Owner	Pose
Jason Blood	When one is dialed into the mystic community, there is an awful lot of chatter that comes across one's desk. Usually it is without any kind of real importance - a group of teenagers in Illinois inadvertently communing with someone from the great beyond, some poor lonely fisherman stumbling across rumors of how to summon a selkie, attempts to predict next week's lotto numbers. But every once in a while, something comes up that piques interest. Oddly, Gaelic gods manifesting in Egypt is not one that would pop up much interest on its face. A summoning and binding by the Cult of Morrigan, though - well, the name itself conjures up all manner of thoughts and feelings in one Jason Blood. Hearing tales only after its success, there was a twitch of Jason's mouth as he became aware of Morrigan's unfortunate passing and then her most fortunate return. And so initially he was inclined to dismiss it. He had, after all, been the one who vanished on her, and therefore had little right to intrude upon her life now. He had plucked that by the root and cast it away before it could take any kind of firm hold. No matter how much he blamed Etrigan for that, for taunting him with tales of Morrigan's beauty and how delicious her blood must be, the choice had still come down to his with what to do. And he had taken the coward's way out. He had often thought he should reach out to at the very least provide her with an explanation. He had come close once, using a scrying spell to discern her locale so he could perhaps try to explain. He had seen, much to his displeasure but certainly not unwarranted, that his absence had left her open to another. Surely one who could take better care of her, and did not have to battle with any other minds clamoring for control of his actions. It might have been the same way this time, as well, if not for the observation that her sight had not yet returned. This, perhaps, could be his penance for having vanished from her sight nearly a year ago. And so, with deep resignation, Jason Blood found himself standing outside of Happy Harbor High. He was unsure how he would be received - poorly, most likely, and most deservedly. But he owed her this. And so he makes his way up and into the building, seeking to alert them that he was here to visit the director. And so it shall be.
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan's name had always been a bit of a weird choice from her adopted parents and her real father was less amused by the choice, but, he didn't get a say in the matter since he murdered her mother. The director had been through a lot the last year, but she was still in fairly good spirits as they were prepping the school for the new year that was fast approaching. Her death meant that they were giving the kids some more time to enjoy Summer given mourning and therapy had stolen some of it. She felt badly for that. She's in the hallway down around the corner, but she does hear the chatter. Riordan, her big black tibetan mastiff also hears the arrival and takes off at a trundle down and around to greet Jason, "Oooooh. You're in trouble, Mister Blood." the dog tells him. Yes, the dog talks. "Doctor MacIntyre, you've got a visitor." Duncan calls down the hall to his boss. "You want to take him, Riordan?" the large man turns to look at the dog. It bobs it's head in the affirmative, "Aye, I'll take him. This way, Mister Blood." he states as he trots back towards where he came from.
Jason Blood	A talking dog is hardly the most unusual thing that Jason Blood has seen. Even this week, most likely. He just accepts such things and moves on to the message the mastiff delivers. "No doubt," he replies to the canine, thinking nothing of engaging in casual conversation with the beast. "Most assuredly well deserved, unfortunately." He follows along down the hallway, following Riordan as he is led towards Morrigan. He is not even really sure what he hopes to receive from her - blame, anger, disappointment. But he knows it is what he has to do and maybe, just maybe, he can find some way to be useful. Give up that dim hope, For you are no dope. The ship has sailed, Her feelings paled. You waste your time, May as well just mime. Thanks, Etrigan. Jason shakes his head and sighs.
Morrigan MacIntyre	"Given current situations I'd say you're not the only one in the dog house, Mister Blood...so at least you won't be alone." The dog muses as he trundles down the hall. There is a door that is open and inside there is the sound of Morrigan's voice, followed by the soft caw of a raven. "No, the vision is blurry, but coming back fine." she tells the large bird that is perched on the open window. Riordan heads into the room and settles down next to the desk, "Your visitor, highness." he states. Then there is a look to Jason from the dog, "You've got this. I'll be outside though." he tells him. Morrigan's appearance has changed, for one, she no longer has the white streak in her hair. It's a brighter copper red. Her eyes are the violet that they used to be like. Right now they are a deathly pale lavender. "Leave us." the woman states to the raven and then waits for it to leave. She then turns to look directly at Jason and she slowly walks that way, her heels echoing out in the silence as she approaches. Jason can probably sense that she's not angry. That might stand out if she was given circumstances.
