Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He huffs a laugh. ] Flatterer.

[ He grabs something simple from the inn's kitchen -- just bread and meats -- and settles in to eat. ]

And I'm guessin' your sister has nothing on you. [ What he really wants to ask is, "Can we trust her?" Ravager instincts are difficult to shake, after all. ]

[phaselocknroll]

You mean as far as my... abilities are concerned?

She actually outclasses me by quite a bit.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That actually gives him pause. ] Really? I thought you guys were, you know, all equally powerful or whatever.

[phaselocknroll]

Just like all humans are equally powerful?

[nostalgiabomb]

... Yeah, okay. Fair point.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She smiles, pressing a kiss to his cheek ] Eat your breakfast, love. I'll be back.

[ And off she goes to mingle and ask some questions ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He tries to keep an eye on her as she moves from person to person -- though he's careful not to seem too obvious about it. It'd be kinda creepy to watch her like a hawk the entire time, after all.

At some point, as he's finishing up, he tries to track her their invisible ties, and while he feels her presence, he can't quite pinpoint where she is. He wonders if it's something he just needs to practice at, or if maybe he just sucks at this. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ She can fell a light tugging on their bond. Huh. Peter must be looking for her? She politely finishes up with the woman she's talking to and makes her way back to him ]

Were you worried I had vanished?

[nostalgiabomb]

What? No, of course not. [ Although it's only up until recently that he's stopped worrying about that. ]

... I interrupted, didn't I.

[phaselocknroll]

Don't worry about it. I've gotten all the information I need, anyway.

Shall we?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He stands, brushing his hands off, and leads the way out. ]

Any good gossip?

[phaselocknroll]

The man we're looking for is named Roland. By all accounts, he's a kind, just man.

A far cry from everyone we've encountered up to this point.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He ventures a smile. ] Hey, that's pretty good news, then. We probably won't have to jump through any hoops to see your sister, right?

[phaselocknroll]

I can only hope not.

[ As they walk, she reaches for his hand. She enjoys simple things like hand holding- any excuse to keep him close, perhaps.

They're nearly to the building when someone passing by goes "Maya?" And a red-haired woman with yellow eyes and swirling blue tattoos pushes her way through the crowd. Maya looks absolutely bewildered to find Lilith out in public, and without her glamour- so much so that it actually takes her a moment to introduce Peter.

Lilith gives him a once over, and arches an eyebrow. "You're bound to him?"

Maya opens her mouth to reply, but Lilith merely smiles and motions for them to follow her- mentioning that Maya can "drop the glamour". (I'll keep it for now, thanks.)- as she leads them towards the Crimson Raider headquarters. ]

... Well. That's Lilith.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The second someone called out Maya's name, he was instantly reaching for his bow. Silly now, in retrospect, and a sure way to get his ass set on fire or something, but the compulsion was there.

But then he saw the woman's tattoos, saw the similarities with Maya's own tattoos instantly, and he was stunned into silence. Until he was introduced, anyway, at which point he was roused enough to be polite. ]

... She seems nice. [ Guess who's still a little shellshocked from that whole encounter? ]

[phaselocknroll]

I'm honestly surprised that she just walks around in public like this. Sirens aren't exactly welcome visitors in most circles.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's quiet for a little, then, ] I mean-- it kinda makes sense, right? "Kind, just military leader" and "contracted with a Siren" don't really mix if it's all moonlighting and cloak-and-dagger-type stuff. He either lays it out in the open, or risks word getting around and getting a face full of shit for it.

[phaselocknroll]

I suppose that does make sense. But Lilith has one of those smiles on her face that tells me she isn't telling us everything.

[nostalgiabomb]

Like, an "I'm about to give you a puppy" kind of smile? Or an "I'm about to lead you into an ambush so this reunion might be kind of awkward" smile ?

[phaselocknroll]

Neither, knowing her. I don't think it's anything bad.

