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unfinishedlibrary2026-02-07 12:20 pm
libraryassistants) wrote in unfinishedlibrary2026-02-07 12:20 pm
Entry tags:
do you bare your fangs at us, sir? MOONLIT RIVALS LOG 2, SCENE 2
Who: Readers and Actors
What: The werewolves who are not sneaking into the party cause a bit of mischief... and did anybody actually agree to keep the peace tonight?
When: The night of the ball itself. [ooc timeline: Feb 6th - 19th]
Where: The city of Montica.
Content warnings: Please include any warnings in headers.
Waxing Gibbous Moon
The streets have emptied, particularly in the vampiric half of town. Most of the vampire loyalists have joined the masquerade, leaving their homes and shops unattended. Tonight is a special night - a once in a century event, and they wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Even some werewolves and neutral citizens have been enticed to attend. Jadis the Mystic has created a lotion that will disguise the scent of a werewolf; an effect that is broken by shifting, breaking the skin, or the gradual passage of time. It is not widely distributed, but rumours travel fast. The lotion is only given to any Guildulf-aligned werewolves, but… well, there’s nothing wrong with a little trade here or there. Right?
For all of the wolves in town - with the moon so close to being full, it’s natural for them to feel a bit more excitable. Energetic. Ready to take on the world. And seeing as Montica is so empty, it’s like a playground has just been opened up. The young wolves in particular are eager to take advantage of the empty streets, the sound of not-quite-mature howls breaking through the air in their excitement. There are hardly any people around to be scared if they play too rough or run too fast, and they are taking advantage of this with great enthusiasm.
In the highly-debated 'neutral' zone, some small packs of adolescent werewolves are gathering. There's banter and roughhousing, the not-quite-adults playfully shoving each-other over the invisible line where the vampire territory begins.
Some of the bravest amongst them take the challenge to dart over and brush their fingers over silver doorhandles - their yelps spurring courage and adrenaline in the others. What starts harmlessly enough quickly escalates as they urge each-other on, teenage excitement and the thrill of the moon encouraging all sorts of bad choices. The longer they go without reprimand, the more bold they become; and somewhere along the way, bulbs of garlic start winding up in places they wouldn't normally be found. (There is at least one group who is excitedly challenging each-other to leave the garlic in more and more absurd places. If they happen to sting themselves on some silver ornamentation on the way, all the better.)
Not all homes are unoccupied, though - sooner or later someone’s going to disturb someone else’s peace, and tensions are already so high. Hopefully there are some Responsible Adults around to curtail the worst of the mischief before someone’s temper is sparked.
What: The werewolves who are not sneaking into the party cause a bit of mischief... and did anybody actually agree to keep the peace tonight?
When: The night of the ball itself. [ooc timeline: Feb 6th - 19th]
Where: The city of Montica.
Content warnings: Please include any warnings in headers.
Waxing Gibbous Moon
In Town
Above the city, the Umbra Mansion stands tall. Its grand doors and windows have been opened, spilling light like a beacon. Music lilts in the air, drifting so far as to be faintly heard even in the neutral centre of the city.The streets have emptied, particularly in the vampiric half of town. Most of the vampire loyalists have joined the masquerade, leaving their homes and shops unattended. Tonight is a special night - a once in a century event, and they wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Even some werewolves and neutral citizens have been enticed to attend. Jadis the Mystic has created a lotion that will disguise the scent of a werewolf; an effect that is broken by shifting, breaking the skin, or the gradual passage of time. It is not widely distributed, but rumours travel fast. The lotion is only given to any Guildulf-aligned werewolves, but… well, there’s nothing wrong with a little trade here or there. Right?
For all of the wolves in town - with the moon so close to being full, it’s natural for them to feel a bit more excitable. Energetic. Ready to take on the world. And seeing as Montica is so empty, it’s like a playground has just been opened up. The young wolves in particular are eager to take advantage of the empty streets, the sound of not-quite-mature howls breaking through the air in their excitement. There are hardly any people around to be scared if they play too rough or run too fast, and they are taking advantage of this with great enthusiasm.
