Bon Temps, Louisiana [Thursday afternoon]
The sun was just setting over Bon Temps when Sookie led everyone to a large white house. The scent of magnolias hung heavily in the humidity, and Sookie was already regretting not bringing more pins for her hair from Fandom.
What a strange thing to think about.
"Welcome to my house. And to Bon Temps," she said to her...guests wasn't the right word. Her friends, anyway. She held the door open for everyone, gesturing expansively to the modestly-furnished (but extremely clean) interior. "Bedrooms and stuff are upstairs, bathroom's in the hall, um...kitchen's through there." She was going to be glossing over the kitchen, yes. She wasn't really ready to spend a lot of time in there just yet. "Bill'll be by later, he said, and then we can all go out to Merlotte's and Fangtasia to listen. Make yourselves at home. Can I get anyone anything?" Sookie's exhaustion was starting to catch up with her, maybe, but damn it, she was a good host.
Jono
//I'm fine,// Jono replied, waving a hand dismissively and glancing around. //But thanks for th'offer, luv.//
Okay, granted, he didn't want anything because he couldn't make use of anything that people tended to ask for when setting foot in someone else's home. But he kind of found himself hoping that someone else wanted a coffee, at least. They smelled good.
Bobby
"Me too," Bobby nodded. "I mean, I'm good. But thanks." And pretty much sticking as close to Sookie's side as she'd let him, for the time being.
Sookie
Yeah, don't worry about her letting him -- Sookie might have been a little wobbly on her feet, but she was sticking close to Bobby. Until she found an afghan to straighten, and a book to move slightly. This was Gran's home. She wanted to be a good hostess in it. "You sure? I could get some lemonade or coffee or make cookies or something."
Yes, Sookie. Make cookies. Right now.
"Humidity's not drowning anyone? I could turn on the AC, too. In fact, I probably should do that." And now she was just babbling.
Emma
"Sookie, breathe, or you'll pass out even with the AC on," Emma drawled, sprawling bonelessly on a chair. "You just point us where we need to go, darling, and we'll take care of things from there."
Sookie
"Okay. Okay, well, we're kinda cooling her heels right now," she admitted. "Until nightfall, anyway. So right now, you need to go...here. Or upstairs, if anyone wants to nap for a bit! My room's up there, along with Jason's. And...um, Gran's is down the hall. If we need it."
She hoped they didn't, but she was too practical not to offer the extra bed.
Karla
*Speaking of napping...* Karla sent on a Sookie-exclusive thread, *Sookie can't go much longer without sleeping without doing herself harm.*
"I'm sure we can settle ourselves well enough," Karla said. "Don't worry about us. And we can cool our heels with the best of them. So don't--" fret yourself into oblivion "--just don't worry, okay?"
Emma
<< I'll take care of it, >> Emma replied silently, still excluding Sookie. << Leave that to Auntie Emma, darlings. >>
Don't ask how, you might not like the answer.
"It's a lovely house, Sookie," she said aloud, casting her gaze about. "Why don't you tell us about the town while we wait? It could be useful, if we know a little bit about the people and the area to help us spot anything... off."
And maybe it would make Sookie sit down and stop fretting.
Sookie
"Well. We're in rural Louisiana, so...it's rural Louisiana. It's mostly blue-collar, and it's not gonna get any cooler, by the way -- sorry," she said, ticking things off on her hands and actually taking a seat, yes. "Usually people're relatively nice but tension's kinda high right now, for obvious reasons. My brother's in jail, so you're gonna hear a lot about that. Probably lots about me, too. I sort of...had a breakdown at Gran's wake, right before Jason got arrested. But we're gonna be goin' to Merlotte's which is right down the way, and that's got the local folk, and then to Fangtasia in Shreveport, which has a stupid name but the vampires are there and they might know something. Bon Temps isn't very big, so it's better to hedge our bets, I think."
Again, with the babbling, but at least this was more focused.
Karla
"Is there anyone in particular you'd like us to focus more on?" Karla asked, leaning against a wall. "I know you don't have a suspect or anything, but are there people we should definitely make sure to pry at?"
Sookie
"I don't want to rule anyone out," Sookie said carefully, "but I'm fairly sure it's a man. The women -- Gran excluded -- had been, um, recently...having sex, though it all looks consensual. But unfortunately, they also kinda got around. No boyfriends to point at."
Bill
Bill could tell there were now many more humans (they smelled odd, but they were human and not vampire or fae or were) in the house with Sookie. He knocked lightly on the door, though he had an invitation and could have walked in. Sookie had made it clear that she didn't want him intruding or sneaking up on her.
She did let him in after a moment, and it took Bill's willpower to not try and glamor her into going to take a nap. Even if it didn't work on her, and he knew it.
"This is my friend Bill, everyone," Sookie said with a little wave to him. "He's going to be helping us look. And yes, he's a vampire." Might as well get that out of the way. They weren't used to them.
"Good evening," he drawled at the...five teenagers. It was nice that Sookie had brought in reinforcements, but really. It was possible his accent was actually thicker than Sookie's, too. If that was even possible. "It's nice to meet you all."
Bobby
"Hey," Bobby said with a nod. His greeting wasn't exactly frosty, but if it felt like the room's ambient temperature abruptly dropped off by a few degrees? Yeah.
Of course, the fact that vampires might not react to cold the same way humans did didn't actually occur to him. Bobby was totally a bastion of maturity, really.
Bill
Bill might not react the same way, but he did sort of look around quizzically at the drop in temperature, since he could feel it. This was Louisiana. Any coolness was appreciated.
Anyway. He was polite, and he was interested in putting Sookie's friends at ease, as best he could. So he flashed a small smile, not yet glamoring anyone but definitely thinking he might need to. "Hello. How do you know Sookie? From school?"
Which, really, was his condescending way of pointing out that he was the only adult in the room.
Bobby
"I'm her boyfriend," Bobby said, somewhat smugly, yeah, as he stuck one hand out. If Bill took up the offered handshake, he'd probably notice that said hand definitely lacked the warmth that would radiate off the average human.
