marseilles ♔ swallowing the pill til i breathed my last

[likedillinger]

We Carry On - Portishead

WHO || Dean, Rose, Gus, Ashley, Elijah [closed]
WHAT || The Knights head to speak with the Carmilla
WHERE || Marseilles, France
WHEN || Mid April 2016
HOW || Actionspam

Last fall, two Knights were killed in action while investigating a group of rogue vampires in Paris - Sir Dragomir and Sir Rast. While the vampires were brought under control, the mystery of who exactly killed the Knights remains up in the air, and to that end, Wynn has decided to establish contact with an ancient vampire known as Carmilla, leader of a vampiric coven of Elders who dictate the rules by which most nearby covens live in order to maintain their existence without bringing humankind down on their heads.

Also of interest to the assigned Knights is the strange abrupt departure of Sir Helen Magnus, who stayed behind in Paris and sent an unusual letter to her daughter Ashley that refused to explain what she was doing, but left the woman more concerned than ever.

Wynn has made arrangements with the coven, who have reluctantly agreed to meet with the Knights, and so a few days after their briefing, Dean pulls their rented vehicle up to the gates of the creepy manor where the Elders have at least agreed to rendezvous. While the grounds are well kept, there's an air of emptiness to the whole place.

Comments

[druidisms]

[ gus has been to marseilles before, on his and malina's ill advised ten year anniversary when they decided to visit during easter when everything was closed or busy. but they got chocolate roosters and spent the weekend on french beaches, ogling the same guys probably, so really it was a win.

also i hope they're in a truck because there's a bear in the back. gus glances up idly, looking around (spot 24). ]

[littledhampir]

[Rose shifts uncomfortably in her seat as they come to a stop, leaning forward to take in the sight of the building with little more than a tightening of her features. Like Gus, looking around for any signs of movement or sounds from beyond. (Spot 32/Listen 38).

With a brief glance in Dean's direction, she turns to address Elijah.]

The idea is to let you do most of the talking obviously, but I'll be there with you if they have any questions about what happened in Paris that you might not be able to answer. You should be the one to lead us in so they have a sense of you being in charge.

[Looking around at everyone now.] Any questions before we go in?

[bagsthem]

[Ashley looks super focused on what's ahead of them, giving a stiff shake of her head.]

None here.

[likedillinger]

[ dean looks elijah over uncertainly like he's not sure about putting this guy in the lead, but w/e ] You know what you're planning on askin'?

[ofmyword]

[Having been focused on keeping an eye on what's ahead, (spot 32/listen 33) Elijah nods at Rose's explanation, looking to Dean when he speaks up.]

I intend to find out how honorable they truly are. If they're lying about how closely they live by their code, they're likely lying about everything else. [He wets his lips bc almost compulsive tic at this point.] I don't doubt they'll want something in exchange for allowing us an audience, let alone any answers they might provide.

[littledhampir]

[If the slight widening of Rose's eyes is anything to go by? She hadn't considered the possibility of them wanting something in return, Rose all the more grateful that Wynn had assigned Elijah as their diplomat.]

Okay... good. [Bobbing her head.] All we need from them? Is somewhere to start looking for who killed Max and Lissa. The one who did this? I doubt it's the first time and he's probably gotten away with it because he could blame the killings on groups of younger Vamps. He wouldn't have been counting on me seeing what happened.

Whether they're all talk or not? They still shouldn't be on board with somebody undermining their rule. Hopefully that will be enough to get them to help.

[And then finally to everyone.]

Wynn doesn't want to start a war with the Vampires of France so we get in, get out and we keep our cool. [And with that, she's going to move to get out of the car.]

[likedillinger]

[ elijah can make out movement behind the windows of the place, dispelling any notion that it might be truly abandoned quite readily. he also hears a faint electronic buzzing, noting a few well disguised cameras on the exterior. ] And if they don't give a shit?

We gotta admit, it's a possibility.

[bagsthem]

I'd hope they wouldn't bother agreeing to this meeting in the first place if they don't care at all.

[She worries about the same situation, though.]

