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

before Evandau's arrival

[gistful]

Before Evandau gets there, some quick planning might be in order.

the confrontation

[gistful]

But soon enough, the waiting is over.

Open

[iwannabeadragon]

After speaking to people over the network, Hawke doesn't waste any time heading for the Hotel. Part of him wonders if he has time to choose his entrance but he doubts it. Instead he enters from the Water Sector and hopes that doesn't come back to bite him. So far his biggest comfort in this whole thing is knowing that Nilin is there to watch his back.

When he arrives, Hawke waits patiently with his arms crossed. He's armed and armored for this, even bringing the Hawke's Key despite how uncomfortable the powerful blade makes him feel. The only thing left to do is wait for the others, and for Evandau.

[redlightgreenlight]

As she entered through the Fire Sector, Valdis took a moment to take in the scents of the hotel and those of the foreigners gathered for the meeting with the Emperor. The scents were almost overwhelming, but she was able to pick out Hawke's scent with ease. The leader of the foreigners was ready for battle, armored and carrying a sword. She had taken a simpler route, dressed in a wrap around dress and wearing sandals. If it came to a fight, she would shift and deal with the consequences later. She settled her conflicting need for secrecy and her promise to aid the foreigners. It wouldn't do to abandon the situation, that would only damage her reputation, but she had no weapons and shifting was the best way to do battle. All she could do was hope for a peaceful outcome, although a part of her longed for a fight.

looking to speak with Anton, but OTA for anyone else that wants to chat up the hippie

[raavashing]

Wan arrived from the wood sector, dressed as he usually was for warmer weather - though he had taken Hawke's sarcastic advice and brought a small satchel full of stone chunks he could easily bend if he needed them. He set the satchel down to one side of the lobby and then sought out 'Anton'. Hawke said he'd need to speak to him first about the availability of certain elements.

[gistful]

The way the man wandered about indicated he was looking for something or someone in particular, so Anton couldn't assume he was simply part of the group intending to speak to Evandau--though certainly, the man's bulging satchel was a tad strange.

Anton caught his gaze and said with a gentle smile, "Hello. I am Anton Shudder, proprietor of this establishment. How may I help you?"

[raavashing]

Wan's face brightened visibly at the introduction, "Hello! I was looking for you. Hawke said I should talk to you about what elements were easy to get a hold of here."

And ask him personally why he decided to put a stick up his own ass, but Wan figured that could wait until the important stuff was done being spoken about.

[gistful]

"Certainly," said Anton. "I presume when you say 'element' you refer to fire, water, earth and air?" Scientists used the same word for very different things nowadays, but this man didn't give off any indication of being a scientist whatsoever.

"The Hotel is made of both timber and stone." He nodded toward the floor and then the walls. While some of the walls had been painted, particularly upstairs, some were basic brick and some were slabs of stone. "I use sigils to generate water for plumbing. Depending upon your use of the elements, it may be possible for you to utilize that. May I ask why you wish to know?"

The likeliest answer was that the man was there to help with Evandau, but if that was the case Anton wanted to know whether his talents would result in damage to the Hotel.

[raavashing]

"In case things get out of hand with Evandau," Wan affirmed the suspicion as he gave a heavy sigh at the answer. "I can't do anything with wood. The brick I can work with, but if it's under the wood, then that will just tear up your floors and walls."

Wan's hands went to his hips and he frowned, giving it some more thought, "Hopefully if I have to do anything, I won't need more than the rocks I brought with me. I'm not sure what you mean by the sigils providing water, but as long as there is water, I can work with it. Are there any fountains? Anything you could start running water out of so I don't have to pull it out of the pipes? Even a filled bucket would be good."

[ironwood]

Evandau knew less about the Midnight Hotel than he would have liked, but for whatever stubborn reason, Hawke had refused to meet with him in the police station-- something he fully intended to have strong words with after this was settled. The fact that the building could be accessed from any of the Sectors was strange and he made a mental note to ask Eva what she was playing at, bringing such things here along with the Foreigners.

