chicago ♔ you don't have to be alone to be lonely | you might as well give in

[starfucker]

WHO || The Failboat, Rafael Giovanni, Isabella Alessandro, Hiro, Jaka, Burt Becksworth,  Desmond Descant, DA of Chicago [closed]
WHAT || A verdict is delivered, in the trial of Rafael Giovanni
WHERE || Chicago courthouse, Chicago, IL
WHEN || Friday, March 7th  [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

Months have passed, and the strange and unusual trial of Rafael Giovanni has finally drawn to a close.  Today is the day everyone's waited for, either in dread or anticipation: the day on which a verdict will finally be announced, for better or worse.

Following Des' desperate gambit to blame Eterna Jade for the assassinations Rafael once committed as the Black Scourge to lend justification to his insanity plea, Rafael and Buffy broke the sigil that had been granted to them by the mysterious group of men who all call themselves "Mr. Gray" - who had promised to turn the trial favorable for Rafael in exchange for some unnamed future favor.  Immediately following their decision to accept their aid, however, they were informed by Des that these men were part of a group that endeavored to bring suffering to humanity.  The conflict over events led to a physical altercation among the team - and this rift only widened cracks elsewhere.  Even Myri and Finnick's seemingly rock solid relationship fell apart, and she finally made the painful decision to take leave of the team and return to Chicago only days before the trial's conclusion.   

Now, what remains of the team gathers once more in the courthouse to learn the fate of their friend, after which they will finally be recalled to the castle to continue their search for the Talisman that led them to meet Rafael in the first place.
 

Comments

[nothingsodivine]

[Des is, justifiably, very nervous. He doesn't trust the Grays as far as he can throw them, even though they claimed it wasn't in their best interests to have him claimed by Iscariot and they did promise to fudge the trial enough to get a win, so, honestly, it should be a far more "done deal" than his desperate gambit was.

But he's tense as hell all the same. It's been a rough few months.]

[slay]

This doesn't feel right.

[ myri's absence is weighing heavy on buffy's mind as they enter the courtroom, taking seats. she's not speaking to anyone in particular, because she has to guess they're all feeling it. her voice is a low whisper. ]

She should be here.

[savemyself]

[ it's actually isabella who pipes up, her tone heavy with the usual bitterness, that probably just stems from nerves today. ] At least after today this will be over, and you can all go to see your friend again.

[nothingsodivine]

Another trip back to Castle Greyskull. [He blows his hair out of his face and leans on the railing.] I might skip this one.

[No, he will not skip this one.]

[65]

[getting to see her again doesn't really matter to finnick, because he feels sure that nothing really will change between them when the team returns to england. they'll go right back to unhealthily avoiding each other. he slumps forward sullenly, only finding solace in the chocolate chips he's once again mooching off vi.]

[starfucker]

[ burt walks in, looking less put together than usual, as if he had a night of hard drinking and... other less savory behaviors, don't ask. he rubs his nose as he goes to take his seat, bumping rafael on the shoulder with a fist as he walks by. solidarity. ]

[graveflowers]

[ vi is gonna ask, because the talking about myri and emergence of burt reminds her of something. ] Hey Bertram, are you a daddy yet? She was due round about now, wasn't she?

[starfucker]

She's about ready to pop any goddamn minute. I told her if her water breaks today before the verdict comes up, she better shove a wetnap up there and goddamn wait it out. [ yes, impending parenthood has done great things for him. much character development. so responsibility. still, he looks back across the courtroom to where said baby mama is seated near the back, decked out in leopard print and full to bursting with baby as promised. she gives a little wave and then blows him a kiss and he sighs and leans back, closing his eyes ] Tell me when it's over.

