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

[graveflowers]

I'm fine. [ it's an automatic response after so many months of people asking her that she doesn't really recognize she's not answering properly. ] She's good, too. [ she traces a line across her dress with her index finger and a little flash of movement follows in it's wake, prompting a fleeting smile. ] Did you get some sleep?

[doubletake]

[She knows all about that. She's given the I'm Fine response plenty of times.]

Yeah, I crashed pretty hard. I must have needed it or something.

[graveflowers]

Well, you did have a -- [ she trails off, at a loss for what word could begin to describe the clusterfuck of the evening before. ] Last night was rough.

[doubletake]

Understatement.

[They'd all had a shitty night, some more than others.]

He's not doing any better, is he?

[She does not sound hopeful.]

[graveflowers]

[ she looks at the door, a disconsolate sort of sorrow overtaking her expression almost instantly and looking more like it belongs there than her faded winter smiles. ]

No. Myri tried to talk to him, but... he panicked. [ and all but threw her out, a memory that makes vi flinch. ] He hasn't said anything since then and I don't want to upset him so I haven't tried. He deserves some peace before we have to leave.

[doubletake]

He deserves to have his life back.

[She's angry and discontent, partially at herself, and it's evident in the tensing of her shoulders and the way she taps her foot a couple times before letting out a heavy breath.]

I got into his head, Vi. It wasn't pretty. She was still in there and she kicked me out.

[Hard. Painfully.]

[graveflowers]

I know. [ absently, she reaches out to take elena's hand, threading their fingers together, the sense of familarity in the action comforting and bittersweet at once. how many times now have they sat like this trying to reconcile the newest curveball or loss? too many. ]

Finnick's life was... [ her head shakes. not even vi can fathom the cruelty of his world, which says something. ] That's why this life is so impossible for him to accept. If he let's himself be drawn in by this tiny shred of happiness... when it's over it's only going to hurt more. Reminding himself that we're not real is self-preservation. He's just trying to survive.

[ as painful as it is to witness, vi isn't willing to take that from him. sometimes surviving is all you have. ]

So that better not be guilt I heard, because you had nothing to do with this.

[doubletake]

It's not guilt, Vi.

[She knows she's not responsible.]

I'm pissed off. I hate her so much, and I'm just mad that I was right there and I couldn't do a damn thing to stop her.

[graveflowers]

[ good, 'cause guilt is b a d. ]

I know, sweetie. Hold on to that anger. If anyone can beat her, it's going to be you.

[doubletake]

That's easy enough. Because damn right it will be. Whatever it takes.

[She looks straight ahead, toward the door that Finnick is behind.]

She'll be helpless and afraid of me when I'm done with her.

[graveflowers]

[ another smile flutters across her face and she squeezes elena's hand. it should probably sadden her, how willing her friend is to destroy another person, but vi can't find it in herself to care. ]

That's my girl. [ the smile fades as she turns back to the door. ] You should go get packed, I think we're supposed to be leaving soon.

[doubletake]

[She leans forward and presses a kiss to Vi's cheek.]

Good plan. See you in a little bit.

[graveflowers]

'kay. Don't forget to steal all the teeny toiletries! [ gotta have those priorities, yo. ]