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Chapter 163: Mages In the Woodwork

Geoff stopped at the corner by The Fairy's Kitchen and looked across the street at his school. Even though he had a large breakfast, the smell of food coming out of the café made him feel hungry again. He paid it no mind, as the crowd of adults near the gates was more important: paparazzi, police, and some unknown others. Faelen's murmured, "Mages," told him all he needed to know. These guys were also here for his pup. Well, maybe not all he needed to know; 'why' was kind of important. The trip to EPoD, maybe? That was supposed to be today at some point in the evening, but as far as he knew it was just going to be the four of them plus Jay and Mr. Doull. It had nothing to do with these Mages. The comic that came out? If there was an issue, that'd be up to the Agents.

Liam paid the crowd no mind and waited for the light to change; the traffic at this point was too thick for them to cross without it. "School day five has to be one of my least favourite; we share no classes before lunch, and it makes the morning drag on interminably." Faelen looked impassive when Geoff glanced over his shoulder toward his best friend, but Faelen's eyes rested longer on the Rottie than normal. Michelle Eiklenboom's friend was working in the cafe, today, and smiled at him through the large windows.

"Most school days drag," Geoff groused. "At least some of the subject matter is getting a little more interesting; it's still so easy I can learn it on my own, however." The light switched, and they crossed with a dozen other teens. "I don't think I could study it fast enough to learn _two_years of material in just one." Though if he had Liam's memory, it'd be no problem at all.

The Mages at the gate looked them over with open disdain, though some attempted to conceal it when they shifted their attention to Liam. It was a...patchwork result across the crowd. One of the more richly dressed, an Echidna, stepped forward with nose held high. "You, Rottweiler; you know Nathanial Marks." Faelen slipped in front of Geoff, flicking his ears in a warning signal. "Give this to him." The quilled Mage shoved a business card into Liam's face. "Now." The guy's attitude even made some of the passing students glare at him viciously or growl. Geoff felt an inexplicable desire to obey the Echidna, no matter what he asked.

Liam took the card with both paws and a reverent expression. He spoke with an odd Irish accent -- one Geoff thought might be the farcical 'working Irish' accent in older British shows, ones that never aired anymore because they were too politically incorrect. "Yes, sir. Right away, sir." Just as the other Mages started to crowd forward with their own cards, Liam scowled and tore it up. "Sod off, limey." He threw the fragments into the stunned Echidna's face, and several of them stuck between the quills. Lowell snarled, "If you barnacle-balled, baby-britched brat wants to beg for my favour, then you'd best act the part." Liam's actions caused a lot of mocking and raucous laughter amongst the student body. The spell broke -- it could only have been magic -- and Geoff no longer wanted to obey the Mage.

'Fecking rabble-rouser...but it was kind of funny.' Geoff could practically hear_the traces of admiration in his own thoughts, which annoyed him even more. Liam just caused that reaction in him, and the way the Rottie purposely tormented him for laughs made it worse, particularly when it was so funny when someone _else was Liam's target.

A different 'crat, a middle-aged Ring-Tailed Lemur, slipped around her compatriot. She curtsied before holding out a card. "If you please, would you pass this to Nathanial Marks?" She didn't quite mask an expression of arrogance, but it was passable, in Geoff's opinion. Her tone was certainly better.

Liam shallowly bowed. "Madam." He took it. "I'll make sure he gets it." He turned away, ignoring the cries of the Mages behind him. Geoff knew that wouldn't end the demands.

One of the more belligerent ones, a fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat, stepped in front of Liam. "How dare the likes of you--" Her contemptuous gaze ran over the full height, diminutive_height, of Liam. "--ignore our simple requests. Your whole _purpose is to obey us." She shoved her business card at him. "So, you can't just walk off without taking ours, too."

Liam grabbed her arm before it fully extended and pulled it towards him. She fell off balance, and he shoved her aside. "I do whatever I wish, and that wish does not involve catering to the whims of bigots."

Geoff jumped up beside Liam. "Don't push it." Faelen slid in front of Geoff again before he could even get going.

Another student joined them, blocking the Mages from Liam. "Yeah, we don't tolerate speciesism at this school! Canid-Canadians are just as valuable as Felids!" A surprisingly sizable portion of their schoolmates shouted their support.

