texas ♔ don't want to face the fears we've met

[heavensend]

WHO || Anastacia, Avaleen, Thea, Riddick [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights try to track down some missing Shadowkind
WHERE || Houston, Texas
WHEN || April 9th [back dated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

The Church of Good Hearted Souls is a nondenominational church, located in a poorer district of Houston. The neighborhood itself doesn't disguise the fact, but the streets that they walk through to reach the church are populated almost exclusively by Shadowkind, of all types. Dwarves, elves, gnomes, even a minotaur shuffle past, many of them making their way in and out of tenement buildings that have seen better days. The occasional humans that break up the mix often wear clothing more suited to a fantasy village - and those who don't sometimes have hairstyles that give them away as less than totally modern. The Church itself doesn't even remember a conventional church or temple in any way - it seems to have been built into a squat brick building, hollowed out to make room for folding chairs, since pews seemed to be outside their price range. "All faiths welcome" proclaims a sign out front, and another replaceable sign below it is flipped to read "Sister Deborah is in". 

Comments

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the first person they encounter is half-elf, all but dressed in rags. his blonde hair is chopped into what is basically an elven mullet, since apparently someone told him that was a good idea to fit in here. feel bad for him. he looks over them suspiciously. ]

What is it?

[withasouvenir]

[ offering an ingratiating smile, thea tries to set the man at ease. (diplomacy 24) she wants to give him a mini makeover, but resists the urge. ]

We were just wondering if you might be able to answer a few questions?

[notafraidofthedark]

[Riddick is just going to stand behind Thea and not say anything b/c he and diplomacy? Not so good together.]

[behindcloseddoors]

Depends. What about?

[withasouvenir]

[ the smile slips to something more serious, but she still maintains a welcoming appearance. ] About the recent disappearances.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ he frowns deeper at that. ] Don't see how that's human business.

[withasouvenir]

[ her lips purse slightly, irritation flashing through her eyes for a moment before she reins it in. he has every right to be bitter, especially here. relax, thea. ] Because we're trying to help so it doesn't happen again. In order to do that, we need as much information as we can get.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ his lips curl back and he thrusts out a finger at her chest ] Your kind's taking them, that's what. The people from this world. The... the government. They're coming to kill us off.

[withasouvenir]

I am not from here. [ her eyes narrow as she steps back to gain her personal space again and so she doesn't slap him. ] What government, what did they look like?

[ even though he is being a (somewhat warranted) dick, she is still willing to accept this theory if it helps them get information. HIGHER GROUND, THEA IS ON IT. ]

[behindcloseddoors]

How should I know? [ the answer is snapped. ] Do you think they come when any of us can see what they're doing? They come at night, take us away. Probably to experiment on, who knows.

[withasouvenir]

Do you know of anyone else that might have information? Aside from Sister Deb.

[behindcloseddoors]

If we knew more, don't you think we would have done something by now?

[withasouvenir]

No. [ blunt, but honest. ] You said so yourself. If it's the government, who is going to help you? You don't have the resources. We do and we want to help, we just need something to go on. Any little thing could help. Did they have anything in common, were they friends, did they run in the same circles, anything.

[behindcloseddoors]

None of that. [ he scowls, but after a second adds: ] Tommy Eldritch has been doing radio programs about the disappearances. Maybe he can tell you something.

[notafraidofthedark]

[Riddick has been good about keeping his mouth shut through this whole exchange, but that didn't mean he liked the elf's tone. Thea had it under control though, and rather than alienate the locals he keeps to himself, only speaking up to say-] Where's he at?

[behindcloseddoors]

His studio is only a few blocks from here, to the north.

[lightblindbadass]

Thanks. [And he'll touch Thea on the arm in a signal to head to the North.]

[withasouvenir]

[ thea nods, seeming to want to say more, but deciding not to. she gives the elf a perfunctory smile before turning to follow riddick. she waits until they're out of earshot to huff out a disheartened sigh. ]

That was... illuminating.

[ except jk it totally wasn't. ]

[notafraidofthedark]

[He rolls his shoulders, voice rumbling as he answers-] Never knew an elf to be a conspiracy theorist. Guess it's not too surprising, given how isolated this place is and it seems like it's being targeted.

[withasouvenir]

Their safe haven isn't safe anymore, I can see why that would make anyone twitchy.

[notafraidofthedark]

[His eyes sweep the run-down buildings surrounding them, goggles flashing in the sun.] So far we've got a mystery kidnapper and the government as leads. I'd guess that would make anyone wary of strangers, especially if they were already leery of outsiders to start.

[withasouvenir]

I can't decide if the government is an actual lead or just the paranoia talking. [ she's still got it planted in the lad column, but it's definitely just penciled it. easily erasable. ]

[lightblindbadass]

Well, considering this is America, land of the free and home of the "be different and we'll kill or segregate you illegally" I'd say the government could be a pretty solid bet. Until proven otherwise. [Yeah, it's on his list too. He still keeps a wary eye out as they near the studio, keeping himself between Thea and anyone else they see on the street with them.

[withasouvenir]

[ thea notices, absently, what riddick is doing, used to it from ollie or roy. walter and her father, even, who used to make sure she was on the inside of the sidewalk so he could shield her from oncoming cars if it ever came up. she notices, but doesn't say anything because it's the kind of underestimation that doesn't really bother her. ]

I really hope it doesn't turn out that this Eldritch guy is just kidnapping people to give him something to talk about on his radio show.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the studio is surrounded by large glass windows that make it so they can see inside before they even hit the doors. this guy is the only person inside, seated in a booth with a set of headphones on. considering there are also posters up of him proclaiming him to be tommy eldritch, it looks like that's their guy. who they should make spot checks on when they enter. ]