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

[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.

[big_bad_sheriff]

Bigby ignores the comment, homing in on the presence of the little girl. "We have company," he says, pointing his muzzle at her. Not quite Red, of course, for which he's rather glad.

[slayers_desire]

The young girl comes out of hiding, sitting on the stump which she had been hiding behind. "I remember some of you..."

"Others... not..."

She frowns around the different people who are there. "I don't like you..." She points at Angel. Who crosses his arms in response.

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine frowns a little at the young girl. "Clotho?" he asks, taking a step forward.

[thepizzalord]

"One of the Fates?" Harry's not sure if this is good news or bad news. Usually, in his experience, mythical figures showing up tends to mean bad mojo is on the way.

[slayers_desire]

"Hello Cipher..." Clotho gives him a smile. After all, he was her responsibility last time.

"Just a representation... just a part of her mind...." She turns to Harry in turn.

"You want to go to the cave? Not everyone will be able to go..."

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine smiles at Clotho and kneels to give her a brief hug. "Why not?" he asks. He wouldn't be surprised if this had something to do with Clotho's apparent dislike/mistrust of Angel. Personally, he's inclined to agree with her, especially given that Clotho is a part of April. He trusts April's instincts. Angel, however, is someone new, and has not yet earned any modicum of either trust or respect.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"If this cave has what we need to see, I'm ready to go," Clark replies at once.

[slayers_desire]

"I can lead you there..." Clotho explains to Cipher Nine. "But I will have to switch off with another representation. And the eldest won't allow him or her to enter the cave." She points at Angel and Buffy.

"Too many secrets in there..." She stage whispers. Which is not really a quiet whisper.

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine nods solemnly. "I more than understand the necessity of secrets," he answers. "Lead on."

[thepizzalord]

"This, uh, isn't gonna be one of those things where we see everyone else's deepest, darkest fears, is it?" Harry asks.

[slayers_desire]

"Your fears lies in the forest. Your secrets lies in the caves..." Clotho starts to head down a dark, twisting path.

[fmalchemist160]

"Yep, that's about where they were last time," Ed mutters, mostly to himself, as he and Cipher Nine follow Clotho down the path.

[thepizzalord]

"Fantastic," Harry says with more than a touch of sarcasm. This whole thing makes him nervous, but he's in too deep now to leave even if he wanted to, so he joins the group in following Clotho.

[slayers_desire]

Clotho held her cloak tight to her body, as she weaved through the forest path. The brambles of the trees and shrubs tested them... scratching at their bodies as they moved down the path.

Each time a scratch makes it mark -- a fear is emerged from their memories.

And at the back of the pack... Angel, Buffy and Wes are finding it nearly impossible to follow the rest of them.

"Down the path we go..." Clotho sings to herself softly. "Into the heart of madness."

[nonvillainouscipher]

Most of Ed's fears have something to do with losing the people he cares about most. A few old memories bubble up, of the night he and Al tried to revive their dead mother. There are few times in recent memory when Ed remembers being as scared as he was that night. His current fears don't vary too far from that, either. What scares him most is never seeing Al and Winry again—either he'll die before they can come home, or they'll die before then.

But he lives with those fears pretty much every day—and while things are currently quiet for the Saviours, they aren't always, and every time something comes up, there's always the risk he won't come back from it. Ed's fears are still frightening, but they're aren't crippling. He presses on, and tries to avoid as many of the brambles as he can.

Cipher Nine's fears, on the other hand, are of a much different variety. He isn't often terrified to the point of inaction anymore, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel fear. The first fear that bubbles up for him is of learning of his parents' death, having been scared for how he was going to live without them. The next, and greatest, is of the day he got his burn scars, the day the little colony of Ord Jarta was attacked by terrorists. That day was followed by his moment of greatest hope, of course—the moment when he met the man who would one day adopt him and groom him to become a Cipher. Innumerable moments of fear follow that. Particularly relevant at the moment, the fear that he won't be able to stop the conspiracy. The fear of losing Purple to them (or to anyone else, for that matter). The fear of becoming a monster in service to the Sith Empire. The fear of losing his free will and sanity, which he nearly did once.

Like almost all Intelligence agents, though, Cipher Nine has ways of coping with his fears. And as each fear rises up, he utilizes those methods, and starts trying to avoid the brambles as well. He glances back a few times, pausing when he sees Buffy, Angel, and Wes struggling to get through, pondering helping them for a moment. Ultimately, though... they aren't in any actual danger, and he's certain this is one of April's mental defenses. And Clotho had said that Atropos wouldn't allow Buffy and Angel into the cave anyway. So, with a heavy exhalation, Cipher Nine presses on.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark has very few fears these days, but the ones he does have are big ones. Fear of losing his family - his mother, wife, and children - whether to death, or something worse. Fear of failing to defend his adopted planet. These fears are ones that he puts aside every day, acknowledging them but refusing to let them hold sway over his thoughts. He knows he will always try his hardest, no matter what.

Harry has a multitude of fears, and he tries to use his shield bracelet to protect himself from the worst of the brambles, despite knowing this is a mere mindscape, and he might not be able to influence it since it isn't his. Fear of losing Shepard, something that already happened, and then miraculously un-happened. Fear of what surely happened to his apprentice, Molly, after he disappeared from his Chicago and no longer stood between her and the death sentence given to her by the White Council. Fear for his soul, after accepting Lasciel's protection and gifts in order to survive out in the galaxy. Fear of Outsiders, of Fae and wyldfae, of all sorts of nasties bigger and badder than he is. Fear of not being able to stop the Reapers from destroying all of galactic civilization for the uncounted time. Fear of never seeing his home again.

His fears are interrupted by Lasciel, whose presence comes to the forefront, protecting him against the worst of the scratches. Her own fear is a very simple one - fear of the Almighty's wrath - and it's something she rarely has trouble facing. After all, he could've smote her and the other Denarians years ago.

Bigby, meanwhile, moves smoothly through the forest like one born to it. He does catch a few branches though, and after the others, his fears are fairly trivial. For all the toughness of the Big Bad Wolf, Bigby is afraid of heights.