When the Council comes calling

[homeless_pard]

Who: Khem, JC, Asher, Nat, Req, any?
When: Two months after her shop has been open.
What: Well, the Council. And everyone gets to be a badass.

Khemrys chuckled, sealing the last of the small jars she was working on with wax and intricately knotted, colored strings. "My last gifting to the lady did not go well," she pointed out. Not well at all given the sour looks and the fact the woman practically danced when Khemrys had moved to the apartment. Khemrys was still at the Circus, often, to cook and for the dance nights that they al enjoyed but...

...well, the space hopefully had the woman forgetting about her?

"Oui," Jean Claude admitted, running fingers along plants. They'd come to look over the property and the books, a pleasant outing, honestly, to check in on their newest holding. And on Khemrys. He was a little uneasy having her away from the Circus honestly, something neither he nor Asher could pinpoint so here they were on an excuse. "But this she will not know is from you. I ask you to make something on my behalf as a gift."

She moved smoothly from sealing the bruise balm to the next chore of blending a headache powder as she considered that, "I am uncertain if that will work, high lord. My stitching is...distinctive at this point?"

"She has a point, I have to keep my nice clothes at the Circus now," Nathanial pointed out, lounging under the sun lamps. It was his evening off and he'd been intending to trade bread recipes with Khem but then the vamps had wandered in!

"We were afraid that might be the case," Asher admitted, looking up from the sale ledger. "And I suggested a leatherworker instead..."

"Aye, I've no deft hand with leather," Khemrys admitted. "No matter it may act as fabric at times, the thickness throws me?" No matter what they might intend for Anita?

"Ah," Jean Claude looked disappointed but not entirely surprised at least? She was grateful not to fail him in something he truly hoped for!

"May I at least offer some su-" she blinked, freezing a moment, herbs actually trickling from between her fingers. What was that? A feeling, nothing more, but one that slid along her spine like ice, then the front door chimed, someone throwing themselves inside with a pained gasp. She dropped the herbs entire to run for the shop entry, seeing a young rat on the floor, writhing. "Lords, MY KIT!"

The two vamps blinked, uncertain as to where such might be but Nathaniel rolled to his feet and grabbed a bag, tossing it, "what happened?"

"...he told me to run...get here..." the young man gasped, fighting a shift. It nearly took him, but he managed to pull his leg inside the shop and his body eased immediately, some boon or blessing by crossing under Gunnora's symbol no doubt. "Rafael said to get safe, but I didn't get far enough...here's safe..."

"Here is safe," Khemrys confirmed, feeling along the boy's limb's for injury. No blood, no tearing...

"From what?" Jean Claude's voice rolled dangerously, making the boy wince and curl on himself.

"The Circus. They took the Circus, they were calling us..."

"...oh shit," Nathaniel blinked.

"You will stay here," Khemrys noted grimly to the boy. "Upstairs, there is stew. Do not leave until I return." That said she was standing to grab a heavy apron with pockets and a proper backpack to stuff things in.

"You will not be going," Jean Claude noted.

"They will need a healer, high lord. And you may need blood," she noted in the calm voice of a battlefield medic. "We do not seem to have time to argue."

No, no time at all if the Circus was in danger. That was a home. Not her only home now, but certainly Jean Claude and Asher's, and it was NOT to be taken.

They'd see what the may when they arrived hmmm?

Comments

[nathanielgrayson]

Nathaniel was already on his phone, texting rapidly to Micah. He hadn't felt any pull, but if Micah was holding out against a call he'd be protected, but only as long as Micah could hold.

"The leopards were called," he said in a soft voice. "Micah's fighting it, but..." he looked up with worry at Jean Claude and Asher.

Jean Claude seemed distant for a moment and then swore angrily. "Fils de pute, answer me, Richard!" He pulled out his own phone, sending a message as well. "I cannot reach any of our people within the Circus. Richard is blocking me out so I do not know if the wolves have been..." His phone buzzed and he glanced back down. "He is trying to stand alone against them, the fool. We may not battle our wolves this eve, but we may not be able to call them to our aid, either."

