Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[phaselocknroll]

It really is lovely. May I...? I mean, if it's all right with you.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He hesitates -- but only for a quick second, because if he can't trust Maya with it after he'd basically put his life in her hands several times over, who could he trust? So holds the pendant out on his open palm for her to take. ]

I don't mind.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She picks it up gingerly, turning it over in her hand. It's really a lovely piece of work, and really she feels so at ease just holding it, and-- wait.

She blinks a couple of times. ]

Huh. Strange.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's chewing on his lower lip, trying not to be too nervous as she looks it over. But, well-- a small part of him is, just a little. He doesn't want to lose it again. ]

What is?

[phaselocknroll]

I, uh. I think this has some sort of enchantment on it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He blinks.

-- Okay he blinks again.

-- Yep, okay, three times.

When he finally speaks, it's slowly and evenly. ]

What are you talking about?

[phaselocknroll]

Nothing major. More like a magical suggestion than anything.

But when I hold it, I just sort of feel... I don't know. Calm?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Even as she's saying it, he's shaking his head. ]

Mom didn't know any magic. Hell, we didn't even know anyone who knew magic. There weren't any wizards or enchanters for miles.

[phaselocknroll]

Do you know where she got it?

[nostalgiabomb]

She's-- always had it. She wore it ever since I could remember.

[phaselocknroll]

It's possible that she didn't know about the enchantment. As I said, it's very subtle.

But there's certainly nothing harmful about it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He frowns, clearly puzzled by this bit of news -- and, if he were to admit it, a little troubled. ]

Well... she was sick a lot. Maybe it-- helped, somehow. I don't know.

[phaselocknroll]

Perhaps.

[ she turns it over in her hands a couple of times, inspecting the markings. ]

... I'm sorry. I doubt this was something you wanted to hear.

[nostalgiabomb]

Well-- it's certainly not something I expected, I can tell you that much.

[ His presses his lips together into a thin line, still thoughtful. Then-- ] As long as it isn't dangerous, it's nothing to worry about, right? I guess if I've had it all these years then something would've happened by now.

[phaselocknroll]

I honestly don't think there's anything malicious about it.

[ In fact, she's kind of okay just sitting here holding it. She's tired, suddenly, but because she's never really been tired before, she mistakes it for the calming nature of the amulet making her lazy. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

That's reassuring, at least.

[ For Peter's part, a headache is starting to bloom just behind his temples -- probably overexertion, he thinks. He takes another pull from the skein of water and lets his head fall back against the tree, eyes slipping shut.

There's a quiet snap of a twig nearby, but Peter doesn't notice it. ]

Do you think I should try to get it-- disenchanted or something?

[phaselocknroll]

I don't-- [ she did hear it, though it was awfully faint. Their pursuer must be some distance away, yet, right? Weird that she didn't sense them, but perhaps it's more of the Order's wizards? That certainly doesn't bode well, and she braces herself. ]

... I think someone's found us.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He feels her tense, and even before she speaks he's alert.

What she says, of course, makes him regret the fact that his head is really starting to ache. He's starting to feel a little dizzy, and his skin feels flushed and-- shit, was there something in the water?

He slips his bow off as casually as he can manage, trying to make it appear as though he's getting more comfortable. ]

Which way are they coming from?

[phaselocknroll]

I don't know. I can't sense them.

[nostalgiabomb]

... That-- is definitely not something I wanted to hear.

[ His eyes slip shut again, but he's paying attention this time, listening for the sound of movement. Suddenly he-- senses something, like eyes on the back of his neck, and he just knows. He speaks before he's aware of himself. ]

Five of them. Behind us.

[ His eyes snap open, and he feels a twinge behind his temple, and his hand goes up to massage it. He adds, ] I think.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She just... stares at him, about a dozen different questions coming to mind all at once. How the hell do you know that? being chief among them.

But for now she just rolls with it. Stay alive first, ask questions later. ]

Is it the Order?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's shaking his head, every bit as confused as she is. His body feels-- weird. Really weird, like he has the flu or something? Did these guys poison the stream or something? ]

Don't think so. I don't-- I think they're just thieves.

[ He swallows thickly, hand tightening around his bow. ] Now's probably a bad time to tell you I feel sick as fuck right now, isn't it.

[phaselocknroll]

... Yes, probably. [ she still has that weird heavy feeling in her limbs, and decides it might be best if she puts the amulet away. Back into the pack it goes, but she's a little distressed to find that the feeling doesn't go away. ]

I'm... not exactly feeling well myself.

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, [ he says, and he senses movement behind them; he rises to a knee, ] I think we're fucked.

[ On reflex he grabs an arrow from his quiver, turns, aims, and shoots, and even with the unsteadiness of his limbs, he manages to catch one of the bandits in the gut. Peter seriously feels sick, like he's about to throw up, and he's sweating now, his body too fucking hot and every nerve is starting to scream.

Four bandits running at them, then. Better than five. His hands are shaking as he nocks another arrow, but his aim isn't as true this time-- something hot shoots up his spine and his shot goes wild. ]

Little help?

[phaselocknroll]

[ She gets up- a little awkwardly, for some reason- raising a hand to pop one of the bandits up in her phaselock. Her tattoos shimmer with a faint blue light, then go dull and lifeless. Try as she might, her powers seem to have vanished. ]

I-- I can't?

[ She seems dazed by the revelation, but an arrow goes whizzing by her head and she snaps out of it, putting herself back behind their tree.

Shit shit shit. What do I do now? ]