It was about time he came here, seeing as he had known for quite a while where to locate the professor, but yet he had never came. Why? He didn't know, maybe it was because he didn't quite feel like it yet, or maybe he was jut lazy. But then again, he wasn't created to be lazy so you could blame it on procrastination. Yes ye, that is more like it. Its hard enough looking like a dog, even harder when you are constantly mistaken for one - especially when on campus.

People have tried to chase him away, take him to their homes, and other things that got in his way. Oh bother, stupid children. Yes, that is what he counted as all of these young folk as, children. Hardly mature in any way, especially the ones who squeal over him and try to kiss him - now that was annoying. while scratchings were appreciated he had business to do. And he was going to do it.

He had almost been caught by a few staff members, but had managed to hide in a partly open closet. Only to have it shut. do you know what it is like trying to open a door when you have no hands? It was rather hard, but he managed it after 3o minutes. Damn things. He was searching for the man's office, he shouldn't have class right now. He knew he was i the right area though. Oh, a small sign caught his attention, that is the room number right? He looked over it before trotting on up, gold tag clinking as he did so.

Damn doors, he did not want to open this one.

So what does he do? One paw up against the door and he scratches down the door a coulpe times - no marks, but it is highly unlikely that it wasn't heard.

Absently.

"Yes?"

Alexander is preoccupied. He's grading papers that he's been procrastinating about, and is only about halfway through the stack. He wants to finish these today, though, so he'll probably stay late.

His coat's draped over his armchair and his suit coat is hanging on the back of his computer chair. He's leaning on his elbow, resting his forehead in the palm of his hand, and scratching red notations in the margin of the paper in front of him.

"Would you mind opening the door please? I'm quite unable to myself."

Very deep, low male voice, British obviously, with a slight growl to it. It is polite though, always best to be polite to people who have earned repsect among the magical community. Especially Alexander Barclay. His tail wagged at the thought of meeting him. Alex has another fan.

But as for what he said, it was true. After all, he has only paws and he doesn't want to use his mouth. He can't get sick, but he still dislikes the thought of putting his mouth on something dirty.

Alexander looks skeptically at the door and considers his options. He can open the door with a spell or he can get up and open it himself. It would probably be more prudent to do the latter, since there's no telling who it is at the door and the voice is completely unfamiliar...

He'd like to be lazy, but he does get up and open the door... and blinks, because there's no one there. At least not at eye level, or anywhere close to it. He looks down.

Eyebrow.

Edward's tail wagged even more when he heard footsteps and felt that aura. That aura! Even Edward was impressed - yes, Alexander is a very good choice. He was already absorbing some of the energy, not becuase he wanted to, but becuase that is how he feeds. He doesn't control it, it just happens.

Naturally Edward didn't expect Alexander to immediately see him, but he should be able to feel him, for he himself being made out of magical energy, has a very strong aura. When the other did look down and raise an eyebrow, Edward did the only thing Edward would do in this situtation.

He sighed.

Not that he actually breathed, but it was more symbolic. A shake of the head before he looke around to make sure no one was there. He looked back up to Alexander with a raised eyebrow.

"Mr. Barclay, would you mind inviting me in your room so that we can talk?"

The same voice.

That eyebrow stays raised. Probably will for some time, actually...

"Doctor Barclay," he corrects absently as he steps aside so that the... creature... can enter his office. It's not a dog. That is quite obvious, much as nonhumans are obvious to someone who looks for that kind of thing.

What exactly it is, he's not sure.

A new toy, maybe.

The good doctor is curious.

"My apologies, Doctor."

Edward nodded his head as he trots on inside the room. Blue eyes look around the office and then over to the other's desk. There should be an extra chair in the room, correct?

Edward stopped and turned around, looking over at Barclay.

"Oh yes, forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Edward."

There's Alexander's computer chair and there's his armchair. I really, really doubt that Alex would appreciate Edward sitting upon his armchair. Especially considering that that is the chair he takes.

"So. I suppose you have an interesting explanation for why you are here? And what you are, for that matter."

You know, Alex isn't actually a dog person. Or an animal person at all. But this is not an animal, and it could easily be useful.

Edward is useful, in fact, that is a compliment to him. He settled for simply sitting upright on the ground. He's defiently not a real dog - no panting (no breathing in fact), no sniffing things, no scratching or licking himself, hell, his fur isn't even real. It feels real to the touch, but he doesn't shed, lose, or gain any hair at all.

"I suppose some might find it interesting. I might as well begin with what I am."

He cleared his throat.

"I'm sure you are aware of magical constructs, yes? I happen to be one, my partiuclar...model, I suppose you could call me, is made for storing information - magical or not - and providing extra magical energy for my Master, as well as being a Guard for my Master or someone that he assigns me to Guard. Granted, I need a healthy supply of regular magical energy myself, but you might know that, yes?"

He paused for a moment, looking to the side before swinging them back up to Alexander.

"Dr. Barclay, I happen to be Masterless. Naturally I can feed off others, but I still need a Master to supply a main source of energy - even if it is small - but I still need that main source. Granted, I'm not sure if you would exactly jump to the idea of me asking this, but, would you be willing to take me in as your servant? I am very useful actually."

Calmly spoken, polite, and sincere. He's behaving his best.

Alexander leans back, steepling his fingers and considering this. He taps his index fingers against his lips.

On the one hand, Edward could be very useful indeed. On the other hand, Alexander has very little magical energy to spare, considering that he is in an exclusive relationship with a half-incubus and he is hoarding energy for his attack on Azrael...

After quite some time, he says, not without some regret, "I cannot spare any power to 'feed' you."

