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

[graveflowers]

Yeah? [ she is too dumb to see where this is going. dumbass. ]

[luthir]

What would you tell them, were they to admit to still holding fast to that guilt even now?

[graveflowers]

[ oh. now she gets it. and a deep frown dulls her expression. ] That's not the same. They can move on, they have moved on, as they should. I'm stuck reliving it over and over again. I can't move on because I wake up everyday like it just happened, like she just died. Death is part of who I am, but I've always been able to accept it and move on because I know it's an inevitable part of life. You know that, that's why I fought so hard against you telling me I was going to live for so long. But I can't accept Jade, I can't move on, because it's always just happened. I'm not allowed to grieve.

[luthir]

Grief is different than what you are expressing, what I fear the Nightmare Lord is doing to you every night in these dreams.

You're reliving those deaths that you felt were somehow a failing on your part. It isn't merely about losing someone you care about - it's about feeling defeated by your own helplessness.

And now Blade tells you that you are helpless in a different way - he undermines the hope we have, the promise we've made to each other to fight, makes it seem as if there is no hope, only more loss, and that you will have no one to blame but yourself.

The same tactics as this Nightmare god whose bidding he does. To me, that signals that we are on the cusp of breaking free of his influence, that they are growing desperate. But the only weapon they have is hopelessness, my love. And I gave you my word that I would not let you fall into despair.

[graveflowers]

[ she listens quietly, but she's in no shape to fully take in his words. she knows he's right, knows that's exactly what's happening, why she's killing herself, her soul tearing itself apart, pulling at itself like playdoh spread too thin. ]

I can't... [ her voice breaks with that despair he's trying to rescue her from. ] I can't fall asleep and see you there. I wouldn't survive that.

[luthir]

If I failed, if we failed, and my life were forfeit, the nightmares would claim your life regardless.

[ he raises one palm to her cheek ] I know you cannot see this anymore, that each day your vision has been clouded more and more by this encroaching dark, so I ask that you trust in me to see the path ahead of us.

I will not let you stumble in this darkness.

[graveflowers]

[ looking up at him, she tries to find that hope and trust, but it's just so... hard. everything is impossible and she's going to break his heart.

when she answers, it's not with that faith in mind, it's exhaustion and a desperate need to not be talking about this anymore. ] You keep rescuing me.

[luthir]

Grant me this one thing and next time, you can rescue me.

[graveflowers]

[ she looks down. ] I said yes.

[luthir]

[ his hand stills on her cheek ] You--

You what?

[graveflowers]

I'm sorry. [ the anxiety squeezing her chest gets tighter, like her heart is in it's death throes, and she squeezes her eyes shut again. there's no mistaking the regret and shame and relief in her voice. she just wants everything to stop. ] He said, he said someone would die, their blood would be on my hands and I knew, I knew what he was doing, but the nightmares were never going to stop and I just want to sleep, I want to feel happy again, I can't even remember what it's like. I want to stop feeling like a balloon set adrift, air slipping out until it's just some wrinkled piece of plastic in the trash. I can't live like this any longer, it's too much. So, so, I told. [ she chokes on a sob trying to rips it's way out of her chest. ] I told him to come back in a month and I'd do it. God, I'm so sorry, Luthir, I'm so sorry. [ her apologies trail off into quiet weeping, more apologies mingling as her shoulders shake and tremble. ]

[luthir]

[ he always does manage to keep his composure, and he seems to recognize that now more than ever, it's important for him to contain whatever his own reactions might be, in order to communicate the important part. he draws her close, pulling her to him tightly. ] No, no, love, I understand. I understand why-- [ he buries his face into her hair, composing himself before drawing back with a hand on either of her shoulders to look down at her ] A month. You haven't agreed to anything yet, then.

[graveflowers]

I haven't? [ she's genuinely confused, but her head is pounding from all the tears, she's not sure he heard him right. yeah, she asked blade to wait, but... that was the same thing as yes. she meant it as a yes. ]

[luthir]

If you've no cause to say yes when the month is out, what will stop you from breaking your word to him?

[graveflowers]

Oh. [ that... makes sense. except for the part where vi feels sick at the idea of putting faith and des' friend in danger. ] I don't want you to go. You know, all up in my brain. Can I ask that. at least?

[luthir]

[ ♬ cardboard ladders - charlotte martin

he frowns the tiniest bit, and it's clear that he feels sick at the idea of ... letting her go it without him. but finally he nods, very very slightly. ] If that is the only way you will agree to it... then yes.

I will remain behind.

[graveflowers]

[ her shoulders relax in relief and she sags a little. as much as she doesn't want to put anyone else in danger, she can't put luthir in danger. she probably would have asked him to stay behind regardless, but with blade's last warning... ] Okay. [ her eyes widen slightly as the exact words register. ] But you'll still come to New York with me, right? You'll be the when I wake up?

[luthir]

I'll be there every moment. [ he affords her a smile now, relief in his eyes, and determination as well. ] The first thing you'll see.

[graveflowers]

Okay. [ she nods. never having been 100% behind the plan in the first place -- she only said yes because luthir asked her and des' inclusion in the plan made her no less inclined to see it through because he'd only bothered when jade asked him too and vi is petty enough to be affronted by that -- she still doesn't have much hope that it will work, but she hates disappointing luthir and she'll do anything to make him happy. even if it's this.

she said she'd follow him anywhere.

but she's exhausted now, so she just points off to the side where a willow tree is peeking over the edge of the garden. ] Bench. [ spot 27 ] Can we sit for a while? I can't people right now.

[luthir]

[ he nods immediately and takes her arm, directing her that way slowly in silence.  he allows her to sit first, and then quietly takes his place close to her side. ]  Take your time.

[graveflowers]

'kay. [ she rests her head on his shoulder. nap time? nap time. ]