london ♔ put me on a ship that is sinking

[wynn]

if rain is what you want - slipknot

WHO || The Knights.
WHAT || I'm sure it's nothing.
WHERE || Knights castle 
WHEN || April 18,2016
HOW || Actionspam

It's been a week since Sir Jeanne Gar was abducted by agents of the Church of the Lord's Humanity, despite the Knights' efforts to thwart the attempt.  Several of the younger Knights learned a harsh lesson as they watched the Mind Master shake even the seasoned Sir Hasmed, and turn some of their number on each other.   While Wynn has announced that they are determined to find a way to save Gar, it''s certainly obvious why he's hesitant to send agents out, after what the Mind Master alone has done to several Knights, including Finnick Odair, who may never be the same.  

A dark cloud hangs over the Knighthood, either way, dampening any enthusiasm won from their victory in finally taking down Dimitris Sarandis and two other notable members of the Shadow-hating Church led by Draken Crombe.

The sun is still up in the late evening, on this day, but there's a heaviness in the air.  

Comments

[slay]

[ A cool mask settles over Buffy's expression, disconnecting her from the injury she sees in his face. That, she can deal with later. But every minute that she's out here with Fred is a minute that Rafael is closer to getting auctioned off to his worst enemies and crucified. ]

You were in the same room I was. And this is exactly my point: Rafael is on his way to the guillotine, and we're standing here philosophizing about the Knighthood.

[nepotism]

Because if we lose sight of who we are now, when things are at their worst, that's when they win, Buffy.

[ he shakes his head again, but steps aside, a defeated, dejected look in his eye as he gestures at the glass case with the slot for a key card that serves as the switch for the secret entrance. ] Knighthood isn't about protecting our own over everyone else. And Rafael has been an ally for years - one Wynn's bent over backwards to help when he definitely didn't have to.

It was Rafael's choice to walk out that door for Gar's sake. Wynn doesn't own him. But he'll sure as hell fight for him.

[ he turns away, his shoulders slumping slightly ] You're not alone on this, Buff. Don't forget that we're your friends too.

[slay]

[ It didn't feel like she had many friends in that lobby, with most of them hoping that Rafael would turn himself over to certain death in return for unsubstantial promises about Gar stringing them further along. So she doesn't say anything now on the subject, uninterested in hurting Fred's feelings or lashing out, but equally uninterested in weathering platitudes about how many people are here for her when they'd actively hoped she would go through this. ]

[nepotism]

And Buffy...

I'm sorry. And this isn't over.

He wouldn't have gone if he believed any differently. [ believed in you, to be specific, something some of them couldn't help but overhear in that lobby. ]

[slay]

This isn't about what Rafael believes.

[ Or, in a certain capacity, it is. He believes in her, which is why she can't just sit idly by and accept orders as given. She moves up to the key card reader and swipes her ID. ]

[nepotism]

[ annnnd the little light... turns red and beeps at her. fred turns around at the sound, wincing a bit. ] ... I thought that might be the case.

[slay]

Oh, no way.

[ she swipes it again. ]

He's shutting me out?!

[nepotism]

Not you, specifically, Buffy.

It's a private conference. He probably wants to review what Crombe's asking.

[slay]

And we're not allowed to weigh in? It affects us too. He can't just shut himself off and hail orders down from above.

[nepotism]

That's never been his way, Buffy. But he doesn't invite us all in on his initial briefings or meetings when he finds out about any mission - not until he's got some kind of solid information or plan to at least propose to us. That's literally his job, and it's how he handles every other mission that passes over his desk.

It's not like he's not willing to listen to alternatives or trust people to make the right call in the field.

[slay]

This isn't every other mission! Just like Kat wasn't every other mission. Just like Gar has not been every other mission. He can't just push us out until he decides what's best for us, then pretend that our input is valid. It's not input if he doesn't want it until after the decision has been made—that's just the illusion of choice.

[nepotism]

What do you expect him to do, Buffy? There's protocol here for a reason. There's a hierarchy for a reason.

[slay]

Why? [ she throws her arms out to her sides and shrugs. ] What reason? If Wynn respects hierarchy so much, if he believes in protocol, why even create the Knights? Whose protocol is he following? Or is it just the rest of us who need to follow rules, as long as they're his?

[nepotism]

Buffy, he's not like that. [ he sounds frustrated, but tired, and still not unsympathetic ] See what he says. Just... give him that much.

If you don't like it, speak up. He'll at least hear you out.

[slay]

What good will it do? How backwards is it that no one can be heard until after a decision has already been made? What's the point, then? That's not for our sake; it's for his. [ Buffy shakes her head, frustration mounting on her own part, like she doesn't get why she can't convey this to Fred. She finally decides that it's a limitation of perspective and drops her hands, shaking her head. Moving past him, she makes for the stairs to the training room, freeing herself of the conversation to go collect her things (and Rafael's) because she can't just stand still right now. If she does, she'll fall apart. ]