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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[ Breathless and flushed at the edge of the stage, Buffy doesn't move right away. She meets his gaze, the stage lights beating heat down on them both. Then her feet carry her forward of their own accord, and she's moving for him before she even realizes it. A brisk walk turns again to a hurried jog as though possessed by some force beyond her will, and she doesn't hesitate for even a moment as she throws her arms around him. Pushing up onto her toes, she knots one hand in his hair and pulls him down for a dizzying kiss on center stage. ]

[ ♬ open your eyes - snow patrol

there's no hesitation when her lips press to his, his arms wrapping securely around her instantly, pulling her closer as he meets the kiss with breathless anticipation of his own. his mouth melds eagerly against hers, a passionate edge of desperation to it as if he's been swiftly dispossessed of whatever illusions he momentarily held about keeping in mind where they were and who they were doing this in front of, all such thoughts vanishing in the wake of rolling a 3 on his will save.

one hand slides back up to her jaw, then presses more insistently back into her hair, fingers tangling there as he draws the kiss out to what's probably the breaking point of decency. with his 21 dex check, you can bet it's the sort of kiss that leaves her head spinning in its wake, too. you're welcome. ]

[ Pressed tightly against him, Buffy melts into the kiss, the rest of the world falling away into a distant darkness as she holds onto Rafael like he's the only real thing in this room. The din of the crowd quiets as it's forgotten, leaving her alone in this moment with him. Her lips part as she plays her own role in taking the kiss just to the brink of indecency (dex 16), but knows to break away just at the threshold.

She tilts her forehead against his, only putting distance between their lips, refusing to relinquish her grip on him quite yet even as she begins to compose herself (will 23). A wide, girlish smile starts to tug at the corners of her mouth between heavy breaths as she continues to separate from him by inches. She looks up at him, wonder and boundless affection warming her gaze as she takes in every bit of his expression. ]

[ he seems disinclined to be any further apart than that, to be honest, his dark lashes lowered appealingly, lips still half-parted as he drinks her in, his fingers still idly playing in the back of her hair. he looks flushed himself, a radiant glow behind his eyes, and his voice is thick and not just a little sensual (cha 21) as he murmurs: ] Mia carina.

[ Well, shit. When he's talking like that.

Buffy tilts her chin upward to catch his mouth in another, softer kiss. It lacks the intensity of the former, speaking of an inability to let him go rather than a real dogged inability to wind back up (will 19). She pulls her hand out of his hair to cup the side of his face when she draws back again. ]

That was beautiful. [ She whispers to him like they're the only ones on this planet, frozen in time. ]

[ maybe his will saves will impro-- /rolls a 2 nvm

the audience still entirely forgotten, he smiles gently at her, intimately. ] If that is true, it is only because of you.

[ It all feels so surreal to the point of impossibility, and that's what keeps her caught up in him for so long, staring at him like they're alone in space. But someone finally rolled over a 10 on the die, and it was not Rafael. So as she threads her fingers through his hair, all gentle fondness, it slowly starts to occur to her that there are

people around.

A lot of people.

Pulling her gaze off of Rafael, she looks out over the audience with a sudden self-awareness. ] Oh boy. [ Her voice is a weak, slightly overwhelmed whimper. ]

[ that at least manages to draw rafael out of their little love bubble, and he chuckles at her nervous exhalation, squeezing her hand and pulling her forward a step to the mic, as he leans forward to say: ] I am glad you could all be here to share this special night. Grazie a Angelo for this opportunity. [ his focus shifts back to buffy, and he raises her hand to his lips, eyes never leaving her face ] And to this woman, for all she has inspired me.

[ As he begins to address the audience, Buffy tilts her head to watch him fondly. Letting him pull her hand to his lips, she then steps in to slide her arm around him, a wide, personable smile on her lips. She glances away from him at the crowd, offering a humble acknowledging gaze across the audience and inclining her head, bending slightly at the knee in a grateful curtsy (cha 19).

Then, she twines her hand with Rafael and tugs him towards the edge of the stage, waving to excuse them. ]

[ antonio's voice comes over the speaker again, a flurry of italian as he introduces the next set in their return to a regularly scheduled program. rafael goes readily along with buffy, heading towards the exit in warm silence, pushing open the door for her. ]

[ She leans into his side, biting down on her lip as she tries to work through the fluster response that she's still processing. It's all very, very real now, walking through the quiet hall that leads back into the lobby of the theater, and she's trying to figure out what she can even truly say in the wake of it. All she knows for sure is that she doesn't want to let go of him for even an instant. ]

No one's ever done anything like this for me before. [ She takes a moment to qualify that. ] At least, not that I can remember. [ It seems like as good a place as any, now that they're really alone and she can form words beyond goOD THIS, to convey precisely how much it means to her. ] I mean, obviously not specifically like that, but I mean ... [ She looks up at him, gaze soft. Her next words come as realization and acceptance. ] You know what I mean.

It is the very least of what you deserve. [ there's so much conviction behind the words that it's clear he doesn't intend for that to be the last such thing he does for her ] Perhaps now we might pass through Piazza San Marco. If you would still like.

Honestly?

[ Lovestruck and dopey, Buffy calmly shakes her head. ]

It doesn't matter where we go.

[ She stops in the lobby to raise her free hand to the side of his face, all moon eyes and warm fuzzies. ]

This night's already perfect. As long as I'm with you, I'm just gonna keep with the basking.

[ he stops, winding one hand around her waist as he leans into the touch, her words clearly moving him. he turns his face to kiss her palm and murmur: ] Sei così bellissima, mia rosa.. [ his hand wraps over hers, pulling it down to his chest, with the effect of drawing her closer, and his eyes drop to her lips for a lingering few moments, before he chuckles and adds: ] I am only glad you have put up with me this long.

