"First you insist on goin with me then you ditch me?"
Mariah pulled her thick-ass old people shades down to stare at Max. If her tone was any indication, she actually didn't give a shit, her smirk had to be the confirmation. They'd arrived outside of the mall closer to 4 than had been planned. Mariah had responded to Isla's text, saying that they should meet up somewhere outside of the Mall's many entrances, detailing enough landmarks that Isla might not get lost. So as Mariah moved to take a seat on a nearby planter, she waved a "shoo" gesture at Max as he made his way into the doors, then took out her fan and began her self-breeze. The night's previous escapades had netted her enough to pay the rent, with a bit left over as change, and she'd planned on spending something on a meal at least, if not pick up a bit of mall garbage.
She gazed into the parking lot, watching the people of Florida go about their business, and figured she really didn't have much room to judge those people today. This was mostly due to the fact she was dressed in a pastel pink zipper-front hoodie, with the sleeves completely cut off, that was host to a plethora of flamingos in various poses, with the outfit accented by some jeans cut off into booty shorts--despite her natural lack-of-ass, and she was wearing her favorite extremely worn white leather sneakers-- the ones where the leather had worn down to gray. Sure she was dressed like shit, but she was very much not going to carry herself as if she were, so she fanned herself with the elegance of an exhausted Queen, seated atop her palm tree planter throne, as a family of six, decked out in real-tree camouflage, walked by. She took her phone into her other hand and sent a quick message--
from -MainLineDrag☆ remember: dont go in meet me outside we gonna get smoothies first!
Mariah gazed that her name in the chat, the fact that it had to little verified sticker around it, and slightly considered the fact that maybe-- quite possibly-- she shouldn't have used her actual account for this group chat. In literally the next moment she realized she actually didn't care, then shrugged it off. Pretty much her plan today was to wander around aimlessly with Isla in the lead, make sure they didn't get arrested, and perhaps act of some kind of tour guide. Since Isla was from... Sss...Slovakia? Started with an S. Whatever. Since Isla was from out of town and definitely out of the country, Mariah figured she would have to introduce Isla to several American things. Cinnabon, fried gator, and scratch off lottery among them.
"... What's wrong with you, girl? You look like hot death."
Maya held back a groan, pulling out her earbuds and folding her arms as she looked up at Madison. So much for some peace and quiet. This was very much the opposite of that.
“I feel like hot death, who decided driving the whole way was a good decision?” she snorted, awkwardly stretching her splinted hand. It was very much not happy with all the use she’d put it through over the drive. She then raised an eyebrow, looking at what Madison had decided to wear. “At least I’m not wearing that abomination against nature.”
“I’m surprised you’re here anyway, after you walked out,” she raised an eyebrow, jumping right into the last hot topic of the shitshow that was the coven. Smart to bring up with Madison right away? Probably not. “Not that I actually blame you, because Vashti is an ungrateful, self entitled bitch.”
Maya was also a bitch, so it was ironic coming from her, but at least she knew that. And was very open about it.
Isla got completely and utterly lost.
What kind of mall had so many entrances? What kind of mall even was this? She was used to the kind that maybe had two entrances at either end but normally just one. Not like that. She’d tried to follow Mariah’s instructions of landmarks but honestly it didn’t help when it was Isla, whose sense of direction was the worst unless on her hometurf. Which she very much wasn’t.
She frowned as she got another message from Mariah… And ooo, smoothies sounded great! She needed that after walking around in the heat for what felt like hours. Now she just had to loop around the entire mall again to find the right entrance… Wait, there she was! She thanked whatever gods might exist that Mariah stood out in a crowd and headed over to her.
“Hey!” she waved as she approached the taller girl who was pretty dramatically fanning herself while waiting. “I got totally lost, how do you guys get any shopping done? This place is massive. I swear I’ve walked around for so long.”
For all of her massive sigh of exhaustion Isla was practically bouncing around, as she normally did, hardly waiting for Mariah to stop lounging on a planter to head inside the mall. “You said smoothies first, right? Where do we get those- Fuck, is that a whole playground?! Whatttt?”
Isla gaped as she constantly turned her head to look around the mall as if she was on another planet. It was so big and busy! Absolutely nothing like the ones back home. Like the biggest on back in Glasgow was outside!! You had to walk between the shops! And the other that she’d been to was just one long boy lined with shops and food places… like, wow! This was a whole other world!
“Oh, oh, is that where we get smoothies?” she pointed to the tiki hut with weird massive fruits and a constantly going blender. Her eyes then widened even further as she saw the massive line winding away from it. “... is that the queue? Seriously? Is it worth-Oh, look, there’s Penny!”
In a typical Isla fashion she got completely derailed when she spotted a familiar blond standing in the middle of a line of mostly middle aged women and some preppy teenagers that Isla was fairly certain didn’t exist in her country (what kind of teen got smoothies).
“Penny, Penny!” Isla waved to the girl in the line and practically bounded up to her, bright yellow hoodie meaning she was both visible in her approach and hard for Mariah to lose even with her constant moving. “Are you getting a smoothie too? This line is crazy! I’m getting Mariah to show me around because I have no clue where anything is and might as well experience America while I’m here!”
She turned back to said girl in question, assuming she’d followed her over, and grinned. “What’s after smoothies? I haven’t eaten yet, we should definitely get food… And shopping! Can adults go in that playground I saw earlier? Not that I want to, I'm just curious…”
“At least I’m not wearing that abomination against nature.”
Madison started chuckling.
"I thought you of all people would like Cardi B," Madison started as she helped herself to the seat next to Maya. Okay maybe the road trip was an ass-kicker but Madison was obviously tougher than Maya given that she slept it off. Though, Madison was a (former) stripper and experienced all sorts of shit and just slept it off and be ready the next day. "I mean, at least we have our cars down here... I'd hate to be stuck with a shitty rental or Ubering around here. They be tryna snatch bitches out here."
“I’m surprised you’re here anyway after you walked out. Not that I blame you, because Vashti is an ungrateful, self-entitled bitch.”
Maya brought up Vashti, but Madison was long over that bitch. Honestly, it was a little funny when she cursed Vashti out and the bitch ain't have a single response. Though, Madison couldn't help but shrug. "Well, to me this is an all-expenses-paid trip to Miami," She chuckled a bit, "Where I help my girls out."
She glanced for a second before she said, "I mean, it don't take a fucking genius to tell that Vashti's gonna dip the very second she gets what she wants." She rolled her eyes up into her head and realized that she could maybe use something to drink. Maybe a Coke. "That's kinda why I don't really know why we're out here busting our ass for somebody who ain't shit. But, it's cool, it's cool. She's gonna be gone, but enough about her flat ass."
Madison pushed herself to her feet. "Do you want to go clothes shopping for when we hit up the clubs?"
Miami Merchandise Mall.
Miami...
Emily has been out here a few times for vacation with her family... though that was a long time ago. She couldn't recall anything other than the beach, in all honesty. Though Emily could only look back on those good times somberly... because it was because of her that her little sister's worsening condition. She found it hard to enjoy herself out here when she could die at any given moment. She sighed for a moment as she remembered the other two members of the Coven that could use some help. Herik's mother came to mind, but Vashti... Blah. She didn't see the sense in breaking her neck for someone that was going to leave the second she got what she wanted.
Either way, Emily was helping herself to that little bonus that Blake gave her. She had bought herself some Rayban sunglasses as she wore black tights and a green and white T-shirt with roses. In her hands she had all sorts of fancy clothes bagged... she should go hit up one of the fancier malls with all of the designer stores later on. Though, she was curious about the whereabouts of the rest of the Coven. After all, everything's more fun with friends! They were probably off slutting though, especially the likes of Maya. Heh. She probably got all the men lined up.
Well, that was one thing she didn't want to go anywhere near. What Emily was going near was the smoothies... because she was a white upstart in Miami. Of course she was gonna get some smoothies if she didn't get Starbucks. Emily walked over towards it and saw a long ass line so long that she wasn't...
... Hey, isn't that blonde-haired bitch in line Penny? Emily raised her sunglasses as she looked at Penny.
The bitch that nearly killed her last night with her hero complex bullshit! And she couldn't even finish what she started, either. Emily had to be the one to save her, and she didn't even get one thank you. Or an apology for nearly blowing her fucking head off with that giant ass bullet. Also there were those other two morons, but they barely registered.
Almost immediately Emily walked over to Penny with a rather off-putting smile on her face. This was both her attempt of skipping the giant ass line and telling Penny about herself. "Hi, hi, Penny, right?" Is that how much you charge men? She thought to herself with a chuckle. "I see you're enjoying life, yes? Especially after I saved it." She smugly said as she put a hand on her chest.
"And after you nearly fuckin' ended mine with that stunt you pulled," Her tone changed as she poked a finger into Penny's chest. "So you owe me a thank you. And an apology. You can repay your debt with smoothies. I want the Passion fruit."
How long had Penny been standing in the line to get a smoothie? Had the line even moved? Did anything exist anymore beside the line? Perhaps she had been trapped once again in another dimension, cursed to forever wait in the line for the promises of a smoothie that’d never come. Around her the mall stopped, as if frozen in time, as the lights began to click off one by one until even the back of the person in front of her was lost to the darkness. Penny felt a chill run down her spine as she stared forward into the dark void, feeling something stare back at her. Her eyes began to adjust to the darkness and she could start to make out shapes. She realized then that her eyes weren’t adjusting. Instead, on the horizon, a light was beginning to glow.
“Penny, Penny!”
Penny snapped out of her daydream with a start as the mall reappeared around her. In her stupor, she had moved forward a few more spots in line. What a relief. She looked over at the source of her name and saw the yellow bundle of energy that was Isla. Penny returned the wave as the girl rushed over.
“Are you getting a smoothie too? This line is crazy! I’m getting Mariah to show me around because I have no clue where anything is and might as well experience America while I’m here!”
“Well, there’s nothing more American than the vast capitalistic wasteland of the shopping mall, except for shooting guns into the side of a hill or going tens of thousands of dollars in debt for a degree you won’t ever use,” said Penny, flashing a smile.
She was about to suggest other American things that Isla could experience while visiting, like eating a warm slice of apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, not caring about soccer and refusing to call it football, or getting addicted to prescription drugs. However, before she could teach Isla how to bleed Red, White, and Blue, Emily joined them with a smile that looked alarmingly unnatural. Still, Penny was about to pretend that she was excited to see the girl she’d been forced to share an awkward car ride with. However, her smile faltered as Emily suggested she had saved Penny’s life—as if she had been in any real danger. Hah!
"And after you nearly fuckin' ended mine with that stunt you pulled," said Emily. Penny’s eyes went cold as she looked down at the accusatory finger poking her in the chest. "So you owe me a thank you. And an apology. You can repay your debt with smoothies. I want the Passion fruit."
“Oh, you’re absolutely right,” snickered Penny as she brushed Emily’s hand away, not bothering at all to hide her insincerity as she rolled her eyes. “I am so dreadfully sorry that something almost happened to you on accident, and am truly grateful that you think you somehow saved my life. I believe a smoothie is not enough to repay what I owe you. I will think of something...”