[ It's at this point that Lilith calls over her shoulder, "I can hear you, you know." She leads them inside the building, and up, up, up some stairs to an office on the top floor of the building.

Inside is someone Maya can only assume is Roland. "Look who I found wandering around our city," says Lilith. "Meet my little sister, Maya. And her new plaything, Peter."

It's only when Roland remarks, "I really hope you don't refer to me that way." that is clicks to Maya. ]

Wait, wait. You're bound to him? I... never thought I would see the day.

[ Lilith merely shrugs, flitting up to sit on the edge of Roland's desk. "So, what can we do for you?" ]

That... is a rather long story. [ But she tells it- everything from the Order and the Ravagers being on their tail to Peter's... condition. Lilith and Roland exchange looks, before Lilith turns to Peter.

"Can I see your pendant? You don't have to take it off. I just want to look at it." ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ A small part of him thinks, Oh thank the gods, I'm not the only crazy guy bound to a Siren.

Another part of him thinks, Shit, sorry, Maya.

A third part of him thinks, She still can't read your mind, dumbass. It sounds suspiciously like Maya.

He's mostly quiet as Maya explains their situation, only interjecting a comment here and there. Mostly they're explanations or clarifications on Ravager operations, what their standard procedures are. (Sometimes it's strange to think how a band of mercenaries has such predictable code of conduct, but Yondu always did like things his way.)

When Maya gets up to-- recent events, Peter pretends to be occupied with examining the room. Mostly he just doesn't want to see their faces. Sure, he was in good company where demonic heritage was concerned, but while Maya and Lilith were still oddly human, Peter can't shake the feeling that his other side was stripped of everything that made him himself, that he became a monster.

He turns back as Maya's finishing up, just in time to catch Lilith and Roland exchanging glances. He doesn't even have time to wonder, What was that about? before Lilith is asking to see the charm.

It's his turn to look at Maya, chewing on the inside of his lip nervously. But-- she trusts them. And Peter trusts her, so--

He moves toward Lilith as he's rolling up his sleeves -- first his coat, then, his shirt -- revealing the chain wrapped around his wrist. The pendant hangs there, the chain threaded through the loop over and over, as many times as he could manage, (because Ravager instincts are hard to suppress, as is Ravager paranoia). ]

Make sure not to touch it.

[phaselocknroll]

[ "Wasn't planning on it," Lilith offers dryly. She tilts her head, inspecting the pendant with sharp, yellow eyes. That's when Maya pipes up: ]

I was wondering if there was a way to cast the binding on Peter directly. But if that isn't an option, we need to strengthen the amulet itself.

[ "I can't promise anything, but Roland might be able to call in a few favors. You're going to owe us, though." ]

Whatever it takes, Lilith.

[ Lilith nods, and Roland offers that they're free to stay in Sanctuary for as long as they need- he'll make arrangements for them to have a room within the headquarters. They were free to take a look around, and Roland would let them know if they've found something. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter keeps his mouth shut and his expression neutral during the exchange, but he doesn't like the sound of owing anyone anything. Bad enough they've got who knows how many people breathing down their necks, but having to be indebted to someone on top of that?

But Maya trusts them. He trusts her -- her judgment and her word -- but he'd be the first to admit that he's a paranoid bastard, despite it all.

He waits until they've left Roland's office to let any of his doubt show through -- and even then it's only with a slight frown. Still, he forgets about his emotional connection with Maya, and he doesn't realizing he's been broadcasting it from the moment Lilith said the word "favors." ]

"Whatever it takes"? [ He repeats it quietly, uneasily. ] Are you sure?

[phaselocknroll]

You dislike owing someone. [ It's not a question. She can feel his unease, his doubt. ] Even if we found a capable enchanter on our own, they don't work for free.

I would rather owe a debt to my sister- someone I know and trust- than a complete stranger.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He hesitates, but eventually nods. ] Yeah, I get that. I just...

[ He shrugs, a little helplessly. ]

Should be my debt, that's all. My problem, right?