Dire Warnings (Marcia, Jorus)

[MARCIA LYNN SAGEBRUSH]

It was a slow morning considering it was one of Marcias very few days off. She woke up late, around 9:00am and didn't eat breakfast until 10:00. She had just finished an easy meal of eggs and bacon when she was deciding what to do next. She could go see a film at the muggle theater around the corner, or she could try and meet some friends at the wizarding bar in downtown New York. Brooklyn didn't have that many wizards and witches around, which was nice for Marcia sometimes and incredibly boring for others. She finally decided on a nice day at home with herself, some books and a whole lot of nothing. The thought made her smile broadly as she made her way to relax on the couch.

When Marcia heard a knock on the door she assumed it was somebody from the office asking her to come in anyway. She sighed and pulled a ribbon off a nearby table, looping her hair into a ponytail, as she always did for work, and approached the door. Before reaching it, however, she made sure to throw on a long sleeved jacket, she hadn't properly applied her cover up for her arm. Being so confident in her ability to guess who was knocking, she didn't even bother looking through the hole. She opened the door with a long sigh and looked up.

Time froze, for a moment. She let her eyebrows slowly rise, her eyes widen, and her jaw drop before she spoke. "What the hell?" she shut the door quickly before he could say anything and flipped around so her back was against it. She placed a hand over her heart as it pounded. What was he doing here? How long had it been? Almost 10 years? She took a deep breath. Then another. Then another. He could wait. Then she turned around and looked through the peephole. That was him all right. That was Cain. She steadied herself, replaced her look of panic with a large, fake smile and turned the knob, opening the door once again.

"How can I help you, Cain?" she tried to sound casual, but knew that her hair was giving it away. It was no doubt dancing with green flames as she spoke. And to make it all worse, she looked down at her left hand, hanging by her side, and saw the silver. She hadn't grabbed a glove.

[MARCIA LYNN SAGEBRUSH]

Cain positioned himself oddly and checked over his shoulder. He must have been trying to cover up her exposed hand. That was... nice of him. She didn't want to think of him as nice. She wasn't expecting to think of him as anything. She didn't expect to see him as anything right now. She sighed and took a step back, pushing the door open even more. "Come in, Cain." She said softly.

The way he was speaking it seemed like she was in some kind of danger. "If you value your life, we need to talk. Now." He said. She was in danger every day because of her job, it wasn't surprising that her life was at stake. But why would Cain come all the way here to tell her that? It had to be something specific, someone specific. Marcia shut the door behind Cain and pulled the ribbon out of her hair, "So? What's so important?" she asked him as she threw the ribbon back on the table in her front room. She also shrugged off her jacket and tossed it on the couch. Cain had seen her real arm before, may as well not worry about it.

It was almost reassuring having Cain here in her little house. It was almost... familiar. She didn't have this house when they were both stationed in America, but it still felt right that he be there. These nine years Marcia hadn't really brought herself to be in another serious relationship. It was partly because she knew deep down she still loved Cain, but for the most part it was because she let her work take over her life. She became obsessed with finding out more about her parents and the dark wizards they worked with, the more she found out the more of a recluse she became. Thus, the dating opportunities decreased.

[MARCIA LYNN SAGEBRUSH]

She simply nodded when he promised the conversation would be worth her time. As she removed her jacket and ribbon, she glanced at Cain only to turn away quickly. Had he been staring at her? Granted, her hair was easily distracting as was her silver arm. The reflections of the emerald frames bouncing back into Marcis face irritated her, reminding her that neither her hair nor arm were of her own free will and choice.

As he took a deep breath so did she, taking the moment to calm herself a little before he made it clear what was so urgent. What was threatening her life. "No news from you would be good news, no offense." She spoke honestly, as she always had. It was easier and much more safe than lying. Especially to Cain, who probably would have been able to see right through a lie or a moment of pretending to be okay with his visit. She sat on the chair across from his, tossing her hair over one shoulder in order to fiddle with it as he spoke. It was easier than focusing all of her attention on Cain, sitting so near her and looking so torn. She kept his gaze as he continued.

