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]

How lucky for me that you are here to keep this pride of mine in check, then.

[slay]

Uh oh. If that's supposed to be my job, we're in real trouble. 'Cause, uh. [ nose crinkling like she's getting away with something, she explains, ] I kinda like it when you show off.

[romanticidal]

[ he draws her to a stop before they exit this off-street, pulling up short in her space as he turns to face her, all heart eyes motherfucker ] Perhaps it is best if we embrace trouble as a part of us, then. [ one hand brushes her cheek, gaze lingering across her face even as he keeps that smirk on his face ] Why fight it, si? [ and he's just gonna steal one last kiss before they wind up in too-public territory. ]

[slay]

[ Well, she's certainly not fighting this. She draws the kiss out, lingering pleasantly in his warmth, raising one hand to rest against his chest. For a moment, it's to pull him closer, but she steadily turns to trying to help her

stop.

Because they need room for Jesus and can't just stand around making out (unfortunately; from Buffy's perspective, that sounds fairly tempting). ]

Solid embrace. Ten out of ten. Would embrace again. [ She mumbles it absently, brushing her nose against his as she disengages. Well, partly disengages. Her hand finds his and threads their fingers together again. Obviously the hand that doesn't have a briefcase in it. ]

[romanticidal]

[ a listen check of 15+ is what it takes to hear the shutter noise, and rafael turns his head to notice the woman snapping an image of the two of them, before sliding back around the corner. he frowns a tiny bit, but doesn't look ready to chase her down or anything. ] ... I suppose that was only a matter of time. [ he runs his hand through her hair, focusing back on her, before drawing back, keeping his hand tight in hers ] I am sorry, carina, for any of the... attention you will be receiving. I suppose some of that is unavoidable.

[slay]

[ She picks up on the sound, but it's not until Rafael's reflexively turning that she really puts it together that oh hey. That's. A sound directed at them. Startled, she glances over as the woman takes off, not really getting time to be uncomfortable even before the small intrusion has passed. She blinks it off once Rafael starts to apologize, looking back up at him. ]

I had a pretty good idea what I was getting into.

[ Her free hand lifts to smooth over his cheek, affectionately basking for a moment, then she moves with him out into the wider thoroughfare and out of the apparently not-so-apparent side street. ]

As people stalking us in Italy goes, wannabe paparazzi? Definitely the low end of the stress continuum. [ See: every other time they've had in Italy ever. ]

[romanticidal]

I know it may not compare to risking your life, but not all the speculation will paint you and I in a very positive light, I am sure. [ while he includes himself in that, it's clear that he means they'll probably hate on her, b/c sexism ] Whatever you wish me to tell them, I will, and whatever you wish to remain ours, I will do the same. [ he squeezes her hand as they walk ] I would not have your life made more... complicated than it must be.

[slay]

[ The immediate blank stare is brought to you by a wisdom check crit fail. But given that Buffy literally threw Burt out of their hotel room by his collar like x number of months ago for this exact reason, that wisdom check deserved an action point, bringing it to 18 as she susses out the practical complications here.

Sighing her understanding, she nods, glancing aside. ] Because of Isabella.

[ And Jade. And the trial. And therapy. The more she thinks about what parts of their life have been public, the worse it looks. She and Kat introduced the concert where Jade died. She tried to call herself the Black Scourge at his trial. Rafael mentioned her in his Grammys speech. Then a few months later, he's waxing poetic about her on stage and they're caught snogging in dark corners in Venice. There are a lot of threads to pull at, none of them from good moments.

Though she looks momentarily pressed by the notion, eyes flicking shut, grim resolution tightening her jaw, she does pack it away quickly. ]

It doesn't matter. [ Dragging her gaze back to his, there's trust and confidence waiting there. ] Whatever they say, I know what the truth is. Besides, it's not like they can hound outside my windows snapping photos. I live in a secret headquarters. [ Wait maybe that's just making this more inconvenient because what if they try to follow her there. Her slight grimace is fleeting, dismissed a moment later with the breezy suggestion, ] But given that, if you wanted to teach me how to shake a tail, I wouldn't say no.

[ It's hard to ruffle her feathers outside a life or death situation, ok. ]

[romanticidal]

That is something I know all too much about, si. [ there's wry humor in the way he glances casually to the side. ] Now seems as good a time as any. [ and with that, he nods into the center of a crowd, smirking at her once, before pulling her that way with a subtle shift in speed.

/ROMANTICALLY TEACHES ASSASSIN TRICKS ON THEIR WAY BACK TO THE CAR this is real life

what a beautiful vacation lbr ]

[slay]

[ Well tbf they just came out of a shady fucking backroom arms deal. It's the only kind of vacation they're capable of. Let's all take a moment to breathe a collective sigh of relief that they got a snapshot of Rafael and Buffy making out and not one of him walking out of a shady backroom arms deal. That's a good way to wind up with more therapy. Which ... wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for him ...

She trails after him, matching his speed and smoothly stepping around the mass of bodies that they shuffle in through (dex 21 ? ?? idk rolls things yolo). Her hand stays firmly in his, as if she's not yet ready to go without touching him in case all this turns out to be a really good dream.

