#a bit of cleo and Pearl mention I’m so sorry I don’t have them fleshed out with watchers mainly other p

[phoenix10km]

THERES SO MANY DYNAMICS.

Grian, a former watcher either trying to thwart their plans or helping them for some reason. Nobody knows he’s a watcher but it’s clear his power is growing the longer he’s in the games. Third through Limited he was on the same playing field as the rest, but when the portal opened in secret life? Something changed. Now he know what the watchers have planned, he’s able to help his Allies with the information.

Scott, the first to know about the watchers. And is clearly against them. Giving the watchers what they want is not an option to him; but can’t seem to consistently stop them from what they want. After his first boogey curse, she felt the dread and the fear that came with the thought of not securing that kill; not fulfilling the watchers hunger for negative emotions. That’s when he started hating whatever put them there a second time. Despite a faceless enemy he decided to purposely fail his second boogey curse defying the watchers; and when he wins because of that decision he finally gets to see his enemy. Throughout the series he tries to defy them, refusing to take Pearl on as his soulmate, trying to make an Honorable match of the final fight in limited. Refusing to die on anyone else’s terms in secret life.

Maryten, the only one that has some awareness of gods, and the only one brought to the brink of insanity in limited life. He knows their out there, all winners do. But they contacted him before he won; heard them before he won. They favor him, either as a play thing or they want to give him an important roll.

Scar is being pitted as a tragedy, or a villain. Never a hero. The watchers clearly like to push him to his limits. He was so.. happy in third life, fierce loyalty in grian, and they trusted each other so deeply. He didn’t know grian would change after he beat scar limp in the cactus ring. It first started with Grian tricking him and stealing one of his lives in last life. Then cheating on him in double life with big b and getting him killed. Then grian out right stabbing him in the back in limited life. The watchers were pushing scar to snap through grian; and finally in Secret life they gave him a chance to let all the hurt out, to be the villian. He took it. and in a twist, a universe where scar was never meant to win (I have my reasons to thing) grian of all people helped via a completely unrelated suicide mission to kill gem and the Scott’s, significantly weakening them. Now I’m wild life we are seeing them work through the issues, through the hurt and betrayal now that scar can see the influence of the watchers.

Jimmy, If Maryten is the watchers favorite play thing; Jimmy is their favorite toy to break. Time, and time, and time again Jimmy fell victim to a curse the watchers put on him. For him to always be the first to fall. He was supposed to always be their canary. A warning the end is near. A sign of the unavoidable disasters ahead. Feeling so hopeless until the watchers got to focused on scars villian arc; and like sand Jimmy barley slipped trough the watchers fingers. It gave him hope as Lizzie had fallen into the void, he realized there was a way out despite his demise not long after hers. Now, he’s carried that hope to wild life, praying that maybe he would not be the first; and while to watchers were upset about their slip of control in secret life, their gods, and oh boy did it boost their egos to have someone pray for their mercy, pray that they would spare his life just a bit longer. And they did, Jimmy is the first they’ve listened to; and maybe even had mercy on.

These are just my headcannons on certain relationships these characters have with the watchers. I know I didn’t mention two of the winners, mainly because I don’t see Pearl having a relationship with the watchers really, if anything maybe she sees them as cruel? I’d have to flesh it out more. As for cleo while I consider real life cannon story wise and count her as a winner, it’s tough to slot real life in. I think it’s a punishment for the players defying what the watchers wanted to happen in Secret life? But again it needs to be fleshed out more.

[ficdirectory]

Somewhere Inside (Disuphere series #4) Chapter 19

(To listen, click here) - 14:08

Pearl’s walking back to her cabin, when she notices her mom’s car pulling in the drive.  

Really?

“Cleo, come on.  This is serious business.  Your first experience with Mom, in the flesh.  Brace yourself,” Pearl warns, breathing deeply.

“Mom,” she acknowledges coolly.  “What are you doing here?”

“You called me, Pearl.  Don’t act like this is such a surprise.”  (Mom’s clearly out of patience, too.  This will be fun…)

“Yeah, I did.  I didn’t invite you here.  I called you months ago.  You never got back to me.”

“I was working.  Maybe you’d know something about that if you did it, too.”

“Did you have a reason for coming out here?”

“Do I need a reason to see my daughter?  You’re asking questions about Paris.  Your living with his son.  How do you think that makes me feel?”

