saudi arabia ♔ cause you just might get it

[behindcloseddoors]

♬ Be Careful What You Wish For - Eminem

WHO || Wanda, Malina, Caroline, Jordan, Alex
WHAT || The Knights go to investigate a genie granting wishes
WHERE || Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
WHEN || June 2016
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

[ The Knights fly on Wynn's order to Riyadh, a dust-steeped collection of elaborate skyscrapers and flashing lights that looks to be the closest Saharan analogue to Las Vegas. Dunes stretch out around the endless, otherwise level horizon where giant, clouded dust storms threaten.

Their target, for all the boons he has bestowed on the local populace, has been enjoying a charmed life in one of the Ritz-Carlton, an anachronism of culture that more closely resembles the White House than any structure that belongs in Saudi. It isn't difficult to pinpoint where he might be harbored - lines of people choke the halls en route to the ballroom, craning their necks to try to see in, and cutting off any easy access to the location. ]

Comments

[innovates]

[She doesn't know enough about djinn to have any context for that, so she'll just take Malina's word for it.

She shakes her head.]

The amount of energy something like that produces isn't small enough to get that kind of exact position. It would be like trying to determine the exact spot where an earthquake originated.

[She glances around as they walk, trying to stay focused even as she speaks.]

Besides, as far as I could tell, based on the readings, it isn't open anymore. I'm looking for whoever came through it, not the portal itself.

[bredinthebone]

From the readings you got when the portal was open - can you detect like ... remnants of it on that person? Or are we going to be playing a guessing game like we do with most Shadowkind?

[innovates]

If they're not still here- [Which is, frankly, what she's hoping for.] -then I guess I'll have to ask around. It isn't as if it would have happened without anyone noticing.

[ambitionist]

Because "have you seen anyone fall through a portal recently" is gonna go over real well.

[just keeping it 100, ok]

[bredinthebone]

[Malina smirks.]

Probably not. But there has to be some kind of evidence regardless.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ oh hey look, as they're walking along, they notice something that's marked 'service door - ballroom' ?????? ???????????

how convenient. ]

[bredinthebone]

[She spots the sign and stops, taking Alex's arm and turning on her heel.]

Well, we could always start here?

[ambitionist]

[well he's not gonna argue with that, stepping along with her as she takes his arm.] Let's do it.

[innovates]

[Jane looks over at Darcy before she takes her hand, pulling her along with her, not wanting to get left behind.]

[bredinthebone]

[And once the rest of the group is with him, Malina will gently try the door to make sure it isn't locked.]

[highlyemotional]

[ yep, caroline is bringing up the rear with jordan, looking (and listening) to make sure they're not spotted. ]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ The ballroom was awash in decadence bordering on regal, and it was not immediately clear whether it was the doing of the djinn or his hosts. People milled about the ballroom, some visibly present for the mere pleasure of watching and sharing in the joy of those who were granted their desires, and others lined up in hopes that he might hear theirs.

At the front of the room, a man wearing elegant silks, jewels, and a cape sat with his hand steadily turning a scepter made seemingly of solid gold. Before him, a shabbily dressed woman made her plea, urging him to grant her wish that her children would never go hungry again. The man considered her with rapt attention, stroking his thumb and forefinger against his facial hair, up until the moment they slipped through the staff door.

His attention lifted, though the woman continued to speak, and his eyes landed on Jordan. ]

[highlyemotional]

[ whispered aside: ] He's wearing a cape. What a tool.

[ambitionist]

[right there with caroline in the peanut gallery, although mostly muttering to himself]

You gotta be fuckin' kidding me.

[divaricate]

[more commentary-- ] That is.. some outfit.

[bredinthebone]

[Malina is taken by the extravagance of it all, but that doesn't mean she misses the way Jordan distracts the guy in front of them (spot 17). She takes a small step forward, watching him carefully as she speaks (sense motive nat 20).]

Don't stop on our account. She's got a family to feed.

[tasings]

[Meanwhile... rather than straight up mock the outfit. Darcy's gonna lean into Jane and mutter.]

I wonder if he and the big guy share a tailor.

[innovates]

Shh.

[She pokes an elbow into Darcy's side. No she totally didn't crack a tiny smile as she did it, nope. You must be delusional.]

[wishuponadjinn]

[ Jordan's eyes lock onto the man immediately, taking in his gaudy clothes and jewels, his lip pulling into a sneer. His style of clothing was something that Jareth would certainly approve of, he was sure.

The only problem with this whole setup is that Jordan didn't sense a single ounce of Djinn magic about the man on the stage. He would be able to detect his kind of magic with no hesitation, but it just wasn't what he was getting from this man. There was magic there, of that he was sure, but what kind he couldn't tell, which was unusual in and of itself.

He crosses his arms, the silver filigreed bands binding his wrists obvious as his sleeves pull back a bit, locking eyes with the stranger on the stage, waiting on his next move.]

Imposter [he mutters quietly to no one in particular.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ Malina hears Jordan's remark, and it contextualizes the sense she has that something is … off about the performer treating his throne like a stage. Whatever magic this man uses has no connection to anything djinni.

If he hears Jordan, he makes no indication of it, the muscles of his face controlled in a placid show of empathy to the woman pleading her case. However, after the utterance, he rose to his feet, sweeping both hands out to the simpering crowd. ]

I've made my decision. One of the fortunate souls in this room will have the opportunity to have all their worldly questions answered today, desires fulfilled, riches beyond the heart's wildest imagination. [ A charismatic smile lifted his lips, creased his cheeks. The woman before him took quick, disbelieving breaths as she fumbled to her feet, turning to those around her with frantic anticipation that assumed the timing to mean she would be among them. ] But only one.

[ One hand fell to his side. The other pointed directly at Jordan through the crowd. ]

You there. You've come to seek my audience. Remain. [ He turned to the crowd. ] And the rest of you are welcome back tomorrow.

[ A collection of groans reverberated through the hall, echoing and building off one another until the disappointed din overwhelmed anything else. Hotel security swarmed the hall to begin escorting visitors out. ]

[bredinthebone]

[Yep, so Malina so isn't going to leave a team member behind with a confirmed fake djinn but still likely magic user and wait in the lobby. She crosses her arms in front of her chest and stands her ground, waiting for the ballroom to clear and for them to get down to business.

If anyone tries to move her, she will stare them down with all the determination her 5'4" frame can muster (intimidate 18).]

[ambitionist]

[alex decides to form a line of arm-crossing people by mirroring malina, only he is tall and a master of the dead-eyed stare, so ... good luck getting him to go anywhere. (intimidate 39)]

We're with him.

[wishuponadjinn]

[Well, there's no way he's going to leave the rest of his group to have alone time with this robed wonder.

He waits for the crowd to thin, sizing up the room, the exits, and the security within. His eyes finally come back to the stage, locking on the bejeweled man once more, but makes no move to advance.]

[innovates]

[Jane's feet are planting firmly in place as well. She only just got in here. She's not leaving without investigating for what she's looking for, and if she has to ride on the backs of these guys to do it, then that's what she's gonna do.]

What's your name?

[highlyemotional]

[ whispered to jane: ] So he's not who you were hoping for?