Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death [Open]

[detectiveofthewest]

The old Kitterick hotel, long since closed and abandoned, sat silently in its abandonment. At first it seemed that this night would be the same as any other -- one more in the long series of nights spent settling, creaking, slowly but surely marching toward the dissolution that surely awaited it. Yet as evening settled firmly over the streets of Greenwich, something changed in the air.

A long car, sleek and black, rolled up to the front of the building. A woman got out; two men aided her in doing so. Her long dress was bright carmine, spilling out behind her in a whispering pool. In the dark of night, the cloth looked almost black.

"This will do nicely," she said. Her whisper was full of promise.

[This, should you choose to use it, is a catch-all post for the Bloody Countess plot! It's for investigations, encounters, and so on leading up to the main event.]

Comments

[apolly]

Super shady...

"Then we'll figure it out when we get there. The Other Realm it is." Apollo has never been there, so this could be his ticket to actually seeing it and also questioning a vampire. Sounded pretty cool, he guesses.

"They'll be more likely to help bring him back once they understand, so it's fine." Yeah.

"... Is this an okay plan for everyone?"

[eyeforaneye]

"It'll require a little more detail." Which is a good way to get out of agreeing to every aspect of it but it's hardly noticeable when he goes on.

"My vision's still just as sharp at night and I'm willing to watch the hideout to wait for one to leave. Apollo is best stationed where we plan to question this person, in order to keep an eye on the premises and ensure that no one else enters the area or causes problems. Heiji could then be mobile in between the two spots and can help me corner him and apprehend him to bring him back, since he's the one that can move easily between the Realms.

Is that direct enough?" As if a plan from him would be anything but.

[detectiveofthewest]

"I think I know a good spot to keep the guy," said Heiji, glancing at Apollo. "But if we leave you alone in there, Apollo, you gotta promise not to wander off or talk to anyone. That area isn't heavily occupied, but you could still get yourself in trouble."

In other words, NO SIGHTSEEING. The other alternative was leaving Apollo someplace right outside a door, but then a stray vampire might happen upon him.

[apolly]

"Oh, yeah! You have my word." Apollo pats his own chest in some weird some of following-orders pride. "I'm fine with that!"

Okay but can I at least bring a camera.

[eyeforaneye]

"Fine. I can stay quiet so as not to draw any unnecessary attention and I'll phone or text Heiji when I have anything concrete.

Is it possible to communicate between worlds so you two can also stay in touch?"

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji shook his head. "Ain't really a good way to communicate the way we'll be set up. Not like there's any 4G in Faery, either." Or whatever they had in London. Shut up I'm not my computer.

He frowned faintly, looking at Sasuke. "I won't be able to use a phone too easily. The screen will just attract attention, anyway. How's this: I'll pick a good high place where I can watch ya. You signal me by hand when you need help. I'll watch, too, and let ya know if anyone's sneaking up on you."

In other words, Sasuke you're the bait...

[apolly]

"Sounds like a task that Sasuke was born to play." Apollo shrugs, offhandedly, before placing his hands on his hips and looking up to Sasuke with a smile.

These two were taller why. "I doubt they'll be at your neck again if you're gonna be more careful."

[eyeforaneye]

Both their words effectively spark his already hair-trigger temper and he has to fight harder than he'd like to admit to control it, expression instantly darkening as he turns his head away.

"I'll handle it. Things won't go the way they did last time, so I'm willing to agree to this. I'll make sure to lead them somewhere secluded."

SOMETIME LATER...

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji was perched on top of a building where he could at least watch Sasuke -- one more good draining and who knew if he'd be able to enjoy another tomato again?

The hotel looked mostly deserted. Eerily, so did the streets around it. Eventually, however, the back door opened. A lone, pale figure strode out, looking this way and that before stepping onto the street...

now Sasuke is a ninja dad with TWINS

[eyeforaneye]

It can never be said that Sasuke isn't devoted to his tasks, dedication causing him to purposefully slice open his own forearm in the interim between their last meeting and this particular stakeout, wrapping it loosely to imitate an accidental injury whilst keeping the scent of his blood in the air.