Edward nodded, frowning slightly to himself, he was thinking.

"that is a problem, but not one that is a major problem, just feeding off that aura you give off-" He eyed Alex "-is enough, but I would still need someone to help provide a semi-main source since they would not be my Master..."

A pause.

"Do you know anyone who can provide that? They don't have to be especially powerful...but they would need to have a decent supply or else..."

He waved his paw.

"They would be constantly tired and or fatigued and would be prone to fainting."

Alexander allows himself a small grin.

"Douglas Kael, perhaps."

Why yes, he is amused at the idea of Douglas being constantly tired and prone to fainting. He is fairly certain that Douglas has never fainted at all, as a matter of fact, and it would be nice to take him down a peg...

Wait.

"Never mind."

Edward watched the grin and found himself amused. Obviously there was something with that person either the good Doctor didn't like about him, for him to offer him up so quickly and easilly. He rubbed his nose with his paw, nodding.

"Ah, I see..."

He looked to the side, too bad the Doctor couldn't spare anything, he would have really looked forward to working for him.

"Guess I'll still have to thank that boy anyways..."

"Boy?"

As much as Alexander enjoys pretending, he really doesn't know everything. (It would be nice if he did, though... He should look into omniscience, don't you think?)

((blahshort.))

Edward nodded, looking back up to Alexander.

"I ran into a boy, well...young man, one night and he was the one who mentioned you being here. He was one of the only ones who didn't go running off when I began to talk, sure he was surprised, but he seemed to like me...very nice scratchings he gave me too."

He furrowed his brow slightly.

"His name was..K...Ky...Keye! Yes, that was his name. Keye."

Ah. That would be why the dog had known who he was and where to find him.

"I see."

This smile is entirely different than the one that went with the mention of Douglas. It's a happy smile, very proud, and also doesn't look like he's considering perpetrating nasty criminal activities.

"Keye is my son."

Edward nodded, smiling too. It was odd to see a dog smile. But no teeth were bared so it was his version of a friendly smile.

"I thought so, he mentioned living with you, so I fugred that must be it, or you were his guardian sort of."

He nodded once more.

"I believe we would have been able to talk easier if the other young man hadn't been there, but we did still manage to talk some, which was good since it provided to be useful."

"Why, were you looking for me?"

That would be somewhat ordinary, though flattering. It's not so very uncommon for someone to want to meet the author of their favorite book, you know.

... can Edward read?

He looked up.

"I wasn't looking for /you/ per se, but I have been looking for a notible, powerful Mage or Alchemist, since my creator was ne himself, who I would deem as suitable for my Master."

He shook his head.

"I had the luck of coming here becuase of its great sourse of energy, and had the luck of meeting Keye. When he told me about you, I though I found someone who can be my Master. I've heard of you, and read all of your books. I'm a fan, so to speak, but not quite like some of the crazy folks out there."

Alexander chuckled.

"I suppose this proves that my books aren't just for humans." Grin. "You would have to be quite crazy to outmatch some of my 'fans.'"

Why yes, that is a bit of distaste in the way he says the word 'fans.' He's referring to the girls--and a few boys--who are 'fans' of his and obsess over him to a degree that is somewhat frightening.

... aren't there young movie stars for that?

Why freak over young hoohahs that'll dissapear in a few years when they have a handsome, powerful, refined older man to freak (and drool) over? Anyways, Edward isn't like that, he is a practical fan, someone who is just fond of reading his books and would enjoy talking to him about such magical things, etc.

"Of course not, I read them solely to build my own knowledge of things, and I will say that your books have been very helpful."

He smiled.

Well, I guess when you put it that way...

Alexander nods.

"That is the purpose, of course. I'm glad you found them so helpful."

And here he mentions a passage that he was afraid might be a bit obscure when he wrote it, but it was necessary to make that entire chapter make sense, and all that sort of thing.

He wants to know Edward's opinion.

"Of course."

And when Alexander asked ihm about a certain passage, Edward replied truthfully, explaining what he though and hwo it rather made sense to him but it might not have to others.

(( ack, short, sorries ))

Alexander nods.

"The passage worried me when I published it, but it would take a whole new book in order to clarify..."

Pause.

He grins.

"Perhaps that shall be my occupation on my next sabbatical."

Edward nodded and grinned.

"I'll be looking forward to it."

He looked around the room. They had finished that, but it left an odd moment. He rubbed his muzzle with his paw. This is awkward.

"So there really isn't much else - I think, not sure - that we can do about this situation, hm?"

Edward was trying to come up with ideas, but it is rather hard considering he only knows what he has stored in him. There must be something.

"No, I'm afraid not. I have entirely too much on my plate at the moment to spare any power at all."

If he weren't with Bo, he would jump at the chance, but Bo is where all his extra energy goes, and Bo is vastly more important.

Sorry, Edward.

"Of course."

Edward nodded, his mind already whizzing through other things he needs to do today. He would have to find that Keye again and thank him himself, unless if Alex decides to tell Keye for him - but Edward wouldn't know anyways, so he'd find him again. He stood up. Well the best he can. A nod to Alex and he trotted over to the door, lifting a paw, and opening it.

He looked back at Alex once more.

"Pleasure meeting you Dr. Barclay, and if you ever need something, feel free to find me - I'm always around."

He turned to go out then stopped and turned back.

"By the way, be careful, especially with your son. I've been feeling a lot of strange things ever since I've gotten here and I'm not talking about the Gods - wandering around even during the day isn't quite safe anymore, especially when by one's lonesome."

It wasn't a threat, it was the truth. He nodded once more, trotting through the door, closing it behind him with a simple click.