[ Hella will save (27) keeps her from laying one on him, but she definitely sees the way his gaze drops, understands the passion in his words even if she doesn't understand the meaning of half of them. Swept up, that is to say, in all that he is and all that he offers her. ]

If it's all the same to you, I kinda wanna put up with you a little longer. [ She steps in closer, breath shortening as they come to stand only inches apart again. ] Really wanna.

[ his hand slides up her back gently, the heat from his palm tangible through the fabric of her dress. ] I will consider myself lucky for this, then. [ with some apparent effort of will, he pulls slowly away, tugging at her hand towards the doors ]

[ She reluctantly breaks away, all goofy smiles, and follows after him out the door. Following on the heels of her awe comes a swarm of giddy butterflies fluttering out of her stomach into her chest. Even under the dark of the venetian night sky, she glows like sunlight, a bounce in her steps as she click clacks down the cobbled streets with him. ]

Piazza San Marco. [ She concludes finally, doubling back a bit in their sappy conversation. ] You said it was better at night. I wanna see. [ The little crinkle of her nose says that her desire to see it is now born more out of his promises of its beauty by night than any tourist trappings. ]

[ with a grin, he leads her in a beeline for the landmark, knowing just what streets to cut down, finding it relatively quickly. ] What did I tell you? [ ahead, the plaza opens up before them, softly aglow with numerous lights that cast an enchanting glow over the square. nighttime diners sit at the outdoor cafe, and music plays at the far end, where people are dancing to celebrate what appears to be a wedding. ]

[ Dazzled by the lights and the glow they cast over her and Rafael as they step into the square, it takes her a minute to really take a look around (spot 25 which is A TWO ONE THE DIE girl is sprung). But she does look around a moment later, brightening as she points down the promenade to where the wedding takes place. She draws in a hushed, excitable breath. ]

Look! [ And she seems to find joy in their happiness, a stark contrast to the saddened, wistful smiles she'd been able to offer her own friends as they celebrated their own marital bliss. She bumps an elbow into Rafael's side to draw his attention to where she's pointing, then she releases his hand to step out, hands lifted slightly at her sides to spin under the glow of the stars and the ensconced archways. Laughter bubbles out of her after a single spin and she stops to face him, holding her hands out. ]

[ his grin widens, watching her, until he's laughing too, and he reaches out to take both her hands, drawing them around his waist, pressing close to her. ] It is beautiful, no? [ his voice is soft, and despite the way he's asking about the scenery, he seems fixated on the beauty of something else entirely. ]

It's everything I've ever wanted.

[ Enraptured, she looks up into Rafael's eyes, pressed flush against him. ]

It's more. It's ... incredible.

[ It's almost like she doesn't just mean the scenery anymore either. And with another pitiful will save, she leans up onto her tiptoes to catch him in a kiss that she takes her time with. It's gentle but lingering, all parted lips and promises as her fingers curl up to grip the back of his suit jacket (dex 17). ]

[ there's a clear desire for more in the way his lips slide so responsively over hers, hands pressing her close, keeping her there. a contented sound issues from his throat, another signal of his eagerness, and then one hand moves to tangle through the back of her hair in case she has any designs on ungluing her mouth from his too soon. if he's concerned on any level about celebrity pda, it seems to have completely slipped his mind for now. ]

[ Somehow, Buffy has become the flying buttress of self control in this relationship (will 27). She carries on like this with him for a few minutes, years of mounting passion searching for an outlet, but she's the first one to break the kiss all the same. By the time she does, she's breathing hard, a short, soft laugh in her heady exhale.

Rafael might be able to forget the crowd, but no matter how many times she slips back into this indulgent fire they've started, she keeps coming back to reality. Whether the people milling about them realize he's Rafael Giovanni or not, it's edging on the wildly inappropriate.

Her eyes lift to search Rafael's, dark and wide and wanting. Men have waited centuries for a woman to look at them like Buffy looks on Rafael now, all muzzled desire. When she tries to open her mouth to speak, though, the words die on her tongue, throat drier than the Sahara as all her nerve leave her (will 15, one shy of crit fail …). The words don't come, though the fact that she wants to say something is easy to discern as she starts and stops according to hitches in her breath.

Finally, she drops her gaze, wussing out of whatever it was and turning away from him, pacing a few steps forward and fidgeting with her hands in front of her. She draws deep breaths as if trying to rein herself in, but no matter how full her lungs get, each breath is still hurried. ]

[ he lets her go for a moment, but after the space of a few breaths, she can feel him step up behind her, where he lifts one hand to reverently push her hair back off from her neck, delicately enough to send chills coursing through her. ] It is getting late, carina. [ there's no concern in the observation, but there's definitely something else layered in the velvet tenor of his voice (cha 24 kill him), especially as he adds: ] Perhaps we should...

[ When his hand grazes the back of her neck, Buffy's eyes flutter shut, and she inhales sharply. If there was ever any uncertainty about why she'd pulled away before, it'd be immediately clarified as her shoulders loosen against his touch instead of tensing. She seems to melt beneath his touch, which is precisely why she'd forced herself to step away from it before anything could escalate.

Except.

She turns to look up at him, trepidation evident in the way she swallows. Parsing his meaning because she was on the exact same page (nat 20 wisdom check jesus), Buffy nods slowly, every movement counting. Walking into this with her eyes wide open. Months ago, they'd smothered this very flame, narrowly avoiding what might have been an awful mistake of timing. Now, she's not caught up in the throes of some reaching kiss, not teary-eyed and desperate for the shadow of some feeling from him. They're not pouring out the darkest parts of themselves: they're standing in the light.

Reaching out, she slides her fingers between his, sealing their hands together. ]

Head back? [ She offers with the quirk of one eyebrow. ] I was just thinking the same thing.

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