escablaize

[21:13] <~CelestialDoggie> Cruising along at average rooftop level, Blaize can definitely tell when she passes from one ward of the city to another. Not that the sections immediately north of the palace were all that poor-looking, but...as soon as she passes a broad thoroughfare it's like the architecture and gaudiness takes on a whole new level.
[21:13] <~CelestialDoggie> The signage on the storefronts take on extra painted colors and are lacquered against the elements. Names are more extravagant and haughty. The buildings are spaced farther apart, giving room for manicured lawns and well-tended gardens. She can even spot a whole park a few blocks away from her current position.
[21:13] <~CelestialDoggie> Nothing seems to approach the friendly warmth of the smithy from the southern section of the city, unfortunately, but there are larger, single-use buildings whose names suggest entertainment venues of various types.
[21:17] * Blaize floats down to ground level so get a better look at them from levels they are designed to be looked at.
[21:20] <~CelestialDoggie> She has to dodge and weave among the people on the streets, as while they don't go out of their way to collide with her, she IS a small target among a throng of bustling bigger people.
[21:22] * Blaize floats up to head height, which also helps any halflings and gnomes pass under her. This is why she wears pants rather than skirts.
[21:25] <~CelestialDoggie> The buildings are generally closed in front, though people enter and leave once in a while, so all are currently open to the public. Three of the larger venues lay claim as dance halls, three others as Blaize wanders proclaim themselves musical performance centers. There are a number of small specialty shops, most comprised of clothiers, haberdashers, jewellers, and the like.
[21:25] <~CelestialDoggie> Here and there a storefront advertises magical services, such as potions, magical husbandry, or the occasional casting clinic.
[21:27] * Blaize looks about for anything interesting. Paying particular interest to the magic stores and the dance halls. She likes dancing. She was taught by a Salamander!
[21:28] <Blaize> After all, she SHOULD probebly find some way to get home...but dance halls also look fun.
[21:37] <~CelestialDoggie> Some of the magic stores near her current location are busy, packed to bursting with clients and customers. Others look abandoned...until she notices placards hung in windows indicating the owner is either out "adventuring" or, more probably, getting lunch.
[21:37] <~CelestialDoggie> The nearest dance hall is named Balathnezzer's Ballet and Tap Temptresses, with an artistic rendering of a pair of silk slippers and their straps twined together under the name on the sign.
[21:39] <Blaize> Blaize frowns...and pulls a gold piece out of her pocket. Heads she goes into one of the magic stores. Tails, she'll go dancing.
[21:43] * Blaize looks at the result...and pouts. But dancing is fun...she sighs and heads for the magic store.
[21:47] <~CelestialDoggie> The first magic shop she enters is full of people wandering the handful of aisles. Shelves lined with trinkets and other knickknacks make up most of the goods in the front, with about half of them gone, most of the people present having them in hand or in little shopping baskets.
[21:47] <~CelestialDoggie> The shelves are labeled--"protection from colds," "anti-mouse periapts," and "fish scale traps" are easily visible from Blaize's perspective. Not being particularly versed in magic on this plane, they all sound pretty legitimate to her.
[21:50] <Blaize> "Hello?!" She looks about for any people actually working there.
[21:51] <~CelestialDoggie> The only person seemingly actively selling is wrapping up business with a rotund human man at a counter toward the back of the shop.
[21:51] <~CelestialDoggie> Close by to him are potions in vials that glow softly in muted colors, from pearlescent whites to blues and greens and even a few ruby red hues.
[21:51] * Blaize floats up towards him. "Hello!"
[21:52] <~CelestialDoggie> As well, there are shelves behind him that contain necklaces priced higher and more guarded than the other equipment in the store.
[21:56] <~CelestialDoggie> The wizard in question is a tiefling, male, and of middling age, if the lines on his face are of any indication. He is cheery and well-mannered with the clientele, and blinks as Blaize approaches in midair.
[21:56] <~CelestialDoggie> "Why, what have we here?" he says, in a voice accustomed to laughing. He picks up a lens hanging from a chain around his neck and places it in front of one eye, scanning Blaize. "A mephit. Why, I haven't seen one of you since my college days. Do you have a..."
