london ♔ held on as tightly as you held onto me

[wynn]

WHO || Everyone and their dog THE SEQUEL 
WHAT || In the aftermath of the attack, the Knights attempt to recover (overflow log)
WHERE || Knights HQ, etc.
WHEN || Dec. 1st-8th, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

[Overflow log for the event aftermath when it inevitably breaks 5k.   Please post any new starter threads here!  And when moving threads after we hit Captcha, please try to include a link at the end of the old thread to the new thread and vice versa, for ease of backreading, if at possible. ♥   ] 

Aftermath top links (for both posts):

Wynn's return | outside the castle
Rafael Giovanni
Zero
Wynn
Operation Save Elena
Steve Rogers
Amara
Colossus Removal Squad
King Marcus Andres
Thea Queen
Dumage Moulet
Vi Reedhym
Astrid Madchen
Wanda Maximoff
Lila Zacharov-Gray
Avaleen
Kenzi Malikov
Frankie Matera
Lance Sweets
Ashley Magnus
Clark Kent
Abbie Mills
Sawyer Kelly
Nick Hawley
Lorne
Gwen Cooper
Alec McDowell
Natasha Romanoff
Groot
Matt Byrne
Alisha Daniels
Sebastian Trevethor
Doyle
Mars Dacey
Stiles Stilinski
Thoster Chatwyn
Willow Rosenberg
The Dennis-Gatewoods
Emma Swan
Skye
Sara Lance & Clint Barton
Gus Harrison
Alanna of Trebond
Deryn Argall
David Levin
Kali's Rez
Lissa's Rez
Rose's Rez
Killian's Rez
Sam Winchester
Mary Margaret Blanchard
Dante Wilder
Will Graham
Shawn Spencer
Alex Karamazov
Auric Gold
Kate Beckett
Winter Villaro
Sam looking for Dean | closed
Han Solo
Sam & Dean | closed
Myri Odair
Cora Hale
Kali
Rose Hathaway
Faye Chamberlain
Dean Winchester
Koraith & Lydia | closed
Neal & Regina | closed
Hellsing, Vi & Buffy | closed
Gold & Hasmed | closed
Desmond Descant 
Spike 
Hook 
Serafina Rez  
Sterling Archer 
Barry Allen & Felicity Smoak 
Des & Rafael | closed   
Elena Gilbert arrival  
Elena Gilbert  
Wynn & Grant | closed

Comments

[doubletake]

[Elena's eyes widen slightly in pleasant surprise before she grins.]

You're amazing, thank you.

[She reaches out to take the phone from her.]

I need to go find everyone anyway, so I'll be sure to ask for them.

[slay]

They'll be glad to know you're back. [ her smile is earnest as she hands it over. ] Vi and I weren't the only ones turning rocks over trying to find you.

[doubletake]

[Elena glances down at the ground for a moment before she looks back up, her expression mildly sheepish.]

You all sure know how to make a girl feel important. [She tilts her head, looking a little bothered.] This whole thing has just been such a giant mess. I'm just relieved it didn't all turn out worse.

[slay]

No kidding. When I heard Hasmed couldn't find you, we all assumed the worst. Hoped for the best, but ... You know our luck. [ She shrugged one shoulder. ] I'm just grateful you're in one piece.

[doubletake]

I think we've had more luck than you give us credit for, considering the obstacles we've been up against.

[She hesitates briefly, glancing back at where she met with Wynn, before she looks back at her.]

I just spoke with Wynn and, well, you should know. [She quiet again for a moment before finally-] I'm not staying.

[slay]

... What? [ she seems genuinely bewildered by this information. ? ? ? ? ? ]

[doubletake]

I won't be gone forever, but I can't stay here anymore.

[Her expression is resolved, but pained.]

So I'm leaving. In a few hours, actually. Wynn said he would recall me when you're starting to get ready to go after Sarandis.

[slay]

I don't understand. Why can't you stay here? Where are you gonna go?

[doubletake]

For one, you and I both know how Sarandis found this place. I may not be held accountable, but that doesn't mean that it isn't going to bring up old bad blood.

[She's not even going to mention Kyp's name aloud. Not right now.]

