everyonelives | as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[Yes, she accepted Kol for who he was a long time ago, but this is the first time his orgy connections have been relevant to a problem they're trying to solve.]

Sounds like fun. We do a little gambling, get some drinks, and look out for a narcissistic asshole holding my brother hostage.

( Fair. Not to be the buzzkill in the room, but she did choose him. )

So, casino. Not hotel.

If you lost him there, then that's probably where the entrance to the evil lair is.

[Because that's total logic at work here.]

The hotel and casino aren't attached?

They're across the street from one another. This is Maryland, not Vegas.

( Contempt sort of ekes out of him, but, her logic lands. )

[She holds up her hands.]

It was just a question, not a judgment.

[She shrugs.]

Still, we should start with the casino.

Let's go to the casino.

( Scott having never been in a casino leads the charge! Or, he at least agrees. Between the hotel and the casino, they lost her brother there. He looks to Davina, as does Kol before Kol also looks to Jackson, not thrilled with him, but he is their ally for the time being.

Who is driving? )

[Davina will drive. Kieran will take Kol by the hand and slide into the backseat with him, wanting to keep him on hand in case she needs it. Once she settles in the backseat, she reaches into a backpack and pulls out what looks like a makeup case.

Unzippering the top, she shuffles through her vials of blood until she finds one with a J on top, before returning it to her backpack. She then closes her eyes, trying to focus and see if she can get a lock on her brother, but she is still a fairly young witch going up against someone much older (9).]

( Scott will take the backseat to give Jackson and his long legs the front. Also to separate Jackson and Kol and Jackson and Kieran. He can see the tension.

Well, older or not, whomever or whatever is holding her brother is faltering spell-wise, because she can sense him. The connection is weak, and it flickers in and out, but it's there. He is alive. But, she can't lock on where he is. Broken pendant or not, his blood can lead her somewhere. )

[She swallows over the disappointment of not having a direct place to go, but she will take comfort in the fact that for now, he's still alive. At least there's something there to fight for.]

He's alive, but I can't tell where.

[That's mostly for only Kol to hear, but she's in the car with two other people with super hearing, so that probably doesn't stay between them.]

( It doesn't. Kol squeezes her hand.

Scott (15), Kol (16), and Jackson (18) are all able to navigate their way to the casino in question. Scott has gotten better at navigation, Kol is old enough and familiar enough and this has been Jackson's local haunt for three or so months now.

Located near the Arundel Mills indoor and outdoor mall, the parking lots and intersections are pretty bustling in the early evening, as they make a left at the signal and pull into the expansive parking lot. )

[Davina follows the directions as given, pulling into an empty spot as close as she can get to the doors of the casino. You never know when you need to make a speedy getaway.]

Should we divide and conquer? There's enough of us with super-hearing we could stay in contact.

There is an entire casino floor to cover.

( He will go with what Kieran decides, as will Scott and Jackson. Jackson feels along for the ride, but he was asked. )

[Kieran nods, eyeing the building, before tapping the back of Jackson's seat.]

You come with me. The three of you stick together. We can work it from two different angles and see how far we get.

( it takes everything in him not to swat her away, but she recruited him.

scott agrees, kol squeezes her hand once more, and they're leaving their parking space.

the casino is two stories, with two stories of casino and on the second story conference rooms you can rent out, a bar, a few restaurants, and the more private higher stakes rooms.

the casino floor is pretty vast, the lobby expansive of itself. a bouncer checks ID's at the entrance to the casino itself. there is a small shop, a bank of elevators, restrooms, and a back stairwell.

the sounds and lights ahead of them chime and blink. you can just hear money spilling away. )

[She scans the space, before glancing over to Jackson.]

Where does the mark usually spend his time?

The mark, H, was mostly seen outside of, and during, the Glimmer of Hope meetings. He was Barnet's right hand. It wasn't uncommon for him to be on the casino floor. We think he was first contact for some of Barnet's victims. He would prep them, question them and fluff them. Barnet would seal the deal.

( So, he's not the best of help. )

There should be a meeting set for tonight. If he's still working for him, then he's be right outside Conference Room A.

Okay.

[She turns back to the rest.]

We'll check out the conference rooms, you guys cover the floor. Whoever finds him first, wins.

[That's a little more glib than she probably should be, but she's in a mood, what can she say.]

( Wins as this person wins Kieran's wrath.

Kieran and Jackson head up one of the elevators to the second floor.

"A word of advice, you're running this like it's a revenge mission, not a rescue mission," Jackson says. He's always had a hard time keeping in his anger, his mood swings, but he knows where to put his energy now. And Kieran feels like a scary loose cannon. If he can talk a little sense into her, he think they'd be all the better for it.

Kol, Scott and Davina show their ID's on the casino floor. )

We should keep in mind he may or not be still playing his part. Has he shed his persona, he should be dressed much simpler, preferring the primary colors and a simple jacket. Unless he's dressed to the nines or in nothing. I'd rule out nothing.

[Kieran glances over at him, setting her jaw as she goes.]

Is there a difference? If Julian's okay, we rescue him. If not, we avenge him. Really, I see this as more of a fluid situation.

[And she doesn't have time to analyze it more than that.]

If he's not dead, like you said ( werewolf hearing ) then rescue. It's a rescue until it isn't. Be methodical. Be smart. Barnet will play into your passion. He practically trips over himself for the desperate.

( harsh words, tai.

the elevator doors open. jackson gets a (6) for spot )

[Yeah, the problem is that Kieran is never not desperate. The nature of her life has made her desperate - and more to the point, it's what's made her brother desperate. They're already well past that point.

But she doesn't disagree with him, so at least there's that. Unfortunately, she's not really doing much better for spotting things (7).]

( While it's obvious where a meeting might be taking place, neither Kieran nor Jackson recognize any faces milling about in front or inside the conference room. They're waiting for something, at least. )

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