However, as she spoke Penny could feel the eyes of the other people waiting in line focus in on them. Their looks were angry and judgmental, the faces of people that could quickly be whipped up into an angry mob with a single call for action. If she didn’t get the girls to go away, a riot would surely breakout in response to their line cutting—intentional or otherwise.
“You know what? Fine, ” said Penny, dropping the fake apologetic tone. “All of you go hangout over by the bench and I’ll grab us some smoothies. Tell me whatcha want and go, before these people behind you start grabbing pitchforks.”
After hearing what the other two wanted, Penny waved the girls off and continued standing in line. After a few minutes that felt like a couple of lifetimes, she made it to the front. She ordered the girls their smoothies, although she accidentally on purpose ordered the wrong flavor for Emily. Penny walked over to the group holding the paper drink carrier with a triumphant smile on her face. She handed Isla and Mariah their drinks, took her own, and then turned to Emily with a smirk as she offered her the wrong smoothie.
“They were out of passion fruit, but said this one was pretty good,” said Penny, smirking, as she handed Emily the cayenne pepper kale smoothie.
Mariah was pretty content to follow Isla around, answering questions or redirecting her away from security guards as needed. For the duration of their walk through the mall, Mariah mostly snickered at Isla's glee, and found that she was actually kind of enjoying her presence. Isla's energy was kind of refreshing and it weirdly reminded her of Tory-- though the amount of times the word 'fuck' had been said so far was severely lacking. As she would with him, Mariah let Isla's conversation carry itself-- not really bothering to respond unless there was an actual adequate pause for some. Usually people like this were more on the "thinking aloud" style of speech anyway. On the whole, Mariah really didn't mind it, as the adventure through the mall would be more entertaining with Isla's commentary.
Penny! PENNY!"
When Isla scooted off, Mariah took her time to catch up, not really bothering to keep pace. She could see Isla-- everything was fine. By the time she caught up, Isla was tossing questions her way-- “What’s after smoothies? I haven’t eaten yet, we should definitely get food… And shopping! Can adults go in that playground I saw earlier? Not that I want to, I'm just curious…” Mariah gave Penny a smile and a little wave, before glancing at the smoothie line, already making peace with the fact she was going to join it.
With a shrug, Mariah replied, "I mean, you can pretty much do anything anyway as long as nobody stop you, right?" Which was probably some kind of modern philosophy point. She stared up at the pretty glowing ceiling through her shaded lenses and added, "Food court here ain't bad. It'd be good fuel for shoppin'-- I got 'bout two-fifty from all them scratch of lotto tickets I had." Which had been a rather alarming amount of good luck, considering the situation surrounding said tickets. It was at this juncture that Mariah zoned out pretty hard.
She had got kicked by a horse yesterday-- a whole HORSE.
While she wasn't exactly in critical condition, the side she landed on was covered in a considerable amount of bruises and scrapes, and her head had been feeling kinda foggy since then. It was as if the horse had kicked out some a her brain cells-- or maybe they had decided to leave the place, in the face of such danger. And it was also at this juncture, that she noted her ability to understand what Isla was saying, had increased considerably. A smirk followed by a weird and low laughter escaped her then. Maybe getting Tory kicked by a horse would increase his grasp upon more words in English that weren't 'fuck'.
"Strawberry Banana," she head herself mumble.
Wherever Isla's hoodie went, Mariah followed, like some kind of yellow seeking zombie. She looked down and found a smoothie clutched in her hands. Without questioning it, Mariah went ahead and started sipping, only pausing to ask Isla, "What other kinda Miami stuff you wanna do? I'm free all day or whateva. Might go perform tonight tho. Wanna go try some fried gator?"
“You’re right, she’ll ditch as soon as she has a cure,” Maya waved her hand, pushing up her sunglasses onto her head so she could see slightly. Though it showed off the dark bags under her eyes that makeup couldn’t quite hide. “I’m definitely not doing it for her, I’m doing it so that I- well, we, don’t get our asses eaten by a murderous cannibal. I couldn’t care less about anything else.”
Also, as Madison said, it was an all-expenses-paid trip to Miami. Why would she not go? She hadn’t actually been to Miami before, what with the whole studying thing and having her parents on her ass about good grades.
"Do you want to go clothes shopping for when we hit up the clubs?"
“Yes,” Maya replied instantly, drinking the last bit of her coffee and standing. “Might as well look as good as I can for my one time clubbing in Miami.”
And she’d totally forgotten to pack clothes that she’d wear to a club, thanks to frantically getting ready the day before (and regretting not moving into the beach house like everyone else).
“There’s certainly no lack of options,” she said as she looked around. “We could spend all day looking.”
She then indicated for Madison to leave the way because if she was honest, most of her clothes came from back in Korea so she had no idea what brands were good here.
Everything that Emily said went completely over Isla’s head, which was fine. It didn’t sound important anyway and sounded kind accusatory towards Penny, which wasn’t okay? Penny was one of the few (two) people in this trip that Isla wasn’t incredibly wary of. And from what she remembered, Penny hadn’t been in any way trying to kill her. But whatever.
“I’ll have mixed berries,” she piped up with a grin at the fact she didn’t have to worry about using the whole five dollars she’d stolen off some poor, unsuspecting but rich looking dude in the hotel (he’d just left them out, how could she not?). She then practically skipped over to the pointed out bench. She didn’t bother to sit down, instead standing and half vibrating half bouncing while she waited for Penny to return with their smoothies.
“Thanks, Penny!” she grinned widely as she took her smoothie, taking a large gulp of it. “Wow, it’s good! Don’t think I’ve had a smoothie in years… we don’t tend to eat fruit in Glasgow.”
"What other kinda Miami stuff you wanna do? I'm free all day or whateva. Might go perform tonight tho. Wanna go try some fried gator?"
“I dunno, I’m happy with anything!” Isla replied thoughtfully, which looked like someone going through a million thoughts at once. “Doesn’t Miami have like good clubs? I swear I heard that somewhere… Oh can I watch you perform if you do? That would be cool! And is gator short for alligator cause I am totally down for trying that, yes please.”
If there was one thing Isla had no fear of, it was food. She could eat anything and probably enjoy it (even if it killed her).
“Food first, then shopping, then whatever! I’m sure being here will take up so much time anyway!”
Lyss looked away for a moment, shrugging. She understood why the Coven was sick of the beach, but it beat a crowded mall or public bar. Plus, Miami beaches were so much better than Tampa’s.
She looked back at Claud and crossed her arms in front of her before taking a seat in their little dine-in area. She took a small breath before releasing it from her nose.
“I think we should talk about the Dollhouse before we meet with them… privately.” She glanced over at Claudette before turning her full attention onto her co-leader. “I think you have just as many reservations as I do walking into this.”
Oh boy, Claudette knew that this conversation was coming, so the Afro-Canadian woman scooted her legs over the edge of the bed until she was sitting down. Lyss had Claud’s full attention as she said,
“I do,” Claudette started, “So many, I do not know where to start… so what’s the biggest concern on your mind, Mademoiselle.”
Lyss nodded. “Well… While I’ve never been to the Dollhouse before, I have heard of them.”
“I’m sure we’ll get what we ask from them, but I’m not sure that they’re just after money.”
“... I have a feeling they don’t just want money either,” Claudette softly answered, followed by a sigh. “I have a feeling that Madame Kimberly left something out, or is ignorant to the true nature of the Dollhouse, either way, I don’t think it’d be worth it if the Dollhouse wants something like… one of our souls, or bodies.”
While she talked her gaze drifted away from Lyss off to the side, and then she centered it back on Lyss as she finished. “Wouldn’t that just be causing yet another problem? However, I have little to no knowledge or experience in the criminal underworld… even with my… interesting experiences with the Coven.”
Lyss pressed her lips together. She was standing on a line, but she didn’t know if it would help them at all if she told Claudette about her past. She didn’t know anything about this Dollhouse.
“I, uh… I have a history with the black market. Nothing like the Dollhouse, but I understand how things work.” She watched Claudette, a little worried that this would cause further problems with her sisters. “If they ask for anything more than money, I’ll be able to figure something out. Something that won’t cost any of us any more than Blake Schmidt’s bribe money.”
Part of Claudette wanted to ask why or what experience she had with the black market, however she also knew that she would likely get an excuse from her at best. Claudette decided not to pry for once, and answered, “I want a cure for myse- sisters, as much as anyone,” Claudette started, “However, if they want anything other than money then I suggest we do not deal with them at all.”
However, she came up with a way to subtly ask for Lyss’ experience in the black market without asking directly. “... What can you tell me about the black market to prepare me for dealing with them?”
Lyss nodded. She could tell Claudette was curious, but she was glad that she wasn’t asking her outright about it. “Well… In my experience, a request was made, a price was negotiated, and then we completed their request. Usually, things went smoothly, unless one side had greedy intentions. The way I worked, I never went back on my word. Most market deals aren’t like that, unfortunately.”
She cleared her throat and sat up a little straighter. “When I left the market, things didn’t end well. So… I’d appreciate it if my history isn’t mentioned in the meeting. It’s best if we play the dumb card, and then I can help us get out of there if things go south.”
Claudette wasn’t going to mention to any of the sisters for a large variety of reasons… especially since she found it hard for some of them to shut up. Claudette sighed.
“I’m just worried about what will happen if they get greedy,” Claudette started, “I don’t want to leave here empty-handed, but I also don’t want to play into whatever sick plan they may have.”
She shook her head, “I’m also worried about the sisters, it might be best to leave some of them out of the meeting… but I’m still not sure what the Dollhouse even wants. How do we know that they won’t do something to our sisters while we’re distracted?”
“Maybe it’s best if we leave some of them here at the hotel.” She sighed softly. “I’d go alone if I knew I could handle it, but it’s been a while and I’m not sure I’d remember each of the cures our sisters need.”
She sat back in the chair. “So who do you think we can take along? We need to bring the girls that can watch out for themselves, and won’t be too chatty or vocal. If the Dollhouse is shady, they’ll pounce the moment that they sense that we’re unsure of what we want.”
“Hmmm...” Claudette had to think carefully. “That is a tough one because I like to have someone tough who can cover the rest of us… which is why the first person who comes to mind would be Madison.”
Then she thought about it a bit harder, but it started feeling like it’d be easier to cross off who not to bring and work from there. “Herik also comes to mind due to his abstraction, but… as strange as the two are I think we should consider Mariah and Isla. Only due to how useful... their abstractions are. And I have a feeling Kimberly’s friend’s going to want to tag along whether we want her to or not.”
Claudette shrugged.
“But we also know that some of the sisters won’t follow instructions regardless of how hard we tell them.”
Lyss scoffed softly but smirked. “We’re all stubborn in that way.” She pursed her lips. “I definitely think that Emily should stay back. Her abstraction is new… and you saw what she did to the gas station clerk.”
“Well, I was kind of unconscious when that happened...” Claudette grumbled.
“I think Herik, Mariah, Isla, and Madison is enough. If we bring any more, the Dollhouse could feel threatened. More people might make it easier for them to distract us, too.”
“Very well,” Claudette started, “However… I think we should have everyone else at least nearby in case anything goes wrong… we were meeting them in their club, right?”
