gatwick ♔ trying to make sense of it all

[unhappily]

WHO || Skye, Stiles, Kenzi, Kyomi, Regina, Professor Henry Bogdanovich [closed]
WHAT ||  The Knights escort  a Professor from the airport
WHERE || Gatwick, London
WHEN || Late May, 2016 [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

[ According to their mission dossier, while Bogdanovich is a certified genius, he's also a bit of a flake.  They'll have to make certain that he doesn't get into any trouble or wander off, while keeping an eye out for potential kidnappers or spies who might be after his research.

In order to avoid drawing attention to his arrival, Wynn says that they've arranged to meet him at the baggage claim inside the airport.  The file contains a photograph of the professor as well.  ]

Comments

[hacker]

[ Skye's eyes widen in panic, fixed on Regina's as their scuffle is interrupted by, well, the worst thing ever. No, literally, not only is it that someone else got him first, but they apparently suck at it. Shenanigans. This is just embarrassing. A moment later, she wrenches herself free of the frozen panic of shock and begins scanning for a white courtesy phone (spot 19). ]

[killingtodeath]

Yeah, we should get to the others. [Stiles is trying to figure out if the thing about strangling the guy is legit or just annoyance (sense motive 24) but also looking for the phone while he walks back with Kyomi (spot 14).]

[unhappily]

[ several such white phones are placed conveniently around the area, and skye and stiles both spot the same one as they re-convergence.

for what it's worth, it doesn't sound like the threat is a serious one. ]

But who found him first?

[sakurasmile]

Friendly, yet exasperated TSA agents? [Kyomi crosses her arms over her chest and looks hopeful.]

[killingtodeath]

[With the group reassembled, Stiles takes it upon himself to pick up the phone. He's the leadery guy, right? He's supposed to do this stuff... He thinks, anyway.]

Hello?

[unhappily]

[ "Hello? Are you calling for the Professor? Please say yes." ]

[killingtodeath]

Yeah. Yes, we are. Who am I speaking with, exactly?

[hacker]

[ vibrates nervously in front of him like ? ? ?? while mouthing, "who is it? what's happening??" ]

[unhappily]

[ "I work at the desk. Here." they apparently pass that phone off as fast as possible after that, because it's the professor who answers next.

"Uh, hello. There. The er, silver dragon flies at midnight." ]

[sakurasmile]

[Kyomi raises an eyebrow at Stiles, but given he doesn't seem to have Panic Face (TM), it must be okay... but still weird.]

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles glances around, sort of confused because he sure doesn't remember anything about code phrases. But the silver dragon mention is pretty easy to pick up on.

To Skye he mouths back "professor."]

Sure does, buddy. We've been waiting for you down here at baggage claim.

[unhappily]

[ "Wait. How do I know I can trust you? You might be, well. Vagabonds of some sort." ]

[killingtodeath]

I can assure you that we are definitely vagabonds, but we're the ones you're looking for. We're from the Karthur Institute. [For all that he's joking with a casual ease, there's a sincerity in his voice that's hard to deny (diplomacy nat 20).]

You'll forgive me if I'm hesitant to prove it until we're in person.

[unhappily]

[ "Very well," he says hesitantly "Where are you now? I'll come meet you." ]

[hacker]

[ still mouthing over here "WHAT'S HE SAYING!!" with some hand-flailing to go with it. ]

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles holds up a finger to ask Skye to wait because it's not like he can give her a full update right now okay.]

We're in baggage claim. I'm the guy in the red plaid shirt flanked by four ladies that are way out of our league, buddy. Can't miss us.

[unhappily]

[ regina raises an unimpressed eyebrow at that, arms folded, but he agrees and hangs up. ] Not giving you any trouble, is he?

[killingtodeath]

[He hangs up and turns to the others.]

He's nervous, so just... try not to bombard him when he gets down here. I think we're cool, though.

[unhappily]

[ at that moment, bags begin to tumble across the conveyor and people crowd up a bit to look for theirs. Everyone may make spot checks to keep an eye out for the professor ]

[sakurasmile]

[(spot 37)] I'm gettin' the impression this guy must be a bit more of a nutter than initially advertised.

[hacker]

So he's ... not under any duress?

[ what ? ? ?? ]

[killingtodeath]

Not that I could tell. [Stiles says while his eyes scan the crowd (spot 8). He's not really that focused on this apparently.]

Guy just seems super paranoid.

[hacker]

Okay, that's ... weird. And more than a little creepy. [ But sure. Fine. She folds her arms over her chest in the picture of rebelliously unimpressed and looks around (spot 19). ]

[unhappily]

[ regina's arms are folded as she scans the room with disinterest (spot 15), still managing to notice, just as skye and stiles do, the professor across the way, entering the baggage claim area. his pants ride up high above his ankles, and he pushes his glasses up his nose as he darts quick, insecure glances around the room, apparently having zero idea what he's looking for. when his eyes land on the baggage carousel, it seems to capture all of his attention. ] Let's just get this over with.

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles nudges Kenzi and Kyomi to get their attention once he realizes that about half of them have spotted the professor. Turning, he steps backwards towards the professor and addresses them all.]

You guys wait here while I get him and bring him back here. Just keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Can't be too careful, right? [This feels too easy. Or maybe he's the paranoid one, but... there has never been a plan that sounded better than this plan (diplomacy 45 - stiles that is absurd). So unless anyone goes to stop him, he'll just stride over to the professor to collect him.]