Pairing: Josh/Emily (M/f) hand, brush
Warning: talk of suicide, self-harm
"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
― Joseph Campbell
French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana
The Compound
Friday, June 1, 2012
Morning
Josh trotted up the stairs of the grand old mansion looking for Chris' 'blankie.' This house was huge. He knew that the Mikaelsons had built it long ago, and it must be worth millions now. That blankie could be anywhere as the kids had ran all over this morning when they woke up. Mary had started to crochet again when the swelling in her hands improved and had made Chris a small 3x3 blanket that he had grown attached to. After Aiden had moved their second carseat into the backseat for the trip to the school, Chris noticed Sara had Wolfie and he wanted his blanket...
"Where is the hell would it be?" Josh mumbled as the small blanket was not in the bedroom or downstairs.
"Emily? Do you know where your brother's blanket is?" Josh called out. His vampire hearing picked up sound coming from Elijah's room. Emily had said she was sick and didn't want to tour the school, yet Josh found her with her hand opening a 'painting' that was really a safe in the Original vampire's room.
"What are you doing?" Josh snapped, startling the young silver-haired teen.
"Ah, Josh, I was...ah, um...," Emily mumbled, unable to think of an excuse. "I just felt drawn to it..."
"The blade? Are you seriously trying to get to the blade? That is the only thing that can kill you!" Josh yelped. He vamped over and twisted the safe knob and slammed the paining shut. "What were you thinking?"
Emily was taken aback by Josh's vitriol.
"What do you care? I'm just your babysitter anyway. I'm sure you can find another one!" Emily snapped. Her silver blond hair had been braided by Alexis and Aurora this morning. They had fawned over her unusual color of hair and her violet colored eyes. For once, Emily had felt special and almost, pretty.
Josh shook his head, "Emily, I talked to Mary this morning. I tried to tell you but it was so hectic around here. Um, Aiden and I would like to take care of you and Chris. We can all live at the school."
Josh wasn't sure what he was expecting but it wasn't more angel.
Emily sniffed and then shouted, "Mary doesn't want us? Why doesn't that fucking surprise me? Our dad is now really dead and I might as well be too..."
Josh blinked and looked at the painting, "You weren't trying to...off yourself were you? Honey, your dad wouldn't have wanted that for you."
"What the hell do you know about it?" Emily roared, covering her face with her hands.
Josh pulled her hands gently. "More than you know. My parents cut me off when they found out I was gay. When I died and became a vampire, they probably didn't even notice because I was already dead to them. You guys have us and weren't not going to let you hurt yourself."
Emily pulled her right hand away and slapped Josh across the face.
"That's bullshit. You are probably after I'll join the other side and kill all of you!" Emily yelled.
Without conscious thought, Josh sat on Elijah's well-made bed and leaned Emily's slender form over his left thigh.
Whack!
He swatted her jeans clad behind and then did it again. Whack.
"Young lady, I am not *whack!* playing around *whack!* here. We care *whack!* about you *whack!* and your brother. *whack!* We are not *whack!* giving up *whack!*" Josh said, punctuating each phrase with a firm spank.
Emily was too shocked to fight at first, but after Josh paused, she let out a spew of expletives that almost made him blush.
Alexis called out, "Josh? Hurry, the natives are growing...What the-?"
Josh turned to look at the younger witch. "Um, we're having an issue here. Can you hand me that sturdy looking hairbrush on the dresser, please?"
Alexis replied, "I guess. Um, sorry, Em? Did you find the blankie?"
"No, I'm going to finish my 'conversation' with Em here first. Or would you mind using your magic to try to locate it? I might be a while," Josh said for Emily's benefit. Josh took the heavy brush and patted it on Emily's surprisingly full backside.
"I was not planning on starting out this way, but you are very stubborn, missy," Josh said, continuing to tap Emily's rear with the brush. Tap. Tap.
"I'll kill you. I'll fucking smite your ass," Emily vowed.
Whap!
"AHHHHHH," Emily cried.
"Well, you will do it with a red butt because Aiden and I are here to take care of you, not let you destroy yourselves. What would we tell Christopher?" Josh said, tapping and then swatting the brush down with a snap.
