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

[slays]

[ Not-so-natural kind of 20 on strength check, Buffy easily shoves her way around as well. Unsurprising to Spike and herself, but surprising to anyone else given her size. She sticks close to Spike's side, trying to keep herself focused. None of that weird ... wonky flippy acid trippy weirdness. No. She was alert, and concentrating, and ... and being a good teammate. Right? She pushed toward the edge of the crowd, back in the direction of the tables where Kat and Gar had diverted to. ]

[behindcloseddoors]

[A good goal, but there's a minor road bump along the way, because the lights dash out across the building suddenly, replaced by only streaming red lasers flashing over the faces which turn anxiously as one towards the stage, full of a zealous anticipation and a sudden sequence of screams that echo through the entire building.

Out of the stage begins to rise a white curtain, that encircles the entire circumference of the platform, as an otherworldly delicate musical beat chimes through the air, a low pulsing beat below it that the lights flash along with, as if reflecting the suddenly in sync heartbeat of the crowd.

The curtain rises all the way to the roof, and smoke starts pouring out from under its sides, while the crowd goes insane, screaming and pawing at the thrust stage, as if they can no longer even take another moment.

The screaming climaxes as a silhouetted figure appears in the center of the stage, flanked by several others. Evident curves indicate it's definitely a female back there, but everyone else seemed to be in on some bigger secret about her identity - their screams amplified with even this tease of a glance.]

[bigbad]

[Spike doesn't care how excited everyone is, nor does he care who the woman on the stage is. He's here on a mission that isn't going well, not to dance. He just wants to get through the crowd and find Gar and Kat and either finish the mission or get out. Really, at this point he's okay with either plan. You'd think a mission to a kinky sex and dancing club would be more fun and less annoying. But his neck hurts from Buffy strangling him in the non-sexy way and it's really just aggravating.

He does have to stop momentarily as everyone starts flailing and screaming even more. He looks over at Buffy and grabs her hand. He really doesn't want to get separated from her in this madness.]

[slay]

[ She jerks her hand out of his grasp and elbows him roughly. The look she gives him is just so accusatory of him trying to put the moves on her when they are busy trying to fucking do a mission. She's not deterred by the lights and sounds around them, though she does turn away from him to glance up on the stage and try to get an idea of who the fuck everyone is so excited for (spot check 11). ]

[borrowedheaven]

[The strident voices around them fall silent, however, when a throaty, pure voice pierces through the roar.

♬ Dark Side ; Kelly Clarkson

O-oh. Oh-o-oh.
There's a place that I know
It's not pretty there and few have ever gone
If I show it to you now
Will it make you run away
Or will you stay
Even if it hurts
Even if I try to push you out
Will you return?
And remind me who I really am
Please remind me who I really am...

Behind the curtain, the silhouettes break away from the singer, striking dramatic shadowed poses as more and more smoke billows out from under. The sea around them freezes, everyone now utterly transfixed on the stage.

It's hard not to be. Even Spike and Buffy would feel a strange compulsion† to stare as well, as the girl emerges when the curtain rolls up.

Thigh-high black boots gave way to a flash of skin and then a matching colored mini-dress that's so tight that it looks like as if it were oozed out of a bottle and molded to her body. The fabric is sheer nylon over her midriff. Black gloves run up her arms, and her hair is dread locked and streaked alternately black and white. A heavy pendent necklace completes the look. She has an exotic coppery skin tone, and features that are finely balanced, and, they might note, if they can manage a Spot check (Wis) of 15 or more, maybe hinting at an inhuman quality.

The most noticeable thing about her, however, has to do with a lot more than her strikingly unique looks. Rather, it's the fluid way she moves, the strange entrancing aura that surrounds her, a black hole of fascination that seems to suck in the whole place effortlessly.

But most powerful of all is that voice. It's the most inhuman thing about her - and the strange heartbreaking sense of sorrow and longing, grace and mystery that it conveys feels like much more than just a stage act. There's an honest pain beneath the earnest vocals, that's more compelling than anything about her physical appearance.]

Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

[† A Will save of 15 or more will allow them to keep their head. Otherwise, they'll get caught up in it just as much as everyone else: it's a strange, obsessive feeling, an unhealthy rush of desire to be the object of the woman's attention (whether in a sexy way or a nonsexy way), and a complete loss of focus on... whatever it was they were here for again... For the moment, this is all that seems to matter.]

[bigbad]

[Spike's rolls have improved DRASTICALLY lately. In fact, they've been better ever since he got his coat. THE DICE KNOW. He just feels more like himself now and can more effectively do shit, I guess...

Anyway. The woman is beautiful. It's hard not to notice. But Spike's keen eyes, and his spot check of 23, mean that he can tell she's not what she seems. What exactly she is, he doesn't know, but he'd bet anything it isn't human. And maybe that knowledge is what helps him keep his wits about him. His will save's a 23.

In other circumstances, he might want to spend a bit more time on the music, even if he's not caught up. It is nice. But they've got a mission, and Buffy's being her ever-pleasant self. Yes, he caught that look. He steps in closer to her and shouts, trying to be heard over the music.]

Come on! Stay close to me!

[slay]

[ Will save of 18 keeps her head about her, but she feels the pull all the same. And she's wise enough to realize there's something supernatural about how drawn she feels, but her spot check of 13 means she doesn't see any of not-Kelly Clarkson's monster-y traits. She strains to hear ears (listen check 14) to catch what Spike says, and gives him a nod. ]

Not that I'm not totally digging on the freaky deaky cult vibe, but we're on business. [ She puts a hand on his arm -- not holding his hand -- and continues to try and shove past the dancing crowd. Damn. So freaking stuffy in here that it was looking unlikely that they'd even be able to get to the tables. ]

[borrowedheaven]

Like a diamond
From black dust
It's hard to know
It can become
A few give up
So don't give up on me
Please remind me who I really am

Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

[As the beat rises, she dances her way out across the divide and the people begin clambering in an attempt to get at her, some going so far as to try to physically climb on the stage. However, the crowd contains more of those security guards in the robo-suits with the big guns who set to work keeping everyone in line.

