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

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

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[fuuuuuuck...

The look on her face is enough to suggest that she also did not think about the fact that they would need rings. She looks down at the simple Claddagh ring she always wears, slipping it off and holding it up for Rose with a... somewhat sheepish smile. As for Dean? Doesn't he always wear a thick silver band on his off hand? She is out of all of tricks now, guys.]

I've got one for ya!

[ dean hadn't thought about it either, clearly, so when it comes up, he looks at sam in desperation. only to get a shrug. he's about to turn back to the priest to ask, when alainn volunteers one. he'll reach out to grab it, because it'll be a good fit for rose, before looking down at his own hand, where he does have that ring because in this au, i guess he never got rid of his beer opener. ] Not sure if it works, since you'd be givin' me something that's already mine, but...

[ the guy running the ceremony speaks up. "We do have a few rings available, of course, if you'd prefer that."

dean glances to rose, clearly not caring either way. ]

[ Panic quickly gives way to something else as they all spring into action, awe and amusement warring in her gaze as within less than 30 seconds, they’ve managed to go from completely forgetting the rings to having two with a side of options for more… and this is why they worked together, all of them. It might not always be pretty, but they got the job done. ]

It works. [ And then because technically, she doesn’t really get the significance of the rings beside them being symbolic? ] It does work, right?

[ And yes, she looks to Alainn because Alainn is like the Wedding Whisperer. ]

We can find something else later and it still counts?

[ The rings aren't magical, Rose... ]

[She chuckles, nodding at Rose's confusion,]

Aye love, it really works, and you can always find something else later should you want. [Rose could keep her ring for as long as she wanted, be it the next two minutes or for the rest of her life. She could have whatever she wanted because to her all that mattered in this moment was that they made it work. And they had.]

They're not even legally required at all.

[Putting those law school skills to work, I guess. Hilariously, as their panic subsides into amusement, it hammers home how they got here and what really matters.

Sam looks to the priest, grinning and waiting for the ceremony to keep trucking forward.]

[ the priest nods, before continuing on:

"As we gather here under the eyes of the Universe, let us also recognize the seriousness of the occasion. Marriage is a profound, sincere commitment, and one worthy of our reverence."

was that a jab at y'all's casual attitudes? we just don't know.

"Love is the soil from which life itself grows. As Carl Sagan famously wrote: 'The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth. We should remain grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides. The sum of all our evolution, our thinking and our accomplishments is love.'

I will now invite the Bride and Groom to exchange their vows. Rose, would you like to go first?"

dean glances over to her like welp, you started this train, you're in the hot seat buying him some time to think of what to say as a result ]

[ What?

There’s no disguising the surprise in her eyes when she’s called upon, Rose glancing from the Priest to Dean and it’s pretty obvious she was expecting this to be one of those things where you just repeat whatever the other guy said. Nobody told her there would be homework on this…

She glances at the Priest, at Dean, even Sam – resisting the urge to turn and look at Alainn, only because it would be super obvious that she had no idea what she’s doing – like it’s not already – before focusing on Dean and trying to pull something out of thin air before she manages to make a right ass out of herself at her own wedding. ]

Dean… from the moment we met - [ She makes a face because, it just sounds so horribly cheesy and it’s almost seems to set her off on a very different, somewhat unexpected and yet still perfectly Rose, path. ]

Actually, I thought you were an ass. [ She glances at the Priest, grimaces. ] Sorry… I’m going somewhere with this I promise.

[ Why is she apologizing? She really does not care if she mildly offends God or one of his servants.

Refocusing on Dean, a wry, almost smile plays at the corner of her mouth and she gives his hands a squeeze. ]

You, pushed all my buttons and you got under my skin, making it impossible for me to ignore you and… Maybe I should have realized then that one day we’d end up here. Because, even then? We had each other’s backs. We challenged each other and we made it through a pretty awful situation because, we worked together.

