CHICAGO ♔ Against my will I stand beside my own reflection

[notaroundme]

WHO || Elena + Failboat
WHAT || Elena comes back with some news.
WHERE || Their hotel room | Chicago, IL
WHEN || July 11th/12th Late Night
HOW || Actionspammy~

[Elena isn't sure she could be more nervous if she tried. She's done something that, no doubt, at least one or two people will be upset or angry about. Given the fact that she didn't ask for permission isn't going to look good, but her reasons are her own, and what's done is done.

And now that she knows the truth, there's nothing left to do but tell them. Keeping secrets will only make it worse, and she's not going to lie about where she goes.

They'll have to let her. She won't take no for an answer. And if they don't like it, well...that's a bridge she'll cross when she gets to it.

She comes in the door, Spike and Archer in tow. She has to wonder if they ever noticed she was gone before she mass texted them in the night, alerting them that she had something she had to talk to everyone about. Mentally, as the door closes behind them, she prepares herself for the confession that she's about to make, and the fallout she hopes to avoid.

She can only hope she they're as understanding as Spike has been.]

Comments

[graveflowers]

Well, okay, aside from... all that, are you okay? I mean considering this seems kind of new to the Elena package, you good?

[socialgraces]

[ not to down-play vi's concern, but francesca finally speaks up from the corner of the room to voice her own: ] I would like to make one request, Elena. I think you should tell Wynn what you've discovered about yourself and the training that's been offered to you.

You're not the first Changeling to join the Knights, after all, but it's not generally something most people are comfortable with.

[notaroundme]

[Elena briefly looks surprised by Vi's question, but it also...relaxes her. If only because someone has looked past the crazy and thought about how she felt about it all.]

Honestly? Terrified. Freaked out.

[About as well as anyone who thought they were human and ended up being what some would consider a monster.

She nods to Francesca. As much as she will be nervous, it's a good idea.]

Let me guess, because they're generally incredibly untrustworthy?

[socialgraces]

Mostly due to their abilities, and how easily they can manipulate others with them; even you understand what a terrifying concept it is. Though, like any person from any race, their character and integrity are their own to decide.

Luckily for you, all your friends had come to trust you before you discovered your heritage, and I don't see that trust faltering merely from this revelation and some immutable part of your past.

[romanticidal]

[ isabella's mouth flew open at elena's blunt response, but rafael puts a hand on her leg and she closes it, simmering in anger. ]

Did not this... doppelganger try to kill you all, at the hotel?

[witchwoman]

It did. He did. [Elena called the doppleganger a He after all, didnt she?] But... [How often had she defended things that were not so easily understood.]

If Elena trusts him, then I trust him. [She is pretty much looking at no one but her squire right now. She's still hurt about the sneaking around, but she understands needing to know who and what you are. It's the only reason she followed the voices in her head for all that time, for the promise of something to make it all make sense.

Despite her worry, she pulls the corners of her mouth up into a small, hopefully reassuring smile.]

[graveflowers]

Seconding, being all on Team Elena Pineapple. I can go with next time, if you want. [Ahaha she doesn't think that's actually gonna happen, but she's still offering. Because she knows what it's like to be the only one of your kind. Elena found someone like her (or vice versa) so she should be able to run with that.]

[slay]

Plus, all hotel things considered, how totally cool will it be to have someone who could do that stuff on our side?

[luthir]

[ luthir's hand tightens reflexively around vi's. ]

I'd prefer that 'someone' to be one of our own. [ he nods to elena. ] Better that she learn, so we need not rely on someone with such clearly mercenary sensibilities.

[notaroundme]

He tried to hurt us...before he knew we were the same. When I went back, he took our conversation much more seriously than I expected. Apparently this is important to...our kind.

[Wow, that's awkward to even say.

As far as trusting him, Elena isn't going that far. Does she believe he'll teach her and not hurt her? Sure. That doesn't mean she's going to believe every single thing that comes out of his mouth.]

