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Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm


Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"I didn't quite mean I wanted to leave her in the hole, I meant more like...ahh whatever, never mind." Ronny responds before kneeling opposite Fletch and doing his best to dig with his hands.

When Izzy asks about the staked vampire Ronny looks over and shrugs his shoulders. "I was thinking about trying to get something out of him information wise. Though I don't know about that if Oggly, whoever he is, and Mist are around maybe we'll just leave him to burn after digging this one out."

The dirt is fairly loose but the hole seems a bit deeper than the one Fletch remembered digging himself out of so the going is still a little slow. Once they get down to the elbow though it starts getting a little tougher. As Fletch pulls a pile of dirt away the room is suddenly filled with a scream as a dark haired woman's head breaks the surface. Struggling she tries to snap at Ronny's hand, which he pulls away just in time.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Izzy's been helping with the digging too, as best she's able, but there are three of them crowded around the spot. At least she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. As Claire tosses in the collection of bags, though, she does hear a "Thanks" from the blonde. Izzy's not quite hungry, but she does eye up the bags for a second before she goes back to helping dig. At the scream, she lets out a startled noise and flops backward, being clear when the woman snaps at Ronny.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"Thanks" is also heard from Fletch as Claire brings the blood bags. As the woman breaks through the surface though, he curses, surprised, before reaching for a blood bag and thrusting it at her, hoping she would go for it.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

After pulling his hand away just in time Ronny mutters, "Yeesh, need to remember they do that when they're hungry. Why in the hell do they bury people after embracing them anyways?"

Raven still hasn't returned from upstairs yet, having slipped up there to grab some blood from the fridge while the others dug up the woman. When the first blood bag is thrust in her face the woman seems confused for a second before the smell of food hits her and she bites down on the bag and quickly drains it dry.

As her frenzy disappears she looks up at the group around her and starts screaming again, only stopping when she finally breaks down into tears and hysterics while she struggles against the dirt. "Please don't kill me. I-I can get you money just please don't hurt me."

As the bloody tears drip from her eyes, Ronny tries to calm her down though it probably doesn't come out all that soothing to any ones ears hers included. "Hey, hey relax. You don't want to be wasting that blood we just gave you."
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"Excellent question. Ask River after we leave. If she guts you, we'll consider it a touchy subject." She also makes note of Ronny's comment, filing that bit of information away for later.

There's more blood if they need it, Claire having brought them down a few packs, but given the woman's words, which make Izzy visibly wince, getting her to drink it now when she's thinking about it probably won't go over too well. Explaining to her that she's already dead is going to be tricky. And probably best handled not here.

Scooting a little bit closer, she kneels to the woman's side as best she can, holding a hand up soothingly. "None of us are going to hurt you, but it's not exactly safe here right now. Why don't we get out of here and you can tell us what's going on. Sound like a good idea? Getting the hell out of this ratty old basement?"
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Seeing how the others work on calming the woman down, Fletch quietly takes a moment to sit back and suckle on one of the blood bags. If he wants to get rid of that bite wound on his neck anytime soon, he's going to need some more of that stuff. He does have the decency to at least step out of the room before tearing into it.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Claire glances over at Fletch feasting in the corner, before stepping forward and standing above the woman. For a moment she watched the others try and calm the dirt smeared stranger, while she rested her shotgun over her shoulder.

"Forgot we looked like a bunch of Virgin Mary statues when we get upset... it was the Virgin Mary statue that spewed blood from her sockets right? Regardless dirt queen McGee, let's hear your name so I have something better to call ye, and then we can get out of here and somewhere safe," Claire said, before moving over the the staked shovel head and digging her claws into his neck and started to drag him towards the stairs.

"Oh yeah, and yer dead, let's not waste the afterlife on earth shall we?"
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Ronny's words don't seem to have much effect on the woman, though Izzy does seem to do a better job of getting through to her as she stops blubbering and just nods her head at getting out of the basement.

Ronny continues to dig the woman out while Izzy takes care of the talking, and Fletch goes off to feed. It doesn't take him long much longer with the help of the woman and Izzy before she's freed. Claire's question comes just as the woman starts to haul herself from the hole. The woman looks almost like she's about to start blubbering again but just closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before answering. "M-my names Mary...Mary Thomas, b-but I don't understand how can I be dead if I'm talking and breathing."

