IC CONTACT

[wizzardly]

VOICEMAIL:

"Er... yes, okay, I suppose I should tell you that if you're trying to reach me I'm not here, and if you're trying to reach me because you want to do something involving pointy bits of metal or otherwise painful objects, I'm never going to be here. So sorry."

Comments

[wizzardly]

what? What corner? What's happening?

[he'd be surprised by the kindness of this warning if his first reaction weren't immediate fear.]

[jacksonian]

I'm not an idiot. I'm not giving details - I know you're afraid of him, and I don't want you giving him anything. Don't go to him. Get away, instead.

[wizzardly]

everyone is bloody well afraid of him if they have sense. Why would I go near him?
And why do you know something is happening? Who are you?

[jacksonian]

Someone like you. Someone Lucifer cultivated as a weapon against the Vorkosigans and Gregor Vorbarra - the one he decided to put into use.

[wizzardly]

[and the background pieces click together; Lucifer has made his move against Miles and his army. In what form, Rincewind doesn't know, and he has a moment to feel incredibly grateful for that - that he was deemed unneeded, in the end. Overlooked. Thank the gods.

So now the question: who wasn't?]

Why would you warn me?
what are you going to do? After.

[jacksonian]

Because I'm not working for him any longer. And once they act, he's going to call on all the resources he has. I'd like it better if there's one fewer person protecting him.

[ Also, maybe, just maybe, he doesn't want Rincewind hurt. ]

And what I'll do after depends on how fast and how far I can run, I guess.

[wizzardly]

you're still assuming you know my connection to him. Or that we have one.

[but of course, in the very next text:]

Running doesn't work. he can find and teleport to you wherever you go. You need to stay somewhere warded.

[jacksonian]

[ He'd known about the teleportation. And he knows what wards are, now - after all, he's about to destroy Lucifer's own set of wards. He...hadn't thought about the possibility of wards helping him, though. So after a hesitation: ]

Are there places that have wards on them?

[wizzardly]

Miles' house was supposed to. I told him repeatedly to get them.

[still bitter about that.]

The home I'm living in also has them. They can be put on any building by someone skilled with spell crafting.

[jacksonian]

[ ...For fuck's sake. Did Miles have a means of protection that he never used? For all that Miles is his enemy - maybe - definitely - he feels a wave of real anger and frustration. Why is he leaving himself vulnerable like that? ]

How long would that take? Putting up wards. If I found someone who could cast spells.

[wizzardly]

Less than an hour I'd think, if the building isn't too large. Sabriel is most known for offering them but there are others.

[jacksonian]

Who else?

[wizzardly]

a person named Billy. Someone else as well, but I would have to ask their permission.
I wouldn't want to do that without knowing your name first.

[jacksonian]

[ It would help if I knew my own name. ]

I helped you with a certain financial question.

[wizzardly]

Oh! Okay

[which doesn't begin to cover all the questions that come up at that. The man who looks like Miles - gods, of course Lucifer would find that useful, the poor bastard.]

Is that what you'd prefer? My person over Billy or Sabriel?

[jacksonian]

[ It's probably a bad idea. After all, Lucifer knows Rincewind. Lucifer can track down Rincewind and get information from him. But his options are either to get help from this man, who understands, or have to explain himself to someone else. Yes, they'd only been kind to me, and yes, I stabbed them in the back - ]

Yeah. I can pay you.

[wizzardly]

you may not have to, but I'll mention it.

[April could be... capricious. Which was fairly standard for witches anyway.]

Just tell me what city the building would be in so I can pass it on. I'll text you as soon as I have an answer.

[jacksonian]

Maurtia Falls. And this needs to stay discreet. Obviously. I don't want Miles and his people figuring out where I am.

[wizzardly]

Obviously. Keep yourself safe for now, I'll let you know soon.

[jacksonian]

[ It's a struggle to type this, just because he's not used to saying this: ]

Thanks.

[wizzardly]

[and an hour later:]

They agreed. Do you want to just send the address?

[jacksonian]

Yeah. I'll text it. It needs to be soon. Things are happening fast.

[wizzardly]

[oh that doesn't make him feel incredibly anxious.]

okay yes I'll convince her to go today.
Her name is April Ludgate. She'd rather that whatever you would have paid her you just invest for her instead.
I know I probably don't have to tell you, but if either of our names come up in connection to this later I'll be

[well, 'maimed' probably.]

upset

[jacksonian]

I'll give you a broker's fee, too, for finding her.

And yeah. Though if Lucifer finds me, I can't guarantee anything. So make the wards strong and don't tell him about me. Do we have a Deal?

[wizzardly]

[he'd like to argue that, but... well, yeah, it only makes sense. Rincewind couldn't guarantee anything in the face of that either.]

We do.
Good luck I suppose