new orleans ♔ now that you've found another key | what are you going to play

[shootfirst]

♬ Baby, You're a Rich Man - Beatles

WHO || Thomas, Gar, Kat, Dumage, Mark, Myri, Buffy, Finnick, Spike, Rafael, Des, Elena Gilbert, Burt, ??, ??, ?? [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights begin a three-prong recon mission to push forward their intelligence operations on NOVA Records
WHERE || NOVA Records HQ, New Orleans
WHEN || Monday, Oct 15th [Forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam, don't sweat tag order!!

[[ Towering above our heroes is the fifteen-story NOVA Record Headquarters, an L-shaped structure tipped with a winged roof, covered in reflective window linings that paint a portrait of the New Orleans skyline across its panels. Foot traffic streams in and out, a parade of Bluetooth wearing suits, women in nine-inch heels, and extravagantly dressed stars surrounded by guards and entourage members.

But the lavish exterior hides a dark secret or two, and the Knights have sworn to shine a light on all of them.

Why is a record company funding a church that supports Shadowkind slavery? What are the 'experiments' for which they're buying up Shadowkind DNA, and how does it relate to the mysterious behavioral-control chip found in the displacer beast released in the museum? And, of course, what do they want with Jade, and what do they know about the Lazarus Talisman's current location?

Answers are rarely straightforward on their journey, and it looks like another complication or two are on the way.... ]

Comments

[bigbad]

You're the boss. [He's regretting his anti-pretending to be a stylist stance right about now. This is not the most comfortable mission he's ever had. He starts moving forward, quiet as a cat that's either been declawed or is moving over something that isn't metal (move silently nat 20).] Just let me know where I turn.

[bancroft]

You have the lead. I imagine exploration's the name of the game. [ the others move along behind him quietly, though not to his level of stealthy perfection. as they pass various vents, the sounds of finnick's music video filming below float up, and then slowly fade out as they move away from it.

spike's super vampire hearing would pick up the sound of a certain conversation echoing up into the ducts first, between someone with an arrogant upperclass draw that sounds as if it's accented somewhere between british and french, and a very nervous voice that rises in pitch occasionally.

the word 'chad' floats up to meet spike's ears, and it sounds like the first man is arguing something towards the second... maybe with a solid listen check, he could pick something up. attempting to glance down at them would warrant a spot and hide check. ]

[bigbad]

[Spike holds up a hand to indicate they should stop and shut up as he tries to eavesdrop. His vampire hearing is pretty excellent today (listen 29), but he doesn't want Mark yammering to interfere. He edges around the vent to try and look, while simultaneously trying to stay out of sight (spot 14, hide 14).]

1/2

[usurping]

[ ♬ By Your Command - Richard Gibbs

In order to stay hidden, he's only able to see a tiny sliver of the faces below: one a man with carefully arranged blonde hair and a pointed goatee, dressed all in a black outfit that seems to have an almost military cut. The other is a very short, balding man with large wild eyes.

The first is the one who seemed to be arguing... and still seems evidently frustrated. ]

What do you mean, postponed?

Re: 1/2

[snivelling]

[ behind spike, mark falls instantly and obediently quiet, as the other little man babbles a reply ] W-well, you see, apparently they've had a uh, a find, and wish to bring her on board before the meeting, you see, so that she can be accounted for in the ... in the plans, so Mr. Becksworth and Mr. Greenwall can't arrive until... for another few days. But Mr. Becksworth has arranged for somewhere for you to stay with your security detail that will be, uh, very safe and very discreet, Mister er, Prime Minister... sir.

[bigbad]

[Well, this is interesting. What's a Prime Minister doing here of all places? And who is this new find? And which Becksworth? Could they mean Chad? He glances over at his teammates and doesn't even breathe as he continues listening.]

