nyc ♔ all moonlight returned today

[romanticidal]

♬ shining star - jump5

WHO || Rafael, Isabella, Burt, Kat, Gar, Mark, Luthir, Buffy, Spike, Finnick, Violet, Elena, Archer, Des [closed]
WHAT || Burt invites everyone to celebrate their victory at the trial at the opening of his new nightclub in NYC
WHERE || New York City, NY
WHEN || Saturday, March 15th [forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam

It's over. After months of being sidelined by the trial of their friend Rafael, the Knights are finally free to return to England and see what headway the Dragon's Claws have made on discovering the location of the Talisman they seek.

But not everyone is so free to return. The consequence of getting Burt's assistance in disentangling Finnick from his contract and super-stardom was an ironclad agreement that allows Burt to sink his claws fully into Rafael's career. Considering that Burt knows their secret identity, non-disclosure agreement or not, the executive's renowned moral gray-itude doesn't exactly make it seem like a great plan to back out on the compromise.

They've at least been able to put off their goodbyes for a few days since the end of the trial, as Burt invited all of them to New York City for the opening of his brand new nightclub. Some of them flew out, while Archer and Des presumably drove their matching El Caminos cross-country in the days between. But now they've all met again in the Big Apple, for a celebration - and farewell of sorts.

Comments

[nothingsodivine]

[Des doesn't quite dodge the falling glass (reflex 12), due to all his excessive drinking, so he gets to deal with some nice glass damage that I'm not bothering to calculate, because it'll heal soon anyway.]

It's like you exist in a cloud of destruction.

[Said the bull in the China shop. He makes emotional messes though. Not physical ones.]

[rationalizes]

Oh gracious-- [ gar watches the explosion in horror, as the bartender growls "Alright, that's enough! You're out of here!" and she quickly moves to soothe things over. ] We're... we're so sorry for that. We're here with-- with Mr. Becksworth? [ wow she never wanted to have to fall back on relying on her connection to burt for anything. but it's not very convincing with her whole diplomacy check of... 6. yep. did you even know anyone on failboat could roll that badly. it just happened. ]

[nothingsodivine]

And Burt don't think it's a party until something gets busted. [Des has got this, Gar. He leans on the bar, hiding his bleeding hand behind his back to the bartender can't see the little nicks healing one by one, grinning broadly through his drunken haze.] Trust me. This ain't the worst thing you're gonna see tonight.

[(Diplomacy 29) Gar, you just got outclassed by a DRUNK GUY.]

[romanticidal]

[ the bartender scowls darkly, looking across to the other bar where burt is still doing body shots off the hookers with archer.

"... Fine, I don't want any trouble with Mr. Becksworth. But you get that friend somewhere to lie down awhile so she doesn't break anything else."

gar nods, putting her arm through kat's to drag her off, and promising to find her a place.

rafael watches them go, from his barstool about 3 empty seats down from des, now that gar and kat have vacated the space between them. his eyes rake across the crowd, as if he's looking for someone else, and then drag back down to his drink. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[Well as Des's seat is now covered in broken glass, he moves down to the one beside Rafael and pauses briefly to follow his gaze, though... maybe not looking for the same thing (spot 23), because he is TOO FUCKING DRUNK to figure out what Rafael might even be looking for (wis 7).] See something?

[romanticidal]

[ ♬ whataya want from me - adam lambert

rafael's eyes skate across the bar as the bartender sweeps glass of it. ]

No, I-- was wondering where everyone had gotten off to. It seems to be just you and me now. [ he gives a humorless snort of laughter. ]

[nothingsodivine]

Dancing.

[He says this succinctly and matter-of-factly, though there's a grimace coloring his features that suggests a certain bitterness with the situation.] They needed the escape. Can't blame 'em.

[romanticidal]

Are you sure of that? [ he casts des a knowing, curious stare, obviously having picked up all too well on that tone (wis 22), and sensing that des is sure blaming somebody on some level.

his tone isn't accusing, really. but he moves on, either way. ]

Is it wrong, that I envy them for being able to do so without-- [ he hesitates ]

[nothingsodivine]

- without thinking about it?

["It" being an all-encompassing term. The big "It" which is this mission, plus all the little "its" that hang them both out to dry emotionally.] I never stop. Every time I think about what happened the last time I felt happy, I choke.

[The words might be slurred, but there's no denying the honesty. It's rare from Des.]

[romanticidal]

[ dryly, but with a dull recognition in his eyes, even as he avoids looking to des. ] I would be lying if I were to say I did not know ... exactly what you mean.

[ he reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose ] Perhaps too exactly, no?

[nothingsodivine]

Probably.

[He drums his fingers on the counter.] And it doesn't matter how strong they are... [He sucks in a breath and his shoulders slump.] She was strong too.

