(no subject)

[the_hermit]

Who: Daniel, Dylan, Henley, Jack, Merritt, Miranda
What: Miranda makes good on her promise to freak out another of the Horsemen. Conversation ensues, and Merritt finally nails down Dylan's real name, and they invite him over for the reveal.


queen_ofwands: *as she promised Jack, she sure did break into the apartment, this time knowing that Dylan wasn't around and intentionally. and so far, Daniel's reaction has been kind of hilarious -- and a little impressive, if only because the boy is currently holding a fireball in one hand. it's not real, obviously, but again, it's impressive. adrenaline is an awesome thing. she's currently countering with a pair of ghostly tigers standing behind her, and looking fairly amused. oh, Dylan is going to kill her for terrorizing the natives, but ... * This would be so much less painful if you would just tell me where the rest of them are.

the_lovers: Yeah, no, I was kind of thinking you could leave, actually.

queen_ofwands: *she hums* Not going to happen. I made a promise. *that she'd come back and meet the team, but ... semantics*

the_lovers: *fuck, where is everyone? ... okay, actually, he's glad they're not here, if she's after them* You get that fire beats ... *he nods to the cats* ... whatever the hell that is, right?

queen_ofwands: We could find out ...

the_hermit: *and have a him wandering in from wherever he was -- and stopping short when he catches sight of the scene in front of him* Whoa, okay.

queen_ofwands: *brightly* Hi. Be with you in a minute.

the_lovers: *in a tone that's both relieved and all that much more freaked out* You might want to ... *be somewhere else. or do something*

the_hermit: *frowns at both of them for a moment - and yes, Daniel, he's doing The Thing, before -- and his expression stays carefully confused* Okay. Why don't we all take a step back and someone tell me what we're doing?

queen_ofwands: I promised a friend I'd make your lives miserable. *not a lie! though, she figures Merritt is onto her, either way* Mister ... Atlas, here -- it is Atlas, right? -- just happened to be the first person I ran into.

the_lovers: After she broke into the apartment. Don't forget that part.

queen_ofwands: My bad.

the_hermit: *mayyyyyybe? that would be a yes* Yeah, well, I think we've all had our fair share of people making our lives miserable, and you're pretty well outnumbered. Even with the *waggles the fingers of one hand at her tigers* Siegfried and Roy homage going on over there.

queen_ofwands: *and one of the tigers turns on Merritt, its tail twitching* Two versus three in my favor? Oh, honey, where did you learn to count?

the_hermit: Well, not all of us made it through kindergarten the first time, you know. And... *settles a little, meeting her eyes, and...* are you sure you're not the one miscounting? *he's trying actual!magic boosted power of suggestion. if that works, there'll be at least a couple more of him and Daniel in the room*

queen_ofwands: *shakes her head ever so slightly and then just sort of stares at him for a moment, licking her lips. based on her reaction -- and the fact that two more tigers appear -- it worked, albeit barely* Still beating you.

the_lovers: Okay, if you're trying to help, Merritt ... *you're really not*

the_hermit: *he'll get there. he just wanted an excuse to try it* Eh, you don't need my help anyway.

the_lovers: *laughs a little, almost nervously* Yeah, okay, normally I'd agree with you, but ... *but the strain of maintaining the illusion is starting to get to him*

queen_ofwands: *and okay, she should probably take some pity on him. breathes out a sigh, letting the tigers disappear and holds up her hands slowly, placatingly* He's right, you know. *and to both of them* I'm a friend.

the_lovers: Yeah, because that's totally going to work.

the_hermit: *makes a "there you go" gesture at her admission, turning to head for the kitchen, though he turns back when Daniel argues* No, she's actually one of us.

the_lovers: *looks between Merritt and Miranda, but doesn't drop his hand or the illusion just yet* Okay, if that's true, then why ...

queen_ofwands: *amused, albeit vaguely apologetically* I promised Jack I'd screw with you a little.

the_lovers: ... I think I need to sit down. *a beat* Also, go fuck yourself, Merritt. *and that said, he flops down in a chair*

the_hermit: She scared the crap out of him a few days after Dylan went back to work, when we'd gone out to work on the show. *and no, Jack didn't tell him that. moves on to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water and a piece of paper before he comes back to the living room, to hand the water to Daniel. breathe, kid*

the_lovers: *takes the water from him, part grudgingly, part thankfully*

queen_ofwands: Of course, I didn't actually mean to scare him I was looking for ... *fuck, mentalist. looks off to one side* ... for Dylan. *a beat* If it's any consolation, I'm sorry. *another pause* And well played, both of you.

the_hermit: Well, mostly him. I knew as soon as I walked in. Which, sorry, too, Daniel. *a beat* But on that note. *moves around the furniture to hold the paper out to her - and oh look, it's the list they were working off of the other night*

the_lovers: Okay, yeah, definitely go fuck yourself. *that's even less grudging still. not that he's entirely thrilled, but ... no one's trying to kill them, both of them apologized to him, and Miranda stroked his ego a little*

queen_ofwands: *takes the paper from him curiously. studies it for a moment and then makes a small, amused noise* Did he tell you getting it from me was cheating?

the_hermit: *still watching her* Google is cheating, and getting it from him was going to be cheating, but apparently that's beyond even me. You haven't come up.

queen_ofwands: *she looks a touch disappointed, as she's taking that to mean Dylan hasn't mentioned her even after her destruction of his sketchbook, and then frowns down at the list again* Well, I can tell you it's close. *and it's not any of the slightly weirder ones like Jose or Julius or Josiah*

the_hermit: *somewhere between reassuring and apologetically, since yeah, he got that* I haven't talked to him since you were here. *and just nods a little, almost to himself, and pats at his pockets for a minute, turning back to grab a pen off the coffee table when he comes up without one*

queen_ofwands: *looks over the list for a minute or two more and then passes it back to Merritt when he comes back with the pen. she's half-tempted to just tell them in recompense for scaring the shit out of Daniel and that, perhaps, gives away even more -- to the point where, if Merritt's been paying attention, it's down to probably somewhere around four, now, the right one among them*

the_lovers: *you'll have to forgive him for being so quiet, by the way. he's drinking his water and trying to bring his blood pressure down. ... also potentially trying to avoid distracting Merritt, because if he can get it out of her ... *

the_hermit: *which he has, so... takes the list when she hands it back to him, taking a moment to mark through most of what they had left*

queen_ofwands: ... *laughs* ... he's going to kill one of us for this. My money's on me.

the_hermit: *amicably...* Probably. *shoots her a grin as he clips the pen to the paper and returns it to the table. he wants it to stay in sight*

queen_ofwands: *she has a feeling he's going to get it out of her by the end of the night, but ... again, she feels like she kind of owes them for scaring Daniel. that and, well, it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to know how badly Dylan wants his real name back. she can live with being the final piece of the puzzle, and as much as she says Dylan will kill her, she figures he will, too. they made it pretty far on their own, after all. but at any rate, after he sets the paper down* Miranda Vale, by the way.

the_lovers: *to both of them. to either of them. whichever* If you say anything about the part where I probably should have known that, let me take a minute to remind you about the tigers.

the_lovers: And the part where, you know, I actually thought you were here to kill us.

the_hermit: *he would agree with that, really. especially considering he can also tell she wants to tell them. and he knows. though Daniel responds before he can say that, and he moves to sprawl out on one end of the couch* I personally lack all that much experience with tigers, but I can see how they would be distracting.

queen_ofwands: Little bit. *she pauses, gesturing to the couch* Would you mind if I sat down?

the_hermit: *gestures at the remaining available seats* Make yourself at home. *since she let herself in and everything*

queen_ofwands: *she seems to catch that last bit and can't help but smile* I figured I'd ask, all the same. *that said, she moves to take a seat. and after a long moment of pause, in which her smile fades ... * I told Jack this, when I was here earlier, but ... I wanted to thank you for what you did for Dy. *and again, yeah, she gets that even if they were looking to take out Bradley, too, their helping out was at least partially motivated by the hope to join the Eye, but ... still*

the_lovers: *can't help but snort at that nickname*

the_hermit: We didn't know we were doing it for him when we signed up. *and obviously she knows that* But it was too brilliant to pass up. And there was that bonus membership with the Eye in there. The fact that we were doing it for Shrike's family was... *icing*

the_lovers: Kind of perfect. *not what Merritt was going for there, but ... *

the_hermit: *close enough*

queen_ofwands: Well, still. *even if she knows he's probably upset about not being able to come home and all of that, even if she's still not sure if she approves of the fact that he dedicated his entire life to revenge ... they gave him peace. and that's ... she can't put into words what that means to her. what that means to him*

the_hermit: *watches her through that, and then smiles, the expression real, for once, without a trace of sarcasm* You're welcome. *and again...* We might not have known him when we started this, but we do now. *and he's their friend - if not more than that - now*

the_lovers: *just as sincerely and at the same time as Merritt* You're welcome.

queen_ofwands: *she looks at both of them, each in turn, still smiling ... and then after a moment, in an effort to make things less serious* You know, it occurs to me that I could probably get away with calling him Jay -- *as in the letter, though that might be telling, too, since there's only one Ja name left on the list, and Jay could be a diminuative of Jacob* -- rather than Dy, since you already know it's a J name.

the_lovers: ... you realize you're just pouring gasoline on the fire, right? *gestures to Merritt*

queen_ofwands: *shrugs a little helplessly*

the_lovers: *he does, too* Just checking.

the_hermit: You could just tell us and save us all more pain and suffering and you having to very carefully not think about what his name actually is for the rest of the evening. *and yes, that is him trying to lead her into thinking about it*

queen_ofwands: *laughs a little* Honey, telling me not to think about the elephant isn't going to make me think about it. I'm not that obvious. *and she's pointedly thinking about how that was cute, now*

the_hermit: *grins* Can't blame a guy for trying.

queen_ofwands: Can't argue that. *she flashes him a grin in return* Can't blame a girl for playing hard to get, either, though, can you?

the_lovers: *looks between the two of them* Okay, can you ... *not flirt. or verbally fuck each other over mentalism. or whatever it is they're doing*

the_hermit: *starts to reply to that, but turns his focus to Daniel when he speaks up* Feeling left out?

the_lovers: Yeah, no. *feeling a little better is more like it, hence why he's picking up with the snark again. he's still exhausted, but ... anyway, he pauses a beat, and then to Miranda* No offense to you. You just really don't want to see him naked.

queen_ofwands: *laughs*

the_hermit: *points at him* That is what they make light switches for, dear boy.

the_lovers: Okay, well, maybe if I'd known you were walking around with the ... *he makes a vague gesture*

the_hermit: Confidence is key.

queen_ofwands: *reaches up to cover her mouth with a hand*

the_lovers: I wouldn't call that confidence. *a beat* Not sure what I would call it, but ... *he shrugs*

queen_ofwands: *and after a moment* ... do you two do this often?

the_lovers: Constantly.

the_hermit: *grins* It's kind of a thing around here.

