bakerstreet | COME TO MY WINDOW, I'LL BE HOME SOON

And even when I'm old and gray,
I'm going to feel the way I do today
Because you make me feel so young.
— SINATRA

Die Moritat von Mackie Messer - Die 3 Groschen Oper

Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne
und die trägt er im Gesicht
und Macheath, der hat ein Messer
doch das Messer sieht man nicht.

And the shark, it has teeth,
And it wears them in the face.
And Macheath, he has a knife,
But the knife can't be seen.

[ or give him your own. ♥ ]

1
you caught my eye in the fun house mirror
you looked so pretty even like that
you held my hand while I held my tongue
and blushed beneath my baseball cap [...]
love is a risk you have to take
I feel safe to risk everything

2
And I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine
Like Johnny Cash said “I walk the line”
And you can always count on me for one last beer
We saw the world and the world seemed smaller
We're getting wider but not getting no taller [...]
I'm so glad that I have these friends of mine

Or bring your own!

i. Down to the place we used to lay when we were kids
Memories of a stolen place
Caught in the silence
An echo lost in space

ii. And since we know that dreams are dead
And life turns plans up on their head
I will plan to be a bum
So I just might become someone

iii. Go ahead and laugh all you want
I got my philosophy
And I trust it like the ground
That's why my philosophy
Keeps me walking when I'm falling down

or choose your own!

Free choice or:

1/ Be true or be gone
You’re only fooling yourself
Open hand or not
You are holding out
But there is no light that you can’t live in
Tear it apart
Your old confession made in the dark

2/ It's not exactly what I had in mind
It's the blind leading the blind
Tonight the sun is gonna rise overhead
I can see a ghost town up ahead

3/I hope the fences we mended
Fall down beneath their own weight
And I hope we hang on past the last exit
I hope it's already too late

I know it's wrong, it must be wrong
But right or wrong I can't get along
Without you.

Waking up alone, like a man that failed ... Trapped into the mist of our fairytale And you know, you know, you know, I’m still inside
---
I knew it all along, but I couldn’t tell ... This kind of love, would lock my heart in jail You know, you know, you know, it’s doing time

Caught in the middle of, the dawn and the sunrise
Life is a miracle, I saw it in your eyes
Under the spotlight, I howl in the moonlight ... Howling for you

Take it on ... take it on ... and get me through the night Take it on ... take it on ... until the morning light
Take it on ... take it on ... and get me through the night Takeiton...takeiton...takeiton

First off, break through the cordon
Jump over the border, with bold steps
In the nick of time, Just around the corner
The chaser is getting closer, when you shake them off, escape
This grand mission that shakes the world
Stay cool till the very end, don’t rush, complete

[Contrary to what certain parties liked to think, he did like to be out and about sometimes, even if it is just to check up with his contacts. True, it was rare for him to be purely out among mortals just for the sake of it, but not completely unheard of.

Even then -

At this point in time, his gaze flickers across the dealer's table - he's not on the job, but there's something about one of the others sitting next to him that has him on-edge, and he really doesn't like it. It definitely isn't Cermand, he'd know right off the bat and he wouldn't be worried at all. Honestly, knowing the both of them, they'd be giving each other shit and knocking back drinks while looking to see if there was anyone that piqued their curiosity.

A quick glance to his hand, and he's skimming the faces of everyone again, keeping his face decidedly neutral. Maybe -

He gestures at the dealer to call, ready and waiting to see what the others' reactions will be. Half the game at this point is seeing if anyone panics.]

[This gambling place had a not-so-secret secret. Like a lot of their rivals, the mixture of sleek Western design and traditional holdovers went hand in hand, from the luck talismans to the decorations scattered throughout the room. Near the entrance sat a set of maneki-neko, worn and faded from the ages, though a close observer would notice that the establishment didn't have a full set. Where the luckiest one was suppose to sit - the calico surrounded by the black and red one - was two saucers, one with a small offering of a red bean bun, the other with several small coins.

When he stepped into the establishment earlier, he smiled a tiny bit at the offerings and reached over to tap the two sitting maneki-neko before studying the tables and the flow of the people. As most creatures of his nature, once he was freed of any bond towards a place, he had wandered causing whatever luck he wished though there was still a small piece that always would be tuned to his home. When the current family in charge finally bowed to the wisdom of the elder and set out the offerings in order to draw him back, he had wandered back a little curious though he took a few days to feel safe enough to step back inside. The elder had spotted him and explained that he wouldn't be forced to stay again, only that they needed a little bit of luck and a lot of mischief to drive off a group of predators trying to drive them out of business.

