i'm leaving you my last curse

[bravebartender]

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[indurare]

[BOOM.

While most are pushed out, the first thing Melanie feels is that she's falling. The floor comes out from under her, and she reaches for the man next to her, her oldest friend, almost as though the world is in slow motion. Then he slips through her fingers, the world speeds up, and when the collision happens, things go dark quickly.

When she comes to, however, all she can see is a bloody chair leg sticking up through her gut. At first, there's a moment of relief at the fact that it missed her heart.

But then the pain comes, and that seems like a cold comfort.]

Rhett?

[Her voice is small and strained, but she tries to be as loud as possible. He was the one closest to her at the time. Is he there? Can he still hear her?

Is his heart intact?]

[persistingly]

( Rhett has been under siege before. Attacked. Kidnapped. Beaten. He has torn innards from ten men to get back to Scarlett, and she, him. There was a particular horny group of harpies who took a liking to him. Tragically, thanks to Mellie and Scarlett, their home went up in flames. As did they. He can still hear the screams.

But, he can't hear much of anything now. It's as if everything goes silent and then he's falling. He loses footing, seating, grasp of everything.

They don't hit with a smack, but with a series of crunches and the sound of wood piercing bone.

The table ontop of him goes flying out of righteous rage. He slams into what feels like a new cavern that's formed. As his eyes adjust, he sees that they've dropped down into - some sort of storage area. A weapons cache. And what he thinks is some newfangled high tech safe. And rubble everywhere.

And -- )

Mellie.

( He crawls over everything to her, looking more like an animal than a perfectly civilized vampire. His hands freeze above the chair leg, afraid of the worst. But she is still here. And she is not dessicated, or dessicating. )

It seems your good fortune continues.

( Of the four of them, Melanie has made the least enemies. Not counting the same enemies. They are a family after all. )

Brace yourself.

( With that little warning, he reaches out under her, takes hold and lifts with all his might. As the chair leg goes free, he takes her with him, rolling over as she lands on the other side of him. He's probably covered in blood. It's fine.

In fact. A sharp pain hits as he flexes his should and he turns his head, pulling out a metal fork. He lets it fall lazily out of his hands before he drops his head back down.

Just give him a minute. )

[indurare]

[She's not sure she considers it good fortune to be impaled, necessarily, but regardless she endures. She will continue to endure, and she bears this with her usual grace. There's a small sound of pain as the leg falls from her body but even as she lands, she can feel herself beginning to stitch together.

It's not perfect. She will need to feed before she's anywhere near in fighting shape. But she's well enough to move. But she'll take this breather, reaching over gently and placing her hand against Rhett's shoulder.]

Thank you.

[persistingly]

( A few inches North and he would consider things in bad fortune. )

Every time. ( They are family. She is his sire. And she is Scarlett's compass. On her good days. He peers up above them, pushing himself to his feet carefully. The ground isn't steady, the floor, table, and everything else having come down with them.

A cloud of smoke or ash or whatever remnants above settles around them. )

I think we may be in the catacombs underneath.

[indurare]

Is that good or bad?

[Melanie can't say for sure how she feels about that, but if it stands a chance that the rest of the ceiling isn't going to come caving in, she'll take it. When she's recovered enough, she slowly starts to push herself up into a sitting position.]

Do you think there's an external entrance?

[persistingly]

That's our location.

( Hold for good or bad while he assesses, peers around them. )

And exit. There must. I couldn't see them sealing off catacombs. Think of the permits required and the religious backlash.

( He rips the table top away in a flourish as it slams a few feet away into the wall with a large boom. He then turns in the opposite direction. Turns back and then looks back over to Melanie. )

The only question that remains: forward or back.

[indurare]

I say move towards the exterior.

[As much as she needs to feed, the idea of feeding off the dead compatriots does feel a bit gauche. She'd much rather find her way to another blood source if she can.]

We were facing an exterior wall before we fell. We can't be too far from one here.

[persistingly]

( He agrees, holding a hand out to get her to stand up, if she can. )

Then we head in the direction of the exterior. Maybe find a terrorist for you to rip open.

[indurare]

Wouldn't that be delightful.

[She takes the hand up, and glances around, before turning to point.]

Head that way first?

[persistingly]

I will follow you into the dark.

( He gestures for her to lead the way. No commentary about his love for the alternative sad boy bands. They speak to him! He does still have his classic sensibilities, but who doesn't like Death Cab For Cutie? )

[indurare]

[Melanie would never judge him for his taste in music. They all have their guilty pleasures.

Fortunately their being vampires comes with a bit of dark vision. Perception check for Rhett please.]

