I was aware of your history, yes, but I guess IO did not guess at how it might have affected you. I am sorry, Lilith.
[ He shakes his head. Sadness hits him now, and a growing worry. He has not put those pieces together, and he feels bad about that. ]
I am not Adam, but... if this is something that will bring you pain, or discomfort, I do not want you to do it. That would, well, pretty much be the opposite of what I wish for you.
[ Harry has fucked up a lot in his life to get here where he is now. He has done a lot of stupid things, hurt a lot of people, but he is trying, these days, to be better, smarter, kinder. ]
[ He nods and takes a moment to form his thoughts, then speaks on, smiling a little as he thinks of Wanda. As he speaks, his passion grows. ]
For me, it is in a way, a symbol. It's something that shows that Wanda and I are people in a relationship, who have achieved a relationship long enough that we have this willingness to tie ourselves together, to commit, formally, and before others, that we are a union of two disparate souls, that we are equal partners and more than just lovers or friends. That we are a family, and that any who takes on one, takes on both.
[ He nods, slowly, eyes bright. There is almost a sense of peace around him as he grins this time, troubles and worries washed away simply by thinking f how Wanda makes him feel. The world is a rough place, but Wanda always makes his life better, and he does his best to make hers better as well. And somehow, it has worked. ]
( his words make her think of adam's, how he'd been so in love (with mary) that all he'd wanted to do was to declare it, she shout it for the world to see. she'd cruelly ripped at that a little but in the end adam had learned something from it and his love (for 'mary') had been more honest.
she leans forward again ti put her cup back down onto the table. harry's words-- seemed honest. it was a symbol, marriage was always a symbol and that part she could roll her eyes at (to her real love didn't need to be symbolised or shown off to anyone else) but-- he'd said they were equal, that everything would be together. and if that alone didn't mean something )
And Wanda feels the same way? She wants this as you do?
[ Her words spur him to speak and he finds words spilling out. ]
I know how that is. I hated marriage for a long time, saw love as something way outside reality. Doomed to failure and loss only.
And then... I met Susan. Someone I argued with, and fought with, and was exasperated by, and who I fell madly in love with. And who I was going to marry.
Until the day she got caught by her own curiosity and my foolishness, and she was turned, half-way, into a vampire. Not wanting to be near me, due to the bloodthirst, she fled, leaving behind the ring I had shown her, but never given her.
[ He looks down, and his voice is soft, sad, but also resounding. ]
I thought I would never see her again. I felt betrayed, once more, by love and the idea of marriage.
And then...
[ A long breath in. ]
She showed up again, telling me we had a daughter, and that she had been kidnapped by vampires, who intended to use her in a ceremony to kill me as well as her and others. Between fear and rage, I found hope, and with friends, and allies, we went into the heart of the enemy stronghold to get her out.
[ He shakes his head, then. ]
We were hopelessly outnumbered, lost, and we close to being overwhelmed when, in an act to protect Maggie, Susan drank another Vampire's blood, and turned completely. The hunger and transformation began to take her and she began to slip under the control of the leader of the vampires, but before she could, she told me to use the knife...
He shivers and tears unabashedly come from his eyes as he looks up at her.
...to take the knife and kill her, to save Maggie, and me and our friends, by using the same magic against those who had sought to kill us.
[ He raises a hand and stares at it. ]
I couldn't at first, even think of it, but then I looked around and saw how badly we were doing and...
I use the knife. I stopped the battle. I saved my daughter. And I lost Susan, again.
[ He wipes his eyes, as he nods, jaw firming. ]
But in losing her, I gained my daughter, and hope. For she had chosen to die for love. To sacrifice herself in the name of that love. And that... that was something I could not ignore. No matter how hurt I was.
I believe in love, and in marriage. How can I not?
no subject
[ He shakes his head. Sadness hits him now, and a growing worry. He has not put those pieces together, and he feels bad about that. ]
I am not Adam, but... if this is something that will bring you pain, or discomfort, I do not want you to do it. That would, well, pretty much be the opposite of what I wish for you.
