Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Get ALL the marmalade off"

Brynhild Ingouf (brynhild_ingouf) wrote in spinningcompass,
@ 2020-07-01 00:31:00

Entry tags:

!plot, brynhild, john constantine

Who: Bryn and John Constantine
Where: His place
What: Undoing vampirism
When: After this
Rating: TBD but low I think, for blood.
Open: Nope
Status: On going

Bryn didn't even bother changing her clothes, after she had gathered what John needed. She actually skidded to a stop in front of his door barefooted. The borrowed shirt was pinned up in the front to keep it decent, and even though the shirt was long enough for a mini dress, the shorts beneath weren't her shortest pair, and peeped out the bottom.

She knocked on his door. Knowing better than barge in a mage's home. No doubt he had spells set and warding up. He was likely protecting more than himself now. She practically bounced on her toes, the bag with everything he needed from her did bounce against her hip. Was this real?

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-01 06:15 am UTC (link)

If she had already been human she would have been out of breath. But as it was her cheeks were rosy from the run, thanks to Thor's blood. Her heart hammered in her chest too. She couldn't help but grin at him when he let her in.

"Oh I'm absolutely sure. I will sign it in blood if you want me to." Bryn did not hesitate when he asked, as she closed the door behind her. "I mean I will have regrets about things that won't be there when I'm human again, but I will not regret their loss enough to keep me from going through with it." She crossed over to his kitchen table and began plucking the needed items out of her bag. Each in little neat containers, except for the blood. That was in a clouded glass vial, as long as her index finger, which she carefully offered to him. The blood inside was dark but still liquid.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-01 06:27 am UTC (link)

John took the glass vial and held it up to the light to inspect further. It looked like it would be enough. Hopefully... It wasn't as if he had made a cure for Vampirism before. He had killed Vampires before... never helped one before. But then again he never felt the same way either. He didn't get close to Vampires.

"Right, I'll have to get started on mixing these together. It might take an hour or so. The ley-line energy in this room should help quicken the process somewhat. Which is why I haven't asked you to wait a full day" he added, using his free hand to grab a silver bowl, dragging it across the table towards himself. John put the little glass vial to the side and lit a cigarette.
"Until then, there really isn't much to do in here so you'll have to keep yourself entertained" he said, taking a few short drags afterwards.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-01 09:10 am UTC (link)

"Gods above, you mean I could be human in just over an hour or so..." Bryn plopped down on his couch mindful of his tie. She lifted the borrowed shirt to her nose and inhaled. And was a little saddened that she didn't have anything of Jacob's on.

Her voice was a little muffled when she wondered aloud. "I wonder if your Ley-lines are laced in with the heart of the Spire. Or is that how most of your magic works? The closer to a ley-line the stronger it is?" The only magic she really knew was blood magic, but she knew spiritual, and supernatural activity was stronger along the ley-lines in her world. The were also where the veil to other worlds was thinnest.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-02 12:09 am UTC (link)

"Might be" John added. "Might take a bit longer to put all this together. I need to be careful with each step" he said, taking the bloodgrass out and placing it in the bottom of the bowl, along with nightshade and garlic. He then began to grind the ingredients together with a pestle stone.

"It's the brewing part that usually takes the longest but with the ley energy that could go a bit faster. I'll have to keep an eye on it to make sure" he explained while he worked, cigarette held between his lips. "And about the ley-lines in relation to my magic? Sort of. And sot of not. Depends on the magic, the connection and the intent" he added.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-02 04:24 am UTC (link)

That probably meant she should keep her yap shut and let him work. She drew her knees under the borrowed shirt. No doubt giving her a youthful look of a lost damsel in distress. But in reality she was swathing herself in the scent of her Pirate Captain. Trying to pick up some little trace of the other Assassin that might have rubbed off on him.

"Does any particular intent make them work for you better?" Bryn often wondered about his sort of magic. Was it something she could learn? Did she want to, with the Assassin training that Jacob offered. This would be another chapter to a very long life. The last chapter. But it would be a seminormal chapter. The life everyone else lived. She wouldn't have to see people she loved die over and over and over again. She glanced up at John.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-02 06:08 am UTC (link)

"Depends on the magic" John replied. "Depends on what you're doing, how you're doing it, experience" he shrugged casually as he worked. He briefly let go of the pestle, taking a drag on the cigarette. He blew some of the smoke into the mashed mixture and stubbed out the cigarette in a nearby ashtray. Picking up the pestle, he started working again.

