[OPEN] I've been losing sleep for days;

[vampdetective]

Who: Angel, Lily Evans, Mirror!Emma Swan, Mirror!Jo Harvelle & you!
Where: Throughout the mansion and grounds.
When: The evening of 9/16 onward.
Rating: R, for reasons.
Summary: Catch-all log for now until the end of the event! Any planned threads are more than welcome to take place here, as well as any surprise threads!
The Story:
[ ANGEL ► REAL ]

[His movements are limited until nightfall, but that doesn't stop Angel from dedicating himself to solving the riddle the Duchess has posed to the mansion at large. He's written and rewritten every last word of it, rearranging it and breaking it to bits as he makes his way through the mansion, carefully examining his surroundings as he goes to see if anything, anything, matches up with the cryptic madness that seems to be Wonderland's sense of humor. All told, he was a good detective-- but riddles, he was beginning to think, were not his strong suit.

When night falls, he branches out, having already gone through every floor of the mansion firsthand over the past two days, though entering any rooms that belonged to any residents was barred, meaning there was a great deal he couldn't search on his own -- but it seemed unlikely that the Vorpal Sword would be stashed beneath anyone's bathroom sink. It's full dark when he ventures outside, intending to wind his way through the gardens and head out towards the checkerboard hills and the woods in his search.

Periodically, he can be found in the kitchen, feeding -- or more specifically, drinking blood from an oversized coffee cup with a picture of what might be a lobster on it.]

[ LILY ► REAL ]

[Lily, too, has been dedicated to the search. She's been carrying the blue ribbon and note she found in the hedge maze with her since the day before. Most other problems might inspire her to sequester herself in the library until she finds something useful, but riddles are more practical in a way -- there's no book that can solve them for you, and despite having only been in Wonderland for a handful of months, she thinks she has a firm enough grasp on the geography and the inner workings of the mansion to have a decent shot at helping to solve this thing.

A part of her hopes that it's simply a matter of sifting the evidence until things fall into place, but somehow, she doesn't think that's likely.

She can be found at various points throughout the mansion and grounds, and for the next few days will be seen carrying a notebook at all times as well as her wand, taking notes wherever she goes. Though she seems mostly innocuous and unassuming as people pass her by during their travels, there are times when she won't be scribbling furiously -- anyone who visits the attic is likely to find her spending the better part of an afternoon liberally using charms to levitate and rummage through the various things collected there, and she'll also visit the dining hall on several occasions, where she'll eat with her notes spread out in front of her as she looks them over.]

[ EMMA ► MIRROR ]

[Alright. So the Mirrors are here on a mission, told not to come back until they have the sword in hand. Really, Emma doesn't have much of a problem following orders, assuming they're in her best interest. Loyalty to the Queen of Hearts isn't an option, but there are certain tasks she's more likely to apply herself to -- and any that directly impact her odds of survival are right at the top of the list.

She knows how important the sword is. She has every intention of doing whatever it takes to get to the bottom of this and do as the Queen has commanded, and yet--

Coming over to the Real side is so rare, it feels like a wasted opportunity, not to do a little investigating. It's been ages since her last visit, but her Real's room is exactly where she remembers it being, and she leaves the door open behind her when she enters, slowly and thoroughly going through the real Emma's belongings once she's there.

Any Reals who come into contact with her in the mansion or on the grounds would do well to guard their valuables. She has no trouble taking what's not rightfully hers. She looks noticeably different from the real Emma, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses that set her apart from the real deal, but there's one tiny detail that those who know Emma well might notice: her Mirror is wearing a swan pendant (or is it a keychain?) on a chain around her neck, something the real Emma has been missing for nearly a year.]

[ JO ► MIRROR ]

[Jo's Mirror is far less curious than Emma's, and far less likely to investigate things that aren't directly related to the task at hand. A part of her can't help but think that she's been forced back to the Real side as punishment for her affiliation with her Sam; things have changed since his open display of defiance on the Mirrors' own network, and while she supports him without question, defying the Queen when given a direct order such as this one is not an option. She's sure that if she were to disobey, the Queen would have no trouble making things worse for them -- and Sam has already lost his closet privileges. She's not certain she wants to risk finding out what he loses next, or if she herself will be stripped of her rights along with him as punishment for 'misplaced' loyalty.