[21:56] <~CelestialDoggie> He squints through the lens, and brightens somehow even more. "Ah, you *have* no master! Splendid, splendid. What can Marigast the Magnificent do for you today?"
[21:57] <Blaize> "No, I don't have a master! I'm Blaize, I'm a Fire Mephit and I'm looking for magic stuff!"
[21:58] <~CelestialDoggie> "Well, you've come to the right place, Miss Blaize," he says, allowing the crystal to drop. "What sort of, ehm, 'magic stuff' are you seeking?"
[21:59] <Blaize> "I kinda got lost and ended up here. I'm looking for where I can find a metaplanar portal."
[22:01] <~CelestialDoggie> Marigast, presumably, blinks, then chuckles. "Not looking for the easy rituals, are you? I'm afraid portals and planar mechanics are outside my realm of expertise, and I am one of the top mages in the city, you know." He hooks his thumbs in his robe, puffing out his chest, and someone in the shop snorts. He ignores it.
[22:04] <Blaize> "Oh? Really? Well...rain..." That sounds like a dirty word from her. "...that's a pity. Because it's not really easy to get home as best I've worked out."
[22:07] <~CelestialDoggie> He nods in sympathy. "I do wish I could be of more assistance, but unfortunately my expertise lies in protective and restorative magics. Perhaps the more...theoretical"--it's his turn to make the word sound like an intended insult--"wizards at the universities might be of aid."
[22:08] <Blaize> "Oh? You think so?" She nods "...what sort of magic do you have here?"
[22:16] <~CelestialDoggie> "Mostly protective things, as I said. Amulets, necklaces, charms, that sort of thing. Most of them are labeled by function or protection."
[22:16] * Blaize nods "That's really cool!"
[22:21] <~CelestialDoggie> He grins, obviously pleased by her enthusiasm. "Isn't it just? And I am pleased to report a list of fully satisfied customers, as well."
[22:24] <Blaize> "That's great! I'll have to be back soon then! I'm an aventurer while I try and find my way back!"
[22:24] <~CelestialDoggie> His eyebrows raise in a gesture of interest. "Oh really? How is that working out for you so far?"
[22:25] <Blaize> "Pretty good so far. I kicked dead guys in the face. Less people get angry than if I kick living people in the face!"
[22:32] <~CelestialDoggie> It takes him a second to parse what she's saying, but he chuckles a bit when it clicks. "Yes, I could see that."
[22:33] <Blaize> 'Anyway...you said you've heard of people who might know where I can find an extraplanar portal?"
[22:37] <~CelestialDoggie> "Well, I said to check the universities and colleges, yes. There are several in the city, and others scattered across the land, such as Morgrave, in Sharn."
[22:38] * Blaize nods. "Thanks a lot!" She smiles brilliantly at him.
[22:40] <~CelestialDoggie> He grins in return. "Of course. A-and do remember! Marigast the Magnificent, at your service!"
[22:41] <Blaize> "Thank you!" She float out towards the outside. To the Univercities...or maybe dancing. That's also fun.
[22:41] <~CelestialDoggie> While there are one or two campuses fairly close by, the dance hall is right across the street in comparison.
[22:43] * Blaize pouts at the dancehall. It's RIGHT there...but she really should keep to what she intended to...but it's RIGHT there...
[22:46] <~CelestialDoggie> Just as she is about to make a decision, a gaggle of people enter the dance hall. Most of them are the normal races, there is a halfling...who maybe kind of looks like Tealee if she squints from here...
[22:46] <~CelestialDoggie> ...and squeezed in among the bunch is someone else exactly Blaize's size.
[22:47] * Blaize bites her lip...she's tempted. She floats over towards it....
[22:48] <~CelestialDoggie> The doors open. Inside she can see a posh entrance as the gaggle of people go in, and she catches another glimpse. Same size, and green where Blaize is red...
[22:49] * Blaize follows...
[22:51] <~CelestialDoggie> Inside, the foyer is as grand and ostentatious as she expects, with a high, vaulted ceiling painted with scenes of a fantastic carnival, a balustrade capped by snarling lion heads running alongside a grand staircase, plenty of lights both mundane and magical...
[22:51] <~CelestialDoggie> The same group of people almost immediately disappear through a door set into a side wall.
