( inbox. ) deer country.

[oldhound]

spoiler warning: John Constantine has never been the bigger person in his life. Ever.

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[creidim]

I'm at home. Yes, no sign of anything at least. I'm busy working on wards. Usagi said she'd give me a hand to make them stronger.

And also just... trying to stop Peter from having a nervous breakdown.

But I think Maul might be aiming more for you than Willow or I.

[oldhound]

need me to stop by and help? there's a lamp near to yours, isn't there?

not surprised it's got him all twisted up. honestly, i'd be more concerned about paimon than peter if he's as stressed as he is.

i know he is. he and i have had a grudge basically since i got to deerington way back. as a rule i don't get involved in affairs like this unless i have to or unless someone makes it personal.

passed that line way back.

[creidim]

I'd really like that. And there is, yes. [ Not to mention she would just.... quite like to see him right about now. And it might be good for Peter, too. But just... please be careful, John. ]

I believe this is just mostly Peter's worry that I'm seeing. Paimon is... surprisingly calm, I think. If there was something I'd be seeing from him, it would be anger. And a lot of it.

He tried offering me a truce, after shutting our communication down to private.

[oldhound]

just give me a mo. is there anything you need me to bring from here? [ He'd like to see her in person as well. Even if it's quick and probably only to show he's breathing still. Toss a quick hug in there. ]

honestly the calm worries me more. you know the old saying.

did he now? did you take it? no judgement if you did. i'm not really surprised he offered it to you. i'd wager you scare him more than i do.

[creidim]

I think I'm alright, but thank you.

That's quite true. I'm going to check in with him when I have a minute. [ If Paimon is deeply angry, then she'll soon find out. They're getting quite good at having these kinds of conversations, lately. ]

He essentially told me he wouldn't come for revenge if I left him alone. I suspected it would make things easier for him if I wasn't in his way.

I've never really been one for standing down and doing nothing against people like him, I suppose. Bit of a habit of mine.

[oldhound]

if you change your mind i've got ways of getting other stuff without going out or doing it too much. just say the word.

let me know how it goes if you get around to it before i stop in. [ Again that's a good and bad thing in John's mind. It shows how tied together they are. How close to the surface Paimon is remaining and he still doesn't know enough about how things went with specifics back home to be able to put it all together. All he can do is take whatever happens here as it comes and hope for the best. ]

sounds about like a bloke knowing he's out of his league with you.

i know it's not your way. there's a kind of poetry kicking bastards like him in the bollocks. they always want the easy way, easiest one is with no one to step up to them.

[creidim]

I will. I suspect it's not going to be an easy conversation, either way. [ Even if Paimon isn't on the verge of sheer rage, she suspects he's going to be very concerned and worried about the whole thing. She's... going to have to maybe put some things in place concerning him if Maul does make a move against her. ]

They really do want the easiest way.

Considering I once temporarily jinxed his tongue to the roof of his mouth, he does have an idea of what I could do. [ And really even that was relative tame. Maul's not actually seen how she fights. ] I'm hoping it's enough to keep him away. He's convinced I'm frightened of him, but I think he might be more wary of me if he's willing to try and keep me out of play.

[oldhound]

these kind never are. i'm not looking forward to my own coming up, honestly. [ He should've planned for this. Considered it all. Usually he's got the angles figured but there's been so much happening and with shifting from Deerington to here and everything that entails--- He shouldn't put it all on himself and yet. ]

cowards usually do.

i would've paid to see that. [ John has. Even if it was mainly defensively. It smarts. Maul'd be stupid to try and provoke her to the point of violence. ] i knew he had delusions of grandeur and the like but that's a bit extreme, i'd say. he's definitely more wary of you if he's trying to keep you on the sidelines.

[creidim]

Herc's not going to take any of it well, is he? [ She doesn't imagine he will. ]

It was admittedly quite satisfying. But I got tired of listening to him and he had the nerve to show up at my door. [ So it was really his own fault. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes — as the Modern Muggle Kids say. ]

I do think he likes to believe he's the most terrifying being there is because of what he can do and because he looks a bit different. [ There's no doubt he can likely intimidate a lot of people. ] But the thing is I've already met scarier people before.