Fantasy Steamhaven: Land of the Lost

Violette's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "No offense taken; neither do I," she ran fingers through her own hair, the pinkish hues catching on the light. "Nobody dyes hair quite as I do, so I prefer to do my own." Stepped closer and dropped her hand to the back of the salon chair, fingers tapping once again. Lianna could see the woman's boot heels now; platform, cleated, and absolutely taller than any heels Clara had ever worn to work. They looked outlandish and wild, yet she walked in them as if she'd been born wearing them. Even with the extra inches, though, Violette only just reached Lianna's height.

Her eyes caught on Lianna's equipment. "You're a Hunter, I see."

- Tell her about yourself
- Comment on Violette's wardrobe
- Change topics
- Say nothing
- Leave to find Dan
- Other

Lianna raised an eyebrow at the woman's outfit, but did not comment. It all looked rather pretty on her, but she knew that most people would look insane wearing something as outlandish as that.

"I am a Hunter. I came to Steamhaven recently and am trying my best to restore some order... one vampire at the time." She smiled. "Have you had any bad experience with the supernatural elements? I suppose you must have, this is Steamhaven after all."

Violette laughed quietly, softly, merely a smile on her face and the small shaking of her shoulders. Her eyes did sparkle, though, making her look more alive and interested in the conversation. "Vampires and werewolves do not bother me, much," she said. "I have ways of outrunning them." Her silent laughter faded with a hum. "I often encounter witches, however."

She looked at Lianna curiously. Crossed one arm to rest the other's elbow, finger taps moving to her own chin. "Perhaps you can help me." It was more a statement than an inquiry.

- Ask about her witch problem
- Agree to help
- Refuse to help
- Ask about her running tactics
- Change the topic
- Other
- Go find Dan

"Outrunning them?" Lianna was curious. "How exactly do you manage that?" Involuntarily, her gaze went straight down to her high heels.

Violette's soft smile turned prideful. She looked around before stepping away from the chair, towards the center of the room. Waved for Lianna to stand further away, then bent over to grasp the highest point of her heeled boots, that of which sat elegantly - and clunkily - just below her knee. "If you dislike loud noises, cover your ears."

Pulling one of the laces revealed that it wasn't actually a shoelace lace, but some sort of lever. A loud shriek split the air. Just as quickly, steam shot from beneath Violette's platform heels and she floated several inches off the ground. The further she pulled the lever-lace the more intense the steam and shriek became, and the higher she floated. Upon tapping the ceiling with her fingertips she let go of the lace and it sucked back towards the boot, slowly lowering her.

"I am not supposed to promote my other business while at this one," she explained, insinuating she was a hairdresser, "but showing off now and then is a little fun, isn't it?" Pointed to her heeled boots. "I've yet to name them but the well of water in the heel offers approximately one-hundred and twenty seconds of continuous flight." Sorted her hair and dress, which had gotten ruffled from floating. "I created my own solvent, you see, which results in the water to be consumed at a slower rate than usual. Not even a vampire can follow me, rooftop to rooftop, and I can float higher than a werewolf can leap."

Similar to Dan, the woman lit up when talking about her invention.

- Compliment her
- Ask about her other business
- Ask about the shoes
- Ask about Violette herself
- Talk about Dan
- Change topic
- Leave to find Dan
- Other

Lianna's mouth stayed open in awe as she watched the woman fly up. She was stunned and amazed and when Violette finally landed, she was able to collect her composure and speak, her mind racing with how useful those boots would be in her everyday life. She would have been able to catch that sneaky detective vampire on the first day if she had those!

"How much do they cost and how soon could you make a pair for me?" Lianna's eyes gleamed with excitement.

With a flattered giggle, Violette clasped her hands in front of her. "I was hoping you'd say that," she said. "Production time is little but the ones I am wearing are prototypes. I'd be willing to waive ninety-percent of the final product cost if you successfully deal with my witch problem. Would you like to hear more?" She added airily: "I will say most Hunters I've met found the situation to be a bit... too complicated. I've yet to find someone who will agree to my terms."

- Ask about the terms
- Ask about the final product
- Agree
- Refuse
- Ask about Violette herself
- Other

"That sounds like a good deal to me." Lianna nodded. She already had a lot on her plate, but she hoped that this one problem didn't need to be solved right away. "Tell me what's bothering you and I'll tell you if I can help."