He didn't like such surprises.

Evandau enters, the set of his shoulders as always, far more soldier than Emperor, sweeping his eyes around the lobby.

[iwannabeadragon]

It's not hard to spot Hawke. In fact he stands just across the room, leaning against the wall right in plain sight of Evandau. Of course that doesn't mean many of the others aren't hidden through illusion, but what Evandau doesn't know won't hurt Hawke.

Hawke catches Evandau's eyes and smirks as he gives the man an almost mocking wave. Pushing himself all off the wall, Hawke walks towards the center of the room moving casually. Evandau is just like any other person of power that Hawke has dealt with in the past, with the exception that the man might possibly be possessed. Even if that really is the case, he's not about to get any special treatment from Hawke.

"Took you long enough to find the place."

[ironwood]

Evandau's mouth was a thin line, and Hawke's glibness is not making him any more calm. "This is foolish, this place is not protected properly. I could have you imprisoned for withholding information."

WOOD Entrance / OPEN

[wintershepherd]

Having been asked by Hawke to keep an eye on the Wood Sector entrance of he Hotel, Jack arrived as soon as he was able. He didn't know where Evandau would be coming in, through which Sector, but he was determined to help in any way he could.

He'd heard that some other people might be joining him to help, but anyone who had found out about this and was willing to stand up against Evandau (if it came to that) was welcome to wait with him.

[gistful]

So this was the Emperor. Currently, Anton was not impressed. Men who threatened punishment because things didn't happen on their terms weren't usually those who deserved respect.

"I assure you, the Hotel is well warded," Anton said quietly from the desk. He finished updating his ledger and put down his pen, and bowed toward Evandau. "Welcome to the Midnight Hotel. I am Anton Shudder. Are you familiar with the rules of this establishment?"

Anton had always given everyone who entered the building a fair warning what the consequences would be if they didn't play nice. Evandau was no exception, though if he rejected the offer of explanation Anton may not go out of his way to force it on him, given the circumstances.

[gistful]

There were numerous patches of uncovered brick and stone in the vicinity, but Anton would really rather someone didn't have to compromise the integrity of the Hotel in order to defend it. "There are too many wards in the walls to risk their compromise," he said. "Water it will have to be, then. Just a moment."

The plumbing sigils were among the spells that had taken him the longest to develop. He still used pipes and plumbing to translate water into a useable resource, but the water itself was captured from the air the way Elementals summoned it, and then stored in tanks. That meant the sigils were spread across the whole of the Hotel.

Anton found the written spellwork he had been adapting for a fountain in the turtles' hostel and turned to a patch of wall behind the counter but to the side of his shelves. With a touch he illuminated the sigils, which glowed as scrolling, unbroken spellwork across the wall from his shelves to his office door. The position was somewhat protected, so the man would be able to use the resource without being in the open.

With an oil-based marker Anton changed some of the plumbing sigils. As soon as he was done moisture began to collect on the all, on the places where the sigils were, and when he turned the sigils off the stones glistened with trails of water making tracks toward the floor.

"I hope that will suffice for you," he said. "Allow me to fetch a towel." No need to leave a wet patch on the floor, after all.

[ironwood]

Evandau didn't point out that he knew every one of the Foreigners, as well as what they were capable of. The calm politeness is certainly less of an irritant to deal with than Hawke's smarm at the moment but the Emperor's voice remains terse.

"Your candor aside, I'm not a patron here," he replied. "For all intents and purposes I am, however, your landlord."

[raavashing]

Wan was fascinated by the magic of the sigils and stepped up to the wall to touch it after they stopped glowing. But his attention wasn't so focused that he missed Anton's offer of a towel.