[homeless_pard]

"Then you may need me all the more," she pointed out grimly, hopping up on a counter, decorum be damned, as she pulled a heavy, earthenware jar down. "It is a kindness I have been working with Lillian to make medicines that work on shifters. I may be able to drop them into a sleep with this at least." Better than fighting one hoped.

"Lord Requiem stands yet, I would know if he fell." At least she thought she would? "Lord Jason I do not know..."

[nathanielgrayson]

Jean Claude gave her an odd look. "You can sense Requiem?" He had been blocked from his people, but perhaps whatever magic dwelt in her could bypass their enemies.

He turned to Asher. "Will you take to the air? See if any more of our people have been able to flee?" Asher nodded and was out the door in a blur.

Nathaniel shakily rose, raising hands to spot Khemrys as she climbed and offering to take hold of jars as she sought medicines that could help.

[homeless_pard]

"...not if I think overly much on such?" she admitted. "It is simply a knowing, and I do not know if he is injured?" Just...alive. In as much as the Night Walkers were. She was happy to pass things to Nat, then pointed where another backpack was he could take into battle!


"Like it is because we share a hearth often?" Not a connection point she shared with others yet it seemed, though she might know if Beryl were to fall?

"What are we like to encounter, high lord?"

[nathanielgrayson]

Jean Claude, forced himself to sit for a moment, considering. "I am not yet sure. If the rats have been taken, Padma has likely returned as he may call all manner of beasts to his aid. Likewise with the wolves and leopards." He shook his head. "Belle may also call leopards to her aid, and I do not doubt she would take any opportunity to take back those she has lost to us."

Nathaniel paled at the mention of Padma, packing the backpack with what Khemrys handed to him with shaking hands.

"Apart from those two, I do not know what may await us within. There are many in the Council that wish us ill."

Meanwhile, inside the Circus

[jasonpschuyler]

The attack began subtly: an almost imperceptible dulling of the link to the master who was not within. No one within could feel the call being sent outward to the lycanthrope communities, and no one could feel the answering call of their group to band together. It was quiet and peaceful within the Circus.

Even Jason, frustrated by Anita's attempt to feed the ardeur with him, while he was sleeping, no less, was beginning to drift back to sleep in the quiet.

By the time they noticed the invaders, it was too late. Jason woke just as several large wereleopards burst in. He didn't have time to shift, and he was still drowsy from blood loss and whatever psychic weight was gently smothering them all, but he wasn't about to go down without a fight.

By the time he was dragged to the donor's quarters he was already badly bruised and bleeding, along with several others. He blinked through warm blood trickling down his face, trying to see who had been taken. Who had even been inside?

Re: Meanwhile, inside the Circus

[homeless_pard]

To say Requiem was displeased with Anita was an understatement. It was NOT his turn or time in the lists at all having fed the woman the past three days straight, a fact that he was intending to discuss with Jean Claude when he returned to the Circus, so when he felt her hunger seeking outward he made himself...scarce.

As scarce as a vampire with a job could anyway. He was in the security office in fact, going over something or other when he felt a sharper edge to the hunger. One he recognized. Belle.

::Hello my sweet,:: the voice purred, pouring into the gaps that had been left since he last felt her touch. No. NO NO NO NO NO. He reached out to slap the alarm button so at least those inside the walls might have some kind of chance...

...though a slim one. He was willing to bet most had already been 'handled' before the bitch said hello. A growl to himself and he was snagging weapons before heading into the hall. Two swords to sling around his waist, one edged in silver, one not, they'd see what was necessary in getting OUT to Jean Claude.

Re: Meanwhile, inside the Circus

[jasonpschuyler]

In truth, the attack had been swift enough that there was hardly any sign of chaos, at least on that level of the Circus, as Belle had wisely begun sending in her leopards before reaching out to her former subject.

She was not yet in the Circus or that sudden touch of her hunger would have been enough to overtake them all. Still, his way was already barred by leopards he didn't know...and by rats that he did.

Jason had heard the alarm sound just as he fell under claws and blows, curling in on himself when he could no longer fight them off. It sounded still while he was left crumpled in a bleeding mess on the floor in the donor room with the others. He knew Jean Claude wasn't there: he and Asher had gone to see Khemrys. Did any of the other vampires make it out? He could hear the sounds of fighting still, and he closed his eyes, trying to reserve what little strength he had left.

