chicago ♔ people say that you'll die faster than without water

[socialgraces]

WHO || Failboat + Francesca [Closed]
WHAT || After spider fights and cleric visits...
WHERE || Back at the hotel, Chicago, IL
WHEN || July 11, 2013, late night (backdated)
HOW || Actionspam

[ Jaka agrees to go to the police himself to report the spider attack, and after the group makes a much-needed cleric visit, they can (and will) return to the hotel. Francesca’s anxiously waiting for them, because she doesn’t trust Jaka in the least, and was obviously concerned for what they may have found or encountered while out. Speaking of which, she also has some recently acquired information she’d like to share.

She’s working on her computer in the suite living room, but stands when they file in, giving them each a once-over to ensure everyone’s in one piece.]

Well? What happened?

Comments

[witchwoman]

[Myri just stays quiet. This part... splitting up the group makes her nervous on a normal day, but they literally just experienced what could happen when they were separated and only barely made it out alive. She won't protest against it, because she knows that they have to do it... but she also knows that she can't be everywhere and with everyone, so she'll just stare at her hands for now.]

[65]

[his horrible wis roll (5) means he has no idea wtf is up with myri, but that could also be his margarita. which is gone now.]

You should go with us, Myri.

[witchwoman]

[She glances up to Finnick, then looks at the others- pausing on Vi, but looks at Buffy last and lingering there. The image of her friend nearly dying right in front of her is not something she can just shake off.

But she can't be everywhere, can she? And maybe Jaka was right... Maybe she wasn't a real cleric anyway. The healers at the hospital had done such a better job of it, hadn't they? Her gaze breaks from Buffy after a few seconds and she forces a smile, trying to act like nothing's bothering her (bluff 10).]

Sure. As long as... [She looks back over at Des] Would you mind?

[socialgraces]

[ While Finnick, Des and Myri are making road trip plans, Francesca redirects her attention to Buffy to address something she mentioned earlier. ] I was out gathering some information on Teken'duis, while you all were gone to NOVA, but what I discovered only muddles this situation even more, especially in terms of the hourglass.

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the dark elf House system or their Queen...?

[bigbad]

[With his sense motive check of 20, Spike can tell something's up with Myri. He steps over to squeeze her shoulder.]

We'll be all right, love. Promise. Wouldn't be much of a vampire if I couldn't take on a few coppers.

[witchwoman]

[Myri reaches up and holds onto Spike's hand, turning her head up to smile at him. It's still a weak smile, but more genuine.] I know. I'm fine... really.

[She turns back to Francesca and tries to just focus on the mission.]

I know that I personally don't know much at all. What can you tell us about them?

[slay]

Queen meaning the Spider Queen that the drow houses worship? [ with a surprise knowledge check of 18, buffy has apparently been doing her homework on drow now that they're all over her life and she came off incredibly racist a lot. ] She's the goddess-in-charge; it's why all the Houses are matriarchal, right? [ let her try some exposition. ] The Houses are like dark elf nobility. [ she looks back to francesca. ] Is Teken'duis associated with one?

[romanticidal]

[ it's at this point in the conversation that rafael and isabella wander in, since i assume everyone got texted to gather together so i can explain all this fortuitous timing. he pauses a few steps in, brow furrowing at the turn of their discussion ]

... Should I ask why we are speaking of drow Houses?

[graveflowers]

Knowledge is power, Italia. And one of the Houses sent us a present. [That too.]

[socialgraces]

[ she pauses at rafael and isabella's entrance before turning back to address Buffy ] Teken'duis is a House name in this city, and a powerful one at that. So, yes, I would say he's intimately associated with one.

What you said about the Spider Queen and the House system is quite accurate, but unfortunately it's much more intricate than just that, most especially in this world. The dark elves don't have the liberty of isolating themselves or waging open wars on neighboring non-drow, so they've taken to very adeptly integrating themselves into human society. There's even a school that is open to all House drow in the city wishing to train in combat tactics or sorcery, and completely legal within the local system.

They've somehow managed to spin it to the city council as a progressive measure toward drow assimilation and unification, a way of protecting their culture. [ she rolls her eyes ]

[luthir]

[ that gets a snort out of luthir over here ... ]

[slay]

Okay, admittedly on the sketchy side, but ... we're sure that's not strictly a cultural thing? I mean, there are plenty of non-Drow knights trained in combat tactics and sorcery, why shouldn't they be able to teach it to their kids?

