[Gemma Gatsby]

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[attr="class","sixShoutline"]

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[attr="class","sixShtiny"]TAGGED:

Ashley Wolfe

[attr="class","sixShnotes"]NOTES:

Let me know if you need me to change or add anything!

[attr="class","sixShlyric"]

put your hands up

[attr="class","sixShcred"]SELKIE

[attr="class","sixShright"]

[attr="class","sixShly"]
loaded the bullets with my blood in the rounds

[attr="class","sixShpost"]
"Okay," she said in a teasingly mocking tone. "Whatever you say, ma'am," Gemma grinned up at him. She'd known plenty of male Ashley's in her life. Even a few guys named Courtney. It wasn't as if she really considered names all that gendered. But it didn't make it any less fun to tease him for. "You know, I always thought you'd make a super pretty girl," there was a little mischievous twinkle in her eyes. There'd been plenty of times her and her sister had tried to make both Dane and Dino into pretty girls. Pinning them down, covering them in eye shadow and lip gloss and blush. Putting bows in their hair or painting their nails. Or even now getting Dane into a croptop and cute little booty shorts. [break][break]

When he smiled at her, that sort of flat closed lip smile, that was the first thing that tugged at something in her heart. Because that wasn't Dino's smile. His smile had been wide and toothy. Had wrinkled his cheeks and nose and been unapologetic and as wild as he was. As any of them were. Just like his hair. She'd loved his smile. It had been infectious. No matter what kind of mood she was in, no matter how angry she could have been at him. He could give her that smile and she couldn't help but smile back. This smile was Ashley's smile. Not Dino's. The thought made her own smile falter. The corners of her lips twitched down a little but she pushed the thought away. Handle it later. [break][break]

When he mentioned his hair had in fact been the second thing to go Gemma gave him a curious look. Until his hand slipped from hers and she felt that sort of hollowness return to her chest. A feeling she ignored as he showed her the spot his tattoo had once been. Gemma blinked a bit in surprise but...well it shouldn't have been that surprising right? He'd needed to make sure Antonio couldn't get to him. There'd been times Gemme had thought about cutting out her own tattoo, if just to spite Antonio. To refuse to be his dog that he could yank on the leash of at any time he wanted. Seeing Dino's, Ashley's, gone she idly wondered how easy it would be to get rid of her own. Or her sisters. Or Dane's. Grace's would probably be easy. It wasn't that big after all. Her own was in a pretty rough place to cut into. But Dane's? Just cutting his away would be impossible. "That must have hurt like a bitch." [break][break]

As his car unlocked she started to reach for the handle only for him to stop her and suddenly worry gripped her chest. Had he changed his mind? Did he not want her to see his new house? The new him? Did he not want his fresh new life tainted with the marring of his past? Was she too much of a reminder of what used to be? But instead he asked her if she was sure it was okay. As if seeing his house would just be too much for her to handle. As he stepped closer she reached up a hand to cup his cheek once again. Smoothing the pad of her thumb over his cheekbone before she ran her slender fingers through his too short hair. "Dino," she said his name softly, sweetly. Before she remembered that wasn't it anymore. [break][break]

She shook her head then let out a breath. "Ashley," she corrected herself in the same soft, sweet tone. Even as the name felt wrong on her tongue. "You have no idea how much I've missed you," her hand slid down to rest on the side of his neck, her thumb now running over his jawline. No matter what had changed there was things that would never be different. Things that couldn't be cut or dyed or practiced out of him. Things that were simply part of his core being of a person. Parts of Dino that she'd known and loved even if he hadn't noticed them. Even if some things were different, even if that was scary, she wanted to know them too. "Let me get to know you again," there was almost a sort of soft pleading to the edge of her tone as much as there was curiosity. [break][break]

"Unless you've got some girlfriend at home that's going to freak out if you bring some random girl home in the middle of the night," even though she laughed as she said it the thought tugged at some old jealously in her chest. But she pushed that away too. "If you really don't want me over though I could show you my place?"

