aristaeuus

[ari-jay]

A Mysterious Tip(Prologue)

Soft jazz music played through the orphanage walls. Most of the kids were asleep, tucked in their beds, while Rose and Clover were busy prepping for the funeral. They were trying to figure out how they would get the funds to do the public funeral. They didn't really have much funds to being with. As they were discussing the budget, the doorbell began to ring.

"Who could that be at this hour?" Rose said.

She went up to the door and was greeted by a mysterious man with a brief case.

"Uh... Can I help you?" Rose said.

"The Lady of the Woods sends her condolences..." They said as he held out a briefcase to Rose.

Rose looked at the brief case, then back at the man.

"Don't worry, it's nothing dangerous..." He said he handed her the briefcase.

"Wait, who-!" Before she could say another word, the person had disappeared into the night.

She closed the door behind her and went down to the maintenance tunnel where Clover and the rest of the gang were.

"Who was at the door, Rose?" Clover said.

"Some guy who delivered this briefcase. Idk. It seems pretty weird and shady if ya ask me." She said.

Rose placed the case on the table as they looked at it for a moment. Wondering if it was sent by someone from the Darling family or the Silver Fang Gang. Either way, the only way they would find out is to open it. Using caution, Clover unclasped the case and slowly opened it.

Inside of it was nothing but clover shaped black and gold Confetti.

"What the glittery goofs is this? A prank? A trick?" Nellie said as she stared at the case.

Clover took a closer look at the confetti and moved it around to revealing the bottom of the case.

"So, it's just a dumb briefcase that was filled with confetti?" Rose said, sounding annoyed and confused.

"No... look closer, Rose." She said as she pointed to a button hidden inside the case.

"This briefcase has more than meets the eye." She pressed the button, and the wood covering the second layer popped open. She lifted the wood to reveal a layer of stacks of cash and a black envelope.

The whole gang was shocked by the amount that was there.

"Holy Golden Nuggets! It's a money bag!" Nelie said as her eyes shined by the amount of money that was there.

Clover looked at the envelope. It had a red heart on it, but over it was a white x. She opened the envelope and read the letter.

"Dear Miss Clover,

How did you like my gift? My condolences to you, but I always saw death as more of a celebration of life than one that's about grief and sorrow. A real shame me and my family won't be able to hear or see any of your performances for a while. I'm a huge fan, you could even say I'm an admirer of both your performances on stage and backstage if you know what I'm saying.

I hope this will cover all the funds needed to execute a lovely funeral for a heart of gold like yours. Hopefully in your next life, I will be able to meet you in person and share a duet or two with you. Don't worry about your secret too. I cross my heart that I won't tell anyone about your plan. Just know... you have someone who's got their eyes, ears, and voice around this town. You know how the saying goes...

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer..."

-Lady of the Woods

Clover had so many questions going through her head, but one thing she knew she was certain of...

There was another Family out there, but one important question stuck out above the rest of them swirling in her head...

Are they friend or foe?

Wooooo! Done and done! A Welcome Home Mob! AU Comic.

These wonderful characters do not belong to me. They belong to the wonderful and talented artist below.

Mob! Red Rose: @maddiethehatter2192

Mob! Clover: @chimeracarnival

Mob! Sheriff Nellie: @sheriffopossum

Please go take a look at their blogs, or give them a follow!

Also, thank you for sticking around to the end and taking the time to read up until this point. I have a lot of plans for this fandom, so I appreciate your patience and support!

[koifsssh]

unstoppable force meets immovable object

cw! puppet on puppet violence! blood, and guns!

[ A translation in case other's cant read it! and a little extra! ]

"It's a shame really, our conversation was going so well, but then you grew stubborn... Does everyone in Darling's little family hold this trait? How Awful."

Clover's voice was fuzzy in Rainy's ears, the ringing take up half of his attention. How long had he been here again? It feels like forever...

