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[A few hours after their awkward cafe encounter, Jon texts Agnes.]
I'm sorry about the cafe.
I should have told you earlier.
I'm trying not to tell Martin that Elias is here.
If he doesn't know, Elias might leave him alone.
And he's just going to worry once he does find out.
He has enough problems as it is.
I'm sorry about the cafe.
I should have told you earlier.
I'm trying not to tell Martin that Elias is here.
If he doesn't know, Elias might leave him alone.
And he's just going to worry once he does find out.
He has enough problems as it is.
Do you know him to be the sort of man to leave well enough alone?
[But that's not really the point, she knows. She sighs inwardly to herself.]
It's your decision.
[But that's not really the point, she knows. She sighs inwardly to herself.]
It's your decision.
If he doesn't think he needs someone for his plot?
Possibly.
I don't know what he's planning here, yet, but I'm sure he's planning something.
I just want to protect Martin.
From all of this.
The one good thing about this place was supposed to be that it was an escape from Elias and Peter and all the other avatars.
I need him to have that.
Possibly.
I don't know what he's planning here, yet, but I'm sure he's planning something.
I just want to protect Martin.
From all of this.
The one good thing about this place was supposed to be that it was an escape from Elias and Peter and all the other avatars.
I need him to have that.
Hi Agnes, sorry about earlier. Jon's a little stressed still.
If it's okay, I still want to talk about your contract sometime. You shouldn't be able to be forced into something like that, and if nothing else, I want to talk to someone about your options. [ if they, as submissives, have anything like options anymore. ]
If it's okay, I still want to talk about your contract sometime. You shouldn't be able to be forced into something like that, and if nothing else, I want to talk to someone about your options. [ if they, as submissives, have anything like options anymore. ]
Hello, Martin. There's no need to apologize. I had a lovely time meeting you.
[And she's used to having a generally negative effect on people, even if this wasn't really her fault.]
I'd hate for you to trouble yourself and waste your time, but I do appreciate how willing you are to help me. I haven't done anything to deserve it.
[And she's used to having a generally negative effect on people, even if this wasn't really her fault.]
I'd hate for you to trouble yourself and waste your time, but I do appreciate how willing you are to help me. I haven't done anything to deserve it.
I understand.
[And yet. And yet. What went down at that cafe? Well, socially inept as she is, Agnes can tell that it does not foretell of an easy future.]
May I offer an opinion?
[And yet. And yet. What went down at that cafe? Well, socially inept as she is, Agnes can tell that it does not foretell of an easy future.]
May I offer an opinion?
It was nice to meet you, too. I'm so used to people involved with the Powers being assholes that it was REALLY nice to meet someone else that isn't.
I don't think it's a waste of my time. After all, even if I didn't like you at all, this is something that could technically happen to me, too. So it's a good idea to get as much information as I can, right?
I don't think it's a waste of my time. After all, even if I didn't like you at all, this is something that could technically happen to me, too. So it's a good idea to get as much information as I can, right?
Yes, of course.
I'd value your opinion.
I'd value your opinion.
Ignorance is only bliss when it doesn't blind you to the presence of a shark.
[She doesn't know if she can say whether Jon is making the right decision, or the wisest one. She doesn't know if Martin can take care of himself, or just how powerful Elias is without the aid of an event such as Tumenalia. But it sounds like Martin has friends here, so maybe there's hope for his safety.]
No matter how many secrets you keep, he's going to figure it out on his own if you carry on the way that you did earlier.
[She doesn't know if she can say whether Jon is making the right decision, or the wisest one. She doesn't know if Martin can take care of himself, or just how powerful Elias is without the aid of an event such as Tumenalia. But it sounds like Martin has friends here, so maybe there's hope for his safety.]
No matter how many secrets you keep, he's going to figure it out on his own if you carry on the way that you did earlier.
[He makes a face at the message. Well. He might value the opinion, but that doesn't mean he particularly likes it. Especially not when she has a good point.]
I can keep Elias distracted.
[Maybe.]
He's constantly spying on me.
I just need to do things he's not expecting and he'll keep his focus to me.
[Hopefully.]
We're in a massive city.
There's no guarantee they'll run into each other.
And there must be hundreds of people in the LIEs program.
I'll get better.
I just wasn't ready for him to ask about that.
I promise I'll get better.
I can keep Elias distracted.
[Maybe.]
He's constantly spying on me.
I just need to do things he's not expecting and he'll keep his focus to me.
[Hopefully.]
We're in a massive city.
There's no guarantee they'll run into each other.
And there must be hundreds of people in the LIEs program.
I'll get better.
I just wasn't ready for him to ask about that.
I promise I'll get better.
[There's an instant where she wonders if she should remind him that despite how nice she tries to be, she still has killed a good number of people. Seems like a bad time.]
I suppose you're right. Otherwise, I doubt your Archivist would have been so upset. You two seem very deeply in love.
[Or so she would assume. She doesn't know much about that pesky thing.]
I suppose you're right. Otherwise, I doubt your Archivist would have been so upset. You two seem very deeply in love.
[Or so she would assume. She doesn't know much about that pesky thing.]
[Holy way to avoid properly addressing the issue, Jon.]
You already sound exhausted. How long do you expect to be able to keep that up?