Luckily he was feeling nostalgic enough to give them that.

He found the gamblers early on and got into their game with a combination of playing badly and having a lot of money. The others at the table were the kind that would gamble heavily, deal crookedly, and take as much money from the house as they could get. They were probably from a rival group, no doubt getting ready to move on from draining the coffers to breaking the place up to buying what was left. The kind of people that he loved to run and he was doing a good job by this time, making big mistakes in his hands and having little left but a couple stacks of chips. He acted nervous, looking at his cards, biting his lips and then signaling a call as well.

Next round was going to be the last bet and then, well, he wondered what they would do when they tried reaching for the money that wasn't really what they thought it was.]

Edited 2017-03-11 07:13 (UTC)

[At this point it wasn't even about the money. Never was. Obviously the others here didn't realize that, but that was part of the point. He wasn't supposed to stand out. For all they knew, he was just another confident patron trying to make some apparently easy money.

But now that he was looking closer at some of the others at the table - no, he could definitely tell that they were itching to finish this off and take everything they could. There's a small twinge of a smirk that appears on his lips as some of the others continued, eager to get their hands on what was now a sizable pot. Cromm wasn't making it easy for them though, moreso just because it made things more interesting for him. One of the others gives them a grin as he raises, clearly trying to flush out the others, but he matches the other's grin.

He's got a good enough hand. He knows that. And even then, he can always turn the tables if he felt like it. Even if he felt a familiar twinge of fae magic in the air, but definitely not his own.]

[Money was there just to keep score. He was like a lot of fae and didn't need as much as humans since he could easily work around a lot of the inconveniences that humans lived with. Though times like this, he had to spend money in order to get a bigger reward once the play had ended. These people just thought that they were getting the better end of the deal, which was like any mark that got caught up in a score. Even crooks get caught so easily once they thought they smelled blood.

He heard the raised, watching one of the others not int he play fold. That left him with the predators and some other guy. He wasn't with them, but was probably just some harden gambler that was going to stubbornly hang around and watch; Robin turned his attention firmly to the predators and left the guy alone. He wasn't important.

Instead, he pushed the remainder of his money into the pile,biting his lower lip and only keeping a lone dealer's chip. The other looked gleeful at that, matching the first's raise. He swallowed, making a show of playing with his lighter and cigarettes before the dealer again reminded him that this was a no smoking area.]

[The funny part was that if Cromm knew that he was in another fae's territory and that they had a similar goal, he would actually be working alongside him no problem. As it was, though, they were more or less unconsciously helping each other out. While he wasn't here on a mission per se, he was here to teach a few mortals lessons on humility, especially in the face of something like this where luck could change everything in an instant.

While he wasn't leading, he did have a sizable amount of money made from this endeavor, and as a result, decides to follow the nervous-looking one's lead and go all in. There's still that tingling in the air of magic, but he ignores it for now, instead tapping his fingers against the table to watch and see what the two he had pinned down as greedy vultures (and he wasn't wrong on that assumption if the looks on their faces after he matched their bets were any indication) would do. Even if he wasn't originally planning on it, maybe screwing with them a little bit would prove to be more fun.]

[The last round over and there was the call to turn the cards up. Of course his hand wasn't the best - just a couple pairs really - but that didn't matter. He could have always made his cards change if he really needed the win. He didn't. It wasn't the point of this play.

No, the point was making sure the predators had a nice little shock.

He picked up the dealer's chip and rolled it over his knuckles, the nervousness fading as the one scum turned over his cards and showed off the straight flush he had built. The other had a four quad with a six kicker. Both were better hands to his one and he watched as they looked at each other and then at the pot. The one with the flush reached over first and Robin readied his illusions.]

I wouldn't do that if I was you.

[There's a grin that creeps up on Cromm's face even as he sees the others' hands. He can't help it - this was generally one of the more fun parts of it. He's able to school it into neutrality quickly enough that one of the others looks fairly nervous as he makes a bit of a show of waiting to reveal his hand.

No point in not at least messing with them a little.

It didn't help that the increased tension coming from the fact that he's keeping his hand so under wraps at this point is really more amusing than anything. They're not good people by any stretch of the imagination, and they really probably should've realized the scope of what they're dealing with here - granted he made no indication in revealing what he really was, of course going under a fake name and keeping his aura under wraps. Made sense, considering what he was.