1/2

[usurping]

[ mark and thomas have both gone rather stone faced, listening intently. the prime minister steps beyond the short man, one arm folded behind his back as he frowns at the wall. ]

I don't think you quite understand me, Dilbert. [ the shorter man mumbles "Gilbert" underneath his breath, but the politician doesn't seem to notice ] Unlike Mr. Becksworth and Mr. Greenwall, I have a country to run. And a number of projects to oversee that outstrip anything Chad has been running underneath this godforsaken hall of idolatry. [ he gestures at the room around him with contempt ]

[snivelling]

I understand that, sir, certainly [ he presses his hands together against his lips ] but er, I'm afraid the only other option would be for you to take a return flight when they-- when they have arrived.

[bigbad]

[So it is the elusive Chad Becksworth they're dealing with. How interesting. So are Mark and Thomas' reactions. Do they know more about this than he does? As much as he mocks Mark for his incompetence, he has been a Knight longer than Spike. He makes a mental note to ask them about it when they can talk again.]

1/-

[usurping]

And chance missing their next arrangement when something else turns up at the last moment due to their ill preparation? I think not. I'll take that room, but I want Asha on security detail. She's the best we've got.

2/3

[snivelling]

Of course, sir. As you say, sir. If you'll follow me, I'll call a car around. [ and they move out of sight, presumably towards a door or elevator. ]

[bancroft]

[ mark is still holding his breath, but after a moment, thomas says in a low voice: ]

Well, well, well What an intricate impeach this is.

[bigbad]

Asha. That's claw girl. [Spike looks into the grate, closer now that he doesn't have to worry about being seen (spot 18).] Reckon he's not after a record deal.

[bancroft]

I reckon you're right about that, my friend. Do you know who that was? [ as thomas stares into the air thoughtfully, spike takes note of movement farther down in the duct.

something that looks sickly white in the darkness, with spindly arms propelling it through the chamber with a little tka-tka-tka noise. pinchers are visible on its mouth and it looks about the size of a small dog, although it's moving rapidly away from them. ]

[bigbad]

No clue. I-- bloody hell! [He jerks backwards pointing at the thing.] What the hell's that?

[bancroft]

[ thomas is staring at a spot on the side of the duct, and seems to think that's what spike means ]

... It seems, my friends, that we aren't the first ones to come through here.

[bigbad]

[Nope, Spike's still focused on the weird bug thing.]

Yeah, that giant albino scorpion thing got here first.

[nosdacariad]

The what now? [ mark seemed to have been zoned out but that definitely wakes him up and he peers horrified over spike's shoulder as the thing clatters away. ] What? Where?! [ he clearly doesn't see it... but maybe it's that whole humans-don't-have-darkvision thing... ]

[bigbad]

[Actually, Spike's assuming it's that whole Mark-sucks thing. He rolls his eyes.] Right up there. [He points, then starts towards it.] I think I can squash it...

[bancroft]

I was referring, actually, to the human prints and hair. [ he nods in the direction of the monster, although he can't see past spike. meanwhile, the thing skitters around a corner and disappears. ] But, certainly, that too.

[bigbad]

Yeah, right. Humans. [Spike's moving after the monster, barely paying attention because he is ready to FIGHT. Even if it turns out tweed does not make excellent fighting clothes. Too scratchy.] You deal with that. I want to kill this thing before it gets away.

[nosdacariad]

I'll come with you. [ :') ] We'll be back. [ do a dex check to move through the ducts! Mark's only got a 7 back there so he's definitely lagging. ]

[bigbad]

[Maybe it's the tweed inhibiting him, but Spike only got a 7 as well. Not his day. If anyone asks, he'll claim he was deliberately being slow for Mark's sake. Really, that's it.] Great.

[nosdacariad]

[ as they round the corner, spike barely sees it sliding down a side duct that goes to the next level down. mark slowly climbs along behind on hands and knees, stopping to give a skeptical glance over spike's shoulder ]

Are you sure you weren't just ... you know... having a hallucinatory fit... of some kind?

[bigbad]

Of course not. [Spike shoots him an annoyed look as he follows the thing down the side duct. Maybe he should just let it go and go back to Thomas, but he's pretty sure he can find his way back, and he really wants to kill this thing now.] Just ahead, I think we've nearly caught it.