ROLEPLAY HQ - night-hunters

January 20th, 2025 A nation on the brink of collapse. Food shortages, over taxation and an endless wave of violence has transformed the United States into a hellscape. Friends and neighbors turn against one another while criminals take advantage of the chaos. The city of of Los Angeles is no better off by than anywhere else. Despite the supply of weapons and food, the people find themselves completely overwhelmed by the criminal element and caring for the refugees seeking shelter. The police had temporary help from the national guard, but they were called away to deal with civil unrest raging around the country. However, a new problem arose when bodies started piling up. There were no shortage of violence and death, but there was something unusual: they were drained of blood. The attacks seemed random at first, but it was quickly pieced together that the victims were criminals. And according to witnesses, the killer possessed seemingly supernatural speed, strength and endurance. One witness described the killer as having pale skin and black eyes. Both citizens and the media has dubbed the mysterious vigilante killer as The Night Haunter. The police have made several attempts to capture, but to no avail. Eventually they figured it's best to concentrate on bigger issues the city is facing. Criminals in particular now actually rest easy when the sun rises. They know that somewhere in the darkness, the Night Haunter is waiting to strike. (edited)

8:15 AM

@Al the Killer

The morning Iris saw the first body was not one she'd soon forget. The call had come in around five in the morning, before her alarm, insisting that she "has got to see this". Her secretary had always been prone to exaggeration, but his persistence even after she had said to have the night staff put the body in cold storage had struck her as unusual enough to comply. So she had arrived at an absurd hour, made her way between the armored DMEC Fleet vehicles. The irony of putting armor on a vehicle meant to transport corpses had not been lost on her when she had first started, but it hadn't taken long for her to be glad for the additional protection. She walked with a slight limp, the prosthetic that served as her left leg nowadays never failing to cause pain in the residual limb during the first hour of wear each morning. She took the elevator to the morgue. It was far too early to walk down the stairs. Once she'd locked herself inside and pulled on her gloves, she turned on the voice recorder she used for her autopsies and looked at the chart she had been given. She started with the usual information: date, time, cadaver identification (John Doe, at the time), approximate age, then got into the details. The more she found, the more questions she had, and the more she saw what the fuss had been about. Exsanguination was common to some extent. Total loss of all blood was not. She made note of any markings on the body or damage to the corpse's organs, establishing an approximate cause and time of death as one thought filled her mind: How had the killer drained all of his blood? At the end of the autopsy, she set the medical chart aside and rolled the computer chair she'd claimed over to her desk. This warranted a call to the police precinct nearest to the body's found location. @Hacky Slashy

Desk sergeant Jonathan "Cutty" Maxwell was going about his day. It was always a busy day at precint 12. He recalled that there was a lot of buzz going around the latest body found. He was more than content to answer phone calls and deal with people. He was filling out out more paperwork as he received a call. "Desk sergeant. How can I help?" @Al the Killer

Iris kept an eye on the corpse as she spoke. Naturally, it did not move. "This is Dr. Ellsworth, calling from the medical examiner's office," she said. "I finished the autopsy for this morning's John Doe. We're still running photos through the database to get an identification, but you'll want to see the results." @Hacky Slashy

"Howdy. I'm gonna transfer you to Detective Quince. He's the one on the case." Cutty proceeded to transfer her to Quince's office number. After a few rings, Quince picked it up. "Detective Quince. I understand you have the results?" Detective Quince was still going over the witness statement. Said witness was a homeless man who was sleeping on the sidewalk when he woke up and saw a man trying to assault a woman. He would've tried to intervene, but another figure came upon the two. Without effort, it dragged the man off, screaming into the darkness. The woman didn't stick around, likely a sex worker working the corner. Unfortunately for Quince, the homeless man liked to drink. Unfortunately, he was the only witness they had unless he can track the woman down. Quince gave a heavy sigh. 'Like we don't have enough to deal with.'

7:07 PM

@Al the Killer

Iris waited for the detective on the case to answer. When he did, she sat up straight as though in a professional meeting, despite the conversation occurring over the phone and her therefore remaining unseen. "I do," she confirmed. "When you get the chance, come down to the coroner's office to discuss it. All I can say over the phone is that we can confirm foul play. Which, I am sure, you already know." There was a knock on her door, half a second before an assistant poked her head in. The younger employee held up a paper, then gestured toward the body. Enough to get the point across. Iris stood up slowly, right leg touching the ground first, followed by the left, more carefully. "And I suspect we also have a positive ID on the victim, though we will have to contact next-of-kin to confirm." She waved the assistant over so she could check the paper. @Hacky Slashy

Detective Quince exited the precint and went to his car. He started it and drove to the coroner's office. The streets were more busy nowadays. Refugees from all over the surrounding area were attempting to escape the violence and find shelter in Los Angeles. Drones flew overhead, patrolling the skys and keeping an eye on the ground. He made his way to a checkpoint. An armored officer stepped up to Quince. "Id and business." Quince flashed his badge and was promptly let through. After 30 more minutes, Quinced pulled into the parking lot near the coroner's office and stepped out. He went inside and greeted the assistant. "Detective Quince, hear to see the coroner." After he was let through, the brunette, male Detective greeted Iris. "Dr. Ellsworth? What do we got?"

7:05 AM

@Al the Killer

There was always a good chunk of time between the call and any given detective's arrival. Plenty of time to type up the written copy of the report. It was finished and proofread by the time Quince arrived, and she was able to greet him at the door to the morgue. "Detective Quince," she greeted in return, then turned toward the refrigeration unit. "He's been tentatively identified as Wayne McCall. You've probably heard of him, right? Extensive record of arrests for sexual assault, but never successfully prosecuted." She pulled out the drawer with his numerical identifier to reveal the corpse. "Looks like someone caught him in the act this time, and drained him off all his blood." She pointed toward the neck. "We'll want to check these against any dental records we might have on file; he was bitten around the jugular in his final moments. What's interesting aboutthat is there's no sign of any sexual motive, unlike most homicides where the victim is bitten in this manner. No defense wounds either. Even if he knew his attacker, it normally takes a while to completely drain a body of blood, so he'd be expected to fight back at some point. Unless he didn't get the chance to." She adjusted her glasses, looking down at the corpse. "I've never seen anything quite like it. Did you hear from any witnesses?" @Hacky Slashy

"You could say I have. Hell one time we had him by the balls, but he got off on a technicality, all because the arresting officer didn't read him his rights. Didn't help he and his buddies roughed him up in lock up. I've seen some strange shit in all my years, but never did I see someone just completely drained." Quince took a look at the corpse again, noting the puncture marks. "Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy if you ask me. And to answer your question, we're tracking down the woman that was attacked. She didn't exactly stick around. And the other witness, a homeless man going for a nap in the sidewalk. He got up and saw the scuffle, and Mr. McCall being dragged off. Problem is, the fella liked to drink. Even had a big bottle of vodka, which he took a huge swig right in front of me. He swears that the other guy was literally the color white. Not Caucasian just to clarify. Also he had a hooddie on. That's all we got out of him." @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at Quince as she listened to the witness's description. It was like something out of a cheesy paperback horror novel, to be entirely honest. She would know; she'd read entirely too many of those. Was currently in the middle of reading one. Would continue to read them. "So let me get this straight... We're looking for a guy with inhumanly white skin and sharp teeth who comes out at night and can completely drain someone of blood in a matter of seconds by biting them?" Despite the grim subject matter, her lips turned upward in an amused expression. "According to your witness, our prime suspect is a vampire." She straightened up and closed the drawer. "In all seriousness, I hope you find the other witness, and she's sober enough to give a better description. The written report will be with the secretary on your way out, pictures included. We'll get back to you if dental and DNA analyses yield anything further. Already sent those to their respective labs." @Hacky Slashy

"Maybe it was count Dracula!" Quince said, joking along with her. Well, thanks for the info doc. I'll be on my way." Quince thanked the doctor and exited the room. He took the report with him and drove back to the precint. As he drove, he turned on the radio and flipped through the channels as the news caught his attention. "President Robert Smith critically wounded after assassination attempt at Camp David. Both American Military Patriots and U.S. Armed forces on high alert seeking the culprit." Quince was in shock as he listened to the breaking news. "Like we didn't have enough problems as it is." He entered the precint and dropped off the report. He was about to clock out when an officer informed him a witness to the attack had come forward. She came to office as Quince offered her some water. "Whenever you're ready, tell me what happened." She recalled walking home that night from work since her car was still in the shop. As she was walking she was tackled to the ground by Wayne McCall. He turned her to face him. He was undoing her pants right as he was yanked off. She looked up and saw he was being dragged off, the assailant had Wayne by the neck, using his teeth. "And his skin was just white, the color white." Quince jotted down the notes and thanked her for the cooperation. He had an officer drive her home. He decided to stay and look over the notes. "Hmm....so what, Dracula strolled into town?" Quince thought to himself as he studied the notes. @Al the Killer

The reports from the tests were interesting - no known records matched anything that could identify the murderer, and there was some doubt that the teeth were even human. But she had other bodies to look at, as they seemed to pile up by the day. She'd spent her breaks avoiding her coworkers' political talk, a nuisance that always grew around this time of the year, only to be confronted while leaving the building with a giant billboard of what she had really wished to avoid. Re-elect Craig Widmore, district attorney, accompanied by the DA's false smile and some cliche, non-polarizing slogan she never bothered to read. It was absurd but, every time she passed an oversized memorial to his ego, she couldn't help but feel watched. Like he was making sure she kept silent about what could ruin him, if people were inclined to believe anything private citizens said about powerful officials. The secrets she had nearly been forced to carry to her early grave. For now, she simply got in her car and left. ~~~ The next call came in around midnight. She hadn't even had the chance to mutter out a groggy greeting before the transport driver on the other end spoke. "We got a call about another body you'll want to see," the driver said, her voice betraying an excitement that hardly seemed appropriate for a murder investigation. Iris squinted in the darkness at her glasses on the nightstand and prosthetic propped up against it. So close, but they felt so far away. "Why." "According to the patrol officer who found it, this is a lot like the McCall case." Iris fumbled out of bed, put weight on the phantom feeling to her left, and tumbled to the floor. "Fu-" She caught herself verbally, though not physically. "I mean, fine. Don't move the body. Give me the address. I'll be at the scene." @Hacky Slashy

Night has fallen. It is time to hunt again. Adam went about the routine he has been intimately familiar with for 5 years. Like always he stuck to the rooftops and the darkness. Like a ghost skulking through the night, his travels have brought him to Los Angeles this time. His method is patrol, casually observe and use his heightened senses to seek out prey. What little remains of his humanity picks his prey carefully. All his life, he has witnessed innocents being preyed upon by others. But ever since the incident, he would make these human monsters feel the same fear their victims feel. He reached a rooftop of some night club. He observed the peope coming in and out, but he quickly sighted a man being robbed of his car a few blocks away. He stumbled upon the scene and saw that the carjacker had a pistol out. "What else you got for me, huh?!" The man was on his knees, pleading to be spared. Before either could react, Adam pounced on the carjacker. With strong claws, they dug into the forehead and held him in place as he bit down on his throat. Blood poured down his throat, like the cream soda he once enjoyed. Adam ripped away from his neck. The head was almost decapitated as Adam drug him away into an alley. Adam promptly drained the carjacker dry as the man dialed 911. Adam left the body right as the police arrived. The patrol officer didn't even get a glimpse of him climbing to the rooftop. He decided to observe the commotion from afar.

@Al the Killer

Iris arrived around twenty minutes later. She'd brought her cane with her, in case sleep deprivation threw her balance off. One of the patrol officers held out a hand to help her over the yellow tape that encircled the crime scene. She gave a nod of appreciation and slowly lowered herself to a crouch next to the body. The transport driver carried over a box of disposable gloves so she could slip on a pair. She didn't need to check for vital signs, but did anyway, as a matter of process. There was no way this guy had survived, as his head was barely hanging by a thread. She glanced over at the investigators, most searching for evidence, a couple standing around and waiting for a task. "I'll need a light and a camera over here," she called to a few of the more idle investigators. The streetlights caused inconvenient shadows, and she wanted to see the wound as precisely as possible. @Hacky Slashy

One of the investigators came over and lit his flashlight on the corpse. "Mother of God. I mean according to the witness, this asshole was trying to rob him, but this is too much." Detective Quince was also present, interviewing the witness. Thankfully he was sober this time, reported the same exact thing. He came over to the doctor examining the body. "Fancy meeting you here again, doc." Meanwhile, Adam was viewing the aftermath from the rooftop, right across the street. His heightened sense of hearing allowed him to eavesdrop on the investigation. @Al the Killer

Iris looked up at the investigator who spoke. "Maybe our killer was hungry." Mostly a joke, but seeing those teeth marks, and the complete lack of blood... maybe. She pointed at the clearest marking. "Get a picture of this, and a DNA swab from around the bite wound." Most of the genetic material would most likely be from the blood, but there was also a chance of saliva. She lifted the victim's arm, testing flexibility and rigidity. "Given the total loss of blood, algor and rigor mortis will have to do the heavy lifting in terms of confirming time of death. Pallor and livor mortis will be nonexistent. Death was recent, within the last hour." She looked up at Detective Quince as he approached. "We have to stop meeting like this, Quince. Every time we do, someone turns up dead." She turned her eyes back toward the body as she checked for more wounds. "These slash marks on the forehead are interesting, too. Like something sharp was used to hold him in place. Almost like a beast's claws, though the distancing is about what you'd expect from the size of a human hand." @Hacky Slashy

"Looks like Dracula struck again. Either he really like this one or hated him." Detective Quince looked at the body, especially the marks on the head. "Maybe our guy's a Freddy Fan. Got himself some razor glove." Quince looked at the victim one last time. The guy was completely drained. Not one drop of blood pouring out. 'Don't know whether to be relieved or horrified at the lack of blood. It's like we're in a bonafied monster movie.' Quince thinks to himself as he turned to the coroner. "According to our witness, perp here was trying to take his car. Sheer luck the killer intervened. If I had a quarter for every time a victim was killed..." Quince trailed off.

8:00 AM

@Al the Killer

Quince's words seemed far-off to Iris. Those scratch marks were too rough around the edges to have made by any sort of sharp metal. There was more at work here, but she couldn't name what. For now, she kept any opinions to herself: the dead man may have deserved it, same as McCall, but her responsibility was to keep her head down, do her job, and not give anyone reason to question her credibility. "Luck for the witness. Less so for him." She gestured toward the body. "Anyway, the cause of death is likely exsanguination, though the sheer force used may have killed him first. I'll know more after the full autopsy." As she removed her gloves and prepared to stand back up, she couldn't shake the feeling once more that someone or something was watching. It was different from usual: not the trauma-induced fear that had followed her for the past few years, but something more... immediate. She looked up, toward one of the nearby rooftops. Of course, from where she was, it was impossible to see anyone on top of one of the roofs, even if they could see her. "So, getting down here might have been a mistake," she said, to excuse the fact that she was staring at the sky. She held a hand up. "Arm, please?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince complied and helped the doctor up. "Somebody load this body up." Civilians gathered around trying to see what the commotion was. "Move along, nothing to see here." The officers said to the gathering crowd. "Like we don't have enough to deal with. The only bright side is so far nobody innocent got hurt. But how long until that happens." Quince then turned to the coroner. "So....does the sanguination help or hinder your job, if you don't mind me asking." Adam meanwhile decided to leave the area. He eventually found an abandoned warehouse. He made his way to basement and rested. He now had to wait for nightfall once again. @Al the Killer

Once she was standing again, Iris picked up her cane. "Thanks." She took a step back so the transport driver and another employee could load the body onto a gurney. "Can't wait to see the media circus this stirs up," she commented dryly. She watched the others move the body, not wanting to leave too soon for risk of getting in the way. "It hinders my job by making more bodies to deal with, that's for sure." She shrugged. "But as far as my ability to work with bloodless bodies, it's only a mild inconvenience; there will always be factors that interfere with my work, so there's nothing new about this... Definitely makes work easier for whoever has to embalm them, though." She started back to her car, then paused and looked over at the nightclub right next to the crime scene. Those places were always heavy on security. Every business was, nowadays, but especially establishments that served alcohol and operated at night. "Not trying to tell you how to do your job, but have you tried checking the CCTV footage? Maybe the cameras picked up something the witnesses haven't." @Hacky Slashy

Quince was finishing up his notes when the coroner inquired about the CCTV footage. "We're already ahead of you. The camera's had to have caught something." Quince didn't have high hopes for the camera footage. Something was always wrong with them in this district. "Have a good night, doc. Let me know what the results say, yeah?" Quince waved and then went back to his car. He also had this odd feeling he was being watched, but brushed it off. There were people everywhere. Right as Iris was heading to her car, a homeless man walked by her. "Evening, miss. Got any spare change?" He then noticed the police activity. "Did the monster strike again?" He then took a swig from his bottle of bourbon he pulled from his jacket. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "I'll be sure to give you a call once I know, myself," she agreed. "Rest well, Detective." She had started toward her car when she heard, rather than saw, the person speaking. She jumped, reflexively reaching for the pistol holstered at her side. On seeing the speaker and processing his words, she relaxed. From the sound of it, he may have been the witness from the McCall case. "Fuck, you startled me. Sorry. One moment." She tucked the cane under her arm and reached into her jacket pocket as she spoke. "We can't say anything for certain until we have more conclusive proof. Standard procedure is to treat them as separate killings for now, but it looks like it could be linked." She found a couple of quarters and held them out to him. "You saw the previous killing then, huh?" @Hacky Slashy

The Homeless man took the quarters after she offered them, with a prosthetic arm. "Lost it in Desert Storm. And sure did, ma'am. I was just resting after a long day. I had a nice nap before I was woken up by the screams. A woman was screaming as this other guy was on top of her. I was just about to head over there, when this other figure ran at them, but on all fours. He then stood up and pried the guy off the woman like he was just a twinky. He dragged him off screaming into the darkness while the young lady ran off screaming. Can't say I blame her, you know?" He took another swig of bourbon. "And thanks for the change. These are insane times we're living in. And just now I heard the president got shot. And AMP is mobilizing throughout the country, with the rest of our boys being called in to deal with the unrest. Be safe and keep carrying that pistol. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." @Al the Killer

Iris nearly made a joke about losing her leg in the divorce - which was just the funnier version of the truth - when the man mentioned a detail she hadn't heard earlier. She quirked an eyebrow. Interesting... "On all fours?" Like some kind of beast, especially given the brutality of the attack. "Insane times indeed..." She took the cane back in hand and straightened up. In truth, the pistol hadn't helped the one time she could have used it. Not when she'd been in her own home with it locked up for the night. But out on the street, it was a deterrent at minimum. Still, she nodded. "And you take care too, alright? The city's dangerous enough without the possibility of a serial killer to top it all off. It looks like vigilante justice for now, but there's no saying if we'll see the variety of victims expand." She continued the walk back to her car. "Have a good night." @Hacky Slashy

"Likewise, Miss." The homeless man walked off. The body was transported to the coroner's office. All was quiet as the sun rose. Just another day in the city of angels for now. Adam found himself resting in the basement of some abandoned building. It was always the same routine, sleep in the day and go out at night. It wasn't too far off from his human life. But now it was necessary for his continued existence. He learned the hard way sunlight is hazardous to his health. Meanwhile Detective Quince went over his notes on the case. 'Starting to look like a vigilante killer. Hopefully he sticks to just scumbags.' Quince thinks to himself as he decided to do some research. He looked up similar cases, checking if this was indeed a serial killer. Low and behold, he learned of similar killings throughout the country. Criminals found drained of blood. Only thing is when the authorities are getting around to capturing the perp, they dissappeared without a trace.

@Al the Killer

Iris woke up, checked her phone, and immediately regretted both actions. Silence will do more to protect you than having your locks changed. The message came from an unknown number, but she knew the sender well enough. Blocking the number was, at this point, a waste of time; he could always get another burner phone. Changing her number delayed the threats for a bit longer, but not by much. Every time, the same urge came over her: to change her name, to disappear and reappear as someone else far away. But there weren't nearly enough one-legged pathologists out there to stay hidden for long. Giving up her career so she could hide felt too much like admitting defeat. So instead, she deleted the message and carried on with her day like normal. She arrived at work later that morning, dead-eyed and holding a cup of coffee. "The results came in," her secretary greeted. He knew better than to attempt small talk when he saw that look in her eyes. "No positive ID on the victim yet, but... well, the file's in our system." "Thanks, Blake. I'll check it over and touch base with the detective." She walked into the morgue and sat at her desk, looking through the results. "As I thought, the DNA and incisions match the previous attack." @Hacky Slashy

Quince had taken the time to contact a friend in the Bureau to see if there's any similar cases. After a few rings, Special Agent Rodriguez picked up. "Hey James. All good?" Rodriguez returned the greeting and then Quince informed him of the situation. "We've had a few, here and there. Fucker even went after a judge in Kansas. Turns out she was taking bribes from certain criminal organizations, letting off their employees get off scott free. And hell one time, Darryl Horror, Serial Killer and rapist, got loose from the Marshalls guarding him. By the time they wrangled up some guys to get the sick son of a bitch, he got drained. According to some campers, a woman went to take a leak in the middle of the night when Darryl accosted her. When he was about to do what he wanted, someone pounced on him, ripped his throat out and drank him in front of her. He just stared at her and ran off." Rodriguez sent every file to Quince and then they both said their goodbyes. Quince then awaited the doctor's call. @Al the Killer

Iris finished reading the results, finished off her coffee, and completed the autopsy. Overall, it took two and a half hours before everything was finished and she could call the precinct. Between the morning's rough start and having been woken up in the middle of the night earlier, she kept introductions as short as she could while remaining professional. It was nothing short of a relief when she was finally transferred to Quince's phone. "Detective Quince," she greeted, then got straight to the point. "This is Doctor Ellsworth again." She leaned back in her chair, still looking at the screen. "We've finished analyses on our end." @Hacky Slashy

"On my way." Quince then stepped out and headed to the coroner's office. This time he decided to stop by a donut shop. Figured Doctor Ellsworth could use some sweets, or at least a coffee. He got a dozen donuts and two coffees, making sure to pack sugar and cream just in case. Quince once again passes by a checkpoint and a refugee camp. Things were getting bad as the days go on. He pulled into the parking lot and made his way to the office. "I'm here to see Dr. Ellsworth. Also got some grub if any of you would like." @Al the Killer (edited)

There was somewhat of a commotion as employees flocked to the donuts Quince brought in. Overhearing, Iris washed her hands then left the morgue. "Rare to hear sounds of joy out here," she commented, managing a tired half-smile. "How was the drive here?" She walked over to pick up a donut, stopping to eye the second coffee he carried. Sure she'd already had one, but she wasn't about to say no when she could use the extra caffeine. She doubted she'd be able to sleep much that night anyway. @Hacky Slashy

"It was fine. Stopped by Dunkin's. Figured you could use the extra energy. Also talked to a friend in the FBI. Looks like Dracula's been at it for some time. Even nabbed a notorious serial killer Darryl Horton. Of course you may know him as Darryl Horror. Shitbag got the better of the marshalls transporting him and ran off into the woods. Lucky for some campers, our friend happened to be in the area. Two guesses what happened to him." @Al the Killer

"I'll take a wild guess here and say he didn't take one look at Dracula, immediately realize the error of his ways, and go on to do humanitarian work for the duration of his life." Iris took the other coffee and loaded it with sugar, cream, and a bit more sugar until it hardly resembled coffee anymore. Sickeningly sweet, just the way she liked it. She took a sip before speaking. "I thought this case had serial killer potential. The dental imprints and DNA from both bodies match, so we can safely confirm that it's the same killer and not just some freak coincidence. I'll have to see about getting clearance to check the autopsy and lab reports from the previous cases, too. There could be something useful, if the killer's slipped up before." @Hacky Slashy

"Bold of you to assume Count Dracula gave him a chance. But from what I can gather, he thankfully sticks to just the hardcore criminals rather than just litterbugs or petty thievery." Quince took a plain donut, leaving the jelly for whoever wants it. "I'll see about getting you that clearance. I could call in a few favors. Say, you all right doc? It feels like something's bothering you. Of course if you don't want to share, that's fine, but don't hesitate to reach out." @Al the Killer

Iris took a bite of the donut, right in time to not have to answer the question right away. Quince was... decent, at least. The sort of person who might not brush off what she said. But what was she supposed to say? 'Well, you know District Attorney Widmore, my ex-husband? He's a monster, and I don't mean in the low budget vampire movie way. Anyway, don't act surprised when my corpse is the next one to show up here tonight! He promised the second hitman won't fail.' Maybe if he got caught, she'd be lucky, but she knew better. He was always careful to cover his tracks, always surrounded by armed guards, never went out at night. "I didn't sleep well last night," she said instead, which was not a lie. "Investigating a murder in the middle of the night will do that to you. Part of the job, you know." She smiled again, then took another sip of her coffee. "Thanks for the offer, though. And the snacks. And, of course, the clearance." She finished off her donut and stood upright. "Now, was there anything else you wanted to talk about before I went back to the morgue? I have to admit, my patients there aren't exactly lively company." @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah, can't say I blame you. Anyways I won't keep you. Try to have a good night. And here's my card if you need anything." Quince left her the card. Albert Quince, detective. Detective Quince exited and went to his car. When he turned on the radio, an announcement started playing. "The following message is transmitted at the request of the president of the United States. This is not a test. Executive order 109 places all U.S states and Territories under martial law, effective 6:00 p.m. eastern standard time on January 22nd, 2025. State and city officials under the instruction of the president of the united states and Executive order 109, have placed Los Angeles and the entire state of California under martial law, to be enforced by the American Military Patriots. A regiment comprising of AMP battalions from the loyalist states has been sent to Los Angeles, to put down insurrectionist elements. Curfew has been changed to 8:00 p.m. Anyone evacuating the city must do so before the curfew or be subject to detention by AMP personel." He changed the channel to more news reports. "Florida, Texas among other states have refused to cooperate with President Grant Roman and have mobilized their National Guard batallions" "Allegations claim that AMP is behind the sabotage of the nuclear power plant in Palo Verde, Arizona. More developments by the hour." "What the fuck is going on?" Quince said as he hurried home. He noticed several Black Hawk helicopters with the raven logo famously used by AMP. "Well that didn't take long." Quince pulled into his apartment building and entered his home as black humvees roamed the streets. (edited)

6:47 PM

@Al the Killer

At the end of the work day, Iris drove back to her apartment. The announcement played on a loop, until she'd switched from the radio to Bluetooth audio. One only needed to hear about martial law so many times. At this point, she couldn't even bring herself to be shocked. As she opened the door, the first thing she noticed was the flyer on the floor. Innocuous enough, save for the fact that junk mail was always left only halfway through the mail slot, and didn't easily fall through with the simple opening of the door. This one was of a flimsy paper material, and would have had to be pulled through, from the inside. The faint trace of a footprint had been left on its surface. She shut the door and locked it again, mind racing through the possibilities. Her landlord wasn't quite scummy enough to enter the apartment without notice. Had she left it there and forgotten? No, that was unlike her. Was she being paranoid? She took a deep breath and took the card from her pocket. Albert Quince. If her apartment might not be safe... he'd probably want to solve the problem, in that innocent way good people tried to fix things without knowing how much worse they were making the situation. She put the card back, drew her pistol and stepped inside again. A search of the space revealed that there was nobody else there. She forced herself to relax. Maybe her mind really was playing tricks on her. She looked up, noting a steady red light in the corner, tucked between the bookshelf and the ceiling, that hadn't been there before. Her reflection was distorted in the camera's black expanse. Nope. Not tonight. She had an hour and a half before curfew to pack an outfit for the next day, grab some takeout for dinner, and check into some sketchy motel that didn't ask too many questions while she planned her next moves.

3:55 AM

. Her hands shook as she walked down the stairs to the front entrance of the building. Back when she had first started renting the place, something like this would have sent her into a full-on panic attack. Now, she had healed just enough to be angry. Her resolve had set in by the time she reached her car. Craig Widmore had to die. @Hacky Slashy

Adam was woken up by the sound of helicopters flying overhead. He went outside, seeing that darkness was now covering the land. He also observed armed soldiers patrolling the streets. He stuck to the rooftops and went on the prowl once again. It looks like it'll be difficult to roam around. He knew things were starting to get bad, but not to the point were armed soldiers were now patrolling the streets. Adam used his hearing and eventually caught wind of a gathering. When he got there, it was coming from a warehouse. He climbed up, reaching a skylight and peering in. He saw AMP soldiers and Norteños together. A well built latino man and an AMP soldier were shaking hands while the man's associates were loading weapons onto SUVs. 'Guess who's on notice now, assholes.' Adam hatched a plan in his head. He would follow the gang back to their hideout. The SUVs departed the warehouse at the same time as the humvees. Adam stuck to the rooftops and the darkness. He heard the sound of automatic gunfire and screams. He saw as a building was on fire. 'AMP eliminating gangs....or just wiping out their buddies competition?' He continued following the SUVs. It led to a warehouse. He climbed up and peered into the warehouse and saw the gang members taking out their new toys. He peered in and saw a walkway with a thug patrolling. He snuck in and landed behind him. Adam sunk his teeth into his throat. He held the man as he died, and then carried his body. He looked around and found a fuse box. He bashed the dead man's head in and disabled the power. One by one, he picked off the gang members, draining their blood. By the time he was done, 10 more were drained of blood. Adam looted them of whatever cash they got and departed the scene. He felt more invigorated after his mass feeding. He rested on the rooftop for the time being. @Al the Killer

The room itself was small, bordering on the size of a walk-in closet. What really mattered was that it was a discreet enough location, the type where nobody checked ID and it was normal to book under an assumed name and pay in by cash. Not particularly easy to trace, especially since she'd parked her car a block away. By the time the call came in, she'd made it through the sushi order she'd picked up on her way there and had sent out an email to a prospective landlord. Her online search had found a basement apartment, tiny unopenable windows, no background check required, available immediately on a weekly lease. Either a lovely family with extra space to rent out for cheap or a murderer luring in desperate victims. Either way, it would be a good place to hide out for now. She took her phone off its charger to answer. "Hello?" "Hey Dr. Ellsworth." The overnight transport driver again. "There were reports of gunfire near the old warehouse district. Mass casualties suggested." "We just can't catch a break, can we?" Iris stood up. "I'll be by in a bit." She double checked to make sure her work badge was handy before leaving. There was no way she'd make it past the checkpoints past curfew without it as her official authorization, after all. With everything ready, she headed out, more energized now that a plan had begun to form in her mind. @Hacky Slashy

Detective Quince was resting in his apartment. He managed to get two hours of sleep when a call came in. "Hello?" "Detective Quince. We got a report of a slaughter near the warehouse district. Mass casualties this time." 'Fuck.' Quince got dressed, rinsed with mouth wash and headed out, making sure to take his ID. He managed to reach the warehouse where the massacre occured. By the time he got there, both police and AMP converged on the scene. 'The fuck are they doing here?' Quince thinks to himself as he sees the chief James Riker butting heads with an AMP soldier arguing over jurisdiction. "We have a Goddamn job to do!!" "Did you miss the part where you're under martial law? You're lucky we didn't disband you right now." Quince made his way to the uniformed cops, waiting for Iris to arrive. @Al the Killer

Iris arrived a minute later, in time to hear the argument. She narrowed her eyes at the two as she got out of the car, but stayed away from them as she stood next to Quince. "Martial Law generally allows free movement of emergency services; even in times like these, it isn't like it's standard procedure to leave the bodies out till morning," she commented to Quince. "This isn't normal." She looked around. "Granted none of this is, but their behaviour is still... Odd." She turned towards the bodies. A couple of ambulances had already arrived to assist with the extra corpses, given the county morgue's limited capacity. The scene was, at this point, familiar enough; ten had been drained of blood, and... She stepped back. The explosive device didn't look active, but standard procedure was to not fuck around and find out. "Keep back," she ordered those who had already stepped closer. She looked at Quince. "We'll need to call in a bomb squad before I check the bodies. Let's not take our chances here." And there was that feeling again. Like she was being watched. This time, it was easy to dismiss, given the camera in her apartment and the whole martial law thing. @Hacky Slashy (edited)

Sorry, I can't tell what the last proxy was in this channel. Try replying to the message or reacting to it with

so I know which message it is. This can happen if the last message was sent before the last time I restarted.

"We need a bomb squad here, right now." Quince helped get Iris and everyone else back. Bomb squad arrived in minutes. After a half hour, the device was diffused. Everyone was given the all clear. For the most part, AMP just helped secure the area as gunfire emerged blocks away. From the radio chatter, AMP was having a skirmish with another gang. Quince led Iris to some of the bodies. "No witness this time. As for what happened to these fine gentlemen, I'll give you two guesses, but you'll only need one." Meanwhile Adam made his way to the motel. The clerk didn't ask questions and gave him the keys to the room. When he entered, he made sure to seal the windows and then shower. Thankfully this motel was kept maintained better than most. After he showered he lied down on the bed. He even caught up on the news thanks to the radio and the tv in his room. Apparently The U.S Marines and the Army has been declared as traitors alongside the "Rebel States." It was alleged that some of the brass in both branches attenpted a coup. But Adam could smell there was more to the story. @Al the Killer

Iris took a closer look once they were given the go ahead. As predicted, they'd been drained of all blood. These killings were starting to get predictable, aside from the number of victims this time. She put on gloves and continued to inspect the bodies as she responded to Quince. "Hm... Surprise birthday party gone horribly wrong?" she guessed. Then she looked at the expressions frozen into the dead men's faces. "I mean, at the very least, they were surprised. And our killer got to enjoy one hell of a feast." She tested the arm of one body. "They haven't been dead for long, either. Estimated time of death around 10pm. Cause of death is exsanguination, same as before." She looked at the ground around them. "The lack of any sort of blood trail leading away indicates that our killer somehow managed to drain all ten and get away unscathed." @Hacky Slashy

"Looks like he was real hungry." Quince said as he looked at the bodies. "Norteños. These guys make MS-13 look like a kindergarten class. Looks he isn't afraid to after big fish as well. Wouldn't surprise me if he had military training." --- Outside of the city, an AMP checkpoint was being observed. One of the soldiers went for a cigarette break. He pulled his balaclava down and lit up the cigarette. Right as he lit it up, claws went through his eye socket, into his brain. He was dragged off into the darkness and drained. "Jack! check in." His team mate called out but to no avail. The remaining 4 men rallied and went to his last known location. They put on their night vision goggles and spotted 2 figures dragging something. "THIS IS THE AMERICAN MILITARY PATRIOTS!! YOU ARE BEING DETAINED!" The AMP soldier went forward, but 2 other figures appeared right behind them and slit the throats of two. Before the remaining soldiers could react, the other two figures pounced on them. The last thing they saw was white skinned, black eyed creatures sinking their teeth into them. "They're so predictable." A bald man with a jacket and jeans said. "Well, here we are, the city of angels. Time to have some fun." They stripped the AMP soldiers of their clothes and equipment and then skinnd them alive, wrapping their bodies in American Flags. Then they proceeded to enter the city. @Al the Killer (edited)

Iris stood back up. "Training or not, this is practically inhuman. But you could be right about his background," she said. "Quick kills, no injuries... This isn't a killer we should be taking lightly." She looked toward the ambulance drivers. "Give me a moment to direct them and log where each body is going. Some people get really upset when you lose track of corpses." She stepped away, but glanced back at Quince. "Oh, and remember how you said to let you know if I need help with anything? I'm still waiting on confirmation and a viewing with the landlord, but I'll probably need help moving sometime soon, if you get the time." She shrugged. "I'll pay you back in cash or food. Your choice." "Dr. Ellsworth?" one of the EMTs called over. Iris nodded and walked over to focus once more on work. @Hacky Slashy

Quince was happy to help. "You could stay at my place. I'll take the couch until you figure something out." Quince continued directing the officers to keep civilians away. The AMP soldiers received ordere to pull out and sped away. "Wonder what that's about?" A uniformed officer said as he observed them speeding away. @Al the Killer

Iris considered the offer while she directed the medical team, writing down which bodies were heading to her morgue and which were going to the local hospital. Staying by herself and staying with a colleague carried separate risks. In a horror movie, she'd be annoyed by a protagonist choosing to go it alone, but when she was actually in this situation... She'd sooner take the risk to herself than have someone else in danger. And she didn't need Quince asking questions when her plan started to go into motion. Once her job was finished and the bodies loaded into their respective vehicles, she walked by Quince. "I'll probably see you tomorrow," she said, then smiled. "I really appreciate the offer, but I've got a temporary place set up in the meantime. I'll keep you updated, though." She paused to watch the last of the soldiers speed away, as though called elsewhere. Odd. "Anyway, you have a good night. What's left of it, at least." @Hacky Slashy

"Can't have a bad one if I tried." Quince waved at Dr. Ellsworth and drove off. 'This is one tough son of a bitch.' Quince thought to himself as he made his way back to his apartment. He figures he'll do some cleaning since Dr. Ellsworth might be staying over. She has been a big help and a place to stay is the least he could do. Satisfied with the dusting and brooming, he showered and went to bed. --- Lieutenant colonel Martin surveyed the scene of carnage. Good men....butchered. He knew there would be pushback, but this was too much. "We keep this quiet. We're gonna increase patrols and find whoever did this. We'll string them by their fucking balls." His right hand man, Sergeant Gerald Russ walked up to him. "They were draind of blood sir, just like that vigilante I've been hearing about. This could also have been Norteños retaliating, but it's too soon." "No matter, we find these fuckers and put them down." Lieutenant Colonel Martin and sergeant Russ went back to his APC and watched the bodies be loaded into ambulances. "I'm gonna go in myself to see the coroner. See what she'll tell me." Afterwards more men filed into the checkpoint, waiting for more threats. @Al the Killer

As much as Iris would have loved to go back to her motel room and pass out until the latest she could possibly get away with dragging herself out of bed, she had to make sure these bodies were properly stored. One or two, the transport driver could manage on her own. More than that, and she needed to at least direct what happened in her own morgue. So she walked to her car with the full intention of following the transport to the morgue. "Should've practiced family medicine," she muttered to herself, taking one last look at the chaos around them. She couldn't help but feel some nostalgia for the days when she'd thought the all-nighters would only last to the end of med school. As she followed the ambulances, another DMEC fleet vehicle passed by them. Because of course there couldn't only be one casualty event per night, mass or not. She sighed as she realized 'autopsies will be completed the next business day' would not, in fact, be an acceptable answer tonight, and she would not be returning to that motel room until the next day. "Well, fuck." She stopped at the checkpoint, showed her ID, explained her business, and was ushered on her way to the Department of the Medical Examiner-Coroner building. She got out of her car and walked over to the transport vehicle that had come with her. "I'll open the bay doors out back," she said. "Wheel them in and I'll worry about getting them in storage." She looked over as an AMP vehicle pulled up. "What now...?" @Hacky Slashy

Lieutenant colonel Martin and Sergeant Russ got out, greeting the doctor. "Doctor Ellsworth? I need you to take a look at some bodies." Martin directed another transport vehicle with the bodies of the men massacred at the checkpoint. "Lieutenant Colonel Martin. This is my partner, Sergeant Russ." The man in combat gear took off his balaclava, revealing a blonde male with a beard. The Colonel was a muscular African American male. @Al the Killer

To say having two AMP officers show up at her workplace in the middle of the night put Iris on edge would have been an understatement. She couldn't help but think back to the news the day the actual mayor had been deposed, shortly before this mess. The way her ex-husband, the DA, had been so abruptly given mayoral power, how buddy-buddy he'd been with the AMP upper brass. Maybe that was the reason for his sudden re-escalation. At this point, of course Craig would be scared of being exposed. And now he had military reinforcement on his side. She stood up straight, perhaps too tense, as she looked between the two of them. Bastard always had gotten his way through bribery, threats, and, failing all else, actual violence. "Of course." She forced a smile. A stiff smile, but a smile nonetheless. "I was about to open the doors. My secretary is out for the night, so I'll walk you through the intake paperwork. Would you two gentlemen mind waiting here for just one moment?" She walked into the building, the slight limp returning. It had been a hell of a long day, and she was half tempted to lock all of the doors and pass out in her office for the night. Even if she'd forgotten responsibility and given into that urge, sleep wouldn't have come easily. So instead, the bay doors opened a minute later. "Alright, you can bring them in. Where were these bodies found?" She stepped aside to make room for the driver to pass through. @Hacky Slashy

While Russ directed the men loading the bodies in, Martin regailed her with the gruesome details. How a squad wanting to relieve the checkpoint found the men brutally killed. They appeared to have been drained of blood and skinned alive. And on top of that, they were wrapped in the American flag, almost as if in mockery. "I hear some kind of vigilante has been running around, draining people dry. I want to know if you can find anything linking these killings together. These were good men, we served together in the sandbox, just to be fucking butchered." Lieutenant Colonel Martin was beginning to growl in anger. He regained his composure. "Apologies, Doctor. You'd be a big help." @Al the Killer

Iris leaned against the building's outer wall as she listened, putting most of her weight on her right foot. The theory that the killings were linked sounded like the hasty conclusion-drawing of someone only vaguely familiar with the general idea of a serial killer LARPing as a vampire. Or actually being one, hell if she knew at this point. "Skinning, sticking around to make a mockery of the victims, no matter how small, killing soldiers who were, by all accounts, good men..." She looked past Russ at the nightmarish work on the streets, done by 'good men'. "It's too soon to say for sure whether they're connected to the previous killings. I will let you know of the results, but the only common thread in terms of MO is the draining." She looked back at Martin. "If I find anything identifying, I'll let you know. That includes whether it's the same killer." She stood upright again and nodded toward the doorway. "Come on. We'll get these bodies checked in, assign identifiers for them - if you know their names, that will be a great help - and send you both on your way." She led the way inside. @Hacky Slashy

Martin gave her the names and Ids of the men and went back to his APC with Russ. "I'll have some men increase their patrols around here. Between this and heavy organized criminal element running loose, it's dangerous around these parts." Gunfire rang out over the radio. "Officers in need of assistance! Officer down!" They raced off to assist the officers and left the doctor to her work. A black hawk helicopter flew by the building, with a search light shining, presumably to assist with the call. @Al the Killer

Iris watched the two race off. The knot in her stomach only tightened as she closed the doors to the building, just as the search light shone down nearby. Best to lock up for the night, if she was to stay here alone. The overnight drivers had their own keys if they needed them. ~~~ She jerked awake at a knock on the morgue door, lifting her head off the desk. She wasn't sure when she'd lost consciousness. It must have been between autopsies, judging from the empty tables and closed drawers behind her. Still a mistake, but not a rapidly-decaying one. She'd take small mercies where she could. The report in front of her was almost completed; she could replay the audio version for any information she'd forgotten to write down. The knock sounded again. "One moment!" Though it wasn't her proudest moment, she put a fresh pair of gloves back on, opened a drawer, and transferred an uncut body to one of the autopsy tables to make it look like she'd been busy. Fuck it, her life was falling apart anyway, this might as well happen. "Yes?" She opened the door to greet her secretary. The young man immediately looked concerned. "Are you alright, Dr. Ellsworth?" Naveed asked, confirming in the most polite way possible that she looked like shit. "Just a bit busy, nothing to worry about. Is something wrong?" she asked, shortly before stifling a yawn. @Hacky Slashy

Detective Quince woke up and managed to make himself a gourmet breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. It what his fridge mostly consisted of. He needed to make quick meals due to his profession. He then did some pull ups and took a look at two pictures on his dresser. One with a younger him and a pretty blonde woman in a wedding dress. The other was an ultra sound. What could've been. If only.... Quince dropped the thought and showered. After he got dressed he went down to the station, stopping to get some donuts along the way. He dropped them off for Cutty and the others. He then went about filling out the paperwork and analyzing the files his FBI contact left him. 'Who knows, maybe it'll be an easy day.' Quince thought to himself as he finished typing up his reports.

4:38 PM

@Al the Killer

"Nothing wrong," Naveed assured her. "The DA just stopped by half an hour ago with something for you. Flowers... should I have asked him to bring coffee instead?" 'Tell him I can't accept them,' Iris wanted to instruct her secretary. 'Not in a taarof way, but in a "fuck you" way.' Instead, she shook her head. "No, it's fine... did he say why?" Naveed shrugged. "Maybe he's trying to reconcile? After all these years, too." He smiled. "And in that case, I'm happy for you." Iris managed to keep her screaming internal only. "We'll see." She walked out past him. Back in undergrad, when she'd first met Craig, she had been working part-time at a florist shop. One of those smaller stores that only lasted a few years because they were more interested in ancient symbolism than in actually making their bouquets look nice. If she had to guess, it was an attempt to taunt her in a language she'd understand. One look confirmed the theory. Yellow chrysanthemums for slighted love, white snapdragons for deception, white rohododendrons as a warning of danger, all with small tansy clusters to imply a declaration of war. Dramatic, but at least it was higher-effort than another threatening text message. Innocuous to anyone who didn't bother to read into it, but one he knew she'd get the point of. "Right, reconciliation." She picked it up. "If he stops by again, tell him I said thank you for the effort." Craig was planning something. Or he was trying to make her think he was planning something so she'd drive herself mad trying to figure out what the hell it could be. Or both. She brought them back to the morgue for now, setting the bouquet on the desk. A solid reminder of why she needed to hold herself together: to put an end to this bullshit. And, naturally, to take down a violent and corrupt official in the process. Everyone would win.

4:58 PM

. She reviewed her previous autopsy reports. She'd gotten further than she'd thought and, on confirming that she'd gotten enough information to do so, called the station for Detective Quince. @Hacky Slashy

' I doubt it'll take, but I got some PTO saved up. Maybe I should take a few days off. Hell weeks.' Quince got up and went to get more coffee when the phone rang. He went back and picked up the phone. "Detective Quince, LAPD." He answered, waiting for whatever may come from this call. @Al the Killer

At least someone else sounded almost as tired as Iris felt. "Hello, Quince. It's Doctor Ellsworth." She looked at the dental comparisons on her screen. The first thing she'd thought to do, given the insistence from the AMP that she compare the other case to the new bodies. She'd call the Lieutenant Colonel after this. For now... "I finished examining the bodies from that massacre last night." Still working her way through the last four from that other massacre the night before. "I've got predictable news and shocking news, but you'll have to come over for both." Never mind the unspoken implication that she'd have to have been awake and working nearly all night to get that many autopsies done. Once the call ended, she checked her cell phone. The prospective landlord was all for confirming a viewing on Saturday afternoon - the next day, thankfully. With at least one hint of relief, she got to work on the next body while she waited for Quince. @Hacky Slashy

"Oh joy. I'm on my way. Might be coffee as well." Quince stepped out to his car and started it. He drove by the streets of LA. People were crowding the neighborhoods, waiting in long lines for food. He even saw two men fighting over rations as police officers broke it up. He pulled in to the Dunkin's and got two large coffees. He also made sure to get some donuts as well. Figured the good doctor could use all the sugar she could get. After a few checkpoints, he was at the coroner's office again. With how often he came here, he may as well live in it. He managed to get in the building and greeted her secretary. "Could you please tell Doctor Ellsworth I'm here?" Quince droppd off the donuts at a table and waited. @Al the Killer

Naveed waved hello to the detective. "I'll let her know." He looked at the coffee approvingly. Definitely needed that day. Iris looked up as there was another knock, while she was presently elbow-deep in a dead man's chest cavity. "Is it Detective Quince?" she asked. "It is." "Great. Tell him to come right in, but stay close to the door. In one minute." Iris covered the body for now to preserve what little dignity it had left, then washed her hands and arms in the small sink at the corner. The bouquet silently mocked her from her desk, but she pretended to ignore it. Meanwhile, Naveed relayed her message to the detective. @Hacky Slashy

"Thanks." Quince quickly walked in with the two coffees. He greeted Doctor Ellsworth and set the two coffees down. "Also cream and sugars for you." He picked up the one coffee cup and went next to the doctor. "Ok, what's the exciting development you teased?" Quince then noticed the bouquet of flowers. Probably a boyfriend or husband perhaps, but he never noticed a ring. He debated inquiring about it, but he has a job to do. For now he would deal with the city's vigilante problem. @Al the Killer

Iris looked at the extra coffee. Her smile was a bit more genuine than it had been on waking up that morning. She finished drying off her hands and walked over to prepare her coffee. Questions could wait, just a little bit. "One moment." She took the first sip, then turned to the computer to pull up a file. "So, as we predicted, the bodies we investigated were all Dracula. I mean, the media is apparently calling him the Night Haunter now. Seriously, why do they always give serial killers cool names? Anyway..." She scrolled down, showing a few images from the newer corpses. "This is a work in progress, but that same night, several AMP soldiers were taken out. Drained of their blood, but also skinned alive and wrapped in the American flag. I compared the teeth markings and, well... I'll be generous and give you three guesses what I found." @Hacky Slashy

Quince tried remaining professional, but smiled at his humor rubbing off on her. He took another long sip before answering. "Dracula invited some pals to the party." Quince said bluntly. He took another sip as he took in the words. "That or what if it's another group of killers? Perhaps insurrectionists bringing the fight to AMP. I mean these guys are military trained. Hard to believe some bangers took them out. Plus the guy may be fast, but no way he could be in two places at once." After Quince then took another sip, he spoke again. "And before you say it, ok could be a she as well. Maybe the killers at the AMP checkpoint are his brides joining him. Goddamn it, more vigilantes are the last thing we need." @Al the Killer

"All possibilities, but I was sticking with the demonstrable facts of the case," Iris said. "I'll leave the detective work to you; I'm just a scientist. Anyway, the fact here is that the markings from our AMP soldiers don't match Dracula... Or each other. DNA results aren't in yet, but based on dental comparisons, we're dealing with five killers now." She looked at the screen again. "But we can't assume they're working with our vigilante. Victim selection and treatment of the bodies both seem different. The same method could also be the work of a copycat killer... Well, four copycat killers. Or something else entirely could be at play here." She drank more of her coffee. The sooner these cases got wrapped up the better, but nothing seemed to make sense given existing knowledge of the natural world. She looked at the computer screen, before her eyes drifted back to the flowers. She didn't want to give them that much space in her mind, but she'd also noticed Quince looking at them. Not surprising. "Pretty out of place in a morgue, huh?" she commented. @Hacky Slashy

"You could say that. Life blossoming in a place of death." Quince noticed she was a little uneasy about the flowers. He wondered if he should pry. 'I mean worse case scenario, she just shrugs me off.' Quince decided to see if the flowers mean anything. "Boyfriend or husband sent those?" Quince didn't notice a ring but if she did have one, likely took it off for work. He then put the coffee in the trash while she answered. @Al the Killer

Life carrying an unspoken threat of death. Iris kept quiet about that part, as she always did. She paused for a moment, considering how much she could safely say. Probably best to stick to what was easy to find. "Ex-husband," she admitted. "Now that the DA's basically the de facto mayor, the only known stain on his reputation is that he's divorced. So, flowers for me, so he can look like he wants to fix things. Hooray," she closed it all off with obvious sarcasm. She didn't even try not to sound cynical. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was because she was tired of trying to make excuses for an evil incubus (metaphorically speaking... she hoped) who was painfully impressed by his own perceived cleverness and couldn't keep his hands to himself. Probably both. She finished off her coffee. "So, anything interesting from the FBI reports? Or are those confidential?" @Hacky Slashy

"About the same MO. Always criminals. Gang bangers, abusers. Already got what I needed from them, so if you're bored..." Quince laid down the files somewhere safe. "Oh and you never got these from me." He said as he winked. Then he took in her words. "You were married to that asshole?!" Quince said incredulously. Quince couldn't say he was very enthusiastic about Wedmore...especially after he got that drunken shitbag off easily. He debated revealing his actual feelings about the D.A for now. "So yeah, I imagine everyone's got their hands full with current events. That being said, maybe not go around advertising "Ohemgee! My bestie detective Albert Quince shared exclusive FBI files with me!" He then decided to enquire about her living situation. "You ever hear from that landlord? I mean if money's tight, you got my place." @Al the Killer

Iris picked up the files and slipped them into a desk drawer. The smoothest motion, but not the most secure; she'd move them to the filing cabinet and lock them up later. "Never got what from you?" she asked innocently. Despite herself, she smiled a bit once he described Craig as an asshole. Finally, someone with a shred of common sense. "Yeah, everyone makes mistakes. I thought he was decent at the time. Let me guess, he keeps dropping or refusing to file them against people you know are guilty?" Dangerously close to the truth, fuck, time to backtrack. Luckily, he changed the topic, himself. What a lifesaver. "I'll get the files back to you once I'm done. But for now, they don't exist. And yeah, I'm looking at the new place tomorrow, while I have time off. If it all looks good, I'll sign the lease, borrow a moving van next week, and kidnap you when it's time to move the furniture. In the meantime, I'm good in terms of money. Just needed a change of scenery," she said. "I really do appreciate the offer, though." @Hacky Slashy

"Where do I begin? Fucker loves making deals with shitbags. Especially lesser sentences for them. He'll only prosecute when it'll win him political points." Quince clenched his fists. He truly hated Wedmore, bordering on homicidal rage. 'How'd a shitbag like him get with you, I wonder.' He couldn't blame Ellsworth. Asshole was certainly charismatic when in front of the cameras. He quickly composed himself before his anger could show once again. "Any time, doc. Least I could do. You've been a big help. Anything you need, don't hesitate to call."

6:59 PM

@Al the Killer

Oh man, he had no idea how right he was. Despite that small shred of joy, Iris took a step back, a lifetime of experience telling her it was safest to give people more space at the slightest sign of anger. Once he'd calmed himself, she sat down in her desk chair. Two days of standing with very little sleep were turning out to be a nightmare, that was for sure. She still had to finish the last few autopsies and call up Martin and Russ to confirm her full results. "I will. And the same goes for you." She opened the desk drawer back up, picking up one of the cards inside. "The first number will get the county morgue. Use the second if you have to reach me outside of my regular work hours." She held it up to him. "Consider it my thanks for..." She nodded toward the FBI files. "'Nothing', I guess." @Hacky Slashy

Quince took the cards and thanked Iris. "Oh yes, nothing." Quince makes his way out and heads back to his car. He makes his way back to the station. He drives by a scene of carnage. AMP soldiers finished a skirmish with Bloods, another one of many gangs that infested Los Angeles . 10 corpses were covered in tarps while 2 were detained. He then passed by another checkpoint as he was about to show the AMP soldier his ID when an explosion went off. Quince got down as shots rang out. The AMP soldiers opened fire at gunmen in balaclavas firing at them with AK-47s. Quince got out of his car and fired at one of them, taking the top of his head off with his service glock. The other gunmen was about to shoot as Quince emptied the rest of his magazine into them. He was reloading as 3 other gunmen popped out of an alley and were promptly gunned down by an AMP humvee. The 50. Caliber machine gun reduced them to mince meat. An AMP soldier came up to detective Quince. "That was some good shooting. You serve by any chance?" Quince got up and noticed the bulletholes in his car. "Yeah, National Guard. 2 tours too much. And...I just got this thing leased." He noticed he was grazed on the arm. An AMP medic patched him up and sent him on his way. He went back to his precint. Chief Riker came up to him. "Quince, you all right?! I heard what happened." Quinced defused the situation. "Just a scratch, Sir. I've had worse." Quince smiled as Riker cooled down a bit. "Listen, why don't you take some time off. You're a hard worker, you deserve it." Quince considered it but declined. "You're shorthanded as it is, sir. Wouldn't be right." Quince said goodbye and went back to his desk. 'Fucking A.' @Al the Killer

Iris took another look at the file and silently chided herself. She'd promised herself she would keep professional, do her job right, and not slip up, not give Craig a reason to destroy her career. This was slipping up, and possibly dragging a friend down with her. Still, now that she had it, might as well read it, right? In the spirit of cooperation. That would come later. For now, she locked it away in the filing cabinet to keep it more secure, and returned to the autopsies. She was done close to the end of her work day, but only because she'd worked through her lunch break. Once she'd checked the contact information on the intake paperwork, she called the Lieutenant Colonel. @Hacky Slashy (edited)

Lieutenant Colonel Martin was overseeing another raid. This time he received Intel that Armando Vega was hiding out in this particular warehouse. He along with 20 men covered it from all sides and breached it. Instead of the gunfire they were expecting, they only found death. Someone had beaten them to the punch. What greeted them was essentially a slaughterhouse. Bodies were torn apart and shell casings were all over the floor. "Call DMEC. And secure the area." He and the men searched the bodies but Armando was not among the corpses. Sergeant Russ was on the other side of town, dealing with the aftermath of the checkpoint explosion. He was making his way back to the APC when he received a call from Doctor Ellsworth. "Lieutenant Colonel Martin speaking." @Al the Killer

All Iris had to do was get through this phone call, and she would be... on call, but not actively examining any corpses until Monday. The past few days had felt like months. So when Martin answered, she wanted nothing more than to wrap it up as quickly as possible. "This is Dr. Iris Ellsworth from the Department of the Medical Examiner-Coroner," she said. "I finished examining the bodies. If you can get here within the hour, we can discuss it now, or we can set a time for Monday. I think you'll want to know sooner than later, though." She looked toward the door as she heard footsteps rushing past. Another batch of bodies, from the sound of it. If her life was going to hell, it seemed the entire world would be coming along with it. @Hacky Slashy

"I'll be on my way." Martin wasted no time in ordering the APC to the coroner's office. He was still reeling from the recent raid, but he had to see what Doctor Ellsworth said about the bodies. The same killers from the checkpoint likely hit this location as well and are hiding in the city now. He would go door to door if he needed to, flush them out like rats. He arrived at the coroner's office while his men waited outside. He greeted Doctor Ellsworth's secretary. "Could you please let her know I'm here?" @Al the Killer

Naveed nodded and stood up when he saw Martin arrive. "I'll-" Iris walked out into the lobby before he could finish speaking. "No need." She looked over at Naveed. "Would you mind staying a bit late to help with some intake paperwork? I can otherwise, but if you want the chance for overtime, I'd appreciate it." "No, it's alright. I'll stay." He sat back down and picked up the last of the donuts, eternally grateful that it was jelly. She nodded, then turned toward Martin. "This way, then." She led the way back to the morgue. The file she needed to show him was already open on the computer, and a couple of the bodies set out on the table with only their heads and necks exposed, as a sample. "So, you remember how I said this wouldn't be the same killer? I should have bet money on it, in hindsight." @Hacky Slashy

Martin followed the good doctor into the morgue. Most people would be bothered by such a place, but not him. He was used to death and war his whole life. He took in her words. So this wasn't "The Night Haunter". Sure they were exanguinated like his usual MO but he couldn't be in two places at once. "Go on. I'm listening." @Al the Killer

Iris did, in fact, go on. "The times of death were too close together, for one. Even if we took witness reports of superhuman speed literally - or, more realistically, assumed Dra-" Oops, wrong nickname for dealing with the AMP's Lieutenant Colonel. "-sorry, the Night Haunter - had a getaway vehicle nearby, our killer wouldn't have been able to get from the warehouse district to the checkpoint where the bodies were found in time to commit both slaughters." She walked over to the desk, showing him the images on the computer screen. "Dental and DNA comparisons also indicate that there were four killers at the checkpoint, none of which match the Night Haunter case. The total blood loss and presence of bite marks are the only commonalities." @Hacky Slashy

"Interesting. Whoever or whatever they are, I'll make sure they all end up on this table next. Can't promise they'll be fully intact. Is there anything else you can tell me about this?" Martin merely stared at the screen, fantasizing about what he would do the animals that slaughtered his men. One thing was certain: their death wouldn't be quick or easy. @Al the Killer

Iris left the computer and Martin, more than a bit uneasy with that look on his face. She understood the drive for revenge, of course; those damn flowers were doing more than enough to reinvigorate it in herself every few minutes. But there was such a thing as excess, and she couldn't be sure there were lines this guy wouldn't cross. Besides, she wanted to find one particular killer alive. "Anyway, I won't bother you with the unrelated, mundane details of their autopsies, unless you really want to know what their last meals were and who was or was not a smoker." She covered the cadavers' faces with the sheets, then transferred the first to a gurney so she could bring him back to the refrigeration unit. "Forensics will get back to you if they find anything else from the evidence gathered." @Hacky Slashy

Martin simply nodded and thanked the doctor. "That's all. Be careful out here. A checkpoint in the city was just attacked. Both gangs and insurrectionists are pushing back hard." Martin shook her hand and then departed to his vehicle. He reflected on recent events. Whoever thesse killers are, they're not to be taken lightly. But his men were armed to the teeth and trained. He instinctively checked his weapons and reloaded them. @Al the Killer

Once the bodies were taken care of, Iris left the building. As she got in her car and started it up, a pair of headlights lit up nearby. The vehicle in question was unfamiliar; she readjusted the rearview mirror for a moment, taking a look at it. Maybe someone else who worked there, in a new car, just happening to be leaving at the same time. That explanation didn't put her at ease. Especially when it started in the same direction as her. At the next checkpoint, one of the soldiers flagged her car down. "ID and business?" Routine stop, nothing to worry about. Or so she failed to convince herself. "Doctor Iris Ellsworth. Just on my way back from work." "Can you get out of the car, Miss?" he asked. Again, nothing odd under the circumstances, but the alarm in her mind continued to ring as she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out. "We got a call about you, regarding certain concerns. You'll have to surrender your weapon." "What concerns?" What Iris really wanted to ask was 'how much did Craig pay you to listen to his concerns?' "I have the registration and permit for it." The armed soldiers now focused on her seemed excessive, to say the least. "According to the call, your mental health history makes you a potential risk to yourself and others. We can't take chances at a time like this. Current orders are to err on the side of caution with anyone who presents such a potential risk." Health confidentiality breach from her therapist, or lucky guess? The latter seemed more likely; Craig wouldn't miss the chance to sound smart by throwing around a specific diagnosis like C-PTSD as though he had some sort of expertise in the matter. Iris glanced back, toward the car behind hers. Definitely following. Nothing about this seemed right. "I underwent risk assessments when buying the gun and for my current job. In both cases, I was in the clear," she said, but unholstered her pistol and handed it over anyway. Not much she could do about it right now.

10:32 AM

. "All of your weapons," the soldier said once he'd taken it. "What?" "Not only your firearm." She frowned. Now that was definitely a lucky guess. She gave him the pocket knife from her jacket, handle-first, but he still gave her that pointed look. With a sigh, she gave him the backup knife from her purse. Still looking at her. "All of them," he repeated. "Lethal or not." Fine. She set down a taser and small can of mace. He cleared his throat impatiently. "Miss, do we have to run a metal detector over you to check for more?" Her eye twitched in annoyance as she gave him the backup can of pepper spray. "My leg is metal," she remarked, snapping a bit given her current level of hunger and sleep deprivation. "If you want to take that too, you'd better be paying a support worker because my apartment is not wheelchair accessible." He gathered the weapons, looked her over, then shrugged. "You're clear. Carry on, and stay safe out there." She wanted to laugh in his face at the irony. Instead, she got in her car and drove on. Behind her, the other vehicle was not stopped. Her hands tightened around the wheel as she carried on. She'd pick up takeout again - maybe curry - return to the motel, and hope this was just someone sent to watch where she was going, and not something more. @Hacky Slashy

Quince was about to head home when there was a standoff outside between police officers and AMP. "By order of the President, you are to stand down. AMP will handle security and paw enforcement until Martial Law is lifted." Arguments went back and forth with Chief Riker arguing with an AMP official. "We will also need the names and adresses of all registered firearm owners in the city." "Oh sure, when Stevie Nicks shows up to my house in her birthday suit with a jar of pickles and bottles of baby oil." Quince went next to Chief Riker along with Cutty and two other uniformed officers. Quince's adrenaline was going on overdrive. It's starting to seem like a hostile takeover rather than martial law. "When President Roman finds out you're trying to disarm citizens he'll-" "When he finds out?! Who do you think ordered it?!" The AMP official sneered at chief Riker. He was about to get in Riker's face before he was shoved back. Both AMP and police drew their weapons. "This is the last warning! Stand the fuck down! NOW!" Quince had his service weapon aimed at him. Chief Riker gave the order to stand down. Every officer was his family and he wouldn't throw their lives away so easily. He was taken away and the rest of the officers were allowed to walk. Quince then went back home and checked his weapons. He had his service pistol, spares and M4A1 from his tours as a National Guardsmen. He received a message from Cutty. MEET AT LUCKY'S. WE'RE GONNA BUST CHIEF RIKER OUT. THEY ALSO DETAINED OTHERS. Quince packed up and went on foot. He was gonna meet with his old unit. Chief Riker saved his ass more than once in the sandbox, he'll be damned if he just leaves him to rot. Adam was getting restless. But soon Nightfall would occur and he would hunt once again. All he had ti do was wait a little longer. @Al the Killer

Her tail hadn't done anything during her brief stop to pick up an order of butter chicken, but they also didn't leave. By the time Iris returned to the motel, the other vehicle remained close behind. She drew in a shaky breath as she considered her options. She'd have to stop driving eventually, and getting caught outside wouldn't keep her any safer. There was one more gun, in her apartment. No time to grab that and expect it to do any good. The parking lot to the motel was, in theory, lit. In practice, half the bulbs had gone out, allowing the shadows of nightfall to take over. If the DA had hired the one following her, she couldn't request help at an AMP checkpoint. Hell, even if this was coincidence, she didn't trust them. Police precinct? Half of them would be just as corrupt. She drew in a shaky breath as she parked in front of the motel, trying to focus her mind on anything other than the mantra of 'fuckfuckfuckfuck' echoing through her mind. She hurriedly grabbed her keys and the bag of takeout. The parking spot was the closest to her room's entrance, but still seemed so far. The nearest room was a different one, with the blackout curtains drawn over the windows. In a rush, she opened the car door and made a break for her own door. The other vehicle's doors opened behind her. The rush of footsteps, then her back hit the building's wall, right next to one of those sealed windows. "So this is where you've been hiding." The voice was unfamiliar, but the words... definitely hired, then. A mountain of a human being too. No words could escape her throat in that moment, even if she tried. She dug her nails into the wrist at her throat and kicked out at her attacker's shin. He only stumbled briefly. Her attempted escape was stopped by the massive hand around her arm pulling her back and the cold barrel of a pistol against her temple. "Watch it. You're wanted alive, but that doesn't mean he cares what happens to you in the meantime." @Hacky Slashy

Adam heard the speeding car and the commotion. He then heard the pistol loading. 'Looks like I don't need to hunt after all.' Adam stepped out of the door. Darkness had finally fallen over Los Angeles. He peered out on the railing and saw the man holding the woman at gunpoint. Adam jumped up and pounced on him, like a lion. He grasped the pistol and twisted it alongside the man's wrist completely backwards, like an action figure. He had his other hand wrapped around his throat as Adam opened his mouth, revealing a gaping maw of sharp teeth. The last thing the man saw was the the teeth closing around his throat, drowning out whatever plea for mercy or curse that could come out from him. @Al the Killer

The next few seconds were a blur. A tug on her arm for just a second as her attacker lurched sideways, before the grip slipped. There was the sound of a struggle, of teeth tearing into flesh. She looked over at where he'd been dragged to the ground, throat already torn open by the teeth of a man who looked far too similar to certain witnesses' descriptions to be coincidental. "Really hope I'm getting five stars for this Uber Eats delivery." She hadn't meant to say that out loud, but oh well. She stood up straight, watching not with fear, but interest. She'd been skeptical that it could be anything outside of known science, but she wasn't too much of an idiot to believe what was right there in front of her eyes. But she had to look away, to check for witnesses. The street was empty; they were between checkpoints and under martial law, after all. But someone might come sniffing around. She looked at the attacker and unlikely savior. "The brick building immediately east of here has been abandoned for years. Condemned," she said, talking as quickly as she could without losing coherency. "The body shouldn't be found for a while, but see how well you can hide it, just in case. When you're done, I'll be in room fourteen. We need to talk." Without waiting for a response, she walked the rest of the way to the door. She wasn't sure why she was so calm. Maybe part of her brain had clicked, seen the opportunity here. Maybe she'd spent so much time with a metaphorical monster that a literal one was hardly worth worrying about. For the most part, she was more worried about the possibility of not seeing the 'literal monster' again than of anything that could come from telling him where she was staying. @Hacky Slashy

Adam stared at her for a second and then took in her words. She didn't scream in fear, like most would do. He hauled the shitbag over his shoulder and looked around for witnesses. He ran to a rooftop and went to the condemned warehouse. He looted his cash and cellphone, then he dumped him inside a locker and then slipped back to the motel. He narrowly avoided an AMP patrol looking around. They would've caught him if they weren't fired upon. He heard expletives in Japanese shouted. Probably Yakuza, one of the many gangs operating here. He made his way back to the hotel and knocked on room 14 as instructed. Normally he would've ran off but something must really scare her if she was willing to talk after what she saw. @Al the Killer (edited)

Iris looked down at her outfit. Aside from being yesterday's clothes, some of the arterial spray had gotten on her shirt. She'd have to wash up and burn the evidence once her interview with a vampire was over... nope, that was definitely not what she'd be calling this. For now, she put the blazer away - checking to make sure no blood showed - and threw on a black sweater in its place. Covering up the blood would have to do for now. She sat on the edge of the bed and started getting through her takeout while she waited. She didn't have long before the knock sounded on the door. Once she was sure the curry and naan were both secure, she stood up, looking through the peephole. Yep, definitely the serial killer she was hoping to see. She unhooked the latch, opened the door, and stepped aside, looking behind him. "You weren't followed? Good. Come in." She'd be quick to close the door once he was inside. "So, I guess I should start by saying thank you. I won't pretend to be safe now, but I get to put off death - or worse - by another day, so that's a bonus." @Hacky Slashy

Adam stepped right through and sat down. He took in the scent of curry and then just looked at her. He then spoke. "I was just hungry but you're welcome." Adam said half joking. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but what choice did he have? Some innocent civilian or some criminal shitbag nobody would miss? It's been that way since 2020. "So....what do you want?" Surprisingly Adam sounded normal rather than a raspy, stereotypical monster voice.

@Al the Killer

Iris drew the curtains shut, just in case. But as he spoke, she glanced back at him. Oddly unexpected. Maybe she had seen too many horror movies, after all. Honestly, she was starting to think she hadn't planned out this encounter as well as she could have. "I mean, you were handed a menu with two options and chose the one that wasn't me, so I stand by my statement," she half-joked back. She turned toward him, standing since there wasn't anywhere to sit other than the bed. "As for why we're having this conversation, that's... difficult to explain, without sounding completely insane. I'm not sure you'd believe me," said the human woman to the goddamn vampire. "How about I start by asking you a few questions, then we get to the point? I promise I won't keep you long, because I need to sleep sometime this week." @Hacky Slashy

Adam looked her over, sensing for elevated heartbeat or breathing. She was as calm as one can be. Adam noted her whole you wouldn't believe phrase. "Lady, you just learned the things that go bump in the night exist. Just try me." He sat still and waited for no doubt the barage of questions she had in store.

@Al the Killer

He... had a point, yeah. Iris still started in with her own questions anyway. What she really wanted to know, as a pathologist, was the details and logisitcs about how this whole vampirism thing actually worked, scientifically speaking. But she assumed it would be similar to asking the average human the same question about humanity: unlikely to lead to a satisfying answer. So she settled for the basics. "Alright, so have you always been...?" She trailed off. "Well, I guess first off, is there a specific term for what you are? I know the obvious answer, but my sources there are fictional, so if 'vampire' isn't quite it, I want to be both accurate and respectful. If you weren't always this way, do you know how long it's been and what happened?" She thought back to the bodies from the AMP checkpoint. Different killers, same method of killing. "And do you know any others who are the same as you?" @Hacky Slashy

"Vampire. My father always said, if it looks like a duck, talks like a duck...you get the idea. And to further answer your question, no I wasn't always like this. It's been 5 years. As for exactly what happened, are you familiar with urban exploration? Assuming you're not, it's exploring abandoned places. My friends had this youtube channel, Night Watchers. One day he invited me to do his 1 year anniversary episode. We went to this abandoned mental asylum in the everglades. It had a screwed up history, doctors abused patients until one day, they revolted and set the whole place on fire. No survivors so it was promptly shut down. So we decided to check the place out. Turns out it wasn't quite abandoned. Turns out some creature was living there. One by one we were picked off until it was just me and it. I was able to get my hands on some rebar. It pounced on me and bit down on my neck, but I stabbed him in the heart. I passed out, but when I woke up, I found I couldn't handle the sun. I waited until Nightfall and drank a boar. It did the job but when I got back to town, I got to a park and saw a guy beating on his girlfriend. Two guesses what happened next and I've been on the prowl ever since. As for if there are others, yes. Had a few run ins. They're not exactly enthusiastic about me inadvertently exposing their existence, but I haven't run into any for a while. Probably got bigger fish to fry." @Al the Killer

Iris listened to his story, keeping her eyes on him. Definitely inhuman in terms of appearance, but not so much in terms of behaviour. When he wasn't tearing into people's throats with his teeth, that is. There was a refreshing honesty to him, when she'd grown so accustomed to dealing with monsters who wore human faces. Then there was that last part. Genuinely useful in her case to know there wasn't collaboration with the others, though she'd have to keep quiet about her sources if she were to pass that information on to Quince. "You might have another run-in sooner than you'd like," she admitted. "There was an attack on an AMP checkpoint last night. All victims were drained of their blood, but there were four different attackers. So, safe to say it wasn't your work." She looked toward the window. "Be careful. Especially when it comes to the AMP's Lieutenant Colonel. When he figures out that vampires are actually responsible for the deaths of his men, I wouldn't be surprised if his homicidal rage turned genocidal. He doesn't strike me as a man who puts limits on bloodshed. And since I don't plan on telling anyone about this encounter, I can't exactly assure him that you aren't a co-conspirator, beyond what the physical evidence on the bodies indicates." It only struck her after speaking that she'd said and asked a whole lot without going through basic introductions. Not surprising; she hadn't spent much time socializing with anyone outside of work for years. Most of the people she got to know, she did so by dissecting their corpses, not through conversation. "Sorry, I don't think I caught your name?" she said, very belatedly. @Hacky Slashy

"Adam Cain. Your not so friendly neighborhood vampire." Adam said bluntly. He considered making a joke about being Dracula himself, but thought against it. He would usually go out again but he still had questions of his own. "So what else would you like to know?" He figures he has the whole night, and he paid for a few days at the motel. Plus it was nice having someone to talk to for a change. @Al the Killer

"Doctor Iris Ellsworth, LA County medical examiner-coroner," she said, smiling slightly at his comment. Friendly wasn't what she was looking for - she needed lethal more than anything. "Just, you know, don't tell anyone I told you where to hide a body; that would really fuck with my career." She considered for a moment. She couldn't help but be extremely curious about every little detail, but she had a limited amount of time if she wanted to get any rest tonight. "I'm fine with questions for now. Before I get to why we're having this conversation in the first place, is there anything else you wanted to ask? This isn't an interrogation; the questioning can go both ways." @Hacky Slashy

"People of the world! Doctor Iris Ellsworth, LA county medical-examiner-cornoner just told me where to hide a body." Adam whispered to no one in particular. "Funny enough, that's exactly what I'm I'm going to ask. Why was that prick going to kidnap you? I couldn't take a risk in him not shooting." @Al the Killer

Down to business, then. This was probably the easiest way to approach the subject anyway. "I'm not one to draw conclusions without evidence, but I do have a theory," she admitted. "But it's... Kind of a long story." She sat next to him, trying to keep her heart from racing out of her chest at the idea of even talking about it. Logically, this might lead to actually solving the problem with the DA, but there was still that instinctive fear, the thoughts of every possible way this could go wrong. "So, until about two years ago - eighteen months, if you only count after the divorce proceedings - I was married to the district attorney. I can't say for sure when I realized he wasn't what I'd originally thought. It was gradual, I think, with more violence than someone who'd had a functional childhood would have thought to put up with." She clenched and unclenched her fists, but forced herself to keep talking through it. "Then I accidentally found evidence of how deep his corruption really went. Bribery, mostly, the occasional murder-for-hire. I was threatened into silence. After I filed for divorce, even though I was always vague about the reasons, it managed to get worse." She reached down, tapping a fist against the metal part of her prosthetic. "I survived the first attempt on my life, he avoided suspicion by visiting me in the hospital every day to whisper sweet threats to me, and we both moved on from there, save for the occasional reminder that he could find me anywhere and if I talked about any of it, I was good as dead. But it's picked up again, now that he's involved with the AMP and filling in for the deposed mayor."

7:42 AM

. She looked up at the ceiling. It was a bit of a relief now, having said it. Maybe it wasn't so hard to believe after all - she'd simply convinced herself she wouldn't be taken seriously. "I have some evidence if you need it, though the actual records of his bribery that I do have are old. The main thing I was getting at is that it's possible he hired this guy to find out where I was staying, since I left my apartment after finding the camera that was placed there." @Hacky Slashy

Adam listened intently. Abusive shitbag, corrupt asshole and likely let criminals off easy thanks to his position. "I believe you. Your hearbeat remained steady. Also looted his cellphone if you got a friend to look at it. But given that the cops were disbanded by AMP, that might be difficult. But just tell me where this prick is hiding. I'll march in there and cut his throat. Or I can bring him to you at a secluded location. So you can personally teach him some manners. Hell maybe I'll take both of his legs and beat him with it. Pay him back twice for what he did to you." Adam hated criminals, but this ass hole was one of the worst. Sending others to do his shady stuff while he just sat comfortably in his office. Fucker probably thinks just because he doesn't physically do it, just gives orders, he's squeaky clean. @Al the Killer

Those threats were, quite possibly, the nicest thing anyone had ever said to Iris. Dear god, maybe that was what was wrong with her. Still, she had to be realistic about this. It was nice to imagine it all being that easy, but that wouldn't really help actually get it done. "He's a lot of things, but he's not stupid," she admitted, albeit begrudgingly. "With the news of a vigilante killer running around at night, he's not going to be outside after dark, and he'll be heavily guarded at all times, regardless of whether he's out and about or just sitting around his mansion enjoying his cosy life. We'll need to get him alone. Which works fine; if it gives me a chance to confront him personally, I don't mind acting as bait. Maybe we can get a recorded confession out of him, so nobody's under the impression that he's an innocent victim." Except there was that other bit of information that concerned her. "Wait, they disbanded the police? Just tonight?" She'd been so worried about the hired muscle following her that she hadn't even heard the news. And there was one person in particular she couldn't help but worry about. She stood up. "I... One second, I have to make a phone call." She took her phone and Albert's card from her jacket pocket and dialed his number. "Don't be doing anything stupid," she muttered while it rang. @Hacky Slashy

--- Quince met up with Cutty and the others. The reason AMP was ramping things up was that the National Guard armories were cleared out. It was no coincidence a good chunk of the police in the city were prior military. Quince was doing recon on one of the detention camps AMP set up around the city. He spotted Chief Riker among the other prisoners, including other fellow guardsmen. Quince learned that they were waging a resistance against AMP, buying time for the U.S military to arrive. Unfortunately that would take time. The Navy was mobilizing now, but it would still take time. "Everything checks out." Quince said to Cutty as he checked his phone. He put it on silence for the time being, but picked it up. "Hello?"

8:17 AM

@Al the Killer

Not dead, no sound of gunfire in the background... So far, so good. Iris let herself relax slightly, but only slightly. "This is Doc-" she started. No, too formal for what wasn't strictly a work call. "Sorry, I mean Iris. I heard about the police being disbanded. Are you alright? What's going on?" @Hacky Slashy

"I'll get back to you as soon as I can. But things are about to get worse. Stay safe." Quince had to wrap up the call. Cutty then asked Quince if he was ready. "You know it." On cue, an explosion sounded nearby. Several AMP humvees left rge detention camp to investigate, leaving just a skeleton crew. Only 10 men against the twenty former cops and guardmen about to raid the camp. Quince and other sharp shooters promptly executed 5 of the AMP troopers while the others moved in and shot down the rest of the remaining AMP guards. Quince felt no pity when reports came in about what really went down. President Roman ordered President Smith to be executed along with Congress. Luckily Smith survived the assassination but was wheelchairbound in a safe location thanks to Secret Service and Special Forces. A Seal team snuck into the city and linked up with the Guardsmen and informed them of the entire situation. The military had been mobilized against AMP, starting the 2nd American Civil War. Quince and Cutty covered the prisoners and the others as the Humvees raced back to the camp. Quince opened fire with his M4, taking down an AMP soldier getting out of the humvee. He then laid supressing fire until the others got away. AMP retaliated, nearly taking his head off but Quince and Cutty manged to slip away. They climbed down from the roof and went into a manhole. They managed to get out and Quince was able to call Iris again. He explained the situation. "Oh and want to know how AMP recruits it's members?Dishonorably discharged, war criminals, hell even other pmc groups from around the world implicated in morally questionable acts. Roman's been gathering his men and resources for years, waiting for the right time for his "reset". Just say the word, I'll get you somewhere safe if I can and rejoin the fight. Just say the word." @Al the Killer (edited)

"What do you mean worse?" Iris asked. "I swear, if you get yourself killed-" Iris wasn't sure how she'd finish that threat, but also didn't need to, as the call was cut short. Damn it, this was the worst possible time for any of this to be happening. She resisted the urge to throw her phone against the wall, and instead turned toward Adam. "Sorry, my... Friend..." Damn that word felt weird to say after so many years. "...Is an idiot." No, that wasn't fair. He had his reasons and his responsibilities, she knew. That didn't make it less frustrating to have to actually worry about another person again. "Alright, never mind destroying Craig's reputation; at this point, we just need him gone. The city's gone to hell, so now might be the time." She glanced down at her phone as another call came in. Albert, still alive. "One more moment, sorry." She answered the call and listened to his explanation, looking again toward the window. As much as she wanted to convince herself she was somewhere safe, she knew she wasn't. But she couldn't risk Adam getting discovered. "I can take care of things on my end," she assured him. "You worry about keeping yourself safe, and we'll talk again later. Take care." She ended the call this time and looked at Adam. "We need to get out of here," she told him, walking over to the bag with her things in it. "Did you get his car keys, by any chance?" She took out another handgun, pausing to load it. "Fucker should've known better than to underestimate me," she muttered to herself. @Hacky Slashy

Adam simply responded by jiggling the dead dirt bag's keys. " I heard those AMP fuckers were going around confiscating weapons. It's like these morons forgot what country they're in. Not to mention we got 4 other vampires that strolled into town. Who knows, maybe if we're lucky, they're skull fucking him as we speak." @Al the Killer

Iris glanced over at him. "Then it wasn't just them targeting me. I... Wouldn't call that good, but you know." She shrugged and stood upright. "They let this guy's vehicle pass through every checkpoint on the way here though, so he's got some kind of in with them. We use that, we might not get stopped. And if we do, well... Most of their soldiers will be busy with the fighting." She raised an eyebrow at his skull-fucking comment. "Also, gross." With her gun stowed away, she picked up her phone again. "Just give me a minute to set the trap and we'll be out." She took a deep breath, fighting to remember everything she'd learned in that one acting class she'd taken in undergrad and believed until now to be useless. @Hacky Slashy

Adam simply nodded and stood by. It's been a while since he had a co-conspirator. He wondered what exactly the trap will be. Hopefully it'll be as simple as he comes to gloat only to find a vampire biting down on his throat.

@Al the Killer

Iris unblocked Craig's original phone number, then called. While the phone rang, she silently convinced herself she could do this. Then he actually answered and oh fuck she could not do this. "Iris," he greeted, cheerful as though the world wasn't falling apart around them. "What a pleasant surprise." There was a subtle edge of annoyance to his voice, an unspoken threat that one had to experience in order to pick up on it. "Craig..." Shit, she should have thought less about how to act and more about trying to remember how to flirt. "I met the man you sent after me." "What are you talking about?" He feigned concern. "Are you alright? Have you been forgetting your medication?" It was all she could do not to snap at him. "I- well, maybe. But I panicked, and definitely knocked someone out..." She sighed. "Craig, if you did send him, I'm not upset. You've proven your point - I'm not safe in this city without you. Everything that happened before... I was wrong. I'm willing to put this all behind us if you're willing to forgive me." Even though it had been years, she apparently hadn't forgotten how to say what he wanted to hear. "Where are you? I'll pick you up. I heard things are getting dangerous out there." No shit. "I'm already on my way home. To you, I mean," she lied. "Then I'll be out with my guards to greet you." "Guards? Oh." She paused. "I was... actually hoping we might have a bit more privacy for our reunion." A moment of silence while she let the implications sink in. After a few seconds, he agreed. "Fine. Pull right up to the front door and I'll meet you there." Mercifully, the call ended, and she grimaced. "Well, I feel disgusting now." She pocketed the phone. "But by god, he is so damn predictable." She walked to the door, holding it open for Adam. "You'll know your cue when you hear it. But first, let's steal a car." @Hacky Slashy

"All right. Let's waste this fucker. Say is he into drugs or anything? Depending on the drug I'll either be seeing things or run around naked yelling "I'm king of the squirrels!" Or some shit. Just out of curiosity. Also I'm already ahead of you on that." Adam said jiggling the dead man's car keys. He stepped outside and decided to join Iris' assassination quest. "Also I'll kill the fucker, but I'll need half the cash up front." Adam jokingly said but in a low voice. @Al the Killer

"When you put it like that, I'm almost disappointed that he isn't. That sounds hilarious," Iris said. She glanced over at him. "I'm already buying you dinner, if you think about it. After bringing delivery. Is that not enough?" He was definitely more talkative than most dead guys she knew. She was not about to ask him to shut up or take this seriously. Not when their banter seemed like the one lifeline holding her away from the equally horrible options of panic or feeling herself being forcibly ejected from her own body. It was a weird form of grounding, cracking jokes while on her way to kill a man, but better than nothing. As they reached the car, she held out her hand for the keys. "I'll drive. Might be a good idea if you lay low, at least at the checkpoints. You're a level of conspicuous where we could be goth clubbing on Halloween and it would still take someone two seconds to point you out and say 'there he is, that's the vampire'." @Hacky Slashy

"Ok. Let's do one of my many dreams: Kill our local politician." Adam put on his seatbelt and gave her a thumbs up. Who knows? maybe this is the start of a beautiful friendship. --- Pacific Palisades. Rachel and her sister Sophie were on their way to Burt Richardson's house party. The 24 and 2o year old blondes needed something to do while college classes are canceled for he time being. This would be a good chance to unwind. "Cheer up, Sophie. This will be fun" Sophie on the other hand wasn't as excited. Between the Night Haunter killings and the AMP occupation, she was on edge. "I don't understand how there's even a party going on right now? Isn't the whole place on lockdown?" Martin, their front door passenger chimed in while he was smoking a joint. "Burt's dad is tight with the Mayor, who has pull with AMP. Besides, if that Haunter Night bozo shows up, Burt's security will handle things. They're cream of the crop, Besides, doesn't he go after just criminals? I doubt he's interested in partying college students." He said in between puffs of smoke. "God, will you put that away?! Besides I don't want you stinking up my car." Rachel chided him like a mother to a child. "What? It's legal now." He takes in another in another puff of smoke. And we're here!" They pulled into the large mansion and managed to park along the street. They made their way to the front door where the guard was checking names. When the three came up, Burt Richardson himself came up to greet them. "It's fine, Lucello. We're friends from college. They're cool. Please come on in!" Burt ushered them inside as the music was booming, good ol Dubstep. Unknown to them, 4 figures were observing them from afar. The bald vampire finished sniffing the air. "Looks like we'll have a feast tonight." He smiled as he looked back at his companions. "Jan, you take the back. Arvo will take the side. Callista and I will take the other side." @Al the Killer

As predicted, they passed through the checkpoints without incident. Despite being around curfew, hardly any AMP soldiers were around to staff them; the gunshots sounding in the distance gave away the answer of why. Iris's grip on the steering wheel remained tight. "Could you keep an eye on my phone while I'm driving, in case a call comes in?" she asked Adam. "Though it should probably go on silent before we make your politician-killing dreams come true. And make my dreams come true. I mean, what girl doesn't dream of one day leading abusive assholes to their deaths?" The checkpoints were fewer and further between as they approached the richer part of town. Probably because a lot of the neighbourhood's residents had the AMP in their pockets and didn't want to be inconvenienced. Iris glanced over toward one house they passed, as music blasted from it. People were still standing outside, waiting to gather. "Who the hell hosts a party on a night like this?" she questioned. "I wasn't that dumb at their age." She looked ahead again and considered. "Or... I hope I wasn't." @Hacky Slashy

" Or go exploring abandoned locations." Adam said, trying to lighten the mood. He felt something was about to go down though. --- While the party was going down, a man and woman made their way to the master bedroom. A black haired male and a blonde tan woman were ravaging each other like wild animals. "So what happened to your girlfriend, Will?" Will was busy taking his clothes off before answering. "Stomach flu, told her I was staying home." Moments later they were wrapped in a tight embrace, her on bottom while Will was on top, excavating her warm walls. "Fuck, your tight, Leah." Yoga classes were very beneficial, especially when it comes to sex. They were deep in the throes of passion when Leah heard a hissing sound. "What was that noise?!" William ignorantly pumped away until she drove a fist in his gut. "OW! What the fuck?!" He said, annoying cheated out of his fun. He looked around the room and saw nothing. "I don't hear anything." She looked around and also saw nothing out of place. Before she could get a word out, Will plugged his meat back into her. She let out an excited gasp. "You like that?" He then nuzzled into her neck and nibbled. She held onto his back, digging her nails into his back, drawing blood. When she opened her eyes, she saw a red head female with white skin and black eyes standing over them. Before she could let out a scream, she raised her claws in the air. "OH BABE! I'M CO-" His words were cut off by a fist digging into the back of his skull, exiting out of his mouth. "See, this why women live longer than men." She smiled before sinking her teeth into the dead man's neck, while he was rended dead weight on his mistress. "She's all yours, Marlowe." She said as a the bald vampire pulled William off Leah. The terrified woman was naked and exposed to two of the deadliest predators that walked this earth. She let out a throat shredding scream as the last thing she saw was a mout full of razor like teeth coming at her.

Downstairs, two guards were trying to get in contact with the perimeter guards while Sophie, Martin and Rachel were getting drinks. The DJ was ramping up the music as the rest of the party goers danced on, ignorant of the carnage to come. Arvo and Jan had finished dispatching the perimiter guards and killd their way inside. They phased through the crowd, cutting throats and biting into victims while th crowd continued dancing. Eventually Jan made his way to the DJ. The hapless man never saw it coming as his head was forced into the disc. The music stopped as everyone was processing what was going on. Jan sank his teeth into the young man's neck as the partygoers looked on in horror. Marlowe and Calista went room by room, dispatching fornicating couples until an unlucky brunte tripped on the upstairs railing and fell head first, snapping her neck. Everyone panicked and tried running out as security guards attempted to shoot at Jan, but the panicking crowd threw off their aim. Rachel was propelled through the front door by the stanpede while Sophie and Marty were left trapped inside with the apex predators. Some were cut down and killed, splashing others with blood. Many came running out like ants. Eventually a panicked young black haired woman came up to Iris' car screaming for help. Adam rolled down the window. "You need some help?" "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK?!" Adam looked at the house people were pouring out of. "I'm probably gonna regret this, but I'll be right back." Without another word, Adam ran towards the carnage.

1:02 PM

@Al the Killer

Iris laughed. "Yeah, that t-" Then gunshots and screams split the air. She stopped the car against her better judgment, and brushed a hand against the bulge her gun left in her jacket pocket. She glanced over at the house. "Something's wrong." Then people started rushing out. "Yep, thought so." This was not something she needed right now, especially in a stolen car. She looked ahead at the road, just a few estates down from Craig's home. Someone was running straight at the car, and she sighed. They couldn't just leave this be, she knew. "Shit." She unlocked the doors for the young woman. "Hide in here and- are you seriously going out there alone right now?" He was seriously going out there alone right now. "Alright, kid," she told the other woman. "Get in the back and tell me what happened." It didn't take long into the story to catch on to what had attacked. There was no way Adam could handle four vampires on his own... Was there? She wouldn't take that chance. Better to die fighting vampires than to live long enough to get murdered by your ex husband's employees, she always said. "Okay. Stop talking," she said, getting out of the car. "I'm going to lock the doors. Whatever you do, stay out of sight of the windows until one of us gets back." She searched the guy's trunk in a hurry for something that might prove better than a gun against vampires. Something sharp through the heart, based on the story Adam had told her. The closest she could find to, say, a stake was a long knife, tangled in a coil of rope. Considering the guy it had belonged to had tried to kidnap her, she really didn't want to think about this finding too much, and simply freed the knife.

1:48 PM

The panicked crowd ran to the side to make room for the very pissed-off-looking divorcee with a knife, so it seemed the survivors did have a few brain cells after all. Once she reached the door, she stayed outside, just turning her head just enough to peek at the carnage inside. She slowed her breathing, trying to force her body into some state vaguely resembling calm. @Hacky Slashy

In the house, one remaining security guard who was putting up a valiant last stand, shooting into Jan and Arvo who was tearing apart his comrades before they turned their attention on him. Sophie and Marty were huddled in a corner while Marlowe and Callista were draining a topless Goth Woman, both biting down on opposite sides of her neck. Marlowe sniffed the air and smiled. "Ah, we have a virgin. Those taste the sweetest." Marlowe walked towards Sophie and Marty. Marty took out a pocket knife and pointed it at Marlowe. Marlowe simply scoffed and rushed at him at an inhuman speed. Marlowe punched right through his chest, ripping his heart out as Sophie watched in horror. The other party goers ran past him, but were chased down by the other three Vampires, leaving Sophie and Marlowe alone. She got down on her knees and uttered the Lord's prayer. Marlowe crouched down to face her. He smiled and looked around. He smiled menacingly and said. "No God." Before he could dig his claws into her skull, he was suddenly tackled by Adam. He ran Marlowe into a wall and initiated a series of punches. Adam shouted for Sophie to get out. She managed to ran outside and ran into both Rachel and Iris. She explained what was going on while Adam and Marlowe were still fighting. Marlowe caught one of Adam's fists and then grabbed him by the throat. "Impressive for a half breed." He sneered as he continued choking Adam. "I....I'M......GOI......NG.....TOO....FU..." Marlowe simply slammed him to the ground threw him into a series of tables. Marlowe leaped into the air and landed feet first into Adam's gut, knocking the air out of him. Jan, Callista and Arvo made their way back to Marlowe while he still had Adam pinned. "Well, looks like we found the other one." Jan sneered as he looked at Adam. Callista rubbed Marlowe's shoulder. "If it isn't the famous Night Haunter. Not very nice of you to spoil our fun." Arvo simply kicked Adam in the face.

@Al the Killer

Iris pulled Sophie to the side, away from the doorway as she talked about what happened. And fucking hell, this was not good. She thought back to the last few days and wondered if maybe she would have been better off accepting Albert's offers of safety after all. In better circumstances, it would have been a nice dream. But not realistic. Today's dreams would be the ones from when she was a kid and would secretly pirate episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on her friends' computers because she was forbidden from watching it at home. She held Sophie's shoulder with the hand that didn't have a knife as she spoke. "Alright, slow down. Breathe." Her voice was low, but she was bad at sounding soothing in her current, extremely unsoothed state. "Go to the neighbours' and hide there. Don't make noise. Don't draw attention to yourself, and you might survive." This was probably why she'd done so badly in her psychiatry residency: realism. She let her go and returned to the door. The four of them were turned away from her. An advantage, but given their superhuman speed and her impaired speed, she had to hope they were fully distracted. She focused on the back of the one doing most of the kicking, on where his heart would be. Odds of survival were extremely low, and if she didn't kill him on the first try, she was fucked. Well, dead, which was less fun than fucked. For now, she watched and waited for a better shot to present itself. She'd just have to hope Adam survived long enough for that to happen. Surely, a vampire could not simply be kicked to death. @Hacky Slashy

"You pricks better get going." Adam said from the ground. Marlowe and the others stared at him with the mot condescending look on their faces. "And why's that?" Marlowe said. "Cause an AMP death squad is probably on it's way to turn us all into mince meat." Marlowe considered the possibility and then turned to the others. "Let's go. Jan, finish the half breed off and then meet at the spot." Marlowe, Arvo and Callista sped through the back entrance, passing by the traip of corpses in the yard and the swimming pool, now colored red. "You spoiled our fun, you little shit. These humans kill each other more than we do them. Why did you get so hung up on them?" Jan said as he stared solely at Adam, face swolen by the severe beating, some of his teeth knocked out and his left arm and right leg bent in the opposite direction. "No matter, say night night, mister Night Haunter. Your pitiful super hero career is at an end. You should be honored one of the born is about to kill you." Jan lifted his leg in the air about to cave in Adam's skull, while Adam attempted to get up. @Al the Killer

Good, Adam had put in the work to present Iris's opportunity to her. Iris watched, waiting for the back door to swing shut behind the other three. One vampire. She might stand a shot against one vampire. Her grip tightened around the knife, and she crept into the room while Jan was monologuing, moving as quickly as she could without making obvious noise. She stood behind Jan as he lifted his leg. Instinctively, she held her breath, lifted the blade, and aimed directly at the spot where she'd best pierce his heart from behind. Nearly her full body weight went into the attack as she drove the blade through him with as much force as she could manage. Silently, she gave one last hope that the blade would be long enough to pierce through the other side and kill her target. If it was, she would fall down with the body, having sacrificed balance for force. @Hacky Slashy

Jan let out an ear piercing, inhuman roar as the blade exited out of his chest, his heart on the tip of the blade. He convulsed and fell on top of Iris as a geyser of blood exited out of his mouth as his body started melting. Adam dragged it off before any could stain Iris. Some of the blood splashed into his mouth. Adam gripped the heart, taking it off the blade. He then looked down as only a skeleton and clothes remained of Jan. He crawled over to Iris with his arm that healed a bit. "O...k...let..s go....ki..." Adam simply coughed up blood as he helped Iris up with his broken arm, half way healed. Adam then spit out some fangs. @Al the Killer

Iris closed her eyes. Sure, she was used to death before. From the moment she'd graduated med school, corpses had been her livelihood. She'd even had an incident or two in the early years where cadavers had fallen on her. But there was a difference between that and a vampire she'd just killed falling on top of her. Then the weight was pulled off as the body dissolved. She was breathing again, at least. She opened her eyes and looked over at Adam. "You look like hell," was all she could bring herself to say. She stood back up with his help. "Are you alright?" Stupid question, he was definitely not alright. She dropped the knife and held her arms out to help him balance. What a sorry pair they must have seemed. "You need more blood to heal fully," she guessed. "Are you even in any condition to attack, or will we need to rework the plan?" She looked down, at her own arm. "Once you've started drinking, can you control yourself? Can I give you some of my own to tide you over until we get there, or is it too risky?" @Hacky Slashy

Adam's only response to cough up blood. He then had another idiotic idea. He squeezed the blood from the heart and drank it. It shriveled up and Adam's wounds healed. The only thing is he felt winded and his back was aching, specifically below each shoulder blade. "Might have to take a rain check on the whole kill your scumbag husband plan. Also is the girl ok?" @Al the Killer

"Ex-husband, thank you very much," Iris corrected him, before her brain caught up to the other thing he'd said. "I don't know. I left her in the car. If she was smart enough to listen, she'll be hiding in the back seat." She reached down and picked the knife back up, just in case. A small part of her brain that wanted to pretend things would be normal come sunrise rationalized that it was covered in her fingerprints, and therefore shouldn't be left at the scene of a massacre. She grabbed onto Adam's hand to ensure he wouldn't fall behind as she limped back toward the car. The fall hadn't been great, and she could only hope nothing had broken that couldn't be mended without a prosthetist. Yet, through it all, she couldn't help but smile. "I killed a vampire," she said, almost giddy with the realization. "I mean, not to sound too excited about it, but that feels like one hell of an accomplishment." Maybe this was the confidence boost she'd been needing her entire life. Or maybe sleep deprivation, hunger, and the activation of her sympathetic nervous system into overdrive were combining to make her brain all weird and light. "So, I say we let him assume I never made it there and might be dead for now." She stopped in front of the car, out of hands. So she let go of Adam's to unlock it, then opened the back door. "Hey kid? Are you alright back there?" @Hacky Slashy

The woman in the backseat meekly peeked out. "Yes. Are they.....Oh Holy fucking hell." To her horror, Adam looked very similar to the killers. Sophie and Rachel came out. Sophie immediately hugged Adam, then Rachel followed. "THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!" Adam blushed a little, but tried to conceal it. The woman got out of the car, but Rachel managed to calm her down and explain that Adam isn't one of them, at least with them. He's very much the same species. "We have a place not too far from here. You can stay with us." Rachel offered to both Adam and Iris, while Sophie still had Adam wrapped up in a hug, making him forget about his aching back and the ass kicking. "Should've see them, ran like bitches at the sight of her." Adam pointed to Iris. @Al the Killer

Maybe Iris shouldn't have let go, seeing how Adam immediately got ambushed. That could not have been good for his injuries. Since she'd been spared from the hugging, she set the blade in the glove compartment, in case she needed it handy later. There were still three other vampires running around out there, after all. She glanced over at what Adam said about the vampires running. Wait, her? She blinked, opened her mouth to explain that that was not what had happened, then closed it and shrugged instead. She'd let herself have this, just this once. "They didn't all run," she said instead, closing the glove compartment. "I killed one before he could join the others." That much was at least truthful. Anyway, nothing sounded nicer right now than the idea of a warm shower, a proper meal (rest in peace to her abandoned curry dinner), and a proper sleep in an actual bed. "I don't see why not. But he's..." She looked toward Adam. "...Allergic to sunlight. So hopefully you have a basement, or blackout curtains." @Hacky Slashy

"You saved my sister. I'll rob the fucking blood bank if I need to." Rachel said with conviction while Sophie still held on to Adam. Adam spoke up. "I hear humvees coming. We better get going right now." Sophie took the backseat with Adam, while she clutched the cross on her necklace. "I'll bring the car back but Sophie will guide you back home." Sophie nodded and waited for Iris. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded in agreement and got into the driver's seat. Once Rachel was clear from her path, she turned the key in the ignition and pressed the accelerator. There was no time to waste, and she was not about to go through everything she had that night just to get held up just because there happened to be a war going on in the city. "Alright Sophie, just tell me where to go." She glanced at the two of them through the rearview mirror. "So, Adam, how are you liking the new fanclub? Thinking you should run headfirst into danger more often?" she joked. @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah. Sorry doc, I forgot to mention I'm kind of an idiot. But to be fair would an idiot have made it this far." Adam smiled from the backseat. Sophie then gave her the directions to Rachel's and her house. "It's a ten minute drive, ma'am." Sophie then let out more tears. "Marty..." Adam put a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry I didn't jump in earlier. Fuck, that all hurt." Adam still felt the pain from the beating. @Al the Killer

"Yes," Iris answered Adam's question flatly. "He would have, and he has." She sighed, hearing Sophie as she drove. "Still, better that we intervened, instead of driving on. I have to admit, this is more important than..." She should not speak so openly about plotting to kill someone. "...Our... other plans." Between the directions and following Rachel's car, she'd be able to find the place just fine. She wouldn't fully relax until she pulled into the driveway, though. And even then, only if they hadn't been followed by any unwanted vehicles. "And Adam?" she added as she hit the brake. "Sorry I didn't step in sooner." It's just that she definitely would've gotten killed, and then they'd both be dead. Still, it was the thought that counted. @Hacky Slashy

"sorry about what? Being smarter than I was? Not going in guns blazing and getting beaten like a rented mule? This is why women live longer than men." Adam said, smiling. Rachel pulled in and instructed Iris where to park. "Thank you, both. You saved the others as well. Come on, oh and just so you know, Nebo will get a little excited. We'll go in first. Our dog." Sophie and Rachel entered the house and gave the all clear to Adam and Iris. A Siberian Husky was standing between them, tail wagging and his tongue sticking out. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled back. "And for living long enough to save your ass," she admitted. "Don't forget that part. You can consider us even." She got out of the car and followed the girls to the house. Her smile only grew as she realized who Nebo was. They had a dog! Fuck yeah! Her eyes lit up as she followed behind and, when she reached him, she held a hand out to their husky. "Yes, hello there, Nebo," she greeted, full baby-voice mode. "Who's a good boy?" She had no idea if Nebo was, in fact, a good boy, but would claim that he was to her dying day, all while petting him like this was the last time she'd ever see a dog. Then she remembered reality, and looked up at the other two girls. "So, is there any clothing I could borrow...? It may come as a surprise to you, but I don't love being covered in blood." If she'd had a dollar for every time she had worn this outfit to the site of a massacre within the past couple of days, she would have had two dollars. Which wasn't a lot, but it was weird that it happened twice. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo adored the attention. He rubbed his furry head on Iris' leg and licks her hands. Adam hesitantly walks near Nebo, anxious that the dog would freak out, but Nebo licked Adam's hand. Adam then pet the dog back. "You can borrow my clothes. We'll show you and you decide." Sophie pet Nebo and then offered to do Laundry for Adam and Iris. "I don't think yours will fit me, though." Adam said sheepishly. Rachel then mentioned he could borrow their dad's clothes. Nebo nuzzled against Iris. "He's really friendly as you can see." Rachel said as she guided her and Sophie's saviors. @Al the Killer

Iris followed after Rachel, but occasionally looked down at Nebo, her expression a silent way of promising that she would kill and die for this Husky. "As long as it's clean, I'm not picky. And a bath..." Considering the fact that her current leg was decidedly not waterproof, a shower probably wasn't the smartest idea. "Oh, and not to ask too much, but what do you have for food?" With the adrenaline wearing off, she couldn't deny that she was starving. The few bites she'd managed to sneak in earlier had definitely worn off. Once they reached their destination, she paused to look over at Adam, resting her hand on his shoulder as she spoke. "I know I already asked, but are you alright? Will rest be enough for you until tomorrow night?" she asked, lowering her voice slightly. The last thing they needed were for these girls to worry about getting eaten by one of their saviours. Personally, she just wanted to be welcome here for long enough to reach a point where, when she woke up next, she'd feel like a person again. @Hacky Slashy

"I'll be fine. I promise. Also....you now know what to do, just in case." Adam whispered. Nebo trotted towards Iris and Adam. He nuzzled into her leg. "He's a good boy." Adam simply said as Nebo licked Iris' hand. Rachel came back with clothes for both Adam and Iris. "Sophie's a good cook and we managed to get groceries recently. Also there's leftover Lasagna. It's all yours." @Al the Killer

Iris looked down at Nebo, trying not to think too hard about 'what to do, just in case'. Having to kill a vampire she had never spoken to was entirely different from the hypothetical scenario where she might have to kill someone she'd told some of her trauma to. One was a stranger, the other was a confidante, no matter how short-term. "He is," she agreed about Nebo, mentally filing away those other thoughts into the 'bullshit to unpack when the world isn't imploding' folder. She looked over at Rachel. "And thank you. Both you and Sophie." She took the clothing she'd been brought, checking what was there. A far cry from her usual professional pantsuits, but all that mattered at this point was comfort and a lack of blood. She stepped away from Adam. "I'll be down in the kitchen in a bit," she said, momentarily forgetting that he didn't eat food, then looked at Rachel. "Bathroom is... this way?" she guessed, pointing toward a promising-looking enough door. @Hacky Slashy

Rachel confirmed Iris' assumption. "In there along with the shower." Adam took the shirt and pants. Rachel then pointed him towards bothe her father's room and the bathroom on the 2nd floor of the house. Adam dropped the clothes on the bed and then saw a picture of a blonde man in a Navy uniform, Sophie, Rachel, Nebo and a familiar brown haired detective. He then went upstairs to shower. @Al the Killer

Once she was behind a locked door and undressed, Iris unlocked the pins that kept the leg attached to its socket and inspected the prosthetic for damage. Nothing major that she could see, at least; a small dent here or there, but as it was, it would hold up fine until her next appointment. For now, she set it aside and focused on not feeling or smelling like a slaughterhouse. It was a few minutes before she'd washed the evidence of the past few days off entirely, and a couple more before she was willing to leave the warm comfort of the water. After she managed to drag herself out and dry herself off, she locked her leg back into place, grateful that she at least didn't have to contend with stairs tonight. The dress she'd borrowed fell just below the knees, and was a decent enough fit. A bit tight in the chest, but not unbearable, and it compensated by having pockets. Overall, not too bad. Her glasses were the last to go on, before she carried everything out for the laundry. On the way out, she found herself distracted by the family portraits on the walls she hadn't noticed before. Now she couldn't help but wonder how she hadn't. This wasn't somewhere she expected to see a familiar face. She looked around for signs of either of the girls. @Hacky Slashy

Adam was fully showered and dressed in a black T shirt and Jeans. Thankfully they were a decent fit. Sophie came with a plate of Lasagna. She also let Adam know that his clothes were gonna be washed after Iris. Rachel also arrived with some dog food for Nebo. "How's everything? Need anything else?" Nebo trotted along, tail wagging. @Al the Killer

Iris glanced over at the girls. "Clothes are ready for laundry," she said first of all, since she knew she'd kept them waiting. "And thank you for the food; if you set it on a table, I'll be glad to take it off your hands for you in just a second." She smiled, before looking at the portrait again. "I was just wondering who this is?" She pointed at the guy who looked way too similar to Quince to be a total coincidence. @Hacky Slashy

Sophie set down the food while Rachel fixed Nebo's plate. "He's our uncle. In law before our Aunt passed." Sophie said, sullenly. "He always looks out for us. Even checks in and hangs out while our dad's away. I just hope he's ok, now dealing with what president Roman and AMP are doing." Rachel patted Nebo on the head and then used a brita water filter and filled up his bowl. "No joke, when out dad's around, Nebo eats better than we do." @Al the Killer

Iris sat down in front of her own plate as she listened. It didn't confirm that he was the same person, but it seemed to lean in that general direction. "I may know him. Is he a detective, by any chance?" She looked toward the window. "And have you heard from him in the past couple of hours?" She started eating while she listened for the answer. Admittedly, the pit in her stomach may have been at least fifty percent worry, and not entirely hunger. Worry that he might be hurt, and also worry that he might stop by unexpectedly and it would be awkward as hell to explain why she's been driving a vampire serial killer around all night. @Hacky Slashy

"Yes. Detective Albert Quince. He's been really busy with....him lately." Rachel gestured towards Adam. Adam looked around and then pointed towards himself. "I mean, it is his job." Sophie then spoke up after digging into her plate. "We talked yesterday. He was just checking in with us." She then looked towards Adam. "So...you're a...you know?" "Yep. Nosferatu. Creature of the night. One of the things that go bump." He then recapped everything that happened, minus the plan with the mayor. Rachel had a question of her own. "Are werewolves a thing?" Adam simply turned around and lifted his shirt, revealing scars, scratches and bullet holes....and a very large 5 fingered indentation. "Not an encounter I'd like to repeat." Adam put it back down. @Al the Killer

"We've both been busy with him lately," Iris admitted, then gave Adam a sharp look. "Ten bodies in one night, really? Do you know how much extra work that created for me? I had to split the load with the local hospital, and the other pathologists are not happy about it." Her tone was light though, since in hindsight, her workload seemed like such a small problem as to be easily forgiven. Definitely easy to joke about. Though she was willing to pause her meal to talk, she did continue to eat as she looked at the variety of scars. So, regeneration and healing were still limited enough to allow for the creation of scar tissue. She couldn't stop being a scientist for long enough not to make note of that. Then she swallowed the current mouthful of food and summarized: "So you're saying there are werewolves, but petting them would be a bad idea?" She sighed, as though disappointed. "Good to know, I guess." She looked down at her plate. "Still, you girls should be careful after dark. There are still three of them out there, so keep the doors and windows locked, and don't go out at night if you have any other option." @Hacky Slashy

"First of all, those assholes were planning who knows what with military grade gear. I did everybody a favor there. And secondly, In my defense I may have gotten too excited that night. And thirdly, yeah funny story about the werewolf. I'll be happy to regail you with that. I mean it's not like we got anything better to do." Sophie and Rachel nodded in agreement to Iris' advice. "Maybe if we're lucky AMP will take care of them." Rachel said as Nebo stretched and then rolled onto his back. Sophie got her plate and washed it along with the utensils. She then got down and rubbed Nebo's belly. Nebo panted with his tongue out. @Al the Killer

Iris looked toward the window at the mention of the AMP. "I'd be careful about them, too," she admitted. "Even if they do manage to fumble their way into figuring out how to kill vampires, they're not exactly a benevolent force, either. And in that case, I doubt they'd stop at those three." She looked toward Adam again as she mentioned that last part. "We should all be careful." Well, this was taking a grim turn. She stood by her advice, but had to admit it was a real downer to sit around saying all of this out loud. So she changed the topic back to something less ominous. "So, tell us more about this werewolf. You have my attention." @Hacky Slashy

Adam cleared his throat as the girls gathered around for the story. "Ok, so I was once in Pennsylvania, just drifting. I hear of a serial killer leaving some torn apart bodies. So naturally I decide to go find the prick, give him what for. I eventually managed to track and ambush him in a forest. He just reeked of human blood, lots of it. I stuck to the trees and followed him as he was prowling, looking for more victims. I eventually say screw it and decide to pounce. Let's just say it was a miracle I didn't break every bone in my body. I just bounce right off him. It didn't make sense, the guy looked like he was 120 pounds, soaking wet. You can probably imagine my face when he turns around and grows bigger, and hairier. I'll give you two guesses what happened next. I ran and got clawed for my troubles. The stamina he packed was no joke. He tracked me through the forest all night. We eventually came upon a cliff and I moved out of the way, but he yanks me down with him. I end up breaking my legs and he ended up impaled on a branch sticking out of the ground. He changed back to human form and I had to crawl until my legs healed. Sheer luck I ran into a deer. I fed on it and then hid in a cave until sun down." @Al the Killer

Iris finished her meal while she listened to the story. Definitely not cuddly puppy dogs then, but worth a shot anyway. After he had finished talking, she stood up and carried her plate and fork to the sink. She considered commenting on how it sounded like he was no stranger to getting his ass kicked after all, but decided it was a bit too soon after the most recent encounter for that to be funny. "Definitely avoiding werewolves, then," she said instead, washing her own dishes. "Not sure they'd be too fond of this city right now, though. I'm not sure anyone is, at this point." She set the dishes aside and wiped her hands off on the towel by the sink as she looked back. "Sophie, Rachel, thank you both for the meal." Now she was only exhausted, and no longer a clusterfuck of stress and a complete lack of self-care. Massive improvement. "What do you have in terms of spare rooms? If there isn't anything, I don't mind taking a sofa somewhere, either." She'd probably also better call Albert, since she'd implied she would let him know when she was safe. This was as safe as she was going to get without Craig being dead. @Hacky Slashy

"You can use our dad's room in the mean time." Sophie chimed in. Nebo went alongside Iris and pawed at her leg. Rachel then picked up the dog bowls and washed them. "I'll just hang upside down in the ceiling." Adam said jokingly. Sophie then pointed him towards the basement. "There's a spare bed down there as well. I can show you if you want." Adam nodded and Sophie took him to the basement. Thankfully it was maintained, especially for a basement. Sophie and Adam then went back upstairs to the others. "Guess that's settled for the night." @Al the Killer

Iris watched them go downstairs. "What a shame, I really wanted to see if he could hang upside down from the ceiling," she commented, then reached down to scratch behind Nebo's ear. "Yes, hello there. Did you have a good meal?" She patted the dog's side then straightened up, walking toward the stairs. "I'll be heading up now." She glanced back over her shoulder. "If any of you need anything, just knock. Otherwise, goodnight." She couldn't help but worry about the girls, just a bit. She knew well enough that an experience like what they'd been through at the party didn't leave a person's mind easily. Still, she couldn't deny the need for sleep much longer. Progress up the stairs was slow, but she made it to the room Adam had used earlier and sat on the bed. Before she could sleep, she took her phone out of the dress pocket she'd slipped it into. Down to forty percent battery, with a bombardment of furious texts from Craig realizing she was not showing up and demanding to know where she was. She ignored them for now, and called Albert instead. Outside, things seemed quiet, but she couldn't say for sure if it was because the fighting had died down for the night or because they were far enough from it. @Hacky Slashy

Albert Quince was laying low for now, waiting for further orders. He was back in his apartment, readying a bug out bag just in case. He stared at his wedding photo. "Fuck." Quince then noticed his cellphone was ringing. He recognized Iris' number. "Hello?" @Al the Killer

Iris balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder as she worked on removing her leg for the night. "Oh good, you're still alive." She hoped she didn't sound too surprised, but wasn't about to hold her breath on that hope. "I mean, hi Albert. This is Iris again. I promised I'd call you back, right?" She set the leg aside and took the phone in hand again. "How are things going on over there? Any updates?" She silently wondered how much she could safely tell him over the phone about the shit she'd been through. Probably not much, especially when she hardly believed it, herself. @Hacky Slashy

"We freed Chief Riker and others. Also heard there was a massacre in Palisades. My nieces are in the area, I'm coming to check on them now. Even say hi to Nebo." Albert concealed his pistol and then waited for Iris' response. Truthfully he was happy to hear her voice again.

