undergrounds | she's a vamp, but she still kills the dance

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she's a vamp, but she still kills the dance

Dance In The Dark
(February 13th)

Lately, there's been a rise in parties at hidden venues. Secret locations around London that you can only get to if you know the right people. Getting there is difficult, but once you're there, it's sure to be a night you'll never forget- if you remember it in the first place.

Tonight's party is held in an abandoned tube station. Climbing down what feel like thousands of steps you step off through a dark tunnel, the old stone walls slick with condensation. After following the winding walkway, you emerge in a cavernous room, with alcoves filled with pillows, the entire place is lit by candle light. Music blares through speakers as a DJ plays all sorts of dance and techno rave music. Alcohol is plentiful, in multi-color cocktails, and the air is thick with the smell of sweat and magic.

But behind all of that is a new nest of five vampires, watching, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. At the signal, the lights will be doused, the doors shut, and what will later be called the Valentine's Eve Massacre will begin.

If you're lucky, there are some ways out. Back tunnels, sewers, ways to escape. You could always fight, too- the vampires are young and inexperienced. Either way, it's up to you to save yourself: there's no mobile phone reception down here.

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I am. [He chuckles a little at the thought of getting fried in trying to avoid a vampire attack. If he hadn't come in this way, he's not sure he would have trusted the tracks so blindly, even with others fleeing in the same way.

He sobers at her remark about not being able to help them. It's something he learned to accept pretty early on during his second tour, but that doesn't make it easy.] We're outnumbered, outgunned, and don't even know the full situation. And that's assuming we had weapons.

[He sighs at the thought and hesitates before stopping in their path. Although they can't fight the vampires, Kyle hates that he can't do more to help those trying to escape. He hates feeling powerless in general. After a beat, he winces and continues walking again.]

I'm fine. [He replies finally.] A few cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Let's get to the surface and then we can worry about minor injuries.

[As unfortunate as it is, Nancy has to agree.] I know. [Gods, she wished she could do something.

But she treks on, holding the light aloft for them. Even with the noise of the dying behind them, their footsteps echoed clearly around them.]

Good- I'll help, if you need it. [Minor healing spells were something she had more than enough practice at. With the hand not holding the light, Nancy reaches into her purse to pull out her phone, holding it high above her head.]

No signal.

We're pretty far down. [He replies with a sigh. Kyle feels more anxious in the moment than he'd like to admit, but enough training has taught him to keep his cool even when he feels overwhelmed.] We need to find a maintenance hatch or another station or.. something.

[Great plan. It's really all he can think of for the moment. He hustles just enough to take the lead as she's testing out her phone, unconsciously protective. After a few more steps, he turns around to half face her as he keeps walking.] My name's Kyle, by the way.

Or something... [Nancy echoes, keeping her eyes peeled for some sort of hatch.]

[Honestly, it's not a great plan, but it's what they have to work with. It's not the first time she wishes she could teleport or something. Get them out of here. At least the adrenaline surge has her thinking clearly, unhindered by alcohol.]

Nancy. Wish we met in better circumstances.

[Kyle shoots her an apologetic smile for not having a better plan or knowing the area better. He's used to being a leader and having answers or making them up, but right now he's fairly clueless and would rather be honest about it than lead them in circles.]

Me too. [He sighs.]

How did you learn to do the- the- [He gestures at the orb of light, using his curiosity as a small distraction from the larger issue.] -light.. thing? Is it easy or should I be worried about exhaustion down the line?

[She'll take it, truthfully. She imagines the rest of the escape will be relatively straight-forward, and the only thing to do in that case is to keep marching forward.]

This? [She looks at the light.] It's easy. It was one of the few spells that I was taught. [The rest she ahd learned on her own. Fagin had wanted to keep her as close under his thumb as he could, but learning to create light was something that he would benefit from. So here they were.]

You know about the exhaustion- what are you?

As in you learned the rest on your own or did they come naturally? [Kyle can't help but look for answers when there's so much he knows so little about. Besides, talking is good in this situation. It keeps thoughts from wandering.

At her question, he holds up his hands, palms out, in a gesture to show he means no harm.] I told you, I'm human. Look, it's not rocket science. Exertion of energy leads to fatigue. The more exertion, the more exhaustion. It wasn't a stretch to think that magic is a kind of exertion. That's only what like, every comic book and sci-fi movie ever teaches.

Learned the rest on my own.

[Nancy wrinkled her nose.] Right- sorry. [She takes a breath as they continue to walk.] I don't mean to be defensive. It's just you've given this a lot of thought. I'm not used to that.

But you're right, I think. I don't know anything about energy or what have you, but... [There's a small shrug. She's never set foot inside a school.] You're good, I don't think I'll pass out from this any time soon.

I know I'm American, but I don't like being an asshole. If I don't know anything about something important, I try to ask questions. [He shrugs. Kyle wonders if Nancy realizes how completely out of his depth he is dealing with the supernatural world. Training or no, he's still mostly ignorant and, more importantly, still human.]

Good to know. [He flashes her a charismatic smile, one that he knows to be more attractive. Kyle then points up ahead and off to the side, squinting into the darkness.] Is that a ladder? I think that might be our exit.

Y'know, I haven't met any asshole Americans yet. [she probably wasn't really looking for them, and lived in the parts of London and spent her time in the parts of London that tourists never really came looking for. Stiles had been a sweetheart. Derek was rough, but also kind. Kenzi was Canadian. And Arthur was...

Arthur was something.] That's really smart. Ask away.

[She'd explain about magic, happily. Better hear it from her than from, say, Norrell.

