S C A R S- (Roderic)

[Dominique]

Dominique wondered how anything was ever truly under the radar when it came to vampires and humans. Her own extensive history was only part of it. A very small part. There she was in the abandoned mansion holding a pamphlet that required HOPE and LESS to slowly drift apart to expand the space to access the section that offers the description of services that could be performed. On the pieces of paper there were details at just what could be done and a lot of suggestion to contradict that all of it was one huge secret at one point. She blinked at the fee and ingredients required for being eternally bound.surely it involved a little more than what was listed.

The pamphlet was folded up without a word. Her dark eyes cast from the glossy print and focused on the one standing still like she required a coin put in some unseen slot to make another move. Truth be told a brick wall had more personality. However, appearances were deceiving. She had some power hidden beneath the otherwise nondescript appearance to back up the Canadian Kinko’s mass print she was handing out. The shadow did not take it lightly by any means. The ability to connect two for all of eternity was not something everyone had in their utility belt. It took time, training and a whole stockpile full of things the average undead didn't carry around on the routine night out.

Dominique took the time she stood there looking at the female to see if there were any visible clues that stood out and came up empty for the minimal effort. Eternity was a damn long time and certainly beat out a set of friendship bracelets or matching tattoos. Till a second or whatever death do they part or perhaps until one of the two reduces the other to ash and transports it to the moon. Dom recalled she went to ash no less than five times already and yet she still popped out of shadow realm like a Jane-in-the-Box. Ric was in for a hell of a long eternity. Just as that thought played out in her rather creative head the sounds of what she knew to be in the vicinity finally appeared as expected. Not because he had to but because he said he would.

“Over here.”

It wasn't like Ric wouldn't eventually figure out where she was. He found her enough times before. The money rolled and tucked in her pocket must have shifted. She noticed it as she tried to fold up the pamphlet and stuff it in her pocket. Was this really it? It created a sensation that really only stirred up her insides when he was around. There he was walking towards her and she felt the confirmation in her core. Whatever it was, it was right.

[Roderic]

Everything seemed so casual, even the way she called back to me. I mean, why would it be anything different? This wasn't a wedding. We weren't getting married. Neither of us wanted to do that again. What we were doing was different. It was a promise on some level to the other person. A couple of promises. Nothing romantic. No need to dress up to portray something that wasn't happening. Weddings were overrated anyways, and expensive. Not that this was any cheaper.

I head to where her voice was coming from and present her with the rare clover. Was it organic, or was it something someone made with some chemicals? How could one place have so many ******* four leaf clovers? That wasn't natural; even if it felt natural. Three leaf clovers and I had a problem; not just due to the odd number, but due to the religion aspects as well. The holy trinity. What a crock of crap. "Got the lucky charm, or whatever." I tell her, my eyes narrowly looking at her, noticing how she looked...like her. Normal. Good. She understands me. Dominique understands us.

All the ingredients started to arrive by foot; a few family members bringing what they had, then going their own way, or hanging around in another room. I'm a private person, I've always been and even this was just something for Dom and I. We didn't want or need anyone's approval. "Ready?" I tell her when I see the array of items at our feet. There wasn't really anything or anyone we needed to wait for. If people came and stayed, fine. If they didn't, that was fine too. I doubt either of us would mind if we walked out of Aeryn's claimed room and no one was there to meet up with us. In fact, I'd probably prefer it. I had a few ideas rattling in my mind on what we could do after the ceremony was completed; nothing a bride and groom would do.

[Dominique]

HOPE held the clover as her eyes held him in equal assessment. There was something there, perhaps from the very beginning. Understanding was part of it. Neither had false notions as to what they were doing standing there. The four miniature leaves spun as she rolled the small stem between her fingers. Anyone could have walked in on them and they would look like they did any other night of any given week. Nothing was exceptional about the way they were dressed or their expressions. A small smile came to her lips partly out of standing there and looking at him. She was in the walls of the abandoned mansion about to step up and go forth with the big daddy of all rituals that would bind her fate to his. Everything happened for some reason. She was looking at what was hers.

“Born ready and built to last. Can you handle that?”

The corner of her mouth lifted on the left as she stepped forward. Whoever stood around sort of faded in her awareness. For those remaining moments as she stood there beside him, with a chick who had the personality of the wall closest to her, she was more focused than any other time in her life that she could recall. Everything permeated her mind and senses. Each movement of them, of Aeryn, imprinted as the ritual was performed.

There was no for better or worse. No for richer or poorer. No sickness or health. No till death do they part. There was no exceptions, loopholes or options. As concrete and permanent as it sounded she realized it was just how they were. Don’t just say it, do it. Mean it and by all means ******* own it or get the **** out. As the woman worked her magic there were no tears, no I love you’s. All eyes in witness were as dry as the air flowing around them. In the wake of the minutes that passed what came to be was a single bond that nearly surpassed anything else she had ever known. The one exception was the one she had to the only other that would hold her as close as the shared blood in their veins. Her sire. She would withstand everything hell had to send her way to keep them out of reach of whatever threatened their existence. The room went silent and there it was. Not one part of her questioned if it was there. Unseen to all but perhaps the two who shared it. Solid, impenetrable.

“I guess this is where we start finding out.” Dominique winked at him.

[Roderic]

Can I handle it? I wanted to ask her the same question. Women were the more emotional of our species. Everything was our fault, even if it wasn't our fault. I look at her funny. I look at a chick as we're walking down the street, or I'm reading a book while listening to her. I don't ask her. Time will tell. I just nod and then say, "Ready."

I wasn't sure what the hell was about to go down. The ingredients were given to the almost mute woman at the altar, and I stood there waiting. Was this legit or just some ******** some con-artist was passing off? How would we, I, know if the deal was sealed? Sure, we had rings, but any idiot could wear a ring and it didn't mean squat. Case in point; Nate's dad. I've never carried a 'grudge' in my life, minus that one. He wasn't my dad-sure, genetically and biologically he was, but past that? In my mind I had no dad. Doc was probably as close to it as it came, but even that was a stretch. There was something...else between us. Couldn't place my fingertip on it yet, but some night it would click and I'd know. For now, we're brofriends. Once upon a time we were 'brothers'.

The ritualist quietly says something and I come back to the here and now. I look at Dom, who is looking at me and thank **** she's not crying or giving me eyes on Allurist's had. She looks determined, focused even. I mirror the look. Is this what people were supposed to look like when they pledged their eternity to the other? I'm not sure, but who the **** cares about those other assholes? After the woman was all said and done, collected her money and walked away, I felt...something. A weight maybe. It's hard to explain, but there's something there that wasn't there before. It bothers me, because I can't explain where or how this feeling cropped up. Then I narrow my eyes. 'Feeling.' **** those things.

I look at her when Dom makes a statement with the word 'guess' in it. I step closer to her, so close that we're almost touching. "Built to last." I state down at her, eyes boring down at Dom's face. To my look was the same determination and focus that she had before I mimicked her minutes ago. I don't do things on whims, or because it tickles some 'fancy' of mine. If I do it, I do it because I'm going to ******* do it. I take a step back, the sounds of my boots heavy on the wood floor that creaked beneath my feet, telling its age.

An idea strikes me and a menacing look crosses my features. I don't hide it from her, Dom's seen it before on a few occasions. "Let's go grab us a real bride and groom and celebrate the festivities." I tell her darkly, the look saying it all, as my hand grabs one of hers to lead them both out. There was a hunt at hand-one I wasn't about to let her miss and I sure as hell wouldn't be.