knightsoflegend | chapter five ♔ it'll be a day like this one when the sky falls down

the blues - switchfoot

WHO || The Knights
WHAT || Failboat returns from the disaster in LA as the Knighthood goes on lockdown
WHERE || The castle, London
WHEN || Directly after this, Fall 2017
HOW || Actionspam

Hasmed's announcement does not brook any rebuttal: all Knights are recalled to the Castle, where they must remain until the Section Heads and Jack Chessing have spoken about the events in Los Angeles that have left the Knighthood without their usual leader.

The entire Los Angeles area is now covered with a dark miasma that has interfered with any signals that might be sent out from phones, etc., leaving the whole world wondering what exactly is happening down there. Final images showed horrendous monsters, a panic of citizens, looting and violence from humans and Shadowkind alike.

Hasmed has warned of extra magical wards on the castle, and anyone arriving will immediately take notice of one very prominent one: above the entire roof of the excessively large building hovers a black and red sigil in the air, a pentagram in a circle surrounded by runes or words in an unknown language, stretching for miles.

[ This is the social log for post-LA lockdown. Failboat must complete the top log before being allowed to tag outside of it. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He glances up when he hears his name, and his face softens a bit when he sees her. Without hesitation, he pulls away from the keys and goes to her, hands coming up to rest against her shoulders gently.]

Are you okay? Was there anyone ...

[He trails off as the question finishes, not sure he wants it to.]

No. I don't.. I don't think so. You go on so many missions with people and sometimes you don't talk to them afterwards, and- [She takes a breath, willing herself to stop talking so fast.] I'm so sorry about Alice.

Thank you.

[He got used to condolences a long time ago, but that doesn't always make them easy to hear one way or another. He pauses for a moment before inching over and giving her room to sit on the bench next to him.]

I got through the White Album and now I'm blanking on Beatles songs. Any requests?

[She smooths her skirt and settles down, plunking a single key and humming so she can pick up the right note.]

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields... [Even just a capella, she knows what she's doing. (Perform (sing) 29) She moves her hand away so he can play along.]

[And with a nat 20 performance check he picks up on what she's singing easily, seamlessly transitioning into the chorus easily and continuing to play along with her. Putting words to the music makes it feel a little more real, because the voice isn't quite right.

But part of her feels like this is how she would want to be honored.]

[Once they've finished, Paige drops her eyes onto the piano keys and sighs.]

Things are going to get so much more complicated now, Lance. It seems unfair we don't have time to breathe before we have to start preparing to fight.

Unfortunately, that's usually the way it is.

[He lifts his fingers from the keys for a moment, as one hand reaches for hers.]

But I also feel like if we don't respond to this quickly, things could get a lot worse.

[She squeezes his hand.] Right... That's why I'm going to go all in with the training. I think these people from Hellsing are really going to be able to help me refine my skills.

Good. I hope you're right.

[He squeezes her hand in return before nodding.]

I intend to stay. People are going to need someone to talk to in the months to come. I guess if I improve my skills with it, all the better for it, right?

[She laughs a bit, in spite of herself.] You can always talk to the people who are going to be so overwhelmed by all of this. Just hanging back in basic training, talking members of the Hoard through their push-ups.

[She covers her mouth with her hand.] I don't mean to make light of it- it's just... It's quite the image, you know?

[His eyebrows go up a bit, before he turns back with some good-natured teasing of his own.]

I'll have you know that I've already been trained in swordsmanship by another member of the knighthood.

[She stops laughing, eyes going wide.] Really? I never would've imagined...

Sir Reeves took pity on me once. I'm not running off to join the Hide anytime soon, but I at least stand somewhat of a fighting chance.

[Though he's still way more a lover than a fighter.]

[She beams and then turns her gaze back to her hands in her lap.] I'm a little nervous. Hellsing seem like they're... far more intense about this than we are, but, at the same time, the unholy threats I've had to face on missions... They weren't for the faint of heart. I want to impress them a little bit, I guess.

From what you've told me about Barovia, I think they will be more than impressed. And I think the fact that you're still willing to learn will go a long way too.

[Sometimes just being open to new experiences is all it takes to smooth a rough situation over.]

I'm glad you don't think I'm crazy for even caring what they think. They're, erm... Not very popular right now.

[It means a lot to her. She's had to keep silent, for the most part, not wanting to rock the boat, but she needed to hear this from someone she trusts- who might understand how much this means to her.]

But they're like me, and I truly believe that. I don't hate all vampires- there's plenty here who are fine people. But the ones who are cruel like Strahd or the ones that killed those knights in Paris? They need to be stopped.

[He nods in agreement.]

If this is going to work, we're going to have to give some consideration to their feelings, just as they're going to have to give some to ours. It's going to take a bit of an adjustment period, but hopefully everything will work out in the end.

I believe that. We're not bad people. They're not bad people, either. I don't think we can ever be friends, but... Maybe this will repair some of the rift between our two organizations. It might be nice if something good could come out of this.

[He nods in agreement.]

I hope so too. It could wind up being better for everyone.

chapter five ♔ it'll be a day like this one when the sky falls down

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject