Midnight Mayhem [closed]

[Prudence]

The redhead stared at the text message she had typed up over an hour ago, but had kept erasing it, then rewriting it. Prudence had done nothing but waste time as she was consumed in a personal battle. She had invited Azraeth to hang out with her and some of her 'crew' in an attempt to get the guy to loosen up. He was nice, helpful even during the looting of a building they came across, but she believed he needed to live a little. So, on an impulse, Prudence invited him out, with two agendas; the first to get him to get the invisible stick out of his butt (to put it as nice as she could), and the second, was to help Lori get out, meet other vampires, and get over her...whatever. Prudence did her a favor! Prudence, as Mordie had pointed out to the redhead in a private discussion, became Lori's new family, the thing Lori obviously needed and wanted and the main reason why she sired the blond haired woman.

Prudence read over the text again, Hey! So, I sorta took a night off from the bar, my bar, and thought a few of us could get together tonight. I know it's a little short notice, but the bar seems manageable without me. Do ya have any plans? She hit send as quickly as she could, then tossed the phone on the bed. The offer had been made, no matter how stupid it sounded. When the tall, redheaded woman thought about it, she didn't know why she explained it was her bar she took off from. Anyone and everyone knew that. “Whatever.” She mumbled after quickly eyeing the phone, the woman moving to her closet to change her clothes from her work clothes to her other clothes. CC said the night before they were sexier to her old get-up. Prudence didn't see it that way. She saw them as being different, but still bad-***. She yearned for different, not because Prudence didn't like the way she dressed before, but she needed something different. Everything else around her was different now, as things were changing, so she too decided on a change.

A white, very short sleeved shirt was pulled from a hanger and tossed to the bed, along with a black, leather, fitted coat that didn't really zip up. It was a fashion statement, the woman told her in the store. She could get it to zip up, but it would look really retarded. Apparently freezing your *** off in winter was in this year for the human population. She moved from the closet, to a dresser and pulled out a pair of light washed shorts, that again, were fashionable, but not practical for any living person in December, in Canada. Another drawer was opened, as the woman searched for a specific type of nylons, black in color with tiny black dots imprinted on them. A pair of thigh highs, that she had always owned and wore occasionally were tossed out too, the plan to cover the other nylons so that her boots wouldn't rip the thinner material ones. She didn't have the time or patience to try and find a replacement pair after wearing them just one night.

The woman decided that by the time she pulled everything out, that even if Azraeth was busy and didn't want to go out, she still was. Mordie needed to meet Lori too, and that also meant so did Kennedy. Tonight would kill a couple birds with one stone, if the male did come, but if he didn't, she tried. Prudence tugged off her typical garb, not yet transitioning her work attire that was, as CC labeled it, 'butch bad-***,' to what she wore outside of the bar. She didn't want her client base thinking she was going soft, because she wasn't. Slow transitions would go unnoticed. So the short, shorts with her corset or plain tank tops was what she sported when she worked. So far it seemed to go unnoticed, or people just didn't care. Which was fine by her when she finally got rid of all the few items of old clothing she had packed up when Prudence moved out of a home that had been empty long before she finally gave up and got her own place.

Getting ready was now a process. More then five minutes. Before it was skirt, shirt, toss her hair into a quick, messy ponytail, add a choker and go. Now it was nylons, then shorts, a bra that apparently actually did something for her, (going by CC's words from last night), a shirt, a coat, boots, bangles and something with her hair. Sometimes it still sported the ponytail, but most nights she kept it down now. High and down, with the added assistance of some products she got from a store that some lady dragged her into when Prudence had gone shopping back in October, not long after she moved out and started running out of things to wear.

Once Prudence was dressed, she sent a mass text to Mordie, Kennedy and Lori. I hope ya bitches don't have plans, cause we have them. Text ya the details later. Ya got an hour. She hit send, grabbed the coat off the bed and headed down to the lobby of the flats to buy some blood, check her emails, and wait for the replies to start coming in.

Outfit

[Mordechai]

The gibbous moon shown down over the small clearing. Its silvery light filtered through the stark barren branches of the winter trees, painting a patchwork quilt of shadows on the forest floor surrounding the clearing. The tips of which stretched and creeped out into silvery wash that lit the small grass filled glade. A large brownish mound thrust up from the center of the clearing, seemingly wearing a stetson at one end. The wind blew gently through the trees rustling dried leaves, testament that the winter death was among the plants. As it blew gently, crossing the glade, the wind picked up a faint coppery scent. Testament that death also came to natures creatures.

Slowly the stetson rose and a long haired head appeared above the small brown mountain. Framed in a writhing veil of steam, a pale face appeared, rising wraith like from the mound. Its lower half was painted the black of fresh crimson blood illuminated by moonlight. Viscous fluids slowly dripped from elongated fangs, exposed by thin lips pealed back in a snarl, as mismatched eyes hunted the perimeter of the glade for curious interlopers, and vicious fae. The head tipped back slightly as the predator inhaled sharply, searching the air currents for the scent of prey or enemy. Satisfied he was alone Mordechai lowered his head to the neck of the giant bear, and once more drank deeply of its steaming lifeblood.

