[ At the very least, it’s not a difficult prospect… In one direction, anyways. At this time, the café isn’t nearly as busy, since most people would be heading to a bar instead. It’s a pleasant ambiance that’s nice and cozy with the few people there, but none of them really look like Augmented. Gale might get the impression that he’d beat Hugo there if not for the fact that Hugo stands from the little table he’d claimed in the corner to come greet him. ]
Mr. Dekarios, I hope?
[ He assumes so, since he’s the only Augmented that’s come in, and at a glance, he can guess why he’s also a nocturnal sort. It’s a fairly sharp contrast, though, because Hugo himself really doesn’t look all that changed. He has long, elven ears and little fangs that seem like they could be vampiric, but the most striking thing about him is his eyes—one gray, one red.
It’s all how he was born, though. As a Spectral, he keeps his more ghastly appearancefirmly under the wraps of his glamor. ]
It slipped my mind completely to give you something to look out for, so I’m sorry about that… But thank you for coming.
[Hearing someone use his surname still makes him cringe a little, even though he has talked about that particular issue with some of his friends. It's just been so many years since he's regularly heard it used aloud by anyone other than his familiar that it always comes as a bit of a shock, though he recovers fast enough.]
Yes, that's me! And you must be Mister Vlad. Shall we have a seat? [He gestures to the table Hugo had been sitting at, and takes the seat across from him.]
It's my pleasure. I must say I'm curious what your unique issue might be.
[ Hugo nods agreeably, and as he heads back to the table, he goes through just a little more small talk. ]
I am indeed. There’s already water and pour-over coffee at the table, since those seemed like perfectly neutral options, but~. If you want anything else, just say the word. My treat, like I said.
[ He takes a seat and settles comfortably, which includes moving a quite fancy briefcase from Gale’s seat to the ground next to him. It was just to make sure that it was clear that he was waiting for someone, but the item itself goes without comment. ]
And my apologies for not being more straightforward. It’s a security issue, actually, so I think you’ll understand my caution.
[ He takes the carafe of water and starts to pour his own glass, and if Gale is so inclined, he’ll pour his too as he explains. ]
In short, my gallery is in possession of a piece that’s meant to be a little more practical and a little more on the side of subterfuge. I can’t explain how it works, since I have no idea, but a magical mirror that allows for instantaneous transportation to Aparallaxia is something I’m taking care of. While a mirror isn’t out of place in an art gallery, well… It’d be better if it were something much more innocuous looking.
Ahh.. [Gale says, nodding. Even though it's night time, he avails himself of the coffee at the table — after all, his schedule is an odd one these days.] I've seen that sort of thing here before. Things of such nature wouldn't be unheard of in my world, though I haven't taken the time to try to figure out how they work here. Still, very useful artifacts. I can see why you'd want to disguise them with an illusion.
[He sits back, sipping his coffee thoughtfully, tapping the side of his cup without seeming to realize it, hands always in motion.] My powers aren't what they were before I came here, but illusion is one of my areas of particular expertise. I should definitely be able to help you. It would be easy enough to make the mirror look like a painting, which would disguise its purpose and hopefully also discourage anyone from touching it and inadvertently discovering its secret. I'm not sure how long the illusion would hold - like I said, I'm not where I was before we arrived here - but I think if I came by perhaps monthly to reinforce the spell, then that should be sufficient. And I've always been a fan of the arts, so it wouldn't be suspicious.
[ Because of Mel’s caveat (which was essentially that she didn’t know), Hugo really hadn’t been expecting too much. In the worst case, he figured it would be a “sorry, I can’t”, but even that’s not terrible. Meeting a fellow Augmented and making a new acquaintance is always a good thing. Especially if they come at her recommendation, in fact! So, he’s a little surprised at the affirmative, and though it shows on his face, it’s quick to bloom into a pleased smile. ]
That’s wonderful. I wasn’t sure if it was asking too much, so… Coming by monthly would be no problem at all. Why, I’ll give you the lifetime pass to the gallery just as thanks~.
[ He laughs warmly, since the hyperbole is the joke, but the sentiment isn’t. Free access is the very least he could do, especially if Gale would enjoy it. ]
A painting as a disguise is exactly what I was hoping, since as you say, it’s not something anyone would touch. Well, unless they’re looking to get thrown out by security, that is. Is there anything in particular you might need that could make it easier or that I could assist with? You’re doing me—well, all of us, hopefully—a great favor, so I want to make it as smooth as possible for you.
I would like that. I haven't had as much time for the arts as I did back home in Waterdeep, and I've sorely missed it.
[Gale smiles. He likes being helpful, and just as much, enjoys being impressive. In the past, that might have been reason enough for him to do this favor. He has become a much more desperate man now, though, and he has taken a page from Astarion's book when it comes to never doing a service without expecting something in return.] I don't need anything in particular to accomplish the task, no. All I need is myself and my spellwork. So why don't we call it a favor owed to balance the scales, then?
And a lifetime pass isn’t enough…? You’ll hurt my gallery’s reputation before it’s even open, sir!
