because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

Comments

[ostensively]

She shouldn't be a part of this. Did we make a mistake involving all of these outsiders?

( She had been on her own for so long. Her plans had all failed. And if she were honest, she didn't have a plan in place. She only knows what she didn't want. )

Do you remember in the eighth grade, you had this crush on that quiet boy who sat at the front. He was athletic, but never said anything. I think he played lacrosse.

[maleficum]

I don't think Elena is here because of that. I think Elena was always going to be here.

[They had Ezra watching her for years. They were planning whatever this is for a while. But Sierra throws him a curve ball, and he raises an eyebrow.]

Barely. Why?

[ostensively]

It could be him. Or, Esmerelda, from gym class. I always liked her curls. And there was a shaman - the first year I was out on my own, Tiki. And I remember the very short-lived infatuation you had on our chemistry sub. I liked his wife. If it wasn't Ezra or Jaq or Max, it would be someone else. It's how this family operates. ( She raises her glass to indicate the opulence. ) We were born into this. The Winchesters and Elena and - ( Ezra. ) They weren't. Without trying to, you sent Katherine Pierce off the board indefinitely. You upended Elena's life... a few times. You, rightfully, didn't marry Jaqueline. I'm just thinking about our choices. I didn't choose her. When I should've. I ran. And Ezra is going down with your ship so hard. Maybe they choose us. And it's okay if they choose us.

( Max has nothing to do with this heart-to-heart. )

Don't die for him.

[maleficum]

[For Ezra? That's not a promise David can make. Not for the man who saved his life when he thought he was going to be trapped as a demon meat suit until Dagon got stabbed badly. Not for the man who looked at him, fucked up beyond reason, and give him a space in his home, a space to feel safe, even when he barely knew him at all.

If David can save Ezra's life by sacrificing his own, he will, to finally repay the thing he's never been able to repay. He doesn't want to die, naturally.

But if him dying means his husband makes it out alive? He'll take the shot.]

I'll do my best.

[Is what he actually ends up saying, but even he knows that's not going to be enough.]

[ostensively]

( Sierra may never get to that final step of any relationship. She's still too selfish and her life isn't worth sacrifice. She never achieved an ultimate goal, dosed Danny when she could've helped him, seeked out enlightment she'll never find, and still, she wants to be the sole survivor. If she has to.

But, she doesn't want to be. She wants all of them to survive. )

Promise me you will fight. That we're all fighting. It just looks like we're rolling over.

[maleficum]

Sure it does. That's how we want it to look.

[He then shifts to lean closer to her, dropping his voice.]

We needed them to make a mistake. Elena is on the board now. And our mutual friend is currently with my secret weapon.

[He hadn't been planning for Winchesters - they were an unexpected gift horse that he wasn't planning to look in the mouth. But he had been planning for vampires. Cultivating a relationship with Bela Talbot, ensuring that she was invited in to the compound, that Bonnie Bennett was aware of her existence, that Bela knew who was on the deed. His end goal for this had been a Salvatore disruption. Right now, it's working out much better than he hoped.

He then pulls back, and takes another swig of the champagne.]

Take your time. Enjoy the wedding. Just be ready for when the board shifts.

[ostensively]

I'm sorry I didn't stand up for you.

( She's not, she needed to be gone. She's always needed to be gone. But, she can still be sorry she watched it from up above and wasn't caught until after the proceedings. )

[maleficum]

[David glances over with a small smile.]

It's okay. You were there in spirit.

[And literally, but he hadn't known that at the time.]

[ostensively]

I looked for you.

( And it wasn't enough. )

Eventually, I stopped.

( She needed to start creating her own leverage. )

[maleficum]

Dagon was determined not to be found.

[He gives a small shrug.]

It's not your fault.

[ostensively]

I didn't say it was. Say what you want about your bad parents, but, they always were. I can be sorry about that, even if I didn't make them.

( She had zero influence on them. )

If we hadn't found out their true agenda, if we were all called in for the ascension alone, you know I would know something was up. My parents are nothing like they used to be.

[maleficum]

You always did have the better end of the stick when we did.

[It always felt like they actually wanted to parent. At least more so than his or the twins parents ever did.]

Are you ready to do what we have to do?

[ostensively]

More than ever.

( And that's enough talk, isn't it. She's getting married. And she's surviving. They all are. She takes her friend's hand in hers beside them, on the couch, and sips again from her champagne.

It's not long now. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[It's not at all.

Susannah will come to gather her daughter to take her to the wedding ceremony, while Jaqueline is fussing with her dress on the side before she and Max are to head up to the stage. She knew all along that she wasn't going to make any decisions for her wedding, not even the partner she was going to marry, not even the dress. The dress fits her figure, certainly, but doesn't really feel like her style.