"Don't worry about it," Wan replied and wiped his hand across the wall, gathering the water to him. His arm moved in the other direction as he moved backwards, imitating the back and forth of a gentle tide. The gathered water followed his hand, rising off the wall and the floor, leaving both completely dry. Meanwhile, the decently sized bubble of water was suddenly and forcefully collapsed in upon itself until it was the size of a baseball. And then it froze. Wan grabbed the now super-compacted fist-sized hailstone from the air and smiled at Anton, "Thanks. This will work great."

Open!

[solo_patria]

While it was not quite possible to gather everything needed for an amazing barricade, Enjolras has the design of one in mind, and a small handcart with some wood and other materials. It is amazing what having a bit of salary can get one in the way of damaged materials these days, though he hopes of course, that at the end of this, he will be left with a large pile of useless wood instead of having things get worse. He's leaving those materials to the side for a moment anyway, and then entering the hotel himself, to get some idea of where he might be needed most.

This is all rather different from the last barricade he managed, but still, the end results are possibly the same. At any rate, there's a brief moment of regret and loneliness, especially for Feuilly, who had gotten the one in Paris up so quickly. It passes though, as it must while he is slipping inside, leaving the cart by the door he's come from, and when he appears in the hotel, his expression is rather serious, clearly devoted to the task at hand.

"I suppose it is rather clear why I've come." He says, by way of greeting for anyone taking charge of this venture right now. "I've got something of a barrier to place outside at any point in case there happen to be...problems. And if there is anything in the way of shoring up or adding some materials to a barricade, anything that is not necessary, I can do better than I have so far."

[gistful]

It was at once extremely similar to the tricks Anton had seen the Dead Men Elementals pull, and somehow more fluid. Either way, it was good to know that even if a wet patch developed Anton would have a means of clearing it up more easily than with a dry mop.

"I am glad," said Anton, and he even wore a smile. "I do, however, request that when the situation has been resolved you help me in drying whatever patches may be left. The wall will continue to produce water to a specific degree of moisture, and maintain that level once reached."

The wall was already glistening again. They weren't going to be flooded out if the man chose not to take advantage of the resource in time, but the wet patch was going to remain even when Anton reversed the sigils.

Fire Sector Entrance | OPEN

[lordhotman]

[Zuko was there just as he had agreed with Hawke. He'd never really gotten a good look at this Evandau guy, but from the sounds of it, he would be pretty easy to pick out. Thus the firebender stations himself near the entrance to the hotel and waits.

As far as he knows, he's the only one covering this entrance. His uncle would be there if he needed him, but Iroh is hanging out in the tea shop until that point.]

Re: Open

[gathersnomoss]

Zelgadis had brought his sword and dagger, and also magic -- though magic was less useful inside when you wanted the hotel owner to be civil with you later. That and he remembered rumors that Evandu could shut down magic.

He nodded to Hawke. "I take it the reinforcements stay where Evandu can't see them?"

Earth Entrance, Open

[fearlessherosheart]

Tazendra looked alert, despite her attempts to appear inconspicuous. Or as inconspicuous as you could be when you were over seven feet tall and have a sword that would take a normal man both hands to use well.

Granted, anyone who knew Tazendra knew that she was always armed, unless told not to be or bathing, so it's not like she was any more conspicuous this way.

[iwannabeadragon]

"That would be the smart plan," Hawke replies without looking away from the door. Already he can feel the nervous excitement grow within him. It's the same feeling he gets in every fight. For now he tries to keep it at bay until it's actually needed.

"No sense on letting him know that he's walking into a trap."

[iwannabeadragon]

"Well he's just full of himself isn't he?" Hawke says, glancing at Anton and grinning as always. It appears the threat of imprisonment did little to make him any less talkative. So far that appears to be working in their advantage. If Evandau doesn't care about Anton's rules then it will be much easier for Hawke to draw him into a fight.

His attention turns back to Evandau. "Here I thought you would just murder me outright. That seems to be how you've been running things lately."

[gathersnomoss]

Zelgadis surveyed the lobby, getting a sense for where he could see and hear without being seen or heard. "Right. If he sees a crowd -- more than expected for a hotel, especially -- he'll be out the door."