new orleans ♔ and you were the light that brought me back

[likedillinger]

War of Hearts - Russell Taylor

WHO ||Dean, Rose, Sam, Alainn [closed]
WHAT || Dean & Rose spontaneously tie the knot
WHERE || The French Quarter 24/7 Wedding Chapel, New Orleans
WHEN || A couple weeks post LA, after the Rafael rescue (2017)
HOW || Actionspam (single thread)

[ No one probably ever thought this day would come, probably least of all the bride and groom.

But a surprise proposal (of sorts) from Rose has led them both here, as the clock clicks close to midnight, to one of the only 24/7 wedding chapels there is, conveniently located right here in New Orleans, where they happened to make the decision.  Neither one of them seems to want a big wedding, so much as they just want to get married already, although everyone is a little concerned that Dean is going to develop cold feet as the time draws nearer.  With a nat 20 will save though, he's actually eerily calm about the whole thing as Sam drives him to the place and they fill out the paperwork, while Alainn gets Rose ready in a nearby room.  Dean takes a moment to slip the guy running the place some cash money under the table not to put their name up on the public registry that they keep on their website, to at least not flagrantly advertise their location.  By the time anyone traces them here from the actual signing of documents, they should be long gone.  Once all that's done, Dean and Sam have a few moments alone while they go to process everything, and he steps into the chapel room, walking slowly down the aisle with his hands shoved in the pockets of the suit that Alainn picked up for him and Sam talked him into actually wearing, studying the kooky decor with a pensive look on his face. ]

Comments

[familybusiness]

[Sam sure as hell didn't think this day would come, and even if he did he didn't know if he'd be here with them, but now that it's happening it almost feels like there's no other way this could gone.

Leave it to Rose and Dean to do something like this in the spur of the moment. That's generally how they all lived their lives anyway.

Sam's got on his flannel/vest combo, which miraculously fits him, and he's quiet as he follows after Dean into the chapel room. He's also ridiculously calm (will save 30) as he glances around, his expression one of contentedness.]

I bet they could get us a couple beers while we wait if you wanted one.

[He's...mostly teasing. And also trying to keep the atmosphere light considering how heavy it got back at the motel.]

[likedillinger]

Maybe just keep it on hand. Isn't that part of your whole best man gig? [ the words seem to surprise him - 'best man' - even though he already asked him and they're already here. he pulls on the edges of the suit, glancing down at it, and then turns on his heels to look back at the doors ] You don't think that cult's gonna be able to track us down because of this, do you? [ maybe this is... really stupid ]

[familybusiness]

I didn't exactly know I should bring a cooler with me.

[Most jokes, but he looks around for someone that can help him out with that anyway. It'd be good to have one afterward, either way.

Sam's eyes are drawn toward the doors as well before he gently shakes his head.]

I guess there's a slim chance. But, if you ask me, we scared the shit out of them and we'll be gone tomorrow. Considering they didn't seem to have any of their heavy hitters around...

[It couldn't have been that important, right?]

[likedillinger]

Maybe she just didn't care. With Crombe gone and Beyblades deified, maybe she didn't give a shit what happened to the Italian Stallion.

[ either way, the realization seems to comfort him a little ] I just don't want any gatecrashers. We do this thing, get in... get out. Everyone goes home happy.

[ he glances at sam, then away back towards the doors, before tacking on: ] She deserves that much.

[familybusiness]

No complaints here. That could have gone a lot worse.

[Everyone was still alive, after all.

His expression sobers further, but it's clear that this isn't the first time that fact has crossed his mind.]

You both do. [Truth.] The fifteen-minute package it is, then? [Another attempt to lighten the mood, before he adds:] She won't be long so how about we ixnay the worried faces, yeah?

[likedillinger]

[ apparently that was exactly the thing to say

to bring his nerves out

and make that worried face stick ] ... This is really happening, isn't it.

[familybusiness]

[THERE IT IS, he's been waiting.]

If you ask me, it pretty much happened ages ago. Rose is already a goddamn Winchester. You're just making it official. [He gives Dean a clap on the back.] Besides, you already filled out the paperwork, so the hard part is already over.

[Diplomacy 30????]

[attollores]

[Alainn may or may not have...actually forgotten to get her own outfit for this makeshift wedding so uh this is what she ends up actually wearing... And apparently she is more concerned about making her bestie look like a bamf, cuz she got a 21 disguise check to glam Rose up as much as she would allow, while for herself she got a whopping 9. She really doesn't care though, so long as no cold feet or freakouts happen.

