( the heirs leave their parents bodies where they are. at least, in the immediate aftermath.
max should probably be feeling more overwhelmed. he contributed to his mother's death. except, this was his mother's body, not his mother. and as soon as she started implying certain things and moving into slimy, sleazy, centuries-old slutty territory, he was out.
also, he was fucking stabbed.
that's what he's not dealing with great. his mom. celeste. whatever the hell name she went by. she's compost. not worth his shock. but he almost died. because he lost it and gave her the advantage he was looking for. he can still feel the knife. feel like he was experiencing his slip slip away and out of his hands. he brings a finger to his lips, tasting the blood bela fed him.
he starts the clock. 24 hours.
he has other things he's thinking about. like, rusty's one-time long ago love for the woman that was inside his mom's body. that was a visual he just didn't need. and her baseless claim that rusty cared about him. where are the receipts, huh? he does have questions. like if rusty's curse is done. is he dead now? eventually? he gets to die? in how long. should he care.
he shouldn't care.
he does care.
the cold bannister feels nice against his forehead as he sits on one of the steps leading down to the main level. his hand absently grazes where the knife went through, his shirt still sporting a hole and dried blood.
he's alive. his sister's alive.
which is where he should go next. he wants to go find rusty, which is why as he stands, he decides to find his sister.
[Of the four of them, Jaqueline seems to be doing the best. Perhaps because she's learned over the years that productivity is the best way to bury your feelings. But she's in the ballroom, ordering around the witches who have repledged themselves to the heirs remaking of the Inner Circle.
They are currently in the process of gathering the corpses of what used to be their parents, on the wooden stage where they had their sham weddings, and once all of that is said and done, Jaqueline is going to set it on fucking fire and watch it burn.
She hears footsteps behind her, and glances back when she sees her brother, asking the same question he just asked himself.]
I don't know. The bathroom? ( Because they are siblings, he can't possibly admit this was on his mind, too, and in the exact same tone. ) Maybe he's throwing up in the rose bushes. ( Beyond their conversation, David's mother's body is being hoisted up onto the stage. He tries not to react, focusing again on his sister. ) Where's your wife?
[Yes she has a bead on her and knows exactly where she is. No, it's not creepy, it's romantic. Also she's worried about her so she's going to be going to check on her next.]
I would confirm that. We may need him before things are actually settled. He's technically an heir now.
He's not technically. I grew up in the same life you did. I know the stories and the rites and the importance. No matter what he was trying to do, he only succeeded at permanently tying himself to me and our family. I'll get the scries on it.
[She smiles widely because she does enjoy their fear. Never mind that she is the only one who didn't do any actual murder of their parents, she just provided an assist, but she likes seeing all of them jump.]
We'll be able to whip them back into shape easily.
We need to. ( He watches some of them scramble, and two burly witches moving something(one?) in a rug. ) There's going to be a lot of unlearning. Lot of bad habits we need to break and loyalty we need on day 0. ( He leans in. ) Are you worried about any dissenters?
( He's not saying you didn't do stabbing or cutting or killing. You're married to who did and you're his sister. And David's almost. )
I told you. scries. ( He has something else in mind, though. ) When they come through, I'll come through. ( And put the fear of the Colony in him. ) Did Russell DeBrande also sneak out the back door?
[Rusty lingers because he drove and he doesn't want to leave Bela and Elijah stranded. They're caught up in a conversation not too far away, but as soon as they're free to confirm whether they're staying or going, Rusty intends to be back on the road, recouping some of the miles he spent in order to manage this coup, and decide what he's going to do with the rest of his life.
There are so many options. He'll have to really think on it, though part of him just wants to go back to the cafe for a while.
But naturally, Max manages to catch him before he can do that. He knows that they need to have this conversation, but also he desperately doesn't want to have it.]
Take your pick. But, we can start with, Celeste and end on, you have feelings for me. We can bounce around between, but that's my rundown. Want to add anything to the agenda?
( He's snarky. He can't not be snarky. He's also trying here. Again. Kind of. He will try. )
[Oh, that second one he's going to try to avoid, because he doesn't exactly know what his feelings regarding Max are. Celeste read a feeling and hit close to the mark, but Rusty isn't ready to acknowledge it because he's a Melraux. Which means he will always be tied up in Celeste.
But let's talk about Celeste. Celeste is easier.]
I grew up in her house. I was a ward of her uncle, and they were teaching me magic. I fell in love with her when I was young and stupid and allowed her to lead me on until it ended with my daughter dead by her hand and me cursed to an eternity of her and her husband hunting me down and murdering me.
I thought she loved me, but I was just a tool she was keeping on the string until I outlived my usefulness - or more to the point, dared to disagree with her.
The only way to break my curse is to die of natural causes in old age. To live a full life.
[Which he has space to do.]
I can't guarantee what will happen tomorrow. I could still be hit by a bus or drown or something else but at least my former friends won't be looking to do me in before I hit fifty anymore.
