culpable;

where: any bar/restaurant/bistro etc

“I have been thinking about this for a while, don’t you believe it’ll draw a good audience?” Max was on one of his latest ‘i have a brilliant idea’ rants that he subjected his companion to listen to. He started talking about projectors being the new television which led him to recall an idea for a revamp of the popular game show, Who wants to be a Millionaire. “Picture it, Sicily 2038,” he chuckled, “who wants to be a millionaire is still on the air, but all the contestants are billionaires, so now the show’s question is more like a threat. They would have to answer the questions correctly or stand to lose their money,” it’s either he’s onto something, or they are going to have a good laugh while fleshing out this game show idea.

DATE: July 4th, 2021 TIME: 02:34 PM LOCATION: The Boardwalk

“So I gotta hit all the blue cups for the teddy bear? Got it.” Eliot confirms with the owner, the toy rifle in his hands. He breathes in and out, then with a sharp glint in his eyes he takes the shots. One, two, three… and four blue targets fall one by one. Lowering the gun, he grins at the owner whose jaw dropped with the shock. “Forgot to warn ya– I spent a summer working at a carnival once and burned most of my paycheck on games like these so…” Instead of keeping the giant stuffed teddy bear, however, he hands it over to the kid that was crying about losing the game. “Here, you can have him. Merry, uh… Christmas? That’s a thing, y’know, Christmas in July.” The child and their parent thank him before going off to get some ice cream. Eliot, content that he made that kid’s day, turns his attention back to the game. “Still got it,” he picks back up the gun. “Alright, what next? Any prize you want?”

@darkesthourstarters​

+

Eliot’s interaction with the child brings a smile to his face as he watches on. Clearly his experience at carnival games wasn’t just a bluff. He certainly proved it, Max wouldn't doubt him again, between himself and the owner, Max didn’t know who was more surprised. Crossing his arms over his chest Max hummed thoughtfully as she scanned the rows of potential prizes. “That jumbo plush unicorn please and thanks,” unfolding his arms, Max pointed out the ridiculously sized stuffed toy. “I hope you’re not a one hit wonder, or I’m going to throw a tantrum like that kid if you don’t win me that unicorn.”

Location: Right Outside of Dance floor

Status: Open ( @darkesthourstarters​​ )

Time: July 4 / Yacht Party

Arthur laughed as he twirled his current dance partner, merely chuckling at himself as he forgets his footing and he nearly trips over himself. As much as werewolves were created to be the natural enemy of vampires, the pack knew how to throw a party. And unlike last year’s 4th of July or even earlier this summer, no one has been found dead yet! Huzzah! At this point the bar was on the floor and Arthur was beginning to unwind, let loose for the first in a long while. But maybe it was too loose. Because the second the stranger let go of his hand and turned to the next dancer in rotation, Arthur immediately stumbled back and out of the dance floor. Thankfully there was someone there to break his fall but his back still hit them with a loud ‘THUD!’.

“Oh shit!” Arthur spun around to face his unfortunate victim. “I’m so sorry for that! Are you alright?”

+

With absolutely no interest in celebrating the fourth of July, Max’s presence here is solely for appearance purposes. If it wasn't for Gina’s game plan he wouldn’t be anywhere near an event hosted by supernatural beings. The last couple of events were clear indicators that they shouldn’t be gathering together, yet, here’s everyone throwing caution to the wind and whatnot. Max is banking on Serena not wanting to spend much time here. This was sort of a test as well to see how she’d be received. At the first inkling of disaster he's prepared to get them out of there quickly and safely. “Whoa there dancing queen!” Max used his free hand to ensure Arthur was steadied. “You’re lucky my plate is empty right now or we’d be fighting if any of it had fallen,” he joked. “It’s good to see you having a good time, by the way.” Max expected Arthur of all people to share in his caution and paranoia. 

who: open to vampires when: june 24th, night of the full moon where: the sinner

After the lull in activity of the last few days, throwing a full moon event had seemed like the only logical thing. The hunters were occupied, wolves and mermaids were consumed by their own suffering, and the banshees were hardly a threat. It seemed as good a night as any to attempt to increase foot traffic at The Sinner again. Still, celebration seemed to be a far fetched hope given the events of the passed few weeks and the way in which members of the supernatural world were still collectively holding their breaths. But that was hardly any reason to put a pause on living, Matthias decided. “First one’s on the house,” he announced, securing his own glass. “Then I expect all of you leeches to pay up.”