Whap!
"Stop!" the teen moaned.
Whap!
"I will stop when you promise to stay away from that blade and this crazy talk!" Josh vowed.
Whap!
He had been swatting the center of her cheeks, but now when in for the center.
Whap!
Whap!
"OWWWWWWW," Emily yelped. "Fuckkkkk."
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Josh lit into her behind with a flurry of cracks and Emily howled in pain. She felt like bees were stinging her bottom. Her jeans might as well have been made of silk. She had never felt anything like it before.
"Are you really to behave or do these jeans need to come down?" Josh prodded. "I asked you a question, Emily. I expect an answer, please."
Whap! Whap!
"No, no, I'll be good," Emily said. "Just stoppppp."
Josh put the brush down and helped Emily stand. She was crying and trying to catch her breath as she clutched as her sore cheeks.
"I mean it, you put yourself in danger and you will get another spanking. Do you understand? You stay away from that blade," Josh warned.
"It was like it was calling me. I don't want to die...but I didn't want our parents to die. I want to see them again," Emily sobbed.
Josh broke too. Although he had been rejected by his parents, it still hurt.
"Oh sweetheart, I'm sure you will again-someday. Come here," Josh sniffed. "I didn't mean to do that, but when you scared me a bit. We need you here with us. We're gonna get you guys some help, someone to talk to, but you can also always talk to me or Aiden? Okay?" He pulled Emily into his arms and was glad she didn't try to slap him again.
"Sorry, I hit you. I never did that before," Emily said, as she pulled away. "I guess I kinda deserved that."
"All forgiven. But did you ever consider a career as a boxer?" Josh joked.
Alexis came in, "I found the blankie! Sara hid it in a little space in the floor UNDER a carpet. I had to do a spell or we never would have found it...My visions are usually a little more profound but I saw her do it as clear as day."
Josh groaned, "Where in the world would she do something like that?"
Emily grimaced, "Sibling rivalry?"
"I found three gray hairs today which maybe impossible considering I am a vampire," Josh revealed.
Josh patted Emily's shoulder and replaced the brush on the dresser. He put his arms around both girls. "Shall we head to the school together? I hear Elijah is taking us all out for lunch afterwards. Never pass up a free meal, ladies, especially from a very rich dude."
Emily leaned her head against Josh's shoulder and they went down to the vehicles together. She didn't want to stay anywhere near that freakish blade. Nothing good would come of it.
Former site of The Fleur-de-Lis Sanatorium
Afternoon
Hayley's office
"It's going to be beautiful," Elijah gushed. "I wish I could go to school here myself." Elijah looked out Hayley's window and surveyed the grounds of the huge former sanatorium. There was so much potential here.
Marcel snickered, "You've never been in school a day in your life."
Josh elbowed his de facto boss, "Hey, either did you! It's not always like it is on t.v."
Hayley laughed, "We are still in the process on getting more teachers. I never expected that would be the toughest part. Coach has a relative who is a wolf and a teacher...but we are a bit low on witch and vampire instructors. Anyone have any ideas?"
"My wife used to teach English at the local high school. I'll talk to her and see what would be a good way to draw them in. Perhaps if the living quarters are a bit lavish, there is a pool, an exclusive gym just for faculty, that would be a perk? As well as a generous salary package and benefits?" Elijah proposed.
"Great. And you also suggested uniforms?" Hayley asked Elijah.
"Yes, that would be ideal. Maybe we can get a few different companies here and you could choose something you like?" Elijah said. "I do know a few good tailors, but I would have to fly them in from Italy."
"Of course," Marcel said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey, don't knock them until you've tried them!" Elijah defended.
Jackson came in from the doorway, saying, "The contractor had a question about the dorm rooms."
Hayley excused herself. Marcel sat in her leather chair and spun around.
Josh leaned against the desk. "Marcel, can you stop spinning? I say we ask the witches to ward this entire place. When I went in to find Chris' blankie, I found Emily trying to break into your safe, Elijah."
"The safe in my bedroom?" Elijah said, alarmed. "How did she even know it was there?"