[romanticidal]

[ his eyes move upwards, as if instinctively. ] Si. She was.

[ his brow furrows together, and his head drops, heavily, as he shakes his head. the words come slowly, as if he's drawing them out by force from a place he doesn't like to think about. ] That day... [ he doesn't specify which one, but he doesn't really have to ] Buffy said something to me, when I told her of such thoughts. Something that has stayed with me.

She said I had a choice. To go through with what I intended, and accept responsibility for the darkness I had brought to so many lives, to accept that as who I was, and all that I had done in this world--

Or to fight. Not just those men who stand against us - that is a fight I know all too well. To fight ... [ he frowns ] to fight accepting that as all I was.

Someone who Death was drawn to. Someone who hurts those around me, whether I intend to or no.

[nothingsodivine]

[♫ Words That We Couldn't Say- Steve Conte

Des's shoulders tense and no amount of alcohol can drown the look of fear in his eyes- possibly the alcohol is what makes it so obvious. He swallows and keeps staring across the crowd of people to some fixed point (spot 19) and he doesn't speak for a long time.]

And that's why you can't let anyone else in. 'Cause you'll hurt them. [A nod of quiet understanding.] But you need them, too, despite everything, so all you can do is wait and hope that when you finally aren't scared anymore, they still think it was worth waiting so long for.

[(will save 11, which... is a 2)]

[romanticidal]

[ rafael follows des' line of sight over his shoulder, and squints as if confused for a moment, before double taking at des. something seems to half click, but it's clear that he doesn't know how to feel about the realization whatsoever. ]

... Or to believe that you will be worth such a wait, perhaps. [ he looks down again, contemplative. ] Si. Si, I understand this.

[nothingsodivine]

[He ducks his head and laughs and there's a break in the wheezy dry chuckle.]

You might be. You've got a good heart, Raf'. You've got passion, fire... [He sticks his tongue in his cheek and finally turns away from what he's looking at, unable to bear it any longer.] I'm a rat. The best thing that ever happened to this team was realizing that. Jade was the first time I ever thought of putting someone else first.

[Another chuckle, this one even more strangled.] It's never enough, is it?

[romanticidal]

If Eterna loved you, you cannot be as bad as you say. [ a beat ] Sometimes that is all that convinced me I was not so lost a soul.

I know a great deal about making mistakes, Des. But they cannot define us. We cannot let them.

[nothingsodivine]

Right now my biggest mistake is letting that continue. I made this mistake once already- no offense.

[He jerks his thumb in a certain direction. No, really, he looks like he's about to be sick. It could be alcohol or it could be another shitty will save. He glances back, biting back something that might be regret and considers his options.]

Maybe I should- [He tries to get up and BAM he is now on the floor.]

[romanticidal]

[ with a 24 reflex save and 15 str check, rafael snaps out a hand to catch des by the arm and keep him from faceplanting. ] Careful! I don't think you are in much shape to stand.

[nothingsodivine]

Figured you'd just let me hit the floor after that one, Fluffy. [He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand awkwardly.] Or put me through another table.

[He sways a bit on his feet, but he isn't attempting to move anymore.]

[romanticidal]

That... was very wrong of me. In many, many ways. It has... become easy for me to jump to anger, to retaliate against what threatens the things I care for with violence.

But easy is not the same as right.

[nothingsodivine]

You're learning. [Unlike him. He'll never stop being angry.] You ever stop being afraid and let someone else in after this, maybe it'll all really click together. The only cure for hearts as banged up as ours is someone with a decent one.

[He woozily nods in that direction.] It's bigger than you'd probably expect.

[romanticidal]

[ rafael stares that way with a slight frown. ] ... Is it something you consider: what she would think? Of you... moving forward so?

[nothingsodivine]

You haven't been listening. I haven't... moved on to anything. I'm paralyzed. [He's just stalling though. He runs a hand through his hair and flops back down on the barstool.]

But I know Jade only ever wanted you to be happy and she only wanted me to get what I really wanted. And there's only one way I get that.

[romanticidal]

[ rafael turns his head to study des for a long moment, processing all that. there's a considerable silence before he says thoughtfully: ] If you are given a chance to find such meaning again with someone, you should consider taking it, then.

She would want you to be happy as well. [ he flinches a bit, as if his own words are difficult for him, and stares down into his drink again. ] Although I know that is easier to say than to do. She was all I ever wanted, Des. All I could ever imagine wanting. Whatever else changed in my life, that was one thing that held true.

It was a grounds of faith.

[nothingsodivine]

Maybe you need a new faith.

[Des looks at him, still wholly honest.] Look, Raf... Just because you can't imagine something any other way doesn't mean that's how it's always gotta be. Sometimes the one thing that was always true is just making you blind.