#˗ˏˋ ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳˢ· ic ﹕ the lovelorn witch.

[wovetalesarc]

when   it   came   to   doing   anything   adventurous   or   different   ,   gillian   was   always   the   one   ready   to   take   the first  leap.   the   youngest   owens   sister   had   been   trying   to   escape   the   dreariness   of   her   old   ,   massachusetts   town for as long as she can remember   ,   doing   anything   that   could   remotely   entertain   her   or   distract   her   from   her   less   than   adventurous   life.   the   moment   she   turned   eighteen   ,   she   ran   off   with   a   man   she   barely   knew   ,   but   once   that   romance   ended   ,   she   continued   to   travel   from   state   to   state   ,   having   no   interest   in   returning   to   the   home   where   her   aunts   &   her   sister   still   remained.   oh   ,   how   she   wished   sally   would   have   joined   her   ━━   no   doubt   the   two   of   them   would   have   had   a   blast   trying   new   things   &   enjoying   places   that   has   never   once   heard   of   the   owens'   family   name.   unfortunately   ,   sally   was   the   more   practical   of   the   two   sisters   ,   &   she   would   rather   remain   at   home   &   continue   to   try   &   have   a   normal   life   despite   their   upbringing   ,   a   fact   that   gillian   will   never   understand about her sister.   still   ,   they   write   often   &   when   she   told   sally   that   she   would   be   starring   in   a   play   for   the   very   first   time   ,   she   didn't   even believe   her.   her   disbelief   only   made   gillian   smile   all   the   more   ,   determined   to   show   her   sister   just   how   far   she   was   willing   to   try   new   things.

admittedly   ,   gillian   was   terrified   of   being   on   stage.   getting   the   role   in   this   play   happened   almost   completely   out   of   the   blue.   as   she   just   arrived   to   the   city   of   new   york   ,   her   curiosity   brought   her   to   a   walk   -   in   audition   ,   where   she   decided   to   peak   into on a whim.   when   the   director   saw   her   big   ,   fluffy   red   hair poking from behind the door   ,   he   immediately   gave   her   the   role   without   a   second   thought.   gillian   was   shocked   at   his   insistence   ,   though   she   should   have   known   this   would   happen.   men   were   dazzled   by   her   looks   wherever   she   went   &   it   was   only   a   matter   of   time   before   that   bit   of   magic   followed   her   here too.   she   was   nervous   &   worried   she   wouldn't   do   a   good   of   a   job   ,   the   last   time   she   ever   was   on   stage   was   for   a   class   performance   of   the   national   anthem   in   the   eight   grade.   luckily   ,   she's   managed   to   make   friends   with   some   of   her   co   -   stars   who   didn't   seem   to   be   too   bothered   by   her   lack   of   acting   skill , mainly @tragicale , who treated her as another person & not as someone he simply wanted to lure in his bed.   sitting   on   the   edge   of   the   stage   after   practice   ,   gillian   vented   to   james   about   her   worries   ,   which   he   eagerly   attempts   to   soothe.   ❝   of   course   they   will   remember   you   ,   ❞   he   says   with   a   smile   ,   &   gillian   merely   smiles   brightly   ,   knowing   he   meant   it   &   wasn't   just   trying   to   cheer her up.   ❝   really   ?   you   mean   in   a   good   way   ,   right   ?   not   in   the   :   ❛   i'm   going   to   be   terrible   ❜   kind   of   way   ?   ❞   she   laughs   ,   brushing   back   her   hair   as   she   looks   out   to   the   empty   seats.   they   would   be   filled   in   a   few   weeks   time   ;   every   pair   of   eyes   set   on   her   the   moment   she   crosses   the   stage.   she   shivers.   ❝   i   just   don't   want   people   to   think   i'm   treating   this   as   a   game.   i   want   to   honestly   do   my   best   &   put   on   a   good   show.   my   sister   doesn't   even   really   believe   i'm   actually   doing   this.   ❞   she   sighs.   ❝   i   can't   blame   her   though.   i   am   a   bit   spontaneous   when   it   comes   to   my   decision   making.   ❞

