[ After Reggie's run-in with Betty, he eventually circles back home, feeling significantly weirder than he'd felt before seeing her.
It's not so much that it bothers him to know (to suspect, technically, but let's be honest) she and Nick have hooked up, because he couldn't care less about Betty's relationship with Jughead and whether or not they worked out an arrangement, and he and Nick aren't... well, they are what they are. It's a weird thing to have in common with Betty, but he's not sure that's what's bothering him either. The whole conversation just left a strange, bittersweet impression on him that he can't quite identify yet, nor is he sure he wants to. There is a vaguely Veronica-shaped hole at the center of the feeling, he can tell that much, which is why staring directly at it until it takes focus seems like a bad idea.
Reggie almost flinging the door open, but catches it before it hits the wall and closes it with a bit less force. ]
Hey, Nick?
It's not so much that it bothers him to know (to suspect, technically, but let's be honest) she and Nick have hooked up, because he couldn't care less about Betty's relationship with Jughead and whether or not they worked out an arrangement, and he and Nick aren't... well, they are what they are. It's a weird thing to have in common with Betty, but he's not sure that's what's bothering him either. The whole conversation just left a strange, bittersweet impression on him that he can't quite identify yet, nor is he sure he wants to. There is a vaguely Veronica-shaped hole at the center of the feeling, he can tell that much, which is why staring directly at it until it takes focus seems like a bad idea.
Reggie almost flinging the door open, but catches it before it hits the wall and closes it with a bit less force. ]
Hey, Nick?
[When Reggie opens the door, Nick is sitting at the kitchen table, a bubbling cauldron sitting in front of him. He's ladling something red and ripe looking into a jar.]
Come taste this.
[He has a spoon.]
It won't do anything unless you go to sleep in the next twenty minutes.
[He hopes.]
Come taste this.
[He has a spoon.]
It won't do anything unless you go to sleep in the next twenty minutes.
[He hopes.]
Kavinsky doesn't know what he wants or needs and he ends up at Nick's door. He's been awake for-- a while. He's tired and Tate hasn't moved in yet and if he looks at Ronan again today he's going to do something regrettable.
He doesn't want to let him go. Cut him in half like the baby before King Solomon. Force Adam to fucking choose because he would sooner have half than nothing.
He could just... dream him back. He could have his dream boy and that's that.
He could dream the contract anew, but Ronan's onto that shit now and he's pretty sure Adam is, too, though he's never brought it up and Kavinsky hasn't either.
So he's at Nick's door, leaning on it while he waits for him to answer and hoping to all get out that Reggie isn't around. He might throw that meatheat out a window if he has to look at him, if one more fucking oblivious asshole takes something from him.
Just in case Nick is hesitating for a reason, Kavinsky fires off a text: It's me.
He doesn't want to let him go. Cut him in half like the baby before King Solomon. Force Adam to fucking choose because he would sooner have half than nothing.
He could just... dream him back. He could have his dream boy and that's that.
He could dream the contract anew, but Ronan's onto that shit now and he's pretty sure Adam is, too, though he's never brought it up and Kavinsky hasn't either.
So he's at Nick's door, leaning on it while he waits for him to answer and hoping to all get out that Reggie isn't around. He might throw that meatheat out a window if he has to look at him, if one more fucking oblivious asshole takes something from him.
Just in case Nick is hesitating for a reason, Kavinsky fires off a text: It's me.
Nick does happen to be home. He's in the living room, inside of a conjuring circle written out with chalk, careful and easy and perfect, but he hasn't conjured anything yet. He's worried that he could try, but nothing would come of it, that nothing would come out of it.
And he doesn't want to find out that the thing he's proudest of won't work in this place.
He looks up at the sound of the knock, and he unfolds, getting up and opening the door. He sees K, and opens it wider, so that he can come in. "I definitely wasn't thinking that would work," he says, but he smiles just a little. "Hey."
And he doesn't want to find out that the thing he's proudest of won't work in this place.
