regency au } { of binding spells and sneaking away

[theloophole]

Marcel: [say what you want about Marcel Gerard, but he knows how to throw a party. The opening day of the tournament is a lot of pomp and circumstance, introducing the players on the field and having them pay their respects to the hosts, but once the day is done, all of the contenders and friends are welcomed into the quarter of town, where there are tables laden with food and drink, and plenty of room for dancing and revelry. It's also quite the crowd - you can't have a party this public and not welcome in the city as a whole. Having come from nothing, Marcel welcomes every resident of Orleans to his table, so noble and commoner are out and about, allowing people the opportunities to slip away and distract when given the opportunity.]

Milton: [and he and Lizzie are tucked into a corner, waiting for their mark to come through. The vampire has a glass of wine in hand, keeping an ear out for any sign of trouble, while the witch uses her eyes to scan the room, speaking quietly enough to not attract attention, but that supernatural ears can still hear her]

Lizzie: Marcel said there's a house we can use. Josie and Landon have already gone to set up.

Ben: [and he'll be at Hope's side, talking politely to those who approach them and meeting important people in the town. He'll hear them though and excuse himself to refill his and Hope's glass] I haven't seen either Jason nor Gregor arrive yet.

Hope: Well, when he does get here, we're ready. Kaleb is ready to decoy if necessary.

Kaleb: [is off dancing with his intended, and smirks at her] Whoever he is, I hope he's handsome. I would hate for my beloved to be seen with anything less.

Cleo: [playfully rolls her eyes, before speaking in her soft, pleasant accent] Whatever his state, I think you'll manage.

Jason: [and having slipped into his identity as the Duke of Concord, he will arrive dressed in a court appropriate suit, trying to look the proper gentleman. His finger tousled hair and a few days worth of stubble make him look a bit older than normal. He looks around, then sees Hope and nods before going off to mingle with the other Lords.]

Hope: [nods in return, before turning away from the group] He's here. He's mingling with the other lords for now. Do we have any sign of Gregor?

Jed: Nothing on our end. [he and the other wolves are perched by one of the food tables] Everyone here is people we know.

Gregor: [not long after, a group of knights approach, loud and boisterous. In the center is an older man with a commanding presence and sharp eyes. He huffs at the blending of commoners and knights, obviously believing he is better than them]

Lizzie: I'm going to guess it's the guy who just walked in looking like someone's horse shat in his suitcase.

Milton: Your way with words is ever astounding.

Hope: [turns to look, peering over Ben's shoulder to catch sight of the enemy] I see him.

Ben: [follows her line of sight] He doesn't look that tough.

Jason: [meanwhile, he's keenly aware of Gregor's arrival and has maneuvered himself deep into noble territory, keeping the knight in his peripheral vision. He's distracted though by a Lord something or another and just makes polite conversation.]

Hope: Looks can be deceiving. [she wouldn't count him out yet. she assumes Jason has reasons to be scared of him] But the sooner we get started the better. Kaleb?

Kaleb: We're on it. [and he turns to pass back into the crowd towards where Milton and Lizzie are perched while Cleo moves the opposite direction]

Cleo: [she stands out, she knows she does, with both her voice and her looks. but that's what makes her an excellent distraction. She's easy to spot in a crowd. so she makes her way closer to the lords, in her colorful dress, and picks at one of the food tables nearby. Hopefully one of them will ask her to dance]

Jason: [oh, there will be plenty of them. He'll start moving further to the back of the crowd, maneuvering himself towards an exit. His eyes will search out Hope, then his brow will raise in a quick question on if he should go]

Hope: [nods, and as the lords begin to engage with Cleo, she tips her head to the side towards where Milton and Lizzie are waiting with Kaleb. She will take Ben's arm and make her way closer to join her friends, but she's also keeping an eye on where Gregor is watching]

Gregor: [he's watching everyone, but his eyes check in on Jason is every few minutes to know his position. He's also waiting for Anastacia to make her appearance to get information on the cast of characters here from the court women.]

