Post by Jamilyn Cornett on Jul 13, 2016 0:00:23 GMT -6
[Home of Odelia Sears, Toronto, Canada; Saturday, July 9, 2016, 10:04AM EDT]
[Mood Music: “When Can I See You Again” by Owl City]
Their mother’s garden was beautiful. It was imbued with her gentle soul. Every flower, every rose, every plant was well nurtured with love and care.
As of late, it hasn’t been given Odelia’s undivided attention. On some days ALS would slow her down, take its toll on her. Sometimes the pain was too much and all she could do was try to relax. That’s why Zachary and Jessica have taken it upon themselves to help take care of the garden.
In their early childhood, the garden was very small. Now in their adulthood, it has become a gorgeous work of art. It was easy to tell where all the flowers for their father’s grave site came from. Zachary was very careful to utilize a weed killer that wouldn’t harm the garden. Jessica maneuvered around with the water hose, showering the plants with a generous amount of water for the Toronto summer. She watched her brother rise to his feet and wipe the sweat from his forehead. Casually he ran his left hand through his recently-dyed brown hair and took a deep breath.
There was a pause. Something’s caught his attention. Jessica glanced in the same direction he was looking and she smiled a little. She moved back to turn off the water hose and allow it retract into its normal state.
“I was just about to call you, Jamico.” She giggled.
For her part, Jamilyn Cornett was far from looking in a rational mood to begin with. She’d chosen her outfit carefully, going for a simple knee-length pink pencil pleather skirt, a pink-and-black camisole top covered slightly by a darker pink cardigan sweater, and matching pink-and-black heels. Her pink hair streaks almost blended with the dominant red as her hazel eyes looked tired and exhausted.
To say Jamilyn had been having a rough time lately would be greatly underestimating things. She’d nearly died twice in a week, struck by an ex-girlfriend, and was having chaos in her personal life, not to mention nearly getting fired for something that wasn’t even her fault. But she’d insisted on joining Jess and Zach here, intent on getting a few answers for herself as well.
She approached Jessica and hugged her tightly, a faint smile crossing her face. “Call it my unique sense of timing…I swear, there are times I think I’m part of a novel, as many times as that’s happened…”
Jessica tilted her head. It was a mystifying concept to think of, but she tried not to delve into it too long. She returned Jamilyn’s hug with a smile and looked her in the eye. “You’re safe now. This is a happy sanctuary, right Zach?”
Zachary nodded, placed the weed killer back where it belongs, and pulled the brown gardening gloves off. “Home is where the heart is, ja?” He made his way over to them and placed a hand on his hip. “I don’t think we’ve had a chance to meet in person until now… I’m Zachary, Jessica’s older brother.” Politely he extended his right hand towards Jamilyn, despite being left-handed.
Luckily for Zach, Jami was also a leftie, so she switched his hands playfully and shook his hand before pulling it in for a hug. She smiled and pulled back, a little more hyper than she had first appeared to be.
“Oh please, Zach. No need for formalities. I think we all know why we’re here, so we don’t need to be all tense.” Jamilyn, to a fault, always seemed to be more about the overall picture rather than the microcosm of the situation. She looked around and smiled. “Your mom has a wonderful place here.”
He was a little taken aback, but pleasantly so, a smile crossing Zachary’s features as he nodded in agreement. “Vielen danke. This house carries our parents’ spirits. Jessica and I lived here for a long time after nine-eleven.”
Jessica nodded a little. “Zach moved out when he was eighteen to pursue a modeling career in New York City. Suffice to say, he’s very successful. Now he’s dating one of Las Vegas’s most gorgeous drag performers in Tristan Elliot.”
Zachary couldn’t help but smile. His boyfriend was probably relaxing in his hotel room right now. He promised he would see him after family matters have been taken care of. He cleared his throat and took a step towards the front of the house. “Come on, we shouldn’t keep our mother waiting. Apparently she found an old photo book in the attic. It might answer all our questions.”
“I agree...after realizing how identical Jessica looked to a teenage Grandma Remedi, I think all three of us need this.” Jamilyn smiled as the two siblings opened the door. She’d seen the interactions between Zach and Tris and was rather impressed with the two. She was desperately hoping Jess would find similar luck with Geki.
At least they seemed to be able to handle single-lover relationships compared to how Jami was.0
Even her outfit seemed bright and excessive compared to the other two, so much so that she was immediately beginning to regret having worn it. But she shook her head without the siblings noticing, taking a deep breath. The three had to see this through, no matter what.
Jamilyn’s own personal issues could wait. This was important enough to prioritize.
It wasn’t entirely fair to compare their physical appearances. Zachary and Jessica were dressed in casual wears to better work on their mother’s garden. Simple, dark colors, loose-fitted and comfortable. Now that Zachary was brunette, however, it made both Sears siblings stand out on their own. They always had a similar appearance growing up. If it wasn’t for the three-year age difference, some would say they were twins.
Before entering, Zachary and Jessica slipped out of their muddled work shoes. They lightly stepped onto the clean white carpet of the living room and patiently waited for Jamilyn to remove her shoes as well, which she dutifully complied. It was customary to keep shoes off the carpet and the tile floors of their parents’ house. It was easier to vacuum and clean up. There was a sense of Japanese hospitality that was inspired by Jessica, but there was still a strong presence of German culture within the household.
“I’ll bring Mama over here. Make yourself at home!” Jessica smiled before she headed down the main hall.
Zachary nodded and turned to Jamilyn with a soft smile. “Vould you like anything to drink?”
“I don’t suppose you have any sweet tea, do you?” Jamilyn asked. Despite living in California, she was an Indiana girl by heart, and she grew up with the taste of sweet tea. It was one of her greatest comforts whenever she was away from her family.
“Of course. How do you feel about Joe Tea’s sweet tea flavor?” Zachary asked with a chuckle as he made his way into the kitchen. He opened the French-design refrigerator and grabbed three bottles, one of sweet tea for Jamilyn, green tea with ginseng for Jessica, and peach half n’ half for himself. He closed the door and made his way back into the living room, handing her the sweet tea.
“I have to admit, I’ve never tried it.” Jamilyn opened hers and took a quick drink, smiling wide at the taste. “It’s almost like Dad’s from when I was a kid! I’m gonna have to pick up a few cases of this before we head back home!”
“That’s a good idea.” Zachary smiled. He began to set up nicely-painted flower coasters on the coffee table for their drinks. He set Jessica’s atop of a coaster with Japanese cherry blossoms. “Unless you have a private jet, airports won’t let you bring more than three ounces onboard… Ve can ship a wholesale pack for you, free of charge.”
“Jessie must not have given you the 4-1-1 on me then...part of my job as CFO of Cornett Enterprises is the access to one of my dad’s jet planes, which means transport shouldn’t be a problem.” Jamilyn didn’t want to seem like she was gloating or anything, but she was particularly proud of her position in the company, one of the few things that still saw her have some degree of respect...along with her other associations, but now wasn’t the time to bring those up. “I appreciate the offer, though, Cary.”
“Cary?” He blinked quizzically. He’d never been given a nickname like that before. A little left field, but he wasn’t going to reject it.
“I give people nicknames based on how much I relate to and care about them. If I give someone a nickname, it means they’re on my good side. I’m still working on Pokemon nicknames for you two...that’s when you know you’re stuck with me for good.” Jamilyn giggled as she took another sip. She was trying to pace herself and not swig the drink down in one gulp, it was that good to her tastebuds.
Pokemon nicknames? Now he was intrigued. But before he could gain some insight on the matter, Jessica returned to the living room with their mother. Odelia regarded Jamilyn with a smile and politely bowed her head. “Hello there. You must be Jamilyn Cornett. I’ve heard good things about you.”
“The feeling is more than mutual, Miss Sears,” Jamilyn said, taking a seat nearby with a smile.
Zachary moved over to help their mother sit down on the white couch. Facing the opposite side was the black couch and the marble coffee table was in between. Odelia carefully placed a photo album in the middle of the coffee table. Jessica moved to sit down on the black couch, faced forward, and reached out to take her iced tea. She twisted the cap off and took a small swig with a sigh.
“Mother, vould you like anything to drink?” Zachary asked her.
