@fearedworst-   |
            
            that’s  cause  you  let  them  take  over  your  entire  bein’.  (  he’d  be  lying  if  he  said  he  didn’t  let  tatum’s  death  take  over  him.  it’s  harder  to  make  him  smile  these  days,  when  he’s  running  over  every  possibility  in  his  head  on  how  he  could’ve  saved  his  baby  sister.  )  you  wouldn’t  hurt  a  fly.  jus’  because  you’re  fearless  don’t  mean  you  inflict  pain  upon  others.  

SHE  HAD  A  MARVELOUS  TIME,  @wrecksdo- :
            
            yeah.    {   for  several  beats  rebekah  finds  silence  once  again,   sinking  back  in  thought  as  she  drums  her  fingers  against  her  arms.   she  wants  to  believe  him.   more  than  anything,   rebekah  wants  to   believe  that  she's  different;  she  and  rowan,   they're  the  good  ones.   they  have  to  be.   so  why  does  she feel  so  evil?  }    i  just...   i  don't  know,   dewey.    sometimes  it  feels  like ,,   like  what  they  did  is  who  i  am.   

@fearedworst-   |
            
            i  think  you’re  nothin’  like  them,  bek.  they’re  evil.  and  you’re  the  furthest  thing  from  it.  

@fearedworst-   |
            
            my  mama  says  she’s  just  bein’  a  teenager,  but  i  don’t  like  being  pushed  away.  (  he  raps  his  fingers  against  the  table,  inhaling  deeply.  he  forgot  not  everyone  has  the  luxury  that  tatum  as,  especially  bek.  )  overbearin’  is  better  than  never  being  there  at  all,  i  think.  right?

SHE  HAD  A  MARVELOUS  TIME,  @wrecksdo- :
            
            yeah,  well.   that  means  you  care.    {  siblings  are  a  sensitive  topic  for  rebekah.   perhaps  they  shouldn't  be,   perhaps  it's  all  her  and  her  head,   but  she  can't  help  how  her  stomach  churns  in  mild  envy.  }    she's  figuring  things  out.   take  it  from  me,  okay ?    {  a  smile,   however  performative,   finds  her  features.  }    i  have  two  older  brothers.   it's  nice  to  know  ,,  (if)  they  care,   even  if  it's annoying  sometimes.

@fearedworst-   |
            
            i  feel  like  i’m  doing  everything  wrong.  (  it’s  like  word  vomit.  tatum  always  did  tell  him  he  was  too  honest.  )  i  feel  like-  i’m  trying  too  hard,  y’know?  and  it’s  pushing  her  away.  

@fearedworst-   |
            
            if  there’s  anything  tatum  taught  me…  friends  don’t  look  at  friends  that  way.  

@teenidles-   |
            
            yeah,  because  the  girl  who  stays  inside  all  day  is  definitely  doing  criminal  things.  (  he  rolls  his  eyes  playfully,  lips  curling  into  a  smirk.  )  so  what  if  she  gets  involved  in  a  coven?  i’ve  seen  those  witchy  movies.  they’re  cool,  so  long  as  she’s  not  hexin’  people  to  death.  

BUT  NEVER  TO  KEEP,   @wrecksdo- :
            
            (yet).   you  don't  know  the  real  sidney,   dewey.   she's  a  horrible  influence.    {  with  a  teasing  grin  on  her  face  tatum  hops  onto  the  counter,   continuing  to  watch  her  brother  move  about  the  kitchen.  }    that's  why  i've  been  inviting  her  over  here  more.   we're  working  hard  on  rehabilitating  her  before  she  gets  involved  with  a  coven.   

@teenidles-   |
            
            no  one’s  bailin’   anyone  out  of  jail,  tate.  she’s  not  even  arrested,  silly!

@teenidles-   |
            
            you’re  such  a  child.  (  he  frowns,  reaching  over  to  tousle  her  hair  a  little  bit.  )  maybe  i  like  her.  but  who  doesn’t?  she’s  a  television  star,  she’s  got  thousands  of  men  tunin’  in  to  watch  her  ramble.  god  forbid  i’m  part  of  the  masses.

BUT  NEVER  TO  KEEP,  @wrecksdo- :
            
            another  one.   you're  on  a  roll  today,   deputy  dewey.    {  as  though  her  initial  statement  wasn't  enough  tatum  pretends  to  fake  gag  into  her  hands,   unable  to  wrap  her  head  around  her  brother's  little  crush.  }   come  on.   you  haven't  given  anyone  your  kicked  puppy  look  since  you  were  in  (high  school).    just  admit  to  having  questionable  taste  before  i throw  up.

@teenidles-   |
            
            i’m  not,  tatum.  (  his  gaze  moves  away  from  gale,  nervously  fumbling  with  his  hat.  )  i’m  simply  spacey,  is  all.  got  a  lot  going  on  at  the  department. 

@teenidles-   |
            
            no,  but  i  can  try.  (  he  hums;  despite  it  sounding  like  a  joke,  there  isn’t  a  hint  of  humor  in  his  tone.  )  not  every  teenager  is  a  douchbag.  there  are  plenty  of  other  fish  in  the  sea,  tate.  (  heather-  he  means,  but  it  goes  unsaid  for  tatum’s  sake.  )  he’s  got  nothin’  going  for  himself  besides  being  a  clown.  you  can’t  seriously  find  anything  good  in  him.