Marcias heartbeat quickened as he mentioned the old friend. There was only one person that Cain would be scared of enough to come all the way to Brooklyn and warn her. She almost started speaking, telling him that she could handle herself, but he continued before she could get a word in. Return to Britain? She felt her heart beat in her chest. "Cain, I...." he used to be so open with her, more than anyone else. He was doing that again. For a moment she saw the tormented fifteen year old boy that she had first befriended. She could barely stand to think of that time, when he was an outcast and let her in. He trusted her then... why couldn't she trust him now?

"Well, how do you suggest we end his terrorist plots if we just run away? Shouldn't we just face him?" she didn't want to feel scared. She didn't want to agree with Cains shuddering fear or the worry in his eyes. She wanted to be brave, strong and never fear. What was the point in worrying about death and not living? She sighed, rubbing her face in her hands momentarily before looking back at him, "I can't just leave, Cain."

[MARCIA LYNN SAGEBRUSH]

She was glad he took her comment lightly, yet seriously at the same time. She sat still most of the time he was speaking, hands clasped together and flaming hair falling over her shoulders. Her metal hand felt cold against her normal hands skin, but she was used to that feeling. When Cain looked down at the floor and rested his forehead into his hands, Marcia leaned forward and placed a hand over her mouth. She breathed in deeply and continued listening to him talk. When Cain brought up the fact that he had called her department, she sat up straight, "Cain! Nothing gave you the right to-" she took a deep breath and growled a little, calming herself, "I appreciate your concern. I know you are deeply afraid and you think you are helping me but... it's been ten years, Cain." She didn't know what to say anymore so she took a moment to shake her head and sigh once or twice.

She looked up when he slid the paper across her coffee table. She lifted it and unfolded it slowly, reading. She tried not to show any sign of sadness on her face, but that's how she felt. This was her home. This was where she belonged. Her heart started pounding as he explained the terms and looked up into his eyes, a fire may as well have been burning in her pupils along with her hair, "my protector? my protector?" She wasn't sure why she wasn't getting so angry, so worked up. Maybe it was because she didn't know if she could trust Cain, maybe it was because they left things at a stand still without any real closure. Her eyes started to quiver, and she was afraid tears would reach the surface, but she held them back for now.

"I see nothing wrong with stopping Jorus. But that doesn't mean I have to go back to Britain." She spoke slowly, wanting to be sure that he understood what she was saying. Her heart still pumped and her blood continued to boil. She was furious, grateful and tense. She took another deep breath and reached a hand forward, impulsively, to clasp his hand in hers. "Promise me, promise right now that as soon as Jorus is taken care of, you'll let me come back home." She was accepting his help, but she wasn't doing it lightly. She wanted him to know how seriously unhappy she was about this, but that she was grateful too. In some strange way.[/b]

[MARCIA LYNN SAGEBRUSH]

"You mean too much," he said. True she had often been there for him when nobody else was. Especially because of his vampire tendencies. It was hard to make friends that way. And his going on about not asking to be her protector, made her feel a little better about his bombarding her with no warning today. She sighed and bowed her head down for a moment, "it seems we're always lost in moments of needing to help one another. I can't be upset because it's taken this long to happen again," she chuckled a little, "not that I begged for a reason to see you, but it's nice to be... friends. Right?' she looked up at him, genuinely wanting a friendship to work. At least now that they were stuck with one another.

Marcia nodded, "I get it, Cain. Back to Britain. I get it." Her voice was harsh and a little impatient. This wasn't what she was expecting to do today. Pack up all her things, her life, her few friends and leave? Him reinstating that, just felt like salt on a wound. Part of his promise was to stay out of her way. That was a little odd for him to say, considering he was the one dragging her back. "Thank you. I accept the pact, but I don't want you to stay out of my way and just leave me in London to make friends myself. You owe me a party or two," She smiled slightly. She was completely serious, even if it sounded juvenile. No one needs to be without friends.

As the silence was suddenly broken by her window bursting into her apartment, she quickly pulled out her wand and turned to face the voice. Cain wasn't kidding, Jorus may have been listening to their whole conversation. Marcia shouted some counter spells and the coffee table flipped on its side as a defensive wall. When Cain called out to her, Marcia didn't hesitate. She reach to him and grabbed his arm as tight as she could.

