wrfmlogsarchive | if you wake up at a different time, in a different place...

Song had been sitting at the room's tiny table, reading. She looked up as he entered - without knocking, she noted, but she had left it unlocked.

"Hello, Calum." His voice was easy enough to distinguish from Josiah's. It was all in intonation. "I hope you didn't disturb any of my housemates on your way in." She set her book aside and stood, if only for politeness' sake. "Anyway, I assume we're going to do this awake. Though I don't really like you controlling Josiah, it's easier, especially if Ray joins us."

Ray strolled in not long after Calum, looking almost bored. She looked at the both of them, already figuring that she'd missed some of the conversation, even if it wasn't much.

"...Well, so, since we're all here - unless there's someone else coming that I'm not aware of - what's next?" she asked aloud. She looked around the room curiously, watching the other two discretely through her other eye even as she did.

Calum smiled briefly. "I tried to be discreet." He then turned towards Ray and swept into a small bow. "And you must be Miss Ray. A pleasure to meet you." It was at this point that his accent started to edge into his voice, although it didn't look as if he caught it.

"I take it you managed not to find Lilith, then," he asked after a moment, walking over to one of the dressers and examining the trinkets on it. It wasn't really a question - as if he didn't expect a response. "A shame..." He turned back towards the two women. "But I suppose that's not what you wanted to speak with me about."

"The demon is near impossible to find when she doesn't want to be found. I'm sure you know that," she commented casually, eyeing him as he messed with her things. "As to questions, you're right, at least in part. I am a bit curious about your relationship with Lilith, but it's the present and future I'm more concerned with. I just want to know, for a start, if whatever you're doing is likely to have any effect on myself and the other Refugees, even indirectly."

She clasped her arms behind her head, watching him. She didn't need to speak yet, she figured; Song could exert the effort. Ray, however, would simply observe for now, see what she could find out about this Calum as they talked.

"You possibly already know the answer to that," Calum mused thoughtfully. He gestured to his borrowed body. "My being here should be proof enough that what I do will affect at least one of your friends. Although..." he gave Song a long look, "having met you, I would surmise that regardless of my intentions, you would disregard them if I somehow interferred with this faux pax."

She shot a brief glance at Ray, otherwise left the other Refugee to her own devices.

"That doesn't exactly answer the question, and you're also mistaken. I once confronted Xemnas with the intention of dissuading him from his cause. I thought that what he was doing was wrong, had to be, for after all, he was the villain in the game. Then he actually told me what his ultimate goal was. If you have access to Josiah's memories, I'm sure I need say no more."

She almost laughed at Calum's words, but managed to restrain herself to just a small grin. merely raised an eyebrow questioningly when Song looked at her, but otherwise stayed silent.

He gave Song a small smile and crossed his arms. "So you would atttempt to dissuade me if you didn't agree." He laughed quietly. "I see that your former beau and I may have something in common - we already have prejudiced opinions against us. Reason enough, I suppose, for you to be suspicious..."

He paused for a moment, eyes darting to Ray for a second in time to see her smile, which he met with one of his own. "How much did Lilith actually tell you about my past?" he asked Song.

"She told me that you were a pirate lord," Song answered honestly. "One of the Brethren Court who sealed away the goddess Calypso. She also told me that you tried to become Pirate King, and went so far to do so that even the other pirate lords found your methods offensive. They executed you. I'm rather curious to know how you're here now, but ghosts aren't that uncommon, I suppose. Did Lilith leave anything out that I should know?"

The grin grew a little - so he was a pirate, was he? So that was the accent. She had to admit, he was getting more and more fascinating by the second.

Calum nodded. "Aye. For the most part, that is true. Although I doubt I would label my actions offensive. Ambitious, yes, but..." He stopped and his face went carefully blank. "You are mistaken about one thing - the Court did not execute me. They let others take care of that for them."

For a few moments after that, he was silent, considering the other question. "Pirates are a superstitious bunch by nature, but even I have no idea how..." He trailed off thoughtfully, and then reached up to remove the talisman that Josiah wore around his neck. He glanced at the tiny charm, a small smile starting to appear on his face. "I suppose it has something to do with the grimoire. Very fortunate for me - it gives me more time, at the very least."

She shrugged. "Either way, they didn't like you and now you're dead. I'm rather curious about who they threw you to, but it probably doesn't matter." She leaned forward, braced with a hand on the table. "If you will be so kind as to oblige me, Calum, I'd like to stop playing games and get down to business. The only thing I'm asking for is a straight answer about your current project. As I keep saying, I don't necessarily need to know the details. Only what is to be changed. And not how, if you will not tell me that, but simply the name or description of your intended target, whatever it may be."

At those words, Calum's demeanor changed completely. His smile vanished and his eyes grew ice cold, and his posture changed - no longer as relaxed, but there was a sort of steel now in his movements that marked him as a predator. And in that instant, magic sparked in the room, something almost but not quite like static, but dangerous. Darker.

Black magic.

