MARCH UPDATE

POSTED ON Aug 24, 2022 21:42:17 GMT

"you were my second," she answered, simply.

the youth appeared to be at a lost; confronted by a family he didn't know existed. she sympathized with his plight, ultimately aware that she was partially at fault for his unfortunate upbringing.

'he wears his hair just like his eldest sibling,' she thought, fondly.

"you don't have to answer now, boy. there's no time limit. all i ask is that you come to me when you're ready to join us. i have a lovely estate. and i have a room and gifts prepared just for you. the door will always remain open."

she blinked and suddenly saw the child's father. he was such a handsome man - and gone far too soon.

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y o y o

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thirty-nine

march thirteenth

ever grande city

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i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Aug 23, 2022 8:04:40 GMT

Johanna Joy likes this

she was silent for a moment, peering down at the child she had decided not to keep. while she had been told of his extensive injuries, the woman couldn't help but gaze upon the ruined flesh that had been replaced by shining metal. edith didn't shy away from it - having seen comparatively worse - her position remaining steadfast.

'you were entirely whole when i had you.'

vague memories of a healthy baby boy whom boasted straw-colored hair came to mind. and now -

"i'm aware of your proclivities, child."

a small smile tugged at the corners of her painted lips as Johanna Joy comes to mind.

"it seems my offspring are fond of getting themselves into trouble. you remind me of my daughter - of your sister."

the grin vanishes, replaced with an outwardly neutral look as she speaks.

"your injuries nor your behavior changes the fact that you belong to me. your father is dead; but i am not. if you were a child - you'd have little choice in this matter. but you're a man now and you've every right to reject my offer."

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y o y o

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thirty-nine

march thirteenth

ever grande city

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i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON May 12, 2022 7:00:20 GMT

she scoffed, the woman peering down her nose at her scrawny and straw-haired progeny.

"i was the one who made the decision to part ways with both you and your father. i had... responsibilities that i needed to attend to."

she gave a small and almost careless shrug, faded memories flashing within the confines of her skull. the decisions she had made in her youth had long-lasting consequences; and arashi just happened to be one of them.

"your father convinced me to have you. and i did. but after fulfilling that responsibility i granted him full custody. you were never meant to know i existed. but your sire failed to ensure you were taken care of post-mortem. and as a result of his carelessness, it is my duty as your mother to see that you are taken care of."

the woman extended the offer with a steady tone, no amount of affection for her son reflected within her gaze.

"money in the form of a monthly allowance. a fully-furnished apartment. i'll even cover your tuition, if you want to continue with your schooling."

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thirty-nine

march thirteenth

ever grande city

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Apr 18, 2022 8:15:42 GMT

FERNANDO SILPH likes this

edith appeared to silently mull over her daughter's concerns. they were all perfectly valid - and to be expected out of a young woman such as johanna. she had been in a similar position herself at such a delicate stage in her life.

"at your age i had severely disappointed my mother quite a few times already. and it took roughly a decade to regain her favor, ultimately."

she paused briefly, memories of her youth returning to her in a surge of vivid imagery.

"i do admit that perhaps you've too much freedom. but i believe it's time to embrace a fresh perspective on how we rear our children. and i cannot deny you are an adult and no longer my little jojo."

edith wondered how her daughter would mother a child when it was her time. adopted or natural - it would prove a challenge.

'does she even want children?'

the thought was rather intrusive - and concerning. but she decided against presenting the young woman with such an inquiry.

"if fate is kind - i won't be dying anytime soon," she said. "so enjoy your twenties. have a little fun. but not too much of it, mind you."

the woman made a shooing gesture, indicating that it was time for them to take leave of the room.

"i believe i've taken up more than enough of your time. try to be productive today, dear."

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thirty-nine

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 17, 2022 7:51:23 GMT

shiv likes this

her mother halted when they had reached the house's entryway, two straight-edged stairways leading to the upper rooms. framed between them was a portrait of her mother, the piece of art serving as the home's masterful centerpiece. when johanna was naught more than a child her grandmother's image had been there. but after her passing, edith's had taken its place.

"when i'm gone," she said. "i would like for your portrait to replace mine."

she then moved toward another room - one which was rarely touched. it was tucked away on the first floor, situated beside a closet that the servant's often frequented for cleaning supplies. it was under lock and key, with edith forbidding casual entry. her daughter only ever gotten a glance at what was contained within - but johanna was given the rare opportunity to properly take everything the interior and its contents in.

items of historic value were contained within the spacious room, but it was the small paintings which lined the walls that captured ones focused. the numerous portraits of the past had been re-done, made small and mounted neatly upon the wall.