Having finally sated his thirst, the massive killer rose to his full seven foot, one inch height. Stretching his three hundred and ten pound, muscled frame as he drew in a deep, full breath of that coppery scented air, The male tipped his head back and roared a wordless challenge to the creatures of nature. It had been three years since he was found that fateful night and turned into the creature that now stood over the blood splattered corpse of one of natures largest, most deadly creatures. Three years. His strength and power had grown daily since his turning, and with it, his size had started to once again grow proportionately to match. In those three years, Mordechai had gained almost one foot in height, and had packed on over one hundred pounds of dense, lean muscle. There were very few that could stand up to the male one on one, as the six hundred pound cinnamon-colored black bear laying at his feet gave evidence. More and more the killer was spending time in the wilderness, floating over it in the form of a giant harpy eagle, or hunting the bears that stalked the edges of civilization. Mordechai had always led an ascetic life, and now it seemed the laconic killer fit in better here, then in the city. The blood of bears wasn't at tasty as that of humans, but it was in larger supply and seemed more...vibrant, full of energy. Of course there was also the challenge of bringing one down bare handed, he had finally found a 'fun' sort of exersize.

In the city he had three that he was close too, a few more were acquaintances, but even there most of his waking hours were spent in solitude. He had made a decision to open the circle of acquaintances more, and to learn to smile occasionally. All three of his closest friends, kennedy, Prudence, and Zodiac thought it would benefit him. As he leaned down and casually tore the ursine fangs free of the bears skull, he let his mind wander over the changes he had been making. Slipping the fangs in his pocket to pass on to Zo later, he felt the tingle in his mind that let him know someone had sent a text to his cell account. The killer didn't carry a phone anymore, part of his ascendance was the ability to access anything that a smart phone could do, with his mind. It was Pru. Be ready in an hr? The killer's head snapped alert as he tried to think what could have happened that Pru would need him so fast, with so little warning. Shedding the blood stained clothes he flicked a match into them and watched as they quickly burned to ash. Turning north towards the city the killer took three running steps and leaped into the air, shifting into a massive harpy eagle. A seven foot wingspan caught the air as the muscular bird shot skyward headed for Swansdale.

Dropping to the roof of Veil Towers the bird once more shifted, back into the massive killer. A burst of speed soon put the killer into his purple hued apartment, threading his way through piles of trap parts, and assorted actions, barrels, and stocks. A quick shower erased the evidence of his travels, then he entered the walk in closet of his bedroom. Quickly slipping on black leather pants and black silk shirt, he grabbed another pair of New Rock shitkickers, then turned to the gun safes. Pru hadn't mentioned what the problem was, but for her to call for assistance it had to be bad. First the tooled leather spine sheath, then the Uncle mikes twin pistol shoulder holster. The magnificent claymore received a light touch of a Japanese waterstone, then slipped into the spine sheath. Arranging his hait over the hilt, he grabbed two Glock 20's and slipped them into the shoulder holster. the .40 having more knock down power than the standard m19's and their 9mm chambering. A pair of Fairbairne-sykes came next, one in each boot. Smith & Wesson swhrt9b's were strapped to each forearm, then he slid on his black, freshly waxed oilskin duster. Fingers flying, Mordechai methodically filled all the secret pouches and pockets of the custom made coat. Everything went to the same location, every time. Muscle memory. Muscle memory was the one thing you could really count on when the **** hit the fan. Reaching in one last time, he brought out his trusted MZ and the Equalizer. Slipping the Equalizer into its custom pocket, he reached inside the coat, to clip the MZ's combat sling to one of the straps from the spine sheath. A quick mental rundown of his inventory, and the massive killer slipped the safe's doors shut, and headed for the elevator. He was, to quote a cliche, 'loaded for bear'. Exiting the elevator on the first floor the humans parted like the biblical Red Sea as he marched in a straight line towards his Judge. Swinging aboard, one kick fired it up to a throaty roar, as the killer once more wondered what the mission was. Mordechai flicked up the kick stand, there was only three minutes left till the hour was up. He was locked, loaded, and ready to be fired. In three minutes, he would have the mission parameters, and know his target.

[Kennedy]

Kennedy was on her way home from working at Mortll's. It was a weekend so she didn't have any work in the office but she did have the show that she put on for those that came into party and be entertained. It was a fun gig to her and one that she greatly enjoyed though this night was one that she was glad that it wasn't a long night so that she could go home and enjoy her evening with Mordie. Her thoughts were derailed when the text from Pru flashed upon her phone. Pru never called her in for hits so it had to be a party. This was a perfect night for her to head out and actually party. Bring Mordie along and let him have fun. He was working on his skills, mainly humor and social with others and this would be a perfect time for him. She nearly danced down the street at the thought so she sent a quick text off to Pru.

"I'm totally going to be there. Just let me know where, heading home now from work to get changed. I think I will bring a friend...as long as no one eats her."

Mordie hadn't known that Kennedy had stolen his credit card to get an early Christmas present for herself. She had been doing some online shopping and came across one and wanted it desperately. There was an excitement that filled her that hadn't filled her in a long time and it was all rolled into the basic desire of want and her want is what she was going to get. Purchasing for the little monster, she quickly placed the piece of plastic back into his wallet before he could notice it was missing and then scheduled a pick up for when she had gotten off of work. Both Mordie and Pru would be meeting her for the very first time and she couldn't wait.

