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]

Of sorts. Not the sort you are thinking.

[slay]

Now I'm really interested. How many sorts of beaches are there?

[ Her eyebrows knit together, a perplexed look settling in over her face as she tries to imagine what that can even mean. ]

Come onnnn. We've been driving forever. If it's gonna take a million years to get there, you have to at least give me a hint.

[romanticidal]

I think the signs will be doing this for me, very soon. [ OH LOOK A GIANT BRIDGE, and they are driving across a sudden body of water ]

[slay]

Ooh!

[ She sits forward, leaning up against the window to look out at the water as they race across it. With it established that they're close, she starts keeping an eye out for signs (spot 39). For all her impatient bouncing and needling, excitement hums visibly in every inch of her. She might try to wheedle the answer out of him, but the surprise and uncertainty is at least half her joy. ]

[romanticidal]

Perhaps it is not much of a surprise. [ signs above make it very clear that they're approaching nothing other than venice, and they crest the bridge enough to see the city ahead. ]

[slay]

Don't be so sure. If we can make the trip without being shot at, it'll be a total surprise. [ Literally every time she's come to Venice so far, ok. Every time. But she says it with a genial bounciness that says it in no way tempered her love of the city. Next to Chicago, it's one of the only constants she's had through the mission. He's one of the only constants. Concern flits over her expression a moment later though. ] But your house ... [ It. Burned to the ground ? ?? Where we goin in Venice, homie. ]

[romanticidal]

I made arrangements at Hotel Danieli. A beautiful place. Very famous.

[slay]

Wow. Horseback riding in Tuscany, fancy hotels ... [ She gives a thoughtful little nod, as if evaluating and settles on the matter-of-fact statement: ] I feel very courted.

[romanticidal]

You do, do you? [ there's a teasing light in his eyes as he switches lanes, glancing at her for just a second after. ] Well. I am sorry to confess that I do have one other reason for coming here.

After the night of the Grammy's, I thought it might be wise for me to invest in some new guns. I know someone here who can get me the very best.

[slay]

That's the personal business you wanted me to tag along for? Weapons shopping?

[ Her eyebrows raise, and she starts to laugh. Not because she isn't excited to do exactly that, but because #relationshipgoals honestly. She's acutely aware of how weird they are. ]

[romanticidal]

These are not just weapons, carina. They are enchanted Five-SeveNs. A pistola that fires the same type of round as a submachinegun. Very powerful, but discreet, compact... [ is he getting carried away, maybe a little ]

[slay]

Do SMG rounds make the boom better? [ She feels like that question really summarizes where she is at with all this, eyebrows raised to emphatically convey that she is a little out of her depth once it moves beyond point, shoot, reload, or clean. Another laugh follows, indicating she doesn't want to bring him off his excited ramble, and she holds one hand up. ] I get it. I do. Magic guns. Very shiny, totally impressive.

[romanticidal]

They are a far cry better than what you saw me with before. And much preferable to having to borrow someone else's guns when things turn dangerous.

But that will be in the morning. Tonight, we take in dinner, the sights, all these things.

[slay]

Excalibur not cutting it for you? That's okay, I won't tell Wynn you dissed his guns. [A teasing smile dances on her lips. ] is there gonna be another gondola ride squeezed in there? Cause if you start singing over the gondolier again ... [ What starts with a mock warning tone ends with an enamored look. ]

[romanticidal]

[ raf finds a place to park the car, chuckling ] Perhaps this time, we will have one who knows how to sing.

[slay]

So, when dinner rolls around, that'll be a table for four after all? Me, you, your grammy, and your ego?

[ She cranks the window up as they park. ]

[romanticidal]

Perhaps introducing you to Nellethiel was not my wisest choice.

[slay]

Agree to disagree.

[ She's wearing a smug smile, but it fades after a moment of glancing out the front windshield. Her hands fidget absently. ]

She liked me, right? I mean, she at least wasn't in a rush to boot me out or something, and—and that's a good sign.

[romanticidal]

She did. [ he opens his door, glancing over at her with a fond little smile ] Very much. [ with that, he eases out of the car, and goes to pop the trunk ]

[slay]

Good.

[ She says it after he climbs out, staring at her hands. Then, she joins him out of the car, shutting the door behind her and pulling her purse out of her carry-on where it's hidden in the trunk. ]

I like her too. [ And it's important to her that Nell like her because she's the closest Rafael has to family, so like. What can you do. ] I mean, obviously. That was a dumb thing to say. [ She hoists her purse over her head to wear it across her shoulder. ]

[romanticidal]

I'm glad. [ and he clearly is, watching her with a small smile of appreciation ] ... Did you want to take the bags to the hotel now, or tonight?

[slay]

[ One thoughtful look later, she zips up her duffel bag and hoists it out of the trunk. ] Now's good. I have a feeling by the time we get back later, we won't wanna go hauling bags around. [ Because they're tired not because they're making out against walls, to be clear. I'm sure Chris is hoping it's actually both. Buffy goes to grab Rafael's bag out as well (str 16). ]

[romanticidal]

This is a good point. [ he closes the trunk and then reaches for his bag, murmuring "Grazie" gratefully. he nods up the road. ] We are not far.

[slay]

It's fine; I've got it.

[ She shakes her head to dismiss the grab for his bag, then starts up the road. Sorry, Rafael, but your girlfriend is literally twice as strong as you. There are some things you just need to accept about that life. ]

[romanticidal]

[ he laughs and shakes his head, but doesn't protest, leading the way down the street, and at least catching the door for her as they enter the lobby, where pleasant italian music creates a peaceful ambiance. he goes to fetch the keys from the desk, nods down the hall towards the elevator ]