+

“Only the first round? Ha! I’ll sponsor everyone,” he suggested. Tonight Max is ecstatic and has a lot of reasons to celebrate. Things were finally back to some semblance of normalcy in his life, with Serena’s acquittal and freedom playing a huge part in that mood shift. After the past couple of weeks things have been rough, and as far as Max is concerned they have certainly earned an epic celebration of sorts. Matthias’ event couldn't have come at a better time. Climbing up onto the table, he got everyone’s attention and made a declaration. “Drinks on me all night y’all!” Hoisting his glass up into the air he saluted the vampires that heartily cheered in response. Max downed what was left of his drink before hopping down. He landed in true superhero fashion, simply because he can. 

special delivery for →  @maximillians​

location: their apartment

“Babe!” Serena called from the couch as she laid there desiccating from the lack of blood in her system. Her skin was pale and her hair was lacking its usual shine and bounce. “Can you just lay here with me for a while?” She asked softly. “I’m honestly not sure how many more days I can go.” She admitted to him. “Either Gina figures out a solution or we some how get blood in here.” 

+

Responding to Serena’s request Max left his home office Max padded bare footed into the living space. He wasted no time in settling onto the couch and pulling her close. “Soon,” he promised, wanting to believe that there would be a way out of this mess. “Or I kill the witches, and we leave out the window.” No witches, no magic bounding Serena into their penthouse. It doesn’t feel like home anymore. After this is over he’s definitely going to insist that they move. “Better yet, we get a Siphoner to suck it all up, then we escape through a window.” Both plans he suggested entailed leaving through the window so that they avoid the hunters. The last thing either of them needs is the hunter’s curse driving them to their deaths, or else becoming a vampire version of Bonnie and Clyde would be all for naught.

Location: Outside Richtech Building

Status: Closed ( @maximillians​ )

Time: Late Afternoon

With extra spring in her stride, Vanessa Bellamy wandered into the front property of Richtech. No matter how well or no so well her interview with Ms.Payne and Kaplan Cosmetics went, Vanessa was sure she had the role in the bag. The thought of failure brought a pout out of her. After all, who else were they going to hire? No one had a face like hers and no one could do that job better than her! Vanessa was pulled out of her thoughts when she spotted a peculiar man from the corner from her eye, gaze following him as the actress stopped in her tracks. She blinked once. “…” And then twice, opening her mouth to say something. Isn’t that the guy married to the ripper? Getting close to him might increase her chances…

+

Preparing to leave the office for the evening, Max phoned for his car to be brought around to the front of the building before heading downstairs. He hung around in the lobby for a bit before heading outside. He started humming a random tune that’s been stuck in his head for most of the day while scrolling through notifications on his phone. Upon hearing a footsteps approach and then pause, he glanced up at the woman. Arching a brow Max turned his head to look behind him, then back to the blonde. Having confirmed that he was the target of her curiosity, he sighed. “You okay there? Can I help you with something?”

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Eliot jolts and rouses from the blackout. He tries to sit up, and bumps his head hard onto something equally solid as his skull. Rubbing his head idly like he can’t feel a thing, he slowly registers that he is crammed under a table of what looks like a booth of a bar… With no recollection whatsoever of how he ended up here, where he is, or why his t-shirt is gone and he only has his jacket. Everything is fuzzy and swirly. He vaguely recalls going to a bar, and talking to a few people and getting roped into a party… He crawls out of the table gracelessly. Noticing the way the bartender is glaring at him, he returns a brazen grin. He was about to order more drinks since he is already there, when his friend shows up. “Max! Bud, what are you doin’ here?” His words come out slurring, and Eliot pokes his tongue out like he was trying to feel it. “Uh, yeah, I think so? …maybe? I dunno,” it finally occurs to him to check himself and his belongings– his necklace and phone is with him, the wallet’s gone, and then he touches his cheek to find what feels like a cut. “Think I was at a party…?” 