[22:52] * Blaize takes a moment to gaze in wonder before following the green figure more...
[22:56] <~CelestialDoggie> The door leads to a hallway, then a staircase going down, terminating in another door. Beyond this one is a grand open area, a large practice room under the main hall, enormous floor space broken only by occasional pillars supporting the rest of the building above.
[22:56] <~CelestialDoggie> The group from earlier has convened in front of a set of footlockers and is milling around, apparently doing nothing more than talking and...looking nervous?
[22:57] * Blaize floats up towards them, trying to get a good look at the green figure about her own size. "Hiya!"
[23:01] <~CelestialDoggie> Five human-sized girls--one elf, one half-elf judging by her ears, and three humans--and a halfling wave awkwardly at Blaize. The figure in green...also a girl, also Blaize's size...but it seems she does not share Blaize's elemental connection. It appears she is actually "just" a fairy.
[23:01] <~CelestialDoggie> "Uh...hi," the halfling responds. "Who're you?"
[23:02] <Blaize> "I'm Blaize! I saw her..." She points to the fairy. "And was wondering if I'd seen an Earth Mephit!"
[23:03] <~CelestialDoggie> "An earth whatwhat?" The fairy asks, while the other girls exchange looks.
[23:04] <Blaize> "Mephit...seriously, do you not know? I know I've MET people from the Faewild before in Brass." She pouts.
[23:05] <~CelestialDoggie> "Well, I'm from here," says the fairy. "I've been to Fae once or twice but my whole clan's from the east part of Khorvaire so nyah."
[23:08] <Blaize> "Oh, ok. Well, a Mephit is a Elemental or Paralemental Manifestation of the Elemental Chaos is a form...well, like me. I'm a Fire Mephit." She holds out a hand.
[23:12] <~CelestialDoggie> "That's a lotta words to say you're made of fire. I'm Chikkli. " The fairy shakes Blaize's hand, then waves her other hand to indicate the other girls" This is Pelly"--the halfling waves--"and Mira and her sister Lellen"--two of the human girls wave--"and Hanavel"--half-elf--"and Keem"--the elf--"and Judin."
[23:12] <~CelestialDoggie> The last human girl waves at Blaize, then speaks. "And normally we'd have one more but nobody's seen her since practice yesterday. Normally she's the first one of us here."
[23:12] <Blaize> "Oh? Practice for what?"
[23:19] <~CelestialDoggie> "Well, dancing, what else? We've been working on this routine thing for a few weeks, and we have two more weeks before we have to show it to our instructor but she's really a tough and mean old bat." The other girls giggle nervously, some of the tension leaving.
[23:19] <~CelestialDoggie> "But," Pelly takes over, "since Lee-lee isn't here, we can't carry on with just us and not her, or else that'd look really silly, not to mention throw off our timing and stuff."
[23:25] <Blaize> "Oooh...that's bad. Anything I can do to help?"
[23:27] <~CelestialDoggie> "Unless you think you can learn ballet in...two weeks," says Chikkli, "I don't think so. I mean, we appreciate the offer, but..."
[23:27] <~CelestialDoggie> Keem, the elf, pipes up. "Actually, if you don't mind...could you go to Lee-lee's house and check on her?"
[23:29] <Blaize> "Oooh, I can do that. Well, I bet I could do both...but the second one I'd be willing to help with. I'm an adventurer."
[23:35] <~CelestialDoggie> The five take the announcement with varying levels of excitement, apparently in inverse proportion to their size--Chikkli's eyes widen and she looks about ready to start fangirling, while gradually the good cheer fades in Keem's case to a half-smile coupled with a worried look...though that may still just be over concern for her not-present friend.
[23:35] <~CelestialDoggie> "Thank you," says Keem. "We can give you Lee-lee's address."
[23:36] <Blaize> "That would help. Otherwise I'd need to search the entire city!"
[23:38] <~CelestialDoggie> She scribbles something on a piece of parchment and hands it to Blaize. "It's not more than a quarter-mile from here. Please, be careful..."
[23:39] <Blaize> "I'll be fine and I'll find out what's going on with her and be right back. Don't worry!" She poses for a moment...then zooms off.