Thanks guys.

[She says it quietly, because despite a few comments and disappointed looks, everyone is taking this better than she could expected.

She feels the worst about Myri, though, and she finds herself crossing the room so that she can hug her.]

I wanted to tell you.

[She was just afraid she'd try to stop her.]

[witchwoman]

[Without hesitation, Myri's arms wrap around Elena and hold onto her tightly.]

I know. [She says quietly, because she understands. It's hard, but she gets it and she'll support her squire in the decisions that she makes, so long as she believes in them with her whole heart.]

Just promise you'll be careful.

[romanticidal]

Especially since, as you say, he was ready to hurt you before he came to see you as the same as he. We have no way of knowing that he would extend the same favor to your friends and allies... or that he will continue to look at you that way if you do not share his view of the world.

[notaroundme]

[She pulls away a bit, if only to nod quietly, glancing at Rafael.]

I will. Promise.

[shootfirst]

I feel like it's also worth revisiting the fact that he can read minds. I mean, not that I doubt your judgment of character or anything, but it does seem possible that instead of looking to spend all this time with you out of the kindness of his or her or its heart, that it's trying to milk intel on us out of your brain, doesn't it?

[graveflowers]

If he and Elena are the same, then... doesn't that mean she can do it too?

[notaroundme]

The first thing he's going to teach me is to 'flex my mind' by becoming immune to certain kinds of magic. I'm guessing telepathy might be one of them.

[His words, not hers.]

It seems kind of counter-productive if that was his goal, don't you think?

[slay]

And the learning how to do it yourself is gonna come after the big immunity lesson?

[notaroundme]

[She nods.]

That's how I understood it. Once I can do that, I'll have strengthened my mind enough to try other things.

[She looks back at Kat again.]

If he wanted information from us, he would have plucked it out of our heads ages ago.

[nosdacariad]

If he is walking around in a Chad suit 9 to 5, that means he was the one who led that cult meeting we saw. That'd mean he's in on it. Or in charge of it, the way that whole thing looked.

[notaroundme]

How do we know that the one you saw at the meeting wasn't the real one, and the doppelganger was back here doing Chad's 9 to 5? He has to keep up appearances so he doesn't arouse suspicion, right? Do we know that the real Chad isn't involved?

[It's just an idea, and Elena is inclined to believe that Kyp doesn't really care too much about the rest of the group.

Though just because he doesn't care doesn't mean he's not in charge. It's still something to consider.]

Either way, this is a good chance for me to learn more. It's win/win.

[graveflowers]

I am all for what you wanna do and, I mean, clearly you've thought of the upsides. I'm just worried this is all gonna end with oh shit Elena died. [A beat.] You know with way more emotion than I can produce on the fly.

[rationalizes]

No one is going to die. We'll-- we'll take whatever precautions we must, but I think it's most important that Elena continue to do as she's done: be honest and communicative with us all in regards to what they've discussed and done behind closed doors.

[ speaking of doors... there's a knock on theirs. ]

[socialgraces]

[ welp gar's the boss.

Francesca glances around briefly at the knock, to see if anyone moves as if they're expecting someone, but if no one does, she'll get the door. ]

[bigbad]

[Spike stands up and walks towards it, pausing before he opens it in order to listen through it (listen 23) just in case whoever's on the other side sounds evil or sth.]

[valdrin]

[ no evil sounds issue forth from beyond said door... and when spike draws it open, a certain dark elf stands in the hall, looking incredibly fine since he rolled a 19 on his disguise check so I'm sure that equals out to like 246 or something. his eyebrows hike ever so smoothly when he looks past spike and sees the living room crammed with eyes turned expectantly his way. he looks down at the bouquet in his hand and then leans against the doorframe casually. ]

... So this is where half of the castle's disappeared then. I suppose I failed to take into account that any team worth its salt enjoys conducting emergency meetings in the middle of the night when I planned this subtle entrance of mine.