Two Dragons

[Black Philip]

Reserved

A full two months had passed since the end of Lazarus's trial and Jake and Sabrina were just now returning to the subject of the ring. Jake had been busy running for reelection, running his district, and dating Murphy. Any other free time he had was consumed by Sam, and Lisa-Joe, with Luke popping in every so often. If not for a recent dream where he'd been wearing the ring he might've let it slip out of his mind for many more months. But he had dreamed of it, and felt like he needed answers. It was the last piece of Lazarus he had left, and wondered if understanding it would help him understand the man who'd worn it. He'd called Tansy, who he told he wanted to get to know better during their surprisingly long phone call, and set up an appointment to see the South's district leader. He'd debated just stopping by on odd nights to have dinner, or in his case drinks, or a laugh, but they'd both been so busy it hadn't been in the cards. He also felt like he was a mooch on Sabrina, his last two times seeing her being official business.

As his limo dropped him off in front of the Parlor, he made a promise to drop by sometime just for merriment. He thought it might do him and Sabrina some good to relax. However, tonight was a working visit, and he hoped their might be time to discuss district affairs. Sabrina was now his equal in that regard, and while he had formal arrangements with the Sacrament, he hadn't formalized anything with Sabrina. He knocked on the door.

He'd dressed in jean shorts and chucks, with a unicorn shirt on top and had his hair drooping over his right eye. On his shoulder was his katana. Since Zues's visit he'd been carrying it anytime he left the district. Even here, the safest place in the city, he still wondered if a shadow demon, or that monster Brael, lurked inside one of Sabrina's tea cups. He'd wait to be let in, and assumed Tansy would be waiting at the front desk.

[Harlequin]

The doors, as ever, swung open of their own accord at his approach. As he entered, Tansy waved enthusiastically from the front desk. Her ancient pug dog, Beebs, rested in an opulent pink bed on the marble counter. “Hey Jake!” Tansy called. Her riotous curled were pulled into twin buns in either side of her head,and her eyes were wreathed in emerald glitter.

 “Snazzy shirt! Sabs is in the study, big door’s all set up at the top of the stairs.” She eyed the sword dubiously, and seemed about to say something before she shrugged. The wards hadn’t kept him out, so it was probably fine. If Sabrina had an issue, she could tell him herself.

[Black Philip]

Jake smiled at Tansy's greeting, and walked up to her at the desk. He laughed at her compliment, and pointed her to her hair.

"Nice buns," he returned, winking at his silly double entendre, and felt a sense of warmth between them that was new. He didn't catch the look at his sword, and followed her instructions to the study. Upon entering he stacked the blade up against the wall and moved to greet Sabrina. He wasn't sure what he'd find inside the study, the Parlor's changing nature still confusing him after all these years.

[Harlequin]

Smiling prettily, Tansy made of show of primping herself, sweeping imaginary curls off her shoulders before Jake made his way up the stairs.

He would find the study as he had each time he'd been there before: A large, windowless room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a lovely mahogany desk and twin green velvet armchairs. . Sabrina sat in one of these, with her back to the ash-filled fireplace. She rose and broke into a smile as Jake entered and moved to embrace him, "Jake, how lovely to see you." The only new addition was a framed photo on the desk, facing toward the leather seat behind it.

The ring lay on a bed of cotton in a small carved wooden box on the desk, atop the journal pages Ben had sent along a week or so previous.

[Black Philip]

Jake moved  to embrace Sabrina, and felt an immediate warmth at being in her presence.  He made note of the ring's position, but made no direct move to examine it. That would come in time. Jake was in a much better mood than the last time they'd been alone in this room. He was well fed, smiling and seemed like he was less burdened by his life. He noticed it in himself too, and spared a thought for Murphy as it's likely cause. He noticed the addition of the picture frame and wondered who exactly Sabrina felt she needed to see on a daily basis. He decided to ask her when time allowed. Once the embrace was finished, Jake moved to grab a chair.

"Thanks for having me over Sabs," he greeted. "You look like you've recovered from the trial."

It had been a good amount of time, but Jake still feared Lazarus had somehow harmed the witch. He also knew Sabrina was hunting some other magic user, and was happy to see that it hadn't soured her. He finally gave the ring a hard look, and for the briefest of moments he heard the laugh of a certain blonde. He moved his eyes back to Sabrina. 