He looks up at the sound of the knock, and he unfolds, getting up and opening the door. He sees K, and opens it wider, so that he can come in. "I definitely wasn't thinking that would work," he says, but he smiles just a little. "Hey."
Mr Scratch, I wanted to check that nothing had befallen you. I may not know you well but I would be remiss if I didn't ask.
( she'd left it a few days after their meeting before messaging him and whilst lilith doesn't actually care about the state of his health it's an in. and information. even she had to admit that something had been strange in that conversation )
( she'd left it a few days after their meeting before messaging him and whilst lilith doesn't actually care about the state of his health it's an in. and information. even she had to admit that something had been strange in that conversation )
Sorry about the other day.
The candy made me tell the truth.
[Which he feels should be a perfectly rational reason for him fleeing.]
The candy made me tell the truth.
[Which he feels should be a perfectly rational reason for him fleeing.]
text » un. b.cooper » backdated to a few days after he got back
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perfectible
2019-06-20 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Hey. I heard you're back.
[Dorian knocks, because it's polite, but he doesn't wait for Nick to answer before stepping into his flat. That way no one has to leave a binding circle.]
It was quite the lowball, fortunate neither of us went for it.
Are you sober?
[He has provisions for that.]
It was quite the lowball, fortunate neither of us went for it.
Are you sober?
[He has provisions for that.]
[He is, in fact, sober; and he's currently in the living room, where he's traced a more complicated circle out of chalk. There are notebooks surrounding him, and he looks slightly irritated.]
Annoyingly so. The lack of library in this place is starting to get on my nerves.
[a real library. A library with a copy of the books that Nick needs to actually get any constructive research done.]
I'm going stir crazy.
Annoyingly so. The lack of library in this place is starting to get on my nerves.
[a real library. A library with a copy of the books that Nick needs to actually get any constructive research done.]
I'm going stir crazy.
I'm in the Gray Room, in the back. Unless you would rather go somewhere else.
[ First off: respect, that's critical when dealing with Lilith in any way. He won't fuck it up when it comes to her.
Second, they both have a monetary stake in the Gray Room; it's warded, it's where Nick carries out his business. ]
[ First off: respect, that's critical when dealing with Lilith in any way. He won't fuck it up when it comes to her.
Second, they both have a monetary stake in the Gray Room; it's warded, it's where Nick carries out his business. ]
( when nick gets home one day, whether or not it was like it before he'll find one of the windows in his place open, a raven sat at it.
it caws, then again til it has his attention before flying away. laid on the nearest surface to the window is a small, dark wooden box, inside a black ring and a note.
the note initially appears runic, though seconds after he lifts it the glamour fades, allowing it to be read only by him.
A protection. Though let us hope you should never have cause to use it.
it's unsigned but that's what stolas had been for )
it caws, then again til it has his attention before flying away. laid on the nearest surface to the window is a small, dark wooden box, inside a black ring and a note.
the note initially appears runic, though seconds after he lifts it the glamour fades, allowing it to be read only by him.
A protection. Though let us hope you should never have cause to use it.
it's unsigned but that's what stolas had been for )
[Dorian appreciates Nick keeping an office at the Gray Room if only because it means he can generally find him there when he needs to consult. He knocks on the door frame to announce himself.]
Nicky, darling, I need you.
Nicky, darling, I need you.
[Nick is writing something when Dorian comes in, and he raises his eyebrows a little at Dorian's entrance. There isn't much between them that would make Nick say no, but he still leans back and tips his head like he's thinking about it. As if the answer would be anything but yes.]
What do you need?
What do you need?
Hi, Nick! I'm sorry to bother you, but.. I-- I was hoping you might have some, um, magical advice? It's-- [ well, out with it, martin. ] It's.. about Jon.
[ a beat, and: ] You can, um, tell me if you'd rather.. not. Help, I mean. That is, obviously you can tell me, you're an adult and free to always make your own choices, that's not what I mean. Just-- well, that's it, really.
[ a beat, and: ] You can, um, tell me if you'd rather.. not. Help, I mean. That is, obviously you can tell me, you're an adult and free to always make your own choices, that's not what I mean. Just-- well, that's it, really.
