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.

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[first_rule]

​Okay. He was bugging her, and he wanted to know, but that look? That look right there was kind of terrifying, he had to admit. Nodding slowly, he never took his eyes off her. "I do, and I will, but if you're going to look at me like that, I may change my mind."

[the_highpriestess]

"Your choice, Danny." Your funeral was probably more like it, if the fact that the smile remained in place was any indication. "Just let me know, one way or the other."

[first_rule]

He rolled his eyes. They both knew where this was going to go. "Fine. Go for it. How bad can you make it?"

Which was a bad question. She was brilliant and evil, after all.

[the_highpriestess]

"Tell you what: carry my bags and I'll tell you what I was planning." As if whatever it was she had in mind was too terrible to actually be offered as a suggestion. Really, though, that was the plan here -- trick Danny into carrying her stuff by making him think there was some worst fate he'd avoided. She hoped he'd take the bait.

[first_rule]

The truth of the matter was, she had his number and they both knew it. He couldn't even deny that, and much as there might be bluster and madness in his tone, she knew him well enough to know the truth about his behavior.

"Fine. I'm willing to play this game. I'll carry your bags."

[the_highpriestess]

It took a good deal of willpower to avoid grinning at that. When she'd managed, she gestured to one of the bags by the door. "Heavy lifting first, Danny. Then I'll tell you."

[first_rule]

He paused then, staring at her. "Heavy? Besides shackles, what the hell do you have in these bags? Also, I'm not moving him."

[the_highpriestess]

"It's a figured of speech, Danny," she answered, rolling her eyes at him. Another one followed at the mention of the rabbit. "And seriously -- what's your damage over the bunny?"

[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?"