callmeles | Of Wishes and New Friends (for Zayne)

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Of Wishes and New Friends (for Zayne)

Piper liked Seattle. It was a place they'd never come to and so most of her memories were of her childhood with her Mom, Dad, and sister. Those memories in of themselves were a bit mixed up but they were easier to deal with than places she'd otherwise escape to. A ton had changed (cost of living and the growth of the city) and at the same time, a lot hadn't changed (the weather and the people).

She had heard through a radio advertisement that a magician was coming to town for a few nights. They had warned that his show was so popular that it sold out very quickly in other cities and you should act quick if you wanted to catch one.

Any other night and she'd have rolled her eyes and not bothered. Something that she wasn't going to put a name to urged her to look him up and read what he was about. His name was Zayne and apparently, his act was unique. Unique enough where there were YouTube videos upon YouTube videos attempting to debunk his performance or somehow recreate it. She had to admit, the man was very attractive and seemed very charming.

Huh.

Well, this she had to see. And, if there was something magical about him, perhaps ask him a couple of questions if it was even possible.

Over the last year or year and a half, since then, she had searched for any possible way of bringing Jordan back. She'd always tell Jordan that if she somehow died on her, she'd find some way of bringing her scrawny ass back.

So far, she hadn't had any luck.

Deep down, she knew it was a worthless task but she had to try everything she could think of.

So she bought a ticket, somewhere close to the stage for a stupid exorbitant amount of money (because it was Seattle and everything is stupidly inflated). When the evening arrived, she got dressed in a nice outfit (a little black number) and made her way to the theater. Since being in town, she hadn't really gone to shows but this was an exception.

She found her seat and settled in. Piper listened to the chattering, to the squealing of teenage girls (and women) around her and others who were determined to find some way of debunking him.

Well, this was going to be an entertaining evening. Even if she came away no closer to an answer, she'd was sure the show would be worth it.

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He considers that. All of it. Not just who had done the deed and why, but how she said that about why they had been targeted.

"A force of good," he says, nodding even though his nose wrinkles. "Maybe I should be concerned. Being anything but good, of course," he adds, but he knows he's not on the level with those she's seeking. Not in that he might not be good but he's not evil either.

"How long have you been in town? I only ask because a demon tried to gain entry a few nights ago and my people turned them away. Now you're here and I have to wonder if the two things are related." He is warning her, and giving her more information than he had to but he was definitely trying to help.

"I can try and find out what I can about them and fashion your charm and then we could meet again?"

Piper considered him for a long moment before finishing off her glass of champagne and setting it down. "Hence the term 'was supposed to be'," she said with a snort. "It's only been a year and much to my ancestor's consternation, I've become increasingly grey. I'm not their precious 'chosen one' nor am I ready to root for the same bastards who killed my family. So. I'm on Team Me right now." After she said it, she rolled her eyes to herself. "Which sounds really childish, I realize."

"I've been in Seattle for the last six months, keeping primarily to myself...," she started to say and brought a hand up to rub at her temples. "You're probably right. It's been my theory they're anticipating an easy kill now that Jordan's gone. I appreciate the warning, thank you."

She'd known it was dangerous, she didn't want to pull others necessarily into her life drama. Piper was just going to make a fashionable excuse to go so she didn't bring more trouble on his head when he offered that.

"Would you? I would appreciate that... how long are you all staying in town? Where are you set to go next?" She hadn't really looked at his tour schedule to see where he went after Seattle, only that he was here now and she had the night free. The fact that he was offering this was a surprise.

"Not at all. It sounds smart, and certainly how I live my life. You were born for you, not for some family thing or to follow in the wanted footsteps of others. You have to put you first, no matter what. So it's not childish, it's the words of a survivor that won't follow others blindly. Seems that of a smart woman to me."

And he knew it was how he did things. He supports himself first and foremost because it won't do him any good to die for others. That and he's a selfish bastard.

"Now they may not be here for you but the truth is, I don't want to take that chance with you even if they might just be here for your standard seeking out the djinn kind of thing."

He rolls his eyes at that. "Sadly all manner of beings seek me out given how few there are and the legends and stories about us. But it's certainly possible it could be for you and not me."

