chicago mission ♔ the people under your feet are shooting stars in the night

[rationalizes]

♬ Dreamworld - Rilo Kiley

WHO || Gar, Kat, Mark, Dumage, Martha, Myri, Buffy, Sven, Spike, Desmond Descant, ??, ?? [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights infiltrate Nightscape to intercept a deal for the Eternal Jade. And... so does Des. At the same time. Hilarity ensues???
WHERE || Chicago. Nightscape.
WHEN || Friday, March 9th, various tiemes.
HOW || Actionspam; Don't sweat tagging order.

It's been a busy day. Following Gar's discovery of a message that seems to imply a trade for the artifact known as the Eternal Jade will take place at a location called "Nightscape" the next evening, several of the Knights headed out to the area outlined in Hoffman Institute files, only to discover the place was an office building that sold pharmaceuticals. However, as Myrilandel stared at a strange canopied fruit stand attached to the front of the building, she began to notice something, well, quite odd about it. A long line of people waited against the edifice to enter the stand, but none of them looked as if they fit into the commercial sector whatsoever, with their leather, vinyl, spiked hair, glitter, colored hair, etc. In fact, only by staring at the image presented and concentrating could the others recognize there was something wrong with the whole picture - something that caused theirs eyes to rebound off from it and find the entire scene innocuous otherwise. The line of people disappeared into the canopy - but none of the crowd ever came out again, defying any logic about how many people could humanly fit inside the tiny stand at a time.

It was clear that it wasn't just any fruit stand.

It was an entrance. They quickly surmised just what it had to be an entrance to. Myrilandel managed to note a number of guards emerging from the club after hours, dressed in some kind of futuristic looking armor that... looks a lot like Halo armor. She spotted the symbol on the side of the van they climbed into, and the surveillance team took note of it before heading back to the hotel.

Meanwhile, the research team back home (Kat, Buffy, and Sven mostly, since Gar passed out asleep in her chair) threw themselves into finding out what they could about Nightscape: and found rumors about an invite-only underground club, whose location was protected by magic, which seemed to mesh with what the other Knights had seen. The most interesting aspect of the club, however, wasn't just the fact that invitations to it come in the form of pills that implant directions into the subject's unconscious mind, but that supposedly it played havoc with the memories of those who frequent it. Every visit fades from the patron's mind when they leave, in the same way a dream does - they could remember a vague feeling of what it was like, but not any details about what actually occurred - and the more they attempted to remember, the more the memories would elude them.

Today, they've managed to look up that symbol Myri noticed on the side of the van and identify it as belonging to a private security firm that hires out to wealthy patrons in often underhanded deals. Which has allowed a plan of action to be hatched. :O

The Knights will coordinate efforts to plant a fake detour between the security firm and the club, derailing a van full of guards to lead to a stop light that will be controlled by Kat. And allow them to come up through a conveniently placed manhole to plant a device on the underbelly of the truck that will cripple its battery temporarily. At this point, the Knights will assume control of the vehicle, and Kat, Gar, Buffy, and Spike will don the armor of the guards and take their weapons, proceeding to the club as security personnel. Mark and Myrilandel will transport the captured guards to somewhere safe to keep them out of the way and possibly interrogate them. Dumage and Martha will drop off Sven at the club - he'll be attempting to bluff his way through the front door as a patron so that they can have an eye in the crowd as well, and then the ladies will park on the street to sit and wait as a getaway car / backup if necessary.

Obviously, nothing could possibly go wrong. :)

[ooc; subthreads to come!]

Comments

[behindcloseddoors]

[Tattoo guy looks over his shoulder, and then back at Des with an unamused expression on his face. Now he's watching you, boy 8|

Bartenderchan just mostly ignores him, filling up a line of more... mixed water drinks. I guess.] Shouldn't be long now.

[And as if on cue... the lights drop out and that huge wave of deafening screams fills the air...]

