Wand and pentacle, and sword. Cords and censer, scourge and knife.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

Day 144, Thursday, October 23
Not hungry yet for lunch
Syl's caravan

Things have bin strange. Kate 'n I are still friends, and she ain't asked me t'leave yet. There's some kind 'a tension, but it ain't like before. It ain't weighin' on me. It's more waitin', t'see how she feels 'bout it, and what if anythin' she wants t'do 'bout it. I know she ain't bin sleepin' well, and part 'a me wants t'go knock on her door. But that won't help things none. And knowin' what she went through, I ain't 'bout t'try 'n rush things.

Meanwhile, livin' with her's bin frustratin' in other ways. My room back home has thick 'nough walls, but Kate's apartment is pretty small, 'n I'm a guest. I'm halfway t'goin' by the 'Boy at this point, 'r even just goin' out t'the bloody woods fer a couple hours. I sigh 'n finish brushin' my hair. Kate's gone out t'buy some treats 'cause she's off t'see a friend fer lunch. And me, it's bout time I went t'see Syl.

I gather up those journals I'm willin' t'share, and that she might like t'see. There's stuff on wardin', on cleanin' water 'n wounds, on keepin' a man's seed still so you dunt get pregnant, on enchantin' objects. That last one's somethin' I still need work on, and I'm hopin' she can help some. My wardin' bracelet and the bells ain't worked since that day I tried t'reach out.

I could do with some advice on that, too.

I pack my things in a satchel and walk out. I hope Kate has a good time with her friend. Wish I knew where t'go from here, too. I sigh again, walkin' over the bridge headin' t'the Carnival. It dunt take long from there, and I make my way t'Syl's caravan. I get stopped once 'r twice this time, but they let me by when I say she's expectin' me. I hope she ain't too pissed 'bout me goin' off like that.

I step up and knock, quietly. I hope she's here, and up. I dunt want t'have t'wander all over the Carnival lookin'.

[Open to Syl]

Comments

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"We don't," she says, offerin' me more t'drink. I take the coffee but leave the liquor. I feel steadier now, and it's still early. "I'll keep yer secrets, 'n you keep mine. Think we understand each other onnat score, yeah?"

I nod. There's a threat there, but it's fair 'nough, and I'd do the same. "Whatcha got?" She starts lookin' through the papers.

"In there's the ignoring enchantment, the instructions fer the protection bracelet I tried, a whole bunch 'a different wards, charms t'clean food 'n drink, and a bunch 'a others." I give her a close look. "This ain't stuff I'd normally share - it's fer the teachin', and 'cause I ain't sure it's goin' t'matter in the time t'come." Better she can use this stuff, if she can. It helps us that much more 'gainst the Adversary.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

She takes more coffee, but shakes'er head at th'flask. Good, knows'er limits. "In there's the ignoring enchantment, the instructions fer the protection bracelet I tried, a whole bunch 'a different wards, charms t'clean food 'n drink, and a bunch 'a others. This ain't stuff I'd normally share - it's fer the teachin', and 'cause I ain't sure it's goin' t'matter in the time t'come."

Leaf through th'pages. Some ovvit's stuff've seen b'fore 'r could piece t'gether....stuff outta books printed hundreds'a years 'go. "Y'know how old somma'is stuff is?" I says. "Somma'is stuff goes back gen'rations. Real big on trad'tion, yer fam'ly, yeah?"

Page through the'papers. Some ovvit I know. Th'charm fer goin' dim I know. Somma th'wards I know too.... "S'good stuff," I says, noddin'. "Now, didja wanna talk 'bout'is, 'r wuzzis jes' fer me t'keep?"

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"Y'know how old somma'is stuff is? Somma'is stuff goes back gen'rations." I give her a look and say "Yeah, it does. My Family's." "Real big on trad'tion, yer fam'ly, yeah?" I nod. "It's bin 'round fer a long, long time, and those 'r from the family journals." There's other stuff in the journals, but some things are only fer the Family. Heck, some 'a them are only fer part 'a the Family.

She lee[s lookin' through, noddin' as she does. "S'good stuff," she says after she's gone through most 'a it. "Now, didja wanna talk 'bout'is, 'r wuzzis jes' fer me t'keep?" I take a sip 'a my coffee. "Some 'v it I know by heart, 'n I bin doin' since I was old 'nough t'be trusted with it. But some 'a the other stuff... I got a hard time with most 'a the real enchantments, and unless I got a long time like at home, I can't ward off more 'n insects, vermin, and plague." I get up 'aside her and show her one group 'a pages. "This one ain't complete - it says so in the journal - but it's supposed t'ward off demons. I dunt know how t'finish the signs 'r the rite, and I ain't 'bout t'summon somethin' t'try it out with." The journal says 'To warde off deevils and imps', but I dunt know if that's specific 'r just old words fer the Adversary's minions.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Girl gives me a bit ovva look. Still got claws, 'is one, even if'n th'psycho monster scared th'piss out ovver. "Yeah, it does. My Family's. It's bin 'round fer a long, long time, and those 'r from the family journals."