[13:29] <@CDatWork> It's easy enough to get back out of the dance hall and to the main road Blaize had been on previously. The parchment hunk has an address on it in painfully neat penmanship...although the lettering is excessively decorated in places.
[13:30] * Blaize zooms off to find the address...then realizes she has no clue where it is and asks for directions.
[13:32] <@CDatWork> She finds a dragonborn who seems un-busy on the street. Unfortunately he also appears to be as much of a visitor to Fairhaven as Blaize.
[13:33] * Blaize looks about for someone who does look like they know where they are going to ask...
[13:35] <@CDatWork> Not far away is another man, a human this time, though he seems overly dressed for the weather, in a long coat and top hat. He points out that the address in question lies a few blocks due east of Blaize's current position.
[13:35] * Blaize thanks him and zooms off at rocket pace.
[13:40] <@CDatWork> At this point it's the work of a couple of minutes to peruse up and down the street, looking for the address in question. Most of the "houses" here are enormous manses, the amount of real estate involved suggesting lots of money in these people's hands. LOTS of money.
[13:40] <@CDatWork> Finally Blaize finds the address matching the one on her parchment. The house is large, and quite dark.
[13:41] * Blaize heads up towards the front door to knock.
[13:42] <@CDatWork> Nothing impedes her, though as she gets closer to the door obvious signs that something is wrong begin to stand out; the door is slightly ajar, and there are marks clustered around the handle and magical lock.
[13:42] * Blaize pushes open the door to check inside.
[13:46] <@CDatWork> She feels a slight tingle in one hand as she lays it on the door, but otherwise nothing happens. The inside of the home is dark, though the sunlight helps some, illuminating a grand entrance hall not unlike the one in the palace, just on a smaller scale.
[13:47] <@CDatWork> Several rooms line the entrance, akin to the dance hall's construction, and a staircase leads up to an open "hallway" connecting wings of the second floor.
[13:47] * Blaize focuses her power, producing a glow of her own. "Hello? Lee-Lee? I was sent to see how you are..." She floats inside...
[13:49] <@CDatWork> Silence greets her, though her fire helps push away the darkness. Her light is reflected by numerous shiny surfaces, mostly art objects.
[13:50] * Blaize looks about for anything out of place "Hello?"
[13:52] <@CDatWork> Aside from the semi-broken front door, so far nothing seems missing or mislaid. Her calls echo slightly and nothing comes to greet her.
[13:52] <@CDatWork> There is a bit of an...odd smell.
[13:53] * Blaize follows her nose. The nose knows!
[13:55] <@CDatWork> That would work...except it seems no matter where she flies for now, the smell is the same. Nowhere does it seem to get stronger or go away.
[13:55] * Blaize frowns and decides to do it the manual way. Room by room searching.
[13:56] <Blaize> Maybe she'll get a better hint along the way
[13:56] <@CDatWork> Five doors lead away from the entry hall. She can see two upstairs from her vantage point, though the construction of the house suggests more.
[13:57] * Blaize starts on the bottom floor and starts peeking into the rooms.
[14:01] <@CDatWork> The two rooms on the left are of obvious purpose; one is a large, open space, of a similar feel as the dance hall's practice room, and the other is a dining room, fitted with a large oval table of heavy wood with several chairs precisely placed around it.
[14:02] * Blaize keeps looking.
[14:03] <@CDatWork> Next room is a kitchen, and here she finds something--a big person, lying crumpled on the floor, a small pool of blood underneath.
[14:03] * Blaize heads over to check on them.
[14:08] * Blaize1 heads over to check on them.
[14:09] <@CDatWork> ...The body's still alive, she can tell, since it's still breathing. Beyond that it's beyond her as to what actually happened, aside from maybe the giant goose-egg on the forehead and a cut just below it slowly leaking blood.
[14:10] * Blaize1 checks how they are dressed. This probebly isn't the person she's lookin for.
[14:11] <@CDatWork> It is not, as the body is wearing a dark suit of sorts with a liveried patch on the shoulder. Also it is an older human male, judging by the bald spot and salt-and-pepper hair at the temples.
[14:12] * Blaize leaves them alone. She's not a cleric and it's not who she's looking for. She'll call a doctor when she leaves.