Just before she and Rose go out to join the boys in the chapel, Alainn will pull this out of her pocket, holding it up to show her friend. It's a simple celtic knot, a bit battered that looks almost hand made in it's little imperfections.] You have the something new and the something blue, and if you'll wear it, this can be your something old and borrowed.

[littledhampir]

[ And Rose no doubt made a comment that they could switch outfits... but it was all tongue in cheek because now that they're here? Now that she has the dress, the shoes and yes, even the shawl because she did remember to take off her leather jacket wis 17, it all just feels right. It didn't matter that they were rushing this because it wasn't about some split-second decision to do something reckless. It was about every little moment that had led them here and while she couldn't deny a few nerves, they were mostly around not knowing how to actually do this next bit. As for Dean? She's never been surer of anything. (Will Save 35).

Rose bounces on her heels as she stares blankly at the closed doors, focusing on breathing in and out as she clings to what patience she has left. For somebody who only just decided tonight she wanted to do this, she seems to be severely lacking in the chill department.

It's why she's grateful to Alainn for providing a distraction as she holds something out for her to look at. Her fingers hover over the knot, as if to trace those very imperfections and there's a weight in the air between them as Rose looks from it to Alainn, knowing this holds some great significance to her friend, even if she's not entirely sure what. (Sense Motive 32).]

What is it?

[attollores]

[with that sense motive it is readily transparent to Rose that this necklace really does hold some kind of special significance to her. She traces the continuous loops fondly before gesturing for Rose to turn around, clipping the necklace gently at the back of her neck.]

It's a Celtic knot. [her smile is gentle with that faraway look of memories swimming beneath the surface.] See how these loops have neither start nor finish? No beginning or ending to the pattern, just a continuous loop of forever. That's what this represents.

Eternity. [those memories seem to grow stronger, a cloudiness coming to the surface that she quickly blinks away, eyes connecting with Rose's again with a gentle laugh.] Eternal friendship, eternal love, faith or loyalty, or all of them. The single thread represents how life and eternity are forever interconnected.

It belonged to my best friend, Katie. [there's only warmth and happiness in her eyes for Rose now.]

I want you to have it.

[littledhampir]

[ Rose remains silent, watching Alainn and finding the patience for her that had been so lacking only moments ago. Tracing the lines on her face as emotion ripples across her features as the pieces of her story create a picture that wraps around her heart. She doesn't need for Alainn to fill in the gaps for her to understand. It was in the timbre of her voice, the warmth that rises to the surface, even the care with which she secures the clasp around her neck before she even says the word belonged.

The parallels of this moment aren't lost on her either as one of her own memories rises to the surface. Of her standing with Dean on the day they were to attack Andres and giving him a pendant of similar importance. It wasn't just the day that they become something more, it was the day that Alainn first came into her life. It was the day that set her life down a completely different path and led her to where she is now; Standing with the best friend she could have ever hoped to have, about to marry the person who fits with her in every possible way and forever gaining a brother she'd never known she wanted or needed, but could now never imagine being without.

There's so much more to this story, questions dancing on Rose's tongue but it's not for now at least. It's a conversation that needs to be had on Alainn's terms, when the other woman is ready to give the rest. It doesn't stop Rose from capturing Alainn's hand and guiding it towards the pendant, the cool of the metal pressing against their entwined fingers as, even despite the mammoth control she's trying to wield at this moment, she still struggles to keep the shine of tears from her eyes. (Will Save 28.) ]

Not keep. Borrow. [ She would never insult Alainn by saying no, by saying that it was far too important to give to her. This, however, it felt right. ]

I'll wear it until we need to go our separate ways for a while, and then I'll give it back to you. Then, when we see each other again? You'll lend it to me again. We can put a time limit on it, so that... no matter what happens in our lives, we make sure that we never let it go too long.... and then in some, small way? Katie becomes a part of our friendship. Forever.

[attollores]

[It's like Rose's understanding is all that is needed before the clouds clear from her eyes completely, and then she's hugging Rose fiercely.]

Aye. Forever. [her own emotions threaten to overwhelm her (Will save 23), but she pulls back from the hug with a shake of her head and another airy laugh as she swipes the moisture from the corners of her eyes.]