Lyss nodded. She was already uncomfortable that it was a club. So many people, most likely black market, in a poorly lit place. This was going to be… stressful. “Yeah. We’ll have the rest of the girls wait outside in a car. At least half a block down, so they aren’t seen with us.” She tapped her fingers with one hand on the table next to her. “If anything goes wrong, we should have a buddy system in place. Everyone looks for the way out with their buddy, and we’ll meet at the car.”
“Sounds good,” Claudette affirmed Lyss’ statement with a quick nod of her head. “Is there anything else you want to discuss about this?”
Lyss bit her lip for a moment, considering all possibilities. “If someone recognizes me… I want you to get the girls out first. Don’t worry about me until they’re safe.” She looked Claudette in the eyes. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of my past.”
The Beach House.
Thankfully, after that previous incident with Vashti, the rest of the day went swimmingly as Vashti kept to herself. Kimberly did the same as she was on the lookout for Annabelle and Saul. Though, Kimberly couldn't help but feel a little guilt about sending in the Coven into the Dollhouse blind. They were dangerous, they were cunning, however, if they went about it with any sort of common sense: they should be fine.
Right?
Rowan was sleeping in a separate room, which was Kimberly's suggestion given that she didn't want to give Vashti the wrong idea. Well, it would technically be the right idea because there's no doubts or ambiguity about two young adults sleeping in the same room - in the same bed - but that was neither here nor there.
Like before, Kimberly was in her little room, using her laptop. She had taken a shower and gotten clothed because she didn't want to run outside to Vashti wearing nothing but underwear! Kimberly wondered what Vashti was up to. Rowan was still outside relaxing... and maybe they can have some fun if Vashti has something to distract herself.
The Ghost Hunter walked out the door as she looked around. She then called,
"Vashti! Whe- what are you up to?"
Vashti was making good on her commitment of being useful. After carefully cleaning up her mess from the day before, except for the wine stain which she just solved by covering with a blanket, she continued diligently throughout the rest of the beach house. The stacks of old dishes left behind by the Coven were no more, now left in a dishwasher which she'd one day figure out how to work. Sand had been swept, towels had been hung to dry, and Chompy had been given a bath. She had just finished up throwing all of Madison's empties into a trash bag when Kimberly had called for her. Vashti chucked the trash bag down the stairs with a loud crash and stampeded down after it.
"Just cleaning!" said Vashti as she appeared in the living room, jacket around her waist, as she struggled to lift the bag of Madison's bottles. "Hey, do you know how a dishwasher works?"
"Not a clue!" Kimberly shouted back at her after that hellish cacophony of broken glass and other trash. She tried to trace Vashti by that sound alone and saw Vashti trying to heave the bag. Part of her wanted to help but it benefited her if Vashti spent as much time cleaning as possible. Not giving a single damn, Kimberly turned around on her heel as she said, "Okayyou'rekeepingbusylettmegob-"
When she finally pivoted, she noticed a strange blue glowing albatross perched above the fireplace that totally wasn't there before. It was... was it an Apparition. Kimberly put her hand up towards Vashti as a gesture not to move before she pulled out her camera onehanded...
... before another bird flew by and snatched the camera out of her hand. The second bird flew right in front of Vashti. Even if Vashti was fast enough to catch the camera from the pilfering bird, which she likely wasn't, she didn't dare to defy Kimberly's hand gesture. She stayed frozen in place, uncomfortably bent somewhat over the trashbag that she had been trying to drag, and stared at the weird, glowing bird. Her eyes narrowed. Everyone knew that the birds were little more than government drones.
"Aw, what the hell?!" Kimberly shouted as she realized she was disarmed rather gracefully.
"We're being burgled by birds," whispered Vashti. She tried to recall the old Hitchcock movie her dad had made her once watch where birds had held these people, hostage, in their own house, seeing if she could come up with any solution to their current predicament. What was it called again? She couldn't remember. She threw a psst at Kimberly and said, "Do something.
"Without my camera, I can't-" Kimberly tried to say before the door audibly unlocked and Meifeng Liao was the first thing that Kimberly saw. She never has seen this woman before in her life and she wasn't sure if she should pull out her pistol or not.
At her sides were Cindy and Helena... and the latter stuck her hand out and the hawk that nabbed her camera flew up and perched itself onto her arm. Holding the camera in her beak.
"Kimberly Walton... and friend," Meifeng said as she slid her hand in her pocket. "I didn't take you for being a member of the Lesbian Sex Cult." She shrugged.
"I guess everyone gets freaky from time to time," Cindy chuckled as she teased Kimberly.
"You heard all the stories about just what famous people get into," Meifeng added on, still teasing Kimberly.
Kimberly got a defensive stance as she moved towards Vashti as her other abstraction activated. The insects nearby were slowly but surely gathering together... she just had to stall. However, Meifeng pulled out her badge.
"I don't know if the sisters told you about me, but I am Agent Liao of..." Meifeng looked to the right, then to the left. "... The DENS. Don't get me wrong, I come in peace."
The bird dropped the camera into Helena's hand and she tossed it back. "Sorry, I didn't want you doing that little trick to one of my birds... they don't like getting caged."
"Can one of you tell me what the Coven is doing in Miami, or planning on doing? I can never know with those people."
"How did you know that?" asked Vashti, still side-eyeing the bird, still frozen over the bag. So, they were spies after all. She knew it. "I mean, they aren't in Miami." Good save. Smooth. Extremely natural. She wasn't about to narc the Coven out to the feds, although these feds seemed to always show up just in time to take the girls to the hospital. She smiled guiltily. Maybe she should ignore her kneejerk reaction to distress anybody with a badge and a gun.
"Uh, but if they were, why do you all care? They aren't doing anything wrong," said Vashti, quickly adding with a nervous laugh,"Hypothetically speaking, since they might not be in Miami."
"Cut the shit, sugar," Meifeng quickly and sharply answered as she decided to have a seat on the back of their couch. "We've been tracking you all since we first made... contact." She looked at Trevor and narrowed her eyes as he stepped in and he awkwardly pulled at his collar.
"And how I know this? I've been working... very closely with your sisters," Meifeng tilted her head a little as she continued to narrow her eyes. "And she said a few things, but left out the details that really matter."
"Okay, hold on!" Kimberly quickly shut Meifeng down. "Who... what even is the DENS? Because I heard it thrown around a few times but no one ever informed me."
"Simple," Meifeng shrugged, "We're the Department of Extra-Normal Security. You aren't the only one going after deviant Extra-Normals, Ms. Walton. And you're looking at the special task force that was made to stop Annabelle Heart..."
"So we have a common goal here."
"Yes, all I want to do is stop her and... I will do anything to help you all," Meifeng sighed, "I just want to know if there's anything we can do to help because the clock is ticking. She kills more people each day and gets stronger, and the one person that's strong enough to stop her is... out of the game."
Meifeng explained the situation.
"So... please, let me know what's going on."
Vashti's lip drew thin as she straightened herself up, letting the bag of Madison's garbage clank to the ground. Considering the Coven's track record of being inconsiderate, Vashti couldn't help but be concerned that something bad would happen to them regarding their dealings with the Dollhouse. Her dark eyes flicked over to Kimberly in search of some kind of approval, and then she turned towards Meifeng.
"They're going to meet with the Dollhouse to buy us some cures for a couple of our cursed members," said Vashti, slowly, in case Kimberly wanted her to shut up. "They're also going to get one to try and use on Annabelle."
"Um, you said you'd do anything to help, right?" asked Vashti. She took a tentative step forward and rubbed her hands. "Would it be possible for you all to just watch over them from a distance? Just in case things go south?"
"... Vashti!" Kimberly whisper-yelled at Vashti to get her to shut up.
"... And who in the world is Dollhouse?" Meifeng crossed her arms as she looked at Vashti. There was a slight tilt to her head as she asked that question. "Going off your tone, I take it they're dangerous?"
"Uh, no ma'am," Kimberly quickly answered, "They're fine... they're just a group of Extra-Normals that make magical tools and cures and stuff!" She bullshitted to the best of her ability.
Meifeng raised her eyebrow and Kimberly glanced over towards Vashti. She subtly shook her head as a desperate gesture to get her to be quiet.
"I don't..." Vashti's eyes darted between the two as she screwed up her face and shrugged. "I don't really know anything about them?" It was mostly true. "But it's just...we have a really bad track record."
"Sounds like you don't have a lot of faith in your friends... friend," Meifeng just said. "Then again, it took only two of my agents to beat all of you." She shrugged.
Vashti's eyes narrowed. She was about to say how it only took one of her to beat their stupid police truck but didn't have a chance.
"Vashti, can we have a quick word?" Kimberly said as she pulled Vashti away and she knew that this looked suspicious to the feds. She made sure to whisper. "You don't know them; the Dollhouse yeah? I do, and who knows what would happen if they find out the Feds are on their side... if they're on their side. I honestly don't know these people or what the hell they even want!"
"They would've found out anyway," whispered Vashti, her mind turning to how close Maya seemed to Trevor. "Look, I normally don't trust the government, but for some reason, they find the Coven an asset and have already helped us twice."
"Well, um," Meifeng shrugged. "Either way we were instructed to remain here in Tampa... but I can see if I can sway the boss..."
"... You mean me?" Cindy chuckled.
Meifeng sighed.
"Cindy can sway the boss to let us go out there, but for one catch...." Meifeng smiled. "... You let us relax here for a bit."
"Seriously?" laughed Vashti. What, were they going to go hang out on the beach and drink some mojitos while waiting for the red tape to be cutaway? More likely they were going to bug every surface of the house so they could creep on the Coven more than they already did. Not like it mattered: the Coven wasn't subtle. She grumbled in defeat."Fine, but you have to follow three ground rules. One: don't touch our alligator. Two: don't do anything to startle me. And three..."
"... You have an alligator?" Cindy tilted her head. "I'm half tempted to call animal control."
Her voice softened as she earnestly asked, "Could one of you help me figure out how to run the dishwasher?"
Meifeng sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Good grief," Meifeng said, "Don't you have parents for this?"
She looked at her before she uncrossed her arms and stood straight.
"Good grief, I'll show you once."
Miami Merchandise Mall
The neon sign announced their little club as the music blaring could be heard from down the street. So it must be blaring inside of the place. Madison and her little group were across the street from the club as they saw people chatting outside. Seemingly their little strippers out having a smoke and chatting it up with their future... clients. Along with poor horndogs getting conned out of their money with just a smile. Madison knew how it looked because she was one of those girls doing it not a super long time ago. Still, it was sadder when she was the one outside looking in for some reason, but she wasn't going to overanalyze it...
... Though they did have some real bad bitches working here, Usually, one chick gotta gut out.
Madison herself was wearing a purple minidress with silt that revealed quite a bit of leg that she had bought the day before. Honestly, now that Madison was wearing it, she looked a little slutty in it (hehehe what black girl says slutty?). She had on purple high heels, which she had thought a whole lot about. She thought about wearing sneakers in case she had to start fighting, but the heels blended in a bit more. Her whole idea was selling the "clubber" idea so they can go in, get what they need to, and then get out.
