knightsoflegend | flight ♔ pride can stand a thousand trials

Entry tags:

flight ♔ pride can stand a thousand trials

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

Of course.

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.

[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.]

[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.

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

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.]

[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.

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

[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.]

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.

Felicity.

Yes, Felicity.

[Des, your ability to remember people's names is truly abysmal.]

You have talented clerics, Sir Chessing. Hopefully, they're able to help her. [A beat.] And Myri. All I can tell is that there's something wrong with her brain, I'm afraid.

[It seems difficult for her to even say that. Myri will always be...special.]

What we witnessed today is one of the worst things I can recall to memory. That should say something.

[IT HAS BEEN LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS. LITERALLY.

He does at least look contrite. And genuinely upset about Myri. And also just shuts up because he is realizing right now that he is The Worst, and should let Elena do the talking.]

It does. And it's only my shared recognition of the gravity of the situation that keeps me from arguing further.

But I think it's best if the two of you don't enter the castle when we return.

Wasn't planning on it.

[okay so he's bad at not talking. sue him.] I'm not putting more strain on the situation, and I'm not going to lord our agreement over everyone to press my luck. You can deal with me when we're sent out together again, and no time else. And what Elena does is up to her.

I have my own responsibilities to attend to, and being here means I've neglected them for longer than I'd like.

[Like she said before, time moves weird.]

We can leave whenever you wish, though I would like updates on the situation at regular intervals. Contacting me by phone will work just fine.

You'll be contacted when we have information that is relevant and that we trust you with.

[NOW FOR REAL DES ISN'T SAYING ANYTHING.]

Relevant I can accept, but I'm not going into any of these situations half blind, Sir Chessing. You can either give me what I need or I can get it myself using the resources available to me, thus putting myself in a situation where I cannot be as useful to you.

[She says it plainly and without pretense.]

The choice is yours.

[ he seems impressively unflustered by her confidence ] If you could find out so easily either way, you would not bother to ask us to keep you informed. It is my task to protect the entire Knighthood and do what is best for them, particularly in Wynn's absence.

I will make those decisions, and not have them forced upon me.

I'm not forcing you to do anything. I've been doing things the difficult way for years so that I could continue to help you. Doing things the easy way means my hands quickly become tied. If I'm going to continue to risk my life against the likes of something like Blade, it should not be surprising for me to want all the pieces of the puzzle.

[Her gaze is intense as she tries to impress upon him the importance of this, the lack of trickery.

She is just as afraid of Keijen as any of them, even if she doesn't want to show it.]

I'm not asking you to trust me, nor do I believe you ever will again. I am no fool. I'm simply asking that you don't make me come to you when I'm clearly unwelcome.

[Des spares a glance towards the front of the plane and then turns back towards Jack.] Look, I get I'm being cavalier about this, but neither of us are interested in picking fights. This whole ordeal wasn't some audition to show how nice we're willing to play even knowing people on this team want to shiv us. Everything that happened is just how it's gonna be- we bring the same things we always brought to the table, on top of a little extra. And we don't want this, either.

[He's speaking evenly, with no trace of his former rage and passion that used to get him so worked up about everything in the past. Like Elena, he is just trying to lay this out. And it's not just Blade they have cause to be afraid of.]

The only thing we want is "not an apocalypse" and to not get murdered and/or inconvenienced because people are more concerned with what we're doing instead of what Blade is doing, because Blade definitely didn't just kill an innocent woman and ascend to godhood because of something Elena and I did. This is bigger than all of us.

For God's sake, Jack- we don't wanna come over for tea every Tuesday. We just want to put the world back together before it's too late.

And I've told you that we wish the same and are willing to work together, as it is, as far as I may do so without endangering my people. You will get no better answer from me, I'm afraid.

We're not a danger to your people, Sir Chessing.

[But she also seems to relent, her voice growing softer and her posture relaxing slightly.]

But we all do what we believe we must.

Yeah.

[He nods in somber agreement.] In the meantime, we'll get out of here as soon as we can, and you can focus on the real problem.

[he says without sarcasm or irony.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

flight ♔ pride can stand a thousand trials

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject