She smiled. Her contract was a change, a ripple in the tide of despair. She couldn't help but feel a little proud.
"Ah, yes.." She broke another peice of bread off for Qhuinn. He squished it in his hands before putting it in his mouth. "My name is Juliet. But you can call me Julie."
((Gtg for tonight))
(Night!)
Zackary smiled a little. “It’s a pleasure. We should probably go out and get him some kind of baby food. Bread isn’t very good for him at this age.” Zackary didn’t think he’d be the type to know about children but then again, he was a former-orphan who lived with children just like Qhuinn.
Sorry bed gn)(
(may i be lovino's… contracter? idk what's the right word for it)
(may i be lovino's… contracter? idk what's the right word for it)
of course, you may!! as long as you are ok with random spirts of insanity)(
Sariel stood up and pulled a small box of matches from her pocket. Upon inspecting each of them, one would see that they were all covered in tiny carvings. She held one with a deep purple colored end, "Now I must remind you that upon agreeing to a deal, you have also agreed to bearing my mark. The praying mantis on my side, will also be on your side, and it may hurt a little when it appears." She said, resting the match against her thumb nail, ready to light it. "I will need to light this, and burn your side with it. Soon after the mantis will appear, and the contract will be official." As she spoke, each of her words flowed out as if she said them every other day.
Years and years ago, she had given this exact same speech and almost every time the signer would agree.
Avilasa pulled the side of her shirt up. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. My dad did the same to my mother, and I can't say truthfully I'm a stranger to pain." She turned so Sariel could have better access to her paper-white skin. "Strike the match and form the contract."
"Oh I have some… he just doesn't enjoy it much." Juliet laughed softly as she broke off some meat for Qhuinn. "He's already eating regular food. And he's teething. He's a really good baby, though. Hardly causes any trouble."
Zackary made a faint noise in his throat and bit into his sandwich. “If you’re quite sure he’ll be okay, I’ll just have to accept it.” He shrugged a bit.
"Thank you, though…" Juliet replied, her eyes still on her sandwich. Qhuinn crawled out of her lap and came to Zackary. He raised his arms to him with expectance, blinking. "Da?" He cooed. Juliet raised her eyes to the boy, but said nothing.
Zackary raised his eyebrows too, setting his plate of crust down.
“Da,” Zackary repeated, booping Qhuinn’s nose gently. “Do you want a hug?” He gathered, pointing to the boy’s outstretched arms.
The boy clapped, a smile on his face. He raised his arms once more and blew another raspberry. Juliet watched, her face blank. Qhuinn was easy-going and nice, an independent child, never had he sought anyone out like this. And never was it a man.
Lovino walked out the door's and sat on a bench outside of a café. "what a wonderful day to be alive," he said looking all around looking at an alleyway he could walk down to get to the park "what a wonderful day to be killed oh yes what a wonderful day that is today," he said as he walked towards the alleyway "oh and how i woud not have it any other way,"
Zackary gave a gentle, rumbly laugh and picked him up into a hug. “Well a hug you will get.” He hoisted the child close and relaxed into him. The smol was warm and cute. Slobbery, yes, but Zackary didn’t mind it much. He didn’t mind many things. It’s just how he got accustomed to his job. Flexability is key, afterall…
Sariel stood up and pulled a small box of matches from her pocket. Upon inspecting each of them, one would see that they were all covered in tiny carvings. She held one with a deep purple colored end, "Now I must remind you that upon agreeing to a deal, you have also agreed to bearing my mark. The praying mantis on my side, will also be on your side, and it may hurt a little when it appears." She said, resting the match against her thumb nail, ready to light it. "I will need to light this, and burn your side with it. Soon after the mantis will appear, and the contract will be official." As she spoke, each of her words flowed out as if she said them every other day.
Years and years ago, she had given this exact same speech and almost every time the signer would agree.Avilasa pulled the side of her shirt up. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. My dad did the same to my mother, and I can't say truthfully I'm a stranger to pain." She turned so Sariel could have better access to her paper-white skin. "Strike the match and form the contract."