"... You'd think they wouldn't announce their crib to the fuckin' world," Madison thought out loud as she slapped a hand onto her hip. "Then again, sounds like they hidin' in plain sight!"
Claudette was nervous for a lot of reasons. That thing could go very, very, very, wrong, very, very, fast. That the Dollhouse did sound too good to be true and there was a catch. That the dress Madison picked out for her makes her look slutty. Goodness gracious! What part of "I don't have the curves for it" does Madison not understand? Also, she was too tall for it, it ended not too far away from her crotch and she kept feeling the need to pull it down or she'd be flashing everyone.
"Um," Claudette said as everyone was looking at her. "We're all on the same page as far as the plan goes?"
"Let's not hang around out here for too long," Madison said as she leaned up against someone's car. "Trrrrrrrrust me when I say that the second we walked up they noticed us, even if they ain't actin' like it."
She subtly glanced over her shoulder at the girls and looked back at the group.
"They're gonna think something's up if we don't walk in soon," Madison shrugged. "So, let's make this quick."
"We're going to go in, say the code phrase their liaison gave us to one of the bartenders, and they're gonna let us into the VIP section," Claudette explained the plan as she gestured for them to come along with her as they all walked up into the place. Opening the door; they saw a girl in a black dress with black hair and South-Eastern Asian features and behind her was another set.
"Hey, how are you!?" She greeted them with a smile, "That'll be fifty twenty-five dollars per person."
"... We gotta pay even if we here for a meeting?" Madison muttered underneath her breath. "Some fuckin' ripoffs they are."
They gave her the money and walked in. The second they opened the door they were assaulted by the music head-on. To their left and right were neon lights and stripper stages that had a wide range of exotic and attractive women dancing on stage. Men were tossing money at them at the boatloads as they were getting drunker and drunker. It looked like a party... but they had to stay focus on the mission.
Maybe this is what they meant when they called it the Dollhouse.
Just standing outside of the club, Lyss was already uncomfortable with the situation. It was going to be crowded, loud, and eyes would be everywhere. Madison was right. They’d been noticed by the girls standing outside the second they walked up. Was this just a trap? Walton couldn’t have been in on it. She needed Annabelle Heart’s “cure” just as much as these girls needed theirs. Lyss looked at her sisters ( and Herik) and knew that this was going to be one of the biggest deals that the Dollhouse has gotten in a while. Would it only cost Blake Schmidt’s fortune, or were the girls going to sell a piece of their soul to get what they wanted?
Lyss took up the rear of the group as they headed in. She glanced at the girls standing outside, and then turned her head forwards. Her chin held high enough to hide the anxious feeling she had in the pit of her stomach. Even as she passed through the door, she stood tall despite the nausea that set in as soon as she entered the building. The presence of apparitions was overwhelming. She hadn’t felt this way since her last deal. There were at least twenty apparitions in this building. Maybe more. Mostly abscised, but she could feel two affixed spirits. She barely paid attention as she handed over the entrance fee, and the moment they were inside of the main room she casually looked through the crowd. How many of these patrons were a part of the Black Market? Was she going to find any familiar faces in the crowd?
She hadn’t seen any yet, but either way she knew that she wouldn't have any friends here.
Lyss looked back at the girls and was also suddenly concerned that a few of them would be mistaken for a worker. They looked good, to be honest, but Lyss had made sure to wear an outfit that would separate her from the employees of the club. She even wore her most comfortable black, strappy block heels in case they needed to ditch. The best part of her outfit was concealed beneath her skirt. A leg holster strapped around her upper thigh with a knife. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to use it. Or that they wouldn’t search her too well if they did.
“I’ll talk to the bartender.” She said aloud as she turned to the girls. “Don’t drink anything. Don’t get distracted. I’ll be back as soon as I introduce us.”
Leaving no room for argument, Lyss walked over to the bar. She’d done this plenty of times before. Something about bars and private lounges made them the perfect spot to meet with buyers and sellers. Even if most of the men here tonight were Miami tourists or locals, it was easy for the business to be handled without any suspicion. Her partners always sent her to the messenger. A pretty face and a smile was always greeted warmly. It was easy for people to assume that they could get away with a scam, but Lyss was always stone cold underneath. This felt as familiar as making deals had always been. She wasn’t sure what this club was hiding, or if they had any malicious intentions, but she understood how the business worked.
So, Lyss leant against the bar and gave the bartender her best smile. She watched him move her way, and only spoke after he asked what kind of drink she’d like.
“I won’t be needing anything, thank you. Did someone happen to leave a package here?”
The bartender laid his hands atop the bar, and he gave her a sly smile himself. “From who?”
“Tom Jerry.”
She kept up the smile, even if she was shitting on the code phrase. One of the dumbest things I’ve ever had to say.
The bartender nodded, and set down his glass shining cloth before stepping out from behind the bar. Lyss stood tall once more and watched as he walked up to her. “I’ll show you and your friends back to the lounge.”
Lyss nodded. “Just give me one moment.” She gave him a grin before heading back over to the girls. “Alright, girls. Follow the bartender. Let’s get this over with.”
This club, this place, it gave Madison an uneasy feeling. Like it was something sinister posing as your regular Florida nightclub, and only those in the know, well, knew. Even with the Jaws at her side, there was only so much he was capable of. Lyss did the talking and traded the code phrase and the group went up to the VIP section of the club. At this point, even Madison realized that there was no way that the Coven could even remotely appear conspicuous. Part of her wanted to order a drink before they go upstairs, but she didn't want to impair herself as she climbed up the stairs.
The bartender opened the door and they were exposed to the VIP section.
The VIP section was definitely... nice. It was well furnished and had yellow-orange lights and a fully stocked bar. Madison got the feeling that when they weren't making shady deals, this was where they had massive and out of control supernatural orgies. She was not sitting on the couch.
However, standing off to the side in the corner was another short woman with a cowboy hat and had it hung over her face. She was wearing jeans and a black button-up collared shirt with the Dollhouse logo. She seemed to be content with standing there... maybe they were up to something.
The boss took a sip of his wine as he said,
"Why hello there," He started, "Have a seat, get comfortable! Why do you all look so tense? Order a drink, I am quite pleased to meet my new business partners." He affably said as he chuckled.
Madison was fine with standing up because she was so sure that these couches were so stained with nut that she'd get pregnant from sitting down. However, Claudette chose to sit down, legs held together very tightly, and gently place her hands on her lap. Which was her funeral because she had on a shorter skirt than Madison.
"... I'll decline the drink."
"Alright," He said, "I guess we can start introductions... I am Luis, and these are all my subordinates. Sort of. I share leadership with two other people... they're around." He shrugged as he took a drag of his cigarette.
He's not identifying his friends, smart. Madison thought to herself.
"So what brings you out here from Tampa? It's pretty brutal out there with all the murders, eh?" Luis asked and everything suddenly changed but neither Claudette nor Madison was stupid enough to say something like "we never told you". Madison narrowed her eyes but fixed herself when she realized that she might have spoken without even talking. "What services do you seek from us?"
He finished his cigarette and tossed the bud in the ashtray before he released the woman and leaned back into his chair, kicking his feet up on the table.
"Because here at the Dollhouse..." Luis took a dramatic sip of his wine. "... We have it all. "
Outside the Dollhouse club.
"... They went upstairs," Trevor spoke into his earpiece as he watched the group go upstairs. Shit, he was told to tail them but they just went up into the VIP section... and a big burly motherfucker just got in the way. God damn man was probably like seven feet tall! Trevor was not messing with that for this stupid mission prompted by... Vashti?
"Don't worry about it, Lil' man," Leon softly answered from the van not too far away. "Just blend in, but don't have too much fun." Leon kicked his feet up on the dashboard of the car while Helena was right next to him... and she was petting her glowing Apparition falcon.
"That's good be hard if I can't take any drugs... or drink," Trevor slinked off into the bathroom where it was a little quieter. "Or have no friends."
"Still gotta pass the drug test," Leon said.
"Why can't you just use your eyes or Helena's birds."
"If they're Extra-Normal, we don't want 'im seeing my eyes or Helena's birds," Leon shrugged, "They might get the wrong idea and we could screw things up for everyone."
There was a brief silence as Trevor pulled out his phone and started playing on it to distract people.
"We don't want that, besides you're the one person we want in there in case shit goes sideways," Leon nodded his head. "So just stay put and let us know if shit goes crazy."
When she’d turned up to the club just like organised, that last thing she’d expected was to be told to stay outside. Not even to come in and not go to the meeting, oh no, outside the club. Because leaving a barely above 5 foot, fairly slim and pretty girl outside of a shady club was an absolutely great idea. Especially when wearing a lowcut dress that was somehow more covering than what half the other girls were wearing. The high heels she was wearing weren’t the easiest to walk in, but at least it made her not quite so tiny.
It had only taken a few minutes after the rest of the coven left her for a scummy guy or two to approach. Thankfully a sharp glare and middle finger had sent them on their way, inside the club. Maya didn’t wait much longer before going inside.
She honestly didn’t give a fuck that she’d been told to ‘keep watch’ outside. She wasn’t going to stand there and wait for someone to try something with her, and she’d much rather have some fun inside. It wasn’t like she could ruin the meeting by just going and enjoying herself.
Even if the club was a massive rip off.
Inside was a whole lot better than waiting outside. There was music, there were incredibly attractive women dancing on stage and most importantly there was alcohol. She made a beeline straight for the bar, leaning against it as she ordered the strongest drink they had on the menu. It tasted vile and burned going down her throat, but a large drink and she was already feeling a little buzzed.
Perfect.
She slipped into the crowd easily, moving between people without much of an aim. She tilted her head when she thought she caught someone familiar heading away from outside the VIP section, quickly honing in on and following him. A light smirk crossed her lips as she got closer and confirmed that it was, in fact, exactly who she thought it was. She hadn’t expected to see Trevor here, but it was a pleasant surprise (especially when she’d basically been abandoned).
And then he went into the bathroom, completely cutting her off from actually approaching him. Because Maya would lower herself to a lot of things but following someone into the Men’s bathroom wasn’t one of them (in this case). She sighed, moving to lean against a nearby wall and sip her drink.
He’d have to come out eventually. And it wasn’t like she had anything better to do than wait, for him and the coven both.
Clubbing was not something Isla had done in quite a while. Nevermind meeting shady organisations in one. When she’d last been to clubs was when she was eighteen and much more… hot topic goth. Now, of course, she was very much the opposite. That meant she had no idea what was worn to clubs.
It seemed, looking at the others, that she’d entirely missed the mark with her oversized, neon green sweater that covered her shorts and made her even more blinding than normal and clashed with her beanie. Well, it wasn’t like Isla was one to care about what people thought of her looks. She followed the others inside, grumbling as she handed over 25 (stolen) dollars. That was money she planned to use to buy snacks for the journey back, damnit!
She stayed silent as they entered, even as she almost picked up one of the potted plants on the way in… only to stop herself because she didn’t want to fuck everything up for them. She was a little bit smarter than that (just).