Ronny grabs the handful of stakes in one hand from the floor before he looks over at the woman and shrugs. "You won't probably believe us, but that doesn't change the truth. You don't have to breath, you can't get a tan anymore, and you need to feed on blood to keep going." Holding up the stakes he adds. "These stakes won't kill you but they aren't exactly enjoyable to our kind either. I'll let you draw your own conclusions from that."

Since Claire has already dragged the body upstairs he turns to head that way too. Passing Raven as he comes back downstairs to join Izzy and the woman, who now has a slowly forming look of horror on her face as she puts two and two together.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"I think so." Izzy looks like she's pondering Claire's question for a moment, then lets it go. More important things to worry about right now, though she holds in a snicker at her nickname for the newbie in the group.

"C'mon, Mary. Let's get you up." She'll help the woman to her feet, keeping a hand on her to keep her steady. Catching the look dawning on her face, she lets out a sigh. "What happened to you happened to the lot of us, and not that long ago, either. Seems to be what these guys do for kicks. Just, for right now, lets worry about getting out of here. There's a couple of nasty pieces of work that might still be lurking around and the farther we get from them, the better."

She smiles at Raven as he comes back in. "Can you and Fletch grab those extra bags? No sense leaving them here for our fine friends, right?" She'll pick up one on her way out, in case it's needed for their new friend, but she keeps it mostly cradled in her hand on the side opposite the other woman. Her main priority right now is keeping Mary mobile and making sure the others make it up the stairs and outside without further incident. As they're making their way up to the main floor, she calls to the other two ahead. "Keep an eye out for Oggly's dog. It was just sitting up there when we left, but I haven't got an idea what he told it to do before he took off."

((Ronny, what's Mary look like? You said dark hair. Young? Middle-aged? How's she dressed? Just trying to get a feel for her visually. And just random seeming name or does it strike any chords?))
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"Mary... seriously your name is Mary?" Claire said in a rather dead pan voice. She shook her head and let out a short laugh. So soon after her remark on the statue the woman's name was just amusing.

"Are you a virgin as well? If so, that sucks, because sex just isn't nearly as fun anymore. Biting though... oh the kinkyness level in that little action has risen quite a few pegs,"
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

((Fletch is now up to 7/12 BP's. Mary's name shouldn't ring any bells unless I accidentally reused it.))

She's still a little unsteady after being in the hole for so long but after giving her head a good shake. She seems to be well enough off to make her way upstairs with Izzy. It's hard to say with all the dirt and mud still clinging to her but she looks to be close to Ronny in age give or take a few years. Her long black hair is kept loose and straight which frames her cute face perfectly despite the mess that both are currently in. Her clothes make Izzy think a college girl trying to look nice but still on the cheap side. She also has a bit more color to her skin than most of the other kindred you've met so far.

Raven picks up the rest of the bags and follows along behind Izzy and their newest companion after returning a smile to Izzy. He doesn't add to the conversation, instead just keeping a close eye on Mary.

As the rest of them finally make their way upstairs they find the kitchen empty except for the refrigerator in the corner and Claire standing in front of the body of the shovelhead by the doorway to the living room.

From Claire's vantage point she can see outside where Ronny is grabbing the bodies from earlier in the night, though strangely enough the dog is actually following him around like a lost puppy. With one in each arm he finally makes his way back inside and drops the bodies onto the floor. With a nod to Claire
he asks, "Any bodies out back to clean up or are they all in the barn."

At the sight of the bodies and Ronny's comments Mary starts getting a little edgy as if she'd really rather not be there, but she doesn't say anything other than to look at Izzy almost pleadingly.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

((Claire is only commenting on Mary's name because she had just been joking about the virgin Mary))

"There's a body of a sentry outside the barn, but other than that the others are all inside. Ready to be chopped up and burnt. You like barbeque darling," Claire said, flashing Mary a fang filled grin.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

((That was for Copper she asked if the name rang any bells.))

"Alright I'll be right back then," Ronny says as he hurries out to grab the last body with the dog tagging along right behind him.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"Okay, first the dog hates him and now it's following him around?" Izzy shakes her head. "You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?" She looks over to Raven, since, well, he was up here.

