open ♔ fall/winter socialization log

[wynn]

  

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.  Sorry that it's covering like half a year.  Forgive me.  Let us never speak of it again.    
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, Andres, etc!
WHEN || Any time in Fall/Winter 2016
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of these few months. Because not everyone is into parties, ok. Characters who are not currently squired in may also post, as their characters are living in the castle awaiting their ceremonies.  This takes place after the Knights have returned from rescuing Gar in New York City, but before the planned Keijen Blade concert at the beginning of 2017.

You are encouraged to start your own threads and tag around, and feel free to threadjack into any on-going threads that aren't specified as 'closed' in the subject lines since people can enter into rooms even in the middle of what's going on. WE ARE BIG ON THREAD-JACKING HERE. You can also specify 'single thread', meaning you want only one response for all participants, rather than multi-thread, where a number of different scenes/threads can be done as replies to the top prompt.]

On this log:

Section Heads
Failboat Return from NYC | multiple threads
Lance Sweets | Light wing appointments/training area/kitchen/movie rooms
Felicity Braddock | The bar/London/training room/shooting range/library
Kevin Beckman | Front desk
Sark & Sydney | closed
Wynn | everywhere
Jack & Buffy | closed
Hasmed & Solas | closed
Lis'sa (& Gar) | Hoard lab/library
Koraith | common rooms
Christos & Sylar & Katniss | closed
Mark/Alainn/Dana/Michael/Gar | garden
Logan & Scott | TV room
Belle & Gold | closed
Constantine & Zatanna | front lobby
Dante Wilder | Old man bar/training room
Darth Vane | Dungeon
Helen Magnus | Hoard lab/library/bedroom
Jade | Kitchen/training room
Myri | Light wing/training rooms
Lois Lane | London
Alainn O'Rourke | castle

Comments

[undealt]

[GOOD JOB MAKING IT WEIRD GOLD.] Ah...

[well if they're both going to stand there uncomfortably, because his shoulders immediately tense when he hears the way it sounds when she says it. it should be insulting or strange to have such a weird name and an even weirder endearment attached to him, and yet...]

It feels... familiar when you say it. Like I've heard it before.

[untethered]

Because it's true. [ she looks back up at him, half a grimace on her lips ] That you were him. The Dark One.

But that doesn't mean it's who you are now. But if you aren't, why should this dagger hold any power over you?

[undealt]

Because intent is meaningless. [and he has said that before- he can remember that very clearly, murmuring it in his shop to Regina as she quibbled with him about the arrangement he made with her that he's supposedly gone back on. now that he knows the pieces missing in the tapestry that is his life, he can see all those frayed little edges that didn't quite fit together with his idea of himself. a pawnbroker with a law degree with a particular eye for contracts, casually making deals as if this were his true business.

God, he was a monster before he even knew he was a real one. just a human kind of monster. he tried to shrug that skin off and it clung tighter every time.

and all this just serves to remind him of something else.] And not everyone believes that isn't who I am now.

[untethered]

[ there seems to be something gnawing at her, a hesitance over something that's driving a lump into her throat ] Gaston...

You asked me to see if he'd be willing to hear your side. He wasn't, for a very long time, but he's--

He's finally changed his mind.

[undealt]

I'd ask why, but I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. [except it gnaws at him now too- somehow he doubts that Gaston expects much out of him, and it's true all he has to his name is the assurance he can't remember any of that, and that his feelings for Belle and hers for him came from a place of honesty.

but how much of that will the man believe?

and then his eyes fall on the dagger, and it's clear there are ways to make him believe, because there wouldn't be any choice. he doesn't think that Belle would choose that route without his permission, and even if it wasn't on her mind, it's on his now. a horrible truth that can at least promise some honesty that can't be debated.

and Emma Swan has the audacity to call him a monster, when he's willing to take such drastic measures to prove he isn't.] Does he know about that?

[untethered]

[ her eyes drop again, this time apparently out of some sort of guilt ] It was one of the only things that could change his mind. I told him, that you entrusted me with it.

[undealt]

[the look on his face contorts into a grimace that he can't hold back. part of him can't blame her and since he was just about to suggest it, he has no place to stand on, but the other half of him is a bit irked that there had been no discussion about it.

well, what did you expect? he entrusted her with it. it's not as if she's auctioning off his freedom to Gaston or anything like that. it still doesn't sit easy.] Well... I imagine I can't say much about it, since if you hadn't, I would have suggested it anyway. I wish it hadn't come down to this.

