Kealey's Quintessential Mansion Tour (KQ)

Kealey was honestly glad for her abilities as she and Shin floated across the city. He was so sure, so determined, so confident in his skill on top of the platform that it was impossible for Kealey to feel anything else. That made the ride way more fun than the first stomach fluttering moments had been immediately after take-off. Kealey’s grip had loosened, and she’d very quickly started to enjoy herself, thoroughly enjoy herself.

The city really was beautiful, huge architectural monoliths rising out of the ground and into the sky. They’d taken off from one of them and from their height, all the cars had looked like something out of an ant farm. It was like when she’d been on the top of the Empire StateBuilding! No, it was better. Central Park looked like a giant green swimming pool in the middle of the concrete desert and Kealey had to laugh a little. This had been a great idea.

Out of the city prober they flew, and Kealey found herself trying to decide if she liked the concrete jungle more, or if the more wild area struck her fancy. It was a close choice. They reached the mansion, and Kealey looked at it from above with new eyes. Shin was proud of it, and Kealey looked down with the same emotions swirling inside her. ”It really is.” she breathed. Even in the early morning the outside areas were bustling and students made their way around their school, their home. The Mansion suddenly looked very different from the snapshot Kealey had previously had in her mind. They flew past what had to be basketball courts and a sparkly blue pool that made Kealey think about her Central Park analogy earlier. She grinned, ”I had no idea it was so big.” she said,”I’ve really only been to Sam’s office.” That thought made her wince a tiny bit.

”Is my staying here going to be okay? Even if I’m not a student or….associate? Sam offered, but I don't think I'm going to take him up on it.” she said, excitement slightly dampened for a moment before she shrugged off the worries…she was flying. ”What else do I simply have to see from the air?”

Kealey nodded to what Shin said about being on top of the world, then laughed when he kind of contradicted himself. Kealey understood what Shin meant though, ”I was thinking the same thing a while ago. How some things look so big up here, and how tiny others do. It’s magnificent… Also, have you ever noticed how Central Park looks like a giant green swimming pool in the middle of Manhattan?” she asked, as they made their way towards the large roof that covered the mansion.

Shin answered her questions without any preamble and quite succinctly. Apparently the mansion was unopposed to taking in strays. Kealey frowned at the thought a little, this was the second time that man had forced her from her home. Shin pointed out that he’d feel better if she were at the mansion, and Kealey frowned down at the ground for a few moments before she nodded. ”As long as it’s alright. I might be able to make some real progress on the suits if I’m here anyway…so I wouldn’t exactly be free loading.”

They slowed to a hover, and Kealey looked around at the top of the roof and the area that surrounded the mansion. Shin commented and Kealey laughed again, they really could see everything. Probably for miles. Shin pointed out that since they’d stopped moving she could let go and Kealey loosed her grip even more, watching her step as Shin had instructed and turning around so she could get a full view of the Mansion grounds.

The sun was still finishing its rise in the east and Kealey watched it until it made its way over the tops of the trees. She sighed, it was all so beautiful and serene. Perfect. Kealey shuffled so she was facing Shin and she smiled, ”I know I said it before…but thanks….for everything. You came back for me…and then this…just…thanks.” she trailed off a little awkwardly, ”I owe you…big time.”


That out of the way, Kealey took one last look around the outside of the building and the grounds, ”Since we’ve seen all the outside…I suppose we should check out the inside…before people start to think some strange giant bird has landed on the roof.”

Kealey nodded her head as Shin thought over what she’d said about Central Park looking like a swimming pool. He spoke, pointing out that he’d never actually flown over there before, and Kealey’s eyes widened for a moment. This wasn’t something he did often? She kind of wanted to giggle at the thrill that went through her. It had all been kind of dangerous, hadn’t it? For some reason, after the events of the previous day, this danger didn’t feel wrong. It felt incredibly right.

The sunrise had been beautiful, and when Kealey thanked Shin he responded with more grace than she could have possibly hoped for. The fact that he really meant it was even better. That even after he’d put himself in danger, and everything else, he really didn’t feel like she owed him. At the suggestion of a sandwich, Kealey’s face broke into a wide grin and she nodded her head. ”I can definitely do that.” she said, already trying to work out in her head what she would make or where they would go.

The platform starting moving again and Kealey grabbed a hold of Shin. At this point, she didn’t really think she was in danger of falling, but it was better to be safe than sorry…especially when you were standing on a construct made from someone else’s mind high above the ground. Besides, he hadn’t seemed to mind before, now probably wouldn’t be any different.

Shin agreed that it was time to go inside and found…a window? Kealey peered at it as they approached, then looked at Shin in mild surprise when he suggested that they explore. Through the window the blond looked again, curious herself as to what could be inside an open window this high in the mansion. She peered a moment longer, unable to see much besides what appeared to be a normal attic. She nodded her head.

”Let’s do it!” she said, continuing in the spirit of adventure she'd felt earlier and stepping through the frame and into the unknown room.

