Cori pushed open the door to the costume shop, looking around, "Hello? Is anyone in?" He didn't bother waiting for an answer as he wove his way through the store, glancing about for things that could double as weapons if he needed them, though he didn't really expect to.
Mistoffelees followed him, walking through a counter by accident and gasping. "Damn it."
Cori glanced at him, but pushed aside a curtain in the back of the store, frowning at the bust sitting on some sort of altar, "Janus. Representation of the division of self. Male and female. Light and dark." His jaw tensed, his suspicions being rapidly confirmed.
"Which means?" Mistoffelees asked.
"It's like chunky and creamy. Oh, sorry, that's peanut butter," a British accented voice replied behind him.
Coricopat's jaw tensed as he turned, "A servant of chaos. Hello, Franklin."
"Been a while, Charles. The years, they've changed people," he continued, eyes straying to Mistoffelees.
"You seem not to have changed much." He stepped very slightly between Franklin and Misto, glancing toward the student, "Mistoffelees, go see to the others."
He nodded, about to leave but Franklin was still talking. "Really? I haven't changed much but your taste seems to have. Your new toy is remarkably young. Pretty though, especially in that get up. Would never have expected him of that, after seeing him yesterday." Mistoffelees froze, before slowly turning to gape at the shop keeper.
Coricopat's entire body tensed, his hands balling into fists, but he managed to keep his tone mostly even, "Mistoffelees, the others need more help right now, likely. Try to find Mac."
Mistoffelees blinked at him, eyes tracking from Franklin, who was smirking, back to Cori, eyes widening at his expression. "I..."
"He's cute, if not good at following orders. That must be aggravating in bed," Franklin said, eyes still on Coricopat.
"How dare you." Cori's tone dropped to nearly lethal, his weight shifting just enough so he was ready to take a swing at Franklin. He still had just enough control not to do so with his student there.
"Ripper, surely you aren't telling me you don't have him in bed already? Come now, man, what are you waiting for?" Franklin asked, using the old nickname from college.
Vaguely, Mistoffelees knew he should probably have been long gone, but couldn't stop staring at Coricopat's reaction. "Um, standing right here, can speak for self." Franklin gave him a long look, as if daring him to actually continue.
Coricopat drew a deep breath, calming himself so that his words to Mistoffelees were clear, but nowhere near as vehement as the ones he used for Franklin, "Mistoffelees. Go find the others." His gaze locked with Franklin's, tone going icy again, "Frank, do you recall exactly why you all gave me that bloody nickname?"
"Very clearly," Franklin smirked.
"Okay, not thinking leaving you two alone is a good idea," Mistoffelees replied, voice a little too quick. "Pretty sure staying it a terrible one as well, but probably a lesser bad idea and... no."
"They need more help than either of us do, if what you said about Grids is true." His left arm tensed more as he offered Franklin a thin smile, "Then you'll recall that it's best not to continue with antagonism. Tell me how to reverse the spell, Franklin."
He shrugged. "I don't want to."
"I'm sure they could use someone who can't even touch anything," Mistoffelees replied, still eying Cori. "Which means I'd be no help here either, but I'd sorta prefer you sane come tomorrow."
"I'll be perfectly sane. You can, however, locate Mac for them."
"If he's not already with them," Mistoffelees replied.
"My, he's a stubborn one. Pretty and stubborn, however do you manage?" Franklin drawled, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"Better than you ever did," Coricopat responded. "Undo the spell, Franklin, then leave and pray to God or Chaos or whoever the Hell that I never see you around here again."
"Or you'll what, Ripper? Hit me with your little toy watching? Surely not... you seem to have grown a set of morals. How tragic. Don't you remember the times we used to have?" Franklin asked, voice silky.
"I remember I've had better," he responded sharply.
"Really? With who?"
"I don't see that that's your business. It ceased to be a very long time ago."
"Come now, Charles, you're not still bitter are you?" Franklin drawled.
"Bitter? I've no reason to be bitter, Franklin. I've actually moved on past trickery and ruin. While you seem caught in the past of it."
"I still think your morals are a tragic waste," Franklin sighed. "And I won't reverse the spell."
Coricopat judged the distance between them and then turned his attention to his hands, he knew he'd have to exercise some measure of control, but was a bit concerned he wouldn't be able to, "And what would it take to convince you, Franklin?"
"I just like spreading chaos and suffering. Getting you and your toy riled up is just a bonus."
"Alright, I am so done with this!" Mistoffelees snapped. "My friend is out there and unable to take care of herself, and honestly I would sorta like to not be a ghost anymore either, and be able to change out of these fucking stupid clothes."
Franklin arched a brow. "You can't actually do anything though."
"Except scream at you all hours of the day and night?" Mistoffelees offered. "Haunt you as long as you live if any of my friends are hurt in this? You're right though, I can't punch you though god knows I really, really want to."
Franklin arched his brows. "Feisty."
