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[molecules]

[ piper's communicator clicks on with a scream. ]

— Yeah. I'm going to need a little help over here.

[ frozen — literally — in the air is a thick book piper had accidentally knocked off the table in her room. the book and a good portion of table have been affected by her power. it's ice, crystallised, and is smoking a little as ice would do. ]

Those guys who attacked the party — I got the memo that they could stop powers from working, but can they turn you evil? Because … Eh. [ she's panicking. ] This is bad. This is very, very bad.

[ she is very, very confused, and very, very concerned. the last time she had this power it was very, very bad. ]

I can't help when I'm like this!

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[ video ]

[hostage]

Where are you?

[ video ]

[molecules]

My room.

[ yep, panicking again as she narrows her eyes. ]

Why? Does that make a difference?

[hostage]

Yeah, 'cause I'm coming to help you. Where's your room?

[molecules]

[ piper's skeptical, but she did just ask for help. back home, this means serious business, but here … there's no book of shadows to turn evil. there's no sisters. if someone with a resume for the strange at this place is coming to help her, then, honestly, piper, get over yourself. ]

Unit 704. Door's wide open — hopefully won't be frosted over by the time you get here.

[ because those hands of hers are staying on her communicator and are not making any gestures what-so-ever for the rest of her life. ]

[hostage]

[Jesse starts moving - and fast - but he keeps the communicator on to keep asking questions while he goes. It makes for a pretty blurry, bouncing picture.]

What's the deal with your power? Is it magic?

[molecules]

I'm a little on the witchy side. [ yes, piper, you're a witch. fucking admit it. ] I can stop time — but it's only ever like this when I turn into my evil self. [ she frowns. ] Which doesn't make any sense because my sisters aren't here to turn evil.

[ and because she's a self-proclaimed (if once-off) nancy drew, she's done some great (incorrect) detective work in the span of ten minutes: ] I'm betting on the party crashers having something to do with it.

[hostage]

I'll be able to tell once I get there. Just sit tight, okay. Try and stay away from anybody you think you might hurt.

[He's taking the stairs, not willing to chance the elevator getting stuck at a time like this.]

So this stuff only happens when you're evil, but like - like, what's that even mean?

[molecules]

[ yeah, it's even confusing to piper. no wonder she owns a night club back home - gotta toss back those drinks. ]

Some powerful, bad people can change your allegiance with an equally powerful bit of magic. The last time this happened, they poisoned my sister, and since our powers and magical crap are all connected together, it turned us with her, too. I turned evil, and so did my power. It's usually more pleasant than this.

[ and, honestly, this is the time where piper needs leo to come to her rescue and explain. she does such a shit job. she's evil, but not really, but there's a good chance she's evil! get it? ]

[ she rolls her neck. this is so frustrating, but she wants to keep as calm as possible because who knows what the evil version — if, you know, she is evil — of her exploding power looks like. ]

It really makes no sense. You're born good, but can be influenced by evil — and not because you choose it.

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[hyanaimne]

[so many questions to ask . . . but, time for assumptions]

What sort of magic is it?

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[molecules]

The really, really bad kind.

[ piper's a little freaked out by having this power back. she remembers it, how she had felt so power-hungry and powerful when she and her sisters had been turned into warlocks. to have it again … ]

It's the kind of magic you don't want when you're trying to be Glinda.

[hyanaimne]

Dark magic?

[she almost says "all kinds of magic can be the 'really, really bad kind', but bites her tongue. This wasn't time to be a smartass, Tempest]

I do not think I know of any dark magic that causes ice spells . . . I could try to dispel it, maybe. The spell, at least.

[molecules]

[ she narrows her eyes in thought. how was it that that priestess she literally unarmed turned prue to the dark side? it had to have been a spell. prue had all ten fingers, toes, and that stubborn, obsessive, and completely bossy attitude she was so well-loved for after they had turned the light back on in themselves. ] You think those party crashers put a spell on me?

[ it's really just her weapon, but considering piper doesn't know she picked all the molecular manipulation powers in the packet as her weapon, well … she's an idiot. a big, fat, charming idiot. ]

[hyanaimne]

I was referring to the spell turning everything to ice, but it is possible, yes. I honestly could not say, without being there and seeing if the magic has any effect on me. [ie: being a guinea pig, but she won't mention that part]

Do you feel any different? If you are capable of magic, you would be able to at least tell that much, yes?

[molecules]

[ tempest, you do not want to be a guinea pig. ]

Spell? It's my power gone haywire. I can freeze time, but never this literally.

[ and as a side, which really shouldn't be treated as such, but tempest has gotten her attention with the former statement rather than the latter question: ] But I'm feeling annoyed, but I'm always annoyed. [ truth. ]

[hyanaimne]

[she tilts her head, a bit confused]

Oh, you hadn't mentioned that . . . [she could, at least, understand being annoyed all the time] . . . where is your flat?

Not here

[lazyinlove]

[Wow, he's so not going anywhere near you if you're feeling particularly evil today, lady. Have fun with that.]

Not here

[molecules]

[ consider yourself bumped up to #1 on her to freeze and unfreeze play-with list, stanley. ]

[lazyinlove]

[Damn it. Grown up freeze tag sucks.]

[small_berserker]

...they can make you evil? That is bad.

[Cue Lily inwardly freaking out for a moment, before she decides not to focus on her own fears of losing control. That's a very interesting sight right there, and this woman is obviously distressed.]

Do you need some help breaking the book out, ma'am?

[molecules]

I need some help in controlling this damn power.

[ but that is not lily's burden to bear, is it? piper takes in a deep breath — she's really worked up over this, once again, but thankfully she's not trying to freeze a watermelon and having it blow to kingdom come above her. ]

You're handy when it comes to breaking things out of ice?

[small_berserker]

I can break through concrete with my fingers easily enough, so ice shouldn't be any harder. I'm sorry I can't help you with controlling your power.

[molecules]

[ piper's eyebrows raise. sorry, she'll be focusing on one piece of information that lily's allowed her to have. ]

… Concrete? You can pull concrete apart like paper?

[ she's trying to imagine it right now, using her own hands for the visual — and she just can't picture it. ]

For all the years I've been in this business, that's a new one.

[small_berserker]

Well, not like paper, but maybe more like thin brittle clay...

[It's not hard in any case. Now it's Lily's turn to raise her eyebrows.]

What business are you talking about?

[molecules]

Uh. [ sometimes piper should think before she talks. ] Not a literal business. The … [ she might as well just come out with it, huh? ] magical kind of business.

[small_berserker]

Oh, I see. That's really cool!

[Lily only realizes her choice of words might not have been the best yet.]

Um...not that this is cool. Well, it is but only temperature wise...