A hungry vampire is a more careless one, after all, and given that the wounds on his neck also still haven't fully healed he's confident that sequestering one alone will be easier even than anticipated. Upon seeing the man leave he immediately turns on his heel to walk up the street, carrying onward for almost two full blocks before he stops in fake confusion. It's when he glances back, 'happening' to see the vampire and choosing to stop him in order to ask for directions, that he can tell the plan's worked.

Particularly when the vampire assures him he knows a shortcut and starts to escort him through a deserted alleyway not unlike the first one he'd been attacked in... but this time he doesn't wait, charging as much electricity in his palm as he can before whirling around and thrusting it against the man's chest to stun him. Sasuke's head snaps up, trying to spot Heiji to signal for him to offer help.

what did he do with his other kid

[detectiveofthewest]

God why was Sasuke such a weirdly intense weirdo about this. Heiji followed along as Sasuke lured the vampire away, but he didn't wait to see if the improvised taser would work.

A brilliant arc of electricity whiplashed out from where Heiji was standing and struck the vampire. There was the sound of sizzling, the smell of burnt flesh... and then the vampire wobbled into Sasuke, most of the fight taken out of him.

It was cool, he was probably fine. Heiji hopped down the steps of the fire escape two or three steps at a time and motioned to the back door of a building. "C'mon, let's drag him through there. Then Apollo can have a crack at him."

probably lost it tbh

[eyeforaneye]

The double dose of electric shock is certainly enough to take their target down, ducking lower just to catch that body and swing it up over his shoulder with an ease that doesn't seem at all fitting for his size. The fact that he does it one-armed doesn't help.

"Right, the Other Realm." Sasuke pauses visibly just by the door, trying to peer inside without seeming too obvious about it... and just giving that poor vampire another quick jolt when he groans and twitches.

"It'll be my first time in that place." Which explains his hesitance.

"it" A++ dad

[detectiveofthewest]

"Just don't gawk or talk to anyone, it's fine." Heiji shooed Sasuke through; they needed to get out of here and close the door before any of this guy's vampire buddies showed up.

Inside the door was a street that looked something like the street they'd just stepped out of -- perhaps from a slightly earlier age. It was cobblestone, well-worn, and much like the area had been in London, largely deserted. No fireside chats during this trip, it seemed...

Heiji moved quickly along to the small stone building in which they'd left Apollo and poked his head in. "You doin' okay?"

sasuke shouldn't even have one kid look at him

[apolly]

Apollo pauses before stuffing more lo mein in his mouth from a take out box and, unfortunately, it's not the image of someone who's prepared for an interrogation.

"... Yep."

He quickly slams the box closed and tosses it in the trash can behind him (without even looking back) and drops back against his chair, arms crossed. Okay, much better.

I thought you literally meant children shouldn't look at him

[eyeforaneye]

The sight really doesn't inspire a great amount of confidence but Sasuke doesn't even flinch, maintaining the same focus that he had on the short and very quiet journey.

"Hey." Just a general greeting that precedes the sudden thud of a body into a chair, the placement haphazard and limbs left akimbo. "He won't be out too long and then you'll have a chance to speak to him."

probably also true

[detectiveofthewest]

As Sasuke put the vampire down, Heiji was making a few preparations. He removed a small package from the jacket of his pocket, unwrapped it, and with a look of distaste, quickly grabbed the contents using a handkerchief and slipped it around Apollo's neck.

It was a heavy-looking silver chain necklace with a dollar-sign pendant. Heiji grinned. "It suits you!"

And then he snuck out a hand to grab a lo mein noodle.

[apolly]

Apollo wastes zero time between the necklace hitting his shoulders and him pulling it right off to hit Heiji upside the head with it.

"No it DOESN'T. And don't grab my food without permission! You're hundreds of years old! Learn some freakin' manners!"

The vampire's right there in the other chair, knocked out, and this is just... supremely awkward.

"What did you guys even do to him."