queen_ofwands: I'm getting that. *and considering what a smart ass Dylan is, she can see why he likes them. beyond the obvious, of course*

the_hermit: Something tells me you don't exactly disapprove.

queen_ofwands: If I thought you were serious, maybe ...

the_lovers: Oh, no. I can promise you we're serious. We actually hate each other. *which is why they're still living together and why Merritt brought him a glass of water and ... *

the_hermit: *just as seriously...* It's a terrible thing, really.

queen_ofwands: *she rolls her eyes, amused* I can see why Jay picked you.

the_hermit: *chuckles* Something tells me our excellent use of sarcasm wasn't all that high a priority.

queen_ofwands: Probably not, but it doesn't hurt. *a beat* In case you hadn't noticed, he's kind of a smart ass himself.

the_hermit: It took a fair bit of effort, but...... *he might have figured that out, yes. grins, again*

the_lovers: *by way of "explanation"* He's not actually all that good at the whole mentalism thing.

queen_ofwands: *just laughs*

the_hermit: *and he can't help but laugh at that one, too, reaching up to adjust his hat*

the_lovers: *is silent for a moment, fighting a smile first and then thoughtful, and after that moment* ... speaking of. Not that I don't expect him to rub it in later or whatever, but ... how do you know ... whatever we're calling him at this point.

queen_ofwands: He's an old family friend. We kind of grew up together.

the_hermit: Dylan's dad and her mom were close. *a beat* Right?

queen_ofwands: *she nods* They were. That obviously fell apart when he died, but ...

the_hermit: *makes an acknowledging sort of face, to that*

queen_ofwands: *she looks down, briefly -- and in that instant, she can't help but think she should probably let her mother know that Jake's back or let him know that she's still alive -- and then back up with a small, slightly guarded smile. she has fond memories of Lionel, what little she can remember of him. anyway* Jay and I fell out of contact for awhile. *a beat* Until we both joined the Eye, anyway.

the_hermit: *makes a face - missed something in there, he knows he did* You still weren't sure all this was a good idea, though.

the_lovers: What, the whole thing with Bradley and Tressler? *and so on*

queen_ofwands: *she hesitates for a moment, frowning, and then* At the time, I thought he was throwing his life away. *she thought he was throwing their life, together, away. she wasn't wrong* To the point where we had an argument about it. It was ... a lot to give up and he couldn't see it. Or didn't want to.

the_hermit: Pretty sure he does now. *for better or worse*

queen_ofwands: Hell of a way to find out. *and without rancor* I hope it was worth it. *because while she may be long over Dylan, she's ... still not entirely sure, otherwise*

queen_ofwands: *after all, like she said, getting back at Tressler and Bradley gave him peace he wouldn't have known otherwise, gave him a family, but at the same time ... he gave up a lot*

the_hermit: *doesn't respond to that, just tilting his head again, acknowledging that*

the_lovers: *looks between the two of them, feeling as though he's missing something*

queen_ofwands: *mumbles* Someone really needs to teach you how to read a crowd, boy. *a beat and then louder* We ... eventually both made our apologies. We saw each other when we could -- which, admittedly, wasn't as often as either of us would like, I think -- and then about a year ago, I got some bullshit cryptic message from him. And then there was you.

the_hermit: *sarcastically, again...* Ta da.

queen_ofwands: *dimly amused almost in spite of herself* Ta da.

the_death_card: *suddenly, from the top of the stairs* Oh, hey.

the_hermit: *jumps and then half-turns in his chair to look up at him* I am going to make you wear a bell, so help me.

queen_ofwands: *she jumps a little, too, and then laughs* Jack! Come down and join us. *and save them all from the serious*

the_death_card: *grins at Merritt, turning to jog down the stairs*

queen_ofwands: You missed it. *the part where she scared the shit out of Daniel*

the_lovers: Yeah. Thanks again for that.

the_death_card: Aww, I wanted to watch someone not me get the crap scared out of them. *flops into a seat*

the_lovers: *pops one shoulder in a shrug* There's always Henley.

the_hermit: Now who's the one being amused by the suffering of others?

the_lovers: I do like to watch people suffer ... *a beat* ... just not when they're me.

the_death_card: *snorts*

the_hermit: Nice, Daniel, really.

the_lovers: I try my best. *he gets the part where he's kidding, right?*

queen_ofwands: *she does, if nothing else, and she's not half the mentalist Merritt is. she also looks fairly amused*

the_hermit: *maybe a little, yes, but again with them doing this all the time. gives up, though, after another moment, looking amused, too, and shakes his head lightly*

the_lovers: *just checking. anyway. after a moment* ... so ... *go aheaed, someone tell him that he should be voulenteering a topic like he did to Henley at the pizza party*

queen_ofwands: ... buttons.

the_death_card: *makes a "do what now?" face*

the_hermit: *he would have if not for that, and so...* Little ones or big red ones? *and yes, he knows what she was doing, there, but if they're going to be ridiculous....*

queen_ofwands: *to Jack* Sew buttons. You know. *makes a stitching gesture. and then to Merritt and after a moment of genuine thought* Big red ones.

the_death_card: Oh, right.

the_hermit: *looks amused, again* I figured as much.

queen_ofwands: *arches her eyebrows, wondering if she missed something*

the_lovers: *mutters* And here they go again.

the_hermit: *she seems the kind to push the big red button, he means, if she's going to lead with spectral tigers. actually responds to Daniel's comment, though...* Sorry, did we forget the subtitles?

queen_ofwands: *okay, that was what she thought she was meant to get out of that -- hence her answer, because yeah, she is the big red button pushing type -- but she wasn't entirely sure. either way, she smiles back*

the_lovers: Yeah, sorry, Jack and I don't exactly speak head voices. *glances at Jack as if he's looking for confirmation*

queen_ofwands: ... I feel like someone should insert a "let me sing you the song of my people" joke here.

the_death_card: Yeah, I'm not quite fluent yet, sorry. *grins*

the_hermit: *and then, to Miranda* Except you really don't want me to sing.

the_lovers: Yeah, no, he's right.

queen_ofwands: *she breathes out a sigh of a laugh* My mistake.

the_hermit: You'll learn. *grins*

queen_ofwands: Probably. *grins back ... and then after a moment and to Daniel, teasingly* So, do you always bitch when people have conversations that go over your head?

the_lovers: *he tips his head to one side and then the other, considering that, and then shrugs* Pretty much.

queen_ofwands: *and to Merritt* What does he do when you and -- and Jay go back and forth? *since he figures the two of them must have plenty of wordless conversations. also, yeah, she did have to stop herself from calling him by his real name there*

the_hermit: He bitches about a lot more than just that. *and smirks a little at that - he will get it at some point, damn it, but anyway...* But pretty much that, for the ones he's been around for or has actually noticed us having. *considering he's pretty sure some of the ones during the party went unnoticed*

queen_ofwands: *and now she's trying not to think about elephants. also not quite looking at Merritt for just that reason* I'm guessing it makes him feel better?

the_lovers: Hi. Sitting right here?

queen_ofwands: *tries her best not to smile. she's intentionally talking about him as if he's not in the room now*

the_hermit: I think so. *ditto*

the_death_card: I don't think they care.

queen_ofwands: Huh. *shrugs* Some people's children.

the_lovers: ... yeah, I'm getting that.

the_death_card: *and doesn't say "welcome to his world", but he can't help but think it a bit, even though it's really not as bad as it was. just shrugs, though*

the_hermit: *does notice that from Jack, and frowns at him a little, but, to Miranda* It's important for him to feel validated, I think. *is seriously going to see how long they can keep it up before Daniel actually throws something at one of them. probably him.*

the_lovers: *if he were better at mentalism, he'd probably ... be a little genuinely irritated by that. who let him carry part of the con on Bradley himself, what with the car crash and all? who's letting him play on stage when he could have told him just to stick to what he was told to do? yeah, okay, maybe they treated him like a kid for awhile at first, but ... still. thankfully, though, he doesn't pick up on that and just resumes frowning at Merritt and Miranda*

queen_ofwands: *kind of adores that plan* Really? I wouldn't have guessed.

the_death_card: *not that he got that either, but like the other night, it's not like he can help what flickers through his head, sometimes. he's just glad it's not killing the mood, this time, since Daniel didn't pick up on it*

the_hermit: He keeps it well hidden.

the_lovers: Okay, seriously, guys. *urge to throw pillow ... rising*

queen_ofwands: *still ignoring him* I'm guessing that's some kind of defense mechanism? *she does, however, glance sideways at Jack, as if he's in on the joke*

the_hermit: I think that pretty much goes without saying.

the_death_card: *catches that glance, and can't help but grin a little, ducking his head in a likely futile effort to hide it*

queen_ofwands: *she hums* Point.

the_lovers: Okay, you know what? *this is him, pitching a pillow at Merritt*

queen_ofwands: *laughs, hard*

the_lovers: Yeah, see, I wouldn't do that. You're probably next. Just saying.

the_hermit: *reaches out to swat it down before it hits him, then grabbing it and putting it between his head and the back of the couch, grinning unabashedly at Daniel*

the_death_card: *gives up, too, and cracks up*

the_lovers: *looks down, mostly to hide a smile* I can see now why Dylan's convinced that he's surrounded by assholes.

queen_ofwands: *has to look away herself, if only because she almost thinks to correct him* Takes one to know one.

the_hermit: For the first time in the history of the universe, I am using this phrase completely seriously. *a beat* What she said.

the_lovers: *okay, he can't help but laugh at that* Nice.

the_hermit: *apparently sincerely* Thank you.

the_lovers: Anytime.

the_death_card: It does seem to run in the family. *the asshole gene, he means*

queen_ofwands: *smiles warmly at Jack. so very, very warmly, since she's taking that as him calling them family* It does.

the_death_card: *considering the conversations he and Dylan have had, and then Dylan calling the suite "home" the other night? yeah, that's how he meant it. grins back for an instant before he catches that and his smile warms, too*

the_hermit: *watches them for a moment, before...* And this time, it's not me. *re: the silent conversations. though he can't quite stop from smiling too*

the_lovers: Not too sentimental for you this time?

the_hermit: You just saved it.

the_lovers: *pops one shoulder in a shrug* I figured someone had to.

the_hermit: *and again* Thanks.

the_lovers: You're welcome.

queen_ofwands: *looks at each of them in turn, still smiling -- including Merritt, despite the fact that that's probably a horrible idea if she's keen on secret-keeping -- and then just shakes her head a little. as much as she may or may not approve of what Jacob did, what he sacrificed to get here, she's glad he did get here. she definitely approves of his new family*

the_hermit: *not so much, and after a moment...* Dammit. I keep missing it.

queen_ofwands: *blinks at him and then laughs* Oh, come on, honey. I practically gave you that one. *not intentionally, but*

the_hermit: My point!

queen_ofwands: We could try it again or would that kill the fun?

the_hermit: *frowns, thinking about that for a moment, before...* Gimme a raincheck.

