nyc ♔ don't want your hand this time | i'll save myself

[savemyself]

♬ going under - evanescence

WHO || Rafael, Isabella, Kat, Gar, Mark, Buffy, Spike, Elena, Archer, Des, Keijen, Dumage, Nadia [closed]
WHAT || The Knights head to Keijen Blade's NYC club, after Isabella storms off into a trap alone
WHERE || New York City, NY
WHEN || Saturday, March 15th [back dated]
HOW || Actionspam

What has already been a long, eventful night promises to end with a bang. (Maybe a literal one, if Archer has anything to say about it). The Knights' 'night off' at Burt's club was crashed by not only an actual goddess, but also included a visit from Nadia, extending an invitation on Keijen Blade's behalf to come to his club across the city that night.

They smelled an obvious trap, but their debate over how smart it may or may not be to walk into was rendered moot when an emotionally distraught Isabella, having admitted her feelings to a bewildered Rafael to no avail, ran off to the club alone.

Knowing that Blade has a particular interest in Violet, everyone agreed it's for the best she keeps her distance, and she returned to Des' apartment with Finnick and Luthir while the others headed to the address Nadia provided.

Gar, Kat, Mark, and Elena are remaining in the car as back-up, while Rafael, Buffy, Spike, Des, and Archer will be heading inside.

Comments

[romanticidal]

[ ♬ the way you move - killer instinct

rafael moves in right behind des, yanking his suit coat to assure himself his own weapons are secure underneath. opening the door reveals a hallway whose backlit pivot doors cast a red glow down the length of the hall, bathing everything in the bizarre glow down the length of a grungy looking stairwell that manages to look almost ancient, with the strange stonework. they head down, down, and finally reach another set of doors that appear covered in flames, kind of like so. behind them rushes the thrumming beat of incredibly loud club music. rafael looks at des, and then reaches out through the 'fire' to grip one of the two handles. he looks back at them to confirm: it's just an illusion.

he glances to des, to throw open the other door in sync, so that they both have a hand free in case something's ready to spring on the other side.

however, when they're opened, what lies before them is ... actually a club scene. except this doesn't really seem like the techno dancing crowd, so much as the hanging out in numerous shady corners, doing god knows what subculture populace. the place is lit in reds and purples and bizarre gothic images are projected on stainglass 'windows' along the balcony that runs above what can only be described as more of the club's 'pit' than its floor. the whole place has a sunken architecture, and the club-goers are a mixture of goth and bizarrely sinister Shadowkind. there's a surprising amount of drow males, tieflings, potential vampires, and who knows what else here and there. red eyes, serpentine eyes, eyes with dual irises, or completely black ones cast them side-glances, from where patrons are sitting on laps, smoking strange smelling substances, drinking small vials of liquid that are literally glowing red, and more.

y'all fit in right here in your fancy wear, let me tell you. ]

[slay]

Maybe we should have changed into something ... [ buffy's purse and her nose crinkles in distaste as she looks around to take in the gaudy, gothic setting. ] Tackier.

[ with that judgment established, she'll start heading further inside. thanks for holding the doors, boys, you done good. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[man, raf and des sure look like douchebags standing here in suits with their hands in their jackets, don't they?

Des drops his hand and gives Rafael a shrug, moving further in behind Buffy. Whatever.] Just don't let 'em think you don't belong here. Follow my lead.

[He steps ahead of Buffy, grins at whoever's nearest, winks at someone he passes by, and just gives everyone the whole "charismatic son of a bitch who totally walked into this club on purpose and he and his posse are looking for a little action" routine without saying a damn word. (Bluff... 44....)]

[isisagent]

This ought to be good. [Archer says, to no one in particular, as he shuffles along with them.]
Guy couldn't lead his way out of a... thing which is difficult to lead your way... out of - [Archer gasps -] Like a maze.
[He narrows his eyes, as he steps a bit closer to the group and eyes the bar for Minotaur-like beasties.]

[bigbad]

[Spike, at least, can blend in a little better. He shifts his face to let his fangs come out and loosens his tie, rumpling his suit enough to look like he's just a rich-ass old vampire or something. Totally sketchy, but effective (disguise 23).]

[slay]

[ yeah, buffy has no means of making herself look like she fits in here. so their best hope is that it happens to look like these four terrifying men dragged her here against her will or something. ]

Whenever you boys are done asserting yourselves, maybe we could try to find a service door. [ spot 29?? ] He's here somewhere.

[romanticidal]

Somewhere. [ with a 26 spot, rafael sees it at the same time. in the back of the club, there are two wide, tall, ebony doors that look particularly ominous. but above all that is a high balcony, far over their heads, on which a small group of people recline in an atmosphere of almost regal decadence, looking down upon the rest. one of them is keijen blade, a leg slung over one arm of the chair. he wears a leather jacket open over his bare chest, and beside him, goblet in hand is dumage, in a black dress with tall black leather boots and long gloves. nadia is up there as well, as well as an assorted collection of other entourage members, sporting unnaturally black hair or green mohawks or what have you.

there's no visible way up to the balcony, but rafael starts pushing his way across the room at least, shouldering through the crowd. (str check 20) everyone must either make a str check or escape artist check to cross, if they follow. ]

[bigbad]

[Spike's 33 spot check means he sees them too. And look it's Dumage! He starts shoving through a little faster than Rafael (str 23). This might be out of spite. But you know. Also eagerness to get there.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des edges his way through the crowd following Rafael at the same pace (escape artist 20). They are men on a mission and no, Buffy, they are not done posturing yet.]