Jason Blood	An eyebrow arches as Jason regards Riordan. Whatever could that mean. Do not let your hopes rise, Surely it is just someone unwise. He pauses near the door, overhearing that her vision is coming back. The necessity - or is it pretense? - of the visit is evaporating before he has even walked in the door. And then the dog announces him, and he must continue. He makes a mental note to have a conversation with the mastiff later. Although he cannot recall the last time a dog tried to give him a pep talk. Or anyone had, for that matter. Jason has lived long enough to master the art of concealing his reactions, and so he manages to suppress any appearance of shock at the - fragility? - of Morrigan as he steps into the room. He nods slightly to the raven, but focuses his attention on Morrigan's approach. He is both pleased to see her, if her color faded, and apprehensive of what the next few moments will bring. One thing he knows for sure is that whatever her reaction is, he deserves it. "Hello, Morrigan."
Morrigan MacIntyre	"I wasn't sure how I'd react if I saw you again." The Irish woman states in a quiet tone. "I wasn't sure if I'd scream and throw things at you or if I'd cry or if I'd just tell you to leave again." she tells him. There is definitely a fragileness to the woman, even if she is trying to juggle the new goddess thing. It's a lot to handle. She stops a few feet away from him and then there's a smile, "It's safe to say I won't be throwing anything at you...and I'm really tired of screaming at people." she chuckles to him. Then there is a step forward, crossing the distance to him as she abruptly hugs him. "I thought you were dead, Jason or that you had gotten into some kind of trouble that you couldn't get yourself out of." she whispers to him. "And I can barely see so I'm all out of sorts, so I apologize for that in advance." she explains.
Jason Blood	Reflexively, Jason nods although she cannot see it. He had thought through each of those possibilities. Or likely some combination of them. He had settled on the most likely being an expression of disappointment. At what could have been, of what he had done. You know it was for the best, Your concerns would never rest. You could be the cause of her harm, Because her emotions you disarm. And if somehow she were to fall, Whose name to blame would you call? He sighs to himself as Morrigan crosses towards him, part of him bracing for something else, despite that being out of character for her. He was not prepared - and perhaps that was the very part of her nature that he could never understand or predict but made her so appealing to him - for what he got instead. Accepting the hug as it is offered, Jason pours himself into it as well. He knows that it may very well be as much for her, given what she has been through, as it is for him. He can at least give her that much. "I had gotten myself into trouble, yes, but there was a way to get out of it, no matter how loathe I was to take it. But I had to, and..." He shrugs slightly. "No need to apologize. It is I who need to apologize to you. I should have had greater courage, and not subjected you to what I did to spare myself those same ... difficulties."
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan feels the tension bleed out of her as she hugs the man and as the hug is returned. She wasn't the hateful or blaming sort. She rarely was. But it was very apparent that the woman needed a damn good hug! "Thank you." she tells him. Then she is pulling back just a little to look to his face. Or what she thinks is the right direction of his face. "Was I the trouble?" she asks him. "You can be honest with me. I'm not going to yell or be upset or anything like that. I just...want to know the truth." she tells him. "I'm used to things not working or things being complicated in relationships. If you want to apologize you can, but I wasn't expecting one." she states with a smile. "Should I ask how my favorite demon is doing?" she adds with a bit of a smile.
Jason Blood	It would seem that both of them needed that, as Jason himself deflates a bit with the release of tension that accompanies the hug. "You are most welcome." A split second decision on Jason's part, and he brings up his fingers to brush beneath her chin, guiding her face slightly so that she can look at him. It allows him a closer look at her eyes, even if it does not afford her any clearer view of him. Even if her eyes cannot truly meet his, as he looks into them he is unable to answer with anything but the truth. "Only in the best way," he says with a sigh. "The trouble was my counterpart, and what I feared he might do to you." He pauses. "What I _fear_ he might do to you." Why in me do you not trust? I crave not the taste of rust. If I were to do any to hurt her, Twould be just to hurt you further. "He is there. As before." Jason rolls his eyes for a moment. "I should have said something, instead of just leaving, but..." He sighs deeply. "I'm sorry." She wasn't expecting one, but she deserved one.
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan doesn't flinch away from the touch of his fingers as he guides her face and the smile that she gives might melt anyones cold heart. "I wasn't regenerating right so we had to...redo the eyes." she sighs to that. "It's going better after that though." she admits to him. She can feel his eyes, what she can't see she can sense a bit better. "I was still looking forward to dinner. Even after he and I talked on my roof." she tells him. "I know Etrigan is not a soft thing and that he could very well hurt me. Or well, at this point he could try." she smirks. She is quiet as he gives his apologies and there is a soft smile, "I forgive you, Jason Blood." she states the words with ease. She didn't hold a grudge. "It would appear that when I died my vampiric traits went away. So your counterpart has lost that joke fodder." she points out to him.