[nothingsodivine]

[...And then Des failed his spot check too, so he doesn't even notice he's being watched. He's just gonna... Drink his water and keep his eyes on the stage, like he's the picture of normalcy... Except he keeps shooting surreptitious glances at the tattoo guy's table, like he's expecting them to try and sneak out.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[They really don't seem inclined to go anywhere, actually, and just sit back to watch the show. Which is... quite literally the same song and dance as last time. Not that Des knows that. Which means he should probably make that Will save again while she's up there breaking all the hearts.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Whatevs, man. Will save of 20. Des is still unaffected by her bullshit. He's paying more attention to the people watching her- it's like inception for mindfuck, I guess...

Spot check: 19. And meanwhile, he does keep glancing surreptitiously over at the other table, waiting for the people to make a move.]

[supremacist]

♬ In A Dream - Rockell

And sure 'nuff, Mr. Smugface comes strutting through the tables, decked out in a crisp white suit. He spots Tattoo Guy's table with ease and heads directly that way, casting a rapacious glance at the stage, and the girl finishing up her number. The dark skinned man gives him a slow nod of recognition, and they clasp hands briefly, before the man in the white suit gestures for them to stand.

The guards are on their feet in a second, chairs scraping back, and Des would notice that one of them is wrapping something around his wrist. Which would become apparent as a leash as he yanked the creature out from where it lay curled beneath the table.

At first, it would appear to be a large cat with jet black fur, almost darkly purplish - but for the fact that floating off from its back, attached to its flanks, are two floating tentacles, also purple and fur covered, with vicious looking barbed ends, swishing there like extra tails, or perhaps like rearing serpents. Also the... six legs scream NOT A CAT.*

The guy in the suit nods towards the back of the tables, where the stage curves around to some mysterious hallways, and the group heads that way.]

*but according to his fail INT check, he doesn't have... any idea what the fuck it actually is.

[nothingsodivine]

[Oh, well... That sure is NOT A CAT. And also not something Des has had the experience of seeing before, but wow, that sure is... Not a cat. God, he's going to get mauled by something with tentacles and he's going to punch Liam so hard in the mouth.

Whelp. Nothing to it, but to... Follow after them... With his magical 11 hide check. God, he sucks so fucking hard right now.]

[supremacist]

[It's ok, they're apparently too boss to pay attention and don't turn around. Blondie girl hangs all over Tattoo's arm, while the guards flank them, along with Boo Boo Kitty.

Around the corner are a few hallways, where the music is a much more distant thump, and the lighting is much more standard. At the far end of the hall, where they're headed, is an elevator, though it's an antiquated one, that still supports a caged door. A red vested attendant even waits within it, its golden doors gleaming as much as his teeth do when he smiled at the group in greeting.]

Ah, gentlemen... you're expected.

[nothingsodivine]

[SHIT FUCK. ELEVATOR. Des lurks behind a wall and listens to see if they say anything else... And considers his options, which are pretty much... Knock out the elevator dude and steal his clothes. Fuck.]

[supremacist]

[The white suited man has no smile for the elevator dude, merely a sneer of contempt, but his tattooed companion grins at him ferociously, revealing a row of blackened teeth that cause the operator’s eyes to widen and grin to falter, but he quickly averts his eyes towards the man’s female companion, who glances back and forth between the two of them and then cackles raucously, reaching up to kiss the tattooed fellow on the cheek, with a wink for the elevator operator. The white suited man gave them a look that is sternfully reproachful, and they glance at each other, smirking, but then Des hides behind a wall and can't really see anything else. There's nothing to hear though but the clack-clack of the gate pulling closed, and then the sound of the elevator ascending.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Well. That's that, then. Des steps out of his hiding place and frowns at the elevator, like maybe glaring at it will make it come back. Finally, he gets an idea in his head.

And this idea involves him standing there until the elevator operator comes back down.]

[behindcloseddoors]

♬ Elevator Music

[Waiting ...

waiting...



waiting...











Slow clacking noise of elevator resettling into place.

DING.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Humming. Humming. Tapping his foot a little to the beat. Breaking out a casual whistle.

