( She doesn't receive a reply, because instead a well-dressed Archer steps in, speaking to the hostess at the front, not armed as far as Alice can see. He's pointed in her direction, but leans in and says something else to the hostess.
She holds her heart, looks back, then turns, no, she didn't look! Reacting, she nods, and then disappears away from him.
He doesn't look Alice in the eye, preferring to act like he's normal.
A second later, the lights him across the restaurant. )
[Alice is watching very intently because subtlety is not an Earp trait in the slightest, but then the lights go down and instead she's reaching for something heavy on the table that she could smack someone with.
She settles for the edge of her plate.
She also notices that Lizzie hasn't come back yet, but Jo does notice that Follower has emerged from the restroom without her daughter and she is gripping the serrated knife from the breadbasket like she's ready to do damage with it.
"Alice..."]
Just wait for the start of the play? Please? And then I'll go look for her.
[Jo doesn't like it, but given that she's the one with magic while Alice is mostly unarmed, she'll settle for the division of labor.]
( Archer and the emerging Follower stay in step, but from opposite directions. Archer makes it first and the Follower turns, veering away, and looking away as Archer makes it to Alice's table and presents a ring box on one knee.
He mouths "I'm sorry," like it will help anyone. )
Alice Earp. I know we're on shaky ground, but I also know I'll hold onto you forever if you'll let me. And I'll keep you up. Or, brace you when you fall. But I won't be the one to make you fall. I'll lift you up. Forever.
( He mouths, to them, "Cover your ears,")
Alice Earp, will you marry me?
( As he opens the ring box, a pitch only a witch might be able to hear sounds, dropping the Follower and a few disciples, including a passing busboy as he crashes down holding a bus tub of glassware. Glassware shatters inside.
( He nods to three figures behind him for backup. Round them up, his eyes say, as he steps up to standing and helps Jo to her feet. )
You're Lizzie's mother? Sorry about the dog whistle. Short notice plan. ( He looks down at the ring box in his hand, then back at the bathroom. ) Should've said date me.
( Alice will find Lizzie unconscious in the middle of the linoleum floor. Neck snapped... Obviously. )
["Shit!" Alice hisses before dropping to her knees and studying the rest of her. Broken necks aren't a bad thing for heretics, right? Vampires get better from that? Maybe? How long does it take for them to get better? She reaches out and shakes her arm gently. "Lizzie? Can you hear me?"
Jo offers him a small smile as she nods.]
It's okay. And I think for the purposes of the ruse, you did just fine. Probably best if you're not asking her to date you in the form of a sting anyway.
[That being said, she's watching very carefully as the Black Badge agents round them up.]
( Lizzie rouses, bouncing back pretty quickly, but still achey as Alice helps her sit up.
"Alice? Where's my mom?"
Archer turns back to Jo, trying not to show all the awkward teenage feelings he's experiencing right now. )
Right. That's a good point.
( Note to self. )
We have containment. Neutralization. It depends on who they are and where they come from. What they represent. Honestly, once this Gauntlet business passes, we're most likely to let them back into the world. With a strongly worded warning.
["Oh, thank god." Alice relaxes some that her friend is back to the land of the living. "She's in the dining room with Archer. Black Badge is rounding up the remainder of the witches."
Jo looks back at the other witches, before shaking her head.]
Just wait for our signal. We're not sure how all this is going to go yet and ... it's possible that it may not be good to let them out at all.
[These are bad witches, Jo personally wouldn't mind if they disappeared for good.]
( Let's not sprinkle any technicalities on that and ruin the moment. While Alice helps get Lizzie to her feet, Archer nods to one of his partners in passing who has the busboy in custody. )
We have extensive debriefing. They're better left inside, we'll know it. Tell Alice...
( He doesn't know, but he has to get going. )
A vampire named Irrabella is on her way, I suggest you clear out. She has strict orders.
( Quality control. "Compulsion." And, he follows one more agent back out, passing Doc, rip-raring and ready to go as he takes in the aftermath, swinging around, gun not out, put poised. )
[Jo nods in Archer's direction, because yes, being gone before the vampire shows up is a good idea, but her eyes are drawn to the mustached man walking in the door, and takes a breath with a smile.]
You must be Alice's father. Jo Laughlin. I'm Lizzie's mother.
( Give Doc a second. He does not see his daughter, or her roommate. But, people were being escorted out behind him. )
I missed the fracas then. ( His hand leaves the handle of his gun as he clears his throat. ) John Henry-Holliday. I wish our greeting was under better circumstances. Do you know where my daughter is?