[Harlequin]

“When you wear rubber dresses, you always bounce back,” Sabrina grinned widely, showing a flash of the sharp teeth at the back of her jaw; teeth meant for gripping and tearing, “I believe your friend Lisa-Joe knows a thing or two about that.”

Not that she was wearing rubber now, nor ever really, these days. But it was good line, nonetheless. Today she was rested in an emerald green jersey dress with draped sleeves, effortless and oddly luxurious. The rune-carved python skull necklace she’d taken to wearing lay just below the hollow of her throat, held by delicate bronze chains.

And, in direct contrast to her words, four distinct lines of bruising were dashed across her throat and chest in shades of sickly black and green. These clearly were not from the conflict the Lazarus, and the hollow-eyed pallor that had been there when he’d last seen her was long gone. Something else had happened to her, in the interim.

“I’m glad to see you’re looking well, as well.” The last time they’d met, he had been walking a path to oblivion. She was genuinely glad he’d reconsidered. She didn’t miss the look at the ring, and her ghost-pale eyes sparkled, “Would you like to get down to business?”

[Black Philip]

Jake heard her line about bouncing back, but saw the marks on her throat. His face turned into an inquisitive pout. What was going on with her lately? He thought of Sabrina as immortal, a being beyond the other big movers and shakers. He thought even Charon was weak compared to Sabrina, but he supposed that was wishful thinking. He wanted an immortal all powerful mother, but Sabrina had limits. It was a sobering fact for him.

"Before we do, I don't mean to overstep, but what happened to you? Do you need any help?"

His tone was concerned, and his eyes bled sincerity. He wouldn't force her to talk about whatever happened, but he wanted her to know she could. He would listen, and if need be get into trouble for her.

[Harlequin]

As if just remembering they were there, Sabrina raised a hand to the bruises at her throat, brushing her fingertips and long nails across them. “Ah,” she said, then huffed a breath through her nose and clicked the fang pierced through her tongue sharply against the back of her teeth.

“Our fellow district Leader, Zeus, summoned something he shouldn’t have at some point, sealed it up and left the mess behind for someone else to clean up.” Annoyance coated the words like motor oil, “I’m a little upset he didn’t tell me it was there, though frankly I’m astounded him and his cadre of sorcerers survived long enough to contain it.” This, perhaps, spoke to the caliber of thing she’d fought, “I killed it, but I’ll need to pay him a visit soon to air these grievances.”

[Black Philip]

Jake frowned prominently when Sabrina brought up Zeus. His own distasteful encounter with the shadow demon was still fresh, and he grew even angrier that the bastard might've hurt Sabrina. It seemed indirect, but nevertheless, it was more collateral damage from the least responsible district leader. He didn't like the idea of Sabrina going to see Zeus. He had power that was truly frightening.

"Force him to come here," he advised, pointing to the parlor's walls. "It's safer. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeves. He recently broke into my home and threatened me. I had no way to counter him expect to agree to everything he wanted of me."

Jake was leaving out quite a bit, but not in a deceitful way. He'd answer any questions about Zeus that Sabrina had. "I know I don't need to tell you, but be careful with him. He's dangerous and arrogant."

Jake didn't see the irony of calling another leader arrogant.

[Harlequin]

Sabrina blinked, taken aback. Break into the Rabbit? That was...what was Tansy’s word? Ballsy. She’d heard Jake had been beefing up his own security; perhaps this was why. She didn’t know that she liked the idea of Zeus being in the Parlor any more than the idea of her going to that horrible compound in the hill, but she’d take Jake’s advice under consideration. She said as much.

“Thank you for your advice, Jake. That concrete monstrosity he’s built over there is nothing to fool around with. I can’t imagine there’s not an army in there, or something like it.”

She canted her head to one side, “What sort of tricks, if I may ask?”

Forewarned, as always, was forearmed.

[Black Philip]

Jake nodded when Sabrina proposed Zeus was likely building up an army. He wasn't too sure on that point, but it matched his general intel. The Nosferatu had reported large numbers of demons entering the west and heading towards the Block. He decided to share his true thoughts.