[ But he waves a hand towards Gale with a laugh. Hugo definitely gives the impression of being a warm, genial person. ]
I’m kidding, of course. An IOU is perfectly fine. I’m happy to assist any Augmented, besides, so it’s no problem.
[ It’s nice to have that settled, and so easily… He wasn’t terribly concerned about the mirror just being a mirror if this didn’t work, but a little disguise is far better. ]
You can drop by any time, really. I’ll send you the address when we’re done, but it’s a red factory building in Water’s Edge, so it’s hard to miss once. To make a little assumption, I’ll guess that our schedules are similar, so just send me a text first to make sure I’m there. Most of the time I am, but I might pop out early in the evenings to go run errands before things close up for the night, you know?
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no subject
Date: 2026-01-25 10:42 pm (UTC)Mr. Dekarios, I hope?
[ He assumes so, since he’s the only Augmented that’s come in, and at a glance, he can guess why he’s also a nocturnal sort. It’s a fairly sharp contrast, though, because Hugo himself really doesn’t look all that changed. He has long, elven ears and little fangs that seem like they could be vampiric, but the most striking thing about him is his eyes—one gray, one red.
It’s all how he was born, though. As a Spectral, he keeps his more ghastly appearance firmly under the wraps of his glamor. ]
It slipped my mind completely to give you something to look out for, so I’m sorry about that… But thank you for coming.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 02:34 am (UTC)Yes, that's me! And you must be Mister Vlad. Shall we have a seat? [He gestures to the table Hugo had been sitting at, and takes the seat across from him.]
It's my pleasure. I must say I'm curious what your unique issue might be.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 02:58 am (UTC)I am indeed. There’s already water and pour-over coffee at the table, since those seemed like perfectly neutral options, but~. If you want anything else, just say the word. My treat, like I said.
[ He takes a seat and settles comfortably, which includes moving a quite fancy briefcase from Gale’s seat to the ground next to him. It was just to make sure that it was clear that he was waiting for someone, but the item itself goes without comment. ]
And my apologies for not being more straightforward. It’s a security issue, actually, so I think you’ll understand my caution.
[ He takes the carafe of water and starts to pour his own glass, and if Gale is so inclined, he’ll pour his too as he explains. ]
In short, my gallery is in possession of a piece that’s meant to be a little more practical and a little more on the side of subterfuge. I can’t explain how it works, since I have no idea, but a magical mirror that allows for instantaneous transportation to Aparallaxia is something I’m taking care of. While a mirror isn’t out of place in an art gallery, well… It’d be better if it were something much more innocuous looking.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-03 09:15 pm (UTC)[He sits back, sipping his coffee thoughtfully, tapping the side of his cup without seeming to realize it, hands always in motion.] My powers aren't what they were before I came here, but illusion is one of my areas of particular expertise. I should definitely be able to help you. It would be easy enough to make the mirror look like a painting, which would disguise its purpose and hopefully also discourage anyone from touching it and inadvertently discovering its secret. I'm not sure how long the illusion would hold - like I said, I'm not where I was before we arrived here - but I think if I came by perhaps monthly to reinforce the spell, then that should be sufficient. And I've always been a fan of the arts, so it wouldn't be suspicious.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-04 10:03 pm (UTC)That’s wonderful. I wasn’t sure if it was asking too much, so… Coming by monthly would be no problem at all. Why, I’ll give you the lifetime pass to the gallery just as thanks~.
[ He laughs warmly, since the hyperbole is the joke, but the sentiment isn’t. Free access is the very least he could do, especially if Gale would enjoy it. ]
A painting as a disguise is exactly what I was hoping, since as you say, it’s not something anyone would touch. Well, unless they’re looking to get thrown out by security, that is. Is there anything in particular you might need that could make it easier or that I could assist with? You’re doing me—well, all of us, hopefully—a great favor, so I want to make it as smooth as possible for you.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-06 06:42 am (UTC)[Gale smiles. He likes being helpful, and just as much, enjoys being impressive. In the past, that might have been reason enough for him to do this favor. He has become a much more desperate man now, though, and he has taken a page from Astarion's book when it comes to never doing a service without expecting something in return.] I don't need anything in particular to accomplish the task, no. All I need is myself and my spellwork. So why don't we call it a favor owed to balance the scales, then?
no subject
Date: 2026-02-06 04:09 pm (UTC)[ But he waves a hand towards Gale with a laugh. Hugo definitely gives the impression of being a warm, genial person. ]
I’m kidding, of course. An IOU is perfectly fine. I’m happy to assist any Augmented, besides, so it’s no problem.
[ It’s nice to have that settled, and so easily… He wasn’t terribly concerned about the mirror just being a mirror if this didn’t work, but a little disguise is far better. ]
You can drop by any time, really. I’ll send you the address when we’re done, but it’s a red factory building in Water’s Edge, so it’s hard to miss once. To make a little assumption, I’ll guess that our schedules are similar, so just send me a text first to make sure I’m there. Most of the time I am, but I might pop out early in the evenings to go run errands before things close up for the night, you know?