"Haha, I suppose... It's a needed trait you could say..." It was a quiet response, mere conversation. He didn't want to answer more questions.

"Let's try this again." Nellie moved for Clover, lifting the gun up and aiming towards the socket that was missing an eye. Rainy kept the tired smile on his face as Clover's voice rang in his ears.

"Please cooperate with us this time."

It was a rather tedious interrogation, Clover and Nellie found themselves scrapping at the bottom of the empty barrel Rainy provided. Barely any information besides things they already knew about or "fun facts" about Rainy's neighbors.

"Must you do this the hard way? I don't understand how you could sit there and be loyal to such a cruel man."

Rainy's eye fall shut, exhaustion evident on his face from this encounter.

"I treasure my family just as you treasure yours, Ms. Clover." He lulls his head to the side, his eye opening just the slightest bit to stare up at the singer, "We all have sides of ourselves, I'm sure Daisy is a prime example of that."

They both tensed, it was an accident really.

Even when someone has lots of experience with weapons, they can still make mistakes.

What a mistake.

[ Nellie belongs to @sheriffopossum & Clover belongs to @chimeracarnival! ]

[ I hope this was alright! i never really write, so i hope this not ooc for Nellie and Clover! (well... it might be ooc a bit for Nellie... not sure if she would accidentally pull the trigger... but ah well...) ]

[sheriffopossum]

AWW YISS, A BETTER REF SHEET

Here's a shitty ref sheet of Nellie with colors this time around! Can y'all tell I've never made one of these before LMAO 😭

A version with blood spatters below the cut cause shit why not I thought it looked cool. Now to work on some interactions with other characters (@koifsssh @maddiethehatter2192 @chimeracarnival @spacemanandy 👀👀👀)

Mob!AU belongs to @clownsuu

[ok-i-draw]

Texas gang y’all know what’s up ✊😔

Art trade! with @sheriffopossum

Nellie by: @sheriffopossum

Mob and full version down below! 👇

[vrenaewrites]

My Favorite Books Ever (2019).

In June 2018, I did a video about my all time favorite books. I included 13 books and only a couple were young adult, which is the genre I write in.

Boy how things change in a year. I’ve read probably 20 books since then which isn’t a lot compared to other people, but you’d be surprised how many of those were absolute knockouts for me, quickly moving into my hall of fame favorites. So let’s revisit my top 10 list.

10. TIE: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee and MATILDA by Roald Dahl.

[previously #5 and #10, respectively]

These books have to be included on the basis of how much they meant to me as a child and young teen who was bookish, compassionate, and open-minded in my rural (read: often racist) southern community. Scout Finch and Matilda Wormwood were little girls I needed as a little girl, and while I may not reach for these “favorites” too often anymore, they’ll be some of the first books I share with my kids of reading age. They made me who I am.

9. THE MERCILESS by Danielle Vega Rollins.

[new addition]

Boy, oh, boy. If you didn’t catch the pop culture influences on my new WIP, you don’t even know what kind of impact this book had on me. If The Exorcist and Mean Girls had a baby written by Stephen King, this would be it. Sofia Flores is welcomed by the popular, virtuous girls at the expense of outcast Brooklyn, and the price for inclusion is higher than anyone could have known. This is a brutal, BRUTAL book. Full of intrigue, pulpy dirty laundry, and tons of gore, it’s not for the faint of heart. But it is right up my alley.

8. SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn.

[previously #8]

This book messed me up so bad I had to let my little sister borrow it so I had someone to talk about it with. It worked. Journalist Camille Preaker returns to her small Midwest town to investigate the disappearance of little girls, she has to reconnect with her toxic, dysfunctional family I’ve mentioned it before: a fucked up family and a strong sister dynamic - good or bad - are two of my favorite elements to read about. SHARP OBJECTS comes through with that in spades, along with questionable allies, mental illness in the protagonist, twist after twist, and the classic Gillian Flynn style of stylistic, highly personal writing.

