Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His eyes are already slipping closed when she moves to grab the skein from his bag, but he glances over lazily when she apologizes, and the light catches on something small and silver.

The pendant.

He starts immediately, eyes wide, and working on some base instinct, his hand flies out to snatch it up. He doesn't realize how desperate he looks, because he's busy remembering the last time he lost it, how fear of losing it forever had made him physically sick, and how finding it after hours of searching in mud was the only thing that had helped him recover.

Weirdly, he calms the instant his fingers close around it and he sighs with relief. He takes a few breathes and pulls a hand through his hair before he finally answers. ]

It's okay. Just-- try to be careful.

[phaselocknroll]

[ That reaction was strange and startling, and she looks a little concerned, but nods all the same. She goes quickly to refill their water supply, and comes back a few short moments later.

She offers him the skein, quiet for a beat before saying softly, ] I assume that's important to you.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's still holding it when she returns, looking down at the metal pendant decorated simply with some sort of black, swirling design; and he's considerably calmer when he takes the skein from her.

He takes a long pull from it, then nods; and he struggles, a little, to get his phrasing right when he speaks. ]

My mother gave it to me, before she-- when-- when the Ravagers took me. Kept it ever since.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She takes a seat next to him, leaning against his shoulder to peer over at the pendant.

Well, at least his reaction makes a little more sense. ]

Very precious indeed. I'm sorry I dropped it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He shrugs his other shoulder, trying for a reassuring smile. He's a little surprised by her closeness, but he tries not to show it -- in a small way, he's afraid drawing attention to it might startle her. ]

Hey, no harm done.

[ He holds the pendant a little higher, giving her a better view. ]

Used to wear it around my neck, but I nearly lost it once. Guard grabbed me around the collar while I was on a job, snapped the chain without my noticing. Didn't realize it was gone until hours later. Had to sneak back to look for it.

[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.