flight ♔ pride can stand a thousand trials

[dragonsclaw]

I'm Kissing You - Des'ree

WHO || Failboat [closed]
WHAT || The Knights return in the wake of the Keijen Blade concert, much worse for the wear
WHERE ||On a plane
WHEN || Directly after the concert
HOW || Actionspam or prose

The mood is darker than it's ever been as the Knights' plane takes off from the blackening skies above Los Angeles, which continue to spread out after them.  They expected a trap, they expected the worst, but what actually happened dwarfed even those dire expectations.

Painful revelations about their teammates themselves, followed by the separation of Vi from the team, and then being forced to watch Blade enact a dark ritual in the concert-hall-turned-dark-temple that culminated in the sacrifice of hundreds, including the deaths of those who had been on the mission back-up team were only the beginning.  Realizing at the last moment that Crombe still had no understanding of what Blade was truly doing, the team made a last minute bid to change his mind and get him to stop the ritual, but it was far too late, and as things escalated quickly, the Nightmare God Malaak'a was freed from his prison, the seal broken with the final step - Nadia's death.  The god himself appeared before them, and Blade stood triumphantly behind him - only to use the dagger soaked in Nadia's blood to plunge into his father, and usurp his power for his own, ascending to some sort of deity-like powers himself.  

This scene lies further and further behind them now, the images forever etched in their minds, and the silent forms of two of their teammates - one mysteriously incapacitated, the other dead, act as haunting reminders on their journey back towards the castle of what has befallen and what may be to come.

Comments

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[doubletake]

[Elena is nearly silent during the flight unless someone deliberately engages her in conversation. She's pensive, almost distant, and she spends the vast majority of the flight simply standing at the back of the plane, staring out one of the windows as they clouds and sky pass by, her fingers toying with the pendant hanging around her neck.

She's both anticipated and dreaded this day in equal measure for a very long time, and now she's left with a bitter taste in her mouth that she isn't sure is ever going to go away.]

& des

[dragonsclaw]

[ oh yeah, the other thing jack does during the flight is... come see you two. hooray.

he places one hand on the opposite seat, looking down at them. ]

I've a feeling we should talk.

[doubletake]

[Elena looks up, her expression blank, but she nods and gestures to the seat itself, indicating he's free to sit there.]

Of course.

[dragonsclaw]

There's quite a bit I don't understand about the position you are both in. But what I do know is that Wynn thought you were valuable enough to have as allies against the Mind Master - and that she still lives.

That at least informs me that I should give you... a chance. I can't claim to be impressed by Descant's attitude towards all this, but perhaps there's a way to be civil about this yet.

I need to understand what you want.

[doubletake]

[Elena glances over at Des, giving him a meaningful look before she leans forward a bit, gesturing with her hands as she speaks.]

You'll have to forgive Descant. He's ruled by his emotions at times, and this entire situation has been stressful for all of us. I think civility is something we are more than capable of.

[She folds her hands in her laps, wetting her red lips with her tongue before she continues.]

I know this may be hard for you to accept, but Hell on Earth is not something that benefits us any more than it benefits you. Besides, is it really so difficult to believe that we wouldn't want to see this through? We have as much of a reason to want these people put down than any of you do.

[She's quiet, then, so that Des can add to that if he'd like to.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des grunts noncommittally about his attitude. It's both seemingly in deference to Elena and also clearly an indication that he doesn't want to waste his breath.]

Evil ain't exactly all the same. Whatever you wanna think about us, we're not like that. That's not how we see the world, and we stay in our damn corner. If we have agendas anywhere, it's not here and now.

We told Wynn this was personal. Our lords allowed it, because of our emotional stake in this, and that's it. I realize that's hard to believe, but if you want to trace back over everything I have done for the last four years and tried to suss out what was me and what as an agenda, you'll go insane.

But Elena and I have always been committed to this cause, even when we didn't have to be.

[dragonsclaw]

This is about stopping Blade, as well as the Mind Master, then? Or is it merely about a vendetta?

[doubletake]

They seem to go hand in hand, do they not?

[Elena drags a hand through her hair, looking momentarily frustrated, not to mention torn, her teeth pressing painfully into her bottom lip as she wars with something inside her.]

Blade will destroy this world, and it is a part of ours. We witnessed what happened with our own eyes and we're in a position where we can help. I think we both know that Earth can use all the help it can get.

[Her head tilts slightly to the side, as if she has more to say, but holds it back.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des nods a quiet affirmative.]

I'm not gonna say we don't deserve what we're getting from everyone here, because we do, and we never expected anyone to understand or agree with why we did what we did.

But we have a common enemy, and whether you believe it or not, we're the ones putting ourselves in danger twofold here. [He gestures to his shoulder.] But we're still here, because this is worth it.

[dragonsclaw]

Because without Earth, Hell has no purpose? [ that seems like basic enough christian mythos ] I suppose there's something to that.

[doubletake]

[Whether that was her point or not, she doesn't say either way.]

We're a part of this whether you agree to have us here or not. Working together will be mutually beneficial while denying us will only make things more difficult, and I don't want that. I don't believe you want that, either, nor does Wynn.

[She doesn't want to think that he's dead, either, but he's also not here. Jack has to be the one to continue to hold up to their bargain until that changes, if it ever does.]

