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

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.

Oh. The big wild magic surge.

( He makes a face. )

Sorry, my nieces were directly involved in that. One of their friends turned into a sheep. ...Neither's a great thing, but it made for a really funny story. Anyway, yes. Sorry. Did your... visions start with the flash?

Little bit after, yeah.

[Robin takes a sip of his whiskey, trying to process all this information and thinking back to when he had his first strange dream.]

I don't know. Before that I can't remember anything being directly prophetic.

Just indirectly?

( He remembers he has bourbon and sips, still playful. )

I like her. I like you. Also, he likes me. And I like him. Hey, we all like each other.

Seems like we're all very likeable people.

[She tips her head to the side curiously as she looks to Luke.]

Why did you need to be here for this conversation, though?

[She can guess why, with the being lured in by renegade witches, but she doesn't want to assume.]

He wanted to loop you in. And, I'm a witch. I can answer any questions, related or not. I was raised as a witch, then went into hiding with my sister. Technically. But, yeah. If you - have any big questions. Yes, Santa is real, according to my nieces. And he's a badass.

( A random small little tidbit. )

That, Violet did not tell me.

[Violet was not aware. Violet did not go to the Salvatore School, she was too busy running through London finding herself.]

And she also did the heavy lifting in answering a lot of my general questions, but I appreciate you coming.

[She then looks to her brother.]

I like him. Still going to hold you to the rules though.

[Robin nods with a smirk. "I never thought you wouldn't."]

Someone will eventually let me in on the rules?

( Just saying. )

He was worried. He cares. It's cute. He's also a very good kisser. ( Does she need to know that? He grins. ) It sounds like I should get out of your hair, though, considering you both know things. But, he can pass along my number if you have any big questions that haven't been answered.

Rules are no dates in the apartment, to spare your sibling things they do not wish to see and or hear. The walls here are shockingly thin, even for a place this expensive.

[Maud pops up from the couch, gathering the glasses and heading towards the kitchen.]

I'll leave you two to say good night. Let me know if you decide to go out again.

[And she will disappear and Robin will sigh, before turning back to Luke. "Let me walk you out."

Maybe to see if he gets kissed again.]

Copy that.

( He won't be breaking the rules, then, getting up. )

It was real nice to meet you!

( And with that, he will definitely accept a walk-out to the front door. )

So, when she says dates, she means dates.

Well, we were both freshly single when we first moved here, so we weren't expecting much more than that.

[He pauses at the front door, shifting to lean casually against the frame.]

I think there was a renegotiation clause if we wound up with actual partners, but neither of us have had reason to yet.

I like the 'yet.' It has promise.

( He smirks. )

How does she feel about kisses goodbye?

I think she can handle it.

[He smiles, before leaning in to do just that. One last kiss before he lets him go.]

Are you going to be alright getting home?

[Given that there are evil witches who were looking to take him out.]

We do have a guest room if it would be better for you to stay.

[That fits within the rules.]

( He leans his head against the door frame, giving Robin a tempting smile. That smile falls as the reality hits. )

You wouldn't be put out?

Not at all. Honestly, I'd probably feel better about it than having you go back out onto the New York streets alone.

[It would be a shame if Robin had to get rid of one of his good suits for nothing.]

Okay. I'll take you up on your offer, as long as your sister knows I intend to follow the rules.

( Robin is worth rule-following. Most other people aren't. And his family is a bunch of rule-breakers. )

I'll make sure she's aware.

[And he will proceed to get Luke settled in their very comfortable guest room, lingering briefly in the door as he glances back to him.]

Good night.

[There'll be some kind of breakfast for them all in the morning.]

( He misses his nightly routine, but knows he can skip it this once under the circumstances. His enemy morning breath will be there when he wakes up, so he'll keep everything G-rated and for the family. He slips away to the bathroom to at least rub toothpaste against his teeth for the freshness and take a cap of mouthwash.

Robin gets a kiss goodbye in the doorway, again, just like the night before. The sun in the sky means he has a better chance of not being followed home.

He doesn't make it home. He gets a room for a few nights and then the troops are rallied.

He postpones their date. )

because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

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