that someone's lookin' out for us, that someone loves us

[slavophile]

( After searching the hunters' phone, decoding barely cryptic cypher, and triangulating what he realizes are coordinates, he brings everyone together. Timing is crucial.

The summer solstice is that evening.

Isaac, Bonnie, Gloria, Mia, Danny, the twins, and Hope are in William's room. )

It's the Astronomical Clock.

( "The abstract art?" Lizzie asks, remembering her meet-whatever with Danny in front of that very landmark.

Hope, Josie and Danny found the same. With the twins' begrudging acceptance of Jo's informative text (and not much more scolding, maybe it's coming), the plan comes together. With the summer equinox being about the incoming nourishment after action, then this is the local yearly ritual. )

Witches will be there in droves. In plain clothes, but there to reaffirm and grow their power. That is the hunters' target. What I don't know, is if this is a blunt assault. I downloaded schematics. This looks on the outside like an act of terrorism.

( So. Bomb. )

Every hunter we find is low on the totem pole. The higher ranked hunters run the ops. There will be civilians and civilian hunters. Low-ranked boy and Girl Scouts. It's dangerous.

( Which is why their answers are few and far between and why Cooper's double agent act only gets him so far. )

What do you think?

Comments

[daydrinker]

( Scott will sing his praises to his once roommate. )

And check in.

[polydeukes]

We will. But text, don't call. Just in case.

[Because they don't want to give away their location if needed. But with that, she looks to her sister and Danny.]

Is there anything else we need?

[daydrinker]

( "Answers from the Europe Super Squad. Thanks, mom and dad."

They learned a lot. )

[polydeukes]

["Stay safe."

And with that the parents hang up, and Josie turns to face the trio even more.]

Okay. So what next? Finding a good place for the ritual?

[jockwitch]

And what the hunters want, what Hope discovered, and who actually goes in.

( Plus a longer list she ticks off in her mind. )

[polydeukes]

["I can technically do the ritual from anywhere. But I think the closer we get to the clocktower the better. Just to be safe."

Josie nods, before reaching for her earpiece.]

Hey, William. We're done with my parents. What do you guys need?

[jockwitch]

( "You should go. Hope and Mia are concentrating on the bomb but more hunters are on their way. It's best if you beat them there and get Danny upstairs," he says, having been listening to multiple conversations and feeds as the day has gone on. "Bonnie and Isaac have four representatives from the local coven infiltrating with you. Do you need anything from me?" )

[polydeukes]

Not right now. We'll keep you posted if we do.

[Okay, team. Time to roll.]

Let's get there and see what we can find before the hunters do.

[Danny nods and climbs to his feet. As he gathers his things, he looks over to the twins. "Thanks, both of you."]

[jockwitch]

We got this.

( They're the new and improved extended super squad.

They're not far on foot.

Once they arrive in the square, it's packed, tourists milling about, taking pictures, and nothing seems out of the ordinary. The front doors are open and there is a small line to get inside.

That's it, you all suck in your rolls. )

[polydeukes]

[Josie glances around, and since they all need to get into the tower itself, she nods to the line of people going in.]

Should we play tourist?

[jockwitch]

It's not like we weren't yesterday. It's a good cover. Let's play tourist.

( She links her arms with her sister's on one side, and Danny's on the other as they move through the crowd and step into line. It's not a long wait, there are no tickets, just a formal stamp on their hand, equal to the clock's design.

They come into the main, great room, with exhibits and faux history on what the clock is, how it was built, and how long it's been around. )

[polydeukes]

[Josie may not see anything with her eyes, but she's been a magic detector since before she was born (20). As they move through the room, listening to the talk about the tower's history, she reaches out, trying to find the magical parts of the tower and where the best place to set up shop would be.

Danny just follows along, his palms sweating as he rubs them against his jeans.]

[jockwitch]

( It's up. They need to go into the tower itself, and from her exploration, she can feel a benevolent presence. Bruno, from another thread nods in her direction as he passes into the gift shop, and two others she also doesn't recognize. There are good people here.

There is also an unidentified presence.

Lizzie does not feel anything. Josie's maxed out magic and Lizzie's preoccupation with Danny preclude her from picking anything specific out. )

[polydeukes]

[Josie nods in return to the witch allies, before turning and leaning in to her sister and Danny.]

We need to go up.

[A beat.]

Some of the local witches are here. But there's also something else. We need to be on our guard.

[jockwitch]

Aren't we always?

( No, Lizzie, you're the least on your guard at all times, but funny you can believe you are. There are a few ways out of the main hall, other exhibits and hallways, and one grand staircase that's sanctioned off. )

[polydeukes]

Invisibility? To get past the stairs?

[She's keeping her voice low, but that's where they need to go. Danny nods his agreement.]

[jockwitch]

Friendly, sisterly reminder. We are being watched and not only.

( Not only that, as she smiles through their plan. )

[undermyfeet]

So then we don't suddenly disappear.

[Danny pulls them off to the side, casting he goes. It's not invisibility so much as a glance off, a request that people not look directly at them. Less obvious than invisibility and hopefully he manages to be discreet enough (14).]

[jockwitch]

( It's good enough, as they duck into a hallway, or what they thought was a hallway. They've entered the Clocktower all over again. )

What in the David Lynch.

[undermyfeet]

It's like a loop.

[Danny's brow furrows, glancing around as he does.]

This can't be right.

[jockwitch]

Or, it's exactly right. How do you stop someone from actually doing something?

( Trap them and send them in circles. )

We just need to know if -- ( A (16) has Lizzie thinking more clearly than she has in days. They aren't the only ones realizing what's happening as someone comes out of the restroom and brings a hand to their ear.

Another woman she recognizes as she holds a hand over her mouth and looks over her palm listens, and nods to whoever. )

What if the hunters aren't doing this?

( The crowd is too much and the female hunter is too confused about being trapped to recognize the three of them. )

Why would they trap all of us?

[polydeukes]

Because this isn't about either of us. It's about whoever cast the spell.

[Josie closes her eyes again, trying to tap into the magic she's been gifted and use it to her advantage. She tries to find the threads of the spell, and see if she can cut a way for them to escape through (18).]

[jockwitch]

( Whoever cast this magic isn't expecting twice as much trying to unravel what she's done. The seams are clear, an ethereal green twisting around each other around the entrances and exits, a little like the magical Matrix.

It has no origin in this room, however. But, it IS a spell.

Likely, cast by someone with the help of a dark object, or the magic would have an origin point. )

[polydeukes]

[While her vision is still in the matrix, she reaches for her sister's hand and places it on one of the walls of the spell. She could try to dispel it, but honestly it would be faster to try and siphon it.

Time to try that first.]

Siphon.

[And with that she'll close her eyes and start working, trying to draw as much of the magic in as she can.]

[jockwitch]

( At first, part of the illusion reveals itself, only her view down one corridor, but it's not long before it feels like the spell is siphoning from the twins, and not the other way around, like it only strengthens. Lizzie fails at dropping the siphon (10), and she may need to be yanked free. )