watch it close, let it brew

[regentem]

Comments

[deathlessness]

I've made some good friends. Good allies.

[She glances up at him with an amused look. Freya's struggle with finding her own footing in New Orleans outside her family has certainly improved, having gained acceptance into the covens. She's grateful for it, given how far away her family had to be at times.

At the same time, however:]

Though there's still no substitute for family.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

No, there isn't.

( He apologized for his part in severing Always & Forever a few years ago, but like everything else with Elijah, the guilt remains as a bloodstained reminder. )

How have the factions held up? Is there still a council between them?

[deathlessness]

Well enough. It helps that Davina, Hayley and Josh all have a good working relationship. And that their factions trust and respect them.

[It's not something the Mikaelsons ever would have been truly able to manage. The kind of respect that comes with fear is rarely a productive one, and always leads to hurt feelings.]

Losing them would be quite the blow to what we've been working on here.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

We will not lose them. They are all three more than capable of taking care of themselves. And should they need it, we will be there to rescue them.

( At least their brother has promised. )

I decided to return to New Orleans for good. After this is all over, I will be here for you and for our family. ( Hope when she goes to college. ) I've stayed away too long.

[deathlessness]

[And that has her face brightening, because having two out of three brothers close at hand is always going to make her happy, much as she loves Klaus. She assumes they'll have to replace the furniture within the week, but her brother will be here, and that is all that matters.]

You needed the time. I always knew that you would come home when you were ready.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

Did you. I confess, I didn't. I didn't - always know if I'd be welcomed with open arms. And with Hope returning home to attend university.

( He's going to try. )

[deathlessness]

Klaus will be dramatic about it for a while, I'm sure, but he's missed you as much as I have. You always have a place with us.

[For better or for worse. And given that they're Mikaelsons, they definitely manage the "worst" of things more often than not.]

[uniquelyvulnerable]

A place I gave up so easily.

( But, one he know he needed to give up. )

But, we should focus on the matter at hand. We can get reacquainted after the dust settles. Are you still living in the abattoir

[deathlessness]

[She nods, because where else would she live. Though she still keeps her bell tower for magic purposes.]

We'll have time once all this is settled.

[and with that, there's the rumble of a car pulling up, and hushed voices outside.]

That must be Aiden and Scott.

[commend]

( As they leave the car, Scott finishes his explanation. )

She's my ex-girlfriend, but from back in high school. Kind of literal puppy love until her father and aunt tried to brainwash her into hating wolves. We never... fell back into things after that, except for this really awkward moment where we hid in this closet.

[packguy]

[Aiden is not going to comment on the closet moment.]

And here I thought Josh and I had the star-crossed lovers thing down.

[commend]

Her mother once tried to intimidate me using a pencil sharpener.

( Small talk with Scott! As they find their way to the correct mausoleum.

Scott comes in carrying what he thinks is Derek's bag of clothing (3) for looking for anything Derekish. And Derek managed everything but shoes and socks. He hopes this helps. )

[packguy]

... Yeah, I can't say that's been my experience.

[As long as it's actually Derek's, they should be fine. Meanwhile Aiden has a piece of Hayley's clothing, and the knowledge that their combined scents didn't get them far. As Elijah and Freya come into view, he switches to report mode.]

Their scents didn't get us far. They must have loaded them into a van as soon as they left the building.

[commend]

( Then Scott wishes you well, Aiden. )

But, we brought what we could find. Hopefully there's not a witch on the other end?

[packguy]

["From our understanding, the hunters have worked with witches in the past. If Monroe chose to use them here, how successful we'll be will depend on the spell they used, and who they were prepared for."

Hence why Derek is a viable option for a loophole. Freya holds out her hands for the things they brought her, laying them out and holding out her hand for Aiden.

"I still need you for Josh."

Aiden smirks.]

I count as a locator spell ingredients now? Good to know.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

Anything personal, Aiden. And as you are bound spiritually, as well as intimately familiar with one another, and a conduit for power yourself as a werewolf, you would be Josh's best bet.

( Elijah stands closer to Scott, waiting for the spell to take shape.

"Dude, you're married? That's so cool." Leave it to Scott to find the silver lining in every situation. )

[packguy]

Thanks. It's working out pretty well for me.

[Except for the fact that he's kidnapped right now, but they're working on that. He holds a hand out to Freya and she takes it, arranging the other items and raising one hand to light the candles.

"Let's see how well this works."

As she begins to chant, the other witches start to chant with her, channeling their power into the spell to try and overwhelm whatever magical defenses they have in place (13 vs. 17). They start out with a struggle, but Freya's not going to give up that easily.

Perception check, Scott and Elijah.]

[uniquelyvulnerable]

( Let's.

(11, 12 for Scott, Elijah) as they wait for the spells' results. Elijah, used to this can see signs at least of the spell being held up, likely by more magic. )

[packguy]

[Chanting takes up most of their hearing, but Elijah will also pick up on the sound of wheels running across the gravel of the cemetery.

Lots of wheels.

In the meantime, the witches will remained focused, starting to gain the upper hand on the magic (17 vs. 9).]

[uniquelyvulnerable]

Scott.

( Scott takes the moment, to hone his own ears, too (15). He nods, indicates they should leave the mausoleum. They need to defend the spell for as long as possible.

Scott moves left and Elijah right. )

[packguy]

[The spell continues, though some of the witches branch off when Elijah and Scott are on the move, which causes a small differential that doesn't quite get the witches where they want to go (14 vs. 15).

But the help will be needed as both Scott and Elijah run into a large collection of hunters. Clearly expecting witches, they're wearing charms to protect themselves from magic and are carrying various weaponry. Each of the squads are lead by a designated leader, who waves a hand expecting the rest to follow.]

[commend]

( This is -- overkill. Both Scott and Elijah know it is. But this is war. And it is wasted on the zealots. So, Scott turns back, pulling the witch back with him.

Elijah on the other hand tells his witch to go back and fortify the mausoleum. Keep them out. Keep the spell going until it can't.

Planning on taking them on a chase, Elijah busts out his vamp speed, trying to lose them in the maze - ready to cut them down one by one. (16) to get away and - well, hide, yes, but in order to kill. )

[packguy]

[They come back against the spell again, this time battering away a little more (17 vs. 15). One more success and they'll have their location.

"Shit, was that Elijah Mikaelson?"

"I thought he was in Europe."

The hunters do follow him into things, drawing away from the safety of cars and into the collection of headstones.

"Keep your guard up. An Original isn't going to go down easy."]

[uniquelyvulnerable]

( Scott retreats, pulling the witch close, grabbing their hand.

"You can use me, right? Keep them out, okay?" He'll be fine.

Elijah... tries to (15) snap a lone hunter's neck and at (7), he succeeds, letting the body drop to the ground as he (8) tries to hide again, basically, but a hunter probably witnessed his assault. They brought this on themselves. )

[packguy]

[Elijah does get spotted as he makes his escape (13) and a burst of gunfire follows in his wake (1), but he misses completely, and all the bullets hit cement.

"Shit shit shit. Hey! He's back here!"

And Scott will notice as some of the hunters on his side break off to follow the sound of the shout.

In the meantime, the witches succeed on that last press through (20 vs. 15), and the line of blood on the map starts to draw, starting from their location and moving towards the location of their friends.]