["Rumor has it that he's staged an attack against the Slayers. And with a rather impressive amount of casualties too." Barnabas takes a sip of his drink, before leaning back in his chair as he studies the hand of cards dealt to him.
If nothing else, him bragging about this directly to Rhett and Scarlett's faces indicates that the Tower still wasn't aware of the presence at the Butlers at the event.
"He hasn't come back to brag yet, though I'm sure it's only a matter of time. You know how he likes to gloat."
Scarlett raises an eyebrow over the edge of her own cards, face impassive (19).]
Brannigan was always one to gloat. And never really one to change.
["Not that I've heard. Much more likely he's taking the time to dance on all their graves." Barnabus rolls his eyes. "The Slayers have been a problem for far too long. It was much more manageable when there was just one of them. Then you knew exactly who to kill."
Scarlett presses her lips together, knowing that three of those Slayers are not too far away listening.]
I don't know, Barnabus. Brannigan also likes to take credit for other people's work, if I remember correctly. And who knows, maybe they got him just as badly as he got them.
Well, you certainly aren't disappointed. You were able to see us both, and we do rarely come around these parts. You're always such wonderful hosts. We always feel very taken care of, Barnabus.
( He sets down three cards and takes three, sitting back. )
It's a shame the slayers took Brannigan away from us. We were looking forward to seeing the old sport.
["Yes, well. The priorities of the Tower come before all else." Barnabus sounds bored, for the most part, but Scarlett sees something in his eyes that doesn't land quite right (19). She raises an eyebrow before trading some cards from her hand.]
Are you in or out, Barnabus?
[He blinks, and she gestures to the table.]
Your hand, darling.
["Right." He looks at his cards, before waving a hand. "Bah. I think I'll fold. Luck doesn't seem to be on my side tonight."]
Perhaps, tomorrow. ( He sets down triple aces, before offering a hand to shake. ) Old friend. ( He turns to the dealer. ) My dear, would you mind cashing me out. I think my chips may serve me better at the roulette wheel. What do you think, Scarlett?
( He glances to the window, overlooking the edge of the river. )
( He lifts his glass to Barnabus before offering his arm to his wife. He doesn't hide his leveled gaze across the room and around to his companions (7) well, but he tries to cover it as he's scanning the room for anyone else he knows. )
( He spins Scarlett around, keeping her hand in his, giving her a twirl. He starts a slow dance to the music, bringing her close and talking to everyone. )
I believe we are close. Russell, is your friend Faith forgot still here?
( Faron, after knocking and not receiving a word, returns to the main area. He glances over at Rusty, and then he shimmers out. )
[And with that, he snaps his fingers and the illusions drop. At first, the party seems to continue as normal, until one of the vampires turns to where Stefan and Buffy happen to be sitting, and their eyes go wide with recognition (nat 20): "Oh, shit!"
( Ezra after "accidentally" knocking over a bottle of champagne on the table, lets loose with the word )
Incendia.
( The table goes up in flames, as do the rags and the two arms attached to two captured souls there to clean it up.
As a bonus action, )
Commodum.
( His closest allies now have advantage on their attack rolls for the next minute.
Also, vamp batch one is caught off guard near Ezra and the fire he's started. One falls backward. And the blood curdling screams of the girl and guy whose arms are melting from magic heat is throwing the nearest vampires off. )
[Vampires throughout the boat begin to spring to life, and try to spring on the guests in question. One goes for Ezra (6), trying to pin his arms to see if he can hinder the witch's casting before he bites down.
A pair of them turn on Mia (5 vs. 12, 20 vs. 20). The first swings wide, while the second manages to lock her in a grapple, shoving her back into a nearby wall. Mia grits her teeth, before twisting around to try and break free (10 vs. 14), but the vampire keeps her pinned in place.
Another goes for Rusty (5 vs. 13), and Rusty dodges out of the way, before twisting his wrist to snap the neck of said vampire (8 vs. 5), and the vamp goes down in a slump before he murmurs an Incendia of his own and the body bursts into flames.
The vampire who spotted him and Buffy springs towards Buffy (11), but Stefan intervenes (16 vs. 7), shoving a hand into the vampire's chest and withdrawing with the vampire's heart.