Looking up the directions as to where she was supposed to go, she smirked and looked around her. Noticing that no one was around, she let her power move through her and in a blink of an eye, her feet carried her to the location. Kennedy ran her fingers through her hair to calm it down a bit before she knocked up on the door of the house. A smile drifted upon her lips as she looked at the woman that was older than her when the door opened.

"Hello, I'm supposed to meet Alice? I'm Kennedy and I had purchased a puppy from her."

"Oh please come in, I am Alice. They are in the backyard and your puppy has the pink bow around her neck."

Giving her a nod, she waited for the woman to lead her through the house and to the puppies that awaited her. Stepping out into the yard, all of the puppies had been gathered and placed in a Radio Flyer wagon that had a fence around the sides to keep them in the wagon. A smile slipped upon her lips as she looked upon the cuteness and instantly snatched up a puppy.

"Awww...I think I'm going to be cliché and call you Princess."

"I think that would be a perfect name for her." The woman was standing behind her and Kennedy turned to face her.

"Thank you so much. She's perfect."

"You're very welcome. All her shots are up-to-date and she had a clean bill of health. Her next vet visit is in a month, here is her paperwork."

Taking the packet from the woman, she smiled and nodded. "Thank you. I will be sure to take good care of her." Turning on her heel, she walked back through the house and stopped off at the closest pet store. Getting her a bed that was like sleeping in her own personal castle and getting her a little holiday dress for tonight's party to show her off to the group, then toys and food. Everything a little puppy would need and then some. Walking out of the store with purchases in hand, puppy in the other, she was ready for the evening. All she had to do now was head home and change.

As she reached Veil Tower. Seeing Mordechai sitting upon Judge, she beamed a smile so bright that it could possibly blind the average person as she rushed over to him and gave him a healthy kiss on the lips. Pulling back after awhile, she wiggled with excitement like a small child would when they noticed the biggest present under the tree had their name on it. She giggled and held up the puppy to him while all of the shopping bags slid down her arm.

"I was going to wait and show you later but you're here...Loookie!!!!"

She nearly shoved the puppy in his face not realizing how close she had gotten and bounced with giggles rolling out of her. "A little ball of fur is moving in! Her name is Princess. Even have a dress for her to wear tonight. I just need to change and then ready to go." Quickly, she set the bags down on Judge in front of him as she knew that he wouldn't let them fall to the ground to get ruined, she searched for the dress while she held Princess. Pulling the tags off and slipping the dress over the puppies head, she giggled and kissed him again. "Mind holding onto her while I run upstairs?" She didn't really give him time to respond as she grabbed the bags. "Thanks, I will be right back."

The elevator couldn't get to the fifth floor fast enough. She just left her surprise puppy with her man and he didn't even know that she was getting it let along that she used his card to purchase it...or she hoped at least that he didn't check his card statement yet. Running into the purple and rainbow decorated house, nearly tripping over her own trap parts, she rushed into the bed room. Throwing open the doors to the walk-in closet, she was glad that it was huge or Mordie wouldn't have room for any of his stuff. Walking toward the back, she let her eyes comb over every flowing piece of fabric that hung on the hanger. Finding a purple dress that almost matched the dress that she got her puppy but only a few shades darker, she pulled that off the hanger. Dressing quickly and slipping her feet into a pair of sparkling silver stilettos, she gave a nod before finishing off with large hoop earrings and combing her fingers through her long curls. Easy peasy! Grabbing a silver sparkling purse, she placed her cards, money, and a tiny handheld gun inside and left the apartment to meet back up with the man that her heart had married to even if they hadn't actually married, they lived a married life and that was all she needed....well now with a puppy but life was perfect.

[Lorelai]

“Please! English.”

Lorelai hung her head in her hands, her long blonde hair falling forward to create a protective barrier around her. She couldn’t understand how these spirits kept finding her and when they did, they always wanted or needed something right that second. She wasn’t cold hearted, far from it, she was happy to help but every day. Day in day out. She was getting exhausted running around after all these people. People that, as far she could tell, had been dead a while and probably wouldn’t be put out any by letting her have just one day to herself.

Of course she’d tried the drink again. And the pills. Only what went down pretty much came straight back up. She’d even, in a moment of absolute weakness fed on a junkie to see if she could get a hit that way. Alas, it didn’t work. She was immune to chemically induced bliss and so was struggling to find her way in the world. Feeding on the junkie had actually exacerbated her condition rather than alleviating it; she wanted peace and all she got after that was more torment. She felt overwhelming guilt for having taken some of his life force. It didn’t matter that she more or less had permission. As a human she refused to eat the meat of another creature and now here she was drinking their actual essence to stay alive. The idea of surrendering to the darkness had occurred to her, only she knew they came back from that. Or could. And the place didn’t seem all that healthy. She’d seen someone come back from there and they were always changed. Cold. She didn’t want that. The idea sickened her almost as much as feeding did.

“Trans-lay-tor.”