Geoff glanced back in time to catch Liam arch an eyebrow in amused surprise. The Rottie half-shrugged and walked through the gates. "I suggest you lot leave before the police lose their last bit of patience." Geoff wasn't sure if the Mages could hear Liam over the shouting, but the Mages could probably easily see the cops moving in. Two of officers looked absolutely delighted to do so; they were probably Knights or something.

The commotion grew in intensity. Some of the Mages were insisting Liam be arrested for assaulting the Cat, the students insisting the 'strange adults' be arrested for hate crimes and interfering with their right to an education (that last one was a stretch in Geoff's mind), the paparazzi and media trying to record it all, which caused the police to go into further conniptions, and through it all, a very smug little Rottie strolling away.

Faelen, once more behind Geoff, quietly asked, "You aren't going to stop it?"

Liam shrugged. "Why should I? It is no longer of my concern. Any more physical force would be excessive, and non-physical force would leave me open to persecution from that lot."

From his posture, Geoff knew the real answer was that Liam found it hilarious to kick the hornet's nest and watch the chaos from a distance. 'Arsehole.' At least _he_wasn't the target of Liam's barbs this time. Glancing back with his head turned away from Liam to hide the smile that threatened to emerge, Geoff saw the cops shove two Mages into a cruiser, a student punch a Mage in the eye, and a paparazzo get knocked over when two other students began to scuffle -- probably the result of one of them being controlled by magic.

Agent Arrie suddenly shouted, "Stop this at once!" The three teens hastily entered the school. None of them wanted to deal with her today.

Once inside, Ahjeet hissed from his spot near a heater, "I hope you are pleased with yourselvess." The Cobra sat on his coiled tail in the warm corner, where he'd be safe from careless hindpaws. The reporter could still see and photograph the melee outside. Despite the hot air blowing over Ahjeet's scales, the Ophidian remained bundled up in a heavy parka, scarf, and toque.

Geoff jauntily saluted. "Yup, and good morning to you, too." He bumped fists with a few of his teammates who were in the entryway. "Hey." He was damned pleased to see almost everyone holding Wunderkind, Issue One, in their paws. He proudly proclaimed in his mind for the umpteenth time, 'My pup has his own comic! Take that Liam; Nathanial is just as good as you.'

Ahjeet's eye-slits narrowed as he focused on them. "Where is Nathanial?"

_'Still no greeting? How rude.'_Geoff looked around as if searching. "Not here." Some of his audience snickered; others frowned.

Ahjeet rose up to look down on them. "I ssee that. Will he be attending today? How iss he arriving? When?"

Liam huffed through his nose. "Ask Nathanial. We are not his guardians. Should you have any other questions, I shall answer them now: no comment."

Ahjeet's hood flared and his pupils narrowed further into barely visible slits. He ignored Liam and focused on Geoff. "Well?"

Geoff shrugged with a grin. "You heard him. Any questions on footy? We've had some matches, and there are more coming up. I can answer those for you."

Ahjeet exhaled with an audible hiss. "That iss for the ssportss reporter to assk. It'ss beneath me when there are ssuch large eventss going on." The Ophidian was really getting worked up; Liam had that effect on people. And speaking Liam, the Rottie continued his march toward their lockers.

Geoff suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm sorry if our sports teams' attempts at bringing glory to our school are 'beneath you,' as an oh-so-important member of a local high school rag. I won't waste more of your time." The Dark Elemental quickly followed Liam out of the entryway and into the halls.

They really tried to get through the halls quickly, but the press of people asking about Nathanial slowed them down. Even at his locker, the girls flirting with him, particularly Gertrude from the student council, Eleanor the Manx cellist, and Heather and the Hedgehog cellist (Liam must like the cello to have two cellists perform with him), spent as much time trying to engage him in conversation about his little Akita. At least Geoff got some biscuits out of it. Things were fairly loud until they were deep in the grade ten wing.

