Soul Eater

Kip chuckled as Kitsi complained about the Monster Jam, nodding a bit. “I’m lucky enough to only have been scheduled one or two nights of the festival, but I pity you.” He admitted, starting to make her another drink. “How quickly did the rooms fill up?” He only knew Kitsi a little bit, but he’d stayed in her hotel long enough when he moved to town that he had gotten to know her a little bit. 

“You got lucky then,” she replied, toying with the straw from her empty glass, content to hold onto it until he had gotten her new one.  “I mean I got to go to some of it, but I miss camping out there.”  She let out a soft sigh, before stretching to crack her back.  “Very.  The artists and their staff took almost half it, without the guests who were too prissy to camp.” 

Deciding to take a well earned day off Kitsi had woken up later than usual and lazed in her bed for almost an hour before actually moving.  She had already decided that it would be a lazy day, although first she needed some coffee and something to fill the hole in her stomach.  So she pulled on the first clean pair of jeans she came across and a sweater to ward away the sudden autumn air before heading down to Society.  Entering the cafe she made her way to the counter, spotting a face she now recognised.  “How did you survive the rest of Monster Jam?”

With the end of the festival, it had seemed that slowly Hollow Grove was getting back to normal - or, as close to normal as possible in the town. Sporting a heavy hangover, and too little sleep, Leo had reluctantly returned to work, only to pull a sickie and close up within the first 2 hours of his shift. That’s how he found himself outside, desperate to relax and ignore real-world duties for a while. “Chocolate wine sounds like the devil’s work,” The vampire replied to the woman near him, looking at her over his tinted glasses. “Just go traditional! A nice hot mulled wine, you can’t beat that kind of shit, you know?”

“Is it though? Haven’t you ever had chocolate and red wine before?” she quizzed, though she supposed he did have some rhyme to his reason.  Only certain types would be likely to go for the choice and if she decided to go with rich meats she didn’t want to be accused of killing guests through overindulgence.  “Okay, mulled wine then.  But I’m after a few, what else screams winter for you?”

It had been a long couple of weeks for Kitsi with the running of the hotel and now she was finally able to have some time to herself and relax.  The thought of holing herself up in her apartment with Netflix and take-away was a highly tempting idea, but she also felt the need for a drink or several and drinking alone was just depressing.  Which is how she founds herself in the bar, sat on a stool and ordering her third Screwdriver.  “I swear to god I’m going on holiday for Monster Jam next year and the hotel can be someone else’s problem.”

Now that the flood of people from Monster Jam had dissipated Kitsi was once again free to start thinking ahead to the next plans for the Harbor Inn.  It was Thanksgiving she set her sights on and she had a few ideas in mind for the menu, but also a new range of wines to go not only with that but the Christmas period too.  Which was how she had ended up in a meeting with the owner of Labella.  As they parted ways she had been left with a deal and a whole plethora of wines to choose from, deciding to stick around the main restaurant area as she perused them.  Leaning against a bench she turned to the figure next to her.  “What do you think about chocolate wine for Christmas?”

“Who’d have thought a five year old would be easier to handle than you.” he said teasingly. He was always careful with Livy of course, he simply didn’t think this would be of any danger to her. And with both him and Kitsi around, nothing could possibly go wrong. “Come on, Kitsi, she’s going to have fun. And so will you. Now stop worrying and jump in already.” 

“Probably any person who knew me and stopped to think for five seconds,” she replied, a teasing smile on her own face.  A stray morbid thought hit her with the possibilities - she had never attempted to resurrect a child before, would it be harder or easier than an adult?  “Fine, fine.  Here I come!” she cried, deciding she may as well go all out and jumped into the pit sending balls flying.

“Never been to Coachella, always wanted to go though.” Nessa said, looking over at Kitsi, “I loved metal and rock music, it’s fun, and I enjoy the violence.” She said, smiling at the older woman. 

“It’s worth it.  Maybe one year we could go,” she suggested, it had been a long time since she had last left Hollow Grove for more than a night or two.  Raising a curious brow at the other’s words she dropped her arms.  “Enjoy the violence?”

Cora shook Kitsi’s hand. “That I am,” Cora said with a smile. “I moved here a few weeks ago. Getting adjusted is a bit difficult,” she said, gesturing to everything around her. “I’ve never lived in a place where supernaturals just…well are. It’s refreshing.” 

When Kitsi released her hand she shot the other her well practised business smile.  “I’ve been here basically all my life, aside from a few adventures.  But then, I guess I don’t possess any powers that would be an instant give away.  Never really thought of it like that I suppose.”

“To find the love of my life and settle down with three kids.

Just kidding, fuck that. I dunno, I don’t really plan for the future, it only fucks you over when it doesn’t happen.”

Sensory overload was not the proper way to describe it. Ever was in fucking heaven. For a moment she had to make sure she hadn’t died and actually gone to heaven. Her guitar was strapped to her back, thumb fiddling with the strap as she bounced on her heels. She’d been getting ready to perform on a stage so tiny she could barely fit anything but herself and a stool, but it was enough for her. “I’m shaking. My hands are shaking and I’m probably going to start crying at any minute.” She looked around to see who would be in the vicinity to hear her sing. Hell– she’d played for three people before. “Promise you’ll slap me if I look like I’m about to faint.”

Kitsi figured she should also check out some of the smaller and more local artists as well while she was here and she took the chance one visit when the artist on the main stage wasn’t one she particularly cared for.  It seemed Ever was up next and Kitsi crossed her arms over her chest, cocking a hip as she waited.  “Sure go ahead, I’m sure everyone here came to listen to the sweet melody of your tears,” she replied, the corners of her lips twitching with the promise she asked.  “Now that I can happily do for you.”

