why is it you always get to sit in the shade

[blackstarred]

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[praevaricatio]

( You have a husband that this happens to and you do your research. There are always aspects of magic and their covens that they don't share with one another, it's like marriage like that. But, his reaction - while not unsurprising means they'll find another way. He's not going to push this, he's not going to break what they are.

He gives up the ghost this time around, but when someone's life is no longer their own - say in the case of brain death - but, he knows this isn't what David wants. So, they'll find something else.

It's a little like the Meatloaf song, but much, much more dire. He shakes his head, the surface of his forehead still against his thigh. He sighs, breathes and turns his head so his cheek rests. )

What I want is for you not to have to fight to the death.

( He sits, back, lowering himself to the floor like a student at his husband's feet. )

So, tell me everything about what's coming. Everything. As bad as it can get. And why. Maybe something in there is the answer.

[maleficum]

[He scrubs a hand over his face.]

A lot of it is going to depend on what happens on the fall solstice. If the power is claimed, then the focus of the Gauntlet will become quite different. Instead focusing on each other, we'll be focused on the person who took the power.

[Which will be a whole other bloodbath he doesn't plan on subjecting Danny too, but he will give the kid a choice.]

If no one does, then the first step will be eliminating everyone who's decided to throw their hat in the ring just because they can. It'll be a blood bath, depending on how many enter, and how close they're able to get to the people actually prepared for something like this. But in the end, it is what it says on the tin. The last one living wins.

[praevaricatio]

What are your options? Are you optionless because you're one of the heirs apparent?

( Is there way but through? )

[maleficum]

[He shrugs because yeah, kind of.]

The way it's always been made out to me, the options are win or die.

[He drums his fingers against his thigh.]

But there's no rules on how we have to win.

[praevaricatio]

( Except... )

Death. Death is how you win. Isn't that the one rule.

[maleficum]

Yeah.

[A beat.]

Except I don't think they specified who we had to kill. I think they just assumed they would raise children power hungry enough to be willing to sacrifice their bonds with each other. We should ask Jaqueline. She knows the old law better than I do.

[praevaricatio]

Tomorrow. We do it off grounds. We sit Jaq and Max down.

( And they start whatever needs starting. And they go from there. )

I wasn't -- I'd never discount what you went through, and I'd never ask you to do that again or to become -- him. It's not what I meant, but, I shouldn't have put it out there.

( A fight for another time if he discovers the actual research Ezra has done into the subject for years. )

I love you. And I like you you. But I also like you alive. Preferably married to me, but always happy. And not mixed up in medieval death games.

[maleficum]

I love you too. And I know.

[He knows he's just grasping at options for the situation that David put him in. If it were any other witch, yes. That might be an option. But it's too much of a trigger button for David for the answer to be anything but no.]

I do intend to do my best to keep myself alive, for the record. I don't want to die anymore than I want you to die.

[He leans in to kiss him.]

Let me just make a phone call and we can start planning officially tomorrow, okay?

[praevaricatio]

Make your phone call.

( Ezra gets to his feet and starts to undress, the hypocrisy of the evening getting to him. He doesn't need to be in clothes this nice for any longer. Do your thing, hus. )

[maleficum]

[David nods, and calls Bonnie, but given she's likely busy, either fighting for her life in an awful B&B or underground in Winchester land at this point, he leaves a voicemail.]

Hey, it's me. We have to talk about the kid. In person. Send me a door and I'll meet you wherever.

[And with that, he will get changed, curl up with his husband and try to get some sleep. Everything else will be tomorrow's problem.]