7. THE EXORCIST by William Peter Blatty.

[previously #6]

I am totally and utterly obsessed with this story. I did see the movie before I read the book because I’m a horror movie junkie and I saw this movie at like, ten years old. Twelve year old Regan MacNeil makes an imaginary friend through a ouija board and things...get...weird from there. But of course, the story isn’t really about Regan. It’s about Father Karras, the titular exorcist who wrestles with the imaginary friend within Regan - the demon Pazuzu - and his own personal demons. The vulgar violence Regan is subjected to during her possession will burn into your brain forever, and the exploration of the relationship between god and man and devil feeds my dogmatic interests like few things really can.

6. THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson.

[previously #7]

I can’t overstate how much I love this book. From the queer coding of Theo and Nellie to the unsteady narration, Hill House has been ridiculously impactful on me since I read it almost two years ago. A parapsychologist invites people with paranormal experiences to spend time with him in the titular home, where he plans to prove the existence of paranormal activity. That’s right, this is the start of the ghost hunting trope, guys. Basically, these people get real fuckin’ haunted. As the sanity of each guest of Hill House is threatened and questioned, we as the reader start to wonder what the truth really is.

5. A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS by Paul Tremblay.

[previously #4]

Paul Tremblay is a contemporary to Stephen King. I said what I said. The Barrett family is torn apart by the change in Marjorie, the oldest of their two daughters. As signs of acute schizophrenia become more prevalent, the father turns to religion and the mother turns to mental health professionals. As their resources deplete, they are forced to allow a reality tv show to document Marjorie’s affliction for the paycheck, where the reality and sanity of all involved comes unraveled. The narrators. The twists upon twists. The unrelenting tension as you become invested in finding out what is really wrong with Marjorie. It’s a book I wish I wrote.

4. THE FORBIDDEN GAME trilogy by LJ Smith.

[previously #3]

I just don’t know how to explain what this book did for me creatively. It’s 90s pulp horror and it made me realize that I kinda want to write 90s pulp horror...in 2019. It’s engaging, well written, interesting, unique, diverse, and quick. LJ Smith can do no wrong in my book.

3. HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN by JK Rowling.

[previously #2]

Do I have to get into this? The introduction of Remus Lupin, my literal father. The introduction of Sirius Black, my literal son. The introduction of not so annoying Hermione, literally me. The Draco punch. Buckbeak. Big baddies on the horizon. The first YA entry in the series. Chef’s kiss. Also the best film, I said what I said.

2. CARRIE by Stephen King.

[previously #1]

I know, I’m shook. Carrie has been dethroned. Don’t tell her though - we don’t want a prom repeat. Stephen King’s debut is ridiculously good - gritty, scary, brutal, sad, and believable despite being about a telekinetic teen who’s abused into massacring most of a town. Spoilers? The book is like 40 years old. Too bad.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Alice Hoffman’s PRACTICAL MAGIC [previously #9]

Grady Hendrix’s MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM [new]

Dhonielle Clayton’s THE BELLES [new]

1. WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE by Shirley Jackson.

[new addition]

Oh my God, y’all. I read this book in one day while I was in upstate NY last month. I read it on a dock, on a lake, in 80 degree weather, and I had goosebumps by the end. Mary Katherine Blackwood and her sister Constance live alone in the Blackwood mansion, hated by the villagers, jeered at in the grocery store, and gossiped about - for good reason. Six years prior, their entire family was poisoned and the prime suspect, Constance, was acquitted to the disdain of the public. But when a long lost cousin hungry for the Blackwood fortune comes to visit, secret after secret is unearthed along with little Merricat’s various treasures of protection. Talk about twists. Jackson has a KNACK for the vicious town opinion - The Lottery, anyone? - and how it can ruin a family, a person, and how there can be no sole responsibility for mob mentality. I just cannot overstate how much I love this book.