A pair of vampires spin towards Damon and Melanie, nails out and aiming for the face (10 for Damon, 6 vs. 13 for Melanie), and Melanie side steps the attack and letting them crash into the table.]
( Ezra dodges the vampire coming at him (13), trying to get the vampire to keep lunging forward at the fire.
Damon (14) dodges the nails to the face, and tries to grab them from behind, locking an arm around their neck (6, 7) but the vampire slips out of his grip.
Buffy, turns toward the bartender with a shrug. She knows. Sorry about it. Not. She takes a glass in hand and tries breaking it over the vampire bartender's head. But the vampire catches her arm (12, 17).
Faith leaps behind the vampire grappling Mia and tries to stake it, (5, 17), but the vampire turns - one hand still on Mia, the other one grips her wrist, and squeezes. But, she's a slayer and that's not really the pain he thinks it is. She keeps her grip on the stake.
Rhett takes nearby dice, launching one at the vampire holding Faith and Mia, but the vampire is faster and uses Faith as a shield as she's knocked hard by the die. )
[Scarlett turns, baring her fangs in the opposite direction of her husband, putting them almost back to back. A vampire charges her, catching her by the throat (17 vs. 14), but she uses it to reel him forward, so that she can snap the arm (5 vs. 4). The vampire screams in pain and she uses the opportunity to seize the heart (5 vs. 1)
Melanie grabs the one who smashed into the table by the hair, using the leverage to try and alleviate them of their heart (2 vs. 9), but the vampire slips from her grip with a snarl, turning back to try and grapple her instead (4 vs. 11), but Melanie dodges again.]
[Mia pulls one of her stakes and shoves it into the back of the one wrangling Faith (17 vs. 7), and the vampire drops to the ground. She then turns as the second comes at her (5 vs. 4), and she takes a solid hit to the face, and she pulls back, wiping a bit of blood from the corner of her mouth.
Rusty glances up to see what Ezra means, and grits his teeth. He murmurs a spell under his breath as he moves, and the wall behind Wallace and Corsair twists and molds before reaching forward to grab them (nat 20 vs. 11, 18 vs. 12) and pin them back into the wall as he reaches the stairs to head up.]
Weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?
[Stefan breaks off a piece of the wooden bar and shoves the stake towards the vampire holding Buffy (1 vs. 14), but the vampire ducks and the stakes shatter the bottles on the wall instead.]
( The chair that fell back by Ezra's table on fire sports a nice stake-like leg at an angle, so Damon goes to give a swift kick with his heel to push his vampire into it. (nat 20) and this vampire turns to dust. Huh. He'd only heard about that.
As the vampire gets back up, Buffy tumbles over the bar, lands and sinks a punch at him (16, 3), dropping him against more of the back bar, more bottles shattering.
Faith takes off after a vampire attempts to escape onto deck. She crashes through the sliding door, knocking the both of them into the railing.
Rhett turns to a stunned Barnabus and gives him a 'no hard feelings' look, he uses the roulette wheel and spins, attempting to get a foot to his head, but the wheel spins too fast and it sends him - and spins him on his ass (nat 1...) )
["I really never could figure out what you saw in him, Scarlett." Barnabus states dryly as Rhett fumbles. The problem is that Rhett provides a more than adequate distraction and Scarlett is able to shove her hand into Barnabus' back, curling her fingers around his heart (nat 20 vs. 19).
She leans forward to murmur in his ear:]
Well, there's no accounting for taste, is there?
[And moves to relieve him of his heart.
Melanie moves into a grapple with her current vamp (15 vs. 15), stumbling backwards as she's shoved into a nearby wall.]
(Wallace and Corsair struggle, as Ezra leaves his frozen vampire and quickly follows Rusty up the stairs. He uses another spell )
Tardus.
( Three approaching vampires suddenly move in slow motion, and can't catch up to him as he slides under the railing and then pushes his way up the stairs behind Rusty.
"Were you expecting better hospitality for a party crasher," Corsair sneers. )
[Mia takes another swing at her vampire and misses (10 vs. 19), and the other vampire swings back (4 vs. 2) and clocks her again, and Mia tries to shake it off and regain her focus.
