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

[65]

[it's not like he hasn't been listening; he already knows what's waiting for him on the other side of the door. at least in the sense that the rest of the party is back at the hotel and he's going to have to talk to them and the entire thing just makes him want to throw up. good thing he's already ... here in the bathroom. he just can't live the lie anymore, he can't go along with the dream when it feels like the capitol is in his head, picking apart every single detail. planting things to make him feel safe and comfortable and then twisting it around to be anything but. ]

Why?

[graveflowers]

[ her eyes close and her forehead drops against the door. all she wants is for finnick to feel safe and she knows this is the last place for that. ]

Myri wants to see you. It's just Myri. And, well, me, I'm here, obviously. I'll keep everyone else away, I promise. But Myri needs to see you.

[ (diplomacy 20 total) she feels so bad, like she's forcing this upon him, but her heart is hurting for myri at the same time and it's impossible to not at least try. ]

[65]

[his will save was a crit fail :( even though he thinks myri is just a construct of lies, he can't turn her away. so the door makes a small clicking noise as he unlocks it.]

[nothingsodivine]

[As Des watches the scene unfolding in front of the bathroom, Des's expression falters even more and his hands stop fidgeting. For a second, he's eerily still and when the door clicks shut behind Myri, he flinches.]

I think... I think I'm gonna go back to Manhattan. Not forever. Just until we move forward again. This mission... It's not what it started out as. It's so much bigger than... [his tongue catches on the words he's about to say] ...than some dream I once had.

[♫ this beggar's heart- amy bishop]

A few years ago, I would've left it alone, felt like I'd lost something because I'd been chasing ghosts all this time, but I... can't let this one go. But it can't be my whole life, anymore. I look around and I see everything this whole clusterfuck has done to everyone and it kills me. And sometimes I think it honestly will, now that it can. [He holds up his hand, displaying his ring finger.] Isabella's right. I'm not one of you. And I owe him so much more than what I've given him, while I'm off trying to fix things that I can't fix. And I'm honestly sorry I can't.

[shootfirst]

Are you really pulling that 'not one of us' shit out again, now? [ so much sympathy, young samcelot ] Now's when we need to stick together more than ever.

[nothingsodivine]

Still got a husband in Manhattan who doesn't wanna hear about my untimely death on the news. [dramatic speeching or not... there is that.] I said it wasn't forever. I meant it. But I can't live at the Holly House forever.

[savemyself]

[ ♬ i can't make you love me - alex g

any further arguments are cut off as the door to side room opens and isabella comes sweeping out. she pulls up short when she sees just how full the room is now, every eye turning towards her just out of the sense of interruption.

she looks pale, clearly upset, but there's no touch of anger to it. she does lift her chin as they stare, her usual pride evident as she glances around the room and clearly marks buffy's absence from it. she brushes forward, directly for the door, voice tense as she says curtly: ] I am going to call Burt.

[graveflowers]

[ with her face still mostly pressed into the pillow and still tucked against the wall, vi comes to des' defense. it surprises her too, don't worry. ]

Come on, Kat. Any one of us can take a break if we need it, that includes Des, even if he keeps claiming he's not a part of this team. We can't keep up this fight if our hearts aren't in it. He deserves to have a marriage and, I don't know if you've been paying much attention, but we don't have the best luck with those in this group. He deserves to give it his best shot and have a life. Even if it's in that cesspool of death and bacteria he calls an apartment.

[doubletake]

[Something seems to snap Elena out of being lost in her own thoughts because she finally moves from where she's standing.]

I need some air.

[And then she just...walks out of the room. Is there a balcony? That's probably where she'll go. If not, time to stand outside in an alley for awhile.]

[littledhampir]

[Rose's face is like... wait when did you get married?! At Des for a moment but, she's not about to weigh in on the should he shouldn't he go, instead talk of relationships prompting her to whip out her phone as she flops into a seat beside Alainn and fires off the text she promised to send to Dean;

Back at the hotel. Things got interesting but everyones alright. Mostly.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Isabella's return is met with a pained look from Des that makes him almost miss Vi's back-up. It's only when Elena steps out that he musters up his voice again.]

And on that note, I have had enough fun for one evening. If something pressing comes up... it can wait until the morning.

[he is falling into bed now. goodnight moon. LOOK AT LEAST HE ISN'T OLLYING OUT RIGHT THIS SECOND. he does stop, halfway to his room.]

And Spike has a point about Nadia. [AND NOW HE'S GONNA GO BED.]

[attollores]

[meanwhile, during the Big Discussion, Alainn would have hobbled into the room with the rest of her team, still using her shiny staff to support herself. When Vi heals her some she smiles and whispers a grateful thank you to her, shoulders slumping in relief.

When Rose and her team enter the room more of her tension seeps away at seeing them whole and unharmed. Myri's healing does a lot to fix the really bad burns, the flesh knitting up tidily fresh and pink. There are still some very obvious burns present, but at least now she's able sit comfortably without wanting to throw up with the pain.