"A straight answer?" he echoed, his voice low and thoughtful. "I tell you, and you'll have delusions of stopping me. I had my allies betray me once, I'll hardly allow strangers to do it this time." He began to walk closer to Song, meeting her eyes in an almost honest gaze. "I want power. More than anything, and that you already know. There is a gift in that - the ability to change anything and everything. Freedom without consequence."

He laughed then - a quiet, nearly-friendly laugh - and the magic dissipated completely. "I just never thought I'd have the chance to get it on this great a scale."

Upon feeling the black magic, Ray dropped her arms and began to cast her own, eyes narrowing as she took a step closer. A mixture of Fire and Thunder crackled at her fingertips, more to provide defense, should it be necessary, than to attack.

"Freedom I understand," she said quietly, "but power like that, that could 'change anything and everything,' could destroy you. I don't think either Josiah or you need or want that."

She relaxed her hold on the magic when his disappeared, but still kept her eye on him. "What would you want to change, anyway? Why does it matter so much to you?"

Song tensed, but did not retreat, meeting Calum's eyes steadily. She listened as Ray finally started asking her own questions, but they were irrelevant. There were plenty of problems in the universe that one might wish to change, as well as plenty of weaknesses in one's own self. The concept of being able to change anything at one's will was nothing new, after all.

Instead of blurting out her own questions, she considered her words carefully. Calum was doubting her, and that was dangerous. "...You keep assuming that as soon I know what you're up to, I'll try to stop you. The truth is, I'm more likely to get in your way if you keep it a secret. It's suspicious, you see, and discourages me from trusting you. If I knew, and if I did not agree with your tactics, I would attempt to find an alternative for you that would accomplish the same goal. Much more productive than fighting you, I should hope."

Calum glanced at Ray, a grim smile appearing on his face. "Yes. That is a risk, isn't it?" The magic that had initially sparked up with his anger was slowly returning to the room, much more subtle and elusive this time. "But aren't the greatest treasures worth the greatest risk?"

He then turned back to Song - he had stopped within an arm's length of her, and he tilted his head to the side, examining her carefully, as if trying to figure out a puzzle. "There are certain things in this universe to risk everything for, regardless of what other people may think. Some people risk everything for love, others for material gain, and even more for the tiniest bit of power that would elevate them over their peers." He smiled although the expression didn't meet his eyes even as the magic grew in the room. "That was my first and last mistake."

She stood back, crossing her arms but keeping alert in case she needed to use her magic. "It's all worthless if you die or otherwise lose yourself in the process."

Song nodded in support of Ray's point, but she also expected Calum to have a counter for it.

Her fingernails tapped a rhythm on the tabletop, then silenced and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Before we get sidetracked on the many risks of obtaining omnipotency, let's get back to the facts. You want the power to change the universe. This is nothing new, or even unusual. Indeed, I'm surprised that you didn't outright agree with my comparison of you to Xemnas. It's also obvious that you've discovered some method to acquire such power, and that if we know about it, we're likely to fight you. Again, nothing new, except that right now, I'm probably not the only one thinking that this method or your having it will endanger everything we hold dear. The way I see it, Calum, is that I'm already assuming the worst, so giving me the truth wouldn't do much more harm. And..." she glanced again at Ray, expression unreadable. "judging from the past, I am the most likely Refugee to agree with your reasons."

Calum suddenly began to laugh - not a chuckle, but a full-out laugh. He shook his head in amusement before giving Song an exasperated smile. "You don't quite understand yet, do you?" He threw a quick glance at Ray too before reaching out to gently touch Song's cheek. "The problem is, Miss Song, is that I will do anything to get that power. It matters not to me the cost - after all, this is neither my body, and I am still very much dead. Your friend isn't though... as of yet."

The magic began to take on a physical appearance, dark shadows appearing in the corners of the room, but even then, Calum didn't notice it. He only smiled softly. "I see this as a grand opportunity, to fix everything and to settle a debt that's owed to me - I have absolutely nothing to lose."

She glanced at Song. "Your knowledge of the past isn't necessarily the whole story," she murmured, more to herself than anything.

"You know, Calum," she said louder, "we have powerful wizards on our side. Would you object if we asked them for some help to get you your own body, fabricated or not? Then, at least, you wouldn't have to deal with our hassling you over Josiah's safety."

Ray tensed when the magic rose again, feeling electricity crackle within her, wanting to be released. It put her on edge, but it also piqued a certain curiosity within her...

Calum's words finally discouraged her, Ray's comment only an echo of her own thoughts at that moment. This was starting to look like a lost cause, but Ray's next words snapped Song out of that line of thinking. There was always something more that could be done.

"She has a point. Are you certain there's no way to accomplish whatever it is you're doing that doesn't involve hurting Josiah or any of the rest of us? We will help you, to keep each other safe."

Calum shook his head. "I'm sorry it has to be this way. Sometimes, even my ambition gets the best of me, I admit. And if you do try to... exorcise me, as it were, I will kill him and anybody I can take with me." He lowered his head slightly, and the shadows rose up higher, as if ready to spring forward. "Forgive me for my callousness in using this leverage, but I will finish my work regardless of the consequences."

