stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

cardboard is boring, we brought our matches - look how it burns

Harley felt the brush of his arm against her own as Sly shrugged. He seemed to linger really close. Closer than she would typically allow. The basement, she blamed it for it fear inducing powers. Or perhaps she was merely picking up on his own terror that had sparked him to run. Regardless, daytime or not, Syn's basement was not a place she wanted to spend her time. Yes, it was his fear that was knocking her off her game like he knocked her off her feet. She didn't need fear whispering in her ear now. What she needed was a focused plan to grab and run with. A plan that preferably ended in a fixed A/C unit and both of them alive before the vamps woke up. That wasn't asking for too much was it?

All that time that had passed and they ended almost right back where they started. This was more than frustrating, like running in place. It felt hopeless and yet she hardly focused on the impossible, determined to cut her own path if she had to. At least the guy had a sense of humour, even after all the trauma he had experienced in such a short time and yet somehow found a way to keep himself together. He told his summarized story, the word ghost caused her to frown. A daytime ghost? His story sounded kind of out there. Maybe she judged too early about the man not cracking up... Yet this place, she was sure had seen its fair share of death. A ghost seemed like the least weird thing that could turn up. Even still, she seemed willing to entertain his story to a degree even though she sarcasm was not a beast that could be tamed. The moment she opened her mouth, that iconic sarcasm seemed to fall out.

Maybe she pushed too far. Sly didn't seem all that amused as he narrowed his gaze and gave her that 'look'. She had seen on way too many faces before. She had done it again. She offended him. Harley half expected the typical reaction that went along with it. It never came. Instead, Sly had to go and surprise her. His reply held an easy, confident teasing tone. Including, disclosing that the ghost had been attractive and French. No. That couldn't be. Surely... that hot dead man wasn't.... A spark of recognition echoed within the purple depths of her eyes. He had probably decided to tune into her life and enjoy the show. For him to intervene though... perhaps Sly was at far more risk than he realized. A singular brow rose as she peered up at the young man, studying the man who had probably been mere moments away from making a grave mistake. Sly's final words about needing a couch to tell her where the ghost touched him drew her thoughts right back to the realm of amusement. Harley tried to stifle her laugh and failed. "Poor baby. I won't make you relive all that trauma without a couch." She shook her head that caused her raven locks to shift draping over her shoulder instead, cloaking that smirk that lingered on her lips before fading.

"I wouldn't worry about that..... ghost, he's harmless. Probably." She added swiftly and yet not elaborating. After all, she had made a promise that she intended to keep. The pair continued away from those looming distant footsteps that sounded like they were neither getting faster or further away. Hm. Promising? It was after countless, endless corridors they made it to the end. It wasn't supposed to end. To make matters worse, the footsteps were still heard and they were getting louder. Double fuck. A curse rushed from her lips which only seemed to alarm her companion... and yet not without his humour.

Somehow, he made her laugh in the face of it all. What a unique man. There was no time to consider that fleeting thought. Or the smile that seemed to linger upon his own lips like they weren't potentially facing their demise and found by whoever those footfalls belonged to. He wouldn't be smiling soon if they were found together. It would be far easier trying to justify her own presence, not him even though the shirt he wore should have been self-explanatory. He needed to be removed from the equation. She needed to remind him that he chose to trust her and once again she was met with a heavy dose of sarcasm that threatened to rival her own.

"Really? I haven't even asked anything of you yet.. But remember you said that..." He was going to need to because when she rushed them to that door she had all but abandoned him to that room. There was no time to fuck around and he was nothing but a liability if she had to deal with yet another vamp. Seriously, it better not be. It was daylight. Still, it would appear Ruben didn't sleep at all. Please don't be a vampire, she groaned internally. She felt better having him sealed behind a door, determined to keep him alive. Surely, he had to know this was one hell of a task. The reinforced door seemed heavier than most. It locked with such finality as she promised she would return. She almost felt like she was talking to Ace before she left... Only this time she added for him not to touch anything. The last thing they needed was proof of their presence where they didn't belong to be left behind. She had zero time to consider her decision nor the sounds that she thought were his muffled, nearly impossible to distinguish protests. Better him pissed off than dead. Alright, maybe she was getting a little liberal with impending death thing.

