knightsoflegend | nyc ♔ all moonlight returned today

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nyc ♔ all moonlight returned today

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.

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[Sense motive 24, but it's not like the bluff was aimed at him. A selfish part of him that's larger than he'd like to admit is hoping Raf will go, hoping that Buffy will choose his shoulder for her crying, and that... well... with Rafael out of the way...

But he doesn't want Buffy hurting. He doesn't want her heart to break, even as his has felt crushed ever since he first told her how he felt. Even more so since that night they'd slept together, and that disastrous morning. He loves her. Plain and simple. It's something that not even his jealousy for Rafael can truly taint.

Maybe that's what it means to have a soul.

He doesn't say anything, but he steps in towards Buffy and Rafael. Just a step. He won't entirely interrupt their moment. But he's staring. He can't bring himself to look away.]

[ ♬ hoodoo - muse

rafael turns towards buffy, staring at her in half-confusion as if her words are even more unreal than the choice he's being offered.

he searches her face for a moment, but starts shaking his head slowly, words falling off his lips almost as if they're surprising him as well. ] I--

I can't.

[ he drags his eyes over to eterna, and there's sorrow behind them, but also something else.

something apologetic. but also a layer of self-realization that seems to be unfolding for him right in the moment. ] I'm sorry, but I--

I cannot go.

[ saying the words out loud and letting them rest there for a second seems to allow him to come to grips with them, and he sounds less amazed by the proclamation when he looks back to buffy, squeezing her arm. ] I cannot say... I am not tempted. But my work here is not finished. These evil men and women still walk this world, and if I can stop them from hurting anyone else, I must.

Not only that, but... [ his tongue seems a bit thick in his mouth, but he manages to say it. ]

There are people here, who need me. [ he affixes buffy with a very meaningful look as he echoes her words from so long ago. ] ... For more than death and darkness.

I want to find a way to bring them that. I must.

[Des sucks in a breath and either because of Rafael's choice or something else, he turns around to finally look at Jade. The look on his face is overwhelmingly sad.]

Sorry, Sunshine.

I - I don't understand.

[ she's afraid of the rising hope in her gut, the swelling feeling of optimism and belief that there can be something that isn't darkness to come out of this night. she shakes her head. it doesn't make sense. ]

Rafael, this - this is all you've ever wanted. You pined for this - exact moment, for years. You're really gonna give it up?

[ that's not the question she really wants to be asking - what she wants to ask is confirmation that she's reading those looks the way that she should. that he's giving it up for her, to be here, with her. somehow, when sehanine pointed out that she didn't have to do this alone, that people would place tremendous faith in her, buffy feels like she didn't have rafael in mind as that person. ]

[Spike glances away. He should be happy for her, probably. That Rafael's probably wising up. He'd told her himself that Rafael was an idiot for not seeing what he had in front of him while he was busy pining for Jade. But now that Rafael's wised up, Spike can't really bring himself to feel anything but bitterness. He'll just stay here being all big and bold and Italian where everyone can fall in love with him because who wouldn't?]

Brilliant. Happy endings for all.

[Or anything but.]

You are the one who told me, carina. [ his eyes slide down, and then sneak across to jade. ]

This is not the way to fix things.

Once you make this choice, it cannot be unmade. This offer will only be extended to you now, Rafael.

You are certain?

[ he looks up with more confidence at jade, staring at her, as he says, resolution firm in his voice. ] ... Si, I am certain. This is my choice.

Very well. [ it's impossible to miss the mysterious smile in her voice, and as her eyes drift across the others, rafael's gaze drawn away from her, they would all become aware of something without her even having to say it.

she already knew precisely what his answer would be, before even extending the question.

this was never about rafael saying yes.

that mysterious smile playing on the edges of her lips, she nods. ]

My daughter has some words for you. I will leave her to them. [ and with that, her gown begins to shimmer like stars blinking in and out... and with a swell of light, she's gone, leaving lingering dots of light dancing in the air. ]

[Des's stomach drops into his shoes. This is a conversation he's not prepared to have, even if he invited it. That doesn't mean he's ready.

He needs to... go sit down now. Yes. Good plan.]

[ buffy finally wrenches her gaze away from rafael as sehindeafejkhseg wraps up her stupid little test. she sucks in a quick breath and glances over. ]

Hey! Wait, you - [ and she's already gone. buffy clenches her jaw. ] That never gets less annoying. [ the grays have a way of vanishing when she isn't looking too ok. besides, commenting on that might dispel the awkward. somehow. ]

[ jade stares back at rafael, her expression inscrutable, as she responds to buffy with trace amounts of humor. ] She does that.