On the other hand, she couldn’t help but gape at the women dancing on stage. She’d never been to a club like this before… Did Glasgow even have them? Definitely not like this, they were much grimier.
The VIP lounge was even fancier. Fuck, she could definitely get into club going again if they were all like this.
“Oh, I’ll take a drink,” she piped up with a smile, moving over to the bar. “Just a coke, please.”
For all her feigned naivety, Isla kept an eye on the girl that was pouring her drink. She didn’t know much about the situation but she wasn’t going to trust them not to put some kind of drug in it. Only when she was fairly certain that wasn’t the case, trying to subtly sniff it as if it would help and she hadn’t watched the time, did she take a sip and go to sit down.
By some miracle, for Isla, she stayed quiet as their leader guy did the talking. Honestly, she wasn’t even sure why she was here. So she was just going to try and listen and be ready to teleport them all out if shit went downhill.
Though it was never a stated thing, it was clear that certain places were aimed at certain individuals. Every place had an audience. Hooters was for sad office workers that were dissatisfied with their wives at home, sports bars were for sad office workers that were dissatisfied with their wives at home, and the Dollhouse? Well, this place was for sad office workers that were dissatisfied with their wives at home. Said sad office worker was a very specific type of person, right down to their stereotypical appearance. They were a white straight, cis, male, and not a single thing that Mariah is.
She knew that going into here meant that she would be out of place. There wasn't going to be any blending in for her. She was probably going to get clocked and she was going to stand out no matter what she wore. So, when it came time to actually do her wardrobe, fix her make up, and walk out the door? Mariah didn't really try to tone down anything.
Yeah, it set something fluttering into her stomach-- her heart was practically pounding in her ears-- but when wasn't it? As far as she was concerned, most of the time when she left her apartment, she was already on stage. She had to perform for herself-- to prove to herself that she could be who she wanted to be-- so the world was her damn audience. That warm electrical feeling of power spread through her, reassuring her that this was when she was at her strongest. And so Mariah walked into this club, dressed to the nines, tens, and elevens, practically fucking glowing in her outfit and with her confidence-- that fearful form of courage that asserted the presence of the self.
So tonight, she was wearing an outfit that said very up front and just from a glance, 'I am not here to dance I am not here for your pleasure I'm just here to look good, for my damn self, to slay, because I am definitely dressed for a funeral.' This look walked straight out of the 50s Vogue Magazine.
Her long black dress sways as she walks, shimmering tastefully with sewn in silver thread. Atop her head is a wide brimmed black hat being an impractical but fitting crown for a Queen. Beneath her hat, a self-styled wig of gently cascading auburn curls, which end at her shoulders. Silver jeweled chain and earrings twinkle as stars in the night, even if they're bought from Wal-Mart. Those black gloves on her hands are dramatic-- plainly stating that whatever she's touching is too dirty for her bare supple skin to brush against. Of course, as if she wasn't tall enough, she wore some heels that elevated her past Amazon. To complete the look, her makeup was clearly done with the word sharp in mind, and her lips are blood red. She holds her fan in her hand-- along with a shimmering silver clutch purse that looks damn good for being dollar store clearance-- and she looks well prepared to fan herself, if she were to suddenly 'catch the vapors'.
When she drew attention, she was not caught by surprise. When there were sneers or some looks up-and-down, she completely expected them. Mariah was quiet but not tense as they stood in the club. Truthfully, she was still foggy headed from being BONKed by a horse hoof. Applying makeup, getting her outfit together, and meeting these people on time had used most of her mental energy, so she let herself go on cruise control, as it were. They went up the the VIP section and she followed, not entirely certain how they managed to get up here.
The dude said some stuff. Some guy. Man bun, bro.
Deeply sighing, Mariah stepped off to the side, choosing to stay standing next to the sofa Claudette plonked down on, and began fanning herself dramatically, looking every bit of the bored widow at her husband's funeral from his expected-- but surely-- unfortunate death. Hell, she wasn't even paying attention to anyone else in the room or anything in general. Wait? Was she supposed to introduce herself? Confused, she looks between Lyss and Claudette a few times, but doesn't say anything.
A disgusted, droning sigh streamed out from Penny’s frowning lips as they turned the corner and were assaulted by the neon lights of the Dollhouse. Between the knock off Miami Vice suits, eight-inch suicide heels, and the cover charge, Penny knew this wasn’t the place for her. Nightlife for her, when she participated, had involved starry Montana skies, giant bonfires that the occasional asshole would chuck an aerosol can at, and whatever beer someone could rescue from their parent’s garage or that their older brother bought them. What it didn’t involve was standing in line for the bathroom while thumping, bass heavy music bled eardrums and drinks had to be constantly monitored with a watchful eye or covered with a steady hand. Penny grumbled as she forked over the money to the doorlady. Why anybody would pay to enter a place that was so aggressively trying to make people want to leave she would never understand.
“Oh goddamnit.”
As they entered, Penny realized she had made a mistake: the Dollhouse wasn’t a nightclub, but a stripclub. The look on her face did nothing to mask the massive amount of discomfort she quickly felt as she saw the women dancing on stage and the men hooting and hollering. She tried to look away, but there was nowhere safe for her eyes to wander. Penny shielded her brow with her hand to hide her embarrassment and looked down past her discount black dress, which would have doubled as a funeral outfit, to her sneakers. She followed the heels of the girl in front of her until they were in the VIP area. Penny glanced up and heaved a sigh of relief. It was decidedly less nude in here. Almost classy, even, but in that sort of unfortunate way where it just falls short of the goal, trips over the edge, and plummets directly into “seedy” territory.
Immediately, the girl in the cowboy hat jumped out to her. First Mariah (whose confidence in this weird place was almost as inspiring as her outfit), then the wannabe robber with his broken wrist, and now a member of the Dollhouse—the rule of threes had been fulfilled. Florida couldn’t possibly have anymore people brave/stupid enough to try to pull the look off. Penny double checked the room just in case another cowboy was hiding behind the curtain, but otherwise it appeared to be nothing but a handful of wannabe witches, definitely devious black market dealers, and herself.
The apparent spokesman of the Dollhouse, Luis, offered them drinks. Penny wrestled with the idea of perhaps getting her twenty-five bucks worth when Madison shut it down. Fine, then, no free booze for them, but if the dude was smoking inside then that meant it was an open invitation. Despite “dressing up” for the night, Penny was still rocking the oh-so-stylish fanny pack, which she fished out a cigarette from and lit it as the head honcho continued the meeting. Penny kept herself to the side, as if her body had subconsciously separated herself from the Coven. It was their meeting, after all, she was only here to make sure they got what Kimberly had asked for them to get.
"What services do you seek from us?" Penny’s eyes narrowed as the man kicked his feet up on the table, early judgments beginning to form in growing degrees of harshness. “Because here at the Dollhouse...we have it all. "
The Coven didn’t speak for what felt like an eternity. In reality, it might’ve only been a handful of seconds. Either way, it was long enough time for Penny to go from letting the Coven have the floor to taking charge of the show.
“Honestly, Tampa’s pretty terrible even without all of the murders. I’d hear an argument for the current situation even being an improvement,” said Penny, stepping over to the couch that Claudette was sitting on and plopping down beside her. She took a drag of the cigarette, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and leaned back while crossing her legs to basically mirror Luis. “I wouldn’t agree with it, but I’d hear it out.
“Let's get down to it. We’re interested in putting a stop to that little killing spree ruining our already shit town, and we’re especially interested, as are you, of us doing it before the culprit tires of Tampa and moves on to somewhere nicer like Miami. Normally, it’s something we”—Penny was referring to herself and Kimberly, but played it like she meant the girls in the room—“would be able to handle ourselves. However, the killer is a bit unconventional, and to stop them we need some unconventional means.”
“However, I am getting ahead of it all,” said Penny. She leaned forward to ash her cigarette. “Before we get distracted by the main course, there are a few other, er, unnatural things we’re looking to get help with. Claudette, why don’t you tell the gentleman?” Penny suggested, passing her the reins of the conversation over to Claudette. It was partially because she had a horrible track record when it came to talking with shady men, and partially because she really had no idea what else the Coven wanted out of the Dollhouse.
Madison tried to object as Isla missed the point of Madison not getting a drink from them - someone should tell her that a roofie doesn't need alcohol to work. However, she kept her mouth shut because she didn't want to just outright say that she didn't trust these bastards as far as she could throw them (even if that'd be pretty far). She would just have to stop Isla from drinking it.
Luis snapped his fingers and the woman next to him walked off to pour Isla the drink and Madison got some real god-complex vibes from that. However, she kept her mouth shut and her eyes on the drink as she didn't exactly see them do anything shady. The world of magic was a very strange one, and Madison had to be prepared for anything, so when the girl brought her the drink Madison snapped her fingers to get Isla's attention. She shook her head as a signal not to drink it but that girl was dumb as a rock. The only problem was that she was their free ticket out of here in case shit went crazy up in here.
Penny did some talking and Madison was about to shut her up too because she wasn't sure if she understood their problem. From what she heard Kimberly was after the bitch that killed Izzy and Madison knew she was likely after the same thing.
“Honestly, Tampa’s pretty terrible even without all of the murders. I’d hear an argument for the current situation even being an improvement, I wouldn’t agree with it, but I’d hear it out. Let's get down to it. We’re interested in putting a stop to that little killing spree ruining our already shit town, and we’re especially interested, as are you, of us doing it before the culprit tires of Tampa and moves on to somewhere nicer like Miami. Normally, it’s something we would be able to handle ourselves. However, the killer is a bit unconventional, and to stop them we need some unconventional means.”
Luis quietly and intently listened to the girl and noticed her posturing... she was confident in herself and her abilities, but if she was here that means they all were out of options. Luis thought about taking advantage of that, but... maybe she was right when she said that problem would come Dollhouse's way. However, unlike the Coven, the Dollhouse was more than capable of handling what's going on in Tampa - if it came their way.
"... If that fool does come our way I'll give her one good reason to turn around," Luis shrugged as he confidently spoke, "However, I am getting ahead of myself."
The girl in the cowboy hat started laughing as she grabbed the tip of her hat by the brim and turned it upwards as she said, "Hehe... don't think you're getting a discount because you're a "greater good" type, sugar." She spoke in a thick Texan accent as she took a step forward with a huge cocky grin on her face. "Because you can take that bullshit and get the fuck out of my club."
"Now, now, Natalie," Luis interrupted his partner, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, you forget that we want to give them such great service they keep coming back for more."
Natalie crossed her arms as she rolled her arms and leaned up back against the wall. Luis leaned back into his chair as he put his fingertips together.
“However, I am getting ahead of it all, before we get distracted by the main course, there are a few other, er, unnatural things we’re looking to get help with. Claudette, why don’t you tell the gentleman?”
"... Everyone in this room is unnatural."
The stage went from Penny to Claudette as she was prepared to take the stage from Penny the second she started rambling on about Annabelle. She was not going to let Kimberly and her friend take away her chance of getting rid of this damn curse! Claudette cleared her throat as she said,
"Well, Luis..." Claudette started as she scratched the back of her neck before she stopped herself. "I'll just cut to the chase, yes. Several members of our Coven are cursed or have someone that needs to be helped..."
