#//And she doesn't want to be mixed up for House Salvation

[mantleoflight]

Trespassing || Open Starter

Arc energy hummed as the Eliksni energy shields barred the tunnel at both ends, the white-cloaked kell glaring at the guardian caught between them. These barriers had been effective at keeping guardians at bay in certain locations, but you never knew with light bearers.

Yyventriz paced along the perimeter of the shield, her armor displaying her house's colors of white and red - the angled mosaic on her cape displaying the emblem of House Shard.

"Do your kind not honor their word?" She growled, her voice rumbling behind her mask. "We agreed not to impede the rising of you 'new lights', yet still you scrabble into our home like rats. What do you want, Light bearer? Why do you intrude here?"

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

What if somebody had an accident while edbella were still having their high-school shenanigans? So the family is forced to move, does Bella move with them? Does she realize that the poor victim could be her any moment? If that's somebody she knows (which is the most likely, given Carlisle has perfect history and Esme doesn't leave the house, so children at school are the most likely candidates), does she finally understand how this whole "soulless stone cannibals" shit works, or is it still not enough?

When?

This is important because we have two stages to Edward and Bella's high school shenanigans, during Twilight and during Eclipse.

During Twilight, Edward intends to dump Bella, until the birthday party fiasco he would likely have chosen graduation and let Bella leave to college while he and his family disappeared, but he always intended to leave her. Neither has gone the six months without each other where both sunk into a non-functional state of depression.

During Eclipse, both Bella and Edward have tried and failed to live without the other. They see each other as their only salvation (with Bella baking vampirism into that mix as well). Neither can contemplate a future without the other meaning... they're uh probably willing to put up with a lot more.

So, I guess I have to answer the same question twice so I don't get an ask inevitably in my inbox.

Caveats

As a note, Bella can't be anywhere near where it happens or uh she'll probably be eaten too since that's how these things go. So, unless you want another dead Bella, she's not a witness.

This is important.

Twilight

Bella has just figured out what Edward is, she's met the family, had her James adventure, and is determined to become a vampire while Edward continues saying no.

They go to Prom, it's a wonderful time, until Jasper accidentally eats Jessica Stanley (poor Jessica, what a life).

Edward, of course, is livid as Jasper ruined what should have been the greatest night of his life and is horrified that now Bella knows the truth.

Which is, of course, why Edward covers it up immediately. The family has to cover it up anyway, Bella has no reason to find out that Jasper ate Jessica and that the family really is comprised of demons. Edward absolutely does not want Bella to know this for all he knows it'd be for her own good.

Edward's fine with this as he takes this as the impetus to leave town and dump Bella.

(Likely, they stage a car accident, one to be expected on prom night. Jessica is the tragic victim of a sad teenage statistic.)

The Cullens stay to the end of the year, Edward acting... weird and standoffish, then Edward gives Bella his "it's not me, it's you" speech in the woods and disappears into the sunset.

Canon proceeds as planned until years later, someone unthinkingly mentions the time Jasper ate Jessica.

Eclipse

Now Edward's torn.

This is the ultimate proof he needs to show Bella that vampires are blood sucking demons and she will literally lose her soul if she becomes one.

On the other hand, Jacob is now his rival and this time she'll dump him for sure.

Edward... is selfish enough... he can't do that.

Oh, he drops strong hints that Bella should dump him for Jacob, Jacob's a better man, a human man, but uh "don't dump me for Jacob, I'll steal your car battery if you try to see him".

So, gaslighting continues.

Edward covers up the murder with the family and there's a lot of drama as the family can't really leave town what with the army on the doorstep as they would be leaving Forks to die.

Leaving Bella's also off the table as they would be sentencing her to die as well (Edward's not thinking about this part).

Everyone's told that Jasper stole medical blood in preparation for the battle.

Bella doesn't find out the truth until years later, if ever.

In Conclusion

Gaslight is Edward's middle name.

[gildcdwings]

❀ *◦ kim jisoo. cis woman. she/her. heterosexual. ⇝ hey, isn’t that bernadette lim? i think that the twenty-nine year old from anchorage, alaska works as a marketing consultant for blood for beauty cosmetics and an illustrator for the anchorage daily diem, but outside of that people describe them as stucco roofs, well-used ceramic kitchenware, the smell of fresh laundry, wandering aimlessly through an orange grove, and sunlight hitting your face after a long and dark winter. i hear they are passive & directionless, but they are also known to be courteous & humble. consider giving them a visit at their home in the marionette and get to know why they’re called the shadow.

-always apologizing and anticipating other people's reactions -a bit of a pushover -queen of masking -approach with caution, she spooks easy -good at a lot of things, not exceptional at any one thing -a little aimless, still looking for her purpose -recently divorced, doesn't want to talk about it -not thrilled to be back in alaska, but is looking forward to being with family and friends again

pinterest / playlist

tw: neglect, masking, abuse mention, miscarriage

through the give and take you had to learn, how to cross the coals and not get burned: lore.

Childhood/Adolescence:

Unconventional to say the least, Bernadette's childhood was made up of nothing but gray areas, something that she'd never been particularly good at making sense of, especially not as a child. One moment, her parents were doting and loving, showering their two girls in all of the affection that they could give. The next, the sisters were left to their own devices for hours, and occasionally even days at a time, with Rosalind left to a young Bernadette's care. There was no stability during those years, no consistency, and barely a moment for the elder Lim daughter to catch her breath or think about her own needs. The only thing that mattered back then was survival.

All of her childhood memories before she was eventually placed in foster care remain a hazy blur that Bernadette can't recall with much clarity, a mix of the happy moments shared with her family sprinkled in with times that the two girls were left to fend for themselves, the uncertainty of not knowing with complete confidence whether their parents would return for them at all.

The only thing that kept her feet on the ground during those years was taking responsibility for her little sister. Bernadette did everything she could to shield Rosalind from it all, telling them stories and encouraging their overactive imagination to whisk them both away from the eerily empty house. That was how the girls lived their lives, how they made it through the tough times. That is, until the night of the fire.

Luckily, their salvation to a more stable home life came in the form of being placed under Eliana Okin's care. It was a tragedy, no doubt, to lose the only life they'd ever known in such an operatically tragic way, but a young Bernadette was hopeful for better times ahead, for the chance to start over somewhere new, a picturesque place dusted with snow.

Sure enough, in the Okin household, the sisters' every creative whim was encouraged and nurtured with gusto as they grew up. They found the structure and stability that Bernadette had always craved, and it was no longer just the two girls against the world. Their new foster family came with additional foster siblings, and although she still felt different than the rest, content to get lost in her own inner world for hours at a time, she finally had a place where she could belong as she grew into herself. That is, until confronted with the reality of life outside of her home, overwhelmed by the idea of finding something to do for the rest of her life once she had finished high school.

Early Adulthood:

A little aimless and uncertain about what path to take in life, Bernadette decided to enroll at the local university at the age of 20 and took a job as a hostess at the Ivy. She had two years of general education courses to figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Surely, this experience could anchor her and provide some direction, right? But it seemed that life had different plans when she met Richard, a charming man in his mid-thirties that came out of nowhere, appearing at the restaurant on a near daily basis attempting to sweep Bernadette off her feet.

Richard knew all the right things to say to make Bernadette's walls come down. He promised an escape from her increasingly mundane life in Anchorage, more money than she'd ever know what to do with, a life full of travel and adventure. Most exciting of all, he would frequently wax poetic about the two of them getting to start a loving family of their own, something Bernadette had always yearned for. She would no longer be defined by the tragedy of her childhood or the circumstance of her early upbringing. With Richard by her side, she'd finally be free of those painful memories and could start to make new ones.

After only a few months of dating (and ignoring any protests from her siblings and foster parents), the couple rushed down the aisle, with Bernadette abandoning her collegiate studies altogether to start her new life as a kept woman—the perfect, charming housewife for her seemingly perfect husband. Until a few months after their wedding, when things started to change for the worse, the veneer peeling off of his picturesque façade.

Long gone were the days of Richard going out of his way to say exactly the right things. He became more demanding and critical of her every action, growing irate every time Bernadette made a social misstep, no matter how accidental, scolding his young wife as if she were a child for allowing her neurosis to rule her every move. And despite her best efforts to meet his exceedingly high expectations over their years together, to conceal the way she really felt in favor of being his image of perfection, it seemed that she always came up short, was never quite right. You don't belong here, and I was foolish to think that you could, Richard seemed to say with his every needling comment, leaving Bernadette to wonder what exactly she did that was worth such revulsion.

