closed ♔ and when we collide | we'll see what gets left over

[dragonsclaw]

WHO || Failboat [closed]
WHAT || After the announcement, Jack calls a meeting
WHERE || Thomas Bancroft's room, the Castle
WHEN || 8am, the day after LA
HOW || Actionspam or prose

Solace's announcement makes the situation unfortunately plain - those who have worked to stop Blade and company for the last five years have been side-lined, and will be until this ends, one way or another.  Jack has sent out a secret communication to all members of the team, asking them to gather in Thomas Bancroft's old room, which has stood empty since his death, and is usually locked.

When they make their way there before 8am, however, they will find the door unlatched.  Jack is already inside, with Gar seated near him, one hand on his arm.  Kat leans against the wall behind Fred, who is seated in a chair.  Her arms are folded, and she's grinding her teeth back and forth.

Comments

[doubletake]

[She gives him an almost sad, but grateful, smile.]

How many of us are as happy as we'd like to be? That number is frighteningly low, if you ask me.

[A cynical view of the world, maybe, but no less true in her eyes.]

There are plenty of times where I'm happy, though. I'm happy with him and with the family I've become a part of. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. [She leans her head back against the headrest.] But it's still Hell.

[bigbad]

Love, if I were looking for red flags, that'd be one right there.

[He glances over at her, frowning a little. It's very far from the first red flag he's had from her. The whole talking like a brainwashed cult member part, not to mention being in love with him from basically the moment she sold her soul.... yeeeeah.....]

Obviously no one's happy all the time, but if you've got to qualify it like that... love, how deep in this are you?

[doubletake]

I'm the Queen of Hell, Spike. I live in the lowest circle of Hell. It doesn't get much deeper than that, literally or figuratively.

[She says it with an air of amusement, like 'of course I'm deep in this, are u kidding me rn?]

You didn't want me to lie, remember? If I said I was blissfully happy, that would be one in my eyes. I live where the souls of the damned are tortured and their collective misery is all around me, a constant companion. What did you honestly expect me to say? That my life was a never-ending party of sin and debauchery?

[bigbad]

I don't want you to lie. [He looks towards her intensely for a moment before turning his eyes back to the road.] I want to help you.

[doubletake]

[Frustration starts to simmer in the back of her eyes, but she pushes it back as quickly as it appears.]

With what, exactly? Because unless you're going to help me kill the Mind Master, I don't need it.

[bigbad]

[Well, he sure wis crit failed, so he's not going to be remotely delicate about this. I'm sure it's fine.]

Love, don't you think it's a bit odd that you fell in love with him right when you sold him your soul? Like, you have to see how that could raise some red flags. And the way you talk about him... you sound bloody brainwashed.

[doubletake]

[She rolls her eyes visibly.]

Of course you'd take that so literally.

[She sighs, looking over at him.]

You say that as if I'm the first person to ever start to fall for someone the day they met them. It took decades before I even found the nerve to go speak to him again, to obtain what I needed to even try. It didn't happen overnight, Spike, but I felt for him long before I gave him my heart. I didn't think I was enough for him.

[She drags a hand through her hair as she looks away again.]

But I know better now. He gave me my life back. My purpose. My dignity. You can call it whatever you like, but-

[She turns back toward him, something sharp in her eyes.]

-don't you ever claim that he brainwashed me again. No one controls me.

[Intimidate...41]

[bigbad]

[Spike has a very respectable will save of 27, but that's not enough in the face of Elena's wrath.

At least it's enough that he realizes maybe he should try being more tactful if he doesn't want to end up on fire. He's not... really attached to his own life, but he still has shit to do.]

I'm just worried about you, love. [Diplomacy 20 which is REALLY GOOD FOR HIM OK he's not very diplomatic.] I don't care that he's Lucifer. But I do care if he's good to you or not.

[doubletake]

[Her will save was a 26, which is actually atrocious for her, so she seems to pull herself back in as she looks away, her expression bordering on confused. She shakes her head, as if dragging herself away from something she doesn't want to feel, and her expression is softened when she looks back over cautiously.]

I'm not who you need to worry about, Spike. [She somehow makes it sound less ominous than that phrase might be otherwise, but she still uses the words purposefully.] I went down that path before, chose people who didn't deserve me, who simply wanted to use me to make themselves feel better.

I wouldn't make that mistake again.

[bigbad]

He is better than Archer, I'd wager. [SPIKE REALLY HATED ARCHER.] Just... know you can talk to me, all right? I may fret, but I won't judge.

[doubletake]

[She simultaneously smirks and rolls her eyes.]

I sure set a high bar back then, didn't I?

[Sarcasm ahoy. That said, she sobers up a bit, shaking her head softly.]

You're offering me something that I can't entirely accept, through no fault of your own. Much of my life must remain private. [Gotta keep the Devil's secrets, after all.] I won't make you a target.

[She reaches out, fingers wrapping around the hand that isn't steering the car, and squeezing softly.]

But it's nice to know that you're open to it, regardless.