Violette's smile faded; she took on a serious air of regality despite. "I frequent a particular... women-exclusive establishment in Downtown Steamhaven," she said, "and, naturally, it's caught the attention of witches. Within the last year, I've nearly been recruited six times." She crossed her arms. "I want the witches gone but you cannot hurt one individual in particular." Violette's doll-like eyes narrowed with suspicion and she spoke carefully, not naming names. "Her soul has already been bargained."

Remove all witches from the premises except one; it was no surprise her terms had been turned down by other Hunters.

- Accept
- Decline
- Ask about the witch
- Ask about Violette herself
- Ask something else
- Other

"What kind of an establishment is it?" Lianna asked, narrowing her eyes. She did not like the sound of walking into a den of witches. "And what more can you tell me about the witch that you don't want hurt? Are you afraid of her or are you fond of her?"

The woman stayed quiet a moment before sighing. "Some women have... very specific preferences when it comes to courting." Lianna could see a light twinge of pink on her cheeks. "This place offers those women an opportunity to meet without interference from the opposite sex." Brushed wrinkles from her skirt that were not there, before tapping her fingertips against the lacey hem. "The witch I speak of is not an enemy. That's all you need to know for now."

When Violette next made eye contact, her shoulders rose with a sharp inhale. She huffed. "If you are interested in the deal I will secure a contract through the Hub, ensuring both parties are faithful to the terms of the agreement."

- Accept
- Decline
- Insist on more details
- Ask something else
- Other

Lianna's eyes narrowed further. While she was really interested in finding out who this 'witch that's not an enemy' is, she also thought the idea very dangerous. It was never good when a human associated with a supernatural, even if witches were a different sort.

"Alright. I'll meet you witch friend and deal with others, but I won't be able to do it in a couple of days."

Violette's brows lifted, her mouth agape. "Really? You will really help?" The serious, aloof, distance facade dropped immediately and she smiled wide and genuine and warmly. "Thank you! I will have the contract sent to the Hub for signing. Your job will not start until it has been processed through City Hall, which takes quite a while, so time is not of the essence. I am more than willing to wait if it means getting results."

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded from around the nearest open archway. "Lianna? I thought she went... Oh! There you are." Dan walked over looking rather nice. The hairdresser had not only trimmed his beard, hair, and styled them cleanly, but he'd taken out some of the gray, too. He looked to Violette and blinked several times. "Your hair is pink."

"Last week it was green," she stated off-handedly. It sent Dan in a tizzy, eyes wide and curious, but she ignored him. "Thank you again. I hope you still intend to help when the contract arrives."

- Talk more with Violette
- Introduce Dan
- Leave the salon
- Other

"I will look into it as soon as I'm able." Lianna smiled. She was about to ask the woman something, when Dan burst in. She turned toward him and gave him a look over. "Well, someone's looking handsome." She smiled, then turned to Violette. "This is Dan, my mentor. Dan, this is Violette. We just met." Once this proper part was done, she would excuse the both of them, they really needed to be on their way.

At the compliment Dan smiled, mustache twitching with the curl of his lips. He seemed pleased with himself. Dipped his head at Violette. "Green, you said?"

She nodded. "My dyes are derived from the oxidization of organic compounds. Chemistry with a twist."

"Clever. Perhaps cosmetics are more interesting than a garlic-infused perfume bottle."

Violette tilted her head. "Try adding amber oil and colloidal silver," she suggested. Tapped her chin. "Is it amber that witches dislike?"

Dan's eyes nearly bugged out of his head at her suggestion. "I didn't even think-... Brilliant!"

Their exchange went on far longer than Lianna anticipated or the day had time for. Eventually, she was able to separate the two chatting inventors. Dan left the salon with Violette's hair-styling card and a spring in his step. Today had been good to him... and now it was time to eat!

- Find a cheap place
- Find an expensive place
- Make food at home
- Other

Lianna's eyes almost rolled out of her head while she listened to the two inventors prattle on. She was thankful once they stopped and she managed to drag Dan out of there. She debated whether they should go to a restaurant, or return to the Hub, when she got an idea.

"Do you want to have lunch at my place?" She asked Dan. "You have never visited me there. I'm not the best cook, but I feel like cooking today. And you can help."

