venice ♔ the piano keys are black & white but they sound like a million colors in your mind

[romanticidal]

♬ Spider's Web - Katie Melua

WHO || Rafael Giovanni, Isabella Alessandro, Hiro, Kat, Gar, Buffy, Myri [closed]
WHAT || Kat, Gar, Buffy, and Myri spend the night at Rafael's.   Nothing of consequence happens at all.
WHERE || Rafael's villa, an hour outside Venice, Italy
WHEN || July 6-7, late night.
HOW || Actionspam, NO TAG ORDER

After returning from her interrogation date? outing with Rafael, Buffy was ushered back into the girls' shared rooms, where Gar and Kat and Myri have set up shop. Myri and Gar both spent most of that time on the phone: Gar with Wynn and Myri with Finnick, and Rafael dropped by to wish all the girls a good night before retiring and leaving them alone with Buffy.

As the household settles into sleep, maybe now is the time they can get some serious snooping done... 

Comments

[slay]

He had a picture of her. [ Buffy explains it as a quick aside to Kat. More importantly, she turns her attention to Rafael. ] You were right. I mean -- Are right. About us. We work for a Knighthood that, uh, intervenes. We help. It sounds to me like we're all on the same team. [ Maybe she shouldn't mention the Knights. But, she trusts Rafael, and Kat and Gar will just have to deal. ]

We came here looking for Angelo because we found out NOVA Records was buying Shadowkind DNA, and we want to know why. We knew he was on the list of people they'd bought it from. [ a beat. she has to know. ] But, Isabella said something earlier -- you thought Jade was dead. How -- ? I mean, she's alive. Very, very alive, and in the States.

1/1

[romanticidal]

[ ♬ Foolish Games - Jewel

There's that earnestness in his demeanor again as he narrows in on the last part, seeming to just accept the rest for the moment so that he can get to this subject. He shakes his head. ]

Not dead, no. Not exactly. Isabella merely-- [ he seems to decide not to pursue that line ] We thought she was gone, lost to us. I... [ he seems to consider how best to say this ] I need to see her, if you are right.

[slay]

We can take you to her. [ she looks to gar and kat for confirmation. ] It's obviously not safe for him here right now. [ and it's their job to help. ]

[rationalizes]

[ gar looks hesitant. ] We, of course, want to help in every way we can. [ she glances aside at the other girls. ] But if you'll recall, Wynn's ordered us back to the castle as of tomorrow. As mission leader, I can't be absent from the debriefing.

[witchwoman]

[Myri looks up and catches Gar's gaze. Her memory is quick to remember the words from the squiring ceremony as if they were just spoken mere seconds ago (Wis check 23)]

I shall be everywhere and always the champion of the right and the good against injustice and evil. [Her voice is not loud, exactly, but each word spoken with great purpose.]

If we are not here to do what is right, then why are we here at all? This man is being hunted. We cannot in good conscious walk away, knowing that fact. [Nevermind that he can clearly take care of himself.] Moreover, he is obviously involved with Jade, who we have determined is linked to the talisman, which is the reason Wynn sent us on this mission to begin with.

If we cannot take him to Jade ourselves, then we should at least take him with us to the castle, to offer sanctuary until it is safe to reunite him with Jade- and perhaps in that time, we can learn more from each other and Wynn will realize how grave a mistake he makes by not trusting the instincts that caused him to put this team together in the first place.

1/-

[shootfirst]

[ aw, kat just grins at that from where she's sitting on the couch arm ] Hear, hear.

Did I mention I'm promoting you? Now might be a good time to mention I'm promoting you.

2/-

[romanticidal]

While I greatly appreciate your concern for our safety, Isabella and I can protect ourselves from our enemies. I have no wish to be sheltered away - I will go to Chicago, if you tell me where I might find her.

3/3

[rationalizes]

Unfortunately, it's slightly more complicated than merely giving directions. You'll need an escort. [ she looks to myri and squares her shoulders ] And Myri is ... quite right. We are Knights, and this is our sworn duty: Wynn is certain to understand.

But we need not all accompany Rafael. Perhaps only one or two of us need go, so that the others might relay what we've learned here to the rest of the team and work to impress upon Wynn how far we've come.

