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]

[There are several long beats where it's almost as though Myri doesn't realize that Buffy's there at all. But eventually she does speak.]

Is he leaving?

[Rafael, she means. She's trying to sound concerned, but it's just all a flat, even tone.]

[slay]

He's probably at the airport by now.

[ She says it with some reluctance, obviously not keen to dig into her personal life when Myri's is in the state it's in. ]

Tell you what, next time I fall for a guy, ultra-famous pop superstar is totally off the table. [ Said with an attempt at levity that's as forced as the belief she could actually fall for somebody else. ]

[witchwoman]

I don't know if falling in love with a knight has done me much better.

[Her voice cracks at the end. Myri just shakes her head and tries to fight back fresh tears.]

[slay]

I'm sorry.

[ Buffy launches in quickly. ]

That was a stupid thing to say. God, I'm sorry. [ But she doesn't dwell in self pity for long, reaching out to touch the underneath of Myri's chin, trying to encourage the witchwoman to meet her eyes. ] Look. I don't care what it takes. We are going to fix this and get Finnick back. If I have to drag the Mind Master back bloody by her hair and make her fix it personally, I'll do it. Don't give up hope. [ The moment they do is the moment he's really lost, and Buffy just won't accept that. ]

[witchwoman]

[She's been so good at holding it together- or at least better at it than she really wants to be. But falling apart right now won't do anything, will it?]

I just keep thinking if I find the right thing to say, the right memory... [Her hand moves to her stomach.] We were going to find out if we were having a boy or a girl soon. But now? He thinks it's all a lie, and I don't know if I can do this without him.

[slay]

Let's save big decisions until we know if Wynn has a way to help him. We might find answers back at the castle—right now, there's no way of knowing what the chances are.

[ Which isn't true. Jack's timorous surprise bodes particularly ill; if anyone were to know a way, it'd be him. But she doesn't want Myri to give up quite yet. Hope does wonders, and Buffy isn't ready to relinquish that. ]

[witchwoman]

I'm not sure I know how to think of anything else. [She's not sure she wants to find a way to think about anything smaller, anything less important.]

[slay]

[ It makes sense. This isn't the kind of situation anyone could reasonably distract themselves from, even if they did want to (and she gets the feeling Myri really doesn't want to). ]

When's your next appointment? [ She tries a different approach. ] I'll go with you, until Finnick is ready to again.

[witchwoman]

Two weeks.. [/waves hands vaguely since its not a real thing that was scheduled oocly.]

[slay]

[ She reaches out, takes Myri's hand. ]

I'll go with you.

[ She reiterates, resolute. ]

We'll figure this out.

[witchwoman]

[Looking down at Buffy's hand holding onto hers, it's as if everything she's been holding onto just lets go. She can't be strong through this forever. And with Buffy there, she feels safe enough to just feel it. She leans into her friend, practically crumbles against her and just sobs. (will save crit fail :( )]

[slay]

[ Ready for the dam to break, Buffy is there to catch her when it finally does. She knows what it's like, to be pushed beyond your breaking point and have to find your way back to it when it all catches up. With the adrenaline drained out of them and the consequences of the night slowly starting to feel more permanent, it makes sense that she'd snap.

Buffy's arms stretch around Myri, holding her close. One hand strokes over her hair, a soothing touch, and the other holds firmly to the back of Myri's shoulder. She doesn't say anything, just holds onto her and stays steady. There's nothing she can say to make this better, nothing she can do, and right now, she has a feeling Myri just needs someone there to help her survive to the next moment. ]

[witchwoman]

[She just...cries for a good ten minutes, unable to stop herself and without desire to try. Eventually, the sobs quiet a bit and she manages to steady her breath.]

I'm sorry.

[The words just falls from her automatically. She's not even sure what she's sorry for.]

[slay]

You don't have to be.

[ She reaches one hand up to cup Myri's face, eyes flicking softly over her expression. There's nothing she can do, really, but be here, so that's what she's resolved herself to. ]

None of us are in any position to decide what you should be feeling or how you should be getting through this. You just have to do what works for you, and know that we'll support you. Whatever that looks like. But I know you will get through this, even if it doesn't feel like you can right now.

[witchwoman]

I just-- It isn't even happening to me. He's still here. I shouldn't...

[She lets out a long exhale and shakes her head.]

I don't know what to do. I keep wanting to look to him, to talk to him, but he's not...

[slay]

I know.

[ It may not be physically happening to her, but the shockwaves are all around them, and they're hitting no one as hard as they're hitting Myri.

Her voice carries sorrow and concern in it, and though she shoots for understanding, she can't quite get there. At least, not on a level of true empathy. She'd been the one to ice Rafael out, not the other way around: any feelings of loss she'd had in the months to follow were no one's fault but her own, consequences for her actions. She's never felt what it's like to have something and lose it the way Myri just has—at least, not that she can remember. But she feels like she can imagine that strife nonetheless. ]

You can't measure your pain against someone else's. What he's going through is horrible, but that doesn't mean you're not suffering, or that you have less of a right to be hurting. It's just different.

[ That much deserves to be made clear. She's entitled to everything she's feeling. ]

We'll fly back soon, and when we do, maybe we'll get a better idea of what was done to him and how to ... [ 'Fix it' seems cruel, like she wants to repair Finnick's trauma. It's not the right word. ] Help him.

[witchwoman]

Maybe. [She wants to believe. She wants to think that he'll find his way back to her, back home. But she's never seen him like this, so lost and afraid, so sure of the fact that nothing here is real. She can't fight that. And she wonders if anyone can.]

How soon? Do you know?

[slay]

We should probably all start heading to the airport in an hour or so. Come on. [ She gets to her feet and offers Myri a hand. ] I'll help you get packed.

[witchwoman]

[She moves slowly, taking Buffy's hand and pulling herself to her feet. Thankfully, she doesn't have much to pack.]

I'll need to pack his things as well.

[Finnick's. Since they probably just packed one big suitcase. It's a simple statement, but the words feel heavy on her tongue.]

[slay]

I know. I'll help with that too.

[ Here 4 u. Buffy moves into Finnyri's room, taking quick stock to make sure there's nothing extra upsetting she should hide (spot 41). ]

[witchwoman]

[She would spot Finnick's wedding ring on the nightstand. And hers as well. Going to the Grammy's with wedding bangs on wasn't going to do well to ave them blend in. Everyone ring checks okay.

Myri heads for the closet to pull out her back up dresses.]

[slay]

[ She swipes the ring off the nightstand as subtly as she can (sleight of hand 21), pocketing it and disguising it as a move to get some clothes from the floor nearby. She starts folding them up in silence, watching Myri for signs of particular distress. ]

I think I'm finally out of the habit. [ After a beat, she explains, ] Of living out of hotels. I'm kinda ready to sleep in my own bed again already.

[witchwoman]

[It's horrible how every innocent comment throws her into a realization of how her life is going to change so drastically while they try to figure this out. She'll be sleeping in her own bed too...but without Finnick. There's a pause in her step as the thought hits her, but she just takes a breath and keeps moving to put the clothing back in her suitcase.]

It will be good to be home.