video. un: hardsell

[oldhound]

[ John is in what looks to be a shop that's been abandoned for quite a while. There's a few bits of furniture with sheets over it. There's dust and cobwebs and the feed shakes as he accidentally bumps the table as he's trying to set it down. Once it is set up, he scrubs a hand over his face, through the bit of scruff at his jaw, and then around to rub at the back of his neck. He looks tired.

He istired but oddly energetic at the same time. ]

Right, not sure if any of you have been having trouble sleeping as well but I figured I may as well do this since I found the space for it. It's in Willful Machine, warding on the door glows amber. Easy to spot. I can still drop a location here in case.

I might be able to help with easing some of the bloodlust that seems to be cropping up. I've got incense and I'm working on some tinctures from those roses left behind for us. Smoke wands, too. Meditation seems to help. Yoga as well. I'm decent at both, don't mind showing anyone if they need it.

[ He reaches out for an old book covered with a dust cover and blows off the lingering film clinging before peeling that off. Any well-versed in the occult or magic might recognize the original grimoire of King Solomon. He's about to reach out with his free hand and turn off the feed when a thought suddenly occurs to him. ]

Oh, and I'd hate to go making such a terribly broad offer like I did back in the old town so to clarify: don't bother stopping in Maul. I wouldn't want the riff-raff to go showing up.

[ This is the smile on his face as he shuts the feed off. There's a location for the shop embedded in the message. ]

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video | un: P.G.

[possessum]

( Peter is very much Worried about the whole "bloodsport" thing. He's tried to keep it to himself, but he's certainly not immune to that weird antsy energy — and he really doesn't want to indulge in it. His main concern is, of course, the demon. What it might be capable of.

John's message seems to come just when he needs it. There's an instant relief; John can help him, as he's always done.

....But the shift comes seconds after Peter sees that book the man reaches for: clearing it of dust, and something ancient within shakes off some dust of its own. Things long-forgotten but not fully lost; things he knows on some deep, innate level. A connection. He's suddenly staring at the item in John's hands, unable to look from it. )

That book.

[oldhound]

[ It's an uncomfortable situation for most anyone with even a sliver of a conscience. John imagines that while the demon residing in Peter is based in knowledge and the like---there's a draw towards the more primitive. Instinctual.

He's only glad that after years of dealing with this sort of thing, the smile that came to his face at seeing Peter doesn't falter when it seems as if a little more is peeking through than just him. He keeps his tone light and easy. A hand runs over the cover and he makes a show of tossing it a bit carelessly back on the table.

Out of sight. ]

Just an old book. Nothing you need to worry over, chief. [ A tilt of his head. ] You settling in all right here?

[possessum]

( His eyes follow the movement, as intent and quick as a cat locked on an insect. Curious, not quite yet understanding what he's looking at — but not oblivious, no. Hungry, with some alien desire to understand. The book is Important, he thinks, even if doesn't know why. The knowledge is somewhere deep down.

He needs to get closer to it.

But it's tossed aside for now, and there's a brief flicker of displeasure before Peter's dark eyes are slowly returning to the man's face. A faint smile touches to his mouth. )

I kind of feel like I've finally lost my mind. Think this place might be worse than the other one. ( A beat; that strained smile wavers. It scares him and he can't pretend otherwise for long. )

I'm uh. Still having some trouble remembering things?

[oldhound]

[ John's aware of the way the boy is watching it. Or of what inside of him is using the body they share to do as much. Still, he acts nonchalant, as if the book itself is of no importance. ]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire is the saying, right? This seems pretty close to all that.

[ A flick of concern on John's end then. ]

If you want I can drop by. See if I can help?

[possessum]

That sounds about how it feels, yeah.

( It's difficult to imagine that anywhere could be worse than Deerington, but Peter can definitely tell that some things are different within him. Not just with the changes that everyone else seem to have also gone through, but..... something else. He could do with a check-up by John. )

I don't want to take you away from setting up shop. I could come by there?

( He can maybe help John set some things up, too. Although after a moment, the thought occurs to him— ) Will I uh, be okay coming in, with the new wards?

( He's painfully aware he's one of those nasty things to be kept out, most likely. And he's not sure if the new protections John has going in this place might be different from the ones he was able to deal with back in Deerington. )

[oldhound]

I'm not so keen on our new neighborhood either.

[ What concerns John the most is the fact that there are no more dream-like layers to keep those with power at bay. Not just people like Maul or himself. Like Mother Superior, if she's still here. And some of the others. He's only shared those concerns with Herc so far. ]

Should be all right. Go ahead and stop by. If it gives you trouble I can adjust them.

[ But he's set them up with the base intent of keeping those ill-mannered and dangerous sorts away. Kind of a vague not keeping bad things in one's heart type deal. ]

If you're planning on joining in on any of the rest, wear something you can move in.