She looked back up at the ghost and tried almost literally spelling out a word to the ghost. She had no idea what language it was speaking, so couldn’t even begin to help it. She wanted, or rather needed it, to go and find a spirit that could translate what she was saying for her. This was the spirits third visit to her in a week and so she knew it wasn’t going to just give up and go away. Whatever it needed or wanted was important enough to make her keep trying.

In the end Lorelai waved her away, hung her head back in her hands and tried to block out the world. This was easier to do before, when she was human. Doing it now was nigh on impossible. Even with her eyes closed she knew the signals that zipped around the atmosphere were still there. She could still feel the woman staring at her too. Energies. Of all the things to be susceptible too, why did it have to be energies. What had been somewhat of a blessing as a human was most definitely a curse as a vampire.

It’s all Pru’s fault. Stupid, mean, beautiful, talented, angel that she is. Urgh. I can’t even think mean things about her without my thoughts being twisted. Come on brain. Behave. Please? I have enough negative things staking up against me without you turning on me too. Just let me hate her for five minutes. That’s all I ask.

Her brain did not comply. Thinking of Prudence, for Lorelai, was like trying to look at a sunset and remain unmoved. It was impossible. If you had any heart at all, a sunset was the most magical and beautiful display of perfection the world had to offer. At least Lorelai had always thought so. Sunsets and rainbows; two of nature’s best creations. So try as she might, every time she looked at, or thought of Pru, all she saw was perfection. Creation’s true prize. How could she love the woman that took her life and damned her to eternal torment. It was beyond her understanding and yet it was there.

It was while contemplating this that she sensed her name. No-one spoke it. Nothing stirred about her. The room was devoid of any new sounds. The gentle hum of information. The murmuring of more than one spirit. Everything was as it should be and yet she felt the need to raise her head and start looking for whoever or whatever it was that wanted her attention.

The spirits weren’t looking at her. They were learning that when she went foetal they needed to give her a break. Head up, her eyes were drawn to the strings of information about her. She didn’t know anyone else with her power, probably because she didn’t know many of her kind, and so she wasn’t sure if they all experienced the world as she did. She couldn’t tell if what she was seeing was actually there or if her mind was just playing tricks on her.

She tentatively reached out her hand and plucked at one of the strings. Instinctively she knew that wasn’t the right one. She dismissed it and reached for the next. And the next. Eventually she found the offending article; an email from her beloved creator. She was more or less being summoned and as much as Lorelai wanted to reply and tell Prudence she didn’t want to go, her reply said otherwise.

Dear Pru,

I would be happy to spend some time with you tonight. Please let me know where and when and I shall meet you.

Yours,

Lorelai

Urgh. I have no will of my own. None. I wanted to say no. I thought now. Didn’t I? Yes. Yes Lorelai you did. You told me you don’t want to go I heard that. You were overruled. Great. You really are against me aren’t you?

Lorelai grumbles to herself. The noise alerting the spirits to her re-awakening.

“No. I’m sorry. I don’t understand you. Translator. Get a translator. Trans-lay-tor.”

[Azraeth]

The segments of the blade seemed to float about her as if held aloft by some sort of spectral force; in truth, there was a wire that was thin enough one had to shine light almost directly on it to see. Nails were manicured and well taken care of, though they lacked colour, needing only a coat of shiny, clear polish to give them the simple yet elegant look Superbia strove for. Her eyes were like fire. Brown in hue, the serpentine effect upon them gave the orbs dimension, and there was an intensity there as she danced amongst the paladins and food soliders. Her off-hand glowed red. While there were no flames there, if she had touched anything flammable, it likely would have ignited immediately. So rarely a creature of vengeance, they had taken one of her sisters, and that was not a sleight she intended to allow go unrewarded.

The Spinedancer. It had been her weapon of choice for some time. The hilt resembled the long neck of a classical western dragon, with a wingspan that formed the hand guard. When in its compact state, the blade more closely resembled a mace, with sections that appeared to look like the dragon’s spinal column. What set it apart as that the line connecting all of the pieces could be loosened; it extended her range by several feet, and allowed her to throw men aside as if they were little more than inconveniences.

. . .

His fingers slowly traced over the unused metal. It had been a long time since the Spinedancer had seen action, but it remained as it ever had, a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that Azraeth wished he had the skill to replicate. His mind had turned back to the past several times since he had escaped the fade a short while back. There were gaps in his memory. He wasn’t even sure how he had died this time around, though he was almost certain that if he didn’t stop, people were going to begin turning it into some kind of running gag. ‘Where’s Az?’ ‘Oh, you don’t know? He’s dead again!’ The thought was an amusing one and Azraeth wasn’t the sort to take offense to humor at his expense. People, he found, had to make the choice to be bothered by the opinions of others, and he loved people too much for that.

He was the sort to take joy with them.

His telephone buzzed in his pocket and he slid his fingers into his coat to pull it free. Scanning briefly over the screen, he shot back a quick text: Let me know where, and I’ll be there. Do try not to be naked this time. The two of them had briefly spoken on the topic of a get together. He’d mentioned wanting to drag some of his own lineage along, so he assumed they were invited as well. The moment he hit ‘send’, he began working on another text, this time sent to Kynan, Andrew and Nikolae. Get together tonight. Expect a summons soon. It occurred to him belatedly that the two most recent additions to his blood might not be aware of exactly what that was which was…frankly why he wanted them to socialize a bit more with other vampires. Azraeth was the sort of man who tried to supply both knowledge and companionship to his childer, but there were certain lessons that could only be learned in a group setting. With new people.

