[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

[nita_callahan]

Don't look back, whatever you hear.

Classics are classic for a reason, she figures. She doesn't turn around.

When she steps out into the hall, she closes the door with slightly more force than is warranted.

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew's waiting in the corridor, hands closed into damp fists, trying to slow down his breathing.

Are you okay? doesn't seem like the right question, somehow.

[nita_callahan]

"I don't like that thing," she announces. She straightens her hair, unnecessarily, and takes a deep breath.

"How're you doing?"

[stilljustandrew]

"I, I'm okay."

It's maybe a slight exaggeration, but what he means is I'm not on the verge of collapse just yet.

"You?"

[nita_callahan]

"Mad."

Mostly. Shaken would also be accurate, but hardly helpful. And she has the distinct feeling it could have been worse -- might yet be worse.

"Let's go somewhere there are people, okay?"

[stilljustandrew]

"Yeah," he half-whispers. "And, and we need to find Matt."

He doesn't know why her saying mad should make him feel like shrinking. He knows she isn't mad at him; if anything, she's mad on his behalf. It's good that she's mad.

He still can't look up.

[nita_callahan]

". . . Andrew?"

She pauses, then touches his shoulder lightly.

"What is it?"

[stilljustandrew]

"What did you want to say to it?"

[nita_callahan]

--Oh.

"I wanted to give you a second where it wasn't baiting you." She shrugs, more than a little awkward. "And I wanted to see what it would say if you weren't there to be baited. I don't know. Maybe I kinda hoped it would say something revealing."

[stilljustandrew]

He swallows.

"Did it?"

[nita_callahan]

Rueful: "No. Not really. Nothing we didn't already pretty much know. It's an asshole and it wants you."

[stilljustandrew]

He nods, and tries to suppress a shiver.

"I don't even know why it wants me. I didn't even do it all that much good back then."

[nita_callahan]

"Evil's got a real possessive streak. In my experience, anyway."

Asmodean -- Blodwen -- Sitri -- the Lone Power -- hell, V, too.

"And that," she adds, suddenly fierce again, "is not our fault."

[stilljustandrew]

He gives her a swift uneasy glance, and his voice is small again when he says "I know."

[nita_callahan]

Deeeeep breath, Nita.

"Sorry." She rubs a hand over her face. "No -- sorry. I'd just rather be mad than scared."

[stilljustandrew]

... Oh.

It shouldn't feel better, to realize that Nita's scared too. It shouldn't be reassuring. But it's doing something to lighten the shrinking heaviness of a few moments ago.

"No, it, it's okay."

[nita_callahan]

She shakes her head, frustrated, at herself more than anything.

[stilljustandrew]

"I mean --"

He can't quite articulate why, even to himself, but --

"-- I'd rather not be the only one who's scared."

[nita_callahan]

"--Oh. Yeah. That -- I get that."

[stilljustandrew]

(Somewhere in his head, Matt's voice: I'm sorry, this must be really hard for you.)

He looks away, blinking.

"We should ... we were going downstairs."

[nita_callahan]

"Yeah. Yeah, let's go."

She gives one look over her shoulder, glowers, and then heads for the stairs.

[semicharmed]

Matt is at a new table-- one covered in books, notes, herbs, and other magical bits and bobs.

He's bent over a leather band, trying to figure out how best to attach a curve of gleaming wire. Every so often, he'll consult one of the books.

There's a tall mug of coffee at his elbow, still steaming.

[stilljustandrew]

He's also not directly facing the stairway, which means he doesn't see the two of them emerge.

Andrew comes to a halt as soon as he spots Matt.

"... Over there," he says, and indicates the table with a gesture of the head.

[nita_callahan]

Nita follows Andrew's glance and blows out a breath.

"All right." She takes the list from him. "You wanna just wait here, or--?"

[stilljustandrew]

He looks across at Matt again, and a lump thickens in his throat.

"Um," low-voiced. "I think, yeah."