i'm leaving you my last curse

[bravebartender]

Comments

[werewolfqueen]

Klaus is also a particular brand of unkillable, so I'd say the rest of our odds are considerably less. But you could get a few centuries under your belt.

[Which is honestly also daunting enough.]

[phonetically]

Not really wanting to think about what a hundred years from now is going to be like.

( It's an over-overwhelming thought.

Derek stops, listening for a second, and then looks to Cora and Hayley. The discussions in the sitting room are not of the Thanksgiving variety.

"I think the party started without us," he says, leading the group in the direction of the other voices. )

[bravebartender]

[Hayley's brow furrows, and she turns to follow the sound of voices into the other room where ... Klaus is clearly upset about something, and Bela, Cami and probably Elijah are just looking exasperated.

Hayley's brow furrows. "Who died?"

Cami sighs as she looks up.]

No one. And hopefully things will stay that way.

[Hayley tosses a glance to Elijah, amused. "Not one of those instances where we have to kill potentially everyone?" How's that for an eighteen year throwback.]

[affronting]

( "Potentially," Elijah says, raising his glass. )

Small-minded witches with tunnel-vision have apparently triggered an ancient tradition that puts targets on all of our children, our extended family and every witch - potentially everywhere. I wouldn't be against tracking down the witches in question, but you see, it's a holiday.

[enjoythe_ride]

[Hayley's brow furrows, before glancing around to the others who might be slightly less Shakespearean about it. "Is someone coming after the French Quarter witches?"

Bela shakes her head as she explains again.]

Not exactly, and not even really an immediate threat at the moment. Just something that's happening. It's called the Gauntlet. There's a coven called the Colony involved.

[Hayley knows nothing of any of this (4), but Cora's eyebrows raise (17), before she turns to Stiles. "Isn't that the same coven as the witches who tried to kidnap you?"]

[affronting]

Who is this person?

( "Rude," Stiles says. "And yes. Because they needed a bargaining chip. So, this sounds right up their alley. Ruthless. Why not target all witches."

"It's more about their thing, witches are just collateral damage. And there's a lot of potential damage," Hope adds. "Everywhere," she adds. Here. Basically, everywhere. )

Well, what are the chances someone's plus one is also embroiled with the very coven we're dealing with. We must vet our guests better for Christmas.

[impetere]

Very rude.

[Cora is a delightful guest, Klaus. What are you talking about?]

They wanted a friend of ours to help them with something. They were going after something called the Inner Circle?

[Bela raises an eyebrow. "So you know David too then?"

Cora shakes her head.]

Not David. Their names were Jaqueline and Sierra. But Sierra was here under a different name. Maura, I think?

["That bitch!" Hayley says before she can stop herself.]

[affronting]

( "From Prague, right? She took Danny's power. Initially. She also gave it back. But, I guess after that, she tried to kidnap... who are you, again?" Hope asks, pointing.

"Stiles. His name is Stiles," Stiles says, introducing himself. )

Somehow, I'm not surprised.

( "Can we get back on topic?" Hope asks.

"It's not his actual, name," Derek, very helpfully says.

"Hey, not pack, dude," Stiles retorts. )

No matter his name, he is one degree away from two members of the coven that triggered this Gauntlet.

( "He did not choose to be kidnapped, Klaus," Doc actually helpfully says. )

[enjoythe_ride]

And the members in question also didn't trigger it. That would be the Inner Circle they are trying to kill.

[Bela will provide that helpful bit of clarifying information.]

They've already taken out two of them, from what I've been told.

[engender]

( "Just gonna' say it, great they're going after people that are worse than them, but still not thrilled to almost be kidnapped," Stiles contributes.

"Um, and also not thrilled with the worse people putting targets on me and my friends and family's backs," Hope says. "Not that I haven't lived life before like a walking target but I really thought it was just very high school."

Or, so she hoped. )

Does Allison know?

[enjoythe_ride]

["Lydia was the person they were trying to squeeze. I think she knows about that much, at least."

But this new upgrade to things? Maybe not.

Bela holds up a hand to try and provide a little more clarification.]

The Gauntlet is meant to be a culling. No one specifically is being targeted until someone decides to make you a target. I doubt someone would be targeting you directly, Hope, given both your status and who's attention it would draw.

[These are witches. They're not looking to pick a fight with Klaus Mikaelson, nor do they want to go through the rigamarole of trying to figure out how to kill the Tribrid.]

That being said, you are keeping close company with not only someone keeping close to the leader of the Knightsbridge coven, but feasibly the next heir to the leadership of the Gemini Coven. I would say Josie is a more likely target than you.

