chicago ♔ it’s a tragedy to be left only with memories

[savemyself]

WHO || Failboat and friends [Closed]
WHAT || As the trial drags on, the Knights spend their last few months in Chicago and tensions mount
WHERE || Various locations, Chicago
WHEN || November 21st - The end of the trial?? [Back AND Forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam, don't sweat tag order


Everybody loves a media circus and the trial of Rafael Giovanni is no exception. If he was famous before, in the days following the shooting, now he's all people are talking about, and all the tabloids want to focus on. The complications presented at some of the early hearings by Jaka, regarding the identity of the Black Scourge and Rafael's alleged reaction have only made the story more appealing to the millions watching.

They've also caused the trial to drag out for months as facts are checked, evidence is poured over, and the jury becomes only more split on the issue. In the meantime, the holidays fly by, and one of the most terrible winters in years blankets Chicago in blizzards.

This log covers any work and non-work related shenanigans the Knights have while staying in Chicago, immediately following the last log and continuing for the next couple months. This will be the Knight's last time in Chicago before the trial: after which they plan to return to the castle to fully Knight Violet and Elena and decide where to head next.

Make your own threads, don't fuss about tag order, feel free to threadjack multiple people into one thread for hang-outs, ask me if you want a certain scene with an NPC, etc. forever whatever.

Comments

finnick | ota

[65]

[welp. in the time after myri and finnick's falling out, he's went from spending a lot of time on the balcony to literally ... living on the balcony (so myri can have their room. wouldn't want to bother her) and only coming inside to use the bathroom and get more booze. he's basically just shut down, it's pretty bad. he doesn't even mind the arctic chicago winter; all the alcohol gives him the false impression of being warm. and he has a coat.]

[socialgraces]

[ francesca's going to rescue you whether you like it or not :|

she saunters out on his balcony, bundled up in all her cute new winter gear, pausing against the railing to pull out a smoke ] You know, if you want somewhere to hide that has heat, I do have a private room down the hall.

[65]

[he slowly looks up at her and considers her offer. it's probably better than ... freezing to death, that's true. even still, all he can muster is a very flat and apathetic] It doesn't matter.

[socialgraces]

[ she takes a moment to light her cigarette, still looking out toward the city ] It matters to me. To Myri, and the rest of the group. Hell, I think even Burt Becksworth has taking an interest in your well-being, even if everything's been greatly overshadowed by this trial.

[65]

[OH NO ... SHE SAID THE M-WORD ... he instantly somehow looks even more crestfallen than he did before.] Okay ... I'll go inside.

[socialgraces]

[ she's surprised by this sudden change, but she notices exactly when it happens (wis 21). she finally turns to him, her voice softer than before, although still somehow not condescending (diplomacy 46). there's something about her tone, her body language, and her words that's comforting, or even inviting ]

Something's happened. [ it's not a question, because she already knows the answer ] Can we talk about it, since, you know, that's why I'm here. [ as she motions to the Chicago winter surrounding them ] To help you.

[65]

Okay. [the diplomacy isn't even that necessary tbh, francesca is one of the few people he feels like he can still open up to. which is why he does, as he staggers to get up out of his chair.]

It's not — I can't even say that she doesn't care. She cares too much. I was hurting her, but I can't — I can't fix it. I can't give her what she wants.

[socialgraces]

[ it's hard not to immediately resort to diplomacy in situations like this, it's her defensive mechanism, and it's almost instinct at this point. however, she's never been in a position where she so terribly dreads the outcome, should she fail. she's never been quite so afraid, not even when facing her own life and death situations. but she can't let that show now; she can't let him possibly believe he might be burdening anyone else by not being able to cope with whatever demons he's attempting to face down.

so she reaches for his hand, tenderly wrapping her own around it, as she steps forward to steady him, if need be. ] And what is it she wants?

[65]

[he'll be okay once he's up. probably. in any case, he's making his way inside.] The old me. The one who doesn't drink and sleep all day. And isn't consumed by self-doubt.

[socialgraces]

[ wow, that feels like a punch to the gut, but she's quick to push her own uncertainties aside, following him into the warmth ] Do you think yourself able to become that person again? Is that what you want?

[65]

I don't know what I want. [a soft, almost-chuckle escapes from under his breath.] Maybe for people to stop asking me what I want.

[socialgraces]

I think that's a valid request.

I... I understand what it's like, to be so unsure of yourself. No matter where you turn, nothing's like it used to be, and you don't know how to change, or even if you would, should you find a way.

And everyone's pushing for answers, as if you haven't asked yourself the same questions over and over again, to no avail.

[65]

That's exactly what it's like. [wow walking is an adventure. he'll be glad when they make it to her room.] I wish I could just make it all go away, but I can't.

[lawofsurvival]

[ hey gurl hey, jaka's coming out for a cig and crashing ur balcony space. ] I don't suppose you have a light.

[65]

[wtf r u doing on his balcony. that is all finnick can think as he stares at him before replying] I don't smoke.

[lawofsurvival]

This might be a good time to start.

[65]

What does that even mean? [he is too drunk for this shit tbh.]

[lawofsurvival]

It soothes the nerves. [ he offers one out of the pack ]

[65]

[ukw, whatever. he'll try it. it's not like lung cancer could make his life any worse /melodrama. he takes a cigarette.] I thought you needed a light, though.

[lawofsurvival]

[ he snaps his fingers and the end of the cigarette leaps with a small flame. ] Well, I wasn't going to use magic if there was one around.

[65]

Oh. Well. Thanks. [this is so weird. he would probably feel more stranger danger vibes from jaka if he had any fucks left to give right now, but so far his fucks field is still barren. idk i decided to roll wis to see if he'd end up choking to death on his cigarette like sandy from grease or not and he got a nat 20, so i guess he's just that good.]

[lawofsurvival]

[ jaka lights his own as well, taking a long drag, and exhaling over the balcony edge ] The trial should be over soon. What will you and your merry band do then?

[65]

[in a voice that sounds utterly exhausted] Go back to England, I guess? I don't know.

[lawofsurvival]

[ he looks casually across the cityscape, a view that's burned into finnick's brain by now ] Back to your Knighthood?

[65]

[he tilts his head to look up at jaka so sloooowly] You know about that?

[FOR THE FIRST TIME HE CONSIDERS HOW MUCH HE'S BEEN DRINKING RECENTLY.]