Ooh, that smile. She's practiced, but that doesn't mean she's immune to charms like that. He is cute, very cute, probably around her age, which is a small miracle around here. Even her best friends were at least one year older than her, it was so strange when she thought about it. So she didn't.

Especially given that the boys were all so much younger. The oldest was sixteen.]

Is it? [She summons a bit more energy to make the light brighter and holds it towards the darkness. With a small frown, she raises her hand just a little bit, and the light leaves her hand and starts to hover. Looking at it, she guides it over to the spot where Kyle was pointing. And lo-and-behold-]

That's it! C'mon!

Let's keep it that way. [The same smile. He appreciates her kindness and her willingness to answer his questions without the third degree. For as secret as the supernatural community is, they're surprisingly willing to open up and talk about it. Although he knows his charm and earnestness probably help with that.

Kyle almost has a heart attack when the light floats away from her hand. It's oddly unsettling and not entirely unlike some of the magic he encountered in his dealings with vampires. But it's Nancy doing it and she's not a vampire, and he manages to calm down and focus on the escape they've found.

He carefully rushes over to the ladder, moving faster thanks to the increase in light, though he waits at the bottom for Nancy to go first. It's safer that way. To distract from this, he continues their conversation.] So how do you learn new spells?

[It would be a gentlemanly thing to go first. But Nancy will let it pass. With the light hovering, she places her hands on the cold metal of the ladder and looks up. The ladder seems to go up about 20 feet, and she can make out a small pin-prick of light. That had to be a way out.

Carefully, she starts to climb, making sure to put the ball of her foot on the ladder and making sure it was sturdy before going. Climbing too fast she could easily catch her heel and fall and she was well-aware.]

Books. Lots of memorization and practice, but then it just gets easier and easier. Some spells take weeks and months to perform and require complex potions, others are just a little word to create light. [She shrugs as she climbs.]

Be careful on this ladder- and if you look up my skirt, I will kill you.

[He stands by, ready to catch her, until she's almost up to his height. Then he begins following below her, listening and watching to ensure that she hasn't lost her balance or grip. His own steps are deliberate and equally slow, matching her pace. Maybe a little more practiced and with the benefit of proper footwear.]

I won't try to look, but if my choices are to drop you or see your damn underwear, you can kill me later. [Kyle grumbles in response, half-tempted to roll his eyes at her in the darkness. She reminds him of a solder from his squad, one he got on well with and actually misses sometimes.]

Wait- Some take months just to perform? How does that work? Is it like a zen trance or do you leave and come back to it like a download?

I can live with that.

[Nancy only paused to consider this for a moment before continuing her ascent.] Granted your name isn't much to go off of, I reckon there are a lot of American Kyles around here, so you may be safe yet.

[She has no intentions of hunting him down, if they get out of this.]

Yeah. Some of them require certain things done on certain days, or brewing potions for a while. Those are more ritualistic spells. And can easily get dangerous.

Kyle Sutton. [He offers. He doesn't want her to think that he's hiding anything and, really, he kinda hopes he can have a way to get a hold of her and check up on her in a week or two.] I'll give you my number after this in case you change your mind.

Do you do those spells? The dangerous ones?

Nancy Fagin. [closest to a last name as she ever got.

she keeps climbing the ladder.] but you won't find me in any phone book. [dod those even exist anymore?

his question about the spells gets her to pause if only to shoot him a dirty look.]

no. they're illegal.

[He smiles at her remark about phone books, wondering if she's joking or if she's oblivious. Either way, it's oddly endearing to think of something simpler right now.

The smile disappears with her look, however, and he scowls.] Like I know. It's good you don't then.

[Nancy's at the top of the ladder now, and reaches one hand above her to try to push open the grate. with a little difficulty, she manages to lift it up, and places her shoulder under it to keep pushing it higher.]

We're not evil, despite what Redbright would have you think.

You got it? [He calls up. Maybe he should have gone first, both for the dress and the grate. At least this way she can't be attacked. Kyle's not always the brightest when it comes to his plans, often lost in good intentions.]

I don't think you are. [He replies honestly. He offered to help Abigail, after all. Truth be told, he's still not entirely sure what the difference is if they're not busy sacrificing goats or babies or virgins or whatever the hell it is evil witches would sacrifice.]

Yes, [She says back as she manages to get the grate up far enough that it falls open with a loud 'clang'.]

We should go quick, they're bound to have heard that. [There's urgency in her voice as she climbs up off the ladder, and promptly turns around to offer him a hand.]

Then you're smarter than a lot of people, Kyle.

[Kyle agrees and follows her as quickly as he can, accepting her hand up and grunting as he wiggles his way out. The soldier wastes no time in helping her to push the grate closed again and then he's on his feet.]

A lot of people would disagree with you on that. [He replies jovially before reaching out to offer her a hand.] Come on. We should put some distance between us and this area.

[This time, Nancy doesn't hesitate to take his hand.] And a lot of people are quick to label us all evil. So there you have it.

It's too late for the tube. [that stops at around midnight, dear American boy.] we'll have to walk.

People are oblivious. [He jokes. It's somewhat true, but overall, Kyle believes in people and the good in them. And he knows he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to certain things.]

I'll walk you home. [Kyle slides his hands into his pockets, holding his elbow away from his side as an offer to her if she wants it.]

You can say that again. [But please don't actually.

Nancy accepts his arm.] You're sweet. But I'm fine walking home alone.

What, you think this is about you? [He teases with a smile, folding his arm lightly against his body again as they walk together.] I need someone to protect me. This place can be pretty dangerous, you know.

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