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

[littledhampir]

[With the most pointlessly timed Nat 20 (listen check) Rose turns to look at the warehouse as Kat screams Alainn's name, having to fight every instinct she has to run back towards the fight (WS 26) as she climbs onto the boat with the others.

At Myris question however? Yeah she's look at Spike cause she's got nothing.]

[bigbad]

[Spike steps in front of the controls and frowns at them, cracking his knuckles.] Guess we'll find out. [And he starts hitting buttons and using the controls and pretending like he knows what he's doing but he seems to figure it out pretty fast at least (pilot 21). His listen check of 41 means he probably caught Kat yelling too (goddamn vampire ears) but he's forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. Get Nadia to safety. Trust the rest of the team to take care of themselves.]

[coldheritage]

[ as they sail away from the shore at top speed, nadia looks back towards the warehouse, with a frown ] Do not take this the wrong way, but I hope that this will be the last time a doppelganger has to take my face to throw others off my tracks.

[littledhampir]

[Rose's lips pull into a grim line, parting like she's about to speak but whatever she was going to say gets swallowed as she throws a look back at the warehouse. (WS 23)]

Here's hoping they just buy it long enough for you to get somewhere safe.

[bigbad]

Who knows. Maybe we'll even eventually stop having to throw others off your track.

[Hahaha, yeah no, Spike knows better than to expect that anytime soon.]

[rationalizes]

I hate not knowing what's going on back there.

[coldheritage]

[ nadia moves to the front of the boat, clutching the railing ] They're not going to stop coming for me. Especially not once I've gone public and I'm out there touring.

But I can't hide from them forever. There would be no point, because when their plan goes into action, there'll be nowhere to hide.

[littledhampir]

[With another crappy Will Save, Rose's face reflects her own concern as she looks back towards the shrinking warehouse, stomach twisting at the sight of smoke and the glow of flame. Running goes against every instinct she has, especially when she knows she has friends in danger.

Nadia's words pull her out of her own head however, Rose sparing a brief look at Gar that while meant to be encouraging, only shows that she's not alone in her worry for the others, before she can look to Nadia again, quiet a long moment as she turns her words over in her head.]

Mutual destruction. [(Wis 18).] If you can find a way to make it so that if anything happens to you, all your fans and the authorities look at him?

[coldheritage]

It's not much protection, but it's the best I have. I'll be honest about the fact that they're going to want to take me down, and if they do... Maybe it can at least be a wake up call.

[littledhampir]

I think we figured that one out already. [Rose is pretty sure those helicopters weren't for them. JS.

For a moment it looks like she's going to say something, offer assurances to Nadia that they'll protect her, that they won't let anything happen to her but if Keijen is as powerful as all that?]

Here's hoping it doesn't come to that. [She won't make promises none of them can guarantee.] Do you have somewhere to go?

[coldheritage]

Vladislov is arranging something - my singing partner. It was too dangerous for me to plan it myself - with my every move being monitored.

And I mean honest with more than you. With the public.

[witchwoman]

[Worry is written all over Myri's face, but she knows that she can't ask Nadia to change her mind or do anything differently. She deserves the chance to do things exactly as she wants to, to make this decision for herself.]

I wish that you would allow us the chance to keep someone with you during your tour. To help keep you safe.

[coldheritage]

There's no telling how long it will be. Would any of you really be willing to pull yourself away from what you do for so long?

[bigbad]

Considering you're actively fighting our enemy? Pretty sure it doesn't qualify as pulling away.

[rationalizes]

We can discuss the possibility with Jack or Wynn when we meet up with the others. [ the sound of distant helicopters catches her attention and she looks up in paranoia, but they're heading fast enough in the other direction that it looks like the other teams have bought them clear sailing ]

[littledhampir]

[Rose nods her head in agreement, silent as the helicopters fly overhead though some relief takes the place of concern. Whatever else as happened back there, at least it wasn't for nothing.]

So what's the plan now? Back to the hotel?

[rationalizes]

At least briefly, and then we'll see Nadia taken safely wherever she chooses.

[bigbad]

Assuming I can find it. [But with a navigate 15.... he's probably pretty good. At least at getting to whatever bit of shore is closest to the hotel.]

[witchwoman]

[Myri glances down and tries to discretely check her phone, hoping for some sort of text from Vi, something telling her that Finnick is better, or remembers their life together, some little sliver of hope that she won't be walking into a nightmare when they get to the hotel.

But there's nothing. Her eyes shut briefly and she just nods in response to Gar before turning to look out at the water, trying her best to keep from letting her emotions get the best of her.]

[littledhampir]

[Rose watches as Myri checks her phone, understanding without asking what is troubling her (Spot 33, Sense Motive 25) but rather than say anything, a hand snakes out to capture hers, squeezing gently as if to share some of her strength while the wind whips hair around her face as they journey towards the shore.]