manhattan ♔ there is no knot so steadfast | it won't go broke in the middle of monsoons

[silvermaid]

♬ two years before the mast - astronautalis

WHO || Violet Reedhym, Luthir Reedhym, Myrilandel de Tanos, Finnick Odair, Anastacia O'Keefe, Faith O'Keefe, Nicholas Starkweather
WHAT || The Knights attempt to free Vi from the influence of the Nightmare God Malaak'a
WHERE || Manhattan, New York
WHEN || June 7th, 2014
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

Some choices are almost impossible to make. For a year, the Knights have watched Violet fading, the way she always does with the winter thanks to her connection to her mother Persephone. Except in this case, there was no getting better with the arrival of spring. If anything, she's only spiraled further into depression, and it's clear that if this continues, it will spell the end of her sooner than later.

Keijen Blade appeared to several of the Knights in their dreams, to caution them of Vi's impending fate, and to tell them that their plan to save her will end in blood. Of course, he had his own alternative to offer: that she take a deal from Malaak'a that would allow the god to see through her eyes into this world. Realizing that the plan offered by Sehanine to use Faith O'Keefe's dreamwalking ability to sever the connection might simply result in someone giving their life to save hers, Vi agreed to take the offer in one month. However, on the evening of their wedding, Luthir talked her into going through with the goddess' plan, promising not to go into her dream with them.

Their car pulls up in front of Des' horrible rundown apartment building, where they're meant to track down Nicholas Starkweather - a friend of Des', who is apparently also a unicorn. Look, he knows people.

Comments

[witchwoman]

[So this is the first time Myri has been to Des' apartment and she is... not impressed.]

Is this... the right place?

[Wow Vi wasn't kidding about how bad this place looks.]

[graveflowers]

Un-fucking-fortunately. [ fire. fiiiiiiiire. she scowls at the building before basically shoving herself out the door to march inside. she should have gotten shots. ]

[65]

It's ... well, no, it's actually worse inside. [finnick's here to be ur little rainbow. he follows in after vi, holding myri's hand and pulling her along.]

[silvermaid]

[ there is absolutely none of your judgment reflected in anastacia's smile as she looks up at the building as if it were bright, shiny, and brand sparkling new. she's practically glowing. ]

All this time, he lived just around the corner. [ and she happily heads up the stairs looking around at everything as if it were OH SO MAGICAL ]

[graveflowers]

Teaching kindergarten, yeah. Is it just me or is anyone else really weirded out by Des, Mr Liar Liar Pants on Fire, being friends with the actual epitome of goodness and light magic? Just me? Okay.

[ KNOCK KNOCK. she has that little piece of paper des gave her with the address, so she just bangs a mariachi beat on the right door. ] Candy gram for Nick Starkweather. I hope you like caramel cremes!

[desperatewarning]

[There's a lengthy pause after Violet stops knocking, followed by the sound of several locks being undone in rapid succession. The door opens a crack, held back by the door's chain and half a bespectacled face peers out at them, taking them in with a suspicious look.

And then it must hit him, because he awkwardly backs away and starts to undo the chain.]

Oh! Yes. Right. You must be- you must be Violet. I, ah... wasn't expecting so many of you. Not a problem. Not a problem at all. Just... might have to make more tea is all. Give me a second. Bloody door.

[And he finally throws open the door, revealing an extremely tall, thin man with black-framed glasses, blonde hair with streaks of silver shot through and blue eyes. He's tall enough that he has to bend a bit to actually see them, because he's.... taller than the door frame. He waves pleasantly.] Hello!

[Just behind him, you can see his apartment, though tiny, is actually quite clean and neat.]

[65]

I was almost expecting a talking horse. [FINNICK JUST COMES RIGHT OUT WITH IT. and strolls on in, taking a look around. it's so clean. praise the lord.]

[graveflowers]

[ ...omigosh it's a unicorn. ] Oh why did I have to get married.

[ or, hi.

yeah, she gives negative fucks that the person she married is probably right behind her. HE KNOWS HER, HE SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT. at least finnick will have been expecting what follows as she follows him in. ] Are the locks to keep out Voldemort?

[ actual grown up. yup. ]

1/2

[luthir]

[ luthir just... is going to stand right behind her. and size this guy up. look, the last time she said something like that, she actually married the guy. ]

[silvermaid]

[ meanwhile, guess what fuckers. anastacia is not only staring in wonder, but as soon as she gets a hold of herself, she's going to

kneel. in the hallway.

yep. but she's smiling so much. ] It's an honor to see you again. [ faith meanwhile is looking at her like ... uh mom do i have to do that too idk about this ]

[desperatewarning]

Yes, well a lot of good a horse would do keeping up my rental agreement. [SO OFFENDED FINNICK. Nick looks back at Violet and gives her a sheepish smile, but before he can answer her, his eyes light on Anastacia and he has to sort of duck past the group to kneel in front of her. For someone so tall and gangly, he's actually quite graceful.]

