chicago ♔ back into the end of harmony

[romanticidal]

♬ What Sarah Said - Death Cab for Cutie

WHO || Des, Rafael, Violet, Jade, anyone else who comes to see Jade. [closed]
WHAT || Jade awakes, and asks to see Des, Raf, and Vi...
WHERE || A hospital, Chicago
WHEN || July 4th, 2013
HOW || Actionspam

[ Today's the fourth of July, and the city is bustling with happy, smiling citizens on their way to watch fireworks tonight with their loved ones. And then there's the Corvette of people sailing through traffic with almost desperate abandon, as Des steers his way through the city with a basically heartwrenching nat 20 drive check towards the hospital. Rafael lets Violet sit on his lap in the passenger bucket seat, but he doesn't say a word as he stares forward grimly, lost inside his thoughts entirely the whole way there.

They make startling time. There's another car of Knights on the way, but lagging quite a bit behind by the time Des pulls into a spot right up front. ]

Comments

1/-

[romanticidal]

[ it's possible she tries to tighten her hand against his but it's so hard for her to extend the effort that it's barely perceptible. in the meantime, rafael lifts her other hand to his lips and presses a long kiss there, a sad smile warring against his pained countenance. ] How is it you always know the right thing to say?

2/-

[borrowedheaven]

Superpower.

3/4

[romanticidal]

[ rafael didn't even notice des' manly crying spell over there, because he was too wrapped up in her anyways. but now he glances his way and... somehow still doesn't notice. ]

There is something I wish to tell you, however. Something you must know. [ ♬ The Reason - Hoobastank

he steps closer, flush against the side of the bed to look down at her, and lifts her hand up against his heart as he makes a promise. ] I am going to change things. Change the kind of man I have become.

I will not kill again.

You have my word.

4/4

[borrowedheaven]

[ she quickly widens her eyes and says: ] Hey, whoa, whoa! Someone tries to kill you, you sure as hell better kill them right back. There's a difference.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des manages to recover himself (will save 20) long enough to burst out laughing.] That's not what I told him, for the record.

1/-

[borrowedheaven]

Like you said, sometimes he's hopeless. [ but it's a very fond sort of teasing and it doesn't do anything to undercut his message, especially as she composes herself and focuses on him again. ] But I mean that. No more contracts, no more marks, no more looking at death as the only solution.

2/-

[romanticidal]

[ he nods a couple of times before he can speak again: ] Si. Si. No more. It is over.

3/4

[borrowedheaven]

[ her smile is very wide, even as she starts to look paler, and she pulls him towards her with a little tug of her hand. ] I will always love you, Rafael. [ and she strains her head forward enough to meet his lips for a lingering, sad kiss, as now the tears finally spill out of the corner of his eyes. he draws back slowly, and she reaches up to wipe one away, just smiling at him sadly for a long moment, before she says: ] I'd like a moment alone with Des.

4/4

[romanticidal]

[ rafael's eyes dart over to the other man, and it's hard to miss the momentary flash of discomfort. AND WHY DIDN'T HE GET A MOMENT ALONE. he's obviously hesitant to leave her side, to stop touching her, but he nods despite himself, as if the act of agreeing to it can help peel him away.

but yeah, not moving. someone should help with that. ]

[graveflowers]

[Once Rafael doesn't move, Violet slowly untangles herself from the chair and moves over to him, taking his free hand and giving it a squeeze.]

Come on, she's not leaving yet, she can have a moment alone. [She flashes Jade a look like you better not and gives Raf a firm tug. Come on, bucko.]

[romanticidal]

[ BUT


BUT







ok fine.

looking over his shoulder the whole way, he lets violet tug him out of there. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des gives Vi an appreciative look as she drags Raf out, and then focuses on Jade.] So what's your superpower got to say about me, huh?

[borrowedheaven]

A lot.

[ she just stares at him for a moment, letting the privacy sink in ] They say your life flashes before your eyes. I got two.

[nothingsodivine]

[He drops his gaze to her bed, unable to look at her.] I really thought it was gonna end without you remembering any of it. Just go on believing it was some dream you woke up from and forgot. Like Nightscape. Now... Now I don't know what we were.

[borrowedheaven]

[ ♬ Lay Your Head Down - Keren Ann

Jade lets his words kind of hang there for a second, before she says, very placidly: ] I do.

[ and then, with utmost straightforwardness: ] I love you.

[graveflowers]

[Vi tugs him right out the door, closing it slightly behind them. Because she can respect a dying woman's wishes. She positions herself in front of the door, so he can't get back in, but they're still close enough to just sprint back in if need be.]

You know, we're gonna help hold you to that promise.

[romanticidal]

[ now that he's out here, all the strength he seemed to possess in her presence almost seems to evaporate, as he all but falls against the opposite wall, staring at a point of nothing in the air ] I will not break my word to her.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des swallows hard and gets to his feet, pulling one hand free from hers so he can place it on her head and run his fingers through her hair. It's lifeless now, just like almost everything about her. And if Isabella accused him of loving a shadow, then she was damn right.]

You're a hell of a dame, Eterna Jade. Girls like you don't come around every millennium. I'm sorry I made you wait. [He leans down so that he's all but whispering in her ear.] Love you too, Sunshine.

[graveflowers]

Good. Because I don't think I could bear being angry with you. And you can help me keep my promise.

[borrowedheaven]

[ warning sign - coldplay

she turns her head, pressing her cheek against his and closing her eyes, and he can feel the tears running down her skin. her voice shakes as she replies, sliding her other hand up his other cheek now and leaning against him, the first note of fear she's demonstrated since they walked into this room. ]

You might not, if you knew everything about me.

[romanticidal]

Your promise?

[nothingsodivine]

If you knew everything about me, we'd be here all day. [He laughs, keeping his head where it is.] I don't care. You've always been just what you were when I first saw you. Possibly the second or third time I saw you, depending on how many times I actually screwed up those first few trips into Nightscape.

[He pulls back slightly.] What's so bad that a guy my age is gonna turn around and run?

[graveflowers]

Seems kind of tame in comparison, actually. [But she is selfish and she wants to keep tangible proof of having had a home, for however fleeting.] Although I guess not killing people is normal for normal people... Not that you're not...

I'm sorry.

[borrowedheaven]

There are a lot of things I still can't see straight... the further I slip, the clearer they get. I think when I finally get home, I'll finally have all the pieces.

[ it's painfully obvious what she means by home, and she presses closer to him, shaking her head ] My mother let me return, under the condition of staying away from him. She gave me a world here to call my own, but I wanted privacy. In some ways, our compromise was for her to tether my energy there, in return for not being under her eye all the time.

Leaving would kill me, send me home, in time.

I didn't think I had the self control to not leave anyway, to look for him eventually. That's where the memory magic came in. My mother is goddess of the Veil... to her, that was cake. But she wasn't so cruel as to take them forever, she just... locked them away.

I could feel them there. I didn't know what or why but... God, Des, I felt so alone that I would have done anything to stop the pain.

I took a deal I shouldn't have, chasing the wrong thing, wanting to fill that hole and it changed me. And since my home reflected what was in me, it changed the club too. That's how it ended up that way. Hollow.

[romanticidal]

None taken.

What did she ask of you?