Rusty makes his way up the stairs and raises an eyebrow at the two of them. "See, it's funny you say that, because I wasn't sure how I was going to get to you at first. Me taking on the Riverboat all on my own? Not smart." He curls his fingers into a fist, causing the hands on the two witches to tighten. "But then you, in your infinite wisdom, decided to send your vampire lackey after the Slayers. And all of the sudden, I have all the backup I needed."
Stefan reshifts, shoving his piece of bar down again and manages to successfully stake him this time (14 vs. 9).]
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everyonelives2025-03-12 08:39 pm
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If nothing else, him bragging about this directly to Rhett and Scarlett's faces indicates that the Tower still wasn't aware of the presence at the Butlers at the event.
"He hasn't come back to brag yet, though I'm sure it's only a matter of time. You know how he likes to gloat."
Scarlett raises an eyebrow over the edge of her own cards, face impassive (19).]
Brannigan was always one to gloat. And never really one to change.
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Gloating is one of his great past times, when he isn't flirting with anything that moves. Is he on his way back?
( That would be a long journey to take in from the Riverboat. )
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Scarlett presses her lips together, knowing that three of those Slayers are not too far away listening.]
I don't know, Barnabus. Brannigan also likes to take credit for other people's work, if I remember correctly. And who knows, maybe they got him just as badly as he got them.
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( And they die. )
He could be licking his wounds.
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[Only she knows all too well that he never will.]
What a shame. I was so looking forward to seeing him.
[She was not, but Barnabus doesn't seem to notice. "I'm sure you'll see him next time, darling. He'll be disappointed he missed you."]
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( He sets down three cards and takes three, sitting back. )
It's a shame the slayers took Brannigan away from us. We were looking forward to seeing the old sport.
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Are you in or out, Barnabus?
[He blinks, and she gestures to the table.]
Your hand, darling.
["Right." He looks at his cards, before waving a hand. "Bah. I think I'll fold. Luck doesn't seem to be on my side tonight."]
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( He glances to the window, overlooking the edge of the river. )
I forgot how far out we go.
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It is a lovely night to be out on the water.
[She eyes the shore, trying to align herself to where they are in their plan.]
Almost makes it seem as though we're the only ones out here.
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( He lifts his glass to Barnabus before offering his arm to his wife. He doesn't hide his leveled gaze across the room and around to his companions (7) well, but he tries to cover it as he's scanning the room for anyone else he knows. )
Is Ingrid on board?
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I haven't seen her. Maybe she went with Brannigan on his little folly.
[She knows that she didn't, but that's more for the benefit of anyone that may be listening.]
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( He spins Scarlett around, keeping her hand in his, giving her a twirl. He starts a slow dance to the music, bringing her close and talking to everyone. )
I believe we are close. Russell, is your friend Faith forgot still here?
( Faron, after knocking and not receiving a word, returns to the main area. He glances over at Rusty, and then he shimmers out. )
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He's just seen himself out. I think it's time we get this party started.
[He raises his hand, prepared to drop the illusions en masse.]
Are we ready?
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( Buffy sets her glass down on the bar, rips her dress along the side to give her more mobility and looks to Stefan.
Faith grips her stake.
"Ready," William says. "Still no action on shore. You're good to go. Give em hell." )
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[And with that, he snaps his fingers and the illusions drop. At first, the party seems to continue as normal, until one of the vampires turns to where Stefan and Buffy happen to be sitting, and their eyes go wide with recognition (nat 20): "Oh, shit!"
Everybody roll for initiative.]
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Incendia.
( The table goes up in flames, as do the rags and the two arms attached to two captured souls there to clean it up.
As a bonus action, )
Commodum.
( His closest allies now have advantage on their attack rolls for the next minute.
Also, vamp batch one is caught off guard near Ezra and the fire he's started. One falls backward. And the blood curdling screams of the girl and guy whose arms are melting from magic heat is throwing the nearest vampires off. )
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A pair of them turn on Mia (5 vs. 12, 20 vs. 20). The first swings wide, while the second manages to lock her in a grapple, shoving her back into a nearby wall. Mia grits her teeth, before twisting around to try and break free (10 vs. 14), but the vampire keeps her pinned in place.