Present Day:

The final straw came with an unexpected pregnancy around her 27th birthday, the loss of the unborn baby just a few weeks after finding out that she was expecting. Richard had very little sympathy for Bernadette's heartbreak over the loss, remarking instead that it was "just as well." She was far too cold to be a good mother anyways, his promises of starting a loving family with her, something to make up for all the darkness in her childhood, seemed to crumple into dust.

Encouraged by her siblings to come home after the litigious divorce, Bernadette once again finds herself in her Alaskan hometown, a place that was once her salvation from an uncertain upbringing. Sure, she made it out of her marriage with some money, likely to afford her comforts that she never could've dreamt of before. But coming back to Anchorage was certainly not a victorious homecoming, no triumphant fanfare to welcome her home.

But at least Anchorage feels familiar and safe, even in all its oddities. Grateful to be tethered back to her roots by old friends and family, it was somewhere to pick up the pieces and restart, a silver lining through the shit storm of the last eight years. One can only hope that in the rubble, she can manage to rebuild, one brick at a time.

but you're really just a little girl, playing in the park 'til the sun goes down: stats.

General Info: Full Name: Bernadette Vivienne Lim. Nicknames: Bernie, Betty, Bea. Age: 29. Date of Birth: September 5th, 1995. Zodiac Sign: Virgo. Gender: Cis woman. Pronouns: she/her. Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual. Romantic Orientation: Heteroromantic. Relationship Status: Available, single. Alignment: Lawful Neutral. MBTI: ISTJ, the Logistician.

Appearance: Faceclaim: Kim Jisoo. Height: 5′4. Eye Color: Brown. Hair Color: Jet black. Tattoos: None. Piercings: A single earlobe piercing on each ear.

Background: Education: High school diploma, dropped out of community college after a semester. Occupation: Marketing consultant for Blood for Beauty Cosmetics and an illustrator for the Anchorage Daily Diem. Residence: The Marionette. Class: Upper. Ethnicity: Korean. Language(s) Spoken (in order of fluency): English / Korean / Spanish / French / Italian.

Identity: Label: the shadow. Positive Traits: observant, resilient, charitable, level-headed, thoughtful. Negative Traits: uncompromising, rigid, judgmental, insecure, obsessive. Quirks/Habits: voice cracks easily, skin picking. Love Language: Words of affirmation and acts of service. Hobbies: Cooking, record collecting, studying languages, photography, painting with watercolors. Likes: designer perfumes, gold jewelry, vintage couches, fresh fruit, antique maps and globes. Dislikes: pretty but empty words, being misinterpreted. Fears: remaining aimless, feeling trapped again.

[sarah-dipitous]

Hellsite Nostalgia Tour 2023 Day 22

We're at the Season 1 penultimate episode for both of these series (and I guess the next Sherlock episode I watch is ALSO the Season 1 penultimate episode, but like...that's a three episode season. We won't even SEE Jim til almost March :( )

"Salvation"

Would I Survive the First Five Minutes??: If the first five minutes are just sitting through a recap of the last 20 episodes? I can survive sitting through that (but I won't be happy about it). Nevermind, seems like we're getting a real first five minutes. Know what? I'd let Meg kill me. If she's gonna do it anyway, might as well make it my choice or something.

I relish Winchester infighting. There's been so much of it this season and it's so good even if a little pointless. And now there's three to fight with each other??

What a wonderful name for a midwest town to wrap this season up in: Salvation, Iowa. Damn.

So, I think I'd be more...invested in this whole "Pastor Jim is dead and that's hitting too close to home for the Winchesters" if, you know, the first time we met him it wasn't when Meg slashed his throat open.

It's kind of convenient that Sam has psychic visions at just the right times.

I'm. No. SIR! NO. Disrespectfully, no. You fucking DISAPPEARED, you don't get to tell Dean that if something weird starts happening with Sam, that you need to be told IMMEDIATELY. Fuck that noise. Stop it. Do not make me laugh. I'll fucking do it.

I paused before Dean got his say in, and OH MAN. YES, Dean!!! Nah, bitch, you don't get to abandon your kids and OCCASIONALLY leave cryptic messages, but then tell them you don't like the tone they're taking with you. Nu uh.

Oh. Okay. Her picking off John's friends one by one is, frankly, delicious. I should not be this attracted to her right now. I really do just love when villains

I...am truly heartbroken over what John wants for his sons. He wants Sam to be able to go back to school, which is nice and fine. He should get to follow his dreams. But then he says "I want Dean to have a home." And that's one of those moments you realize how much Dean has lacked for so much of his life. Sam had Stanford for all the time he was there, and he would have likely had a settled life, but DEAN? (I'm shifting into my "Being Broken Hearted Dean and Touya At the Same Time For Similar Reasons" mode)

I *DON'T* like the boys (*coughsamcough*) trying to say good bye "in case something happens," even if I do get it.

John IS smart though. Smart even if he's reckless. The boys, a little less so. Or the father of the family they're trying to protect is also...very protective, as he should be. Two guys in their mid-twenties just broke into their house in the middle of the night. Usually, they build a better rapport with whomever they're trying to save. Guess they didn't really have the time today.

Oh shit. Dean got that baby out not a moment too soon.

I mean, we had to know they weren't going to get the demon tonight.

Dean just doesn't want to lose the only two people he has, and those two people seem to be a-okay with just throwing their lives away, sacrificing themselves for this cause. I'm distraught.

"Been On My Mind...": No. And I didn't expect to with all plot that's happening

"Bad Wolf"

This is such a fun and weird way to enter the episode: the Doctor being sucked into some future form of the show Big Brother. And Rose is on The Weakest Link (does that even exist anymore?? Does it have actual new episodes on the Game Show Network or is it just reruns? Do they even have reruns of it anymore?)

You gotta love Jack's confidence "Ladies, your viewing figures just went up"

I think this bit would have been maybe funnier back in '06? Now it's just...I dunno. It's not hitting like it's probably supposed to. It's probably supposed to be a mix of funny and horrifying? But the whole Weakest Link part is now just horrifying....seventeen years later.

Don't tell me she gets vaporized too...wtf.

Finally. Some development.

(I feel bad because I remember liking this episode a lot more in the past.)

I shouldn't laugh because it's not actually funny (or it is in a grim way). But the actual news getting shut down and then governments collapsing because of that and the rise of all of these inane yet extremely dangerous game shows and reality tv shows...feels poignant for some reason.

Rose's disintegration doesn't hit as hard when you know she's not actually dead. Or at least she comes back.

I even SAW the daleks in the preview the other day and forgot they were coming back for this episode.

This episode was what would have been a lot of confusion in the first half (if this weren't a rewatch) and set up in the second half, so there wasn't a lot to say, sadly.

[shelbsmlynn]

A Long Ass RG blurb???

interior. Eli's House - Midnight.

 The front door flies open, and Shelby storms in, her face flushed with anger and hurt. Shelby: (screaming) Deddy! Deddy, where are you?! 

Eli rushes downstairs, alarmed by the commotion. Eli: (concerned) Shelby, what's wrong? What's happened? 

Shelby: (voice trembling) It's Brantley, Deddy! I just found out he's been cheating on me! How could he do this to me?! 

Eli: (shocked) Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Shelby collapses into his arms, tears streaming down her face. 

Eli: (comforting) It's okay, Shelby. Let it out.

 Shelby: (sobbing) I thought he loved me, Deddy. I thought we had something real.

 Eli: (stroking her hair) I know, honey. I know. 

Shelby: (angrily) How could he betray me like this?!

 Eli: (calmly) People make mistakes, Shelby. It doesn't diminish your worth or who you are. 

Shelby: (sniffling) I don't know what to do, Deddy. 

Eli: (assuring) You don't have to do anything right now, Shelby. Just take one step at a time. We'll figure this out together. 

Shelby: (softly) I love you, Deddy.

 Eli: (hugging her tightly) I love you too, sweetheart. We'll get through this.

Interior. Gemstone Equine Rehab Center - Day.

Interior. Gemstone Equine Rehab Center - Day.

Shelby sat at her desk, the morning light filtering through the window, casting a soft glow over the room. Her siblings, Judy, Kelvin, and Jesse, had come to visit, hoping to lift her spirits with a planned outing for the Gemstone Salvation Center.