queen_ofwands: As in, if you haven't figured it out by the time I get ready to leave -- *she glances at the clock, idly* -- I give it to you?

the_hermit: *or, well, she lets him get it off her - and be proud, he didn't even connect a dirty thought to that one other than retroactively* As in.

queen_ofwands: *she's more disappointed than proud, but eh, she'll live* Fair enough.

the_hermit: *see, that's new and different since those comments usually just get him eyerolls from the other Horsemen. he'll keep that in mind for the next time* You're on.

queen_ofwands: *how many times as she called ... well, anyone in this room honey? you really need to worry about offending her by flirting? rolls her eyes at him, amused, and then* Sounds good.

the_death_card: *not that he's in a hurry for her to leave, but since she brought it up...* How long are you hanging out?

queen_ofwands: *glances at the clock again, this time purposefully, and presses her mouth into a thin line as she considers that* I've got a little while. *she has a couple of hours before she actually needs to be anywhere, though she may or may not stay that long, depending on how they're feeling -- specifically, if Daniel wants to go to bed -- and if she feels like she's wearing out her welcome*

the_death_card: Cool.

queen_ofwands: *she flashes him a smile and then turns to Daniel as if something just occurred to her -- mostly because it did* Remind me before I go to swing by and show you some things sometime, by the way. Not that the fireball was bad, but you can do so much better than the little parlor tricks Jay showed you. *a beat* No offense to him, that's just ... not his area of expertise.

the_lovers: *arches his eyebrows at her, opening his mouth to say something, and ... *

queen_ofwands: *rolls her eyes, amused* And not right this second, smart ass. I mean as I'm literally walking out the door.

the_lovers: *huffs out a sigh of a laugh* Well, I tried.

the_hermit: A for effort, though. You almost snuck that one through.

the_lovers: Almost.

queen_ofwands: Only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, boys.

the_death_card: *too brightly, on purpose* And nuclear warfare.

queen_ofwands: *snorts* And that.

the_hermit: *frowns at him, though he's joking* I worry about you, sometimes, kid.

the_death_card: *just laughs*

the_lovers: That makes two of us. *he's also joking, though he puts on a good show looking weirded out*

the_death_card: *and lets the grin go more devious and laughs again, slightly and purposefully evilly*

queen_ofwands: *laughs* Again with you and Jay being two peas in a pod, I swear. *a beat* And speaking of, do they know you can do that thing you showed me last time? *ooh! ooh! beg for mercy! I must hear that!*

the_death_card: *stops grinning after a moment to frown at her* Which thing? *and then realizes what she means* Oh! Uh... I don't know, actually. *he can't remember if he ever mentioned it during the planning*

queen_ofwands: You realize it wouldn't be that hard to find out ...

the_lovers: *looks between them, frowning, too, but curious*

the_death_card: *chuckles a little at Daniel's frown and then sobers abruptly, running a hand over his mouth as if to wipe the grin away, taking a moment to settle and get Dylan's voice back in his head, and then, in Dylan's voice* She means this thing.

queen_ofwands: *reaches up to cover her own mouth, mostly to hide the fact that she's grinning like an idiot. hee. he did the thing*

the_lovers: That's ... *not perfect, so he knows it's not a trick, but ... * ... actually kind of impressive. *he means that, too, judging by the look on his face*

the_lovers: *also probably high praise for him, considering how tired he is and the fact that he doesn't usually do praise*

the_hermit: It's also weird. Awesome, but weird.

the_death_card: *grins, and still in Dylan's voice* Thanks.

queen_ofwands: *after she's taken a moment to try and compose herself* My vote still goes to awesome. *a beat* Just awesome.

the_death_card: Again, thanks. *and then, back in his own voice* I used it in the apartment, when the FBI's response team was almost on me. Dylan showed me a... line of sight trick to do it, but I taught myself that one.

the_lovers: *he'll have to get Dylan to show him the actual trick. but at any rate* I get the impression that you can do anyone and not just him, then. *and yeah, he realizes that he's practically asking Jack to immitate him, but ... *

the_death_card: *and he's not about to pass it up. pauses again, to resettle, and, in Daniel's voice...* Is that an invitation?

queen_ofwands: *makes a small, undignified noise as she tries not to giggle*

the_lovers: *looks away, fighting a grin* It wasn't, but considering the fact that you already went there, I think it's a little late for you to ask. *a beat* Or me to tell you.

the_hermit: Now that is awesome.

the_death_card: *grins at all of them, and still in Daniel's...* So does that answer your question?

the_lovers: Maybe just a little bit.

the_death_card: *clears his throat, and he's back in his own voice when he says...* Thought so.

the_lovers: *after a moment* Going to go with Merritt and say creepy, by the way. *it's also something for him to file away. that might come in handy later, either for a show or for something else, and knowing what his team's capable of is good. and again with him considering himself in charge by virture of being the front man and in Dylan's absence*

queen_ofwands: If you think that's something ... *not to steal Jack's thunder, since she thinks what he can do without magic is amazing if you hadn't guessed, but ... he did mention the illusion. and that in mind and in Merritt's voice* ... this do anything for you?

the_lovers: Not really. I mean, people talk about me not knowing when to shut up, but ... *glances over at Merritt, a "this guy" look clear on his face*

queen_ofwands: *laughs ... still in Merritt's voice*

the_hermit: *to Daniel* I'm ignoring that. *to Miranda* Now I'm not sure if that's weird or hot.

queen_ofwands: *still in Merritt's voice* I'm getting the feeling this is some kind of ... depraved fantasy of yours?

the_lovers: *mumbles* Wouldn't surprise me.

the_hermit: I maybe shouldn't answer that, to save Daniel's poor, delicate, sex-deprived brain.

the_lovers: Yeah, that'd be good.

queen_ofwands: *laughs again and then clears her throat. a hum follows* I'll keep that in mind.

the_hermit: *smirking* You do that.

the_death_card: *makes a disgusted noise, though he's joking*

queen_ofwands: *wets her lips with her tongue -- it's not meant to be suggestive, but it reads that way, and she's fine with that, really -- and smirks back*

the_lovers: Right, so, anyway ...

the_death_card: Yes please.

queen_ofwands: I'd ask if you boys were jealous, but since we're not so subtly changing the subject ... *she shrugs*

the_death_card: No offense to either of you? *gestures at Miranda and Merritt* But no, not really.

queen_ofwands: *hums* Your loss.

the_lovers: Yeah, hi, can we get back to the "not so subtle" subject change?

queen_ofwands: Why not?

the_death_card: What're we changing the subject to?

the_lovers: I don't know. Something where Merritt can get -- *seriously uncomfortable* -- Dylan's real name out of her.

the_hermit: We're probably obligated to beg for an embarrassing story or two.

queen_ofwands: *laughs* Jay might actually kill me for that, you realize.

the_death_card: *just pointing out...* He's already going to kill you for messing with his sketchbook and calling him a bitch. *grins, assuming she got the text Dylan sent from his phone*

queen_ofwands: Or send me more less than flattering selfies of himself. *a beat and to Daniel and Merritt before they assume ... * He texted me a picture of him flipping me off.

the_lovers: *the clarification is nice, but ... * What'd you do to his sketchbook?

queen_ofwands: *just glances at Jack, amused. it's either he tells them or she says something to the effect of I heard he liked the D*

the_death_card: *rolls his eyes* She drew a bunch of dicks in it.

the_lovers: *snorts* I'm not sure if that's brilliant or the stupidest thing I've ever heard. *mostly because, yeah, the killing*

queen_ofwands: Probably a little of both.

queen_ofwands: But that was the point.

the_death_card: *and because he just remembered he hasn't told her...* He did freak out when I told him you'd been here, by the way. I forgot to set up a camera, though. *grins, again*

queen_ofwands: *girns* Oh, that's a shame. I bet it was On Demand worthy.

the_death_card: It was pretty funny. *and how much he's grinning says that's an understatement*

queen_ofwands: I'll have to bug him about it when he can stop playing Agent Hardass for a few minutes and come have tea with me.

the_hermit: We're about to keep him busy again.

queen_ofwands: *she nods. she also makes a little face, though it's unrelated to what she says next, for the most part* Another show. I heard. *she's still hoping to catch Jake at some point before things pick up again* One of you needs to call me or something next time he's around.

the_death_card: *nods* I've still got your number.

the_hermit: *and as Jack's saying that, Merritt's practically diving for the coffee table to see what's left on the list because he knows it was more than just "Jay", that time*

queen_ofwands: *distractedly* Good. *and the reason why she's distracted, she's frozen now, watching Merritt and looking somewhere between amused and deer-in-headlights, wondering if Merritt managed to pick it off of her finally*

the_lovers: *glances between Merritt and Miranda, practically holding his breath*

the_hermit: *skims over the list and then grins broadly, sliding the pen off the paper to circle one several times and slap it back down in front of her, looking up at her expectantly. tell her he's right. he knows he's right*

queen_ofwands: *leans forward to look ... and then laughs* Fair warning, if you call him Jake, he'll probably kill you. And I mean that. *for all that she's still smiling, she really does. the only people that have ever called him Jake were her and his father*

the_hermit: *slouches back, doing victory arms*

the_death_card: *leans forward to look and then leans over to slap Merritt on the arm in congratulations before he sits back* Finally. Thank God.

the_hermit: *drops his arms, and, still grinning...* I'd say I'm not that good, but....

the_lovers: *gives Merritt a small approving look, guarded but real, and breathes out* So, Jacob Shrike. That's ... well, it's not what I was expecting, but I'm not sure what I was expecting.

the_hermit: It suits, though.

the_lovers: *thinks about that for a moment and then nods* Can't really argue that.

queen_ofwands: *after a moment* So, have you thought about how you're going to break the news to him? Or is it just a free-for-all now and whoever sees him first gets dibs?

the_death_card: *immediately, and looking to Merritt and Daniel* We need to all be around when we do.

the_lovers: And it has to be in person. *because his first thought was that they could call Henley, tell her to come back to the suite, and then call him up and put him on speaker, but ... no. he wants to see the look on Dylan's -- Jacob's -- face, even if it won't mean half as much to him as it probably will to Merritt*

the_death_card: *nods* Yeah.

the_lovers: Merritt? Any other caveats or are you too busy patting yourself on the back over there to join the class in group discussion time?

the_hermit: You two were doing well on your own. *a beat* Someone needs to just say it. Casually. No big production for once. Just.. like this. *gestures between them - like they've been talking*

queen_ofwands: *after a moment* You could call him right now, you know. Henley, too. *she shrugs* Tell him I'm here and ask him if he wants to swing by after work, assuming he's not already off.

queen_ofwands: *another pause* Assuming your asses are on fire about it, anyway.

the_hermit: *gives her a little really? look* I think that pretty much goes without saying at this point.

the_lovers: *snorts and leans to reach for his phone, which he left on one of the end tables some time ago* I'll call Henley.

the_death_card: I'll let her start back this way before I call *a beat where he pauses, where he's not sure what name to use, and then grins* Jacob.