Hello, Martin.
I'm not going to tell you no without you telling me what the problem is.
I'm not going to tell you no without you telling me what the problem is.
[ Because while Nick's "staying over" with Kavinsky, Reggie is at home in their bed feeling bored, lonely, and generally cranky about this whole situation, so he periodically shoots off a text as long as he can't sleep anyway.
Whether he's hoping Nick will reply (he's not sure if Nick would or even can, given where he is) or just wanting to make him smile and feel like Reggie's keeping him company in some way even if Nick's currently asleep -- or, again, just not replying -- doesn't matter, Reggie has no shame in letting the messages accumulate if necessary.
( *assume he's dressed the same in any images, naturally ) ]
miss u
nite 🌜🌹
[ 11:45pm ]
[ 12:01am; sends a selfie ]
love u man
[ 12:35am; sends video ]
💙💛💞💦
[ 1:05am; sends a selfie
1:21am; sends a photo ]
moose says nite too
[ 1:37am; sends a selfie
1:50am; sends a (nude) video ]
hey
hope ur good
[ 2:15am ]
dont be gone too long ok
[ 2:16am ]
text me asap if u need backup or anything
[ 2:17am ]
& in the morning
💁🏽♂️💞💞🛌🏽
[ 2:21am ]
Whether he's hoping Nick will reply (he's not sure if Nick would or even can, given where he is) or just wanting to make him smile and feel like Reggie's keeping him company in some way even if Nick's currently asleep -- or, again, just not replying -- doesn't matter, Reggie has no shame in letting the messages accumulate if necessary.
( *assume he's dressed the same in any images, naturally ) ]
miss u
nite 🌜🌹
[ 11:45pm ]
[ 12:01am; sends a selfie ]
love u man
[ 12:35am; sends video ]
💙💛💞💦
[ 1:05am; sends a selfie
1:21am; sends a photo ]
moose says nite too
[ 1:37am; sends a selfie
1:50am; sends a (nude) video ]
hey
hope ur good
[ 2:15am ]
dont be gone too long ok
[ 2:16am ]
text me asap if u need backup or anything
[ 2:17am ]
& in the morning
💁🏽♂️💞💞🛌🏽
[ 2:21am ]
[This definitely comes around 4am]
Are you still awake?
Are you still awake?
[It's the early hours of the morning when Jon contacts Nick about Lilith.]
Lilith is in danger.
I need you to contact her.
Check on her.
Tell her she's a bloody idiot!
She was in my dreams and fell into the Beholding.
I told her to get out.
I warned her.
Help her, please!
Lilith is in danger.
I need you to contact her.
Check on her.
Tell her she's a bloody idiot!
She was in my dreams and fell into the Beholding.
I told her to get out.
I warned her.
Help her, please!
I'm on my way
is there anything else I need to know?
is there anything else I need to know?
fyi
I told archie that he & the rest of the gang can crash @ the gray room if any of em end up needing someplace to stay during all this
so I just figured in case they stop by while I'm not around u should hear it from me now
I told archie that he & the rest of the gang can crash @ the gray room if any of em end up needing someplace to stay during all this
so I just figured in case they stop by while I'm not around u should hear it from me now
Hello, my friend.
By now you of course know that my fair cousin has returned to town. I was wondering if we might meet to discuss. I know there is a war going on, and I don't mean to disregard the significance of that, but being what we are-- well. I wager there's always a war going on.
I could meet you somewhere. Teleport. I'd make it quick.
By now you of course know that my fair cousin has returned to town. I was wondering if we might meet to discuss. I know there is a war going on, and I don't mean to disregard the significance of that, but being what we are-- well. I wager there's always a war going on.
I could meet you somewhere. Teleport. I'd make it quick.
gray room? I’m already there, office in the back
I know you're kind of staying at the bar. Is anyone staying at your place at the Up?
Edited 2019-10-09 23:31 (UTC)
No. Even the dog is at the bar. Did you think I was keeping my secret girlfriend up there?