Smile a bit, "Ain't what I mean. I mean, 'is stuff real old witch stuff, not jes' yer fam'ly's. Look;" take onna m'own books, onna th'ones Management gave t'me a million fuckin' years 'go, open't t'a page s'gotta few wardin' charms lots like th'ones she's got listed. "Yer fam'lies added't's own li'l touches, but th'roots go way back...back t'b'fore yer fam'ly 'zisted, mebbe. Ain't really sure how old...but old. Bloody fuckin' old." Set th'book down so she c'n page through't if'n she likes. Only fair, 'm thinkin'.

"Some 'v it I know by heart, 'n I bin doin' since I was old 'nough t'be trusted with it. But some 'a the other stuff... I got a hard time with most 'a the real enchantments, and unless I got a long time like at home, I can't ward off more 'n insects, vermin, and plague." flips through somma th'papers 'n pulls out one spell, "This one ain't complete - it says so in the journal - but it's supposed t'ward off demons. I dunt know how t'finish the signs 'r the rite, and I ain't 'bout t'summon somethin' t'try it out with."

Whistle real soft. She wants t'try th'heavy shit. But'en given what we got'ere guess I can't be too s'prised. "Well...few spells innat book'ere 'gainst demons...used'em few times, but never 'gainst nothin' big. Imps'n such. Incubus once." That fella wuzza right bitch t'drive out. "Nothin' more'n'at...'less see if'n we can't find somethin' sim'lar in'ere, yeah?"

If'n we can...well, might start layin' a few wards, see if'n she might be int'rested'n helpin' out. Might be fun.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She gives me a small smile. "Ain't what I mean. I mean, 'is stuff real old witch stuff, not jes' yer fam'ly's. Look;" she goes and grabs a book 'n thumps it down, flippin' t'some pages with a few familiar-lookin' wards. Yer fam'lies added't's own li'l touches, but th'roots go way back...back t'b'fore yer fam'ly 'zisted, mebbe. Ain't really sure how old...but old. Bloody fuckin' old."

Huh. I flip idly through the pages, notin' what's in them. 'S true - lots 'a these are real similar t'what we use. The ingredients ain't all the same, and they dunt all work quite the same way, but it's there. It's still a bit surprisin' t'see it, even knowin' Syl dint get her magic from our blood.

She gives a small whistle when I show her the devil-ward. "Well...few spells innat book'ere 'gainst demons...used'em few times, but never 'gainst nothin' big. Imps'n such. Incubus once." She sounds cautious, but interested. "Nothin' more'n'at...'less see if'n we can't find somethin' sim'lar in'ere, yeah?"

I nod. "I dunt know that it'd keep off anythin' strong, but it's somethin'. If we looked through some 'a what you got we might be able t'fill in the gaps some. Or if you got any good ideas fer it..." I shrug. It's why I came t'her, 'cause fer all the stuff in the journals she's bin doin' this longer. "I dunt know how we'd test it, mind."

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Watch'er flip through th'book. 'member how 'scited I got when I wuz first lookin' through it, how I wondered if'n I really haddit in me t'make alla'is happen. An' wuz even better when I found out I could. Could 'n still can.

I pick m'spiked coffee back up when we got back t'talkin' 'bout t'talkin' 'bout demons. Reckon'll need't. "I dunt know that it'd keep off anythin' strong, but it's somethin'. If we looked through some 'a what you got we might be able t'fill in the gaps some. Or if you got any good ideas fer it...I dunt know how we'd test it, mind."

"This kinda shit's always th'nastiest, cuzzere really ain't no way t'test it," I sigh. "'less'n y'got someone wit'a captive demon, annat's hard t'come by. S'a few spells at'll im'tate d'monic energy, bu's never quite th'same's th'real thing. S'jes' onna those thin's y'don't never know fer sure 'til crunch time." Sigh'n page through th'book. "Gets real tricky, d'monic shit. Y'gotta know 'zactly what sorta demon ye're dealin' wit', 'r else y'c'n piss't right off. 'r make't stronger. 'r both." 'nother gulp'a coffee. "Sex demons like incubi...'ey come in through dreams, so y'use dream herbs like mugwort, holy metals like gold, t'banish'em. Other critters...well, s'diff'rent. An' y'don't never wanna fuck't up 'n use th'wrong rite. Not never." S'parta why workin' wit' demons's so fuckin' dang'rous...wouldn' even've tangled wit' th'incubus even'e hadn't been fuckin' th'daughter'a th'house raw. Girl wuz 'bout seven eighths dead by th'time I got'ere.

