#kareem.charvitha2

[avdaciter]

starter — kareem howard

SETTING: potions & pentacle ; early evening AVAILABILITY: closed starter for CHARVITHA RAAVI | ( @mystvcs )

          Kareem ran a hand over his face as the other held the cupholder for their coffees.   These last few weeks had been draining to say the least, add a corpse to the mix and the witch was feeling unlike himself. And then... he'd found the coin in one of his pockets, so of course, he couldn't help but feel like the witches were next and that he was being targeted as the next victim. He'd kept his discovery as a secret to his loved ones, not wanting to raise any worries or suspicions until he had a concrete answer to his inquiries. Luckily, he had his friend Charvitha to count on and maybe, try and help him finding answers.

“So…” He offered the fellow witch a fading smile. “I’m taking a page off your book and offering some coffee in exchange for your time if you have some to spare?” Placing the holder on the counter, Kareem handed Vitha the one he’d got her and took his own. “I could use your expertise on something.”

[avdaciter]

Kareem nodded once. He hadn’t planned on being out for long, especially since he had promised Theo that he wouldn’t take long to return, he saw in that little interaction about Bisma a way to cut things short. Although his energy today had been higher than it had for the last three weeks or so, the witch wasn’t going to push his luck and end up back in bed. Valentine’s day would be in a couple of weeks and he wanted to be able to do something nice for and with Theo.

“Alright, I’m going to let you handle it, then.” Kareem offered her a small smile, leaning over to plant a kiss on the side of the other witch’s head. “Again… thank you so much for this, Vitha.” He pulled away from her embrace and gave her some space, especially because in a small town like Portum, people talked and since he was always around Vitha, he didn’t want to give others the wrong idea just by being affectionate with a friend. “So, I’ll see you on Imbolc, right?”

END.

❝ i'm glad to help, kareem. you've been a big one to me since i got here. ❞ true, for the record. at least the latter part, kareem had been a big help. and a nice little battery pack. hopefully one she could make permanent without him even noticing. practice made perfect after all. ❝ you're welcome. i'll have a better fix soon. ❞ she sure would. the invitation stings, the other hitting her soft spot. anyone kind to bisma earned some appreciation from charvitha. but would he still hold that affection if he knew what she was? vitha had already made up her mind that he would not. ❝ she gets back a day before then and i'm sure she'd love to go. i'll let her know so she has something to look forward to. ❞ a quick learner, like her mother, bisma wanted to share all she learned. vitha just had to make sure she could do so, safely. especially since her daughter returned the likeness to the other witch and charvitha was not yet ready for bisma's world to be shattered. ❝ thanks for the invite. ❞

[avdaciter]

                 Kareem guessed she was right. Growing up in Portum, most witches wouldn’t have thought to be cursed at first. Portum kept that from happening. It wasn’t perfect, but it kept them safe. Then, he moved outside Portum’s borders and each year he’d spent away from home, was a year his mother’s protection bags would get more and more powerful. Thus, that being his reason for not thinking of the worst case scenario at first. “I guess you’re right.” The witch granted her with a nod, bringing his coffee up to his lips and taking a sip before setting it down again. “I’m just–thankful for your help again, Vitha.” With a smile gracing his lips, Kareem leaned forward over the counter to plant a chaste kiss on the side of her head. He wouldn’t go as far as saying that things wouldn’t have changed if he hadn’t turned to her, but at least, he knew it could take him a while longer for them to get to that point.

But Wu Yue was friends with his mother, along with Madam Duala. Soon enough, should Kareem had taken this to them, his mother would know about it, and well, he didn’t want to give her something as drastic as this to worry about. “And thank you for this.” Kareem said while raising the small token he’d given him to place in his house. “Before I go… are you and Bisma going to join us for Imbolc? I’m sure she’ll love the lighting of candles.” If not, then Kareem hoped the little one could join the full moon celebration, honoring organization, health and service.

sometimes vitha gets a little exhausted pretending to be so torn up about things. she wishes, for once, she could show her truth with no judgement. then maybe she wouldn't always have to go to such extreme measures. instead, she tries best to keep her eyes softened, showing concern for her friend. ❝ good. as much as possible. ❞ a gentle scold in her feigned worry. his response makes her laugh, this time she allows herself to seep through. ❝ you grew up in a town meant to protect you, kareem. this is nothing new for most. ❞ which was true. for herself and others that may have encountered her in the past. ❝ nothing that can't be dealt with. promise. ❞ an assurance she would keep, for now; let his defenses lower once again. kareem's faith in her might have guilted the siphoner a long time ago, but now ... he was just another. ❝ glad i could help. and it's good we don't worry anyone. i'm sure enough people in town are pretty worried. ❞ and the less questions, the better.

[avdaciter]

               At Vitha’s response, Kareem knew he’d done the right thing and kept this as a secret from his loved ones. Of course, the witch knew he would eventually have to tell others what was happening, especially if things escalated to a more life-risking level, but for now, he was just thankful for Kiyan having found this coin and even more, for Vitha’s help. “Resting shouldn’t be a problem. Classes aren’t back until next week anyway, so I still have some time.” And, like Vitha had said: nothing cured like a mother’s love. Kareem could always count on his mother’s love, as well as Eloise’s kindness to nurse him back to healthier days. Besides, a week seemed reasonable enough. He was expecting it would take her longer than that.

