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Set immediately after Scratches On The Mirror
Jack Martingale: Once Jack and Asbolus are well clear of the hotel, like...'back to the house' clear of the hotel, Jack turns to Asbolus with a grimace. "You think you can look into Leandra? Not a lot to go on, unfortunately, but that's kinda your wheelhouse, yeah?"
Asbolus: "I can, yes." Asbolus nodded, frowning a touch. "She was a little too eager to make sure that we believed that line of thought as much as we wanted her to."
Jack Martingale: "Exactly. I eh...I had to rewind time. She went in first and saw Mrs. Anderson in the mirror, the first time around, I figured it would have made shit a lot more complicated. The door shut, that time. Like, slammed shut."
Asbolus: "Indeed it would have, yes. Good call on using that to tidy it up...been looking into learning that one myself at some point." Cue an eyebrow quirked curiously upward. "Really...did she close it between us and her or was it closed with all three of us in the room?"
Jack Martingale: "It's the first time I've really gotten the chance to use it - damn useful, though. The door slammed closed after all three of us were inside, I don't think she did it. Didn't think to see how she reacted, after she screamed. Whether it was real or not, you know?"
Asbolus: "Interesting, and a fair question indeed. I'll see what information I can find on her and go from there. Could ask Alex, perhaps...been wanting to spend more time with her anyway."
Jack Martingale: "She could be a lot of help, absolutely." Jack nods and runs a hand through his hair. And then remembers he's slicked it back and grimaces and huffs in annoyance. "Especially if 'Leandra' turns out to...be more slippery."
Asbolus: Asbolus smirked a touch at the annoyed huff, nodding quietly. "Indeed. I've seen her at work in real-time and it's impressive, so I can only imagine what she can pull up with enough lead time."
Jack Martingale: "I look forward to seeing it - from what I've heard, there's just about nothing she can't find." Jack sits back in his chair. "If you and she can't find shit on Leandra...'s a bigger issue than we all thought..."
Asbolus: "Agreed." Asbolus let out a quiet breath as he found a conveinent piece of wall to hold up, not inclined to sit down himself quite yet. "Curious to see how the others do as well with their part."
Jack Martingale: "Figure if it was that quiet when we got there, shit's shaken out okay. Hopefully." Jack sighs. "Seems like we managed to keep all hell from breaking loose. Hopefully."
Asbolus: "Fingers crossed." After a brief glance around Asbolus leaned over to knock on the nearest piece of wooden furniture nearby, just in case. "I imagine that our newly-returned friend will be getting a stern talking to, however..."
Jack Martingale: "I'm sure he will be. Gotta say, even after being this side of the Hedge for so long, I still remember what it was like, coming back. Kinda don't blame the guy, not like he knew any better."
Asbolus: "I remember it as well, but then again it's only coming up on two years out for me. I didn't really have anyone to reconnect with when I got back, though, so I never really felt that particular urge."
Jack Martingale: "Honestly, there was a part of me that thought I'd just had a really bad trip...found out that wasn't true pretty quick." Jack's chuckles is pretty humorless.
"Didn't have anyone like that either, made it easier, in some ways."
Asbolus: "I can imagine. Was quite the shock on my end, stumbling into my apartment only to find myself already standing in it." He shook his head quietly. "We've gotten along well since, thankfully, but it took some getting used to."
"It did, but I know on my end it made it far too easy to create a little bubble for myself and stay within it, letting the rest of the world roll by without me. In truth, it took me seeing you three make things work and become as close as you have to make me realize what I was missing."
Jack Martingale: By now, Jack's faded back to his regular, charcoal sketch self, and a light scribbly blush drifts across his cheeks.
"It's a hell of a thing, what Lux and Mearcstapa and I have. Didn't think I'd ever be able to open up that much. Ever." He flashes Asbolus a smile. "Glad it helped you, too. I hope you find some kinda shit like it, it's...yeah."
Asbolus: "Know how that goes. I was with someone for my last two years at university and we were very close, but things happened and we drifted apart. He's why I came to Philadelphia, actually...he was working at UPenn and reached out to me to help with a project, and I took him up on it as an excuse to reconnect. Far as I know he left town not long after I was taken, and my other half lost contact with him."
Jack Martingale: "Oh that...sucks Bo. 'M sorry. You ever thought about looking him back up?" Jack cocks his head.
Asbolus: "I haven't tried, no." He smirked a touch, wry little thing that it was. "He was seeing someone else when he left town, and honestly I wasn't in much of a state at the time to try and reconnect when I got back."(edited)
Jack Martingale: "Fair enough. Between that, and...Drake...Jesus Bo you've had a kinda awful run of it..." Jack winces in sympathy.
Asbolus: "Mmm." He nodded quietly. "With any luck the third time will be the charm."
Jack Martingale: "Here's hoping." Jack offers him a lazy smile.
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