Dan was back. He leaned heavily against the doorframe. It looked as though he was favoring his left leg. It was interesting to note though that his hair hadn't moved an inch. Ares wondered what type of wood glue Dan used for hair gel.
"Oh, I say! Daniel, you're back. Good to see you're alright. Now then, Bron here was telling me how he and his family lived here prior to your development. Isn't that interesting?"
"Yes, it is interesting," interrupted Alexandria. "Isn't it illegal to build on green property without an inspection by the Bureau of Otherkin and Fairy Affairs? You built your hangar on their home."
"Hey now, this hangar was built well before The Great Awakening."
"Yes, but the laws have changed. I was reading in the paper the other day—I think it was—" Alexandria paused thoughtfully. "Yes, the article said, 'Any establishment built within the last twenty years must undergo an inspection to make sure the native inhabitants have not been disturbed, and if they have, the property owner is responsible for compensation up to eighty percent in cost or equivalent land value.'"
The Detective's newfound niece was full of surprises. Ares had not expected her to be up to date with fairy and otherkin affairs. He might have been impressed were it not for the peculiarities surrounding her life.
"Alexandria is right. While the department has taken it upon themselves to check up on developments within the last twenty years, it is the responsibility of the property owner to contact them for an inspection. If the bureau had gotten to you before we had, you could have been facing some serious fines."
"Are you kiddin' me? What kind of kooky Detective agency is this? I lease this property from the airport and had this hangar built in a clean and honest business fashion. When it was built, there were no fairy, or whatever these things are. They didn't show up until recently."
"Things?" Alexandria hissed.
Ares was taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor, though externally he regarded her coolly.
"Dear me, we seem to have a bit of a misunderstanding here," the Detective said. "I say, Bron, mind if we step out a moment while you work on that watch? I think there may have been a mix up with our friend Daniel here."
"Not to worry. I'll have this Davis runnin' in no time. You take care of what you need to."
Docherty left his watch with the gremlins and walked over to Daniel.
The Detective whispered, "I think it's best we move this outside."
Dan didn't respond. His face was red and his attitude far from understanding. Ares wondered how the Detective planned to cool him off. If the gremlins thought the plane was theirs, Ares was not sure what they could do about it.
Ares followed the Detective as he assisted Dan down the ladder. Alexandria stayed back, lingering in the cabin with the gremlins.
"Alright, what is all this nonsense about? He can't just take my planes because I built a hangar on his rabbit hole, or whatever he called a home," Daniel spat as they took their last steps off the ladder.
"Well, that's not a very nice thing to say." Ares turned to see Alexandria coming down the ladder.
"Oh, I didn't mean—" Dan began.
"How would you like it if someone knocked your house down without asking and built a hangar on it? Laws have been put in place to protect fairy and otherkin. In accordance with The Grand Apology, you should have had someone come out and examine the land for fairy and otherkin inhabitants before you—"
"Right, right. You're absolutely right, but I didn't get a chance—"
"Really, Dan Skip, there is no excuse for this," Alexandria replied. "If Bron takes this to court, it doesn't look very good for you. I'd listen to what the Detective has to say before you slander that nice gentleman inside."
Alexandria's cheeks were flushed and her tone full of disgust. Ares didn't know whether to be irritated or impressed. He looked at the Detective who was gaping at his niece.
When the Detective realized everyone was looking at him, he recovered by clearing his throat. "Hem. Mr. Skip, Alex has a point. There are laws in place for this sort of thing. After The Grand Apology, the Bureau of Otherkin and Fairy Affairs was created to avoid and correct such conflicts. Though we are on airport property, it's quite possible that Bron and his family were living here for years, and I mean centuries, before the airport even existed. It is therefore his property, and the airport had no right to sell or lease it to you. Therefore, I suggest we strike a bargain with Bron," the Detective said.
"How do you mean?" Dan Skip asked, warily.
"I mean, you might want to consider asking him if you can use his planes."
"But they're my planes!"
"Yes, yes, of course," said the Detective. He continued in a hushed voice. "But until you can replace the home that you have taken away from Bron, I suggest you act as though the planes are his and ask him for permission to use them. I think you'll find that he is exceptionally handy to have around."
"Okay, okay. Wait. So, you're saying that I have to temporarily let this—this little man think that these planes are his, and I have to buy him a new home?" Dan groaned unhappily.
"Yes. Listen, my dear fellow, you don't want this to become a legal matter. Some fairy folk have exceptional amounts of money and resources. If you get the courts involved, you risk a run-in with LEAFF, the League of Elvin Alliance Freedom Fighters, and trust me, lad, you don't want that. They could take your planes and the entire hangar away from you, in addition to causing trouble for the airport.
"I suggest you take my advice. Ask him if you can use his planes for now, while you search for a new home for him. I also suggest you ask for his assistance with the mechanical issues you've been having. As for the new home, it will only be a small woodlot, something green, no building of any kind."
The Detective looked pleased with his plan and smiled encouragingly.
Daniel furrowed his brow while he considered his options. Alex walked up beside Ares and looked at Skipper expectantly.
Dan finally relented, "Alright, alright, we'll try it."
"Brilliant!" exclaimed Docherty, clapping.
"Ha ha, well, we'll get the lad out here and see what we can work out. Alex, my dear, he seems to like you. Would you ask him to come out to negotiate?"
"I'd be happy to," Alex said as she turned to step up the ladder.
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