Stalking, Shadows and Babylon

Who: Peyton and Geo
Where: Trowbridge Park
When: Afternoon

It had been hard to go to school that day. Not everyone was in attendance, and it had been hard to concentrate on anything with those stupid shadows still wandering around town. Her dad was working double shifts again, with the amount of injured people being admitted. Peyton hadn't slept well and she knew that the stress was starting to show. She wore jeans and an old vintage Rolling Stones t-shirt, her red hair pulled up into a ponytail as she headed toward the park to meet Geo. She was relieved to know from his text that he was okay, and Sammy as well. She'd been growing increasingly worried with every day that passed where she hadn't heard from him. Once she hit the park, she tugged out her earphones, eyes seeking him out.

He may have been okay when he texted her, but after the last night? Last week? Last month Geo was seriously beginning to doubt anything would really be okay again. He sat sprawled under one of the trees in the middle of the park, as far from anything reflective as he could get. The butcher's knife was out of his ruined duster now, in a makeshift sheath slid into his sock, and he looked a wreck. He hadn't slept more than ten minutes last night, and it more than likely showed. Had it been anyone but a friend, he would have called the meeting off right then and there. But it was Peyton - and some things were more important than battening down the proverbial hatches.

Peyton spotted Geo under the tree and headed in his direction. She managed a small, tired smile - because he looked like he might need it. "Hey," she greeted, dumping her bag on the grass and sitting Indian style beside him. He looked like crap - not that she'd say that to his face. She reached over to touch his arm. "How are you?"

"Dunno, honestly." Geo found himself answering, moving his arm to catch her hand in one of his own, just giving it a gentle squeeze. "All...mixed up. Confused. Can't believe it's been a week since the funeral, yanno?" He shook his head, rubbing at his good eye. "Had some...someone, like, stalking me all weekend," He still couldn't believe he'd got out of that alive, "Got a new job, but now those...those shadow t-things are followin' me. I just..." His voice dropped slightly, almost going hoarse. "...I just want things to calm down so I can catch my breath." He looked back at Peyton, smile lopsided. "But enough about me, how're you?"

"I'm fine," Peyton said simply, not overly concerned about herself at the moment. If she started to think about everything - Geo's parents, the shadows attacking people, not being able to Isaac, her epilepsy... god, she'd probably start bawling and freak him the hell out. She held onto his hand and tried to figure out which part of that she wanted to start with. "Let's start with the most startling thing. You're being stalked? By who? Why? Do you know who they are? What they look like?" She didn't like the sound of that at all.

"There was a woman; blond and, well, pretty. She called herself Reece, don't think that's her real name though." Geo leaned back against the tree, not letting go of her hand. "And the guy I rescued from the vamps, said his name was Drew, also doubt that's his real name. He's about my height, built, blue-green eyes, short dark blond or light brown hair..." He fingered the tattered remains of his duster's sleeves, one eyebrow raised. "And I know why, he saw me, uh, changed. I guess. The night I rescued him, I mean." He's sure got a weird idea of thanking someone... He kept that part to himself. "I haven't seen them," Or my dog, "All week, so...maybe they gave up? s'what I keep hopin' anyways."

Peyton wracked her memory the best she could for anyone she knew named Reece or Drew who matched those descriptions. Then again, if those weren't their real names, she'd be of no help. Peyton's frown deepened. "So wait, you're being stalked by a blond, pretty woman, and a guy you rescued from the vampires. Because of what you are? Do you think they're like... hunters?" She nearly cringed at the use of that word, because she didn't want to imagine Geo being hunted down by anyone for being what he was. "You should call the police or something if they don't leave you alone. Seriously, if you see them again... I mean, tell your sister! Can't she do something?"

"If they show up again, I will. She...probably can, being on the police and all..." Geo shrugged. "And...I don't know. I hope not. I hope I don't ever see 'em again." Other than to get Fuga back, of course, and he wasn't even sure how he was supposed to do that. "But like I said. Haven't seen any sign of 'em since Sunday, so...who knows."

"Well, if you do see them, call your sister, or something. Especially if they saw you change, I wouldn't trust them at all," Peyton said, squeezing his hand and opting for a less ominous subject. The thought of people stalking Geo didn't sit well with her, and she was trying not to let it aggravate her already twitchy nerves. "And you said you have a job now? Where are you working?"