He nods at her, smiling softly. "Of course. Us unique ones need to stick together." And it's more that he's curious about her now and doesn't want her wandering off. Or worse, dead.

"I have three more nights here and then a week break. I tend to do a week and then a break. Easier to set up once for several shows than that dreaded different city a night thing that bands do. Why even would you do that to yourself?"

"If my ancestors had their way, we'd have been taken from a young age and "trained". But they are a bit old-fashioned for being 500 years old," Piper remarked with a roll of her eyes.

It settled something deep in her mind that she wasn't purely being selfish for putting herself and her goals first.

Was it a healthy coping mechanism? Probably not. But, at least she wasn't drowning herself in a bottle of whiskey every night or snorting a bunch of cocaine. Not that either would do very well in her system.

Her mouth quirked up at the mention of unique ones and nodded. "I suppose so," she agreed. "Either way, I will be doubly on my guard knowing someone has been sniffing around." She'd have to double and triple check her wards back home too, just in case.

She snorted in amusement. "It sounds exhausting to go to a different city a night," she agreed. "Though, when I was younger, the prospect would have been exciting. I imagine it loses its appeal very quickly."

"I can return tomorrow night or in a couple of nights before you leave. It doesn't even have to be here," she said, motioning to the room with her hand. "But somewhere else in Seattle or its surrounding area." She found the prospect promising. "What can I do for you then? Show up on occasion and be the ever fabulous assistant? I find that I have a talent for that."

"Ooooh training. The kind that means staying far away from others and not learning to think outside the box. I know of that sort of education." His people practiced it as well. He could imagine what they would think of what he's doing now and how he's using his magic.

He nods at that, glad to hear it. "Good. I'll keep up with what I can find."

He snorts at that, rolling his eyes. "You have no idea. I like travel but the setting up and tearing down, even if I don't do it, its annoying. Also makes it hard to guard things when it's obvious people are snooping around to find out my secrets. I have to keep actual stage magic props around just so anyone snooping doesn't realize the truth."

He needs no props but himself and the games he plays. But can't have people realizing that.

"Somewhere else in Seattle. So like a date?" Oh but he lights up at that. "And don't tempt me or you'll end up tour with me."

Piper laughed and nodded. "Exactly. Ensuring that we would be dedicated only to what we were destined to do for the rest of eternity." She rolled her eyes at her own words before shaking her head. "They're not thrilled with my new found path but I didn't care then and I care even less now."

"I wonder if there's a ward or charm to make people see what you want them to see or expect them to see," she mused, considering what he said about the tear down process. "Manipulative perhaps but," she shrugged. "Sometimes we need a way to keep our secrets."

She snorted with an amused grin. "If that's what you want to call it." She could imagine being on a true date with a man like him would be an experience. "As tempting as that is..." And it was tempting. But the guy didn't need her drama infiltrating his world.

"Wow, that sounds entirely fun," he says in flat, dead tones before making a face. "And they don't get why you aren't interested, do they?"

He can only imagine how unimpressed they're likely to be about what she's doing, or more than that, her there with him. "Do they tend to follow you about or did they give up on that?"

Not that he's paranoid but he can't help but to wonder about what they might think of her there, or him. Which actually amuses him more than it should.

"I have managed a handful of illusions but for them to hold and be physically there, they can't be touched or inspected. The moment they start pushing to look past it, they could end up seeing the truth. You think there might be another way?"

Because he's more than willing to try whatever she might know that could help him to keep his secrets and its looking like she might have an idea or two.

"Oh don't start that with me. It's more than tempting and you should think about it. What's stopping you?"

"The most fun," she said dryly before laughing. "They don't understand why I can't just do what they want me to do."

Piper considered the question for a moment, thinking over the last year or two if she's felt them around, and shook her head. "No, I think they've given up on that. I've also done my best to mask my power signature so perhaps that's working." But she knew, if they really wanted to find her, they had their ways.

She did have to wonder what they would think if they knew she was here with him. The thought endlessly amused her.

"There might be. It's something I will have to look into and experiment with," Piper considered for a moment, thinking about the implications and what exactly she would need for it to work. Not only would it be helpful to him but to her as well.

Piper watched him for a moment and tilted her head. "The last thing you need is any of my drama coming back to you."

"Well isn't that everyone's desire? To follow the rules no matter what they want?"

