2020-02-24 - I have to hurt you, to hurt him

Having gotten the call, Stephanie drives over to the Addington House to that sense of being watched and that dark negative energy in the air. Anger. Cold. She walks over to the House to investigate, see what's going on.

Through her recently awakened senses, perhaps a spidey sense that tingles, or a quick text from Stephanie the small hacker arrives at the house via her car. It is only the second time she's had to deal with the otherworldly. She isn't afraid but she should be. She gets out of her vehicle feeling the oppressive nature of the house. Kim only sighs, she knows she needs to use her skills to help others and this isn't a exception. Looking over to Stephanie as she walks towards the house "I'm not going to let you do this alone. Wait for me." she states plainly.

"I'm on the clock, Kim, you didn't have to come. This is my job," Stephanie clarifies as they approach the House itself.

If the alarm goes off at Addington House, you can bet that call winds up making Patrick's phone buzz. And then making Patrick very cross. He is not a first responder, so he has to get up off the sofa (in the middle of Property Brothers!!!!), debate if he's sober enough to get here under his own power (he's not), grouse at Anne for the ten minutes it takes to make himself presentable enough to leave the house while she gets him a car (because Uber or Lyft or whatever are still beyond him)...

Anyway. The point of all that is: Patrick rolls up in the backseat of a Toyota Prius some number of minutes after the alarm is tripped. To find the House being a bitch and a couple of people milling around outside it, so pardon him for being brisk about demanding, "Who are you people?" Also, his phone is out 'cause he's about to call the alarm company and probably also the cops. "Don't," touch the House, he means, scurrying (in a very unPatrick way) to put himself between Stephanie and the door.

"I'm a paramedic, a first responder," Stephanie replies immediately, pointing at the truck with the letters EMT on it. "You're the man in charge here? Dispatch sent me here when the alarm was tripped."

"Of course I didn't need to come. But you are my friend and no way I'm about to let you get yourself killed for a job." Kim says to Stephanie. Oh there is another voice she turns her head towards Patrick "Someone who doesn't want this stuff leaking out. I mean could you imagine the scandal if it did. No way this could be explained as swamp gas or the like. So if you stand aside we can get thing done." raising her hand and directing her focus towards the door. Just in case he doesn't move out of the way.

The look Patrick has for Kim is... let's just call it unkind and dismissive. "This house will annihilate you if you're not careful. Which will make a huge mess that I'm not keen to have to clean up in the morning." He holds a palm to the door behind him, very much staying between Stephanie, Kim, and the house. No matter how hard he insists on ignoring the cold and discomfort, it still sends a shiver down his spine and makes him pull back his hand, turning to face the door he doesn't want to open. Keys clink when he reaches into his pocket.

And, sorry, but everyone's just going to have to allow him a moment. He pinches his eyes closed, leans his forehead against the door, takes a steeling breath, and sticks the key in the lock. There's a very quiet bit of, "...pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen," going on under his breath when he opens the door.

"I know I said what I said about unfinished business and a creature that got away, but...I didn't seek it out, I just happened to be dispatched here." Stephanie approaches the opened door, her senses overwhelmed by the overlaying negative energy and darkness inside the building.

Patrick, one sec, he needs to stand in that open doorway and fire off a text to someone. Like humans do in this day and age.

(TXT to Alexander) Patrick : Come to Addington House when you get this 911

(TXT to Alexander) Patrick : Thank you

Kim gives a dismissive shrug of her shoulder to Patrick "No worse than cracking the NSA." she truly has no idea what could be in store further on. Steeling herself to follow Stephanie. At the pray? She isn't sure what Patrick does as he unlocks the door. Stepping forward to go inside, up until she hears what Stephanie has to say "The same one you mentioned before? Stepie you need to be careful. Let me go in first. I think I shield myself for awhile. At least that is what I've been practicing." She moves to go inside and feels that malevolence it gives off. Pursing her lips to keep going. Her hand still open and looking for any sort of loose bit of furniture or housing she could use if needed.

Black eyes stare out of the house at the people on the front porch, and Patrick says dully, "Famous last words," of Kim's statement that it's no worse than the NSA-thing. He makes a grab for her arm when she says she's going on in first, but - between being drunk and not the FITEiest of people - he misses by a mile, and his hand just falls through the dark space, landing back at his side. With a long-suffering sigh, he asks the universe, "Why does no one ever listen to me?" And then steps across the threshold, immediately reaching to turn on the lights properly, his forehead creasing sadly at the sound drifting from the upstairs.

"Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck," has replaced his Hail Mary.

Glaring at Patrick attempting to grab Kim, Stephanie takes her opportunity while the man is distracted to walk off and investigate. If the creature she'd seen the previous month was around, she'd make sure to finish the job she and Devlin had failed to complete the first time. She scans the room, waiting to see what happens next.

As her first reaction, Stephanie looks for the source of the voice, trying to get a visual on whatever entity is speaking, the source of all that hate and that hissing snarl.

Kim barely even registers the attempt to grab her. "Only last words if I don't make it." She keeps going on in and it is some irony that she is usually the voice of reason. In this case it is Patrick who she ignores. Looking about the room. At the terrible voice she grasps her head. Shaking it to get rid of the hate. "Shut the hell up!" she says not sure it will a difference. This is so outside of wheel house and her desire to be first to fades away so much. Still she has her friend to protect. Following up her statement with "Come show me the flowers. I have a special gift for you."

There's a stumbled step when Patrick's attention catches on those flowers, like he tripped over the threshold and needed the extra stride to right himself. "Clayton?" he calls into the darkness, choking back the taste in the air. Close enough now to see the mucous covering, Patrick crouches next to those dahlias with an aggravated, "God dammit, Alexander," and some mumbled things that are very uncharitable regarding Alexander Clayton, rabble. His hand hovers about four inches above the flowers, fingers twitching.

But he lives by his edict: DON'T TOUCH THINGS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. And retracts his hand, using it to brace on his knee and unfurl himself from that crouch. Which just happens to have him straightening up in time to stare into the eyes staring back at him. They hold him for a second, before the memory of the upstairs noise resurfaces. He'll be darting up there momentarily. Barring sudden death or dismemberment.

(TXT to Patrick) Alexander : OMW. What's up?

"NO!" Stephanie's voice yells out loud and clear as she runs to follow Patrick, who is getting pushed somehow deeper into the house. There is no way she would ever allow someone to be harmed, not under her watch. Her own personal safety is an afterthought to that of the one who seems to be in trouble.

It's a good night for Uber, apparently, as a battered little sedan with a bored college student pulls up to Addington house, and Alexander gets out. He frowns at the dark house, and the vehicles out front, and slouches his way towards the front door. He's dressed in an ugly black sweatshirt with a faded school emblem of some sort, the shirt hanging down almost to his thighs, and thick jeans and stompy workboots. Not exactly an imposing figure, especially with the bruises still fading on his forehead. He moves towards the door. "Patrick?" It's that weird 'hushed call' volume, where you're not really sure if you really want someone to answer...or really don't.

With Kim's hand open she focuses on a looser board. With backwards gesture of her hand she forces it free and against Patrick. Not pulling him back but at keeping him from going further into the hateful house. She has tone everything else out as she keeps up her ability and not let it go.

The look from Patrick to Kim when that board does its trick is well-matched to the word, not quite as hateful as the house is being right now but pretty close: "I will fucking end you if you damage this house again." He's not aware of Alexander's arrival yet, unfortunately, so he grabs the board with both hands and gives it a totally ineffective tug. "Move this. Now." Patrick is a person that's used to telling people what to do and having them just do it; it shows in the way he talks to people like they work for him, in the brook-no-argument way he relaxes his hands and points between Kim and the offending piece of the mean house.

At least all this keeps him downstairs for now, so Alexander can catch up and save him. <3 <3

Kim is so focused that doesn't mean she can't hear things though. "Do what you have to. I only concern is keeping you and others safe." she says to Patrick in a very calm voice. Like she is just unaffected by the world outside. To his command she wouldn't give a damn even if she knew his last name. Maybe not the best attitude in Gray Harbor, but she is outsider what does she know. "No I will not. Why are you so determined to go to your death?" again in that same calm and focused voice with her palm open controlling the board. At least until the searing pain hits her as the hatred of the home is directed at her. Sinking to one knee and the board dropping down a little. No cry of pain as she focuses her will "You can't have him! He is under my protection." talking the house and later she'll process how ridiculous it is. For now she redoubles her efforts the board going back into place. Threats from Patrick or the house she doesn't care. She wouldn't let anyone get hurt if she can help it.

