No Dancing In The Lab (Open)

[Zdena Kilvorion]

She preferred large open spaces. They were far more preferable to cluttered, messy spaces. It was so annoying to go through all the trouble of setting up her lab space only to have some unseen chair, or table bang into her shin or hip. Thus, Zdena Kardos Kilvorion had arrived at such a late hour of night and immediately found an adequate space.

The ballroom was more than adequate. It was clean and it was wide open. Effie glowed in her hands and Zdena closed her eyes in concentration. When her eyes opened, the ornate and immaculate ballroom had been replaced with architecture that one would find back in her homeland. Books lined the walls and two tables were set up in the middle. One held many large rolled up pieces of people and the other was empty.

Now, she could work. She had wasted enough time traveling from Volisov to Venus and had no time to get any work done. The ship she had traveled on was an absolute mess. How anyone could live in such conditions, let alone work, was simply beyond the young inventor. The steam-carriage was like-wise tiny and cramped. And while she could have stopped anywhere to work, Zdena knew that she had an appointment to keep. Punctuality was key. And already, a great deal more time had been spent traveling to this princess' castle to participate in this strange contest.

Where shall we start? Effie inquired, from the back of her mind. Zdena did not respond right away. She merely glanced around in contemplation.

"Let's review our notes." she quietly replied and strolled over to one of the book cases. It reminded her that she would have to pay a visit to the physical library that resided in the castle. It would be interesting to see what sort of magical texts they had.

[Rin]

Rin had been minding her own business here. She thought this place at least was a safe one in this crazy castle. The guards weren’t looking here. Then BAM! She was spitting up the cookie she had been eating. Where was she now? It was clearly not the palace… castle… whatever the thing was. The lustrous walls and hanging had been replaced by some creepy library or something. Rin hated those they always had people telling her don’t run on the book shelves or be quiet or worse even no eating. What kind of place didn’t allow the consumption of cookies I mean really?

A voice came to her ear from her hiding place… which had at one time been a pillar, but now was some… creepy wooden thing. Slowly she peeked around it digging in her sleeves and pockets for a good offering to get her out of this crazy situation. All she had wanted was to visit Lumi, but she got lost and mistaken for a their… again.

“Hello?” She said as she looked at the girl… err woman… whatever damn humans and their strange ages and creepy cultures. “You… wouldn’t happen to know where I am would you?” She said making sure her body was firmly hidden behind the… uhh whatever the thing was. Not that wood presented much of a good defense against wizardry.

[Zdena Kilvorion]

"Hm?" a book hovered before Zdena, it's pages flipping in front of her as she tried to find her place. But, an unexpected guest pipped up. Zdena looked over to in the direction the voice had emanated from.

"You are in the ballroom." she replied. It was still, after all, their current location. After a beat, she realized that some further explanation would be needed. "I had to re-purpose it. It is large and empty. For the most part. Stay, if you wish. I need to get some work done."

She turned to her book and it's flipping pages. With that problem settled, she could scower her notes once more. Sketches and equations passed before her eyes, while Effie continued to glow in her grasp.

[Rin]

Ehehe… this was awkward. The woman said it was the ballroom, and Rin was sure it had been a moment ago, but she had never heard of this restructuring thing. Maybe some form of obscures magic. And though it interested her she wasn’t about to stick around and figure out what was going on. So she found it odd she had moved out from behind the pillar and was walking toward the woman. Yes… very odd, and possibly deadly. When she was close enough she stopped and peered around for a better view.

HAH! A ballroom my foot! The place was nothing like it was before a simple “restructuring” couldn’t do this twould require too much magic. Then again maybe the woman had some fancy magical amplifier on her. Which Rin found herself combing the woman’s body with her eyes for. If it came down to it hands may come into the equation. “Ummm… Where is the exit?”

She asked even though she knew… or had before all this happened. A cookie appeared from her sleeve and she ate a few small bites as she waited for a reply she hoped would be quick. After all she DID have somewhere to be… not that she would be leaving right after she got her answer anyways though.

[Zdena Kilvorion]

Zdena did not look back up, her eyes still darting around the pages that flashed before her. But, it seemed she did have to regard the woman, one more time. "Hm? Oh yes, it should be..." Zdena finally looked up, "...actually. I forget."

She probably should have paid more attention to the layout of the ballroom BEFORE she set up her illusion. But now the room appeared as if it had no exit. She had no need for an exit, when the lab didn't really exist in the physical sense.

"It will reappear once I am done." she nodded and returned to the book.

[Rin]

Ehehe… when she was done… That was good and all, but when exactly would that be? Rin could not fathom this woman. She was intruigingly devoted to the task at hand. Whichever that one was… not that she knew. After all the woman was weird enough to forget to leave a door on her magical… thing. At least she was sure MOST people wouldn’t forget such a thing.

Rin walked her way a little more until she was a few steps behind the woman. The thought on whether to go the extra few paused her. She would gauge to woman’s reaction before moving ahead. Though she had the distinct feeling the woman wouldn’t notice the change if Rin didn’t give a hint that it had occurred in the first place. Once again… reference the lack of a door for her insight.

Snatching a cookie out of her sleeve again she quickly finished it off and spoke. “So… what are you reading?” The fact of the matter was Rin didn’t care, but it should be a way to get the woman’s attention… she hoped.

[Zdena Kilvorion]

"Notes." replied Zdena, still intensely devoted to her work. She needed to refresh herself on a few things. Then she could try out working some new projects. Preferably on something practical and marketable. Maybe even something she could sell to the princess. Or any one of the other guests.