[14:16] <@CDatWork> Nothing else in the kitchen draws her attention. The other two rooms on the main floor are further subdivided; among the options are a bath, a lavatory, an office, a coat room, and a few smaller bedrooms.
[14:16] * Blaize checks the bedrooms and offices before heading upstairs. These human places are big.
[14:21] <@CDatWork> The first room she checks seems to hit the jackpot; definitely signs of a struggle in here, as the bed's sheets are ripped and strewn about the room, some decorations are knocked down or over, and one of the windows is open, with a bedsheet pulled over to it.
[14:22] * Blaize goes and checks the window. "oooh..."
[14:27] <@CDatWork> The window is unbroken, though left open, and the bedsheet dangles a good six or seven feet from the bottom sill. The impeccable lawn arond the house is marred right under where the sheet drops, and what looks like drag marks lead across the sward to a thin treeline a hundred yards or so distant.
[14:27] * Blaize drops out the window. Wings! She then proceeds to follow the drag marks. Was someone kidnapped?
[14:29] <@CDatWork> Given the decoration in the room, it seems to suggest belonging to a girl, and with the violence and the drag marks it's possible. The trees barely conceal the drag marks--in fact, the fresh, loamy soil seems to make them *more* obvious, turning and leading parallel to the treeline, headed north.
[14:30] * Blaize follows. Yay, she's helping solve a kidnapping! Or murder. Hopefully kidnapping!
[14:32] <@CDatWork> The drag trail leads to a spot near a road; the trees end, and a gated fence separates them from the street. The trail stops abruptly a couple of feet shy of the dirt.
[14:37] * Blaize pouts...and looks about for anywhere with good line of sight to here. Tracking vehicles is hard.
[14:41] <@CDatWork> Given that she is at the edge of a forest, and that there are plenty of other large buildings around, finding a good vantage point should be pretty easy.
[14:50] * Blaize flutters up to find a better vantage point, preferably on top of a house.
[14:52] <@CDatWork> Taking to the air, you easily find the top of a chimney that rises higher than most other buildings in the area. From here she has a commanding view of a good chunk of the ward.
[14:54] * Blaize looks about the area.
[14:54] <@CDatWork> Unfortunately, the chimney chooses exactly that point to expel a particularly noxious cloud of black coal smoke, and no matter how like home it is to her lungs it still ruins her ability to see.
[14:55] * Blaize keeps looking.
[14:56] <@CDatWork> The smoke passes, and after rubbing her eyes clear she makes notice this time of two things: the same man she bumped into earlier climbing into a carriage, and a gaggle of three others quite nearby to it.
[14:57] <@CDatWork> They are the only vehicles she can see from here.
[14:58] * Blaize strokes her chin. Come on...to think like a villian, she needs to catch a villian...no...other way about.
[14:59] <@CDatWork> Considering to herself how she would go about this, Blaize realizes that stuffing a body into a carriage and then tearassing through a crowded city is a sure way to let EVERYBODY know that something's up. Instead, it's best to masquerade as anyone else...nothing's abnormal, business as usual...
[15:00] <@CDatWork> The three carriages appear to be stuck while the first one's drover pulls rocks out from its horse's shoes. The fourth carriage, that the man entered, picks up and drives on its merry way.
[15:03] * Blaize zooms over towards the fourth one. Maybe he'll help!
[15:04] <@CDatWork> She takes the most direct, as-the-faerie-flies route, dodging buildings and alleys and chimneys and the occasional pet magebred animal until she rockets into the street, passing the three stalled carriages and barrelling for the fourth.
[15:06] * Blaize flies up to the window. "Umm...hello? Could I ask a question please? I'm trying to stop a kidnapping."
[15:08] <@CDatWork> The carriage's occupant tries to ignore Blaize's talking. Or rather, one of the occupants does. The other, bound, gagged, and laying on the floor, jerks its head up at the noise and sees Blaize at the window, suddenly straining and thrashing and squirming!
[15:08] <Blaize> "...oh...thank you for helping!" She grins
[15:09] <@CDatWork> While the man cannot hear her, the scowl on his face as he tries to stomp on the bound person is clear enough through the glass.
