He was silent as well, processing everything that she had said, while still taking in how she looked... what she was.

"Ah..." he stammered.

"Maybe I can help." he said.

"What's it look like?" he asked her.

She described it, so he started to look around as well.

"Why will it mean trouble for you if you don't find it?" he asked.

That seemed to flick the right switch. The EXACT right switch.

"Not 'normal'!?" he exclaimed.

"My dear, you are BEAUTIFUL!" he told her.

"Look, let's make a deal." he then said.

"I help you find this ring, and we talk about something together." he continued.

"I don't like that word, 'normal', and I don't like attitudes revolving around it. Please. If I help you, can we chat about that?" he asked her.

"ASAP." he replied.

"And I mean that in the most literal sense." he told her.

"As soon as literally possible. The sooner, the better." he went on.

"And I don't know if you know me, or my work, but I'm a photographer." he then said. "Optimally, I would love to talk with you in my studio." he continued, before pausing.

"But I realise that such a private place might not be comfortable for most, given we've just met." he admitted.

"So if you have a place in mind, I'm willing to entertain THAT possibility."

"Excellent!" he responded, clapping his hands together.

"Ah...." he then said, thinking about something.

"Do you have electronics on you?" he asked.

"You might want to temporarily switch them off." he suggested.

"I use electricity to travel, and cannot guarantee they will survive the journey while on." he warned her, before thinking about it.

"Or we can take a cab. I have no issues paying for that." he added, and she could tell he was being sincere with every word of this.

His eyes practically lit up when he saw her arm.

"Oh... my... goodness..." he said under his breath, his tone betraying how excited he was.

He then quickly cleared his throat, and composed himself.

"Ah, yes, of course." he told her.

"This way, then." he said, as they both stepped out into a more public area. Once they did, he took his phone out and did something on it for about 2 minutes, before putting it away.

"A limo cab will be here shortly." he informed her.

"I see." he replied.

"Well, it's a shame that that happened in the first place." he told her.

"However, it's good that a solution was found." he then added.

She saw he wanted to almost gush about this, but before either of them could really say anything more, the limo cab showed up... and it was one of the nicer ones that the city had to offer, complete with complimentary drinks.

The driver got out and opened the door on the side they were on, and he gestured to her.

"I'll go in the other side." he said, starting to make his way there.

"Ah, how thoughtless of me." he replied, as the door was shut behind him.

"I am Valentino." he told her.

"Call me Val if you wish." he continued, with the car pulling away.

Once it did, he opened the small fridge between them, where she saw a decent variety of drinks.

"Complementary, of course." he informed her.

"Feel free to take whatever." he said.

"And it's wonderful how you've managed to come back from losing your arm." he added.

Val had grabbed a glass and poured a tiny bottle of champagne in it, nodding as she said what she did.

"I see, I see." he said.

"That makes sense, then." he commented.

"And Izea is a nice name." he told her

"It's unique, and I feel like it suits you." he continued.

"Yes, yes, indeed." he mumbled, seemingly talking to himself now, and drinking some of what he'd poured.

"Not far." Val replied.

"About 5 minutes longer." he told her.

Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, the car stopped in front of what looked to be a small warehouse... which was already kind of sketchy. They were both let out of the car, and made their way to the door that was close by. Val unlocked it and stepped inside, gesturing for her to follow.

Once she did... she saw that the interior was completely redone.

The walls were painted various scenes and patterns for different backgrounds, it looked like it had been insulated, the lighting was all there and it seemed like it was actually a comfortable area.

And she noticed papers everywhere. A desk, and a cabinet under lock and key... as well as a small round table with comfortable chairs around it... with a huge binder on said table.

"Come on and have a seat." he told her, walking to the table and chairs.

Val just sighed.

"...take a look at that binder." he told her.

When she did, and started to flip through it, she saw photos. LOTS of photos.

And they were... varied, to understate it. She saw elves, dryads, fae, ramaarin, even a lantha was in there. They were all tasteful glamour shots too... of them in their unhidden glory. As they were. As nature had made them.

"I... get tired of those that don't look 'normal' thinking they need to hide who they are from mages." he said. "The world at large I can understand. I don't like it, but I understand it. But mages should accept those that aren't like them." he continued.

"I want to showcase natural beauty. I want to show them all that there's nothing that needs to be hidden." he said further.

"...Izea, let me photograph you." he told her bluntly.

"You are a goblin, yes?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Please. Let me show the world your beauty, mechanical arm and all." he continued. "I can see it. The raw beauty that the world has shaped... let me show the world that you exist, and are worthy to be seen in the sunlight, as you truly are."