marengo ♔ but you gave away the things you loved & one of them was me

[starfucker]

♬ you're so vain - carly simon ft. mick jagger

WHO || Des, Finnick, Myri, Karen Taylor, Laura Jones.
WHAT || The Knights travel to the hometown of the Becksworth Brothers, to try to learn more about Chad and what may have happened to him.
WHERE || Marengo, IL
WHEN || July 16th, backdated
HOW || Actionspam

[ The mystery surrounding cult leader Chad Becksworth has only deepened with the discovery of a lockbox in his office containing surveillance of his own life along with a detailed history. While the Knights theorize about whether this means he's been replaced by the villain's resident doppelganger, or something else entirely, Burt makes good on his word to contact his first wife, Laura Jones, to find out whether Chad's ex-wife still lives in their small town of Marengo, Illinois.

He calls Finnick a few days after the lockbox is discovered to say that, yes, Karen's still living there, and that Laura's told them they can come to Marengo and swing by her place so she can direct them where to go. The possibility of gaining some insight into the background of the Becksworths is too good to pass up, so Myri, Finnick, and Des drove out there to the small-town America midwestern city, where they now coast down the tiny Main Street, a few blocks from Laura's home. It's about as far a cry from the big city ostentatious lifestyle Burt leads now as one can imagine. ]

Comments

[nothingsodivine]

[There are two things worthy of note.

The first is that I crit failed a disable device check so Des's attempts to get the GPS to stop talking to them has made it speak Spanish to them this entire five hour drive. Thank God for Finnick's great Navigate check.

The second is that Des has actually been in Marengo for a job a few years back and would like to avoid being recognized because of what happened the last time he was in a place he worked a high-profile case in during this mission (spoilers: there were zombies). As such, he is boasting a fake mustache. Luckily, he's only been wearing it since they arrived in Marengo.

And now here they are. About to talk to someone who willingly married Burt.]

Doesn't exactly scream Future Douchebags, does it?

[65]

[it's ok, finnick's got all the directions on lock. he's the one to talked to burt so i guess it all makes sense. (nav 18)]

Everyone has to start somewhere. [and then he finally says what he's been holding in ever since des put the dumb mustache on:] You look ridiculous with that thing, you know.

[witchwoman]

[Thank goodness they've made it, because she's going out of her mind listening to Archer speak to them in a language she doesn't understand. At least Des' disguise offers a distraction from the headache forming. Myri covers her mouth and tries not to laugh, but she is bad at hiding it.]

It's... nice. [Bluff...8...]

Perhaps if they had stayed they wouldn't have become so... [She trails off and just lets that linger in the air. She knows that Finnick has a strange friendship with Burt, so she won't outright insult him. Myri doesn't like him much, though, and she likes Chad less. However, now she's calling into question whether the man she's seen is even Chad at all.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des shoots Finnick a look.] Between not wanting to be recognized by people who know me in this town and the fact that things tend to go pear-shaped where you Knights are involved, I'm not taking any chances.

[They already gained one new stalker and he has no idea if Iscariot is just... observing. Because Iscariot will totally be fooled by a fake goatee

Off Myri's statement, he shrugs: Some people are born jerks and some people have jerk forced upon them.

[He pulls into the drive of Laura's house.] This is the place.

[65]

[whatever, des. whatever. he tacks an addendum onto des's words to myri—] We're all only what our situations make of us.

[and now he's getting out of the car, dusting himself off, taking off his sunglasses ... all that good stuff.]

[witchwoman]

[Once Finnick gets out, Myri scoots to extract herself from the car as well. She stretches slightly, happy to have a little more room to move. She looks to both of them before heading up for the front door. Girl doesn't need a invitation to get shit done.]

[nothingsodivine]

[While Myri heads to the door ahead of them, Des grabs Finnick's shoulder.] You think Burt's let the cat out of the bag that I'm not your manager?

[NOVA sure didn't know, but Burt's in the inner circle now and he has kind of a big mouth.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ a spot check of 14+ will see a hand sweep the curtain aside at the window, a movement indicating someone knows they're there and is coming to the door. ]

[65]

[spot 4; finnick didn't see shit. he stops as des grabs him.] Doubtful. I had him sign a confidentiality agreement before divulging anything important.

[witchwoman]

[Myri is on high alert and extremely observant (spot 24). She turns back towards the boys, because what are they even talking about?? Clearing her throat, she gestures towards the front door.]

I think she's waiting for us.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des barely makes it (spot 15), but he sees her, and immediately turns back to Finnick before they reach the door.]