[Alice blinks, because he was there, wasn't he? There's a brief moment of disappointment as she glances around the restaurant, looking for the familiar face before turning back to the group.]
I guess he had to go back to work.
[Jo does notice that, and nods. "He mentioned that they were sending in vampire cleanup, so we should probably get moving."
And just as the group turns towards the door, Rebekah makes her way in. "Did I miss the party?"]
( Jury's out on if he expected someone with a bow and arrow or someone who has disappointed his daughter.
Almost as if on cue, Alice does receive a message.
Sorry I had to duck you. Saying sorry is getting old, so allow me one more. It was a slapdash plan and it needed to look and sound real, but any chance we could sub in 'be with you forever,' to 'take you out when you have the time?'
"Aunt Rebekah," Lizzie, still a little swimmy, throws herself into Rebekah's arms. They've never been close, but she and Hope are close and it's fine. She's tired. )
[Rebekah blinks in surprise, before reaching up and patting Lizzie on the back gently. "There, there."
Alice glances down at the buzz of her phone but she'll save that for later, until they're definitively out of harm's way. Instead, she turns to her father with a small smile.]
["Once? At one of the school family things?" Rebekah doesn't remember, she just remembers there's one blond twin and one brunette twin and Hope is dating the brunette one.
Alice raises an eyebrow.]
It seems you're being a great comfort in these trying times.
[Rebekah snorts before pulling gently away from Lizzie. "Alright. Looks like everything's settled here. I should go relieve Neal before he starts teaching Henry how to forge paintings. Are you all still coming up to the apartment?"
("We still haven't eaten," Lizzie says, looking to her roommate, and standing herself up, finally. Sorry, Mom, this is embarrassing. )
We can order us something in. All us girls.
( Cause he's one of the girls now. Though, Lizzie turns. One second, Rebekah is her favorite person (unclear) and now, she makes interesting parent decisions. Glass houses, Lizzie.
"Sorry, you left your son with a babysitter that forges paintings?")
I was an Original vampire, darling. I've done more objectionable things than Neal Caffrey.
[Alice does not know who that is (2). Alice hasn't met Neal yet. Art forgery does sound cool, she's not judging. Jo also doesn't recognize the name either (4). But she also doesn't care about art crimes either.]
[Yes, let's go. They will actually head back to Doc and Rebekah's and Lizzie can meet Alice's little brother and Jo can coordinate for the aftermath. She's ... doing it behind closed doors which Lizzie may consider suspicious, but for now, Doc and Rebekah are entertaining.
Eventually, Alice perches on the corner of the couch and finally responds to Archer's text:]
Yeah, that'd be fun.
[She's trying to play it cool, but she is not cool at all so it could come off as not caring over text.]
I'm gonna be in New York over break and staying with my dad and Rebekah, and all my friends are going to other places so I will be very free.
( Lizzie knows something is up because her dad denied her Facetime. So, she alerted her sister that the adults are acting up, but is still happy to meet Henry. )
So what you're saying, is I have weeks to get this just right.
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everyonelives2025-07-26 07:05 pm
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She holds her heart, looks back, then turns, no, she didn't look! Reacting, she nods, and then disappears away from him.
He doesn't look Alice in the eye, preferring to act like he's normal.
A second later, the lights him across the restaurant. )
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She settles for the edge of her plate.
She also notices that Lizzie hasn't come back yet, but Jo does notice that Follower has emerged from the restroom without her daughter and she is gripping the serrated knife from the breadbasket like she's ready to do damage with it.
"Alice..."]
Just wait for the start of the play? Please? And then I'll go look for her.
[Jo doesn't like it, but given that she's the one with magic while Alice is mostly unarmed, she'll settle for the division of labor.]
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He mouths "I'm sorry," like it will help anyone. )
Alice Earp. I know we're on shaky ground, but I also know I'll hold onto you forever if you'll let me. And I'll keep you up. Or, brace you when you fall. But I won't be the one to make you fall. I'll lift you up. Forever.
( He mouths, to them, "Cover your ears," )
Alice Earp, will you marry me?
( As he opens the ring box, a pitch only a witch might be able to hear sounds, dropping the Follower and a few disciples, including a passing busboy as he crashes down holding a bus tub of glassware. Glassware shatters inside.
There is no ring. )
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You're the best. Be right back!
[And with that she will take off to the ladies room to find Lizzie.
Jo winces at the headache building behind her eyes, and rubs at her eyes as she tries to ebb it away. "You must be Archer. Nice to meet you."]
