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]

[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?

[bigbad]

Probably won't even keep their end of the bargain if they lose. Seems bloody stupid all around, mate.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des yelps in pain when Buffy punches him and spits blood on the nice floor. That'll be fun for the maids.] They what-? [Yeah, Des clearly did not think this through at all.] They're Shadow haters- I'm this way because of a goddess. I thought they'd use me as bait or torture me a little or something.

[He's not that broken up about it, though. He dabs at his lip with the back of his hand.] Trust me- I've been around awhile. If these assholes go back on their deal and try to gag-and-bag me, I'll give 'em a hell of a fight.

[shootfirst]

They're religious extremists, but I don't think they're just anti-Shadow, like Chad and co. I mean, Anderson slings magic around.

[isisagent]

[Archer's missing a lot of the context on this, and it seems like these guys are just talking in circles to him - apart from that punch. Remind him not to piss her off, jesus. She's got more mannish hands than Lana. Anyway, Archer's just kind of hanging back, when he remembers that it's the 4th of July!]


Alright... I need some fresh air... I'm gonna go run some errands, hit up the bar, and case all the entrances and/or exits to this place; if we're going to camp out here for a while, I want to know the lay of the land.

[Also I'm going to buy out the entire city's supply of fireworks, in case we decide to blow up the P.D.]

[rationalizes]

Do try to stay out of trouble, Archer. We've had our share for today.

[ oh hey, there goes that damn room telephone again. ]

[graveflowers]

[You know who doesn't even want to get into this whole thing? Yep, you guessed. So, phone, phone is easy.]

Hello? [Nothing fun this time.]

[starfucker]

Yeah, it's me again. [ yep ] Heard Descant did a great job of moving our coma patient out of prison, but figured you cats might be more interested in what I just heard about the other one.

Girl's in a bad way, but the hospital said she can talk. She's asking for you, Giovanni, and Descant. Not sure how much time you've got, so with everybody and their grandmas getting out there for fireworks tonight, you might wanna start moving your asses now.

[ /most sensitive guy ever ] Y'know. Before she kicks it.