Claudette trailed off for a second as she said.
"Including myself, one girl is cursed to transform into a terrible beast when upset, another member's sister was attacked by an Apparition and the curse is slowly draining her life, one member's mother has fallen into a strange coma, and myself... I am cursed to be hunted by a bunch of Apparitions. We all have our problems and I would appreciate it if you can help us."
While Claudette spoke Luis rubbed his chin as he listened intently. "Ah, Dollhouse can do all of this and more," Luis said as he finished his wine. "But, I am aware of what the Dollhouse can do for the Coven, but what can the Coven do for the Dollhouse? Dollhouse isn't a charity." He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"We have money," Claudette answered, "I'm certain we can negotiate a fair price."
"That we can," Luis said, "Usually we charge seven thousand per cure... but I'm feeling generous." He glanced over to Natalie who loudly pouted and looked off to the side.
"For one cure, it'll be half off," Luis said, "Do we have a deal-"
"... Ooooooh, Luis!" They all heard the voice - which sounded familiar to Dollhouse and the Coven for different - as the door was violently thrown open and three different women walked in. One was a stranger, but the other two... it was Molly Goswami and Ellie Hart.
Or more accurately,
Hraesvelgr and Babylon the Great.
Babylon-In-Ellie walked through the shocked Coven with a grin on her face as she greeted them with various "hi," "hello", and "how goes it". She walked over to Luis before she climbed up on the couch and whispered something into his ear.
The strange, tall, and lanky girl, with the square face and dreadlocks' gaze, went around the room... until it landed on Penny and her eyes shot wide open. "Puh... Penny?!" She nearly shouted.
"M-Molly?!" Madison loudly shouted as she stood straight up.
"Molly is dead, she was dead all along," She answered, "Now there's only Hraesvelgr."
"I fuckin' knew we shouldn't have let you go!" Madison balled her fists... and then she heard the loud click of the bolt going forward on a weapon. She looked over her shoulder and cowboy bitch now had a fucking AK-47 in her hands... aimed directly at her. The Jaws activated on his own as Natalie decided that she had something to say.
"Okay, okay! Simmer down!" Natalie shouted, "I don't know what fuckin' beef ya'll have with these three nice ladies but they're with us now... and unless you want twenty extra fuckholes, I'd suggest calming down. Because I'll fuckin' fill you and your friends full of holes and dump your balloon tits right into the ocean."
Natalie narrowed her eyes.
"Try me."
The Dollhouse club.
Part of Trevor wanted to stay in the bathroom because, knowing the Coven, if something went wrong he'd be able to hear it from the bathroom. Though the bathrooms were full of people fuckin' in the stalls and it hurt Trevor's pride knowing that other dudes were gettin' it! Gawd damn it. So he'd rather be out there, looking like a weirdo dancing by himself like the Joker dancing on the stairs. He sighed as he prepared for the overstimulation of the lights...
... and Maya was right there.
You know, he'd probably be a little creeped out by seeing that little bugger hanging outside the bathroom like a stalker. However, he was far too attracted to her (and was too lonely here in the club) to even consider that. His eyes shot open as he tugged at his collar.
"M-Maya?" Trevor stuttered, "What are you doing here?"
Before he realized that he had the perfect cover to stop looking like a creep! He grabbed onto her hand as he tried to whisk her away into the confines of the club.
The club was what he expected from Tampa. Bright, loud, and shaddy. He used to come to places like this with his friends after they graduated high school and every one of them were the same: dancing, drinking, and designer drugs. He always got in without being carded, because of his size and some clubs didn't care his friends had fake IDs. He doesn't miss places like this. They lost their appeal around the time he was legal to drink and it's been so long he doesn't know what kids wear to clubs anymore. He hadn't packed for that, because he didn't have anything remotely club worthy in his closet and he didn't have the money to spend on an outfit he'd only wear once. He made do with a simple gray shirt, black shorts, and sandles.
The fee to get into the club was more than he wanted to spend. The price has gone up since his day, but he paid the price. They were here for something that could help his mother and he'd pay any price to get it. He followed everyone else inside, bringing up the rear on his crutches. He got a lot of stares. It could've been from a combination of his height, his outfit, and his crutches, but even if he were dressed normal he'd be noticeable anyway. A few of the bouncers eyed him up, took a look at his leg, then shook their head affirming to themselve they could take him in a fight. The biggest guys always check out the biggest guy in the room, which wasn't him cause there was a bouncer by a set of stairs that was huge. Sometimes he takes for granted that he's a peaceful person, but he always appreciates his nature when he sees a man like that. No trouble coming out of him. He can't say the same for one person that was with his group. He hoped she gets her head about her. This isn't Schmidt.
Going up the stairs to the VIP section was daunting, but he did it. No worse than the stairs in his apartment building, but he was tired after all that work. He would've called Asta to help him, but that's not the brightest idea in a building with extra-normals they know nothing about and would preceive him as a threat. He was just a little late to the party. He hobbled right as Luis introduced himself. The room did nothing to make him feel better about being here. It looked like a stereotypical sex dungeon without all the toys. Toys he can see anyway.
He took a seat next to Claudette, since no one wanted to and he needed to rest his leg. Four more weeks in this thing. Time didn't move fast enough. Hopefully he'll have his mother back between now and then. When Luis told them the Dollhouse could provide any service he was prepared to speak on behalf of Emily and Vashti, since they weren't here to represent themselves, but Penny jumped in on a long spiel about Annabelle Heart. Not what most of them were here for. Claudette eventually took over the conversation as their leader. He didn't know she was cursed as well. So four members needed cures and Luis was about to name his price when Molly and Ellie walked in.
He was shocked, not sure how to process seeing their dead members "alive" and "well". He hadn't known what Molly got up to, if she left or what, but seeing Ellie again made his chest hurt. He was still grieving for her and to see Babylon parade around like everything was fine pissed him off. He clutched in his fist, face stony, while he kept in his desire to pick a fight. That's not what they're here for. He wants to avenge Ellie, but she's dead. He's accepted that. His mother was still worth saving. Her condition hadn't gotten worse when he checked on her before coming here. They just needed a price, then they could hash this out in the parking lot. He's sure Emily would like a piece of this demon.
"Mr. Luis, you were naming your price." He turned away from Babylon, eyes on the man that would get them what they wanted. Cut out all the noise and get back to what's important. That's all he had to think about.
Maya pushed off the wall when Trevor finally emerged from the bathroom with a warm, if coy, smile.
“Well, my sisters abandoned me to wait outside, so I decided to have some fun here. I wasn’t going to-”
She was cut off from what was going to be a lengthy rant ripping into the other coven members for daring to force her to wait outside a perfectly good club when Trevor grabbed her hand. And she totally did not blush. It was awkward how he asked her to dance, but it was cute and she wasn’t exactly going to say no to the guy she’d been intensively hitting on for weeks.
“Sure, let’s dance,” she said as she let him drag her back properly into the club. She used the crush of bodies around them, people dancing or ogling at the strippers, to press closer to Trevor. She wouldn’t want to lose him, right?
“So,” she started when they found a place in the club, moving her hand out of his so that she could drape her arms over his shoulders (which she could easily do wearing heels). “What are you doing in Miami?”
It was pretty suspicious he was in the same club the coven’s meeting was in, and he was definitely there on DENs duty, but Maya also didn’t really care. If it gave her a chance to get somewhere with him? Well, that was all that mattered.
“Not that I’m bothered at all, if you’re here to keep an eye on us,” she smirked, lowering her voice slightly. “I’m just glad to see you.”
Laying it on thick. It was bound to work, right?
Isla had already taken a large gulp of the coke she’d gotten when she noticed Madison shaking her head at her. Oh, fuck, she probably shouldn’t have drank that… but she was fucking parched from the heat in this place, she wasn’t used to it. And she’d watched them pour the drink the whole time. There was absolutely no way they’d managed to slip something in there.
Right?
She managed to listen to what was being said, only zoning out the normal Isla amount, for a few minutes afterwards. See, everything was fine, nothing to-
Wait, since when were there two Madisons? She turned to look at the girl with wide, completely out of it eyes. The screaming going on didn’t quite reach her ears as she looked around the constantly shifting room.
Fuck, the tiny functioning part of her brain thought. Why didn’t they just give her a sleeping drug?
This was much worse. The whole room was swaying with weird colours, people were multiplying and her head felt like it was buzzing. Or maybe there were bees in the room? She would not be surprised after everything she’d seen. She narrowed her eyes and started looking around constantly, as if she was looking for something. The constant movement had her vision blurring even further.
Her eyes landed on the woman holding up a gun… all three of her. Was it even a gun? Looked pretty fake. It was almost like a cowboy in some kind of old movie she’d watched.
Isla burst out laughing, a sudden giggling fit overcoming her. It was just two ridiculous, having those three comical looking cowboys (cowgirls?) pointing a massive gun at them. The more she looked the more said cowgirls looked more and more like someone right out of a movie. She doubled over in laughter.
"Is everyone a cowboy in this part of the world?" she muttered, voice much louder to everyone else than it sounded to her ears.
Fuck, this was too much. She snorted, mouth suddenly dry as she felt more and more out of it. Not really noticing what she was doing, giggling finally subsiding, she took another drink.
Lyss entered the VIP room and felt the presence of the apparitions grow stronger. She also noticed that the only visible exit was the one they just came from. The lounge was of poor taste, with too many curtains to hide separate rooms or doors. It smelled of cologne, liquor, and of many private dances.
She allowed the others to do the talking at first. She preferred to remain an unimportant guest tonight. Just a nameless face among the group of Coven sisters, if she wouldn’t need to step in to negotiate. As they greeted the man in the white shirt, Luis, an unfamiliar name in the Black Market and also not an abscised, Lyss let her gaze wander the room. The strongest apparition she could feel was coming from the direction of the bar. She watched Isla walk up for a drink and reminded herself to keep an eye on the newest Coven member after she drank it. Her gaze moved towards the man at the bar. Was he the one giving the strongest signal, or was it the woman behind the counter? They were too close to tell.
It was also unnerving that most of the others in the room were abscised. How they’d gotten their flesh suits, she didn’t want to know, but she also wanted to know why a bunch of spirits would wind up here. Was it the business? Were they the ones who made the cures or curses their buyers asked for? Or were they here just to protect Luis and his partners? Who, by the way, weren’t pointed out in the beginning just to confuse her sisters. Mr. Man Bun also mentioned Tampa, which meant he either heard about them through Kimberly or did some digging around to figure it out.
A small wave of paranoia passed through Lyss as she turned her attention back to Luis. How much did he know? Had her name been mentioned, too? She could have gotten nervous at that moment, but as Penny explained their position she aimed the anxious focus onto their negotiations. It was a great idea to mention that Annabelle would make her way to Miami if she wasn’t taken care of. An order of cures this big would make it easy to scam them, but Luis had a concern of his own now. A reason to have mercy on them with the intention of self preservation alone. Lyss silently thanked Penny for getting their point across so clearly.