The hall outside Ms. Paul's classroom was quiet.'Almost too--' Geoff stopped himself from finishing that cliché thought and just slipped around the crowd by the door. Off to the left side, he saw Ahjeet coiled up defensively with his hood flared in fear, his muscles seized up tight, and his entire body still as a statue; the Snake had obviously not had the problems with crowding that they'd had. Nathanial stared the Ophidian down; his dark glasses hid his eyes, but Geoff could still feel the pressure. Ms. Paul and Jeff stood near the pup, but they had also recoiled. Geoff lightly bopped Ahjeet's shoulder, but got no response. "See? How could we know where he was? He got to homeroom ahead of us." He ignored the bronze sculpture the Snake had apparently become and waved his paw at Ms. Paul in greeting. "Faelen, Liam, and I are here, Ma'am. How are you today?"

The Lynx took a sudden breath and shook herself. "Ah." She cleared her throat. "I'm alright, thanks. You?" The tense atmosphere broken, people began to move about; notably, the crowd outside dispersed.

Ahjeet partially uncoiled, but Geoff could still tell he was...disturbed. What had Nathanial said? What had he done? "That...was an unexspected ansswer, Nathanial. A quote for the agess, perhapss. Now, who do you consider an enemy? Sstudentss? A teacher, or _former_teacher, given how he behaved at the...end? Quite 'animalistic,' yess?"

Nathanial radiated a fierce chill -- Geoff wasn't quite sure if his pup was actually dropping the temperature or not -- but Liam stepped in, cutting off the conversation before it could escalate, and held out a business card between his index and middle fingers to Nathanial. "Here. I have fulfilled my obligation. The card is delivered." Nathanial scratched his jaw with a claw as if Liam was using some chi... on the card perhaps? Testing it for magic traps? "Now, shall we sit, as homeroom is not long from beginning?" Liam glanced back over his shoulder at Ahjeet, pointedly.

Nathanial took the card and looked down at it. "Who is this?" Apparently the Mage in question wasn't one Nathanial had heard of.

Liam shrugged. "I neither know, nor care. She was less obnoxious than the rest, but still most unpleasant. My whole purpose, indeed."

Nathanial looked at the stiff paper rectangle again. "She didn't say...?" The Akita trailed off when he saw Liam's expression. "You don't care. Okay."

Jeff sidled up to Nathanial, a little too closely for Geoff's comfort. "What did you mean, your whole purpose, Smith? Was she just talking about you, because you're, um...?"

'A robot?' Geoff filled in the blank in his head with a laugh. 'How can that guy see so much, get so close to the truth, and still miss the mark by that far?'

Liam vaguely gestured with his paw in a way that possibly included the nearby Canids. "Just me? No, assuredly not. To be fair, that--" He pointed at the card. "--individual was not the one which spoke so disparagingly. It was a different..." He paused for effect and lathered on the scorn. "...lady." Liam could really emote well for someone who rarely added emotion to his words. The noises of indignation caused the faintest traces of a smirk to lurk around Liam's muzzle.

Ahjeet didn't quite glare at Liam for interrupting, but Ms. Paul cut him off when he went to ask another question. "Time for homeroom, Mr. Jhansi. You'll probably be late as it is." He did_glare at _her. She crossed her arms and stared him down for a few seconds. "Go."

Ahjeet dipped his head to her and, as he looked over Geoff's two shorter friends, flicked his tongue out a few times before slithering off without a word.

Nathanial stiffened up, and Geoff felt a tingle of magic ripple over his fur like a static charge. Nathanial suddenly said, "I'm going to get a drink."

Liam instantly chimed in. "I shall accompany you; I have something I wish to discuss privily."

Nathanial was about to retort but stopped when he looked at Liam's eyes. Geoff went to follow, but Faelen stopped him by putting his paw on Geoff's arm. "Jeff, did he sign that comic?"

"N--"

Betty shrilly called over the Lab from her desk. "Geoffrey!" At least, Geoff assumed it was him and not Jeff. "What was all that about? Did that bitch outside actually say that we should be slaves? And the runt didn't knock her teeth in?"

Ms. Paul frowned. "Language, Betty, and use your inside voice."

Geoff looked at Betty, then purposefully ignored the shrill shrew of a Pekinese and turned back to Jeff, who shook his head. "Why not? I thought he'd find it funny." They'd both found The Phoenix Monk manga hilarious.

"He was--"

"Geoffrey! I--!"

"Betty! Lower your voice or come in for detention! Last warning!"

Geoff rolled his eyes, waited for order to be restored, and motioned for Jeff to continue. "He needs to ask Agent Hugh if he's allowed."

