why is it you always get to sit in the shade

[blackstarred]

Comments

[tuumest]

( Through the silence, Kol hangs back letting Kieran lay into her brother.

A minute later, he emerges again, this time wearing their father's Death Cab shirt. All his clothes are meant for a teenager and they don't fit, so being stuck here meant he had to root through his father's closet and rustle up those old ghosts. But, he did this to himself, didn't he. It was his deal to make, damn any other consequences. )

And you decided to bring Kol Mikaelson in to - what, save me?

[tuumest]

( H raises a hand, congenial, contributing. Not shady at all. )

Use me?

[moralitypolice]

You can do that?

( ...(2) for a will save. )

[widenecked]

( But the owner is still a murderer! Probably several times over! Why did they stop at the murder B & B!

Since becoming a vampire, Ryan has seen blood. He's been the victim. Before becoming a vampire, he spent a summer fighting in cage matches in Mexico. He had a rough childhood, rough-housed, he was a tough guy. But, despite his demeanor suggesting he's made of stone, he isn't. )

Really. You think the best course of action is to straight up murder more people.

( But, he is always dry.

First thing's first, he speedily draws the axe out of Caroline's back so she can actually heal, before attempting a swing to hit the woman with the blunt end of the metal -- and he gets a whopping (5). )

[vampireboulevard]

[The owner just manages to dodge back (7), missing the blade but stumbling a bit as she tries to dodge.

Caroline gives a cough from the ground. It's her turn but she's just going to lay there and try to heal a bit, her boyfriend has got this right? Right. Maybe.

The owner sneers. "You're one to talk, vampire. You sure your hands are clean?" And that's just a rude assumption of her, but she's going to attempt to wrestle the axe back from him (13).]

[notwitty]

[Bonnie wants to leave. She wants to leave right now, and she wants to get as far away from the front desk as she possibly can. Isaac is doing a bit better, but not by much (7).

The receptionist smiles. "It was a real emergency. And it's not like this is a prison, we can't just keep people here. Now why don't y'all go back to bed. Everything's fine."

[widenecked]

( She gets the axe back because he tries not to step on his girlfriend (5).

He tries jumping, to hang onto a beam above him to kick her back with his feet. (13). )

[moralitypolice]

( Her (8) isn't keeping Bonnie down there. )

Isaac, we have to go. Now.

[notwitty]

[Isaac agrees and follows her lead, heading back to the stairs so they can head back to their room. But as they leave the receptionist's immediate vicinity, the magic lessens, and by the time they reach the stairs Isaac (10) takes her elbow and pulls her to a stop.]

Wait. I think we got whammied.

[moralitypolice]

She --

( She looks back. )

We have to get around her.

[vampireboulevard]

[Unfortunately, it's a bit like kicking a brick wall (20). The owner plants herself where she stands, and Ryan is slammed backwards, pain sliding up his legs.

But because she's so focused on Ryan, she's not prepared for Caroline. And Caroline, given her unexpected injuries, is feeling a bit peckish (9 vs. 1). She zips up quickly, grabbing the woman by the hair and sinking her teeth into the woman's neck.

The owner let's out a cry of surprise, before trying to wrestle her off (4 vs. 9), but Caroline is angrier and she holds firm, even if she stops drinking.]

You're not human.

["Fucking vampires."]

[widenecked]

What is she?

( In pain, but recovering, Ryan gets to his feet. )

[vampireboulevard]

Don't know. I've never tasted that before.

[She reaches a hand forward to try to grab the handle of the axe and knock it back into the owner's face (9 vs. 4), and the other woman winces in pain, before shifting to try and use Caroline's momentum to throw her over her shoulder (2 vs. 4), but Caroline manages to fight her off.]

But maybe something to do with magic? Bonnie said she felt a ritual.

["Oh, so you brought a witch too?"]

[notwitty]

[Isaac finally rolls higher than a 10 (17), and he places a finger to his lips, before pointing into the space away from the reception desk, that would allow them to circle around the first floor the opposite way.]

[widenecked]

Probably magic.

( Back in it, Ryan attempts to wrest the axe away again, but mid-pull thinks it's better to knock her back in the face with the handle. (15) )

[moralitypolice]

( Bonnie will attempt to sneak (nat 20) the other way around the floor. )

[notwitty]

[Isaac is not far behind her (19), and while the receptionist seems to be looking out for them (17), they just manage to escape her notice as she goes back to "work."

Make another witchy woo check, Bonnie.]

[moralitypolice]

( Still smarting from the receptionist's whammy, she tries. (8) )

[vampireboulevard]

[The handle smacks backwards (2), striking her dead in the face and causing blood to leak out of her nose. It is a bit of an odd consistency, a darker red than normal human blood, but Caroline doesn't seem to be reacting adversely.

Yet.

Caroline attempts to slam her head forward into the wall (6 vs. 19), but the owner manages to hold her ground, recovering some of that power from earlier. Her eyes glow briefly for a moment before she lifts a hand and attempts to blow both Ryan and Caroline backwards (20).

Caroline goes flying (3), slamming back into the opposite wall of the hallway.]

[widenecked]

( Ryan is still in pain, confused about what she is and is in too close proximity to do anything but be blown back down the hallway. (5). )

She has to be a witch.

( He sneers. He tries to see if there's anything recognizable, a necklace, a talisman, something that could be giving her power but (2) he's not as knowledgeable. Pulling out a pocket knife, he opens it and tries flinging it at her (15) )

[vampireboulevard]

["Please. I'm not that basic." The knife does land (9), and the owner snarls, before wrenching it out and shaking her head. "And I have better things to do than fight with you."

With that, in a blink, she disappears.

Caroline scrambles up onto her feet, listening for any sign of trouble, but finds nothing - at least not on this floor. She then turns and moves over to Ryan.]

You okay?

[notwitty]

[There is definitely a vibe. A vibe that's coming from a vague direction in the other room. But Isaac's head snaps to attention, turning towards a specific portion of the floor and gesturing for her to follow (20).]

I smell blood.

[moralitypolice]

( She sticks close, quieting her footsteps (15) )

Is it fresh?

[widenecked]

Yeah. You?

( He would retrieve the axe, but she's disappeared with it. He collects his knife, wiping the blood on his pants. )

We should find Bonnie and Isaac.

[notwitty]

Kind of?

[It's hard to tell from here, but it's definitely not old. He starts following his nose, weaving quietly through the first floor (12), and neither of them manage to attract the attention of the receptionist (5).

Eventually they land at a door, and Bonnie will feel a big power vibe coming from behind it, the kind of power signature she can't ignore. And it's active, meaning whatever ritual they're performing is still in progress.]