pullmeoutalive | Ramey

[The skylight is quietly taken care of, and when is all and said and done, they've done a good job looking as if no one had been there at all. The documents in Emily's coat already feel like they're burning a hole in her pocket; she feels eager to return to the Tower and see to this matter first thing in the morning.

But something causes her to linger a moment more before they depart, and she doesn't turn to leave or even acknowledge Alec's parting words just yet.]

I still have questions for you that you never answered. [It's probably obvious what she's referring to.]

[ Fuck. He was really hoping she had forgotten that.

He turns to face her, expression bland, ]

Our little agreement didn’t cover answering questions, so… no.

[Fine.

She'll be a bit more direct, then.]

Have you been using dark magic?

[It would be something she had seen before, all those years ago -- the day her mother was killed, wielded by Daud's assassins. It's the only kind of magic she knows of, dark and dangerous, borrowed from the Void. If it's what Alec's been using, she has to know, even if it doesn't feel quite the same.]

[ He answers the prodding with a flat look. ]

Sorry. [ Equally flat, though there’s the barest hint of amusement in the corner of his eyes to take away the edge of it. ] Kind of had my hands full.

[ If he were honest, Peter would admit he— kind of doesn’t remember hearing Brennan call. But that could very well have been because he was in the process of getting his head caved in, and Alec’s voice couldn’t cut through the high-pitched whine in his ears.

He holds his breath again to take another sip from the concoction, taking a second to determine whether the taste of bile was from the tea or himself. (He decides, Probably both.) ]

I miss anything important when you called?

[ Her directness has the intended effect, and Alec freezes in his tracks, turning to regard her with and evaluating look. A reevaluating look, more like. He had suspected that she knew about magic, of course, based on her conviction when they first met, but most people don’t just ask that. That she asks about dark magic and not… magic in general suggests a familiarity with the former, but not necessarily the latter.

The gears in his head are clearly turning as he looks at her, tongue coasting over his lower lip as he thinks.

Then finally, cautiously, ] Not dark magic, no.

[He's budged, at least. But her bringing up the subject seems to spark a motivation in her; it's hard to erase the association between magic and the moment her life changed completely, even if she tries very hard not to think about that day too often.]

Then what? [She steps forward, not even realizing it.] The last people to have used magic in my life did not leave a particularly good impression. You've proven yourself so far to not be as loathsome as them, but surely you can understand my being wary.

[ Yeah, the tea thing? Not any easier to watch.

He shrugs. ] No, I just… sort of got the sense that something wasn’t right. I tried to call and you didn’t answer, so I went looking.

[ When she steps in, he steps back, raising both of his hands. ] Easy, princess. It’s just magic. I was born with it- I’m not making pacts with demons or anything.

[ Something prickles beneath the surface of his skin at those words, a quiet itch at the back of his mind, and he glances over, eyebrows knitting together. Still, he treats it with a grain of salt, as he does most things. ]

What’s that, some kinda wizard thing? “Someone, somewhere, is getting the stuffing kicked outta them”?

[She's surprised to see him stepping back, and she blinks, setting her jaw and exhaling through her nose. Her composure comes back to her, practiced and smooth.]

I've never heard of anyone just being "born with it".

I don’t ever remember having any kind of radar before.

[ He frowns at the ceiling for a bit before turning his gaze to Peter, searching his face like maybe the answer’s there. ] It just hit me all of a sudden.

Wizards don’t exactly advertise their existence.

But if all you’ve seen is the nasty stuff, I’m not sure how to convince you that I’m on the up and up.

Well. [She crosses her arms, as if being defiant against her own following concession.] Thus far, you've made a better impression, as... frustrating as you can sometimes be. And you haven't murdered anyone yet.

[Emily watches his reaction carefully. Truthfully, she doubts that he's anything as terrible as an assassin. She's more inclined to believe that he is what he states, a man who takes "jobs" to screw over the wealthy.

One can't be too careful, though.]

Dark magic or no, I need more of an explanation than that. You said you're a wizard?

[ He’s not entirely sure why Alec’s searching his face like that, and his eyes narrow on reflex. ]

I mean, I’m not complaining. It worked out right?

[ Part of him wants them to back away from this conversation, because it feels like teetering on a dangerous ledge. One falls move and they’ll fall. ]

Probably a fluke.

Wow, Em. That’s the nicest thing anybody’s ever said to me.

[ That whole “frustrating” thing is still in full swing apparently. Though, now that he’s convinced she’s not gonna attack him or anything, his posture eases a little. ]

I did. What more of an explanation do you need?

[ Alec’s gaze lingers on Peter for the barest of seconds longer, almost as if he wants to ask “what did you do?”, but Peter couldn’t have been any more responsible for whatever that was than Alec, and Alec sure didn’t do anything. Whatever happened back there had to have just been instinct. Or a fluke.

He returns his gaze to the ceiling with a small smirk. ]

Just try to stay out of trouble. I’m not always gonna be around to save your ass.

[ He’s relieved when Alec finally backs off, that little coil of tension at the base of his neck finally relaxing. Peter unconsciously lifts his hand, rubbing at the spot.

Still, Alec’s words have Peter rolling his eyes, and he huffs out a derisive snort. ]

Whatever, dude. We’ll just call ourselves even for after I so valiantly bailed your ass out of jail.

Are you still going on about that? I had it handled.

[ without conviction, ]

Uh-huh. Sure. Okay.

Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence. [ he reaches over to give Peter a light shove ] Dick.

[ He bats Alec’s hand away without any real effort. ]

Says the guy shoving the wounded man. That’s a level of cruelty that’s just seriously messed up, man.

[ He rolls his eyes ] If that nasty fucking tea hasn't killed you yet, a little push sure isn't going to. Don't play the pity card with me.

I still think you shouldn’t knock it ‘fore you try it.

It’s not so bad, really.

"Not so bad"? You look you're gonna be sick just thinking about it.

My "fuck no" still stands.

That’s your problem, Brennan. No sense of adventure.

Ramey > open rp

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