She nodded with a little smile. “A glass of lemon water, thank you Zachary.”
Obliging his mother’s request, Zachary returned to the kitchen to get her drink. Jessica glanced over at Jamilyn and patted a spot on the black couch next to her. “Over here.” Jamilyn smiled and nodded, having taken a seat in a chair near the television, but now moved over to where Jessica had patted, nerves wracking through her brain as she did so. God, she was hoping what she found was the truth.
Once Zachary returned to the living room with a glass of lemon water for her, Odelia took a small drink and set it on another coaster. She cleared her throat and folded her lithe hands on her lap. “You’re free to open the photo album and take a look at the pictures. I apologize, they’re all black and white. My family was rich in manners, not wealth. Living in Berlin in my youth was quite… complex.”
“No need to apologize, Miss Sears,” Jamilyn noted. “I completely understand. Dad worked his soul off to get us to where we are today, so I have an appreciation for these kinds of pictures.” She went to her purse and pulled out a few folded up pieces of paper, handing them to Jessica, who then handed them to her mother. “These are the letters I could find my own grandmother wrote. I hope they help…” Jamilyn then opened the nearby photo album and began to flip through. Almost instantly, her eyes opened wide and her hand covered a gasp from her lips.
“Thank you dear,” Odelia smiled softly as she accepted the letters. Meticulously she began to unfold one of them and read them to herself, taking a moment to adjust her reading glasses.
Curious, Jessica glanced over the black and white photos of the old album and her eyes lit up. “Mama… your sister does look a lot like me.”
Now it was Zachary’s turn to observe the photos from where he was sitting. He pressed his lips together before he took a single breath. “Is strange, but true… It’s almost like I’m seeing double.”
“It’s far from uncanny...that’s Grandma Remedi.” Jamilyn pointed to a scar on the left arm of the girl in one of the pictures. “I’d know that scar anywhere...Mama Remi always said it was a childhood accident...something that she scraped herself on while playing tag.”
Odelia nodded and softly chuckled. “My sister was very free-spirited. Bold, daring… Unlike me, I was always reserved and meticulous. It was almost hard to believe that we were sisters.”
“Well, if ever there was a way to describe Mama Remi, it’d be that…bold and daring almost to a fault. Dad always told the story of Mama Remi picking fights with the school board because they refused to even acknowledge the harsh treatment he was getting at school. She was always my role model…still hard to believe she’s gone at times…” Jamilyn sniffed, her tears welling up as she ran her hand through her hair.
Jessica and Zachary lifted their heads up from the photo album. Odelia pressed her lips together into a thin line as she recited Jamilyn’s words in her head. “She passed away…?”
“Not of natural causes, sadly...she was involved in a hit-and-run accident almost a year ago.” Jamilyn decided it best not to inform Odelia of the further details...that it had been Jamilyn’s former stepmother Nikki Matthews that had done it, that it had all been a set up to hurt her father...she just lowered her head in silence.
A slight lowering of her head, Odelia frowned, nodded a little and took a moment to breathe. “I see… We were not meant to reunite after all this time. If I were a lesser woman, I would be angry and spiteful towards our mother, but that is not in my nature. I can only hope that she was happy with the life she lived.” She lifted her head to make eye contact with Jamilyn once more, trying her best to smile.
“She did,” Jamilyn smiled. “She spent forty-five wonderful years with Grandpa Anstice and had five kids, of which my father was one of them. That would make you my great aunt...” Jamilyn turned to Jessica and Zachary. “...and you two my second cousins.”
Jessica blinked, lost in the wonderment of the newly branched out family tree. “Really? Is it true?”
Zachary was a little hesitant, studying the photo album a little while longer. He turned towards his mother and cleared his throat. “Mother, I don’t mean to intrude on personal feelings, but… why didn’t you tell us about our aunt? About our grandparents?”
It was a question Odelia wholeheartedly expected. She reached out and took a few sips of her lemon water before she answered. “My family wasn’t an entirely happy one, Zachary. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my sister Remi, but our parents divorced when we were young. We were forced to go our separate ways. Mother took her and left Berlin in a hurry. Father and I stayed in the city for a few more years… but that was how I met your father, Franz.”
At the very least it was bittersweet.
“In all fairness, Cary,” Jamilyn added as a bit of extra perspective, “None of us in my family had any clue of this either until Jessie posted a Twitter picture a couple weeks ago that caught my attention. Once I started going through Mama Remi’s things, it was clear they’d lost touch shortly after the move. The way I was understanding her diary, Remi and your grandmother moved quite a bit that first five years they were in America until they finally settled on Indiana. By the time Mama Remi settled down enough to write Aunt Odie again, she was no longer in Berlin and therefore had no way to contact her of a new address.”
Odelia confirmed this with a nod. She looked to Zachary and offered him a weak smile. “We tried our best to keep in touch… But after I married your father, we migrated from Berlin to Queens. Remi and I lost contact with one another. When your sister started talking to me about Jamilyn and the Cornett family, I recognized my sister’s name in their family tree, and… I was hoping for the best.”
It was still a little perplexing, but for the most part Zachary understood it. He faced his sister who smiled softly at him, then he regarded their-- officially speaking-- second cousin Jamilyn. “So… I guess we have a lot of catching up to do, ja?”
“I would say so...we’re having a get-together toward the start of August to celebrate my sister Destiny getting into Cambridge before she goes to Boston...you all are more than welcome to come if you’re able. Jessie’s already met Sage and Etienne, and I’m sure the rest of my family would love to meet you all.” Jamilyn then reached into her purse with one more envelope, this time sealed with the name “Odie” on it. “One more thing...this letter was with her will when she passed. We never knew who it was to be for at the time, but Mama Remi had an insane ability to know exactly what was about to happen...because the envelope is dated two days before she died.” Jamilyn handed the still-sealed envelope to Odelia. “I know...thanks to the recent passing of my brother...that this isn’t going to replace her...but if nothing else, this may give you some type of closure.”
All Odelia could do at that point was sniff and tear up, causing Jamilyn to step up from her seat and give her aunt a hug.
She may have lost a grandmother almost a year ago...but at least now Jamilyn gained cousins.
Something she wouldn’t have expected years ago.
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
[Apartment of Claire Daniels and Katie Moicelle, Malibu, CA; Saturday, July 9, 2016, 4:25PM PDT]
[Mood Music: “Make a Wish” from Pokémon Jirachi: Wish Maker]
So when Jami arrived at the apartment with her trusty violin Chimera in tow, dressed in less flashy clothes compared to normal (a puple tank top, a pair of Pacman pajama pants, and a light purple flower in her hair), she was already rather exhausted. Finding out she had new cousins and watching her Mistress be a pony girl would have exhausted anyone else, but for some reason, Jami was determined to make sure Michael’s damage was undone.
And she knew the best way to do it.
She knocked on the door gently, brushing her hair out of her face, hoping she wasn’t too late.
She was particularly worried about how Claire had been handing things up to this point. Jami's own abilities had caused a less-than-stellar reaction in Claire to start, but dealing with the Sorrow on her own...Jami knew full well that would have been taxing to anyone who hadn't had to deal with that kind of situation.
One that, thanks to her father, Jami was infinitely well-versed in.
There's a few clicks on the other end of the door before it's slowly opened. Claire looks out, looking like she hasn't been out for days. Worry wrought over her face as she tries a smile seeing Jami standing there. She closes the door shortly after, not as a rude gesture but to unlock the chain and then opens the door again practically throwing herself against her friend with a hug.
Jami quickly hugged her back, taking great care not to hurt Claire with her violin, and quickly kissed Claire's lips softly.
"I came as soon as I could...how is she holding up?"
"Ghuuh..."
The former Zero Gravity Champion wept out, just wanting her week, her competition cycle to end. It was rather clear that Katie needed some love. Claire strokes her hair back a little and steps into the apartment clearing the way for Jami as she again attempts her smile.
"Like...like that."
She nods rubbing her pale hands together before noting the violin case. Her expression changes to curiosity...but not enough to keep her from forgetting what was truly important as she gestures for Jami to follow back to where Katie was. Jami followed Claire back to the bedroom, almost gasping at the site of Katie. She'd seen how her brother Michael had, with good intentions, brought Katie’s alter out publicly, and Jami knew that if it wasn’t countered soon, things wouldn’t be good in the house. She sat her violin case down and opened it up, pulling out a beautiful alto violin, one that she’d played many times in private.
This was the first time she’d broken it out in a year.
She went to Katie, violin and bow in hand, and sat on the bed beside her. “Harley…can you hear me, babygirl?”
Katie simply whimpered in what seemed like pain, acknowledging Jami's presence.
"Mmm..."
The young Cumberland Jet groaned, cringing at the slightest movement. Claire keeps herself in the corner, frightened by all that's been happening lately but at the same time trying to show some measure of strength in holding back her tears. It was one thing to be dealing with...different sides of Jami, but Katie now? The thought of running never crossed Claire's mind, but she certainly wasn't certain of her own capabilities in handling this.
Luckily for Claire, Jami knew what to do. She pulled the violin to her chin and struck the bow to the strings, beginning to play a haunting tune. It doesn't seem familiar until Jami starts to sing.
"When daytime turns to night, when the moon shines bright,
When you're tucked in tight, when everything's alright.
Slip softly to that place, where secret thoughts run free,
There come face to face with who you want to be..."
Following the pause, Claire gets a familiar sensation as she parts her lips to speak but closes them shortly after. Although knowing where this may lead, she tries again.
"S...so swim across the ocean blue, fly a rocket to the moon;"
She pauses and swallows before continuing.
"You can change your life, or you can change the world.
Take a chance, don't be afraid, life is yours to live;
Take a chance, and then the best has yet to come."
Jami nods to Claire as she continues to play, and as Claire steps forward, the two sing to Katie together, their voices working together in harmony as they look to their shared love.
"Make a wish, it's up to you.
Find the strength inside, then watch your dreams come true.
You don't need a shooting star, the magic's right there in your heart;
Close your eyes, believe, and make a wish..."
There was a slight pause as Jami continued on her violin. It seemed as though Katie, albeit weakly, wanted this next verse.
"Chiisaki mono , sore was watashi
Watashi desu , magire naku
Kagami no naka , kokolobososa dakega
Dare ni makenai , ashita ni na ru yo"
She wanted the other two to continue with her.
In Japanese.
That's where things would get awkward when it came to Claire's singing. She looks over at Jami briefly not wanting to stop, but messages with her eyes that she can only do her best in following along at this part. Jami nodded to Claire, her hands never once moving away from her violin. She would pick up the slack for Claire, having learned Japanese as part of her high school year.
As much as she wanted to use her abilities, she had also made a promise to Claire that she wouldn't use them unless absolutely necessary for her survival, and while she felt it might have helped, it wouldn't have really helped.
Jami sang the Japanese lyrics sweetly, hopefully leading Claire along as best she could. She still wasn't sure why they liked her voice so much...most people recognized her violin talents more than her singing voice, but for Katie, it was worth a try.
Claire manages to keep up, for the most part. She stumbles on a few words but knows that it just means she should quiet for the next few words and pick herself back into it again. Every time when she gets into a steady flow, she looks over to Katie wanting to reach out and touch her but she knows this needs to be a group effort. Therefore, she cups one hand under the other forcing it to remain there for the time being. Katie grips her lover's hand, though her grip is frail. She'd stopped singing as soon as Jami and Claire started to in Japanese. The brunette slowly closed her eyes in a sign of comfort, and serenity.
Jami smiled upon seeing Katie hold Claire's hand. A true romantic moment if she'd ever seen it...
Lost in the moment, she continued to sing and play her violin until the song was finished, As her bow faded the sounds across, she watched the couple in front of her for a few minutes.
Maybe AJ was right after all....
Jami stood up and started to pack her violin up, feeling she'd done her part to help. Katie and Claire had each other, Katie was obviously feeling better...her work here was done. Plus, the last thing she needed to be right now was the 'convenience'...
Katie noticed Jami packing up, and she really didn't want the Coldfire Phoenix to leave. Not without a hug anyway. The brunette slowly and creakily rose up from the bed to approach Jami for a hug.
"Not withOW-- not without a hug, Ms. J..."
Claire is quickly there to catch her and hold her up, taking as much weight as necessary. Once she's made herself as comfortable a crutch as possible, she assists Katie closer to Jami allowing the two their moment.
Jami tuned to Katie and Claire...with tears in her eyes.
Why did they keep doing this?
She had come here to make Katie feel better, to get her in a better mood, to prevent her Sorrow from taking over, and here Katie was risking her health for a hug from Jami?
Why?
It was then that Jami realized a small truth...
Megan Helms-King was wrong.
Amy Jo Smyth was wrong.
Kenzi Grey was wrong.
Even Lucas Durpee was wrong.
It wasn't that Jami didn't see her own worth, that she was being the 'knight in white armor'..
These girls made it known how much she was worth.
These girls made it known how much she was loved for all she did.
They made it known that she mattered too...despite how she felt at times.
They may have been right that Jami thought of herself far less than her lovers, but it wasn’t for lack of worth…it was because by doing these things…she was being for them what she didn’t have herself in the toughest times.
The voice that said “This isn’t your fault.”
The hand that comforted them in their darkest moments.
The Oracle to their Batmans and Nightwings.
Jami walked forward and hugged both girls tightly, smiling as tears leaked down her cheek.
"Do you need me to spend the night, my loves?" she asked gently.
Katie slowly accepted the hug, managing to hug back as tightly as she could... which wasn't really that tight, Jami had felt tighter from the Cumberland Jet, but it was a tender hug nonetheless.
"I would never object to that... you can tell I need it, right?"
A small, pained chuckle as Katie placed her head on Jami's shoulder. Jami pulled back, first looking to Katie, then to a clearly exhausted Claire.
"We all three need this..."
Jami first leaned to kiss Katie deeply, then turned to Claire, doing the same with her. She'd been hurt in the head, run ragged, nearly killed twice...
Jami extented her hand and hooked it, smiling.
"I love you two...I'm not about to leave when you need me most."
Claire smiles still feeling the effects of the kiss, proud of Jami for keeping things natural here. She knows her part comes last, but she can't help but reach out a little resting her hand overtop of Jami's leaving room for Katie, whom she hugs a little closer around to hips in effort to continue supporting her.
"So... to bed with us three, then?"
Claire looks down at the gesture made between herself and Jami slowly pulling her hand away and smiles toward her lover."Yes. I don't know if I can keep you up like this."
Giggling, Claire makes her way to the bed falling but making certain she takes the fll brunt of impact landing on her back with Katie on top of her. Smiling up at her girlfriend, Claire drops her arms down.
"Where do we go from here?"
Well this was a swtich....
Normally it was Claire that was hesitant to finish their hand motion that had brought the three of them into this relationship to begin with...this time it was Katie.
But Jami had to remind herself, Katie was rather exhausted as it was, she probably barely even realized where she was as it was.
At least that's what Jami was trying to tell herself.
Just as quick as her confidence about the situation had built, it was destroyed again. It always seemed to end up between those two...with Jami on the outside looking in. Any time they looked to prove Amy Jo and Megan wrong, it went right back to proving them right.
But she took a deep breath and calmed herself. The last thing she needed to do was to look like that here. She instead laid down by the couple and closed her eyes.
Katie wasn't the only one exhausted by the day by a mile.
And yet....
"You two go ahead and have some time together," Jami changed her mind, moving as if she were about to get up. "I suddenly feel the need to do a bit of working out. Still have a match to worry about tomor--"
Katie, albeit weakly, kissed Jami right on the lips. She really didn't want Jami to feel left out, even though she really wasn't, ultimately.
"Don't worry about it... you have the morning, and all day before that to worry about it. For tonight... me, you, and Claire. Just us."
Fuck, what was it about these two?! Every time she thought she had a handle on Katie and Claire, it was like someone hit the reset button!
Jami kissed Katie back, then laid back on the bed, kissing Claire the same way. she smiled and wrapped her arms around the couple.
"I can't deny you two what you clearly want."
Jami snuggled with them contently.
Things were back to normal.
...well, as normal as they got for Jami.
Claire nods in agreement with what Katie had said about the three of them being together. She reaches out taking hold of Jami's hand massaging the back of it with her thumb. "At the same time, you know I was asking you that question too."
