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]

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.

[romanticidal]

I will work on that, carina. [ some wry humor of his own, and then he uses their clasped hands to draw her closer so that he can light a warm kiss on her cheek ] For you.

[slay]

Nah. [ She dismisses him, nose scrunching slightly as she shrugs the declaration off. Catching his eyes, she corrects him. ] For yourself. [ That's what she'd like to see. She releases his hands and reaches up to smooth her hand over his cheek, an affectionate but brief gesture as she drops it a moment later. ]

[romanticidal]

Perhaps that as well. [ he chuckles, clearly aware of the truth in it, even if he also finds some dark humor there. ] I suppose this is goodbye, then.

[slay]

For now.

[ She nods, and takes a step back. The distance between them helps her to let that be a final goodbye, and she turns to cross the room and head for the door (will save 31).

Once they get out of the room, it'll be easier. There'll be more motivation to resist PDA when Rafael's got the kind of attention on him that he does, especially now. After all, she'd been the one to tell Burt not to turn her into a tabloid. ]

[romanticidal]

[ he trails after her, placing one hand on the small of her back for a moment as she pulls the door open, but after that he drops it away when they head into the halls, clearly feeling the same way. with a last lingering look, he heads the opposite way down the hall, murmuring one last goodbye in italian, before disappearing around the corner. instead of making her see him out through the lobby in her blood splattered dress. MAYBE SOMEONE UPSTAIRS CAN GO GET HER A CHANGE OF CLOTHES. ]