It really was an attic, Kealey mused as she walked further into the room. There was dust everywhere, and as the blond moved further, she noticed more and more. The sound of Shin’s cough made Kealey turn back towards the window and she batted at a dust mote as it floated on its merry way through the rays of sunlight that followed Shin through the window.

He moved further inside, looking at things as he went, and Kealey followed his eyes, Shin’s curiosity mingling with her own until she almost had to know what was in some of those boxes. There were loose items sitting out, too, and as she saw first one teddy bear, then another, Kealey realized that all of these were someone’s things. But whose? Kealey pushed open a flap on one of the cardboard boxes and found a small collection of comic books, a baseball glove, and an alarm clock.

Shin moved past her and Kealey turned to follow him to a looming shadow in the far corner of the little attic they’d found. He turned the looming artifact to reveal a robot and Kealey reached out a hand, using a finger to swipe away some of the dust that had gathered on the robot’s “intimidating” face as Shin voiced a question.

”It is strange, isn’t it? I don’t know what would drive someone to leave all of their things behind like this. Do people usually live at the mansion long enough that they need somewhere to store their old belongings and toys?”

The longer they stayed in the attic, the more somber Shin’s mood got, so the more somber Kealey's mood got. Some of these things looked important, like the teddy bears. Kealey had a flashback of a doll she’d had as a child. That and a particular pink blanket had been her almost constant companions for years. These were peoples’ things. Kealey’s had gone with the house and everything else after the bombing at the church, but why had people left these behind?

Shin provided an alternate explanation to the depressing places Kealey’s mind was going and she nodded her head, calling up a slight smile in response. ”It would be a good place for that. I wouldn’t have imagined spaces like this existing up here.” Kealey picked up one of the teddy bears, turning it over in her hands and watching as dust took flight around its fuzzy brown head. A few moments later, Shin pointed out that they should probably leave the things alone and Kealey agreed, ”Probably,” she said setting the stuffed toy down and making her way over to watch what Shin was doing with his shards.

This time, the platform was blue, and Kelaey took Shin’s hand when he offered it, climbing out the window and onto the platform. The trip down to the lawn was smooth, and almost as soon as they came even with the first floor of windows, Kealey started picking up emotions. She sighed slightly, dropping her head and closing her eyes. T he last few hours had been so nice, now began the constant battle for stability. It was early still, though, and a clam aura of sleepiness outshone everything else. At least she’d be able to ease into the hectic climate.

The platform touched down on the grass and disappeared, and Kealey reached up, pulling the elastic bracelet from her hair so it fell forward and at least partially covered the bruise on the right side of her face.

Shin put on his tour guide hat, and Kealey shot him a quick smile as she nodded her head, ”Entrance, main offices, classrooms.” she ticked off mentally, determined to commit as much of this to memory as possible.”Let the official tour begin.”

Over the next short time, Kealey did a lot of smiling and nodding. While the halls of the school weren’t crowded, they weren’t completely deserted either. Adjusting took a little time, and it took a little concentration, as did committing all the places on the tour to memory. Living room, check. Kitchen, check. Diningroom, check. Infirmary, check. All good places to know. They went to Shin’s office next, and Kealey committed that place to memory too. There were precious few people she knew here, and knowing where they might be would help considerably of the next few days.

Shin pointed out that Aurum had cleaned his office and Kealey looked around it, unable to stop a small giggle from escaping her, ”I don’t know why I’m always shocked when I find things out about him…like the fact that he’s apparently a neat freak.”

A few minutes later, Shin had given Kealey a room and they continued on their tour of the mansion. Shin announced that they’d seen all the excitement to be seen on the main floor and pointed out that they needed to see the library. Kealey’s face lit up, library?

They walked into the library and Kealey’s eyes widened. It was hard to impress the blond after a couple years of working in what was probably one of the more impressive libraries in the world, but for a private residence. This library was impressive.

”Saints in Heaven above Shin….I had no idea the library here was so impressive...and you know how I feel about books too.” she breathed, glad that the place was practically empty. This was something she wanted to enjoy. She turned back and grinned at her tour guide.

”I can see why you end the tours with this. Everything else must pale in comparison.”

>>”I don’t know why I’m always shocked when I find things out about him…like the fact that he’s apparently a neat freak.”

"Next, we'll be finding out he worships Browniethulu. It would explain the Godlike baking..." Shin held his chin thoughtfully, then went on with his life.

~*~

Shin grinned at Kealey's response. She liked it. She honest-to-invoking-saints-alive liked it. Shin nodded knowingly. "I know."

>>”I can see why you end the tours with this. Everything else must pale in comparison.”

"Yeah. Like a man's face when he sees a--"

>>"It that Shin I hear?"

"... Ghost." He paused, and looked around. Where had the voice come from...? Hmm. Shin scratched the back of his head. "It's a wonder this place manages to operate without an official head librarian, too." He finished. An eyebrow arched. "Now, where exactly was that Ghost I just heard...?" She wasn't in the stacks around them, was she?