"your grandmother marina hopina joy - your great grandmother elizabeth cherubi joy."

she pointed out each image - offering the names of her predecessors without err. at first glance, the women were remarkably similar in features - and then -

"grandfather avery spritzee joy," she said, pointing out a beautiful man with pink hair. "one of the very few men to take the mantle and be given the title of patriarch. and look here - "

edith pointed out a woman whose hair wasn't pink - but deep green.

"we take tradition seriously here, jojo. but on occasion it is broken. you do not perfectly fit the mold - but neither did they. once i am gone you have the rare opportunity to bring about change - if it is what you desire."

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 14, 2022 10:41:09 GMT

"my own marriage was arranged, my dear."

her late step-father, william joy, was a man who she had been made to marry in exchange for securing her position as heir. it was their union and the loss of her son which had thoroughly solidified her position as future matriarch.

"i learned to love william... overtime. but eventually we developed a rapport years before his death. your grandmother's union was also arranged - as was your great grandmother's. i am giving you the option to choose someone who is worthy of you."

the woman paused only to polish off the remainder of her meal before standing to her full height - gesturing for her daughter to do the same.

"i believe a change of scenery is necessary."

with blissey at her heel, the woman moved to reenter the familiar halls of their home as both human and pokemon servant alike moved to clean their table of what remained.

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thirty-nine

march thirteenth

ever grande city

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 13, 2022 12:00:32 GMT

both edith and blissey were appeased by their respective children's responses, their show of approval subtle yet discernable to a certain degree.

"i expect nothing less," she responded, plainly. "now - moving on..."

the woman appeared suddenly thoughtful, her gaze sweeping across johanna's lithe frame. the girl was scrawny in comparison to her mother, having failed to inherit her height, her hair, her eyes - everything.

'just like arashi - she's taken after her father.'

"you're twenty-three now. and i believe it's time for you to begin searching for a wife."

taking into consideration her daughter's sexuality, she had located young women of comparable age and pedigree that would suit her standards. so far her endeavors had been fruitless when it came to garnering johanna's interest. apparently there was 'no spark' - and while the women she had introduced were interested - the blue-haired girl was not.

"at least by your twenty-fifth birthday you should settle down and consider starting a family of your own. at your age i was already married with you at my side and another on the way, johanna."

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 12, 2022 21:05:39 GMT

she was impressed by the young lady's decorum. a good number of her generation lacked manners, their behaviors having grown boorish as of late. the smile that soon graced her lips following the offering of assistance revealed her pleasure.

"what a kind offer," she remarked. "but i'm not terribly fond of flight, my dear."

while she never developed a genuine fear of heights, flying made for an uncomfortable process. edith didn't doubt the dragonair's abilities - but she naturally favored other modes of transportation; even something as questionable as teleportation.

"i can handle this on my own. the lab isn't terribly out of the way and will require a brief detour. may i have your surname? i'll make sure you're appropriately compensated for the incident. the lab is entirely at fault."

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thirty-nine

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 12, 2022 10:06:35 GMT

she winced at his manner of speaking, his pronunciation jumbled together in a metaphorical heap as he addressed her.

"i am a joy," she stated, clearly and concisely. "not a rocket. i'm no modern day recalcitrant, boy."

the woman stifled a weary sigh, reminding herself that the child was merely ignorant. his father had promised silence - and he had kept that promise even after his passing.

'a good man. a pity he's lost to us now. he'd have made for an excellent husband if my mother had been more open-minded.'

"let me show you something."

she reached into her large purse, a small album stored within. from that album she pulled out a few old pictures, offering them to the youth for further examination.

"this is your father and i in our early twenties."

each image depicted a younger version of the pair in various poses before the camera - enjoying a dinner or smushing their faces together in a ridiculous and overly affectionate pose - or interlocked in an embrace as they grinned. even in the images she appeared to dwarf the man by a solid foot, the tall woman even lifting him off his feet in one picture.

"we knew each other for three years before - "

she gestured toward her son.

" - you came into the picture."

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y o y o

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thirty-nine

march thirteenth

ever grande city

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 12, 2022 9:38:52 GMT

"i fear his upbringing was -... below my standards. at the moment he's little more than a street ruffian - and had he been anyone else i would have left him to remain as naught more. but he is my son."

he was the only one she had let go. and now that he was within reach - she had become obsessed with correcting his path. he was a joy, after all.