In the highly-debated 'neutral' zone, some small packs of adolescent werewolves are gathering. There's banter and roughhousing, the not-quite-adults playfully shoving each-other over the invisible line where the vampire territory begins.
Some of the bravest amongst them take the challenge to dart over and brush their fingers over silver doorhandles - their yelps spurring courage and adrenaline in the others. What starts harmlessly enough quickly escalates as they urge each-other on, teenage excitement and the thrill of the moon encouraging all sorts of bad choices. The longer they go without reprimand, the more bold they become; and somewhere along the way, bulbs of garlic start winding up in places they wouldn't normally be found. (There is at least one group who is excitedly challenging each-other to leave the garlic in more and more absurd places. If they happen to sting themselves on some silver ornamentation on the way, all the better.)
Not all homes are unoccupied, though - sooner or later someone’s going to disturb someone else’s peace, and tensions are already so high. Hopefully there are some Responsible Adults around to curtail the worst of the mischief before someone’s temper is sparked.
no subject
Fortunately, Nova seems to have accurately judged her own limits, and limps with him back to the Laurelthirst no worse for wear, to the horrified face of Hazel. She looks up at 'Rin' and mouths thank you as Nova flashes a grin that turns to a wince.
no subject
(Turns out in the far, far flung space future...not all of the old Earth classics are still well known. Or at least, not to SecUnits who spend all of their time on the Entertainment Feeds.)
Nevermind the answer to that though, because now they're at the Inn, and SecUnit isn't going to have to worry about Nova anymore. "Stay here. Don't go out again," it tells her, before turning to leave.
And then it...stops.
Something just made its Threat Assessment spike. What was it?
no subject
He's approaching the Laurelthirst with a cocky grin full of fangs.
no subject
It moves, standing directly in front of Hostile Fauna Person One, blocking their way into the Inn. It stares directly at them. Usually, SecUnit avoids eye contact. Usually, SecUnit isn't deliberately aiming to intimidate.
"Stop," it says. And here's where a person who was smart might pause, and consider for a moment. There's only one of SecUnit. There's more of the werewolves. And thanks to Illumination's bullshit magic, it smells human. But SecUnit doesn't appear at all cowed, or afraid. It looks like someone utterly confident in their ability to taken on all of them.
It looks like someone who is prepared to make them stop, one way or another.
no subject
But there are six of them, and the largest cocks his head, wolflike, as if not sure what to make of this idiot.
"Lord Armando Endymion," Cassidy says, voice cold. "Such a surprise to see thee here, instead of sneaking into the party. What brings thee to the Laurelthirst?"
"Not my kind of fun," he says. "But are you so surprised, you collared Hunter's pet, that Lily's provocations and the young one's lying with leeches -"
Nova bares fangs for a second before Cass holds up a hand: He's trying to provoke you; don't let him. Instead, she says, "Quite a selection of wifwolves you've seduced."
He laughs. "Oh, only Serena has that honor, the others are just... of like mind."
They're stalling, as Hazel gets the others out of the front room and the line of fire.
no subject
They should be staying inside, not coming out to talk to the Hostiles. Ugh. Sentient Organic Beings were just as determined to do stupid suicidal things as humans were.
But telling them to get the hell back inside would escalate the situation, so SecUnit stays quiet. It just stands there, dead still, and keeps a very close eye on Threat Assessment as they talk. Up in the air, several drones also help it monitor the situation.
Chances of this situation all going to shit are at 86%. It's watching for the moment when that happens. (It kind of hopes that moment happens soon, because it does not like where this conversation is going. Why did it have to be...ugh...relationship stuff?)
no subject
"Why - what a blight on this city you famous lovers of leeches are," Armando growls. "Why the Guidulf clan left even Amalia alive is -"
This is the point where, tired of dealing with someone who as much as admitted they were here to attack the Laurelthirst for hateful reasons, and with Hazel giving the 'all clear' signal, Cassidy Taylor throws something gleaming at Armando.
He catches it perfectly - and then screams in pain anyway, because the object was a silver spoon.
