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

[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.

[highlyemotional]

[ caroline is morally opposed to dark haired men who monologue and think they can own people (cough damon cough), so when jane steps back caroline just casually steps in front of her and darcy to attempt to block them from view so they can actually run away. ]

[tasings]

[Oh yeah. Darcy doesn't even hesitate to back away with Jane.]

What he said. [Alex because. Yes to all of that, son.]

[divaricate]

["For fuck's sake" seems to sum this up pretty well, yes.

Loki, did anyone ever tell you that it's shit like this that make people with mental-based powers look bad?

She doesn't speak -- there's enough people talking right now (telepathically or otherwise) -- but the expression on her face is somewhere between Super Done and Super Angry, staring at the 'new' guy.]

[jotun]

[ Whatever reaction Malina and Alex might have gotten from him is forgotten when all the fuss over keeping Jane from his view does the exact opposite; movement around her, the only ones fleeing, draw his attention right to her. His eyes widen briefly, then settle, and he begins to laugh. It's like ice, brittle and cold and unforgiving. ]

Don't be so quick to run. You, you'll want to see this.

[ His smile grows. ]

Djinn. [ In a snap, his attention is back on Jordan. He's clever enough and slimy enough to know not to waste more than a beat without his attention on someone so important. ] I have a wish for you to grant.

[wishuponadjinn]

Yes... Master. [It comes out stiff and stunted like it's been dragged out of him, and he steps towards Loki.]

[innovates]

[The moment he seemingly recognizes her is the moment she knows that even attempting to hide is useless, and so she steps to the side so that she's in front of Darcy but no longer obscured from his view, her expression steely.]

What is it you think you're going to do?

[A freezing knot settles in her gut, entirely brought on by the sound of his laughter.]

[tasings]

Jane. [Her hand grabbing a fistful of Jane's clothes as she leans in to both speak with Jane in a low-ish voice and... get an eyeful of what is going on.

Not that it would be too hard to see, because Jane is a tiny person.]

Can we try not to make a habit of picking fights with men who have crazy eyes?!

[bredinthebone]

[MALINA DOES NOT THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLAN, JUST FYI.]

Whoa, hold up, do we really have to go the wish route. Because those always go bad. Always.

[She does not want to get caught up in a wish cycle right now, and she doesn't want to have to put Jordan through that either. If she could yank the lamp away from him magically, she would, but she doesn't think mage hand would work.

But maybe someone else's might. Wanda's got some kind of psychic abilities and Caroline is faster and stronger than she is. And if all else fails, maybe the distraction will be enough to let her get to it.]

You think that bottle is going to change anything for you, it's not.