as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

Comments

[praevaricatio]

( with a (9) she is easily influenced. in her mind, Jacqueline is a regular she recognizes, and one she would share information with.

"We usually do, but today it seems he's ordered his food on an app. At least we get a percentage of the profits." )

[tearhiseyesout]

That's a shame. Do you know who's picking up his food for him?

[Because that could give them a lead too. Follow the delivery man back to the source.]

[tramplemain]

That guy.

( The redhead dicking around on his phone, holding one of those insulated bags. )

[tearhiseyesout]

Got it. Thanks a bunch.

[She smiles, and takes the menus to make her way over to her partners.]

Turns out the missing reserved table decided to order out instead. Carrottop over there is our delivery boy.

[tramplemain]

( "Keeps up his routine, even on the run," Ezra says, eyeing him.

The host makes some nearby small talk, doing a very obvious job of flirting with the delivery boy who doesn't seem to be biting. )

[maleficum]

[David nods, before taking the menus.]

Then let's order something quick so we can stay on the road.

[Jaqueline tips her head to the side as she watches the two, and decides to give the delivery boy a tiny nudge. Nothing untoward, just enough to get his interest on the hostess long enough for them to get their food (12).]

[tramplemain]

( The delivery boy is very easily nudged, ignoring his time restrictions, even when the order arrives.

The group has time to order for themselves to get back on the road. Even long enough to follow him to his car should they want to. )

[maleficum]

[Yep, that's the plan. David lingers just long enough behind them to avoid suspicion but does his best to keep an eye on the car, following back to his intended delivery (18). Once he does stop to drop the food off, he'll hang back, parking near some trees for cover but close enough that he can see the door.]

[tramplemain]

( The driver doesn't pick up on this caravan of travelers following him. They don't follow him far, just down the block back to the a familiar hotel.

The driver double parks with his blinker on and runs inside. )

[tearhiseyesout]

["Anyone want to see if they can invisique their way inside?"

Jaqueline nods, waving a hand over herself and disappearing from view.]

I've got it.

["We need him alive, Jaq." He says after her as she leaves and she ignores him, darting across the street and into the hotel, trying to see if she can catch sight of their redheaded friend (17).]

[tramplemain]

( Their redheaded friend is reading one of the guides along the wall, finding the room number he wants...

Or, does he? He tilts his head and reads his phone again. )

Must be a typo.

( He shakes his head, stepping into one of the elevators. They head up a few floors where they're let out. He follows the doors to the end of the hall and again double checks. There's a window, there's this door and that door.

He knocks on the right door, but doesn't hear anything.

He thinks for a second, but he realizes he is way behind in his drop-off time. He sets the bag between the two doors, snaps a picture and practically runs back the other way.

InvisiJacqueline, roll for dodge. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[She dips to the side, just feeling the driver graze by her (15 vs. 12), but she manages to not attract his attention. Inching further down the hall to where he left the food, she tries to get a look at the door and see what details she can garner (20).]

[tramplemain]

( nothing is unremarkable with either door. nothing is special. there is nothing but a recent half-assed paint job. but there is significantly tethered magic present, more than jacqueline would be able to untie.

She does notice on the packaging the number doesn't exist. There is a 411 and a 413, but not a 414. There is a window where 414 would be. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[Innnnnnnnnnteresting.

She steps back, leaning her invisible self against the opposite wall, and waits. If they're hungry, sooner or later they're going to have to come out and get the food.

In the meantime, she'll text back to the car:]

Room 414. Waiting for someone to come to the door.

[tramplemain]

( 👍🏻

In the blink of an eye the bag is gone, but being so honed in whatever magic is at play, there's the briefest of glimpses of something? a parallel hallway that flashes as a door closes?

she does catch the wisp of someone mentally! roll to reach out to their mind. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[It's hard when she can't make eye contact, but she does her best to grasp onto something, anything about the mystery food snatcher (10).

But she will throw herself forward as an attempt to catch the magical door, see if there's a chance she can slip in (12).]

[tramplemain]

( There is someone there (7), on the other side of this door and it's who she's looking for. Some hate wrapped up in the picture of a good old boy from Puritan times.

She does not slip into the door, but she does slip through whatever is there.

It's an identical hallway to the one she was just in with one glaring exception, the ornate red door in front of her, closed. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[Yep, that's a confirmation, at least. She debates whether or not she wants to try and get in the door herself, but she instead opts to wait for backup.

She pulls out her phone and texts back down to the group chat:]

Come up now. He's here.

[And she's just going to wait here quietly until the cavalry arrives.]

[praevaricatio]

( Well, if that isn't the bat signal. )

Do we have a game plan?

( Meanwhile, from behind the door, she hears a voice. "The door's unlocked." )

[tearhiseyesout]

[Jaqueline raises an eyebrow, before sending a second text:]

We have an invitation.

[David glances down at the second text, then shrugs.

"I think right now the plan is convince him to come in. But we should definitely have an exit strategy if his goes to shit."]

[praevaricatio]

Great. So. We join.

( He closes the car door behind him, waiting for his husband to join his side and they make their way in and up. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[That they do, and when they make it to the fourth floor and the missing room, they are forcefully grabbed by someone on the other side and yanked into the magical in-between.

Jaqueline's already dropped her invisibility.]

Took you long enough.

[She then nudges them towards the door.]

Let's go.

[praevaricatio]

Just like - fine. Right. The invitation.

( "I hear more voices," he calls out again. "You know, your breakfast is getting cold," he calls out again.

The door opens to a great room, a long table before them with place settings for four, enough for four, and candles lit in the middle of the table.

No Barnet, though. )

[maleficum]

[David raises an eyebrow as he makes his way inside, looking over the setup.]

Wish we had known in advance.

[His tone is dry and he slides his hands in his pockets.]

We already ate.

[praevaricatio]

( He makes an entrance, sweeping in from the left between two curtains, suit and tales. Entirely overdressed for a breakfast rendezvous.

"I was the first male in the Colony line to gain the sight," he says, grandiose, clearly talking to hear himself talk. "Of course, gifts like these are never enough. I could not gamble. I could not read your mind like some of us. I did not know which three witches were sent in search of me, but that there were three." He sighs. "And I did not see you eating without me. The Double T Diner really is one of a kind."

But, whatever.

"Two of you are infamous. I am sorry, that the woman has escaped me." He never did pay close attention. "Three does seem like overkill,".

He is ONE man. )