6:31 AM

@Al the Killer

Iris glanced toward the door. Seriously, when she had just removed a limb for the night? She had finally discovered what was worse than being asked to do something immediately after having sat down. "Yeah, about that. Funny story," she said. "So I got somewhere safe and, by pure accident, happen to be staying with Rachel and Sophie right now. I'll explain later, but the short version is that I saved their lives, so they're letting me stay here for the night." She left Adam and the vampires out of the story for now, because seriously, how the fuck was she supposed to explain that? "So, I guess I'll see you in a bit?" @Hacky Slashy

"Son of a bitch. I'm coming over right now. Is anyone hurt?" Albert was in a panic right now. Those girls and Nebo were the few family he had left. He hastily packed hos bugout bag and made his way to the car. "I'll be seeing you soon. Fuck I knew I should've checked up on them" Albert started his car and began heading over.

6:42 AM

@Al the Killer

A lot of people were not just hurt, but dead, but she knew that wasn't what he meant. "The girls are fine, physically. Mentally, it's too soon to tell, but they've been through an ordeal, so they'll probably need whatever support they can get," Iris explained, keeping her voice calm and even. "I might have a few bruises in the morning, but I'm fine. Nebo wasn't nearby when it happened, so he didn't get hurt at all. There's someone else with us who helped and he got the worst of it, but once he rests up, he'll be fine." Still not about to say he's a vampire. She reached her free hand over to pick up the leg. Maybe she could stay awake for a while longer, after all. She'd have all day to sleep. "Drive safe, and we'll all see you soon." @Hacky Slashy

"I'll see you soon." Quince hung up and made his way to the house. He was able to avoid most AMP checkpoints and used a counterfeit ID to get past the others. Luckily they were convincing enough. He pulled into the driveway and called Iris again. "Hi, I'm here. Could you open up, I don't want to wake them."

6:56 AM

@Al the Killer

When the call ended, Iris put her leg back on, secured it fully, and made her way down the stairs to wait. Hopefully, his drive wasn't too short, or else he'd just have to wait for her to get downstairs. The living room had gone dark and quiet, which wasn't too surprising; it was late, and the girls needed rest, more than anything. She'd been on the sofa for a few minutes, looking out the window in the wrong direction when the call came in. She checked first, making sure it was Albert and not an increasingly enraged ex-husband, then answered. "Yeah, one second." She stood up and made her way over to the front door. After she ended the call and slid the phone back into the dress pocket, she opened the door and stepped aside. "Not my house, but come in anyway." She smiled, looking over at him. "Are you hurt at all? Do you need anything? If you need medical attention, I know a... terrible doctor. All of her patients are dead," she joked. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm ok. I'll just take the Sofa, won't keep you longer or wake them. What about you? Wait just get some rest, we'll talk in the morning." Quince then offered to help Iris up the stairs. @Al the Killer

Iris shrugged. "I'm fine, I'll tell you more in the morning. Or afternoon. Whenever I'm conscious again and the girls are around to tell their side of the story. Still, it hardly seems fair that you went to all of this trouble to be exiled to the couch." She accepted his help up the stairs anyway, hooking her arm around his and keeping the other hand on the banister. @Hacky Slashy

Quince helped her up the stairs. He helped her to the bed and set her down on the bed. "And no worries, that couch is more comfortable than it looks. I had to stay there before. One of Rachel's boyfriends was caught cheating by her and he insisted on showing up, trying to say sorry. He ran real fast when I flashed the gun, then the badge. Although I have a funny feeling he didn't even see the badge as he was leaving a brown and yellow trail. Just in case took some PTO just in case he didn't wisen up." Quince smiled fondly at the memory.

7:20 AM

@Al the Killer

Iris could have made it just fine from the top of the stairs, but let him keep thinking he was helping anyway. As she listened to him, she sat on the edge of the bed and tilted her head to one side. "Personally, I would've given Rachel the gun," she admitted. "It's her right, in that situation. But overall, scaring off cheating assholes? Always a good plan, no matter who holds the pistol." She picked up her phone. "Before you go, do you know if there's a USB-C charger handy, or should I wait for morning?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince simply took out his from his back pocket. "Would this suffice?" Quince handed the charger to Iris. "Do you need anything else? AMP has been rounding up weapons, but they're kinda having a hard time between citizens, the gangs and us." @Al the Killer

Iris looked over the charger than nodded. "It would." She plugged it in as she considered. A longer vampire-killing weapon, like a proper stake, would probably be necessary later on; the knife had been risky. But that was a conversation for later, as now was not the time for the 'vampires are real and I befriended one and killed another' conversation. So, she stuck to other things. "I'll be fine. They confiscated what I had on me earlier - even both cans of pepper spray. Seriously, who does that? - but I had another gun at home. We'll talk more later. Rest well for now, Albert." @Hacky Slashy

"You too." Albert went back downstairs and contemplated thanking their savior, but elected to just sleep on the couch until morning.

7:39 AM

@Al the Killer

Iris removed the leg again once he was gone and lay back on the bed. Sleep didn't often come easily for her. Usually not while unmedicated. But as the past two days' events caught up to her, she found for once that it was staying conscious that was a struggle, no matter how horrifying the dreams brought on by sleep might have been. ~~~ She woke up close to noon as her phone rang. "Hm?" She picked up the phone but not her glasses, leaving her to squint at the blurry text on screen. Unknown number. Probably a new burner phone. He was definitely pissed off, but he could wait for night. She'd have plenty of time to think of an excuse in the meantime. Deciding she'd rested enough, she sat up and prepared for the day. About twenty minutes later, she started down the stairs. Clean, not starving, and now the dark circles under her eyes were mostly gone? About time she was more presentable than she had been in days. She looked around to see if Albert or one of the girls was around. She'd probably have to wait until dark before seeing Adam again, of course. @Hacky Slashy

Albert was in the kitchen, cooking eggs. Nebo greeted Iris while Sophie and Rachel were drinking coffee. They managed to clean up a bit, making themselves presentable. "Afternoon!" Albert said as he set plates of toast and eggs for everyone. "Sleep well, doc?" Albert was caught up on recent events by Sophie and Rachel. @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet Nebo. "Well enough," she said, at first without looking up. Dog first, then food. "What about you?" She stopped petting him after a few more seconds so she could wash her hands in the kitchen sink. Once she'd taken her seat at the table, she spoke again. "So, Albert, how much do you know about what happened last night?" she asked, because she wasn't about to be redundant if he wanted further explanations. @Hacky Slashy

"From what I can gather, the four killers from the AMP checkpoint struck the party. Sophie nearly died, but the Night Haunter interfered. Then apparently you managed to kill one of them after the others fled the scene.....and now he's resting in the basement." Sophie and Rachel looked at Iris with an apologetic look. "He figured it out, we didn't say anything directly." Rachel said as Albert continued speaking. "It's fine. He's good in my book as far as I'm concerned, but we still have three of those things running around. I just wish you called me. I don't know what I would've done if I lost them." @Al the Killer

"I didn't know they were your nieces, and there wasn't time to question them," Iris explained. "Otherwise, I..." She stopped, and considered. Better to be honest. "...Wouldn't have put you in even more danger anyway. Bullets won't get you very far with what we're dealing with. You're better off outsmarting them and destroying the heart. A blade or stake will be more precise for those purposes; shooting them is a gamble no matter how good your aim. So no, I wouldn't have called you over to throw yourself into danger unprepared, assuming you even arrived before the other four killed Adam." She picked up her fork. "Anyway, yes, you'd be correct about all of that. Only missing the part where the corpse melted. I've seen a lot in my career, but that was a new experience." She shrugged like it was no big deal, then began eating. @Hacky Slashy

Quince was hoping against hope that this was just a crazed insurrectionist group or meth addicts. But it appears all logic and reason had been thrown out the window. "At least they can be killed, and we got one less of them to deal with thanks to you...and him." Quince ate his eggs while the girls did the same. Nebo nuzzled against Quince, looking at him with the begging eyes. Quince then scooped up some eggs and handed them to the husky. "No more, ok?" @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "If he hadn't convinced the other three to leave, I probably wouldn't be sitting here now," she admitted. "I might've managed to kill one, two if the others were shocked enough and luck was really on my side, but after that..." She trailed off and shrugged. "What matters is that we're alive now." For now, at least. She didn't say that part out loud. She glanced down at Nebo, smiled, and tried not to seem too uneasy as she finished her breakfast. @Hacky Slashy

"I can imagine only the look on their faces if they learned you killed that one. They probably think either an AMP squad got him, or Adam got lucky. Now if only we could just track wh wherever they're hiding, make an anonymous call to AMP and just watch them tear each other apart." Nebo went to Sophie who was fiddling with a radio, playing the news. "Breaking News, General Macke of the United States Army among other top military officials has just formally charged President Roman with Treason and has ordered all AMP forces to stand down. That being said, there is no sign of either side backing down. We will bring more information as the story develops." @Al the Killer (edited)

"That could work, or we could end up with three very well-fed vampires," Iris pointed out. "Or an AMP squadron that knows vampires are real, how to kill them, and will gladly kill Adam - and anyone with him - on sight. Either way, we risk ending up with a bigger problem. Though for risk reduction, the latter outcome is less dangerous." She looked back toward the radio and sighed. "Of course not. This isn't about to end any time soon." She stood up, gathering the empty dishes. "You know, if we can find where they're hiring during the day..." She trailed off. "I know they can't tolerate the sun. I'm just not sure if it's a weakening effect or if it's lethal. But either way, drawing them out during the day is another option." @Hacky Slashy

Adam knocked from the basement door. "Oh it's absolutely lethal. Trust me. I'll even stick my hand outside if you want." 'Please decline.' Quince then asked Iris a question that's been plaguing him. "And....why were driving with a lunatic in your car....with murderous tendencies?" @Al the Killer

Iris looked over toward the basement door. "Please do not." She shook her head. "I'll never get used to that vampiric hearing," she muttered as she started to wash the dishes. Then the question came. Honestly, she should have expected it. That didn't make this any easier to answer. What to say? 'He saved my life, so I owed him one'? 'We're plotting an assassination'? 'Just for funsies'? After a moment's hesitation, she shrugged and said, casually as possible, "oh, that's not my car." In hindsight? The worst response she could have given. "I mean, if you compare him to the other three, he's actually pretty rational. He kills to live, not for fun, you know?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince stared at Iris. "That's worse....you understand how that's worse, right?" Quince thought about things and decided to let it go for now. "I thought she was an Uber." Adam said from the basement door. Sophie and Rachel simply rolled their eyes while Nebo licked Iris' hand. @Al the Killer

Iris met Albert's gaze, then looked down as though in contemplation. "You got me there," she admitted, but still looked down as she was busy petting the dog. "To clarify, I didn't steal it from a living person." Nope, still worse. She was bad at this. "There has been... a lot going on. Last night, the vehicle's owner followed me to where I was staying. Even though I got stopped at every checkpoint and disarmed at one, he was allowed to pass through all of them without getting so much as ID'd. When I eventually got out of my car, he tried to kidnap me at gunpoint and that's when Adam stepped in. You wanted me to be safe and really, right now the safest I can be is in a vehicle that everyone will ignore, while accompanied by a vampire who eats anyone who might harm me." @Hacky Slashy

"Oh no! She's a lunatic! She kidnapped me! Nebo! Do something!" Adam playfully shouted in a low Whisper, attempting to lighten the mood. Nebo simply barked and nuzzled against Iris. Quince took in Iris' story. "Given current circumstances, I'll let it apl slide. Any idea who might have sent that shitbag?" Quince scratched Nebo's ears while looking at Iris and his Nieces. "I'd offer to get you all out of here, but that's a little difficult. Luckily Michael stocked enough water and emergency food down there to last a life time." "No worries, I won't touch that stuff!" Adam shouted from the basement. @Al the Killer

Iris rolled her eyes at Adam's commentary, despite barely suppressing an amused smile. "Can't kidnap someone who's willingly tagging along." She patted Nebo's side. "I do have a theory as to who sent him. Another, worse asshole. And I already know you'll agree, because you've described him as such in the morgue yesterday." She continued to pet Nebo, letting the dog serve as a sort of comfort. This all seemed too surreal. "I wish I could say I was shocked, but it makes sense for Craig. I do know, with certainty because he wanted me to know, that he sent the guy who shot me two years ago. Except I think that one was meant to kill me." She walked over to sit back down at the table. "Anyway, we still can't assume we'll be safe here, long-term. Better to stay alert, especially at night." @Hacky Slashy

Sophie and Rachel both perked up. "You don't mean the DA, turned Mayor, do you?" Rachel said as Sophie crouched down to pet Nebo. "Corrupt asshole who does shady shit. The one and same!" Adam again chimed in. Quince agreed with Iris' assessment. "Whatever happens to that corrupt prick, so be it. Whatever you need me to help with, you got it." @Al the Killer

Iris nodded to confirm. "I do. Abuse, bribery, stalking, murder-for-hire... he really does not live up to his sparkling reputation." She sighed. "I know I wasn't exactly honest about it before, Albert. I just... wasn't sure you wouldn't end up putting yourself at risk." She looked toward the window. "As it is right now, I don't think he'll be a problem for much longer. But thank you, sincerely, for your offer. I'm not brushing off your help this time; I'll let you know if I think of anything." @Hacky Slashy

"We still got to deal with the other three problems though. I could try looking for them when it's dark. Promise I won't charge at them again. Getting bones broken isn't fun. Even if they heal." Adam said from the basement. Albert was more than ready to help Iris with getting rid of Craig. "I'd be happy to put a bullet in him if I didn't have them to worry about." He gestured to Sophie, Rachel and Nebo. Nebo rolled onto his back, showing his belly. @Al the Killer

Iris had, to some extent, expected Albert would catch on to the plan to kill the guy and be... she wasn't sure... disappointed? Angry that she was contemplating murder? Maybe sympathetic in the sense of pity, as much as that likely would have annoyed her. She hadn't expected him to be ready to shoot the guy himself. She gave him a questioning look, though she couldn't keep a hint of relief from her expression. "Worry about them. I already promised I'd let Adam crack him open and use his vena cava as a bendy straw," she admitted. "Since he needs to feed anyway. But come nightfall, we'll have to focus on our rogue vampires first. Tracking down their hiding place would be a good idea, at the very least. Though maybe we should also have a plan in case they go for another massacre." @Hacky Slashy (edited)

Sophie continued petting Nebo as he gave out a little sneeze. Nebo then turned around and licked her face. "Just be careful. They're monsters." "It'll be fine." Adam said reassuringly. He sat down on the stairs close to the door. He contemplated what his plans were after dealing with the rogue vampires. Normally he'd slip out of town once the authorities were starting to close in. But having inhuman endurance and speed helped out a lot. But with the country becoming a warzone, that would be next to impossible. Plus, he was actually starting to get attached to these people. He only met them just now, but he swore if anyone were stupid enough to try to hurt them, he would have no qualms about fucking them up, as his dad would put it. Rachel chimed in. "I'm gonna pack some things just in case we need to move. Also I don't know if it'll help, but I have some UV lamps if you need them. We used them on a school trip back in High School but still kept them around." @Al the Killer

"No, Adam, Sophie's right; we all need to be careful," Iris said. "We'll do what we can to make sure you're safe during the day, but when it comes to the other vampires, it's on you to not do so much reckless shit. After Jan's death, I doubt they'll make the mistake of leaving you alone with just one of them again." She looked over at Rachel as she mentioned the lamps. "That... could work." She looked toward the door. "Adam? Thoughts on UV lamps? Just as bad as natural sunlight, or at least close?" She stood up, flattening the skirt of the borrowed dress with her hands as she considered. Weapons were also good to keep in mind. She didn't want to be the only one with a proven vampire-killing blade, but options were limited. "Adam, I'll have to ask... aside from a wooden stake and piercing the heart, what else can we use if we need to?" She knew it was a lot of trust to ask of him, and couldn't even blame him if he withheld any further information. But it was worth a shot and, with the previous night's events, she liked to think she'd earned that bit of trust. @Hacky Slashy

"Decapitation. Just a really sharp machete and you're good to go. That's what the Wessons did. Some monster hunters I briefly teamed up with in Wisconsin. There was a vampire nest and some missing people. I thought it was just traffickers or a serial killer, but it was basically a redneck backwoods vampire clan. Long story short, I helped them light them on fire in their hideout and got the people out. Even ran into some crazed meth tweakers on the way. I fed on the tweakers, but the brothers got mad about it though. Anywho, the brothers were smart and used really serious firepower to take out their knee caps and then chop their heads off. The elder was a tough customer though, but these guys came prepared: a 50 caliber machine gun they smuggled from their time in the service. I lured him into the open and well....the all powerful elder turned into hamburger meat. After that we went our separate ways, they even gave me a head start. I'd suggest a flame thrower but then you'd have a pissed off vampire on fire coming at you." Sophie, Rachel and Albert stared in shock. @Al the Killer

Iris listened, her expression thoughtful all the way through to the end. The heart, decapitation, riddling with bullets until the body was more shell than flesh, and they weren't too fond of fire but it was risky... all good things to know, in her book. She nodded, resisting the urge to ask if feeding on them had, in fact, caused him to run around naked, yelling about being king of the squirrels. This hardly seemed like the time and place for such questions. "Luring them out at night would be easy, but I wonder, during the day... If you find an infestation, it helps to flush it out of the nest." She looked over at Albert, who seemed likely to have the best access to weapons. "What about grenades, for that?" It was only then that she caught onto their shock at Adam's story. "Hm?" She looked at the door, then at them. "I mean, none of this sounds too out there, compared to the fact that vampires exist. There's not much left to be surprised about." @Hacky Slashy

"Oh yeah, I can get you whatever you need. We've also managed to raid some AMP armories throughout the city, and blow up some others." Albert thought 'well, this is my life now.' "Yeah, Grenades could work, but I think you'd have to be really lucky." Adam said from the basement once again. @Al the Killer

"Right. And more than luck, it also depends on the amount of hiding space they'd have," Iris agreed. "But I'd hesitate to use something that covers a larger surface area, if we want to minimize non-vampire casualties. Pumping a vampire full of lead has its drawbacks when you're in the middle of a city. As far as UV lamps go, they'd take time to set up; better to have those set up here in case they find us first." She looked over at Albert. "Did anyone put together an inventory of what you acquired in those raids? Like some sort of black market catalogue we can browse on our downtime?" @Hacky Slashy

"I can talk to Cutty. He handles all the paperwork and inventory. I'll get in contact, see if we can arrange a delivery." Quince then decided to go upstairs and call Cutty. "So, does anyone have any other questions?" Sophie hesitantly asked her own question. "Is...is Bigfoot real?" Adam immediately answered. "Yep. One time it was some guy in a suit, but as I was leaving the area, I saw another, bigger furrier dude. He was Huge!" @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "Thanks. It'll be good to see our options before we start the hunt." In all honesty, she had no clue what she'd do when... if... things went back to normal. She couldn't remember the last time her mind had felt so clear. It wasn't like her doubts were gone, but more like she didn't have to worry about the little things that had plagued her every moment before. Or maybe this was all temporary, and once she adjusted to the current situation, everything that had troubled her before would come crashing back. But she didn't have time to unpack all of that. "Your Bigfoot story sounds like bullshit, but I'll admit 'Bigfoot is real' would be a weird place for me to draw the line at this point." She shrugged. "It would also be good to get a hold of some proper medical equipment, even if it's just slightly more robust than a really high-end first aid kit. The vampires might be likely to kill in a single hit, but there are other risks, too." Sure she worked mostly with dead people, but she'd still gone to medical school in the first place. She could patch up wounds as needed. @Hacky Slashy

"You weren't there! Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Mr. Universe days couldn't hope to get that big!" Adam nearly shouted. He vividly remembered that day. 'I'm tough, but I ain't fucking with that.' "I finished Nursing school if that helps. Certified for first aid." Rachel chimed in. Sophie vouched for Rachel. "She also stitched up our dad and Uncle Al occasionally." Sophie went to their room and bought the UV lamps. "Good news, they still work." Nebo pawed at Iris' leg. @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet Nebo again, so he'd know he hasn't been forgotten. "That's good. Between Adam and Albert both running headfirst into danger, we'll need as much medical knowledge as we can get." She looked down for a moment, considering. "This really is why women live longer than men." She walked over to Rachel. "So, how about you show me what we have here in terms of supplies?" @Hacky Slashy

"This way." Rachel led Iris to where they stored their First Aid kits. They had also had a decent supply of anti biotics among other things thanks to their father. "Also before anybody asks, Garlic isn't a deterrent." Adam said from the basement door. Sophie was giving Nebo belly rubs. @Al the Killer

Iris followed Rachel so she could take note of what they did or did not have. It was a good stock. Not exactly a substitute for a fully functional hospital, but definitely enough to support a small group. Once she'd seen enough, she nodded. "Good. This will be helpful, thank you." She grabbed the smallest of the kits. "We should keep one in each car, too. Would you mind setting up those lamps near the doors?" She returned to the living room, pausing to reach down and pet Nebo. "So, no garlic as a deterrent... And here I was looking forward to an excuse to eat Italian food for the entirety of my stay here." @Hacky Slashy

Adam sat down on the stairs and continued trying to brain storm ways to help with the vampires. "Ooh! Try pocket sand! Throw it in their eyes! It'll hurt like shit and buy you time!" Sophie set up the lamps at every entrance to the house. Once she was done she went to check on Adam. "I know this is a silly question, but you want food or...?" "Got any blood packs? I remember I had a temporary arrangement with a blood bank nurse after I err dealt with her boyfriend who liked using her as a punching bag." Quince joined the others downstairs. "I just talked to Cutty. He's gonna bring us some good stuff. He'll get here before Nightfall." Nebo licked Iris' leg and nuzzled against it. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at Albert. "Good to know. Did he mention what, and did you tell him what sorts of weapons we're looking for?" She could only imagine how that conversation meant if he did ask specifically for vampire-killing weapons. She gave Nebo one more scritch behind the ear, then stood upright again. "Blood packs might be hard to come by, between the refugee encampments and the fighting going on out there. We might be able to get our hands on some, but that would be one hell of a heist to pull off, doctor or not." She glanced toward the window, as though considering it. "Hey Adam, do the blood types taste different to you?" Maybe the guys weren't the only ones tempted toward taking stupid risks. @Hacky Slashy

"It doesn't matter at all. All blood tastes sweet. Tastebuds being altered does that to you. Also really dumb question on my part, but how're you holding up?" Adam asked Sophie. Sophie gave out a sigh. "I'm functioning. Just trying to be helpful and keep my mind off things. Might need a good cry when everything is quiet, eventually." Quince talked fo Iris. "Grenades, C4, Rifles, also an AA12 shotgun with flame rounds. He had some made but never got a chance to use them until now. He'll give us all a demonstration when he gets here, teach you how to use them." Nebo went next to Sophie and licked her face. She wrapped the dog in a hug. "For what it's worth, I'm happy we got at least one on our side." Quince commented. @Al the Killer

Iris looked toward Sophie. "I think we all will," she said softly. "But you're doing great. You need anything at all in the meantime, just ask." Back to business (and murder), she turned her attention toward Albert. "I'd also be interested in finding out where we can get our hands on a few machetes, in case ammunition runs out or we find ourselves in close quarters, or in need of a quieter method of killing. Though... with their death screams, I don't think it would be quiet anyway." She looked toward the door. "Good to have one on our side, but we do need to keep him fed. I can get into one of the hospitals just fine and see what they have stocked, but not alone." She looked toward Sophie and Nebo and smiled. "But let's wait for Cutty first." Her gaze shifted to look at Albert. "You know, I'm glad to have you on our side, too." @Hacky Slashy

Rachel finished putting the medical supplies in each car. "Our dad has a tool shed. I could go look." After a few minutes, Rachel came back with some machetes. "He has a landscaping business on the side until recently. Also helps he's an outdoors man since he could walk." She set them down. They were all sharp enough to cut trees...and limbs if needed. "Those should really be a last resort. Don't want to get in melee combat range." Adam said from the basement door. @Al the Killer

"Better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them," Iris replied to Adam as she looked at the machetes. "I also have the blade I killed that one vampire with. It's served me well, even if I'd rather avoid a repeat of that scenario. So I'll let the rest of you have your pick of machetes. There's also rope in the trunk if we find any use for that." She walked toward the door. "I'll go get that, and see if there's anything else useful in the car. Any other ideas for things we'll need?" She picked up her coat and put it on, double-checking that the handgun was still there. Probably not too useful against vampires unless she got really lucky with aim, but perfectly acceptable for more human threats. @Hacky Slashy

"That's what my old man used to say about his guns. As for the rope, we could tie one of them up, get them to tell us where the others are hiding. But catching one's gonna be easier said than done though." Nebo shaked himself and then trotted alongside Albert and Iris. Albert pet the dog. "Needy, aren't you?" Nebo then nuzzled against Iris again. Helicopters flew by the neighborhood. "Probably responding to another crisis. Or one of Cutty's explosions. By the time AMP realizes it was near a deserted area, we already did our damage." @Al the Killer

Iris looked down at Nebo. "He's a sweetheart, though. Aren't you, Nebo?" She joined him in petting him for a moment, before walking over to the window. For a moment, she just watched, waiting for them to pass by so she could walk out unnoticed. In the meantime, she opted to sate some of her curiosity. "Where are the explosions, and where's the actual strike happening?" she asked. "It would be good to know so we can avoid any of those areas later on." @Hacky Slashy

A car horn honked 4 times outside. Quince went to check and announced he was here. In a few minutes, Cutty joined the others in the living room and set the duffle bags down. Cutty, the middle aged man with a black beard and slight beer gut introduced himself to the others. "Dr. Ellsworth. We talked on the phone." He shook her hand as Nebo went to greet him. He gave Nebo a few good head pats as he then went to demonstrate the tools he bought. "Some 9MMs and Sig Sauers. My personal favorite, the boom stick." Cutty held out a short, double barreled shotgun. "Got slug rounds. It'll take off limbs. Could punch a hole through a truck if needed." He also assembled some M4's for the group. And he also brought out an M60. "My grand pappy's gun from Nam." He then brought out some grenades, including a grenade launcher. "You went all out for this, didn't you?" Quince asked, surprised Cutty went the extra mile. "Hopefully between this and count Dracula down there, we nail these fuckers." Quince then reassured Iris. "No worries, we can trust him." @Al the Killer

Iris nodded and shook his hand. "Yes, I remember. Sargeant Cutty, yes?" She stepped back to give him and the weapons some space. The higher-grade weapons weren't entirely familiar to her, but she eyed the shotgun with interest. Now that one, she could use. Definitely an improvement on their situation from a matter of minutes ago. "I thought so," she told Quince. "I trust your judgment, and assume that you wouldn't tell him to come here if we couldn't trust him." She took a step closer to get a better look at the weapons. "This will be useful. Thank you, Cutty. Albert said something about flame rounds and C4." @Hacky Slashy

"Oh you know it, Doc." Cutty then showed the flame rounds and the C4. He then brought out the AA12. "This will turn anything into mince meat. Nothing on this earth will survive hits from this sucker. I even got grenades, both stun and frags." He demonstrated how to use then. "Just pull the pin, throw it and get the fuck out of the way. Thankfully not rocket science." "Hi Cutty." Adam said from the basement. Cutty greeted him back. "Hello, mister Night Haunter. So...full on vampire, huh?" "Yep! No sunlight and all blood diet!" @Al the Killer

Iris looked over the flame rounds and nodded. "So, the grenades... would stun grenades work on vampires?" She looked toward Adam. "I'm not going to test it on you, but do you have any prior experience with them?" While she awaited the answer, she picked up the double-barreled shotgun, looking it over. Yeah, this would definitely do better than the handgun. "Good for taking a vampire's head off." She grinned, before deciding that looking too excited might not be great. She cleared her throat and lowered the shotgun. "It's been a while since I've used one of these. Almost nostalgic." She could only hope she remembered what she'd learned on past moose-hunting trips with her aunt, uncle, and a few of her older siblings. @Hacky Slashy

"Fire is bad, no matter what species you are." Nebo sniffed around, then nuzzled against Sophie. She scratched the dog's ears. She would need the dog to process everything. "So when do we go hunting?" Cutty asked. Quince loaded the weapons and then answered. "Nightfall. Problem is figuring out where these things are staying. Not to mention they'll probably be out looking for blood and vengeance when they learned one of them was taken out. @Al the Killer

"There's a chance they could return to the scene of last night's massacre. If they want to know who killed one of their own, that's generally where they'd have the best chance of finding out." Iris glanced nervously toward the door. "But they wouldn't be able to know with a hundred percent certainty who it was... would they?" She definitely would have left a very human scent at the crime scene. Fuck. She helped out by loading the shotgun, because this was definitely hers now. Just for some extra firepower, she picked up a couple of the grenades as well. "Alright, girls, you'll want to grab your weapons, too," she suggested. "Have you two learned how to handle any of these before?" @Hacky Slashy

"Wouldn't AMP or the DMEC have gotten the body?" Adam said from the basement. Sophie and Rachel picked up some pistols and loaded them. "Our dad insisted on firearms training and proficiency. Although Sophie prefers pepper spray, but she came around when Al took us the range." Cutty smiled at the comment. "That's great. I always advise people to stay strapped. Us cops can only get there so fast." Nebo barked at the comment, as if in agreement. "Also here's a map of checkpoints, detention centers and other points of interest." Cutty put the map on the table. @Al the Killer

"The vampire's body? That melted anyway, but as it is, I doubt anyone will be sharing investigative findings with the vampires; if those three want answers, they'll have to find their own. And I doubt mopping up melted vampire goop is on anyone's priority list," Iris said. "But maybe they won't even bother looking into it." That didn't do much to set her own mind at ease. She walked over and looked at the map, memorizing as many details as she could. Checkpoints, mostly; it was best to assume the stolen vehicle would only have immunity for so long before they'd have to look into avoiding checkpoints. "This is great. Thanks, Cutty." She straightened up. "Now, I was going to head out for a supply run. Adam needs a decent supply of blood, and if he has to go out hunting, that takes away from the time we could spend searching for the others. Is there a cooler and some ice around? I'm going to assume the rules for storing drinkable blood are similar to what we'd use for transfusions. In case we can't get whole blood, Adam, are platelets, red cells, or plasma more important?" @Hacky Slashy

"That's a good question. Tomato, Tomahto I think." Adam said. It's all the same in his opinion. Quince then spoke up. "I'll take you. At least provide back up just in case those three get the same idea." Cutty loaded an M4. "I'll hold the fort down." Sophie got up and started the coffee maker while Rachel went to pet Nebo. "We'll be fine. Plus we got our own vampire." @Al the Killer

That was... probably unhelpful. She'd go for a bit of everything if worse came to worse, see what worked best for him. Iris nodded to Cutty. "I was going to ask you anyway. Since some of Adam's victims were sent to hospitals for their autopsies, it would make sense for both of us to be there. Unless you've already been outed as a known fugitive." In which case, they'd have to contend with hospital security. "But at least we're armed," she decided. She walked toward the door as the realization finally hit her: "I really am becoming Uber Eats for vampires." Rather than worry about that, she walked out to the stolen car. She loaded the grenades and machete into the back and covered them with the blanket draped across the seats, but kept the shotgun by her side. "To think, just twenty-four hours ago, the biggest annoyances in my life were a surplus of corpses and a threat in the form of a bouquet," she commented. "Anyway, anything else we're missing that we could pick up on the way out?" There was a chance that, given the city being a battlefield, most stores wouldn't be open. But the chance was low; retail workers never got that kind of vacation. @Hacky Slashy

Quince got in the front seat. "I think we're good for now. Let's just get the blood. I know a few of the personel at the hospital. They can help us. And to think a serial killer was the least of my worries a few days ago. Now here I am getting food for him." Sophie put some coffee on the table for Cutty. "Many thanks." She then sat by the basement door, knocking. "Are you ok in there?" "Never better." Adam was strangely enjoying this talk through the door routine. "Thanks for saving me." She said while putting her hand on the door. "Don't mention it." Adam smiled. 'If only I could do more at the moment. Also she's....damn it, stop!' Adam thinks to himself. He has little hope of anything happening between himself and any girl, let alone her. Rachel simply patrolled with her gun at the ready. Nebo trotted up to Sophie and licked her face. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded and got into the driver's seat. "Strange times, I guess." She started toward the hospital in question. "It'll be a bit. Here." She dropped her phone in his lap. "We can stick with the radio if you want to keep tabs on what's going on, or use my phone for music if you don't want to get pissed off. Or we'll just talk. Up to you." Because she did not want to sit in her thoughts, given everything going on. She glanced over at him on occasion, but kept most of her attention on the road ahead. Gunshots rang in the distance, and the soldiers at the AMP checkpoints seemed distracted as they waved the vehicle past. "Glad to see it still works," she commented. "So, your nieces are nice. I think Rachel mentioned the place belongs to your brother-in-law?" She hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was alright to ask. Then she asked anyway. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your wife?" @Hacky Slashy

"Briana Chandler. Mike set up the meeting after I got back from the sandbox. We got to talking and next thing you know, we hit it off. She worked as an ER nurse, so funny enough we met pretty often. I eventually saved up for a ring, but got cut up backing up an officer for a crips member's arrest. I actually proposed to her while she was stitching me up. A month later, I found out she was pregnant. 8 months later I got a call about a drunk driving accident. When I got there....she was T boned. Her and the baby didn't survive. The shitbird that was driving the other vehicle, was in cuffs. He was complaining that that the cuffs were too tight. I lost my shit and broke his jaw. It took 5 officers to pull me off. Despite being way above the blood alcohol limit, he got off with just 5 years probation. Bastard's father was one of Craig Wedmore's donnors. I developed a drinking problem afterwards. One day, Mike invited me for dinner with him and the girls. I showed up drunk and well....he was not happy. My drinking problem went away thanks to him. Afterwards I focused on just work and taking care of them." Quince finished. It actually felt good getting all of that out. It was cathartic talking to someone about it. @Al the Killer

Iris listened, though she could only occasionally glance sideways at him without taking her attention off her road. Maybe this wasn't a conversation to have while driving. Oh well. A moment of silence followed after his explanation, in which she remembered she wasn't much good with living people. There was a reason she left the grieving families to Naveed, an assistant, or - ideally - whatever funeral home picked up the bodies. "I'm sorry," she said after a moment. "I mean, that changes nothing, I know, but..." She sighed. "You deserved better, and so did she. It's not like that's the sort of loss you easily recover from, either. If there's anything you need at all, any way I can help make it easier, all you have to do is ask." @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah. So again, thanks for saving them. They're all I have left." Quince decided to check his side arm once again. "Want to hear how I got Nebo? We were dealing with a hoarder case. Old lady had a more dogs than they should've. When she croaked, they had nowhere to go. We managed to give away most of the dogs, but we still had a few left. I was left with this little Husky puppy. I wasn't able to keep him if I wanted to, but decided why not Rachel and Sophie? Sophie's 18th came up and arrived with the little puppy. It was love at first sight. The girls just loved him. Mike on the other hand wasn't a fan of the shedding. But for them he put up with it." @Al the Killer (edited)

Iris nodded, then listened to the story about Nebo. "He's a sweetheart. I can tell he's been well-loved in their home," she commented. "Seems to like me too, which is good; if a dog didn't like me, I think I'd be devastated." They weren't far from the hospital. The outline of the building could be seen from the car by the time that, without warning, someone ran out in front of the vehicle. "Fuck!" Iris swerved to avoid a head-on collision, slammed the brakes, and leaned on the car horn. "Stupid son of a-!" She stopped as the figure turned toward them. He couldn't have been past his early twenties, carrying a backpack and a rifle strapped over his back and a messenger bag over one shoulder. Something moved within the half-zipped bag as his deep blue eyes locked with Iris's. His features seemed all too familiar. Iris stared while her brain finally pieced everything together. "Wait... Matthew?" He stared for a moment longer before his voice came, muffled through the windows. "Leah?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince had his side arm ready, but didn't point at the kid....yet. "what's going on?" He looked around in case this was an ambush, but saw no signs...yet. @Al the Killer

Iris grumbled and unlocked the doors. "I stand by my 'stupid son of a bitch' comment..." She jerked her head, a signal for him to get in the back. "As for your question, that's what I want to know." Matthew got into the car, sitting in the backseat. Iris started driving again and immediately started the interrogation. "Alright, first of all, it's Iris now. I wasn't a fan of being named after our mom, and not just because that tradition is weird, confusing, and slightly creepy." Sure Matthew could extrapolate the reason without that explanation, but better to give some context for the detective riding shotgun. "Now, what are you doing in LA?" "Maine's fucked, so I hitchhiked cross country to see if anywhere wasn't," Matthew said casually. He opened the messenger bag fully and a snaggle-toothed ginger cat poked her head out. One eye and a chunk of the opposite ear were missing, but she happily nuzzled against Matthew's hand. "The answer is 'no', in case you were wondering." Iris opened her mouth to ask another one of the many other questions running through her mind, but her younger brother interrupted by leaning forward and looking at Quince. "So, who's the boyfriend?" @Hacky Slashy

"We're not...." Quince gave out an exasperated sigh. "Albert Quince, LAPD detective....until AMP dissolved us. Now LA is about to become a warzone, with both The Marines and the Army on their way." Quince then looked at Iris and then Matthew. "I can see the resemblance. So what do you wantti do now?" Quince asked Iris as he put down the weapon. @Al the Killer

Matthew kept his eyes on Quince, cocking his head to one side. "Not...?" He smirked slightly, before sitting back, all too relaxed for this situation. "Anyway, Matthew Ellsworth. And this pretty lady is Purrcasso. I found her in a dumpster three years ago." He scratched behind the cat's intact ear, and she purred happily. Iris shook her head. "Well, Albert, not shooting my little brother was a good start, so good on you for that. Matthew, what are you doing out here? With a rifle? The AMP have been disarming citizens." Matthew shifted his weight, peeked under the blanket next to him, and let out a low whistle. "Hypocrisy, much?" He hid the machete and grenades like they were no big deal. "As for the rifle, I've had it with me for a while, avoiding checkpoints the past few days. Easy to keep up with the word on the street when you're, you know, on the street. And I was out doing a little bit of..." He trailed off, looking at Quince. "...urban foraging." "Being vague won't work, that hesitation gave you away," Iris said. "What about you two? What am I interrupting?" Iris turned, parking in the hospital parking lot. It had started to grow dark. "Supply run." She paused. "I guess, technically, the same thing you were doing. It's a long story." She unlocked the car again, but paused. "Do you have anywhere to go?" Matthew instinctively opened his mouth to give a sarcastic response, closed it, and looked down. He shook his head silently, avoiding eye contact, and Iris's expression softened. "Alright. Stay in the car until we get back, and don't let anyone see you or Purrcasso here. We'll make sure you're safe," Iris said, before getting out of the car. @Hacky Slashy (edited)

Quince concealed his side arm and machete in a trench coat. "Ok, Iris. Ready when you are. He wanted to ask Iris what she meant when she said a good start, but decided not to press things just yet. On the bright side, it looks like Nebo will have a new friend. Night was beginning to fall. Hopefully those rogue vampires ran into an AMP death squad and got turned into mince meat. Who knows, maybe his luck will turn around. --- On the other side of the hospital, Marlowe and Callista disposed of two AMP soldiers on patrol. He brutally twisted ones head to the side while Callista knocked the other one out. "Can't believe that fucking Half Breed got the better of Jan." Marlowe growled. Callista then came up to Marlowe. "He got cocky, or a human snuck up on him." Callista hugged Marlowe from behind and planted a kiss on his cheek. Marlowe turned around and held her, giving a deep kiss. "No matter, Arvo will finish that little shit off. It'd be great if he manages to bring him to us alive, so we can all teach him some manners. Thinks he's some kind of hero. He feeds on humans too, yet gets pissy just because they're not criminals? I mean why bother? They kill each other more than we kill them. Anyways, let's secure some blood packs. Just in case the government forces show up and we'll have to lay low." Callista and Marlowe then headed for the hospital. @Al the Killer

Iris looked at her normal-length coat, then at the weapons dangling out of the bottom, and shrugged. "My fault for not dressing like an extra from the Matrix." She took the cooler from the door behind the driver's seat, then started toward the hospital, patting Albert's shoulder as she passed by. "Alright, let's go. I'd say we can pretend we're here to ask about the investigation but, well..." She glanced down at her borrowed dress and weapons. "The police are disbanded, and I'm not exactly looking my most professional right now. So fuck it, let's find another way to bullshit our way in." As they approached the entrance, two security guards stood by. Then their radios crackled to life, too staticky to make out from a distance. The two exchanged a glance, then ran in the opposite direction from Iris and Quince. "Huh. Don't love the look of that," Iris commented. @Hacky Slashy

"That's not a good sign. Let's get going." Albert looked up and down the hallway. Albert felt something was off. It was like a sense he developed both overseas and his time as a detective. --- Callista and Marlowe had forced a guard to call for back up. "Good little cattle. Now for your reward." With one flick of his talon, the guard's throat was opened up. "Your eternal reward." Callista fed on him as he died. "Now let's get the blood packs." @Al the Killer

Iris followed after him. A few of the hospital staff were still in the halls, going about their business but, with how busy the conflict had left their hospitals, none of them were inclined to spare so much as a glance at the new arrivals as they rushed to their next destinations. "Their clinical pathology lab is this way," she instructed, turning to the right. "The 'blood bank', as you will, would be there." She kept her hand over the shotgun as they walked, the creeping feeling that something wasn't right slowly filling her mind. It did that often but, when she looked at Albert, he seemed just as put off by this whole scenario. Then they ran into bad luck. "Excuse me," said a nurse, just coming out of imaging with a folder in his hand. He looked down and noticed the lack of wristbands to identify either of them as a patient. "Are you looking for a specific department? I can help..." He trailed off as he noticed that something about those two seemed off. He backed off and looked over his shoulder for a security guard. @Hacky Slashy

"Easy. We're just getting some bloodwork. For a case." Quince showed his badge. This put the nurse at ease. "Ok. Pathology is that way." The nurse them went on his way. "Let's go." He said to Iris before they went to clinical Pathology. The hospital was mostly quiet until they heard screams of horror. Quince kept close to Iris. "Let's get the blood and go." @Al the Killer

There was no way that excuse should have worked, and yet... Iris smiled. "Thanks," she told the nurse as he passed by. She followed the arrows, signs, and her memory down the corridors, only stopping as the screams began. "Fuck. Sounds like our good friends Lestat, Carmilla, and David." She grabbed Albert's hand in her free one and ran the rest of the way to pathology. "We'll focus on the AB blood. Less likely to be missed." @Hacky Slashy

Quince had his side arm equipped and kept an eye out. Unfortunately, two other very familiar figures were already in the room. A pale red headed female and a bald male. She was wearing a jacket and jeans while the male was wearing a black trench coat and jeans. Quince put Iris behind him as they noticed the two. "So you're bringing the half breed blood? Suppose he'll need his strength after what Jan did to him. Tell you what. Tell us where he is and we'll spare you." Callista said as Marlowe stared Quince down. @Al the Killer

Iris glared at them even after being pulled behind Quince. An inconvenient location, considering how much harder this positioning made it for her to aim. She set the cooler down and let go of Quince so she could hold the shotgun properly. One question rang through her mind: where was the third? His absence couldn't bode well for anyone else around. "No you won't," she said, because the offer to let them go was clearly false. "You know, I assumed you'd be more cautious, after what I did to Jan." The smartest thing to say? No. But this encounter was already about as dangerous as it was gonna get, so fuck it. Time to confront them and, if she was lucky, she might get the bald guy's trench coat as a trophy. @Hacky Slashy

Marlowe and Callista immediately let out raucous laughter. "You-" before they could finish their question, Quince opened fire with his hand gun. He managed to graze Marlowe, who pulled Callista down before she was hit. Marlowe then blitzed Quince, knocking him down. He then threw Quince down the hall. "Callista, deal with the whore. This one's mine." Callista then slowly went towards Iris. "You really expect me to believe you killed Jan? Either way I'll gut you for lying." Funny thing is, Callista sensed Iris' heartbeat. It was slow and steady when she said she killed Jan. No matter, these two would die regardless. @Al the Killer

Okay, that laughter hurt Iris's ego, just a bit. No time to think about that, though. "Albert!" Ideally, she'd rescue him from Marlowe. But this was not an ideal situation. She aimed steadily at Callista, even as she backed away, keeping her in her sights. "Don't believe me? Do you need to experience it for yourself? Because that can be arranged." She fired at Callista's forehead. The recoil was unfamiliar, and it had been well over a decade before she'd used a gun this size. The shot was just off enough to be easily avoided. As it missed, she jerked open the nearest door and ducked inside, instinctively slamming it shut behind her and locking herself in the dark closet. Her heart raced as she tried to keep herself calm. Fuckfuckfuckfuck! @Hacky Slashy

Marlowe slowly walked towards Quince. He crushed the pistol Quince had before Marlowe blitzed him. "Pathetic. Without your little toys, what are you?" Marlowe sneered as he closed in. Quince took out his spare Sig Sauer P322. He shot at Marlowe 4 times. Marlowe managed to dodge 3 of the shots, but the 4th grazed him in the face. He ran off as Quince fired more rounds. "A GUY WITH A SPARE!" Quince shouted. Callista ripped the door off and dragged Iris by the leg. She yanked it up to her mouth and bot down. A big mistake considering it was the prosthetic leg. She chipped a few teeth and droppd Iris next to the shotgun and a bottle of bleach. "Fucking Cunt!!" She shouted before readying to bite down again. @Al the Killer

Iris tensed. In a single second, memories came flooding back to her, so many times she'd hidden until the worst of the danger was over. Then the door was torn from its hinges with a crash and her back hit the floor. The impact jerked her to reality just in time to brace her elbows against the floor, avoiding hitting her head. She screamed at the bitten leg, but not in pain. She couldn't feel it, after all. "Fuck you!" While she yelled at this dumbass vampire, she unscrewed the bottle of bleach next to her. "Do you have any idea how expensive that thing is?!" Leg now free, she sat upright and threw the bottle's contents into the vampire's face, right as her mouth was open for the bite. She didn't wait to see the reaction before setting the bottle down and taking aim with the shotgun. One more shot before she'd have to reload. She'd have to make this one count. At least this time, she'd be ready for the recoil. And when all else fails, there was always the machete. A bit too late to avoid melee range anyway. ~~~ As shots rang out through the hospital, the staff worked on isolating that section and placing the building under lockdown. One of the receptionists called for an AMP force. @Hacky Slashy

Quince got himself up and went towards Iris. He heard the shotgun blast sound off and Callista screaming. By the time he got there, he spotted Marlowe dragging Callista away. He then spotted Iris with the shotgun and Callista's arm on the ground. He saw Iris on the ground and picked her back up. "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? DID SHE HURT YOU?!" He said while holding her. "We need to grab the blood and get out. No doubt AMP is on it's way here now." Quince helped Iris into the room and began helping her load the blood packs as directed. @Al the Killer (edited)

Iris lowered the gun as the two retreated. Not the lethal shot she'd hoped for, but it had been enough. She reloaded, not looking up until she'd finished. Still, she did wince a bit at the yelling, barely heard over the slight ringing in her ears. "A little less shouting, please." She stood up, testing her balance. The silicone sleeve had held the socket in place effectively, so that was fine. "She bit the wrong leg, don't worry. Are you hurt? Do you need first aid?" She followed him to the room, picking up the cooler on the way. "Leave the type O alone, since they'll need that the most," she instructed, packing up what would be missed the least first. Once the job was done, she looked back at the door. "Let's get out of here. Fast." @Hacky Slashy

As soon as they were done. Quince led Iris to a back exit. Unfortunately they stumbled upon the dead guards no doubt killed by the rogue vampires. He and Iris circled around right as two APCs arrived at the hospital, where two heavily armed squads of AMP soldiers charged right into the hospital. Gunshots rang out, indicating a skirmish between Marlowe and Callista. Quince and Iris made it back to the car with no trouble. He loaded the blood in the back and then got in the front seat. "So how'd you and Purrcaso hold up?" He asked Matthew and the cat. Albert couldn't help but wonder where the third vampire was. Heaven forbid if he somehow tracked Adam to the house, he and Cutty were the only defense. --- Meanwhile Adam was in the living room, sitting with Sophie while Cutty was patrolling around the house. Rachel was making chicken parmessan while Nebo sat down eyeing the food hungrily. Unknown to the three, Arvo was on a rooftop. Observing the house. He smiled at the prospect of total carnage. The virgin was here as well. Her he would save for last. @Al the Killer

The fall had definitely hurt worse than Iris was about to admit. With every step as they ran out, her residual limb practically screamed at her in protest, not wanting to handle the weight of the prosthetic anymore. She pushed through the pain, staying close to Quince. Matthew watched the scene in shock, but pulled himself together enough to get out of the car and help Iris into the driver's seat. "We're fine. Nobody came near your car," he said, getting back into the car. "That cooler... What were you two doing in the hospital?" "Fighting vampires and robbing a blood bank," Iris said as she started the car. "And this isn't our car." Matthew grinned, clear admiration in his eyes and not an ounce of surprise at the realization that vampires were real. "Wicked. Alright, where are we heading?" @Hacky Slashy

Arvo jumped on to the roof of the house, seeing a window to the attic he could climb in. Adam and Nebo both sensed his presence. Nebo let out a growl while Rachel, Sophie and Cutty noticed. "Think we got a visitor." Adam readied himself as Cutty got the girls behind him. Arvo broke out of the attic door and landed. Adam already pounced on him. Arvo let out a shriek as he and Adam both grappled with each other. Adam was able to keep up with the long haired male. Arvo chomped at Adam, who held him at bay. Cutty ushered the girls and the dog to the basement. Arvo threw Adam off and jumped towards the humans. He knocked Cutty and Rachel down and held Sophie by the throat. He sniffed at her and was about to lick her while she tried screaming to let her go. Arvo was kicked in the face, landing on the living room tv. "She said to Leggo her Eggo!" Arvo and Adam pounced on each other, once again clawing and grappling at each other. Arvo got on top of Adam and punched him for a few seconds before Nebo pounced on his back. The Husky bit down on his face an dragged him off. Nebo bit off a chunk of his face as he let out a roar. Adam flew at him as bat like wings sprouted out of his back,holding on to Arvo as Adam jabbed his claws into his eyes. --- Quince was in the passenger seat as he got a call. "Yeah?" It took a few seconds before he screamed to Iris. "ONE OF THEM'S AT THE HOUSE!!!" @Al the Killer

He didn't need to say anything more than that. Iris floored the gas, tires squealing on pavement as she dodged and weaved between the other cars. The momentum caused Matthew to fall forward as far as his seatbelt would allow, and Purrcasso gave a hiss of annoyance. "Not for long, he's not," she said, driving as fast as she dared. @Hacky Slashy

Adam flew up withe confused Arvo. 'How'd he get wings?! He's a fucking half breed!' Arvo's own wings sprouted out and he and Adam both tore through the house while Cutty dragged both Rachel and Sophie into the basement. Adam and Arvo made their way outside, but Arvo was burned by the UV lamp that was set up by the door. Adam bit down on Arvo's face, taking one of his eyes. @Al the Killer

Iris slammed the brakes and they arrived, the force causing Matthew to hit his forehead against the back of Quince's seat. He quickly recovered, recalling the subtle hints of struggle she'd shown while running to the car, and jumped out. "I'll go with Al," he said. "We'll come get you after." Iris looked back over her shoulder. "There's no way we weren't seen speeding, so I'll park this a bit further down the road and meet you there with Purrcasso," she agreed, then looked at Quince. "Keep my brother safe. Please." Matthew lifted his rifle and looked toward the house. @Hacky Slashy

Adam and Arvo continued fighting in the air, Arvo fighting more like a rabid animal while Adam flew around. He was barely able to control his flight while Arvo was more adept, but operating with one eye. Quince led Matthew to the house and shouted for Rachel and Sophie. Cutty came out along with the girls and the dog. Nebo nuzzled against Matthew's leg. Arvo slammed Adam into the ground. The fall would've hurt had the wings not cushioned the fall. Arvo was about to leap down and finish him off, but Adam stuck his claws out. At the speed Arvo came down, he was too late to dodge. Adam's clawed hand exited out of Arvo's back, alongside his heart. Adam took the heart and drank the blood from it while Arvo shriekd in agony as hos body melted away, leaving just a skeleton behind. @Al the Killer

As it turned out, Matthew didn't need the rifle at all this time as the other vampire melted. He watched, fascinated, as the skeleton fell to the ground. As he lowered his weapon, he gave a nod of approval. "Well that was metal as fuck," he commented, then reached down to pet Nebo. "And hello there!" He looked toward Adam. "So you're the guy my sister and her 'not boyfriend' were stealing blood for?" @Hacky Slashy

Adam laid down on the ground and gave a thumbs up. "Yeah....hold on, your sister?" Adam looked at Matthew and immediately saw the resemblance. "Oh shit, Iris is your sister?" Suddely the pain in his back Adam experienced went away. "Man it felt so gross using those." Adam got up and walked towards the house. "Is everyone ok?" Quince came out with the others. "Thanks to you, yes." Nebo barked and pawed at Matthew. @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded. "Ayuh. I haven't seen her since she left for college, but she's definitely the same person. Aside from the stealing cars and fighting vampires. That part's new." He continued petting Nebo for a few moments, then waved to the others. "She's just bringing the car away so it doesn't get traced back to here. Said to meet her further down the road. I think she'll need some help carrying everything back here." @Hacky Slashy

"Gotcha. Now if I can only figure out how to get these-" the wings sprouted out again. Although shirtless now, Adam leaped into the air and clumsily took flight. He eventually spotted Iris and landed on top of the car. "Hey doc. Two vampires left now." Adam said as he got back down and helped her. @Al the Killer

Iris stepped out of the car just in time to see Adam land on top of it. That was... New. She gathered her weapons up. "Wings? Why didn't you use those earlier?" she asked, thinking back to the previous night's fight. "Anyway, we ran into the other two at the hospital. Seems they had the same idea. Dumb bitch bit my prosthetic," she said, still bitter about that despite the lack of actual damage. "So I threw bleach in her face and blew her arm off. Fair trade." She limped over to open the back door. "Can you carry my brother's cat and the cooler, while you're here?" @Hacky Slashy

Adam took both the cooler and the cat. "Well first off I just got these. And secondly I feel really gross using them. So I'll probably just save them for emergencies." Adam then inquired about the prosthetic. "She bit the prosthetic? What a farthead. How'd she not know?" Adam continued walking alongside her. "So...we still gonna kill that prick?" @Al the Killer

"Of course we are," Iris agreed. "Asshole's been texting increasingly overdone threats since I stood him up last night. And I'm not about to take the risk of letting him live. Did you want to do it tonight or save it for later?" She reached the house, waiting outside since her hands were full of weapons. @Hacky Slashy

"Well, let's save it for maybe the next day. Don't want to run the risk of the others looking for payback when we're not around, you know?" Adam scratched the cat's belly. Depsite the disfigurement of the cat, he still found it adorable, and admired it. Still going strong despite it's injuries. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "That's true. Though nothing's stopping them from looking for payback later, either. So let's say after they're out of the way," she said, reluctantly. She watched him with the cat, who was nuzzling against his arm and purring happily. "Her name is Purrcasso, apparently. Seems she likes being carried." She tapped the door with her shoulder, not wanting to risk dropping anything by knocking with her hand out to sacrifice balance by using a foot. @Hacky Slashy

Quince got the door and let Iris, Adam and Purrcaso in. "Is everyone ok?" Adam asked as he saw Sophie and Rachel behind Cutty. Adam set the cooler down on the table and then held Purcasso. Nebo came up and sniffed at the cat. "So who does the cat belong to?" Adam said as he pet Purcasso. Sophie came up to him and softly hugged him again. "Guess that's twice I owe you." Adam smiled at her. "No you don't. Nobody owes me." She also pet Purrcaso. "She's cute." Sophie smiped at Purcasso as she purred. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded toward her brother. "My baby brother, Matthew." She set the weapons down carefully. "Not a baby anymore I guess, but the youngest out of twelve kids, so by comparison..." She shrugged. Purrcasso basked in the attention for a few moments longer, before deciding she'd had enough and jumping out of Adam's arms. "Now, the storage temperature for blood is usually a few degrees higher than what's considered safe for food. If you happen to have a mini fridge, we can set that as the blood cooler. Otherwise, is extra chilly blood fine?" Iris asked. She looked at Albert. "And you never answered my question earlier." @Hacky Slashy

@Al the Killer

Albert then asked what was the question. "I'm sorry, alot going on." Nebo sniffed at Purrcaso. "There's a mini fridge in the basement." Sophie and Rachel went to take it before Adam stopped them. "I'll just take one of these." Adam took out a bloodpack. Cutty joined the others and introduced himself. "12 kids? Jeeze, that's a lot."

Iris handed them the cooler once Adam had his pack. "It is, but makes sense considering our family was..." She trailed off, trying to find just the right description. "...pretty fucking culty," Matthew supplied. Iris nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. That. Going from homeschooling to UCLA was one hell of a wake-up call." She turned toward Albert again. "Anyway, are you alright? Did the other vampire hurt you?" She didn't raise her voice, but her tone carried the unspoken promise that if he had, she'd definitely kill Marlowe and enjoy it. @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll live. At least two of those fuckers are dead now." Quince said as he loaded his weapon. "What about you?" Albert asked Iris. Adam just bit down on the bloodpack and drained it. He licked his lips and then just threw it in the trash. Nebo tried to initiate play with Purrcaso. "Well, that's 2 more to go. Hopefully with Adam's upgrade, we'll have a better chance withe the remaining two." Cutty said. @Al the Killer

Purrcasso swatted at Nebo, but without using claws, then darted under the sofa to hide out. Her green eyes blinked out from the darkness beneath it. "I'm fine," Iris said. "Like I said, she bit the wrong leg." She reached a hand down, rubbing lightly over the stump. "I might've pulled something minor when she dragged me, but I'll be fine once I get some rest." Matthew looked around. "So, uh..." He looked at the girls and Adam. "I don't think I heard any of your names?" @Hacky Slashy

Sophie and Rachel introduced themselves. Adam did the same. "Adam Cain. You're not so friendly neighborhood Vampire." Adam held a hand out to shake. "He saved our lives, twice." Sophie regailed Matthew with the horrifying details of the party bloodbath. "And I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your sister." Adam smiled. "So what's the story with Purrcaso?" @Al the Killer

Matthew shook his hand and smiled. "I found her in a dumpster three years ago," he explained. "I'm not sure who left her there, but I helped her out and got scratched pretty badly for my troubles." He laughed. "But I was living around the same alleyway, so I had plenty of time to earn her trust. Enough that I eventually - cover your ears, Al - stole a first aid kit from a nearby store and she let me patch her up. We've been best friends ever since." Iris sat on the sofa, breathing a sigh of relief as she finally got to relax. The relief didn't last long. "How'd you end up on the street?" "Ran away at fourteen," Matthew said casually. She frowned. "Our parents never mentioned that in their letters. If I'd known, I would've come back and dragged your ass to Cali, myself." @Hacky Slashy

"At least you're here now. And sorry to hear." While Adam talked, Quince just looked at Matthew. "I'm a homicide detective, Matthew. Unless you killed someone, I don't care you stole a first aid kit." Nebo went up to Iris and put his paw on her prosthetic. "Do you need us to get you another prosthetic?" Quince asked as Nebo nuzzled against Iris. Cutty and Rachel went to clean up the mess the vampire death match left in the house. Sophie went up to Matthew and offered him some food. "Chicken Parmessan. Unless you want something else." @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet Nebo. "It would be pretty hard to find one under the current circumstances," she said. "Especially since they have to be custom fitted... What about you, Nebo? Do you want one of your very own?" Wait that sounded like an amputation threat. "Not to use! Just... To have?" "Oooh, Chicken Parm sounds good," Matthew agreed. "And I can sleep on the couch, so don't worry about getting a spare room ready." "Albert's been sleeping on the sofa," Iris said. "So we'll have to figure something out." "That's fine, you can share with him," Matthew said. "The couch inside of an actual house is already the height of luxury as far as I'm concerned, and I kick things and people when I sleep, so making me share with anyone is a bad idea." @Hacky Slashy

"No worries about me. The coffin in the basement is extra comfy. If I don't decide to hang upisde down." Sophie let out a chuckle and blushed a little. Sje served a plate on the table. Albert blushed slightly at the prospect of sharing with Iris. "We'll have time to figure things out." He then looked out the windows, making sure no vampires or AMP death squads were about to surround them. Cutty brought his own sleeping bag. "I'll be fine. At least that shit head didn't ruin the chicken parmessan." @Al the Killer

Iris glanced at Albert, then in the opposite direction in hopes that nobody would notice the slight reddening of her own face. She just had to focus her mind on anything other than how right his arms had felt around her in that brief moment after the fight in the hospital. Easier said than done. "Anyway, I could go for a plate, myself," she commented. "In the meantime, maybe we should draw the curtains shut from now on, and keep the doors and windows locked. There were witnesses in the hospital, and if one of the vampires found us, the other two will be able to as well. The least we can do is not be so obviously visible to the outside." Matthew looked between Albert and Iris, then between Sophie and Adam. "Hm..." He shrugged. "Well, I've never had an intelligent thought before in my life, so I'll leave it up to you guys," he joked, before standing up. "I'll get your food, Iris. Sophie, how much did you make? Can I grab a chunk without cheese for Purrcasso? She's not a fan of the cat food I nabbed on my last supply run." @Hacky Slashy

"Yes, I just grilled a bunch of others. I also have some frozen drumsticks I can fix up. Right this way." "Welcome to the club!" Adam said at Matthew's intelligent thought comment. "But then again I imagine you're smart enough not to take on 4 vampires at once." Cutty patrolled the back of the house. "All clear here. I set up some C4 up in the attic in case his pals decide to enter through there, just so you all know." Cutty nonchalantly said. @Al the Killer

Matthew shrugged. "I can take four vampires at once," he said confidently, then paused as he considered. "...Oh you mean fight." Iris rolled her eyes at him, then turned to Cutty. "That sounds... dangerous. For those of us on the second floor, I mean." She nodded in appreciation as Matthew set her plate in front of her, then began to eat. "I'm sure it'll be fine." Matthew waved a hand dismissively, then looked down. "So, uh... last time I saw you..." He trailed off awkwardly. "If you don't mind, what happened to your leg?" Iris shrugged. "Lost it in the divorce." Matthew gave a confused chuckle in response, so she elaborated. "My ex-husband sent someone to kill me, so I woke up in the middle of the night with a gun pointed at me. I didn't have time to grab and reload mine, so I got up and blitzed his gun arm. It fired, the bullet lodged in bone, and my attacker ran. I guess he wasn't expecting me to wake up and fight back right away." She looked down. "By the time I reached my phone and the ambulance showed up, it was already infected. So it had to be amputated from just below the knee, and now I get to be a cyborg." She managed a half-smile. "Damn," Matthew said after a while, then joked along. "I hope your taste in men has gotten better?" "I haven't dated since." Iris's eyes flitted briefly toward Quince. "But I like to think it has." @Hacky Slashy

Adam listened to the whole story. 'I think I'll take two of his legs. Even the score.' Adam sat down next to Nebo and pet the dog. "No worries, I only put a small amount. Enough to sting and maim. Also alert us." Cutty took out a flask and drank from it. Quince was happy the shitbag failed the attempt. " Aside from being a shitsack, Craig's a real cheapskate. Both assholes he sent clearly weren't cream of the crop." "You got that right. I killed the 2nd guy." Adam said to Matthew as Sophie brought some chicken for the cat. " we also have canned salmon if she would like."

Purrcasso came out from under the catch, winding between and rubbing against Sophie's legs as she carried out the chicken. She would continue to meow, a scratchy sound that perfectly matched her dumpster kitty vibe, until the plate was set down for her to eat. "I don't know whether to be relieved or offended that he could have afforded a better assassin and just decided not to bother with it," Iris commented. "I mean damn, at least splurge on my death." She looked over at Rachel. "By the way, did you finish with laundry last night?" @Hacky Slashy

"Yes. I laid the clothes on the bed. Also before I forget." Sophie brought Adam's pants and hood. " Thanks, Rachel. I owe your dad a new shirt though. Pieces of the once black shirt hung on him. "I'm sure he won't care since you saved us." Sophie gently set the plate down and gently pet Purcasso. Quince smelled himself and realized he stinks. "I'm gonna do yoh all a favor and shower. If you need anything, just yell." Quince departed to the upstairs shower. Cutty finished his rounds and went for some chicken parmessan. "You'd make excellent chefs some day." He said to Sophie. @Al the Killer

Iris finished off her plate. "You're definitely talented," she agreed, looking at Sophie. "Are you attending culinary school?" Except she doubted classes were going on right now. "Or... were you?" she corrected herself, watching Quince head upstairs. Purrcasso pushed her head against Sophie's hand, purring all the way. Only for a moment though, before she hurried to eat the chicken before anyone else could get to it. She ate as though she had never been fed a day before in her life. "Anything I can do to help? Make myself useful?" Matthew asked, picking up the empty plates lying around. @Hacky Slashy

"Veterinarian. My mom taught us both. Unfortunately she passed when Rachel was 12 and I was 10. Then my aunt Briana helped out when our dad was overseas." "Nursing school for me. We both just finished and that party was to Celebrate. Marty was friends with the owner of the house." "I got one thing. You can shoot, right? I need some sleep. Just keep an eye on things, holler if there's trouble, yeah?" Cutty said to Matthew. @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded. "I can do that, sure." He dropped the dishes in the sink, then picked up his rifle, checking to make sure it was loaded. "You go ahead and rest, I'll keep an eye out." "Still, going to a party at a time like this..." Iris trailed off and sighed. They were likely traumatized enough; they didn't need someone telling them they'd done something stupid. "I'm just glad you two are safe now. Albert was really worried about you when I called him last night. That's why he rushed over here in the middle of it." She couldn't take any credit for that, even if a part of her did hope he'd wanted to see her, too. @Hacky Slashy

"Cut e'm some slack, doc. It's not like they knew the things that go bump in the night turned out to be real." Adam said as Nebo went to Iris. He nuzzled against her. "It's not like she's wrong, either. Things were dangerous in the city even without the vampires....no offense." Rachel said to Adam. "None taken. Besides, they certainly learned their lesson. And not in a fun way." Adam said as Nebo licked at Iris' hand. @Al the Killer

Iris patted Nebo's side. "I know. Hindsight always is superior," she agreed. "Still, the city was already just short of being a warzone. The only thing that would stop the party from getting shut down by the AMP is a hefty bribe, or at least the host being buddies with the right corrupt official. But what matters is that you can sit here and have this conversation now." She stood up slowly. "Maybe I'll stop by my apartment tomorrow. Pick up some spare clothes, my cane..." Flip off the camera that was probably still there. Think about how to get Craig alone with her and Adam now that the first plan had gone through. "Adam, how are you holding up? Was the blood pack enough for you?" @Hacky Slashy

"Yep! I'm all set for tonight. I just hope we get through tonight without more incidents." Adam stretched his back but stopped himself. Didn't want to accidentally sprout the wings again. Sophie and Rachel ate their fill and washed the dishes. Nebo roamed around the house, stopping next to Matthew. He nuzzled against Matthew's leg. @Al the Killer

Iris sighed. "You know, I feel like we might have had a chance of a peaceful night until you said that," she joked. Still, she smiled, watching as Sophie and Rachel went to the kitchen. Once they were out of earshot, she leaned forward and whispered to Adam. "So, you and Sophie, huh?" she teased. Matthew paused his patrol of the house to reach down and pet Nebo. "You're just a big sweetheart, huh?" He scratched behind one of Nebo's ears, then kept walking. "Come on, let's keep guard of the house." @Hacky Slashy

"Oh yes. I'm gonna make little flying vampire babies with her. Heck why don't I do that and you go upstairs and join your hunky detective in the shower?" Adam teased back. Nebo continued walking around the house wih Matthew. "And don't deny it doc, the body language, the increased heart rate when you're close to him. Just go on. Just cause I'm monster doesn't mean you have to be lonely and miserable." @Al the Killer

Iris blushed and looked away, though doing so was pointless. Damn his vampire hearing! And she was absolutely not thinking about following his advice, nope. For now, she settled for tossing a pillow at him in retaliation. But her tone softened immediately after. "I've met monsters who wore human faces. I lived with one for years. You're not one of them, and I can tell she enjoys your company," she said softly. "Seriously, who told you you were unlovable? I'll kick their ass. And if you came to that conclusion on your own, I'll kick your ass." @Hacky Slashy

"It was Craig Wedmore. He's the one. Though coming from him it's a complement." Adam had harder objects thrown at him, but he still felt the pillow impact. "At least Nebo likes me though." Nebo came up and put a paw on Adam's knee. Adam pet the dog, who then moved to Iris. "And don't beat yourself up over that. It's not like the asshole had a neon green sign that says psycho on him." Nebo put his paw on Iris, smiling at her. @Al the Killer

Iris laughed. "What a coincidence, he's the same one who told me that," she told him. "Maybe we're both just fine and he's an asshole who doesn't know what he's talking about." She took Nebo's paw in her hand, shaking it politely. "Yes, lovely to meet you, good sir." She moved to petting his head and smiled back, before responding to Adam. "Logically, I know you're right. Anyone else in this situation, I'd be adamantly saying it wasn't their fault that someone took advantage of their trust like that. It's just different when it's me. I'm bad at taking my own advice." She looked down, her smile faded. "When we were together, he didn't do or say anything I wasn't raised to accept, as long as it came from my husband. Plenty of things that could get someone with less money and influence arrested, but nothing I couldn't rationalize." She turned toward the windows, though the curtains had already been shut. "He wasn't the first to convince me I'm worthless, but he'll sure as fuck be the last." She faced Adam again. "Anyway, back on topic, I'm not saying you have to go ahead and make vampire babies with her right now. But maybe try flirting back a bit, see how it goes. She may surprise you." @Hacky Slashy

"I mean, where and how do I even begin? I mean sure she's nice and pretty, but the only thing I got is I saved her from becoming a happy meal, twice." Adam couldn't deny his feelings, but wondered the logistical aspects of how a relationship would go. I'm heading out for a drink, probably your local criminal. See you in the morning! Quince finished his shower and got dressed. He went bck downstairs to join the others. Sophie and Rachel came back at the same time. "So how's everyone holding up?" Quince asked as he rubbed his face, making sure he didn't miss a spot when he shaved. "We're good. There's still some food left if you want." Rachel said as Sophie went to get him a plate. "Thanks, both of you." @Al the Killer

Iris rolled her eyes. "You're a good person, Adam. And funny. You certainly make her laugh. Not to mention actually age-appropriate for her and not a hundred years old, which is a great start..." She stopped as she heard footsteps approach from both the stairs and the kitchen. "We're good, thanks." She looked at Sophie, then at Adam, then gave a subtle nod. With that silent encouragement done, she returned to petting Nebo. @Hacky Slashy

Well, here goes nothing. "I'm gonna get some sleep." Rachel announced as she went to her and Sophie's room. Adam went next to Sophie. It's been a while since he's been near a woman that didn't flee in terror from his presence. "How're you holding up?" Sophie smiled at him. "Fine now. What about you? Wings now." Adam remembered the new addition to his arsenal. "Don't need to drive anytime more. Maybe I can open up a business. Cain Flys! I'd make a bigger killing than Uber." Sophie let out a laugh as she got closer to him. Quince went next to Iris. "How're you holding up, doc? Been a Hell of a night. A black hawk helicopter flew by the house, no doubt responding to more fighting. @Al the Killer

Iris offered Adam a small, encouraging smile, then looked over at Albert. Maybe it was time to take her own advice, overall. Sure it was different; she couldn't hear his heartbeat, and still wasn't sure what she might have going for her. But she'd taken plenty of risks the past few days. What was one more? "A hell of a night, just like the last. I'm alright. As it turns out, stealing and killing? Huge rush. I wish I'd started at a much younger age." Probably not the best jokes to make when flirting with a homicide detective. "I might head up to bed, myself soon." Better to give the other two some privacy, but she didn't want to leave Quince alone to play third wheel if he wasn't finished with his dinner yet. @Hacky Slashy

"No worries. I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Quince smiled at Iris. She was holding up remarkably well given the circumstances. Most people would be freaking out by now. Sophie let out a yawn. "I'm off to bed. Have a good night, Adam." She gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek before departing. 'Well. Maybe I'm not that inept after all.' Adam smiled to himself as Nebo trotted along. "That went well. Kind of a miracle considering you can fit all that I understand about women in a shot glass. But I don't need to tell you that, though." Nebo and Adam smiled at each other. @Al the Killer

Iris watched Sophie leave. "Have a good night, Sophie," she commented, then looked at Adam. "I told you so." She stood up, and Purrcasso immediately jumped up to occupy the vacant couch. She'd need to get plenty of rest, since they had no clue what the next day and night would bring. Maybe peace. Probably not. "I'm going to bed, too." She glanced over at Quince. "Are you coming along? Matt seemed really excited about sleeping on the couch." She looked down at Purrcasso. "If she'll let him. Either way, I think it might be off limits to you." @Hacky Slashy

"Coming along." Quince got up to join her. "I'll keep an eye on things." Adam said while crouching next to Nebo. "You can go be with th girls if you want." Adam pet Nebo who then went to join Sophie and Rachel in their room. @Al the Killer

Iris took her time to get up the stairs, but would accept any help offered. "I said it was fine, but if things don't go back to normal, I'll need to seriously consider a better prosthetic. This one was not made for vampire hunting," she admitted. "You know, when we were in the hospital, and you asked if I was hurt, I probably didn't react too well. At the time, I assumed it was anger." She looked at him. "You were scared, weren't you?" Matthew returned to the living room. "So you'll take the night watch?" he asked Adam. "I'm thinking I'll take a shower before I sleep, but could you wake me or Cutty up before sunrise? Can't have you getting set on fire or whatever happens to you in sunlight." @Hacky Slashy

Adam gave Matthew a thumbs up. Meanwhile Cutty began snoring. The sounds of gunfire started getting more frequent and closer. They unfortunately can't stay here forever. "You could say that. And no worries, I don't hold it against you. I was just worried. At least we killed two of them so far." Quince helped Iris uo the stairs. @Al the Killer

"Just two to go," Iris agreed. "A shame though, I really wanted that one guy's trench coat. Way better for carrying concealed weapons." She walked into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. "For what it's worth, I was worried too. Seeing you alive and walking around was... A relief, to say the least." She smiled. "Think they believe I killed Jan now?" She set her jacket aside, making sure her pistol was on the nightstand within reach. Just in case. @Hacky Slashy

Quince put his side arm under the pillow. Just standard procedure. "I think Callista's severed arm saw to that. They probably think we're an elite vampire kill team and probably left town by now." Adam remained in his post, watching for AMP, criminals or the remaining two vampires. @Al the Killer

Iris laughed. "We should be so lucky. They're probably planning revenge for her arm. And her face. And her dignity. We should be prepared, either way." She reached toward her prosthetic, but glanced over at him. There were people who had no problem casually removing limbs rather publicly, as an educational demonstration or a good joke. She admired them, but was not one of them. The idea of doing so in front of someone other than a nurse or doctor seemed more intimate than if she'd just removed all of her clothes in front of him. "Can you, uh..." She pointed toward the window on the opposite side of the room. "Turn that way for a second? Sorry." @Hacky Slashy

Quince simply nodded and complied. "No worries. Just so you know, it doesn't bother me." Still, Quince understood her concerns. Adam simply listened to the world around him. Gunfire and explosions seemed to rage around in the general area. He then listened to the heartbeats of everyone in the house. Everyone's was steady, but Iris and Quince's hearts were racing a little. @Al the Killer

Iris relaxed a bit at that, but still appreciated his cooperation. Something, something, 'if he can't respect boundaries he's not right for you'. Her therapist would've been proud, if the AMP occupation hadn't put an indefinite hold on their appointments. "Thanks," she said as she removed the leg. She paused to check for damage. A bit of a chip in the covering where it had been, but no mechanical damage. She set it aside, along with the sock and lining under the socket. "Alright, you can turn around." She lay back on the bed, looking over at Quince. "But I have to say, if for any reason I can't go back to the morgue, 'elite vampire kill team' sounds like one hell of a future goal." @Hacky Slashy

"That it does." Quince laid down on his side, facing away. The day's events were still fresh in his mind. Of course his mind drifted to the AMP occupation. Even when the vampires are dealt with, they still need to deal with that. All can wait for tomorrow. Adam continued maintaining watch. He would try and use his claws to climb the ceiling, but it'd be impolite. He already ruined one of their dad's shirts, albeit accidentally. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at him. Her earlier conversation with Adam kept replaying in her head. She hadn't realized she was such a damn hypocrite. The realization now didn't help her. "Do you ever think about it? What you're going to do after this whole vampire thing and occupation are over?" She rolled into her side to face away from him though, given how restless her sleep usually was, even she couldn't say how she'd wake up. "I guess it can be hard to plan when we don't know how it will end, but you know... There has to be a preferred outcome." Wait, was he trying to sleep. "If you need me to stop talking and let you sleep, just let me know and I will." She just had a lot of nervous energy that she was not about to explain to his face. Matthew walked back out. Purrcasso jumped down from the sofa as he flopped down onto it. "All quiet so far?" he asked Adam. @Hacky Slashy

"No worries. I can talk." Quince switched to lying on his back. "That's a great question. But I wouldn't mind starting over again. Just a house, wife, dog. Maybe a couple of kids if we got the time. And also just in case we don't get the chance to.....I wouldn't mind if all that was with you. All this time together made me realize I care about you. And no worries about the baggage. I can handle that. But whatever you decided to do, I'll accept it, no matter what." Quince knew this was all likely a bad idea ti confess to her, but with all the danger he has been dealing with, why worry? Who knows how long his luck will hold out. Adam was still keeping both eyes and ears open when Matthew asked the question. "Yeah...ish. No vampires or AMP kill squads coming at us for the time being. What about you? How's the rest of th country doing? And of course whatever vampire related questions you got, I'll be happy to answer." @Al the Killer

Words could not have described how grateful Iris was that he'd just come out and said it. No wondering, just straight out with it. She smiled, pausing to remove her glasses and set them aside, then rolled onto her back as well. "You're exactly the sort of person I'd always imagined a future with," she admitted. "I dismissed it as someone else's dream, something I could never have, but after the past few days..." She shrugged. "I care about you, too." Her hand found his hand, fingertips brushing against the palm. "A house and dog sound nice. Maybe a bit too soon to talk about marriage. Kids... one or two would be nice. I can't make any promises at our age, but we could adopt or foster if we have to." She chuckled softly, nervousness fading. "Honestly, I wasn't sure if my attempts to flirt were too subtle to even qualify, or if you just weren't a very good detective," she admitted. "Sorry for doubting you." Matthew closed his eyes, kicking his feet up on the arm of the sofa. "Hm, give it a few minutes, I'm sure we'll be next for the slaughter," he joked. "The rest of the country's pretty much the same. Actual countryside gets to see some peace, but the cities? Straight-up warzones. Fewer vampires though. I thought all of you would've migrated north for the winter." @Hacky Slashy

"I solve murders, not look for whether a woman desires me. I mean I had my suspicions, but I didn't want to act unless I was completely sure, you know? Kinda like how you don't want to alert the suspect you're on to him or her." Quince returned the hand grasp, feeling her soft hands. Downstairs Adam was still chatting with Matthew. "Don't suppose you know who did that to Purcasso? If they're still around I can pay them a visit. Broke up a few dogfighting rings." Adam was crouched down. @Al the Killer

"So in this analogy, I am... a murder suspect?" Iris joked, then thought about it. "Actually, that kind of tracks, I guess." She looked over at him, even though his form was blurry now. "I did have my suspicions when you asked about the flowers that it was your way of subtly asking if I was single. Would've been a terrible time to flirt, but all things considered, I can't say now is much better." Matthew thought back, but there hadn't been any hints of the one responsible, even back when he'd first found the old owner. "No clue. Could be another animal, a previous owner, a bit of both. I think her weird underbite is natural, though." Purrcasso meowed in response, as though offended, then turned away from them and lifted her tail. @Hacky Slashy

"I think you hurt her feelings, a little." Adam then asked Matthew about his and Iris' upbringing. "So how'd get all the way here?" Adam decided to try and make conversation with him. "Well, it's not like we'll have a good time to do so given the state of the world at the moment. May as well in whatever downtime we happen to get." Quince still held on to Iris' hand. It felt good to be close to someone again. @Al the Killer

"No it's fine, she flashes people when she's happy." Matthew put a hand out and made a clicking sound with his tongue until Purrcasso pushed her head against his hand. "It's complicated. Let's just say our parents weren't the best. I ran away at fourteen, lived on the street for a while. When all of..." He gestured vaguely toward the window. "...this started happening, it was a bad time to be unhoused. Worse than usual, I mean. The safe bet would have been to return to our childhood home, deal with the fallout from leaving, and cave into pressure to marry some woman I have no interest in, pretending I'm fit for the strict life plans our family's set out for us. But I also knew Iris - who did way more to raise me than our parents ever did - had moved out to LA for college. So I took my chances, hoping she might still be here. That and I wanted to see if things were better elsewhere." He laughed. "I was not expecting our reunion to look like me almost getting run over by the car she stole on her way to rob a blood bank with an ex detective." Iris shifted closer to him. "That's true." She closed her eyes and tilted her head, allowing it to rest against his shoulder. "I have to say though, you're dealing with everything that's been going on pretty well." @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah. Interesting turn of events here. As for your migration question, I take it they're probably thinking eh the humans are too busy killing each other to notice us. Wouldn't surprise me if other attacks are happening elsewhere." Adam was hoping another werewolf Won't stroll into town anytime soon. One encounter was one too many. "You're not doing too bad yourself, you know? Not gonna lie though, the existence of monsters is a bit much though. Wonder what's next, reptilians?" Quince looked over to Iris. He was careful not to move his shoulder. "At least you still have Matthew here. Purcasso's nice too. Not much of a cat person, but she's all right." @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded. "So big feeding time for 'em, basically. I'm guessing you're more of the vigilante type? Strict supervillains-only diet?" He considered for a moment. "So if vampires are real, what else is out there? Any possible alien abductions we should worry about?" Iris smiled at Quince's comment. "Would you still be attracted to me if I was a lizard person?" she joked. "But yeah, he seems like a good kid. I'm going to worry about him, but at least I can do something to keep him safe now. The others, though..." She sighed. "I just hope they're avoiding the worst of it. What about you? Any other family out there?" @Hacky Slashy

"Right you are. Feeding on criminals is me making the best out of a shit situation, you know?" Adam said as he regailed Matthew on the circumstances of his turning. "I would. Even if you needed fresh meat, there's no shortage of criminals who only got away due to technicalities. And no. My father passed away of a heart attack in his sleep. My mother passed later due to a broken heart. Mike is away at sea, likely helping our armed forces fight AMP. Him, Rachel and Sophie are all I've got." @Al the Killer

Purrcasso wandered over to rub against Adam's leg while Matthew listened. At the end of the story, he looked over at him. "Alright, so the way you turned... do you think it was the biting itself like some kinda infection, or the vampire drinking a certain amount of blood without killing you that did it? Or an exchange of blood? I'm assuming draining someone to death won't turn them, or else we'd all be a bunch of starving vampires by now." "Then I hope Mike can return safely home soon," Iris said. "I wouldn't mind meeting what I can of your family." She rolled onto her side facing toward him, and draped an arm across his chest. "In the meantime, Rachel and Sophie are here for you. And so am I. Not as family, but still." @Hacky Slashy

Adam gently pet Purcasso. "I think being bit does the trick. I mean from what I've seen so far, they rarely leave survivors." Adam then looked at Purcasso. "You've certainly taken good care of her." "I hope so as well. And likewise." Quince was happy with this small moment. He hopes more will occur, but in the meantime he'll take what he can get. He gently squeezes Iris' hand. @Al the Killer

"I've done my best," Matthew said with a shrug. "She's a healthier weight than she was when I found her, and the vets I've managed to get her in to see have said she's doing pretty well." Purrcasso purred, tail swaying as she basked in the attention. "She's gotten more trusting too. I think she knows that I wouldn't let someone near her if they meant harm." Iris picked her head up, looking down at him. "Then whatever the future brings, at least we can look forward to it together." She smiled, taking in what she could of his features. He seemed so at peace, a welcome contrast from their time together in the morgue, when the need to keep things professional and the stress of the investigation had loomed over them. "Albert..." She trailed off, unsure whether any words were even appropriate for the moment. Instead, she brushed her free hand gently against his cheek, drawing her face closer to his. @Hacky Slashy

"Good thing you found her. And that you made your way here. It's nice to actually talk to people who aren't either trying to shoot at me or run in terror." Quince's heart was racing a little. "You don't need to say anything if you don't want to." He felt her closer to his face, causing his heart to race a little more. @Al the Killer

Matthew chuckled. "I mean... Yeah. Getting shot at doesn't sound enjoyable for anyone. Except maybe the people doing the shooting." He looked up at the ceiling. "I guess I'm just used to being scared, you know? Meeting an actual vampire is just like 'this might as well happen'. I really don't want to run into any others though." Though she didn't have to, Iris decided on what seemed the most meaningful at the moment. "I know." Her thumb brushed over his knuckles. "And I trust you." Her voice was barely above a whisper, warm against his lips before she closed the distance between them. (edited)

"At least you didn't run into a werewolf. If that strolled into town, your sister would need garbage bags for what's left of the bodies." Adam was now remembering his encounter with the werewolf. Quince turned around to face her. His left hand held her face, as he smiled at her. He looked into her eyes, more than happy to share the moment. @Al the Killer

"So you're saying they're messy eaters," Matthew replied. "I don't envy anyone who has to clean up after them." He yawned, then closed his eyes. "Anyway, I'm not the nocturnal one here, so I'll leave you to your watch. Good chat though." Iris smiled back, holding eye contact for a moment longer. Not what she'd meant to do, but still a lovely moment. After a second, she closed her eyes and the small gap between them. Her lips brushed softly against his, a silent invitation for a proper kiss, if he wanted. @Hacky Slashy

"Have a good night, Matt." Adam then continued petting Purrcaso. "Looks like it's just you and me then." Adam said as he continued his watch. You almost couldn't tell the country was a warzone. It's like the group is in the eye of the storm. Quince closed his eyes and then happily accepted the invitation. He brushed his lips against hers, making sure not to leave her bottom lip out of the action. He departed but still held on to her, waiting to see if she'd like more. @Al the Killer

Iris settled into his arms, letting her forehead rest against his. The temptation was definitely there, the desire to go in for another, see where the night led. Except if the resident vampire could hear a heartbeat within the same room, she'd have to assume he heard everything that happened in the house. And if the fighting drew near, it was best to not be so distracted that they couldn't make a run for it. So for now, she let herself simply rest within the embrace. "Goodnight, Albert," she whispered instead, still smiling peacefully. @Hacky Slashy

"Good night, Iris." Quince kissed her on the forehead. He held her firmly in his embrace. He eventually drifted off into sleep, with the lovely brunette in his arms. Adam was still up, listening in to the world around him. He heard an explosion here and there. They weren't close, but he was amazed anyone in the house was able to sleep given all that was going on. @Al the Killer

As it turned out, an adoring partner's embrace was not a magical cure-all for trauma-induced nightmares and the movies had lied to Iris. She slept, albeit inconsistently, shifting her position and occasionally tightening her arms around Albert like a lifeline. Eventually, it might get better. For now, she'd take what sleep she could get and hope her restlessness didn't disturb him. ~~~ Matthew woke up before the sun rose in the morning, but not by long. He stretched his arms out with a soft groan, then sat up. The house was quiet. Way quieter than he was used to, none of the usual noises of a city around them. Groggily, he fumbled around for a TV remote and turned on the news, making sure the volume was down low and captions turned on so he wouldn't wake anyone in the house. "Ah... Depressing programming for the morning," he mumbled, then walked out to the kitchen to see what he could make for everyone's breakfast. @Hacky Slashy

Adam made his way to the basement. He took his usual spot on the stairs. He hummed to himself as he heard some of the others wake up. Sophie and Rachel each went to the showers. Cutty woke up and yawned. "I haven't slept that good in years. Morning, son. What're you planning on making today?" Nebo strolled to the kitchen as he nuzzled against both Cutty and Matthew. Quince woke up with Iris still in his arms. His right arm was tingling but it was a feeling he welcomed. He decided to wait for Iris to awaken before moving. "Breaking News! The United States Marines have successfully taken back Washington DC from AMP, with President Grant Roman on the run. Fighting is still ongoing elsewhere." Footage of Marines securing the Whitehouse and the airforce making flybys played on the tv. "Score one for the Devil Dogs." Cutty said as he watched the news. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked back at Cutty. "I'm thinking pancakes, if we've got everything. Been a while since I cooked, but it's worth a shot since I'm awake," he said, reaching down to pet Nebo. Purrcasso slept on a windowsill, tired out from the running she'd done around the house a couple of hours ago. "Unless you wanted something else?" He glanced back toward the living room. "I hope that means this'll be over soon." Iris snuggled against the warmth in front of her, burying her head against Quince's chest. It was a moment longer before she opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Morning. Did I keep you waiting for long?" She sat up slightly to let him move his arm. That could not have been confirmed for him all night. "Sorry if your arm fell asleep with me." @Hacky Slashy

Sophie and Rachel finished their shower and got dressed. They went to join Cutty and Matthew in the kitchen. Sophie gently pet Purcasso as she then went to knock on the basement door. "Morning! You still up?" Adam's heart fluttered a little hearing her voice. "Yep! Morning to you too." Adam said while Rachel asked Matthew what he was cooking. "Pancakes. It's been a while since I had any." Cutty said as Rachel gathered the mix and supplies for Matthew. "Need any help or you can handle it." Quince greeted Iris. "Not at all." He smiled despite the tingling in his arm. He moved his arm to get the blood flowing again. "How'd you sleep?" @Al the Killer (edited)

"Pancakes," Matthew confirmed again, looking at the back of the mix container. "And they come with instructions, so I think I've got it." He smiled, but it soon faded. "So, the explosions... Have we thought about where we're going once they get too close?" He looked toward the basement door. "And what do we do if the AMP gets here during the day?" Iris turned to get her glasses. "About normal for me," she admitted. "Which isn't great. At least with you around, I did get a few pleasant dreams thrown into the mix. How about you?" She sat up fully, letting her leg dangle over the edge of the bed. @Hacky Slashy

"We got a few safe places in the city. We can try to move out when we get the chance. Probably have to roll the vampire in a lot of blankets though." Adam shouted from the basement. "As long as no sunlight hits the skin, we're good. Heck just stuff me in the trunk." Nebo nuzzled against Sophie, who crouched down and hugged the dog. "Same. Pleasant dreams. It was nice to have a quiet moment. Need help?" Quince asked as he was putting on his pants. @Al the Killer

Iris focused first on getting her other leg back on. "What, with getting out of bed?" She shook her head. "I do this every morning, so it's fine. Thanks, though." She stood up once the prosthetic was secure and looked over at where she'd moved her clothes to the top of the dresser. "I'll join you downstairs in a moment." She kissed Albert's cheek first, deciding that was a higher priority before letting him go. "And try to convince people we're not running out to hide a dead body in broad daylight?" Matthew joked. "Got it. Good to know we've got a plan." He set the pan on the stove and turned the heat on. @Hacky Slashy

"I could scream in terror if you guy's like. Be better than a dead body." Sophie and Rachel giggled as Quince came downstairs. "Hey Matthew. You and Purcasso slept well? Iris is coming down soon. Nebo went up to Quince and jumped up on him, holding on with his paws. "Good to see you too, boy." Quince smiled and pet the husky. Quince then hugged his nieces. "We slept well." Rachel said as Sophie crouched down with Nebo, scratching the husky's head. Nebo basked in the attention. @Al the Killer

"Hell yeah, kidnapping scenario. Sounds like fun," Matthew countered. He looked toward the window where Purrcasso was resting. "I slept alright. She's still sleeping well... Does anyone want coffee?" Iris walked down a moment later, dressed in her own clothes again. "Morning." She glanced at the TV. "Good to see some resolution somewhere, at least." She paused to pet Nebo as well. "In other news," the anchor on the TV continued, "the search is on for four suspects involved in a shooting at the Santa Monica Health Center last night." Four images appeared on the screen. "Several security guards were killed in the shooting, along with AMP officials who arrived to put an end to the violence. Two of the suspects are unidentified as of yet, but the other two have been identified as former detective Albert Quince of the LAPD and Doctor Iris Ellsworth of the LA County DMEC. The public is advised to remain wary, as the suspects are armed and dangerous. A portion of the hospital's blood supply was found missing after the suspects opened fire-" Iris scoffed. "God forbid women do anything." "Pretty sure your boyfriend's wanted, too," Matthew pointed out. @Hacky Slashy

Quince found Iris' annoyance comical. "Frankly, I'm shocked it's taken me this long to be wanted. Not what 10 year old me had in mind when I said I wanted to be on TV." Quince remarked as Nebo walked up to Iris and pawed at her knee. He got on his back and showed his belly to her. "Pity they didn't identify the other two bloodsuckers." Adam said from the basement. @Al the Killer

Iris slowly lowered herself to sit on the floor and give Nebo the attention he wanted. "I guess if we're going to be on TV, we might as well be there together, for doing something badass," she commented as she rubbed the dog's belly. Matthew flipped the last of the pancakes onto the massive stack that occupied the plate next to him. "Awful convenient for them to leave out the fact that you were fighting against the vampires. Or the fact that the other two were vampires." Meanwhile, Purrcasso woke up and stretched, before hopping down. She made her way to the kitchen, purring as she rubbed against Sophie's and Rachel's legs. @Hacky Slashy

Sophie and Rachel crouched down and pet Purcasso. "She's so cute." Sophie said while Nebo continued enjoying his belly rubs. "Too bad they're not mummies. Mummies are scared shitless of cats." Adam continued his commentary from the basement. "I'd join you all for pancakes....but vampirism says no pancakes for Adam." Quince went next to Iris and Nebo. "Need help getting to your apartment? And we should probably think about where should we go. Never know when the the Federal government will start going toe to toe with AMP." @Al the Killer

Purrcasso kept purring and meowing, occasionally rising to her hind legs to rub against the hands petting her. Clearly, this was the best day ever for her. Or would be for the next minute or so before she decided she'd had enough attention. "If someone is a conscious mummified corpse, I would imagine they have larger problems than a cat," Iris commented, then looked up at Albert. "I should bring some backup, yes. But it won't be safe, with the current situation." She glanced toward the TV. "Your car would be recognizable unless you happen to have a decoy license plate lying around. And we'll have to be in and out quickly, since there's a camera in my apartment. I'm not sure if it actually feeds anywhere or if it was just a very effective attempt to make me paranoid, but not knowing is a risk in itself. Not to mention the fact that it was installed at all means a certain slimeball either managed to get his hands on a key or knows a skilled lockpicker." She slowly stood up. "Should we also consider moving today? Both of our apartments will be at the top of the list of places to check for us, but family won't be much further down." @Hacky Slashy

Quince looked at Iris when she mentioned the duplicate license plate. "I might have a few in the trunk." Quince said as he helped serve some pancakes to Iris. Nebo nuzzled against both Iris and Quince. Sophie gently picked up Purcasso and continued petting the cat. She cradled the cat like a child. Rachel and Cutty served themselves pancakes as well. Adam simply listened for sounds in the city. He heard the chatter of AMP squads fighting. The opponents were Crips. He also heard other squads going door to door, raiding residences. He estimates it'll be a couple of hours before they get here, but alerted the others anyways. "Guys, they're starting to go door to door. Might be here in a few hours." @Al the Killer

Iris sat on the sofa and accepted the plate from Albert. "You're joking," she said flatly, then realized he might not be joking. "You are full of surprises, aren't you?" Matthew waited for the others to have their breakfast before serving himself. "Then maybe we should try to be long gone before they get here," he suggested. "Right after breakfast, maybe?" He looked at Cutty. "You mentioned knowing a few safe places. Could we make plans, decide on one now, and meet Iris and Al there?" "I thought you said you've never had an intelligent idea before in your life," Iris commented. "We'll have to be careful, make sure we're not followed. We don't want to lead the AMP or some hired gun there on day one." Purrcasso snuggled against Sophie for five more seconds then jumped down, meowing for food. "How about some of that canned salmon?" Matthew suggested, earning another meow in response. @Hacky Slashy

"Borrowed a few trinkets from the undercover units. Fake ids, license plates, the works." Quince said to Iris while Cutty began to help planning to move to safe locations. "Couple of warehouses in my buddy Cocker's name. Hope he's doing well. Marine corps Drill Instructor. Probably out there fighting." Cutty said as he found a warehouse in Santa Monica, near the docks. Sophie got some canned Salmon and opened it up for Purcasso. She laid it down near the cat and gently scratched her head. Adam listened in, especially the directions to the warehouse. "I'll stay behind here, distract AMP if they come knocking. Unless you guys brainstorm a way to get me in the car without me burning to a crisp." Sophie immediately thought up an idea. She gathered some spare blankets. "What if we wrap you up? Think that'll protect you?" Adam replied. "As long as there isn't contact with the sun, We should be fine." @Al the Killer

Iris raised an eyebrow. "You're sure they let you borrow them? In case you ever happened to become a fugitive?" she questioned, more than a bit skeptical that the word 'borrow' there was more than a euphemism. And here she was, assuming the worst interpretation of it and also hoping last night wasn't the last night they'd at least be able to pretend to have privacy. Those two thoughts should not have been related, but here she was. Distracting herself by eating pancakes as quickly as possible. "We're not leaving you behind," Matthew told Adam. "Y'know... Friendship and shit. No guarantee they won't be able to outfight you when it's still daylight and you can't get away... Maybe wrap him in blankets and stuff him in the trunk? Give him a coat, balaclava, sunglasses, and gloves just in case the blankets come undone?" He looked at the basement door. "Hey Adam, do you need oxygen to live or are we good?" @Hacky Slashy

"Yes. Very much so. But the coat and stuff could work." Adam shouted from the basement. Rachel and Sophie went to gather winter coats. They were mostly theirs and a couple of their father's coats. Sophie opened the door and showed Adam the coats. He chose the largest one. Rachel brought some scarves to act as makeshift balaclavas. "I think these will do, Adam said as he looked at the choices. "How do you think me and Cutty got around town?" Quince said as Cutty and his nieces started packing items. Quince loaded his sidearm. "We'll make it through this. " Quince reasured Iris, putting his hand on her shoulder. Nebo trotted next to Iris and laid a paw on her foot, smiling at her. @Al the Killer

"At least it's January," Matthew pointed out. "If we tried this in the middle of June, it would look weird." Then he considered. "...But it's January in LA, so probably still weird. Better than letting you die though." He finished his breakfast and helped prepare what they would need. "Are we bringing the UV lamps with us, too?" Iris set her empty plate aside as well and reached down to pet Nebo. "I hope so." She placed one hand over his hand, squeezing gently before letting go. "For now, let's get things moving. You know how to get to the warehouse Cutty's talking about?" @Hacky Slashy

Sophie helped Adam wrap the scarf around him. "Too tight?" She asked as she finished tying it. "Mmmm". Adam said muffled as he gave a thumbs up. He looked like a burly giallo slasher villain. He hobbled close to the others. "Yes. All of us had to study the locations for our resistance efforts. It's in good hands with Chief Riker leading them." Nebo stood in the living room next to Adam. Sophie gently picked up Purcasso after she finished the salmon. "Everything is packed. We should be good to go." Cutty said as he began moving the bags to his car. "Should probably ride with me, Adam. My SUV has more room for you." @Al the Killer

Matthew tried not to laugh at the sight of Adam, instead holding his messenger bag open. "She can ride along in here. She likes traveling this way," he explained as Purrcasso wriggled out of Sophie's arms. Cat in the bag, he helped Cutty and the girls pack up the vehicles. "I'm good going with whoever." He looked back at his sister and Quince. "You two are going alone?" Iris carried her weapons to Albert's car. "It's safer that way. They're looking for the two of us; if we can keep the rest of you off their wanted list, that would be ideal. Maybe stick with the girls, since Cutty has Adam and the bulk of the luggage." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo nuzzled Matthew's leg. "Looks like you're riding with us." Rachel said smiling at Matthew and Nebo. The dog licked Matthew's hand. Quince loaded his stuff into the car as well. "I'm ready when you are." Quince smiled at Iris in a reassuring manner. Meanwhile Cutty helped Adam into his SUV. He barely fit in the passenger door, but just enough. Sophie and Rachel loaded Nebo into the back and gestured for Matthew to join them. @Al the Killer

Matthew smiled back and patted Nebo's side. "Alright, let's go then. I can stay in the back with Nebo." He got into the car and buckled in. "Ready." Iris got into the passenger seat. "Everything's packed? You swapped the license plates?" She leaned back and looked out through the window. Something was bound to go wrong today. Sure she thought that every day, about everything, but in her defense, she was often right. @Hacky Slashy

"Sure did." Quince started the car and went towards Iris' apartment while Cutty led the others to the warehouse. Quince put his hand on Iris' shoulder. He took several shortcuts around checkpoints, but they were getting more and more frequent. They even narrowly avoided a skirmish between AMP and Latin Kings, joined by Norteños and MS-13. It appars some of the gangs have formed alliances. Bullets whizzed past the car as Quince sped through, shoving Iris down, protecting her from the bullets. After they got away from the skirmish, Quince let Iris get back up. "Are you ok?" Cutty and the others made their way to the warehouse. They parked in a hidden space as Sophie and the others helped load the luggages inside. Cutty had a rifle at the ready, guarding the group while Nebo sniffed around. "We should be fine here. The fightings getting heated in the city." @Al the Killer

Iris glanced over at Albert as he put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. Maybe they would make it through this, after all. He certainly made her want to believe it. It was nice, until the gunshots started and she felt herself pushed down away from the windows. Immediately, her entire body tensed as she gripped the sides of the car seat. The worry of what would happen if Albert got shot while driving flew across her mind, one of many. The sounds of combat themselves seemed so far, as though she wasn't actually here. Even after they were safe, it took longer to convince herself of the fact. She drew in a shaky breath and sat up, vaguely aware that the hand holding her down had left. "Don't..." She trailed off, closing her eyes as she pulled herself back to the current reality. "Just telling me to get down would have been enough," she said, with a forced semblance of calm. "Or asking. Physically, I'm fine." Mentally, she needed a moment, but they didn't have that luxury. She pulled up the hood of her jacket and opened the door. "Let's go." Matthew helped load everything into the warehouse, pausing to glance around at the interior. But he'd have time to look around later. For now, they had to make sure everything was secure enough. "Fine for now, at least," he said. "Not so sure this isn't an ideal place for rogue vampires to come looking for shelter." @Hacky Slashy

"Sorry about that." Quince said as he headed for Iris' place. He looked around with his sidearm and led the way to Iris' apartment. It had been ransacked. AMP likely tore the place apart looking for her. But it appears they're gone now. He led Iris in. Adam drank from a blood pack while the others sat around. Nebo kept watch alongside Cutty. "To think I'd be chomping on a cheeseburger a while back." Adam said as he finished the blood pack. Sophie was reading a book, ironically a romance novel involving vampires. To think she now had her very own. Rachel went next to Matthew. "So how're you finding Los Angeles?" She was attempting to make conversation. It was fortunate the warehouse was clean at least. @Al the Killer

Iris directed Albert to the right door for her apartment, since she'd never had him over before. This was decidedly not how she'd imagined his first time at her place would go. Still, she opened the door with her key and stepped aside to let him in first. "Fuck." She looked around. "I swear it's normally cleaner than this." Though she managed to joke, she also drew her pistol, looking around in case there were any stragglers. "Would you mind grabbing some canned food from the cabinets? The more we have, the better." She left his side to walk into the bedroom. Nobody remained there, but they'd have to move quickly. With the camera, it was best to assume their presence would be known sooner than later. Matthew looked over at Adam. "And now it's human blood. One hell of a change in diet," he commented, then looked over at Rachel. "Less a city of angels, more a city of vampires and constant gunfire but I'm sure that makes the tourist attractions way more interesting," he joked. "How are you holding up, with everything going on?" @Hacky Slashy

"Fine all things considered. I swear it's nicer than this before everything that went down. It's a lot to take in that monsters exist. Good to know some of them are on our side." She looked over at Adam who smiled, displaying blood stained sharp teeth. He then gave a thumbs up. Sophie was playing with Nebo, who then nuzzled against Adam. "He's a good boy." Adam said as he pet the dog's back, brushing against Sophie's hand accidentally. He pulled away, apologizing. "It's fine." She said and turned away, hiding her blush. "I checked all over the place. We'll be fine for a bit." Cutty said as he sat down. Thankfully there was sofa around. Meanwhile Quince finished packing all the canned goods he could find in the house. "Anything else you'd like to grab while we're here?" Quince asked as he looke over at Iris. @Al the Killer

Matthew shrugged. "Not sure I'm really that surprised," he admitted, reaching down to pet Purrcasso as he spoke. "I've had friends go missing under some weird circumstances over the years." He looked away. "Sad as it is, it makes sense; most monsters are gonna target people they assume won't be missed. Still, at least we've got one that won't try and kill us." He glanced over at Sophie and Adam, resisting the urge to comment within earshot that they were not being subtle. The attempt to avoid embarrassing the two was made easier by Cutty interrupting. "Good to know. If you need me to take over watch, just let me know," he said. These people were friends with his sister, and were giving him and Purrcasso a safe place to stay; the least he could do was try to be helpful. Iris packed a bag for herself, mostly focusing on things she'd need plus extra handgun ammunition. She glanced over at her bookshelf, considering for a moment whether to bring something to read. A couple of books then, in case there really was nothing to do while they were laying low. She grabbed her cane on the way out, since she'd likely be needing it more often with the way she'd been pushing herself the past few days. "I'm set." She didn't stop walking as she answered Albert. "We should get out of here quickly, though. In case someone decides to come back." She looked up at the camera in the corner again. Just the motivation she needed to walk a bit faster. @Hacky Slashy

"sure you can take the next watch." Cutty said as Rachel then asked Matthew if he'd like any food. "Anything in particular?" Rachel asked as she took an inventory of their supplies. Adam offered to come along with Matthew. "I can answer whatever monster related questions you got. Nebo went next to Rachel and pawed at her. "You're so needy, you know that?" She says as she pets the dog. Back at the house Quince escorted Iris back to the car. "And I just got this thing leased." Quince said as he eyed the bullet holes. He then looked at Iris as he buckled up his seatbelt. @Al the Killer

"I could go for something to eat, sure. I'm not too picky either, so whatever everyone else is having will be fine. Except Adam; don't really have a taste for human blood." He walked over to Rachel to help look through the food supplies. "And don't worry about coming along with me, Adam. I won't make you do anything before nightfall. Don't you ever sleep?" he asked, genuinely curious now. Iris looked at the bullet holes. At least the car still seemed to run fine. The paint job was definitely ruined, though. "Maybe lease an armored car next time," she suggested, setting the bag and cane into the back seat. She looked around at the parking lot to make sure they weren't being watched, then got into the passenger's seat. "Now, to the warehouse?" She continued to watch their surroundings through the window. @Hacky Slashy

"Well usually. But with everything going on, got to be on alert. Plus one bright side about vampirism is I always feel energized. Also helps your sister must have gotten the good stuff." Rachel got some bread along with peanut butter and Jelly. She also had ham and cheese. "What would you like?" Sophie finished her book. She then took out a year book. "Want to see how I used to look?" Adam scooted next to her. He saw Sophie's photo. She was unrecognizable. "That can't be you." She looked far different than now. "Late bloomer. Also helped I stayed away from junk food like it was the plague and started exercises and yoga." "Put down the ho hos and shovel some lettuce in there. Eat an apple and walk it off. Bill Burr knew what was up." Adam quoted one of his favorite comedians. "Meanwhile I was that freak that could eat just about anything and not get fat. Probably doesn't help I go jogging for hours. Getting ready for the zombie apocalypse." Quince started the car and began driving. "Yes ma'am. Unless you got something else you want to do while we're at it." Quince held and rubbed Iris' hand. @Al the Killer

"Leave it to a doctor to know what blood to get, I guess. You know, and to hospitals to be selective about their blood," Matthew said, then looked over the selection of food. "Again, not picky. But ham and cheese sounds good. Start with the stuff that won't stay good for as long and all that." Iris considered, then shrugged. "Being wanted fugitives does make dating a lot harder. Really limits our options," she said. "So unless you have ideas, I'll settle for not getting shot at this time." She smiled over at him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. @Hacky Slashy

"Ham and cheese it is." Rachel prepared a meaty sandwich for Matthew. "Bon apetit." Nebo came up and pawed at Matthew. Rachel then went to fill Nebo's bowls with food and water. Nebo helped himself as Rachel pet the dog. "How's Purrcaso doing?" She said smiling at Matthew while scratching Nebo's ears. Quince drove Iris to the warehouse. "I'd suggest the beach when this all blows over. My tam could use some work." Quince returned the squeeze. He drove by another refugee camp. They looked dirty disheveled. The AMP guards looked on, not caring. Quince managed to avoid more AMP check points, even passing one that was decimated. He managed to drive away as APCs were making their way to it. He also noticed tanks and Strykers being mobilized while fighter jets roared on the sky. Quince briefly saw that the jets were black in color. It seems AMP is preparing for the coming fight with the loyalist Military. @Al the Killer

Matthew took the sandwich. "Thanks." He watched as Purrcasso continued to wander the warehouse, sniffing at whatever happened to be convenient. "She's still exploring, from the looks of it." He broke off a piece of the sandwich for Nebo. "I haven't been to the beach in a while," Iris said. "That sounds nice. I still have my current apartment, but might get evicted on account of the whole 'wanted for having a gun fight in a hospital and robbing their blood bank' matter. So I might end up staying at your place, after all." She looked away from the window after a while, because this was the most depressing form of sightseeing possible. "Imagine thinking you escaped hell only to be treated as less than human and realize you might be the first to die when the city becomes even more of a war zone," she commented. "A miracle it took people this long to realize the AMP were assholes." She shook her head. "Anyway, I hope the others are doing alright." She looked ahead as they drew near to the docks. "It's around here?" @Hacky Slashy

Nebo happily took the sandwich and licked Matthew's hand. He then sniffed at Purcasso and sat down on his belly. Rachel then asked Matthew if he wanted anything else. Quince pulled in to the back of the warehouse where the others were parked. He opened Iris' door and then grabbed her things. "Ready?" @Al the Killer

Matthew shook his head. "No, I'm fine. You should take a moment to relax, yourself. You never know when you'll get another chance to." Iris got out of the car. "I can take half of it," she offered. "You carry the food, I take care of my things?" She pulled her hood back up, looked around to make sure there was nobody else around, then walked over to the door. @Hacky Slashy

Quince complied and took the food. He led Iris to the warehouse. He knocked on the door 3 times exactly as agreed between himself and Cutty. Cutty opened the door and helped put the food away as Quince led Iris into the warehouse. Adam, Sophie, and Rachel greeted Quince and Iris. Nebo ran up to Iris and stood up to paw at her. He ran a circle around her and licked at her hand. "Make yourself at home." Cutty said to Iris. @Al the Killer

Iris followed him inside. The back door they'd come in led directly into what appeared to have been the employee lounge. She set her bag on the floor so she could pet Nebo with the hand that didn't hold the cane. "Yes, nice to see you too." She smiled and scratched behind Nebo's ear before looking at Cutty. "Thanks. Did we miss anything interesting?" "Just Sophie and Adam trying to re-enact Twilight," Matthew joked. Iris shook her head. "Adam doesn't seem like the stalking type." @Hacky Slashy

"Also I don't sparkle." Adam said as Quince, Cutty, Rachel and Sophie let out a few laughs. "Needless to say, Stephanie Meyer should've consulted me about vampire lore. I could've made it actually good." Sophie went next to Purcasso and pet the ginger cat. "So why did you name her Purcasso?" Sophie asked as she continued petting the cat. Quince set down all of the food in a nearby table. He then got water for everyone. "So what do you want to do now?" He asked Iris as he sipped from a water bottle. @Al the Killer

"I don't think accuracy was a concern during the writing process," Iris commented. "Given the whole denial of your existence thing." She walked over to an unoccupied sofa and sat down, patting the spot next to her was an invitation for Quince to join her. "Hard to say what the plan is from here. We can't be sure the other two rogue vampires aren't around. Even if they aren't, waiting out this occupation seems... Manageable, but boring as fuck. I think we should keep an eye on the city in case our friends have decided to stick around. We also have a politician to kill once they're gone." Matthew sat in a chair and stuff through his backpack as he answered. "I named her after the artist, Pablo Picasso. So her full name is Pawblo Purrcasso. It just seemed like a fitting pun for her. Though I didn't know she was a female cat at the time." He set a sketchpad in his lap, then continued searching for the pencil case. @Hacky Slashy

Quince sat down and listened to Iris' suggestion. "Yeah, you're right. Not to mention we need to keep an eye out in case other monsters decided to waltz into town." Adam decided to take the next watch. "You're an artist?" Rachel asked as Sophie went for a nap. Cutty did the same with his kwn sleeping bag while Sophie took another unoccupied couch. @Al the Killer

Iris leaned toward Quince, resting her head against his shoulder. "Ah, just what we need: more monsters. If they keep this up, I'm stealing their wallets when I kill them. I need to make this work pay somehow." Meanwhile, Matthew paused and looked at her like a dog who had just been asked 'what the fuck are you eating?' "...Yeah, kind of." He set the bag down once the pencils were out. "Not a very successful one, but it usually pays enough to eat. Portrait work, mostly." @Hacky Slashy

Quince chuckled at Iris' sentiment. "You didn't do that with the other two?" Quince rubbed Iris' soft hair. Adam made his rounds and then came back. "We're good. No rogue vamps or AMP death squads...yet." Sophie continued petting Purcasso while Rachel inquired more about Matthew's art. "That's good. Got anything I could see or no?" Rachel asked. --- Back in Pacific Palisades, Callista and Marlowe had been using the site of their hunt as a hideout. "I'm going to flay that bitch alive." Callista was cursing Iris as she fed on a captured AMP soldier. They were rationing him until Nightfall. Marlowe was contemplating cutting their losses and leaving, but quickly brushed those thoughts away. As his older brother would say 'THAT IS FUCKING SLAVE TALK! NO! WE WILL HAVE NO MORE OF THAT!' "They got Arvo, too. They'll pay in blood for that. In time." @Al the Killer

"Didn't cross my mind," Iris admitted. "Sorry, I'm new to this whole 'being a fugitive' thing. I promise I'll get better at it." She closed her eyes as she spoke, basking in the affection. Matthew nodded. "I don't see why not. It's mostly practice sketches in here, since I don't keep finished commissions." He set the pencils aside and handed the book over to Rachel. As it turned out, 'practice sketches' was code for 'fully detailed and shaded hyperrealism'. It ranged from the expected portraits of people he knew, to urban landscapes and found objects that he'd just found really interesting. @Hacky Slashy

"These are great. It's a wonder you don't have more business." Rachel was shocked at how much Matthew undersold himself. "No worries, this is only a temporary situation. It can't rain all the time." Quince kissed her head. Nebo trotted next to Matthew, pawing at his leg. @Al the Killer

Matthew smiled, albeit with a hint of embarrassment. "Digital art is more marketable and I'm not exactly... I mean, salesmanship is part of the craft as a professional, you know?" He shrugged, then reached down to pet Nebo. "Anyway, thank you." He looked around at their surroundings. "Admittedly, inspiration might be in short supply while we're here." Iris wished she could share Albert's optimism. "Maybe not, but it's still a good idea to be ready for a flood." She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "So, you know... Let's hope these vampires carry cash." Her attention shifted toward the door. "So, what's the plan come nightfall?' @Hacky Slashy

Adam came back and crouched next to Nebo, petting him. "Any way you could lure Craig out of hiding?" Nebo relished in the attention. Quince also wondered how to deal with Wedmore. "That's a good question. It's a wonder the asshole isn't working harder to track you down. Looks like the war is keeping him occupied." Rachel kept looking through Matthew's art. "Maybe I can help with that when this is all over." She said as she continued going through the sketchbook. @Al the Killer

Iris sat up. "Now that sounds like an idea," she agreed. "I'm not sure that he isn't trying, so much as being cautious. At a time like this, there will be too many eyes on him to hunt for me outright. Easier to watch me become a fugitive, play the role of the shocked ex-husband, and let the AMP do the searching for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a hand in the hospital's security footage from the fight staying hidden. Context makes the issue too nuanced for his purposes, and he's had the local news in his pocket for a while now. Why do you think their coverage of him has always been so positive?" In truth, there was nothing good to come of it if he had seen the footage. Give a power-hungry asshole evidence of vampires and he'll want in on the whole 'superior entity' deal. She could only hope they'd drain him the moment he tried to approach. Matthew shook his head. "You don't have to. Really." He smiled. "I did always want to go to art school, but you know. Sometimes things just don't pan out." "I'll help with that when this is over," Iris said. "Uh... explain?" Matthew asked. "No." @Hacky Slashy

"Well, guess that settles it." Quince said smiling at Iris. It would be a monumental task to get rid of Craig Wedmore. "Who knows, maybe if we're lucky the vamps will take him out for you." "I'd be pissed. I called first dibs." Adam said as Rachel simply rolled her eyes. Quince then tried brainstorming an idea. "Maybe tell him something went wrong, I'm dead and you need him to come over. Adam will take care of the rest." "Or just give me his adress. I'll fly over and bring him back, or whack him." Adam said nonchalantly. @Al the Killer

"I'm not going to send someone else to do my dirty work without any sort of direct confrontation," Iris said. "That's his strategy, not mine. And we can't compromise this location, either. If he's half as smart as he thinks he is - and I will admit, he's somewhere near that mark - he's not going to come to me without bringing a few bodyguards and letting his AMP contacts know where he's going. His house is probably under AMP protection, too. He's their puppet mayor, after all. I'm not sending Adam in alone, with that kind of risk." She drummed her fingers against the arm of the couch as she considered their options. "But luring him to a separate location would be manageable, I think. My phone's dead, and the cover story I'm thinking of using to make him less suspicious about the fact that I failed to show up last time I tried to set a trap for him works best if I keep it that way. I'll use Albert's phone for the call instead. But we should still expect Craig to bring backup, so we should do the same." She looked over at Quince, and her smile was almost apologetic. "Aside from faking your death, I might need to engage in some slander. I promise I'll make it up to you later." Matthew leaned forward. "Great. I won't doubt Adam's claim to the guy's blood, but I think we'd all love the chance to off this bastard ourselves. I know I would." Iris nodded in agreement, and even Purrcasso purred. Though the purring may have been less of a response, and more of a coincidence, as the cat was currently rubbing against Rachel's leg.