[romanticidal]

[ rafael has reached some kind of zen state of not-giving-a-fuckery apparently, as he just stares straight ahead, clearly just ready for this shit to be over and done one way or another. he doesn't make eye contact with anyone, including his shady ass lawyer who sits next to him, looking as if this is a done deal as he smiles that oily smile at anyone who looks at him.

it's announced that the judge is entering, and everyone is asked to rise as he makes his way to the bench. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des stands and glances around the room, taking in the people gathered, maybe specifically looking for someone or several someones, given the intensity with which he's scrutinizing the assembled group. (spot nat 20, which will never ever happen when I need it again)]

[divinehealer]

[ oh there are some familiar faces, alright, lined up against the back wall once more. a certain set of eyes are burning right into des' skull as he looks back that way too.

hi. ]

[slay]

[ noticing des turn his head to look, buffy mimics the gesture as she stands, and spots the line of grays. goddammit. she's 90% sure they made the right choice but it's still just a little creepy and uncomfortable. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des gives them all dirty looks and then faces forward again.

Fuck. Y'all.]

Buffy }

[nothingsodivine]

[It's been four months and no one can say that Des has not given Buffy and Rafael ample space to deal with their damage about his actions, while he continues to be belligerently convinced he did nothing all that wrong, compared to letting the Grays use Rafael as a chess piece.

But he has a lot of personal investment in the Buffael ship, which is why he runs after Buffy.] Blondie, hold up.

[slay]

[ it could not be more clear that her give-a-damn is still busted. she scoffs and rolls her eyes as she wheels around to face him. ] Now's not a good time.

[nothingsodivine]

Yeah, okay, I get it. You're still pissed. I'm reading the signals, but I don't like this any more than you do.

[and by this he clearly means voting Rafael off the island.]

[slay]

[ that's the only thing that keeps her from turning around and walking on. she watches him for a moment, grinding her teeth. she shifts her weight and finally answers. ]

So, what are we gonna do about it?

[nothingsodivine]

Not a whole lot you can do. Burt can burn you all now if he gets a mind to, so threatening him won't get you anywhere. I might be able to buy us time, but I can't promise anything. Best case scenario? Rafael gets to finish the case, but that's it. After that, he's gonna have to go back to Burt and you're gonna have to make a choice.

[slay]

You mean the choice where I figure out if I go with the knights, or stay in Chicago with him. [ it's clear the thought has already occurred to her when she says it. she may have already even made her decision, but since he's the one bringing it up, assuming that of her, it leads her to scrutinize him. ] Which do you honestly think is gonna happen?

[nothingsodivine]

[He shrugs.] I thought freelance would look good on you, but you've got that loyalty thing. [He nods his head towards the group, too far away to overhear them] But given the scatter, it's clear which basket all your eggs are in.

[slay]

[ she looks honestly sad that he says so - not because she's offended, or that the thought hadn't crossed her mind. she looks sad for him. ]

One of these days, you're gonna get it, Des. [ she shakes her head. ] I would never give up on my friends. [ things aren't perfect. not by any means. in fact, most of the people remaining on this mission, she's not sure would even call her a friend. but she would. ] Things are gonna get really bad before this is over. We're gonna need each other. We're gonna need to trust each other. That doesn't happen by walking away - no matter who it's for.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des shrugs.] Maybe I will.

[Or maybe he won't live that long. He just doesn't know. Either way, he changes the subject.] I'll talk to Burt at the party- he'll be riding high, drinking too much. Maybe I can convince him Rafael needs the closure or he'll never be worth a cent or get him thinking that taking him away from his new muse is a recipe for disaster.

[You're the new muse, Buffy. It's you. It is probably not true to life, but he will sell it like it is.]

[slay]

If this is supposed to be some half-baked apology - [ she gets defensive, because she's not going to touch that new muse shit. don't make her want to elbow you in the face again, des. ]

[nothingsodivine]

No, this is me doing what I do best. [Lying through his teeth and getting people to give him what he wants, whether it be information or one fluffy haired pop star briefly liberated from indentured servitude.]

I would've done it whether I pissed you off or not, so take it for what it is- me earning my keep.

[slay]

Drunk as a skunk or stone cold sober, Burt won't buy it. [ she's not getting her hopes up. ] He saw the way Rafael looked at Jade. We all did. National TV saw it, and he's never gonna look at anyone else the same way. There is no muse. No way out. [ she turns away then, not to bail on des, but to start walking so she doesn't think about the full weight of what she's just acknowledged. ]