regency au } { of retribution and happy returns

[somanyadjectives]

Tyler: [nope, trying not to roll his eyes, but he's dressed in his armor looking all the finest Lockwood that he is]

Stefan: [makes his way closer with a small smile in greeting] Sir Lockwood.

Tyler: Lord Salvatore. [bows] I hope your journey was uneventful.

Stefan: It was, thank you.

Damon: I found it regrettable, but that's just me.

Tyler: [and there is just the look. The look where he wasn't talking to you, Damon, before he looked back at Stefan] I will show you to the rooms Lady Elena has had made up for your stay.

Stefan: [nods] Thank you. That would be appreciated, as I know that her husband does not want us close to the grounds.

Damon: [makes a face to show what he thinks about that assessment]

Tyler: Well, sadly others have made it so that you cannot be welcomed as such, Lord Stefan. But Lady Elena has gone to such lengths to make sure you are just as comfortable here. [and Lord Derek has given gifts to all the townsfolk of vervain ropes with a coin for them to wear to give protection to the town as they work to find Lady Laura]

Stefan: You will have to convey our thanks to her in return.

Tyler: I will. She has also asked the innkeeper to prepare a meal for you as well as her and Lord Derek this evening. Unless you are tired from your travel.

Stefan: Not at all. Given what's at stake, I say we should get moving as quickly as possible.

Tyler: Then I will return and let them know of your arrival. The innkeeper's name is Juliet, and she will see to any needs that you have. The hunters from this morning donated also bottled the blood of their kills so that you would have something waiting to help satisfy any hunger you may have from the trip until dinner.

Stefan: [Damon makes an even bigger face at the idea of him being expected to eat animal blood, but Stefan places a hand on his arm before he can say anything] That is very generous of them. Thank you.

Tyler: Lady Elena and Lord Derek both wanted to make sure you were comfortable. I will leave you both to get settled. [and with a bow he will leave]

Stefan: [and they will do that! And be at the appointed place for dinner as requested]

Derek: [and the meal will be made with fresh venison and roasted vegetables, wine and whiskey for the gentlemen]

Stefan: [yummy. And the Salvatores will be waiting in the room for Derek and Elena to arrive]

Derek: [and he will open the door for Elena once they arrive. Scott will enter first, taking a guard position inside the inn and Boyd will be standing outside.] Lords Salvatore.

Stefan: [glances up with a small nod] Sir Hale. [his eyes then drift to the other man's wife with a small smile] Elena.

Elena: [smiles in return] It is good to see you, Stefan. [her eyes then drift to his brother, and her expression immediately flattens] Damon.

Damon: Such warm greetings after all this time. I missed you as well, Elena.

Derek: We both thank you for offering your help at our time of need. [and he goes to pull out the chair next to Stefan for Elena which, while putting Damon across from her, it puts both Stefan and Derek between them. And Derek trusts Stefan a lot more with his wife than Damon.]

Stefan: Of course. It is the least we could do.

Damon: Beyond doing nothing, of course.

Elena: Charming as ever, Damon.

Derek: [takes a deep breath, because this is his sister, after all] I'm sure you would understand and want the same support if it was one of you needing to rescue the other.

Stefan: [looks at his brother] Of course we would.

Damon: [stares right back at Stefan before sitting down and beginning to cut into his meal, delicate nobility manners as always] So what is this particular ... situation?

Derek: My mother was a powerful alpha, and her death left a power vacuum among the alphas in Europe and Asia. Kali and Ennis are two alphas who are... unpredictable and dangerous. [explains Elena's idea about taking Amelia as their own since Peter and Parrish were in agreement that it was the most logical reason for this]

Stefan: [his brow furrows as the situation is explained] And you believe them to be still alive?

Derek: Yes. Because if my sister were to be killed before Amelia becomes a wolf... I would inherit the power.

Stefan: There wouldn't be any way to circumvent that?

Derek: An alpha cannot steal another alpha's power. Only a beta can.

Stefan: They wouldn't give it to one of their betas?

Derek: And have one of their betas equal them in strength? No. They are too egotistical for that.