[slay]

[ yeah well with her str 27 buffy is beating all y'all bitches by literally lifting people out of the way by their scanty clothing. slayer coming through. no one is surprised by this. ]

[isisagent]

[Archer has yet to see a minotaur, so I'd say things are going smoothly. He'll slide through the crowd with an Escape Artist of 20. I'm sure there will be plenty of time for pushing and shoving later.]

Something... something... servicing your door, something? Nah... too forced.

... Damnit

[narcosynthesis]

[ they push through to something of a clearing that's still within visual distance of the people on the balcony, and it's at that point that keijen rolls his head in their direction, not in the least surprised by their appearance - in fact, he seems to know right where to look for them. he drawls in a voice that carries easily through the club, almost too easily, considering the volume of the place, which seems to be arrested by his announcement: ]

You know, I've really begun to tire of you lot. Always poking around where you're not wanted. [ he clucks his tongue, the attention of everyone in the club riveting that way as everything seems to grind to a halt. ] I was glad to hear you finally intend to go back to [ he waves a hand casually ] wherever it is you came from.

I thought I'd throw you a little party of my own, actually. A going away celebration.

[nothingsodivine]

If you think that's gonna keep us off your ass, Blade, your little birds haven't picked up jackshit.

[Des growls the words, but he doesn't like that all the focus is on them.]

[coldheritage]

[ up on the balcony, nadia casts a side-eyed glance over at blade, her expression difficult to decipher. her fingers curve over the railing as she looks back down at them silently. ]

[slay]

You want a going away celebration? Come down here and we'll party.

[ buffy shrugs her shoulders, throwing her arms out at her sides. ]

[bigbad]

[Spike looks up towards Dumage, trying to meet her eyes. If she can get the message and slip away from Blade, this'll a lot easier.]

[narcosynthesis]

Now, now. So eager. [ dumage seems to be carefully avoiding looking down at them too long, her aspect bored and half amused by the events going on, as if they don't really concern her. keijen grins, leaning forward a bit. ] Much like your friend. What is her name?

Isabella? [ rafael stiffens, one hand slipping into his jacket to grip the handle of a gun. ] Ah yes.

Perhaps you might want to go get her first. I think she may have gotten ahead of you all in terms of the partying spirit. [ he spirals his index finger in the air and then points down, indicating the doors below the balcony. ] She's all yours.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des nods to the doors.] I got it.

[Meaning if it's a trap... Better he springs it first. And he'd rather someone kept eyes on Blade. He moves ahead to the doors.]

[romanticidal]

Not alone. [ and he shoves his way forward along with you, descant 8| ]

[bigbad]

Glad we're not bothering to take any time to think before jumping into traps. [He grits his teeth, looking forward to the doors. Isabella might be in major trouble. But he's fought with her. She can take care of herself, and considering her whole reason for coming here was to save herself...

He doesn't want her to get hurt. But she's not the only one in danger here. He can't forget that they're here to get Dumage out as well. Not to mention beat the bloody hell out of Keijen. He loves villains that aren't human.

He looks over at Buffy.]

Dumage.

[ISABELLA ISN'T THE ONLY ONE THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE. And they can't just let Keijen go. And he doesn't want Archer as back-up don't make him take Archer. He looks around for a way up (spot 29).]

[slay]

[ she looks hastily at spike and - sorry, bro, she's not on your level right now - takes that as confirmation that he'll handle dumage himself, leaving her free to charge after des and rafael. she nods. ]

Be discreet. [ as if spike knows the meaning of the word. she turns to archer, as if to affirm he'll stick around too, and then books it after rafael and des. ]

[isisagent]

Whatever [Archer gets the idea, but he doesn't have to like it.] Go team, eh?

Hey Would it kill ya to get a guy a drink? [He shouts in the direction of the nearest person who looks like they might work here.] It's like the goddamned Sahara over here.

[And he shrugs at Spike.]
No reason to stop drinking now, right?

[nothingsodivine]

[DES KICKS THE SHIT OUT OF THIS DOOR TO OPEN IT.

(atk 30)]

[narcosynthesis]

[ as the other three vanish, keijen grins down at archer and spike. ]

What? Not going to take in the show? [ spike would notice that on the balcony there's a door behind keijen's chair, but there seems to be no stairs anywhere in this place. there are, however, big ass columns leading up to the side walkways that might be scaled with a good climb check?? it just might take a little time. ]

[bigbad]

Perhaps I prefer the view from out here.

[He glances over at Archer.]

Scan this place for minotaurs. I'll bet there's one hiding around here somewhere.

[AKA STAY THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY. YOU CRAMP MY STYLE.

Which is pretty damn stylish since he got a climb check of 22. HOW MUCH TIME WILL THAT TAKE?]