Ivory House

[Chameleon]

"Yes," she answered. "He apparently dislikes you. He didn't tell me that much, but I think he took pleasure into imagining your swords being gone," she shrugged. She figured the men disliked each other. "He's impatient though. To make me do this so quickly," she said, while she shook her head.

[G. Novella]

Alice immediately felt a rush of pity for the woman to get involved with someone like Vosnik. She felt a great deal of adulation when Maxwell offered the woman help. She looked to the swords, which were still in the girl's hands. She moved past Maxwellm and to the girl.

"I'll take those and put them back up," she offered, holding her hand out, "May I?"

[kumainpink]

Maxwell considered what he could do. It seemed that no matter where he went, problems just kept popping up. "My best friend is Octavius Yaxley, head of Magical Law Enforcement. Argeston has been a thorn in his side for years. If you are willing to make a statement, I'm sure we could find a solution to your problem."

[Chameleon]

She scowled lightly as she handed the girl the sword, and turned to Rosebane. "Well. I kind of stole money from him years ago. It was easy, as taking candy from a child, but he somehow discovered it was me for a few months ago. It took him that long to track me down, and he had proof that I stole the money. A photograph someone gave him, I think. Otherwise he would have figured it years ago," she finished her exciting tale.

She raised her eyebrows. "I'm a thief, Mr. Rosebane. I'll be automatically mistrusted of that reason. Phinny has influence, and who cares about a thief," she shrugged.

[G. Novella]

Alice listened to the girl's story, unsurprised that she was a thief. She moved to arrange the swords. It was hard, since they were heavy, and she wasn't tall enough to reach. She used her wand to levitate them and moved them carefully, tuning out for a bit.

[kumainpink]

Maxwell smiled at her. This, he understood very well. "I work with folks of all sorts - thieves, murderers and even the upstanding pillars of our community. Or, should I say, they work for me? I understand that the laws need to bend - or break all together. Trust me when I say that they'll believe you over him, one way or another."

[Chameleon]

She looked at him apprehensive. She didn't trust him for a second, but it would be nice to put an end to Phinny, she thought vindictive. But she didn't want to go to jail, because the statement would involve a reveal that she had stolen Phinny's money. But as Rosebane talked, she wondered if she should do it after all. "All right. I make a statement about Phinny to your friend."

[G. Novella]

"So have you settled everything?" asked Alice, turning now that the swords were back in place. She smiled to the lady, and moved back towards Maxwell.

[kumainpink]

"Yes, everything is alright now." Maxwell said evenly. He winced as his back flared again. "Though I think I've over-exerted myself."

[Chameleon]

Isolde looked between the couple with a small smirk, before she took notebook and a pen, and wrote her address down, before she tore the paper from the notebook, and put it on a table. "I'm leaving now, Mr. Rosebane. When you need to come in contact with me, well my address is on the paper, and you can send anything." She looked at the man, for confirmation.

[kumainpink]

"Very well. Have a good day, and feel free to call upon me if you need assistance."

[Chameleon]

"Of course," she nodded. "Well, you two have a good day," she said, while she smirked at the girl. She had noticed she had been bright-red, when Isolde had called them lovers. She slid out of the room, and walked out, to outside the property, where she apparated to her apartment.

[G. Novella]

"Let's get you back to your room," said Alice, wondering if the woman's smirk meant something. "Shall I bring up some breakfast?"

As she said this she moved to help Maxwell, placing her arms around him so he could lean on her for support.

[kumainpink]

"Thank you." Maxwell said, using her for support as they walked. She smelled very nice today. Was that a new perfume? "I think a couple pieces of toast and a grapefruit will be just fine."

[G. Novella]

"Not at all! You need a proper breakfast!" she said sternly, "You've expended a lot of energy already! I'll make something for you."

She couldn't help but feel her inital hesitation at being so close to Maxwell disappearing as her natural Healer's instinct took over.

[kumainpink]

Maxwell wouldn't admit it, but all this special treatment from Alice was rather enjoyable. It had been too long since he allowed himself to be babied. "Well, you know best, oh powerful healer." he teased lightly. "Please, show me the error of my ways."