“Me? Nah, I’m thinking of TC. He gets so grouchy sometimes, it’s a nightmare.” Okay, so he thrived on social stuff and sleeping on a boat kind of limited that. Sue him. (Please don’t, he wasn’t a rich vampire.) Just for fun, he dug in his heels as she began to pull before following with a low laugh. “Alright, alright. But here’s the catch.” He carried and rushed them to the front of the slide. “You’re coming with me.” With a near-maniacal laugh, he launched them down the slid at a spin, laughing the whole way down.

“Yeah well, I can’t imagine being on a floating hulk of metal surrounded by water is a cat’s ideal location.  Aside from the fish,” she replied.  She had seen the cat wandering about the hotel and its surrounds since Mako had been there and she certainly didn’t mind if the animal caught a vermin or two that tried its luck to sneak from the harbour.  Kitsi tugged a total of two times he dug his heels in, before realising it would be pointless trying to get a vampire to move when she was merely a witch.  “What is the-”  she was cut off as Mako pulled them both at the slide at the same time, letting out a scream as they slipped down it.  She had been intending on having a go anyway but she had to admit the surprise element he had thrown in heightened her adrenaline.  “You sure are a peace of work.” 

“Me? I don’t have anything to hide from.” Amber replied with a laugh. A lie probably. She was human in a town full of dangers. But still, that didn’t mean she would ever hide. “We had some carnivals growing up but they were tiny events.” she explained. “And honestly, my parents never really wanted me to go so we never went.” she shrugged. And friendships hadn’t really existed to go with her peers. “I like the idea of the castle. You don’t mind hanging out with me?”

“Lucky you,” Kitsi murmured an off-handed reply as she linked arms with the anthropologist and pulled her in the direction of the bouncing castle they had set up.  “Why did your parents never want you to go?  That seems to be a strange thing to keep a child from.  Did they read one too many Stephen King novels or something?” 

Vanessa smiled, “it’s a lot different. My first concert was a unknown heavy metal band, I don’t even remember the name of them.” She said, laughing, that was the concert she met Isabella at. At the thought of Bella made her frown slightly before shaking her head, “there were so many mosh pits, but here it’s not as rowdy as I was expecting.” 

“Wouldn’t have picked you for a metal head,” Kitsi commented as she swayed her hips, her arms in the air.  “There’s only one reason I’d ever consider going to one of those and I’m not going to divulge what that is.  Monster Jam is as good a festival as any.  I went to Coachella once or twice back in the day.” 

While he waited for one of his informants, Ryder found himself seated in the back of one of the party tents, the smell of alcohol, marijuana, and desperation filled the air. The concert, festivals and other activities were not his types of events, but back here, surrounded by the intoxication of supernaturals was enough for him to at least keep himself busy while he waited for his true purpose of being here.

He was accompanied by two women and a man, one of the girls wearing his cowboy hat as he sank his fangs into the other, feeding lightly on her, able to taste the alcohol in her bloodstream. His eyes flickered to a passerby, noticing them watching. He licked his lips as he lifted his head towards them. “You are more than welcomed to join,” he called out.

Kitsi had heard that Ryder was this way waiting it out in one of the tents and she could guess that he was probably running business even as he enjoyed the festival - it seemed very Ryder of him to do.  She didn’t need anything of him, god knows she still already owed him, but she figured if he was here and she was close by she may as well drop in.  They were somewhat friends after all, or at least she thought.

Walking into the tent she made her way to the figure in the back, surrounded by others.  With her hands in the pockets of her Letterman jacket she came to a halt in front of them.  “Not with the blood drinking I hope, it’s not really my style,” she replied, perching herself on a nearby seat. 

Vanessa smiled as Kitsi let her pull her to a stage, she was expecting some pull from the witch, but was happily pleased with the reaction. Spinning around, Nessa stopped infront of the first stage she came upon. A DJ was on the stage, mixing songs to create their own. Turning back to Kitsi, Nessa stayed dancing to the music being played on the speaker near her. “I haven’t been to a festival before, I’ve gone to a bunch of concerts while I was in school though.”

When they came to a halt at a stage with a DJ performing his own mixes Kitsi let the music pulse through her and moved to the beat.  Hell, it didn’t hurt to enjoy herself once in a while.  “They’re vastly different.  What do you think of your first festival experience?  Bit different from anything you’ll find in the outside world.”

Dylan cocked her head to the side. “Bane?” she questioned curiously. “Seems like a pretty cool party. Though,” she shrugged. “I guess that’s not some people’s kinda thing.”

“Oh it’s cool, but I haven’t been able to enjoy it properly for the last few years,” she said.  “I own the hotel which is where all the musical acts stay, as well as those that don’t like camping.” She sniffed, taking a mouthful of the drink.  “As you probably rightly imagine it can be a nightmare keeping them all happy.”

Cora turned around, startled. “Hmmm, I think they’ll barley keep them for an hour,” she mused. One of them was bound to lose it dancing or leave it somewhere while getting a drink. She regarded the stranger carefully. “Cora Hartley,” she said, offering her hand out to the stranger.

“I agree completely, maybe in the first half hour,” she agreed, hearing their laughter from inside the booth.  Glancing back at the stranger and her outstretched hand Kitsi moved to take it.  “Kitsi Parker.  I take it you’re new.”