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

[nothingsodivine]

[Des had no intention of telling them, so while Rafael looks over at him, he doesn't even glance his way, but it's clear he got the message. He runs a hand along the side of his jaw, nodding.] Nope.

[Except he just crit failed his bluff check.]

[witchwoman]

[Myri heads towards them, just behind Elena. She frowns, not sure what Des would be hiding at this point.]

Des, we... We've had enough of secrets coming back to haunt us, I think. What is it? What's happened?

[romanticidal]

[ as Isabella draws back to affix both men with a suspicious, concerned gaze, Rafael waves it off ]

It was nothing. We were merely accosted on the street, by a man who does not think I should walk free. I imagine I will get much of that, in the days to come. [ bluff... 29, raf lies smooth like butter. Also NOT EVEN A LIE OK. ] It was nothing we could not handle.

[graveflowers]

[Aw yeah nat 20 sense motive. The dice really do just want her all up in people's business, okay.]

You were arrested like... six? Eight hours ago? That isn't even enough time for hate mail. Unless he was just waiting for you. For... six to eight hours.

[Just saying, gently, from Team Italia who just congregated over here.]

[romanticidal]

[ violet how do you get so many Nat 20s, it's your DIVINE HERITAGE ISN'T IT, gods auto roll Nat20s every time. ]

... it was a man who already held something of a grudge, you might say. But he is content to see me dragged before the eyes of the world on trial.

[graveflowers]

[It makes up for the fact that she can't walk in a straight line across a flat surface without injuring herself or falling on her face. Everyone has crosses to bear, okay.]

That's... nice of him?

[nothingsodivine]

Yeah, he's a real prince. [Des goes and claims a spot on the other side of the room again, because he got Rafael and no one is dead and he also punched him. Twice. He's good.]

[bigbad]

[Spike looks suspicious and glances over at Buffy. He remembers their conversation from earlier, about the man so strong he made Buffy feel weak, the man who'd shown up at the concert, apparently.]

Wouldn't happen to be a priest, would it?

[notaroundme]

[This is exactly what Elena and Buffy had been afraid of.]

Rafael, if Anderson was there, then we need to know. He isn't just your enemy. We saw him at your concert, so we already know he was looking for you.

[slay]

I think if we're putting our lives on the line to get your back, we deserve the truth. Or did you convince yourself you'd filled up on collateral damage at the concert? He doesn't exactly have a track record for discriminating between who's guilty and who's just in the way.

[nothingsodivine]

It doesn't matter. He backed off. End of discussion.

[DES IS OVER THIS CONVERSATION.]

[romanticidal]

[ rafael too. especially because isabella rounds on him with murderous eyes. he looks past her at buffy. ] He is only interested in me. He came to the concert to take my life, but he sees it as a far greater cross to bear for my crimes to be revealed to the world. He will not come for me again, so you are in no danger from him.

[savemyself]

[ isabella slams her palm against his shoulder to shove him roughly and chastises him in spanish: ] Eres tonta de remate! You were not going to mention this? Did you think that perhaps Iscariot are the ones feeding this information to the policia? They are some of the few who have learned from Paolo's treachery who you are. And what happens when we win this case and you walk freely? Nunca pensar en el futuro!

[nothingsodivine]

Hey! [There's no way around this, so it might as well all come out before someone gets their head ripped off.] If he walks, we're golden. They won't come after him anymore. I can guarantee it.

[witchwoman]

How can you-? [The question is only half formed, but Myri is definitely asking it, regardless?]

[romanticidal]

He gave his word. Something of a wager.

[slay]

You cut a deal with Iscariot?

[romanticidal]

I did no such thing. [ /des, meet underside of bus ]

[nothingsodivine]

[THANKS, FLUFFY. WHAT A PAL. Des leans against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest.]

I did. If Rafael walks, he leaves town and never comes after the guy again.

[savemyself]

Do you have any idea what kind of men these are? The scope of their organization? Making deals with them is not something you can escape easily.

[notaroundme]

And you failed to mention what happens if he doesn't. Even if we won't let that happen.

[Des, what did you do. :|]

[nothingsodivine]

That's why it's important that Fluffy over there gets his named cleared. He gets to walk and Iscariot gets off his back for good. Everyone's happy.

[But yeah. The other side...]

Anderson wants Rafael behind bars, so I had to sweeten the deal with something else. If he goes to prison, then Iscariot gets something else valuable to take home as a souvenir. [He shifts awkwardly, because they'll never know what a big deal this is for him and how awful it's going to be if they lose.

Awful, but possibly the push he needs to get it over with. It'll be his crowning glory if it goes the way he thinks. Either way, he wins.] Me.

[65]

[finnick squints and for the first time tonight regains his beautiful sense of humor:]

You'd make an awful trophy.

[slay]

[ yeah buffy is going to join the decking people train and stride forward to punch des in the face (atk 21, dmg 17). ]

Have you completely lost your mind? They already have one freaky super-powered Terminator agent, do you really think they need you?

[ and also she can't lose you now. the punch was mostly because you put her at risk of losing you, des. ]

[savemyself]

[ nat 20 wisdom check says isabella stares at des and realizes more or less what buffy means right off the bat ] He is like Anderson? [ recognizing that des has been hit in the face and might take a second to answer, she rounds on rafael again to demand answers from him ] A regenerator?