Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[phaselocknroll]

I guess I could carry you out of here if I had to.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ immediately: ] No thanks, I'm good.

[phaselocknroll]

Then eat some breakfast and then we shall talk about leaving.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The corner of his mouth twitches, as though he's trying to suppress a smile. ]

I didn't take you for the mother hen type.

[phaselocknroll]

[ If it looks like she went a little red there, it's only his imagination. ] I'm just looking after you, that's all.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Even if it is his imagination, he stops trying to suppress his little smirk. ]

I appreciate it, but I'm a big boy. Lived this long, after all.

[phaselocknroll]

Yes, but I would bet you didn't have an order of murderous weather wizards on your tail, either.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That brings him up short, and his shoulders drop a little. As though on reflex, one hand gingerly touches the angry red marks on his chest. ]

... Fair enough point. Can safely say that's pretty new to me.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She frowns, watching him. ] I have something that might be able to help.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's a little confused at first, but then he seems to realize what he's doing. ]

What, you don't think they're becoming? I hear some women find scars attractive.

[phaselocknroll]

I, uh. Not the scars- I've tried, believe me.

I meant more in the realm of protection against further attacks.

[nostalgiabomb]

What've you got in mind?

[phaselocknroll]

[ In response, her book floats off of her hip, flipping open to the desired page. ]

One of my sister gifted me a shielding spell, once. I haven't used it, but it might prove useful to you.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He glances at it, and looks a little unsure, but then-- ]

You have a sister?

[phaselocknroll]

I have several sisters, though only six of us can be on the human plane at any one time.

[ she waves the book over to him, open to a page titled The Flame of the Firehawk ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That sounds familiar, and he thinks back on the stories he heard of Sirens, when it finally clicks. Right, the other Sirens. Sisters. Makes sense.

For a second he just stares at the page, still looking unsure, then he glances up. ]

I dunno if I have the knack for this kinda stuff.

[phaselocknroll]

It isn't too terribly different from the binding spell that initiated our contract. I think you could do it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's still hesitant -- Ravager instincts die hard -- but he relents, finally. ]

Tell me what I'm doing here, then.

[phaselocknroll]

Well, if I recall what Lilith told me correctly, the spell protects its caster by putting an invisible barrier around them. The barrier isn't completely impervious to harm- it can only absorb so much damage- but it would protect you for a short while. If the barrier is depleted, it will at least do you the final favor of setting any enemies within a certain radius on fire.

Hence the name.

[nostalgiabomb]

So I just-- memorize it and recite it every time a bad guy pops out at us or something?

[phaselocknroll]

Not really. It'll work more on an instinctual level.

That's why the spell is similar to a binding.

[nostalgiabomb]

So no chance of me accidentally blowing anyone up in town, right?

[phaselocknroll]

I don't think so. It should only become active if you're in danger.

But I do have the unbinding for it if it doesn't work out.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He slowly nods, finally deciding that as long as he won't inadvertently hurt anyone-- ] Worth a shot, I guess.

[ Peter licks his lips and reads the incantation aloud -- when he's done, he half expects an actual phoenix to show up, isn't entirely surprised when it doesn't. Too bad, though. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ He just has to wait a second, because Maya's book suddenly bursts into flames, and yes, a phoenix does rise from the pages. It flies around him, one, twice, three times, then vanishes in a shower of sparks.

Maya's book snaps shut, extinguishing the fire. It floats back over to her waiting hand. ]

Well, I'd say it worked. You really aren't bad at this magic thing, you know.