I Know How To Twist You

[Narrator]

A cloaked and hooded figure stands on the other side of the clearing. "My apologies, your companion is fine, but I do not deal with werewolves if I can at all help it." The figure makes a slight bow, "As offerings were made and received, I am here to discuss business." The voice is definitely that of a woman and cultured as well.

[Samantha McManus]

"The firewood... that was you?" She narrows her eyes at the woman.

[Narrator]

"As perceptive as she is beautiful and terrible. Yes, that was me. Killing goats and such is so... messy and much harder to do properly these days. And I find practical gifts to be of more use."

[Samantha McManus]

"Trying to butter me up is just a bit creepy. What do you want?"

[Narrator]

"Some things have to be done properly," the woman says, "You and I have had bargains throughout the years. Well, not you..." She gestures at Sam, her arm painted with blue designs, "but previous... versions of you."

[Samantha McManus]

"And you think it's just going to be business as usual, aye?"

[Narrator]

"I think each negotiating partner has been different, but there is something common to all of them. They all want something."

[Samantha McManus]

"I should've been suspicious of the wood. Why shouldn't I be suspicious of this?"

[Narrator]

"Be suspicious all you want. It does not change the circumstances. If we cannot come to mutually agreeable terms, I walk away."

[Samantha McManus]

"You still didn't answer my question. What do you want from me?"

[Narrator]

"The Morrigan has traditionally been somewhat possessive. One might say vindictive even. She makes a habit of claiming individuals who fall. I merely seek an agreement that you will not claim me, even should the opportunity arise."

[Samantha McManus]

"So what, you just... don't want to die?"

[Narrator]

"At least not by you. It is a common sentiment, is it not? Wanting to continue on so that you can contribute more?"

[Samantha McManus]

"I don't... think it works that way. People die of violence whether I want them to or not..."

[Narrator]

"It's worked that way before," she shrugs, "That it doesn't work that way now doesn't mean it never will."

[Samantha McManus]

"...what did you offer the others?"

[Narrator]

"Favors of all sorts. Permission to call on me to assist them. Agreements not to knowingly oppose their aims. One even asked for my... personal companionship for a time, which I was happy to give. I have a feeling your personal werewolf would object to that." Somehow Sam gets the impression of a smirk in the shadow of the hood.

[Samantha McManus]

"No offense, but a random stranger wooing me with firewood doesn't seem quite what I'd fancy anyway."

[Narrator]

Another shrug. "Tastes change." She holds up three fingers, "I'm willing to offer you three favors and an agreement to not knowingly oppose the aims of the Morrigan and to cease immediately if I find out that I'm doing so."

[Samantha McManus]

"...and if you don't?"

Sam cocks her head, a faint smile on her lips and an intense look in her eyes that might be familiar to the figure, from times past.

[Narrator]

The smirk under the hood returns, "Why then I would be in breach of contract and you could do as you wish. Of course, the same applies for me. If you or one of your agents attempts to claim me and I'm not in breach, then I'm free to do as I will and you forfeit any remaining terms you are owed."

[Samantha McManus]

"Well it's a fair question, isn't it?"

"After all, I suspect I'm not the only one you've bargained with..."

[Narrator]

"One does not put all one's eggs in a single basket, no. I have quite a few contracts I have negotiated. But none of them should concern you."

[Samantha McManus]

"A lovely little web of geasa you've woven. Oh, but I know from geasa..."

[Narrator]

"Agreements made by fools will only harm the fools. I am not a fool."

[Samantha McManus]

"If you tie yourself down so, is anything really your choice anymore?"

[Narrator]

"If I allowed you, or any other, to dictate my day-to-day actions, no, but as I have stated, our agreement only applies with respect to you. I would not be intelligent to, say, allow you or the others to dictate what I'm allowed to eat or whether I'm allowed to refuse hospitality."

[Samantha McManus]

"All it takes is for one to say 'do' and another to say 'do not'..."

[Narrator]

"If I allowed that situation to arise, that would indeed be problematic."

[Samantha McManus]

"Would you not agree that I should be wary of this with you promising never to oppose me?"

[Narrator]

"So you would prefer I take that off the table?" There's that smirk again.

[Samantha McManus]

"You called me possessive. Perhaps I've just gotten wise to one who serves so many masters..."

[Narrator]

The figure sighs, "And now I'm forced to bring up that you were the one who broke the terms of our most recent contract. You left this sphere of existence, voiding the contract. You are the reason we even have to negotiate a new one."

[Samantha McManus]

"Mmm, you've known me this long and you haven't figured it out?" A smile spreading across her lips.

"I'm never truly gone. You're just not as good as you think at finding me..."

[Narrator]

"Oh, I'm not? That little adventure with the disappearing warship that took you away? I suppose you're saying that didn't *really* remove you from the world, even though I could *feel* the contract vanishing."

[Samantha McManus]

"And what were the terms of that contract?"

[Narrator]

"Similar to what I offered you. A non-compete agreement along with some favors, option to renegotiate at a later date after the favors had been claimed."

[Samantha McManus]

"Similar is not the same. What did you intend to hold me to before that mad girl whisked me away?"

[Narrator]

"I intended to hold you to a promise not to claim me as I'm asking for in this case. Contracts like this are not prescient. There is no way I could have known that you would *actually* leave. Your previous incarnation was peculiarly insistent on that clause though."

[Samantha McManus]

"So that's all you ever ask for..."