Bill
Bill had a hundred and seventy-odd years' practice at not letting his face show any emotion, which he put into practice now as he took the offered hand. Which -- yes, much colder than the average human, and that warranted a bit of an eyebrow raise. "Ah, yes, she mentioned you. She said you're...special." Verbal airquotes, almost, yes, in a delicate Southern-gentleman sort of way. "Are you here to help catch this person, or to keep Sookie calm?" He lowered his voice, and added, "After the shock she's had, I'm sure she needs as many friends as she can have."
Bobby
Likewise, Bobby didn't react to Bill's own temperature-challenged hand. "Special's a word for it, yeah," he shrugged. "And some of both."
Bill
"I'm glad she'll have someone," Bill said sincerely, "since I'm sure I'll be too focused on looking for this...person to offer much comfort."
Bobby
"Wow," Bobby drawled. "I don't think you could've made that sound skeevier if you'd tried."
Bill
"Skeevier?" Bill repeated, actually looking surprised for once. "Sookie is my friend. I didn't mean any disrespect."
Well. Not really.
Karla
Karla was trying not to be too icy since that was Bobby's schtick Bill was Sookie's friend. She was reminding herself that not all vampires were like Raven's Sebastian or the vampires on the other-Fandom. She gave Bill a small nod and a tight-lipped smile. "Bill. Sookie has mentioned you. Your friendship has been appreciated."
Bill
He gave the unfamiliar young lady a cordial smile, trying to set her at ease. "It's given freely," he assured her. "And you know Sookie from school, is that right?"
Karla
"Yes," Karla said, eyebrow arching. "Which, of course, means that we're young and innocent and new to the ways of the world. I'm here for hand-holding, shoulder-crying, and floor scrubbing. Emma's on laundry and kind words of support duty. The boyos alternate between strong masculine presence and yardwork."
Bill
Bill leaned against the wall, considering his response carefully, and then added, "Does Sookie really have that much laundry to do, what with her clothes at school? You-all could probably consolidate your efforts into something more productive."
That was his version of a joke, really.
Karla
"I suppose Emma can go from laundry to baking, but only if you say it's all right," Karla snarked. "Wee little children like us need guidance from someone so much older and wiser. Like yourself. Right? That is what you're thinking, isn't it?"
Karla wasn't impressed. And had no problems letting Bill know it.
Bill
"I am a hundred and fifty years older than you," Bill replied, eyeing her. "I don't mind inferring that I might have a little more wisdom on some subjects than you, ma'am. But just a few."
Karla
Karla snorted. Infant. "And in those one hundred and fifty years, surely you must have discovered that there is more out there than just what you know and have seen. So I'll grant you your century and a half of experience. But kindly don't treat us like children."
She gave him a cheerful smile. "Kiss kiss."
Bill
"You are all human -- mostly," he noted. "You smell different, so I believe that there is something special about you. But you are all teenagers, and smaller and weaker than what is out there, as best I can tell. I won't be responsible for your injuries."
Karla
"And when it comes to vampires, you're our expert," Karla said. "You know about your kind better than any of us. But you don't know a thing about mine."
Not that Karla had any plans to enlighten him, either. But as Sookie's friend and ally, he deserved that much of a warning.
Emma
Emma's eyes flickered over him dispassionately. "What do we need him for, again?" she asked the air, bored. Not hostile, but clearly not impressed. "Besides the obvious ability to loom broodingly."
What? It didn't take a telepath to know he was not impressed with Sookie's choice in back-up, and this was about as friendly as Emma got with strangers.
Bill
Bill actually quirked his lips in a smile at that. "I can get you into the vampire bar. And I'm also stronger and faster than all of you. If there's a killer out there, you'll need bodyguards. I have another coming, and he should be arriving shortly. I wouldn't dream of sending three young ladies out to bars right now with only two teenage boys as protection."
Condescend, Bill. Condescend.
Emma
"Maybe we're here to protect the boys," Emma replied pertly. "I'm a very resourceful person, and I have it on good authority that I can be quite terrifying."
Bill
"You seem like it," Bill said after a moment's pause. He was almost definitely serious, too.
Emma
Emma simply smiled at him angelically. "Oh darling," she promised. "You have no idea."
"Now, if you're to be our resident 'expert,'" and you could practically see the same verbal air quotes he'd used on Bobby, "Why don't you give me something interesting to work with? I can't make magic from nothing."
Bill
"Sookie mentioned you don't have vampires in your world, correct?" he asked. "We move fast, and light. You cannot see us or hear us coming. We have fangs, we're stronger than you, and we can use mind tricks to force you to see things or do things you wouldn't normally." He raised an eyebrow at her. "And the victims were all intimately familiar with our kind, so that's why we're going to Fangtasia. You will want to be very, very careful while there."
Emma
"My world, no, we do not," Emma agreed. "But I've had experience with a few different varieties in the last year or so, and survived to tell the tale."
"Besides, careful never got anyone anywhere. What's life without a little risk?"
Not that Emma was going to tell him she was immune to most sorts of mind control; Sookie had said no letting vampires know about her telepathy, and as far as Emma was concerned, that meant all vampires.
Bill
"Life with a little too much risk is death," Bill said ominously, cocking a brow at her. "Be careful."
Jono
Jono wasn't really big on conversation with people he'd only just met. Particularly not the sorts who stood there and loomed all... vampirically. Or whatever it was. And so he was going to just cross his arms and raise an eyebrow at the man, for now.
//Charmed, I'm sure. Yer here to help then, are yer?//
Bill
Bill sort of looked around, and then back at Jono, mildly confused. "That's the idea," he agreed. "Considering I'd certainly feel guilty about Sookie or her friends getting killed, I thought I'd lend my services."
Jono
And that earned an upward twitch of Jono's eyebrow. Just slightly.
//You figure we're easy to kill, then?//
Behave, Jono.
Bill
"I'm learning you all believe otherwise," Bill said dryly. "But I do figure you don't necessarily understand what might be out there."
Jono
//Well, then, by all means, mate. Educate us.// Jonothon's other eyebrow moved upward to match the first. //What might be out there?//
Bill
"Vampires. And by the way y'all smell, they'll be interested in you," Bill noted.
Jono
Okay, Jono was well aware that he had a special odour all his own, but the others...?
//They smell out of the ordinary?//
He, personally, didn't seem too concerned. He smelled like burning.