“How do you think it makes me feel that for years, my father was alive?  For most of my life, I could have known him.  He used to stop by the house and try to see me.  Because you invited him.  Because you told him I’d be there.”

“I don’t remember that,” Mom insists.  “He was trying to make up for not being there when you were growing up.  I was trying to protect you.”

“Sounds a lot like you remember…” Pearl ventures.  “I don’t need your approval to get to know my own family.”

“That Levi?  He is not your family.  I’m your family!” Mom’s getting angry now, or finally letting it show.

“Family doesn’t treat each other like this.  Family doesn’t lie and isolate someone.”

“This is unbelievable…” Mom scoffs. “I didn’t raise you to be this way…”

“No, you raised me to disappear!  To blame myself!  To have no friends!  To be a doormat!  Don’t come back out here, Mom.  You’re not welcome.”

Pearl turns and walks back to Frank’s cabin.  The last thing she wants is to be alone at home right now, where Mom could knock and harass relentlessly.

“That’s not where you live!” Mom shouts.  “Who’s over there?  I’ll call Stefanie and find out.”

“You do that…”

“I should’ve moved up here years ago to keep an eye on you!”

“I’m an adult,” Pearl calls.

“Age is just a number.  I am your mother.  I expect you to respect me!”

Pearl turns on her.  “You earn respect, Mom.  You make yourself worthy of it.  It’s not handed to you.”

She walks into Frank’s cabin and has to stop herself from slamming the door.

“That screaming lady is your mom?” Francesca asks, her eyes big.

“Yeah.  I’m sorry you heard all that.”

“Is your mom friends with my mom?” Francesca asks, warily.

“Why?”

“‘Cause they kinda act the same…” Francesca ventures, wrinkling her nose.  “Hey, can I see Levi?  I wanna ask him something.”

Pearl takes a deep breath.  Lets it out.  “What did you want to ask him?” she wonders.  Pearl figures talking to Francesca is a good option right now.  She’s probably too wound up to be around Levi without it rubbing off on him.

“If he wants to watch Moana together…  He said that was him and his dad’s favorite thing to do together.  I thought it might make him feel better from whatever’s wrong.”

“I didn’t know that,” Pearl ventures.

“You said you guys have the same dad.  How come you didn’t know his favorite movie?”

“I didn’t get the chance to know him like Levi did.  My mom kept him a secret from me.”

“Levi?” Francesca asks, confused.

“No.  Well, yes, technically.  But I meant, my dad.  When I was little, she told me a lie about him.”

“You wanna know a secret?” Francesca whispers.  “I don’t know my dad either.  Moms say the other kids, you know, Jesus and Mariana and Callie and Jude?  That they can always talk about their bio parents.  Brandon can talk about his dad.  But if I ever bring up mine?  Crickets chirping.  Nobody talks.  I don’t even know his name or anything.”

“So...you’re their biological daughter?”

“Mama had me.  You know Lena?” she asks, curious.

“We met a couple times, yeah.”

“So...I’m hers for real...but I don’t know my dad.  I don’t know why they won’t tell me anything about him.  Do you think he doesn’t want me?  Or is it like your mom?  Are they tricking me?”

“I’m not sure.  But do your brothers and sisters know anything?  They’re older?  You might ask them.”

“Jesus doesn’t.  He didn’t get to be there when I was born.  So he doesn’t know.  I maybe could ask Mari.  She knows a lot.  And she tells the truth.”

“Good idea.  Hey, can I watch Moana with you?” Pearl asks.  “I’ve never seen it.  I’d like to.”

“Seriously?  It’s the best.  I’ll get my IPad.”  She glances up, sees Levi looking down from the loft.  “Hey Levi.  If you want, me and Pearl are gonna watch Moana.  You can watch with us…”

“Thanks, but I gotta call somebody.  Maybe in a little bit.”

“Should we wait?”

“No.”

“Will it make you sadder to hear?  We can go in another room,” Francesca offers and Pearl’s touched at her sensitivity.

“No, it makes me happy to hear.  You can watch it wherever,” Levi tells her.

His gaze travels to Pearl.  He raises his eyebrows.

“She knows she’s not invited back.” Pearl tells him.

“Did she leave?”

Pearl checks out the window.  There’s a knock on the front door.  “If that’s my mom again…” Pearl mutters under her breath.