Jason Blood	"Well, then it would seem that I have troubled you for nothing, Morrigan," replies Jason, just a touch of that bitterness that he always carries in his voice. "I had returned because I thought perhaps I could help with that, but it seems even in that I am but extraneous." The fact that she could not see the way his face falls as she uses the past tense is perhaps the one tiny mercy afforded him in the moment. "I was, too," he says softly. His tone is clear that that is not entirely in the past, either. But his voice perks up. "Has your brush with death left you hardier? Beyond the reach of my demonic roommate?" "I had not realized. What else has...changed?" Jason can hear Etrigan's laughter, the scraping of talons against slate. Now she thinks the danger is past. Perhaps it is, but the die's been cast. You've lost her already, should have waited, If long enough my hunger was not sated. You could have felt her to be safe, If only you'd had a little faith. Jason closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "He is a funny one, yes."
Morrigan MacIntyre	"You're never trouble to me, Jason." Morrigan points out in a gentle tone. "And if you think you can help with the remaining sight issue I'd be happy to let you try, but I don't want to pile a lot on your shoulders." she tells him. "You came back when you felt you needed to and it's never too late." she smiles to that. She cannot see his face fall, if she had she might have cried to be honest. "Maybe in the future we can do dinner." she states. Then there's a chuckle, "Hardier is a good word. While I was a master of the mystics before I've gained some new tricks and while I might look frail I assure that I am not." she explains. "I don't want you to let him out to test it though." she adds. "Well, back when the death gods were warring one of the Morrigan became corrupted. She killed one of her sisters and then a few months ago Matcha had started to be corrupted. Since I was to be their vessel, Matcha decided to...off me. But, the fates had different ideas. So now I am The Morrigan." she tells him. "That's why Riordan addresses me as 'highness', 'my queen' etc. It's...a lot." she shakes her head. "He's an asshole, Jason." she chuckles. "But he didn't eat me when you told him to get me out of Constantine's place, so he's got that going for him." she adds.
Jason Blood	"You would never be a weight on me, Morrigan," replies Jason, and he withdraws his fingers as if suddenly acutely aware of their continued trespass. "I did some back, although it was nearly too late to apologize." It's never too late, she states If you can just find that man she dates, Let me out to do the deed, I be happy to watch him bleed, Recompense for my role in your loss, To Hell her friend's life to toss. His jaw clenches and his fingers form into fists. He shoves the voice to the back of his mind as much as he can. But it is never gone. "That does sound like a lot." The dissonance in his tone betrays the tension, not yet fully dispersed from Etrigan's latest offer. She would hear that in his voice. And how likely is she to correctly guess its source?" "You just do not realize what he is capable of, Morrigan. I cannot subject you -" A deep breath. "- or anyone you care about to his whims." Coward! She can be yours again! Just bring forth Etrigan!
Morrigan MacIntyre	"I mean, you could have said your apologies to my grave. I'm sure I might have heard it there if you did." Morrigan tells him easily. The fingers leaving her chin give her pause for a moment, but she still focuses on him. Her lack of true sight at the moment makes her listen to his voice more. "If he's getting on your nerves we could try to change topics or something, Jason." she offers. "Though I'm guessing it's rare for him to be silenced." she adds with a quirk of her eyebrow. "It's a lot, but I've got time to figure it out. And see what all the new life entails." she admits to that. "No, I don't know what all that he is capable of. But I am guessing that he would delight in tormenting you with things." she states in a quiet tone. "I still care for you. That's not something that just dried up when I realized you were not coming back." she explains.
Jason Blood	"As unsatisfying as apologies usually are, that would be far less than any I could imagine," replies Jason dryly. His fingers wriggle for a moment as she reacts, and he wonders if they should have stayed. Maybe she still has some care, Maybe if you could find some dare, Let me out and you will see, With her you still could be. Jason laughs at that suggestion, shaking his head. "We could be talking about Bingo and he would have an opinion, Morrigan. It just grates on me more when it is about something of importance to me." He pauses and tries to decide if he should dial that back. She is going through enough. It is not fair of him to come back, unannounced, and meddle and complicate. A long, slow, steady breath is exhaled by Jason. "It was not that I ever stopped caring for you, Morrigan. It is always that I care too much." "Admit it once it is too late. That is always going to be your fate. Should have said it when you had the chance. Perhaps with you she'd now dance.
