Realistic or Modern The Witching Hours [Closed]

[awkwardradish]

Emmett gave a wry grin at Pia’s response. He wasn’t going to go out and buy a burner laptop, he had all the information he needed tucked safely away in his brain. Pia, however, might want to see the files.

“I meant for Terrance to send you the files. I’ve already studied them, and I’m fully aware of your blood brother in Salem.” He chuckled to himself, shoving his hands into his coat pocket as he made way for the door of the room.

“Six pm.” He repeated. That at least gave him time to sleep, if he could get any. “I look forward to it.”

~***~

Jasleen averted her gaze quickly when Asher looked up at her. She’d been studying him. She blew out a breath as she considered his question. “Because it’s powerful, like you said.”

Oliver meowed, moving over to Jasleen now to beg for attention. She laughed the tiniest bit, before she joined Asher in the floor. She crossed her legs and Oliver climbed into her lap as she scratched his ears.

“It’s powerful and it undermines the power and authority of the covens, even if I don’t use it.” She went on. “Even then, I’m sure he’d spin it to make me look untrustworthy.” She stared down at Oliver, her jaw tightening. “They try to paint me as some rabid animal who can’t be trusted. And maybe I… am difficult,” she admitted quietly, “but I’m not some scheming lunatic like Landon or the others. I just want to live my life.”

 

[Lucyfer]

“Mmm. I can text you a good email for Terrance to send things to,” she allowed before moving towards the door and looking for him to head out along with her. “Try not to make much of our relation in Salem. He will not hesitate to cause you trouble if he takes offense, and trouble of the legal kind which is always exceedingly tedious and boring.”

Something she didn't think Emmett wanted to waste his time with. “Unless you like dealing with fifty pages of legalese to pay a $500 fine, of course.”

She'd lead the way back to the entrance with no detours and no change in path. She was quite conscious in letting him see only a limited view of her home. He clearly knew too much already. He didn't need to learn anything else.

But she did, “Is there anything I should know in communications with Terrance?” Not that she foresaw any responding, but just in case.

~***~

Asher felt some guilt at turning her gaze away. He averted his own gaze a bit, following the cat as it moved to get attention from her. Following her fingers as they offered.

“I'm sorry you're being hunted for being powerful. It's a shit reason.” He said, fully believing that. Existing shouldn't be a crime. “I don't think any of us have seen you as unreasonable.”

He didn't.

Not enough to be committed or otherwise contained against her will, at least. She was running from harm. That was a perfectly sane reaction.

“We'll deal with them so that you don't have to worry about them again.” He'd do what he could, just as he knew Pia would.

Not as a good person – perhaps she protested that too much – but out of her own fears. It was motivation enough.

 

[awkwardradish]

“I’m perfectly capable of conducting well behaved business transactions when it suits me.” Emmett chuckled softly. He hated playing that part, but he’d do it when he had to. After all, that was part of the job.

And being heir to the Astor legacy.

He nodded his head once more. “I’ll have him send you the files, and that’s it. Terrance isn’t a people person, it’s why we keep him behind the computer. Any questions or issues, get in contact with me.” He loved Terrance, but he’d either piss himself trying to talk to Pia or piss her off completely.

“Sleep well. You’ll need it.” He told her as he stepped out the threshold.

~***~

Despite refusing to look at him, Jasleen had seemingly accepted his presence well enough to relax in the floor with Oliver.

His words spurred something in her that she wasn’t quite sure how to react to.

“Why?” She said suddenly. Her gaze found him, despite the fact that it made her nervous. “Look, I’m not trying to be rude, but you shouldn’t give a shit what happens to me, or why it does.” It was a bit harsh, but it was true.

She went on before he could answer. “I didn’t mean- I mean, I’m not-“ She sighed, taking a moment to compose herself. “I just… don’t understand. That’s it.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia made the note not to address Terrance directly if it could be avoided. She didn't need to cause undo trouble, and she likely didn't need too much explanation from Terrance, anyways. “Very well,” she accepted it gracefully.

Though, she rolled her eyes at the request to sleep. It was unnecessary. She did, of course, but it wasn't a requirement. With meeting Edwin on the horizon, she wasn't likely to sleep anyways. She had to prepare to deal with him.

“Sweet dreams, good hunter~,” she bid in a sing-song, touched with that damnable charisma for her own amusement, “try not to dream of me.”

Perhaps it'd be a subtle enough influence on his last thoughts that he would. Perhaps not. She wasn't likely to know unless the dream made him awkward, naturally. She shut the door behind him, and retreated to the lounge, to take the head and start cleaning it of gore.

Sure, she didn't know what to do with the skull, but cleaning it was a start.

And licking the blood off her fingers was like an electric thrill.

~***~

Asher wasn't surprised by the question at all, though the outburst startled him. He leaned back onto one hand, this time making sure he was looking at her as he answered. “Society isn't like the group you came from. There's still assholes, but most people are indifferent, or want to help.”

He knew this.

He believed this.

“The degrees they'll go to are different. I have a lot of means, so I can help a lot more than most. And I try. I don't have to care about the kids, but I do. The animals…I could have gotten any number of jobs that would keep me from interacting in a caring fashion, but I didn't.”

He wasn't cut out to be someone behind the scenes crunching numbers.

“I know it's different. And strange. And you want to protect yourself because of what you learned in that society. I see it a lot with the abused kids,” too much, “but there's whole systems and groups out here in the world set to help people who have been hurt. Some aren't great, they all could be better…but humanity, generally, cares. Even if I hate generalizations like that, it's been true a lot for me. And now that you're out of there it should be true a lot for you.”

She shouldn't give up faith in the world and people.

“Though, generally, I don't like most people. And plenty will rip you off. I'm just trying not to be one of the people I hate.”