Bill
"The two girls smell like Sookie does, a little," Bill noted. "The other boy doesn't, but is still different. You're all human but there's something different."
How creepy. Stop talking about how people smell, Bill.
Jono
//All th'better for dealin' with anybody who might decide we smell like dinner, trust me.//
There was a weird note of confidence in that statement. Or, rather, it seemed weird to Jono, who wasn't used to having much in the way of confidence at all. But then, it wasn't confidence in himself, necessarily. It was confidence in the team.
He trusted them. That was what it was.
//So, instead of tellin' us how unsuited we are for dealing with this, perhaps you could do us all a favour, Sookie especially, and tell us what it is we need to do in order to be certain we get out of this with th'least trouble possible, mate.//
Bill
"Stick together," Bill said in a clipped voice, crossing his arms. "Don't play heroes. Keep an eye on the girls -- and I'm not saying that to be sexist, I'm saying that because the victims have all been female. Do not ever assume you're alone. Vampires are silent, we move amazingly fast, and you will not see us coming. Do not let your guard down for a second."
Jono
Jono resisted the urge to point out that telling this particular group not to play heroes was something like telling dogs not to bark. It could theoretically be done, but it wasn't extremely likely.
//Considering th'circumstances, I don't think you'll have to worry too much about our guard bein' let down.// He stuffed his hands into his pockets and shook his head. //We might not have that speed on our side, but I'm willing to wager that we've got a few tricks of our own that'll serve us well, should push come to shove. That said, I'm hoping to avoid much in th'way of violent conflict, where it can be avoided.//
Karla
Karla stepped up behind Sookie, going to lay a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "Stop me if you've heard this one, but how you doing?"
Sookie
Sookie didn't quite jump at the contact, but only because she realized it was Karla pretty quickly. "...I'm okay," she lied, fairly unconvincingly. "I mean. Okay as I can be."
There. That was better.
Karla
Karla gave her a wan smile. "I know about how well that goes." She moved towards the stove, cocking a questioning eyebrow at Sookie. She didn't want to start tea without Sookie's permission, but with Bill wandering around, she didn't want to use Craft to make it, either.
"The hardest part is trying to find some new routine" she murmured. "Something that feels normal and right that doesn't rub against the jagged edges of your grief."
Sookie
Sookie gave her a little nod, keeping to the counter and sort of eyeing the spot by the refrigerator. "I found her in here," she said quietly, glancing at Karla. "I don't really know what I'm going to do without her. She left me this house."
Karla
Karla began setting the tea things to right. "I'm glad you still have your home," she said softly. "It connects you to her still. A kind of painful and raw connection right now, but it's still a connection."
She glanced down to the tea cup in her hand. "I envy you that."
Sookie
She reached out to touch Karla's arm, offering a little bit of comfort. "It's something, yeah. Jason was really mad she left it to me and not him. But Jason's just generally really mad at me right now, though. Blames me for this."
Karla
"We can thump him, if you like. Once all this is over," Karla said, smiling down at the hand on her arm. "Just a little bit. Jump start his brain and all. My uncle says that all males need a swift kick in the rear sometimes to keep them thinking straight."
Her smile faded. "My other uncle," she specified.
...Which brought up a whole new and nasty thought. "Did your uncl--did that male try to attend the funeral?" Karla asked, timidly.
Sookie
Sookie's mouth set in a little line. "Yes. Jason invited him. After everything he's done, he invited him. Perfect way to cap off the day."
Karla
"..."
Karla didn't really know how to respond to that. Saying that Jason didn't believe Sookie wasn't an explanation--it was a tragedy. "Did he try to come near you?" she asked. "Speak to you? Touch you?"
Sookie
"He offered his condolences. I was the one who told him to leave," she said quietly, just a little proud of that. "He's just in Shreveport. It's a wonder he hasn't tried to come by sooner -- Gran was his sister."
Karla
Karla was proud of Sookie for that, too. "She might have been his sister by blood, but if he really wanted to be considered family, he never would have done that to you. Or your Gran's daughter, either. You did the right thing."
She turned back to the water on the stove as it began whistling. "Jason can have a relationship with his uncle if he chooses, but he can't force you to have one. And may the Darkness show him what this Bartlett is truly like before he has a daughter of his own."
Bill
Sookie blanched -- she had never actually considered that issue. But before he could actually reply, Bill popped up at her side.
That never got less startling.
"Excuse me, ladies. Sookie, I need to go," he said urgently but still keeping his face calm. "I've been summoned to New Orleans. But your other guardian has arrived."
Sookie took a moment to process this, infinitely irritated at Bill for having to take off now, but she plastered on a patient smile.
"Fine. Where is he?"
Bill sought everyone's attention, and said, "Now, the other vampire I have brought to help guard Sookie's house from intruders is going to have a face that should be very familiar to you. Please don't use his name. Call him Bubba. He gets upset otherwise. He was turned at the very end of his life, when there were many drugs in his system. But the coroner was a fan, and saw a spark, but -- he's a little...slow. Please, just call him Bubba."
He gave Sookie a nod, and she sighed and wandered over to the door to let him in, since she had to invite him. "Come in, Bubba," she yelled as she opened the door. "...oh."
Bubba
"Thank you," Bubba said, walking through the doorway and peering around the house. "Thank you very much."
He focused on Bill, waiting for instructions.
Sookie
Bill gave him some hushed instructions to stay outside Sookie's house before giving a little wave and saying, "I'll be on my way. It was a pleasure to meet you all." And with that, he ducked out the door and sped off into the night.
Sookie was still stuck on the King being in her kitchen. "Um. Hi."
Bubba
"Hello there, Sookie," Bubba drawled before his attention was diverted temporarily by something shiny.
Maybe there was a cat!
As Bill had mentioned, Bubba hadn't exactly come out right.
Karla
Karla looked from Sookie to this Bubba fellow and back. "...Who?" she asked with a shrug. One that hopefully got across her 'why should I be caring' confusion.
Emma
Emma just stared for a moment before breaking out into a genuine smile. "Well now, I know I feel safer knowing we've got a gentleman watching the house," she laughed, delighted. "Hello, Bubba. My name is Emma. I'm very pleased to meet you."
She was just going to howl with laughter on the inside, really, and keep the bright, sweet smile on her face.
