( The Laughlin property is bigger than Ric remembers, and not perpetually enshrouded. Joshua and his ilk died at the wedding, a loss for Jo and their family, of course, but he was a hardened man and something tells Ric it's for the better when it comes to his girls. The house is bathed in light from all sides, a far cry from how he remembers it. That's how energy works, his wife reminds him.
Once they settle in, a few weeks later they invite Jeremy and his girlfriend down.
The surviving family (cousins, etc) are celebrating Samhain that evening, and ask to use the house. It is everyone's house, the family's, and not just Jo's by inheritance. The night is more about spirituality and the coven's grasp on their ancestral magic. It's more like a harvest ritual for the coming year, for good intentions. It's more poetic and existential and something Jo remembers from her childhood.
Alaric asks Jeremy if he wants to be a part of the 'good intentions' ceremony and Jeremy doesn't know what that is, but, says that he and Dawn are in, but want to check out some kind of Halloween parade afterward. They can be there for family and then have fun, right?
Not hosting the event doesn't mean there isn't work for them to do, because the ice delivery falls through. So, Alaric and Dawn go to pick up ice for the outside bar and Jo and Jeremy oversee the catering. That is, Jeremy tries one of the passed appetizers, and then another before a server tugs the tray away.
Alaric and Dawn bring bags of ice up to the door, but Jo says they are not bringing that through the house. Go around. She enlists Jeremy's help to get it done faster and it isn't long before people start arriving. The three twenty-something cousins, Hamish, Elmira, and Valent, do most of the work but thank the married for their space and for welcoming them with open arms. Jeremy and Dawn dress for the party, but their costumes are ready on their beds upstairs for when they switch it up.
Alaric stays close to his wife, smiling at the arriving family. )
How long has it been since your coven has performed a good intentions ceremony? Does it always have a Halloween backdrop?
[She knows that Josiah wasn't necessarily one for good juju. He believed that the only intentions that matter was the intent that you put into the spells. But he's dead, and the coven's hers now, and maybe it's finally time to banish the ghosts and cobwebs of this house.]
Dad was never really big on them, but Mom would sneak one in every so often when he was out of town.
[Yep. Showed up to die. Such fond memories for their wedding.]
Something like that. Things got complicated as Kai and I got older, too, but honestly? This place needs the rebalancing. There are a lot of shadows that need banishing.
( Good intentions definitely override murderous and cult-like behavior. He's gotten a lot of hugs. Having fathered next generation has him in good standing.
Many gaggle of family members asked him about being a former dead, former Original, man. )
[Dawn had done her research about the local covens on behalf of Willow, if she wanted to make some more witchy allies, and the Gemini Coven come up on her research list.]
Everything I learned about them prior to meeting Jo had been messy and bloody. I think the blessed be is a bit of overcompensation for a shady past.
Coming back from the dead is always messy too. I remember when Willow tried to bring my sister back she had to literally climb out of her own grave, and had a lot of trouble readjusting.
[She can imagine Jeremy went through something similar.]
Coming back and then immediately losing her must have been really rough.
She asked me to fake messages to her friends, to my sister, too. That was harder. Not to mention my school believing I had dropped out because of a drug problem and hadn't died. -- It wasn't an easy transition back.
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everyonelives2023-10-16 07:09 pm
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Once they settle in, a few weeks later they invite Jeremy and his girlfriend down.
The surviving family (cousins, etc) are celebrating Samhain that evening, and ask to use the house. It is everyone's house, the family's, and not just Jo's by inheritance. The night is more about spirituality and the coven's grasp on their ancestral magic. It's more like a harvest ritual for the coming year, for good intentions. It's more poetic and existential and something Jo remembers from her childhood.
Alaric asks Jeremy if he wants to be a part of the 'good intentions' ceremony and Jeremy doesn't know what that is, but, says that he and Dawn are in, but want to check out some kind of Halloween parade afterward. They can be there for family and then have fun, right?