"It was drawing her there, she said. I'm worried. I think Emily is going to need a lot of supervision and support," Josh said dryly.
Marcel frowned, "Josh, I know you talked about commuting but is there a vampire you would trust in the city? One who has leadership potential?"
Elijah spoke up, "What about that young woman, Linda? She was quite helpful with Aurora."
"Yeah, Linda's great, but she just barely earned her daylight ring. I would trust her, though," Josh said honestly.
"Hey, you were just a noob, when I first put you in charge," Marcel grinned. "You were a damn, uptight, college kid who came here as a tourist..Died and become my best friend and right hand.Y ou haven't disappointed me yet, Brother."
Marcel stood and looked Josh in the eye.
"Thanks, Marcel. But I was a baby vamp when you first got me. I just don't know if I'm equipped to take care of two angel-mermaids. We don't know what they can do," Josh explained.
Elijah turned to the younger vampires. "Joshua, you never do really know what anyone is capable of. Just be there when they need you and listen. Really listen to them and give them the truth. That is the best advice I can give you."
"Thanks, sir," Josh said. "I've also found out that your hairbrush comes in handy..."
Marcel laughed, "No, you didn't! You spanked that sweet little girl?"
Josh grimaced, "Yeah, after she said she was going to off herself and slapped me. Oh, you two should have heard the tirade that came out of her mouth."
"Maybe I'll leave that hairbrush with you, Joshua," Elijah smiled. "Marcel and I do need to be getting back home. I know this angel business is not completely settled, but I think you will truly be well protected here. You can stay at the Compound as long as you need to. My sister Freya has warded that and no enemies should be able to enter the gates. Father Sean will be near and our whole community is an united as I've ever seen it."
Marcel agreed, "Plus, we are playing double-triple overtime so that you guys can move in here as soon as possible. I think gas, power, water, sewage is all good now. If you don't mind sleeping in dorm rooms, you could move in tonight."
Josh nodded and took a deep breath. He hated to see them go, but the city had to get back to normal.
Louisiana Bayou
Mary's House
Ollie had stayed back to catch up on some of his chores. He was weeding the garden and staking some plants. He had rigged up a perimeter with some found chicken wire to keep out the critters. It was working well, now, if he just had a better irrigation system, he thought.
"Whatcha doing, boy? I thought everyone went out to the school?" Mary asked, coming out into the yard.
"I dunno know, Grandma. I mean what am I going to do at some school? I didn't even like school when you made me go," Ollie grumbled.
"That ain't true, boy. Maybe you didn't like the book learning part but you had football and made plenty of friends. And you met that girl you are hankering after? Jean Ann, right?" Mary said.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just whose gonna do stuff here. You'll be all alone here," Ollie went on.
"No, I won't. Eve is here and my other friends. I ain't had peace and quiet since the curse ended. And if I get lonely, I'll come stay with y'all. Hayley and Jackson said there would always be room for me there," Mary announced. "You know that Aiden and Josh are going to be taking Emily and Chris to the school? He called this morning. I won't be a stranger, but I ain't as young and energetic as I used to be."
"Yeah?" Ollie pressed. "That'd be good, I guess."
"You guess? You could do plenty at that school. Don't 'guess me'...You could set up a real nice garden for the kids. Or a football team? Also, you and Jack are both real good with your hands, woodwork, fixing stuff, engines...Boy, there is plenty you have to offer if you just put your mind to it," Mary determined. Ollie tried to hide the blush that crawled up his neck. He wasn't comfortable being complimented like this. He didn't want to get full of himself, like those damn vampires that were always strutting around like they owned the world.
Ollie grinned, "Alright, now, don't get all riled up. I'll go. You know I can't let Jackson out of my sight, right? Hayley will have him with her as her shadow, probably having him wearing an apron. I gotta keep him honest."
"That's the spirit, but you boys would like mighty cute in aprons. Ain't no shame in it. Now, how's my okra doing? Enough there for supper?" Mary asked, turning her attention to her garden. "I think you ought to water today."
"Yes, ma'am," Ollie said, with a grin. "And I ain't wearing no apron. Ever."
"We'll see about that," Mary said, going to get the hose. "We'll see."