Sarah's Deluxe Penthouse Suite, The Ivy Hotel, Friday Afternoon,

The disapproving eyes of the concierge tracked the two of them across the lobby of the Ivy Hotel, a five-star establishment whose suites cost more per night than Verity made in a month of bartending for Eric. It was the sort of place where they'd film movies, if the management didn't consider Hollywood film crews too déclassé to trust near their marble floors. ( Even the air tasted like money, a delicate blend of expensive perfumes and unobtrusive all-natural cleaning products. )

[Adapted from Chapter 11 of Seanan McGuire's Discount Armageddon with amazing preplay AND coding help from firstofitskind, who is my personal hero. First post is here, the previous post is here, and the next post is here. NFI, NFB, OOC is love]

The Sewers, Baltimore, Friday Afternoon

The first out-of-the-way manhole cover they could find was located on the edge of a small park, about a block and a half away from Sarah's hotel. It was mostly hidden in the middle of one of those little seating areas that spring up around the city like mushrooms after a hard rain. The few people who did walk by pretty much ignored them. "I love big city life," Verity said quietly, looking around.

Liam had removed his jacket and shirt before taking the crowbar Sarah somehow managed to wheedle out of the hotel manager--when a cuckoo got involved, it was better not to ask exactly how they accomplished things--and setting to work. Sarah was back at the hotel, gulping Tylenol and keeping a telepathic 'eye' on the area. She would let them know if she saw trouble coming.

In the meanwhile, Verity was absorbed with the all-important task of checking her weapons, including the emergency throwing knives and smoke grenades she'd retrieved from Sarah's closet. Well, that, and watching the way the muscles of Liam's back moved every time he strained to get a better degree of leverage on the manhole cover.

Look, they were about to descend into a sewer and possibly discover a dragon. Verity felt no shame in ogling Liam a bit.

( At least until he shoved the manhole cover off to one side, releasing an unpleasant gust of sewer smell. )

[Adapted from Chapter 12 of Seanan McGuire's Discount Armageddon with amazing preplay AND coding help from firstofitskind, who wins at everything forever. First post is here, the previous post is here, and the next post is here. NFI, NFB, OOC is love]