Pictures in the Dark

[formidable]

General PSL/FUNBOX post for aurajen and formidable. Lots of OC shenanigans. ➢ Cool Mood Music No. 1 ➤ Cool Mood Music No. 2

Comments

done!!!

[ghostpranks]

I didn't- [OH MY GOD. Everyone stop talking to him at once!] Just shut up for a second, Lyra, okay?!

[He does as Morgan's instructed, easily falling into his role of taking orders rather than giving them. (He's more used to that, as much as he'd hate to admit it.) Unlike Michael, though, Jake is able to focus his mind to a razor-sharp point, and he's even more effective when under pressure. This situation would certainly apply.

And so immediately, startlingly, Jake sends another "sweep" of force throughout the entire room. If there's someone here, he's going to knock them on their feet to slow them down -- or at least he'll catch a sense of where they are if he can feel his soul brush up against someone, at the very least.]

1/2

[infusion]

[There was no avoiding that next move and Iona feels herself being swept off of her feet and being knocked in the back.]

Shit--!!

[And her concentration on invisibility wavers as a result, revealing both her and Michael. She's still holding onto his hand with her left, but has to let go when hit.]

[oren]

[It's Oren who rushes in as debris and dust fly everywhere, standing in front of Iona and Michael protectively in plain sight of the opposing trio. His eyes flash dangerously.]

Too much.

[Aka, things have escalated needlessly in his opinion.]

1/?

[dilatory]

[Michael had been hit too, and in the staggering force, he has to lurch forward to keep his balance, letting go of Iona's hand the same time that she does the same.

Well. So much for their stealth tactic. Oren stands in front of them both right now, but Michael can turn to face the trio more directly, now, uncertain about what to do. Maybe... they'll recognize each other and laugh all of this off? Wouldn't that be great.]

...

[ghostpranks]

[Ha! Found them! But... wait a second...

Jake freezes, having recognizing two of the three that have finally appeared before them. The golem and the witch from the cafe; a rush of panic flickers through him, because what the hell were they doing here, poking around in their business? It's one thing to meet at the Grind, it's different when you're interrupting an actual job, and he's not exactly sure what to say. Other than...]

Just what in god's name is going on here?

[THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE WARNING HE GAVE YOU, YOU GUYS......]

[lyrelyre]

[Lyra is having a similar reaction to Jake, having recognized Oren.]

What- hey, it's that golem guy from the cafe. [She's not sure if she should wave or be annoyed or what. She gives Morgan a little elbow in the side.] The really tall one.

done

[glassjar]

[Morgan, though... upon seeing the three of them, his expression falters into confusion, but recovers a moment later, becoming a bit difficult to read. A thin smile bleeds onto his face, and he steps forward to stand in front of Jake, lightly brushing off Lyra's gesture.]

What's too much? The fact that we were trying to deter a trio of thieves from running off with our paycheck?

[He does give a tiny congenial wave at them from across the gallery. It's difficult to tell if it's anything close to sincere, but they can probably guess that there's irony embedded in the gesture.]

Hi, Jackie. Oren. Stranger I've not met. Now, give us our urn back, please.

1/4

[infusion]

[Iona stands up to reveal herself and steps in front of Michael (she's concerned for his safety the most and she'll put herself out there before anyone unsavory discovers his time powers).]

Well, well, well. Hello again. And hello for the first and the last time other two people.

[To Lyra and Jake of course. See, she can play that game too!]

As for the urn, I have no idea who's paying you for it, but I can tell you right now that they definitely have no idea what's in here either and--...

[oren]

You broke it.

[infusion]

...

...

...

[Iona looks down at her right crystal arm. She did notice that it wasn't vibrating anymore. In fact, there are just jagged pieces of what used to be the urn sliding down her side and clattering on the floor the moment Oren makes light of it.]

...

...

...

Ah.

[oren]

[And there's this sudden high pitched shriek that causes the floor to vibrate around them for a good 10 seconds. Oren remains unaffected although Iona covers up her ears, cursing.]



Ah.

[dilatory]

[Oh my god, that shrieking sound-! Michael covers his ears and cringes for the full ten seconds, closing his eyes. (The trio on the other side seem to have similar reactions, as well.)]

What do you mean, 'ah'-?! [That's an underreaction if he's ever heard one.] What's going on?!

[oren]

It got out.

[Is the curt reply of Oren whose dissatisfaction is aimed entirely at Iona who's running her hands through her hair and drops the rest of the urn on the floor, and looking towards the direction of the screech.]

Better now. Sort of. Shouldn't have though.

1/2

[lyrelyre]

[She lowers her hands from her ears when the screeching finally stops, and manages to catch what Oren had just said.]

It? What's it?

[And then it dawns on her, and she turns on her heel to look at Jake.]

Hey, you better keep on your toes; you're the only heavy-hitter here with us, now.

[ghostpranks]

[He's not sure if he should be more annoyed at himself for letting the urn escape his grasp, for those three over there for stealing it, or at the fact that the whole situation's gone to hell in a hand basket in a matter of seconds.]

Yeah, thanks, no pressure.

[But he's definitely at the ready, now. He looks over at Iona, Michael, and Oren.]

Wouldn't have to worry about any of this if you guys hadn't come along, you know.

1/2

[infusion]

[Iona looks exasperated and throws her arms up in the air.]

Yeah, well, I answer to someone who's probably even more intimidating than whoever is paying you! That's all I gotta say, now if you excuse me, we got a monster on the loose!

[The witch gestures to Micheal to follow her since there's no time to be concerned with Morgan, Jake, and Lyra, leaving them with the world's most exciting golem...]

[oren]

[Oren stands still as Iona runs past and then his silvery eyes settle on the other three. He makes a slight heaving motion with his chest as if sighing. Kind of.]

Good practice. For her.

1/2

[glassjar]

[As Michael follows Iona out, Morgan cuts in with a "ha!" at Oren's comment.]

I don't see how any of this is good for either party. Not only do we apparently need to deal with a monster on the loose, but more importantly, we've just failed our job and voided our contract with our client.

Talk about rude. I'm trying to decide if I should be more concerned or angry. Maybe both?

[lyrelyre]

Hey, never mind that-- [She's more curious about something else.] What did she mean she answered to someone more intimidating than our client? What happened to just running a nice peaceful cafe?

[oren]

Grandmother.

[THE DEADLIEST OF ALL DEADLY AND INTIMIDATING FIGURES.

As they talk, the walls are beginning to be covered with golden and thin threadlike veins; Iona's reinforcing the gallery so that the monster can't have an escape route.]

Probably knew more than your client.

[ghostpranks]

[Jake, on the other hand, is visibly annoyed, but that may not come as a total surprise, given his personality.]

Probably, but it doesn't change the fact that we could have gotten through this without having to deal with a monster on the loose. Now, who knows what's gonna happen to us?

[He motions at the walls to accentuate his point.]

Now we're gonna have to probably fight it, aren't we? Great.

[oren]

[Oren looks pointedly at Jake, but decides not to remark at his assertion. It's more or less what he's thinking anyways.]

Dealt with monsters before?

1/2

[lyrelyre]

We have, but usually we have Jake and Thomas here to help us. The best I can do is charm a monster to stop attacking briefly, and Morgan there just stands off to the side and looks pretty.

[glassjar]

Well, I do a bit more than that sometimes.

[oren]

[Oren stares at Morgan, piercingly so. He remembers what Jake said about him in particular.]

Do you now.

[It almost sounds curt.]