Stefan: [nods again] Then that does make the most sense. Let's hope it doesn't change before we get there.

Derek: My uncle is waiting to hear back from if our mother's allies in Russia will also come to our aid. But we cannot let them have my sister for too long. Amelia is young and impressionable.

Stefan: [he nods] How soon do you wish to leave?

Damon: And in what capacity will you need us?

Derek: [looks at Elena, then Damon] I thought perhaps you would enjoy a little hunting. In return, anything they own would be yours. We just want my sister and my niece back safely.

Damon: [considers for a moment, before shrugging] It's been a while since I've been on a good murder spree. Should be fun. You'll just have to find a nice human resident for us to compel to invite us in.

Derek: The only human we know that would be in their employ would be their emissary. And Jennifer is a very powerful druid from what rumors tell us.

Damon: Mmmm. [takes another bite of the roast] Then we may just have to rely on our charm, brother.

Stefan: [smirks and nods] Should be easy enough, so long as they don't sniff us out first.

Derek: Well, trust me, we have something that will distract them once we are inside to keep at least one of the alphas busy.

Stefan: Then Damon and I can work on distracting the rest of the pack and make sure they don't interfere with that plan.

Derek: Thank you.

Damon: [nods again] Anything else we should be aware of - other than your little druid problem to which I think the solution should be snapping that neck immediately.

Derek: Well, depending on if my Lady Aunt is able to succeed... you will also have her and a pair of berserkers to help you.

Stefan: [he and Damon both look at each other for a moment, before looking back at them again] Are you certain that's ... wise? I've crossed paths with them before. They're ... near uncontrollable.

Derek: We're still working on understanding the how, but she seems to have been given protection by a pair of them. She is trying to see if she can control them. If so, it will bring more power to protect all of us, both of you included.

Damon: Well. I'd certainly be interested in meeting her if that's the case.

Elena: Careful, Damon. I don't think Argents can be wooed by your charm.

Damon: [his face dropped almost instantly, before his fingers close around his fork] I almost regret to ask which Argent you're referring to.

Derek: My aunt, Lady Kate Argent.

Damon: [purses his lips]

Stefan: [dryly] I'm not sure the beserkers will provide him much safety there.

Derek: Seeing that she is married to my uncle, you have a chance to earn some good will in her regards, or at least not be harmed as long as you are helping.

Damon: I know Kate Argent. I don't think that will even save me. [he makes a face] But I can try.

Derek: Dare I ask what you did to earn such scorn?

Stefan: He was himself, my lord. I'm sure you've seen how well that's worked out for him in the past.

Derek: I take it I'm nicer than Kate then.

Stefan: Much.

Derek: [looks to Elena, smiling] I grow to like my aunt more and more each day. [he's teasing]

Elena: [she laughs] She does have her charms.

Derek: But I do thank you for coming to our aid.

Stefan: Of course. We are always happy to help our friends.

Derek: [nods, and then goes to take Elena's hand under the table]

Elena: [she gives his hand a small squeeze and she and Stefan spends the rest of the dinner talking about Mystic Falls and the happenings there]

Derek: [and hopefully they will make it through the conversation without mentioning Caroline]

Elena: [nope. no mention of Caroline whatsoever. Even Damon seems smart enough to keep his mouth shut in that respect]

Derek: [and then they will be able to return back to the manor and Derek will work with Peter and Parrish to update the plan of attack]

Stefan: [and we skip a bit to the actual invasion? How much of this do we want to play out]

Parrish: [he wants his rematch]

Ennis: [okay so the Salvatores will probably ride up a few days in advance and integrate themselves in the home, posing as travelers looking for relief from the road. The staff takes pity on them and lets them in, leaving them in place for when the Hales arrive and that way, it gives them the opportunity to start murdering wolves from the inside out. Damon goes right for Jennifer, snapping her neck as promised before working on taking out the rest of the wolves. While the pack is scattering in confusion, Kali goes to make sure the baby is secure while Ennis goes to take on the invaders]

Parrish: [and he and Derek are off to look for Ennis while Peter is off to find Laura. When they see the alpha down the hallway, Parrish pushes back Derek] Ennis! [he pulls his sword out, taking up the entire hallway]

Ennis: [turns at the sound of his name, eyes widening in surprise when he sees who it is] I tore your throat out. [and we'll focus on them for right now and skip to Peter later]

Parrish: Yes, you did. And it's time I return the favor.