Of course Kim offers up yet another perfect distraction. While Kim has Patrick's attention away from anything she is doing, Stephanie herself decides to go deeper into the house. She wants to know if the creature she and Devlin had allowed to escape weeks ago is the one responsible for this. She needs to try to stop it from harming other people. She goes into a full sprint into the direction Patrick was initially being pulled away. The dark negative energy surrounding her, the hate, the anger, all of it, she just pushed past it all.

Alexander pushes the door open and walks through. "Goddamn it, Patrick, if you make even one remark about fucking trespassing--" he's muttering to himself as he steps inside. But then he hears the sound of Kim shouting and the half-amused irritation falls from his face, replaced with something blank and reptillian. He reaches to the small of his back and pulls a knife from the sheath hidden under the oversized sweatshirt - it's a long, wicked looking thing with an antler handle. He moves towards the sound of commotion and unfamiliar voices. "Hello? Who's there? Patrick?"

Not many things are normal in this town, especially the more Hera learns about the area. One thing is for certain though, she loves her friends so when she gets a message from Kim, she dresses out of her business type clothes and into a pair of jeans and a sweater. The directions are likely pretty easy to figure out as she's grown more used to where things are in Gray Harbor. Hopefully soon she can find her Asian friend as she seems on a serious quest to offer her aid.

The desire to choke someone is strong. Strong enough that Patrick uses both hands now to make the universal sign for strangling someone while he tells Kim, "Because this is my house, and I will not have it acting up without my permission. Now move the fucking board, or I'm going to do something we're both going to regre - Clayton?" Never mind. Fuck the board. Fuck Kim. He wheels around mid-threat and trots down the few stairs he climbed, calling from across the foyer, "Apparently, the whole fucking town thinks it's 'tromp around Addington House' night. I'm going to lock them in and let the house deal with them however it sees fit."

He has his keys in hand and everything, though he pulls up sharply when he gets an eyeful of Alexander's knife. "Please don't stab my house." Then there appears something gross, and he ever-so-subtly sliiiiiiiiiides backward a step, putting Alexander (and his big knife, swoon) between Patrick and dead-stuff. "Good God, what have you brought with you this time." Equal parts afraid and impressed.

Vague messages and an address. Devlin arrives in his Rubicon outside.. clearly off duty in civi's. He takes note of the cars outside of the house and makes his way to the porch.

Isn't Patrick's words or rather his threats. Kim's calm gaze moves over to the hag that comes down. With a flick of her wrist the board quickly moves off Patrick it's new target is the terrible thing that enters her vision. "I said you can't have him. Are you deaf?" still calm as she speaks. She needs to be to make this happen. She is vaguely aware of other coming and while she would greet them that isn't where her mind is at. Not even after texting Hera for help. Nor at Alexander with his big knife her only goal is take out the threat to everyone's safety.

Alexander stops and stares at the monstrous form. "Oh, Christ, it's you, you creepy obsessive fucker." And then there's fire, and Alexander does the smart thing and hits the floor for a moment, rolling away from the spitting flames. "Fuck! Why are you here! Patrick! If you're going to feed people to your fucking house, maybe start with the monster?" He starts to scramble up to his feet as the phones and tablets go crazy, knife at the ready. "And get down! It's dangerous and powerful." Like, duh, Alexander? A look towards Kim. "Hello. I don't know you. Can you fight?" As he asks (and notably, does not ask Patrick), he's starting to stalk in the direction the creature disappeared.

By the time Stephanie returns to the foyer from her quick walk, not wanting to get too deep into the house to avoid getting lost, she comes face to face with the nude grey creature and comes back just in time to see the fire. Well, she knows which approach she is going to take. She focuses on the gray creature, concentrating on it to cause internal injuries rather than to harm the outside environment or the people around her.