Time to cry havoc and let slip the wolves of war, SecUnit.
no subject
For a brief second, it turns to look at her, its expression furious. It didn't even want them out here in the first place. And now that 86% chance of violence has become 100%, and it's all because they decided to fucking escalate.
(It's not a Combat SecUnit. It's not an instrument of war. It's a SecUnit. That distinction is important.)
But then Hostile Two snarls, shifting into wolf and launching themselves right at Cassidy. SecUnit moves, faster than any human - or even werewolf - could achieve. It reaches out to clamp its fist around Hostile Two's jaw, holding it shut - and holding the entire struggling wolf up in mid-air, with one hand. Then, as Hostile Three tries to go for Hazel, it tosses Hostile Two by the jaw right at them, sending both sprawling to the ground.
Then all of the other Hostiles start to move. And fast as SecUnit is, it can't block all of them from reaching the pair.
no subject
And where Nova was is a white juvenile wolf with blue streaks along her ears, turning her loping run into the slash of claws coming and going.
Neither of them reach Hazel in time.
But the crossbow Hazel had behind the bar goes kchunk, and that's a silver fork in the eye of the one aiming for her, blinding and stunning her.
It's possible SecUnit did not count all its assets.
no subject
At this point, Hostile One has recovered enough to shift. And because Hostile One is an idiot, he also tries to move towards Hazel, teeth snarling. (None of these fauna humans seem to realise how much of a threat SecUnit is, despite the fact that its already demonstrated itself to be far more dangerous than any human. That's their mistake.)
SecUnit grabs Hostile One by the scruff of his neck. Slams their head, twice, into the hard pavement below.
"Leave," it says. "Before I break all your legs and drag you." And then slams his head into the ground again, just to reinforce its point. A loud crack fills the air as the side of Hostile One's jaw breaks.
(Hostile One is the leader. If SecUnit can get him to run, there's a 74% chance that the rest of his pack will follow.)
no subject
"Had the same idea I did of gloves to handle silver," she says. "Da..."
Her eyes meet Nova's, and she bows her head, hissing in a breath.
"...I dare say that would have gone much, much worse without thee, stranger. AGAIN we owe you much. Are you a theater-going man?"
no subject
"Not a man," it says, without thinking. (It's a bit baffled, though. Ever since it got to the Library, humans and SOB keep assuming that's its gender. It doesn't get it.)
Then it pauses, trying not to look too interested. It hasn't been to the theatre here yet. But it has wanted to.
"...What about theatre?" It says. And then to the one that's injured, because it should actually do its job: "You need medical treatment."
no subject
Hazel goes to start cleaning and dressing her wound, then frowns. "It's a silver burn," Hazel says, as she looks for a particular salve. "We'll do our best to treat it, but it may be beyond our meager power to heal without going to an alchemist in the morning. Don't worry, Cass will keep out of further danger, won't thee, Cassidy Taylor, so thou will not make Claire and Sara sick with worry!!"
As Cass flinches, Nova, shaking, stops, shudders once, and produces tickets with a flourish. "Two tickets for any showing of us at the Roseland, my very good and noble not-a-man," she says, grinning. "For tonight you rose to the defense of the Blood Moon Troupe, and we would as your due invite thee and one friend of thy choosing to a fine gallery seat at the premiere of Like Thee: The Comedy of Pandora and her Maiden-Song."
no subject
"Just...Rin. They/them," it says.
(It might have finally admittedly what it really was in the Library, but this was a Story. A Story that didn't even have bots, let alone constructs. It wasn't even going to bother using the pronouns of Machine Intelligences.)
Its hand is already reaching out to take the tickets - tickets! - before it pauses.
"...It's not a romance story, is it?" it says, thinking about the recommended reading. Ugh.
no subject
SecUnit has probably run into media that kind of had to shoehorn in a kiss scene before, sadly.
She shrugs. "The audience would riot, or else we'd not include a marriage at all. We've enough fruit without further donations from the peanut gallery, say sorry."
no subject
SecUnit takes the tickets.
"I'll see it," it says. "...Thanks."