knightsoflegend | italy ♔ a promise lives within you now

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italy ♔ a promise lives within you now

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".

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[ Watching as buildings glide past, she leans into Rafael's side comfortably. She seems to drift into drift into the past with him for a few moments, nostalgia written all over her face as she turns to grin up at him. ]

You were the mission. I was supposed to be getting information. [ She admits, chuckling at her own ineptitude. Her eyes flick back to the buildings flanking them and she swats at his chest lightly ] God, do you remember— I made us get off early because Dumage. [ It's not the same restaurant, but there is one she can point to with a visible patio. ] I spotted her up on one of the balconies, and I thought … I don't know what I thought. I must have seemed psychotic, but you just … [ She shakes her head, failing to articulate. ]

You seemed... exciting. And a little psychotic perhaps, but who was I to judge such a thing? [ he winks over at her, grinning widely ]

This coming from the lunatic who invited his stage-rushing fans over for dinner. I thought Isabella was gonna murder you. [ A beat later, she adds, ] Which only seems like a more and more plausible assumption, the more I got to know you two.

Never over dinner, carina. We are not heathens.

It's good that you know the time and the place for murder.

[ Which shouldn't be a joke because like honestly but it is anyway. The gondolier is probably horrified. She quiets slightly, looking over at him. ]

Did I tell you about what happened with Dumage?

No. Is everything alright?

Remains to be seen. After Andres, Mark told us they'd been ... seeing each other. [ She lets out a sigh, trying to sift through what's bias and what's truth. They'd never really settled on it. ] And knew he was doing his best Romanov impression before anyone else did; she used it to blackmail him, for a lot of things. [ She lifts her head to look Rafael in the eyes, putting real thought into whether she wants to specify what about. But after everything, she owes him the faith to tell him the truth. ] Like letting Roger James into the concert.

[ if you look closely, you can pinpoint the exact moment his heart falls out and overboard. jk. maybe. ] She... what? [ he looks so baffled, unable to connect the dots between what she's saying, of making this fit in with his mental history of how things happened and why ]

That night. Mark said she was the one to tell him to let Roger James in. Either he let James in, or she tell everyone who he was and brings Sarandis down.

[ Her eyes flicker over his face and she drops her head a moment later. ]

I'm sorry. [ Leaning away, she moves his arm off her shoulder. ] I shouldn't have brought this up now; this was a mistake.

No, Buffy. [ the words are gentle, but firm, and he resists her efforts to shake him off, turning more to face her. his eyebrows are drawn together, but the lost look that had appeared for a moment tempers itself into something else, determination in his eyes as they meet hers. ] I am glad you told me. And I would know more, si, but...

But not now. Not tonight.

[ Pacified, she nods, surrendering her efforts to move his arm away from her. She looks apologetically back at him. ]

I always do this. It's like I don't know how to … [ She sighs. ] How to not be the Slayer.

[ And that gets her going on something else. ] You were right before. You've known me almost as long as I've known me. Since I came through the Veil, my whole life has been the Knighthood. Maybe Des had the right idea, getting away from it all. Trying to have a life outside of missions and danger and lies.

[ She softens, losing some of the vehemence with which she vents that out as she acknowledges, ] I really am sorry. I don't mean to go back to shop talk all the time. I should be able to make it one afternoon without—

Buffy. [ his voice is warm even as he cuts her off, watching her the entire time. ] As you say, such things have been... all you have known. They are who you are.

And who you are is the only person I would be here with now. [ his other hand reaches over to grip hers firmly. ] Do not apologize for that person.

That person doesn't know the meaning of the word vacation.

[ She says with gentle stubbornness, slow to relent to his understanding. It comes in waves, and the tension leaves her shoulders next, a sigh escaping her. Turning her hand over, she twines her fingers with his. ]

But she's gonna figure it out. [ She meets his gaze levelly, opting to resolve herself to better rather than fight with him over what already happened. ] I want this. You have done ... so much for me, and I want it to be perfect.

It will be that, no matter what, carina. [ his eyes gently scan her features, nothing except fondness in them ] It already is.

That's sweet of you to say.

[ Which doesn't necessarily mean she believes him, but it's still sweet of him to say. ]

Mmkay. Fess up. Where's your favorite spot in the whole city? I mean, you lived here for like a billion years — [ This is the pointed look of someone deliberately pointing out how old he is ] — you must have some hiding places.

My family lived in Cannaregio, so I often find myself drawn there to wander.

... You find yourself drawn to John Steinback novels?

[ Buffy where is your phrase book. Not Cannery Row. ]

If I am coming back to London, we are resuming your Italian lessons.

Hey! I've been trying. Here, look.

[ Speaking of that phrase book, she's going to pull it out now. She thumbs through, holds it aloft, and reads: ] Non parlo Italiano. [ Then, stilted, ] Mi può aiutare? [ She stops up on that last word. It comes out like a hot mess. She shakes her head, tries again. ] Aiutare. [ No, still bad. ]

[ he tries not to laugh for like

2 seconds

since i rolled a 2 on his will save ] With progress like this, perhaps you do not need me to teach you, after all.

[ She's offended for like two seconds before his laughter catches, and she just flushes, stuffing the phrase book back into her purse and shaking her head. ] It sounds much easier when the Rosetta Stone lady says it.

I prefer the sound of it from your tongue, actually. [ he chuckles again, as they head under the big rialto bridge ]

You are biased.

[ She's so wrapped up in him that she hardly notices it approach, only clueing in once it blocks out the sun over them. She glances up then, craning her head to catch a wondrous glimpse behind them as they drift away. ]

[ he doesn't follow her gaze, instead staring over at her as she looks up, his hand dropping hers so that he can reach up and brush the hair back from her neck, idly smoothing through it in what seems a very indulgent gesture ] What do you say to dinner after this?

[ The touch of his hand guides her attention back to him, and she takes in his expression with a loving look all her own for a moment before she answers. ]

I'd say that's the second best idea I've heard all day.

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romanticidal - 2015-04-27 04:30 (UTC) - Expand

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slay - 2015-04-27 04:33 (UTC) - Expand

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