Ennis: [his eyes narrow as they glow red, face shifting. he doesn't know how this is possible, but that's not going to stop him from winning again] Guess I'll just have to repeat the process. Make sure it sticks this time.

Parrish: You're welcome to try. [and he's going to charge, the sword and armor polished with wolfsbane oil, and as they clash, Parrish's eyes start to glow orange and the air starts to heat up around them]

Ennis: [yep, that's a little worrisome too, but there's the reason he's the dumb muscle in this marriage. and he'll just charge in claws out to slash at the other man]

Parrish: [and he's been sparring a lot with the knights learning to avoid claws, but he is angry and he will get a scratch across his face, but that only angers him further and as he growls, it seems as if the oxygen in the air around him thins for a moment before Parris spontaneously bursts into flames, licking just along the edges of his skin]

Ennis: [yeah, that's enough to make him recoil from the flames, arms coming up to shield his face] What are you?

Parrish: I'm the one who will make sure you never hurt another person ever again. [and he's going to attack, suddenly faster and stronger than he has ever been, seeing the world in a haze of orange]

Ennis: [tries to block the blows as they come but he's hesitant because of the fire, not wanting to get burned. It doesn't last for long, however, because eventually his robes catch and catch quickly]

Parrish: [and that distraction is what Parrish needs to drive his sword deep inside of the alpha, the wolfsbane poison getting into the organs and bloodstream, and Parrish leans in close to the alpha's face] May you burn in hell for all your sins.

Ennis: [his face is so stunned that this is a thing that's happening to him, and that's the look that's featured prominently as he drops to the floor. There's only a few moments of twitching before he stills on the floor in front of him]

Derek: [and yeah, he stays far, far away from fire, but inches down the hall as Parrish stares down at Ennis, panting] My Lord...

Parrish: [snaps his head back to Derek, and then looks at his arms that are still on fire] Looks like I'm not as human as we thought.

Derek: Can you... turn it off?

Parrish: [he shrugs, and then just closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths as he tries to calm himself down. When he does, the fire fades away, leaving him only in hot metal that he has to shrug himself out of quickly.] Though this is not good on the wardrobe.

Derek: [grabs a tapestry and hands it to Parrish who makes a quick toga before grabbing his sword] Let's keep going.

Laura: [in which we skip to Peter in which he will manage to find the nursery they set up for Amelia if he happens to follow the scent of ... his niece's blood, whoops.]

Peter: [yes, because that is not at all worrying. He's going to follow it, claws out and ready, but moving with stealth in the shadows of the corridors]

Laura: [Kali's blood joins it as he gets closer, and the sound of footsteps gains a chainsaw snarl. When he rounds the corner, sitting on top of the limp body of Kali is a large black wolf, teeth bared as she starts to move in front of the crib holding her baby. Her eyes flash red and her claws scratch against the floor]

Peter: [and he just... stops for a moment taking everything in, and then his eyes flash blue in response to the wolf. Then there is a sad smile, because he knows it's Laura. She looks just like her mother. Slowly he crouched down, holding his hand out, wrist up so that his scent would be stronger in the air] It's okay. It's just me. We’re here to save you, but it looks like you have saved yourself.

Laura: [she watches him warily for a moment, almost as though the wolf and the girl were trying to make the sense of the moment. her haunches lower slightly and she trots forward to chase that familiar scent. She sniffs at his hand, and once she's sure it's Peter and not her mind playing tricks on her she moves closer, dropping her weight against him seeking comfort of her own]

Peter: [and he till hug her, burying his face in her neck fur and keeping her close] You're safe now, sweetheart. We're here. We're all here to bring you home.

