everyonelives | every day a little sting

( (5), Scott gets for Wizard of Oz or Wicked references. )

Glinda?

( Harvey turns to Scott.

"The good witch. No little sisters, Scott?" )

No, I'm an only child.

( Harvey presents his finger to demonstrate.

"She means this magic is good. Or, at least, it's used with good intentions." )

The Wizard of Oz is a seminal classic. Your childhood was robbed.

[But that's a matter for another time. She pricks Harvey's finger with the end of the pin, squeezing a small drop of blood out into the vial, and swiping off the end with a disinfectant wipe before doing the same with Sullivan.]

Blood work's kind of my thing. Tracing magical bloodlines, all that jazz. It also means I'm pretty good with protective magic, and binding it to someone's blood is a lot more stable than anything else that might be out there.

[She holds out her hand for Scott's finger with a small smile.]

I bind this, and they will have to have very, very good aim to hit you.

( Scott was robbed of a lot but also given a lot at the same time. He's come to terms with each.

"Better than binding it to someone else," Harvey says, pulling his hand back.

Scott, convinced, offers his finger. )

So, it's like a prick of protection.

Alliteration. I like it.

[She pricks his, then does the same with her own finger, before corking the vial and starting to chant. The magic lifts through the car, before the mixture glows blue and ripples out from the center. Satisfied, she tucks the vial into the pocket behind the back seat.]

Vial has to stay intact for it to work. Safer if it's out here.

[She then pushes open the door.]

Shall we?

Smart.

( Harvey agrees, climbing out of the car along with Scott, closing the doors behind them. All they can do right now is walk up and see what happens. He waits for Sullivan to join them before the four walk up to the entrance with all hands where the hunters can see them. )

[A small group of hunters sit on the front porch, enjoying the fresh air while they wait for their orders. They've been pulled out in small batches all day, as Monroe needs, but there's still a considerable amount inside.

The hunters see Sullivan first, and it's a line of lazy waves. Then they see Scott, and they tense. Hands go to guns, men get to their feet, and one, manages to get the actual words out: "What the hell, Sullivan?"

"Easy, boys," he replies, taking a small step ahead of Scott, giving him a slight bit of cover. "We need to talk."]

( Scott doesn't move his hands up, or snarl, or anything. He lets Sullivan take the lead. )

Just talk. ( He gets a (12) to convince him of that fact, but he's under pressure and under the weight of Allison's demise. Is he prepared to do more? Yes. He doesn't want to. ) You know who I am. And you know Sullivan. You know we wouldn't be here together if we didn't need to be. My reputation is killing, right, not corrupting.

[The hunters look shifty, and the one who seems to be the alpha of the scenario, leans back and gestures for them to continue.

"So? Talk."]

You've been told all along that I'm the problem, that people like me who are supernatural are dangerous and that we should be hunted. And there is bad out there. There are bloodthirsty werewolves and sacrificing darachs -- witches and everything else, but you mobilize like every one of us is not just a threat, but a danger to you. And in that crusade, you've lost ranks. Friends. Sullivan, he almost lost his son on Monroe's orders.

( Step in here, Sully. )

[They look skeptical, but they're not retailiating just yet (14 vs. 12). They do turn to Sullivan, looking expectantly at the older man.

"I did lose a son." Because he started this with two, and now he's down to one. And Cooper's instincts have always been better at these things. "Lucas died because she sent him half-cocked after a bunch of witches that hadn't done anything to anyone. On another witch's orders. And the people we lost in Prauge? That was because of her too."

"Monroe said she was taking care of it."

"Yeah, but I'm willing to bet that it's not because of the dead bodies. It was because she didn't get what she wanted out of the deal. As far as she's concerned? You're all expendable. Cannon fodder for her greater goal."

They look awkwardly at each other, and one of them, wearing a beat up military jacket, throws in: "Isn't that what war is? A whole lot of cannon fodder?"]

When it's necessary. When all you have is war. Which is what it feels like for us. For me. For my friends. Because your army comes after us and we have no choice but to defend ourselves, when otherwise we wouldn't be involved.

( "The cannon fodder you're talking about is cannon fodder you could be avoiding," Harvey says, jumping in. "You lost numbers in London and in Prague. And there's talk that you lost Prague because of a witch not even involved. There is necessary evil, and then there is wasted evil. Misplaced." (19) to persuade from Harvey. )

Edited 2021-12-31 22:47 (UTC)

[Well, they definitely seem to be listening (5). It's hard to say who is being more impactful right now, but they seem to be speaking to the doubts that have been nagging at them, the concerns that have been lingering in the back of their mind.

"So what would you have us do? Turn on our own army?"

Sullivan shakes his head, looking from face to face. "No. We're trying to save your life. We just want you to walk away."]

