"Thank you." Skulduggery turned to leave, and Tanith reluctantly and not-so-reluctantly turned to follow. Reluctantly because... well, for the same reason she'd been staring two days ago in Kenspeckle's lab. Not-so-reluctantly for that exact same reason. Especially now that she'd met... God, Tanith wanted to teach herself how to control her own thoughts much better. Not that it would help where God was concerned, but maybe she could at least learn to hide things from Gabe.
Jesus. When did her life become so complicated?
... When did figures of speech she took for granted become so complicated?
Back out in the hallway, with the door closed and nothing else to distract Tanith from the task at hand, Skulduggery turned back around to face them. "Did you ever find Anton, Fletcher?"
"Uh, no. I think he went for a walk, but I don't know where he is."
The detective went silent for a moment, and then nodded once. "Fair enough. He'll turn up eventually."
"I could go look for him, if you want," Tanith offered. She'd never met Anton Shudder, but she'd heard all the stories. Most sorcerers had. And she was mildly excited at the thought of meeting another famous Dead Man, though what he was doing wandering around the safe house all night was completely beyond her.
Skulduggery's head tilted to her in what seemed like surprise. "Thank you. Fletcher, would you go with her? You can cover a lot more ground much more quickly."
"He could be miles away by now," Fletcher pointed out. "I'm good, but I'm not that good."
"He's a human being. He'll answer if you call out his name." A beat. "Theoretically. He's not answering his phone, I'm afraid."
"It'll take ages," Fletcher mumbled. "Couldn't we please just - "
"Fletch." Tanith put her hand on his shoulder. "Come on. It won't be that bad."
Fletcher meant well, and he was a good kid, but sometimes he just... didn't get the social nuances of situations. Quite apart from Tanith not really wanting to be around Skulduggery right now, he and Valkyrie needed to talk. Valkyrie wanted to talk. She was afraid, and nervous, and probably inwardly cursing Tanith for leaving her alone like this. But she needed this time to herself, Tanith knew. She'd be grateful for it later.
And, much to Tanith's surprise, Valkyrie gave her a smile and turned, a little sharply, to Skulduggery. "We need to talk," she told him bluntly. "You said you'd answer all my questions, right?"
Skulduggery inclined his head. "I did."
"Right. So let's talk."
With Tanith's hand still on Fletcher's shoulder, they both Teleported around the corner, leaving them to it.
no subject
Jesus. When did her life become so complicated?
... When did figures of speech she took for granted become so complicated?
Back out in the hallway, with the door closed and nothing else to distract Tanith from the task at hand, Skulduggery turned back around to face them. "Did you ever find Anton, Fletcher?"
"Uh, no. I think he went for a walk, but I don't know where he is."
The detective went silent for a moment, and then nodded once. "Fair enough. He'll turn up eventually."
"I could go look for him, if you want," Tanith offered. She'd never met Anton Shudder, but she'd heard all the stories. Most sorcerers had. And she was mildly excited at the thought of meeting another famous Dead Man, though what he was doing wandering around the safe house all night was completely beyond her.
Skulduggery's head tilted to her in what seemed like surprise. "Thank you. Fletcher, would you go with her? You can cover a lot more ground much more quickly."
"He could be miles away by now," Fletcher pointed out. "I'm good, but I'm not that good."
"He's a human being. He'll answer if you call out his name." A beat. "Theoretically. He's not answering his phone, I'm afraid."
"It'll take ages," Fletcher mumbled. "Couldn't we please just - "
"Fletch." Tanith put her hand on his shoulder. "Come on. It won't be that bad."
Fletcher meant well, and he was a good kid, but sometimes he just... didn't get the social nuances of situations. Quite apart from Tanith not really wanting to be around Skulduggery right now, he and Valkyrie needed to talk. Valkyrie wanted to talk. She was afraid, and nervous, and probably inwardly cursing Tanith for leaving her alone like this. But she needed this time to herself, Tanith knew. She'd be grateful for it later.
And, much to Tanith's surprise, Valkyrie gave her a smile and turned, a little sharply, to Skulduggery. "We need to talk," she told him bluntly. "You said you'd answer all my questions, right?"
Skulduggery inclined his head. "I did."
"Right. So let's talk."
With Tanith's hand still on Fletcher's shoulder, they both Teleported around the corner, leaving them to it.