calling on the Alphas [attn: Javed, Hector, Erich]

[Damon]

Erich looks a bit disgruntled right back when it is ... suggested ... that only one of them speak. He glances at his packmates -- and yes, that does include the kingirl with the blood singing of bow-wielding maidens and sun-bronzed men who apparently boot their enemies down bottomless wells with their be-sandaled feet -- and presumably there's some sort of mental communication about who speaks, etc. Or maybe there isn't. Maybe they're all about to burst into loud Cliath-y chatter.

"I don't think we should split up," Erich says. "We can Peek across the Gauntlet one way or the other if we need to, but splitting up just means we won't be able to watch each other's backs or back each other up half as well.

"And yeah, I think our primary goal should be recon." Look at him, talking like he's seen a war movie or two. "But if we find something down there that just has to go, like yesterday, I say we take care of it then and there.

"One person should call the shots though. Last joint hunt I went on was kind of a clusterfuck because no one was following anyone else. So I guess if you're coming along," he glances at Javed, "you're gonna wanna be It?"

[Samael]

Javed nods his agreement to the other Ahroun. "I would agree there. Dividing into multiple teams would not be wise when we do not know what we are facing. It would be more prudent to remain in one group. I also agree that if we find something we must destroy, we should act then and there."

He turns his singular gaze to Eva at that point. "You bring up an excellent point. I would suggest taking the physical route down. As you state, we will have those blueprints and we have no idea what is on the other side. It would seem the more reliable route."

"Regarding who directs the mission once we are on it...rank and intent would suggest that it would fall to me. However, my vision problems coupled with my inability to recognize people on-sight may hinder matters depending on how chaotic it may be. Should that prove to be the case I will swiftly designate someone else and, if anyone here wishes to suggest it, we can discuss someone else being in charge to start with."

[jamie]

As Phoebe suggests splitting up the Galliard's eyes creep wider and he starts to shake his head. The two Full Moons disagree with her and the matter of leadership arises. Hector twists one of the rings on his left hand as he thinks. When it comes to him he jerks his chin towards the Black Fury.

"I think Siren of Persephone-rhya should lead us down," he says. "No offense, Anubis-Sight-rhya, I'd rather have one person whose orders I'm supposed to follow the entire time and not have to think about it if it turns out some super-hungry tentacle monster is just chilling out down there. Tapping out if things get hairy is a shit storm waiting to happen."

[Damon]

We won't lie: Erich balks a little at the suggestion. He glances at Phoebe, then at Javed, then at Phoebe. Then at Javed again.

"No question Phoebe's gonna be on point when we're nosing around. But I was kinda thinking we oughta have an Ahroun call the shots because the biggest shot to be called is whether we stand and fight or get the hell out if and when we come across something unpleasant. And that kinda seems up an Ahroun alley.

"But well. If you trust her to make that call?" -- that's to Javed -- "Then I guess I'm all right with it."

[errin]

Javed declines, citing his vision troubles and his inability to recognize faces, so Hector suggests Phoebe lead them down into the basement levels. Phoebe's brows lift and her eyes go wide, but at least this time she doesn't blurt out What? like she had the last time someone's words took her by surprise. Maybe she's settling a little more into her rank. Gold star, Pheeb.

The surprise, she realizes, comes from the fact she's thinking this will automatically be a mission that ends in combat. Maybe it won't. Maybe they'll find a hole to hell that's nice and quiet.

Hah. Anyway, that Erich starts a statement that contains the words Phoebe's gonna be on point with the No question regarding a reconnaissance mission that seems like it came straight out of the Diablo series of games surprises her a little as well, though not so much.

"If it means the difference between losing more Garou and not losing more Garou, I can absolutely make that call," she says with conviction. But she looks at Erich, and then she looks at Javed. Her mouth lifts in a smile.

"That said, you all should know that spirits, good and bad, are drawn to me like a magnet, which could prove incredibly problematic and probably isn't something any of you want your leader to be distracted by. Javed, if you're concerned about your vision issues, you'll have a pack of scouts to tell you what lies ahead, and a pack of Theurges to tell you what's on the other side of the Umbra. I don't think I'm alone in saying I trust you to lead us."

[mnemosyne]

Charlotte stands shoulder to shoulder with Melantha-whose-blood-sings quite as starkly and furiously as her own, though the tenor of the song is sweeter and richer and darker; less luminous. It is a song of turned earth and rich soil and hells and the way we defeat them, not the moon, mad and flickle, its light gleaming, fey, molten. Regardless, the trio are connected and they may well break into a cliath-y chatter but,

no.

Charlotte just stands there, looking glorious and a little bit haunted or perhaps more accurate a little bit haunting. Wide eyes and an open, rather solemn face, still round with youth. Hands stuffed into the pockets of her jeans, her sharp shoulders hunched forward, her pale eyes darting between them, each to each. Truth is she wants to follow Erich but also knows Erich, the blood-red way he fights and knows beneath it that he's right here not to suggest himself. Remembers his plans and his 'plans' and the way those plans turn into fury, absolute committment to the cause.

Javed makes her uneasy; a little bit sad and a little bit sick.

She does not look at him much. It is easy to read a pure-blooded Silver Fang's bone deep prejudice, revulsion, the usual sort into her reaction to his presence here, out of the field, when there is time to think, or be. But she's quiet, quietly uneasy, pale eyes darting from Erich to Phoebe and back again.

--

Éva is quiet. She has nothing to add as they work out the particulars of leadership. There is a moment where she reacts to the suggestion that they split up but -

- swallows that. This is their business, and their war. Still, her attention, dark and direct without ever impinging on challenge, drifts between them. Settles here. Lingers there.

Moves on. These things are in their hands.

When they go below, there is nothing she can offer them.

[Samael]

The metis makes note of Charlotte's reaction to him, but shows no signs of offense. He understands, after all, her revulsion. It is a natural reaction to something that should not be, even if it has proved a useful and even necessary evil within the fight against the Wyrm. It is not her place to smile and bear his presence; it is in fact the opposite, his place to accept her disdain. That is how it goes.

He nods a little when Hector says that they should stick with one leader and, on its way toward circling back to him, he listens to each person's thoughts. Considers and nods slightly each time. When Phoebe looks back to him and offers the mantle back, he nods slightly. There's no smile or sign of being reassured or grateful, because it's not a point of pride for him that the others place that level of trust in him. This is a tactical matter and whoever is best suited will carry the day, in his eyes.

"If that is the case," referring to Phoebe's assertion that they trust him to take charge here, "I will take the lead. I was not refusing, merely opening the floor to other possibilities."

A pause there, before he continues.

"Is there anything else for us to discuss, at least before we manage to obtain the blueprints?"

[errin]

[Alright folks, it's Wednesday night and we seem pretty close to a conclusion. Looks like Javed is leading us realmside down into the Thunderdome basement just as soon as Eva works her magic to procure the blueprints. Further thoughts, suggestions, or objections should be posted soon soon! I'm going to consider this closed at midnight tonight, MDT, giving us plenty of time to freak out.]

[errin]

[it is after midnight so this is closed. thank you, everyone, for the RP! Kai, the plan is as stated:

Javed leads a recon expedition downstairs, they check out what the eff is down there, then get out, fighting only if they find something that needs to be taken out ASAP.

thank you, again, everyone for getting this part hashed out so quickly!]