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

[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.

[socialgraces]

I also can't deny it was rather flattering, at first, until I realized his infatuation was less out of love and respect, and more an practice in mere possession. He only wanted me to have me, not to make me happy, or to protect or support me.

[everyredcent]

You certainly deserve better.

[socialgraces]

[ she gives him a small smile because that means a lot ] I hope so.

I suppose now's the time to focus on myself - recuperate, if you will - and get my life back in order. Luckily, I know it shan't take fifty some year this time. [ she smirks a bit, purposefully catching his eye as she continues ] I'm much more confident this time around, and much more certain of what I want... What I need, and what will make me truly happy.

[everyredcent]

I'm certainly pleased to hear it. It should give you something to hold onto through... what's to come. [ stupid andres ]

[socialgraces]

Mm. [ she drains the rest of her glass, slowly licking her lips as she stares down into it. suppose a fort save would be in order now. glad she rolled a 3, so a 12 in total, the alcohol visibly loosening her tongue. ] What do you hold onto... through everything, really? What do you hope for?

[everyredcent]

[ meanwhile christos rolls a 19... ] I don't know that I've ever quite thought of it in that way before.

... Purpose, I suppose.

[socialgraces]

[ ♬ longing to belong - eddie vedder

nodding slowly, unconsciously, at his words, she leans in, undeniably curious. she understands precisely how he feels, regardless how he answers her next question. ]

Do you hold fast to purpose already found here, or do you hope some greater purpose will present itself to you, make some sense of your life?

[everyredcent]

[ he shifts, uncomfortable ] I think finding purpose to move forward one day at a time seems quite enough for... now.

[socialgraces]

[ she fidgets, as well, his discomfort palpable, and finally settles back against the sofa's arm rest, tucking her feet beneath her once again. ]

For... now. [ she echoes his words, thoughtfully ] Yes, I suppose you're right. That can sometimes be quite a feat, in and of itself.

[everyredcent]

Some things make it easier. Dark times such as these, for example. It's quite clear what must be done.