"...hope ye're not plannin' t'try banishin' th'psycho monster, cuzzi don't think'e'd take too well t'at."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She watches me skim through her book, sippin' her coffee. "This kinda shit's always th'nastiest, cuzzere really ain't no way t'test it," she sighs, "'less'n y'got someone wit'a captive demon, annat's hard t'come by. S'a few spells at'll im'tate d'monic energy, bu's never quite th'same's th'real thing. S'jes' onna those thin's y'don't never know fer sure 'til crunch time." She comes over 'n pages through one 'a the books. Gets real tricky, d'monic shit. Y'gotta know 'zactly what sorta demon ye're dealin' wit', 'r else y'c'n piss't right off. 'r make't stronger. 'r both." I nod. "Most 'a the stuff in the journals is pretty general, but some 'a the bigger stuff's pretty specific. 'N a lot 'v it, like the demon ward, assumes there's some stuff you know that must 'a bin common when it was written." I know fer sure there's some parts where it says 'As in so-and-so's book', 'r '...which is recorded in full in such-n-such'.

"Sex demons like incubi...'ey come in through dreams, so y'use dream herbs like mugwort, holy metals like gold, t'banish'em. Other critters...well, s'diff'rent. An' y'don't never wanna fuck't up 'n use th'wrong rite. Not never." I nod again, 'cause while I dint know the details I kind 'a figured. It ain't like wardin' off vermin from houses 'r illness from wells. She looks off fer a sec, 'n then looks hard at me. "...hope ye're not plannin' t'try banishin' th'psycho monster, cuzzi don't think'e'd take too well t'at."

I snort. "I bleedin' well know better 'n that. I was in my place 'a power, bin buildin' it up since I were a girl. And it brushed me right away. No, I figure it could be useful if it's got minions 'r imps 'r such. I bet it'd keep someone carryin' somethin' bad inside 'a them away, too." Now that one'd be useful. There's stories in the book 'bout demonic possession, and it seems like that'd be a bigger danger, fer now.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Girl snorts when I ask if'n she's plannin' t'tty drivin' th'psycho monster out. "I bleedin' well know better 'n that. I was in my place 'a power, bin buildin' it up since I were a girl. And it brushed me right away."

Jes'well; if'n 'at had been 'er plan, woulda tossed'er out. Ain't got time fer idjits'r su'cides. "No, I figure it could be useful if it's got minions 'r imps 'r such. I bet it'd keep someone carryin' somethin' bad inside 'a them away, too." Right. See what she's gettin'at.

Coffee's done, 'n more'd serve nothin' but t'get me drunk. Light up 'nother cig 'stead, offer'er one. "Well, ain't heard'a no cases'a possess'on," Though wuzn'at what I thought when I first met wit' Maryk 'n Leah? "But 'e's got thin's runnin' 'round, no mistake. Still ain't th'sorta thin's I'd try tanglin' wit'. One's a fire critter...heard'a djinns 'r genies?". Smirk's I take a drag. "this one getsis kicks grantin' people's wishes'n real nasty ways...like takin' 'way someone's nightmares by makin' sure 'ey never sleep 'gain.". Never did hear back from'em. Guess she croaked. "th'other's...fuck, y'know yet Bible...y'know who Lilith is?"

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She lights up another smoke 'n offers me one. I take it with a nod. "Well, ain't heard'a no cases'a possess'on," she says, and I'm guessin' she means since she came here, since it comes up some in the journals. "But 'e's got thin's runnin' 'round, no mistake. Still ain't th'sorta thin's I'd try tanglin' wit'. One's a fire critter...heard'a djinns 'r genies?". Her lips twist some. "This one getsis kicks grantin' people's wishes'n real nasty ways...like takin' 'way someone's nightmares by makin' sure 'ey never sleep 'gain."

I think. "There's some stuff in the journals and in the Book 'bout not makin' deals with stuff as offers, though I ain't heard 'a 'Djinn' 'afore. But I get what your sayin'." She goes on. "Th'other's...fuck, y'know yet Bible...y'know who Lilith is?"

"I - no, I dunt know that name. It ain't in the Book." That one I'm sure 'a. There's plenty 'a strange names in the Book, but none that sound like that one.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"There's some stuff in the journals and in the Book 'bout not makin' deals with stuff as offers, though I ain't heard 'a 'Djinn' 'afore. But I get what your sayin'." she says, thinkin'.