Laura: [she'll stay there for a long time, letting the tension and fear ebb out of her, before she'll shift her nose a bit, catching Peter's cloak gently with her teeth and tugging at it]

Peter: Yes, good idea. [and he will unclip it and wrap it around her shoulders]

Laura: [it takes her a moment after that, but the material is pulled closer to her body as she forms fingers again, adjusting it so that it keeps her covered before she looks up at him with a raspy:] Thank you. [right after that, however, she's pulling her daughter from the crib and holding her close, after not being able to hold her for a month]

Peter: [and he will stand behind her, holding them both and wrapping the cloak around her closer and then taking off his belt to be able to clasp it at her waist. And he is just going to hug her from behind a moment before asking] When?

Laura: [she laughs softly, because, well ...] Just now?

Peter: [he pet her hair and kissed her cheek] There is a first time for everything. Come on, let's go find your husband.

Laura: [nod, keeping Amelia close as they make their way out into the hallways]

Parrish: [and he is following Derek as they have found Peter's scent and then] Laura?

Laura: [looks up at him, and she practically runs to him, only slowly before the collision because she still has Amelia in her arms]

Parrish: [and he will rush past Derek, and Peter will step to the side as he meets them and he pulls both of them in his arms, kissing his wife deeply]

Peter: [goes to Derek] Where is his armor...?

Derek: Where are Laura's clothes?"

Laura: [clearly not caring about the half-dressed state of her husband as she kisses him back, sinking into his hold and managing to hold in the tears. That will probably be for later when they're alone.]

Derek: [talks with Peter about Kali and Ennis, and then he goes off to check on the knights and others, leaving Peter to wait for the couple]

Parrish: [he will finish his kiss and just hold her close] I was so worried.

Laura: I thought ... [her voice trails off for a moment and she looks up at him, shaking her head] ... It doesn't matter. Let's go home.

Parrish: Yes, let's. [and he will go to walk with her, a moment before] What happened to your clothes?

Laura: [glances back to him] It's ... complicated but they're not wearable. I'll explain later.

Parrish: [he blinks, obviously not getting it, but he just shakes his head] We'll find you something on the way out so you won't catch cold.

Laura: [small smile] I will be fine. [she glances down] But some shoes will probably be good.

Peter: I will find you both a few things and meet you at the rendezvous spot. [and he will slip away, leaving Parrish to continue to guide them away to where the other knights were gathering. licking their wounds]

Laura: [and she looks over all of them, her pack, and she can't help but smile at them all] Hello, boys. [her boys. she's never been happier to see them.]

Derek: [and the knights will be happy as well, but Derek will go over to hug his sister tightly now that Parrish had his moment]

Laura: [she will hand Amelia off to her husband so she can hug her brother properly, burying her face against his shoulder] How is Cora?

Parrish: [nope, nuzzling his daughter.]

Derek: Missing you. But she is recovering well thanks in part to her young suitor.

Laura: Good. How far away are we from home?

Derek: A few days ride.

Laura: [she nods] Good. The sooner we can get there, the better.

Stefan: You can take our carriage. My brother and I will find other passage back to Mystic Falls.

Derek: Are you certain, Lord Salvatore?

Stefan: [he nods] If anything, we can ... liberate two of the horses here. We have traveled in worse, and you need it more than we do.

Derek: As promised, anything inside is all yours to take from. We want nothing of theirs.

Stefan: [nods] Thank you. Safe travels. [and with that he will go to find Damon and his pile of dead bodies]

Peter: [and he will return with underclothes and warm cloaks for both Laura and Parrish, and away everyone goes for home]

Laura: [yep, and she will spend the entirety of the trip tucked into the carriage with her husband and her daughter. It's late when they arrive back at the manor a few days later, and most of the household is asleep so she will just head right for her room so that she can get into her own clothes and climb into bed with her family]

Stiles: [yup, but he was helping with guard duty on the wall so when they are home he will take his break to go to Cora's room and tell the servant on duty to ask the lady if she will see him for a moment as he has a message to give her]

Cora: [is dead asleep, sorry Stiles]

