italy ♔ a promise lives within you now

[romanticidal]

♬ mia per sempre - josh groban

WHO || Rafael, Buffy [Closed]
WHAT || After months apart, Rafael and Buffy celebrate the end of his tour with a private trip to Italy
WHERE || Italy
WHEN || /truck drives by, blaring horn
HOW || Actionspam.

It hasn't been an easy few months, but then again, it hasn't been an easy few years. Following the night of the Grammy's, Rafael's returned to his tour, aspiring to use his concerts as a chance to try and warn people of the dangers inherent in listening to Blade and company's music, even at the risk of looking like a crazy person. It wouldn't be the first time the world thought it, alright. Meanwhile, Buffy's been dealing with the fallout of what the Mind Master did to Finnick, and by extension, Myri, trying to be there for her friend in every way she can.  It would be easier for both of them if they had each other to lean on through it all, but they had to rely instead on numerous phone calls and memories of one night that finally offered them both some hope just when everything had started to seem more impossible than ever.

They also had the promise of this to look forward to: a planned trip to Italy that Rafael insisted be just the two of them, once he was finally free again.  He's arranged to meet her at the Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa, and when she gets out, there's some Italian chauffeur guys holding a sign that says "Summers".  

Comments

[romanticidal]

All you need to do, carina, is squeeze your legs and he should do the rest. We just want him to walk for now, so you do not need much pressure. If he goes too fast, don't yank on him, just sit deep in the saddle, and give the reins some pressure backward. Capisci?

[slay]

[ Her nose crinkles, and she shifts again in the seat. She looks down, trying to follow his instructions by exploring her options and glancing as he references the different associated steps. Slowly, she nods. ]

Sure. Squeeze legs, no yanking. Piece of cake. [ She loosens her grip on the reins slightly and squeezes her legs accordingly, trying to nudge the norse forward. While she nudges, distractedly glancing around to get her bearings, she keeps running her mouth. ] I never really got that saying. Like, is it as easy as eating a piece of cake? 'Cause that's pretty easy, but if we're talking baking, then—

[romanticidal]

[ her ride check was great earlier so i guess that applies forever so she's cut off as the horse starts WALKING ALONG WHEEEEEEE

rafael was expecting just that so he's just gonna watch her go, grinning ]

[slay]

Oh! Okay. Moving. We're moving. Uh ... [ She twists slightly in the seat as Valente starts moseying and glances back at Rafael. ] Where, uh, should we be moving? [ Is there a horse trail? ? Do they just gallop around ? ? What do. ]

[romanticidal]

Wherever we want to go. [ he moves to foschia's side and with completely unfair grace and style, vaults himself up onto his side and to movement in what seems like one artful motion, spurring him on enough to catch up beside buffy as if he were fucking born in a saddle (ride 36). he winks at her when they're side by side, slowing to match her speed. ] That is where the adventure is, no?

[slay]

[ A roll of her eyes, cheeky albeit affectionate, answers what she deems showboating as he mounts Foschia. ]

Look at you, Mr. Breezy and Carefree.

[ She wears a fond grin as he guides Foschia up alongside her, apparently approving of the shift. She nudges Valente to continue along in the direction they're moving, getting used to the jostling movements as they go. ]

[romanticidal]

If you ride fast enough, perhaps you can outrun your cares.

[slay]

Tempting, but I think I ditched them at the airport.

[ It comes out peaceful, sort of nonchalant in its own way. The kind of thing she says expecting him to already have realized it. ]

[romanticidal]

Good. This is what I hoped for. [ he softly clucks his tongue, spurring the horse forward a bit to take the lead, banking in the direction of what looks like a worn trail. ] It is what you deserve.

[slay]

[ She actually does a pretty good job deliberately steering Valente to follow after him, guiding the horse with a natural knack. ]

You're sweet. [ Which she knew, but bears mention anyway when he's talking about her deserving nice things. ] It all kinda feels surreal, out here. Nell and Giorgio are great, and this place ... You know, you get so wrapped up in your own life, you forget that this kind of life is real for some people. It's not just a fairytale after all.

[romanticidal]

For some people, it is enough to seek that happy ending. It may be harder for those of us who feel compelled to chase down the monsters. [ he looks out towards the sunset, thoughtful ] But in all stories, it is facing such monsters that one becomes worthy of such an ending.

[slay]

Usually. [ Her agreement is carefully placid, the kind of cool response that deems it an end perhaps for some, but struggles to see it for herself yet. Slayers don't meet good ends. All of them, now ... ] I'm having a hard time seeing the end of the tunnel lately.

[romanticidal]

Something I think we have both wrestled with. [ he glances back at her, outlined by the magnificent colors threading across the sky ] I thought we could both use with a reminder. That such things exist.

Maybe even for people like us. Some day.