[untethered]

No, I meant-- knowing that I have a way to protect myself, if something were to happen. That changed his mind. That and... asking him for months on end.

This isn't easy for him. Promise me that you won't make me regret this.

[undealt]

[it isn't easy for him either, but he's smart enough not to say as much. his statement still applies- it shouldn't have come down to this. Gaston should have taken Belle's own feelings into consideration, shouldn't have piled more doubts on her just as Emma did.

shouldn't have driven him on a wild goose chase to find answers to a question that no one in this world whose opinion he has any stake in can answer.]

I promise, Belle. I just want this to be settled.

[and that is the truth.] I would just ask that he try not to provoke me.

[he isn't going in looking for a fight, but... well, he has a temper problem and Gaston doesn't seem the type to stay amenable for very long if he thinks he can prove a point.]

[untethered]

The last time you saw him, you tried to cast a spell on him. I think if anyone needs to be careful to exercise patience, it isn't Gaston.

[undealt]

[HE STARTED ACCUSING HIM OF THINGS!!! COME ON, BELLE. TOTALLY NOT HIS FAULT.

okay, fine. i have rolled so many will saves to see if he's going to say the thoughts in his head, and he has rolled well every time. it's character development... or something.]

Fair enough. I'll leave the magic at the door, then.

[untethered]

If you're able to do that, then... then we can go right now. [ she twists the blade in her hands again, self-conscious to be holding it, clearly ]

[undealt]

Not to be callous about the man's... justified concerns and the amount of pride he had to swallow to agree to this, but I'd sooner get it over with. So we can put it past us and move on... however we're all going to.

[#characterdevelopment. he's at least not saying or implying that whatever happens here will seal some deal between him and Belle and that the whole... marriage elephant in the room will be dissolved. pro... gress?]

[untethered]

Right. [ with that, she moves past him towards the door ] Then... come with me.

[undealt]

[he limps along beside her for a few paces, hesitating a second, before asking:] Are you all right?

[honestly, it should have been his first question, but... he can't be considerate about everything.] It's just... I know this is difficult for you, as well...

[untethered]

[ she's quiet for a moment as they move down the hall ] What do you expect me to say? That any of this has been easy?

[undealt]

Not at all. [actually, he has no idea what he expects her to say or what he's really hoping to gain.] I just thought perhaps this might give you some peace of mind going forward.

[untethered]

[ SENSE MOTIVE 25 is this really just about her gold ] That's all you want?

[undealt]

[well, he crit failed, so B U S T E D.] Anything else would be secondary to that, I assure you.

[untethered]

[ she's quiet for a moment as they walk, before she says in a low, firm voice: ] If this is going to work, you need to stop lying to me.

[undealt]

Of course. [unsure. and look at his fucking will save to not say something stupid like "I WOULD NEVER LIE IF IT WAS IMPORTANT" or some shit. well done, Gold.] I really do want to try and make a fresh start, especially now that I've confirmed there's really nothing necessarily wrong with me.

[he spent a year searching and found nothing. he has powerful magic he needs to control and not use on impulse. that's all it is.

he'll just ignore the whole "being very hard to burn" thing. that's not a lie. that's just something he's not talking about. a lot of people are hard to set on fire!] At least in the sense that I was worried about, which will hopefully be enough to convince Gaston.

[untethered]

It isn't exactly easy for him to give you the benefit of the doubt. But maybe you can earn it. [ there's a lilt of hope in her voice, at least. TO THE CAR! ]

[undealt]

[TO THE CAR, while looking mildly uncomfortable, because he doesn't want his future with Belle at the mercy of Gaston.] I imagine we'll see.

[and now comes the awkward ride in silence because Gold is smart enough to know that most of what he can say right now will be blah blah fuck Gaston.]

[untethered]

[ it's true. they park on the road outside of gaston's, in an eerie echo of that day a couple years ago. she doesn't seem able to look him in the eye, but she exhales once slowly before removing her seatbelt ] If you want a chance, this is it.

But I'm only giving you this one.

[undealt]

[BLAH BLAH BLAH FUCK GASTON.] Understood.

[he is still 100% unsure about this, but it's a good thing Will Saves are his highest saves or else he might be in trouble.

he can only give himself one advantage over that day and that's that he, at least, knows what to expect- the absolute worst. so if nothing else, he can just grit his teeth and bear it.

how hard can it really be to resist the urge to not choke someone, anyway?] Have his decorating skills improved at all?

[it's just a small, polite joke, okay. let him get this one thing out of his system.]