[undarkest timeline] oopfsb: watchers always make lists

[stilljustandrew]

He needs to write that list. He promised Matt.

Watchers always make lists.

Abilities

can take on the form of any individual dead or formerly dead

can (apparently) know anything known to the dead

can sometimes interfere with magical energies so as to disrupt spells aimed at it directly

can give abilities such as superhuman strength or clairvoyance to its chosen followers, while transforming others into Harbingers

can appear and speak to one individual while remaining unseen and unheard by others present

has claimed the ability to pull people out of hell (unconfirmed)

can communicate with people through dreams nightmares

Known Strategies

winning followers through promises and/or corruption

impersonating close friends / loved ones, to deceive and mislead (esp. if the individual is not known to have died)

appearing as close friends / loved ones / enemies without keeping up pretense of actually being them, to stir up strong emotion and cloud judgment

passing misinformation / interfering with communication

damaging morale through constant harassment, esp. of those in fragile emotional/mental states

Andrew hesitates, then adds under that last: On more than one occasion the First has attempted, often but not always successfully, to talk people into murder and/or suicide.

He stops and looks at it for several minutes, trying to decide if that sounds melodramatic.

"You okay?" asks Jonathan's voice behind him.

He turns before his mind catches up, and stutters "Y-yeah."

Jonathan's sitting there on the edge of his bed, looking sad and sympathetic and even a little indignant on his behalf. "He dumped you, didn't he. I'm sorry. That sucks."

Andrew closes his eyes. "If you wanna talk to me," he says unsteadily, "stop looking like him."

"Sorry," says another voice, ruefully; when he opens his eyes, it's Ava Wilson sitting there. "Better?"

"Not much." He turns back to the list, shoulders hunched as though he could hide what he's writing.

"I mean it, though. I am sorry. Especially since it kinda was actually my fault? I called it wrong, I figured for sure he'd stick it out with you."

Andrew's fingers close hard on the pen. "Did you want something?"

She laughs. "What? I told you I'd be back. But listen, if this isn't a good time I can always come back later."

"Yeah," he says to the paper. "Do that. Please."

A pause, and then sounding pleased: "Well, since you ask so nicely. Sure. Just -- one thing before I go?" She pauses, and then when he doesn't respond goes on, her tone shading into concern: "Don't ... don't let it get to you, okay? If he's not gonna be there when you need him, he doesn't deserve you."

Silence. Andrew waits, then slowly lets a breath trickle out.

Then freezes, as his own voice breathes wickedly into his ear: "He deserves me."



When he turns to look, the room's empty.

Comments

[1st_among_evils]

"Sure you are. You're thinking you've faced worse. So much worse than some ghost wearing your face, all it can do is talk, it can't so much as lay a finger on you, much less turn and bite your life out ..."

The voice is changing, going slower, older, infinitely drier. The eyes have gone matte black, studying Nita with a calm expressionless regard.

"Isn't that so, Sprat."

[nita_callahan]

A chill runs down Nita's spine. There's something deeply unsettling about seeing her own face like that.

"I'm not sure what you're going for."

Her fingers are tight on her elbows.

"Throwing the people I've lost in my face isn't anything I haven't done to myself. And Ed? Of all people?"

[1st_among_evils]

A dust-dry chuckle. "Of all people. Did you ever learn to say his name entire, or were six syllables too much to be bothered with? ... No, Sprat, I am trying to make a point."

[stilljustandrew]

"It wants you to be afraid."

Andrew's voice isn't shaking, but the effort is audible.

"It wants you to recognize it for something to fear."

[nita_callahan]

--Nita lets out a laugh, a little startled, a little nervy, but genuine.

"And you picked Ed?" She shakes her head. "I get the symbolism you're going for, I guess, but boy are you dumb."

[1st_among_evils]

"You've never known what you should be afraid of," Nita-Ed's voice says with dry patience. "Little wonder, when evil in your world is such a pitiful thing. Crying out for opportunity to become heroic at every turn."

A beat, and some of Nita's own sardonic tone comes back. "No wonder my boy likes you."

[stilljustandrew]

"I am not," halfway to a snarl, "your boy."

[nita_callahan]

She sobers; this is really not funny, she knows.

"You know, I'd think that would bother you," she says, leaning forward, elbows on her knees. "That someone you think is yours is so drawn to people like me. Or is that what's going on?"

She cocks her head. "You're worried, aren't you?"

[1st_among_evils]

The other Nita smirks again -- and changes, hair and flesh and clothes flowing with unnatural smoothness into a new configuration.

"Do I look worried?" Warren asks, spreading his hands.

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew shuts his eyes and turns his head away.

"Just go away," he says, dully. "This didn't work the last time and it's not gonna work now."

[nita_callahan]

Nita glances over at Andrew.

"You want to go?" She looks back to -- whoever this is, now. Someone Andrew knows, clearly. "I'm happy to entertain our guest."

[1st_among_evils]

"Mm, not what I had in mind," says Warren judiciously, "but sure, why not? I'm sure we'll find something to talk about."

[stilljustandrew]

"Let's both go."

He looks up at Nita, eyes dry and burning. "Can we just both go?"

[nita_callahan]

Nita looks over at Andrew -- hesitates -- nods.

"Sure. Not like I've got any One more interesting to keep my attention."

She looks back at the First. "I'll meet you out in the hall, okay?"

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew's turn to hesitate.

Then slowly he reaches to pick up the list, folds it neatly in half and in half again, stows it in his pocket.

"I'll wait for you," he says, low-voiced, and makes for the door.

[1st_among_evils]

"Go on ahead." Warren winks and makes a finger-gun in Andrew's direction. "Catch up with you later, big guy."

(It doesn't sound threatening. It sounds like something an old friend might say.)

[nita_callahan]

Nita waits for Andrew to leave the room, trying to be still, trying not to look like her mind is racing.

"You're wasting a lot of energy on him." She sits back, clasping her hands between her knees. "You lost him, if you ever even had him. That must sting. But you're not getting him back."

[1st_among_evils]

The face morphs back into her own, studying her wordlessly for a moment.

"So ... what, then?" it says finally. "Are you expecting me to say 'oh, okay, never mind' and vanish? I mean, if I did that, would you even believe it?"

[nita_callahan]

She shakes her head.

"No, I guess not. I'm just saying." She shrugs. "Your game plan seems pretty -- limited. What are you expecting to do? Just harass him in perpetuity?"

[1st_among_evils]

"It's not like it'll take forever." The First shrugs, smiling faintly. "I've got time."

[nita_callahan]

"And if he did go back to you?"

[1st_among_evils]

A pause -- and a low, unpleasant chuckle, as her face shifts and flows into Andrew's.

"Well, your worries would be over then, wouldn't they?"

[nita_callahan]

"You don't know any of us half as well as you pretend to, do you?"

She stands up.

"You're just -- brute force with a good costume budget."

[1st_among_evils]

"I know you about as well as I need to, little wizard."

He leans back, smiling up at her.

"Was that it?"

[nita_callahan]

She swallows, and tries not to look like she does.

"Yeah, when we reach the condescending part of the banter, we're done."

She turns and heads for the door.