[angryhausfrau-writes]

You Can’t Cross the Same River Twice - Chapter 7

Hawkeye's week at work is uneventful, routine. There are no unexpected patients or dire emergencies. Which Hawkeye is glad for, of course he is, what kind of person would he be to wish misfortune and disaster on others. But it does make the week move slowly. And give Hawkeye time to be excited and terrified and excited and terrified and excited over the prospect of seeing his dad again. For the first time in over three years.

But despite his conflicted emotions, Hawkeye gets on the train bright and early Saturday morning. Trapper's already at work, so there's no big send off. Not that he warrants one - he's not going off to war again or anything - it only feels like it. But Trapper had given him a peck on the lips and wished him good luck as he'd rushed out the door at whatever ungodly hour his shift started, so that's something. Fortification against the day to come. And when the cities and boardwalks give way to the rocky coastline of his home state, he feels a sense of rightness he didn't expect. He's lived outside of Maine for years now, but it is still recognizable. Hawkeye just hopes he is too.

--

His dad picks him up from the train station and they walk the few blocks to his childhood home together. Hawkeye imagines his shoes sinking deep into the footsteps he'd made over a decade of traversing Crabapple Cove as a kid. And maybe that's fitting. The path is worn, familiar. But his feet don't quite fit the imprints. Larger now than when he was a child, stride changed.

His family home is just as he remembered it, though. Practically unchanged since his mom died. And it's at once comforting and stifling. So Hawkeye drops his bag in the guest room - he can't even look at his childhood bedroom, let alone sleep there - and then heads out to the back porch. He sits and looks out across the ocean and the claustrophobia of memory recedes in the face of its vast expanse.

His dad joins him and they talk about work. The various patients they've had come through in the past month. The clinic's struggles with funding. How a patient had paid his dad with a lobster boat. It's easier than some of the other topics they could broach. Like why Hawkeye took so long to visit. They can stay in the present, away from any potential land mines left over from Korea. Not that there aren't other land mines in the conversation. His dad talks about all the people that've asked after him. All the young women looking to get to know him again. How there's a place for him in the practice. How his dad might be looking to retire in a few years and he needs someone to take over.

And Hawkeye feels like he's choking on all his unspoken truths. Wants to bolt. To go home to Trapper and curl up in his arms. Where it's safe. Where it's comfortable. Where it's easy.

But that feels like giving up. And he's already made it through so many things, he can make it through one more uncomfortable conversation. He owes his dad that much.

"Korea changed a lot of things for me, Dad. It changed me. I don't know that I can come back here and be who I was. Live the life I'd be expected to lead."

"I love you, Ben. However you are. And when you're ready to come home, there'll be a place for you here. Always."

His dad's trying. And Hawkeye knows he said all that out of love. But. It's not enough.

And maybe part of it is Hawkeye's fault. He'd always planned to come back home to Crabapple Cove and his dad and the practice. It was all mapped out for him since he was a kid. The stint in Boston was just him sowing his wild oats. Korea just an unfortunate detour in the greater direction of his life. He was just having some fun with the various men and women he'd slept with - just a little fun before he settled down with a wife and kids and a white picket fence. Married a girl he'd gone to high school with and whose family knew his family since they'd both landed on the coast of Maine. He'd just sand off some of his rough edges and put some parts of himself away and be happy. Normal.

Content, at least.

And he'd kept that dream alive all through Korea. In all the dozens and dozens of letters to his dad. Because it was a light at the end of the tunnel. Something to hope for and dream of that hadn't been touched or spoiled by the war. But he has been. And so he can no longer see himself in that fantasy.

He hadn't meant to lie to his dad. Or mislead him. It's just that he went sane. And all the things he'd already started to sand down or hide away were suddenly blindingly visible. And now that Hawkeye's seen them - seen how he was lying to himself about more than just the baby - he can't go back. Can't hide those parts of himself away in his subconscious just to make himself fit back in Crabapple Cove.

But Hawkeye doesn't know how to say all of this. So he just says, "I love you too, Dad." And they sit on the porch in silence, looking out at the ocean.