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan gives a chuckle, "Maybe it would have been, yes." she admits. She clasps her hands in front of herself lightly since she wasn't sure what to do with them post hugging the man. "Does he talk when you are asleep? I think if there wasn't some kind of reprieve that it would be madness." she tells him truthfully. The admittance of importance makes her flush a little, the near blindness was annoying in this moment as she couldn't see his expressions. "In that we are the same, Jason." she nods to that. "And if I thought that something of mine would have hurt you then I probably would have done the same...or well...I would have talked to you." she admits. It's not a dig at him. It's just her explaining. "Can I ask that you not be a stranger if you're back in town for a bit?" she asks him with a bit of a hopefully look to her eyes.
Jason Blood	Jason laughs bitterly about that question. "No, my dreams are a Hell entirely unto their own, I am afraid." He decides to take a chance, of sorts, and reaches out to take her hands. It gives them both something to do with them. He nods, again a pointless gesture but one that makes him feel nature in the conversation. "I should have talked to you, but..." Tell her! Fell her! Admit that you are weak! That she is not meek, That you knew she would say Despite all of it you should stay. And that her trust you would betray, Because I would come out...some day. His fingers squeeze her hand as he tries to fight back the urge to follow the Demon's advice. He wins that battle, for the moment. Tell her what you desire. Tell her there is still that fire. Say that you will stay as long as needed. I have seen times when you have pleaded. You can get her back, Apply the right tack. She is asking for you to stay. There is nothing else you have to say. Jason closes his eyes. He realizes that Etrigan may be right. "I would very much relish having the opportunity to spend time with you again." Of you I am finally proud! I wish I did not have to be so loud!
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan holds his hands, giving a gentle and warm squeeze to them, "Maybe some day they won't be like that, Jason." she tells him. There's a smile that touches her features, something warm that lights her eyes, "I understand." she tells him. If she could hear Etrigan she might have asked for Jason to let him out so she could stomp on his foot, but she doesn't! "Hopefully when we spend time together I won't have to use a raven to navigate or Riordan as my service dog. That vest looks a little ridiculous on that dog." she chuckles to that. "Thank you for being willing to. I find that things are rather lonely when I'm not here with the students. Which...is odd, but..." she shrugs. "And I have a pair of students that are moving back into school this evening, so that might be the only thing that pulls me away." she tells him.
Jason Blood	"If the past ... fifteen hundred years? ... have been any indication, I do not think that day will come." Jason laughs mirthlessly, but he nods. "I know that if you could so something about it, then you would." Lonely are things! To our ears that rings! You are not truly lost! Your pause has not cost! Jason bites at his lip for a moment. He knows that Etrigan is just trying to egg him on in any direction he can that achieves his own goals. But the Demon had picked up on it too. Maybe he had misinterpreted what he saw in his scrying. Did it matter? "If you would have me join you, I would be happy to be your eyes as long as you needed me to be." He glances back towards where Riordan had gone. Maybe the mastiff had been right? He looks back to Morrigan, and gives her hands another squeeze. "I would be happy to help. I am, surprisingly, rather devoid of calendar appointments at present." JASON BLOOD YOU DEVILISH MAN! Show her the care that only you can!
Morrigan MacIntyre	"I keep forgetting you've been around that long." Morrigan admits to him. "I'll hope that you can have one night of quiet rest though." she tells him with a smile. Morrigan was definitely too sweet for her own good sometimes. "I'd be happy for you to join me. Amusingly there are more redheads that will be moving in for their junior year. Everyone thinks they are mine." she chuckles. "Well, if your calendar is empty then I don't feel bad with occupying your time. I'll even buy you dinner for helping." she smiles to that. "Come on. Let's go get some fresh air before others get here." she offers as she gives his hand another squeeze before she moves to start out. She'd let him lead if he wanted to.
Jason Blood	"I wish I could," Jason says, almost under his breath. He nods in amusement at the appearance of more redheads. "In a way, aren't all of them yours, anyway?" He shifts slightly, keeping her hand as he does indeed lead her out. "Oh, I still owe you a dinner, and I intend to honor that." He winks at her, useless perhaps but it helps him to do so. "You can buy me the second one." As he leads her out, he can hear Etrigan dancing in his mind. He still has yet to discern the Demon's true motivations here, but for the moment, for the first time in a while, he does not care. Take her out to dinner, Show yourself a sinner. If dinner goes just right, You can sin with her all night. Jason just sighs and shakes his head. And gives Morrigan's hand another squeeze. Somehow, that makes it better.