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

[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.

Yes, I will take whiskey. ( He follows the two siblings further into their home. ) It's a Mystic Falls thing. Well, Whittemore, I guess, but everyone in Mystic Falls. Whiskey drinkers. I talk when I don't know what to say.

( He takes a seat on one of the couches letting brother and sister get comfortable. )

[Maud pours the three of them drinks, before moving to sit as well, before watching as Robin tries to figure out where to start.

"Alright, then. Let's start with the broader thing: magic is real."

The problem with Maud Blyth is that she really has no poker face. Her life-long commitment to delivering the bluntest truth possible has irradicated any ability for her to keep a straight face.]

Oh. How ... exciting.

[Robin stares at his sister, before his eyebrows go up in surprise. "You already knew?!"]

In my defense, it wasn't my secret to tell!

[Because she doesn't realize, just yet, why Robin is telling her.]

She --

( That's her knowing? He did expect it to be more of a thing. )

Whose secret? Isn't it about him? Feels like his secret.

[Maud turns and looks at Luke, bewildered for a moment, because what do you mean? Before turning back to Robin and sighing.

Violet will forgive her. She hopes.]

Violet is a witch.

[Robin straightens. "Violet, your ex."

Maud nods.]

She told me when we went on the cruise together. She's an illusionist. She uses it for her act. Why are you telling me about magic?

[Robin sighs, rubbing his eyes because this isn't going as he thought, at all, so he just nods. "Those strange dreams I've been having? They're not dreams. They're visions."]

Visions. Like ... premonitions? Like Phoebe from Charmed?

Yes.

( Is he helping. He feels like he's not helping. )

Apparently, he dreamed about me. He helped get me away from some renegade witches who tried to lure me into a trap. He hasn't told me if this was before or after our train meet-cute.

[Robin's face looks a little sheepish, before he rubs the back of his neck. "I saw the two of us meeting on the train." Not what was said, or how the conversation went, but the glimpse of him between the train doors was definitely in his dreams.

Maud looks pleased.]

Aww, I don't know if that's cute or creepy. It feels cute.

[But it's not her opinion that matters.]

How did they start? Was it the weird flash back in the fall? Did you get magic visions from weird New York happenings?

And creepy.

( He smirks. He finds it to be entirely cute. )

He had a fall flash? Flash in the fall? From?

No, not just Robin. It was not long after we moved here. There was this big white flash in the sky and things started going all haywire. One of my classmates claimed his friend got turned into a potted plant.

[Robin blinks at his sister because that sounds very alarming, but she holds up her hands.]

He said he got better, and also I assumed he was high.

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