Judy, ever the optimist, spoke first, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Shelby, we were thinking of going to the Gemstone Salvation Center this afternoon. Would you like to join us?"

Shelby looked up, her eyes red from crying, and shook her head. "I don't think I can, Judy. Not today."

Kelvin, always observant, noticed the bruise on her shoulder and inquired, "What happened? Are you okay?"

Shelby's voice trembled as she spoke. "Brantley... he's been cheating on me. I found out last night."

Judy, Kelvin, and Jesse exchanged shocked glances, their expressions a mix of anger and concern.

Judy's tone softened as she said, "Oh, Shelby. I'm so sorry."

Kelvin's anger flared. "That son of a... How could he do this to you?"

Jesse's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. "I'll kill him."

Judy, ever the peacemaker, interjected urgently, "Jesse, no! Violence won't solve anything."

Kelvin, the voice of reason, added firmly, "We need to support Shelby, not make things worse."

Shelby's eyes welled up with tears. "I just want to move on, to forget he ever existed."

Judy reached out, squeezing her hand gently. "We'll help you do that, Shelby. We're family, and we'll get through this together."

Interior. Gemstone Equine Rehab Center - Day.

After Judy and Kelvin had left, Jesse stayed behind, his anger simmering beneath the surface as he comforted Shelby.

Jesse: (fists clenched) Shelby, I can't believe that bastard would do this to you. And to hurt you like this...

Shelby: (tears in her eyes) I don't understand it either, Jesse. I thought he loved me.

Jesse: (voice low, seething) He's scum, Shelby. No one hurts my family like this and gets away with it.

Shelby: (softly) Jesse, please...

Jesse: (taking a deep breath, trying to calm down) I'm sorry, Shelby. I just hate seeing you like this.

Shelby: (sniffling) I hate it too, Jesse. I just want to forget it all.

Jesse: (determined) We'll make sure he pays for what he's done, Shelby. I promise you that.

Shelby: (looking up at him, grateful) Thank you, Jesse. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Jesse: (softening) You'll never have to find out. I'm here for you, always.

Interior. Jesse's House - Night.

In Jesse's cozy living room, the siblings gathered, their expressions determined in the soft glow of the lamps.

Judy, arms folded, spoke up first. "We can't let Brantley off easy. He needs to know how much he's hurt Shelby."

Kelvin, nodding in agreement, added, "Yeah, we gotta make him see he can't just do whatever he wants."

Keefe, nonchalant but firm, chimed in, "A visit from us will underscore our resolve. He must understand the seriousness of his transgressions."

Jesse, his eyes steely, concluded, "He's gotta learn there are consequences for messing with our family."

With a shared nod, the siblings left the house, ready to confront Brantley and make him understand the impact of his actions.

Shelby's heart raced as she heard the familiar roar of her siblings' cars tearing down the main road toward the front gate of the Gemstone family compound. She knew they were on a mission, likely to confront Brantley. Part of her felt relieved that she had her family's support, but another part worried about what might happen next. She could only hope that their intervention would bring some closure to the turmoil Brantley had caused.

.

As they approached the front gate, Shelby's heart pounded with a mix of apprehension and gratitude. She was grateful for her siblings' unwavering support but anxious about the confrontation that awaited.

Judy, leading the way, opened the gate and motioned for the others to follow. They drove with purpose towards Brantley's house, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night.

When they reached the front door, Jesse knocked firmly. After a moment, Brantley opened the door, looking surprised to see them.

Brantley: (confused) What are you all doing here?

Judy: (stepping forward) We're here to talk, Brantley. You can't just walk away from what you've done.

Kelvin: (crossing his arms) You hurt Shelby, and that's not something we take lightly.

Keefe: (leaning in) You need to understand the pain you've caused.

Jesse: (steely-eyed) It's time to face the music, Brantley.

Brantley's expression shifted from confusion to realization as he understood the gravity of the situation. He stepped back, allowing them to enter, knowing that he was about to face the consequences of his actions.

days later,Days later, Brantley, with a noticeable limp and an extremely bruised face, marched into the Gemstone Equine Rehab Center.

"SHELBY M'LYNN GEMSTONE!!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the facility.

Shelby, who had been tending to one of the horses, turned to see Brantley standing there, anger radiating from him.

"What do you want, Brantley?" she asked, trying to remain composed.

Brantley limped closer, his face twisted in rage. "You think you can just sic your brothers on me and get away with it?"

Shelby raised an eyebrow, unfazed by his outburst. "I didn't 'sic' anyone on you, Brantley. They went to talk to you because of what you did."

Brantley scoffed, pointing to his bruised face. "This is what they did! They beat me up!"

Shelby shook her head, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "I highly doubt they did anything you didn't deserve. Now, if you don't have a legitimate reason for being here, I suggest you leave before I call the police."

Brantley, realizing he wasn't going to get the reaction he wanted, turned and stormed out, leaving Shelby to shake her head in exasperation.

SUNDAY

POST-CHURCH MEAL - JASON'S STEAKHOUSE

As the family sat down for their post-church meal at Jason's Steakhouse, Shelby couldn't shake the nagging feeling about Brantley's visit to the GERC.

"Jesse," she began, her voice tinged with concern, "why did my ex show up at the GERC with an excessively bruised face today? Did you have something to do with that?"

Jesse, caught off guard by the direct question, paused before responding. "Shelby, I can't say I'm sorry for what happened. Brantley needed to understand the pain he caused you."

Shelby's eyes widened in disbelief. "You... you did that? Jesse, I appreciate your protectiveness, but that was too much. Violence isn't the answer."

Jesse, realizing his mistake, reached out to Shelby. "I'm sorry, Shel. I was just trying to defend you."

Shelby pulled away slightly, her expression conflicted. "I know, Jesse, but this isn't the way. I don't want this kind of drama."

Jesse nodded, regret evident in his eyes. "I understand, Shel. I won't let it happen again."

As they sat in silence, the weight of the situation hung heavy between them, a reminder of the fine line between protection and aggression.

Shelby took a deep breath, trying to calm her swirling emotions. She knew Jesse had acted out of a misguided sense of protection, but she couldn't condone his actions.

"Jesse, I appreciate that you were trying to defend me, but this isn't how I wanted things to go down," Shelby said, her voice firm but gentle. "Violence only breeds more violence, and I don't want that kind of negativity in my life."

Jesse nodded, remorse flickering in his eyes. "I hear you, Shel. I messed up, and I'm sorry. I just hate seeing you hurt."

Shelby softened, reaching out to place a hand on Jesse's. "I know you do, Jesse, and I appreciate that. But we have to find better ways to deal with these situations."

The rest of the family sat in silence, understanding the gravity of the situation. They knew Shelby was right and that Jesse's actions, though well-intentioned, had crossed a line.

After a moment, Kelvin spoke up. "Shelby's right, Jesse. We can't resort to violence, no matter how angry we are. We have to be better than that."

Jesse nodded, his gaze downcast. "You're right, all of you. I'll make it right with Brantley, I promise."

With that, the family continued their meal, the air heavy with the weight of their actions and the knowledge that they needed to do better in the future.

Amber's eyes widened in disbelief as her husband, known for his fiery temper, spoke with unexpected decency.

"I'm sorry, Jesse, but who the hell are you and what have you done with my husband?" she exclaimed, half-jokingly.

Jesse chuckled, a hint of sheepishness in his expression. "I know, I know. I'm trying to be better, Amber. Shelby helped me see that violence isn't the answer."

Amber nodded, still slightly incredulous. "Well, color me impressed. Keep it up, and you might just turn into a decent human being yet."

The table erupted in laughter, the tension from earlier dissipating. Jesse smiled, grateful for his family's understanding and support, knowing that he was on the right path to being the man Shelby and his family deserved.

Eli, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm.

"Jesse, what you did was wrong," he said, his gaze steady. "Violence is never the answer, no matter the situation. We need to be better than that, especially as leaders in our community."

Jesse nodded, a sense of shame washing over him. "You're right, Deddy. I messed up, and I'm sorry. I'll make it right with Brantley and Shelby."

Eli placed a hand on Jesse's shoulder. "I know you will, son. Just remember, we're Gemstones. We have a responsibility to uphold the values of our family and our faith."

Judy chuffed, "Ha! Yeah right, Jesse. You're so full of donkey shit! You literally peed on the dude's face."