Jono
... Jono, meanwhile, was going to point and stare. Stare and point. A little of all of the above. Until he realized that he was doing both, shoved his hands into his pockets, and looked pointedly in some other direction.
As a bit of a rock-and-roll fiend, it was pretty much all he could do to keep from bouncing on his toes.
//Good t'have the assistance,// he managed, rather than the 'Can I have your autograph,' that he was stomping down relentlessly.
Bubba
Bubba's eyebrow quirked up in a very familiar way, if you knew the work of Bubba. "Nice to meet ya'll," he said, shuffling his feet.
Karla
*Who is this guy?* Karla asked on an open broadcast thread. *And why do you all look like you've just swallowed a live fish--and it's still wiggling?*
Jono
It was very, very difficult for Jono to keep from doing a live fish impression and just flopping around with flailing gesticulations, at this point.
//Remind me,// he said, keeping his conversation blocked off from the individual with the very familiar eyebrow, //to play some of this man's music for you when we get back to Fandom. Bit of a personal hero.//
... You might not know it by looking at him now, granted. But, well. In his prime, and all.
Bobby
Yeah, Bobby was doing his own fish impression at the moment as well. Meeting Bubba wasn't quite as intimidating as meeting Thor had been, but it was still... you know... him. Meep.
Bubba
"I'll be makin' my rounds then, Miss Sookie?" Bubba drawled, making his way back towards the doorway. "Maybe find myself a snack."
He walked out the door humming "Blue Suede Shoes" in between calls of "here, kitty, kitty."
Karla
"Does anyone else find that disturbing?" Karla asked, after the door swung shut behind him. "I don't think he's looking for a pet."
Sookie
"...yeah. Ew. Elvis was just in my kitchen, though," Sookie said in an undertone. "So I'm gonna concentrate on that part."
Sookie
With Bubba settled out in the yard, and Bill...gone, Sookie was more focused than ever on the task at hand. Or at least she was trying to be. "Okay! So, we probably ought to get going. Anyone wanna change or anything? Or do y'all have like, weapons to grab? I mean, I know Sam keeps knives and stuff at the bar if we need 'em but I figure with what we all can do, we're probably all set. Don't y'all think?"
Yep. More tired babbling. Not that she would admit it.
Jono
Dear lord, she was starting to sound as though she was about ready to collapse. What little psionic resonance Jono was picking up from here rather felt the same, as well.
///Actually, luv, I am my own weapon.// As much as he hated it. //I think most of us are. That said, I don't know that we're all all set.//
Pointed look directly at Sookie, yes.
Karla
Karla glanced towards Emma, brushing her mind gently--kind of the telepathic equivalent of significant nod. "Jono's right," she said aloud. "It'll probably be best if we go in without visible weapons. No need to make the threat we represent known to anyone."
Emma
"I even promise to be so nice and sweet that people wouldn't dream of hurting me," Emma lied cheerfully. "But only if you go take a nap before meeting us for milkshakes or whatever at the diner."
Sookie
"Nap?" Sookie gave them all a wobbly stare. "I'm not tired. We're wasting time. Let's go!"
Bobby
"I don't have to be able to read minds to tell that's not the truth," Bobby said pointedly. "I think Emma's got the right idea, Sookie."
Sookie
"I'm not sleeping while you all go off and put yourselves in danger," Sookie snapped. "This is stupid. Let's go. I can nap after."
Emma
"You coming along when you're exhausted puts us in danger - no, wait, you're right, this is stupid," Emma agreed. "We're just wasting time arguing."
"Sookie?" She flicked her fingers slightly. "Sleep."
"Oh. Someone catch her. Please."
Sookie
And with that, Sookie's eyelids actually closed and she wobbled on her feet for a moment before tipping right over in a very hard, very sudden bout of unconsciousness.
Perhaps the kitchen wasn't the ideal place, but no one could deny that it'd been necessary.
Bobby
Luckily for Sookie, Bobby had pretty good reflexes, so at Emma's words he moved to do just that.
"Neat trick," he commented, eyebrow arched at Emma.
Emma
"It's what I do, darling," Emma pointed out. "Sleep is easy, and no one ever thinks I'll actually do it." Except how she clearly just did.
Bobby
"Yeah, except we all know better now," Bobby pointed out as he carried Sookie over to the couch and laid her down. "I know she wanted us to all go together," he said thoughtfully as he came back into the kitchen, "but I think it'd be better- faster- if we split up." He wasn't the tactical thinker Scott or Natasha was, but he'd picked up a few things under their leadership.
Karla
"I can't believe you guys needed to see it to believe it," Karla murmured good-naturedly. She placed a warming spell on a blanket and covered Sookie with it. "But I agree with Bobby. Bill might think we need to stick together to be safe but he doesn't know a damn thing about us."
Emma
"You should have known better to start with," she agreed with Karla, smirking at Bobby.
"And 'Beeeeeeell' doesn't realize that you can't actually split us up." She tapped the side of her head before rooting through Sookie's purse in search of her car keys. "I'm going to Fangtasia. Anyone want to come with me?"
Bobby
Bobby just rolled his eyes at the 'known better'. "I'm coming with you," he told her. "I think Karla and Jono should take the car," he added. "We won't need it."
Karla
Karla eyed Jono. "Can you drive?" she asked. "I don't know how. There aren't too many of those things in Kaeleer."
By 'not too many,' she meant 'zero.'
Jono
//I can drive,// Jono confirmed, looking... actually fairly pleased at the opportunity to do so, and not at all surprised about Emma putting Sookie to sleep. //Never done so on the American side of th'road, but I'm sure that'll be easy enough to figure out.//
It would be like a little adventure on the way to more adventure!
Karla
"Then we'll take the car," Karla agreed. "So we go, poke around in people's minds, and listen for anything useful. If either group finds something, Emma and I will let each other know. And then...what? Regroup? Follow? Attempt to take whoever it is out?"
Bobby
"Ideally, we want to face whoever it is as a group," Bobby decided. "But we can also use our own judgment- if time's a factor, we take them out alone if we have to. And speaking of time, we're wasting it. Let's go."
