#dovie feels very warm and from what i understand family is very important to her

[direwombat]

💭 Hmm... Sybille for Dove? :3

ahhh thank you! here's some syb after she surrenders to the cult! hope i managed to do your girl justice!

Sybille knew of Dove, but she never had the opportunity to properly meet her. At most she’s seen her in passing, during firefights, the top of her ombre hair ducking under cover while she provides covering fire for retreating Peggies. She’s brave, Sybille will give her that, and anyone who willingly puts up with John Seed must have the patience of a saint, but all interactions she’s had with her, brief as they were, have exclusively been from across the battlefield. 

Never on the same side. 

She supposes that’ll change considering they’re family now; now that she’s pledged herself to Jacob -- and, by extension, Joseph and the rest of the Project. 

Dove had been present at the ceremony where Joseph officially welcomed her into the cult. Sybille had hated being the center of so much attention, but every time her gaze met Dove’s, the woman was always quick to offer her a sympathetic and encouraging smile. 

The afterparty -- if you could really call it that -- is a family dinner hosted at John’s ranch. No other Project members. Just her, the Seeds, and Dove. 

Jacob pulls his truck behind all the other vehicles parked outside the ranch and she gives him a pleading look. “This really necessary?” she asks. “Can’t we just go home?”

“You don’t get to be part of the family and skip out on the actual family bullshit,” Jacob says, but his expression is soft. She’s had a damn long day, and he knows she’s getting tired. “We only have to stay through dinner, okay? Can you do that for me?” Sybille huffs a frustrated sigh and he clicks his tongue. “Come on, you’ve endured worse.”

“I’d rather the trials,” she grumbles, slumping in her seat and crossing her arms. 

Jacob shakes his head. He pulls his keys from the ignition and, draping his left arm over the wheel and angling his body towards her. “Sybille, look at me,” he says -- orders -- firmly. She knows she’s acting like a child, but fuck, she really doesn’t want to be here. Stubbornly, she keeps her eyes straight ahead, but Jacob reaches towards her, index finger curling under her chin to guide her look at him. “Just through dinner. Once that’s over we can leave. Okay?”

Sybille sighs. “Fine,” she says reluctantly.

“That’s my girl,” Jacob smiles, and he pulls her in to press his lips against hers before they’re both exiting the cab of the truck.

Dove is there opening the front door before they even reach the porch steps and she eagerly welcomes them inside. Joseph and Faith are already inside, and as she and Jacob enter, John pours them both glasses of bourbon. All the house staff had been sent home, leaving the entire ranch to just the six of them. 

It doesn’t take long for them to segregate based on gender. The brothers settle in the living room, talking by the fireplace while the ladies chat idly in the kitchen. Eventually, Faith is called over to join the Father and her fellow Heralds, leaving Sybille and Dove alone. She watches as Faith flounces over to her family, and she can’t help but smile at the sight of Jacob genuinely enjoying himself -- and she feels guilty for wanting to deprive him of this. He seems softer in the glow of the fire; he smiles easier, laughs quicker. The tension in his shoulders is almost entirely gone. He’s relaxed. At ease. 

“They don’t do this often, do they?” she asks. 

Dove hums and sips her cocktail. “They don’t,” she confirms.

“When was the last time they did?” 

Dove uses her straw to idly stir her drink. “When John brought me in. It wasn’t for very long -- not like tonight. The Reaping was still going on and everyone was busy trying…well…” The look she gives Sybille is adorably sheepish. 

She huffs a quiet laugh. “Tryin’ to catch me. Yeah, I know.”

“But it’s nice, isn’t it?” Dove continues. She peers through the doorway to where the Seeds are gathered in the living room. Laughter rings out, Jacob’s in particular booming out raucously from his chest like thunder. “It’s nice seeing them act like family.”

Sybille hums in agreement, and a pleasant warmth kindles in her chest -- a warmth she can’t attribute to the bourbon. “S’pose we’re family too, then,” she says. 

Dove blinks at her and smiles gently. “Guess we are. Gotta say, I am glad you’re on our side now.”

But before Sybille can continue the conversation, the oven beeps and Dove hops off her chair to check on the roast. Then, she looks at Sybille and nods towards the doorway. “Go tell everyone dinner’s ready!”

Sybille slides out of her chair and wanders into the living room to relay the news. 

Sybille never had a sister before. 

Something tells her that Dove is going to be a good one. 

At the very least, she’s sure she’ll help make this family dinner significantly more bearable. Hell, she might even enjoy herself.