neutral_omens | (no subject)

Time: January 19th, 2001
Status: Private - Sphix and Ellie
Setting: The cellar
Summary: The sphinx and Ellie meet

As the months passed and both Hera and the police remained absent, Sphix allowed herself to let her guard down and settle into living in the Manor. Somewhere in the course of early winter she started to regard the basement as her territory, and before the winter holidays had passed she had made it a habit to take a walk through the basement at dawn and at dusk. After all, what good was a territory if you weren’t going to defend it?

She was on one of her now routine morning walks when she heard a faint sound - a clock clicking open, most probably - and the barely audible squeaking of a seldom used door swinging open. The sphinx stopped mid-step, trying to recall what exactly was behind the corner. She had, after long weeks of trying, managed to pry open most of the doors in the cellar, but there were a few that stubbornly remained shut. And this way… this way was the water room, wasn’t it? She had heard wet, splashing sounds on the occasions she had stood behind the door, trying to force it to cooperate.

For a moment, the sphinx considered turning into her human form. She abandoned the idea quickly; she had no clothing with her, and walking around without anything on her did not, in most occasions, go over too well. She would just have to catch the intruder as she was, even if it meant losing the cover that looking like a human provided. She pressed her wings closer to her body and, tail twitching in annoyance, went to see who had trespassed her territory.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

“So, you are in the habit of knowing all the taxi drivers around here?” the sphinx commended, raising her eyebrows. She gave Bob a calculated smile when she entered the car, thinking of what he would taste like if she was ever going to get him to fail in a riddle contest. Of course, strangling the driver would be rather counterproductive, so she left the notion go after a while. There were better things to think about.

“Do you have any specific destination in mind?” she asked Chantinelle. It had been a while since the last time she had been to London.

"Most of those who are willing to come out this far," Ellie confirmed, flashing Bob a brilliant smile as she slid into her place to counteract the rather predatory one the Sphinx had given him. "I thought we might start with Selfridges and then work our way around to some of the smaller places. Maybe have lunch while we're out?" She offered that suggestion cautiously, unsure whether the Sphinx even considered cooked food edible. They could always go for sushi...

"Lunch", the sphinx repeated. The word made her think of some rather bloody scenes, but Chantinelle was probably not meaning that kind of lunch. "We could do that. The Manor does have very tasty steaks, but other places offer... variety." She glanced back when they left the Manor behind. It was good to get away from the place for a while. Then she realised something, and gave a short laugh.

"I had almost forgotten what it is like... elsewhere. What it's like without that annoying itch." She had ways to ease it, but she couldn't make it go away. Not entirely.

"Something in the Manor bothers you?" Ellie said, interested. There was a time when being close to a lot of powerful angels would have been uncomfortable for her, to say the least; but Tali's presence had helped her acclimatize somewhat, and John's spell further dampened her almost allergic reaction to all things holy to the point that it rarely bothered her anymore (though she always noticed.)

"You could say so", the sphinx answered. She didn't look at Ellie, opting to stare out of the window instead. "It used to be similar whenever I went near Olympos. Must be all the people." It was nothing more than a minor annoyance, really. She doubted the demoness would find a way to use it against her.

"Hmm, I used to get that whenever the halos were around. You might try talking to a good sorcerer. There are ways around it." She smiled prettily at the driver's odd glance, effectively distracting him from the peculiar conversation, but then had to remind him to keep his eyes on the road with a discrete nod. Sometimes the tricks of the trade worked a little too well.

"The Manor does get a bit stuffy after a while, though. We could stop by St. James'
Park if we have time, take in some fresh air before we head home." And see how Aziraphale's ducks are doing, she added privately, smiling a little sadly to herself. There was a slim chance the angel himself might even be there, but she tried not to get her hopes up.

"Who says I want to get rid of it?" the sphinx snapped, irritated by the exchange, thankfully brief, between Bob and Chantinelle. She enjoyed being the centre of attention. "It is a good warning sign."

"The park? The season is a bit cold for that, don't you think?" She drummed the window with her fingers. Winter had never been her favourite time of the year. "Not that I'm saying we couldn't go..."

"True," Ellie said neutrally. "It's always better to know what's coming."

The seasons were much the same to her, but come to think of it, the ducks might not be around right now. She felt oddly disappointed. "Let's just play it by ear, then."

((OOC, shall we move this thread to Outside Omens when they get to the store? Also, would you object if Crowley reprises her NPC role as the Selfridge's saleslady who helped John and Crowley when they went there?)

"Not always", Sphix said. "But most of the time, I think." Some things about the future were better left unknown.

She was silent for a while after that, staring ahead sullenly and trying to think up a new riddle instead of, say, inventing interesting ways to kill Bob.

((I have nothing against moving the thread over. They can arrive to the store whenever you wish. And I would love that saleslady. It is a wonderful idea. ))