And while they walk, she figures out an answer to his "whatever you wish me to tell them" comment. Because, well, it does bear thought. It's not like the truth is an option. ]

You know, I'm actually pretty surprised Burt didn't walk us into this months ago. I might actually have to thank him next time I see him. [ Beat. ] ... Okay, maybe nothing that extreme. But I'm serious. Maybe he'll have a good idea of what to say and not say. This is his thing.

[romanticidal]

That it is, I suppose. [ it's a grudging acceptance, b/c no one ever really wants to be gungho above putting any power in burt's hands lbr ] He will... probably know how to handle this.

[slay]

And you know how to handle him.

[ AKA we don't need the undiluted Burt Becksworth plan of attack let's be clear. On the other hand, that sounds sexual (or maybe it only sounds sexual to me because I wrote so much NOVA porn), so after a quiet pause, Buffy adds a little defensively, ] ... Professionally.

[ Obviously. ]

It'll work out. And if it doesn't, I give up my rollicking life on the road and resign myself to midwifery with Myri. [ Another pause. ] Wait. It's ... not called that anymore, after the baby's born, is it? Midwifery is just such a cooler word than nanny. [ This is approximately how seriously Buffy takes paparazzi problems. Be that ignorance or perspective, we just don't know. ]

[romanticidal]

[ he doesn't seem to notice the weird innuendo whatsoever, bless his esl soul. ] I am flattered that you are turning to me for the right word in English. [ speaking of which. ]

[slay]

[ The irony is not lost on Buffy, who smirks. ]

What can I say? You've gotten pretty good. [ Her smirk only grows as she lets her gaze wander away from him, skimming the scenery. ] When your pants are on, anyway.

[romanticidal]

Oh, is this how it is? [ he's full of good humor as he casually glances up at a sign to the left, that gives him a casual peripheral behind them ] Perhaps I was only choosing such a time to begin in earnest those Italian lessons you were promised.

[slay]

Key word earnest? [ Buffy's observant enough to notice he's not just deeply interested in that sign, so she tracks his movements like she's trying to takes notes on everything he's doing gOOD STUDENT BUFFY SUMMERS when it comes to life or death situations just don't give her homework or math ok (spot 28). ] You definitely know a thing or two about incentive to learn.

[ Glancing over and following his gaze affords her the same glimpse behind them, but honestly she's not even sure what she's looking for. ] And you know, I've heard the best way to learn a foreign language is to practice frequently. Or — Is it still a foreign language if we're in Italy? Or is it just a language.

[romanticidal]

It is still foreign to you, carina. [ her spot is great enough to notice not only a few people pointing and staring from where they sit at outdoor cafe tables, but also to notice that same photographer from earlier, following along, barely noticeable through the crowd ]

[slay]

Is that how it works?

[ She asks at her usual volume, nose crinkling as she accepts this, looking forward again and leaning into his side. Her voice drops to note, ] Shutterbug's still tailing us.

[romanticidal]

I do not know why not. [ he chuckles warmly, even though he hears the other part. he squeezes her hand once, draws her further into the crowd, into the thickest part of it... and then ducks sharply out to the left to cut down an alley ]

[slay]

[ In what is sure to be a shocking turn of events, Buffy





follows Rafael. She's quick and quiet about it, too, keeping close to his side as they dart down the narrow alley (dex 16). ]

You know, by November, I'd convinced myself you retired from all the excitement. Maybe took up a hobby, building models. Something relaxing. Left all the monster-fighting and shoot-outs behind for the quiet life. I should have remembered you're way too interesting for that.

[ Because even actual popstar Rafael Giovanni would have to be an expert in shaking tails and dodging paparazzi etc. It's said with no small degree of fondness, in part because she's literally such a show-off in her role as Slayer that she's incapable of doing something stealthy without quipping during it. ]

[romanticidal]

[ he yanks her into the threshold of a doorway that's arched, as the crowd passes by outside the alley, hopefully including their tail. it's such a great excuse for pulling her flush against him in here. hey. ] ... I think perhaps some of us are built for the quiet life. At least not forever.

[slay]

[ #fuckstruck.

He steals her breath in pulling her into that alcove, hands lifting instinctively to steady herself on him—one against his chest, the other on his upper arm. Oh boy. Searching his eyes, she lets a smile flutter through her surprise. ]

I know the feeling.

[ Remembering that they're supposed to be hiding and not making out so the paparazzi can get more pictures of it, she drops her gaze with sudden haste and glances away from the crowd, as if self control is THAT DIFFICULT. ]

[romanticidal]

[ *are not

i'm glad u feel me even when i typo

his hand loops around her waist, holding her there past when it might be otherwise necessary. ] They should be gone now. But to be safe. [ he nods down towards the other entrance of the alley ]

[slay]

[ we're so in sync that i didn't even notice. we don't even need to do tags we can just telepathically communicate our cr development.

anyway meanwhile buffael's over here like newlyweds or cats in heat. so that's embarrassing. even as he nods to indicate the other end of the alley, she lingers there longer like what if we just ... no ok they should move. and do things that aren't just cuddling in an alley maybe.

she breaks away (but not fully—her hand slides down his arm to smoothly take his hand) and starts down the alley. a stealth glance up at him has her smiling cautiously and offering a complimentary, ] Sneaky.

[romanticidal]

It is nice that some skills from my old profession can transfer so well, at least. [ such black humor over here. just assassin things. ]