(duplicity) ic contact

[demonicmiracle]

Hey, it's Anthony Crowley. You know what to do, do it with style.

Comments

[demonicmiracle]

We're acquainted.
What's he done?

[That could equally be phrased as "what have you done?" but he won't put Jon on the defensive right out of the gate.]

cw: mention of child death, suffocation

[compellingstatement]

He's taken possession of a cursed book I went to go fetch.
He was apparently called, as well, to examine it.
A little girl is dead, suffocated after reading the book.
It's called The Elephant in the Room.
It needs to be dealt with.
And I don't trust Nick to handle it appropriately.

[demonicmiracle]

[Well. Fuck.

For all that he doesn't want to get tangled up in any more drama, this isn't the kind of thing he can ignore.]

I'll see what I can do, Nick wants something from me, could be worth a trade
What is it with you and witches, archivist?

[compellingstatement]

A black cat crossed my path when I was a small child.
I've never recovered.

[demonicmiracle]

Well that answers a lot of questions I've had about you

[compellingstatement]

Quite.
I think he said he'd be keeping it in his office.
Probably in the Gray Room.
He claimed to have more dangerous books.
I'd at least like to get the one he picked up recently d͉̟e͠ș̬̥͍t̥ ̡̮̼d̫̪͟ȩ̰͔̖͙͈̞s ̳̻̮̝̘͈d̰͚ ̨̟̠̯d̥ ͕̟̘͈̦d̢͙̩͖̝͎̞

dealt with

[demonicmiracle]

I'll talk to him first, can't say I'm interested in making enemies here

[Also he does like Nick, but he's a teenager, and they don't always make smart life choices.]

You alright over there?

[compellingstatement]

Thank you.

I'm supposed to collect knowledge.
Tangible or otherwise.
The Beholding doesn't like it when I suggest getting rid of it.

[demonicmiracle]

Right, obviously.
Is this book from your world, then?

[compellingstatement]

No.
Maybe?
I'm not sure.
It's something similar to books I've seen from my world.
If I could get a look at the inside cover...
There was a man, a fool of a man who went about collecting all the cursed books from the Powers into one enormous library, testing out their powers on his assistants, killing and disappearing them without a thought in his quest to understand them.
He collected almost a thousand cursed books, fancying himself the librarian, a man who would watch over and balance everything.
He was a vain old idiot.
And his hubris led to an attack on the library by multiple Powers all at once.
They stole the books, flung them across the world again for the unsuspecting to find.
If you manage to get the book check for one name:
Jurgen Leitner.
That would be from my world.

[demonicmiracle]

There are such lovely people your world
I'm not making any promises, here, but we'll see what can be done

[compellingstatement]

Most of the people I know are horrible.
It's not a representative sample.

Please let me know what you can manage.
I'll stay out of it otherwise.

[For now.]

[demonicmiracle]

You'll be kept in the loop, don't worry

[compellingstatement]

[HE IS INCAPABLE OF NOT WORRYING. At least when he's not wearing that green charm. But Jon leaves it there for now.]

Thank you.

a day later

[demonicmiracle]

It isn't one of Leitner's

And it's somewhere safe for now. I'll be keeping an eye on it

[compellingstatement]

[The first comment is a relief. The second...]

You took it from him, then?

[This might be a legitimately good time to lie, Crowley.]

[demonicmiracle]

[This part is something he's been weighing up since deciding not to take the book from Nick. Lying seems like the best bet, so long as Jon doesn't happen to Know that it's a lie.]

Yes. It's my responsibility now

[At least part of that is true, he'll absolutely take responsibility if someone else is hurt.]

[compellingstatement]

[Thank god. Or Crowley, really. Jon lets himself sag as the tension leaves him.]

Thank you. That's a relief.

[demonicmiracle]

Don't mention it, I'm not big on anything that hurts kids

[@ god]

[compellingstatement]

I'll keep that in mind.
If there's anything I can do to repay you...?

[demonicmiracle]

Nah, you don't owe me for this sort of thing

[Also, he's fucking lying about what he's done, anyway, even if it's for the right reasons. Crowley is fairly confident the book will be kept safe, and this way Jon doesn't need to worry.]

[compellingstatement]

All right.

[He's going to do something for the other man, anyway. Maybe a few gifts. Anonymous ones.]

I'll talk to you later, then.