He flips over his hand, barely able to contain the grin as they blanched. But what they originally thought was a royal flush shifted into something a bit more normal - in this case, two pair, ace high. It did actually look like a royal flush at first, but that was just a small glamour over the cards before the real hand was shown. He leans back, laughing a little.]

Good thing you guys are done after this, think you're starting to see things now. [It's the first time he's made conversation in this game, but he can't help but have a twinge of amusement in his voice as a result.]

[He never really needed to cover what he was in this gambling den, so his aura was there, though muted by the protection offered through the family's years of offerings and prayers. The workings too weren't hidden for those that could See but these two weren't gifted and they had little idea on what to expect in any case. The idea of a protective trickster spirit wasn't a new one for any established gambling den, so no one ever paid them any mind.

Glancing over at the other fae, Robin arced and eyebrow before laughing setting the dealer's chip to spin on the tip of his finger before flipping it and catching it. He opened his hand and held,it out towards the one with the winning hand, his grin not exactly right.]

Did you drink too much? Seeing things not really there. . .

[A push of illusions and the chip in his hand twitched, legs pulling from the body as it stood. The markings change from the name of the gambling house to a slick red hourglass, the rest of the body going black as it's shape changed. The legs moved stately across Robin's hand and settled on the tips of his fingers, and then the winner realized that the pile of money he had been reaching for erupted into hundreds of spiders. They swarmed up his arm and he screamed falling back into his partner who echoed the scream as the spiders hoped over onto him as well.]

Maybe they had too many party favors before they got here?

[Well, that was certainly interesting. He doesn't flinch at all when the chips begin to change shape - while illusion magic was something that he dealt with, this wasn't really his style. Cromm's gaze flicks over to the other - definitely interesting. He shrugs as if confused about what just transpired, even though both of them knew exactly what they were doing.

It's not uncommon to run into others during these times, but it still is somewhat surprising. He generally doesn't work with others outside a select few exceptions.]

Perhaps. They're slipping.

That they are.

[His tone is bland even though the corners of his mouth curve up looking all the world like a cat that just got his paws on a pile of fish. The two gamblers were rolling around the ground, screaming and slapping at themselves, the spiders swarming over them. Then the first one managed to get on his feet and ran for the door, scratching at himself as if it would help. Of course once away from the property, the illusion would fade, but not the damage that he did to himself. The second one gave one final scream before he laid still having fainted.]

I guess the house will have to claim their winnings... unless you want it?

[He shakes his head.]

I have no use for it. I just thought I'd have some fun at their expense. [He smiles a little, and shrugs. It was more a chance to kill time than anything.]

Though it seems like you might've had more fun with them than I did.

[He spun the dealer's chip along his hands, the illusion gone. The dealer was staring at the pair of them, but they were a part of the gambling hall and knew tales concerning the mischievous cat-spirit that had always played the worse gamblers that came through the doors. When he laid the chip down for them and stood up to leave, the dealer bowed before accepting it.]

Oh, I suppose it's only because I know the score better here. I bet if I had been later, you would have moved first.

[He glanced at the other fae, assessing him for a moment, before purring his next words.] Let me buy you a drink. I haven't met many of our kind around here lately and it's been a little dull.

Possibly. Though I couldn't guarantee their safety. I'm not exactly very nice a lot of the time, you see.

[Which would've meant following them back to wherever they were staying for the night and maybe slowly driving them against each other before striking. He wasn't sure.

There's a slight eyebrow raise at the shift in tone, but he does nod.]

Sure. Not like I have much else to do for the moment. [No contact from his leige or his network of contacts, so as far as he knew, he was free for the time being.

Do you really think that once I get my claws into a few mice I will let them go so easily?

[Sure it would seem merciful to let them live, but Robin was essenally a cat. And cats love playing with their food. He flexed his fingers, eyes wide and teeth bared and while it might look like a smile, there was still a hint of sharp teeth and nails under his human counternance. The two might have gotten away for a time, but he would find them again to play some more.]

Really? I would think someone of your status would be a little busy.

[Not that he was complaining. Robin was a puck and they had little use for status and rankings. After all, they were the tricksters and the jesters and as such could be held above kings if they so wish for such. That was why they were tied to a place or family for chaos shouldn't have such freedom.

