we are convenient to major metropolises

[cross_and_bow]

This vampire nest was supposed to have six vampires in it. This trip to L.A. was supposed to involve this nest as the first stop of several. This time Sherlock's information is imperfect.

[Fuck,] says Bella, after having burst through the door, masked and armed with her stake, [they're having all their friends over today - help -]

Comments

[cross_and_bow]

A few days later, someone opens her eyes. Is it Bella? Maybe!

[eversomuchfun]

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he says affectionately.

[cross_and_bow]

"Mmmmm, hello," says Bella, stretching. "Well. Probably time to find a new place to -" She snickers. "Inhabit. Fucking Watchers would never let me be. Best of luck, new girl," she drawls, raising an imaginary toasting glass.

[eversomuchfun]

"So," he prompts, "what does the new Bella think of the old Bella?"

[cross_and_bow]

"Should've broken Shell Bell's arm and apologized after if she felt so bad about it," snorts the new Bella. "Megalomania and no follow-through, bad combination."

[eversomuchfun]

"Do I take it that you mean to take over the world?"

[cross_and_bow]

"Pfft. No. And do what with it? That was her gig. She wanted to take over the world and keep it as a pet, be sweet to it, cute li'l world she could take for walks and bring to all the Bell parties to be smug about and win the blue ribbon for best in show? Or 'most improved', maybe, what she had to work with. I don't wanna do that. Don't see the point."

[eversomuchfun]

"Then what is your life's ambition, pray tell?"

[cross_and_bow]

"Who says I have one? For one thing wouldn't I need a life, wasn't it you saying we're not alive - But why're we talking so much, that's dull, luv, c'mere."

[eversomuchfun]

"A tempting suggestion," he says, "and yet, I feel I must decline."

[cross_and_bow]

"Why's that?"

[eversomuchfun]

"Because, delightful as you admittedly are, I don't love you."

[cross_and_bow]

"That shouldn't stop you. I know you fucked Amariah, hon. I haven't got a little owl for whatever kinky craziness that wound up being, true, but I look right and I want you and the precious li'l megalomaniac isn't coming back. C'mere."

[eversomuchfun]

"You're not going to argue me into it."

[cross_and_bow]

"Oh."

Bella considers this.

Then she shrugs. "Okay then."

And she stops trying to argue, and starts trying to see if that rumor about Slayers becoming the most powerful vampires is true.

[eversomuchfun]

Much to Sherlock's regret, it is.

[luminous_regnant]

The initial part of the... altercation... transports them out of the bedroom and into the main part of the Belltower, and if someone cares about that, it's not what's left of Juliet.

This means that when the door opens, Golden gets an eyeful.

"...Is this happy not-me-Bell behavior?" she asks, unbalanced.

[cross_and_bow]

"I'm having fun," purrs the ex-Juliet. "I'd ask if you wanna play, but I think I know the answer, and you'd be hard to convince."

[eversomuchfun]

[no]

says Sherlock, over text-only brainphone.

After a very small delay, during which he makes absolutely no voluntary movement of any kind, he adds,

[help]

[luminous_regnant]

Golden can be very fast with wishes. A few of them see ex-Juliet locked up in one of the Belltower bedrooms forbidden from leaving, and Sherlock in all of his clothes again.

"What," says Golden, "happened to Juliet?"

[eversomuchfun]

"She died," says Sherlock. "Before she bled to death she asked me to turn her, on the chance that she might end as... agreeable as I am. In the event, she did not."

[cross_and_bow]

"Let me ouuuuut," complains Juliet, pounding ineffectually but with increasing loudness on the door.

[luminous_regnant]

"No," Golden tells that door. And to Sherlock: "Did you catch up on the Bellbook while you were here?"

[eversomuchfun]

"I did not."

[luminous_regnant]

"Sufficiently large coins can raise the dead. Glitchily. The glitch is that in at least some worlds, dead people wind up in a terrible afterlife called Downside, which doesn't let them go even after resurrection. Shell Bell and one of my employees both got themselves killed, were brought back, and - on Shell Bell encountering her Sherlock here after several decades Downside - resumed their singleness. Merged back into single people. If I can force the door to Downside, we can check for a Juliet there, and if she's been luckier than Shell Bell was or if it hasn't been very long we can simply get her out and repatriate her, but I don't know what to do with - that." She waves a hand at the door behind which ex-Juliet is still howling to be let out and pounding.