wedding ♔ so let in the morning light and let the darkness fade away

[luthir]

♬ from this moment on- shania twain ft. bryan white

WHO || Vi, Luthir, Wynn, Jack, Myri, Finnick, Francesca, Val'drin, Spike, Dumage, Felicity, Gus, Astrid, Fred Jr., Kat, Gar, Buffy, Rafael, Elena, Alaric, Rose, Dimitri, Aedan, Dovan, Lan, Zero, Koraith, Mark, Dawn, Archer, Des, Zarad, Alex, Faith, Faye, Sean, Anastacia [closed]
WHAT || Vi and Luthir's wedding
WHERE || Chelsea Physic Garden, London
WHEN || June 6th, evening
HOW || Actionspam

Now officially Knighted, Vi exchanges her ceremonial armor for a wedding gown, and the guests head into London to gather at the Chelsea Physic Garden.  The evening is warm and clear, and the flowers in full bloom, chairs set up on the main lawn with name tags on them for people to find their seat.  Gentle Elvish music plays everyone in, and at the front of stands an arbor covered in wisteria.  It's a remarkably peaceful setting, enough to dispel further some of the grimness of the past few days and create an atmosphere of smiles and warmth.    It seems to reinforce what Luthir has been telling Vi all along: that maybe now more than ever, this is the sort of thing they need, in order to remember what they're all fighting for.

Comments

[witchwoman]

I used to push, used to want to make him talk to me. I though it would help somehow. But what I wanted from him wasn't what he needed from me. I understand that more now. [And it only took a couple dozen rounds of torture for it to stick!]

He's special. And not just because of the curse. The way his body carries on long after it should is... I can't imagine. But that hardly defines him- not that I have to tell you that, I'm sure. I just... I'm glad to see him smile.

[fornicator]

The things he wants from you are things we all want from our loved ones. Forgiveness, mercy, acceptance for who we are. But you're right. His curse doesn't define who he is. And he is special. [ he grins ] It's a good day when I can help him see that, even for a moment.

[witchwoman]

How did you two meet? If you don't mind me asking.

[fornicator]

We actually ran into each other on occasion over the years before we ever really finally had a decent conversation. We knew some of the same people, and he and I both aged well so to speak, in a time before that kind of thing was considered closer to normal. Made it sort of difficult not to be on each other's radars.

He told you we were old poker buddies, didn't he? Maybe he just neglected to say how old. He and I were both in New Orleans back in the days when the game was first invented.

[witchwoman]

He actually didn't tell me much at all. I heard about you from Spike while I was...away. [Glossing right over that.] But that makes sense. You being older, like him. Was he different then?

[fornicator]

He's always been the same stubborn bastard at the core.

[witchwoman]

Good. I think I'd be disappointed to hear otherwise. [She smiles and shakes her head, letting his hand drop from hers.]

[fornicator]

I at least finally got him to break where I was concerned. [ he smirks again, folding his arms across his chest. ] That wasn't easy either, but lucky for him, I'm a patient man.

... When I need to be.

[witchwoman]

When it's worth it? [She adds with a smile. She likes you, Zarad.] Unfortunately, some of us don't have quite as much time to put in- not for lack of patience.

But we make due.

[fornicator]

For what it's worth, I think you've definitely got under his skin. In a good way.

[witchwoman]

You'd know better than I would if it's a good thing. [She's quiet for a moment.] He blames himself for something that happened to me. I wish he wouldn't. I don't want him carrying that around for Stargods only know how long.

[fornicator]

[ his brow creases in a bit of a frown, and he looks back out at the stars. ]

That kind of thing isn't always rational. But I'd say that the way he feels about you is definitely a good thing, regardless of any of that.

Guilt can take awhile to dissolve, whether it's justified or not.

[nothingsodivine]

You two keep talking like that and I'm gonna get an ulcer. [HOW LONG HAS DES BEEN STANDING OVER THERE. We just don't know, but the second Zarad finishes talking, he steps out from behind a tree, looking like he's had one hell of a night.]

[witchwoman]

Des. [She's surprised but not really startled. One look at him has her smile falling slightly.] What's wrong?

[nothingsodivine]

I, uh... [He rubs his face for a second, and then turns to Zarad with a sheepish look and a nod towards Myri. It's apparently silent boyfriend code.]

[fornicator]

[ he meets des' gaze and apparently reads his intention, stepping forward to brush a hand against his upper arm and glance between them ] ... Think I'll give you two a moment.

Nice meeting you, Myri.

[witchwoman]

And you. [She looks even more confused now, waiting for Zarad to leave before she steps closer to Des.]

I hope you aren't upset that I came out here to talk to him.

[WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE THO]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des watches him go for a lingering moment and the snaps back to attention.] Myri, and I mean this with all respect, you couldn't handle him. [He runs a hand through his hair and steps closer.] I'm not that much the jealous type.

[witchwoman]

[Okay... all of this is not really clearing anything up for her.]

You think that I-? [He's pretty, but she's not even going there tbh] No. I wasn't-- Nevermind. What's going on? Something's wrong.

[nothingsodivine]

[I assume he's been fielding shit all night from curious onlookers, so he's just at the end of his rope, but now he feels like an idiot. He moves his hand down his face. Right. He had a point.]

Did you have any strange dreams last night?

[witchwoman]

[She gives him a very strange look. You are acting weird, sir.]

Not really, no.

[Just terrifying PTSD nightmares of Dimitris but those aren't strange now.]

Why?

[nothingsodivine]

'Cause Buffy, Elena, and me got a nice disturbing visit from Keijen Blade in our dreams last night. He had a lot to say about Vi's condition and how to handle it. We're supposed to be meeting tomorrow to figure out how to approach the situation.

[He paces back and forth in front of her.] Buffy and Elena think Blade makes a lot of sense, which should worry anyone.

[witchwoman]

[Her concern about Blade being involved at all is pretty high, but that last part makes her freeze.]

Please tell me that's a terrible attempt at a joke.

[nothingsodivine]

I'm still waiting for the punchline. [He stops pacing.] He says that plan Jade gave us will take a life to replace Vi's. He's offering Vi a chance to go to... [he waves a hand] his god, instead- like it's the only sure way to save her. And the pudding next to the pie is he told Buffy and Elena that Vi is killing herself, because she's scared she can't save all of us and it's ripping her apart.

[Yeah...] And since I'm hung up on the fact that a person we can trust gave us that first plan and that person happened to be someone I was in love with, I'm too emotional to be making rational decisions... which maybe I am. But it's... [He paces again.] It's complicated. And trusting a guy who previously tried to murder all of us seems like a good way to get murdered or kidnapped or... probably both, in my case.

[witchwoman]

Did he say just which life would be forfeit? [It's easy to be afraid, easy to play out all the scenarios where it would be one of them that would be sacrificed for Vi's safety. But a life is vaguer than that. And Myri assumes that it was left intentionally so.]

There's already a life in mind to be lost once we go through with this plan. Several in fact. [Dimitris. Blade. Any of their cohorts that stand in their way. Myri was done reserving any of her compassion for those who stood against them.] Blade still holds Nadia captive, taught her to fear for her life, should she ever disagree with him or those who give him orders. He doesn't know how to deal in anything but fear and lies. He cannot be trusted.