Hera is a woman on a mission. A friend tried to reach her and she's got a clear purpose to get there. With true tenacity, she manages to do just that and then she sees something she certainly didn't expect. "Kim are you?" She doesn't even get to ask 'ok' as she catches sight of the monstrosity there. "What the fuck?!" A good question to ask but this isn't a creature you'd ask out on a date. "Jesus H. Christ couldn't even fix that what the?! Call the dentist or something those teeth are horrible and a plastic surgeon would retire after seeing something like that." But, dedicated to friends she can only assume that this beast is as evil as it looks. Sadly, the woman isn't much of a fighter but, no use in telling her that. "Hey! Hey you poor excuse for a weight loss program! Wes Craven called and said he's finding Freddy a new girlfriend! In the meantime." She yells as yeah, she gets ready to take off a shoe and throw it toward the creature, "Stay away from my friends!"

Mind you, Addington House has a sprinkler system whose sole purpose is to keep it from burning down. And those sprinklers definitely work (witness the tree-trimming party). And yet...

Patrick crouches down as low as he can, failing to get rained on by the sprinkler system - for which he spares one baleful upward glance. "Stop talking shit to the damn thing and deal with it," he demands sort of universally. Someone in this room must be able to deal with it. He will be working his way along the wall of the foyer (in the opposite direction from the monster) toward a utility closet off the front hallway. Where the valve is for the asshole sprinkler system.

To save the house.

While the rest of you guys die or whatever.

"Damn it," Devlin exclaims rather loudly, "Where the fuck are the Dee n Dee nerds when you need one?" He turns around to pull a few things from the Rubicon, "At least I am not butt ass naked..." He first grabs and slips on his grey gargoyles.. eye protection with good contrast, two his small med bag going over a shoulder, three his hunting knife going onto his belt, and last but not least.. his three quarter staff.. "Just fuck me sideways with a two ended spork...." The gearing up from the Jeep is fast and practiced.. and then he turns walking up to the house at a rapid pace with staff in hand but avoiding the direct line with the door.. it just beltched a fireball, no need to get in the way of the next ball of fire.

"I can use my mind and I don't care if /Them/ come for me. Other ways not so much." Kim replies to Alexander in that same eerie calm voice regardless of what is happening. "Hera get behind me. I can keep us both safe. Do what you can, channel your power and we'll send this thing back to where ever it came from." a sidelong glance is given to Patrick, he may be a ass in her eyes but at least he is still a safe ass. The board goes flying towards the awful thing and then just right past it. "Fuck!" finally her calm breaks and the board falls to the ground. Maybe she isn't as skilled as she thinks she is.

Blinking a bit.. Devlin groans, "Damn.. " and following mentally that classic SyFy command.. shields up as he employs what little physical he can for what it is worth. Crouching low, he moves in setting the staff down by the door on entry, it won't help here. Threat.. over there.. and wounded over there.. one can imagine seeing the question in his eyes, Any grunts around to engage the bad guy?

Still figuring things out, Devlin focuses on the spirit creature. Rather than the expected (on his part that is) gun fire, it is more like a force bolt that goes out from him to strike the creature, the energy just dissipates without effect within mere inches of the creature without effect.

Alexander curses under his breath as he sees Stephanie's chest open like a particularly gruesome flower. "Patrick. Goddamn it, get the noncombatants OUT OF HERE! Fuck!" He shakes his head. "This isn't working." So...he stops. He takes a look around at where he is, and then closes his eyes. He reaches out for the creature's mind; this time, not to read it or attack it - the hate is too powerful for him to want to delve into it for long. Instead, he creates a lure, crafted out of what he knows the creature wants. Maybe even needs.

Beth.

He builds her in its mind, standing in the room, calling out, softly but with a voice that carries to Obsesi's mind, "My love, I'm here! I'm so sorry. I was frightened by just how much you loved me. But I'm not any more. I'm here for you. Come here, come to me. Please." While she pleads, Alexander is opening his eyes to crouch in the shadows, hoping to spot it when/if it emerges, his knife held out in a ready posture.

After a baffled moment where Patrick, who had almost managed to slink allllllll the way into the hallway, stops and gapes at Alexander. "How?!" He trails off into a mumble that seems to be questioning why people run in to what is obviously a haunted house that is on fire and yeah. His solution is to make his way to the valve in the aforementioned side-closet, spinning the thing so the sprinkler system actually comes on. The hiss and drip-drip-drip of water goes all over all the antiques. And the people. And a significant portion of Stephanie's blood.

"If you are not capable of or willing to deal with this thing, please get the fuck out of this house!" He sounds marginally like someone people ought to listen to , despite the white noise from the falling water diluting the authority behind his voice. He'll even show people the door, skidding across the damp floor to brake next to it and swing it wide open. See how appealing outside looks, everyone! Monster-free! And not on fire!