We're not asking you to hurt each other. You've fought beside each other because you believed in your cause. But, your cause was a smokescreen. Monroe was taught by a corrupt, psychotic hunter named Gerard Argent who convinced her all supernatural creatures deserved to die. I know, because he tried to corrupt his granddaughter, the true heir to the Argents, and a true hunter. She helps people that can't protect themselves. Like I help supernaturals who can't help themselves. I - ( Right his accomplishments. ) I fought threats, I disbanded the Alpha Pack, I helped end the Wild Hunt, but I've never not once gone after someone who wasn't coming after someone weaker than them. I don't know you, but I believe you're all better than this.

[Scott gives it a valiant effort (14), but the audience seems to be wavering (19), not sure if they should be listening to a prominent werewolf when everything they've been told is that they were dangerous and they wouldn't save you.

Even if they had noble intentions, people would still die. And it's better if they simply didn't exist.

Sullivan senses the shift, and tries to step up again, ones again shouldering the space between Scott and them.

"This isn't a matter of principle. This is what you are and aren't willing to die for. We're here because the Originals don't take kindly to threats against they're city. They're going to take their people back and they will kill whoever gets in their way. Is Monroe's crusade really something you want to die for?"

That seems to shift the tide back again (19 vs. 9), but one still looks skeptical:

"How do we know that the Mikaelsons won't just hunt us down later?"

Kieran raises an eyebrow, before speaking softly mostly so that Harvey can hear, but Scott would have picked up on it too.]

Depends how willing Elijah is to give his word and keep it. And how clever these assholes are.

( Harvey leans his head, looks behind him and weighs how to bring them in.

Scott, so close to Kieran's voice, hears. Harvey steps forward. )

If you stand down, the Mikaelson's won't have a reason to hunt you down, or the next generation. Your first born. Any of them. The only reason the Mikaelson's are shedding this much blood is because you captured their friends, their family, people who are doing good in this city. ( (15) to convince them. ) But, if you don't believe us... Scott.

( Right.

"Elijah Mikaelson is here. Set everything aside that you've heard of about the Mikaelsons. He is the most honorable of them all. He believes a man's word is his bond. If you stand down, if you truly understand why we're risking our lives to come here... I know you won't be in any danger." He'll even take a head count and sign-ups to keep proper track, but he's not about to say that.

Harvey steps away, giving the other car the signal. )

[The soldiers faces are blank in response to that persuasion (15), not immediately agreeing, but not rejecting the idea either.

In the car, Cami catches the signal and she raises an eyebrow before glancing over to Elijah.]

Guess that's our cue.

I would prefer a more actionable signal. A tell-tale sign of what exactly to expect. But, I suppose we could... wing it.

( Yes, he assumes this is a cordial, polite, approach and do your best situation. But, his brother is also Klaus Mikaelson. It would be foolish to not expect ... well, anything. Especially, from the "hunters." )

Our plans don't always work out the way we've hoped anyway.

[But with that, she will slide out of the car and turn to him with a shrug.]

Maybe we should try winging it for a change.

( Winging it, he can do, walking with Cami up to the group. He straightens his tie as he comes to a stop. )

Gentlemen.

[Sullivan takes a breath, before turning to face him. "These gentlemen would like your word that if they walk away, your family won't hunt them down for sport after the fact."

Cami's eyes widen a bit before turning to face Elijah and raising an eyebrow. It's not like he can say that's out of the realm of possibility for his family.]

( Ah, so that is what they require. Don't worry, Cami. )

I will personally see to it that no member of my family will harm a hair nor hide on your heads, or that of your family's. My brother's issue is with the head of your organization and the ignorance that originated from the very top. ( (18) to persuade the crowd right now. ) Tamara Monroe is righteous.

( Scott looks to Elijah for permission to add and Elijah, tips his head forward. Go on, Scott.

"Monroe was my guidance counselor my senior year of high school. Gerard Argent found her and took advantage of a fear that an otherworldly creature called the anukl-te had stoked, like a fire, in my hometown. That's what she comes from. She's afraid of what she doesn't know and that fear was twisted. By Gerard. And all of you were pulled into her fear and paranoia. And you've lost your brothers and your sisters. You've lost your pack. I don't want anyone else to die. And neither does Elijah." (15) for Scott to tack on. But he means it all. )

[Maybe because it's because they believe Elijah is being sincere. Maybe Scott's natural sincerity buoyed Elijah's statement. Maybe they just really don't want to die fighting Original vampires today. The world may never know. All that really matters, as they look between each other throughout the speech, is that they agree (9).

"Give us a couple of hours to break down camp and grab our stuff. We'll be out of your hair."]

Spread the word. If you can. Help us stop this for good.

( Elijah and Cami probably know it will take some convincing on the hunters' behalf, but Klaus has other things to attend to, namely their respective relationships. They'll figure it out.

And because Scott is Scott. )

Do you need any help?

["No, we got this." The hunter stretches to his feet. "If there's anything we're good at, it's getting out of town fast."]

Be careful. And if you need anything, put it out there.

( He has people everywhere.

After the hunters head inside and disperse, Scott turns to the Senior Sullivan. )

Thank you for your help. Without you, who knows what would have happened.

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