Don&#39;t believe in no-win scenarios

"I know."

The fire looks lovely and she'd love to sit down and warm up, but Jim is her first priority so guess what: it's hugging time. "I'm sorry, sweetie, I should have warned you, but I honestly didn't think they'd bother you."

So... there's that.

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Well. That's rather a lot to have confirmed in an instant. Still, Schön hasn't gotten this far in the Nexus without an adaptable nature and an excellent poker face. It's easier to maintain with Verity and Jim busy in an embrace.

"Should I step out, so you can discuss the matter in private?" he offers, banking the goodwill of having made the offer against the value of what he might not get to overhear.

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"What?! No why would you do that." Jim insists, slightly muffled from Jim having Naugus's face mushed against Verity's shoulder. Mind the horn, Ver.

Verity confirming things has, if anything, made Jim more nervous. Because now these things are real and holy fuck they need help.

"That is the exact opposite of what I want you to do. What with 'oh yeah this is totally a thing' just being established here." He gives Verity a squeeze with that last bit, nerves getting the best of him and making him cling for just a moment.

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She knows how to hug her grandpa, don't worry about that. As for why Schön might leave... maybe cause that's exactly what the look she's giving him was suggesting? She likes him and all, but she doesn't want this to be fodder for his ongoing feud with Naugus.

But, as usual, what Jim wants wins.

"There's not much to talk about. I know they're dangerous and you shouldn't listen to them. We'll make sure you have some of that tea Viatorus gave me so they can't bother you anymore, okay? It'll be all right."

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Schön had been directing the question more at Verity, a follow-up to his acknowledgment that she had been told things in confidence. But since she seems to be relenting on the "step outside" position, he'll stay.

"And, as I have said, I can offer ways to protect you from the possession that concerns you, once you have your own body back."

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"Not just that. They need help." Jim looks from Verity to Schön several times. Something isn't adding up here. "They're dangerous? They gave me a warning Ver."

Okay sure everyone except Mr. Pinchy was kind of a jerk about it, but they did give him a warning.

"I have a prison of ghosts trapped in my head begging for help, and the first thing you say is 'oh, we can just shut them up with tea'?"

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"That's not quite the first thing I said, but yeah. Viatorus has been trying to figure out how to deal with them for months now. In the meantime, he and I agree it's better this way." Jim gets a quick squeeze before she draws back to shrug off her coat. Hopefully there's someplace to hang it; otherwise, she'll fold it over the back of a chair. "He's the dream expert, so I'm willing to follow his instincts on this one. Would you feel better talking to him about it?"

Then, wait. She gives Schön a confused look. "What possession?"

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"Jim expressed concern, evoked by the dream-figures' warnings, that Naugus would be able to forge some link to Jim's body and claim control of it again at whim. It is, we are told, a tool in his repertoire." Schön is careful, with both his phrasing and his tone, not to raise any accusations or attempt to state as fact anything beyond the fact that he has been told things.

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"He's told me himself that he's used to taking possession of bodies and expressed no qualms about killing my body off if I piss him off." Jim mutters. "I thought it was just a bluff until these guys showed up and SUPRISE he can totally apparently do that and has before also he hates me."

It's probably a blessing that Jim isn't in hos own body while he's freaking out about this. They don't have to deal with rapid pacing, scrubbing his face until it's raw, or any of his other nervous tics. Instead he just straightens in his seat and bites at his lower lip gently.

"This is just the worst."

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"He won't kill your body, sweetie. He may be mean to you, but he's not stupid enough to piss me off like that. His self-preservation instincts are too strong." Is that close enough to being on Jim's side for him to stop sulking about it now?

"And if Schön says he can protect you, I'm sure he can. He's sure he can, and I've never seen him be wrong about this sort of thing. So let's focus on these people you met in the dream. What can we do to make you feel better about it?"

Edited Date: 2016-01-27 10:48 pm (UTC)

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"There are places where even the most basic protective magics are effective wards against possession and mental influence, and such talismans are not difficult for a person of means to obtain." Schön is toning down on the smug, since that won't help Jim right now, but he wants his confidence to be clear.

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"That's why I came to him." Jim agrees. "Schön knows his stuff. So the possession is less a concern now than the prison I have in my head of ghosts. They were elemental magi. Each had a different specialty, and they're the reason Naugus can do all those different types of magic."

Jim struggles to remember the finer details. They didn't give him much to go off of. How they were killed. Why Ixis trapped them. Or even how. Just that they were and that Naugues was only able to use so many kinds of magic because of them.

"They're trapped in there. They wanted me to talk to Naugus on their behalf. Warned me that he'd do the same to me that he had to them. Then I woke up."

