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]

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.

[romanticidal]

[ his brows are still knit together, and he doesn't look up as he acts as if his glass is the most interesting thing in the bar. but finally he says: ] I think I may go to get some fresh air. Will you be ... alright? [ he turns towards him to raise an eyebrow. he means are you gonna fall out of your chair again, bucko, without him here to rescue you romantically ]

[nothingsodivine]

No.

[THE ALCOHOL MADE HIM HUNGRY FOR HONESTY. He exhales deeply. He has a lot on his mind and telling Rafael to do something he, himself, can't even entertain the thought of seems like a big ask.] But I'll live.

[Hah. Hah. Hah.]

[romanticidal]

... Of course you will. [ dryly amused, he gets to his feet, still totally sober. and off he wanders, towards one of the staircases. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des sticks his tongue in his cheek and tries to get off the stool again.

And I rolled the exact same fucking thing, so he hits the floor and there's no Rafael to catch him this time.

Fuck.]