because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

Comments

[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. )

[transientem]

[The witch shuffles back, away from Julian, unable to tell if he's actually being sincere or not (8). He's ready to cut his losses and go.

"Whatever man, it's fine. Leave me alone and I'll leave you alone."]

[witchaffinity]

( Julian brings his hand down. He's done enough damage. )

Go. Her threat's mine and you know what I'm capable of.

( Plus. The Original. )

[transientem]

[The witch books it out, and Kieran waits a beat until she's sure they're alone, and looks over at her brother with concern.]

You good?

[He hasn't been that reactive in a while. It's a conversation she can't really have here, but she needs to check before she sends him off with Crash to the hospital.]

[tuumest]

( He's not holding together well, almost trembling, as he tries to work through the darkness of having his heart almost crushed and his sister held hostage. )

I don't, I don't know.

( rolled a (3, a 3, and a 6) )

[transientem]

Shit.

[It's not an admonishment so much as a statement of fact.

Crash's eyes dart fitfully between Julian and Kieran, making a step to reach out to their partner but retreating again when they realize that they don't know if that's the best idea.

"What's wrong?"

Kieran ignores the question and just goes to her brother. Her voice is low, soothing, trying to ground him.]

Sometimes if he gets a little too protean, things can get dicey. But it's okay. I'm okay. It was a really rough day but everyone is fine and we need to get you to the hospital. Okay?

[tuumest]

( Her voice cuts through the noise, (10, 14, 15) and he nods, body stilling. All the anger and the darkness subside like a retreating tide. He holds his hurt hand more steady and blinks, present again as he stands himself up. Something clicks.

His sister. )

I'm good.

( He assures Crash first, looking at them. He knows this will come with its' own conversation, or some kind of crimp in their budding relationship, but it always comes up sooner or later. For a long time it was him and his sister. Her mouth and his temper. Her blood and his body.

He sits in the back with Crash while Kol drives the four of them. Quietly, he addresses them. )

I probably scared you with all that shit back there.

[boomgoesthedynamite]

[They do not want to have this conversation in the car with Kol and Kieran. But it seems like they are going to, and they swallow and nod.]

A little bit.

[More for him than of him, but they won't lie that they're not a little concerned.]

[tuumest]

( He sees that they don't want to have this conversation, and while Kieran knows, Kol might not. He doesn't actually know. He nods, letting them all fall into silence again. He leans a shoulder against Crash's without having access to either hand. )

[boomgoesthedynamite]

[They lean back against him, a gesture of reassurance, saying that it isn't a never, but more a not right now. They will talk. They have a lot of things to talk about.

They make it to the hospital, and when Julian gets swept back to be worked on, Crash slumps into a seat in the waiting room - they're not next of kin, not really, so Kieran gets those honors - but Crash has their own portion of this evening to sort out.

They wake their phone up and pull up their text thread with Shep.]

My dad found me. Sort of. More my sister, but she claims she already reported back.

[pricetags]

Do you need backup?
Are you okay??

[boomgoesthedynamite]

I'm okay. There were unrelated problems but we dealt with them and I'll probably bail in the morning once I've figured out how to deal with her.

[They might not even have that much time, but they'll start there.]

I doubt he'll come himself. I don't think he wants me back, I think he just wants me dead.

[pricetags]

You're not an easy casualty, so I'm not worried.
Bail back to us? With or without Jules?

But how you holding up?

[boomgoesthedynamite]

Jules and I haven't talked about it yet, but probably with him.

[They hope with him.

The second question is harder to answer. They're worried about their partner, they're worried about Kieran because as much as she plays it cool, being a hostage had to have taken a toll, especially since Bruno didn't seem much interested in taking proper care of her.]

It was a long fucking day.