knightsoflegend | monaco ♔ there is no peace that i've found so far

[Leaving after everything had been hard for her, but the more distance she put between her and the castle the better she felt. She had been going nearly non-stop, it felt, for over a year - nearly a year and a half. Her habit of leaving things behind her had come to a complete stop with the Knights and she felt relief in boarding the plane to head to Monaco.

She sleeps most of the flight. Her headphones on so she doesn't have to listen to the sound of the engines and can just focus on the low, steady beat of her music. When the guy next to her taps her and asks her to lift her window shade, she does so and then watches the city come into view.

This is definitely a good choice.

Once the plane lands and she's departed the plane, she makes her way to the hotel she had booked for a night. Truthfully, she just wanted to make sure she could shower and change from being on the plane before meeting Quinn. The thought of her having to go straight from an airport to meet him hadn't been the most appealing thought.

The shower feels great and she even manages to sneak in a short nap, because who wouldn't want to actually sleep after the attempt at sleeping sitting up on a plane? Then, however, she's getting ready to meet Quinn at the most aptly named places in the city. She dresses in a pair of slim-fit merlot colored jeans and a high-low silk top. On her feet are heeled ankle boots in black leather.

She walks to the club and heads up to the roof to look for Quinn. She's fairly certain she'll be able to find him, easily, but given the atmosphere and how popular this club is - she might have a crowd to weave through.]

[ the club is pretty packed, but the roof is a little quieter, the pulsing music a bit more distant out here in the open air. she spots the familiar figure leaning on the balcony, looking out. he lifts a cigarette to his lips, exhaling a trail of smoke into the night air and watching it drift. he's got on a black button down shirt, open rakishly at the neck, sleeves rolled up above his elbows, and doesn't seem to notice anyone approaching. ]

[She only saw him a few weeks ago, but seeing him leaning against the balcony brings a smile to her features and the remaining concern she has about not focusing on the Knights slips away. She approaches him, easily, moving through the smaller crowd and settling her hand on his back lightly as she steps up near him.]

I'd say I hope I didn't keep you waiting, but I kinda like you not seeing me coming.

[ he straightens up at the touch, flicking the cigarette over the edge and turning to affix her with a little smirk. his eyes skate up and down her for a moment as he says: ] Trust me. You've always managed to pull that off.

[When he turns to face her, she grins and leans against the railing. Being here with him doesn't feel anything but right. She loves the city - what's she's seen of it at least.]

Have you been to Monaco before?

Once. But it's been a long time. Too long.

I've been here a few hours and I already can see the appeal it has. [Her hand brushes over to his wrist, moving in a bit closer to him.] I've done the busy city thing a few times, but this place has a different feeling to it. Not busy, but just alive.

[ he turns more fully towards her, leaning sideways against the railing, minimizing more of that space between them himself ] ... Seems a mighty appropriate place for us then.

[She doesn't mind the space closing up between them. Smiling at his remarks to how fitting the place is for them.] Any reason you picked this place to meet up? Favorite haunt or just liked the name?

On its way to becoming a favorite. That requires making some good memories here.

This is a good start.

[Faith smirks, though it's honestly closer to a smile at this point. Her hand moves to his shoulder as she leans in for a quick kiss. When she pulls back she doesn't really want to pull back, but she knows that she wants to get a drink and start her vacation up.]

Let's get a drink. [Or five, because one drink won't do a thing to her.]

Took the words right out of my mouth. [ his hand drifts to her lower back as they move back through the crowd, down to the bar, and he tries to gesture the busy bartender over ]

[She'll probably start with just the straight bourbon, something with a recognizable name that she probably Googled once upon a time. It's one of those things where she needs to make sure she doesn't appear unintelligent, despite the thought that there are far more important things for her to deal with thank looking smart to strangers.]

Where are you staying? [Very important question, because she needs to figure out if she should extend her stay at the nice place she was at earlier.]

The Riviera Marriott. [ he puts in his own order ] Did you get a place?

Yeah, I wanted to change after the flight. I'm at the Miramar. [She also took a nap, and a shower, and then felt lazy for a while before she went out.]

You like it there?

[She sips her drink and gives a casual shrug.] It's got a view and a nice shower. I'm not all that picky. [This is a girl that lived out of a dive motel when she was in Sunnydale and then spent time in prison. If there is a door on the bathroom, she's excited. Sure, being with the Knights has given her a few financial perks and art thievery certainly helped boost her cash flow, but she still doesn't really care where she is.]

You like it where you are?

Actually, the view could use some work. [ he gets his own drink, and gives her another indulgent little once-over to punctuate that, before nodding towards a pair of seats that aren't in the middle of the crowd ]

[There is no hiding her grin, because she doesn't mind at all his not-subtle move to look her over. She doesn't need much prompting to follow his nod and move through the crowd to take up the seats that are remarkably open. Sitting down, she still perches at the edge, allowing her to be closer to him as her elbow rests to her own knee, drink still in hand.]

I might be able to do something about that view of yours. [She takes a sip of her drink, but gives him a knowing look over the rim of the glass.] You could always come see my place and if the view is nicer there, I'm sure I could make some room for you.

[ he throws one arm casually across the back of her seat as he sips on his own drink ] Well, I'd hate to settle for second best, so I think I'd better take you up on that.

[Faith lets her knee knock against his leg, smiling at him.]

I'm glad I came. [It's still only a few hours into her vacation, but she knows she made the right choice. It feels right, it feels good to have distance between her and the Knights.]