+

Oh god was this going to turn into a hungover movie type experience? Max is certainly too sober for that scenario. “Party or a fight?” He has his doubts as to Eliot simply attending a party. Clearly more happened, and judging by the state he’s in, tonight has been very eventful. “That doesn’t look so bad,” Max concluded upon inspecting the injury himself. “Do you think you’re hurt anywhere else?” Aside from his head and face there wasn't anything that Max noticed, but only Eliot could decipher if there’s any cause for concern. “So you have no recollection of calling me or texting me? You have your phone right?” After all, it's the location that led the Vampire to this bar. “Check it, and maybe empty your pockets so we can figure out what the hell happened to you,” finding some clues is as good a place as any to start. “I brought a power bank along just in case it’s dead,” he noted, but didn’t reach into his pocket yet.

status: open | location: anywhere | @darkesthourstarters​

Hands full with an assortment of paper bags, Wyatt found himself in the midst of a sporadic juggling act – all for the sake of a single smoke. Naturally, it would’ve made sense to put the bags down first. Yet the underlying itch for nicotine had eaten away most of his patience. And, well, he always had a knack for making things more complicated than need be.

A small, triumphant grunt left him when he bested the challenge. Cigarette stuck between his lips, he craned his head towards the lighter. It was only then did he notice another presence out of his periphery. 

“Mm, mind.. lendin’ a hand?” Wyatt mumbled, still hunched at an awkward angle. Hardly mattered if he had triple the strength of a regular human when there wasn’t enough surface area to keep the items all balanced.

+

Location: Pavement across from Ophelia’s Burial Sight

Status: Open ( @darkesthourstarters​ )

Time: Immediately after Ophelia’s Funeral Ceremony

Despite their best wishes, Arthur attended Ophelia’s burial from a distance, leaning on a tree and hugging themselves as they watched on with heavy thoughts. The vampire knew well when to distance themselves, making that decision after overhearing scandalous whispers and feeling several eyes on them moments prior. Arthur didn’t blame them. After all, they were one of the few vampires in attendance outside of the leaders and also was the specific vampire that helped hide Serena on the retreat’s last day. Mermaids and Hunters alike still furiously wanted her head on a pike but Arthur already had the time to expel their anger while aiding Serena. After that anger, a deep confusion and emptiness was left behind: dread and grief. They snapped out of their thoughts once the funeral attendees began to scatter. It must be over. Arthur hung their head low and averted their eyes as several people walked past them.

 “My sincerest apologies.” 

+

Seeing that Arthur had a similar idea he did, Max figured that they could weather the storm of dirty looks and whispered comments together. Vampires weren’t the most popular species at the moment, but Max felt as if he should still attend both funerals to show his respects. With his wife being the one at fault, Max attends a safe distance away from the crowds of mourners, and with hat and sunglasses on. It’s no disguise but unless you personally know him you wouldn’t really look twice in his direction. “Hey, it’s just me,” he responded as he came to stand beside the other vampire. Things were winding down, and people started to take their leave. “Have you been here the whole time?” 

​Max’s concern for Eliot had him wasting no time in springing into action. The drunk correspondence they had was confusing and raised a few alarms in Max’s head. Perhaps he was overthinking, but if there was ever a cry for help, this is certainly one. Having tracked his inebriated friend’s phone, Max managed to locate Eliot at a bar in the city. Entering the establishment, Max quickly scanned the patrons until he found the familiar face. “Eliot, hey!” he called out as he approached. “Are you alright man?”