The woman with the cowboy hat suddenly stood. Lyss turned her eyes onto the woman. Not an affixed or an abscised apparently , and now named Luis’s second partner by the way she considered the Dollhouse her club. At least Luis pulled her reins in before she kicked them out.
Claudette began to speak now. As she listed the various problems the Coven wanted solved, Lyss was surprised to hear of Claudette’s own curse. She looked at her sister from where she stood nearby and wondered why Claudette had never mentioned it before. After all, Lyss was an expert at keeping apparitions at bay. Maybe it was because Claudette hadn’t faced the apparitions since Lyss joined the Coven, or she was ashamed to mention it?
They were finally getting to the total bill of the Coven’s visit, but before Claudette or Lyss herself could accept their “generous” offer, she felt her back tense when a familiar voice entered the room.
Ellie… Babylon’s new plaything.
Lyss turned to face her old Coven sister’s body to see none other than Molly standing with her. Lyss’s eyes narrowed. She watched her strut on by and plop herself right next to the man bun. She whispered something into his ear and Lyss felt her face grow hot with anger. That bitch is going to ruin everything.
Madison began to shout at Babylon, and Lyss agreed with everything she was saying, but she needed to calm down in order to get this deal over with. Lyss was going to turn to her, to put a hand on her shoulder as a reminder to stay calm, that she wasn’t alone in her anger, but then she saw the yee-yee bitch pull out a rifle. Oh, fuck. Now would have been a good time to have Emily in the room to “accidentally” blow off the affixed woman’s fingers.
Herik, as if oblivious to the hostile cowgirl, reminded Luis that the price still had to be said. Lyss pressed her lips together. It was a smart move to try to continue the deal despite the tension, but the price had already been made. However many cures they needed for seven thousand each. One half price because he was “feeling generous.” That made the total come to about $45,500 if it included her cure for Maximillian and an extra healing cure for a safety precaution.
The bill wasn’t that horrible, but it was still an outrageous price.
And they drugged Isla, of course. Lyss had to take a breath through her nose and slowly release it through her mouth before she decided to step into the negotiating circle. She’d done this plenty of times, but she’d never been on the opposite side of the deal. Lowering the price would be difficult, but she had an idea of how to go about it. So, she turned to Luis and looked him in the eyes. It took a lot of effort not to look at Ellie’s face.
“Mr. Luis, I can’t imagine you would hold your clients at gunpoint. Would you mind asking your partner to settle down herself? I’m sure you’d like to keep your business.” She flashed Natalie a brief smile. “I can promise you that my sisters will behave if your new friend’s behave as well.”
That said, Lyss carefully moved her way to sit next to Claudette on the couch. She kept an air of composed patience about her as she leaned back on the couch and crossed her legs. She then folded her hands in her lap.
“We would like six cures total, including Annabelle Heart’s cure. While three of the cures are meant to repair curses, two of them will be simple healing cures that shouldn’t take too much time to prepare. I’d like to offer half of your usual price for a cure for those. Does that sound fair?”
"Dollhouse offers potions... so we can clear up this annoying terminology issue," Luis started, "Also, don't mind, Natalie, she's a little on edge."
Lyss nodded. “Noted.”
"But, the Dollhouse accepts these terms... would you like to meet again tomorrow for us to exchange?"
Lyss smiled as Luis accepted her terms, but she wasn't done. She'd managed to reduce the price by $7,500, leaving the bill at $35,500, but she wanted to knock that last $500 off for Isla's drugged state.
"I'm glad you've agreed, but I also would like to mention that since we've been in your establishment, one of your partners has pointed a gun at us and your bartender has drugged my sister. If you could perhaps make the total an even $35,000 I think we could ignore it."
"Oh booo hoo, nobody got hurt," Natalie added. "What are ya' gonna do if we say no?"
Lyss looked over at Natalie and raised an eyebrow. "I understand you're looking out for your business. I would do the same, if it was for my sisters, but this isn't how these negotiations are meant to go." She shrugged. "The rifle I can forgive, but I cannot forgive you for drugging my sister even if it was because of your apparition friend behind the bar."
"Now, now, Natalie... it's okay, we will take off the five hundred... but that's the final offer." Luis answered.
Lyss smiled widely and sat up in her seat. She leaned towards Luis and extended her hand. "I'm glad we could come to an agreement. Thank you, Mr. Luis." She even looked towards Natalie. "Thank you, as well."
Trevor held his tongue as he lost himself to the rhythm, not a word left his mouth because he didn't want to out his top-secret mission to her! Though, she probably already figured out why he was there so it didn't go without saying. Maybe he'd have a little fun, loosen up, not like that harpy Meifeng was over his shoulder constantly. Of course, as he danced he got a little bit closer and closer to her, was she closing the distance? Or did Trevor did it without thinking? It didn't matter as they were inches away from each other and he lost control of himself as he grabbed Maya by her chin and moved in for a kiss. Maybe it was inevitable.
His first time kissing a girl, nothing better ruin-
The bullet interrupted him and he felt the overwhelming feeling of being cockblocked again. He grits his teeth as he turned to face... Ms. Walton? He had only seen the barest glance at her but it didn't take a detective to tell she had capped the giant motherfucking bouncer.
The problem was that her ass should be back in Tampa.
Trevor touched his earpiece as he grabbed Maya as he got out of the way of the stampede of people as he shouted, "The fuck, Kimberly's here!?"
"Huh?" Leon raised an eyebrow.
He heard all the gunshots going down inside the club as he briefly used his eyes to glance inside... and the Coven and the Dollhouse had gotten into a fight. "Shit! Shit, shit, shit!" Leon shouted as he grabbed not his baton but his katana. "Hold on, kid, we're on the way!"
Helena threw the doors open and the Flock immediately deployed as they carried her to the roof of the building.
The Dollhouse Club.
The three heads of the Jaws manifested as they stared down Natalie, lowly growling... and she didn't even flinch. Honestly, Madison wouldn't mind it if the Jaws mauled this bitch to death but she had to keep her cool. She looked around as everyone was trying to keep cool - even Herik of all people was. Lyss was talking the Dollhouse down and Madison wondered if they were really going to negotiate with them. When they got Babylon and Hraesvelgr. Madison glanced over to the bastard inside of Molly and she could see him grinning through her.
However, this was neither the time nor the place.
The girl lowered her rifle and Madison lowered the Jaws and then she crossed her arms and sighed. Babylon finished whispering something in Luis' ear and then scooted over to the side, holding hands with Molly. Grinning. Now, Madison didn't know Ellie, because the two didn't talk but she thinks Molly's disappearance was one of her biggest failures. One that was... standing here, mocking her.
Claudette sighed as that situation escalated, but her ends landed on Isla and her heart sank: she was drugged. Okay, her heart was starting to race for two reasons; one, their teleporter was taken out of commission, and two, they were definitely up to something. If it was up to her she would sink the place in darkness and haul ass out of there. However, Lyss was saving the situation as iffy as Claudette found it.
She even managed to talk Luis down some for drugging Isla. Just when it seemed like they were going to "shake on it", they heard some gunshots coming from downstairs. Everyone's attention went to the door as it opened and...
... It was Kimberly?
In her hand was a Glock pistol and she was grinning like a madwoman. That Glock was smoking and everyone looked at her in abstract confusion as she said.
"... Thank you for leading me to them."
"You bitch!" Natalie shouted as she tried to quickly raise the AK-47 but Kimberly pointed her much smaller firearm at her and fired a few shots off. One-shot hit Natalie in the side of her abdomen, and another shot hit her in the shoulder. She screamed as she fell backward on her ass as everything, well, went crazy.
"What the fuck?!" Madison shouted as the Jaws activated on reflex. She was so fuckin' confused, why is Kim here? She thought her nutty ass was supposed to stay away!
"I knew you bitches were trouble!" Luis shouted as he pulled out his pistol and started blasting at the Coven and Kimberly. Claudette tried to engulf the room in darkness but a bullet hit her in the forearm right above her hand and she lost focus as she screamed. Blood went everywhere as she fell on the ground, experiencing a pain, unlike anything she ever felt before.
However, the gun was promptly bit in half by the Jaw's and another one of his King Ghidorah-like jaws went straight for Luis' throat. It was a clean-cut kill... however his throat almost instantly regenerated and Madison raised an eyebrow. He walked over to Madison as he cocked his fist back like that was gonna-.
When be punched her, the impact was a lot more than she was expecting and it sent her skidding backward a few feet directly into the wall. Okay, okay, there was something wrong with this motherfucker and he kept marching towards her. So, Madison punched him straight across the face and there was the sickening crack of what she thought was his spine breaking, and then she punched him in the chest. Bones were completely shattered as this motherfucker should be dead-dead but he just instantly healed from it as he brought his fists down on Madison.
Like she was going to take this shit and put her arms up, but the raw impact fucking hurt. It sent her halfway through he goddamn floor as Luis kept pushing - but she pushed back. They were locked in this epic duel as she was hoping for somebody to get this bastard off of her.
"Get her, she's the biggest threat here!"
Babylon shouted as she pointed at Lyss in the hopes that Dollhouse would kill this bitch. She stuck out both of her hands and her burning sigils appeared in her hands and she was prepared to throw them... and Hraesvelgr created a barrage of bones that went straight for Lyss. Babylon grinned as she would attempt to burn the bitch alive if she dodged.
Meanwhile, the vent opened... and dropped out a hand made out of ceramic. Followed by a foot, an arm, then a torso, pelvis, and so on and it quickly flew across the room until it reached Natalie.
".... Mother... fucker..." Natalie hissed as she used all of her strength to crawl towards the bar counter.... and then she felt herself getting yanked towards it and when she looked up she saw the doll-like and featureless form of the Mannequin. She felt safe as the creepy bastard pulled her towards the bar.
Once shit jumped off, Greta and The Body Weaver opened their little escape hatch, and then they fled out their little secret exit towards the streets of Miami. The Mannequin carried Natalie out of this exit... and Zara was watching the exit for the rest of Dollhouse.
After shooting Natalie and causing everything to go crazy, "Kimberly" turned around and ran down the stairs as fast as she could
"M-Molly?!" Madison spoke, catching Mariah's attention, but only in a brow raising way.
As The Jaws activated around Madison, Mariah side eyed Claudette, and wondered why they would invite the hot-head with the Dinosaur to a delicate negotiation. Of course, there was now a gun pointed at them, and this caused Mariah to let out yet another dramatic sigh. Her phone vibrated-- who the hell was calling her right now of all times?
"Is everyone a cowboy in this part of the world," laughed Isla. And again, this caught Mariah's brow raise. Great. They drugged Isla. Fantastic.
While normally, she would have walked over to help Isla, the fact things were still quite tense kept Mariah rooted in place. This wasn't the first time she had a gun pointed at her, but it was the first time she had one pointed at her while not knowing what the fuck was going on. Herik tried steering things back on track and Mariah silently thanked hin for it, though it was Lyss who forced the damn thing.
Good.
With some of the tension letting up, figuring the negotiation was ample distraction, now was when Mariah decided to take out her phone and check it. Her brows knitted as she fanned herself whilst looking at her phone screen. Seven missed calls and fifteen text messages-- all from Maxwell? She balked slightly as she began to scroll through the text messages, trying to make sense of them. He was asking why she was at the Dollhouse? How did he-- was the weirdo following her again? And then her phone started vibrating once more-- Max's face popped up as he was actively calling her. Softly she mumbled, "Why?"