Stiles: [he will leave a message than for her to be told that her sister and niece are back in the manor safely and he will then head back to his station for the night]

Laura: [which she will be happy to hear and will check in on them in the morning, but for the most part Laura is going to be staying in her room for a while. She'll take visitors but for the most part she's just staying close to her husband and daughter. She's absolutely not letting Amelia out of her sight for long unless she's with Parrish and even then she can't handle it for long]

Derek: [no, it will be a family day as he will be with his girls and wife the next day]

Parrish: [not going anywhere]

Stiles: [he will be sleeping in that morning since he did night guard duty]

Laura: [stays curled up on her side, her finger brushing against Amelia's cheek gently as she lets her head rest against the pillows] I thought I was never going to see her again.

Parrish: You know I would never let them keep you from me for long.

Laura: [glances up at him with a small smile, but there's the gloss of tears in her eyes] I know. But I felt ... I could tell when you ... ["died" is the word she can't manage to get out as one of the tears she's trying to hold back slips down her cheek]

Parrish: [he reached over to stroke her cheek] Yes, but you also know I don't stay down long.

Laura: They were so prepared, they could have found a way. [she closes her eyes] You were gone and Kali tore her out of my arms and I spent a month drugged and weak and I ... I can't let that happen again.

Parrish: We won't. And those two we won't be hearing from ever again.

Laura: [she sighs softly, her hand coming up to wipe the tears away] There was this ... talent, my mother had. She could turn into a full wolf.

Parrish: I remember you telling me that.

Laura: It's supposed to be a sign of wisdom and power. [she pauses for a moment, before looking up at him] You asked what happened to my clothes. It was because I did it.

Parrish: You shifted into a full wolf? Can you... can you do it again?

Laura: I haven't tried, but I probably can. I just ... I don't know if I've earned it.

Parrish: I think you have. You just need to believe in yourself that you have.

Laura: [she shakes her head] I'm not my mother. There was so much she never had the chance to teach me.

Parrish: You probably have learned a lot of it on your own instead.

Laura: [sighs softly] It's harder that way. I was supposed to have more time to be young.

Parrish: No, but the things that happened then... it's what led you to be where I could find you.

Laura: [glances up at him with a small smile before leaning closer, like she's sharing a secret] Do you want to see it?

Parrish: [he nodded, smiling back] Yes.

Laura: [she grins before pulling back and starting to climb out of bed. she turns her back for a moment to shed her clothes before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. She isn't entirely sure which anchor she needs yet, but she chooses to focus on her mother at first and it helps, slowly drawing her closer to the ground and feeling her bones shift into place. It doesn't hurt, not really, and before long she's hopping up on the bed next to him, a sleek back wolf with sharp features]

Parrish: [and he sits up, shocked at first, and then smiling] Look at that. You look beautiful.

Laura: [the wolf grins, her tongue lolling out for a moment, before leaning forward and moving to settle next to him]

Parrish: [and he is just going to scritch her behind the ears] Good thing I like dogs, huh?

Laura: [there's a pleased rumbling growl as she lowers her head into his hand]

Parrish: [he will keep petting her a moment, and then laugh] Though this will put a hamper on the arousal I was working up on.

Laura: [it's only a moment later that she's all human again, naked and pressed against him] You'll have to put Amelia to bed if you want that.

Parrish: [groans happily] Such choices.

Laura: [she grins at him, before leaning in to kiss him softly]

Parrish: [and he will kiss her back, cupping her cheek as he shifts closer]

Laura: [sighs softly, because their daughter is still on the bed behind her] Put Amelia in the crib, then come back to bed.

Parrish: [he sighs, pulling away from her before getting up, going to gather Amelia in his arms] Come on sweetheart, time for bed. Time to let daddy see if he can make you a sibling. [and he will go to kiss her forehead and put her down]

Laura: [and she will just lean back and watch him, staying stretched out where she is and waiting for him to come back to her]

Parrish: I should tell you, I apparently have a new trick as well.

Laura: [her eyebrows go up as she watches him] Really.