[socialgraces]

Perhaps if their culture weren't rooted in treachery, deception and chaos, it might seem a more enterprising move by the city, instead of just an asinine one. I can't blame the humans, though, as I would expect no less from them; we all know discrimination and hate are never the sensible response to an imposing threat. The problem is, they have no idea what they're actually dealing with... and I don't think most of you do, either. [ the statement's heavy with concern, and definitely not intended to be patronizing ]

This is a society where your worth is measured only by your ability to survive and dominate those below you. Any sense of guilt, remorse, loyalty, or compassion is quickly and mercilessly driven out of any dark elf child early on, through coercion, torture, and ritualistic sacrifice. These schools are the most efficient way of ensuring mass-scale enmity, creating cunningly sadistic killers out of all members of their ranks.

It's a fine line they walk in this world between cooperating enough to secure their dominance and superiority over the non-drow, while continuing the never-ending struggle between - and within - the Houses to attain higher rank in the most devious and backhanded way possible. [ there's an air of fascination to her tone, and she tags on thoughtfully: ] Although, a drow is nothing if not resourceful.

[graveflowers]

[Vi elbows Luthir gently because now is not the time, if you're going to be derisive then be educational at the same time.]

So, not to be all racist and make general assumptions based off race, but if Tek... whatshisface. [Sigh, she can't do it.] If Jaka belongs to one of these Houses, why is he helping us? That doesn't seem super in line with House priority.

[romanticidal]

I am not certain I would call it racist to assume he has his own agenda in this... It is not very difficult to tell that he is far from a typical lawyer merely from his approach.

[bigbad]

And it's not like lawyers are known to be particularly trustworthy anyway, drow or no. Pretty bloody obvious he's not in here out of the kindness of his heart.

[slay]

Do we know what House relations between Teken'duis and Baenre are like? Maybe by helping us, he thinks he can do some ... devious, back-handed thingy and gain some more power or footing among his own people, or take out whoever's on top in the process.

[rationalizes]

It's... it's possible that whatever he seeks to gain from aiding us won't necessarily run counter to our own goals, isn't it?

[socialgraces]

[ she looks down ] Yes, it's probably more possible than not, really. He wouldn't have decided to involve himself in Rafael's case, or with all of you, if he didn't think your goals would at least lead him to his own. It's also important to remember he's not working alone, and I'm not just referring to his brother. [ she looks back up, focusing on buffy and her comment ] House relations are never on friendly terms, and it's always about power. Unfortunately, I don't think we can avoid working with him now, with the trial so close. As long as we're cautious and remember not to trust him [ with extra emphasis on this b/c trusting an almost stranger seems crazy to her on any level ] we should be fine.

[slay]

Swell.

[ buffy looks firmly put-out by this decision, but she understands and agrees with it so she won't pout beyond that. it's hard - when they'd all just learned very acutely the harm of secrets and lies among a team, incorporating someone - however tangentially - into the team with the premise that they can't possibly trust him is hard to reconcile. ]

[socialgraces]

Oh, and speaking of the trial, one last thing.

With so many of you possibly having to testify, it would be ideal [ or best idea ever b/c it's backed by this 48 diplomacy check ;) ] for each of you to write up your account of the concert and the events that followed, and then we can review them together to make sure they corroborate with our defense case. We don't have much time left and we need to be as prepared as possible.

[nothingsodivine]

[Hah. His story. Des has remained quiet and retreated to the minibar, because drow politics are their problem, not his. He has a very low threshold about what part of this damned case actively involves him and this isn't it. But his head shoots up at the mention of getting their stories straight.]

We might be screwed. The cops were asking a lot of questions about me and Jade- enough to think that me and her being even a little bit... You know would be motive. Not that we were. [He looks at Rafael and settles for just drinking the vodka straight from the bottle. Hope no one cares if he backwashes in that. It's the only way he passed that will save. The drinking. Not the backwash.] I bluffed 'em, but it ain't gonna be hard to dig up evidence that I was lying.

[...Yeah, he really didn't think how badly that could go until just now.] And even if it makes no damn sense for me to lie to protect the guy who murdered my alleged lover, everyone loves a crime of passion. They'll eat it up.

[romanticidal]

[ yeah raf rolled a shitty will save, he can't help but blurt. ] You mean to say you and Eterna were not-- [ he at least stops himself there. behind him, isabella's eyes roll back into her head. gar looks instantly so uncomfortable. ]

[bigbad]

[Spike rolls his eyes. Obviously they weren't having sex. They didn't smell like they were having sex. God, you humans and your pathetic noses.]

Glad you're focusing on the important things with your impending murder trial.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des, meanwhile, has to resist the urge to take the bottle and throw it at Rafael's head.] You thought we were- [He kneads his palm into his forehead.] Jesus Tapdancing Christ, you've got marshmallows for brains, Fluffy. Please tell me no one's heard you say anything about that.

[These people have eyes and ears everywhere- he has no alibi for the conversation with Ben Affleck. If he's even talked to a fucking barista about his love life, god only knows what they can spin.

Not that he put them in a better situation, but if Rafael could honestly say he never knew, then at least that would have saved them some grief and ruled out jealousy as a motive.]