She glances over at him.]

I feel like a painted doll.

[maxxx]

We're all dolls.

( Max adjusts his bowtie in the mirror, frowning. )

Painted or not, we always have been. Just keep your eye on the finish line. ( He glances back. ) And, hey, you're marrying someone you love.

( Not that love is everything to Max, or like it ever has been. )

[tearhiseyesout]

I am.

[They would have done things differently if they were actually having a say, but she could take comfort in that much.]

At least Elton's easy on the eyes. You could do worse.

[maxxx]

Yeah, yeah.

( He is. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't thinking about Russell DeBrande, the hate in his heart and whatever deep dark secret he's keeping. Being rejected does that to you. Max and his sister were in their guilded cage, but a cage nonetheless. But, they had a different kind of freedom. One never afforded to Rusty. )

He sold out David's main squeeze fast enough. Think we'll make it to our first year anniversary?

[tearhiseyesout]

Stay on your toes. Make sure if you need to, you stab him first.

[Because that's the rule that should go into every marriage, clearly. But Jaqueline knows he's been fixated on someone else.]

Maybe Rusty will show up and object.

[Can't help but make a little jab.]

[maxxx]

Rusty has a one-track mind. And, I'm thinking - one shot. With a silencer attached. Just a small pop. Keep him in line.

( So they can avoid a Chicago fate. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[She smirks a bit at that.]

We'll see.

[A double rap sounds against the door and she sighs before nodding.]

Either way, it's show time.

[maxxx]

( he stands, facing his sister. they're doing this. )

I got your back. Go. I'll be right behind.

( Down the hall in the grand ballroom, the processional begins. He knows three things. The ascension can't happen until they're all married. The marriage is one of two ceremonies - and the first. And he needs to milk these vows for all they're worth. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[Jaqueline and Max join David and Sierra at the altar, and they can't help but feel like there's an underlying layer of tension. Their parents are nervous and she can't quite put her finger on why.

Her eyes glance to Sierra and David, eyebrow raising as the officiant clears their throat.

"Shall we begin?"

"Yes," Gainor replies. "Let's get on with it."]

How romantic.

[But still, she turns and faces Sierra, extending her hand to her.]

[ostensively]

( Sierra takes Jaq's hand in hers, then covers them both with her other hand, squeezing. The officiant encourages Jaq to do the same while picking up the handfasting thread. The thread extends out from whatever substance it's been sitting in. Sierra fights a frown as she sees it drip. Maybe that's the magic, she thinks. She doesn't flinch as the officiant readies the thread, one end in each of her hands. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[Jaqueline does as she's told, looping one hand over Sierra's and lets them be bound together. She knows that this is one step closer to their parents getting what they want, but she tries to focus on the moment. Focus on the woman in front of her.

This, she can take for herself, no matter what.

Eventually the officiant steps back and nods to them. "The vows?"

Jaqueline takes a deep breath, before reciting the words laid out for them.]

I call upon the universe to witness this union, as I bind my life with yours. I promise to honor your spirit, to uplift and cherish you, to walk this sacred path as partners. May we grow together, sharing our hearts and our souls, and may the love we share be a beacon to guide us through the darkness. With this cord, I join my spirit with yours, in love and in faith.

[She means every word of it, even if it feels forced.]

[ostensively]

I ( Sierra starts, every word deliberate, fighting back the a tears of sentimentality this display doesn't deserve. ) call upon the universe to witness this union, as I bind my life - with yours. I finally promise to honor your spirit, to uplift you, to put you first,

( Max tilts his head closer to his soon-to-be husband, "This is the feminist rewrite," he quips. But Elton can tell he wants his sister happy and has only recently realized what will do it. Just how much she sacrificed for him. He doesn't know the extent. But he knows how long she has gone. )

to cherish and kiss the ground you walk in because you deserve that and more, to walk this sacred ancestral path as partners. May we work together, grow together, sharing our hearts, our fears, our plans, and our souls and may the love we have always shared be the beacon we both need to guide us through the darkness and back to one another. I choose you. Every time. From this day forward. With this cord and these witnesses and your brother's stand-in

( "Hot stand-in," he grumbles. Then looks back. "I mean. Rude. That was rude," he nods, smirking underneath. Sierra would always go with style. Maybe this gives him hope. And a kernel of an idea. )

I join my spirit with yours and yours with mine, in love, in faith, under siege - ( she turns to address the crowd ) the patriarchy ( she explains with elicits some laughter. she faces her wife again. ) - so mote it be.