"Haven't started yet, but I'm a, uh. I'm a bartender at the Babylon." He glanced away for a second before looking back, expression slightly guilty. "I, uh. I kinda have a fake ID now." He hurried past that subject. "I start this weekend, it should be interesting!" If not somewhat creepy. He wasn't entirely sure what felt creepy about the place, other than as soon as he'd come out was when those things had started following him. Wasn't that just endearing.

"A bartender with a fake ID?" Peyton felt her lips twitch into a small grin as she tried to imagine Geo behind a bar, mixing drinks. Thank god for some kind of humor. "Holy crap, Geo. That's awesome. I've never heard of Babylon before, is it new in town? Am I able to come see you? Probably not, if you've got a fake ID, unless I get one too they probably wouldn't let me in, which sucks. And really, I don't know anyone who could even make fake IDs. Trenchcoat Larry with the fake ID. So mysterious." She made a gimme motion with her free hand. "Seriously, do you have it on you? Can I see it?"

"I..." He honestly didn't know if it was new in town. He thought about that as he let go, fishing his wallet out of his pocket. He knew he'd seen it as long as he'd been in Marquette, but now that he was thinking? He couldn't remember what street it was on - or even where he'd found it. Did the place move? That would take some investigation. "It's nothin' all that interestin', I just thought it'd be easier to get a job if it looked like I was twenty-one." He passed the card over. It had Helen's address on it right now, and his birthday as July 17, 1986. Given her reaction to the idea of this one, he was just as glad that he'd left the two with the fake names, addresses and birthdays at home.

She snatched the license from him and held it with both hands, giving it a once over with a wide grin. Thank god for a little bit of humor in spite of everything else. "I don't know if I should laugh, or tell you how stupid it is to have one of these. You know you could get into a lot of trouble serving alcohol and being underage with this thing." She handed it back to him. "Especially with your sister being a cop too. What are you going to do if she asks about where you work? Are you going to lie? Do you even know how to bartend? Or are they going to teach you?"

"I'm not gonna get caught, she doesn't care." The last came out more bitter than he wanted it to. He hurried to finish. "She's...she was being really, really nice - and by nice I mean oddly so - when you were over, you can't...you can't let the fact that she's a cop get you off guard. She's not, she's...she's very good at seeming to be things she's not, and one of the things she's not is trustworthy." He shook his head. "And, yeah, I don't know how to yet, but they'll teach me. I think. I hope."

Peyton's smile faded slowly. "So you're saying that your sister was pretending to be nice. I mean, what does she really think that'll get her? I don't have anything to offer at all. I'm not... like special, or anything." Peyton leaned back to balance herself on her hands. It was nice being able to talk to a friend. She'd been feeling all kinds of alone over the last few days, despite Isaac's constant phone calls. "I'm glad you've got a job - even if it's kind of illegal. At least if the place is busy, you'll make good tips, right? Then maybe you can move out of Helen's and be on your own."

"Reputation." It hurt to watch her smile fade, but he'd rather that than, say, Helen do something dumb and Peyton not expect it. "That's all. And...that's the idea. I have enough right now, actually, but I need steady money so...I mean, so I can..." He scowled, unsure how to finish that sentence, so he started a different one. "Did I tell you Mom and Dad put in their will that Sammy has to stay with Helen until he's eighteen?"

She lifted an eyebrow, recognizing, maybe, what he was trying to say. She felt badly for him - that Sammy was stuck with Helen, since according to Geo, they didn't get along. And if the woman would have pretended to be polite simply for reputation, Peyton felt that much worse for Geo and Sammy. "You did. Are you looking for steady work so you can try and gain custody of him?"

"Exactly." Geo sighed, a short sound. "I don't think I picked a good job for that, but I want to start going to school, too, so...I guess it's just for now so I can pay for an apartment and keep saving and have flexible hours? And then once I have that part under control I'll go for something a little more...reliable."

