why is it you always get to sit in the shade

[blackstarred]

Comments

[notwitty]

Old magic is never good.

[Old magic is always the kind of stuff that involves making sacrifices or bad things coming back that should have stayed dead.]

Can you tell what it wants?

[Can witches do that?]

[moralitypolice]

No, I just - I feel it. Like an itch.

( She leans over to turn the light on beside her, bringing her feed in so she can sit up.

She tries to concentrate, choosing to sense magic to get more of a clue. (12) )

[notwitty]

[She doesn't get much, but she does get the sense that it's not coming from the floor that they're on - instead, it seems to be coming from below them, deeper in the B&B.

Isaac gets to his feet and grabs some shoes. He has a feeling that they're going to need to be on the move.]

[moralitypolice]

It's below us. Some kind of ritual?

( She doesn't know. Opening her eyes again, she sees Isaac moving for his shoes. )

You're going to check it out?

[notwitty]

Well, this seems like the kind off situation where if we don't do something about the ritual, we become the ritual.

[Which, been there, done that, would rather not ever again.]

Either we leave immediately or we're going to fight something, so I'd like to have my shoes.

[And as he says that, ring ring Bonnie phone.]

[moralitypolice]

Put on your shoes.

( She doesn't want to become the ritual. She answers her phone on speaker. )

Caroline?

[vampireboulevard]

Ryan saw the owner of the inn checking out a guest super late and he says he smelled blood. We're going to check it out, but be careful.

[She keeps her voice low, just in case someone is out there and around still listening.]

Are you and Isaac okay?

[moralitypolice]

We're fine. Something powerful is going down. Tonight. I feel it in my skin, Caroline. And it's coming from one of the lower floors.

( Is there a basement? )

You follow the guest, we'll follow the magic.

[notwitty]

["Okay, be careful. They've for some kind of sound proofing going, so keep your phone on you."

And with that, Caroline will hang up, and Isaac peeks out the door (19), scanning the area, before turning back to Bonnie with a nod.]

Let's go.

[moralitypolice]

( Bonnie gets her own shoes, pulling them on, and then she's up and behind Isaac. )

I'm right behind you.

[notwitty]

[Isaac slowly inches towards the stairs, keeping his eyes peeled for any trouble (8). There's only one way downstairs - through the main staircase - so he keeps moving downwards, trying to avoid running into any of the employees.]

[moralitypolice]

( Bonnie follows, keeping her eyes alert as well (16). Does the magic get stronger as they move to the first floor? )

[notwitty]

[It does get stronger on the first floor, though it still feels as though the magic is coming from beneath her. Isaac stops at the bottom of the stairs, hearing someone talking on the phone from behind the front desk, and tries to peer into the darkness in the opposite direction, but doesn't come up with much.

Bonnie can make out the owner on the phone - she doesn't seem to be chatting about anything important. Almost seems normal, like nothing's going on.]

[moralitypolice]

( A basement. Great.

As for the person at the front desk, must be boring on the night shift. Of course she'd make normal conversation. She takes Isaac's hand, plasters on a smile and makes her way to the desk, walking Isaac with her. )

Hi there.

[notwitty]

[Isaac follows along, surprised, like oh we're not sneaking anymore? But this is Bonnie's show, he's just here to punch things if needed.

The receptionist looks up and turns on her customer service smile. "Oh, hello. Is everything okay with the rooms?"]

[moralitypolice]

( Just not for now. She'd rather not try to sneak past the young thing at the desk.

She puts on her best 'new age millennial' voice (2) )

Between you and me, how often does the staff sage our rooms.

[notwitty]

["Sage?" The girl behind the desk raises an eyebrow, but she's on to Bonnie's ruse (14). Isaac can see it (16), and he tenses behind Bonnie, ready to spring, depending on what move the woman makes. "Afraid we don't include that as part of our cleaning process. Allergies and all."]

[moralitypolice]

( Yeah, she's not going to get anywhere. )

Of course not. ( So, she tries honesty on for size. ) I get these feelings. I have since I was a kid. Just - having one of those moments. Your proprietor woke us up, I was just checking to see if everything was okay.

[notwitty]

["Oh, everything is fine. We had a sudden late night check out, but the guest is on their way. Y'all can go back to bed - nothing to worry."

Will save for Bonnie, please, as this receptionist is giving off very strong "go away" vibes.]

[moralitypolice]

You can do that?

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

[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."

[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.

[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.]