She may be a demon, but she's not stupid. She knows better than to risk putting herself at a greater disadvantage, at least for now.

Unlike her previous visits to the Real side, she'll be making an effort to pass as the real Jo for as long as she's able, seeking out people she knows to be friendly with her doppelganger and making her best attempts to lure them into aiding her with her search for the sword.]

[OOC: Threads not limited to the above scenarios! If you'd like to do something that takes place in another part of the mansion or later on during the course of the event, let me know and we can absolutely work something out. Just trying to keep it all in once place! Mirror!Emma's responses will be coming from larcenously, Mirror!Jo's will be coming from stayedhome.]

Comments

[lightgunhustler]

No, he didn't.

[She's not going to give him the name of who did; there's no way she's painting a target on Charlie like that, but she's pissed and it shows. Her shoulders relax slightly, and there's enough of a shift in her posture that it should be relatively clear that she didn't come here expressly with the intent to attack-- most of the measures she'd taken were preventative, although if he was telling the truth, they were next to useless.

Really, she's not sure why she's there. He hasn't hurt anyone that she knows of, and while knowing what he is would have been enough to have her reaching for her machete a couple of years back, Wonderland has forced her to gain some perspective--

And yet she still feels so inexplicably outraged.]

Like hell I was letting you anywhere near me again without making a few things perfectly clear.

[She's prepared to defend herself and anyone else, if it comes down to it.]

When was I going to find out? [Not that they had anything even resembling a history together, but he'd been so damn direct and made it obvious that he wanted to spend more time with her -- something she'd thought might have been what she needed, getting to know someone who didn't just feel sorry for her, until she found out what he was.] When you tried to eat me? Don't even pretend -- I know you've got a history.

[Charlie had confirmed that much.]

[honesta]

[ She could be protecting Dean, but it's not like Elijah feels compelled to go seek revenge on the man. He's not a primary target at this point. He's a nuisance, but he has no real power in this place. He has crude weapons and dull comments, but that's about all Dean Winchester has going for him. He's actually found rocks to be more stimulating than that man. Even if Jo did tell him who was responsible there would be no desire to "repay" them for letting the secret slip. He wasn't exactly trying to hide it from her, but he was trying to feel out when the appropriate time to tell her would be. Unfortunately now was not that time.

Elijah's head tilts because the fact that she has openly admitted that she wouldn't mind him being near her again is very interesting. She seems upset, but he's not sure which thing has her more angry. The fact that he didn't tell her immediately or the fact that he was a vampire. Strange indeed.

Allowing her entry into his quarters while she was so hostile could be a recipe for disaster, but it could also give them a chance to talk in a more civil fashion. Plus he doesn't really relish the idea of airing his dirty laundry in the hallway. Elijah doesn't respond to her questions. He just opens his door further and turns to go back to the chair he was seated in earlier. She can come in or she can yell at him from the hallway. ]

I've got a very long history. Over a thousand years worth. There was a time when I probably wouldn't have hesitated to eat you, but those days have been long gone for quite some time. I only feed from blood bags. I'm a monster in every sense of the word, but there's no need for me to take innocent life. That brings me no satisfaction.

[ It brought Klaus a lot, but Elijah killed only when his safety or his family's safety were in jeopardy. ]

As for you knowing I would have told you in my own time. I don't exactly feel the need to broadcast it to the world if I can help it.

[lightgunhustler]

[She stares, for a moment, unable to process the silent invitation.

He wants to come in? Into his room. His territory, where she's at an even more distinct disadvantage than she already is simply by being human. He doesn't seem fussed by the fact that she's hesitant, returning to his chair like she'd just come over for coffee, but her jaw is set and her mouth is pressed into a thin, hard line, knuckles white as she tightly clutches the hilt of her knife.

Going in is a bad idea, but shouting in the hallway isn't much better.

She settles for something between the two, inching her way inside but pressing her back to the wall beside the door. While she closes the door partway, she subtly wedges her foot between the door and its frame, keeping it from catching or, hopefully, making it take just a moment or two longer for him should he decide to jump up and try to lock her in. Being in here at all is stupid, but if he's playing civil, she'll meet him halfway.