"That sounds like a plan," Peyton agreed. "And you know, you could always get student loans, or grants, if you're looking to go back to school too. And if you need any help, or need anything from me, you know I'll do it." Though she knew with all of that, and having to pay for court costs, and dealing with everything... Sammy might very well be eighteen before everything settled. She bit her tongue on saying that though, not wanting to discourage him. She straightened again, looking at him more closely. "The shadow things. Are you okay? Are you just seeing them, or are you being attacked by them?"

Geo looked at her for a second that seemed to last longer than a second before he finally gave a little grimace. "Attacked." He looked at his watch - it was a cheap thing he'd picked up and promptly - but carefully - busted the glass out of. "Never rains but it pours, yanno?" He tapped the watch, other hand going to check that the knife was still there. "Marek says if y'make 'em all go away, you get a break...that it seems to take new ones awhile to come for you."

Apparently Marek had had lots of experience with this the past few days. They'd all - all four of them - spent last night awake in the kitchen, every knife Helen owned (which was more than the average person might thing) on the table. At least, though, they'd just gone for him (and Marek) which gave the other two chances to get at them. "And it's only been..." He looked at the watch again. "Less than twenty minutes since we got rid of the last batch."

Peyton really wanted to know why certain people were being targeted. The shadow that had broken through her mirror while Isaac had come to see her the day before had scared the shit out of her. It hadn't gone for her - but him, and she couldn't really do much about it. And now she couldn't even see him because of it. None of it made sense. What was the link there? Was there a link? It worried her further, that not only was Isaac hiding away from them, but Geo was being attacked too. And she had no way of helping. Again. Peyton felt like she might burst into tears, but blinked them away before she sat up. "I know they're easy to kill," she said weakly. "But I'm sure you know that. You don't think they'll like... find you here, do you?"

"Dunno. Might take 'em awhile. I...kindabrokethemirrorofeverycarbetweenhereandmyhouse." He spoke in a rush, words jumbling. "They seem to be linked with mirrors, which makes exactly no sense, but I figure it's worth being unlucky, right? And they don't go after some people unless they're being attacked by those people, so as long as you leave 'em alone we're good."

"You broke every mirror?" Peyton asked, astonished. How many mirrors could that possibly be? Well over a dozen, surely. Instinctively she glanced around to make sure no angry cops were headed in their direction. Good lord. Peyton lifted her hands to tighten her ponytail and then sighed. "Isaac, his sister Kaysen and his friend Thom were stuck... somewhere... behind mirrors awhile ago. There were a few others with them, but they got trapped in this mine that led them to this, like, whole other realm or whatever. They returned through mirrors, and they're being affected by these shadow things too. I'm not," she added, eyes searching Geo's face. "But you are. I mean, there's got to be some kind of reasoning behind who they're attacking, right?"

"Yeah. But...funny thing is, I wasn't the only one. 'Bout a third of 'em were already done. And I didn't get, like, the rear-views in some, yanno. Windows up and all..." He ran a hand through his hair. "And you'd think..." He trailed off, remembering. "I met Thom. Back before everyone could see 'em, so some people just seemed kinda..." He twirled his finger at his temple. "But that was at Fenton's, and he was already seein' them so I don't think that's the connection. And I can honestly tell you I ain't ever been in a mirror, or anywhere but here..."

...though. Though. There was the Babylon. The Babylon, which moved. The Babylon, which hadn't had any mirrors. The Babylon that Marek had apparently been to, the business card giving him the idea to look there in the first place. The Babylon - he hadn't seen these things before he went there.

"....well," He amended. "I think I just figured out another link, but...I don't see how it attaches to anything else..."

She stared at him before for a second before lifting her eyebrows expectantly. "What is it? Any little bit of information would help, I think." If there was anymore to it, any other possible theories or links, she wanted to know. At least she'd be able to tell Isaac and see if they could figure it out, if she and Geo couldn't.

"The, ah, th-the Babylon. You...you said you'd never heard of it, asked if it was new...I was going to say no, because I've seen it since I moved here. Wh-what didn't set in," He ignored the speed-induced stammer, wanting the words out before he lost the connection. "Is that every time I've seen it, it's been somewhere else. I mean, I noticed, but hey." He spread his hands, pointing back at himself with all fingers.