BUT  NEVER  TO  KEEP,  @wrecksdo- :
            
            it's  not  gonna  magically  change  just  because  you  asked  in  a  different  way.    {  fine.   fine.   fine.   sometimes  it  feels  like  tatum's  life  is  one  big  circle  of  fine,   like  the  only  exceptional  things  are  the  people  she  does  love  the  most.   the  same  people  she  keeps  everything  from,   the  same  people  she  dreads  arriving  at  this  topic  with.    it's  difficult,   if not  downright  impossible,   to  not  feel  defensive  these  days.   especially  when  it  feels  like  she's  walking  around  with  a  sticker  that  says   "ask  me  about  my  shitty  boyfriend  and  illicit  affairs!"   when  the  most  she  can  give  is  the  go-to  response  she's  giving  dewey  now.  }     i  swear  to  god,   i'm  (fine).    he's  acting  like  a  douchebag  teenage  boy.    i'm  ignoring  him  until  he's  done.   that's  it.    believe  me,   i've  known  worse.

@teenidles-   |
            
            i’m  your  brother.  it’s  my  job  to  press,  tatum.  

@stabreports-   |
            
            i  *wish*  it  was  me  instead,  trust  me.  (  he  almost  reaches  out  to  help  gale  up,  before  remembering;  it’s  not  his  job  anymore.  )  ellie’s  gonna  be  okay…  she’s  got  your  same  mentality.  but  if  it  was  hardly  a  scratch,  ms.  weathers,  you  wouldn’t  have  been  out  for  hours.  don’t  diminish  yourself  like  that,  like  you  always  tell  me.

MISS  THE  SMOKE,   @wrecksdo- :
            
            you're  forgetting  this  is  a  role  reversal.   if  i  remember  correctly,    you're  typically  the  one  getting  fucked  up.    {  with  this  point  made  gale  makes  to  straighten  up,  teeth  gritting  as  she  does  so.   jesus,   physical  therapy  is  gonna  suck.   }    speaking  of  ellie,   how's  she  doing ?    ( .. )   i'm gonna  be  fine.   you  know  me,   dewey —  it's  hardly  a  scratch.

@stabreports-   |
            
            you  were  my  wife  for  years,  and  the  mother  of  my  child.  of  course  i’m  coming  to  see  you.   (  it’s  hard  to  pretend  like  he  wasn’t  panicking.  he  leans  forward,  resting  his  elbows  on  his  knees.  )  how  are  you  feeling,  gale?

@stabreports-   |
            
            you’re  famous,  gale.  you  can  turn  shit  down.  you’ve  got  more  money  than  anyone  knows  what  to  do  with!  (  his  voice  isn’t  angry.  it  isn’t  even  raise.  it’s  just..  sad.  hurt.  he  pinches  his  nose  bridge,  inhaling  deeply.  )  well,  knowing  it  or  not,  with  those  damn  books  you’ve  done  more  hurt  than  good.  and  you  know  it.  

MISS  THE  SMOKE,   @wrecksdo- :
            
            because  it  is  my  (job).   my  job,   dwight.    {  gale  sounds  close  to  exhausted  as  she  can  get,   eyes wide  and  damn  near  pleading;  the  feeling  she  loathes,   the  desperation  she  abhors,   all  pouring  out  in  spades.  }    if  i  set  out  to  hurt  anyone,   i would  admit  to  it.   i  don't  run  away  from  my  faults.   that's  why  i can  say  that  i  have  always,   (always),   taken  you  into  consideration.  

@stabreports-   |
            
            i  guess  i  don’t  get  it,  gale.  (  he  narrows  his  eyebrows,  lips  curled  into  the  frown  he  seems  to  have  more  often  than  not.  )  i  never  have.  your  obsession  with  all  this.  it’s  like  you  don’t  care  who  you  destroy.  

@stabreports-   |
            
            (  dewey  admires  his  daughter  with  the  new-found  twinkle  in  his  eye,  a  hushed  laugh  escaping  his  lips  as  he  looks  up  at  gale.  )  all  baby’s  look  the  same  at  this  age.  they’re  all  mushy  and  nothin’  but  soft  flesh  and  whines.  she’s  cuter  than  any  other  baby  i’ve  seen,  though.  we  should  give  ourselves  a  pat  on  the  back.
            
            /  god,,  im  gonna  be  ill  over  them,,

MISS  THE  SMOKE,   @wrecksdo- :
            
            and  your  nose,   and  your  smile.   i  spent  nine  months  forming  this  thing  and  she  comes  out  looking  like  her  father.    {  the  rare  glimmer  of  humor  comes  through  with  gale's  hushed  tone,   continuing  to  bounce  their  sleeping  daughter  in  her  arms.  }    it's  cute.   she  reminds  me  of  those  baby  photos  your  mom  kept  showing  me.   
            
            *   both  of  them  only  seeing  the  other  and/or  tatum  when  they  look  at  ellie ,,  despite  her  being  a  mix  of  all  of  them ,, 

@stabreports-   |
            
            she  has  your  eyes.  (  he  mumbles,  running  a  hand  through  his  hair.  )  striking,  the  piercing  blue  eyes.  she’s  jus’  got  my  baby  face,  is  all.