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

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine nods his agreement. "I was already leaning towards the notes representing the Trio, but that definitely cements that idea for me," he tells Wes.

"Seconded," Ed agrees.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark frowns a little. "So... if that's the interpretation, Maloker's trying to get close to the Trio, but can't?"

[slayers_desire]

"Even if that is the interpretation... I do not know what it means."

"Where are the Trio?" Buffy twirled a stake when she spoke.

"We don't know..." Wes answered her.

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine exhales slowly, briefly running a hand through his hair while he contemplates. "We may have to go find Maloker," he says. "He wanted to see April for a reason, and if we're right about the bat symbolizing him, then April's Voices definitely seem to have something to say about him as well. Maybe he has information we can use."

[thepizzalord]

"We have to do something sooner rather than later," Harry agrees. "My containment spell isn't going to last forever, and even if did, it wouldn't do Dawn much good."

[slayers_desire]

Buffy takes a moment to stare at the woman surrounded by the magical ward. The spell has effected her the worst... and she is having trouble even recognizing the woman. And she wonders who she is, and why she is important.

"We had an emissary to Maloker here. But other ideas to find him?" Angel crossed his arms.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed catches sight of Buffy staring at Dawn, and a little pang zings through his heart. He tries to imagine being made to forget who Al is, and why he's important to Ed. It's difficult to even contemplate, partially because he can't really picture it. For the moment, he doesn't say anything, not wanting to intrude on her. After all, he doesn't know her very well. At all, really.

"That emissary left because—apparently—she was unwilling to agree to even the perfectly reasonable precaution of not allowing April to see Maloker without back-up," Cipher Nine notes. "But if what Ember said was true, and April's Voices come from Maloker, then she should be able to use them to contact him, or at least to find him, correct?"

[big_bad_sheriff]

"Will that work?" Bigby asks, frowning. He's not super familiar with April's powers, and they don't follow a strict storyline in the way he's used to, so it's harder for him to predict.

[slayers_desire]

"Nothing that was said to Ember was reasonable." Angel stated simply. "You all jumped down on her so fast... you didn't even give a chance for reason to be used."

April waved any further comments from Angel off, not wanting another argument to be started. "I have had friends channel through my voices before... I am not sure if they can find Maloker or not."

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine nods a little and twitches a shoulder up in a nano-shrug. "It's worth trying, I think. If it doesn't work, we come up with a new plan."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We don't seem to have a lot of other options," Clark agrees reluctantly. He's not sure he likes this plan, but what else can they do?

[slayers_desire]

"Well I guess we all need to sit in a comfortable place. And I will open a channel into my mind." April is a little nervous too. She is not sure what they will find...

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine nods solemnly, and glances back at Lorne. "Have you got someplace we can use for this purpose?"

[big_bad_sheriff]

"Hang on, what exactly does this entail?" Bigby asks, feeling slightly out of his depth here. "Some kind of... seance?"

[slayers_desire]

"There is the meeting area, it has enough seats." April answered one question.

Then she answered Bigby's... "Not really a seance. But you would mentally go into my mind, where my voices exist. Clark, Ed and Cipher Nine have been there before. They can guide everyone else."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed gets to his feet. "Sure thing," he says, nodding in agreement. Last time wasn't exactly fun, but her voices had been hijacked at the time by an outside force. Hopefully this time the journey itself won't be quite as trying. "Which way to the meeting area?"

[thepizzalord]

Harry always gets a little nervous with mind magic, especially now that he's carrying a passenger. But he hides it well, and at least since April knows he wants to keep it a secret, she won't say anything. "Okay, let's get this over with."

[slayers_desire]

"Just over here gals and gents. Make yourself comfortable." Lorne leads them to an area with several couches and chairs. "I will stay here, make sure you are protected from outside forces."

"I think it is better that I stay back too," Willow adds. She knows that her powers are too powerful, and can be dangerous in these situations. It is better that she stays, and protects their backs.

[nonvillainouscipher]

"Always good to have someone watching our backs," Cipher Nine assures them, finding a seat in a chair and shrugging his rifle off his shoulders, leaning it against the nearest wall. His knives get placed in his lap, along with his sidearm. Mostly so that none of his weapons are digging into his sides. After all, they have to be comfortable, do they not?

Ed takes a seat close to wherever April takes hers, mostly out of habit, slouching back into the chair until they're ready to start.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark sits at April's side, as always. Harry is nearby too, a bit further away. A part of him thinks he should stay behind too, but he's been involved in this since he was called here earlier today, and they might need his expertise.

Bigby sits on the outer edge of the room, not quite able to be the lone wolf right now, but watching and waiting.

[slayers_desire]

"I am going to extend my mind to each of yours... by accepting my presence, you will be pulled into a mindscape. You can't be physically injured there... but still use caution."

And with that explanation, April projected out her mind to each of the people who were sitting around her. With the exception of Lorne and Willow.

Once each person allows themselves to enter the mindscape, they will find themselves sitting on forest mushrooms. And in a dark forest landscape.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed is more than used to having April in his head at this point, and welcomes her readily. Cipher Nine's gotten used to it too, and does the same.

Once inside the mindscape, both young men take an opportunity to get a good look at their surroundings. Ed hops off his mushroom after a minute, one eyebrow arched. "Mushrooms. That's definitely different from last time."

[big_bad_sheriff]

Clark's been in April's mindscape so many times that it doesn't surprise him to find himself in a forest. He smiles a little when he sees where they are, although the shadows are worrying.

Harry attempts to subtly check himself for any outward signs of Lasciel's presence, just in case. Damn these metaphorical mindscapes...

Where Bigby the man should be sitting, instead there is a massive black wolf, about the size of a car. His yellow eyes sweep the forest, and he sniffs experimentally at the air.

[slayers_desire]

There is a storm above the forest, with dark clouds, but no rain. The clouds rumble slightly in the background.

As everyone else checks out their surroundings, and get their bearings... it is Bigby that will find the young girl. She is hiding behind a stump, wearing a dark mossy cloak.

[nonvillainouscipher]

Ed starts when he spots the big ol' wolf. "Whoa! Okay, wasn't expecting that."

Cipher Nine merely arches an eyebrow upon spotting Bigby's wolf form and continues to try to keep a close eye on their surroundings. The storm is a concern, so he's keeping a close eye on it for the time being.