"Deals's wit' th'big fella, I think. This one's wishes. Think's gettin' safer jes' not t'ask fer nothin' innis town."

I mention Lilith, an'en she frowns. "I - no, I dunt know that name. It ain't in the Book."

"Yeah, seem t'recall'is story gettin' taken out. Onna'ose't don't 'flect too well on God, so 'ey d'cided'ey could do wit'out't." Smirk. "Lilith wuz th'first women, made th'same way Adam wuz, not from'im th'way Eve wuz. 'scept Lilith d'cided she liked t'be on top when'ey fucked; felt she wuz Adam's equal. Couldn't have'at, a'course, so God booted'er from th'garden 'n made Eve. Lilith wandered 'round, real pissed off, 'n founda buncha demons t'fuck an'en gave birth t'even more." Shrugged. "S'a cool story, too bad th'lady'erself's a right bitch."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"Deals's wit' th'big fella, I think", she says. "This one's wishes. Think's gettin' safer jes' not t'ask fer nothin' innis town." I nod, not willin' t'make any comments on her correction. "There's plenty 'a stories and such that warn off wishes and deals and such. I wouldn't trust nothin' like that not t'go wrong, not without God's help." And on this I know better 'n her. We're still payin' fer that help, but it's better 'n the alternative.

"Yeah, seem t'recall'is story gettin' taken out. Onna'ose't don't 'flect too well on God, so 'ey d'cided'ey could do wit'out't." She smirks at me, 'n I dunt say nothin'. The girls in the Family dunt worship the same as the boys, but we live by the Book, mostly. "Lilith wuz th'first women, made th'same way Adam wuz, not from'im th'way Eve wuz. 'scept Lilith d'cided she liked t'be on top when'ey fucked; felt she wuz Adam's equal." That makes my eyebrows shoot up. "Couldn't have'at, a'course, so God booted'er from th'garden 'n made Eve. Lilith wandered 'round, real pissed off, 'n founda buncha demons t'fuck an'en gave birth t'even more." She shrugs at me. "S'a cool story, too bad th'lady'erself's a right bitch."

I laugh. "She went off 'n got herself pregnant by demons 'cause she dint like takin' bottom with her man?" I shake my head. "So all 'v it could 'a bin avoided by Adam takin' a turn on his back?" That dunt sound like much in the Book. "I dunt know Syl, the whole thing sounds kind 'a silly. So what, she's here in town?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Starts laughin' after I finish th'tale. Ain't s'prised. "She went off 'n got herself pregnant by demons 'cause she dint like takin' bottom with her man?" she says, "So all 'v it could 'a bin avoided by Adam takin' a turn on his back?" shakes'er head, still smirkin'. "I dunt know Syl, the whole thing sounds kind 'a silly. So what, she's here in town?"

"Don't sound no siller t'me'n God kickin'us all outta Par'dise cuz ovva damn apple. 'e didn' think mebbe wuzza good idea not t'stick't right innour faces?" Shrug. Ain't m'place t'tell'er what t'b'lieve, but always seemed pretty fuckin' stupid t'me. "But yeah, she's 'ere. In th'Carn'val, in fact." Feel m'face twist at'at. Hopefully not fer much fuckin' longer. An' she's in league wit' th'psycho monster, an' she's almost's tough's'e is."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"Don't sound no siller t'me'n God kickin'us all outta Par'dise cuz ovva damn apple. 'e didn' think mebbe wuzza good idea not t'stick't right innour faces?" She shrugs, 'n I dunt say nothin' 'cause I ain't here t'get in an argument with her, and she looks like she's goin' t'drop it. She gets a look, kind 'a sour 'n angry, 'n adds "But yeah, she's 'ere. In th'Carn'val, in fact. An' she's in league wit' th'psycho monster, an' she's almost's tough's'e is."

Well, fuckin' hell. "And you dunt feel safe with that neither, I bet." I shake my head. "I know lots 'a you folks owe your management fer givin' you a place, and I know what you said earlier, but - " I dunt think I got the words, not in a way that won't be insultin'. "There ain't no way t'get rid 'a her, then?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Think she gets th'sitch right 'way. "And you dunt feel safe with that neither, I bet." she says, shakin'er head. "I know lots 'a you folks owe your management fer givin' you a place, and I know what you said earlier, but - " she trails off.

