everyonelives | because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

It's fine. I have more suits. Let's just ... get off the street.

[And they will, making their way back to Luke's apartment where they will both take very long, very hot showers that miraculously don't tax his hot water and Robin chooses not to question it, as it gets the smell of sewage from him.

They still have a lot to talk about, but that can wait until they both feel clean again.

Luke lends him something to wear as Robin decides the suit is not worth saving, even with magic. He sits on the couch, flexing his hand that's a bit sore from punching someone in the face unguarded, and glances over at Luke.]

So can we ... take it back a bit? To the start of the whole magic is real part?

( Now that they're both clean and he has lit magic incense (and magically burned the suit Robin has discarded) - that smell! He joins Robin on his couch and hands him a plastic bag of ice wrapped with a paper towel.

He takes a seat, one leg under him and the other one on the ground. Tea or alcohol can come later. This is an important conversation. )

We can start there. But, you're the one who saved my life tonight because of your magic vision. What did you think was happening when you were having your dreams?

Well, I didn't think magic was real. I thought maybe I just ... was noticing things and processing them.

[That sounds lame, even as he says it.]

I don't know. The most game-changing thing I saw in it has been you. And I'm certainly not complaining about that.

I'm going to take game-changing as a compliment.

( He smirks, resting his head on his arm that stretches along the couch. He rests a hand on one of Robin's wrists. )

Magic is real. Something about you, or your family line's magic. My family are all witches. And, for the record, we didn't do anything to be targeted like this. ...Every witch is sort of being targeted right now.

Good, because it was one.

[Robin has been very much enjoying his time with Luke, and it's been nice to start to feel like he's been building a real life in New York.

But back to the actual matter at hand.]

Why? Is it some kind of witch ... culling? Are there supernatural police you could go to?

[Not that police are always the best option, but there has to be some form of accountability.]

( His head pops up again, chin now resting on his arm. )

Yes, actually, to your first question. There is something dark and complicated going on with a very old coven I did run afoul of - but this is different. It's called the Gauntlet and it's about power consolidation. ( And, culling. ) Usually, people don't try again. My guard's up, now, and there are other targets. And there are those of us that know about it and an organization my sister works for that's trying to mitigate some of the damage. But there's not one all-encompassing authority over magic-users. Covens operate within their own bounds. In this case, the rules are out the window. Temporarily. ( The hand across the couch rests on Robin's shoulder. ) I'm sorry you got in the crossfire. But, I'm not sorry you tipped me of.

I'm not sorry about that either.

[He's glad he was able to give Luke some kind of advantage, even if it landed him in the sewer. Then all the concerns that he's been sublimating in the interest of staying alive start to rise to the surface.]

You said this was in my blood?

Probably? There are a few wellsprings of magic, depending on your lineage, or your source. Some people can harness magic taught by them, but they aren't innately magic. Other people can say the wrong words from the wrong book and - ( he lifts his hand, fingers splayed. voila-style. ) magic. My magic comes from my coven. In New Orleans, the magic comes from the ancestors. But, there's a witch there, that draws from her own family line. The less diluted, the more powerful you are. There are also the darker witches, ones that sold their soul to - ( He pauses. ) I'm getting too into the weeds here. Yes. It could be in your blood. Do you remember anything magical about your childhood or your family?

[Robin shakes his head.]

My parents' weren't exactly big on familial heritage, beyond the fact that my father's family was a long line of baronets. They certainly didn't teach us any magic, unless you count the art of convincing people that you care in order to get them to spill secrets for you to use against them.

[His parents were not ... great people. But his concern is more to the point of:]

Could Maud have it too? Could they target her, even if she knows nothing?

( He'll get back to baronets because, what? )

She could. She probably has something. But if it's latent, or dormant, or it's like you and she doesn't know what it might be, then she's not on anyone's radar. Magic can also skip generations. It can be bound. Stripped. There are explanations.

[Robin nods, because that all makes sense in a world where magic is true, and it's not like he isn't going to run home and tell Maud everything anyway so ...]

If we went to see her, would you be able to tell? If she also has magic?

