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Post by Puck on Feb 25, 2011 21:13:18 GMT -5
Another bow, this time deeper than the previous ones. "I shall, my lady," he replied. Puck figured it wouldn't hurt to upgrade Maleficent from 'Ma'am" to 'My lady'. It was a subtle flattery, but one Owen would apply upon learning precisely who Maleficent was.
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Post by Maleficent on Feb 25, 2011 23:07:49 GMT -5
My lady? Well, he had improved in her estimation slightly. Arching an eyebrow ever so slightly, she nodded at him.
"You are far wiser than some of your fellow mortals, Owen Burnett," she said musingly. "Perhaps you might even survive longer than most."
Not entirely guaranteed, though. If he made one wrong move, however...then Maleficent would be forced to end his life. That would be a pity, as this stiff mortal promised to be rather amusing. It had been so long since she had been amused.
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Post by Puck on Feb 25, 2011 23:21:14 GMT -5
Oh, well, now that was reassuring. So nice to be told one might live a little longer.
"I thank you, my Lady," he replied. "I would appreciate living."
Not that she could really do that much to him. Maleficent may be the 'Mistress of all Evil', but she thought she was dealing with a human.
He clasped his hands behind his back. "Might I be of assistance?"
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Post by Maleficent on Feb 25, 2011 23:25:49 GMT -5
Well...now she thought about it, Maleficent had been without an assistant for several years. Centuries, in fact. It was always so hard to get all the work that she wished to done without someone to help. And perhaps, with another set of eyes and hands, she could find who had stolen her grimoire that much quicker.
"Perhaps," she said after a moment of consideration. "It just so happens, that for several centuries now, I have been without an assistant to help me in my magical works. It would be useful for me to also have someone to use as a liaison within the mortal realm."
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Post by Puck on Feb 25, 2011 23:46:36 GMT -5
Up went one eyebrow. Well, that was better than he'd expected. Maleficent needed an assistant, did she? That had all sorts of interesting possibilities... Puck had never gotten a truly good look at Maleficent's private workspace or her private practicing. And if he were to 'help' her, he could send her search for her grimoire in all sorts of wrong directions.
Owen smiled slightly. "As it happens, my lady," he said, "While I am no sorcerer, I have experience with creating and researching spells. I am rather skilled with ritual works as well."
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Post by Maleficent on Feb 25, 2011 23:52:42 GMT -5
Ah...a man with talents in the more technical side of sorcery. That was very convenient. Almost too convenient, but Maleficent had learned to never look a gift horse in the mouth. And there was the whole idea of keeping friends close and enemies closer. If she at least had him nearby to keep an eye on, then she wouldn't have to worry too much about him causing trouble.
"Then, Owen Burnett, I believe that we could be of some use to one another."
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Post by Puck on Feb 26, 2011 0:06:54 GMT -5
The Puck might have grinned with delight at the thought of having a mark right where he wanted. A normal man would have immediately jumped at the chance to work for a beautiful female like Maleficent (even if she was green). Owen Burnett, however, knew better. He was a jackal sniffing around the den of a lioness, and he would be cautious.
"Are you offering me a position?" he inquired.
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Post by Maleficent on Feb 26, 2011 0:12:16 GMT -5
"Perhaps I am," Maleficent replied with a smirk. "I could use someone with your skills, after all. And it does help that you are gifted in the technicalities behind magic, even if you are not a practitioner."
A practitioner would only cause problems for her. Someone with that kind of skill would steal more of her magic than had already been taken from her. Glowering a bit at that thought, she cleared her throat slightly and held out a hand imperiously.
"Do you accept my offer?"
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Post by Puck on Feb 26, 2011 0:18:30 GMT -5
He tilted his head slightly, eying the pale green hand she extended. "On the grounds that you do not harm me out of sheer pique, my lady," he replied. "My other employer prefers it if I am physically and mentally able to carry out his orders, you see."
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Post by Maleficent on Feb 26, 2011 0:22:16 GMT -5
Ah...Yes. Always something with these mortals. Rolling her eyes slightly, Maleficent nodded. "On the grounds that you are not foolish enough to insult me, Owen Burnett, I think that we can manage to come to an arrangement that is mutually beneficial. But I swear that I will not harm you merely for the sake of it."
If he insulted her, then the gloves were off. Smirking slightly to herself, she nodded respectfully at Owen, though there was a slight insult in her look.
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Post by Puck on Feb 26, 2011 0:25:36 GMT -5
"Very well, my lady."
Owen clasped Maleficent's green hand , ignoring the scorn in the other faerie's eyes, then bowed again slightly. "I am at your service."
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Post by Maleficent on Feb 26, 2011 0:29:37 GMT -5
Lovely. Smirking even more, Maleficent shook his hand firmly before releasing it hastily. "Very well, Owen Burnett. Welcome to my service." Moving back a step, Maleficent arched an eyebrow at him and motioned behind her. "Shall I show you where you will be working? Or does your other employer demand your attentions?"
She certainly hoped that he would not always be running off to someone else. Maleficent was always very jealous concerning her playthings.
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Post by Puck on Feb 26, 2011 0:42:06 GMT -5
Owen clasped his hands behind his back. "My other employer has need of me on a regular basis, my lady," he replied. "Though less of me these days." Xanatos had been very kind to allow him more time to himself since Oberon had lifted his restrictions, even going so far as to arrange to have the gargoyle Goliath's daughter, Angela, assist him some evenings rather than Owen.
"At the present, I can work two days for you per day I serve my other employer."
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Post by Maleficent on Feb 26, 2011 0:46:48 GMT -5
Maleficent nodded at this. "That will be satisfactory for now. However, for now, I am not in need of you within my fortress. There is one task that I want you to do, though."
Smirking a little, she stood a little taller and waved her hand in the air. A shimmering illusion of the grimoire that had been stolen appeared in the air between them.
"I wish for you to try and find the one who stole this from me."
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Post by Puck on Feb 26, 2011 0:55:33 GMT -5
Tapping his chin thoughtfully, Owen leaned forward to inspect the image of the grimoire. Now here was an interesting opportunity- should he 'find' it at the Beast's castle? Or should he wait to 'find' it after Horvath inevitably got his hands on it? Something to think about.
"Very good, my lady," he replied. He straightened his spectacles. "How was it stolen?"
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