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

1/2

[romanticidal]

[ rafael looks over, not even resisting des' grip, just affixing anderson with a casual gaze. in some weird way, he almost looks pleased to see him. ] I should have guessed you would be along.

[judaspriest]

I had hoped we might pick up where we left off after that little show of yers. But it seems Providence had other things in mind.

[nothingsodivine]

Get in the frickin' car, Fluffy. [Des jerks open the car door and shoves Rafael down... Or tries to (str 9) and tries to pull Anderson's focus to him by being... a taunting jackass.] I prefer Descant, actually.

1/2

[romanticidal]

[ LMAO OF COURSE NOW RAFAEL FINDS HIS STRENGTH, as he shoves back against des to stand up beside him. ] If we run, he will only follow us back to the others.

It is me he wants. [ it's impossible to miss the eager note in his voice as he cranes towards anderson ] And I know he at least will not pull punches.

[judaspriest]

In such a rush t'die now, are we? [ there's a knowing, cruel light in his eyes, as if he sees exactly what raf is up to. ] Funny how th' tables turn.

But rest assured: [ his smile turns even more mocking ] I'm not here to kill ye.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des falls back when Rafael shoves him and resists the urge to shove him back like a five year old, only to stop when he realizes there is a silver lining after all.] Look at that, Fluffy- even the guy who oozes psychopath doesn't want you to die. I know. It's a conspiracy. Now get in the car.

[He grins up at Anderson.] Thanks for being understanding, Scotty. Maybe now you can hike up your kilt, go get some haggis, listen to some bagpipes and cry, make a nice day of it. But we gotta jet.

1/2

[romanticidal]

[ NOPE. STILL STANDING THERE, looking extra annoyed now ] If you are not here to kill me, then why are you following us?

[judaspriest]

Now, I did not say I dinna come here to kill ye. That's exactly what brought me to America.

But then you went and put yerself on a stage in front of all the world, and showed them all exactly what you are.

A murderer. A sinner, who'll now be judged in the eyes of those whose praise he once sought. And found wanting. [ that sinister smile never lessens though his manner seems to become more casual ] What greater punishment could there be? You'll rot the rest of yer days in a cell, weighted down by the revealed shame of all your crimes.

Now the end is upon you, and I will send my anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations.

Amen.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des glares, because there is absolutely nothing worse in his mind than being ignored. And since no one is being shot at or killed, he slams the door shut as if to petulantly alert Anderson to his existence.]

Not to cut off the sermon before the choir can get out their hymnals, but he has to get convicted first.

[judaspriest]

[ anderson finally stops making murderous bedroom eyes at raf long enough to acknowledge des' existence ]

Oh, that's a done deal. Don't ye worry yerself about that.

[nothingsodivine]

Oh yeah. You wanna wager on it? [Des starts pacing around the other side of the car.]

[judaspriest]

[ no one from hellsing should ever look this happy. it bodes ill. ] An' what do you think you can offer me?

[nothingsodivine]

Don't get ahead of yourself. [Des is still pacing around the car, slowly edging his way towards Anderson.] I win? Rafael walks. You and your people leave him alone- for good. You win, on the other hand, then Rafael rots in jail and you get something else for your troubles. [He holds that in suspense for a few seconds, finally coming to a stop about three feet from where Anderson stands.] You get a man who can't die. [(Diplomacy 26)]

1/2

[romanticidal]

[ well that is like almost a triple-take from rafael right there ] What do you think you are doing?

[judaspriest]

[ wow i have to use this icon again, he's just SO PLEASED. and basically cuts rafael off. ] You have a deal.

[nothingsodivine]

Nice doing business with you. [He makes a shoo motion with his hand.] Now get away from my car. Please.

[judaspriest]

[ everything counts - depeche mode

anderson easily steps to the side, cutting a grin at a still somewhat in shock rafael. ]

With pleasure.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des salutes and opens the driver's side before turning to look at Rafael with an expectant look.] You gonna get in the car now?

[romanticidal]

[ rafael stares down anderson for a moment, but then looks to des, and finally, slides back in and slams the door. he stares straight ahead through the window until des' door shuts as well, before speaking up. ]

What were you thinking?

[nothingsodivine]

[Des starts the engine.] I was thinking about karma, actually. And how much worse yours is gonna get if you don't make some attempt to clear your name and drag some poor schmuck into the mud with you, right after he put himself on the block to save your scrawny ass.

[romanticidal]

[ he looks over at des, brow furrowed ] Why does it matter to you that I clear my name?

[nothingsodivine]

[The engine's humming, but Des's hand lingers over the gearshift as he considers the question.] Because she loved you and she doesn't remember me, so all I can do for her is make sure the man she loved gets his shit together. [He pulls the gearshift down into drive and pulls out onto the road.] This is all I can give her.

[romanticidal]

[ ... twenty ... wisdom check...

mexican standoff - elbow

rafael's eyes don't leave des' face for a second, especially because now he seems ten times more interested in the guy as one can actually physically see the pieces clicking into place in his brain.

ruh roh.

his tone is very precariously balanced at the edge of being neutral as he says carefully: ]

Because you loved her.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des sticks his tongue in his cheek and keeps his eyes on the road.] Don't get tense, Fluffy. I loved a shadow, a dream. Whatever I could have had with her died when you put that whammy on her. [He doesn't sound okay with that. There are parts of him that will never be okay with that, but he doesn't exist in a state of perpetually harping on the past.]

[romanticidal]

[ there's a beat as he sort of processes this, and then the words come out clearly despite his best attempts to bite down on them: ] And what about her.

Did she love you?