phaselocknroll | Shenanigans!

[ there is no flash of light, no crack of thunder. The pages of the book go red, as though blood is slowly seeping through the paper.

His hand probably tingles, and if he were to look, it would appear that the mark on his palm has begun to bleed.

It's over in a matter of moments, though, and Maya's book snaps shut and flies back into her hand. ]

Then we have an agreement.

[ In some ways, Peter's kind of disappointed; he was sort of expecting fire and brimstone, honestly. He doesn't feel any different, certainly, aside from the twinge in his hand that faded as soon as the book is shut.

He stands slowly and does his best to look Maya in the eye. ]

What happens now?

[ You want flashy? Go find Lilith. ]

Now? Well, now I think it would be prudent to have a conversation with the gentleman hiding in the bushes.

[ He's uh. He's been there a while. And now that Maya has outed him, he tries to make a break for it, but she waves her arm, tattoos glowing bright. Their eavesdropping friend rises out of his hiding place, trapped in an orb of purple light. ]

The what--?!

[ Fuck. Fuck, how did he not notice? Peter spins around just as the guy is forced up into the air, trapped in-- whatever the hell that thing Maya just conjured was.

Peter and the man (whimpering, now) stare at each other -- the man with wide, terrified eyes, and Peter with a growing sense of dread. He knows him, he realizes. Another Ravager, but not a friend or even an acquaintance -- someone on the team, at the very least, and he recognizes the face.

He doesn't turn to look at her, but he addresses Maya-- ]

What did you do to him? [ Still curious, rather than frightened or panicked -- and even Peter thinks that's odd, that he's not particularly afraid. ]

I haven't hurt him, if that's what you're wondering. I'm merely holding him in place.

But I could kill him, if you'd like.

[ The man starts struggling in earnest now, and Peter just-- watches, mulling it over silently.

Not for too long, though, as after a second he turns to Maya and nods. ]

Do it. He'll send the others after us if we let him go.

Very well.

[ That's all she says before the man bursts into flame, unable to move and stuck silently screaming in her trap. It's a painful death to be sure, but a quick one. She lets him drop, broken and charred, to the ground. ]

[ And Peter resolutely does not look -- in fact, he shuts his eyes and keeps his back to the man, though the burst of heat and the sudden back draft and the smell (oh god, the smell) definitely clue him in on what's currently happening to him.

He feels guilty for not feeling guilty, but he's never had any love for the Ravagers. Not a one.

It's only when he hears the sound of the body hitting the ground that he moves. He picks up his satchel -- and as an afterthought, the dead relic -- and kicks dirt over the fire. ]

Ravagers send scouts in twos. We should leave before the other comes looking.

You know you have nothing to fear from them.

[ But even as she says it, she hops down from her perch, landing soundlessly on the grass. If he wants to go, she'll go. Though something does occur to her. ]

What's your name?

I know you don't. [ You. Not I. They're her powers, after all. He's only directing them, like an archer nocking an arrow. ] I just-- [ "don't want to hurt anyone," is on the tip of his tongue, but that's wrong. He wants to destroy the Ravagers, honestly. Wipe them out for stealing him away from his home. But not-- he doesn't think he has the stomach for it like this. Not one at a time. Better to feel guilt-but-not-guilt all at once, he thinks.

And he thinks his mother would be disappointed with the way he's turned out now, hungry for revenge and power, only he doesn't really remember what she sounds like anymore. Maybe if he did, he'd have her voice in his head urging him to take a different path.

He doesn't realize he's stilled, lost in his thoughts, until she speaks -- and he doesn't quite start at the sound of her voice, but he does look up at her sharply. ]

I'm Peter. Peter Quill.

Peter Quill.

[ She tries the name out, and, seemingly satisfied with the sound of it, gives a nod. ]

Where to, then?

[ He shoulders his bag and looks to be at a loss at her question -- honestly, he didn't think he would get this far before the Ravagers caught up to him. ]

... I don't know. [ Away? ] I think the next town is at least a day's journey from here.

[ She chuckles, a small smile on her face ] You didn't expect to get this far, and now you're unsure of what to do, aren't you?

[ He shouldn't be surprised that he's being so terribly obvious, but he is -- and it shows in his eyes, at least for a second. The expression fades though, and he just feels tired. ]

... Yeah. I thought they would've forced me to go back by now.

Or worse.

[ it's not really a question ]

You know, you didn't awaken that relic by accident. There is power in you. I feel it.

[ He flashes her a mirthless smile. ]

That's sweet. I bet you say that to all the idiots who accidentally summon you.

It's not in my nature to coddle or placate.

It took several wizards of the Order of the Impending Storm to trap me in that relic, yet only you to get me out. Surely that means something.

[ He opens his mouth as if to reply -- but he hesitates, thinks better of it, and shakes his head. From his satchel he fishes out a small lantern and crouches down, catching some of the few dying embers from his fire and using it to light the lantern. It's not overly bright, but enough to push back some of the darkness.

Peter assumes the Siren probably has some sort of preternatural ability to see in the dark, but the lantern is a comfort to him, at least, buoys him to finally ask his question. ]

Why did they trap you? Did you commit a crime?

I was under contract with their leader for some time, but I discovered they were attempting to find a way to bind me to him permanently- and without payment. I put an end to the contract, claiming their leader's life as payment for the breech in our agreement, and they thought it fitting to trap me in the relic. I suppose they thought that if they couldn't have me, then no one should be able to.

[ He thinks that's fucked up, but doesn't say it aloud. He also thinks, twenty-seven years is a long time to be alone, and he kind of feels sorry for her. He doesn't say that aloud, either. ]

Well. Someone else must be after you, then. The Ravagers got a job to retrieve the relic -- so. Either someone wanted to keep you locked away in a more secure location, or someone else is interested in contracting you.

[ Peter flexes his palm again -- the pain has faded entirely by now, but even in the dim light he can see the strange mark. ]

If they kill me, what happens to you?

Hm. We might have more than your friends on our tail after all.

[ she gives a little shrug ] The contract will be voided and I'll look for a new one.

But I will do everything in my power to keep you alive. I don't get my payment if you die on me, after all.

Ah, good. I feel safer now. [ His smirk is humorless, as most of his smiles are. But the answer is about what he expected, so no surprises there.

He glances up at the stars, using them to get his bearings, and starts heading off in the direction he believes the next town to be. It's a shame, though, that he didn't get time to properly rest. He thinks it'd be nice to sleep on all this crazy shit that's happened in the past couple of hours, but with the Ravagers hot on his heels and the presence of some unknown third party nagging at him, now, there's really no good time to stop.

Yeah, he thinks. This was all a huge mistake. ]

[ She follows behind him without a sound, in any sense of the word, as her footfalls make no noise. ]

Having doubts?

I think I'm in over my head. [ No point in lying. ]

I thought-- I don't know. I thought I would sell the relic, not use it.

Then why did you accept my offer?

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