They did make it to the ball and socket pub that night but it wasn't the same, Emily just couldn't get into the poker game with the men of a bonely nature and they weren't sure what to ask her, in case it was one of those...girl issues.
Vivian didn't seem entirely fazed by the telling of her story, in fact, she seemed the lighter for it, but, even so, it still pressed against her back like the vicious wounds afflicted upon her spine.
Now these schedules were always common. This was the beginning and end of their week. Cleaning the house and then themselves, going to the ball and socket, then going home when Vivian fell asleep in one of the booths. The next day they would spend it in town, window shopping and possibly actually shopping. The next day they would go to the library where Emily took delight in showing Vivian the part time job she had, which many children and adults from the town took delight in, Emily would wander through the shelves in the morning and then take her place upon a small stage and adopt all sorts of accents in the telling of stories to the young and old, Vivian was especially delighted with this, no one had ever read to her before. It was the best.
Then, the next day they usually would go to the park or just somewhere outside, and as it seemed, Vivian was always having to help Emily find her because of something happening to cause it to roll out among the leaves and grass. It was unnerving at first but with time Vivian found it hilarious. The day after, was more skill building so to speak, they would either go to the ball and socket, where Emily would be showing Vivian something on the piano or sitting at home where Vivian used the paint set Emily had gifted her with after seeing her drawing through the foggy window on a rainy night or Emily would be showing her how to sew and embroider. Then they would have a day of doing nothing and then their week repeated. And they loved it.
But it was becoming around the day, a date which Emily had managed to pry out of the girl, a date which most dead only celebrated as a reason for celebration; Vivian Bijou Cecilian's would've been ninth birthday. A bittersweet occasion that Emily was determined to make sweet. And being such a personality in the underworld, where many knew you and liked you exposed Vivian to people who liked her just as much and were ready to help with this grand scheme of the corpse bride's.
Well it was a month away, three months from when Emily could actually even try and carefully broach the topic of Vivian staying with her permanently, which was exciting as it was terrifying for her. So, Emily met most of her friends at the closed ball and socket one afternoon and proposed her plan to them.
"Well, it does sound like a plan, indeed, Emily, but I must ask, whatever has you so determined to see such a grand soiree happen?" Alfred asked, removing his pipe from his teeth and letting the smoke drag from his jaw.
"I... I just think that she deserves to have something nice. All her life she's, " Emily paused and looked at all of them firmly. "Is it really wrong to want to give her a better death than her life was?"
They all looked around at each other, very few of them had suffered from such a cruel death, and neither had they suffered a cruel life but they had seen horrors and perhaps that gave them an understanding for woman and child.
"I don't see why we couldn't throw the doll a rip roaring good time." Bonejangles said with a shrug, gesturing with his thumb at the empty and sizable pub.
Emily smiled brightly at the group and began to elaborate more of her ideas and listen to ideas piped up by anyone else, all they knew was it needed to be kept secret and it would be the best birthday that young Vivian Bijou Cecilian had ever had.
Everyone else was kept busy with their normal deaths and party planning as well as avoiding the young girl in question, but Emily had it the hardest, for she had to party plan and shop all around Vivian without typing her off as to their plans.
Emily was delighted with herself as she entered the toy shop, the one they usually passed while shopping, the one with that mummified doll with the elaborate magenta dress, lined with fur. Vivian would love it, she just knew it. But upon entering, Emily began having second thoughts about this entire soiree.
Vivian was dead, as they all were, would she really want to have a birthday party to commemorate the one day that was designed to celebrate being alive and well. Emily sighed and still paid for the doll, asking the skeletal behind the cheek out if they could gift wrap it as well.
During her subdued stroll, Emily had time to think about things, more especially, something Elder Gutknecht had brought up to her the week prior.
Elder Gutknecht had asked Emily to stop by his home because he needed to speak with her regarding her living companion. Emily knit her brows but still sat across from him in another room of his study and they talked over tea.
"I still don't understand why you wanted to talk to me, I've not done anything wrong, have I?" Emily asked, toying with her tea and spinning her spoon around the bronze liquid.
"You haven't done anything wrong Emily," Elder Gutknecht chuckled, but his look grew serious from behind those glasses. "But you have to talk to her."
It was Emily's turn to chuckle, albeit uneasily. "What do you mean? Talk to her about what?" There was a knowing and sad look in her eyes, truly, Emily knew she just didn't want to admit it to herself.
"She's been staying with you for nearly a year Emily and no relatives have approached but neither have you gone and looked for them," Elder Gutknecht said, eyeing the young woman who indeed knew where the problem lied but didn't want to admit it. "And on top of that, it's nearly been a year and what happens after a year to most of us?"
Emily shuddered, that, she'd forgotten about that. Her hand ran across her boney fingers and she bit her lip, she was really failing everything if she was going to even attempt to be a parent, officially.