“It’s Jesus, probably.  He took Dudley out,” Francesca insists.

“Oh, and I locked the door behind me.  Brilliant,” Pearl slaps her forehead.  She checks out the window and opens the door for Jesus.

--

The minute Levi hears the knock, he bolts from the loft into the bathroom behind him.  He knows Mariana can see him.  He didn’t have time to close the door.  Dominique had gone out with Jesus to walk Dudley.  But before they left, Dom had given Mariana a hand up the stairs so Levi wouldn’t be alone up here.

Levi’s braced over the sink, sick as a dog.  His nerves were fried before hearing the second knock.  And that?  Just sent him over the edge.

Even though it’s nasty and Levi feels nauseated, he cleans up after himself impeccably, using the cleaning supplies he can find under the sink to be sure none of them get his germs.  He’s glad no one seems to be living up here for the time being.

He walks out, unsteady.  Mariana offers a hand.  Levi takes it without thinking.

“You’re sick.  Now you can call in,” she tells him matter of factly.

He raises his eyebrows, but figures she’s right.  She sits on the footstool and him in the chair while he calls into work.

“Hey, this is Levi West.  Can I please speak to…”

Mariana sits by, listening.  He realizes mid phone call that he’s still holding her hand.  He’s struck by how she just stays.  Not grossed out by him at all.  Not afraid to touch him.  Not acting like she’s gonna hurt him.

Like he hopes, the mention of vomit has the boss telling him they’ll figure something out for his shift.  Telling him not to come in.

He hangs up and breathes.  He feels gross.  

“You can lie down if you want.  There’s a bedroom,” she gestures.  “No one sleeps up here.  No one will bug you.”

“Thanks.  Let me give you a hand down the stairs first.”

“Oh.  Thanks…” Mariana says, seeming surprised.  

They don’t talk as she descends.  But once they’re safely at the bottom, she turns to him.  “If you need us, just yell.  Or come out by the railing.  Or Jesus or someone can check if you need anything.  So you won’t be alone.”  She opens her arms.

Levi’s so touched, he blinks back tears.  “I’m all disgusting, though.”

“Please.  That was trauma-puke.  You’re not gross.  Come here.  You know, if you want.”

Levi bends down to hug her.  Despite her small size, and general unsteadiness, her hugs are solid.  Warm.  Strong.  They feel 100% safe.  Like Jesus’s.  But this is even more remarkable because Mariana’s female.  And Levi generally has a harder time with female affection.

He feels himself breaking a little bit, but she holds on until he backs off.  Waves over his shoulder.  Retreats upstairs, and falls into a bed with an old fashioned headboard and a quilt printed with moose.  He falls asleep in minutes, tears still on his face.

--

Dominique and Jesus stop in for lunch and sweatshirts and to check in on Levi.  Mariana says he’s sleeping and that he called into work.  Pearl and Francesca are watching Moana still, because Francesca keeps pausing it to explain things to Pearl or to tell her something random.  Pearl doesn’t seem to mind.  Mariana joins them.

Jesus is checking in with Francesca to be sure she’s feeling included.  She is.

Dominique runs upstairs to listen at the one closed door.  The light’s off and she doesn’t hear anything.  Safe to assume Levi’s all right for the time being.

She and Jesus go back outside with Dudley.  They sit at the picnic table.

“So, are you okay?” Jesus asks her.

“You know I never know how to answer that question.  Are you?”

“Not really…” he admits.

“Not really either,” she echoes.

“It’s hard.  Like...when someone’s dealing with a lot?” he starts.  “Like, trauma stuff?  I find myself reacting the same.”

Dominique cocks her head.

“I do things the same,” he tries again.

“Like, what things?” she asks.

“Like, I always cover the person.  And bring food,” he shares, almost reverent.

“You see to their basic needs…” Dominique fills in.  “That’s good.  That’s necessary.”

“But it reminds me...of Isaac…”

Dominique flips through her mental files.  The name sounds familiar and soon she knows why.  She’s able to fill the gap with the face of a kid from Santa Barbara.  Brown hair.  Grey eyes.  Freckles.  Big smile.  Cute dog with a ridiculously adult sounding name: George, or Winston or something.