She takes a seat on the couch, answering Roses question with a wry chuckle-] Rocket launcher, actually. Damn nearly had me done for. Ye look like ye got nary a scratch.

1/idk 4?

[savemyself]

[ if you think isabella didn't react to walking out right into a speech about people deserving to have a marriage and a life and this team having no luck with that YOU WERE WRONG. she paused at the door, hand on the handle, shoulders tight, at the words, finally slipping out without looking back. ]

2/-

[rationalizes]

I hate to think what else they might have access to, if they were able to get their hands on that much of an arsenal so quickly. [ she moves to stand beside the couch, looking at kat and alainn with concern ] I'm just... relieved we all made it back here alive.

3/4

[dragonsclaw]

[ the balcony door slides open as she speaks, and jack walks up behind her ] Alive, perhaps, but as always, there was a cost. [ his voice is low, grave, as he looks towards the bathroom door ] We'll have Tia examine him when he return to the castle. Perhaps there's something that can be done from the inside.

4/4

[romanticidal]

[ it's at that moment that the bedroom door opens again, and this time rafael steps out slowly, absently shutting the door behind him. he looks almost as if he's shocked, still processing something and uncertain how to do it. his eyes drag across the room, seeing but not seeing, and he opens his mouth to say something but stops himself, running his hand through his hair in a gesture of further muted surprise. his eyes light upon des by the door, and he raises both eyebrows at him in a sort of sad acknowledgment of the fact that they've... barely had a real chance to say so much as hello since coming back. he skulks around the edge of the room to cut him off from leaving quite yet, trying not to draw too much attention to himself as he lowers his voice to ask: ] Did Isa--? [ he nods towards the door, frowning. ]

[witchwoman]

[All sorts of doors are opening and closing. Myri leaves the bathroom, expression blank. She moves back into the room, unable to look any of them in the eye for fear of losing the shaky grasp she has of control right now.]

Do any of you need..? Are you still hurt?

[Shut down like this, her empathy is just a dull ringing in the back of her mind, barely a tug in any direction. She can't risk feeling anything right now.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des lets Isabella and Elena go ahead of him, staring after them long after they're gone with a concerned expression that seems to suggest a lot of feelings for both of them. Rafael's return is met with a slow nod and another look at the door, before the click of the bathroom door and the look on Myri's face breaks his heart anew. He grabs a hold of Rafael's shoulder to pull him aside so Myri can take the floor... and probably so he doesn't have to deal with the emotional ramifications of the fact that they've probably lost Finnick. It's too much right now.]

Yeah, she left... [He runs a hand over his face, unsure of what was said, but having a pretty good idea. He's sort of... the number one Buffael shipper. BUT MAN, POOR ISA. POOR EVERYONE.] Said she had to call Burt.

1/2

[chessing]

Nothing that we can't rest off for now, Myrilandel. [ it's said gently, but firmly enough on jack's part that it's clear he thinks myri's had enough to contend with tonight. ] Something we should all think of doing.

[romanticidal]

I see. [ raf's voice drops even lower as he asks the next question, which seems to bubble up in spite of his best efforts to clamp it down ] And... Buffy?

[nothingsodivine]

Stepped out on the balcony to talk to Jack. Still there, actually. [He releases Rafael's shoulder, nodding in that direction.] You should... probably go talk to her. I'm gonna go... Talk to Isabella.

[That is a terrible idea, but someone has to do it. SHE DOESN'T REALLY THINK STRAIGHT WHEN SHE'S BEEN BROKEN UP WITH.]

[romanticidal]

If you think it wise. I do not know how much of a mood she will be in to... talk. [ he grimaces, but doesn't protest any more than that, because clearly he's just like HOW DO I SHOT WOMEN rn. in fact, he glances at the balcony doors like he's not sure that's a great idea at this moment either. HESITATES. ]

[nothingsodivine]

No one's in a good mood right now. [chuckles] C'mon, Fluffster. You two haven't talked in months. Might as well make up for lost time. [he gives him a friendly punch on the arm and... ducks out the door, poking his head back in to say:] I think Elena needs some help getting to her room. She kinda... fell asleep out here.

[AND DUCKING OUT. Someone can take care of Elena bb.]

1/2

[romanticidal]

... Si, you are right. [ he stands there as des vanishes, starts towards the doors, glancing surreptitiously at myri as he goes by, worry creasing his brow. jack meets his gaze as he reaches for the balcony doors, and gives him a small nod, and then he slips out. ]

2/2

[shootfirst]

I can go get Elena. [ kat volunteers herself a little too quickly, looking uncomfortable as myri comes back in, the reality of all this finnick shit crashing in on them slowly. the suffocating atmosphere of traumatic emotion is her fav, we all know :| she starts to push herself up, wincing. ]