And when his dad suggests a trip into town, Hawkeye jumps at the chance. Maybe he'll run into every busybody and gossip in Crabapple Cove, but at least he can leave this uncomfortable tension. The half finished conversation that his dad is convinced is over.

It goes about how Hawkeye expected it would. It seems like word has spread and everyone and their grandmother is out and about on Main Street. Just happening to bump into Dr. Pierce and oh there was something they'd been meaning to ask and oh while they're there, why don't you tell us how you've been doing Ben and when are you coming back home? Your father's not getting any younger you know. And all the unmarried women flocking to him and saying remember when back in high school we and oh I'm so glad you're back from Korea and oh maybe we should get to know one another again. And his dad is no help, just standing there laughing to himself as Hawkeye gets mobbed. Objectively, he can see that it's funny - him being browbeat by old ladies and girls he's known since grade school. But Hawkeye feels like he's trapped in a school of piranha.

It's a relief when it hits dinner time and he can escape back to the house. That may be uncomfortable in its own way, but at least it's less crowded. And dinner's easier. Hawkeye and his dad laugh and joke like old times. He can almost forget the hanging threads of their previous conversation.

In the evening, he calls Trapper. Right after Hawkeye knows he'll be done with the dinner dishes. They keep the call short - out of consideration for his dad's phone bill - and only talk about light, inconsequential things - because this is Crabapple Cove and there's at least one nosy Nelly listening in on the call. But it's nice to hear Trapper's voice. To know that he has a home to go back to tomorrow, even if he doesn't have one here anymore. And while he ends the call with a simple "Goodnight, Trap," his dad must hear something of the warmth and love Hawkeye puts into those two words.

Because as soon as Hawkeye hangs up the phone, his dad says, "You're not coming back here, are you? You've found somewhere else to be."

Hawkeye nods tiredly. Already exhausted by the conversation to come.

His dad's face goes blank, impassive. And here comes the guilt and recrimination and anger. But instead of the first volley of an argument, he says, "I'm so sorry, Ben. I love you. And I never meant to push you into something you didn't want."

"I did want it, Dad. I wanted it so bad it hurt, all the time I was in Korea. But I realized that the person I'd have to become to make it work wasn't someone I could be. I've lost the innocence and. And the sense of peace I'd need to live here and not go crazy." Again. "I've got friends and work and a life in Boston that I can't. That I don't want to leave."

"This life include that Trapper John fellow, the one you live with?"

Hawkeye nods. His dad always was quick on the uptake.

"He came up for your funeral, you know. When the army declared you dead. I appreciated having him here." He pauses. "And I wouldn't mind if you brought him along next time."

Hawkeye smiles. His dad really is trying. And he can accept that olive branch. "He did talk about bringing his daughters up to visit back when I was still planning to live here."

His dad looks up sharply. "He married?"

"Used to be." Hawkeye's expression turns wry. "Korea changed him too."

"Well, it'd be nice to have some kids running around the place again. Even if it's not permanent."

A pause.

"And you'll have to tell me if you know anyone looking to take over a family practice who doesn't mind living all the way out here."

"Sure, Dad. I'll ask around."

A contemplative silence falls. And the kitchen, the house, the whole town is starting to feel a lot less stifling. Hawkeye thinks he might even be able to sleep easy tonight.

--

Hawkeye goes home the next day. But as his dad hugs him one last time at the train station - and admonishes him to call with details of his next visit - Hawkeye feels like he has a home in Maine too. And maybe he can't live here permanently, but he's still welcome. He doesn't have to lose any part of himself, doesn't have to contort himself to fit the mold of expectation.

It's still a relief to be back in Boston, though. Away from the busybodies and unwanted advances. Back with Trapper.

Home.

[oliveplumlee-blog]

What Is The Distinction Between Religion And also Spirituality?

