Stars Align

by Red 9th November 2014, 4:24 pm

First topic message reminder :

"Hey, time to wake up over there."

Rivkah looked up from the hand mirror at the man standing across the room from her at an easel. The man nodded at her, pushing up his glasses with paint-covered hands, leaving a drop of red on the bridge of his glasses. "How you feeling?"

Rivkah dropped the mirror on the bed next to her, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. "...Tired," she said, for lack of a better word. A better word might be... distant? Like the feeling you got after a long time spent daydreaming. "What time is it?"

"Nine," Dylan said, his light brown curls falling down between his glasses and his eyes as he turned back to his painting. He blew up at the hair, trying to get it out without using his hands. "See anything?"

Rivkah shook her head. "Jack shit," she said, blinking hard. "Maybe something, but I don't remember it."

"Don't let it discourage you. Probably we haven't found the right medium for you yet," he said, studying his painting. "It's easy to get lost looking, too."

"I know," she muttered, standing up and stumbling as her legs nearly gave way. She felt way too weak after that.

"I was gonna order pizza soon if you want any," Dylan said, putting down his palette on a table near the easel. "You probably shouldn't go out yet like that,"

"Pizza is awesome," Rivkah said, wandering over towards the window and pulling open the blinds. She stared down from Dylan's window on the fifth floor of his apartment complex to the city below. Clubs were starting to light up already, filling up with college kids drinking and dancing away the weekend. Dylan lived in the heart of the 'college' district of the city, near the university campus - the guys who lived there called it Dinkytown.

She heard the sound of running water as Dylan turned the sink on. "You gonna go out and join them?" he asked.

Rivkah shrugged. "Maybe. Why the hell not."

by Red 29th November 2014, 1:06 am

Rivkah almost didn't follow him up the stairs, not wanting to hear whatever shit he'd have to say about this, but then she thought about what would happen if he decided to call the Coven on her.

She limped up the stairs, leaning a little too heavily on the railing and stopping at the top of the stairs, waiting for him to finish his chanting. "I'm not here," she said pointedly, turning to go back downstairs and nearly falling face first down the steps. She gripped the railing hard to regain her balance and slowly started limping down.

by **EphPhoenix** 29th November 2014, 11:53 am

He grabbed her unceremoniously by the scruff of her shirt. "Not so fast, dumbass," he said, yanking her back up the stairs and pulling her into his arms. "I don't need you bleeding all over the place." His body protested at the sudden weight and he knew once he stopped partitioning in the back of his mind, this shit was going to hurt.

He loved the living room of this place. A couple of chintz sofas, covered because my God did those designs make a man want to vomit, a comfy recliner or three, and a couple of rocking chairs. They were all sprawled out in a haphazard pattern along the place, with a coffee table and a few stands for good measure. Oh, couldn't forget the desk in the corner or the Counter Magic Doodads cupboard. Aside from that, it was lined with pictures of his most favorite person in the world.

"Here ya go!" he said, dropping her on a sofa. "Wait here, Nobody." He gave her a measured smile that brooked that she'd do just that.

He went down the hall where another cupboard lay. This one was for the healing stuff, which he kept in regular supply. He pulled out a couple of salves and bandages.

"Afraid healing wasn't one of my strong suits--not to mention the staves are fucking expensive as shit!--so I'm afraid if you're wanting a speedier recovery--see instantaneous--you'd be better served heading to the Coven that you love so much that you feel the need to hide from their help." He opened a tin full of a salve and rubbed it gently over the wound. "Geez, you're a baby! Suck it up!" he snapped at her protesting. He chanted some ancient Celtic and watched as the salve glowed. Her wound was already starting to visibly mend.

He placed a bandage over it and chanted some more in that dialect. Finally, he placed the salve on her forehead in a Celtic symbol and chanted again. "There," he said. "Provided you lay down a few hours you should be functional by then. I wouldn't suggest any marathons any time soon, but you can certainly get your nose into more trouble--and I'd advise you leave the Cathedral alone if you don't know what you're doing--which you clearly don't.

"Anyway, rest up, then get the hell out." He turned and went to the bathroom to start tending his own. "You're just as safe at your place under Coven protection as you are here. Well, so long as you don't go bringing in unsealed artifacts to bypass security."

by Red 29th November 2014, 1:51 pm

She gave a choked yell as he dragged her back and dumped her on a sofa. She wanted to leave as he turned his back on her, because fuck him, but she was far too lightheaded to do much of anything.

"Fuck the Coven," she said, hissing as he rubbed the salve over her wound.