Not all vampires were like him. There were many different paths and personalities and histories. All of those things shaped the community he had brought Kynan and Andrew into.

Once everything was squared away, he began to get ready, changing into something he felt would suit the more casual atmosphere he expected Prudence would provide. Nikolae’s jaw would hit the floor when he saw that Az was not in his traditional simple, clean, black-on-black suit. The jacket he changed into was black leather with sleeves pulled up to his elbows to give the hide more in the way of textural depth. Left unzipped, it revealed a layer of white that came in the form of his t-shirt with its deep v-cut neckline that actually revealed some of his newest body’s figure. Not that he had much in the way of attachment to it.

He changed body more frequently than some people upgraded computers it seemed.

He wore slacks, though they were slate grey, and of a lower quality than he was used to. Cargo pants really, if one wanted to be technical. He also wore a pair of boots and some decorative dog tags that read ‘dragon’ and ‘bishop’ respectively. He had forgone his usual watch because it frankly clashed with the outfit - besides, his phone had essentially replaced it as far as functionality went.

“I wonder where she’s going to have us meet.” He said to himself – or at least that was how it appeared until the ghostly form of his snake, Magog slithered into view. She flattened a look towards him as if to say ‘Really? That matters?’ He returned a reptilian gaze for only a moment before his lips thinned, and his gaze fell to his cell. Good point.

outfit

[Nikolae]

It was an odd thing to call them Obituaries when a vampire was slaughtered by one of his own kind. It was more like a two-week all expenses paid, staycation away from the usual cacophony of the city streets. The thought caused a smile to twitch on Nikolae's lips even as he was shaking his head at the latest bit of violence to take place in Harper Rock. He felt some sense of disgust that the attack had happened at all - and a weird sense of almost deja vu. Not because he recalled the last time the Grigori woman had gone into the Shadow Realm - he honestly didn't recall much these nights - but because he'd only just passed by the raven haired beauty and her mate probably hours before the attack. They were, as they had been for numerous nights before, stationed in a particular room of the caverns. It was a large enough area that more than a few of his immortal brethren seemed to take their day rest there, but a small group of a lineage the Dragon had presumed all but defunct had been huddled together there so often that it had stuck in his mind. Nikolae himself had, in a moment of dark humor, also spent a day a mere feet from the trio. No one had said a word, but the action had made him chuckle the next night as he'd returned to scouring the caverns for beasts to kill and gems to pluck up from the ground and the walls. His pockets were all but lined with the shiny objects even still - only a shame he didn't have an Allurist to distract with the baubles. The Dragomir still fully believed that particular Path was mostly filled with airheads and self-obsessed prats.

He wavered on the brief thought to type something into the Crownet in response to the bluntly announced death. Ripper at it again - some things truly never changed. There was a bit of comfort in that thought, even if it was sadly attached to the ever present blood-soaked reality of the vampire world. Even after nearly two years in relative silence in Harper Rock, Nikolae could still count on some people to still be exactly the same vampire they were before. And that, ironically, turned out to be something he respected. Even if he didn't respect the particular actions the creature in question had performed that night. Ultimately the Dragon clicked away from the thread to the Dragomir board instead. Best not to get involved in things that had nothing to do with him. Not yet. His heart wasn't yet where it needed to be for his own growing lineage, let alone did it have the space to speak out on behalf of those he'd known before the city had all but crumbled around them.

In another tab he had a home furnishings website pulled up. He was determined to get the underground lair of the Temple back into working order. He'd begun clearing out unused rooms and old abandoned pieces in the last week, and now it was time to fill the place up again. He could've shopped around town - but honestly he didn't know if any of the vampires even sold such things. Probably, they seemed to sell just about everything else. But would they deliver? And even if they did, he would've had to invite them in. That just wasn't going to happen on his turf. He was zoomed in on a massive wooden desk, the new niche website claiming each desk was hand carved, and considering having one created with dragons naturally adorning the piece. He clicked, typed in his demands, and sent it off. A present for Raeth.

As if sensing his thoughts had strayed in that direction, the Dragomir's phone buzzed with an incoming text. He cocked his head, peering at the device cautiously a moment. He'd only recently gotten a new phone, and only a small handful had his new number. Still, that handful could cause a riot if they so chose - or worse pass his number to any of the assholes that pocketed the city streets. After a sigh he plucked up the phone and read the text. Then he snorted, because Raeth had included him in a group text where he'd claimed to be 'summoning' everyone involved. He thought for a moment of responding where his first borne could stuff his demands, but then dismissed the notion. His curiosity had won out by that point - what in the world could Raeth want to get together for? And who the hell was Andrew?

