#also its funny. i dont have to add any fucking Dire ass tags/warnings to a reply wow what is this sorcery- FKSADB

[meatriarchived]

it's a yearly tradition, something that happens once a year for the both of them. fresh dinner put onto the table, fresh meat done to perfection, sweet and warm cookies for their dessert. a yearly tradition where luda & johnny celebrated their birthdays together -- beside tommy, who helped them both with the small set up. it isn't much, but there is also a little gift box sat in luda's spot, waiting for her to open. a recent victim had a wad of cash for johnny to pick at -- & upon roaming the town, there was a small necklace that reminded him of her. silver, with a small heart locket, that he's already put two photos of family inside of (making sure to leave nancy out of it, knowing how much the two bickered & argued ). it isn't much by any means, but it was a little something. he waits for the woman to return to the table, glancing between her & the gift. ❛ happy birthday, aunt luda, ❜ his drawl is sweet, he's smiling wide, boyish, like the little boy he once was, always so excited to celebrate with her. he points to the small gift box. ❛ ain't much, but i got y' somethin' ... i hope y' like it. saw it & thought of ya, aunt luda. ❜ | @johnnysslaughter

the hewitt home, on most days of the year, lay silent, with most of its rooms without occupants, its yards and gardens empty save for the lush green leaves of vegetables growing in spite of the texas heat.

its living room barren, save for the creak of floorboard by the idle rocking of a chair, sat upon in the late afternoon hours leading into nightfall. or the sound of radio or old television playing muffled and quiet in the room next door, accompanied by the mutters of one other soul in the home.

save for one in particular every year.

where sure enough early in the day, there's a knock on the side kitchen door, and johnny steps in, lugging in armful of preparations for the day, sweet child-like grin across his face as he greets her and sets down what he's brought to bring her into a hug.

( she, of course, had to brush off flour from his shirt - making cookie dough is rarely a clean feat to accomplish. )

with his arrival - as he has done every year since he was young, once they discovered their birthdays' were so close together - the hewitt home livened up considerably. thomas emerged from the basement door upon hearing johnny's voice carry throughout the home, to lend a hand where needed, to greet his cousin, and to sneak bits of cookie dough, as he always has, when his mama wasn't looking.

( it was always nice, seeing the two of them mess around. luda was fond of the fact that thomas had warmed so easily to the sawyer boys and to sissy when they all were younger, and that it stayed strong even after all these years had gone by. )

the hours ticked on, getting dinner prepped, cooked and finished, getting table set nicely ( the boys' had sent her out of the kitchen for a moment to do so; to make it look real nice for when she returned ) before thomas stepped out to fetch her again. and as she came round the table, to her usual seat, luda looks down at johnny and returns the smile, and can't help but to give his cheek a gentle grandmotherly pinch and pat of his shoulder, "why thank you very much, sweet boy, and a happy early birthday to you, too." she smiles more at him before easing down into her seat, scooting in as he motions to the little box laid out in front of her.

she gives him a look over the top of her spectacles, "oh, sweet boy, you didn't have to go on 'n buy somethin', not with how hard you gotta work." his arm gets a light tap of her palm, playful disapproval on her face, but as she brings the little box in her hands, she tells him a thank you, and opens it carefully, to not drop it or whatever may be inside.

and her features soften upon seeing the little heart-shaped locket inside, and she cautiously takes it out of the box, smile growing more across her face.

"i don't believe i ever told a soul..." she looks to him briefly as she opens it, and sees the photos tucked neatly on either side of the locket - of the family ( at least, nearly all of them ) secure inside its silver frames.

"my mother, jeanine - she had one of these, here. a locket. beautiful, but gold i believe. always did tell me she was goin' to pass it to me, lost it sometime. and after charlie was born," another glance at him, noting the immediate scowl that crosses his face at the mention; she smiles and chuckles at him, reassuring him with another tap to his arm that she won't bring him up again, "how many times i had asked charlton for one. never did..."

as she talks, she holds the necklace in hand, gently passing fingertips along the soft silver heart, unclasping the chain and immediately, she puts it on around neck - as if saying, it's about time. fixing it to make sure it sits just right.

luda stands herself back up out of her seat a bit, to lean over and rest a kiss to johnny's temple, and to give him a warm hug, "i adore it, johnny, thank you," and as she pulls away again, she stops to gently cup his cheeks, "you are too smart for your own darn good, sweet boy, knowin' all too well what i may fancy. somethin' many years late, but, i will treasure it dearly. thank you."

#[ lmh ] ── * 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃. { luda. } #johnnysslaughter #lamb ya'll have no idea that the locket has been a long-standing hc of mine for her for years so when this came thru i near cried for her- #this was so sweet and cute and i loved it :'))) #she simply adores him so much.... hes so feral any other time but hes such a Softie with our mom luda and its so sweet how they bonded #over their birthdays being so close together ;w; #also its funny. i dont have to add any fucking Dire ass tags/warnings to a reply wow what is this sorcery- FKSADB #except yknow........ #hoyt jumpscare /