Another Petal Falls

“ ...? It’s alright to use your words you know. ”

WARNING: DOMESTIC ABUSE / ALCOHOLISM

     SHE never claimed her husband to be an entirely good person. She believed he’d tried, really tried, and with enough of her love and support, he could become something better. Hard to buy when all he did was drink and disappear for hours or even days, but oh did she try. Poor little Hannah Wright. So love struck for Luke Wright that she couldn’t even begin to question how horrifying it was that he’d showed up at her doorstep, smile and all. In her tired state, she glanced at the clock, though no less ecstatic that her husband had finally come. Finally after weeks of being alone. He was here, and his voice, soft, loving, all what she remembered it to be.

     Poor little Hannah Wright. Unknowingly letting something into her apartment and quietly fixing what she thought was her husband some tea. His favorite. Nothing less for him, even if his tone had shifted to bitterness after closing the door.

     Poor little Hannah Wright. Confused, startled, questioning as he mutters something and goes rooting through the drawers while her back was turned. She assumed-- it’s a spoon he’s grabbing. He’ll need it for the tea. Easy to believe until their conversation turned for the worst.

    When she started to smell alcohol and found herself staring at her husband standing near the doorway nearly in a drunken stupor. His words cutting, quick, harsh. No hesitations to cut her down and leave every wound open for him to jab more fingers into. Even when she tried to fight back, things were thrown. A reminder of what was common when Luke drank himself stupid. Where’d he even get the alcohol was beyond her, but it was the knife. The threats and bruises that now littered her arms that had her remembering just what happened minutes before her arrival.

“ You should have stayed dead, Hannah. ”

It was his last words before he rushed with the knife. Before she managed to strike him down with the hot kettle and rush out of her apartment. Before she found herself barely breathing and clinging to this man she barely liked for support.

There’s no hiding this from him. From the fact she’d ran out in slippers and a nightgown with bruises and one bleeding cut, there was no way she could have played it off as an accident. Nor could she find the strength to lie. Her words had barely come out, shaken and weak as her eyes found themselves incapable of facing him.

     HANNAH Wright. On first glance, people would always comment on her beauty, though from the way she looks now, many would have their doubts that they were the same person. Her hair was a mess, a sign that she had either just awoken or was forced out of bed. Her outfit was a nightgown and heels that she seemed to have rushed and grabbed before retreating into the middle of the streets of Sector oo5. 

{ HOO boy

So Hannah has some pretty heavy fears that I’ll need to put warnings on before y’all like the starter call:

WARNINGS FOR:

DOMESTIC ABUSE, ALCOHOL USAGE, PREGNANCY MENTIONS, GORE

If y’all ain’t hurt by any of these then feel free to give this starter call a like!

Well, she was pretty… very pretty. But of course, a girl like her would know that. He just didn’t know what such pretty young woman was doing chatting up a Yakuza patriarch that way, but it wouldn’t be the first time either. Well, when did Majima ever deny himself the company of a woman of her caliber?

‘Sure didn’t take a parrot to catch yer attention.’ He smirked a little, nothing like one of his usual laughter lest he scared off the lady. Then, Majima pointed to his eyepatch. ‘Bein’ all pirate-like did the job jus’ fine, no? Ya into bad boys or somethin’?’

He was no flower that smelled, but ladies usually got the special treatment. As for men? Well, he’d share a cigarette over a couple drinks with them… nothing past that, really.

‘Hannah-chan~ In Japanese Hana means flower. Can’t say it’s too far off the mark… unless ya don’t like flowers?’ 

     WAIT... Wait! It hits her the instant he pulled the flower card. This man was flirting, though she was no stranger to this behavior. It was just rare that it didn’t come with wandering eyes and invasion of personal space.

     Appreciative, though still, she was a married women... Who’s husband had a tendency to flirt with other women while she was in the same fucking room now that she thinks on it. What right did Luke have to pull that trick like it wasn’t a big deal?! The more she recalls all those moments, the more sour she felt, and the harder it became to keep her smile casual.

     She decides, just for this moment, if Luke fucking Wright could flirt with women all he pleased, then so could she! Who gave a rat’s bottom anyways. A little harmless flirting wouldn’t hurt, so long as it didn’t go beyond that.

     Folding her arms under her chest, she shoots him a quirked brow and unimpressed look. My husband loves flowers, she wanted to say. Calls me his buttercup and has a garden full of them. I even wear perfume that smells like buttercups, just for him.

     But the words don’t come. She couldn’t be arsed to let them out. Instead, it’s a witty retort, a cheeky play on words just to mess with him--or at least--that was her intentions.

“ Is that the best you’ve got? ”

Was his ‘human’ disguise really that good? He considers it for a moment before replying, “Nah. Jus’ headin’ down t’… work.” Work. Yeah, that was a good way to put it. It’s not exactly like he was supposed to be advertising the Fight Club to strangers. Especially not ones that smelled so foreign.

He scratches the cheek of his helmet, trying to ignore that she’d called him dear. Sure, Twintelle had called him it on occasion, but it’s not exactly the most… familiar term of endearment he’s used to. “Ya could prob’ly find somethin’ at a store. Th’ big bash’s still…” he pauses to count on his oversize fingers, “…a few days away.”

