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

[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?

[innovates]

[There's a subtle shake of her head.]

Definitely not.

[ambitionist]

[quietly] Not really what I was hoping for, either ...

[divaricate]

[Wanda doesn't make a comment this time or try to move. She just has her eyes looking towards this guy, still watching a bit curiously.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ Straight-backed and regal, he slowly turns his gaze around at all of them, taking stock and measure of the force that he's up against. It's clear that he knows, somehow, that none of them are insignificant forces to contest with. His gaze settles back on Jordan, decisive, and the knights and their new allies look on as, before their very eyes, the so-called djinn savior of Riyadh sinks to his knees before Jordan and chokes out a fervid apology. ]

I'm sorry, [ he chants, wringing his hands together. ] I'm sorry, please. You don't need to hurt me. I didn't think it would hurt anyone. [ On his knees, he shuffled closer to Jordan, as if bowing before him, humbled by his presence. ] The people who come to me, they've left happy. What's so wrong with that?




[ But Jordan sees something else. The sorcerer, smiling, stands before him, hands tucked into his pockets, and approaches with a much more leisurely pace. Around them, they can see his allies react, the shade of the sorcerer groveling, even Jordan staring down at him, but it looks to be filtered through some lens, semi-translucent, surreal. ]

You've come into my house with quite the accusation, and you don't even have the courtesy to grant me private audience to hear the charges? You know these mortals of yours have no place in what we discuss. It is not their concern.

[wishuponadjinn]

[He watches the display with narrowed eyes, tiny hairs prickling up on the back of his neck. It was eerie, knowing that magic of some sort was being performed but not being able to sense it, to understand it.

He squares with the man as he makes his approach, hands glowing faintly with half-prepared spells.]

I know that the accusations leveled at you, if true, are something that I would have no need to grant you a private audience for, for the charges that would be laid. The punishment would be dealt and that would be the end of it. As for the mortals I accompany... [he looks the group over, taking in a deep breath] whether or not it is their concern shall be decided by me.

I know you are no Djinn, and you do not wield the magicks of my people. Who, and what are you?

[bredinthebone]

[Malina hangs back and simply watches for a moment, unsure of what exactly it is she's seeing. She may be the mission leader, but Jordan knows this kind of magic better than she does, so she's willing to follow his lead before jumping in and trying to intervene.]

[behindcloseddoors]

A simple illusionist, looking for a chance to be more in a world full of gods and monsters. [ He held his hands up in a gesture of surrender, a silent apology for the trouble he'd caused. ] Surely the power the people in this realm can wield terrifies you. The power to overthrow governments. To travel between planes. To drive a thousand minds to suicide.

[ He whispered the word as though regretful, mourning the Hudson River, but in a way that was too impersonal to feel quite genuine. When next Jordan blinked, he had vanished, and reappeared behind the djinn, smirking now. ]

To grant any wish.

[ From within his cloak, he produced a familiar-looking lamp. ]

I've thought long and hard about this one, but I must confess my inexperience. I've never done this before, so you'll really have to bear with me.

[wishuponadjinn]

[GODFUCKINGDAMNIT NOT AGAIN!! How in the Hell had this charlatan gotten his bottle?!! He freezes for a second, fear and rage warring over control of his body before his rage takes over in a burst of fierce magic.

His eyes burst into blue flame, leaving streaks of light as he moves his head, furious winds kicking up around the ballroom to whip around everyone. He advances towards the man holding his lamp, one hand snapping out to his side with a wild fall of glitter as he utters in a low guttural tone-] "Be gone" [Dispel Magic Nat20]

[His other hand shoots out in front of himself towards the man, a scimitar appearing as he draws closer, the winds beginning to pick up lighter objects from around the room.]

How?! How did you get my bottle, thief? [his voice booms over the wind, seemingly magnified and low with his barely contained rage.]

[tasings]

[And providing nothing at all of value to this moment, Darcy leans closer to Jane and mutters under her breath.]

I am so glad he's on our side.

[jotun]

[ Jordan dispels the veil of illusion surrounding them all, and the fake-apology that his teammates are forced to watch ripples and vanishes, showing Jordan standing before a tall, slim man with greasy dark hair holding onto what ostensibly looks like a genie lamp. Alex recognizes him immediately, but the rest … ]

You know, I hated my father. [ He turned rotated the lamp by its base, considering its gleaming curves. The gaudy cape and bright colors he'd worn before had been replaced with such imperceptible suddenness that each shift came in waves, but his trenchcoat, still leather and armored, instead looked black and green and reptilian. ] But he did teach me one thing: if you care about something, you should always keep it in a safe place.

[ A click of his tongue chastised Jordan for carelessness, as though anything less than a god might have done what he did. ]

But you, you are powerful. [ More than offended, Loki looks intrigued by Jordan's ability to dispel his illusions. ] But I am no thief. I am your master now, djinn, and all the power that you have belongs to me. You will hold your tongue, lest I turn it on your friends.

[ambitionist]

[YES. alex recognizes him. and he's just. SO FUCKING HAPPY TO SEE HIM.]

Are you fuckin' serious right now? You again? For fuck's sake.

[he's not really a screaming angry person, so that's all that comes out. his face says the rest and it's mostly saying something like "i would like to do a murder but i almost died last time sooooo."]

[innovates]

[Jane is wearing the face of someone who suddenly realizes they have many regrets. This just took a turn into worse-case-scenario-ville.]

He might not be anymore, Darcy...

[She says it quietly, reaching for her friend's arm and taking a slow step back. This just got really bad, not to mention the exact opposite of what she actually wanted.

You know, since things could get even worse for her if he recognizes her. Y a y.]

[wishuponadjinn]

[He freezes once more, that creeping feeling of ownership crawling over his skin at his new Masters' words. His chest heaves and his mouth shuts with a snap at the command. The scimitar vanishes as his hand drops to his side, his inability to raise a hand against his master kicking in. The blue fire of his eyes fades as the reality of his captivity sets in, rage slowly turning to panic as he glances to his teammates and Jane and Darcy.

He is confident that the members of his team can handle themselves, but as for the other two, he has no idea what they are capable of. He keeps his eyes ahead, focused on the man before him, but communicates with the others via telepathy.]

Run. Please run.

[bredinthebone]

[She hears you, Jordan. She does. But the thing is, she's not cool with leaving one of her knights behind, especially one being held by force because of magical bullshit. So she doesn't move right away, playing dumb for the benefit of Loki because it would be weird if they all suddenly took off at once.

She gestures with one hand for the rest of the team to follow his cue - but slowly - while focusing her attention on the guy with Jordan's bottle.]

Aren't you the guy who took over Russia for like, a day?

[IF she doesn't sound impressed it's because she's not.]

I was in Siberia at the time.