Well, part of the way. 1/4 of the way.]

Maybe you didn't feel the need to broadcast it, but--

[All those offers, the way he was so intently seeking ways to spend more time with her despite having just met-- she'd thought it was awfully direct, though in a different way than what she was used to, and that had struck her as strange, albeit not especially dangerous.

Now it seemed like the perfect setup for a slow burn to something more, and that she didn't trust.]

Whatever. I don't know what you want with me, but I'm not alone. There are others like me, and you may not be the only vampire around, but others had to work to prove that they weren't dangerous. Anyone can say it.

[honesta]

[ It's not exactly like Elijah has declared his love publicly or anything like that. He's nowhere near that stage. All he's done is inquire that perhaps they spend more time together. Elijah has never really seen much harm in spending time in the company of someone you can actually tolerate. He had been direct about his intentions to spend time with her, but he just assumed that most men operated the same way. Directness has always done him more good than bad. He can see how it might be construed as strange though to someone who isn't quite used to things going like that.

Perhaps his intentions appear nefarious from afar, but he really has never harbored any malicious intent towards her. Trying to start trouble in this place never appealed to him. If Niklaus were to arrive then he would waste no time stirring the pot. That was just the kind of person he was. This place is more of Elijah's second chance at having his own life and his own happiness. So much of his own happiness has been centered around getting his siblings back and being a family with them again. Never focusing on himself. ]

I'm well aware of that fact, Joanna. I met Dean on my first night here. He insisted we have a physical altercation. I think I proved that I mean you no harm by not harming him when he intentionally stabbed me. [ He's just saying. ] But if you require further proof then I'll provide that as well. I've been here for a few weeks now and it's not like bodies have been popping up drained have they? I consider that to be proof as well.

[ Hunters aren't exactly a group that Elijah finds himself at ease around, but he's starting to understand that term isn't that specific like back home. They're different. Just like Angel is a different sort of vampire than himself or any of the other vampires from back home. ]

Are you more angry that I didn't tell you or are you angry because you still want to spend time with me?

[lightgunhustler]

[It's a very pointed question, and one well worth asking, though she's not entirely sure she has the answer to it. She almost flinches when he asks, as if the words themselves had hit her square in the chest.

No, she wasn't angry that he didn't tell her, she was angry on principle. He hadn't been obligated to tell her anything, it wasn't the kind of thing that came up naturally in conversation--

It's the fact that he is what he is and she'd thought, just for an evening, that he had been nice to talk to. That maybe a friend who hadn't witnessed the last seven months of her existence in Wonderland might have done her some good, given her some perspective. He'd been polite, decent, and unlike most of the people her walk of life lead her to.

Finding out he's something she's supposed to hate just feels like another in a long, long series of low blows.]

I'm angry because monsters aren't supposed to be people, too.

[Because that makes things complicated. The way she says it isn't as closed-minded as it might have been -- there's conflict there. It's something she's thought of before, probably on more than one occasion, and had trouble coming to terms with.

Liking someone with a reputation like his, even a little bit, broke every rule in the hunter handbook.]

The minute you start to think that things are okay and maybe you can trust them a little, that's when you get yourself taken out.

[Except it's not just monsters who do that, who kick your feet out from under you when you least expect it. It's humans, too. Sometimes it's the people closest to you. She knows that-- but it's easier to project on a convenient target. On something she's been told all her life is unquestionably bad, even if the last year and a half here have taught her otherwise.]

People are bad enough. Add claws and fangs and it's just a matter of time before they rip you to shreds.

[Literally. Figuratively. It doesn't matter.]

[honesta]

[ Monsters aren't supposed to be people, too.

Those are very sharp words. Sharper than he realizes at first. He's seen people be monsters. People can often be the worst monsters there are. They're reckless and often at times they don't care who gets caught in their crossfire. But his family is the same. They often have causalities and they hardly bat an eye at them. Elijah will slaughter people if they put his family in any sort of danger. He hates Klaus and he's wary of his mother, but he would kill to protect them.

