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

[slay]

[ meanwhile buffy is SHRINKING INTO THE WALL because remember that time val'drin tried to get with her in the back of the car she sure does. ]

[bigbad]

[Yeah he should have just given her VAMPIRE AIDS like Spike did oh wait.

Anyway Spike notices her acting weird (spot 20) and gives her a look, but doesn't say anything for the moment. He's pretty sure this isn't (just) drow racism, though.

He scowls at Val'drin.]

Does Wynn really think we need more back-up?

[socialgraces]

[ Francesca will actually step forward now, because she's still pretty excited to see Val'drin, even with the giant crowd sharing the moment. And he brought flowers... on her birthday :') Her face lights up as she smiles his way, moving next to Spike, and absently replying: ] He's here for the hourglass.

[valdrin]

[ a smile crinkles the corners of his eyes when she speaks up and he locks gazes with her for a moment, a sort of apology playing out in his expression for the failed attempt at a romantic entrance. ] Yes, well... [ he looks down at the roses ] I thought these would look lovely on the hourglass' mantle.

[socialgraces]

[ she looks down at the roses too ] They are beautiful. [ and she's still smiling fondly as she looks back to his face, before realizing they're still, like, in the doorway with everyone watching. ] You can come in.

[slay]

[ well this is awkward, and as a result buffy will just openly gape. ]

1/2

[shootfirst]

[ kat and luthir are the only two npc's in the room to note buffy's expression alter, and luthir simply slides his eyes between them with no acknowledgment of the fact. kat, however, sliiiides next to her and gives her a 'GURL, I'M BRINGING THIS UP LATER' look. ]

[valdrin]

[ val'drin eases inside, looking about. ] Please, don't halt your business on my account. I'm invisible. Not even here. [ he waves a hand in front of his face, casting francesa a wink as he walks backwards to the far wall, and stopping when he sees the case on the table. ] Although is that-? [ he looks to her again, and gestures to it ] May I?

[notaroundme]

I think we were pretty much done.

[Unless anyone has any more pressing questions. She'll figure out if anyone is going to go with her tomorrow (tonight?) later.]

[graveflowers]

I'll get a vase for the flowers. [She cannot resist the siren call of flowers, man. And she feels awkward with all this being new stuff and not getting all the subtext flying around the room. So she moves away from her elf and reaches out a tentative hand to the flowers.] Unless you actually want to give them to who they're for first?

[socialgraces]

[ francesca's right on vi's heels, actually, as she feels bad for how awkward this has become for him. ] I think I have something that will work back in my room. [ she nods to the hourglass, then looks back to him with an apologetic smile ] We can bring that with us.

[65]

[he bows his head so it looks like he's looking down into his glass, but he's actually hiding a smile. GET IT GURL.]

[valdrin]

[ val'drin very smoothly moves across from finnick to look over the glass and hands the flowers off behind him to francesca as if he's only doing it to get his hands free to pick it up. see what he did there. he handles the item with a certain degree of reverence, lifting it cautiously to eye level ] Silly me, to forget that hourglasses so rarely have mantles. [ to vi and francesca: ] Shall we?

[socialgraces]

[ she appreciates his attempts at discretion, but finds (to her own surprise, as well) that she really doesn't mind if everyone knows why he's actually there. she turns to vi, giving a subtle nod in luthir's direction as she speaks ] If you want to go back to bed, I think we can handle it. [ and with the slightest change in tone, that probably speaks volumes to him, she looks back to val'drin ] Just the two of us.

[graveflowers]

[Ineffectually biting back a smile -- her expression probably mirrors Finnick's, albeit with less familiarity -- she nods.] Oh I've no doubt you can. Have a good night, nice to... sort of meet you.

[Annnd she drifts back to Luthir's side, hey elf hey. Which is good because let's be real, no one wants Vi in the room with that hourglass with minimal supervision ok.]

[valdrin]

[ Val'drin smirks at the invitation, but then his eyes scan the crowd and see buffy staring at them, and he hesitates a bit on the way to the hall, seeming to heavily weigh the consequences of how to approach this. Finally he says cheerfully: ] Wonderful to see you all. [and then broadens his commentary to the rest of the room ] Or meet you, as the case may be.

[socialgraces]

[ Francesca hadn't noticed Buffy's reaction before, what with Val'drin's disguise check of amazing plus the surprise flowers, but now she does, and her face falls a bit as she takes in his as well. She was definitely not prepared to deal with this aspect of things so soon and she hesitates a moment, unsure if she should say something or not, and what she would even say to begin with. Eventually she lets out a heavy sigh, looking to Elena one last time. ] Thank you, for keeping us all in the loop.

[nothingsodivine]

[Well, this party has officially gotten too crowded and all he's done is down a few drinks at the bar, soooo...]

I'll let Knights handle Knight business. Good night, gang. [He heads off towards the door, because like hell if he's gonna try to sleep with everyone partying it up in here. He's taking a walk.

Despite everything, he's still not a part of their little group, and he pretending to be won't get him anywhere.]

[slay]

[ des has the right idea. des is onto something really smart here and as he escapes past val'drin out the door. except for the past val'drin part. ]

I'm not really feeling up to Knight business myself. Besides, all things considered, I don't think any of us being alone's a great plan right now.

[ with her bluff 25 she has managed to excuse herself with something that isn't i should really be somewhere else. frankly, buffy is of the opinion that she deserves a medal for that, but she'll just hurry out after des with that award-winning excuse and catch up with her bro nbd. ]

[luthir]

[ absolutely no one in the room beats her bluff check npc-wise, except for apparently the WORLD'S MOST PERCEPTIVE ELF OVER HERE. he catches all the hot gossip, ok. he eyes her as she leaves, but of course says nothing, and turns to violet, raising an eyebrow. ] I think it's safe for us all to adjourn, wouldn't you say?

[graveflowers]

So we can talk about how you didn't bring me flowers? You betcha! [She's 98% joking, but she's more than willing to crawl back in bed.] Night, Elena, congrats on being awesomer than you already were. [And she'll follow Luthir anywhere, so toodles.]

[notaroundme]

[She gives her a little wave and a smile.]

Thanks, Vi.

[She yawns then, exhaustion finally overtaking her.]

I'm about to pass out myself. We can figure out logistics for tomorrow night in the morning, yeah?

[savemyself]

[ isabella rolls her eyes and lets out an annoyed click of her tongue. ] And now you let the woman who our enemies are targeting next go directly to them? I can see how you all have done so very well in halting their plans. [ she gets up huffily ] I am going back to bed.

[romanticidal]

Bella... [ rafael calls after her, half in an obvious attempt to calm her down, and half in resigned frustration. he rises to go after her, but pauses in the doorway, looking back at them before saying hesitantly. ] She is... not entirely without an argument, about sending Vi. I do not like the idea of keeping her confined here, but it seems an unnecessary danger to place her where they could so easily take her. Or assume her face and replace her, for that matter.

[notaroundme]

[Elena nods tiredly.]

She offered, but that doesn't mean she should go. I don't think you're the only one who will be against it.