[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/PJ0zHzz.png[/img]     [img]https://i.imgur.com/bDITKUR.png[/img] [/center][hr]
[right][code]Twin Pines, 11:50[/code][/right]
[color=8bbbad]"For fucks sake, Da, I ain’t a kid! What d’you think’ll happen, I’ll walk in and get stabbed. This ain’t Glasgow!"[/color]

Cailean had made what they now realised was a mistake by calling their parents. They’d figured it’d be a good idea to let them know about the whole magic letter thing, but [i]no[/i], of course they were overreacting. 

“You’re still [i]my[/i] kid,” came his annoyingly reasonable response. “I don’t think you should go, Cailean. It could be dangerous. You don’t know who the sender of the letter is… so yes, I do think something could happen. You shouldn’t go.” 

[color=8bbbad]"C’mon… I’ve got magic. You’re the one who said I should go on an adventure. This [i]is[/i] adventure."[/color]

“I told you to see the world. Not go to a small town and camp by the lake in hopes of seeing a sea serpent… which I hope you haven’t [i]actually[/i] been doing.”

Cailean gulped. They weren’t technically camping, they had a room in a motel… but they had spent most of the day on the lake. Maybe taken a dip. Was maybe still a little damp from it. But there was no need to tell their dad about that. He was, after all, an overworrier. They’d figured calling would alleviate those worries. 

[color=8bbbad]"’Course not… just, I gotta know more about this magic shit. And whoever it was already sent me the letter!"[/color]

“It’s not safe. You can learn other ways… why don’t you come home, and we can help you with it? Then you don’t have to put yourself in danger. You know how much I worry about you…”

[color=8bbbad]"Not this again… Da, I’m thirty-four, I can do it myself. Y’know what, put Ma on! I can’t take anymore of your nagging.“[/color]

There was some grumbling before the phone swapped hands. 

“It ain’t smart, Cailean. I ain’t happy you got magic at all.”

Cailean let out a light huff, their mum of course agreeing with their dad. Like they did for everything… but Sìne could be convinced. Reo was much too cautious, hypocritically for someone who moved to the other side of the world and married an elf. But Sìne appreciated pushing boundaries for learning and academics.

[color=8bbbad]"But I got it. Shouldn’t I learn how to use it? It’s like a whole new field of study- I could pioneer it!"[/color]

There was a chuckle on the other end. “That you tryna convince me to let you go?”

[color=8bbbad]"Well, it ain’t like I need permission. Again, I’m fucking thirty-four! [i]And[/i] in a different continent. I was just calling so y’guys knew."[/color]

“Mm, ‘course.” There was some more shuffling as the phone seemed to move a bit. “Y’know we can’t convince them when they’ve got their mind set on something.”

“But that doesn’t mean we should just say it’s alright, love,” Reo grumbled. 

[color=8bbbad]"I’m [i]this[/i] close to just hanging up, Da!"[/color]

“Now don’t you dare hang up on us, y’here me?” Sìne said firmly. “Be careful. You dunno the people here, or who sent this letter. Anythin’ happens and you get out, alright?”

[color=8bbbad]"Yeah, yeah, I’m no’ stupid."[/color]

“But you are reckless.”

[color=8bbbad]"... Alright, I’ll be careful, Ma. Promise."[/color]

“Good.”

“Yes, be careful. Don’t do anything stupid… what are you bringing with you?” With his wife agreeing, Reo seemed to relax a little. Or at least, Cailean could tell he was less actively panicking. 

[color=8bbbad]"Uh, nothing? It’s a [i]weird[/i] letter telling me to come to a creepy mansion."[/color]

“What did I always teach you? A halfling never…”

[color=8bbbad]"... shows up empty handed,"[/color] Cailean grumbled.

“Exactly. You [i]have[/i] to bring something. It’ll make a good impression on whoever’s there.”

[color=8bbbad]"You were just worrying about ‘em stabbing me!"[/color]

“I still am. But halfling hospitality is almost as important. I assume you don’t have the time or facilities to cook something?”

[color=8bbbad]"No…"[/color]

“Then you’ll need to pick something up. Maybe… a pie would be a good idea. Americans love those, don’t they?”

[color=8bbbad]"Fine, I’ll get a pie. There’s a diner… But I gotta go [i]now[/i] otherwise Ima be late. Bye, love you!"[/color]

Cailean hung up before their dad could start listing off other halfling traditions. Fucking… did they really have to get a pie? Yes. Yes they did, otherwise they’d be shaming their heritage… Fuck!

Grumbling under their breath, they changed course. Now that had to walk to the diner [i]then[/i] the creepy mansion.

[hr][right][code]13 Mourningdove Lane, After Midnight[/code][/right]
Finally, everyone was given a reprieve from the flickering lights. Enough time to breath, see, and introduce themselves. No more annoying flickering, everyone must be there-

The door creaked open again, and the lights turned off. Then on.

[i]STOMP, STOMP, STOMP, STOMP.[/i]

Clearly, there was another Goliath on the way. Or a monster. Or maybe it was the Archivist themselves, deciding to use the front door to subvert all expectations. This was going to be it. The big reveal. The stomping got louder and louder, until…

Anyone looking at the eye level of a normal human, or taller, would be disappointed. There was no one there.

But looking down, there they were. A few inches shy of five feet, Cailean held themselves with the confidence of someone much taller. Their long, dark hair fell in curls down their back. The front had been pulled back, with intricate braids joining the curls. Pointed ears poked out, adorned with multiple gold hoops. They wore a nice, light blue shirt tucked into slightly… damp slacks? A faint smell came off them. A warm apple, with something mustier underneath. There was a white carryout box under their arm.

The illusion shattered a bit for anyone looking further down. At least five inch platform boots were clearly the source of the loud stomping. It also meant they weren’t nearly five feet… they weren’t much over four.

The mysterious, almost graceful air they seemed to have shattered as they spotted Pom holding an open box of bright red goop. 

[color=8bbbad]"Oh shit, you broughta pie too? That’s so fucking sound!"[/color] The Glaswegian accent that spilled from their lips was distinct, but not so strong that it was difficult to understand. They bounced up to Pom, holding up the white box. [color=8bbbad]"Glad I ain’t the only one that had the idea!"[/color]

As they got closer to Pom and Azure, the smell behind the apple pie in their hands got more… obvious. At least, anyone who’d lived in Twin Pines long enough would recognise the smell of someone who’d taken a dip in the lake. Their slightly damp hair and slacks only strengthened this theory. 

[color=8bbbad]"I hope ahm no too late- Got sidetracked! I’m Cailean- it ain’t spelt how it’s said, so don’ try- is that a fucking floating fireball?!"[/color] Cailean’s head jerked towards the ball of fire. Then, beyond it, they saw a [i]tragedy[/i]. They ran over to the broken bust as quickly as their little legs could carry them. [color=8bbbad]"Who did this t’you?!"[/color]

Their hands shook slightly as they tried to fix the marble bust, little pieces moving with them touching them.

Because [i]magic.[/i] Of course, they weren’t very good at it yet, and couldn’t merge rocks together so they just clattered back to the ground. Cailean let out a sigh, wiping an imaginary tear from their eyes.

[color=8bbbad]"Aw my poor wee man, rest in pieces."[/color]