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

[littledhampir]

[There weren't many people that Rose would go out of her way to come see on this flight, too strained by the events of the day to manage much in the way of conversation. Alainn wasn't just anyone, though, so it shouldn't be a shock that Rose comes to find her at some point.]

Given the number of times we get the crap beaten out of ourselves, you'd think I'd be able to find something better but...

[There likely was something better, but when you were blessed with Dhampir healing? You more concerned with where the alcohol was kept.

Handing Alainn a Cure Light Wounds Potion;]

Might help a bit, till we get back to London.

[attollores]

[she perks up immediately at Rose's voice, the smile on her face immediate and wide. It only lasts a second before her face falls, tears springing unbidden and unshed to her eyes as she gets up to give Rose the biggest hug she can manage.

After a few long moments and some whispered apologies, Alainn finally let's her go enough to gratefully take the potion, her free hand coming up to swipe quickly at her damp eyes.]

Thank you, love. I... [she swallows, glancing about the plane as a blush dusts her cheeks.] I'm sorry for... For being such a dunce today. And for... Not being as available to you as I've wanted to be.

[littledhampir]

[Emotion slams into her in a brief hot flash, the first real and raw thing she'd allowed herself to feel all day. Much like a bulb about to burn out, it burns hot and bright then is gone a moment later. After all they'd been through, all she'd been dealing with for months on end? Rose had lost the ability to feel much of anything right now.

Still, there is warmth and comfort in that hug, in the physical presence of somebody she knew she could trust and she clings to Alainn a little tighter and longer than she would have anyone else. At least until the apologies begin.

Pulling back enough to look at her, Rose is quick to shake her head. Dismissing the absurdity of the idea that she had reason to be sorry at all.]

You were not a dunce. [Not that Rose fully understood what had happened to Alainn, but after talking with Faith about the Castle attack? She had her suspicions.] And you've done more than enough for me.

[Rose meeting her gaze with a significant raise of her brow.]

[attollores]

[She gives Rose a significant look of her own, squeezing her arm once more before unstoppering the bottle and downing the contents giving her 8 hp back. A look of relief comes over her face as the spell takes effect and she sighs, giving Rose another grateful hug.]

I dunno who or what it was that tried turning my insides to mush, but they very nearly succeeded. I'd like to repay them the favor in the future. [Fede takes this opportunity to flutter to Rose's shoulder, making soft chittering sounds as she begins to preen Rose's hair by way of thanks for the potion.]

Once this all is sorted out back at the castle, I think the two of us should have a nice long chat about whatever the hell it is that's going on. I feel as though Mark and I have missed out on a few crucial points of information that may be relevant to the current mood of everyone here, and I for one do not want to be kept in the dark much longer.

[Her tone is soft, meant only for her friend's ears, and it's more curious than anything else. She understands that something quite significant happened while they were on the flight to L.A. but she is also smart enough to appreciate the tension in the air and realize some things were better left to be said in more private quarters.]

[littledhampir]

I think you have the Mind Master to thank for that one. [Her expression grim.

It was all well and good for everyone to agree that Rose and Buffy were the best choices to physically fight the Mind Master, but that was easier said than done when everyone else seemed to get hurt by any attempts.

A shiver winds down her spine at the affectionate tug on her hair, a small smile touching her lips as Rose watches Fede in her periphery but Alainn's unfortunate choice of words, sees the Dhampir grow pale and any traces of amusement are wiped away in an instant.

Giving a curt nod of agreement.]

When we're safely back at the Castle. [Something in her tone and eyes suggesting that perhaps their safety isn't guaranteed on this plane.] I owe you both a conversation.

[attollores]

[She watches the brief flash of amusement on Rose's face at Fede's antics fall away far too quickly at her words and she swallows the painful lump that rises, hand reaching out to squeeze Rose's. She tries to convey with just her eyes the trust and gratefulness she has for her friend, nodding briefly in agreement.]

Back at the castle.

[a wry, unamused smile crosses her lips for a moment.] And then we'll need to come up with a way to deal with the Mind Master. Together.

[littledhampir]

[The breath Rose hadn't known she was holding in, escapes with a shuddering sigh as she holds Alainn's gaze (S.M 30). Her hand squeezes her friend's as if needing that reminder that Alainn was very much here, that while Wynn wasn't around right now, she (and Dean) weren't completely alone.]

For a start. [Because there was a lot they needed to try to figure out but she was sure if she started listing them, everyone on this flight would feel as hopeless as she was trying her best not to feel.]

You and Mark? Can you... stick around for a little while?