"So long as I'm with you two...I don't care. I'm personally exhausted from a hell of a day...but I need to at least be by my loves." Jami held her hooked hand out again, fighting the sleep her body craved, but not wanting to crash before she knew they felt the same. If they wanted to do anything beyond this, they'd have to wait till morning...Jami's body was well past the point of exhaustion. Claire smiles loosening her grip so she could rest her hand over top of Jami's giving it a loving squeeze before resting it in proper position.
"I'm just exhausted, really... I'm in pain, but I just want you two to sleep. Sleep on me, beside me, whatever suits your fancies."Katie weakly wraps her arms around the other two ladies, left around Claire, right around Jami, as she slowly plants a kiss on Claire's lips. Then she almost literally cranks her neck around to plant much of the same on Jami's lips.
"I love you both... sleep well."
And off Katie dozes to sleep.
Jami and Claire shared a last kiss themselves before sliding their hands around Katie’s so they made their heart symbol, the last action they’d do before falling asleep together.
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
[Casa de Kami, Laguna Beach, CA; Tuesday, July 12, 2016, 7:48PM PDT]
[Mood Music: “Cinderella Man” by Eminem]
Jami stood in the middle of her ring at home, her newest mode of costume ready for reveal. Instead of going with the expected gamer theme, it was time to reveal her more intricate nature.
The Heartless Succubus was about to make her motives clear once and for all.
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
[Mission Hospital, Laguna Beach, CA; Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 11:29AM PDT]
[Mood Music: Theme from “Neverending Story” by Limahl]
Jami sat in the waiting room, flipping through a Cosmopolitan. Something she wouldn’t have caught herself doing months ago, but here she was, admiring how well they’d captured Sabrina Ramirez’ figure and spirit. Her cousin’s fellow SAP competitor had been generating quite a bit of buzz on Twitter…
“Miss Cornett?” the receptionist said. “Dr. Layton will see you now.”
Jami nodded with a smile and walked down the hall as she’d done a few times before. She knocked on the door and opened it to reveal a middle-aged redhead studying her notes on Jami.
It was strange…Jami swore she almost looked like her former stepmother Nicole…
“Ah, Jamilyn. Please, have a seat.”
Jami went to the familiar couch as Dr. Layton picked up her tablet and began writing.
“Early again…you’re making my other patients look bad by comparison.”
“That wasn’t my intent, ma’am,” Jami stated calmly.
“Oh no, that’s a good thing. In fact, when your boss contacted me to reinstate these sessions, she was surprised at how punctual you were. It seems a lot of your co-workers have an…interesting idea of time.”
“At least she was impressed with something…all I seem to do lately is screw up.”
“Well, she did inform me that you’ve been a bit more stressed than usual…care to elaborate?”
“Where do I even begin…the punch to my head by my ex, having to fly from Malibu to Nashville to save one of my girlfriends from a potential rape situation, keeping another from losing their mind, dealing with a third being hospitalized…”
“You really do seem to care for these women you’re with.”
“Of course…”
“So why is it that I was given the impression you were just using them by your boss?”
“I don’t know…probably because I haven’t been focusing on myself as much as I should.”
“Well, our last session you were having issues with your friends gushing about having a baby soon…and you said you were jealous of your step mom for the same reason. And I did get reports that you went off on someone for using a specific term…what was that?”
“….joshing…” Jami’s tears were already forming.
“Your son’s name…he’s become quite a focus for you lately.”
“I…keep feeling so weak…so helpless…like, if I’d just done something….”
“I think we may be stumbling onto the source of your altruism. Why don’t you begin from where we left off…the Spearmint Incident, as you called it? Maybe if we get to the core of why this bothers you so much and why you haven’t moved on, we can go from there to come up with some solutions.”
Jami took a deep breath, bracing for the worst flashback of her life.
“I was four years old…”
[Mood Music: “When Can I See You Again” by Owl City]
Their mother’s garden was beautiful. It was imbued with her gentle soul. Every flower, every rose, every plant was well nurtured with love and care.
As of late, it hasn’t been given Odelia’s undivided attention. On some days ALS would slow her down, take its toll on her. Sometimes the pain was too much and all she could do was try to relax. That’s why Zachary and Jessica have taken it upon themselves to help take care of the garden.
In their early childhood, the garden was very small. Now in their adulthood, it has become a gorgeous work of art. It was easy to tell where all the flowers for their father’s grave site came from. Zachary was very careful to utilize a weed killer that wouldn’t harm the garden. Jessica maneuvered around with the water hose, showering the plants with a generous amount of water for the Toronto summer. She watched her brother rise to his feet and wipe the sweat from his forehead. Casually he ran his left hand through his recently-dyed brown hair and took a deep breath.
There was a pause. Something’s caught his attention. Jessica glanced in the same direction he was looking and she smiled a little. She moved back to turn off the water hose and allow it retract into its normal state.
“I was just about to call you, Jamico.” She giggled.
For her part, Jamilyn Cornett was far from looking in a rational mood to begin with. She’d chosen her outfit carefully, going for a simple knee-length pink pencil pleather skirt, a pink-and-black camisole top covered slightly by a darker pink cardigan sweater, and matching pink-and-black heels. Her pink hair streaks almost blended with the dominant red as her hazel eyes looked tired and exhausted.
To say Jamilyn had been having a rough time lately would be greatly underestimating things. She’d nearly died twice in a week, struck by an ex-girlfriend, and was having chaos in her personal life, not to mention nearly getting fired for something that wasn’t even her fault. But she’d insisted on joining Jess and Zach here, intent on getting a few answers for herself as well.
She approached Jessica and hugged her tightly, a faint smile crossing her face. “Call it my unique sense of timing…I swear, there are times I think I’m part of a novel, as many times as that’s happened…”
Jessica tilted her head. It was a mystifying concept to think of, but she tried not to delve into it too long. She returned Jamilyn’s hug with a smile and looked her in the eye. “You’re safe now. This is a happy sanctuary, right Zach?”
Zachary nodded, placed the weed killer back where it belongs, and pulled the brown gardening gloves off. “Home is where the heart is, ja?” He made his way over to them and placed a hand on his hip. “I don’t think we’ve had a chance to meet in person until now… I’m Zachary, Jessica’s older brother.” Politely he extended his right hand towards Jamilyn, despite being left-handed.
Luckily for Zach, Jami was also a leftie, so she switched his hands playfully and shook his hand before pulling it in for a hug. She smiled and pulled back, a little more hyper than she had first appeared to be.
“Oh please, Zach. No need for formalities. I think we all know why we’re here, so we don’t need to be all tense.” Jamilyn, to a fault, always seemed to be more about the overall picture rather than the microcosm of the situation. She looked around and smiled. “Your mom has a wonderful place here.”
He was a little taken aback, but pleasantly so, a smile crossing Zachary’s features as he nodded in agreement. “Vielen danke. This house carries our parents’ spirits. Jessica and I lived here for a long time after nine-eleven.”
Jessica nodded a little. “Zach moved out when he was eighteen to pursue a modeling career in New York City. Suffice to say, he’s very successful. Now he’s dating one of Las Vegas’s most gorgeous drag performers in Tristan Elliot.”
Zachary couldn’t help but smile. His boyfriend was probably relaxing in his hotel room right now. He promised he would see him after family matters have been taken care of. He cleared his throat and took a step towards the front of the house. “Come on, we shouldn’t keep our mother waiting. Apparently she found an old photo book in the attic. It might answer all our questions.”
“I agree...after realizing how identical Jessica looked to a teenage Grandma Remedi, I think all three of us need this.” Jamilyn smiled as the two siblings opened the door. She’d seen the interactions between Zach and Tris and was rather impressed with the two. She was desperately hoping Jess would find similar luck with Geki.
At least they seemed to be able to handle single-lover relationships compared to how Jami was.0
Even her outfit seemed bright and excessive compared to the other two, so much so that she was immediately beginning to regret having worn it. But she shook her head without the siblings noticing, taking a deep breath. The three had to see this through, no matter what.
Jamilyn’s own personal issues could wait. This was important enough to prioritize.
