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Post by wulfie13 on Jul 18, 2012 11:11:10 GMT
"Unfortunately, I have no idea if this... Scotland is up or down, let alone North or South. However, a track that goes straight there should work for navigation. I would suggest not flying over what looks to be a very busy city, no matter how short a distance."
Nabarl was really beginning to think that this quest was much more complicated than it first seemed.
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Echo
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Keeper of the Multiversal Peace
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Posts: 8,659
Characters: Lexi Elendil, Sergeant Valerie Reyes, Katara Shadowdancer, Emilie Golding, Meghan Squire, Dayana "DG" Grace Williams, Jessica Rose, Chiyo, Aniani and Mirati, Xani, Robyn Luxli
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Post by Echo on Jul 18, 2012 11:24:55 GMT
"Scotland's in the north. Its southern border is England's northern one." Lexi thought carefully about how to find the specific tracks that the Hogwarts Express took. "We could always walk or get a taxi to the station and pick up the tracks from there... Or we could go north out of the city first and then try to pick up the right tracks once it's safe to fly, but that would still mean having to get through the city inconspicuously, and with your wings that could be a problem..." 'If only I could apparate' she thought 'or teleport or something...' but it was no use. She couldn't do any of those things, and if she could they wouldn't have to fly there anyway, so it was pointless thinking about it.
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Post by wulfie13 on Jul 18, 2012 11:39:15 GMT
"Well, I would prefer going to the station - it sounds like I'll need a definite start point to avoid getting the wrong tracks. As for getting across the city..."
Nabarl thought for a minute. Even tailing from overhead, his birdform would be too large and easily noticed for him to fly low enough. He would stick out too much in half-shift if he flew. And walking would quite probably draw too much attention, especially given how much the pair had already drawn. He was just glad the small amount of info he'd been given before hand at least told him what trains and taxi's were. He also resolved that the first thing he had to do upon returning to the Hub was to aquire maps to whatever realms he could.
"I guess the easiest way would be to take a taxi. They should at least avoid any uncomfortable questions. After that, we just need to find somewhere for me to shift, and we're good."
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Echo
Administrator
Keeper of the Multiversal Peace
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Posts: 8,659
Characters: Lexi Elendil, Sergeant Valerie Reyes, Katara Shadowdancer, Emilie Golding, Meghan Squire, Dayana "DG" Grace Williams, Jessica Rose, Chiyo, Aniani and Mirati, Xani, Robyn Luxli
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Post by Echo on Jul 18, 2012 12:11:06 GMT
"Taxi it is then" and with that, Lexi quickly led the way back down the alley, through the brick wall and into the Leaky Cauldron, assuming Nabarl would be right behind her. She paused by the front door. "Ok, wait in here while I go out and hail a taxi. You might get some odd looks, but it's nothing compared to what would happen if you were out there for ages, waving your arms around."
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Post by wulfie13 on Jul 18, 2012 12:31:33 GMT
"I'll take your word for it."
Nabarl watched her leave, and then looked for an empty table. At which point, he began repositioning a few things, for ease of travel. He then set about thinking over the quest so far. And his companion.
He wasn't quite sure what to make of her. Her magic was going to be necessary, that much was clear. And her knowledge of this realm was greater than his, for what that was worth. But they had just met, and she had shown up at the perfect moment to save him.
"For now, just wait and see." He said to himself. "Until I know more, she's necessary, whether I trust her or not."
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Echo
Administrator
Keeper of the Multiversal Peace
PM me if you've got any questions!
Posts: 8,659
Characters: Lexi Elendil, Sergeant Valerie Reyes, Katara Shadowdancer, Emilie Golding, Meghan Squire, Dayana "DG" Grace Williams, Jessica Rose, Chiyo, Aniani and Mirati, Xani, Robyn Luxli
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Post by Echo on Jul 18, 2012 13:20:36 GMT
It took a long while to hail a taxi. Almost all of the ones driving along Charing Cross Road outside the Leaky Cauldron were already carrying fares. One particularly unpleasant driver told Lexi to, in less polite terms, 'find someone else because he was on a break'. It was after this that she decided to move a little further down the street and, eventually, a taxi pulled up in front of her and the driver agreed to wait while she went to fetch Nabarl. She was deciding on the best way for him to go unnoticed by the pedestrians and driver when she re-entered the pub and a solution presented itself to the committee in her mind. 'Put your arm around Nabarl's shoulders to hide the wings, then sit in the front and talk to the driver. Keep his attention focussed on you and he won't bother with the back seat'. It wasn't perfect, Lexi knew. She preferred to stay under the radar, but it was up to her to hide Nabarl's secret since he apparently hadn't done a very good job of it himself. 'He doesn't trust me' she thought to herself. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, a tiny voice spoke 'Should he?' Lexi put on her warmest smile and made her way over to Nabarl "Alright, I've got a taxi waiting outside for us, come on".
