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

[slay]

[ It takes the entirety of her 31 will save to keep from decking Burt then and focus instead on crossing the room to where Rafael is and help him find his chill. She reaches one hand out, resting it on his chest, and leans in to meet his gaze, putting herself between him and Burt. ]

Hey, it's fine. [ Her eyes flick back towards Burt, sharp and dangerous. ] You need to stop talking. Now. [ It's not really her place to explain (especially if Isa didn't), and even if she tried, she wouldn't exactly know what to call this so. ] We were sleeping. [ Ok they were. Kissing. But. The flush in her face is anger not dainty embarrassment. Fuck you.

The real question: why isn't this exactly what Buffy anticipated opening the door ? ?? Why didn't she climb out the window ? ?? ? ]

1/2

[starfucker]

Uh huh. And I was getting my dick sucked by Kanye. [ he does not believe u it's a losing fight ] Like I said, I'm on your side here, aight? Lest you fucking forget, I'm not exactly a fan of being on the wrong side of that fiery Spanish temper either. And I do not put it past that chick to kill the messenger. I value my balls too highly to put them at that kind of risk.

[romanticidal]

[ rafael is tense under her palm, but he stops glaring daggers at burt long enough to meet her gaze when she draws near, and he'd search her eyes for a moment, some of his rage dying out as he shares a private moment of silent communication with her over their shared recognition that while burt deserves to get his face punched in, now is probably not the time. ] There is something you should probably know.

[slay]

[ A soft smile touches on Buffy's lips as she watches Rafael find his chill. ] He's right, though. I need to change before someone sees me like this and makes the same assumptions. [ She reaches into his jacket pocket while it's still unbuttoned and pulls out his phone. ] You should catch him up.

[ Since Buffy maintains that it's not really her position to do so. She gestures between them, then looks at Rafael as though she's setting the ground rules for a kid not throwing a party while their mom's gone. Pointing towards Rafael with his phone, she arches her eyebrows and adds emphatically, ] Don't dismember him.

[ She steps off to the side of the room and calls Des, frowning when it rings through to voicemail. ]

1/2

[starfucker]

[ meanwhile, rafael has apparently dropped the bomb b/c she would hear burt loudly say: ] The fuck?! ... Are you pulling my dick right now? Or is this one of your Engrish lost in translation moments?

[romanticidal]

I mean what I have said, Burt. There will not be any wedding.

[slay]

[ That winds up on Des' voicemail. That's it. That's the message. Buffy looks away from the phone, a slightly startled look on her face. Then she puts her mouth back to the receiver and tacks on at the end, ] Call me back when you get this.

[ And then she ends the call because that's going to be super helpful. She lowers the phone and heads back to Rafael and Burt. ]

So he's taking it well? [ She addresses Rafael instead of acknowledging the presence of Satan in the room. ]

1/2

[romanticidal]

[ raf glances at her, but frowns as he continues trying to explain to burt: ] I know you were very interested in the publicity of the engagement - you made this very obvious - [ no, he doesn't sound a little bitter what are you talking about ] but --

[starfucker]

[ and to his surprise... burt laughs ] Are you fucking kidding me? If you ask me, this is the best news since my lawyer made those harassment charges disappear. What's the only thing bigger than a celebrity wedding? A celebrity broken engagement. Christ Himself couldn't shit that kind of gold.

[slay]

[ Just. This face.

She stares at Burt finally, a little disturbed, a lot confused. What. The. Fuck. Slowly, she blinks out of her disbelief and draws in a breath to prepare herself to fucking deal with this. ]

I'm really glad you're being so sensitive about all this.

1/2

[starfucker]

For fuck's sake, it was hardly much of an engagement in the first place. You were planning to get hitched for what? A whole week? Did you two even fuck once the whole time we were on tour, because I was starting to think maybe you swung for the other team when you two had separate rooms the whole time. I mean, I can never tell with you Italians, it's like is he just really fucking European or is he on a strictly cock-only diet, I just don't fucking know.

[romanticidal]

Alright, I think we have had enough of this. [ he just moves to place one hand on burt's shoulder and steer him towards the door, which he opens back up for him, to kick him right back out ] I will come out to the car when I am ready, Burt. Wait there.

[slay]

[ Buffy's eyes widen, and she drops her head, rubbing the side of her neck a bit awkwardly. It's 100% the look of someone who's trying not to listen to something that she actually really wants to listen to. Her body turns slightly away like they maybe need a moment of privacy, but she glances back over, eyebrows raised like, two hotel rooms?

And then Rafael's steering Burt away, and she drops her hand, straightening and gathering her composure to hurry off after them. ] And for the record? I'm gonna cut off a limb for every tabloid my name appears in, starting with your favorite, so don't even think about including this [ she gestures between the three of them ] in the press release you can't wait to make. [ All of this said from the yappy dog position of just behind Rafael's heels. ]

[romanticidal]

[ raf slams the door in his face as burt's eyebrows shoot up, staring at buffy, and then raf turns from the door to sit down hard on the edge of the bed and scrub his hands down his face ] ... I would say I am sorry you had to deal with that, but I do not like to think I have to take responsibility for him.

[slay]

[ The sigh that slips out of her is weary but resigned. She shakes her head, linking her arm with his and leaning against him warmly. They really don't have the greatest track record with hotel rooms. She slips his phone back into his jacket pocket, a movement that's as much to remind her to point out that Des isn't picking up (at a more appropriate time) as anything else. ]

I'm beginning to think next time someone knocks on the door? We pretend we're not home.

[ Lazily, she turns her gaze upwards on him. After a moment of silence to purge Burt's presence entirely, a smile finally settles in. ] Good morning. [ Said in a playful, "let's try this again" tone. ]

[romanticidal]

[ he turns to look down at her, the anger replaced by the twitch of his own smile, so easily caught from hers ] ... Good morning. [ and then his eyes trace down to his pocket, finally registering... that that happened ] Is everything--?

[slay]

I was just gonna call Des to bring me some clothes. [ She waves it off, but adds on with a slight hint of worry. ] He didn't pick up. I'm sure he's just passed out somewhere.

[romanticidal]

It was a long night for all of us, I think. [ he's quiet for a thoughtful beat, before adding: ] I imagine he is not happy with me.

[slay]

He's hurt.

[ She acknowledges. No point dancing around that. She disentangles her arm from his and turns to face him more fully, nodding. ]

You're his best friend. [ She says like she's not ??? ] And you missed a lot, but he'll understand.

[romanticidal]

I hope you are right. [ (unsure) ] You will have to help me catch up, no?

[slay]

Well. [ Maybe Des wants to tell Rafael himself, but ... Des doesn't get an opinion because he got fucking secret Vegas elopement married like an asshole. ] He and Zarad are married.

[romanticidal]

Married? [ he can't help it, that pulls a genuine surprised smile out of him. a pretty big one, tbh. ] You are kidding.

[slay]

Completely! [ She says in the most valley girl voice ever, as if one can be just a little bit married ?? ? She laughs about it now as she recounts, ] He didn't even invite anyone! They just ran off and did it. Then Des shows up with a ring, and— [ She shakes her head. ] It's just so classic Des.

[romanticidal]

Well, at least I did not miss a ceremony, then. I would never have forgiven myself.

... I'm happy for him. I do not know the man himself well, but it was clear how Des felt about him. He deserves such happiness.

[slay]

I don't know him all that well either, but ... [ With a fond, meaningful look up at Rafael, she makes her evaluation, nodding as she does. ] He's one of the good ones. Des is lucky.