"Claire, quit picking on the newbie." Her tone is more 'exhasperated mother' than anything else. "Give her at least an hour before you start teasing, would you?" She looks over to Mary, giving her arm a little tug. "Come on. We'll leave the dirty work to the ones that enjoy it."

Given, though, that the bodies are mostly intact, she will pause though. "Hey, any of these look familiar? Any of them the ones that grabbed you?" If not, she'll escort Mary outside, calling after Ronny to "Let the boss know we're about ready to head out!" Her main goal is to get Mary away from the house and get her a little more calmed down. Questions can come later. Not too much later, but they've got a mess to clear up right now. If needed, she'll help with the body recovery, but most Ronny and Claire seem to have it well in hand.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Fletch throws the empty bag away and follows them up slowly, hands rammed into the pockets of his overall. He realizes he obviously doesn't make to good of an impression - dirty, bloody clothes, big quiet guy, pushing bags of blood into other people's faces...
He curses quietly and straightens his shoulders. Damnit, stop beating yourself up. Isn't Alan already doing enough of this? He clears his throat and takes a few steps into Mary's direction. "I know you don't feel like it," he starts to rumble, "but you're actually better off than many others. Of us, I mean. All I got when I dug myself out was a Russian that sped off after a minute flat. Many get less."
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Raven shakes his head and says, "No I didn't have anything to do with it, and an animal normally wouldn't want anything to do with him unless...well I guess there could be a couple reasons it suddenly likes him." The last part sounds almost as if he's curious as to why the dog is doing it himself.

Mary looks glad when Izzy suggests they leave but she does reluctantly take a look at the bodies as they pass through the front room to see if she recognizes anyone amongst them. When her eyes light on the face of the staked shovelhead from the basement she rushes over to the body and practically dives on it while sobbing. She looks up at Izzy and then towards Fletch tearily and starts begging them as she tries to move the body by herself, the stake doesn't come out but she's obviously not being very careful about it.

"Please you have to help him, like you did me. He-he's my fiancee we were just passing through this area when our car broke down and he went for help, I didn't realize he was taken like I was by the-the bad ones."


Ronny makes his way towards the barn and finds the body of the sentry or what little of it is left. "Great, already rotting. Now I see why she said not to wear good clothes." He picks it up as well as he can and dumps it in the barn which he quickly leaves after seeing the inside. Now back outside he calls out to River saying the house is cleared in the hope that she's still around before heading to his car to grab the gas can from the trunk.
 
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Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"Well, so long as it isn't going to try and eat his face, I'm not going to worry about it right now."

Mary's reaction actually makes Izzy yelp, not expecting that out of her. "Ah, crap," she mutters. "All right. One less for the pyre," she states. "We'll take care of him, Mary. Don't worry."

She doesn't move to pull the stake out, though. There's that little needling in the back of her brain that he probably wouldn't be that way if there weren't a reason for it. At least she wants to hear from Claire or Ronny - the likely candidates that did it - before just up and doing it. Granted, though, if he's not staked, he'll be easier to move, but she's not offering up that information.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"Good!" River calls back from the top of the barn, making a little circuit of the near edge before finding a convenient place to jump down from. "Get everyone gathered up then? Good, now we-Hey look, someone new!" she exclaims in a false enthusiastic voice, walking over to Mary and looking her up and down. "Decided to switch sides? No, way too dirty for that. You're another fresh one, aren't you?" She asks, almost right up in the poor woman's face by this point. For some reason, she doesn't seem to be caring about making a good first impression.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"An hour before teasing, who do you think I- What the fuck," Claire yelled out as Mary jumped on the body of the shovel head, inadvertently tearing more of his neck open as the extra weight pushed the body off her claws.

She frowns looking down at the sobbing woman. "Why can't anything just be black and white, for fuck sakes. I am not pulling that stake out of his chest unless I have a shotgun against his nose, unless you all want to be screaming and running around thinking your on fire," Claire said in an angry snarl.
 
Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"Well great," Fletch grumbles. "If he can do that, maybe you guys were embraced by the crazy bitch that scrambled my brain. Though... Should a fresh one be able to do that?" Fletch turns towards River, her being the most experienced of the bunch by far. "Either way, I say the stake stays in."
 
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