Duplicity Inbox

[the_fairest_flower]

VOICE	TEXT	ACTION
Jamie What can I do for you? <

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[the_fairest_flower]

[His fingers go numb as he reads the first part of the message.

There's a fairy.
He calls himself Hearne.
Cursed.

It takes Jamie a minute to respond. It takes him that long to get his breathing under control.]

what is the curse

[compellingstatement]

He's really quite clever and seems to have got control of my fingers and tongue.
He's ever so charming and thinks I ought to be, as well.
I should be thanking him for this, I suppose.

[That is, at least, illustrative.]

[the_fairest_flower]

[The number feeling is spreading up his arms. He forces himself to inhale.

He wants to stop talking. He wants to run as fast and as far as he can.

But he can't leave Jon like this.]

i can try to break it

[compellingstatement]

Please?
I'm in my archives.
Do I need to come to you?

[the_fairest_flower]

I can come there
do I have to do anything to get in?

[compellingstatement]

Just text when you're close.
I'll come and open the door for the basement.

[Before what had happened with the clone, he might offer to just prop the door open, but the archives are the one place he feels safe in the city at the moment. He's too nervous to risk other things getting in apart from Jamie.]

[the_fairest_flower]

[He has to consider carefully. Going through the Hedge could attract Their attention. But it's also a quick way to go, assuming he doesn't get lost. Jon's archive is a weird beacon.

Just a quick trip.

It's just a few minutes later when Jon gets another text.]

im here

>action

[compellingstatement]

[It's a minute after Jamie texts that Jon is up the stairs and cracking open the door to peek out. He's frowning and he knows his hair is a bit of a mess with how he's been tugging at it, but Jon can't be bothered to worry overmuch about that. Seeing it is Jamie, he opens the door wider and beckons the changeling inside.]

Thank you for coming. Tea?

[He already has the electric kettle boiling, so it's only polite to offer.]

[the_fairest_flower]

[Jamie looks more or less himself. But his hair has gone dark.]

Maybe.

[He's not entirely sure he can handle having anything in his stomach right now, but he also can't quite bring himself to fully decline the offer. Jamie flexes his fingers as he slips inside. He's pleased that his hands aren't shaking as he pulls his gloves off.]

What happened?

[compellingstatement]

I met Hearne during orientation and we discussed what he was while he did a marvelous job of teasing me. [Jon grimaces as he leads Jamie downstairs to the kitchen.]

He told me about names having power and then just posted up something on the network directly asking for names. He's delightfully clever like that. [This is... beyond irritating, and Jon can feel the cursed ring around his cock buzzing and curling pleasure low in his hips as he's forced to compliment the bastard as he goes. It's embarrassing, even if he trusts Jamie.]

I told everyone what he was trying to do and was exceptionally rude in calling him creepy. I certainly shouldn't have done that. I made the mistake of trying to argue and he set me right with a curse through the phone. I can't stop... being polite. I was also flirting with him earlier.

[Make it stop, Jamie!]

I haven't given him my name, by the by. I told him it was just the Archivist when we met.

[the_fairest_flower]

[Jamie feels his stomach knot and an unpleasant chill slithers up his back. He has to sit, so he does at his first opportunity. He sets his gloves aside. He wishes he had someone from Autumn here. They're better at this.]

Did he give any conditions to the curse? What did he say, exactly?

[Hopefully Jon remembers. And if there are no words binding this, it's going to be more difficult, but not impossible.]

[compellingstatement]

[Jon does, at least, have a good memory.]

'If you can't say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all.' My phone started smoking after that.

And he told me he thought it was funny and would keep it in place until I begged him for forgiveness at some... nebulous future date. Really, it's quite magnanimous he's offering any reprieve at all.

[He grinds his teeth and stomps over to the kettle while Jamie takes a seat at the breakroom table.]