Coricopat glanced at Mistoffelees, but his mind flickered to what Mistoffelees had said in regards to the others and he turned to face Franklin, "He can't, I can. Do you want to walk out of here alive, Frank?"
"Threats, Ripper? There we go, there's the you I remember."
Mistoffelees growled. "Right, I have no idea if I'll regret this, but will punching him help?" he asked Cori. "Because if so, please feel free."
Cori drew a deep breath, "Mistoffelees? Please stop talking." He couldn't do this if he was constantly reminded that the teen was there, even as he knew there were better ways to express that. He focused on his concern for the others and his absolute fury at Franklin, channeling those emotions as he rapidly crossed the distance between them and his left fist connected solidly with the other man's jaw.
Mistoffelees winced slightly at that, falling silent and shrinking backwards just a little. Franklin just laughed, as he regained his balance. "There's the Ripper I know."
o.o.o.o
Griddlebone tried to back away from the pirate she had run into after her "escape" from Mac, but found herself caught by the chin. She struggled weakly, "No...no, please no..."
Tugger came suddenly out of nowhere, attacking the pirate in a flying tackle.
Grids scrambled away and ran right into Bomba who looked her over, "Grids, are you okay?" The only response she received was a rather abrupt armful of trembling fellow teen.
Tugger was pummeling the pirate as Mac finally arrived, going straight for Grids.
Grids recoiled with a scream that absolutely grated, "What is your deal? Take a pill!" Bomba snapped.
"But he-he's a vampire!"
The cheerleader rolled her eyes, glancing at Mac, "She's got this thing where she thinks - ah, forget it." She turned back to Grids, speaking in the sort of tone one might use when condescending to a three-year-old, "It's okay. Mac is a good vampire. He'd never hurt you."
"R-really?" Griddlebone looked uncertain, but started to look at Mac a little less warily.
"Absolutely. Mac is our friend." Bomba smiled and nodded, still placating the other girl.
Mac blinked at them, turning back to Tugger, who finished with the pirate, leaving him there. "We need to get inside," he said, eying the monsters suddenly approaching them from the other end of the alley they were in.
Jerrie grinned as he spotted them, four small monsters-who-used-to-be-children and two large monsters-who-used-to-be-chaperones following him, "There we have it, fellas, fresh meat. Some of the sweetest you'll ever taste."
"Inside, now," Mac repeated, shoving Tugger who led the way into an old warehouse.
They made it inside and got the door closed, Bomba still stuck holding Grids, as Jerrie reached the doors. His grinned widened, "Tear it down, boys." The demons obliged, starting to rip the doors open.
"What do we do?" Tugger asked.
"Check and see about other entrances," Mac replied, glancing at Grids.
The door was pulled aside and Jerrie strolled in, flanked by the monsters, "Hello, Mac. Not only are you housebroken, you're housebroken by the slayer. I'm impressed."
"Jer. So good to know I can still be impressive after all these years," Mac replied, flippantly.
Jerrie snapped his fingers at his current entourage, "Get them. The little one's mine." He moved fast, dodging past Mac, knocking him toward the two largest monsters, and shoving Bomba aside, yanking Grids away from her.
Mac snarled, going into vampire face, causing all sorts of damage to the two monsters, but others came up, holding him down.
Bomba and Tugger were also held back as Jerrie smiled down at the cowering Slayer, he ran a gentle hand down the side of her face, using a tone similar to the one he used on Cass, "Look at you. Shaking, terrified. Alone. Lost little lamb." His grin turned feral as he hit her, hard, "I love it."
o.o.o.o
Swallowing, Mistoffelees considered just sinking back through the wall but he'd sorta signed up for this, hadn't he? By not leaving when he was told to.
"Your toy's looking a bit queasy," Franklin managed to still be smirking. "God, they really didn't see through your act, did they?"
Cori withdrew his handkerchief, wiping Franklin's blood off of his hands as he kicked him in the side, "The spell, Franklin. How do I break it?"
"And you act like Ripper was long gone," Franklin shook his head, still on the floor. "Say pretty ple-"
Coricopat's foot slammed into his kidney again, "Now. Franklin."
The other man coughed and Mistoffelees winced again. "Break the statue," he replied finally.
Cori whirled away from him, grabbing the statue of Janus and slamming it to the floor, shattering it.
With a small gasp, Mistoffelees disappeared from the costume shop.
Across town, Jerrie's attention was drawn away from his victim as he heard whimpers. He glanced over his shoulder to see that the smaller of his minions were nothing more than terrified children in Halloween masks. He turned back to Grids to find that he was only holding her brunette wig and there was a very pissed Slayer facing him, "Oh, Hell."
She smiled, "Hi honey. I'm home." The frustration of being defenseless for the last couple of hours poured through her, coming through her fists and feet as she sent him stumbling back until he hit a wall. The vampire finally managed to duck away from her and out of the warehouse, retreating to lick his wounds.