Parrish: I'm still not sure how exactly to use it. [he held out his hand, and he focused a moment before flames appeared, burning up the sleeve of his undershirt and leaving his arm flickering with flames that ended just inches off his skin]

Laura: [she straightens a bit, surprised] That's ... new.

Parrish: It doesn't burn me. It's almost like an armor. [he thought a moment, and the flames extinguished and he walked over and held out his arm to her. It was warm, but smooth as if the skin had been refreshed from the flames]

Laura: [she pushes up, reaching out her hand to touch his arm and frowns slightly when it's not as hot as she's expected] At least we know we don't have to fear fire.

Parrish: Not at all. [and he kissed her as he settled back down next to her]

Laura: [and she eagerly leans into that kiss, pulling him closer and just wanting to lose herself in the reminder that he's here with her]

Parrish: [it's the same for him, and he's going to spend the rest of the day reminding him just how much he missed her]

Laura: [she approves of this and as she starts to lose herself in the moment she can feel a new urge start to surface, her human teeth grazing gently against his pulse point]

Parrish: [and he will tip his head to the side, giving in to her playful teeth as he pushes himself deeper inside of her]

Laura: [her eyes close and head tips back for a moment and enjoying the sensations as her body climbs towards that peak. It isn't long before she hits the edge, and her eyes flash as her teeth sink into his shoulder]

Parrish: [the bite makes him hit his peek as well, and there is a loud cry that comes from his lips, a groan mixed with the screech of a bird like creature as his own eyes flash. One of his hands goes to hold her shoulder, and his fingers dig into the spot where she bit him. They heated up, burning his fingerprints into her neck to claim her as she claimed him.]

Laura: [she drops back against the bed once it's done, his blood on her lips and the smell of her skin burning in the air. It takes a moment for her head to clear and she realizes what she did and her hand comes to her lips] Oh God.

Parrish: [he realizes it in the same instance and he sits up. He's not worried about her neck, but instead looks at her neck] Oh, Laura I'm sorry... I didn't know...

Laura: [coincidence because that's pretty much what she's worried about too. Being an alpha means her bite has certain implications and she doesn't know if that will hurt him] Are you alright?

Parrish: No, I'm fine. But I burned you...

Laura: [she glances back at her shoulder, starting to feel the burn now that the endorphins are passing, and she scoops her hair off to try and get a better look] Will my dresses cover it?

Parrish: [he looks] Yes. But... it will scar I think.

Laura: [she considers for a moment, before letting her hair sweep back again and glancing over to him with a smile] I don't have any scars. This would be my first.

Parrish: Mine tend to go away when I'm reborn. Right now all I have is this... the one Ennis put on me faded when I set myself on fire in battle against him.

Laura: [she nods as her fingers trace over the mark she made] Wolves claim their mates. It bonds them, allows them to sense if they are in trouble or are upset, or if they are in pain.

Parrish: Unfortunately, I don't know what I even am to know what I would do. But maybe... maybe this is the same thing?

Laura: Maybe. I don't mind.

Parrish: [he goes to lay next to her] You're worried this is going to turn me, aren't you?

Laura: [shakes her head, her fingers brushing over his skin] No. Once you are something, I can't turn you into something else. But I am worried your body may try and reject it.

Parrish: Then I guess we'll just have to wait and see. [leans in to kiss her] But I'm not sorry you did it.

Laura: [sighs as she kisses him back] If your body starts doing anything strange you need to tell me.

Parrish: [he kisses her again, and there are trickles of feelings coming into his head and he smiles] The only thing I feel happening to me is not strange, and something you quite enjoy.

Laura: [she grins at him before nodding] That's another side effect of the bond.

Parrish: I think I like this part. [and he will kiss her, wanting to feel that pleasure from her grow]

Laura: [and she will let him, eagerly slipping back into that familiar place with him again]

Parrish: [and he will relish in feeling the pleasure he can feel from her, and his own]

Laura: [and she will enjoy feeling his, until they're both left in a sweaty, relaxed mess in their bed, tucking herself into his arms]