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

[slay]

I didn't have the information that I do now. They say you're dangerous - you get your kicks from humans suffering.

[divinehealer]

"They". [ he repeats the word calmly, but with a strange weight. ] Hm.

[ he tilts his head, regarding her ] And is that what you believe, Buffy Summers?

[bigbad]

[Spike frowns, stepping in closer behind Buffy and touching her shoulder.] Don't forget manipulating people.

[slay]

I believe in what I see. [ she shrugs off spike's hand. ] And I've seen you try to help, and try to convince us not to find out who you really are.

[divinehealer]

It's ... unnecessary for you to know. You might not believe me, if I told you.

[slay]

You don't decide what I do or don't need to know. I do.

[divinehealer]

Actually, someone higher than both of us does.

[ he frowns again, not at anything buffy is saying, but as if there's something amiss in the very air of the place. ] But I think you may be right. Things have been set in motion, that cannot be reversed.

[ he raises one hand beside his head... and snaps his fingers. behind him, the demon vanishes in a flash of white light, as if something had enveloped it from the inside out. it unleashes a horrified final squeal before being snuffed out of existence. ] But I don't believe tonight is the evening for such a conversation.

I simply wished to give you a ... warning, of sorts. That your gift, your ability to see that which others cannot, is as of yet underdeveloped.

There's more to be seen, more dangers from beyond, perhaps even right under your noses. [ concern fills his gaze as he looks between them both. ] I simply wish you both to be cautious.

[bigbad]

Oh, there's a surprise. Us, in danger. [All the dying kind of tipped him off there. The demon incineration is cool, but Spike isn't as a rule impressed by magic.] How do we know you're telling the truth about anything? [Because his sense motive of 14 probably won't help much.]

[slay]

They haven't lied to us yet.

[ she'll give him that much credit. but that doesn't make her happier about it, judging by the scowl that remains on her face. ]

Maybe we could be more cautious if you told us what those dangers are. The whole cryptic guru thing is way outta style.

[divinehealer]

I understand it must be frustrating. But we've explained before. Our interference is guided by a system of balance. Telling you too much tips the balance too strongly in our favor, allowing our enemy to do the same.

I have faith in you, both of you, to come to an understanding of all this, without us holding your hand every step of the way. It would be an insult to you, to think otherwise.

[bigbad]

But not enough faith in us to bugger off entirely, of course.

[divinehealer]

Whatever you believe, we're on your side in this. If in any small way we can help you to succeed, we will. [ he turns to go, but looks back at buffy, with a small smile. ] Cryptic or no.

[slay]

[ the animosity reluctantly drains from her expression and buffy rolls her eyes, avoiding orlando bloom's gaze in a shifty way. she turns to look at spike instead. ]

I don't know about you, but I interpret that as Des' hottie friend is super Shadesville. I'm just saying: "right under our nose"?

[romanticidal]

[ hey guess who's walking up behind buffy on the walkway up hurr. ] ... Am I interrupting something?

[bigbad]

[Great. Rafael. Just who Spike always wants to see. Spike rolls his eyes, turning a bit to... include Rafael in the conversation.]

No, you're a bit too late for any of the interesting stuff. We were gonna go figure out the deal with Des' friend.

[Those italics don't actually have to do with make outs. Spike doesn't know about makeouts.]

[slay]

No, we weren't.

[ staring. she shakes her head at spike in confusion, turning to rafael. ]

One of the Grays was here, and a demon. He swanned in, called me underdeveloped, dropped a hint about baddies being under our noses and left. [ she holds up a matter-of-fact pointer finger. ] And I am in no way underdeveloped. [ she is as god made her flat as hell chest and all ok. ] I was leaning towards, y'know, subtle approach. Like watching that guy Des brought around like a hawk until he tried something.

[bigbad]

You were planning on subtle? [Spike raises an eyebrow. Just saying, Buffy, subtlety is not your strong suit.]

[romanticidal]

[ rafael raises an eyebrow, eyes skating down across the crowd, but then landing back on buffy. ] ... I am not sure friend is the right word. [ yeah, he can't help but gossip where buffy is concerned, i guess. so much for the bro code. ] He seems to greatly care for him, something that is... not easy, all things considered. [ there's a bitter note of dry amusement there. there was bonding. and making of wisdom checks. ] I think Buffy is right to grant him the benefit of the doubt, and watch him before making a mess of things for Des without reason.

He has... had his share of that already. [ a frown, and then, COMPLETELY APROPOS OF NONE OF THAT, he says more quietly to buffy ] Do you think we might speak alone?

[bigbad]

[Of course he wants to speak to her alone. Probably to whine about how he'll never love anyone as much as Jade or whatever it is he talks about when he and Buffy are alone and she's staring lovingly and he's not noticing at all. She'll come back all sad and heartachey and as pathetically incapable of removing herself from her unrequited romance as Spike was.

Or maybe he's finally wised up to her feelings and is about to finally whirl her away on some Italian romance and Spike'll lose her forever. He's not sure which is worse.]

What, Des hasn't betrayed him yet? [He waves a hand.] Guess the subtle approach falls to me, then. [Look what you're doing, Buffael, your romance is leading to Spike being in charge of the subtle part. IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?]

[slay]

[ there's a weary but grateful smile shot spike's way for ... not even complaining a little bit. he's actually accommodating. wow. much character development. she loops a hand through rafael's arm. ]

I'll catch up with you later.