[preplayed with the lovely icecoldfrost, the dashing furnaceface, the charming glacial_witch, and the debonnaire longislandiceme, with bonus points to momslilassassin for a fab Bubba. NFB, NFI, OOC welcome as always.]
What a strange thing to think about.
"Welcome to my house. And to Bon Temps," she said to her...guests wasn't the right word. Her friends, anyway. She held the door open for everyone, gesturing expansively to the modestly-furnished (but extremely clean) interior. "Bedrooms and stuff are upstairs, bathroom's in the hall, um...kitchen's through there." She was going to be glossing over the kitchen, yes. She wasn't really ready to spend a lot of time in there just yet. "Bill'll be by later, he said, and then we can all go out to Merlotte's and Fangtasia to listen. Make yourselves at home. Can I get anyone anything?" Sookie's exhaustion was starting to catch up with her, maybe, but damn it, she was a good host.
Jono
//I'm fine,// Jono replied, waving a hand dismissively and glancing around. //But thanks for th'offer, luv.//
Okay, granted, he didn't want anything because he couldn't make use of anything that people tended to ask for when setting foot in someone else's home. But he kind of found himself hoping that someone else wanted a coffee, at least. They smelled good.
Bobby
"Me too," Bobby nodded. "I mean, I'm good. But thanks." And pretty much sticking as close to Sookie's side as she'd let him, for the time being.
Sookie
Yeah, don't worry about her letting him -- Sookie might have been a little wobbly on her feet, but she was sticking close to Bobby. Until she found an afghan to straighten, and a book to move slightly. This was Gran's home. She wanted to be a good hostess in it. "You sure? I could get some lemonade or coffee or make cookies or something."
Yes, Sookie. Make cookies. Right now.
"Humidity's not drowning anyone? I could turn on the AC, too. In fact, I probably should do that." And now she was just babbling.
Emma
"Sookie, breathe, or you'll pass out even with the AC on," Emma drawled, sprawling bonelessly on a chair. "You just point us where we need to go, darling, and we'll take care of things from there."
Sookie
"Okay. Okay, well, we're kinda cooling her heels right now," she admitted. "Until nightfall, anyway. So right now, you need to go...here. Or upstairs, if anyone wants to nap for a bit! My room's up there, along with Jason's. And...um, Gran's is down the hall. If we need it."
She hoped they didn't, but she was too practical not to offer the extra bed.
Karla
*Speaking of napping...* Karla sent on a Sookie-exclusive thread, *Sookie can't go much longer without sleeping without doing herself harm.*
"I'm sure we can settle ourselves well enough," Karla said. "Don't worry about us. And we can cool our heels with the best of them. So don't--" fret yourself into oblivion "--just don't worry, okay?"
Emma
<< I'll take care of it, >> Emma replied silently, still excluding Sookie. << Leave that to Auntie Emma, darlings. >>
Don't ask how, you might not like the answer.
"It's a lovely house, Sookie," she said aloud, casting her gaze about. "Why don't you tell us about the town while we wait? It could be useful, if we know a little bit about the people and the area to help us spot anything... off."
And maybe it would make Sookie sit down and stop fretting.
Sookie
"Well. We're in rural Louisiana, so...it's rural Louisiana. It's mostly blue-collar, and it's not gonna get any cooler, by the way -- sorry," she said, ticking things off on her hands and actually taking a seat, yes. "Usually people're relatively nice but tension's kinda high right now, for obvious reasons. My brother's in jail, so you're gonna hear a lot about that. Probably lots about me, too. I sort of...had a breakdown at Gran's wake, right before Jason got arrested. But we're gonna be goin' to Merlotte's which is right down the way, and that's got the local folk, and then to Fangtasia in Shreveport, which has a stupid name but the vampires are there and they might know something. Bon Temps isn't very big, so it's better to hedge our bets, I think."
Again, with the babbling, but at least this was more focused.
Karla
"Is there anyone in particular you'd like us to focus more on?" Karla asked, leaning against a wall. "I know you don't have a suspect or anything, but are there people we should definitely make sure to pry at?"
Sookie
"I don't want to rule anyone out," Sookie said carefully, "but I'm fairly sure it's a man. The women -- Gran excluded -- had been, um, recently...having sex, though it all looks consensual. But unfortunately, they also kinda got around. No boyfriends to point at."
Bill
Bill could tell there were now many more humans (they smelled odd, but they were human and not vampire or fae or were) in the house with Sookie. He knocked lightly on the door, though he had an invitation and could have walked in. Sookie had made it clear that she didn't want him intruding or sneaking up on her.
She did let him in after a moment, and it took Bill's willpower to not try and glamor her into going to take a nap. Even if it didn't work on her, and he knew it.
"This is my friend Bill, everyone," Sookie said with a little wave to him. "He's going to be helping us look. And yes, he's a vampire." Might as well get that out of the way. They weren't used to them.
"Good evening," he drawled at the...five teenagers. It was nice that Sookie had brought in reinforcements, but really. It was possible his accent was actually thicker than Sookie's, too. If that was even possible. "It's nice to meet you all."
Bobby
"Hey," Bobby said with a nod. His greeting wasn't exactly frosty, but if it felt like the room's ambient temperature abruptly dropped off by a few degrees? Yeah.
Of course, the fact that vampires might not react to cold the same way humans did didn't actually occur to him. Bobby was totally a bastion of maturity, really.
Bill
Bill might not react the same way, but he did sort of look around quizzically at the drop in temperature, since he could feel it. This was Louisiana. Any coolness was appreciated.
Anyway. He was polite, and he was interested in putting Sookie's friends at ease, as best he could. So he flashed a small smile, not yet glamoring anyone but definitely thinking he might need to. "Hello. How do you know Sookie? From school?"
Which, really, was his condescending way of pointing out that he was the only adult in the room.
Bobby
"I'm her boyfriend," Bobby said, somewhat smugly, yeah, as he stuck one hand out. If Bill took up the offered handshake, he'd probably notice that said hand definitely lacked the warmth that would radiate off the average human.
Bill
Bill had a hundred and seventy-odd years' practice at not letting his face show any emotion, which he put into practice now as he took the offered hand. Which -- yes, much colder than the average human, and that warranted a bit of an eyebrow raise. "Ah, yes, she mentioned you. She said you're...special." Verbal airquotes, almost, yes, in a delicate Southern-gentleman sort of way. "Are you here to help catch this person, or to keep Sookie calm?" He lowered his voice, and added, "After the shock she's had, I'm sure she needs as many friends as she can have."