The table erupted in laughter at Judy's exaggerated claim, and Jesse couldn't help but join in, realizing how absurd the situation had become. "Okay, okay, maybe I didn't handle it perfectly," he admitted, still chuckling. "But I promise, I didn't pee on anyone."

"No, you did, and if I hadn't stopped you, you would've crapped on his gun case like a dog, Jesse," said Kelvin, joining in the teasing with a grin.

Jesse's eyes widened in mock horror, realizing the absurdity of the situation. "Okay, okay, maybe I got a little carried away," he admitted, laughing along with the rest of the family. "But I promise, no bodily functions were involved in my confrontation with Brantley."

Shelby choked on her sweet tea, her eyes widening in shock. "You did a pee on my ex-boyfriend?!?!" she hollered, incredulous.

Jesse's grin faltered as he realized Shelby's genuine surprise. "No, Shel, of course not! It's just a joke," he explained, hoping to ease her shock.

Shelby shook her head, still processing. "I can't believe this. You guys are crazy," she said, half-amused and half-appalled by her brother's antics.

As Shelby pulled up to Uncle Baby Billy's house, she couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort. Despite the drama with Brantley and her family, Uncle Baby Billy's home always felt like a sanctuary.

She knocked on the door, and it swung open to reveal Uncle Baby Billy standing there, a warm smile on his face.

"Shelby, darlin', come on in," he greeted, ushering her inside.

As she stepped into the familiar surroundings, Shelby felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Uncle Baby Billy always had a way of putting things into perspective, and she was grateful for his presence in her life.

As the evening wore on, and the sun started to drop, Shelby began to plan her exit from Uncle Baby Billy's house. She knew she had to face the challenges waiting for her back in town, but for now, she was grateful for the refuge her family provided. With a renewed sense of determination, she bid her uncle and aunt goodnight, ready to face whatever the future held.

 "As Shelby pulled up to her house, she noticed a familiar figure standing on the porch. It was Brantley, looking worse for wear with a bruised face and a bandaged arm.

She hesitated, unsure of what to do. Part of her wanted to confront him, to demand answers and closure. But another part of her just wanted to forget the whole ordeal and move on with her life.

Gathering her courage, Shelby stepped out of the car and approached Brantley. He looked up, surprise and guilt written all over his face.

"Shelby, I... I'm so sorry," Brantley stammered, his voice filled with remorse.

Shelby took a moment to compose herself, her anger and hurt still raw. "Sorry isn't going to cut it, Brantley. You hurt me, and you need to own up to it."

Brantley nodded, his eyes downcast. "I know, and I will. I just... I was going through a rough patch, and I didn't know how to deal with it."

Shelby felt a pang of sympathy, but she quickly pushed it aside. "That's no excuse, Brantley. You made your choices, and now you have to face the consequences."

With that, Shelby turned and walked away, leaving Brantley standing on the porch. As she entered her house, she felt a sense of closure wash over her. It was time to put the past behind her and focus on building a brighter future."

As Shelby entered her house, she was greeted by the familiar sights and smells of home. The cozy living room, the scent of her favorite candle burning, it all brought her a sense of comfort.

She poured herself a glass of sweet tea and sat down at the kitchen table, her mind racing with thoughts of what had transpired. She knew that forgiving Brantley would be a long process, but she also knew that she needed to forgive him for her own peace of mind.

As she sat there, sipping her tea and reflecting on the events of the past few days, Shelby felt a sense of clarity wash over her. She realized that while what Brantley had done was hurtful, holding onto anger and resentment would only weigh her down.

With a deep breath, Shelby made a decision. She would forgive Brantley, not for his sake, but for hers. She would let go of the pain and the hurt, and she would move forward with her life.

Feeling lighter than she had in days, Shelby smiled to herself. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but she also knew that she was strong enough to face whatever came her way. And with that thought, she took another sip of her tea and looked forward to the future, ready to embrace whatever it held.

The loud, heavy knocking broke her out of her daze. Shelby's heart raced as she cautiously approached the door, unsure of who could be visiting at this late hour. She peered through the peephole and was surprised to see her siblings standing on the porch, their expressions serious. Shelby opened the door, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "CHRIST ON A CRACKER, WHY ARE Y'ALL HERE?!?!?!" she hollered

As Shelby let her siblings in, the tension in the room was palpable. Jesse stepped forward, his expression grave. "We need to talk, Shelby. It's about Brantley."

Shelby's heart sank. She knew this conversation was long overdue. As she ushered them into the living room, she braced herself for what was to come, knowing that the night was far from over.

Jesse took a seat, his face serious. "Shelby, we've been doing some digging, and we found out some things about Brantley."

Shelby's stomach churned with unease. She had a sinking feeling about where this was heading. "What things?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kelvin spoke up, his voice tight with anger. "He's been stealing money from the church, Shelby. Thousands of dollars."

Shelby felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. She sank onto the couch, feeling the weight of Jesse's words crashing down on her. She had suspected something was wrong, but hearing it confirmed was a devastating blow.

Judy put a hand on her shoulder, offering silent support. "We confronted him, Shelby. He didn't deny it," she added, her voice filled with sympathy.

Shelby's mind was racing. How could she have been so blind? How could Brantley have betrayed her like this? Anger, hurt, and betrayal surged through her, and she struggled to hold back tears. She knew that this revelation would change everything.

"Y'all need to leave. I can't process this kind of information with comp'ny. 'Sides its too late for y'all to be out anyway," said Shelby, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and anger.

Her siblings exchanged uneasy glances, realizing they had pushed too far. "Shelby, we just want to help," Jesse began, but Shelby cut him off.

"I said leave," she repeated, her tone firm. "I need some time alone to think."

Reluctantly, her siblings stood up and made their way to the door. As they left, Shelby sank back onto the couch, feeling the weight of the revelations crashing down on her. She knew she needed to confront Brantley about what she had learned, but for now, she just needed to be alone with her thoughts.

As Shelby poured herself a glass of wine, her mind was still reeling from the bombshell her siblings had dropped. She needed a moment to herself, a moment to escape from the chaos that had invaded her life.

Heading upstairs, she entered her bedroom and went to her closet, where she kept her favorite burgundy lingerie. She slipped into the delicate lace and silk, feeling a sense of comfort in the familiar fabric.

Next, she grabbed her matching marabou kitten heels and slipped them on, relishing in the feeling of luxury they provided. Finally, she wrapped herself in her marabou robe, the soft feathers brushing against her skin soothingly.

Grabbing her wine, Shelby headed for the screened-in porch. It was her favorite spot in the house, a peaceful retreat where she could be alone with her thoughts.

As she settled into a comfortable chair, the cool night air enveloped her, calming her frazzled nerves. She took a sip of wine, savoring the rich flavor as she gazed out at the starry sky.

Shelby walked to her mother's memorial in her father's backyard, her heart heavy with the weight of recent events. She sat down beside the memorial, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

"Mama, I need to talk to you," she began, her voice wavering. "I found out some things about Brantley... He's been cheating on me, Mama. With other women, and... and he's been stealing from the church."

Tears streamed down Shelby's face as she spoke, the words tumbling out in a rush. She told her mother everything, every painful detail of Brantley's betrayal. She felt a sense of relief, as if her mother's spirit was there with her, listening and understanding.

"I don't know what to do, Mama," Shelby whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought he was the one, but... but he's not who I thought he was. I feel so lost, Mama. I need your guidance."

As she sat there, pouring her heart out to her mother, Shelby felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew her mother was listening, her spirit offering comfort and support in her time of need. With a deep sigh, Shelby wiped away her tears, feeling a renewed sense of strength and determination.

"I'll find a way through this, Mama," she said, her voice filled with resolve. "I'll be okay. I just wish you were here to help me through it."

With a final glance at the memorial, Shelby stood up and walked back to the house, her heart a little lighter knowing that she had shared her burden with her mother, even if only in spiritAs she stepped inside, she was greeted by the familiar sights and smells of her home. She kicked off her shoes and made her way to the living room, where she poured herself another glass of wine and sank into the comfort of her favorite armchair.

The events of the evening still weighed heavily on her mind, but she felt more at peace than she had in days. She knew that with her mother's guidance and the support of her family, she would find a way to move forward from this betrayal.

As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, Shelby felt a sense of gratitude for the life she had built for herself on the compound. She had her own space, her own sanctuary, where she could retreat and gather her thoughts.

