nyc ♔ the devil has my ear today

[dragonsclaw]

♬ Broken Glass - The Blank Theory

WHO || Failboat and more... [closed]
WHAT || The Knights move on a warehouse in NYC to try and save Jeanne Gar & Rafael Giovanni
WHERE || New York City, New York
WHEN || Summer 2016
HOW || Actionspam or prose

The plan has been set, and the Knights are on their way to New York City once again - this time with the desperate hope fueling them that they can save two of their own, instead of simply endangering them further.  Jack and Buffy have greater stakes in this than anyone - as it is Jack's fiancee, Gar and the love of Buffy's life, Rafael, who are currently in the grip of the vile villains that have plagued them for the last four years.  Knowing fully well the risks that are inherent in potentially facing down the dangerous Mind Master, who shattered Myri's life in an instant by breaking Finnick Odair's psyche, their plan is to divide and search the warehouse as quickly as possible - knowing that every second counts, when an alerted team of bad guys could take the lives of their captured friends.  

It's an unparalleled gamble, but may be their only opportunity before Rafael and/or Gar are moved from the facility.  To that end, they converge at a nearby hotel...

Comments

[bigbad]

[Spike can't see her, so he... keeps walking and walks into her, though at least he was smart enough to slow down instead of just crashing into her (wis 13). But that's okay, because that means he knows where she is to step in front of her so that if one of them's shot, it's him.]

Good, I was worried this'd be boring.

[He is not gonna stop, though the guard (and Dumage) may think he has, since he approaches the guard now like an actual ghost (move silently 32).]

[postergirl]

[ with an 11 balance check, dumage barely manages to catch herself against the wall with one hand, but the sound of her heels clattering as she does so causes the guard to think the worst, and fire blindly at them (atk 34), a shot that would have hit if they weren't invisible, instead somehow navigating its way directly through the spaces between them as spike slides forward, striking the door.

"I said stop," he insists, raising his voice a bit more, as he turns his head slightly to the side, speaking into a mic on his lapel. "We've got a situation on the top floor--" ]

[bigbad]

Bugger. [At least it'll probably keep the guards distracted? He grabs the guard (touch attack nat 20, opposed grapple 30, damage 30).] Sorry, mate, but considering you chose to work for evil racist bastards, I'm not that sorry.

[postergirl]

[ the guard is easily gripped, and spike grips him so tightly that his eyes roll back and he loses consciousness, going limp in his arms. spike, however, shimmers into visibility immediately. ]

... Well. So much for the stealth approach.

[bigbad]

Not really my style, is it? [He drops the guard, shaking out his coat. Then he pauses and snags the mike and... I'm assuming it's attached to some sort of headset or walkie talkie or something? Idk he's grabbing whatever communicating device the guy has. Least this way they can have some warning as they move around unstealthily.]

Let's move.

1/2

[extremist]

[ he's greeted by draken's voice over the headset, so that's wonderful. ]

I heard a gunshot. Report.

[postergirl]

[ dumage grips spike's arm tightly, trying desperately to communicate HO DONT DO IT without speaking and/or making eye contact because lmao invisible. she's trying hard tho ]

[bigbad]

[That's definitely her communicating do the thing bluff your way out of this right?? Right. (wis crit fail) And his American accent is totally believable! Right?? Right. (Bluff 16)]

My bad, I got staarrtled. Just... uh, just a squirrrel.

[extremist]

A squirrel.

[bigbad]

Yeah, uh... yeah. Sahrry. I'm new, you know, just wanted to be thouurough.

[Bluff 19. He's... getting a little more convincing?? I guess??]

[extremist]

... Yes. I imagine you did.

I take it you're near the roof, then.

[bigbad]

What's that? Uh... you're breaking up. Should really invest in better equipment.

[And he just... crushes the mike (str 27).]

Boring conversation anyway. Let's get on with it, shall we?

[postergirl]

If he's here, we can guess who else is.