Ack, enough of this emotional crap! Let's get you hitched! [who are you kidding Alainn, you're gonna bawl like a baby as soon as those doors open up.

As they stand and wait for the musical cue, her arm threaded with Rose's she thinks back on Katie, her first friend in this world, aside from Colleen. So much of her personality, so many of her views on life had come from her, and so much of her sorrow had been caused by her. Katie and Rose were so different from each other, so fundamentally other that comparing the two was impossible.

Katie had been weak, frail in a way that made even Alainn look like an Amazon compared to her. Delicate not only in her frame but her mental and physical health. But there had been such a spark to her, such a melancholy demeanor that was so tragically beautiful it was hard to stay away.

But Rose? Rose was so much stronger, so much abler and equipped to live in this world, to live period. And she didn't run away from her problems, didn't hide from the difficult, or take the easy way out. Alainn could only hope to compare to Rose in some small way, in any way, to be able to mimic even a fraction of her strength.

And the best way to start would be to make it through this wedding without embarrassing any of them.]

[littledhampir]

[ The hug is returned with a restrained ferocity - look you don't want Rose to let go of said restraint. We love her but she's scary - her chest expanding and tightening as the waves of emotion roll through her and despite Alainn's attempt to put the emotional crap to bed, she can't allow this moment to pass without making sure the other woman knows exactly how much she matters, how much a part of this day, of her life that she is. ]

I'm the person I am because of you.

[ The person who was still capable of love and more than that of trust. Because Rose had so many reasons not to trust the people in her life, to always expect betrayal from the ones you least expect it but Alainn... it was never a question with her and the fact that she could have that? In spite of everything they'd seen? That was more than she could even begin to express in words. ]

And I wouldn't change that for anything.

[ Her gaze flits to the side, a brief moment of eye contact before traveling over her shoulder. Rose needing to reassure herself that this was the one moment in their lives that the four of them could have something good without Hell or Heaven or an apocalypse chasing them down.

(Spot 36 - IDK what you were expecting here she's long been embracing that Winchester paranoia. ]

back at the motel

[likedillinger]

[ hello alcoholism, my old friend. after alainn's proposed stop at the liquor store, they make their way back, and gather in dean and rose's room for a powwow that is a far cry from a usual wedding night. a brooding silence falls over the room as dean tries to gear himself up to explain any of this to the man who is like a father to him. for now, though, he's trying to find the bottom of this bottle. ]

[littledhampir]

[ Just as soon as they get back to the Motel, Rose grabs the clothes she'd been wearing earlier. Disappearing as everybody tries to settle as if she can't get out of her wedding dress fast enough. It was a nice dress, a nice thought but she feels too much like a fraud wearing it now, a comfort being found in combat gear with bullet holes in it. She wasn't the kind of person who got dressed up and tried to look pretty. It seemed foolish to her now that she'd even tried to be.

When she emerges, her face is scrubbed clean of any traces of make-up, her clothes thankfully cleaned of bloodstains and snake entrails, thanks to Alainn's earlier handiwork and her gaze shifts to the collection of alcohol on the table in the motel room, skates towards Dean and the drink in his hand before she moves over to take a seat by the head of the bed. With her back to the door and her bare feet pressing into the stained carpet, she pulls her hair back from her face and throws it into a messy bun. Erasing any trace of the effort made to make her look like a bride.

What she doesn't do, however, is try to break that heavy silence in the air. After having said so much already, she's finally run out of things to say. ]

[familybusiness]

[Sam is looking between them all, eyes lingering on Dean and that bottle in his hand, moving to Rose as she emerges from the bathroom.

The weight in the room is oppressive and stifling, making it difficult to breathe. He takes a sip of the beer in his hand, the entire evening replaying in his head in slow motion, as if somehow he could figure out how he could have prevented it.

He couldn't have, and that's the worst part. Rose was right. It never stops.]

Do you guys want to shelve this for tonight? I can fill Bobby in on the important stuff.

[likedillinger]

[ in the name of nothing - lawless ft. dream harlowe

dean's head lifts to take in rose's entrance, the way she's removed any trace of the ceremony, while he sits here in his now slightly more rumpled suit, feeling completely displaced in it as well. it's clear that he's feeling it too - who were they kidding to think that they could have anything resembling normalcy? he's not exactly eager to face his bride alone in the aftermath of what he no doubt feels like he brought to her one and only wedding day. it's not going to be a night for celebrating their love anyway, even if they could push away what had happened, it would be two people clinging to each other in shared despair. not exactly the note anyone wants to start their marriage on. ]

No.