With a deep sigh, Shelby closed her eyes and let herself relax, knowing that no matter what happened, she had a home and a family that loved her. She was determined to face the future with strength and grace, ready to overcome whatever challenges came her way.

A little while later, Shelby got up from her chair and climbed the stairs to her lavish burgundy and maroon-themed bedroom. The room was a reflection of her style, with rich, deep colors and elegant furnishings.

She kicked off her shoes and sat down on the edge of her bed, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over her. The events of the evening had taken their toll, and she knew she needed to rest.

As she lay down on her bed, she couldn't shake the image of Brantley's face from her mind. She felt a mix of anger, betrayal, and sadness, but deep down, she knew she deserved better.

Closing her eyes, Shelby made a silent promise to herself. She would not let this betrayal define her. She would find a way to move on, to rebuild her life, and to find happiness again.

With that thought in mind, she drifted off to sleep, hoping that tomorrow would bring a new beginning.

Shelby awoke to the sound of a slamming door, the noise jolting her out of her sleep. She sat up, grabbing her gun, and listening intently. It was still early, and the house was quiet once more. She wondered if she had imagined the sound, but then she heard voices downstairs.

Curiosity piqued, Shelby got out of bed and made her way to the window, peering out to see who was there. She saw Brantley's lifted Silverado pulling out of the driveway, its engine roaring as it sped away. Beside him was his friend, Jake, whose voice she recognized.

Her heart raced as she realized what had happened. Brantley and Jake had been in the house. She quickly dressed and rushed downstairs, her mind racing with questions.

As she entered the living room, she saw that the front door was wide open, the cool morning air streaming in. She walked over and closed it, her hands trembling with anger and fear.

"Damn it, Brantley," she muttered under her breath. "What are you up to now?"

Shelby knew she needed to confront Brantley, to find out why he and Jake had been in her house. With a deep breath, she made her way to the kitchen and grabbed her phone. She dialed Brantley's number, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for him to answer

Shelby: "Brantley, how did you even get into my house? I thought I had security."

Brantley: "I... uh... I just... the door was unlocked. I didn't think anyone would mind."

Shelby's anger flares. She had been meticulous about keeping her home secure, especially after the breakup.

Shelby: "You just walked in? That's not okay, Brantley. You can't just barge into my life whenever you feel like it."

Brantley: "I know, Shelby, and I'm sorry. I just... I needed to talk to you."

Shelby's tone softens slightly, but she remains wary.

Shelby: "Fine. But this better be good."

Brantley: "I promise, it is. I'll be there in five."

Shelby reluctantly agreed to go to breakfast with Brantley, despite her better judgment. She knew she needed answers, and this might be her best chance to get them. As they drove to the diner in Brantley's truck, the tension between them was palpable.

"Why were you in my house, Brantley?" Shelby finally asked, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.

Brantley glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I needed to talk to you, Shelby. It's important."

"Important enough to break into my house?" Shelby retorted, her voice tinged with anger.

Brantley sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't break in, Shelby. The door was unlocked. I just... I needed to see you."

Shelby frowned, confused. "Why? What could be so important that you had to sneak into my house?"

Brantley hesitated, his eyes flicking to the road ahead. "I... I made a mistake, Shelby. A big one. And I need your help."

Shelby's anger softened slightly, replaced by curiosity. "What kind of mistake?"

Brantley took a deep breath, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. "I... I got involved with some people, Shelby. Bad people. And now they're threatening me. I didn't know who else to turn to."

Shelby's eyes widened in shock. "What kind of people, Brantley? What did you do?"

Brantley glanced at her, his expression haunted. "I... I can't say, Shelby. I'm in too deep. But I need your help. Please, you're the only one I can trust."

Shelby felt a surge of conflicting emotions. Part of her wanted to turn him away, to tell him he had made his bed and now he had to lie in it. But another part of her, the part that still cared for him despite everything, couldn't bear to see him in such distress.

"I'll help you, Brantley," she said quietly. "But you have to promise me you'll tell me everything. No more secrets."

Brantley nodded, his eyes brimming with gratitude. "I promise, Shelby. Thank you."

As they pulled into the diner parking lot, Shelby couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into. But she knew one thing for certain: she was in this now, whether she liked it or not.

The diner was bustling with the lunchtime crowd as Brantley and Shelby found a booth in the corner. Shelby sipped her coffee nervously, waiting for Brantley to explain why he had been so desperate to see her.

Brantley took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. "Shelby, I... I got involved with some people from out of town. They seemed like they just needed a place to crash, you know? So, I let them stay at my place for a few days."

Shelby frowned, sensing there was more to the story. "And?"

Brantley looked down at his hands, unable to meet her gaze. "And... they started using my place as a base of operations. I didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. They're... they're drug dealers, Shelby. They're using me to store their product."

Shelby's eyes widened in shock. "Oh, Brantley. Why didn't you tell me sooner? We could have gone to the police."

Brantley shook his head. "I can't, Shelby. They threatened me. They said if I went to the police, they'd kill me."

Shelby reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. "Brantley, we'll figure this out. We'll find a way to get you out of this mess."

Brantley squeezed her hand, grateful for her support. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Shelby. You're the only one who's ever believed in me."

Shelby smiled sadly. "I still believe in you, Brantley. We'll get through this together."

As they sat in the diner, hatching a plan to deal with the dangerous situation Brantley had gotten himself into, Shelby couldn't help but wonder if she was making a mistake. But deep down, she knew she couldn't turn her back on him, not when he needed her the most.

As they sat in the back seat of Brantley's truck, parked in a secluded spot off a dirt road, Brantley leaned in, his eyes filled with longing. He reached out to caress Shelby's cheek, but she gently moved away, avoiding his touch.

"Brantley, we shouldn't," Shelby said softly, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Brantley looked at her, disappointment flickering across his face. "I just want to be close to you, Shelby. I miss you."

Shelby sighed, torn between her lingering feelings for Brantley and her better judgment. She knew getting involved with him again would only lead to more heartache.

"I miss you too, Brantley. But things are different now. We can't go back to how things were."

Brantley nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I know. I just... I thought maybe..."

Shelby placed a hand on his arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I care about you, Brantley. But we need to focus on fixing the mess you're in. Once that's taken care of, we can figure out where we stand."

Brantley nodded again, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He started the truck, and they drove back to town in silence, both lost in their thoughts.

Wednesday rolled around, and Shelby was hard at work at the Gemstone Equine Rehab Center. She was in the middle of grooming one of the retired cutting horses when she heard a familiar voice calling her name.

"Shelby! Shelby, darlin', where are you?"

Shelby turned around to see her Aunt Tiff standing at the entrance, Baby Lionel perched on her hip. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of them.

"Aunt Tiff! What are y'all doing here?" Shelby asked, setting down the brush and walking over to greet them.

Aunt Tiff grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We just thought we'd come by and surprise you, sweetie. Is now a bad time?"

Shelby shook her head, her smile widening. "No, not at all! I'm just finishing up here. Let me just grab my things, and we can head out."

As Shelby gathered her belongings, she couldn't help but feel grateful for her Aunt Tiff and Baby Lionel's visit. They always knew how to brighten her day, and she was looking forward to spending some time with them.

[wickedbarnes]

Guns and Roses (Pt. 1) | John Wick x Reader

Part 2

PROMPT: With Helen's passing, the infamous assassin, John Wick is finding ways to recover and find meaning to his life once again. It wasn't until he comes across the new flower shop downtown that he realized he will do whatever it takes to grip onto the tiny leverage of salvation that's wearing sundresses with flowers in her hair.

THEME: Non-Con. DubCon. Obsession. Dark!John x Innocent/Naive!Reader. Abduction. Lots of smut. Don't read if any of these make you uncomfortable.

NOTE: This is the newly reconstructed plot for Beauty and The Beast that I had put on hold for many weeks. I hope this makes up for the inconvenience I've made for putting that story on hiatus. In this fic, Helen Wick was killed rather than dying of an illness that's why John is taking it way harder than in the movies.

John remembers it like yesterday. It haunts him in his dreams every night, making it harder to fall asleep everytime. The bags under his eyes were the constant reminder of his sleepless nights. He doesn't even remember the last time he even slept properly. He only slept peacefully when he was with Helen. But now that she was gone, sleep felt more like a chore that he couldn't really finish.

