chicago ♔ love only knows if we'll give into fear and choose life undercover

[romanticidal]

♬ Love Only Knows - Josh Groban

WHO || Rafael, Buffy, Myri, Des, Jade [closed]
WHAT || Buffy & Myri break orders and take Rafael to Chicago to reunite him with lost love Jade. Des comes too.
WHERE || Nightscape; Chicago
WHEN || July 7th, night.
HOW || Actionspam

Standing across the street from the nondescript looking building, Rafael frowns across at the line of people entering into the fruit stand canopy.

"You are certain this is the place?" he asks uncertainly, without looking at Buffy and Myri beside him.

Comments

[romanticidal]

[ don't mind the italian guy

he'll just be over here

sizing you up ]

[witchwoman]

[No wait. Myri is still hung up on that joke she didn't get.]

What bird? Should there be a bird?

[nothingsodivine]

There's no bird. [Des gives Myri a sympathetic "oh poor baby" look and then shoots Rafael a LOOK, before devoting his attention to Blondie.]

It's fine. I was stuck in traffic. Plus the flight back from New Orleans was a pain in the ass. [He jerks his thumb at PRETTY BOY.] What? Were you missing out on some eye candy since I borrowed your boy band wannabe?

[romanticidal]

[ he thrusts out a hand, expression still rather hard. ] Rafael.

They say you have a way to get inside.

[slay]

[ somewhere, peter griffin is dancing. thx des. ]

Please tell me I don't have to knock out any guards and sneak us in. It's an ugly, ugly road to go down a first time, let alone a second.

[witchwoman]

We'd prefer to keep this simple.

[Wishful thinking is so cute, isn't it?]

[romanticidal]

[ rafael doesn't seem fazed by the idea of knocking guards out, really. ] Whatever we must do, we should do quickly.

[nothingsodivine]

Fine. I won't tell you. [He grins.] If the guards take us to see Jade, it won't be a problem. She likes me, remember?

[witchwoman]

Can't we just... ask them if we can see her?

Or perhaps send a message to let her know we're here and would like to talk to her?

[Anything but fighting. Myri is tired of fighting.]

[slay]

Kinda what I was hoping him being here would get us. [ buffy nods to des. ] Wanna give her a call? [ she turns to head into the fruit stand -- into the entrance of nightscape. ]

[romanticidal]

[ except that des doesn't have her digits, dudes. none of y'all do.

rafael is right on buffy's heels, and some people flash them dirty looks when they go to bypass the giant line. ]

Perhaps a message with the doorman.

[ a large bodyguard moves to block their path from heading straight into the canopy, staring down at them, and practically honest-to-god-growling. ]

[nothingsodivine]

She didn't give me her phone number. [She did not hit him with those seven digits. Life is hard.

ALSO HEY ITALIAN GUY, WHAT R U DOIN'. It's his job to annoy Buffy by being right on her heels. He sort of parts the blonde and Italian sea and gets as close to the doorman as he can.]

Hey, big guy. We've got business with the lady of the house. Kinda wanna catch her before she goes onstage. You know the drill. I'm an old friend. Desmond Descant? Name ring any bells? Yes? No? Probably? Just call the girl and ask. [Bluff check: 13.]

[witchwoman]

[For now, Myri will just keep with the group and keep quiet. Unfortunately, her part in their earlier time in Chicago did not involve much interaction with Jade, so she has to trust Buffy's choice to use Des to get them their. She tries to look friendly and hopes for the best.]

[slay]

Believe me, she'll want to know we're here. [ buffy's just here to offer a less casual, arrogant, entitled perspective. her tone is more persuasive, explanatory (diplomacy 16). ] We know the way, if you wanted to just let us in ... [ she's sincerely hoping this doesn't end in the hard way. it'll be embarrassing for everyone involved if they have to proceed to fight their way in and back out. ]

[romanticidal]

[ the man's brow goes from glowering to raised in a flash and suddenly he smiles, flashing a gold tooth

"Of course! Of course! Mr. Descant, you are always on the list. She told us to expect you to come one of these evenings..."

Rafael doesn't look very pleased with the implications in that statement, and he shoulders his way in right beside Des, comically shorter than the guy, probably. ]

Then we may come in?

