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

[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.

[romanticidal]

[ he just gets kind of caught up in staring at her for a moment, his own expression growing to echo hers as he studies her features openly in a lingering beat that weighs down the conversation with something more than just gossip about des' love life ] ... He is. Let us hope he has fully realized just how much so. [ he barely hides the note of wistfulness in the unvoiced parallel, because he crit failed what do you want from him

#yallaregross]

[slay]

I think he does.

[ She steps in, slipping her hands loosely around his middle because she's too short to be casual about putting her arms around his neck. Moon eyes still in full force, she seems to step out of the goober-y parallel and set her mind back to the task of updating him about Des. ]

We should track him down before anyone ships out; we could all get breakfast or something.

[romanticidal]

I am slightly worried what Burt will show up to say next if I keep him waiting much longer.

[slay]

[ A slightly grumbled but relenting, ] Fair.

[ Her nose crinkles with dissatisfaction at the reality, and she hums out a sigh. ]

I just don't even want to think about leaving you again already.

[romanticidal]

I know this feeling. [ he runs the back of his fingers down the outside of her right arm slowly, eyes following the line of contact, as if he can hardly believe that she is there, that he has the freedom to do as much ] But it will not be forever, carina. And then-- [ he lets that trail off, a secretive smile flickering at the corner of his lips again, a hopeful flash in his eyes that's such a contrast to the guilt-ridden pain that had dominated them when they'd had a chance to first speak yesterday. that he'd been dwelling in for who knew how long. he looks transformed now, in so many little ways, just from what little time they've had here, and there's an ease to his manner while they're alone together like this that's impossible to miss, as if so many of his demons had fled while they slept.

it's not that simple, of course, but the simple intimacy of the atmosphere makes a convincing argument for it, and it's hard to find a good reason to want to dispel the illusion while it can last. there'll be plenty of time for the weight of reality outside that door. ]

[slay]

Italy.

[ She finishes, the bright light of wonder beaming in her eyes. There's a barely-restrained hum of excitement in every inch of her, and her fingers curl to grip steadily at the back of his suit jacket. In so many ways, she seems ready to just call off the next two months and zip off to the promise of Italy now. ]

Can't we just stay here? Pretend nothing outside this room matters? [ It seems like a pretty compelling argument for the time being—at least to her with her crit failed will save to pull away and leave. Here and now, her expression matches his in ease, summoning up a rarely found playfulness in direct answer to how comfortable he appears. Whatever dark cloud they'd been struggling out from under all these years dissipates, or at least parts to allow the sun in for the first time. ] Just for a few more minutes.

[romanticidal]

[ he seems equally disinclined to move, lifting his hand to her jaw now, his fingers tracing the line of it, and burying themselves back in her hair, as if he can memorize her through touch alone, take some of this peace with him when they inevitably part. ] We could... [ amusement barely masks the real longing in his voice, which softens as he adds: ] It is certainly not hard to pretend that there is nothing out there that could matter more than this. [ this smooth mf-er tho . i feel like that deserves a cha roll and he got a 22, so that seems p legit ]

[slay]

[ Dat charisma. The declaration steals Buffy's breath away, and it's with disbelieving awe that her eyes scan his face, a more restrained equal to the way his fingers map her to capture this moment. ]

I feel like any minute, I'm just gonna wake up from a really good dream. [ In so many ways, it all feels too good to be true—at least now, while she's able to ignore the cost it's come at. The pain and loss that hangs heavy in the suite upstairs. Guilt begins to gnaw at the back of her mind—how dare she find happiness while so many of the people she loves are suffering?—but as long as she remains here with him, she can keep it restrained there, subdue it. ]

You know what I just realized? [ She cants her head to the side, evaluating him with a beaming sort of pride. ] You won last night, and we never got the chance to celebrate. [ Leaning up, she kisses him softly on the cheek. ] Congratulations, Rafael Giovanni. You're a Grammy winner. That's big.