Yet, truly, who the fuck knew what she was about to face. The mere thought sobered her and she straightened her spine as if became made of steel. The raven haired were strode forward with a confidence to meet the being those encroaching steps belonged to. She swore she could have sighed with relief when she ended up face to face with another Were with a glazed look over their features. He didn't reply to her snarky question, in fact when he looked at her it wasn't like he actually 'saw' her. Harley waved her hands in front of his face. "You shouldn't be here." He sounded like an emotionless robot. "Yes... I am. I am supposed to be here looking for a circuit breaker. I have to fix something for Darcy.. Do you know where it is?" Might as well ask.

"Not here."

No shit sherlock. Wow this guy really needed to work on his social skills.

"Then where?" Harley urged.

"Not here.."

This man was broken. He had to be. He was no help at all.

Harley made a noise akin to a sound frustration, crossing her arms loosely as the crinkle of leather filled her ears looking every bit as casual as someone who made a home in this miserable hellhole. " You should go for a walk in the fresh air or something. Staying down here does things to your mind... Sounds like it could do you some good."

"Can't....." it was like he was confused with what word to use next. "Leave." Okay, that didn't sound creepy at all.... He had to be brainwashed or he lost it. Spending too much time down here.. She couldn't fault him. "I don't want to." He looked just about ready to fight her on that.

What the fuck did that mean?

"Alright... then.. Well I have stuff to do.. Like an A/C to fix, but I need the electrical room to do that."

He mumbled something she couldn't quite pick up... except something about a closet maybe? "......Janitor."

What the fuck did that have to do with anything? "Look man.. You can go back doing to whatever floats your boat. I am not going to...."

"I am the janitor!!" His response came out so forceful it nearly made her nearly jump in surprise. He was starting to get a little angry, which was kind of a relief because the emotionless thing was a little weird for him. But there was a frustration in his tawny eyes as if he wanted to say more and couldn't.

"Okay.. okay.. you are the janitor." He never lost that glazed looked. There was something seriously wrong with his mind.

"Yes." This seemed to settle him. "You need the closet."

Harley bit her tongue at the comment that wanted to leave her lips and yet she was certain the were in this state would hardly appreciate her joke. "Alright, which one?" She gestured down the hall.

"No. You need the closet upstairs." Harley wasn't quite sure if she could trust his word on it, but it was currently the only lead she had. Just as she was about to make an excuse to leave the janitor spoke again. "I heard voices.. I am supposed to kill all the intruders." That emotionless response was back and he had that possessed look about him that made her believe that statement.

That didn't sound good. At least he didn't deem her as one. "Nope, no intruders here. Just trying to do my job, just like you. I will send anyone I find your way though. Sound good?" He didn't respond, merely turned around as if focused on some other task. Well, that was weird.

"Wow. You sound like your fun at parties.." Harley huffed under her breath, glad to be rid of the brainwashed, admittedly creepy janitor that oddly had no cleaning supplies on him. She waited long enough until she no longer heard his retreating footsteps, rolling the tension out of her shoulders before facing the door before waving the keycard an all to victorious smirk upon her lips. She opened the heavy door, sticking her head in... no Sly. Uh oh, that was no good. "Hey Sly.. good news.." Nothing but darkness. Fuck. "Matches?" She called out.. Nothing. She stepped into the room. He couldn't have gone anywhere, could he?

A frowned etched upon her brow as she too slipped into the room, her lingering peeled reluctantly away from that door as she stepped inside, tempted to pull out the flashlight from her cellphone.