A sigh had left his lips as he put the empty mug in the sink, deciding to just wash it later on when he gets home. Home. Is this even home anymore? John looks around the house that he had built specifically for Helen and him and noticed how gloomy it was despite how classy and refreshing it looked. It was empty and quiet and... and it lacked the energetic aura that it once had.

John closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. He needed to stop moping around and finish his tasks for today. After Helen's death, John had found himself going right back into the world he had worked hard to get out of. What was the point anyway? It was all he had left. Might as well die working surrounded by his enemies rather than die alone.

But then again, he'd die lonely either way.

John solemnly got ready. It was Helen's death anniversary, he had to look his best. He got dressed in a fine tailored suit. A brown one, for a change. The same suit that Helen loved so much. John also made sure to pack an extra black suit on his way to the Continental. He didn't want to waste the day away by feeling down all the time. He knew Helen would be disappointed in him.

When his hair was gelled to perfection, John had packed his weapons and hoisted a pistol or two and some knives in their holders. After that, he was good to go.

John brushed his fingers against Helen's picture that was hanging on the wall before he got out of his house and locked the door behind him, walking over to his beloved Mustang that also had memories of Helen in it.

Flowers. He needed to get some flowers for her. He hoped there was a near flower shop so he wouldn't have to drive so far. The nearest one was an hour away from him and the cemetery where Helen rests. He wasn't in the mood for such a long drive.

But it seemed fate had taken pity on him. Because not long after, he had spotted a small flower shop that seemed as if it was fairly new. A fair amount of customers were inside and John decided to park his car on the side of the road before he turned the engine off and walked inside, the bell ringing as he opened the door.

The people inside looked up at him curiously, some seemed to know him and gave him a nod. Some of them were too scared to even acknowledge him.

John wondered where the staff were and his question was answered when a woman walked in carrying a bouquet of carnations with a soft smile plastered on her face before she handed it to an elderly woman.

"Thank you so much, my dear. You never fail to make the best bouquets." The woman's compliments emits a laughter from the girl that sounded so melodious in John's ear.

It reminded him of how Helen once laughed. But hers sounded more carefree and gentle.

"Anything for you, Mrs. Jameson. Do have a good day." The girl smiled and with that, the woman left and it was just her, John, and one of the assassins he had recognized from the Continental.

"And what can I get for the two gentlemen?" The girl asked and John heard the man beside him speak but he found himself tuning him out as he took the moment to stare at the girl who was wearing a yellow sundress. The assassin would watch her write down on her little notepad, taking notes of what the man beside him was asking her to do and what kind of flowers he wanted.

John watched her move around, noticing the little daisies that were tied around her hair. She pretty much looks like a fairy and the fact that she was much smaller and daintier than him didn't help either.

No, he shouldn't be oggling her like this, he's married!

A widowed man, you mean.

He had to bite back the groan at the thought. But instead, he gathered his composure and smiled down at the woman when she came back carrying the bouquet her other customer had requested.

"Here we are. Fresh tulips for you, sir." She happily handed the bouquet to the man who paid her generously and put some tip in her tip jar.

"Thank you, miss, they're beautiful and uh..." The man glanced at John and smirked slightly at him, "And do have a safe day. It gets dangerous these days."

The girl seemed to miss how the man looked at John with mischievousness in his eyes and John was kind of thankful for that because he didn't find it amusing at all.

"I'll keep that in mind, sir, have a nice day." The girl smiled and averted her gaze to the notepad she had as the man patted John's back before whispering quietly near his ear.

"Shouldn't stare too much, Mr. Wick." John looked at the man on his way out, ignoring the way how he taunted him by giving a two fingered salute.

"And for you, sir, what would you like to have today?" The girl's voice brought him out of his thoughts and looked down at her as she looked up at him patiently waiting for his answer.

"Oh, uh... daisies, please." He answered, ignoring how shocked he was with his answer. Daisies weren't Helen's favorite flower. But the girl seemed to beam at his reply and John smiled softly at that. Smile. It's been a while since he smiled.

"Nice choice, I like daisies." She said and wrote it down on her notepad, "Do you want the daisies to be mixed with something else?"

John thought for a moment and saw the tiny rose tattoo that she had on her wrist.

"Roses. Red, please."

The little fairy in front of him smiled and wrote it down on paper before she looked up at him, "These are good combinations, no one has made these one up yet, I haven't made them up yet to be honest."

"Well I guess I have a new profound talent now." John replied as a giggle escaped from the girl's lips.

"That, you do! The person you're gonna give this to is gonna be happy with them, I'm sure."

"I wish they were here to appreciate them."

"Oh, are they somewhere far away?"

He sighed, "Yeah, something like that. She uh, passed away."

Murdered, he wanted to say.

The girl's eyes widened and John could tell she immediately regret asking any questions but he didn't feel the need to take any offence.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know, I shouldn't have asked." She said apologetically but John found himself shaking his head and smiling softly, feeling patient with the lady in front of him.

"No, it's alright. It's been three years, I've moved on."

Have you? He questioned himself.

"Still. I shouldn't have been so nosey." She bit down on her bottom lip and gestured over to the chair behind John, "Please, sit! This'll take a while I hope you're not in any hurry."

"No, please, take your time." John would say as he took the opportunity to sit down.

John didn't want to oggle at the girl while she worked but he found it hard not to. She moved with such grace and poise it was as if he was watching a gracious ballerina dancing in front of a thousand audience. The sundress she wore flowed freely with her moves and the slight breeze that came in from the windows blew her hair softly until a tiny daisy fell from her soft mane and landed onto John's knee.

The assassin carefully took it and while the girl wasn't looking, he quietly placed it in the pocket of his coat, making sure he wouldn't lose it. And it surprised him why he was keeping it safe with him in the first place.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he heard her softly calling out to him. And John immediately stood up and walked over to the counter where she happily handed the bouquet in his hands and John took in how elegant yet adorable the arrangement looked.

"I made sure to pick out the prettiest red roses I had. I believe all of them had recently bloomed." The girl smiled and placed something on the counter and John looked down to see a tiny cactus situated on a small pot, "To make up for being so nosey earlier."

Innocence. John felt an overwhelming wave of innocence from her that it almost shook him to the core. Not even Helen was this soft.

Oh, God. Why was he comparing Helen to her?

"Oh, no, I can't take that. It's alright, I didn't take any offence." John would say and gently pushed back the cactus to her but she almost looked as if she was about to pout at him but instead, pursed her lips together.

"No, please, I insist. I feel guilty for even asking you such a personal question. Just look at it as my gift to you, you wouldn't decline on a gift now, would you?" John stared down at her for a moment and watched her take his calloused hand in her softer one and made him hold the small pot.

"It's rude to refuse gifts from people, sir." She smiled and pulled back and John suddenly remembered how Helen had told her the exact same thing back then.

"Oh, come on, John!" Helen whined and pushed the velvet box back to him, "It's your birthday, you deserve this!"

"But, honey, this must've cost a lot, you shouldn't be wasting money on me." John reasoned out and pushed the box gently back to her.

"Wasting? I'm not wasting anything, Jonathan, you're being ridiculous!" Helen sighed and grabbed his hand and made him hold the box, "John, please?"

"But, I-"

"No buts."

John sighed deeply and finally gave in when he saw the twinkle of hope in his wife's eyes when she finally realizes he's taking the gift she gave.

"It's rude to refuse a gift, John. Especially a gift from your wife." John playfully rolled his eyes and grinned at her.

"Alright, alright." He chuckled, "Thank you, sweetheart. The watch looks incredible, I love it."

"Oh, I know it is. But you're welcome, baby. You know I'd give you anything and everything."

"Thank you." John replied after he zoned out for what seemed like eternity. He hoped she didn't notice him doing so, "It's adorable, I love it."

"It is, yes. I wish I could tell you some tips on how to care for one but I wouldn't wanna keep you from your errands. Besides, a simple search on the internet would help you out anyways."

John looked down at his watch and noticed he had been here for about fourty-five minutes now.

"Yeah, I'm sure I'll be fine by here." He fished out his wallet and handed some cash to the fairy girl and dropped a fair amount of tip inside the tip jar.

"Thank you, sir. And have a nice day ahead!" She smiled and John could've sworn the twinke in her eyes made her smile even more breathtaking than it already was.

"I sure will. You too, doll." And with that, he walked out of the store and silently hoped she didn't latch onto how he had called her doll.

Hopping inside his car, John carefully placed the bouquet and his new cacti on the passenger seat and began to slowly drive to the local cemetery.

