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Here is a bar. At it is a girl, late teens - ? - dressed in wide bands of black silk tied ragged edge to ragged edge in a neat pattern. There's a small owl on her shoulder and a stack of napkins at her elbow and she's nursing a cup of something steaming and spicy.
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dark_light
Isabella has a couple more questions about the kinetic ring, which she winds up wearing so Path doesn't have to awkwardly clutch it; and then it seems like their useful trade has exhausted itself, and as Harry and Livingstone are about to go -
"Uh, awkward thing to mention but you're not going to pick it up anywhere else -"
"Uh, awkward thing to mention but you're not going to pick it up anywhere else -"
dark_light
Isabella winces and does not look directly at them, but says, "For most people this never comes up but one hears that daemon-touching is not inherently negative in situations of truly exceptional, ah, trust and intimacy."
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
"I'll take it under advisement," Livingstone promises.
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
It has been a few years. David Aleister Livingstone Dresden is an officially recognized citizen of the United States, having mysteriously lost his documentation in the fire that completely consumed the home and body of the man who kidnapped him from his family as an infant, leaving him with a crippling phobia of physical contact and an attachment to his newfound identical twin brother, who puts up with him admirably.
Their closest friends know the truth. David being Harry's soul split off into another form, a vast black wolf (which form he does still sometimes occupy), and which learned to become human by mysterious arcane means. Karrin is moderately creeped out, Michael was initially wary but has warmed to David over time, and Thomas has had two years to stop giggling but shows no intention to do so.
Currently, David is lounging around the office in case a client elects to drop by. In light of last night's catastrophe, Harry himself is in no position to man the barricades, but David always has had more of a work ethic. Which is to say, any.
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
"Door's open," he calls from the desk chair. (He's working on a rubber-band ball.)
make_opportunity
The door opens and here is the veritable twin of Isabella Amariah, Witch. Sans owl. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt and sunglasses and enough magic bangles to clink.
"Afternoon, Mr. Dresden."
"Afternoon, Mr. Dresden."
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
The rubber band ball is placed gently on the desk.
"Lovely to meet you. And you are..."
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
"Dresden. David, specifically. The handsome one."
make_opportunity
"Rats, I was hoping for Harry - nothing personal, I'm just looking for something he'd have been the last person to see."
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
"Mm. Generally we don't keep much from each other - what would it be that you're looking for?"
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
"I'm not sure I can help you there. What would you need a... talking skull... for, exactly?"
make_opportunity
"I have a research project, the skull would be an enormously helpful shortcut, and it's... less likely to be busy with other matters than the Archive."
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
"Ah, a specific talking skull. What exactly leads you to believe my brother would have seen this artifact?"
make_opportunity
"It was last seen in the possession of that unpleasant fellow he killed years back and hasn't been accounted for since."
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
David pinches the bridge of his nose.
"The unpleasant fellow whose house and possessions were then entirely destroyed by a dedicated team of Wardens. I'll tell you what, shall I ask him about it when I get home? If you leave your number, I can get back to you as soon as I have any information."
make_opportunity
"Thank you." She takes two of the business cards, one for her number to give to David (there's a local hotel landline and an office number and two home numbers) and one to pocket so as to pester Dresdens later if nothing is forthcoming.
the-nightmare-of-my-choice
Wonderful.
David returns home and inflicts upon a profoundly depressed Harry the news that some bizarre alternate-universe clone of Isabella Amariah has come around looking for Bob, and that this should probably be a family talk.
Harry votes, somewhat frantically, that Bob should be protected, because he's not losing another loved one this damned week.
David votes that obviously caution should be taken, but Isabella Amariah was an excellent person as far as any of them could tell, and Bob is a very useful resource, and if this girl is trying to save the world then it seems somewhat their job to assist her.
Bob votes that he would really rather not be voted over, and can't he just ride along in David's skull while he asks this girl what she wants with the artifact? That seems like a reasonable middle ground. David with Bob possessing him is not going to be taken down by some White Council stooge.
It is agreed, by David and Bob, that this plan will be carried out. Harry looks distraught, but accepts that Bob is a grown intellect spirit and can make his own decisions, and goes back to his bedroom to continue being depressed.
The next day, David goes back to the office and calls... Bella... to tell her that he does have some information but would rather she come back in person.
David returns home and inflicts upon a profoundly depressed Harry the news that some bizarre alternate-universe clone of Isabella Amariah has come around looking for Bob, and that this should probably be a family talk.
Harry votes, somewhat frantically, that Bob should be protected, because he's not losing another loved one this damned week.
David votes that obviously caution should be taken, but Isabella Amariah was an excellent person as far as any of them could tell, and Bob is a very useful resource, and if this girl is trying to save the world then it seems somewhat their job to assist her.
Bob votes that he would really rather not be voted over, and can't he just ride along in David's skull while he asks this girl what she wants with the artifact? That seems like a reasonable middle ground. David with Bob possessing him is not going to be taken down by some White Council stooge.
It is agreed, by David and Bob, that this plan will be carried out. Harry looks distraught, but accepts that Bob is a grown intellect spirit and can make his own decisions, and goes back to his bedroom to continue being depressed.
The next day, David goes back to the office and calls... Bella... to tell her that he does have some information but would rather she come back in person.