At the same time it means she thinks of Elijah as a person. She sees the man he once was before his mother did this to them. She sees the man who teased his little brother and who protected his younger sister. She sees the man who would have followed Tatia to the ends of the Earth. She can see past the monster. ]

You're right. But you have to remember that human beings exploit that very same blindspot, Joanna. They can wait until you grow comfortable with them before they tear it all down. I know I'm a monster, but you must understand you're surrounded by monsters on a daily basis whether you choose to realize it or not.

[ She's right in a lot of ways. Everyone can get hurt if they have enough time. ]

[lightgunhustler]

I know they can. Better than most people, probably.

[She'd trusted Tom more than anyone, completely and without question, and yet he'd done more damage to her and the people around them than most monsters she'd seen in her young life. No monster had ever caused her as much pain as he had, and even then, it wasn't his fault. He hadn't been malicious, but he'd still been-- he'd still done things, when otherwise he was as normal and unassuming as they came. Seemingly harmless and she'd still been an idiot to trust him.

It didn't make the case for trusting a vampire to be decent any more compelling.]

You don't have to talk down to me. I know.

[Monsters everywhere, real ones as well as those in sheep's clothing.]

So you can see why I'm not so hot on the idea of getting friendly with the literal kind. My hands are full enough already. Easier not to trust anyone, let alone Dracula.

[honesta]

My apologies, Joanna. I didn't mean to sound like I was talking down to you.

[ He never wants her to think he's talking down to her. Things are complicated messy, but he never wants her to think he's trying to act superior to her. He really only reserves that tone for Niklaus when he's behaving poorly. He believes Joanna to be a very smart woman. She's possibly been through things that not even Elijah knows about. Though a thousand years on this Earth has left him with quite a bit of knowledge on even the most obscure things.

Elijah doesn't move towards her though. He wants to touch her hand and tell her it was never his intention to respond that way, but he knows it'd just make it worse. She'd just get skittish if he suddenly came that close to her. Especially because she's still hugging the doorway like he's got limited control over his blood cravings. ]

I'm not Dracula. [ He responds simply. ] Joanna, eventually you'll have to trust someone. You can't drift through life avoiding getting close because you're afraid of others hurting you again.

[ Everything she's saying sounds as if she's speaking from experience. Someone has torn her to pieces and left her to fit herself back together. ]

[lightgunhustler]

You bet I can.

[She feels another surge of anger well up inside of her chest, and it's enough to make her take one, two steps forward, propelling herself out of the doorway without realizing. Emotion has a hold of her, its claws dug in deep as it makes her chest grow tight. She didn't need a lecture about trust. She'd trusted a lot of people in her young life -- too many. Too many, and so often the wrong ones, though she never learned how wrong they were until it was too late.

She was done. She'd worked her ass off to be what she thought was hunting material, but it wasn't the physical or combative aspect of it that made her mother say she couldn't do the job. It was the fact that she had always been a girl who whose tough act didn't run all that deep, who wore her heart on her sleeve and got burned easily because despite how much had been taken from her in her life, she always had more to give. Because she connected with the people they worked so hard to save, because every loss cut her deep. Because she cared too much about everything.

After awhile, that had a tendency to wreck you.]

I've put my trust in more people than I can possibly count in the past, and nine times out of ten, it's backfired on me. [She grits her teeth; this isn't just about monsters now, though that had been a part of it -- it's about people in general.] Either people are all wrong and out to screw you from the start, or something changes, but at the end of the day it's the same and you're always worse off for it. Always. Even the ones you think you can count on the most, they're never who you want to believe they are. The ones who do come through--

[She cuts herself off, swallowing something back. Dean had come through. It had taken him awhile, and they didn't always get along, but when it mattered, he came through, that was something they did for each other without ever acknowledging it.]

It doesn't matter. What you are counts against you, and I won't pretend it doesn't, but even if you were human-- [She shakes her head.] The only person I can trust is myself. The time I have in this place is all I have left. I'm not throwing it away by making the same mistakes I made before I got myself killed.

