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

[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.

[bigbad]

[Spike glowers, stepping forward a bit. NOT THAT BUFFY NEEDS PROTECTING OR PROBABLY EVEN WANTS HIS PROTECTION... but he's not... really thinking about that.] Doesn't seem like she wants to go, now, does it? Leave her alone.

[witchwoman]

[Myri slips up next to Buffy and lowers her voice.]

You don't have to go with him. I'm sure we can find a way back...

[Yes, your tiny mouse of a friend is concerned for your safety, Buffy. No, it doesn't make sense.]

[slay]

[ Okay, see, Myri's concern? Sweet and cute. Spike's concern? Creepy, overbearing with a side of possessive. Buffy shoots Spike a glare of indignation because GOTDAMN SHE CAN TAKE CARE OF HERSELF AND DEFEND HERSELF AND YOU CAN JUST SHUT UP, but when Myri speaks up, she turns toward her and smiles, resting a hand on her shoulder. ] It's okay. Like he said, no backseat. Besides, someone's gotta direct him. [ She lowers her hand, sighing exaggeratedly. ] Fine. Let's just get this over with? Because if you find time to call me a priss again, I might just throttle you.

[rationalizes]

[ /OBLIVIOUS GAR ROLLED A 6 WIS CHECK and has no idea Des is warning Buffy about... not getting raped. So she is still smiling] Then we'll all meet back shortly at the hotel!

[shootfirst]

[Kat leannnns into the car to fix Des with a sickly sweet smile] Any damage that comes outta our girl? I'll take right out of your paint job. [She pats the outside of the car and rights herself, gesturing for Buffy to get in]

[nothingsodivine]

What do you people take me for? [Des doesn't need to roll a wisdom check to see that everyone but Gar hates him. He's used to it. He just starts the motor and the radio blares to life.]

[slay]

... A backwoods hick? [ Buffy makes a visible cringe as the radio starts up, the remark dry in her mouth. She gives Kat a "save me" look (because she knows Kat is the only one besides the oblivious Gar who WON'T ACTUALLY TRY TO SAVE HER, but will just be sympathetic maybe), and climbs into the passenger seat. ] Later. [ She pulls the door shut, sitting back in the seat and mourning her fate. ]

[nothingsodivine]

I'm from New Orleans, so I'm more of a back-bayou kinda hick. [Which is a lie, but whatever.] You see where I kinda have a stake in this case- multiple stakes, really.