Who: Adrien Green, Merrick, Mac What: After the djinn is freed, the two tell Mac all Where: the Lionart When: 6 October, 1888 [backdated] after this Rating: PG, suggestions of past trauma
As they walked out of the building, Adrien felt the set of his shoulders significantly release.
He’d been planning this for weeks, months even, and the fact that he’d been successful, had actually pulled it off, hadn’t quite fully sunken in.
And there was Eleri.
Eleri, who’d noticed he’d needed help and given it, on blind faith.
It’d been deeply unexpected, and he hadn’t quite processed that either.
He looked over at Merrick as they crossed the road, his eyes a little wide with the audacity of what they’d just managed to do.
“I suppose we ought to sort out what happens next,” Adrien said as they made their way down the road to the Lionhart. “I… I must admit, I hadn’t thought much past getting to this moment.” He frowned. “Can you… can you talk more openly now? Are your movements and speech still constrained?”
Merrick had created shoes and a long coat that they now wore. The djinn was working more on auto-pilot since they fulfilled Adrien’s first wish. It felt so much better to be free of horrible scientists of the Institute and their restraints. But they could not relax just yet as they looked over their shoulder expecting someone to be trailing them.
Hearing Adrien speak, Merrick looked over at him. They listened as they put on foot in front of the other. “Yes, I can talk more freely now,” they half-smiled. “Don’t worry about not thinking past this moment. It's not every day you bring a djinn out of a horrible situation,” Merrick continued and wrinkled their nose in amusement. There was no pain from a now-gone geas. Then Merrick stepped closer. “You have honored your family.” They whispered.
Adrien looked down at the sidewalk. He cleared his throat. “Well,” he said, quietly. “I’d like to think they’d be proud. Thank you.”
He looked ahead, still feeling an anxious sort of energy, uncertain and keyed up.
“What do you want?” He asked. “What would you like to happen?”
No one was following them and Merrick was glad for that. “You are very welcome,” they whispered.
Then it was the djinn’s turn to look down at the sidewalk. Being asked what they wanted, what they wanted to happen was unusual since it had been a while aside from Gabriel’s asking.
“I want a lot of things. Mmm, perhaps a life half-resembling normal. But for the immediate future, lodging. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Some place safe for my vessel…” Merrick let their voice trail off. They were still so tightly wound from the events from a few days before.
A frown cut across Adrien’s face in thought -- the logistics of it all at least helped to center him some. He’d freed Merrick, now he had to take responsibility for what that entailed. “My place is full up at the moment,” he said, quietly apologetic, thinking of how small his flat was now that Kaya was there for the foreseeable future, “but I can help you find somewhere, float you some money for expenses while you consider your next steps.” He looked over at Merrick as they walked. “As far as the vessel goes, you said you weren’t sure if you wanted me to keep hold of it, or whether you’d rather Mac keep it. You have a preference?”
Being free of the Institute was still fresh on their mind and the djinn was not thinking completely straight. They blinked back some of the confusion and shook their head. “It’s all right then. Please forgive my thoughts. I do have some resources and a standing membership at the Osiris.” Then they walking slowed at the question of their vessel keeping preference. “I thought perhaps since my situation may cause you moral difficulty, another person may be best to keep it.”
Adrien’s pace slowed along with Merrick’s. “Alright, then,” he said.
“...Do you mean the notion that I could not bring myself to take your place?” He asked, quietly, “or is it that while holding the vessel, I’d technically be master over you?” He shrugged a little. “The moral discomfort of either circumstance is my own cross to bear -- and rest assured, regardless, I would never abuse the latter by requesting anything of you that you yourself did not ask for -- but if you think Mac would be best as a trustee, I’ll hand it over to him.” He paused. “He’d be able to keep it safer than I would, and I do trust him to be likewise careful.”
The notion of holding so much responsibility for another life -- ownership -- did leave a bad taste in his mouth -- but it was a responsibility he was willing to take if Merrick required it.
“No,” Merrick shook his head. “It is the being master over me I know you would not. I was also concerned for your safety with the Institute, but since they have no memory or record now..that would be a moot point.” The djinn shrugged.
“Well,” Adrien said, carefully, “I’ve said it’s a burden I’m willing to take on, but ultimately the decision is yours.” He looked over at Merrick. “It’s your life, Merrick, I won’t take it personally if you decide to go another way. And if you change your mind later, you can always do that too.”