the_lovers: *dials Henley and after a short pause, in which it presumably rings and she answered, and without much in the way of preamble* So, we kind of figured it out. *at this point he has to take the phone away from his ear. waits a few seconds until Henley is done spazzing and then goes back to the phone, rolling his eyes* Yeah. Yeah, no, come back to the suite. Jack's going to call him. *this continues on for about a minute and then finally, hehangs up* She said she'll be here as soon as she can.

the_hermit: Twenty bucks she comes in out of breath.

the_death_card: *still grinning* No bet.

the_lovers: *grins a little, himself* Yeah, no, definitely not touching that one, either.

queen_ofwands: I don't even know her, and neither am I.

the_hermit: Cowards. *he's teasing*

the_lovers: Or, you know, smart enough to know a raw deal when we see one.

the_hermit: *seems to give that some thought, and then...* That works too.

the_lovers: *flashes him a crooked grin* Generally.

the_hermit: *just looks amused, and then...* Should we call her back and tell her to bring booze?

the_lovers: *glances towards the kitchen* I think we still have some of that Cognac left. *also a mysterious bottle of Chanti in one of the cupboards that may or may not still have a note on it that reads "Hello, Clarice."*

the_hermit: That'll work.

the_lovers: We'll break it out after someone manages to work his name into the conversation. *because taking it out now would probably tip him off*

the_death_card: At least we're all decent enough actors.

queen_ofwands: And you have me. *she's fairly certain she can command Jacob's attention, if she needs to, if she spots one of them making it too obvious*

the_hermit: That, too. *pauses for a moment, before..* If anyone gives it away it'll be him *nods toward Jack* or Henley.

the_death_card: *frowns, opening his mouth to argue, and then...* Actually, nevermind.

queen_ofwands: *laughs* He has a point, Jack. No offense.

the_lovers: I'm actually surprised he didn't say me, all things considered. *considering how badly he fails at not being completely obvious when Merritt is trying to read him*

the_death_card: *grins* None taken. *he knows he can be an easy read, and as has been observed, he's the closest of them to Dylan, so.*

the_hermit: *to Daniel* You're easy, but you're not grinning like an idiot without realizing it.

the_death_card: *scowls at him, though without heat*

the_lovers: Yeah, idiot isn't really my style.

the_death_card: *starts to object again, but...*

the_hermit: *before Jack can say anything..* I wouldn't say that.

the_lovers: Okay, barring the whole trick thing, I usually am the smartest guy in the room. *no offense to them, but he's brilliant and he knows it, thanks*

the_hermit: In some ways.

queen_ofwands: *and when Daniel opens his mouth to say something, she cuts him off* I'm pretty sure you really don't want an honest answer to that, so I wouldn't ask if I were you.

the_lovers: *just makes a face*

the_hermit: *and just raises an eyebrow back at him*

the_lovers: *frowns at him for a moment, and then abruptly and to Jack* I think Henley probably has a good head start by now.

the_death_card: *blinks at him, catching up with the conversation again, before...* Oh, right. *shifts a little to reach into his pocket for his phone, dials Dylan's number - and then looks away from the rest of the room because yeah, he won't be able to stop himself smiling*

onebehind: *the phone rings twice before he finally picks up, and when he does ... * Dylan Rhodes. *either he didn't look at his caller ID, he's still at work or both*

the_death_card: *and since he's not sure which it is...* Dylan, hey.

onebehind: *the smile in his voice is obvious* Hey. Gimme two seconds? *there's a pause, the sound of voices, shuffling and his footsteps, and then* What's up?

the_death_card: You still at the office? *he's assuming, based on that first response, but*

onebehind: Just headed out for the day, actually. *and as if to prove his point, in the background, someone says See you tomorrow, Rhodes. but at any rate, after a moment, and with a little less act involved ... * Everything okay?

the_death_card: Oh, yeah. We're just hanging out. *a beat* And Miranda showed up again.

onebehind: *he lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding* She still there? *not that that will influence his decision to stop by, but*

the_death_card: *holds his phone out to the rest of the room, to hold his phone out to Miranda - not to hand it off, just to say..* Say hi, Miranda.

queen_ofwands: *sing-songs* Hi, Dylan.

the_death_card: *grins, and puts the phone back to his ear* Get that?

onebehind: *he makes a small, amused noise* Yeah. *a beat* I'll swing by in a little bit. *and by little bit, he means when he can get to somewhere where he can use the elevator trick without everyone in their brother wondering where he literally disappeared off to*

the_death_card: We'll be here.

onebehind: I'll see you then. *that said, he hangs up*

the_highpriestess: *and almost literally a second later, she comes in the door, only a little bit breathless. she'd be more so, but she had the elevator ride up to catch his breath* So? *a pause follows, as she notices Miranda, looks to Daniel, who shrugs, and then* Oh. I didn't realize we had company.

the_death_card: *puts his phone away* He's on his way. *and looks over at the door at Henley comes in*

the_hermit: *with the necessary hand gestures* Henley, Miranda Vale. Miranda, Henley Reeves. *to Daniel* Sorry you didn't get a turn. *being amused at someone else getting the crap scared out of them, he means*

the_highpriestess: *and since there are very few women in the business who aren't just lovely assistants, she immediately recognizes the name* Oh, my God. Are you ...

queen_ofwands: *amused* A friend of Jay's and with the Eye, yeah.

the_lovers: *to Merritt* Guess I'll have to live.

the_death_card: *pointing out to Miranda with a grin* You can actually say it now.

the_hermit: *still to Daniel* We can hope.

the_lovers: *mimes a heart attack, trying his best not to smile*

queen_ofwands: Well, I didn't want to spoil the surprise if you wanted to tell her.

the_highpriestess: Well, someone better.

queen_ofwands: It's Jacob.

the_lovers: *in time with Miranda and as he straightens in his chair* His name's Jacob.

the_death_card: *and at the same time as both of them...* Jacob.

the_highpriestess: Okay, wow, not everybody at once, next time. *not that she didn't actually get the name out of that or that she's not kidding*

the_hermit: *cracks up, and as he's still laughing* Yeah, this is never gonna work.

the_highpriestess: *as she moves to take a seat on the arm of Daniel's chair* What isn't?

the_lovers: The part where one of us finds a way to work his name into casual conversation.

the_lovers: Rather than just sort of ... assaulting him with it when he walks in the door.

the_death_card: Or bringing it up over the phone.

the_lovers: *points at Jack* Or that.

the_highpriestess: *amused* Yeah, okay, I can see how that's going to go really well.

the_death_card: Maybe we should draw straws or something to who's going to say it. *only half joking*

the_lovers: *even if he's not entirely serious with that ... * That's probably not the worst idea I've heard all night. *a beat* I mean, it'd be better than all of us looking for an opening ... or finding the same one and just kind of exploding all over him.

queen_ofwands: ... *snorts*

the_lovers: You get what I meant.

the_hermit: *snorts, too, a beat after her*

the_death_card: *stands up to head to the kitchen, to find something to use*

the_death_card: We probably would, too. *considering that sort of thing does happen*

the_highpriestess: *calls after him* No cheating, Jack Wilder!

the_lovers: Probably.

the_death_card: *shoots her a grin as he digs through the drawers*

the_highpriestess: *turns to Merritt and Daniel* No cheating from you two, either.

the_death_card: Nobody's gonna cheat. *oh look, coffee stirrer things. grabs those and a knife, cutting some off one of them, then turning his back to the rest of the room to mix them up before he returns to the living room*

the_highpriestess: Just checking. *she was only half-serious, anyway*

the_death_card: *he knows, and he smiles at her again as he offers the straws to Merritt, since he got to him first*

the_hermit: *makes a show of studying them for a moment and taking his sweet time drawing one - but does finally draw one*

the_death_card: *moves on to hold them out to Henley and Daniel*

the_highpriestess: *reaches to pick one after Daniel waves her on*

the_lovers: *and he and Jack get the the two remaining ones. holds onto his for a moment and then* Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let's see who our winner is.

the_hermit: *scoots over so he can reach to hold his out to them*

the_lovers: *holds his up, too, as does Henley, and looks to Jack, once again practically holding his breath*

queen_ofwands: *watches in amused silence*

the_death_card: *holds his out, and....* I swear I didn't cheat.

the_lovers: *looks caught somewhere between frustrated, amused and something else. the something else being the thought that it probably should have been Jack anyway, all things considered*

the_highpriestess: *mumbles* Damn.

the_hermit: *pouts a little, but he's joking* Aww.

the_death_card: You guys wanna do it?

the_hermit: We're joking, kid.

the_lovers: *to Henley* Why does he keep saying things I have to agree with tonight?

the_highpriestess: No idea, but -- *to Jack* -- he's right. *a beat* It's all yours.

the_death_card: *shrugs, smiling a little as he holds out his hand for the sticks so he can throw them away*

the_highpriestess: *flashes him a smile as she hands her stick over*

the_lovers: *does the same with a muttered thanks*

queen_ofwands: *mimes handing a stick over for shits and giggles*

the_death_card: *takes theirs and Merritt's and then rolls his eyes at her as he heads back to the kitchen to drop them in the trash, then returning to his seat*

queen_ofwands: *grins impishly at him* Sorry, honey. I wanted to feel involved.

the_death_card: *grins back*

the_hermit: It's important to feel involved.

queen_ofwands: Generally.

onebehind: *and that said, there's some rattling outside the door before he lets himself in. as usual, he's still dressed in his work clothes, still half-in character, but he still manages a smile for them as he comes in, however strained* Hey. *and as Miranda starts to get up* Gimme a minute? I gotta ... *and he gestures somewhat helplessly to his outfit. he needs to take off his coat, tie and mindset*

queen_ofwands: *she makes a small noise that's equal parts accepting and apologetic, and sits back down*

the_hermit: *lifts a hand in greeting when Dylan comes in*

the_death_card: *leans back to look that way when the door opens, returning the smile*

onebehind: *flips a wave back at Merritt and then moves to drop his bag on the kitchen counter, shrugging out of his suit coat immediately afterwards. drops it on top, then turns to lean back against the counter to work at his tie, his eyes sliding closed. he takes another moment after he's ducked out from under the thing, his breathing almost meditative, and then reaches up to rub at his eyes before opening them. and when he does -- and again, as per usual -- his entire demeanor has changed to the point where he almost looks like a different person. it's like watching a quick change artist* Okay. *gestures for Miranda as he pushes away from the counter*

queen_ofwands: *she's on her feet in an instant and in his arms the next, hugging him fiercely. before she steps back, though, she moves her mouth near his ear and mumbles something*

onebehind: *and whatever it is, it's enough to get him to roll his eyes when he pulls away* Ha-ha, Mira. *shakes his head at her, grinning, and then comes into the living room to take a seat, Miranda right behind him* So, how bad has she made me look?

the_hermit: Oh, we've heard all kinds of terrible things.

queen_ofwands: You know me. Can't keep my mouth shut.