"at the moment he's not aware that i am his real mother. and i fear he will not immediately accept the truth surrounding his birth."

edith gave a measured sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly.

"when he returns to us i want you to remain... wary. i fear he'll make for a poor influence. so you will remain civil - you will remain polite - but i expect some modicum of distance until he can be trained to behave like a proper gentleman."

'if at all possible,' she thought.

"continue focusing on your studies. and take into serious account your future. this could all be yours one day. is that understood? as my likely heir - and the oldest female among my children - i expect more from you than him or anyone else."

as she spoke, her blissey's serene expression became cold - the pokemon fixing her own daughter with a look which conveyed a similar message.

Johanna Joy

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march thirteenth

ever grande city

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 11, 2022 23:06:19 GMT

her brows arched high at the assumption.

"i'm no scientist, girl."

there was a dignified air about her as she spoke, the tall and solidly built woman carrying herself with an almost queenly majesty as she presented the cadet with her full title.

"i am edith bliss joy - one of the leading matriarchs of the hoenn branch of joys. you may address me as miss joy."

a cadet? a member of the league, then. what an interesting choice of career.

she produced a pokeball from her back pocket, a plump and pink pokemon bearing a crown soon emerging from its contents.

"slowking. help me with lifting this creature."

the pokemon obeyed, a power outlining the fainted electrode's frame and lifting it up several feet from the ground.

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thirty-nine

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 11, 2022 13:38:38 GMT

"because it wasn't necessary that you know of his existence until very recently."

the woman's expression became stern, her displeasure fairly obvious.

"you were never meant to know. his father had accepted full responsibility for the boy shortly after his birth. unfortunately - there was an... accident - and now i hope that he'll accept joining our family in the coming days."

she gave a little sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly.

"mother allowed me to keep you because you were female, johanna. but your brother made for an unacceptable addition due to him being a boy as well as a bastard."

edith allowed this to sink in momentarily before she pressed onward.

"while he can never serve as my true heir - i intend for him to share in the inheritance once i am no longer present to watch over you all."

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y o y o

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thirty-nine

march thirteenth

ever grande city

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 11, 2022 9:20:31 GMT

she more closely examined the creature before identifying a familiar marking upon the white portion of its smooth exterior. it was a painless branding meant to indicate its origins and exact identification with a small barcode.

"here we are."

the woman reached into her pocket, producing a mobile device with a pretty pink case. the code was scanned and she was informed of where the creature belonged to moments later.

"it looks like it belongs to one of the local labs," she said. "a relatively minor one. odd that it managed to get out."

edith pocketed her device after memorizing the address, absently rubbing at her rounded chin.

"i suppose it would be best to return it. it's likely being used as a viable power source."

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y o y o

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thirty-nine

march thirteenth

ever grande city

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 11, 2022 0:48:00 GMT

"i see," she replied, noncommittedly.

she kept close tabs on her daughter, ensuring her safety and well-being by way of discreet prying. while she wasn't entirely aware of what trouble johanna had wriggled herself into, she was vaguely informed about the company she kept.

'i'll just have to carefully steer her in the correct direction. patience and kindness is key.'

edith prided herself as not being as heavy-handed as her own mother had been, after all.

"there was actually a matter of importance i wanted to discuss at length."

she paused briefly, making sure her daughter's focus was entirely on her. her blue-haired child didn't appear well-rested nor fresh-faced in the afternoon hours, the barely discernable lines beneath her eyes betraying her.

"it involves - "

the woman paused in a rare show of hesitance.

" - a sibling. one you've not been made aware of."

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y o y o

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thirty-nine

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ever grande city

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TAG WITH @edith

POSTED ON Mar 10, 2022 12:57:20 GMT

the tall woman turned to face talia, a flicker of surprise crossing her features as she took in the woman's features. she was beautiful - almost breathtakingly so, her features somehow matching with the dragonair at her side. it was a rare assortment of features that were well-blended to near perfection.

"we're bruised," she responded. "but there's nothing here that can't be fixed with a soft touch."

she absently brushed aside a ringlet of pink from her shoulder, her present state messier than she fancied. the electrode appeared to be alive, having immediately fallen unconscious following the explosion. a mild warmth still radiated from its form, one which remained steady.

"and you?"