#tfc jester

As years pass on. The monsters noticed how much she is aging compared to the private portrait they had done by a monster artist with them all as a family a year after she had brought their freedom.

Hemlock saw the new wrinkles on her face and a few greys in her hair. Jessamine saw her sitting down more compared to normal. Ivy had to be more careful with her and not be as rough. Oleander noticed she couldn't move as fast as before. Nightshade saw her looking at papers up closer and needing to use reading glasses. Castor treated any illness for her more and more with Oleander's help.

The human employees had retired from their job. Not knowing their coworkers are ageless monsters. They had gotten along with them, not knowing what they were.

The woman in black calls them all to her. She wants to talk to them about something important.

They met in the meeting room where they all went to gather to talk. The woman in black sits on the sofa. Oleander and Jessamine are by her side. Each of them holding her hands.

Both of them have matching rings on their ring fingers. Each of the monsters have a ring. Each one is a different style and metal that matches their personality with a single black gem on it. The woman in black has a ring with six different color gems on it. Each matching the color of the flower they share a name with.

“As all of you noticed by now. I'm getting older. I have made sure the trust will stay in place for all of you to gain the funeral business.” She smiles lovingly to her lovers.

“I want to talk about this before my passing.” She knows it has to be talked about.

Some are sad or bitter about her getting much older than them. All of them don't want her to go.

“I want all of you to decide what to do with my body. You can bury it, eat it or keep it preserved in a glass coffin. I just want all of you to be happy about your decision and not regret it.” Oleander and Jessamine start to cry at her words and hug her. They don't want her to be gone. They love her so much. The others try not to cry as well.

“Hey! I'm still here and healthy. All of you will have each other.” She reminds them. “I don't want you to make a rushed decision. Like we see so many done with their loved ones.” She kisses the top of Jessamine's and Oleander's heads.

“I want your heart.” Castor states. He will keep it in his room. Unlike the ones in his medical office. He had started making medicine and treating other monsters of illness and wounds. Oleander had been helping him with it.

The others think about that. What they want to keep of her before they bury the rest. They will make sure her grave will be well taken care of. 

“Your brain.” Hemlock will keep it in their shared office. To make it feel like she is still there working.

“Your voice box.” Jester would want something more physical of her. Something that is unique to her.

“Hands!” Jessamine yells through tears. The hands that treated them so kindly. “I want a hand too!” Oleander says through sobs of tears. She wanted to hold her hand after she had passed.

Ivy is the last to pick. He doesn't just have a piece of her, but all of her. “I want your skull and eyes.” That way he can look into her eyes and talk with her. Even so she couldn't answer him. “Those are the only eyes I don't want to eat.” He will make sure he can keep it forever.

“What about the rest?” She asks.

“We will bury the rest of you.” Nightshade is trying to hold himself together. To be a strong leader for them.

She nods. “I would need a headstone for that. I will pick one for myself.” She knows what one. One that would be easy to clean and be easy to rise up when it sinks down in the ground.

“Let's go take a nap.” She knows that is something she could do with them all. She knows it calms and relaxes them too.

They go to Jessamine's and Oleander's room. Jessamine carries her there when still crying. He doesn't want to let go of her.

Hemlock lays down and lays on his back to have his dear on his lap. Jessamine and Oleander lay on both sides of her, holding onto her. Castor lays by her feet, he can be near her and touch her if he wants. Ivy, fearing his weight would hurt her, he lays on top of Castor.

Nightshade stands there. Looking at his family and their love. His heart is aching at the thought of losing someone again. “I-I will go to my room.” He can't let the others see him weak.

“Nightshade!” The woman in black yells out his name. “Please, join us.” She wants to comfort him too. She knows he is hurting.

Nightshade clinches his fist to calm himself. “No.” He leaves to his room. Once he made it and closed the door behind himself. He drops to his knees and lets himself cry.

At hearing Nightshade start to cry. The others that held back, they started to cry. Castor silently cries as he puts his arm over his eyes. Ivy buries his face in Castor's clothes as sobs loudly. Hemlock let the tears fall down his face.

The woman in black, hums a song to comfort them. A soft lullaby to calm her lovers. Her song is heard by all, even Nightshade. All try to quiet to listen to her. A few sniffles can be heard as she does so.

One by one, each fallen asleep, emotionally exhausted from what happened.

Nightshade returns, wanting to be there. He had dried his tears and tried to make it look like he wasn't crying like them. His eyes are still red.