Thread: Meet the Author [Goody + incendo]

The blonde woman sighed heavily, narrowing her gaze at Mara again. Come on, Mara. I already wasted time on this story this afternoon, she said in exasperation. I've got you on camera talking to him in the bar and calming him down when the police couldn't. Which, by the way, is another fun little nugget, so, thanks for telling me that the Chief let you through the line. All sorts of juicy, fun things happening around you today. Mahon did nothing to refute Mara's lies, already getting the feeling from his own interaction with the blonde that there was something inherently manipulative and unlikable about her. Of course, as he turned with Mara further down the street and Jenna continued her pitch, although Mahon did not understand the context of the things she said, he at least caught the tone of it, a protective ire rising within him to see the curvaceous lady being threatened in some way. Still, a moment later, he was distracted as they walked towards one of the carriages, sitting still beside the road, its eyes flashing with a supernatural brightness and a bird-like honking coming from within. It stopped Mahon briefly, his back stiffening and his eyes searching the creature for aggression. But Mara went along its side, opening one of the contraptions doors, and he realized, it wasn't living. Maybe it was operated by magic like he'd originally suspected? That made him wary but he looked to Mara with trust as she started to climb into the glass and strange armored coach. Standing beside the door on the other side, Mahon stroked searchingly over the door. He could detect the outline but there was no handle that he could see, his gloved hand sliding over shiny metal and glass, his frown deepening in vague disgruntled confusion. Through the glass, he saw Mara, her hand touching his door from the inside and suddenly it popped open and he let out a rumbled bark of pleasure at it. Opening the door wide, Mahon bent low to tuck his head inside to look around, an airy smile on his face as amazed eyes swept over everything. It was just a carriage, except instead of the seats facing each other, they all faced the same direction, he assumed the front. And they were covered in a soft fur-like fabric patterned like no creature he'd ever seen. When he was urged to get in, Mahon blinked at Mara and finally obeyed, stepping gingerly sideways into the seat. Claw was last to enter, sitting beside him with point stuck into the floor of the carriage beside his feet. He'd completely forgotten about his door until he was told to close it but suddenly he couldn't because Jenna had appeared and stood holding it open. Leaning down to look across at Mara and meet her eyes, she nodded and said, Listen, I don't care if this is some publicity thing. It's an interesting story. We can run the narrative how ever you want, even play up the excited fan angle in preparation for your next book or something. It doesn't have to reflect badly on you at all. But like I said, I already have footage of you coming in to retrieve your friend and walking away with him. People are gonna have questions. You can control what answers they get. Mahon tensed and drew away from her as Jenna reached inside and slapped a card on the dashboard. In case you change your mind. Contact me before 5 p.m. tonight or that footage is getting a spot on the 6 o'clock news. And I'll be asking my questions on air without answers. Pressing her lips together in a smug grin, Jenna withdrew from the car, walking away with her cameraman. Mahon blinked after her but reached and pulled the door shut, glancing at Mara with a raised eyebrow. You have lied a lot... he wasn't sure really what he was trying to say with that, because he got the feeling that she spouted these untrue things in attempts to protect him. But still, she was a lady and he disapproved of her blatant dishonesty to those around them. Then again, things were so different here, maybe the ethics were different. Women wore pants for Light's sake. Eyes brightening, Mahon looked at the odd designs in the front of the carriage right beside him, blinking curiously at it all. How does this carriage function without a beast to pull it? Is it magic? Are you a witch? Does it live? It made a noise when we approached. I think it recognized you as its Master. Touching his door and the frame around the window, he said, Is America a wealthy place? How are you able to use so much steel and glass for everything? Then he blinked and gave her a flash of a genuine grin . You called me Mo. My mentor, Jais Rezpion used to call me that when he trained me to be a warrior. And Lily, he did not say, his smile dampening just slightly to remember her.