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

[first_rule]

"You carry shackles. Why would I doubt they're heavy," he asked, arching a brow. "Not to mention, sequins weigh a ton," he noted, though he couldn't help but teasing now.

"And he sheds. On me. Only on me." He's not being serious, right?

[the_highpriestess]

"Sequins don't weigh that much," she shot back. "And you realize you could invest in a lint roller, right? Hell, I'm pretty sure I've got one, somewhere."

Because no, the rabbit did not only shed on Daniel, thank you.

[first_rule]

"I'm aware. I've held those costumes in my hand," he reminded. "And had it over my face once," he added, smirking because he was amusing himself, if nothing else. And trying to amuse her, if he could.

"I've got several. Why should I like the bunny?" Someone that got Henley's love and attention, after all.

[the_highpriestess]

She exhaled a breath of a laugh -- whether it was at his commentary on sequins or his continued hate of the rabbit, however, was anyone's guess. Regardless, though, it was the latter she responded to. "Maybe because he's not actually the devil incarnate?"

[first_rule]

He gasped at that, staring at her, stunned. "Wait, of course he isn't. That's Merritt. Fluffy's just a minor demon," he teased, amused with himself and not afraid to let that show.

[the_highpriestess]

She couldn't help but laugh in earnest, now, despite her disappointment that Daniel was not a fan of the rabbit. "Right, of course, my mistake."

[first_rule]

Of course, it could be that Fluffy was so close to Henley, and he wasn't as close as he once had been. But he couldn't ever admit to being jealous of a rabbit, now could he?

"Makes sense he works for a goddess."

[the_highpriestess]

"You get that that would be a lot more flattering if you hadn't said he was a minor demon, like, five seconds ago, right?" Because, by that logic, that made her some kind of goddess of Hell. Also potentially married to Merritt, since Daniel had called him the Devil.

Real smooth, Danny.

[first_rule]

"Why?" He honestly didn't get that. "I was complimenting you and not the demon bunny," he noted, fighting hard not to smile. "You make magical escapes, that mean other dimensions," he said, letting himself grin then.

[the_highpriestess]

"Yeah, but if he's a demon and I'm his master or whatever, then you just called me some kind of demon queen by default." Got it now, Danny?

[first_rule]

He paused, considering that before he shook his head. "No. It makes you a demon goddess," he corrected. "Technically Persephone was one, kind of."

Goddess over queen made all the difference, right?

[the_highpriestess]

"Okay, that's a little better," she admitted, "but you're still trying to pair me off with Merritt, by that logic."

[first_rule]

The color drained from his face. "Okay. Never. Ever. Not ever. Never say that again. No. You're my goddess, thank you very little."

[the_highpriestess]

Henley couldn't help but laugh. "Hey, you were the one that started with the whole Merritt's the devil, and I'm a goddess of the underworld thing."

[first_rule]

"Fine. Correction on my part. He is slime and a sludge and you are a goddess. There. Fixed. You happy now?" He didn't change Fluffy's title.

[the_highpriestess]

"I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be," she answered, ever-amused, "but yeah, okay, I'll take it." She figured it would be the best she'd get out of Danny.

[first_rule]

He didn't truly think that poorly of Merritt, but now there had been linking him to Henley and so he wasn't going to give the other man better. Not right now.

"Okay so luggage?"

[the_highpriestess]

"Luggage," Henley repeated with a nod as she tugged him over in the direction of her bags. Surprisingly, it wasn't a mountain of things. Not that it was only one bag, but knowing her, Daniel knowing her, it was probably better than it could have been.

[first_rule]

He considered the lugagged, head canting as he looked it over. "And does it negate the deal if I bribe Jack into doing it," he asked, being rather serious in that moment which might well mean he was joking. Maybe.

[the_highpriestess]

"If you could actually talk him into it?" Which she doubted, honestly, particularly if he found out why Daniel was supposed to be moving her luggage in the first place. "Yeah, no, that doesn't count."

[first_rule]

"I could. I'm sure I could." He'd play up the way Jack once looked at him, even if he'd come to see Jack as an equal and not a groupie. "Isn't that conservation of energy?"

[the_highpriestess]

"Pretty sure I'd go with 'cheating,'" she shot back, pulling away from him slowly. A gesture to her bags followed. "Luggage, Danny."

[first_rule]

"Course you do," he said with a snort and a roll of his eyes. "Next time I'll just do it. Easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission."

Yet he went to get her bags, preparing to carry it out to the van waiting for them.

[the_highpriestess]

She hummed, following him over to the bags idly. She made no motion to help, however -- oh, no, this was all on Daniel. "You say that now ... "

[first_rule]

"I do, and I will remember it," he said, glancing back at her. "Though if we go through an airport, I'm leaving your bags unattended," he teased.