teapotshark

The Hidden People

Casper?

Beth didn't know whether to be amused or insulted. She went with amused in the end, since dear Tony could have generated nicknames a whole lot worse, and she rather liked the old were-kitty.

Just as she expected, someone came forth with enough information to get them going. She'd heard of the Rikkers Clan a few times, whispers in de Lacy's court but never anything worth remembering. For the most part, she steered well clear of vampires unless she needed something. Beth grinned and opened her mouth to speak again, to prompt the newly formed group into a plan of action, before the Asgardian pointed out the presence of someone beyond the door.

"Okay, hold your horses big guy," she nodded to Flint's submachine gun. Another comment about his ineptitudes as a detective flirted on her tongue, but she restrained herself. She walked to the door and turned her body see-through again, then moved through it. Now, regular old steel doors were a little tough on her spirit, but something reinforced? She felt sick. When she made it through to the other side, she wanted to vomit. Instead, and since vomiting was an impossibility, she pinned her gaze on their guests.

Their guests, who appeared to be one impeccably dressed woman and her far less well kept bodyguard, by the looks of him. Beth smirked at his gear; the gang inside would not appreciate someone riding in here pointing guns at them. Once a day was enough. The lack of spiritual aura coming off him, she supposed he was a mortal, so she addressed the woman.

"Apologies, but we're not buying whatever it is you're selling. Is there anything else we can help you with?"

The Hidden People

Beth coming out of the door like

The Hidden People

Beth can go through the door and report back before they open it. And she's likely to do so but I want to see if a few of the others fancy pitching in to the conversation before I post.

The Hidden People

Oh... yeah... awkward.

"Casper" though.

The Hidden People

Beth let out a snort at Flint's wording, but she left the teasing for later. She considered his words while brushing a hand through her tangled hair. Other "gifted" beings were the most difficult bodies to take possession of, but she had never tried a vampire before, nor had she spent very much time in their preferred businesses. No doubt an elder would be impossible to possess, so that was ruled out. Someone else within the elder's circle, though, someone less powerful, she could use them. But what for? Beth huffed; at this rate, she would be good for nothing but the attack.

It seemed the same was true for Rikive. For different reasons, of course. Leaning back in the chair, Beth began to rock on its back legs absent-mindedly. The movement created a soft creak every so often. She watched the other people in the room, propping her elbow on the back of the chair and rubbing her temples. Her mind ran a number of simulations, plotting the course of future events in as many different variations as she could think of, and each ended the same way.

It was almost amusing. Without knowing what Nemsemet's equivalent of her cursed pendant was, they were doomed to failure.

She refocussed on the task at hand and a thought occurred: any elder vampire would have an army of lessers and thralls to guard them, especially in their own territory. To take him out, they'd need an army of equivalent size or, since they were lacking in one of those, an assassin.

Beth dropped back onto all four legs with a thud and sat forward. "If we're going to do this and take on Nemsemet, which by the way is insane, then we're going to have to send someone in to confirm this big-shot vamp's involvement with the thralls before we go avenging Parry's wardrobe." Beth hopped to her feet and turned on her heel in a slow circle, eyeing each of the people in the room. "Someone who would conceivably enter such an establishment and can fend for themselves. Alternatively, with some form of back up. You're familiar with that term, right, Flint? Oh, no, you like to work alone." She spun to face Tony and Parael. "If the elder isn't behind those thralls, fucking him up's not going to send the message you're trying to send. Get information first, then act on what we learn."

Finally, she stepped aside to see everyone and folded her arms across her chest. "Volunteers?"

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I'm torn! Imagine it: a huge crowd of booty-shakers and Rikive in the middle, stiff as a board, eyeing anyone who gets close. But at the same time, Beth isn't likely to be a whole lot of use either, unless they need an inside man, until the (potential) attack.

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Why, is it a disco? XD

@KuroTenshi

Nah, he just looks fabulous. Rikive at a nightclub is going to be hilarious.

The Hidden People

Oh a nightclub is perfect. Parael, get your dancing shoes on. Tony you-- you just keep working that do.

The Hidden People

Flint could not possibly be more obvious with his driving preferences. There was really no need to display the gun as a means to ward people off. A quick "no one in the front seat" would have sufficed, with his pleases and thank yous added where appropriate. Rolling her eyes, Beth slid through the door and, becoming tangible once again, took a seat in the back. "Did you forget how to ask a simple question, Flint?" she said, revelling in the opportunity to annoy him. "I know you find it hard to use those magnificent cop skills of yours, but really, have you tried communicating?"

Another explosion ripped through the top floor of the daycare center and the car seats vibrated. Beth leaned across the back seat and stuck her head out the window. She watched as the rest of the supernaturals fled the building, Parry as the last of them. She shifted back into her seat. Everything began to speed up; the stranger followed her into the vehicle, the Asgardian stole a car, Parry dove into the stranger's lap, and Tony issued their driver with directions, then they were off.

Having gone unnoticed for the moment, she allowed herself to become partially intangible to provide the stranger with enough room to accommodate the three of them. Her shoulder, arm and leg vanished into the side of the car, and for the journey she remained silent. Studying the route kept her mind of the events of the day for as long as the journey took them. Parry's voice occasionally broke through, but she welcomed it.

The drive was fast and short, and when they arrived at Tony's whatever-it-was, Beth used the impact of the stop to sift through the door of Flint's car and all but glide the rest of the way to the bunker.

She inspected the room they first entered, putting various limps in the walls, door and through the furniture. Tony's statement proved true: there were no wards here, and certainly nothing to stop her slipping in and out. Though the walls were reinforced and thick, and she had no idea how long it would take or how much it would sting to pass through one. Should they need to lock the door, however, she could be used as a look out. Still, she hoped they would never need to stay in the bunker for long.

From the bathroom she heard Parael rambling on about fighting back as if they stood a chance, and Beth, as much as she loved him, began to tune him out. But a shrill cry from the bathroom made her spin around with her fists up. In a blink Parry flew out of the bathroom and landed himself on Tony, and Beth couldn't quite distinguish the words from his screaming.

"Relax, Parry. Even with a broken nose, you're leagues more beautiful than everyone else," she said, trying to hide her smirk. She switched to tangibility and plopped herself down in the nearest chair while Rikive handled Parael's nose. Beth hadn't the foggiest idea how to even begin searching for Nemsemet's weakness, so she kept quiet. Instead she listened.

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Oh that's smart. I guess you could call it a spyder...

...I'm sorry.