“ Big bash? OH! You mean a party! Like a normal little Halloween get together? ”

     HANDS quickly clasped together in front of her chest, an ecstatic giggle bursting out at the idea of a grand party filled with laughter and smiles and colorful costumes galore. Why, there would even be children asking for candy, wouldn’t there? How exciting! Such news like this melted away all her fears and worries. She could be normal if no one recognized her.

Pointed ears twitch lightly when he catches the girl’s words on the wind. It seemed she was trying to guess his race…or perhaps she thought he was in some manner of costume? This ‘Halloween’ season certainly seemed to make things a bit harder to figure out with some people. Raising a brow, he turned to regard the girl, who seemed to be looking his way. “I can assure you…gnomes are much shorter than I am. Likely more handsome too.”

“My name is Vax’ildan. I’m a half-elf, if that quenches your curiosity. You’re human, I suppose?”

“ More handsome? Darling, don’t sell yourself so short... ”

     NOT exactly the kind of reply she’d expected. Though, it was still a conversation and one she welcomed no matter what they spoke about. The amount of loneliness she felt doubled since she’d wound up here.

A business what now?! Not that Majima was particularly opposed to being dubbed as adorable by a lady this pretty… Hell, he couldn’t find himself complaining at all. It wasn’t every woman who took a shine to his getup, so he might as well indulge this one.

‘Could have myself a parrot someday.’ He mused, hands stuffed in his pocket and chin up as his gaze shifted skywards for a thought, trying to picture the imagery she’d conjured up of him. ‘Oi, lady. What else do pirates do? Aren’t they the villains of the sea or somethin’?’

Which suited him just right, what with being no flower that smelled himself. But when it came to women, the story was a little… different, taking a much softer turn than usual.

‘The name’s Majima by the way.’ Goro, actually. But seldom did he use his first name these days. ‘ An’ this ain’t no costume… T’s how I dress up daily.’ Something of a wicked smirk tugged a single corner of his lips. ‘That mean I’m adorable on a daily basis, sis? Mm~?’

     VILLAINS of the sea. It seemed right if her memory serves her correctly. It’s been so long since she last read or been read a fairy tale. She always adored the one’s involving princess’ as a child, but now and days, the idea of a knight in shining armor proved less and less appealing. Especially considering her husband’s recent behavior over the years.

     Some happily ever after, but then again, it could still very well be her fault things ended this way.

“ I believe so-! Admittedly, it’s been a while since I’ve watched or read anything involving them, so who knows. Maybe there are some good pirates out there! I suppose it depends on you, darling. After all, it is your costume, is it not-! ”

     Suddenly her shoulders jump. Dress like this DAILY does he? Now she simply felt like a damned fool. Of course not everyone is going to be dressing for the holiday. How could she be so naive. No matter. She was trained for these situations. Years worth, at that. Easy as cake.

“ Hannah. Hannah Wright. ”

“Well aren’t I still kind? I honestly can’t see where any of this sudden aggression is coming from.”

“But yes, it is a party. And it’s a dull party since all there seems to be is just mingling and the sort. Where’s the boasting? Where’s all the paparazzi looking to make good with the shakers and movers? Where are all the backroom deals and the sort? All that’s happening is people just eating food and having a laugh…”

     CAN’T understand? Perhaps she was being rather rash... Though with all this talk of his, it reminds her of all the things she hated about living. Especially the paparazzi. Always wondering what the wife of bold Mr. Luke Wright thought of trivial things. Never on important matters, as she’d come to find. Troublesome, but had she not played her roles, the already troubling “news” (rumors) would increase tenfold.

“ Sorry. You are right in... In some ways. There really isn’t much going on at this party is there? ”

It was still odd having people not take his casual approach towards death and murder so well. But then again, an assassin’s work rarely was understood from those outside the system.

And those who didn’t live in a world gone mad for money.

“Expected better? What is that even suppose to me? Well I apologize if I don’t meet up to your standards, whatever they might be, but whatever the case, I’ve always had critics. Critics who simply just couldn’t wrap their brains around what I’m saying. Maybe if you walked a mile in my shoes, you’d better understand what I’m getting at here.”

     CALM yourself, Hannah. This wasn’t worth getting so upset about. Hardly worth it, and the man was nice at the start, no matter how strange he may be acting now.

“ Yes, I expected better from a man who was so kind at the start... ” 

     A sigh. She really shouldn’t have let her emotions go this far.

“Awful? Well, maybe for the cleaning crew, but not really.”

“Honesty, anyone big enough to be an important deal in the corporate world knows they have a target painted on their back. Unless they’re willing to play ball and not shake the boat too much, getting targeted for assassination is hardly a big deal. Really, unless you’ve had someone contract a hit on you, then you’re still considered small fry from where I’m from.”

     WAS this guy for real? This had to be some stupid joke to get under her skin.

“Oh, it’s just a bit of murder. Well, not even murder, just assassination. Honestly, back where I’m from, if your party didn’t have at least one person getting shot in the head while they were talking, it was hardly worth mentioning.”`

“ How awful... ”

     THERE was that beautifully rude women again. Celebrating with the rest, and yet standing out with just her skin tone alone. The thought that this is what makes her so easy to find sends a chill down Hannah’s spine. A habit she needs to work on removing on a later date. For now, she draws closer, a cup of water in hand and a calm, friendly smile accompanying it. Maybe her rude words from last time was simply because they hadn’t spoken much. Nothing a little friendly banter won’t hurt, right?