( she comes to his office. since her encounter with the archivist and the nightmares her presence has been diminished, around in the gray room to help but conducting her own business more than doing too much with anyone else. she's had a lot to think about, plans to form. and that's where nick comes in.
even her steps are quieter as she approaches, something dimmed in her recently, quieter energy. what lies did, sharing part of her truth across the network hasn't helped, focus split between the real issue and twisting her connections )
Mr Scratch--
( lilith pauses, leaned in the doorway, capturing his attention before speaking further )
There's something I should fill you in on.
even her steps are quieter as she approaches, something dimmed in her recently, quieter energy. what lies did, sharing part of her truth across the network hasn't helped, focus split between the real issue and twisting her connections )
Mr Scratch--
( lilith pauses, leaned in the doorway, capturing his attention before speaking further )
There's something I should fill you in on.
[He looks up, slightly surprised. He stands, too, looking away from his work.]
Lady.
Please.
[He encourages her forward, and then he nudges his fingers so that the door closes behind her.]
Lady.
Please.
[He encourages her forward, and then he nudges his fingers so that the door closes behind her.]
Sure. Are you going to tell me?
[It'll save him having to choke down that apple.]
[It'll save him having to choke down that apple.]
[ Reggie's got a bit of a spring in his step today -- certainly a change from the funk he's been in lately, from the rule enforcements (and implications thereof) and also a number of other reasons that have building up since -- when he comes to find Nick in his office, grinning as he walks right over and tugs Nick close for a kiss on the mouth. ]
Hey, guess what? [ He doesn't wait for Nick to guess: ] Derek's back.
Hey, guess what? [ He doesn't wait for Nick to guess: ] Derek's back.
[He looks up, a little surprised for a moment, and then he laughs, grins.]
Oh. He fucked you.
Hard.
[Nick isn't stupid, but he's not jealous, either. He laughs a little.]
Oh. He fucked you.
Hard.
[Nick isn't stupid, but he's not jealous, either. He laughs a little.]
[ So - it's been a while since he and Nick have spoken. A couple of months, at least. The last time Derek saw Nick, he was setting up wards at Derek's old house - which is where Derek's still living, even if it's something of an unofficial arrangement. It's still kind of hard being back there, surrounded by memories of the life he had with someone who's gone now, so without asking, he decided to crash on Reggie's couch for a night or two until he really had the guts to clean the place out.
Which would be fine, if, like, Reggie lived alone. But he doesn't. So. Sorry for the intrusion. Sorry for intruding without asking. Sorry for everything.
It's, like, 3AM when Derek stumbles out of the spare room Reggie told him to crash in, head spinning and stomach churning. He can't fucking stand this place anymore? He's been here for an afternoon and a half and he's going insane. The earthy, floral scents, the underlying current of magic that makes him think of the woods and druids and Jennifer. His nose is too sensitive and all of this is too - prickly. Derek can't get to sleep, and rather than just climb out the window and bail like a normal person, he's gonna barge into Nick's room and give him shit for having things in his own home.
He just - like - shakes Nick awake, staring down at him, naked except for thin, grey sweats. His hair's sticking up in every direction, a clear case of bedhead, and there are shadows under his eyes that give away the fact that he is just super, super tired. ]
Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey.
[ Hey. Hey. Shake shake shake. ]
Which would be fine, if, like, Reggie lived alone. But he doesn't. So. Sorry for the intrusion. Sorry for intruding without asking. Sorry for everything.
It's, like, 3AM when Derek stumbles out of the spare room Reggie told him to crash in, head spinning and stomach churning. He can't fucking stand this place anymore? He's been here for an afternoon and a half and he's going insane. The earthy, floral scents, the underlying current of magic that makes him think of the woods and druids and Jennifer. His nose is too sensitive and all of this is too - prickly. Derek can't get to sleep, and rather than just climb out the window and bail like a normal person, he's gonna barge into Nick's room and give him shit for having things in his own home.
He just - like - shakes Nick awake, staring down at him, naked except for thin, grey sweats. His hair's sticking up in every direction, a clear case of bedhead, and there are shadows under his eyes that give away the fact that he is just super, super tired. ]
Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey.