And you didn't see what she did to us in that library. I'm not strong enough for what's coming - none of us are. But the things I need to do and practice in order to grow? I can't do them here. [Her expression is intense as she adds.] I'm not normal, Buffy. Not even by changeling standards. There's no one here who can help me, even if they wanted to.

[She sighs then, glancing away.]

I haven't decided where, yet. A big city, mostly likely, where it'll be easy for me to stay hidden.

[slay]

[ it's hard for her to refute that when dean was literally just reinforcing the grudge. when she knows all too well the compelling need to find the source and test out one's powers. she flounders for an answer, for something to keep elena here, but all she finds is empathy and understanding. slowly, she shuts her slackened jaw and nods. ]

I get it. [ maybe elena doesn't think so, but she does. ] I hope when you find what you're looking for, you'll come back. Or maybe just ... for Christmas. [ there's a hopeful lilt in her voice, one trying to cover up her sadness. ]

[doubletake]

[Elena blinks once, as if she's surprised by Buffy's reaction. Her expression wavers a little, her eyes tensing at the corners before she reaches out and wraps her arms around the blonde, her grip tight.]

I'll try. [There's a moment of silence before she quietly adds:] Thank you.

[slay]

If you need anything, [ she says softly, clutching elena tight into the hug, like she's afraid to let go because she knows that'll be the moment she loses her for real, ] Just call. I'll come.

[doubletake]

I know. The same goes for you.

[She pulls back a little, reluctantly, and presses a gentle kiss against her cheek.]

I'll miss you more than you know.

[slay]

[ She nods as she draws back, as if to return the sentiment. ]

You're a good Knight, Elena. Even if not everyone wants to see it.

[doubletake]

[She laughs, the sound a little bitter in her throat.]

Am I, though? I'm good at what I do, yes. I'm gifted at it even, but that things I do to use those gifts aren't exactly what I would consider knightly.

[She doesn't seem particularly bothered by it, though.]

I'm useful, yes. And I know better than anyone that my heart is in the right place. But that doesn't mean I'm a good Knight. I'm just willing to do things that most people here won't, and that's something I think we're going to need.

[slay]

That's not true. [ Useful is such a callous way of putting it, and Buffy can't get her heart behind it. ] You defend people from the injustice in this world. Hell, you've seen more of it than most. Part of being a Knight is deciding what that looks like for you, and what it takes to do it.

[doubletake]

[She tilts her head to the side looking thoughtful for a moment before she drags a hand through her hair, nodding slightly.]

Perhaps. [The corner of her mouth perks up.] After all, Dumage isn't exactly in the dungeons or anything.

[slay]

[ buffy scoffs and rolls her eyes, distaste seeping into her expression. ]

Don't remind me.

[doubletake]

[Her eyebrows lift.]

And you really don't think there's a chance it might be a trap? Even if Dumage herself isn't aware of it?

[slay]

I think ruling the possibility out entirely would be stupid. [ After all, they need to be prepared for the worst. Always. ] But stupider would be to skip out on our chance to do some quality damage. If there's an opportunity here to put Sarandis down for good, we have to take it.

[doubletake]

Of course we do. I just don't want us to walk in there overconfident only to be completely blindsided.

[Not that she thinks they'll literally just...walk in. Or at least not all of them.]

I can't imagine Wynn hasn't thought of that possibility anyway. We've never been a step ahead of them before. It's hard to believe that we might be now, and it's definitely dangerous to just assume that we are.

[slay]

I hope we are. [ She sighs. ] The more we see of them, the more I worry it might be the only way we stand a chance.

[doubletake]

I do too. For all of our sakes. [She nods.] We need the upper hand combined with the numbers. A small handful of people isn't going to be enough.

That's assuming, of course, that any of the others in question will even be in attendance, though Sarandis never seems to be alone for long.

[slay]

On the other hand, he doesn't strike me as an "invite Shadowkind to my holy wedding ceremony" kinda guy.

[doubletake]

He doesn't particularly seem the kind to be marrying for love, either.

[She shrugs her shoulders.]

If he doesn't have something particularly powerful in the way of protection, I'll be beyond shocked, and said protection always seems to come in the form of her.