This Used to Be the Life but I Don't Need Another One

[stenchus_rodentus]

[Well Ratigan couldn't care less about what happened, but he really didn't get his fill of partying from the bar and everyone simpering wasn't how he wanted it to go down. Soon after the trial little notes are slipped beneath each door.]

You are cordially invited to a mourning party in the lobby. RVSP ASAP.

[In the lobby Thalia will have moved some tables to the lobby and provide her choice dish of cheeseburgers along with a smattering of bread, fruits, and vegetables. Reyna will have brought along hot chocolate galore.

For those that aren't your thing? Well in honor of the recently departed there's pine tree shaped cookies (Thanks Thalia.) and triangle crackers with cheese (thanks...Ratigan?). And there's a helping of drinks if the bar wasn't enough for you wink wink. Ratigan has every intention of making this a party.]

Comments

[anasty]

You're upset. I assure you, no one here blames you.

[ And if they do, screw 'em, is the implication. ]

As for Merlin, well... You got that temper honestly, honey.

[ Smirk. She almost looks... fond? ]

[hallotween]

[the very slightest of hehs from under the sheet.]

My whole family is like that, I think. Gosh, if you could see how mad my mom can get over stuff that's way less important than this...

I'm mostly just mad at the Narrator now. [decisive nod] I think that's the right kind of anger for this place.

[anasty]

You're a witch, darling. Magic makes the blood hot.

[ She puts a hand on her hip and tosses her head, grinning. ]

You'll do yourself more favors by owning it than trying to shame yourself.

Actually... That's part of why I'm here.

[hallotween]

[cocks head to the side]

What?

[anasty]

Most here would have to live with words left unspoken, but you and I have options.

[ She glances around, trying to spot who might be eavesdropping. She lowers her voice and comes even closer, one hand on Marnie's blanketed shoulder. ]

Would you see him again, Marnie? One last time?

[hallotween]

Of course! [said very quickly, but then followed by uncertainty.] But, could we even do that... Communicating with the dead has to be really powerful magic...

[anasty]

It is. [ Unlike Marnie, Ursula isn't uncertain in the least. She raises a finger in warning. ] And it doesn't come cheap.

But if you're brave enough, we could try it. This place is warded against us getting out, but I doubt anyone expected us to try to bring someone in.

[hallotween]

... [actually. peaks her head out of the blankets. she has clearly been crying for a while, and her expression is confused.]

How would we do it? [she is confused but 110% onboard]

[anasty]

I'll show you. Come!

[ She backs off and whirls away, headed for the door at a purposeful clip. She has the look of a woman who is ready to bowl over anyone who might stand in her way. As she heads towards the stairs, she speaks over her shoulder. ]

Did the two of you try anything yourselves? Before...

[hallotween]

[shakes head] I'm not sure this was the kind of magic he did. [it sure isn't aggie's. probably. but aggie's magic hadn't been too much of a help so far.]

[anasty]

I'll confess, I haven't done this spell often. Certainly never under these circumstances.

[ Over the course of three weeks, she's gotten the hang of climbing the stairs, which she does now - a horror of slippery black limbs churning over one another. She turns towards Marnie, going up the stairs backwards with apparent ease. ]

I had intended to attempt this at the trial, but I found I was missing a key ingredient. Not to mention I wanted to ask you first.

[hallotween]

[... absolutely not unsettling at all. but hell she's following anyways.]

What was the ingredient?

[grimgrinningghosts]

[so little sidenote there is a fucking raven perched on the top of the stairs' railing, just kinda watching them.

that's. interesting.]

[anasty]

I'll need something of his. Nothing big! But it has to be personal - no library books.

[ She doesn't see the raven until she's almost passed it, having been watching Marnie. When her eyes do light on it, they become hungry. Something fresh in this museum might be a big help.

A hand darts out, attempting to catch the creature. ]

[grimgrinningghosts]

[don't fucking eat it ursula jesus christ

but alright! you've got the raven. it caws, far more calm than any bird in this situation should be.]

[hallotween]

[you know she's about to be like "uh so what specifically???" but then there's a fuckin bird]

-- How did that get in here?

[anasty]

Not a clue. [ But she's obviously pleased, bringing the bird into the cage of her hands. One long fingernail makes to itch at the feathers of its neck. ] But ravens are messengers with many ties to the beyond. We'd be wise to make use of it.

[ She continues to drag herself backwards down the hall, towards her room. ]

Stop gawping, girl. Fetch what we need.

[hallotween]

What? Oh, yeah, right--

[stops short]

... What do we need, exactly?

[anasty]

Something that belonged to the old man - you'd know better than I what he held close.

[ She pauses, trying to think of how to explain, though it's clear it frustrates her a little to have to. ]

Look, if you're trying to find someone in the dark, you'd call out their name, wouldn't you? A simple "come here" could bring just about anyone.

Same concept, but we need something tangible. Does that make sense?

[hallotween]

[nods] Tangible, right!

[she runs off for a short while, returning with Merlin's carpetbag.] Will this work?

[anasty]

[ By the time Marnie returns, Ursula has reached her room. The door is slightly open for her to enter through. In the center of the submarine room, a large, black cauldron is already beginning to smoke. Dominating one of the walls is a saltwater tank, where the dark body of a huge moray eel swims back and forth - one of his eyes glows eerily, tracking Marnie.

Ursula glances over from where she's gathering packets of raw meat, no doubt pilfered from the kitchen. Her tentacles are used for this particular task, as the raven is still in her hand. ]

What is it?

[hallotween]

It's his bag! I don't know if there's anything inside it, but it should work by itself, right?