ivy-knows-everything

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy's expression dampened a bit, mostly because it wasn't really true. Not with what she knew anyways. "He isn't afraid of commitment though. It's really quite the opposite." She was aware of mincing her words, trying not to reveal secrets she felt were better coming from Desmond himself. In truth, she'd toiled over revealing them to her dads, but she knew well enough the way that Zander would panic, and that Ophien likely already knew more than she did of Marcus. "He's only been with you, you know that? Since he met you."

"No, but they would know where to find you, so I think the benefit outweighed the risk... but then again, he didn't know I existed, so I think that threw him for a bit of a loop," Ivy replied, more to herself than anything. She quieted when Thaddeus seemed to worry about what she'd seen, but mostly because she was trying to gage what of it he would actually know. Because, for once, she might finally be more in the loop than he was. "He's far from a monster," she agreed. "And that's not what I was focused on anyways... He didn't leave because he wanted to, and he's still in love with you. And I'd like to think you're still in love with him. And if you are... you can't throw that away. Not without knowing the truth."

"You know, what I know, squirt? That ol Des is a commitment phobe. He always just sweeps in and out. His own tortured sense of duty or whatever. Like he's got some duty to me. He ain't got shit. And I'm not asking him for anything. Not anymore."

He scowled at that. "What the fuck was he doing there? He ain't friendly with either of your Pops." His eyes rolled up to the ceiling. "Oh christ...you did what?" Closing his eyes, he had to wince. "Look....whatever you saw...or think you saw...he's no monster. No matter what he'd like to think. Got it?"

[ivy-knows-everything]

"I know you know he is, even without touching you," Ivy replied softly, still watching Thaddeus' expression. He was pained, and she could more than understand why given what she did know, but there was something else behind that pain.

"He came to the shop to ask about you, y'know. Back when he first came back to Chicago," Ivy recounted, wilfully ignoring Thaddy's words in favor of sharing this. "And well, I didn't know him and he did seem pretty intent on just heading out instead of talking to my dads when they got back, so... I shook his hand when I introduced myself." She bit her lip, peeking back over at the older warlock again.

Thaddeus scowled at the name but merely shrugged. “Is he back? I don’t know a damned thing about that.”

He brushed some hair back from his face but didn’t look at her. “Desmond goes wherever the wind blows. I’ve given up concerning myself about that. Well… trying to.”

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy pulled her legs up onto the couch so that she could hug them to her chest, settling her head on top of her knees as she looked over at Thaddeus. She wasn't quite sure why now felt like it would finally be the time to say what she'd been holding back from him these last few months, but it kept tugging at her thoughts all the same. "Even though Desmond's back?" She finally questioned, searching the older warlock's expression before she revealed any more.

He watched her for a moment, seeing something there, but deciding not to comment on it. She couldn't have many secrets, being Ophie's daughter and all. "True that." He grumbled sourly. "You know....fuck love. And all the shit that comes along with it. I'm going to be a recluse." He decided, then frowned. Because he was trying, he even had the swamp house. But Magnus kept showing up and forcing him to be social. He sighed heavily, like it pained him greatly. "I sure as hell am gonna try."

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy bit her lip to keep from grinning too much at Xypher's expense. His distaste for the whole event did make her feel guilty for the fact that she found it quite so funny to begin with. "Or so Uncle Magnus hopes," she replied, gently clinking her glass against Zander's before taking a sip of the Champagne. The question coupled with his clear internal processing was enough to make Ivy giggle. She really did love her dads, and their polar opposite natures left quite a few instances of comedic upheaval around the house. The declaration about shopping made her shake her head. "I don't even want to know what you're scheming."

"We're celebrating tonight." He explained as he topped off her glass. "The end of Xypher's celibacy." Zander frowned. "Oh golly..." He exhaled, glancing at the door. "D'you think he'll hurt them? Maybe I ought to go watch over them, just in case." At Ivy's argument about Ophie, he deflated a bit. She did have a point. Ophie hated all the pandas around the house. Had even started pushing pins into their eyes. Calling them portals into hell. Though he expected that was more meant to be a dig at Thaddeus than anything else.

Zander sighed, nodding to himself. That settled it, more pandas. Specifically in Ophie's room. Maybe even bedsheets. "I think tomorrow we're going shopping!" He told her gleefully, rubbing his hands.

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy laughed a bit before catching herself. "Did you not know that before?"

"Your father cheats." Ophie scowled in regards to the game of thumb war he'd played with Zander to get out of having to come tonight. "He's double-jointed."