Jason: [and he'll make his way over, his eyes on Gregor as he slips off his jacket and flips it around. The inside turned outside layer is a muted crushed velvet in forest green. releasing two cords in the collar, the fabric drops into a longer cloak that wraps around him from knee to neck. He pulls a matching cap from a pocket and puts it on, all the while making sure Gregor isn't looking. Only then does he turn his back to where the knights are and goes to meet the others]

Lizzie: [having watched this whole transformation] It's like watching a fast change at a play. [and she will knock lightly on the column behind her, and as Jason reaches their position ... another "Jason" steps out from behind the column, dressed as he was before his costume change]

Jason: [blinks, then nods to... himself?... before whispering] Thank you.

Kaleb: [winks back at him, before returning to the crowd to go pick at one of the food tables]

Lizzie: [glances to Hope as she approaches] Are you sure you don't need me?

Hope: [shakes her head] We can't all disappear and it's a fairly simple spell. Josie and I should be able to handle it.

Lizzie: [nods before taking Milton's arm and pulling away from the wall] Be quick about it, then.

Ben: [leaning down to kiss her cheek] I'll mingle with the other knights so no one will wonder why you're not with me.

Hope: [gives him a small smile in return before stepping past Jason into the shadows on the other side of the square] This way.

Jason: [and he'll go to follow, staying quiet and keeping his face hidden if anyone passes them.]

Hope: [will lead the way to a small house, out of the way from the festivities and knocks lightly on the door.]

Rafael: [cracks the door to confirm who it is, before opening it to let them in] Hope's here. [more to the people inside than out]

Jason: [he will follow Hope in, and only then will he straighten back up from the hunched position he had taken the moment he donned the cloak. Removing his hat, the looked around at those present, evaluating any possible threats out of habit more than need]

Josie: [pushes up from the floor where she has the chalk sigils outlined] Perfect timing. We just finished.

Claudia: [Landon was the other person helping but from the back corner, Claudia offers him a small smile]

Jason: [nods at them in turn, very well aware he's the stranger in this group of friends, and elects to just remain silent until spoken to.]

Hope: [goes to inspect the sigils - not because she doesn't trust them but perfectionist]

Landon: [and while she does that, he will introduce himself by extending a hand] Sir Landon Kirby. I don't believe we've met yet.

Jason: [he recognizes the name and takes the hand firmly] No, we haven't. Jason Walters. [he doesn't flaunt titles. That gets him attention he doesn't always want.] Thank you. Hope tells me I'll be bound to you for this, and I can't express how grateful I am to you.

Landon: [gives a half shrug] I've died for less. And I like to help.

Jason: [nods. He doesn't want to make Landon feel awkward, so he doesn't try to elaborate on why this needs to be done] So you're a phoenix?

Landon: I am. Found out a few years ago.

Jason: I see. So, what is it like?

Landon: [that is an interesting question] Depending on how it's likely quite painful. Then there's ... a dock with a boat waiting but you shouldn't get on it. You wait and when you get called back you feel overheated and exposed but you're alive.

Jason: [nods, trying to keep a straight face even as his heart starts to speed up a bit] So don't get on the boat when I see it.

Landon: Not unless you are looking for peace. [which he may be but not this kind] But you won't be alone. I'll be there with you.

Jason: So what happens to me will also happen to you? [his eyes widen a bit, not fear but more of a knowledge that this may not be a quick death he receives]

Landon: [nods] But that's also how they'll know it's happened and to come find you.

Jason: It looks as if I will owe you a great debt after this that I don't know how I can repay.

Landon: I don't see it as such. [his father made him a Phoenix for his own selfish ends. As far as Landon is concerned it's part of his own debt to pay off]

Jason: Still. I am grateful, and hopefully this won't be our only meeting.

Landon: Me as well.

Hope: Alright. We're ready.

Jason: [he nods, shrugging out of his cloak and cap before approaching] So what do you need of me?

Josie: [takes him gently by the shoulders] You stand here. [places him in the circle on the right]

Jason: [yup, he stiffens at her touch, but he forces himself to take a deep breath and complies]

Josie: [when she feels him stiffen, she takes her hands off of him, allowing them to act more as bumpers to get him into place. She then lifts a bowl of a strange smelling paste] There's also marks. Would you prefer Hope?