Geoff froze. 'How in all the fecking hells does Jeff know about Hugh?!'

Jeff's face lit up. "You know him, too? How are you--? No, I guess if Faelen's brother has a suit of power armour, it makes sense. And I guessed, later, that the 'Hugh' you guys were referring to when I picked up the biwa from Nathanial's was actually Agent Hugh."

It looked like he might say more, but Ms. Paul shook her head and interrupted. "Mr. O'Conall is Faelen's father. He does look very young." A bit of subconscious primping showed 'young' wasn't the only thought she had toward Dirk's appearance.

The Lab seemed a little surprised, then thoughtful at Faelen's nod. Geoff could barely make out his mumbles. "I didn't really believe the rumours, but then he could be a clone. No, they don't look that similar. Stem cell reproduction? Maaybe, or the rumours could_be true, and _working. Using Wolves as test subjects for immortality vaccines. Shit. I've got to pass this on."

While Jeff was lost in his conspiratorial world, Geoff refocused across the room and answered Betty before she completely lost it. "That was the inference. Liam kept his temper, and no, he didn't hit her. Those people outright refused to look at Faelen and me, so I guess that shows where we fit in their hierarchy." Spirit versus Monk, Dark Elemental versus healer. Geoff could easily see the Mages' point of view on _that_call.

Jeff pulled his phone out, the same type Nathanial had, and was about to turn it on. Ms. Paul shook her head. "Jeff, the bell is a few seconds away from ringing. The forums can wait." 'Forums?' Nathanial and Liam came back in; the Akita was stony-faced but glasses-free, and Liam was impassive as always.

The bell rang.

"Class, take your seats. We have several announcements to go through before we begin the reports." Geoff felt he was the odd person out in class; he really didn't mind standing in front of class and taking two minutes to report on his weekend every Monday. Pure fluff, but important practice for public speaking. It was a sight better than the short lessons tossed into homeroom to fill the time before full classes began. Basic budgeting, rules of consent, etiquette for different scenarios, and so on. Nothing warranting a class, but stuff the school or province still wanted covered.

He ignored the teacher as he tried to catch Nathanial's attention. It worked. Nathanial's voice in his head 'sounded' rather peeved. *I peeked in on Nick. Sam was acting like he didn't try to kill Nick Friday. Nick's friends weren't buying it, either.*

*Nick can handle a single Fur, Nathanial.* Geoff could feel Nathanial getting ready to protest and forged on. *You need to relax as much as you can. Trust him, at least while he's at school, so you can focus on yourself. Liam warned you already today.* Nick and Nathanial had been at odds too much this weekend, and not just about Sam. Nick admitted he'd been going to the hells to train for two weeks and to look for Beriatana's literal seat of power; Geoff was glad he wasn't around to witness _that_revelation.

*It's not about 'handling,' Geoff! It's that that bastard doesn't seem to have the faintest clue of what a conscience is! How can you nearly kill someone and act like best friends a day later?*

*With his soul nearly being turned into charcoal in the time in between? Uh, not that hard. Does he even remember anything?*

Nathanial smiled diabolically. *He remembers enough.* Gods, that sounded terrifying.

Ms. Paul frowned at them. "Pay attention, you two. Now, first up this week, Helika Leutzinger." The large St. Bernard, and former Knight's daughter, walked to the front of her class to give her report.

After school, Geoff led his friends, minus Nathanial, out of school en route to Nathanial's. They were stopped at the gates by a crowd of paparazzi and Mages. A throng of microphones, smart phones, and small audio recorders were thrust into their faces, along with shouted queries about Nathanial.

Liam smoothly interposed himself between Geoff and the paparazzi, holding up a paw for silence. "It has already been made clear that parental consent is required before recording any student of Dalhousie Collegiate. Principal Davis has denied access to reporters, and that includes access to minors entering or leaving school premises. My father has also expressly denied permission for anyone to record me -- and recording includes audio, not just visual." Liam gestured behind him. "Identical denial has been clearly presented for these two. You are opening yourselves up for legal action."

Geoff smothered a large grin at the shocked, uncertain expressions facing him. The grin faded when a familiar Norwegian Forest Cat pushed through the paparazzi. She held a card out to Liam. "Deliver this." Geoff felt compelled to obey, but this time he managed to force the feeling aside.

