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]

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.

[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?"