onebehind: *throws a mocking glare in Miranda's direction* Goddamn it, Mira.

the_death_card: She also traumatized Daniel. *can't quite keep the amusement off his face. he feels he's allowed to find it funny considering it happened to him, too*

the_lovers: I'd make some joke about being scarred for life, but I kind of actually am.

onebehind: *looks betwen Miranda and Daniel, his expression hardening minutely and in spite of his best efforts* What happened?

queen_ofwands: *if she notices, she doesn't seem particularly bothered by it* I may or may not have broken into the suite again.

the_lovers: There were tigers.

queen_ofwands: *nods and brightly* There were tigers.

onebehind: *scrubs a hand over his face, the gesture very much Why in God's name am I related to her? and then* I'm sorry for her.

the_hermit: I'm just upset she didn't give us fair warning so we could make some popcorn first.

the_lovers: Okay, if I hadn't already thrown my pillow ..

the_hermit: *reaches back to where it ended up, to offer it to him*

the_lovers: *leans to take it from him, holds onto it for a beat, and then slaps him with it before dumping it back in his lap*

the_highpriestess: Poor baby feel better?

the_lovers: Much.

the_death_card: *sighs, shaking his head a little* And again... *gestures at them. he's supposed to be the "kid" around here*

the_lovers: *immediately* He started it.

the_hermit: *immediately, too* Nuh uh!

the_lovers: Yuh huh!

onebehind: Alright, kids, I don't care who started it -- I'm finishing it.

the_lovers: Yes, Dad. Sorry, Dad.

the_hermit: Don't make you turn this hotel suite around?

onebehind: *snorts* Wouldn't you shit yourself if I actually could, somehow.

the_hermit: *chuckles* I almost didn't say that for worry about us all ending up on the ceiling or something.

queen_ofwands: Oh, I'm tempted. *not that she could actually put them on the ceiling, but ... she could make it look like they were*

the_lovers: Please don't.

queen_ofwands: *pouts* Killjoy.

the_hermit: He does that.

the_highpriestess: Constantly, if you haven't figured that out by now.

the_lovers: Have I mentioned today how much I hate you people?

the_hermit: No you don't.

the_lovers: *looks somewhere between confused and thoughtful* And I still haven't figured out why.

onebehind: *just shakes his head before getting up to go raid the minibar*

the_hermit: It's one of the great mysteries of life. *nods, sagely*

the_death_card: *laughs, shaking his head, too*

the_lovers: Remind me to devote some actual time to solving that one.

onebehind: *comes back a moment or two later with a little bottle of bourbon and a glass with ice in it. proceeds to upend the bottle into the glass and takes a sip, much to Miranda's apparent but guarded dismay. and when he lowers his glass* Better make it quick. After the show starts ... *no one will have the time*

the_death_card: He'll be too busy tweaking things to worry about it.

the_lovers: *after a moment* Is there anyone here who doesn't want to be on my shitlist?

the_hermit: You mean any of us weren't at the start of this... encounter? *a beat* Well, other than Miranda, but you didn't know her.

the_lovers: Well, she's definitely on it now, but ... yeah, okay, good point.

the_highpriestess: *to Miranda* Welcome to the club.

queen_ofwands: Do we get t-shirts?

the_death_card: Or buttons. We could get buttons.

queen_ofwands: Ooh, buttons.

onebehind: *just snorts*

the_hermit: We already established she likes big red ones.

the_death_card: That's what she said.

the_hermit: Good man.

queen_ofwands: *laughs, hard, along with Henley*

onebehind: I'm not even gonna ... *just shakes his head, grinning into his drink as he takes another sip*

the_lovers: And we're back to this.

the_hermit: We always get back to this eventually.

the_lovers: Unfortunately.

the_hermit: And it's too late to deny you love us now. *your life, Daniel*

the_lovers: Opinions can change, you realize. *not that Merritt isn't right, but ... protesting is all part of the banter*

the_hermit: *doubting* Uh huh.

the_death_card: And now we're back to that.

the_lovers: This is better than the whole ... *he makes a vague gesture*

the_highpriestess: I don't know ...

the_hermit: Careful, we might still end up on the ceiling.

onebehind: *jerks a thumb at Miranda* If she doesn't do it, I will. *not that he's entirely sure he could do something that big, but for the sake of threatening to turn this suite around ... *

the_hermit: *to Miranda* Does that make you the mom in this scenario?

queen_ofwands: More like the cool aunt who occasionally sneaks you booze at dinner.

the_hermit: That's definitely less weird.

onebehind: *and considering the fact that he does really think of Miranda as his sister, as blood related?* Definitely.

the_hermit: How did we end up in this conversation again?

the_lovers: Again with the part where I'm pretty sure you started it.

the_death_card: He always starts it.

the_highpriestess: I'm ... actually not sure whether I should argue that or not.

the_hermit: *looks confused* Same, actually.

the_highpriestess: *she breathes out a sigh of a laugh* At least it's not just me.

the_death_card: No, I'm serious - Merritt says something that gets Daniel twitchy, we think it's hysterical, and it all spirals from there. It's awesome. *grins*

onebehind: *amused* Also a vicious cycle.

the_death_card: *turns the grin to him* That, too.

onebehind: *grins back before taking a sip of his drink*

the_lovers: Maybe I should just go to bed and spare you -- or, actually, probably me -- the hilarity. *not that he actually would, not before Jack works Dylan's real name into the conversation, but it's a nice threat*

the_highpriestess: *nudges his shoulder and even though she knows he's not serious ... * Oh, relax, Danny.

the_death_card: *he's working on it. he's also trying not to make it super obvious that's what he's doing. but anyway*

the_hermit: It's too early to go to bed, anyway. *a beat* Unless you want me to add "old man" jokes to the list.

the_lovers: Says the guy who's, like, forty years older than me. Also, I didn't see you pull a fireball out of nowhere earlier.

onebehind: ... wait, what?

the_hermit: *frowns at him* Okay, now I'm going to make math jokes forever, because you are not six.

the_highpriestess: *immediately* Sometimes I wonder.

the_lovers: ... ouch.

onebehind: Can we back up to the fireball?

the_hermit: Oh, yeah. She had tigers, he had a fireball, and I ruined the party by knowing who she was.

onebehind: Huh. *looks at Daniel, suitably impressed*

queen_ofwands: *to Merritt* You're forgetting the part where you whammied me.

the_death_card: What'd you do?

the_hermit: Tried to convince her there were more than the two of us in the room. *not that it was all that effective*

queen_ofwands: If I didn't know what you were capable of or what Dy was probably teaching you ... *she shrugs*

onebehind: *offers Merritt the same impressed look, albeit a sideways one. mostly because he doesn't want him to catch on to the fact that he's thinking that, at this rate, they're going to outgrow him a lot faster than he originally thought*

onebehind: *and after he looks away ... hello, alcohol. takes a long drink of his bourbon*

the_hermit: *fair enough* Thanks. *and catches some of that, anyway, and frowns at him some as he takes the drink*

queen_ofwands: You're welcome. *offers him a brief smile before turning her attentions just as briefly to Dylan, trying to decide why Merritt's frowning at him. she doubts it's because of the booze -- she seems to be the only person here who has a problem with it, as far as she's seen thus far -- but she can't quite work out what it might be, otherwise. either way, though, it's enough to get her to frown, too, as she looks back to Merritt*

the_hermit: *sighs a little, through his nose. he knows what he just got, but it only makes sense if Dylan's being an idiot, so*

the_lovers: *after a moment and in response to the sudden silence* Well, this just got awkward, somehow.

onebehind: *grumbles an apology -- whcih is probably proof that, yeah, he is being an idiot*

the_hermit: *he'll come back to it later, not in front of the kids - and maybe when he has a drink, too*

the_death_card: I think that's a thing, anyway. That conversations drop off at some point. And that's without people that can do the whole... *waves a hand at the three of them*

onebehind: *he appreciates the fact that he's not going to get into it now, because yeah, he figures that Merritt picked up on what he was trying to hide, despite his efforts. but at any rate, he just takes another sip of his drink and leans back in his chair, swallowing a sigh*

queen_ofwands: It is. It's something like every twenty minutes, if I remember correctly.

the_death_card: *nods* Something like that.

the_lovers: *repeats, mockingly* Something like that. *as if he thinks Jack would have agreed if she'd suggested awkward pauses happened every minute or so, too. and no, he really doesn't, but ... he figures busting someone's balls will get the conversation back on track*

the_death_card: *lifts a hand to flip him off, considering he lacks anything to throw, but he's grinning as he does*

the_lovers: *holds up both hands to flip him off* Double deuce.

the_death_card: *holds up three fingers a la the Boy Scout salute, though with the back of his hand facing Daniel* Read between the lines.

the_lovers: *he breathes out a sigh of a laugh* I'd ask you if you liked jazz, but ...

the_death_card: *snorts* We can do this all night.

the_hermit: What was that about you being the youngest one here?

the_death_card: *just grins*

onebehind: *snorts into his drink*

the_highpriestess: Jack's the youngest; Danny's probably the second youngest. *in other words, it makes sense that they're going at each other*

the_lovers: Thanks. Thanks for that, Henley.

the_hermit: Told you the other night, Danny: the lady's on her own side.

the_lovers: *there's a second of pause and then* Yeah, well, the lady owes us both twenty bucks. I meant to mention that earlier, but ...

the_highpriestess: ... oh, my God. You didn't.

the_death_card: ...wait, how did I miss that?

the_highpriestess: I did, too, if it helps any!

the_lovers: *gets up to go grab the paper from where he left it and put his glass in the sink. when he comes back, he flips it open -- and, as promised, there's a full page ad for the show on one side and an ad about how Merritt was right on the other -- and drops it on the coffee table*

the_death_card: *leans forward to look at it - and then cracks up, falling back in his chair again to laugh his head off*

the_hermit: *leans forward, too, and then grins at Daniel* Very nice.

the_highpriestess: *takes a look herself, then nudges the paper over so Dylan and Miranda can look, and gets to her feet* Let me go grab my bag. *which she dropped like it was hot when she bolted in the door* A promise is a promise.

the_lovers: Bet, actually, but same difference.

queen_ofwands: *to Dylan* Do the words "Why is this my life" come to mind?

onebehind: *grinning* Little bit.

the_highpriestess: *comes back with her purse and sits back down on the arm of Daniel's chair as she combs through it, looking for her wallet*

onebehind: *hums* Yeah.

the_death_card: *resettles a little now that he's managed to stop laughing* She didn't miss it by much. We were still working through the shitton of pizza Jacob brought when she scared the crap out of me that day. *and somehow, that comes out exactly as casually as he means for it to*

queen_ofwands: *as if nothing happened* Next time, Gadget.