[ her gaze finally drifts past him and lands on where des is sitting. ] ... Des.

[Des peeks out at her from from behind splayed fingers as he sits on the couch with his face in his hands.]

Jade. [He swallows and drops his hands into his lap.] Can I just start by saying you're a hard girl to keep a promise to?

[He points at Rafael, trying to laugh off the fact that he looks like he's about to crack.] I mean look at this guy.

You seem to be doing everything in your power to try. [ there seems to be a certain weight to the statement, meant just for him. ] That is what I asked. I should have expected you to take that as far as anyone could. [ there's a simple acceptance of the fact in the way she says it, and the tiny smile she manages. ]

[Des keeps his composure, but he looks completely relieved, all the same. She's taken a weight off his shoulders with that.]

You know me. I always go too far. [He exhales and gets back to his feet, crossing over to her, and wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. He doesn't go in for the big passionate kiss, however. He kisses her on the head- though it's a lingering kiss- and when he speaks, he's almost muffled by her hair.]

I miss you, Sunshine.

[ from a shell - lisa germano

in the same way that nightscape had felt to them when they'd gone there so long ago, there's something unreal about touching her, a dreamlike quality that keeps it from feeling grounded. but she returns his embrace just the same, clinging to him and closing her eyes in an almost wince at his words. ] Miss you more.

[ she nuzzles against him with a sigh. ] Be careful. Please.

[ it seems a strange thing to say to the invincible man over here. and yet. ]

Edited 2014-03-21 04:34 (UTC)

[Now that he's holding her he doesn't want to let go, afraid she'll dissolve into mist if he even loosens his hold on her a bit. He isn't weeping or trying to hold back his pain, anymore. In fact, there's a certain serenity on his face now. (will save 26)]

I'm trying. [He presses his forehead to hers for a second, staring into her eyes with a dopey smirk, and then leans down and whispers something in her ear.]

[Listen check 28 X( No secrets for you!]

[ her eyes scan his when he leans so close, and she looks ready to kiss him, herself, but instead she brushes her lips to the side, feather light against his cheek. she doesn't respond to what he said, instead imploring: ]

Help Vi for me, Des. I couldn't stand to see her fade away, and if her connection to Malaak'a isn't severed soon...

Even the return of spring won't be enough to return her to herself.

She'll die, just from her essence being torn in two as it tries to recover.

[Oh good another promise he has to keep. Des doesn't even hesitate, however- anything she asks of him, it's hers.] I'll fix it. I promise.

[Tonight, if he has to.

He finally pulls away from her, though it's very slowly, backing away as if it's the hardest thing he's ever had to do, but he doesn't get far enough before he cups her face in his hands and says, very intensely:]

I love you, Jade. Whatever happens, don't forget that. You could've freed me. [He runs his thumb along her jawline.] We'll see how the next one goes.

[he finally pulls away entirely and steps back.]

[ her expression twists a bit at his words, but she nods, very very slightly. ] I love you too, Des.

I won't forget. [ what he just said, and that she loves him, like she did once before, that much is clear. ]

Your friend Nick. Introduce him to the O'Keefe family - they're with the Knights. [ she gives a sad half-smile ] Who knew I had family right around the corner?

They can help stop her nightmares, if they work together.

Nick? [Des balks a little at the suggestion, like somewhere in all his emotions and everything else that just happened, she found his bitchface and dragged it out screaming.] Is that-

[You know what, no. He trusts her.] The O'Keefes. Got it. First thing I do when I get to Wynn's place.

Edited 2014-03-21 05:17 (UTC)

[ she nods to him, and then looks past him to rafael, who has been studying the floor lost in thought listening to all this, because no matter how much character development's he had, watching des and jade together isn't any easier, yo. she moves around des with airy ease, stepping closer to him and buffy. ] Rafael.

I understand. I don't want you to think that I'm anything less than happy for the purpose you've found here. [ she can still sound a little wistfully sad though, as his eyes drag up to meet hers. ] I have a gift for you.

[ well, buffy can take a hint. she takes a step away from rafael instinctively, knowing jade is coming. knowing that's a looming shadow that dwarfs her in comparison. she drops her gaze. ]

I'll - [ saying anything to excuse herself seems intrusive by itself. so she shuts up and turns to step closer to des as jade departs him. she briefly touches his arm, mingled sympathy and concern in her gaze. this isn't easy on any of them. ]

Nick?

[Des is still shellshocked before it catches up to him that the world has moved on from that and when Jade moves over to Rafael and Buffy moves over to him, he hesitates, and then throws an arm around Buffy's shoulders.]

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