Jason: [takes a deep breath, forcing himself to relax again] No, I'm fine. Just wasn't expecting it. [looks at the paste] Do I need to remove my shirt?

Josie: [shakes her head] No. Forehead and hands will suffice.

Jason: [He could do that, holding his hands out to her]

Josie: [works quickly, her touch gentle enough to work the magic into the skin and nothing more. She then passes the bowl to Hope who repeats the same with Landon]

Hope: Alright. Are we ready?

Jason: As I can be.

Hope: Alright. [and with that she reaches for Josie's hand. As Josie takes it, their joined hands begin to glow and the two witches begin to chant, power building through the room until the sigils start to glow]

Jason: [and he looks at his hands in fascination. He's seen magic, but never had it done to him. He'll look up at Landon to see if he's feeling the same thing]

Landon: [yep, he is feeling it. His eyes glow orange briefly, and as the power begins to build, his wings burst like flames from his back, stretching up towards the ceiling of the room]

Jason: [his eyes widen, and then he feels his own body heating up, feeling like he's going to burst into flames himself]

Hope: [the magic rises, then breaks, and a magical brand burns against the back of both their hands, phoenix wings on Jason and the Walters crest on Landon's] How do you feel?

Jason: [he's shaking a bit, forcing himself to breathe deeply as he looks at the brand, trying not to think of other times he was burned, but he nods] I'm fine.

Hope: [meets his eyes] The brand will fade once the bonding spell is broken. It's not permanent.

Jason: Why do I feel so hot?

Landon: Oh, that's probably a side effect of sharing part of my power. I'm always warm.

Josie: [flashes him a teasing grin] It's a nice bonus during the winter.

Landon: [grins back at her] Time and place.

Jason: I guess I won't be needing my cloak then.

Claudia: But otherwise you feel fine?

Jason: Yeah... [he looks at Hope] and the pain's gone.

Hope: Phoenixes heal too. The bonus of being supernatural.

Jason: [chuckles] Where have you been all my life? [gives Landon a smirk, relaxing]

Landon: Oh, trust me, it's not all it's cracked up to be. You ruin a lot of clothing and some things don't heal as quickly as others.

Jason: What's it going to be like... when it happens? I mean, beyond the boat.

Landon: [he shrugs] I actually like limbo. It's very peaceful. But not more than I like being alive.

Jason: I mean... what's it like to die?

Landon: Oh. It hurts, depending on how you die. And then ... it's a bit like going to sleep.

Jason: You're going to feel it, aren't you?

Landon: Oh, likely. But there are very few ways I haven't died at this point. Little would surprise me.

Jason: [rubbing his hand a bit] I apologize now then. Gregor will draw it out... he likes to watch me suffer. He wants to break me. I don't know if it's because I'm a noble, or that he's never seen me break. Maybe both. But this has been coming for awhile, and he's one excuse away from ripping my heart out.

Landon: Then it seems as though it works well for what you all have intended. I'll be okay.

Jason: [nods] Let's just hope I am.

Hope: We should get back to the feast. But feel free to stay if you need a moment.

Jason: Yeah, I need a moment to refurl my cloak before we switch back.

Hope: [nods] Take your time.

Jason: [which he will, moving with practiced speed. He plays with the cuffs, trying to pull them down a bit more over his hand to cover the brand, then he heads back to the party, waiting for Fake Jason to come swap with him]

Kaleb: [notices his return and heads over to the alcove, stepping into the shadows and removes the ring controlling his disguise]

Jason: Thank you. [he nods to Kaleb, then slides back out to join the party]

Kaleb: [nods in return before going to find Cleo]

Claudia: [had returned to the party with Hope and the rest, currently sipping a glass of wine]

Jason: [and he will go and find himself a drink, but he tries to catch Claudia's eye and he will give her the hand signal that he loves her]

Claudia: [sees it and hides the smile behind her wine glass, returning the gesture]

Jason: [nods back before weaving back into the group of young nobles]

Gregor: [he had caught the tail end of that exchange and sips his beer slowly, taking in the young lady with new interest]

Claudia: [turns her attention back to Rafael and their conversation and doesn't notice Gregor]