chicago ♔ something wrong | with all the plans of my life

[rationalizes]

♬ Killing Loneliness - HIM

WHO || Failboat + Burt [Closed]
WHAT || Various and sundry post-funeral shenanigans
WHERE || Chicago, IL
WHEN || July 6, evening.
HOW || Actionspam

[ This log will cover all events that take place between the funeral and the NOVA Record break-in two nights later, that weren't hit on during the live session. Feel free to make your own threads! ]

Comments

[nothingsodivine]

Before she died, Jade told me she made a deal with Keijen once. I don't know how that fits in with Nadia and everything else just yet, but considering they keep going after people with god-blood, I'm thinking there's something there. Something they need. They made a deal with Jade and she wouldn't come back into the fold, so they got Nadia to replace her. And then you put the necklace on and they got you. And now it's a honey trap- if you go to Blade and take whatever he offers, then you'll be in the same place Jade was. Or something like that. Every time I think I've got all the pieces, something adds a new one to it.

[He still doesn't know what to make of the new information he has from their hotel trip. The hourglass and how scared Nadia was and everything else.]

[graveflowers]

[She shakes her head a little, confused.] Okay, a. anytime someone says honeytrap I think of Archer and want to vomit a little so we're just going to have to retire that from the vernacular for a while. And b. I don't get it. What deal did Jade make with him? What could he offer her? And what did she give him in return?

[nothingsodivine]

Ixnay on honeytrap. Got it. [He musses his own hair.] Her mom took her memories of Rafael so she wouldn't chase after him, but you guys from that side of the Veil know how missing memories get. She needed something to fill the void. Blade must've told her he could make everyone love her, so that's what she got and that's why Nightscape was always full. And who even knows how she paid for it. You're the one who felt the wrongness in that necklace- you tell me.

[graveflowers]

I can't. It's... impossible to articulate. I don't know what the necklace wants or what it does, it just. [Reaching up to wrap her arms around herself, she shudders.] I couldn't even tell her what it felt like. It was just wrong. She said twisted, but her mother's magic had to have been trying to protect her because twisted implies there was ever something good in it. It's... [She makes a frustrated noise, trying to grasp the right word for it.] It's insidious.

[nothingsodivine]

And that's why they wanted it. The memory spell or whatever juju that Jade's mom put in it must have vanished when it broke, but whatever the deal with Blade did is still in there... somehow. Or maybe it's all busted and they just need the parts. How'd it feel after it broke? Still creepy?

[graveflowers]

No. It didn't feel like anything. But, Des, that feeling hasn't gone away. Maybe I just didn't notice it from the necklace or I've gotten used to it already. [That's a disheartening thought.] Elena didn't feel anything either though. I asked her the same thing.

[nothingsodivine]

Maybe Elena's not compatible. [Another shrug.] Whatever it is, it just wants you.

[BECAUSE THAT'S REASSURING.]

[graveflowers]

Yay me. What about Nadia? Why do they need her if they're trying to get me? And/or why do they want me if they have her? I'm not that special, I don't understand what they want from me.

[Sorry Des, you now bear the brunt of her lack of understanding of... anything.]

[nothingsodivine]

Maybe it's just extra. Or maybe they want you so they can take a stab at us. They'd be stupid to not know who every single one of us is by now. You put the necklace on, you had the right kind of mojo, and now they figure they'll get an extra dish with a side of demoralizing the opposition. It's a package deal.

[graveflowers]

Well then they're fucking idiots. I'm not going to let some douchefaucet with a pretty smile hurt Finnick or Myri. Or anyone else; including you, old man. They have to know that. [She stops for a second, thinking too hard to keep walking at the same time.] And I have to make the deal willingly, don't I? Otherwise he could have just made me give in at the cemetary. Oh. Oh, I know why I would do it.

[nothingsodivine]

You'd do it to protect them. Us. [He corrects himself somewhat reluctantly and moves to stand in front of her.] You're having nightmares, right? I bet Blade's boss is tapped into what you're scared of. That's how Blade got Jade. He gave her what she wanted and then twisted it around so all it did was hurt her. But she resisted them. And you can too. Whatever happens, just tell Blade to fuck off.

