andres ♔ lining up for the grand illusion

[diplomatics]

♬ we are - ana johansson

WHO || Colin Banks, Emma Frost, Lissa Dragomir, Alex Karamazov, Cordelia Chase, Zoe Weiss, Adam Weiss, Leia Organa, Nessa Harvey, Alisha Daniels
WHAT || A team of Knights is tasked to rally the human populace of the Isle, gather them in a safe place, and keep Dimitris' supporters from causing trouble.
WHERE || Andres Isle
WHEN || September 19th, 2014
HOW || Actionspam

[ Meanwhile, a group of ten lands on... the roof of a building in the upscale sector of town. The half-moon lights the sky around them enough for any of them to get a good glance at what surrounds them. In the distance, moonlight plays across the river dividing the city, and the roofs of the Shadow village homes can be barely made out. But here, there are opulent old-money homes scattered here and there, and a number of commercial buildings coursing up and down the main thoroughfare. Colin doublechecks the location on the phone, which lights up his face eerily as he checks the screen, and then he slides it into his pocket, turning to nod the others. ]

We find ourselves on scenic Andres Isle, atop the historic Grand Hotel.  The very heart of the Island, ladies and gentlemen.  Advising caution seems unnecessary.  

Comments

[ex_psionic439]

[Wow, what self-respecting telepath didn't know how to fuck with other people's senses. Y'all are basic as hell.]

I can.

[telepathy]

Thank Heavens; I'm not entirely surrounded by nincompoops. You'll join me, then.

[ to the group: ] Anyone else?

[arrested]

[ Alisha is standing near Alex because Lila told her to and she likes her.
She's still a bit overwhelmed by all this though. Still, at least the place looks nice, not that she expects that to mean much. ]

Not me.

[ambitionist]

[hey gurl. for standing next to alex, alisha is rewarded with this under the breath commentary that's basically in her sole hearing range:] Classist bullshit before we're even talking to the locals. That's fucking precious.

[lastdragomir]

My abilities don't extend that far. [ yes they do. /pretends they don't. :) ]

[arrested]

[ alex gets a bit of a smirk delivered up in his direction. yeah she likes him already. ]

So you really think being a shady door to door salesperson type thing is a good idea? Like those charity twats that stand about outside Sainsbury's. People hate those dicks.

[ambitionist]

Nah, not salespeople. They're gonna act like they're from a gas company or something. Like, you know, [he manages a convincing southern accent??? (disguise 20 total)] "howdy, ma'am, our computers show you have gas leak." And then they tell them to go outside while they [finger quotes] fix it. And ... gossip to their neighbors, I fucking guess.

[ex_psionic439]

Did you have a better one? I mean, so far it's the only really solid plan anyone's brought to the table. Unless I blacked it out or something--in which case, thanks for all your helpful suggestions up until now.

["And abilities" would be the unspoken part of that deadpanned statement. Adam is throwing shade like he's a fucking redwood rn. Because really. Sour grapes, bitches. Not that there was anything wrong with bitching (he sure did enough of it), and it's not like he was dishing out ideas either, but if you're going to bitch without offering up anything better it's probably best to keep that shit to your damn selves.]

Anyway, [Pointedly looking away from y'all, and over toward Emma because let's be proactive for a change.] It'd probably best if we can find some officials or something. That way we'd only really have to convince a few people who could get the word out and do the ground work for us. [Instead of that door to door picture Alex was painting, because that was just fucking stupid no offense.]

[ambitionist]

[HE DID MAKE A SUGGESTION, ACTUALLY. that was promptly shut down. but he doesn't care enough to argue with adam, so he just glances down at his nails. disengaging. can they split the party already so the ~master race~ can fuck off into the sunset pls.]

[lastdragomir]

Might I make a suggestion that we not denigrate the abilities or lack thereof of other team members just because they're not what you're looking for at the moment? [ like really, let's not insult the abilities of the cleric who is in charge of healing you when you are hurt. do y'all want to die? (diplomacy 31, 32 for the menfolk) her silver tongue is just going to carry over as she poses a question that has been needling at her in the same gentle, conciliatory tone. ] Nor need we lambaste every suggestion that is presented.

