Closed [Cosmos Center] Cataloguing the Towers(Sal)

[Una Tanta]

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Summer 45th 514 AV 4th Bell

Dawn rest loomed in the distance, a mere bell away. The days had progressed quickly, saturated with work, writing and yapping mongrels. The diversity and complexity of the magics at play frightened Una to some degree and it was at that moment she had realized the true power of her grace, Alses, and why her grace, Sousa, was so frightened and worried of her power.

Not only were the towers the hub of magic in Lhavit but they were the teachers and trainers of many of the magical citizens over which Alses held power over. Una gulped as she moved toward the Cosmos center. She was only beginning to learn her way about the city and knew that the expansive assessment of Wizards in Lhavit would require complete and thorough knowledge so as not to leave any Wizards out.

However, her pace was unsteady as she opened the creaking door. She was in the very epicenter of a power struggle, a power struggle larger than she had first thought. It was upon reading the numerous magics at play in Lhavit that Una realized Sousas reason for suggesting the job she had to Una, she would want something in return. What it was...Una wasn't yet sure but the deep debt she owed yawned before her threateningly. She had passed this new law with no one to question it, no one to check and agree to its efficacy. Sousa had not known, none of the towers had known and now, now each of their hidden and expansive powers was about to be cataloged, available for review by their very enemy, Alses.

The cataloging would take several days and needed a decisive plan. It would be improper to impose upon businesses during their working hours and it was likely that the owners would still remain with their businesses during breaks. Thus, Una decided, it made sense to pass out the forms to business owners for each employee to fill out during the breaks when their presence would disrupt business the least. These could then be collected several days later and placed within the files of each individual in the magic registry. Those that had avoided being cataloged would need to be approached individually and required to fill out the document. It was a plan that had taken many hours to carve into existence.

First, she had planned to interview each individual within the city but it had quickly proved to be an impossibility. She had then planned to set up notices, encouraging people to register their powers at the wizard registry but that would force the already limited and overworked staff to deal with almost every citizen in Lhavit and disrupt businesses. Alses didn't need any more chaos caused by this law or any more reason for those in power to rebuke her for it.

The building was large and ornate while the internal furnishings were far more homely. The wooden floor creaked beneath her feet as she moved toward the large desk at the end. Behind it stood a short regal faced red head to which Una greeted with a smile and small handshake.

"Hello, I am Una Tanta."

"Hello Una, I'm Youchi Dawn. What can I help you with?" She replied, her grin broadening haphazardly.

Worry as to the tremendous task before her baked her face with small lines as she spoke, "I am here on business from the Radiant Tower. I am looking for an escort about the city during each of the rest periods today and tomorrow." She explained as briefly as she could, not mentioning her requests relationship to the new law. If I did...would she help me?

Her face wavered but with more curiosity than suspicion to Una's relief, "Of course. I shall be right back, feel free to take a seat." She nodded toward a padded couch in the waiting area before the desk. Taking a seat as requested Una watched the fluff of curly red hair slip into the back.

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[Sal Mander]

Day 45, Summer of 514 A.V.

Sal sat hunched over his desk, peering intently at the parchment before him while a worn and ragged looking quill scribbled in what several people had commented on as particularly neat handwriting. In truth, Sal indulged his inner perfectionist when it came to writing, often times discarding half written letters or documents for the simplest of cursive errors. Even a blot of ink was enough to condemn a sheet of paper to the wasteland that was the bucket at the end of the desk. Around it sat misfired shots, crumbled as they were on the ground like ash white or golden yellows stones, depending on which stack of papers he had enlisted for that particular day's work.

Paperwork was something he did not particularly enjoy, since it effectively chained him to the desk until the task was done. On some occasions, his reports were interesting to write, especially if they concerned more unorthodox accounts of the various situations he was employed to investigate. But for every welcome topic he covered, there were a dozen mundane, yawn-inducing accounts and reports that needed filing so that they could exist within forgotten filing cabinets for the rest of eternity. The Cosmos Center was a hoarder of such information, its lower catacombs housing rows upon rows of useless information that most of which sat there without any of the employers upstairs knowing it was even there.

But while he might have grumbled at the necessity of his writings, it did at least afford him the chance to rest his weary legs. The day was young yet, but already he had been around half the city on a variety of tasks that had required his immediate attention. Furthermore, he was looking at a rather quiet and free afternoon should he have got all the paperwork turned in by lunchtime.