Her pride injured as much as her body, she shut up as he went to work. Her eyebrows shot up as he mentioned the Cathedral, and she quickly composed herself. Has he been spying on me now? "What fucking cathedral," she said, playing dumb. He'd tried to play the place off as unimportant at the bar last night, and she figured someone lived there, but now... If he's warning me off it it's probably our mobster buddies.

by **EphPhoenix** 29th November 2014, 2:36 pm

He smiled widely. This girl and her cheek. Putting the finishing touches, he stepped back out in nothing but his heart boxers, that wide grin still on his face. "Exactly how long have you been studying magic, freulein?" he said cheerfully. "Magic tip: Entering places of magic or where strong magics reside leaves a residue. You and your guests? Reek of the Cathedral. Bet your magics short-circuited, too, huh?"

by Red 29th November 2014, 3:34 pm

She grimaced as he stepped out in just his boxers, showing off some pretty nasty looking scars across his chest. "We are not that close," she muttered, as he started babbling. Her eyes narrowed at his words. Reek? Wha - ah. Natural. So that's why he's such a douche. Good news though - now she knew who had taken up residence at the Cathedral, if they 'reeked' of it too.

"Do you want me to be impressed?" she said, pulling out her phone. Two new texts from Dylan. Nice to know he was up. She shot him a text. Your present ran off but I took care of it, so don't panic you nerd.

by **EphPhoenix** 29th November 2014, 4:21 pm

"No. I want you to be smart," he said. "Ya got potential, kid, but the dead never reach their potential. And right now, I'd put my money on the chicken with its head cut off outlasting you at the rate you're going."

He grabbed his robe, muttered a spell, and smiled as the holes in it mended themselves. "I love this robe," he said, tossing it into the hamper. "Too bad it can't take the stink out. Wraith demesne. Ick."

"Rest up, kiddo," he called back as he went down the hall. "Check ya another day."

by Red 29th November 2014, 4:28 pm

Kid? Rivkah seethed. He couldn't possibly be any older than her, the condescending, arrogant little shit. This is why I fucking hate Naturals.

She raised one hand to flip him off as he left. God, she needed to get out of this house before she lost her mind or her temper. Lots of tokens I could pick up on my way out...

She started to get up, ready to look around and get the fuck out of there, but her head spun as she moved and she was back down on the couch again. Magic's gonna heal my wound but not the blood loss. Maybe she should find his credit card and order a pizza with it.

by **EphPhoenix** 29th November 2014, 4:42 pm

He stumbled back into the living room looking tired, walked past her into the kitchen, then came back out with a greenish-brown goop in a cup and put it on the stand by the couch. "Drink up," he said. "Tastes like shit, but'll help with the blood loss. Also, drink a lot of water after.

Finally, he headed back into his room and laid down on his bed, pulling his covers up. He groaned as he opened the partition, feeling all the aches in his body. That was the only downside. You could put them away for a time, but not forever. He drifted off to sleep almost instantly.

by Red 29th November 2014, 5:00 pm

Rivkah glanced over at the shit he set down. "Did you just shit in a cup for me?" she said, not touching it until he left the room. He looked fucking exhausted. She got the feeling he wouldn't be crawling back out here anytime soon.

With a sigh she grabbed the cup and downed it - man it really did taste like shit. Rivkah grimaced and set it down, realizing then that he wasn't the only one who was exhausted. You are not sleeping on his couch, you are not sleeping on his couch...

Ten minutes later she was passed out on his couch.

by **EphPhoenix** 29th November 2014, 5:15 pm

"Power is meant to be used. Let me show you how it's done!"

Teuto stood watching in horror, shielding his eyes from the intense light. "Have you lost your mind?! Stop it! You're gonna...!"

The world swirled as a plethora of images flashed by. Craggy rock faces floating in mid-air, people in robes, a pillar of light, demons...

He sat up abruptly, sweating and breathing hard. He hated dreams like those. If he wanted to be wet and sweaty, there was a better activity for it. Speaking of, that girl had given him her number...

His ears perked up as he heard light snoring. "Oh yeah, the girl."

He groaned as he got up. His body was better than when he slept, but it still hurt like hell. His stomach growled as he stumbled to his closet and picked out a nice green suit and began putting it on. From there, he checked the sky. Mid-afternoon. He'd slept a good few hours, then. Oh, well. He didn't need to research anymore. This morning's events had elucidated him to the method.

He walked into the living room to find the girl sprawled on his couch. "Only time she doesn't look like a snarling rage-beast," he said jovially.

She'd need food after speeding up her healing like that. So would he, for that matter. She needed to wake up. He could be gentle about it or...

