CHAPTER TWO ♔ a sigh escapes from heaven and worlds end

[savemyself]

♬ The Dream Within - Lara Fabian

WHO || Rafael Giovanni, Burt Becksworth, Isabella Alessandro, Finnick Odair, Myrilandel de Tanos, Buffy Summers, Spike, Elena Gilbert, Dawn Summers, Desmond Descant, Jeanne Gar, Kat Samcelot, Mark Sandazhard, Violet Fiore, Sterling Archer
WHAT || CHAPTER TWO: Following the traumatic and tragic events of Finnick and Rafael's concert, our heroes are taken to be interrogated at the police station
WHERE || Concert Hall > Chicago Police Department, Chicago, IL
WHEN || July 3rd, 2013 [ forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam

Nothing is okay.

What was meant to be the Knights' triumphant collaborative effort to cut off Chad Becksworth's bid for total control of NOVA Records, allowing them to follow the trail elsewhere, has descended into chaos. Rafael's songs triggered some kind of reaction in Jade that allowed her to regain her lost memories, only to have their reunion cut tragically short by the actions of a hitman who took her hostage on stage, demanding her necklace. While Myri and Violet attempted to convince him that the necklace did not lie with her, Jade signaled to Rafael that she meant to utilize the distraction to break free - but things went out of control and Rafael's bullets struck Jade instead. The Knights felled the hitman, as the world watched, and Rafael begged a distraught and enraged Des to end his life. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure that only Buffy & Spike could see assisted Myrilandel in healing Jade enough to hang on for a little time more...

Time for people to say goodbye.

In the meantime, the police have arrived, arresting Rafael, Archer, and Des (or attempting to), and preparing Jade to be taken to the hospital. Everyone else is being ordered to head outside to be taken down to the station for questioning. It's a hectic scene, but people can finally snatch a few moments amid the chaos to try to make sense of what just happened...

Comments

[bigbad]

[Wow Buffy it wasn't even a wanting to bang you thing that time. He's just worried about you.

Spike frowns, clearly not pleased at the idea of letting her even remotely out of his reach, but he does step back, giving her arm a final squeeze.]

If you need anything...

[witchwoman]

I'll be careful. And I'll be nearby. Thank you... [She puts reaches out, placing a hand on each of them before pulling back and turning to do her duty. But after a few steps, she stops and turns back. She chews nervously at her lip.]

And... I just need you both to know... I love you. [She realizes now that she can't risk something happening and never having said it to them. But it's all just too emotional so she hurries off after saying it.]

[slay]

[ she offers a warm smile in answer as myri hurries away, but it fades as she looks up at spike. ]

How are the burns?

[bigbad]

[Spike gives her a smile as she leaves as well, then glances down at Buffy, a little surprised at the question.]

Huh? Oh. [He glances down at his charred clothes and skin.] They'll heal. Got him a hell of a lot worse than he got me.

[slay]

Doesn't change that he got you.

[bigbad]

Suppose not. [He picks at one of the ugly, burny scabs impatiently. It's a bad plan. He winces.] I'm more worried about you, Slayer.

[slay]

You usually are.

[ she glances down some, like that makes her feel ashamed of something, and then she glances sidelong at the cops milling around the area. ]

[bigbad]

...yeah. [He glances away, a little embarrassed about it.] I'm not... this isn't about us. I just don't like seeing you in pain. Even before everything went mad, I--

[But that doesn't really matter, does it? He breaks off, not sure what else to say.]

Just wish there was something I could do.

[slay]

It's okay. [ there's light in her smile as she nods at him, showing her intent belief in that. it's not a lie. ] I'm okay. Really. I know that things look bad now, but ... they aren't always gonna be. This'll work out.

[bigbad]

Such an optimist. [He gives her a hint of a smile which says he's not convinced, but he appreciates the thought anyway.] Your pal the demon tell you that when you had your staring contest?

[slay]

Whatever he was ... he wasn't a demon. [ which means that even though she can see them, there's a good chance that neither is she. welcome to buffy's ten million degrees of hope. also wis 19. ]

[bigbad]

[That's not answering the question, but Spike accepts it. Orlando Bloom sure didn't look very demonic.]

You and I could see him, and no one else could. What else might he've been?

[slay]

I don't know ... But, he wasn't here to hurt us. I'll see if I can find anything out.

[bigbad]

I'll help. [If he doesn't set anything else on fire in the effort. He hesitates, then adds, voice bordering somewhere between hopeful and uncertain.] Did you ever think that... maybe there are good demons?

[slay]

Can we not with the over-identifying right now? [ seriously spike you're throwing off her groove. ] Spike, I can't - I can't explain to you how I know, but I just ... I do. In my gut. He wasn't a demon.

[bigbad]

[He raises his eyebrow at her.] It was just a theory. Though seeing as so far you've narrowed it down to not a demon, I can see why you wouldn't want to consider it.

[slay]

Why do I even bother?

[ with you. ever. she rolls her eyes, turning to pace away and confront the police officers. ]