Bobby
Likewise, Bobby didn't react to Bill's own temperature-challenged hand. "Special's a word for it, yeah," he shrugged. "And some of both."
Bill
"I'm glad she'll have someone," Bill said sincerely, "since I'm sure I'll be too focused on looking for this...person to offer much comfort."
Bobby
"Wow," Bobby drawled. "I don't think you could've made that sound skeevier if you'd tried."
Bill
"Skeevier?" Bill repeated, actually looking surprised for once. "Sookie is my friend. I didn't mean any disrespect."
Well. Not really.
Karla
Karla was trying not to be too icy since that was Bobby's schtick Bill was Sookie's friend. She was reminding herself that not all vampires were like Raven's Sebastian or the vampires on the other-Fandom. She gave Bill a small nod and a tight-lipped smile. "Bill. Sookie has mentioned you. Your friendship has been appreciated."
Bill
He gave the unfamiliar young lady a cordial smile, trying to set her at ease. "It's given freely," he assured her. "And you know Sookie from school, is that right?"
Karla
"Yes," Karla said, eyebrow arching. "Which, of course, means that we're young and innocent and new to the ways of the world. I'm here for hand-holding, shoulder-crying, and floor scrubbing. Emma's on laundry and kind words of support duty. The boyos alternate between strong masculine presence and yardwork."
Bill
Bill leaned against the wall, considering his response carefully, and then added, "Does Sookie really have that much laundry to do, what with her clothes at school? You-all could probably consolidate your efforts into something more productive."
That was his version of a joke, really.
Karla
"I suppose Emma can go from laundry to baking, but only if you say it's all right," Karla snarked. "Wee little children like us need guidance from someone so much older and wiser. Like yourself. Right? That is what you're thinking, isn't it?"
Karla wasn't impressed. And had no problems letting Bill know it.
Bill
"I am a hundred and fifty years older than you," Bill replied, eyeing her. "I don't mind inferring that I might have a little more wisdom on some subjects than you, ma'am. But just a few."
Karla
Karla snorted. Infant. "And in those one hundred and fifty years, surely you must have discovered that there is more out there than just what you know and have seen. So I'll grant you your century and a half of experience. But kindly don't treat us like children."
She gave him a cheerful smile. "Kiss kiss."
Bill
"You are all human -- mostly," he noted. "You smell different, so I believe that there is something special about you. But you are all teenagers, and smaller and weaker than what is out there, as best I can tell. I won't be responsible for your injuries."
Karla
"And when it comes to vampires, you're our expert," Karla said. "You know about your kind better than any of us. But you don't know a thing about mine."
Not that Karla had any plans to enlighten him, either. But as Sookie's friend and ally, he deserved that much of a warning.
Emma
Emma's eyes flickered over him dispassionately. "What do we need him for, again?" she asked the air, bored. Not hostile, but clearly not impressed. "Besides the obvious ability to loom broodingly."
What? It didn't take a telepath to know he was not impressed with Sookie's choice in back-up, and this was about as friendly as Emma got with strangers.
Bill
Bill actually quirked his lips in a smile at that. "I can get you into the vampire bar. And I'm also stronger and faster than all of you. If there's a killer out there, you'll need bodyguards. I have another coming, and he should be arriving shortly. I wouldn't dream of sending three young ladies out to bars right now with only two teenage boys as protection."
Condescend, Bill. Condescend.
Emma
"Maybe we're here to protect the boys," Emma replied pertly. "I'm a very resourceful person, and I have it on good authority that I can be quite terrifying."
Bill
"You seem like it," Bill said after a moment's pause. He was almost definitely serious, too.
Emma
Emma simply smiled at him angelically. "Oh darling," she promised. "You have no idea."
"Now, if you're to be our resident 'expert,'" and you could practically see the same verbal air quotes he'd used on Bobby, "Why don't you give me something interesting to work with? I can't make magic from nothing."
Bill
"Sookie mentioned you don't have vampires in your world, correct?" he asked. "We move fast, and light. You cannot see us or hear us coming. We have fangs, we're stronger than you, and we can use mind tricks to force you to see things or do things you wouldn't normally." He raised an eyebrow at her. "And the victims were all intimately familiar with our kind, so that's why we're going to Fangtasia. You will want to be very, very careful while there."
Emma
"My world, no, we do not," Emma agreed. "But I've had experience with a few different varieties in the last year or so, and survived to tell the tale."
"Besides, careful never got anyone anywhere. What's life without a little risk?"
Not that Emma was going to tell him she was immune to most sorts of mind control; Sookie had said no letting vampires know about her telepathy, and as far as Emma was concerned, that meant all vampires.
Bill
"Life with a little too much risk is death," Bill said ominously, cocking a brow at her. "Be careful."
Jono
Jono wasn't really big on conversation with people he'd only just met. Particularly not the sorts who stood there and loomed all... vampirically. Or whatever it was. And so he was going to just cross his arms and raise an eyebrow at the man, for now.
//Charmed, I'm sure. Yer here to help then, are yer?//
Bill
Bill sort of looked around, and then back at Jono, mildly confused. "That's the idea," he agreed. "Considering I'd certainly feel guilty about Sookie or her friends getting killed, I thought I'd lend my services."
Jono
And that earned an upward twitch of Jono's eyebrow. Just slightly.
//You figure we're easy to kill, then?//
Behave, Jono.
Bill
"I'm learning you all believe otherwise," Bill said dryly. "But I do figure you don't necessarily understand what might be out there."
Jono
//Well, then, by all means, mate. Educate us.// Jonothon's other eyebrow moved upward to match the first. //What might be out there?//
Bill
"Vampires. And by the way y'all smell, they'll be interested in you," Bill noted.
Jono
Okay, Jono was well aware that he had a special odour all his own, but the others...?
//They smell out of the ordinary?//
He, personally, didn't seem too concerned. He smelled like burning.
Bill
"The two girls smell like Sookie does, a little," Bill noted. "The other boy doesn't, but is still different. You're all human but there's something different."
