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 While the Knights theorize about whether this means he's been replaced by the villain's resident doppelganger, or something else entirely, Burt makes good on his word to contact his first wife, Laura Jones, to find out whether Chad's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

[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]

[ she smiles back at that, ducking her head as she ushers them into the quaint, well-kept home. ] It's been a long time since I've had international superstars making themselves at home in my living room. He mentioned... your interest, but I didn't think you'd be coming yourself.

[nothingsodivine]

After everything that's happened, who else can you trust? [Des scratches at his mustache. In hindsight, this was a really itchy disguise.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ she ducks her gaze, moving to the far side of the living room to give them all room to come in and make themselves at home. ] I assume by 'everything that's happened', you're talking about that poor girl. Jade.

[65]

I wouldn't have missed it for anything. [he steps inside, surveying the area before deciding on a chair to lower himself down into.] I'm a very hands on person, you see. And she has created a tense sort of situation, it's true.

[witchwoman]

[Myri's torn between wondering if she should bother with her fangirl persona or simply stay quiet for now. She settles on quiet, moving to the couch and sitting on one far side of it. Des and Finnick are much better at gathering information, after all.]

[behindcloseddoors]

I was just sick when I heard. I remembered her. Or, who she was, I mean. We never met but... Burt sent me her tape, years ago.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des's will save of 19 means he has become a BOSS at hiding his emotions. He clears his throat.]

She was great, yeah. And we hope to make sure the wrong person doesn't go to jail for her death. We think Chad might have sabotaged the concert to prevent the Starships tour from being competition.

[(Bluff 31) To be fair, it's at least part of the way true.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ she pales slightly, sliding into a chair herself ] You're talking about more than just sabotage.

Murder.

You think Chad sent someone to murder that girl to get an edge over Burt in the company?

[nothingsodivine]

I don't know that I assume anything. Maybe he planned it from the start or maybe something went too far. That's why we're here- to get a bead on Chad.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ her lips purse together and she nods absently ]

He said you wanted to talk to Karen. She lives on the other side of town, I can tell you right where. The two of us never really had anything to talk about after--

After the divorces. I didn't even know she'd moved back here until a few months after she did.

[witchwoman]

[Myri tilts her head slightly, watching the woman carefully, wondering if there's more she's not saying (sense motive 17).]

Did you know Chad well? Were he and Burt close... before?

[behindcloseddoors]

[ myri would actually get a very honest vibe from the woman, although there's a definite note of suppressed sadness under her words, rather than any hint of bitterness. ]

We all grew up here, so I knew of Chad, even before Burt and I started dating. Everyone here knows everyone.

Things between them were very different before they moved to Chicago. He was best man at our wedding, you know. Chad.

[65]

It's sad to think of how drastically different things between them have come, in that case.