CHAPTER FOUR ♔ does it run in your blood to betray the ones you love

[coldheritage]

♬ The Truth - Nonpoint

WHO || Failboat, Rafael, Isabella, Nadia  [Closed]
WHAT || After an exciting Grammy night, the Knights meet up with Nadia to hear what she has to say
WHERE || Staples Center, LA -->  Warehouse
WHEN || Feb 8th, 2015  [back dated]
HOW || Actionspam

[  The Knights' mission to stop the signal and prevent Draken's cult from spreading whatever subliminal message  was lurking beneath Keijen Blade's performance was a success.  It didn't come without its bumps in the road, however:  Alexander Anderson showed up, and the Knights ran afoul of the Mind Master.    Buffy nearly died fighting Anderson, but in the end, he was defeated, beheaded, and hopefully put to death forever.   Finnick, though, found himself thrust into a mental illusion that convinced him he might still be in the Hunger Games, and left him uncertain about whether any of his life here was real.  

Another surprise came in the form of an announcement by Nadia Reichenov, an artist working with Crombe and company, that she was changing her band name and taking things in a 'new direction'.   This direction was perhaps revealed when after her performance, she approached the Knights in Rafael's dressing room - and handed them the necklace that connects her to the Nightmare God Malaak'a, saying she was willing to tell them everything.  ]

Comments

[nothingsodivine]

[there's a sudden crinkling of a wrapper as she raps on the door in LAST NIGHT'S BLOODY DRESS, and when she turns around, she'll see Des. Eating m&m's and trying not to smirk. Like an asshole.]

And where were you last night?

[slay]

If we're having this conversation, it happens after I get my coffee.

[ She sounds 1000% done before they even begin, not looking at him until after she's stepped out of the way of the door and gestured for him to let her in. Make yourself useful, son. ]

Burt beat you to every lurid, tactless assumption that could come out of your mouth right now, so please. Spare me.

[nothingsodivine]

What makes you think I was gonna say anything? [he downs the rest of his m&m's and steps up to the door so he can run his keycard through, still grinning like an idiot.] You were trying to call me. I guess it wasn't to dish on your sleepover.

[slay]

I was hoping you'd bring me some clothes so I could avoid this exact scenario. [ Her gaze narrows, tone flat. She turns the handle and pushes the door open once the light flashes green, moving past him to open the door and hold it so he can come inside with her. ] You missed your chance to say goodbye. Burt and Rafael left about ten minutes ago.

[nothingsodivine]

I'll try to hold back my weeping and gnashing of teeth. [He kicks the door shut with his heel.] He'll be back. He always ends up back.

[a beat. he runs a hand through his hair and ruffles it as his expression twists into a grimace.] There was something I needed to talk to you about.

[slay]

Well, that's nice and ominous.

[ She side-eyes him at that, lips pursed. Expecting him to follow, she heads for her room, pushing open the door and stepping inside. She keeps it propped for him. Excuse her for not interrupting her journey for fresh clothes just for whatever Des has decided is important, but not so important he'd pick up his phone. ]

Have you sold your soul, begun worshipping the Nightmare Lord, and developed psionic abilities? I'm thinking that's really the only outcome that's worse than where we're at now.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des raises his eyebrows, like wtf for a second, before shaking it off.] If I did, the vending machine on our floor wouldn't be broken and I wouldn't be out of candy. [He follows her in and proceeds to borrow her room's trashcan.]

But if that's your yardstick, then I guess you're not gonna be too broken up when I tell you I'm going back to Manhattan.

[slay]

Yeah, I think we all are.

[ While pulling a shirt and khakis out of her suitcase, she looks at him like he's just pointed out that the sky is blue. ]

It's kind of an unavoidable pitstop if we're gonna make it back to London, and I never figured you for a California guy. [ Balling her clothes up, she moves behind the bathroom door and flicks the light on, getting changed and carrying on the conversation without missing a beat. ] I don't know. I think I might kinda miss it, though. The sunshine alone ...

[nothingsodivine]

Buffy, I'm going back to Manhattan. [It's about as gentle as he can make his tone while he's interrupting her waxing poetic about California. He shoves his hands into his pockets, looking at her with an expression that's nearly sorrowful.] I can't keep living out of hotels and off Wynn's hospitality while this eats us alive out there. I need to actually, y'know, have a life outside the case.

[slay]

[ Silence echoes out of the bathroom. Buffy pulls the door back open before she's even got her shirt buttoned. She stares out at him, slack-jawed in disbelief. A moment passes, and she seems to accept the facts, her gaze searching over the room, then dropping. She takes a moment to compose herself, then slowly walks out of the bathroom, hands raising to start thumbing buttons through their coordinating holes.

It takes her a few buttons to figure out what she wants to say. ] For how long? You're not— Des, look, I understand if this spooked you. It scares the hell out of me too. Finnick especially. But you can't just … We need you.

