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]

Of course it matters.

[ Concern flashes, but doesn't entirely subdue the light and levity in her expression as she turns towards him. She doesn't close the distance between them, but with the way her eyes fix on him, she doesn't need to. The impression of closeness, of intimacy, is one born of the way she watches him. ]

If we don't have a life beyond this fight, then what are we even fighting for? You can't save a world you're not even a part of. Things like this are what help us do what we do. When the war's over, everyone needs something to go home to.

[romanticidal]

[ he looks grateful for the words, humbled by them in a way. he chuckles as he says: ] Let us hope Burt grabbed it then, before we left. I was in such a rush, I left it in my dressing room.

[slay]

I think if there's one thing we can count on Burt for, it's to keep his eyes on all things shiny. Chances are, it's the only thing he made sure to check on after the ceremony.

[romanticidal]

You may have a point. [ he crosses to the window, still chuckling, to glance out it ] At least he is predictable.

[slay]

In some ways.

[ She's still trying to unexperience the overshare of "side-tail." Seriously. One mock-shudder later, she follows him to the window, gazing out at the city. ]

It's weird. None of them even know what's going on right in front of them. [ The people walking below, that is. But she looks up at Rafael. ] Even Burt, with his brother.

[romanticidal]

Amid everything, I had forgot to ask more about that. [ he turns to look at her expectantly, raising his eyebrows ]

[slay]

We found Chad—the real Chad—locked in Sarandis' dungeon. Turns out Draken Crombe has been the stand-in all this time. [ She turns away from the window as she explains. ] For now, for Chad's safety, it's probably better if we don't blow the lid off the whole thing, but ... Still worth keeping an eye on. [ Her eyes raise at him like hey since you'll be NOVA guy, you can work on that, right ?? ]

[romanticidal]

I am almost surprised that they kept him alive for so long.

[slay]

Honestly? Me too. Guess he must have found a way to make himself indispensable. [ She shrugs one shoulder easily. ] Doesn't hurt to keep the guy you're impersonating around for all the little life details.

[romanticidal]

I hate to think what he has been through. What sort of state was he in?

[slay]

Not a good one. [ She shakes her head, dropping her gaze. ] He was terrified. [ Pacing away from the window, she folds her arms under her chest and hunches her shoulders. ] I think he's improving, but ... Going through something like that changes you. [ 8( Myri and Spike ..... ]

[romanticidal]

I hope he will have someone to turn to as he faces it. I do not know how open Burt will be to reconciling - even knowing that it has been Crombe this whole time. He is... very stubborn.

[slay]

Boy, you Italians sure have a weird way of pronouncing "total scumbucket." [ She'll throw that down where Rafael tries to be diplomatic. It's just them, ok. Actually she'd say it in front of other people too so that's irrelevant, but. Still. ] I'd like to believe that whatever remaining fragments of a soul the guy's still clinging to might show themselves when he finds out his brother was locked up and probably tortured for years, but you're right: we shouldn't count on it. There are people at the castle who can help him though. And on Andres. He's not the only person Sarandis and the Mind Master hurt.

[romanticidal]

Maybe Burt will surprise us. They did once lose their sister.

[slay]

Maybe. I know I won't be counting on it.

[ She turns back towards him, drumming up a reluctant smile as she accepts, finally, that the world has leaked in whether they wanted it to or not. The spell's broken, and they're not cloistered away from the horrors of it in their own private fantasy anymore. But then, they'd probably never reclaimed it after Burt came knocking. Not truly. ]

You know, I seem to remember a standing Friday night phone date that we both let slide last time we split. [ She eyes him thoughtfully, then decides. ]

Tell you what. If I don't call you by Friday, [ she steps in and takes his hand. ] Call me instead. Don't let Burt sell you on some super-sized boyfriend in Chicago. You can catch me up on how your tour's going, and I can tell you about the tasteless food and crappy weather of dear ol' England.

[romanticidal]

I will be careful not to listen to Burt. This seems like good advice for any day. [ /uses humor to avoid the awkward implications that he was jealous and/or insecure about it. ]

[slay]

Can't argue with that.

[ That's ok his silence on the subject reads as confirmation of all jealous/insecure implications to Buffy, and she's positively beaming. After a moment, the look softens out some, and she takes a moment's silence to really commit this moment to memory.

Then she drops her chin, raising one hand to tuck hair behind her ears. ] You should get going. Commercial airlines wait for no man, no matter how many Grammys he has.

[romanticidal]

I feel bad for leaving without saying anything to the others. But... [ but they're also like all wrapped up in their own trauma so he's not sure that making them muster up fucks to give about his life is appropriate either rn, is the implication ] What do you think?

[slay]

They've got a lot going on. [ She agrees because I high-lowed it and got lows twice. Sorry, everybody else. ] Des has a number he can reach you at now; I'm sure he'll call soon. I'll let the others know you were thinking of them.

[romanticidal]

Grazie, carina. Myri and Finnick especially. She will be glad to have you back, I am sure. She needs you most now.

[slay]

I just wish I knew the right thing to say, or how to help.

[ She sighs, wistful and guilty. It kills her to stand by and watch Myri lose everything she holds dear like this with nothing she can do. There's no monster to fight. No battle to win. Just loss. Meanwhile, Buffy gets to try to juggle the loss she feels for Myri (and the loss she's still processing personally in Finnick's catatonia—he is, after all, a friend) with her own sense of nascent romantic bliss. ]

Once we get back to the castle, things will be better. Wynn will know what to do. We'll find a way to fix this; I know it. [ She has to commit herself to that, nodding her determination and looking up at Rafael with strained optimism. A smile flickers weakly on her lips. ] And I'll see you again soon.

[romanticidal]

You will. I believe this. [ he's adorably sincere about it, ok. and reaches out to take her hand, gently caressing it with his thumb ] And maybe these few months will give me the time I need to ... deal with some things of my own. [ so that he's not such a hot mess next time you see each other, is unspoken but hella clear ]

[slay]

If you ever need to talk ...

[ She squeezes his hand in return, stepping closer. ]

Well. [ She can't say "I'm here" because she won't be. But ... ] You know how to reach me.

[romanticidal]

[ in my place - coldplay ]

I will not forget. [ he doesn't release her hand, even as he drops his gaze to the floor ] And before you go...

Buffy, I would have you know that though things have never been easy with me in the time you have known me, that you should never doubt one thing.

[ he lifts his eyes to hers again, reaching to clasp her hand with his other one as well ] That I care a great deal for you, as I do for no one else. I do not know what lies ahead for us, but I do know that every future I consider in which you do not play some part is the darkest I can imagine.

You have been very patient, more, I confess, than I am deserving. I do not want you to think that what you have suffered for it means nothing to me. It is, in fact, the opposite of this.

It is because it means so much that I do not wish to promise or ... decide anything now. Not like this. [ that apology returns to his eyes, and a plea for understanding, acceptance of the explanation for what it is ]

[slay]

[ This time, the sting of shame is because part of her wants more than that even if she knows how unfair it is to ask of him, now more than ever. Her gaze never wavers on his, all softness and sympathy, despite that twinge (bluff 27). If she's hurt in some selfish way, she doesn't let it turn on him. Instead, she lifts his hands to clasp them together, imploring in her reassurance. ]

I understand. [ She tries for some wry levity as she adds in her nonchalance, ] It's not really a good time for anyone to be starting anything. Whatever happens … [ She draws in a deep breath as if she's steeling herself to return to status quo. ] I'm not going anywhere.

And sooner or later, I know you'll see yourself the way I do. Deserving. [ Strength gathers in her smile. ] Of a lot more than patience.