[IC Contact -- Snowblind]

[bookofnope]

[There is a click noise. It sounds as though it might be judging you.]

Comments

[swatsflies]

[ If he wasn't with Jim, he would have refused to share. ]

South east from the Aquarium.
Keep me updated where you're at.
Ill make sure to give you a heads up if we're heading towards there.

[bookofnope]

Thank you, Zell

[See, he's even making an effort to type properly.]

I'm heading southwest. think I should be clear. i'm not yet in a state to actively go hunting. but I will keep you updated

[bookofnope]

We do have some unique treasures in this latest batch of newcomers, don't we?

[He relents as much to agree on that, at least, though there's a weight of guilt he finds it hard to shake off. He'd hurt these two men, well - it's something of a fact of life. But he'd lost all control, all semblance of it. That frightens him. He doesn't want to say as much to her, but he knows that she thinks better of him than he strictly deserves.]

I doubt they'll do anything about all that snarling and posturing, though. It's typical... they're not worth your upset, Angel.

[At least he has the wits not to say I'm not worth your upset.]

It will be... hopefully no more than a few days. I know the problem, I've dealt with it before. If it's manageable...

[And the second question remains hanging in the air, with no answer he can think of.]

[headjacked]

About as shitty as we'd feel if we ignored you. Left you to your own vamp-y devices.

Then you -- inevitably -- stumble upon someone else. Shit goes down. YOU die. Where does that leave us, Beckett?

[bookofnope]

Making unfounded statements about inevitability, mostly.

[He resents that. He's putting so much effort into maintaining something - some kind of control over his actions and their consequences. He doesn't need this doubt, not from his closest friends.]

You needn't ignore me. If you want to help, help me make sure I keep away from anyone I might harm. Others as well as you. Help me think of another way. But don't ask me to place the safety of strangers - or of myself - above yours.

[swatsflies]

[ He'll appreciate it later on maybe. ]

Thanks.
Take care of yourself.
I'll see about asking the admin for help.

[ He might go bother a doctor to see if a prescription can happen. ]

[phaseshifter]

...if it's manageable, I'll admit you were right to run off and that I'm a fussy mortal buttlord. If not, it - mmmh.

Iunno. Can we - maybe agree to test it? By meeting up again in a week or something? If we promise to whap you around the head if you can't deal and try to get bitey?

[ she's doing The Face LOOK! AT! THE FACE! ]

[headjacked]

You were going worst case scenario, I was matching.

[ Downcast eyes now. ]

Call us saps, but w-we'd miss you too much.

[bookofnope]

[... tiny childe why must you fight so dirty.

But she's being reasonable about this, he thinks, and a week in Norfinbury feels like a very long time. He takes a slow breath in.]

How confident are you of your ability to "whap" me? I know the strength Rhys has in his arm, but it takes conviction to put it to good use... and that isn't without its risks.

[bookofnope]

[Perhaps that's fair. His brow furrows and jaw tightens as the balance of their conviction shifts, and he half glances away.]

Saps. Yes, you are.

[And there had once been a time when he could have dismissed that. But he no longer even tries.]

If I can't be around you without endangering you, then that is all there is to it. I've told Angel - if the need was physical, if it could be sated by feeding - maybe. But it isn't. So feeding won't resolve it. That's why I need another answer. [He half-gestures at his broken nose.] I told them to do that. The smell was driving me mad.

[phaseshifter]

My own whapping abilities are... admittedly not great.

[ what are these words why is this an actual serious conversation ]

But Rhys' arm should be enough to defend both of us if you misbehave. He clearly wouldn't relish using it against you, but I definitely trust him to do it if we're in danger. Especially since - well. We know you well enough that it'll be apparent very quickly if you're not right, yes?

[bookofnope]

[Life with vampires! So many new experiences.]

... all right. I will allow this under one condition. [Which Angel may not be too thrilled over, but he is determined to take every precaution possible.]

