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

[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.

[eversomuchfun]

"It is supposed to be theoretically possible for a vampire to regain their soul and thereby their original personality," he says. "I'd consider that not dissimilar to the merging you speak of."

[luminous_regnant]

"Perhaps. I don't see this one consenting to the merger, though, and I don't know what the results would be like, especially since Juliet, unlike Shell Bell, has an instance of mental opacity and may be able to resist editing."

[eversomuchfun]

"What is behind that door is a creature with extensive combat training, a hefty double dose of superpowers, all of Juliet's memories, and no ethical restraint whatsoever. Do you want her to continue existing in that form? I don't."

[luminous_regnant]

"My point is that if we find that there is one in Downside, and unlike the split of Shell Bell who came to very thoroughly deserve the name 'Shell' she has retained her sanity, there may be no good reason for the one behind the door to continue existing, and yet I am not fully comfortable with killing her - are you?"

[eversomuchfun]

"Yes."

[luminous_regnant]

"Charming. All right. Let's see if I can force the door; if I can't, I can summon Nathan through mine and he can. And we can check Downside for a Juliet."

[eversomuchfun]

"Splendid," says Sherlock.

[luminous_regnant]

Golden puts a sign on the door that reads this room contains a version of Juliet who is not safe to interact with due to loss of soul (Sunshine-style); do not release her --Golden and marches to the door.

She can't force it - she hasn't been there - so she sticks her head into Aurum, and calls Nathan over.

"He'll be here in a minute," she says. "Are you all right? Can I help you in any way beyond having interrupted?"

[eversomuchfun]

"I am not especially all right," he says, "but I don't know what to do about it besides get Juliet back. Thank you, in any case, for interrupting."

[luminous_regnant]

"Are you going to tell her?" asks Golden. "About what happened?"

[eversomuchfun]

"In the event that she does not wind up remembering it herself, you mean?"

[luminous_regnant]

"In that event. If we retrieve a perfectly intact albeit technically deceased Juliet from Downside and I hand you a pentagon to deal with the other."

[eversomuchfun]

"Well, she'd hardly thank me for keeping her in the dark."

[luminous_regnant]

"That's true. And not an answer."

[eversomuchfun]

"I have no idea if I will be capable of bringing it up."

[luminous_regnant]

"I can, if you prefer, although I can only tell her the part I saw."

[eversomuchfun]

"I would appreciate it."

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan turns the corner. "Hallo, Your Majesty and extradimensional friend of the template," he says. "You realize just because Shell Bell can door to Downside now doesn't mean I can?"

[luminous_regnant]

"I realize. Please make the attempt regardless. Shell Bell is not present."

[temporal_affairs]

"You got it." He ushers them out of his way and tries three times, getting Aurum each time, before on his fourth try he makes the door reveal Shell Bell's cluttered apartment. "Here we are. Downside."