About 6 months after my boy was birthed, he as well as I were sitting on a covering at the park with a buddy and also her daughter. In one study, University of Vermont scientists located that conscious moms and dads engaged in much more favorable, as well as much less unfavorable, parenting behavior, which was linked to less anxiousness and also depression in the youngsters. However, I don't believe they regret it, nevertheless. Do not take too lightly just how difficult divorce will be, yet don't limit yourself (as well as your kids if you have them) to a life of anguish either.

Thus, it is hypothetically far better if you leave the circumstance to the previous to reveal compassion to the last. The signs and symptoms of this situation of the American spirit are all around us. For the very first time in the background of our nation a majority of our people believe that the next 5 years will be worse than the past 5 years. If you beloved this write-up and you would like to get additional info pertaining to kindness diaries fake (see more) kindly take a look at the web page. Whether it's cleaning up a regional park, accumulating food for homeless sanctuaries, or joining a flash mob to do some excellent, you're constantly out as well as about making compassion a top priority. . We are dealing with getting our Kindness Rocks Job yard at our local park, when we get permission from our town hall. They were asked to keep a daily journal and also track any kind of acts of kindness they executed for one week. The Spanish colonizers that ruled the island up until the late 19th century imposed their very own Catholic traditions, permitting loved one separation," or legal splitting up, in situations including adultery or one partner joining a religious order. Sink The Pink welcomes some 3,000 club children to a venue in east London for evenings of celebrity efficiencies, pageants and lip sync battles. To cultivate compassion in youngsters, start by modeling generosity: Research suggests compassion is infectious, so if you want to help concern spread in the next generation, lead by example. Fusion dishes for these are given up the Personas overview, but note that for the last Persona you'll have to have actually accomplished Emperor Ranking 6 and also Hanged Male Ranking 8. You can locate them in the Velour Space. I have no idea if Pauline realizes just how much she aided me, however I'll never forget her kindness and belief in me. Some of the Philippines' one-of-a-kind mix of East and West shows the country's background as a Spanish nest. Kindness is an ability-- as well as like any kind of skill, it can be established with technique and also repeating. The YF objective resonated with whatever she believed in. She thinks that if there is one point her education and learning history has actually shown her, it's that personality is among the most crucial points we can educate our youngsters. For the very first time (at the very least in my memory), Personality no more requires you to gallivant regarding dungeons, wishing to smack opponents with your weapon-of-choice prior to they notice you, thereby providing you the critical advantage. I offer the following description to those of you doubting still the power of loving kindness. STEP 4 Link on Facebook: Be the initial to understand when Dancing for Kindness goes real-time. Bring a reusable mug with you when you get your early morning coffee, revealing generosity to the atmosphere. Be a Generosity Ambassador in your circle of close friends, INFLUENCE others and also lead by example. Meditation is not an inherently pro-social behavior (though one might well argue that requiring time to meditate is a means of revealing kindness toward oneself). By the way these 2 wrongdoers additionally play a significant duty in heart disease, so this is also an additional reason kindness is good for the heart. Component of being a fantastic coach is your capacity making connections with these hard children. Just as a stone creates waves when it is decreased in a fish pond, so acts of compassion ripple outwards, touching others' lives and also inspiring kindness anywhere the wave goes. More_vertical And also I thank you for your kindness and also your patience in hearing me this mid-day. Today the teens from. our teen facility assisted the homeowners or our regional assisted care facility plant flowers and also vegetables in the increased beds the children helped build in 2014. Nelly shares her inspiring tale in Nelly: The 'Snakeskin' Female, which broadcasts on Network 5 tomorrow night. There is a spectacular energy concerning Orly and if you are fortunate enough to come across the gritty, (normally) orange-clad brunette herself, she will certainly more than likely be making a chalk walk of motivation in Times Square or providing her famed Acts of Compassion Cards on the train. Setting up a rack of cards, does not produce a workplace society of compassion by itself,' but it's a terrific concept as well as a great begin -for your workplace and also home. You could additionally locate this is much easier to attain on greater trouble levels as you're more probable to stun instead of straight-out kill opponents therefore making it less complicated to obtain their Identity. I suggest emailing your school principal to obtain the OKAY to chalk the college pathways with compassion (see a sample email here ). . I review an instructor that got her very first involved in random acts of kindness by having her class collectively execute 100 acts of kindness over a 2-week duration. Perhaps this is a method to obtain your children delighted concerning acts of compassion too and present your youngsters to the terrific sensation from doing good. Cape Cod is a place where people come to trip from around the world ... they started taking pictures of the inspirational coastline gardens and sharing them on social networks, or grabbing single compassion rocks off the pet dog park trails as well as bringing them back to their neighborhoods.

