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]

[She attempts a smile in return. It falls flat.]

Hello.

[nothingsodivine]

[His expression falls flat too and he crosses around to the side to perch on the armrest and lay a hand on her head.] I hate that this happened to you two. Neither of you deserved that after everything.

[whereas most people sound sad or deeply sympathetic, Des seems so much angrier about it, like he's holding the universe accountable for Myri's pain.]

[witchwoman]

[Shes not really sure what to say. No one deserves this. Instead, she just nods and lets her eyes fall shut briefly.]

[nothingsodivine]

[a silence falls over them, uncomfortable and weighted by a lot of things not being said. when it occurs to him that he cannot impart this information to myri via osmosis, he speaks up again.]

I'm going back to Manhattan for awhile, but I wanted you to know the door's open if you ever need to get away from the castle for awhile.

[witchwoman]

[Much like with Spike, it's hard not to have an initial reaction to the news. Myri's gaze turns to him sharply, hurt flashing in her gaze. It's just an instinct, something she can't stop if she tried.]

First Spike. Now you. I'm starting to wonder just who will be coming back.

[It's not fair and she knows it, but there's just hurt piled on top of more hurt.]

[nothingsodivine]

[he flinches.] Myri, it's not forever. I was living in London outside the castle most of the time, anyway.

[witchwoman]

[There's a beat of silence before Myri stands from the chair and crosses the room, her arms wrapping around her midsection.]

I know. And you should-- I know why you want to go.

[To be with his husband. But the fact that she could be sitting next to hers and still not be with him right now makes it harder to just say goodbye and be done with it.]

[nothingsodivine]

[He nods slowly.] I hope it works out for you two. [He's not gonna rub her face in how he can be with his husband and she can't. He'd rather try to give her hope.]

[witchwoman]

[She shakes her head.]

You make it sound like we've had a disagreement. There's nothing to work out, Des. My husband thinks nothing about our life together is real.

[nothingsodivine]

Poor word choice. [he cringes, running a hand down his face.] I just don't know what to say, Myri. I don't know how to help. [he shakes his head.] But it can't even compare to what you're feeling.

[witchwoman]

No one does. And I don't expect anyone to. [She starts to pace.] It's easier to just leave, to hope that someone else can help me find the answer. And I... I know all this likely makes you want to run home to him all the faster, but it's hard to tell you that it doesn't hurt when I don't have anyone to come home to.

[Sorry, Des. This is what happens after so many straight hours of sad. She just lets out things that she hasn't said in all of her previous conversation.]

I could never blame you for it. But it's... lately I feel like I'm constantly being asked to say goodbye.

[nothingsodivine]

[he stares at her for a long time, clearly hurt by her words, but finding it unfair to actually express that hurt. He tears his eyes away from her and stares at the floor, shoulders hunched forward.]

Then it's not goodbye. [he picks idly at a loose thread in the chair.] It's just 'til I see you again.

[witchwoman]

Whenever that might be. [Her hands drop to her sides as she turns to face him fully.]

And if I need you? Vi has her own pregnancy to worry about. Mark's off running a country. Gar and Kat are basking in newly found love. There's only so much I can ask to put on Buffy's shoulders. And Elena? [Myri refuses to make Elena's life an more stressful, if she can help it.]

What happens if I need you and you're all the way, across an ocean. What happens then?

[Because she really doesn't know. It's not an accusatory question. She really just needs the answer. But the panic has returned to her voice, making her words a little strained as she fights back more tears.]

[nothingsodivine]

You call me. [Flatly, but not without compassion. He's so clearly distraught by all of this.] You pick up the phone and call me. That's all it takes.

[witchwoman]

[She looks down, taking a breath and trying to tell herself that she's not being reasonable here.]

I'm sorry. [She still doesn't look back up at him, eyes closing as her head stays bowed.]

I just feel like I've lost all control, like everything is slipping away so fast...

[nothingsodivine]

We all feel that way, Little Bit. Maybe not to the extent that you feel it, but...

[There's no real follow-up to that.] That's probably why we're all needing to scatter.

[witchwoman]

You'll at least come back when the baby's born, won't you?

[Spike had made a point to bring it up. Since Des hadn't, she feels like she needs to ask.]

[nothingsodivine]

[probably because with all the stuff about finnick, he actually forgot about the baby. his eyes light on her stomach as if to prove that and he looks back at her, smiling a little.] Yeah. You and Vi both. I can't miss that.

[witchwoman]

Good. [She nods, fidgeting a little with her hands in front of her before she just flings herself across the room to throw her arms around him. This might knock them back into the chair. She just...she doesn't want him to go, but she knows he will, no matter what she says. So the last thing she can do is let him leave before she can make clear how much he means to her.]

[nothingsodivine]

[her flinging doesn't bowl him over and he catches her in his arms tightly, embracing her.]

It's gonna be okay, Myri. It might take awhile, but one day... It's all gonna turn out fine. [he strokes her hair tenderly.]

[witchwoman]

[She doesn't know if that's true, but she has to believe it for now. So she just nods against his shoulder, not letting go just yet.]

He's invited, you know. When the babies are born. You should bring Zarad with you. If he's your family, Des, that makes him mine too. And my child's.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des stiffens a bit as a hoarse chuckle escapes his throat.] I'll see if I can drag him away.

[witchwoman]

[She got a nat 20 wisdom to feel that tension.]

What's wrong?

[WE JUST WANT TO LOVE HIM TOO]

[nothingsodivine]

Nothing. [it's a poor lie, so he elaborates a bit.] It's just... He's very private. I know it's hard to tell with how he acts, but keeping him away from all this isn't just to keep him safe. And he does like you all- I mean... Really, he does. But... He has to keep his distance, and I don't want you to feel like it's a slight against you that he feels he needs to.

[witchwoman]

[She looks at him for a moment, as if processing it.]

Well, he's still invited. And I'll keep inviting him, even if he never takes me up on it.