How creepy. Stop talking about how people smell, Bill.
Jono
//All th'better for dealin' with anybody who might decide we smell like dinner, trust me.//
There was a weird note of confidence in that statement. Or, rather, it seemed weird to Jono, who wasn't used to having much in the way of confidence at all. But then, it wasn't confidence in himself, necessarily. It was confidence in the team.
He trusted them. That was what it was.
//So, instead of tellin' us how unsuited we are for dealing with this, perhaps you could do us all a favour, Sookie especially, and tell us what it is we need to do in order to be certain we get out of this with th'least trouble possible, mate.//
Bill
"Stick together," Bill said in a clipped voice, crossing his arms. "Don't play heroes. Keep an eye on the girls -- and I'm not saying that to be sexist, I'm saying that because the victims have all been female. Do not ever assume you're alone. Vampires are silent, we move amazingly fast, and you will not see us coming. Do not let your guard down for a second."
Jono
Jono resisted the urge to point out that telling this particular group not to play heroes was something like telling dogs not to bark. It could theoretically be done, but it wasn't extremely likely.
//Considering th'circumstances, I don't think you'll have to worry too much about our guard bein' let down.// He stuffed his hands into his pockets and shook his head. //We might not have that speed on our side, but I'm willing to wager that we've got a few tricks of our own that'll serve us well, should push come to shove. That said, I'm hoping to avoid much in th'way of violent conflict, where it can be avoided.//
Karla
Karla stepped up behind Sookie, going to lay a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "Stop me if you've heard this one, but how you doing?"
Sookie
Sookie didn't quite jump at the contact, but only because she realized it was Karla pretty quickly. "...I'm okay," she lied, fairly unconvincingly. "I mean. Okay as I can be."
There. That was better.
Karla
Karla gave her a wan smile. "I know about how well that goes." She moved towards the stove, cocking a questioning eyebrow at Sookie. She didn't want to start tea without Sookie's permission, but with Bill wandering around, she didn't want to use Craft to make it, either.
"The hardest part is trying to find some new routine" she murmured. "Something that feels normal and right that doesn't rub against the jagged edges of your grief."
Sookie
Sookie gave her a little nod, keeping to the counter and sort of eyeing the spot by the refrigerator. "I found her in here," she said quietly, glancing at Karla. "I don't really know what I'm going to do without her. She left me this house."
Karla
Karla began setting the tea things to right. "I'm glad you still have your home," she said softly. "It connects you to her still. A kind of painful and raw connection right now, but it's still a connection."
She glanced down to the tea cup in her hand. "I envy you that."
Sookie
She reached out to touch Karla's arm, offering a little bit of comfort. "It's something, yeah. Jason was really mad she left it to me and not him. But Jason's just generally really mad at me right now, though. Blames me for this."
Karla
"We can thump him, if you like. Once all this is over," Karla said, smiling down at the hand on her arm. "Just a little bit. Jump start his brain and all. My uncle says that all males need a swift kick in the rear sometimes to keep them thinking straight."
Her smile faded. "My other uncle," she specified.
...Which brought up a whole new and nasty thought. "Did your uncl--did that male try to attend the funeral?" Karla asked, timidly.
Sookie
Sookie's mouth set in a little line. "Yes. Jason invited him. After everything he's done, he invited him. Perfect way to cap off the day."
Karla
"..."
Karla didn't really know how to respond to that. Saying that Jason didn't believe Sookie wasn't an explanation--it was a tragedy. "Did he try to come near you?" she asked. "Speak to you? Touch you?"
Sookie
"He offered his condolences. I was the one who told him to leave," she said quietly, just a little proud of that. "He's just in Shreveport. It's a wonder he hasn't tried to come by sooner -- Gran was his sister."
Karla
Karla was proud of Sookie for that, too. "She might have been his sister by blood, but if he really wanted to be considered family, he never would have done that to you. Or your Gran's daughter, either. You did the right thing."
She turned back to the water on the stove as it began whistling. "Jason can have a relationship with his uncle if he chooses, but he can't force you to have one. And may the Darkness show him what this Bartlett is truly like before he has a daughter of his own."
Bill
Sookie blanched -- she had never actually considered that issue. But before he could actually reply, Bill popped up at her side.
That never got less startling.
"Excuse me, ladies. Sookie, I need to go," he said urgently but still keeping his face calm. "I've been summoned to New Orleans. But your other guardian has arrived."
Sookie took a moment to process this, infinitely irritated at Bill for having to take off now, but she plastered on a patient smile.
"Fine. Where is he?"
Bill sought everyone's attention, and said, "Now, the other vampire I have brought to help guard Sookie's house from intruders is going to have a face that should be very familiar to you. Please don't use his name. Call him Bubba. He gets upset otherwise. He was turned at the very end of his life, when there were many drugs in his system. But the coroner was a fan, and saw a spark, but -- he's a little...slow. Please, just call him Bubba."
He gave Sookie a nod, and she sighed and wandered over to the door to let him in, since she had to invite him. "Come in, Bubba," she yelled as she opened the door. "...oh."
Bubba
"Thank you," Bubba said, walking through the doorway and peering around the house. "Thank you very much."
He focused on Bill, waiting for instructions.
Sookie
Bill gave him some hushed instructions to stay outside Sookie's house before giving a little wave and saying, "I'll be on my way. It was a pleasure to meet you all." And with that, he ducked out the door and sped off into the night.
Sookie was still stuck on the King being in her kitchen. "Um. Hi."
Bubba
"Hello there, Sookie," Bubba drawled before his attention was diverted temporarily by something shiny.
Maybe there was a cat!
As Bill had mentioned, Bubba hadn't exactly come out right.
Karla
Karla looked from Sookie to this Bubba fellow and back. "...Who?" she asked with a shrug. One that hopefully got across her 'why should I be caring' confusion.
Emma
Emma just stared for a moment before breaking out into a genuine smile. "Well now, I know I feel safer knowing we've got a gentleman watching the house," she laughed, delighted. "Hello, Bubba. My name is Emma. I'm very pleased to meet you."
She was just going to howl with laughter on the inside, really, and keep the bright, sweet smile on her face.
Jono
... Jono, meanwhile, was going to point and stare. Stare and point. A little of all of the above. Until he realized that he was doing both, shoved his hands into his pockets, and looked pointedly in some other direction.