Something glints in her eyes that seems to indicate that she's enjoying every single moment of the attention, but it doesn't do anything to mitigate that strange note of melancholy in her voice.]

Don't run away
Don't run away
Just tell me that you will stay
Promise me you will stay
Don't run away
Don't run away
Just promise me you will stay
Promise me you will stay

[With cooler heads prevailing, they finally emerge at the narrow opening in the cordon that spills them into the area with the tables. Everyone here, bartender and waiters included, has frozen to watch the stage as well.]

[bigbad]

[Spike rolls his eyes at Buffy's holding of his ~arm~ instead of his hands. She's so bloody finicky. But it's not important, and they make it out together, so clearly it worked. Everyone's transfixed on the singer. More than he'd expect. There's liking a song and then there's not being able to look away or do anything else. Something's definitely going on.

Spike looks around, spot check 25, trying to locate Gar and Kat.]

[borrowedheaven]

[Except... there's no sign of them, either in the tables, booths, or at the bar. 8| What's that all about. HMMMMM]

[slay]

[ Buffy stops at the edge of the stage, glancing around, then tugs on Spike to get his attention. ] Hey. [ She nods back to the back right of the stage, on the opposite side of where they'd discovered the blood room. ] Maybe back this way?

[bigbad]

[He follows her gaze and nods.] Worth a shot. They're certainly not here. [And he doesn't think they'd leave without him and Buffy. He glances over at her and starts walking.]

[slay]

Let's just hope wherever they are, they're okay. [ How did zero ways to call for back-up seem like a good idea? She keeps pace alongside Spike, heading back into the ??? area. ]

[borrowedheaven]

♬ A Neverending Dream - Cascada

[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 main hall 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.]

[bigbad]

[Oh, an elevator. Because the dance hall wasn't already big enough. It does give them more places to search, though. For their missing teammates and the trade. Spike glances at Buffy as they approach and leans towards her, speaking quietly.]

That looks a bit too posh to be the emergency exit. I'm guessing we want to go down.

[slay]

[ She tries not to look peeved as she notices the elevator, and at Spike's commentary, but it comes through in her snide remark anyway. ]

Why not? We've already been to Hell tonight, how much worse can it be downstairs? [ She purses her lips, exchanging a look with him, then beelines for the elevator, stepping inside and giving the attendant a thin-lipped smile. ]

[behindcloseddoors]

[or so she tries to, at least. the attendant holds up a hand in front of the door, fixing them with an annoyed glare] This area's off limits.

[bigbad]

[Spike rolls his eyes and growls a little, not actually pulling out his fangs, but still looking damn intimidating. Natural 20 levels of intimidating, as it happens. Seriously, it's the coat. It's magic. He's not in the mood to play nice.]

Make an exception.

[slays]

[ Oh, Buffy was going to try violence, but ... that works too. And is possibly a better idea. She had clenched her fist and started to raise it and everything but it didn't get past her rib cage before she cools it. She waits to see if the attendant responds to Spike's thrall-level intimidation tactics. Oooo Mr. Spike ooo. ]

[behindcloseddoors]

[Of course she was going to try violence. No 1 r surprised. Either way, the attendant's eyes widen significantly but he still hesitates, which makes it clear that whatever fate awaits him for letting someone past with no clearance is pretty damn bad if it has him reconsidering in the face of a nat 20 intimidation check. Still, he reaches out with shaking hands to unchain the door, which he clacks back out of their way.] ... I-it only goes up.

[bigbad]

[YEAH RIGHT SPIKE'S GRAND NATURAL 1 SENSE MOTIVE ROLL MAKES HIM SURE THAT THERE IS NO WAY THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE TRUE. He slams his fist into the wall next to the elevator attendant's head, leaning in close.]

Don't bloody lie to me! Take us to the lower levels! Now.

[slay]

[ Buffy, on the other hand, got a sense motive of 25 so she is smart enough to realize Spike is a fucking retard right now. When he gets aggressive, she grabs him by the back of his shirt and throws him into the opposite wall, stepping between them and holding him at bay with a hand to his chest. ]

Are you kidding me right now? Did you get dosed like the rest of those funny farm weirdos out there? Spike, he's telling the truth. Just ... back off. [ She shoots him a sharp look, then turns to the attendant. ] I'm sorry, he's -- He's kind of keyed up. Vampire. Blood room. Bad combo. Just take us up.

[behindcloseddoors]

[Well, if he looked doubtful about taking you two up before, now that he knows one is a disturbingly strong, violent girl and the other is a BLOODCRAZED VAMPIRE, he looks downright pale at the thought. Still, he... holds his bladder and nods, stricken, pulling the gate closed in front of them and hitting the appropriate button. The elevator rises slowly.]

[bigbad]

[...Spike still kind of thinks there's a subbasement the elevator attendant is hiding, but... fine. Fine, Buffy, but if they miss the trade because they didn't push the poor elevator guy into revealing the... hidden button... um.

He crosses his arms and crosses his arms, staying on the far side of the wall and glaring across the elevator occasionally.]

[slay]

[ She just fixes Spike with a glare as they slowly go up in the elevator. One that says "Bad puppy. Heel, boy." Yep. Amnesia can only do so much for what might as well be muscle memory. ]