[15:10] * Blaize nods...and zooms towards the glass, foot outstretched and blazing.
[15:16] <Blaize> She impacts...and fire blasts out from the impact point, rocking the carriage.
[15:17] <@CDatWork> The window is *obliterated* on contact, but the impact, the fire, and the noise scare the hell out of the horse, and it rears, whinnying loudly before taking off at a bolt down the street, taking the carriage with it!
[15:17] <@CDatWork> Blaize manages to grab hold of the newly-empty window, though, before the carriage can pass her by.
[15:18] * Blaize clambers inside "Would be good to stop now. You've been caught!"
[15:20] <@CDatWork> The figure on the floor--a girl, you can see, in your light--continues to thrash and spaz, and the top-hatted man scowls at Blaize as he once again tries to kick the girl on the floor. "You spooked the damn horse and he threw the damn drover," he growls, in a voice quite unlike the one he used earlier. "No one controls this!" He moves to reach into his fancy vest, growling at Blaize.
[15:23] <Blaize> "Oy, don't kick her!" She lashes out with her own kick.
[15:24] <@CDatWork> Through the open window you can start to hear the high-pitched, shrill whistles of the town guard.
[15:27] <@CDatWork> Blaize's kick impacts the fancyman in his drawing arm, and while she delivers enough force to break bone, his anguished cry seems far too shrill for that; the reason becomes apparently a moment later as crimson blood seeps through his white shirt, though the dark suit hides it well.
[15:28] <Blaize> "Aww...I was really hoping it was a wand...shocking grasp wands are funny." She glowers at him. "Gunna give up?"
[15:28] <@CDatWork> He holds a bloody, shaking hand in front of his face, staring at it, then his eyes roll up and he slumps over on the bench.
[15:28] <Blaize> "...I'll take that as a yes!"
[15:29] <@CDatWork> The carriage is still speeding along, but the whistles are louder now.
[15:29] <@CDatWork> The girl on the floor is watching Blaize in rapt amazement.
[15:31] * Blaize floats around to the front to try and calm the horses down. this might end badly. She's never talked to a horse before...she's talk to a Nightmare before and that's a horse that's on fire. That's kinda similar!
[15:32] <Blaize> "Hello? Mister Horse? It's ok, you can calm down now...umm...we'll disconnect the carriage if you stop running."
[15:35] <@CDatWork> The horse's eye, round with panic, calms slightly at Blaize's soothing words, though it's still running. Just now, it's moving at more of a canter than a full gallop. Luckily, this means the guards can close in, and moments later they bring the horse to full calmness and stop the carriage.
[15:37] * Blaize gives them a wave, then flutters back inside the carriage to cut the bindings on the kidnapped woman.
[15:37] <@CDatWork> No sooner does Blaize get the last binding free than the girl lunges up and squashes her in a giant bear hug, gasping "Thank you"s over and over again.
[15:38] * Blaize hugs back, in part becuase escaping the hug might prove a bit hard.
[15:40] <@CDatWork> The guards pull open the carriage doors and haul out the groaning, bleeding man--his top hat rolled off and to the floor after he fainted--but leave Blaize and the girl some space for the moment.
[15:40] * Blaize eventually tries to squirm free of the hugging. "Umm...so what happened?"
[15:43] <@CDatWork> She relents, and Blaize now can see a couple of bruises on her face, as well as the rope marks on her arms and legs. "I...I don't even know...I was at home, and one minute there was a noise and the next three men were in my room and trying to take me away and dragging me and...threw me in here and..." She starts to hiccup between words, and Blaize can see tears forming in her eyes.
[15:45] * Blaize hugs her again "It's alright, you are safe now."
[15:48] <@CDatWork> She squeezes Blaize tightly, almost crushingly so, and after a couple of shuddering breaths she releases her and wipes her eyes. "Thank you again. My name's Alicia." She deliberately pronounces every letter--A-LEE-see-a. "What's yours?"
[15:49] <Blaize> "I'm Blaize! Do your friends call you Lee-Lee?"
[15:49] <@CDatWork> She seems to perk up. "You ran in to my friends? Where are they?"
[15:52] <Blaize> "Umm...they are at the dance hall place? They were worried about you, so they asked me to check on you...and then I saw this and...well, yeah."