He picked up the vial of blood and tapped it a few times before uncorking it and adding the liquid. As he did, he muttered in old Norse, under his breath. "Blood of the Master, cursed by rebirth, I John Constantine, turn your own blood against you, poison it with these wild things three. Nightshade, garlic, bloodgrass" He added the blood droplet at a time until all of the blood had been added. The mage placed the vial aside and took a moment to compose himself. He rolled his shoulders and reached for the next item. Next he added the soil, and he started working on mixing and mashing everything together.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-02 09:38 am UTC (link)

Bryn was beginning to wonder if she'd ever reach a point where he did not impress her. The words he spoke were perfectly in her own tongue, she didn't have to think about what was being said, and translate it into something she understood. It wasn't simply Icelandic, which was closer to Old Norse than anything else... He went the extra mile. She didn't doubt he had to do it for other spell work, but she couldn't help getting a little choked up.

But it only showed with a little sharp sniff. She did not speak again until he started mixing and mashing everything together again. "Do you know the language well enough to converse in it? Or do you know only what you need to for spells?" Her voice might not have been completely solid, it might have wavered a little.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-02 10:10 am UTC (link)

"Enough for the spell-work" he replied. "I know how to speak French but that's about it" he added. "Know bits and pieces of..." he paused, trying to work out how many different languages he dipped into in order to perform his spells. "Maybe ten languages? Maybe more?" he shrugged. He wasn't sure. After all, his mind was focused on his current task.

He added a few more ingredients to the mix. Red rose petals, a small red chilli, and ivy leaves.
"I draw this curse from the grave your were laid in. I draw this curse from the Masters blood" he muttered, adding his third last ingredient. Three thorns from a roses stem. He started work on mixing everything together again. Next he got up and walked to grab a small bottle from the kitchen counter, bringing it back. He sat down again and took the lid off. Inside, the water seemed to glow slightly. A pale shimmering blue. That would be the last ingredient he added.

Next he took out a knife and with it, he cut into his thumb, letting the blood drip into the silver bowl, mixing with the ingredients he had already placed there. "With this blood, I purify this curse. With my lifes blood, I snuff out the darkness and undeath itself" he said.

"Right... need some time to mix this up. Could you fetch me that glass bottle over there? Forgot to grab it" he said, gesturing to an empty whiskey bottle sitting on the coffee table in the sitting area. He sucked at the blood on the end of his thumb to get rid of it.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-03 05:27 am UTC (link)

Bryn watched him work, remaining silent as she took in any gestures made. The careful pronunciation of the words that he spoke, knowing that was just as important as the words themselves. It was almost lyrical, sure to the untrained ear they were just words, but she wasn't untrained. She tried her best not to do anything distracting as he... added his own blood to the spell. What would this cost them?

When asked she stood up and grabbed the asked for whiskey bottle. "I didn't ask, what is this spell going to cost?" And she knew he would know she wasn't asking about what he was going to charge. What was a spell of this caliber going to charge one, or both of them? Or would her 'immortality' be enough of a price? "Oh, and do you want any of my blood? For spells, or just in case." She wasn't sure if her blood would have any of the vampirism left in it after his spell, but he was the only person she trusted with it. She handed him the empty bottle.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-03 06:27 am UTC (link)

"You didn't" John replied casually. "And I was hoping you weren't going to ask either" he added. "The potions ingredients should typically be not this easy to track down. Especially your Masters blood, but you had it. The ingredients are part of the cost. So is your immortality" he explained. "You won't have any of the bonuses you got from being a vampire any more. You'll need to eat, drink, do all the usual stuff us mere mortals do" he added. "There's a meal in the fridge for you. Just needs reheating and you're sorted. But that's for after we're done here" he added, glancing over at her.

John started to pour the mixture into a piece of cloth. He added some of the bright coloured glowing liquid into the bottle, then added a cone to he could add the liquid from the mixture. He squeezed the bag, allowing the mixture to drip into the cone and funnel into the bottle.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-03 09:49 am UTC (link)

"Those are all things I'm willing to give up. I know I will have to learn my new limits. I may have to take up a different form of magic. I even anticipate, and look forward to, a very long nap. But what I didn't count on is you saving me something for supper." The last bit was something of a tease.

