because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

Comments

[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) )

[transientem]

[All the witch can do is scream as their arm turns to water and shatters onto the ground (16). That distracts one of the ones Crash is contending with as he breaks away to try and help his friend, looking back at Julian in horror.

"What the fuck?"

Crash is still scuffling with the one remaining (3 vs. 17), but he also gets distracted because ... wow. That's ... wow.

Maybe a little concerning. Definitely very cool though.

Yeah, Bruno is pinned (10). "Look, maybe we can talk this out."]

You threatened to crush my brother's heart, Bruno. I'm not really in a talking mood.

["C'mon, Kieran. You know what's going on right now? People have to make big plays."]

[witchaffinity]

Tell me, Bruno, why did your big play have to come from Kieran's playbook? Is it that you're not smart enough to find your own way out of your shreddable paper bag?

( Which, for the record, is your life.

Julian tries his best to hold in the rage he's carrying, darkness seeping through his veins, reaching his fingertips.

The one scuffling with Crash, his fist might also turn to water, or at least cushion against his partner's skin (14) )

[transientem]

[Witch Two tries to counterspell it (9), but fails, so that fist does in fact turn to water (12). Witch Three also begins screaming. Two grits his teeth, before telekinetically lifting a knife nearby and flinging it at Julian (nat 20).

The screaming starts to reach Bruno's ears and his panic is continuing to climb. "I just ... I don't want to die, okay? At least not die forever. And I remembered her little project and figured if she had managed to get it to work, I could get in on it. Best of both worlds."]

So you attacked my brother's partner, threatened to kill my brother and kidnapped me.

[She shakes her head.]

Here's the thing, Bruno. You make big plays against the wrong people, and you have to pay the consequences.

[And in this case, the consequences are not her advocating in your favor with her Original vampire boyfriend.]

There's a reason you weren't the choice.

[witchaffinity]

( the (19 to his nat 20) knife flies and julian tries to deflect it, but the knife is precise and he's out of control. he loses two fingers for his efforts and now he's joined the chorus of screams and will need a hospital.

Kol snaps Bruno's neck, done with the theatrics. (nat 20) )

Die. Forever.

( Using his other hand, he tries rematerializing the witches' limbs, but a (4) has him much more preoccupied by his sliced fingers. he tries once more for good measure, but his (nat 1) brings out consequences I'll let the other narration decide on... )

[transientem]

[Oh, yeah, it's a mess. The spell works in reverse, his focus and anger pushing things further and Witch Two watches in horror as Witch One just completely dissolves in front of them.

"I swear, I'm going to - "

Hands out, he starts to go for Julian and Crash intervenes (18 vs. 11), lifting and swinging one of the metal chairs and dropping Witch Two to the ground. That just leaves Witch Three, who's trying to stop the bleeding on his now empty wrist.

Kieran looks up from Bruno's body and shakes her head.]

And nothing of value was lost. Thank you for coming, but ... you should probably go see what's going on over there. I'll catch up.

[She needs to make sure she gathers all of her work.]

[tuumest]

( Kol nods, turning to the ghastly scene of water puddles and blood. It's the embodiment of "What hell did I wrought!" )

You can all stop your screaming. ( Julian's problem is more localized, but Kol does zoom over for a towel to wrap around Witch 3's empty wrist.

"Now, haven't we learned a lesson about following a friend's vendetta?"

Julian mutters to himself, to stop his own blood loss, making sure it coagulates and he can save his hand (13). )

[boomgoesthedynamite]

["I ... I don't care anymore. Just fucking keep him away from me."

witch Three would very much just like to go home.

Crash makes their way over to Julian, removing their top shirt to try and wrap it around his hand.]

The cut looks clean.

[They'll go see if they can gather Julian's fingers in order to see if they can get them sewn back on when they get to the hospital.]

[tuumest]

( His previous (19) leaves fingers they can work with, and in their eye-line. They just need, maybe a baggy? Some ice? Julian's (2) finds nothing, but he's also in pain and a little traumatized.

Kol turns to Kieran, who's gathering up her papers.

"I'm very sorry, it's her call what happens to you now. You aligned yourself with what we call a 'wildcard.' But, the thing about wilds - is that, sometimes, they change. Or, die, but that's not very metaphorical, is it?"

Kieran, what do you think? )

[transientem]

[Crash does better (17), finding an ice pack and a lunchbox that looks mostly clean and packing up the fingers for transport.

Kieran makes her way over, before raising an eyebrow at the flunkie.]

Are you going to come after me or mine again?

["No. Absolutely not. Never again."

He seems sincere enough to Kieran (7 vs. 13), so she nods.]

He's just a flunkie. Bruno was the real problem.

[witchaffinity]

( "Wait," Julian says, one hand wrapped. "Let me --" he starts, holding his good hand up. "I know it doesn't look like it, but I didn't ever mean..."

Kol steps aside, eyeing her now very dangerous brother. But, maybe the witch will let Julian make good. )