You already sound exhausted. How long do you expect to be able to keep that up?
[ yes but it's Complicated, which is better than either elias or peter.
.. oh. yes, he supposes.. she's right about that. ] I think it still startles me a little bit when someone says that Jon is in love with me. We are, though, very much. [ but.. that's not the point here. ] How did he find out about your contract, anyway? Did you two talk about it earlier?
.. oh. yes, he supposes.. she's right about that. ] I think it still startles me a little bit when someone says that Jon is in love with me. We are, though, very much. [ but.. that's not the point here. ] How did he find out about your contract, anyway? Did you two talk about it earlier?
[He's always tired. It is part of the Archivist condition.]
As long as I have to.
I won't let him hurt Martin any more than he already has.
Or anyone else, if I can help it.
Yourself included.
As long as I have to.
I won't let him hurt Martin any more than he already has.
Or anyone else, if I can help it.
Yourself included.
It came up during the incident where he had me burn him. He was reading statements to recover, and noticed my collar.
[It's...not exactly how it happened. Agnes doesn't like dancing around the truth, but, well, she promised Jon.]
[It's...not exactly how it happened. Agnes doesn't like dancing around the truth, but, well, she promised Jon.]
You don't need to waste your energy on me.
[They're friends--or becoming friends, even if it's been awkward. But, well, it just feels wrong, somehow. He shouldn't be concerned with her. Nobody should, really, but especially with who he is and where they come from...]
[They're friends--or becoming friends, even if it's been awkward. But, well, it just feels wrong, somehow. He shouldn't be concerned with her. Nobody should, really, but especially with who he is and where they come from...]
You're not a waste, Agnes.
And no one deserves to have to suffer that body-hopping bastard.
And no one deserves to have to suffer that body-hopping bastard.
[They could argue endlessly about just how much value she has as an individual, but it seems like it would be a fruitless discussion, so Agnes decides not to press on that topic further.]
So far, he's generally left me well enough alone.
I suspect it was more of a power play than anything else, contracting me.
It must feel nice to be able to say you have explicit contracted control over The Desolation.
So far, he's generally left me well enough alone.
I suspect it was more of a power play than anything else, contracting me.
It must feel nice to be able to say you have explicit contracted control over The Desolation.
There's never just one motivation for anything where Elias is concerned.
It might have been a power play, but he's going to find a way to use you.
That's what he does.
I need to figure out what he's planning to do here, but my powers don't work on him.
I can't just compel him.
Although, he was worried I'd Know something 'inconvenient' before his big plan at home went off if we were in too close of contact.
I could try pressing it here.
See if I pick anything up.
[Except he doesn't want to deal with Elias or be near him. It's a bad deal any way about it.]
It might have been a power play, but he's going to find a way to use you.
That's what he does.
I need to figure out what he's planning to do here, but my powers don't work on him.
I can't just compel him.
Although, he was worried I'd Know something 'inconvenient' before his big plan at home went off if we were in too close of contact.
I could try pressing it here.
See if I pick anything up.
[Except he doesn't want to deal with Elias or be near him. It's a bad deal any way about it.]
( on around the fifteenth of the month agnes will return home to find a handwritten note waiting for her on her bed )
[Agnes, still working on social decorum, doesn't reply to the message in any way other than showing up on Lilith's doorstep on the indicated date. Knock knock, witchy friend.]
( there's a smile on her lips as she opens the door and as agnes steps into the cottage she'll notice that there's a lot going on. though her solstice celebrations have not yet begun there are many things that lilith wants to prepare, this year feeling different to usual. her fire is lit, a few other candles lighting the room in the cottage and on her table she has several ingredients that she'd been preparing for a spell. the kitchen is a similar tale, cookies already baking with others prepared to bake.
she's certainly had a very busy day and whilst lilith has always had her own solstice traditions this year they've increased. there are actually people she's been enjoying the company of, some she wants to share a little something with (hence the cookies) and-- honestly, she feels a little freer, something that she hasn't felt in a very long time )
How have you been?
( she hovers just by the couch, leaning on the back of it rather than sitting down )
she's certainly had a very busy day and whilst lilith has always had her own solstice traditions this year they've increased. there are actually people she's been enjoying the company of, some she wants to share a little something with (hence the cookies) and-- honestly, she feels a little freer, something that she hasn't felt in a very long time )
How have you been?
( she hovers just by the couch, leaning on the back of it rather than sitting down )
[Agnes smiles, too, though it's a small flicker of one, as is often her way.]
I've been agreeable, thank you.
[She can't help but look around, taking in the change in scenery. It smells nice.]
Are you in preparation for something?
I've been agreeable, thank you.
[She can't help but look around, taking in the change in scenery. It smells nice.]
Are you in preparation for something?
It's a protection spell.
( at least everything on the table is. she'd begun working on that as her cookies baked. closer to the solstice she'd do her more personal traditions -- light her yule log, perhaps even bake for herself )
Something that I keep around the cottage, to keep things a little more private.
( at least everything on the table is. she'd begun working on that as her cookies baked. closer to the solstice she'd do her more personal traditions -- light her yule log, perhaps even bake for herself )
Something that I keep around the cottage, to keep things a little more private.
[Protection...privacy. That clearly catches her interest.]
Is it a mental barrier?
Is it a mental barrier?
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