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

[witchwoman]

But I am! [Even if he's not panicked, she's starting to lose the light hold she has on keeping herself together.] I'm real, Finnick. And so is our child- and I... we need you.

[65]

I can't. [he's just gonna cry now, nbd. it's not like he doesn't look like he's been crying already.] I can't — if I had a child — don't you know what would happen?

[witchwoman]

[She can't stand the sight of it, can't bear to keep her distance once he starts to cry. Kneeling on the floor in front of him, she reaches for him, just to lay her hands on his.]

Not here. Never here. Finnick, you left that place. The Veil brought you here, brought you to me.

[65]

[he flinches as she touches him, but doesn't recoil away. so that's ... something. sort of.] No, I just dreamed that. I just dreamed it, it was all a lie. Then I woke up, and now I know — I know that they're in my head, so I can't do anything. I can't.

[witchwoman]

How, Finnick? How could you dream me up? And if you did, then why did it take us so long to get where we...are. [Or were.]

You dreamt of me leaving you? Of finding myself tortured for months for Sarandis' experiments? Why would you ever dream that?

[65]

I've had nightmares for years. Why not? Why wouldn't I?

[witchwoman]

If this was meant to be your escape, how would that ever help you? [She shakes her head and closes her eyes briefly, trying to calm her thoughts.]

Tell me what I can do. Tell me what to say, so that I can prove to you how real I am. I'll do anything, Finnick. Please...

[65]

I ruined my escape. Just like I ruined everything else. [his tone gets sharper as his anxiety spikes.] I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Myri.

[witchwoman]

[She looks crushed, unsure of what to say or do.]

I'm real. [she says helplessly, letting go of his hands and slumping the rest of the way to the bathroom floor in front of him.] I'm real and I love you. I married you... Stargods, please-- [Her eyes move up towards the ceiling as if her gods might appear. They didn't fail her when she last needed them most. They sent her Jack and Thomas, but...at what cost did she find freedom then?]

[65]

[he bows his head down, tears resurging anew.] Stop it! Stop.

[witchwoman]

I can't... I can't stop. I can't stop loving you. And I can't make you believe me. So I need you to tell me what to do, Finnick. I need you.

[65]

I can't — [he chokes on his words as they become overpowered by the dying animal noise that comes out of this throat instead.] Just leave me alone!

[witchwoman]

[Years ago, the harsh words would have dissolved Myri into hysterics, begging him, pleading to not do this. But Myri wasn't the same person she had been when she first came through the Veil. The time she spent captured and tortured had given her the ability to hide her pain.

Nothing she had ever experienced to date was as painful as hearing him demand her to leave.

A mask snaps over her features, hiding away the emotions she dares not show the world. (Will 28) Calmly, she stands, looking down at him for a moment more, feeling as though she very well might be saying s silent goodbye. Words creep up her throat but she refuses to let them make it past her lips. She can't reach him. Not now, perhaps not ever.

Without a word, she turns and opens the bathroom door, opening it only enough to slip outside. Her eyes find Vi, but still she keeps her true emotions hidden away. She knows if she lets even one crack through, she'll crumble.]

[graveflowers]

[ she flinches as the door opens, but doesn't move right away. all it took was for mark to touch her shoulder for her to break down, she doesn't want to be the breaking point for myri, she can't be. she knows how hard it is to hold up that façade, how it takes literally every ounce of strength. she won't be the first hammer to myri's walls. she waits until myri is back tending to the walking wounded before standing up and slowly edging the door open again to see finnick. ]

I'm gonna get you a blanket, okay? [ because she's putting her pillow down next to him. it would probably be better to get him into an actual bed but that would involve getting him through the sea of people in the main room and she feels no need to invite that kind of trouble when it could be avoided, especially when finnick would just chime in with "it doesn't matter". the bathroom is his safe haven, why would she disrupt it more if she doesn't have to? ]

[65]

[he doesn't say anything, just scoops up her pillow so he can ... press his face into it and deposit his tears there. yep. that's a thing.]

[graveflowers]

[ that's good enough of an answer for her. turning to head back into the alcove, she stands on her tiptoes to drag the spare blanket down from the closet shelf, shaking it out and shoving the spare pillow away with her toes. she drags it back to him and simply covers him up with it, trying to be careful not to actually touch him. ]

I'll be outside, if you need anything.

[ she lingers a moment, wanting to say more, but instead closes the door behind her and takes up her post again, returning to her silent watch. ]