It wasn’t entirely fair to compare their physical appearances. Zachary and Jessica were dressed in casual wears to better work on their mother’s garden. Simple, dark colors, loose-fitted and comfortable. Now that Zachary was brunette, however, it made both Sears siblings stand out on their own. They always had a similar appearance growing up. If it wasn’t for the three-year age difference, some would say they were twins.
Before entering, Zachary and Jessica slipped out of their muddled work shoes. They lightly stepped onto the clean white carpet of the living room and patiently waited for Jamilyn to remove her shoes as well, which she dutifully complied. It was customary to keep shoes off the carpet and the tile floors of their parents’ house. It was easier to vacuum and clean up. There was a sense of Japanese hospitality that was inspired by Jessica, but there was still a strong presence of German culture within the household.
“I’ll bring Mama over here. Make yourself at home!” Jessica smiled before she headed down the main hall.
Zachary nodded and turned to Jamilyn with a soft smile. “Vould you like anything to drink?”
“I don’t suppose you have any sweet tea, do you?” Jamilyn asked. Despite living in California, she was an Indiana girl by heart, and she grew up with the taste of sweet tea. It was one of her greatest comforts whenever she was away from her family.
“Of course. How do you feel about Joe Tea’s sweet tea flavor?” Zachary asked with a chuckle as he made his way into the kitchen. He opened the French-design refrigerator and grabbed three bottles, one of sweet tea for Jamilyn, green tea with ginseng for Jessica, and peach half n’ half for himself. He closed the door and made his way back into the living room, handing her the sweet tea.
“I have to admit, I’ve never tried it.” Jamilyn opened hers and took a quick drink, smiling wide at the taste. “It’s almost like Dad’s from when I was a kid! I’m gonna have to pick up a few cases of this before we head back home!”
“That’s a good idea.” Zachary smiled. He began to set up nicely-painted flower coasters on the coffee table for their drinks. He set Jessica’s atop of a coaster with Japanese cherry blossoms. “Unless you have a private jet, airports won’t let you bring more than three ounces onboard… Ve can ship a wholesale pack for you, free of charge.”
“Jessie must not have given you the 4-1-1 on me then...part of my job as CFO of Cornett Enterprises is the access to one of my dad’s jet planes, which means transport shouldn’t be a problem.” Jamilyn didn’t want to seem like she was gloating or anything, but she was particularly proud of her position in the company, one of the few things that still saw her have some degree of respect...along with her other associations, but now wasn’t the time to bring those up. “I appreciate the offer, though, Cary.”
“Cary?” He blinked quizzically. He’d never been given a nickname like that before. A little left field, but he wasn’t going to reject it.
“I give people nicknames based on how much I relate to and care about them. If I give someone a nickname, it means they’re on my good side. I’m still working on Pokemon nicknames for you two...that’s when you know you’re stuck with me for good.” Jamilyn giggled as she took another sip. She was trying to pace herself and not swig the drink down in one gulp, it was that good to her tastebuds.
Pokemon nicknames? Now he was intrigued. But before he could gain some insight on the matter, Jessica returned to the living room with their mother. Odelia regarded Jamilyn with a smile and politely bowed her head. “Hello there. You must be Jamilyn Cornett. I’ve heard good things about you.”
“The feeling is more than mutual, Miss Sears,” Jamilyn said, taking a seat nearby with a smile.
Zachary moved over to help their mother sit down on the white couch. Facing the opposite side was the black couch and the marble coffee table was in between. Odelia carefully placed a photo album in the middle of the coffee table. Jessica moved to sit down on the black couch, faced forward, and reached out to take her iced tea. She twisted the cap off and took a small swig with a sigh.
“Mother, vould you like anything to drink?” Zachary asked her.
She nodded with a little smile. “A glass of lemon water, thank you Zachary.”
Obliging his mother’s request, Zachary returned to the kitchen to get her drink. Jessica glanced over at Jamilyn and patted a spot on the black couch next to her. “Over here.” Jamilyn smiled and nodded, having taken a seat in a chair near the television, but now moved over to where Jessica had patted, nerves wracking through her brain as she did so. God, she was hoping what she found was the truth.
Once Zachary returned to the living room with a glass of lemon water for her, Odelia took a small drink and set it on another coaster. She cleared her throat and folded her lithe hands on her lap. “You’re free to open the photo album and take a look at the pictures. I apologize, they’re all black and white. My family was rich in manners, not wealth. Living in Berlin in my youth was quite… complex.”
“No need to apologize, Miss Sears,” Jamilyn noted. “I completely understand. Dad worked his soul off to get us to where we are today, so I have an appreciation for these kinds of pictures.” She went to her purse and pulled out a few folded up pieces of paper, handing them to Jessica, who then handed them to her mother. “These are the letters I could find my own grandmother wrote. I hope they help…” Jamilyn then opened the nearby photo album and began to flip through. Almost instantly, her eyes opened wide and her hand covered a gasp from her lips.
“Thank you dear,” Odelia smiled softly as she accepted the letters. Meticulously she began to unfold one of them and read them to herself, taking a moment to adjust her reading glasses.
Curious, Jessica glanced over the black and white photos of the old album and her eyes lit up. “Mama… your sister does look a lot like me.”
Now it was Zachary’s turn to observe the photos from where he was sitting. He pressed his lips together before he took a single breath. “Is strange, but true… It’s almost like I’m seeing double.”
“It’s far from uncanny...that’s Grandma Remedi.” Jamilyn pointed to a scar on the left arm of the girl in one of the pictures. “I’d know that scar anywhere...Mama Remi always said it was a childhood accident...something that she scraped herself on while playing tag.”
Odelia nodded and softly chuckled. “My sister was very free-spirited. Bold, daring… Unlike me, I was always reserved and meticulous. It was almost hard to believe that we were sisters.”
“Well, if ever there was a way to describe Mama Remi, it’d be that…bold and daring almost to a fault. Dad always told the story of Mama Remi picking fights with the school board because they refused to even acknowledge the harsh treatment he was getting at school. She was always my role model…still hard to believe she’s gone at times…” Jamilyn sniffed, her tears welling up as she ran her hand through her hair.
Jessica and Zachary lifted their heads up from the photo album. Odelia pressed her lips together into a thin line as she recited Jamilyn’s words in her head. “She passed away…?”
“Not of natural causes, sadly...she was involved in a hit-and-run accident almost a year ago.” Jamilyn decided it best not to inform Odelia of the further details...that it had been Jamilyn’s former stepmother Nikki Matthews that had done it, that it had all been a set up to hurt her father...she just lowered her head in silence.
A slight lowering of her head, Odelia frowned, nodded a little and took a moment to breathe. “I see… We were not meant to reunite after all this time. If I were a lesser woman, I would be angry and spiteful towards our mother, but that is not in my nature. I can only hope that she was happy with the life she lived.” She lifted her head to make eye contact with Jamilyn once more, trying her best to smile.
“She did,” Jamilyn smiled. “She spent forty-five wonderful years with Grandpa Anstice and had five kids, of which my father was one of them. That would make you my great aunt...” Jamilyn turned to Jessica and Zachary. “...and you two my second cousins.”
Jessica blinked, lost in the wonderment of the newly branched out family tree. “Really? Is it true?”
Zachary was a little hesitant, studying the photo album a little while longer. He turned towards his mother and cleared his throat. “Mother, I don’t mean to intrude on personal feelings, but… why didn’t you tell us about our aunt? About our grandparents?”
It was a question Odelia wholeheartedly expected. She reached out and took a few sips of her lemon water before she answered. “My family wasn’t an entirely happy one, Zachary. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my sister Remi, but our parents divorced when we were young. We were forced to go our separate ways. Mother took her and left Berlin in a hurry. Father and I stayed in the city for a few more years… but that was how I met your father, Franz.”
At the very least it was bittersweet.
“In all fairness, Cary,” Jamilyn added as a bit of extra perspective, “None of us in my family had any clue of this either until Jessie posted a Twitter picture a couple weeks ago that caught my attention. Once I started going through Mama Remi’s things, it was clear they’d lost touch shortly after the move. The way I was understanding her diary, Remi and your grandmother moved quite a bit that first five years they were in America until they finally settled on Indiana. By the time Mama Remi settled down enough to write Aunt Odie again, she was no longer in Berlin and therefore had no way to contact her of a new address.”