[G. Novella]

They reached outside Maxwell's room, and Alice laughed at his teasing, "Be careful what you ask for, I may not leave you alone now."

[kumainpink]

"Well maybe I don't want you to." Maxwell said, still in that teasing tone. Wait...where did that come from? He felt his face warm just a little. "I could use a little company today."

[G. Novella]

Alice felt a bubble of happiness when he asked her to stay. She then realized how close they were. She had one hand on the door knob, but his arm was around her shoulders, and hers around his waist. If I leaned closer, I could kiss him, she thought, and then blushed at that thought. Trying to move away from the awkward silence, she smiled up at him and said, "I'm yours for the day then."

[kumainpink]

Maxwell let out a rich, throaty chuckle. "In that case, I may have to take advantage of that." He paused meaningfully, feeling oddly happy at teasing her. "It's been a while since I've sat down and talked with someone."

[G. Novella]

"Why don't I help you settle down then, and I'll get you some breakfast? Your going to need your energy if we'll be talking all day," she said with a smile as she opened the door.

[kumainpink]

"As you wish, Healer Boot." Maxwell said, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

[G. Novella]

"I'll be back then," she said, feeling a flutter in her heart at his smile.

With that, she moved downstairs to the kitchen, and began looking around. The kitchen was well-stocked, and it took a few moments for Alice to figure out where everything was. She pursed her lips, trying to figure out what to make. Then she remembered Maxwell liked raspberries and sweet things. Maybe a fruit salad and some coffee?

She moved to grab a knife, and began chopping up the fruits merrily. She cut up some fresh strawberries, a bit of melon, some bananas, some grapes and a few fresh peaches. Alice boiled the water for the coffee, and decided to make it an extra special brew she'd learnt when she was younger.

By the time she was done, she'd taken a half hour, and made a neat fruit salad, and two cappucinos. She settled it all onto one tray, using some of the plainer cutlery and plates. Even then, the cutlery was the finest silver, with the Rosebane crest at the top. The plates were fine china, white with a flowery border. She carried the tray up to the bedroom, and then called, "I'm coming in!" and opened the door carefully.

[kumainpink]

While Alice made breakfast, Maxwell spent his time looking at a book of photographs. The oldest ones were of the family members no longer in his life. Uncle Dosiv, Aunt Marina, the twins, and and quite a few others, all of whom had been afflicted by the phoenix curse. There were even pictures of people he never met, like his grandparents, or his great-grandparents.

At one point, they had been a large, prominent family. And if not for the curse, they would still be today.

There were pictures of himself and Brayden, of Cassalina and Octavius. Even a few with Alice in them. He lingered on the picture of them at the gardens. She seemed so happy and sweet - though her eyes gave away an internal struggle. How long had people seen those eyes, and simply ignored her? She really was a brave, brave young woman, and one that he was glad to know.

He was so distracted that he didn't even hear Alice come in. He wanted nothing more than to keep them safe, fearing what he would become without them.

[G. Novella]

"What are you looking at?" asked Alice, setting the tray down on Maxwell's side table and glancing at the album curiously.

[kumainpink]

Maxwell looked up from the photo album, slightly startled. "Oh, sorry Alice. Didn't see you there! I'm just looking through my photo album. Care to take a look with me?"

[G. Novella]

"Sure," she said brightly, "I'll just pull up a chair."

She looked to the large arm chair by the fireplace. It looked a bit big, but she could levitate it over.

"Is it alright if I levitate the chair over?" she asked, not wanting to move anything.

[kumainpink]

"Help yourself." He said simply, as he flipped to the beginning of the book, where his great-grandfather and great-grandmother sat. In the picture they were both so young looking. They were petting and cooing at a little chick, which seemed to be waddling on the coffee table.

[G. Novella]

Alice levitated over the large arm chair. She took a seat at the edge, and began putting the fruit salad into a plate, when she noticed the picture.

"Who's that?" she asked, handing Maxwell the plate.

[kumainpink]

"These are my great-grandparents." Maxwell said brightly. "There aren't many pictures of them in this book, mostly because they rarely took photos themselves."