"You need to talk to her, and soon, after she's been here a year it's not fair to her or any relatives. Especially if you don't warn her." Elder Gutknecht said gravely, patting Emily's hand that had been resting upon the table.
Emily sighed, it could wait until after this, after she had shown Vivian that no matter what, she was loved.
She walked up the steps of her flat and sighed at the warmth, in a sense, the small home gave her and the sight of Vivian at the table drawing something, like she was prone to do in her free time.
One more week.
Went by in a blur, the day was bright, and everything was as it ought to be. Mrs. Plum and her staff had made a wonderful cake, something to rival Emily's wedding cake, and everyone else had spent late into the prior night and the day today decorating the bar for Vivian.
According to Emily, everything was perfect and Vivian didn't suspect a thing.
Emily finished pulling the thread tight and knotted it before pulling it between her teeth and breaking it off. Emily held up the dress, which had formerly been a nightgown, so plain and simple, was now covered in elaborate embroidery and lace, something absolutely perfect for the birthday child who was outside playing with Samuel and Samantha, the skeleton twins.
Vivian Bijou Cecilian and the twins were locked in a rambunctious battle of tag and currently the girls were barely avoiding Samuel. Emily opened the door and watched the display for a moment before calling out to Vivian. "Vivian, can you come inside a moment?"
The girl stumbled and had to jump out of Samuel's way. "But Emily..." Vivian whined, gesturing to the game continuing without her.
"It'll only be a moment, please?" Emily prompted again and Vivian sighed and came inside.
Once inside, she followed Emily back to her room, where she took something off the bed and held it up for Vivian to see. Her eyes were blown wide within their sockets as she stared at the dress held up by Emily. It was a silky dark gray with white lace around the hemlines and the entire chest and lower skirt was embroidered with intricate details that Vivian knew at a time she'd sketched out, and thick layers of patterned magenta fabric crowded the hips all to be finally swathed in a thin layer of crepe.
She shuddered. "That's not for me, is it?"
"Who else would it be for," Emily asked coyly. "I don't know any other girls, around this size who have a birthday today."
Vivian Bijou Cecilian looked at Emily with breakneck speed and blinked, pointing to herself. "That's mine? For my birthday? But... bu-but... Don't you just... isn't a day like any other?" Vivian tried to explain herself out of ownership but the appeal could not be overcome. "You don't have to get me nice things, I don't even deserve it and I don't have anything for you or... it looks like it was really expensive... you didn't have to do that. My birthday doesn't matter, it's just another day and..." She really wanted to try it on but all those years behind her father's belt kept her from accepting the gift.
"Come here," Emily gestured toward the mirror and stood behind Vivian, letting her dress hang in front of her small body. "I know that things weren't always the best for you, but it doesn't have to be that way now, not here with me, you can have nice things," Emily knelt right behind her and continued with a beaming smile. "Because you are the most wonderful little girl I've ever met. You're kind, smart, funny, charming, beautiful, and a delight to know. You deserve every treasure in the world."
Vivian trembled, it was such a beautiful dress, but it wasn't the dress, it was the gesture behind it. Wrapped in a gentle embrace with a kind face and soul holding her gaze through the mirror, Vivian felt something she didn't quite know how to explain, it was like when her uncle was around but stronger, far, far stronger. Vivian's lower lip shook and she did so with her head, closing her eyes. "No, I don't deserve nice things... why are you so nice to me? Why is everyone? I'm a horrible little monster and I..." Vivian didn't want to say it, the words caught in her throat but she knew they were true, they always would ring true. "I am the reason my mother died... I don't..." her voice died away into a whimpering sob, which she crashed into Emily's shoulder. "I don't deserve nice things..."
Emily draped the dress over her shoulder and held Vivian tightly for a moment before taking her small shoulders and looking her eye to eye. "Now you listen to me young lady and you listen good, understand?" Emily asked sternly, earning a small, teary nod. "You are not responsible for killing your mother, things happen and go awry but that's not our faults. And for anyone to say something so imbiclic as that you can't have nice things because of something that was out of your control happened then they are the ones who don't deserve nice things. Vivian," Emily cupped her cheeks and brushed away the tears with her thumbs. "Anyone lucky enough to have you in their lives, even at a passing glance should know how absolutely special and dear you are. Please, please don't let anyone else tell you different."
Vivian hiccupped and nodded. "Ok." She stated wetly, scrubbing her eyes with her hands.
"Now then, how about you put this on and I show you what everyone here thinks about you and your special day." Emily smiled and booped Vivian's nose before standing up and holding the dress out to Vivian.
Well alright, I've not updated in a while due to a creative block I did due to some not nice words said about something I drew but anyways.
What will happen at this dead birthday party?
Will Vivian finally get the love she deserves?
What are these upcoming things that Emily needs to tell Vivian?
Will another family member finally come and lay claim to the corpse child?
Read on, stay safe and review please!