chicago ♔ but close my eyes for a while | and force from the world a patient smile

[shootfirst]

♬ Evil - Interpol

WHO || Spike, Francesca, Archer, Myri, Finnick, Elena, Buffy, Des, Gar, Mark, Kat, Rafael, Isabella, Jaka, Burt, Violet, Luthir, Val'drin, ??[Closed]
WHAT || The Knights prepare for the trial of Rafael Giovanni and face a few revelations along the way
WHERE || Various locations, Chicago
WHEN || July 17th - November 21st  [Back AND Forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam, don't sweat tag order!!


The trial of Rafael Giovanni looms on the horizon, as summer gives way to fall, the chill in the air creating a definite atmosphere of foreboding as the date grows closer. It's not merely Rafael's freedom on the line after all - but also Des', thanks to the deal he struck with Iscariot. While Francesca and Val'drin work to uncover the secret of the mysterious hourglass artifact, lawyer Jaka Teken'Duis uses his ... unique legal powers to work towards a "Temporary Insanity" case for Rafael. The Knights, unhappy about the potential ramifications of such a plea, continue to seek any evidence they can to show Rafael was actually innocent, and place conspiracy charges back on Chad Becksworth and his ilk for what transpired. Not everything they learn, however, is what they were hoping to find...

Others wage more personal battles, as the coming autumn signals the encroaching winter, and Luthir and Violet's time draws shorter to find a way to stop her nightmares, lest they kill her. Elena plays a dangerous game, working to uncover more of her nature by training her doppelganger powers - with the enemy.

This log covers any work and non-work related shenanigans the Knights have while staying in Chicago, immediately following the three mission logs and continuing for four months. This will be the Knight's last time in Chicago before the trial: after which they plan to return to the castle to fully Knight Violet and Dawn and decide where to head next.

Make your own threads, don't fuss about tag order, feel free to threadjack multiple people into one thread for hang-outs, ask me if you want a certain scene with an NPC, etc. forever whatever. There will be a few group scenes, which I'll alert everyone to on Plurk. They may not all be posted immediately, so keep an eye on this post for new threads as time goes by. Please wait to post social threads here until we reach a certain point in the top group thread. I will alert you all when you are free to post.

Comments

[luthir]

He's a god. He understands precisely where your insecurities lie, and he has no scruples about exploiting them. You should consider yourself strong for how well you've kept sight of that, rather than consider yourself weak for the moments where he gets to you.

[graveflowers]

But I don't. [ she closes her eyes because she doesn't want to fight and she appreciates how he's trying to boost her self-esteem, but that god is really incredibly at bringing her down. ] I feel weak and useless and it doesn't change and it sucks. A lot.

[luthir]

Wynn's spoken of a Knight at the castle, a... Dreamwalker. When we return, if we still haven't discovered a way to stop them, perhaps we can find a clue inside the dreams themselves.

[graveflowers]

Because all I want is someone else in my dreams. [ except for how that is the last thing she wants. ] Sorry, I'm being such a jerk to you. I'm just so tired.

[luthir]

If there's a chance it could help...

[graveflowers]

I know. I'll do it.

[luthir]

[ he sighs very slightly in relief ] Thank you.

[graveflowers]

Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you, you're the one doing all the work while I just. [ sit here being aggressively useless. ] Hang out here.

[luthir]

You can thank me when I've discovered anything of use.

[graveflowers]

No luck at all?

[luthir]

Ways to block nightmares, but none of which are potent enough to combat a... god.

[graveflowers]

Well, I don't do things half assed, if I'm gonna have neverending nightmares, then I'm get 'em from a god.

[luthir]

A way has to exist. And I'll find it.

[graveflowers]

I don't doubt it. If anyone is gonna rescue me, well... you're pretty good at it. [ and finally, finally, she smiles a little. it's very true, though, she means it 100%, reaching out to take his hand and twist their fingers together. ]

[luthir]

[ he raises their clasped hands to kiss her fingers ] I couldn't live with myself should I fail you.

[graveflowers]

Shut up, that's impossible. [ nope, she isn't hearing any of that bullshit. ] Even if you weren't trying to help me, you couldn't fail me.

[luthir]

Fail myself, then.

[graveflowers]

Stop. Please. I don't... you can't do that to yourself.

[luthir]

Giving up has never been in my nature. Impossible challenges are what a Living Blade lives to overcome or die trying. [ a beat ] Not that I intend to go anywhere. It wasn't a direct comparison.

[graveflowers]

God, you'd better not, I'd kill you. [ she is aware that is impossible. ] Um... what's a, uh, Living Blade?

[luthir]

[ he looks at her with a blank stare of how has this never come up before, oh right i guess i don't ever talk about myself ahahaha ]

It's a... philosophy, or title, earned by some fighters in the world I come from. We believe... [ he splays his fingers within hers, tilting them palm to palm ] that to not test ourselves every day in which we can is to begin to fade from this world. To that end, we focus on a signature weapon, and make it our life's work to master it, and strive to seek out foes greater than the last we faced.

[graveflowers]

Oh. That's not excessively dangerous or anything.[ not just dangerous, but excessively so. ] But that's cool. I guess now I know what you meant when you said you make conflict your profession. [ you know when he said that four or five months ago and she just remembers everything that comes out of his mouth ever. (wis 21) ]

[luthir]

I was well suited to use my talents for the Knights. It was enough to live for, for a time.

[graveflowers]

For a time?

[luthir]

Before I met you.