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy knew more about it than Thaddeus gave her credit for, of course, given that Magnus was one of the people in her extended family that allowed her to touch him, but she didn't comment on that fact. "'If there was anyone to ever get through this life with their heart still intact, they didn't do it right,'" Ivy replied, remembering the rather apt lyric from one of her more recent vinyls. When Thaddy talked about her not falling in love, Ivy couldn't help the way her mind drifted to Abi--to the soulmate bond she already knew they shared, much less the love that had shifted into something far beyond friendship over their youth. "I don't think anyone can run from love. Not when it's real."

Thaddeus snorted. "Of course he does. That's never been the issue. I also don't doubt he's been canoodling with all sorts of people....the point is that he doesn't commit to anyone. He's scared of being hurt again." The word again seemed to waft in the air between them. "Never fall in love, squirt. It always ends badly."

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy raised a brow at Zander as he poured the champagne into her flute. It wasn't out of the question for her to have one glass, or maybe two as she already had. But this wasn't exactly the norm. And she clued into her father's tone a bit as he spoke. Ah... that makes more sense. "I think he might be the exception to that rule. And a bit of a dangerous one for the sake of the pandas," Ivy pointed out with a sheepish smile. "And Ophie can also resist bear hugs. Or would at least try to."

Zander dropped her a wink as he filled her glass with the bubbly champagne at their table. "Well..." He said. "Don't you worry about that. I know for a fact there is an army of pandas in pajamas right outside waiting to give him bear hugs if he tries to escape. No one can resist bear hugs... eh?"

[ivy-knows-everything]

"I thought he always said he has his pick of options for himself... is that not actually true?" She asked, turning back to Thaddeus with a curious glance. "And he was getting cozy with a fae man earlier on. The same one from the last big party."

"Yeah...kind of normal for him I'd say. Funny...he should be more concerned with his own love life for once. Maybe next decade or whatever."

[ivy-knows-everything]

"I'm enjoying myself. But I do worry if Xypher is going to give up and leave if he has to endure much more fuss."

Flopping down at the bar...

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy bit back a laugh. "I think most people would expect that sort of eccentricity from Uncle Magnus, don't you think?"

Cheers or whatever...

"You know....if I had a nickel for everytime I went to one of these shindigs for the sole purpose of getting someone laid...." He paused for dramatic effect. "I'd have exactly a nickel."

[ivy-knows-everything]

"Are you avoiding the crowd? Or someone in particular?" Ivy questioned as she moved to lean against the wall beside Ophie.

Just outside...

In typical fashion, Ophie was decidedly not being social with the rest of the party. He lit his cigarette and leaned back against the alley with a contented sigh.

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy was briefly stunned into silence. "I mean... that still doesn't make it a good idea."

…

[ivy-knows-everything]

"Juliet is always the most gorgeous person in the room, regardless of how much she tries to downplay that fact," Ivy noted with a knowing laugh. "Really? I'm so glad that they've finally started to explore their crushes on each other. I was about to scheme and tell them both at this rate. They're too cute." The compliment made Ivy blush, mostly because she knew she would think about it for long after this conversation. "Not true--clearly you haven't looked in the mirror," Ivy retorted.

"I do! And did you see Juliet? Oh and Rory? I was talking to Killian when she came downstairs at the pack house and it was like his brain had short circuited," she giggled. "But of course no one looks as beautiful as you do!" She said it because to her it was true and she always told Ivy the truth. She would even if she couldn't have seen it the second they touched.

[ivy-knows-everything]

"Everyone looks so beautiful tonight, don't you think?"

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy was silent. Like a deer caught in headlights, truly. Because she couldn't do anything but watch even if she'd wanted to, even if she'd tried. There was something about seeing Ophie so fearful that stunned her into that sort of inaction. Because even with his abilities and everything he knew, he never once had looked that way... at least not in her lifetime. And that made her terrified beyond measure. She hardly even registered the apology--the message to Jason. She forced herself to nod. A silent swear to do so.

She couldn't quite react to the knife against Ophie's skin, or indeed Marcus talking. Her entire focus was locked on her dad's face now, with Marcus a distant sort of figure in it all. Because she'd read about that sort of magic before. Knew well enough that Marcus performed it with nearly all of his minions... and that the same could be forced onto any of them as it had been with Desmond. But the sight was hard to take in, with Ophie desperately fighting it all.

The forceful push against their bond actually made Ivy stumble back a step, and she had to fight the urge to call out to Ophie, to beg him not to do that. But it wouldn't do any good. It wouldn't change anything.