[slay]

Careful. [ She gives him an almost squinty look that wavers between suspicion and contentment. ] Keep knowing exactly the right thing like this, and I'm gonna peg you for a mind-reader. [ The smile that steadily turns up her lips confirms her good humor, and she nods, accepting this faith. Bringing her out here certainly has reminded her that it can exist, and the fact that he's still got his eyes on it helps Buffy try to keep hers fixed on that horizon as well. ]

[romanticidal]

[ he smirks, looking down for a moment, before he finally says, with a teasing edge: ] Can you tell what I am thinking right now?

[slay]

If it involves racing, I'm pushing you off your horse.

[ Honesty is important in a relationship. But so is competition. ]

[romanticidal]

Well, to do this, you will have to catch me, no? [ with the most impish grin ever, he wheels his horse around, and shouts: ] The more pressure, they faster he will go, carina! [ with that, he takes off down the trail, not at full speed, but definitely not just a pleasant walking pace anymore ]

[slay]

Wh— Hey! [ Buffy looks down at her horse, SO DISGRUNTLED AND CONFUSED by this turn of events. It's the pathetic countenance of a girl who has no idea how to handle the tools at her disposal, like he's asking her to build IKEA furniture without instructions. Except it's alive, and he did give her instructions. It is, perhaps, an unwarranted look.

After a beat of flustered, girlish panic, she actually takes a beat to listen to him, and puts the pressure on. As it turns out, she ? ? ? is weirdly good at this ?? ? LITERALLY THE ONLY WAY SHE COULD GET A BETTER RIDE CHECK THAN BEFORE. She got a nat 20. How is this happening why are the dice so committed to Buffy being an olympic equestrian. Maybe she's just driven to catch up to him by the power of her indignation or maybe it's a Slayer muscle memory thing. Whatever it is, she rallies Valente forward to a steady gallop, gaining on Rafael. ]

[romanticidal]

[ ♬ a sight to behold - eisley

with a 26 ride check, rafael glances back and sees her gaining, lets out a whoop and kicks it in the ass, hooves thundering along as he actually starts trying to outpace. in a hilarious turn of events, however, she bursts past him, and his eyebrows lift in surprise, broken by genuine laughter as he switches to cheering her on, sounding proud and entertained. the countryside stretches out in front of them for miles around, giving plenty of room for their race to run its course, lost in the exhilaration of the chase, of the occasional bursts of competition interspersed with the stretches of pure companionship.

at some point, the sun threatens to wink out entirely, and it's only then that he would start leading them back towards the barn. ]

[slay]

[ By the time they start winding their excursion down, even Buffy "Endurance of 10 Men" Summers finds her breath shortened, leaving her in the nebulous space between wired on excitement and tuckered out by a marathon like she's never run before.

They guide the horses back to the stables, and as they approach, she swings her leg back over the horse to dismount on the left with more grace than she'd climbed up with (dex 17). She springs to the ground, planting both feet at once with a little bounce to her jump, and takes the reins to guide Valente back into his stall.

She glances over at Rafael when she doesn't think he's looking, an unrestrained, wild sort of joy written across her features. ] I gotta give you credit. It's not what I expected.

[romanticidal]

You are a natural, carina. Valente must think so too, eh? [ he climbs off his own horse, leading it in behind her to start unsaddling. his face is flushed with excitement, the exhaustion of breathless joy a new look on him. ] You may count me impressed.

[slay]

I think Valente just knew to take it easy on me.

[ She turns her attention to the horse, petting her hand over his face soothingly as she adds in a coo, ] Didn't you?

[ After watching him saddle the horses and glancing over to see what he's doing with Foschia, she manages to figure out pretty well how to get the equipment off Valente and packed away so she doesn't just have to stand around uselessly and wait for him to dote on her, score (wis 21).

He was right, of course, about leaving cares behind. And having the weight of the world lifted off her shoulders brings a visible change to Buffy's demeanor; she's loose-limbed and glowing, fully distracted by the task she's set to. She can't (and isn't trying to) recall the last time she'd done something so indulgent for nothing but the sake of it, let alone lost herself in such an escape like she has now. ]

[romanticidal]

I think it is more than just that. [ he watches her finish up with a warm smile, and then moves towards the barn door, waiting for her to join him.

as he walks, he extends one hand back, giving her a small smile that indicates he's hoping she'll take it. ] As in all things, you are an amazing woman, Buffy.

[slay]

Well, I also had a good teacher.

[ She slips her hand into his, twining their fingers smoothly. Raising her other hand, she wraps it around his arm and leans into him, letting out a contented sigh. ]

You're not so bad yourself. [ Contrasting the understated compliment, Buffy wears an unrestrained look of wonder as she watches him. She's loved him for as long as she's known him, but it's only recently that it's occurred to her that the way she pours herself into that love might not have to be unbalanced and one-sided. Now, she can love him as much for the ease he puts her at as she loves him for the man he is. ]

[romanticidal]

Well, si, this definitely did not hurt. [ he smirks down at her as they head back up towards the house, which boasts warm light even amid the darkness swimming in ]