3:54 AM

~~~ Reports from the raids on houses had revealed the site of the house party massacre as a promising location. Which was to say, soldiers went in and hadn't come out. Craig took care to arrive prior to sunset. He couldn't be sure whether sunlight would actually protect him, but all of the attacks had occurred after dark, so he assumed it would be best to have some sun for what might otherwise be a foolhardy attempt to negotiate. The car parked close to the door. Although he was still dressed as an ordinary politician, his bodyguards had, in recent days, been equipped more akin to riot officers than personal security. These days, there was little difference between the two for him. They left their vehicles, flanking the car door he stepped out from. "Stand by," he instructed them. "Weapons at the ready. Aim only for immediately lethal shots." He remembered the footage he'd seen. The woman had lost an arm and walked it off like it was nothing, and he was not about to take a chance of them surviving if they tried to turn on him. The concerning implications of everything else he'd seen would have to take a backburner. He had a bigger issue to take care of, and he was sure these two would be on the same page. He knocked on the door, then immediately took a step back, listening for any response, any indication that he could be heard from out there. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm sure you'll figure something out." Quince said to Iris after hearing the plan involves slander. Rachel slowly picked up the cat and began to pet it. "She's a real sweetheart." Rachel said while holding Purcasso. Nebo went up to Matthew and pawed at his leg. Adam walked up to Quince and Iris. "So what's the game plan?" --- Callista and Marlowe saw from their vantage point on the top floor Mayor Craig Wedmore approaching the house with his body guards. "Good to see the Nobles have somewhat wisened up." Marlowe licked his teeth in anticipation. "It's been a while since we feasted on royalty." They observed he had four guards with him. "Follow my lead." Marlowe went down to simply wait in the shadows. They simply waited to see if the mayor would enter. Good thing he took out the power prior to their arrival. @Al the Killer

"We lure him out. We'll need somewhere to bring him to without alerting anyone to the existence of this warehouse," Iris said. "I'll call him from there in case the call is traced. As far as I'm telling him, I was captured by insurrectionists, but Albert helped me escape. Except he proved less trustworthy than I'd thought, in the long term, and I had to kill him in self-defense. Craig is likely to jump at the opportunity to play the hero, but we should still be prepared for anything. Even the possibility that he'll just send an AMP death squad to wipe me out instead of coming to greet me personally. But let's hope that's not the case." Matthew reached down to pet Nebo. "Sounds like you're just risking yourself..." "Nothing about this is safe," Iris said. "That's why I'm bringing backup. Of course, we'll still need two or three people to stay here and keep guard." ~~~ Craig waited outside and listened. He was sure he heard voices from inside. The four guards kept their guns trained on the door as he leaned forward and knocked again. Because he was not about to go inside of the murder house. He was ambitious, not stupid. "I am here to negotiate," he announced, still waiting outside. "It appears we have a mutual enemy you have been struggling with."

4:51 AM

@Hacky Slashy

Cutty woke up while the others were talking. Quince informed him of the plan. "Well I'll keep watch." Nebo let out a bark as if volunteering. Rachel came over next to Matthew, petting Purcasso. "Just be careful." Quince reassured her and Sophie as she got up. "All right. Ready when you are." --- Marlowe nodded to Callista who remained hidden. He went to the door. From the closed door he invited the mayor in. "Do come in. I should warn you, I wasn't expecting guests, so there's still quite a mess." @Al the Killer

"Then Purrcasso will stay behind, too," Matthew said. "I don't want her in danger, either." He looked at Iris. "And you need as much backup as you can get." Iris looked at those who were going, unsure whether they could cram the six of them into Albert's car. "We might need a second car, then. Just make sure to park out of sight of the meeting point." ~~~ "Back away from the door and I will," Craig said. "I want to hear the other one speak too, if she's still alive. Otherwise, we'll continue to have this conversation through the door." He looked up at the sky to gauge how much time they had left before staying outside would no longer protect him. "Or I can take care of the problem myself, and you'll lose your chance at a satisfying revenge. As long as those two die, it makes no difference to me." And he really hoped he was talking to the right person. This would be the worst possible moment for a case of mistaken identity. @Hacky Slashy (edited)

"Negative. It'll be just me, Adam and Iris. I'll provide sniper support. Everyone else will stay here." Quince loaded an M-24 Sniper. He loaded the rounds into the weapon. "It's almost nightfall." Cutty presented several types of weapons, including the grenade launcher. "I'm definitely taking that." --- "Very well. I've set up a table. Come right in." Marlowe somewhat admired Craig's bravado. He'd kill him slowly for that. But first he would use him to get the half breed and the whore first. The other one bled out because of her." Callista remained hidden. Marlowe was sat down, with a glass of blood, sipping it. @Al the Killer

"Will that be enough?" Matthew asked, giving Iris a concerned look. Iris nodded. "It will have to be. I'd rather not risk any more lives than necessary." Especially not her little brother, but now wasn't the time to sound sentimental by saying it out loud. She picked up her weapons, sticking with what she knew. "Ready, then?" ~~~ Craig couldn't help but be skeptical about that, but it wasn't like he had proof that the vampire was lying. "You two stay out here. Any sign of something wrong, open the door and open fire," he instructed two of his guards. "The other two, stay with me." He stepped inside, a guard on either side of him. They held up their riot shields, in case anyone else came out of the shadows. A sharp contrast to the disarming smile Craig offered his host. "Craig Wedmore, de facto mayor of Los Angeles. A pleasure to meet you," he said, sitting across from Marlowe. "And who might you be? I heard my ex-wife has given you some trouble. Unfortunate timing for you that she finally grew a spine. My sincerest condolences on that matter." @Hacky Slashy

"Ready. Let's go whack the bastard." Adam said, full of determination. Quince simply nodded and looked towards Iris. --- Unfortunately for the two guards outside, Night has fallen....and even with one arm, a Vampire is still deadly. Callista snuck up behind them while they faced the door. She slit the the throat of one with her Tallon like claws, and bit down on the other's neck. "Marlowe Titus. Centurion to Emperor Caligula. So...if your wife was so troublesome before, why didn't you open her damned stomach while you had the chance?" Marlowe continued talking. "Though I must say, she has more of a spine than you do. Out risking her life for some half breed you never met while you sit in your cushy tower, giving orders." --- Across from the mansion, an AMP strike team led by Gerold Russ was observing the situation, relaying info to Lieutenant Colonel Martin. "Wait Until I get there. But if those things move, blow them all to Hell." "And the Mayor?" Gerold asked despite knowing the answer. "What about him? We'll just replace him. Whatever happens, blame it on the vampires." "Noted." Gerold looked over to the 10 man strike team with him, 5 of them being mexican special forces recruited to their ranks after being implicated in morally questionable acts, much like the other 5 men. The others were former Marines and Army soldiers. Last chancers dishonorablly discharged but recruited by President Roman, then General Roman. Soon they will avenge their fallen. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded and opened the door. Outside, it had turned dark. "All clear." She led the way out to the car. "Let's hope I can get him clear of his guards." ~~~ Craig arched an eyebrow, surprised at first, then laughed. "I can respect a man who speaks his mind," he said. "But to answer your question, she was... entertaining to toy with, for a while, when I still had hopes she'd come to her senses. Sadly, all things must come to an end." He looked toward the door as the bodies hit the ground with a pair of thuds. Two fewer payrolls for his accountant to worry about. A shame, they were skilled enough to have been worth the cost. Or so he'd thought. "I don't appreciate the dishonesty," said the politician, turning his attention back toward Marlowe. "But I'll let it slide. Now, for the deal. I'll bring the half-breed, detective, and doctor to you, but I get to land the final killing blow on her. I only need her, say, half alive, not necessarily unharmed." @Hacky Slashy

Adam made his way outside to the car. Quince opened the door for Iris. "Make the call." Quince loaded the weapons in the trunk. He then got in the driver's seat and started the car. --- Callista shot both of Craig's guards in the neck. She then strolled right next to Craig and sat on his lap. Marlowe got up and went next to him while Callista rubbed his head with her hand. "Dishonesty, isn't that what all your Nobels specialize in? I accept you deal....with some alterations. You get to be bait. Be a good boy and we'll hand her to you while we have fun with the half-breed." Craig Wedmore thought he was the biggest fish in the pond. Unfortunately he was actually in an ocean....with the sharks. Callista simply smiled at Craig, not in a lustful manner but a hungry predator eying prey. She caressed his black hair. @Al the Killer

Iris got into the passenger seat and held out her hand for the phone. "Sure thing. Where are we meeting him?" Once she had a location confirmed, she dialed Craig's number and waited, gripping the door handle with her free hand in an effort to ground herself. She needed to be focused for this, not dissociated to hell and back. ~~~ Craig jumped slightly, looking over at the lady vampire. Awfully bold of her. The behaviour of someone who didn't know her place. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze torn somewhere between desire and repulsion. Still, he had more important matters to attend to. "Nobility is outdated, truly," he said. "I earned my place." By which he meant his parents paid his way through law school, got him a cozy government job through nepotism, supported his campaign for DA, and looked the other way while he beat his wife. Truly a self-made man. "But very well then. I'll-" He stopped talking as his phone began to ring. The number was unfamiliar. "Hold on." He answered the call. "Wedmore." "Oh thank God it's you," Iris breathed, not having to try too hard to keep a healthy dose of fear in her voice. "What the fuck, Iris? I haven't heard from you in days." "I was captured by insurrectionist forces." "You must be dumber than I thought, if you think I'll believe that for a second. I saw what you did at the hospital." Iris took a deep breath, focusing on setting the trap and not snapping at him. "I helped Quince because he helped me escape, but I... I couldn't trust him as much as I'd thought." "And where is he now?" She forced a study sob from her throat as she answered. "Dead." She paused, drew in a shaky breath, then asked, "can you come pick me up? Right now? I meant it when I said I need you." He leaned back in his chair. "Just let me know where." @Hacky Slashy

Callista waited for the conversation to end. "Shall we go then? I wouldn't want to miss the reunion. I'm a sucker for romance." Callista said as she traced Craig's head with her claw, cutting the flesh. Marlowe then walked to Craig's side. "Let's go. Try anything, and I'll open you from your cock to your throat." Marlowe said, his claw scraping Craig's skin. --- "Think he bought it?" Adam said to Quince and Iris. "Hopefully." Quince said looking at Iris. @Al the Killer

Craig grimaced, leaning away from her. Damn vampires. He'd hand them right over to the AMP, once they'd served their purpose. Let Martin and the rest deal with them. For now, he gestured for his remaining guards to stand down instead of shooting the vampires and stood up. "I have always stood for integrity." A blatant lie, but one delivered with full calm confidence. He'd learned long ago how to fool a polygraph, and the same skills were likely to work with vampires. "That is to say, I wouldn't dream of it." He walked to the door and past the corpses of the other two bodyguards. "There's room in the car now." ~~~ Iris looked ahead, almost blankly. It was hard to tell with Craig. Always had been. "Let's hope so," she said, her voice hollow. "But best to assume he didn't." @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah, it'll be fine." Adam said, deep down knowing it felt too easy. Quince simply drove. He squeezed Iris' hand in a reassuring manner. --- Marlowe was already in the passenger seat while Callista put her feet on the dash, waiting for Craig to start the car. "Let's go to your happy reunion. Say, tell me more about her? Why is she your enemy?" --- Russ and the men watched as the Mayor and the vampires went into the car. "We're following now, sir." Russ and the strike team made their way to their parked Jeeps. @Al the Killer

Iris closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth of Albert's hand, the comforting pressure. She was here, with people who cared. Whatever the outcome, she had to keep a clear head for their sake, and for her own. She opened her eyes again as they drew close to the meeting point. "I don't know how long it will take them to arrive, so you'll want to move fast," she told Albert. "Get to a clear vantage point, so you can line up a good shot if needed." And so he'd be out of danger. She didn't voice the real reason she was glad for his sniper plan out loud. ~~~ Craig got into the driver's seat while the surviving guards crammed uneasily into the vehicle, clearly uncomfortable with the close proximity to these vampires. "Aside from being a headstrong bitch who thinks she can do whatever she wants, and seems to have forgotten how much she owes me in the first place?" he asked, starting the car. "She knows too much." @Hacky Slashy

Quince hid the car and went into an office building overseeing the meeting place. He assembled the rifle and took aim. Adam stayed next to Iris. "I'm gonna find a place in the shadows. I'll be close by. Give me the signal and the prick will get his." --- "Hmm. Sounds like a pain, but that's women for you." Marlowe said, unphased by Callista giving a snarl in response. He found it cute and endearing when she got upset. He looked over at Craig, still driving. "So, what now, Mister Mayor?" Callista bit the throat of the body guard on the left while plunging her claw into the other's throat, him letting out a vile gargling sound in response. Marlowe gave out an annoyed sigh. "You just don't do that, Callista." She simply glared at him, clearly agitated by the comment. @Al the Killer

Iris got out of the car, watching Albert until he disappeared from view. Her mind ran through a million different ways this could go wrong. She hardly heard what Adam said. "Yeah. Thanks, Adam." She forced a smile. "Just be careful, he's bound to bring his personal security with him." ~~~ Craig sighed as his personal security was drained of their blood, as though it was merely an inconvenience. To him, it was; he'd never been too bothered by what happened to others, so long as he was fine. "It is," he agreed with Marlowe. "But once this is over, I have hopes I can find a better one. Tamer, at least. As for what's next, we'll meet up with Iris. If she didn't bring the Night Haunter with her, I'll get her to tell me where he is. Then you have your fun with them." @Hacky Slashy

Albert was perched on a top floor window, keeping an eye out. Meanwhile Adam kept both eyes and ears open. --- "Well now, go out and meet your darling wife. We'll be watching, Mister Mayor." Marlowe then forcefully shoved him out of the car. Marlowe and Callista got out and left for the shadows. --- Russ and his men took position, eyeing the meet site. They all loaded their weapons and waited. @Al the Killer

Craig parked the car a few feet from where Iris stood. Her expression seemed vaguely troubled, but subdued, as though trying to hold back some sort of emotion. He'd seen it hundreds of times before. Close to tears, possibly. Then he was shoved from the car, and stumbled out, closing the door behind him. He regained his balance and dusted himself off to regain some semblance of dignity. Damn vampires. The moment Iris saw him, she could practically hear her heart pounding in his chest. Nope, she hated this plan. Why hadn't she just given Adam his address and had him take care of it for her? She froze as their eyes met. What had she been thinking? "Craig-" He closed the distance between them, squeezing his arms around her. Every point of contact sent an unbearable sensation of ice through her veins, the dread that always came when she awaited the moment affection would turn to violence. "Are you aright?" he faked concern well. "If he hurt you, I swear I'll-" "Craig," she said again, forcing her voice to sound more firm this time. "I'm fine." She closed her eyes, drew in a shaky breath. "But his death has gotten me to think a lot about your mortality." With how morbid and fatalistic she normally was, Craig couldn't tell if that was a threat, or just Iris being Iris. "You know, I was raised to see my future husband as the closest I could ever truly touch to God. But that's not true. You're a man. You're just as mortal as I am. One day, you will die." Now that was weird, even by her standards. "My love," he said evenly, slowly reaching for the gun at his side. "I die only of longing for you." He froze as he felt the barrel of a different gun pressed into his pelvis, pointed straight down at the base of his member. Fuck. Iris pulled away ever so slightly. "Then perish." She turned toward the shadow Adam had disappeared into and nodded. @Hacky Slashy

Adam saw the signal and proceeded to pounce on Craig.....at the same time as Marlowe. Adam grabbed Craig by the throat while Marlowe grabbed him from behind, digging his claws into his back, grasping his spine. Adam in his confusion stammered a dumbfounded Hi. Adam then got between Iris while still holding on to Craig. ".....what the fuck are you doing here?!" Adam said, ignoring Craig's cries of agony. "I wanted to find you, and this sniveling coward promised me that. I have a proposition. After we cut him open, I take your head and your pet humans get to leave." Adam looked at him with the stupidest look one can muster. "You need to work on your negotiation skills." Quince couldn't line up a shot quite yet as Adam was in the way. Callista went to deal with the AMP squad she sniffed out. @Al the Killer

Since Craig was too otherwise occupied to keep hold of her, Iris backed away. Well, that was unexpected. But given the threat to Adam's life, she couldn't exactly enjoy the moment. If anything, it felt... empty, even if she focused solely on the whole 'revenge' aspect. Weird. She raised her hand gun, trying to align it with Craig's head - the one on his neck this time - since these two were too busy arguing to actually finish him off. But they were both in the way, which she was sure would also make Albert's job harder. "New plan," she told Adam. "Run. I'll take care of Craig." @Hacky Slashy

Callista circled around to the side of the incoming AMP kill squad. She used her claw to dangle on a building, seeing them walking in formation in an alley. She then pounces. The guard callista bit was not completely drained of blood. He sniffed out the human that was bleeding. He shrieked and then pounced. Adam, Marlowe, and Craig toppled on Iris. An explosion sounded and Callista was flung back with one of her legs missing. One of the AMP troopers detonated a grenade while Russ was protected under two bodies. A humvee with a turret gunner sped down and deposited reinforcements, Quince took out the gunner and while the AMP troopers went for cover behind parked cars. @Al the Killer

Iris fell backward, landing on the ground at the bottom of the tussle. Something cracked, but in the panic that ensued, she couldn't tell what. The rush of adrenaline dulled any pain. The distant gunshots were broken up by much closer screams. She tried to get her gun hand out of the fray enough to aim at something. Before she could, Craig's hand found her throat. "I'll kill you mys-" He broke off with another agonized scream as teeth sank into his neck. It was hard to tell whose at this point. Blood gushed over her, so whoever it was must have been a messy eater. His grip loosened as she managed to jam the gun between his jaws. She looked to the side, made sure Adam wasn't in the line of fire, and pulled the trigger. @Hacky Slashy

Both Adam and the guard bit off chunks of Craig's neck. He made a vile gargling sound when Iris' bullet found a new home in his throat. Marlowe ripped his spine out, then broke it on the guard's head. Briefly stunned, the guard tackled Marlowe into the ground. Callista scarred and with two limbs flew at Iris, but Adam managed to intercept her, both vampires clawing at each other. Quince continued holding off the AMP reinforcements while shouting for Iris to get to cover. One of them was about to shoot at Adam and Callista before Marlowe threw the headless corpse of the turned guard at him. Marlowe crushed the guard's head in his hands before Lieutenant Colonel Martin fired at him with an M240 machine gun. Marlowe was able to dodge the shots and ran into a building. "GET AFTER THEM!! KILL THEM ALL!!" Russ joined Martin's side, firing his FN Scar H MK17 rifle. Callista had Adam pinned behind another parked car. She was biting at him while he held her off with his forearm at her throat. 'Does my breath smell bad?!' Adam thinks as he tries to fend off the female vampire @Al the Killer

Iris gasped for air as the weight fell off of her. The noise was dizzying, but she got the point well enough. It took longer than she wanted to pull herself to her feet. Her left leg wobbled, unsteady, nearly knocking her back down. Still, she managed to drag herself behind Quince's car and lean against the side. He'd said to run for cover, but she wasn't about to hide when her vampire buddy was in danger. It was nearly impossible to make out any other sounds above the deafening gunfire. For now, she pocketed her gun and opened the car door to grab her shotgun. Just behind another nearby car, she could make out the forms of Callista and Adam. "Hey bitch," she called as she made her way toward them and took aim at Callista's head with the shotgun, finger curled around one trigger. "Come back for seconds?" @Hacky Slashy

Right as Callista looked up, she saw Iris' shotgun. The last thing she saw was a bright flash before her face was completely obliterated, leaving a massive hole where her face was. Adam ripped into her chest and took her heart. He drank from the heart and felt energize. He went to Iris and dragged her away from the firefight. Quince came shooting an M4 at the approaching AMP troopers. Adam saw that they were aiming a rocket launcher at them. He quickly dragged Quince and Iris away as Quince's car was blown up. Marlowe roared at Callista's loss and shot at AMP with a stolen machine gun. Some of them pursued Marlowe while Adam dragged both Quince and Iris to an alley. "You guys ok?" Adam asked, readying for a fight. @Al the Killer

Iris lowered her shotgun, leaning against Adam as he led the way to safety. Then she was less leaning and more literally being dragged along. Once they pulled into an alley, she all but fell against Quince. The rush had started to wear off, leaving her body covered in pain. She was faintly aware that she must have looked like hell, brown hair mussed from the fall, entire body covered in her own bruises and Craig's blood, glasses askew, and a serious limp every time she tried to move. "I'll tell you when we're actually safe," she replied, then looked up at Quince. "Were you hurt? Aside from the loss of your newly-leased car?" She looked around, watching for any approaching AMP forces. "We need to find a way back." She was not in a state to walk the entire way, but she'd do all she could to make it far enough to not be a liability. "Or at least away from the fighting." @Hacky Slashy

Quince lifted Iris up, carrying her bridal style. "I'm ok. A car can be replaced. Adam, keep us safe." Adam nodded and walked ahead. He kept guiding Quince and Iris. Adam guided them to an empty street while Quince followed. Adam managed to spot an AMP humvee driving by, shining it's headlights. "Curfew is in effect! Remain indoors or you will be detained!" Adam motioned for Quince to hide behind a car while Adam caused a distraction. He tossed a garbage can at the humvee , causing it to stop and deposit a squad of troopers. They chased Adam into an alley, firing at him, but missing. After a few minutes, Adam circled around and ambushed the twk drivers that stayed at the vehicle. He knocked them both out by dragging them out of the humvee and bashing their heads together. Adam gestured for Quince to come over, carrying Iris as he gently laid her in the front passenger seat while Adam took the backseat. Quince drove back to the warehouse and he got out and carried Iris back to the warehouse while Adam got rid of the humvee. He came back and joined the others in the lounge. "You ok, now?" Quince said as he helped Iris sit down on the couch. @Al the Killer

Iris winced as she was picked up, every bit of pressure against her bringing a fresh wave of pain shooting through her. But survival was a little more important than comfort, and she was sure she'd find this all very romantic in hindsight. She wrapped her free arm around his shoulder for balance and waited for Adam to get the vehicle for them. In truth, she would have preferred the backseat so she could lie down, but she gave no complaint as she settled down beside Albert. Matthew looked over as they walked into the warehouse, eyes immediately widening as he saw Iris. "Fuck." He stood up to make room for Iris, picking up Purrcasso to make sure she stayed out of the way. "What the hell happened? That blood-" "It's not mine," Iris said as she was set down. "I think." She rubbed the back of her head with one hand and it came away red. "...Actually, that might be mine." She set her shotgun down and adjusted her glasses. "Craig and one of the vampires are dead. Just one left." She swayed slightly where she sat, exhaustion kicking in as the last of the adrenaline went away. @Hacky Slashy

"Also my car got blown up. We had to steal an AMP humvee in order to get here. Adam got rid of it but they're sure to ramp up their patrols." Rachel then examined Iris and started treating her. She cleaned up the blood and patched up Iris. Sophie brought some water for Quince and Iris, and a bloodpack for Adam. He ripped into a bloodpack and drained it. "That went well. Another vampire dead and Craig Wedmore dead. Funny enough from the look of things, theh would've killed him for us if we just stayed home. Farthead thought he could cut a deal with them." Quince drained his water bottle and then looked at Iris. "How's she doing?" He asked Rachel as she finished treating Iris. "Some bruising and scrapes. Aside from that, should be ok." Sophie asked Adam about what went down. He recapped the events. "You must have some insane luck. I'm glad you're all ok, though." Nebo came up and greeted everyone, Cutty included, who came back from patrol. Once he was caught up, he let out a raucous laugh. "Don't you just love it when things work themselves out. Ha! And kingshit ivory tower fuckface got his just deserts. What a beautiful night." Nebo nuzzled next to Iris on the couch. Quince sat on the opposite side, exhaustion starting to take hold of him as well. @Al the Killer

Matthew joined Rachel and Iris, helping in any way he could. Which, given his lack of training, mostly meant handing Rachel whatever supplies she needed. Meanwhile, Iris let Rachel do as she needed, closing her eyes. "I could do with less of an audience for this," she muttered, but accepted the treatment nonetheless. The corners of her lips quirked up into a smile anyway. "But I'll admit, shooting him was a little cathartic." In hindsight, now that the terror of confronting him had worn off. Once the first aid was done, she opened her eyes again. "I'll have to check on the prosthetic, too. Something's wrong there. I'll set up a spot to sleep in one of the offices here while I'm at it. Matt, can you grab my cane for me?" Matthew nodded and ran over to grab that, along with one of the sleeping bags for her. Iris reached over to pet Nebo while she waited. @Hacky Slashy

"I'll take watch. See you guys in a bit." Adam departed to his patrol duty. Sophie picked up Purcasso and pet her. "Anything else, just let me know." Rachel said before she went to treat Quince. He only had a graze on his arm. Aside from that, he was just tired. Nebo licked Iris' face and rubbed his cheek on hers. Cutty walked up to the group with plates. "Made some sandwiches of anyone wants any." Adam was perched on the roof of the warehouse. The world was alive, but kicking and screaming in agony. The city always had all kinds of violence going on, but now it doubled in size. Fighter jets roared in the skys as Adam looked up. 'This is only gonna get worse before it gets better.' @Al the Killer

Iris took the cane from Matthew and stood up. "You're welcome to join me once Rachel's looked you over," she told Albert. "Seems we both could use some rest." She leaned down to kiss his forehead, then stood upright again, looking around at the others in the room. She always had been most comfortable when alone. An ironic mindset, for someone from such a huge family. But back then, privacy always had been a rare leisure. "Again, could use less of an audience," she muttered, embarrassment catching up as she made her way to one of the offices. Fortunately, the doors were unlocked. Matthew helped set up a sleeping bag and a few pillows. "You'll be alright in here alone?" he asked. "I mean, you just went through a lot." She sat down slowly. "That's why less company would be better." She looked up at him. "I'll be fine. I promise. But thanks." Once Matthew had returned to the others, she rolled up her left pant leg and groaned in annoyance. She couldn't see it with the leg on but, once the silicone sleeve had been rolled down and the leg removed, she saw the sizeable crack at the back of the socket, where she'd landed. One fall too many in recent days. It explained her loss of balance. "Damn it..." There were temporary remedies she could manage, but getting a replacement would be a necessary pain sooner or later. @Hacky Slashy

Sophie sat down on the couch while holding Purcasso. She hummed as Nebo got close and licked Purcasso. Then he laid down. Rachel brought a sandwich to Matthew. "You ok? And does Purcasso want anything?" Cutty checked over their weapons, they still had plenty of ammunition, but hoped there would not be another full scale conflict. Quince got up and joined Iris. "How's your leg? Do we need to go get you another prosthetic?" He said as he put his hand on her shoulder. Adam remained perched on the rooftop. The street was quiet for now, but he noticed muzzle flashes in the city. @Al the Killer

Matthew took the sandwich and smiled. "Thanks. And yeah, I'm fine. A bit worried about Iris, all things considered, but she says she's fine." He looked over and chuckled as Purrcasso leapt up, darting away as the dog licked her. Iris looked up as Albert walked into the office. "We will," she admitted with a sigh. She set the leg down. "The socket's damaged. But it's not like we can just go to the leg store, pick one out, and go home with the guarantee that it will fit. It has to be custom-made, and the whole process would take at least three weeks under ideal circumstances. The current situation, well..." She sighed. "What are we supposed to do, kidnap my prosthetist?" She shrugged her jacket off and set it aside, trying to ignore the pain that accompanied every movement. "I hate feeling like I'm just slowing the rest of you down," said the woman who shot the mayor, robbed a blood bank to feed Adam, and killed two rogue vampires. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo tilted his head to the side as Sophie scratched his head. "No worries. She's still getting to know you." Nebo laid his head down on Sophie's lap. Sophie bit into her sandwich while looking up at the ceiling, knowing their blood drinking protector is standing watch. Rachel sat down on the floor, adjacent to the dog. She rubbed his back, scratching as well. Nebo was relishing in the attention. Ever since Quince introduced the three, that dog has felt nothing but love. Albert took Iris' hand in hers. "We'll figure something out. Even if I have to kidnap your prosthetist. Don't suppose the fella's in town, assuming they didn't do the smart thing and leave. Hopefully not, but just maybe Cutty and I can try to improvise something for you." Quince said as he caressed her hand. In just a few weeks, he was already committing multiple crimes for her and a creature of the night he had just met, yet it felt so right. Adam peered at the ocean now. 'Hopefully the sea life is doing ok. Then again the way things are going, Godzilla might rise out of the ocean to say hello.' @Al the Killer

Iris sighed. "I was joking, Albert." Yet she smiled, taking some comfort in knowing that he was genuinely willing to make the extra effort. "But assuming she didn't, I can tell you where her office is. Just be polite about the kidnapping; she's really nice and I'd feel bad if she got hurt in the process. It might still take a few weeks. While you're at it, I can also give you the keys and address to pick up my car. It should still be where I was staying when I met Adam." She turned her hand, entwining her fingers with his. "I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you in my life, but thank you." She blinked slowly, her eyelids suddenly feeling heavy. "It's been one hell of a night, hasn't it?" Matthew watched Purrcasso slide under the sofa. "She's a bit shy, is all. She'll warm up to Nebo, just like she did with me." He smiled, watching Nebo soak in the affection. @Hacky Slashy

Sophie just pet Nebo, calling him a goodboy in a baby voice just like women do. Rachel loaded a pistol and then holstered it. "Any thoughts about what you'll do when this is all over?" She asked Matthew. "No worries Doctor Ellsworth. I'm only a rough kidnapper on Mondays to Sundays. Aside from that, I'm the nicest kidnapper you can meet." Quince joked and then took in her words. "It's simple, I just look at everything Craig did and do the opposite. I know I'm not supposed to speak ill of the dead, but I can make an exception here. Rot in piss, you godless cocksuck." Albert simply held Iris. He didn't know how or what he did to gethsr in his life, but he was grateful. Adam simply used his senses to warn of incoming threats. Thankfully with his vampirism he could stay on watch the whole night, give Cutty and Matthew a much needed break. @Al the Killer

Matthew shrugged, leaning back against the sofa. "I haven't thought of it yet," he admitted. "I'm used to living in the moment. Was never totally sure I'd survive for much longer. I'd like to, but it always seemed like a long shot." He paused to consider. After all of the time he'd spent drifting, it was strange to consider the possibility of settling somewhere, seeking some form of stability. "I don't think Iris is going to let me go back to the way I was living before without a fight. She's always been the type to declare herself responsible for things that shouldn't have been on her to begin with." Iris laughed at his joke. But the laughter soon died. "Let's not use him as the point of reference for our relationship," she said, her mind replaying the moments leading to his death. She brushed her fingers against the bruising on her neck and winced. "I'd like to keep my standards a little higher than 'not my abusive ex-husband'." Better to lighten the mood back up a bit. "But I have to say, 'godless cocksuck' is an entertaining insult. Not the most effective, combining two perfectly fine things, but entertaining." She yawned, then reached for the bag of her things. She pulled a water bottle and some ibuprofen from her bag, which wouldn't do much, but might dull the pain from her injuries enough to sleep, if she was lucky. But the way some of her clothing pressed into the bruises wasn't helping. She swallowed one of the pills, then looked back at Albert. "We should at least try to sleep. Do you mind if I get more comfortable first?" @Hacky Slashy

"Not at all. I'll do the same." Quince stripped to just his boxer briefs. Then he lied down in his sleeping bag. He let out a yawn. It truly has been a Hell of a night. Adam reflected on recent events. In particular Craig Wedmore's blood at least tasted good. He was a bit concerned about his breath. 'Assuming I get to it, I can't kiss Sophie with this mouth. I have to gargle several bottles of Listerine at the very least.' Sophie and Rachel fell asleep as Nebo got off the couch and pawed at Matthew's leg. Cutty had also drifted off, even snored a bit. --- Marlowe hid in an abandoned storefront with the corpse of an AMP soldier. He used his radio to listen to their communications. The loyalist forces were coming in less than 1 day. After he dealt with the half-breed, he would leave Los Angeles, let the humans kill each other. @Al the Killer

Matthew absently reached down to pet Nebo as he settled in to sleep. "Good boy," he whispered, scratching behind the Husky's ear. He took one last look around at those who remained in the lounge and smiled to himself. If the world was going to be a nightmare, at least he wouldn't have to face it alone. His hand was still on Nebo's head as he drifted off to sleep. Iris stripped down as well, keeping her button-up and underwear on but definitely discarding the pants and bra. Once she put her glasses in their case, it took a while to find a sleeping position that would ease her discomfort enough to relax properly. "Goodnight, Albert." She looked over at him as she spoke and smiled warmly. Maybe things would take a turn for the better soon. Maybe his optimism would be proven right. Just this once, she let herself hope. @Hacky Slashy

"Good Night, Iris." The detective let sleep take him. Right as the sun was beginning to rise, Adam made his way back to the lounge. He crept in quietly as everyone was asleep. He laid sat in a corner and drifted off to sleep. 2 hours later the sound of fighter jets roaring overhead woke everyone up. Adam was the first one up followed by Cutty. "Looks like things are about to get interesting." Adam said as Cutty nodded. @Al the Killer

Iris took longer to fall asleep, but eventually did manage. Not for long enough that the sound of jets was not a massive annoyance. "Hm?" She opened her eyes and picked her head up from where she'd been resting it over her crossed arms. She stayed right next to Albert, snuggled against him as much as she could manage without bothering her injuries. "I guess the military's finally showing up. Probably means things are about to get worse. Hopefully before getting better." She looked over at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of affection and concern. Matthew didn't actually have any problem sleeping through even that much noise, and would continue to do so until woken up. In his case, the wakeup call came from Purrcasso jumping on his chest and pawing at his face as she meowed for food. "Breakfast already?" he muttered, then looked at the ceiling. "Will it still be safe to stay here?" He doubted the situation was predictable enough to say for sure. @Hacky Slashy (edited)

Quince got up at the same time as Iris and put his arm around her. "Morning." He mumbled before kissing her head. "Sounds like either the Cavalry is here or AMP is prepping for the title fight." Sophie, Rachel and Nebo got up. Nebo pawed at Rachel, who then started petting him. Sophie noticed Purcasso pawing at Matthew and meowing. Judging by the breakfast comment, Sophie got another can of salmon and opened it up. She greeted Adam, Cutty and Matthew before she held out the Salmon to Purcasso. Adam joined Rachel in petting Nebo. @Al the Killer

"Sounds like it," Iris agreed. "Meanwhile, we're down to one vampire. If he's more smart than vengeful, he'll have skipped town. But probably not." She paused to kiss his lips softly before speaking again. "How's your graze?" She looked at his arm. Matthew sat up only after Purrcasso had jumped to the floor. "Keep feeding her like that and you'll be her new favourite," he joked, standing up. "Anyway, morning, everyone." @Hacky Slashy

"Morning to you too." Sophie said as she scratched Purcasso's head. Nebo went up to Sophie and nuzzled against her. Sophie pet his head and then Adam came over to pet him. "Sounds like the cavalry is arriving to push these AMP pricks out." Adam said as scratched behind Nebo's ears. Quince returned the kiss."I doubt leaving is even an option for him. And it's fine. Rachel did a great job. What about you? Time to kidnap the Prosthesist?" @Al the Killer

Matthew walked over to check what they had stored in terms of food. "So, what's everyone want for breakfast? I'm gonna take a wild guess and assume pancakes aren't exactly an option here." The lounge did have a small kitchenette, but not a proper stove, and the place seemed like it had been empty for a while; there was no telling what, if anything, actually worked. Iris propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at Albert. "You were actually serious about that?" She wasn't sure whether the idea was stupidly reckless, romantic, or both. She did know that a part of her wanted to kiss him again and see how far her injuries would let them get. Instead, she let her own logic cockblock her again and asked, "how were you planning to do it? She'll need all of her equipment to actually get things done, and I don't think we'll be able to fit everything neatly in a car. So I'll have to go with you." Which was bound to slow him down. She felt bad enough about that without saying it out loud. @Hacky Slashy

"Well, now that I think about it, we might need an extra car. Could wrap Adam up in bandages. Turn him into a mummy. He'd have to drive an extra vehicle to stuff all the equipment in. As for the rest I'll figure it out." "Just about anything will do." Cutty said as he helped prepare sandwiches for everyone. Adam helped himself to another blood pack. Sophie prepared some food and water for Nebo. Adam finished his bloodpack and then knocked on Quince and Iris' door. "Food! You guys want any?" --- In the middle of the city, Lieutenant Colonel Martin was preparing for battle with the loyalist forces. Intel reports a sizeable force has been mobilizing to take back Los Angeles and the entire state. He's had to pull back forces from territories to make a stand here. He had to put his vendetta against the mysterious killers on hold to defend the city. He believes in General Roman's desire for a reset. For too long this country has been brought to ruin by weak lawmakers and their endless debates, by debt and needlessly sending money to other countries while their own suffered. The blood shed will decide the future of the country. America will burn, but from the embers, a new, stronger empire will rise. @Al the Killer

"Better to bring someone who won't die in the sun," Iris suggested. "We can talk to the others about it, see who would be best to bring along." She looked up as Adam knocked on the door. She was vaguely aware of the fact that she'd skipped dinner the previous night. Better to catch up now, before going through with the kidnapping. "We'll be out in a few minutes," she answered, sitting up. She looked over at Albert. "Food first, then plotting?" She reached for her bag to grab a bloodless change of clothes for today. Matthew helped Cutty with making sandwiches. "So, what's the plan for today? Stay alive?" @Hacky Slashy

"Sounds like a plan." Albert said as he escorted Iris to the lounge. Nebo came up to Iris and pawed at her. He licked at her hand and then nuzzled against her. Quince gave the dog head pats as he helped Cutty and Matthew finish preparing the sandwhiches and served everyone. "How'd you sleep?" Adam said as he licked the blood off his mouth, as if he were a normal person getting the syrup off his mouth after pancakes. Sophie sat next to Purcasso, petting the cat. She briefly glanced at Adam before looking back to the cat. "Right on the money, Matthew." Cutty said as he helped himself to a sandwich. "Unless we need to get something." @Al the Killer

Iris changed her clothes first. Once she had her leg on, she dug the medical tape from her bag and wrapped it tightly around the socket, pulling the silicone sleeve over it. Probably not the best solution, but it would do temporarily to keep it from getting worse. She hoped. Cane in hand, she let Albert help her up and lead her to the others. "Not bad, until those jets flew overhead," she answered Adam, taking a seat on the sofa. She reached down to pet Nebo. "We... might have to get something, but the logistics of it are going to be a challenge." She looked over at Albert. "What do you need?" Matthew asked, then took a bite of his sandwich. @Hacky Slashy

Albert explained that Iris could really use a replacement prosthetic. Cutty immediately offered up his SUV. "As long as you don't get it blown up, you can use it." Adam found himself next to Sophie as they both pet Purcasso. Rachel was playing with Nebo and offered her car to use as well. "That's all well and good, now if we could just track down the good doctor." Albert said as he held Iris' hand. @Al the Killer

Iris had to admit, it was genuinely weird how casually these two former police officers agreed to a kidnapping. She looked between Albert and Cutty, still unsure whether to be impressed or concerned. Maybe both; her own willingness to involve herself in crime was different, or so she told herself. "Uh, right. I was actually thinking we take one vehicle down - probably the SUV - and pick up my car," she suggested. "So we'll just need an extra person to drive it." "I can do it," Matthew said. "Didn't you leave home at fourteen? When did you learn to drive?" He shrugged. "How hard can it be?" Iris stared at him, letting the silence sink in for a moment, before she spoke again. "An extra person with a license." She glanced over at Albert. "And she's not technically a doctor; the job only requires a relevant master's degree. I just call her Susan." @Hacky Slashy

"I could teach you some day, but until then, I'll do the driving. We go get Iris' car, and then pick up Susan. Whatever happens, we'll deal with it." Quince finished saying the plan. Adam chimed in. "She gonna stay with us? Or do you drop her back home?" Nebo went up to Iris and pawed at her. @Al the Killer

"I'll take care of the second vehicle," Iris said. "You can still come along. I don't think she'll try to fight, but I'd still rather have someone who isn't behind the wheel around in case she does." She finished her breakfast and reached down to pet Nebo. "If she knows where we are, we can't risk her alerting the AMP to our location. So our options are either blindfold her all the way here and take her back to her workplace since I don't know where she lives, or just keep her here. The first still risks getting reported, but the second means we go through food supplies faster." She considered for a moment. "I'm open to either." @Hacky Slashy

"Depends on when we get there, if she can just sort you out then and there, great. If not, then we take her here and back." Quince said as Nebo got on his back, displaying his belly. "Meanwhile I'll hold the fort down." Adam said while sitting down. Sophie continued petting Purcasso. Rachel was busy helping Cutty take an inventory of their supplies and weapons. @Al the Killer

Iris stood up. "This one took a month before it was ready, so I wouldn't hold my breath," she reminded Quince. "I doubt supply lines are running great right now, medical or not." Matthew stood as well, but paused to pet Purrcasso, then to rub Nebo's belly. "No way to shorten the process?" Iris shrugged. "We'll have to ask. I was still going through the divorce at the time, so I was mostly looking for the cheapest option that wouldn't fall apart on me." Matthew raised an eyebrow. "But it kinda did." "I wasn't expecting to become a vampire hunter. My fault for lacking foresight, I guess." She looked at Albert. "Ready?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince got the keys from Cutty. "Ready when you are." Quince escorted Iris to the SUV. He helped her get her seatbelt on and stared the drive to her apartment. Adam picked up a copy of World War Z. "At least we're not dealing with Zombies." Adam noted, although it might not be a stretch considering he among other monsters exist. Sophie got next to him asking what the book is about. "Global zombie outbreak, starts with the lead up to the outbreak, and then Humanity's all out war with them." Nebo went next to Rachel and Matthew. Rachel crouched down to pet the husky. @Al the Killer

Iris followed Quince out to the SUV. "My car won't be at the apartment," she reminded him once they started out. "I was staying at a motel for a while. It'll be there." She gave him directions. To her relief, it was still there once they arrived, and undamaged. "And here I thought miracles didn't happen," she commented. Matthew joined Rachel in petting Nebo. "I really hope they're alright out there," he commented. "The fighting's bound to be worse out there now, vampires or not." @Hacky Slashy

"Right you are." Quince said as he made sure the area was safe for Iris. Several AMP Humvees seemed to drive towards them, only to make a sharp turn and head away from the motel. "Let's go. What's the directions to the office?" Nebo got up and licked Matthew's face. "Quince knows what he's doing. God knows what he had to go through overseas." Nebo then went to Rachel and pawed at her. "You're so needy, boy." She said as she pet the dog. Cutty napped on the couch while Adam read his book and Sophie held Purcasso, like a newborn. Sje gently pet the cat while humming to her. @Al the Killer

Iris looked around before getting out, cane first. For a moment, her gaze followed the Humvees, as though expecting them to turn back and come after them at any moment. They didn't, and she told Albert the location. "And if you forget, you can just keep following me." She nodded toward her car, then walked over to him. "I'll see you there." She got into the car, started it up, and turned on the heated seats. Finally, some familiarity that didn't bring a sense of terror with it. She turned on the radio, then started toward the office, trying not to think about the fact that this was a kidnapping in the middle of a warzone. @Hacky Slashy

Adam was petting Purcasso along with Sophie. Their hands brushed together, but neither recoiled this time. Nebo pawed at Matthew, licking his hand while Rachel pet the dog. Quince followed Iris as both managed to dodge AMP patrols and vehicles mobilizing as the AMP airforce performed flybys. @Al the Killer

Iris parked in front of the building once they arrived. It was a large brick tower, with what had to be dozens of different office suites for various companies located throughout. She turned the radio off, unbuckled her seatbelt, and stepped out. "Fourth floor, office 405," she explained to Albert. "We'll want to ask the receptionist for Susan Liu." Matthew smiled down at Nebo before speaking. "Albert's your uncle, right? Is there a reason you refer to him by last name?" he asked Rachel, since that seemed strange. Purrcasso rolled over, exposing her belly as she looked innocently up at Sophie and Adam @Hacky Slashy

Adam and Sophie rubbed Purcasso's belly. "Such a sweet cat." Rachel scratched behind Nebo's ear as she regailed Matthew about Quince and their aunt, her untimely death and how it took it's toll on him, and how her father pulled him back. She then regailed him with how he introduced Nebo to them. "Just knocked on the door and held Nebo out to Sophie. We both fought over who got to cuddle with him. Our dad wasn't too happy with the shedding, but Nebo grew on him. 2 months in, the dog ate better than we did." Rachel smiled at the memory. Quince escorted Iris to the fourth floor. Luckily the elevator still worked. They managed to get to the fourth floor unimpeded. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked up. "Hey, you might not want to-" The 'sweet cat' grabbed Sophie's hand with her front paws, kicking with her hind ones as she started to nibble at her fingers. Matthew sighed, then listened to Rachel's stories. He patted Nebo's head, looking down at him for a moment. Iris looked around, expecting to get shot at or arrested any second. It didn't happen, and they reached Suite 405 without issue. She smiled a bit as she reached for the door. Maybe optimism was warranted sometimes after all. "I'm glad this is easy so far." Then the receptionist took one wide-eyed look at the fugitive couple and immediately reached one hand toward the phone at her desk to call the AMP. @Hacky Slashy

Quince quickly drew his gun as the receptionist dropped the phone. He walked up to her and gently yanked the phone off it's cord. He put the gun away while putting his hand out in a calming manner. "We need to see Susan Liu. It's important." Quince gave out a sigh at having to do that. Sophie surprisingly didn't freak out at the sudden nibble attack. "Volunteered at animal shelter. This happens more than you think." Adam smiled at her and Purcasso. Rachel crouched down and snuggled with Nebo. Cutty went on look out once again. "Holler if you kids need anything." @Al the Killer

"Nobody's going to get hurt," Iris promised, though her words were somewhat undermined by the gun in Albert's hand. The receptionist looked at the disconnected phone, thinking about how she couldn't exactly call Ms. Liu to let her know to expect them. So instead, she nodded. "405B," she said nervously. "She's not with a client right now. Should I... should I cancel her afternoon...?" Iris offered a polite smile. "That would be great, thank you." She started down the hall. "Sorry about the gun." Matthew looked over from the dog. "We will," he promised. "You do the same." He gave Nebo one last head pat, then stood up. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm very sorry. I assure you that whole wanted fugitive stuff is a misunderstanding." Quince then escorted Iris to room 405B. He knocked on the door and waited alongside Iris. Nebo licked Matthew's hand as he got up. Sophie continued withstanding Purcasso's toothy assault on her hand. She started slightly wincing. After all cat bites still hurt a tad bit. @Al the Killer

After a moment, the door opened. Susan stood on the other side. Though she was in her mid-50s and strands of grey marked her bun of dark hair, she showed few other signs of age. She looked at her familiar client, then at the unfamiliar fugitive with a gun, then down at Iris's left leg. The last glance didn't reveal much, with the prosthetic being currently hidden by clothing. "To what do I owe this visit, Dr. Ellsworth?" she asked, genuine confusion clear in her voice. "I cracked the socket." "...I have many questions." ~~~ Purrcasso soon grew bored with her attacks and scrambled free, darting around the warehouse. "Do you need anything for that?" Matthew asked. "If Rachel can patch up a bullet graze, I'm sure she can handle a few cat scratches." @Hacky Slashy

"I got it. I dealt with cat wounds before. I've worked with plenty of big scary dogs, and yet it's always the cats you got to look out for. She's still sweet, but guess I'll be more careful in the future." Adam was surprised at Sophie's resilience. He brought the first aid kit to her. She thanked him and applied the alcohol and bandages. Nebo came up to Sophie and she pet him with the uninjured hand. "You sure you'll be ok?" Adam asked as Sophie smiled at him. "I'm shocked you didn't freak out and tried to feed off me." She said teasingly. "No worries, lots of practice. That and we still have a decent supply of the blood." --- Quince was shocked Susan didn't freak out too much. "We just need help with the broken prosthetic ma'am. We won't hurt you. You have my word." @Al the Killer

Susan gave him a look that implied she was a bit skeptical about the value of his word, then stepped aside. A bookcase occupied one wall, and her desk another. There was a door to the next room, and the curtains had been drawn shut. "Have a seat, and we'll see what the damage is." She glanced over at Quince, then at Iris. "Do you want him in the room, or should I kick him out?" asked the 5'1" Chinese lady about the nearly-towering wanted fugitive with a gun. "He's fine," Iris assured her, rolling up her pant leg so she could remove the prosthetic. "Let's keep him around." ~~~ "She doesn't actually like being touched on the stomach," Matthew explained. "Sorry I didn't warn you in time." He looked toward the door. "I might step outside for a minute. I promise I won't wander off today." @Hacky Slashy

"It's ok. I'll remember that now, but I don't hold it against her. Sophie said as Adam spoke up. "Just holler at me or Cutty if you need anything." The vampire said, knowing if something did happen, Matthew would have a military veteran and on fire Vampire if something happened. Sophie decided to play with Nebo. The dog got on his belly as both siblings rubbed his belly. --- Quince sat next to Iris, squeezing her hand. He put his gun away while waiting to see what can be done about the prosthetic. @Al the Killer

Iris waited while Susan picked up the leg. She inspected it for a few moments, then set it down, thinking about how everything had been fine during Iris's visit one month prior. No warning signs of wear and tear. She flattened the palms of her hands together, took a deep breath, then gestured toward Iris. "How?" Iris shifted in her seat. "Long story. Let's just say there has been a... significant shift in my activity level." Susan looked at the residual leg. "And have you been adjusting the fit throughout the day, as needed?" she asked in the tone of someone who knew the answer and was already disappointed by it. "...didn't seem like a priority." She sighed. "Repair wouldn't help much, especially if the change you mentioned persists. It will need a replacement. In the meantime, tape or not, you shouldn't be using this one. You'll only risk injury." ~~~ Matthew looked over at Adam. "Seems like you should be staying out of the sun." He paused to pick up his gun. "It's bad for your complexion." He smiled, then stepped outside. @Hacky Slashy

"She was saving my hide among others, ma'am." Quince said as Susan Liu eyed the barely held together prosthetic. He debated telling her about the monster hunting bits. --- "Not gonna lie, it sucks not being able to have a proper beach day for the foreseeable future." Adam took a good look at his pale skin. Nebo panted happily at the siblings showing him attention. Cutty finished his patrol and looked from a window more AMP vehicles roaming the streets, heading somewhere. Most likely to reinforce positions for the upcoming smack down with the loyalists. He hoped Chief Riker and the others did some damage to AMP so hopefully it'll be a short fight. @Al the Killer

Iris shrugged. "Mostly my own," she said, despite having put herself at risk for other people numerous times over the past week. "About the replacement, is there any way to shorten the timeline? I'll need it as soon as possible." "That depends on your budget." Susan looked at Albert's gun, then at the suspiciously gun-shaped bulge in Iris's jacket. "I'm going to assume that isn't a concern for you right now." Without thinking of what was actually being implied, Iris confirmed. "It's not." Susan responded with no words, but a look of deep concern. "Oh. You'll still get paid, it's just that I'm not too worried about it. Worst-case scenario, it will be a lot longer before I can buy a house." Susan nodded. "In that case, we can use a modular system for the socket. It can be fitted in one session, and adjusted and refitted easily over time. I'll have to double-check, but I should have some commercial pre-fab parts for the rest of the leg and foot, since what you have now wasn't exactly made for whatever in the world you've been doing." "Fighting vampires," Iris admitted, only to get a blank stare in response. "Never mind, lame joke. Continue." "Carbon fiber construction will suit you well - lightweight, but solid enough to withstand high impact activities, often better than your actual bones can. An energy storage and return foot will help with making movement easier. We'll also want to consider a more stable suspension than what you have now." ~~~ Matthew leaned against the wall next to the door. It always made him restless nowadays, spending too much time indoors. Like something could go wrong at any moment. It could happen out here, too, but at least there was no shortage of places to run off to. He watched the AMP's vehicles pass by, not fully convinced they wouldn't start firing at any second. @Hacky Slashy

Quince holds Iris and squeezes her hand. "No worries, you can stay with me." He took in Susan Liu's words. "We'll try to be more careful. " --- Adam walked up to Nebo and joined in on petting him. The dog is having the time of his life. Cutty walked next to Matthew. "Smoke?" He offers a strange looking cigarette. "It's medical grade. Helps with my arthritis." @Al the Killer

"I'll still have my apartment, but if you're asking me to move in, I could cancel the lease when this is over. If I've learned one thing this past week, is that the building's security is lacking anyway," Iris said. "Anyway, yes, we'll try to be more careful, but no guarantees. Let's go for something sturdier, if it's available." Susan stood up and walked to her desk. "I'll check what we already have in inventory. That way, we can put off billing until I can contact your insurance without raising any red flags, given the whole 'armed blood bank robbery' situation." ~~~ Matthew looked over at Cutty. "I don't see why not, if you're willing to share," he said, holding his hand out to accept. "Everything's quiet?" He breathed in the smoke, listening to the distant gunshots and helicopters that had become the constant background noise of the city. "As quiet as it can be, at least?" @Hacky Slashy

"That was a misunderstanding." Quince debated explaining, but elected not to spill the details on the vampires, including their companion. --- "If by quiet, you mean warzone, then yes." In the distance, an explosion rang out, echoing. "But shit's definitely hitting the fan soon." Several helicopters flew by the warehouse. Cutty then took a hit of the medical grade cannabis. Nebo was laying down on his stomach while Sophie and Rachel pet him. Adam was back on the couch, reading World War Z again, specifically the Battle of Yonkers. "Man the brass were idiots. Anti aircraft against a human wave attack?" @Al the Killer

Susan nodded. "Regardless, I'm going to put off dealing with insurance until it's safe for Iris. We can say it was an accounting issue if questions are raised then." "Sounds close to fraud," Iris commented. "It is, but I'm in healthcare to do what helps people, not what's legal. Also, your boyfriend is armed, so I'm obviously going to be helpful and not ask more questions than I need to." Susan laughed nervously, then turned to face Iris. "It will take a few hours to put everything together, but you're in luck; we can get it done today." She stood up. "First, let's get your measurements." ~~~ It seemed Matthew would need the calming effects with whatever was coming. "Yeah, no kidding. And we can't exactly predict where it'll be safe to go if this place gets caught in the middle of it." He glanced over at Cutty. "You were in the military before, I'm guessing?" @Hacky Slashy

"To be honest with you, I sincerely doubt insurance will be an issue for a long while, ma'am." Quince gave Iris a reassuring hand squeeze. He was relieved the prosthetic issue will be resolved today. --- "Marines. Quince's National Guard unit was stationed in good o'l Kandahar alongside us. We met a few times at the VFW. Veterans of foreign wars. Also had some legal issues with my the VA. They tried claiming my injuries weren't sustained in battle. They were, but didn't manifest themselves. Quince's Lawyer friend helped me with that." Adam was napping on the couch while Sophie and Rachel filled up both of his dog bowls. @Al the Killer

Iris and Susan both gave him a questioning look. "You really think it will take that long before we're not wanted criminals?" Iris guessed. "I sure as hell hope not." Susan stood up once she'd taken the measurements. "Either way, we'll work something out." She walked over to the storage door. "You two wait here." ~~~ Matthew took another hit as he listened, looking towards the road. "At least you got help with it, then. How long ago was that?" @Hacky Slashy

while Susan Liu left to get the materials, Quince held Iris' hand. "That part will be resolved, no doubt. What I mean is things going back to normal, insurance and all. That will take a long while. But we'll get through it together." --- "10 years ago I got that matter sorted out and became a cop, just had to do desk work on account of my joint problems. Was in the corps for 20 years. Looks like one too many tumbles out of a humvee might have had something to do with the injuries." Cutty took another puff. "How about you? How was your life like before now? Any other siblings?" Cutty kept an eye out through the window they were standing near. Satisfied an AMP kill squad wasn't on it's way, he looked back at Matthew. Sophie and Rachel were sat on the floor while Nebo was laying down next to them. Adam was draining another blood pack. It was a good thing he didn't have to go out to hunt for a while. He just wished he could've gone along with Iris and Quince. Pity he'd burn to a crisp in the sunlight. @Al the Killer

Iris gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "That's true, at least." She leaned against him. "I'm not sure things will ever be 'normal' again. Functional, sure, but that is a far cry from normal." She smiled. "I can at least rest assured my life won't be exactly the same as it previously was." Susan returned with a stack of boxes and set them down. "This should be relatively easy, but try to sit still for it regardless, and it will go faster." ~~~ "Ten, aside from Iris, all older than me. I was about five when she left for college, no thanks to our parents' extreme disapproval about her picking a public school for it. Kind of a culty atmosphere in the household, like I mentioned before. I mean, we got to talk to people outside of the family, but usually not outside of church. And even there, our parents were considered 'kind of extreme'." He shrugged. "After I left, I wandered from city to city for a while. The stories I could tell from the past eight years are kinda all over the place, to be honest. A huge difference from when we were growing up absurdly sheltered. Never looked back much, though." @Hacky Slashy

"Likewise. Now let's get this issue sorted out." Quince gave the two women space to get the Prosthetic done. --- Cutty listened intently to Matthew's life story. "That must've been rough. But you did manage. You didn't let any of that keep you down. And for what it's worth, I'm glad you're here with us, you and Purcasso. I'm more of a dog person, but Purcasso seems all right. I can tell you some stories as well from my time overseas. If you'd like. And also....I do not recommend signing up. Getting shot at and blown up is easy, surprisingly. But the hard part is coming back home, wondering why the guy next to you didnt get to come home. Why you? Didn't he or she deserve to come home as well?" @Al the Killer

Iris let go of his hand so he could give the two of them space. While Susan worked, she explained the process and the design logic, knowing the doctor would find it interesting, and how the suspension system would work for this one, as a far more practical matter. Iris listened, even as her mind was split between what she was being told and thoughts of the future that, for once, weren't entirely filled with dread. Though there was still plenty of that. Small steps. ~~~ Matthew shrugged. "I guess surviving just seemed better than the alternative," he admitted, then smiled. "Glad I found Purrcasso, though. She's good company." He looked back toward the door. "I don't mind hearing whatever stories you feel like telling. Wasn't considering enlisting anyway. I think I'd rather make it through all of this first, then make up for never getting to finish school, see where I go from there. Where I can go with my art, if I'm lucky." @Hacky Slashy

Quince listened to the explanation. It was quite fascinating. He didn't envy being an amputee, but he certainly admired Iris' resilience. Most people would've let this limit bring them down, but not her. He simply smiled at her. --- "I certainly hope you can make something of your art. I do have this one story that still haunts me to this day. One day, we were based close to the Irish Army in Afghanistan. They were good guys. One in particular, Sean Maguire was a bit promiscuous. He would say that his soul belonged to God, but his skin was beyond saving. He always said that Satan would save his skin. So, genius decided to get a laughing devil tattoo on his asscheek. One day we were out on patrol. Unfortunately he stepped on an old, soviet mine from back when the Russians invaded. There were pieces of poor Sean everywhere. We literally had to shovel him into bags, that's how bad it was. But lo and behold, I found one piece of him that wasn't completely charred. Everything else was as dark as charcoal, but not this piece. This one was perfect. It was that same laughing devil tattoo. So basically he was right. Satan did save his skin...just not all of it. Until the day I die, I will remember that." Adam managed to listen to the whole story. He would think Cutty is making the whole thing up if his heartbeat wasn't steady. @Al the Killer

Iris caught Albert smiling at her and returned the expression. It was all a bit awkward; she was unused to having someone else in the room for these appointments. But he was the closest she could bring herself to considering another person a comforting presence. It was a while before the fitting was finished. Susan set her tools aside for the moment. "How does it feel?" "Like a carbon cage around my leg." Iris looked down. "Comfortable, though. It's not squeezing, and I don't feel like it's about to fall off." "Good." Susan removed the socket, then checked the measurements she'd written down. "I'll put everything together, and we'll see how it goes when you're actually standing on it." She picked up her tools, her notes, and left the room again. ~~~ Matthew wasn't sure where he thought that story was going, but that wasn't it. He raised an eyebrow, finding all of it way too good to be true, then stepped back inside to check in with the vampire. "Hey Adam, is he bullshitting me right now?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince nodded and then went Iris' side when Susan left the room. "So how's the upgrade?" Quince said as he put his hand on her shoulder. --- "Nope. He's telling the truth, one hundred percent." Adam was just as surprised as Matthew. "Not gonna lie, I'm not shocked you didn't believe me Matthew. I couldn't even believe it myself and I was there!" @Al the Killer

Iris placed her hand over his. "We'll find out once the whole thing's done," she said. "But so far, so good. A relief, too; I'd imagine a fight against Marlowe would be a lot harder to survive from a wheelchair." But not impossible, with enough firepower. ~~~ Matthew walked back out. "Yeah, that sounds like it'd be a set-up for a hundred bad jokes, if it wasn't a true story." 'The devil really saved his ass out there', for one. Or 'he died as he lived: a piece of ass'. 'The ladies always did find him too hot to handle'. He didn't say any of them out loud, since they all seemed pretty tasteless in context. "But alright, I believe you now," he said instead. @Hacky Slashy

"Nothing's impossible as long as you have enough firepower." Quince said as kissed her head. --- "How about you? Any story in particular you'd like to share?" Cutty said as he ate a granola bar. "The ladies did find him too hot to handle." Cutty said as he casually joked about a dead comrade. "The devil really did save his ass out there." Adam said as Cutty guffawed. @Al the Killer

"True enough." Iris looked up at him. "Either way, thank you. For all of this. Insane as the whole plan still feels, I guess it's working out better than I expected." She took his other hand in hers. "Just so you know, if you ever needed me to kidnap a doctor or other healthcare provider for you, I'd do the same. I feel like I've been asking a lot of you, so it's important that you know that." ~~~ Unbelievable. Matthew was not about to miss his chance to get involved. "He died as he lived," he mused. "A piece of ass." He'd spent most of the past few months traveling alone, aside from whoever he managed to hitch a ride with. This was different, in the sense that he wasn't holding onto his gun for dear life and hoping he wouldn't get serial killed. It was almost like belonging to a family again. One of the mismatched, oddball found families he'd wandered his way into over the past few years, rather than the far more dysfunctional family he'd been born into. "So, stories..." He trailed off, thinking back for something, and focused on one bright point of the past few years. "You already heard how I met Purrcasso, but her first vet appointment? Total comedy of errors." @Hacky Slashy

"No need, doc. I'm happy to help pretty amputees, anytime. Although if you could help kidnap a dentist sometime, that'd be great." The detective said joking of course. --- After Adam and Cutty finished laughing at Matthew's joke, Rachel, Sophie and Nebo came up to the group, wanting to hear about Purcasso's vet appointment. "Go on." Cutty said as the others patiently waited. @Al the Killer

Iris laughed at that. "Oh? Not just me? Anyone who's pretty and missing a limb or two? How charitable of you," she joked back. "But alright, I can think of a few dentists who could stand to experience fear. I'll bring the shotgun." ~~~ Purrcasso stretched out on the empty sofa, taking advantage of the unoccupied space. "So at the time, Purrcasso and I were staying with a buddy, Andy. Cool guy, ran an unlicensed bar and punk venue out of his basement, multifaceted enough that he taught me how to shoot and how to mix drinks. Never took himself seriously though. So I got to thinking that I might want to see someone about making sure Purrcasso stays healthy. I asked Andy for recommendations for a vet, and he gave me an address. When I got there, it was full of vets alright... because it was a VFW building. The first time I fell for that joke was embarrassing. The third time - that time a VA hospital - even I was laughing at me. So I went back to Andy's, got there just as cops were raiding the place. Since I have chronic dumb bitch disease, I completely ignored Andy telling me to get out of there, so I wound up in lockup for the night. Luckily, Purrcasso was in the house already, under the couch." He rubbed the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed. "I'd never actually gotten arrested before then. I'll admit, I might've cried. Just a little. This absolute mountain of a man interrupted me with an expression that looked like he was about to tear my face in half, smelling like he bathed in vodka twice a day. Then he actually talked, asking if I was that 'kid' who showed up at the VFW building with the weird cat a week before. Then if she was vaccinated yet.

8:20 PM

"I didn't expect that, once it was decided that I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, I'd be leaving with the business card for the veterinary clinic the guy worked at. I guess he was arrested for public drunkenness but, having been his first time, they let him go with a warning once they realized he'd been in the army previously. He was just the receptionist, so I'm still not sure how he managed to schedule me in." He shrugged. "Then again, I also didn't even know Purrcasso was a girl until the veterinarian told me." @Hacky Slashy

Quince wrapped his arm around her. "I'll bring the rope." Quince said as he kissed her head again. --- "So what happened next?" Adam said as he pet Purcasso. Sophie, Rachel and Cutty chuckled as they listened to the story. Nebo came up to Matthew and nuzzled against him. @Al the Killer

"Awww, romance isn't dead after all," Iris said, leaning against him. "A shame I had to leave my would-be kidnapper's car behind, it might have been well stocked for the occasion." Susan came out, carrying the full leg. "Before I finalize anything, let's make sure the length is right." She looked at Iris and Albert. "And an advantage of the socket design is that it can be easily adjusted to accommodate the changes that come with pregnancy." Iris's eyes widened, her face flushing slightly with embarrassment. "That's... not relevant right now. Come on, let's test this leg." ~~~ "The appointment itself was surprisingly normal," Matthew admitted. "Getting to it was the real story. We went back there a few times, but I lost my discount after the guy who helped me out left." He reached down to pet Nebo. @Hacky Slashy

Quince was initially caught off guard at the pregnancy comment. He composed himself and then smiled as he leaned against the wall, giving them enough space. --- Adam told the group about the time he stopped a robbery in a park. A woman was being purse snatched, but Adam intervened. After he killed the guy, he tried to give it back, but she ran off screaming at the sight of him. "Here's your pu- Help! Police!! I kid you not, I just left the purse there figuring the cops would give it back." @Al the Killer

"It's good to be prepared for the future, regardless," Susan commented. "Now, watch what I'm doing, so you can be sure of the process when you put it on. This system does require more hand strength and dexterity but, considering what you do for a living, that shouldn't be a concern." Iris nodded, since that was true for both the autopsies and the vampire hunting. It still seemed simple enough. Once the length was checked, Susan removed the prosthetic to finalize the connections. "The heel height is technically adjustable, but be careful with it; you don't want to throw off the alignment," Susan explained. "And there." She removed the shoe from the old prosthetic, making sure it was secure on the new one instead. "Now try putting it on, yourself." ~~~ Matthew shook his head. "Damn, murder really is a thankless job, isn't it?" he asked. "Has anyone not freaked out at least a little bit when you saved them, or is it pretty predictable?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince observed the process, making sure to memorize it in case Iris needs help putting it on. --- "There was this one girl in Wisconsin. I saved her from some nast gentleman wanting to....force himself on her. Long story short, she begged me to turn her, wanting to be my bride and all that nonsensical romantic stuff. Clearly she read too much of those books so I ran off." Cutty was napping on the couch while Sophie and Rachel played with Nebo. @Al the Killer

"Damn stubbon thing," Iris muttered, once she actually made the effort. But she managed, and looked down at it. "Seems about right." She still used the cane to stand up at first, though she hardly needed it; it was stable as promised. She sat back down, then stood without the cane, testing how easy it would be. "It definitely feels... new, but like an improvement," she commented, starting to walk around the room. Her balance was off at first, since she was used to walking with one that was both heavier and less efficient, but she soon got the hang of it. "I could get used to this. Feels like I could run in it already." "It's possible, but I suggest getting used to it before you try, anyway," Susan said, gathering up her tools. Iris picked up her cane. "Still bringing this with me. In case the AMP stop by and I need to bonk one of them," she said, mostly joking because it didn't seem like it would be very effective against an armed militia. ~~~ Matthew chuckled. "So she didn't freak out, she just freaked you out. If I ever need to think of a way to avoid getting bitten by a vampire and don't have a weapon handy, now I know what to do: propose to them." @Hacky Slashy

"Never mess with women and blunt objects." Quince said after the bonking comment." He held her hand and squeezed. "Anything else you want to take care of?" --- "I'd carry at least pepper spray if I were you. Just in case the vampire goes jokes on you, I'm into that!" Adam said in reply to Matthew's plan.

@Al the Killer

"Speaking from experience?" Iris asked. "But no, I think I'm good for today. What about you? Anything you wanted to do before we go back to the others?" She looked back at Susan. "And thank you for this. We really owe you." Susan shrugged. "Once you get the chance about three months from now, call in to schedule a follow-up. Just to make sure everything's going well," she said. "I'll see you then." ~~~ "Good point, I'll save it for the attractive vampires, then," Matthew agreed. "I'm not about to walk around unarmed knowing there are monsters anyway." @Hacky Slashy

"No. I have everything I need here and back at the warehouse." He then said goodbye to Susan and then they were off. --- "As a wiseman once said: stay strapped or get clapped." Adam said to Matthew. "Any other adventures with you and Purcasso?" Nebo wondered around and came up to Adam, licking his face. @Al the Killer

Iris held onto his hand while they made their way outside. "You can lead the way back to the warehouse, since I'm not entirely sure of the directions," she said. "I'll see you there." She gave him a quick kiss, then walked to her car. ~~~ "Not many that I'd call fun," he said. "Though she did fuck up one guy on our way across the country. I think it was around Nevada. Someone offered me a ride, then halfway to where he said we'd be going, he stopped the car. Got violent. There wasn't enough space in that car to actually get a good shot, gun or not," he explained casually, then laughed. "Then, out of nowhere, Purrcasso just jumped at his face and started clawing." He smiled over at where the cat was rolling around on her sofa. "We both got out of there thanks to her. Rest in pieces to that asshole's eyes, though." @Hacky Slashy

Quince intructed Iris to follow him back to the warehouse. They managed to make it there without trouble. He then goes to Iris' side as she gets out of her car. --- "Remeber what the prick looks like? I'll be sure to munch on him if I see him." Adam said as Nebo came up to Matthew and pawed at him. @Al the Killer

Definitely too easy. Iris checked the rearview mirror, expecting to be followed or shot at. But nothing happened. She reminded herself not to get too hard to it as she parked next to the SUV. "Hopefully today's gone just as easy for the others," she commented, stepping out of her car. ~~~ "Nah. If I remembered the face of everyone who thought they could do whatever they want to someone worse off than themselves, I don't think I'd have much space to think about anything else," Matthew said. "But I'd probably be able to recognize him if I saw him again." He reached down to scratch behind Nebo's ear as the door opened. @Hacky Slashy

Quince and Iris made their way inside. Sophie was holding Purcasso again, this time making sure not to touch her stomach again. Everyone greeted Iris and Quince when they got back. "How'd it go?" Adam said as he pet the Husy, who then went to Iris' side, licking her hand. @Al the Killer

Iris stopped to scratch Nebo under the chin. "Great. The waiting time for a fully bionic leg would've been too long, but I got an upgrade at least. Minimal hostage-taking required," she said. She walked over to an empty sofa and sat down. "How about all of you? Did anything happen while we were gone, or has it been quiet?" "Quiet." Matthew walked over to the kitchen area to see what he could make for lunch. "Almost suspiciously quiet." "Leave the pessimism to me, one is enough," Iris joked. @Hacky Slashy

Quince sat next to her as Adam recapped both Matthew and Cutty's story to them both. "The devil sure saved his ass." Adam said which prompted Cutty to spit out his drink. Sophie carried Purcasso around the room, pacing. Adam went next to her and pet the cat's head. Rachel took an inventory of their medical supplies and the food. @Al the Killer

Iris leaned against Albert as she listened to the stories. Cutty's sounded less than convincing, but Adam seemed to believe it, and he'd be able to pick up on a lie better than she could. "Hey, good for him. Sounds like one hell of a blow job." Matthew laughed. "Why didn't I think of that one?" He picked up two cans of chili. "Microwavable. Awesome." "Just take it out of the can first, Matt." "...I knew that," he said, in the tone of someone who did not know that. "Anyway, do we still have bread?" @Hacky Slashy

"I didn't believe it either until he showed me the pictures." Quince said as he put his head next to Iris. "For a few more days." Rachel said as she brought the bread to Matthew. Nebo nuzzled against Sophie while Cutty napped on the couch. @Al the Killer

"Good to know," Matthew said, taking the package of bread. "Will two cans be enough for everyone, or should I hunt for a third?" Iris looked toward the kitchen. "Three might be better. I know I had four in the cupboard." She sighed. "But we should consider what we'll do once we do start to run out. There's no guarantee this conflict will be ending any time soon. Not to mention we still have one more monster to hunt." @Hacky Slashy

"You make a good point." Quince said as he wrapped his arm around her. Sophie carried Purcasso around as she and Adam sat down on an unoccupied couch. Cutty woke up from his nap. "Got plenty of MRE's and cans at my place if we run low." Cutty then inspected their weapon supplies again. Rachel helped Matthew prepare the food. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "Good to know. And once the vampire issue is taken care of..." She trailed off, realizing she hadn't really thought of plans for the point between 'monster hunter' and 'back to normal'. "Are we going to focus just on survival, or do something more? The AMP will still be a threat, and I don't love the idea of sitting around, waiting for them to either lose the war or find us." "Me neither, but are we equipped to go against them?" Matthew asked. "Not to mention if we do, and they win anyway, that kinda secures a terrorist reputation for all of us." "That's true. Unless we're working directly with the actual military, though that's likely to be easier said than done," she admitted. "Still, if we manage and the AMP loses this conflict, it would increase the chances that the government will overlook the whole 'armed blood bank robbery' misunderstanding. So it would be a gamble, but with the potential for a solid payoff." @Hacky Slashy

"We'll make it through this. We managed so far." Quince said trying to reassure everyone. "But if it comes to the worse case, we'll find some way out of the city. After that, Cutty and I will go back to join the fight." Adam listened and offered a suggestion. "Or you all go stay safe somewhere, I'll conduct guerilla warfare on these pricks. Besides the government managed to take back Washington D.C among other places. Nebo laid next to Sophie's legs while she held Purcasso. "Getting hungry?" She asked the cat. @Al the Killer

"Not a fan of the idea of you throwing yourself into danger alone," Iris told Albert, then looked over at Cutty and Adam. "Any of you. But I'll admit, guerilla warfare does sound like a plausible option, generally speaking." "Molotov was the first kind of cocktail I learned to make," Matthew said from the kitchen. "Matthew Elijah Ellsworth, why do you know how to make a molotov cocktail?" "Have you looked outside lately? Why don't you?" Matthew asked, moments before the microwave beeped. "Food's almost ready." @Hacky Slashy

"He's got a point, you know." Adam said as he and Sophie pet Purcasso. Nebo pawed at Adam, putting him on Nebo petting duty. Rachel helped Matthew prepare the food. Cutty went on patrol once again. He loaded his rifle and then stepped out. "I don't want anyone in danger either. The only bright side is that rogue vampire isn't friendly with AMP either." @Al the Killer

"Right, and I don't think there's any chance of that changing," Iris agreed. "Especially since they saw what happened to the last moron who tried to work with Marlowe. As it is, if the plan is for us - all of us - to leave, there's no guarantee that it will be easy. There will be checkpoints and barricades everywhere, once the fighting really heats up." Matthew looked back at the others. "Now food's ready," he called. "Cutty, you want some before you go patrol? By the time you get back, it might be a little..." He trailed off and paused for dramatic effect. "...chili." Iris groaned and shook her head, but stood up to get food anyway. "I'll bring yours over," she said, looking back at Albert. @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah, I'll have some." Cutty came over and helped himself as Rachel snickered at the joke. Sophie came over while holding Purcasso. Adam just helped himself to a blood pack. Quince sat still waiting for his food. @Al the Killer

Iris got food for both of them, setting Albert's on the coffee table in front of him. "There's still some left over, if you want more." She reclaimed her seat beside him and looked toward the door again. There were still the usual sounds of the city, but so far away. "Calmest before the storm," she muttered to herself. Matthew sat at one of the round dining tables with his food. "I hate to agree with you," he told Iris, then left it at that. @Hacky Slashy

Quince thanked Iris and dug into his meal. Cutty joined Matthew and finished his plate. "Well, many thanks, Rachel and Matthew. Wouldn't do any good to go out on patrol with an empty stomach. Sophie sat on an unoccupied couch with Purcasso. Adam sat on the floor, listening for any immediate threats. He put his hands behind his neck and stretched out his legs. Nebo came up to Iris, looking longingly at the chilli sandwhich on Iris' plate. @Al the Killer

Iris looked down at Nebo. "I'm sure you've already eaten," she said, but broke off a piece of bread for him anyway. "So, Albert. Matthew and Cutty already shared a few stories. Do you have any?" She couldn't help but be curious, given how rarely he spoke about himself. Might as well hear more, now that they had a bit of downtime. Matthew, meanwhile, was struggling with his 'brilliant' meal idea, the liquid from the chili having soaked through the bread and destroyed its structural integrity. Which was to say, it was falling apart in his hands. "Maybe bread on the side would have been better..." He looked over at Iris, who had gotten forks for herself and Albert. "You already knew that, didn't you?" She shrugged. "We all have to learn from our mistakes eventually." @Hacky Slashy

The dog ate the bread and nuzzled against Iris. He looked longingly at th chilli. "Please don't feed him Chilli." Both Sophie and Rachel said in unison. "The farts will be very unpleasant." Sophie said as she cradled Purcasso. Albert finished his plate and set it down. Quince debated on telling them a dark case or one from his time overseas. He decided on a funnier story. "We got a report of a disturbance at a bar. Apparently some jackass tried impressing his date by trying to assault a guy committing"Stolen Valor". When we got there, the young jackass was on his ass with his jaw broken. The other guy pulled out his ID, proving he was in the service. Me and officer James, my training officer at the time said he was free to go, and the idiot ended up in the hospital with an assault charge for his troubles. Then there was this other time, this one fella got kicked out of a bar. We found coke on him, but it wasn't enough to prosecute, but we did confiscate it and let him go. Idiot came back to the same bar and asked the officer who took the coke to give it back. We arrested him for violating the trespass, and then we found out he had warrants in other states. All he had to do was not come back." @Al the Killer

"I wasn't going to," Iris assured them, if only out of possessiveness toward her food. She listened while she finished eating. "I guess it's not surprising that the most entertaining calls you've dealt with have been at bars." She set her plate down. "I'll admit, most of my stories from work would be pretty dark, since I haven't had a living patient since my residency... except for the one who woke up in my morgue. Now that was a surprise. Thankfully before I got around to slicing." @Hacky Slashy

Quince and Adam both looked at her. "Go on. Tell us about that." Adam said as Nebo laid down near Iris' foot. Sophie fell asleep with Purcasso in her arms. Rachel finished her meal and then sat down on a couch. Cutty was observing the city from a window. He saw that the sun was starting to set. "I doubt it's going to be a quiet night." He says to himself. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "Nothing undead, unfortunately," she clarified first. "A call came in from a local restaurant. The owner was freaking out because he found a dead man naked in the freezer, and Naveed - my secretary - was freaking out because that was his favourite restaurant. I let the police know, went to the scene, and checked out the body. At the time, none of us could pick up on a pulse or signs of breathing, so I took the alleged corpse to the morgue. "The detective on the case wanted an autopsy done right away, but I told him we need to let the guy thaw out on one of the tables first. Good thing I did, because later that day, I was testing a few samples from another case when I just heard some guy screaming behind me. Turns out, he was alive this whole time, but the cold had slowed his body down to a near-death state. "The whole thing seemed suspicious, so I made sure he warmed up safely, took a small blood sample, then sent him off to the nearest hospital. There was still a whole lot of cocaine in his blood. Turns out he'd taken a metric fuckton of the stuff, felt overheated, and ended up stripping down and sneaking into the restaurant's freezer. He was lucky not to have died of hypothermia. "I didn't actually share the blood sample results with the police, but ended up telling the doctor at the hospital to refer him to a rehab center instead. From what I've heard, he's doing alright now. Not how I'd planned to save lives when I was in medical school, but life is unexpected like that." Purrcasso climbed out of Sophie's arms to wander between the feet of everyone else still sitting in the lounge. @Hacky Slashy

"......so he wasn't a zombie?" Adam said as he heard the end of the story. He got up and stretched while Quince chuckled at the story. "Glad the guy's doing ok. That must've been a hell of a night." Nebo laid down on his side, watching Purcasso. He then got up on the couch and sat on both Quince and Iris' lap. Cutty comes back from patrol and sits down on a chair. "So what'd I miss?" Rachel sat down next to Sophie and napped. @Al the Killer

"I think if zombies were real, we'd have noticed by now," Iris said. "Sorry to disappoint. But waking up in a morgue was probably the exact motivation he needed to get sober once and for all." She leaned back to make room for the large husky who seemed to believe he was a lap dog. This was fine. Once he settled in, she reached down to pet his head, cuddling both the dog and her boyfriend. "Just a lack of zombies," she told Cutty. "Anything going on out there?" @Hacky Slashy

" A little too quiet for my taste. Like something's gonna go down, but you just don't know when." Cutty once again went to take stock of their inventory. Adam sat down and continued reading. He was getting anxious about the last rogue vampire. Sure they managed to best the other three, but Marlowe will likely be stronger, deadlier and more vengeful. Not to mention what if AMP gets wind of the others here. What will happen if he's busy fighting him to defend the others or vice versa? He only hoped the others would be able to manage. Soon nigh fell on the city...the calm before the storm. @Al the Killer

"Exactly what I was thinking earlier," Iris said. Except it was what she always thought when things went well, so it had been an easy thought to dismiss. "We should be prepared for anything to go wrong." Matthew gathered all of the empty dishes while he considered. "Adam, you're going out to take care of the last vampire, right?" he asked. "You should probably take Buffy," he gestured toward Iris, "and someone else with you as backup. I can stay with everyone else to keep this place secure. Maybe pack some stuff up in advance in case we have to leave in a hurry?" "Too old to be Buffy," Iris commented. "Van Hellsing, maybe? But yeah, I can go with him." @Hacky Slashy

"I'll try to track him. My senses are way better than they were after I fed on their hearts. Or maybe it's better you all stay here. I don't want to risk anyone else gettng hurt." Soon, Night had fallen on Los Angeles. While the group was talking inside, a lone figure was on the rooftop listening for them. He recognized the half-breed's voice and the others. He would soon spill their blood and depart Los Angeles. @Al the Killer

The idea of sending him alone for a one-on-one vampire fight didn't sound great. Sounded like it could go either way. "Are you sure?" Iris asked. "In case you forgot, you'd be in danger too. I don't mind the chance to help fuck up Marlowe. The guy did laugh at me when I said I'd killed Jan. Then called me a whore." Matthew picked up Purrcasso. "It's a respectable living, at least. And I think he believes you now, after what you did to Callista." "But it's the intent. Anyway, there's no guarantee he won't find us while you're out looking. I get the need to keep everyone safe, but it's impossible to keep completely out of danger." Iris herself was just starting to realize that maybe her inability to sit still while people she cared about endangered themselves was a deeply dangerous flaw. Oh well. "But if you are going out on your own, I'll take the next watch. Let Matt and Cutty rest for a bit." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo perked up and before anytone could process, multiple jets roared in the air. Adam, Quince and Cutty looked outside. A squadron of F-16s flew over the city. Then they saw more black dots in the sky. F-35 jets raced to meet the F-16's in combat. Nebo got off the couch while Sophie and Rachel covered their ears. While Cutty and Quince concentrated on the morbid air show occurring in the sky, Adam saw a lone, familiar figure standing alone on a rooftop staring at their building. 'Just my luck.' Adam bared his teeth and growled at the same time as Nebo. @Al the Killer

As soon as Nebo was up and moving, so was Iris. She picked up her shotgun, reloading the barrel she'd spent the previous night. The fighting seemed to at least be in the air, but there was no guarantee they'd stay there. They had to be ready for anything. "You three stay inside," she told Sophie, Rachel, and Adam. Matthew looked out the window. "I don't know, it's pretty close. Would now be the time to leave the city?" Instead of answering, she followed Adam's gaze to see what he was growling at. "Fuck." "Not advice I'd follow with anyone h-" Iris shushed Matthew, holding her shotgun at the ready as she kept it aimed at the window. Her fingers stayed off the triggers for now. "Girls. Matthew. Stay back." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo growled at the same spot as Adam. Marlowe had a look of sheer malice and Hatred at Adam. Quince and Cutty noticed another problem. Skulking in the darkned streets like Ghosts, was an AMP fireteam. They were heading towards the warehouse, one person directing them to their warehouse. Cutty and Quince loaded their rifles. Adam noticed the AMP soldiers as well. "Oh great timing." Cutty decided to to take a spot on the walkway outside the office, readying an ambush. @Al the Killer

"What-?" Iris glanced back over her shoulder and sighed. "I miss five minutes ago, when it was too quiet." But for now, she kept most of her attention on Marlowe, trusting the others to watch her and Adam's backs. Matthew set Purrcasso down. "Stay here." He picked up his rifle, checked that it was loaded, then joined Cutty, keeping an eye out. Purrcasso didn't listen, and stayed right behind him instead. He was silent as he waited, keeping out of sight. @Hacky Slashy

Adam readies himself as Marlowe leaps on top of the warehoue they were in as the AMP soldiers busted into the warehouse being met by Cutty's gunfire. Adam climbed out of the window and on to the rooftop to meet the vengeful vampire. "You took everything from me." He growled as he walked towards Adam. Rachel and Sophie grabbed their pistols. Sophie also equiped her pepper spray. Quince ushered them to lie down on their stomachs. He then went towards Iris. "Ready?" @Al the Killer

Nope, Iris wasn't even going to try and join the vampires on the roof. Unfortunately, Adam was on his own for this. Better to take care of the AMP, then. She turned toward Quince and nodded. "Ready," she said, focusing her attention on the approaching fireteam. Fucking hell, the six of them were outnumbered though. "I don't love these odds though... grenades, maybe? To even things out?" she suggested, already reaching for a grenade. This was, admittedly, very different from being at a shooting range. Matthew still helped Cutty with laying down fire. As long as he didn't point at any friends, he figured poor accuracy and temporary hearing loss could be compensated for with sheer quantity of bullets. @Hacky Slashy

Both Adam and Marlowe collided as they blitzed at each other. Both got up and clawed at each other, each scoring a blow. Adam fought like a cornered animal. Not just for himself , but if he failed, the others would be at his mercy. Back inside the warehouse, one of the AMP soldiers was hit in the shoulder by Matthew, while Cutty and Quince mowed down two others. A grenade blast knocked back two more AMP troopers. "We need back up! Now!" One of them shouted as they tried storming the office. Nebo crouched down next to the sisters. 2 more humvees appeared outside as the fighting raged on in the skies. One of the F-35s plummeted to the surface, crashing somewhere in town as an F-16 plummeted towards the Santa Monica bay. In the distance, the sound of war machines roared towards the city. The battle for Los Angels has finally begun. @Al the Killer

The chaos raged on. Iris picked up her shotgun and fired at two of the soldiers who approached the office. One then the other, careful and measured shots. Of all things, she expected to feel fear in this scenario. Not the strange, calm sense of focus that settled over her. Matthew fired until the ammunition ran out. He'd need time to reload, time he wouldn't have unless he bought some. "Grenade!" he called over, and Iris tossed one to him. He pulled the pin and threw the grenade at the approaching Humvees. @Hacky Slashy

The grenade landed under one of the two humvees, knocking it over while the other one swerved into another building. The 6 man squad got out and fired on the building. Adam saw what was going on, but was thrown to the ground. "Can you afford to be distracted right now?!" Marlowe stomped down on Adam's back, like their first encounter. Unlike ghe first encounter however, Adam was able to shake him off and pounce on him. He landed blows on the born vampire's face as two fighter jets released their salvo of missiles at each other, blowing themselves up. Inside the warehouse, an AMP trooper and his partner breached the back door and shouted "Everybody drop your weapons!" But he wasn't wearing a face covering, leaving him vulnerable to Sophie's pepper spray. He howled in pain as he accidentally fired on his comrades in the back as Quince and Cutty ushered the others to fall back further to the office area. @Al the Killer

Iris picked up her cane and fell back toward the offices. Taking cover around a corner, she reloaded the shotgun. She kept an eye on the windows, a weak point that might be a spot for a breach if they weren't careful. Matthew trailed behind Cutty, followed closely by Purrcasso. "You know, it might be smarter to clear a path to the cars," he suggested. "How long can we hold them off, realistically?" "Not while Adam's busy," Iris said. "We're not leaving anyone behind." She fired at one of the nearest approaching AMP soldiers, just as there was the sound of glass shattering from behind them. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo followed Purcasso and took cover alongside Iris. He growled and tensed up. An AMP soldier looked around, unaware Iris was close by. "Drop your weapons! NOW!" Adam bit down on Marlowe's face, puncturing his right eye. Marlowe backhanded Adam off, letting out a primal roar as he covered his missing left eye. He ran at Adam and would've stomped his head, but the younger vampire rolled out of the way and kicked the rogue vampire away. @Al the Killer

Iris did as instructed on instinct, then wondered to herself what the fuck am I doing? Her cane was nearby and not a weapon, but an important tool for mobility on her bad days. And he didn't have a helmet on. His loss. She picked it up. "Alright, let me just..." She whacked him over the head with the cane, before bringing it around and down to take out the backs of his knees. @Hacky Slashy

The AMP trooper fell right on his ass and hit his head, knocking him unconscious. Cutty tried opening the back door to get to the cars, but was fired on by additional AMP troopers. He would've lost his life if Quince didn't pull him back. They used some desks to barricade the door. Another AMP trooper came from the opposite door and was about the throw a grenade, but Nebo knocked him back, causing him to drop the grenade. It blew apart 3 other troopers while Nebo fled to Iris' side. Adam and Marlowe were grappling with each other, trying to get ahold of one another. Adam was trying to wrap things up and help the others, but Marlowe was not letting up. The battle in the air was down to 4 F-16s and 2 F-35s. The U.S. Airforce fought fiercely against AMP's superior F-35s. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked over at the unconscious soldier. "Do we want to make sure he doesn't get up and come after us?" "I draw the line at killing someone who's unconscious," Iris said, taking the trooper's weapons instead. "We could wake him up." But Matthew focused on returning fire to the soldiers who had shot at Cutty. @Hacky Slashy

Cutty and Matthew's suppressive fire held back the 6 soldiers trying to execute the "insurgents" hiding in the warehouse. In the city, the 75th Army Rangers regiment fought fiercely with The AMP soldiers, fighting tooth and nail for the city of angels. The last of the F-35s crashed down to earth as Anti Aircraft fire lit up the skies. Adam sprouted his vampire wings and tackled Marlowe into the incoming AMP soldiers trying to breach the warehouse. The soldiers were torn apart by both Adam and Marlowe, but their temporary alliance was shortlived as they turned on each other once again. Quince gathered Sophie, Rachel, Nebo and Purcasso near a desk. "Is everyone all right?" Rachel and Sophie nodded yes. @Al the Killer

Iris looked at the MG4 she'd picked up from the trooper. Better range and firing rate than the shotgun. Ideal for the situation. She took up her spot by one of the doors, firing at the soldiers furthest from Adam and Marlowe. "We can clear a path to the cars, but I don't know how long it'll stay clear," she told the others. "Better to wait 'til Adam's ready." Outside, the sky was on fire. "I just hope the military shows up while we still have them at bay..." Purrcasso darted under the desk, taking cover underneath. @Hacky Slashy

Adam and Marlowe fought like rabid cornered animals. Both Vampires took to the sky with their wings. Both of them grappled in the air, until they crashed down with Adam headbutting the sadistic vampire on to an AMP humvee. Meanwhile gunfire emerged from the front of the building, an explosion sounding afterwards. In the bay, a U.S. Navy ship appeared in the bay, with landing craft headed towards the bay. Nebo crouched alongside Sophie and Nebo as AMP troopers were shot dead in the employee lounge. "U.S. Marines! Lay down your weapons or you will be fired on!!" The AMP troopers in the lounge got on their knees and surrendered. Cutty went to stall the marines for a bit while Quince went to Iris and the girls to announce the news. "I won't lose! NATURE WON'T ALLOW IT!!" Marlowe roared as Adam held him down , punching him so hard, the bones in his left hand shattered, but knocking some of the vampire's teeth out. Adam then dug his claws into Marlowe's right side and extracted his heart. Marlowe spat blood on Adam's face and smiled. Finally, a worthy warrior got the best of him. "Not bad for a half breed..." he melted away shortly afterwards. Adam drank the blood from his heart, stumbling towards Iris and the others. Sophie got ahold of him as he almost collapsed from exhaustion. Quince talked to Iris. "The Cavalry has arrived." Quince said before kissing Iris. "We're gonna be ok." He then looked towards Adam. "Did you get him?" Adam gave a thumbs up as Nebo nuzzled against Iris. Nebo then went to Matthew's side.

@Al the Killer

More gunfire sounded through the warehouse, but it was nice to not have it aimed at them for once. As the remaining AMP soldiers were shot, Iris ducked behind the desk with Rachel and Sophie. She had no intention of getting hit by stray bullets. "Are you girls alright?" She reached down to pet Nebo. Matthew stayed where he was, but put his rifle down as well. Not because he'd heard the orders, but because he could at least tell nobody was shooting at them now. Though he hadn't been injured, the fighting had been intense. His ears were still ringing, and a deep ache had set into his arms. A week long nap sounded like a great idea. Iris stood up straight as Albert arrived, seemingly still in one piece. She ran to him, closing the distance between them. Barely processing his words, but understanding the situation well enough, she threw her arms around his neck. She returned the kiss with considerably more passion than strictly necessary, letting her relief at seeing him alive - and maybe some of the excess adrenaline - flow through her lips. Matthew cleared his throat and she pulled away. "Right," she breathed. "Were you hurt at all?" She glanced at Adam. "Any of you?" @Hacky Slashy

The Marines established a perimeter around the warehouse district, with tanks and APCs heading into the warzone further in the city. Sophie and Rachel gave a thumbs up. Adam was winded but was still living. Albert stood alongside Iris, holding her. Cutty updated the group about the fighting in the city. The Army was on it's way to reinforce the Rangers and Marines fighting in the city. Nebo came up to Adam and licked his face. The exhausted vampire pet the husky who then went to Matthew. "I'm fine. How about you?" Adam asked Matthew. @Al the Killer

Matthew reached down to pet Nebo. The ringing had stopped enough for him to hear Adam's question, albeit as though it were being asked underwater. "Ayuh! I'm great!" he replied, slightly below a full on shout. "Let's not do that again!" Iris chuckled, staying where she was. "It should fade, but a proper hearing test after the fact might be in order," she told him. She stayed leaning against Albert, out of want rather than necessity. "It's nice to finally get out of a fight not feeling like my leg is going to fall off." She looked around at the bodies surrounding them. "So we can't stay here, I think. Cutty, did they say if we're free to pack up and leave?" @Hacky Slashy

"Not quite yet, but they're establishing this district as a safe zone, so AMP won't exactly be waltzing in like they own the place. Shockingly we can take it easy in the employee lounge again. Who knows how long the fighting will take, but we're as safe as we can get." "I'll take all the good news I can get." Quince said as he held Iris' hand. Sophie laid Adam down on the couch, sitting next to him. He laid his head on her shoulder. Rachel started handing out water to everyone. @Al the Killer

Iris looked at the shattered window in the office. So that was out of the question, and she would have killed for an actual shower, but she'd take what she could get. In this case, that was her and the people she cared for being alive. She smiled and squeezed Albert's hand, taking a water bottle with the other. "So will I. Could we at least clear these bodies out, though? Before they start to smell?" Some help would have been nice, but she wasn't about to go out and ask a Marine for corpse removal assistance while they were busy securing a perimeter. There was a groan from behind her as the AMP officer she'd knocked out began to wake up. @Hacky Slashy

Cutty and Quince helped move the AMP bodies outside. They were done in a few minutes. Adam heard the groaning AMP Officer that was knocked out and got up. He brought him to the group groaning. When Rachel saw him, she immediately went berserk. She got a few hits in before Adam stopped her. "Feels like I'm missing context." Quince and Cutty walked in. Quince immediately recognized him. "You got to be fucking kidding me. Brad?!" Quince held Rachel back and held him in place. The AMP trooper held his hands up in defeat. "Please don't hurt me anymore, I'm sorry!" @Al the Killer

Iris moved to help with the bodies, before she heard the officer get up. While Rachel started going in for the fight, Iris picked up her cane. Time to teach this guy to stay down. She lifted it, but stopped once Albert spoke. It remained suspended in the air for a moment while she looked between the two of them, then slowly lowered it. "You should be," she said, since this guy had been one of the attacking soldiers. Then she glanced over at Albert. "Who's Brad?" Matthew had settled in one of the chairs with Purrcasso in his lap, simply watching for now. @Hacky Slashy

"Rachel's ex boyfriend. Cheated on her and then when he got caught and wouldn't leave her alone, so I had to step in. It was that or Mike call in a favor with a Seal team to talk to him." Quince said implying the threat. Adam held him down. "So....do I drain him or...?" Adam said to Rachel who simply turned away. The young blonde mail looked up at Adam, who looked very familiar from the reports. "Look, I had no choice to join up with them. It was that or my sister starve." Quince let out a sigh while Nebo went up to him, simply sniffed him and went back to Rachel's side. Sophie tried diffusing the situation. "Look, there's been enough killing for tonight." "Or we could let Purcasso decide." Adam said jokingly. @Al the Killer

Matthew shook his head. "She's a cat, so the choice is too predictable," he said. "Every morning, she wakes up and chooses violence." In response, Purrcasso yawned widely, then snuggled against her pet human. Iris nodded. "Understood. In that case, I won't hit him with my cane again," she promised, then held it out to Rachel. "But if you would like to, you may borrow it." @Hacky Slashy

"Just get him out of here." Rachel declined the cane. "No thanks. You'll need it. " Nebo pawed at Rachel and snuggled against her, calming her. Cutty then went up to him. "I can't guarantee you'll make things right with her, but I'm sure the Marine Lieutenant out there would like to know whatever dirt you got on AMP." Cutty escorted him out, mostly to make sure the marines didn't outright execute him. He then went back inside. "No worries, he's the military's problem now. Sorry to hear about your troubles." Cutty said trying to reassure Rachel. She simply thanked him and cuddled with Nebo. @Al the Killer

"Hopefully not as often now, but suit yourself." Iris walked over to one of the empty couches. "Sorry you had to see him again, but at least he's out of here now. If you need anything at all, just let us know, alright?" She offered a half smile then half-sat, half-fell onto the sofa. Now that the fight was well and done, exhaustion had started to set in. Between the kidnapping and the all-out warfare, it had been a long day. Just like most days seemed to be, lately. "Preferably in the morning," she added. "Guess we don't have to worry so much about keeping watch," Matthew commented. "That is, the military does know we're chill, right? They're not gonna barge in to interrogate or evict us?" @Hacky Slashy

"They do. Plus me and Quince briefed them with intel about the checkpoints in the city and what's been going on. They're running security out there so we can just relax for the time being." Cutty sat down on a chair. Quince took a spot next to Iris while Adam sat next to Sophie. Adam and Sophie drifted off to sleep. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "Good." She rolled up her left pant leg to remove the prosthetic, too tired to care about the lack of privacy while doing so. "We don't need more things to worry about." Maybe for once, they could finally relax. She moved to set the leg aside, then looked over at Rachel. It was probably fine, but still... "Does Nebo like to chew on things, or has he outgrown that?" she asked, mildly concerned about the possibility. She'd hate to have to kidnap Susan two days in a row. @Hacky Slashy

"No worries, that was just his puppy phase. Now if you tried to give him a bath..." The husky perked up and ran instinctively, hiding by nuzzling against Iris. "You see?" Rachel teased as Nebo snuggled against Iris. Quince sat next to Iris and wrapped his arm around her. "He'll jump in any kind of water, but oh no. Beware baths." Adam and Sophie were still seated together. Cutty was napping despite the ongoing war in the city. @Al the Killer

Iris laughed and set the leg down, then took a moment to pet the poor, scared dog. "It's alright, Nebo. You are safe from the evil horrors of soap for now. We'll protect you." She had to pull her hand away to cover up a yawn. Exhaustion, it seemed, overtook any difficulty sleeping that might have been brought about by the distant explosions. She'd be a heavy sleeper by the time this was over, that much was for sure. "I think Cutty has the right idea," she said, setting her glasses on the arm of the couch. She rested her head against Quince's shoulder. Not the most comfortable pillow, but it would do. @Hacky Slashy

Quince kissed Iris on her head. Nebo rested on both their legs, still convinced he is a lap dog. Rachel sat down on a chair, simply listening to the distant sound of battle. Adam and Sophie ended up passing out on each other, her head on his shoulder. @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet Nebo, and soon ended up falling asleep with her arm draped over the big dog. It seemed the both of them were going to keep Quince trapped on the couch. Matthew looked out the window as he drank his water. He'd mostly recovered, in terms of hearing. "Guess it is getting late, huh?" he commented, staying quiet to avoid waking up the five who had fallen asleep. He stood up, stretched his aching arms over his head. "Time to find out how comfortable the floor is." @Hacky Slashy

As the group was resting, the fighting in the city was just about to come to a head. A squad of Marines was pinned down from across a high school where the no last of the Anti Aircraft was set up. "We need reinforcements!" Their Sergeant was trying to call for help while the rest of th unit was firing on the school. One of the Marines broke away from the group and ran to the side of the building. The marine is a Native American male, who manged to strip down to nothing and then transformed. He turned from a man to a massive, humanoid wolf. The creature got on all fours and broke into the High School. The AMP soldiers looked on in horror as they were all torn apart. He then went to the 2nd floor and went room by room, clearing out hostiles. Halfway through the rest of the AMP soldiers ran out of the school, avoiding the wolf monster. As soon as the whole building was clear, he made his way back outside to his clothes while the Marines stormed the school. Once The Marines entered, the found the abandoned AA equipment and set up C4 and blew it up into scrap metal. Flares lit up the sky, indicating the other AA positions have been neutralized. The navy ship in the bay released Tomahawk missiles on AMP's hq in the city, marking a decisive victory for the military. The Marines cheered as they watched the detonation of the stronghold. "Good shit, Redstone." The Sergeant thanked the Marine, with the name tag, Redstone. @Al the Killer

Iris woke up first in the morning, a faint ache in her neck from the position she'd fallen asleep in. She sat up and rubbed the back of her neck with one hand, looking over at Albert. He really had gotten out of last night's battle just fine then. Good. Still, the thought that he might involve himself in more fighting while she couldn't be around to help make sure he was safe soon destroyed her peaceful feelings about the morning. She sighed and looked down at Matthew, who was still fast asleep on the floor. She'd be sure to take care of him when this was all over, too. But her own future was already uncertain. Meanwhile, Purrcasso walked on Matthew's chest, meowing in his face for food. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo got up to greet Iris. The dog nuzzled against her. Sophie got up at the same time as Adam did. She noticed Purcasso meowing for food and went to retrieve a can of Salmon for her. She held it out for her and placed it on the floor. Cutty and Rachel woke up and began fixing breakfast for the group, with Cutty getting a bloodbag for Adam. "Thanks." Adam said as he sunk his fangs into it. Quince got up, equally sore and wrapped his arms around Iris, turning her around for a kiss. "Morning." He said as he held her. @Al the Killer

Matthew got up as well, reaching over to pet Purrcasso as she ran to the sound of the can being cracked open. "Amazed she waited for a reasonable hour," he commented, though the last part was covered with a yawn. As she felt Albert pull her closer, she closed her eyes and returned the kiss. Not for long, actually being mindful of the other people in the room this time. "Morning. How did you sleep?" She reached one hand down to pet Nebo, but didn't pull away from Quince, either. @Hacky Slashy

"I slept great." He says as he rubs his sore neck. Nebo nuzzled between the two as Quince still held on to her while petting Nebo. Sophie pet Purcasso as the cat feasted on the salmon. She then got up to fill Nebo's food and water bowls. The husky went to eat, leaving Iris all to Quince. Adam finished the blood pack and asked everyone how they were holding up. "I'm ok!" Cutty said as he handed food to everyone, peanut butter and jelly. "I'm doing ok." Rachel said as she sat on a couch. Sophie handed out bottles of water to everyone. "How're you now, Iris?" She asked as she went to pet Nebo. @Al the Killer

Iris reached over and picked up her glasses. "As it turns out, all I need in order to sleep through the night is a kidnapping in the morning, and full-on warfare in the evening," she commented, putting them back on. "I can't imagine why my doctor never wrote up a prescription for that." She sat up and took the sandwich offered to her. "I'm fine. Still a bit bruised up, but it's not bothering me too much." She stayed close to Albert as she began to eat. Matthew sat at one of the tables with his water and sandwich. "I'm good too. Still weird to think our vampire problem is over now." @Hacky Slashy

"Maybe cause all of that wasn't readily available at the time." Quince said as he held Iris' hand. He finished his food and just looked around. It seems for now they would have it easy for the time being. "So what now? Mayor shitbag and the vampire pack have been dealt with and AMP got their asses handed to them on a silver platter." Sophie and Rachel offered Adam a place to stay once they were given the all clear from the military to go back home. "I'll be sure to get a job and help around." Adam said smiling at the two. Cutty and Quince offered to get him a job with the department. "We can put in a good word, get you on the nightshift." @Al the Killer

Iris considered for a moment. "They lost the battle, but that doesn't mean there won't be trouble from the AMP in the future. As for what now... it's hard to be sure. Once there's the all-clear, I should be able to get back to work. I doubt the military will be too worried about who the AMP declared a fugitive or not." She looked over at Albert. "The future is something I'd want to discuss with you directly," she said. "I still have my apartment and, with Craig gone, I don't have to leave it any time soon." She glanced over at Matthew. "Though I might have reason to upgrade to a two-bedroom apartment." Matthew met her gaze. "Huh?" He looked down. "I mean, I guess I could stay around. I'll try to get a job to help-" "Or focus on studying," Iris said, to his confusion. "I mean, you did want to go to art school, right? If that's still your plan, you'll need to work on a high school equivalency first, of course, then make sure you have a broad enough portfolio. I'll help you out with the first part, but I personally have no artistic ability, so you're on your own with that part." He had no clue what to say to that offer, so he just stared, speechless. @Hacky Slashy

"I think you should go with it." Adam said as Nebo roamed around the lounge, rubbing his head on anyone he passes by. Sophie and Rachel crouched down to pet the husky. Quince then looked to Iris. "I'd like to discuss that as well. Me and Cutty will be back to doing plain ol police work barring any other monsters rolling into town." @Al the Killer

"I- yeah, of course," Matthew said at last, even though it felt too good to be true. "If you don't mind. Thank you." Iris shrugged. "Family is supposed to take care of each other. I'd personally fist-fight our parents myself for making a home you couldn't safely stay in, if I thought they were worth adding assault and battery to my record." Despite her violent words, she snuggled harmlessly against Albert. "If you want to share whatever new apartment we find, I'd be happy to have you with me," she told her partner. "But if it's too soon, I understand. The choice is yours." She smiled. "Also, I didn't realize monster hunting was ordinary police work." @Hacky Slashy

"It usually is, just of the human variety." Quince said while Iris snuggled on him. "And leave the fist fighting to me. At least I'd be able to charge them with assaulting an officer. Adam and Sophie were sitting on the couch. They found themselves smiling at the display of love, with their hands together, but neither pulled away this time. "And no, not to soon at all. I should definitely upgrade from my one bedroom den." Nebo got between the two and laid down. Rachel observed Adam and Sophie, and then asked Matthew if he wanted anything before she took a seat. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked over at Rachel and shook his head. "I'm fine, thanks." He smiled, unsure of the last time he'd been able to do so while thinking about the future. His sister had always been a better mother to him than their actual mom, so it made a sort of sense to stay with her now. Purrcasso rubbed against his legs, so he reached down to pick her up. Iris let herself be nudged aside by the needy dog. "Sorry, were you feeling left out?" She patted his head and looked out the window. "There's no way it's this easy, though..." "Or - hear me out - sometimes this isn't the worst timeline ever," Matthew suggested. @Hacky Slashy

"He's got a pont, you know?" Adam said as Nebo then went towards Sophie. She let go of Adam's hand to head scratch the needy dog. Cutty went outside to check on the marines. He saw that there was just some smoke clouds and the sound of machine gun fire. They were more few and scattered, indicating the fighting was starting to fizzle out. Jeeps and humvees were passing through, heading to aid the government forces still taking the city. He simply went for a smoke. He looked to the sky and saw Blackhawks heading towards the fighting. 'About time you fellas got here.' @Al the Killer

Iris shrugged. "Expect the worst and you'll never be disappointed." She let go of Albert and reached down to pick up her leg. "But yes, I guess he does have a point." How she went from surrounded by corpses to surrounded by optimists, she had no clue, but she had to admit the latter made for better conversation. "Any clue where the other safe zones are?" she asked as she put the leg back on. She looked over at Adam, mildly concerned. "And how are you on blood packs? You've been going through them, and I know they don't have as much as draining a full person." Too late, she wondered if they should have been more careful about rationing them and taking Adam hunting when possible. @Hacky Slashy

Adam got up and took a look inside the cooler. He saw there was 5 blood packs left. "Five. I should be fine for a while if I ration. Don't worry, I've had experience going for a while without blood. Not ideal, but I can make it until I have to feed again." Quince went out to check on Cutty. He saw Cutty talking to a marine. "Thanks." Cutty then went up to Quince and informed him of some of the safe zone. "We can go back to Rachel and Sophie's place. They managed to secure that territory." Quince and Cutty went back inside and informed the others of the news. As Quince and Cutty walked back inside , a squad of Marines walked into the checkpoint, one of them being the Native American Marine. He simply took out a cigarette and lit it up. @Al the Killer

Five. Worry or not, Iris would keep that in mind. No way they'd get away with robbing a blood bank twice. Besides, people did need that blood. She nodded, silently considering the options for the future. She turned toward Quince when he returned and smiled at the news. A shower, a proper bed to sleep in... "Maybe things really are looking up, after all." She stood up and walked over to Albert. Matthew stood as well, still holding Purrcasso. "Are we packing up now?" @Hacky Slashy

Adam, Quince amd Cutty helped to pack their things. Then Cutty began to wrap Adam up again. This time however for his face, they just wrapped him up in one of the AMP troopers balaclavas. Sophie and Rachel kept Nebo occupied as he got on his back, signaling belly rubs. Sophie and Rachel did as the dog wanted. "I think he wants you to join in as well." Sophie said as Nebo looked towards Iris, tongue sticking out and tail wagging. Adam came up to Matthew, all wrapped up again. "How'd I look?" He said in a muffled voice. @Al the Killer

Iris helped with packing everything and moving it to the cars. "Albert, Matthew, and I can take the Audi," she told Cutty as she nodded toward her car. "Since the SUV has more room, we'll put most of the things in there again. Up to Adam whether he wants to ride with you or the girls." While Adam was getting all wrapped up, she looked over at the dog. "Of course he does, the spoiled brat." As she spoke, she smiled and knelt down to join in petting Nebo. Matthew let Purrcasso settle back into his messenger bag, then gave Adam two thumbs up, trying not to laugh. "Hot," he joked. "Lucky for you it's still winter." He looked toward the door. "LA's version of it, at least." @Hacky Slashy

Albert escorted Iris and Matthew to the Audi. He gave Iris the keys after he opened the door for her. He then helped Cutty pack their things in the SUV while Adam joined Rachel, Sophie and Nebo in their car. While walking, both Adam and the Native American glanced at each other, both sensing what the other is. He made his way to the backseat with Nebo, who nuzzled against the vampire. @Al the Killer

Iris took her keys from Albert and unlocked the car. "You've got everything?" she asked Matthew. "Cat, gun, sketchbook?" Matthew scratched the top of Purrcasso's head. "Got it," he said, climbing into the back seat. He leaned back, getting "Damn, this is an upgrade from the one you sto-" Iris shushed him, glancing nervously around at the nearby Marines. "-steered into a lake." He grinned as she rolled her eyes at the lie. "Honestly, it's a miracle you still have a license." "Shut up, Matt." She waved goodbye to the nearest Marines, then got into the driver's seat to wait for Albert. @Hacky Slashy

