Let's get down to business

[first_rule]

If Daniel had thought the last year had been a whirlwind, it was nothing like all that changed the moment they stood before Dylan in the park. A lifetime of hardwork, a year of risking prison and failure, and now he had come to the pinnacle of all he had ever wanted.

And it wasn't even close to over yet. Packing wasn't hard, and leaving behind his life had already been done. They had no idea where they were going, or what was coming next.

He did know that McKinney didn't stop making whatever sound that was at the ungodly hour of not even four in the morning, and he was about ready to scream if the coffee maker didn't go faster.

Comments

[the_highpriestess]

Henley, taking a break from packing herself -- really, there wasn't much to pack, their life on the road over the course of the last few months, but she wanted to make sure they had everything, nothing left behind where ever they were headed for fear that they would never see it again and need it later -- wandered into the kitchen to check on the progress of the coffee. It wasn't done, unfortunately, and more so, Daniel looked like he was about to blow a gasket. Typical, but ...

"It's not gonna go any faster if you keep staring at it, Danny."

[first_rule]

"I'm using my mind to make it go faster. It's this thing called magic," he said, though he knew he wasn't actually doing that. "I'm sure you've heard of it," he added, smirking as he turned to look at her.

"Are you telling me you managed to sleep the last couple of nights? I haven't," he admitted.

[the_highpriestess]

She rolled her eyes, shifting to prop herself against the counter nearby as she folded her arms over her chest. "I kinda figured that was more Merritt's thing than yours. You know, with actually having to have a mind to use it."

She was teasing; she hoped he understood that. Either way, though, the amusement on her face faded at the question. "I think I've managed maybe twenty minutes total, but ... "

She shook her head.

[first_rule]

"I know you're caught up in my looks, Henley, and no one can blame you, but I do have a mind to go with the body. Feel free to worship at both," he said, smirking at her.

"Yeah, about where I'm at," he admitted, shaking his head and then reaching for a second mug for Henley. "Just... Once we know something, I'll be okay. I just hate not knowing."

[the_highpriestess]

"Pass," he replied, narrowly resisting the urge to roll her eyes again. Never mind the fact that they were -- probably were? she wasn't sure -- a couple again. Worship wasn't really something she did.

"But yeah, I know the feeling." She paused, fidgeting absently with one corner of her blouse. "And it's less the cops I'm worried about and more wanting to know what's next."

Less fear, more anticipation.

[first_rule]

"Feel free to change your mind whenever you want," he said, at least being in a bit better mood with their teasing and banter.

He chuckled softly, nodding.

"Not worried about any cop but one, and I just want to know what he has planned for us." Having no plans, no direction, it rubbed Daniel wrong and led to that irritability everyone was more than likely scowling at him for

[the_highpriestess]

"You'll be the first to know." A beat. "And we'll probably be the first to know, when he figures out whatever comes next. Which, considering he was the one who asked us to get our stuff together, I'm guessing shouldn't be much longer."

[first_rule]

"No, we'll be the first to know where to go to get the first clue to put together with another, to get to the first place that might give us an idea of what we're doing," he said, though the convolution of his words made him smirk.

"But still makes us first."

[the_highpriestess]

"Sorry, I lost you at, like, the eighth first." Never mind the fact that he hadn't said first eight time. She still couldn't quite wrap her mind around all of that without effort, and tired as she was, she wasn't sure she wanted to put that much forth.

[first_rule]

"The important part is we're first," he said, smirking at her. "Well, I'll be first, and you'll be up there. McKinney might fight to keep up but, you know, we can help him."

Yep, that was being entirely helpful, wasn't it?

[the_highpriestess]

"Okay, seriously, Danny? I'm pretty sure first has lost all meaning, now." Which was to say, no, he wasn't being terribly helpful, and she made a face at him, that in mind.

[first_rule]

"Only because you haven't had coffee," he noted, as if that changed everything and was why it had happened rather than his words.

"Could just eat the beans."

[personalcorkscrew]

Humming. It's humming, Daniel, and he wasn't even doing it that loudly. Besides what exactly do you have against the wonderfulness that is smooth jazz?

He's just efficiently packing up the clothes he has and the toiletries. Trying to make sure that he's not leaving any obvious traces of himself behind.

Though he'll be pleased when the coffee maker finishes and Daniel stops projecting irritation everywhere he looks.

[first_rule]

It is less the smooth jazz and more the fact that it as Merritt, more likely than not. Not that Daniel had the same things against the man that he'd had in the past. He was just stressing, and the unknown never sat well with him. Not before all of his life changing, and not now.

"McKinney, your vote. The bunny stays here, right?"

[the_death_card]

Sorry, Daniel, you're surrounded by morning people. Jack's been up for a while, now, and out on the balcony. He's likely the most excited to get out of here, considering he's been stuck in the suite with that whole "supposed to have died in a fiery crash" thing going on.

"Not sure mentalism works on the coffee maker," he offers helpfully, as he comes back inside, kicking the door closed behind him.

[first_rule]

It's a conspiracy. Daniel's positive of. How else did this happen? He made a face at Jack. "I don't understand it. You all live the nightlife too, so how do you get up so... perky," he said, nose wrinkling as if he had smelled something bad.

He was trying not to smile though, no matter how honest he was being.

[the_death_card]

Jack couldn't help but grin back at him. "C'mon, man, we're leaving today. It's awesome." He paused a beat. "And maybe wherever we're going will have a coffee maker that doesn't take forever."

[first_rule]

Now, he couldn't argue that. He really couldn't. "Okay, that is pretty awesome. I'm hoping for a cappuccino machine," he admitted. "Definitely want that."

He sighed, just at the thought even as he got clean mugs down.

"Coursed, we have no idea where we're going," he pointed out.

[the_death_card]

"We work for a super-secret magic organization, now. If anybody can get us a cappuccino machine, it's probably them." He paused a beat. "Also, dude. We're totally in a super-secret magic organization. Who cares where we're going?"

He was still hoping for Narnia or something, though.

[first_rule]

There was something about Jack's enthusiasm that was contagious. A tiny bit scary as well, but contagious. He smiled, giving him a nod.

"Okay, I'll give you the whole they can get us anything part of it. And okay but what if it's like..." He made a face, nose wrinkling. "Dayton or something?"

[the_death_card]

Jack has enough enthusiasm for all of them, it's true. "Okay, that would kinda suck if it's somewhere really boring. But people end up in the mountains to learn kung-fu or whatever, right?"

[first_rule]

He glanced at him, arching a brow. "Why do I just feel you went Batman on me," he asked, meaning it. Because that was totally what it sounded like. Or any of a large number of other comic book characters who had done exactly that.

"Is that your desire?"

[the_death_card]

"To learn kung-fu?" Jack returned, raising his eyebrows at Daniel. "Magical kung-fu, yeah. I've already got hitting stuff down." He grinned.

[first_rule]

He laughed at that. "Yeah, you were hitting the guy that was on our side. Not sure that counts," he said, definitely teasing hi. How could he not when he could?

"Now I'm imagining your action figure with kung-fu grip."

[the_death_card]

"His partner's not," he pointed out - and then grinned. "I was thinking more like... 'card throwing action'," he returned, miming throwing a playing card. "Yours'll just say something awkward whenever it gets close to Henley's."

He had to poke back. Daniel was practically his brother, after all.