"God, why the fuck would you call her doll?" He asked himself, gripping the steering wheel a bit tighter, "And you didn't even ask for her name!"

John felt frustrated. But why? Why was he? Is it because he called her doll and possibly sounded like a creep? Or is it because he forgot to ask her name?

Why would he ask for her name anyway?

John shook his head and focused on the road ahead. No, this is Helen's day. He shouldn't he dwelling on a certain woman who reminds him so much of a dainty little fairy.

When he pulled up at the cemetery, John carefully parked his car and grabbed the bouquet before he got out and walked over to where Helen's grave was.

Upon seeing her name, John felt more at ease but the sadness in his heart never seemed to go away even until now.

"Hey, sweetheart." He greeted her and lightly brushed his fingers against the tombstone.

"I got you flowers." He crouched down and gently placed the flowers on the ground before he reached up and lightly traced her name that was engraved on the stone.

Helen Wick.

A sense of guilt coursed through his veins. This was the first time he brought a different set of flowers for her. These were red roses and daisies and he only got it because of the girl from the store. Because he reminded him of her not because it was Helen's favorite.

Helen's favorite were gardenias. Why the fuck would he even get these flowers in the first place?

John's frustration was slowly growing and he was almost close to throwing and ruining the whole bouquet itself but something stopped him from doing so.

"It never gets easy, Hel. It's so hard without you." He spoke softly.

And somehow, he began to hope. That maybe it doesn't have to be so difficult.

That maybe there was something more than just Helen.

And John couldn't help but think back to the girl from the flower shop that wore a yellow sundress with daisies in her hair and a rose tattoo on her wrist.

It wouldn't be too bad if he paid her a visit next time...

Right?

TAGS: @a-really-bi-girl @fanficsrusz @fairylightsandchai @pinkzsugar @edgiestwinter @paanchu786

[texasthegreatdestroyer]

One Heart, Two Souls: FFX Fan fic

Chapter 1: Part 1.

Cold… That was just one of the things I felt. It was certainly an improvement from five minutes ago.

Then, my lungs had filled with salt water. I remember vomiting it up with what I presumed to be blood, as it left an iron flavor in my mouth.

What a fabulous combination. Blood and seawater. At some point, I must have hit my stomach really hard, that would probably explain the mix of blood and bile.

But what did I have in me to care? My feelings had been washed with a majority of my blood in the sea. The same blood that poured out of my wounds.

The wounds that reminded me of my poor decisions, my failures, and of course, my death. Dying came to me fast, but ended so slowly. I can still feel the sick irony, as the god of the corrupt religion laughs in my face. Waiting, regenerating, plotting which of it's followers to kill next. I felt bitter, but that bitterness turned to sweet salvation and sugar coated numbness, well mentally that was.

The right side of me hurt like hell. Something around the wounds made me hurt. Seawater maybe? No, this felt grainy. My wounds stung and my body ached.

It seemed like every time I tried to move a muscle, it felt like the limb attached to it was being severed from the rest of my body.

I wasn't sure what was worse, my increasing body aches? My inability to open my eyes? Or the the slight but selfish contempt I had for two people I called my best friends?

My eyes, I need to open them. I can hate myself later. I did eventually tried to open my eyes, but when I did, my right one wouldn't open.

The blood on my eye started to clot and eventually scabbed up enough to keep me from forcing it open.

I did manage to get my left eye open though. What I saw was… sort of dark. My good eye and bad eye stung. Using what I knew so far, it was sand that was irritating my eye and wounds.

Somehow, I had face planted into sand. When I figured this out, I lifted my head up quickly. I had finally made it to shore.

I wasn't sure how I ended up here, or in the middle of the ocean for that matter.

I found myself on the beach of a coastal city. It was a big city, but it couldn't have been Bevelle.

I had been all over that city, and knew every landmark, but none of the knees around me looked familiar.

It didn't take me long to figure out where I was, as I noticed that it was busy with machina.

Could this be what I think this could be? Is this Jecht's Zanarkand?

This meant I was able to fulfill my promise to Jecht, but worth how I was feeling, I spat at the idea of fulfilling the promise, as I still felt contempt him and Braska leaving me behind.  Leaving me alone.

As I looked around, I noticed somehow staring at me. It was a child. He looked to be six or seven, but that was not the key thing that stood out about him. He looked like Jecht.

The only thing I could mutter out to him was, “Who… are you?”

The boy looked at me horrified before he ran screaming. “Maaaaa!”. Instinctively, I got up quickly and grabbed his wrist, but that just made him scream more.

“LET GO OF ME!”

“Wait! I think I know your father!”

At hearing this, the boy kept quiet.

“Is your name Tidus?”

The boy was about to answer, but someone came out of their home. An elder looking woman she was. She shouted at us from afar.

The whole beach was made up from boat houses, and she lived in one.

“What's going on over there!?”

We made the mistake of looking over there, it just her yell at us.

“Are you alright young boy?”

She stared at me, then decided it was fit to yell at me next. I didn't really appreciate the attention.

“You! You leave that poor little boy alone! I'll call the police!”

I had no idea what she was talking about. What was a police, or the police? I didn't stay to find out. With the little energy I had, I got up and ran.

To my surprise, the boy followed. We eventually made it somewhere where we'd be safe to talk in private.

“You're Jecht's son, are you not?”

The boy flinched at my question. I could tell that just his father's name made him sick.

“Everyone knows my stupid old man, what makes you special?”

“I knew him on a personal level. I spent three months traveling with him. We were friends. He asked me to find you and your mother.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“I'm only here to bear news off your father to you and your mother, and to help out with you as needed.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“Look, it's hard to explain. I just need you to trust me.”

There was silence among us. The boy did finally reply after a couple minutes. All though it was monotone, out was the answer I hoped for.

“Fine.”

I followed him as he guided me to his home. He lived in a fancy little boat house, perfect for a small family of three.

Despite it being a nice, sunny day, there seemed to be something dark and unbecoming of the bright, little house.

The sound of the child's voice snapped me out of my daze.

“I'm going to go get my mom, wait here.”

He opened the door, the inside looked unwelcoming. The boy continued into the dark pit of despair called a doorway. I had to advert my attention to something else to keep myself from running in after him, as I was terrified of what may have been lurking in abyss.

I caught the eyes of the neighbors next door. They were a young, attractive couple. Looks of terror formed on their faces, so like Tidus.

Was my condition really that revolting? As I continued to think about it, the smell of rotten flesh wafted from my body.

I looked down at my decomposing wounds to see that I was squirting blood everywhere as that people next door were watching and reacting. It had occurred to me that my condition was that bad.

My focus was interrupted with Tidus’s return. He walked over to me, but I kept my eyes glued to the dark corridor, waiting, expecting a beautiful woman to illuminate the dark vibes I was getting from interior. Besides, Jecht was supposedly the best blitzer in Zanarkand, and maybe even the world, he would have to have a wife prettier than any of the gorgeous women who flocked to him at the end of the game, or anywhere he was seen.

Finally, a wisp appeared in the doorway. What I saw left me in shock and aww. It was a woman, she would have been beautiful if it wasn't for a couple issues.

Unlike a normal person who emerges in order of a silhouette to a full human body. She starred as a wisp and came out a silhouette.

She was freakishly skinny, her skin stretched across her body like tight clothing. From a literal standpoint, she looked like flesh and bones.

You could see every curve of her skeletal system. The woman was as pale as a ghost. She looked very sickly, almost as if you even slightly touched her, she would shatter.

However, what stood out about her the most was her eyes. They were a shiny, bright, blue, yet appeared to be incredibly dull.

She had darkly outlined bags under her eyes as if she never slept. She looked like the creation made by a depressed artist who felt like spilling their feelings onto the paper.

Her eyes were glazed over like freshly cut glass. She looked like someone who would smile a lot, but not as of now. The one thing the glimmer in her eyes and her smile had in common other than being beautiful. Gone.

Disappeared with Jecht himself, kept in the pocket of his chaos torn pants, as he walked to his demise in the hands of the culprit himself, as he would turn a small family of three into a smaller family of two, leaving it in shambles.

It was very clear she herself was lying on a deathbed, created by her husband's absence and her inability to go on. Her death would be by her own weak, trembling hands. The woman in her frail state spoke.

“I'm sorry, I can't help you. We don't have any medical supplies to take care of you with.”

“That's not why I'm here ma’am.”

