aterat | the room's on fire but this is fine

Entry tags:

the room's on fire but this is fine

Who; Holly and your character!
What; There is a vampire, LOOSE in the ~~hospital~~ city
Where; Around the harbour district
When; Early evening of the 19th
Warnings; Blood, probable death of an NPC by way of being turned into an unwilling juice box

In a particularly poorly lit alleyway somewhere on the outskirts of the harbour district, Holly's latched on the neck of a guy she managed to lure off the street, and who is now just about passed out in her grip. She intended to leave him alone after she'd taken a little! Only, that's not...really going to plan. He's fading very rapidly and she knows she should stop - but her hunger and her lack of much remorse for the dude in question are making the whole 'stopping before she's full' thing kinda...not a priority.

The thing is, back home? She wouldn't need to do this. She'd be able to get blood whenever she needed it, no problems. But here? It's been tricky, to put it lightly - and the hunger's only been getting worse. Something not helped by her not sleeping well.

And now there's a fucking demon bear roaming around at night, so she can't even go out when it's dark to try and get food. Maybe even not in the evenings anymore either once people really start getting twitchy, start going home earlier.

Fucks sake. What the fuck's with this place?

It's fine. This is fine. She just needs to finish up here, and then maybe Caelan will be in his apartment by the time she gets back. No need to freak out about Winne the Pooh on steroids.

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Steve was on the prowl as usual trying to get more information. For some reason this place seemed to offer a lot of clues at once, and then nothing. So his instincts told him to just keep walking and he'd find out what it was that he was overlooking. So his boots ended up taking him down to the docks.

There he spotted a man who looked like he was in pain and when he seemed to fall to the ground, his blue eyes went wide at seeing Holly. Wait, this was the little girl that had talked to him at the fountain.

What the?

"Holly?" Surely he wasn't seeing what he was seeing, right? There had to be some sort of terrible trick of his eyes or..it wasn't a Halloween trick or anything right?

Some part of her does hear someone approaching, but that part is drowned out easily and almost eagerly by the fact that she's finally getting something to eat. By the time Steve's close enough to address her, the dude's pretty much uh....well.

Not doing super great.

It's only hearing her name that forces her to detach herself the artery now pulsing blood onto the ground beneath them both, and look up, brown eyes wide as she scrambles to her feet.

"Uh...It's-" Wiping her mouth on her sleeve, she takes a few steps back, putting more distance between her and Steve, "I-I can explain."

He's very confused and not sure that he really wants to understand at this point. But he's jumping down to get to the ground as fast as he can. Regardless of what Holly is doing this man is bleeding out and even if he dies, they can't just leave this body here for somebody to find because people will freak out.

Realizing he might be able to save this guy, Steve is still trying an he's trying his best to put pressure on, figuring the entire time he's fighting a losing battle. Seeing Holly's mouth covered in blood and the status of this guy he can put a few things together. But he's trying not to get mad and trying not to worry about either this unknown guy or Holly.

So wild looking blue eyes look up from the man he's making a poor attempt to save. "What the hell is going on?"

This from the guy who doesn't swear much at all.

When Steve gets closer to try and tend to the man, Holly just backs up further, wondering what the fuck she should say, or if she should say anything at all.

Above all else, she's just frustrated she got caught; if it was night time this wouldn't have happened, dang it.

"I'm- I-I had to, I needed to eat somethin'-"

Because that'll really help explain all this. But using 'Hi I'm a vampire!' wouldn't really be much of a reassurance either.

Blue eyes hardened as he turned to grab a knife he had in his pocket. Tearing a part of the guys's shirt, he tried to make a crude tourniquet to stop the bleeding. "If I can save this guy, you need to stay away from him in case he can identify you." His knife then went away with a quickness.

Hey it wasn't the first time he was helping a fugitive.

Hearing a noise, Steve turned to Holly. "Go hide." And soon a woman came upon him and he explained he thought he saw a wild animal bite the guy but ran off and was doing what he could to help. So she grabbed a few friends and the man was soon out of Steve's hands to go get healed or expire..whatever way it went.