Picking up a glass of water, he tipped it over the head of the fainted gambler as they passed him. Setting it done on the next table, he led the other fae pass the various tables, easily side-stepping around the staff and customers alike. Finally they got to the bat and he hopped onto a stool, leaning over to give the middle-age bartender a grin. They didn't look impressed, but after finishing drying a glass, they set two glasses down for them.]

Not at all, though you might've had to fight me for them if that were the case, and I assure you that it probably wouldn't have ended well.

[Their kind always worked in mysterious ways, after all. The grin that Cromm gives right back is definitely tinged with something more predatory than what would be considered friendly banter - if Robin's could be compared to a cat, his was more akin to a wolf.]

Even someone like me needs some downtime. Even then, if something came up, I would be gone in an instant. [And nobody else would be any the wiser for it outside the other fae.

He follows the other to the bar easily enough, (intentionally) poorly hiding a chuckle as water is dumped onto one of the gamblers from earlier. Eventually, the two of them reach their destination, and he slides into the stool next to Robin with practiced ease.]

So this is your territory, then?

Oh I know. My usual tricks don't work the same way against kin as they do against mortals.

[Not that he was completely helpless against another fae, he just didn't have an advantage as he would if he was facing others.]

Are you meeting anyone here?

[Because if there were to be more fae coming around, he may have to warn the family. They weren't hid to protect, haven't been for a while, but he still felt some loyalties to them. After all, they had taken care of him for a long time while he was bound.

The bartender flipped their towel over their shoulder and reached down to unearth a flask made out of roughly shaped stone and opened it with some difficulty. The scent of the liquor was partly of soft green things and partly of alcohol and wholly that of a fae wine that would drive mortals to the heights of artistic endeavor before driving them to madness. They carefully poured them both some of the drink and quickly sealed it before the fumes could draw anyone else nearer.]

I use to be the guardian here until they set me free.

And it wouldn't be the first time I've had to fight one of our own, either.

[Details on that are going to be kept vague for the time being, though. It's not exactly a great tale to be telling over drinks - or with pleasant company, either.]

No, I'm on my own for the time being. The people here don't have anything to worry about in that regard. Even then, I'm technically not even working anyway. I wouldn't have made myself known so easily if that were the case.

[Stronger glamours, staying out of sight until the moment was right ... he's a professional after all. He has standards to uphold.

Well, his companion being originally bound to this place would make sense as to why the employees seem to be somewhat relaxed around him, never mind actually having fae wine in stock. Kudos.]

They actually set you free? I'm somewhat surprised by that. Most wouldn't think to do so.

Mm, I suppose it wouldn't, but I feel that there are plenty of that group for the two of us. If you're interested, that is.

[While the predators were a threat, they were only the tip of the group trying to muscle into the area. Usually such groups got caught by the human police but that usually was a slow and sometimes destructive process for those getting targeted. Robin had little patience to wait for them to do their thing.]

Ah, then I can have you all to myself.

[Was he flirting? It was a little hard to tell given that his teasing little smile hadn't faded at all. He picked up one of the glasses and looked at the wine before taking a small sip.]

It was the Lady's dying wish, and who was I to deny anything from her?

[His tone was wistful , almost loving at one level.]

Perhaps. Would depend on how much time I have before I'm pulled away again.

[It probably would be faster in that case if they went and tore them apart from the inside on their own. It's an intriguing proposition, at the very least. He raises an eyebrow at the flirtatious tone before shaking his head slightly.]

Just don't forget that I do have my duties to consider, kitten.

[This isn't like when he's with Cermand or Coire, after all - and this other fae would have a long way to go before he'd be even close to the familiarity and openness he has with those two. He swirls the wine around in its glass before taking a sip himself. Not as good as some he's had before but decent enough.]

One of the original owners of this place, I take it. You two sounded close.

I was thinking of giving them a little start. After all, this area is already claimed and I so dislike poachers.

[He snorted, lips curling at the 'kitten' comment. Sure he was very much a cat, but he didn't have to like it being pointed out. After all, he had a little bit of pride despite all hints to the contrary.]

Duties are so boring, but I suppose I can be understanding of that.

[It was hard to get fine fae wine in a human's establishment without having the Courts breathing down his neck. He made due with what he could get though he missed the drinks at the Courts. But since he may end up getting bound if he went there, he decided that freedom was worth the price of fine food and wine.]

There were others before her, but she was special.