"Now that you've mentioned it, I never have visited you, have I?" With his facial hair finally trimmed back, Lianna could see Dan's full smile. "Lunch there would be a treat... though I'm not sure how well I'd do in a kitchen." Walking alongside her, he hummed thoughtfully. "I suppose it's not too different from a laboratory. Ample excuse to use garlic for something other than combat, hm?"

---

After dispatching a walking corpse that had wandered too close to her front door, Lianna and Dan stepped inside. The smell of burnt chicken hit their nostrils, though Dan didn't flinch. If anything, his nose did naught but wriggle. "Does your house always smell like this?"

It could be Patrick, who had a spare key, making use of Lianna's offer to let him use her home, or it could be someone else. The front door had been unlocked.

- Investigate quietly
- Call out for Patrick
- Threaten potential intruder
- Other
- (Optional) Shush Dan

"Not usually, no." Lianna chuckled, then called out. "Patrick, are you in there? Mind if we join you for lunch? I hope it's not completely burnt!" She put her hand on the doorknob and pushed the door open.

Smoke billowed in their face, causing Dan to cough, and Patrick sounded strained on the other end of the living room. He held open a window, mouth pressed into his sleeve. "Wha-" He looked over, "Shit, you're home already-" He started coughing himself and dropped a hand from the window to cover his mouth.

Dan used a nearby chair to prop open the door. Waved his hands, guiding the smoke out the front. Still, the amount of build-up there was inside, it'd take at least a minute or two to clear.

- Get upset
- Laugh it off
- Show concern
- Investigate the kitchen
- Wait outside
- Other

Lianna coughed, trying to shield herself from the smoke, but it was already too late, she had inhaled quite a bit of it. With a frown she looked around for Patrick, then at her kitchen. She would never get the smell out.

"Patrick... would you have burned down the entire building had I been away for another half an hour?" She asked, shaking her head and smiling. "Is anything left that can be salvaged?"

"I, uh..." Patrick looked like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. A very grumpy, stubborn child. "It's not my fault your oven is garbage." To Lianna's knowledge, her oven was perfectly fine if not a bit old. After a moment, Patrick nodded towards the kitchen entrance. "There's stuff for salad..."

Using a couch pillow to wave out the last of the smoke, Dan tossed it back to the couch. "Salad? I wouldn't have assumed you liked those."

"I don't," Patrick said. "I was trying to mask the taste with chicken."

"Ah, I see."

Lianna already had sorted vegetables and tubers in her kitchen, but no meats or seafood. Those of good quality were often quite pricy; it'd always been cheaper for one to buy a bar meal than make their own. But, now, Lianna had three bellies to fill instead of just her own.

- Make a vegetable salad
- Send someone for meat/poultry/seafood
- Fetch meat/poultry/seafood yourself
- Make something else
- Go out for lunch
- Other

Lianna thought for a moment. She wanted to have lunch with the two of them in the comfortable silence of her home, but she could not feed them all with a salad.

"Do you guys want to go out and have lunch together?" She asked them. "Or I can go out and fetch something to cook, while you air out the place."

"Doesn't matter to me," Dan said.

"I'd rather not-" Patrick started, but Dan finished speaking before he did and it prompted him to fall quiet. Almost shy. He exhaled sharply through his nose and shrugged. "It's whatever." Back again, he was, to the pain he'd been when she first met him. Considering how he glanced at Dan every few moments insinuated it was because of the audience he now had; he'd proven himself a lot more tolerable, even kind, when it was just Lianna around.

- Go out to eat
- Eat at home

"Alright, we'll stay in then. I'd much rather eat lunch here anyway." She said, smiling to Patrick, then turning to Dan. "Dan, would you mind getting some meat from the grocer? Let's go with chicken as Patrick planned, it will go well with salad." She took out her wallet, to give him however much was chicken meat worth these days, should he agree to go.

Dan's brows lifted and he scratched his head, tousling the neatly styled hair. "Grocer... I believe I know of a place," he said.

"There's one at the edge of Downtown, right next door to that weird apothecary place. Dirt cheap, only about 5 coins for a small stack," Patrick said. Cleared his throat and looked away, failing at nonchalance, "Don't tell them I sent you."

With 5 coins in his pocket and directions on where to go, Dan set out. Hopefully, he wouldn't get lost.

Now alone, Lianna could spend time with Patrick or take care of the salad on her own - unless she trusted him to do so after burning the chicken. The salad couldn't be too hard to make.

- Cook together
- Cook alone
- Have Patrick cook
- Other