Albert entered the passenger seat. "Ready?" He also waved by to the marines as they waved them through. Cutty also waved at them as He and Iris drove back to Rachel and Sophie's residence. The group drove through the city, having to navigate through several detours as they witnessed the aftermath of the battle for the city. Refugees were being tended to by medics while some AMP troopers were detained in cages. At one point the group witnessed a group of AMP soldiers being executed by firing squad. The marine at that checkpoints explained to Iris that some of the AMP soldiers did...morally questionable things to some of the Refugees. "Sick fucks got off too easy if you ask me, ma'am." Adam listened in on the conversation while Nebo rested on his lap. 'If it wasn't for those rogue vampires, I would've paid some of those pricks a visit.' Adam felt bad for not being able to help, but he had people to protect. Unfortunately some of the people in the city and the refugees gave grief to the liberating government forces for taking too long to get there, even shouting obscenities such 'my husband died waiting for you!' Among other things. @Al the Killer

Iris drove on, following after Rachel's vehicle. By and large, things weren't that different. Chaos and destruction still, just as many checkpoints as before, but with different people in charge of them. Admittedly, people who seemed a lot less likely to kill her and who weren't in Craig's pocket, so that was an improvement. It was nice to be able to show her ID and not get identified as a fugitive. Even if she was sure people would have questions once things went back to normal. Fortunately, for now, the concern was less on one armed robbery and more on the larger situation at hand. She listened to the explanation of what had happened and nodded along. "Maybe, but the important part is they won't hurt anyone anymore," she commented, thinking once more back to Craig's death. She'd done the world a service in killing him, she knew. It was just... surreal, thinking that the man who'd been able to keep her living in fear for years had died so easily. Surreal in a good way, perhaps. She smiled. "Anyway, good luck with getting everything back under control. Hope it goes well for you, and thank you for everything." Once she had the go-ahead to continue on, she did. Improvement or not, it was still a relief to be able to park outside of the house. Matthew got out first. As impressed as he'd been, he found he didn't enjoy confined spaces like cars very much for long periods of time. @Hacky Slashy

Adam helped Cutty bring their belongings back inside. Nebo got out and went to Iris as Quince helped her out of the car. Adam helped Sophie and Rachel unpack while Quince helped both Iris and Matthew to the house. Adam was able to strip off the extra layers and then retreat from the sunlight. "Home sweet home!" Adam announced as everyone made their way inside. @Al the Killer

Matthew hurried to help get everything inside while Iris got out of her car. "It's good to be back here," she commented. Showers, a full kitchen, the ability to at least pretend they had some privacy... it really was the little things in life that mattered. She reached down to pet Nebo, then took Albert's hand and followed the others to the house. "Looks like it wasn't torn apart too badly." It had definitely been searched, but the furniture was at least intact. She stood next to the doorway for a moment, out of the way but appreciating the familiar setting. But she had more important things to do now than stare at the living room. "Dibs on first shower." She let go of Albert's hand and hurried to the stairs. Matthew set Purrcasso down. "At least that upgrade's really working for her," he said as Iris started up the steps. @Hacky Slashy

Quince and Cutty searched the house, but found no intruders thankfully. Both men simply kept an eye out on things while the girls settled in. Nebo sat on Adam's lap on the couch, still convinced he was a lap dog. Quince simply went up to the bedroom he and Iris shared and then collapsed on the bed. Recent events had deprived him of sleep, that he was now able to catch up on. @Al the Killer

Matthew helped search the house, which proved to be an incredibly uneventful task. He soon settled in as well, once he was sure there wasn't anyone around. After a moment, he took his sketchbook from his bag and looked over at Nebo. As good a subject as any. "If you find me staring in your general direction, ignore me," he told Adam. "It's only for Nebo. No offense." He just had to hope the dog didn't move. Iris stayed in the warm water for a while longer, realizing just how much she'd missed it, difficulty that came with balancing on one leg and all. Once she was finished, she got dressed again, put the prosthetic leg back on, and walked out to the bedroom. For a moment, she looked down at Albert. He looked more peaceful than he had in the past few days, and she couldn't help but smile. "I guess I'm staying up here, then." She lay down beside him, careful not to disturb his rest as she wrapped an arm around him. @Hacky Slashy

Adam simply pet the dog. Nebo didn't stir, feeling surprisingly safe and comfortable with the vampire. Cutty took a nap in his sleeping bag while Rachel and Sophie slept in their rooms. Quince looked up at Iris and gestured to join him on the bed. "A proper bed again." Quince smiled at her. It was nice to have a peaceful moment for a change. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled over at him as well. "I'll be honest, there were a few times I thought we might not live long enough to sleep in a real bed again," she admitted. "Finally being proven wrong is something I could get used to." She rolled into her stomach and looked down at him, reaching a hand out to run her fingers gently through his hair. "Give it a few days and we might even be able to stay somewhere without a vampire who hears everything that happens in the building." Including this conversation. Oops. "No offense to the vampire, of course." @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah, things seemed pretty grim back in that warehouses. I was getting worried that was it." Albert then turned on his side to face her, rubbing her hair. "That would be very nice." Adam smiled hearing the two upstairs. The dog continued resting on Adam's lap. He rubbed the dog's furry back. "You know, after that whole art schoo business is done, you can do a vampire hero comic. I cam even consult, free of charge."

Iris rested her head on the pillow, keeping her eyes on him. "In a way, I'm glad that all of this happened, though," she admitted. "For years, it was like I forgot I was alive, right until I looked death in the face. Multiple times, I mean; I won't pretend my first near-death experience was enough... my point is, I'm not sure I would have worked up the nerve to get this close to you if everything had stayed normal." Matthew didn't look away from his work, his eyes only going between Nebo and his drawing. "Honestly, I'm not sure if drawing comics for a living would be awesome or ruin my enjoyment of both comic books and art." He shrugged. "Guess I'd have to give it a shot to find out." @Hacky Slashy

"That and maybe Craig would've succeeded eventually if current events didn't give us the opportunity to deal with him." Quince held Iris closer to him. "And funny enough, I'm also happy things happened when they did. I'm not sure I would've figured out what's going on with you before it was too late." "Well, a wiseman once said if you enjoy what you do, it's not really work." Adam pet the dog as he continued talking to Matthew. "Any other stories from the streets?" @Al the Killer

Iris draped an arm over him as she was pulled closer. She hated to think about what would have happened to her. But he was right, at any rate. Her memories flashed back to the one time a neighbour, meaning well, had called the precinct on Craig, before the divorce. The officer had shown up, spoken with Craig, then left with the two men laughing like old buddies, shortly before things had gotten even worse for her. Weeks later, the same officer's wife had made hauntingly familiar allegations, but nothing had come of it. A year later, she'd shown up in Iris's morgue, the final wakeup call she'd needed to leave her own marriage. Craig had returned the officer's favour by refusing to even acknowledge evidence against the officer, who continued to work in the department until his recent and uneventful retirement, well-liked by those who either hadn't heard or hadn't believed his dead wife's claims. She shivered slightly at the memory. "I'm just... relieved that's over," she said, though she wasn't entirely sure it would ever be over, in her mind. "Funny, how the only monsters I'm afraid of are the humans. The ones nobody sees, even when they're right in front of you. Vampires, though? I'd fight a vampire again." She smiled, trying to lighten the mood a bit. Matthew paused, looking at what he had in terms of blocking and basic line sketches so far. The lines would all disappear anyway, by the time details and shading were done, replaced by the implication of boundaries. "Nothing that's exactly fun to talk about," he admitted, marking down the light source on the paper for reference. "It's a pretty bleak life, overall." @Hacky Slashy

"On the bright side, a bullet does those human monsters in pretty easily. They don't need as much as the actual monsters. And personally wouldn't mind joining you." "Sorry to hear. Was wondering if you had more fun stuff with Purcasso." Adam remembered his life prior to meeting everyone. It wasn't exactly fun either, but at least for any evil prick came his way, he could drain them. Matthew was only human, didn't have that option. "I'm sorry you don't need to talk about it all." @Al the Killer

Iris chuckled. "Yeah, that's true. So, what are we counting as our first date? Robbing a blood bank together and fighting vampires? Getting caught in the crossfire of a gang war during a supply run? Killing my ex-husband and getting your car blown up?" At least with him in those memories, she could look back at them fondly. Matthew shook his head. "Nah, it's fine. Honestly, as far as Purrcasso goes, things haven't been too eventful. I've gotten more cautious since meeting her. Like, I can't risk my life now that I've got a daughter to take care of, y'know?" Purrcasso jumped onto the arm of the sofa as he spoke, conveniently blocking Matthew's view of Nebo. @Hacky Slashy

" I vote combine them all into one. But let's hope I can take you on actual one sometime soon." Quince smiled fondly until he remembered his blown up car. "I wonder how insurance is gonna take it, not to mention how do I tell them about it. Oh hello, yes I was helping to assassinate a corrupt official when vampires and rogue PMCs showed up. They blew up my car in the cross fire." Nebo sniffed at the cat and smiled. He licked the cat's face once again. Adam smiled at the interaction between the two. "You've certainly spoiled her a bit. Rightfully so." @Al the Killer

"Hm, maybe. Kidnapping Susan is still the most romantic thing anyone's ever done for me, so good luck topping that," Iris joked along. "But you can just say it got blown up in the crossfire during the battle last night. How are they going to tell the difference, really?" She smiled, rubbing a hand up and down his back soothingly. "One thing's for sure: if we ever have kids, we'll have some great stories to tell them." Matthew laughed as Purrcasso pulled her head back, airplaned her ears, and gave Nebo the most offended look ever. "Yeah, I try my best," he said. @Hacky Slashy

"You're right. How would they know?" Quince said as he held Iris. He smiled at the prospect of having children. "And then my car blew up. That's how I met your mother, kids." Nebo innocently smiled and looked at the cat, not comprehending she'd likely scratched others for lesser crimes. "I think she still needs to warm up to you, boy." Adam said as he pet the dog. @Al the Killer

They'd alread committed plenty of crimes, what was some light insurance fraud by comparison? "Never thought I'd end up being the 'do as I say, not as I do' sort of parent, but we'd have to say something if we don't want to end up paying a ton of bail money for our potential future children," she said, then lifted her head. "Did you want to sleep? Am I keeping you awake?" Purrcasso turned away, lifted her tail once her back was to Adam and Nebo as though everyone needed to see her butthole, then jumped off the sofa. "I think she's starting to warm up to him," Matthew said, reaching down to pick her up as she approached. "She's just fickle." @Hacky Slashy

"Not at all. Just wanted to lie down on a bed. Preferably with you in it." He gave her a kiss and then held her. 'Pity we can't exactly send Adam to the movies right now.' He thought to himself as he held her. "None can resist the charm of a siberian husky." Adam said as he pet Nebo's back. The dog smiled at Matthew. It then let out a fart. "Ew!" Adam said as he covered his nose. @Al the Killer

"Glad I caught the hint, then." Iris cuddled close to Albert, silently wishing vampires could just enter comatose sleeps during the day. "Also glad you're not trying to sleep, because I wasn't done bothering you. I wouldn't mind taking you out to dinner some time after this. Any preferences for where?" "Ayuh, real charming," Matthew agreed, laughing. "Do vampires have enhanced smell, too? Sucks to be you right now." @Hacky Slashy

"Good question. I'd go with Italian. I'd prefer Mexican, but I can't in good conscience subject you to the aftermath. You've already been through enough." Albert smiled at her. Nebo sniffed around as if the fart came from anywhere else. "Yep. Unfortunately." Adam said as he tried waving the dog fart away. Nebo got off the couch and scratched his ear with his leg. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled back. "We are moving in together. Sooner or later, I'll have to deal with the consequences," she said, then immediately reconsidered. "Just... Maybe not on a date night. Italian it is." Matthew set his sketchbook aside and leaned back, stretching his legs out in front of him. Purrcasso curled up in his lap, purring softly. "Anyway, I just hope I'm not expected to move for the rest of the day, because..." He gestured toward the cat. "Otherwise occupied right now." @Hacky Slashy

"It's a date!" Quince said as he held her. "Still though, I'm still processing monsters existing. And that we're basically bunking with one right now." Downstairs Adam laid down on the couch. "No worries, I think we'll be fine. So, any other vampire related questions you got?" Adam asked while on the couch. @Al the Killer

"It's... strange, to say the least," Iris admitted. "Still, I'm glad if we're staying with one of them, it's Adam. After I was almost kidnapped, I was terrified of what would come next, not to mention worried sick about you. He helped keep me sane through it all. And saved my life, of course. He's a good monster to have around." She rested her head against Albert's chest. "He's the one who actually encouraged me to act on my feelings for you." Matthew considered for a moment. "So what happens if you don't get enough blood?" he asked. "Iris's worrying got me curious." @Hacky Slashy

"I owe him my life. I think we would've had a harder time with the rogue vampire pack if not for him. And he helped save Sophie and Rachel." Quince held Iris' face. "So he played matchmaker?" "Well, according to Thesally, I'd go rabid if I go too long without blood. She was another vamp I met when I first turned. She helped me figure out how it worked. We hunted together until we got separated, a coven of vampires she pissed off. She was kind of a bitch, but she meant well." @Al the Killer

Iris looked up at him as she felt his hand on her face. "He did," she said. "Though I was admittedly trying to do the same for him and Sophie." She smiled. "And I'm glad he did. I never thought I'd be..." She trailed off, unsure if it was too soon to use the word that came to mind. She didn't want to assume the full extent of his feelings. "...That someone might care about me in the way you do, and I'd actually feel the same." "Rabid? Like, biting random people and whatnot?" Matthew asked, making a mental note to keep him well fed. "So vampires really do have covens?" @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah. But not a whole lot left though. Apparently mankind got a little sensitive about being hunted, so a lot of them ended up being snuffed out. Same with monsters. Used to be way more, but when humans gang up, it's game over." Adam said to Matthew while laying down on the couch. "Also I mean rabid as in just a wild animal, indiscriminate Killing machine." "I never thought I'd get romantically involved with anyone again. Had some dates here and there, but they never lasted long. I'd like to say work kept getting in the way, but that's only somewhat true. But you've shown me I can be happy again. That I don't have to be just lonely and miserable forever." Quince said as he wrapped Iris in a deeper embrace.

@Al the Killer

"Can't imagine why someone might be upset about finding out they're getting hunted. Weird," Matthew joked. Purrcasso squirmed from his arms, so he let go so she could wander off to who-knows-where. Iris smiled. "I didn't do anything," she said, blushing faintly. "Aside from all the crimes these past few days, but I doubt that would show you that you can be happy again. But I'm glad you feel that way. I want you to be happy. Preferably with me." She closed her eyes, leaning in the rest of the way to kiss him. @Hacky Slashy

Unfortunately for Matthew, Nebo took up Purcasso's spot on Matthew's lap. The dog licked Matthew's hand as he laid down. "Look's like you're definitely not moving anytime soon." Adam said as watched the dog rest on Matthew, thinking he was a lapdog. Quince happily returned the kiss. Pity the vampire and the others were downstairs. He would like to be more affectionate, but he would have to wait. "With you? I wouldn't have it any other way." @Al the Killer

Matthew winced at the sudden weight. "Oof." He patted Nebo's head anyway. "Nope, guess I'm stuck here. So much heavier than the cat, too. No offense, Nebo." He looked over at Adam. "So, covens, huh? Did you ever get involved in one of them?" "Neither would I," Iris agreed. But she pulled away slightly, lest she throw caution to the wind and pretend they wouldn't be overheard. "Odd how I brought a book along and haven't gotten any reading done in days. This never happens to me." @Hacky Slashy

"Not really. I was kind of a lone vampire. Thesally and I hunted together, she pretty much Mister Miyagi'd my ass into expert leven vampire. She had an arrangement with that coven , bring them humans to feed on. She stuck to gang bangers and other criminals. One day they wanted children to feed on. So, she kinda told them to fuck off and even killed a few of them. I had to help her to take them out with some explosives. Apparently one of her exes was an army guy who got her all sorts of gnarly stuff. Long story short, we ended up blowing up their hideout, but I haven't seen her since." Quince then looked at Iris. "Want me to get the book for you?" Quince asked as he rubbed her arm. He smiled at her. @Al the Killer

Matthew listened to the story, a bit impressed. "Damn. So all this stuff that's been happening is a normal week to you?" he joked. "But I've gotta say, moral issues aside, a vampire coven demanding children just sounds impractical. They don't even have as much blood, and will be missed." Sure Iris could have gotten it herself. But once the prosthetic was off, going anywhere again was so much work. "Could you, please?" she asked, not bothering to hide her relief. She smiled back. "My bag's right over there. House of Leaves should be at the top." @Hacky Slashy

"Something about kids taste more pure and sweeter. But yeah, fuck them. Funny thing is all I can think about I miss eating cheeseburgers or any human food for that matter." Nebo nuzzled against Matthew, still thinking he's a lapdog. Quince nodded and then up. He walked over to where the bag was and saw the book. He brougt it, came back to the bed with it and lied back downn, handing her the book. "What's it about if you don't mind me asking?" @Al the Killer

"Well that's fucked up," Matthew commented. "So can you not eat human food at all, or does it just not do anything for you? What would happen if you did eat a cheeseburger? Would something like a rare steak be a grey area for you, since it's still a little bloody?" He scratched behind Nebo's ear. Iris sat up, leaning back against the pillows. "Basically about a fucked up haunted house, but written in an academic publishing format," she explained as she took the book. "I can't really do it justice, but you're welcome to borrow it after I'm done." She smiled over at him, then opened to where she'd left the bookmark. @Hacky Slashy

"I just puke it back out, basically. As for the steak, I can make do with animal blood, but human blood tastes better. Kinda like do you prefer a microwaveable cheeseburger or a steak." Back upstairs, Quince laid down on his back. "Sounds interesting, but I think I've had my fill of horror for the time being." @Al the Killer

"Cheeseburger," Matthew said without hesitation, despite it having been a very rhetorical question. "More convenient, and the texture of steak is a nightmare." He patted Nebo's head, making sure to give the husky as much attention as he demanded. Which was a lot. Iris glanced down at him. "Understandable. I mean, I figure nothing in fiction could possibly be as scary as real life, so reading is still a bit of a comfort." She rested a hand on his head, absently playing with his hair while she read. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo rolled over on Matthew, showing his belly. "Fair enough. I get that. But yeah, only blood, nothing else. And unfortunately no cure, either. I tried asking Thesally but she shut down any notion of that. She said and I quote: Kid, I've been around since the vikings fucked and killed everything in sight. If there was a cure, I would've found one by now." Adam was starting to miss her. She was fond of him, just had a strange way of showing affection, at least that's what he told himself. Quince simply laid down in silence, wrapping an arm around her waist. He eventually drifted off into his nap. @Al the Killer

Matthew tilted his head back to avoid the movement of Nebo's paws potentially hitting his face. "I mean, they didn't fuck or kill everything. Some things, they just made into boats," he joked. "Anyway, it sounds like you at least had a good mentor to help you out while you were figuring out the whole 'vampire' thing. Can't imagine trying to navigate all that without help." Iris paused her reading to smile down at him affectionately. He looked so peaceful like that. She reached down to pull a blanket over him, then continued to read. @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah. She didn't have to, but she did. She also taught me that while I do need blood, I can pick who I feed on. Hence why I chose criminals, caught in the act." Adam said as Nebo looked at Matthew, tongue wagging. Quince rolled over and wrapped his arm around Iris' waist, nuzzling against her.

@Al the Killer

"Doing what you need to survive, but causing as little harm as possible," Matthew said. It was a bit different from any situation he'd been in, but on principle, he understood. He yawned and leaned back. "A nap sounds like a good idea right now." He still rubbed Nebo's belly, though. Iris looked down and smiled fondly at Albert. Her hand rested on his head. After a moment, she set her book aside. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo let out an enthusiastic bark as Matthew rubbed his belly. Adam decided to join in. Luckily Nebo got off Matthew and rested on the alongside Adam. "Look's like you're getting your wish." Albert briefly woke up and noticed Iris set the book down. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt?" He said as he wrapped Iris in an embrace. @Al the Killer

Matthew jumped at the bark, startled. "Yeah, now that I'm wide awake." He laughed, then settled back down. Nope, he still had the capacity for rest left in him. He closed his eyes. Iris shook her head. "Not in any way I mind." She shifted so she could kiss his forehead. "Did I wake you up?" Her arm wrapped around him to return the embrace. @Hacky Slashy

Adam picked up Nebo and then placed him on the other sofa. The dog rested blissfully as Adam pet him. He would maintain Nebo is a good boy until his last breath. "Not at all." Quince pulled Iris closer to him. "If anything, you're allowed to." Quince smiled and then kissed her. @Al the Killer

Matthew let Adam carry the big needy dog away. After all, a nap would be far easier to manage without his legs being crushed. It didn't take long for him to drift off, though it would be easy to wake him up. Iris smiled back at Albert. "I don't know if that's something you want to tell me. It all sounds sweet until I wake you up at two in the morning to tell you about a new microbiology study I read." Still, once she was done joking, she closed her eyes and kissed him back. Her free hand went to the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair. @Hacky Slashy

Adam then sat with his back to Nebo and drifted off to sleep. With the other vampires and AMP mostly dealt with , he figured a nap was warranted. Quince held her close to him. "I would unironically welcome that. Of course preferably, I hope you reserve the two in the morning wakeup calls for Ice Cream runs." Quince ran his hands up and down her body. @Al the Killer

Iris chuckled at that. "Look, there's no reason we can't do both. I can reward you for listening to my rambling with ice cream. Sounds like a fair enough trade." For a moment, she could just stay close to him, resting a hand against his chest. His touch felt safe, but a part of her craved a bit more. "Of course, I can think of a few other reasons I might wake you up at two in the morning." Her fingertips traced teasingly down the centre of his chest. Fuck caution, fuck the risk of being overheard, they'd been through enough together to have earned the right to do exactly what would have gotten them killed in a horror movie. @Hacky Slashy

Quince grinned at Iris. "Payback for that mess at the warehouse ?" Quince smiled as he kissed Iris, caressing her, and running his hand down her body. "What do you say?" Adam managed to drift off to sleep. He, Nebo and Matthew slept peacefully. @Al the Killer

Payback was one way to put it. As they kissed, Iris shifted so she could settle on top of Albert, taking a moment to balance comfortably. The question came as a challenge. If only because it was hard to think of anything other than the desire to be ever closer to him. She smiled and leaned down. "I say it sounds like we're on the same page," she whispered in his ear. @Hacky Slashy

Quince held Iris close to him and laid her down on her back. He began kissing her lips and neck. He caresses her leg while doing so. Downstairs Adam is completely asleep, starting to dream. In the dream he is lying in a hammock, with a very familiar looking woman lying next to him while two kids were running around. @Al the Killer

His lips on her neck, the feeling of his breath warm against her skin, set her heart racing. Her head tilted back to make more room for him. In that moment, he was all she wanted. Nothing else in the world really mattered. She traced her hand down the line of his spine, slipping under his shirt to feel his skin beneath her fingers. Her hand trailed around to his front, more than ready to get at least one article of clothing out of the way. But she paused first, looking to Albert to make sure it was alright. @Hacky Slashy

Quince pulled his shirt off and tossed it on the floor. He went back to work kissing her neck and face. His hands then went under her shirt, feeling her soft skin. He waited for permission before removing the shirt. Nebo got up and jumped down next to Adam while he was dreaming. @Al the Killer

Iris was more than happy to help him out with unbuttoning her shirt. Once she'd cast it aside, she cupped his face in her hands, looking into his eyes. Her face was somewhat flushed, bringing a bit more colour to her cheeks than usual. "I love you." She'd have time to consider whether the timing was brilliant or absolutely awful later. For now, she pulled him in for another kiss. Her hand trailed back down his chest now that it was bare for her. @Hacky Slashy

"I love you." Quince said as he continued kissing her. He then kissed his way down to her breasts, paying special attention to each. He then ran his hands down to her panties. He waited for permission to slide them off. Adam was still blissfully in his dream world, watching the kids play around with two dogs and Sophie in his arms. Nebo got up and went next to Adam, curling up next to the vampire. @Al the Killer

Well, that was a relief to hear back. Iris smiled into the kiss. As his lips trailed down, she let go of him so she could reach behind herself, unhooking her bra and removing it to make this easier for him. His attentions elicited a soft moan from her, but she reminded herself to keep it mostly quiet. "Go ahead," she whispered, lifting her hips for him so he could finish undressing her. "Take your time." She didn't try to remove his pants yet. Given how long it had been for her, she didn't want to short out on foreplay. That didn't mean she couldn't reach down to tease him through them, though. @Hacky Slashy

Quince gently tossed the bra aside and buried his face in her breasts. His hands then removed her panties and discarded them. While he was playing with her breasts, he began to finger her. Adam was still dreaming, living a definitive life. He noticed his skin wasn't pale white and it was daylight in the dream. @Al the Killer

Iris rested one hand at the back of his head, burying her fingers in his hair. Time alone had left her more sensitive than she remembered, and her breath hitched as she felt his fingers slide inside her. "Fuck, Albert," she breathed, her voice a throaty whisper. "You are perfect." It was harder to reach his length in the current position, so she let her other hand rest at the small of his back instead. @Hacky Slashy

Quince finished fingering her. He then removed his pants and tossed them aside. He then kissed her neck and then went down to her breasts. He finally made his way down to her sex and began licking her. He moved his tongue back and forth. He held on to her legs as he did so, feeling his member harden. Nebo got off the couch and sat next to Adam while he dreamed. The dog sniffed at him and nuzzled against him. @Al the Killer

Iris closed her eyes and sank into the pleasure as she guided his head down. She savoured every kiss he left on her skin, dripping desire with each flick of his tongue against her. As it turned out, she didn't need as long to be ready as she'd expected. Her brain was a bit addled though, and her heavy breaths made it harder to speak instead of moaning. "W-whenever you're ready, love." Not that she'd mind giving him a hand if needed, either. @Hacky Slashy

Quince licked her engorged clit one last time and then was face to face with Iris again, wearing nothing but a smile. He was already hard, waiting for her to permit him. Nebo simply observed Adam, seeing him sleep and dream peacefully. @Al the Killer

Iris opened her eyes and smiled back, taking a moment to enjoy the view. But they hadn't removed their clothes just to stare at each other, so she wrapped her leg around his waist to pull him closer. She lifted her head, letting her lips brush against the skin of his neck. "I want you inside me," she said, in the self-confessed understatement of the year. Her arms wrapped around him as she kissed his neck. @Hacky Slashy

Quince gently slid into Iris' inner walls. He thrust in and out. Slowly at first to get her used to the feeling. He held on the bed with both hands as he continued thrusting. He moaned at Iris kissed his neck. He returned the favor by kissing her face, cheek and then nuzzled against her neck. He then caresses her good leg, brushing against the side of her ass. Nebo put his paw on Adam's knee, yet still the vampire rested. @Al the Killer

He fit perfectly inside, and she returned the favour by lifting her hips to grind against him, taking him deeper inside in the process. One of her hands rested at his shoulder. The other trailed down to give his ass a soft squeeze. As they kept rhythm together, she let herself drown in pleasure. Gentle, considerate... he was everything she could have hoped for and more, and she intended to make the most of it. She squeezed her walls tighter around him once she'd gotten used to him. More than anything, she wanted to make sure they both enjoyed this. @Hacky Slashy

Quince felt Iris squeezing the life out of his penis. He felt himself go deeper and welcomed it. He nibbled her neck with his teeth, and then kissed her neck and face. As he continued thrusting, he licked neck. Nebo walked to both Matthew and Adam. He then walked up to Adam. He gently grabbed Nebo, but in the dream he was gently grabbing Sophie in the dream. "The kids are asleep." She smiled and kissed Adam. @Al the Killer

Iris caught his lips with her own, locking him in a passionate kiss. Her heart was racing, beating so hard she was almost certain he could feel it through her chest. Her ragged breathing was obvious, once she broke the kiss to catch her breath. Her nails scraped lightly against his skin as she held him close. ~~~ Matthew opened one eye, slowly waking up and mercifully not having vampire hearing. He glanced over at Nebo trying to bug the sleeping vampire, and gestured quietly with one hand for the dog to come to him for attention instead. Adam seemed like he could use the sleep. @Hacky Slashy

Quince kept pumping away. He felt her nails scraping his skin. He thrusted and then realized tha familiar tingling sensation in his penis. "I'm coming." Quince said while pinning her down. Nebo started licking Adam. "So-" he felt himself wake up to the affectionate Husky. "Hi Nebo." Adam smiled as Nebo went towards Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris could feel her own pleasure reaching its peak. Perfectly timed, it seemed. She barely heard Albert's warning as she went over the edge, walls trembling around him as she climaxed. She kissed him again to keep herself quiet, holding him as close as she could. ~~~ Matthew tried not to laugh, catching onto the name Adam had nearly said. "Good dream?" he guessed, petting Nebo's head. He stood up after a moment. "Nice to have a peaceful day, at least." @Hacky Slashy

Quince felt himself spurt into Iris, flooding her walls with his semen. He returned the kiss as he finally finished, moaning in the process. Before Adam could answer, he managed to hear the copulation upstairs reach it's climax. His face gave away the story to Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris kept her arms wrapped around him as she slowly began to come back down. The kiss softened before she pulled away, stroking his hair. "That was wonderful." She smiled, then kissed his forehead. "And so are you." She'd used the word perfect earlier, sure, but now that she had post-orgasm clarity, she was back to being a realist. Maybe a little happier about it though. Luckily, Matthew was way denser than he looked, and just gave Adam a confused look. "Okay? Don't worry, I don't expect you to tell me anything about it," he assured him, assuming he was just embarrassed about whatever dream he'd been having about Sophie. @Hacky Slashy

Quince slid his penis out and laid next to her, covering her and himself with the blanket. "That was great." He held her in his arms. "You don't think anyone heard, did they?" Quince asked playfully. Adam composed himself. He was actually more embarrassed to wake up for the other climax. "Did I miss anything?" Adam said while looking around. Nebo pawed at Matthew, then licked his hand. @Al the Killer

Oh. Shit. The vampire. Iris had completely forgotten. "Damn it, I hadn't even thought of that," she admitted. "The good news is, I don't think my brother or your nieces heard anything..." She sighed and cuddled against him. Too late to change anything now. "Are you hungry? I can make something for us to eat?" As long as he was willing to retrieve their clothes, because she was pretty sure most of them had been thrown out of reach. Matthew shrugged. "I was asleep too," he said, still petting Nebo. "But I think it's been pretty quiet, still. Everyone's probably sleeping off the events of the past few nights." @Hacky Slashy

"I got it handled." Quince got up and retrieved both of his clothes and Iris'. He got dressed and then placed Iris' clothes next to her. "I'd like it of you didn't get dressed again just yet. What do you want me to make?" "Can't say I blame them. Who wouldn't?" Said the traumatized vampire. Wasn't the first time he heard or seen two people initiating coitus, but never his own friends. But hey, love is love. He was actually happy for them. He didn't know them for long, but knew they definitely needed that. Nebo unfortunately got back on Matthew's lap and stayed there. Somehow the dog was still convinced he was a lap dog. He licked Matthew's hand as he laid there on his legs. @Al the Killer

Iris reached for her clothes, but stopped short when he spoke again. "I'm sure you would like that," she teased, settling back onto the mattress. "I'm not sure what's here in terms of ingredients, so all I can say for sure is something more substantial than a sandwich." She considered for a moment. "And something to drink. Water is fine for that." She wasn't too worried about having been overheard anymore. She wouldn't make a habit of this, but she was sure Adam had heard far worse things than some consensual lovemaking in an upstairs bedroom, given his hunting patterns. That said, she was grateful for having been spared the need to look her friend in the eye after that just yet. "Oof, again," Matthew grunted at the weight on him. He kept petting the spoiled dog anyway. @Hacky Slashy

Quince gave Iris a kiss and then went downstairs to cook food. He greeted Adam, Matthew and Nebo. "I see Nebo still thinks he's a lap dog." Nebo nuzzled against Matthew in response. Quince managed to cook a full plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. He even made some pancakes. He brought the dish upstairs to Iris. He then came back with the pancakes, along with syrup butter and two bottles of water after one last trip. "Anything else, my love?" Quince said. Adam looked over to Matthew and Nebo. "I think he made plenty of pancakes. Want me to bring some to you? Or I could lure Nebo away with his food." @Al the Killer

Matthew lifted his hand in a wave of greeting to Quince. The temptation to go into the kitchen to be nosy about what he was making was definitely there, but the large dog pinning him to the sofa prevented him from doing anything about it. "He seems to be in a good mood," he commented to Adam, once Quince had walked into the kitchen. Must have been one hell of a nap. Once Quince returned upstairs, Matthew considered his options. "Probably better to lure Nebo away, so he doesn't make it harder for me to eat once I do have food." Iris smiled as Albert returned. She'd never grow tired of hearing him say that word. "Only you by my side." She let go of the blanket she'd pulled up to cover his chest during his excursion to the kitchen. She looked over the selection of food he'd brought up. A large breakfast, mid-day. Or later; she'd lost track of time. "In terms of food, though, this is plenty." @Hacky Slashy

Quince joined Iris with just hos boxers and nothing else. He held the plate of food for her. Quince then just eyed Iris and smiled. He almost couldn't believe this happened, but he was not gonna question it further. "Hope brunch was ok. Was also in the mood for pancakes, but then again I always am." Adam proceeded to fill up two bowls with both water and Dinky D's dogfood. He brought the plate of food to Nebo. The dog perked up and got off Matthew. Adam set the bowl down and Nebo feasted. Adam pet the dog while he gave a thumbs up to Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris took the plate of food, as well as a moment to appreciate the view. Between the two, she counted herself a lucky woman indeed. "Brunch is always fine," she agreed. "Eating anything with syrup in bed seems like a disaster waiting to happen, but worth it." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then started to eat. As soon as Nebo had moved, Matthew stood up. Right on time; he'd been getting that tingle that implied his legs had been about to fall asleep. "Thanks." He walked over to get some of the leftover pancakes and sat at the kitchen table. @Hacky Slashy

Adam kept the needy Husky occupied while Matthew helped himself to pancakes. Nebo finished his dinner and played with Adam. Adam was happy to indulge the husky. "So today was rather quiet. It's a good change of pace." Quince finished his food and gathered his plate, patiently waiting for Iris. He wishes that they had met sooner. @Al the Killer

Iris set her empty plate on the night stand, then rested her head against Albert's shoulder. "I can't remember the last time I had a peaceful day without a sense of impending doom," she only half-joked. "I guess I partially have you to thank for that." Mostly the fact that Craig was dead though. Maybe now that the danger was truly in the past and she could be honest about it, her therapy sessions would actually start to pay off. But speaking fondly of killing her ex husband while cuddling her boyfriend seemed in bad taste, so she didn't mention it. "It is," Matthew agreed, then continued to wolf down his pancakes. Once he was finished, he commented, "I just wonder if it will last," then grimaced. "God, now I'm starting to sound like my sister." @Hacky Slashy

"You really are. And the funny thing is before I became a vampire, whenever I'm about to lose my marbles I repeat one exact mantra in my head. You won't do well in prison. You won't do well in prison." Adam recalled his coping mechanism whenever he was having a hard time in life. Nebo curled up next to the vampire. "I think the vampire strolling into town probably did that. With his sense of justice, Craig's days would've been numbered regardless. But overall, I'm happy things worked out the way they did. You're an incredible woman anyone would be lucky enough to have in their life." Quince wrapped an arm around her and laid his head next to hers. @Al the Killer

Iris's first instinct was to argue. In her mind, she was plenty of things, very few of them positive. But were those her thoughts, or those of the people who had hurt her in her past? She fought back that instinct and smiled. "Thank you." She leaned against him and closed her eyes, a soft smile gracing her features. "I'm happy that, of all the people in the world, you're the one I get to be in love with." "Does anyone truly do well in prison?" Matthew asked. "Seems like the whole point of it is for people to have a bad time." He stood up and carried his plate to the sink. @Hacky Slashy

Quince simply held Iris. He was uncertain of what the future may hold for them all, but regardless they would face it together. He gathered the empty plates and went downstairs to wash them. After he was done, he went back to Iris's side and held her as he laid back down on the bed. Adam pet the sleeping Husky. "The gangs and the crime bosses do pretty well. Hell in some cases they end up running the whole prison." @Al the Killer

Iris took the opportunity while he was out of the room to lay down. Amazing, how not doing much could really tire a person out. Once he returned, she lifted the blanket to make space for him, then settled in his arms. "Today's been good." She smiled and closed her eyes. "Wouldn't call having to watch your back at all times 'doing well', but in that case they're the ones screwing themselves over in a way." Matthew shrugged, then walked over to a window, looking outside. @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah, you definitely have a point there. That doesn't sound fun. At least they don't have to worry about vampires or other monsters....that I know of. Then again there were a few questionable killings inside that I read about in the papers so, who knows?" Adam says as he continues petting Nebo's sleeping form. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked back at Adam. "Questionable killings? Those happen all the time, you're gonna have to be more specific. When was this?" he asked, more curious than anything else. He stepped away from the window to join in petting the dog. @Hacky Slashy

"Every now and then, there's more death and violence than usual in some prisons. Of course whenever there was an investigation or inquiry, not much comes out of it. People just move on to the next tragedy. Other than one or two news sites, nobody even talks about them. Wouldn't shock me if either some monster wound up in lock up or they cut a deal with somebody for some meals. I mean it's prisoners, why would people care, at least that's how I imagine things." The dog napped blissfully as Adam and Matthew pet him. @Al the Killer

Matthew fell silent, looking toward the window again. The setting was different, but the overall idea of it was all too familiar. People who were assumed to not be missed, the first targets for any monster - literal or metaphorical. He knew all too well. "So basically, prisons are giant refrigerators for some monsters?" he eventually joked, to keep his thoughts from getting too dark. "Not really surprised. People like to pretend it's only violent criminals that end up in prisons. Less depressing to think of it that way, I guess." @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah, it's not like people don't get railroaded or cops get lazy sometimes. Who knows if that's still going on given recent events though." Adam then got up to retrieve a blood pack. He peeked into the cooler and saw that only three remained. He came back and drained it. "Funny thing is I sometimes find myself thinking this is some twisted nightmare dream, maybe I'm in a coma, I'll just wake up any second. So far no luck." @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded. "Or some are corrupt, same with judges and stuff. You'd know about that, since you've probably snacked on some of them yourself," he agreed. He looked over at Adam. "You know, the lack of a cure for vampirism might just be because there aren't a whole lot of scientists who know about vampires. Doesn't mean it's impossible." He shrugged again. "I don't know, I'm not an expert on any of this." The vampire-aware scientist woke up from her brief nap in her boyfriend's arms. She opened her eyes and smiled at him, then kissed his cheek. "Maybe we could go downstairs, be social before we destroy our sleep schedules even more?" she suggested. @Hacky Slashy

"Or we could go for round 2." Quince said half jokingly as he kissed her neck and held her. "And what sleep schedule? In a morbid way, this is likely the closest to a vacation we'll ever get." Quince then got both his and Iris' clothing off the floor. "If it makes you feel any better, neither am I. Don't get me wrong, I know a thing or two but I'm still finding things out to this day. I mean most vampires rarely went hunting like the pack we ran into. But I guess the chaos going on gives them incentive." The Husky got up but remained laying down. @Al the Killer

Iris laughed and tilted her head back. "Tempting... but maybe a bit inconsiderate," she said, somewhat reluctantly. "We can take an actual vacation later. Not sure about you, but I have plenty of vacation days stacked up." She sat up once her clothes were within reach and started to get dressed. "Well yeah, I figured if vampires hunted like that all the time, more people would know by now," Matthew said. "Think there's a chance more might show up and attack?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince got himself dressed as well. "I got quite alot saved up. Until now the only vacation time I get is just sleeping in." He then went next to Iris and held her hand. "Pretty much. At least I made sure to leave the area by the time the authorities figure something's fishy." Nebo sniffed around and then laid back down. @Al the Killer

It was a few moments more before Iris could take Albert's hand, since she had glasses and an entire leg to put back on. "Then we'll get another," she promised. "Let's just actually get back to work, first. The idea of going anywhere without dealing with whatever backlog is waiting for me first is nearly unbearable." She smiled, gave his hand a brief squeeze, then stood up. "I'll be downstairs in a minute." She had to brush her hair back into 'did not just spend the day fucking and napping' shape first. Matthew considered for a moment. "But you're still here. Staying with a homicide detective, no less. Kind of a departure from your usual patterns, isn't it?" He hastily added, "I'm not complaining. Just observing." @Hacky Slashy

Quince went downstairs to join his girlfriend's brother and the vampire. "Hey fellas. All good?" He then went to Nebo's side. He pet the dog as it licked his hand. "Yep. Can't complain." Adam said as Rachel, Sophie and Cutty joined them. Cutty sat down, getting a drink while Rachel and Sophie joined in petting Nebo. "Slept good?" Adam asked the girls as they pet the dog. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked over at Quince. "Yeah, all good. It's been quiet today." He waved hello to the girls and Cutty as they joined the group. Iris walked down a few moments later, once she was sure she was presentable enough. She smiled over at the girls and Nebo, then stood beside Albert. "Did we miss anything interesting while we were sleeping, or is it a slow day?" She looked toward the window, but everything still seemed peaceful in this part of town. @Hacky Slashy

"Nope, all quiet on this front." Adam said as he waved at Iris. He sat on the couch as Cutty and the other greeted Iris. Nebo got up and greeted Iris. The husky pawed at Iris and nuzzled against her leg. "He really missed you." Sophie said as she and Adam shared a glance at each other. Cutty looked out the window and saw the sun setting. "How'd you two sleep?" "Just fine." Quince said with a wide smile. He then looked at Iris as he brought a water bottle to her. He then crouched down and pet Nebo. @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet Nebo. "Yes, I missed him too." She still smiled, glancing over at Albert. "And we slept well." Just had to say that while not making eye contact with the vampire. "I wouldn't mind taking Nebo out for a short walk in a bit, if that's alright. He could probably use the exercise, and it's peaceful enough that I don't think we have to worry about anything." She accepted the water bottle and twisted the cap off. "Nothing to worry about?" Matthew gave Iris an incredulous look. "Who are you and what have you done with my sister?" Iris laughed. "Shut up, Matt," she told him in lieu of an answer. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo perked up at the prospect of a walk. He rubbed against Iris' leg. "I'll come with, to. Could stretch my legs as well." Quince offered as he finished his water. "I'm just glad most of this mess is over with for now. Just gotta pick up the pieces." Cutty said as he finished a sandwich he made. Rachel and Sophie ate some sandwiches. "We have enough food for a week until we need to re stock. I can make lasagna if anyone wants." Sophie offered. "Hopefully I can begin work at the hospital. God knows people could probably use help." Rachel said as she looked at Nebo. "And sure. Just be careful. He can get too excited, but he seems cool with you." Adam smiled as everyone was chatting. "I can keep an eye out on the roof if you guys want. Never know." @Al the Killer

Iris patted Nebo's head, finishing off her own water bottle before she moved. "Cutty, never say it's over," she commented. "That's just an invitation for something else fucked up to happen." "Ah, back to your usual self," Matthew joked. She rolled her eyes. "Lasagna sounds good. Where's Nebo's leash? I'm sure between Albert and myself, we'll be able to handle him just fine." Her attention turned toward Adam for a moment. "As long as it's dark enough for you, that would be great. If you need to go hunting, that's fine too. Just let us know so we're not wondering where you are." Damn it, now she was acting like his mom. She needed to stop doing that to her friends. @Hacky Slashy

"I'll get it." Rachel got up and headed to a closet. She retrieved Nebo's leash and handed it to Iris, along with a collar that read: "Shit, I'm lost. Call my mom. She's ugly crying." Nebo sat still and waited to be collared and leashed. "No worries. I'll stay close by." Adam said as he went to check outside. The sun was setting. Time will tell if Adam is the only monster prowling around. Sophie began preparing the lasagna while Cutty helped her gather the ingredients. Quince put the leash and collar on the husky. @Al the Killer

Iris took the leash, and let Albert have it since he seemed to want to put it on Nebo, himself. Once it was done, she scratched behind Nebo's ear. "Ready to go?" she asked, before taking Albert's free hand in hers and walking toward the door. Matthew walked over to help Sophie and Cutty out in the kitchen. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo licked Iris' hand and face in response. Albert took her free hand and handed her the leash. He lead her and Nebo outside. The dog was eager to roam around while being cooped up in both the house and warehouse. Adam went out the back and announced he was going up on the roof. He climbed up and sat still. He tapped into his senses, particularly his hearing and eyesight. Things were quiet, for now. Sophie placed the lasagna in the oven after she finished prepping it with both Matthew and Cutty's assistance. @Al the Killer

Iris stumbled slightly until she found a pace that kept up with Nebo's and got him under some form of control. "In a hurry, I see." Once she was no longer being dragged along, she made sure to keep well away from the safe zone's barriers. Which, given the lack of a specific map showing where it was or was not secured, mostly meant steering clear of any military vehicles. "I wonder how things are going with the battle," she commented. "It's a lot quieter here, so it's hard to tell." @Hacky Slashy

"The title fight was recent. Hopefully they successfully evict any stragglers." Quince held her hand and squeezed it. He was happy to go on somewhat of a romantic walk, even with the very hyper husky. It's amazing that Nebo still has the same energy as when he was a puppy. Nebo slowed down and sniffed the ground. He panted in excitement about being outside. Adam continued surveilance and eventually heard a break in and gunshots. He went to investigate and stumbled upon the location of the breakin, just a few blocks away. He heard shouts of an old man and some men. When Adam got inside, he saw the weapons they were sporting and they were shouting in Russian, he thinks. He quietly dragged one away while the two other gunmen were firing on the stairs. After he was done, Adam went for them. He cut the throat of one and then twisted the other one's head all the way around in an inhuman like speed. He shouted that the men were dead. An old African American nale with a shotgun came to investigate. "Are you all right, Sir?" Adam said as the man lowered the weapon. "I am now. Twenty years ago, these fuckers would've been dead before you got here. Desert Storm. Those were the days." He then reassured his wife that they were ok now. He then noticed Adam's unusual features. "You ok, young man?" Adam responded quickly. "It's complicated." @Al the Killer

"Maybe, assuming they'll give up that easily, and they didn't do the smart thing and recruit reserves..." Iris trailed off and shook her head. It seemed optimism didn't last long, but at least she could still enjoy moments of happiness with Albert. "LA probably wouldn't be the most strategic location if they did want to launch a surprise attack anyway. We can worry about that if it happens, not now." She smiled over at Quince, then down at Nebo. "Smell anything interesting, boy?" she asked, glad she could keep up with the excitable dog's pace now. She looked up at Albert. "Anyway, we should at least keep our eye on the situation, so we know when we'll need to return to business as usual. Hopefully I'll get a chance to clean up my apartment before the morgue has to reopen. Yours was probably ransacked too." @Hacky Slashy

Adam explained the whole thing to Ed. The man introduced himself and listended intently to Adam's story. "So....vampire. that's something. Listen just head out and I'll have the authorities handle this. Thanks once again. Laura and I would've been done for if not for you." Adam took one of the bodies and fed on a rooftop. Once he was done he ditched it in a ransacked house. He made his way back to the house and kept watch again. "No worries. We'll figure things out." Quince said as he squeezed Iris' hand. Nebo sniffed around more, exploring the world. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. They'd survived everything up to this point, and the worst was probably over now. She could trust him on this. "I know we will," she said softly, still following Nebo along. "So are we actually taking him for a walk, or is it the other way around?" She looked ahead in case there was anything of interest. Houses, mostly, with decently-sized yards. "I always imagined I'd get a house in a neighbourhood like this. Peaceful, not not isolated," she commented. "Probably not a very realistic goal nowadays, even I'd stopped at the word 'house', but nice to think of at least." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo slowed his pace and stretched his back. The husky then raised his leg to pee. "I'd happily live anywhere as long as I can take you with. Could even get our own dog." Adam landed next to Iris and Quince. "Before you ask, not my blood. Some assholes tried robbing a house with people inside, probably would've hurt them. I explained politely why that was a bad idea." Adam explained what happened. "So how's it going with you fellas?" Nebo pawed at the vampire. "Good boy. Funny collar, too." @Al the Killer

Iris slowed to a stop to let Nebo do what he had to. "A dog sounds nice. If we get a pet-friendly place while we're still renting, we can check out one of the local shelters for one to ado- fucking hell!" She jumped as Adam showed up seemingly out of nowhere. After a moment to catch her breath, she shook her head. "Growing wings was a mistake. Damn." She shook her head. "We're fine, but you're really going to draw attention to yourself with your messy eating habits." @Hacky Slashy

Quince held her close to reassure her. Definitely not an excuse to hold her. At the same time Nebo nuzzled against the coroner. "To be fair, it's not like these wings are fun. I feel really gross when I use them. Also you're definitely right on that count. I'll be careful. Have a pleasant walk!" Adam took to the air again with his vampire bat like wings and landed on the roof of the house. "You still shaken up?" Quince asked as he crouched down to pet Nebo. The dog was ready to continue walking. @Al the Killer

Iris leaned into the embrace, for no reason other than the simple fact that it was there, and it was Albert. "Yeah, you t- and he's gone." She reached down with the hand that wasn't holding the leash to pet Nebo. "And I'm fine. I was just a bit startled." Once Quince let go of her, she stood upright again and looked down at the excitable overgrown puppy. "Ready to go home, or do you want to explore more?" she asked, even though the dog could not speak English.

1:09 AM

@Hacky Slashy

Nebo got down on his back and showed his belly, tongue hanging out and tail wagging. "You know what that means." Quince smiled as he gave Nebo his belly rubs. Cutty was keeping watch with the lassagna in the oven while Sophie and Rachel sat on the couch. "Can't wait to start work, once the military gives the ok and everything hopefully goes back to normal." Sophie said while she drank water. "Likewise. Sucks monsters are very real. But at least not all of them are bad." Rachel remarked. "Lasagna's ready." Cutty put on some mitts and set the lasagna on the table. "Just wait a few minutes and we're good." A Native American with a little girl and an American Akita dog walked towards Iris, Quince and Nebo. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. "How're you doing?" He waved at them with a friendly smile. @Al the Killer

Iris stayed on her feet, but smiled affectionately down at Albert as she watched him and Nebo. How had she gotten this lucky? A bit of bloodshed and mutual near-death experiences? As she heard others approached, she held the leash closer to Nebo's collar, keeping him on a short lead until she could gauge his and the other dog's reactions to each other. If they seemed hostile, she could pull him back. Otherwise, she'd give Nebo more leash room to let them interact safely. Either way, she waved back with her free hand. "Lovely, thanks. And yourselves?" A weirdly normal conversation, given the past few days before. Matthew had settled on the sofa while they waited, adding the shading and details to his earlier sketch of Nebo, even if it meant working from memory. Then Cutty said 'lasagna' and he was off like a shot, reaching the kitchen in an instant. Purrcasso followed, even though she was unlikely to receive any. @Hacky Slashy

Adam eyed the interaction, ready to pounce if he needed to. But the werewolf wasn't hostile, for now. "All good. Walking Creek with my niece." The little girl and Creek approached. Nebo got up and greeted the Akita. Both sniffed each other's butts and then Creek pawed at Iris. "This is Allie. I'm Jason." Quince introduced himself and Iris. The little girl played with Nebo, who of course was embracing the attention. Meanwhile Creek was nuzzling against Iris. The Akita licked her hand. In the house, Sophie got another can of salmon for Purcasso. She opened the can for the cat. She scratched her head and set the can down for her. @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet Creek. "Nice to meet all three of you. Albert and I were just walking Nebo. He's been restless lately," she explained. "Nebo, not Albert." She glanced at her boyfriend and considered for a moment. "Maybe both." She still held the leash, but allowed the dogs to interact for a while. Even though it was dark outside, the streetlights were plenty to see by, and she was in no particular hurry. Even if the lasagna got cold, it could always be reheated. For now, she smiled as she watched Allie and Nebo. Matthew looked down at Purrcasso. "We've gotta get you some normal cat food before you grow too spoiled," he joked. The already-spoiled cat didn't respond. @Hacky Slashy

Allie was having a blast playing with Nebo. The dog went then went up to Jason and sniffed his butt. Surprisingly it didn't phase him. "He thinks you're a dog, too Uncle Jason." Allie giggled as Nebo came back to her. Creek was pawing at both Iris and Quince. He crouched down and gave the Akita the attention he wanted. It seems they now have a new dog friend. Adam didn't feel any threatening vibes from the werewolf. He simply observed as Jason looked in his direction, even sniffing him out. He then went back to small talk. "So how bad was everything before we arrived? I was off duty when the war broke out. I hitched a ride with the marines to make sure Allie and Sandra were ok. Thankfully they and Creek were fine." @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at Jason. Odd, Nebo wasn't one of those dogs who thought every human was just a large, weird-looking canine. Unusual behaviour for him. Then her gaze followed Jason's. Damn it, this nice walk had better not turn into a weird vampires-versus-werewolves scenario. Luckily, it didn't, and she maintained the possibility that Jason might just be a human. She looked down at Creek as she responded. "It was..." She thought about the events of the past week or so. How many times had they been shot at, or attacked by vampires? More than most civilians, she was sure. "...Pretty bad. We had a few close calls, but we came out alright. I just don't know how many other people can say the same." She smiled down at Quince. "I can't say nothing good came out of it, though." @Hacky Slashy

"Likewise." Quince looked at her and smiled. Creek then pawed at Iris, wanting her attention. The Akita was just as demanding as Nebo. Speaking of, Allie was rubbing Nebo's belly. The dog then got up and licked Allie's face. She responded by hugging him. "Glad you're all ok at least. Creek seems to like you." Jason remarked as Creek continued pawing at Iris while Quince scratched his head. Sophie served everyone food while setting aside some for Quince and Iris. She also glanced upwards, thinking of their guardian vampire resting on the roof. Adam was happy watching the dogs play. He almost certain Jason was not a malicious werewolf. @Al the Killer

Iris resumed petting the very needy Akita. These dogs were going to give her back problems one of these days, and she wouldn't even feel like complaining about it. Worth it. She watched Allie with Nebo, smiling at the sight. Maybe a dog and a kid sounded nice, but one thing at a time. "Dogs seem to, lately," she commented. "I assumed Creek was just friendly toward everyone." She stood upright and turned toward Quince. "What do you think? A bit longer for the dogs to socialize, or should we head back for dinner?" @Hacky Slashy

"I don't mind. We can stay as long as you and Nebo like." Quince's stomach was starting to growl, but he would happily put up with it for Nebo and Iris. Creek and Nebo play fought and then played with Allie. Both dogs nuzzled against her. Jason crouched down and pet both dogs. "If you want, I can call him back. Once Creek gets attached to people I have to carry him back home. I don't mind, but I don't want to keep you all." Adam stayed vigilant, watching the dogs play, also Quince and Iris. He was also happy he didn't need to duke it out with a werewolf right now. @Al the Killer

Nice as this chat was, dinner was starting to sound a bit nicer. "If you don't mind," Iris said. "We're staying with Albert's nieces and my brother right now, so we should get back before they start worrying. If you live in the neighbourhood, we'll probably see you around another time." She looked down at the husky. "Alright, Nebo," she called. "Ready to head home and eat?" She kept hold of the leash as she took Albert's hand back in her free one. @Hacky Slashy

Quince and Jason exchanged goodbyes and were off. "I'm living with my sister a few houses down. If you need anything just knock." Allie gave Nebo a hug and then left with Jason and Creek. Creek gave Iris one last lick and then they were off. Quince held Iris as Nebo slowly walked in front. "Is it just me or did he have fur coming out of his ears?" They made thier way back into the house. "Hi. How'd the walk go? I can reheat the lassagna if you guys want. Also did Nebo behave himself? He gets really excited on walks. Makes you wonder who's walking who." Sophie said as she went to activate the oven to reheat the lassagna. Adam remained perched on the rooftop. He listened to the others talking. He would join but elected to stay on the roof. --- Philadelphia An army battalion has been keeping order, fighting off both unrest and AMP. However, a few days ago, people were being mysteriously slaughtered, torn to pieces. Sergeant Rudolfo Diaz led several patrols and come upon the aftermath of the killings. It looked as if wild animals decided to cut loose while humans were fighting each other. Diaz was on the walls, keeping watch for incoming enemies. He was using binoculars and observing the barren wasteland outside the walls. 'What the fuck is going on? Where are you hiding?" He wondered if it was men doing the killings, some of the bodies were strung up and displayed. That seemed far too intelligent for animals. Before he could contemplate more, a howl broke the silence. And then another, and another. "Activate the searchlights." He barked into his radio as the searchlights shined in the darkness.....revealing multiple hostiles. "OPEN FIRE!" Someone shouted as they immediately unleashed a hailstorm of bullets, punching into the massive beasts. One thing that stoodout was there were humans among the beasts, firing guns and rockets at the wall. Rudolfo was knocked off the wall and landed on a fallen soldier. He got up just in time to see the wall and barricade

12:15 PM

s over run. He saw a massive black wolf creature pick up one of his fellow soldiers and plunge his clawed hands through his torso, staring the poor 18 year old rookie as he died. Rudolfo felt himself being dragged away by a squad mate as he listened to panicked radio chatter. "WE'RE BEING OVERRUN! THERE'S TOO MANY, WE GOT TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!" Among other horrified orders. He made it into a humvee as the black werewolf stared the humvee driving away. A red werewolf went next to him and was about to give chase. "No. Someone's got to tell the tale. Reinforce the others. Tonight we'll eat good." The wolf smiled and climbed on top of a tall building. He looked at the city that was consumed by fire, blood, teeth and claws. James Raven is on a warpath, of blood and slaughter. The 2nd American Civil War couldn't have come at a better time in his eyes. He leaped down and joined the rest of his army to continue the carnage. New York was the first to fall, first to AMP, and then the wolves. James caught a group of soldiers trying to rally to their comrades. They opened fire on him, but he reacted the same way as a human would to a mosquito bite...nothing. Limbs were torn off, eyes were gouged out and heads were crushed. He relished in the taste of blood and meat, and the violence. He was the ultimate predator in this new jungle. Humanity's time was over, now monsters will reign supreme. Rudolfo Diaz was helping with the evacuation. More of the city was falling to these monsters. 'They're fucking werewolves.' His father always had a saying: if it looks like a duck, talks like a duck.....you get the idea." He got on a 50 caliber turret and helped the remaining defenders of the city mow down the lycanthropes. They were fighting valliantly, but the enemy was overwhelming and without mercy. Rudolfo got the evacuation order and helped a soldier get on to the bus. As the bus left, he could only watch in horror.

@Al the Killer

Iris patted the top of Creek's head before the others left. She smiled as she watched, thinking about her own future, now that she finally felt she had one. Perhaps she had been too quick to say 'no promises' when it came to children. Something to think about later. For now, she turned and walked back to the house with Nebo and Albert. "I try not to stare at strangers' ears," she commented in response. Matthew had turned on the news moments before Iris and the others returned, but he soon neglected the TV to greet them. "Hey. We saved some for you." "Thank you," Iris said. "It went well. And I noticed how excitable he can get, but he was... under control." Enough, at least. "He seems to get along well with other dogs, at least." She removed Nebo's leash to let him wander the house freely, putting it back where Rachel had gotten it from. "Did we miss anything interesting?" Matthew glanced back at the television. "Fighting's still going on out east," he said. "The reports from New York were originally about wild animal attacks, but more cities have gotten hit since. Think it might be something more organized?" Iris shrugged. "I try to have more of the facts in hand before forming a solid opinion," she said. "But it sounds suspicious." @Hacky Slashy

Adam was listening in to the news broadcast. He heard about the wild animal attacks. He even caught the speculation that it's more organized. Can't be....right? "I don't know. With everything that happened, maybe we shouldn't be so dismissive." Quince said as he waited for the warm lasagna. "The military will handle things. We just got to worry about the remaining AMP stragglers and whatever gangs try to fill the power vacuum." Cutty said as he pulled out a bottle of tequila. "From the warehouse if anyone wants some. Cocker will be pissed, but he's kind of a prick though, so screw him." "We're ok." Rachel said as she sat down on the couch. She laid her head down and rested. Sophie also declined the offer. After one bad hangover experience, that was it for her. She was busy petting Purcasso. Nebo finished roaming the house and went next to Iris, pawing at her. @Al the Killer

"Not dismissive, just skeptical," Iris said. "There's always room for that." She sat on the sofa, reaching down to pet Nebo. "I'll draw conclusions when I see evidence other than a potentially sensationalized news report. Still, I can't help but think something's going on there." She glanced over at Cutty. "I wouldn't expect the military to solve every problem, either. They can't be everywhere at once." Matthew stood by the oven, waiting for the lasagna to finish warming up so he could go back for seconds. And so his sister and her boyfriend could have some too, he guessed. But he poked his head out into the living room as Cutty offered the bottle. "Always thought the whole worm thing with tequila was a bit weird," he admitted. "But I'll give it a shot." Iris nodded. "I don't mind. I heard Cocker can be a real dick anyway." Matthew gave a short, snorting laugh in response. "C'mon, no need to be so hard on the guy." @Hacky Slashy

Cutty spit out his drink and then wiped himself off. "Here you go, kid." He poured more into a shotglass and handed it to Matthew. "You're right, Iris. But whatever comes this way, we'll deal with it." Quince said to reassure the others. He then held Iris' hand. Nebo licked Iris' hand and continued pawing at her. He rolled on to his back, showing his belly while smiling at her. Adam stretched on the rooftop, involuntarily popping out of his back. "I'm probably never getting used to that." @Al the Killer

Matthew took the glass from Cutty, but handed it to Iris before pouring another for himself. "At least we've got a small armory worth of weapons and a vampire on our side if any other monsters do come out here." "We'll handle it," Iris agreed. She sipped her drink, then looked down at Nebo, then looked over at the hand Albert had taken and realized she had none left. "Anyway, we're a long way from Philadelphia." Which was, in many ways, always a reassuring thought. "So even if whatever's there did come to LA, we'd have time." She set the shot glass on the coffee table so she could pet Nebo. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo panted as Iris rubbed his belly. He also kicked his legs in excitement. Quince crouched down and joined Iris and petting the needy Husky. Cutty finished his drink and offered Matthew more. "Anyone else?" He asked the others. "We're good." Sophie said and Rachel was busy napping on the couch. Adam was struggling with putting his wings away. "Come on. Get back inside!" He kept trying to put them away. @Al the Killer

"Nebo's too needy to let me finish even the one, I'm afraid," Iris joked. "So I'm good for now. Thanks, though." Still, after a moment, she left the petting to Quince and picked her drink back up. She swallowed it in one go, then looked toward the window. Quiet night, overall. With luck, things might even stay quiet. "Must be a boring night for a lookout," she commented. "Someone should probably go check on Adam, maybe keep him company." She looked over at Sophie as she spoke. Matthew accepted his second drink. "I..." He trailed off, caught on to Iris's matchmaking intention, then also looked at Sophie instead of volunteering. "...agree." @Hacky Slashy

"I guess I could keep him company." Sophie got up, wearing just a t-shirt and pajamas. She slid the back door open right as Adam fell down, screaming as he landed in front of her, a loud thud and groans of pain and embarrassment following afterwards. Adam's wings cushioned the fall. He would've brushed himself off and went back up before seeing a very familiar blonde trying to stifle a laugh. "Stuck the landing, Batman?" Sophie asked as she helped the clumsy vampire back up. "Yes. I meant to do that." Sophie helped brush him off. "Need company for the stake out?" Adam considered for a second before answering yes. "Just hold on." Sophie wrapped her arms around him as he flew on to the roof top. Nebo rolled over and got up. He licked Quince's face and then pawed at Iris. @Al the Killer

Iris returned to petting Nebo as Sophie left, only briefly glancing at the door as she heard a dull thud. But as long as nobody was calling for a doctor, she'd assume she wasn't needed out there. "Never had you figured for a matchmaker," Matthew commented. She shrugged. "I just think they both deserve a shot at happiness," she said. "A relationship might not be the key to that, but a good one can help." She smiled at Albert. "And I guess I've finally been able to fall in love with love again. You'll understand when you meet someone." Matthew shrugged. "Not a priority right now," he admitted, walking over to the kitchen. "Anyway, the leftover lasagna should be warm by now." @Hacky Slashy

Sophie sat down while Adam crouched. She was amazed at the view from all the way up here. "It almost looks peaceful from up here. But doesn't it get boring for you?" "Not at all. I do this anyway for crimefighting." The wings omce again sprouted out, involuntarily holding her close to him as he attempted to retract them. She held on to him as the wing let go. "Sorry about that." "No need. As long as we're not flying off." She teased the clumsy vampire. They both simply looked on at the city. The fighting was slowly going down, but it could just as easily be the calm before the storm. "Yeah. We all won something in this horror show." Quince said as he pet Nebo. Nebo then went towards Iris. He rubbed his head on her leg. @Al the Killer

Iris looked down. "Ask Nebo and you'd think he won most of all." She started petting him again. "He gets a lot of affection, I get to be a bad influence on the detective here." She smiled at Quince. "Did it really take an AMP occupation and rogue vampires for you to become a bad influence, though?" Matthew asked. She considered it for a moment, thinking back on how she'd gotten those classified FBI case files. "...probably not. Still, I'm looking forward to getting back to my lab. Never thought I'd miss my microscope so much. And my bookshelf at home," she said, then looked over at Cutty. "What about you? Anything you want to get back to? I'm assuming you've got a life outside of all this." @Hacky Slashy

"Just work. The only other thing I've ever done was prep for the New World Order death squads and make my heroic last stand. Instead I got roped into monster hunting. Weird direction life took, but we managed to make it." He raised a glass to friends and survival. Back on the rooftop, Sophie was giggling at Adam recounting a funny story he learned. "So on his death bed, he confessed he never even read either poet's work. He just liked dueling." He and Sophie found themselves holding hands. She then found herself resting her head on his shoulder. He certainly wasn't going to complain. @Al the Killer

"From conspiracy theories to actual conspiracies... I'd say this was a step up," Matthew said as he carried two plates of lasagna over to Iris and Quince. "I can't speak to the actual monster hunting part, though." "Good." Iris took her plate and fork. "The further you are from it, the safer you are, so I'll count that as a victory on my part." She sat back down and started to eat while Matthew went back for his own second helping. "Meh. At least I lived long enough to plan a future." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo put both paws on Iris' knee. He smiled at Iris. Quince pet Nebo and looked at Iris. "Yeah, I'm happy my future is now looking more clear. " Rachel got up from her nap, briefly glancing at Matthew before she began filling up Nebo's food and water bowls. Nebo went towards the bowls. "That should fend him off for a while." Rachel pet the husky as he ate. "I learned I can start at the hospital tomorrow. They could use the extra hands." Sophie nuzzled against Adam as his right wing hugged her. He noted how good the view of the city was. @Al the Killer

Iris leaned back to keep the lasagne out of the husky's reach. Once Rachel lured him away, she shot her a thankful look, then resumed her dinner. Dogs were important, but so was food, after all, and she wouldn't let anything come between her and good Italian. Matthew glanced over at Rachel. "That's great." He smiled. "I guess a battle really is the best time to get started in healthcare." "Or the worst," Iris commented. "Hospital work is already chaotic enough in the most peaceful of times. I'm sure Rachel will be able to handle it just fine, though." @Hacky Slashy

Sophie felt safe in the vampire's embrace. "I can't thank you enough. These last few days, I don't know how we would've managed without you." "I mean, anyone else would've done the same, at least I like to think." Right as he turned around to face her, she pulled him in for a kiss. After she was done, she smiled at him while he had a dumbfounded look on his face. "So....dinner some time soon?" He meekly asked. "I'll be busy for a bit. I start at the veterinarian clinic tomorrow. But no worries, we'll figure something out. Maybe a candle lit dinner." She teased. "Rachel can handle it. Especially if she handled recent events." Quince said as he ate his warm lassagna. Nebo finished his food and then rested at Iris' feet. @Al the Killer

Iris set her empty plate aside. "Two different types of stress. Though I guess the type at the hospital would be a lot more mundane." She reached down to pet Nebo. "The morgue will have to reopen, too. We'll need all the corpse storage space we can get. Autopsies won't be expected for combat casualties, but families will need to be contacted..." She trailed off and looked at the window. "I hope the other employees are doing alright, too. I really don't want to be the overbearing supervisor who calls and asks, in the middle of a warzone, when they're coming back to work." "What about your apartment?" Matthew asked. "I'll get it cleaned up after hours. Should probably do that before hunting for a new one if I want any hope of getting my deposit back." She rested her head against Quince's shoulder. @Hacky Slashy

"Could just call and check on e'm. I'm sure they won't mind as long as the first thing you say isn't 'Hey! You coming in tomorrow?' Or something like that." Quince remarked as Nebo rested his head on her knee. "I could even check on em if you want. I'll take Quince with me." Cutty said as he finished off his bottle. Adam was shocked at the prospect of a relationship. Up until this point, he was just drifting from place to place, hunting and surviving. Now he was worrying about meeting her dad. Dads always hate their daughter's boyfriends, and that's when they're human. He can only imagine the shock when he finds out his daughter is now dating a creature of the night. 'Cross that bridge when I get there.' He thinks to himself as Sophie rested her head on his shoulder. @Al the Killer

"I think a phone call will suffice," Iris assured him. "Most people tend to get more worried when police just show up at their door without warning than when their boss calls them. Though, now that I think of it, maybe I should text instead. Especially the younger employees; I know they don't love phone calls." Apparently, some things never changed. Particularly her lack of talent for working with living human beings. Her hand stayed on Nebo's head. "Speaking of police, any clue when the precinct's going to be up and running again? Seems like you'll have a lot to do between then and whenever everything calms down." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo placed both paws on her knee. He smiled at Iris with his tongue out. Quince pet the dog while holding Iris. "I'd criticize them but they have a point. Might be in the middle of something so a text might be preferable." "I also got in touch with the fellas. We're meeting at the station. Now that AMP has been deposed, we can set about restoring order." Cutty said while seated. Adam heard Sophie sleeping against him. He'd let her sleep for a bit before taking her back down stairs, albeit hopefully with a smooth landing. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at Cutty as he talked about restoring order. "Such as it was, at least," she commented, leaning into Albert's embrace. "It's strange to think of things returning to normal after all of that. But life goes on, I guess, monsters or no." Matthew stood up and gathered the empty dishes. "Hopefully better than 'normal', things weren't too great before, either," he said as he walked over to wash the dishes. "Better, sure. One small bit at a time." Iris smiled at Albert. "For now, though, it might be a good idea to rest." @Hacky Slashy

Quince kissed Iris' head and then rubbed his eyes. Nebo gave out a yawn and rubbed his head on Iris. Quince then reached down to pet Nebo. He then held Iris' hand. "Bed time?" Cutty yawned and rubbed his eyes. "I think we should all get some sleep." Rachel then beckoned Nebo towards her room. Nebo licked both Iris and Quince before following Rachel to hers and Sophie's room. Adam heard everyone getting ready for bed and gently picked up Sophie's sleeping form. Thankfully his landing was smoother this time. Quince let Adam and Sophie into the house. Adam laid Sophie down on her bed, all while keeping a grin on his face. He then walked to the living room, wishing a good night to everyone. "Have a good night Iris." @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at Albert then nodded. It seemed they'd already spent the better part of the day in bed, but she wasn't opposed to getting a good night's sleep now, either. Nothing was more tiring than doing nothing. Once Nebo moved she stood up, glancing over at Adam. She gave him a knowing smile, even if she only knew as much as she could infer. It was enough. "You have a good night too, Adam," she said. "And I told you Sophie was interested in you." She shook her head. "Should've bet money on it." She hooked her arm around Albert's and smiled up at him as Matthew took over the sofa. "Upstairs?" she suggested, glancing over at her already fast-asleep brother. @Hacky Slashy

"Upstairs it is." Quince led Iris upstairs while Adam retreated to his basement hideout. He stretched and then laid down on the small mattress. Nebo curled up on Sophie when she was placed down on her bed. Rachel laid down and said good night to Nebo and Sophie. Quince finished leading Iris upstairs and laid her down on the bed. He stripped to just his boxers and laid down on his back next to her. "We'll see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully my apartment wasn't blown up." He said as he looked at Iris.

@Al the Killer

Iris sat on the edge of the bed once they arrived and set her glasses on the bedside table. Fortunately enough for her, she managed to pause the actual process of undressing and reach out in time to grab Albert's shirt before it could hit the floor. After all, why not steal it for the night? "I highly doubt someone would just blow up your apartment," she began as she set her bra aside and pulled his shirt on over her bare chest. It might have been reassuring, had she not continued speaking. "Taking out just one whole apartment and not at least some of the other apartments around it sounds like a logistical nightmare. It's much more likely that your apartment building would get blown up." She removed her prosthetic leg, propping it up against the nightstand before she settled into bed. "Anyway, if it did get blown up, you could stay with me." She snuggled up against him and closed her eyes. @Hacky Slashy

Albert took in Iris' explanation of the logistics of blowing up apartments. He then held her as she snuggled against him. He found it charming in a twisted way. He closed his eyes as he dug under his shirt, caressing her. Adam drifted off into sleep as well, content with his new lease on life. He was especially surprised that he gained a girlfriend. 'I mean all I did was save her from other murderous vampires.' He then drifted off to sleep. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled at his arm around her. Safe, in a way she never thought a man's embrace could feel. She attempted to stifle a yawn, but soon gave up that effort. Her arm draped over his chest as she let herself get comfortable. "Goodnight, Albert," she whispered, already feeling sleep tugging at the edges of her consciousness. @Hacky Slashy

"Night, Iris." Albert felt sleep take him shortly afterwards. Quince woke up in the morning and got up to brush his teeth. He then went back to Iris' side. He slid his hand up his shirt and kissed her neck. Adam was helping Cutty prepare Breakfast for everyone. Nebo was up and followed the scent of food. He went up to Adam who fed him Bacon bits @Al the Killer

Iris slept in a bit later than Albert, only waking up to his lips on her neck. "Hm?" Her eyes blinked slowly open and she smiled at him. "Good morning to you too, love," she murmured, still sleepy. "Did you sleep well?" Matthew woke up to the smell of bacon, so it could be said that both siblings were having a pretty good morning so far. He got off the couch, yawning as he made his way over to the kitchen. "You two need help with anything?" @Hacky Slashy

"I did. How about you?" Albert continued running his hand up her chest. He smelled the food from downstairs. "Sounds like breakfast being made." "Help butter the toast?" Adam suggested to Matthew. Sophie and Rachel were showered and ready, greeting Matthew, Cutty and Adam. Nebo roamed around, greeting each human and 1 vampire. @Al the Killer

"It's getting easier," Iris said in regards to sleep. She reached up, cupping his cheek in one hand. Then he mentioned breakfast. "Right, I guess it is." She sighed, considering how inconsiderate it would be to stay up here for a while longer. "We should join them." She put her hand over his and gently pulled it away. "We can have our time alone together later," she promised, then sat up. "You're going to the station with Cutty and the others today?" Matthew joined the others, buttering the toast as Adam asked. "Sure thing," he agreed, pausing to wave hello to Sophie and Rachel. @Hacky Slashy

Quince helped Iris get out of the bed and then guided her downstairs with the others. Nebo greeted Albert and then Iris. The dog nuzzled against Iris' leg and licked her hand. "Careful with him. He'll give his signature puppy eyes until you give him food." Rachel warned as she and Sophie greeted Albert and Iris. "Food's ready!" Cutty announced as he and Adam began serving everyone. Sophie took a seat next to Adam. "Could you do us a favor?" She then whispered into his ear: "Could you and Matthew bathe Nebo? He's starting to stink." Adam agreed as Rachel asked Matthew the same. @Al the Killer

Iris got dressed before letting Albert escort her downstairs. For a moment, she paused on the way to the kitchen to pet Nebo. The warning was valid: she was not immune to puppy eyes from actual puppies. Still, the announcement that food was ready caught her attention more. She walked to the kitchen to gather a plate of food for herself. Since the table was available, she took a seat there, pulling out the chair next to herself for Albert. Matthew smiled at the question, more than happy to have something to do for the day, no matter how small... surely it would be a small task, right? He assumed so, because he had never bathed a dog before. "Yeah, that won't be a problem," he said, silently wondering why it was a two-person job. @Hacky Slashy

Albert happily took the seat next to his girlfriend. He dug into his food as Nebo got between them both. Rachel showed Matthew and Adam Nebo's shampoo and conditioner. "I volunteered at an animal shelter before all of this. I know what to do." Adam assured Matthew. He then went back down be with the others. Quince was mostly done with his bacon. He broke off a piece and handed it to Nebo. The husky then turned his attention to Iris, pawing at her leg and rubbing his head on her. His tail wagged as he gave the signature puppy eyes. @Al the Killer

Iris looked down at Nebo, making eye contact with him. "No," she said firmly, continued her meal for about five seconds, then gave in, slipping him a piece of bacon. "Fine, but no more than that." Matthew walked back downstairs as well. "I didn't, but how hard can it be?" he asked with a shrug. "Depends on how much Nebo likes baths." Iris looked down at him again. "Judging from the smell, I'd guess not very much. Good luck." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo ate the bacon and then rested his head on her leg. Quince pet the husky and finished his meal. He held Iris' hand and squeezed. "Looks like we'll have to make regular visits. Nebo seems to have gotten attached to you." Cutty looked at Matthew and Adam coming back downstairs. "No worries. The hardest part is getting them in the tub. They usually get docile after the bathing begins....but man, huskies can be vocal." Adam said to Matthew. "So, Albert. You riding with me or Iris? I'll be fine either way." Cutty said as he finished his meal, bacon included. Thankfully Nebo seemed content with bothering Iris and Quince for the time being. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at Albert. "Regular visits sound nice either way," she agreed. "Anyway, I'm not going to the precinct, so you might have to catch a ride with Cutty. I can pick you up once I get out for the day, though." Matthew finished his breakfast quickly, then went around to gather the rest of the empty dishes. "Nebo seems like a quiet guy, I'm sure it'll be fine," he told Adam, naively. Iris stood up, giving Nebo one last head pat. "I should head out." She turned toward Sophie and Rachel. "And thank you both for your hospitality. I really do appreciate it." @Hacky Slashy

"You saved our asses, doc. Least we could do." Rachel said as she got up. Sophie and Rachel then crouched down to give Nebo head pats and kisses. "Be good to Matthew and Adam, ok boy?" Sophie said as she kissed Adam and headed out alongside Rachel. "I'll walk you out." Albert said as he escorted Iris to her car. Cutty said goodbye to Adam and Matthew as he joined the others outside, but not before petting Nebo. Adam was stunned for a few seconds more and then looked towards Matthew. "Who could've seen that coming?" He chuckled as he looked at Nebo. "We don't have to bathe Purcasso , do we?" Adam asked in fear of the idea. @Al the Killer

Iris stopped in front of her car and turned to face Albert. With how long they'd spent waiting for the chaos outside to blow over, it was strange to think of things being almost normal again. Almost normal, but better now. She smiled. "I'll see you after work." She squeezed his hand gently in hers before leaning in to kiss him softly. Matthew glanced over at Adam. "Everyone," he answered him, vaguely amused that the vampire still seemed shocked by that. "Literally everyone saw that coming." He glanced over at Purrcasso, who was sunbathing in front of the window. "No, I just have to brush her sometimes. And she loves it, so it's easy." He looked at Nebo. "So, you get the bath started and I'll lure him over with treats?" @Hacky Slashy

"Can do." Adam said as he went upstairs to get the husky bathing supplies. He gathered the supplies and then started the bath. Nebo followed Matthew, tail wagging as he trotted alongside him. He then sat down across from Purcasso. Rachel and Sophie chose to carpool for the time being until they figure out their schedules. After a few checkpoints, Rachel dropped off Sophie at the veterinary clinic. Rachel made her way to the hospital, greeting the charge nurse, who introduced herself as Sandra Redstone. Rachel was fast to work attending to patients. Cutty and Quince made their way to the precint, where they were refitted with new fatigues and weapons. Despite the AMP occupation mostly over, with a few holdouts being dealt with by the military. @Al the Killer

Matthew searched through the kitchen cabinets until he eventually found the dog treats. He pulled one out of the bag and held the hand with it out as he walked, keeping just out of reach. "C'mon, boy," he encouraged, walking backward towards the stairs. "Yeah, that's right, almost..." He trailed off as Nebo sat down. "You weren't supposed to do that." He carried the treat a bit closer, trying to coax Nebo back up and toward the stairs. Iris drove to the coroner's office. The door was still locked when she arrived, so she unlocked it, locked it back up behind her, then disabled the alarm. It was the same as she'd left it, unused during the past few days. To avoid overwhelming the department, any bodies not requiring autopsies - any combat dead, or presumably natural deaths - would have gone directly to funeral homes or hospitals. She'd check for any intake paperwork later. For now, she spent the beginning of her day in the office, calling to check in on the other employees. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo sniffed the treats and followed Matthew up the stairs. The dog stared longingly at the treats. Adam was waiting for Matthew to come upstairs with Nebo. He was hoping the Husky would go along with it. How hard can bathing a husky be? Quince and Cutty were stationed at a checkpoint, with combat gear and face coverings. They were accompanied by Marines, keeping watch for trouble. He hoped things went fine for Iris, the girls and the boys. @Al the Killer

Matthew reached the upstairs bathroom and held the dog treat over the filled tub. "Over here, Nebo." He put very little thought into it, particularly into the inevitability of getting splashed if the husky did do what he asked. On the bright side, nobody was dead. Well, plenty of people were, but none who worked with Iris. She even got to work out a spreadsheet of when everyone would be available to work again - she'd given as many staff as she could permission to take a few more days off to let things cool down more and to rebuild any destruction that had impacted them - so that was a bonus. Emails to the various funeral homes in town to see who still had space went out next, to make sure she had someone to send the bodies that had already been autopsied to. She left her office once she heard a faint knock from the outside door. "One moment!" She walked out, turned off the alarm, unlocked the door, and opened it. Naveed held up a box of donuts and a carrier with two coffees in it, prompting her to look at the clock. So it was that time, after all. "Hey boss. I assumed there was no way of knowing if Detective Quince would have time to bring snacks by, so I figured I'd supply for today," he said. "He's busy, probably at the precinct or at a checkpoint." She took one of the coffees and stepped aside. "I'll let him know you miss the free donuts, though." "That sounds like you two have been in touch." He paused as she sipped her coffee, smiled, and said nothing. "...I knew he seemed too enthusiastic to visit the morgue." @Hacky Slashy

Albert was manning a turret near some sandbags. So far, it was a relatively quiet day. "How did AMP miss your lard ass?!" A marine with burn scars came up to Cutty. "Oh joy! Your ugly ass is still kicking." Both men then shook hands and hugged. "Quince! Meet Cocker!" Albert shook his hand. "I'm babysitting you coppers while the others are deploying to other territories." --- Nebo looked at the running bath and then faced the wall, as if that would somehow camouflage him. He then began whining as all dogs do when faced with bath time.

"But the dog treat!" Matthew protested, waving the treat in question around. Nebo was not supposed to do that. He could have sworn bribery would prove more powerful than fear. He sighed, then looked over at Adam and shrugged. "I don't think this is working." ~~~ "Workplace gossip with your boss is unprofessional," Iris chided, then considered her happiness about her new boyfriend for a moment. "...But nobody else is here. Now obviously, Albert and I will have to act like we're not dating when he's here on a case, but I can still look forward to seeing him again after work." "What about that Craig guy?" Naveed asked, naively. Her smile faded. Shit, she hadn't even thought of a story for that one. "I haven't heard from him in several days." She stuck to the truth, or as close as she could without talking about vampires or confessing to murder. "Honestly, it's... a relief. The divorce happened for good reason, and he was a far worse monster in private than in public." There was a moment of awkward silence. "Oh," Naveed said at last. "I'm... sorry to hear that. Think he'll leave you alone now?" "I think so, yes." Another pause, before the inevitable question. "So... what's this I heard about you and the detective robbing a blood bank?" "Long story." @Hacky Slashy

Adam then sighed before speaking to Matthew. "Time for plan B." Adam got up and went to Nebo. He then picked up the Husky. "God you're heavy! They ought to put you on a diet." Adam said as he gently put the Husky down on the tub. Nebo continued whining. --- Cocker and Cutty were stationed on a watchtower while Quince was still stationed on the Turret. Frank "Cocker" Smith caught them up on events outside of LA. While AMP is being pushed back, they're still fighting fiercely, not to mention some States have outright seceded. From the look of things, it'll get worse before it gets better. The tension was eased when Cocker and Cutty started going at it. "Did I hear you give woman advice to that soldier?" Cocker asked as Cutty replied. "Yeah. Always give romance advice to people." "Well yeah, good advice. The fact you call it romance shows how little you know." Cutty scoffed. "Ok, Casanova. Enlighten us." Cocker then proceeded to explain the "best woman advice in the world". "First off, you need money. Secondly you need confidence. And if you don't have a huge dick, learn to eat pussy." Cocker then made the type of sounds you never want to hear from someone. Cutty then stared at Cocker as if he just took a huge shit in his ceral bowl. "Yeah! That's real practical advice. Also that probably qualifies as sexual assault in some places, so never do that again." "See, that's because you explain it like a pervert. You got to be smooth about it. See? This why you can't satisfy the ladies. I'm willing to get down and dirty." "I'm gonna go vomit now. Thanks for the trauma!" Both men began spiteful muttering. Quince just listened in utter disbelief. 'Gonna have one hell of a story to tell Iris when I get off.' He thinks to himself. @Al the Killer

"A diet? Now that's just cruel. Don't shame the poor guy," Matthew chided Adam, then looked at Nebo. "It's okay boy, he didn't mean it." He waited for Nebo to settle into the tub, only giving him the treat once he was fairly certain the dog wouldn't try to run. ~~~ Naveed looked at Iris as he awaited the telling of this 'long story'. Instead of indulging his curiosity - because seriously, how do you explain something like that? - she grabbed a chocolate donut and walked away. "I'll let you get settled back in. I'll be in my office or the morgue if you need anything," she promised. Most likely the office; she had plenty of administrative matters to attend to before she could change into scrubs and see how the corpses were doing. @Hacky Slashy

"He's right Nebo.....oh my back." Adam said as he began wetting Nebo with the shower hose. The dog started howling in despair as it gently budged against Matthew and Adam. Adam covered Nebo's eyes as he applied the shampoo. --- Cutty and Cocker still bickered as they and Quince were on break. Quince sent Iris a text, checking up on her. He informed her of his limited detective work, now more of a peacekeeper. --- Sophie was treating animals, mostly checking up on dogs and cats. A homeless man with a Corgi stepped in to the clinic. Thankfully fees were being waivered for the time being. The Corgi only had a slight ear infection as she applied some ear drops. She dropped the corgi back with the homeless man. "Thanks, so no other issues?" "No sir, but if there is, just bring him back." She smiled and waved him off. --- Rachel was busy treating patients, both civilians and military. Even the occasional AMP trooper much to the chagrin of others, but everyone has a right to medical care regardless of how people felt. @Al the Killer

Matthew helped hold Nebo in place, listening to his sorrowful howling. "You weren't joking about huskies being vocal," he said. "Hey do you think if I howled back, he'd understand me and we'd have a full conversation?" he asked, even though it was clearly a bad idea. ~~~ Iris smiled down at her phone as she got a text from Quince. Hopefully things stayed peaceful, and he wouldn't be in danger. Alright just make sure Cutty and Cocker behave. Good luck with that (you'll need it). <3 She stood up, then walked left the office to change into her scrubs and lab coat. The morgue hadn't been added to in days; it seemed the battle had prevented any sorting between suspicious and non-suspicious deaths. She breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, she'd worried she would see Craig's remains in the storage unit. An absurd fear, when he was too dead to do anything. Still, there was no professional thing to do in that situation that didn't also risk her being implicated in his murder. @Hacky Slashy

"Not a good idea, unless you want the neighbors complaining." Adam said as he began scrubbing the Husky. Nebo resigned himself to his dog torture and sat still. Adam then applied the conditioner to the dog. --- Quince smiled at the text and then replied back. I'll be fine. See you later, love you. ❤️ He then put the phone down as his break ended and joined the bickering duo. 'It's like grumpy old men.' Quince thinks to himself. @Al the Killer

"I've dealt with worse than some neighbours complaining," Matthew assured him, but decided not to howl with Nebo anyway, if only because it would be a bit weird. "Besides, maybe the neighbours just happen to be werewolves, in which case they'd understand. I think." ~~~ Iris spent the rest of her day making sure that all of the autopsies got wrapped up and arrangements had been made for the bodies to be picked up tomorrow. A peaceful afternoon, all things considered. At the end of it all, she changed back into her regular clothes and walked to the car. Once inside, she sent another text to Quince. Out of work. When and where do I pick you up? I can grab takeout, what do you want for dinner? @Hacky Slashy

Adam finished hosing the Husky down, finishing the bath. Before Adam could get the towel to dry Nebo off, the dog shook himself dry, splashing both human and vampire. "Look's like half the job is done." Adam said as he gave another towel to Matthew as he began drying Nebo off. --- Quince turned in his rifle, but keeping his side arm. Cutty and Cocker decided to go get drunk at some bar. Quince politely declined as he got Iris' message. Carl's Hardees and Juniors, I'll cover. Also here's where you can pick me up. Quince sent the details to Iris and waited. @Al the Killer

Matthew held his arms up in front of him, but it did little to protect his clothes from droplets of wet dog smell. "Guess he's not the only one who'll need a bath," he commented, taking the second towel. He helped dry Nebo off, ending it with a headpat for being a good boy even if he'd been a bit of trouble. Once the job was done, he pulled the drain plug and looked down at his soaked clothing. "I should change, maybe take a shower," he commented, then looked at Nebo. "You're free to go." ~~~ Iris drove directly to the checkpoint, since it seemed they'd be picking up takeout together. The seat heating had already been turned on, and the radio turned down low. "ID and business?" asked the officer currently on duty. Seemed not much changed regardless of who was in control of the city. She showed him her license. "Doctor Iris Ellsworth," she said. "I'm here to pick someone up." The young officer appeared flustered for a moment, entirely misunderstanding, but she looked past him. "I think this is the place Albert sent me the directions to, at least." "R-right, he was watching the mid-day shift." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo licked Matthew and Adam before hopping off the tub. "I'll keep him occupied." Adam said as he and Nebo headed downstairs. Adam sat down and pet the dog. --- Quince waved at Iris and entered the car. He was in his shirt and jacket, changed out of his fatigues. He took Iris' hand and kissed it. "How'd your day go?" Quince caught her up on Cutty and Cocker bickering like an old, married couple. "And then they spent the next half of the shift complaining about each other's smell." @Al the Killer

Iris smiled at Albert as he entered the car. "It went. Everyone is alright, though a few of the staff are taking some extra time off to help rebuild what was destroyed during the battle." She started driving while Quince caught her up on the story of Cutty and Crocker. "You know, I think my therapist also does relationship counseling, if those two need a recommendation," she joked. She looked over at where her phone was mounted to the dash. "Can you put the address in the GPS for me? And did you want to go through the drive through or eat in?" @Hacky Slashy

After Quince finished putting in the burger joint in the GPS, he then looked at Iris. "Drive in. Better to eat at home." --- Adam was giving belly rubs to Nebo. The dog was considerably happier and smelled much better. 'At least he got over it pretty quick.' Adam thinks to himself while the Husky panted at the belly rubs. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded, keeping her eyes on the road as she followed the phone's directions. "Sounds good. As for home, I know I said I'd be getting my apartment back in order, but your place got ransacked, too. I wouldn't mind staying together for the night," she said. "So, your place or mine?" ~~~ Matthew had taken a shower and changed into his other set of clothes. Now that he was clean, he sat on the sofa downstairs, detailing his earlier sketch of Nebo. @Hacky Slashy

"If you don't mind, stop by my place first, asses the damages. Then stop by yours. Whichever isn't too ransacked." Quince then looked at the city while she drove. --- Nebo was sitting, content with his two companions. The dog then scratched behind his ears with his leg. Adam tried doing that at one point in his youth but it didn't go as planned. For now he just pet the dog. @Al the Killer

"Your place first it is," Iris agreed, pulling into the drive through line. "After we pick up food. We'll eat at yours - once it's cleaned up enough to have table space - then check on my place." She looked ahead. "It's been a while since I've cooked anything, come to think of it. I'd offer to make food together sometime, but I'm not sure you'd like that; I'm like Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen." She smiled. "Not in terms of skill, just vocabulary... anyway, what are you ordering?" ~~~ Matthew glanced over at Nebo. "I think it'd be pretty cool to be a dog. He doesn't seem to have a care in the world, as long as it isn't bathtime." He considered all of the feral dogs he'd encountered, then amended, "pretty cool to be a pampered dog, at least." @Hacky Slashy

"Double Bacon Cheeseburger, Chilli cheesefries and a coke. And whatever you want. My treat of course. After recent events, this will be the least likely to kill us, you know?" Quince joked. --- Nebo then got up and put both paws on Matthew, nuzzling against the artist. Adam wondered how everyone else was faring. --- Sophie had finished treating military K9 units that unfortunately took shrapnel earlier. Thankfully they were in good spirits still. "Thanks for treating them, miss. They deserve the world." One of the handlers said as he and the others escorted the dogs out. --- Rachel was in the breakroom at the hospital. She even heard her other coworkers gossiping about the bloodbank robbery. She knew exactly what it was about, but kept silent. @Al the Killer

Iris glanced over at him. "It will do the slowest job of it, at least," she joked back. Once they reached the speaker, she ordered what he wanted, plus a chicken club sandwich, fries, and salted caramel milkshake for herself. She drove forward to the window when told to go ahead, and held out a hand to Albert. "Your wallet? I'd rather not make you reach all the way across." ~~~ Matthew carefully set his sketchbook aside so his work wouldn't get messed up. "Yes, hi there." He started petting Nebo. "Healed from all the trauma of bathtime already?" @Hacky Slashy

Albert handed his wallet over to her. He took the American Express card out and gave it to Iris. He then stood by to get their food and drinks. --- Nebo got off and rolled on to his back. His tongue was hanging out and he smiled at Matthew. Adam came over and rubbed the Husky's belly. "At least he smells nicer." @Al the Killer

Once the food had been paid for, Iris handed the wallet back to Albert and set the drinks in the cup holders. "You'll have to remind me where your apartment is- thank you," she said, taking the bag of food and handing it to him. "-Because I'm not entirely sure on how to get there from here." She continued driving away. ~~~ Matthew got on the floor to join them. "Doesn't take much." Her looked down at Nebo. "No offense." @Hacky Slashy

Albert jotted down the directions to his apartment complex and adjusted the route to be quicker. "Now let's see if it didn't burn down." --- Nebo rolled over and licked Matthew's face. The Husky then pawed at him. Adam pet the dog's back, while Nebo then laid down. @Al the Killer

"Here's to hoping," Iris agreed. "In the meantime, guard that bag of food with your life." She followed the directions to Albert's home, keeping an eye out for recently-bombed apartment buildings, just a case. Probably it was fine though. Which was more than they could say for his car. Once she reached her destination, she pulled into the parking lot, checking to make sure the building was, in fact, still there. ~~~ Matthew smiled, giving Nebo's head one more pet before he stood up. "Should we get started on dinner? The girls will probably be tired once they get home, so we might as well make ourselves useful." The vampire, who no longer ate human food, and the man who'd spent most of his adult life without a kitchen. An iconic culinary duo, truly.

12:26 PM

@Hacky Slashy

"All right, stay here. I'll check for any stragglers and damages." Albert left a pistol for Iris and kissed her before departing for his apartment. When he got to the 2nd floor, he went towards his door....at least he would if there was one. When he checked inside, his entire place was shot up and ransacked. He went inside checked his bedroom. He saw the room was turned over. Looters no doubt, but luckily he took everything necessary with him. He saw his wedding picture frame shattered. Right as he was about to pick it up, he heard whining. He looked under his bed and saw a scared dog. It approached him cautiously. He extended a hand and the dog sniffed it. The pit bull licked it and then nuzzled against him....with only it's front paws and one leg. He scratched it's head and then took the female dog with him. Quince picked up the dog and came back down towards Iris. "Could you open the door? My hands are full." The dog smiled at Iris. --- "Sounds like a good idea." Adam and Nebo got up, ready to help cook. "So what do you suggest we cook?" @Al the Killer

Iris kissed him back, then looked down at the pistol he left. "But I already have-" The door had already closed. "-Two pistols and a shotgun, I guess. Alright." It seemed a bit like overkill for waiting in the locked car, but there was nothing to do about it. She glanced over at the bag of food, but decided to wait for them to be inside of an apartment before eating anything. A few minutes later, she looked toward the window to see Albert returning with a three-legged dog, and fell in love instantly. With the dog - she'd already been in love with Albert. She set the bag of food up on the dashboard and got out of the car to clear enough space in the back seat. She had to pop the trunk open and move the spare weapons from the occupation back there, so the dog wouldn't hurt herself by accident. There was a blanket in the trunk, so she draped it over the back seat. "Quite a straggler you found there," she said, holding the door to the back open. "How late is the nearest veterinary clinic open? While we can check for injuries on our own, I'd rather leave checking for illness and searching for a possible medical record to an expert. We should make sure she's in good condition, either way." And then take her in... she hadn't paid much attention to her landlord's policy on pets, but she'd seen others in her building with dogs, so she'd have to ask about the details. She reached in to let the dog sniff her hand. "So, uh, Albert..." She looked down, then at the dog again, then at her boyfriend. "You really love bitches with missing limbs, huh?" ~~~ Matthew walked over to the kitchen. "Let's see what they have here... Looks like ground beef..." He checked the cupboards for a few minutes before coming to a conclusion for something that would be simple enough to make. "Burgers?" @Hacky Slashy

Albert couldn't help but smile at Iris' joke. He set the dog in the backseat and jotted down coordinates for a veterinarian clinic. "Guess you could say that." He squeezed Iris' hand as the dog joined in and placed her paw on their hands. "On the way....what do we call her?" The dog then reached over and licked Iris' face. --- "Let's hope it doesn't end as badly as one of my former neighbors. Want to tell you that story?" Adam said as Nebo joined the duo. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at the dog and smiled. "I'm not s-" She shut her mouth and turned her face away to avoid accidentally catching a dog kiss to the mouth. "I'm not sure, but we'll have time to think of one. In the meantime, can you make sure she doesn't get into the food? We'll pick up some proper dog food for her on the way, and everything else we might need." She patted the dog's head. "I think she must have had a home before. Either a runaway, abandoned, or something happened to her owner. She's too friendly to have always been a stray." ~~~ Now that caught Matthew's attention. He looked over at Adam. "I mean you can't just give me a story lead like that and not follow through," he said, taking out a package of ground beef. "What happened?" @Hacky Slashy

"Maybe abandoned. Don't see a collar on her. We'll also check for a microchip." The dog's tail wagged, clearly happy to be there. --- "Oh boy. So Scott Ward Jr. Or just Junior, always had a bad habit of destroying stuff. His dad ran several successful businesses so he always paid it off and scolded him. One day, though the fire department showed up after a garage fire. I went down there to just observe and saw the following exchange. "So what made you think that it was a good idea to grill inside your garage, next to your car? The Matt explained that it was raining and he wanted burgers. The car was hopelessly beyond salvaging, but at least they contained it to the garage. But.....here's the problem. Adam went on to explain that it wasn't his car. So.....Ward senior pulled up...pissed. "Son? What did you do? I can still hear the screaming to this day." Adam finished the story, snickering. "He wanted burgers." @Al the Killer

Iris nodded in agreement. "If she already has a microchip and a name, I see no reason to change it," she agreed. "As long as it was nothing insulting." She pulled into the parking lot of the veterinary clinic. Not too busy at this hour, but the sign said it was still open. She was fairly certain there were rules about keeping dogs on leashes, but given the circumstances, she was sure they could disregard them as long as the dog in question behaved. ~~~ Matthew listened and shook his head. "I... think this will turn out a lot better," he said. "No car in the kitchen, for one." @Hacky Slashy

Albert helped both Iris and the dog out of the car. He then lead them to the clinic. --- Sophie was working the front desk while Dr. Nelson was still on break. She saw Iris, Quince and the dog walk in. She smiled and greeted them. "Hello! How're you both doing? Check up?" --- Adam helped Matthew prepare food while Nebo idled about. @Al the Killer

Iris kept a hand on the dog's back as they walked in, as though that alone would keep her under control if she really wanted to wander off. Missing a leg or not, she still had Iris outnumbered by two. When she saw Sophie, she smiled. "Ah, so this is the one you're working at," she said. "We're doing well, thank you." She patted the dog's back gently. "Yes, we just wanted to have her checked out. We found her hiding out in Albert's apartment, so we want to make sure she's alright and check for a microchip as well." @Hacky Slashy

Dr. Nelson came back from her break and greeted Quince and Iris. "How're you two doing? Dr. Nelson." The Blonde, middle aged doctor greeted Quince, Iris and the dog. Sophie led the dog to the exam room. "Just wait here abd we'll get you sorted out." Dr. Nelson then went to join Sophie. --- "Damn shame about the car. It was an Impalla. Real vintage car, all gone because that Jackass couldn't order in." Adam said as he prepped the buns, cheese and vegetables.

@Al the Killer

"We're doing well. Doctor Ellsworth," Iris introduced herself, then looked over at Albert. "And Detective Quince." She gave the dog one last, gentle headpat before watching Sophie lead her away. "We'll be right here, then." She walked back to the chairs in the waiting area and sat down in one. ~~~ Matthew shook his head. "Tragic," he commented, setting the first burger patty on the grill pan. "But the question remains... did he at least get his burger?" @Hacky Slashy

Sophie and Dr Nelson ran a few tests and checked for a microchip. Slight malnutrition and an ear infection was all they could find. Unfortunately they also found scars, concealed by fur. Dr. Nelson applied the ear drops and the dog was good as new, tail wagging. She and Sophie brought the dog out with a new collar and leash. "Aside from malnutrition and an ear infection, she's perfectly fine. Here's some ear drops and instructions. Aside from that she's good to go. She had a rough go of it. Probably for fighting unfortunately. Dogs are excellent judges of character." The dog came up to Iris and nuzzled against her and then Quince. Albert was going to pay, but was informed the federal government is helping with costs for now. --- "Oh yes. At the Jack in the box he had to work at after his dad cut him off." Adam said as the burgers were cooking. Nebo was eying the burgers hungrily. @Al the Killer

Iris took the ear drops in one hand and the leash with the other, looking down at the dog. With that temperament, it was hard to believe the dog had been used for fighting. Easier to believe she hadn't been kept around for it. Poor thing. "Thank you," she told Sophie and the doctor. She looked over at Albert. "Well, I guess we will need to name her, after all." She started toward the door, then stopped because her hands were full. He'd have to be the one to open it, or to take the leash or eyedrops. "I'm open to suggestions, but we can think of it on the way to the store. She'll still need food, and bowls for it." ~~~ Matthew flipped the burgers over. "Be careful what you wish for, I guess." He looked down at Nebo. "They're not ready yet, buddy." @Hacky Slashy

Albert opened the door for Iris and then took the leash with the other. He escorted Iris and their new rescue to the car. He helped open the door for Iris and pet the dog. --- Nebo laid down as Matthew and Adam continued working on dinner. "No worries boy, you'll get some eventually." Adam said to the husky. @Al the Killer

Iris followed him out, handing him the leash as she got into the car. Once again, she picked up the food to make sure their precious cargo remained secure. Albert could take care of the rescue, their other precious cargo, while she typed in the coordinates for the nearest pet store. "One last stop, then we'll go to my place and hope it's inhabitable." Because what little she knew of the state of Albert's apartment did not sound promising. ~~~ "Probably sooner, rather than later," Matthew admitted, glancing over at Adam. "How are the vegetables coming along? All ready? Could you grab a plate for the meat?" @Hacky Slashy

The rescue rested between both Iris and Albert. The dog then nuzzled against Iris. "We're really gonna spoil her." Quince said as he smiled at both Iris and the dog. --- "Will do, Chef." Adam said as he grabbed two plates. Nebo was laying down near the window. He let out a yawn. @Al the Killer

"Oh, without a doubt," Iris agreed. She pulled into a parking spot outside of the store and stopped the car. "I'm paying this time. They let pets in, so she can come with us. Any name ideas yet?" She held the pistol Albert had given her out to him. "And you can have this back, before I forget." ~~~ Matthew carefully placed the cooked burgers onto one of the plates. "I should have asked sooner... How late do the girls work?" He glanced over at the windows. @Hacky Slashy

Albert took the pistol and holstered it. "Good question. How about....Maggie?" The dog kept pawing at Iris. Despite what it's been through, she still kept a smile on her face. Albert helped both Iris and the rescue out of the car. --- "Good question. I know Rachel's definitely gonna work crazy hours. Sophie might be home sooner though." Nebo was on his back, looking at the two aspiring chefs. @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet the dog. "Maggie it is, then," she said, then tried not to laugh as a thought came to mind. "Then on Halloween, we can dress her up as an office worker and call her Margaret. We won't make her do paperwork, though." She walked toward the store, holding the door open for her boyfriend and dog. ~~~ Well, it was too late to worry about that now. "I'll leave the pan on the stove, then," Matthew said, putting the last few burgers on to cook. "What matters is we made dinner, and didn't cause any explosions." @Hacky Slashy

Maggie let out an enthusiastic bark as she trotted alongside her new parents. She sticked close to Iris, a fellow kindred spirit. A brunette clerk greeted the three. "Hello! Welcome to Petsmart! Any help with any-" the clerk recognized Iris as the woman from the party. "Oh my god! You're alive! Are those things still out there? I'm Amber, by the way." Maggie sniffed Amber and pawed at her. "We're just here for food and supplies. Just rescued Maggie." --- "Or blew up a vintage Impalla." Adam said as prepared the buns, vegetables and tomatoes. @Al the Killer

At that apparent spark of recognition, Iris prepared herself to explain for the hundredth time that the blood bank robbery had been a total misunderstanding. Then she remembered when she had seen that same face, considerably more panicked. One of the survivors from the party where she'd killed her first vampire! It felt like so long ago now. "I don't know how I feel about that greeting," she joked. "The ones who attacked are gone now, though. You won't have to worry about them." She smiled. "I'm Iris." She reached down to pet Maggie. "And this is Maggie. I'm glad to see you're alright, Amber." ~~~ "Right, or that. Though I think that falls under 'didn't cause any explosions'," Matthew agreed. @Hacky Slashy

"Same, I could point you out to where everything is." Amber points out where the food and even toys are located. "No worries, Amber. Iris killed the rest of them, I and a few others just helped." Quince said as he winked at Iris. Maggie pawed at Iris, licking her prosthetic leg. --- Adam agreed with Matthew's assessment. "The burgers smell great. You're really good at it. Pity I can't eat them, though." Adam sighed as he remembered eating burgers with his dad. Unfortunately he passed on when he was 17. Nebo got up and looked up at Matthew, giving his signature begging puppy eyes. @Al the Killer

Iris glanced over at Albert, mild alarm on her face. It probably was better for credit to go to her than to put Adam at risk by admitting there was one more vampire, but still. "Try being a little more euphemistic about it in public, maybe?" she suggested quietly. "I don't want random strangers who already know me from the blood bank incident to also think I'm a serial killer." She picked up a pair of pink feeding bowls, reinforced with stainless steel around the inside. "What do you think of these, Maggie?" ~~~ "Thanks, this is all guess work," Matthew admitted. "Haven't done much cooking." He looked down. "What if we just... mix a bit of the seasoning into some blood? Would that be okay for you? I don't know how this works." He looked down at Nebo and broke off a tiny chunk of a cooked but misshapen burger to toss down to him. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie let out a happy bark and licked Iris. The pitbull then nuzzled against Quince. "I think she loves them." Maggie then saw a squeaky duck toy and picked it up. She chewed on it, causing it to squeak. She then came to Iris and Quince with it, tail wagging. "And besides, I think people have bigger worries." Quince tried reassuring Iris as Maggie continued playing with the toy. --- Nebo ate the burger and licked Matthew. "Hmm.....never thought to do that, you know?" Adam said as he prepared some of the already cooked burgers. @Al the Killer

Iris watched Maggie fondly. "Alright, I guess we have to get that for you now. Quince, could you get the tags from it at least, before they get chewed up? I don't want to inconvenience the cashiers." She looked around. "Maybe we should have gotten a cart, but I think we can manage these and a large bag of food for now." ~~~ Matthew stepped aside to wash his hands. "Never in five years?" he asked. "I mean, I'd suggest trying it now, but I think we're low on bagged blood, and I don't want to clean up the projectile vomit if it fails." He stopped to think. "Is that what happens if you try human food, or was What We Do in the Shadows wrong about that?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince gently took the duck toy from Maggie, maggie nuzzled into Iris' leg while Quince found the tag. "It's still intact." He then pet Maggie. He then found a large bag of Kibble, carrying it over his shoulder. "Ready when you two are." Quince smiled at his girlfriend and new dog. ~~~ "No projectile vomit, but still pretty bad....also I didn't watch a lot of tv after turning," Adam said as Nebo sat down, yawning.

@Al the Killer

Iris smiled back. "Ready." She looked down at Maggie. "Come on, let's bring you home. Sorry it will be a bit of a mess." She led the way back to the checkout counter, setting the bowls down. "The food is definitely going to be cold by now." She looked down at the dog again. "I'd say this was worth it, though." ~~~ Matthew finished cooking the last of the burgers and stacked them on the plate he'd been using. "There." He turned off the stove. "Either way, yeah I don't wanna deal with whatever happens." @Hacky Slashy

Quince handed the items to be scanned while Iris paid for their items and then handed the duck toy to Maggie. He then led both Maggie and Iris to the car. He placed the items in the trunk while Maggie continued playing with the squeaking duck. "All right let's-" Albert unfortunately was unable to avoid the dog kiss to the mouth. After sputtering he patted the dog's head. "I need to work on reflexes." The dog then nuzzled against Iris. --- "Good idea. Wonder how long it'll be for them to get home?" Adam said as Nebo pawed at him. He was already missing them, especially Sophie. "Good boy." Adam said as he crouched down and pet Nebo." @Al the Killer

Iris laughed at Albert as she started up the car. "You never had any complaints when I did it," she commented, turning in her seat as she backed out of their parking spot. "Back to my place, then?" ~~~ "No clue, that's why I asked you earlier." Matthew picked up one of the burgers and walked over to the table. "But I'm getting a head start." He sat down and started eating. @Hacky Slashy

"Sounds like a good plan." Albert said as he continued petting their new rescue. Maggie rested her head between her new parents. Quince found himself in love with the dog. He checked on the food, unfortunately it had indeed gone cold. However he was used to cold food due to stakeouts. --- Nebo followed Matthew, resting next to him. Adam rested next to the husky. "Should I feed Purcasso soon?" @Al the Killer

Iris pulled into the parking lot in front of her apartment building. Everything seemed peaceful enough from outside, at least. Not surprising: her unit was a high-rise, and there had always been decent security there. It wouldn't stop the AMP when they had control of the city, but civilians who didn't belong there - or weren't at least invited - wouldn't have been able to get in. "We're here." She took the drinks and her guns, making sure everything was secure enough before she got out of the car. "Albert, do you mind taking Maggie's leash?" ~~~ Matthew looked down at the dog and the vampire, both sitting on the floor. The dog he expected, but the vampire was an amusing sight. "Nah, she's napping again. I'll get her a can of tuna once I'm done eating." @Hacky Slashy

"Gladly." Albert said as he took Maggie's leash. The dog happily complied. He then proceeded to get the food. He would gladly make the 2nd trip. Maggie sniffed around and explored her new environment. --- "That's good. We all could use a good rest. Could also take her to Sophie's clinic for a checkup." Adam suggested as he rubbed Nebo's back. Nebo then pawed at Matthew's leg. @Al the Killer