Then as far as anyone asks, I'm just your manager. I don't know which groups are connected and which groups are just waiting to pick up the scraps the other guys dropped, but if the Church and Iscariot are buddies, I don't wanna be ID-ed. The last thing we need is the a buncha religious nutjobs going nuts on us because their bonus prize is trying to screw their plans to kingdom come by asking about their meal ticket.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the door opens just as des finishes speaking, and the woman standing there scans the three of them, eyes widening for just a tic when she sees finnick, but quickly coming to grips with it.

laura jones is one of those naturally exquisite women, with wide gorgeous eyes and finely balanced delicate features, but there's nothing glamorous about the way she presents herself at all. she wears minimal make-up, and her conservative style of dress doesn't do anything to flatter her obviously impressive figure. in fact, there's something very muted about her entire demeanor.

the word sweet comes to mind. ]

... Burt said he was sending some friends, but I didn't expect... [ she shakes her head, and stands aside from the door gesturing them in ] Er, come in. Welcome. I'm Laura.

Laura Jones.

[65]

What, too many? [he offers a charming smile as per usual before heading in. he's a little surprised by laura, but not completely. his conversation with burt had context clues, okay.] Or were you just not expecting me?

[behindcloseddoors]

[

there's a 'Hold on!' that issues from within and a listen check of 16+ can hear the clipping sound of someone approaching. the door opens up to reveal a very tall, gorgeous, blonde woman on unnecessarily high heels, wearing a leopard print dress that doesn't leave much to the imagination. everything about her suggests she spent her entire morning perfectly coiffing her hair and meticulously doing her make-up, and she has a tiny black poodle clutched in her arms. her eyes scan across them, and widen when she sees finnick as well, obvious recognition followed immediately by a charming smile in his direction (charm 22), as she raises her free hand to bounce a curl out of her face. she's all breathy, uber-feminine julie benz voice as she lets out a surprised little:]

Oh.

Can I... help you?

[65]

[he knows better ... but ~~something~~ draws her to him. (will save 21) so he stares vacantly for a moment before managing to spit out—] Karen! You're Karen, right?

[witchwoman]

[Well... that was odd. Myri isn't used to seeing Finnick so tongue tied. She gives him a quick, curious look before turning to the woman.]

I hope this isn't a bad time?

[nothingsodivine]

[Des claps Finnick on the back. Hard. He's protecting your man from himself, Myri.] Eyes forward, soldier. [That said, he steps forward to put himself between Finnick and her royal boobliciousness and offers a hand.] Laura said you were expecting us. We're here about Chad.

[behindcloseddoors]

[

that is not at all what laura said, des. she just gave you directions. karen's smile wavers, her eyes sliding to des and giving him a disapproving once over, ignoring the hand. ]

Laura--?

Oh. That Laura. [ a hint of ice creeps over her words ] I don't know where she got that idea. [ she glances anxiously over her shoulder, before moving to shut the door on them slowly. ] I have nothing to say about Chad. [ if the way she said burt's ex-wife's name was frosty, her own ex invokes absolute zero. ] Sorry.

[65]

[PULL IT TOGETHER, ODAIR. you can do this. he steps out from behind des's loving protection.] Are you sure you can't afford us even a minute of your time? [charm 23 + diplomacy ... 14. HE'S STILL TRYING TO SHAKE OFF HER SIREN SONG OK.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ girl got a nat 20 against those cheekbones. This is the twilight zone. ] I don't have time for another minute of that man in my life. [ annnnd she slams the door. In their face. ]

[65]

[bu— wha— what just happened???

WERWATEY?!?!?!

THIS IS A CRISIS.]

[witchwoman]

[Myri blinks at the exchange, still a little uncertain about what has even happened. Still, they can't just give up, so she steps forward and knocks- this time a little more insistently.]

Miss Taylor- please, we need to talk to you. It's very important. [Clearly there's no residual feelings here, so maybe...]

We all want the same thing. [There's plenty of ways to interpret that, right?]

[behindcloseddoors]

[

the door cracks open just a little bit after a pause, and a slightly more frazzled looking karen peeks out at them, barely opening the door. ]

I doubt that. I'm going to say this one more time: leave. I don't need any of you hanging around my--

[ a voice speaks up from inside on the couch, where a blonde girl who looks to be in her early twenties looks up from a magazine.



"Who is it, Mom?"

karen tenses and says over her shoulder, closing the door further: ] No one, honey, they're just leaving.

tracking the original thread does not mean you have this thread tracked...

[nothingsodivine]

[Des has gone quiet, because WTF THAT WAS- Okay. Time to regroup.

The minute he notices the daughter, however, he swans back into the fray, lowering his voice so the girl can't hear.]

Look. The thing is, Chad's in a whole lot of trouble. [(Diplomacy 21)] And that might be great news for you, but think of your kid. Even if you hate the bastard, you can't hate him enough to risk putting yourself, your daughter, and your little dog too at risk.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ his words startle her and she looks back over her shoulder, weighing the risks of having this convo in front of the girl, and then slides out onto the porch again, shutting the door behind her as she looks at des incredulously. ] I left that man because being with him put her at risk. He's not my problem anymore, no matter what he's gotten himself into. I don't see why I have to care.