Note: Diverges right after the Christmas Special. Any resemblance to the excellent season 2 is not intentional. Thanks for your interest!
"Greetings, Silas! Your intrepid reporter has returned from the wilds to the land of the wifi signal."
The webcam swung from Laura's face to pan over the gates of the university in front of her, towering like an arch cut straight from craggy coral. On each side, an iron trident jabbed at the sky, held by dozens of hands jutting out of the crevices in the reef. Dozens of other hands, open in supplication, reached in vain.
"Does anyone now think the light at the top of the arch sort of looks like a lure?"
The camera shifted from LaFontaine's furrowed brow and back to the lamp hanging at the apex of that arch. It blinked on as the sun set.
"'It devours all.'" The camera turned to Carmilla where she lounged against the gate. She pointed at the Latin text at the top. "What? That's what it says."
The camera panned back to consider the etched letters there before settling back on Laura, with LaFontaine and Perry standing a few feet behind.
"You know, the University's brochure could have offered a translation. Dad and I just thought it meant this place was old and distinguished."
"Beware all ye who do not take high school Latin." LaFontaine chimed in, grinning until they caught Perry's look. "But, hey, on the plus side, I haven't felt any earthquakes, and I don't see any dead bodies or fires..."
Laura nodded. "Right. And no fish-fueled mobs-"
"Unlike the one behind us on just the other side of that mountain pass. Of course, if I'd had my druthers, the mob and my growling stomach could've both been taken care of rather-"
"Um, pretty sure it was because you took it on yourself to bite the mayor that we had a mob following us in the first place." Laura leveled Carmilla a look that softened as the brunette gave a shrug and a smile and came over to stand beside her, shouldering the blonde's backpack with ease. "Even though, I'll admit, it was pretty inconsiderate of them after you took care of Frau Homicide."
"Actually, Laura, I think Carmilla's right." Perry smiled quickly at the vampire's arched eyebrow before going on. "About this option being better than the angry individuals behind us, not the propriety of their mass murder." She brushed a little snow from LaFontaine's shoulder. "And anyway maybe everything's back to normal now. I mean, that could've happened, right?" Perry nodded to herself.
The four of them all looked into the camera and behind it to the still and shadowed campus.
"Or everybody's just d-"
Laura clapped a hand over Carmilla's mouth. "Oookay. So, anybody who'd rather turn around and deal with the maddening crowd, raise your hand." A beat. "Seeing no hands..."
