knightsoflegend | closed ♔ we'll outrun the dawn

WHO || Christos, Katniss (for now) [closed]
WHAT || As the Knights pack up to leave for America, Christos has a conversation with Katniss
WHERE || A parlor at Knights HQ
WHEN || End of 2017
HOW || Actionspam (single thread)

[ Preparations to move the Knighthood to the SHIELD headquarters in Las Vegas are well underway, and the place is filled with activity as people begin packing up what they feel they may need, and making difficult calls about what to leave behind.

Some are busy making even more difficult calls.

Katniss found a note left for her on her pillow, instructing her to come to a particular parlor at a particular time, in a familiar enough handwritten script. There must, as always, be a reason for his subterfuge in choosing not to use Drakenet to send the message, but there's something ominous about this meeting that casts an extra tension over the scene. As she pushes open the door, she would see that he is seated at the piano at the far end of the room, his fingers tracing over the keys, without actually playing anything.

As she steps closer, his fingers come to a stillness, and he speaks without looking fully back: ]

You are certain you're alone?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Good. [ he nods slightly to her to sit on the other end of the bench. she would probably notice that there's a mirror over the piano that is angled perfectly so that anyone sitting at it can see the door clearly. ] Circumstances have changed. Obviously.

What do you make of this decision, given what you saw, in the thick of it?

[She was going to sit there anyway, so she does so without further prompting. She doesn't comment on his mention of the circumstances. It's an understatement and they both know it.]

I think they're sending a lot of people off to die. [So blunt, as always.] Between the military presence and the monsters, we'll be constantly surrounded. I doubt I even saw the worst of it.

[A full-scale attack just seems stupid. A small group had a chance to get around if they stayed hidden, and it's the only reason she came back alive. Frankly, she's shocked they all did.]

I imagine you didn't. [ there's a slight twitch in his cheek, but only the slightest ] And I'd have to agree. The level of mismanagement occurring within this organization has only gained momentum by the day since Wynn's absence. To the point where it is about to get every member of the Knighthood killed.

There's no sense to it, and there's no arguing them out of it.

It's like they're just determined to prove something and they're screwing everyone else in the process. It doesn't help that they're basically guilting everyone into following their plan.

[The guilt trip doesn't work on her, but certain obligations will have her see it through if necessary.]

Yeah, 'cause they'll look stupid if they back out now.

Worse, even. They're fully convinced that they're right. Wynn may have been many things, but arrogant to the point of foolishness was never one of them. He understood when to exercise caution - and when to not tip one's hand. I can't say that there remains much of that finesse at the helm anymore.

Which brings me to the point.

There's still exactly one person who I think is approaching this sensibly, although there are those who put no more stock in his authority.

[She turns her head slightly to look at him, brows furrowed.]

Who?

Jack Chessing. [ he lets that hang there, ostensibly to... get a read on how she feels about the JACK IS COMPROMISED BY THE MIND MASTER rumors ]

[Her jaw tenses and she blinks once. She's not sure what to think of that. She always thought of Jack as a decent leader from what she could tell, but she also doesn't really know him at all. There's also the fact that he was supposedly compromised and then bailed.

Then again, the people who decided he was compromised are the people that they're talking shit about right now so she already thinks their opinions are questionable at best.

She trusts Christos, so if he's on Jack's side, then it's easy to figure out where she's going to land.]

Do you think that's what he's doing? Trying to deal with this whole mess?

[ the smallest of beats ] ... I know it is.

I'm helping him.

[She looks away, back down at the piano. That's sure an admission and while she's surprised she's also...

...not. This is Christos we're talking about. Of course, he'd keep in contact with the only person he saw as sensible in an Apocalypse.]

How's that going for him? And why is this coming up now?

[She's glad he's telling her all this but she assumes something happened to make him bring it up this particular moment.]

I'm afraid I can't tell you more here. But I'm telling you this much because I'm not going to America.

[Oh. Oh. She doesn't want to admit to herself that that gives her SO much anxiety because if he's not going then she sure as hell doesn't want to but she's not entirely sure that he's not basically saying bye to her.

Abandonment issues ahoy.]

Then what are you doing? Are you going to...keep helping him?

Yes. [ it's simply stated, with no hesitance. he turns to study her for a few moments before saying flatly: ] I think you should come with me.

[She's never been more relieved in her entire life, which should probably be worrisome considering what they're talking about doing right now but look at who we're talking about.

She studies him for a moment in return before replying just as simply.]

When do we leave?

[ not another question, or comment, or moment of doubt, eh?

there's a strange light of appreciation in his eye for half a second, before he simply says: ] In the middle of the night will be best. To try to avoid being halted.

[He was the reason she had stayed here in the first place. What else would she do?]

I'll pack light. [Aka like...her bow.] Just tell me where I need to be.

I think the ballroom at 3:30 will do fine. We can use the doors to the back stairs.

[She nods and starts to move to stand.]

We can talk more after it's done.

[The longer they sit here chatting, the more likelihood there is of being overheard.]

Precisely. Keep an eye when you leave this room. [ for spying bitches, obvs ]

[She just heads to the door, exiting quietly and peering about/listening even as she heads into the hallway (spot 34, listen 14) trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible.

Guess who's planning on hiding out in her room the rest of the day?]

closed ♔ we'll outrun the dawn

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