Re: Meanwhile, inside the Circus

[homeless_pard]

Damn it all, Padma. Hopefully the rats would forgive him, if they lived, the silver edged sword he would try to keep at leopards...

...try being the operative term. He just had to get out, far enough to run, to regroup. Damn it all. ::This was a poor move on your part,:: he snarled.

::Oh no not at all lover,:: Belle laughed back easily. ::It's all well planned.

"WHO ELSE?" was here to 'entertain'?

Re: Meanwhile, inside the Circus

[jasonpschuyler]

Slowly, more and more captives were brought in. They were watched by the wereleopards, but a short time after Jason was brought in he noticed some of the local wererats taking up guard positions around the room. He recognized one of them when they made eye contact with each other. The look on the young rat's face told him what he needed to know: the rats must have fallen. There was an almost apologetic look on his face, but Jason knew that if he made any sort of move the rat would be compelled to shoot him by whoever was controlling him.

Jason shuddered, knowing that in all likelihood that someone was Padma. Which meant the Council was once again in St. Louis. But which Council members plagued them this time?

Assault on the Circus

[homeless_pard]

Jean Claude had thought it best to travel fast and so she had been carried by Requiem as the lords...ran. The term she was using in her head was running, as certainly men could not so easily fly. This was well as it meant there were hands to support when they hit the edge of the Circus lands ad the roiling stench of the Left Hand hit her like a wave.

She wavered on her feet a moment, gagging, then tried to focus past such, "A fell foe, these..." she murmured.

"Oh yes, but our...great lords," Requiem noted grimly, steadying her at the less than glorious edge where asphalt and parking lot met cracked sidewalks and struggling weeds before the approach to the Circus gate. The fact she could sense them made him glance at Jean Claude again, wondering if they could use this somehow...

Re: Assault on the Circus

[nathanielgrayson]

Nathaniel glanced at her questioningly, subtly scenting the air. "You smell something bad, Khemrys?"

Jean Claude himself was scanning the parking lot, standing quietly for a few minutes with Asher by his side. Before long, Micah could be seen approaching with a handful of his people. Jean Claude nodded in greeting. "Micah."

"Jean Claude." Micah glanced at the group, offering a faint smile to Nathaniel and Khemrys despite the line of tension between his eyes. "We'll hold back here and try to see to anyone who makes it out or we see injured. We won't be able to get much closer until Padma or Belle stop calling the leopards."

Asher nodded and looked to Jean Claude. "And the wolves?"

"Nearby. Richard has finally allowed the marks to be open between us and I've been able to bolster his resistance to Padma. He and his people will accompany us inside."

Re: Assault on the Circus

[homeless_pard]

"The left hand path," Khemrys admitted, pulling a kerchief from her pocket to tie around her face. "Heavy as corpse stench." She wasn't sure how the others weren't gagging honestly.

"About time," Requiem muttered about Richard, but he stood neutral at Khemrys's shoulder despite that. "One way in," he noted grimly.

"I'd pay a great deal for a canister of mustard gas..." to roll down the stairs in welcome.

::Ah but lover. Why would you hurt my toys?:: Belle purred.

Re: Assault on the Circus

[nathanielgrayson]

Jean Claude and Asher both stiffened as they felt Belle's power and glanced at Requiem uneasily. They knew his weakness to the ardeur... Jean Claude made a flicking motion with his hand, sending a whip crack of energy outward.
::No games, Belle. I am here for my people.::

::Your people are within, Jean Claude. Come inside and claim them...if they wish to be claimed:: There was a flash in their minds: a pale body writhing beneath her...Anita's body. There was a breathy cry of ecstasy as the body stiffened, reaching out to her with such need...and the power of the ardeur swelling as they both swallowed it down, a whirlwind of feeding that screamed through the links between them.

Jean Claude staggered, eyes wide as it swept over him, and then Richard was at his shoulder. "I didn't come here for this shit," Richard growled.