[persistingly]

( (18) for Rhett's perception. He's vigilant after being blown up and Scarlet/Wes missing! )

[indurare]

[Melanie is also keeping her eyes peeled (16), her growing hunger perhaps keeping her on edge for sounds that might be food. They both pick up the scuffling of footsteps coming from a distance and she grabs Rhett's arm and raises an eyebrow, not wanting to give themselves away just in case they're not friendly.]

[persistingly]

( (18) as he nods and hides, blending in with the shadows of the catacombs. )

[indurare]

[Melanie, unfortunately, is not as stealthy as Rhett (1). It's not her fault, necessarily, the blood loss doesn't make this easy and she misses a step against a concrete step in one of the alcoves and a small cry of pain as her knee hits the ground.

The footsteps in the distance stop. Or at least one of them does. Unfortunately Wes is also smart enough not to speak and give himself away, but there isn't enough of the sound for him to recognize it (4), but he does stare into the darkness, waiting to see if something else is coming.]

[persistingly]

( Rhett is beside Melanie in an instant, kneeled down. Wordlessly, he asks if she's okay, checking her leg.

Damon and his ( PER 21) recognize that cry of pain and calls out from around the corner. He doesn't move, though, just in case.

"Mel?" )

[indurare]

[She's fine, just clumsy, though coming down on concrete hurts, regardless of how sturdy you are. But her head does snap up at the sound of her name in a familiar voice.]

Damon?

[persistingly]

( Damon heads forward, Wes hopefully behind, but he doesn't -- check. He drops down next to the both of them.

"Your leg?" )

Dinner exploded on us and we were dropped down. She took wood through the chest. She needs to feed.

[indurare]

I'll be fine until we get out of here. We were searching for the exit.

[Wes does follow, sagging some with relief when he sees that Rhett is alongside her.

"I got Scarlett on the phone. She and Bonnie are safe outside the castle." At least last he checked.]

[unforgivably]

That makes six of us.

( He and Rhett give her a hand to stand her back up.

"What was that way?" )

Wine cellar-slash-bomb shelter. Our escape route. What's in the other direction?

[indurare]

A giant hole where we came through the floor. But it's possible the way out could be past that.

[Back tracking is annoying but at least Damon and Wes found them before they got too far.]

Have you heard from anyone else beyond Scarlett?

[unforgivably]

Stefan didn't answer when I called.

( And that's enough of that. He will not worry until he has something to worry about. Should she need it, Damon and Rhett will be at her side to keep her going, but if it feels like she can stand on her own two feet, Damon takes up the lead with Rhett staying closer to his family.

(12) for Damon to keep stealthy next to (10) for Rhett. Both are more worried about finding the exit, especially now that they're a four pack and are quite formidable.

They head back in the direction Melanie and Rhett came from, stepping over the debris from the initial explosion. )

[mojitos]

[Wes (13) and Melanie (15) are averaging about the same, and as they inch through the catacombs, things are quiet for the most part. There hasn't been a light at the end of the tunnel yet, but they're not finding a dead end either.

However, there does reach a point where four sets of vampire ears pick up on a collection of voices coming from the other end.

"Wait, did you hear that. Someone's coming?"

There's a second voice, older and drier, that draws Wes to a stop. Rhett would find it familiar too. "Multiple someones." There's a pause and followed up in a tone that conveys an eyeroll. "Oh, relax. That's what the minions are for."

More footsteps begin to shuffle in their direction and Wes says quietly:]

Brannigan.

[persistingly]

The Ivory Tower?

( Why would they be involved? They stay out of politics, usually, and they don't mess with Slayers. They keep to themselves and their ancient traditions. He exchanges a look with his son.

Brannigan is older than all of them. Possibly combined.

Rhett brings a finger to his lips, indicating everyone they need to be quiet.

Rhett gets an (8) to hide in the darkness, Damon gets a (nat 20), grabbing onto the rock above them and swinging himself over to hold himself up against the ceiling. it's fancy. )

[indurare]

[Melanie (13) and Wes (15) melt into the shadows best they can and wait as the minions sent forth to investigate. Brannigan doesn't come himself, hanging back with his witch, but two vampires venture into the darkness to find them.

One catches the shine on Rhett's shoes. Two other catches a glimpse of Melanie's face (13). Two snatches forward to grab her by the arm (18 vs. 17), and as she stumbles into the light and he blinks.

"Wait. I know your face."]

Very shortly, you're gonna wish you didn't.

[And she slams the heel of her hand up into his face, cracking his nose (19 vs. 14).]