[He pointed his chin at the stiff formal painting hanging near the bar. The human woman in the center of the group of men looked normal, but there was a hint of sly humor in the angle of her lips, the regal tilt of her head. Sitting on her lap was a tortoiseshell cat, it's long tail wrapped around her wrist and it's face having an almost human-like smirk to its face.]

You're more generous than I am. Then again, you do seem the type to play with your food first, so perhaps "generous" isn't the right word.

Just as you have your ties to this place, I have ties to my Court and King. Simple as that.

[That might be stating too much, but it's enough to give him an idea of just who he was drinking with. His gaze follows the point of Robin's chin, taking in the details of the painting. There's a small hum.]

Especially considering you sat long enough to let yourself be painted. Wouldn't have figured you to be patient enough for that. [He hides a smirk behind another sip of wine.]

You can say that I'm generous enough to let them keep on breathing, not that they will enjoy that ability.

[Death was easy. Oh sure there were painful deaths and stupid deaths, but the dying was easy. Lingering on in a limited, broken shell, now that was painful.]

My, should I tread carefully with you? [There it was again, that little half-smirk of amusement, the puck leaning in close as if he was looking for some special mark before he drew away.] Someone so high speaking to a jester like me.

[He looked at the painting, his smile fading to one more of fondness then anything else.] Ever fish before? It's about the same thing, considering the person who made that little portrait.

We'll leave it at that, then.

[There's a dangerous glint that enters his eyes at the question, but he gives a small shrug. He wouldn't so brazenly show off any distinguishing marks - not here, and not likely with most company.]

Mm. Sometimes even one of the King's Assassins get bored enough to speak with the jester.

Were they someone who tried to screw the establishment over?

[A short bark of laughter and Robin turned around in his seat, leaning away as he took on the rest of the patron of this place. There were very few people in the shifting crowd of humanity that would prove to be any fun, so he finished his drink and before turning back to the assassin.]

I suppose that is true, though they also say that a cat can look at the king. And his jester is free to mock in order to humble the King's step lest he takes too big of a swallow and chokes on it.

[He took out his lighter, flicking it open and spinning it around his fingers. Robin shrugged, and flicked it closed, setting the lighter on top of the bartop and nudged his glass over for a refill, though this time it wasn't fae wine.]

They toyed with the hearts of a couple maidens in the family, so I suppose you can call it that.

[He could at least agree that the others here outside those that they had driven out didn't pique their interests at all. Maybe they could try finishing the job.

And while Cromm did have personal stake in his position because of his relationship with two particular Unseelie, he pauses again thoughtfully, taking a final sip of his wine to prolong it.]

Perhaps.

[Though his eye is immediately drawn to the lighter before it's set back down, at which point his gaze flicks back to the other.]

Ah. I suppose I could. And in exchange for making sure they learned their lesson on spurning others, they set you free?

1. 'Cause they will run you down, down 'til the dark
Yes, and they will run you down, down 'til you fall
And they will run you down, down to your core
Yeah, 'til you can't crawl no more

And way down we go
Way down we go
Say, way down we go

2. Come over and start up a conversation with just me
And trust me I'll give it a chance now
Take my hand, stop, put Van the Man on the jukebox
And then we start to dance, and now I'm singing like

Girl, you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me
Come on now, follow my lead
I may be crazy, don't mind me

3. I am tired of seeing pretty people everywhere
I am not a model, middle fingers in the air
I used to drink whiskey, now I'm stuck with Perrier
I'm an alcoholic, middle fingers in the air

( ota )

COME TO MY WINDOW, I'LL BE HOME SOON

lorraine warren. the conjuring.

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Mari Ohara | Love Live Sunshine

gellert grindelwald. hp/fbawtft.

Cremisius "Krem" Aclassi | Dragon Age | OTA

Rachel Gardener | Angels of Death

heinreich volmer / a cure for wellness

Priest!Cricket | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Margo Hanson | The Magicians

Jughead Jones | Riverdale | OTA

Stiles Stilinski | TW

eli thompson, boardwalk empire.

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Ororo Munroe/Storm | X-men (films) | ota

Ethan | Teen Wolf | M/M

"Cromm Cruaich" | Original

I had to :3

the song that inspired your half of this mess :') perfect

yup yup :3

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Tennyson Blake | OC | OTA

Djem Ahmad | OC

odile . original . ota

diana prince/wonder woman | batman v superman