debriefing ♔ in the emptiness there's a solution | just look within yourself for absolution

[nepotism]

♬ locking up the sun- poets of the fall

WHO || Wynn, Buffy, Myri, Finnick, Spike, Gar, Archer, Des, Vi, Rafael, Fred Jr., Dumage, Mark, Rocket, open! [Closed]
WHAT || Andres Mission Debrief & Aftermath
WHERE || Knights HQ, lobby etc.
WHEN || September 18th [forward dated*]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

There are plenty of missions that return to the castle a success - most of them, even. The defeated air of the solemn group that returns from their diplomatic mission to Andres Isle to hear the demands of dictator Dimitris Sarandis makes it quite clear that this wasn't one of those.

Starting with Sarandis' actual demands - for all Knights to withdraw from Andres under penalty of death, or for Wynn to offer his own head in return for Thomas' safe return - and ending with the unexpected, disturbing confession from Kat that she intended to stay behind on the island because she had "fallen in love with" the dictator, the events of the island made it very clear that Sarandis was cannily playing his hand to get the Knights where he wanted them.

Fred Jr. shoves open the doors with his unnatural strength, stalking in ahead of the group into the lobby. Whoever's on desk duty isn't going to have to roll a high wisdom check to see that these people are pissed... and distraught... and a myriad of other emotions on the bad end of the scale.

*I am changing the date of the briefing log and Andres log/live session to have taken place in September, to avoid us being in backdated hell forever, and to allow for a September squiring ceremony before apps are closed. Carry on... in the future!

Comments

belle ♔ (ota.)

[untethered]

[ belle's first reaction to the announcement is grim shock, and she spends a few hours checking in with her loved ones before she really settles into preparation (and also goes to check on her bb squires who have to make this difficult decision). after that, she hits the library, helping pull volumes on andres for everyone who's looking, burying herself in work until she's exhausted enough to retire.

the next day, no one finds the librarian among the books, however. after she packs a few volumes of her own, she's going to the armory, to gear up in an old world adventuring outfit. ]

[lurings]

[ abigail is still at the desk covering for stiles when belle finds her, her little dog snoring by her feet while abigail fiddles with her phone. the desk phone is silent so she doesn't need to try very hard to ignore it. she looks up when she hears the click of the librarian's heels and while she doesn't smile, she does relax slightly when she realizes who it is. ]

Hi Belle.

[untethered]

[ belle smiles sadly down at the little dog, reaching out to run her fingers through its fur gently ] I take it you've... heard by now.

[lurings]

Yeah. [ she's not the most loquacious of people on a good day, but this isn't really a good day, is it? pushing the phone away, she curls her fingers against the edge of the desk, trying to keep her anxious habit of knotting them together at bay. ]

[untethered]

[ belle reaches out for her hand, giving it a squeeze. ] You certainly aren't expected to go if you'd prefer not to. You know that, don't you?

[lurings]

I know. Wynn asked for volunteers. [ and while abigail cares about what people think of her (because perception is key), staying behind is not going to change the perception anyone has of her being a little broken bird. she doesn't think anyone will think less of her. she's been a squire for less than four months, this isn't a mission for teenagers. hell, it's not even a mission for dragon's claws apparently, since it doesn't seem to be ending well for them. ]

[untethered]

It's all so fast. I wanted to make certain you were... well, alright.

[lurings]

[ shrugging a little, she looks down at her lap. ] I'm not really sure, honestly.

[untethered]

I can understand that. [ she has a seat of her own ] I don't know who to be worried about most.

[lurings]

[ um, yourself is that answer to that. #survivor. where is abigail's million dollars??? she tries to phrase it in a way that doesn't sound like she would throw fred into a monster to save herself.

oh wait. ] Yourself is probably a good bet. So you can keep worrying about everyone else.

[grimrot]

[Grimrot's done with her library stuff too by the morning. Mostly, anyway. She's still flipping through a book about Andres art... not that it'll likely come in handy in a war but you never know... as she walks into the door of the armory. And I mean... actually walks into it. Reading and walking is usually not a good combination. There's some mild cursing, then she opens it and walks in sheepishly, tucking the book under her arm.]

Do you know where the maces are?

[untethered]

Careful. [ that brings a little smile to her lips despite the situation hanging over them all. she nods in the direction of the appropriate rack ] You're trained with a mace?

[grimrot]

Yes. It lacks... finesse, but it works for me. [She goes over to the rack and grabs one, weighing it in her hand.] What sorts of weapons do you use?

[untethered]

I haven't had very much luck with the Excalibur, but I'm trying. A shortsword feels like a better fit.

[grimrot]

Ah, yes. I can admire the technical aspects of the guns of this world, but I personally much prefer the traditional weapons. [She blushes slightly turquoise.] Though I may have a few... non-traditional surprises planned.

[untethered]

Oh? [ INTEREST. PIQUED. ] What manner of surprise?