"-but'ey ain't doin' such a good job'a takin' care'a us, h,?" Smile 'n sit down, holdin' m'cig 'n one hand. "Yeah. Thought's 'ccurred t'some ovvus too. Don't change th'fact that lots ovvus don't got nowhere else t'go...'r else we got folks'ere we ain't 'bout t'leave b'hind. We ain't blind, Tess...we jes' don't got much'n th'way'a options."

"There ain't no way t'get rid 'a her, then?"

"Well..." Tap m'ashes inta'a bowl. "Well, mebbe yes, mebbe no. Me'n a couple friends'a mine, we's workin' on somethin' t'get'er out." Might kill me, but'en... "Might work, might not, bu's th'best chance we go s'far. An'I figure if'n we c'n get ridda 'er, might havva bit ovva chance 'gainst'im, yeah?" Wonder if'n mebbe somma'ese anti-demon charms might work 'gainst'er...would'a charm 'gainst a demon work gainst't's mama? Dunno. Prob'ly ain't th'safest way'a findin' out.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"-but'ey ain't doin' such a good job'a takin' care'a us, h,?" She gives me a smile 'n sits down. "Yeah. Thought's 'ccurred t'some ovvus too. Don't change th'fact that lots ovvus don't got nowhere else t'go...'r else we got folks'ere we ain't 'bout t'leave b'hind. We ain't blind, Tess...we jes' don't got much'n th'way'a options."

I guess she's right on that. I know more 'n a few folk here, her included, who wouldn't be welcomed in town. Heck, a few might not be able t'care for themselves proper without all this. "I suppose so. Got my sympathy, fer what it's worth." I'm livin' in a town with the Adversary, and she's livin' in a place run by his friends, with his girl smack in the middle 'v it. "Ain't nowhere really with good options, 'round here."

She sounds like she's got some kind 'v a plan on gettin' this Lilith gone. "Well, mebbe yes, mebbe no. Me'n a couple friends'a mine, we's workin' on somethin' t'get'er out." She sounds, I ain't sure, concerned? Bet it's a risk, if it's big 'nough t'get rid 'a somethin' like Lilith. "Might work, might not, bu's th'best chance we go s'far. An'I figure if'n we c'n get ridda 'er, might havva bit ovva chance 'gainst'im, yeah?"

"Maybe," I say kind 'a doubtful. "I dunt think you'd be able t'get her out 'a town altogether though. But you'd still be up one, gettin' her out 'a here." When it all comes down though, and the Book says that it always does, I ain't sure how much use it'll be. But it's somethin'. "D'you - d'you need help, with your plan? I know some things work better with more folk in the circle." It's got t'be witchcraft, right? Though maybe the Carnival's got somethin' different... "This is goin' t'be with your magician, ain't it? If he drove off the hound god, sure he could do the same t'this Lilith?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"I suppose so. Got my sympathy, fer what it's worth."

Ain't worth much, t'be onnest, but... "'ppreciated."

"Maybe. I dunt think you'd be able t'get her out 'a town altogether though. But you'd still be up one, gettin' her out 'a here."

"Gettin'er outta'ere's m'main concern. Got nothin' 'gainst th'town, but this'ere's m'home, m'fam'ly. Wan'er out." Figure Tess understands'at.

Looks'a li'l worried. "D'you - d'you need help, with your plan? I know some things work better with more folk in the circle." Aw, honey. Reach over t'pat'er shoulder, say thanks, but don't wanna get'er hurt, when she says, "This is goin' t'be with your magician, ain't it? If he drove off the hound god, sure he could do the same t'this Lilith?"

...right, fergot she knew 'bout'at. "Yeah, Tez's helpin' out," I says, noddin', "him anna friend from town. But'ey's..." 'ey ain't likely t'die. "...well, 'ey's used t'is kinda thin', honey. Annis bitch's mighty tough. Don't wanna see ya get hurt."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"'ppreciated," she says kind 'a gruff. "Gettin'er outta'ere's m'main concern. Got nothin' 'gainst th'town, but this'ere's m'home, m'fam'ly. Wan'er out." I nod. I'd be doin' the same if there was somethin' on the farm like that - get it away from my family, and figure things out from there. "I get how it is."

She reaches over like she's goin' t'pat my shoulder, and I'm about t'tell she better not bloody patronize me when she stops 'n says "Yeah, Tez's helpin' out, him anna friend from town. But'ey's..." she pauses - "...well, 'ey's used t'is kinda thin', honey. Annis bitch's mighty tough. Don't wanna see ya get hurt."

My eyes narrow some, though I dunt glare 'cause it's her right. "I ain't yer 'honey', thanks. If you dunt want my help, you can just say it." I can't stand up t'the Adversary, but somethin' like this? If Syl can do it there ain't no reason I can't.