[ And because she can’t seem to help herself… she glances at the Priest as if to say, See? Point, before refocusing back on Dean. ]

You get me. In a way that nobody ever has and never will again. And you do it without even trying. You just, you know me better than I know myself sometimes and being with you, loving you? It’s the one thing in our lives that has always made sense, even when nothing else does.

[ She’s not always great at this sort of thing, speaking from the heart… at least not when things aren’t grave but the longer she goes, the more sure she is in what she’s saying and it doesn’t seem to matter so much if she’s eloquent. She’s being honest, in every possible way. ]

Through everything that’s happened… there has never been a single moment when I’ve wanted to go back. To do things differently, because there’s always been you. The person I love not in spite of your flaws, or the things you’ve been through but because of them. You, who I would rather get to spend just one more day with, than a lifetime with anyone else.

I promise to always be there, no matter what. To love you, no matter what. To come back to you, no matter what… and whatever comes. The good, the bad, everything in between. We’ll figure it out the way we always have. Together.

[Alainn literally cannot contain all of the emotions she is having right now about this entire thing. There is so much joy, such elated happiness in her friends' voice as she says her unrehearsed vows, that she doesn't need to see Rose's face to know that she is glowing.

She gets a good enough willsave to not burst into tears uncontrollably, but that doesn't mean she isn't crying all the same. But they are tears of happiness, pure and simple. She couldn't be happier for anyone else in the entire world, and this moment was one so pure she felt blessed to just stand in awe of it.]

[Oh no, Sam rolled a whole 3 on his will save.

He's gonna fucking cry ya'll. Has he ever happy cried in his life? I freaking doubt it.

He's going to do his best to try and hide it, because he sure doesn't want Dean to see and potentially never let him live it down, so there's a quiet sniffle on his part and a gentle clearing of his throat as he tries to act like he's totally calm and collected over here.]

[ SAM STOP BEING EMBARRASSING, dean sees that shit

but w/e he is focused on the insurmountable task of trying to come up with an impromptu wedding speech. talking about his feelings. in front of other people.

gulp.

never tear us apart - sleeping at last

rose's approach does a little bit to alleviate his nerves and even crack a few little smiles out of him, although the one in his eyes definitely doesn't leave. still, he glances over at the priest, like c'mon. ]

How'm I supposed to top that?

[ when the guy just shrugs, clearly not about to offer any help, dean takes a big breath in, his shoulders hunched a little with the tension, before he exhales, muttering almost under his breath: ] Here goes nothin'.

[ he lifts his eyes to hers again, still holding onto her hands ]

I'm not good at this stuff. Not just the writing speeches part, but ... this. [ he gestures around with their joined hands ] Romance. Relationships. Any of that crap.

It never seemed like it was gonna fit in my life. My whole life, I've been runnin' from it because I honestly thought being with anyone was the best way to get that person killed, or worse. [ the priest gives him a sudden Look of wtf, but dean continues ] There's not a lot of people in my life I've trusted to hold their own and not let me down, period. But you showed me time and time again that you could be one of 'em, and that's what made the rest easy.

Lovin' you was never the hard part.

And it never will be. I promise you that, and to always have your back, whatever gets thrown at us next, and wherever it's comin' from.

You brought me back from one helluva dark place, and I never thought anyone could do that. But you're not just anybody. You're the strongest person I ever met.

[ a beat, and then: ]

... And not just because you could probably kick my ass.

[ Honestly? She was fully expecting him to sidestep this with a simple; What she said, so the fact that he was even trying to be this open? That was worth more than anything he could have said. Plus it was honest, so honest that they would probably banned from coming back here after this, but in a way that feels right and so completely them. They weren’t fancy dinners and walks on the beach. They were stolen moments between the endless fight. Comfort in the middle of the night when you wake up in a cold sweat. They were having somebody to run to instead of running to stand still.