[bigbad]

I can make a few guesses. Don't really like any of them. [Or all of them.] We should warn the others.

[postergirl]

It isn't as though we weren't expecting them, and it doesn't change anything. At worst, it might make certain people run off half-cocked to try to do something remarkably foolish and forget what we're here for. I think we're best to just find those two and get on with it.

Down the hall there. Let's try that office - it looks important.

[bigbad]

Hope important also means interesting and useful.

[Spike strides towards it, keeping an eye open for further surprises (spot 33).]

1/-

[postergirl]

[ dumage stays close behind him, and nods at him to open the door, where he can make out a few silhouettes moving around behind the frosted glass pane. the door clicks open quietly, and opens into a large executive office, which is lit fully, and strangely well kept. far across the room, two figures stand, both turning to look as the two enter. dumage freezes behind spike, her arm reaching across the frame behind him as though to steady herself, as she peers over his shoulder. ]

2/-

[extremist]

[ the first to speak is none other than crombe himself, one gloved hand gripping the head of his cane as he fixes his gaze on spike. ] Ah. I thought it wouldn't be long now.

I imagine the others are here as well, to recover their precious little scientist. But you ventured up here alone, did you? How... interesting.

3/-

[narcosynthesis]

[ beside him, blade turns much more leisurely, a wide grin splitting his features as he weighs the vampire over. ] Oh, he isn't alone, Draken.

Is he, my dear? [ there's a hint of delight in his words, his gaze slipping right past spike to where dumage stands, invisible. ]

4/-

[postergirl]

[ ♬ so - static-x

out of the corner of his eye, spike can see dumage's hand manifest against the door jam, and he can feel her press against him as she steps the both of them forward slightly, drawing the door closed behind them. her words sound carefully chosen as she addresses keijen. ] You know why I'm here.

5/5

[narcosynthesis]

I know precisely why. [ his focus seems to shift solely to her, as he watches her reactions with marked interest. ] But the time has come to strip aside pretense, don't you think?

We no longer require such a spy within the Knighthood. It is time to move ahead with our plans. [ he lifts a heavily ringed hand, gently crooking a finger towards her ]

It is time to join us once and for all, and put them behind you. I imagine it will be a relief, no longer needing to pretend to tolerate their insipid company, hm?

[bigbad]

[Spike turns to look at Dumage, also trying to get a read on her reactions (sense motive 23). But whatever he sees, it's not going to change his reaction.]

Oh, bloody hell, really? [He rolls his eyes.] Gonna have to put another tally on the what-sort-of-agent Dumage is chart again. Is there even a word for... [He starts counting on his fingers.] What, quadruple agent? Quintuple? Work with me here.

[postergirl]

[ she steps past him and turns around to face him with her back to blade. the look she fixes on him carries the usual level of smugness, but there's something about it that feels unreadable to him, leaving him completely uncertain where the bluff is here. ] It's called being on the winning side, darling. You should try it sometime.

But seeing as how you're determined to lie down on the tracks, do yourself the slightest of favors so that you might buy yourself a few more months of unlife. Don't follow me.

[bigbad]

[Dammit, Dumage. He's not sure what her play is, except that whichever side does end up on top, he's pretty sure she'll be pretty fast to tell them she was always on their side no matter what. Bloody hell, why does he always have to fall for the complicated ones?]

Could I, even?

[He shakes his head, taking a step in.]

We're really never gonna get that drink, are we?

1/-

[narcosynthesis]

[ crushingly close - garbage + nine inch nails

it's keijen who speaks up first at his words, disgust and contempt curling his lip as he says: ] Were you really such a fool to believe she could want you, after knowing she had been with me? [ he gives a derisive laugh ] She is too much for any weakling like you.

Ruthless. Merciless. Truly out for only herself. [ blade actually manages... to sound... impressed???? slightly. or something like it. ] If I asked her to kill you now, she would. Perhaps I shall.