Hey, I know you're basically in lone ranger mode, but you know I'm not letting you do anything without me, right? Supply up with Allison Argent and then it's you, me, and a romantic night of assassination tactics and worst-to-best case scenarios.
( He waits for the response, but his husband knows in this he does not back down. When he says he will be there, he means it. He knows how personal this crusade is, he was there at the beginning. Which is why if this is near an ending, he will be right by his side. )
After this, we find Sierra and we get her on board. If we're going to do this, it has to be all of us, together. No more calling in an audible.
[He pauses, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.]
Lean on Jaq. Make sure she passes along the news. If she needs to see her in person, tell her I will open a door to wherever she needs to go. But she knows more than she's saying about what Sierra's been up to and we have to find her before the inner circle does.
( Jaqueline's allegiance. He exchanges 'love you's,' rests his head against the steering wheel and then pulls out his phone to send Jaqueline a message. )
[She stares down at the phone, knows that she's trapped between a rock and a hard place. With a deep breath, she closes and locks the doors and windows of the room she's staying in, lighting some sage, and running the shower. Might as well cover all her bases.
As she closes the door to the bathroom, she sends one text to Sierra:]
[She hits send, and reaches for one of the in-case-of-emergency astral projection crystals. They've never had to use them, but Jaqueline can't tell her this, can't turn her entire world upside down without doing the courtesy of looking her in the eye.]
( This isn't protocol, but she's the daughter who disappears and shirks protocol, all for her own means.
As much as she likes keeping everything close to the vest, even from Jaqueline, she knows when they reach a point like this, they have no choice. They have distanced themselves and she has only inched closer.
Reaching into the night stand, she pulls out notebooks and sets them on the bed before popping up the false bottom and setting it down against it. She retrieves the shared crystal, holds it in her hand and snaps, a nearby sage cigarette lighting in the ashtray across the room before she sets the crystal down on the small desk.
She stands, prepared to reveal an image Jaqueline should remember from their childhood. )
[She hasn't seen that face in a long time, but when she does see it, it's like a punch to the gut, especially with everything else that's roiling around in her head. She tries to conceal it (14), and takes a deep breath to focus on the important thing.]
( She misses that twinge of pain (5), being on the defensive herself. What Jaqueline means to her is kept in a box and what she's trying to do is kept in another box. While she knows Jaq is on her side, her paranoia has only grown. It's a part of why she bound herself to the lunar cycle like this.
The witches she ingratiated herself with didn't take to her like she wanted. They held meetings and conversations behind closed doors, but didn't include her. She's in the dark about how far her parents have searched, if they have. (Of course they have. She's the missing piece.) )
If they have, they're keeping their distance and judging by how thirsty they are for the Gauntlet, I'd expect an actual run-in.
( She guesses what she's doing is working. Enough, anyway. )
[The solstice is coming, and she knows that Sierra has a plan, but if she succeeds, then that will make her an even juicier target.]
When you ascend to the Inner Circle, you don't just get the power. You get possessed by the spirit of the long dead ancestor of your family line who founded the Colony.
( They're always running out of time. They just buy more. That's what the Colony does.
Apparently, that's exactly what the Colony does. There is no hiding her reaction, a (1) sends her almost falling backward as her step back comes into contact with the table. She is a woman who keeps it together, a woman of careful planning and methodical movement - except when she's caught this off guard.
After biting her lip in the process, she wipes her jaw and runs her tongue across her teeth as she resumes her standing position. )
[Jaqueline is sure they see it that way. You get the gift of being chosen to carry their leaders into the next fifty years, until an appropriate heir is found to move them into the next. Their lives are worthy sacrifices to the cause of the Colony.
And they don't get a choice. The end result of their drive and ambition is becoming a puppet.]
Hallewell was just delighted to see the look on our faces when he told us that little nugget. And before you ask, yes, he could be fucking with us, but ... I don't think he was. I think it makes a lot of things finally make sense.
Our parents all fall on the callous side of the spectrum.
( If they knew that this is where everything led, then it's no wonder not one of them has been paternal or maternal. They serve each other at the altar of the Colony. )
Hallewell doesn't spread chaos. He survives and perseveres. He'd gain nothing from lying. Is this why we had to talk?
[She didn't feel right sending it in a text, and for all they know, their phones are being tracked.]
David wants to meet. Him, Ezra, you, me, Max. He'll open a door to where we need to be, but we need to figure out a strategy. Because I don't know about you, but I think I'm ready to burn this bitch to the ground.
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cosmiccon) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
everyonelives2023-01-03 09:05 pm
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Do you think they knew? What the ascension was?
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[They never spoke to him about it, or felt the need to fill him in on that particular bit of coven history.]
I can see that it would be something the inner circle would want to keep quiet.