Bryn took a seat at the table, and watched him pour the mixture into the bottle. Watching the fluid drip funnel down the neck and into the belly of the bottle. Her eyes traced the drips a few times, before they found him again. "I'll never be able to repay you for this, but I will spend the rest of my days trying to. And even those after." Because she intended on living up to her promise of fetching him from the bowels of hell. And intended on talking him up so much to the gods, that Odin himself might join in.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-04 01:39 am UTC (link)

"You're right. You won't be able to repay me" John replied. "Not many people can though" he added with a shrug. He continued to slowly squeeze the liquid from the cloth, drip by drip, doing his best to be precise and careful. He watched the water reacting, looking for it to turn a particular colour. That way he knew which step he was at. The brownish red drips merged with the water, creating burnt orange clouds in the glowing liquid. Gradually over time, the liquid started to turn a burnt orangey red colour. That was when it was ready. John placed the cloth aside and took the funnel out from the bottle. He put a stirring rod inside the bottle and mixed the liquid together. Putting the rod aside, he took a deep breath through his nose.

"It's ready..." he said. "Just one more thing..." he said, getting up. He walked over to his living room area, moving the coffee table and couch out of the way. He moved a rug as well, shoving it to the side to reveal a magic circle had already been drawn out in white paint.
"Stand in the middle of that. Drink all of the potion. I'll need to start chanting..." he said. "You're going to feel... pain. A lot of it. That's it working. It's tearing the bond between you and the curse and putting your body back to normal. You've been like that for a while so... it might hurt for a while, but I'm here. I added a bit of my blood to help you heal faster and if you've been drinking non human blood that should help too" John added. "Are you ready?" he asked.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-04 06:21 am UTC (link)

Bryn got up and stepped into the middle of the circle. "I can handle pain. I had seven children before epidurals were available. And one set were twins. All of them big like their Father, except the girls and Floki." She remembered the pain. It wasn't something she'd forget, like many women said today. "Do you have something I can bite down on? Some soft wood, or a bit of leather?"

She had the resolve to go through the worst he could throw at her. But she also knew he wouldn't, if he didn't have to. At least she didn't think he would. But she gave him a nod, with something to put between her teeth, to keep her from breaking them, she'd be ready.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-04 07:38 am UTC (link)

John hesitated a moment. "You might end up throwing up..." he admitted. "The potion's magic deals with the curse, but the rest of it allows you to... void the rest from your body" he added. He walked over to the kitchen area and grabbed a wooden spatula, walking over to hand it to her. "But you can use that in the mean time..." he added.

Sure, he should have been a bit more honest but he didn't want to put her off. Not that he was sure that would have put her off. Still. He had to be safe. He didn't know entirely what was going to happen, just bits and pieces. And it sort of depended on the Vampire in question. He had to piece together the potion from extracts he found in a variety of magic books, including some of the notes he took from Bryns own books. The pieces took a while to come together but he was glad when they finally did.

"When you're ready, luv"

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-04 09:33 am UTC (link)

Bryn took the offered spatula, lowered herself to her knees, that way if she were going to throw up, or other unmentionable things, it wouldn't be on his bare feet. She took up the bottle and gave him a nod. With a great expulsion of breath she lifted the bottle to her lips and upended it. She downed the whole of the liquid inside, without pausing for a breath. She tossed the bottle onto the moved couch, and put the spatula between her teeth.

She gave him a nod, there was no going back now. She shivered slightly. She would do her best not to scream. Or at the very least muffle it. She couldn't hold back the rest. She could only hope that it wasn't going to be as bad as he thought it was.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-05 04:13 am UTC (link)

John grabbed the nearby rubbish bin and emptied it out, putting it on the floor in front of Bryn. Well that was covered at least... Better that than trying to clean up more than was needed. And she had already downed the bottle. There was no going back.

John moved to light a few candles and placed them around the circle. North. West.. South. East. He stepped back, closing the lighter and pocketing it before he made sure his sleeves were properly rolled up. Holding his hands out, he turned his palms upwards and focused on his connection with the ley-lines. With the station itself. He began to chant in old Norse once more. His chant was constant throughout the ritual. It was designed to help draw out the curse, to draw out her Vampirism. To draw it to near frenzy thus making it more vulnerable. All around Bryn, the circle she stood in lit up, not allowing her to leave beyond its boundaries. The binding spell held her in place, and his chanting was there to help dispel the ancient curse, her undeath.

