Pretty Fabulous for a Dead Girl

Puck was not pleased by the deaths of the grasshoppers-- nor, to be perfectly candid, was he exactly delighted by the strange charms that showed up on the gift table after Raven's. He has pocketed them but avoided touching them directly; they are in his jean pocket, wrapped in paper napkins.

He runs a hand through his hair, absently.

"Before or after that strange balding fellow attempted to abscond with Raspberry?"

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Havelock eyes him sideways, pulling the door shut behind him.

"I think I missed that," he says.

He'll... let Puck explain the Satan thing.

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"Dr. Evil," Lilly said, waving a hand as if that explains everything. "Despite the name, not a threat. And I painted all of our nails sparkly purple, so Raspberry's cool with her ink again now."

All nails included Adrian's. Rigid gender roles have no place in a household that contains an experienced Moiraine impersonator.

"So, after that..."

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Interestingly, Puck was going to let Havelock explain about the Satan thing.

Lilly's already heard it from his end, after all.

"I am most gratified to hear it, dearest," he says with a fluttering of a bright smile. "You are terribly considerate."

He shrugs.

"I imagine there is little else of note. Save that Havelock and I did have some brief words with a certain Irishman."

Irishmanshapedbeing.

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"Thankfully brief," Havelock agrees.

Threatening conversations with incredibly powerful beings are always so awkward.

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Irishman... oh. Man, why couldn't it have been the other devil? Lilly could have traded their family safety for sexual favors this time. ALL NIGHT LONG.

"Let me guess. He wasn't interested in a threesome?"

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Puck gives Lilly a look of withering distaste. (Accompanied by fierce eyebrow archings of SERIOUSLY SHUT UP.)

"That was not my impression, at least."

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Havelock gives them both a look that could mean just about anything.

"Not unless I misinterpreted somewhat."

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Lilly decides it would be impossible to give them both properly Meaningful Looks in response since she is not cross-eyed and moves on.

"Okay, so. How much trouble are we in?"

The "this time" is implied.

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"That I cannot say," Puck mutters.

"Due to what I am afraid was shortsightedness on my part, now he would speak with Blodwen Rowlands on my behalf. I think it quite likely that you, Havelock, and the children may all be subjects of that conversation as well. What will come of it, I cannot say-- mayhap they shall take poorly to each other, as those with their pride and power are wont to do. Then again ..."

He shrugs, this time somewhat miserably.

"They may find their aims in quite an enviable alignment."

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Havelock gives a barely visible wince.

This is really not his area of expertise, much though you would think he'd be getting used to it by now.

"Vengeance does tend to be a personal motivation," he offers, without much hope. "But perhaps we should plan for the worst."

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"Vengeance can also be a group activity," Lilly says. "We ended up with a lot of people on Team Die Blodwen Die, you know? I think Satan might just manage to make it work over on Team Hi Blodwen Hi."

She's not trying to make Puck feel worse, but she's with Havelock on this one.

"They both know about all of us now, right?"

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The thought has occurred to Puck, as it happens.

"He does," he says.

"Mistress Rowlands, as of our last meeting, knew of neither you nor the children, Lilly-- but she is well acquainted with Havelock."

Maybe Havelock would like to share something about that experience! (Puck's not counting on it, even in the name of full disclosure.)

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"Quite," is all Havelock says on that score.

(He is, for the record, just a little embarrassed by his reaction the last time Blodwen Rowlands was about.)

He leans thoughtfully on the back of an armchair.

"Is there any likelihood this man will share what he knows with her?"

We all know how evil supernatural beings adore gossip.

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Not just supernatural beings. There are people in this very room with an excellent understanding of how addictive gossip is!

"He totally will," Lilly says. "I mean, probably not right away, because first there'll have to be all the usual subtext and hints and testing each other crap that evil alliances thrive on, but then it's going to be all 'did you know Puck has three children?' 'Ohh, how lovely. He's quite the family man these days.' 'Yes, it would be such a shame if anything happened to them' and then a significant pause followed by synchronized evil tea-drinking."

Or possibly whisky for Satan, but probably tea. It's always tea.

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Puck snorts.

"Yes, I am sure they shall be most politic and circuitous in their dealings. However, come to the point they certainly shall, and it may be as soon as this very night. Our plans to see the children safely away now seem doubly prudent."

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Havelock nods, looking at Lilly.

"Are you able to take them somewhere else with you?" he asks. "We thought it would be rather better if neither of us knew where they were."

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"Totally," Lilly says firmly. "I'm not magic and I've only ever managed character assassination, but I'm very experienced in the art of not letting people know where I really am. Besides, I should probably spend more time with the kids."

She pauses.

"If anyone says anything about maternal feelings, I'm switching teams."

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"Consider me profoundly silent on the matter," Puck assures her.

He tilts his head.

"Raven has gifted the children with charms-- protections. They seem to me quite suitable for disguising their whereabouts from prying eyes. Nevertheless, I must admit to some small fear for you, Lilly darling, if either of them should discover you are the children's keeper."

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"I would not dream of it," Havelock echoes on the heels of Puck's assurance.

Then "That was good of him," he says of Raven. "A pity he does not seem to be about in person."

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Lilly may have actually been more worried about the maternal thing than the danger, but her priorities have long been suspect.

"I think I'll be okay. The charms will help, and it might even be better if Raven doesn't know where we are. And I'll keep moving, so."

It should probably be all right. Hopefully.

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"If you are quite certain," Puck says, brow furrowing.

"As to Mistress Rowlands I could hardly be certain, but the other has come for me once already in a world outside these walls. It would seem he is most persistent when there are those he wants found."

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Havelock looks grim.

"He found you in a world of his own? Or one where he had no previous presence?"

The latter is bad, but what's worse is that the former doesn't rule the possibility out that he is as powerful as ever in all places.

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Puck shrugs, helplessly.

"You should know as well as I. 'Twas the world through your wardrobe-- the Dublin of nearly my time, though it inhabits a universe of a slightly different character."

A pause.

"Although perhaps it was simply that he'd an easier time of it finding me. He has had occasion to know me rather well."

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