onebehind: I'd wonder if there was gonna be a next time but -- *wait. blinks, shaking his head a little, and then stares at Jack, as if he's not sure whether he heard him correctly. or as if he just got punched in the stomach. or both*

the_death_card: *and okay, now he can't even, and a distinctly shit-eating grin breaks through*

onebehind: *he lets out a little breath, not quite a sigh of a laugh but almost, one corner of his mouth quirking upwards. and while Jack's grin makes it fairly obvious, he still has to ask ... * Did you just ... ?

the_death_card: Call you Jacob? That'd be a yeah.

onebehind: *another breath, this one more a laugh than the last, and he closes his eyes for a moment, his shoulders dropping, posture practically crumpling. if there was anything left of Agent Rhodes in him, clinging to him from work, it's gone now -- it's like a weight has been lifted off of him, suddenly, finally. a moment of silence follows as he savors the use of his name, his real name, and he takes a deep breath and lets it out before finally opening his eyes again. if they look a little bright, it must be the light in here. if he has to clear his throat before he speaks -- and when he does, it's softly -- it must be the season and the flowers in bloom outside* How'd you figure it out? *he's guessing it wasn't Miranda. or at least that she didn't outright tell them*

the_death_card: The Bible, mostly, and doubting it was anything we couldn't figure out how to pronounce.

the_hermit: Jack got your initials off your sketch, too.

onebehind: *he grins a little* Yeah, not so much. *a beat and the grin falters a little* I'm ... *he stops, shakes his head faintly. he wants to tell them thank you, for giving him his name back, for letting him be himself entirely and finally, but those two little words are surprisingly hard to get out. probably because they don't feel like enough*

the_death_card: *just grins - or keeps grinning, since he can't quite seem to stop -, reaching up to run a hand over his hair*

the_hermit: *grins, too, his a little more obviously fond, but...* You're welcome, Dylan. *a beat* Jacob.

onebehind: *he huffs out another sigh of a laugh, and takes a look around the room, his eyes lingering on each of them in turn and, despite his earlier upset, with intense fondness. he's a little floored to see it returned in all their faces and has to look away. and after a moment, something wavering in his voice as he doesn't dare try to clear his throat again ... * Gonna have to get used to that, huh?

the_hermit: That might be a good idea, yeah.

the_highpriestess: Shame we won't get to watch Danny flail for twenty minutes before he decides what to call him anymore, though.

the_hermit: *looks disappointed* Oh, good point. That was the highlight of.. a few minutes.

the_lovers: *scowls, the expression half-genuine, if only because he's a touch embarrassed* Okay, you know what? Screw you both.

the_hermit: *and he gets that, and...* Kidding, Daniel. We're kidding.

the_highpriestess: Relax. *touches a hand to his shoulder and then presses a twenty into Daniel's hands* And have a twenty. It'll make you feel better.

the_lovers: Well, there is that.

the_hermit: Winning a bet is always a good way to improve one's mood, I've found.

queen_ofwands: *trying very hard not to smirk* I could name a few other things that are good for that, too.

onebehind: *looks about five seconds from facepalming* Mira.

the_highpriestess: *smirks at Daniel for an instant before trying to look completely innocent when she turns back to the others*

the_lovers: *may or may not be about eight shades of red*

the_hermit: You're not gonna hear me argue with that.

onebehind: *flashes Merritt a look that more or less reads Dude, that's my sister*

queen_ofwands: *laughs, hard, and touches a hand to Dylan's arm* Relax before you sprain something, Jake.

the_highpriestess: *to Dylan* You can't tell me you were expecting any less from Mister Personal Corkscrew.

onebehind: ... I ... yeah, I don't wanna know.

the_death_card: I don't wanna know, and I was there.

the_lovers: That'd make two of us. *a beat* Well, three, now.

the_highpriestess: *laughs just as hard as Miranda, and leans into Daniel a little*

the_hermit: *and now he can't help but grin at everyone, though he shakes his head a little, too*

onebehind: *mirrors both the smile and the shake of his head, almost in spite of himself, and finishes off the rest of his drink. sets the glass down and leans back in his seat, completely relaxed even above and beyond the usual. and after a moment of comfortable silence* Just so you can stop worrying, by the way, the Bible I gave you was a mock up.

the_hermit: *laughs a little* Henley's been having nightmares about that.

the_highpriestess: Considering the fact that I pretty much destroyed it when the bookmark fell apart?

onebehind: *somewhere between amused and apologetic* If I could have warned you, I would have, but that would've ruined the game.

the_lovers: ... which you all just lost.

queen_ofwands: Damn it.

the_death_card: *groans*

the_hermit: Goddammit. *throws the pillow*

the_lovers: *laughs, even as the pillow hits him in the face. puts it behind his head afterwards* Sorry. I had to.

the_highpriestess: You're evil, Danny.

the_hermit: That was uncalled for.

the_lovers: No. No, I'm pretty sure it was very called for. *gestures to Dylan* He more or less left the door wide open on that one.

the_hermit: *rolls his eyes* Fine, good point.

onebehind: *to Merritt* Sorry.

the_hermit: I'm sure you are. *and that's said sarcastically, but he's still having to work really hard not to grin like an idiot. as much as he still shies away from the sentimental, as much as he pretends to be such a sarcastic hardass, the fact remains that he loves the group like this - now, and at the pizza party, and in the elevator, even if they were missing Jack then and were all still stressing about the final trick and what was Next*

onebehind: *he catches the fact that he's fighting a grin and just flashes him a shiteating one in response*

queen_ofwands: *after a moment and with a shake of her head* God, you guys are fun. *and good for Dylan. she can't remember the last time he smiled like this or this much*

the_hermit: *okay fine. returns it, shaking his head again. and, to Miranda...* We do our best.

onebehind: *makes a little noise that sounds suspiciously like ha! as if he caught him in the proverbial act*

queen_ofwands: Well, you do a damn good job.

the_hermit: *narrows his eyes at him, but the grin returns after a moment* Thank you.

the_death_card: *at the same moment* Thanks.

the_highpriestess: What they said.

the_lovers: *probably would have said the same thing -- or at least something similar -- as Henley at the same time, but he may or may not be dozing off. blame the addition of the pillow*

the_hermit: *looks over when he doesn't respond and the smile softens a little - though he'd deny it to his final breath if anyone were to point it out*

onebehind: *again, he mirrors Merritt, and then softly* Henley. *nods to Daniel*

the_highpriestess: *shifts to look at him and then very gently puts a hand to his shoulder* Danny.

the_lovers: *to his credit, he doesn't jump -- which is probably why Dylan had Henley be the one to wake him up* What?

the_highpriestess: *simply* Go to bed.

the_lovers: *reaches up to thumb at his eyes and then nods a little* Yeah. I'm getting there.

the_hermit: *not unkindly* I think you're a little past "getting there".

the_lovers: *makes a face at him, though the expression is largely reflexive -- there's no actual upset on his face*

onebehind: *he'd say something along the lines of "we'll all be here when you get up" but, well ... that's not entirely true. loses a little of the smile he's been wearing for the latter have of the evening to that thought, but nods to the stairs all the same* Go. Miranda and I'll be around later. *and no one else is going anywhere, at least*

queen_ofwands: Jack has my number. We'll set something up. *so she can start teaching him things*

the_lovers: *breathes out a sigh and then finally, reluctantly, gets to his feet* Right. *a beat* Well, it was nice meeting you.

queen_ofwands: You, too. *offers him a little smile* And sorry for scaring the shit out of you.

the_death_card: 'Night, Daniel.

the_lovers: *flashes Miranda a small, tired smile in response to that comment, and then, half specifically to Jack, half to the rest of the room* Night. *and that said, he heads for the stairs*

the_hermit: *the minute Daniel's out of sight, probably while he's still in earshot...* So now's when we talk about him, right?

the_lovers: *from upstairs* Give it a few minutes. I can still hear you.

the_highpriestess: *snickers*

the_death_card: *laughs, too*

the_hermit: *sing-song* Good night, Gracie.

the_lovers: *they can probably hear him snort before the sound of his door closing*

the_hermit: *settles a little* I was going for trying to see if he could make flipping me off something audible.

queen_ofwands: That little indignant noise didn't count?

the_hermit: Close enough. Lacked emphasis, though.

queen_ofwands: *she hums, amused* He's tired. Cut him some slack.

the_hermit: *shrugs* It might've helped, too, if he'd known about the experiment.

queen_ofwands: *grins at him* Maybe just a little.

the_highpriestess: I can let him know for future reference?

the_hermit: *nods* We'll have to test in different conditions, anyway.

the_death_card: *snorts*

onebehind: *amused, himself* This the whole "some science" part of mentalism you mentioned?

the_hermit: *points at him, grinning* Exactly.

onebehind: *just laughs*

the_highpriestess: I'm guessing this is something I missed during our stay with the FBI?

the_hermit: *nods* He asked me for a definition.

onebehind: Not like I really needed one, but ... *he shrugs*

the_highpriestess: All part of the trick, yeah.

the_hermit: *waves a hand at him* Obviously.

queen_ofwands: *to Merritt* I'd ask how you managed to miss that it was him you were working for, but I know how Jake can be.

onebehind: He got a lot closer than I thought he would. *even though he knew Merritt was the biggest threat, he wasn't expecting him to pull "daddy issues" off him with as many walls and distractions as he had in place*

the_hermit: *inclines his head a little, in acknowledgement of her comment and thanks to Dylan's* He shut things down pretty quick. And Agent Dray was there without the mental safe.

queen_ofwands: Ooh, I still need to meet her.

onebehind: *almost warningly* Mira ...

queen_ofwands: I'll be nice. I promise.

onebehind: *reacehs up to scrub a hand over his scruff, vaguely frustrated*

the_death_card: *looks a touch guilty at that, since he was the first one to mention her anyway, the first time Miranda was there*

the_hermit: As much as I was trying to sow discord between the two lovebirds, then, she's fine.

onebehind: *Miranda looks ready to say something, but he cuts in, instead* Speaking of ... *what he said about her having big secrets ... was that true, or was he just screwing with them? because honestly, he's not sure and it still bothers him to a certain degree, sometimes. not that he doesn't trust Alma -- or won't, if she really is hiding something -- leap of faith and all, but he's kind of ... curious*

the_hermit: *frowns a little, thinking, and finally...* Yes and no. There was the newbie thing. There's the fact that she knew about the Eye, but I couldn't have told you that, then. *a beat* There's... something else, too, but we cut things a little short and I wasn't really paying as much attention as I could have been, either. *of course, he might have seen through Dylan if he had been, and that's a whole other kettle of fish*

onebehind: Huh. *man, that's going to drive him nuts*

queen_ofwands: She knew about the Eye?

onebehind: Yeah, her grandfather was one of us.

onebehind: *plus, well, she has mad research skills*

the_hermit: *gestures - yeah, that* It's nothing... well, obviously it didn't mess with your plan and it hasn't bitten any of us in the ass yet, so whatever it is, she'll tell you eventually.

