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Cockroach Mansion -- Downstairs

The heavy, dark opulence to this mansion known as Dominion is perfectly exemplified by the room vistors first enter, this front hall. Dark-stained wood serves as paneling on the walls, gleams with high gloss in the hardwood floor, and supports a semi-circular balcony in carved pillars. The heavy double doors, made of oak, open into the hall from the south, opposite the huge, hourglass-shaped staircase composed of red and black gneiss which soars up to the balcony; both are fenced in with a wooden railing of simple spiraled posts. Several doorways can be made out on the second floor, nearly blending in discreetly with the back wall. The wall to the left of the front doors is composed entirely of windows which run from the forty-foot-tall domed dark wood ceiling to the floor; if drawn, the heavy velvet drapes of deep red would completely mask them from view, but when parted, as they often are, one has a marvelous view of the grounds outside.

A doorway to the right of the front doors leads to a parlor, and towards the back are the kitchens, the large dining room, and Salem's office.

(+views set)

Obvious exits:
Tower Stairway Salem's Office Front Doors

Natalie's back in the kitchen, the door to the hallway open. The Galliard's puttering around, clearly visible from the hallway. There's a distinct smell of cookies wafting throughout the house - fresh cookies, no less.

Anthony lets himself into the mansion and starts wandering towards the parlor, idly pushing buttons on his cellphone. However, the scent pulls him away and towards the kitchen hallway.

Everybody loves cookies, even Wyrm-ridden BSDs. Which is why it's no surprise that the smell draws the Ragabash. Nat pulls the oven open and sweeps a tray of cookies out, replacing it with a tray of unbaked blobs. The hot tray she balances on the sink; there are at least twenty cookies cooling on the table on sheets of old newspaper. From the hints of color within the golden dough, M & Ms were the goody of choice.

Anthony peers into the kitchen before stepping inside, eyeing the cookies and the maker of cookies curiously. "You make these? Like, from scratch?" he asks somewhat dubiously, tentatively taking one of the still-cooling ones and holding it up to inspect it.

Natalie turns from the sink with a grin. "Oh hey, Anthony. Yeah, I did. Careful, those're still hot." Of course, there are also a couple of places where the newsprint is darker but no cookie can be found. Someone wouldn't snitch, would she? "Knock yourself out. Go easy on the milk, though, or someone'll have to go get more." She crosses to sit in the chair waiting for her. "What've you been up to?"

The cookie disappears pretty rapidly, even without milk; the only trace left is some crumbs on Tony's fingers. "I haven't been doing much," he says as he takes a seat, dusting his hands off on his pants. "I guess you've been keeping busy, though, eh?"

Natalie says, "Damn straight." She snatches another cookie - quite possibly her third - and sets to. "What'd Salem say last night?"

"He must've snuck out, 'cause he wasn't there," Tony says, looking at the cookies and apparently considering taking a second. "I'll tell him maybe tonight if he's around."

Natalie snorts around a mouthful of cookie. "Call'm," is her muffled suggestion. Chew, swallow. "Or send email. Voicemail. Note on his desk. He can't throat you through a connection, Tony."

"Yeah, I left a note for him, but still, I'd like to talk to him in person," Tony replies, breaking down and taking the cookie he had his eyes fixed on.

Natalie relaxes at the Ragabash's confession. "Well then. Yeah, face to face is better. But he's busy. Speaking of, how's the plumbing coming along? The greenhouse probably won't be here until early next week, so I've got some time free if you want help. I still haven't managed to get out to the farm yet. Maybe tonight."

Anthony frowns with a mouthful of cookie. "'S not comin' along yet," he says, pausing to finish chewing. "I still have to talk to Salem about shelling out for the pipes and all that."

Natalie grimaces sympathy. "I know that. Um... you have an estimate on how much it'll cost? Any chance you could get it out of your pocketbook? I've got some cash - not a lot, but some - I could chip in." She eyes the remaining cookies, but contents herself with nibbling on the one she has already.

"Yeah, I've got an estimate, and it's way past whatever I've got in the bank," Tony says, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair slowly. "Though I think my checking account's down to like six dollars and change, so that doesn't mean much."

Natalie says, "Eech. Well, you might want to ask around, see if anyone else can help. I'll put a couple, three hundred in if you get it matched." The oven timer *bing*s cheerfully, and she hurries over to the oven. "That's the last of 'em. Man, I love fresh cookies."

"Yeah, I'll look around," Tony agrees, glancing back over his shoulder as the oven timer goes off. "Why'd you make cookies, anyway? Just 'cause?"

Natalie busies herself with the minutia of taking cookies out of the oven. With the hot tray safely balanced on the sink, she brings the cooler tray over for de-cookieing. "Yup. 'Cause I like cookies, 'cause I was bored... just because, mostly. Watch your fingers." This last warning's given as she's moving the tray fairly close to the other Walker. "Plus they're bribery for the cubs." She returns to the sink with the empty tray, briefly running water and flicking her fingers beneath. "Look, can you get this last tray set out? I've gotta run for a bit. I'll clean up, don't worry about that."

"Sure, I guess I could," Anthony says, leaning away from the hot tray a little before putting his chair on all fours and standing up, heading towards the sink to wash his own hands.

"Sweet. Thanks, Tony." Nat bumps her hip toward him as she crosses back toward the hallway. "Just leave a couple, and it's all good. See ya later."

[End of log]