[wovetalesarc]

there   are eyes   everywhere   as   gillian   leaves   her   trailer   to   head   for   the   stage   ,   a   mix   of   judgment   &   desire   following   her   as   she   does   her   best   to   ignore   it   all.   oh   ,   she   knows   what   they   all   want   to   say to her   ━━   she's   heard   it   all   before.   it   was   worse   when   she   was   younger   &   there   was   no   one   around to   stop   them   ,   but   now   ?   now   she   was   making   appearances   on   television   ,   her   abilities   unmatched   as   the   newly   beloved   love   witch   ━━   the   mistress   of   love   &   good   fortune   ,   guaranteed   to   find   you   a   love   match   with   only   a   few   simple   readings & spells.   these   people   want   to   call   her   what   they think she   is ﹙ a bitch , a phony , a fraud ﹚   ,   but   perhaps   there   is   fear   that   she   might   be   just   what   they   assume   her   not be.   a   witch   ,   a   demon   .   .   .   someone   who   could   hex   them   with   merely   one   simple   look.   they're   not   wrong   to   fear   her   ,   as   she   could   mess   around   with   them   if   she   so   desired   ﹙   they're   lucky   sal   isn't   here   ,   as   she's   the   most   powerful   owens'   woman   to   date   ﹚   ,   but   gillian   has   no   interest   in   causing   trouble   right   now.   she   was   hired   to   do   this   show   &   she   intends   to   finish   her   part   so   she   can   finally   head   on   the road to   her   next   assignment.   all   of   this   is   just   work   to   her   ━━   a   distraction   from   the   fact   that   she   can   find   love   for   anyone   who   approaches   her   ,   except   for   herself.

as   she   approaches   the   stage   ,   gillian   whips   out   a   cigarette   from   her   pocket   &   begins   to   smoke   as   crew   members   move   around   her.   it's   probably   not   safe   to   be   doing   this   in   such   a   closed   space   ,   but   she   needs   something   to   take   the   edge   off   before   they   begin   rolling.   out   of   the   corner   of   her   eye   ,   she   spots   @niteowling   pacing   about   his   late   night   set   &   she's   quick   to   walk   towards   him   &   offer   him   a   hand   in   greeting   &   bright   smile   ━━   a   peace   offering   of   sorts   for   what's   to   come.   in   addition   to   talking   about   her   work   ,   the   producers   did   mention   wanting   gillian   to   show   off   her   abilities   &   they   wanted   her   to   use   jack   as   a   subject.   it's   no   secret   that   jack   recently   lost   his   wife   only   about   a   year   ago   &   gillian   can   only   imagine   the   stress   he   must   be   feeling   having   to   endure   this   kind   of   pressure.   ❝   i'm   bitter   ,   but   i   swear   i'm   fine   ,   ❞   the   talk   host   assures   ,   which   gillian   can't   help   but   answer   with   a   gentle   laugh.   ❝   it's   okay   to   be   not   be   okay   ,   you   know.   ❞   gillian   smiles   ,   sympathetic   to   his   stress.   she   let's   a   hand   rest   on   his   shoulder   ,   patting   it   gently   before   withdrawing   completely.   ❝   the   producers   are   idiots   if   they   think   me   reading   your   love   fortune   is   a   good   idea.   it's   insensitive   ,   really.   we   could   easily   get   an   audience   member   to   volunteer   &   i   showcase   my   work   that   way.   you   get   your   views   ,   i   prove   myself   &   you   can   rest   easy.   ❞   gillian   turns   her   head   up   &   blows   a   big   puff   of   smoke   ,   the   taste   of   the   nicotine   already   helping   to   calm   her   own   nerves.   ❝   i'm   sorry   for   your   loss   by   the   way   ,   ❞   she   offers   gently   ,   her   eyes   only   widening   a   touch   when   she   only   just   realized   how   insensitive   she   must   seem   ,   smoking   in   front   of   him   when his wife died of   .   .   .   ❝   oh   shit.   ❞   immediately   ,   she   places   her   cigarette   on   the   ground   &   stops   it   out   with   her   faux   leather   boot   ,   dread   flooding   her   pale   features   as   she   turns   back   to   look   at   jack   ,   full   of   sympathy   &   embarrassment.   ❝   sorry   about   that. i wasn't thinking.   ❞

[wovetalesarc]

˗ˏˋ      ᵖʳᵒˡᵒᵍᵘᵉ·            out   of   character            ﹕      part   four.