onebehind: *he flashes Merritt a crooked, wry smile* Yeah, but it's gonna drive me nuts until then. *again, not that it particularly worries him --- it's more just the principle of the thing. he's a smart guy. a smart guy who's made a habit of being able to see through people. not being able to see this is ... like a seeing a magic trick he can figure out, and it's kind of amusing and bewildering and ... yeah*

the_highpriestess: Welcome to our world.

the_hermit: Exactly. *grins*

onebehind: *huffs out a sigh of a laugh* Screw you both.

queen_ofwands: *innocently and after a moment* Can I watch?

onebehind: * ... his life. this is his life. just shakes his head*

the_hermit: *oh, she beat him to it, and he just laughs*

queen_ofwands: *flashes Merritt a grin*

onebehind: *mutters* Assholes.

the_hermit: Yeah, but you're still here. *still with the grin*

onebehind: At the rate you guys are going, I might follow Daniel's example just to escape this shit.

the_death_card: What, falling asleep mid-conversation?

onebehind: More like getting while the getting's good. *he's obviously teasing, though, as is evidenced by the grin he's wearing. and the fact that he's not moving*

queen_ofwands: Oh, honey. I think it's a little late for that.

the_hermit: *makes a little "y'think?" face*

onebehind: Guy can dream. *shrugs*

the_hermit: I'd call bullshit, but you probably still get a reflexive headache from that word. *grins*

onebehind: *makes a show of cringing*

the_hermit: *chuckles* Thought so.

onebehind: *grins. and after a moment* You know, I was kinda half expecting someone to stand up there and start playing air violin just to screw with me. *a beat* Or you.

the_highpriestess: I thought about it. Not gonna lie.

the_death_card: *raises a hand* Ditto.

the_highpriestess: *laughs and leans over to offer Jack a high five*

the_death_card: *grins; high-fives her*

the_highpriestess: *hums, pleased, and rocks back on the arm of the chair she's been perched on. a pause follows, a moment of apparent thought, and then she slides down into the chair properly, since Danny's not in it anymore*

the_hermit: *morosely, though he's not at all serious about it* A lost opportunity, clearly.

the_highpriestess: I'd say next time, but then you'd be expecting it.

the_death_card: And you missed the chance to say "Gadget", there.

the_highpriestess: *amused* I figured you'd be expecting that, too, considering.

the_death_card: Point.

queen_ofwands: *turns to Dylan, and considering she said the same thing right after Jack namedropped on him ... * Speaking of, Jake ... *she doesn't finish that sentance, she just looks at him meaningfully. she figures he can pick up what she's not saying ... and assuming Merritt does, too, it's about her mother being alive still*

onebehind: *looks a little stunned for a moment and then nods* Yeah, I ... yeah.

queen_ofwands: You should stop by sometime.

the_hermit: *raises an eyebrow at them but doesn't say anything*

queen_ofwands: *puts a hand on his arm and squeezes lightly before withdrawing* So ... !

the_death_card: Are we back to the buttons?

the_highpriestess: Looks that way.

the_highpriestess: And speaking of that, your suits should be done in about a week. Yours, too, Jack. *because she's the one making them. how else would she have been able to get Etienne's measurements just by looking at him unless she knew how to sew?*

the_highpriestess: *and yeah, she knows that, technically, she could have carted all of them off to a tailor, but ... then Jack wouldn't have something to wear for all the shows after they bring him back from the dead*

the_hermit: *gives her a thumbs up*

the_death_card: Cool, thanks.

the_highpriestess: *she shrugs* I figured it was easier than trying to herd the three of you off to see an actual professional.

the_hermit: *scoffs* Pft, actual professionals.

the_highpriestess: *just offers him a smile. she's going to take that as a compliment and enjoy it*

the_hermit: *he was either complimenting her or implying that none of them are professionals, he's not actually sure. so that's probably for the best*

the_highpriestess: *probably*

queen_ofwands: You are aware that there are at least four of them in this room, right? *herself, Henley, Merritt, and Jack. sorry, Jake, but you don't count*

the_hermit: Oh, you know they just put that on the program so no one tries anything at home.

queen_ofwands: *laughs* I must have forgot there for a second.

the_hermit: *grins* I'll let it go this time.

queen_ofwands: I appreciate it.

onebehind: * ... feels the need to roll his eyes at them on general principle. does so, that in mind*

the_hermit: *just grins back at him. might be half-serious with the flirting, as always, but it's also fun to watch Dylan's reactions*

onebehind: If you're planning on keeping that up, I'm gonna need another drink. *not really, but*

the_death_card: I might need one if they keep that up. *also teasing*

queen_ofwands: Lucky for you boys I'm about ready to get out of the pool. *much as she doesn't want to, she needs to leave soon. she's meeting someone back in Vegas for a late dinner to discuss Eye business. it's pretty much what she's been doing since she retired*

onebehind: *mutters* Scratch that, I'm gonna need bleach. *mostly because his brain made getting out of the pool into a sexual thing*

the_hermit: *and in the continued interest of helping and "helping"* Brain bleach is among the services I offer, but something tells me continued exposure would just ruin the whole thing.

onebehind: Not if you do it after she leaves every time. *though, in all honesty, he's pretty sure Merritt couldn't hypnotize him. his walls are too strong, when he's really putting forth the effort, and that's assuming he didn't shut him down before he ever started in the first place*

the_hermit: *wanna bet?* Yeah, but that'd get tedious quick.

onebehind: *come at him, bro* For you, maybe.

the_hermit: *don't tempt him, Frodo*

the_death_card: So would the flirting.

onebehind: *arches his eyebrows at him, his expression steeling for a moment. he's been working on keeping people from being privy to his thoughts probably just as long as Merritt's been practicing mentalism, if not longer. not that he doesn't think Merritt isn't good at what he does, but ... it'd take someone a lot older and a lot more practiced than he is, either magically or mundanely, to take him apart*

queen_ofwands: *glances over at Dylan* So is the silent pissing contest.

the_hermit: *tilts his head a little, acknowledging again. he doesn't expect it to ever come up, but he guesses they'll see, if it does*

the_death_card: That too.

onebehind: *genuinely and to both Merritt and Miranda* Sorry.

the_hermit: No worries.

queen_ofwands: *shrugs* I was more worried about what you'd do if he made you think you were a ten-year-old girl than anything else.

onebehind: *breathes out a sigh of a laugh and just shakes his head*

the_hermit: I don't know if he could work a hairbow.

queen_ofwands: ... this is probably the part where I tell you --

onebehind: Mira, don't you dare.

queen_ofwands: -- that I braided his hair once, while he was asleep, and he didn't notice for an hour or so. *to Dylan* It's a miracle your father didn't piss himself laughing. *so, obviously, this was when they were little*

onebehind: *looks appropriately mortified*

the_death_card: *and again, cracks up*

the_hermit: *laughs* Now that, I'd've paid to see.

onebehind: *touches his fingers to his forehead, embarrassed* Go home, Miranda.

queen_ofwands: I'm getting there. *sticks her tongue out at him* And blame them. They asked for an embarrasing story earlier.

the_death_card: *to Dylan* You can always pay her back. *and give them an embarrassing story about her*

onebehind: Let me get back to you on that. *but there will be an embarrassing story at some point*

the_death_card: *his turn to give a thumbs up*

queen_ofwands: The sad thing is, whatever he comes up with probably won't embarrass me. *has no shame*

onebehind: She says that now.

the_highpriestess: It might be true, you know.

onebehind: *sounding fairly sure of himself* I'll think of something.

the_hermit: Never underestimate the ability of old friends to embarrass you.

onebehind: *points at Merritt* What he said.

queen_ofwands: Mm, well ... we'll see. *a beat* And that said, I really should get going.

the_hermit: Way to break up the party. *though he's teasing, especially since technically Daniel left first*

queen_ofwands: Feel free to carry on without me. Take pictures. *a pause, half for effect and half so she can get up, and then impishly* Especially if you get into that whole screwing Jake thing that was mentioned earlier.

the_death_card: *claps a hand over his eyes* Merritt, I think I just changed my mind.

onebehind: *has pretty much resorted to putting his face in his hands at this point*

queen_ofwands: *laughs, hard, and then nudges Dylan with a foot* Come walk me to the door. *not that it's particularly that far, but she wants to hug him again before she goes*

onebehind: *lets out a long-suffering sigh -- one that just might be real and in response to all the sexual innuendo floating around -- and gets up*

queen_ofwands: *to Henley and Merritt* It was nice meeting you.

the_highpriestess: Nice meeting you, too. *and she means that. again with there not being very many women in the business who aren't there to wear sparkly costumes and make a man look good*

the_hermit: *laughs at Jack, and then, to Miranda* Nice to meet you, too. And thanks for the entertainment. *scaring the crap out of Daniel and embarrassing Dylan*

the_death_card: *drops his hand again and...* I'd say it was good to see you again, but I'm not sure about that at the moment. *grins, though*

queen_ofwands: *to Merritt* Anytime. Thanks for presumably playing along. *a pause and then to Jack* Let me know when you make up your mind. *turns towards the door and finally, to Dylan* Come on, Jacob.

onebehind: *follows her over, does, indeed, hug her, and then, once she's gone, moves back over to his seat to sit back down. and to the room in general* Have I mentioned the part where I'm sorry for her? *as per usual, though, he doesn't really mean it*

the_hermit: *tips the hat he's not wearing to her, settling back again as they move off - and then chuckles* What I said about old friends works both ways, unfortunately.

onebehind: *laughs a little* Yeah, I definitely got that impression tonight.

the_highpriestess: She's fun, though.

the_death_card: *nods* Definitely.

onebehind: She's ... *good people, and despite how much of a ten-year-old she is most of the time, he's undoubtedly fond* ... family.

the_hermit: It's good she's around. *even if he's really not going to argue with Jack calling them family earlier, Dylan needs more people he doesn't have to act around*

onebehind: *his expression hardens faintly, reflexively, a wall sliding into place to keep anyone from seeing the ghost of old hurt on his face, and he nods* Yeah, it is.

the_hermit: *doesn't see that, but does see the wall slide into place and frowns a little, considering*

onebehind: *ask him later, when they both have drinks. several drinks*

the_hermit: *he can do that*

onebehind: *okay, then. reaches up to rub at his eyes, briefly, and then makes a small, amused noise* She wishes video of my reaction to the sketchbook; I wish I had video of her scaring the shit out of you -- *Jack* -- and Daniel.

the_death_card: *grins, self-deprecatingly* We're all lucky I didn't fall off the balcony. *not that he was really in danger, but she definitely startled him*

the_hermit: Much as I'm surprised there wasn't a puddle in the floor, Daniel held his ground. *and he actually sounds impressed*

the_highpriestess: He thought he was protecting us. *think about that for a moment, gentlemen, because she is*

the_hermit: *oh, he is, too, don't worry. he still thinks Daniel can be a dick with a stick up his ass, but it's not like he himself can't, too, sometimes, though he drifts toward the "never taking anything seriously" side of that specific mechanism. and it's not like Merritt didn't already know how Daniel felt, all things considered, between no one leaving and all the extra evidence that they all are one big happy family, but it's still touching - again, in a way he'll never actually admit to - to know what Daniel was ready to do* Yep.

