The Curse: A Proposition too good to dencline

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Amanda has a "chance encounter" with Nico's parents, who are interested on making a deal with her.

Backdated to September 25th

A walk through District X on typical Monday afternoon in autumn - Amanda steadfastly refused to call the season "fall" - with a refreshing coolness to the air following the sweltering humidity of summer . Amanda technically could have teleported to her destination, but she was telling herself that relying on her powers too much was the way to lose track of being human, and what could be more human than a good walk? She shifted her bag on her shoulder and nodded at a passerby. Definitely a good day for a walk - even the New Yorkers were smiling.

The place was, while not crowded, brimming with activity from people that entered and exited locales, carrying on their usual business. Among the people on the street though, a pair was there to take care of only a particular business. The moment they had decided to carry on with this desperate attempt to regain control of their lives, Tina and Robert Minoru had made their way to Amanda, not making any particular attempt to cover themselves; the people around them were doing that perfectly well.

"Miss Sefton?", called Robert as they cut her walk delicately, but decidedly. "We must talk."

Tina kept her attention focused on the blonde witch. They hadn't last left on the best of terms, so she expected a considerable amount of, well, negative reaction. The witch's perceived moral superiority saw to that.

"You understand why we're doing it here," she said. Better for both parties. Wouldn't want to draw any unnecessary attention.

Amanda's fists clenched as she took in who she was dealing with, her feet sinking slightly into the pavement; she ignored the twinge of pain from her healing shoulder. "You've got a bloody cheek," she almost growled, all the while planning her next move. She could escape fairly easily by teleporting, but that would leave the Minorus loose and able to continue with whatever mind-fuckery they had planned for Nico. Better to wait for an opening and take it. "And you might think you're safe, bailing me up in public, but if you think I'm going down without a fight."

"We have no intention to attack you." Not that he didn't want to, but that was bit the reason of they being there. "We actually wish to make a deal with you. This concerns not only us, but Nico's safety as well. At least hear what we have to say."

"And then what? You'll grab Nico for another one of your fucking rituals?"

Tina shook her head, suppressing an annoyed groan. "You never understood. What you saw in the caves? That's nothing. When she's done with me...guess who's next? Help us, you help her."

"You must understand by now", said Robert. No, he almost pleaded Amanda to understand. "Arcana follows a succession path, that's why she couldn't stay inside of Nico for too long. The one she should have possessed a long time ago is my wife." But of course, they had been keeping the spirit at bay until now. "But we can't continue protecting ourselves for her. That's why we are here."

"What, you ran out of helpless teenage girls to sacrifice?" Amanda had little sympathy for the couple standing before her - they'd more than proven their ruthlessness. "Should have thought of that before you bought into the whole evil black magic deal."

"Everything is so black and white for you. It must be nice to be the one always right, above all. It's not that simple. We have remorse but the death of a few prevents the death of thousands, including our daughter. If Arcana takes her she is gone, mind and soul. She got a taste of her before, but the line of succession...she'll burn through me then go straight for her. She wants her. But if we stop her now she can't have her. Help us stop her first. Before Nico dies. Before countless others die from what she would unleash upon the world."

"Don't do it for us", continued Robert in tandem. "Do it for Nico. We are willing to surrender and let you and your people locate us where you think it will suit you best, but only once I'm sure my wife and my daughter are safe for good. So we ask you to think about this, Sefton."

"Do what exactly?" Amanda asked, still suspicious.

Robert looked around, obviously not comfortable with the place they were. "Not here. You should understand the...nature of your problem. You tell us where we can meet in two days time, and we will be there. Bring whoever you consider necessary. Do we have an agreement?"

Two days. Enough time for the Minorus to work up an ambush, came the cynical thought. But ambushes could also be turned around, and dealing with them here and now would only get innocent people hurt... and draw way more attention than Amanda wanted. "All right," she said at last. "But if anything happens to Nico, anything at all, I'll be coming for your heads. You don't try to see her, you don't talk to her and you sure as hell don't try any magic anywhere near her."

Tina tried very hard not to roll her eyes, but she failed. The blonde witch was beginning to try her patience. "Do you ever get bored making the same threats over and over? Yes ," she said with a serpentine hiss.

"We understand. No magic, no speaking to our daughter. Two days. Where do you want to meet?"

Amanda thought quickly. "There's an empty warehouse down on the river. I'll see just you two there in two days." She pulled a pen and a piece of paper - a napkin, actually - out of her bag and wrote down the address. "I won't be alone, but if you're on the up and up, that shouldn't matter."

"Understood, we will be there. Bring your people, as we said, we have nothing to hide this time." And wrapping an arm over Tina's shoulders, Robert turned around. He was exposing his back to her in a pretty blatant way, as if to show he had nothing to lose. Moments later, the couple were lost in the crowd.