001 - At the crossroads one more time

[canislaconis]

[When he wakes, he's still only half-aware. Sprawled on the bed, one arm strewn over the empty mattress at his side, his first thought is that Salem had gotten up, for some reason. Blearily, he peeked open an eye to see if she was still in the room. And, for a moment, the only hint that something was off was the vague sense of uneasiness in his stomach. But it nagged enough for him to keep staring, trying to piece together what was off.

Slowly, the wrongness began to take shape. The empty bed was cold. The covers were undisturbed. The furniture, impersonal and empty, didn't make up the familiar sillouhettes that made up their quarters in their cramped apartment. And, as he propped himself up, a low growl starting in his throat, even the smell was wrong.

She wasn't here.

Here wasn't here. Or, at least, it wasn't where it should be.

He doesn't speak to the grimmoire. It doesn't even occur to him that there would be one to speak to. In seconds, he's up on his feet and stalking into the halls, his bare feet practically silent against the floor. With his teeth bared--fangs showing--and no sunglasses to hide his pale, wolfish eyes, there's no question that he is neither human nor remotely happy.

Hello, Accord]

Comments

[ladiesss]

[something around here feels like a werewolf and she doesn't like it. reminds her too much of Dave, that fucker.

but curiosity killed the cat, as it were, so she can be seen popping her head into the hallway to get a look... and then... disappearing around the corner again.

subtle, yes? :I]

[canislaconis]

[he's on guard, and already looking for someone to target, so that motion catches his eyes instantly. Snarling, he picked up speed, his cautious tread hastening to catch her before she could disappear]

Hey!

[ladiesss]

[oh and he is as angry as he'd looked, fantastic.

she keeps... walking... down the hallway...? but turns around so that she can walk backwards, in case this thing tries to run at her at a breakneck speed.]

H-Hey...?

[doesn't help that she speaks in a whisper, either. this is all kinds of good ideas.]

[canislaconis]

[Thankfully, his hearing is relatively good, but it wouldn't really have mattered if he heard her or not. There's no mistaking the wariness in her expression...and the lack of weaponry in her hands. Not that it meant she wasn't dangerous. He'd learned that the hard way. More than once. But it's enough to keep him from charging her.

Not enough to keep his eyes from narrowing dangerously, though, as he tries to put a little less distance between them.]

What is this?! Where the hell am I?

[ladiesss]

Thaaaat is a really good question, and I don't have the answer.

[she'll... slow down... a little.]

So totally not worth looking big and scary at me, aight?

[forourqueen]

[Pissy, growling people with wolf eyes? Surely they need undead stalking!

This one looked ready to pop, and Gabriel kind of wanted to be there when it happened. So he trails along, happily hidden in stealth.]

[canislaconis]

[He might be hidden from sight....but not from smell.

Tiered ignores it at first. After all, he's paying closer attention to sounds and motions than he is to scents, but that's just....pungent. And persistent. And there's nothing in the hall that seems like it should be giving off that odor.

After he's turned two corners and still finding no source, his steps slow. His teeth are still visible, fangs bared, and he still looks ready to hit something, but he's wary. His senses are telling him something is wrong, and he's not going any further until he figures it out]

[forourqueen]

[Smart man. Gabriel liked that.

He was not about to show himself close to this one, though. Tabby had already nearly ripped his face off for 'surprising' her, after all.

Instead, he moves into a corner and drops the invisibility.]

You look tensed.

[canislaconis]

[being distant is a good idea, probably, from the way Tiered whirls to face Gabriel, his bright eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. He growls, half crouching as if to attack, but...for now...he stays in place. He can move pretty fast, and the....thing...is in the corner.

God.

That smells awful.]

Who are you?!

[....What are you?]

[tabbytastic]

[some people just know when there is something new in the castle. They pay such close attention to the residents, that any new smell, new shift in the energy, is like a red flag being pinned up in their territory...


...and, while Tabby might sometimes be all over shit like that, tonight she's just lazy and full. Heading inside after a good night of hunting, she's just kind of going to go wandering into this guy's path on total accident.

Whoops.]

[canislaconis]

[by the time he's found the stairs leading down to the main floor, he's agitated. There are too many corridors here. Too many rooms. Whoever (or whatever) took him could be anywhere, and there is nothing familiar for him to latch on to. He'd managed to get a glimpse out of a window...and the complete lack of the city around him left him feeling sick, as well as furious. Just how far away was he?

