(Untitled)

[invisibyron]

Who: Byrons Watts & Hale (SWINDLERS 1 & 2), Avery Klutch (THE SEA WITCH)
What: The Byrons' plan to expose dark, disaffected artists to the effects of the troll mirror--under the pretense of drug influence--begins with a dark, disaffected artist within the Tale community.
When: Thursday, 3:30 PM
Where: The von Koelig vault
Rating: TBA, likely R for

Comments

[bonesandbottles]

Avery always had an air about him that seemed to suggest that there was very little in this world that surprised, shocked or even managed to get his attention. It might have been the sunglasses, which, little did he know, when worn inside strangers usually thought he was mildly blind instead of just some sorry excuse for a hipster. Nevertheless, he gave the Byrons a look like they were taking him into some sort of tomb where perhaps Napoleon or some other tale who had wronged them lay bloodied on the floor. Well, that's how they were acting in any case.

"No kidding." Avery raised his brow as they reached the safe and lightly went through his mind as he tried to figure out who exactly they were talking about. So there was a fourth party at work here? Maybe one of the other witches? And if so, Avery decided that there should be some sort of witches club, something along the lines of what he had seen in Practical Magic only a margin less gay

[invisibyron]

Now that they'd stopped, it was easy for Hale to melt into a pattern of silent nodding at Watts' words. The second Swindler was a reluctant creature by his very nature; that wasn’t just his tendency, it was also his persona (when he had one), and it came easily because it was so practiced. He laced his arms together while the gallery manager had his way with the vault lock, and he picked up the silence when it was left to him. There were more things that Avery had to understand before he was administered their magical placebo. They owed him that much, even if they had no intention of telling him the truth.

"The powder makes a person more sensitive to their own… darker qualities. As they see them." He frowned. "Uncomfortable self-reflection was, I believe, the exact term used to describe it. I didn’t--" he paused, became suddenly self-conscious, and glanced at Watts before straightening his tone, "--Well, we weren’t prepared for it to be so literal. But it's really quite extraordinary."

[bonesandbottles]

Avery furrowed his brow momentarily as he realized that he would have to not only take the drug himself to make sure they weren't bullshitting, but have to face some sort of inner demon of his. Perhaps the very worst inner demon. In all fairness Avery couldn't think of any right off the top of his head, and this alone made him curious. Curiosity, in this case, was probably good. Especially if it was mild.

"Well hand it over then." He said with a small smile and his hand extended like a child asking for candy. "I'm a big boy, I can take it." Avery's expression went from confident to worried in a flash, but it was gone just as quickly.

[bonesandbottles]

Avery gave Watts a look that was a cross between hesitant and confused before cannonballing the wine. Get it over with he thought with a grimace and then closed his eyes as he struggled through what very well could have been a placebo affect. He gave them both a look and reached for his sunglasses instinctively, but realized what he was doing and let his hand drop.

"Not that bad-" he shrugged it off and pointed to the mirror that was conveniently stored so that he couldn't face his worst fear until the Byrons wanted him to. "Mind if I take a look?" Avery moved what he could away from the mirror and then looked at it shyly at first. "I don't know-" then from the side of his vision he could see his form shape into something else entirely. At first it was watery, that much could be expected but then it started to shrink. His form collapsed into something the size of an ant. He glanced back at them like this was a sick joke and then mumbled. "No. No it's supposed to be big and evil and terrible-" his voice pitched up higher into

[invisibyron]

It had only once or twice occurred to Byron that by facilitating these interactions, they were bound to witness them; to see Avery howl at and reel away from the mirror was a reminder of the first day that the Byrons had seen it themselves. He understood now why Watts had found his bad reaction so bewildering. Avery was confused, then he was angry, and then he was sitting on the floor. Over the head of the artist Hale flashed Watts a look which demanded leadership or prompting, but he immediately took a step forward into Avery's field of view, and as he did that expression slipped from his face. Now there was concern, and dignity, and the variety of artistic restraint for which their circles were known. He dropped his chin to carefully gauge his reaction: though it was demanded, applause didn't seem fitting

[bonesandbottles]

Avery looked up at both of them, not really in the mood for their oh-so English humor, but slowly smiled in order to show some sort of solidarity. "So, what?" He didn't move from his spot on the floor. He was not done recovering, but he was happy to move on to the next subject.

"Why lure me here with bagels to show me that?" He asked, putting his sunglasses back on as he crossed his arms.