Pride shines in her eyes, Rose’s thumb running over his knuckles as if to lend support in a moment that she knows, doesn’t come easily to him because it’s about more than just opening himself up to her, in front of witnesses. It’s about giving a voice to those things inside you that don’t know how to even begin to examine let alone express.

With the most unnecessary Nat 20, she can see Sam with tears in his eyes in her periphery. Knows that Alainn is crying, without even turning around because she wouldn’t be Alainn if she weren’t and it all just solidifies that certainty she’s felt, ever since she said those two words to him at the Motel. She’d always known they lifted each other but to be with the two people who mattered most of them outside of each other and know that what they had could do that for them? That was something.

A huff of laughter spills over at that last part and she can’t help but inch closer. Rose releasing one hand so she can slip it around his middle. No longer content with even that small distance between them. ]

Probably? [ Eyebrows raised as her whole face brightens with her grin. ] Wanna test that out later?

[ And with the amount of suggestion in her tone… you gotta be feeling for that poor Priest about now.

And Sam. Who will probably be electing to sleep on Alainn’s floor, now. (You're all welcome for that shitty WS) ]

[Yes, yes Alainn is crying, but she doesn't care cuz Sam is crying too, so at least she's not alone!

She will, however, gesture to the preacher that perhaps he may want to hurry this along before anything embarrassing happens.

And of course, Sam can sleep on her floor tonight.]

[He might drag his ass there after sitting in front of Dean and Rose's door with earplugs in, just to make sure no one unapproved decides to drop in.

He doesn't trust some divine and not so divine parties not to try and be dicks.

Sam manages to get his shit together, probably because Dean's vows are honest yet sobering, and he's back to just grinning and casually wiping at his face to get rid of the evidence.

Alainn seems to have the priest covered.]

[ the priest gets the hint, and when dean his mouth to reply with a sly grin to rose, he gets cut off by a very hurried: "Dean and Rose, you will now hold hands." dean cuts him an amused look, but obliges and bites his tongue, giving her a wink instead.

"Dean, do you take Rose as your wife and your companion? Do you promise to share her laughter during the good times and wipe her tears during the bad, from this day forward?"

oh, well, that's ... sobering as fuck, draining the mirth out of dean's face for a second as he seems to swallow a few times, eyes dropping to their joined hands as his forehead furrows heavily, letting that sink in.

for the space of a long breath, it almost feels like it's not coming, or that he's gonna freak out right here and now and call the whole thing off.

but finally, his eyes drag up to hers, a tiny curve of his lip and a softening of his eyes heralding a final decision on the matter, and he says: ] I sure as hell do.

[ the priest very professionally doesn't react to that, turning to rose to ask the same: "Rose, do you take Dean as your husband and companion? Do you promise to share his laughter during the good times and wipe his tears during the bad, from this day forward?" ]

[ Most women, would have been panicking around about now, especially if they had any experience with Dean but Rose? Looks utterly calm, not even a glimmer of concern as he takes the time he needs to process, to be sure, to say the words. Because he was right about something before, she isn’t most women and she's standing here now because she truly does love him, because of rather than in spite of who he is.

(Nat 20 Will Save. Yup.)

He’d see that when he looks at her, feel the squeeze of her hand as he says those words and she almost cuts off the priest before he can finish prompting her; Dean the one who needs time to get there, Rose the one who rushes in. If that’s not a sign of the future, I don’t know what is.]

Damn straight I do.

[Sam's face breaks into an even wider grin because it's so them and it's just getting progressively more surreal that this is...actually happening.

He looks to the priest, eyebrows lifted expectantly.]

[ the priest nods at that, and then continues: "The wedding ring is a symbol of the unending power of love between two beings. Its circular shape has no beginning and no end, representing a boundless spiritual connection. The rings should be worn proudly as a symbol of the commitment between you and your spouse. Even when you find yourselves apart, your rings will provide a powerful reminder of the eternal love you share." He nods to Rose to take the one she'll be giving Dean.