"I think he'll move on the other districts eventually," he added. "He threatened to kill any Anarchs who were in the west and implied he had the numbers to wipe us out. He was never present as an Oligarch and has only now just returned. He acted like he'd never left and told me he was just an email away."

Jake looked at Sabrina like the claim was ridiculous. When the Oligarchy fell and the districts were created Zeus was nowhere to be seen. It made sense he was off gathering power. Sabrina then asked about Zeus's tricks, and Jake took a moment to think. The whole meeting had felt like an out of body experience, but as he moved the cobwebs away he saw the thing that had startled him the most.

"Other than somehow sneaking past security, cameras, and a full bar of patrons; I'm not sure what power he has. I wish I had something of more value to tell you." Jake thought to mention that the lights went out, but the bulb could've just burst. He had no way of knowing what Zeus was capable off, or what had caused that blackout. He wouldn't mention it.

[Harlequin]

Sabrina shrugged and smiled with half her mouth, “Don’t worry about it,” she said, “I’ll meet him soon enough, one way or the other.” She tapped the side of her nose with on finger, “I’ll smell him out. I am truly sorry that happened to you though. I’m glad you and Maria have taken steps to protect the Rabbit.”

Magic of that caliber didn’t get worked in this city without Sabrina knowing.

“Anything else you think I should know?” Zeus was a problem for later. For now: the ring.

[Black Philip]

Jake thought hard about the whole encounter. There was that other person Zues had brought, who'd so rudely derailed peace talks. Would he do a similar thing to Sabrina? Then again, there was likely nothing special about him, and since they'd never had a real conversation he didn't even know if the guy was important to Zeus in the long run or just an escort. He already felt like he'd over sold his knowledge, a product of enthusiasm and nervousness about his current position. The demon had promised Jake peace, but things were rarely as they seemed. He expected more from the demons, if not from Zues himself. There was nothing else that stood out, the shock of Zeus's transformation further adding to his difficulty remembering anything helpful.

"Not that I can think off," he said defeated, smiling apologetically, but managing to look really cute doing it. His eyes drifted to the ring once more, and his smile became more curious. "Is it strange I've been looking forward to this? I find this stuff so interesting."

[Harlequin]

Sabrina returned Jake's apologetic smile with a pat on the knee. He'd given her plenty.

A laugh escaped her at the question, "If that's strange, I certainly have no interest in being normal."

She picked up one corner of Halen's journal, sliding the box with the ring off of it gently onto the desktop. After opening to the relevant notes, she handed it over to Jake. He'd find checkmarks in red ink beside the section on Resistance magic, Fire protection, and Breath of Fire.

 "I've been able to verify the less dangerous of those things, leading me to believe the rest should be true. Dragon blood is nearly impossible to come by, but Tansy was kind enough to donate a good deal of hers. She's been the one doing most of the experimenting, in fact. My own magic makes it relatively inert, unfortunately."

[Black Philip]

Jake didn't want to be normal either, and was happy to be some kind of strange with Sabrina. He accepted the page from Halen's journal. He read as Sabrina talked, and she'd see his boyish eyes go wide with wonder. This ring was so much more than just something that blocks mental powers. Lazarus never really knew what he had, or how he'd made sure it would never work for him. He was happy he'd ended up sparing the ancient after all. If he'd killed Lazarus, then he'd never be able to use the ring. He stopped himself mid thought, and had to acknowledge that he'd secretly been hoping the ring would have more to it than what Lazarus had shown, and more importantly, that he wanted it. When he got to the part about it possibly stopping sunlight, his face was practically beaming.

He looked up at Sabrina, who would see a kid who was finally tall enough to ride the roller coaster, and gave her an incredulous grin.

"I had no idea there was this much to it," he began. "What I wouldn't give to see the sunrise again." He laughed, and then remembered Sabrina said Tansy had done much of the testing and it made him wonder how close those two were.

"Seems like Tansy is being given more responsibility lately.," Jake observed. "The last time I was here you were fighting her over plastic chairs. Is she like... your apprentice?" 

Jake had always liked Tansy, but had never considered her a witch in her own right. Perhaps Sabrina decided it was time to move her along. He thought of Sam and their training together.