[nothingsodivine]

And we both know you're clear-headed, where everyone else... isn't, right now. You can see how much easier this will be if we're all together.

The Mind Master basically killed that girl without even touching her because Buffy went in half-cocked. She did god only knows what to Myri. This isn't even just about us knowing a ritual- this is about not letting that happen again. Same with Blade. This is not a problem that can be solved by hitting it. We need to think smart.

[Which is something coming from Desmond "Violence solves everything" Descant.] And you need every hand you can get on deck.

[dragonsclaw]

Felicity.

[rationalizes]

[ gar heads back to check on jack at one point and when she comes out, she lingers a bit by elena, although keeping a healthy distance. her expression is pained. ] I can't claim to understand what's happened with you, or what's led you down this path. I don't think I ever will.

But I can't help but feel that we failed you, or the girl I once knew, at least. And for that, I will always be deeply sorry.

[doubletake]

[She turns her head towards the sound of her voice, her expression conflicted and strange.

Of all the things she expected to hear on this trip, this was not one of them.]

You didn't fail me, Gar. [That would indicate that she'd gone down the wrong path, and she doesn't believe she has. Not in the slightest.] I'd just like to see all of this through so that I don't have to spend an eternity thinking I've failed you.

[She watches her for a moment, noting the deliberate distance between them, before she looks askance, back out the window.]

Are you afraid of me?

[rationalizes]

I've spent my life believing in a Devil, even if very few others here have. The embodiment of all that stands against what is holy and good in the world.

If you could truly... serve such a being, then I fear for you. For what's become of your soul. And I don't know what you might be capable of.

I suppose that is something to fear as well.

[doubletake]

Well, luckily for you, my soul is perfectly intact. I am still Elena and I have not forgotten where I came from.

[There's a slight bite to the words, before she exhales to calm herself, turning her face away from the window again. Certain accusations are sure to push her buttons, no matter how poised she can be most of the time. Her carefully constructed mask seems to have cracks around the edges; though her voice is soft and firm, her eyes start to give her away.

She looks a bit like she's in pain.]

But I'm afraid you have one other detail incorrect. I am no one's servant.

[rationalizes]

The Prince of Darkness, the same being who rebelled against God and set his own throne above His word, renowned most prominently for his pride and ambition sees you as his equal?

I'm sorry, Elena. I find that very difficult to wrap my mind around, however powerful you have become.

[doubletake]

[Her will save was...terrible. For a moment, her features seem ever so slightly more angular, sharp, but then it's as if it was simply a figment of the imagination.

Her lips purse, then relax, and she speaks with a coolness in her voice.]

I'm on your side, Gar. No matter what you think you believe, that hasn't changed.

[She folds one arm under her chest, gesturing with her other hand vaguely.]

Circumstances were no different at Sarandis' wedding. If you'll recall, I made every effort to follow the plan set for us, I did what I could to keep Buffy from being in danger alone, and I secured our target on my own before delivering him to you without question. If I were not what I am, I would not have been able to do any of those things and you would likely be looking at a very different outcome with casualties that none of us want. If you can't believe anything else, believe what you've seen.

[rationalizes]

I know that I don't believe the ends justify the means. Which sounds suspiciously like what you're asking me to place my faith in.

[doubletake]

I think you know as well as I do that not the entire knighthood feels that way. They're willing to do plenty to see a mission through, and there are people on this very plane that have done things that many would find reprehensible.

[She pushes off from the wall beside the window, taking a step toward her, keeping her body language open and as non-threatening as possible.]

You're a good person, which is something of a rarity, if I may be so blunt. For what it's worth, I'd rather be the one to do what might be necessary to save this world than dirty your hands any more than required. Our enemies will not play nice and they will not show mercy. We either do what we must, or they win.

[rationalizes]

There has to be a line - if there's not, you aren't any better than those we stand against.

[doubletake]

And where is this line exactly? Who gets to place it and exact their justice when it is crossed? We've taken prisoners, committed murders, planned assassinations in our journey together. One of the very first things I experienced in this world was a Dragon Claw, who we all cared for a great deal, drop a group of people in an elevator to their hopeful deaths.

[She pauses to take a breath, lifting a hand to her temple, rubbing it idly.]

I will do what I can live with, the same as any of you. Perhaps when this is over, I'll be what you stand against next someday. We won't ever find out if this world is laid to waste.

[rationalizes]

[ the look gar affixes her with is nothing short of broken hearted ] I've seen my share of villains over the years, and heard similar words out of their mouths as well.

I don't know who you are, and maybe I never did. But if your actions come to evil in any way that I can stop, I won't be afraid to stand against you, regardless of how afraid I might be.

That is all I can live with.

[doubletake]

[She feels like she's been sucker punched, like she's had the wind knocked out of her. Her words don't come easy anymore, and it's all she can do to keep her watery eyes from shedding actual tears.

She refused to cry.]

You knew me when I was a child, when I was broken and weak. [She can't quite keep the shake out of her voice as she forces it out of her throat.] She must not have mattered all that much if she's so easily erased from your memory.

[She steps back, turns her head towards the window, and stares into the sun with unblinking eyes.]

Something tells me you won't forget me so easily.