because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

Comments

[witchaffinity]

( Kol raises a hand. )

The craft? Are we dealing with more hybrids on our hands? Magical body doublers?

[boomgoesthedynamite]

[She rolls her eyes. "No, like ... the shapeshifter way of life. How to craft a persona or pretend to be another person so that you can gain information and sell it to the highest bidder. Or use them to do stuff you don't want to get caught doing. How to determine what information is valuable and what's bullshit."]

[tuumest]

So, conning them. Screwing them out of something. Lying to them and using someone familiar. Or using them to get at someone they know. Real low.

( Ugh. )

[boomgoesthedynamite]

[She shrugs. "Everyone's gotta live somehow. We're just behaving how we were designed."]

Still doesn't make it any less shitty.

[The voice that responds is deeper than Crash's usual personas, and comes from a bit higher. Tall and broad is the name of the game - if they're going to go bust some heads, they might as well have the muscle mass for it. They briefly considered stealing one of Vita's looks in order to play as her, but in the end, they decided that it wasn't worth the effort. They've never been good at imitation really.

Vita rolls her eyes. "Still don't understand why you were Dad's favorite."]

[tuumest]

How you were raised. Doesn't make it who you are.

( He leaves Vita sitting there, tied up, before turning back and joining his love's new body. He sizes him up. Nods. It's not the time to revel in the differences in the bedroom he can get from his person - but, yeah, it passes through his mind. )

Your call, if you think Vita will be of help. If you trust them.

[boomgoesthedynamite]

I don't.

[Trust? Any member of their family? No not really.]

She'll sell us out as soon as she gets a better offer.

[tuumest]

Then I guess she stays put until we decide what to do with her. When we get back.

( Kol has located where they're searching for on his phone.

"Found their secret rendezvous," he says, holding his phone up. "Do we need to leave someone back to mind Vita?"

[boomgoesthedynamite]

[Crash looks at the three of them, because of the person who would stay behind to mind her, it would be them. Which would mean they got all dressed up for nothing.

That said they would. They're not looking to take the place of the either of the two people who love Kieran most.]

I can. But the chains should hold her, and if they don't - I was going to head back to base after this regardless until I'm back off Dad's radar. She's already spilled the beans.

[tuumest]

( "But, darling, don't you want to go to the big dance?" Kol asks. "I'm not saying she needs to be minding. I'm asking. You should flex your new muscles. Couldn't Julian spell her inside while we have our fun?"

Julian smirks at that. )

Yeah, yeah I could. And anyone who came back to try and help her. I can tie it to the sun. We'd have all night.

[boomgoesthedynamite]

Then let's do that. And let's hit the road. We don't know how long Kieran's going to be able to stall.

[And she's probably very much waiting for her rescue.]

[tuumest]

( It's not his best work, he's in a hurry, and was in great pain earlier, but he's determined to get to rescuing, too. (6) With one word, he tries reinforcing his poor attempt: (11) and follows his person and his sister's person. Let's get to saving! )

[transientem]

[And off they go, following the address on Vita's phone back to the warehouse in question. Inside, Kieran is leaning over her notes as she tries to work through the last few kinks in the project.

Very slowly.

She knows it's just a matter of time before her people come for her, so she's just buying them as much time as she can. She is facing the windows that lead out onto the street, looking for familiar faces (17).]

[tuumest]

( Two familiar faces pull out of a car and one, probably unfamiliar one, but she can probably make the connection. Julien waves once, quickly. Mouths: "How many?" )

[transientem]

[Kieran glances over to make sure she isn't being watched, before flashing four fingers at the window, indicating that there are four witches to contend with.]

[tuumest]

Four heavies are inside. No entrances in the front, just that window. Fire escape's on the side, guessing there's a back entrance and - maybe roof access.

( He's running on some Underground training, but he always had handlers, so he's hoping Crash can assess better.

"Brute force is an oldie, but a goodie," Kol shares. )

[boomgoesthedynamite]

Do we have any idea if they own it? Or have a lease?