[the_fairest_flower]

[He wishes he had his stupid motley here. He wishes he had literally any other courtiers at his disposal. Cade always encouraged him to learn more, and he did, but--]

I can't promise anything. There's... a few things we can try. I think I will take some tea, please.

[That will allow him to try the first contract he's going to pull, and if that doesn't work... they can go from there.]

[compellingstatement]

[Two cups are poured out, teabags set in place. Jon sets one of the mugs in front of Jamie before taking a seat across from him.]

I'd been meaning to tell you about him when he arrived, but it slipped my mind with... other things. I'm sorry, Jamie. I did try to find out if he was like your gentry. He seemed to think a changeling was the fairy child left behind to human parents rather than your situation. I can't imagine him lying about anything, of course. He said he couldn't.

[Oh, thank god, he can still be sarcastic.]

[the_fairest_flower]

It's entirely possible that he's from another world, or whatever, where the Gentry are different. It doesn't matter, he's still dangerous, and I do not trust him.

[He's tempted to just call the fae an it. Offering it more personal pronouns seems too kind.]

He said you had to beg him to take the spell off. That's what we're going to try first. I'm going to invoke a contract, but it's only going to work if you really want to see him. And if you can't muster that, we'll try something else.

[compellingstatement]

I would very much like to have this off.

[Is that the same? Jon's not sure, but he's highly motivated there.]

[the_fairest_flower]

[He's not thrilled to try this, but it's the clearest loophole he can think of.]

That might work. But you can't waver. I don't recommend looking directly at me for a moment.

[Jamie takes a sip of his tea, regardless of how hot it is or whether or not it's had enough time to steep. When he calls on the contract, there's a faint rush of warmth.

And, if Jon wanted it badly enough, there sits his tormenter in Jamie's chair, apparently having replaced him, perfect down to whatever details Jon remembers.]

[compellingstatement]

[Jon's brows furrow in confusion, but he looks away, per request. He can't help flicking his gaze back quickly, though, and the sight that greets him has him shoving back from the chair, eyes wide in confusion and fear. Academically, he knows that can't be Hearne. But his mind is momentarily working on panic alone.]

How did you get in here? Where's Jamie?

[There is compelling force behind those questions.]

[the_fairest_flower]

[Damnit. He can feel the pull of those words and he lets the compulsion have the truth:]

I'm here to listen to you beg, Jon.

[Jon said he hadn't given Hearne his name and Jamie is hoping he's listening, but he is also knows how clouding that fear is.]

[compellingstatement]

[The illusion is playing merry hell on Jon's senses as the Archivist. He winces, looking away, and clutching at his hair. He can tell that thing is wrong.]

Please stop. Whatever you're doing, please stop.

[the_fairest_flower]

[Jon keeps telling him the Stranger is very present in all things Fae. Jamie watches impassively as the archivist reels and looks away, grabbing at his head. He holds tight to the contract even as something tries to tear through it. He doesn't know if that begging is specific enough, but he's going to have to hope so.]

Fine, Archivist. Have it your way.

[That's the most Jamie can manage before the contract breaks. It hurts in a way that it never has and he makes a soft, pained sound as he sits back down.]

[compellingstatement]

[Jon's own headache abates suddenly, like the needle driving into the back of head is removed. He takes a shuddering breath and looks again. It's Jamie. Just Jamie.]

What did you do?

[the_fairest_flower]

It's a Spring contract, [he says tiredly.] For a while, I can be the person you want most to see. Jesus, that hurt at the end. I wasn't expecting you to attack me.

[compellingstatement]

I didn't- The Eye isn't a fan of illusions. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just trying to See what was wrong with... all that. Is there anything I can do to... help?

[the_fairest_flower]

Just give me a minute. [Jamie sighs and rubs his face.] Usually a contract just ends. That felt like it was being torn up.

[He pulls the tea closer and takes another sip. It's not as hot now, thankfully. He burned his mouth a little the last time.]

I don't know if warning you would've helped. And I've never warned someone I used that one on. Usually defeats the purpose.