But, she had a guest in her lab. One that would be sticking around, apparently. Then again, she did forget about the door. That was rather annoying, she supposed she would have to put up with the intrusion. It was only fair.

She glanced over her shoulder. It seemed the woman had been moving closer. Oh well. Zdena looked back at the pages of her notes until she finally reached some blank ones. Perhaps she would have to wait. Turning around, she finally actually LOOKED at the other woman.

"What fascinating ears." she said.

[Rin]

See... the woman WAS odd! the first thing she said after looking at her... again. Or was this the first time? Whatever it didn't matter the first comment was about of all things her ears. Which of course made her self conscious about them and they twitched a few times. Her hands went up and covered them as she stared at the woman. She wasn’t some freaky scientist out to get her was she? Rin’s tail lashed behind her and she realized she was a hand or two short from being able to pass a as a human… ok maybe passing for a human was a big leap, but that wasn’t the REAL reason anyways… wait what was she thinking about again?

“Ehehe… what ears?” She asked as on of the ears moved out from its cover of the hand. Ok… so maybe she was just digging some metaphysical hole… What was metaphysical? She took a step back from the woman and moved her hands down. Her eyes were clearly focused. Surely the woman had seen one of her kind before.

Then again… she looked around without really looking around. The place was full of books. If that were the woman’s character she would say book worm which meant it was doubtful she had met a Kitsune. Her kind HARDLY ever went to libraries… or were permitted in them for long anyways.

[Zdena Kilvorion]

"Those ears." she pointed once Rin had ceased the ridiculous facade. "I am sure I have read something about those, before."

The tail swishing behind the girl only confirmed some of her suspicions. Zdena thought back. Certainly something on such a creature had been written before. One or two like Rin had passed by Volisov, she was certain of it.

"Tell me." she requested, "What do you know of magic?"

It would be important to find out what other people knew. Gaining a clearer picture of that strange ability would be very helpful in the long run.

[Rin]

Wait… what? The girl was quite clearly insane, but that was fine Rin got along better with the crazies… most of the time. Now the woman wanted to know what she knew of magic. “It’s uhh… magical…” Ok the easy way out. TAKEN! Hopefully the woman didn’t dry to much. Rin would HATE to have to go into details on a dozen different types of magic. Most of them were different from person to person and species, gender, and who knew how many other variables.

Rin’s head hurt just thinking about it in a casual way like this forget speaking about it. Maybe she had managed to escape the dangerous trap that had been set before her. If she was lucky that is. If not she would have to take drastic measure. Like… fire for instance. Fire ALWAYS made the topic change.

[Zdena Kilvorion]

That was a little more...simplistic answer than Zdena was hoping for. Perhaps, the fox-eared woman just didn't know that much about it. Or was holding back.

"Perhaps too broad of a question, then?" she wondered aloud, "Oh well. We can speak more of it later. Would be very interesting."

It would be, but it would have to be broken up. Separate conversations ensured that both sides would not be weary enough to miss important details. And accuracy, as always, was key.

[Rin]

Great the woman was setting up their next time to meet. Next thing you knew the woman would be setting places to meet and discuse magic. Then Lumi would find out she was meeting some strange woman… very strange woman and get jealous fly into a rage… though she had yet to see that and suck the woman dry. Aside from how cool that sounded she didn’t think it would be much fun for all parties.

“uhh… yes very uhh… interesting.” Why did she feel the woman wasn’t merely joking around here? So what… notes were you looking at.” Rin said as she closed the rest of the distance and leaned against the woman to try to see the name of the book… though it was closed now. Also the leaning allowed other things… such as pocket searches and… such… things as that.

She had to restrain herself from the more “fun” areas due to Lumi. Well maybe she could slip… maybe.

[Zdena Kilvorion]

Hands were searching around. Probably seeking items of value. But, those hands found only empty pockets as Zdena maintained her balance while the woman leaned against her.

"My own notes. Calculations. Designs. Et cetera." she answered, "My valuables are in my room. I do not travel with them, unless I need them."

She figured it would be best to inform her guest that there would be no reason to continue her search. It was probably something that she should be annoyed with, but as there was nothing for Rin to steal, then there was no problem.

[Rin]

Hmm… so her searches had been obvious then. Well that was fine she had only checked like three pockets… or was it five? Ohh well whatever. Her arms moved over as she acted like she was reaching something and her hand brushed against the woman’s chest “accidentally”.

“So what are you doing studying?” Rin asked as she pulled back something she could care less about and looked at it. Maybe she was being a bit obnoxious touching this searching that picking up things that weren’t hers, but ohh well since when had Rin let something like that bother her? Never that’s when.

She pretended to be interested in the thing. She WAS locked in here with the girl… woman… ehh whatever. Her obvious eye searches earlier put the girl in the upper echelons of the acceptably hot range. More than enough to simply flirt with… Lumi wouldn’t care if she did that much right?

[Zdena Kilvorion]

And now she was being groped. Perhaps the would-be pick pocket didn't believe her. Or the pick pocketing was just a ruse to feel her up. Zdena did not react at the "accidental" brushes.

"Old notes. Things I have studied before." she explained further, as Rin pulled out an old piece of chalk. Zdena had forgotten that she had that there. "Just to refresh my memory, before I start a new project. Always good to keep things clear."

A crumpled piece of paper was removed next. It had numbers scrawled in random equations. Another memento that had long since been forgotten.

"I am on leave, while I seek the princess' hand, but I can still get some work done." she went on, "Besides, it would be a more productive use of time. Undoubtedly, Anactoria is already close to a decision on a bride."