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[longlegs]

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[longlegs]

[ Both hands cupping his face, Cellar presses a kiss to his lips. ]

I love you, Teddie. If that asshole tries coming from me — he's the one who's gonna be really fucking scared. Besides, even if he could do anything, Raíz would just bring me back, and then I'd get to kick his ass all over again.

[ … pause. Raíz brings back her agents. She also does something else. ]

… Did I ever tell you about Angry Koala?

[chokedout]

[There's small comfort in that - he wants to believe Raíz would come and not be blocked somehow. Wouldn't it be nice if she kept Cellar safe in ways he couldn't, until Cellar beat the shit out of Wil? But what do two immortals do in a battle with one another like that? He sighs, but doesn't drown in his thoughts because:]

... Angry Koala?

[longlegs]

Yeah. [ She props herself up on one elbow, on her side. ] It's like… a story, it happened a super long time ago, but it's about one of Raíz's guys. Apparently he got in a fight with another agent and ended up killing him. Or her. [ Shaking her head softly, ] When Raíz found out, she brought the dead agent back and — punished Angry Koala. By making him disappear. Like, she didn't just kill him, he was just, [ she snaps her fingers, ] Gone. Forever. That's what happens to anyone who kills one of us. Even if the killer is one of us.

[ Then she arches her eyebrows. ]

So if Wil does anything to me, he's gone. For sure.

[chokedout]

You think?

[Theo wants to say something else - pick at the edges of the story. What's made gone like that can always reappear, when people with that much power have such astounding abilities. Who's to say that Angry Koala, folklore or not, won't reappear one day if Raíz decides it's time? Similarly, imprisoning Wil any which way would lead Theo to think the same fearful thoughts. He would need it to be undoubtedly permanent. But he smiles, trying to believe:]

I do think it'd be fun to watch him get his ass kicked.

[longlegs]

Yeah, it would be.

[ She's never seen his face, but she's sure she'd hate it the moment he showed up. If he ever showed up. Hopefully something that will never happen — they've got enough to worry about. ]

[chokedout]

Have I told you lately that I love you?

[Because here he is, reaffirming.]

So much for our Valentine's date too, huh?

[longlegs]

We can still have our date. [ Brushing his hair, leaning in to kiss him. She puts her hand over his chest to project a shadow, slowly moving to create a little heart-shaped construct that she can deposit in his hand. Except... nothing happens. Even when she tries again. ]

... Uh.

[chokedout]

Uh?

[He looks down, looks up - waiting.]

[longlegs]

My shadows, I can't... [ She tries to do other things with any projected shadow she spots on or around them. ] They aren't doing anything.

[ Looking back at him, renewed alarm in her eyes, ]

Did they take everyone's powers?

[chokedout]

How is that even possible?

[Sitting up, reaching for her - pulling to do the same, looking at her hands as he cradles them.]

Nothing? Does it just feel... empty, too?

[longlegs]

It just feels like … [ Worry and frustration quickly building up— ] I don't know! I've never not been able to use my powers. That's not supposed to be possible. Raíz wouldn't just let that happen. [ The shift in her expression suggests the thought that immediately follows: would she? ] What the fuck is going on?

[chokedout]

There's got to be something going on.

[He squeezes her hands.]

My magic went out like a candle. Candles don't go out unless something blows them out. Something's gotta be going on.

[longlegs]

And it's messing with Raíz's powers?

[ It's like one of her pillars of reality is showing cracks. ]

It's not like your magic, or... I don't think it is?

[chokedout]

[He isn't offended by the implied lack of comparison, though he does think magic in any sense is as weighted as any other ability.]

I mean, the library's alive. We're not just talking small fries here. Maybe Raíz has competition? Or she's in on the gag.

[longlegs]

No, she... [ Yes, she would. Maybe. ] I.

[ Opening her mouth. Closing her mouth. ]

Fuck, I hate this.

[chokedout]

We- We can investigate? There's gotta be some reason. Easy peasy kinda thing?

[He says, heart hammering silently in his chest.]

We'll figure it out together. Yeah?

🎀

[longlegs]

[ Quietly, she nods. He's anxious, she's anxious, stuck in the exact same situation for ... the first time, she thinks. Everything this place does always seems to happen to them differently. ]

Yeah. Together.