A surprisingly easy interaction.

I swallowed nervously and stood at the base of the stairs as Ral walked towards us. I wasn't sure if I should walk too, but given the amount and lethality of all the projects the other researchers were working on, I decided against it. I relaxed a bit as he got closer, he had an easy smile that put me on ease. He looked like someone who laughed easily.

He inclined his head towards Mel when he was close enough to be heard over the sounds of the lab.

"Ah, Mel, you've returned! Is this the one?" he asked.

"Yes, this is Eric, Eric, this is Ral Zarek, our leader here."

"Eric" he said, his eyes twinkling as he stretched out his hand, "it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise" I responded, my hand shaking his own. He seemed nice enough, but still, it had been a fucking roller coaster of a day.

Holy fuck, it hasn't even been a whole day yet, when did I arrive? It was night when I was on Earth.

Ral turned back to the lab and gave a satisfied sigh. This close, I could see the intricate machines that sat on him. They were all brass, and the one on his back seemed to be a small glass container with bolts of lightning bouncing around in it. It was connected by curved and somehow flexible looking brass pipes to other machines across his body. A large brass container on his hip glowed blue at the top, as did a sliver on a brass chest piece, and the top of his large gauntlet that he was wearing. There were still a few lines of lightning shooting through the air occasionally, linking the machines together in momentary blue wires of bright light.

"What do you think of it all?"

Ral's question broke my reverie, and looking around, I didn't know what to think. It was a lot, all the creatures, the strange lights and sounds, it was all overloading me to the point where I was nearly numb to the sensory overload. So, instead of being as awed as I should have been, or maybe as afraid, I nodded, and in a slightly flat voice, said:

"It's awesome. I don't know most of what's going on down here, but it's awesome."

Mel seemed to pick up on my tone and elbowed me in the ribs. My yelp wasn't heard over the din, and it was tough to make out Ral pointing out some of his favorite experiments, but I heard Mel's voice in my head.

Show the man some damn respect and act like you care. He deserves that much, unless you'd like to go back that temple.

Sorry Mel.

I struggled to listen to the last few things Ral said: "-but we've used weirds since then, so one else has died." he turned back to me as I struggled to hide the shock on my face at his last few words, "I just wanted to make sure you knew where all the dangerous things are. Now then-" he clapped his hands as he walked past Mel and I back up the stairs"-you are tired, and, I imagine, full of questions. Mel, would you be so kind as to alert the staff to clean one of the guest rooms for Eric here?"

"Of course Ral, I'll get right on it. Oh, and if you run in to Sedva, will you tell that blue bitch to leave Eric alone? She was giving him a **** stare when she answered the door"."

Ral chuckled as we followed up, "her job is to be suspicious, but I'll let her know that Eric is a friend and should be treated as such."

As we reached the foyer once more, I heard the sound die down behind me as a warm wind pushed the door closed behind us.

"But Mel, you must stop calling her that. I'm ok with your enmity for each other, but she's still your superior."

Mel raised her hands in surrender and walked towards a door on the side of the room.

"Fine, I can be civil."

"That's what you say every time we have this conversation" Ral tossed back as she walked through the door with only her middle finger on display.

The young man chuckled to himself, and with a start, I realized he was indeed young, despite the grey streaks through his hair. I knew that it wasn't the strangest thing I had seen today, but it still caught me off guard.

"She may wear many faces, but she's a kind soul. That's why I like her, she's very diplomatic."

Despite myself, a slight smile rose on my face, along with a healthy amount of blush. I tried to school my features before Ral saw, but to no avail. He saw my expression and his smile grew wider.

"Don't worry, I'm very familiar with Mel's particular form of diplomacy. No, not familiar in that way, she's not my type, but I know how she works. I also happen to know how much she enjoys it too."

He shook his head and took in a deep breath, rubbing the corners of his eyes before they settled on me once more.

"Why don't you follow me to my study. I'll have some food and tea brought up, and you can ask me any questions you like, deal?"

"Yes, thank you sir, that would be nice" I said, trying to be as respectful and formal as possible. Ral only raised one well groomed grey brow.

"Please, call me Ral, and don't worry about formality."

And with that, he led the way up the carpeted stairs and down a small maze of hallways that should not have existed in a tower this size. It looked big from the outside, but not nearly enough so to even allow for the massive library that ascended several stories high that they passed along the way. There were elegant paintings, candles with small bright flames of various colors, some even bounced between colors. They passed a few people, one of them human, but they didn't stop, in fact, they barely nodded their heads at Ral as they passed us soundlessly. The theme of red and gold continued until we got to a thick wooden door with intricate carvings and runes on it. Ral pushed it open wordlessly and sat down on a plush velvet chair and set his feet down on a machine the size of a night table.

The room was slightly messy, with papers scattered over the desk that along one end of the room, and cabinet that practically bulged at its seems. In another corner was a small wooden table with small pieces of scrap metal scattered over it and a few glowing gems. The things that drew the eyes most, though, was the back wall. It was nothing more than a simple window, but it was the only one he had seen in the entire tower, and through a set of double glass doors, I saw a balcony with two chairs and a table on it. Past the elegantly curved railing, however, I saw one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

The sun had fully set while we were in the basement, and a large city stretched out far below me, covered in sparkling lights that shimmered like jewels. A jet of fire shot up in the distance, followed by other bright flashes of light. Elsewhere, a group of what looked like glowing winged warriors flew over the city. It wasn't just the sight itself that was so pretty, but rather the strange alienness of it all. The magic that permeated everything and turned what would have been a regular large brick building in the distance into a large brick building with glowing purple gems jutting out of the sides.

"I had this window built just for that view, later I installed the balcony so I could enjoy some air on nights like this." He looked up at me, "sit down, relax."

I took a seat on the purple couch next to his chair and cleared my throat, unsure of where to begin. However, it was Ral that spoke first.

"So, where are you from?" he asked.

I quickly thought of a place Mel had mentioned on our way here.

"I'm from the fifth precinct, Ivy Street actually."

"Oh really, I'm from there, is the Smoking Wreckage still serving its mysterious red beer?"

I wasn't sure if this was a trap, but I did remember Mel mentioning the name of a bar called the Something Wreckage.

"I think so, it's been a while since I've gone."

He smiled gently and I knew that I had failed a test, he knew I lied. My heartrate quickened as I got ready to run, though I wasn't sure where to go to leave or even how I would any magic of his, but before I could seriously consider any methods of escape, he spoke up.