"Ugh. Peter."

"No style at all."

"Someone said he talked like he learned how from a Dale Carnegie course and I really can't say she was wrong.. --anyway. Yes, and he's under the impression that my name is Thomas Lee and I'm still dead, I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell him otherwise."

"How did you come back to life?"

"You don't look like a zombie. Or smell like one."

"I am some variety of nonhuman that doesn't die when drowned, not totally clear on details other than that.

--I don't remember if I told you my actual name, it's Mordred."

"That doesn't limit the options much and even I don't know everything." She sighs.

"What... is your plan."

He thinks about it for a couple seconds, debating whether to reveal the existence of Martin.

"...........depends on how you feel about learning spells that require you to deliberately not use the power you have or exert influence on the world."

"I don't feel like using my power has done much for me."

"Not wrong but I wasn't going to say it -- so my plan is to either introduce you to the person who knows the relevant spells better than I do, or just write them down and hand them to you, depending on what happens when I ask him about it, and then close the mouth in Malta."

"How do you close the mouth."

Mordred explains, haltingly, into Montgomery Donovan's hair, the processes for the rituals of self denial and casting out the black pharaoh.

Montgomery nods sharply. "The spell to cast out the black pharaoh ought to close the Mouth; it's a Mask of Nyarlathotep."

Do we know that for sure, he considers saying, but the only evidence he has to the contrary is that Savitree's uncertain and that seems like the kind of thing he promised Inaaya he wouldn't reveal, jesus fucking christ why is he juggling so many secrets oh right because he can't leave well enough alone,

"That's good."

And Zoe pulls up in a taxi outside the coffeeshop.

Mordred and Montgomery are clearly visible from outside. (Conversely, Zoe is clearly visible from inside.)

A guard stops her. "Ma'am, this is a private coffeeshop."

Okay! Okay that implies some things that aren't great.

He lets go of Montgomery. Not particularly hurriedly, not in a way that would suggest that anything's happening.

"The suicide shouldn't be necessary, although I'm glad we have it as a backup."

Nodnod. "Good to have plans that don't involve more people getting eaten."

"A... private... coffeeshop?"

"Yes."

Zoe stares past him at Mordred. What the fuck is going on.

"Excuse me then. A friend of mine is inside, and I was expecting to meet up with him here. I'll wait outside."

The guard looks suspicious about this but decides he probably can't unilaterally declare it to be a private sidewalk.

Okay if she starts yelling she is just going to get them both shot or ensorcelled or something.

She is having a hard time thinking of other ideas, though. Besides trying to shove past the guard and grab Mordred and run, which would get them both even more shot or ensorcelled or something.

Does Mordred look like he's here under duress to Zoe?

Mordred extremely does not look like he's here under duress to Zoe.

In fact, he looks less stressed than he's looked to Zoe........ possibly since Savannah, definitely since Los Angeles.

"If I were on Nectar I would be in charge of this mission."

...oh. So she's not on Nectar currently. That's... more of a relief than he would have expected it to be.

"Okay, I can work with that -- you giving official signoffs on things will probably make everything go smoother but we can handle the rest."

(Zoe PLEASE observe the non-hostile body language and the fact that we were just hugging, he thinks as hard as he can.)