The Dragon rose from his chair with a stretch and plucked up a wool coat that was heavier than his usual leather, shrugging it on over the grey knit sweater he'd been forced to don as the temperatures all but plummeted in Canada. He'd worn a pair of leather pants, ultimately because he'd found they protected him better in the scuffles he was constantly getting into in the caverns. And were easier to clean of blood than jeans. The heavy black boots were a plus too in those situations, only took a bit of water to get the blood and gore off them. Niko shut off the computer screen and pocketed his phone after checking and double checking his weapons hidden on his form. A holstered gun, and a couple daggers tucked in safe spots for easy defense. Sharp things - never leave home without them. He climbed the stairs to the main level of the Temple, passing a hand over a pew as he exited into the streets. Not knowing when or where said summons would be coming, he figured he'd grab a bite to eat before hand. Better safe and full than sorry and hungry.

Outfit

[Andrew Belanger (DELETED 5843)]

The young, dark-haired vampire - vampire, ha, who would have guessed? - sat, still and silent, upon a lower-hanging branch of a tree just outside his parent's home. Brooding? Oh yes, almost comically so. Watching? Maybe a little creeper-ish, but yeah. It was here, or Beca's place, where he took up watch, always hoping for a glimpse of one or all of them. His pasttime of scaring himself half to death in cemetaries and mortuaries had now changed, morphed into a longing he hadn't known before. Where death had terrified and terrorized him throughout most of his life, he now found it replaced by a fear of losing those who had mattered to him most.

You lose who you are. Everything.

The words echoed in his head once again. What he'd never imparted to Az that night, and what he likely never would, was that he had only agreed to this whole undead deal to avoid real death. Given the same choice, he would have chosen the same, over and over again. After all, what was the alternative? Not knowing what came after was still a thought that made him want to curl into a huddle, to give in and shake his way through the waves of panic, but this had bought him a little time. Perhaps, if he played his cards right, all the time in the world.

And this is why he figured his new nocturnal activity could stand to be kept secret for as long as possible. Everything had happened so... fast, the very definition of sudden, quicker than he could blink - it was no time, when death or immortality was hanging on a split-second choice, to agree to completely shed his entire prior life. He had agreed, of course, at that time, but he didn't recall ever saying how long he planned to take. Because after... after, when everything seemed clear again and he had sated that initial burning thirst... that was when he'd really begun to think about it.

And knew that he couldn't simply let them all go.

From Beca, he had simply asked for some time on his own - not an unheard-of request, for they'd both cashed in on that one a time or two throughout their three-years-long relationship. Perhaps a little wise beyond their years, perhaps prompted by their years of friendship before they pushed past those barriers, both understood the other well and recognized they were young and needed space at times. And they always stayed in touch via text or phone. But this time around, it had stung, bad. He hadn't wanted to be away from her, and there had been nothing between them to prompt the request this time, either.

To his parents, nothing really changed. He still called and texted but always had some reason or another to avoid visiting, as he always had. Because even though he wasn't quite ready to give them up, like he had just about everything else from his old life, Andrew could well reason out that seeing them, any of them, wasn't exactly in the realm of possibility. Though it didn't stop him from thinking about it, plotting... trying to think of some way to do just that. Eventually, he might ask Az a little more about that... feel the situation out. There had to be some way, right?

As these things turned over and over in his mind - and even that was somehow so much more than it had been before - the male felt his phone vibrate within a pocket. After fumbling for a moment to figure out which one, he slid it from somewhere inside his leather jacket and glanced at the text.

Az. Of course. Who else?

A small smile formed upon his lips as he read it over. Summons? What the **** was 'summons'? Still, he rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead and typed out a quick reply.

Alright... But give me like, 20 minutes before this... summons? And without waiting for a reply, Andrew swung down from the tree, landing noiselessly in the yard, and made for home. A 'get-together'? ****. What did that mean? First thing was first - to his apartment to change into something a bit more... mainstream, and to ensure no tree sap or twigs were clinging to him. And then... who knew what.

Outfit

[Prudence]

The first reply to come in was from DD; or Kennedy now. A small smile found its way to her lips when Prudence could almost feel the woman's excitement and for a second, she was excited too. Prudence claimed Kennedy as one of her own, but didn't see much of the woman. However, she knew Mordie was looking after her and would do a better job than she would in a variety of ways. Ways she couldn't. Though Prudence fought tooth and nail against the two of them shacking up, mostly because Prudence didn't want to lose a friend or for their to be weirdness between the three of them if **** didn't work out. But as time passed, Prudence came to terms with the two of them being together. If she admitted it, Prudence was glad Kennedy found him and he, her. Opposites in a lot of ways, but perfect in others. They pushed each other to be better. Pushed each other out of their comfort zones. Mordie was more talkative than he ever was before, and Kennedy grew stronger as a vampire each night.

Her tongued glided over her fangs as the area around Prudence shifted. Gone was the smile from her face as the woman lost herself in thought. The sounds on the main floor of the flats dulled, then muffled as the walls coloring followed. The lights dimmed, laughter vanished and the sense of life, what little there was in it in a place that mostly housed vampires, was snuffed out. Prudence never noticed these changes when they occurred, either because she reveled in the absence of life, or because she was used to it.

Another from Lori, in the form of an email. The girl was a weird one, that was for sure. Who signed **** like that? Yours? Yours what? Prudence knew Lori was hers. Prudence replied to the email, letting Lori know where they were going to be meeting up. Make sure that she got some blood, showered and dressed for the occasion. If she had something in her closet that would even be suitable. Hopefully, after tonight, Lori would embrace the life she was now living, thanks to Prudence and hopefully, at the very least, her crew. If Azraeth or whoever he brought could get the girl out of her slump, well, whatever worked. Somebody had to be able to, right?

