mission ♔ and the rest is history

[borrowedheaven]

♬ Firefly - Over the Rhine

WHO || Des, Jade & later: Gar, Kat, Spike, Buffy, Myri [Closed]
WHAT || Des takes Jade home; the Knights attempt to unlock the mystery of the stone Gar discovered...
WHERE || The Hoffman Institute > Nightscape
WHEN || Backdated to Thurs, March 22nd
HOW || Actionspam

[ She lets herself out when Des pulls up, shoving open the front doors of the Institute with a certain degree of attitude that makes it clear how fed up she is with all this. But there's something much more subdued in her demeanor too, and a strange pallor to her cheeks that makes her skin look almost gray as she moves closer, taking the steps two at a time. Someone must have provided her with new clothes, as she's not dressed like a hooker today, but rather wears a dark green loose Bohemian looking shirt that's slightly ruffled, with two ties dangling in the front, and a pair of khakis with a number of funky pockets all over them. She wears less makeup than she had on the other night, but she looks no less striking for it - maybe even more so given that so much of her strange beauty is apparently all natural.

She tosses open the passenger door and sits down hard, hardly seeming concerned with being graceful as she digs a cigarette out of a pack. ]

Please tell me you brought a light.

Comments

[rationalizes]

Well, you must admit, it certainly wasn't doing anyone much good trapped in that locked case in the basement.

[slay]

So, if said new secretary happened to go bargain-hunting in the basement, who's to blame her? [ Buffy cranes her head to look at the skyscraper from all sides, awed. ] So, Gar, what do you think? Helpful? What is all this stuff?

[rationalizes]

[ An excited light shines in her eyes as the image cycles back to the talisman symbol. ]

If my theory is correct, and it's used for the same reasons as the last such stone I encountered... then it's a map.

[shootfirst]

It's going to take a little while to place that whole 'unmarked building' thing. Not very convenient map-making, if you ask me.

[rationalizes]

It's rather unlikely that it was meant to be convenient. [ She whips out her Knight's cell and begins to take pictures of each image as it cycles through. ]

[slay]

Someone really needs to update your people about latitude and longitude. [ It's said offhandedly to Jade. ]

[borrowedheaven]

I'm not sure this has anything to do with "my people". I still don't remember a thing, and I'm not chasing down something that's probably better left buried.

I've got enough to deal with. [ A spot check of 16 or above can notice that the placement of the people outside the museum has shifted this time, as if it were a picture taken at a different moment. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des got a thirteen, so he's just too consumed with frustration to care.] It's like I told you- that thing only brings trouble. The really not-fun kind.

[witchwoman]

[Myri's spot of 18 will make it! She squints and clears her throat.]

Uhm... is that..? It's different.

[slay]

[ Spot check 22. Buffy leans in more, getting a better look and narrowing her gaze, because she notices Myri's right. ]

Yeah, it is. The people, they moved. [ Translation: no1curr, Des, shut up. ]

[bigbad]

[Spot check 22 here too. Spike squints at the people who have moved, then back up at Des.] You don't have to come along. [To... wherever this is. Spike assumes they're going.]

[shootfirst]

You really don't. We can handle it from here. We're the professionals. [She glances over at Buffy, then at the stone.]

... Maybe it's like satellite images. Updated live.

[borrowedheaven]

[ Jade deposits the stone decisively into Des' hand, and immediately it kills the feed, either way. She fixes him with a stare.] You're not going to just let them run off after this alone, are you?

[slay]

Of course he's going to let us. [ There's a sneer to the words and Buffy looks offended by Jade's life. ] He's not coming with. [ SHE REALLY DOESN'T LIKE YOU, DES. ]

[nothingsodivine]

Well, how can I refuse an offer like that. [He grins at Jade and sticks the stone in his jacket pocket. If they're going to go walk into death, he's not going to lose one of the few allies he has over not helping out his damn kids when they get into trouble.] I'm the only one here who knows what happens when you fuck with the Talisman. I also know the places in New Orleans where you'll need to go like the back of my hand.

Call Wynn if you want. Ten to one, he'll vouch for what I can offer. You don't have to like me, but damned if I don't do my job well.

[rationalizes]

Personally, I see no problem with the idea of pooling our resources. [She flicks her phone off decisively and puts it away with a smile] If you'd care to return to our hotel with us, Mr. Descant, we might introduce you to the rest of our team.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des shoots Buffy the smuggest look.] Love to.

[And back to Jade.] We'll figure this out and I'll get back to you... Unless you really do want whatever this thing is as far away from you as possible. I wouldn't blame you for a second.

[slay]

[ Oh my god please explode into a big ball of fire anytime now, Des. Buffy is trying really hard to make you do so with her brain. ]

Yeah, I'm sure the rest of the team will love him just as much as this half of it does.

[bigbad]

[Spike would bite him. Except it would give him a headache. And Buffy would probably bitch about it. So instead he just scowls darkly.] So long as he doesn't waltz over to give the enemy precisely what they want this time. That too much to ask?

[borrowedheaven]

[She's going to ignore your griping, kiddos.]

I want to know.

[shootfirst]

If he so much as blinks funny, we'll make sure he doesn't get back to them. [ Kat squints one eye closed and narrows a finger gun at the direction of his knee caps ]

[nothingsodivine]

You do that, princess. [He gives Jade a grin that has all the elements of "we know something they don't in it."] Stay safe. [And he turns back to the others.] Hope you all didn't walk, 'cause, uh, you're not all fitting in my car. Although if one of you has to stay with me to make sure I don't run off with the shiny, I vote her. [He points to Buffy.

People should feel free to WTF at this all they want. He has his reasons.]

[slays]

[ No, but really. She fixes him with a withering look. ] I don't think anyone but you and Jade will fit in your car. Maybe she should go back with Gar and the others. [ Making. Sacrifices. Greater. Good. Not going to tear him apart with her bare hands, not going to tear him apart with her bare hands. ]

[borrowedheaven]

Actually, this is my stop. [Jade slings her legs out, pulling herself out of the car and throwing Buffy a small smirk] It's all yours.

[nothingsodivine]

[He grins at Buffy over the roof.] It doesn't even have a back seat. Don't be a priss.