Liam took the card and calmly tore it up in front of her. She seemed very surprised by that. "I am under no obligation to cater to your whims." He looked over at the police. "This is harassment. You--" He gestured at one of them. "--witnessed the events this morning, including her speciesist comments. Kindly remove her."

A female Grey Fox student, perhaps a grade twelve one, had been trying to leave when she heard Liam. "She's the one that said we're slaves?" The surrounding teens became restive at that, and stopped trying to work through the throng of Mages and paparazzi. The paparazzi edged away cautiously while still trying to unobtrusively record the events. Geoff heard a more distant officer quietly call in requesting back-up. He also saw the faint traces of a malicious smile on Liam's muzzle.

The Cat turned to Geoff, the first time any of the Mages acknowledged the Spirits in any way, and spat, "Get him to smarten up or..."

She trailed off on her threat, but Geoff knew it spoke ill for the local Clan. He felt himself swell with anger, but managed to keep control, though he involuntarily took a half step forward. "Or what?"

The closest police officer stopped trying to politely get through the crowd and began shoving people aside. The Vixen looked over at Geoff, his clenched paws and tight jaw, before turning back and slapping the woman across the muzzle. "Just because a guy can't hit you without getting into trouble doesn't mean _I_can't, you fucking skank!" The Mage held a paw over her cheek in shock. "I won't put up with your speciesism! We've been kept at the fringes for too long! We demand our fair place in society!"

Liam quietly stepped back, murmuring to Geoff and Faelen, "That would be our cue." He trotted along the inside of the school wall to get away from the gate. "Up we go." He jumped, pushed up along the wall with his right hindpaw, and caught the top with his left. He stood at the top and looked down.

Geoff shook his head, looking back at the silent Wolf behind him. "You first?"

Faelen shook his head. "I'll cover the back. Liam can protect you up there." Like Geoff needed Liam's protection. "Your pack, sir?"

Geoff passed over his backpack. "Not sir." He mimicked Liam's actions, finding himself on top of the fence, as well. "Toss them up." Faelen threw the bags to Liam, and Geoff squatted down to give Faelen a paw. The bulkier Spirit took it and easily scaled the brick wall. Their actions were noticed, of course, but the paparazzi, Mages, police, and faculty were occupied with the melee at the gates. He calmly waved at Mr. Drake, who stood at the office window; the Hyena's car occupied a spot close by, and Geoff allowed himself a moment to appreciate the sight of his pup's handiwork. All the holes had been smoothly filled in with extra steel, the engine -- hidden at the moment -- replaced and fixed to mint condition, and even the paint redone. Gods, what a beautiful car. The moment over, Geoff followed Liam down the wall towards the street lights. "Did anyone ever tell you you're a damned shit-disturber?"

Liam's ears twitched. "Once or twice. Or thousands of times. I never cared to count, and never paid it any mind. Granted, if you ask for that exact phrasing, I would say you would be the only one, English being a rare language for me."

Geoff didn't answer, merely rolling his eyes at Liam's back, as they continued on toward Nathanial's.

Another crowd stood at the gates by Nathanial's house, one thick enough that he couldn't see more than glimpses of those next to the wall or at the gates. The police had left, passing Geoff and company very early on in their run with their lights and sirens going to reinforce the ones at the school, but the paparazzi were there, accompanied by several Mages. The 'crats, er, Mages must have arrived very recently, because Geoff heard an elderly woman -- based on her voice -- talking to someone. "Could you please give this card to Nathanial?"

Micah's piping voice pierced through the quiet conversations. "Sure! Um, but why do you want to talk to him? He's not in the mood for company; we have lots of stuff to deal with. It might take him a bit to get back to you."

"It's a rather time sensitive matter. I have a business proposition that needs to be resolved before he leaves this evening." A chorus of voices rose up, saying much the same thing.

Geoff could imagine Micah dramatically put a paw on his forehead and sighing. "Put the cards in the mailbox, and I'll bring them in when I go. I'm busy right now."

The granny took on the polite old-person tone they used when talking to children. "I can see. It is pressing, so the sooner the better, but may I ask what you're doing with such a pretty rope?"

Micah sounded equally patronizing. "It's a vine." The tone switched to his usual exuberant one. "I'm starting construction on my Super Micah Wonderland Adventure Hallow-Samhain-Candy Day Park! This is the warning rope and advertising thingy! See?"