As predicted, the apartment was in the same state it had been in when they had last checked: a mess, but no more than before. Iris stepped aside to let Albert and Maggie in first. "For tonight, I'm thinking we just get the furniture turned upright and get anything that might be a hazard to Maggie off the floor. Any sharp objects or 'forbidden snacks', so to speak," she said. "The real cleaning can wait for tomorrow... and maybe we should set down some newspapers, until we're sure she's housetrained." ~~~ "Tomorrow, I think," Matthew said. "Neither of us has a car, and I don't know if she'd like flying Vampire Airlines." @Hacky Slashy

Albert lead Maggie to a sofa. He picked her up and seated the rescue. While Albert helped to clean up, Maggie played with the duck toy. He got the various debris and all in general that could be considered forbidden snacks. He then picked up the furniture that was upright. Albert then informed Iris the apartment was more presentable while he laid down some newspapers. --- "Yeah, might not be fun dealing with a cat pawing at me mid flight." Adam said as Nebo stretched his back. The dog then proceeded to paw at Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris focused on getting the kitchen table and chairs upright. There had been four chairs, though two had been broken too far to stand up, so she set those aside for now. Thankfully, there was no damage to the walls or appliances that had come with the apartment. She took a moment to make the bed as well. Once the rest of the apartment was safely clean enough, she looked up at the camera in the corner. The light remained on, and she had to remind herself it was only because nobody had been in the apartment to turn it off. The one who'd had it installed had died. She knew. She'd been there, helped cause it. "Can you reach that?" she asked Albert, pointing up. "If not, I can get a ladder. I'd just rather have it gone, even if nobody's watching anymore." ~~~ Matthew finished his burger and reached down to pet Nebo. "Speaking of animals pawing at you, yes, hello Nebo." He looked over as Purrcasso woke up and stretched. "Keep Nebo distracted, I have a cat to feed." @Hacky Slashy

"Gladly." Quince squeezed her hand reassuringly and retrieved the camera. He put it in a plastic bag and took it outside. He then proceeded to stomp on it. "Rot in piss, Wedmore." Maggie trotted next to Iris, placing the duck toy down and nuzzling against her new mother's leg. --- "Come on Nebo. And no licking Purcasso again." Adam distracted the Husky with head pats. The husky then rolled on to his back, ready for belly rubs. Adam rubbed it while calling him a good boy. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled over at Albert, then walked over to the kitchen sink to wash Maggie's bowls. She started the oven while she was at it, setting it at a low temperature to reheat dinner without completely ruining the sanctity of the french fries. Once everything was set, she filled one dish with water and the other with kibble, setting both down. "There you go." She watched Maggie cuddle against her leg. "Once we get settled in, we'll see about getting one for you so you can run around easier when we go out," she promised, patting the dog's head. ~~~ Matthew searched the cabinets until he found a can of tuna. "There you are!" Purrcasso came running the moment she heard the can click open, already wondering between Matthew's ankles by the time he set the can down. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie licked Iris' hand and then went to her bowls. The dog ate the food and drank the water happily. Once she was done, she went next to Iris. Albert came back and went next to Iris and Maggie. "Did I miss anything? Other than Maggie being adorable." He crouched down to pet Maggie. She rewarded him with more kisses and dog slobber. Quince wiped himself and smiled at Iris. He then looked longingly at the fries being reheated. --- Nebo saw Purcasso and smiled. Adam still kept the husky occupied while Matthew fed Purcasso. @Al the Killer

Iris washed her hands to make sure they were free of canine saliva, then resumed getting dinner ready. The sandwiches would probably be fine at room temperature, but cold fries were a nightmare. As Albert returned, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Just me feeding her. If she tells you she hasn't been fed yet, she's lying." She looked down at Maggie. The poor dog really did look like she'd been through a lot. "But no harm in giving her a little extra for now anyway, I guess." @Hacky Slashy

Maggie sat next to Iris while Albert was standing. "No worries. I'll try to resist the puppy eyes." Quince said as Maggie's tail wagged. "Anything else you want to take care of?" He asked as Maggie rubbed her head on Iris. --- Adam gave Nebo more belly rubs while the dog smiled at him. "So Tuna is backup in case of no Salmon?" Adam asked as Nebo remained on the floor. @Al the Killer

The oven timer went off, and Iris grabbed the mitt. "No, we have time to worry about the rest of the cleaning another night." She took the fries out and set the baking sheet on the stove. "It's about time we had our own dinner." She looked down at Maggie and smiled. Her life had completely changed in a matter of days, and all for the better. As it turned out, crime did pay after all. ~~~ "Nah, just thought she might want some variety," Matthew said. "You know, instead of eating all the salmon." He scratched the top of Purrcasso's head, then left her alone to enjoy her meal. @Hacky Slashy

Quince helped put their food on a table as Maggie began exploring her new environment. She then went back to Iris' side, playing with the squeaky duck toy. --- Nebo went up to Matthew, pawing at him. "Good idea. Plus you don't want her getting used to the same food." Adam said as he got up and stretched. @Al the Killer

Iris sat down and back into the chair once everything was set up. "I'll get in touch with the landlord tomorrow if you want, to see about at least adding you as a resident so you can get a key," she told Albert. Adding him to the lease when they would just be looking for a new place soon seemed like it would be a waste of effort, but he should at least be able to come and go as he pleased. She unwrapped her sandwich as she spoke. "I don't know if the transit system is back up and running yet, but if you want to go look for a new car after work, I don't mind giving you a ride to the dealership. You'll probably need one for work, right?" ~~~ Matthew turned around to start petting Nebo again. "I know, if you don't get attention for five whole minutes, you'll waste away," he told the husky understandingly. "But yeah, we can't spoil her on salmon all the time." @Hacky Slashy

Albert unwrapped his burgers. "Both would be great." While they talked, Maggie rested her head on Iris' knee, even giving puppy eyes. It seems most dogs have mastered that skill. --- Nebo nuzzled against Matthew and licked him. "At least Nebo didn't lick her again." Adam noted, still remembering that moment. It really looked like she wanted to scratch him for that. @Al the Killer

Iris finished her meal quickly, since it was already getting late, and she had a lot of other things to think about right now. A few busy days, during which she hoped (with a healthy dose of skepticism) nothing apocalyptic would happen. Once she was done eating, and after having slipped Maggie a couple of fries, she reached down to pet the dog. "Should we give the others a call, let them know we're settled in safely?" she asked. ~~~ Matthew chuckled at that. "Yeah, I think he's learned not to bother the cat so much. They might be getting used to each other, though." @Hacky Slashy

Albert finished his burger and fries, although he does save pieces of bacon and fries for Maggie. He places puts his hand down and Maggie devours the contents. "Sounds like a good idea." Maggie got down on her back, prompting the detective to give her belly rubs. --- "Seems so. How do you think Iris is managing? And the others?" Adam asked as Nebo rolled over and ran between Adam and Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris cleared the table while Albert kept the dog distracted. "Do they have a house phone, or should we call one of the girls?" She wasn't sure if Matthew had a phone, and she never did get the number for the phone Adam had stolen. Probably better not to call a stolen phone anyway, for the risk it might get traced somehow. She wasn't sure, she wasn't a big technology person. She glanced back at Albert and Maggie, and smiled. So this was how it felt to truly be in love. ~~~ "Iris and Quince have faced off against vampires, so they're probably fine. If anything happened in the hospital where Rachel works, it'd probably be on the news," Matthew said. "Sophie's probably doing fine, but that's just a guess." @Hacky Slashy

Albert temporarily stopped the belly rubs to shoot both Sophie and Rachel texts. In a few moments he let Iris know they give their regards. Maggie then went next to Iris, licking her hand. --- "Pity I don't have a phone...or a formal job at the moment." Adam notes as Nebo continued rolling around on the floor." @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet Maggie. "Good to know they're alright," she told Albert. She looked toward her room. "I'm about ready for bed, though. Do you want to invite Maggie to sleep on the bed, or just the two of us tonight?" ~~~ "That makes two of us," Matthew commented. "Can't imagine what either of us would put on a resume, either. 'Starving artist' for my work experience, 'vigilante vampire' for yours." He considered for a moment. "At least they'd be interesting reads." @Hacky Slashy

Albert was about to answer when Maggie looked up at him. "She can sleep with us tonight. We'll need to get her a bed though." Maggie licked Albert and then Iris again, looking up at both of them. --- "That they would be." Adam chuckled at the thought of putting that in a resume. Nebo nuzzled against him. Adam crouched down to pet the husky. @Al the Killer

"I'll pick one up while you're checking out cars tomorrow," Iris promised. She scratched behind one of Maggie's ears, then led the way back to the bedroom. "For now, I think we all could use some rest. Can you help her get onto the bed? It will be a challenge with one her missing leg." She would know. She opened the door for Albert and their dog, then sat on the edge of the bed so she could change. The nightstand on her side of the bed was wide, chosen mainly so her prosthetic would fit in the top drawer easily. Better to store it in there than to find out the hard way whether Maggie liked to chew things that weren't hers. ~~~ Matthew yawned. "Anyway, tell the girls I said goodnight when they get here," he said. "I'm gonna get some shut-eye. Tomorrow will be a long day of..." He trailed off. "Housework, probably?" On the bright side, there was a free bed now. @Hacky Slashy

Albert picked up Maggie and headed towards the bed. The happy dog enjoyed being held. Albert gently laid the dog down on the bed. He changed to just his tank top and boxers while Maggie curled up on the bed. --- "Have a good night-" the door opened and Both Sophie and Rachel showed up, greeting the human and vampire. Nebo greeted them as Rachel and Sophie gave him pets and kisses. "How'd your day go?" Sophie asked as Rachel smelled the food. "Who cooked the burgers so I can thank them." Rachel said as she began eating. Adam greeted Sophie as Nebo went next to Rachel, presumably to beg for more burgers. "So how'd your day go? Matthew cooked the burgers, I just helped." Rachel complimented Matthew's culinary skills as she broke off a piece for Nebo. @Al the Killer

Iris settled in next to them once she was ready. "Goodnight, Albert." She looked down at the dog, who had already made herself comfortable and peaceful. "And goodnight, Maggie." Once Albert was in bed, she rolled onto her side and rested her head against his chest. She'd never need a normal pillow again, it seemed. ~~~ Matthew stopped halfway toward the staircase. "Great," he answered Sophie, then looked over at Rachel. "I made burgers for everyone. They should still be warm enough." He walked over to where Purrcasso had finished her can of tuna and picked it up. @Hacky Slashy

Albert kissed Iris' head before bidding her good night. He covered both Iris and Maggie in the sheets. His life had changed for the better. If he knew all he had to do was fight vampires and help murder a corrupt politician, he would've gladly done it earlier. --- Adam served Sophie a burger while Nebo rested between both the human and the vampire. Rachel finished her meal and washed her plate. "I'm beat. I'm gonna shower and head to bed. Have a good night, all." Rachel then departed the room. Sophie then recapped her day, even about Iris and Albert's new dog. "She's really sweet. Glad they rescued her." Adam smiled at the prospect of another dog. He then regailed Sophie with him and Matthew bathing Nebo. "He kinda let the whole world know we like torturing Huskies." Sophie giggled at the joke. "No worries, at least he didn't physically resist or try to get out of the tub like when he was younger." @Al the Killer

Matthew stuck around for a bit longer, setting Purrcasso in his lap while Sophie talked about the past day. It all felt... Not his normal, but what he'd always imagined normal should feel like. Which was weird, since there was a vampire in the room. "Can't wait to meet her, then," he said, wondering if Maggie and Iris were going to have matching legs. Probably not, Maggie's would have to be canine-appropriate. "Really sounds like their new dog is the one who adopted them though." He looked down at his cat. "Kinda like Purrcasso." Purrcasso licked his thumb in response, then bit down on it lightly. "I just wish she didn't say 'I love you' with her teeth." She let go, leaving the skin unbroken as she nuzzled against his hand. @Hacky Slashy

Albert held Iris while Maggie nuzzled between the two. He pet Maggie as she snored. He wouldn't trade this moment for the world. --- Nebo laid down at Matthew's feet, tail wagging. Adam and Sophie felt their hands touch, but didn't pull away this time. He was still rather surprised with his new circumstances. @Al the Killer

Iris draped an arm across Albert. Or tried to. It wound up resting on Maggie's back instead, which was also fine. In moments, she had fallen into a peaceful sleep. ~~~ Feeling the conversation die off, Matthew stood back up with Purrcasso in a shoulder hold. She purred in his ear, seeming to be half asleep already. "I should get some rest for the night. I'll see you two in the morning." He smiled, then walked upstairs, taking care not to trip over Nebo. @Hacky Slashy

Quince eventually drifted off to sleep, sleeping blissfully. --- Sophie yawned and bid Adam good night. "I'll see you in the morning." She kissed him and decided to shower and head to bed. Nebo trotted alongside Adam. "Guess it's just you and me again, boy." Adam scratched the Husky behind the ears. @Al the Killer

Iris woke up first the next morning. Still groggy, she picked up her head and looked down at Albert, then at Maggie. Both adorable, both making her almost not want to get out of bed. But there were things to do. She placed a kiss on Albert's neck. "Morning, love," she murmured, reaching over to pet Maggie. ~~~ Matthew would have continued to sleep late into the morning, if not for Purrcasso sitting on his throat and loudly demanding food. "Hm?" He opened his eyes to look at her, and she jumped off so he could get out of bed. @Hacky Slashy

Adam went on the rooftop and decided to go hunting again. He sticked to the rooftops and went further into the city. He observed the military cutting down marines who were left hanging by their throats. From the conversation he overheard, they were ambushed, then stripped of their equipment. He then used his enhanced sense of smell to narrow down something that'll lead him to the killers. He recognized the familiar scent of cocaine. He eventually tracked it to a decrepit warehouse. He heard laughter from inside. "Fucking nailed those pricks. Too easy." Adam was about to head inside the warehouse when he saw one of them step outside. He lit a cigarette as the vampire flew behind him and twisted his head all the way around. He then bit down on his neck, tasting the blood. Adam hated that he liked the taste of blood, as much as he tries to justify it as they deserved it. Once he finished he made his way to the rooftop and found a window to sneak in. As he was about to enter, he picked up on another familiar scent....wet dog. Adam heard the sound of growling and saw the massive, grey wolf creature. It looked up at him and Adam put his hand up in a neutral gesture. The wolf shifted to human and jumped up to the rooftop with him. "So....you're the Night Haunter I take it?" The same Native American man asked as Adam confirmed his suspicion and introduced himself. After the introductions, they went back to eliminating the gang members. "Those fucking scum bags are all in there?" Jason asked as Adam peered in, seeing the members loading weapons and combat armor into crates, to send to AMP outside the city. Adam confirmed their intentions. "The fuck they are." Jason said as he shifted into his lycan form. He jumped back down and breached the front door, like well....a pissed off werewolf. Adam took care of the gang members shooting at Jason, clawing one of their throats out, even gunning down 4 members with the dead man's AK-47. Jason pounced on the stragglers on th

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e ground floor. They were no match for one supernatural predator, let alone two. There were 4 members left who attempted to run out the back, but the vampire landed in front of the back door, while holding one of their own in his mouth, draining him dry. The body fell off, with blood dripping from the vampire's jaw. The MS-13 gang bangers got the privilege of choosing between drained by a vampire or torn apart by a werewolf. 5 minutes later, Jason and Adam found a rooftop and rested. "Well, I'll just call it in tomorrow morning, let the coroner get some sleep at least." Adam nodded and the two just recapped their lives to each other. Jason enlisted in the marines to support his sister. He found out after one battle in Kandahar what he and his family truly were. Ever since then, he only used the beast for emergencies, although that now became more often thanks to the apocalypse. "I got to go, we'll talk more later, I mean we are neighbors practically." Adam and Jason shook hands and both went back home. Adam slipped into the house before morning, deciding to try and prep food for the others: Scrambled eggs and toast. --- Quince woke up to Iris' kiss. He got up and planted a kiss on Iris' lips as Maggie licked them both. "How'd you sleep? Maggie had to use the restroom in the middle of the night, didn't want to wake you." Maggie stretched on the bed and sat down, tail wagging. --- Nebo woke up both Sophie and Rachel, wanting food. They both got up and hugged Nebo before heading to the kitchen. @Al the Killer

Iris closed her eyes and returned the kiss, only to break away and start laughing as the dog seemed to want to join in. "Yes, good morning to you too." She stretched her arms over her head in an attempt to wake up a bit more. "Thanks for taking care of her." She sat up, running her fingers through her hair to make it more presentable. "I'll make breakfast after I take a shower. What do you want?" She turned around to get her prosthetic from the drawer as she spoke. ~~~ Matthew walked down the stairs with Purrcasso close behind. Taking a deep breath, he picked up on the smell of breakfast cooking, and walked faster, nearly falling down the steps in the process. He caught himself on the railing. "Didn't realize you could cook," he told Adam. @Hacky Slashy

"I'll go feed Maggie. Maybe join if you'll have me." Quince walked towards the kitchen with Maggie in tow. He filled up both bowls with food and water, petting the dog as she happily ate. --- Adam greeted Matthew, the girls and the pets as they walked in. "I can make eggs and toast easily, it's just I never had to until now, you know. "Morning!" Sophie said as she kissed Adam and helped herself to some food. Rachel filled Nebo's bowls before getting a can of tuna for Purcasso. She set it down and then helped herself to some food as well. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled over at him. "Gladly," she said. "But showering with one leg is annoying enough without trying to do anything else, so don't expect more while we're in there than me using you for extra balance. The new prosthetic still isn't waterproof." The grab bar the landlord had installed in the shower a while back helped with avoiding a fall, but didn't solve every problem. She stood up once her leg was attached and walked out to the bathroom to get the shower started. Once the water was running, she called out to Albert. "Just come in when you're ready." ~~~ "Morning," Matthew greeted in return. He prepared a plate for himself as well, since Rachel had beaten him to feeding the animals. "So, Adam, did I miss anything interesting last night? Any exciting hunting stories?" @Hacky Slashy

Once Quince finished taking care of Maggie's needs, he set down the duck toy to keep her preoccupied. He then stripped down and joined Iris in the shower. He wrapped an arm around her waist, hugging her from behind. "Need balance?" He said as he kissed her neck. --- "Not much. Well....there were some shitbags who ambushed some marines, taking their equipment and were apparently coordinating with AMP. I stopped them with some...help." Adam recapped the raid with the werewolf. "Jason Redstone. He's also living nearby with his sister, Niece and dog." Sophie and Rachel were in complete shock. Once the sisters finished, Rachel headed towards the hospital. Sophie stayed behind to bid Adam goodbye for now. "Just be careful. I don't want you getting hurt again. And Matthew, need Purcasso to get a checkup anytime soon?" @Al the Killer

Iris was just getting into the shower when Albert came in to join her. "Nice to see you here," she commented. She swung her legs over the ledge of the tub, then used the grab bar to stand on the full one. "Offering help? What a gentleman," she joked, tilting her head to keep her neck available for him. "If the water's too hot, you can adjust the temperature." But instead of letting him go, she leaned slightly against his chest. Maybe just a few minutes of relaxation, first. ~~~ "So... he's a good werewolf?" Matthew commented, resisting the urge to call him a 'good dog'. Or worse, a 'good boy', lest it come across completely wrong. He finished his breakfast and carried the dishes over to a sink. "She probably should get checked out, to make sure everything's going well," he agreed. "It's getting her there and not leaving her there all day that'll be the problem." @Hacky Slashy

Albert held Iris as the water splashed them both. He nuzzled against her and kissed her neck. --- "You could say that." Adam said as Sophie inquired about Purcasso. "We could call in a favor with Albert when he gets another car. I'm sure he'd be happy to help." @Al the Killer

Iris smiled and patted his shoulder with her free hand. As much as she enjoyed the attention, she'd meant it when she said not to expect anything; she didn't trust her own balance, and didn't want to rely on him too much to stay standing. That and they both had work that morning. "Alright, love, save it for tonight," she said, a subtle promise. She pressed a soft kiss to his lips, then reached for the bottle of shampoo. ~~~ Matthew nodded. "That sounds good," he agreed. "Or if the vet clinic isn't too far, I can also walk." A car might be safer though, with the city still in some level of turmoil. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm definitely holding you to that, doc." Quince said as he reached the shampoo and handed it to her. While the two were in the shower, Maggie was playing with the duck toy. --- "I'd offer to fly him but assuming being high in the air doesn't freak Purcasso out, me being on fire likely won't help." Adam joked as Sophie rolled her eyes. Sophie then bid Matthew and Adam goodbye. She then patted both Nebo and Purcasso before leaving. @Al the Killer

"Or you can just hold me," Iris teased. She let Albert and the wall support her balance while she washed her hair, handing him the bottle so she could use both hands. "You can use mine, as long as you don't mind smelling like lilacs." She looked toward the door, hearing the faint squeaking sounds coming from the living room. "I guess she likes her toy." ~~~ Matthew chuckled. "Hm... no. If you're gonna set yourself on fire, don't drag my baby into it." He waved to Sophie. "Have a good day at work. We'll hold down the fort." @Hacky Slashy

"Lilac it is." Quince said as he continued holding his girlfriend. He applied the shampoo on his hair with one hand while holding Iris. Maggie was exploring the house while playing with her duck toy. --- Adam waved goodbye and then retrieved a lint roller. "I'm gonna take care of the dog hair huskies are known for shedding." Nebo stretched and then licked Matthew's hand. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked down at Nebo, petting the dog. "Hair, huh?" He took his hand away and looked at the fur that already covered it. "I hardly noticed." He looked toward the window, though the curtains were closed to accommodate the vampire not being on fire. "I might go out for a bit. It's weird being indoors for so long. I'd make a terrible shut-in." ~~~ Iris finished rinsing her hair, then reached for the body wash. Her balance was thrown off, so she grabbed onto Albert's shoulder to steady herself. "Fuck. Sorry." @Hacky Slashy

"I mean I could teach you.....but I'm terrible at that as well, having to be constantly on the move and all. Anywho, have fun and stay safe!" Adam then proceeded to work on the dog hair. --- Albert held on to Iris and then handed her the body wash. "I got you. No worries." He smiled at her. It was a pity shower sex was mostly out of the question, but then again they'd never get out in that case. Maggie continued exploring her new environment and then rested near the bed, chewing and shaking the toy. @Al the Killer

"I'll be fine," Matthew assured him, then walked toward the door. "Have fun with that dog hair... do you want to hide while the door's open?" He glanced over at the door, knowing there would be some sort of sunlight out there. ~~~ Iris smiled at him, then regained her balance. She kept a hand on his shoulder for a moment, then let go so she could finish getting clean. It was nice having company at least, after the past two years of being alone nearly all the time whenever she wasn't at work. "Any clue where you'll be today?" she asked. @Hacky Slashy

Adam hopped behind the couch, then signalled to Matthew he's free to open the door. "Be safe!" The vampire said while hiding from the sun. --- "I'll likely be on APC patrop today, end up back in the same checkpoint by the end of my shift...barring any excitement of course." Quince said he looked at her for a few seconds, already hardened erection aching. @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded, realized he might not be visible as he opened the door, then spoke up instead. "Will do. Keep Nebo and Purrcasso company while I'm out," he said, then stepped out. He made sure the sound of the door closing would be audible, even though that likely wasn't a concern with vampire hearing. For now, he started walking, no clear destination, but memorizing his route to avoid getting lost in the suburbs. Now that would be a hellish nightmare. ~~~ Iris looked down as the water washed over her. "Right. Excitement," she said, resisting the urge to tease him. It didn't take glasses to admire the view. She patted his arm with one hand, using the other to keep her balance. "I'll be in the bedroom. Don't bother getting dressed before you join me." She navigated her way out of the shower so she could sit down and put her prosthetic back on. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo followed Adam around as he began his crusade against husky shedding. Nebo kept interupting Adam by pawing at him. "Of course, pet you every 5 seconds." Adam pet the needy husky. --- Picking up on the invitation, Quince finished showering. He dried himself and then joined Iris in the bedroom, with just the towel on. @Al the Killer

Matthew's path led him into the more familiar-looking parts of the city. He had never been here before, but he was used to those neighbourhoods where rich people simply did not go. Life was cheaper there, even when one still couldn't pay rent, and one could rest on a bus stop bench without getting attacked by some officer or housed civilian on a power trip. Still, as he walked between alleyways, avoiding the streets and the unsafe drivers that often accompanied them, he couldn't shake the faintest sense of danger. ~~~ Iris patted enough of the water off of herself not to trail droplets everywhere, then wrapped the towel around herself and walked to the bedroom. It wasn't long before he joined her, and she met him by the doorway. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, pulling herself close immediately. "Maybe we do have a little time after all," she said, before placing a hand on the back of his head and pulling him in for a kiss. @Hacky Slashy

Adam finished up getting the pet hair out of most of the house, but the girls would need a new lint. He then began sweeping with a broom. Nebo followed him around as support. --- Two thugs got behind Matthew and dragged him into an empty store. "Check him John!" One of the thugs said as they emptied Matthew's pockets. They then tossed him into the floor. "Asshole's only got 5 bucks!" While they argued....another figure was behind them, clearly feminine. --- Quince returned the kiss and picked her up. He gently laid her on the bed and begin licking and kissing her neck. Maggie was in the kitchen. She was ragdolling the duck toy. @Al the Killer

As it turned out, the days he'd spent in a house had already been enough to bring Matthew's guard down. The first grab knocked him off balance, and he stumbled back. The guys who'd jumped him hadn't shown in front of him, so he had no way of knowing if they were armed. Better to go along than to fight like an idiot and get a bullet in his brain for it. Of course, most thieves were desperate but still too hesitant to actually take a human life, but that wasn't a chance he was willing to gamble on. He caught himself on his hands as he fell onto the cracked tile flooring, barely keeping his head from making contact with it. He was about to take advantage of their arguing to slip away, but paused when he saw another figure behind them. Probably not with them, and there was no way he was leaving another person to them. So he spoke up, a distraction. "If I had more, I'd give it to you. Honest." He held both empty hands up, palm out, as a gesture of helplessness. "Trust me, I'm as bad off as you." ~~~ Iris's grip tightened on Albert as extra protection against getting dropped on the floor. Her towel was less fortunate as far as remaining undropped went, and immediately fell to the floor. She didn't let go of him as she was set on the bed, instead smiling as she pulled him down with her. Her head tilted back as she closed her eyes, nails scraping gently across his shoulders. @Hacky Slashy

"What else you got, you little shit stain!?" The man with the long hair and goatee said while his bald companion was trying to pull his revolver out, or more accurately struggling with it. Right as he pulled it out, he was grabbed from behind, yelping. "John?!" The other thug turned around just in time for a 6'2, woman with auburn hair, pale skin and sharp teeth smiling at him. Before he could react, she grabbed his head and twisted it all the way around. He coughed up blood as she sank her teeth into him. Some of the blood splashed on Matthew's face. She then tossed the corpse down like a used condom and then eyed Matthew, in a way that can either be described as woman checking out a potential suitor...or a predator eying their next meal. She crouched down to and cleaned the blood of him with her finger, her tallon like nail tracing his face. She then licked the blood clean from her finger. She then extended her other hand, to help him up. --- Adam was finished sweeping the floor, now moving on to washing dishes and utensils. --- Albert proceeded to probe Iris' mouth with his tongue. He moaned as her nails dug into his flesh. He then discarded his towel and slid his penis on top of her sex.

@Al the Killer

Matthew closed his eyes, if only to avoid getting blood in his eyes. The sounds of the struggle, such as it was, didn't escape his notice, and it was over in a few seconds. He opened them again to look at the woman who'd saved his life, his eyes locking with hers as the panic started to fade. It wasn't that he couldn't possibly still be in danger, but more that if he was, there really wasn't much he could do about it. And honestly? What a way to go. He could count on one hand the number of women he'd actually been attracted to in his lifetime, but it was enough to know that his type of woman was the same as with men: someone who could easily kill him with one hand but chose not to. He'd still had his hands up, and he slowly lowered them as she got closer. "Thanks." He didn't move away as she wiped the blood from his face, but did accept the offered hand. "Funny, that's two vampires I've met in my lifetime now, and both as likely to save a life as to end it." He managed a slightly shaken smile as he stood up. He'd gotten a bit bruised up from his tumble to the ground, but he'd had worse, and would be fine. ~~~ Iris parted her lips to welcome him. One of her hands trailed up to the back of his head, burying itself in his hair. Her breasts pressed against his chest. At times like this, it felt like she could never hold him quite close enough, but she would hold onto him tightly anyway. Her hips lifted, grinding slowly to tease him. The soft moan that left her was muffled by their kiss as her clit brushed against his tip. @Hacky Slashy

"Thesally, and you are?" She said still smiling at Matthew, mouth mostly clean of blood. She even brushed Matthew off. "Also you mentioned other vampire. You've seen another and you're not dead? Tell me more. I bet there's an interesting story." Thesally said, still eying Matthew. --- Quince gently slid his member inside. He moved his mouth to her neck, kissing and nibbling. Moans left his mouth as he gently slid in and out of her. --- Adam finished sweeping and moved on to dusting, despite the Husky's distractions. He also checked up on Purcasso, petting the cat before beginning. --- Sophie was busy helping with a surprising patient. A "Therapy" Alligator named Wally. The middle aged owner was waiting in the lobby. Funny enough, Wally was actually certified. --- Rachel was busy treating more patients, victims of violent crimes. It seemed Adam would have his work cut out for him. But she had faith he would make the perpetrators pay for the carnage. @Al the Killer

Oh right. Introductions. "Matthew," he introduced himself. "Matt is fine, too." He looked around the old building they stood in. Abandoned for a long time, from the look of it, with the windows boarded up to keep people out. Clearly that hadn't worked as intended, but it kept the area dark enough during the day. Unsurprising that a vampire might be here. He looked back at her as he realized why that name sounded familiar. "Oh, um... Funny story, actually. I only caught the tail end of the whole thing, but I guess there was a gang of rogue vampires, so my sister helped another vampire get rid of them in exchange for help getting rid of her stalker ex husband..." He trailed off. Maybe he shouldn't be saying all of this, but the relief at not being dead yet made him talkative. "Do you happen to remember a vampire named Adam...?" ~~~ Iris leaned her head back to give him easier access. Her hips moved in time with his, making sure he hit just the right angles. @Hacky Slashy

"........Adam Cain!? That idiot managed to survive!?!? And you know him!?" Thesally was elated. Her one friend in the whole world was not only alive, but in the area. "I got a car nearby. Think you can take me to him? Well....unless you don't trust me. I mean I did kill two men in front of you. Also stalker ex? Sounds right up his alley." Thesally dusted Matthew off again, and then got a longcoat and scarf to cover herself. "So....what do you say?" --- Quince continued thrusting in sync with Iris. His left hand steadied himself on the bed while his right hand caresses her body. 'Hope Maggie doesn't see this and freak out.' He thinks to himself as he kisses her neck. @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded to confirm that that idiot had, in fact, managed to survive. He relaxed a bit, knowing she definitely wasn't about to kill him now. "Yeah, stalker. Long story, not mine to tell. And uh... I can't drive, but if you're good to, I can give directions. Just one second." He knelt back down to search the bodies. "I know, looting corpses isn't the most ethically sound, but they almost killed me." He pocketed the five dollars they'd taken from him. "Also it's not like they're using it." He stood back up. "Ready to go?" ~~~ Iris let herself get lost in the moment, moaning softly at his touches. As she felt herself getting closer, she cupped his cheek in one hand to tilt his head toward hers. Her lips landed on his in a desperate kiss, pouring all of her hunger into him. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally wrapped an arm around Matthew and whisked him away from the store. She took him to an abandoned parking garage, taking him to a mercedes. She opened it and let Matthew in to the car. "So....want to go sightseeing or head straight home. No worries, if Adam managed to survive going toe to toe with a rogue vampire pack, he'll be fine for a bit. Also tell me more about your sister. She sounds interesting." She started the car and waited for further instructions. --- Quince felt himself lost in the moment as well, gleefully returning the passionate kiss. He then felt the all too familiar sensation of spurting his load into Iris. He then collapsed on top of her. He then began kissing her again. A familiar squeeking sound emitted close to them. Maggie was tilting her head in confusion. @Al the Killer

It was an odd sight, a nice car in the middle of an abandoned parking garage. Like some artsy but unrealistic framing shot in a pretentious film. He got in anyway, then looked over at Thesally, the vampire. "I think sightseeing is better done when you don't have to worry about getting set on fire by the slightest wardrobe malfunction. So maybe we save that for when it's dark out." He buckled his seatbelt, then leaned back, making himself comfortable. "I'll direct you once we're out of here. As for Iris... Honestly, I'm still getting to know her, myself. She left home to go to college seventeen years ago. Next time we saw each other after that, she almost hit me with the car she'd stolen from a guy who tried to kidnap her. On her way to rob a blood bank and fight those rogue vampires... Yeah, interesting is an apt description." ~~~ The feeling of his release brought her own. She held him tightly through her climax, momentarily breaking the kiss to catch her breath. Then she heard Maggie's duck toy and it kind of killed the moment. She turned her head to the side to see the dog. "I think we forgot to close the door." She laughed and patted his shoulder, a sign for him to get up. The quickie had cost them the time it would have taken to make breakfast, but that was nothing a drive-thru couldn't fix. "Come on, let's get ready to head out. Where do you want to stop for breakfast? My treat this time." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally smiled at Matthew through her heavily covered head. She then nodded as she heard Matthew's story about Iris. "I do hope I get to meet her. Especially how she survived these rogue vampires." She drove the car out of the garage. "So....where to?" --- Quince got off Iris and laughed at the dog's confusion. "It's ok, girl. We were both into it." He said while petting the dog, like a parent talking to their child who walked in on them at the wrong moment. He then grabbed his clothes and Iris'. "Dunkins? Provided there's one standing. Maybe get some donuts for Nameed as well. How's he doing? Tell him I said hi." --- Adam finished sweeping up and sat on the couch. Nebo took a spot next to him. After pawing at the vampire, Adam gave the dog head pats and pets. @Al the Killer

From what Adam had said, Thesally wasn't what Matthew had expected. 'Kind of a bitch' seemed inaccurate, unless the years had mellowed her out since then. He didn't mention that, since 'you don't seem like a bitch' was not a very good conversation thread to pick up. Instead, he nodded. "I'm sure you will, next time she stops by the house," he said, then started to give directions to the house. ~~~ Iris stood up and took her clothes from Albert. "Naveed's doing well, but he has the late shift today. Blake will be in when we get there, though. He's the one who was here the first time you stopped by for the Night Haunter case," she explained as she got dressed. "But I'll let Naveed know, too. We can always save a few." She walked over to her nightstand to put her glasses on, then brush her hair. @Hacky Slashy

"And away we go!" Thesally announced as she drove off with Matthew in tow. She managed to dodge some checkpoints and made her way to the neighborhood. "So, this your place or someone else's?" Thesally asked as she pulled into the neighborhood. --- Quince kept Maggie occupied while Iris got ready. He smiled as Maggie then went to Iris. She rubbed her head on Iris' leg. --- Adam was busy patting Nebo. He decided to flip on the tv, browsing channels. @Al the Killer

"Someone else's," Matthew said. The idea of even having a place of his own seemed laughable, even if it was closer to reach now than it had been in a long time. "Kind of a long story, but I'll tell you when we get th- here. It's this one." He pointed ahead toward Sophie and Rachel's house. "I'll go ahead and knock first, so Adam can avoid the doorway. Would suck if your reunion involved lighting him on fire, y'know?" ~~~ Once Iris finished getting ready, she reached down to pet Maggie. "Yes, good morning baby girl," she greeted. "I'll see you later today, then we can go bed shopping for you, okay?" She stood upright and picked up her purse. "Love you." Once she was sure she had everything she needed, she took Albert's hand and started to head out. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally parked on the grass, making sure not to impede the owners. "Very well." She patiently waited for her reunion. --- Maggie licked Iris' hand as she greeted her. Albert pet Maggie's head as the dog's tail wagged. "See you later, girl. Behave, ok? Love you." Albert then joined Iris to head out. "2 more seconds and I'd never be able to leave." --- Adam managed to find a channel playing Robocop. "They don't make them like this anymore." Meanwhile Nebo was just happy to be there. He then sensed Matthew arriving. @Al the Killer

Matthew got out of the car and walked over to the door. He knocked, then spoke so Adam knew it was time to hide, not act like a second guard dog. "It's me," he said. "And I brought someone you might want to see. Just stay away from the sunlight." Assuming the door hadn't been locked, he nodded over to Thesally then reached out to open the door. ~~~ "I know the feeling," Iris agreed, leading the way down the stairs and into the apartment building's parking lot. She unlocked the doors, then opened the passenger side door for Albert. "I hope she doesn't get too worried while we're gone. Should we have bought more toys for her? ...I'm going to buy more toys for her tonight." She walked around the car to get in the driver's side door. @Hacky Slashy

Adam quickly unlocked the door and then hid. "Is it the CDC with a cure for vampirism?" Adam joked as he hid. Thesally was next to Matthew in an instant. "He's weirdly less grumpy. Guess he finally got used to his life. --- "Make sure not to go overboard, though." Quince joked as he strapped himself in, ready to leave. He held her hand and squeezed it. "I'm already starting to miss her." @Al the Killer

Matthew jumped as Thesally appeared beside him without warning. "Can't really imagine him being grumpy to start with," he said, then opened the door. He shuffled in quickly, waiting for Thesally to get inside before closing the door and locking it again. It was nice to be back, and he could appreciate the indoors with a renewed vigor now that he'd nearly been shot. Purrcasso walked over to greet him, rubbing against his leg and purring. With a smile, he reached down to pet her, then picked her up. ~~~ "I'll go as overboard as I want. She's worth it," Iris joked back as she pulled out of the parking lot and started driving. "Should we pay the others a visit sometime? Tonight's busy, but maybe tomorrow? Come to think of it, feel free to text the girls our address, in case there's an emergency." Our address. The phrase had come out so naturally, and felt fantastic to say. She smiled over at him before focusing on the road. @Hacky Slashy

Adam looked and saw the woman strip off most most of her disguise, revealing a long sleeve grey shirt and Jeans. Without a word Adam wrapped her in a hug. He then let go. "But....how!?" "I could ask you the same, you big idjit! Man it's been a-" before she could get a word out, Nebo greeted Thesally. "A dog! Hello! Who's a good boy!?" She began crouching down and petting the Husky, even playfully squeezing his face. Nebo licked her face in response. She then looked up at Matthew with Purcasso in his arms. "Who's this? She's a real cutie." She then put a hand on his shoulder. "She's not gonna scratch or freak out, will she? --- "Already ahead of you." Albert texted the address to both Sophie and Rachel the adress. "And definitely. Maggie and Nebo would get along pretty well." @Al the Killer

Matthew stood back, letting the two of them have their reunion. Better not to interrupt, since it had been a few years. Purrcasso was nuzzling against his cheek while he answered Thesally's question to him. "Her name is Purrcasso," he answered, scratching behind the cat's good ear. "She likes attention, as long as you don't hold her for too long - aside from the specific way I'm holding her right now - or touch her stomach. She likes getting petted, though, so you'll be fine." ~~~ Iris pulled up to the drive-through, behind a few other cars. "Looks like it is still standing, after all. What are you getting?" she asked. She glanced over at the time on the car's digital display. She would probably be a few minutes late, once she dropped Albert off, but it was worth the extra time with him. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally pet Purcasso after he finished explaining. "Poor baby. At least she's happy and taken care of now." Nebo then walked next to Matthew and nuzzled against him. "So...Robocop anyone?" Adam said as he pointed towards the tv playing the cinematic masterpiece. --- "The usual, bacon, egg and cheese sandwich and coffee, black." Quince said as she smiled at Iris. It seems he would also be late but if it was a choice of putting up with Cutty and Cocker bickering or being with Iris and Maggie, the choice was obvious for him. @Al the Killer

"Never seen it," Matthew answered. "So sure. Is it good?" He reached down with his free hand to pet Nebo, then walked over to sit on the sofa. He set Purrcasso in his lap, and she curled up in his lap. "I missed you too, buddy." He scratched behind her ear again, then leaned back as he watched the screen. ~~~ Iris smiled back and drove up to the speaker, ordering what Albert wanted, plus an iced coffee and a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich for herself, and two boxes of a dozen donuts each. "I figured you might want to share with the others at work," she told Albert as she drove on to the window. "It's an easy enough way to be forgiven for being late." She lowered the window to pay, then handed the food over to Albert as it was given to them. @Hacky Slashy

Adam just gave Matthew a dumbfounded look. "Good!? It's cinema at It's finest!" Adam gestured for Matthew and Thesally to sit. Thesally sat next to Matthew while Nebo curled up at Thesally and Matthew's feet. --- Quince helped carry the food for Iris. "Good idea. Donuts always diffuse tardiness most of the time." He then smiled at Iris. She absolutely is worth getting his car blown up. @Al the Killer

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Alright, then let's see." Since he hadn't seen very many movies, he doubted he'd be that hard to impress anyway. Purrcasso stood up, stretched, then left Matthew's lap to wander around the house for a while, while Matthew watched the movie silently. ~~~ Iris smiled back, and pulled out of the drive through once everything was there. "And if not, more donuts for you," she added as she rolled the window back up. "Now, to the precinct, or the same checkpoint as last time?" @Hacky Slashy

The film began as Adam was enthralled by one of his favorite films. Thesally then took over Matthew's lap with her legs. Nebo was just happy to be there. --- "Hopefully not. When I was younger, I might have enjoyed Donuts too much. And same checkpoint." Quince took a drink of his coffee while admiring the view of the city. @Al the Killer

Matthew glanced over at Thesally, but decided he was fine with this. So he made no effort to get her to move, enjoying the movie and the company instead. It seemed Adam was right: it was, in fact, a cinematic masterpiece. ~~~ Iris pulled up to the checkpoint and stopped. After she took her box of donuts and her sandwich from him, she leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Have a good day at work, love," she said. "Be safe, and call if you need anything." @Hacky Slashy

Quince kissed her back and took his food. "Likewise." He then departed to the armory. He watched Iris drive away and continued going towards the armory. --- Thesally was content with her new surroundings and friends....although only time will tell if it'll be more with Matthew. Adam smiled at Thesally getting friendly with Matthew. The movie progressed to where Alex Murphy was shot to pieces by the bad guys. But unfortunately for them, Murphy would be back. @Al the Killer

Iris watched him walk away for a moment, then drove to her office. The morgue had received a few bodies overnight, so she made her breakfast quick and left the donuts by the front desk. Nothing like a good meal before changing into scrubs and conducting a couple of autopsies. ~~~ Maybe the company was a little distracting after all, but not too much to appreciate the film. He leaned forward as he watched the death scene, resting his arms over the legs draped across his lap without thinking about it. While he focused on the movie, Purrcasso jumped up onto the back of the sofa, looking down at the vampire who had stolen her spot. She soon settled, jumping down into Thesally's lap instead. @Hacky Slashy

Albert managed to scarf down his sandwich and then changed into his uniform. He then met up with Cutty, Cocker, and two other unexpected partners for the day: Jason Redstone and Brad Williams. Quince eyed Brad as he meekly stood there. "I understand you're mad still, but I want to help." He was noticeably only armed with a baton. Seems the brass don't entirely trust those of former AMP. "Look, just don't try anything funny and you'll be fine." Cocker gave him a death stare before seeing the donuts Quince had. "Keep the Jelly away from Cutty." "Fuck you!" Cutty said as he took the jelly." "Here we go again." Quince said as they made their way to the jeep. --- Adam continued watching the movie while Thesally pet Purcasso. She wasn't too much of a cat person, but was happy Purcasso's warming up to her. Meanwhile in the movie, Robocop was already in a confrontation with two thugs holding a woman hostage. Robocop diffused the situation by shooting the perp in the penis, causing him to let the woman go and his partner to surrender. "Your move, creep!" This brought back happy memories of watching these old movies with his dad. @Al the Killer

Partway through the first autopsy, a phone call came through to the morgue. Iris looked down at her bloodied gloves, then over at the phone, then carefully hit the speaker button with her elbow. "LA County DMEC office, Dr. Ellsworth speaking." "This is Officer Meyer," came a weekend voice from the other end. Younger, unfamiliar. Probably one of the skeleton crew still running the precinct to make sure smaller issues didn't go completely neglected. "We got a call about two bodies in an abandoned shop. Bodies completely drained." Fuck, Iris thought, but let her keep talking. "I was told that you were the coroner for the Night Hunter case previously?" Iris considered for a moment. She'd thought these investigations wouldn't be continuing for a while, yet here they were. It made sense: people saw a corpse, they panicked, they called the police. And the bodies had to go somewhere, even while the precinct wasn't focused on crime. "I was," she confirmed. "I'll be there as soon as possible." ~~~ Despite his interest in the movie, Matthew was half asleep by the end of it. Which would have been the case regardless of what movie it was. He sat upright as the credits began to roll, stretching his arms over his head. "You're right, that was a..." He recalled what an understatement 'good' had been, in Adam's book. "... Cinema at its finest. The best I've seen, at least." He glanced over at Thesally, then reached over to pet Purrcasso, who was also sleepy. @Hacky Slashy

Albert was in the passenger seat while Brad drove. Cocker manned the turret while Jason and Cutty were in the backseat. Brad drove them to the abandoned shop, to provide backup for the officers, since it was a skeleton crew. Brad kept the humvee running while Cutty, Cocker and Jason remained near the humvee. --- Thesally joined in petting the already sleeping Cat. "Want me to set her down somewhere or hand her to you?" Adam crouched down to pet Nebo. The dog licked the vampire's hand. @Al the Killer

Iris arrived a few minutes after the humvee pulled up to the scene of the crime. She glanced over at the two bodies as she walked over to Albert. The same mode of operation that Adam had used, but this time she knew it couldn't have been Adam. The rogue vampires they'd known about were dead, too. She couldn't say any of this out loud, where other people could hear them. "I guess some things never change, huh?" she joked instead, putting her gloves on. "Give me a minute and I'll give you a time and tentative cause of death." ~~~ Matthew looked over at the cat, then at Thesally's legs in his lap. "She has chosen her spot, so you honour her decision by not moving until she does," he said, both to Thesally and to himself. He smiled and looked over at her, remembering her first question about Purrcasso. "I'm guessing you don't have that much experience with cats?" @Hacky Slashy

"It sure seems that way." Albert walked next to her. "So....unless Adam somehow pulled sunlight immunity out of his ass, another vampire to worry about?" He made sure to whisper as Cutty and Cocker argued. "JESUS HESIOD CHRIST! I TOLD YOU ALL TO KEEP HIM AWAY FROM THE JELLY DONUTS!!!" Cocker said in between Coughing fits. "At least I don't bother people with constant Nicotine smoke!! That'll kill you!!" Cutty retorted as Jason and Brad looked at the two bickering. "Are they always like this?" Brad whispered to Jason. The werewolf looked around for threats. He even sniffed the air to make sure. Whoever did this was long gone. "From what Quince told me, always." --- "Not much. Usually I try to say hello. Then they hiss at me, and then I hiss back. Afterwards they just run away." Thesally said as she pet Purcasso. "She's so cute." Adam pet Nebo and then saw that Predator was about to play. "Another classic is coming right up." Nebo then looked up at Thesally and Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "Looks that way, but I'll have to look closer before I can say for sure," she whispered back, then stepped toward the bodies. She ignored the officers bickering as she looked them over. Exsanguination, as expected, but one had a broken neck that was most likely the real cause of death. The deaths had been earlier that morning, after sunrise. Not Adam, then; even if he'd protected himself against the sun, he wasn't one to hunt during the daytime. She would still check the bite marks and any possible DNA to be thorough - not running an analysis would be suspicious - but she already knew this had been another vampire's kill. With her initial analysis finished, she stood up and walked away. "Have CSI collect any other evidence around the bodies before we collect," she said. "Time of death was between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning. Most likely causes of death were a severed spine for the lucky one, exsanguination for the other." ~~~ Matthew nodded. "She is," he agreed, glancing at Thesally then back at Purrcasso. "I found her in a dumpster one day, and we've been inseparable ever since." Purrasso stood up, stretched, then jumped down to take a nap closer to the windows, leaving Thesally free to move again. "Anyone want popcorn?" Matthew suggested, then remembered he was hanging out with two vampires. "Uh... never mind." @Hacky Slashy

Quince gave the order as CSI continued taking photos of the crime scene and collecting evidence. He then walked Iris back to the car. "Be seeing you soon. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure Cutty and Cocker don't kill each other." Quince said as he snuck in a kiss. --- "Cover them in blood." Thesally said with a slight hint of humor. She then slowly got her legs off him, only to let him back up. Adam smiled at the interaction between the two, as did Nebo. @Al the Killer

Iris walked back with Albert. "Of course. I'll pick you up around five. Might pay the others a visit at some point tonight, too. Think about where you'll want to look for your next car in the meantime." She smiled and returned the quick kiss, looked around to make sure nobody had been watching, then got into her car to return to the morgue. She had an autopsy to return to, even if she'd managed to delegate the other body from the morning to another pathologist. As she drove, she considered who might have been responsible for the other two bodies. Another rogue, or a potential ally? She'd have to be cautious while looking into it, either way. ~~~ Matthew laughed at that. "Is that your advice for everything?" he asked, remembering the events of that morning. He stood up, then thought back to the previous night's conversation with Adam. "So... does covering human food with blood make it edible? Not that I'm about to do it - no offense, I just prefer my blood to stay inside of my body - but I'm curious now." @Hacky Slashy

Albert went back to the humvee with the others. "Leave the window down, kid! Unless you want the smell to invade this vehicle!" Cutty and Cocker then began trading more expletives as Quince smiled at himself. Jason took position on the 50 cal turret mounted on the humvee. --- "Want to hear about the time Adam tried that with a burger?" Thesally said to Adam's annoyance. "Should I even bother objecting?" Adam said while petting a sleepy Nebo. "So genius here takes out some gang banger and then steals a cheeseburger while he's at it. He took him back to our hideout and thought, maybe cover it in blood and I can eat it. I come back and he's covered the place in puke. Spoiler alert, I did not help clean." Thesally guffawed as Adam gave an annoyed grunt. @Al the Killer

Iris returned to work. It wasn't far from the crime scene, at least by 'sprawling city' standards. Soon, she took the body back out of cold storage and resumed her autopsy from earlier. It helped take her mind off of any thoughts about this new vampire. Another rogue? A copycat killer? Someone more like Adam? She'd definitely have to ask him about it later. ~~~ Matthew raised an eyebrow and looked over at Adam. "You said you didn't know if it would work because you'd never tried it." Then he heard the story, and understood why Adam hadn't told the truth. That definitely had to be embarrassing for the guy... But that didn't stop Matthew from laughing with Thesally. He stood up and walked behind the sofa to avoid growing restless, but opted against the popcorn. If only to avoid the awkwardness of eating a very loud snack in-between two beings with superior hearing who couldn't eat food. @Hacky Slashy

Albert continued his patrol with the others. The current setting reminded him of his time overseas, only difference is war had finally come to the United States, but from within rather than a foreign power trying to invade. The fight may be over for now, but who can say for sure AMP won't gear up for round 2? Only time will tell. --- Adam put his mind off the embarrassing story by petting Nebo. The dog blissfully snored as the next movie started playing. It was the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic known as Predator. @Al the Killer

Iris passed the rest of her afternoon peacefully, at least by her standards. An autopsy and some administrative work were relatively quiet activities, and there weren't any further emergency calls about serial killers. She could relax somewhat, especially knowing that Craig's death had been dismissed as a casualty in the conflict, and not being investigated. She'd timed it well. ~~~ After a while, Matthew returned to the couch to sit between the vampires, his attention caught by the movie on screen. This time, he even managed to fight off the part of his brain that equated movie time with naptime. @Hacky Slashy

Quince and his squad happened upon the warehouse from the previous night. Officers on site were already calling the coroner. --- Thesally set her legs on Matthew's lap again. She was hardly paying attention to the movie. Adam was fully enthralled by yet another cinematic masterpiece. Nebo then got up and placed his paws on Thesally's knee. "You big furry baby." Thesally cooed in a baby voice, petting Nebo. @Al the Killer

Peace could never last forever, of course. Iris soon found herself leaving her office again, to another crime scene. This one probably was Adam, at least. Her main solace in the matter was knowing that she was at least likely to see Albert again. She pulled up to the crime scene and stepped out, already putting her gloves on. "Not exactly the romantic setting I had in mind for a date, you know," she told Albert as she approached the bodies. She looked at the flies already gathering around a few of them. "I can already tell you it's been at least several hours. Let me have a closer look." ~~~ Matthew's attention drifted as Nebo demanded attention from Thesally. He reached over to join in petting him, causing his hand to brush briefly against Thesally's. "He's always like this," he commented, scratching behind Nebo's ear. "Full of love and in dire need of attention." @Hacky Slashy

"Likewise. It's a mess, doctor. Funny thing is, not all of them are drained of blood though. We found some patches of fur and claw marks....and that's some of the bodies that were intact." Quince elaborated as Jason and the others secured the area, even joined by marine squads. --- Thesally intentionally brushed Matthew's hand and then went back to the needy Husky. "Well, I'm more than happy to provide." Nebo licked both of their hands as his tail wagged. Adam was still watching the movie while petting Nebo's back. Nebo is still living his best life. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over the damage. Wild animals seemed unlikely. This was probably more... Organized, so to speak. She thought back to what Adam had mentioned about werewolves previously. At this point, it would take a lot more than that to surprise her. She knelt beside the bodies, looking over what remained. "Some of these bite marks do resemble something more canine than human," she agreed. "But I'll have to run a full lab analysis before I can say anything conclusive." ~~~ Matthew smiled at the dog, and maybe a bit at the prettier of the two vampires (no offense to Adam), then turned his attention back toward the movie. A quiet, relaxing day. Save for the part where he'd almost gotten killed, then witnessed two men getting torn apart. But that had been hours ago. @Hacky Slashy

"Well fuck! Someone drained some of these fuckers dry!" Cocker pointed out the bodies that had their blood divorced from their bodies. Cutty simply looked away , which isn't surprising since he was well acquainted with at least one of the perpetrators. "Can't believe he left us another mess again." Quince whispered to Iris while Jason eyed the scene of the massacre. He wasn't regretful about putting these raiders down. They ambushed and killed his brothers. Though he was sorry he swamped the coroner with more work. "How're you doing, Miss Ellsworth?" Jason greeted Iris. --- Thesally continued petting the dog. Nebo rested his paws on her knees, licking her hands. She then looked over and smiled at Matthew. Adam meanwhile was watching the movie, the predator now starting to pick the team off, one by one. @Al the Killer

"Astounding powers of observation," Iris informed Cocker, then whispered back to Quince. "Not just him." She stood back up and spoke normally. "Cause of death was exsanguination for some. The others have wounds to such extent that a more thorough autopsy will be needed to conclude which was the lethal blow. Time of death was yesterday evening, around-" She turned around as Jason greeted them. The nice gentleman with the dog who they'd encountered during their outing with Nebo. She smiled politely, noting that he seemed rather... unsurprised by all of this. Unusual, even for someone with experience around death. These were not ordinary deaths. "Jason," she greeted in turn. "I am certainly doing better than these guys." She nodded to the bodies. "And yourself?" ~~~ Matthew glanced over at Adam. "So have you seen a lot of vampire movies too?" he asked, since he seemed pretty interested in film overall. "Or do the inaccuracies bother you too much?" @Hacky Slashy

"I'm fine. Aside from the usual events I mean. Considering what these shitbags did, can't say I have any sympathy for them." Jason explained that they ambushed a marine squad, killing them and taking their equipment. Cutty introduced Cocker to Iris. "Nice to meet you. Quince and Cutty have nothing but positive things to say about you." The burned, black haired man smiled at Iris. --- "Well, a few here and there. Oddly enough 30 days of Night seems to be the most accurate, almost as if they had a consultant on set." Adam said as he was still seated. Thesally agreed as the dog then got up and couch and sat on Thesally's leg and smiled at Matthew and Thesally. "My goodness! Someone thinks they're still a puppy." She still scratched the overgrown puppy's back. @Al the Killer

Something about the detail in his account seemed suspicious, but Iris filed that thought in the back of her mind until she had further evidence to suspect him of anything. Possibly, he'd just been around when the squad had radioed for help, but it sounded almost like he'd been there. She kept her expression polite and turned toward Cocker as Cutty started introducing him. "I should certainly hope so," she joked, smiling over at Albert. "Nice to finally meet you, Cocker. How were the donuts?" ~~~ "Never saw the movie, but I read the comics a while ago," Matthew said. "Maybe one of the writers was a vampire. It seems like it would be a good job for a vampire to have." He looked over at Nebo, because his weight made him impossible to ignore. "All dogs are puppies, so he's not wrong." @Hacky Slashy

"They were great. Much appreciated....except when Cutty ate the Jelly donuts. The gas we had to deal with was horrific!" Cocker said as he looked around the warehouse. "Still not as bad as when you eat Mexican! Prick!" Cutty said as joined Iris and the others. "Those farts you emit would be classified as war crimes!" "Well sue me for negligence! Chicken Enchiladas are delicious!" As Cutty and Cocker continued bickering, Quince whispered to Iris. "Yeah, the whole day we get to deal with that." He then smiled at her. --- Nebo looked over at Matthew and then smiled at him. He then rolled over for belly rubs. Thesally happily obliged him. "Who's a good boy?" Thesally rubbed his furry stomach. "Could be the case, who knows?" Adam said as he joined in on petting Nebo. @Al the Killer

Iris rolled her eyes at the bickering, then whispered back at Quince. "I see... good luck with that, love." She patted his shoulder, then addressed the others. "At any rate, once your lovers' quarrel is finished, I would advise wrapping up the evidence collection. I have to delegate the task of body collection between the city's morgues, then make sure the coroner's office is ready to receive our portion." She smiled over at her boyfriend. "Then I'll pick you up, alright?" ~~~ Matthew joined in as well, leaning his head back to avoid getting smacked in the face by a paw. "So, Thesally, Adam told me how you two meant, but what have you been up to the past few years?" he asked. "What brings you to LA? Coincidence, or did you figure out where he was?" @Hacky Slashy

"Later, love." Quince smiled and the went back to coordinating and arranging the transportation of the bodies. Once the bodies were zipped up, Quince and the squad went back to patrol. He bid Iris goodbye until his shift was done. --- "After that whole dibacle with the Marcano coven, I just roamed around the country. Occasionally I just helped some junkies get clean in exchange for some of their blood. I also Occasionally made a deal with some bloodbank employees here and there. For one of them, all I had to do was politely ask her boyfriend to quit hitting her. And by that I meant drained him. All was well and good until recent events. People just went crazy and started shooting, stabbing among other things. The next thing I knew, I was busy trying not to get carpet bombed back to Mythology. I was able to make my way here since I heard AMP got beaten back and was only a little bit of a warzone. And fun fact: while you lot were busy fighting each other, monsters are now appearing more often. All the blood and violence, it's pretty much christmas for us. But overall, I'm just happy dingus over here's still alive. He was the one pal I had in a long time." Nebo rolled over and nuzzled against Thesally. She responded by petting his head. "Yeah, it seems like it's bad everywhere. Even had to deal with rogue vampires. Luckily they're taken care of now." Adam recapped everything that happend, even telling her about Rachel, Sophie, Iris, Quince and Cutty. "So....you saved Sophie and now she's your girlfriend?" Thesally said as she then eyed Matthew. "Err....I mean basically." Adam meekly said as he rubbed his head. "Interesting." Thesally said as she pet Nebo more, scratching behind his ears. @Al the Killer

With the work done, Iris returned to her morgue. Getting called out to two crime scenes wasn't the most enjoyable business, but at least it meant seeing Albert a couple of times. One of the lab analysts had already confirmed what she'd known anyway - that the teeth and saliva from the morning's bodies didn't match the Night Hunter case. Iris pretended to be surprised, then carried on with her day. ~~~ Matthew listened to Thesally's story, then let Adam tell his, already knowing about what had happened. He'd promised a full explanation eventually, so he was glad it had happened naturally. Then he heard her question, and his gaze caught hers. Quickly, he looked away, face reddening slightly. "There was a bit more to it than that, I think," he said. "Anyway, I'm glad Thesally saved me this morning." Not much of a topic change. Oh well. "A couple of guys decided the five bucks I was killing was worth maybe killing me over. Lucky for me and unlucky for them, they dragged me into the building she was staying in. So she politely informed them that they were trespassing and needed to leave." By which he meant she'd drained both of them. "Maybe getting rescued by vampires runs in the family." @Hacky Slashy

Quince and the others went back to patrolling the city. They even passed a few refugee camps. Alber noted the helpless and exhausted faces on them. Damn president Roman for all of this. If he had the chance, he'd happily put a bullet in that traitor. Then he tried thinking positively, particularly of Iris and Maggie. He already missed them. --- "Shit, Thess. Thanks for saving him. I don't know what I would've done if the worst happened." Adam said taking in Thesally and Matthew's meeting. What are the odds? Nebo got himself off both Thesally and Matthew, crouching next to Adam. "It was nothing. It was just about time to feed anyway. And sorry to hear you had to deal with that vampire pack by yourself. If I'd even known you were alive, I would've flown over here if I had to." @Al the Killer

By the time Iris could leave for the day, Blake had already left and Naveed had already arrived to take over for the evening. She checked her phone's clock. Just a few minutes past five. Late, sure, but not too bad. She waved over at the secretary. "There should be a donut or two left for you. And Detective Quince says hi," she said, before texting the detective in question to ask where to pick him up this time. "I think he's good for you," Naveed commented. "You definitely seem happier than you were before." "I seemed unhappy?" "I'd say more... scared. All the time." Iris looked away. In truth, killing Craig had done more to help that than the new relationship did. She couldn't tell him that, though. She dug her car keys out of her purse and shrugged. "I guess love really does solve everything." ~~~ "Yeah at first I thought I might just get drained anyway," Matthew admitted. "But it's fine now." As the movie drew to an end, he stood up and looked toward what little light did filter in through the curtains. "I should make a quick dinner for myself, though." Maybe pasta, so there were leftovers when the girls got home. He looked over at Thesally. "I think I implied I'd take you up on that sightseeing offer once it got dark out, right?" It wasn't there quite yet, but it would be. "Did you want to come along, Adam, or wait for Sophie to get home?" @Hacky Slashy

Quince was back at the precint and texted Iris to pick him up there. Cutty and Cocker left to get drunk while both Brad and Jason went their separate ways. Thankfully proved himself today, hopefully he'll continue to do so while not bothering Rachel. Quince also made sure to text the girls Iris' adress in case of an emergency. --- Jason picked up Allie from the neighbors and went to the hospital, waiting for Sandra. He walked in with Allie and Creek in tow. Rachel walked was tending to a patient as she spotted Jason, Allie and Creek. Both Jason and Rachep exchanged a glance before looking away. --- "I think I'll stay. Keep an eye on Purcasso and Nebo. You guys have fun." Adam smiled as the Husky nudged against him. "Look's like I get you to myself." Thesally said to Matthew. She then got up to help him cook. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked back at Thesally as she spoke. It was odd, getting this sort of attention when he was used to being invisible on his luckiest days. Odd, but not unwelcome. He shrugged and set a pot of water on the stove. "Lucky me, then," he said, setting the burner on high. "I think I've got it handled here. I'd ask if you wanted anything, but I think I'll leave the blood bank robberies to my sister." ~~~ Before picking him up, Iris made a quick call to the landlord. Well, the building manager, at least. He agreed to add Quince as a tenant, as long as he stopped by at some point to sign a few forms and pick up his key. With that out of the way, she drove to the precinct. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo then walked along side Thesally, licking her hand. "Guess I'll distract the puppy for you." She then crouched down and scratched behind Nebo's ears. Adam switched on another movie. This time Ridley Scott's Alien was playing. "A classic." Adam noted as he got on the couch. --- Quince patiently waited to be picked up, reflecting on today. Between the two drained bodies and the massacre at the warehouse, it seems things don't change, even in war. Although his relationship with Iris disputes that notion, one thing Albert is happy came out of this mess. @Al the Killer

"And so you continue to be heroic," Matthew joked, looking down at them. "But yeah, keep him out of the way and I'll really owe you one." While he waited for the water to boil, he searched through the cabinets until he found a can of shredded chicken. Maybe he'd have to get some real cat food for Purrcasso. For now, though, he opened the can up and set it on the floor, where she came running the second she heard the lid come off the can. ~~~ Iris parked in front and walked to where Quince was waiting. "Figure out where you want to go for your next car?" she asked, then gave him a kiss once she reached him. "I called the landlord's office, and you should be able to stop by whenever you're ready to pick up your second key. I already gave them the go-ahead, so you'll just need an ID and to fill out some paperwork." @Hacky Slashy

Nebo rolled on to his back, signaling his need for belly rubs. Thesally crouched down and complied. "Just can't get enough, huh?" "Don't peek into- and nevermind." Adam says as the alien facehugger latched onto the unfortunate Kane in the movie. --- Quince walked towards Iris' car and got in. He gave her a kiss and gave her the directions to a dealer he knew. "It's nearby. Benny can even get you a new car at a moment's notice. Afterwards I'll go to the landlord's office and pick up dinner. What would you like?" @Al the Killer

Iris followed the directions he gave. "I think I'm good with the one I've got," she said. Honestly, she'd be a bit devastated if anything happened to it. "But I'll keep that in mind if it gets blown up." She considered his question for a moment. "There's a really good Greek place a few minutes from here. They have the best souvlaki." She parked outside of the dealership and leaned in to give Quince another kiss. "I'm going to get more stuff for Maggie and pay Adam a visit." ~~~ Matthew added the noodles to the water, then looked at the jars of pasta sauce available. "Anything in town you wanted to check out, Thesally? I haven't had much chance to look around, either." @Hacky Slashy

Albert returned the kiss. "Souvlaki it is. I'll swing by the Landlord's and get that key. Be safe." Quince then departed and went into the dealership. "Benny." A short, stocky man in a mechanic overall greeted Albert. "Hey! What can I do for you, Detective." Albert recapped him about the need for a new car. "And you paid it off, too. Bastards. Look, since you pulled me out of that jam with the Morretis a while back, just take whatever you'd like, I'll bs the paperwork and you're good to go." Quince thanked Benny and picked out a red Impalla. Recently refurbished and restored. Benny handled the paperwork and Quince went on his way to the Greek place Iris mentioned. He ordered Swordfish for himself and Souvlaki for Iris. He paid and then took the food to his car. He then arrived at the landlord's office, with his ID ready. --- Adam was still enthralled by Ridley Scott's Alien, now watching the titular creature burst out of the infected man's chest. "Good question. Wouldn't minc checking out the Griffith Observatory." Thesally said as Nebo got up and licked her face. @Al the Killer

Iris's next stop was to pick up Maggie. Not a challenging task, given the dog's enthusiasm to see her coming home. From there, it was a quick drive to the pet store again. "We're getting a basket this time," she explained, as though Maggie might be able to fully understand and respond. "You can pick out what extra toys you like, and one bed." She reached over to pet her. "Then we're paying a visit to another dog. I'm sure you'll get along just fine." With everything cleared up, she got out of the car and stepped around it to take hold of Maggie's leash. "Ready?" ~ A visibly bored woman in her early twenties opened the door to the rental office. "You must be the new resident," she said in a near-monotone voice, then turned back to the desk. "Just fill these out and we'll have you set up." She held out a clipboard with a few papers attached to it and a pen. ~ "We could check it out. Would it be open with everything that's going on?" he asked, then reconsidered. "Or... if it's not, how good are you at sneaking into places you shouldn't be?" He finished cooking the pasta and drained it before adding a jar of sauce to it. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie greeted Iris with Zoomies and excited whines and barking, grateful her new mother came back. After she calmed down, she sat in the back of Iris' car. Maggie then walked alongside Iris to the pet store. --- Albert signed all the forms and collected his key. He then went to Iris' apartment and entered with the food. He set it down on the kitchen table and texted Iris, checking on her and Maggie. "Food's here, think Maggie would like Swordfish?" --- "You'd be surprised." Thesally said as she continued to occupy Nebo. "Sneaking into places we shouldn't are our specialty." Adam chimed in. @Al the Killer

Iris led the way to the pet beds first, letting Maggie sniff around and see what she might like. Once they were in the right aisle, she looked at the text Albert had sent and smiled as she replied. "That was quick. I'll be there in a bit then we can go visit the girls together." ~~~ Matthew stirred everything together, then prepared a bowl for himself. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense." He sat at the table. "We can go once it's dark and I'm done eating, then." @Hacky Slashy

Maggie sniffed around and then with her teeth picked up a blue colored bed and laid it down near Iris. She then nuzzled against her leg. --- "Sounds good. See you soon." Quince then sat on the couch and decided to flip through some channels. It was mostly news about the fighting. 19 states have seceded, and in a rather shocking twist, the republic of Texas has formed an alliance with California. There was also footage of the attack in Philadelphia. It appeared as if there were massive wolves attacking. Quince would write it off.....if not for the existence of vampires. --- "Sounds like a plan. Just need Adam to distract this big baby." Thesally said as Adam got up and filled Nebo's bowls with food and water. The dog then went to feed himself. @Al the Killer

Iris put her phone away and picked up the dog bed. "Good choice." She folded it enough to fit in the basket. "Come on, let's get a few more toys so you don't get bored when I'm at work." She reached down briefly to pet Maggie before continuing toward the aisle of dog toys. ~~~ "I think he's got him handled," Matthew commented. He glanced over at the window. It was still winter, so the sun had already set and the sky was steadily darkening. He ate quickly, not wanting to waste too much time. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie licked Iris' face and then sniffed around to the toys. She picked out chew toys. She even picked tug of war ropes. Her tail wagged while walking with her new mother. Maggie then looked up at Iris and smiled. Even though she and Quince were only fone for a few hours, it still felt too long for the dog. --- Nebo finished his meal and then went towards Adam's side again. Thesally then looked towards Matthew. "Ready when you are!" She says cheerfully. @Al the Killer

Iris watched Maggie affectionately, picking up the toys as needed. Once they were ready, she brought her through the checkout line. For a brief moment, the thought crossed her mind that she might be spoiling her too much. Except there was no such thing as too much. Soon, they were ready to go, and she led the way back to the car. "Come on, let's go see Albert." ~~~ Matthew washed his bowl and fork first. "One moment." He dried his hands off before turning toward her. "Alright, let's head out." He paused on his way to pet Nebo. "Keep Adam out of trouble, alright boy?" He grinned and started toward the door. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie gleefully trotted alongside Iris, excited at the prospect of seeing her new dad. She gets in the car and smiles at Iris. --- Nebo licked Matthew's hand and then went towards Adam, sitting down. Thesally went to the trunk of her car and pulled a blood pack out of a cooler. She tossed it to Adam. "Bon apetit." She then wrote a note with her burner phone on it. "Just in case your friends come back soon. Ready?" @Al the Killer

Iris drove back to the apartment building. Once they arrived, she opened the door and stepped out, walking to the other side to help Maggie get out as well. "Come on, let's go have dinner." ~~~ Matthew followed Thesally out to the car, waiting next to it while she gave Adam the blood pack. "Ready." He got in on the passenger's side of the car. "You know where we're going, right?" @Hacky Slashy

Maggie hopped out and trotted alongside Iris. She sniffed around and then licked Iris' hand. At the apartment, Quince switched the channel to a classic movies channel, now playing John Carpenter's The Thing. --- Adam waved them both goodbye and then scratched Nebo behind the ears. The dog rubbed his head on Adam. @Al the Killer

Iris opened the door to the apartment. "We've got everything for Maggie," she said, pausing to unhook the dog's leash. She glanced over at the TV. "The Thing? Classic," she commented, then set down the bag of Maggie's things. She set down the bed, then the new toys so their dog would have plenty of variety to choose from. "Did you get any more cleaning done, or were you waiting for me to get back first?" She sat on the sofa next to him. ~~~ Matthew leaned back in his seat and looked out the window. "Have you been here for a while?" he asked. "You seem to already have a good idea of where the checkpoints are and how to avoid them." All for the best, since he doubted either of them had any ID. He wasn't even sure he was legally considered alive anymore, with how long he'd been considered 'missing' by his old family. @Hacky Slashy

Quince greeted both Maggie and Iris. He wrapped Iris in his arms and gave her a kiss. Maggie nuzzled between the two, not wanting to miss out on the affection. "Just wanted to make sure you two were taken care of first. Also I got everything sorted out." Quince led Iris to the kitchen, setting up his and her food. --- "Arrived a week ago. Outside the city technically. Would've entered sooner but the U.S. military and AMP were having their little smack down, so I laid low for a bit. Then I entered the city. I laid low, feeding on blood packs inside that building. The rest you can already guess." Thesally took in the sights. She smiled at Matthew and then gave their ETA. "20 more minutes and we'll be there." --- Adam sat on the couch, with Nebo taking his spot on Adam's lap. "So where do you think I should take Sophie now that we're together?" Adam said as if the Husky could answer back. "Maybe we could walk you together." @Al the Killer

Iris gladly followed him to the kitchen, sitting across from him at the small table. She smiled over at him as she picked up one of the skewers. "I'll make sure the kitchen's good before bed tonight, at least. We should start using it at some point." As tempting as takeout every night sounded, it just wasn't practical in the long run. "After our visit, of course." ~~~ "Then I delivered a fresh meal to you," Matthew concluded. He folded his hands behind his head. Might as well make himself comfortable, if it was going to take a bit for them to get there. "Lying low seemed like a good choice to make, at least. Trust me, you did not want to get caught up in a shootout between the two." It was decidedly not one of his favourite memories. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie pawed at Albert's knee. He smiled and then gave Maggie some of the swordfish. She then went towards Iris and gave her puppy eyes. Just like Nebo, she was adept at it. She even wagged her tail for added effect. "I'll take care of that, you can just preoccupy the puppy." --- "Yeah, funny thing is us monsters loved the U.S because we didn't need to worry about bombs or even the military in general. Then I saw the writing on the wall and laid low for a bit. What were you doing during all of this?" Thesally was 10 minutes away from the observatory. --- Alien had finally concluded. "Great movie, right boy?" Adam said as Nebo smiled at him. @Al the Killer

"You have your own food," Iris told Maggie as she slipped her a piece of chicken. "And thank you, Albert. I really do appreciate the help." She smiled, then continued to eat. First, she'd have to ask Adam if he knew about any other vigilante vampires and werewolves around town. It was a long shot, but better to know than not. ~~~ Matthew looked out of the window for a while, thinking about how to answer. "I was still out east when it started," he said. "Once it got worse, I figured I'd travel, see if it was better out here and if my sister was still in California. An easy enough choice to make, since I didn't have much to leave behind. Nothing I couldn't carry with me." He shrugged. "Once I got here, it was mostly laying low. And that shootout I mentioned." @Hacky Slashy

Albert finished his meal and then gathered all garbage once Iris was finished. While he was preoccupied, Maggie pawed at Iris, wanting more affection. --- "Just some stuff, and that furry baby. How'd you and the cat meet?" Thesally was wondering what happened to Purcasso's eye. She hardly knew the cat, but would have no problem repaying whoever did that to her. @Al the Killer

Iris contributed to his cleaning efforts by keeping Maggie out of the way. "Yes, hello there sweetheart," she cooed, scratching behind both of the dog's ears. "Do you want dinner? Come on, I'll fill your bowls for you." She stood up, making sure Maggie followed her over. ~~~ Matthew nodded in agreement as Thesally mentioned the furry baby. "I found her in a dumpster, in pretty bad shape," he said. "I couldn't afford a vet at the time and didn't want her to end up in a kill shelter, so I uh... 'borrowed' a first aid kit and some cat food from one of the big pharmacies nearby and did what I could to help her out. It took some time and several cans of food before she'd actually let me touch her, but she's doing alright now." @Hacky Slashy

Maggie trotted alongside Iris, licking her hand and nuzzling against her leg. She then sat down, tail wagging and smiling at Iris. Albert cleaned up the kitchen and observed both his girlfriend and their dog. He then continued cleaning the kitchen. Soon enough it was ready. --- "Those are the rules for taming us. Bring us food often enough and presto! We're yours." Thesally half joked after hearing how Matthew adopted Purcasso. "And here we are." Thesally parked the car, arriving at the observatory. --- Adam and Nebo were now watching The Terminator. "They don't make movies this good anymore, boy. Although I doubt we'll be getting any period for a while though." Nebo pawed at Adam's leg, wanting affection. The vampire complied with the Husky's demand and patted the dog's head. @Al the Killer

Iris filled Maggie's food and water bowls, keeping both of them out of the kitchen for now so Albert could clean. "There you are. See? You just had to wait." She continued to pet Maggie until the kitchen was finished, keeping her out of the way even if she finished eating quickly. "We can go pay the others a visit once Maggie's done eating," she told Quince, standing upright. ~~~ Matthew caught the use of first person and smiled, mildly amused. "Noted, I'll be sure to bring more criminals by for you," he joked. Lucky for him, he'd been told before that he had a very muggable face. Once the car was parked, he stepped out, turning toward the observatory. The long pathway to its three-domed building stretched through an expanse of grass, neatly cut even under the current circumstances. The city's lights beyond the hill shone behind it, a landscape of stars in its own right. He offered Thesally his hand. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie rubbed her head on Iris and then began eating. By the time she finished her meal, Quince finished successfully cleaning the kitchen. "And done. So who's car you want to take?" Quince asked as Maggie pawed at Iris and then looked at Albert. --- Thesally grabbed Matthew's hand and led him to the observatory. "Well this is certainly something. Would've been awkward if we showed up only for it to have been blown up during the scuffle with the U.S and AMP. Would've been a bigger shame if you got scratched up even more. But luckily Adam wa was here playing hero." --- Adam and Nebo were still at home, watching the cinematic masterpiece known as Terminator. @Al the Killer

"Let's give your new one a try," Iris suggested, since she'd done all of the driving for the past couple of days. "I haven't seen it yet." She patted Maggie's head, then walked back to the door to grab the dog's leash. "Are you ready to come along too, sweetie?" She smiled as she hooked Maggie's leash to the collar, then nodded at Albert to indicate that they were ready to go. ~~~ Matthew walked alongside Thesally, looking ahead. "I mean, even if it got blown up, there's still a good view from up here." He looked at the immaculate lawn around them, then glanced back toward the empty parking lot. "We just have to be on the lookout. I don't think the groundskeepers are off right now, even with this place being closed." @Hacky Slashy

Albert got his keys and went towards Maggie and Iris. The dog barked in excitement. Quince scratched behind both ears. "Ready when you two prettt ladies are." Quince smiled as he led both Iris and Maggie to the car. --- Thesally took Matthew's hand and led him to a balcony. Not wanting to risk an alarm by breaking in, she scooped him up and leaped on to the observatory. She led him to the telescopes. "Much better, yes?" --- Rachel arrived back home, after dropping off both Jason and Allie. They both smiled at each other as he went back into the house. Then she drove back home and unlocked the door. "Hey Adam! Sophie will be back in two hours." She then greeted Nebo. She hugged the dog as he licked her face. Adam then informed her about the pasta Matthew made. "Thanks, I'm starving. And thanks for cleaning." @Al the Killer

Iris smiled and followed him out to the car. "This is the one?" she asked, stopping next to the Impala. Once the doors were unlocked, she opened the back door to let Maggie in first, before sliding into the passenger's seat. "I hope she gets along with Nebo." She sighed. "And that Adam knows something about this morning's bodies." ~~~ The ground abandoned Matthew's feet - the place he preferred it to be - without warning. He froze instinctively, before he also worried about falling out of Thesally's grip, and wrapped his arms around her for balance. When they landed, he was slightly paler than before, but tried to maintain some semblance of dignity. "You can't say it's not convenient, at least." He looked at the floor beneath them, waiting to be set down. "I would've liked a warning, but it is what it is." @Hacky Slashy

Quince got into the car and started it. Quince took Iris' hand and squeezed. Maggie put her paw on top of both, wanting in on the affection. Quince patted Maggie's head as he pulled out. --- "Quite a view out here." Thesally led Matthew to the telescopes and gave him some quarters while she took her own. --- Rachel was eaiting pasta while Nebo sat below her. "You have your own food, boy." Rachel then patted Nebo's head and gave him some bacon treats from a cabinet. Adam was still watching The Terminator. The police station shootout just started in the movie. @Al the Killer

Iris reached back to pet Maggie and keep her out of Albert's way so he could focus on driving. On the way, she looked through the window, watching the city pass around them. Things seemed quiet in this neighbourhood, even around the checkpoints. Not quiet in a sense of peace, but of tension. Waiting for something. Her old nerves never quite gave up telling her that something was wrong and the worst was bound to come soon. ~~~ Matthew followed after her, accepting the quarters. "Thanks." He let his attention linger on her for a moment before turning it toward one of the telescopes. "A hell of a view," he agreed. The peace up here was nice, like the city itself was far away and everything was going to be alright. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie nuzzled against Iris, almost as if she's trying to reassure her. Quince noticed Iris' uneasiness and caressed her hand. Quince was far from naive. As far as he'd know, they might just be in the eye of the storm. He pulled up the girl's house and helped both Iris and Maggie out of the car. "Ready, you two?" Maggie continued being adorable and nuzzling against both of her parents. --- Adam heard Quince and Iris and a dog. Nebo joined Adam at the door. "Hey guys!" He said as he opened the door and let them in. --- Thesally looked at the view, taking in the peaceful ambience. "So...do you think Aliens are real? Like they're probably looking at what's happening and going: well damn, good thing we didn't try making contact yet." @Al the Killer

Iris stepped out of the car once they arrived. From the car in the driveway, it seemed that Rachel had already returned from work, but Sophie would be staying late. As long as everyone was safe, that was what mattered. "Ready." She held Maggie's leash in one hand and Albert's in the other as she walked toward the house. Despite her apprehension, she smiled. "Hi, Adam. Have you met Maggie yet?" She looked down at the three-legged pitbull by her side. ~~~ "I'm not a math guy, but the universe is pretty big. I think it's weirder to consider that we're alone in it than the idea that we might not be," he said. "Not sure about any aliens actually being close enough to make contact though." He looked up into the stars through the telescope. "Unless all those stories about UFOs turn out to be aliens, anyway." @Hacky Slashy

Maggie sniffed the vampire and then licked his hand. Adam crouched down to pet the pitbull. "What's her story?" Albert explained how they met Maggie while she and Nebo got acquainted. Rachel came to greet Iris and Albert when she noticed Maggie. "Hello! Who's this?" She joined in petting the affectionate puppy. --- "I may have seen some weird lights move around occasionally, but nothing up close and personal. Some people have wild theories that monsters like bigfoot are alien experiments droppd off here. Idiotic shit, but hey, they do love their speculations." @Al the Killer

"This is Maggie," Iris explained to Rachel. "We just adopted her yesterday." She smiled down at the two dogs before looking around the house. There was a noticeable absence, and she was a natural worrier. "Where's Matthew off to?" She had other questions to ask, but making sure her younger brother was safe was naturally her first priority. ~~~ Matthew shrugged. "Most of the lights might even be Earth aircrafts. Seems a more viable explanation, but hey. The stupid conspiracy theories can be the funniest ones, long as no real people are getting targeted." He stepped back from the telescope. "Do you want a look through it?" @Hacky Slashy

"There's been some developments. Might want to sit down." Adam explained to Iris about both Jason and Thesally. "Also she left her number if you want to call." Maggie and Nebo went towards Iris while Quince and Rachel caught up. --- "Sure." Thesally then observed the stars, wondering if Aliens really were looking down, observing the insanity. "So, where else do you want to go after here?" She asked while still looking through the telescope. @Al the Killer

Iris sat down on the sofa to listen to Adam's explanation. She really wished he'd led by saying Matthew was fine, because the precursor he'd given instead sounded ominous enough that actually listening to him was a challenge. She got the gist of it, though. It explained the extra corpses, at least. She nodded, still processing everything for a moment. "Right. Well..." She thought for a moment. "So basically, we've got a werewolf but he's like you, and your old friend is back in town. And Matt's on a date with a vampire." A sentence she never thought she'd say. "You're sure we can trust her?" ~~~ Matthew considered for a moment. Famous as the city was, he'd never thought about being a tourist here. He hadn't exactly consulted a guidebook before showing up in the middle of a warzone. "I've heard the Santa Monica Pier always has something going on, but I'm not sure how true that's going to be with the current situation. Was the curfew even lifted?" @Hacky Slashy

"The old friend is also a vampire." Adam clarified to Iris while Rachel and Albert played with Nebo and Maggie. He also listened in to the conversation. 'One more monster rolls into town and I'll have marry Iris.' Quince thinks to himself as Maggie pawed at him and Rachel. "Here's her number if you want to chat with them both." Adam handed over the piece of paper to Iris. Nebo and Maggie went up to Iris and pawed at her. --- "Eh, who cares? I've been violating curfews before all of this started, you know?" Thesally says as she shook her ass. She kept looking at the night sky. It was odd having someone with her while sightseeing, but she welcomed his company. @Al the Killer

Iris took the piece of paper and considered. Instinct said to do the protective thing and call them, see if Albert could track the call, and check to make sure her brother was alright, herself. Maybe bring some guns, give the vampire the 'hurt him and I blow your head off' talk. But he was an adult who could make his own decisions, and Adam was vouching for Thesally, so she put the number away for now. "Maybe later." She reached down to pet both dogs. "You're lucky I have two hands." Purrcasso walked over and rubbed against her leg. "...Fuck, I only have two hands." ~~~ "So have I," he admitted, though that hadn't been out of choice. "I'm just worried it'll be kinda dead there because of it." His attention drifted, eyes naturally drawn by movement. Among other things. He looked away to avoid staring, admiring the view of the city again instead. "We can still check it though. There's always something going on somewhere if you know where to look, regardless of what the law says about it." @Hacky Slashy

Adam noticed Purcasso rubbing against Iris and gently picked the cat up and placed it on her lap. He pet the cat's head as Nebo and Maggie enjoyed their head pats. "No worries girl, we'll protect you from the evils of Nebo's saliva." --- "All right. Want to take the long way down or jump down with me?" Thesally decided to be considerate this time. @Al the Killer

"Thanks," Iris said as the cat settled into her lap. "Adam, not to be too overbearing, but maybe it would be for the best if you and Thesally at least hunted together for a while?" she suggested. "Jason's targets can be chalked up to wild animal attacks, but it's easier to flub some lab results to say there's only one Night Hunter than it is to claim you can be in two places potentially at once. One serial killer is one thing, but two with the same exact MO, well... I don't think letting the public figure out that monsters are real would be the smartest idea. Not if we want things to calm down, and definitely not if we want to avoid wannabe vampire hunters on your tails." ~~~ Matthew considered for a moment, looking down before stepping closer to Thesally. "I don't mind jumping down with you," he decided, now that he wasn't being caught entirely by surprise. @Hacky Slashy

"She seems to have a supply of blood bags, but we'll be sure to do that." Adam said reassuring Iris as he pet Purcasso. The dogs continued pawing at Iris and Adam, wanting affection. Albert brought a glass of water for Iris while Rachel went to get cleaned up. "You two ok?" Quince asked as Adam recapped recent developments. "So....we have a werewolf in town? At least you can pet this one, honey." Quince smiled at Iris, trying to lighten the mood as he crouched down to pet Nebo and Maggie. --- Thesally took it as confirmation to wrap his arms around her and jump back down. When they reached the ground, a grounds keeper spotted them, but moved on. "These are some good edibles." He muttered as he walked away. @Al the Killer

Iris stopped petting the dogs to take the glass from Albert. "We're fine, love. Just catching up on the latest murders." She smiled, then took a sip while Adam explained the situation with Thesally and the werewolf. "Only when he's transformed, of course. Might be weird if he looked human at the time." She reached down with her free hand and patted her boyfriend on the head. "Or maybe not," she joked. "Anyway, Adam, be careful out there. I don't think the chances are very high that every new monster to stroll into town is going to be friendly." ~~~ Matthew tensed for a moment, but the groundskeeper was mercifully high as fuck. He breathed a sigh of relief, then nodded toward where Thesally had parked her car. He didn't say anything, since he wasn't about to test their luck at not quite getting caught. @Hacky Slashy

Albert actually enjoyed the head pay, finding it endearing. Maggie and Nebo then assaulted Quince with dog slobber. He wiped himself off and then pet the two dogs. They then went back to Iris while Quince pet Purcasso. He then texted Sophie to check up on her. She messaged back that she'll be back shortly, and that she's bringing goods for both Nebo and Purcasso. He relayed the news to everyone. Adam smiled at the news. --- Thesally led Matthew to the car and opened the door for the human. "Let's go, before the edibles wear off on that fella." @Al the Killer

Iris laughed at Albert as the dogs closed in on him. "Now that, you should have seen coming," she commented, then nodded at the spot on the sofa between herself and Adam. "You can get up here and join us if you want. That way, your face will at least be safe." If he joined him, she could also rest her head on her shoulder, which was always a bonus. ~~~ Matthew slid into the car. "Good call. He can only assume he's seeing shit for so long," he said. He buckled in and leaned back in his seat, smiling over at Thesally. "You know where we're going? Because I'll admit, I don't really have the city mapped out in my head. Spent most of my time here trying not to get shot." Some things never changed, after all. @Hacky Slashy

Albert took the spot on the sofa, sitting down while both dogs roamed around the house. "Anything good on TV?" Quince asked as he held Iris' hand. Adam turned it on and saw Escape from New York is playing. "Whoohoo! A classic!" Adam said while the dogs came back, this time going to him. "Good thing I have two hands as well." --- "Can relate. I'm just happy I managed to avoid getting carpet bombed back to mythology. Your new president's really trigger happy about going scorched earth on "Rebel States." But then again president that was shot turned out to survive, so that throws a wrench in things." --- On the coast, a naval warship, the Zion was running patrols. The newly promoted Admiral Michael Chandler and his XO Tomas Rodriguez were viewing footage of the Philadelphia attack. "What the fuck are you?" The Admiral says as he observed the humanoid wolves wreaking havoc. His XO was also noticeably rattled. The middle aged Latino wiped the sweat from his forehead. "If this is special effects, sir, it's a hell of a job. I'll handle things. Why don't you go rest?" Michael nodded and then went to his office. He sat down and looked at a framed picture. He smiled at the two blonde girls and the siberian husky in the picture. The entire crew offered to join him in going rogue and heading to Los Angeles, but he maintained they had a duty to the country. He remembered when the order came in from then President Roman to fire on "Rebel States". But he refused to fire on civilians and joined most of the Navy in defiance of a now on the run dictator. He had also been in his fair share of naval battles against his own brothers. Thankfully he was now on mission to ferry supplies to Los Angeles. Hopefully when they get closer, he can give Albert and the girls a call. But he must also prepare for a new conflict. AMP may be on the run, but a new war is brewing: Of Man and Beast. @Al the Killer

Iris used her free hand to pet the cat as she kept an eye on the television. "Why do I get the impression you've said that about every movie today?" she asked Adam. She lifted her hand to let Purrcasso climb down and wander, then leaned against Albert. "I don't think I've seen this one yet, though." ~~~ "I'm glad you didn't get carpet bombed back to mythology, too," Matthew agreed. "Anyway, at least things are quieter now." As of on cue, the faint sound of a distant explosion - large, but outside of the city - was just barely audible to him. "...That doesn't count." @Hacky Slashy

"It's true! Ask Matthew when he gets back. Even Nebo agrees." Nebo smiled at the monster and humans. Maggie then walked towards Iris and Quince. She tried to climb up, prompting Abert to pick her up. Maggie laid down on his and Iris' lap. --- "You're just saying that because those two pricks would've robbed, killed and then make love to you....and not necessarily in that order." Thesally joked and slapped his shoulder. After avoiding more checkpoints, they made it to the pier. --- On the border of the city, both militia and Army soldiers repelled another attack by AMP renegades. A rocket blew up a Bradley firing on them, causing them to scatter. From afar, two lone figures were observing the skirmish. These attacks were merely testing out the defenses. The long black haired man in combat BDUs looked to his comrade, the blond haired Gerold Russ. A straggler they picked up and converted to a Lycan Along with others. "So far they got this place locked down tight. But we managed to find a few holes in their defenses. For now, we'll just weaken them until General Raven arrives with the main force." "And what about the Night Haunter?" The lycan asked Russ about the seemingly supernatural vigilante. "Well, he managed to take out a pack of rogue vampires that strolled into town. Wouldn't underestimate him if I were you." "Noted. Now let's go back to camp. We could use some rest and a meal." @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at Maggie. "You want to be a lap dog too?" She reached across Albert's lap to rub the dog's belly, her attention drifting toward the TV. "Anyway, I'm not sure about Nebo's taste in movies." She smiled and rested against her boyfriend's shoulder, relaxing a bit as the banter helped ease her worries. Everything was fine. They would be alright. ~~~ Matthew laughed. "God I hope not; my type is more people who decide not to kill me, thank you very much." Once the vehicle was parked, he opened his door and stepped out. Even now, the lights from the nearby amusement park lit up the night. Music played from nearby, the sound of a band that could be considered nebulously rock, but not quite as much as they could be considered nervous about their first show this size. "Either the curfew's lifted, or nobody cares anymore. Probably the latter." He shrugged. "No entertainment like guerilla entertainment, I guess." @Hacky Slashy

"Besides, I'm sure Nebo is just happy to be here, regardless of what movie he watches." Albert said as he joined in rubbing Maggie's belly. His hand brushed against Iris, holding until Maggie whined. "All right, girl. More belly rubs." "Nonsense. Nebo absolutely loves these movies. Am I right boy ?" The vampire looks down at the smiling Husky, who simply pawed at him, wanting affection. Adam complied with the needy husky's demand and pet him. --- Probably don't care. Both cops and military are probably still dealing with AMP holdouts among other things. Anywho, so where do you want to go?" Thesally smiled at Matthew. @Al the Killer

"Right, I can tell he's really focused on the movie," Iris commented. She looked toward the window, worry settling in once more, as it always did. Fuck it, one call wouldn't ruin anything. She turned her attention towards Quince. "Would you mind keeping Maggie occupied? I'm just going to make a quick phone call." ~~~ Matthew looked ahead for a moment, considering. "I mean, we could wander until we find something-" His attention drifted. "Holy shit, is that guy swallowing fire?" @Hacky Slashy

"Of course." Albert rubbed Maggie's stomach more, prompting her to growl happily. Albert scratched under Maggie's chin. Adam kept Nebo occupied. He watched as Iris, sensing she was slightly worried. --- "Huh, didn't know that was still a thing. So, guess we'll see where this leads?" Thesally held her hand out for Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris left the room to avoid background noise from the television. The hallway would be good enough. She took a moment first to read over the phone number she'd been given. Would she be interrupting the date? Was it a date? Well, better to interrupt a date than not interrupt a murder, or whatever the worst-case scenario might be. She took her phone out and dialed Thesally's number. ~~~ Matthew took her hand as they walked. His own hands were slightly scarred, as though they'd been frozen and never fully recovered. He smiled as he looked around. "Let's find out," he agreed, just as Iris called Thesally's phone. @Hacky Slashy

Albert kept the needy pitbull occupied with Bely rubs. Albert had no doubt about his decision to take Maggie in. She looked up and smiled at Quince. Nebo rested on Adam's lap. Adam patted the Husky's head. --- Thesally got her phone out and answered in an innocent manner. "Hello! Totally not a flesh hungry monster speaking! I prefer blood." @Al the Killer

Iris could relax slightly when the call was answered, and even moreso when she heard her brother's laugh in the background. Yeah, she was definitely a friend of Adam's alright. "Hello, this is Doctor Ells-" She stopped herself, realizing just how long it had been since she'd called someone for reasons not related to work. "Iris," she corrected herself, then realized she hadn't exactly planned out how this conversation would go. "Adam gave me this number, in case I wanted to check in on you and my brother. Not to interrupt your date, I just wanted to make sure he hasn't gotten himself murdered yet." ~~~ Matthew kept quiet as he led the way to the edge of the walkway, so Thesally could talk without getting in anyone else's way. He looked up at her curiously, but didn't ask who it was out loud. @Hacky Slashy

Adam and Albert kept both dogs occupied while Iris talked in the hallway. Escape from New York was still playing on the television. Adam also listened in, but only enough to be sure he didn't have to fly out and rescue Matthew and Thesally. --- "Him? Get himself murdered? What would give you such an insane idea? He's perfectly fine. In fact: Matthew! Get your dick out of my ass and say HI to your sister! She's worried!" She says in a manner that's anything but quiet and hands him the phone. @Al the Killer

Matthew startled at her shouting, and his face turned a deep red. "What?" He was acutely aware of the nearest passersby staring at them curiously as he took the phone from Thesally. "It's not what it sounds like - stop laughing," he said, because sure enough, his sister was having a good laugh at his expense. "Sorry," she said, not sorry at all. "How's the date?" "It's not..." he started, before questioning whether he really wanted to throw out the possibility that she could be right. "Well, I never asked if it was..." Iris sighed. "You know, communication is important in a relationship." Of course she knew this would only add to his embarrassment. That didn't stop her from fulfilling her duty as an older sister and making it even worse. "And, unless you trust the other person and are ready to become a parent, so is protection." "You were worried," Matthew said. "And yet you are the one torturing me right now." "It's my job; nobody else is allowed to." @Hacky Slashy

Both Maggie and Nebo trotted towards Iris, wanting affection from her. Albert and Adam followed the dogs. "Sorry." Both man and half man said in unison as the dogs continued pawing at Iris. --- Thesally took joy in Matthew's torture. She smiled mischievously at him. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at the approaching dogs. "Good to know you're alright, regardless. I might have to let you go soon - two dogs, but only one free hand." She smiled over at her boyfriend and her friend as they followed after the dogs. "Could you tell Thesally I'd love to chat later? She seems nice." "I think she can already hear you." Matthew glanced over at the vampire lady, and couldn't help but smile back a bit. "It's not about whether she can. It's a matter of courtesy." "I'll tell her." "And don't stay out too late," Iris added. Matthew chuckled. "Yeah. Sure thing, Mom." "Please. Our mom would never have let you date. Unless you count one supervised visit, then straight to the wedding altar for you and one bland human of our dad's choosing." She glanced over at Albert. "No offense, love." She alternated between dogs to pet with her one free hand as she returned to the phone conversation. "Have a good night, and try to come back with all of your blood in your body." "Will do. See you later." Matthew ended the call, then handed the phone back to Thesally. "I think she likes you." @Hacky Slashy

"Well that's good. I would've been hurt if she didn't. Now, let's have some fun." Thesally retrieved the phone and led Matthew to the carnival. --- "Sorry, we tried." Albert said as he and Adam attempted to wrangle Nebo and Maggie. The dogs licked her hand as she pet them. "You happy, Nebo? I'm missing escape from New York for this." Adam playfully scolded Nebo for bothering Iris. But nobody can stay mad at a puppy. Adam scratched behind his ear as Maggie decided to bother the vampire instead. "Good thing I got two free hands." Adam said as the dogs swarmed him. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled and pocketed her phone. "It's fine." She reached down to pet both dogs now, but they'd already moved on to Adam. "Matthew's doing fine. He's the only one who isn't entirely sure it's a date, I think. I guess someone has to be the clueless one in the family." She walked over to stand beside Albert. "I'm sure it's not too late to get back to your movie. And here I was, trying not to interrupt it by talking on the phone." ~~~ "Seems you were having plenty of fun at my expense already," Matthew replied playfully. He followed alongside Thesally toward the thick of the crowds and the smell of fried food. "It won't be too loud for you? If it is, let me know and we can go somewhere quieter." @Hacky Slashy

Albert grabbed Iris' hand and smiled at the his girlfriend, and then the two dogs overpowering one of the planet's apex predators with dog kisses. "Help! Dog slobber! A vampire's true weakness!" Adam said as the two dogs pinned him to the ground. Adam was able to briefly fended them off with belly rubs. He then patted their heads. Maggie and Nebo then went back to Albert and Iris. Quince patted their heads affectionately. "So we don't need to rescue your brother?" Albert said as Maggie and Nebo smiled at Iris and Albert. --- "No worries. Can't be louder than other states. Some of them are just full blown warzones compared to here." Thesally saw a carnival game with darts and balloons. She saw the grand prize is a stuffed, neon green unicorn. "Win me that unicorn and I'm yours forever." She whispered to him. "Step right up! Who's gonna be the big winner tonight!?" The worker announced to passerbys. @Al the Killer

Iris watched in amusement as the vampire was rendered helpless by two canines. Not even werewolves, just ordinary house dogs. "Nope, he's alright," she said. "We could rescue Adam but..." She shrugged and patted Maggie's head. "Everyone's fine, and we've solved the mystery of the bonus corpses.... do you want to head home and leave Adam to the movies, or stick around to wait for Sophie?" ~~~ Matthew stopped walking when he heard that. "Huh?" He looked over at the game. He was pretty sure carnival games were all rigged, to the point where it would be cheaper to buy the unicorn outright from somewhere than to actually buy enough darts to win it. But he wasn't about to say no, either. "Worth a shot. Just don't judge me too hard if I can't get it." He approached the game booth, finding the five dollars he'd managed to loot back from his dead muggers earlier. Maybe it would come in handy after all. @Hacky Slashy

Sophie opened the door and walked right in. "Uncle Al? Iris? Could use some help." Sophie announced as both Nebo and Maggie went to greet the young woman. Albert led Iris as Adam got up, recovering from the canine assault. "I got some stuff for the dogs and Purcasso in the car." Adam and Albert went to help bring the supplies to the house while Sophie distracted Maggie and Nebo. She then greeted Iris. "How have you and Albert been? Seems Maggie is ok?" She said as she was crouched down, petting both dogs. Adam and Quince brought in bags of food for Nebo and Purcasso. There was even a scratch post tower for Purcasso. The food was also salmon flavored. Adam and Quince also helped bring in canned Salmon and other flavored cat food for Purcasso to try. The last item Sophie bought were specialized elevated bowls for cats, so that the cat doesn't strain her neck when eating and drinking. "Hope she likes these." --- Thesally acted as Matthew's cheerleader. "GO MATTHEW!! WIN THAT UNICORN!!!" She had little care for anyone bothered by the shouting. @Al the Killer

"I guess my question answers itself." Iris walked over to the door behind the dogs. "Of course. You go ahead and get settled in; we'll bring everything inside." She helped carry in a few of the items, pausing as Sophie greeted her. "We're doing great." She smiled. "The apartment almost looks presentable now, and Maggie is settling in nicely." Once everything was inside, she looked over the new items. Purrcasso had already taken to the scratching post, rubbing her side against it to claim it as hers. "I think she will," Iris said. ~~~ Matthew couldn't help but laugh, a bit distracted by Thesally's cheering. But once the novelty had passed, he focused as hard as he could. Which had never been very effective, but he wasn't about to not try. The first dart hit its mark, popping the balloon. He breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the next one, politely declining the small prize offered. After a few throws, he was on his last dart, and one more balloon that needed to be popped. "Guess I'm not terrible at this after all, huh?" he commented to Thesally, before turning his attention back to the game. He owed her his life, so this seemed like a small repayment, at least. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and took aim. @Hacky Slashy

"That's great. Maggie's a sweetheart." As she said this, Maggie came over to Sophie, pawing at her. Albert and Adam carried the last of the items for the animals. "How're you doing, kiddo?" Albert asked as he hugged Sophie. Sophie returned the embrace before Nebo nuzzled between them, not wanting to miss out. Albert and Sophie patted the Husky's head. She then went to Adam, kissing him on the cheek. "How'd things go on your end?" "Well, some new developments actually." Adam recapped his reunion with Thesally and how she and Matthew were out right now. "Wow, that's crazy. At least you got someone watching your back. And thanks for cleaning up. So what else have you been doing." Adam and Sophie sat on the couch, deciding to show her the wonders of 80s cinema. Now James Cameron's Aliens was playing on the screen. Nebo joined the couple, curling up at their feet. --- Thesally was impressed with Matthew's dart throwing skill. She stood next to him as he took aim, one more balloon and that Unicorn is hers, assuming Purcasso or Nebo didn't end up taking it when they got home. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at the couple on the couch. With Matthew out of the house, maybe it would be better to give those two some rare quality time. She looked over at Albert, then brought Maggie's leash over to her. "Ready to go home, girl?" She smiled over at Adam and Sophie. "It was nice visiting with you again. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything at all, okay?" ~~~ The dart hit beneath the balloon he'd aimed for, dropped, and hit the one below at just the right angle to pop it. Matthew stared in disbelief, then grinned. "We'll be taking that unicorn," he said, then turned and jumped as he saw Thesally there. He'd been so hyperfocused, he'd forgotten she was nearby. He remembered what she'd said earlier. "Uh... You seemed like you really wanted it." @Hacky Slashy

"You too Iris. You, Albert and Maggie are always welcome here." Nebo briefly got up to say bye to Albert, Maggie and Iris. Adam and Sophie held hands as they watched the interaction. She then rested her head on his shoulder. Rachel came out and said goodbye to Albert and Rachel as well. She even crouched down to pet Maggie. "She's a real cutie. Hope you spoil her." Maggie then nuzzled against Iris and Albert. "Ready when you two are." Maggie looked up and smiled at Iris. --- Thesally happily took the unicorn as the worker handed it to her. She then smiled at Matthew. "So, What will your prize be?" The short haired worker smiled at the interaction before going back to work. @Al the Killer

"We absolutely will," Iris assured Rachel. She gave Nebo some headpats goodbye, waved to the others once more, then walked out to the car. "It was nice to visit," she commented once they were outside. "And now I can worry slightly less. Slightly." It wasn't like she'd become a different person altogether, after all. ~~~ Matthew watched, observing her joy at the prize. "I already got it, don't worry," he said. Sure she'd said she'd be his forever, but bringing that up in response just seemed a bit creepy, and he didn't want anything transactional between them. He just... didn't want to seem disinterested, either. "But if you wanted to offer more, I wouldn't say no." He offered his hand. "Should we continue on our way?" @Hacky Slashy

"It was. And it's ok to worry. But we're right here and we're not going anywhere." Albert reassured Iris as Maggie was between the two, nuzzling against Iris. Inside, Sophie was watching Aliens with Adam and Nebo while Rachel went to her room to rest. The hospital was hectic work, so she could use all the rest she can. --- "I can think of a few things, but I think you won't be fine with an audience. Sure it was fine for the Romans, but let's just enjoy things here. Want to go for the roller coaster or Ferris wheel?" Thesally asked as she cradled the unicorn with one arm while holding Matthew's hand. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled and wrapped an arm around Maggie to keep her from distracting Albert as they settled into the car. "I know. Thank you," she said, patting Maggie's side. "Let's get home. Maybe get a little more cleaning done before we turn in for the night. I want my deposit back once we move into a bigger place." ~~~ Matthew considered for a moment. "I think the audience won't be fine with it," he said, opting to be courteous to the other people out and about at night. "Let's go for the Ferris wheel. I don't think your new friend's tall enough for the roller coaster." He nodded toward the plush unicorn. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie licked Iris' face as Albert managed to settle in. Albert pet Maggie as she licked his hand. "Let's get you ladies home." Nebo got up and scratched at the door. "Looks like he wants a walk." Sophie smiled and got Nebo's leash. Adam decided to join her and Nebo. "I could stretch my legs. Plus I've seen Aliens countless times." --- "What a considerate gentleman." Thesally said as she walked with Matthew towards the ferris wheel. Judging by the size, they'll get a good view of the city. @Al the Killer

Iris kept a hold of the dog. "Alright, alright, let him drive us home safely." She used her free hand to scratch gently behind Maggie's ears and keep her distracted. "You were very good today. How about we give you a treat once we get home?" she suggested. To Maggie, not to Albert. She wouldn't use the baby-voice for him. ~~~ "I try." Matthew shrugged, stopping at the gate in front of the ride. They had to wait for the current riders to finish and get off, but there wasn't a line otherwise. "Actually, I don't think I've been on one of these before," he commented, looking up. "Looks like a hell of a view, though." @Hacky Slashy

Albert pulled out of the driveway and departed the home. Maggie's tail wagged rapidly at the proposition. She snuggled against Iris as Albert drove them home. --- Adam, Sophie and Nebo were out the door and walking around, or more accurately being walked by Nebo. The husky led the couple around the neighborhood. Adam was carrying bags just in case Nebo decided to dump dog manure. --- Once the current riders were off the wheel, Thesally led Matthew Into the ride. "Ready?" She said to the unicorn and then Matthew. @Al the Killer

Matthew let her lead him, settling beside her in the sightseeing cabin. "Ready." He wrapped an arm around her waist, then looked over at her to make sure it was alright. The door shut, and the wheel began to turn, slowly at first to let more people on. "Think of a name for it yet?" he asked, looking at the unicorn plush. ~~~ Iris let go of Maggie once they arrived at the apartment building. "Come on, just a little more to go before you can have a treat," she promised Maggie. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm thinking Flavio for some reason. What do you suggest?" Thesally said as she wrapped her arm around him, bringing him closer to her. --- Albert helped both Maggie and Iris out of the car. Maggie's tail wagged in response to her treat comment. Albert came alongside Iris and pet Maggie, then lead them to the apartment. --- Adam and Sophie held hands as Nebo sniffed the ground, then raised his leg to pee. "So, any ideas for a date?" Sophie asked as Adam smiled at her. "Good question, I can't exactly take you out for pancakes unless IHOP starts serving blood packs." Nebo then dragged them along before they could continue their conversation. "Gee, who's walking who?" Adam noted as Nebo tugged them along. @Al the Killer

"Flavio," Matthew echoed. A bit absurd, but it was a large neon green unicorn, so the absurdity was fitting. "You know, I think Flavio is a perfect name." He let her pull him closer as he watched the ground grow further and further away. He looked out over the expanding view of the city, a collection of lights sparkling below. And a satisfying lack of bombs, at least out here. Beyond the city limits, he couldn't be sure it would be the same story. ~~~ Iris opened the door for Albert and Maggie, letting the pitbull off her leash once they were inside. She closed the door, taking a moment to remove her shoes before she walked over to the cupboard where she'd stowed away Maggie's treats. "Maggie, over here," she called. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally took in the view as she rested her head on his shoulder. Even though they just met, she'd taken a liking to him. "So....are those actually the rules? Adam saved Sophie and now she's his mate?" Thesally asked while viewing the city.
---
Albert got to cleaning the apartment. Meanwhile Maggie Trotted over to Iris. She sat down, with her tail wagging. She looked up and smiled at Iris.
---
Adam, Sophie and Nebo made their way back inside. Adam and Sophie sat down while Nebo went to Rachel. He curled up on the bed next to her. She briefly woke up and hugged him.

Sophie and Adam sat down on the couch. She rested her head on his lap while he played a movie on the television. "John Carpenter's the Thing! A great one!"

<@297921090641199104>

(edited)

Matthew laughed at the question, before considering why she might be asking. Now that was... he realized she could probably hear his heartbeat, and his face flushed with embarrassment. "It's... I mean, I wouldn't call it a rule," he said. "More like an option. They really like each other aside from that, the rescue was more just what allowed them to meet." ~~~ Iris took a bone-shaped treat from a bag of them and carefully handed it over to Maggie. "Gentle," she warned, then let go the second Maggie's teeth closed around it. "Good girl. You go ahead and enjoy that while I go help your dad out." She patted the pitbull on the back as she walked by to help Albert with the cleaning. @Hacky Slashy

"Well, all right. But if that option appeals to you, the answer isn't no." She said as she grabbed his hand. She rested her head on his shoulder. It's been a while since she was romantically involved with anyone. Matthew wasn't bad looking and was certainly nice. --- Maggie happily ate the treat and smiled at Iris as she helped Quince with the cleaning. "Thanks, I could've taken care of things here, but help is appreciated." Albert smiled. --- The Thing has assimilated the dogs in the movie. Sophie was on Adam's lap, cowering in fear of the monster. She was wrapped around him. "Do you want me to switch channels?" Adam asked, trying not to concentrate on her ass in his crotch or breasts near his face. "Please?" Adam got the remote and switched the channel, to a showing of Shrek. "Oh! Another cinematic classic. It's got something for everyone." @Al the Killer