Sitting up for a moment while wrestling on the right choice of a particular word, he noted the charoda glide into the building and present herself to Youchi Dawn. A charoda in the city was no regular site, but his interest was drawn when he saw which charoda it was in question. Una Tanta he thought as he smiled to himself, remembering their first meeting but thirty days earlier. The circumstances of that meeting had been a certain robbery that they and a handful of others had volunteered to investigate. He recalled the faces of the others who had taken part. His acquaintance Brandon was there of course, thought known to Sal and others of Lhavit as Djas. Then of course there was the Councillor Radiant, Alses. Her inclusion in the group had been surprising, and indeed the center of talk for most who had witnessed her there. But for Sal, Una Tanta had been a much more interesting prospect.

The charoda waited patiently as Youchi took her leave, leaving Sal a moment to escape his paperwork and instead make his way over to where the woman stood. With a warm smile, he nodded a greeting as he came into her view. "Greetings Lady Tanta. What an unexpected pleasure to see you here."

[Una Tanta]

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Summer 45th 514 AV 4th Bell

Grinning at the riveting height of the Investigator Una watched his sauntering approach. Behind him was a thick heavy film of scattered paper that poured over the edge of his wastebasket and danced across the floor like so many stars. His face had the grim lines of age though most of it was shielded by a thick layer of black hair across his face and head.

"Greetings Lady Tanta. What an unexpected pleasure to see you here." His voice was the same low pitch, as cool and thick as molasses, as it had been on the day of the investigation. He had the shimmering accent of Lhavit in his common that Una had learned to identify as the trademark of those born in Lhavit.

"Indeed, it is a pleasure Sal," Una remarked, disregarding the formal protocol of the varying forms of address. And indeed it was, the man obviously worked here and was of moderate acquaintance enough to be an intriguing and informative companion for her endeavor.

"I am in need of a guide, I have a....survey....to hand out to the mages. However, I do not have much acquaintance with the towers of Lhavit and would appreciate your companionship and assistance if you have the time..." Una queried grinning hopefully at the Investigator.

Meanwhile, Youchis red bob bounced back into view, another guide trailing at her spicy heels. Her grin wavered, a revealing show of curiosity as she saw the two conversing. Stepping toward them the guide she was trailing like a limp rag waited a short distance away obviously uncomfortable and unsure whether to approach.

"Oh. Sal. Shouldn't you be going about your paperwork?" She queried. Had Una known the degree to which Sal's perfectionist streak ran she would have suspected how far behind he truly was on his paperwork and would not have asked him for the help. As it was, she glanced between the two of them curiously. Perhaps Sal is too busy to play escort...

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[Sal Mander]

At the very suggestion of the possibility of leaving the confines of the Cosmos Center, it would have taken the strength of a thousand lizards to keep Sal Mander chained to his desk. An army of Isurs working both night and day would have had to forge great iron links, to form an unbreakable chain as long as continents, tied around Sal's ankles while the very worst of employers circled him, hurling insults regarding deadlines and tossing yet more and more parchments at him. Even then it was fifty fifty who would win. Youchi knew this all too well, her question almost rhetorical as she regarded her employee and Una stood together. In truth, the investigators worked independently from the regular clerks at the Center, leaving Sal with no real obligation to remain there beyond his paperwork. Though technically Youchi could apply that strength required to return Sal to his desk, figuratively speaking, it was uncommon for her to do so with an investigator. Paperwork had deadlines that were as flexible as ballerinas after all. Besides, unless it was concerning a matter of great importance, who really needed Sal's report by the end of the day?

"It sounds like Miss Tanta's needs are of an investigatory nature," he offered, slipping in a playful wink towards Una. "And with young Finnick here being a guide only - and an excellent one at that I might add - I cannot help but feel we would be shortchanging the lady." While Finnick turned a shade of bright red, Youchi remained her trademark calm self, shaking her head in a combination of defeat and mirth.
_____"Fine, fine. So long as that is alright with you madam," she asked of Una.

Sal of course was fully aware that Finnick would have done a fine job escorting around the towers. But if the young lad went, Sal would be back at his desk and that stack of paperwork, sitting there, watching him, the corners even beginning to curl like willowy fingers reaching for him. The quill rustled its feathers, as if distraught at being abandoned. The chair too sat staring at him, it's blank expression none the less portraying a look of betrayal. Patience you wretched lot he thought to himself as he looked at the desk back the way he had come. No doubt you'll be there waiting there for when I get back. That second part was true enough, but it was a willing sacrifice to make for the chance of venturing outside once more, and with such fine company too. His time with Una had been far from extensive, but he was quite decided that he rather liked the woman.