"What pretty flowers! Where did you get them from?" She politely ignored Micah's inconsistency.

"I grew 'em! I've been planning this forever! You'll come see it, yeah?"

"Oh? I'd love to get some seeds, or a cutting, if possible. I grow orchids, myself, and I've never seen blossoms like these before. It doesn't look like you painted the letters, though, and what exquisite paw-writing."

A very pleased Micah chirped, "Nope! Dye. Paint could hurt the flowers. I saw some of Sensei's calligraphy, and it's so pretty that I asked Granddad to help me learn."

The granny-Mage sounded a little stunned. "Wallace? He has tidy writing, to be sure, but calligraphy? I can't see that at all." Faelen and Liam exchanged glances. How did this Mage know a Demon Mage like Wallace Marks?

"No, no, no. Not Poppy. Granddad. Poppy never taught me nothing. Anything." Suddenly, Micah shouted loudly. "Hey! You can't just pop in here like that! This is a construction zone!" The pup's voice became fainter as he obviously dashed off somewhere. "You need a hard hat, and, and to not trespass! Out!" It was a good thing Nathanial was already home. It'd be _guaranteed_that he'd be watching everything closely around Micah.

By this point, Liam was within arm's reach of the outermost paparazzi. "Pardon us." The guy stepped aside. He seemed a little surprised by something, perhaps by Micah or by who was asking him to move. The paparazzi began asking a barrage of questions, to the point Geoff couldn't understand anything. Liam ignored them.

Suddenly, a person cried out in pain right beside Geoff. He jumped back and looked over; Faelen had grabbed a paparazzo by the wrist, apparently very tightly. The Dog had a shiny device in his paw. Faelen let the Dog's arm go. "Sorry. It looked like a knife."

The paparazzo rubbed his arm and glared at Faelen. "Damn, who do you think you are? His bodyguard?"

"Yes, but I'd like to think any mate would stop someone from stabbing their friends." Faelen nudged Geoff, likely trying to get him to keep moving. Geoff complied. "And no recording. Our parents refused to give permission, so it's illegal."

The stone wall ended with at an ornate abutment with a wrought iron lamp on top, and the bi-parting gates matched the English filigree design of the lamps. Liam stopped by the intercom which buzzed twice at him. The Rottie rolled his eyes. "You know who it is, so if you would please open the gate without fuss." It buzzed twice again. Nathanial wanted to get Liam to say the 'passcode.' Liam glared murderously at the panel. "I refuse." Another pair of buzzes, followed by a heavy sigh. "This is utterly ridiculous... 'In brightest day, in blackest night.' Happy?"

The gate farthest from them swung open. The close one had a thick vine partially woven through the bars. It was about as thick as Micah's wrist, brilliant green, with tendrils winding around it ending in large, spade-shaped leaves. Dangling from some of these leaf stalks were rows of flowers with letters dyed on them in ornate but legible calligraphy: 'Construction,' 'Danger,' Micah's,' 'Wonderland,' 'Adventure,' 'Opening,' 'Soon,' 'Danger,' 'Construction.' The flowers were all brilliantly coloured -- the 'danger' flowers were bright red on the outside and orange inside, for example -- and formed perfect bell shapes. They also smelt like apple pie, or something.

Faelen chuckled as he walked in the gate behind a bristling Liam and amused Geoff. "It seems Micah put some essential oils on the flowers to make them smell like cinnamon and other spices." Glancing back, Geoff noticed an 'oh!' expression on several of the paparazzi's faces. The Mages' expressions were more of a 'bullshit' one, coupled with a bit of animosity directed at them.

On either side of the gates, Geoff saw large white sheets, twine, bamboo with their root balls wrapped in an obvious Fey-made material, and a shovel. The white sheets lay folded at the edge of the paved drive close to the interior intercom and gate panel -- about five metres away from the wall. Micah had a few balls of twine in a metal pail next to those, and the bamboo arrayed on the far side of the drive. Oh, and five...hardhats? Hats that were possibly made from gigantic acorns and decorated for each person. Micah had laid them out on the white sheets, next an unerected sign depicting a Fur wearing a hat with a brick falling towards his head, with the required 'falling' lines behind the brick, of course. Big block letters above the drawing declared, "Construction Zone," and, "Hard Hats Required!" beneath the picture. Way off in the distance, Micah dodged between a few trees lining the circular drive toward the front stoop, where a Dik-Dik, a type of Antelope with small horns, looked around in confusion. Given her unfamiliarity with the property, she likely teleported in.