[He's going to guess maybe not, if Vita had no idea that Kieran was keeping vampire company as of late.]

Maybe it might be better if we figure out if you - [meaning Kol] - can brute force your way in.

[tuumest]

( "Careful, darling. Giving an Original carte blanche is very much like giving a mouse a cookie," he says, but, not at all hating the plan. )

Your references are all over the place.

( "Remind me, how old am I?" Julian shrugs. "Exactly. How much time do you need bought?" )

[boomgoesthedynamite]

[Crash shrugs as he glances in the window.]

Kieran seems like she's alone. We're just getting her and her notes out, right?

[Seems like it's a ten minutes max problem, possibly longer if Kol can't get in.]

[witchaffinity]

In one piece and intact. Respectively.

( Kieran and the notes.

Kol doesn't have to be asked twice. He leaves the two of them out there before zipping around to the side first to see where there might be an entrance. The side door is locked. Easily, the handle is taken care of. (14) for stealth as he pulls the door open to slip inside (and that's with Original advantage, so, he clearly just wants to get her in and out and doesn't think they're any match for him...) )

[transientem]

[None of the witches pick up his presence - at least, none of the hostage takers. Kieran catches it (18), but Kieran was listening for it.

Fortunately, they didn't feel the need to sign a lease for their kidnapping adventure, so Kol has no trouble getting inside. The three of the four witches are gathered in another room, shooting the shit, while Bruno is leaning over Kieran's shoulder, almost as though he's trying to decipher her work.

Like if he can figure it all out, he doesn't actually need her, does he?

Kieran tips her head back and rolls her yes.]

Hovering over my shoulder isn't going to get it done any faster.

["Don't be bitter. Exploitation is the way of the world. Besides, you're the one who brought it to my attention."

Kieran shifts, before turning to raise an eyebrow as she faces him.]

Yeah, and I took it away shortly after because I got myself a better offer. Did you ... bother to spend any time trying to figure out who that was?

[witchaffinity]

( Picking up a jagged piece of wood, he decides to be the distraction. With his vampire speed, he stops right behind Bruno and attempts to stab him in the back, especially with Bruno's attention turned to his girlfriend.

It may be retrieving the wood, appearing behind him, or the sound of the thrust, but something tips off her captors and Kol misses all vital organs, possibly Bruno altogether (13). )

[transientem]

[Bruno does sense Kol coming, but not enough that Kol can't get a little bit of a stab into his shoulder (12). Bruno glances back over his shoulder and does recognize who he's being attacked by (19).

"What the fuck?"

Kieran smiles.]

Hey, babe. Glad you could make it.

[Bruno, immediately, realizes what he's done. "Oh, fuck."

And it's punctuated by the sound of Crash's fist hitting one of the other witches' face (15 vs. 3)]

[witchaffinity]

It's the damndest thing, I was never sent an invitation to your hostage situation.

( Julian, righteous fury with him, yanks the remaining witch back and flings him into the wall? (18) Tries, but, really wants to. )

[transientem]

[Oh, Julian succeeds with the witch in question, though maybe not as hard as he hoped for (17). The three of them scramble to their feet, two trying to bum rush the big guy they don't recognize (5 vs. 6, 11 vs. 14), but Crash is able to side step them easily, before swinging around two haymakers (17 vs. 4, 16 vs. 15). Meanwhile the third swings for Julian (16), using the arc of his arm to fling Julian backwards.

Kieran props her chin on her hand as Bruno really starts to squirm.]

Whaddaya know. It must have gotten lost in the mail.

[She turns on Bruno.]

Is that what happened, Bruno? Did it get lost in the mail?

[Bruno stammers, starting to pull away. "I think this all must be just ... a big misunderstanding."]

[tuumest]

( Julian, always lithe in body, happens to flow around the punch, like water (19), and speaking of water, before that witch tries another physical swing, he taps into that darker power and attempts to render that arm - as it transmogrifies into a splash of water that dots the warehouse ground. (18).

Kol takes Bruno by the arms, happy to hold him there in place. (19) )