And then it clicked. Ivy froze again, watching with wide-eyed horror as the pieces began to fall into place. Marcus wasn't just calling upon all of Ophie's memories, each of his thoughts, his visions... his bonds. He was taking them. He was stripping Ophie's mind blank, and that pain was all too evident in his visceral reaction.

The second Marcus dropped Ophie, Ivy darted forward, taking him into her arms and breaking the promise they'd always held between them. "Dad!" But no images came, no memories. Her lower lip trembled a bit as she ducked her head away from Marcus' view, curling herself around her dad. Because he always would be her dad, even if he didn't know her now. Even if he never did again.

Marcus ignored Ivy and her question. He’d deal with her soon enough. Instead he gripped a handful of the Oracle’s hair, and jerked his head back. “To think…” he mused. “That this could all be prevented if you’d only just told me what I wanted to know.”

Ophie winced at the angle, but knew better than to actually goad him further. In truth, it would be easy for him to just merely tell Marcus everything. To tell him the truths of the world. To betray the lives of millions of people. But...that was not something Ophie was willing to do. Despite knowing that it would be exactly what was going to happen. At least it meant his morals were intact. That he'd be able to face Jason again. If he ever got the chance too anyway. That he'd be able to tell Zander that he did protect everyone to the very best of his ability. That he could still be a beacon of strength for Ivy. That he did not cave under the pressure. It wouldn't save him the torment of knowing he'd be responsible. But at least, the people he cared about would know that he'd fought for them in the end. That gave him a little peace amidst everything else.

Despite knowing what it was that was going to happen, did little to ease his mind. Because it wasn't even a question that it was going to hurt. He knew it would. He also knew he'd be nothing but an empty husk in the end. And while Ophie wasn't really very attached to his life in general. Didn't have any sort of belief system to hold onto. He had been looking forward to a life with Jason. For whatever that entailed. Because it would be with Jason. Then there were little things he'd been growing more accustomed to. Ivy growing up. Zander getting married to Dane. Just simple things. Now, it was all going to be gone. So easily wiped out of existence. And Ophie was sad about it. Very sad. Sadness was not a feeling he'd grown to know very well. So it caused a great deal of pain.

Marcus jerked his head back again when he didn't respond to him. "Don't have anything to say? Hmm? What about to the girl?"

Ophie blinked several times. A last attempt to keep the emotion from being all consuming. He didn't want Ivy to have to witness this. Because she already saw far more than she should. He couldn't beg for her safety though. That wouldn't do a damned thing. But there were things he could say, he supposed. He found Ivy with his reddened eyes, just staring at her for a moment. Because he wanted to keep the image of her. Even as battered and bruised as she was. But knew, that he wouldn't be able to. He would forget her. He would forget everything. "Tell Jason..." He rasped. "Tell him I'm sorry." And there was so much depth to that apology. So much that would be lost on Marcus. Which was, in essence, what Ophie could do. Because merely seeing it, would not give him the ability to understand it.

Marcus made a disgusted sound. "Oh...is that all?" He sighed. Releasing Ophie's hair, he produced a dagger from the inside of his sleeve. Turning more towards Ivy now as he made a clean cut accross his wrist. "Blood bonds are truly fascinating you know...so useful." He didn't bother giving Ophie the choice on whether or not he was going to be cooperative. Merely caught him by the hair again and forcing his wrist against his mouth.

Ophie gagged and coughed. Did make an attempt to not ingest the demonic stuff. But it was a losing battle as it was. And some did trickle down his throat. It burned. It tasted awful and as soon as Marcus pulled his arm away he retched in an attempt to cough it out again. He struggled to keep his balance. But Marcus caught his flailing wrist, producing the dagger again and this time cutting Ophie with it.

"Your blood and mine..." He said before sealing his lips over the cut and drinking it. The draw of it hurt, and Ophie jerked his arm back from him. And he let him, having apparently gotten what he'd wanted.

It was a strange sensation. Because Ophie was no longer alone in his head. Well, he hadn't been necessarily alone there since he'd accepted Jason. But Jason's presence was a comfort in essence. Not an intruder. As Marcus was. It was a fight at first. Ophie strengthening the wall Jason built for him. But with every brick he cemented, Marcus knocked down two more. The process was agonizing. And no matter how tightly Ophie held onto his bond to Jason, it still ripped out of his grasp. His body shuddered at the impact of it. Seizing in on itself. Because it was a physical thing, not only a mental one. A sort of desperation took over. Because suddenly, Ophie wasn't grabbing at Jason anymore. He was pushing him. Pushing him away to save him. He couldn't bear the idea of Marcus touching him. Of Marcus somehow soiling what they had. Then he felt Zander there too. Only Zander was fighting against him. Trying to hold onto him but he pushed him away too. Then Ivy. Because he was as connected to her as he was to Zander. Finally, he found Gael there. And Gael was so deeply hidden that it startled Ophie to see him. The image of his brother was so vivid, Ophie felt like he could reach out and touch him. Gael caught at him, pulling him forward. Ophie couldn't understand what he was doing or even why.