Sharply, she jolted as a gunshot rang out, adrenaline flooding her system as she spotted Kimberly with a smoking gun. Her lips moved but Mariah couldn't hear her. Mariah watched Kimberly move slowly to point her gun at someone. Flashes lit up the room twice. Screaming pieced the silence.
Yellow-Orange light flared to life around Mariah as she reflexively enchanted her dress-- BANG-- Another scream. Blood sparkled in the light and something tapped Mariah on the side-- a bullet fell to the ground, coppery and bloody--
Claudette's bones were showing--
Madison's feet slid across the floor--
A man bun jiggled around--
All in one motion, Mariah grabbed one of the pretentious little cube foot rests-- her abstraction practically turned it into a yellow-orange block of doom-- and she lifted it over her head, before chucking it directly toward Luis with all her strength, stepping toward Madison as she threw it. Her hands found another one and she readied to throw it as well as a sharp gust of hot wind hit her. A what?
Chains clanged and jingled loudly. Violent gurgling and churning noises picked up.
Mariah looked over to notice that Molly sank into the floor slightly, but then there emerged a man from the floor-- as if he were lunging from the depths of a pool. Dressed in an old school black and white stripe prisoner outfit, with rusty iron shackles, complete with dangling chains, around the dark-brown corpse-like skin of his wrists and ankles-- he wrapped his arms around Molly's waist violently. She was given little time to react as it happened so quickly and she released a strangled noise of surprise. Thorns and bones attempted to manifest around Hraesvelgr in their final moments before the chains, glowing eerie green, wrapped around her throat of their own volition. Just as quickly as he emerged, the abscised apparition pulled Molly "down" into the watery depths of the floor as both of them screamed.
Only a puddle that led nowhere and a muggy humidity was left behind.
Penny rolled her eyes. Sure, she’d once held hands with a bunch of college kids turned demigods in a giant church camp prayer circle singing kumbaya to eradicate the most dangerous entity in all of the universes, inadvertently creating an alternate timeline, but she still considered herself fairly normal. Penny managed to keep the curt comments that came to mind to herself as the Coven took hold of the conversation. Kimberly would be proud. Penny had managed to speak with someone without starting a fight or getting a gun pulled on her. She rolled the cigarette between her thumb and her forefinger as she tried to not look phased by the staggering price for a Dollhouse potion, feeling satisfied for once that things seemed to be going off without much complication.
And then, "Ooooooh, Luis!"
Penny didn’t know any of the three girls that entered the room, even the one that stuttered her name in surprise, but she could feel the tension in the room hit a new high. She cocked an eyebrow as she studied the girl attempting dreads and, through the cloud of cigarette smoke, imagined she smelled patchouli. Penny definitely didn’t know her, because there was no way she’d forget someone looking like that. If she hadn’t been on edge before, Penny was now. She sat upright to further study the girl, but then everything began to unravel.
"Okay, okay! Simmer down!"
Penny’s eyes shifted over to Natalie and locked on her. So much for no guns. It was almost becoming a mundane inconvenience at this point now, more on par with not being able to find her lighter than feeling like her life was on the line. Penny activated her abstraction in case the bullets did start flying, muttering under her breath about the woman with the gun being a fucking idiot for trying to make people remain calm by threatening them with an assault rifle. She tried to listen as Lyss attempted to keep the meeting from veering off the cliff, her eyes never moving from Natalie. As the negotiations continued, Penny found it more difficult to hear anything but the blood pumping in her ear drums, which then began to turn into a more constant ring as her abstraction continued to overload her vision. Even then, Penny still heard the gunshots from below. Her head whipped in the direction they came from as Kimberly emerged from the doorway with her gun in hand.
“Kimberly, what are—” Penny’s words were cut short as she watched the bullets emerge from Kimberly’s glock and punch holes in the cowgirl’s body. Penny jumped to her feet, adrenaline hitting the ceiling, as she looked back at her friend. This had not been the plan at all, because if it wasn’t Penny wouldn’t have agreed to it. Maybe that was why Kimberly hadn’t given her any sort of hint that she intended to come down to Miami and start a goddamn shootout. “DUDE, WHAT THE FUCK!?”
No time to listen for a response because Luis was already opening fire on their couch instead of the stupidass, dumbass, bitchass excuse for a friend that Penny had made the mistake of helping out. With hardly an ounce of effort, the bullets that came for Penny instead blasted back towards Luis’s couch. Penny growled. Once they were through here, she was going to make Kimberly wish that she’d gotten dematerialized by a tentacle or devoured by a wendigo. Claudette screamed as she was hit. Fuck! No time to worry about her dickhead friend, Penny was now on damage control. She did not need both a coven on witches and a black market potion shop gunning for her.
Penny began to dart side to side like a goalie. While she could see each one, she wasn’t fast enough to intercept every shot. Still, she managed to repulse a decent amount of the barrage away from the Coven before Madison began going to town on Luis and ended the shooting. It didn’t excuse Penny from playing defense, however, as one of the new girls readied herself to spray an assault of bones at Lyss after the other one pointed her out. With Claudette writhing on the ground between them, Penny wouldn’t make it to her on time—by foot. A second sigil, that of a bird on the back of her left shoulder, glowed as she used an air blast to propel herself over Claudette and between Lyss and the bones. She buckled as she landed and reactivated her primary abstraction, which had been forced off.
As her abstraction clicked on, a surge of pain shot through her skull and it clicked off. Fuck. She knew that this would happen, but in the moment she’d forgotten her own limitations. Penny grimaced and went to repulse the bones unassisted, knowing that the momentary drop of her abstraction had completely fucked up her timing. Still, being aware that it was coming didn’t change her reaction. She screamed in pain as a dozen or so bones pierced her skin.
However, instead of shooting straight through or embedding themselves deeply, they stopped the second they pricked her. As the bones pulled away from her body small little streaks of blood began to seep from what were mostly fleshwounds. They floated in front of her outstretched right hand in a spiral as her telekinesis took complete control over the bones. At the same time, she lifted her left hand as the fanny pack unzipped itself and a parade of coins floated out of it. Like the bones, the coins spiraled in front of her left hand. Penny shot an angry look towards Molly, but the girl was already being dragged into hell by the chain gang. That left the other two girls that had interrupted their meeting.
Perfect.
Penny was done playing defense (not to mention, no longer capable of doing so), so she pressed the attack. She repulsed the bones at Babylon, while the coins rocketed towards the dreadhead. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kimberly take off, but she didn’t move to follow. Penny would see to it that the Coven didn’t get massacred thanks to Kimberly’s idiotic ploy, and then she’d get some fucking answers. Already, more coins were pull themselves out of Penny’s pouch and floating around her, ready to get repulsed at the next Dollhouse asshole who tried to make a move on them.
The deal was made, the shake of a hand would seal the deal, and just as Lyss had a glimpse of hope that she could help her sisters it was taken away by one individual. The same individual that gave her hope in the first place.
Kimberly.
She thought the moment she saw her step through the door with a glock in hand. Lyss knew in a second that this had all been a setup. She’d been playing them this whole time. For what reason? Lyss didn’t have enough time to consider that. The moment Walton took out the cowgirl, Lyss was ready to react.
“I knew you bitches were trouble!”
Lyss saw him reach for his pistol and reacted purely out of instinct. The first thing she could think of was to duck. She slid down and into the best crouching position she could make to put the coffee table between herself and the bullets. She heard Claudette’s scream, raw and full of terror, and grimaced as she covered her neck and head.
Just when she imagined that a bullet would bite her next, she heard the crunching of metal and peeked her head out from behind the table. The Jaws. Madison. Thank satan she came along. First the gun was taken out, and then Luis’s throat was ripped out.
Lyss pushed herself to her feet and nodded a thanks to Madison, but it seemed that the victory was short lived. She watched in awe as his throat regenerated within seconds. A healer!? Honestly, they should have fucking known. Lyss raised her hands, prepping to use her abstraction, but Luis recovered faster than she expected.
He made it to Madison before Lyss could charge her ring up with energy. The force of his fist against the bones of the Jaws shocked Lyss. She took a few steps away. This was going to have to be Madison’s fight. Lyss knew that there was nothing she could do for her.
She turned to go to Claudette. She needed to stop the bleeding. The bullet must have gone through her wrists main veins, because the blood was oozing out of her.
“Get her, she’s the biggest threat here!”
Lyss stopped in place. She’d forgotten about tweedledee and tweedledum. She looked towards them with a glare. Her hands rose and she aimed them towards the two apparitions, towards her old Coven sisters, but the other bitch, not Babylon, aimed her bones towards her and let them fly.
She wouldn’t have enough time to dodge. Did she have enough time to grab something to put in front of her? Damn, Babylon’s grin was sinister. Fuck, fuck. Lyss thought in a panic, and just before she dropped to the floor for a second time that night Penny flew in front of her and took the bones for her.
What?
She stared at the woman before her. Why would she? For me? Wasn’t she friends with Kimberly Walton? Did she know that this was Walton’s plan all along, or did Kim keep her in the dark too? She was extremely concerned at first, until she noticed that the bones hadn’t pierced through her. Until she saw the bones pull themselves from Penny’s skin and float in the air before them.
Lyss felt a wave of relief pass through her before she could finally do something to help the current situation. She held up her arms once more, palms outstretched, and allowed whoever or whatever came from Molly take her before activating her abstraction.
If she timed it right, the bones and coins would hit the Babylon and the dreadlocked abscised with her. If she focused just enough, maybe she could trap Babylon and the dreadlocked bitch. Or someone much more dangerous too.
The black light began to emit from her ring. It quickly made its way towards Babylon first, engulfing her in it’s opaque bubble, but instead of heading towards Babylon’s other friend it crawled its way over to Luis. Lyss grit her teeth. The trap was working, but it took extra effort to keep Babylon within the barrier as she stretched it.
If she managed to trap them both, she intended to put Babylon and Luis in the smallest trap possible. If they didn’t have enough space to move, it would reduce their chances of attacking the barrier. Which meant that Lyss would not feel their anger against her field of black lux energy and she could hold them long enough to get the girls out.
Lyss could feel her cast stretching to its limits, but she held on tightly. It wrapped itself around Luis, and just as Lyss adjusted to trapping both apparitions she took a step backwards and pulled her arm back. The trap pulled Luis with it and away from Madison, who had practically gone through the flooring by now.
“We came here to make a deal, Luis! We have nothing to do with Walton showing up here.” She shouted. It was the truth. Lyss was already frustrated enough that they weren’t likely to get any potions now, but to be left to deal with Kimberly’s chaos? She wouldn’t stand for it. At this point, her anger was enough to fuel her strength.
Lyss opened her palms as if a ball laid between her hands. She was mimicking the exterior of the trap. Her palms slowly began to press inward, and the trap around Babylon and Luis began to shrink inch by inch. The smaller the trap, the easier it would be to keep them inside. It would require much less energy too. She just had to keep her focus.