[Which she suspects won't make Hope feel better, but maybe does give a clearer picture of the stakes.]

[engender]

( "Awesome," Hope says, going back over for the whiskey she left on the mantle. "If you'll excuse me," she says, leaving the room to call her girlfriend again. )

So, it's not a war on witches, just an invitation.

( Derek, also helpfully.

"Whether it is or is not a war on all witches, or on my daughter's girlfriend, or other witches in the quarter, or anywhere, it is still a culling and must be dealt with as such. Maybe we should stop discussing the semantics and discuss solutions. Action. So, that we don't over dinner," Klaus says. "What, feasibly, can we do at this very moment, because this topic is becoming very dull." )

[enjoythe_ride]

I think unless you want to break into a witch compound in Baltimore and murder what's left of the Inner Circle, not much. At least not before dinner.

[And while setting Klaus on the Inner Circle does have it's appeal, there are complications and reasons that David has been taking his time.]

We were offered a warning so we could be prepared. I don't think there was any direct action for us to take.

[phonetically]

Then I say, we get to mingling, get our grub on and go around saying why we're all thankful.

( Maybe if this were your party, but you're a guest. )

Just an idea.

[enjoythe_ride]

[Bela looks amused, but he is also playing with fire, so Bela will save him from Klaus' increasing glares and rests a hand on his shoulder as she leads him out.]

Stiles, is it? Why don't we go get you a drink? From the bar in the dining room.

[It sounds like a suggestion, but it's really not. Bela casts a meaningful look in Cami's direction and she nods. She will handle getting Klaus down to a more manageable level.]

[affronting]

( Mostly, he's annoyed his reputation doesn't phase the chatterbox of a vampire on, he assumes, Hayley's current boyfriend's sister's arm.

As individual conversations commence, he turns to his wife. )

We just invite urchin know-it-alls who don't know when they've overstepped their place, now?

( And, involving themselves in what feels like family business. Albeit, eventually.

Hope, frustrated, comes back inside. She reminds herself her girlfriend is entertaining her brother who's back from the dead. It requires attention. )

[bravebartender]

[Cami tips her head to the side gently, before giving him a small smile.]

From what Derek's told me about Stiles, that's just his personality. Probably made worse by being a new vampire. Even if he did know his place, I don't think it would keep him from overstepping it if he felt the need.

[affronting]

I suppose everyone now has extended family.

( Hayley's boyfriend, his sister, this "Stiles." )

[bravebartender]

That's what happens when you let new people in.

[She tucks her arm in his as she moves closer.]

I know that's hard for you. And I also know that Hayley has appreciated the only mildly disapproving looks you've been sending in Derek's direction.

[Considering how he's reacted to his family's significant others in the past, it's a vast improvement.]

[affronting]

I helped rescue the man.

( As did Hayley. He can hardly be surprised this transpired, even though he did not see it coming, nor did he need to. )

If he could kick his nasty habit of being kidnapped, I might hold my disapproving looks.

[bravebartender]

We're all works in progress. Everyone has room for improvement.

[She smirks.]

In fact, I think that's something you and his sister have in common.

[affronting]

Cora leaves much to be desired, where I contribute to our conversations. I bring culture and wisdom and I don't suffer fools. All good qualities, if you ask me.

( And she hasn't, but he still does. Hope comes over to them.

"Josie's not answering, but I know that she's meeting her back-from-the-dead uncle, so I don't want to interrupt and I know we all decided that the problem is a later problem, but tell that to my entire body. Do you have anything stronger than the bourbon on the mantle?" )

[bravebartender]

I would agree with you.

[About his contributions. Cami thinks Cora just needs to warm up, and is playing it safe in terms of not saying things that will get her into trouble with thousand year-old vampires, though maybe that's a problem for another time.

Instead, Cami will turn her attention to Hope.]

Aiden slipped me some moonshine from the bayou last Christmas, but I don't think I have enough to generate the distraction you're looking for.

[And she was saving that for a special occasion.]

I'm sure she'll get back to you soon.

[bereavements]

I know. Half of me just wants to astral project, but then I'd be interrupting and it's family time. And this is family time.

( She huffs out in frustration. )

I'm fine. It's fine. She's fine. ( To Alice, if she asked. ) Anything from Lizzie?

[eredite]

[Alice shakes her head before checking her phone.]

But she hasn't left me on read either so she probably just hasn't checked her phone yet? She thought this whole surprise uncle thing was majorly sus, so I'm assuming she's giving him the third degree.

[Because that sounds very Lizzie. But as before she says anything else, her phone does buzz, and she checks before giving a small relieved nod.]

But Danny's alive! So at least there's that.