Edited Date: 2016-01-28 01:05 am (UTC)

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She gives Schön an appreciative little smile. She knows there'll be costs and promises... but it might be worth it. Right now, the idea of it is helping.

But the smile fades into a more serious look when she shifts her attention back to Jim. "You think they were telling you the truth? Or do you want to believe them because you hate Naugus so much?"

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Schön inclines his head graciously--they can talk specifics later. Jim still owes him two favors, but he's someone worth keeping in fit condition to do those favors, and Naugus' marionette is not a fit condition for helping him. Besides, if what he's learning now turns out to be true, it'll be a useful insight to his rival. And Jim might carelessly shed a hair and leave it behind, or (better) opt to offer a strand in payment. But Verity is asking pertinent questions, and as he didn't meet these specters, he can't contribute to their answers.

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"I don't know." Jim admits. "At first I thought Ixis was jerking my chain, and he just wanted me to complain so you'd tell me to stop being mean to him." Jim shakes his head and sighs.

"I didn't come to you right away because I wanted to make sure it was really a thing before I bothered you. You've had to deal with enough of this since this whole fiasco started. And I trust Schon's judgement." He probably wouldn't near as much if he knew he still owed that many favors to the magi, but it's for the best. Jim's good for them either way.

"All I know is that someone begged me for help, and when ghosts are begging for help, that's a first for me and I'm inclined to at least hear them out. I don't trust Naugus as much as you do. And he's threatened me." Jim feels that is a very important point to stress. "Do I want it to be true? No. Because that means I have more reasons to worry about Naugus. But I want to do the right thing. And preferably not get haunted and/or possessed."

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It's an effort to avoid pointing out that they should both stop being mean to each other. One that involves biting her lip. But the effort is made and successful, hurrah!

The rest of Jim's points are good, and she'll consider them for a while before speaking up again. "If you want to know what's happening, I think we should call Viatorus. He's the expert."

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"Thank you." It's nice to have his judgment trusted, even if a few moments ago Jim was leery of Schön's calling Verity. That they seem to be getting somewhere (even if it includes a referral to another expert) is vindication enough, and he restrains himself from gloating. This isn't the time.

"Shall I see about getting us something to take the edge off? I know a place that delivers, if we prefer to call the young dreamwalker to us."

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That was more about timing and circumstances than it was distrust. Schön is a friend, and as such is (unfortunately) privy to Acts of Kirk. Welcome to the club, buddy! Both Schön and Verity seem fine with calling in this Viatorus, who is nearly a stranger to Jim.

He's pretty sure they spoke once, and it was all the incentive Jim needed to never seek the kid out again. Oh, he's personable enough and friendly, but he's able to see into people's heads and that is a huge helping of Do Not Want for Jim Kirk. Usually.

Tonight, however? Seems to be just what the doctor ordered.

"Yeah. O...okay. Thanks. Both of you." He'll apologize for waking the pair of them up later. For now he's just glad someone seems to know what they're doing.

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"You're welcome, sweetie." Does she know what she's doing? Not really. But she's willing to fake it for his peace of mind. "I probably shouldn't ask for coffee, but coffee, please. If I'm up, I need to be up."

While Schön's working out their order, she'll get out her phone and send a carefully-worded text.
Jim is having Naugus' dreams. Did you ever finish those drawings?

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"Quite welcome, I assure you, Captain. And thank you for coming to me." Stepping to the doorway, he gets out his phone again, enacting the ritual which summons coffee and Chinese take-out. This could take a while, after all.

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heirtothearcane

Even with all the chaos, Viatorus had managed to grab his phone to text Isidor reassurances that everything was normal. The last thing he expected was to get a text from Verity. He spends a minute hesitating before he reads the message itself.

I did. Has anyone told Naugus? He considers for a moment before adding, Would you like me to talk to Jim?

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Not yet. Yes please? He's very upset. He told Schon. Sounds like we're getting Chinese, you want anything?

Following are directions to the place in the Sphinx. Gotta love Nexus landmarks.

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heirtothearcane

No thank you. Harrowheart doesn't eat. That last part is mostly put as a reminder that he won't be in his own body when he shows up.

He has to grab a few things, but with a leather satchel slung over one shoulder, he follow the directions he's given. The more he does, the less certain he becomes about being in the right place. Nevertheless, he knocks on the door that he's pretty sure is correct.

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The door opens on a thin man in a well-tailored suit, who looks Viatorus over briefly. "Well, those duck dumplings are running late. Mr. Durant, I presume? Please come in." Stepping aside, he gestures to invite Harrowheart's undead bulk inside.

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