Oh hey, the door dinged. Des cuts himself off in mid-whistle and clears his throat. Charisma check: 18. Let's see how this works.] Evenin'. You got a problem with your lights on this floor. Need to get up to the next one and drop down and see what the problem is. Can you help a guy out?

[behindcloseddoors]

[The man seems entirely surprised by the question, as if the very notion of repairmen something entirely new to him, and he looks Des over, obviously momentarily flustered.]

But-- wha-- Who called you? [The last part gets asked bluntly, but at least he looks more confused than suspicious]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des arches an eyebrow.] Well, gee, princess. Maybe the guys who want a smooth operation? Am I gonna have to call somebody up and say I can't do shit with the lights because some nancy boy who pushes buttons all day's giving me the third degree? [Bluff check: 21.

Poor, poor elevator dude.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[That seems to shut him effectively, and he glances over Des' shoulder as if looking for anyone to confirm or deny this, but it is blissfully free of guards right now. So after only a moment he nods and yanks the caged door back to allow Des inside.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Mission accomplished. Des strolls in and crosses his arms over his chest, glaring at his fellow passenger with ALL OF THE DISDAIN.] You made the right choice, pal. Maybe one day you'll have a real job.

[behindcloseddoors]

[The guy just glares out of the corner of his eye and mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like: "Like a light repair dude?" as the elevator settles into place. He opens the cage door swiftly, letting Des out into the hallway that opens into a long hall to the right. To the left, not far from the elevator, the hall curves out of sight.

Far down the corridor to the right, the group is visible entering a set of double doors. The tattooed man is the last of them to head in, but something causes him to pause with one hand on the door, and turn to look back in Des' direction.]

[nothingsodivine]

[CRAP. Des tries to skirt around the corner before he's seen, only to... Run directly into the corner.

CRIT FAILS ARE SO PAINFUL.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[There's a pause down the hallway, where the guy is probably staring at this... idiot who ran into the corner, but then the door clicks closed.

And then there's another click. Of the incredibly large gun that is suddenly pointing down at Des' face. It would take a moment before the rest of the image came into focus: the armor suited guard staring down at him through one of those completely tinted visors. His buddy behind him, also holding one of those guns.

The guard's voice is heavily modulated, flat and robotic.]

Get up and put your hands up where I can see them. Slowly now.

[nothingsodivine]

[Oh fuck...

Des slowly stands and holds his hands up, forcing a grin on his face that the words "feces-devouring" might describe.] Hello, boys. The Halo convention's a block over... And was there always a wall right there?

[behindcloseddoors]

[That gleaming golden visor is so shiny that Des can see his own grin reflecting right back at him. It doesn't really distract from the gun barrel very much, however. The second guard seems to be uncertainly looking back and forth between his companion and Des, holding his gun close to his chest still, and shifting his weight from one foot to another, as if nervous. The first one, however, shows no such lack of confidence as he demands, thrusting the gun closer:]

Who are you?

[nothingsodivine]

Eaaasy. [Des says, his tone the equivalent of someone telling a horse or a dog to settle down.] Repair man. Must've taken a wrong turn. [He lowers his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.] You really gotta do something about that elevator guy. He's shady. I think he wants to kill me. [ALMOST A NAT TWENTY, BITCHES. TAKE THAT, WALL.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[The guard hovers there for a moment, considering this, then speaks again, still flatly, static buzzing in and out on the modulator]

... We’re going to have to shoot him. He saw us.

[The guard's partner, however, seems quite shocked at the suggestion, as he just stands there, making gibbering noises through his comm trying to say something, but not quite able to make it come out. Meanwhile that barrel doesn't move from between Des' eyes.]

[nothingsodivine]

WHOA. WHOA. Bullshit. I saw three guys downstairs who look just like you and half the damn club saw them. Are you gonna shoot them? 'Cause that's a lot of scantily clad bodies to hide, my friend. [Oh my god. He doesn't want to get brain matter all over his shirt. Do you know how hard that is to explain in mixed company?]

1/2

[behindcloseddoors]

[The guard's only response is a harsh:] Quiet you.