I ape more magic. Think of me more like a scientist. But, I can do all the basic spells. I could detect it, if it's in her. But, I'd need more power or a different kind of witch to denote what she is or what she actually has. Or a grimoire if you have one lying around.

( Maybe from your family! )

[Robin rubs a hand through his hair, trying to think about what was left behind in the townhouse in London. But he didn't actually do any of the cataloguing. He was too busy figuring out how to pass the American bar and arranging for the real estate.

Maud was the one taking stock of what little their parents had left them. He exhales slowly.]

If there's anything like a grimoire, Maud is the one who would know.

[He takes a beat.]

Will you come back to the flat with me? Help me ... explain all of this? She's going to have so many questions.

( He sits up more, shifting closer to take one of Robin's hands in both of his. )

Yes. Whenever you want. And not just because we've been flirting nonstop and stumbled into our first date which was more like a date. Which, for me, kind of feels more like a date.

Oh, no. This is not a date. We will have a proper date, stumbling around in a sewer does not count.

[He's just saying. He's been in his fair share of situationships and flings - if they're going to talk dates, they're going to have one.]

Can we go tonight? We don't keep secrets from each other.

Oh. You're that close. Yeah, of course. ( He climbs off the couch, blowing out a few of the candles he'd lit while Robin was in the shower. ) If I had something to tell my sister, I'd just call. Or, if we were in each other's cities, probably barge into her room.

If it were anything else, I probably would call. But this ... this is too big.

[He pauses, because he realizes that this may be a little bigger given what they've been doing.]

But if you don't want to meet her yet, I can take a crack at it myself?

No, I - I know what it's like. People need to hear it from the horse's mouth. It goes down better. ( He comes back over to offer a hand and pull him to a standing position. ) And, I want to meet her. We'll just do this in the reverse order we should. I think that means the next step's divorce. ( He makes a yikes face, joking, before leaning in, testing the waters and pressing his lips to Robin's. Maybe it's the time? )

[It takes him by surprise, mostly because he's been thinking about doing it for weeks. He never saw it in any of his visions, but every time there's a teasing flirtation or a moment that feels right, he considers leaning in.

And he keeps chickening out.

Luke breaking the ice between them, tentatively or not, emboldens him to take the step he's been wanting to, hands coming up to cup his face and pulling him into a firmer kiss, not too insistently, but just enough to keep him close.]

( He will dip right into that kiss, trying not to be too eager, but giving as good as he's getting. )

[The kiss is really good. In fact, if Robin didn't have other things on his mind, he'd probably would linger in it much longer.

Part of him wonders if he should. Maud will keep, and big reveals could likely wait until later. She doesn't even know there's anything she's waiting for.

But he also isn't looking to rush anything, so eventually he tips his head back, but doesn't pull away.]

As much as I am enjoying this, maybe we should ...

[Go? Stop? He's not really sure, but he'll let Luke fill in the blank.]

Drop a bomb on your sister's doorstep?

( He clings to Robin's sweater, before brushing his shoulder and stepping back. He can hold off. He has manners. )

We're doing that again, though.

We definitely will do that again.

[Maybe after they're done talking to Maud.

But they do need to talk to Maud so they will get their things together and head back to the Blyth's fancy Manhattan apartment. Robin will let them both in, and Maud pokes her head around at the sound of the door.

"You're back! How was the ... " She sees Luke, then squints. "I thought we agreed on the rules."

Robin sighs.]

He's not here for that.

[Sadly for Robin anyway.]

But, we will discuss that and the rules. I'm Luke. You must be Maud. I loved your voice.

( Which is a thing to say. )

We're here because your brother is very honest and insists on letting you in on - I'm getting ahead of myself. Should we sit?

[Maud doesn't seem surprised by her brother's professed honesty, but it must be serious if he's brought the boy back here already. She glances over to her brother and raises her eyebrow.]

Should we?

[The last time he had news that required sitting was the night their parents died. The last time she had news that required sitting, she told him she was passing on Cambridge in favor of New York. She's wondering which scale of "We need to talk" this is going to be.

"Probably," Robin rubs the back of his neck. "It's a doozy."

Maud takes a deep breath, before gesturing for the two men to follow her to the living room.]

Sounds like we'll need whiskey then.

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