"It does," Matthew admitted, resting his head on Thesally's. She was a bit odd, and he liked that about her. Not to mention the ideal combination of beauty and lethality. He wasn't sure how he'd managed to luck out enough to catch her eye, but he wasn't complaining. "So I guess that usually is how it works, after all." He smiled, holding onto her hand. ~~~ Iris shook her head. "I wouldn't make you do everything. You're a partner, not a servant," she said, focusing on the living room, since the kitchen had already been taken care of. "But I definitely appreciate that you're not putting it all on me, either." She sighed, looking over the damage that had been done to the floor lamp. "This one will have to be replaced eventually." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally caressed his hand with one while cradling Flavio with the other. Once they reach the bottom, Thesally steps out with Matthew and Flavio. --- "Yep. On the to do list." Albert put the floor lamp away." Maggie Trotted over to Iris, demanding more affection. --- "You're right, Adam. This is a good one, and not gruesome for a change." Sophie said as Shrek and Donkey were beginning their rescue mission at the Dragon's castle. @Al the Killer

Matthew stepped out with her, still holding onto her hand. "Where to now?" he asked. "Your choice this time." He glanced at their surroundings again. The crowds were starting to thin out, but the games and rides were still going. The smell of fried food lingered in the air, but he'd already eaten and Thesally couldn't eat human food, so that was out of the question. ~~~ Iris reached down to pet Maggie. "Yes, hello there! Did you like your treat?" She scratched between the pitbull's ears. "Are you here to help clean?" @Hacky Slashy

"Hmm....how about the hall of mirrors, assuming they have that. What do you think, Flavio?" Thesally said in baby voice. "He said yes, you got out voted." She smiled while cradling the unicorn like a baby. --- Maggie licked Iris' face and pawed at her. "She can supervise." Quince said while sweeping. He then went over to pet Maggie. She licked his hand and pawed at him and then Iris. --- Sophie was sound asleep on Adam's lap. He wondered how to get her to the bedroom without waking her. She looked very peaceful. Adam smiled and played with her hair. @Al the Killer

Matthew opened his mouth to agree, but it didn't matter. He was outvoted anyway, regardless of what he thought. He shrugged. "Alright, let's go see if they have one, then." He looked around, though there was a lot going on, and it was a challenge to work out just where to look. After a moment, he settled his attention on a large sign. "Hall of mirrors, right over there." ~~~ "I'll keep her out of your path, then," Iris promised, kneeling on the floor next to Maggie. She wrapped an arm around the dog and watched Quince sweep the floor. "Once you're done with that, we can swap. You keep our daughter distracted, and I'll mop." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally guided Matthew into the hall of mirrors. She held both him and Flavio close. Various, distorted reflections were visible of both Matthew, Thesally and Flavio. She even made faces to see whether they're terrifying or comical. --- "All right. Almost done here thankfully." Albert then smiled at Iris calling Maggie their daughter. It was already obvious, but Maggie had truly won them over. Albert regretted not finding her sooner. Maggie snuggled into Iris' loving embrace. --- Adam was still pinned down by Sophie resting peacefully on him. He simply lowered the volume and flipped through channels. @Al the Killer

He followed after her, joining in the absurd faces at the distorted reflections. Most were comical. Even the terrifying ones were pushed to surreal enough heights that he remained more at ease than he remembered being in a long time. He was laughing at one particularly strange expression she'd managed when he caught sight of the doorway out. "I think we've reached the end," he commented, but waited to give her as much time as she wanted. ~~~ Iris only let Maggie go once the floor was finished being swept. "I'll take care of mopping," she said. "Your turn to keep her busy." She paused to give Albert a brief kiss before walking to the hallway closet to retrieve the mop and bucket. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally finished looking at her reflections and joined Matthew at the exit. "It's your choice now. Where to next?" Thesally said while squeezing Matthew's hand with her free hand. --- After the kiss, Quince decided to distract their adoptive furry daughter. He scratched behind her ear as Maggie covered his face in dog kisses. He then took her to the couch, freeing the floor for Iris to mop. --- Adam was still currently trapped with Sophie blissfully sleeping on him...and snoring. 'I think I should take her to bed now.' Adam slowly and carefully lifted her up, bridal style. He then tip toed to hers and Rachel's room. He guessed her bed was the unoccupied one with the Hello Kitty decorations. He laid her down and kissed her head. "Night." He said as he returned to the couch, lowering the volume. @Al the Killer

Matthew considered for a moment. It was getting late, though he couldn't be sure how late. It wasn't like he had anywhere to be in the morning, though. "We could go somewhere quieter, if you want," he suggested as he stepped out into the nighttime air. "Do you...?" He lowered his voice so only she would hear. "Do you need to hunt or are you good for now?" ~~~ Iris filled the bucket, then set to work on mopping the kitchen and living room floors. "Maybe in a couple of days, this place will even be presentable enough for guests," she'd commented, pausing to smile at her boyfriend and dog on the sofa. @Hacky Slashy

"Oh I'm fine. Plenty of bloodbags in the trunk. Although if some asshole steals the car, they can have fun explaining that." Thesally joked. "But it's not like I sleep at night anyways, so your choice." --- "That would be good. Plus no landlord complaints about letting it become a dump." Quince said to Iris while Maggie whined at him for briefly stopping the belly rubs. He promptly got back to it. --- Adam got his bloodbag and drank from it. Thankfully he didn't need to go hunting for a good while. And when he does, he'll at least have backup with Thesally. @Al the Killer

"Easier to explain than corpses, I guess," Matthew said, then considered it. "Then again, I guess you could describe corpses as 'blood bags' if you're morbid enough." He shook his head. "Anyway, I've got nowhere to be in the morning. I'm not sure how the girls would feel about you staying with us, but we can ask later..." He trailed off. "If you want, I mean. I don't want to assume." ~~~ "Love... They're landlords. They'll always find something to complain about," Iris pointed out. "Still, we might as well make them try a little harder for it." She finished mopping and wheeled the bucket away to dump the water into the tub. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm sure Adam will vouch for me. Plus I have you and Purcasso in my corner as well. Anywho, whatever you decide as long as there's no sunlight involved." Thesally said as she held Flavio and Matthew. --- "No argument there. Isn't that right, Maggie?" The pitbull smiled at Albert and then Iris. She was still on her back while Albert rubbed her belly. --- Adam was still seated on the couch, continuing his movie marathon. He was now contemplating getting a part time job. He had less than 5 grand on him after his trips around the country. It would be the least he could do, not living for free. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked up at the night sky. Or what he could see, with the city lights rendering the stars invisible. "I think we're a long ways off from any sunlight," he commented. "We could see if there are any public parks around here." He'd spent a lot of time in places like that, back before the fighting had begun. It was more peaceful than other places. Quiet, and a bit of greenery to break up the constant grey of the main city. "It's like being in nature, but you're close enough to shelter that you probably won't die of exposure." ~~~ Iris soon returned to the living room to sit next to Albert on the sofa. "Spoiled rotten," she commented, before kissing her boyfriend on the cheek and rubbing Maggie's belly. Which one of them she was describing was kept intentionally ambiguous. @Hacky Slashy

"That sounds like fun!" Thesally said as she took Matthew's hand and took him back to her car. She handed him a map of Los Angeles. "Just pick a location and we'll go." --- Albert wrapped an arm around Iris, bringing her closer and kissing her head. Maggie growled happily as Iris joined in on belly rubbing. --- Adam got up briefly to check on Purcasso. He found her and gently pet her. "No worries. Matthew will be back shortly." @Al the Killer

Matthew sat in the passenger's seat, taking the map. It would have been nice to have sooner, but at least he could check it now. "Yeah, sure. Need me to hold onto Flavio while you drive, too?" he asked, looking over their options. Once he figured out where they were at the moment, he pointed toward the nearest green area. "How about this one?" he suggested. ~~~ Iris closed her eyes and smiled as she was pulled in close. She sighed happily, before looking at Albert. "Ready for bed, or do you want to stay out here for a while longer?" she asked. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally handed Flavio over to Matthew. Once he pointed out the park, Thesally drove to the location. She parked and got out. "We're here!" Thesally announced as she walked over to the passenger side. --- "I'll just scroll through the news, first. Get my daily dosage of doom and gloom." Albert smiled at Iris and then down at Maggie. He flipped the channel to news reports. The first report caught his attention immediately. "This just in, rebel forces have captured rogue general, former president Grant Roman." They then played footage of rebel soldiers parading the former president around as some of their features seemed off. "According to sources, he is scheduled to be executed tomorrow afternoon. More on the story as it develops." But Quince noticed that these rebels didn't look like regular armed forces. They seemed more like marauders. They wore tattered uniforms and were more muscular than usual. Albert switched it off. "Yeah on 2nd thought let's get you two to bed." Maggie looked up at her parents. She got up and snuggled between the two. --- Adam went back to the television set and continued watching. He briefly decided to check the news to see how things were going. He got to the same news report. "I guess it's over then.....right?" Adam had a bad feeling this was likely the start of something bad. @Al the Killer

Matthew held onto the unicorn on the way to the park. Once they parked, he unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out, glancing over at Thesally. "You think he'll be fine in the car?" he asked, vaguely amused that it sounded like he was asking about a child. Definitely not ready to be a dad to more than a cat and a unicorn plushie, though. ~~~ "Daily dosage of doom and gloom?" Iris echoed. "Isn't that why you moved in with me?" Then again, having home around made the world seem a happier place to begin with. She stayed beside him to watch, frowning as she observed. Something seemed... Off about this whole situation. One look at Albert, and she could tell he had at least a similar impression. Especially with his sudden change of mind. "Alright," she agreed, concerned. Still, she stood up and led the way to the bedroom. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm sure Flavio will be fine in the car. It is night time after all." Thesally places the unicorn in the backseat. "Let's go...for a walk at night....where bad things definitely don't happen." The vampire takes the human's hand. "Lead the way." --- Albert and Maggie followed Iris to their room. Maggie got on her dog bed as Quince patted her. "Have a good night." He then strips into just his boxers and tank top. "Need help with the prosthetic?" --- Adam went back to the Shrek marathon. But he couldn't help but think back to the news broadcast. The war with AMP may be over, but that doesn't mean there will be peace. @Al the Killer

Matthew laughed at her comment and closed the door. "Please. Bad things happen everywhere, no matter what time of day it is." He took her hand and started walking, though he'd never been here before. "Besides, you're probably the most dangerous person here." ~~~ Iris closed the door once everyone was in the room. "No, I've got it," she assured him as she changed into a nightgown. She sat on the edge of the bed to remove her prosthetic leg, placing it in the drawer as before. "Do you ever think...?" she trailed off, then started again. "What if something worse than the AMP comes along? Those soldiers on the news report were... Odd." @Hacky Slashy

"You're absolutely right on the money." She grabbed Matthew's hand and began their stroll. --- "One thing I've learned throughout life is peace rarely lasts. You eliminate one evil, another will take it's place. I've seen it overseas, one terror group gone, then there's another." Albert had a bad feeling about them as well. Hopefully the military can handle them, but what if they can't? Maggie went to Iris' side and put a paw on her good leg. It seems she decided to try and reassure her parents. --- Adam shut off the TV and decided to perch on the rooftop. He went out the back and climbed up. @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded. "Right, so just don't attack me and we'll be fine. You've got plenty of blood bags in the trunk if you get thirsty, so there's no need." He winked. "Besides, why tear a man's heart out of his chest when you can wait for him to offer it willingly?" A stream flowed up ahead, with a small arched wooden bridge passing over it. The paths in the grass were well-flattened, clear that people walked this exact route often. ~~~ Iris sighed. "I know. It's exactly what I've seen, in my own life alone," she admitted. She reached down to pet Maggie, offering a troubled smile. "I'll be alright, sweetie. Promise." She let go and lay down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. "Whatever happens, the best we can do is be ready for it. Even if the worst comes, we can at least try to keep each other and our families safe." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally took in the sights. "Quite the romantic, Matthew. I'm shocked some other girl didn't snatch you up already. Their loss." Thesally walked across the bridge with Matthew. --- "Whatever happens, we'll face it together. Also helps we at least have three monsters on our side at least. Good night, and I love you." Albert kissed her and laid down. --- "Things are somewhat ok. For now at least." He began to remember his life up until this point. It still felt unreal to him. Having people to look out for, and in exchange care for him. He would make it up to them someday. The only thing he'd change is come to Los Angeles sooner. @Al the Killer

"Define 'snatch up'," Matthew commented, considering the times he'd nearly been abducted or murdered. Probably not what she'd meant. "Anyway, I never had the chance to consider relationships a priority before. I was more focused on surviving." He paused halfway over the bridge and turned to look out over the water. "I guess we met at a good time." ~~~ Iris smiled. They'd faced so much together, she had no doubt that they would continue to do so. "I love you too," she told Albert. "Goodnight." She set her glasses on the night stand, then closed her eyes, rolling over to pull her partner close. @Hacky Slashy

"Claimed you as their mate, silly. Although those two nasty fellows did try snatching you up the wrong way. "Can't say I blame you. You humans can be much scarier than us. You don't see vanpires dropping hellfire missiles or tomahawks on you for territory or resources. No offense to you, the citizen who has no say in foreign policy or military action." Thesally teased back. "Also you're kinda acting like you dodged an abduction or two." --- Albert held Iris close as he drifted off to sleep. Whatever comes their way, no matter what evil would try and claim his loved ones, Albert Quince would make them bleed for it. --- Adam heard Nebo, Rachel and Sophie sleep peacefully. He looked over and saw Jason on the rooftop of his home. It seems he go the same idea. The two monsters waved at each other. @Al the Killer

Matthew leaned on the railing along the side of the bridge. "Probably because I have," he admitted. "Years ago, for the most part. The street was no place for a kid, but neither was my family's home. Picking the lesser of two evils doesn't mean you're safe." He squeezed her hand in his gently. "Anyway, that's in the past now. What matters is we're here now, and not getting carpet-bombed yet." No guarantees for the future, but he could hope for the best. ~~~ Iris let herself get comfortable in his arms. It wasn't hard to do - he was warm, and she knew she was safe with him. Or at least in no more danger than she would be at home by herself. The difference was that if she had to fight, she wouldn't be doing it alone. She fell asleep quickly. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally listened to Matthew's story. Humans could be incredibly resilient despite the odds. She already liked him, but hearing him stay optimistic despite how hard life tried to put him down. Now she was head over heels. She turned him around and kissed him on the lips. "Consider this one of many rewards. And your family, should I pay them a visit? Must've been pretty bad to force you to run away to relative unsafety of the streets." She squeezed his hand back and smiled at him. --- Albert listened to Iris sleep peacefully. He kept thinking about the soldiers on the report. Their large stature weren't the only thing that stood out. That crazed, blood lusted look in their eyes. What if they decided to stroll into Los Angeles? Would they be able to fight them? He then looked over to Maggie sleeping with a toy in her mouth. Whatever comes their way, they'll deal with it together. --- Adam went back downstairs to check on the girls, Nebo and Purcasso. He saw the sisters and the Husky was sleeping soundly. He then passed by Purcasso, handing her a yarn. @Al the Killer

Matthew hadn't expected it, but he turned at her prompting - not that he'd have much choice - and closed his eyes as she kissed him. It was short, but a moment to remember. He opened his eyes again and smiled, but she was already talking again, so he stopped swooning for long enough to listen. "Asking to meet the parents already, huh?" he joked. "I also feel like there's a few really dark jokes to be made about the phrase 'relative unsafety' in this case. But no, it's in the past. Besides, considering the fact that shitty parenting has a death toll, I wouldn't put any of my siblings at risk. Let's keep the family meetings to Iris. Maybe John if we ever hear from him; our parents cut off contact with him as well, so he's probably cool too. But enough talking about family..." He cupped her cheek in his free hand and kissed her softly again, lingering for a moment longer. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally offered no resistance, letting him hold the kiss as long as he'd like. She held on to him, probing his mouth with her tongue. --- Albert managed to drift away to sleep, holding Iris close. Maggie snored as she was curled up in her dog bed. --- Adam gently patted Purcasso as he returned to the rooftop. He briefly worried about Matthew, brushed those thoughts away. Thesally was with him. He perched on the rooftop. @Al the Killer

After a few seconds, Matthew pulled away and looked at her. She was beautiful in the moonlight, and he wondered how he'd managed to get this lucky. Weird to think he had a girlfriend. Or mate, as she would have called it. Odd of her, but endearing. "Do you want to stay out here for a while longer, or head home?" he asked. "I know it's not exactly close to sunrise, but I'm not nocturnal enough not to be a bit tired." @Hacky Slashy

"I think go home. Purcasso's probably missing her handsome dilf." She smiled and led him back to the car. She held his hand as she drove back to the house. --- Adam greeted Thesally and Matthew as they arrived home. He opened the front door for them. "Hey guys! How'd your day go?" He said as he led them inside. @Al the Killer

Matthew laughed and followed her to the car. To be fair, he missed his cat too. Luckily, she'd seemed to get along well with Thesally. He buckled in his seatbelt and looked out the window as they drove back to the house. Once they arrived and Adam opened the door, he smiled. "Great." He glanced over at Thesally and Flavio, before turning his attention back toward the house as Purrcasso approached the door. "Aw, she really did miss me." He picked her up. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally gently scratched the scruff of Purcasso's neck. She then showed Adam and the cat Flavio. "Your handsome dad won this for me." Thesally cooed to Purcasso. "Glad you two had fun." Adam sensed they had bonded very well. He then sat down on the couch. @Al the Killer

Purrcasso sniffed Flavio, batted curiously at him with one paw, then walked away, her tail high up in the air. "I think she approves," Matthew translated for Thesally. Once Purrcasso had settled in a spot by a window, Matthew walked over to pet her briefly. "I should head upstairs for bed, though. Goodnight, Purrcasso." He returned to Thesally's side and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you in the morning?" @Hacky Slashy

"Well that's good. I'll turn in as well." Thesally stretched and then took his hand. "Upstairs you said? But then again the trunk isn't too bad." She may have joked now, but ever since the 2nd American Civil War began kicking off, she found herself hiding in the trunk quite a few times. Adam decided to get some shut eye in the basement. "You two have a good night." @Al the Killer

"I'll take your word about the trunk, I think," Matthew said. "But if you think a bed might be better, you can join me." He accepted her hand and started to lead the way upstairs. "Goodnight, Adam. I know you don't need it, but get some rest too, anyway." He opened the door to the room that technically belonged to Sophie and Rachel's father but was currently being used for whatever houseguests claimed it first. He took off his jacket and set it aside. @Hacky Slashy

Adam watched the two go upstairs. 'Aww....I'm gonna hear things aren't I?' Adam thinks as he lays down on the basements sofa. Thesally gleefully joins Matthew in the bedroom. She strips out of her jacket, T shirt and Jeans, leaving on just a matching red bra and panties. She lays down on the bed, waiting for Matthew. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked over at her, distracted for a moment. It was impossible not to be. But he finished stripping down to his boxers and joined her in the bed. He knew she didn't need to sleep, but he didn't feel the need to rush into anything. They'd just met today, and they had all the time in the world. Not that he had any interest in turning her down, either. He stayed close to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally wrapped her arm around Matthew, squeezing her body to his, even wrapping her leg around him. She kissed his cheek and buried her face into his neck. Adam was downstairs and was shocked he wasn't hearing another Ellsworth sibling be sexually pleasured. Which was surprising considering Thesally was not a shameful creature. @Al the Killer

Matthew smiled sleepily, keeping close to her. It was a comfortable embrace, at the end of a good day. Staying awake would have been harder than falling asleep. He closed his eyes and rested his chin on her head. He drifted off within minutes, still holding her tightly. @Hacky Slashy

Everyone slept peacefully until morning. Thesally woke up first and kissed Matthew's head. She dumped her bra on him while she put on his T shirt. She went downstairs to Adam cooking breakfast for Matthew and the girls. They greeted each other as Thesally scooped up Purcasso, cradling the one eyed cat like a child. She went upstairs to greet Matthew. She held Purcasso to his face, singing good morning in a sing song voice. Sophie and Rachel got up and greeted Adam, along with Nebo. --- Albert woke up and kissed Iris' head. He then picked up Maggie who was already awake. He scooped her up and placed her on the bed. "Good morning." Albert said as Maggie woke up Iris with dog kisses. @Al the Killer

Iris barely stirred at the sudden weight on the bed. "Albert? Where did you-?" she began to murmur, before her face was attacked by a canine tongue. She opened her eyes and leaned away. "Ugh, morning breath, Maggie..." She reached up to pet the dog anyway. Not her fault she had smelly breath. Iris would just have to give her one of the dental treats next time instead. ~~~ Purrcasso showed an impressive patience for Thesally's antics. When she neared Matthew's face, she meowed and placed a paw on his forehead as though petting the human. He opened his eyes and smiled, seeing Thesally in his shirt. "Good morning," he said, sitting up to notice the bra draped over him. "This yours?" he guessed, despite it being obvious. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie smiled and snuggled against Iris. Albert gave Iris a kiss, despite the traces of dog saliva on her. "I'll go get the dentastix." He then pet the affectionate dog. "Need help in the shower or want me to start on Breakfast?" --- "I've been looking for that." Thesally took the bra in one hand while she set down Purcasso to be with pawrent. She took Matthew's shirt off, giving him a full view of the goods and put the bra back on. "Want the shirt back, too?" She said smiling at him. Sophie greeted Adam with a kiss while Rachel said hello. "Our own personal home defense and chef." Rachel said jokingly. "That's Nebo's job. He distracts the intruder with playtime until the cops show up." Sophie said as the sisters ate Scrambled eggs and toast. @Al the Killer

Iris patted Maggie's head as she looked up at her boyfriend. "Last time you helped me, we were late to work, love," she teased. "But thanks. I'll be fine on my own, if you don't mind starting on breakfast." She sat up carefully, opening the drawer she had left her leg in. "I think there's a thing of those quick-bake croissants, if you want to be lazy. I usually add some chocolate chips to them." She finished getting the prosthetic on and stood up. ~~~ Matthew looked up at her, appreciating the view. "It looked better on you. I can grab a different one," he said, then sat up, picking up Purrcasso. "How'd you sleep?" @Hacky Slashy

Albert smiled at the memory. "Just shout if you need anything." Albert said as he led the dog to the kitchen. He handed Maggie a dentastix and began baking the croissants. --- "Pretty good. You were nice and warm." Thesally said as she winked at Matthew and then pet Purcasso. Adam fed Nebo some eggs. The dog licked his hand in return. Sophie and Rachel both left, but Sophie wrote the directions to her clinic on a piece of paper. Rachel filled Nebo and Purcasso's bowls before deprting. "Tell Thesally and Matthew we said hello!" The girls said before leaving. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "Will do." She kissed his cheek, then walked away to take a shower. It took a moment to turn the water on, undress, and remove her prosthetic again. She smiled toward the door before stepping under the water, keeping a hand on the grab bar to keep herself upright with one leg. Definitely more of a challenge alone, but one she was used to and had no problem managing. ~~~ "Glad I could be a nice space heater, then," Matthew joked. He stood up and set Purrcasso down so he could get dressed. "Anything you want to do today? And if you need anything from outside of the house, just let me know and I'll go get it for you." @Hacky Slashy

Albert managed to bake croissants for himself and Iris. He even baked chocolate chips for her along with some scrambled eggs. Maggie provided moral support. Albert rewarded her with some scrambled eggs before waiting on Iris. --- "I was thinking I could take you and Purcasso to the vet. Get her checked out." Thesally put the shirt back on and pet Purcasso. Nebo came inside to greet both Thesally and Matthew. He then crouched down on the floor next to Purcasso. Adam sat on the couch and browsed through random Channels. It was mostly reruns and news reports about the ongoing fighting. @Al the Killer

Iris finished up in the shower quickly, put her prosthetic back on, and get dressed before walking out to the kitchen. "Everything looks delicious." She kissed his cheek, then whispered in his ear, "especially you." But she didn't want to be late for work again, so she settled of offering a wink, then sitting at the table. "Let's hope we don't have to deal with too many bodies today." ~~~ Matthew changed into a clean outfit just before Nebo came in. "Should've shut the door tighter, I guess," he commented, before reaching down to pet Nebo. "But alright, if it's no trouble for you, we can take her for a checkup." @Hacky Slashy

Albert smirked at the compliment and finished his breakfast. Maggie placed both paws on Iris' knee. The dog's tail wagged rapidly. "I admire your optimism today." Albert said in response to her comment. --- Nebo laid on his back with his head in an awkward angle, the broken dog stance. Thesally responded by rubbing his belly. "Just name the time and we'll go. Best to get her looked at just in case." She pet Purcasso with her other free hand. Adam laid on the couch. 'Let's hope things don't get too exciting anytime soon. I'm starting to like slow and boring for a change.' Adam thinks to himself as he waits for Thesally and Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris ate her breakfast quickly, finishing before she reached down to pet Maggie. "I did say hope, not expect. Optimism would be if I said any corpses will just be an excuse for us to see each other. Would still suck for the corpses, though." She stood up and cleared the table, then started to wash the dishes. ~~~ Matthew smiled at the three of them, then walked over to give Thesally a quick kiss on his way out. "Sounds good. Just let me get breakfast first, then we'll bundle you up before we go out. As much as I can appreciate having a hot girlfriend, I think 'literally on fire' might be a bit much." @Hacky Slashy

"How sweet. Isn't he the best?" Thesally said as she pet both Nebo and Purcasso. Adam greeted Matthew with a plate. "Sophie left the directions to the vet she works at if you want to take Purcasso for a check up." --- "That it would." Albert went to their room and took a shower himself. He then got dressed and went to rejoin Iris and Maggie. Maggie was nuzzling against Iris. @Al the Killer

Matthew took the plate once he got downstairs. "Thanks. Thesally and I were just talking about that," he said. "Thankfully, Purrcasso likes going to the vet. Probably for the attention." Even if he already gave her as much as she'd willingly tolerated at any given time. ~~~ Iris stayed in the kitchen with Maggie once she was done, making sure the dog stayed out of Albert's way. Once he came back out, she smiled and stood up, giving Maggie one last pat on the shoulder. "Ready?" She walked over to give him a quick kiss, before adjusting the collar of his shirt. "Same checkpoint as before?" @Hacky Slashy

"That's good to hear. Also....could I come with?" Adam asked, who's definitely not wanting an excuse to see Sophie earlier again. Thesally wore her anti sunlight outfit, which consisted of a long coat. She then carried Purcasso to meet the boys. "Ready whenever you are." Adam then asked Thesally about going along. "Hold her for me, would you?" She asks as she hands Purcasso back to Matthew. She went upstairs with Adam to improvise some clothes and towels to cover up the Night Haunter. Adam came back downstairs, wearing a black hooded sweater and towels. --- "Yes, ma'am." Albert said as he came over to pet Maggie. He then took Iris' hand. "Bye Maggie. We'll see you later, girl." He scratched the pittie's head and then joined Iris at the door. @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded. "Sure. We'll even 'forget' you there until the end of Sophie's shift," he offered. Once Thesally came back downstairs, he opened his arms to hold onto his cat. "You two go on and get ready. I'll wait down here." He scratched the top of Purrcasso's ears while he waited for them, swaying slightly to rock the cat gently back and forth. She purred against his shoulder contentedly. Once they returned, he walked over to the door. "Ready?" He waited for the go-ahead, then opened the door to let them both through first. ~~~ Iris took his hand as they walked out. Of course, now that he had a car again, she wouldn't have to drop him off. But maybe she'd bring some lunch by for him on her break, as a nice surprise. Either way, it was nice to know where he'd be, and more specifically to know he wasn't running all over the city and getting into danger. When they reached the outside of the building, she kissed him softly. "Have a good day at work," she said. "I'll see you later." She smiled up at him. @Hacky Slashy

"Let's go." Thesally said as everyone including Nebo piled into the car. Adam kept the Husky occupied while Thesally began the drive to clinic. She switched between holding Matthew's hand and petting Purcasso. --- "You too." Albert kissed Iris and then started his car. He waited for her to leave before departing. @Al the Killer

Matthew kept Purrcasso in his lap for the duration of the car ride. She was used to traveling without a carrier, so she had no problem sitting still and making sure her pet human didn't misbehave. He smiled over at Thesally, then looked out the window as they pulled to a stop in front of the vet clinic. "Ready?" he asked the cat, before opening the door and stepping out. They probably looked absurd, with two of the three people covering up as much skin as humanly possible in southern California weather. Oh well. ~~~ Iris pulled out of the parking lot and drove to the morgue. She glanced at her rearview mirror and smiled as she caught one last glimpse of Albert, then continued on her way. @Hacky Slashy

Adam,Thesally and Nebo got out of the car and walked into the clinic. Thesally pet Purcasso while Nebo trotted alongside the group. Sophie finished answering a call when they all walked into the clinic. She noticed Matthew and Purcasso, also the two figures heavily covered up. "Hey guys! Here for Purcasso?" Thesally introduced herself as she took some of the heavier clothing off. "Thesally. Pleased to meet Adam's mate. And yes, we're here for this little baby to get a check up." Thesally said as she pet Purcasso. --- Albert looked back at Iris as he drove back to the usual checkpoint. This time there was no patrol duty. It was just him and the usual crew. Cutty and Cocker were already bickering while Brad was meekly in the middle. He brought coffee over to Quince. "Morning, sir." Albert took the coffee and greeted him. @Al the Killer

Matthew followed them inside and smiled at Sophie, since his hands were too full to wave. "Sure are," he confirmed. "Heard you take walk-ins. Is there anything I should fill out in the meantime?" He glanced over at the reception desk to see if there was anyone working there. "And we don't mind waiting. I'm sure Adam would love an excuse to stick around for longer." He glanced over at Thesally. "I think the modern word for it is 'girlfriend'," he whispered, since they were in public, where one person referring to someone as another's 'mate' might come across as unusual, and he wasn't sure how unnoticed she wanted to remain. @Hacky Slashy

"Just these." Sophie walked over and set some forms down in a chair. She also explained what parts to sign and ignore. "And yes, his err mate." Thesally smiled back at Matthew. "Don't think she minds. Also just thought of something. Adam saved your sister as well...that doesn't entitle him to a threescore, does it?" Adam and Sophie just stared at Thesally awkwardly. "That's not how it works. We mutually agreed." Adam said as Sophie then pet Nebo and left to check on Dr. Nelson. Nebo got between Matthew and Thesally. He laid down between them, smiling up at them. @Al the Killer

Matthew grimaced at the question. "I think she's a bit old for him," he commented, despite the fact that he was now a twenty-two-year-old human dating a possibly ancient vampire. That was different - she was unaging, so it didn't look weird. "More importantly, I really don't want to think about that when it comes to my sister." Besides, he was fairly certain Albert would have a thing or two to say about it. He walked over to sit down, setting Purrcasso in the chair next to him so he could fill out the paperwork. Occasionally, he would reach over to pet Purrcasso or Nebo, assuming he was within petting range.

@Hacky Slashy

Nebo rested a paw on Matthew's knee and then smiled at Purcasso. Thesally took a seat next to Matthew and pet the needy Husky. Adam remained standing while Sophie returned to pick up the paper work. "Luckily you're the second round of pets to come in. Doctor Nelson will see her in a bit." She then pet Purcasso. @Al the Killer

Matthew handed the paperwork back to Sophie. "No worries. I don't mind waiting here," he assured her, placing his hand on Thesally's free hand. Between her and the others, at least he had good company. Purrcasso purred, pushing her head into Sophie's hand. Matthew reached over to scratch the cat's back, and she was in heaven. @Hacky Slashy

Sophie reluctantly went back to return the paper work. She then returned to Purcasso's side as Doctor Nelson came out. "Purcasso, is it?" She said as she smiled at Sophie, Matthew and the pets. She then noticed the unusually pale humans. "This is Adam, my boyfriend. And this is his friend, Thesally." "Nice to meet you all. Is Nebo checked as well?" Doctor Nelson said as Nebo greeted her with the song of his people. Adam and Thesally greeted Doctor Nelson as well. @Al the Killer

Matthew nodded and waved to the doctor. "And I'm Matthe-" Nebo had drowned out the end of his name, but oh well. Clearly, the husky had important things to say. "All ready, then?" He scooped up Purrcasso in his arms and stood up. The cat rested against his shoulder, turning her head to stare at Doctor Nelson with her remaining eye. The judgmental nature of her stare was somewhat undermined by the persistent rumble of her purring. He glanced back at Thesally. "Do you want to come with us, or stay back here?" @Hacky Slashy

Thesally stood up and gently scratched the top of Purcasso's head. "Of course. Make sure Adam and Nebo behave themselves." Thesally said as she joined Matthew. Adam remained in the lobby with Sophie, with Nebo supervising. "Any news lately?" Adam asked as he gave Nebo head scratches. "Well, former president Roman was just captured by some rogue militia. Heard it on the radio. I just hope this coming to an end soon." Adam squeezed her hand in reassurance. He didn't feel as optimistic but didn't want to bring down the mood. --- Albert made it to his checkpoint and proceeded to take his post with Jason, Brad, Cutty and Cocker. It seemed Cutty and Cocker were getting along a little better, but for how long, that remains to be seen. @Al the Killer

Matthew left them to their chat, carrying Purrcasso to the examination room as he followed Doctor Nelson. Once they reached it, he set her down on the exam table, resting a hand on top of the cat's head for reassurance. "She's just here for a routine check-up. Maybe make sure her missing eye is still fine, too. It's an old injury, but I don't really know if something like that ever really heals to a point where I don't have to worry about infection..." He trailed off as he realized he was fretfully rambling, as he always did, and looked down. "Sorry. I'll let you do your job."

Iris walked into the morgue, briefly greeting the receptionist on her way to the lockers. She still had bodies from the previous day, which meant she'd be changing into scrubs and work boots first thing on arrival. @Hacky Slashy

"No worries, Matthew. As much info as possible is welcome." While Dr. Nelson examined Purcasso, Thesally rested her hand on Purcasso while resting the other hand on Matthew, reassuring them both. "No infection. The eye is completely healed. It helps she's been well groomed and cleaned regularly. Has she been spayed, or have any shots?" Sophie kept an eye out for more customers while Nebo kept Adam occupied. He pet the husky who rewarded him with dog saliva. Sophie giggled as Adam sputtered, continuing petting Nebo. --- Amber was walking to her car, after she picked up breakfast on her way to work. She was opening her car as a man was about to sneak up on her, with a knife. Before he could reach her, a reptilian hand clamped down on his face, dragging him away. Amber turned around in time to see a brief glance of a tail. Rattled, she got in her car and drove off. The man formerly known as Ricky the reaper, a name he himself coined, was left paralyzed and felt every bite the reptilian creature left as he was devoured. He dumped the remains and went back to his hideout. He put dog food in a bowl for his Corgi. He shifted back to human form. "Good boy." He then proceeded to put his prosthetic back on. @Al the Killer

Matthew smiled over at Thesally before answering the veterinarian's questions. "She's spayed," he confirmed. "The one thing her previous owner did right. Her last round of vaccines was two years ago, so I'm not sure if she's due for more. I haven't really been able to get her to a vet regularly." Hopefully that would change, now that he had a more stable living situation. Maybe he'd find a job soon. Meanwhile, Purrcasso seemed to take no issue with the exam at all. All she really seemed to understand was that she was getting attention, so she continued purring the entire time. Her only obstruction to the process was headbutting the doctor's hand on occasion to demand more 'affection'.

Iris settled into the autopsy room, pulling on a fresh pair of gloves before she pulled the first body of the morning from cold storage. Half of the work had been tended to by the morgue's other employees, but she'd wanted to tend to Thesally's and Adam's latest meals herself, to avoid anyone uncovering evidence she didn't want found. It was surreal, performing an autopsy when she already knew exactly what had happened because the person responsible had told her. She still hadn't seen Craig's remains though, and was uncertain whether to feel relieved or concerned about it. Either nobody had brought it in, or someone else was doing the autopsy. Was there anything she needed to worry about? She hadn't removed the bullet casing from his throat - had it torn through the back of his neck, or was it still there? The events were a blur. How tight had his fingers been around her neck? Had traces of her skin been left under his fingernails? She couldn't help but be acutely aware of everything that could go wrong. As she took a deep breath to steady herself and force herself to focus on her current autopsy, the ringing of the desk phone distracted her. She already had a thin coating of viscera on her gloves, so she walked over and tapped the button with her elbow. "LA County Coroner's Office, Doctor Ellsworth speaking. You're on speaker." @Hacky Slashy

While Adam and Sophie were busy keeping Nebo occupied, Doctor Nelson finished Purcasso's check up. She then pet Purcasso after the repeated headbutting. "She's perfectly healthy, just some shots and she'll be fine for a while." Thesally patted Matthew and Purcasso. Thesally distracted Purcasso while Doctor Nelson gave the cat her shots. --- "Doctor Ellsworth, we got another body. It's a mess, some poor Dunkin Donuts employee reported it while puking their guts out. We already have detective on the way." The deputy said as Quince and his squad rolled up in their humvee. Albert went ahead and looked while the others kept civilians back. Unfortunately Brad, the former AMP soldier got a decent look and ran to the Dunkin Donuts bathroom to deposit his breakfast. Albert immediately worked out it likely had nothing to do with the vampires. And considering the body was fresh and Jason was with him most of the day, that rules out the lycanthrope. He'll have to wait for Iris's assessment. @Al the Killer

Matthew glanced over at Thesally and smiled, before turning his attention back to Purrcasso. She seemed startled by the needle at first, but quickly relaxed. He scratched behind her ears once it was done. "Good girl. It's all done," he assured the cat after the final shot was taken care of. He picked her up and turned his attention forward Dr. Nelson. "And thank you." (edited)

Another body. Of course. She looked back at the one on the table. A puking witness meant a mess was likely, but it didn't guarantee how much of one. Most people were squeamish around murder. It was a reasonable survival instinct. "I'll be there in a few minutes. What's the address?" Once she had that last bit of information, she packed the body back in storage, took her gloves off, and left to drive to the crime scene. 'Mess' had, as it turned out, been an understatement. Another half-eaten victim, but not one of theirs. Unaccounted for. She walked past the gathering of officers and knelt beside what was left of the body. God, if this kept happening, the tourism board would have to start marketing to vore enthusiasts. 'Come visit LA - you might get eaten!' "He died this morning, based on temperature, colouration, and the lack of decay," she commented, flexing what remained of the corpse's arm. "But the body seems to have been in a state of paralysis. Possibly drugged - I'll have to run a toxicology report before we can say for sure. But judging from the bleeding, the paralysis wasn't the cause of death." She looked up at Albert. "Any witnesses, aside from the employee who discovered the body?" @Hacky Slashy

"Other than the employee, business was slow. Had one customer that left, but that was about it. Didn't find any ID on him." Albert had a funny feeling that whoever did this wasn't human. "What do you make of the teeth marks? Specialized denture?" Cutty, Cocker and Jason greeted Iris. "That or some serious chompers our killer was packing." Cocker immediately joked about the situation as if a man wasn't just devoured. "I'll go check on Brad." Cutty said, making an excuse to not be around the body any longer. --- Back at the clinic, Doctor Nelson had finished with Purcasso's check up and immunization. "And done. If any issues come up, feel free to bring her back." She said as Thesally picked up Purcasso. "Thanks doc. Happy she's taken care of. Ready to go?" Thesally asked Matthew as he led him to the lobby. Sophie and Adam greeted the three. "All good?" Adam said as Nebo greeted Thesally, Matthew and Purcasso. He pawed at both Thesally and Matthew. @Al the Killer

Iris kept her eyes on the corpse even as she waved briefly to the three newcomers. More half-eaten bodies, and this one seemed different still. She'd ask what Thesally and Adam thought about it later, but first she wanted to see if she could get a 3D model reconstructed from the teeth imprints and identify just what it was that had caused the paralysis. More information to go on, at least. Not to mention identifying the victim and whether there was a motive other than food. It didn't matter what species the killer was - they had to find out who had died. "It's too soon to say," she said. "I'd lean toward the former, but it could just be an animal attack of some sort." What sort of animal would do this, though? Someone would have noticed an escaped zoo animal, or a rabid dog running around. But she couldn't just say a monster had done it in front of this many people and maintain any sort of professional credibility. She would do her job and focus on solid evidence, not conjecture. "Keep the area clear; I'll get this one brought to the morgue." She stood up and motioned toward the transport driver.

Matthew nodded and followed Thesally out, reaching over to pet Purrcasso. "All good," he confirmed as they stepped out into the lobby. He leaned down to scratch the top of Nebo's head. "Hey there, bud. You behaving out here?" He smiled, then looked at Sophie and Adam. "Were you going to have him checked in too, or is he already up-to-date on everything?" @Hacky Slashy

"Luckily he is. Still gonna get him checked up." Sophie said as she scratched Nebo's head. "He does have to be neutered at some point though." Adam exaggerated a gasp. "Don't take his manhood." Nebo innocently wagged his tail while Dr. Nelson gave the rundown of the benefits. "Prevents testicular cancer, also calms him down and also doesn't let Los Angeles get overrun by an army of little Nebos." "That would be fun. So many little friends for Purcasso. Bet that would be fun." Thesally said to the cat. --- Albert helped with transporting what remained of the body. He then joined Iris' side. "So....you thinking another....non human?" Albert said as Cocker came with food for himself and his squad. "Any grub, doc?" "How can you be hungry after seeing that?" Brad said as he greeted Iris. "Doctor. I don't know how you deal with that. God that was nasty." "Ketchup?" Cocker said as Brad started looking more nauseated. "I'll take some!" Cutty said as he took some burritos. "I've seen just as bad overseas." Jason showed up, sporting a piece of scale "Found this nearby. Thought you might need it." @Al the Killer

Judging from the way Purrcasso's ears flattened out, she did not like the idea of more little Nebos running around. "Maybe not," Matthew commented, reaching out to hold his cat. "Might be a bit much. For all of us." He patted the demanding husky's head.

Iris nodded. "It's possible," she said, before turning her attention to the others. "No thanks. I've still got work to do at the morgue, and it's not quite time for lunch yet." She looked over at Brad. She still wasn't sure what to think of him, but at least he seemed respectful enough now. Maybe the thwack of her cane had knocked some sense into him after all. "You don't get through medical school by being squeamish. This is fairly normal for my job. Have you ever seen the body of someone who died through evisceration?" she asked casually. "I remember one of my first cases was a man whose ex girlfriend actually blood eagled him for cheating on her. Points for creativity and historical research. Anyway, the most stomach-turning thing here is the combination of ketchup and burritos." Then Jason returned. And that was interesting. "We can have a look at it, definitely. See if it matches whatever paralyzing agent was used. Could you please bag that for me?" @Hacky Slashy

"Already on it." Jason said and proceeded to bag the scale. He then went to help with crowd control. Brad took in the story. "Blood eageled?" He recalled all he got was getting cursed out in both English and French, and lukewarm tea to the face. Albert held Iris' hand and then gave him a smile, as if saying good thing Rachel was a little more sane. "I did hear about that. What a mess." --- Back at the clinic, Nebo smiled up at Purcasso. He pawed at Matthew while Adam chuckled at the memory of Purcasso taking a dog kiss to the face. "Slow day, looks like you're up, Nebo." She scratched the top of Nebo's head. Thesally noted Purcasso's enthusiasm about little Nebos. She pet the cat's head. "I'm sure we won't have to deal with little Nebo's for a while. That being said, keep him on a tight ish leash." @Al the Killer

Iris opened her mouth to explain the method of killing in case that was the bit Brad was confused about, but took Albert's hand in hers as a sign to not do so. So instead, she simply nodded and confirmed. "Blood eagled." She smiled over at her partner. "I should get back to the morgue, myself. Find out who it was that decided to snack on this guy." Or if this was another monster taking 'take a bite out of crime' a little too literally. She squeezed Albert's hand briefly, then walked back to her own car. At least she was set for an interesting afternoon.

Matthew sat back down, setting Purrcasso in his lap. "You probably won't have to worry about getting chased around by puppies anytime soon, don't worry," he added. He looked up at Thesally. "Guess we just wait for them now. You're doing alright?" He glanced toward the windows, still slightly worried about any sun reaching her. But it seemed it took direct contact to actually set a vampire on fire. He could relax a bit. @Hacky Slashy

"Come on, Nebo. Let's get you taken care of." Sophie and Adam led Nebo to the exam room, leaving Matthew, Thesally and Purcasso in the lobby. "I'm alright. I do appreciate the concern." She rewarded Matthew with a kiss, and then a small ass pinch. She then went back to petting Purcasso. --- Albert and the others went back to their humvee and began their patrol. Now he remembered his internal promise to himself. One more monster and he'd have to marry Iris. Not that he had a problem. He'll have to enlist Maggie's help, and come up with a way to pop the question. @Al the Killer

"Shameless," Matthew commented, but laughed as he did so. He smiled over at her and Purrcasso as the cat leaned into her hand. He'd always dreamed life would get better, but this was more than he'd expected. "At least the girls seem fine with letting you stay with us. I'm not entirely sure how it'll work once I move in with my sister and her boyfriend, though. She's less trusting in general, I think. Can't say I blame her though."

Iris returned to the morgue a few minutes after the body. Paperwork took a few minutes, followed by making sure the scale and a blood sample were stored securely. Knowing this was likely a monster, she wanted to examine them, herself. At least she couldn't complain about a few minutes with a microscope and some additional research - it was exactly the sort of thing that had drawn her to pathology in the first place. @Hacky Slashy

In a few minutes, Nebo was already taken care of, with help from Adam and Sophie. All came out with a happy, but demanding Husky. "Nebo's all good, immunized and healthy. Anyone else you'd like. Checked out? The animal kind I mean." Dr. Nelson asked as Adam crouched down to pet Nebo. "We're all good. Thanks again doc." Thesally continued petting the affectionate, one eyed cat, while holding her boyfriend. She returned the smile. "Your sister isn't entirely wrong. You're quite lucky I find you cute." Thesally joked. --- Albert and the others made it back to the checkpoint. He then got back on the sniper's nest. This time they were stationed at an old police station that was recently repurposed as an outpost. @Al the Killer

"Lucky me," Matthew agreed. "No risk of getting eaten." He considered the possible interpretations of that phrase, then opted to amend it. "...Not in the lethal sense, at least." He stood up and looked over at her, then at Adam and Nebo. "Ready to head back?" @Hacky Slashy

"I think I'll stick around for a bit." Adam said while holding Sophie's hand. "Ew. Wear protection, you two. Don't worry, we'll take Nebo back." Sophie handed Thesally a key to the house. "Thanks. Take care and here's my number in case you guys need anything after work." Nebo nuzzled against Matthew and Thesally. @Al the Killer

Iris had expected interesting results. The reality didn't disappoint. The DNA and fingerprints from the victim himself matched samples from a string of unsolved murders, indicating another vigilante killing. Had he been a known suspect in the case? She'd have to ask Albert if he was familiar with it. Based on cross-referencing the bite marks, saliva, and venom, there were close matches to chameleon, gila monster, and komodo dragon samples. But none were exact, like whatever had attacked the victim was some new species with some relation to all of them. She was far from a reptile expert though, and would have to see what someone with more specialized knowledge might have to say about it. For now, she left her microscope and called Albert.

Matthew held Purrcasso with one arm and patted Nebo's side with his free hand. "Let's head back, then." He smiled over at Thesally and waited to make sure she was all bundled up again before he started toward the door. @Hacky Slashy

Adam took a seat in the lobby and read a magazine while Sophie went back to the front desk, taking calls. Thesally was fully covered up and opened the back door for Nebo to climb in. Once Nebo was seated, Thesally waited for Matthew and Purcasso. --- Albert was in a break room, about to open an MRE when a call came in. He was annoyed until he saw it was Iris calling. He smiled before picking it up. "Hello?" @Al the Killer

Iris smiled as she heard his voice. "Hey, love. Test results from the latest body came in." She paused, hesitant to say much over the phone, given the whole thing about the monsters. "When you get the chance, could you swing by the morgue to talk about the case? It's not an emergency, so take your time."

Matthew set Purrcasso in the back seat next to Nebo, then got in next to Thesally. "Alright, let's head back." But first, he leaned over to give her a quick kiss before settling back down into his seat. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm on my way. See you in a bit." Albert brought his squad with him and drove down to the morgue. While Jason, Cutty, Cocker and Brad waited outside in the humvee, Albert made his way inside. "Hello. Could you let Dr. Ellsworth know I'm here?" He said to the intern. --- Adam continued his reading and also scoping through the TV channels in the lobby. He stopped at reruns of a sitcom. He figured it be better than the doom and gloom on the news. And it was Married with Children, so not a bad choice. --- Thesally held Matthew's hand as she drove them back to the house. Nebo gently pawed at Purcasso, smiling at her. @Al the Killer

Iris waited, working on the autopsy itself in the meantime. There wasn't a whole lot left to look at - the lizard's least favourite organs, possibly. But it occupied the time until the knock came in her door. "Dr. Ellsworth? Detective Quince is here," the intern called through it. She tried not to sound too enthusiastic as she responded. "Send him in. Thank you." She draped the sheet over the body and sat down in her desk chair as she waited for him.

Matthew looked back over his shoulder, hearing Purrcasso hiss at Nebo. "You kids behaving yourselves back there?" he asked as Purrcasso darted out of the backseat to climb into Matthew's lap. @Hacky Slashy

Albert walked in and went next to Iris, planting a kiss. "So what do we got?" He said as he put his hand on her shoulder. --- Thesally looked back at Nebo who still smiled while sitting down. "Aww, no worries. I'm sure she'll warm up to you eventually." She then reached over and pet Purcasso. She then pulled in to the house and let both Nebo, Matthew and Purcasso out. --- Sophie and Doctor Nelson attended to more pets while the owners waited in the lobby, close to the vampire. One of them even whispered why is he the color white. Adam remained seated, waiting until her shift is over. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled up at him briefly, before getting right to business. "Lizard people," she said. "In the literal 'part lizard, part person' way, not the 'repackaged blood libel' way. Come on, it's easier if I show you." She led the way into the side room used for more specific analyses, stopping in front of the computer that occupied part of the smaller space. "I couldn't reconstruct much," she admitted. "But what I did manage is about the size of a human jaw, but not the shape. It seems more reptilian in nature. The bites were strictly a tearing motion, with no chewing involved - taking out smaller pieces of a prey that can't be swallowed whole, but swallowing those chunks in their entirety, as most reptiles do. I also isolated the chemical that caused that paralysis I mentioned, and some DNA from the saliva. Three guesses what I found."

Matthew picked Purrcasso up and stepped out of the car. He shifted her to nestle against his shoulder, supported with one arm so he could open the door for Thesally and Nebo, only to remember that Thesally had been given the key and he hadn't. "I'll hold Nebo's leash for you," he offered instead, holding out his free hand to take it. @Hacky Slashy

Adam shrugged off the questions. He stayed reading one of the cosmopolitan weekly magazines because frankly there was nothing much to do at the office. A pomeranian barked at him as the owner picked it up. The owner's daughter then approached Adam. "Why is your skin like that?" Her mother came to scold her while holding on to the pomeranian. "Mary! You can't just ask someone that!" Adam defused the situation. "It's all right. And it's Albinism. Light skin and sensitivity to light." Mary nodded and then said something more. "So you're a vampire?" She nonchalantly asks as Adam put his hands in the air. "Guilty as charged!" Sophie smiled at the interaction, but would scold him later about being discreet. But it was good to know he was good with children. May be too soon to entertain the thought, but at least he's getting decent practice. --- "Let me guess. Bits of Komodo Dragon, Gila monster. At least those are the venomous lizard species off the top of my head. And also partly human DNA as well?" Albert was hardly phased anymore. If vampires and werewolves are running amok, who knows what other monsters may stroll into town? --- Thesally went to Matthew's side and handed him Nebo's leash. "Thanks, love." She said muffled from the layers. She opened the door and let Matthew, Purcasso and Nebo inside. "All right! So what now, dear?" She stripped off the protective clothing until she was in her shirt, jacket and jeans. Her hair fell down to her mid back as the vampires smiled at her mate. Nebo licked her hand and pawed at her. She crouched down and gave the needy Husky the attention he wanted. @Al the Killer

"And bits of chameleon, oddly enough," Iris added. "Though maybe not so odd, if our killer is blending in with humans. Aside from that, you've pretty much got it. We've also got an ID on the victim himself, and a possible motive." She changed the tab on the computer screen to show the victim's record, though there wasn't enough left of the body for there to be much resemblance to what they had seen at the scene of the crime. "Hell, I might've solved a few other murder cases while I was at it." She stepped away from the screen to give him space to have a closer look. "Lucky enough he had a few fingers and his teeth intact. Fingerprints and dental records identify him as Richard Brommin. Not much unusual on the surface, except his DNA also connects him to evidence found in a number of unsolved murders. We're talking cold cases stretching back to 2011." She looked over at Albert. "Thoughts? Am I seducing you with my detective work?" she joked.

Once the door was shut, Matthew set Purrcasso down, let Nebo off his leash, and hung it back up. Catching Thesally looking at him, he glanced over and smiled back. "Not sure," he admitted. "Normally, I'd use free time to work on my art, but that was when I didn't have so much of it." He walked over to the sofa and sat down. "Portraits, mostly." @Hacky Slashy

"We should give you a job, Doctor." Quince said as he took in the information. Then he remembered the name. "Richard Brommin? I heard of him. He was suspected of several killings, but shitbag managed to weasel out of it thanks to his brother being a lawyer. Looks like he finally got his just deserts. Can't say I'll cry over him." --- Adam remained in the lobby, whistling to himself. Sophie rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her smile. --- Nebo roamed around the house, leaving Thesally alone with Mattheww. She promptly sat down on the couch, pinning him down with her legs. "Portraits? Mind showing me?" She says as he is currently unable to move. @Al the Killer

"Best case scenario, this is a deliberate vigilante killing and not random," Iris commented. Granted, neither type of murder was great news, but at least the former was more predictable, and didn't mean everyone had to worry about being eaten by a reptile man now. Except she herself was technically a murderer now. The thought didn't sit well with her. "Any other questions?" she asked Albert instead of voicing her concerns. "Evidence is a bit limited still, but I'll let you know if anything else important comes up."

Matthew looked down at where she had him pinned down to the sofa. It was the same principle as having a cat in his lap, he assumed: he couldn't move until she did, nor try to make her leave. "I can't show you without my sketchbook handy," he admitted. "But I'd love to, when I have the chance. I just finished one of Nebo a couple of days ago. Not the most patient model, but it turned out alright." @Hacky Slashy

Albert planted a kiss on her head. "I think that'll be it for now. That being said, you got my number." Albert bid her farewell for now and departed the coroner's office. --- Adam and Sophie were still at the clinic. Aside from the pomeranian, most of the pets were fine with Adam. He even got to play with a Ferret named Otis. It enjoyed nibbling on his finger. Thankfully he didn't drew blood, lest vampire ferrets overrun Los Angeles. --- Thesally got her legs off Matthew, realizing he was pinned. "You got a Siberian Husky to stand still? I knew there was something about you." She teased as she waited for him to retrieve his sketchbook. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded. "I'll see you tonight," she promised. She watched him leave, then returned to the autopsy room. She needed to have a closer look and figure out how she'd explain all she'd found in an autopsy report without sounding like a conspiracy theorist. At least she had data to back it up - she just couldn't include any of her conclusions about monsters. Should be easy enough. She pulled her gloves on and got back to work.

"He was napping," Matthew admitted. "I don't actually have superpowers." He stood up, paused to kiss her forehead, then walked up to the bedroom. He'd left the sketchbook on the beside table, along with the pouch containing drawing pencils, too many erasers (actually, never enough) and a pencil blender that he'd worn down to a nub by that point. He grabbed both by instinct and walked downstairs, taking his seat next to Thesally again. @Hacky Slashy

Albert departed the coroner's office and tapped the humvee. He and his squad went on patrol. They had to respond to a small riot at a refugee camp. --- Thesally rested her head on his lap after he took his seat again. "Ah, so you're just lucky. Still counts." Nebo came back and curled up near Matthew's feet. --- Adam went for a quick nap. Sophie led him to the break room so there'd be space in the lobby. She rustled his hair before going back to her desk. @Al the Killer

The phone rang as Iris was preparing for her lunch break. She paused to answer it first, picking up the phone under the assumption that it might be related to a case, or a new body to pickup. She didn't even get her usual greeting out before the unfamiliar woman's voice on the other end spoke. "Dr. Ellsworth?" A new officer, maybe, or hospital staff. "Speaking. And yourself?" "This is Investigator Anna Taggert." Not detective. The word choice didn't pass by unnoticed - likely not government employed, then. "What do you know about the death of Craig Wedmore?" Iris froze for a moment, nearly dropping the phone. Shit. She had to keep calm, act normal, but her mind raced with a hundred worst-case scenarios. "Only what's publically known," she said. "He was a casualty of the Battle of LA, wasn't he? What's this all about?" "I was asked to look into it. Naturally, it makes sense to talk to those who knew him, especially his sole beneficiary. Do you have time to get together and talk?" Beneficiary? So it was either his parents or life insurance that had hired her, but why? Why hasn't he removed her from that policy two years ago? Unless... ... Unless it had always been his plan for her to be the prime suspect in the event of his death. Another type of insurance. And given how many times she'd changed her phone number, it was no wonder she hasn't been informed sooner. "Doctor Elsworth?" The investigator's voice was inpatient. "Right, sorry. Uh... No, I'm busy. We hadn't really talked since the divorce, so I wouldn't have any helpful insight." "But-" "Goodbye." She hung up and stepped back. Fuck. It may not have been an official murder investigation, but the result would be the same if there was enough evidence of murder for them investigator to hand over to the LAPD.

Matthew looked down at her and smiled. "Extremely lucky," he agreed, stroking her hair with his free hand. "Anyway, here. You can take a look." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally grabbed the sketchbook and examined all of Matthew's sketches and drawings. He reached the latest portrait of Nebo. "Looks just like the real thing." She briefly got up and handed it back to him. She then rested her legs on his lap. --- Albert and his squad reached their main checkpoint. He was back in the messhall, helping himself to an MRE. --- Adam got up from his nap and stretched. He began making his way to the lobby when Sophie walked in. She sat next to him with her lunch for the day. It was a a chicken blt wrap from a nearby subways. They hung out until her eventual break end. @Al the Killer

Iris's mind raced through the possibilities. Should she tell Quince? No, that was a stupid question, of course she should tell her partner that someone was looking into a murder they'd both had a hand in planning. It wasn't if, but how. She had to assume phone lines wouldn't be secure. No electronic communication of the fact, and no conversations in public places. At home only, then. Anything they did might come across as suspicious, so they'd have to be careful. Shit, why had she entered a romantic relationship so quickly after Craig's death? That was inherently suspicious. Should she delete the evidence of his stalking? Would that be a mitigating factor, or proof of a motive? As though being the ex wife of a dead man with a two million dollar life insurance policy wasn't motive enough... She barely had the chance to enjoy her actual meal. She was pretty sure it had been a chicken fajita bowl, but her mind had been elsewhere. For now, she would have to get through the day, then worry about her circumstances after work.

He accepted the sketchbook and set it carefully on the side table. "Thanks." He wrapped an arm around her, leaning in close. "If you ever want to model for me, I'd love to draw you. Only if you're comfortable staying still for a few hours at a time. It's up to you." All he knew was that any decently-drawn portrait of her would inherently be beautiful. @Hacky Slashy

Adam watched Sophie leave and contemplated date night ideas. Perhaps take her to the Hollywood sign. Provided it's still standing. --- Albert finished his MRE and went into a snipers nest. Cutty and the others were on watch for any potential hostilities. --- Thesally happily leaned into his embrace. "I'm more than happy and capable of modeling for you. I'm sure you'll do great." She ruffled his hair as Nebo rolled over and got into his broken dog stance. @Al the Killer

Work itself was uneventful, at least. It made it easier for Iris to act like nothing was wrong, greeting her secretary on her way back from lunch and returning to the morgue. She was used to acting, even if she'd thought the facade was no longer necessary with Craig's death. At least now she could see a bright side to things. If there was no evidence of foul play, she'd have no problem buying a house and supporting her brother. She let that thought drive her enough that her smile didn't have to be entirely fake.

Matthew closed his eyes, enjoying the attention. No wonder Nebo always demanded to be petted. "Later, though," he said, because he couldn't draw and snuggle her at the same time. "I'm too comfortable to think about working on anything right now." @Hacky Slashy

Albert's day was about as eventful as it could get for today. He and his squad had just finished detaining the last of the AMP holdouts in Los Angeles. They were taken by the military to be judged elsewhere. Albert and his squad had returned to the checkpoint, nearing the end of their shift. He was looking forward to seeing Maggie and Iris again. --- Adam remained in the break room. From what he could gather, it was just a few more hours to go for Sophie's shift to end. --- "Good. So am I." Thesally said as she rubbed him. Nebo roamed around the house. He then rested near Matthew and Thesally. @Al the Killer

Iris couldn't help but leave in a hurry once her shift ended. She said a quick goodbye to the secretary on duty, sat in her car, and took out her phone to text Albert. She had to speak to him urgently, but couldn't say as much over text message. Better to say nothing. She sighed and put her phone away, assuming he'd go straight home anyway. She started her car and headed back to her apartment.

Matthew couldn't argue with that logic. He smiled and stayed right where he was. He couldn't say exactly when it happened, but at some point, he drifted off to sleep, fully relaxed by Thesally's side. @Hacky Slashy

Albert got in his car and started it. He managed to reach his and Iris' apartment. He opened the door to Maggie almost knocking him over in excitement. "Take it easy, girl." He said between laughs as he crouched down and pet the dog. He then handed her a dentastix treat. "Why don't we wait for your mom outside?" He then put Maggie's leash on and they waited for Iris. --- Thesally held Matthew as he sleeped. She ruffled his hair while Nebo got up on the couch next to her. She smiled and pet the dog. 'Good thing I have two hands.' She thinks to herself. --- Adam drifted off to sleep for a bit until Sophie woke him up. "Time to go." He got up and said his goodbye to Doctor Nelson before they departed to her car. @Al the Killer

Once Iris parked in front of the apartment building, she didn't have to spend long hoping Albert was home. He was already standing outside with Maggie on her leash, wiggling her entire backside as dogs did when excited. She smiled to herself, relaxing a bit as she turned the car off and stepped out. However this turned out, she knew she would do anything to keep them safe. She walked over, gave Albert a quick kiss, then reached down to pet Maggie. "Yes, hi there. Did you miss me?"

During his nap, Matthew had slipped a bit, so now his arm remained around Thesally's waist while his head rested against her chest. It made for a hell of a view when he opened his eyes to what was right in front of his face. "Well hello there," he murmured appreciatively, then picked his head up. "Was I asleep for long?" He yawned, unsure of when he'd even fallen asleep in the first place. @Hacky Slashy

"We both did." Albert smiled as Maggie placed both paws on Iris' shoulder and licked her face, tail wagging rapidly. Albert then touched Iris' shoulder. "Did the Denta Stix work?" --- Sophie was driving Adam home when she stopped at a bank. "Gonna get some cash." Adam got up and went with her. They were in back of a black haired woman in a blouse and jeans taking out money. Adam sensed her heart was racing. He then looked at an SUV parked nearby. "That SUV yours?" He asked. She shakily nodded her head. "He..He has my son." "Stay here and keep taking money out." Adam then walked towards the SUV. A bald man with a gun was seated in the front seat with the crying child in the back. "Your mom better hurry up or I will fu-" Adam's arm went through the window without effort and pulled him out by the throat. Adam took his gun and crushed it in his hands and then beat him. One punch dislocated the man's jaw and then Adam bashed him repeatedly against the car door. Adam finished things off by breaking his hands and kneecaps. He then dropped him to the floor and casually looked at the crying child. "Want to see your mom?" The mother came over and quickly took the child. She held him and cried in relief that the nightmare was over. Sophie had already called the police. --- "Oh, just a few hours. I would've moved but didn't want to wake you. Plus Nebo joined us on the couch." She gestured towards the smiling Husky next to them. @Al the Killer

Iris laughed and patted Maggie's head. "It's an improvement, at least," she confirmed. She wrapped her arms around the pitbull and scooped her up into her arms as she stood upright. A bit heavy, but manageable if Maggie cooperated. She looked over at Albert as she carried their big baby over to the front door. "Let's get inside." Her smile faded. "Something happened after you left."

Matthew looked over at Nebo and smiled. "So he did." He reached over to pet the husky, then kissed Thesally's cheek. "And I'm glad you didn't move. I could get used to waking up next to you." Outside, the sun had already set during his nap. "Did you want to go anywhere? Or if you want to stay in, I can just bring a blood pack from your car for you." @Hacky Slashy

Albert opened the door for both Maggie and Iris. He then got some water for Iris. "So....what's going on?" Maggie softly purred in Iris' arms and smiled at her and Quince. --- The police arrived and questioned everyone at the scene and then left. The mother thanked Adam and departed. "Sorry for the damages." Adam apologized as he and Sophie helped clean up the glass from assaulting the criminal. Sophie took out her money and started the car with Adam. "So....how did you know something was up?" Her blue eyes looked at Adam, squeezing his hand. "I've seen this a few times. I feel bad for freaking the kid out though." Adam then looked out the window as they pulled in to the grocery store. --- "I'm gonna go for a shower. Feel free to join me when you bring the blood pack in." She handed him the keys to open the trunk as she made her way to the shower. @Al the Killer

Iris followed him inside and walked over to the living room. Once she'd set Maggie gingerly on the sofa, she sat down beside the dog, patting her head. Although she kept an eye on Albert, she didn't speak up until he was with them. Then it was unavoidable. "I... received a phone call," she said. "Good news and bad news. The bad news is that, since Craig kept me as the sole beneficiary on his life insurance policy - whether out of negligence, under the assumption that I'd return to him, or so that I'd be a sure suspect if anything happened to him, I have no clue - someone ended up hiring a private investigator to look into his death for any evidence it wasn't a combat casualty. After all, they don't pay out in cases of murder by the would-be recipient." She took a sip of water, then continued. "So we should assume we're both under suspicion and consider how we're going to hide what happened. Which means, until this goes away, we should avoid anything that might look like a motive. Large expenses, major life changes we couldn't have safely made with him alive, things like that." Not that she had any clue that Albert had been planning exactly that sort of thing.

Matthew blushed faintly at the suggestion and invitation. It was unexpected, but not something he particularly wanted to refuse. "Alright, I'll be there in a minute," he promised, taking the keys. "See you soon." He kissed her again, then walked out. Surely enough, there were plenty of blood packs out there. He was pretty sure they'd been in the trunk way too long to be useful for any human who might need a transfusion, but vampires probably weren't as strict about the condition of the blood they drank. He took a bag out, paused for a moment to consider, then grabbed a second just in case she wanted more. @Hacky Slashy

Albert took a seat next to Iris while Maggie nuzzled against Iris. "Don't worry, we'll get on top of this. Also I got an attorney who owes me a few favors. He'll just give you the best legal representation Los Angeles can offer. However we're still recovering from the war, so it'll be a long while before a trial, assuming it gets to that point. What else did this investigator tell you?" --- Sophie and Adam finished grocery shopping and got back into the car. She started the car and departed back to the house. --- Thesally left a trail for Matthew to follow all the way to the shower. She started it and began applying soap and shampoo, waiting for her mate. @Al the Killer

"Let's hope it doesn't come close to that point." Iris leaned against Albert's shoulder. "She asked what I knew about Craig's death, but she wanted to talk to me in-person. The name she gave was Anna Taggert, if you want to look into it. Discreetly, I mean. I know most PIs are former law enforcement or military, so maybe there's some kind of record?" She sighed, cursing the twist of fate that had put them in this position. There wasn't much she could say that would lighten the mood, but she tried anyway. "I guess the good news is that if she doesn't find anything, we'll be able to buy a house without much trouble." Aside from the annoyance of the process itself, at least. She leaned against Albert's shoulder.

Matthew walked back inside and looked down at the clothes in the hall. Now that would be hard to explain if Sophie and Adam got home, so he picked them up on his way and set them aside once he was in the bathroom. The water was already running, and he could see Thesally's faint shadow behind the shower curtain. He placed the blood packs on the sink and began to undress so he could join her. @Hacky Slashy

"I'll look into her, make some phone calls. We'll get through this, but I'm getting you that lawyer. Don't so much as breathe without him in the room." Maggie sat on her back, smiling up at Iris and Albert. He hugged Iris and pet Maggie. --- Adam and Sophie drove back to the house. Adam stopped Sophie when he heard Thesally invite Matthew into the shower. "They're about to...." Sophie immediately understood. "And you'll probably hear what's next, right?" She then brushed her blonde hair behind her ears. "Yep. I'm probably gonna he-" He was interrupted by Sophie's lips meeting his. 'Well alrighty then!' He thinks as loses himself in the moment. --- "Well it's about time!" She massaged her toned body, rubbing the lotion on her skin. "Get in here already!" @Al the Killer

Although the danger hadn't passed yet, Iris still let herself feel a bit of relief. At least she had support, though she wasn't sure her right to an attorney fully applied when the investigator in question wasn't even a police officer. That would be something to ask the lawyer about, she supposed. For now, she kissed Albert's cheek. "What do you want for dinner?" she asked. "Now that the kitchen is finally useable."

She definitely didn't have to tell him twice. He stepped under the water to join her, taking a moment to admire the view of her fully exposed body. No wonder she was shameless about it. But he couldn't just stand there and stare, so he stepped closer and leaned in to kiss her. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie sniffed Iris and curled up on her lap. Albert rubbed her belly and then Kissed Iris' head. "I'll handle dinner. You just keep Maggie preoccupied." He scratched under the dog's chin and proceeded to prepare dinner. "So....pasta or chicken parmessan?" --- Adam ran his hands up and down Sophie's back while they made out. Thankfully his mind was off Thesally mating with Matthew. Thesally pulled Matthew in and welcomed the kiss. Her breasts pressed against his chest while she wrapped her arms around him. She then leaned back, giving him access to her neck. @Al the Killer

Since he was offering to make dinner, Iris stayed where she was and continued to pet Maggie. She was still getting used to having a partner who gladly helped at home, and silently hoped she wasn't taking advantage of the situation too much. "Chicken parm sounds good. Let me know if you want help with anything, alright?" She patted Maggie's head. "Lapdog permitting, at least."

He trailed a hand down Thesally's back, stopping art the bottom to squeeze her ass. As she gave the invitation, he lowered his head to trail kisses down her neck to her collarbone. He could already feel himself getting hard, but he could wait before actually doing something about it. Right now, his mind was on pleasing the beautiful woman in his arms. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie was not getting up anytime soon. She enjoyed her new mother's lap too much. She pawed at Iris for more affection. Albert got began preparing dinner. He finished preparing the food and inserted it in the oven. He started timing it and then went to relieve Iris. He picked up the rubber duck toy and squeezed it. Maggie got up and decided to play catch with the duck toy. He made sure not to accidentally get the excited dog to accidentally destroy the house. --- Thesally moaned excitedly and kissed him more intensely. She lightly scratched his back, taking care not to draw blood. --- Adam and Sophie finished their makeout session. "Are they still going at it?" She said while adjusting her hair. "It seems they're focusing on foreplay first." Adam then helped Sophie carry the groceries inside and greeted Nebo and Purcasso. Sophie filled Purcasso's bowl while Adam filled Nebo's. @Al the Killer

Iris gave Maggie all the attention she wanted, until Albert managed to distract the demanding pup. She helped her stand up, making sure Maggie didn't fall due to her missing leg. At least she seemed mobile enough, all things considered. She watched the dog play with Albert for a moment and smiled to herself. This was something worth protecting, without a doubt. It was just too bad there were other things weighing on her mind. "If the investigation does turn up anything against me, it will have to be brought up with the police, right?" she asked Albert. "What are you going to do if it comes to that?" Most likely, he would be left off the case. Too bad - if there was ever a good moment for police corruption, it would be this exact scenario. But she couldn't ask him to do that for her.

Matthew's lips returned to Thesally's for a deeper kiss. His tongue slipped into her mouth as he brought his free hand between her legs. He held her close and rubbed at her clit with his fingers, taking the encouragement from her excited moans. @Hacky Slashy

Albert considered Iris' question. He crouched down to pet Maggie. "Officially I'd have to excuse myself from the investigation. Unofficially.....I probably shouldn't, but might slightly inconvenience the investigation. Can't let Maggie become an orphan." Albert said to try and lighten the mood. Looking down at Iris and Maggie, he knew he wouldn't let anyone take this from him. --- Thesally moaned more. Her wings spread out of her back and hugged Matthew tighter to her body. "Don't fucking stop!!!" Adam grimaced while Nebo ate blissfully in ignorance. Sophie filled Purcasso bowl and pet the cat. She looked over at Adam grimacing and chuckled to herself. She felt happy for Matthew, though. After all he'd been through, he deserved a win. She received a text from Rachel. She'd be home late, out with a man and his dog, judging by the selfie with the American Akita. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled and stood up. "She won't," she said. "Even if it does come down to it, we could pass it off as self-defense in a fair trial. Hopefully this lawyer of yours is as good as you say though." Pre-meditated murder was technically an accurate description, but these situations were... messy, legally speaking. And she really had been attacked. But it was still better to avoid having to defend her decision in the first place. "Just don't get caught messing with the investigation if it does come to the police. I don't want anything to happen to you, either." She kissed his cheek, then reached down to pet Maggie again.

Matthew let himself get pulled closer, causing his erection to brush against her thigh. But, just as asked, he continued using his hand to pleasure her. He kissed her neck again as he slipped a couple of fingers inside of her, still working her clit with his thumb. His heart raced with excitement, and there wasn't much he could do about the fact that she'd be able to hear it. @Hacky Slashy

Albert joined Iris in petting Maggie. He held Iris close to him while Maggie licked both of them. The oven sounded off, indicating their dinner was complete. He reluctantly let go to get dinner ready. Maggie stayed with Iris, nuzzling against her. --- Adam and Sophie rested on the couch while Nebo ate his food. Meanwhi Thesally moaned louder as Matthew worked her clit. She came and felt her body shudder. She kissed Matthew and then worked her way down to his erection. She smiled at him before returning the favor. --- Jason and Rachel were at a park, walking Creek. They took a brief break for her to pet Creek. She was practically babying him, pets and all. He was happy that they got along. Most people were intimidated by the Akita. And of course Creek was more than happy to steal his master's date. 'You're doing too good of a job, boy.' He thinks as he sees Creek enjoying belly rubs. @Al the Killer

Iris let Albert go, taking a moment longer to pet Maggie before leaving her side. "Come on, I'm sure you want dinner, too." She filled the dog's food bowl first, then checked to make sure she had plenty of water. "There you go." She patted her head, then walked over to the sink to wash her hands, taking in a deep breath. "Dinner smells delicious," she told her boyfriend. "Thank you."

Matthew kissed her back for as long as he could. But when the time came, he was more than happy to let her work her way down. He placed his hand on her head, holding her hair back and out of the way. Then he felt her lips around him and moaned softly. @Hacky Slashy

"Good to see I can cook more than just scrambled eggs and toast. But then again, Sophie walked me through this a while ago." He ate his dinner, contemplating on whether he should put his faith in Briana's legal partner. He's one of the top lawyers in LA, but perhaps he should whisk Iris and Maggie away, but that would mean leaving Rachel, Sophie and Matthew. Even if they had Adam and Thesally, there was still the matter of what if there's another siege. Maggie ate her food an drank her water. She then trotted towards Iris, placing her paws on her leg and resting her head on it. --- Sophie put her legs on Adam's lap. He massaged her feet while Nebo pawed at her. She patted the Husky, receiving dog slobber on her hands. Thesally worked his meat, sucking it intensely. She popped it out of her mouth to lick it, tracing with her tongue. She even made eye contact to assert dominance. --- Rachel and Jason continued walking Creek. He was quite energetic, but she was familiar with it considering she walked Nebo a few times. Creek sniffed the ground and grazed the park. Jason and Rachel smiled at each other before Creek stole her attention again. @Al the Killer

Iris ate as well, pausing to look down at Maggie. "Cute, but no," she said, because she'd just fed her. But she smiled anyway, on account of her truly being adorable, and resumed her meal, trying not to worry too much about her situation. It was hard to put her trust in someone, especially a lawyer she'd never met before, but she trusted Albert's judgement, at least. While she was sure she'd manage alright in prison, she didn't want to have to. Once she was finished with her meal, she finally reached down to pet the dog. "I'll take care of dishes, since you made dinner," she told Albert. "Was there anything else you wanted to do tonight?"

Matthew met her eyes, though his own were already a bit hazy from the pleasure. One thing was certain: she knew exactly what she was doing. "F-fuck, Thesally," he breathed, unable to resist thrusting slightly into her mouth. Not too hard - he didn't want to interrupt her. "Keep it up and I won't last much longer." Maybe a slightly embarrassing confession, but an honest one. @Hacky Slashy

"Hmm. Just collapse on a bed. You're free to join if you want." Albert smiled as he finished his plate. Meanwhile Maggie rubbed her head on Iris. She then licked her hand. Her tail wagged rapidly as she followed her around. --- Adam remained on the couch while Nebo joined him and Sophie. He smiled at Sophie and rolled on to his back. Both human and vampire rubbed the pup's belly. "Good thing we have two hands." In the shower, Thesally took his member into her mouth, bobbing up and down, waiting to receive his load. --- Rachel and Jason went back to his sister with Creek in tow. Despite both being fit, it seems the Akita walked them. While driving, Creek pinned both of their hands together. --- Grant Roman's time had finally come. His plans for a reborn America were over before they began. His AMP forces were scattered and broken under the weight of the Rebel states and the Loyalist military. Now he was awaiting his execution. One thing he knew for certain, he should've left James Raven to rot. He went to rally his forces for a counter attack, but was backstabbed and betrayed by his once loyal soldier. If he could, he will gut him in the upcoming trial by combat. @Al the Killer

"Oh? Any old bed will do?" Iris teased, scratching behind Maggie's ears. "It's still a bit early, but I'm all for a quiet night together. There's no knowing how long things will stay peaceful, with a lizard man joining our list of supernatural vigilantes." And somehow, the monsters were less scary than the private investigator suspecting her of murder. She focused on washing the dishes first, setting them in the drying rack before she was ready to head to bed.

Matthew's eyes closed as he let himself enjoy it. He moaned softly, trying to keep quiet in case they were no longer alone in the house. Probably not quiet enough though. His need for her grew into an ache, the feeling that preceded the inevitable. "I'm c-" He didn't get to finish his warning before he burst in Thesally's mouth, silently hoping that she'd caught on to what he was about to say and didn't mind. @Hacky Slashy

Albert put the news on. He wanted to check just how bad things have gotten. Every channel was broadcasting Grant Roman's trial, if you could call it that. He was in a tattered suit weilding a machete, with a blood lusted look on his face. Despite pushing 50, the former army General still had fight in him. Then there was James Raven, a still lean, blonde man dual weilding two long machetes. Something was off with his eyes, glowing red and his teeth may as well be fangs. Albert could already guess what he is. Raven's men bore the same features, Whooping and cheering the bloodbath. Grant managed to get a few slashes in before James ended it by slicing two of Rogue President Roman's hands off. Then he jumped behind him and sliced his Achilles tendons. Maggie kept next to Iris, pawing at her. Her tail wagged rapidly. --- Thesally got the gist of Matthew's warning and felt the wave of his seed burst in her mouth. She deep throated him and swallowed every last drop. She then licked his penis and kissed the tip. "It's been a while, I take it?" She smiled as she teased him. Adam switched the TV on and unfortunately both him and Sophie caught Grant Roman's execution. @Al the Killer

Iris settled next to Albert on the bed, watching as the television turned on. It resembled less a news broadcast than some apocalyptic film crossed with a gladiatorial arena. Had she not seen some of those faces before, she would have been sure it wasn't real. She was no stranger to witnessing bloodshed, and more than familiar with the human capacity for violence. But there was more to it than that. "Trial by combat," she murmured, reaching down to pet Maggie absently. "What fucking century is it...?" That wasn't what really caught her eye though. She focused on Roman's opponent. An all too familiar beast, out in the open now. They no longer even tried to hide.

Matthew caught his breath as he looked down at her. Her question filled him with a different sort of heat - embarrassment this time. He looked away. "Yeah, you could say that. This wasn't exactly a priority in my previous situation," he admitted. "Not my fault you're perfect, either." He smiled softly at her anyway. "I planned to focus on you more. Next time, then." He reached for the nearest shampoo so he could actually wash himself.

@Hacky Slashy

Adam and Sophie could only look on in horror as the 6'4 blonde haired monster of a man picked up the Rogue President by his throat and lifted as if he were a small misbehaving child. Grant Roman could only spit in his opponent's face in one last act of defiance. James Raven merely smiled sadistically and drove the machete into his gut, effectively gutting him. His insides spilled onto the floor , painting his fatigues red. Nebo was also entranced, growled softly at the warlord. Thesally stood up and wrapped her arms around Matthew as her wings retracted. "No worries, we'll still have time later." She then reached for shampoo and washed her hair. "And don't sell yourself so short. You pleasured me just as much. You'll have more time to improve." She rubbed his chest as if washing a car. --- Albert looked on as the scene played out. Although he felt Grant Roman should've answered for his crimes, but this was an execution. He picked up Maggie and placed her on the bed with them. Maggie rested on Iris. --- Cutty and Cocker were having drinks at their local VA when they saw the news about Grant Roman. They both wore grim expressions on their faces. They were joined by Peter Mayhew. He was in th army when his arm was lost to an IED. He he also had his Corgi with him. @Al the Killer

Iris instinctively covered Maggie's eyes, despite the absurdity of the action. Even so, her eyes remained glued to the gory scene in front of them. She couldn't help but wonder to herself whose idea this entire thing was, even as the answer was clear. Another monster, and she got the impression this one wasn't the sort to only use violence to protect others. Something about all of this was ominous, and a part of her knew they would not be untouched by this chaos. "So, what kind of monster do you think this one is?" She tried to pass the question off as a joke, but couldn't keep the concern out of her voice.

Matthew kissed Thesally softly as she pulled him into her arms. In all truth, he was lucky to have found someone like her. Her presence was an easy comfort already. He gave her a warm smile, though it soon turned into a laugh at her washing technique. "Am I a car now?" he teased. He tilted his head back to rinse his hair out before looking at her. "If you turn around, I can take care of your back for you." @Hacky Slashy

Maggie licked Iris' hand as Quince observed the man's eyes turn gold, and flashed teeth. All doubt was cast aside as he let out a howl. "Werewolf." He then reached over and pet Maggie. She curled up on Iris and Albert, rolling on to her back. --- "No, but this happens to be effective on humans as well." She then obliged and turned around, brushing her ass against his cock. Downstairs, Adam quickly switched the channel, but not before catching a glimpse at Raven's features, specifically his eyes and canine like teeth. "He's not a....you know?" Sophie asked as Adam nodded. Nebo got up on the couch and pinned the couple down. They began petting Nebo, trying to get their minds off the gruesome scene. --- "Fuck." Was all Cutty could get out. 'And is that fur coming out of his ears?' He thinks to himself as looked Cocker and Pete. "Pity, would've like to put a bullet in the son of a bitch myself." Cocker said as he then ordered more drinks. Pete, could only watch in silence as he pet his Corgi, Chester. @Al the Killer

"Werewolf," Iris said flatly. "A werewolf who's more than happy to commit murder on live television. Great." She rubbed Maggie's belly for a moment, then moved out from under the dog so she could get ready for bed. Once she'd changed into a nightgown, she sat on the edge of the bed to remove her prosthetic. For a moment, she looked over at the television again, her concerns lingering still. "How about we turn that off and get some rest?" she suggested.

Matthew groaned slightly, feeling the ache as his body wanted to react, but it was still too soon. "It is." He stepped back just enough to be out of range, but still washed her back, pausing to massage her shoulders in the process. "But we've been here for a while. Probably using up all of the hot water." Which in itself was a luxury he was used to not having at all, and didn't want to take for granted. @Hacky Slashy

Albert obliged and turned the TV off. He then changed into just a tank top and boxer briefs. He then lied down on the bed next to Iris and Maggie. He rubbed Maggie's belly and then pulled Iris closer. Maggie then got between them. He could hardly believe his life had abruptly made a turn for the better despite the confirmation of supernatural creatures living among them. He made a promise to himself, to protect them. Even it cost him life or limb. --- Adam quickly switched the channel as he and Sophie got up to feed the pets. Adam filled Nebo's bowls while Sophie filled Purcasso's bowls. She pet the cat's head and joined Adam's side. Thesally relished in Matthew's massages and then turned off the water. "Good idea. Depending on how things go, who knows how long this will last." She then rubbed against him. "Plus Purcasso might be missing you." @Al the Killer

Once Albert returned to bed, Iris's attempt to cuddle against him was ruined by canine interference. She laughed at Maggie, then snuggled her instead, since she was in the way. It definitely wasn't the same, but the dog was still warm and cozy enough to be a suitable substitute. She closed her eyes, a content half-smile on her face despite the stressful events of the day. All things considered, they were doing alright in the midst of all the chaos. She soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

Instead of missing her usual human, Purrcasso purred loudly, enjoying both the attention and the food. Matthew got out of the shower and picked up a towel for himself and one for Thesally. "We'll have time later," he promised as he held one of them out to her. Once he had both hands available, he started to dry himself off quickly, then to get dressed. He had to admit, spending a long time in the shower had left him tired. He yawned, then looked over at where he'd set the blood bags on the side of the sink. "I set them there for you, by the way. I got a couple just in case you wanted a spare." @Hacky Slashy

Albert smiled at Maggie playing with Iris. Once she fell asleep, he held both her and their canine. Although Maggie had her own bed, he didn't have the heart to send her there. He wrapped himself, Iris and Maggie in the blanket. He soon drifted off to sleep alongside them. --- Thesally wrapped herself in the towel and drained the blood pack, licking the blood off her lips. She then smiled and picked up the other one. "I'll give this one to Adam when he gets back." She then went outside and heard Adam and the others downstairs. She tossed a blood bag at Adam who caught it. She then pet Nebo and Purcasso before joining Matthew again. @Al the Killer

Matthew got dressed fully before following Thesally out. It had gotten dark out, and he could hear voices downstairs, indicating that the others were home. He walked down, greeting them with a smile before looking over at Purrcasso. She'd already finished her meal, so he picked her up and cradled her in his arms. "Miss me?" he asked, and she purred in response... seconds before squirming out of his arms. He let her go, then walked toward the kitchen. "I'm gonna get something to eat before bed. You want anything Sophie, or did you already eat?" @Hacky Slashy

"Yeah, we'll...fix something." She then went to gather ingredients while Adam caught Matthew up on the recent news. "She's a little rattled....and there's a good chance the guy's not some some pushover thug, you know?" Thesally was dressed and joined the others. She wrapped her arms around Matthew and kissed his neck and face. "So, how's everyone?" She was oblivious to the recent development as Sophie greeted her. Nebo eased the tension by being adorable. He stretched and then howled because in his canine mind, why not? Adam crouched down and pet the dog who rewarded him with dog kiss, slobber and all. @Al the Killer

Matthew watched Sophie leave to start getting ingredients together, then gave Adam a puzzled look. The explanation made sense though. Bloodthirsty werewolves sounded... bad, from what Adam had mentioned about them before. Especially this one. He had no words as he considered it, his expression still troubled as Thesally came out to join them. Still, he couldn't hold back a smile as she kissed his face. They would keep each other safe, to the best of their ability. Just as he and his siblings had at home, and just like some of the groups he'd run with since running away from his childhood home. "I'll go help Sophie with the cooking," he said, then kissed Thesally's cheek. "I'll be out in a minute." He retreated into the kitchen to help Sophie out. "So, what've we got here?" He looked over at her. "And are you alright? Adam told me the news." @Hacky Slashy

"I'm ok....just a little rattled. The only level of violence I ever experienced was Rachel slamming a Math book on some guy's face. He was harassing me and she got a little sensitive about that. Funny enough the principal threatened her with their Zero tolerance bullying policy until my dad showed up asking questions....loudly." Sophie remembered how the 5'6 principal cowered before the 6'4 Navy Lieutenant. "We got enough for meatloaf, Spaghetti, or just do burritos. Although I might make myself some salad." Adam still kept the demanding Husky distracted while Thesally turned on the news and got a recap. She already heard Adam explain it, but to see it was something else. "Well this fucker's bold." She then turned it off and went to Purcasso, petting her. @Al the Killer

Matthew quirked an eyebrow as he listened to her story. It helped ease the tension a bit, at least, and telling it seemed to help her, too. He laughed and shook his head at the conclusion. "I swear, every time someone tells me a story about public schools... or any school outside of home, come to think of it... it just sounds like a fever dream. I can hardly imagine. Anyway, how about burritos? Feels like we've had a lot of pasta lately, and I'm not as familiar with meatloaf." He set to work on heating up a pan and preparing the ground beef for dessert. He could faintly hear the news from the living room, but didn't pay much attention to it. Adam's explanation had been plenty. Purrcasso rubbed against Thesally's leg, purring loudly at the attention. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally gently picked up the purring feline and held her, rocking Purcasso occasionally. "Hey, Sophie. Did I ever tell you about the cheeseburger incident with Adam." Adam perked up and gave an annoyed growl. He then resigned to his coming embarrassment. "Oh go ahead. You'll tell her anyway." Thesally recapped the story while Sophie helped Matthew prepare their human dinner. Sophie smiled despite the gruesome backstory behind it. She was hardly able to supress a giggle while Nebo innocently sat between her and Matthew. @Al the Killer

Matthew smiled and shook his head at Adam's embarrassment. While they talked, he focused on cooking the beef, occasionally pausing to set out tortillas and vegetables to go with everything. He had heard it before, and was hungry more than anything. Even if it was late. Still, he shouldn't have been surprised that dating a vampire would affect his sleep schedule. He slipped a sizable chunk of ground beef down to Nebo. "So, long story short, no burritos for Adam or Thesally." He looked back at them. "Sorry, you two." @Hacky Slashy

"Don't worry about me. Just keep then away from Adam unless you want another mess." Thesally teased while rocking Purcasso. Adam gave her the bird in response. Sophie helped Matthew with the cooking while Nebo pestered her. She cut out a tiny chunk of ground beef and gave it to the dog. "That's it. No more." Nebo ate the piece and then went to Adam. The vampire smiled and gave the dog more head pats. He was content to be among friends, even his lover. He had been alone for so long this was almost like a dream. @Al the Killer

"Will do," Matthew agreed, smiling over at Adam and Thesally. Once the beef was ready, he turned off the stove. "I think there'll be plenty left if Rachel wants anything when she gets home, too." He carried the pan of seasoned beef over to the table, followed by the rest of the ingredients. "At least, I'll try not to eat enough for three people. No promises." He ignored the shadow that the recent news had cast over the house and focused on putting together his meal. Everything would... probably be fine. He just hoped his sister wasn't worrying too much right now, as she was prone to doing. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally then held Purcasso out to Adam. "Go on, Purcasso. Kill! Eat him!" She said jokingly while still cradling the cat. She then pet her head. Adam smiled and continued petting the needy canine. Nebo batted at him and then smiled at Thesally and Purcasso. "It's ok, Matthew. From what you've been through, you more than deserve it." Sophie smiled and made herself and Matthew some good sized burritos. @Al the Killer

In response to Thesally's urgings, the vicious attack cat let out a soft mew and rested a paw gently atop Adam's head. After a moment, she decided she'd had enough of being held and began to wriggle in order to find her way out of the vampire's arms and onto the floor. Matthew smiled as well, then reached over to turn the stove off. "You're too kind. Anyway, beef's ready." He helped Sophie out with the burrito construction. Once everything was done, he carried his plate over to the table. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally let her attack cat out of her arms and on to the floor. Then Nebo decided to take Purcasso's spot on the female vampire's lap. She smiled at patted the Husky. Sophie took her plate to join Matthew at the table. "So, any plans for the foreseeable future now that the occupation is over? Travel may be out of the question for the time being, though." Sophie said after finishing her food. Nebo was in dog heaven as he rolled over and both Thesally and Adam rubbed his belly. Outside the home, Rachel finally came back home after Jason dropped her off. They kissed each other good night. "See you around?" The blonde smiled at the man. "I certainly hope so, him as well." He motioned towards Creek, who Rachel spent a few more seconds petting. As soon as she left, Jason lectured Creek. "You were supposed to soften her up, not steal her away the whole night!" He said as Creek licked his face in response. Jason resigned and drove himself back home. He couldn't complain much since most of his would he dates were usually intimidated by the large dog, yet Rachel thought he was just an overgrown puppy. Rachel entered the home and greeted everyone, petting both Nebo and Purcasso. "So what's for dinner?" @Al the Killer

"Probably not travel," Matthew agreed. "I've had enough of that." He considered. "GED prep would be the logical next step, and maybe a part time job so I can at least pay for the food I'm eating here. Hopefully art school when I'm done with that, but I might have to expand my portfolio first. Whenever Iris and Albert are ready, I'll be out of your hair - oh hey Rachel." He smiled and waved to her as she walked in. "Burritos. We've still got all the ingredients out, so help yourself." His attention shifted back to his own food, and he ate quickly. He always did; no point in risking any of it going to waste, after all. @Hacky Slashy

Rachel prepared her own meal and then caught the others up on her date with Jason, and Creek stealing her for most of it. "Creek's such a big baby. Don't know who's more needy between him and Nebo." Sophie was happy for Rachel. It was a rather messy break up with Brad. It's a good thing they were all finding happiness despite all that's happened. "Which reminds me, we both should find a job while we're at it. Can't do retail though. I'd just as bite someone's head off the second they annoy me." Thesally said as she scratched Nebo's belly. Adam decided he should do the same as well. "I'm sure we'll figure something out." @Al the Killer

Mathew listened to her story, thinking that he really should meet Creek. That was beside the point right now, though. He looked over at Thesally as he cleared the spot he'd taken at the table. "Food service might also be a no-go for you; you have to deal with customers and coworkers being annoying," he commented. Actually, annoyance-free jobs might be hard to find, when he thought of it. It wouldn't matter for him - he had a high tolerance for people and was not a natural killer - but he still wanted to help Thesally. "Are you good at writing? Or programming? Anything like that? Because freelance work might be an option if you don't want to deal with people face-to-face. And it's nocturnal-friendly." @Hacky Slashy

"I'd pay good money to see you work a retail job." Adam said, amused at the notion of Thesally having to deal with customers. It might be ten times worse with what may as well be the apocalypse nowadays. "I can do writing. I did do commissions when wifi was more steadily available. As for anything else, I'm a fast learner. Unless you just want me to play home defense monster for you, your sister and future brother in law. But that being said, Purcasso needs to eat, so a job is a number one priority." Rachel ate her fiid and helped clean the plates. Nebo got off Thesally's lap and joined Rachel. She scratched the canines head and pet him. Meanwhile Adam thought about what he can do. He'll probably take a job as a minute man. Rumors are they're being formed to reinforce the police while the military redeploy to other territories. @Al the Killer

Matthew shrugged. "Your time, your choice what to do with it. I'll support your decision either way," he promised. "I'm just throwing ideas around in case you want to hear them. I'll make sure my daughter is well cared for anyway... our daughter? Is it early for joint custody of a cat?" Once he finished cleaning up, he sat next to Thesally, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He was getting tired, but he could take a moment longer to settle down and relax before bed. Especially with a partner who didn't actually need to sleep. Purrcasso jumped up onto the arm of the couch and settled down, purring contently. @Hacky Slashy

Sophie got on Adam's lap while Rachel went to shower and ready herself for bed. Nebo curled up at Matthew and Thesally's feet, tail wagging as he lay himself down. "That's a good question. But I'll be the best cat step mom you could ask for." Thesally said as she pulled Matthew's arm tighter around her. She then gently pet the purring feline. "I'm honored you're even contemplating that. No worries, I'll be fine with whatever custody you decide." @Al the Killer

Matthew chuckled as she pulled him closer, and made no attempt to keep his distance. He looked over at the cat closing her eye and leaning into the petting, and smiled. She seemed good with her, at least. Maybe it wasn't his choice after all, but Purrcasso's, in which case the answer was rather clear. "I think she'd like that," he commented. Purrcasso stood up and climbed into his lap before settling down again, and he scratched the top of her head. "...Well, now I can't go to bed." @Hacky Slashy

Sophie decided to drift off to sleep on Adam, who was now trapped. "Oh well, guess I'm stuck in this spot." He had no complaints though, this was much better than sleeping in some abandoned warehouse. "Well that's quite the predicament you've found yourself in. Good thing I have two hands." Thesally said as she held Matthew and joined in scratching Purcasso's head. @Al the Killer

"Can't argue there." Matthew held her close, enjoying the moment until his cat left his lap to wander around the house. "Looks like she's done already. Upstairs, then?" While he could sleep while sitting on the sofa, Sophie and Adam would probably want more space if they were staying down here. He waited for any signal that Thesally was ready before standing up, because he didn't want to disturb her peace, either. @Hacky Slashy

"Upstairs." Thesally said as she slowly got off and Matthew and guided him upstairs, bidding Adam and Sophie good night. "Wear a rubber. Don't want mini Adam's running around yet." Thesally teased as Adam gave her the bird. Sophie nuzzled against him as Nebo got up on the couch and joined them. --- Albert took Maggie outside to Pee. As he took her back inside, he fondly remembered Mike complaining about having to take Nebo outside to pee. He even remembered Rachel telling him about one such occurrence when it was pouring rain. "You miserable, girl bladder having insomniac roach of a dog. Our last dog could hold it in for days. Why can't you?!" Mike said to Nebo as they both got in the house that one time. He and Rachel laughed over the story. He'd be sure to tell Iris about it soon enough. He quietly got back on the bed and hugged Iris as Maggie laid on top of them both. @Al the Killer

Matthew laughed at her joke as he followed her upstairs, though he had to wonder if they should start worrying about that. After all, neither of them was in any position to handle that sort of accident right now. But it wasn't a priority while he was too tired for it to be an issue anyway. Once they were in the room, he stripped down to his boxers and got into the bed, leaving space and his arms open for Thesally. "Is it weird for you, sleeping at night?" he asked. "I mean, you don't have to join me if it is."

Iris woke up as Albert and Maggie returned. She only briefly opened her eyes before returning the hug and nuzzling into her boyfriend's shoulder. "How was the walk?" she murmured. She hadn't been awake when they'd left, but it was the most reasonable conclusion to draw. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally stripped down to just well....nothing and hugged the man close to her. She also fished a condom out of her back pants pocket. "Don't want little Matthew's running around....as amusing as your sister's reaction would be." She then kissed his cheek and held him. Rachel had thoroughly showered and went to bed. Sophie had fully dozed off while Adam held her and gave Nebo more attention. --- "If by walk, you mean Maggie needed to pee, it went well. It kinda reminded me of Mike's complaints." Albert then recapped Mike dealing with Nebo's antics. "Funny enough he absolutely did not want dogs in the house at all. But he warmed up to Nebo...eventually." @Al the Killer

Despite being more than ready to sleep, he could still appreciate the view. And the preparation. "We don't," he agreed, wrapping his arms around her. "Might want to keep that within reach; I could see it being useful once we wake up." Because he at least wanted the have the energy to not pass out immediately after they were finished. He closed his eyes and ran his fingers through her hair, slowly beginning to doze off.

Iris snuggled against him as she listened. "That's often the case with pets, isn't it?" she asked. "I'm glad you weren't hesitant to adopt Maggie, though." The weight of the dog on her leg was a reassuring kind of pressure, a presence she could take comfort in almost as much as Albert's arms around her. She smiled, relaxing once more. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally dozed off shortly after. Although vampires could go without sleep for longer than humans, they still required it. Sophie got up and yawned. "Everyone's off to bed?" She said in groggily. She then got up and stretched. "I'm gonna shower." She then got up and stretched. Adam nodded and wished her a good night. Nebo yawned and made his way to Rachel and Sophie's room. After a few minutes, Sophie showed up in a just a towel and took Adam's wrist. "Oh." Was all he managed to say before being sealed in with her. --- "Yep. Was still amusing getting the occasional annoyed text. And yes, no regrets with Maggie." Maggie then decided to curl up on top of both humans. @Al the Killer

Iris reached up to pet Maggie a bit, before grogginess began to catch up to her once more. Her hand fell away as she closed her eyes, beginning to drift off to sleep. They had plenty to worry about later, but she would enjoy the peace for as long as she could. Everything else could stay far away in the meantime. @Hacky Slashy

3 months later Outside the city, an outpost used by the Sinaloa Cartel. After a brutal military coup, any Cartels that weren't slaughtered found themselves in the shattered United States. They proved quite a handful for the newly formed Los Angeles Rangers, the militia group that formed when the military was forced to pull out to help other territories. They're currently dealing with food shortages and medical supplies due to the aftermath of the war. One lone figure was observing the camp, clad in a vest, jacket, a gas mask, helmet and armed with a FN 509 MRD-LE pistol and an M14 Rifle. He saw there were about 15 hostiles and the kidnapped civilians were being held in trailers. The figure radioed his partner. "This is Bat-1 to Timber-3. Civilians spotted and about 15 hostiles. Ready when you are." Adam said to Jason, who also helped track them. Both creatures were about to pounce as soon as sun down. Adam concealed himself in a blanket the whole day, mostly protected from the sun by his gear. --- Albert coordinated the mission, giving the order to strike, and no prisoners. He became the defacto leader of Task Force Avenger, putting down criminal groups and raiders that were attempting to gain territory. --- Thesally had found herself in the nightshift at the 4U gas station. She managed to secure the job 2 months ago, while also occasionally dealing with attempted robberies, but funny enough they were never reported and the bodies were found later in abandoned buildings. She sent a text to Matthew on her burner phone, texting that she missed him and also sent pictures of what he could have should he decided to stroll in. --- Rachel had gotten herself situated at the Saint Mary's hospital, fully mstering the job. It also helped she had good coworkers and a good boss with Sandra, Jason's sister. Rachel also found herself being Ally's defacto babysitter for tonight, but she didn't mind. --- Sophie had another busy night at the clinic. She was a little worried abou

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t Adam's hours as a special task force cop, he wasn't exactly human, but she still couldn't help but worry. He tried visiting whenever he could, but the job was quite demanding even before the apocalypse. But she would endure. It was no different when her father was constantly deployed and she and Rachel had to move when they were younger. But luckily they settled in Los Angeles....before everything else happend. @Al the Killer

In the recent months, Iris had found herself on call more than before. The DCME had, under her supervision, taken on the task of clearing bodies from the violence that remained in the city, organizing where each would be brought to manage the flow of corpses most efficiently. With expected conflicts, such as the one tonight, she kept a couple of transports on standby. She didn't exactly agree with all of Albert's calls, often citing the Hague Convention of 1899 and the fact that she had to take care of every death, not just one side. But she kept the professional disagreements out of their home by mutual agreement. The PIs background check had shown a spotty record, enough to destroy the investigator's credibility. She was, according to the life insurance company, safe from further investigation, but they were dragging their feet on the actual payout. That was fine; all she cared about was keeping her peaceful life with Albert, Maggie, and her little brother.

Matthew dedicated some time to his exam prep, but for three nights out of the week, he worked as a bartender at Beartown. During his work hours, he didn't get much time to text Thesally back, but he took every chance he could while on break. On his nights off, he would pay her an occasional, admittedly somewhat reckless, visit at her job. He'd started learning to drive as well, and it all added up to a fairly full schedule. Still, he found he was happier than ever even as the world as a whole seemed to fall apart around them. @Hacky Slashy

As soon as Night had fallen, Adam and Jason both struck. Adam made his way to an AMP humvee that two Cartel members were standing by. He drug one under the vehicle and bit into his neck. His partner looked down and was rewarded with a knife through his eye. On the other side of the camp, the Native American werewolf began picking off the sicarios, albeit forfeiting the stealth approach Adam favors. The lycan attracted most of the sicarios to him while Adam dealt with the guards trying to retrieve the frightned civilians. Before the three sicarios realized what was going on, they found themselves clutching their throats while Adam fed on the last one. He then opened the trailers, announcing himself as a Ranger. "You're gonna be ok. We're taking you back to the city." He then checked on the rest and met back up with Jason and what remained of the sicarios. They were all a mangled mess on the floor. "We'll just report your kills and say the rest ran off, being promptly devoured by Tigers....or something." Adam gave the bloodied Naked man a dumbfounded look. "Tigers....all the way out here. We'd be better off saying it was a pack of ticked off Coyotes!" "Well sorry for not wanting to give the poor Coroner more work. Anywho, you think you can make it to dinner tomorrow? Hopefully my sister can make it provided it's not too busy." --- Jason and Adam made it back to the city where both fellow Rangers and National Guard relieved them and they reported back to Albert, who was also with Cutty and Cocker, and Brad reporting another successful mission. "It wasn't too much trouble. After 10 consecutive headshots, the rest scattered, leaving us to collect the captured civies. Brad was able to calm them down. Also marked the location to pick up the weapons and equipment those pricks left behind." "Great. I'll place in the calls to to DCME." Albert said, plus it was another convenient excuse to talk to Iris again. @Al the Killer

One of the transport vehicles had been parked nearby already. Iris sat in the passenger's seat, checking her work phone and thinking about all of the things that could go wrong. There were a million ways Albert could die even in peaceful scenarios, never mind during combat. Even when he wasn't in the thick of it, she was bound to worry about his safety. So when the phone rang and she saw it was coming from his phone, she answered in an instant. "A- Detective Quince," she greeted, remembering to sound professional. "Is it all clear? How did it go?" Despite the grim duty they were about to embark on, she smiled, glad to hear his voice. @Hacky Slashy

"I- Doctor Ellsworth! We have presents waiting for you at two locations. The celebrations went well, and all parties went back to where they belong." Albert said as If he wasn't describing massacres, but the victims weren't exactly helpless. "Also the guys said hello." Jason and Adam did their reports and waited on further orders. This month in particular have been nothing but overtime. @Al the Killer

"Tell them I said hello as well," Iris said, signaling for the driver to pay attention. "Just send me the locations and we'll pick up the deliveries, make sure they make it to the right places." The metaphor was a bit fucked up, but there was no guarantee phone lines wouldn't be compromised. "I'll see you home in a bit? Or is there an afterparty that's going to take up more of your time?" Apartment hunting had been a challenge with their full schedules, but hopefully they would find something decent that allowed pets soon. More than that, she looked forward to seeing him again and making sure he was actually home in one piece. @Hacky Slashy

"On it. And no after parties. Mandatory rest for a bit." Albert sent the location. Thankfully mandatory rest was instituted in order to mitigate burn out, the only thing that would get them called in is an emergency. Albert stayed behind to manage the operation and also provide protection to DMEC in case the cartels wanted payback on the first people that show up, but Thankfully most of them were smart to avoid the National Guard units. Adam hitched a ride with Jason in his Jeep Cherokee. Thankfully Sandra held on to it for him while he was away. They drove to Sophie's clinic to pick up her and Creek. --- Thesally served another customer, processing their ration cards payment and sent them on their way. She was stationed behind a booth with various signs and Employee of the month: Flavio. She still kept the pink unicorn Matthew won for her. She also looked at a picture of him and Purcasso. She wished the little feline was here with her. @Al the Killer

Iris arrived at the location Albert would be at, sending a separate transport to the second one. They had the staff and resources to cover more than one area at a time, and she'd taken care to make sure the transports never traveled alone while managing to get them approved for firearms training. She didn't love the idea that it might be necessary, but one close call during a pickup two months ago had been enough to decide it was better safe than sorry. Actually carrying the weapons outside of the vehicle was only allowed in actively high-risk cases, and only if there wasn't backup already available at the scene. She looked out the window to make sure there were no signs of danger, then got out of the vehicle, looking around at the scene in front of them. "Hell of a fight again?" she guessed, looking over at Albert.

Matthew's night had thus far consisted of mixing drinks while listening to the chaos that always filled the bar on a Saturday night. Currently, one customer was telling him her entire life story, while another right next to him had a lively debate about existentialist literature with a drag queen. Kafkaesque had ceased to sound like a word by this point, but he'd lost the ability to follow that side conversation long before then. He hardly noticed his coworker, Aster, approach until they spoke. "Did you take your break yet?" "Is it that time already?" Matthew asked. "So says the boss. I've got it from here." He smiled. "Then thanks. See you thirty." He slipped out from behind the bar and stepped outside, taking a moment in the quiet before texting Thesally. Hope work's going well. I miss you <3 Since getting a phone, he'd found he used hearts like punctuation while texting Thesally. Mostly to offset the inability to convey tone over text. @Hacky Slashy

Albert smiled at Iris and greeted her. "Nothing we couldn't handle. I've only ever seen this kind of thing at an FOB in Iraq." The irony wasn't lost on him. The United States had spent almost all of it's years at war in nearly all parts of the world, fighting in countries that were collapsing or on the verge. Now the shoe was on the other foot. Thankfully international aid from their allies were pouring in, but until then, they'd have to manage. --- Jason and Adam finally made it to the clinic where Sophie worked. Adam saw her coming with Creek. Adam hopped off and allowed Creek inside. Jason was rewarded with a wet dog kiss. "We'll see you soon. Gonna pick up Rachel and Ally." When Jason drove off, Sophie kissed Adam and then they made their way to her car. "So how're things?" Sophie asked as she held his hand and started feeling car. "We rescued the kidnapped refugees. Even struck a major blow against the cartels. And no worries, mandatory rest for me." --- It is. Flavio says hello. XOXO Thesally texted him back and looked over at the mostly empty gas station. She directed a father and her teenager to the restroom, even though her boss' policy is paying customers only, but she took that as more of a suggestion. @Al the Killer

"I kind of hate that I'm getting used to this," Iris admitted. She turned away from him to direct the transport workers with a variety of hand gestures, then paused to write down notes on the number and destinations of bodies. "But I'm glad you're alright." She smiled at him, but only briefly, because smiles and flirtation were not exactly appropriate for a recently-active battlefield. "The last apartment building we put in an application for got blown up, so that's a no go. Might bring back memories of your old place though - Lawrence, be careful not to mix up the severed limbs! I don't care which side the dead were on, we're here to move them respectfully!" She sighed and lowered the clipboard in her hands. "I should go help out the new guy."

Matthew smiled as he read her reply. I say hello back. I get out at 12 tonight, want me to bring anything by the station for you? He put the phone back in his pocket and walked over to find food. There was a nearby pizza place that operated through a walk-up window, the sort that sold cheap pizza by the slice and not a whole lot else. Nothing like a greasy, cheesy mass of pepperoni pizza and a questionably oversized Pepsi to get him through the rest of the night. @Hacky Slashy