Merrick nodded at Adrien as they continued to walk. “I trust you, Adrien. And if you change your mind later on I understand. Also - you will need to pass the vessel to another person if you decide to make your remaining two wishes.”
Adrien lived with that for a little, let it sit there, and then nodded.
“I shall do my best to be worthy of that trust,” he said, his voice thick, “and will protect what I possess to the best of my abilities.”
“Do you want to tell Mac everything?” Adrien continued, as they walked. “I’d recommend it -- I’d already planned on passing him my notes, if anything were to happen, but that’s up to you as well.”
It was a risk, telling anyone that Adrien had possession of the vessel, but he trusted Mac would handle the information appropriately, and he knew Merrick knew the Sidhe as well.
“Thank you, Adrien,” Merrick whispered as he stopped and turned to face the vampire.
“Yes,” the djinn spoke, their voice thick. Steeling themselves, Merrick nodded. “The passing on of the notes are up to you to do as you like.”
Merrick felt themselves shutting down again, remembering the last experiment and the very first.
“It’s evidence,” Adrien replied, “evidence to see if there’s any more wrong-doing, to track who did this, and see if they’ve done this to anyone else, and if possible, pursue legal charges.” He frowned. “I very much hope… I know it was a sudden change -- I hope that wasn’t an issue for you.”
“Yes, it is,” Merrick nodded. They breathed and sighed. “I’ve had sudden, last minute changes to wishes before. The change was just fine. A much better alternate route compared to what wanted to do.” The hatred towards the Institute simmered at the surface for a moment and then quieted.
“Well, then,” Adrien replied, as they turned the corner to the Lionhart, “I think I’ll feel truly at ease once I’ve gotten the vessel safely stored somewhere, but for now, at least…” he exhaled. “For now, at least, I think the worst is over.”
Walking again, Merrick centered themselves again as they saw the Lionhart. “I agree. I believe that as well at least for the foreseeable future.” The djinn could not be as hopeful and optimistic as Adrien with their centuries of experience being bound to a vessel.
With the recent turmoil, both political and mundane, Mac had been happy to take a shift behind the bar again. Tending bar soothed him, something different from the cutthroat world of Parliament or having to worry about responsibilities as Fae representative. Not that he and his assistants didn’t pick up useful tidbits of information from politicians and bureaucrats (the Lionhart was located here for a reason after all) but here he was a mere publican, by design.
Perhaps in another forty or fifty years he’d sell the pub and do something else. Perhaps.
When Adrien walked in Mac frowned for a moment trying to place his companion, then he realized just what the man was. A Djinn? Here?? The sidhe lord could count on one hand the number of times he’d encountered such creatures, exceedingly rare indeed. How had Adrien gotten mixed up with one?
(ooc: I’m going to say for gameplay purposes that whatever geas prevented Merrick from talking about what was going on also prevented Mac from recognizing Merrick was a Djinn. Now that the geas has been removed he can recognize him for what he is) (works for me! -L) (Works for me -R)
Adrien’s expression was one of relief as he saw Mac behind the bar, and he caught the man’s look of surprise, a ghost of a smile flashing briefly across his face.
“You know that thing I had to do?” He said, raising an eyebrow. “Did it.” He tipped his head Merrick’s way. “You got a minute?” He asked the Sidhe. “Me and my friend here got a story we’d like to tell you.”
Merrick had always found the Lionhart a delightful and comforting place. And the unexpected benefit of anonymity by the geas was interesting. They kept at Adrien’s side out of respect. The djinn always admired the Sidhe.
Breathing, the djinn closed their eyes. They were wondering if they could bow out of the conversation til later.
“Aye, so I see.” Mac eyed the newcomer curiously, wondering where he’d seen him before. He could have sworn he’d seen the Djinn somewhere, but spotting a being of that kind of power should have made a memorable impression.
“A tale best told out o’ the public eye.” He didn’t need to ask a question, it was clear in the body language of the two men. The sidhe lord undid his apron and handed it to an assistant, before glamouring the newcomers from view and attention from the patrons. His staff, sidhe retainers, were unaffected, but he trusted them to keep their mouths shut.
“Come with me.” It wasn’t quite a request, nor an order. Perhaps somewhere in between.