I'm not saying that this is an unwise plan -- [ her plan was a bad plan. ] -- but as Sir Karamazov mentioned, there is a team about to take down island wide communications. I'm not sure about you, but the people I grew up with at court would not walk door to door to warn their neighbors of impending danger or even to gossip, they would call them and if all the phone lines are down it's bound to arouse some suspicion or panic, which is what we're meant to be preventing in the first place. These people are old money, if anything they will expect the "gas company" to carry the warning. The privileged don't do work they pay the service industry to do for them. [ and that sort of defeats the purpose... of not... going door to door when the rich bitches are going to expect them to do just that. she looks to colin as if asking him for reassurance that they won't be the ones causing the panic. this was colin's home, if anyone knows how the andresian people are prone to react and if they're more small town 1950s pleasantville than present day martha's vineyard it would be him. #blind faith in her mission leader. ]

[diplomatics]

[ colin is s-so impressed and proud, lissa :') ] ... Well put. Very well put!

Alexander makes a very good point. Most gossip here would be more likely to spread from phone to phone, and if they find the phones lines down when that occurs, well, panic may very well set in! A simple 'recorded' message sent out to each phone when the communications team takes control of things would settle that. Zero and Lis'sa could field any 'calls' made back to the gas company. Adam makes a good argument, as well, for simply relaying the message to the local officials, and asking them to spread the message, but if we prefer that method, we'll need to work quickly, before the phone lines go out.

Let's put it to a simple vote, shall we? Both plans are sound ones, but we've only need to do one. What do you think, should we let the officials make the calls, or should we have Zero send a message out?

[ambitionist]

[alex clenches his jaw to stop from correcting colin about his name. but his will save was like 27 so he just lets it go like elsa or smth. bless colin tho tbh.]

Well, it'd be stupid of me not to vote for my own idea.

[lastdragomir]

[ seeming slightly hesitant because wow plans are not her forte, she is only good at talking, lissa quietly puts in her vote trying to maintain the same confidence she had less than a minute ago. be the crown, lis, you are the crown... ] I'll also vote for Zero sending an automated message.

[allaboutme]

A phone call seems like it's going to look less shady than having the police or mayor or whatever showing up to evacuate everybody.

[wildmind]

They might be more willing to trust those they already know, already. I vote for the officials.

[ex_psionic439]

Exactly. I think these people are going to take it a lot more seriously if it comes from the local officials.

[Remember first class evacuating from Titanic, y'all? But he feels like he's already cast his vote tbh. He isn't going to repeat it because that's just dumb.]

[telepathy]

The officials are trusted and respected within the community. An automated voice is not. [ Yep officials pls. ]

[kineticist]

[She's totally been here the whole time, mostly listening and keeping an eye out for anyone casually looking up at the group of people debating on top the roof of the hotel (not that spot 12 will help....). Her own opinion on the matter fluctuates as people make their suggestions and when the time comes to cast a vote she prefers the path of least resistance.]

Going for the officials has my vote. [She does glance at her watch, though, because if they're going to do this they definitely need to move on it.]

[arrested]

Just whatever makes us look the least shady, yeah? Because if these people think we're trying to fuck them over then this is all going to go to shit before anyone's even got started.

[diplomatics]

As Alisha so eloquently says. [ he sounds more amused than sarcastic, ok, giving her a little smile. ] Though I think properly pulled off, either could let us go beneath the radar, so to speak. I think I'll cast my lot for Zero to field calls, however. Meaning Leia casts the deciding vote.

[useagoodkiss]

[ Leia can find wisdom in either course of action, as they've both been presented well, and logically. But in the end, she chooses based on what she would personally trust more, were she in their place. Automated messages and announcements via communications devices are how they communicate important things where she once lived. But those messages would mean nothing if the voice announcing them wasn't trusted. ]

Both points are well made, but I think it would be wiser to go with the officials in the community.

[ambitionist]

[he just shrugs. fine, the officials. they can go that route. but — ]

Just remember, Wynn said no mind games. So when you want to get the officials to believe your bullshit, you actually have to be a convincing liar. No cheating.

[diplomatics]

No mental domination, I believe was the gist. [ colin nods, satisfied with the group consensus. ] At this late hour, we're unlikely to find anyone at City Hall. We could take things straight to the police station, send in one or two to make the case.

[telepathy]

Domination does not preclude the guise of an illusion. We need only present them with sufficient evidence to motivate the citizens into the streets; projecting an image does not revoke their will, or their ability to decide for themselves once they hear us out.

[kineticist]

[Zoe keeps silent on this. She doesn't have the skills to aid in the creation of the illusion, but she knows her brother does. It's been a while since she's seen him do anything with his talents and she's curious how far he's come since she last saw him.]