"Please repeat after me: With this ring, I, Rose, commit my love to you, Dean, for all time, giving you all that I am and all that I will be. Please accept it as a symbol of my love." ]

[ It’s as if suddenly, with the exchange of rings imminent it all becomes incredibly real to her, not in a terrifying, show me the exit way but in a way that threatens to emotionally bowl her over. Because… he isn’t the only one who had never seen this in their own future. She’s had many roles over the years. A protector. A soldier. Even a Lover, but Wife had never been a title she thought would suit her. She isn’t soft enough. She is, as Dean had described her, suicidally stupid and she is just as likely to bring home a bullet wound than something for dinner. She’ll never be the kind of wife you see in those TV shows that somehow make it look easy.

It’s all come so easily to her until now but as she reaches for the ring, there’s a definite tremor in her hand. As if the weight, not of committing herself to him but of becoming his wife is enough to make her feel unsteady. So with her heart hammering hard and fast in her chest, she tries to focus on just repeating the words. (WIS 16, WS not great LOL) ]

With this ring, I, Rose, commit my love to you, Dean, for all time, giving you all that I am and all that I will be... [A beat.] Whether you like it or not, lets be real here...

[ Her eyes lift to meet his, a soft huff of soundless laughter passing her lips and the sudden onslaught of nervous energy dissipates, as if just by looking at him she can breathe again. And then with the most unnecessarily OP roll the world has ever seen (Dex 27), Rose will slide the ring onto his finger like she’s been practicing since she was a little girl or something... ]

Please accept it as a symbol of my love.

[ her joke makes him grin, clearly putting him at ease. in fact, her own momentary stumble in her easy confidence with all this probably helps too. his hand squeezes hers once, and then he takes the claddagh ring as the priest repeats:

"With this ring, I, Dean, commit my love to you, Rose for all time, giving you all that I am and all that I will be. Please accept it as a symbol of my love."

dean takes her hand in his, and looks her right in the eyes, the smile across his face coming more easily now. ]

With this ring, I, Dean, commit my love to you, Rose. For all time. Giving you all that I am and all that I'll be. [ he pushes it onto her finger with slow deliberation ] No takebacks.

[ so mature.

"By the power vested in me by the state of Louisiana, I now formally pronounce Dean and Rose to be husband and wife. Dean, you may now kiss the bride." ]

Now that's the part I'm talkin' about. [ his hand wraps around her waist and pulls her close, taking a second to study her face, before he pulls her into a long, joyful kiss, as the priest announces: "May I present Mr. and Mrs. Dean and Rose Winchester." ]

[ There's a long reverent moment when the newly married bride and groom kiss, before there's a soft shift of movement from the chapel's entrance as the unknown audience they'd had finally steps forward into the doorway and makes himself known. (Hide 20, look they were distracted.)

He's not dressed for a wedding. In fact, he's in faded jeans and a dark blue flannel shirt, with a battered baseball cap atop his head that has certainly seen better days. His beard is scruffy and unkempt and he looks a good deal older than when anyone had last seen him, but his face is unmistakably familiar to at least two of the people in the room.

He doesn't say a word at first - can't, because he's damn well choked up himself, eyes shining with unshed tears and his grin wide enough to practically stretch off his face. Instead, he just rubs his hands over his mouth, smoothing down his beard in a nervous gesture, and softly clears his throat before finally speaking up. ]

If I'da known this was gonna be a fancy shindig, I woulda worn my good boots.

[ If there were any doubts remaining -not about them, but about her own ability to be what he deserves - they're quickly erased by how sure he seems in this moment, as if half the struggle was getting here and from now was easy in comparison. No matter what comes, the inevitable shit storm that was likely to rain down on them? It felt as if it wouldn't matter anymore. They had each other. Sam. Alainn. So many more who despite not being here, still had a role in them being here now.

