#and I so have the first scene with Jacob and Mercedes done... we shall see when I'm going to share it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

inafieldofdaisies · 11 months

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WIP Wednesday | Tagged by @jacobsneed <3 | Tagging @adelaidedrubman @thesingularityseries @socially-awkward-skeleton @direwombat @euryalex @detectivelokis @nightbloodbix @aceghosts @madparadoxum @g0dspeeed @trench-rot @josephseedismyfather @josephslittledeputy @theelderhazelnut @purplehairsecretlair @jinfromyarikawa @shegetsburned @clicheantagonist @poisonedtruth @vampireninjabunnies-blog @cassietrn @wrathfulrook @voidika @harmonyowl @strangefable @schoute and anyone with something to share <3

For this Wednesday you all are getting a little something from Sabrina and Savannah (cute as hell) and more of John slowly losing his mind. Then as a bonus because I'm so excited for her: a sneak peek into a new Peggie OC (or is she a Peggie): Mercedes "Mercy" Sibley. Wishing Jacob good luck with that one.

"Rin-Rin, did you see the butterfly! It was so pretty! Not black, though.", Savannah ran over to her, sitting down on the blanket and leaning her head on Sabrina's shoulder, "Ah, I forgot to tell you, John asked me about butterflies?" "He did?" Not giving up on your quest at unraveling all my secrets, eh, Seed? She wasn't too surprised, he was set on figuring as much as possible about her and her sister probably seemed like the path of least resistance when it comes to getting information, especially when she herself refused to share anything. Savannah nodded, "Why does your sister like butterflies?", she tried mimicking John's voice, making Sabrina laugh. "What did you tell him?" "To ask you, silly. I lied that I don't know.", her sister giggled like she had done something quite devious. "You know what I usually say about lying, Sav. But this time… it was the right call." She sighed, "I know. I won't do it all the time like mom, don't worry." "I know, pumpkin. Did he ask anything else?" Savannah titled her head, lips pursed in thought, no doubt quickly going over all her conversations with John since meeting him days back. "We just talked about random stuff, Rin-Rin. But he did ask about uncle Cal…" Of course, can you get more predictable? "What did he want to know about him?" Her sister gave her an amused look, "He asked if he came over a lot, and if he was your boyfriend." "Oh my god. He did not.", Sabrina covered her face with her hands as she took a deep breath. "He did. I told him uncle Cal used to come over for breakfast sometimes, that he brought me things,", she shrugged, "but I have no clue if he is your boyfriend." "And?" Savannah laughed, "I asked him why he wants to know and if he likes you?" "Savannah Mae!" "And he got really quiet. Oh, it was very funny.", a mischievous smile appeared on her face at the memory.

Sabrina shook her head, "What am I going to do with you.", then her tone grew serious, "If he asks anything else that seems weird, you just tell him to talk to me instead, okay? "I don't know, John. Ask her yourself." Okay?" "Of course, Rin-Rin.", her sister's narrowed in curiosity, "Do you like him?", she bumped her shoulder, "It's okay if you like him, even if he's a Peggie." Sabrina shook her head quickly, "It's nothing like that, Sav. He's a friend like uncle Cal, okay?" "Okay.", came out as a reply, then she added, "But… I think he likes yoooouuu." Savannah sign-songed the last part as she jumped back to her feet, her attention grabbed by another butterfly in the distance. Since finding out about what the beautiful insects meant to her, her sister had made it her neverending mission to find a black butterfly. Sabrina's eyes shifted to the ranch, coming to rest on John as he leaned on the balcony's railing. She could sense another one of his intense stares pointed her way. She guessed he must have come out while she wasn't paying attention, too engrossed in the conversation with Savannah. The second their eyes met, a familiar pull stirred in her even from the distance. It was a harsh reminder how much of a lie it was to call whatever happening between them "nothing". He held her gaze for what felt like eternity before turning around and disappearing back inside his room.

John closed yet another notebook, releasing a huff as he put it on top of the pile of finished ones. His frustration was festering more and more at the fact it had been hours of non-stop reading through her notes and so far he hadn't come across anything mentioning him. The whole afternoon he had fought temptation to drop what he was doing and join her outside, the way she stared at him when he allowed himself a brief look, didn't help matters. He was holding himself back from storming out and finding her, demanding to tell him about the visions, to confess if she even had them written down at all. Doubt was creeping in. Are you having a laugh at my expense, Deputy? Is that it? If she in fact hadn't noted anything related to him down, it meant she held all her secrets close, locked away in her mind. He was good at getting those out of people, he would learn everything no matter the way. In attempt to keep his head straight he had slipped back into avoiding her, he couldn't imagine going down for dinner and having to sit across from her… knowing what that would cost him, how it would chip away at his facade. Hours back Savannah cheerfully had brought him food, patting his shoulder as she said, "You're working hard, John, but you also gotta eat.", then she had rushed back out before he could even respond. The house was now quiet, the little one had gone to bed, and he found himself with another situation on his hands. It started with Sabrina's footsteps carrying past his room and fading away until the exterior door opened and shut. Minutes passed in silence, then he heard it, the faint strumming of a guitar, finding a way inside even with his windows closed, then a voice joined. Even muffled it was so melodic, beguiling him to go outside, to stand on the balcony and listen. No. Focus. John didn't give into the urge, knowing if he did, he won't be able to stay upstairs just listening, that he'd end up seeking her presense, and her singing would no doubt push him over the edge. The Project needed him. He had to ensure Calahan Hartley wouldn't destroy everything he had built. He had to make Joseph proud.