With a groan, Stephanie clutches her bleeding chest, struggling to breathe and stay conscious as she falls to the ground. If anyone dares to try to read her emotional state, she's terrified and panicking. She sends out one last message to her friends nearby. < Help me. >

Hera stands behind Kim, doing what she says for a change. When Stephanie goes down she screams,"Help her!"

It's time for change of tactics, time for some social engineering. Kim slowly walks toward the creature, after hearing I love her, swaying her hips. Somehow managing not to gag "Mmm do you really love her? Can't you love another woman? Take a look at me and can you ask yourself can could not love me? I so badly need love." giving a wink to the awful thing as she raises finger to tug down her lower lip. She can't see what is broadcast to the thing's head and only hope this gives others a opening. In other ways she can't help Stephanie, but letting people take it down will mean getting her friend to safety. So she plays her part.

Seeing that Hagula is occupied by something?? Devlin turns his attention to Stephanie; time to do his actual job, deal with a casuality. He moves over to her, "Ok.. this is why we are not grunts." He then does a fast assessment to see if she is safe enough to move out of the house. "Hera.. if you can, come give me a hand."

Alexander is trusting that Patrick is...dealing with something. That SOMETHING apparently being turning on the sprinklers so that cold water falls steadily on his head. "Thanks, Patrick," he mutters. He hears the mental call, and there's a moment spent, <<Help is on the way. Be strong.>> And he hopes that's true! But most of his attention is fixed on the creature, and maintaining the illusion. Beth turns towards it, and lifts her hands, smiling in a way that would probably give the actual Beth hives.

Meanwhile, Alexander is trying to move quietly through the haze of sprinklers towards the sludge creature. Trying to get close enough to lunge and jab his knife deep into its neck.

Listen. Patrick tried to talk people into leaving. Don't blame him if no one listens. He'll be standing by the door for now, getting sprinkled on. While people with more courage capability deal with this problem.

Easy call on Devlin's part.. "Hera.. grab my folding stretcher in the back of the jeep. Long Camo bag with white stitching lettering that says ST300." He then continues his eval as he slides his bag off his shoulder, "Well Stephanie.. you really wanted to challenge me.. come on.. I've seen worse in an LA ER." weird way to reassure.. but hey.

Did Kim just get ignored by the terrible thing? Yeah she was and that will not damage her self-esteem in the least. Still it seems so distracted offering a heart to something. She exhales and focuses again opening her palm to float the same board. She would choose a lamp but Patrick was pissy about messing up the house further. Because yeah a place is more important then his life. A flick of finger sends it crashing into the middle of the hideous thing. At least Kim did something right this time.

Stephanie is in and out of consciousness, fighting not to completely succumb to her injuries. When she hears Devlin, she mutters, "Get it...don't let it get away...so tired..."

Hera is here to help however she can and while she's dealing with a mass of emotions on her own, mainly concern for those close to her, the leader takes the role of following orders. This isn't the art gallery after all and sometimes leaders are the best followers. She looks over at Kim to make sure she still has things in order and, assuming she is ok, she goes to help Devlin. "Got it Cousin." She goes off to play assistant as needed. She doesn't show any fear and in moments is by his side with whatever you need. This time she's not chattering or asking questions but she's truly trying to be helpful. "Camo bag coming." In moments, it's there for him.

Oh that is FOUL. Alexander makes a inarticulate sound of disgust. But it doesn't put him off his assault, not even when he realizes that it's enthralled by the illusion no more. He calls out to the one he felt strike it, "Keep it up! Knock it down!" And then he tries to do his best to put words to action, moving in close despite the foul, rotting sludge, and stabbing at every potentially vital spot he can reach on the creature with a brutal coldness. "You're not WANTED HERE!"

There is fighting going on and Devlin could not care less right now. He has a patient, that is what is important. He begins prepping Stephanie to be moved as this needs surgery SOON. Once Hera brings over the stretcher, Devlin opens it out to get ready for moving Stephanie. "Hera, I will need your help. You'll have to do what I ask the way I ask.. and when I ask, Ok?"

