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

[everyredcent]

Take it, yes. Hold it? Is quite another thing.

[socialgraces]

Of course. I assume Wynn has some sort of plan for that, as well? Not that we know what that it now, but I trust it'll come up soon enough.

[everyredcent]

"Some sort" of plan, is it. I can't say I have the same amount of faith in it as he does.

[socialgraces]

You've certainly never been quite as idealistic as he is. [ said with a smirk, but she's clearing teasing, as much as it may be true

also, she's realized he's not going to spill all his secrets about what's coming, but at least she'll know soon enough. instead, she stands again and makes her way over to the dry sink she keeps as a mini bar in her room b/c that's certainly healthy. ] I know you've got lots to do before tomorrow, but do you think you might have time to spare for one drink? It's the sort of night one doesn't wish to spend alone.

[everyredcent]

I could certainly spare a break from dealing with the other Sect Leaders.

[socialgraces]

[ I can't imagine she has much more furniture on her room than this sofa, so they can just sit on opposite sides. or she could sit on her bed, but that might be more awkward. she motions to said couch as she takes out two glasses and fills them both almost to the rim. christos needs to relax, and while she only keeps the really good stuff, it's gonna take a bit for him to even feel it bc he's a recovering alcoholic. she, on the other hand has no where to be and would like to manage some sleep tonight.

she hands him his glass carefully and moves to sit on the sofa, a leg tucked up beneath her so she can probably face him. she's glad he's willing to stay for a bit, even if he feels the need to make excuses, and she enjoys a comfortable silence with him for a few moments before speaking up again ] Was there much discordance among the ranks about the upcoming invasion?

[everyredcent]

Only what was expected, perhaps. Hasmed and Trinall got into it.

[socialgraces]

[ she hums into her drink, clearly not surprised ] I've never known them to be in the same room and not get into it, let alone with something like this.

[everyredcent]

Likely why they tend to avoid the same room entirely on most days.

[socialgraces]

Speaking of avoiding one another, I thought you should know... I ended things with Val'drin a week or so ago. [ not the best segue, but he's seemed so invested in the whole thing that she wanted to tell him, sooner rather than later.

and then maybe... ]

[everyredcent]

Ended things? [ give him a second, he WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT SEGUE. blink, blink. ]

[socialgraces]

It's over between us. For good this time.

He didn't take it so well, but I was ready - more than ready - to move on and forward with my life.

[everyredcent]

[ ahahaha he crit failed. and so he

smiles. looking very self satisfied, almost a little bit relieved, and entirely oblivious to how inconsiderate it might be to be smiling while she relates a break up story. ] Well. It's about time.

[socialgraces]

[ she's honestly quite surprised with his reaction, but she reads each faucet of his demeanor with practiced ease (sense motive 30), and her own expression promptly softens, her mouth curving to reflect similar relief. ] I wish he could have seen it that way.

[ she pauses to take another drink ] Perfect timing, if you ask me, given today's announcement. I'd much rather be spending time tonight with you.

[everyredcent]

Perhaps I can at least keep your mind off such things.

[socialgraces]

[ o-oh. wait, that was probably not entirely meant to be an innuendo. OR WAS IT?? (sense motive: surprise nat 20! ... does that seem desperate?).

regardless of his intentions, her expression mellows even further, his presence (plus the alcohol) effectively calming her nerves, and she gives him an affectionate, lopsided grin over the rim of her glass. ] Mm. I certainly appreciate that ... Although, I welcome your company as much more than a mere distraction.

[ there's definite insinuation going on there, but in less of a sexual way, and in more of a... romantically sincere way, if that makes sense. ]

[everyredcent]

[ It's clearly not an intentional innuendo, nothing layered in any expectation on his part, but... There's a hint of something that she catches once the words are out of his mouth, as if he seems to have said something he didn't intend to, as if he's worried about how she'll respond. Her reaction relaxes him, however, pleases him, even, and he picks up his own glass, trying to figure out how to respond to that. ] So how did he, er, take it then?

[socialgraces]

[ this is not keeping her mind off the subject, christos, but she'd actually much rather have a chance to talk about it, really.

she snorts humorlessly before drinking deep from her glass. ] Horribly... and quite possibly worse than last time. I can't say I've ever seen him quite so angry, and so frustrated that he couldn't manipulate me to stay, to get what he wanted.

Thankfully, you were in the forefront of my mind the entire time. [ for... oh so many reasons ] It left me little doubt I was doing the right thing, that this was what I needed to do, for me.

[everyredcent]

I would think his... poor reaction would only reinforce that you'd taken the right step, yes.

[socialgraces]

I just can't believe I allowed myself to be manipulated like that, allowed someone to take advantage of me, someone I foolishly thought I could trust.

[ she looks down, obviously embarrassed ] I'm so sorry.

[everyredcent]

Sorry? [ he repeats the word with evident surprise, although it seems of the pleasant variety. ] For?

[socialgraces]

It's all quite... embarrassing, to say the least. I suppose I felt an apology was in order for making you put up with all my lamenting these past few months, only to just now end things.

I believed you, respected your advice, and I trust you, implicitly. It was only my own insecurities and cowardice that kept me holding on to such a sham of a relationship, when I should have been pouring my energy into something with the potential to be much more... fulfilling. [ although she doesn't specify what that fulfilling something may be, it's on that word that she finally raises her gaze to his again ]

[everyredcent]

You're not a coward, Francesca. I'd gladly accuse him of such, but not you.

[socialgraces]

Thank you, Christos. [ she offers him a small smile, because that really means a lot, but she's not really in the smiling mood, at the moment ] I want to believe that, and now's the time I truly need to focus on staying strong, and not allowing my insecurities to get the best of me, again.

I believe he felt - or still does feel - some sort of entitlement to me because he's the only person I've ever been with... romantically, a fact I only shared with him to emphasize the trust I had placed in him, and instead he chose to interpret it as a matter of some perverse privilege.

[everyredcent]

Val'drin's a collector by trade, as well as personality. You can't pretend that aspect of himself doesn't leak into the way he views everything in the world around him.