[ he can't entirely hide how pleased he is by the comment ] ... That makes two of us.

I think we both could do with focusing on the present.

[It's not that Faith has hidden how rough her history was with Quinn, but it's still not something that she always realizes until she's around him. There's a sense of trusting him, but it's not just that surface trust. She trusts the Knights; she knows that on a mission they'll have her back, but she doesn't always believe that they all would understand. She doesn't have that rock solid faith in them that if she made a mistake (which she did when she stole that art) that they'd support her. There's still that immense pressure to be the Best Version of herself. She tries to be and maybe that's why it's so hard for her to finally settle into it all, because she actually has to try.

Being around Quinn, she's not trying to be anything but herself. She's not thinking about mistakes she's made or what he'd think about her if something else went wrong in her life. It's a kind of acceptance she's felt once before. Years ago when Buffy's mom let her join them for Christmas. It wasn't anything big either, just where she figured she didn't have to be anything else. It was before a lot of the crap happened and she's always just figured that had a lot to do with it. That everything she did after that point changed her too much, it made her too different. She'd never be welcome at that table again - hell, especially not after what she did to Buffy when she took her body.

It's all a long time ago and she's done good things, she's done better things -- but Angel was right. It never stops. It's always making up for the things that she's done wrong.

But at least when she's with Quinn, she doesn't feel like she has to do anything at all, except be happy. She deserves that - even if it's just for an extended vacation. Even if that weight of making up for her past is just waiting to return to her shoulders. She's going to take what she can, while she has it.

Exhaling, she slides back further into the chair, taking a slow sip of her drink.]

I'm very into the present. [She holds onto her glass, letting the last bit of alcohol tip to one side as she tilts the glass.] So, while I'm here, other than showing you the view from my room [Which she will gladly do.] what else do you recommend?

Well, it's hardly a trip to Monte Carlo without throwing some money down on red. They have those nightly boats that travel out with a functioning casino on board. Might be fun.

[Far more relaxed in the chair, now, she glances to him and nods.] That sounds like something to add to the list. I'm also sure, with all this water there are beaches. [She told Buffy that one day there would be beach vacations in her future. She wants to make good on that.]

Did you bring a suit?

I did. [She smirks.] Doesn't mean I have to wear it, though.

[ faith, ur his favorite ] I'm certainly not about to deny a woman her freedom of choice.

[She grins.] I read online that there are topless beaches. I'm not gonna be the only girl with her top on at a place like that.

I mean, neither do I, so I don't blame you.

Maybe I'll get a new tattoo. [Now, she's just teasing. OR IS SHE?]

Right now, though. I think I need another drink and I need less planning, more dancing.

Drinks first, then. What's your pleasure?

Bourbon. [She pauses.] With one of those paper umbrellas in it.

Well, naturally. [ he shoots her a wink as he gets up, sauntering back up to the counter and getting them both a drink order filled pretty quickly ]

[Faith has no problem watching him walk up to the bar and get the drinks. It's probably just the way he leans against the bar that really keeps her attention.]

[ not on purpose at all, nope. he comes back with an umbrella in both their drinks, dammit. ] There you are.

[She smirks at the inclusion of the paper umbrellas, plucking the one from her drink and letting it roll between the fingertips of her one hand as she takes a sip of her drink, keeping an eye on Quinn to see what he does with his own umbrella.]

[ he removes it, considering for a moment, before he tucks it in his lapel, looking down at it appraisingly ] What do you think?

[Her smirk widens to a grin as she nods.] Just that small pop of color. Nice.

[She twirls hers once more before tucking it into her hair, carefully. (Because, that is still a toothpick at the end there and no one needs that scratching her head.) She eases back into the chair again, sipping her drink and watching the crowd. She'll want to get into the middle of it eventually, but for the moment she's good with this. Now that her one hand isn't holding onto the umbrella she reaches to brush her fingertips against the back of his hand.]

[ his eyes drop to her touch on his hand, and light with a smile as he glances back up to study the umbrella ] ... Beautiful.

[There are times where Faith realizes that she missed out on that high school girl "crush" experience. She doesn't have the memories of rushing to her gal pals to gush about a hot guy. There aren't times where she squealed about a guy saying something, no jumping around adorably happy that he's so dreamy or so hot. It's safe to say that in this moment, Faith is experiencing all of that internally. The only reflection that could be seen of that inner elation is a sweeping hint of color across her cheeks as she grins at him.]

Finish that up and I'm gonna drag you onto that dance floor.

I really like the idea of you dragging me anywhere. [ he smirks over the rim of his glass, as he happily obliges that order. ]

I'm gonna hold you to that. [She replies with a smirk. She finishes her drink and sets the glass on the table before rising to her feet. Her hands press to the arms of his chair, leaning over him as she smirks at him.] Definitely gonna hold you to that.

[ he grins widely, placing his own emptied glass aside and looking up at her, raising one eyebrow ] Still waiting on that dragging.

[Without anymore words, Faith's hand reaches for the front of Quinn's shirt, curling the fabric in against her fingers and pulling it into her fist. She tugs him up with her (str 25) until they're both standing. Then, without looking behind her, as she moves backwards, she drags him with her (navigate 19) through the crowd until she assumes they're in a good spot to start dancing. Of course, she doesn't let any actual space exist between them once she starts.]

[ he chuckles at the momentum as she yanks him up and into the crowd they go, his hand finding its way to her hip, pulling her even more flush against him since they're apparently both of a mind there. ]

monaco ♔ there is no peace that i've found so far

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