“It’s kind of hard not to worry when someone’s put a curse on you though, Vitha.” Despite meaning every word, Kareem didn’t mean to sound aggressive or blunt, and yet, he didn’t exactly regret if he did sound that way. His life had been on the line, of course he would worry. “But a week sounds good. I appreciate it, you know? I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t have you to count on. I didn’t want to worry others.”

confirmation that the small token worked intrigued vitha further, wondering just how much she would be able to do within portum's borders. more, now that it was weakened? hopefully. usually she was there, up close and personal when siphoning off another. only her sisters shared willingly, her necklace fueled by their blood and allowing her to seemingly have her own magic. ❝ it should be better without this, ❞ said motioning to the coin. ❝ rest as much as you can for a few days. until you get your strength back. ❞ her smile widens when mentioning his mother, no force needed. ❝ no, but i don't know much better fuel for magic than a mother's love. ❞ something vitha felt and knew deep in her soul. at least, mothers that knew love was unconditional. she doesn't even notice her smile disappeared. ❝ that's what i'm hoping. but i'll also work on something for you to carry or wear. ❞ something double-edged, a little give and a little take. she could mask a more permanent hold. ❝ give me a week, ❞ she assures with a nod. ❝ but try not to worry. maybe someone is just trying to see where they can get a foot in. if they see you're not an easy target, they'll back off. ❞

[avdaciter]

           There’s a mix of feelings that rise in Kareem’s chest upon Vitha’s confirmation that this was, indeed, used for dark magic. It had been a while since the witch last heard of dark magic being practiced within Portum’s borders, although, he knows it’s not something impossible to happen. Portum was small, but not enough for people to know everything others did. Vitha’s question, however, almost steals a laugh from his lips. Off? Hell, things had been completely upside down with him lately.

Still, he doesn’t laugh.

“Yeah, I–” A light shake of his head, and then the coffee cup was back pressed upon Kareem’s lips because he doesn’t want people to worry. “Yes, I’ve been feeling exhausted lately. Feels like… the more I rest, the less alive I feel.” That was, until Kiyan found the coin and Kareem wrapped it in a protective spell in the handkerchief. “My energy levels were on -50 lately it was even affecting my magic. I went to the hospital to check on my vitamins, but everything was okay. It didn’t occur to me that a curse could’ve been involved.” I mean, who would want to curse him? Kareem wasn’t one to step on people’s toes. When Vitha handed him the small tiger, the witch nodded, closing his fingers tightly around it. “Thanks. My mom’s also prepared a protective charm for us at the apartment, but there’s never too much protection, right?” Again, the tall witch let out a sigh. “Do you think you’d be able to trace it back to who made the spell?”

vitha's eyes watch carefully, waiting with baited breath for her confirmation. her sigh of relief hidden in the release of air when she sees it, vitha uses the handkerchief to examine the coin. ❝ they have been used for dark magic and curses in the past. old but effective. something i haven't seen in some time. ❞ brows tug in her "worry", eyes finding the other witch. ❝ has anything been off with you lately? ❞ needing to continue being of use, vitha pulls out a box, looking through it while she listens to kareem. luckily for her, protection was also a specialty of hers. how else would she make sure any looking for her would have trouble doing so? her father taught her well. the little figurine she pulls out, a tiger, looks like nothing — magic hidden in the mundane. ❝ leave this somewhere in your home, any dark items lurking will be lessened. do you mind if i keep the coin? i'd like to see if i can trace where it came from. maybe give you some more answers. ❞ the wrong ones.

[avdaciter]

             This little trinket had been the living proof that Kareem was definitely falling behind on his craft. Not knowing how something this old and, apparently, this powerful, worked had caused the witch to question his abilities and his place in the coven. Luckily, he had a friend in Charvitha. Someone who could possibly answer his questions without worrying sick about his well-being, which would probably happen if he’d gone to his mother, Theo, or even Kiyan about it.

Her question had Kareem reaching into his pocket and pulling out a crunched out handkerchief, which, he carefully opened on the counter so that Vitha could see the old coin it was hiding inside. “Kiyan found this in one of my coats the other day.” He stated, letting the witch do as she thought best with it. “Do you know what this might be?” Before jumping to conclusions and telling her his energy was being drained, he needed to make sure it wasn’t just a coin.

charvitha had to admit, this death was kind of working out for her. with the exception of missing bisma, she could easily blame a lot on the unknown as portum was no longer as safe as it seemed. that led to other questions, but the siphoner enjoyed a puzzle. ❝ thanks. ❞ she brings the coffee to her lips, glad for the pick me up while she works. her brows furrow in feigned curiosity, but she has some idea what they might be seeking her out for, glad that he didn't go to another witch for help. ❝ we have been getting a lot of inquiries for protections and such but i have some time. is everything okay? ❞ not completely heartless, some part of the witch feels for the other. portum is their home, after all.