Fuucckkkk, she knew this'd go backwards. It was way too early to be doing this, but what else what she meant to do? Not eat? Risk wrestling a fucking demonic bear monster?

Gesturing to the soon-to-be dead body, her frustration could be heard plainly. "You're not gonna save him! Look, just leave him-"

Looking to the end of the alley at the sound of other people out walking, Holly swore under her breath and ducked out of sight. Fucks sake...

Once they were alone again - and she was mentally waving goodbye to her unfinished meal - she wandered back out into the open, and gestured behind Steve with a scowl. A scowl that had discussed which approach to take with her ability to cry on cue and won out.

"You should'a just left me alone- if he wakes up and starts tellin' people he got attacked by someone here, everyone's gonna lose their shit and stop comin' outside altogether!"

He shook his head. "No they won't. Everything is still outside, it's not like.." His voice trailed off. Okay bad comparison. "Look, people back home have all the convenience of going shopping online and they still have outdoor markets and run over each other and get into fights on Black Friday."

But then Steve wanted to shake her. "And what if someone other than me came upon you? What would've happened to you if you got caught?" He paused and finished for her. "This place reminds me of something out of a book for burning witches or doing public hangings."

Putting his hands on his hips, blue eyes stared at Holly. "If you're a.." And he didn't want to finish that thought so he stopped, but tried again. "The only solution is for you to find somewhere safe to hunt or someone to..feed on." The last two words were spoken low. Unless she needed to drain someone lifeless, but he'd let her tell him.

"I'm not exactly easy to see back here okay, people've passed by no problems- look, I'd have figured it out if someone else did, but now I gotta deal with you knowin'."

Actually, that's a good point; she jabs a finger at him then. "You'd better keep this to yourself, by the way. I don't wanna find out first hand if they hang people or burn people alive or any'a that medieval shit."

Copying him, her own hands found her hips as she scowled up at him. "A vampire, you can say it, it ain't a bad word."

Compared to most of her daily vocabulary, anyway. "And I've been doin' just fine so far, just been eatin' at night- which fucking sucks, by the way-" said to the air around her and apparently the city than to Steve himself,

"-and now there's a stupid fuckin' bear that's just popped up in an exquisite example of the universe being a giant douche-canoe, so no one's comin' out at night anymore, so I'd say my best solution is for Smokey to go fuck himself right back outta existence so I can go back to what I was doing before."

She's....a little on edge. Just a smidge.

"You would've figured it out. Well maybe someone else would've figured it out for you and before you had a chance. And you're lucky I managed to see you before someone unfriendlier did." Steve wasn't trying to be an old man but here he was.

There was almost an amused smile as the tiny finger poked at him. Holly might be tiny but she was fierce and in that way reminded him of Nat. It was adorable but nothing showed on the super soldier's face. And he wouldn't tell her, but he'd rescue her if any of it happened. But better to let her know of the danger so hopefully in the future she'd be a Lot more careful and cautious.

It was odd, such a tiny person could just accept what they were and the way things were. That showed a strength to Holly's character and Steve was silently impressed. And of course none of it showed. But he still couldn't say the 'v' word out loud.

And he was about to say something about language, but a laugh threatened to come out at the douche-canoe comment. However, Rogers covered it with a cough. That sounded like something Tony's boy might say, that Peter Parker kid from Queens. So instead he knelt down to her height and shook his head. "With everything that's going on, then we're just going to have to come up with a plan so that you can feed smarter and safer."

Especially with the bear prowling around.

With a nod to emphasize his earlier words he tried a slight smile. "In the meantime, let's get you out of here."

Edited 2020-10-27 20:51 (UTC)

"I would'a crossed that bridge when I came to it! This ain't my first 'dealin' with a barely twitchin' body' rodeo, my dude! I had it covered!"