Kin of My Heart. [I'm sorry that probably sounds so funny in Stephen Merchant's accent, but HE MEANS IT AND IT'S VERY FOND. SHUT YOUR FACE.] It's been years.

[moonheart]

You're really The Unicorn? [ oh my god that's kinda rad, mom. faith is less good at this whole family unicorn connection thing tho and also not a graceful delicate princess so she's just gonna throw her arms around his neck since he kneeled down for them. like he's a horse. ] Hi!

[desperatewarning]

[HE DOES NOT FALL OVER. But it's a concern there for a second, because he does not have a horse's manly upper body strength. He balances himself by placing a hand on the floor and breaks into a laugh that has an edge of a whinny in it.]

Ah, yes. That would be me. [He has the nervous smile of a frightened woodland creature surrounded by Snow Whites. NOT SURE IF I SHOULD RUN OR FROLIC AND CLEAN THEIR HOUSE???] You must be Faith, yeah?

[moonheart]

[ she'll let him go, ok. mostly because she wants to look in his unicorn house!! ] That's me! Faith O'Keefe, dreamwalker. Here to save the day. With a little unicorn mojo.

[graveflowers]

Yeah about that, anyone want to explain to me how that is going to work? Like specifically, with diagrams and maybe a power point presentation. [ she's just going to make herself at home and sprawl on the couch after she kicks her flip flops off. ] Really specific specifics, bullet points would be nice.

[desperatewarning]

[Nick stands up and offers Anastacia a hand to help her get to her feet, because he's a gentleman like that.]

Right so. Bit of a tricky part. I'll have to, ah, change back, which is gonna get awkward, if I'm honest. Big horse. Tiny apartment. Lots of people. But if none of you make any sudden movements... should be fine. Yeah. Ah, anyway. Once I've resumed my normal form, I will tap my horn to Faith's heart, [he gives her a gentle tap on the sternum because he's a unicorn and that's not sexual harassment] just give her a little boost, and she'll take a journey into Violet's nightmares. Well, she and... whoever intends to accompany her.

[He takes a breath.] The rest of us will just stay here and drink tea- that was the point of the tea, actually. Bit nervewracking waiting for something like this.

[witchwoman]

How many of us could..? [Myri glances over towards Vi. She's not really sure if she supposed to ask this question. Is she more useful sitting watch on the outside? Possibly. She sort of assumes Vi has no interest in Myri dropping in on her dreams.]

[moonheart]

I tap out at five people. So me, Vi, Nick - and we could take two more.

I mean, I might be able to stretch it, given the boost I'll be getting, if we wanted more, but I wouldn't push past six.

[graveflowers]

Myri and Finnick and Luthir are staying. [ she will fucking cut y'all bitches. /ignores are y'all's agency. ]

And then what happens. [ she doesn't care about your tea, tbh. ] I just get to be lucid while I'm watching all my many many failures dancing around in front of me? That... [ doesn't sound like a plan. she looks at luthir. how is this a plan. this sounds like an awful plan. it sounds like literally the most useless plan in all the land. especially if she's not going to actually do anything but put faith in danger while her mom is right there. waiting for her to come back. which she might not if blade was being serious, which vi wholeheartedly believes he was.

she can't do this, which she tries to relay to luthir with some really aggressive telepathy that she doesn't... actually possess. ]

[desperatewarning]

It'll be easier to explain once we're inside.

[Oh there's that unekern crypticness everyone loves. In fact some of the bumbling, stuttering awkwardness that he's been exhibiting has almost melted away.

He steps back.] If you would just look away. This is dreadfully embarrassing. And stand back. I don't want to impale anyone.

[Once he's positive no one is looking, UNICORN MAGIC HAPPENS AND...

♪ the last unicorn- america

there is now a giant horse in this tiny apartment. yay. The Unicorn gives his mane a good shake. It's noteworthy that he has the same sea-blue eyes as Nick. In case you were worried or something.]

[moonheart]

[ faith gets the dumbest look of happiness on her face over here ] Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

[65]

Me too. [GRINNING. he's not going to touch the unicorn tho. don't they impale nonvirgins??? no thx.]

[witchwoman]

[That's a horse. That's a... well, it's not a horse. But it is. And it's also that very tall man. And a horse. Uhmmmmmmm.]

[silvermaid]

[ remember to breathe, anastacia. look at those hearts in her eyes. ] Majestic as I remember.

[desperatewarning]

[Yeah, yeah. Damn right he's majestic. Except he's a noble and genuinely humble creature, so it's just sort of a casual acknowledgement of her words.] I'll make certain Violet and your daughter return safely.

[He glances over at Violet on the couch, expectantly. The Unicorn gave his word that he will protect you!!!

The Unicorn who still sounds like Stephen Merchant. SHHHH.]