He rolls his eyes, the two of them both knowing that isn't how anyone wants things to be.

"Have you tried to find a way to change it? Like a full time cloaking? Can your kind do that? Might work better if someone not one of yours did it, because then it has no even connected energy lingering.

"Oh no. The first thing I need is more excitement, always. Drama is just excitement with emotions and I have no horse in the raise. So it's just excitement to me. I mean, if you wanted to." Then he pauses, adding with a wicked smile. "You never know. Being close to me regularly could bury your scent, as it were."

"It's almost as if they don't know our family line very well," she remarks with an amused look. "The family was once full of rebels but now they have the audacity to be shocked that I'm not stepping in line. That we didn't step in line. It really pissed them off when we got involved with vampires."

Her toe tapped on the floor as she considered the question of cloaking before shaking her head. "I've never come across something like that, yet. I'll have to look into it though."

Piper snorts at his wicked smile. "You raise an excellent point, with enough time it could. If you're serious... I'll have to think about that." There was the potential to learn a lot from him and she had to admit, it would be enjoyable being around him.

"Obviously they've worked hard to change things, and they expect you to change as well," he says, shaking his head and not at all impressed. "Sounds like it's time to show them who your ancestors were," he points out. Which sounds amusing and helpful to her at the same time.

"Look into it, and I can show you the means of it I know. Maybe we can test it against your magic to see."

"I am absolutely serious, so you should think about it. I think it could be a lot of fun for us both."

She nods in agreement and when he says she should remind them who her ancestors were, she hums in consideration. "I really like that idea," she says with a slow grin. Not only did it sound amusing as hell but for the first time in the last year, since she's been on this revenge mission, it sounds like something she would have happily done before.

Piper watches him for a moment, curious about how in the long term his magic and hers would blend. "I'll look into it tonight." Because did she really have anything better to do?

"It could be a lot of fun," she admits with a laugh. "Do you even have room for me on this tour?" She would get to travel to whatever city he's going to which would be enjoyable in of itself. And people did seem to get a kick out of their play earlier in the show.

It had been thrilling.

"I'll give it some thought," she confirms. Because she can't go into anything half-cocked. Not anymore. She didn't have an idea of how far her powers went now and she found herself desperately wanting to find out. While also sticking to her plan. "Since you're here for another few days, how about lunch in a couple of days? It'll give me time to look into what I have on my end on if I can come up with a charm that will make people see what you want them to see without it being broken for your tear-down process. And I'll have an answer for you."

"Not coming from someone that could definitely enjoy the company of a very powerful witch," he says, a bit of that mask of humanity and joviality dropping as he leans closer, resting his elbows on his knees. "But as someone that is very powerful and living the life he wants... Do what you want. Be who you want. They will never match you and they can't stop you and they only try and do it so you don't become as powerful as you can be and leave them behind. They get something from you and its time to ensure that no longer happens."

Is he sowing chaos? Definitely. Does he believe he's right? Absolutely.

He nods then, grinning at her.

"Okay so... I have a huge bus, lush and well appointed. I'm the only one that travels in it. You can come with me. If you don't like that? I'll get you your own," he offers with a grin. Just like that, offering to get her her own bus. Just so she goes along with him.

"Take all the time you want," he says. "Even if it's after I leave. If you choose to join me, I'll get you there with me. And lunch... sounds perfect. I'd love to. I'll even get up early for you," he offers with that same wolfish grin. "Let me know if there's anything you need if you choose to come with me. We can work it out, okay?"

It was interesting to be talking to someone who was very powerful like he was and who was simply, from what she can tell and from what he is saying, living the life he wants. "I like your pep talks," she says with a smile. It was inspiring and there was some truth there, she knew.

"You should know if I haven't said it already, that I have made it my mission to take everyone out involved in my cousin's death. So, if I come with you, there may be a day or three when I disappear," she says, watching him with a tilt of her head.

Did she think he'd care one way or the other? No, not really. But she still thought she'd put it out there so he knew.

She shakes her head with a laugh at the offer of getting her own bus. "I don't need my own bus. Unless I'm sleeping on a couch and then I may have to consider it."

Was she really considering this? Yeah, she was. It was a fascinating idea and she was intrigued by him.