[He hasn't really thought things through that far.]
I have some things I need to tie up in Hershey that will take time. And I have some family that's setting up shop on the West Coast as of late. But ... beyond that I haven't decided.
Well, I know where I have to be within the week. And now I have 'track down a husband I never asked for' on my plate. INO. In. Name. Only. ( He looks at him, one hand in his pocket. Is it now or never. Or is it just never. He's not his mother and not the woman inhabiting his mother. And maybe Rusty always had something holding him back. Whatever spark Celeste grabbed onto. Maybe it's not Max's to have. Or, even to want.
He leans forward, stepping closer, pressing his body to Rusty's, lips close. Maybe they can. This once. )
[Once again, Rusty finds himself at a crossroads of things he could take and just allow to crash and burn behind him. His hand reflexively finds the other man's side, the first time he's actually touched him or even tried to bridge that gap. He tries to decide which side of the road he's going to wind up on.]
Max -
[The words die before he can get them out. He's not in a place to give anyone anything, at least not right now. He barely knows who he is anymore. He's spent so long just trying to survive, that what would a relationship even look like. Or maybe he's just thinking too hard about it because of who he is when all Max is looking for is catharsis.
The problem, in fact, is Rusty himself. The problem is that all of his practical experience is Celeste. Which isn't to say that she's the only person he's ever been with. There have been flings over the centuries, other women, other men. Puppy love relationships when he's young but before his memories awaken. But Celeste is the relationship that consumed him, and part of him worries that he will simply fall into the same patterns because Max shines the way Celeste did, and he doesn't know if he can trust himself to fall off that cliff again. And he has been used. He doesn't want to be someone who uses.
( He's going to be offended, like it's easy for him. Easy for Max Melraux. Everything comes easy to him. He isn't told no. But, Max also doesn't bring anything on someone that they don't want. He charmed for his parents and for the coven, not to get between somebody's legs or in their pants, so the vulnerability, the little drip of hope that emanates from his eyes - it's all Max. )
It doesn't have to mean anything. That wasn't my mother like I'm not Celeste.
[And he does know that. He's seen more than enough evidence to the contrary at this point, which is why he's allowed himself to be drawn, rather than dismissing him out of hand - or more to the point, killing him outright. Because he would have, early on, if he found himself betrayed again.
Things are different now, and things are more complicated, and he can't promise himself that he'd draw those lines, and the way Max is looking at him ... no. They could tell themselves that it would mean nothing, but Rusty isn't in the habit of lying to himself. Not anymore.]
And I know it doesn't. But can you really say it won't?
( There isn't. There's also admittance. But, neither man is budging, nor moving closer, nor removing a strategically placed hand. Max is breathing with him. But, he's not daring him. )
He also can see the pattern, the easy way he was hooked because the person with the proverbial power in the situation didn't push him away. Which doesn't absolve him of his own choices, but he can't help but think about how better his life would have been if she had just let him go find himself on his own instead of letting him use her as an anchor.
The hand on his side tightens it's grip, ever so slightly, before gently pushing him back, putting some space between them, before letting it him go.]
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praevaricatio) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
everyonelives2025-10-11 07:15 am
max, jaq & rusty | baltimore
max should probably be feeling more overwhelmed. he contributed to his mother's death. except, this was his mother's body, not his mother. and as soon as she started implying certain things and moving into slimy, sleazy, centuries-old slutty territory, he was out.
also, he was fucking stabbed.
that's what he's not dealing with great. his mom. celeste. whatever the hell name she went by. she's compost. not worth his shock. but he almost died. because he lost it and gave her the advantage he was looking for. he can still feel the knife. feel like he was experiencing his slip slip away and out of his hands. he brings a finger to his lips, tasting the blood bela fed him.
he starts the clock. 24 hours.
he has other things he's thinking about. like, rusty's one-time long ago love for the woman that was inside his mom's body. that was a visual he just didn't need. and her baseless claim that rusty cared about him. where are the receipts, huh? he does have questions. like if rusty's curse is done. is he dead now? eventually? he gets to die? in how long. should he care.
he shouldn't care.
he does care.
the cold bannister feels nice against his forehead as he sits on one of the steps leading down to the main level. his hand absently grazes where the knife went through, his shirt still sporting a hole and dried blood.
he's alive. his sister's alive.
which is where he should go next. he wants to go find rusty, which is why as he stands, he decides to find his sister.
properly congratulate her on his wedding.
fuck, where's his husband? )
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They are currently in the process of gathering the corpses of what used to be their parents, on the wooden stage where they had their sham weddings, and once all of that is said and done, Jaqueline is going to set it on fucking fire and watch it burn.
She hears footsteps behind her, and glances back when she sees her brother, asking the same question he just asked himself.]
Hey, where the fuck did your husband go?
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[Yes she has a bead on her and knows exactly where she is. No, it's not creepy, it's romantic. Also she's worried about her so she's going to be going to check on her next.]