Tugger shook his head, considering the toy gun he was holding, as Mac stood, brushing himself off and watching the children that had just been pummeling him run off. "Hey, Grids, welcome back."
Back in the magic shop, Cori turned to deal with Franklin only to find that the other had vanished. As had Mistoffelees. He hoped the teen was alright, but wasn't sure where to start looking to confirm it.
Grids offered Tugger a bit of a smile, "Yeah, you too."
Bomba looked from one to the other, "You guys remember what happened?"
"Course we do," Tugger replied, and shrugged. "I mean, I remember being in my body, but unable to actually do anything. Strange, I still remember being soldier boy."
Bomba shook her head, "So trapped?" She glanced at Mac, "I know the feeling. This outfit is totally skin-tight..." He arched a brow at her, turning already to Grids and leaning down to murmur to her softly.
Tugger glanced over at Bomba. "Oh, stop trying. Nothing's gonna get between them, believe you me, I've tried."
Grids leaned her head on Mac's shoulder, nodding very slightly and murmuring in response.
Bomba grimaced, "Great. Well I, for one, am going home and getting out of this."
Mac turned, leading her home. Tugger glanced back over to Bomba, grinning. "Well, if you're trapped, you sure you can get out of it by yourself?"
She shot him a look, "Like I'm going to ask for your help getting out of this. I'm fine."
He shrugged. "Can't blame a fella for trying. Need any help, just give a call. I think I'm heading home if all the excitement is over."
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever." Bomba slipped out of the warehouse and back home.
Later, Mac lay on Grid's bed, waiting for her to change out of the dress. "So, what got you into that get up anyway?" he called out to her.
She came out of her bathroom, dressed in sweats and a big t-shirt to sit down on the bed next to him. She brushed a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear before answering, "I - I just wanted to be a real girl, for once. The kind of fancy girl you liked when you were my age."
He blinked at her and suddenly grinned before laughing, reaching out to lightly flick her forehead. "The girls I liked? Grids, I couldn't stand most of those women. They were impossible to hold a conversation with, and were arrogant as all hell. I wouldn't go back to that type of woman if I was ever given the choice."
She blushed as she realized her error, "Really? Honestly?"
"Honestly," he replied, kissing her forehead where he'd flicked it. "You looked very lovely in it, don't get me wrong, but I must prefer you as you. The sheer terror on your face and vapid expression were sorta turn offs though."
"This is the last time I listen when Cori tells me it's going to be a 'slow night'." She shook her head, "I'm glad though. That you like me, I mean."
"You're fantastic the way you are," he replied. "Beautiful, and strong, and kind. And yeah, slow nights tend to come out of nowhere."
She bit her lip, curling up next to him, "I don't know if I can call this a slow night."
"This isn't, no. But maybe now it will be."
"I hope so." She shifted enough to lean up and kiss him.
He grinned into the kiss, shifting down slightly so their necks weren't straining into the kiss. She rested a hand on his chest her other hand moving to tangle in his hair as she pressed up into the kiss.
After a while he drew back, stroking her hair. "You should get to sleep," he murmured.
"I'm fine. It's still early."
"You have class tomorrow," he protested, drawing back slightly.
She sighed, "I have class most days."
"But," he started to protest again and shook his head. "Nevermind. I just don't want to push you."
"You're not pushing me, Mac..." she startled slightly as she heard the front door open, "Mom's home…"
He leaned down the kiss her again. "I should go."
She kissed him once more, nodding, "Yeah...I'll see you later."
"Yeah," he said, kissing her forehead before sliding from the bed and out the window. She sighed, sitting up and staring at the window for a long moment before rising and closing it.
o.o.o.o
With a small gasp Mistoffelees sat up, tearing off the ghost costume as quickly as he could. Staring at it, he leaned against the wall of the house for a long moment, thoughts still churning.
Finally, he stood, throwing the costume into the nearest trash bin he could find, vaguely aware he was still wearing the sluttiest outfit he'd ever been seen in... and actually not caring for the moment. He considered heading back to the library, but shuddered and decided that could wait for morning. Grids had said Mac was coming over, so Tugger's it was, at least to check up on him.
Pouncival was on his way home from the band's gig, his van stopped at an intersection. His brows rose as Mistoffelees crossed the road in front of him and his headlights caught the other boy. Some part of him was really glad Devon hadn't hitched a ride home with him. He leaned forward enough to be able to watch Misto continue on his way. He shook his head, "Who is that guy?"
Occurs to me, I forgot to put in a note about Franklin in the chapter where he actually showed up! Basically he is an OC that showed up via Felidae 1925 ((Our RP we run. Insert all sort of shameless plugs here and the fact the link is on our profile)) where he never actually showed up within in the story, simply being Cori's past lover. This is the first time he decided he really wanted to show up in a story, and after we watched the episodes with Ethan in them, he fit there just way too well. So, meet Franklin everyone.
Cheers and we hope you enjoyed the chapter!