#kc_necropolis

"Whoever it was had access to Hirim's things."

"Aye. The box had been stolen a few weeks ago, I remember the commotion. You - you stopped by, yes?"

"Yeah. Didn't pay much attention at the time, nocker shops, always some commotion, nu? Thought somebody ate the last bagel, or something."

"Hirim has security cameras in his shop. Anybody check those?"

Naturally, Ice thinks tech first...*

((Hirim does?))

"He does?"

"I.. spoke to the box, but the box remembered only fog. A veil of mist."

"Doesn't he? I put some in for Dria, you'd think a nocker would want to keep up with the tech." He shakes his head impatiently, rolling eyes* "Okay, so maybe he doesn't." His eyes narrow* "You handled it. No prints now." His fingers tap, as he thinks*

"It is hard, since most of the Hollow is in the Dreaming..."

"Yeah. But Nockers can do it. Cost an arm and a leg for the two I DID get. And I think she wanted to put it on the damn coffee maker to see who was taking the last cup and not brewing more."

He scowls, scratching his cheek*

A rassp of not-laughter escapes. "Of course she would,"

"Nockers. Oy!"

"So fog. What do you think that means?"

"Likely arts - chicanery?"

"An effort to go unseen by something without eyes. It.. you see, this is the thing. It was a thoughtful trap. It speaks to knowledge - that I would trust the box, that I would poke at the wheel, that I would discover the note, that I would scry and cast for answers..."

"So someone who knows you. Someone at AH."

His eyes on her, hard* "There's Arts that can make people forget things, nu?"

"There are, yes."

"Someone get to someone trusted in AH, have them do it, then forget it? Not Occam's Razor, but can't see how anyone could have gotten in without you, me, and the other tea set not knowing about it."

"But it makes me think that I have been watched, been known, for at least some time. But he waited until my birthday to make this gesture..."

"Sixteen. Rapunzel. Yeah."

"I could speak to Madame Grey, aye. She might know something."

"Anything happen there she DON'T know about?"

"Unlikely."

"Want me to go with you?"

"She is very traditional, so there will be a lot of formalities."

"I know. I had to learn them."

"But then, you have. Yes."

"You taught me half of them, Ghost." A quick, hard grin*

"Still can't figure out how to turn a brick into a cup of tea, though. Some things, just beyond me."

She returns the grin with a smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "Aye."

"You still got the spindle?"

"The box is at the Farm, but aye. I have all of it."

"You know Him, he knows alchemy." He still refuses to do more than allude to his father, like a dirty secret. His eyes narrowed in thought* "Might give him something to do, to look it over. See if there's enough left to figure out."

"Might not be, but you know him. You ask him, make the sad eyes, you can make him do whatever."

Then he scowls* "Sorry. That's disrespectful, isn't it?" Grudgingly*

"Might not be. I was dosed, nu?"

"Might not be. But what else are you going to do with it?" He shrugs*

"Also true. I wanted to ask Emmit's help with it... since I have been studying with him, I know he's well-versed in magic..."

"Either way. But I know us, we can keep a secret."

She nods. "Yes."

His eyes on her, intent* "If you don't want anybody knowing what might be found out, ask him. If you don't care, go to a troll." Simple, right?*

"Do you think me a coward, for not wanting to meet him? I wish to know who he is, and... move on. Live."

"Not a coward. Doesn't sound like you, though, Ghost."

"I want to know who he is. I want to know what he wants. But.... but if he is a Balor? Like I think?"

"I have Papa, and the Uncles. I have Mama and Miriam. I do not want him."

"You didn't want Miriam, either, remember?"

"You had a Mom and Dad, you didn't want another."