Odelia confirmed this with a nod. She looked to Zachary and offered him a weak smile. “We tried our best to keep in touch… But after I married your father, we migrated from Berlin to Queens. Remi and I lost contact with one another. When your sister started talking to me about Jamilyn and the Cornett family, I recognized my sister’s name in their family tree, and… I was hoping for the best.”
It was still a little perplexing, but for the most part Zachary understood it. He faced his sister who smiled softly at him, then he regarded their-- officially speaking-- second cousin Jamilyn. “So… I guess we have a lot of catching up to do, ja?”
“I would say so...we’re having a get-together toward the start of August to celebrate my sister Destiny getting into Cambridge before she goes to Boston...you all are more than welcome to come if you’re able. Jessie’s already met Sage and Etienne, and I’m sure the rest of my family would love to meet you all.” Jamilyn then reached into her purse with one more envelope, this time sealed with the name “Odie” on it. “One more thing...this letter was with her will when she passed. We never knew who it was to be for at the time, but Mama Remi had an insane ability to know exactly what was about to happen...because the envelope is dated two days before she died.” Jamilyn handed the still-sealed envelope to Odelia. “I know...thanks to the recent passing of my brother...that this isn’t going to replace her...but if nothing else, this may give you some type of closure.”
All Odelia could do at that point was sniff and tear up, causing Jamilyn to step up from her seat and give her aunt a hug.
She may have lost a grandmother almost a year ago...but at least now Jamilyn gained cousins.
Something she wouldn’t have expected years ago.
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
[Apartment of Claire Daniels and Katie Moicelle, Malibu, CA; Saturday, July 9, 2016, 4:25PM PDT]
[Mood Music: “Make a Wish” from Pokémon Jirachi: Wish Maker]
So when Jami arrived at the apartment with her trusty violin Chimera in tow, dressed in less flashy clothes compared to normal (a puple tank top, a pair of Pacman pajama pants, and a light purple flower in her hair), she was already rather exhausted. Finding out she had new cousins and watching her Mistress be a pony girl would have exhausted anyone else, but for some reason, Jami was determined to make sure Michael’s damage was undone.
And she knew the best way to do it.
She knocked on the door gently, brushing her hair out of her face, hoping she wasn’t too late.
She was particularly worried about how Claire had been handing things up to this point. Jami's own abilities had caused a less-than-stellar reaction in Claire to start, but dealing with the Sorrow on her own...Jami knew full well that would have been taxing to anyone who hadn't had to deal with that kind of situation.
One that, thanks to her father, Jami was infinitely well-versed in.
There's a few clicks on the other end of the door before it's slowly opened. Claire looks out, looking like she hasn't been out for days. Worry wrought over her face as she tries a smile seeing Jami standing there. She closes the door shortly after, not as a rude gesture but to unlock the chain and then opens the door again practically throwing herself against her friend with a hug.
Jami quickly hugged her back, taking great care not to hurt Claire with her violin, and quickly kissed Claire's lips softly.
"I came as soon as I could...how is she holding up?"
"Ghuuh..."
The former Zero Gravity Champion wept out, just wanting her week, her competition cycle to end. It was rather clear that Katie needed some love. Claire strokes her hair back a little and steps into the apartment clearing the way for Jami as she again attempts her smile.
"Like...like that."
She nods rubbing her pale hands together before noting the violin case. Her expression changes to curiosity...but not enough to keep her from forgetting what was truly important as she gestures for Jami to follow back to where Katie was. Jami followed Claire back to the bedroom, almost gasping at the site of Katie. She'd seen how her brother Michael had, with good intentions, brought Katie’s alter out publicly, and Jami knew that if it wasn’t countered soon, things wouldn’t be good in the house. She sat her violin case down and opened it up, pulling out a beautiful alto violin, one that she’d played many times in private.
This was the first time she’d broken it out in a year.
She went to Katie, violin and bow in hand, and sat on the bed beside her. “Harley…can you hear me, babygirl?”
Katie simply whimpered in what seemed like pain, acknowledging Jami's presence.
"Mmm..."
The young Cumberland Jet groaned, cringing at the slightest movement. Claire keeps herself in the corner, frightened by all that's been happening lately but at the same time trying to show some measure of strength in holding back her tears. It was one thing to be dealing with...different sides of Jami, but Katie now? The thought of running never crossed Claire's mind, but she certainly wasn't certain of her own capabilities in handling this.
Luckily for Claire, Jami knew what to do. She pulled the violin to her chin and struck the bow to the strings, beginning to play a haunting tune. It doesn't seem familiar until Jami starts to sing.
"When daytime turns to night, when the moon shines bright,
When you're tucked in tight, when everything's alright.
Slip softly to that place, where secret thoughts run free,
There come face to face with who you want to be..."
Following the pause, Claire gets a familiar sensation as she parts her lips to speak but closes them shortly after. Although knowing where this may lead, she tries again.
"S...so swim across the ocean blue, fly a rocket to the moon;"
She pauses and swallows before continuing.
"You can change your life, or you can change the world.
Take a chance, don't be afraid, life is yours to live;
Take a chance, and then the best has yet to come."
Jami nods to Claire as she continues to play, and as Claire steps forward, the two sing to Katie together, their voices working together in harmony as they look to their shared love.
"Make a wish, it's up to you.
Find the strength inside, then watch your dreams come true.
You don't need a shooting star, the magic's right there in your heart;
Close your eyes, believe, and make a wish..."
There was a slight pause as Jami continued on her violin. It seemed as though Katie, albeit weakly, wanted this next verse.
"Chiisaki mono , sore was watashi
Watashi desu , magire naku
Kagami no naka , kokolobososa dakega
Dare ni makenai , ashita ni na ru yo"
She wanted the other two to continue with her.
In Japanese.
That's where things would get awkward when it came to Claire's singing. She looks over at Jami briefly not wanting to stop, but messages with her eyes that she can only do her best in following along at this part. Jami nodded to Claire, her hands never once moving away from her violin. She would pick up the slack for Claire, having learned Japanese as part of her high school year.
As much as she wanted to use her abilities, she had also made a promise to Claire that she wouldn't use them unless absolutely necessary for her survival, and while she felt it might have helped, it wouldn't have really helped.
Jami sang the Japanese lyrics sweetly, hopefully leading Claire along as best she could. She still wasn't sure why they liked her voice so much...most people recognized her violin talents more than her singing voice, but for Katie, it was worth a try.
Claire manages to keep up, for the most part. She stumbles on a few words but knows that it just means she should quiet for the next few words and pick herself back into it again. Every time when she gets into a steady flow, she looks over to Katie wanting to reach out and touch her but she knows this needs to be a group effort. Therefore, she cups one hand under the other forcing it to remain there for the time being. Katie grips her lover's hand, though her grip is frail. She'd stopped singing as soon as Jami and Claire started to in Japanese. The brunette slowly closed her eyes in a sign of comfort, and serenity.
Jami smiled upon seeing Katie hold Claire's hand. A true romantic moment if she'd ever seen it...
Lost in the moment, she continued to sing and play her violin until the song was finished, As her bow faded the sounds across, she watched the couple in front of her for a few minutes.
Maybe AJ was right after all....
Jami stood up and started to pack her violin up, feeling she'd done her part to help. Katie and Claire had each other, Katie was obviously feeling better...her work here was done. Plus, the last thing she needed to be right now was the 'convenience'...
Katie noticed Jami packing up, and she really didn't want the Coldfire Phoenix to leave. Not without a hug anyway. The brunette slowly and creakily rose up from the bed to approach Jami for a hug.
"Not withOW-- not without a hug, Ms. J..."
Claire is quickly there to catch her and hold her up, taking as much weight as necessary. Once she's made herself as comfortable a crutch as possible, she assists Katie closer to Jami allowing the two their moment.
Jami tuned to Katie and Claire...with tears in her eyes.
Why did they keep doing this?
She had come here to make Katie feel better, to get her in a better mood, to prevent her Sorrow from taking over, and here Katie was risking her health for a hug from Jami?
Why?
It was then that Jami realized a small truth...
Megan Helms-King was wrong.
Amy Jo Smyth was wrong.
Kenzi Grey was wrong.