Mercy. She hated the meek woman she had to pretend to be, but she was stuck in that life, a Sunk Cost Fallacy of sorts, and she had promised herself she would get revenge no matter the means. When she officially entered the Whitetails, mindlessly following the route marked for her on a worn-out map while a non-cult song played queitly on the radio in the background, she couldn't help but dread the reaction the oldest Seed would have to her arrival. Where Joseph fully bought her lost lamb act and John always managed to force a smile her way no matter how troubling or ingenuine it seemed, while Faith eyed her with slight wary, to the Father's dismay Jacob did his hardest to make it known he disliked his protégé. It wasn't that Mercedes was desperate for the man's approval, it was more the feeling he was seeing through her facade that worried her, but she told herself if that was the case, he would have already said something to Joseph by then.

[...]

Hours later Mercedes found herself parking the car in front of the iron gates of St. Francis Veteran Center and as soon as she stepped a foot past them, one of Jacob's men was rushing at her. "Oh, my,", she feigned a flich at the sight of his weapon, "Didn't the Father warn you I would be arriving?" "He did.", the Chosen reached a hand to her, "Name's Isaac." "Mercy." "Brother Jacob is away at the moment." Mercedes smiled at him and squared her shoulders, "Is this his way of trying to get rid of me without even seeing me? Joseph sent me, so I'm not going anywhere." "He truly is away, sister.", Isaac said with a frown as he rubbed his neck, then muttered, "He knows nothing of your arrival, actually." Well, that should be fun. "Where should I wait for him then?", she asked and took a step around the man, making him block her path again. "Uh,", he stuttered out, looking uncertain, his demeanor telling her she was the last person he wanted to deal with, especially with his boss being unaware of her visit, "His office?" It came out as a question, as if he expected her to bark an order at him. "That would be just fine, thank you.", when he didn't move, she added, "Lead the way, Isaac." That finally snapped the poor guy back into action and he strode off towards the main entrance of the old yellow building, forcing Mercedes to pick up her pace, too. She tried to ignore the cages upon cages on each side of the path. A naive part of her wanted to believe Jacob was keeping wild animals in there, but reality was a bitch. Sunken faces stared back at her paired with the occasional faint plea for help. People. I'm sorry. The sight was a harsh reminder why the simple con job of getting back what Joseph had stolen from her only family had turned into so much more. Why she had given up on her old life and remained undercover for almost 388 days. Her hands gripped her dress in desperation the same way so many bloody hands were holding onto the bars. I will get you all out. Somehow. Just not today.

Isaac held the door open for her, letting her enter the decrepit former hospital first, then followed behind. "We don't get many visitors here.", he explained and took the lead again, "So you're bound to get strange looks from people." The hallways all looked similar and she wondered if his men felt like rats in a maze anytime they navigated the building. Mercedes let out a small laugh, "That's okay." Eventually he stopped in front of a door and gestured inside as he unlocked it, "I'm leaving you in here, sister. Can I trust you won't wander the building if I don't lock you in." She nodded, "Nothing to worry about here, Isaac." He gave her a relieved smile and scrambled to take his leave, "I will have someone bring you a glass of water in a few." Isaac rushed out before she could even mutter a thank you. "Talk about keeping your men on edge.", she said under her breath and shifted her eyes to the room, taking a couple of cautious steps further in. A series of small windows overlooked the fence around the hospital and the vast woods behind it that gave off a false sense of freedom if you only manage to climb over the rusty bars. If even a small portion of what she had heard about Jacob's experiments was true, once you had entered the Vet Center, your free will would be left at the door. His office was sparsely furnished from a worn-out couch, a small bookcase and old desk overflowing with documents with a single chair behind it, to the maps hanging on the walls together with a bloodred poster of him. In it Jacob was pointing with a smug look on his face with "Only You." stamped at the bottom. She ran her hands over her dress out of habit, smoothing out wrinkles that weren't even there while she stared back at the propaganda, wondering if that was the only expression he could ever muster aside from the one of hatred he would always send her way. Well, the feeling is mutual, asshole. Mercedes smiled at the thought, then frowned at how she wasn't able to freely express her dislike like he was. 388 days she wished she could finally go back to her old self and be free of pretending for a short while until the next job would come around and she would slip into a new role. 388 days she dreamed of finally being free of the Seeds. 388 days where she hoped tomorrow would offer her a chance to leave the Project behind her for good.

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