@cainedge @jorusgarran

[MARCIA LYNN SAGEBRUSH]

The whole apparating scene was a little crazy, and as soon as they returned to her apartment Cain fell onto the chair and Marcia leaned forward, clutching her knees. She could have died. Cain could have died. She breathed heavily. She still didn't understand why they didn't just take Jorus down, kill him or arrest him. Marcia would never use killing as a first option, but in some situations it really was the best that you could do. This was one of those situations. She had no idea where they had apparated to, but she was glad they were back. She was a little confused as to why Cain brought her along, probably to show her that he wasn't just going to ditch her. She regained her composure and stood up straight.

As soon as he suggested packing she started to wave her wand around and her suitcase began to be filled. She always packed light, not really finding any reason to carry a lot with her. She wondered what she'd do with her furniture and things she wasn't going to bring along. She could always just lock up the flat and throw some protective spells over it while she was gone. As Cain went on to explain where she'd be living she stopped for a moment and raised an eyebrow at him, "oo kay..." she said slowly, then she put both hands on her hips. "There won't be any girls knocking on my door in the middle of the night, will there?" She was half joking, but she didn't show it. That would be the worst situation to be in.

She finished packing the things she needed some the living room and grabbed the suitcase, "one sec," she said. She went into the other rooms of the house, gathering what she needed quickly, then ran back to Cain. "Let's get out of here." She shuddered. The thought of Jorus knowing where she lived, that wasn't pleasant.

[MARCIA LYNN SAGEBRUSH]

Marcia was relieved when he made it clear that no strange girls would be coming by. She was mostly joking anyway, Cain had never really been one to hit the town and bring girls around. He was usually too worried about eating them. Marcia laughed at the thought, "good. Wouldn't want any of that." She couldn't help but feel a little tickle in the back of her mind, telling her to ask about this 1% he had mentioned. There was a woman, at least one, who knew where he lived. The question was, why?

Soon the had apparated just outside what must have been his apartment. She really hated long distance apparation and was looking forward to sitting down at the place. When he opened the door she went in, listening to the locks click and his words as she did. "That's a relief," Marcia said to the fact that he had never used the bed. She felt a little uncomfortable that he had to clarify that with her. As he went on to explain the kitchen, the galleons and whatnot she set her bags down on a chair beside her and began walking through the place, listening to him as he did so.

She stopped when she reached the bedroom door, turning to listen to him as he looked down. She didn't like that he wasn't making eye contact with her, but it seemed he was ashamed. She walked towards him slowly, and when he finally looked up she stopped again. She was a few feet away from him. Part of her felt angry, that he was apologizing all over again. Another part of her felt bad, because she didn't like to see him like this. Not after all the confidence he had built during their time together. She shook her head and folded her arms, looking into his eyes. "Cain. This place is lovely, and," she sighed, stepping closer to him, "so are you. And one of the best friends I've ever had. So, you can stop with the pity charade, okay?" she said firmly, but with a smile.

[MARCIA LYNN SAGEBRUSH]

As he wrapped his arms around her in a hug, she felt a tug in her stomach and a knot in her throat. It had been a long time since they had been this close, and she wasn't sure what to do. She gently wrapped her arms around his torso and held him, gently. She was sure that he was only hugging as a sort of thanks for the forgiveness she had given him, but she couldn't help but sense that there was more too it. It was different than before. She used to hold him in a sort of I'll never let you go embrace, but now it was simple, delicate but still firm. It was a hug of friendship

Upon releasing her and beckoning her to join him on the couch, Marcia collapsed there as well. She was just as tired as he was and she wanted the serious moment to pass. Sure, she didn't mind a good heartfelt talk now and then, but it wasn't something she needed right now. Not with Cain. "Don't sweat it, we're still buds," she joked, elbowing him in the side for good measure. She turned to grasp one of the colas and then face him yet again to hear his catch up chatter. She smiled at his mention of becoming a hit wizard, but her smile froze, almost as if she were plastic, when he mentioned the girl. Her eyes widened for a moment.

She knew this was coming. He had made it clear with hints earlier. She blinked twice and her smile was back to being sincere. "That's lovely! Is he a hit wizard as well?" she laughed, "I'm only joking. I'm sure she's great. I've just been...." she sighed as she recalled the past ten years. "Yes, a lot of success. Too much if you ask me," she leaned back and took a sip of her soda before going on, "[/b]My parents really were the scum of the earth. It's pretty unnerving to learn about the things they've done."[/b] she shuddered.


@cainedge