everyonelives | every day a little sting

[Klaus arrives, and most of the hunters are gone. Most of what's left behind, is the carnage. Some hunters, some wolves, and in the middle of what is normally the main common area of the space is Malia, leaning over Allison Argent, trying desperately trying to keep her blood in her body and her friend breathing.]

Don't die.

[It's a pointless demand, one she knows Allison doesn't have much control over, but she needs to say it anyway. She doesn't want this to be another friend lost, another casualty of this war. But she doesn't know what to do beyond that, because she's here alone and moving her seems like a bad idea.]

[Monroe waits for Mickey at the top of a hill just outside town, leaning back against the side of her car. She doesn't particularly have high hopes for his performance here, but the fact that he seems to be coming back and Sullivan isn't is something, at least.

The older Sullivan leans against his own car not far away, keeping an eye on the cargo in the back. Peering through the van windows, they'd see a still chained Davina Claire eyes wet as she mourns the death of her friend. It isn't fair, and it isn't right, but at the moment, there's nothing she can do about it yet.

A third hunter sits on the backseat of Monroe's car with the laptop resting on his knees, still monitoring the security feeds.

Whenever you're ready, Mickey. They're waiting.]

( Klaus didn't know what to expect, the bayou is a savage place, and at one time dangerous to his unborn progeny, and home to the mother of his child thanks to his going along with his aunt's whims. All to bring her down once and for all. There was of course the rain of fire courtesy of the Hollow inside his daughter. It is a gruesome scene, the aftermath of some sort complete with a dying girl in a were-something's arms.

Being any linchpin to this prong of what he hoped would be an unsuccessful coup of New Orleans is not his strongest suit. He'd much prefer to wipe out hunters in the tens and twenties at a time. (16) for recognition. )

Allison Argent.

( Mickey is ready for his performance. His compulsion hasn't been lifted, but with his best friend dead (temporarily), he's able to function again. He needs to be inside, or in this case, on the outside up the top of a steep hill right outside of town.

He pulls up not far from the truck, or the kidnapped Davina Claire. Slamming the door shut behind him, he joins Monroe.

There is a pang of guilt he gets when the senior Sullivan is there, someone he too saw as a father. )

He know?

["I take it that means it's done?"

Which is not a direct answer to Mickey's question, but it's answer enough. She straightens and crosses her arms in front of her chest, studying him carefully.

"I hope you brought proof."

She's not dead yet.

[Malia can tell. She knows what death smells like and she's not going to be the one to have to tell the rest that Allison is dead. She's not going to tell Scott that Allison is dead. Not after they've come so far.]

Help her.

[Just going to stare down Klaus, daring him to refuse her.]

( Klaus Mikaelson does not do favors. Favors seem to be going around because of the militant, rogue hunters. But, Klaus knows better than to let the Argent matriarch shuffle off this mortal coil, not when he could have her in his debt, and this were-something. His (4) is no match for Malia's desperation, her wild eyes and the devastation he's driven into. )

Her pulse is slow.

( But, if he can, then he will. Crouching by them, Klaus brings his wrist close to his mouth. )

If you know anything about me, I do not do things like this lightly.

( You will both be in his debt.

He does not save those that do not deserve saving. He's very laissez faire when it comes to his family. But. He can make an exception. He bites into his wrist and brings it to Allison's mouth. )

Drink little hunter.

Ask your guys. Check the local news.

( His wry humor comes through, especially in subterfuge. )

He really made a splash.

( He tries selling it at a (10), because it's the truth. And the man is dead. And it hurts, no matter how temporary it is.

He tries to find Sullivan senior's eyes, tries to find where he'd be okay with burying his only living son after losing his first to London. )

Fine, whatever. I can handle it.

[And by that she means she will be taking on these debts. Allison's already taken on enough debt this week, and she's not in a state enough to consent to it.]

As long as Allison doesn't die.

Edited 2021-12-17 20:38 (UTC)

[Monroe's eyes narrow, unsure what to make of that statement, but knowing it's not entirely on the level (19). She snaps her fingers and gestures for her security camera guy to come closer indicating that she wanted to see the computer screens.