[slay]

Would this accompanying mean opting out of the big Wynn yell-fest about whether we did or didn't perform up to standards? 'Cause, if that's the case, I volunteer. I beyond volunteer for this courier service. [ she raises her hand for dramatic emphasis, then looks at rafael. ] ... Not that I wouldn't otherwise. [ her hand drops. ] Don't get me wrong, I've totally enjoyed our time together on a personal level, but in the interest of saving our butts ... any chance swinging you over to Jade's place will get you to help us out with anything you might know about this Nova deal?

[romanticidal]

You'd have my gratitude and all assistance I might offer. Though I fear I know little about Nova's interest in Shadowkind DNA.

But I would offer my help in discovering what purpose they have in it, particularly if you think it is in some way a threat.

[witchwoman]

[She feels a little guilty for disagreeing with Gar, even if she does feel as if what she's said and done is for the best.]

I doubt Rafael could be in safer hands than Buffy's. [She smiles at her friend, knowing that Buffy was also most likely to get as much information as possible, since she and Rafael had already spoken.]

Do you have a suggestion for anyone to accompany her? [She turns back to Gar for the question. She wants to make a point of putting some of the control back in Gar's hands. It's not that she wouldn't also volunteer- but Myri's just not sure if she's best suited for this.]

1/-

[rationalizes]

Either yourself or Kat... although I would appreciate at least one of you coming along to speak with Wynn, as you're both quite... skilled at vocalizing your sentiments. [ so diplomatic ;; ] And if you wished to complete your Knighting ceremony while we were back in the castle, naturally, both of you would have to accompany me, although that could always be pressed off until a later time. I will leave it up to you, of course.

Mr. Descant might be a valuable additional party as well. His presence might make it easier for you to reach Miss Jade without much... fuss.

2/2

[shootfirst]

If he's going, count me castle bound.

[slay]

So, Myri, Rafael and I hop back over to Chicago and meet up with Des, while you guys work on smacking some sense into Wynn? [ buffy gives a decisive nod. ] I'm kinda loving this plan. [ mostly because myri reasons c: she loops an arm around myri's elbow to lock them together. ] And you'll pass any updates our way?

[witchwoman]

[Knighting ceremony? :o She had assumed Kat was kidding back there. Her cheeks flush a bit at that, but she recovers once Buffy puts an arm around her.]

I'd be happy to go. I suppose someone has to be there in case of injury. [She smiles broadly, feeling a bit more useful at that notion. Not that she wants anyone hurt. But at least she knows that Buffy will be safe, which is pretty big deal to her.]

1/3

[rationalizes]

We'll of course stay in touch. [ a beat ] I imagine we should attempt to find Dumage before we leave.

2/3

[shootfirst]

Oh, ew. For a few blissful moments, I forgot she exists.

3/3

[romanticidal]

[ rafael sees no reason to waste time either, apparently and heads for the phone ] I will arrange for a flight, then.

[slay]

Uh, yeah, about her. She was with her family. [ she lets go of myri, distracted from the congratulations she was about to offer. ] Dumage, I mean. Did anyone else know she has a sister who calls her Antonia?

[witchwoman]

Dumage has family? [Myri says, obviously super shocked.] Here? [Or anywhere. It's hard to imagine her with anyone in the world she might be attached to.]

Perhaps that is why we have not been able to reach her.

1/-

[shootfirst]

It's hard to imagine a walking VD having siblings.

2/2

[rationalizes]

I wonder why she didn't mention it. She must have her reasons.

[slay]

[ oh yay no one is judging her for stalking dumage :3 ]

Yeah, she was in this ... little cafe along the canal. Really cute, great gelato. They were talking about, um ... [ she snaps her fingers, trying to remember. ] Like, some Catholic guy that I guess Dumage was into? A-And her sister trying to ... I don't know, some plan involving a heavyweight politician. Her sister said something about Dumage running scams in England. [ /regurgitates info as gossip. ] Anyway. That was a few hours ago, and she left before we did. I bet she's home.

[rationalizes]

[ no, here comes the judging. gar sounds very judgey. ] I hardly think any of that is our business.

[witchwoman]

We'll need to collect the rest of our things before leaving anyway. We can look for her there and inform her of all that has transpired. [She pauses.]

You don't think Rafael will protest Amaranth coming, do you? [Leaving her familiar at the hotel to make the trip to Rafael had been uncomfortable enough.]