[wovetalesarc]

gillian   feels   so   oddly   at   ease   around   james   whenever   they   are   alone   together   that   she   often   has   to   pinch   herself   so   she   knows he   isn't   some   figment   of   her   imagination.   she's   been   with   several   men   of   all   types   throughout   her   young life   ,   &   whether   they   began   as   fling ,   a   romantic   interest   or   just   a   friend   ,   all   of   their   goals   were   the   same   ,   treating   her   as   a   prize   to   be   one   rather   than   a   human   being   with   feelings.   james   didn't   treat   her   like   that.   in   fact   ,   he   was   the   first   of   the   cast   to   be   so   welcoming   to her besides   the   casting   director.   true   ,   they   were   to   be   co   -   stars   , so   it   was   important   that   they   got   along   for   the   sake   of   giving   believable   chemistry   ,   but   james   was   so genuine   right   from   the   start   & gillian   has   just   never   had   someone   be   so   sweet   without   wanting   something   from   her   in return.   she   almost   couldn't   believe   james   was   real.   because of   his kindness , it admittedly made   her   become   quite   reliant   &   attached   to   him   as   rehearsals   progressed , always finding an excuse to sit with him during any break they have in between reading lines.   maybe   that   isn't   too   smart   of   her   to   do   ,   as   she   knows   she   can't   let   herself   cling   to   this   man   when   he   has   his   own   things   to   worry   about   ,   but   it's   hard   not   to   when   he's   probably   her   first   real   friend   besides   her   sister in . . . well , ever.   gillian   ,   a   woman   known   for   her   beauty   &   ability   to   become   the   focus   of   any   room   she   enters   ,   barely   has   any   friends   ━━   what   a   sad   reality.

the   oversized   sweater   that   loosely   hangs   off   her   shoulders   is   bunched   up   as   she   hugs   her   own   form   ,   offering   her   fellow   co   -   star   a   soft   smile   in   appreciation   ,   glad   to   have   him   here   in   her   corner.   that's   the   other   thing   she   liked   about   james   ━━   she   didn't   ask   him   to   stay   behind   ,   but   he   did   so   because   he   was   worried   about   her.   not   many   people   have   done   that   for   her   in   her   life   that   wasn't   related   to   her.   ❝   look   at   you   ,   buttering   me   up   &   making   me   feel   so   special. i bet you say sweet stuff like this to all the girls   ,   ❞   gillian   teases   ,   fiery   hair   a   mess   as   she   turns   to   face   him   ,   but   for   once   she   isn't   worried   about   how   she   looks.   james   doesn't   care   about   that   ,   he   cares   for   her. he sees past her beauty.   ❝   on a serious note , thank   you.   you   saying   all   that   & offering to help really   means   a   lot to me.   you're   so   incredibly   talented   ,   james   &   the   fact   that   you're   my   leading   man   ?   i'm   really   damn   lucky.   if   it   were   anyone   else   ,   i   think   i   would   be   a   lot   less   excited   about   all   this.   ❞   her   hand   reaches   over   to   pat   his   in   a   show   of   gentle   affection   ,   teeth   now   exposed   into   a   grin.   ❝   now , on the subject of helping me film a rehearsal , you   sure   you   wanna   offer   your   help   to me like that   ?   i'm   already   cozying   up   to   you   ━━   do   this   ,   &   you'll   have   a   hard   time   getting   rid   of   me   !   ❞   ironic   ,   considering   gillian   has   plans   to   leave   as   soon   as   the   show   has   finished   it's   run.   she's   never   been   one   to   stick   around   in   one   place   for   too   long.   no   one's   really   made   her   feel   wanted.   that   is   ,   until   now   .   .   .

“ yes, in a good way, ” james replied with a knowing yet sad smile, voice careful. the first time he saw gillian, he had gotten one look at her red hair and long legs and equated her with his old classmate meredith. meredith, who he somehow loathed more now than he had seven years ago, when the wounds were fresh. meredith, who had tried to send him away for a crime that she was also guilty of. but one real conversation in and he quickly realized that the women only shared base similarities. the following weeks had been loaded with appointments and rehearsals, james seeking out his co-lead both on and off-stage. offering tips, reflection, and praise, entirely uncalculated. building chemistry they'd need for their roles with no strings attached, no intention of getting her in bed. he had seen how some of the others scoffed and smirked as if they didn't think she deserved to be there. how wrong they were.

with one leg folded beneath him and the other hanging off the sleek stage, james watched his passionate companion, his grin slowly fading. head shaking from side to side, protective. “ no, a game would be auditioning for a laugh. not learning the lines, assuming a character, and putting your heart on the stage. it takes effort and vulnerability to do what you're doing, gillian. so, if anyone's foolish enough to believe that you aren't being serious, that's their problem. not yours. ” harsh but sincere words, though he hoped she didn't think he was insulting her sister. in the brief silence that followed, the actor chewed on his bottom lip, thinking, deeply irritated on gillian's behalf. then an idea hit him. “ how about we send your sister a rehearsal video? let her see how dedicated you are. ”