[attollores]

[The question takes her back and she blinks, giving a stuttering nod a moment later. It's not the question that gave her pause, it was the hidden implication behind it that she read. Perhaps it was her own guilt over having been so removed from her friend who, as she was just seeming to realize Wis 17 had needed her support on this long and terrible journey she had been walking with Dean as her only support, and perhaps it hadn't been what Rose had meant, but it was how she was interpreting it.]

Of course, love. As long as ye need us, we'll be here.

[There would be time enough later for her to unpack her emotional baggage and sort through it at her leisure. Right now her friend needed her.]

[littledhampir]

Good. [Yet god forbid she let Alainn believe it was because she needed it.] Because you know, I think with Wynn being - [Grasping for a word that doesn’t sound awful.] - delayed.

[But the words were just that. Words. Alainn clearly knew Rose well enough to realize that her desire for them to stay a little while, was selfishly motivated. In light of recent events, however? How fitting it should be that Alainn was here.

It was a few years ago now, but that first day they’d met, when Rose had been desperately in need of any reason to stay with the Knights, Alainn had been the one to make her a hot meal and remind her of all she still had, despite all that she’d lost.]

It’d just be nice to have you around for at least a couple of days. Both of you.

[attollores]

[the fresh sting of hot tears causes her to blink rapidly and she's hugging Rose once more, holding on until she has control of herself once more WS 25. Backing up she keeps one hand on Rose's shoulder, sincerity rich in her voice.]

We are going to get him back, Rose. I promise you. And we'll be here for you as long as ye need us. [She remembers that day. She was just doing the only thing she could think of to help with a hot meal and an open table, and Rose had needed that welcome more than she had realized. And Alainn had needed her friendship more than Rose ever knew.]

I promise.

[littledhampir]

[Rose was fine, or at least she was convincing herself that she was until the subject of Wynn came up (Worst roll). Even before tears sprung to Alainn's eyes, the Dhampir could feel the lump of emotion swell in her throat, teeth clenched together as if to trap the sob that threatened to spill over.

She could feel the warmth and damp of tears that trailed her cheeks as she closed her eyes, Rose surprising herself with the fact that she still had the capacity for them in light of everything. It was almost a relief to know that she could still feel something other than numb or anger, but the mere thought that they might see her weakness was enough to pull herself together in an instant. (WS 33).]

I know. [Though it was unclear if she truly believed that, or was just too stubborn right now to consider the alternative.] Jack's against a rescue mission right now, but...

[But this was Rose and she didn't do well at sitting still, even when all logic and reason said she should do just that.

Wiping roughly at her eyes with the heel of her hand, Rose pulls in a shuddering breath, summoning the mask of calm and collected that she'd gotten better at mastering.]

We'll see what happens.

[attollores]

[She swipes at her own eyes, nodding at Rose's words.]

And perhaps Jack is right, for now. I don't know what exactly happened with Ke- [she catches herself just in time before finishing Blade's name Wisdom 16, clearing her throat. Rose knows who she's referring to.] I don't know exactly what else killing his father did, aside from getting him on the fast track to semi-godhood, but it was something bad. Very bad. All that black smoke type stuff? What would killing an evil god and raising another one do to an area like that?

[She understands Jack's line of thinking on this, the safety of everyone involved was paramount. But there was such a catch with that as well. She knew that Jack, as much as the rest of them, wanted Wynn safe and alive and brought back to lead the Knights, and though he was a Dragon's Claw, he was the only one where there was meant to be two. Thomas, dear Thomas, had never been replaced and the Dragon's Claws were always meant to work as a joint unit in the case that Wynn was no longer with them. The weight that came with this job that Wynn had carried so long was now on Jacks shoulders, and while she was sure he was more than capable, she also knew he would need as much support as he could get. They all had to stand behind the man Wynn trusted most of all of them.

That didn't mean she didn't agree with Rose, either. Wynn had saved her life when she was at her most vulnerable. She knew she wasn't the only one with a story like that. Wynn was the kind of person dragon?? she aspired to be. What was the right answer, the right course of action?]

With that being said, it doesn't mean that I can sit idly by with this either.

[littledhampir]

[Rose had never been one to blindly follow. It was both what made her a good Knight, and a general pain in the ass. She followed those who she believed had earned her loyalty and Jack had one small, unfortunate flaw. He wasn’t Wynn. She had told Wynn that some things were worth fighting for, and some people worth following. Jack still had to show Rose that he was one of the latter, but their brief conversation at least convinced her to give him a real chance to do so.

A slow smile curves the corners of her mouth, a gleam of approval in her eyes and the despair she’d been working hard to keep concealed, is quieted by the possibility of action.]

I was hoping you’d say that.

[attollores]

[Her own lips rise in a faintly wicked grin, eyes sparkling.]

I haven't been tamed completely yet, love.