caveat uxor

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara is beginning to be concerned.

There's a pattern here. She knows there is. But it's subtle, it's so subtle she thinks she might be imagining it. A flyer appears on the wall of the coffee shop, announcing that his band has a show there that week. There's so few details that she thinks she must be mistaken, someone else here must have decided to use that same band name, it wasn't that creative- but she goes back to look again the next day, just to see, and it's gone.

She finds a jelly doughnut left on the hood of her car while she's out shopping. They're Kevin's favorite, and she has to talk him out of eating it- they don't know where it came from, it can't be safe, just throw it out, see how someone's already cut it open? It's oozing red jelly out over the roof of the car.

Little things, one at a time. Spaced apart enough that she's never quite sure they're related to each other. A week before something new happens? Two? Once there's two incidents in three days, then nothing for almost a month. She could be imagining it.

...maybe.

She finds a stuffed dog in their front yard. It's very generic, one of those silly plush dogs you can get at any store for a few bucks, and it's arguably, plausibly, a dog toy. But the tag on the dog's collar says 'Tammy'. And it's been torn almost to shreds, viciously. And none of her neighbors have dogs.

Tamara calls the Watcher's Council. And then she calls Bella.

Comments

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara doesn't respond to Soph when she arrives. She's having trouble drawing breath already; it's sneaking up on her, the feeling from crying too hard and too long, and running out of air. She gently smooths the last of the dust into a tiny pile- so tiny- and stares at it helplessly. She reaches for it, and then draws her hand back. She- she's not sure what to do, now. Except cry, and see if she can still inhale, in this world that doesn't have her son.

[cross_and_bow]

If he's going to get within range of making attempts to punch her, he's going to get within range of her knife.

It won't kill him unless she manages to decapitate him with it, but even a vampire will be distracted and less effective if he loses a hand.

Well, "loses". She doesn't have a lot of live-fire knife practice yet and doesn't make a clean cut through his arm. It's still attached, but pretty uselessly. So when she grabs it and yanks it finishes coming off, but throws off his balance in the process.

And then she clotheslines him and throws him at a different exit. On the sunnier side of the building.

[keyed_up]

Soph doesn't know whether to try to hug her or - anything.

She compromises with a hand on Tamara's shoulder, tentative.

[marrinikari]

And as he sails out the door, with a shriek, Charles goes up in flames.

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara shudders slightly when Soph puts her hand down, but doesn't object.

[keyed_up]

Soph - stands there. On one foot. With her hand on Tamara's shoulder.

And sniffles.

[cross_and_bow]

And Bella strides out the door and stands over Charles and watches to make sure he doesn't put himself out.

[marrinikari]

He tries, and he makes a scramble for the door. But he's too far away, and sunlight is efficient. Shortly, there is nothing left of him but dust.

[cross_and_bow]

Right then.

Back through the warehouse.



To the chair and the pile of dust and "Oh fuck -"

[marrinikari]

The chair has a note scratched in it.

Did you know children turn faster? ❤

[cross_and_bow]

Bella flicks her knife out and cuts a furrow into the words until they're illegible.



She waits, a minute, before saying:

"Soph, can you fix your ankle or do you need to go to a doctor?"

[keyed_up]

"I - I can probably do it but I'll need to look something up."

[older_and_wiser]

At the reminder that they might leave, Tamara visibly tries to pull herself together. It doesn't work very well. But after a few gulps, she at least manages to choke out, "Soph, I- do you- a container?"

[keyed_up]

"Uh - Bella - back of the car the jar just dump it out it's fine -"

[cross_and_bow]

"On it."

Bella goes. Bella comes back with an empty jar.

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara very, very carefully gathers the dust pile into the jar.

[cross_and_bow]

The sisters wait.

"Do you want - Soph, can you drive right now -?"

[keyed_up]

"Uh, no, but you could drive Tamara home and I could call Dad."

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara doesn't respond to their logistical questions. She finishes collecting her dust into the jar Soph gave her. She screws the cap on carefully, carefully. Still kneeling, looking down, she says quietly, brokenly, "Tell me you killed him."

[cross_and_bow]

"He's dead. Burned up. I stayed to make sure he didn't put himself out."

[older_and_wiser]

"Good." She doesn't say anything else. She's holding herself wrong, somehow, all stiffness and awkward and rigid angles. As though she might shatter at any second.

[cross_and_bow]

"Let's get you home," suggests Bella in a low voice.

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara nods jerkily, and manages to haul herself to her feet despite her unsteadiness. She wraps her jar carefully in her arms and- waits. Silently, with noiseless tears running down her cheeks.

[cross_and_bow]

Bella puts a hand on her elbow and leads Tamara to her own car. "Let me have the keys, I'll drive."

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara digs up her keys, wiping her eyes on her sleeve as she does so. This has no real effect except to make room for more tears. She unlocks the car and then hands the keys to Bella, settling herself stiffly into the passenger seat.








my baby, my baby