Not hosting the event doesn't mean there isn't work for them to do, because the ice delivery falls through. So, Alaric and Dawn go to pick up ice for the outside bar and Jo and Jeremy oversee the catering. That is, Jeremy tries one of the passed appetizers, and then another before a server tugs the tray away.
Alaric and Dawn bring bags of ice up to the door, but Jo says they are not bringing that through the house. Go around. She enlists Jeremy's help to get it done faster and it isn't long before people start arriving. The three twenty-something cousins, Hamish, Elmira, and Valent, do most of the work but thank the married for their space and for welcoming them with open arms. Jeremy and Dawn dress for the party, but their costumes are ready on their beds upstairs for when they switch it up.
Alaric stays close to his wife, smiling at the arriving family. )
How long has it been since your coven has performed a good intentions ceremony? Does it always have a Halloween backdrop?
no subject
[She knows that Josiah wasn't necessarily one for good juju. He believed that the only intentions that matter was the intent that you put into the spells. But he's dead, and the coven's hers now, and maybe it's finally time to banish the ghosts and cobwebs of this house.]
Dad was never really big on them, but Mom would sneak one in every so often when he was out of town.
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( He did not have a warm welcome when he met Josiah. That is not a fond memory. He was curt, but at least showed to his daughter's wedding. )
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Something like that. Things got complicated as Kai and I got older, too, but honestly? This place needs the rebalancing. There are a lot of shadows that need banishing.
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( Saging is really saging. )
I have to say I like this side of your family.
( Good intentions definitely override murderous and cult-like behavior. He's gotten a lot of hugs. Having fathered next generation has him in good standing.
Many gaggle of family members asked him about being a former dead, former Original, man. )
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I would hope so, considering this is the less murderous side.
[Though all witches have a little grit and blood in them, if pushed too far.]
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Has anyone mentioned the G-word?
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[It's not a dirty word. They can say it. Technically they still are the Gemini Coven.]
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( Aren't they on the verge of something? )
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[Oh that G word.]
No. Ideally we'll be staying off that radar. I don't think we make a particularly appetizing target.
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( He holds her close, nodding to passing relatives. )
How long do we have to make our appearances? Jeremy and Dawn invited us into town.
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[Because even if her children aren't in the immediate path of the Merge, she's still determined to end it once and for all.]
He has a lot of the old family records here.
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( He learned that from Lizzie. )
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[There's a reason they ran all the way out to Seattle instead of somewhere closer and safer - as much as they love Jeremy and Dawn.]
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( It's really not his thing. Alaric has always been modest and private like that. )
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What kind of witches do you think we are?
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( He likes to poke fun either way. )
Lead the way to the research.
( And likely, Josiah's life-size portrait in the library. Intimidating.
Jeremy and Dawn return from their walk around the grounds.
"Everyone in this coven is very blessed be," Jeremy says, waving to another set of very friendly witches. "Does it scream Stepford to you?"
Maybe it's just his experience with witches in general. Everyone seems happy. Devoted. Not conflicted. Or, violent. )
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[Dawn had done her research about the local covens on behalf of Willow, if she wanted to make some more witchy allies, and the Gemini Coven come up on her research list.]
Everything I learned about them prior to meeting Jo had been messy and bloody. I think the blessed be is a bit of overcompensation for a shady past.
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( And other things, he assumes may have happened. Very old rites. Sacrifice. Shady probably only scratches the surface. )
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If they want to get their white witch on to try and clear out some of that bad juju, I can't really say I blame them.
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( He considers this, eyeing a nearby group engaged in discourse. )
But the two aren't... that far apart.
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[Or at least that's what she's learned from the outside.]
And even the whitest witches can make a big mess if they don't think everything through.
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( Life never gave her a break. )
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[She can imagine Jeremy went through something similar.]
Coming back and then immediately losing her must have been really rough.
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( Damon took care of that for him. )
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