Maybe a pack of blood? Thesally gave a winking emoji as she went back to work. She found herself missing Purcasso as well. And how's our baby doing? She texted. "Sounds like you got your hands full, doc. Need any help?" Albert said as he smiled at her. He wished their work schedules weren't so busy. But he was happy he'd see her and Maggie tonight. --- Outside the city limits, a squad of National Guard was patrolling the outskirts of Los Angeles. They still had to deal with the occasional raider which usually ended with a short firefight. "Sector clear. Performing one final sweep." The squad leader said to his fire team while the 2nd one went north. After a few minutes, they were ready to leave when gunfire emerged from where the 2nd team went to investigate. All they found was blood and gore. Before they could react, giant bipedal wolves sprung from the darkness. The National guardsmen unleashed a barrage of bullets on to the beasts. 3 went down, but quickly overwhelmed the soldiers. The wolves transformed back to human form and looted their equipment and then stole the humvees. Former AMP Sergeant Russ ate his fill and then radioed General Raven. "We're just about ready to strike, Sir. The men are getting thirsty." A chuckle emmited from the radio. "In time, brothers. But I have some sightseeing to do first. Also really need a drink. Until then, ta ta!" --- In the city, James Raven was just having a leisurely stroll. He wanted to take a look around the city before ravaging it. From what he's seen, they have a decent sized force defending it, but the main military force was busy dealing with both his forces all over the country and other rebel groups. He agreed with General Roman that the country needed a reset, but he wanted the pie all for himself. The politicians, the generals and all the fat cats got nice and rich while men like him did all the heavy lifting and bleeding. General Roman promised him a slice of the pie once he took over, despite the loy

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alists beating him, he would rally and mount a counter attack. But alas, that was nothing more than empty promises from a fallen king. He stood outside the bar, having a smoke before going in for a drink. --- Sophie drove herself and Adam home. They held hands as they entered and Nebo assaulted the two with howls and licks. She crouched down to pet the husky while Adam joined her. She then prepared some spaghetti for herself and Rachel while Adam filled Nebo's bowls. --- Jason picked up both Rachel and Ally. He and Rachel kissed as Creek licked them both. "Hello!" Rachel said in a baby voice as she and Ally pet creek. Jason smiled as he began driving her and Ally home. @Al the Killer

Blood banks are so much harder to rob than they used to be but if by a pack of blood you mean myself I can do that Matthew replied, smiling down at his phone. Haven't seen her since I left for work but I'm sure she's ok. Sleeping probs. He pocketed his phone again so he could eat his slice of pizza. He could look forward to seeing her again later. For now, he had a too-short lunch break to finish and a bar to get back to tending. ~~~ Back in the bar itself, the new arrival earned a couple of curious looks at first, because he seemed a bit out of place at this particular bar. But as long as he was minding his own business and not bothering anybody, everyone went back to what they were doing and left him alone. Except, of course, for the bartender on duty, who greeted him with a polite smile. "Evening," Aster said, setting a freshly-cleaned highball glass back in its place. They set the dish towel down and approached the newcomer. "What can I get you?"

"Hm, I can't let you directly take over DMEC business..." Iris thought about it for a moment. "Standing around with a gun and looking cute is tiring work, but I'm sure you're more than qualified," she joked, because he was supposed to be standing guard anyway. She smiled. "I'll be back before you know it." She returned the clipboard to the passenger seat of the transport vehicle, put her gloves back on, and ran over to help Lawrence out with the body parts. In some ways, it was like a puzzle, but she knew the new guy was still disturbed by such analogies, so she kept her thoughts to herself. She couldn't feel too sympathetic for the dead who may well have been shooting at her boyfriend, but she kept that to herself as well. All about professionalism. @Hacky Slashy

"Some Bourbon would be great." The blonde man in a green Vietnam jacket said to Aster. "Sorry if the scars creeps you out. Occupational hazard of the job." His dog tags on his neck read: James Raven, Captain. U.S. Army. He then looked around and listened in on various conversations. None interested him. He eagerly waited for his drink while trying his best not to give a menacing smile. --- Albert kept close to Iris while keeping an eye out for snipers. Occasionally they'd take pot shots at them whenever they could. He was looking forward to downtime later with Iris and Maggie. He still vividly remembers their first meeting. He had no regret adopting the three legged canine. It was almost poetic, both Iris and Maggie missed a part of them, yet still persevered all the same. --- Adam sat down on the couch while Sophie cooked in the kitchen. Nebo then jumped onto his lap. "A little warning next time, boy." Adam said as he pet the goodest boy in Los Angeles. @Al the Killer

Since he still had time, Matthew stayed outside of the bar for a moment longer while he finished his pizza. It was mid spring, after all, and more than nice enough out. It was also California though, so he'd probably have to get inside and enjoy the air conditioning sooner or later. Still, right now he could take his time and check his phone once more, sending a text to Thesally. Back to work. Talk later. ~~~ Aster shrugged and poured a glass of bourbon for him. "Don't worry about it. We've all got our scars." Something about the name on those tags seemed familiar in a way, but the bartender knew better than to pry. If people wanted to talk, they usually did so unprompted after a couple of drinks. Otherwise, best to leave it well enough alone. "Here ya go. Did you want to open up a tab for the night?" As they spoke, Aster waved a greeting to Matthew, who had just walked back inside.

The job was done quickly enough. Iris gave the final instructions for transport, then walked back to Albert's side. "Told you you'd be good at standing around and looking cute." She smiled. "I'll see you at home in a bit. As soon as the intake paperwork is done." She fully intended to breeze through it; it had been a long day, and she was ready to settle into her partner's arms for the night. @Hacky Slashy

"Oh no. I'll pay." James dropped a handful of ration cards and bills. "Don't know which one you'll take, but I can do either way." He then downed his drink before ordering another one. He then greeted Matthew as he came back. "Sorry about the scars kid. That's what happens when you get captured behind enemy lines. But you should see what I did to the monster who gave them to me." He smiled as he remembered his revenge. "And I had a realization while I was over there. --- Albert smiled as Iris walked off. He also had to handle a bit of paperwork before he could go home. He made note to brace himself for Maggie. The canine got quite exited when her parents came home. She almost knocked him over a few times, but managed to catch her. But she was allowed to get away with it. --- Rachel helped Ally with homework while Jason cooked dinner for them and Sandra. Creek stood nearby, hungrily looking at the steak cooking. Jason cut off a piece and threw it down for the Akita. --- Thesally looked at the message and then went back to work. It was shaping up to be another quiet night at the gas station. A dark skinned woman and her daughter walked in to the gas station alongside a man and his corgi. Although even service animals weren't allowed in the gas station, that rule was more of a suggestion to her. All of them ordered hot dogs food and Thesally heated them up. Peter Mayhew ordered just the meat for his companion. Thesally handed them their food and then talked in a baby voice to the corgi. "Who's a good boy." "Chester certainly is. He's the one thing I've cuddled with that didn't try suing me for Alimony." Outside the gas station, three young men pulled balaclavas and readied weapons. "You sure we should be doing this?" "Relax, it's 3 girls and an old guy. How hard can it be?" --- After dinner, Sophie was upstairs bathing Nebo while Adam had the TV on and used the clothing lint to pick up Nebo's magnificent left over fur. @Al the Killer

Matthew shrugged, unsure why this guy was apologizing for something like having scars. It wasn't like most people asked for them. The last bit had caught his curiosity though, and something about this man made him uneasy. He looked over at Aster, who had counted out a few bills - both currencies were accepted, but people using ration cards for alcohol was quickly becoming a sign that someone had an unhealthy relationship with it, so they weren't preferred here - and was thanking James for his patronage. His younger coworker was known for friendliness, but not caution or self-preservation. He stepped behind the bar. "I can take it from here. Thanks," he assured them as Aster walked over to help a guy who was hoping to order drinks for himself and his boyfriend. "So, what realization did you have?" he asked James, politely sliding the excess currency back toward him.

Iris accompanied the transport she'd taken to the scene back to the city morgue. "So, things seem to be going well between you and that detective," the driver commented on their way. "Or... what's his position now? I swear, shit's gotten so chaotic." "Task Force leader," Iris said. "But he still goes by detective if you call him that. Hopefully he will be again, if things ever calm down here." "When is he going to... you know?" Iris rolled her eyes. She couldn't explain that she'd been under investigation for possibly murdering her ex-husband (which she had definitely done) for a few months and that a major life change like that wouldn't have been a great look. But the worst was over now... "Really? You're gossiping with a cargo of corpses in the back? It's been three months. Give it time," she said, then gestured toward the window. "Besides, marriage is hardly a priority with the way things are now." The driver shrugged. "Just saying, you're not getting any younger," she pointed out. Iris sighed. "I can drive if you want to walk the rest of the way." @Hacky Slashy

"Absolute power. That's all there is. If you want something, just take it. And fight fucking dirty. The enemy won't play fair so why should you? Imagine a country where you can decide your own destiny. For the strong to rule, not these fucking pussy bureaucrats just sitting nice and comfy in their offices while we bleed for them. Aren't you fucking tired of that shit?" James drank his bourbon and waited for a response. Most of his men were yes men who just parrot his points, but he actually wanted someone to challenge him once in a while. --- Nebo came downstairs, joining Adam on the couch while Sophie followed, sitting between Adam and the Husky. He decided to check on the news before channel browsing. General Macke of the U.S. Army was holding a press conference to address the nation. "The so called Wolves of Liberty has suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the fighting men and women of the U.S military, taking back Philadelphia. We are closer than ever to reuniting this great country. I ask that you remain strong and steadfast as we rebuild from this devastating Civil War." Adam promptly flipped the channel and found TBS running a Married with Children marathon. --- Albert met up with Police Chief James Riker, who reluctantly became the defacto mayor of Los Angeles in the last two months. The 55 year old National Guard and Police veteran did his best to hold the city together since the War with AMP and the aftermath. "Your efforts have struck a significant blow on the Cartels trying to get a foothold here, Quince. I think you've earned yourself some rest. Why don't you head home?" Albert thanked him and then departed to his car. He started the engine and texted Iris what she would like for dinner. --- "Nobody fucking move!" The gunmen stormed in and raised their guns to the three customers and lone cashier. Thesally sighed and raised her arms. Pete got in front of the mother and child while shielding Chester, who growled at the robbers. Two of th

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e robbers secured them while the leader forced Thesally to the safe, away from the others. A mistake he would soon come to regret. @Al the Killer

Behind Matthew, Aster rolled their eyes at what they overheard and carried on working. Matthew himself listened and considered. It sounded like the sort of thing they would have heard from... oh shit, was this guy former AMP? He looked around nervously, really hoping he wasn't here to stir up trouble. "I mean... I get it, that's a reasonable..." He tried to remember the wording he'd heard his sister use before. "...Trauma response, I think? Like you go through some bullshit that makes you feel powerless, so you want to try to reclaim control?" He shrugged. "Problem with that is, there's always someone stronger. The whole thing where the strongest rule through constant conflict only sounds good on paper. Try living on the street and you'll find out pretty damn fast that you need cooperation more than strength. You're not fixing anything if you throw weaker people under the bus when they're already struggling - you're just doing the same thing as the bureaucrats you hate, but bloodier." He nodded toward James's glass, worried that he might have said too much. Was he inviting trouble? "More bourbon?" he offered with a nervous smile.

They arrived at the morgue and filled out the paperwork. Once everything was taken care of, Iris was more than happy to head home. "See you tomorrow," she said. "Sorry Albert made so much work for us." The driver looked over at her. "Did you hear about the bombing that happened a few weeks ago near the arts district?" Iris paused by the door, confused by the sudden topic, and looked back. Was this the setup for some terrible joke? "I did... why?" "It's funnier, the one building in the affected area that came out fine was a jeweler. The sort that makes those custom rings." Her driver winked. "Just saying, seems right up your alley." Iris sighed and walked out. "Goodnight, Yolande," she said as she closed the door. Wishing her colleagues would be a little less invested in her personal life, she got in her car and texted Albert back. I think we still have some leftover lasagne, and I'm in the mood for something lazy like that. @Hacky Slashy

"Yes, another one. An exciting change is coming. I'm celebrating early." James then nodded at Matthew's points. He even sympathized with Matthew. "You got tossed aside too? Chewed up and spat out the second you weren't of any use? And you know, you're right. Wolves have it right, stick together or get fucked." James then gave Matthew extra ration cards. "And hey, props for not being a pussy about living in the streets." --- Peter Mayhew struck. He grabbed one by the throat and held him in the air. "Get out of here!" He shouted as he then kicked the other gunman down. Their leader came out to the floor, clutching his neck, being paler than usual. While the mother and child ran out, Peter sprouted into his reptilian form and bit off the entire front half of the first gunman's face. He plopped him to the floor and then was about to pounce on the other one, but Thesally already broke his neck. They stared each other down and then procee to take the bodies and hide them. They barely managed to get them out and raced back into the store. In a few minutes, law enforcement was already on their way. --- Albert drove back home and made it to the apartment he shared with Iris. He opened the door and was greeted by Maggie, zooming around him as he crouched down to pet her. He filled her food and water bowls, then he proceeded to heat up the lassagna for Iris. --- Sophie rested on Adam's shoulder while he pet the husky. Nebo licked Adam's face, earning himself more pets. @Al the Killer

Matthew couldn't shake the impression that James had completely missed the point of what he'd said. But that wasn't the important thing right now. He poured another drink of bourbon into the man's glass. "Easy to come to terms with it when it's over, but the experience is enough to break anyone while it's happening," he said. "I wouldn't fault anyone for how they deal with it." He set the bottle down and slid James's glass back toward him. "But what were you saying about a big change?"

Iris arrived home a few minutes after, to the sound of not-fresh-but-still-good lasagna. "Hey Albert." She reached down to pet Maggie as she greeted her. "Now, how'd everything go today? Are you hurt at all?" It was a routine by this point. Once they were both home, she would fret over him until she was satisfied that he was, in fact, uninjured. @Hacky Slashy

"Ah yes. You see, every empire collapses eventually, kid. The United States is no exception. We were good at operating past our expiration date, but we expired none the less. But, we have two choices: Wither and fade away....or rise from the embers, stronger than before...you know like that fucking firebird, whatever it was called. That's the big change I mean. The chips are down, now we have a unique opportunity to start all over, be an actual unified front for a change." James then gave Matthew more ration cards. "Think of this as your good listener bonus for the night. Hell, take that pretty girl of yours out of town for a bit. Or guy, I ain't judging. Bring the whole family if you want. Never know when things go from zero to one hundred. I hear Florida's nice this time of year." --- Albert wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately. "Me? Hurt? What would give you that idea." Maggie pawed at both humans, prompting Albert to crouch down and pet her. Her tail wagged rapidly as she then pawed at Iris. "So....how about you? Ready for dinner?" --- After the police were finished interviewing everyone at the gas station, Thesally, Peter and Chester were alone in the gas station. "So....not human either huh?" Peter fed Chester another hot dog and then answered. "It's complicated. It's a long story." Peter smiled and pet Chester. "One second. Hello." Thesally said in a baby voice as she pet the adorable Corgi. "So...lizard man huh?" She said as Peter explained how after the IED wounded him, he woke up in a lab, changed and next to a Reptilian. Uncle Sam decided that the military could benefit from having monsters in the field. "They had all kinds of nasties, even saw some of your kind and giant wolves, stood on two legs. One day, after I figured out they were never gonna let me out, Jago, my Reptilian roommate helped me stage a prison break. People and monsters alike died, but we got out. Unfortunately we got separated. Hope he's doing ok." --- Sophie wok

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e up from her nap and yawned. "Sleeping Beauty has finally awakened. Gonna take Nebo out for a walk." Sophie got up and then got Nebo's collar and leash. "Let's go." @Al the Killer

Hesitantly, Matthew took the extra ration cards. Just an ordinary tip, he told himself, but he knew it wasn't. There was an unspoken warning to it. Get your family out, if you value their lives. Shit. He forced a smile anyway. "I see. I might just keep that in mind. How short notice of a vacation do you think would be good, if we were to head out for a bit?" When was he planning to do this? How long did they have to stop him? He'd have to slip away when he got the chance and text a warning to Thesally and the others.

Iris kissed him back, before reaching down to pet Maggie again. "Can never be too careful, with the way things are out there." She straightened up. "I'm always ready for dinner. You?" She pulled away gently and walked over to the kitchen table. @Hacky Slashy

"As soon as possible kid. You never know when disaster strikes. Ta ta!" James said as he proceeded to walk out. 'Might have freaked the poor kid out. He hasn't seen anything yet though.' James thinks to himself as he walks out. --- Albert sat down and waited for Iris. "You're right. And always." Maggie Trotted next to Iris and looked up at her. She gave her signature dog smile and batted at her leg. --- Adam and Sophie held hands as he had Nebo's leash on the other hand. Right now it was a question of who was walking who. The husky led them around the neighborhood. It was mostly empty since alot of people elected to get out of the city to meet with their loved ones in the Free States. --- Brad was having dinner with Amber, her father Randall, former Army Ranger and AMP renegade, and his Boerboel mastiff named Caesar. "Break her heart and I'll break your jaw." Randall casually said as Amber scolded him. Meanwhile Caesar stared at Brad, who was unsure if he was eying him or the steak. --- Jason and Rachel managed to get Ally to sleep and she was now resting on the man's shoulder while Creek curled up next to their feet. @Al the Killer

Well, shit, that was the most villainous 'ta ta' Matthew had ever heard. He waited until he was gone before walking over to Aster. "Let the boss know we need to evacuate now," he said. "As quietly and as calmly as possible. I have a call to make." His coworker turned toward him, puzzled. "Why? What's going on?" they asked. "Let me guess, Mr. Social Darwinist was stirring up trouble..." "Not yet, but you know how if a school shooter likes someone, they'll tell them not to come to school?" "Shit," Aster breathed. "Also, fucked up analogy, dude." They ran to the back, and Matthew looked at the gathered patrons. "Just one moment," he told them, before walking into the break room, himself. He sent off a group text first, so Thesally, Iris, Adam, and Albert's family would have some clue. Shits about to go down soon I'll share details later but get somewhere safe. He really hoped he wasn't overreacted as he dialed Albert's number.

Iris sat down and started eating. She'd had a long day and wasn't about to share with Maggie, but she did smile back down at her. "Yes, hello. There's food in your dish, you know." She chuckled at the canine antics, then continued to eat her lasagna. Her phone buzzed, but she opted to check the text after eating. If it was an emergency, they'd... She looked at Albert as the call reached his phone. @Hacky Slashy

Albert smiled at Maggie and Iris. The dog then rested her paws and head on Iris' knee and rested. His phone then rang. He saw it was Matthew and picked it up. "Hey Matt. What's going on?" --- Adam got the text message from Matthew. He then quickly texted a message to Jason, Brad, Cutty and Cocker. He then told Sophie about the warning. "What is it? Another vampire pack? Other type of monster?" She said as Nebo got between them. "Don't know, but Matthew would not have given an SOS without just cause." Adam, Sophie and Nebo got home and she quickly packed their bug out bags. Rachel, Jason, Ally and Creek were already outside waiting for them. "Hey Ally." Adam and Sophie both said as Nebo gave a welcome of his own with a bark. They then departed for their safe house. --- James found an abandoned warehouse and jumped up to the roof. He then let out a howl. Let the carnage begin. He then pulled out his radio. "Gentlemen: Welcome to Los Angeles." --- Thesally had received Matthew's SOS message and then asked Peter to come with. "We could use an extra set of claws, pardon the pun." --- Adam had texted Matthew a message. Need us to pick up Purcasso? @Al the Killer

There wasn't time to waste, so Matthew went for the quickest explanation. "I got a warning from someone," he said. "Something's going to happen tonight. Not sure what, but it was an AMP guy talking about rising from the ashes and telling me to take my family out of town, so it's safe to say we're not all gonna end up holding hands around a campfire and singing songs. I texted out a warning to everyone, but make sure they all get to safety and... I don't know, prepare to counter the attack, or whatever it is you do." He had an idea, but wasn't up to date on all of the terminology. "Also, can I get a ride to the safe house?" Around him, the bar had begun to evacuate, customers and other employees filing out. He followed the crowd while he walked. It wasn't exactly something they'd been fully unprepared for. Not with the way things had been going lately. He checked his texts briefly and replied to Adam with a simple yes please, glad his furbaby was going to be safe. He just hoped Thesally was alright, too. A wolf howled in the distance, which was a strange and foreboding thing to hear in the city.

As soon as Iris heard Albert greet Matthew, she snapped to attention. For a moment, she sat still, reading his facial expressions to confirm that it was something serious, then she checked the text from her brother and that explained all she needed to know. "Shit." She stood up, not speaking anymore in order to avoid interrupting their conversation, and ran to the bedroom to grab their bags. @Hacky Slashy

Outside of the city, a patrol of National Guard and Rangers found what was left of the missing squad. Explosions rang out and the sound of war echoed across the borders of Los Angeles. "All units! This call sign overlord! Return to your posts! Repell hostile elements! Evacuation underway." The guard unit and Rangers raced back to the city. It appears the war is far from over. --- "We're already on our way. Stay safe." Albert then went to help Iris pack the bags, Maggie trotting alongside them. He then picked messaged Randall Nolan the SOS. --- "Dad! What's going on! You're scaring me." Amber said as Randall ushered her into his SUV. Caesar jumped into the seat next to her while Brad took the passenger seat. Thankfully they were closer to the safe house alongside some friends. --- Adam was dropped off at the 4U gas station. "Be careful!" Sophie said before Adam kissed her. "Always." Jason then drove off to the safe house. Adam got into Thesally's car and acquainted himself with Peter Mayhew and Chester. In minutes they arrived at Matthew's apartment Thesally shared with him. She then unlocked it as she directed Adam to pack a few bags while Thesally went to retrieve their most precious cargo. "Hello! We're going on a trip, daddy will be there." She talked in a baby voice while she scooped up the feline. Adam stuffed the bags in the trunk while Thesally started driving to the safe house. They arrived within minutes. They were near the back of the city in case they needed to leave. @Al the Killer

Iris ran out of the bedroom already. "I've got the bags, grab Maggie's leash. Matt's at work?" she guessed, but didn't wait for an answer. "Come on, let's get him." Downtown wasn't even in the same direction as the safe house, but that didn't matter; making sure her brother was safe was the highest priority. Everything else was secondary. She ran down the stairs, not bothering with the elevator. Once the explosions started, people would try to evacuate in droves; the stairs would be faster.

"I'll be outside, but I'll find cover if I have to," he promised, then ended the call. He stepped away from the crowd and let everything he'd learned over the years kick in. Every possible spot for cover. Narrow spaces like alleys were less likely to get bombed, but more vulnerable if either building collapses. Better than nothing though. He ducked into the alley and kept an eye out for vehicles. Hypervigilant. Waiting. @Hacky Slashy

Albert picked up Maggie with one arm and rushed downstairs along with Iris. He gently laid Maggie and their bags down in the backseat while then getting Iris in the passenger side. "Let's go. I know some shortcuts." In a few minutes, they managed to find Bear town and he dialed Matthew's number while looking for him. --- Thesally, Adam and Peter arrived at the safe house with Purcasso and met the others inside. Nebo, Caesar and Creek greeted them. Randall and 4 other soldiers in black combat armor were keeping guard. 5 other troopers were keeping overwatch on the roof tops. --- The fighting intensified on the makeshift border checkpoints. National Guard and Rangers alike were repelling the surprise assault by the unknown enemy force. Mortars and rockets began hitting them. The hostiles were wearing military gear, but some were also inhuman, bipedal wolves charging at them. It became close quarter combat in mere seconds. Two National Guard soldiers were torn to shreds before the wolves were repelled. The National Guard then began retaliatory strikes with their own mortars. --- "I'm getting my sister. Take care of Ally." Jason said as he took an M4 with him. Ally began getting scared while Rachel tried comforting her. Thankfully she had canine assistance with Creek. "I'm coming with. Keep an eye on things." Adam said as Thesally nodded while holding Purcasso. Peter held a rifle of his own while he introduced himself. "Good to see you're both ok." Sophie smiled as she pet Chester. At the same time, Cutty and Cocker had arrived with Dr. Nelson. This time she was complaining to Cutty about interrupting her sleep while Cocker smiled at them bickering. He was surprise Cutty was able to win her over the widowed vet, but then again monsters apparently existed, as he learned last month when Adam and Jason saved him from a squad of raiders last month. Andrea Nelson quickly got the message when the explosions and gunfire erupted. Cutty gently shoved her down and led he

7:08 PM

r to the safe house. 'Oh great, a wet fart from my late husband could probably blow this place apart.' She then greeted Sophie and the others. @Al the Killer

Iris got into Albert's car, since he was more inclined to reckless driving when the situation called for it. And in this case, the situation called for it. She kept an eye out in case they passed by Matthew, even before they reached the right neighbourhood. They couldn't be too careful, after all. What if he'd wandered off? No, he wasn't dumb... what if someone else had taken him? Why would they do that? Well, why would someone warn him of a major attack? Reality wasn't always intuitive. Her worries proved to be unfounded, as Matthew stepped out of the alley before Albert could even finish putting the call through. She reached over, pressing the button to unlock the doors. Nothing needed to be said, as he got into the backseat quickly and buckled his seatbelt. That didn't stop her from speaking anyway. "Are you alright?" she asked, beginning the interrogation immediately. "Were you hurt? Do you need medical attention?" Then the explosions sounded in the distance and she sat straight up, looking out the window. It had already begun. "Let's get to the safe house," she told Albert. "I'm fine," Matthew said. "Thanks for stopping by for me. Did everyone else get out alright?" Iris checked the group text. No confirmation replies, but everyone was bound to have bigger concerns right now. "We'll see when we get there." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally sent a group text confirming they're all at the safe house, with a selfie with Purcasso. She also confirmed Adam and Jason went to pick up his sister Sandra. She then went back to petting the kitten. --- Albert sped through the streets, While Maggie sat on Matthew's lap. He swerved to miss a massive bipedal Wolf. It chased after them until it was run over by a National Guard humvee. The Guardsmen got out and obliterated the the Lycan's head. --- The fighting intensified in the city as Adam and Jason made it to the hospital. They found a massive, blonde colored Werewolf standing over the corpses of the rogue soldiers and dead, naked corpses. "Sandra!" Jason went to his sister while Adam opened fire with his rifle on incoming hostiles. Sandra changed to human form, naked and bloodied. "Where's Ally?!" She immediately asked as National Guard reinforcements arrived and fended off the attackers. "Evacuations from the hospitals are nearing completion. All units, fall back to rally point Kilo." Adam came over to help Jason load Sandra into the car. "The group's ok at the safehouse, but the fighting has reached the city." @Al the Killer

"They're fine," Iris confirmed once she saw the picture. "Thesally has Purrcasso, and Adam and Jason are busy bringing Jason's sister over." She put her phone away just as three vehicle swerved. "Fuck!" Matthew looked out the window, still petting Maggie. "Werewolf crossing," he explained as though it was as normal at nearly hitting a deer. "I don't think that's gonna be the weirdest thing we see tonight." Iris sighed. "It can never be just one strange thing, can it?" She looked out the window. "I see the safehouse. Once we get there, run inside. Albert and I will take care of bringing everything in." @Hacky Slashy

Maggie licked Matthew's face as Albert parked the car. "Get inside! We'll get everything in!" Maggie followed Matthew into the safe house while Albert helped Iris with the bags. --- Adam, Jason and Sandra were making their way to the safe house while the fighting intensified. Despite the defenders' valiant efforts, the city was being overrun. Adam shot at the hostiles from the passenger door while Jason drove, using the reckless driving skills the Marines taught him. @Al the Killer

Matthew ran in as fast as he could without leaving Maggie behind. After all, it was only reasonable that he make sure the dog was safe instead of looking out only for himself. He held the door open for her, casting one last glance back before running inside as well. He headed straight for Thesally and Purrcasso. "Are you alright?" he asked, reaching out to pet Purrcasso as well. Only now that he was safe did he have the chance to look around at the others, taking note of the stranger and his corgi. "Hey," he greeted, managing a tired smile. Meanwhile, Iris helped grab the bags and weapons from the car. Once they had everything, she ran over to the safehouse, herself. Things sounded like they were going from bad to worse; they hadn't arrived a moment too soon, she was sure. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally kissed Matthew and then held Purcasso out to him. Rachel held Ally and Creek. The dog remained stoic while Nebo crouched down on the floor next to Sophie,Amber and Andrea. Caesar was on lookout alongside Randall, Cutty, Cocker and Brad. Albert kept a lookout until Iris was inside the safe house. Randall handed him a rifle. "How's it looking?" "Bad." Albert tried getting in touch with Adam and Jason, but it appears that they're unable to talk for the moment. --- "Changing Mags!" Adam shouted as he reloaded. Unfortunately they ended uo crashing the car after enemy APCs made their way into he city. Jason had his sister in a fireman's carry. Ten hostiles were wreaking havoc, led by a lone Lycan. "I'll distract them. Get to the sanctuary." Adam flew off before the werewolf could protest. Adam was on the rooftop of a business plaza, firing on them, directing their attention to him. They chased after and fired on the building when one of the soldiers noticed a small object land near their feet as he saw a shadow fly away from them. They were engulfed in flames and shrapnel while the Vampire flew off, with the enemy werewolf in pursuit. @Al the Killer

Matthew returned the kiss before holding the cat in his arms. She nuzzled against his beard and purred softly, apparently happy to be reunited with her human servant. "So, did I miss anything?" he sat next to Thesally. "Do I still owe everyone an explanation, or did the explosions do that work for me?" Iris got inside and looked back to make sure Albert was coming in with her. "Is everyone alright?" she asked, looking around at the gathered group. It had grown pretty large. Safety in numbers, but resource management would be a challenge. "Where are Adam and Jason? If Adam nearly gets himself killed again, I'll kill him." @Hacky Slashy

Albert held Iris close to him. "We'll form an escape plan soon. Just waiting on Adam, Jason and Sandra." Explosions in the distance were becoming more frequent. Sophie hugged Nebo and tried holding back her emotions. "Adam...please be ok." "I can go out and help if you'd like, doc." Pete formally introduced himself and Chester. Amber held on to Brad. Brad was deeply grateful his Sister made it to Florida 2 months ago thanks to their aunt Charleze. She pulled some strings and even offered to bring him with, but he decided to stay, make Los Angeles safe so that Lisa could return someday, but it seems that won't be anytime soon. --- Jason and Sandra were minutes away from the safehouse. Adam landed beside him. "I think I lost him. How're you both holding up?" Sandra gave a thumbs up while Jason nodded. "Come on lets-" before he could finish, former AMP Sergeant Russ landed across from them along with another Lycan. Gerold immediately recognized Adam. "You. Your buddies near by? Or did they tuck tail and leave? Been itching for payback." "They weren't buddies. And they're dead." Adam said as he took a fighting stance. Back at the safehouse, Randall came down. "Got good news and bad news." He explained that Adam, Jason and Sandra are almost here, but they have company. @Al the Killer

Iris leaned into Albert. At least she wasn't the only one openly worried for once. "He's... not easy to kill," she said, trying to balance reassurance with realism. "And he's not out there alone. If neither of them is responding to texts, they're probably just busy." She looked over at Pete and nodded. "If you're sure, I think they'd appreciate the assistance." And she'd appreciate her friends' safe returns. "Nice to meet you. I'm Iris." Then Randall came in and she pulled away from Albert the moment the words 'bad news' left Randall's mouth. She should have expected as much. Trouble always seemed to follow Adam, and the city was going to be full of it tonight. They could focus on the escape plan later. After everyone was safe. "How far away?" she asked, picking her shotgun back up and checking both chambers. She grabbed a box of shells in case she'd need to reload. "How many hostiles, and what weapo-?" She paused, remembering that this was Adam and Jason they were talking about. "What kinds of monsters are we dealing with?" Matthew stood up as well, letting Purrcasso leave his arms. "Did anyone bring my rifle over?" he asked, since he wanted to help in any way he could. He'd even taken the occasional trip to the shooting range for target practice on his free time, in case something like this happened again. "You're staying here," Iris said. "Keep yourself safe, and help guard the safehouse." @Hacky Slashy

Peter went to Ally. "Hi sweetie. Do me a favor and keep Chester out of trouble." He hands the corgi to the little girl, who cradles the dog. Rachel smiled and held her. Peter then went outside and shifted from human to reptilian. He then pounced on one of the Lycans, biting and scratching at the wolf creature. The 2nd Lycan charged at Jason who transformed, leaving Sandra kneeling, trying to shift. This left Gerold Russ with Adam. Adam jumped up as the werewolf pounced at him. Adam shot him with his rifle, but it only irritated him. Adam stuck to the wall and left off in time for Russ to claw at nothing. Jason grappled with the brown colored werewolf, both biting and clawing at each other. Unfortunately for this lycan, Jason had far more experience. He managed to clamp his jaw around his throat, ripping it out. Peter was running circles around another werewolf who attempted to pounce on him, but found himself tangled in reptilian tale. Peter dug his claws into his back, ripping his lungs out, making a blood eagle. Gerold Russ managed to tackle Adam on to the floor, wrapping him up in a bear hug. "Gotcha, you fucking leech. This is for my friends you fucking skinned." Unfortunately, Gerold Russ learned the hard way not to let a vampire near your throat. Seeing no other option, Adam bit down on his throat and proceeded to drain him. "Get....the....fu-" Gerold tried to pull the vampire off, but it may as well have been a bear trap. He felt himself getting weaker until he let go and drifted off into unconsciousness. At the safe house, one of Randall's men handed a rifle over to Matthew. "We got hostiles closing in a few blocks away, they seem to be human. But who knows if that'll change." @Al the Killer

Matthew took the rifle. "Thanks." He double-checked the ammunition, then nodded. "Good, it's all set." He looked over at his sister, who still had a firm gaze on him, and looked down. He could take that hint. He glanced at Ally next, and the animals. Fair enough, the safe house definitely needed protecting. "We've got things covered here, Iris. Take care out there." Iris nodded and patted his shoulder. "We'll be back." She walked past Albert to join Peter outside, only to find that the bloodbath had just ended. "Oh." She was almost disappointed, given her fond memories of hunting rogue vampires. "Alright, if you guys are done, we've got an escape plan to make and apparently human hostiles closing in. Let's not be standing around out here when they show up." She looked toward the road, keeping an eye out to make sure it wasn't already too late to avoid being seen. "That means finish your meal or take it to go, Adam." @Hacky Slashy

While Jason and Peter helped Sandra into the Safehouse, Adam got up and greeted Iris and Albert. "Hey...guys." he said between gasps as he then looked at the now human Gerold Russ. Adam dragged him inside and then began feeling his insides burn. "Are you ok?" Thesally asked as Adam heaved. He then picked up the half naked man and got him against the wall. Sophie got up and hugged Adam. He returned the hug and checked up on everyone. Sergeant Russ opened his eyes and tried to transform, but was unable to. "What the fuck did you do to me!?" He said in a raspy voice as Cutty and Cocker held their guns on him. Albert led Iris inside as Randall's men began firing on the lone squad of hostiles. "Contact! One tango down!" Randall joined the shooting, seeing that there was only four more hostiles, but two were beginning to transform. @Al the Killer

His difficulty breathing was a red flag to begin with. Iris looked over at Adam. "Are you alright?" she asked, but he seemed intent on bringing Russ inside. "Alright, finish the job then rest. The others can make sure he doesn't try anything." She looked at the approaching vehicle, but followed Albert inside anyway. Now wasn't the time to get involved in the fighting when she might have medical matters to attend to. "Matthew, see if Cutty and Crocker need help with our guest," she said. Her brother nodded and ran over to do as he was asked. "I'm going to look at Adam first, but I'll be right over." She hadn't been there for the fight, but had seen just enough to know what the Sergeant was, and how Adam had taken him out. All it took to piece things together was a quick glance between the two of them. Vampires transformed through biting and, if werewolf blood was a potential toxin to vampires, a little transitive reasoning concluded that vampiric saliva could have an adverse affect on werewolves as well, similar to mixing incompatible blood types. "Adam, is this your first time biting a werewolf?" she asked. There was no written procedure on how to deal with this sort of thing, and activated charcoal wasn't guaranteed to work on vampires or even to be safe, nor did they have a handy stomach pump available. "Induce vomiting for now," she told Thesally. "Keep him conscious, and once the worst of the symptoms have begun to fade, have him rinse with water - don't swallow, just get any remnants out - then provide him with clean blood." She looked back at Russ next. "Stay still and let me check your wound." At least they were surrounded by her well-armed friends, family, and allies. She was obligated to check on any injured person in the safe house, and she doubted he was stupid enough to try anything. Unless he managed to transform, but he seemed... strained. She was sure if he could, he would have done so already. @Hacky Slashy

Adam continued heaving and then answered Iris' question. "Yeah. I didn't have a choice, asshole here had me in a bear hug." Thesally ushered Sophie to help her with Adam. "Hold him steady." She then stuck her finger down his throat and got him to purge the lycan blood from his body. "Hope you fucking choke, you freak!" Russ spat as Cutty and Cocker gave him a bloody nose with their rifle stocks for his troubles. They then stepped back and let Iris work on him but kept close in case he tried anything. He then looked over at Iris. "Good to see your alive and well. Pity you and the rest of the ladies here are about to be General Raven's playthings." Albert was ready to blow his head clean off. "One more word." He said as he aimed his rifle. Jason helped Sandra get dressed as Ally hugged her mother. Creek and Nebo went next to Matthew. Adam was rinsing his mouth with water while Randall and his soldiers dispatched all but two of the Lycans. Luckily they had to fall back as a National Guard humvee arrives, driving them off. Adam felt a little better, but felt his body changing. "Something's wrong. I feel strange." Adam regained hi composure as Sophie got his arm around her neck. "We'll figure it out. Just take things slow." @Al the Killer

Iris walked over to Russ, ignoring his comments. Not like she hadn't heard worse, more plausible threats from her ex-husband before anyway. The fact that Russ was so apparently unable to keep his mouth shut was nothing short of a good sign. "Matt, grab one of the med kits for me," she said. Matthew glanced at the werewolf, hesitant. "Are you sure it's alright to get close to him?" "Yes, but might as well get the kit with a scalpel in it if you're so worried." She looked back at Albert. "Finger off the trigger, please. If your aim is even slightly off, I don't want to lose another limb and have to kidnap my prosthetist again... Adam, define strange. Sophie, can you take care of him from here? I know human and veterinary medicine are a bit different, but he's not exactly human either." In the meantime, Russ might be of use. She took the med kit from Matthew and put on a pair of gloves. "Now, whatever Adam's bite did to you, I want you to remember one thing: I'm the most qualified person to help you right now. But that will depend on your cooperation." She started to examine where Adam had bitten him. "I'll open the floor to questions right now..." She nodded toward the men gathered around with rifles. "Anyone here have any questions to lead with, while you're standing there?" She was a doctor, not a detective: interrogations of the living were not her area of expertise. @Hacky Slashy

"Like I'm changing....just like when I first turned." Adam remembered how his body changed when that vampire bit him. He's now beginning to feel the same fear he did back then. What if he turned into some kind of mutant and attack the others. He couldn't live with himself if that happened. Dr. Nelson went next to Adam and examined him. "How're you feeling now?" She looked at him as he spoke up. "Better now, but it feels like my body's tingling." She nodded and then relayed it to Iris. "This is a whole new ball game. Just keep an eye on him and let us know if anything changes." Andrea then got up to help Iris with her patient. Albert began the questions. "What the fuck's going on? Why now?" He then lowered his rifle as Sergeant Russ gave a weak chuckle. "General Raven's retaking the country. Giving it back to the people for a change. No more being ruled by spineless bureaucrats sitting comfortably in their offices while you and me bleed and die while they reap the benefits. The old tree of liberty needs to be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Giving us a bright new future. Sure, innocents will die, but that's just war." Maggie got next to Iris and growled at him. Albert wanted to just shoot him and be done with it. But only if he tries anything. Rachel and Sandra helped Sophie with Adam while Thesally joined Matthew. She held his hand and smiled at him. "Ok, I'm at your mercy, doc. Hell, you can finish me off if you'd like. Not like I can stop you." His blood felt like it was burning. Nebo and Creek stood guard as well. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded to Doctor Nelson. "Thanks." It was definitely useful information, and safe to assume it might go both ways. "Monitor Adam's condition, but be prepared in case anything happens." She hoped it wouldn't be anything drastic. She knew what to do if he lost control, but didn't want to do it. Since nothing seemed obviously unusual about the wound, she set to work disinfecting it, then stitching it up as she listened to Russ's answer. Not quite what she'd hoped for - practical answers, such as detailed plans, would have been better. Knowing what talking points to debate was useless against an armed, murderous opponent. "There's a time and a place to discuss philosophy, and this isn't it," she said. "When you first transformed, did you have any conscious control of your actions? How rational were you at the time? Same question goes for your change, Adam." @Hacky Slashy

"Things were crystal clear. It was a better rush than any drug could provide." Gerold then began coughing up blood. He guessed that whatever the vampire did to him must've been fatal. Albert questioned him about his army's strength, equipment. Russ gave him the information he needed. "Not that you'll make a difference, but there you have it." "I felt like my insides were on fire, and then my senses went into overdrive." Adam then felt his muscles begin tightening and expanding. "About the same as now more or less. I'm back to normal now, I think." Sophie squeezed his hand reassuringly as Nebo sat next to him. Creek and Ceasar were keeping an eye on things outside alongside Randall, Brad and the other troops. Amber handed out water to Sandra and Ally. "Thank you." Sandra said as she held Ally. She felt safer now with the others. @Al the Killer

Iris watched Gerold cough up blood, taking a step back to avoid the splash zone. "It seems we won't have to worry about finishing you off, but if you want us to get it over with, we can," she said. "This whole situation is unknown to modern medicine, and we don't have anything close to the means on hand to stop internal bleeding, so any other solution is out of reach right now." Not the best bedside manner, but most of her patients tended to be beyond caring. Really, offering a merciful death was a kindness in this case. She looked back at Adam. "Just rest while you can, Adam. I don't think you'll have long to do it, but at least you're better off than this guy." She nodded to indicate Russ. Matthew looked between them, but the others seemed to have things handled, so he turned toward Thesally, wrapping an arm around her. "Are we still going to try to leave? I mean, we do have more information about what we're up against now..." But it would likely not be enough. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm touched. I'm shocked you didn't suggest feeding me to him." Gerold lied down and accepted whatever fate had in mind. Albert hardly felt any pity for the man. He was an enemy combatant. He then heard Russ chuckle. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry about your future, doc. General Raven promised war brides to the fiercest of fighters. I'm sure whatever lucky bachelor you end up with won't care about your missing limb. Plenty of ripe meat in here though." Adam was about to rest when he heard the comment. He let out a growl. Gerold then looked over and before anyone could react, he was picked up and slammed into the wall. He looked into Adam's eyes, now red. He then bared his teeth as he reared his clawed hand back. "Well?! You gonna do-" He felt a burning, stabbing pain as Adam's claws dug into his guts, wrapping around his spine and yanking it out with no effort. He let out a roar as he then looked down. He then saw Albert and the men were standing in front of him, Iris and the others in the back. The dogs even showed fear, but Creek, Nebo, Maggie and Ceasar stood ready. "I'm sorry. I-I don't know....." He then crouched down and held his hands up in surrender. "Maybe you should leave me behind." Thesally got in front and crouched down next to him. "Look, just mope later. We'll figure it out once we blow this popsicle stand." She then went back to the others. She held Matthew's hand as the group then began to formulate an escape plan while the war raged on outside. @Al the Killer

"I don't think your blood agreed with Adam's stomach, so I won't subject him to that again." Iris packed up the med kit. "If it comes down to it, I'll be sure to let General Raven know how much of a mistake keeping me alive would be." She'd already killed one entitled jackass of an ex-husband. What was a second? But for a second, she almost looked over at her boyfriend, an assurance that she'd work to prevent either outcome. She didn't really get a chance to, because Adam had already slammed Russ against the wall by the end of her sentence. She turned to look and jumped back, more surprised by the burst of violence than anything. But it was over, and Adam wasn't attacking them. Crystal clarity, just like the enemy Sergeant had said. "Fucking hell..." She gathered herself back together and shook her head. "No, Adam. We're not leaving you behind. You're one of us, like it or not." Matthew nodded. "Leaving you behind isn't part of the plan... uh, what is the plan?" Iris shrugged, but let the others figure out the details. Her entire day had been logistical work already, and she trusted Albert to know where to go. Instead, she focused on making sure everything was gathered together and ready to leave. It didn't take long; they hadn't exactly taken time to settle in. @Hacky Slashy

A massive armored truck resembling a party bus pulled up outside. It seemed to have been modified into a personel carrier. It was retrofitted with Machine-guns and rockets. Two identical looking men in green camouflage fatigues came out and began working on it. "Damn it, Earl! This is the 3rd time this Betty broke down. You keep messing up the maintenance." "Well I don't see you helping, you idjit! Now stop yapping and keep an eye out. Just had to see the Hollywood sign, didn't you?!" Randall called Quince and he came over and saw the commotion. "You all stay here." Albert and Randal went down as gunfire emerged. "Eat good o'l American steel you overgrown chihuahuas!" One of the brothers with a surprisingly maintained Vietnam Era M60 fired at a pack of werewolves as they closed in. Albert, Randall and the rest of his men helped them fend off the creatures while Cutty and Cocker ushered the others towards the truck. Caesar, Nebo, Maggie and Creek trotted alongside the women while Peter, Adam, and Jason stood guard. Thesally carried her and Matthew's furry daughter while Ally carried Chester. Albert went up and introduced himself. "We could use your help getting out of the city. Think we can make an arrangement." The sibling working on the truck then spoke up. "Get in, then! I'd say fasten your seatbelts but we were to cheap to get any!" @Al the Killer

Iris and Matthew stayed where they are, listening to the chaos outside. It was time. Iris made sure everyone who wasn't handling a weapon was responsible for carrying something, so their supplies wouldn't be a burden to only a few people, then headed out toward the truck, bringing up the rear of the group. "Is this safe?" Matthew whispered to Iris as they approached the truck. "You spent years sleeping in abandoned buildings when monsters exist, hitchhiking when humans are the real monsters, working at illegal bars, and now you're dating a vampire. Is this really where you draw the line?" she questioned in return. "Hm... good point." Iris got into the truck and took her spot next to Albert. The idea of two highly-prepared, aggressively American monster hunting siblings seemed a bit... familiar. She looked over at Adam. "Do you know these guys, by any chance?" @Hacky Slashy

As everyone got into the truck, it all came back to him. Both Cletus and Earl took a look at Thesally and the very familiar male vampire. "YOU AGAIN!? How the fuck did you not get blown up or shot to piece?!" Earl said as finished the repairs They then composed themselves and helped the others into the truck. They then introduced themselves. "I'm Cletus, and the ugly one here is Earl." "You're one to talk, numbnuts. Now let's get a move on." The shorter if the siblings noticed the dogs heading in. "Whoa! No pets all-" "THEY'RE GOING!!!!" Albert and Sophie yelled simultaneously as Albert carried Maggie. "Just great. Now we get to clean up their messes. All right everyone get in." Earl said as he checked for more hostiles. Randall's men traveled separately in their own humvees. @Al the Killer

"THEY'RE GOING!" Iris yelled in unison with Albert and Sophie. Meanwhile, Matthew simply kept an arm almost protectively against his girlfriend and their cat. Because damn right the pets were going with them. But once they had settled in, it was time for everyone to get in on the introductions. "Doctor Iris Ellsworth," Iris introduced herself. "You've already met my boyfriend, Albert. Our dog here is Maggie. You wouldn't really want to leave Maggie behind, would you?" She scratched the top of the pitbull's head and silently hoped Maggie would take the cue to give her best puppy-dog eyes. Astonished by the attempt at manipulation, Matthew stared at his sister for a moment before speaking. "Matthew Ellsworth. No fancy title, just the doc's brother. My girlfriend, Thesally, is the other vampire with us and our cat is Purrcasso." Purrcasso wandered around, rubbing against the leg of whichever half of the new pair of siblings seemed more averse to having a cat around. @Hacky Slashy (edited)

Lucky for Iris, Maggie was always in puppy-dog mode. Earl felt the effects immediately. Cletus on the other hand already felt his allergies kicking in. "Cute pets, shame I got allergies though." He then popped a few benadryl tablets. He then recoiled at Purcasso's presence. He remembered how mean Aunt Janice's cat was. He didn't know why but that cat genuinely had it out for him but acted cute and cuddly with Earl. "All right! Welcome aboard the Wesson express! I'd say fasten your seatbelts but I was too cheap to get any." Jason, Sandra, Rachel and the others introduced themselves. The truck began moving as something landed on the roof and tried to break it's way in. "That's an assload of Steel you're gonna have to get through!" Albert, Randall, Cutty and Cocker began deploying the weapon systems on the truck. Turrets and missiles fired on both lycan and human attackers alike while they moved through the streets, ramming abandoned cars out of the way. Amber, Andrea, Sophie and Rachel comforted the dogs while the men and monsters of the group tried to fend off the attacking Lycans. One of the clawed hands managed to break in through a gap, but was caught by Adam, who was able to bite into the arm, tearing a chunk off as the creature howled in pain. Thesally then used a machete to drive it into it's skull when the Lycan tried to stick it's head in. It tumbled into the street while she whined about losing her favorite machete. "Aww! I really like that one!" "There's an evacuation point at Beverly Hills. We'll go there and exit the city. " Albert said to Earl who kept driving. "Souns like a plan!" Another Werewolf tore off a large enough chunk of the roof to reach in, but his arm was swarmed by a Ceaser, Nebo, Creek and Maggie who bit off chunks off the werewolf who recoiled and fell off. Chester merely barked in Ally's arm, providing the canine equivalent of moral support. Adam felt more rage and bloodlust as the ride went on. He slowly felt himself transformin

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g more, but into what? He began wondering about the long term effects the werewolf blood might have on him. @Al the Killer

There was no way this vehicle was street-legal, but fuck it. A way out of the city was a way out of the city, regardless of the risks. Iris held onto Maggie to prepare for the move. Meanwhile, Purrcasso weaved between Cletus's feet, rubbing against his legs and purring cluelessly. Clearly, the cat felt like being exceptionally friendly with people who did not like cats. Matthew jumped as he heard a thud and the scraping of claws against metal overhead. "Uh... you sure they won't manage anyway?" He ran over to help the others with the weapons systems, but he wasn't actually familiar with any of the controls, and wasn't even sure how these guys were figuring out. He ended up clinging to a seat for balance and clamping a hand over his mouth as he hoped against hope that he wouldn't vomit from the vehicle's erratic movements right now. Iris picked up her shotgun just in time to see a massive paw tear through the gap between one of the doors and the truck's body. She ran over to it then took aim and fired at what little she could see of the creature's head. There was no howl of pain, but a wet thud as the attacker fell away. She looked back over her shoulder. "Is everyone else alr-?" She fell to the ground as another werewolf reached through, grabbing onto her prosthetic leg and knocking her off balance. @Hacky Slashy

The werewolf bit down on the prosthetic, but recoiled as rather than the meat he was hoping to taste, it was just metal. Before he could go for another bite, Albert came in with a Hatchet, but didn't swing as Magggie bit down on the arm, causing it to let go. Before the werewolf could pull out with the pit bull, Adam pulled the arm back in, his jaw temporarily elongated to a wolf like shape, biting the arm clean off. He then gave out another roar, causing the Lycans to cease their assault on the truck. His face then returned to normal as Nebo and Maggie rubbed against him. Maggie then licked Iris' face while she was down. Albert then helped her up. "Are you ok?" The others looked over at Adam as his face returned to normal. Sophie wrapped him in an embrace. Adam felt his bloodlust and rage subsiding. "We'll be there in a few-ACHOO!" Cletus started to say but his allergies kicked in. "I think the benadryl is expired!" Earl said as he looked at the pill bottle, the expiration date being two months ago. @Al the Killer

Of course Iris didn't feel the bite, because carbon fiber didn't contain nerve endings. She scrambled away from the breach while the others fought her attacker. She was fine, because monsters really seemed to have a thing for biting the wrong limb. As she caught her breath, she rolled up her pant leg to check for damage. It seemed perfectly fine, and just needed to be adjusted to make sure it was secure. She smiled and patted Maggie's head. "What a good girl. Yes you are!" With the most important thing said, she took Albert's hand and stood up. "Thanks." She stayed back from the sides of the truck, looking around to make sure everyone was fine. Matthew ran over to her in the meantime. "Are you alright?" he asked. "Looked like a hell of a fall." @Hacky Slashy

Adam and Sophie went over to help Iris up. Maggie nuzzled against Iris as the barely held together truck drove on. Andrea was completely rattled by the day's events. "I don't understand it! Monsters aren't supposed to be real!" "I'm afraid they are doll. And as you can probably figure out by now, Adam and Thesally don't have a skin condition." Cutty said as Adam and Thesally smiled at her. Peter came over and kept guard over the others in the back. Cutty and Cocker then proceeded to explain to Matthew how the weapon system work. "They work just like the Strykers we used overseas....and in country." Sandra and Rachel then came over to check everyone for injuries. @Al the Killer

"I'm fine." Iris continued to pet Maggie, as though to reassure her as well, and looked over at Cutty. "Wait, you didn't explain any of this to her before bringing her to a safe house with vampires in it?" She sighed. "Sorry about all of this, Doctor Nelson. It must come as a shock. For what it's worth, nobody here is going to pose a threat to you." Matthew followed Cutty and Cocker to the weapons system. He wasn't familiar with Strykers, so he took care to listen carefully to the explanation so he wouldn't accidentally misfire something or forget where an important feature was. Still, he had to look around a bit, to make sure Purrcasso was alright. She was fine; she'd curled up in a corner to take a nap after the excitement had passed. Since Sandra and Rachel were checking for injuries, Iris looked at the damage done to the truck. "Is there anything we could repair from the inside?" she asked Earl. Granted, anything they did patch up from the inside wouldn't hold up to another attack, but it would stop the wind from getting into the vehicle and avoid advertising who was inside of it. @Hacky Slashy

Amber then checked on Iris as well. "On the brightside you can add werewolf hunter to your resume." Maggie then pawed at her before going back to Iris. "I'll patch things up with a little welding, problem is I need some time that doesn't involve being in an active warzone. It's been one ambush situation after another when this whole Civil War started." Earl then proceeded to patch up the holes as quickly as he could. Brad came over to help out. "And good to see you're used to monsters. Better than screaming your heads off. That'd be a bit distracting." "Yeah, it was a shock but you get used to it." Brad said as he reloaded his rifle. Cutty then went to Andrea. "I would've explained things, but you got to admit it'd be a hard sell, you know?" Andrea was about to scold him before Nebo came demanding attention. "Yes, hello." Creek then came to her side as well. "You're both lucky I have two hands." Ally carried Chester over to Peter. "Thanks for taking care of him, little lady. You've been a big help. Hope you can dog sit when we get somewhere safe." @Al the Killer

"First vampires, now werewolves... I really am moving up in the world," Iris agreed, reaching down to pet Maggie again since Earl seemed to have the repairs managed. Or at least what repairs they could make in a moving vehicle. "But yeah, we've had our share of run-ins. It's been an interesting few months in the local morgue." She walked over to join Cutty and Andrea. "Cutty, you know enough monsters that you could've offered proof. Really, that's all anyone with a scientific background asks when it comes to these sorts of things." She looked over at Adam. "I mean, when I first met Adam, I found the claim that he was a vampire pretty believable. Speaking of... Adam, I'd still love to collect a blood sample from you to examine sometime. Especially now..." She looked over at Thesally. "You too, if it's not much trouble." Thinking of being surrounded by monsters who might be willing to provide DNA samples as a pathologist really was like being a kid in a candy store. With his lesson on weapons finished, Matthew looked over at Cletus. "Hey, how are you holding up?" he asked. "Sorry about the whole... fur thing." He looked up at the hole in the roof. "...And about your truck." @Hacky Slashy

"Sure. I would've gave it earlier if you'd asked." Adam said as he held on to Sophie. Thesally eagerly volunteered as well. "Anytime as soon as we're out of here." "You can take mine as well." Peter and then Jason and Sandra volunteered as well. Caeasar then trotted up to Doctor Nelson. "Crap." She then had to switch between Nebo, Creek and then Caesar. Cletus then spoke to Matthew. "All good. And what're you sorry for? Not like you invited these monsters here. Err no offense to the rest of you. And unfortunately I already paid the lease for Betty before all of this, and already she's got holes!" Amber and Ally were busy cuddling with Chester. The Corgi enjoyed the attention despite the bumpy ride. Thesally then crouched down to pet Purcasso. Maggie then pawed at both Albert and Iris. Albert scratched the pit bull's head as she then bothered Iris for more head scratches. @Al the Killer

Iris looked between all of them and smiled. Definite jackpot. And if she found any information that could possibly help them out, all the better for it. "Thank you," she said. "All of you. Once I have enough proper equipment available, I'll take you up on that offer." She looked over at Peter. "I wouldn't mind having a chat with you, sustainably. I know considerably less about you than about the resident vampires and werewolves." She had her suspicions about what he was, but would wait for confirmation instead of making assumptions. For now, she scratched the top of Maggie's head. Matthew shrugged. "Is it really your vehicle if you haven't gotten it a little beat up?" he asked. "Some damage adds character." He looked around a bit more. "...And extra danger." Purrcasso picked up her head and let out a soft "mrrp," rubbing her face against Thesally's hand. @Hacky Slashy

"No worries doc. You did help me out once, so only fair." Peter smiled while flashing his yellow reptilian eyes. "I like your attitude, kid. I could use an apprentice when this is all over. Maybe you can get your own shop one day when all this mess is over." Thesally smiled as Purcasso rubbed against her hand. She had no idea how her life improved so quickly. Having Matthew and Purcasso in her life left her noticeably less irritable. Who knew saving a handsome human from death could be so rewarding? Randall and Amber took Caesar off Doctor Nelson's hands. Sophie sat down with Adam, resting her head on his shoulder. She was starting to feel frightened and uncertain about their future. How long would they have to deal with one power hungry wannabe despot after another? And would Adam be ok? What if the werewolf blood was poisoning him? Hopefully Iris could help him once she examines his blood. Maybe a cure some day? Nebo trotted next to Albert, who scratched the husky's head. Cletus then announced they were finally at the evacuation site. "This is our stop folks! Be sure to give Wesson transportations a five star rating!" Randall and Brad escorted the others out of the bus. Adam and Jason exited last as the battle began to reach the evacuation point. The National Guard and the Rangers were about to make a valiant Last Stand to buy citizens time to escape. @Al the Killer

"I did...?" It took a moment for recognition to flash across her face. That had been months ago, yet it almost felt like she'd been a different person back then. "Oh, right! With everything that's been going on, I nearly forgot. How have you been since then?" This explained how he'd been aware of monsters, at least. "I didn't realize you were... what do you refer to yourself as, species-wise? I'm not sure if 'lizard person' is acceptable or insulting." Well, at least she didn't have to worry about whether the first witness to tell her about Adam was alright or not. He seemed to be doing better now. Matthew thought about it. Sure he had his own plans, but he also knew plenty of people who had gone to art school then ended up not making art for a living anyway. "You sure? I know jack shit about cars," Matthew admitted. "But my whole art school plan will take even longer to pay off than this war will take to end, so I might consider it." Yes he already had a job, but who knew for how long? The invading forces really did not seem like the types to ponder the philosophical implications of accidentally bombing a gay bar in the midst of all their other collateral damage. Neither side did. As the vehicle pulled to a stop, Iris picked up her shotgun and had Maggie follow her to leave the bus. She paused to thank their driver and mechanic, regardless of how questionable the trip had been to say the least. Matthew walked over to pick up Purrcasso and leave with Thesally. "Won't be safe here for long," Iris commented, looking toward the city. "Let's get out of here quickly." @Hacky Slashy

"Reptilian, ma'am. It's a long story, wasn't always like this." Peter then helped the others out as the evacuation was underway and Albert was talking to some soldiers. "We got a serious problem. They set up artillery positions at various points in the city. If we don't take those out, we're not going anywhere. Chief Riker's assembling some volunteers to take them out." "Count us in." Adam said as Jason walked alongside him. Albert gave the greenlight as he then went towards the Wesson brothers and Randall. "You get the others out of here and we'll meet back up. You remember the rendezvous point?" "I do. I'll go tell the others." Earl and Cletus joined him and told the others the plan." Each team is gonna light up some flairs for let us know the artillery has been neutralized." Albert, Adam and Jason met up with their significant others and told them their part. "You be careful, and come right back." Sophie gave him a kiss and then reluctantly let him go. Adam briefly saw the tears welling up in her eyes. Maggie and Nebo pawed at her as if trying to console her. Randall, Brad, Cutty, Cocker, Cletus, Earl and Peter remained with the women while Jason, Adam, Albert and the teams went to deal with the artillery preventing the evacuations. Thesally wrapped an arm around Matthew, petting Purcasso as well. "They'll be fine. In and out and then we'll go wherever is far away from here. Who knows, maybe they kill what's his name you met at the bar." @Al the Killer

Iris walked over to join Albert. Serious problem might have even been an understatement. She listened as the plan was made, not particularly fond of the idea of sending any of them out onto the frontlines. But someone had to go, after all. Splitting the group just seemed like the reasonable route, instead of endangering everyone more than they were already in danger. "I should go with you," she told Albert, albeit after she kissed him. "It's the only way to make sure you come back in one piece." She wasn't sure he'd actually be in less danger with her around, but at least being there for him would give her some peace of mind. The anxiety of facing death, herself, wouldn't be as bad as waiting and not knowing. Matthew stayed behind with Thesally, leaning against her. "I mean, everything could go wrong," he said, looking toward the others. "But I trust them to know what they're doing. And his name was James Raven. General Raven, apparently. No wonder Aster wasn't comfortable near him." His coworker had always been a pretty decent judge of character, after all. @Hacky Slashy

"General. Got a funny feeling he gave himself that rank. We'll make it through this." She said as she embraced him and then pet Purcasso. She'd happily give her life for them. No wonder Adam was so attached to these humans. Some of them are decent once you get to know them. "That's out of the question. I can't worry about you while in Combat. Besides, someone has to watch Maggie." Right on cue, Maggie whined and rubbed against her parents. Albert looked down at her and Iris. He then turned away knowing he'd never leave if he stayed one more second. He gave her one last kiss and then joined the fireteams. "Ok, Adam, you go with Bravo Team. Redstone, you're with Alpha. I'll be with Kilo. We identified the positions at these points in the city. The evacuation site is at 80% combat effectiveness. We have to do this now or risk who knows what if these monsters break through. Hoorah!" Each team went to their designated targets, into Hell. @Al the Killer

"Remind me again which way the opposing forces are heading?" Iris replied, looking toward the horizon to see if they had drawn any closer to the evacuation point. "I won't be safer here, but you'll have less knowledge of where I am." She sighed. The longer they delayed, the more danger there would be for both of them, regardless of who went where. "But fine. I'll stay. Just... Be careful." She returned the kiss then stepped back, petting Maggie. For now, she'd just have to swallow that knot of worry and inexplicable anger that threatened to come out. "It will be alright," she told Maggie, trying to convince herself as she watched Albert leave. Matthew smiled up at Thesally. "Yeah, seems like he's got that sort of ego," he agreed. "Anyway, we've got time to kill while the teams are out. The base is still guarded... I think best shot is to avoid ruminating on how things might be going out there." @Hacky Slashy

"They're pushing in from the south. Our guys are slowing them down, but it's only a matter of time. Now, we'll go in and blow shit up, and then we'll circle back before you know it." Albert scratched behind the dog's ears before departing. "That's gonna be a bit difficult." Explosions rang out. 'I sure hope they know what they're doing.' Thesally thinks to herself as she held Matthew and Purcasso. Peter Mayhew volunteered to be on Sniper duty. He climbed a gun tower and began picking off some hostiles that managed to break in to the perimeter before the guards finished them off. "Good shooting, sir." One of the guardsmen said as they resumed their duty. --- Adam joined the squad of guardsmen armed with his M4A1 Carbine. He made sure it was loaded and ready to go. They managed to stumble upon a group of WOL, or Wolves of Liberty squad and managed to drop them in a hail of gunfire. They managed to reach the location of the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. Multiple enemy troops were guarding it. "We'll lay down cover fire while you and Wyatt flank around." Sergeant Raymond said to Adam and the others. As soon as the shooting started, Adam and Wyatt flanked through a store while the others were engaged with the enemy. --- Albert ran into similar issues, but this time they had humvees and snipers to deal with. Albert and his team got into a store and he went to the top floor and begin picking off hostiles while half of his team went to flank them. --- Jason and his team had the misfortune of running into Lycans. Jason transformed and dealt with them, fighting with tooth and claw while his team dealt with the missiles. @Al the Killer

The question had been rhetorical, but she didn't have it in her to point that out. "I hope you're right..." She watched him go, before looking down at Maggie. "He'll be back," she promised, trying to sound more confident about that than she felt. She patted the pitbull's head and stared off into the direction Albert had disappeared into. "Yeah, no kidding," Matthew agreed with Thesally, reluctantly. "I think I'll see if Cletus needs any help with that truck, since he mentioned having to wait until it was parked to do any real welding on it. Do you wanna come with me?" He smiled as Purrcasso jumped down to the ground, but continued to linger around the two of them. Meanwhile, Iris had taken to pacing nervously. Guard duty seemed relegated to those with military experience, which was fair enough, but fuck it. Better to find something than to stand around, so worried it was making her nauseous. Tending to injuries would be ideal, but there didn't appear to be any among them yet. Still, better to be prepared. "Sandra, Rachel," she called, gesturing toward both of them. "Over here. If they get in firing range of anyone here, or if the others are hurt when they return, we'll need to be ready. Starting with a quick inventory of supplies." She kept her gun with her though. If anything managed to somehow get too close, it was better to be covered than not. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie rubbed her head on Iris' leg and followed her. She trotted alongside her as she talked to Sandra and Rachel. She sat down on all fours and listened. "We have some gauze, bandaid, stitches, the works. We'll begin a triage for when things ramp up more than they have now." Rachel affirmed that she'll be ready to assist. Luckily other medics arrived and began treating other wounded as the fighting intensified away from the the evacuation site. Sophie,Ally, Andrea and Amber took took care of the dogs while Randall, Brad, Cutty and Cocker handled security alongside their comrades. Thesally walked with Matthew and Purcasso towards the truck. The brothers greeted the two. "We're halfway through. We'll be road ready in no time." Thesally the. Picked up some tools and instructed Matthew on what to do help repair. "Did some tank repairs a few times. Seen a thing or two." --- Adam and Wyatt reached the roof thanks to his wings. Wyatt and the others barely had time to process that Adam wasn't exactly human, but just settled for being grateful he wasn't with the wolf creatures. They finished off the remaining hostiles and began directing the Rocket systems to designated targets. Missiles flew out and slammed into various positions. Explosions rocked the city as they then proceeded to blow up the equipment, rendering it useless to the enemy. --- Albert and Jason's teams have both disabled their targets and were about to rendezvous with Adam and his team. --- Adam and the others were about to depart when they were fired upon. Adam and Wyatt began covering their team as he spotted a familiar blonde man leading the charge with other lycans. Adam guessed this was general Raven. @Al the Killer

Iris set to work as soon as she could. Once the wounded started arriving, there was no shortage of things to do. Though she didn't normally operate on the living, it wasn't the sort of knowledge that went away, and her work had maintained a certain surgical precision in her movements. More than useful when removing shrapnel from sometimes leg, or inspecting an eye injury while avoiding causing further damage. It wasn't that working felt good - that would have been a weird description of patching up battlefield injuries - so much as that it kept her occupied. The sounds of distant fighting still reached them though, and she found there was still room to worry no matter how busy she kept herself. Matthew waved to the two brothers. "Great! Let's hope she stays together a little longer this time," he joked, patting the side of the vehicle. The clatter of something metallic behind him signaled that some tool or component had fallen. "... Let's hope that wasn't important." He took a couple of tools from Thesally and listened to her advice before getting to work. Luckily, he was a fast learner. @Hacky Slashy

Adam and the other guardsmen found themselves pinned down, fending off hostiles as Lycans swarmed into the building they were in. Unfortunately one guardsmen ended up torn to pieces. It then pounced on Adam. He gripped the Lycan by it's throat, effectively strangling the beast with surprising strength. He then dug his nails into it's throat and pulled it out. It turned into a normal human, coughing up blood before dying. He then gave out a roar as he charged at the other lycans. They all pounced on him and clawed at the vampire. The guardsmen then opened fire on the Lycans, driving them off before they could do more damage. Outside of the building, James Raven shouted orders to bring out heavy ordinance. --- Albert and Jason's teams met up and stumbled upon the scene. "Open fire!" Albert shouted as James Raven's soldiers were killed by the sudden ambush. The rest of his men dove for cover, but he was undeterred. He casually crouched down behind some damaged cars alongside his men. --- Adam and the rest of his squad met up with Albert, Jason and the remaining men. "Let's get back to the evacuation site." Adam was noticeably quiet. He felt his blood burning, but the pain wasn't as bad. "You ok?" Jason said as Adam looked up at him, with red eyes. Jason nearly recoiled. 'Man Iris is gonna have her work cut out for her.' --- Back at the evacuation site, people were being loaded into transports as the fighting was intensifying. Peter jumped down to defend the others when a Lycan came barreling into the camp, trying to bumrush the wounded. He met the reptilian, who grappled with the lycan, tearing at each other. Thesally helped further explain to Matthew how to patch up the truck. "Learned a couple of things from the Russians during that mess with the germans." @Al the Killer

Iris had just finished stitching up one of her patients when the fight came to them. Ignoring the blood still on her gloves, she grabbed her shotgun and instinctively positioned her body between the ambitious lycan and the freshly stitched-up soldier. The blood could be cleaned up later, but only if there was someone left alive to do so. "Rachel, bandage while I'm on defense," she said, lifting her weapon. She checked the direction the first enemy had come from and, naturally, he had been followed by at least one of his compatriots. She lined up a headshot and fired at that one. "Peter, you've got that one taken care of?" After all, she'd need to reload before she could fire either barrel again. Matthew did as instructed, glad that his girlfriend was already so knowledgeable. "That mess with the Germans?" He thought back to what little he had learned about world history. "...You mean World War Two?" He sometimes forgot how long she'd really been around. "Guess you would've traveled a lot, with all the time you had, huh?" @Hacky Slashy

"Yep. The Russian tank crew I traveled with were ok. But then they tried to take ther frustrations out on innocent german villagers on the way to Berlin. I had a slight disagreement with them about that. I mean they were civilians on some remote village." Thesally said as she remembered tearing the Russians apart. Rachel nodded and continued working while another Lycan tried to rush Iris, only to be intercepted by Sandra, who was partially in full werewolf form. She bit the Lycan's throat out and then checked on Iris. "You ok?" She said as she reverted back to human form. --- The teams were running to a Bradley fighting vehicle as some Lycans descended upon them. Albert, Jason and the guardsmen were fending off three of them, while Adam was tackled by General Raven himself. He picked him up by the throat. "Hello, Leech. I thought we killed you all." Adam delivered a quick punch that managed to knock him back. The werewolf landed on a car with a loud thud. He then saw Adam starting to violently shake and growl. Jason grabbed him and did a fireman carry while shooting at James Raven. 'Something ain't right with him.' General Raven then radioed his forces to converge on the evacuation site. --- Albert and the team managed to meet back with the others. Jason held Adam to Iris. "Something's wrong!" Sandra came along to try and help. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked toward the medical area once the repairs were done. He'd heard the gunshots, which was always a concerning sound. Especially when he knew his sister was in their vicinity. He hastily started putting the tools back in place. "Should we go see if they need help?" he asked, despite his uncertainty when it came to the practicality of trying to 'help' when he was neither a medic, a monster, nor an experienced fighter. Iris took a step back to let Sandra handle the assist. There didn't seem to be more on the way, but she took a moment to reload both barrels just in case. She would need to be ready at a moment's notice, with how things were out there. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks," she confirmed as the shotgun barrels clicked back into place. "You?" The others returned at that moment, and relief flooded over her. Albert! She ran over to see if he was alright, only to find bigger problems waiting. Adam seemed to be... she doubted it was a normal seizure. Damn it, they didn't have much time! The sounds of combat had once again started to come closer, and she was willing to bet anything that they must have been followed, even if at a distance. "Alright, set him down," she said. "Put something soft under his head and hold it still." This was human first aid, but that was the best she had going for her right now. "Jason, tell me what happened. Adam, can you hear me?" @Hacky Slashy

"We're almost done here. If it's a medical emergency, we'll have to trust your sister, Sandra, Rachel and Doctor Nelson's got it handled." Thesally supervised Matthew and the Wessons finished their part of the repairs. Doctor Nelson came over with a towel she converted into a pillow. She placed it under Adam's head as the seizure subsided. "He seems to be stabilized for now, but we need a proper hospital...or a lab. I specialize in animals and you and Sandra are best with humans, but this a whole new ball game. "Truck's ready! Time to go!" Cletus and Earl said at the same time as a loud roar was heard in the distance. A 12 foot tall werewolf was tearing into the evacuation point, tearing his way through helpless soldiers as he then spotted the group. Adam opened his eyes and stood up. He then began to fully transform. First his wings burst out of his back, and then his entire body began expanding. Albert and Cutty grabbed Iris and Doctor Nelson and pulled them towards the truck as the Cletus, Earl, Cutty and Cocker loaded Amber, Randall, Sophie, Rachel and Ally into the truck. Jason and Sandra were by Albert and Iris' side as everyone could only watch in horror as Adam had fully transformed into a new life form. The creature turned back and looked at the others, even a glance at Sophie. It gave a sad look and then stared at the giant werewolf. He used his massive arm to gently shove Iris and the others back. Nebo and Maggie whined as they got behind Iris and Albert. Albert picked up Maggie while Jason got Nebo. The massive werewolf roared at the 12 foot hybrid creature. Adam now resembled a gargoyle, but with more fur and darker skin. His head resembled a wolf but with bat like ears. He then gave an equally frightening roar, clearly making no attempt to stand down. Two apex predators were about to face off. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded in agreement. "Somewhere with more equipment, at least," she said. She wasn't able to analyze anything with what they had here. "We'll drive until it's safe, then find-" She was cut off by the roar, an impossible barrage of noise. Then the screaming and gunfire ramped up. She jumped back as Adam got up and began transforming. How... interesting. Most likely, she would have continued staring in fascination, if it wasn't the middle of a life or death situation right now. Instead, she picked up her shotgun and followed Albert to the truck. Once she reached it, she urged Maggie and Purrcasso inside, looking back toward the fight. Adam was unrecognizable, aside from the fact that that creature couldn't have been anyone else. She reached a hand back to pat Maggie's head reassuringly. "It's alright," she told the dog softly, then turned toward her brother, who was also staring in awe. "In the truck, Matthew. Same goes for everyone else." She wasn't about to abandon Adam here, but there wasn't much they could do to help at this point, and if anything came at them, they'd be able to evade a lot faster if they were in a movable vehicle. She took one last look at the fight before getting inside. @Hacky Slashy

The Hybrid stood up and spread its wings out, as if attempting an intimidation display. Meanwhile the giant werewolf simply growled and stomped his foot. After both displays, the monsters bolted at each other. The werewolf grabbed him and tried to pick him up, but the Hybrid was far too strong. The Hybrid then bit down on the werewolf's shoulder, ripping a chunk out of it. The wolf roared in agony and then punched the Hybrid creature. It flew back, crashing into several humvees while the evacuation was nearing completion. The Hybrid then propelled itself at the werewolf with it's wings, tackling it's opponent into several Wolves of Liberty soldiers, crushing them. The Hybrid then drove it's claws into the rival's chest and stomach. --- Back in the truck, everyone was noticeably rattled. Even the supernatural creatures of the group were shocked at the Hybrid creature's appearance. Thesally held Purcasso, which oddly enough comforted her. Werewolves were threats on their own, but a full blown Hybrid? That's a whole new playing field. She then held Matthew. "Funny enough every once in a while, some ambitious vampire lord or Werewolf leader tried expirementing with this, but it usually ended up with a gruesome, quick death. Everyone's gonna be gunning for him now." Thesally didn't want to delude herself. Even if Adam survived this confrontation, what if he remains stuck in this form forever? Now just a primal beast waiting to be put down? Maggie got between Albert and Iris. Albert held Iris and then looked towards Rachel, Sophie and Nebo. Sophie was huddled up in a corner while Rachel attempted to console her sister. Sophie looked down at Polaroids she and Adam took at the carnival photo booth. It may be all that she has left now of him. Cutty, Cocker and Randall manned the weapon systems while Cletus and Earl drove them out of the city. Peter then came up to Iris. "So what's the plan now? I doubt she'd want to leave the kid behind." --- The Hybrid was thrown do

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wn as the Werewolf roared at him, his wounds starting to heal up. The werewolf ran towards the Hybrid, who was already up on his feet. The Hybrid grabbed the werewolf by the throat and held him in the air. It roared in the Werewolves face and then bit down on it's face, taking out half of the flesh and eye. @Al the Killer

Matthew liked to think it took a lot to scare him. He'd seen enough to know that there wasn't much out there worse than what humans did to each other, monsters or no. This was different, though. He'd lost friends before, sometimes to violence usually to diseases or exposure, and didn't really want that to happen to Adam now. He wrapped an arm around Thesally, leaning into her as he forced himself to look away. Shit, this was bad, wasn't it? "So we don't even know if he'll survive this," he said softly. He didn't want to leave Adam in the city, but maybe this was their best option for now. He looked over at Sophie, then let go of Thesally. "I'm going to help check on her," he said, trying to think of how he'd put an optimistic spin on this mess. Iris closed her eyes, trying to control the urge to yell, to try and order them to stay in the city. It would be selfish, to try to put the others in danger for the sake of one person. But her expression remained solid. She'd learned from an early age to hide her fear when things got bad. If she didn't, it was a weakness to exploit. Her eyes opened again as Peter spoke. "That makes two of us," she said flatly. "We can stop as soon as we're somewhere safe and regroup there. If Adam survives this, either he'll find us or we'll find him when we get back to LA." She looked at Sophie. "And we won't stop looking until we find him." Dead or alive, though? That was the real question. She put a hand on Albert's arm. "I'm not giving up on him." She was pretty sure he wasn't getting out of this alive, the more she thought about it. But she had to stay strong for Sophie's sake. @Hacky Slashy

The Hybrid beast then pinned the werewolf down, delivering punches to the battered giant's face. He then picked him up by the throat and held the werewolf who was now transforming back to human. "I hope you fucking choke on em." James Raven spat as the Hybrid was slowly about to chomp down on his head....right as he began regressing back to his normal form. Both combattants fell to the ground. Adam found himself surrounded by Wolves of Liberty soldiers, both Werewolf and human. The werewolves were about to pounce before a roar stopped them. "This one's mine." The nude James Raven, who had now been fully healed from his injuries, walked up to Adam and picked him up by the throat. "Sunlight's in a few hours. We're gonna have us a little campfire....and you're the guest of honor." Adam felt hopeless. But he took solace in the fact that the others got away. He saw captured Guardsmen and civilians being loaded up while he was held down by two larger Lycans. He was dragged off into an uncertain future. He felt himself drift off into unconsciousness, his last thoughts on his newfound family. 'I hope you all take care of yourselves. It looks like it's curtains for me.' --- Cletus and Earl managed to drive the group away from the fallen city and stopped on the road. "We got to fuel up. Watch our asses." Cletus said as Earl took an M60 with him to guard his brother while he got the truck gassed up. Albert held Iris and kissed her head. "I'm gonna check on Sophie, but maybe you and Maggie could do a better job." The pit bull pawed at Iris and Albert at the mention of her name. Sophie was now hugging Nebo, spending 30 minutes crying into the Husky's fur. Nebo licked her and snuggled against her. Rachel helped Sandra and Andrea check on the others. Cutty, Cocker, Randall and Brad kept guard outside while the brothers repair the truck. Albert sat next to Sophie and Nebo. "We're not leaving him for dead. If I have to go in myself and haul him out, I will. We'll get you s

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omewhere safe first and then go get him." "Not by yourself you're not." Jason said as Creek trotted alongside him. Ally and Amber were taking care of Caesar and Chester. Thesally went with Matthew, holding Purcasso while reassuring Sophie. "I know things are bad, but that kid seems to have more lives than an alley cat. Who knows, maybe he tore through that army and is on his way back to meet up with us." She said more to herself. Truthfully, Adam was that annoying little brother she never had. She'd be devastated if it really was the end for him. @Al the Killer

Iris followed Albert to where Matthew had already gone. She stayed standing though, because sitting then standing back up would be considerably more challenging for her than the others. "But we won't count on the possibility that he'll get away on his own," she added, glancing over at Thesally. "We're going to go to him in case he needs help. He's saved my life enough times that it's only fair I keep returning the favour." She looked out through the window. "We should go before sunrise, though. I don't know if his recent transformation would grant him any resistance to it." Safest to assume it wouldn't. Matthew nodded. "Just bring enough backup with you," he said. "I'll stick around with the animals, Sophie, and whoever else decides to stay." Iris nodded. "I was going to suggest that." She looked over at Albert and Jason. "We can ask Peter and possibly Sandra to come too, but I don't think we should make ourselves conspicuous by bringing too many people." Her attention focused on Albert. "And I'm not staying behind this time. Not when it's Adam's life on the line." @Hacky Slashy

"Sandra should stay with the others. At least have one Lycan defending them." Jason said while Peter joined the group. "I'm in. As soon as we get another working vehicle, we'll just stroll back into the city and grab the kid. Easy as pie." Peter smiled as he flashed his yellow reptilian eyes. "We'll keep an eye on things here. Once you get back, we'll take it from there. Plus we got Purcasso if there's trouble." Thesally said as she waved Purcasso as if she were a furry gun. She then scratched the top of the cat's head. "Truck's ready! There's an outpost nearby!" Cletus announced as Earl helped everyone in the truck. --- The Wolves of Liberty had successfully established a foothold in Los Angeles. They began setting up artillery and checkpoints throughout the city. James Raven had Adam thrown into a cell by himself. "Sleep tight, blood sucker. Things are really gonna heat up in the morning." Adam stirred awake and saw a fully clothed James Raven standing over him. James then decided to crouch down next to him. "Got to say, you really put me through the ringer. Want to teach me that neat trick?" @Al the Killer

Iris hoped it would be as easy as Peter made it sound. Probably not. "Getting a vehicle will be our first priority once we reach the outpost, then," she said. "Something less conspicuous than the truck." She looked over at Earl and Cletus. "No offense. You're just very... Visible." She missed her car, a bit. Hopefully it didn't get blown up in the conflict. She reached down to pet Maggie. "Now, let's not waste any time." Matthew walked over to hug his sister. "Just stay safe," he said. "You're not the only one worrying about everyone else all the time, you know. Leave some for the rest of us." She laughed and patted his back. "No. You focus on yourself, alright?" @Hacky Slashy

Once everyone was on the bus, they made it to a refugee camp within 45 minutes. It would've been an hour but thankfully Cletus drove like a lunatic, especially when some bandits tried to get in front and stop it, but found that the human body did not perform well against 10 tons of steel. The pets rested with their human owners. Maggie rested on Iris' lap the entire trip, pawing at her and Albert the entire trip. Once they got there, Cletus manged to find some parking, albeit after arguing with army officials until Albert diffused the situation. After a few minutes, Albert called Iris, Peter and Jason together. "I got the keys to a humvee. The Colonel in charge let me borrow it if I bring it back in one piece." --- Adam didn't respond. He figured death was certain. He simply sat down and resigned himself to his fate. James Raven wasn't amused. He then smiled and poked him. "Come on. I'll let you walk out of here. Or fly, whatever you prefer." "Who the fuck are you?" Adam said as he looked up with a defiant glare. "He speaks! Would you look at that. How about you tell me about yourself. How'd you become like this." Adam figured maybe if he indulged him, he'd buy himself time to escape or kill him. "Ok. Here goes." Adam fully explained how he ended up bitten. How some creature was living in an abandoned mental asylum out in the woods, slaughtered his friends until it was just him. He was chased until the creature tackled him, but knocked both of them down into a basement with sharp pipes sticking out. The vampire creature ended up impaled and dying. Adam landed safely on hard tile. He passed out until sunrise and discovered what he had become. He then went on the run and began his career as the Night Haunter. "So you were him, huh? The Avenger! The killer of killers! Sucks about your pals though. One of uncle Sam's pets got loose I take it. Wouldn't shock me in the slightest bit. Always some lost plane or some shit." @Al the Killer

"Well there's no way we can possibly predict that," Iris said about bringing the Humvee back in one piece. They did not have the best track records with vehicles in the middle of a war zone. "But let's try our best... I call shotgun." She picked up her shotgun and walked over to the front passenger side. "Nice one," Matthew called over his approval from where he had overheard her. He walked over to Maggie and patted her head. "Looks like you're hanging out with us, buddy." He turned toward Thesally. "Let's help the others get settled in. There's no knowing how long we'll be here." @Hacky Slashy

Albert jumped into the driver's seat while Peter and Jason got in the back. Albert held Iris' hand and started the humvee. "Ok, we got 4 hours until sunrise. We go in, get Adam and get out." Dead or alive, he won't be left to rot. Maggie reached up with her paws on Matthew. Thesally then joined Matthew in petting Maggie. "Sounds like a plan, love." She then took his hand and led him to the others. They all settled in on one tent while the Wessons fixed their truck. Sandra and Rachel volunteered their medical services to the sick and wounded in the camp. Cutty, Cocker, Brad and Randall stayed with the others along with the pets while Ally was taken care of by Amber. Sophie lied down on a bed while Nebo stayed close. --- Adam perked up at the mention that the creature could've been some escaped monster. James Raven then recounted his life. "Dad beat me for the slightest issue. Mom was a useless heroin junkie too high out of her mind to be of any use. Signed up for the Army as soon as I could get away from them. Best years of my life. But one day my squad and I were in an ambush in Afghanistan. Locals kept screaming about some wolf like creatures tearing them to pieces. Due to Uncle Sam wanting to win hearts and minds, we were sent in to clear them out. Probably some bandits or terror cell. Boy how wrong we were." Adam listened to the tale. "We barely managed to put that thing down, but it left us changed in a couple of ways." He shifted his hand into lycan form. "We fought people who were less than human, so we became more. My team and I started our own terror campaign on the enemy, but oh no. You can kill people to your heart's content but don't you dare be impolite about it. Luckily general Roman always bailed us out. So when he saw the writing on the wall back home, we decided to take charge. But I decided to cut the middle man out. Converted more men to my change in management grand plan. Give the country back to the people. Clear out a few monster nests her

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e and there. Win hearts and minds." Adam couldn't help but feel enraged. This asshole is trying to paint himself as a hero. He wanted to rip him into pieces, but had to remain still. --- Albert drove the group to a hidden spot outside the city and concealed the humvee. "Ok, here we are. We got at least 3 hours until sunrise. We'll find out where he is, free him and whoever we can and get out." @Al the Killer

Iris nodded, buckling her seatbelt. "Got it. No time to waste." She kept an eye out the winow as they took off, keeping watch in case they were accosted by any further monsters. Luckily, the roads here only had other escapees, and they were all driving in the opposite direction, like any sane person would. Their path was clear, at least. Matthew looked over at Thesally and smiled at the pet name. After giving Maggie one last scratch behind the ears, he accepted Thesally's guidance. The tent was fairly large, and the others seemed to be settled in, save for those who had kept themselves busy with other endeavors. He found a spot to sit, keeping close to his sister's pit bull. "Let's hope things go well for them," he said softly, admittedly a little worried. ~~~ Iris got out of the humvee once they were parked. "One hour's drive back, but be prepared for more traffic in that direction," she added. "Let's say that gives us no more than an hour and a half to find him and get him here." They could probably find ways to cover him up if they were too slow, but she didn't want to test that option if they didn't have to. The sooner, the better. She grabbed her shotgun and started toward the city, pausing to make sure the others were coming. "Let's go." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally sat down next to Matthew, while Purcasso was in her lap. She switched between petting the cat and the pit bull. Maggie placed both paws on Matthew's knees, smiling at him while her tail wagged. Nebo pawed at Sophie who scratched behind the Husky's ears. --- Albert outfitted Iris, Peter and Jason with vests and plenty of ammo. Jason and Peter managed to ambush a patrol and steal their uniforms and their radios. "General Raven's still playing with the leech at Fairfax high-school. Pockets of resistance are being cleared out." Albert turned off the radio for a second. "One hour until sunrise but we know where he is." Peter chimed in with a plan. "I could use some of these explosives, cause a distraction. A checkpoint is coming up right now. So if anyone's got a better idea, now is the time." --- "So, I could just watch you burn up at sunrise in less than an hour....or give you an offer. Join our team, the winning side of this war. A change in management. Give you all the meat and blood that you want. Offer expires in one hour. Choose wisely! Ta ta!" James Raven left the cell before Adam could so much as muster a fuck you. @Al the Killer

Iris listened with the others. It had taken longer than she'd hoped to find even this month of a lead, but of course it had. It was a large city. At least they had a location now. Fairfax. It wasn't far. She looked at Peter and nodded. "Not enough time for a more elegant plan. Explosives for a distraction, then keep an eye on the vehicle while we go in and get Adam out," she said. "We won't make the trip back to the camp, so we'll need to make sure he's covered." Of course, she stopped talking as they approached the checkpoint. Getting through here would be the challenge, unless Peter intended to use those explosives here and now. The high school building was within sight, if one squinted straight down the road. A WoL soldier approached their vehicle, flagging them down. He seemed to be alone here, his comrades likely having either opted to keep their patrols closer to where they had set up their base or standing somewhere further back. The odds that the group in the humvee wouldn't be recognized as enemy combatants were low, but at the same time... the soldier had stepped into the middle of the road. "Floor it?" she suggested to Albert. @Hacky Slashy

Albert smiled and then sped forward. Before the WOL soldier realized what hit him, the humvee slammed into him at full force. The humvee then crashed into the school entrance. Jason was already out firing with his M4 while Albert helped Iris out of the humvee. "I'll distract the reinforcements and meet back up with you all." Peter said before picking up an M249 light machine gun and engaged the squad of WOL soldiers that came to investigate the disturbance. --- Adam heard the crash and then the gunfire. He was beginning to get some of his energy back and proceeded to break the chains that had him bound and tied. --- Back at the camp, Thesally brought food for the others and then sat down next to Matthew. Maggie and Nebo pawed at Sophie, slightly cheering her up. Thesally then picked up Purcasso again while Creek and Ceasar pawed at Matthew. An argument then broke out between Sandra and a group of armed men. "We're under orders to extract them both!" "She and Sophie aren't going anywhere they don't want to!" Cutty, Cocker, Randall and the Wessons were in a stand off with the new arrivals. "Put your fucking weapons down!" One of the men shouted as Cocker got between Sandra and Rachel. "Like the lady said, nobody's going anywhere until you explain. In the mean time you can put yours down. We went through a shitload of trouble getting them out." "All right everyone just relax. We're under orders from Admiral Chandler to extract them." The squad leader introduced himself as Seal Commander Max Stone, accompanied by 8 other squad members. @Al the Killer @Al the Killer

Iris braced for the impact, managing to avoid hitting her head as the body rolled over the roof of their vehicle, then proceeded to crash through the doors. She didn't have time to stop and catch her breath; she simply unbuckled her seatbelt once the vehicle was inert and got out. The humvee provided useful enough cover, and she fired into a barrel of some unknown material that had been stowed away and guarded by a couple of soldiers. Whatever it was caught when the sell impacted its casing, igniting with enough force to send its guards to the ground. "Assume wherever they're keeping him has access to sunlight, but can be easily secured and is large enough to hold prisoners," she said. So it would definitely be aboveground, with large windows. She wasn't sure what rooms would be most likely, and silently cursed her complete lack of public school experience. "Come on." She departed to search in the opposite direction from where all of the soldiers were coming from.

Matthew spent their time at the camp talking with the others, cracking lighthearted jokes where he could to help lift spirits and distract people from their worries. It was going as well as he expected, which was not saying a whole lot. Then the sound of raised voices reached the group, and he looked back. Ah, shit, what now? He stood up and walked over to them, listening to the conversation. He looked back at Rachel, seeing if any of those names rang a bell for her, before speaking. "Hey now, is there any rush?" He hesitated then, realizing he was surrounded by heavily armed men and in way over his head. "We're not under attack right now..." They could be any moment. But he had to stall for time, if only for long enough to see if any news reached them about Adam and the others. Making Sophie leave the encampment without knowing if he was alright would be cruel. He quickly checked his phone, then continued. "What if we... talk it out? Why does Admiral Chandler want these two specifically extracted? Would a Marine transport or whatever you took to get here somehow not be a bigger target than a refugee camp? I mean if I was a fascist militia hellbent on a coup, I'd definitely aim my artillery at the Marines instead of fleeing civilians because priorities. So aren't the girls safer here?" He was trying, at least. He looked over at Cutty and Cocker in a silent request for help. @Hacky Slashy

"Look, for now it's safe but Los Angeles wasn't the only place hit. Some states were able to fight off the wolves of Liberty but others weren't as lucky. So you can imagine the Admiral would prefer his own children out of harm's way." Commander Stone explained the situation as Cutty and Cocker helped Matthew. "Look the kid's got a point and besides they sure as shit ain't leaving without their uncle and their boyfriends." Commander Stone relented and then asked what was the situation with Albert and the others. Cutty explained that they went to retrieve Adam before meeting up with them. "So they just blithely went back behind enemy lines?" Truthfully, Max would gleefully do the same for any of his brothers and sisters in the armed forces. He even received a medal for rescuing a downed apache pilot, although he made sure his team was credited as well. "Look we'll wait within reason for them. If not, we'll get you to a safe zone and go get them ourselves. You have my word." --- Peter managed to reroute reinforcements, unloading his machine gun into the enemy soldiers as Lycans joined the fray. "Shitballs!" Peter said as he shifted to his reptilian form and climbed to a roof. He checked on the explosives and though of where to place them. "Kill that son of a bitch!" One of them shouted as they searched for him. He was able to circle back to the school and saw their vehicle was still there. Inside the school, Albert and Jason led Iris and began searching the class rooms. A soldier came out of one of the rooms, but received a bullet to the face before he could raise his rifle. A door was then flung into the hallway, with a dazed and delirious Adam strolling out, landing on the floor with a thud. "Check up on him, we'll cover you." Jason and Albert stood ready with their rifles. @Al the Killer

Shit. Of course they hadn't only attacked the one city. They'd started in Philadelphia, after all, and Matthew was almost certain there were pockets of them throughout the country fighting now. How many werewolves were out there now? "So uh... how's Florida doing?" he asked hesitantly, remembering Raven's comment about Florida being lovely. But no, advice from someone whose ideal society was so fundamentally wrong probably wasn't advice he should be following. "Er... on second thought, never mind." He stepped back and let the others explain the situation in which, yes, his sister and a few others had blithely gone back behind enemy lines. He was still worried about that. Was she trying to die? God, he hoped not. "Right. Just until a little after sunrise, to see if we hear anything back from them at all." He looked up at the sky. They didn't have long. He looked down at his phone. No news.

Iris looked back at the flying door. Adam! She nodded to Albert, then ran over to Adam. "Speak if you can hear me," she told Adam as she knelt beside him. Checking his breathing wouldn't be reliable, so she had to check for responsiveness instead. She looked over at the other two. "Albert, keep a look out. Jason, drag that body over here." She nodded toward the soldier that had been shot in the face moments before. Adam would need blood, and they could use the soldier's uniform to shield him from the sun. Not like dead men needed modesty. Orders given, she looked Adam over, checking for any obvious wounds. Granted, there wasn't much she could do out here, but she needed to see what sort of condition he was in. "Do you know where you are?" she asked Adam as she inspected him. "What do you remember?" @Hacky Slashy

Maggie and Nebo came to greet the newcomers. Commander Stone then gave the men permission to pet the canines. Nebo then pawed at the seal Commander who could only resist for all of five seconds. Nebo then went to Sophie who came out to see the commotion. Luckily Rachel caught her up on the developments. "Not without the others." Nebo sat next to her, rubbing on her leg. One of the larger men, Dominic Santiago answered Matthew's question. "Florida's still standing. And is now the seat of what little government there is left." Maggie pawed at him for pets, going back to Matthew's side to bother him. Thesally remained inside cradling her and Matthew's feline child. Amber remained with Ally, attending to Chester and Ceasar. The large Mastiff had gotten along with the Corgi. Andrea Nelson was also helping however she could. --- "I'm ok. What about the others." Adam hoped to any God that was listening that Sophie and the others were ok. He was then anxious thar Iris, Albert and Jason had risked their lives to collect him. "They're ok. We're gonna take you to them and then figure things out from there." Jason dragged the dead soldier to Adam. Without any hesitation, he drained the man of every drop of blood. Then he began opening his chest and helped himself to his insides. He then got up as Albert and Jason looked in shock. Albert then gave Adam the uniform and allowed him to change. "So where's the rest of the rescue team?" "Us and Peter. We're it." Adam felt unless he could shift into that monster again, they'd have a difficult time getting out of here. He then began recalling something his father said. "A monster never dies. It just sheds its skin." He found himself saying it out loud. AMP, Craig Wedmore,Grant Roman and now James Raven and the Wolves of Liberty. Just like weeds, you pull them out and more take their place. @Al the Killer

Matthew reached down to pet Maggie. Maybe it had been decent advice after all, but it seemed like the WoL would be remiss not to attack Florida sooner or later. "I see... and is that where Admiral Chandler wants you to bring Sophie and Rachel?" he asked, curious about where the next destination was. After all, he knew Iris, Albert, and Adam would be deadset against sending them away without coming along. Purrcasso purred in Thesally's arms, occasionally lifting her head to lick the vampire's hand. Or bite it gently. She liked to keep things unpredictable.

"We got them out of LA," Iris explained. "They're waiting for us at a refugee camp already." She didn't mention location, direction, or distance. Better to keep the information she shared to what any WoL soldiers could already have guessed, in case someone could hear them. She stood up and stepped aside so he'd have space to feed. "They're fine, just worried about you. All of us were- Jesus fucking Christ." Her explanation trailed off into shock as her friend casually disemboweled a corpse. Horrifying, but scientific curiosity dictated that she couldn't look away. At least her job had caused her to have a strong stomach. "At least you can eat solids now," she commented, for once being the one to find the silver lining. "Anyway, that saying only applies metaphorically, so let's still put in every effort to make sure you don't die." Still, she understood what he really meant. This wouldn't be over when they defeated the Wolves of Liberty. Not really. There would always be danger in the world. She looked toward the way they had come down the hall. "Once you're done with dinner, make sure you're fully covered and let's get out of here. The sun is rising soon, and I get the feeling someone wanted to watch you burn." If only because of all the trouble he'd caused them. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally laughed as Purcasso nibbled on her hand. "I see you're not the only one who says I love you with her teeth." She kissed the cat on the head and continued petting. "No. Somewhere a little more secure. And judging by Rachel's expression, you're likely coming with as well. I just hope your sister and the other know what they're doing. We've seen some downright weird shit when this all started." Lieutenant Santiago said as Maggie licked Matthew's hand, then rubbing against his leg. --- Adam finished his gruesome feast as he listened inside the building. There were other prisoners gathered here. "Don't suppose you brought a big enough vehicle? There's other captured prisoners here." Peter came running towards the group. "We got a problem. To say we kicked a hornets nest is an understatement. Reinforcements are coming here any second." Outside humvees and a helicopter were surrounding the former high school. General Raven hopped out of the helicopter and had a megaphone on him. "Ok! You had your fun. Come out now and surrender. You'll be treated somewhat humanely!" 'I see his negotiation skills are slightly better than Marlowe's' Adam thought to himself as he felt that same familiar sensation. "Look's like the other guy wants to come out." Adam said to the others, not wanting to be the same as the character that hides a zombie bite and not alert the group. Albert looked outside and saw a sizeable force. "We need to think of something fast." @Al the Killer

"I'm sure they do," Matthew said, partially because he wanted to believe it, himself. He wanted to believe they would be fine, but he was starting to see why his sister was so worried about everything all the time. "Iris is the only civilian in that group, and she's fought off her share of monsters." He scratched behind Maggie's ears. "Though... I'm sure they wouldn't complain about a bit of backup?" he suggested, hopefully.

Shit. They definitely didn't have a big enough vehicle for more prisoners. Or the firepower to fight off all of the reinforcements Iris could hear surrounding them. She considered the situation. They didn't have much time before sunrise, and there were only five of them against an army. Peter had already used the explosives, which further reduced their options. "If we send Adam out to fight once he transforms, we'll end up with the same problem as before," she pointed out. "And if we can't make short work of them before sunrise, we might as well be killing him, rendering this entire rescue mission pointless." She thought about it for a moment. Everything Matthew had mentioned, and what Russ had said. There was a chance she'd be kept alive enough to turn the situation to her advantage. "One of us surrendering might serve as a diversion for the rest to escape." She closed her eyes, thinking about it. "Someone more useful alive than dead, who will be seen as less of a threat." @Hacky Slashy

Seal Commander Stone perked up at Matthew's suggestion. "I might have an idea." He then left to make a radio call. Maggie then licked Matthew's hand. Sophie stepped over to Matthew with Nebo in tow. "What'd I miss?" Nebo sat down and scratched his ear with his hind leg. --- Adam had transformed into his hybrid form as Albert and Jason protested Iris' plan. However Adam remained still, crouching down. "I know a way out! I was the janitor here!" A man from one of the class rooms said. Albert proceeded to shout for him and anyone else to stand back. He shot the door open and the man introduced himself as Raul Tejada. "I was the janitor here. There's a barred up section in the basement. It leads to the sewer and we can slip out without them noticing." @Al the Killer

An idea was promising. Matthew didn't want to interfere any more than he already had, so he stepped back and let the Commander make his call, trying not to listen in too much. At the sound of Sophie's voice, he turned to look at her. "Your dad wants you out of here, but they're going to wait until Iris and the rest get back." He lowered his voice. "And don't get your hopes too much because I'm not totally sure, but I think I just talked them into sending backup for the rescue mission?" He hoped so, at least; any little bit could help.

Iris crossed her arms as the others protested her idea. It wasn't that she wanted to give herself up and find her own way out of there, so much as that she wanted to make sure the rest of them got out safely. "Well, unless one of you has a better idea, it will have to be one of those two op-" She stopped as someone shouted about knowing a way out. It could have been a trap, a plan to lead any 'escapees' right back into custody - that's what she would have done, in the WoL's position - but it was worth taking the chance. She waited for the door to open and the man to come out before speaking again. "Yes, a better idea. Thank you, Raul." She patted Adam's side and looked up to him. "And it will be safe from the sunlight, but... will he fit?" @Hacky Slashy

Sophie took in the information and then patted Nebo. "I promise, you're coming with us. We're gonna reunite with Grandpa soon." She cooed to Nebo who then nuzzled against her and then Matthew. Thesally instructed Ally on how to brush Purcasso. "You're doing great." Chester wandered around and then trotted up to Matthew. Ceasar pawed at Andrea , who gave the Mastiff head scratches. Commander Stone came back to Matthew and Sophie. "We were able to scramble a QRF of Army Rangers. They'll get there in under an hour. Would be faster but they can't fly in and out." ---- Adam stood up and wrapped Iris, Albert, Jason and Peter in a hug with his wings. He then let them down. Raul and few captured Guardsman and civilians were considerably rattled until Albert calmed them down. The group now numbered 60. Raul led the civilians to the basement while the 20 guardsmen armed themselves with WOL weaponry. "Here it is. They sealed up the wall but explosives.....or a pissed off monster could break through that." Raul said as Adam broke through the concrete wall. @Al the Killer

Matthew looked over as the Commander returned. "That's good," he said, then gave Sophie a questioning look. "I think?" He'd never really concerned himself with how all of this worked. "So, now we just wait?" The thought of it made him restless, but he wasn't about to get in anyone's way and make things worse.

Iris laughed, patting Adam's arm before getting set down. "It's fine," she assured the others. "He's with us. Now, everyone who wants to get out of here, follow Raul." She followed close behind, herself, keeping a close eye on their guide. Maybe it was paranoia, but paranoia was exactly what had kept her alive for this long. Once they reached the wall, she took a step back to make space. "Then it's a good thing we have-" Anything she might have finished that sentence with was interrupted by the pissed off monster breaking through the wall with a loud crash. Pale grey dust clung to the air where a wall had been, but they couldn't exactly wait for that dust to clear. "Are you alright?" she asked Adam, before covering her nose and mouth with her sleeve and walking forward into the tunnel. It appeared unguarded so far, but she remained alert, just in case. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo pawed at Sophie, who proceeded to reward him with head scratches. "Yes, hello. I'm sure the others will be back soon." Nebo and Maggie then turned their attention towards Matthew. Thesally was resting on a cot, congratulating Ally on brushing Purcasso clean. --- Adam sniffed and then went ahead. Raul led the civilians while Albert and the Guardsmen ran security. The sewer smells were rather unpleasant to all three creatures. Once everyone was in the sewers, Peter led the way. "No worries, I know my way around these parts....unfortunately." Adam stuck close to the civilians and Iris. Albert and the guardsmen guarded the rear while Jason was in the front with Peter. James Raven and the WOL forces stormed the school but found the premises empty save for a few dead guards. He growled at their uselessness. His fault for taking in any desperate bandit and highway men. All they were good for was cannon fodder. @Al the Killer

Matthew paused to pet both dogs. "I'm sure it won't be long," he promised, and hoped he was right about that. "Come on, let's go back to the others." He returned to the shelter where Thesally and the rest had settled in. They seemed to have a comfortable enough temporary setup, if only for now. He stood beside her and reached down to stroke his girlfriend's hair. "Some Army Rangers are heading over to help with the rescue mission for Adam." He lowered his voice and added, admittedly still worried, "there's not much time left before sunrise."

Iris followed close behind Adam. At least they wouldn't have to worry about the sun out here. It was just when they got out that there might be problems. She didn't want to stay down here until the next night. Especially when there was always the risk of being followed. "No worries? You really don't know me well," she joked to Peter, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "But at least we can trust your sense of direction." As they walked, she listened for signs of trouble. They were too far for her to hear anything happening in the school, though. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally caressed Matthew's hand and smiled at him. "Great. We missed you." She said as she pet Purcasso. Nebo and Maggie were now preoccupied with Ally while Creek and Chester trotted over to Matthew. --- Adam in his hybrid form followed closely, listening for threats as he heard two Lycans tracking the group. He ran back to intercept them. The werewolves tried to pounce on him, but were both caught by the Hybrid creature. Adam bit one of their heads off and crushed it in his jaws. Albert and a guardsmen ran over to check on Adam as he finished the other one off by ripping his spine out. Adam then perked up as a squad of WOL opened fire. 6 men had opened up on the hybrid creature as Adam charged forward, ripping and tearing until there was nothing left. Adam and Albert made it back to Iris' side. The Hybrid smiled at Iris and then went back to the front. "We're almost out." Peter announced to the group. The civilians were relieved as the smell was starting to get to them. @Al the Killer

"I missed you, too." Matthew took a moment to kiss Thesally's lips, then Purrcasso's forehead. The cat purred, rubbing her head against his beard until he picked her up. It helped calm him a bit, at least. "I'm not sure exactly where our next stop is once the others return. 'A secure location' is all the information I managed to get about it."

Once the fighting ended, Iris met Adam halfway. "Are you alright? Any wounds at all?" she asked, since there had been a whole lot of gunfire directed at him. But he seemed fine, so she didn't try to stop him from going ahead. She turned her attention instead toward Albert as they continued walking. "And you're fine too, I hope?" At least they were close to the end. It wasn't exactly a pleasant route to take - a shitty one, one might say - but it was still better than the alternatives. She caught up to Adam as they approached the end. "We'll need something to cover you with when we get out," she said. "Peter, do you know exactly where this leads out to? What should we be prepared for?" Of course, there was always the risk of coming out into an ambush. @Hacky Slashy

"Well, we'll figure things out from there. Now if you'll excuse me. Hello." Thesally crouched down to pet both dogs. Nebo and Maggie licked her face as she laughed. Ally and Amber took care of Ceasar and Chester. Sandra and Andrea took care of the wounded in the camp while Randall, Cutty and Cocker stood guard. The Wessons met up with the group in the tent. "Truck's as fixed as it will get. Sun's coming up any second though." --- Adam was ahead of the group and they all stopped at a gate. With sunlight shining through. "Some factories that are currently out of comission. Whether they'll be back up and running, good question. Adam knocked down the gate and basked in th sunlight rather than bake. He sat down and scratched behind his ear with his leg while the others joined him outside. "Adam! Wai-!" Albert didn't get to finish as he and the others saw Adam not burning to a crisp. "I guess you can add that to the benefits pile." Albert said as he held Iris' hand. @Al the Killer

Matthew smiled as he watched Thesally with the dogs. "We will," he agreed, then looked over at the Wessons. Sunrise was... Bad, when the others hadn't returned yet. He picked up his phone, checking to see if Iris had sent word of their progress. Nothing yet. His face fell. No news was bad news. At least bad news could only reach him if one of them was still alive. Bad news was closure. "Nothing from Iris and the rest."