[ "If you're with him, sure, right on through." He pulls the cordon aside, and then they're ushered through, getting dirty looks from the crowded masses waiting. The door opens, and in they go to the lobby as before, with guards on the staircases and the red carpet leading the way towards the strange hallway entrance to the club. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[Now excuse Des as he just swaggers right on in, giving the man at the door a salute and then turning to make a very pointed smug bastard look in Rafael's direction, though he's actually talking to Buffy and company.] She likes me. She really, really likes me.

[witchwoman]

[Myri is paranoid about how easy that was. Sure, she wasn't around for Des and Jade to interact much, so maybe there are old chums, but Myri's been cautious from the start. She looks at the doorman, trying to discern if there's more that he's not saying (Sense motive: 18), but she'll keep moving inside in order to stay with the others.]

[slay]

[ buffy elbows des in the ribs for that, because she spots the look (spot 15, sense motive 16) and knows exactly what he's doing. the look she gives him is ten levels of don't be an ass. but, he got them in, so it's a gentle elbow. ]

Try to stay focused?

[romanticidal]

[ ♬ Nobody Without You - Sanna Nielsen

The doorman seems to be totally on the level, as far as Myri can tell, and Rafael glares pointedly at Des' back as they head towards the hallway, although the darkness that surrounds them when the door closes behind them obscures the expression. Only the runner lights offer dim illumination directing them towards the club, as the beat thrums against the walls distantly.

Once again, that weird feeling of a strange shift in reality occurs (Wisdom check 15), as if stepping inside of a dream, feeling physically removed from the shackles of order and reason and consequence...

And then the door opens and the music pours down over their ears like an avalanche. Just as before, to the right lies the seemingly endless sea of people, pulsing and throbbing decadently along with the beat as colored lights streak across them, painting them vibrant reds and blues and greens, while a more calm atmosphere permeates the table and bar area to the left.

Rafael freezes a few steps in, jaw dropping slightly. After a moment, he says: ] This is where we can find Eterna?

[nothingsodivine]

[Wis check: 17 aw yeah. Des is relatively unperturbed by Buffy's warning and dirty looks and just keeps right on sauntering. He breathes a nice sigh of relief at the euphoria and just presses on into the dance hall, stopping only when Rafael stops.]

Where'd you pick this guy up, Blondie? A piano bar? It's like he's never seen a club before. [He leans over to clap Rafael on the shoulder.] She's got a show to put on. Come on, Ruffles. I know you're the belle of the ball here, but we won't let anyone dance with you against your will.

[witchwoman]

[Wis check 18. Myri focuses more on the group, since she is less untrusting of the doorman. This place is loud and all encompassing, though. Myri had the good fortune to not be forced inside during their last visit. She just winces and tries to stay with the others. She's more with Rafael in her opinion of the club.

Not that she can even focus on anything except not losing track of the others right now.]

[slay]

[ buffy's familiar with the feeling, so with a wis check of 17, she shudders it off as it creeps up in her neck. she stays focused on the task at hand with concentration 16 and nudges rafael a little to keep him moving, back to the left of the stage in the direction that they'd found jade before. ]

I told you she sings. [ she glances up at the stage in a passing way, looking not entirely comfortable. this isn't her favorite place. in fact, this is her least favorite place. the sooner they get upstairs and away from the raving crowd, the better. ] Maybe not as classy as your venues, but she also doesn't know Angelo Nassi.

[ she's uncomfortable, and her speech is a little on the dismissive side because of it. she's tense and twitchy and just generally eager to get upstairs and get this over with, and it's written all over her body language. there's no spike here to nearly beat to death if she loses it again. des could take it (and probably deserves it), but he's also just a guy, and then there's the explaining, and the -- and mostly she just hates not being able to trust herself not to spaz out. ]

[romanticidal]

[ ♬ In the Dark - DJ Tiesto

There's a sort of dawning comprehension in Rafael's eyes, as if something has clicked into place, and as if he's not very pleased with whatever it was. He follows along towards the back hallways, passing by buzzing club patrons at the tables, laughing and drinking and looking expectantly at the stage.

The sound is muffled slightly as they make their way to the back hallways, towards the antique golden elevator where the red vested attendant stands. Yep. Same guy from before. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[DES LOVES THIS GUY.]

Would you believe that damn light is still on the fritz?

[Bluff check 11... Which is ridiculous, considering he's not even trying. That's what being charismatic gets you.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ HE'S ON TO YOU THIS TIME BUCKO. But he also... doesn't seem to recognize you or Buffy. Funny how that works... ]

Light?