As a bit of a rock-and-roll fiend, it was pretty much all he could do to keep from bouncing on his toes.
//Good t'have the assistance,// he managed, rather than the 'Can I have your autograph,' that he was stomping down relentlessly.
Bubba
Bubba's eyebrow quirked up in a very familiar way, if you knew the work of Bubba. "Nice to meet ya'll," he said, shuffling his feet.
Karla
*Who is this guy?* Karla asked on an open broadcast thread. *And why do you all look like you've just swallowed a live fish--and it's still wiggling?*
Jono
It was very, very difficult for Jono to keep from doing a live fish impression and just flopping around with flailing gesticulations, at this point.
//Remind me,// he said, keeping his conversation blocked off from the individual with the very familiar eyebrow, //to play some of this man's music for you when we get back to Fandom. Bit of a personal hero.//
... You might not know it by looking at him now, granted. But, well. In his prime, and all.
Bobby
Yeah, Bobby was doing his own fish impression at the moment as well. Meeting Bubba wasn't quite as intimidating as meeting Thor had been, but it was still... you know... him. Meep.
Bubba
"I'll be makin' my rounds then, Miss Sookie?" Bubba drawled, making his way back towards the doorway. "Maybe find myself a snack."
He walked out the door humming "Blue Suede Shoes" in between calls of "here, kitty, kitty."
Karla
"Does anyone else find that disturbing?" Karla asked, after the door swung shut behind him. "I don't think he's looking for a pet."
Sookie
"...yeah. Ew. Elvis was just in my kitchen, though," Sookie said in an undertone. "So I'm gonna concentrate on that part."
Sookie
With Bubba settled out in the yard, and Bill...gone, Sookie was more focused than ever on the task at hand. Or at least she was trying to be. "Okay! So, we probably ought to get going. Anyone wanna change or anything? Or do y'all have like, weapons to grab? I mean, I know Sam keeps knives and stuff at the bar if we need 'em but I figure with what we all can do, we're probably all set. Don't y'all think?"
Yep. More tired babbling. Not that she would admit it.
Jono
Dear lord, she was starting to sound as though she was about ready to collapse. What little psionic resonance Jono was picking up from here rather felt the same, as well.
///Actually, luv, I am my own weapon.// As much as he hated it. //I think most of us are. That said, I don't know that we're all all set.//
Pointed look directly at Sookie, yes.
Karla
Karla glanced towards Emma, brushing her mind gently--kind of the telepathic equivalent of significant nod. "Jono's right," she said aloud. "It'll probably be best if we go in without visible weapons. No need to make the threat we represent known to anyone."
Emma
"I even promise to be so nice and sweet that people wouldn't dream of hurting me," Emma lied cheerfully. "But only if you go take a nap before meeting us for milkshakes or whatever at the diner."
Sookie
"Nap?" Sookie gave them all a wobbly stare. "I'm not tired. We're wasting time. Let's go!"
Bobby
"I don't have to be able to read minds to tell that's not the truth," Bobby said pointedly. "I think Emma's got the right idea, Sookie."
Sookie
"I'm not sleeping while you all go off and put yourselves in danger," Sookie snapped. "This is stupid. Let's go. I can nap after."
Emma
"You coming along when you're exhausted puts us in danger - no, wait, you're right, this is stupid," Emma agreed. "We're just wasting time arguing."
"Sookie?" She flicked her fingers slightly. "Sleep."
"Oh. Someone catch her. Please."
Sookie
And with that, Sookie's eyelids actually closed and she wobbled on her feet for a moment before tipping right over in a very hard, very sudden bout of unconsciousness.
Perhaps the kitchen wasn't the ideal place, but no one could deny that it'd been necessary.
Bobby
Luckily for Sookie, Bobby had pretty good reflexes, so at Emma's words he moved to do just that.
"Neat trick," he commented, eyebrow arched at Emma.
Emma
"It's what I do, darling," Emma pointed out. "Sleep is easy, and no one ever thinks I'll actually do it." Except how she clearly just did.
Bobby
"Yeah, except we all know better now," Bobby pointed out as he carried Sookie over to the couch and laid her down. "I know she wanted us to all go together," he said thoughtfully as he came back into the kitchen, "but I think it'd be better- faster- if we split up." He wasn't the tactical thinker Scott or Natasha was, but he'd picked up a few things under their leadership.
Karla
"I can't believe you guys needed to see it to believe it," Karla murmured good-naturedly. She placed a warming spell on a blanket and covered Sookie with it. "But I agree with Bobby. Bill might think we need to stick together to be safe but he doesn't know a damn thing about us."
Emma
"You should have known better to start with," she agreed with Karla, smirking at Bobby.
"And 'Beeeeeeell' doesn't realize that you can't actually split us up." She tapped the side of her head before rooting through Sookie's purse in search of her car keys. "I'm going to Fangtasia. Anyone want to come with me?"
Bobby
Bobby just rolled his eyes at the 'known better'. "I'm coming with you," he told her. "I think Karla and Jono should take the car," he added. "We won't need it."
Karla
Karla eyed Jono. "Can you drive?" she asked. "I don't know how. There aren't too many of those things in Kaeleer."
By 'not too many,' she meant 'zero.'
Jono
//I can drive,// Jono confirmed, looking... actually fairly pleased at the opportunity to do so, and not at all surprised about Emma putting Sookie to sleep. //Never done so on the American side of th'road, but I'm sure that'll be easy enough to figure out.//
It would be like a little adventure on the way to more adventure!
Karla
"Then we'll take the car," Karla agreed. "So we go, poke around in people's minds, and listen for anything useful. If either group finds something, Emma and I will let each other know. And then...what? Regroup? Follow? Attempt to take whoever it is out?"
Bobby
"Ideally, we want to face whoever it is as a group," Bobby decided. "But we can also use our own judgment- if time's a factor, we take them out alone if we have to. And speaking of time, we're wasting it. Let's go."
[preplayed with the lovely icecoldfrost, the dashing furnaceface, the charming glacial_witch, and the debonnaire longislandiceme, with bonus points to momslilassassin for a fab Bubba. NFB, NFI, OOC welcome as always.]