That is to say, if she had been caught by someone else - someone who was more likely to give her trouble - she'd just turn into a bat and get the fuck outta dodge. Or just knock them out, that she could do too.

But, that was a hypothetical to shelve for next time - because there would be a next time, in the next couple of days at least, if not earlier.

Steve was taking this surprisingly well though, at least he wasn't freaking out. That would've been all she needed. It's weird having him come down more to her level though - it's something you're meant to do for kids, she knows that, but it's still weird. Makes her feel like she's little again. Something that might irritate her if she wasn't, under layers of bravado, scared about her situation here going forward.

"Yeah, well, you find me a big group'a healthy people all willing to donate blood indefinitely, then we'll talk. But until then, I gotta do this."

With a shrug, she gestured for him to get back up, her tone a bit softer and less serious as she spoke. "Come on man, get up - you're embarrassin' me here. Ain't had someone crouch down like that since I was six."

At least she wasn't arguing the 'getting out of there' point. An escort was at least something she was used to.

Steve sighed and put his arms over his chest. "Are you done?" This wasn't asked unkindly as he had been looking around too to see if anyone happened to come up on them.

Internally he was freaking out, but he didn't want to do so in front of Holly because it wasn't fair to her that he would do something like that. She didn't deserve it. This was obviously new to him and he would struggle to adjust to it later.

He looked at Holly and smiled, trying not to 'be an old man' as Tony would say. "Well I don't know anyone that might be interested." Steve had thought about volunteering for that but with his super soldier enhanced system, it wasn't a good idea. Who knew what effect he would have on her and that wasn't a risk he was willing to take.

There was a smile as Rogers stood at Holly's request. It really shook him somewhere but he tried to think of something Nat or Tony or Bucky would advise and kept the calm demeanor. "Alright then, let's get you home safe."

He hates himself for needing it, but this place necessitates feeding in ways that make him want to puke. The harbour district didn't disappoint, either. It was the same as any fantasy novel or game he'd ever experienced: the brothels were here, and the prostitutes, and all the other people who preyed on sex. He was almost surprised to learn the was the only incubus in town. Of course, he'd lucked out tonight. Pickpocketing was all well and good, but he'd found a mugger, female, trailed her after she'd done away with her latest victim with a quick slice across his throat. He'd seen the guy around the markets, and he wasn't a bad dude. He'd come down to the docks for a good time and hadn't gone home again.

Now, neither would his murderer. Coldly, he'd left the woman's body to the oversized rats in the area and was making his way back to civilization when he quite literally stumbled upon another vampire feeding. Thomas' Hunger didn't afford him an elevated hearing or a sense of smell as it's proverbial teeth were more attuned to sensuality so he hadn't heard or seen anything. The Hunger sprang forward, his eyes flickering lighter to a pale, off-white glow in preparation for whatever might transpire. White Court vampires weren't as fast or as strong and their Red or Black counterparts and their best tactic when coming into conflict with the other Courts was to simply run, but...she was a child?

He blinked, his preternatural senses still on edge, the pale light in his eyes glinting slightly on the pale skin of his face. There was an aura about him as well, a chill that invited others to come closer, to gather for warmth, to touch and be touched, but the Hunger wasn't interested in Holly by way of a meal, and she would remain unaffected even if she did sense it.

"No one likes a messy eater." His voice was honied silk, a by-product of the Hunger's presence at the forefront of his thoughts and of its recent meal. It was strong, now, and ready for a fight. He wasn't planning on giving it one.

Holly, on the other hand, did hear someone approaching; she was just more inclined to hope they carried on walking. After all, she wasn't out in the open; maybe they wouldn't even see her.

A dude's voice sends that hope straight to Hell, and forces her to lift her face and turn to him, any nervousness at being caught dwarfed almost entirely by her impatience at being interuppted.

"And no one likes a nosy asshole, either." Still, she does wipe her mouth on the back of her hand, not getting to her feet yet but certainly tensed like she's ready to. "So, what? Y'gonna pull up a chair, or keep walkin'?"