Kim decides it's time for change of tactics yet again. The thing thinks about love maybe it understands the other side "You are ignoring me Senpai! I will show you my love!" flexing her fingertips to make the board swirl around the creature's head. She is making it clear she is the one who is doing it. "Cast your eyes to anyone and I'll cut their hearts out to present to you. That is how much you mean to me and if I need to tie you up in basement until you accept my love then that is what I'll do Senpai." even fake Yandere Kim can be scary thing "Whose heart do you need? Why can't you see what you mean to me?" she tilts her head towards Devlin and Hera mouthing 'Go' as they get Stephanie on a stretcher. Her full attention turned back to the creature "Do you not believe me? I swear I'll cut myself or you. You are all I need!"

Like the pro at this, Devlin is. He directs Hera to help him and guides the move so Stephanie is moved into the stretcher. Of course he straps her securely to the collapsible stretcher. Getting ready for the lift and move. "I'll need your help for this Hera, all the way to the hospital."

Hera truly feels torn. Kim's display of power is impressive, but the thought of her leaving her friend behind is something that will clearly torment her. She shivers a bit and bites her bottom lip out of nervousness then she says, "I swore to myself I'd never leave my friends behind ever again." Yet, Devlin is one of the few people who honestly can give her directions, and, in this case she will likely follow, but her eyes glisten as tears begin to form. "I don't know what the rewards are for doing what needs to be done. My God Devlin...if Kim ends up being hurt...." Yet now is not the time to deal with emotional issues or speak wretched rhetoric. Her family needs her, her real honest family and Stephanie's life may well be at risk. "Ok ok...." she tells Devlin, "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it, but tell me now before I have regrets." Though she tries to manage a glance to Kim to say, "You are the sister I never had...."

Kim eyes breifly mist up when Hera calls her the sister she never had. She touched Hera's once before and if she doesn't resist she does so now <Tell Grace I'm sorry. Tell her my last thoughts were about her.> She can't break the character she choose. She needs to buy time for her friends to escape. The creature is being stabbed but that doesn't mean it's not a threat anymore, even it bounces off of air? No time to think about that. Opening her arms towards the thing "Yes come to me Senpai. I love you so much and I'll do anything to prove it. Just slip into my arms and I'll make all the pain go away. No one can touch you after." forcing her lips into a wicked grin "We belong together forever!"

It's getting all over him, this gunk flowing over his hands as Alexander tries to put the thing down. He doesn't even hesitate at the pleading, just says, "No," and puts his weight into his blows, his expression blank and eyes black and fathomless. He reaches out with its free hand to try and hold it in place for the stabbing, and to keep it away from Kim, although he does spare the woman one incredulous look from his foul, fluid-spattered face.

These clothes are definitely going to have to be burnt. Alexander loses more wardrobe that way.

Having gotten Stephanei ready to move, Devlin then nods to Hera, "Your doing good Cousin. Now, comes the easy part.. getting out of the way of the fight. On three we lift and then we move together. I will count the steps, ok?" Still cool and calm.. as if that weird as fight is not happening. "Just watch me Hera.. don't worry about anything else."

Hera looks to Devlin face to face and focuses. "Ok" she says, "I'm cool, I'm calm, nothing strange here, nothing nothing." she says, "I'm ready to hear the steps and follow cousin. Let's get her to the hospital."

Kim spares a glance to Alexander. Shrugging her shoulder the only hint of her breaking her persona. At least until the thing force itself unto him with a disgusting display. All the things she didn't think were possible but again she needs to try to distract the thing. She walks over to be within touching range. "Stop your lips aren't meant for anyone but mine! You want his heart I'll rip it out from his chest. You just need to let him go, I'll finish this for us." pointing her fingers forward to make the board go close to Alexander's face. "Give me this. Show me that I mean something to you." her mask can't crack now, she needs to save him from the terrible thing. And hoping her words will be enough to convince the creature to let him go. "Better yet let him drop and give his knife. You know what I can give to you."

Alexander is grimly focused on trying to make this sludgy horror stop moving, so when it writhes around, he moves with it, mostly trying to keep stabbing it. It's too late when he realizes it's going for his face, and when he does, he tries to bring the knife up to stab it in its throat. But instead there is...the keese. Alexander's eyes go wide with horror as those flubbery lips close over his mouth and the dripping tongue tries to force its way inside. He screams - it's an atavistic reaction of utter rejection, and his struggles change tone from trying to hold Obsesi in place and slice it to pieces to instead trying to fling it away from him.