[(Wis 18) BECAUSE I KEEP FORGETTING TO ROLL WISDOM CHECKS LIKE A DUMBASS.]

[graveflowers]

How? [Fear and sorrow mingle in her soft, insistant question. How is she supposed to say no if her friends, her family, could be hurt because of it?] My nightmares... they're real, memories. Every mistake I've ever made, every death that was my fault, that I was helpless to stop. I'm not a few millenia old, but I was in the Roman Legion for eleven years in the middle of two wars, I have a lot of mistakes. [Her hands fall to her stomach for a brief moment, fingers pressing to her scar before lifting to run down her tattoo, the marks of her tenure in the Legion, branded indelibly on her forearm.] I can't -- I can't close my eyes and see Myri and Finnick, or you and Elena. It's hard enough reliving Jade.

[nothingsodivine]

Don't worry about me. I can't die. And what do you think is gonna happen to them if you agree to Blade's terms? He's not gonna keep them safe. He's gonna twist the deal to make things work for his benefit and it'll probably hurt them. [He lowers his voice again. His tone's far from sympathetic, but he's getting the point across. (diplomacy 27)] You can't change the mistakes you've made, but you can keep from making another one. You have a choice, Vi. You can be stronger than Blade gives you credit for.

[graveflowers]

[Her jaw tightens because she knows he's right, but she knows, intimately, what despair feels like and she knows if this continues into fall and winter...] If these nightmares don't stop, I'm not sure I'll be to.

[nothingsodivine]

Then you'll have to figure out how to make them stop without calling in a favor from Blade. Your boyfriend might know some Elvish hoodoo, and, if not him, then maybe our resident drow knows something.

[graveflowers]

[She covers her eyes with her hands a moment before dragging her hands down her face.]

Luthir is a really gorgeous warrior, I don't think Elvish magic is his thing. And isn't Francesca just here for Finnick and our sometimes shitty interrogations? Praying to Jade's mom, and mine, has gotten jack shit. [She sighs again, obviously troubled, but there is a shift like she isn't about to crumble into hysterics. (Will save 22)] I'm not sure where else I'm supposed to turn that isn't really final.

[nothingsodivine]

Francesca works for Wynn and Wynn can't afford to have someone on his payroll getting compromised by the enemy. She'll help you. If she can't... [He grits his teeth.] I know some people.

[graveflowers]

You gonna elaborate or can I just imagine you know the magical talking badger from Narnia? [Her eyebrows lift a little, though she is pleased, in a strange way, that he's willing to help her. Self-esteem issues? Nah.]

[nothingsodivine]

You can imagine whatever the hell you want. I know a ton of people. [Except the person he's thinking of, in particular, is only slightly better than a magical talking badger.

He awkwardly pats her on the shoulder and jerks his thumb back towards the hotel.] But get Fran on it first. That's why she gets paid the big bucks.

[graveflowers]

You're pretty good at this logic and sanity stuff, old man. Mind if I keep you around for a while?

[That endearment might have just stuck forever, sorry boo. Also Vi broships Des and Trufflehunter now -- the badger makes a good meal...]

[nothingsodivine]

You've only got an eternity or until I find that goddamned talisman, which at the rate we're going might take an eternity. [He turns to walk back towards the hotel.] And now that I'm over my urge to strangle Kat with her laptop charger, let's hoof it back before they send a search party.

[graveflowers]

Fair deal. [She turns back and follows.] Last time I disappeared Myri almost broke down Luthir's door, I don't want to give her a heart attack.

[nothingsodivine]

Yeah, that little slip'll blow away in a light breeze. Don't give her anything else to stress about. [Oh hey, look at that 22 wis check to figure out what you meant by that...] So you and the elf were- Y'know what. Never mind. I'll draw my own conclusions.

[graveflowers]

Multiple conclusions. [DO YOU SEE WHAT SHE DID JUST THERE.]

[nothingsodivine]

That good, huh. [HE DID. HE SCORED HIGH ON THAT WIS CHECK TOO. MOTHER OF FUCK, VI. His deadpan snark can only do so much to cover the grimacing.]