Azraeth's response came next and Prudence started to smile again at the comment about her clothes. Or lack of, the first time they met in the wilderness. Fingers pressed send for the email, and then started to type up a response to the entire group; minus Azraeth. Meet me at the Handle Bar. If ya need directions, send me another text. The same was written in the email to Lori, the only exception was that the word text was replaced with the word email. Prudence logged off her computer and started to head out of the flats. As she walked to the edge of the QZ, she sent a text to Azraeth. The Handle Bar in about forty-five? There was no need to comment about the clothing bit, because it was self-explanatory that she would be wearing clothes because of the location picked.

Even though Prudence gave everyone time to meet up at the specified location, she arrived there a little early. She hadn't been there before, so the redhead wanted to get a feel for the place. She paid the cover, entered and wandered around the bar. It was and wasn't a place she would hang out with. But all in all, the place had her interest. The redhead moved to the bar after scouting out where the bathrooms were, exits and anything else, the redhead claimed a round wooden table and waited for people to start trickling in as she watched a small group of males in the middle of their pool game at a table a few feet from her.

Location credited to Joshy. <3 babe

[Mordechai]

What. The. ****. The laconic killer sat on his bike, staring at the thing in his hands. Pru had texted, with the vaguest of details, sounding as if she needed help. They had been each others backup for over three years. He would be there for her, it went with out saying. Then the whirlwind force of nature that was his kennedy had landed in Veil Towers parking lot. Shopping bags littered the Judge, and a ... a ... a dog, at least he thought it was a dog, in a purple tutu no less ... was in his hands. A quick glance at his mental clock showed he had less than a minute before Pru sent the location where she needed him. "KENNEDY!!" he roared into her mind, as one long arm reached back and opened a pannier. Twisting at his waist, the massive killer began shoveling the shopping bags into the pannier, jamming them in, then yanking the flap down and setting the latch.

His phone buzzed as he stared at the dog. Accessing it with his mind as he unbuttoned the oilskin duster shrouding his shoulders he took one last look at the dog. kennedy had said it was moving in. What the hell was she thinking, he was hardly ever home, and a pup this small couldn't be left on its own. "Princess? Dress? How bout dignity?" The text opened in his mind, the Handlebar... He had been there a few times, met the owner, and a few of his employees. It wasn't the Metronome, but he had seen no evidence of anything too bad. Pru had called though, maybe trouble was on its way to meet her there.

Quickly nimble finger slipped the tutu from the puppy. "There is your dignity back. If you are gonna ride with me, you are gonna need kevlar kid. I will see about it tomorrow, but we gotta roll, Pru needs us. So you will have to deal with riding in mine." Reaching in with a gentleness that belied his bulk, Mordechai slipped the pup into an inner pocket, then fastened two buttons.
"Don't pull a trigger", he muttered, as he slammed one spiked New Rock into the ground and twisted the throttle, the bike leaning over and smoke spewing from the spinning rear tire, as the over-bored engine roared with power whipping the bike into a one-eighty before launching upright. The front tire lifted from the ground on launch, hovering about six inch above the road before gently kissing down.

The killer wondered where his kennedy was going. It had sounded like she was headed to a party with friends, but she had bubbled up and over so fast, then run, that he had never had a chance to ask her. Some one had some serious " 'splaing" to do. The didn't run in the same circles. so he didn't know most of her friends, and he only had one friend, a few acquaintances, but one true friend. He was on the way to them now, and whoever was threatening her would pay a steep price.

The Handle Bar was right around the corner from Veil, the roaring judge made it in under one minute. A heavily booted foot swiped the kickstand as the bike was still moving. Swinging a leg over, he dismounted, leaving the judge in the sparse lineup of bikes owned by those still crazy enough to ride in December, in Ontario. It was a small but elite club. Popping the two buttons that held his duster closed, Mordechai slipped one hand inside wrapping a massive paw around the grip of his MZ, forefinger lightly resting on the trigger guard, as his other hand seated the stetson deep on his head. Read to roll, he whispered to the pup to 'hush' the killer slipped through the doors of the bar. Eyes scanning everywhere Mordechai blended with the shadows along the wall, circling the room out of the main light of the room.

His heterochromic eyes picked out Pru sitting by herself at a table that would easily seat six to eight people. Other than a few shooting pool, and basically ignoring the vivacious titian haired killer, well there were a few lusty looks thrown in, Mordechai could see no one anywhere with their attention on Pru. Reaching out gently with his mind he touched Pru's familiar brain, "I can cover the room from here, where are they" Quietly he added his position to the mind talk. His free hand unconsciously reached down stroking the puppy's head. It was so soooft. Eyes still scanning for the danger, Mordechai tried something he had never done before, and gently touched the surface of the puppy's mind "Athena, little one, what do you think?" The puppy wriggled happily under his hand as he refocused all of his attention on the patrons of the bar.