He looked over to a nearby washcloth. "Lava!" he told it. It lifted itself up, went to the sink and dipped itself in water. "Hang on," he said. "Glacialis! Because I care..."

The now icy cold rag jumped on her face, giving her a thorough washing. He leaned against the nearby cupboard and awaited the fireworks.

by Red 29th November 2014, 5:30 pm

Rivkah screamed as she felt something icy cold on her face, smothering her, and she reached up with both hands, grabbing it and hurling it off her face towards the other side of the room where it slammed into the wall.

She sat upright, breathing hard, and glared over at Teuto. Christ. She thought something was trying to fucking murder her again...

She'd slept fine most of the time she was out, only being troubled by dreams of dying and the like later on. Her dad weaseled his way into those dreams somehow, and that only served to put her in a fouler mood as she watched Teuto laughing.

by **EphPhoenix** 29th November 2014, 5:33 pm

He chuckled only slightly. "You should've seen the first time I slept on that couch," he said with a rueful smile. "She dumped two hole buckets of ice water on my head." He fluffed his lapels. "ALS challenged twice before it was a thing, bitches. Now, c'mon." He headed downstairs. "We gotta get you fed and watered and I don't have shit here."

by Red 29th November 2014, 5:54 pm

She raised an eyebrow at his outfit - green? Really? "Do you really want to go out looking like that?" she said, wiping her face with her hand as she swung her legs over the side of the couch. Poor guy needs someone else to go through his wardrobe for him.

She looked down at her own clothes, poking at the hole in her leather jacket sadly. She might be able to patch that up, but not here without equipment. Rivkah stood up, reluctantly starting to follow downstairs.

by **EphPhoenix** 29th November 2014, 6:48 pm

Once outside, he told the premises to lock up, which it at once did. Next stop: The Highwayman. Finally, he could have a good meal--too bad he had her for company. Maybe if he could wrap up one of these places and get a solid lead, he could call that girl up and get lucky.

Dick didn't say a word as he sidled up to the bar, just placed two menus in front of the two. "Steak, med-rare. Two. Large side of veggies and a baked potato. And whatever jailbait here is having."

by Red 29th November 2014, 7:21 pm

Rivkah rolled her eyes at him. "I do not think that word means what you think it means," she muttered, flipping through the menu quickly to find the cheapest item. "Cheeseburger and fries," she said.

by **EphPhoenix** 4th December 2014, 7:14 pm

"Make it a double for her, too," he said. "What I used to help you heal faster? Comes at a price. As does all magic. In this case, increased metabolism. Your body has to fuel the regeneration."

He looked around and spotted some talent in the building. He might have to get in touch with these Wicca college co-eds and their new brunette. Suddenly, more than just the idea of steak seemed delicious...

by Red 4th December 2014, 9:38 pm

Rivkah rested her head on her hand and gave him a look of irritation as he lectured her on the costs of magic. She raised her free hand and made a circle around her face. "No shit. Dark witch." Like she didn't know about the cost of magic.

She pushed off the bar and stood up, scanning for the restroom sign. Rivkah walked towards it as she found it, throwing open the door to the women's bathroom and letting it slam behind her.

by **EphPhoenix** 4th December 2014, 11:39 pm

"You say that and yet there's so much simple shit you don't seem to know. Forgive me for wondering if this had also been on the list." He watched her go. "Feel sorry for the ol' man at home. She has a log the size of a redwood up her ass."

by Red 5th December 2014, 2:28 pm

Rivkah found a stall and locked it behind her, leaning facefirst against the stall wall. God. She was so, fucking, tired of this.

That and just tired. She sat down on the toilet seat, leaning forward on her knees and composing herself. Absently, she pulled out her phone to check it. Dylan had texted again. He'd been texting.

Dylan: You still there?

Dylan: Please text me.

Dylan: Look, I know you're probably pissed and you need space, but I just need to know if you're alive. I haven't asked for Coven help on this because I know you hate them, but please at least let me help you.

Rivkah sighed and started to text him back, before she changed her mind. She sent him a selfie instead. More convincing that she was alive than a text.

She wasn't about to believe him about not involving the Coven, but that'd calm him down if he was being honest. Rivkah grimaced, shoving her phone back in her pocket. He certainly acted like he cared, but she'd figured out his real role in her life long ago. Instructor, sure - he'd spent some time trying to teach her, sure, especially divination, but he was always busy and divination was a time sink that barely gave results. Almost everything she knew she had to look up herself. The Coven just wanted someone keeping an eye on the girl with the curses to make sure she didn't kill someone. A babysitter.

