best to take a moment present

[maleficum]

Comments

[gambled_ourmistakes]

So they made a very grand effort of making sure we can't tell who's responsible for casting it so we can't kill them. How deft of them.

[Damian sighs as he runs his hands over his eyes. It's not what he wanted to hear, but it's at least something he can work with.]

It acts like a beacon, no? Is there a way we can muffle that somehow?

[fifthbase]

There are pastes and dark or cursed objects, some of which will provide their own forms of backlash.

( which isn't what he wants to hear, but she can provide some hope. )

But, with a signature this scrambled, I don't see how we can't tangle it even further. They opened the door, we can just let ourselves right in. It could significantly weaken the signal from both ends.

[gambled_ourmistakes]

Alright. I should just keep moving then?

[Is that his best play? Not give them time to get a solid read on where he is? He doesn't really know, he just knows that he wants to survive.]

Or is that going to be a waste of my time since it's unavoidable?

[fifthbase]

It would be prudent to not stay in the same place for too long, but I can enhance the entanglement. It will give you more time in your given surroundings. It will come with an unavoidable tingle reminding you that when it's time, it is time.

( you get the freedom you can claw back! but, you will need to keep moving. )

How does that sound?

[gambled_ourmistakes]

I can work with that.

[He pauses before tipping his head to the side.]

Hopefully a fun tingle? Not a blaring alarm bell in the back of my mind?

[fifthbase]

I can set it to your preference.

( nice hum, blaring alarm, or pleasurable plug. )

[gambled_ourmistakes]

I appreciate your consideration. A nice hum will work well.

[Or a soft itch in the back of his brain. His life is just terrible enough, he's not looking to make it worse.

Yes, he's being melodramatic, leave him alone.]

[fifthbase]

( or pleasurable, but everyone has their preferences. )

Don't move.

( a (9) fights the original spell itself, so Rowena's intention butts up against Damien's and marries quite oddly. not that either of them knows.

he will feel a sublt, slow itch creep up, but, then might like spider senses, it will kick in quite intensely when it needs to. )

Hum away.

( an electronic card slides into the door, the familiar beep sounding, as Katherine lets herself into the room. in one hand she holds a tray of coffee and a bag dangling from her fingers. she pauses.

"I didn't bring enough bagels," she says nonchalantly, stepping in and letting the door slam behind her. )

[gambled_ourmistakes]

[Damian likely attempts to whirl around when he hears her voice, but Rowena's hold on him for spell work purposes likely keeps him in place. He also quells any outburst because he doesn't want to get into this with an audience.]

You're back.

[shreds]

And I brought bagels. Not enough.

( she'd point out she said she would be, but the both of them know volumes were spoken between them and they're in mixed company.

Rowena looks down at what she's done, not thrilled with what's transpired, but as always, people get what they get.

"I can't promise it was my best work, but this is an ancient tangled web woven. You may experience some discomfort should you not leave in a timely fashion." )

[gambled_ourmistakes]

[He glances back to Rowena, and tries to let his attention go back to the witch next to him.]

Thank you, Rowena. Whatever you did do, I appreciate it.

[fifthbase]

( she owed an old ally, so, no need to mention it. she waves her hand away and turns to face the former vampire. )

Katherine.

( "Rowena. I would ask to what do we owe this house call, but, I'll skip right to 'some discomfort,'" she says. )

Not on my part, we do what we can with what we're given. Like you and some 500 years on the run from the Original hybrid.

[gambled_ourmistakes]

Rowena gave me an early warning system for when we need to move again.

[Damian leans back in his seat with a heavy sign.]

Kirsanov's dead, but two people cast this spell, so we have to figure out who the second person is and make sure they're dead before we're free and clear.

[shreds]

Thank you, Rowena.

( she sounds grateful, right? cause she is. )

We, or, anyone not directly connected to the who? Because the way I see it, we did our part, we torched your body, I think our part is pretty much done until you can get that off his arm.

[gambled_ourmistakes]

Rowena wasn't involved in the recruitment process.

[Basically, this isn't her battle, and Katherine is directing her ire in the wrong direction.]

I don't disagree, but we'll have to take it up with the witches who actually asked us for help in the first place.

[shreds]

( she's involved now and she's Rowena MaCleod, but. )

I'll take up the cause, then. You got our pound of flesh, etc etc.

( but he's right. not their fight. she doesn't recognize Daniel Abernathy, but she does shoot Sam a look on Facetime. )

Anything else?

[gambled_ourmistakes]

["Not on my end." Abernathy replies. "We've done about all we can do for him."

Damian nods.]

Now all that's left is running, running and more running.

[shreds]

Been there, done that.

( she sets her bagel bag, her purse, and the coffee tray down on the bureau, turning back to their visitors.

they have things to discuss. )

Then, if you don't mind.

[gambled_ourmistakes]

Thank you both for your help.

["Are you in need of transportation, Rowena?"

The sentence is awkward but Abernathy knows what Rowena can do with innuendo if she's given the wiggle room. Right now all he's offering her is a car ride.]

[shreds]

( "I was going to call a car to the train station, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at a ride, Daniel." She doesn't look gifthorses in the mouth.

Katherine unpacks one of the bagels and puts it on a styrofoam plate on the small table by the bed. She pulls out folded over aluminum foil and reveals the toppings, ignoring the -- is that flirting? )

[gambled_ourmistakes]

[It's ... trying not to flirt. Or something. But Abernathy nods and gestures for her to lead the way as they head out, leaving the two of them alone.

Damian waits, watching her quietly for a moment.]

So where did you go for these bagels? All the way to New Jersey?

[New Jersey has the best bagels, the narration does not make the rules.]

[shreds]

I went to see an old friend who I thought could help us.

( and yes, that required an overnight, and yes, she contemplated falling back on old habits. but her oldest habit. running. it's in her blood. who knows, but she's evolved. leave no man behind. apparently. )

She's dead. I'm guessing someone out there is getting a head start on their witch war.

[gambled_ourmistakes]

And you couldn't have said that?

[He understands asking for help, but it's the way she simply disappeared that he had a problem with. Especially if she implied that they were going to stay in this together.

He may not have trusted it, but he is going to hold her to her word.]

[shreds]

I didn't want to get your hopes up.

( she seats herself at the table, grabbing a bagel and taking a plastic knife to cut it in half.

but she's lying to herself and him, right?

she also needed to know what Lucy could do for her. which, ended up being nothing. )

I'm used to expiration dates. I didn't want ours.

( so hse's back. )

[gambled_ourmistakes]

[He takes a deep breath, drumming his fingers idly against the table as he tries to work through what he wants to say. He doesn't want to be waiting for the other shoe to drop with her. He has enough shoes to worry about as it is.]

I know this isn't what you signed up for.

[They were going to try standing still for a while, and seeing where that took them. Now, it seems they're just getting more running, at least for the time being.]

But I need you to be honest with me if you want out - now, later, whenever. Just tell me.