Standing on the steps of the casino, not knowing any other way to get back to Libitina outside the official channels, he was still meant to be away training. This early in the morning, most people were making their way out of the glass building. The day's responsibilities are now pulling on their coats after spending their money or winning their fortunes.
Norbert walked up the steps, nodding to the guards as he showed his weapons tied up. He gave them a slightly surprised look before they let him in without more of a word, guessing they were slightly surprised at his knowledge of the customs needed.
Norbert looked inside the lower floor, not seeing anything different from the other times he had been on this floor. He stood still as people hardly made their way out, cashing in the last couple of chips they earned before heading off for the day. Norbert stared at the back, where he knew the hidden door would be for the kitchens. Down that hallway to the right underground would be the portal he was after.
Hefting his sack into position once more, making sure it stayed there, slung over his shoulder, Norbert stepped forward. The crowd could see his determination and did not want to get in the way of him as he continued past the exchange counter.
Thankfully, it quickly emptied, and most were around the entrance and the exchange, wanting to leave for the day. Around him, Norbert could see the wait staff eager to start the clean-up but wanting to wait for the last guest to leave.
Singled out, with all eyes from the staff following him, Norbert walked through with Obsius on his shoulder, starting to whistle a silly tune as the bird joined in as well. He hoped that Elizabeth would have told them about his eclectic behaviour beforehand so he could easily walk in.
As he made his way to the section of the wall, nobody said anything, no outcry or asking him what he was doing. Norbert assumed he could continue, likely because the casino owner was already waiting for him down in the belly of her domain.
Holding his breath, Norbert placed his hand against the wall, watching as it fazed through. Happy that it hadn't moved, not wanting to smash his face into a solid wall, Norbert walked the rest of the way forward, the torches on either side of the hallway flickering in the light as he made his way down there.
Thankful that no staff were here trying to go the other way, Norbert stopped at the T junction and looked to the left at the kitchens. He wondered if that chef was still there, following his master around and continuing to cook meals.
Taking a step there, he stopped by the sudden weight of the candies he was carrying. Pausing momentarily, Norbert turned around, going down the other pathway leading down the spiral staircase.
Seeing the first guard not stop him from continuing his thoughts were correct, somehow she must have figured out his plan. I don't think he told anyone about it, but someone must have followed him in Liberia.
Norbert started down the spiral staircase, one at a time, limping his way down and being careful not to drag the sack of candy on the wall next to him. They stopped momentarily at the bottom, seeing the portal frame as before. Crates pilled around, and workers moved about.
The door he was looking for was on the far side of the room. Norbert made his way across, watching as the others kept themselves busy with their work. Coming to the door, Norbert wrapped his knuckles in his free hand. Waiting patiently, Norbert looked around, feeling something catch Obsius's attention as the bird looked around.
Norbert followed the bird but saw nothing out of place. Before he could say anything to the bird, the door opened before him. Looking inside, he saw Elizabeth sitting at her desk and on it …
"So it's you," Norbert said to the white fox sitting there. "You're the one telling everyone of my plans for my betterment. So thank you, but I thought I was getting lucky." Norbert continued as he pointed accusingly at the fox.
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Obsius pecks him on the ear in response to his accusation to the fox, but Norbert plans to dismiss it as questioning Norbert's sanity and his stupidity.
Walking in, he went to the empty seat, planted himself there, dropped the sack of candies to the side of the chair, and looked towards Elizabeth, who stared back at him.
"So, will you let me go to Libitina and return with some fifty-odd kids over here?" Norbert asked her, cutting straight to the chase.
"What would you do if I said no?" She asked him.
Norbert sighed as the thought rattled through his mind; one of the only ways to connect them would be "Through the direct route. Kreevss be damned."
Elizabeth slightly paused when she heard what came out of his mouth. Norbert was sure if she was drinking her usual tea, it would have been spat out and flying all over his face at the moment. A part of him was happy that she wasn't currently drinking it.
"Would that have been your plan?" She asked him.
Norbert just nodded his head in response, not seeing a point in hiding the truth to her about it. There wouldn't be much wrong with him continuing his plan, other than the number of bodies that would be lying in his wake.
He was dismissing the thought with a wave of his hand, not seeing that it would need to resort to something like that at all.
"I can tell that either myself or someone else convinced you of this action before I came here?" Norbert asked her, wanting confirmation before departing on his journey.
Only a nod of her head and a slight point of her wrist down to the fur ball currently sleeping on her table showed any signs of giving up the fugitive. Norbert looked down for a moment at the kitsune. Sure, it had some reason up its sleeve for doing this, and many more tricks as well up there.
"How long until the kids can be brought back through?" Norbert asked her.
"Whenever suits you, but bring them through the bottom," Elizabeth added as Norbert started to get up from his chair, not seeing any more point in conversing with the lady, not when he was so close to a part of his plan from being finished.
The fox remained where it was, and Norbert did not care too much about the creature. It had a habit of appearing whenever it deemed itself necessary, not like Norbert had an idea about whether it was necessary or not. Leaving the fox there, Norbert headed out, closing the door behind him.
He stood still for a moment, watching over the works as he heard voices from within. He assumed that Elizabeth was talking to someone else, not seeming the type to talk to herself, unlike other individuals that came to his head.
Making his way to the portal frame, he watched as it was lit up, blue light emanating from the once-empty frame. Walking towards it, Norbert asked the worker closest to it, "Set for Libitina?"
Only receiving a nod in response, Norbert stepped through, the usual feeling of his body being stretched out. This one felt jumpier than the other times he had travelled across it. Like a string bouncing up and down until it became taught to its destination, finally pulling Norbert through to the other side.
The usual feeling of his body being stretched along was once again too far for the great distance he was sure to be travelling. Coming out the other side, Norbert continued walking forward. A quick look showed nothing near the portal. I'm happy that word went ahead of him so there wouldn't be a run-in.
Looking around the room, now easily able to compare the difference to the casino's underground as it was still fresh in his mind, Norbert was surprised at the similarities between the two setups.
Making his way across it, the most significant change being the workers. The difference is stark with the amount of Grimm around him at the moment, compared to being surrounded by humans before in Alasium.
Wondering how far he had travelled as he made his way up the steps, he turned around and looked out at the same boxes and the now-deactivated portal frame. Wondering where it was taking people now, Norbert looked about. The difference was the lack of a door leading to Elizabeth's office.
Leaving the idea for alter, Norbert made his way up the spiral staircase, the torches here once more lit, but the guards missing from their posts. Norbert wondered what happened with that, assuming there must be a reason that was going over his head for the reason of the change.
Dismissing it, Norbert made it to the top, standing at the T junction, where he looked to the kitchens. Some of him wanted to go in and look, but Norbert stepped away from the kitchens so close to the end, heading down the long corridor. Obsius was still on his shoulder, rubbing against his neck. Norbert smiled in return as he patted the bird with his free hand, stepping through the wall and into the busy casino.
They stopped momentarily with the activity around them, not expecting to see so many people talking about it. Breathing out, Norbert walked the crowd briskly as it parted around him, sensing his need not to be disturbed.