Laptop hunter starts cycling through the cameras and then stops when he comes across the fountain in question. As Mia Smoak steps onto the screen he gets Monroe's attention.

"Look."

Make a insight check, Mickey.]

That's not for me to say.

( Just his blood.

He does all he can do, removing his wrist, waiting. It could be minutes. It could be an hour. It depends on how far gone she was. )

Should I ask who or what shot her?

He struggled. We fought. He didn't deny it.

( Maybe Cooper's father is his way in, a piece he can use to dismantle the tower of lies and oppression he once stood for. So, he doesn't mince his words. )

[Sullivan is looking over Monroe's shoulder, watching. He doesn't say anything, but there are the tiny hints of surprise, around the corners of his mouth, the rise of his eyebrows. He looks to Monroe, then to Mickey, then away, intending to hide whatever emotions might betray him, but it's clear that this is not what he was expecting today.

Monroe waits as the screen moves forward, to William's arrival and reaction. The shock is genuine, so it's hard for her to disagree that the job was done (14). She nods, pleased, before turning back to Mickey and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Looks like you proved yourself. Now we can trust you with something bigger."]

[Malia glances over her shoulder, studying the messy bodies in the pile, before pointing to the gunman in question, who doesn't look like he'll be getting up anytime soon.]

That one.

Anything.

( What's bigger? And as soon as he can, he will get through to Sullivan Senior. He has to. )

A hunter. Negotiations took a turn.

( He draws back, standing again as he surveys the carnage. )

I had heard Allison Argent to be quite the motivator. What went wrong?

She was trying to get them to see us as people.

[Malia shifts back, sitting on the ground as she can finally take the time to examine the damage to her wardrobe, and make sure she hadn't gotten hit with any wolfsbane.]

Problem is, hunters don't think we're people.

[She moves over to the other van, and draws back the sliding door, revealing the very angry face of Davina Claire. She's still bound, for now, but that doesn't mean she's been cowed any.

"Find a suitable stake to burn her at - somewhere the witches will appreciate. They seem to need more convincing that I didn't come to play."

She then glances back to the older hunter. "Take Sullivan with you. Let me know when it's done."]

( Yahtzee, with having the time to themselves. )

Keys?

No, hunters have quite the one-track mind. Capture. Kill. Sometimes, skipping the former. I'll be in touch.

( With a (6), Allison rouses, eyes fluttering open, but the healing is not as quick a process as it is with some injuries.

Klaus has other things to attend to, doesn't he? Unless she needs something. But, then he sees Allison return to the living.

Barely.

He returns to his original position, lowering himself again. )

Little hunter.

[Monroe tosses them to him, and pats him on the shoulder before she goes.

"Nice work."

She and Laptop hacker climb into the second car, and drive off to go back to whatever other misdeeds they have planned for the evening. Once the headlights disappear into the distance, Sullivan moves quickly, taking Mickey by the shoulders and shoving him back against the van (17).

"What the fuck happened?"]

[Malia leans over to reach for her, and is quick to defend her choices here:]

You were dying, he was available. I figured you'd prefer being alive.

( Well, that's a lot to take in at once. But, she likes her life, and she can do more good alive.

"Klaus," )

Allison. Welcome back.

( So soon. )

I'd caution you not to go in, motivating words-blazing, as you do have a clock on you from this moment. It may be best for you to stay back. Coordinate from afar. These hunters are not easily predicted.

( Allison pushes up more, gaining more flexibility and energy.

"With enough respect, thank you for bringing me back, you don't know what I'll refuse to do. Hanging back is one of them." )

( With a (7), he's shoved back. Hard. But, that pain wears off pretty quickly. He doesn't fight back or try to turn the tables. He just uses his words. )

Monroe thought Cooper was a sympathizer and a traitor. She asked me to take care of it. She was testing my loyalty and I had to make her believe he's dead.

( A (3) makes it a more frantic plea than he planned, but they're on a time table. And he doesn't want to burn anyone at the stake. )

He's not wrong.

[But for different reasons. Malia takes after her dad in some respects, and as impulsive as she can be, she knows how to play the long game.]

But not just for vampire blood reasons. I'm pretty sure Monroe thinks you're dead. We should let her keep thinking that for a while.

every day a little sting

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