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( He doesn't know what he can do. He's powerless, sitting in this chair. )
Where are you?
( Not on a one-way mission against your parents, right? He wouldn't normally question a David errand, but how can't he worry after this revelation. )
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[He takes a deep breath, trying to push down some more of the anger to figure out what they're going to do net.]
I think I should call in my favor with Allison Argent.
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( He could appeal to the side of Allison who has a father figure? )
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[He's not going to farm out the end of the inner circle, and he respects the line she drew.]
But we're going to need some supplies and it'll be good to have someone to watch our backs.
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( He waits for the response, but his husband knows in this he does not back down. When he says he will be there, he means it. He knows how personal this crusade is, he was there at the beginning. Which is why if this is near an ending, he will be right by his side. )
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After this, we find Sierra and we get her on board. If we're going to do this, it has to be all of us, together. No more calling in an audible.
[He pauses, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.]
Lean on Jaq. Make sure she passes along the news. If she needs to see her in person, tell her I will open a door to wherever she needs to go. But she knows more than she's saying about what Sierra's been up to and we have to find her before the inner circle does.
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( Jaqueline's allegiance. He exchanges 'love you's,' rests his head against the steering wheel and then pulls out his phone to send Jaqueline a message. )
W.C. Harlan. 9pm. )
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Didn't think I was your type?
[You're certainly not hers.]
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You, me, your brother, David.
And Sierra.
9.
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And what makes you think I know where to find her?
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David will open a door anywhere. We're done with this Carmen San Diego bullshit.
Find her or admit you can't.
9PM.
( And that's it, for now, anyway. He hopes she shows up that night. )
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As she closes the door to the bathroom, she sends one text to Sierra:]
Are you alone?
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Why
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[She hits send, and reaches for one of the in-case-of-emergency astral projection crystals. They've never had to use them, but Jaqueline can't tell her this, can't turn her entire world upside down without doing the courtesy of looking her in the eye.]
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As much as she likes keeping everything close to the vest, even from Jaqueline, she knows when they reach a point like this, they have no choice. They have distanced themselves and she has only inched closer.
Reaching into the night stand, she pulls out notebooks and sets them on the bed before popping up the false bottom and setting it down against it. She retrieves the shared crystal, holds it in her hand and snaps, a nearby sage cigarette lighting in the ashtray across the room before she sets the crystal down on the small desk.
She stands, prepared to reveal an image Jaqueline should remember from their childhood. )
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Have your parents found you yet?
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The witches she ingratiated herself with didn't take to her like she wanted. They held meetings and conversations behind closed doors, but didn't include her. She's in the dark about how far her parents have searched, if they have. (Of course they have. She's the missing piece.) )
If they have, they're keeping their distance and judging by how thirsty they are for the Gauntlet, I'd expect an actual run-in.
( She guesses what she's doing is working. Enough, anyway. )
Did they say something?
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[The solstice is coming, and she knows that Sierra has a plan, but if she succeeds, then that will make her an even juicier target.]
When you ascend to the Inner Circle, you don't just get the power. You get possessed by the spirit of the long dead ancestor of your family line who founded the Colony.
no subject
Apparently, that's exactly what the Colony does. There is no hiding her reaction, a (1) sends her almost falling backward as her step back comes into contact with the table. She is a woman who keeps it together, a woman of careful planning and methodical movement - except when she's caught this off guard.
After biting her lip in the process, she wipes her jaw and runs her tongue across her teeth as she resumes her standing position. )
You get?
( Like it's an opportunity or a gift. )
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[Jaqueline is sure they see it that way. You get the gift of being chosen to carry their leaders into the next fifty years, until an appropriate heir is found to move them into the next. Their lives are worthy sacrifices to the cause of the Colony.
And they don't get a choice. The end result of their drive and ambition is becoming a puppet.]
Hallewell was just delighted to see the look on our faces when he told us that little nugget. And before you ask, yes, he could be fucking with us, but ... I don't think he was. I think it makes a lot of things finally make sense.
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( If they knew that this is where everything led, then it's no wonder not one of them has been paternal or maternal. They serve each other at the altar of the Colony. )
Hallewell doesn't spread chaos. He survives and perseveres. He'd gain nothing from lying. Is this why we had to talk?
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[She didn't feel right sending it in a text, and for all they know, their phones are being tracked.]
David wants to meet. Him, Ezra, you, me, Max. He'll open a door to where we need to be, but we need to figure out a strategy. Because I don't know about you, but I think I'm ready to burn this bitch to the ground.
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( Maybe what they need to do is burn everything. But it would mean giving up her efforts. )
I'm close with Danny, again. He thinks he befriended a new local witch visiting family. I'm this close, Jaq.
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