Not like she was going to curse anybody - well, with anything actually dangerous. Her spellbook was full of more petty or fun shit than deadly, and the deadly spells she'd only studied out of dark fascination. She'd never had to cast any. She'd never had to apply shit. It had been a miracle that binding spell had worked.

God. She was used to getting into trouble, but not this kind. Rivkah starting running her fingers through her hair, dropping the hairs that came out into the toilet behind her. She couldn't leave any tokens behind for someone to find now... Fuck.

She slammed her fist into the side of the stall. What the hell was she doing? She hated that bastard Teuto but she didn't know what she was doing on her own. She'd probably be dead without him. For a moment, she wondered how much she really cared. Hell, she was probably dead anyway.

It was a long time before she was able to return from the bathroom with her usual swagger, pulling herself onto the barstool with false confidence.

by **EphPhoenix** 5th December 2014, 10:46 pm

Her food was piping hot and ready for when she came out. Teuto himself was already through his first plate and starting on his second. "Must've been some log," he said around a mouthful.

"I guess I owe you a thank you," he said as he shoved a large chunk of steak in his mouth. "Ib nod bor you--" he chewed and swallowed "--I'd have been doing a lot more research. But at least now I know. And knowing is half the battle..."

"G.I. Jooooooooooe!" Teuto chorused with Dick and several other people in the place. There was a collective chuckle and nodding.

by Red 6th December 2014, 12:49 am

He's so full of shit. What was there to thank? "Yeah, whatever," she muttered, picking up her burger to avoid any more talking.

"Jesus this is good," she said around a mouthful. Best burger she'd ever had, though feeling like she was starving probably helped.

by **EphPhoenix** 6th December 2014, 2:24 am

Dick beamed with pride. "Of course it is," he said. "It's not just the decor that brings people here."

"The man could work a five-star restaurant," Teuto said matter-of-factly. He actually did, but didn't like people knowing. He was weirdly modest like that. "Makes the best anything I've ever tasted."

"Quiet, you," Dick snapped, giving him a warning glare.

"Yeah, yeah," Teuto said. "Now," he added getting off his stool and cracking his knuckles. "I've got work to do, and seeing as I don't need you bringing random assassins to my doorstep again, you might as well tag along. Might learn something. Dick, that was delish. If I was a woman or swung that way, you'd be banged."

Dick rolled his eyes. "I don't know that I'd want a whore like you," he said with a grin. "Didn't that last number have a boyfriend?"

"Married, actually," he responded mischievously. Dick shook his head.

"You're better than that."

Teuto laughed. "Not really. I was giving it to her on her husband's desk at work when he came in. She wanted him to see." He laughed harder as Dick cringed and slapped a hand to his forehead and shook his head.

"You're young," he said with a sigh. "You'll learn, yet."

"You done over there, yet?" he asked the girl.

"You sure either of you should be going out there?" Dick inquired. "I know a healing spell when I see one, and you look like hell, even with the sharp suit."

"You know how it is. No rest for the wicked."

by Red 6th December 2014, 9:31 am

Rivkah's jaw clenched as he spoke. She supposed this had been what she'd been looking for yesterday, but this condescending cock...

It was a wonder he got any. She wondered if he was lying. She debated her options as she finished her burger - go crawling back home, go to the cathedral alone, go along with him. Two were humiliating and the third was definitely suicidal.

What the hell. She was angry so someone was going to get it. Maybe Toots. Punching him or some mobster in the face would feel good. "Don't compliment that suit, he might believe you," she muttered. "Yeah, calm your tits, I'm coming," she said, a little louder as she finished up.

by **EphPhoenix** 6th December 2014, 1:57 pm

As they left the building, Teuto turned and headed for the wharf district. "Alright, jailbait," he said, "if I'm dragging you around, you can at least be good conversation. Tell me about the basics of magic." With her penchant for curses, he pondered whether she was actually being Coven-trained or just kept an eye on. Hypocritical fuckers frowned on the craft being learned, but used them quite readily for problems they didn't especially like.

by Red 6th December 2014, 4:06 pm

"That's fucking it," she said. Rivkah stepped in front of humans turned, looking up at him in the eye. "Listen, leprechaun bastard, I'm not a fucking child and I'm fucking tired of your condescending bullshit. Basics of magic? Fucking really?"

She turned, disgusted. "I'm not proving myself to you with your little fucking quizzes." She still had her pride. If that pissed him off, fine. She didn't have much hope for her chances either way, who gave a damn if their tenuous 'alliance' dissolved because he was a dick.

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