new orleans ♔ for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets

[bancroft]

WHO || Thomas, Jack, Gar, Kat, Dumage, Mark, Myri, Buffy, Finnick, Spike, Rafael, Des, Elena, Chad Becksworth, The Mind Master, Decker Greenwall, Kitty Bonquas, Raoul Jacobson, Rynn, Devereaux, Keijen Blade [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights spy on an important meeting between Chad Becksworth and his compatriots... various downtime shenanigans ensue
WHERE || Various locations, New Orleans
WHEN || Friday, Oct 19th - November 12th [Backdated]
HOW || Actionspam, don't sweat tag order!!

[ Yesterday, members of team failboat went to the bayou hideout of the mysterious woman known only as "the Mind Master", on some intel from the captured Olean Gilbert. What they discovered was a very bizarre woman, who played mind games with them, and seemed to evince little concern for their interference. Another man, whom may have been Chad Becksworth entered, and told her that "Decker" was finished stalling and all was in readiness... The two of them fled before the Knights could get much information from either of them, and set a hideous creature to attack them: which appeared to be the result of a Frankenstein-like scientific process that sewed a human woman together with a giant snake.

The next day, another team of Knights infiltrated NOVA HQ to hack into appointment records and discover the names of those intended to meet with Chad Becksworth. Just as they downloaded the list, the scheduled meeting attendees arrived: it seemed they were meeting today, and the Dragon's Claws insisted that the younger Knights retire to the hotel, where all will be able to monitor the meeting onscreen as they spy on it and broadcast video. Knights' allies (Des, Rafael, Elena) are invited to watch as well. ]

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[ This log also covers any shenanigans the Knights have while staying in New Orleans, immediately following the last logs and extending over the next three weeks, when the next exciting shit go down.

Make your own threads, don't fuss about tag order, feel free to threadjack multiple people into one thread for hang-outs, ask me if you want a certain scene with an NPC, etc. forever whatever.]

Comments

[slay]

[ the pause she gives is just a little too long to let her response be believable (bluff 9). her tone is soft and sympathetic, but the fact is, even if she wanted to, she couldn't allow herself to be with spike. everything about it felt wrong. he was a vampire. undead. she was a demon slayer, he was a demon. not exactly a match made in heaven. she cages the question. ]

No. No, I don't. [ beat. ] I'm sorry.

[bigbad]

[He looks up at that because that... doesn't sound remotely believable (sense motive 17). But what does that mean? She has feelings but still doesn't want to be with him? He meets her eyes, expression unreadable because he doesn't even know what he's feeling.]

...it's the vampire thing, isn't it. [He thought they were over that, but apparently she wasn't over it enough for this.]

[slay]

[ she doesn't answer it. she can't. buffy's not only lying to him, she's lying to herself. it may be growing harder to deny, but that doesn't stop her from doing it. it's better that way. she keeps her cool, keeps her words slow and purposeful, and evades a direct answer. ]

I don't want to be with you. If I'd known what this was, I wouldn't have - [ she takes a breath, realizing her speech is picking up as emotion creeps in, and then recenters herself. ] I'm sorry. If I did something, anything to make you think that ... But, that's not what this is.

[bigbad]

Forget it, then. [He glances away, waving a hand dismissively.] It's not a big deal, you know? Just thought I'd ask. I'm hardly in love with you. [He can't meet her eyes, can't so much as keep his voice entirely steady as he says it (bluff check 5).] It's fine.

[slay]

[ the wavering in his voice twists her stomach into a knot, but she forces herself to keep her expression neutral. the harsh truth that he loves her, though she wills herself to believe his cheap lie. she sits rigid in her seat, but doesn't say anything. she feels trapped and uncomfortable that he chose to do this in public - torn between leaving him in peace so he doesn't have to have his pain aggravated, and wanting to stay lest it become a scene. ]

[bigbad]

[The silence stretches on, horribly awkward, until he manages to more or less compose himself again and look up.]

I'll get over it. You're still my best friend. I don't want to lose that just because I'm a git who thinks with his prick. [Or his heart, but he thinks it's better he try and act like he was just attracted to her. He means it too. The thought of losing Buffy as a friend is far worse than any other potential outcome for all this. He's already worried he's said too much.]

[slay]

Hey, relax, it's - No one said anything about losing anybody. [ she definitely looks strained saying so, though. it's going to be awkward. but she did have the warnings of, well, just about everyone. ] I just ... I wish there was something I could do.

[bigbad]

Forget it. [He attempts a smile.] Sorry, didn't mean to ruin our dinner.

[slay]

You didn't ruin anything.

[ it's said softly, placating. it's convincing enough (bluff 11). ]

[bigbad]

[He's not convinced (sense motive 13), but he doesn't argue. She's being kind.]

Well, I won't be bringing it up again. I promise that much.

[slay]

Right. That's ... That's probably for the best. What with the being teammates and all.

[bigbad]

And since you don't share my feelings. [Even if she wasn't exactly convincing about that. She'd made it clear she doesn't want to be with him for whatever reason.]

[slay]

And. Also that. [ her voice is stilted and awkward at the correction. she looks down at her plate, hands folded in her lap. ]

[bigbad]

Right. [They can't keep talking about this. Bad enough that he's feeling all twisted up and disappointed and hating himself for bringing it up. He can tell it's killing her which is the last thing he wants.] I introduced Myri to Chinese food earlier, you know. Also to the entire concept of China.

[slay]

Big fan, I'll bet. Hey! Maybe once we find this thing, we could go. You know, all three of us. [ beat. ] Four of us. [ myri, after all, would not leave finnick behind. ]

[bigbad]

[Well, clearly he shouldn't have worried about the awkward factor. She was still suggesting bloody double dates even knowing his feelings for her. He wondered if he'd really be able to do this.] Sounds fun. Hope real Chinese food isn't a disappointment after the Americanised stuff.

[slay]

[ wait. ]

... You mean it's different?

[bigbad]

Well, yeah. Not nearly so sweet for one thing.

[slay]

Am I the only person here feeling very betrayed?

[bigbad]

[God, she's cute. He starts smiling at her affectionately before he catches himself and glances down at his sushi.]

Well, there are similarities, I'm sure.

[slay]

Yeah-huh. Sure. Wanna drop the hammer about Santa while we're crushing my dreams?

[bigbad]

Sorry, pet. No insight one way or the other there.

[slay]

Yeah, well. Maybe nix the China plan, I guess.

[bigbad]

If you're in it for the food, there's always France.

[slay]

France is good! Closer, too.