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Post by wulfie13 on Jul 18, 2012 13:48:07 GMT
"Sure."
Nabarl stood up, repostioned his coat, and headed for the door. He was slightly concerned by the smile Lexi was using - she seemed uncomfortable smiling that way, but he let it slide for the moment.
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Echo
Administrator
Keeper of the Multiversal Peace
PM me if you've got any questions!
Posts: 8,659
Characters: Lexi Elendil, Sergeant Valerie Reyes, Katara Shadowdancer, Emilie Golding, Meghan Squire, Dayana "DG" Grace Williams, Jessica Rose, Chiyo, Aniani and Mirati, Xani, Robyn Luxli
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Post by Echo on Jul 18, 2012 14:31:21 GMT
Once outside, Lexi put an arm around Nabarl's shoulders and guided him to the taxi, opening the door and ushering him inside. She then got into the front passenger seat beside the driver, who seemed a little perplexed at her choice, given the amount of space still in the back. "Where are we headed then?" "Kings Cross station, please" Lexi told the driver, her voice almost sickeningly sweet. True to her plan, Lexi made idle chit-chat with the driver about the weather, his family and some kind of sporting event that had been on the television the night before. She learnt that he thought it was likely to rain later in the day, that he had a wife and two children aged ten and twelve at home and that 'the Spurs beat the Gunners two-nil'. She had no idea what the latter meant, but she smiled and nodded along, apparently very interested in something called the 'offside rule', which the driver was kind enough to explain to her. He found out that, where Lexi came from, it was a mild temperature all year round and almost never rained, that she had three older brothers and a younger sister, and that she tended not to watch sport, but was interested in learning the rules just in case. All that Lexi told him were lies, but she did it so well he might never know. When they arrived at the station Lexi fished around in her bag, pulled out a couple of five pound notes and handed them to the driver, sweetly telling him to keep the change. He thanked her as she got out, put her arm around Nabarl again and led him inside. The sight they met inside the station was not the most welcoming. It was very full and very busy, commuters, tourists and station staff everywhere you looked. "Well..." she mused "...maybe they're all so busy they won't notice us".
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Post by wulfie13 on Jul 18, 2012 14:39:32 GMT
"How long did it take for people to notice us before? Also, your arm is, a little... tight." He lowered his voice "It could cause some issues - hollow bones and such."
Nabarl figured she was trying to help, but the consultation would have been nice. Besides, her arm had been dangerously close to the blade of his scythe...
"Well, I suppose we head for the platform - fast. Just hope there's somewhere hidden enough to shift and take off from..."
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Echo
Administrator
Keeper of the Multiversal Peace
PM me if you've got any questions!
Posts: 8,659
Characters: Lexi Elendil, Sergeant Valerie Reyes, Katara Shadowdancer, Emilie Golding, Meghan Squire, Dayana "DG" Grace Williams, Jessica Rose, Chiyo, Aniani and Mirati, Xani, Robyn Luxli
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Post by Echo on Jul 18, 2012 15:11:03 GMT
"Sorry" Lexi dropped her arm to her side awkwardly and led the way through the crowds to the columns between platforms nine and ten, keeping out of everyone's way as much as possible to avoid unnecessary collisions. They got a few odd looks, but overall there was nothing so much to worry about. There was no train on either platform, and only one platform guard walking around some way further down, who hadn't appeared to notice their arrival. "There's just one potential problem" she said, slowly and carefully, as if testing the water "we might have to go through that column to reach the right set of tracks. There's a magical barrier around it".
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