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she's a sweet six shooter she knows how to get down

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[Ashley Wolfe]

[nospaces]

THERE'S BLOOD ON YOUR LIES

the scars open wide; there is nowhere for you to hide

[break]

[attr="class","kestrelflight-text"]Let me get to know you again. [break][break]

The center of Ashley's brow knit upward for a brief moment as he searched her face. There was a soft, aching sort of sincerity in her tone that made him feel almost foolish for his moment of doubt. This was Gemma Gatsby, after all. Too strong for her small frame. There'd never been much she couldn't (or wouldn't) handle with a set face and unflinching resolve. But still, even as he felt as much as heard the genuineness in her reassurance, there was still a bit of him that worried. [break][break]

She'd always been strong. But Ashley knew she sometimes made herself strong only for the sake of others. He suspected, in some small part, that she'd hide any struggles she felt — stifle her own, internal difficulties — to make him comfortable and at ease. Save the struggle and ache that anything caused her for when she was alone. Growing up, he'd seen it — he'd known her — and he'd often chalked it up as some sort of "elder sibling" thing. But he'd been an elder sibling, too. And plenty of times in the past, just as he desired to do now, he wanted to assure her she didn't have to do that for him. [break][break]

The brush of her fingers again, across his cheek and through his hair, coaxed a returned and grateful quirk to his lips. He wanted to scoop her up in another hug. To pull her from her toes and swing her around in a circle as he breathed a laugh and thanked her. Make it clear that he'd missed her, too. But instead, he only lifted a hand to curl his fingers into the palm at his neck. He lowered it to his chest and blew an apologetic breath through his nose, giving her fingers a squeeze as he pressed her knuckles over his heart.[break][break]

He remembered a couple of nights after he had gotten his first apartment — an apartment that'd quickly become both Dino and Dane's, just for the fact his brother had always ended up there, invited or not. In the first few weeks, the rooms were still mostly bare besides a couple of pieces of furniture, some lamps, and a TV. They'd stay up all night on a mess of blankets in the center of the living room, eating take-out and watching movies (mostly things the girls liked, obviously; the boys had little say in the matter). Fall asleep bunched together, someone's leg thrown over someone else's arm and a foot lodged in someone's ribs. Dane would smash a pillow into Grace's still-sleeping face mere seconds upon his waking, she'd come up swinging or kicking, and Dino would only stir enough to smother a grin into Gemma's shoulder, fingers tightening around the hand it'd found at some point during the night. Pressing her knuckles to his chest as he did now.[break][break]

The smile wiped from his face as she laughed and joked about his having a girlfriend at home, all thoughts and fond remembering falling away as he let out a loud scoff. "Random girl?" He said, clearly flabbergasted, as his mouth fell agape only to add (somehow even more surprised), "Wait, you live here?" He blinked at her dumbly. He had assumed she was here for a hunting assignment, not that she'd gotten a place in the city. But he supposed it wasn't particularly surprising. The Gatsby girls likely had places all over, not expected to use Guild safehouses or to sleep in motels like most others. And Los Eurosia, he was beginning to learn, was a growing hotspot for Gifted activity. If he'd known that before, he probably would have chosen somewhere else to put down his own roots. [break][break]

He composed himself after a quick moment, straightening and turning to his car. "I suppose running into any of my neighbors at my place would be a bit safer than running into any of your friends at yours," he said, stifling the flicker of uncertainty trying to light again in his stomach as he let his fingers slip from hers and began skirting around the car toward the driver's side.[break][break]

Six years ago, Jackal's parting advice had been to run. At the first sign of the Guild or at the first twinge in his gut, no matter how faint. And Ashley had spent the first few years of his new life doing just that. Living light. Knowing no one. And skipping towns and states at every glimpse of an animal tattoo he saw or when someone looked at him a little too long. Now here he was, about to drive the daughter of Warrick Gatsby to his house. He wondered if Jackal had known Ashley wouldn't be able to run forever. That he had weaknesses and would eventually long for stability and home. Perhaps that was why he'd insisted they have no contact and smiled so ruefully when he wished him good luck. Perhaps he'd known this was how it would go if Gemma, Grace, or Dane had found him. [break][break]

But still, Ashley was able to smother the uncertainty (maybe a little too easily) as he shot her a curious glance over the roof of the car. "But no, no girlfriend. I haven't made it that far yet. And if I had, you are no random girl, Gemma Gatsby." He cracked a grin before he opened the driver's side door and slipped inside.[break][break]

He settled back, secured his seatbelt, and waited until she'd climbed in the passenger seat before quirking a brow with a playful grin. "What about you, then? Is there a Mr. Gatsby or... a future Mr. Gatsby waiting at home?" It was almost as difficult as it was easy to imagine Gemma settling down. All four of them had been capricious and flighty things back in the day. Overworked and always busy, when they weren't hunting, they were often playing; blowing off their stresses in partying and youth. And it seemed Gem had never had good taste in men or momentary partners. [break][break]

