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

[eldritchweaver]

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. ]

Comments

[ambitionist]

Yeah, well, when my life is falling apart a little less, I'll see what I can do about getting my cat psychological help.

[panaceum]

So much for my clever distraction.

[ambitionist]

Nah, you tried. It was a good few minutes. [he sighs.] I'm just ... I already uprooted my entire life once, you know? I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea of getting to do it all over again. If I decide to split, which I haven't even decided yet. But coming here, I guess I might as well have.

[panaceum]

You really think they won't let you back? After all you've done for them?

[ambitionist]

They were pretty clear about people leaving the castle not being welcome back for the time being. Even people who don't live in the castle because they have families and shit. Like, show total loyalty to us or get fucked. It's bullshit. But what do I know?

[panaceum]

Then fuck 'em.

I know they're all you've had for awhile but... you don't need them.

[ambitionist]

Yeah, I know. You're right. It was just nice to be part of something while it last ... [he trails off in mid-sentence, wincing and making a pained expression.] er, lasted. [and then he tries to recover like that didn't just happen.] But, it's ... it's whatever.

[panaceum]

You don't have to pretend it doesn't matter either.

[ambitionist]

What, you want a front-row seat to the pity party? Look, at least this time I'm leaving on my own terms. I just have to figure out what I'm doing now.

[panaceum]

Any job I could hook you up with, you probably wouldn't want.

[ambitionist]

[he snorts] Probably not. On the bright side, I was making serious coin, so I have enough money to just coast for awhile. When I'm broke, then maybe we'll see about my return to mob life, I guess.

[panaceum]

So you want to be my very financially extravagant couch surfer? [ her smirk indicates she's just ribbing him and clearly doesn't mind ] We should come up with a plan at least, to try to keep this from Dad's notice.

[ambitionist]

[surprised (because he's dumb):] You'd let me stay with you long term?

[panaceum]

[ quickly: ] I mean, if you want.

[ambitionist]

[also quickly:] Yeah, sure, I'd like that. I just didn't want to put you out or anything. We can ... work something out, do whatever, to get around your dad.

[panaceum]

Real big on the specifics.

[ambitionist]

I know, right? [he snorts] No, no, look. I'm just saying, I'm willing to ... I don't know. Go out during the day, hang out at Starbucks. I don't fucking know. The cat might need a little more than that, though. She's not going to want to hide under your bed forever. [even though that's still what she's doing right now but it's totally not the point, ok.]

[panaceum]

We probably need to make you a new fake identity.

[ambitionist]

Do I get a free sandwich with my tenth one? I should've been keeping track on a punchcard. [he has a wallet full of fake ids. it's fine. piffy probably made some and/or most of them.] I'm game. Identity me up.

[panaceum]

You trust me to pick you a name? That usually doesn't end well.

[ambitionist]

Give me one, and I'll approve or veto it. Or improve on it.

[panaceum]

[ she stares at him for a bit, before saying: ] Victor.

[ambitionist]

Ugh, no. My sister is Victoria. Too close to home. We can stay Russian, though.

[panaceum]

Well, you don't look like a Boris.

[ambitionist]

Oh, fuck you. Boris, seriously? [he makes a face like he was confronted by vegetables.] What about Sergei? I knew a Sergei once, he was pretty cool.