#joni.

" hey there, sunshine... " joni whispers to the pup as dawn runs to her side, wiping a tear with her free hand while the other strokes the top of her head. she can initially muster a small smile, but eyes are soon overwhelmed by heartbreak again as they turn upwards to ash. " i -- i don't know how to be here, ash. not without him. it feels so wrong. "

and yet, some things stay the same. joni is ever the loyal customer to the bakery. some things never change. curious eyes scan over the selections -- before her eyes grow wider at something she's never seen before. " my my, would you look at those lemon tarts. " joni speaks gently, eyes turning to the customer next to them. " i've never seen decoratin' quite like it. how beautiful. "

IN A MANNER THAT is shockingly out of character, joni has refused to see anyone outside of her immediate blood family. she does not want to be touched, she does not want to be perceived. maybe it's because she's just so tired, so tired of constantly looking over her shoulder, when the next natural disaster will take more people she loves away from her. she doesn't know if she actually wants to be alone, or convinced herself she has to be. clearly immersed in her own thoughts, the woman nearly jumps out of her skin when she feels someone sit at the edge of her bed. " oh my goodness -- " the woman's voice, despite being scared is smaller than usual. and yet, she knows better than to move her leg. a hand raises to rub the bleariness out of her sleepy eyes before she speaks again, especially now that she realized who it was. what was he doing here, to check on her? the look in his eyes is not the usual confidence that she had come to know ( and adore, in her own secrecy ), she can't help but notice. " m -- moose...? " the woman questions, adjusting so she can look at his face in full. " it's... it's really good to see you. " after a moment, she speaks again. " you're not... you're not here to lecture me about going out there, are you? "

@folliesofmiceandmen

JONI'S ALWAYS LOVED THE diner. the smell of coffee and the griddle going -- the smiling faces of people joining their families or friends for breakfast. but she also adores the staff. joni is particular to jamila and demi, their kindness reminding her of how simple it was to be good to others during every visit. of course, she's found comfort and friendship in tomas thanks to treats, and she's come to understand that it's a universal language of comfort and joy. sweet things from sweet people are the gemstones of the universe. " now miss demi -- i donno how your brain works, but it sure produces some magic. " joni exclaims, placing her fork down on her plate with her usual excited grin. hands are clasped against the counter, the twinkle in her eye is full of admiration. " what kind'a fruit is in this? i can't quite place it -- but it's real good. " some call joni a golden retriever, the way her eyes perk up around certain people, the way she could care about an organism as small as a fly. " i've always been a firm believer that if a sweet treat can't make y'smile -- y'don't have a soul. "

FRANKLY, JONI STILL COULDN'T quite believe that her elder sibling was getting married. even if they were adults, time still felt like it was moving too fast. already dressed in her bridesmaid dress ( which she was still over the moon that they wanted her involved ) -- she knocks on the door ever so gently to make her presence known, fingers tangled around two objects -- a container with ziggy's favorite from barley & rye and a bottle of champagne. " knock knock! " the woman unfurls into excited giggles as she enters. placing down the gifts she comes with, she picks up her skirt ever so slightly as not to step on it before taking a seat next to them. " how are you feelin'? and don't be lyin' to me. i get t'stand at your side today, and i don't take that honor lightly. " ziggy was about to bring her another brother. of course that would be a thought that would carry some weight. as expected, she had already been getting the questions from their mother of -- when it was her turn, but she merely just shrugged it off. her mother was just excited to welcome another member into the family. " i know i'm gonna say this a million times today, but i couldn't be happier for ya. there's no one more perfect for each other than you and beau. "

EVEN IF THE IDEA of playing her own music terrified her -- of course, joni was delighted to support her friends. she had gotten to the sound factory as early as she could, ordered a pumpkin ale and waited for everything to kick off ( even if she wasn't much of a drinker, sometimes there were special exceptions ). when emerson had come on stage she had cheered like hell, smiling throughout his entire set before running towards the area where she knew he'd come out. " em! " she called out, overflowing with glee as she quickly wrapped him in an embrace. sometimes she worried that she was too much, that she would overwhelm people, but em had never made her feel that way. perhaps this was why she found himself at his side as often as she was. " you did so good! i'm so proud of you. " once she finally releases him, she takes a breath before speaking. " when you're done, let me get ya a drink to celebrate. my treat. i insist. "

OF COURSE, JONI LOVES fall, specifically for the reasons that some people may consider trivial or cliche. all the pumpkins, apple cider, the falling leaves -- she could truly go on. thus, when she heard whispers of a harvest festival? despite all that had occurred as of late, it was game over... she was going. of course, the silva farm had been prepping like hell in the past weeks. it brought her a certain amount of comfort to see the people she cared for the most with smiles on their faces, finding ways to enjoy themselves? that was everything she ever wanted and more. there were some of her chosen family that she still had yet to see -- a thought that crosses her mind before her gaze crosses paths with ellis. it's like he's read her mind. " ellis! " the young blonde calls out, waving to make some attempt to catch his attention. once they're in each other's vicinity, her eyes turn to the haunts that await them before turning back again. " are you gonna go in there? i feel like... like i'd be shakin' like a chihuahua. i don't do scare actors. "