[ Hey. Hey. Shake shake shake. ]
[In all honesty, Nick doesn't really mind Derek being here: Reggie likes him, and Nick likes to look at him, so it's fine. Besides, he knows it can't possibly last that long. Derek doesn't have the fortitude to deal with Nick's schedule (awake until two) and Reggie's (up to run at five or six). Or, at least, he's pretty sure.
What he didn't think was that Derek would wake him up in the middle of the night. Who does that?
Luckily Reggie is asleep, like the dead, and Nick looks over as he's shaken awake. His own hair is a mess, curls in every direction, and he's only wearing a pair of white boxer-briefs.
He looks at Derek. What the heaven?]
I'm awake, what is it boy, did Timmy fall in the well?
[He knows some mortal pop culture references.]
What he didn't think was that Derek would wake him up in the middle of the night. Who does that?
Luckily Reggie is asleep, like the dead, and Nick looks over as he's shaken awake. His own hair is a mess, curls in every direction, and he's only wearing a pair of white boxer-briefs.
He looks at Derek. What the heaven?]
I'm awake, what is it boy, did Timmy fall in the well?
[He knows some mortal pop culture references.]
Tell me what's happened.
( she's being non-specific but it's for a reason. she's not concerned about anything specific, just wanting to know if there is something to be concerned about. he should have noticed that she hasn't been to the gray room in about a week, at least if he keeps track. she's been very quiet overall )
( she's being non-specific but it's for a reason. she's not concerned about anything specific, just wanting to know if there is something to be concerned about. he should have noticed that she hasn't been to the gray room in about a week, at least if he keeps track. she's been very quiet overall )
Nothing's happened.
[He's not one to try and dig holes for himself where there are none. If she knows of something in particular, she can be more specific.]
[He's not one to try and dig holes for himself where there are none. If she knows of something in particular, she can be more specific.]
Hi Nick. I should probably tell you so you don't worry, but I had to do this dumb realignment thing. It wasn't a big deal but I'd rather you hear about it from me than Jamie or anyone.
[ It was a big deal, but at least in text she can pretend it wasn't. Right? ]
[ It was a big deal, but at least in text she can pretend it wasn't. Right? ]
[ ooc: I hope this works for you! ]
Hi Nick. I should probably come talk to you in person but I’ve been thinking of what to say.
I wanted to ask you...if you really would take my contract. It’s almost over. And...Henry’s gone. He’s not in the city anywhere. I can’t find him with magic.
I don’t want you to think that’s why I’m asking. I planned to anyway. I guess I don’t know what happens when people disappear, so it seems like maybe I should hurry before some SIN guard shows up or whatever.
If you don’t want to or you’re not sure, please don’t feel rushed or anything! I’ll be here. I’ll be okay.
Hi Nick. I should probably come talk to you in person but I’ve been thinking of what to say.
I wanted to ask you...if you really would take my contract. It’s almost over. And...Henry’s gone. He’s not in the city anywhere. I can’t find him with magic.
I don’t want you to think that’s why I’m asking. I planned to anyway. I guess I don’t know what happens when people disappear, so it seems like maybe I should hurry before some SIN guard shows up or whatever.
If you don’t want to or you’re not sure, please don’t feel rushed or anything! I’ll be here. I’ll be okay.
Spellman, you could have come see me.
[His voice sounds amused, and pleased.]
[His voice sounds amused, and pleased.]
It's early afternoon, the Gray Room is open but nearly empty, and Dorian steps into Nick's office with a wicked gleam in his eye and a sweet smile on his face. "I have a research project for you, Nicky."
Nick has been working on some of the stuff for Prudence and - Satan help him - Jon Sims, so he hasn't really left his office as he does his research.
He looks up at Dorian, and leans back into his chair. "Do you really? Come and tell me all about it," he says, smiling loose and easy.
He looks up at Dorian, and leans back into his chair. "Do you really? Come and tell me all about it," he says, smiling loose and easy.
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