The Dateline special, where Isaac’s mom was interviewed?  Well, Dominique had watched it.  Hoping for more clues about Jesus (who she only knew then as her invisible friend and emotional support, through her own ordeal.)  A year after her own escape, he got away, too.  She had to deal with a strange betrayal, knowing their circumstances had not been identical as she needed them to be.  Another year passed, around May of 2012, and there was the other little boy’s mother.  Interviewed for an hour.

Dominique had watched, hoping for a mention of Jesus.

“Do you find comfort knowing that your son wasn’t alone in that house?” Dominique remembers the interviewer asking.

“I do.  I do find comfort in that.”  The woman blew her nose.  

“Jesus Foster was a 9-year-old from San Diego, when Chris Mitchell kidnapped him back in 2007.  He was still missing when, 2 years later, Allison Martin’s son, Isaac, was taken, as well,” a reporter narrated off screen.  The picture from all the Missing posters of Jesus was on the screen.  Then, video of a few seconds of the back of his head.  Long hair.  Before he covered it with a blanket.

“Do you wonder what Jesus knows?  About your son?  How close they were?  Have you spoken to him?  Asked for details?”

“No,” Allison wept.  “Jesus has been through enough.  He needs to be home with his family.  He needs to have privacy.  To heal.  If the situation were reversed, and Isaac came home, I know that’s what I would want for him.”

Dominique blinks.  “The other kid.”

“Yeah,” Jesus nods.

“You took care of him the way you’re taking care of Levi?” Dominique wonders.

Jesus nods again.  “And that feels…like a lot?”

“Well, it would, I suppose, yeah.” Dominique nods.  There’s a pause.  Jesus still looks distressed.  “Listen, Levi’s gonna be okay.  It feels the same.  But it’s not, okay?”

“Yeah,” Jesus answers softly.  “What about you?”

“What about me?”  Dominique presses, guard firmly raised.

“You said you’re not really okay either.”

“You’re Jesus Foster,” a new voice interrupts.  

It makes goosebumps raise up under Dominique’s sweatshirt.  She turns, to see a white lady in a navy jacket.  Jeans.  Dressy shoes.  

“And you are?” Jesus asks, not giving this presumptuous lady an inch.  (Dominique’s glad.)

“Oh, I’m sorry.  I’m Pearl West’s mom.  I knew Frank.  And Stef.”

Dominique’s face sets into a hard mask.  She steps back.  It’s either that, or jump across the table and grab her by the throat.  This woman.  This is the woman who hurt Levi.  Who assaulted Levi, when he was just a kid.  Younger, even, than Dominique had been.

“We gotta go,” Dominique tells Jesus, not dropping his name.  Not giving Pearl’s mom the satisfaction.

Jesus doesn’t need to hear an out given twice.  He gets up and walks around the table.  

“Pearl said you were visiting,” the woman calls at Jesus’s back.  “I just wanted to see how you’re doing.  Tell your mom I said hi,” she calls.

Dominique shuts the door firmly at their backs.  Moves aside so Jesus can lock it himself.

“Pearl, I don’t know if you know...but your mom’s outside.  She just...I don’t know...tried to start a conversation with me?  Said you told her we were visiting?”

Jesus seems doubtful.  

“Oh.  My.  God.  Why can’t she leave, and stop lying to people?” Pearl insists.  “She’s infuriating.  I’m so sorry she approached you.  Are you okay?  I didn’t tell her you were here.  I would never tell her that.”

Dominique isn’t sure what to believe.  She doesn’t know Pearl well, and the two of them don’t get along well.  But she does trust Jesus and Mariana and their judgment.  They wouldn’t be friends with someone they couldn’t trust.  It’s been a while since Dominique’s been around someone so manipulative.  The fact that it’s a woman does throw a wrench in things, temporarily.  She’s always functioned under the belief that women were more trustworthy than men.  But this woman, Pearl’s mom?  Clearly cannot be trusted.

She’s obviously a liar.  She’s proven that much with Pearl.  She’s abusive.  She’s proven that much with Levi.  Just seeing her, makes Dominique want to be sure he’s okay.  She goes upstairs and sits on the landing.

She likes being able to see everything.  Everybody.  All the comings and goings.  She takes a picture through the thick wooden railings.  Then over the railing to all the open space below.

Eventually, she moves to the head of the stairs and sits.  If Pearl’s mom knows she’s here, she might try coming in.  And if she even thinks about trying anything with Levi?

She’ll have to come through Dominique first.