"What are you planning on doing with him when he's gone?" Some of the honey left his voice as his eyes darkened a few shades, losing some of their glow and the chill abated around him as she shoved the Hunger back into the cage he'd built for it in his thoughts. The man was fading fast, and Thomas wouldn't be surprised if his heart stopped in the next few seconds.

"It's important."

Okay, so he's gonna pull up a figurative chair. Sensational.

"I dunno, I figured I'd just leave him in the street and hope for the best," she said, the sarcasm coming easily. "This ain't my first rodeo, I've been here a while, dude."

As she straightened up, resigned to the fact that she wouldn't be finishing this meal in peace, she dusted off her dungarees and jabbed a thumb over her shoulder in some vague direction. "There's a sewer openin' a little ways that way, s'where I usually throw 'em. I figure there's at least one somethin' livin' down there who ain't complainin' about the freebies."

"And nobody's started crowing about vampires? That's all we need." He offered a bit of information about himself, to let her know they were on the same side. "Looks like he's done. Want a hand? I'm Thomas, by the way."

By the time she's reached the apartment block, belly finally too-full rather than growling and empty, Holly's in a much more even mood. She's not exactly thrilled - after all, she took a risk going out what with this bear monster roaming around, and who knows when she'll next get to eat (that's not something she likes to think about) - but she knows she'll feel better with company.

After all, Caelan has to be back by now, right?

Right?

"Hey! You'd better be here, stronzo!!" comes the call once she lets herself into his apartment, but she knows already that he's not home; the lights are off, and it's near silent. Where the fuck was he..? With a sigh, she kicks the door shut without much care for being quiet, and pulls her jacket off, flinging it onto the couch.

"Come on, dude..."

An evening reading comics and drawing isn't exactly terrible, but...she would have really liked someone to take away the quiet.

Well, at least she wasn't going to be alone. Nida too was growing more anxious, between his job and the lack of his friend. And, lacking a key, he'd done the only other thing he could to do check in on the selkie.

Climbed right out of the window his own apartment, and over toward the next window, climbing in. Only to, you know, see the girl there.

"Uh... hey."

Things Holly was expecting; Caelan to waltz in the door, primed and ready to be yelled at for being MIA for like, an entire freaking day.

Things Holly was not expecting; a figure in the window.

Startling back, she scowls at him, but with no real bite. "Jesus Fuckin' Chrysler, you ever hear'a usin' the door?"

"You clearly haven't heard of me, because literally everyone asks that question and yet don't expect an answer," Nida answers, leaving the window open behind him as he moves to the chill box to pull out the remains of a jug of spiced cider.

"You're the one Doe-Eyes mentioned, the girl in the know?"

Watching him cross the room, Holly glances over at the window again - in a minute, she'd decide it was actually kinda cool how he didn't use the door - but for now, she'd head over and close it, before turning her attention back to Nida.

'The girl in the know'; she could get used to that.

"That's me, yep. Know lotsa stuff." And, without missing a beat, "Do y'call him that 'cause he's a pretty dude, or 'cause seals have giant saucer eyes?"

Oh come on, that's his exit. Fine, whatever, he'll reopen it later.

"The hugest saucer eyes. Like, WOW. You'd think there wasn't any room for face in Smush-face's face with how much eyes there is there," he says. At least they both know they're in the know.

Despite her mood, she has to smile a little at 'smush-face'; even if she hadn't had the opportunity to really meet Caelan as a seal yet, she'd seen her share of the face-smushing in question.

"Guess it goes with the territory...speakin' of, though - you ain't seen him, have you? I haven't all day, I've checked the usual places and he ain't replyin' to me either."

Those were some bad words coming from her mouth. Those were bad words that said he wasn't alone in being worried. Which meant no one else had seen him either.

"No, I haven't. Fuck, what mess has he gotten himself into now?"

He should Tell Phone the Captain, see if there were any weird arrests.

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the room's on fire but this is fine

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For Nida

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