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You're Lizzie's mother? Sorry about the dog whistle. Short notice plan. ( He looks down at the ring box in his hand, then back at the bathroom. ) Should've said date me.
( Alice will find Lizzie unconscious in the middle of the linoleum floor. Neck snapped... Obviously. )
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Jo offers him a small smile as she nods.]
It's okay. And I think for the purposes of the ruse, you did just fine. Probably best if you're not asking her to date you in the form of a sting anyway.
[That being said, she's watching very carefully as the Black Badge agents round them up.]
So what will you all do with them?
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"Alice? Where's my mom?"
Archer turns back to Jo, trying not to show all the awkward teenage feelings he's experiencing right now. )
Right. That's a good point.
( Note to self. )
We have containment. Neutralization. It depends on who they are and where they come from. What they represent. Honestly, once this Gauntlet business passes, we're most likely to let them back into the world. With a strongly worded warning.
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Jo looks back at the other witches, before shaking her head.]
Just wait for our signal. We're not sure how all this is going to go yet and ... it's possible that it may not be good to let them out at all.
[These are bad witches, Jo personally wouldn't mind if they disappeared for good.]
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We have extensive debriefing. They're better left inside, we'll know it. Tell Alice...
( He doesn't know, but he has to get going. )
A vampire named Irrabella is on her way, I suggest you clear out. She has strict orders.
( Quality control. "Compulsion." And, he follows one more agent back out, passing Doc, rip-raring and ready to go as he takes in the aftermath, swinging around, gun not out, put poised. )
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You must be Alice's father. Jo Laughlin. I'm Lizzie's mother.
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I missed the fracas then. ( His hand leaves the handle of his gun as he clears his throat. ) John Henry-Holliday. I wish our greeting was under better circumstances. Do you know where my daughter is?
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[She and Lizzie emerge from the bathroom, both looking perfectly fine even though Lizzie probably isn't. She gives her dad a wave and a smile.]
You made it. Dad, this is Lizzie, my roommate, and looks like you met her mom already, and Archer.
[She will not clarify Archer further at this point in time.]
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( That's to Jo, the adult in the room. You'll be honest with him, right?
"Where is Archer?" Lizzie says, cracking her neck. )
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I guess he had to go back to work.
[Jo does notice that, and nods. "He mentioned that they were sending in vampire cleanup, so we should probably get moving."
And just as the group turns towards the door, Rebekah makes her way in. "Did I miss the party?"]
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( Jury's out on if he expected someone with a bow and arrow or someone who has disappointed his daughter.
Almost as if on cue, Alice does receive a message.
Sorry I had to duck you. Saying sorry is getting old, so allow me one more. It was a slapdash plan and it needed to look and sound real, but any chance we could sub in 'be with you forever,' to 'take you out when you have the time?'
"Aunt Rebekah," Lizzie, still a little swimmy, throws herself into Rebekah's arms. They've never been close, but she and Hope are close and it's fine. She's tired. )
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Alice glances down at the buzz of her phone but she'll save that for later, until they're definitively out of harm's way. Instead, she turns to her father with a small smile.]
Thanks for coming. But really, we were okay.
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( He points to Elizabeth, a little behind completely. )
Have you two ever actually met?
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Alice raises an eyebrow.]
It seems you're being a great comfort in these trying times.
[Rebekah snorts before pulling gently away from Lizzie. "Alright. Looks like everything's settled here. I should go relieve Neal before he starts teaching Henry how to forge paintings. Are you all still coming up to the apartment?"
Alice looks over at Lizzie and Jo and shrugs.]
We can?
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We can order us something in. All us girls.
( Cause he's one of the girls now. Though, Lizzie turns. One second, Rebekah is her favorite person (unclear) and now, she makes interesting parent decisions. Glass houses, Lizzie.
"Sorry, you left your son with a babysitter that forges paintings?" )
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[Alice does not know who that is (2). Alice hasn't met Neal yet. Art forgery does sound cool, she's not judging. Jo also doesn't recognize the name either (4). But she also doesn't care about art crimes either.]
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( Maybe they can get out of here. )
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Eventually, Alice perches on the corner of the couch and finally responds to Archer's text:]
Yeah, that'd be fun.
[She's trying to play it cool, but she is not cool at all so it could come off as not caring over text.]
I'm gonna be in New York over break and staying with my dad and Rebekah, and all my friends are going to other places so I will be very free.
[That also does not make you sound cool, Alice.]
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So what you're saying, is I have weeks to get this just right.
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[But that is a little vague, so maybe she should be more specific.]
New Year's Eve. You plan the date, and I'll meet you. Start the new year with a clean slate?
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