confronting Evandau

[gistful]

Characters: Evandau, Anton, Hawke, Septimus, whole bunch of others
Date: August 28th, 2014
Location: The Midnight Hotel, may move to outside one of its entrances in one of the five sectors
Situation: It’s time to confront Evandau.
Warnings/Rating: Probable violence, will update accordingly.

By the time Hawke calls Evandau out, the Hotel is as prepared as it’s possible to be. The radio set has been brought in so they can communicate with the teams outside using the portable WWII handset Akito jerry-rigged. Anton has warned the gang-kedan, particularly the Dust-user and distributers, most of whom are hiding upstairs. The commons aside from the lobby have their doors closed; judging by the rowdiness in the living-room still filtering through the door, ‘noise pollution’ is the going excuse. Anton wants his current patrons as protected as they can be, which is why he encouraged a couple of those present to guard the stairs up.

There are a fair few people in the lobby, which isn’t unexpected, but Anton has warned each and every one of them about the Hotel rules and the fact that, if any of them jumps the gun, he will be forced to defend Evandau. Nothing would ruin the plan more than Anton being obliged to stand up against those with whom he would rather be allies. He doesn’t know most of them, but it’s clear that they’re friends of others who are in on the plan; the only person who worries him is Wreath, sitting quietly in a corner behind the entrance.

Anton himself is behind the reception desk, going through his ledgers and waiting quietly for Evandau to arrive, and keeping Daisy the shotgun close at hand under the counter. Just in case.

Comments

[gistful]

"The Hotel's interior is warded against flames," Anton said, "though its furniture is not, so I appreciate your discretion." It may not have been the optimal location in terms of being an enclosed area, but it gave them cover and a place to which to retreat.

Anton returned the bow with a smile. "Master Wan. Is there anything else for which you need help?"

[raavashing]

Wan started to shake his head, but stopped. Now that the important stuff was done with, he could ask about that stick.

"Hawke said I should ask you myself," he started, voice going lower and with obviously genuine and earnest concern. "But he said you put a stick up your ass about this place. Why did you do that? Are you okay? Do you need any help?"

[gistful]

The sheer earnestness of the question told Anton that it was genuine, and rather endearing, if misguided. "It was the only place I had to put it," he said absolutely deadpan, and then tilted his head. "You haven't heard that phrase before." It wasn't a question. "It means that someone is rigid and unyielding regarding specific matters. In this instance I presume Master Hawke is referring to my no-violence policy, correct?"

[raavashing]

"I-" Wan straightened, blinking fast for a moment as he looked around to see if Hawke was watching. The way the man had laughed at him suddenly made a lot more sense. "That is probably what he meant, but that is not what he said. He just said you had a stick up your ass about this place. When I asked why, he laughed and told me I should ask you. I thought it must have been this accident that was funny to watch-"

Wan put a hand to his head and looked back at Anton, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I really didn't know."

[gistful]

He was endearing. Honest and innocent in a way that avoided being naïve. Anton almost smiled. If he wasn't considering this a mission of such high importance, he probably would have.

"No harm done," he said, "and to a given degree, Master Hawke is correct. However, he may not know my reasoning. I contain a demon within me, one that is created of all my bad thoughts. If I indulge those thoughts, it will take control of me and I will be contained within it instead. For that reason, I must maintain a strict policy of behaviour regardless of my emotions on any given matter."

Anton may have appeared peaceful--but he wasn't, not really. It wasn't that it was a cover; it was just that stability and balance managed to make him seem as though he had an inner peace others lacked.

[raavashing]

Wan raised an eyebrow, "I don't know what a demon is. But, it sounds bad. I'm sorry you have to deal with that."

He paused and lifted a hand to his chest, lightly fingering the cloth at his collar, "Is there any way for someone to help you with it? Maybe pull it out of you or contain it better?"

[gistful]

"It's a being of evil, hatred and fury," said Anton, "with no redeemable qualities whatsoever. You are very kind to offer, but the gist is a part of me. I could no more be part with it than my head, and were I to try it would end as badly." Anton hadn't pursued the breaking of his geas before--but he'd seen the result, and he had heard a few stories from Hopeless regarding Mevolent's knowledge on the subject matter.

"However, it makes my policy paramount. If I were to begin making exceptions for my rules, I would soon lose any sense of objectivity. I cannot afford to do so. So, yes, in that sense, Master Hawke is correct. I do have a stick up my arse."

[raavashing]

Wan's shoulders straighten and his entire countenance shifted. He was serious, direct, solemn. That sort of creature was what Raava was meant to balance, to hold in check.

"Darkness cannot exist without Light. Light cannot exist with Darkness," he said firmly. "You maintain a strict balance within yourself. I hold the Spirit of Light and Peace within me. If ever you find yourself slipping, I will be here to help you. I cannot make the darkness disappear, but I can make it yield to my light."

[gistful]

"Yin and yang," said Anton. He was familiar with the concept. Very familiar. He'd been struggling even with Larrikin's help for quite a while, before they went to the Orient centuries ago. It hadn't been Larrikin's first time, but it had been Anton's. It was there he had finally managed to find what he could call some measure of balance.

But even still, Wan's serious and firm assertion made him quiet. Very, very rarely did he find someone so willing to help Anton with his gist. Seven of them had been his best friends in the whole world. Wan didn't even know him as well as they had, and he hadn't hesitated. "Thank you," he said quietly, holding Wan's gaze. "I will hope that will not be necessary, but I will hold that offer close."

The gist wasn't a magic that could be mastered. Sooner or later, he'd lose to it. He didn't think it would be soon, but in case it was, perhaps Wan would at least be able to help Skulduggery stop the gist before it stopped everyone else.

[raavashing]

Wan bowed his head, accepting that. He could do nothing more without Anton's request. To try would be wrong when he knew so little about it. The creature - demon - was not one he was familiar with. It was only the balance he could truly identify with.

Wan stepped back and then offered a proper bow, "Thank you for your aid with the elements."

[gistful]

Anton returned the bow, more deeply than he had before. "Of course. If you have a need for anything else, I will be at the desk to assist you."

He had to return to the counter then, to check-in a kedan who had wandered in and looked surprised at the Foreigner's convention apparently occurring in the lobby.