His eyes grew colder as he stepped away from Song. "And I would appreciate if neither of you said a word of this to any of your allies. I believe you have enough problems to deal with, and I would much rather be left alone with this." He reached up to reclasp the talisman around his neck, and as he did so, the black fog rolled foward around the room's occupants, cold as ice and just as numbing. "Not that I expect that you won't."

"Exor-- no, that's not what I was saying," Ray protested. "They could make you your own body, so you won't have to deal with Josiah or any of us or hurt him."

As it grew colder, Fire magic escaped and circled around her, doing naught but chasing the the chill away. She looked at Song for a moment, the glance an invitation to spread the magic to keep her warm, as well.

"You needn't worry about that from me," Ray said airly. "I can keep secrets pretty damn well; I'm sure the refugees would vouch for that. But, if you don't mind my asking... You seem really... attached to that talisman. Why is it so special or important to you, exactly?"

Song shivered and felt her throat tighten in anticipation of the attack which had accompanied it last time. Her answer to Ray's silent offer was a pleading look that said it all.

She kept her mouth shut this time. Talking hadn't done as much good as she would have hoped so far anyway.

"The problem with that," Calum murmured, closing his eyes, "is that it can't be done. Though you are welcome to try." He didn't move his hands again or make any other movements, but the temperature in the room suddenly plunged, and the room itself grew darker. The cold electricity that had originally snapped up returned forcefully, and the shadows swirled forth again against Ray's fire magic, pressing against it, almost curiously.

He frowned at her thoughtfully when she asked about the talisman. His eyes darted quickly to Song, and he smiled. "Ah. What has she been telling you?"

"You underestimate the wizards we know. They've done something very similar for us before - I'm sure they could do it again."

She let the Fire flare as she stepped a little closer to Song, letting it surround them both. It held firm against the shadows, refusing to relent as it cast a bluish glow on them.

Song closed the remaining distance between herself and Ray so that they stood side by side.

"Calum..." she said quietly but steadily, "if this is only going to turn to threats and violence, you should leave now. If you still think that something could be achieved by talking, then please stop this."

Calum looked at the two woman for a long moment, and he shook his head. "Whether you believe me or not, it was never my intention to get any of you involved." His eyes flashed darkly in the bluish light. "But I will not stop trying to achieve my goal, Miss Song. And I will find her."

Then, just as suddenly, the shadows were gone, the temperature of the room had risen back to normal levels. But the faintest remnants swirled briefly around Song, into a vague impression of words.

You should have expected that much, at least, poppet...

And it was Josiah who wavered slightly on his feet, blinking unsteadily. He took one look at Song and Ray, opened his mouth to say something... and then slumped to the floor with a weakly growled, "goddammit..."

Her magic vanished just as quickly, and Ray was kneeling at his side. She gave him an annoyed look and poked him hard in the chest.

"You need to stop getting yourself in this kind of situation," she said softly, a small smile on her face.

Song stood unmoving for a moment longer, as if still paralyzed by the fog. Then a violent tremor ran up her spine and she scowled. "It's little bird, not poppet. I'll show you poppet, you blackhearted, undead, Disney villain wannabe..."

Apparently satisfied with her grumbled cursing, she focused on the other two again and heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry, Josiah. The ghost in your head is being difficult."

"I don't think I signed up for this one," Josiah muttered, rubbing his temples wearily. "First, I get body-swapped with a succubus and now I have a goddamn swishy pirate-ghost-zombie-whatever-the-fuck-he-is living in my head." He scowled as he sat back against the wall. "The universe just loves to make me her bitch, doesn't she?"

She shrugged. "That's why they've said you need to get put in a bubble, kid." Nevermind the fact that he was a few years older than her.

"'Sides. Being the multiverse's buttmonkey seems to come with the territory when you're a ref. Some just get it worse than other," she said with a grin.

Song slumped back into her chair as the adrenaline from the confrontation faded. She let Ray chat with Josiah as she let her mind reorganize itself. Then, in the midst of another thought, something clicked and she looked sharply at Josiah. "Wait a minute. Did Chase tell you about the body swap?"

Josiah raised an eyebrow when Ray called him "kid" - oh, really. "And I take so much pride in it."

He let out a weary sigh and closed his eyes, looking exhausted. At Song's question though, he opened his eyes and gave her a weak smile. "Why would Chase have to tell me? I was there when it happened." He leaned back against the wall. "He gave me my memories back on Sunday..."

That earned a bright smile from her. "You should have said something! I thought you were still half-oblivious. And I'll have you know, I do not like being forgotten." She waved an index finger at him in mock-scolding, but sobered again quickly, her voice taking on a lost tone.

"I don't like this, you know. He's much harder to deal with than Xem was. I'm worried about what he'll do to you, and to Lilith..."

Josiah laughed quietly, rubbing the back of his head, abashed. "Yeah, sorry about that. I kept meaning to post something on the comm, but I kept procrastinating."

At the mention of Calum, his eyes grew dark and he let out a frustrated sigh. "Don't worry too much about me - I don't think he can do too much to me without harming himself. As for Lilith..." He shrugged. "I have no idea what his obsession with her is, but I haven't seen her in days. She can probably take care of herself." But even with those words, there was a slight worried tone in his voice.

if you wake up at a different time, in a different place...

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