[honesta]

[ Niklaus' entire existence centered around his fear of being left by his siblings. It manifested in unhealthy ways. Like daggering them when they displeased him. He was scared of being hurt by them. Terrified of them just giving up despite them constantly being there for him. Elijah stood faithfully by his side for centuries before he could no longer take his behavior. Jo can't continue down this path. He knows how self destructive and bad it can be for you in the long run. She doesn't need that. ]

Joanna, my brother was hurt quite badly as a boy by someone he loved. This made him extremely paranoid that one day he'd lose his family. He treated us terribly because of this fear and it was his downfall in many ways. It's what drove a wedge between us. He dug his own grave. Don't let this be you. Don't let your fear of being hurt first destroy all your future attempts at relationships and friendships. It would truly be a tragedy and trust me when I say I understand your pain. Many years ago I fell in love with a woman who I only ever wanted to make happy. My brother spread blasphemy throughout the French Quarter regarding witches and she paid with her life. Some people may fail you, but then you have those who can change your life for the better.

[ She's a very intelligent woman. She doesn't have to keep pushing people away or holding them at arms length out of fear. Pain will always heal. It will always lessen if you give it time. He wanted nothing more than to kill Niklaus after he found Celeste in that tub. It wouldn't have helped the situation. Niklaus wouldn't have learned anything. He thought he could make him care, but he was wrong.

Elijah's face falls when she tells him she's dead. He stands up from his chair, but he doesn't go to her. She won't accept his sympathy or anything resembling caring. She's far too strong willed and against his kind to accept any of it. He stays on his feet though staring at her. ]

If the time you have left here is all you have then wouldn't it be foolish to spend it not trusting anyone? I understand you don't want to endure anymore pain, but what about happiness and love? You'll be missing out on those as well.

[lightgunhustler]

[The story is enough to make her resolve weaken just a tiny bit, enough to trouble her and cause some of the wind to be taken out of her sails. Tragedy touched almost everyone at one time or another, though there was no denying that some people had it harder than others. She's not sure how to respond to it or if she even should; a part of her wants to break down and just vent about everything that happened with Tom, everything that drove her to her breaking point because she hadn't felt she'd been able to talk about it freely with anyone. He'd hurt too many people for her to expect sympathy, though some friends still offered it.

But she won't air those thoughts now. She's already let too much slip by getting angry and losing control of her filter, and as much as she had been looking forward to maybe finding a new friend in him, Elijah is still a stranger. Fangs or no fangs, that was enough to make her want to back away.]

I did trust someone here for awhile.

[She'll scale the story back, but that much is worth saying.]

Didn't quite go the way I'd expected. Ask anyone around here about Tom Hanniger and things will be incredibly clear. So no offense, I appreciate the thought and all and I'm sure you're really hoping I can take something away from your life lesson here-- I'm sorry your brother ruined things for you, and I'm sure some part of you is still a decent guy, but I'm fine the way I am. I don't need any more friends who turn out to be enemies in disguise.

[honesta]

[ The silence that follows is heavy, but Elijah finds it almost reassuring. It meant that Joanna was truly listening to the words Elijah was telling her. She was taking them in and absorbing them. She wasn't just yelling at him in anger again. When she speaks again he looks up after finding himself studying the ground for a moment. He's still holding out hope that perhaps she truly heard Elijah's words. He wanted her to find a little bit of clarity, but it seemed she was doomed to circle back to the same conclusion. ]

And you believe me to be an enemy in disguise.

[ Elijah holds her gaze for a moment. Just trying to catch a glimpse of the woman from the ballroom who seemed to have even the slightest bit of hope that she could enjoy herself with a perfect. He was no longer that perfect stranger though. Elijah was an enemy in her eyes. ]

I think it's time you went on about your day now, Joanna.

[lightgunhustler]

[She'd heard him, alright, but the thing is? Hearing someone isn't enough to make them change your mind, especially not when you've made it up so completely in the name of self-defense. Sometime down the line she might look back and see that they both have a point, but for now, she's stubborn-- stubborn and closed off, the way only someone who has been deeply wounded and betrayed can possibly be.]

Not just you.

[It's not personal or singular. Anyone could be-- but that's not the point. She presses her lips together, her anger slowly subsiding.]

Yeah. I think I'd better.

[She almost apologizes, but it catches in her throat and she feels another surge of heat; who is he to tell her how she should or shouldn't feel? He doesn't know her. He doesn't know anything about her. She exhales, and considers saying goodbye-- but instead just turns her back and leaves, leaving the door ajar behind her.]