So when he rounds a corner and nearly runs straight into the oblivious vampire, the reaction is immediate. Growling, he stepped into her path, fangs visible.]

You.

[tabbytastic]

Me.

[the answer is sarcastic, automatic, while she blinks and focuses on this stranger who is stepping into her way--

...Oh, and then she sees his mouth.

A hilariously brief moment later, barely enough time for a breath, she's grimacing and hopping back away from him like he's on fire]

--Oh, shit.

[canislaconis]

[it doesn't really give the impression of innocence, and as fast as she's hopping back, he's leaping forward, intent on taking her down if that's what it takes to get answers]

[wordmiser]

[Jinx hadn't meant to run so fast, but she was getting desperate. Slamming through the wall, she stumbles straight into his path.]

[canislaconis]

[He's expecting a lot of things. Someone suddenly running at him through a wall isn't one of them.

He's sturdy enough that the collision doesn't do much more than make him stumble, but the low growl that had been building in his throat ends with a sudden grunt as he reaches out to catch her arms and steady her.

It's instinct, and one that might have quickly shifted back to attacking, except....well...she didn't exactly look threatening.

For a moment, all he can do is look at her blankly. It's his confused face, really]

[wordmiser]

[Her head snaps up, and she stares at him with eyes wide from surprise. Jerking back, she phases out of his hands instinctually.

Who are you. Where did you come from.

Why didn't she look where she was going.]

[heresyandlace]

[you know what goes great with werewolves? Dragons. It's a fact.

Especially a curious dragon, who just might be casually following the sounds of snarly anger. Just taking his time, wandering along the halls, keeping a fair distance between them... but steadily picking up his casual pace to gradually close the distance.

Maybe he can get a look at the guy.]

[canislaconis]

[When Tiered comes into sight, there's no mistaking the tension there, even if Tek doesn't have a perfect view of his expression. His shoulders are knotted and stiff with wariness, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides as he moves.

At first, he doesn't hear the other approaching. His hearing is sharp, and he's definitely looking out, but he's not exactly a match for anyone that adept at stealth.

But with the werewolf on high alert, Tek's chances of staying unnoticed went down drastically with every step he took closer.]

[heresyandlace]

[welp, it's not like he's being as sneaky as he could be. And it's not like he ever runs into anyone really interesting (or dangerous) around here.

...So, he's just going to keep on wandering closer. Because it's obviously a good idea]

[canislaconis]

[there's very little warning when he does realize he's being followed.

He takes a few more steps as if he hasn't noticed before whirling, pale eyes quickly trying to assess who's behind him. There isn't time for more than a few, snap judgments. The man was well dressed, thin, with an almost...snakey....expression. It's enough that Tiered, in his anger, isn't really waiting to find out if he's really a threat.

Lunging back towards his newly acquired shadow, he went for the first and best target he could think of. His throat.

At least it was with his hand, and not with his teeth]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[Robin was probably just stalking someone waiting around for one of his buddies when this really angry guy comes stalking down the hallway.

which is really more than enough reason for him to pick at him. he's not choosy.]

And what did the place cough up this time?

[canislaconis]

[if Robin had been only a few feet away, it might have been avoided...but he hadn't been expecting to turn a corner and find someone that close...and he isn't really taking the time to politely ask directions.

Almost at the first syllable, there was a growl...and he lunged at Robin, intent on pinning him against the wall.

At least he's not intending to cause damage? But he doesnt' want his chance for answers to get away]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[oh--Robin scoots to the side, a little too fast to be considered "normal". it's just enough that his lunge is rendered pointless, but he's keeping himself very much in range of this guy's reach.]

...Hey. [nice to meet you too.]

[bandagesplz]

[somewhere down on one of the lower staircases, there's this bleedy-looking kid drawing all over the walls in crayon. his general injury levels are at about medium--he's got some open scratches on his face and the bandages around his arms are unraveling and should really be changed.

the drawings aren't... easily identifiable. just kid scribbles. he's humming something that sounds suspiciously like 'sweet dreams', made even creepier by the fact that the humming is telepathic and therefor actually only exists inside their heads.

so that's a thing.]

[canislaconis]

[at first, he doesn't notice that it's only in his head. He simply hears humming...and then comes to a dead stop once he sees a child.

And smells blood.

His growl breaks off as he stops to stare. ......it is remarkably difficult to stay angry when suddenly presented with a humming....and potentially injured...child.

He is, to say the least, confused]