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

[nothingsodivine]

[Des's expression goes from dark and haunted to surprised in .5 seconds.] You're what?

[slay]

Going to visit Italy with Rafael.

[ A smile slowly builds on her lips and she rolls her eyes in an attempt to underplay it. ]

Like a vacation. He's got some stuff left to straighten out there, and he asked me to come with him. [ A meaningful eyebrow raise at Des. ] Guess we both need some time off.

[nothingsodivine]

Well, see, there you go. [he drops his foot back down on the floor and leans forward. distraction successful.] Looks like he finally got his head out of his ass.

[slay]

It's not—

[ Buffy starts trying to explain but fumbles on the dismount. She pauses to reassess her strategy before taking another stab. ]

We're taking it one step at a time, figuring things out. With everything that's happened, rushing into this seems like a recipe for disaster. So right now, it's just a … this. And I don't know what "this" is gonna look like, but … [ She nods. ] We're gonna find out.

[nothingsodivine]

By definition, I think that's still "getting his head out of his ass." He's considering it an option- opening himself up to it. He's not scared anymore. That's a big step towards having hope again. [and that pleases him.]

[slay]

Well. If it's up to your standards, we must really be onto something.

[ Amusement crinkles her nose. She almost delves into more detail, but she stops, opting for a very different course instead as she sighs. ]

God, I feel so— This is the last thing I should be focusing on right now with everything that's happened. It's like, I wanna feel happy, but how can I?

[nothingsodivine]

Because other people aren't happy? Because Isabella's heart is broken, and Myri's lost her husband, and Vi's kid is fatherless, and... Do I need to go on? [He's deadly serious.] Buffy, the only thing worse than suffering is not allowing yourself to be happy because there's people in pain. That just brings the cycle back around. It seems selfish, but you can't fix this and you definitely can't by not allowing yourself to be happy. Hell, that's one of the reasons why I have to go back. I'm just killing myself trying to make everyone feel better.

[slay]

You know, a few years ago, I would have died on the spot, hearing those words come out of your mouth.

[ Shock and awe. Now, though, she just looks weirdly proud and generically fond. Deflecting onto him doesn't last long before she relents, bobbing her head in agreement. ]

I know you're right. It's just hard to ... to look around and know that I can't do anything for them.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des looks momentarily stunned, like the shock of her noticing a change in him has him taking a moment of self-reflection. He blinks for a moment, frowning.] Yeah, well, I used to be selfish.

[he exhales again, shaking the thought away before he can elaborate on it.] It's damn near impossible to sit back and watch, but people have to fix themselves.

[slay]

[ She loves the guy, but that's not heartening for Buffy. This is Finnick they're talking about. Historically? Fixing himself, not part of the boozy superstar skill set, and wow she actually misses the depressed alcoholic parts of his life because it beat the pants off this. But her sigh accepts Des' conclusion all the same. ]

When they can. [ And Finnick can't. He needs someone to get through to him, somehow. ]

[nothingsodivine]

When they can.

[He picks up on the fact that she was talking about Finnick and he... wasn't (wis 14), and glances down.]

Finnick's something else entirely. I'm trying not to think too much on that, but what that bitch did to him...

[slay]

She managed to convince him that nothing since he came through the Veil has been real. That's what Myri said. [ The thought has her skin crawling. ] And where he was before, it ... It wasn't good. I mean, Keijen's disturbing, but she ... How do you fight something like that?

[nothingsodivine]

Very carefully. [He continues to fixate on a spot on the floor.] You have to be able to not let her into your head. She might be as breakable as anything, but for the fact that she's got defenses out her ass that make it impossible to get near her.

[He looks up.] You've noticed she doesn't actually fight, haven't you? She either runs, mindfucks, or sends something else to fight for her. It's all of a piece when she could make any one of us snap, but it's something.

[slay]

When we head back to the castle, I think I'm gonna ask around at the Dragon's Mind for ways to keep her out. [ She doesn't feel compelled to explain the rationale: after what she'd done to Anderson, it's more apparent than ever that having a tank like Buffy around a bunch of psion enemies is asking for friendly fire hell. It'd be too easy for the Mind Master to have Buffy rip her friends apart, and looking at Finnick now, knowing what Nadia did to Rafael and what Keijen did at the Hudson River, she's certain they'd do it. ]

[nothingsodivine]

That's not a bad idea. It can't hurt, anyway, and it's not like you've exhausted your options yet.

[It's a tiny sliver of hope, anyway. They don't get much more than that at one time these days.]

[slay]

Maybe looking at what she did to Finnick will help somehow. [ tries to ... find good in this ... fails ... ]

[nothingsodivine]

It could. [He stands up, running a hand back through his hair.] I need to talk to Myri and get packed up to leave. Call me if anything comes up, all right? [He holds out an arm, indicating it's hug times now.]

[slay]

[ And boy does she need it. She steps in for the hug readily, not saying anything but just


holding on


probably longer than he meant. She needs this, ok. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[not even gonna protest okay. he holds her tightly, chin resting on her head, maybe even squeezing a bit too tightly.] Stay safe, Blondie.

[slay]

You too. [ She pulls back and looks up at him, resigned to missing him already. ] And call Rafael. He's pretty much worried you hate him. Not sure if that's a step up or down from thinking I had a boyfriend in Chicago.

[nothingsodivine]

That pointy-eared idiot. After all the shit I've ever said to him that should have made him hate me, and he's worried that ignoring me will piss me off. [He rolls his eyes, patting her shoulder.] Definitely a step up from your imaginary boyfriend though.

[slay]

Hey. Me having a boyfriend is a little more likely than you being mad because someone ignored your calls for six months, thanks.

[nothingsodivine]

Eh. Just a little. [a wink as he draws back] Don't be a stranger.

[slay]

[ Her nose crinkles, dissatisfied with this answer and his teasing, but it's all fondly put-on. ]

Have a safe flight.