Brian is following me at a distance. I know he can be stealthy enough to avoid trouble - though he's the only one. I want him to be there as well. For strength in numbers. Just in case both of you underestimate the strength that might be required.

[He's pretty sure all they are. Pretty damn sure.]

[phaseshifter]

That sounds fine.

[ Fine meaning "I get the impression that your friend doesn't like me at all but that isn't a big concern under these circumstances." FINE. ]

Do you have any thoughts about where to do this? If not, there's a police station directly west of the fire station we were all at before you left, and the cells would make for secure places to take cover if the worst happens.

[ See look she's being sensible and preparing for the worst! Even though she thinks Beckett attacking them is about as likely as Rhys suddenly developing anything resembling fashion sense. ]

[headjacked]

Maybe we just keep your nose broken forever and always.

[ Not the most serious of suggestions, that. Rhys looks up quickly and tries for the weakest and briefest of smiles. Just kidding, hahahaha...ha...! ]

[bookofnope]

And ruin my ability to enjoy ice cream? Tsk.

[There you go. A joke. See how fine he is? Almost as fine as Angel.]

If that were enough of a solution... but I doubt it.

[bookofnope]

I know he is not exactly the easiest to get along with. All I ask is that you work with me on this. For safety's sake.

[So what if he's stressed this a hundred times already. He can't shake the worry off. It's got him by the throat.]

The cells are an excellent idea, actually. If I lock myself in one, you can approach safely no matter what my reaction would be.

[phaseshifter]

I'm not complaining, honest! I understand wanting to be better safe than sorry. Um, are you sure you'd be alright with getting in the cells yourself, though? It doesn't seem like it'd be very. Dignified.

 

I'm not saying you'd ever even consider putting your dignity first, obviously, I know you better than that. But I also understand that it's important and am I fussing? Is this fussing? Oh geez.

[ecks]

Anomaly no to have language. Curse to become anomaly.

Other also to say no to be curse, to be death-to lose.

[bookofnope]

[That needs a bit of parsing, but he'll make the effort for her.]

I very sure @captaininvincible not make important anomaly discovery alone. Not to have power either.

[bookofnope]

[Beckett snorts faintly and immediately regrets it. Bloody hell his face hurts.]

On the list of undignified things people have done to me in order to break or avoid a frenzy, this would rank about... thirty-fourth. A little worse than squirting a blood bag at me from three feet away, but not nearly as bad as being restrained with a workhorse's harness and bit, or the whiskey barrel incident. And no, I am not ever mentioning those again.

[phaseshifter]

Whiskey barrel incident.

 

Okay, when this all works out and you can be around people again, I think you owe me that story. For sneaking off like a butt. And for me not retaliating by showing everyone cutie photos of you to prove you're not all that scary.

[bookofnope]

In my world we call that blackmail. [SHOCK. HORROR. HOW COULD HIS OWN NOT!CHILDE TURN ON HIM SO.]

Angel, if this all works out, neither of you are hurt, and I can be certain of my own mind again, I will happily pose for your photos with the bloody flower crown.

[phaseshifter]

Dude.

[ That's. Kind of worrying, actually. Since it seems to indicate that it's not very likely to work out. Orrrr that Beckett will just be that relieved if it does.

JUST GONNA REPRESS THESE FUSSING URGES NBD ]

That counts as one of your super-binding vampire promises, right?

[bookofnope]

... I never said what I'll permit you to do with the resulting photos.

[Looks like that's a yes to that.]

A week from now at the police station then. I'll spend the night before in the fire station so I can get there early and prepare.

[phaseshifter]

Alright. We'll make sure to approach from a different direction, then. And I'll save my last bar of chocolate just in case we need a distraction! You should feel very loved.

[ That's only half a joke. CHOCOLATE IS PRECIOUS, OKAY. Just not as precious as Beckett is. ]

If I tell you to stay safe until then, you'll give me the look, won't you. So... I'll not say that.