Once in one of the Lionhart’s private meeting rooms he warded the door against intruders and turned toward the duo. “Make yourselves comfortable gentlemen, and let’s hear it.”
Adrien sat, feeling an odd combination of high-strung, very nearly giddy with success, and utterly worn out -- he could still taste Wilhelm’s blood in his mouth, and the smell of the Institute’s dank basement was still lingering on his clothes.
He gave Merrick a quick look -- the djinn looked even more knackered than he did -- and turned to Mac, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. “This is Merrick. He’s a djinn,” he said, figuring, based on Mac’s expression that he already guessed as much, but it was still worth making sure they were all on the same page. “Been kept by the Institute for, oh, fifty years now,” he added. “Which explains a thing or two, I reckon.”
“They used him for wishes, experimented on him surgically, and did God knows what else,” he said, his voice low and a little tight, “and when I got him out, I made sure to erase all records, notes, and memories of his existence from the Institute, so they wouldn’t come looking for him, or me. But I asked for copies to be made first, for evidence.”
He nodded over to Merrick, to see if there was anything he wanted to add.
Merrick nodded and followed, letting Adrien lead in conversation. They felt worn out - surprised they didn’t have to burn the Institute down to its foundation to get out, uneasy but happy to be, and a mixture of angry, sad, and scared from trauma they kept bottled up. Sitting down beside Adrien in the private room, the djinn felt a little safer. Sidhe were amazing people.
Clasping their hands together in their lap, Merrick listened. Then they looked over at Adrien as he stopped speaking. “I think everything has been covered in a summary. The copies now in Mr. Green’s home are quite voluminous and thorough.” The djinn spoke gently.
“Evidence for what?” Mac enquired gently. He sympathised with the djinn’s ordeal, truly. The idea of being held captive for so long and experimented on, well... once he’d gotten free they’d understand quickly why he’d been called Conal the red in his youth.
Adrien’s frown cut deep into his face. “To pursue justice if possible, to have a list of all those involved in such atrocities to keep an eye on them for future, and…” he looked over at Mac. “They did this to one of us because they could,” he said, hollowly. “I have to think it isn’t the first time they’ve taken liberties. Perhaps I can find out more.”
He shrugged. “He’s out, though, and for the time being, I’m charged with keeping his vessel safe. And I shall do so. But should something happen to me, we don’t want it falling in the wrong hands. And I… well.” His frown deepened. “I don’t know if there’s anything you can do officially. But we thought you ought to know what they’d done regardless.”
He was relieved at the Sidhe’s sympathetic response -- there was a reason they’d both gravitated towards the barkeep. His eyes flickered over to Merrick’s, knowing the djinn had been through an ordeal to get here.
“You're right that there's nothing I can do officially,” Mac confirmed. “Even if I could, this would be a matter where I'd need to consult my Queen as I'm to represent her interests and those of the Winter Court. But you're right if they can do this to one of us they can do it to another, they'll need to have more scrutiny for certain. “
He leaned back in his seat pondering the implications of Adrien having the Djinn’s vessel. “A heavy responsibility to be sure. And temptation.” One he was decidedly glad not to have himself.
Adrien snorted. “Well,” he said, drily, “ain’t too comfortable bein’ called Master, I’ll tell you that much.” He frowned and shook his head. “I don’t aim to be one, either. I can do my best to keep the vessel secure, not let it fall into the wrong hands.” He looked over at Merrick. “I ever make a second or third wish, it’ll be because you want me to,” he said, simply.
There was a quick, wry twist to his mouth as his eyes darted back over to Mac’s. “...Just so’s you’re aware,” he added, “you’re in my will. Not that I plan on checking out any time soon, mind. And I can help to see whether they’ve done anything else like it before, keep an eye to make sure they don’t do it again.”
Merrick watched and listened, liking to hear of Sidhe culture. They missed the times they were closer to Sidhe society.
“We can use the term ‘guardian’ instead of ‘master’,” the djinn offered softly and nodded.
Mac wasn’t at all happy to hear he’d been listed in the will, deducing exactly what bequest would be made of him in it, but he kept it from showing on his face and merely nodded. “If that dark day ever comes and you’ve not solved the puzzle I’ll see it safely cared for.”
Adrien looked at the Sidhe, tipping his head. “God willing you won’t have to,” he said, quietly. “Still. Appreciate it.”