He wasn't supposed to go anywhere. He wasn't supposed to touch anything either... What if something happened? The door closed on its own with a heavy click she thought little of. She had the omnipotent card after all, the card that opened all doors. No need to worry. This place was now her bitch and she was standing on the top of the food chain. It felt damn good for a change. But that didn't solve where the warlock went off to? He couldn't possibly slip away? Was there an exit in here? Maybe she needed to deeper into the room. But there was something about the door locking that made her glimpse back as if to make sure.... But saw only a keypad. A keypad?? She didn't know any passwords. Fuck. Maybe it was unlocked on the inside. She reached for the door handle but it was heavy with silver, she could already anticipate the burn. Not even her powers could work on silver. Her purple gaze sliced toward the pad.. She could use her powers on it. Surely. Yet, even as she focused, it did nothing. It was like the silver blocked her from tampering with it. That meant.... They were trapped in this fucking room. The raven haired spitfire looked up as if she could find the answers, only to find the glowing red exit sign above the door that was meant to clearly mock her. Really?

She needed to find Sly, maybe he could melt the door down. Yet... how pissed... Risque and Darcy would be to find their place so badly damaged. Better punishment than being caught here she thought.

That still didn't explain the mystery of what happened to the warlock. The further into the room she got the... worse it was. It didn't take long before she could deduce that this wasn't just a room where odd furniture came to die. It was on display. She was surprised to find her vision a little better even though she wasn't in her feline form. It was clear that the room... was no mere room at all.. but contained devices of torture. The silver that caught her eye gave it away. Those hooks looked too sharp... the dangling chains were meant to bind. The... fuck. She wasn't one to kink shame, but vampires were into some really fucked up shit.

She locked Sly in a fucking torture room, by himself in the literal lion's den with a teleporting Ruben on the loose. "Sly?" She called out louder this time with far more urgency. "Stop fucking around.." She chided to nothing other than the darkness. She didn't want to get any further into the room than she had to and yet there was no choice... But that was when she saw it. The faint orangey glow. That looked promising. She gave the metal, doors that looked like prison cells a weary look.

Swiftly she moved, careful not to collide with anything as she rounded that corner. That was when she saw movement and Sly. He was alive. But what the hell was he doing back here? He stood by what looked like a door that didn't look like one of those prison cell doors.

"Sly.. Seriously, what the..." She stormed up to him from behind, unwilling to show any semblance of relief that he hadn't gotten abducted or killed. But her gaze shifted to the fiery creature that moved like it was alive. "..... fox?"

Alright this was unexpected. Harley studied the creature, it looked oddly detailed for fire. It was cute, even she had to admit. Yet how was a fire fox going to help them at all besides lighting up that room. "Is that yours?" She asked curiously, tilting her head as if wondering if those flames burned when touched.... Was it sentient? Somehow, even composed of flames the creature appeared like it possessed intelligence. "Heya little guy." What the fuck was she doing talking to a fire creature? Abruptly she shook her head before the woman turned to face Sly, with a hand placed on her hip.

He seemed oddly calm for someone in a dungeon. Maybe he didn't know. Surely, he had to. She eyed the iron door that was bathed in a fiery glow. "Do you know where that door leads to?" She gestured vaguely in the direction of that door that was oddly smaller than the rest. It was currently the only working door they had... She sounded oddly calm for someone who would rather be caught dead than found in a torture room. It was like being the lamb that offered themselves to the slaughter.

No need to panic. Nope. Not at all. Yet who the hell knew what was on the other side of that.

Harley moved with far more confidence than she felt, opening the creaky metal door that lead into blackness. Fuck it stunk of.... Death. The smell of it nearly made the contents in her stomach churn. What the hell was a chute doing down here. Didn't they need something going up? But there it was... a slide going down. Considering she deduced what this place was. This couldn't be good. If.... things were meant to be collected down there, that meant there had to be access to get out. A garbage chute... right? Right??

Her eyesight without going all furry was enhanced but even she couldn't make out what was in that ominous inky black darkness below. She closed the door again, to block out the nasty smell that caused he nose to wrinkle in offence. So... this is what defeat felt like. Maybe they were going to need two markers on that wall. Like hell if she was going to die here. "I have some good news and bad news." Harley offered the warlock, her gemstone eyes finding his own that reflected the fiery hue of what she assumed was his creature.

Harley Westward