[sheriffopossum]

Nellie stood in disbelief as Clover walked back into the main room where everyone anxiously awaited. Just earlier she was a cold corpse, bleeding out on the table, still as death, and yet there she was now as though none of that ever happened. Nellie wasn't real familiar with science or medicine, but even she knew that that wasn't normal.

Clover spoke to the group delicately, obviously picking her words carefully. She talked about the charity that night, how it was a test to see if the Darlings would strike, how she risked her own life to see how far they would go. She started to say how she couldn't give any answers which finally burst the dam of questions, filling the room. Nellie watched as Clover raised her hand, quickly silencing the onslaught.

Clover's voice wavered just slightly as she spoke about the reality they were in: the Darlings would hunt each member of their ragtag group without second thought. What she said next though, nearly took Nellie's breath away.

"You can come back, just like how you saw me do it," echoed in Nellie's head repeatedly. Come...back? From death, as though it were some cool party trick? She knew that members of the Darlings had some uncanny ability to do so even after being completely torn to pieces, but she figured there was some strange dark magic at play there. Now the same thing was being offered to her?

"So, are you with me?" Clover asked, snapping Nellie out of her daze.

She gripped her walking cane tightly as she furrowed her eyebrows together. Well, she thought, looks like it's now or never.

"Clover, do you remember the day I accepted your proposal?" Nellie began, slowly taking a step forward. Clover stood still as a statue, her expression neutral as the company's arms dealer moved closer.

"I certainly do, dear," Clover replied wearily, folding her arms across her chest. "You said that I was crazy--"

"I said that you was the craziest, most batshit insane person to go against THE most powerful mob in the city, hell probably the whole country!" Nellie finished for her, her southern drawl honeying each syllable. She stood before the group's leader, looking up as she planted a hand on her hip.

"But, I also said that you gave me hope. Hope that I haven't felt in years," Nellie added, her facial features softening. "I gave up hope in ever getting my brother back from those twisted bastards, just accepting that he was gone forever. But you, YOU ignited that fire back in my heart, that determination to git my Bubba back home, that he's not a lost cause."

Nellie paused, looking deeply up at Clover. Her words were softer this time, as she lifted her hand up to place on her leader's shoulder.

"Family sticks together, and I ain't about to be no bitch and run off with my tail between my legs." She gave a playful wink and smiled.

"Whatever voodoo-hoodoo shit you got cooked up, well count me in. I already got a target on my back for betraying the Darlings like I did, ain't no way in hell I'd be able to outrun them, and I fer sure ain't about to give up the chance to make a difference in this city and everyone who's been fucked by them assholes.

"Ride or die, partner. And seems like you got something to say about the dyin' part." --------------------------- ;AKSJDFLAJS;DLFJALSDKFALSDKF finally finished Nellie's reply to Clover's offer!!! I'm still not 100% happy with how the last panel turned out, but I already redid it at least 3 times so 😩 But yeah, looks like Nellie's on board the death-defying crazy train that Clover's conducting. So excited to see what happens next 💛

Clover belongs to @chimeracarnival Mob!AU belongs to @clownsuu Wonder who that mysterious brother Nellie mentioned is whoooooOoooOooo 👀