"How about a late lunch then," she asks with a little smirk. "I know you'll have a long night ahead of you."

Piper nods in understanding. "I'll let you know. Right off, I would just need a space I can practice or brew in if the need arises."

"I think you're going to find my pep talks amazing. They encourage you to be yourself and screw whoever the law is you might have to deal with," he admits with a small smirk, definitely more than amused by where the night has gone. When he sensed her in the audience, he hadn't thought this was where things would end up going.

He actually perks at that. "Wait, do I get to help? Can I volunteer to help because I'm all for it."

He smiles, shaking his head. "There's two full size beds, basically either side of the bus, with a living room like area in the back and it's really nice. I promise. DO you see me traveling in any way that isn't comfortable and luxurious?"

That gets a nod from him. "A late lunch sounds perfect. You can come to the show again tomorrow too, if you'd like. I can get you a better view," he teases.

He considers that. "How much space would you need? We can definitely make it work though. Something permanent or just when you need it?"

Piper laughs, nodding in agreement. "That I can see happening," she says, both amused and thrilled that this is how the evening went. She had the gut feeling that knowing him and joining him on this adventure would change things.

Her eyebrows raise at this question, her smile widening. "I don't see why not if you really want to help out." Having a djinn on her side for this mission would no doubt help out. It was more than she'd ever expected, honestly.

"Well, no, I don't. In the short time I've known you, I can't imagine anything less. However, I might've expected one large king-size bed instead of two full," she can't help but tease him.

Piper tilts her head and considers what she had planned for the next night. "I didn't have anything planned for tomorrow night so I'd like to come and see it again. It'd be fun."

"Nothing permanent, just when I need it. A small amount of space. I've learned to shrink things down when I need to transport them easily and enlarge them again when I need them."

It clicked then that she was really, truly considering doing this. No, not considering it but actually doing< it.

"I absolutely mean it. You want help, whether you tour with me or not, and I'm in. At the very least keeping whatever witchy fuzz is on your cute ass from giving you hell. I'm amazing at distractions," he teases, waving one hand and a waft of purple smoke slithered between them like a snake.

"Tomorrow it is then,' he says with a smile. "You can check out the bus, we can have a marvelous lunch there, and you can explore things and see what you think. Completely no strings attached. You're not in? Cool. You can still visit and ring me up when you need back up. But if you love it... we'll make things official," he says, looking impish.

"You know, blood contracts and all. That's okay with you?"

He can't even keep a straight face as he says it.

"I appreciate whatever help you're able to give, Zayne. Tour or not," she says, seriously then grins at his mention of her cute ass. "I would be more surprised if you said you weren't good at distractions. That said, glad you think my ass is cute." She watches the purple smoke slither around them and reaches out to see if she can touch it.

She nods in agreement. "Sounds good," she says before raising her gaze to his with a laugh when he tries to talk about blood contracts.

"Hm, what about charmed friendship bracelets," Piper asks with an amused smirk.

"Will I have to worry about any obsessive fan club members getting jealous that I'm close to their "true love"?" She remembered being a teenaged girl!

"You have it then," he says, and there's a seriousness to it, a wisp of smoke to his words in a promise in that moment. "My help in what you need for your own great escape, as it were. There's a lot I can understand in not wanting to play by the rules of others."

And for him it's a lot of that. He wants to try and do what he can so she can live the life she wants, just as he does.

He laughs at that though, trying to give her an innocent look.

"What? Me? Do you really want to know about how expansive my fanclub is? Or how obsessive they can be? It might be bad, yeah."

Piper nods in agreement and understanding. "I appreciate it more than you know. Once upon a time, we thought we had to do it all ourselves and know everything ourselves - be the Enchanted. And now that she's gone... it's good to know that I have more people who can back me up. Especially when I plan to take every bastard and bitch down for this and I don't plan to play by anyone else's rules or expectations."

She clears her throat and takes a drink from her water. It's more than she's shared with anyone else that she's known for less than a minute but considering all that they've shared tonight, it's perhaps unsurprising.

"I did look you up and sat in that crowd tonight. I'm sure if I could have died from the jealousy and death stares, I would have," she remarks dryly with a laugh.

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Of Wishes and New Friends (for Zayne)

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