knightsoflegend | 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.

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[his voice startles her, partly because she hadn't seen him leave the back and Myri, and partly because it had been so long ~~the airport and concert didn't count~~ since she'd heard it. She hesitates for just a moment before giving him a much gentler, much shorter though no less loving of a hug than the airport, giving him his space once more. ]

Aye, and the same to you, love. It's been far too long. And now... Now all of this. [she wants to say more, the apology is there on the tip of her tongue, but it's too little too late, and all an apology will do is hurt who it was meant to soothe. She shakes her head, that old fire coming back to her as she meets his eyes once more.] And we're gonna kill them for what they've done.

[her statement is flat, matter-of-fact, but laced with conviction.]

[he doesn't know exactly what to say — or how much he should say. he sort of figures everyone knows why he was gone — the mental breakdown after the grammy's — and that wynn would have filled in anything else that was need to know. he hasn't actually thought that much about it, putting more thought into remembering all the nuances of this reality and his role in it. differentiating what's real and what isn't.]

There was a time when I wouldn't want death or violence as the answer. When it would seem too easy. [the trigger-happy nature of some of his teammates was bad enough. he came from a world that was rough and quick to violence, and he didn't want to be like that. but thinking of everything he just saw, thinking of myri and his daughter ... ] But in this situation, I think it's deserved.

[it's normally not her first course of action either, killing. Though she has a temper and can be quick to anger, death was never something she took lightly, and the thought of killing an enemy was never the first course of action that came to mind. But this time, after everything they had been through, all the lives that the Mind Master had ruined and claimed... the more permanent solution seemed to be the only one left.

Whereas Crombe was now at least in their custody, and sense had finally seemed to make its way to him before he went cuckoo for cocoa puffs, the Mind Master wasn't one who could possibly be reasoned with. Crombe had been horrified at what Keijen was doing, and though it was too little too late, at least there was comfort in the fact that they were able to get through to him even if just a bit.

The Mind Master needed to die. There was no getting through to her, no talking sense or reason, or hoping to find compassion within her.

She had none and as such, deserved none.]

Aye, as much as I hate to say it, it's the awful truth. Crombe, at least for a moment, seemed able to be reasoned with, but she is something altogether different. And if what Dean and Rose say is true... Well, we've got a lot of preparation to do.

[he doesn't want to talk at great lengths with anyone about the mind master — like maybe just thinking too much about her would summon her and she'd fuck up his life some more. their brief little interaction in the box was more than enough for the rest of his life thanks.

but he nods. he had already considered crombe when talking with rose — he could have become a valuable ally, but the way he was now?? worthless.]

You're right. But, I've been wondering ... how much can people like me do? People like Dumage, or Gar, or Mark. People without magic, or special abilities, or allegiances with demons. [/THROWS THAT SHADE.] Do we even have a place in this fight?

[She worries her lower lip between her teeth, thinking on his question a moment before answering.

Sure, she had magic, but could that be effective against what Blade had become?]

That's not something I can answer for you, love. All I can say is it comes down to what you're willing to give. [and he had already given so, so much. More than any one person should have to give. But here he was again, back with them after everything he and Myri had been through.]

And magic, abilities beyond the norm, and demonic allegiances aside, no one is ever without a place in a fight to save the world, to save those we hold most dear. If being a Knight these years past has taught me anything, it is that no matter what skills you do and do not have, there is always more to you than you know. You are far more capable of saving what needs to be saved because of your experiences so far in this world, and the lessons you've learned from those experiences.

It may come down to something only you, or Gar, or Mark can do in order to tip the scales in our favor, or it may not. But I believe in you. I believe in all of you, and that we are all here, now, and involved in this for a reason.

[he smiles a little, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. he hears alainn's words, and values them, but reconciling them with everything they'd just experienced ... it was hard to believe that there was anything he could really do to tip those scales.]

Thank you. I hope you're right.

[as little faith as he has, some part of him still wants to believe that she could be. or else he'd just go back to the basement after they were off the plane lbr.]

[She gives him another hug, the only thing else she can think of to offer any kind of comfort where she knew words could only do so much.]

I hope so as well, love. [It's said softly, her voice laced with understanding as she lets him go and turns to take her seat again, allowing him to go back to Myri.]

flight ♔ pride can stand a thousand trials

I have been blessed!

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