Liam grimaced as he held up a hat with large, red wings on each side, looking much like Hermes' fabled magical helm. "I assume this...hat is mine." With reluctance he plopped it on his head. "What I put up with on some days." Liam's eyes held a bit of animosity when he glanced after Micah, hopefully due to the trespasser beyond the pup. Geoff wasn't particularly worried, since Nathanial would be able to stop her if she tried anything.

Faelen took one with fluffed out cotton fastened around the base. Fog clouds, presumably.

Geoff took his: a black acorn with a silver crown painted around its bottom edge. He guessed out loud, "Prince of darkness?" He put it on, smiling. Faelen was still examining his. "Hurry up, fog-brain; this is a construction zone."

Faelen bowed. "Yes, sire, as you wish." Left behind were two others, one decorated with Nick's flames, and the other with tear drops... Presumably for Garret?

As for the incidence at the house, the lady saw Micah running toward her and waited. She looked very out of place with a brightly patterned, loose, full length dress -- Geoff had seen similar patterns on the news when there were live reports from Africa -- a matching head-scarf, and a wrap with a different pattern and contrasting colours. Micah hadn't really stopped berating her the whole time. "You gots to follow the rules, you know. Go stand in line; no butting. Wear your hat in construction zones. And don't forget to brush your teeth after meals. Now, scoot!" The fiercely fluffed Changeling held out an undecorated hat as he jumped onto the landing, and pointed to the gate with his other paw.

The Dik-Dik spoke with a heavy African accent -- Geoff couldn't place it beyond that -- and pulled her wrap more tightly around her to ward of the chill; at least Geoff assumed she was cold as her clothes didn't suit the weather. "I am just here to speak with Nathanial Marks. I am at the correct house, yes?"

Micah nodded. "Yeah, but everyone out there is here for him, too."

Geoff was halfway to the door, now, and could just hear the lady when she dropped her voice. "I hear he's going to the Plane of Darkness this evening. I travelled all the way from Kenya to ask to join him; I have studied the Planes my whole life and dreamed of a chance to see Darkness with my own eyes."

Micah wavered. "I'm sorry, but half of the people outside are Mages that came here for the same reason."

Liam spoke up. "I shall take your business card--" Liam ignored the shock on her face when she saw his hat; Geoff did his best to smother his laughter. "--if you have one, but I cannot promise anything. Nathanial is working on the protections necessary to allow others to travel there safely, and his passengers are those specializing in magic analysis and theory, such as Councillor Emeritus Doull. This will not be large expedition, and unlikely to include anyone he does not know and trust. I can almost guarantee that the trips centred on planar research shall be organised through Councillor Doull, as he is more knowledgeable on such matters."

Micah nodded emphatically as he beamed up at the Mage. "Yup! And see, they're wearing their hats! I made them myself." The pup was impervious to Liam's obvious annoyance.

Faelen rapped the nut on Geoff's head with his knuckles. "Very sturdy."

"Yeah, yeah!"

Passing over a card, the Dik-Dik said, "My name is Zawati Ethuro. I will rely on you in this matter, and petition Councillor Doull for a place in the future. Thank you for your attention."

She nodded to Micah and Liam, but Faelen spoke up before she could teleport away. "How did you hear about his trip? It should've been kept confidential."

Zawati hesitated, whether due to the question or_what_ asked it, before quietly saying, "The news travelled quickly and was based on a leaked report filed by someone in the either your local Magical Law Enforcement Department, or Department of Heretical Magic. There was some sort of incident when Nathanial Marks tampered with a scrying field? The _date_spread after an Agent Jay filed for time off for this evening."

Faelen nodded. "Thanks." She tipped her head and vanished.

Micah scowled. "She never put on her hat." He was still holding it, in fact. Zawati had blithely ignored it the whole time. Micah stomped away. Geoff smiled and shook his head while opening the front door. Off to kung fu, and then to the Plane of Darkness.