[nothingsodivine]

Until we move on again. [He paces the floor, avoiding her slack-jawed look.] The downtime between getting enough information to pursue a lead is months sometimes. It's been three years since this started. There's no reason I can't wait for the next lead in Manhattan. I might get more perspective on what's going on out there. Or I might not think about the potential end of the world for a few months. Whichever one strikes me. We all deserve that much. Look how much we can lose.

[He glances towards the door, staring at it, expression becoming more broken.]

[slay]

Yeah.

[ Buffy's reply sounds tired, quiet. Like she's not only thinking of him in this, and not just because she's glancing through the door meaningfully to think of Finnick. ]

Yeah, I get it. I mean, what's the point of saving the world if by the time you do, you don't have a place in it anymore? [ She shakes her head, fighting a clear battle between what she knows is best for him and what she wants for herself. Even if it is only for a little while, losing her best friend in the same day she loses Rafael all over again, when Myri and Finnick are in the state they're in, it's …

And she doesn't even know about Spike yet. She draws in a deep breath and nods. ] I'm glad. It's good that you're taking some time for yourself. [ Lifting her gaze, she meets his eyes again finally, a placid smile firmly in place. It manages to narrowly avoid looking as sad as she feels, but it's certainly lacking in oomph. ] Can I … [ She shrugs one shoulder, rolling her eyes like it's not a big deal. One hand waves out to her side to pick up the nonchalance. ] I mean, can I come visit, or—?

[nothingsodivine]

Sure. It won't even be in the shithole apartment anymore. [He says like that was somehow going to be a dealbreaker for her, mimicking her shrug. There's not a whole lot of oomph in what he's saying either, because he knew going into this that it was going to hurt. Even the attempts to smooth over the rough edges seem to cut too close to the surface.] Besides. You never got to see anything good when we were there last time.

[slay]

I never get to see the good parts of anywhere we go. Join the Knighthood, they said. Travel the world, see the sights. While you're wringing blood out of your second Grammys dress. [ She turns to look over her shoulder, shooting a scowl in the direction of the bathroom. ] I really gotta find a way to get some armor built into those things. This keeps happening. [ All that, though, is secondary to what's really going on. She looks up at him again, straightening her shoulders. ] Have you told the others?

[nothingsodivine]

[His expression's mildly crestfallen as he watches her while she's explaining all of that.] Everyone but Myri. She was with Finnick when I announced it.

[He's not looking forward to telling her. The poor girl's in enough pain, but he has to make it clear to her that it's not forever and hopefully that will be enough.]

[slay]

Announced it. Wow. Be a little more impersonal, why don'tcha. [ She doesn't mean to be snippy, but it comes out before she means it to: ] Got a press release you'd like me to put out for Mr. and Mrs. Odair?

[nothingsodivine]

I sort of got caught up in the moment, all right? [He squints a bit, struggling with something, and then sighs.] Last night was emotional for us all.

[slay]

I'll say.

[ She relents a little at that, settling down to sit on the edge of the bed, loosely lacing her hands in front of her. Her shoulders hunch with the weight of it all. ]

You know how when you ride a roller coaster, even after you get off, it feels like you're still moving? [ Lips pulled into a thin line, she nods. ] I'm still moving.

[nothingsodivine]

Sometimes it's like that. [He walks over to the other side of the bed and perches there.] And sometimes, even after the effect's supposed to have worn off, the feeling stays, 'cause you know if you slow down, it'll start up again.

Don't make it harder on yourself, Blondie. You did real good out there. We both did. And yet... [he sighs] ... here we are, stuck on what we missed. All the bad that's still in the world.

[slay]

[ An amused smile tugs at her lips as he continues. She waits until he's done, then nods with her eyebrows raised. ] Not exactly what I was getting at, but good to know I'm not the only one.

[ She shakes her head. ]

I just mean ... I'm still processing.

[nothingsodivine]

[He nods slowly, dragging his tongue down his bottom teeth in a thoughtful, yet awkward gesture.] Right. That makes sense.

I mean, Rafael really did win the Grammy, didn't he? [He looks back over at her, forcing a wry smile to coax her into a laugh at his pathetic attempt to find humor in that situation.]

[slay]

[ It works: she chuckles, rolling her eyes a little bit to indicate her reluctance in it. But when she looks back at him, it's all fondness and warmth despite her sarcastic tone of voice. ]

Yeah, I guess he's actually not bad at this pop star business. Who knew?

[nothingsodivine]

[he shrugs, drawing one leg up onto the bed and wrapping his arms around it so he can rest his chin on his knee and observe her.] How's he doing, anyway?

[slay]

Improving.

[ Reluctantly declared. She isn't going to be the one to spill Rafael's business to Des, not in detail anyway. She looks down at her hands, fidgeting somewhat. ]

The last couple months were ... He's been having a rough time of it. [ She looks back up at him, preempting: ] Which is still a crappy excuse for taking you off speed dial; I know. But he's getting through it.

[nothingsodivine]

We all have our moments. [he shrugs. whatever fears rafael may have had about des's anger seem to be exaggerated, because he doesn't look like he minds that much.] He's alive. That's what matters. everything else is history.