No matter how Bryn reacted, as hard as some of it may have been to see and hear, he had to keep going. He couldn't break the spell not even for a second. All his focus was on his art, all of his attention was on making sure he helped her. He drew not just from his Demonic blood but the ley-lines energy, making his magic all the more potent.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-05 09:46 am UTC (link)

Bryn was grateful for the bin, or knew she probably would be. Almost as soon as he started chanting she had to drop to all fours. She choked back any sounds the pain wanted to squeeze out of her, for as long as she could. At least until her veins turned black beneath her skin. The sclera of her eyes a deep crimson, the iris a deep ebony. She cried out then. The spatula dropping from between her teeth. She dropped to her side then, in a fetal position, clutching her arms over her middle.

Before the end, rather than vomiting like they had predicted, the old black blood oozed from her finger tips, and toes, until her flesh was pink. And her eyes clear once more.

Bryn panted hard, her green eyes far less muddy than they had been before they had even started. They were a pale clear green, as she gazed up at him. Her voice was hoarse when she promised. "I'll clean the mess." But not right that second, she couldn't move more than laying flat.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-05 01:39 pm UTC (link)

Once the spell was over, once the potion had worked its magic, John lowered his arms. For a moment, he watched her, making sure that everything was all right. He watched as the black blood seeped from her system and onto the floor, saw the health return to her skin. It had worked, it had really worked... And John was knackered.

"Don't worry about it, luv... We need to you sorted first. That can wait a moment and besides, I can handle it... I'd rather you not touch that stuff" he said, walking over and offering her an arm to help her up. "How are you feeling now?" he asked.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-06 06:11 am UTC (link)

Since he said he didn't want her to touch the dark blood, and since he had so nicely offered, she reached for his arm, and used him for leverage to stand without touching anything besides the floor directly below her. "My whole body aches, I could use a nap, and I'm starving." None of which was a complaint. She wore a smile that probably wouldn't vanish even in her sleep.

Bryn used his balance and strength to pull her out of the circle without touching any of the... goop. And to him so she could wrap her arms around his neck. "It worked. I had no doubts that it would but.. it worked."

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-06 07:56 am UTC (link)

"I'm glad you're all right then, luv" he said as he helped her over to the seats at the kitchen table.
John helped her back over to the kitchen table, helping her sit down. He then went to the kitchen sink and washed his hands before fetching the food he had put away for her. He placed it in what he could only really call a sort of more efficient microwave and pressed a few buttons to start the reheating process.

"You're going to have a lot to adapt to. Get used to" John said, fetching a plate from the cupboard, along with cutlery from the drawer. Next he poured her a glass of water, bringing that over first, along with the cutlery.

"Drinking, eating, sleeping... You can probably get a sun tan now. Proper one, so maybe wear sun cream" he teased, fetching her food and plating it up. He brought that over next and put it in front of her. Mashed potatoes, chicken in peppercorn sauce and steamed vegetables. Or at least some of the things were as close to that as possible.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-07 04:34 am UTC (link)

"Well I already do some of those things, except get a suntan, I don't think I'll ever really be able to do that, I freckle." Bryn scrunched her nose when he brought her some water. Which she took a sip from. "Drinking I did often because it kept me looking youthful instead of dried up and dusty." It had made it easier for her to hide among society's youth. "And I've been eating since I got the bracelet." Which she took the moment to take off and lay on the table.

Her stomach growled rather rudely when he set the plate in front of her. By the gods that smelled good. "What I will miss is being able to smell things I found important." Smells she associated with him, Edward, and Jacob. "And I wont be able to find you in a crowd anymore, not unless I'm wearing hooker shoes." She speared some broccoli and savored it. Humming softly. Once she swallowed, because she wasn't rude. "But I will tell you, things taste so much more devine now, already."

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-07 02:05 pm UTC (link)

John offered a small smile, before fetching the mop and bucket to clean up. He would reward himself with a few drinks afterwards. For the time being, he needed to clean up. He took the mop out and got to work.

"You going to be all right to get back to your apartment or do you need to crash here?" he asked. He knew there was a chance she might be too tired to go back. After all, both her mind and body had been through a lot. He knew it wouldn't have been sensible to try and carry on as normal.

Once he was done cleaning, he put the mop and bucket to the side, going to wash his hands and then pour himself a nice and simple glass of Gin and Tonic water. He walked back over and sat down with Bryn, sitting opposite her.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-08 09:27 am UTC (link)

She had to think about that a minute. A yawn parted her lips before she finished. She covered her mouth as her jaw cracked a little. That was new. She gave him a little grin when she was done. "I don't know. But..." Should she stay was the question. Him having Gen, and her Edward and Jacob. One might swear she didn't owe him fidelity, but she knew it would do him some injury if she gave in to temptation. "We both know I have a weakness when it comes to you. So as much as I would like to say I'd like to stay, we both know I shouldn't."

