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

[65]

I tried that. I grew tired of it.

[postergirl]

I'll just have to pick up your slack, then.

[65]

I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines.

[postergirl]

Do you have a better idea?

[65]

If I had one, you'd be the first to hear of it. [he sighs slightly.] But I think you have the right idea. Maybe there's no true place for people like us in this fight. We'll be slaughtered. [like felicity. and ALL THOSE PEOPLE jesus fucking christ]

[postergirl]

Precisely. You or I standing toe to toe with a god isn't going to do anyone any favors.

[65]

It all seems so hopeless when it's laid out.

[postergirl]

Wishing you'd stayed away?

[65]

Do you know where I came from? What home was like for me? Have I ever told you?

[postergirl]

You said you were a bit of celebrity, if I remember correctly.

[65]

[ blonde redhead - for the damaged coda

he hesitates before speaking again — he knows he shouldn't trust dumage with delicate information probably, especially considering what she did to mark. and secrets were always so precious to him, before.

but now?

maybe there's no place for secrets anymore in this world. or maybe he just doesn't care.]

That's right. I was. [his voice is distant and removed.] Where I come from, the land is split up into twelve districts, ruled over by the Capitol. The Capitol has every luxury, while the districts outside exist is various states of disrepair and poverty. One time, a long time ago, the districts tried to rebel against the Capitol. Only, they failed. The Capitol punished them by creating an event where, every year, two children would be taken from each district and placed in an arena. It's a death match. The Capitol watches the match like a TV drama, and can even sponsor tributes of their choosing. If you manage to win, you're treated like a celebrity. I was fourteen.

[he's not done, but it's a lot, so he pauses to let the background information sink in.]

[postergirl]

No wonder you think like a survivor. For better or worse.

[65]

[the smallest smile ever] If I didn't, I would've been dead years ago. Even after the games, I did all sorts of horrible things. [he almost stops there, but keeps going, feeling acutely horrible that he never told myri this particular part of his past. that she never understood -- and maybe never would -- how much loving her meant to him.] I gave up myself. I gave up the possibility that I could ever love anyone. I was a plaything. For years. But I didn't keep doing it for me. Not so that I could survive. I did it because if I didn't, the president would have killed everyone I loved, one by one. Before I was here, they had a special edition of the Games, where they only pulled the names of victors. So I got to go back.

When I'm not ... here, that's where I go. Back into the thick of it. Every second I'm there feels more real than all the years I've spent here.

[postergirl]

[ well, for her part, she looks pretty horrified ] That's what she did to you? Put you back... in all that?

[ she shifts, uncomfortable at the idea ] Well. Fuck.

[65]

[yeah fam welcome to finnick's horrible life tbh.] You asked if I wished I stayed away. I wanted you to understand that there's nowhere better for me to go.

[postergirl]

Apparently not, although our world is certainly trying to outdo where you came from in that department.

[65]

The competition has certainly closed in over the last few years.

[postergirl]

Personally, I'm tired of rushing into the line of fire. I think I'm going to stop making a habit of it.

[65]

No one could blame you. I'm thinking my place in this battle is on the sidelines, too.

[postergirl]

There's nothing wrong with admitting it. We've plenty of people with super-powered fists to handle the rest.

[65]

If they don't get themselves killed by going in without thinking things through. Or those around them. [coughs FELICITY]

[postergirl]

I'd rather not wind up in the latter group, honestly.

[65]

Me either. [he glances down and sighs.] But I guess we'll see what happens once we're off the plane.

[postergirl]

I guess we will. [ she hesitates another moment ] I hope they figure out what's wrong with her. And that she's not actually better off for it.