[Lorelai]

The spirit had gone by the time Pru's next email came through. Only this time Lorelai had been expecting it. Waiting for it even. A small parted of her even needed the reply. As much as she hated how she felt, she needed prudence in a way she could not explain. Their bond was deeper than anything she could have ever imagined the bonds of a sire and childe to be. The email gave her explicit instructions and if she were capable of it, she'd of cursed Prudence for the feeding one. Feeding was not a pleasant experience and where possible she avoided the process entirely. As a vegan in her human life, even the thought of drinking the blood of an animal or person was revolting. Every time she had to gulp the thick, globular, substance down, she wanted to throw up; in fact more often than not she did. This just meant that she had to drink another helping of the foul stuff. Oddly. On the days in which she was instructed to feed, the process went a lot smoother. As today was one of those days, she moved to the refrigerator, retrieved a bag of disgusting nourishment and poured the contents into a rather large beaker. It didn't matter if she saw it or not. She gagged at the thought of swallowing it and yet there she stood, beaker in hand once the microwave pinged.

You know you have to drink it. Down in one. Come on. Prudence said...
Yes. Prudence said. But I don't want to listen to her...

It was too late; the argument was over before it even began. With her head tilted back, she drank the liquid down to the last drop. She'd been hungry for a few days, so the liquid did her insides good. Her body practically purred once it hit her stomach and yet still her throat protested. Setting the beaker in the sink, she gripped the metallic rim with both hands and waited to see if it would make a re-appearance. After a few minutes of blissful disappointment she moved on to task two.

She generally didn't take long showering but today would take a little longer as Prudence had mentioned dressing for the occasion. This would mean she would have to look her best, which meant washing her long, blonde hair. Drying it would take longer than washing it however and even then it would look much the same as it did before she stepped into the shower. With the grooming done, it was time to dress; this would be the trickiest of all the commands to follow.

Appropriate? Does the woman even know me? I'm not some lady of the night. The underwear I wear is modest at best. Or was. I do so dislike waking up in that bar every night. It's filthy. Even when it's clean.
Oh do shut up Lorelai. You are making everything so much harder on yourself. Accept your lot and be done with it. You cannot change your stars.
But I did. I did change my stars.
Yes and look where that got you.

Lorelai slumped down on the floor in front of her open wardrobe. There wasn't much to look at in there. A dozen or so dresses all of a similar style. A single pair of jeans that she didn't think actually fit her as they should, as they clung to her body in, what to her was, all the wrong places. She lay her head back on the mattress, one knee raised to her chest, her arms wrapped around it, the other leg stretched towards the offending location. Sighing she rolled her head to the side to stare at her chest of drawers. She had a few t-shirts, but none that Prudence would likely approve of.

You need to go shopping.
I don't have time.
Not now. But one day soon.
Why? I like my clothes. I've been in there before in my regular outfits. No-one minded.
They looked at you like you were a bag lady. Remember the time you went in there with two different shoes on?
Yes. And I refuse to see your point. Besides. Prudence will be there to protect me.
See. You do like her.
I didn't say that.

Lorelai pushed herself up from off the floor and took out the faded looking blue washed jeans. She then crossed the room to the dresser and pulled out a grey loose fitting, short sleeved t-shirt that hung over one shoulder. She wasn't going to win any prizes for being the best dressed person there but it was simple and would allow her to blend in. If she didn't have to keep pulling at the crotch of the jeans that was, as she really didn't like how tight they were.

And so after an hour or so; outfit chosen, neatly groomed and well fed Lorelai picked up a rather oversized, woven handbag that contained her keys, money and tome and little else and made her way across town.

Not wanting to be late, she chose to go via taxi. The fair was expensive but she didn't mind that. What did begin to irritate her however was the driver's re-occurring question of 'Are you sure that's where you want to go?' This kind of comment was usually followed with 'A nice girl like you...' If it wasn't for the fact that this form of transport was more expedient than other forms of public transport and usually contained less spectral activity, she might have had him stop at the nearest station and hopped on a train. Being who she was though, she bore the conversation with quite grace and kept a smile on her lips throughout the entire journey. Once at the bar, she slipped out of the cab door, thanked the man for a pleasant ride and went in to find Pru.

Pru wasn't difficult to spot. Lorelai was half trained to pick her out from the crowd. To sense her aura. The moment her eyes fell upon her sire, Lorelai couldn't help but smile.

Traitor.
Me? I didn't do that. That was all you.
You're lying.
Afraid not.
Wait... If I did that it means...
Yes?
No.
Yes.

Lorelai groaned to herself. She was used to seeing scantily clad women in this new city life of hers and while Pru wore more than a certain someone Lorelai refused to even think of, she was still dressed in a manner that would attract attention. In this case, it was Lorelai's attention that had been totally and utterly stolen, thus explaining the reason she'd smiled upon seeing her. Trying not to think those kinds of thoughts about the woman she both loathed and loved in equal measure, she pulled her beige cardigan (her only real jacket) around her and crossed the room to Pru's table.

"I'm sorry. I know my outfit isn't what you had in mind but this was the best I had to hand. You look very... pretty, by the way."

Lorelai moved around the table to hug Pru from behind and couldn't stop herself from breathing in her scent as she did it. She mentally kicked herself the moment she did and hoped to all the powers in the universe that Prudence didn't notice.