Iris looked at the gate. "Alright, so how are we going to cover-? Adam, no!" She ran ahead to stop him, but too late. And it didn't matter anyway. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't scare us like that. Anyway, this is good. We just have to find a way back to the camp. I don't think we can risk going back to the Humvee." She stepped out and looked around. It appeared that the factories were still abandoned. A sleeping bag and some empty bottles in one corner indicated that a squatter or two had moved in, but nobody seemed to be there at the moment. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie licked Thesally's face and then went back to bothering Matthew. Thesally stood up as the Husky wandered around their shelter. "No worries, your sister has that same stupid luck that Adam has." She squeezed his hand and pet Maggie with the other. --- While the others looked around the area, Adam and Jason perked up as a loud explosion boomed nearby. Adam looked up to see a tomahawk missile cruise towards a target somewhere in the city. The civilians panicked until they were calmed down. Adam listened as he heard combat chatter between WOL soldiers and another faction. He flew towards the fighting and saw Army Rangers engaging the WOL. Fully transformed troopers were about to descend upon them as Adam pounced first. He picked one up and ripped him in two, showering the WOL squad with blood and gore. The other werewolves were about to pounce as Adam grabbed one by the leg and used him as a make shift club. He barreled through the remaining hostiles and bit the surviving Lycan's head off. Adam found himself surrounded by the Army Rangers who were nervous and rattled at the sight of the creature. Adam crouched down and gestured for them to follow him. They all met up with Iris, Albert and the rest of the party. "Captain Foley, Army Rangers. Albert Quince, Iris Ellsworth, Adam Cain, Jason Redstone and Peter Mayhew? We're here to get you out. Orders from the top." @Al the Killer

"Dumb luck," Matthew echoed, then sighed. "As opposed to smart luck, which would be never getting into these situations in the first place." At least there was a chance they would make it out alright. He smiled over at Thesally, appreciating the comfort she offered. "I'm still gonna keep an eye out in case she sends any updates." Or in case Albert did. Or literally anyone.

Iris ducked on instinct as the explosion sounded. Not that ducking had any effect, in this case. "Everyone else, stay here," she ordered as Adam flew off. To emphasize her point, she held tightly onto Albert's hand to make sure he didn't go off to join the fighting anyway. With missiles flying around, she wasn't about to fuck around and find out. They didn't have to wait too long. As she heard their names, she stood up straight and faced Captain Foley. Good news, if it meant they got out of here. An extraction was just what they needed. But she still had... concerns. She looked around at the other civilians with them before speaking. "And what about the others we freed?" she asked. "Can you spare anyone to escort them to a safe location, as well? It doesn't have to be the same one, just has to be safer than here." @Hacky Slashy

Maggie went towards Thesally, putting both front paws on her leg. "Aww, come on up." She picked up the pit bull cradled her. Thesally then rubbed her belly. Commander Stone entered the tent and gave Matthew an update. "Good news. Drone footage picked up the Rangers meeting up with the group....and one creature. They're figuring out an exfil plan now. Thought you wanted to know." Sophie perked up and Nebo smiled. --- "We'll get you all out of here first and figure it out. We were able to scramble a battalion to come over here. Now let's get going." Captain Foley then proceeded to lead the group and then asked Albert and Iris what's the deal with Adam. "It's a really long story. Maybe tell you about it if we got time later." Albert said as Jason and Peter helped the Army Ranger fireteam lead the civilians to the designated evac point. Adam stuck by Iris and Albert's side. Albert held Iris as the survivors moved along. @Al the Killer

Matthew turned around as Commander Stone spoke up with fantastic news. Right when he was worrying! "Creature? That must be Adam," he said. Despite his attempts to speak casually, there was a breathless relief to his voice. His sister and friend really were gifted with immense dumb luck after all. "Don't worry, they're all safe with him. And thank you. For everything."

It was enough of a plan for now. Iris followed Captain Foley alongside Albert. "It's not that long of a story," Iris said. "Adam was a vampire, then he drank werewolf blood, survived the transformation process, and is a hybrid of the two now. We just broke him out of an enemy prison." She looked over at her boyfriend. "See? Simple and concise." She glanced back to make sure the others were evacuating just fine, then held tightly onto Albert's hand. They actually managed to get out of another one of these messes alive. She'd had some serious doubts about that. @Hacky Slashy

"I'll keep you posted." The seal Commander then left the tent. Thesally smiled and squeezed Matthew's hand. "What did I tell you? That kid can survive anything. Plus with your sister there, his odds have vastly improved." She said not even taking into account the two friendly monsters with them and the team sent to extract them. Maggie curled up and laid down on the vampire's lap. --- Albert smiled at Iris' explanation, concise and to the point. Captain Foley still had a hard time believing it despite the the creature accompanying them. "Why couldn't monsters have stayed fictional?" Adam shared his sentiment, but in a strange way, it was likely for the better monsters existed. Who knows how life would've turned out for them if that were the case. They managed to reach the extraction with an assortment of humvees and Stryker vehicles. Several more Explosions sounded in the city. "Let's get the fuck out of here!" Captain Foley said as they mounted the civilians and surviving guardsme. Albert loaded Iris and his group into a humvee while Adam rode on top. @Al the Killer

"Monsters were never fictional, Captain," Iris said, not quite intending her statement to be a metaphor for human nature, but here they were. "Just better hidden." She looked back over her shoulder at the sound of explosions. They couldn't waste any more time, even with Adam's new immunity to sunlight. With Albert's help, she climbed up into the Humvee and held out a hand to help him be seated next to her. Getting the fuck out of here was indeed an excellent plan.

Matthew looked over at Thesally. "Yeah, starting to think that trying to kill either one of them is just a one-way ticket to hell," he agreed. Especially when they were around to have each other's backs. He reached over to pet Maggie. "Don't worry, your parents will be back soon." In the meantime, all they could do was wait. @Hacky Slashy

Albert followed the convoy back to the refugee camp. Captain Foley gave Albert a radio which he used to contact the others. Adam yawned and laid down on the roof of the humvee. --- Back at the camp, Seal Commander Stone came back into the tent and handed Matthew a radio. "For you." Maggie licked Matthew's hand and sat up while Thesally pet the pitbull. Sophie and Nebo walked over and waited for news. --- The bombing of the city stopped as soon as it began. General Raven was livid at losing the hybrid creature and a number of his men and equipment. "It was a sub that hit us sir. By the time we were able to scramble a ship to after it, it was gone. Just like in Afghanistan, enemy shot at us and then ran away before we could respond." One of Jame's Lieutenants gave his report of casualties and other victories and losses. "We were also able to eliminate a few generals and top brass. Admiral Chandler's still breathing though." James Raven growled. He was hoping for a quick, decapitating strike to further divide and conquer, but as long there were leaders for the people to rally behind, his conquest will get a lot harder. @Al the Killer

Iris leaned in closer to Albert so she could join in on the radio conversation. After all, she'd been a bit worried about them, too; anything could have happened in her absence. But it seemed that what had happened had been her brother convincing someone to send reinforcements, which honestly filled her with no shortage of pride. Back at the camp, Matthew thanked Commander Stone and took the radio. "Iris? Albert?" he asked, anticipating news directly from them. Then, because he wasn't sure if radio etiquette worked the same as in movies, "uh... Over." "It's us," Iris confirmed. "We've got Adam back and he's basking in the sunlight, not on fire. How are things at the camp?" @Hacky Slashy

Adam laid his wolfish head down and kept an eye out for any threats. Some raiders were about to ambush the vehicles before noticing they were military vehicles. The giant monster resting on top of a humvee didn't inspire confidence for the bandits either. --- "Everything's fine, here. Can I talk to Adam?" Sophie said , answering Iris' question. "Sorry, sweetie. You'll need to wait a bit. Don't know how long until he changes back. We'll be there shortly. Take it easy." Albert then gave the radio back to Iris. "Dude! Really?!" Jason said as Adam had his tongue hanging out as he laid his head out. Peter could only laugh at the absurdity of the hybrid creature acting like a dog. @Al the Killer

"He's alright," Iris assured Sophie. "Just..." She looked up toward the roof as she heard Jason's complaints. "...Acting like a giant puppy right now. He'll be glad to see you when we get there, I'm sure." She considered whether there was more to say. Mostly, she was just tired, but relieved the rescue mission had been a success. "We'll see you all soon. Could you hand the radio back to Matthew?" On hearing his name, Matthew leaned in to listen to the radio, holding a hand out for it. "Hey, Iris. So it went well? The Army rangers showed up before anyone got hurt?" Iris smiled. "No, plenty of enemy soldiers got hurt," she replied for the sake of smartassery. "But we got out unscathed. Thanks to you, I guess. Didn't realize you could be so influential." Matthew laughed. "Neither did I, but I'm pretty sure the situation alone was enough to convince them. Just practically speaking." @Hacky Slashy

Albert and the others along with the Rangers and civilians were able to make it to the camp. Adam got on the ground when he was immediately swarmed into submission by Maggie and Nebo. Maggie then jumped on Iris, bombarding her with excited barks and sneezes. Albert crouched down and pet the dog that was acting like they were gone for a year. Rachel wrapped Jason in hugs and kisses. "Thank God you're ok." Jason smiled and returned the affection. "It was a quick in and out. Easy." Creek and Ally greeted Jason while Sophie went to Adam's side, who had turned back to normal, well somewhat, only with Nebo still pinning him down. He was hardly able to stand without help, but he kissed Sophie and patted Nebo. Thesally heard the others coming back and informed Matthew. "They're back. You can quit worrying." @Al the Killer

Iris got out of the vehicle to greet Maggie, scratching behind her ears. "Yes, hello there! We missed you too," she cooed, stopping to pat the dog's head. It was good to see nothing had attacked the camp, and everyone was perfectly fine. "Did you do a good job of guarding this place? I'm sure you did." She smiled, then looked over as Matthew ran out after hearing the news from Thesally. "Come over here, Matt." "Only if you're not going to treat me like your dog," her brother joked, before walking over to pull her into a hug. "Good to see you're as unkillable as Thesally says." Iris chuckled. "Not unkillable, it's just nobody's tried hard enough." She let go of him and looked back toward Commander Stone. "Now, where's the next destination?" Never mind that she was operating on no sleep; if it was important, she didn't want to waste any time. @Hacky Slashy

"It's classified but you'll get a full explanation when we get there ma'am." Commander Stone then gathered his men and helped the group pack their things. Albert pet Maggie while Cutty and Cocker wheeled a man towards him and Iris. LAPD chief James Riker survived the battle, but was now crippled. "Good to see you two made it. I won't be running in triathlons anytime soon, but I'll live." Maggie Trotted up to him placed her paws on his knee. He scratched the dog behind her ear before she went back to Iris. Maggie distracted Iris while Chief Riker said his goodbyes to Albert. He then gave Albert a small box. "Hurry the hell up before the planet explodes son." Cutty then wheeled him away. Peter reunited with Chester. "Thanks for taking good care of him, Ally." Chester nuzzled against him and then helped the women pack. Adam held Sophie and then sat down. His body felt sore but he knew it would be just temporary. Amber, Brad and Randall helped cover Thesally in preparation of their trip. Nebo, Ceasar and Creek went up to Iris as Sandra and Ally reunited with Jason. "Glad you made it back. I'm wondering where do we go now." She said while holding Ally. Andrea had readied and organized their things as the Wessons joined them. "It's been a doozy of a day, I'll tell you. But it's best to get going before those pissed oversized wolves come looking for payback." Cletus said while Earl nodded in agreement. @Al the Killer

Of course it was classified, but worth a shot. At least they were going straight there. "Riker," she greeted. "Better to see you alive than not." Serious injuries were to be expected, as was death. The former was still preferable. She turned toward Maggie, effectively distracted by the dog. "Yes, I'm still here Maggie. Aren't you just the sweetest little baby-? What are we hurrying with?" She didn't look up though. Matthew, on the other hand, had not been distracted. He gave Albert a knowing smile as he answered, covering for him. "Packing everything up," he said. "Come on, I know you guys just rescued Adam, but there's still stuff to do." His tone remained light, almost even playful, and he walked back to help with the efforts. There wasn't much to pack, since they hadn't really settled in, but he would help carry things as needed. "Hey Thesally," he greeted as he walked back inside. "Let me know if you need help getting covered." He paused to whisper, so quietly that only she (and potentially the other vampire) could hear, "or uncovered." With a wink, he walked away and continued to help. Iris was now petting four dogs, which made this the best morning ever despite the sleep deprivation. "Wherever we're going, I am sleeping on the way there," she decided, then patted Albert's shoulder. "Come on, let's get going." @Hacky Slashy

Albert held her close and helped escort the others to several humvees vehicles while Commander Stone instructed him to follow their vehicles. Adam was dressed in pants and another oversized shirt Sophie and Rachel's dad usually wore when he was stateside. He was now able to somewhat move, but still had to rely on Sophie as a crutch. "Sorry about that episode earlier. I'd rather have gone wi-" "It's ok. I'm just glad you're back." Sophie smiled as Nebo pawed at the hybrid. Adam pet the husky and scratched behind his ears.The Wessons volunteered their rig to carry the group. Rachel sat with Jason an his family, with Creek on her lap. Thesally sat with Matthew, Iris, Maggie and Purcasso in the front. "I'll wake you when we get there." He laid Iris on his lap and Maggie on hers, adding some weight on him, but he didn't mind. Maggie sat still and smiled at the two. Thesally then whispered to Matthew. "You're definitely unwrapping me later." She would've licked him if the covering allowed it. @Al the Killer

Iris joined Albert in the vehicle. Given her exhaustion leading to apathy of where she ended up sitting, she didn't mind resting in his lap right now. She relaxed against him and closed her eyes. "Thank y- oof." She opened one eye to look at the pitbull who had joined him. "Not a lapdog, girlie." She smiled anyway and patted Maggie's head before closing her eyes again. It didn't matter how the road went, really. Short of a full-scale battle, nothing was about to disturb her rest. She couldn't help but feel more comfortable in his arms, after all. Matthew chuckled at Thesally's comment as he sat beside her. "I'll keep that in mind." The advantage of working a night shift meant that he was considerably more well-rested than everyone who had to work during the day. Purrcasso jumped up into his lap and curled up, rubbing her leg against his leg as she purred. @Hacky Slashy

Albert kissed Iris' head and pet Maggie as the convoy moved towards an airforce base. It had been an eventful day to say the least, but thankfully all was well now. Adam rested his head on Sophie's shoulder while Nebo sat on their laps. Adam was hardly able to resist, even if he wanted to. He was able to pet the good boy. Thesally put her head on Matthew's shoulder and pet their kitten. "Good kitty." @Al the Killer

Matthew brought a hand up to rest on her head. He would have played gently with her hair, if not for the need to prevent her from catching fire in the sunlight. For now, just holding her would be enough. He smiled and held onto her for the remainder of the trip. After a night and morning spent worrying about every little thing, it was nice to not have to talk or think about a whole lot. They were on their way somewhere secure, at least for now, and could rest for a bit. Iris had certainly taken advantage of the opportunity, and was fast asleep in Albert's lap. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally smiled from her covered face at both Matthew and Purcasso. Thankfully this was one of the very few times in her life things worked themselves out. Adam was completely knocked out, snoring blissfully while Sophie ruffled his hair. Nebo laid down on their laps, resting on his favorite human and monster. Albert brushed Iris' hair behind her ear as Maggie laid down, tail wagging and nibbling on Albert's hand. --- The group arrived at a makeshift forward operating base. Albert carried Iris while the group helped each other get out of the bus and began entering 3 seperate V22-Osprey helicopters. Albert carried Iris towards their new ride. Cletus and Earl donated their rig to the military. "Try to take care of Betty, ok? Don't let those overgrown furries molest her. Err no offense." Cletus said to a scowling Jason, who was ushered away by Rachel. @Al the Killer

Iris began to stir as she was picked up. "Hm?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her eyes, looking around. "How long was I asleep?" She tried not to yawn as she blinked the sleep from her eyes. Once they were near the helicopters, she patted his arm. "I can walk from here." It wasn't far, she still had her leg on, and she didn't want to inconvenience him. Matthew picked up Purrcasso and stepped out of the vehicle. "Never flown before," he commented, looking toward the helicopters. He supported the cat with one arm, keeping her proppes up against his shoulder as he held out a hand up help Thesally get out. "At least we're getting the hell out of LA." Hopefully to somewhere better and not somewhere even worse off. @Hacky Slashy

"Just three hours. Give or take." Albert said as Maggie barked and pawed at Iris as she was set down. Albert got on an osprey with Iris, along with Sophie, Adam, Nebo and Matthew and Thesally. Rachel rode with Jason, Ally, Sandra and Creek along with the others. They were in the air as Maggie and Nebo went up to Iris and Albert. Adam was thoroughly knocked out while the gunners on the helicopter kept watch for threats. "ETA 2 hours until we reach HQ." The pilot's announced as they took off to their new home. @Al the Killer

Iris helped Maggie up into the helicopter. This all felt surreal. Could she really trust the thought of safety after spending so much time in an active combat zone? Was this temporary, or would they have to settle in to a new place permanently if LA was as fucked as it had looked? She tried not to think about it as she folded down a couple of the seats for herself and Albert and settled into one. Everything in its own time... "So, I guess this means I'll at least get to meet more of your family," she told Albert in an attempt to lighten the mood a bit. She was pretty sure his brother-in-law had been mentioned, at least. She reached down to pet Maggie and Nebo. Matthew kissed the top of Purrcasso's head. "Better his than ours," he joked, pulling more of the seats down. He looked around the helicopter's interior, curious to see more of it. @Hacky Slashy

"Yes. It was bound to happen sooner or later." Albert said as Maggie and Nebo continued pestering Iris. Adam found himself waking up again and overheard Matthew's comment. "Why? What's with your fami-oh. Oh yeah." Adam gathered that his and Iris' family didn't exactly get along with one another. Bad enough that they took their chances out in the world rather than remain together. "Hmm? Oh right. Your family was a little too cultish for your liking. I mean how insufferable do you need to be for your flesh and blood to think a relationship with a literal monster is more appealing?" Thesally said as she pet Purcasso. @Al the Killer

"Hm... long story," Iris told Adam. Three hours of sleep hadn't been quite enough though, and she could feel her eyelids growing heavy again as she leaned against Albert's shoulder. "Let's just say that right now, our parents and some of our siblings are most likely lecturing anyone who will listen about how recent events are a sign of the End Times, and blaming it on the fact that people aren't religious enough. Or are religious, but in a way they don't like." Probably, they would also claim it was her fault for not having ten or twenty children by now. She yawned and closed her eyes. Matthew nodded up. "That's how insufferable. That about sums it up," he confirmed, then looked over at Thesally. "And hey, you're plenty appealing without comparing you to them. I don't need childhood trauma or whatever to love you." The fact that his parents would hate her hadn't even been a factor in their relationship. In hindsight, it was a green flag, but not a part of his decision. He wrapped an arm around Thesally and glanced over at Iris, who seemed about to fall asleep again. "But that's enough family talk, I think. Clearly, the missile is eepy..." "We never should have given you internet access," Iris muttered. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie reached up as Albert picked her up, placing the dog on Iris' lap. Maggie then curled up and nodded off. "Yeah. Funny enough how things were bad even before now. And I wonder how would they explain monsters? The people who wrote the Bible happened to leave things out?" Adam nodded as he held on to Sophie and tended to Nebo with his other hand. He now found himself getting anxious. Of all the worries in the world, the last thing he expected was meeting the girlfriend's father. He could only imagine what he'd feel about him if he were human, let alone an entirely different species. Sophie nodded off and rested her head on his shoulder. He brushed her blonde hair behind her ear. Thesally wrapped an arm around Matthew. "So, should I sport a hail Satan shirt whenever I might meet your parents? What do you think?" Thesally spoke to Purcasso as if she'd answer back with more than a meow. @Al the Killer

"Angels or demons," Matthew guessed. "Depending on whether they're pro- or anti-monster. I never claimed they were predictable." He paused, taking a moment longer to consider. "Then again, in terms of numbers, I guess monsters would be considered a minority? So probably demons. No offense to any of the vampires, werewolves, or hybrids in this copter." He snuggled against Thesally, perfectly comfortable here. Purrcasso gave her a judgmental look in response then jumped down to explore the aircraft. He looked over at Thesally. "Oh they're bound to think I'm dead by now, and I was kinda planning to let them keep thinking that. But also yes, absolutely go for it... What about you, Thesally? What was your family like?" Iris had quickly fallen back to sleep already. @Hacky Slashy

"Well, funny enough, they were just like yours. Faithful to the gods. Acolytes of Apollo. Despite the Spartan wars, us Trojans had a relatively peaceful life, until one day the prince couldn't keep it in his pants, brought the spartan queen home. Her husband, the king of Sparta wasn't too happy about that. He brought his army along with King Agamemnon's entire Greek army to finally conquer Troy. Mother and Father were confident the gods would protect us. Prince Hector led out forces, including my older brother to fight the invaders. They were winning until Hector murdered Achilles's lover Patroclus. Achilles and Hector then faced off in a duel. Hector was good, but Achiles was just better. After that, both of our armies simply fought each other to a stand still. But....then the Greeks seemingly retreated." Thesally took on a more sadder tone, recalling her human life. "I think I remember reading about this story." Adam said as he looked over at Thesally and Matthew. Nebo walked over and placed his paws on her knees. Albert decided to get some sleep along with Iris and Maggie. @Al the Killer

Matthew listened with fascination. Sometimes he forgot that his girlfriend was literally ancient but, at times like this, where he did remember, he didn't mind; it was a fascinating history, one he'd never actually learned before. Honestly, he couldn't say he blamed Achilles. If something happened to Thesally, he'd probably be pissed too. He rubbed her back gently as her tone grew more sorrowful. "Do you miss being human?" he asked softly. "It sounds like it was a long time ago..." Understatement, really, but he hadn't really learned much pre-American history aside from what was included in his family's religion. And in that case, he wasn't entirely sure how much was history versus myth. @Hacky Slashy

"I did, but at this point I just accepted that this is life now. I thought there would be nothing else to it.....until you three came along." Thesally said referring to Matthew, Adam and Purcasso. "And yes, you too, Nebo." She scratched behind the Husky's ears as she continued her story. "We celebrated when the Greeks gave us a gift: A giant wooden horse. That fool King Priam brought it into the city rather than burn it. Later that night, all hell broke loose as you would all say. I woke up to thousands of Greeks slaughtering, raping and pillaging everything in sight. Our soldiers had little time to react. My father was cut down before my eyes. My mother and my sisters.....they weren't as lucky. Those of us who could fled through tunnels, thanks to Prince Hector's wife leading us. My home, burned. My family dead. We fled into Mount Ida, but the Greeks followed us. I was separated from the others, running into a cave." @Al the Killer

Purrcasso wandered back to the group and jumped into Thesally's lap as the story continued. After a moment of pacing as much as the limited space would allow, she settled down, nuzzling against the vampire's leg. Matthew smiled at his girlfriend and cat, but quickly sobered as the subject matter grew considerably darker. He listened silently, wondering who the hell wouldn't question an enemy sending a random giant horse as a gift. Then again, hindsight... "That's... terrible. I'm sorry," he said softly. Then, since it sounded like there was more to the story, "is this going into when you were turned, or did that happen later?" He had to admit, he'd been a bit curious about that, and now they had the opportunity to talk about it. @Hacky Slashy

"Yes. The Greek soldiers had me cornered....but something worse lived in that cave." Thesally said as she let Purcasso settle down on her lap. --- 1194 BC Shortly after the fall of Troy Thesally found herself captured by three Greek soldiers, laughing at her torment. "Give the bitch to me!" One of the soldiers said as she was thrown towards him by his compatriot. He pulled her in for a kiss, only to receive a bite for his troubles. She was then backhanded to the floor. Although dazed, she spotted a tall, thin and pale figure walking towards them. She crawled towards the figure's leg. "Fucking Trojan whore. I'll make you scream for tha-" He didn't get to finish as his jaw was violently divorced from his body. He was then lifted into the air. The creature bit down on his throat and drained him. He was then thrown at a second Greek soldiers, pinning him down while the third attempted to strike the creature down. But it was noticeably faster. His eyes were slashed, blinding him while the 2nd Greek soldier was grabbed by throat. Only instead of killing him, the creature broke his neck, impaled him. She then knocked the other soldier unconscious. Once the skirmish, well more of a slaughter was finished, the creature walked uo to Thesally, examining her. Thesally saw that she resembled a woman, but wasn't entirely human. "Strange, most people would flee at my presence. I could open you from your belly to your brain right now if I wanted to. But, I have a better idea. How would you like to ascend? Never feel helpless again? The gods may have forsaken you, but I won't. You'll be given the strength of the darkness. Or you can simply run out and take your chances with the men outside. Your choice, child." Thesally looked up and it only took 10 seconds for her to decide. Her Father, Mother, sisters and brothers were all gone because of one man's greed. For them, Agamemnon would pay for it with his life. "Yes." She sniffed as she was helped up by the blonde, pale woman

1:05 PM

. She took Thesally deep into her home along with the two Greek soldiers. She cut open her wrist and filled a chalice with blood. "What's your name, child? I am Miranda." "Thesally Adamos." She sniffed as Miranda gave her the chalice. "Drink, and your life will forever belong to the night." --- "And so I drank from the chalice." Thesally said while Adam listened to the story. --- Thesally forced herself to drink the bitter liquid. She wasn't expecting wine, but it was something she would only subject the Greeks to. "What now?" She said as she heaved and gagged. "Now......you die." Miranda said to Thesally's horror. @Al the Killer

Not mentioning what the offer entailed, particularly the dying part, before Thesally agreed to it seemed ethically dubious. But given the alternative outcome, Matthew had to admit Miranda got a pass. At least she'd asked, and even brought two soldiers along for a first meal. "Putting it like that sounds pretty dramatic. Did she at least follow up by letting you know you wouldn't stay totally dead?" He leaned his head against her shoulder. "I'm glad you're here now though... alright, no more interruptions from me. Promise." He smiled, settling in to listen to the rest of her story.

4:27 AM

@Hacky Slashy

"No, she absolutely did not. She just walked away while I writhed in agony as I became what I am now." She smiled bitterly as she remembered the beginning of her new life. She ruffled her boyfriend's hair and switched between petting Purcasso and Nebo with the other hand. --- 1194 BC Thesally woke up, seeing the chamber she was in, surrounded by skeletons, of both human and animals. She then saw Miranda standing over the disabled soldiers. "Hello, my dear. Terribly sorry for the little joke, but I hardly interacted with anyone. It's boring, to be just alone. But now, you must feed. You'll always need blood to sustain yourself. Enjoy these two." The Greek soldiers pleaded for Mercy, in which Thesally replied by giving them the same mercy they would've given her. She sank her teeth into the paralyzed soldier first while the other tried to get away. Unfortunately his lack of eyes made that task difficult. Once Thesally had finished with his comrade, she picked him up and faced him. "Perish!" She screamed in a voice that wasn't her own and drained him of blood. Miranda looked on like a proud mother seeing her child take her first steps, or kill their first prey. "Come, I'm sure there's more we can hunt. I'll teach you the art of the hunt." --- "Miranda and I hunted the Greek soldiers that attempted to finish off the rest of my people. We then snuck aboard one of their ships, sailing back to Greece." Adam began to recall when he himself was turned. Only the creature that turned him had little interest in teaching him. Nebo rested his head next to Purcasso, comforting Thesally. @Al the Killer

Definitely morally questionable, then. She'd deserved an explanation at the very least. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, appreciating the show off affection. He still listened, of course. At least she'd had a teacher, and revenge from the sound of it. "What happened to Miranda?" he asked after she was finished. After all, Thesally had never mentioned her before, and it went without saying that the two no longer traveled together. @Hacky Slashy

"We both went our separate ways. I went to take Agamemnon's head while she went out to explore the world." Thesally began recalling how she snuck into the palace. --- 1194 BC With Nightfall completed, Thesally was one with the darkness. She weaved through patrols and made her way to the throne room. She clung to a wall as two soldiers walked past her, their torch briefly illuminating her. She then swiped one of their swords and stabbed one while slashing the other's back. The survivor was on the floor with a sword pointed at his face. "Agamemnon. Where is he?!" With a sword inches away from his face, he complied. "He's in his bedchambers, with his wife. Please! I have daughters." He begged as she put the sword away. "Go home." She said as she asked for more directions. Soon she was outside the door. She barged in only to find the king dead, with his own wife standing over his corpse. She dropped the knife and stared in horror at the pale creature, hissing at her. Thesally ran out of the palace and slipped into the city before the guards were alerted. --- "Yeah, his own wife killed him before I got there." Thesally said as she rested on Matthew and pet both Nebo and Purcasso. "At least the prick got his comeuppance." Adam said as Sophie slept on him. @Al the Killer

Simple enough explanation. It was Thesally's revenge to take, after all. And damn. He'd known she was a badass, of course, but this was on a whole other level. After the story, he nodded. "Good for her," he agreed approvingly. Iris was half awake again, just enough to give her own small grunt of agreement, but not enough to leave her boyfriend's shoulder. "I mean, you may not have gotten the chance to off him yourself, but you know. At least he couldn't fuck anything else up." @Hacky Slashy

"Yes, although I would've liked to take his life myself. But win some, lose some as you humans say." Thesally remarked as she pet Purcasso. Her life may have taken a different turn than she would've liked, but this wasn't a bad deal. "Should've treated his wife better." Adam joked while Sophie gave a small grunt in agreement. Nebo trotted in front of Matthew and placed both paws on his knees. @Al the Killer

Matthew glanced over at Iris, who seemed to have fallen asleep again. That did seem to be a recurring theme. "Guess he played stupid games and won his stupid prize." Which happened to be death. He reached down to pet the husky. "Yes, hi there, Nebo. I promise we'll be there soon." He wasn't actually sure how close they were to their destination right now. A two hour's trip in trial, sure, but he wasn't sure how long it had been since they'd taken off. @Hacky Slashy (edited)

"We're just stopping to refuel. We'll be there in an hour." One of the pilot's announced to the passengers. Thesally rubbed Purcasso's head. "You can unwrap me soon enough." Thesally whispered into Matthew's ear. "Ew!" Adam said as Thesally hissed at him. Adam is fortunate she has nothing to throw at him. Albert smiled at the banter between the two. He held on to Iris and distracted Maggie who was now awake. @Al the Killer

"Never mind, another hour," Matthew amended to Nebo, still patting his head. At Thesally's comment, he smiled, before glancing at Adam. "Don't pretend to be innocent," he teased, leaning back a bit as Purrcasso moved to settle in his lap. At least his girlfriend and cat were here to help the time pass. And a very needy husky, of course.

Iris yawned as she stirred awake again. She didn't move, since Albert's arms remained a perfectly comfortable spot. "Halfway there, huh?" She patted Maggie's head. "I don't think I'll be getting any more sleep, either." She stopped the petting for a moment to adjust her glasses. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo licked Matthew's hand and sniffed Purcasso. He rested his head near his feline companion. Thesally joined in petting the needy Husky. Sophie briefly woke up from her nap and asked if they were there yet. "Pilot said they're refueling. One hour to go." Adam said as she watched her rub the sleep from her eyes. Maggie licked Iris' face and pawed at her. Albert relayed the news to her. He kissed her head and wrapped his arm around her. @Al the Killer

Iris laughed and patted Maggie's head. "Alright, guess we'll sit tight until then." Though fully awake, she remained more relaxed than she had been in a while, surrounded by love despite the uncertain situation. Still, it was a long time to sit still so, while the helicopter was refueling, she took the opportunity to stand up carefully, picking Maggie up with her rather than disturb her. "I think- oof, you're heavy." She set the dog down before speaking again. "I think we could at least stand to move a bit while we have the chance." It wasn't like she could walk far with the limited space in the aircraft, but she could at least stretch her legs a bit until it was time to take off again. She held a hand out to Albert. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie got between the couple. Her tail wagged while walking with both Albert and Iris. The former detective was glad the entire group was reunited. More importantly, he loved having Iris and Maggie in his life. The only thing he'd change is meeting sooner. The only problem in that case is if he discovered how Craig Wedmore actually was, the only way he'd see her is conjugal visits if he was lucky. Thankfully both Adam and Iris picked a good time in killing the bastard. Nebo licked the top of Purcasso's head and Thesally and Matthew's hands. He then noticed Iris, Albert and Maggie and proceeded to demand their affection as well. "Good boy." Albert said as he patted the Husky's head. Sophie greeted them but was too comfortable in Adam's arms. Maggie came over to them, receiving head scratches and pets in return. @Al the Killer

Purrcasso batted lazily at Nebo with one paw, without extending her claws. "Hey now, are you playing nice?" Matthew chided the cat gently, and received a judgmental look from her in exchange. "...I love ya too, purrball." He patted the cat's head and Nebo's, trying his best to balance both motions at the same time. Iris reached down to pat Maggie's head as they walked. "I have to say, if the world as we knew it never completely returns, it will be... fine," she admitted, looking over at Albert. She couldn't help but think about how incredibly lucky she was to have him in her life. He'd done so much to support her. How many men would really be down with teaming up to kill her ex-husband together? "No matter how things get, even if the world ends tomorrow... at least I'll be able to say I got to spend the end of it with you." She squeezed his hand gently. "You might make an optimist of me yet." @Hacky Slashy

"Purrball." Thesally chuckled at the pet name and massaged the cat's head while petting her. Nebo and Maggie both pawed at Iris while Albert smiled at her. "I wasn't such am optimistic person either before we really got to know each other. And all things considered, things could've been worse. Could've got zombies or killer robots." "Those would've been a pain to deal with. And at least the nukes aren't flying quite yet." Adam said as Maggie and Nebo proceeded to paw at him and Sophie. "Yes, hello." She cooed to the puppies as they licked her and Adam's hands. She then looked over and smiled at him. Nebo then roamed around the helicopter while Maggie returned to her parents. @Al the Killer

"I wouldn't rule out zombies or killer robots just yet," Iris warned. "...Especially not killer robots, that actually seems more likely than vampires. Or would, if we were not already traveling with vampires." She reached down to pet Maggie as the pitbull returned to them. "But hey, Adam has a point about the nukes. I don't think even these Wolves of Liberty jackasses would be dumb enough to nuke the country they also have to live in. Unless they think they're somehow immune to radiation poisoning." She bent down to kiss the top of Maggie's head before straightening up again. "And at least everyone's safe." Living up to her nickname, Purrcasso purred at the attention she was getting from Thesally, leaning into the vampire's hand. Matthew smiled at the two of them. @Hacky Slashy

Maggie nudged Iris and pawed at her. Albert picked her up and cradled her like a small, furry child. Her tail wagged rapidly as she was carried. Nebo trotted over to Sophie and Adam. They both patted the Husky he nudged them. Adam then decided to play the claw with Nebo. Adam made the pincer motion with hand. Nebo responded by rapidly licking his hand. Sophie kissed the top of Nebo's head before going back to Adam's side. Thesally smiled at Purcasso as she continued giving the cat attention. She then gently scratched under the cat's chin. She then rested on her boyfriend's shoulder. "To safety. And to no killbots....yet at least." @Al the Killer

"Now that you've said that, I half expect one to be standing out there right now," Iris joked, and hoped her words would remain as just a joke and not an ominous prediction. "Anyway, let's settle back in before we have to take off again." She kissed Albert's cheek, then the top of Maggie's head, before walking back to where they'd been sitting down. It was nice to be able to move around a bit, but she wasn't keen on overdoing it. Matthew smiled as Thesally rested against his shoulder. "To safety," he replied. "And the fact that if there is a killbot out there right now, it's currently deciding not to attack us." @Hacky Slashy

"Yes. Such a polite killbot. Bow shoo! Go kill more Wolves of Liberty!" Thesally said as she pet hers and Matthew's little Purball. Nebo proceeded to curl up at Adam and Sophie's feet. Albert led Iris back to their seat and placed Maggie on his lap. She then went to Iris' lap and rested there. @Al the Killer

Matthew chuckled. "The only thing worse than a killer robot is a killer robot with no manners," he agreed. "Actually I'm pretty sure the tech exists to make them already... think Cletus and Earl's mechanical skills are at that level yet?" He was joking... mostly. Neither of them claimed to be programmers, and he assumed one would be required to build a killer robot. He wasn't sure, he'd never done it before and probably never would. Iris remembered the way the van had hardly held itself together. "I believe the enthusiasm is there," she said, patting Maggie's head gently as not to wake her. "I do not think enthusiasm is the number one skill we would want if someone were to build a killbot. Nor do I think a killbot is a good idea, for that matter." @Hacky Slashy

"Who knows? They might be crazy enough to try." Adam said as Nebo yawned and lazily pawed at him. Sophie laughed at the talk of killer robots. "Just like those movies you made me watch. Terminator. Weren't there more than two movies though?" Sophie asked as Adam gave her an astonished stare. "Nope! Nothing happened after Judgement day." Nebo barked as Adam pointed at the Husky. "See! Even he knows it." Sophie rolled her eyes and went back to resting on his shoulder. Maggie was already up and covering Iris with dog saliva. Albert pet the Pitbull and kissed Iris' cheek as he pet their pit bull. "Yes there were Adam. They were made and happened whether you liked them or not. They're canon regardless of what you say." Thesally said as Adam shook his head side to side. "Duly noted....and ignored!" @Al the Killer

"No, no, Adam's right," Iris commented. "We don't acknowledge any Terminator movies after the second as canon. They may exist, but in the same way bad fanfiction exists." She soon had to stop talking though, since she had a dog and a boyfriend who both needed to be showered in affection. She could get used to having her heart feel this full, to be honest. It was nice. Matthew could only smile as he listened to their banter, because he had not seen any Terminator movies. He was very behind in terms of movie viewership, after all. "Sounds like I have a lot to catch up on," he commented. "Starting with Terminator three through..." He looked over at Thesally. "...How many are there really?" @Hacky Slashy

"There's 4, with a fifth that was supposed to come out sometime this year funny enough. But I have a feeling that will never come to fruition. And Adam: if the Germans can't pretend World War 1 and 2 didn't happen, you can't pretend the sequels didn't happen." Thesally said as she squeezed Matthew's hand and continued showering Purcasso with pets. "This is fiction, Thesally! I have more leeway!" Adam retorted as Nebo barked. "See! He agrees." The hybrid said as If he mastered the language of husky. "That being said, you're not really missing out on much if you simply stop at 2." --- Both Ospreys have finally arrived at one of the last loyalist military strongholds. An entourage of soldiers were already there to direct Sophie and Rachel to their father. "We're sorry sir, only fami-" The soldier didn't get to finish as Rachel explained Iris, Jason, Adam, Thesally and Matthew and their pets were family. "Very well, ma'am." Albert helped both Iris and Maggie off the helicopter as Jason informed them the others were getting settled in. The group found themselves on an island surrounded by a flotilla of Naval ships. "Ready to meet what's left of our family?" Albert said as they observed personel and scientists carting equipment and giant crates. Thesally carried Purcasso and helped Matthew out of the helicopter. @Al the Killer

Iris let Matthew go ahead with Thesally, since disembarking would be easier for them. Even with the prosthetic ensuring that she wasn't really down one leg, she was still a bit tired, so she was happy to accept Albert's help. By the time she was on the ground, the matter of letting them through had been settled. A part of her was nervous, but there was relief to be found in just how mundane this particular worry was: what if the rest of Albert's family didn't like her? It was a bit silly to worry about, since he was just one man, but it was what it was. She squeezed Albert's hand gently. "Ready." She stepped aside to let someone pass by with a massive crate, then followed the entourage of soldiers. Once Matthew was out, he held his arms out for Purrcasso. "It's... Busy," he commented, observing the flurry of activity and feeling a bit lost. For now, he settled for following the others. @Hacky Slashy

The group was led to a medical wing. The soldiers disembarked as they were met outside by a middle aged doctor. Albert introduced himself and the group and Doctor Glazier gave them a recap of his current condition. "A werewolf attempted to take him out, but failed spectacularly in that task thanks to a silver pen knife to the eye and Ronald. But shockingly that wasn't what put him in here though. He suffered a heart attack when he and the other generals found out Los Angeles was going to be hit. He tried to board a helicopter with a Seal team before a heart attack nearly took him. He's stable now and knocked out. Just when he gets up make sure he doesn't do anything to physically or mentally demanding. That being said if he chooses to disregard that order, make sure he takes these if his heart acts up again. I'll be attending to others if you need anything else." Albert nodded and took the pill bottle. He, Sophie, Rachel and Nebo entered the room. Nebo jumped on the bed before any of them could react. "Nebo!" They yelled as he began drowning Admiral Michael Chandler with dog kisses. He slowly got up and patted the excited Husky's head. He looked the same as he did the last time they saw each other, aside from the graying hair and 4 slash marks across his face. He looked at his daughters and brother and his face went from a worried frown to a smile. "Am I getting a hug or what?" Of course the second he said that all three went to him and nearly suffocated him. He winced in pain but took it. He was happy his family was all here now. Of course Nebo howled with happiness as the Husky was patted on the head. Albert brought Iris while Sophie and Rachel retrieved the others. Adam and Jason introduced himself as the Admiral reached behind a pillow and asked Albert if they were friendly. "They are, Mike. Easy." Albert then introduced Iris and Maggie, Thesally and Matthew. "And our little purball, Purcasso." Thesally said as she pet the cat being held by Matthew. <@2

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@Al the Killer

Despite the doctor's words, Michael didn't seem quite knocked out at the moment. All things considered, he seemed to be doing well. Still, Iris lingered back at first, letting his daughters, brother, and dog greet him first. It was touching to see, really. A loving reunion between family. She smiled softly, only stepping forward when Albert came back for her. "It's nice to finally meet you," she said. "Albert seemed really worried about you." She held onto Albert's hand, glad that things seemed to be going well. For now, at least. She stepped aside to let Matthew approach with Thesally and the cat. Purrcasso leaned forward, nearly straining out of Matthew's arms as she sniffed the Admiral. "She's friendly," Matthew assured him. @Hacky Slashy

"Very friendly. Observe!" Thesally held the cat to him. "Attack! Kill!" The vampire said as she made sure the attack kitten didn't lose her edge. Michael held a hand out for Iris. "Albert told me a few things. Glad to finally meet you." He then looked down at Maggie. She gave him her signature puppy eyes while he pet the dog. He noticed her standing on just one leg. Adam and Jason then shook his hand as they introduced themselves. "So, does anyone want to catch me up on what went down? Since this all started?" Nebo curled up on his lap and rolled over. Micheal then rubbed the dog's belly @Al the Killer

Purrcasso simply meowed in response, closing her eye as she rubbed her cheek against Matthew's hand like the 'vicious attack kitten' she was. Absolutely lethal, that one. Matthew kissed the top of her head to drive home the point that she was to be feared above all else. Iris shook his hand firmly, but glanced back at Albert. "He has, has he?" She smiled over at her boyfriend. "I'm sure he's mentioned Maggie too, then." She stepped aside to give Adam and Jason room to greet Michael. "It's... A bit of a long story," Iris admitted, unsure of how much to actually share. She looked at Albert. "Would you care to tell it?" @Hacky Slashy

"He did. Honestly it seems like she found you two." The pitbull licked Michael's hand and then returned to Iris' side, nudging her leg. Albert then began recapping their entire journey. How when the Civil unrest was beginning, when Adam first arrived in town. Then the entire mess with Iris' ex husband, Adam saving Rachel and Sophie from the Vampire pack. ".......Nebo fought off a vampire? The same dog that hides behind the nearest person when I turn on the water?" Nebo innocently smiled as Albert and Adam confirmed that the lovable husky did in fact fight off a vampire. Then Albert continued on about the death of the vampires, of Craig and then the aftermath. He finally concluded with their journey here. After processing everything, Michael Looked at Iris. "If it's any comfort, Craig Wedmore became an enemy combatant when he sided with AMP, so need to worry about charges being brought up." A nurse entered the room with a plate of food, consisting of a sirloin steak, mashed potatoes and vegetables. "For you, sir." The nurse then greeted the group and let the room. Micheal then handed the plate to Nebo, but cut a piece of Steak for Maggie and handed it to her. The Pitbull wolfed it down while Nebo dug into the plate, thoroughly licking it clean. "I see you've handed it to him willingly this time." Albert teased, recalling the earlier incident years before when Nebo took Michael's steak when his back was turned. @Al the Killer

"In the ruins of his old, blown-up apartment building," Iris confirmed. "Like it was meant to be." Her heart raced as Albert bluntly explained that they had, in fact, conspired to kill her ex-husband, but she forced her expression to remain a perfect mask of neutrality. She had to trust his judgment on who was or was not alright to tell the whole truth to. She looked over at Michael. "I'm not sure someone counts as an enemy combatant if they're not actually..." She trailed off, knowing better than to throw away a ticket out of court when it was offered to her. "Right, I guess it is still high treason." Close enough, right? Either way, she made it clear she wouldn't question the matter further. Matthew stayed to the side to let the canines go after the scraps of food. Purrcasso gave him a harshly judgmental look for not giving her any steak and he merely shrugged. "We fed you earlier today." She replied with a scratchy meow to inform him that she has not, in fact, ever been fed before in her life. He chuckled, but it soon turned into a yawn as he rested his head against Thesally's shoulder. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally smiled and wrapped an arm around Matthew. She then pet Purcasso. "Don't worry, we'll get you some. We haven't let you starve yet." Thesally gently rubbed Purcasso's back while reassuring the cat. Nebo and Maggie finished as if they hadn't eaten in a long time. "There's a mess hall not far from here. I'll hopefully join you all later." Michael said as guards waited outside. "We can take you to the living quarters or mess hall first." Rachel and Sophie hugged their dad joined the others. Nebo licked him and then junped off the bed, leaving him with an empty plate. @Al the Killer

Matthew considered for a moment. Maybe it was all of the excitement from earlier, but he found he wasn't particularly hungry. Besides, he had made a promise to Thesally earlier. The question was whether the living quarters had enough privacy for him to keep it. "It's been a long night," he commented. "I think I'm ready to get some rest. Food can wait." He yawned for extra effect. Iris, on the other hand, had napped more than enough on the way there. "Our dinner was cut a little short by the need to evacuate, and it's already past breakfast..." She looked up at Albert. "How about we head to the mess hall?" she suggested, taking his hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sure splitting the group for a short while is fine right now." Considering the fact that their situation was not currently horror movie-esque. Even if it was likely just a matter of time. @Hacky Slashy

"Ok, let's get going. And listen to the doc, Mike. Get better." Albert said as he took Iris' hand. Sophie and Rachel gave their father a hug before following the others. Nebo chose to stay with Michael and curled up on him. Maggie followed alongside Iris, nudging her leg as she followed. Thesally got the hint and asked to be escorted to their living quarters. Two of the soldiers guided them to their room while the others went to the mess hall. @Al the Killer

Iris walked alongside Albert as they left the infirmary. Although the base was secure, she still found herself looking around at her surroundings, keeping an eye out for both escape routes and potential threats. One could never be too careful, after all, and she had experienced too much to fully relax, even before the war had begun. "Seems like he's been through it," she commented as they walked. "Hopefully he'll make a full recovery." It was just that: hope. She was not in a position to make a full prognosis, after all.

Matthew walked out with Thesally, making his way out to the quarters. He really could use some rest, but he had higher priorities on his mind at the moment. He squeezed Thesally's hand and smiled over at her. "Let's get you out of the sun, most importantly," he commented. "This can't be comfortable for you." Not between the sun's warmth and all of the layers covering her. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally stripped off the layers protecting her from the sunlight. She was now down to her t shirt and Jeans. She wrapped her arms around Matthew and eyed him. "What do we do about her?" She said referring to their furry daughter Purcasso. --- Albert and the others were led to what the mess hall, which oddly enough resembled a full blown restaurant. They were joined by the rest of the group. Ally and Creek came up to both Jason and Rachel while Sandra and Andrea greeted Iris and the others. Waiters gave everyone menus and left them alone to catch up. Peter looked around while holding Chester. "How're you folks doing? It seems we pretty much won the lottery." @Al the Killer

Matthew helped remove the various pieces of excess clothing and set it aside so she wouldn't have to worry about it all on her own. He would have been more than glad to keep going, since they seemed to have their own room and was that shirt really necessary? Except they weren't alone. He looked down at the cat, who stared at them judgingly with her one eye. "I... didn't think that far ahead," he admitted. "I'm not sure I like leaving her to wander the entire building." A familiar spot was one thing, but this was somewhere new, and he knew she wouldn't want to be separated from him here. "I feel like her yowling outside of the door because we won't let her in would be a real mood killer, huh?" As would being stared at from the foot of the bed. Maybe there was no winning, after all.

Iris had expected... she wasn't sure. Something more like a cafeteria, maybe. She wasn't about to complain about full food service, though. "Good to see you all again," she told the others. She took her menu and thanked the waiter before turning her attention back toward the group. "We've been alright. It was an uneventful flight here, so we managed to rest a bit. And yourselves?" She smiled and relaxed in her seat beside Albert. The future was uncertain right now, with how suddenly they'd had to evacuate their home, but for now, she would try to appreciate a nice meal with friends, and with her boyfriend. @Hacky Slashy

"Probably." Thesally said as she crouched down to pet the cat. "We should find you a babysitter." She then picked up Purcasso and sat down on their mattress. "No worries. We could just cuddle, right Purball?" --- "Relatively uneventful....except Cletus ended up sick. Puked for hours." Peter and Sandra explained. Earl patted his brother on the back. "No worries! He's alright now." The waiter came back and took everyone's orders. Adam ordered himself something he'd never thought he'd have again: a bacon cheeseburger with a coke. "Are you sure you can even touch normal food?" Sophie said as she ordered a steak. "Only one way to find out." Albert ordered a half rack of ribs and mashed potatoes. Maggie placed her paws on Iris' leg and rested her head. @Al the Killer

That sounded good too, especially after the night they'd just had. Narrowly escaping a major make battle may have sounded exciting, but in practice, it didn't exactly put him in the mood for much. He smiled and reached down to pet Purrcasso. "Cutest cockblock ever," he joked, before stepping back to strip down to his boxers. Because he sure as hell wasn't about to sleep in jeans. "Cuddling it is." He joined her in the bed, laying down beside her with his arms open.

"A common reaction to flying for the first time," Iris assured Cletus. "We'll get some gum for you to chew next time. Helps your ears pop." She turned toward the waiter and ordered the same as Albert, but with extra sauce on the ribs. Life was too short to skimp out on flavour, after all. As the waiter walked away, she looked over at Sophie. "Just know that if he can't eat normal food... He's your problem, not mine," she joked. "Seriously though, Adam, take it a bite at a time and see how you feel, don't just dive in." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally stripped off her jeans and cuddled with Matthew and Purcasso. "Good kitty." She then whispered into Matthew's ear. "There's always the showers." ---- "It'll be fine, mom." Adam said as Sophie Nudged him."She has a point. Don't go overboard so soon. And no worries, I did sign up for it." She joked as the food finally arrived. Adam took a small bite. He feigned chest pains before dropping the act. He received a smack on the back of the head for his troubles. Albert had his rack of ribs, which he shared with Maggie. She played with a rib bone while laying down next to Iris. Brad and Amber sat with Randall and Caesar. The mastiff gave Brad puppy eyes which cost him half his plate. He hesitantly patted the dog on his head. "Look's like he's warmed up to you." Randall said smiling at the vicious puppy cuddling up to him. Peter shared lamb with Chester. He patted the corgi. "Better than the usual stuff, right?" The corgi simply ate the meat. "No feeding your veggies to Creek, Ally." Sandra said as Ally rebuked the accusation. "That was one time, mom!" Ally said as she dug in to her chicken. She shared some with the Akita. Creek then bother Jason and Rachel. "Ok, just a small-" Creek stole an entire leg before he could respond. Rachel laughed as Jason scolded Creek. Cutty, Andrea and Cocker had pasta while the Wessons had steaks. "Nothing beats Meat. It's no wonder monsters love it so much. No offense." Cletus said while Earl apologized for his brother's behavior. "He was dropped on his head a few times." @Al the Killer

Matthew smiled, though at this point he was already incredibly cozy. "I'll keep that in mind for later," he whispered back, though he wasn't entirely sure there wouldn't be communal showers like would normally be expected on a military base. The accommodations seemed more... luxurious than expected so far, though. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, rubbing her back. "But for now, this is perfect..." He closed his eyes and smiled.

"I'm not that old yet," Iris scolded as she was called 'mom'. Well, she was definitely old enough to be a mom, just not his mom. "Show some respect, young man." Alright, maybe she was joking along, too. She enjoyed her meal quietly, listening to the others' banter. It was like being in a big family again, except this group honestly seemed to get along better, despite being more varied. She smiled over at Albert, able to fully relax at last. Whatever happened in the near future, this was good. "So, what are you thinking we'll do from here?" she asked Albert. "Aside from waiting out the war, I mean. There's no guarantee how much of LA will still be standing at the end of it all, but the same can be said of any town." @Hacky Slashy

"Well....I doubt waiting things out is a viable option. Some of us may have to go back on the frontline. Plus the military could use all the help they can get." He gestured to Adam and the other monsters in the group. "Good to see you made it." Albert turned to a very familiar figure. "James! What are the fucking odds!" Agent James Rodriguez and Detective Albert Quince found themselves reunited. James shook Albert's hand with a prosthetic arm. Albert Introduced Iris and the others. The middle aged Latino with a mustache Introduced himself to the others as well. "I also heard you brought some more than human guests as well." "That he did. Good thing considering what we're up against." A 15 foot tall humanoid ape also stepped into the room. Andrea promptly fainted while the others looked on in shock the once considered mythical creature. Creek and Maggie tensed up. Meanwhile Adam stood up and went to Iris' side. "Vindication! In your face, Iris! I told you Bigfoot exists!" Before Agent Rodriguez could warn Adam of the grievous mistake he just made, Ronald the gigantopithicus picked up the hybrid by his leg and dangled him in the air, shaking him as if he owed him lunch money. After a few minutes, James went up to the two. "He finds that really offensive, so just call him Ronald. Or the correct term, Gigantopithicus." @Al the Killer

He wasn't wrong, as much as Iris hated the idea of him specifically going back out there. She knew he'd likely insist though. At least here, she could keep herself busy among the medical staff. His answer didn't really say anything about the long term either, which had been most of what she'd meant to ask about. She sighed, but said nothing further on the matter. They'd figure it out, sure, but it would at least help to have a tentative plan. Her thoughts were soon derailed by the new arrivals, though. She looked over at Agent Rodriguez and managed a polite smile. "Nice to meet you," she said as well, before looking up at the much taller arrival. The name 'bigfoot' seemed particularly rude now; it would be more noteworthy if someone of that height didn't have big feet. Her expression carried no sign of shock, after the things she'd already seen. "And you too..." She trailed off as she looked over at Adam and rolled her eyes. "What did I just tell you about respect, Adam?" She didn't mind offering an 'I told you so' at the current moment. He'd be fine. "I think I'll stick with calling you Ronald. Otherwise, it's like if I referred to Adam as 'Hybrid' or Albert as 'Human'. A bit rude to refer to someone by species or medical condition when you know their name, I think" She paused, then decided to help just a bit. "I doubt Adam meant anything by it, though. Ronald, would you mind putting him down, please? He has had a trying day as it is." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally heard everything that went down and laughed to herself. "Don't call him Bigfoot, ok? OtherwiseI will laugh." She said before petting Purcasso and caressing Matthew. --- Ronald held Adam by his leg and then nodded at Iris' explanation. He then looked towards Adam. "A hybrid, you say? Must be an interesting story behind that." "I didn't think he'd get offended!" Adam while still dangling. Sophie and Rachel tried blinking away the Gigantopithicus but no such luck. Jason meanwhile tried and failed to suppress a laugh. "Very well, I'll put him down." Ronald said as he simply let Adam go, crashing with a loud thud. Adam groaned as he clutched his head. Then he let out a volley of puke, impacting Ronald's leg. "Oh that's just charming!" Ronald jumped tried shaking the vomit from his leg as Sophie came over with napkins. "To be fair, you kinda shook him as he just ate." She wiped his leg as a clean up crew came in to clean up the vomit. Maggie and the other dogs greeted Ronald as he pet them. Jason came over to help Adam. "I know you're hurting, but that was really funny. Bigfoot just shook you down for lunch money!" Adam began laughing as Jason realized his mistake when Ronald proceeded to grab the werewolf and dangle him by his leg as well. Rachel simply rolled her eyes and diffused the situation. "Ronald, ten more seconds and then put him down. He didn't mean anything by it either." Adam laughed at Jason's expense as Sophie lightly smacked him on the head. "What are you laughing about?! That was you five seconds ago!" Albert stifled a laugh while next to Iris. Agent Rodriguez then shook his head and smiled. "I did warn everyone." @Al the Killer

"There is... an interesting story that he can tell better when not dangling upside down," Iris replied calmly. She looked down as Adam crash-landed on the ground. "Yes, like that. Thank you. I am sure he will not repeat the same mistake twice." She continued her meal, fully ignoring the fact that the hybrid in question was busy expelling the contents of his stomach. Unfortunately, it could not be taken as a conclusion regarding food's general effects on him, given the additional variable of Ronald picking him up. Once she finished her meal, she rested a hand on Albert's shoulder, setting her plate aside. "Hm... I wonder who will be next," she mused, watching Ronald dangle Jason by the leg. She decided it would not be her, because she didn't want to risk damage to the prosthetic. Also because she knew better. @Hacky Slashy

To add further insult to injury, Sandra strolled over and smeared sauce on her brother's face. "Made a big mistake, didn't you?" She then stepped aside to let Creek clean up his face. Rachel and Ally laughed at Jason's expense. Ronald then dropped Jason to the ground, clapping his hands. "Perhaps I could handle things better. " Maggie placed her paw on Iris' leg and gave her the puppy eyes. "As for long term plans, Maybe settle down somewhere more remote. Give Maggie more room to run." Albert said as he caressed Iris' hand. He also contemplated about starting a family, but also took into account how increasingly dangerous things were getting. @Al the Killer

Iris reached down to pet Maggie as she listened to Albert. It sounded nice. She'd seen freedom in leaving the countryside when she had first left home - a large city was as far from her restrictive upbringing as she could imagine - and even know, the convenience of being able to reach a doctor or prosthetist as needed was a major benefit to her. But a part of her wanted to be somewhere more natural, less chaotic. She was getting older, and tired, and peace held a certain allure. "That sounds nice," she said. "As long as it's still close enough to a town. After all, finding work will still be a concern, and... I don't know, if things calm down within the next few years, maybe it would be nice to be in an area with good schools?" Barely subtle enough to count as a hint, but it was a possibility she wanted to at least put out there for consideration. She looked toward Sandra, Ronald, and Jason. "I mean, the timing is bad right now, but if we can handle our present company then psychologically speaking, I think it's safe to say we'd be able to handle a kid or two." @Hacky Slashy

"A kid or two?" Albert said as Maggie licked Iris' hand. She got between the two as Albert joined in petting her. "Yeah, we could handle it." He said as Both Jason and Adam began bickering. "So, how did hanging out with Ronald go?" Adam said as Jason flipped him the bird. "You got dangled first so I don't see why you're joking around!" Sophie and Rachel simply rolled their eyes. Cutty and Cocker observed the bickering. "Is that how we sound like?" Cutty said as Cocker looked on in amazement. "I could really use a strong drink. And to think I used to call bi- err Sasquatch believers idiots." @Al the Killer

Iris smiled over at Albert as she started petting Maggie. "I mean, a few things would need to happen first," she clarified. Now was definitely not a good time with the war going on, and she would rather wait until they were married, for the sake of stability. The details could wait though. For now, she simply rested her head against his shoulder as she listened to the others bantering. "Like an old married couple?" Iris asked Cutty and Crocker. "Yes, that's exactly what you sound like." She looked toward Ronald. "Anyway, skepticism is reasonable - I didn't believe myself, but I'm also inclined to believe the evidence in front of me. I'm just glad he's on our side." @Hacky Slashy

"That's ridiculous!" Cocker said as Cutty nodded in agreement, completely oblivious of their bickering witnessed by the others. Sophie, Rachel and their boyfriends sat back down in their seats. "You're right. Wouldn't want the kids to be born on a classified military base. On the bright side we'll have access to the best care here." Maggie placed both paws on Iris' legs, tail wagging as she enjoyed her parents petting. "Right you are. We'll be looking forward to working with you." Ronald said as Andrea woke up. She was briefly startled again by Ronald's appearance. "Hello." Ronald introduced himself to her. "Your reaction is still preferable to Oh God! What is that thing! Or shoot that beast!" @Al the Killer

Iris kissed the top of Maggie's head before replying. "Still, I'd rather not have to worry about the safety of our future children at a time like this. After the war ends will still be better, even if we won't have the advantages of living on a military base." She gave Maggie one last scratch behind her ears before helping her back down onto the floor. "For now, are we going to stay for dessert, or should we see what the living quarters are like?" she asked Albert. Socializing with the others was fine and all, but it had been a long day and night, and she at least wanted to get a better idea of where they were staying. @Hacky Slashy

"It's been a long day. I think we could use some rest." Albert said as he scratched behind Maggie's ear. Maggie rubbed against him and Iris. The waiters gave everyone menus for desert and even pointed out an Ice Cream bar. Adam eagerly led Sophie to it. "Dont go overboard." Sophie suggested as Adam nodded, now distracted by the assortment of flavors. He then felt a twinge of guilt, considering they had all these luxuries while the rest of th country was suffering. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded and stood up. "Rest it is, then." She looked toward the others. "We're heading out, but I'm sure we'll see you all around later." She smiled. "And it was nice to meet you, Ronald. Try not to spend too much time dangling people upside-down." Perhaps there was a therapist on-site he could speak to about anger management, but that wasn't really her place to suggest. For now, she took Albert's hand and waited until he was ready to leave. @Hacky Slashy

Adam and Jason handed everyone desert while Ronald bid Iris farewell for now. "I'll try not to, but no promises." Ronald then departed the mess hall, with Special agent Rodriguez in tow. Adam came back with a chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream to share with Sophie, handing her a spoon to share. "I thought you wanted to enjoy it yourself?" She smiled as she and Adam began digging in. "I do, but we always share, those are the rules." --- Albert and Iris reached their living quarters which resembled a five star hotel room oddly enough. Maggie wandered around while Albert stripped down to just his boxers and tank top, then sitting on the bed, tapping a spot for Iris to join. @Al the Killer

As much as she enjoyed the others' company, Iris had to admit it was nice to be alone with her beloved again. She kept an eye on Maggie for a moment to make sure the dog was alright here, then removed her own pants, shirt, and bra. "It feels like I haven't seen a proper bed in years," she commented as she put on Albert's discarded shirt for the night. Never mind that it had only been somewhere around twenty four hours. It felt like far longer. She sat beside Albert and carefully removed her prosthetic leg. @Hacky Slashy

Adam and Sophie finished and went to pick up Nebo while the others were guided to their living quarters. Nebo perked up when Adam and Sophie entered the room. Adam picked up the Husky, cradling him like a baby. "Thanks. My hands were getting tired." Michael said as he rubbed his hands. "Are you sure you'll be alright, dad? We can stay." She said as she pet Nebo. "I'll be ok. You get some rest." Adam and Sophie then departed towards their room. They both ended up collapsing on the bed, with Nebo laying on top of them. --- Albert hugged Iris and kissed her as Maggie climbed up on the bed with them. Albert smiled as the dog pawed at both of them. He then put Iris's prosthetic away. "Guess Maggie approves of the bed as well." @Al the Killer

Iris wrapped her arms around him, pulling him down with her as she lay down. "Good, she deserves to be comfortable too." She let go of him for a moment so she could remove her glasses, setting them carefully on the bedside table. She yawned and settled back in his arms, nuzzling against his shoulder until she managed to get comfortable again. There was no telling what tomorrow - or late afternoon today, more likely - would bring, but for now, she could relax with her beloved and their dog-daughter. @Hacky Slashy

Sophie nuzzled against Adam. She lied on top of him while he pet their demanding dog-son. Nebo was tuckered out in a few minutes and added more weight on the hybrid. He kissed both Sophie and Nebo's head as he listened to them drift off to sleep. --- Albert held on to Iris as they both laid down. Their dog-daughter curled up on top of them as she licked both of her parent's faces. Sadly he knew eventually they'll be separated again thanks to the new war, but he would cherish these moments. @Al the Killer

Iris laughed and turned her head to bury it against Albert's chest to avoid the onslaught of puppy kisses. "Yes, Maggie, goodnight to you, too." She patted the dog's head before settling in again, letting herself relax fully. If she could not always be by Albert's side, she would at least enjoy the moments they did have together. She closed her eyes and her breathing slowed as she let sleep claim her for the next few hours. @Hacky Slashy

Albert wasn't as lucky, taking the brunt of puppy kisses. "Good night to you both." He said between sputters. Eventually he and Maggie let sleep claim them. --- Nebo tuckered himself out and curled up near Adam and Sophie's legs. She was down to just her panties and shirt while Adam was just down to his boxers. He stayed up and listened to both Nebo and Sophie snore. --- Thesally was still napping. Her body is still wrapped around Matthew's. She laid her head down on his chest to listen to his heartbeat. She always found the sound fascinating. @Al the Killer

As of mid-afternoon, Purrcasso had decided that she had grown tired of guarding her sleeping human. And so Matthew was awoken by the scratchy, plaintive cry of a cat demanding her next meal, attention, or both. He opened one eye to groggily stare at the cat sitting on his abdomen. "Hm? Are you hungry?" he mumbled, reaching over to pat Purrcasso's head. The head pats sated the beast, who graciously stopped screaming and started purring happily. He glanced over at Thesally and smiled. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally was also woken up by the one eyed feline. She looked at Matthew gave him the same toothy grin from when they first met, albeit with less blood and gore caked on her face. She then kissed Purcasso's head before looking back at Matthew. "Sleep well?" @Al the Killer

Matthew's heart melted all over again at the sight of her smile. "I did. And you?" He kissed her cheek as Purrcasso proceeded to pace over him and Thesally, trying to figure out which person was better to lay on top of. Though he was no longer tired, he closed his eyes again, just for the relaxation of it all. "Always nice to be in a good bed again, too." @Hacky Slashy

"Can't disagree with that assessment." Thesally said as she lied still, letting Purcasso pace over her and Matthew. She switched between rubbing Matthew's chest and the cat. "Not to mention sharing said bed with good company." @Al the Killer

"The best company," Matthew agreed, in reference to both his girlfriend and the cat. He scratched the top of Purrcasso's head as she finally settled for draping herself across Thesally's waist, no matter how impractical it may have been in her current position. The cat purred happily at the attention and, likewise, he smiled at Thesally. "I've said it before, but it's worth saying again - I could get used to waking up like this." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally pet the cat lying on top of her. "Well....I would've woke you up in a more favorable manner, but....." She pointed towards their furry daughter. "Plus I can't move right now." She could easily move, but she didn't want to disturb Purcasso. @Al the Killer

"Another time, then," Matthew agreed. "When we have more privacy." As long as that one condition was met, he truly didn't mind the thought of being woken up in such a matter, and it was best to let that be known now, while he was still awake. "Having the two most beautiful ladies in the world with me is already a perfect way to wake up." He moved his hand to scratch beneath Purrcasso's chin. "Since you can't move, do you want me to get you anything?" He sat up slowly to avoid disturbing either of them. "I can see if I can find a blood pack for you." @Hacky Slashy

"You smooth talker. I'm ok for now. Perhaps later." Thesally remained still, scratching the top of Purcasso's head. "Which one of us does he find prettier?" She asked the cat as if Purcasso could talk back. @Al the Killer

Matthew gasped in mock shock at the question. "How could you expect me to pick one? That's cruel, Thesally." He shook his head, then leaned toward her to kiss her cheek before whispering in her ear. "It's you, but don't tell our girl that." He patted the cat's head as well, then stood up and walked over to the few belongings they'd brought with them, grabbing his water bottle. The flight had left him parched, and he really hadn't done anything about it before sleeping, so of course he needed to drink something. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally whispered to Purcasso. "Obviously you're the prettiest. Anyone says otherwise, we'll feed them their tongues. And then you'll scratch their eyes out, right Purball?" She cooed to their kitten as she observed Matthew. "I bet she was so cute as a kitten. Shame we missed out." @Al the Killer

Matthew chuckled nervously at the graphic threat of violence. "There was no right answer, was there?" he asked. "Anyway, she's cute now. I just wish I could've kept her safe from the start." He closed the cap on his water bottle, then returned to Thesally's side. "Any clue what the plan for today might be?"

Iris woke up slowly, but wasn't about to happen her eyes just yet. She stretched her arms over her head briefly, before snuggling up to the nearest source of warmth, whether that was Albert or Maggie. She was vaguely aware that time had passed, but not of how much. "What day is it?" she murmured, not wanting to grab her phone and check. @Hacky Slashy

"She is. Always will be." Thesally said as she softly pet the cat. Ever since meeting them, she knew she would gladly die for them. "Good question. Your sister would probably like to some lab work, take our blood. After that, we can get our baby a nice big steak. Or fish , whichever she would prefer. Right, Purball?"

Albert hugged Iris close to her, kissing her head. "It's Friday, love. Maggie's finally sleeping. Careful not to wake her unless you want more puppy kisses." Albert said as Maggie snored happily. ---- Adam pet the husky while his girlfriend snored on his scarred chest. He used one hand to caress her hair and the other to pet Nebo. "Good thing I got two hands." Adam whispered and smiled to himself. @Al the Killer

Iris looked over at where Maggie had fallen asleep on the bed. Easier said than done, really. "I'll try not to." She sat on the edge of the bed carefully, reaching for her prosthetic leg. "Any plans for the day? I'll probably check to see if there's any help needed around the medical bay. Preferably lab work..." Or if she could have free reign of their equipment for personal projects, but she was fairly certain the military would be extremely strict about who uses the equipment and for what purposes. "I wonder if they accept research proposals..." She mused to herself as she secured the prosthetic.

"If they let her into the lab, I get the feeling we'll never see her outside of it again," Matthew joked. "At least, not if she has anything to say about it." Purrcasso purred at the suggestion of steak or fish, clearly happy with either. Fresh meat was fresh meat, after all. He stood up again. "Anyway, I could use a shower before anyone takes anyone else's blood." He looked back at Thesally. "Do you want to join?" @Hacky Slashy

"I will. Eventually." She said as she hugged the cat lying on her. She would be content to let Purcasso lay there as long as she would like. The cutest cockblock strikes again. --- Right on cue, Maggie woke up and yawned. She stretched her back and then wrapped both front legs around Iris. "Well, I tried. I'm sure they'll need your help. You could probably help them figure out how monsters tick. Not to mention you have experience with them. Could ask James as well. I'm sure Ronald will welcome it as well." He scratched the dog's head as she went to his side. She then sat between them.

Nebo woke up and licked Adam's face. Before Adam could continue petting him, he leaped off the bed and gestured to the restroom. Adam understood Nebo needed to answer the call of nature. He slowly got up without waking Sophie and then lead him to the restroom. @Al the Killer

Iris looked down at Maggie. "Well now I couldn't possibly move without giving our baby girl some attention," she commented, patting the dog's head. Maybe one day there'd be an actual baby in the mix, but for now, she was more than happy with the pit bull. "I think I will offer my help, though. I already have head-start in terms of knowledge about vampires, and it will blend well with the research I already planned on doing for Adam and Thesally."

Matthew smiled at the two of them. It was impossible to be disappointed when they were both so adorable together. "I'll look forward to it. Whenever you're ready and not a moment sooner." He walked back to kiss Thesally's forehead before disappearing into the bathroom and starting to undress. He still smelled like the bar he worked at, not to mention the harrowing night of their escape. In his opinion, it was a miracle Thesally and Purrcasso even wanted to be around him right now. @Hacky Slashy

Luckily for Matthew, Thesally had been in battlefields, hospitals and all manners of hideouts humans and monsters alike use that smell far more putrid than a bar. Thesally then hummed to Purcasso while rubbing their kitten's back. --- "It would be nice to learn more of how their biology works. And hello. Still being a good girl?" Albert said to Maggie as she growled happily at the attention, enjoying the head pats and scratches.

--- Sophie woke up to the sound the toilet flushing and Adam carrying Nebo back to their bed. "Furry little geyser of a dog." The hybrid said as he set the dog down and patted Nebo's back. "Slept well?" He said as Sophie pulled him in for a kiss. He took a spot next to her as Nebo curled up on top of them. "Any plans for today? I take it they'll probably have you go out again." Sadly they both knew that was going to happen eventually. "We'll see. Hopefully we can give Iris some blood samples for her research. Hopefully she'll be able to help make something for the war effort." @Al the Killer

"It would be. I'll have to see if I - or another doctor here - can pull Thesally and Adam aside for a proper physical exam," Iris agreed. She scratched behind one of Maggie's ears before gently prying herself out of the canine's grip and leaving the bed so she could get dressed for the day. "What about you? Spending some time with your brother while he's recovering, or straight back to the fight?" She removed the shirt she'd purloined from him as she spoke, setting it aside on the bed.

Matthew listened to Thesally's humming through the door for a moment before running the water. Once he was sure it was a comfortable enough temperature - not too hot or cold - he stepped into the shower, letting the water ease away any residual soreness from the night before. Meanwhile, Purrcasso continued to purr in Thesally's arms. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally smiled down at hers and Matthew's little kitten. She smelled herself and knew she needed a shower as well. But until Purcasso moves, she would gladly pet and massage the little cat. --- Funny enough, Albert didn't correct Iris. They may as well be brothers after all they've been through. "I'll just catch up with him and then join the rest of you. As for everything after that, we'll handle it together." Albert then got himself dressed and handed a squeaky duck toy to Maggie. It was the 3rd one she's had after chewing the other two to bits.

Adam sat up while Sophie traced the various scars covering his body. She never asked him where they came from, but would only inquire if he wanted to share. Adam guessed that she was curious about them. "That was the Miles County Mauler. Got a hit in before I took him down. Never understood why they give serial killers cool names." @Al the Killer

Once she'd confirmed that she had everything she needed to leave their temporary quarters for the day and had brushed her hair, Iris gave Albert an affectionate peck on the lips. "I'll see you later today, then. But first, breakfast?" She smiled before walking over to the door and looking back to see if he would follow. "We might as well bring Maggie along too, get something for her to eat." ~ Purrcasso stayed in place for another minute, purring happily before deciding she'd had enough. Her tail started to whip back and forth for a moment before she stood up and jumped down from her resting place on Thesally in order to dart around the room like a possessed hyena on cocaine. @Hacky Slashy

Albert and Maggie proceeded to follow Iris. Maggie rubbed her head on Iris' leg and licked her hand. Albert led Iris and Maggie to the mess hall. They were reunited with Special Agent Rodriguez. "Good to see you're making yourselves at home. Also how did that business with the Night Haunter go down? Probably ran off when AMP showed up." He said as he handed them freshly brewed coffee. "I got more files that were declassified if you're interested. Think of them as the director's cut." --- Thesally placed Flavio on the floor. "Keep your sister occupied." She patted the unicorn on the head and then entered the shower. She uncapped her bra and slid out of her panties, pressing herself against the sliding glass door, baring her teeth and licking the glass. --- "Some psycho who liked ambushing people at night, with modified metal claws. Of course he ambushed the wrong err creature one day." Adam said referring to himself. "He got a hit in, but I brought him down." Sophie nodded and scratched behind Nebo's ears. "I'm glad you got him. Who knows how many people he would've killed if you didn't come along." @Al the Killer

Iris smiled as she greeted Rodriguez, though that smile became harder to maintain as he asked about the Night Haunter. Right, the serial killer case... it felt like it had been so long ago, but she couldn't simply say that they had solved the case. Technically they had but, well... not in a way she could talk about. "It hasn't really been a priority with everything going on lately," she said as she accepted a cup of coffee. "But now that we've got some downtime, those files could be of interest." She hadn't even considered that someone might still be trying to solve her friend's various murders.

Matthew hadn't heard anything over the running water at first. Then something hit the glass door and he jumped, turning to see a tongue gliding over the condensation. He laughed and cracked the door open for her. "Yes, hi Thesally." He smiled, unable to stop himself from getting a good look at her nude form before stepping aside to let her in. "C'mon in, then. The water's still warm." @Hacky Slashy

Thesally wasted no time in wrapping her arms around Matthew and kissing him deeply. "No worries, Purcasso is darting around the room with Flavio." She let the water splash down on her while holding on to Matthew.

"It's hardly a priority wherever he or she gets somewhere. Cops and agents alike seem to view him as a hero, but are heavily encouraged not to. But yes, those files are as good as yours. Could even have a talk with their Brazilian counterpart. We just need you to sign some paperwork and some assistance in the labs. Doctor Nelson mentioned you're a coroner, so it would be good to have your assistance as well. We'll get you situated and set up after breakfast." Albert perked up at the mention of another vigilante monster. "Hold on, Brazil?" Rodriguez explained that one of their captives is one Rodrigo Nascimento, former alpha team member of Bope, an elite military police unit in Rio de Janeiro. At some point he contracted vampirism and used his newfound powers to terrorize the Narcos. --- "So what about you? Any plans for today?" Adam asked as Sophie got dressed. "Just catch up with my dad. I'll meet Rachel there soon, but grab breakfast first." Adam got himself dressed up and took her hand. He also got Nebo on a leash to go with them. (edited)

Iris sipped her coffee as she listened. It wasn't altogether surprising, she supposed - of course most people, if turned into beings that needed to feed on blood to survive, would seek the most ethical way to do so and, failing that, choose targets who would not be missed. Still, the more vampires she got to know, the easier her research would be. "Perhaps we will have a word with him later," she agreed. "Though a few months ago, if you had suggested that a serial killing vigilante was, in fact, a vampire, I probably would have thought you'd gone completely batshit." She looked toward an empty table. "Anyway, breakfast?" The fewer opportunities there were to accidentally reveal everything she knew, the better.

He gladly pulled her into his arms, returning the kiss with equal passion. "Good thing she still doesn't know how to open doors, huh?" he quipped before kissing her again. These moments of privacy were fairly rare, all things considered; he wanted to savour it while they could. @Hacky Slashy

"Careful not to jinx us. Cats are very crafty creatures. They even got us to worship them as gods. They still do to this day." Thesally said, kissing Matthew's neck and grinding her body on his.

--- Maggie placed her paws on Iris' knee, tail wagging rapidly as Albert and James Rodriguez patted the pup on the head. "Hey guys!!" Sophie and Adam said simultaneously as Nebo ran over to Iris and Maggie, pawing at her. The waiters came over to take everyone's orders. @Al the Killer

Iris took her seat and looked over the menu, only to be distracted by the arrival of the others. "Hey Sophie and Adam," she greeted, smiling over at them. "Did you two sleep well?" She paused to look over at the waiter. "It will just be a couple of minutes, if that's alright," she said, since the others had just arrived.

"True enough," Matthew said, though it wasn't cats he was thinking about worshipping right now. He tilted his head back to give Thesally plenty of space as his hands slid down her back to give her ass a firm squeeze. @Hacky Slashy

"Ouch!" She playfully squealed as she ran her hands on his back, raking it with her claws lightly. She then licked and kissed his neck, lightly scraping with her teeth. She then stroked his dick with one hand.

--- "Noted." The waiter said as he went back to check on another guest and their family. "We slept great. And thankfully Adam didn't vomit again. So whatever you do, Adam, don't insult strangers again." She teased as Adam groaned. "You're never gonna let me live that down, are you?" Adam said as he helped Sophie take a seat. Both Nebo and Maggie rested their paws on Iris, tails wagging rapidly. @Al the Killer

"Never," Iris confirmed, because neither would she. She looked at the menu, figuring that seeing whether it was a breakfast or lunch menu would at least help ground her better in terms of what time of day it was. The sleep hadn't fully left her brain yet, so she figured it must have been a few good hours since they'd give to sleep.

A shiver ran down his spine as she scraped her teeth against his neck. Maybe there was a real danger to being alone with a vampire who could very easily kill him, letting her all but bite near some crucial blood vessels. But he trusted her not to go too far. Besides, a good portion of the blood in question was heading considerably farther south right now. "Fuck," he breathed, feeling her touch against his hardening member. One of his hands stayed against her ass while the other moved to her front to tease at her clit, to make sure she'd be ready for him. @Hacky Slashy

"FUCK!" Thesally shivered as Matthew stimulated and teased her. Despite the fact he was a Virgin when they met, Matthew actually knew what he was doing, which was a pleasant surprise for her. She continued stroking his member that was now at attention.

"Well I was still right that Ronald's species existed though." Adam said as Sophie squeezed his hand, still suppressing a giggle at the memory of Ronald's first meeting with the group. "Yet you still suffered a crushing Defeat though." Albert said emphasizing the last part referencing feet. "Quite the big mistake." Sophie piled on as Nebob pawed at Adam. "At least you're not bullying me, boy." Nebo smiled as the hybrid scratched behind his ears. Adam then caught wind of the meat and pancakes platter. Maggie and Nebo went back to pawing at Iris. Albert patted both of them on the head. @Al the Killer

Iris chuckled at Albert's play on words. "Oh, don't worry Adam," she said in the most reassuring voice she could manage. "I'm sure that, if Nebo could speak English, he would absolutely be bullying you right now." Actually, he would probably just be asking for affection and food - he was a simple canine, and they loved that about him. Deciding on simple pancakes and bacon, she set her menu aside and patted Maggie and Nebo on the head. "Yes, hi there. Do you want some bacon, too?"

At this point, Matthew wasn't really startled by how loud Thesally could get anymore. If anything, it was good to hear - he liked knowing that he was doing something right. With a quiet moan of his own, he kissed her lips again, continuing to rub against her clit with his thumb while two other fingers teased gently at her entrance. He was close to full attention already, but wanted to make sure she was ready before anything else. There was no point to this if he couldn't also focus on her pleasure. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo and Maggie's tails wagged rapidly and their tongues hung out as Iris patted their heads. "Maggie probably would as well." Albert chimed in as he ordered Steak and eggs which is all but certain he'll share with Maggie and Nebo. Adam smiled as Sophie reinforced Iris' sentiment. "But at the very least he'd scold you before asking for food or attention." Sophie squeezed his hand as Nebo returned to their side, prompting Adam to pet him. "That's not true, you wouldn't do that to me, right boy?" (edited)

Thesally smiled and guided Matthew into her. She kissed him back as she began grinding against him. She then squeezed her walls around his member. @Al the Killer

Iris rested her hand on Albert's once they'd both ordered their breakfast. She had plenty of work to do once she gained access to the labs, and it was work she genuinely found herself looking forward to. A part of her had always wanted to go into research, but practical medicine had simply had more opportunities available for her after med school. But it could still wait - for now, she wanted to enjoy the company of Albert, and of their found family. She smiled and rested her head against his shoulder as she listened to the others banter.

It was a lot harder to focus once he entered Thesally. She knew exactly what she was doing, and he was glad for the fact. He moaned softly against her neck. Once he made sure there was a wall behind Thesally in case she needed it for balance, one of his hands slid down to her thigh, pulling gently so it would hook around his hip and make this easier for both of them. His other hand caressed her body, gliding upwards to massage her breast as he began to thrust into her. @Hacky Slashy

Some waitresses arrived with everyone's food. After they were finished they all patted Nebo gave them hand licks in return. He then pestered Adam and Sophie with puppy eyes as if he'd never been fed a day in his life. Adam and Sophie both gave the Husky eggs and Bacon, which he gobbled in several bites and asked for more. Maggie rested on Iris' leg and gave her puppy eyes as well. Albert placated her with bits of Bacon and eggs, then he scratched behind her ears.

Thesally moaned as she held on to her mate. She lightly scratched his back, careful not to inflict more damage than the last three months. She grinded against him as she moaned into his ear. @Al the Killer

Iris smiled down at Maggie, unable to resist the urge to slip her a bit of bacon. She could excuse feeding the dog table food, since they hadn't been able to bring a whole lot of dog food along. So human food it would be, until their situation was a bit more sorted out. Still, the base provided a stability that life outside hadn't been able to, in the past few months. She ate quickly, herself, her mind still on all there was to do now that she had access to equipment. It would certainly be an improvement over the underfunded and overworked coroner's office.

His moans mixed with hers, though he kept quiet given the uncertainty of how soundproof this place was. He held her close, keeping a steady pace. She was perfection embodied, and he wanted to make sure she enjoyed this as much as possible. He lifted his head to kiss her on the lips, teasing his thumb across her nipple. @Hacky Slashy

Albert finished his meal and then patted their dog on the head. Maggie smiled up at both of them, resting her paws on Iris leg after devouring the bacon. Adam and Sophie finished their meals while Nebo got head scratches in return. "I never thought I'd taste pancakes again." Adam said while Sophie smiled at him.

Thesally returned the kiss with equal vigor while she squeezed his ass cheeks in return. Her wings wrapped around him, squeezing the lovers together. "I'm close." She said and then continued. @Al the Killer

"I'm glad to hear your transformation has its perks," Iris told Adam. "Still, we don't know exactly what to expect, so if you have any other side effects, let me know - this is uncharted territory, and we shouldn't be taking too many risks." She patted Maggie's head as she spoke, giving the dog a moment to rest with her before gently moving her aside so she could stand up. "And speaking of data, I heard the plan is to put me to work. Hopefully, we can get some more research into vampirism, and a potential cure for anyone who wants one." She leaned down to give Albert a quick kiss.

Matthew smiled. He was drawing near as well, but he'd be able to last long enough to bring her to climax first. "Me too," he whispered, tilting his head down to kiss her neck again. But he still had to think clearly for a few moments longer. "Do you want me to finish inside, or out?" He didn't lose his rhythm as he spoke, keeping exactly where he needed to be to bring her past the edge. @Hacky Slashy

Nebo stood up on his hind legs, placing both paws on Adam. Adam picked up Nebo and carried him like a child while Sophie finished her food. "Later, Iris." Sophie said as Albert returned the kiss and followed them to the medical ward. Maggie followed Iris as Agent Rodriguez finished his meal and got up. "Ready to see the labs?"

Thesally clenched around his member. "Up to you. The nukes might start flying anytime soon." She kissed his neck and lightly scratched his back as she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing their bodies together.

@Al the Killer

Iris waved the others goodbye, then made her way toward the exit with Albert. As Rodriguez spoke, she paused and looked back at him. Honestly, she felt a bit like she had at the start of her first medical residency - nervous, a bit lost, but excited above all else. Ready as she would ever be. This was new territory for her in some ways, but she had the skills and knowledge to get started on her research here. "I am," she answered with a smile. "Ready to lead the way?" She stepped aside and gestured for him to walk ahead.

Matthew did not exactly have the mental capacity to think about nukes right now. Or consequences, really. Once he had permission, he could no longer hold back. With a soft moan, he burst inside of her, letting himself stay for a few moments after as he held her close. @Hacky Slashy

Adam and Sophie made their way to the medical wing. After they signed in, a doctor led them to Michael Chandler's room. Nebo barked at the sight of Rachel. "Hey guys." The sisters greeted each other while Rachel rubbed Nebo's belly. Adam then brought the husky over to Michael's side. He smiled and greeted Adam and Nebo. Adam placed Nebo on the bed, leading to the Husky placing a paw on Michael's head. ---- Agent Rodriguez led Albert, Iris and Maggie to an elevator that took them further down after he punched in a code and used a retinal scanner. Once they stepped out of the elevator, they were in a large science wing that could rival the CDC's and the WHO'S labs. Personel and equipment were being moved as Rodriguez led the trio to a lab where Andrea was treating a large, humanoid wolf creature. "Ferals. Cousins to Lycanthropes, only completely animalistic. It was a bit tough but luckily they can be domesticated." Andrea explained as Rodriguez showed Iris around the lab and equipments. "Anything you need, doc, it's here and if you need something, just ask." Maggie greeted Andrea and then went back to Iris and Albert's side, tail wagging. "And where's Nascimento?" Albert asked as they then heard a scream. "They couldn't torture this asshole elsewhere?" Agent Rodriguez casually said as he also got more folders concerning the Night Haunter. "Also our friend is being held in holding cells."

Thesally kissed Matthew, moaning as she felt him deposit his seed into her. It was quite the risk considering she was on the last of her birth control and was unable to get some more thanks to both the war and their residence blown up She sighed as she held him. "You've gotten much better." Turns out human males are like a good mule. If you don't beat them, they'll plow all day long. "Think Purcasso will mind a sibling?" She asked as she traced his chest with her claw. @Al the Killer

It was hard to decide what to focus on more - the variety of tech that she could only have dreamed of using before, or the puppy Andrea was helping out. Yes, it was a large feral humanoid wolf, but a puppy was a puppy. But there was other work to be done, so she'd figure out which treats she could sneak to the Feral later. "Trust me, I believe it's all here-" she started to say, only to hear the scream. She jumped, reaching for her shotgun before realizing that was probably a vast overreaction. "Is it always as... Loud in here?" she asked, since the sound of screaming was bound to be distracting. She turned toward Albert. "I'll leave you to chat with Nascimento, if that's alright," she said. "If I'm not needed to help with anything in particular, I'd like to start on my research." She turned toward Rodriguez. "And on that note, would it be possible for you to bring Adam and thread Thesally down while I'm getting set up? The sooner I can get their blood samples, the better." She smiled. "And thanks."

Clarity returned, and Matthew chuckled nervously. He was fairly certain she was still on the pill, but that wasn't a hundred percent. Still, surely there would be something on a military base, given the quality of health care and the importance of keeping any female soldiers at maximum efficiency. "Don't scare me like that," he commented playfully. In truth, he was absolutely not ready to be a father yet. But if any accidents did happen, and she wanted to keep it... Well, he'd do his best to be a good dad anyway. He kissed her softly again as he pulled out. "But I'm sure Purrcasso would be great as a big sister." @Hacky Slashy

The Feral looked at Iris and smiled as Andrea scratched under her chin. "You can meet her pups in a bit after I'm done checking up on her. Agent Rodriguez complied with Iris' request. He radioed for the patients to be retrieved. Albert went with Agent Rodriguez to speak to Nascimento. Albert wondered what kind of state he'd be in. He also passed by another cell with a man being tortured by both a human agent and a vampire long shoulder length hair. They both briefly looked at each other. Albert felt he looked familiar. He then eventually found the cell housing Adam's Brazilian counterpart. He pressed a button connected to a speaker. "Rodrigo Nascimento?" The vampire turned around and nodded. --- Michael was regailing Adam with how as a puppy, Nebo ruined his clothes and shoes when armed soldiers came to escort Adam to the lab. "Doctor Ellsworth needs you." Adam nodded and kissed Sophie and pet Nebo before leaving .

Thesally pulled away and handed him a towel before wrapping herself up. She went into the room and changed into clothes as a knock on the door came. "Doctor Ellsworth needs you in the labs." A voice said into the speaker as Thesally got dressed and waited to tell Matthew before leaving. She even pet Purcasso. @Al the Killer

Iris nodded to Andrea. "Of course, take your time," she said. "I need to set up for my own work, but I'll be around." It took a bit of searching, honestly, but she did manage to find a space for her own work, a small curtained off area that seemed to be set up for bloodwork but didn't currently have anyone working there. She'd worry about tracking down the equipment for analyses later. For now, she counted out the needles, vials, tubing, and labels for the samples she planned to take. After confirming with another scientist that she was good to help herself to the blood from one of the refrigerators for vampire-feeding purposes, she picked out two packs to compensate for what she would be taking from Adam and Thesally. Perhaps she wouldn't need it, but it was good to be prepared the same way snacks would be handy when drawing a human's blood. With everything set up, she sat at the desk chair and waited.

Matthew took a moment longer to finish cleaning himself, then stepped out, toweled himself off, and quickly got dressed for the day. He could faintly make out a voice over the speaker in the next room, but not what it was saying. As he stepped back into the bedroom, he looked over at Thesally. "What's up?" he asked, noticing that she'd already dressed herself. "Do you want me to go with you?" There wasn't much for him to do yet, so his schedule was wide open until he found work on the base. @Hacky Slashy

"Let's go. And of course take our little baby with us as well." Thesally said as she picked up Purcasso. "You're gonna see more of the place. Also we'll pick something uo for you both to eat." She scratched the top of Purcasso's head before kissing it.

Adam was escorted to the lab by a squad of soldiers in blue and grey fatigues. He greeted Iris and Andrea as puppies were also brought in by a soldier wearing a cowboy hat. "G'day ladies, and gents." Mark Taylor said as he patted the feral on her head. "Doctor Ellsworth? Welcome to the team." The puppies barked excitedly as he placed the basket. "A little help, Mate?" He said as he handed Adam 3 puppies while he held the others. Jason, Sandra, Ally and Peter walked in as well. "Figured you could use Lycan and Reptilian blood as well." Sandra said as she held Ally's hand. Her daughter waved at Iris and Andrea. ----- "What would you like to know?" Nascimento said as Albert asked about how he became a vampire. Nascimento recapped his time as a Bope operative. He and his team were known as the reapers. One day, the gangs unified and ambushed him and his unit. Rodrigo was the last one standing and found himself getting tortured. "I thought it would be the end, but the lights went out. Screams, gunfire and then I felt a bite on my neck. "You will be the bringer of death. Fulfill your duty." And then I woke up in a motel, with all of my wounds healed up." @Al the Killer (edited)

Matthew scratched the top of Purrcasso's head as she purred, leaning into his hand. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed. He put his shoes on before checking to make sure he had his wallet and phone with him. Not that there was as much use for either one here, but it was always better to be prepared than not. He opened the door and stepped aside to let Thesally walk past. "After you."

Iris waved hello to Adam, but found herself promptly distracted by the feral pups, creatures somewhere between a wolf pup and a human infant. Perhaps it should have been unsettling but, after everything she'd seen, harmless baby pups couldn't be anything other than adorable. "Well aren't you just the cutest little things," she said, leaning down to talk to them as one would talk to a baby. Or to a puppy, for that matter. Remembering herself, she stood upright again. "And it is nice to meet you as well," she told Mark. "The more samples I have, the more I can do with them, but I can only stab one of you at a time, so there may be some waiting involved. Adam, do you mind coming here first?" She turned to set up more equipment to accomodate the additional volunteers. "Have a seat and choose whichever arm you're more comfortable with me drawing blood from." @Hacky Slashy

The soldiers led Thesally and Matthew to the dining hall. She ordered a steak to go for Purcasso and whatever Matthew wanted. He earned it after their time in the shower. Then they were led to the lab as Thesally fed Purcasso on the way. "You needed me, Doctor Ellsworth? Had to feed Purcasso first."

The puppies Adam held reached out for Iris, and then went to licking his face. Mark handed the puppies he held to Doctor Nelson while petting the mother. Maggie pawed at and licked the puppies. One of them even climbed on the pitbull. She laid down and let them play on her before Mark took the puppies and held them while Andrea checked on the other puppies. Adam sat down and held his right arm out for Iris. "The doctors always went for the right arm." ---- Rodrigo recapped his reign of terror to Albert. "Although I couldn't be in the sun anymore, I became one with the night. I showed the narcos what it was like to be afraid." Rodrigo briefly smiled at the memories of slaughtering the drug dealers who had turned his home into a warzone. @Al the Killer (edited)

Matthew made quick work of his breakfast sandwich as they walked to the lab. Purrcasso, despite having a steak at her own to nibble at, occasionally leaned toward her human dad and tried to steal a bit of the cheese. "You have your own food," Matthew scolded, gently patting the cat on the head as he held his sandwich just out of her reach. Once they made it to where Iris was working, he waved to his sister. "Taking blood from the vampires... Bit of a role reversal, isn't it?" he commented.

"Either would be fine," Iris said, looking at his inner right elbow. "This one has a good vein, so it works. Hold still." With her focus on wrapping the length of plastic ribbon around Adam's arm and disinfecting the soon-to-be injection site, she couldn't look over at the others as they arrived. "Glad you could make it. Could you wait with the others for a moment?" she asked as she pushed the needle carefully into Adam's vein. @Hacky Slashy

Adam was hardly phased by the needle prick. For better or worse, he had gotten used to being stabbed. He then greeted Matthew, Thesally and Purcasso when they arrived. "You could definitely say that." Adam saw the irony in Iris taking blood from hin.

Thesally patted Purcasso on the head while feeding her the steak. "Is cheese bad for her? If not we'll be sure to grab some next time." She then greeted the others and Adam. @Al the Killer

Once she had collected the sample she needed, she withdrew the needle, pressing a gauze pad on the spot to staunch any bleeding. Likely unnecessary, considering his healing factor, but a force of habit. She kept it in place with medical tape, then unwrapped his arm. "All set. I grabbed a couple of blood packs in case you're thirsty." She looked over at Thesally. "Ready for your turn?"

Matthew reached over to take the cat and the steak. "Yeah, cats aren't supposed to have dairy," he said. "At best, it makes them stinkier. Or sick if they have a lot." He kissed the top of Purrcaaso's head as she snuggled up against him. @Hacky Slashy

Adam got up from the chair as Maggie followed him. He went next to Matthew while crouching down to pet Maggie. The pitbull then greeted Matthew, pawing at him while Allie joined in petting the dog. ---- Nascimento then told Albert the incident that got him into U.S. custody. After completely decimating the cartels, he focused his sights on the business man that financed them. --- 5 years ago He snuck into his penthouse and dispatched his guard with ease. Little did Rodrigo know, the business man was the vampire who turned him. Miguel Rocha waited for the Reaper to come to him. He turned Rodrigo to go after his competition, but to his chagrin, Nascimento was a dedicated Bope operative that hated all Narcos easily. "I'm disappointed. You were supposed to just kill a few of them before eventually getting killed. But I blame myself, I should've known you wouldn't stop killing. Like a big stupid dog that won't stop eating, even though your master said you had enough. No matter, I'll deal with you now." Miguel Rocha growled and took off his suit jacket as Rodrigo charged at him. While Rocha possessed more experience, strength and power, Rodrigo was still an experienced Bope operator. Rodrigo and Miguel grappled with each other, with Miguel gaining the upper hand and grabbing Rodrigo by the throat. Rodrigo drove his fingers into Manuel's eyes, blinding him. The fight went on until they landed in a bedroom. Rodrigo unsheathed a machete and charged at Manuel. Unfortunately Manuel grabbed a nearby escort and used her as a shield. Rodrigo drove the machete into both her and the vampire, killing them both. When the dust settled, Rodrigo was unable to handle the guilt of killing an innocent. His resolve for Justice never wavered, deciding to turn himself in to his former colleagues. The CIA caught wind of Rodrigo and worked a deal with the Brazilian government and arranged a transfer to this base.

"That wasn't your fault. And you can still help. My partner can hopefully find a way to help others with your condition." Albert said as Nascimento began considering his words. "What is it you'll need?" Albert explained that Iris is planning to research more about vampirism among other things. ---- "On it. I'll be right back." Thesally kissed both Matthew and Purcasso before sitting on the chair. "Ready when you are."

@Al the Killer

"Let me see your arms," Iris said, so she could look and choose whichever one had the more prominent veins again. She generally wasn't the one drawing blood, so she didn't want to risk missing the vein on the first try. "How is everyone liking their stay here so far?" she asked, for the sake of some conversation while she worked. "Enjoying the peace while you still can?" She briefly wondered how Albert's chat with Nascimento was going, but she trusted that he would catch her up on the important details afterward.

Matthew cradled Purrcasso in one arm as he reached his free hand down to pet Maggie. "It's a lot nicer than I expected. I think Purrcasso likes the menu here." The cat responded with a soft burbling noise as she rubbed her face against Matthew's stubble. He smiled. @Hacky Slashy

Adam went next to Maggie and joined in petting her and Purcasso. "So how're you liking the new place?" Maggie licked Matthew's hand and then hugged his leg. Adam scratched behind her ear as she turned her attention towards him. ---- Albert thanked Nascimento for talking to him. He was about to leave before he heard the vampire shout. "I'll provide blood samples if she'd like." Albert nodded and said he'd pass along the message. James agreed, but noted that Nascimento would require an armed escort.

"The left arm would be your best bet I think." Thesally said as she smiled over at Matthew and Purcasso. "So, aside from a cure, think you'll be able to do?" @Al the Killer

Iris nodded in agreement. "Yeah, left is good." She set to work again, drawing the same sort of sample as she had from Adam. "The cure will be the first priority, but to get there, we'll need to understand more about how vampirism works, medically speaking. It would help if we had a full-blooded vampire - I recall the rogues back in LA describing turned vampires like you and Adam as 'half-breeds' - but anything we can understand would work. Aside from that, there is a chance of isolating specific positive effects. For instance... are you vulnerable to contagious diseases, or do you have higher resistance than humans?" She smiled, glad to be talking scientific theory and possible applications.

Matthew patted Maggie's head. "I guess she likes it," he commented, before looking over at his sister, as she spoke about the possibilities of vampiric research. The last time he'd seen her this happy, she'd killed a monster. @Hacky Slashy

Thesally let Iris get her blood. "Full blooded vampires start out stronger while us converted need at least a year or two to be as strong. " Thesally waited for Iris to finish taking her blood.

Adam scratched Maggie's head as she licked his hand."You needed pure vampire blood?" A male vampire with shoulder length hair walked into the lab, that looked eerily familiar. Adam quickly had him by the throat and growled. "EASY! HE'S ON OUR SIDE!" Mark said as Adam looked at the vampire that looked nearly identical to the Rogue leader. Adam set him down as Maggie pawed at both the vampire and the hybrid. He coughed and then rubbed his neck. "I see you're a little jumpy. Marius at your service."

@Al the Killer

Iris finished drawing the sample, repeating the process of placing gauze over the small puncture. Then she heard a voice, saw the familiar face, and immediately held the used needle up, poised like a weapon in the vampire's direction. Not that it would have done much. Mark spoke and she glanced over at him briefly before lowering the needle. "We thought you might have been... someone else," she admitted, turning again to wrap up her work with Thesally. "There, you're good to go, Thesally. And yes, another sample would be helpful if you're willing to provide it."

Matthew, not recognizing the face as well, glanced between them. "So we're good? No attempted murder today?" he asked. "And hi, Marius. I'm Matthew, this is my sister, Iris. She's taking a few vampiric blood samples for research, but I think she's having trouble shifting out of vampire slayer mode-" Iris cleared her throat. "You are not helping my first impressions, Matt," she chided before offering Marius an apologetic smile. @Hacky Slashy

"I'm sorry. You just looked really familiar. We dealt with a rogue pack when this all started." Maggie pawed at Adam as he crouched down to pet her. "Given your strength I take you dispatched them with ease." Marius said as Adam gave an awkward smile. "Uh.....I wasn't always this strong." Jason, Sandra and Peter eased up as well. Jason looked towards Iris. "You want to tell him or should one of us?" Ally peeked behind from her mother and uncle and waved. Andrea finished checking up on the Feral and her puppies. She was now fighting off feral puppy slobber.

Thesally got up and went back to Matthew's side. She kissed Purcasso and then wrapped an arm around Matthew. "This should be good. Thesally by the way, and this pretty lady is Purcasso." The others introduced themselves as well right as Albert walked in with Agent Rodriguez and Nascimento under armed guard. "We'll be fine." Albert said as the soldiers nodded and left. He looked around sensed that things were tense. "What'd I miss?" He said as Maggie Trotted towards him and hugged his leg. @Al the Killer

Iris glanced over at Jason at the question. "Tell him wh-?" She stopped as she realized what he meant, and of course she didn't want to deliver awkward, potentially bad news to someone when she had no clue how that person might react. Someone had to do it, though. She just had to test the waters, first. With luck, the resemblance was coincidental. With her luck, probably not. "So, Marius, do you happen to know someone named Marlowe? Another vampire who looks a lot like you?" As Albert approached, she took advantage of the temporary lapse in bloodwork to stand beside him. Matthew looked between Iris and Marius silently, but didn't say anything. He leaned against Thesally as Purrcasso let out a scratchy meow, nuzzling close to her parents. @Hacky Slashy

"My brother. I take it you unfortunately ran into him? I would've put him down myself, but duty to my coven kept me busy elsewhere. I take it the boy here killed him?" Adam nodded awkwardly. "With your strength it isn't surprising." Marius clutched his neck as Adam explained that he got lucky and it was before his new....condition. "What do you man before your new condition?" Marius sensed something was off with Adam, that he wasn't just a vampire. "Just to disclose I showed up after that was resolved." Jason said as Sandra shoved him. Peter introduced himself as he took a seat waiting for Iris to take a sample. Albert crouched down and scratched behind Maggie's ears. Thesally held Matthew and continued petting Purcasso. @Al the Killer

Well, at least he wouldn't be seeking revenge for that death. Iris relaxed a bit more and turned to start work on drawing a sample of Peter's blood. "He did," she confirmed. "And another rogue. I took out the other two, both times while saving Adam." She paused and thought about it for a moment. Blowing a vampire's face off with a shotgun did seem lethal, but maybe it was tearing the heart out that had actually finished Callista off. "Actually, one of them was a team effort, I guess." She didn't look back at Marius as she explained further. "Adam was a vampire when we fought the rogues, but more recently, he ended up biting a werewolf. He's a hybrid now. We're still figuring out the effects of that particular change." Matthew smiled up at Thesally, letting the others discuss the whole vampire-werewolf thing. His interest in vampires - or just one in particular - didn't exactly involve fighting, after all. @Hacky Slashy

Marius began walking back. "That's impossible. There hasn't been one for centuries and he was nightmare to deal with. And those that tried to make themselves hybrids.....it didn't exactly end well. So how is he even alive!?" Marius said as Adam and Albert simply shrugged their shoulders while Maggie pawed at him. Thesally whispered to Matthew while rubbing his back. "Why is your heart rate elevated?" She smiled as she looked at him and Purcasso. Although Marius was equally shocked that a normal woman managed to kill two vampires, considering three of them were his best legionares while Callista was a captured Gaul Marlowe fell for. "I take it you're no mere mortal if you were able to pull that off. And I suppose even the greatest warriors meet their matches eventually....or severely underestimate your opponents." "Iris could definitely hold her own." Peter said as he allowed Iris to draw blood. @Al the Killer (edited)

Iris shrugged. "I look forward to studying his blood, especially," was the only answer she had to offer. "The conclusions I can draw with such a small sample are practically nonexistent in that regard, though, and it would be extremely unethical to experiment with hybrid creation, so don't hold your breath for answers." She finished drawing Peter's blood and looked over at Marius. "As for me, Jan's death was a combination of adrenaline and attacking from behind while he was focused on Adam. He didn't even know I was there. Callista died because a shotgun shell to the face will get just about anyone. And because that dumbass bit my prosthetic leg when she had the chance to kill me... It was just a matter of staying calm and aiming right the first time, nothing superhuman about that." Matthew glanced over at Thesally meanwhile, blushing faintly. Damn vampiric hearing. "Just thinking about my perfect girlfriend?" he whispered back, trying to be subtle enough not to embarrass himself. Probably too late, since they were surrounded by vampires. @Hacky Slashy

Marius relented and scratched behind Maggie's ears. "No worries, I won't be pushing for more hybrids. We seemed to have been lucky this one is docile." Adam smiled and patted the pitbull's head alongside Marius and Ally. Albert and James greeted Iris and introduced her to Rodrigo. "You really think you can fix this? It'll be the least I could do since I'm confined here for life." Albert then gave Iris the cliff notes of Nascimento's vigilante days and his imprisonment. Marius listened to Iris' explanation on how she killed Jan and Callista. "Callista did enjoy playing with her food too much. It seems that was her downfall. I'm sorry I couldn't have help you deal with them, but myself and my coven were unfortunately preoccupied with the current internal war your country faces. And since the United States is preoccupied here, other countries are unraveling right now. I may have a theory for why the boy here was able to become a hybrid." Thesally kissed Matthew's cheek and rested her head on his shoulder. She then rubbed Purcasso's back. @Al the Killer

Iris greeted Rodrigo before answering his question. "I'm not even sure 'fix' is the right word," she admitted. "What I am sure of is that we can understand more. If there's a way to reverse the transformation, I'll look for it. I'm not sure if I'd want to distribute a... let's say cure, for lack of a better word... before the Wolves of Liberty are dealt with, though." Marius's words caught her attention, though. "What's your theory?" she asked, curious to hear more. Matthew smiled and rested his head against Thesally's, more than happy to stay by her side while the others discussed the war and vampirism. @Hacky Slashy

"Perhaps it's a blood line. When we dealt with that hybrid, we found out he was very promiscuous. After Fionn slaughtered half of our army, we discovered he had his fair share of concubines. My brother took it upon himself to eliminate them, prevent another hybrid. But it appears he missed one or who knows how many." Marius said as he looked over at Adam. Sandra growled and glared at the vampire. "Children were murdered?!" Sandra was just about ready to rip him apart. Marius noted her reaction. "I don't have any excuses. Even if I voted no, the elders wouldn't have taken any chances. That being said that was the one time we encountered a hybrid. Maybe there's more out there." Peter got up after Iris patched him up. Jason took a seat and laid out his arm for Iris. Ally came over and held his hand. "It'll be ok. It's just a sting." Jason glared at Sandra. It looks like Ally learned about his childhood fear of the doctor and needles. Mark helped escort the Feral Lycan and her puppies out. "The Gugwe's up next." He announced as he and the feral left. Albert and Maggie went next to Iris. "How's it all going?" Maggie pawed at Iris while her parents caught up. Thesally contemplated the revelation of the first hybrid. How lucky they were that Adam wasn't raised as a violent barbarian. @Al the Killer

"Children are murdered in every armed conflict, and the concept of war crimes is, historically speaking, fairly new," Iris commented distractedly, as she was still focused on her work first and foremost. "It's unfortunate, but not terribly shocking. Marius is on our side at the moment, so how about we just agree on no child murder this time around?" Maybe she couldn't have said the same if she hadn't become fairly desensitized to atrocities between her work, her previous marriage, and the current war, but it was what it was. She straightened up and let Peter go. "Needles are a common fear," she added to Jason, ignoring the glare he was giving Sandra. "Just don't look at it, and try to keep distracted with conversation." She glanced over at Mark as she disinfected the intended injection site. "The fuck's a Gugwe?" she questioned, more curious than anything before looking down at Maggie. "Yes, hello there sweetheart. I'd love to pet you now, but I can't until I'm done. Maybe your dad can use both hands?" @Hacky Slashy

"A more animalistic version of Sasquatch. Cousins if you will. No worries, this one's a juvenile." Mark said as left. Maggie was then showered with head pats by Albert, using both hands. Adam contemplated what Marius said. 'Man. Marlowe wanted to kill me before I was even born. But then again what are the odds I'm descended from Fionn?' "So how long until you know more?" Adam said as Ally volunteered to be next. She sat down on the chair while Jason remained close. Ronald came in carrying the gugwe along with Mark. Despite Mark's claim this was a juvenile, it's as big as a gorilla, although it resembled a more muscular baboon. "As you can see, it has more canine like jaw compared to us." It smiled at both Iris and Andrea. "I shouldn't be shocked at this point, but still surprising." Andea said as the Gugwe was placed down on her table. She patted it on the head like should normally do to her usual patients. @Al the Killer

Iris had never exactly kept up with monster stories, so this one really just seemed like an ape. She smiled anyway though, because it was a bit cute. She couldn't focus for long though, because now Ally was sitting in the chair. She normally didn't like working with children, but that was mostly because she worked with dead bodies. She took care to be gentle. "Have you had your blood taken before?" she asked. "I know you've been here the entire time, but do you still want me to walk you through the process?" Even if she already understood and even though she didn't seem nervous, children were naturally curious, so it couldn't help to offer. She didn't address Adam's question until after she was finished with Ally. "Drawing blood alone won't teach me anything, so I'll need to finish the process and began analyses before I can know anything," she said. "And science doesn't work on timelines; anyone who promises a technology or discovery by a certain time is just trying to sound good to anyone who can give them funding. All I can say is that I'll get working on it as soon as I can." There would be paperwork involved though, even for exploratory analyses. She wasn't about to forego methodology. @Hacky Slashy