onebehind: *he makes a small, affirmative noise and just smiles fondly. not that he doubted that they were all close, getting closer, family, but ... it's good to see the evidence of it*

the_highpriestess: *after a moment and as if she feels she needs to say it* Danny's ... under all the bullshit, he's not a bad guy.

the_hermit: A year ago, you could've fooled me. *what was that about having personal experience being a dick? he makes himself go on, a moment later* But yeah, he's a good kid. All three of you are. *another pause, and then, because he feels obligated....* And if you want more than that tonight, I'll have to hit the bar, first.

the_death_card: *snorts, not at all surprised, though also definitely seeing right through that, considering the warmth of the accompanying grin*

the_highpriestess: I'm pretty sure you know how I feel, considering the elevator, but ... *considering the fact that neither Jack nor Dylan were there* ... I'm glad we're here. I'm glad we have each other.

onebehind: *after a moment and as if this is getting too sentimental for him, too, he gestures to the minibar* There's still some minis.

the_death_card: *in response to Henley...* Me, too.

the_hermit: *leans back to look toward it, apparently considering, and then....* Eh, too much trouble.

the_highpriestess: *just smiles warmly at Jack*

onebehind: *shrugs* I tried.

the_hermit: Good effort. *grins a little*

onebehind: Thanks. *grins back and then stretches a little, idly. he's a little sore and a little more tired, and God, does he want to pull a Daniel and doze off here at some point, but ... he has to leave. maybe not right this second, but*

the_death_card: You have work tomorrow? *which is as close as he'll ever get to asking if Dylan can stay, because he knows to actually word it that way would be rubbing salt in the wound*

onebehind: *cringes ever so slightly, even so* Yeah.

the_hermit: Pft, work. There's a reason I became an entertainer. *joking. sort of.*

onebehind: *he wishes he could have been. or at very least gone into the business as an ingenieur* Yeah, well, not everyone's as pretty as you. *since, you know, famous people are supposedly all beautiful and crap*

the_hermit: I know. It's a tragedy. *a beat* Or a gift, I'm not sure which.

onebehind: Either way. *shrugs*

the_hermit: *mirrors the shrug* Yep.

onebehind: *is ... working on a means of being able to stay here sometimes, if not full time, but ... he's not sure if it's going to pan out. and he'd have to talk to Miranda again, first. maybe Daniel, too, once he's had more practice with illusions. either way, he doesn't say that for fear of getting anyone's hopes up. he just rubs briefly at his eyes and then stretches out in his chair a little more*

the_hermit: So how goes work? *and he says that like it's the other kind of four letter word*

onebehind: Right now? It's more of a clusterfuck than you guys would have been if that'd been for real. *or, well, if he hadn't been the one behind it and knew how that was going to end, for the most part. it was real, for them, for the stakes they were playing for, just ... yeah, you get the picture. anyway, he glances at Jack. mostly because he's working the same case that he brought home the first night he came to visit, so he knows what he's talking about* And honestly ... I don't think we're gonna get this guy. *he hates to say that. he genuinely wants to nail this guy to a wall just as much as he pretended to want the Horsemen's heads, but ... *

the_death_card: *catches that glance and makes a face* That sucks.

the_hermit: *looks between them, curiously, and...* Is there a Cliffnotes for this?

onebehind: I wish. *though, he could probably write something out for Merritt to look at, if he wanted. hell, that might help in general, because right now, it's just a bunch of files and reports and evidence records and thoughts in his head, and it's ... like a ball of string someone left in a drawer for years. it's knotted and messy and frustrating. and even as smart as he is, as smart as he really is beyond Agent Rhodes, it makes his head spin*

the_hermit: You've got *makes a show of counting* eight other eyes who haven't been staring at it for a month *or however long* if you did straighten it out.

onebehind: *it probably has been almost a month. Jesus. he shakes his head a little, then leans forward, shoulders tightening as he rests his elbows on his knees, one foot in character without realizing it* I'll get you a short version. We can talk about it the next time I'm around.

the_hermit: It's a date. *a beat* It'll give Daniel something to pick at besides the show.

onebehind: *snorts* You realize that's not gonna stop him entirely, right?

the_hermit: Pope, Catholic. *makes an "and so on" hand gesture*

onebehind: Just checking.

the_hermit: He put tickets back for you again, by the way, if someone hasn't already mentioned that. Or, well, for Agent Rhodes, if he wants to try and badge his way into the theater again.

onebehind: *and that gets a breath of a laugh out of him* We'll see how it ends up happening -- *though, he's pretty sure he'll be able to talk Evans into it, when that conversation happens* -- but I'll definitely be there. *he wouldn't miss it for the world*

the_hermit: We kinda figured. *grins*

onebehind: I'd ask if I was that obvious, but ... *again with the kids and first baseball game analogy he made in his head ages ago and during another conversation*

the_hermit: *shoots him a kind of "think about who you're talking to" look, and, more casually* Daniel might actually cry if you didn't.

onebehind: *yeah, which is why he didn't* Too bad you're gonna have to miss that.

the_hermit: Him and this one *jerks a thumb at Jack, who blinks at him* are like puppies when they get upset. *you end up feeling worse for making them upset. not that he doesn't also live on pulling Daniel's chain, but there's a line between wet, offended cat and kicked puppy*

the_highpriestess: I'd say he was wrong, but ...

the_highpriestess: *a beat* Sorry, Jack.

the_death_card: *starts to respond and then just looks confused* I'm actually not sure if I should be offended or not.

onebehind: *laughs a little* Well, like I said, I'll be there, so ... *he can avoid looking like a kicked puppy*

the_hermit: Glad to hear it. *and as dryly as that comes across, and as much as it's meant to be a reference about not kicking puppies, he really is*

onebehind: *he gets that, despite his best efforts, and offers him a warm smile in return, stretching out in his chair again*

the_hermit: *just shakes his head faintly, looking amused, and stretches out a little himself*

the_highpriestess: *after a moment, decisively* Buttons. *since they seem to have hit that point again. not that she's complaining. the pause is comfortable, not awkward, after all*

the_death_card: *chuckles* Yeah.

the_highpriestess: Not that that's a bad thing. *since not everyone's Merritt or Dylan*

the_death_card: *he gets it anyway* Yeah, no, it's not. It's kinda nice to... *to just chill, with most of the group here, especially considering how busy Dylan usually is and how busy they're about to get, once the shows are actually going*

onebehind: Just hang out, yeah. *it's more than kind of nice. he treasures these moments that he's able to steal with the Horsemen*

the_death_card: *and nods, smiling* Yeah.

onebehind: *is silent for a long moment and then* I ... might be able to get away with staying the night. Not that this is gonna become a thing -- *not yet, but again, he's working on that* -- but if anyone asks, I could tell them I went home with a girl or something after spending the night in a bar. *he'd be lying if he said that hasn't happened. he's done a lot of one-night stands, since he's never really felt comfortable being with someone long term, all things considered. and he's done a lot of those while drunk or at least with a few drinks in him*
onebehind: *not that he's particularly proud of that. it's just a fact*

the_hermit: Well, you went home, and there's a girl. *nods to Henley. he's not judging, because he doesn't have a lot of room to judge*

the_death_card: *snorts. he might be a little, but why he would be doesn't actually have anything to do with Dylan, and he's feeling too fluffy right now to think about it more than vaguely anyway - and he's not gonna tell him not to stay, though...* We're all just gonna end up falling asleep. *if he needs to save that excuse for when there's actually something going on*

onebehind: Yeah, true. *it might be a good idea to save the excuse, but at the same time, he doesn't want to go. makes a face*

the_highpriestess: Save it for after one of the shows when we're all too pumped up to sleep, anyway.

the_hermit: Not that we're in a hurry to run you off. *knows Dylan probably got that much, but just in case*

onebehind: *he nods* Yeah, I get it. *it's probably a good idea, anyway. better to save his excuse for a time when they're all here, awake and alert, or for when they need him or something*

the_hermit: *does the acknowledging head tilt again. just making sure*

the_death_card: *yawns, abruptly* Ugh. Speaking of.

onebehind: *nods once, faintly, himself -- he appreciates that -- and then glances to Jack* Speaking of, I should probably let you guys crash. *and, really, he should head back to his apartment and sleep, himself*

the_death_card: *makes a face - did they mention the puppy thing? though it's more a five-year-old thing at this point, considering the not wanting to go to bed*

the_hermit: Or we'll all fall asleep on the couches. Which is a lot more fun when you do it on purpose.

onebehind: *teasing* If you're his age, sure. *gestures to Jack* Of course, that might've been the fight talking, too. *since the last time he fell asleep on the couch was after their spar. but at any rate, that said, he breathes out a little sigh and starts to get to his feet*

the_hermit: True. But you can mitigate the damage if you do it on purpose. *grins, though it fades when Dylan gets up*

onebehind: Can't argue that one. *he grins back, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. has he mentioned he doesn't want to go? another soft sigh follows and then he moves the kitchen to gather his stuff like he's marching off to a death by firing squad. and once he's got everything picked up ... * I'll see you guys in a couple of days.

the_death_card: *considers getting up, to proverbially walk him out, but just turns a little to watch him instead, and....* Goodnight, Jacob.

onebehind: *wouldn't have said no, if he had, but doesn't fault him for not getting up, either. rather than articulate that, however, he just flashes him a smile* Night, Jack. *a beat* Night, guys.

the_highpriestess: *smiles a little, too* Night, Jacob.

the_hermit: *smiles, too. again with them making him sentimental against his will* See you later.

onebehind: *takes one last, long look at each of them and then turns to head out*

the_death_card: *sits back, once he's gone, and scrubs both hands over his face. is tired, and has he mentioned there has to be a way for this not to be an issue?*

the_hermit: *and not that he doesn't get that second part, but....* Go to bed, Jack.

the_death_card: *drops his hands back to his lap* I will. *at some point*

the_highpriestess: *she gets that, too -- the wishing there was a way for this not to be an issue -- but, like Merritt, she also gets that Jack looks tired* You look exhausted. And I don't think either of us are going to stay up much longer, either, so ... *or, well, she knows she's not, at least. she's going to check on Danny and then go sleep*

the_hermit: *neither is he*

the_death_card: *sighs and then pushes himself up* Yeah, okay.

the_highpriestess: *gets up, too, touches a hand to his shoulder briefly, and then moves for the stairs* Night, all.

the_hermit: *waves a hand at them* I'll be right behind you kids.

the_death_card: *follows her toward the stairs* Night.

the_highpriestess: *and that said and done, she slips into Daniel's room ... and doesn't come out again*

the_death_card: *notices this and shakes his head, amused but really not at all surprised as he heads for his room, nudging his door mostly closed behind him*

the_hermit: *takes a moment to cast around the living room to see if there's anything that needs put up before he pushes himself up, too, wandering over to the door to make sure it's locked before he heads for the stairs and his own room*