Dinner with Maloker ((group thread))

[slayers_desire]

Some may consider that all the 'Big Guns' that April has called together is overkill … but not really, not when it comes to the fact that many great minds are needed to find a way to prevent The Three (Discord, Disharmony and Cacophony) from their evil plans.

And the Big Guns are needed... when they have no idea where to start looking for The Three.

When other Keys (such as Dawn Summers) are being drained of their existence.

When the clock is still ticking on Lorne... and his battle with his disease.

Invitations were extended to Clark Kent/Superman; Harry Dresden; Sheriff Bigby Wolf; Edward Elric; Cipher Nine; and of course Spike, Angel, Buffy, Willow and Wes.

April is waiting in the planning room, for each person to arrive, going through some books as she does. For many... this will be a familiar encounter, as they had to come to fight together before. But there will be some new faces. And new ideas.

((forgot a posting order. Since multiple characters, Kat/Ael/ me))

Comments

[slayers_desire]

There are also echoes of April's own fears... for this is her mind. The place where she keeps them.

Her fears include losing her children. Losing Clark (she has been there before). The fears of the inner beast... and keeping balance over her thirst and her humanity.

By the time they get out of the forest, Lachesis is waiting for them. She is almost identical to April, but with a few darker features. She too wears a mossy green cloak.

There is no sign of Clotho anymore. And Angel, Buffy and Wes... do not emerge from the forest.

[fmalchemist160]

Clotho warned them that she'd have to switch out with the other two fates at one point, so neither Ed nor Cipher Nine are surprised to see that she's vanished, replaced by Lachesis. Cipher Nine nods politely at Lachesis, while Ed glances back to the forest, worrying at his lower lip when Angel, Buffy, and Wes fail to emerge. Then he pushes out a breath and turns back to the rest of the group, remembering what Clotho said about Atropos not allowing the former two too far into April's mind, and reminding himself that they're not in any real danger.

[big_bad_sheriff]

"We lost a couple," Bigby says, looking back the way they came. They knew Angel and Buffy wouldn't be allowed in, but Wes is gone too.

[slayers_desire]

"Wes took them back. He knew that it was for the best," Lachesis explained softly. She starts to lead them along a rocky path, towards the caves.

[fmalchemist160]

Cipher Nine and Ed start after her almost immediately, Ed glancing back at the forest for a few moments before proceeding. "Why do I get them impression they were up to something they weren't telling us about?" he mutters.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We'll have to worry about it later," Clark says, looking towards Lachesis. Harry nods in agreement.

[slayers_desire]

"It is for the best that they do not see what is in the cave. We want to protect the secrets we were entrusted with."

[nonvillainouscipher]

"Clotho said our secrets would be in there, but... are there others as well?" Cipher Nine asks Lachesis.

[thepizzalord]

"Wouldn't surprise me," Harry says. "Weird magic stuff tends to go that way, and we are in April's subconscious, kind of."

[slayers_desire]

"Lies become truth. Secrets do not have room to hide. There is something waiting to be seen..." Of course, Lachesis can't give a straight answer.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed chuckles quietly at the cryptic answer. "Par for the course," he notes, with a definitely affectionate tone.

[big_bad_sheriff]

"You get straighter answers out of the Magic Mirror," Bigby mutters.

[slayers_desire]

There are no trials down the path, as they travel. And they come to the cave entrance without any further encounter. Atropos is standing there...

She looks like Drusilla. Spike swears. "No way. Why didn't anyone tell me."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed winces, looking away from Atropos for a moment. "Sorry," he says to Spike, quietly. "Wasn't even thinking about it. Had my mind on other things." Like the situation at hand.

[thepizzalord]

"So, Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come," Harry says to Atropos. "What hoops do we jump through now?"

[slayers_desire]

"Pretty little lamb..." Atropos smiles at Harry. She points to the cave. "Enter all ye who have come."

"Don't think I can do it." Spike hisses at Ed. "I ain't going with her. And I ain't going to have her show my secrets."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed looks up at Spike, entirely serious and understanding. "Atropos isn't actually Drusilla," he replies. "She's really just another facet of April's mind. After all, we all have a little bit of our parents in us, and not just in terms of our DNA." He exhales and shrugs. "But don't worry about it. I understand." He smiles a little. "You can still have our backs out here, right?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark takes a few steps towards the cave, then pauses, waiting for the others. "We've already come this far."

Harry tries not to look too creeped out by Atropos. Bigby ignores the weirdness, swishing his tail from side to side as he ambles up towards the cave.

[slayers_desire]

"Okay sure... I get that it is not really her. Just a facet. But just looking at Dru has my mind on her. And if my mind is on her... my secrets will be about her." Spike takes a step back, apologetically. "And I would rather not have those images stuck in my little girls head. Al'right? I will watch your backs."

Atropos is humming to herself right now. The inside of the cave is pretty dark, even for those with special vision.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed nods. "Okay. I understand. We'll be back." He heads into the cave.

Cipher Nine follows on Ed's heels, eyes narrowing to glowing red slivers as they step into the darkness. "It was too dark to see last time, too," he observes quietly, while Ed reaches for his flashlight and clicks it on, sweeping it around them to hopefully get a look at their surroundings.

[thepizzalord]

Harry nods to Spike in passing, acknowledging his choice. "I'm not gonna jinx us by saying anything stupid, but boy I wanna."

Bigby has no trouble whatsoever seeing in the dark, under normal circumstances. Clark doesn't have night vision, but he does have other senses to make up the difference.

[slayers_desire]

The flashlight doesn't work as intended. The darkness is part of the mindscape, and thus it just can't cut through it. Atropos hums softly, coming up behind them, and passing each one to take lead. Her fingers dancing across their backs and shoulders as she does.

A torch is lit. And she smiles at them. "To pass deep into the caves, where the secret of the Bat is hidden, you must all give a secret first."

There is a wooden door behind her. "Who is first?"

[nonvillainouscipher]

"Figures," Ed breathes to himself, clicking the flashlight off and replacing it on his belt.

Upon arriving at the door and hearing what they have to do to get through, Cipher Nine has only one question, asked only for the sake of clarity and making sure the Rules are completely understood. "Tell it only to you, or to everyone?"

[thepizzalord]

"And how secret does it have to be?" Harry adds. "Is it one of those deep dark nobody knows this thing sorta secret, or can it be somethin' a few people know about, so long as it ain't public knowledge?"

[slayers_desire]

Atropos tilts her head, curious to the questions she is receiving. "If you speak just to me, that is your choice. If you speak only a secret a few people know about, that too is also your choice."

"However, the more honest you are, the less doors we will have to open."