but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[wereall_addicts]

Not wrong. But vampires are prone to more likely accidentally kill something just by virtue of our diet.

[Some of the older vamps just don't like the blood bag diet. Sophie included. Maybe a little bit. But she's used to it given the years she's spent with her team.]

[whumpawhumpa]

( "Accidentally doesn't fly with watchers," Beck points out. )

Nor with us, but it's easier for a vampire to lose control and that always winds up with a dead body. Happens a lot less here than it used to. Vampires in New Orleans are thoughtful. Reverent. There's a vampire bar, even. You last long enough, maybe you'll be given the full tour.

[wereall_addicts]

[Sophie nods in agreement.]

Good support structures too. Much better than when I was coming up.

[Lindsay tips her head to the side as she studies her. "How long have you been a vampire?"]

Oooh. Let's just say I saw the premiere of Hamlet when the Globe was new and leave it there, shall we?

[whumpawhumpa]

She can recite it word from word.

( But, he says it in both a sweet way, but also in a way that coveys to their guest they shouldn't ask. Her best stage is a con. Not on the actual stage. )

Dinner's almost ready, everyone can move to the table.

( A quick sip of sauce, it's great, he turns burners off. He's already put the meat to rest. )

[patrols]

[Which they do, moving to settle into their seats, and Lindsay can't help but shift into the bells and whistles of how this team of theirs works.]

So how do you find your clients? Is it all referrals?

[whumpawhumpa]

Mostly, we work on referrals, but every now and then one of us will find someone in the wild.

( Or, on vacation. Or on a night out. )

People find us.

[patrols]

[Lindsay nods slowly.]

So if people are coming to us, are there any red flags we should look for before we refer them?

[whumpawhumpa]

Well, Brianna runs background on everyone before we bring them in. But, eagerness is a red flag. Most people are reluctant to come forward for fear of backlash or they worry about the cost. Worry for us.

( There aren't too many. Most of their referrals, they take. Nobody is Nathan Ford, here. )

Sophie's final call if we take anyone or we don't. Could be too much a coincidence.

[patrols]

Got it. If they're pushing too hard, maybe give you guys a heads up.

[She'll get a better feel for it once she actually gets into the role.]

I'm not on the force now, but I probably will be once the wedding is over. Is there anything that you would need from that angle?

[whumpawhumpa]

Or, don't. We're not on Google.

( Well, what they really do isn't on Google. )

Someone on the inside could run real interference if we need it. We tend to run afoul of law enforcement and the FBI.

( If that's a real offer, Lindsay. )

[patrols]

[Lindsay nods because no that's a real offer.]

I'll probably be keeping an eye out for supernatural-related crimes too. Not like I wouldn't already be bending the rules.

[whumpawhumpa]

( They delve into those, too, but mostly stick to the living humans and their tribulations.

"She was initiated in Mystic Falls with the devil himself." )

[patrols]

Or one of the Devils. There've been a few over the years.

[Sophie tips her head to the side. "And which one is that?"]

Cade? Or Arcadius? Psychic who created a hell dimension when he died.

[whumpawhumpa]

( "He enslaved siblings, ate souls... tortured," Beck recounts.

Eliot rolls a shocking (16). )

Really. You took out Cade. Been there and back. ( He was on death's door once. ) Glad he's closed up shop. You did that?

( Funny story, he only remembered his time there after transitioning. Good old magic. )

[patrols]

I had help.

[It was a coordinated attack and really she just did the stabbing.]

But I was involved, yeah. Did you get caught up with the sirens?

[whumpawhumpa]

Not that I know of. I remember what I felt there. Cold. Empty. I died for a minute.

( And all he remembered was that symbol. )

I never had the pleasure.

[patrols]

[She winces, because she knows what she heard about hell when the Donovans swung through.]

That's a nasty place to be. I'm sorry to hear it. Cade's gone for good now though, so fortunately his psychic plane went with him.

[whumpawhumpa]

More to celebrate, then.

( He lifts his glass to that.

"Not before Hell's own hornet's nest snuck through into our plane and did a little damage themselves," Beck explains. "Alls well that ended well." )

[patrols]

At least until the Salvatore School started attracting monsters.

[Then things got exciting again.]

Though I kind of considered that a good thing. I was getting bored and monsters at least kept things interesting.

[telegraphs]

That particular can of worms were kept from us for too long but once we were brought in, our interests were piqued.

( The kids were doing it for themselves. )

[patrols]

Was actually pretty rude of Ric, if I'm honest.

[Lindsay makes a face.]

All those years I spent cleaning up after his students and he leaves me out of the actually fun monster hunting.

[whumpawhumpa]

Alaric Saltzman? He's not still with the Armory?

( He's a contact, which may surprise some at the table. But Eliot's contacts are wide-reaching. )

[patrols]

[She shakes her head.]

Not in years. He and Caroline Forbes teamed up and started a boarding school for supernatural kids. Tyler Lockwood and Liv Parker are the ones basically running the Armory now.

[whumpawhumpa]

( blip for Tyler (11) but (17) for Liv. and while the dice work in mysterious ways, I can't for the life of me come up with why he may know her, so i'll let you meta decide as he recalls her, but doesn't say anything.

"The Armory's always been international, but Olivia and Tyler brought it out into the light. They kept much to themselves which left many in danger in Mystic Falls a time or ten," Beck explains.
)

[wereall_addicts]

[He likely doesn't know Liv Parker, witch. He probably does know Liv Parker, Josette Laughlin's younger sister, because Eliot's old army buddies are a vast and eclectic bunch.

Sophie shrugs.]

Supernatural secret societies are as varied as the day is long. The Armory, the Watcher's Council, the Ivory Tower. Each has their purpose and each causes many problems.