In that second he'd find no trace of doubt, just this blissful mix of joy and wonder. The shine in her eyes filled with something she's barely allowed herself to feel for far too long;

Hope.

The priests words barely register as he pulls her in, Roses hand sliding up to cup the back of his head and the smile she feels as their lips meet is too easily matched by her own. It's a moment that she knows will sustain them, through the very worst that will come their way and there's no denying the sense of right that she feels, not just from loving him - being with him - marrying him, but from staking a claim on something that nobody will ever be able to take away from them.

And it's almost too short lived when the sound of footsteps slowly penetrates her bubble of happiness. Rose still wrapped up in Dean as the voice cuts through proceedings. Despite the epic strength of will it requires (31), Rose manages not to immediately try and move to stand in front of Dean... but nothing would ever stop her from instinctively trying to protect Alainn. (... Declares In Harms Way for Alainn. As she do. I know OKAY.).

In her life, she's always been taught not to hesitate. To hesitate means to die, but as she's standing there, still gripping Dean... it's a lesson she can't help but think she's right to ignore this time. Standing here, staring at the face of a stranger? She doesn't feel the throb of danger in her pulse. Without understanding who this man is, or why he's here? She's quite certain - No - positive, that he's not here to ruin their day. (Sense Motive... Nat 20. It hurts ma).]

Dean? [ Her voice low, cautious as she turns her gaze on him. Far more concerned with his reaction, than who this man could be.]

[That voice. He knows that voice.

Sam's head turns in what feels like slow motion, his body not reacting as quickly as his mind wants it to, but by the time he tears his eyes away from this happy moment between his brother and Rose, his heart is in his throat and his eyes are wide.

He hears Rose say something, Dean's name maybe, but it's drowned out by his pulse in his ears. Sam knows exactly who he is, as if being here at all wasn't miraculous enough.]

Bobby? [There's an unfair amount of sheer hope in his voice.] Is that really you?

[He needs it to be real. It has to be. (sense motive 23)]

[ older chests - damien rice

beneath rose's touch, dean's entire body goes rigid, as he draws back to look up as well, drawn towards that voice with an expression that seems more deer in the headlights than anything. his mind reels, every instinct screaming at him to go into defensive mode, to assume the absolute and total worst, to warn everyone of what this could be and probably is, but something stills him from snapping to that too fast (sense motive 23, will save 22), and he's left instead with one hand on rose's arm as if to either stop her from going too far or to give himself some ballast in the situation.

he doesn't dare hope as much as sam does. knows better, much better, than this sam, how unfair the universe really is when it comes to their lives.

but all that he can say is a completely stunned: ] ... Can't be. It can't be you. [ despite all his above thoughts, there's still a smidge of hope in there ]

[ His expression turns more serious once more as they turn to face him and his gaze takes in first Sammy's reaction before moving to Dean. The young woman at his side gets a curious glance, assessing and thoughtful, but for the moment, his attention is fixated on the Winchester brothers.

At Dean's denial, Bobby spreads his hands out to either side in a helpless sort of shrug, as if to say 'what can you do?'. ]

Why? Because I'm supposed to be dead? [ Bobby makes an exasperated face at that and scoffs in derision before pointing at Sam. ] Before today, everything I could dig up on you two said so was he.

[ That sure had been a Research 35 that had him chasing down every lead he could find, which was hard enough in their line of business in the first place. Hunters didn't exactly make themselves easy to locate as a rule and Winchesters were more paranoid than most. ]

[Alainn is so ready to protect this moment, to guarantee their single moment of happiness without interruption that at another, unexpected voice she is already readying a spell, turning to cast it. She pauses as Rose steps in front of her, looking to Sam and Dean and their reactions to this unannounced stranger. She will hold her spell at the ready, willing to use it at the first sign of trouble.]

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FUCKING CRASHES IN HERE LIKE THE KOOL AID MAN

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