"It's me, right? Everyone who knows me knows I can't remember some things good, period." And he knew it well enough to admit it. "There weren't any mirrors in there, and I didn't start being attacked by these things until I came out of my job interview. Marek's been seein' them from the beginning, and he was at the Babylon a week or so ago..." His voice trailed off again. "But...like I said. Dunno what help that'd be..."

Okay, that was just bizarre. A bar that moved? And how had Geo seen this place when he moved here, but she hadn't? Peyton had been born and raised in Marquette - she knew where everything was. She knew all the new stores, and all of the closing ones. She would have known if Babylon had been around for awhile. But if it moved constantly - which, sorry, in her mind was just impossible, though she had to remind herself vampires had been impossible at one point too - then obviously Babylon wasn't your average bar.

Peyton bent over a bit, framing her head with her fingers as she tried to think. "Maybe... maybe Babylon had mirrors? Maybe... if something weird is going on, and that place is a part of it, the mirrors were broken? or taken down. What better way to lose business than to have all of your patrons freaked out by mirror shadows, you know? If you're right, and Babylon moves - then maybe it's not a normal bar. I mean, I've never seen it. Never heard of it. But you have." Her head snapped up and she studied him. "You're a wereraven. You're not human. What's Marek? Is he something too? Maybe normal people, like me, can't find the place because we're not meant to?" Damn, that sounded so far fetched, but she was grasping at this point. She wanted to have something that could eventually have all of this make sense.

"As far as I know, he's human..." But, his mind pointed out, There was the fact that he was able to hold off the creatures by himself for so long...and he won't let you in the basement...and Sammy says he always smells like blood... And even he was able to smell that now, since it'd been a few days since Marek had bothered to shower.

"...but he might be a magic user," He finally admitted. "I'm not sure, if he is he hasn't told us. But that'd...that'd be not-quite-normal human, right?" He rubbed at his head. "I think I'm gettin' a headache."

"If he does magic? Like real magic, he's probably like... a witch, or something." It was possible, right? If Thom and Isaac could learn magic, surely there were people out there more adept - maybe people who had it in their blood. She knew a wereraven - and a werebear after all - so she was guessing it was possible. "Did you notice anything different about Babylon? The people there? Whoever interviewed you? Did it feel different? You said it moves, Geo, so obviously there's something going on with it."

"There wasn't really anyone there. Just the lady who interviewed me, Eris." He left the idea of Marek being a witch alone for now - there were some things he did not want to think about. "She was...intense. Charismatic is the word, I think? Very, very beautiful...but she smelled and sounded human, for what that's worth anymore. And it felt...old. It had, like...gas lights." His nose wrinkled at the memory. "She kept asking questions about my eye." And touching his face. He left that part out too.

Without realizing it, Peyton made a subtle face at Geo's description of Eris. While she may not have been aware of her external expression, her thoughts rang loud and clear that she didn't really care how intense, beautiful and charismatic the woman was. Was that really important to mention? Boys. She resisted the urge to huff and instead focused on the other details - not that there were many. "Well, if it moves all the time, then the place could very well be old. And just because she smelled human, doesn't mean she is human. She could be like... a succubus, or some demon with tentacles and five eyes. Or maybe she's a weresnake, or vampire rat or whatever." Now she was just being ridiculous. Peyton waved her hand. "The point is, she works in a place that moves. And the attacks didn't start on you until you left the interview. So obviously there's something there. Are you sure you want to work there?"

"Hell yeah." Geo couldn't fight off the broad grin. "It's got my interest now, I wanna know what it is. Where it is." Then her scent change sank in - slightly...annoyed? What...aw, shoot. His own description of Eris had sounded...awfully glowing. Which he really hadn't meant to do. "I mean...I'll be careful. Real careful. She...honestly, she scared me a bit." Though the mental image of her having five eyes and tentacles was treading the strange border between hilarious and terrifying. "When I said charismatic, I was meaning...she seemed like she was used to being in charge. Used to people listening to her..." He made no amend to the 'beautiful' claim.