I would confirm that. We may need him before things are actually settled. He's technically an heir now.
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( Because he does need to be found. )
You're in your element with all your worker bees.
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[She smiles widely because she does enjoy their fear. Never mind that she is the only one who didn't do any actual murder of their parents, she just provided an assist, but she likes seeing all of them jump.]
We'll be able to whip them back into shape easily.
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[She tips her head towards the windows.]
It's the ones that weren't here that are going to be the problem. The sooner we can solidify things the better.
[Which means you better go get your husband back.]
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( He's not saying you didn't do stabbing or cutting or killing. You're married to who did and you're his sister. And David's almost. )
I told you. scries. ( He has something else in mind, though. ) When they come through, I'll come through. ( And put the fear of the Colony in him. ) Did Russell DeBrande also sneak out the back door?
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[Yes, she keeps a bead on him too. She is very thorough that way.]
If you want to talk to him, now's probably the time.
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( You full name-checked him, but, sure. If.
A few minutes later, because he takes the long way out the front and around, he tracks Rusty down. And says the exact opposite once he finds him. )
I want to talk to you.
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There are so many options. He'll have to really think on it, though part of him just wants to go back to the cafe for a while.
But naturally, Max manages to catch him before he can do that. He knows that they need to have this conversation, but also he desperately doesn't want to have it.]
What about?
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( He's snarky. He can't not be snarky. He's also trying here. Again. Kind of. He will try. )
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But let's talk about Celeste. Celeste is easier.]
I grew up in her house. I was a ward of her uncle, and they were teaching me magic. I fell in love with her when I was young and stupid and allowed her to lead me on until it ended with my daughter dead by her hand and me cursed to an eternity of her and her husband hunting me down and murdering me.
I thought she loved me, but I was just a tool she was keeping on the string until I outlived my usefulness - or more to the point, dared to disagree with her.
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( Over and over again. )
I'm sorry about your daughter, but the curse is done now, right? She had to die? Or did they all have to die?
( Or was it tied to the Gemini? )
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The only way to break my curse is to die of natural causes in old age. To live a full life.
[Which he has space to do.]
I can't guarantee what will happen tomorrow. I could still be hit by a bus or drown or something else but at least my former friends won't be looking to do me in before I hit fifty anymore.
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( At least. That's lame. )
Where are you going to go?
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[He hasn't really thought things through that far.]
I have some things I need to tie up in Hershey that will take time. And I have some family that's setting up shop on the West Coast as of late. But ... beyond that I haven't decided.
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He leans forward, stepping closer, pressing his body to Rusty's, lips close. Maybe they can. This once. )
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Max -
[The words die before he can get them out. He's not in a place to give anyone anything, at least not right now. He barely knows who he is anymore. He's spent so long just trying to survive, that what would a relationship even look like. Or maybe he's just thinking too hard about it because of who he is when all Max is looking for is catharsis.
The problem, in fact, is Rusty himself. The problem is that all of his practical experience is Celeste. Which isn't to say that she's the only person he's ever been with. There have been flings over the centuries, other women, other men. Puppy love relationships when he's young but before his memories awaken. But Celeste is the relationship that consumed him, and part of him worries that he will simply fall into the same patterns because Max shines the way Celeste did, and he doesn't know if he can trust himself to fall off that cliff again. And he has been used. He doesn't want to be someone who uses.
So in the end, what comes out is:]
- this isn't easy for me.
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It doesn't have to mean anything. That wasn't my mother like I'm not Celeste.
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[And he does know that. He's seen more than enough evidence to the contrary at this point, which is why he's allowed himself to be drawn, rather than dismissing him out of hand - or more to the point, killing him outright. Because he would have, early on, if he found himself betrayed again.
Things are different now, and things are more complicated, and he can't promise himself that he'd draw those lines, and the way Max is looking at him ... no. They could tell themselves that it would mean nothing, but Rusty isn't in the habit of lying to himself. Not anymore.]
And I know it doesn't. But can you really say it won't?
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( There isn't. There's also admittance. But, neither man is budging, nor moving closer, nor removing a strategically placed hand. Max is breathing with him. But, he's not daring him. )
Rus...
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He also can see the pattern, the easy way he was hooked because the person with the proverbial power in the situation didn't push him away. Which doesn't absolve him of his own choices, but he can't help but think about how better his life would have been if she had just let him go find himself on his own instead of letting him use her as an anchor.
The hand on his side tightens it's grip, ever so slightly, before gently pushing him back, putting some space between them, before letting it him go.]
Some questions are better left unanswered.
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Guess I'll be the one living rent free in your head, then.
( And vice versa.
He doesn't wait for a retort or a goodbye, just fades away and out of his view and he leaves Rusty alone in the parking lot.
Serena slaps her wife's ass and takes over the yelling and orders.
Max finds his sister halfway up the steps out back. )
Looking for me?
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