Let's just get this over with.

[attollores]

[Alainn is planted in front of the door, one arm crossed over her stomach as she cradles a red solo cup filled with whiskey. Her eyes are a bright, burnished gold as she monitors the motel through Fede's eyes, the hawk making lazy circles high above the building. She should've done this at the chapel, should've been able to warn the others of what they were walking into. For those very brief moments of sharing in her friends happiness, she had put aside her paranoia. What a mistake that had been.

She doesn't say anything either, it's not her place. If anything, she felt more like a burden to be privy to such personal history. She knew enough of Dean to know he held his cards so close to the chest for a reason, and now he was bearing his most personal self with two more people. If she were asked to leave she wouldn't bat an eye, understanding that there is only so much pain you can ask others to help you bear, and sometimes that was harder than the actual pain, the sharing of it.

But she also isn't going to be the one to bring her presence into focus again, preferring to keep an eye out for anymore unwanted guests.]

[ohballs]

[ While Alainn guards the door, Bobby is at the window, eyes on the parking lot outside as if expecting all hell to break loose out there.

...Again, apparently?

The curtain is mostly drawn closed, just leaving enough space for him to peer out without giving any view of the room behind him, just in case there's something out there trying to watch. But he, too, turns when Rose comes out, eyes on her changed appearance as she settles in - not where he'd expect, but he doesn't touch that at the moment. There's already enough emotional tension in this room as it is. He doesn't have a drink - yet - so he instead crosses his arms over his chest as the brothers talk. Sam's offer is generous - and one he would have taken the younger brother up on - but he knows Dean well enough to know that's probably not going to fly now. Not after what they'd all seen tonight.

So instead, he lifts a hand to rub over his face before coming to sit on the edge of the other bed, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. ]

Alright. Someone start at the beginning.

[ He doesn't even know who to direct that to at this point, considering they all seemed to have pieces of this broken puzzle. ]

[familybusiness]

[Sam will make sure he and Bobby get Alainn back to her room safely before heading to the front desk to secure the extra room. Once inside, Sam does a quick check of the room and the bathroom before settling on the edge of one of the double beds, letting out a heavy sigh and looking over at he and Dean's father-figure.]

Welcome to the clusterfuck, I guess. You walked into quite a mess.

[Par for the Winchester course, though.]

[ohballs]

[ Bobby takes off his baseball cap long enough to rub his arm against his face, feeling his temples throb with an oncoming headache from all this. Also par for the Winchester course. He gives a tired sigh and sinks down on the second bed. ]

Yeah, well. I figured that's what I'd be walking into if it really was the pair of you. You boys never do anything by half. And now I guess there's three of you. Great.

[ It's deadpan and dry with his typical sarcasm, but there's still that underlying hint of fondness lurking in his tone, too. ]

[familybusiness]

In our defense, it's not always our fault.

[Like today. They did what they could to prevent that and Hell still showed up to ruin the party.]

I don't think there's anything that could come between those two. [A beat.] Not even me.

[ohballs]

Yeeeah, I know it's not. But you still end up neck-deep in dung anyway, doncha?

[ Sighing, Bobby just shakes his head as he rolls his shoulders, working out the kinks in his muscles. He's tired and sore - he'd pulled every favor he could think of to get him halfway across the country and make it here in time but now the rush was catching up with him and he just wanted to sleep for a day. Or three.

Not like there was usually time for luxuries like that. ]

I could tell they were pretty close. [ A pause, as he glances over at Sam, his expression thoughtful. ] I'm a little surprised, honestly.

[familybusiness]

It's worse here.

[If Bobby can believe that. It's hard, Sam knows. And yet...]

I was too, at first. But they've been together for half a decade now, maybe since before I came through the Veil. [They'd come back from searching for the doppelgangers together, after all. That was the first time Sam had seen either of them.] Back then, Dean thought I was...well, him.

[The other one.]

[ohballs]

[ Bobby lets out a low whistle at that, glancing over at Sam's face at this revelation. ]

I'm guessin' that didn't go so well for your reunion then, huh?

[ He knows Dean. He knows how Winchesters can hold a grudge. They don't trust easily, especially not after it's been broken once.

...Hell, that wasn't even just Winchesters. ]