closed ♔ we'll outrun the dawn

[everyredcent]

In the Shadows - Amy Stroup

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?

Comments

[nolifeking]

[ kamen shinpu to chapel no kane - yasushi ishii

christos' hand drops off from the handle, and he takes a single step backward, as the door seems to swing open of its own accord. standing there in the door frame, which he fills utterly from the top to the ground, is the hellsing family vampire, wearing his trademark long red coat and hat, and fixing them with a leering grin that showcases his sizable fangs. ] Going somewhere?

[anthophobia]

[Katniss takes a giant step back, unable to stop herself from reaching back for her bow in her utter panic (will save crit fail).

She doesn't draw it completely, standing there wide-eyes with her fingers closed tightly around her weapon, her nails biting into her palm.]

[socialgraces]

[ francesca holds her ground, katniss's panic triggering an innate need to protect her, however fruitless those efforts may be in this situation (will 25) ] Outside, for a walk.

Or are we no longer allowed to do that in our own home, either? [ bluff 64. luckily, they packed light. and this is the way to the courtyard. ]

1/2

[nolifeking]

Well, well.

Standing orders are quite clear. No one is to leave the castle without permission. And while it's certain a lovely evening, I've a feeling that your walk won't be ending at the borders of the castle grounds.

Or should I follow you, and see?

[everyredcent]

[ christos steels himself as well, shifting slightly so that he's almost directly in front of katniss. when he speaks, he sounds neither afraid of the vampire in front of him, nor anything less than irritated and mildly inconvenienced by his appearance. ]

You can do whatever you bloody well choose. We don't answer to Hellsing, nor to its pets, for that matter. Now you can either stand aside, or provoke an incident between our organizations that I can't imagine is within the bounds of your orders to incite.

[anthophobia]

[Katniss was more startled by the large man's sudden appearance than his actual existence, so one Francesca and Christos stand up to him, she collects her wits and steps forward again so that she isn't hiding, but doesn't remove her hand from her bow.]

This place has never been a prison and it's not going to start being one now.

[socialgraces]

[ seems like they've made their point, so Francesca is just going to wait and see what happens next ]

1/2

[nolifeking]

[ alucard surveys them all for a moment, before a low rumbling sound begins to bubble up from within his chest, a disturbingly delighted laughter that has a touch of mania to it. his grin widens into a vicious smile, eyes widening with something that looks a lot like joy, but doesn't seem comforting at all for it. ] Wonderful! Such steel for those who would run with their tails between their legs.

[everyredcent]

The last I checked, we're not the ones on a leash. [ with that, he begins to stride forward despite alucard blocking the way, his cloak billowing out dramatically behind him. alucard's gaze stays locked on him, the smile never breaking for a moment, and christos doesn't slow down.

it's when he's within a few steps that alucard's form mists away into black smoke and further dark chuckling, allowing christos to storm right through where he stood moments before. ]

[anthophobia]

[Katniss swallows nervously, following after Christos with quick steps once the vampire fades away. She wasn't sure if she was going to have to back him up for a minute there.

When they're through the doors, she mutters under her breath.]

What a weirdo.

[He showed up, called them cowards, and then ran? She's not sure what the point was but she's glad it's over.]

[socialgraces]

[ god, christos. that was certainly, well, impressive, to say the least. and francesca greatly appreciates his tenacity, in more ways than one.

she'll be sure to bring it up later, but for now she's careful not to fall behind, seconding katniss's sentiment: ] That's putting it nicely.

[everyredcent]

I've no doubt he's sounding the alarm, so to speak, even now. We can't dawdle. [ no one was dawdling, christos. w/e. he heads for the garage directly. ] It seems we'll need some transportation.

[anthophobia]

[She was already walking really fast but now she'll just start jogging. No dawdling here, sir.]

Won't they be able to trace any of the cars here?

[socialgraces]

We don't need to go far. [ she assumes, anyway ]

[everyredcent]

[ it's clear that francesca took the words right out of his mouth, and he nods ] As far as the airfield, and then we'll leave it. By then, it should be too late. [ he uses his key to access the garage, heading in among the many lines of cars. it seems he's already grabbed a set of keys, just in case, and he heads for a black sedan, going to take the driver's seat. ]

[anthophobia]

[Good enough for her.

She climbs into the back seat, leaving the front for Francesca. She needs the extra room for her bow, which she slides off of her back and onto her lap as she gets in.

She'll turn around to look out the back window to check their six for now.]

[socialgraces]

[ and francesca slides into the front passenger seat, keeping an eye out for trouble, as well (spot 26) ]

[everyredcent]

[ christos starts the car, and drives them out of the garage, winding up the road towards the front gate. as he does so, looking out the window, francesca notices that there's something wrong with the pond on the front lawn - the waves of it seem to reflect red... and she feels like she sees eyes drifting in and out of the ripples.

ahead, the gate glows with a hellsing sigil, and christos grits his teeth. ] It might be a wise idea to buckle in.

[anthophobia]

[Her eyes widen before she scrambles to get into her seat and buckle her belt in time. Hopefully she'll have time to brace herself before impact.]

[socialgraces]

[ francesca grabs her seat belt and buckles it in one fluid motion (dex 18). this should be interesting. ]

[everyredcent]

[ with a 16 drive check, christos aims right towards them, not slowing a moment. ] I feel I should admit that I've no idea whether this will work or not. [ the admission comes only about twenty seconds before he rams right into the gate, so they at least don't have long to dwell on it.

the car careens into the metal, and there's a wave of red light that strikes the car, sending a feeling of express dread through its inhabitants, but the gates give way, and they go sailing through and out into the dark winding road away from the castle, leaving them swinging behind them ]

[anthophobia]

[Well, that's not comforting, but she trusts that he at least thinks they have a high probability of not immediately dying in the next minute.

And then they make it through and Katniss looks over her shoulder out the back window as they leave the gates in the dust before she uncomfortably sinks back into her seat.]

[socialgraces]

[ still gripping the armrest tightly, francesca releases a shaky breath as they clear the gate, relief, with just a hint of exhilaration, washing over her as the dread subsides.

the corner of her mouth twitches as she glances over at christos, and states (for no one in particular): ] It worked.

[everyredcent]

[ he gives her a fleeting smile back, although his face is still lined with tension as he glances in the rearview mirror ] There's one hurdle crossed.

From here on out, there'll only be more.

[anthophobia]

[Her nerves seem to have finally worn out, her jaw tightening as her resolve firms back up. The castle is behind them now.

Time to look forward. She meets his gaze in the rearview mirror.]

I know.

[She knew what she was agreeing to.]