[grimrot]

[She smiles conspiratorially and pulls out a few flasks.] I'm an alchemist. I have a few potions I've brought along that could come in handy.

[undealt]

[Ever since returning from Germany, Gold's been attempting to sort out a wealth of new emotions. Mostly the crushing guilt associated with his magic. It hasn't been enough to get him to retire from the Dragon's Fire and become a magic-hating hermit, but it's enough to put things in perspective.

Though he's been mostly quiet about that perspective. He keeps Hasmed informed of the situation in Germany and Luckman, leaves GLaDOS in the hands of whoever will deal with her and Wheatley's corpse in the hands of the Hoard to do with what they will, and then keeps an eye on the situation with Emma and Faye.

Really, the war announcement is just one more thing in a sea of terrible things.

But he's only barely had a chance to see Belle since all of this began, and he knows that amidst preparations and other things, there's really only one place he'd rather be. So while she's getting books down, he comes around the corner and raps lightly on the bookshelf he's standing by.]

Hello, Belle.

[untethered]

[ despite being repeatedly told not to worry about him, belle, of course, worried plenty about gold while he was gone. the complete radio silence wasn't something that seemed entirely unusual to her since she came from the enchanted forest and they didn't exactly have phones there or cars or shit, but it was clear that she'd missed him, and her warm greeting was tempered only by her shock at hearing what in the world he'd been through. she was notably uncomfortable at the thought of their bringing home their new psychotic robot friends, but also clearly assumed he knew what he was doing. probably. maybe.

between his own complicated feelings in the wake of the mission and all that's proceeded since, it would almost have been easy for him to miss the slight difference in his interactions with belle, or write them off as attributable to the time spent recently apart. however, it becomes only more prominent each rare time they've had occasion to steal moments together, and with his wis check of 22, he does notice something - it's just difficult to say what.

if he didn't know any better, it would almost feel as if there were something she wasn't telling him.

but those thoughts seem ridiculous as she looks down at his voice now, her smile wide and open even in the face of oncoming war, a brightness in her eyes that seems to grow every time she looks at him, and only him. ] I was hoping you'd come find me. [ she hands the book she's pulling down towards him, so that she can use her other hand to hold her skirt as she climbs down. ] I wasn't certain how much Hasmed might be needing you before-- Well...

[ she lets it trail off there as she reaches the floor, turning to look at him with a more somber expression, a recognition of what's about to come. ]

[undealt]

Hasmed has, unfortunately, taken enough of my time before all of this. I'm certain he can bend the ear of another member of our sect for a time.

[He steps closer, smiling sheepishly, but all too aware of the odd feeling between them. It doesn't seem to matter now. Secrets and things of that nature are commonplace within these walls- it doesn't make him less curious, but it gives him the decency to not pry. At least not this second.

He takes the book from her and lays it aside on the table absently without even a second glance at it, like he's concerned if he so much as blinks, she's going to vanish before his eyes and he'll be back in Germany or on Andres fighting (god the thought makes him sick to think of it).]

Are you going? [It's such a silly question- of course she's going. Belle wouldn't dream of being left behind with her books in the middle of this. A part of him- an ultimately selfish part- wishes she'd stay where it's safe, but it's not something he can ask of her.]

[untethered]

[ she nods, glancing down long enough to let her hair tumble forward a bit, before she looks up and admits: ] I've asked if it might be possible that you and I... could be assigned together, wherever we're sent.

[ her lips quirk up sadly as she reaches out one hand to lightly place on his chest. ] If we're going, I think we should go together.

[undealt]

[She's touching meeeee~

He reaches up to place a hand over hers, his smile becoming more fond, more honest, and a lot less embarrassed by his own feelings.] I'd like that. Though my track record for missions seems to be... spotty at best. I hope you realize what you're getting into.

[At least he can joke about it. Vaguely.]

[untethered]

Don't forget I've already been on assignment with you once before. Well, perhaps not assignment... [ AFTER HOURS DUNGEON DIVING ] Either way, I think you're too hard on yourself about how you did down there.

[undealt]

[he smiles sadly.] Oh, indeed. But considering it was my idea, I think shouldering the blame is the least I can do. But, as with Germany, it wasn't a complete failure. We did manage to return with some valuable information.

[So it's all sort of a win in the end.] Perhaps, ah, dumb luck will prevail once again.

[He reaches up to move a lock of her hair out of her face, tilting his head a bit. There's an almost curious look in his eyes that suggest he's trying to gauge what's on her mind without directly asking.]

[untethered]

[ she raises one hand over his, brushing her thumb against his skin, even as she looks down, still smiling. it's a simple gesture, and it's hard to tell whether she's purposefully avoiding that probing gaze or not, but she draws away slowly, giving his hand a squeeze and turning to her table of books. ] It wasn't just the information. What was down there was evil, and we helped stop it. That's important.