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

[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.

[undealt]

Indeed. I don't think we've truly put an end to things with Luckman Industries, but at least that facility will be useless. And we have a name to go with a potential threat.

[He shakes his head, giving up on trying to pry indirectly for the moment as he stares at her hand over his.] Attempting to control magic- have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?

[untethered]

It might sound a bit mad, but is it really so surprising that the people of this world might be afraid of it? People always fear what they don't understand.

[undealt]

Well, that's sort of the situation we're in now, isn't it? With Sarandis and this insanity on Andres. I doubt we'll ever be done with extremists.

[Not that anyone ever really is done with extremists, but it would be nice to think things would level out eventually.]

And the effect they can have on us. [He adds it as an afterthought, looking down.]

[untethered]

[ she tilts her head, watching him with gentle concern before finally asking: ] Is it still bothering you? Everything that... that happened?

[undealt]

I think it's going to bother me for a very long time, Belle. I don't... I don't feel the same way about magic I did when it all started, all courtesy of Luckman's machine. I used to think it was the most assured way to make something of myself in this world and now all I feel is this... guilt.

[untethered]

You know you don't need magic to make anything of yourself, don't you? You never have. Magic or no, you're a good man, and a good Knight. And those things are powerful in their own right.

[undealt]

Thank you, Belle. [Well, that's something he needs to hear. His track record isn't defining him, nor is his ability to incinerate things. There's still something in him that's worth noting.]

Perhaps now isn't the best time to dwell on any of that. Not when we have so much ahead of us. [he takes her face in his hands gently.]

[untethered]

[ her expression is earnest, obviously pleased with his response. ] Exactly. Now isn't the time to... to dwell on anything else. There'll be plenty of time for that when things have settled down, after the Island.

[undealt]

Among other things. [sly smile.] Though there's no reason why that should wait. [And to punctuate this. He's gonna kiss her all up in this library. Aww yeah.]

[untethered]

[ damn boi, that was hella smooth apparently. her hand slides up his neck and buries itself in his hair as she returns the kiss, apparently loath to be the first one to draw away, either. there's something encouraging in her very touch, and she presses against him slowly, as if afraid to let him go. ]

[undealt]

[It's okay, gurl. Gold's 21 will save will help you out. He pulls away and realizes where they are and nods slowly, as if reluctant to stop, but knowing decorum dictates he must.]

Somewhere a bit more private, perhaps.

[DON'T WANNA END UP LIKE CHESSING AND GAR, RIGHT???]

[untethered]

[ whoopsie ] Yes, of course, I'm-- [ she looks down, a smile creeping up her cheeks ] I just missed you.

[undealt]

[Just gonna lead her out now and head to her room. Since it's probably closer. NO LIBRARY TRYSTS FOR YOU, WORLD.]

I missed you too. There were times when I was wondering if we were ever going to get out of that facility... and after what happened to Emma and Faye. Well.. I think I was right to be concerned.

But I'm here now, and I don't intend to let us be apart for any reason while we're on Andres. [he kisses her hand. Yeeeeah, look at that charismatic fucker (cha 19)]

[untethered]

I'm not going anywhere. [ she smiles warmly at the gallant gesture, and watches him as they head down the hall. ] Are you bringing Milah?

[undealt]

I think she'd be pressed if I didn't, after being left behind last time. [He smiles fondly... At her. Not the crocodile. Sorry, Milah. You're important to him, but... Belle.]

[untethered]

Given it's an island, perhaps she'll have an easier time getting around.

[undealt]

Oh, indeed. And she'll certainly enjoy having something more than diseased rats to bite.

[MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T IMPLY THAT HIS CROCODILE IS GONNA GO LAKE PLACID ON SOME SOLDIERS WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT TO HAVE SEX. HEY IS THAT BELLE'S DOOR RIGHT THERE. He stops just shy of it.]

That's yet another thing I can save for tomorrow. [He reaches up and brushes her hair from her face to give her the fondest look and... he passed his will save to not just start macking on her right there. Good job, bro. So he'll wait until she lets them in.]

[untethered]

[ yeah diseased rats don't kill the mood for belle, i guess, because she rolled a 2 on her will save, and after unlocking the door, she barely gets him inside before she has her arms around his neck. there's a strange sort of insistence to the look she gives him, almost as if she's trying to reassure him of something. ] I love you, Auric.

[undealt]

[Yeah, he needs the reassurance, because he is a self-conscious fucker deep, deep down, so the look she gets in return is nothing short of pure gratitude as he wraps his arms around her waist and lets his cane slip from his hands. This is going to be a terrible decision later. But he doesn't care.]

I love you, Belle. [And now for the kissing. And this would be a great time to remember to shut the door, but whoops. Gold sure rolled a 7 wis. He doesn't care. LET THE WORLD WATCH. THEY WERE GONNA HAVE SEX IN THE LIBRARY. DO YOU THINK HE CARES.

He doesn't. He's just gonna start kissing Belle intensely, moving one hand to trail through her hair while the other stays at her waist.]

[untethered]

[ the cane thumps against the carpet as she returns the kiss, the soft sound drawing a smile up her lips as she pulls him closer-- but then she gets a great wisdom check and has images of astrid trotting by the door tossing condoms through the crack, i guess, so she pulls away just enough to give him a saucy smile and push the door closed, backing up against it and raising both eyebrows, biting at her lip suggestively, before reaching out to grab either edge of his suit jacket and draw him back in slowly for another embrace.

sorry, astrid. ]

[undealt]

[It's okay, they're gonna be making out furiously against this door, so she can just stare at intensely and toss condoms at it for a few hours or something.

Gold's hands trail down Belle's sides, slowly, as he works his hands around her waist to get to the zipper at the back of her skirt with... less than nimble fingers. (dex 6... this is gonna be a fun night of sloppy makeouts) He breaks off the kiss and buries his face in her neck to smother an awkward laugh as he... fumbles with that zipper. Goddammit, women's clothes.]

[untethered]

[ she can't help but expel a breathy laugh of her own at that - not at his expense, but a gentle, appreciative sound, even as she moves to turn around slowly, to make it easy for him. she even reaches back to tug the zipper down a bit to loosen it up like a smooth criminal (dex 17), closing her eyes and turning her head enough to let him kiss the back of her neck as well. ]

[undealt]

[you're such a good, belle.

gold makes up for his awkward fumbling fingers by being fucking crazy charming, apparently (cha 23), as he kisses her neck with slow, passionate movements, while his hands slide her skirt off. And obviously he is making having no dexterity look damn good right now. His fingers toy with the edge of her blouse like he's wondering if it's worth it to stop kissing her to get it off. Why can't magic just make clothes disappear....

well, that would make him feel guilty, so... maybe he shouldn't consider that.

He settles for a compromise and moves a hand up her spine, tracing it with his fingers as he kisses her neck, the movements becoming more teasing than sensual. Get that engine revved up, girl.]