Even Lucas Durpee was wrong.
It wasn't that Jami didn't see her own worth, that she was being the 'knight in white armor'..
These girls made it known how much she was worth.
These girls made it known how much she was loved for all she did.
They made it known that she mattered too...despite how she felt at times.
They may have been right that Jami thought of herself far less than her lovers, but it wasn’t for lack of worth…it was because by doing these things…she was being for them what she didn’t have herself in the toughest times.
The voice that said “This isn’t your fault.”
The hand that comforted them in their darkest moments.
The Oracle to their Batmans and Nightwings.
Jami walked forward and hugged both girls tightly, smiling as tears leaked down her cheek.
"Do you need me to spend the night, my loves?" she asked gently.
Katie slowly accepted the hug, managing to hug back as tightly as she could... which wasn't really that tight, Jami had felt tighter from the Cumberland Jet, but it was a tender hug nonetheless.
"I would never object to that... you can tell I need it, right?"
A small, pained chuckle as Katie placed her head on Jami's shoulder. Jami pulled back, first looking to Katie, then to a clearly exhausted Claire.
"We all three need this..."
Jami first leaned to kiss Katie deeply, then turned to Claire, doing the same with her. She'd been hurt in the head, run ragged, nearly killed twice...
Jami extented her hand and hooked it, smiling.
"I love you two...I'm not about to leave when you need me most."
Claire smiles still feeling the effects of the kiss, proud of Jami for keeping things natural here. She knows her part comes last, but she can't help but reach out a little resting her hand overtop of Jami's leaving room for Katie, whom she hugs a little closer around to hips in effort to continue supporting her.
"So... to bed with us three, then?"
Claire looks down at the gesture made between herself and Jami slowly pulling her hand away and smiles toward her lover."Yes. I don't know if I can keep you up like this."
Giggling, Claire makes her way to the bed falling but making certain she takes the fll brunt of impact landing on her back with Katie on top of her. Smiling up at her girlfriend, Claire drops her arms down.
"Where do we go from here?"
Well this was a swtich....
Normally it was Claire that was hesitant to finish their hand motion that had brought the three of them into this relationship to begin with...this time it was Katie.
But Jami had to remind herself, Katie was rather exhausted as it was, she probably barely even realized where she was as it was.
At least that's what Jami was trying to tell herself.
Just as quick as her confidence about the situation had built, it was destroyed again. It always seemed to end up between those two...with Jami on the outside looking in. Any time they looked to prove Amy Jo and Megan wrong, it went right back to proving them right.
But she took a deep breath and calmed herself. The last thing she needed to do was to look like that here. She instead laid down by the couple and closed her eyes.
Katie wasn't the only one exhausted by the day by a mile.
And yet....
"You two go ahead and have some time together," Jami changed her mind, moving as if she were about to get up. "I suddenly feel the need to do a bit of working out. Still have a match to worry about tomor--"
Katie, albeit weakly, kissed Jami right on the lips. She really didn't want Jami to feel left out, even though she really wasn't, ultimately.
"Don't worry about it... you have the morning, and all day before that to worry about it. For tonight... me, you, and Claire. Just us."
Fuck, what was it about these two?! Every time she thought she had a handle on Katie and Claire, it was like someone hit the reset button!
Jami kissed Katie back, then laid back on the bed, kissing Claire the same way. she smiled and wrapped her arms around the couple.
"I can't deny you two what you clearly want."
Jami snuggled with them contently.
Things were back to normal.
...well, as normal as they got for Jami.
Claire nods in agreement with what Katie had said about the three of them being together. She reaches out taking hold of Jami's hand massaging the back of it with her thumb. "At the same time, you know I was asking you that question too."
"So long as I'm with you two...I don't care. I'm personally exhausted from a hell of a day...but I need to at least be by my loves." Jami held her hooked hand out again, fighting the sleep her body craved, but not wanting to crash before she knew they felt the same. If they wanted to do anything beyond this, they'd have to wait till morning...Jami's body was well past the point of exhaustion. Claire smiles loosening her grip so she could rest her hand over top of Jami's giving it a loving squeeze before resting it in proper position.
"I'm just exhausted, really... I'm in pain, but I just want you two to sleep. Sleep on me, beside me, whatever suits your fancies."Katie weakly wraps her arms around the other two ladies, left around Claire, right around Jami, as she slowly plants a kiss on Claire's lips. Then she almost literally cranks her neck around to plant much of the same on Jami's lips.
"I love you both... sleep well."
And off Katie dozes to sleep.
Jami and Claire shared a last kiss themselves before sliding their hands around Katie’s so they made their heart symbol, the last action they’d do before falling asleep together.
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
[Casa de Kami, Laguna Beach, CA; Tuesday, July 12, 2016, 7:48PM PDT]
[Mood Music: “Cinderella Man” by Eminem]
Jami stood in the middle of her ring at home, her newest mode of costume ready for reveal. Instead of going with the expected gamer theme, it was time to reveal her more intricate nature.
The Heartless Succubus was about to make her motives clear once and for all.
“To say the public hasn’t been given a very favorable image of Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett the last few weeks has been an understatement to say the least. And since Ladies All-Star Wrestling has deemed it fit to keep me away from the ring until my required counseling starts back up, I’ve had to look elsewhere to get my opportunities that I keep getting denied. The funny thing is, for a company that wants to see me at my best, they sure have a funny way of showing it. I signed a contract with them the night of Validation, and since that time, I’ve only had one match. ONE. MATCH. I’ve not been booked twice, and the only other time I was booked, my opponent was taken out before the match could even begin! If LAW wants me to prove I’m more to the industry than a slut, they’re gonna have to start putting their money where their mouth is. Requiring me to get psychological counseling is only going to go so far if they keep neglecting the kind of talent they have in front of them. I mean, for fuck’s sake, Kenzi Grey has shown to be more mentally unstable than I am, and she’s STILL getting booked every card! Katalina Star lives a sexual lifestyle that some could argue is much worse than mine, her tag team partner there even more so, and yet they’re the Tag Team Champions! Hell, MY OWN TAG TEAM PARTNER has been booked more in the last two months than I’ve even gotten to participate, and all she can do is bitch that she’s on the lower card! Honey, I WISH I was even showing up at LAW 51! I don’t see how the management can sit there and chastise me for at least realizing that I’m incapable of monogamy, use that as motivation for forcing me into this position and claiming that my personal life is ruining my career, and yet refuse me the opportunity to show that I’m more than Corny the Horny Pussy!! And sure, you could argue that Kenzi got the same conditions that I did, but that was an off-air incident. My conversation with Megan was aired on live TV in front of everyone! There is a CLEAR bias in regards to what’s been going on with me over there.
“But if that’s the way they want to play, fine, I’m game.
“This counseling may not go the way they anticipate if they expect me to fall in like behind the Mackenzie Roberts and the Gabriella Camachos, because I ain’t a cookie cutter bitch. I am a Cornett, and if there’s two things my family is known for, it’s forging our own way through the standards and doing right without fearing anything. But if it means I get to continue in the company I once considered to be a personal dream that has quickly devolved into a statistical nightmare, then so be it. I’ll tow the line and ‘git mah head rayght’, but sooner or later, LAW’s going to realize quickly where they made their mistake in how they handled this.
“So my hand’s been forced.
“Since Ladies All-Star Wrestling has decided that I’m not worth their time, at least for the moment, I’ve had to seek outside methods of proving that I have the talent, the charisma, and the tenacity to make it in this industry. Luckily, Ryan Omega at least took notice of my classics with Corey Bull and Alexander Raven and offered my partner and I a contract within the Visionaries of Wrestling. So while I fully intend to capitalize on this potential add-on to my career, I’m also using this as the means to regain control of my LAW career. I hope Lucas, Megan, and the rest of the Board of Directors are paying attention to what I do over there…because it ain’t gonna be the Coldfire Phoenix, the Articuno-like frozen fire of passion that revives even the coldest of heats. It ain’t even gonna be the Nerdcore Princess that is shown this time.
“No, if LAW is going to vilify me in the manner they have, then I have to turn into the thing they want me to be.
“I have to become the Heartless Succubus. The girl who don’t give two shits, five damns, and a limited edition IKEA fuck about anyone but her own needs and motivations.
“Which, given the issues Kate and I are going through right now is going to be a lot easier than expected, but that’s not going to change how we function as a team. Casa de Kami is about more than relationships…it’s about proving to the world what can be accomplished even in the biggest of challenges. We still work together well, we still have that chemistry that make tag teams work, so it’s all good.
“But the irony is that this match VoW has booked us in is also going to be relevant to LAW as well…as the opponent Casa De Kami has to face in VoW for our first match also…well, at least HALF of them, anyway…happen to be part of the LAW Tag Team Champions. Beating Katalina Star and her maid Blink in our debut match in VoW is going to do so many other things than beating the Sisterhood ever would have in our LAW debut. For a start, this will set the stage for a possible LAW Tag Team Championship match, one that, while I was initially hesitant to push for, I now find myself desiring more than anything. So this gives at least me personal motivation for pushing forward on this. If we can beat Katalina and Blink here in VoW, then LAW HAS to take notice and start pressing Casa de Kami as a team instead of as singles competitors, not to mention prove we have what it takes to face the champions of both companies instead of being relegated to the opening cards, as I’m sure my partner will address.
“This also has personal implications as well for me, as my respect for Katalina goes beyond the ring. The two of us may not always see eye to eye on her lifestyle, hell, even my own, but I will give the woman this…say what you will about her, she has shown more understanding, affection, and maturity to me than most everyone else. As crazy as it is, she beats only my stepmother in how a mother should actually act…firm, but with understanding. Now, one could say that seeing as how I have an…interesting relationship with her girlfriend it would be easy for me to be ordered to throw the match and to comply…
“Except even if Zoey were to ask that, which I know she wouldn’t, there’s no way I would.
“You see, it’s gone beyond being about respect or anything like that…I respect both Katalina and Holly greatly. I’m not underestimating their talents in the slightest, nor am I going to say anything about them in a negative light; I’ve learned my lesson enough times on that as it is. It’s even gone beyond honor, something I swore to my love Kathryne I would restore to VoW, which I intend to do whole-heartedly.
“This is about self-preservation now.
“I NEED this win.
“I have gone from beating Alexander Raven in a Twisted Elegance Match to the point where he can’t even eat unless it’s through a straw, beating Corey Bull while he was UXW World Champion, and giving AmI Syco the match of a century in my singles debut to being compared to a hooker by a mentally disturbed individual who, for some Godforsaken reason, still has her job while mine’s being threatened unless I do what I was gonna fucking do anyway and resume my therapy sessions.
“THAT is NOT Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett.
“Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett is the daughter of one of the greatest legends in this industry, a Man Setting the Standards who managed to retire a champion, excel in everything in two other companies, and still to this day commands respect everywhere he goes.
“Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett is the Chief Financial Officer of Cornett Enterprises, a multimedia empire that creates everything from video games to clothing lines, Internet media to music and books. I do not ‘earn’ respect…I’m given what I demand.
“Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett is a Mafia princess, the kind of person you don’t want to fuck with for fear that you might wake up with a dead horse head in your bedroom.
“Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett has been trained by many of the best in this industry in various styles to make sure you can’t foresee the future of what she can do.
“Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett is selfless, kind, and tough. She’s been through more hell in one lifetime than the entire LAW locker room combined and somehow STILL came out of it not as a victim, but as a contender in her own right.
“But probably most importantly…
“Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett is the Fly in the Ointment…the Monkey in the Wrench…THE PAIN IN THE ASS…
“…and the FinalHazard…to EVER being disrespected again.
“No doubt, Katalina and Blink will try their damdest to beat Kate and I, and by all means, if they manage to succeed, I’ll gladly admit I was wrong and kiss the two of them in the ring without hesitation.
“But let’s get something straight right now, ladies…
“Thanks to Alexis Blake’s little knockout punch a few weeks back, something…different has awoken in me. The cycle has come full circle; I’ve become my father’s daughter, the next-gen version of the Chaos in the Shadows he never wanted to embrace.
“Except I’m going to have to.
“In order to show both Ladies All-Star Wrestling and the Visionaries of Wrestling that I’m to be taken seriously both as a wrestler and as a human being, I’m going to have to tap into that darkness my father resisted and control it to my advantage.
“So the JMC you’re going to be facing at Breakthrough isn’t the same Jamilyn Cornett you know and love.
“I’m no longer going to be that sweet, generous, whiny little cunt everyone seems to think they know me as. That Jami will die as soon as the match starts.
“Once that bell rings, my brain will shut off.
“My eyes will narrow.
“And I will only be after one thing.
“Victory.
“You can try to avert it all you want, but it’s no longer a matter of want or desire.
“I. Need. This. Win.
“I need it so badly to show who exactly JMC is that I will do anything within my power to get it.
“Even if it means risking my friends and loves in order to do it.
“This match has implications far beyond VoW, ladies…this is the only way I can prove to both VoW and LAW that they didn’t make a mistake in hiring me…that I have the capacity to make the crowds go nuts, the product fly off the shelf, and the management drop their jaw in amazement. This is a way to prove that Casa de Kami deserves a Tag Team Championship opportunity in either company. This is a chance to push toward Animal Instincts that they shouldn’t judge what a person can do until they have a Safari Ball shoved up the back of their head, because whether Winter Pine wants to believe it or not, I WILL AVENGE what happened to my friends at her hands. This is a way to prove to Megan Helms-King, Lucas Dupree, and everyone else at LAW that I’m more than the slut they try to paint me as.
“Most importantly….this is my opportunity to show that Jamilyn Michaeleigh Cornett hasn’t lost her edge since UXW, but has only sharpened it instead.
“For you, Katalina, Blink…even Kate…this is just another match.
“For me…
“This is my last chance.
“This is my dead battery.
“This…
“…is my Final Deletion.”
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
[Mission Hospital, Laguna Beach, CA; Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 11:29AM PDT]
[Mood Music: Theme from “Neverending Story” by Limahl]
Jami sat in the waiting room, flipping through a Cosmopolitan. Something she wouldn’t have caught herself doing months ago, but here she was, admiring how well they’d captured Sabrina Ramirez’ figure and spirit. Her cousin’s fellow SAP competitor had been generating quite a bit of buzz on Twitter…
“Miss Cornett?” the receptionist said. “Dr. Layton will see you now.”
Jami nodded with a smile and walked down the hall as she’d done a few times before. She knocked on the door and opened it to reveal a middle-aged redhead studying her notes on Jami.
It was strange…Jami swore she almost looked like her former stepmother Nicole…
“Ah, Jamilyn. Please, have a seat.”
Jami went to the familiar couch as Dr. Layton picked up her tablet and began writing.
“Early again…you’re making my other patients look bad by comparison.”
“That wasn’t my intent, ma’am,” Jami stated calmly.
“Oh no, that’s a good thing. In fact, when your boss contacted me to reinstate these sessions, she was surprised at how punctual you were. It seems a lot of your co-workers have an…interesting idea of time.”
“At least she was impressed with something…all I seem to do lately is screw up.”
“Well, she did inform me that you’ve been a bit more stressed than usual…care to elaborate?”
“Where do I even begin…the punch to my head by my ex, having to fly from Malibu to Nashville to save one of my girlfriends from a potential rape situation, keeping another from losing their mind, dealing with a third being hospitalized…”
“You really do seem to care for these women you’re with.”
“Of course…”
“So why is it that I was given the impression you were just using them by your boss?”
“I don’t know…probably because I haven’t been focusing on myself as much as I should.”
“Well, our last session you were having issues with your friends gushing about having a baby soon…and you said you were jealous of your step mom for the same reason. And I did get reports that you went off on someone for using a specific term…what was that?”
“….joshing…” Jami’s tears were already forming.
“Your son’s name…he’s become quite a focus for you lately.”
“I…keep feeling so weak…so helpless…like, if I’d just done something….”
“I think we may be stumbling onto the source of your altruism. Why don’t you begin from where we left off…the Spearmint Incident, as you called it? Maybe if we get to the core of why this bothers you so much and why you haven’t moved on, we can go from there to come up with some solutions.”
Jami took a deep breath, bracing for the worst flashback of her life.
“I was four years old…”
