let him figure this out on his own."
Eli focused on her face as she spoke. He tilted his head slightly to the side, taking it all in. He watched her micro expressions, he watched her body language. "Well, I hope he knows we're here for him in whatever capacity we can help with," he said softly.
"He does," Liessel said, giving Eli a very small nod while curling her fingers down against her knees, "He should be calling soon with news regarding the family of his lost girl. I asked him to set up a meeting for us so we can speak with them ourselves."
He nodded. "That's a good place to start," he said, nodding. He snapped the book in his lap shut. "I don't like the idea of walking into this blind. So, anything and everything will help... But I'm not sure how far symbolism with a vision that may or may not be Mister Larrow will help us much. I think we need to rely on the here and now to move forward."
"I had only been hoping to get information on the vision to help him out. Missus White offered him so very little when he tried to get her help, and he seemed so -- troubled. As for the girl, there was apparently an argument between her grandmother and her prior to her disappearance. We are going to need to be careful in our approach, gentle."
"In what way? Is the grandmother a suspect in her granddaughter's disappearance? Or is it that its a sensitive subject and must be handled carefully?"
"I do not think she is a suspect at all. With the way that Mister Larrow spoke, I am leaning more toward it being a sensitive subject. These people have lost their granddaughter, and it is believed that she is stuck in Faerie. A missing person, on its own, is a scary enough thing."
He nodded. His eyes were distant as he looked out the nearest window. "How much are the grandparents… in the know?"
"That, I do not know." Liessel said on the back of her next breath, "I did not get many details regarding the grandparents beyond that the grandmother is wracked with guilt and blames herself for Miss Hodgkins' current whereabouts. We can ask him when he calls for clarification on that. I can tell you that they are an upper-class family, however. Their address, he said, is in Kensington."
"Is it the grandparents who suspect she's lost in Faerie or Mister Larrow?" was the next question.
"Mister Larrow believes it is so. He is certain of it. He told me that when the grandparents of Miss Hodgkins came to him for a reading, beyond any doubt he knew the girl was in Faerie. He couldn't say how he knew, only that it is what he knew once he started reading for them. He has some friends of his from The Bells searching for her already but has yet to hear back from them on their progress."
He nodded again. "Alright." He moved to stand up from his spot on the floor. "Let me put these books away and get dressed. Then we can go or move forward or whatever comes next."
"There is no rush," She told Eli with a small shake of her head, "We need to hear from him before we can go forward with any bit of this. I know I told you earlier that I wanted to go to The Fens before I return to Missus White, but I think -- after having gotten some rest -- that I have changed my mind on that. I think we need to speak with the grandparents first before going to The Fens and trying to contact Captain Singh. That way, whatever information we get we can pass along if we figure out how to reach him."
He stooped to pick up the four books that were on the floor. He nodded to her as he moved to the bookshelves to put them away one by one. "Are you wanting to go to Kensington to see them in person?" he asked.
"Yes," A small nod was sent Eli's way, "Adam said that they had come to him while we were away dealing with the situation in Harroway, and it's been days since then. I think seeing them in person, giving them faces to see and voices to hear, will help smooth over what might have become a -- sour -- experience for them with having had to wait so long for any indication that work was being done."
He nodded. "Makes perfect sense. Though-- I'm sure they'll wonder if two fresh faced youngsters like us know what we're doing," he said softly, smiling slightly.
Liessel straightened herself up, settling her shoulders while giving Eli a stiff nod, "We will just tell them, if it comes into question, that we are ambassadors for a bigger group of people who are interested in helping them find their missing granddaughter."
He glanced at her just in time to see that stiff nod. He gave her a small smile. "Sorry, it's just something that is always on the forefront of my mind... My youth is always a factor against me. As I'm sure it has been for you at least a time or two." He finished putting the books away. "Do you have an address for them?"
"Youth," The former priestess said with a small smile, "Can be limiting. It lacks experience, and wisdom, but youth can often times be more flexible because it is newer and not so driven by the same experience that it lacks. I think as long as we approach this professionally and treat them with kindness and show them that we genuinely care about their situation, our youth will be overlooked. Especially if we can find a way to bring them results. As for the address, no. I asked Adam to see if they would agree to a meeting first to test the waters, so to speak. If they agree and accept warmly, then we will go and meet them. If it is not so warm a reception, then we see what kind of recompense can be offered for the inconvenience of having to wait for us."
He nodded. "Alright, let me go get dressed again while we wait for Mister Larrow's call."
"Take your time, Mister Whitmoor." Liessel offered, her smile still small but warm all the same.