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

[raavashing]

"You looked dif- oh."

Wan's eyes widened a little, and he was definitely ready to continue asking about that. But her quick subject change did the job it needed to and he glanced back at Hawke, frowning just a little, "I think he might. He said he'd prefer there not be a fight, but everything he does and says just seems intended to rile up the people around him. I'm not even sure if it's intentional all the time, but... I think it will be this time. He knows more about what's going on with Evandau, though. He's also be reluctant to tell me much beyond the few hints that something is very different about how the Emperor acts now than he did before. I don't know enough to try and act in his stead."

[redlightgreenlight]

Relieved that her subject change had worked, she looked at Hawke as Wan gave his opinion. She shrugged when he finished, "He does like keeping his secrets," She replied, thinking about how difficult it had been for her to extract the information about this meeting from the man.

"It is probably better that you don't act in his place," she continued,taking a quick glance back at her friend, "It is quite possible that Evandau could kill him for what he knows. Perhaps keeping us in the dark about certain things is his way of protecting everyone. Silly, but honorable I suppose."

[raavashing]

"I'm not worried about Evandau hurting me," Wan replied easily. "If that's something that Hawke feels responsible for... well, it's nice of him, but it's not necessary. I can handle myself."

Wan's eyes moved to Valdis and looked her over. He'd seen her other form, he knew she was big and if she was at all like the wolf her over-sized body had appeared to be, she was probably more than capable as well. He gave a sigh, then offered a small smile, trying to change the subject again and ease what tension there was before Evandau got there.

"So, um... you look nice?"

[redlightgreenlight]

"Thank you," She replied smoothly, watching him as he looked her over. She briefly wondered what he was truly thinking, knowing by his nature that it wasn't what most unattached men from her world thought when they looked at her. It was so much simpler when men were merely pigs. Wan was so different, and still completely unaware of the danger his light spirit posed toward her.

She gazed around the room full of people, it seemed that there were quite a few people willing to follow Hawke into a fight. "I am certain that you can care for yourself, but even so, Evandau is an unknown quantity who knows all of our abilities. That gives him an advantage, despite our numbers."

[raavashing]

Wan found her to be very pretty. He could appreciate beauty in humans. Her spirit (but not spirit) form was very powerful and impressive. But that she could look so convincingly human was beyond anything he had experience with. His gaze ended up lingering on parts of her most human men would overlook in favor of other areas. He focused on her hands, the wrinkles of her knuckles, the crook of her elbows and all the other little details. He honestly wanted to touch her and see how real she felt. Her illusion - was it an illusion? - was much more real than Skullduggery's had been.

"I actually don't like how many people are here," he admitted as he continued his obvious inspection, not at all aware of how awkward or rude it probably looked. "I'd prefer there to be less people so that fewer are in danger of being hurt."

[redlightgreenlight]

She was aware of his continuing inspection, but thought little of it. After all he had been fascinated by her in her true form, and her true form was so different from her current form. If it came to conflict and she had to transform, then his illusion could break, for the transformation, though quick, was grotesque.

"True," she replied to his concerns, "But all the people here are in danger already and if we do not act at all then more will be hurt. Besides," she continued, "We are quite capable of caring for ourselves, we just need to tread carefully."