"Ah..." Marcus crooned. Catching Ophie by the back of his head. "There we are." The words were said in an almost affectionate tone, though they brought Ophie absolutely no comfort. "You are very strong, aren't you, pet?" He cooed. "But...I win. Anyway."

Gael's lips parted in a bone-chilling smile. One that made Ophie stiffen. Trying to pull back. But Gael had always been stronger than he was. In every way that counted.

The moment that Marcus penetrated Ophie's mind, extracting from him every memory, every thought, every image. It was a piercing, debilitating pain. And Ophie contorted into a silent scream. Clawing at Marcus.

He felt more than he heard his brother's laugh. "Riddle me this..." He said. "It runs and runs but can never flee. It is often watched, yet never seen. When long it brings boredom, When short it brings fear. What is it?"

Ophie shook his head. He didn't know. He didn't care to know.

Gael laughed again. Delighted. "You are the damsel in the fairytale dear brother. You know the one...where true love's kiss triumphs over all." He released Ophie then, letting him fall back into the recesses of his mind. And Ophie wondered about that, before the blackness took over.

[ivy-knows-everything]

[ivy-knows-everything]

Ivy could feel Ophie's stare on her, but she kept her focus on Marcus. She'd already made her stance, so it wouldn't help to cower away now.

The words about Thaddeus made her stomach contort in a mix of worry and outright fear for him. She didn't like to begin to picture what that could mean, but still images from the memories of Monroe, Xavier, and Chance swam through her mind then.

She'd almost missed the rest of the exchange entirely because of those thoughts. Only after Marcus had moved past her did she come back into the present, watching the way Ophie looked panicked. And that made her breath catch. Because that wasn't something he did. Ever. No, now he'd seen some fate for himself. And Ivy was the last to know, given the predatory joy on Marcus' face. She looked between the two older warlocks, that panic making her racing pulse pound in her ears. "Doing what?" She questioned, although she knew well enough that she'd find out whether she liked it or not.

Ophie managed to get up as far as his knees. Having to stop there to catch his breath. He shot Ivy a look of warning. Not wanting her to have more of Marcus’ attention than she did already.

Marcus regarded Ivy with narrowed eyes. Not liking that she wasn’t cowering. “Seems pretty logical to me.” He answered. “Thaddeus is a flight risk. Had I left you all together he’d have portaled everyone out. He’s rather weasely like that. So it takes more effort to keep him pliant. But don’t worry. We will manage.” He let that dark intent sit for a moment. Choosing to settle his attention onto Ophien who was barely upright. “As for Zander.” He shrugged. “I’m enjoying his company. And it’s not like you lot require his attentions as I do. So… you’ll just have to trust me on that.”

Ophie snorted. He certainly wouldn’t be trusting him or anyone in his company. “He’s not going to find Xavier for you. He can’t. That hunt has been waging a 100 years or more. He’s finally given up. Let him have his peace. You narcissistic sadist.”

Marcus raised an amused brow at him. “Yes. Rather interesting, isn’t it? That he’s been playing you lot for fools this entire time.”

But Ophie didn’t take the bait. He knew damned well that Zander kept things from him. He wasn’t so disillusioned to think that he knew everything about his friend. Not when he never looked closely at him. Ophie had his own secrets after all. “He won’t give Xavier to you.” He said with absolute certainty.

He frowned at that. Because the bond the two warlocks shared annoyed him. “Well…” Marcus said, closing the distance between them. “Then I suppose we’ll just have to convince him then… shall we?” He let his plan go unvoiced. But he knew when he saw Ophien’s eyes widen that he’d seen anyway. “I do suppose you could fight me. But then..” he shrugged. “I’d just have to take out my frustrations on the girl. How could you live with yourself after that?”

Ophie shot a wild-eyed look in Ivy’s direction though it didn’t stay there. “No here.” He said, an almost plea in his voice. “I’ll go with you. But not here.”

Marcus glanced at Ivy as well. His lips pulling into a truly sadistic little smile. “No.” He replied. “We’ll be doing it right here.”