And throw up. The throwing up is going to happen whether he gets away from Obsesi or not - the only question is whether he vomits on an antique, or on Obsesi. And either way, Patrick is DEFINITELY getting a fucking bill for this.

Focusing on Stephanie, Devlin uses his talents to start her healing process.. knowing he can not knit bone, he just works on what he can fix.. small arteries and veins here and there.. Then he adds in using his skills as a paramedic to stabilize her condition so she can be transported in the truck.. going to be fun explaining why he off duty is driving someone whom is on duty.. he'll come up with something.

Hold up. Why will Patrick be getting a bill because Alexander's boyfriend showed up at Patrick's ancestral family home and started wrecking shop?

This is an issue that will pester the shit out of him later. For now, he's just staying on the porch, beating his head against the wall and trying not to cringe every time there's a noise from inside the house. Now that he's already fired off messages to the 10,000 people it's going to require to put the house back in order after this fiasco.

(Yes, this was a totally useless pose. YW.)

Well Kim wanted to distract the twisted thing from Alexander and she did. As it jumps on she tries to push it back with no success at all. Sheer terror in her eyes, as any calm she had vanishes as she lets out a scream before much of her face is enveloped by it's mouth. Right now if she has any strength left to fight back she's just trying to push it away. The only rational thoughts left in her head is just to get away. Whatever she imagined would happen was nothing like this.

Alexander? Well, Alexander throws up. Sorry velvet couch that probably costs more than his house - that was a terrible thing, and it needed to be expelled. His hands are stained black and dripping with the creature's foul ichor as he staggers back into a roughly standing position and looks around. He probably hoped that it had run away. Instead, it's on top of the woman, and he snarls and charges after it, knife raised. "Leave her alone! Leave them all alone!" he bellows, trying to get its attention back the old-fashioned, stabby sort of way.

The pleading in the creature's eyes softens Alexander's expression, even as covered in ick as he is, with the memory of the taste (THE TASTE) of it in his mouth. "I know," he says, voice raw from the vomiting and the yelling, but trying for softness, nonetheless. "You're lonely, you're empty, you're hurting. All of that is terrible. I'm sorry." The moment of genuine sympathy, even empathy, doesn't stop him from moving to straddle the creature, nor from raising the knife again. He brings it down without hesitation, trying to bury it as deep as it will go inside Obsesi's eye and whatever passes for its brain.

Alexander shuts his eyes tight against the spray of filth which fountains up."I'm sorry," Alexander says again, closing his eyes for a moment as the creature goes still. He swallows once, hard, then yanks the knife out of the socket and rolls off to the side with a convulsive shudder. He fights the urge to throw up again as he wipes the gory blade on his thigh, and slides it back into its sheath. The damned sprinklers ensure that they're in a sheer puddle of gore as he crawls over to Kim. "Hey. Hey, you. Are you dead?"

He hesitates, but forces himself to reach out and try to feel for her pulse before shouting for Patrick to call an ambulance.

Kim isn't moving. Her chest still rises and falls with small rugged breaths. The touch to feel for a pulse will reveal a weak one. While she doesn't stir at the check for signs of life she mutters "They don't love you." very quietly and not addressed to Patrick at all.

Alexander wipes his hands on his jeans several times, trying to clean them. It really just smears stuff. "Who and what--never mind. Question best left for another time," he mutters back. He scoops her up and starts to squelch his way outside. The least he can do is let her wait for the ambulance somewhere that isn't raining on her. "Stay awake. What's your name? I'm Alexander."

Kim's eye lids flicker open slightly as she is being moved "So many voices. They don't..." still not fully aware of anything. A voice is speaking and it isn't that horrible thing or what she heard before. Her brain scrambling to process and likely in a deep state of shock "Alexander? A name...I'm Kim. Am I dying? Is it dead?"

"Hi, Kim," Alexander says, quietly. "You're..." he actually has no idea whether she's dying or not, so he hastily changes what he was going to say to, "we're going to get you to the hospital so that you can get patched up. I think your friend already went there. And," a glance back towards the body, "I think it's dead." He looks back at her. "That was brave. To distract it." A pause. "It was also stupid. Don't taunt monsters, okay?"