Bryn didn't know if her love for him would ever fade. But she had to be stronger than her weakness. She didn't know if he had one toward her. And he probably didn't and she wasn't a vampire that could woo who she wanted into her bed anymore. She speared a bit of carrot with her fork, and tapped her lower lip. No. she better not even try. It would betray his trust, and what would she do if he gave in?

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-09 11:28 am UTC (link)

John paused just as he was about to take a drink. He knew she was right. A small smile appeared and vanished as he took a drink, downing most of it in one go before putting the glass down. Next he took a cigarette from the pack on the table and lit it.

"Yeah you're right. You should head on home" he said, before taking a drag. He closed the lighter and placed it back on the table before plucking the cigarette from his lips.
"Get some rest when you're done eating, yeah? If you're not feeling knackered now it will eventually kick in and when it does, you should probably try and find somewhere comfortable to sleep" he pointed out. Not that he really needed to.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-10 06:00 am UTC (link)

Bryn didn't shovel the food into her mouth, though she was hungry she did have manners. But she did make a nice dent in the potatoes, hoping they'd give her enough energy to make it to her apartment. And her bed. She had plans of crawling beneath those furs, and sleeping as long as her body would allow her to.

"I told Jacob about you. Sort of." There were things she hadn't mentioned, like the fact that he was a Master of the Dark Arts. Or that she was coming here to get her curse lifted. What she had told him had been short and simple.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-11 12:21 pm UTC (link)

"Did you?" John asked. He had seen her interactions with Jacob and Edward. Through the network mostly but he had also seen them in Asgard at the banquet.

Gen had managed to persuade him to go even though he had wanted to avoid it. He didn't want to be anywhere near Loki, and he wanted to avoid the so-called Gods after everything with Bryn and Thor. At least, he had. Until fairly recently where he learned to just stop caring about what had happened. He had enough guilt without that adding to the weights. He felt no more guilt about what happened with him and Bryn. He didn't yet know how to feel about Bryn and the two men he saw her with.

John took a long drag from the cigarette, elbow leaning on the table.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-11 08:38 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, not so much your name as 'a blond man that isn't Edward'," Bryn paid closer attention to the meat she was dragging off the chicken, unsure what his reaction would be, "I called you my best friend. That I might smile at you a little like I Edward, but that's because I do love you. And," she sighed softly, "that's not likely to ever change."

She chanced a glance up at him. The way he was, how he'd done so much for her already, and now he'd given her back her humanity... there was no way she could pack away her feelings for him. "I also told him you were the second. And that you have a girl that you were rather infatuated with. So you were not someone he would have to worry about." And by the gods she hoped she was right. "I told him that I love him, and Edward." She knew she had the same stupid little grin on her face when she'd told Jacob.

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worksbestalone_
2020-07-14 08:11 pm UTC (link)

John had been about to make a joke when she mentioned that she loved Jacob and Edward. He stopped himself and topped up his drink, swirling it around the glass before he knocked most of it back. He grimaced slightly at the warmth and placed the glass back down, taking a few drags on the cigarette he had been holding before stubbing it out.

"Well, I'm glad you're happy. Now you get to share your lives together without you feeling guilty about yourself" John stated quite simple. "You should hurry up and finish and head back before you really start feeling tired. I'm not sure but after a thousand or so years without normal sleep, I am guessing it might catch up on you quicker than you'd like" he added, moving to stand up.

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brynhild_ingouf
2020-07-15 08:50 am UTC (link)

Bryn knew he was right. While instincts told her to finish what was on her plate, she pushed away from her. Giving herself little bit of a shake. "I won't ever have to wonder what their blood will taste like, or have it linger on my tongue. I won't have to hide things from my daughters anymore." She was unable to tame the smile on her lips. She had never had to hide anything from Zu.

She pushed herself up to stand. Because he was right. She could feel her head swimming, even after the food. "I will owe this good night's sleep to you John Constantine. And every one there after. You were the best friend a vampire could have. And you are the best friend a viking can ever have." She wobbled a little. Fuck. "Er, I had better go. As it is, as always, you are right. And I have to wonder if I will make it all the way home."

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