[15:53] <@CDatWork> She sniffles again, but manages to hold herself together. "Can...can you come with me to meet them again?"
[15:57] <Blaize> "Sure! Are you alright now?" She tells the guards about the knocked out person in the house.
[15:58] <@CDatWork> Lee-lee nods, though she clutches herself, shoulders hunched as if cold, as she gets out of the carriage.
[16:00] * Blaize hugs onto her. "Alright. I'll be right with you, ok?"
[16:01] <@CDatWork> She nods, managing a small smile.
[16:03] * Blaize lets go...but stays within an arms reach.
[16:05] <@CDatWork> It's a lengthy walk back to the dance hall--panicked horses running at full speed move *fast*--but soon enough Blaize and Alicia are in front of it again.
[16:06] <Blaize> "Alright, they are likely waiting for you." She leads inside, holding the larger girl's hand.
[16:07] <@CDatWork> Back inside, back through the gaudy entrance, back down the side door and its staircase, back to the rehearsal hall underneath. Alicia seems to relax more the closer to her friends she gets.
[16:08] <Blaize> "Do you know why they kidnapped you?" She keeps going.
[16:09] <@CDatWork> She shakes her head. "No...not really...I mean, my parents are famous, but...I'm just a dancer..."
[16:09] <Blaize> "Your parents are famous?"
[16:10] <@CDatWork> She nods. "Third-wealthiest family in Fairhaven...the Queen's the first."
[16:12] * Blaize nods "I'm new here. I don't know stuff like that...maybe they wanted a ransom?"
[16:13] <@CDatWork> She nods miserably. "Maybe." There's something odd to her voice, but it's gone as soon as her friends come into view, and Blaize has to dodge or risk being a very squashed mephit amid a pile of tearfully hugging girls.
[16:14] * Blaize likes hugs. She doesn't like being flat. She dodges.
[16:18] <@CDatWork> She is afforded a perfect opportunity to indulge her like of hugs when Keem glances her way and opens one arm from the group, gesturing her closer.
[16:19] * Blaize hugs
[16:23] <@CDatWork> Eventually, Lee-lee is let up for air, but everybody demands to know what happened, and she turns helpless eyes to Blaize.
[16:24] <Blaize> "I went to her house and there was a guy knocked out and someone had been dragged out a window...so I followed and found her getting kidnapped!"
[16:26] <@CDatWork> Collective gasps follow and all eyes slide back to Lee-lee, who nods sadly, lifting her still-bruised wrists as proof. "I was in the carriage for...I don't even know, and then some guy gets in...and then Blaize blew up the window! She was amazing! Just...just, whoosh, blam and wham, kick and thunk and stabbed..." She pantomimes the man stabbing himself with a fist to her chest, then falls over. "Then she calmed down the horses and came
[16:26] <@CDatWork> back and freed me..."
[16:28] * Blaize grins "I said I'd find you, so I did...that and I couldn't let someone get kidnapped if I could help."
[16:29] <@CDatWork> "We thought you were skipping out, Lee-lee," Pelly, the halfling, says with a wry grin. "Shame on us...lucky we ran into Blaize. Keem was smart enough to ask her to go look for you, too."
[16:30] <@CDatWork> The elf blushes and looks away, and Alicia throws an arm around Blaize's shoulders. "I have a new hero today~"
[16:30] * Blaize poses and sticks out her tongue. "I guess this means I don't get to try Ballet."
[16:32] <@CDatWork> There is a round of giggles. Chikkli steps away. "I think that can be arranged. Want to stop by again and we can teach some to you?"
[16:33] <Blaize> "That sounds fun! I've done some Salamander dancing before but that's a very different thing and requires a metal floor."
[16:34] <@CDatWork> "Salamander dancing?" The group trades unknowing looks. "...Looks like maybe you can teach us in return, even if it's only what you're talking about."
[16:36] <Blaize> "Sure...probebly not with how it's really done though. Mostly becuase it's done on a metal floor so you can heat it red-hot. Might pass on that part." She grins.
[16:37] <@CDatWork> They laugh as well, and the fairy grabs Blaize in a bear hug...that's actually size-compatible.
[16:38] * Blaize hugs back