[littledhampir]

Then we'll consider our options.

[She's not making a call for War but from the hard look on her face as she glances at Dean? She's not ruling anything out at this point.]

Let's move.

[druidisms]

[ gus gets out, leaving the door open for ashley, before moving to unsecure the bear from her seat and grab his bag. mellie lumbers to the ground with a thud, gus' quarterstaff strapped to her back. ]

[bagsthem]

[Ashley slides out after Gus, shutting the door behind her before she moves toward Rose so they can head inside. She has her pistol holstered at her hip, but is otherwise unarmed.]

[ofmyword]

[Elijah also gets out of the car, joining the others.]

If nothing else, they'll care about being found out. We can use that to our advantage. [He glances around at everyone.] If it comes to violence, so be it.

[He then takes a moment to straighten the cuffs of his shirt and jacket like a loser.]

Are we ready?

[littledhampir]

[Rose's gaze flickers towards Ashley as she moves over, back to Dean as Elijah speaks she nods, brushing the stake that's holstered at her hip.]

Yep. [Hesitating only a moment to add;] If it goes south? You don't want to engage them in hand to hand combat if you can help it. We have no idea how many Vampires are in there... Just, get out of there as fast as you can and we'll regroup.

[Lets do this thing.]

[druidisms]

[ before they get too far, gus murmurs some words in korean under his breath and suddenly mellie shrinks from a fully grown adult brown bear to roughly the size of a bear cub as gus casts reduce animal. she's actually pretty adorable and now she's a much less intimidating presence, her growl a sweet and unimpressive purr. ]

[likedillinger]

[ dean gives the bear a double take, raising both his eyebrows ] I wondered what you were gonna do about Teddy Ruxpin when we got in there.

[druidisms]

Vampires can shapeshift into bears. [ gus is a wealth of useless knowledge when it comes to vampires, tbh. he just knows things. things. ] I'd rather she not be the first choice to snack on.

[littledhampir]

[Rose glances briefly at the bear before looking back to the Manor that looms before them.]

Alright... Lets not keep them waiting.

[likedillinger]

What, vampires aren't big on fashionably late? [ he directs the sarcastic remark to elijah, but they make their way towards the steps of the manor. a large raven alights on a nearby spire, seeming to affix them all with one beady eye, as they reach the top of the steps. they're decorated with an immense, somewhat ghoulish knocker. ]

[bagsthem]

You'd think they'd be all about that with the whole can't come out 'til it's dark thing.

[She peers up at the raven briefly as it's landing catches her eyes before she shakes her head and moves toward the doors, reaching out to use said large knocker.]

[littledhampir]

[Rose shoots Dean a look but says nothing, instead letting her gaze slide to the Raven as she falls in to position to Elijah's right. Leaving him to do the honors.]

[druidisms]

Hope they have a butler, [ gus supplies idly, glancing at the raven with a nod. 's up. he wouldn't be surprised if that raven is one of their familiars or companions. and if it's not, gus likes birds.

but, i mean, someone'll have to invite the vampire inside. ]

[ofmyword]

Oh, I'm sure it varies from vampire from vampire. [He's gonna do that weird smile that means he knows something you don't.] Do try not to insult our hosts until after we have what we came for.

[Since Ashley is already using the knocker, Elijah will just fold his hands in front of him and wait for it to be answered.]

[likedillinger]

[ ashley's hand is about to curl around the ring of the knocker when with a loud grinding sound, the doors open of their own accord inward, revealing the elegant entrance hall, all dark wood and dated but expensive furnishings that are immaculately kept. dean glances back at rose ] Little showy, aren't they? [ please excuse him, he has to get all these quips out of his system now or he'll never shut up inside ]

[ofmyword]

[Elijah is just like 'let's get this over with first' and steps forward to enter.

Will he smack into an invisible barrier?? We just don't know.]

[littledhampir]

[Just because her Will Saves are usually better than Dean's, doesn't mean she disagrees with him and the smirk that touches her lips says as much.]

Certainly makes an impression... [Tone dry.]