Another goes for Rusty (5 vs. 13), and Rusty dodges out of the way, before twisting his wrist to snap the neck of said vampire (8 vs. 5), and the vamp goes down in a slump before he murmurs an Incendia of his own and the body bursts into flames.
The vampire who spotted him and Buffy springs towards Buffy (11), but Stefan intervenes (16 vs. 7), shoving a hand into the vampire's chest and withdrawing with the vampire's heart.
A pair of vampires spin towards Damon and Melanie, nails out and aiming for the face (10 for Damon, 6 vs. 13 for Melanie), and Melanie side steps the attack and letting them crash into the table.]
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Damon (14) dodges the nails to the face, and tries to grab them from behind, locking an arm around their neck (6, 7) but the vampire slips out of his grip.
Buffy, turns toward the bartender with a shrug. She knows. Sorry about it. Not. She takes a glass in hand and tries breaking it over the vampire bartender's head. But the vampire catches her arm (12, 17).
Faith leaps behind the vampire grappling Mia and tries to stake it, (5, 17), but the vampire turns - one hand still on Mia, the other one grips her wrist, and squeezes. But, she's a slayer and that's not really the pain he thinks it is. She keeps her grip on the stake.
Rhett takes nearby dice, launching one at the vampire holding Faith and Mia, but the vampire is faster and uses Faith as a shield as she's knocked hard by the die. )
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Melanie grabs the one who smashed into the table by the hair, using the leverage to try and alleviate them of their heart (2 vs. 9), but the vampire slips from her grip with a snarl, turning back to try and grapple her instead (4 vs. 11), but Melanie dodges again.]
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They move over to the big window overlooking their party and see the unfolding carnage.
"I think it's time we take our leave, don't you?" Wallace asks.
Ezra spots them up above and speaks ) Confractus. ( the window shatters completely, glass dropping on the melee. ) Rusty!
( he indicates for Rusty to look up before stopping lunging vampire and freezing him in place. ) Immobulus.
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Rusty glances up to see what Ezra means, and grits his teeth. He murmurs a spell under his breath as he moves, and the wall behind Wallace and Corsair twists and molds before reaching forward to grab them (nat 20 vs. 11, 18 vs. 12) and pin them back into the wall as he reaches the stairs to head up.]
Weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?
[Stefan breaks off a piece of the wooden bar and shoves the stake towards the vampire holding Buffy (1 vs. 14), but the vampire ducks and the stakes shatter the bottles on the wall instead.]
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As the vampire gets back up, Buffy tumbles over the bar, lands and sinks a punch at him (16, 3), dropping him against more of the back bar, more bottles shattering.
Faith takes off after a vampire attempts to escape onto deck. She crashes through the sliding door, knocking the both of them into the railing.
Rhett turns to a stunned Barnabus and gives him a 'no hard feelings' look, he uses the roulette wheel and spins, attempting to get a foot to his head, but the wheel spins too fast and it sends him - and spins him on his ass (nat 1...) )
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She leans forward to murmur in his ear:]
Well, there's no accounting for taste, is there?
[And moves to relieve him of his heart.
Melanie moves into a grapple with her current vamp (15 vs. 15), stumbling backwards as she's shoved into a nearby wall.]
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Tardus.
( Three approaching vampires suddenly move in slow motion, and can't catch up to him as he slides under the railing and then pushes his way up the stairs behind Rusty.
"Were you expecting better hospitality for a party crasher," Corsair sneers. )
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Rusty makes his way up the stairs and raises an eyebrow at the two of them. "See, it's funny you say that, because I wasn't sure how I was going to get to you at first. Me taking on the Riverboat all on my own? Not smart." He curls his fingers into a fist, causing the hands on the two witches to tighten. "But then you, in your infinite wisdom, decided to send your vampire lackey after the Slayers. And all of the sudden, I have all the backup I needed."
Stefan reshifts, shoving his piece of bar down again and manages to successfully stake him this time (14 vs. 9).]
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