Re: Assault on the Circus

[homeless_pard]

Requiem growled and bent his head to sniff Khemrys's hair, shuddering at that wash, ::no.:: Just no.

::OH? And what puppet do you hide behind this time lover, let me see,:: she laughed, brushing protests aside to peek through eyes. ::Oh my, she'd make a good toy for my newest...:: Anita hated the healer, and treats to newly bonded helped so much...

::NO!:: He wanted, so badly, to sweep forward down the stairs into darkness to fight that voice but...his place had been told to him.

Firmly.

Khemrus glanced between everyone and fingers her hag, "shall...shall we?"

Recovery

[jasonpschuyler]

It was dark and Jason screamed. They were lying beside him and he could feel his fingers had stiffened, contracting painfully into a clawed shape. His feet, too, and his neck and sides... every muscle seemed to spasm at once.

He'd been dying. Why wasn't he dead yet? So much pain...why couldn't they just let him die?

Their smiles as he screamed...

He could still feel their bodies against his, and he could do nothing. Nothing but scream.

Re: Recovery

[homeless_pard]

Ah, nightmares Requiem could recognize, and he reached out with a cool hand to touch Jason's forehead, "wake up," he was no Jean Claude, sure, but he could be commanding when he wished?

And some nightmares it was best to wake from.

"Deep breath, feel your muscles and body working properly."

Re: Recovery

[jasonpschuyler]

His eyes shot open when he felt the cool hand touch him. His spasming muscles wouldn't obey him, but he had enough control of his upper body to fling his arm up, trying to keep them off of him.

It hurt to move like that, but the panic that had filled him before he'd lost consciousness was back. He may be dying, but he didn't want them touching him while he did.

The movement startled Nathaniel, who woke with wide-eyed shock for a moment before gently trying to restrain him. "Jay, it's Nat. You're safe." There still wasn't any great place to grab him, and Jason continued to flail in panic. "Jay, stop, you'll hurt Khemrys."

Re: Recovery

[homeless_pard]

Requiem caught the flailing hand as a matter of course, also concerned but..."I will be releasing you Jason, if you calm."

The commotion barely seemed to register to Khem, but she did roll over and tuck her nose against Jason's other arm, breath warm against is skin?

Re: Recovery

[jasonpschuyler]

It was hard to focus. He felt warmth, but pain. It sounded like Nathaniel's voice beside him, pleading with him. Maybe he finally was dying. He felt the cold, unyielding hand catch his arm and he cried out.

And warm breath on his arm. He was trembling and crying out against the two that held him. But warmth breath. His breath came in ragged pants as he tried to turn his head to see where the warm breath was coming from, but it sent a lance of pain through his neck and he screamed again, in fear and pain.

Nathaniel pressed his face close to Jason's, pleading over and over in a soft tone. "You're safe, Jay. You're safe."

A private moment

[homeless_pard]

It was probably a full two days later before Khemrys actually cracked her eyes open and grumbled softly. Oddly, she wasn't a morning person, she was just usually up early enough most didn't get to realize that fact? But she was warm, and comfortable and...

...and...

...not alone?

Um?

Yes, that was a hand patting his belly in confusion!

Re: A private moment

[jasonpschuyler]

There was a sleepy sound at that touch; Jason didn't stay out that long from being rolled, but Jean Claude had been good enough to come back before dawn that after first night of recovery and knock him out again, and likewise the second night.

His hand had been healing, but it still wasn't something to look at, and it fumbled sleepily at the hand patting his belly.

Re: A private moment

[homeless_pard]

Yes, definitely a person. Why was there a person in her bed?

Wait, was this her bed? It felt too large...ah, wait, Jason's bed. She recognized the feel after a moment, "lord?"

Re: A private moment

[jasonpschuyler]

There was another sleepy sound from Jason. If he was pulling himself back to wakefulness, it was an uphill climb. There was a long pause, but the steady breathing shifted slightly and the fingers stopped their fumbling for a moment.

"Hmm?" Was about all he could manage so far.

Re: A private moment

[homeless_pard]

"You're well?" she breathed, fingers turning under his to hold his hand gently. Or better than he was anyway, far better.

She wanted to sit up and check him but...that involved moving and she was comfy. Bah.