“Oh? My son said differently.”

We both stared at the boy. He replied to his unwanted attention.

“Hey, someone had to say it. You look like a walking corpse.”

His mother of course didn't approve of his comment.

“Tidus! That's impolite, apologize.”

He hung his head low in reaction to the unwanted reaction before he spoke again.

“... Sorry.”

“It's not a problem.”

His mother's focus shifted back towards me now.

“Why are you here then?”

My heart dropped. I wasn't  ready to make things worse, but I made a promise.

“I've come bearing unfortunate news… I'm here to inform you that your husband's death has been confirmed… I'm sorry for your

loss.”

She fell to the ground shrieking.

“I knew he was gone, but no one ever found his body! Knowing this, I believed he wasn't dead, that he'd come back to us, my sweet, sweet Jecht! That's been my only hope for months!”

I wanted to comfort her, but I wasn't sure what I could do for her. She had just lost her husband. Although I was also grieving his death, I didn't have it in me to cry.

Looking down at Jecht's wife, I could tell deep down, her heart bleed sorrow, rage, and love. Love that was clearly not reserved for her son.

He tried to go comfort his mother, but when bee did, she just about snapped his head off clean.

“Mommy, it'll be alright-”

“DON'T TOUCH ME!”

She harshly ripped her hands from her son's gentle grasp. I was stunned to see how she treated him. Tidus began to cry, but it only managed to make matters worse for him. She replied with venomous words.

“Grow up and stop crying! You're being pathetic! You HATE him! You said son yourself, so why are you crying!?”

She clearly had a short fuse. The boy cowered. He wiped his tears at his mother's command. He stayed long enough to glare at me, then stomped into the house and slammed the door behind him.

I wanted to tell her the way she was treating her son was wrong, but I couldn't risk her taking offence to what I would say and not let me see him again, so I kept quiet.

Yet again, I kept my eyes attached to the door, while recognizing the so called fruits of my labor.

They were rotten and stunk of failure. A sad and emotionally abused son and a distant mother, that's what was gained.

His mother whispered random words, they sounded of suicide. I looked to find het skin even more tightly stretched across her skull as her eyes got big.

Suddenly the air begun to fill with a bad smell, something other than rotten flesh. It was urine.

I looked below the woman to find a dark yellow puddle under her feet, and a wet spot on her jeans. You could tell she didn't drink much by the discoloration of her… nevermind, too much detail.

I was shocked at the site, and also disgusted. I've had to bear news of fallen comrades to their families numerous times in the past, but I've never gotten this kind of reaction before.

I didn't think grief pissing one's self was anything more than a tale the higher ups told the cadets to disturb them in the warrior monks, but she did so.

I find it funny that this had to happen with the wife of my goner of a best friend. I guess life decided since it was a special occasion, that the reaction had to be equally special. Simply put, a godly, almighty, “Fuck you” from the world to me.

I'm horrible with emotions, I always have been. I watched as wet comps of years ran down her face powerless.

Not too long afterwards, she had passed out. I hadn't noticed, but when I looked away earlier, Tidus had pulled up a stool and watched us from the window of the door.

It took him awhile to move the stool and come outside, but he finally did. He came at me, pushing, hitting, and screaming.

“GET AWAY FROM MOMMY!”

Hee growled at me as I restrained him. I got him inside and locked him in his room long enough to get his mother inside.

I couldn't just leave her to lay in a puddle of her own filth, so I picked her up and took her to the bathroom.

I let Tidus out, asked him if he could help me get his mother cleaned up. After enough fussing, he agreed to help.

There were many weird contraption in the bathroom, but I got her unclothed, and put her in the one that looked closer to a bath.

I wasn't surprised to see that she loomed entirely like a skeleton. However, I couldn't help but stare at her bony structure.

Of course, when Tidus came in, he took my intentions to be impure.

“Stop staring at mommies chest, you creep.”

“That wasn't what I was looking at, I swear!”

“Uh Huh… sure.”

“I promise! She's just… really skinny.”

“Mommy doesn't eat like she used to. She doesn't really eat at all. The doctor told her she needed to start eating more, or she would get sicker, but she never listened. I try to get her to eat, but she won't eat for me!”

He sounds like a mother himself, complaining about trying to get the children to eat right. He stared at me quietly as if he was waiting for something. I wasn't sure what he wanted from me.

“Aren't you going to turn the water on?” He said snarkily.

I wasn't sure how this thing worked, I turned the left knob hesitantly. His mother began to shiver uncontrollably. The boy put his hand in the water.

“It's cold genius! No wonder she's freezing!”

I turn the left knob back to its starting point, turning the water off, then I turn the right knob. I saw steam coming up, so I automatically thought a win for me, but then she flinched in discomfort.

He sticks his hand in a second time, but pulls back immediately.

“Ow!”

He looked up at me and scowled.

“Are you trying to cook her?! You're hurting Mommy!”

“I'm really sorry!”

“No! Just get out!”

I fulfill his wishes and go out to look around for a fresh towel and a set of clothing. It doesn't take Tidus long to call me back in there. He has me watch over her long enough to go grab some things. Tidus comes back with some rubbing alcohol, duct tape and some napkins.

“Stay still!”

“Why?”

“Well, I have to patch you up! I can't just have you bleeding everywhere! You're cleaning the blood up by the way, especially on the carpet, if you don't, mom will be maaaad!”

“That's noted, but are you sure using duct tape and napkins is a good idea?”

“Are you being ungrateful?”

I kept quiet. Duct tape and napkins were at least something. That and probably a better alternative than the local hospitals. Them trying to get my medical records would have been one giant headache all together.

I watch him and cringe at the sting of him stumping a lot of rubbing alcohol on my wounds. I had to bite my lip to keep myself from cursing up a storm. Seriously? Did this kid have no restraint? No idea how painful rubbing alcohol is?

He eventually moved on to putting the fanfic napkins on me and tapping the wounds up.

“You're very lucky mom was talking about throwing these out, or else I would have used paper napkins... But still, keep those hidden just in case.”

“Duly noted.”

He finally did finish, and to my surprise, his method wasn't all that shabby. The bleeding stopped, and the wounds were cleaned. My only issue is that he taped my bread entirely to keep the napkin concealed, this is going to hurt to pull off later.

I continued looking around for what I needed. I didn't take me long, I found her clothes in her dresser, I avoided the panty and bra drawer entirely, I already had taken her out of her clothes and had to put her back in them, I wasn't about to be the guy to look through her potentially sexually arousing undergarments.

I was making my way down the hall to the bathroom when Tidus comes running my direction. I knew something had to be wrong.

“Quick! Help me! Mommies head went under the water and I can't get het up!”

I run into the bathroom quickly and pull her up from the water. If I'd waited any longer, she would have drown. I sit her up long enough to put the towel and clothes down, then hold onto her and kept her head above the water long enough for Tidus to finish cleaning her up.

Afterwards, Tidus grabbed her forty clothes and stuck them in one of the two matching machina. I would later find out that they were a clothe washer and dryer.

I drained the automatic bath and took my time drying her off properly, then put her clothes back on her and carried her to her bed, then I tucked her in.

By the end of this, I stunk of not only rancid flesh and body odor, but a touch of urine. I considered using the bath, but it wasn't my place to do so without permission, so I just left it alone.

Tidus and I sat on the deck quietly. It was an hour before he went in to check on his mother. I could tell he was worried.

When he came back out, we spoke briefly, but the awkwardness turned to silence after the following conversation.

“Is your mother alright?”

“Why do you care?”

His words were cold and untrustworthy. What I said next probably didn't help matters any.

“I wouldn't know what to do if she dies.”

“Don't say she's going to die!”

After a while, we went back inside. There, he spoke to me for a second time. I wasn't off the hook just yet. I was to be thoroughly investigated by a seven-year old. First a doctor, next a detective. This kid has quite the future ahead of him.

“Why were you sent here by my father?”

“I was sent here to bear news off your father's passing, also to help out with you if necessary, in other words, your father's will.”

“... How did he die?”

“He died a hero's death-”

“Don't call my father a hero! He's not!”

There was a pause of silence between us. A few seconds later, I heard shuffling coming down the hallway. I watched as the thin lining of his mother appeared from within the shadows. Instantly, I got up, my first instinct being to guide her back to her room.

When we got back to her room, she said she wanted to talk to me in private, so I shut the door. That was a big mistake.

- To be continued.