Striking the match with her thumb nail, Sariel quickly pressed it to the girl's ribs, holding the small piece of wood to her skin for a few moments before removing it. "So you are the child of a demon and a human?" Sariel asked, staring at the burn mark. In the seconds that followed, the circle appeared, followed by the mantis. "What is your name?" She asked, blowing on the match and stuffing it into her pocket.
"He likes you, a lot." Juliet stated with a smile as Qhuinn snuggled in Zack's arms. He settled and closed his eyes, falling asleep soon after. "He really likes you…" she chuckled.
Zackary smiled down at the smol and rubbed his back gently. “I suppose he does.” Zackary carefully checked Qhuinn’s shoulder, making sure he got the mark. He gave a slight nod and fixed his shirt again, hugging the child closer.
Juliet gave a curt nod and stood. She took up the plates and took them to the kitchen. Humming softly, she dumped the crumbs in the trash and cleaned the dishes.
Zackary scootched over to the wall and leaned into it. He wanted to summon his wings for something comfy to lean back on, but he didn’t summon them. He didn’t want to frighten Qhuinn.
(My heart is melting at this precious boi….)
Avilasa hissed a bit as the burning match touched her. As she examined the mark, she replied, "Avilasa, just don't call me it. Anything but that please." She looked up, dropping her shirt. "And yes. I'm a product of a contract my mother had with a demon. My life is not by choice." She then turned away and started picking leaves from a plant, drop them into and mortar and grinding them with a pestle.
Once again dropping her hands to her sides, Sariel watched closely as Avilasa dropped the leaves into the stone bowl. Those must be what she uses for what she sells…? Sariel thought, her voice monotonous even in her own head. "So, what exactly will I be helping you with, or does it just depend on the situation?" She asked, still eyeing the leaves. Even though she had been alive for hundreds of years, some things were somewhat new to her. She rarely interacted with others, meaning her knowledge on hobbies and specific careers was limited. Herbal practices were no different.
((Good… ready for some drama?))
Juliet finished with the dishes and dried her hands. She made her way to the livingroom, her hands open to receive the little boy. "I'll put him in his crib-" The doorbell rang. Juliet froze. And then moved towards the window. Slowly, she pulled the curtain back. Night had fallen and Juliet marveled at how fast time had passed. Then her face paled. She backed away from the window, fear filling her eyes. She began to trembled.
Gramwell Taylor stood at her front door.
Zackary rose when Juliet entered, and followed her to the window. He saw her react badly. He gently handed her Qhuinn and grabbed her shaking hands in his warm ones.
“Go sit down over there, okay?” He pointed to a kitchen chair. “I’ll handle it.”
Juliet barely heard Zack as he put Qhuinn in her arms and pointed to the kitchen chair. She went and sat in silence, pressing a sleeping Qhuinn close to her.
Why was he here? How did he find her? How? Tears streamed down Juliet's face as she searched for an answer. How did he find her? Or better yet…
What was he going to do now that he did…?
Memories of painful nights and exhausting days, sickness, self-hate, and disgust filled Juliet's mind. She let out a sob when she heard his voice.
"Come on, princess…" he called from the other side of the door. "I know you're in there. And you know I will wait here all night."
Zackary walked closer to her and set a hand on her shoulder. “What do you want me to do?” He asked this softly, piecing her situation together. Her understanding of his job, the fear for her child and herself, how stressed she had seemed when she was alone by that streetside. He let Juliet decide his fate, but he was burning with a strong surge of anger. This man must be filthy. It’s disgusting, even to Zackary, who hasn’t even met him yet. If it were up to him, Zackary’d hang him in an old-timey gallows.
Juliet flinched.
What do you want me to do?
She looked at him, her blue eyes wide and teary like a frightened child. "Make him go away, please." she cried. "Please don't let him hurt my son. I never want to see him again. Just- please." She begged.
A knock sounded on the door again.