His flustered explanations were helping at all. And she didn't know why she was annoyed. Maybe because currently she felt like she was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum of that glowing review. Feeling as crappy as she did, and looking equally as bad, no doubt. The only intensity she could muster at the moment was wanting to hit him in the head with her bag. Blah. She tugged at her ponytail again before shaking her head and reaching for her bag. Best just to ignore it and stop being so girlishly irritated. "Anyway. Yeah, be careful. Especially if you've got a maybe-tentacled, bossy boss who scares you." She wrinkled her nose and dug into her bag, pulling out the journal Geo had let her borrow. She offered it to him. "I remembered to bring it."

Geo's flustered protests trailed off when he saw the journal, and (somehow) that made him feel even more like a complete heel. He just swallowed the rest of his words, taking the journal back. "Thank you." He unbuckled the cover and flipped it open, all the way to the back. "Yanno." He turned the last page, revealing the hard back cover. "My Poppy wasn't really what you call paranoid, but he was careful." He slid his thumbnail under the yellowing paper, turning it until he felt a tiny click and the whole piece of paper - and a very, very thin piece of wood popped out.

"He had little secret compartments - cubbyholes, he called 'em - all over his and Nana's house out in Washington, and he was starting to add them to his house in Kentucky before he died...he put them in his books an' stuff, too, and I forgot to tell you." He pulled the wood flap out, tipping the book over and giving it a small shake. A thin sheath of photos fell out, different sizes and types - from black and white to Polaroid to the completely normal type. Geo didn't look up, didn't want to give away his emotion as he sorted out two matching photos, the most recent he'd shoved in there - taken that summer before they moved. The whole family, on the steps of their old house.

"I. Um. Wanted you to have one." He looked over at her, holding out one of the photos with a small smile. "I mean. That's if you wanted it. I know they - or mom, anyway - liked you."

"Of course I want it." Peyton took the photo and immediately felt like a gigantic ass for getting irritated with him over something pretty damn insignificant in the grand scheme of things, especially when his parents had just died. She felt the guilt and realized that she was starting to let her worries and problems seep out in ways that weren't necessarily fair. She'd have to remedy that and remind herself she was capable of dealing with them herself without taking them out on her friends. Holding the photo, Peyton observed it closely before sighing and offering him a faint smile. "Thanks... and thanks for letting me borrow the journal. Your poppy was... observant and thorough." Her smile lifted a bit. "I think I'm pretty close to becoming an expert on wereravens."

"Oh, really?" Geo teased, just pleased that her scent was changing back towards what he thought of as "default Peyton". "So then, you know why I tend to get klepto around music! Excellent." Poppy really did have a section in there about the collecting compulsion/obsession. "You can protect me from the police when I get picked up for nickin' CDs. 'I'm sorry, officer, he has a mental condition...'"

"Please don't get picked up for stealing CDs," Peyton said, a tired laugh escaping her lips. "If I tried to explain your mental condition was a result of raven blood, they would probably arrest me too." Her smile faded and she looked down at her bag. "I should get home. I don't want to keep you out here longer than you have to be if those things are going to try and find you." After all, Isaac couldn't come see her anymore until this stuff was over and done with... she didn't want to put anyone else in that position.

"I won't, I won't. Promise." He grabbed the tree trunk, using it to hoist himself to his feet. You seem to be making more and more of those lately... He offered his hand to Peyton. "That's the last thing I need right now, yanno, add an arrest record..." Or monster shadow things. "I'll try and see you sooner than this time, lord willin' and the creek don't rise..."

She took his hand and pulled herself up. Slipping her bag over her shoulder, she nodded. "At least call or something so I know you're okay," Peyton told him. "And let me know how the job thing goes, and if you need anything..."

"I will. All of it. I mean, call and let you know how things went and if I need anything..." He drew her into a quick, impulsive-but-entirely-friendly hug. "And if anything massively weird goes down, I'll quit." He snapped his fingers together. "Just like that."

She hugged him back, biting her lip hard. The urge to cry was there again and she blinked it away quickly and nodded again. Pulling back, she shifted her bag. "Okay, you better. And please be careful going home," Peyton told him before touching his arm and heading off across the park, slipping the photo he'd given her into her bag.

Geo watched, posture upright and alert - almost a sentry's - until she was mostly out of sight. Once he couldn't see her any more he snapped the journal closed, hugging the book tight to his stomach. It took him a moment to regain his composure enough to reached down and free his knife with his other hand, turn on his heel and begin the long walk back home.