closed; forward-dated

[ofhope]

Who: Damon Salvatore, Joshua Christopher, and later Julia.
What: Joshua's loss ends...in a certain vampire's room, and Damon tries to be a hero. Unfortunately a bystander gets caught in the crossfire.
When: Sunday morning (FEBRUARY 5th).
Where: Room 222 → Outside
Rating: R for violence and psychopaths.

Eight people (not counting the other people that got to walk in and out) and just over two weeks after the start of his loss, Joshua was steadily losing patience. The laundry room and kitchen had both been the most trying, given their loud activity. It wasn't his fault he had become a little violent.

At least he hadn't ripped off any heads.

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[ofhope]

His reaction is surprisingly calm, though there's a glint of intrigue in his eyes. Someone who was willing to make such a brash move against him? It's been awhile.

But, his hand stills, and the horns remain hidden. He had told Colette already... If this loss is a punishment, killing a 'roommate' might make things worse for him. So instead, he just adopts a lazy smile, unbothered by the impact or the obvious threat. His gaze might be on Damon, but Joshua hardly appears to be looking at him.

Through him, maybe...

"Please don't take offense, but you're not really my type."

[compels]

"Don't flatter yourself. I've got better taste than you." Damon's words came out through a sneer. "This isn't personal. It's just something I've got to do -- you understand." He pivoted and, with the same super speed, attempted to hurl Joshua across the room in the direction of the window panes. "In fact, this has nothing to do with you. You're just … unlucky, I guess. But, now …" He followed him to the other side of the room in a blur. "You've gotta die."

[ofhope]

It happens quickly, too quickly for a normal human to really recover from, but by the time Damon reaches the window, Joshua's no longer there, though the dent and shattered glass certainly proves he was.

Back across the room, further in the corner this time, Joshua's shaking the debris off him, simply not considering trying to actually escape out the window. As far as he knows, this is just another roommate. And he had told Colette he didn't want to upset the castle, but... If this one is so clearly hellbent on attacking him, what's a sweet boy from Michigan to do?

"Well then."

The horns are there, seemingly out of nowhere, and the red glow accompanying his gaze might seem altogether off-putting given his friendly tone...to someone unaccustomed to it. Excitement.

"Show me yours, and we can play. I've been waiting for something fun to happen."

[compels]

"I wouldn't count on it being fun for you," Damon replied, head whipping around to look back at him once he heard the voice. Damn. He was fast. He wasn't counting on Joshua being faster than he was. "See, it's been a while for me. I might be a little rusty, but I'll try and make sure it's over quick."

Truth be told, he wasn't used to Joshua's type. Mostly because he was used to being Joshua's type. Violence, death, pain, it's fun. It's a party. He unsettled people when he said as much, because they liked to deny it. Joshua apparently didn't.

Damon rushed him again, bringing a fist forward and aiming it for the center of his chest -- heart-ripping was nice and quick. Also, pretty clean, as death methods went. Just as long as you grabbed the corpse before it hit the carpet.

[ofhope]

Damon's level of speed was refreshing for Joshua, even if it didn't match his own. And honestly, the noise was jarring; a tell that the vampire couldn't hope to be aware of. Also something that put Joshua even more on edge, which he really didn't need after the last two weeks.

So he was ready, and he was sneering, the predictable move (most demons loved that killing blow, even Joshua himself) perfect in it's aim and near in it's contact, but it still failed. Instead of bothering to dodge, Joshua merely stood his ground, catching the fist in one clawed hand and squeezing.

"No. No. This is for love, huh? You'll have to do better. I said..."

With a twist, Joshua was sure he heard something crack beneath his grip, but he was quick to release Damon's hand and follow with a sharp kick straight for the vampire's ribs, aiming to knock him right through that same window he'd earlier hit.

His voice was erratic; rough around the edges while still managing to echo.

"Show me yours!"

[compels]

Damon crashed through the window without an ounce of grace. He could be fluid and catlike and agile when he was the aggressor, but as soon as the tables were turned on him, he had no way of reacting. The critical flaw in always being the strongest one around.

On the bright side, the upgrade from 1408 to the second floor at least meant he didn't have far to fall. His spine didn't crack, his bones didn't crunch, it just hurt. Vampire durability at its finest. Just not fine enough for him to manage to pick himself up quickly enough. He groaned, planting his hands on either side of himself on the grass, propping up on his elbows and looking up at the big broken window of his room.

"Great …" It was muttered under his breath, along with the accusatory, "super-freak." Lana left that part out.

[ofhope]

Oh, he heard that, even from where he's leaning out the busted window. But the resulting growl that comes out is cut off when he realizes he's leaning out the window.

Marveling at that realization, Joshua wasted no time in hopping right out of opening, angelic wings immediately sprouting and spanning out wide in order to slow his descent to the ground. No he didn't necessarily need them, but it's fun to show off, isn't it? Nevertheless, the combination of horns and wings made for a peculiar image.

Touching down on the ground nearby, Joshua laughed in delight. "This is great! I guess I'm not trapped anymore. I suppose I owe you, so maybe I won't kill you after all!"

[compels]

"You're not free, if that's what you think." Not if he could help it. He'd be winding up back in the Peace Patrol's care. Lana would be flabbergasted by his well-intentioned and (this time) well-executed heroics. She'd see that he could be good. He could try.

He fought his way to his feet, bruised and a little bloody from the fall, but altogether not too thrashed. He rushed Joshua again. This time, he was ready to deck him instead of trying to rip out his heart. He had to work harder at this than he usually needed to. But that didn't mean he'd give it up.