These rules are meant to break us all. {For James}

[chasingtwisters]

Moira shows up to James' cottage with a peace offering of wine and the undisclosed item of interest she'd promised to bring tucked away in one of her old school bags. For once, her hair is pulled back in a tight bun, and she's dressed in slacks and a sweater, a sure sign that whatever she has to discuss with James, it's of a most pertinent and significant matter.

Early evening casts the woods in a slightly dimmer glow of sunlight, giving the area around James' place a rather ethereal glow. A good conduit for magic, she notes, taking in the wildflowers and brambles framing James' yard. It's dangerous, letting herself relax in the nature of this place. Someone might see her and start asking all sorts of uncomfortable questions. She shakes her head, dispelling the last of her curious gaze as she sets her face to a more determined, less open expression.

She hesitates a minute more, wondering what the hell she's getting herself into, before she knocks.

Comments

[jamesthorn]

He scratches his head for a second, a small smile playing across his lips. "I dunno," he says, shrugging. "She just came up to me the other night. At the ball. She just said she owed me one for...you. Actually."

He shakes his head. "I'm not sure what you told her, but apparently I saved your life or something."

[chasingtwisters]

"Well, you did," Moira tells him, not seeing why she should hide it. "You took care of me in my cat form and you saved me from Medusa. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you."

Is he smiling? she thinks to herself, wondering what that could possibly mean.

[jamesthorn]

He nods, unsure how to accept her thank you completely, but she seems to genuinely mean it. "Medusa," he repeats. All you could do was shake your head. "I still don't understand everything that happened down there."

But maybe. Just maybe things had ended up okay. In a roundabout way, it had given him new direction on his investigation into his mother's death. And even Moira. Their kidnapping had given him a chance to see her differently. He wasn't sure where it was meant to end up yet, but it was something new.

"I mean. You know you saved my life too. Several times," he says seriously. He was a cop. He could appreciate someone risking their life to save yours. Moira had done more than her fair share to keep him alive. He should've said something sooner. After a moment, he switches gears, back to their task. "Do you mind if I keep this? Maybe you can talk to Lara about the translation?" He gathers the paper she'd give him into an plastic evidence bag, thinking maybe they will be able to collect a couple fingerprints too.

[chasingtwisters]

"Neither do I, but the important thing is that we're still around to wonder about it," she says, meaning that too. She thinks now that, had anything more permanent happened to James, she would be terribly upset. Perhaps it is a strange thing to admit, to finding herself oddly enjoying finding James in a new light, but enjoy it she does, even if it somewhat unnerves her at the same time.

She shrugs when he acknowledges her role in helping them navigate the labyrinth, a strange warmth unfurling within her at the way he thanks her in so many words.

"Go right ahead," she tells him, not even hesitating when he asks, which is something she wouldn't have done a couple of weeks ago. But she trusts James, trusts him like he's Fabrice or Alodia. "I'll make sure to talk to Lara as soon as I get the chance."

It's a promise, and she means it.

[jamesthorn]

He inhales a short breath, knowing that she was trusting him to keep this evidence a secret. That she trusted him not to take his evidence public and not to take the accusations of her mother to the local newspaper. Something about that, her quick trust in him makes him feel good, content even. But he had also trusted her with the contents of this room, and he had a gut feeling that it was the right that to do. That of all people, she was the one to tell.

"Alright," he says, nodding. He moves to stand back up, grabbing his crutches again. "We'll see what happens. And..." he jots down his number on the paper pad sitting on the table. He rips off the top sheet. "My cell number. Maybe just call if you find anything. I'd rather not give the paper more to write about."

He pauses thinking that may have sounded rude. "I mean. Not that this wasn't okay. Tonight."

[chasingtwisters]

Moira doesn't feel the urge to remind him to keep the letter a secret. She doesn't feel panicked that she's trusting such an important object to James without a second thought. He knows how to make use of it, she is certain about that. She is certain that he is the one to trust to help bring her mother to justice.

"Just, be careful, okay? My mother owns several law firms and has various corporations wrapped around her finger; I'm almost certain she has political connections, too," she tells him. It's the only thing she feels the need to warn him about. She really hates the thought of anything terrible happening to him, especially again because of her mother.

"Alright," she says, taking his number and putting it in her purse. She makes a brief gesture with her hand, muttering a few, precise words. "I just put my number in your phone, if that's alright? It seems convenient." He'll probably dislike the fact that she used magic, but she felt an urge to make sure he has her number.

"No, tonight was...eye opening," she settles upon at last.

[jamesthorn]

He nods at her warning. He is aware that Violet is dangerous, and he vows to keep his siblings out of this as much as possible.

"Uh...okay," he says, as she recites the short spell. He definitely isn't sure he is 100% okay with her use of magic, but he can't change his mind now about this. Not after tonight and the information they've shared with one another. Considering they've been discussing her mother using magic to murder numerous people, Moira using her powers to give him her phone number almost seems harmless.

"Eye opening." He gestures for her to pass through the door before he follows. "That's one way of putting it."

[chasingtwisters]

She notes his nod, takes it as his acknowledgement of the severity of the situation, glad he is aware of the dangers surrounding their predicament.

She is pleasantly surprised by James' 'okay' as a response to her magicking him her phone number; just from the past couple of weeks he seems more open minded toward magic. It makes her feel proud, almost, as she walks before him through the door.

"Indeed," she notes. "And how would you put it, James?"

[jamesthorn]

"I don't know yet," he says, shrugging, as he pauses near the front door. Not meant to rush her away, but not wanting to assume she intends to stay much longer. Now that business was complete. The truth is, he doesn't know what tonight was exactly. It was business, but it was also dinner and pleasant. He isn't sure he can properly define it yet. But he is willing to admit there's more to figure out.

[chasingtwisters]

"I guess we'll just have to figure that out, then," she says, moving to get her coat and purse. She isn't in any hurry to leave, but she imagines James' probably wants to rest, much as he might protest as being helpless on his couch, and she has to admit, she has a lot to mull over, considering what happened beyond 'business' tonight. "I'll see you later, James. You have my number if you need me."