itsjustabaddream

The letter comes at a terrible time, which is directly after a deeply unpleasant conversation with someone who he previously felt able to confide in. River's partner, in fact. So when the letter arrives, Neil is none to pleased to see it and dreads what it might say.

Still, he opens it out of morbid curiosity and is... surprised by what's in it.

It's formal, but mature and respectful. And it hits him right in his weak spot--- someone is having trouble sleeping. He groans, and reaches for his sending stone, calling River.

"Puddle of liquid bone and lemonade formerly known as River la Croix speaking, how can I help?"

Despite himself, Neil laughs embarrassingly loudly at that.

Sileeeeeeeeeeeeeence.

"Well, I had a nice professional greeting in my head but then I opened my mouth. So uh. Afternoon Doctor, thank you for returning my message, I'm gonna throw my head in a water barrel in a vain attempt to think straight reaaaal quick."

Neil coughs, righting himself. "No, no, you're fine, I was just, ah--- going to let you know not to worry about it. I caused the problem, it's only proper I should set it right. If I'd had any clue what sort of things Larkin and his ilk were getting up to, I would certainly have never held a seance there."

He feels the need to overly reassure her--- he's already had his credibility questioned as a result of what happened at Larkin estate more than once.

"You must understand--- Christopher was, at one point, a pillar of the community. He was very well-liked and considered a deeply upstanding gentleman. I was shocked to hear what a pig he'd been, and the sorts of things he'd been concocting in that mansion. But I'll, ehhh. I'll get together with Elias. We'll figure something out. Don't trouble yourself, it's my responsibility."

The sending stones don't pick up River dunking herself but let it be said: she totally does. Her voice is more focused when she starts talking again.

"I'm not judging your former friendship, I'm really not. But...this is my home now too, you know? This is supposed to be my kind of work. Even if my ideas are genuinely bad...I do trust you'd tell me why, and then I've at least learned something."

Neil sighs and waffles for a bit. "It has nothing to do with your expertise, River, I just. You and I didn't exactly part peacefully, and the reason why we no longer speak has not changed. I apologize, but I don't feel particularly comfortable engaging in a project with you, even if the reasons to do so are perfectly sensible. I do very much appreciate the offer, however."

...

.....

"I really wish my teacher spent more time on treating with one's peers and a bit less time on spiritual combat," River murmurs at last. "If - if - you and Elias hit a wall, get in touch. I won't ask questions, I won't say dick, I'll just. Head out there and finish burning that house properly. Thanks for hearing me out anyway, Doctor."

"I think we'll have it under control, but thank you as well for reaching out," Neil agrees.

Then after a beat---

"But while I have you on the line--- After hearing about the, ah, cult activity around town, it's come to my attention that you have their book. It may contain some valuable insight in it, regarding the barrier and about whatever Larkin had going on. I can't say I'm too familiar with the entity or entities involved here, so my own research has proven lackluster."

...

"I'm not too familiar myself," River admits carefully. "But I've been advised not to fuck with the book in very clear terms. But...I can share what I do know, if you want to hear it. Can't help but suspect your expertise will make it make a lot more sense."

"I suspect much the same. I don't suppose I could have the opportunity to study it? I'll gladly break out my safety equipment."

What "safety equipment" means in this context is unclear, but Neil's basement is conveniently full of apparatuses and thingamajigs covered in bizarre runes, as well as a pair of thick leather welding gloves embroidered with wards and a pair of thick round goggles. He even had a glass case with arm holes in which there had been another book at the time of River's last meeting attendance.

"And obviously reading aloud from it would be strictly off limits."

"I'm not sure 'aloud' is the problem, but let me speak my peace here and if the perspective changes your desire or advice, like...great." DEEP breath. "Angel and I found the book in a cave warded by a curse, some kind of pocket labyrinth only the dead could move through. I tried forge fire to destroy it - no dramatic reactions please - and it did nothing. Angel used holy fire and wounded something, causing the earthquake."

Deep, deep breath again.

"Had the chance to talk to Celestine about it, and she was able to say some interesting things. She mentioned that the book can't be used for greater mischief while it's here, and said very plainly that no attempt should be made to destroy it or read from it, by anyone. Now, what I'm thinking is it's bound something here and that killing that thing might have destructive fallout." In very respectful tones: "But you're the expert, what can you theorize?"

"Fascinating," Neil mutters. "Ah, well--- As I'm sure is your experience, it's tricky to theorize with such scant information, however. Based on the reports I've received so far, I can gather that the book is both the sacred text and the magical grimoire of the people who worshipped this god, and it is apparently quite powerful as well as overtly and exclusively evil. In many similar cases, such texts are enchanted to be indestructible for the preservation of knowledge. By belief is that you were advised not to attempt to destroy it because it is both pointless and triggering some dangerous side effects when attempted, and that you should not read it because of its corrupting influence. My personal opinion is that I have some degree of resistance to such corruption and could keep someone around who I could trust to kill me should that resistance fail, such as Agent Jean, and in doing so I feel I might be able to reverse some of its workings. However, if you would feel more comfortable following the advice you received to the letter, I will respect your decision."

There is a long, long pause. When River talks again, her tone is carefully respectful, yet oddly unsure. Perhaps Neil may recognize it as the voice of someone a little intimidated to speak to someone else they see as a professional superior.

"How certain are you that death will cleanse any hypothetical corruption? A lot of my job is dealing in cases where it really, truly doesn't. Bad, hard deaths that leave a soul scarred, curses that chase people away from the Sunless Lands, all that. We might be stuck here, but the island is concentrating harm, keeping it here. What gets let out...it doesn't have elsewhere to go."

"That is a decent point, yes. I can't prove that it will reset me. However, the likelihood of a mind-controlling influence like that persisting after death is, historically, quite low. Unless it is something that fundamentally alters who I am as a person, which is certainly worthy of consideration, but I feel there would be warning signs if that were the case," Neil prattles. He seems receptive to her criticism, likely because it doesn't sound like an accusation for once in his life, and considers her points carefully.

"Unfortunately there are some things that cannot be proven until attempted which require a leap of faith, but if we're going off of precedents, I feel fairly confident."

"...Celestine's gonna slap me for even considering this and it's not gonna be the sexy slapping." Silence.

...Silence...

"Three days and three nights and then it goes back in lockup. I hope you understand when I say that I'm going to have to go scorched earth if those terms aren't met; among other things I'd need to consider the possibility that the book was way worse than either of us expected, and at the end of the day I was trained as a war-mage. I'd like your word that no other soul is going to read the book. Not Mister Sims, not Jean, certainly not Annabel. You swear it on your name and you can come pick up the book."

"You have my word," Neil agrees, refraining from mentioning that his relationship with Annabel Lee is now notably strained. That's Annabel Lee's problem. "I sincerely appreciate your flexibility in this matter."

"Alright. I want to reiterate that if you need a scorched earth solution to the Larkin Estate...well, curses can burn too, if a body knows how. Come by the forge this evening, just after dinner, and I'll have the book retrieved for you."

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I dunno if these have caller ID but it's funnier if they don't

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Wrap?