♪ 02 ♪ voice

[snidepiper]

[a small wooden flute is tapping against the hand in the shot, a simple four-beat pattern]

Useless philosophical question of the day. Do you think people can change? Completely? A little?

[tap, tap, taaap, tap.]

For good or bad. Whichever.

[Tap, tap, taaap, tap.]

Personal anecdotes are nice.

Comments

voice; encrypted

[trickier]

[ he hums thoughtfully and there's the soft sound of metal being tinkered with in the background ]

Yeah, that'd be bad and that certainly is a tough one. Revenge or an apology wouldn't exactly help with something like that, would it?

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

Exactly.

I mean, an apology would be nice.

[changing the subject]

What're you working on?

voice; encrypted

[trickier]

He's willing to apologize at least. Reluctant, but still willing all the same.

And actually, I can show you.

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

I have no idea how you got him to do that, it's magic.

Right now? [sounding a little more pleased]

voice; encrypted

[trickier]

I work magic.

Sure. You home?

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

Yep. Door's unlocked.

[not the smartest idea but Piper is not the smartest guy.]

action;

[trickier]

[ WAY TO GO SMARTYPANTS. But he won't be coming through the door, he'll be coming in through the window because he was on the roof of the MAC building the whole time. Still in his PJs (light yellow sweatpants and light blue t-shirt.) Because he can.

He's also wearing glasses, which might have looked more charming if it weren't the medical magnifying kind, and holding onto something small and metal. ]

Might wanna keep the door locked until Evan's calmed down.

action;

[snidepiper]

He did seem pretty angry, didn't he. [thoughtful] Last time he broke in through the bathroom mirror, but it's not like I can stop using mirrors forever, either, and he knows it.

[well best not to dwell on that. Plus like Tricks said, Evan would calm down... eventually.]

So, what's your latest and greatest?

action;

[trickier]

It seems like he can't move between mirrors for now so hopefully it'll last long enough for him to cool off. But I'll booby trap them, just in case.

[ He's taking off the glasses and pocketing them before striding over to where Piper is. ]

Give me your hand.

action;

[snidepiper]

That's a great idea. [one of at least two dozen reasons he likes having James around]

[jokes] You know the only reason I'm doing this is because I trust you way more than I should. [and he holds his hand out with only the slightest hesitation]

action;

[trickier]

[ The joke gets a mischievous smile.] I don't know what you're talking about, I'm the most trustworthy person there is.

[ And with that, before Piper can change his mind, he's taking Piper's hand in his and with the other he's snapping the metal thing around Piper's wrist— a cuff. It rather looks eerily similar to the handcuffs they wore, minus the chain. ]

One anti-Porter device as requested. [ a beat. ] Don't worry it's not gonna keep looking like that, I just need to know if it fits.

action;

[snidepiper]

[Piper pales just a little at the unexpectedly familiar connotations, licking his lips, and then at the explanation for what it actually is, brightens considerably.] Tricks, you're a genius.

Will it work?

action;

[trickier]

I know, I know. [ He's gently turning Piper's hand this way and that, studying how well the cuff fits as he speaks. ]

Unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure unless the Porter tries to port one of us out. If she tries, if anything you'll at least get a heads up. [ He taps the display on it for indication. ]

action;

[snidepiper]

That's more than most people get, and more than I hoped. [BY NOW he really shouldn't underestimate Trickster's skills.] I owe you a big one.

action;

[trickier]

[ He's done inspecting it so he takes it off and pockets it away. ] Eh, I was gonna make it anyway, but I might hold you to that if need be.