[ Harry has fucked up a lot in his life to get here where he is now. He has done a lot of stupid things, hurt a lot of people, but he is trying, these days, to be better, smarter, kinder. ]
no subject
Perhaps-- you could tell me why you want to be married.
( why it was important, love aside. that was always everyone's reason )
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For me, it is in a way, a symbol. It's something that shows that Wanda and I are people in a relationship, who have achieved a relationship long enough that we have this willingness to tie ourselves together, to commit, formally, and before others, that we are a union of two disparate souls, that we are equal partners and more than just lovers or friends. That we are a family, and that any who takes on one, takes on both.
[ He nods, slowly, eyes bright. There is almost a sense of peace around him as he grins this time, troubles and worries washed away simply by thinking f how Wanda makes him feel. The world is a rough place, but Wanda always makes his life better, and he does his best to make hers better as well. And somehow, it has worked. ]
no subject
she leans forward again ti put her cup back down onto the table. harry's words-- seemed honest. it was a symbol, marriage was always a symbol and that part she could roll her eyes at (to her real love didn't need to be symbolised or shown off to anyone else) but-- he'd said they were equal, that everything would be together. and if that alone didn't mean something )
And Wanda feels the same way? She wants this as you do?
no subject
[ he nibbles one lip as he considers this. ]
I believe she does. Somehow, we two have found a way, whether by luck or by working hard, into a relationship that makes each other happy.
[ His grin is simple and he nods to her. ]
no subject
( luck could never do enough but care and understanding, working to know the person you wanted to be with, to care for them-- )
There was someone recently who-- had begun to change my view on marriage. Not entirely but I cared for them enough that I did consider it.
( she'd 'proposed' in order to keep them hidden and protected, had even considered leaving everything behind to just be with him.
she pauses, not planning on elaborating further though if he did ask a question she might answer it )
I can do this for you. Something-- magical.
( and there's a little dramatic emphasis on the word magical, both for their magical selves but also the 'magic' of love )
no subject
[ Her words spur him to speak and he finds words spilling out. ]
I know how that is. I hated marriage for a long time, saw love as something way outside reality. Doomed to failure and loss only.
And then... I met Susan. Someone I argued with, and fought with, and was exasperated by, and who I fell madly in love with. And who I was going to marry.
Until the day she got caught by her own curiosity and my foolishness, and she was turned, half-way, into a vampire. Not wanting to be near me, due to the bloodthirst, she fled, leaving behind the ring I had shown her, but never given her.
[ He looks down, and his voice is soft, sad, but also resounding. ]
I thought I would never see her again. I felt betrayed, once more, by love and the idea of marriage.
And then...
[ A long breath in. ]
She showed up again, telling me we had a daughter, and that she had been kidnapped by vampires, who intended to use her in a ceremony to kill me as well as her and others. Between fear and rage, I found hope, and with friends, and allies, we went into the heart of the enemy stronghold to get her out.
[ He shakes his head, then. ]
We were hopelessly outnumbered, lost, and we close to being overwhelmed when, in an act to protect Maggie, Susan drank another Vampire's blood, and turned completely. The hunger and transformation began to take her and she began to slip under the control of the leader of the vampires, but before she could, she told me to use the knife...
He shivers and tears unabashedly come from his eyes as he looks up at her.
...to take the knife and kill her, to save Maggie, and me and our friends, by using the same magic against those who had sought to kill us.
[ He raises a hand and stares at it. ]
I couldn't at first, even think of it, but then I looked around and saw how badly we were doing and...
I use the knife. I stopped the battle. I saved my daughter. And I lost Susan, again.
[ He wipes his eyes, as he nods, jaw firming. ]
But in losing her, I gained my daughter, and hope. For she had chosen to die for love. To sacrifice herself in the name of that love. And that... that was something I could not ignore. No matter how hurt I was.
I believe in love, and in marriage. How can I not?
[ His words trail off then. ]