Once or twice, Dino had found himself sat in a Guild club — Dane moaning and groaning beside him, nursing a few beers too many — listening to a group of fellow hunters chatting among one another in the booth neighboring theirs. Eyeing the girls laughing together in their seats at the bar — Grace not even technically old enough to be there but who was going to tell her 'no'? Joking about what it'd take to get a hand up a Gatsby girl's skirt. Then one of them, too smug and too loud, would proudly proclaim some sort of success he'd had while the rest jeered and jostled him for the dirty details. [break][break]

In general, Dino had been tolerant — the girls were their own people and more than capable of fighting their own battles and bloodying noses — but... inevitably, it seemed... something a little too crude or tasteless would send him lunging from his seat to curl his fists in the shoulders of the guy's shirt. Would have him clenching his jaw while he hauled him over the back of the booth and yanked him across their table, scattering emptied glasses and spilling beers into their seats and across Dane's lap. The man — obviously having been unaware of the Waylands behind him — would often shut up then, as Dino pulled him close and implored him to repeat the same things to the girls themselves. [break][break]

But six years was a long time. And while Ashley was willing to bet his life had changed far more drastically than any of theirs, change was still probable. Especially if Gemma was hunting less — if stepping back from the Guild, what had she decided to fill her life with in its place? What had prompted the desire to do so?[break][break]

"Wait, let me guess," Ashley continued after a beat, his smile curling deeper and growing a touch more mischievous. "He's an absolute hunk of a malewife. Banned from wearing a shirt while he cooks you and your..." his eyes narrowed thoughtfully, "Two... kiddos breakfast in the mornings. Two kids, of course, because neither of us could ever imagine growing up an only child. Beautiful, brown-eyed, and boys. Because you wouldn't be lucky enough to have girls, boys love their mama, and..." he paused to smirk, "You already have experience raising them."[break][break]

He turned on the car and turned down the radio which roared to life. "Assuming 'Uncle Dane' ever comes around, I'm sure he's already taught them a handful of colorful words. Tried teaching them interesting ways of conflict resolution." Ashley snorted, imagining his brother bent on one knee, hands on the tiny shoulders of a sniffling boy whining about some stolen toy. Coaching him where to punch or how to drive a knee and, of course, what to tell Mom and Dad afterward.

[break]

Tag: Gemma Gatsby [break]
Sorry, this ended up being a lot. Please let me know [break]
if I moved her around too much or if you don't like [break]
any of the past bits I've incorporated at any time!

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[Gemma Gatsby]

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[attr="class","sixShwhole"]

[attr="class","sixShimg"]

[attr="class","sixShoutline"]

[attr="class","sixShextra"]

[attr="class","sixShtiny"]TAGGED:

Ashley Wolfe

[attr="class","sixShnotes"]NOTES:

Let me know if you need me to change or add anything!

[attr="class","sixShlyric"]

put your hands up

[attr="class","sixShcred"]SELKIE

[attr="class","sixShright"]

[attr="class","sixShly"]
loaded the bullets with my blood in the rounds

[attr="class","sixShpost"]
Gemma watched that moment his face shifted as he searched hers. For any kind of uncertainty or doubt likely but she was unwavering. Gemma had been through and seen a lot of things in her life. With the worst of it she'd learned to disconnect herself. Let the feelings pass through her until she could store them in neat little boxes and tuck them away. Tuck them away until she was alone where no one could see her at her weakest. At her most vulnerable. There'd been very few people who had seen Gemma truly break down. Especially once she'd gotten older. A few of those times she'd leaned on Dino. Found comfort in his arms and let her tears stain his shirt. Sometimes it was because he'd pulled it out of her. Like coaxing a frightened, feral animal out of its hiding place. [break][break]

As his fingers curled in her hand again and he pressed her knuckles to his chest it made warmth spread through her own. She'd remember waking up to her sisters swearing, yelling, her fists or feet smacking against Dane as he laughed loudly. Feeling Dino's warm breath on her shoulder with her hand on his chest. Feeling his heartbeat under her knuckles as she turned to bury her face into his chest. Grumbling about how if Grace didn't kill Dane she would. For the simple audacity of waking her up before she'd fall right back asleep. [break][break]

His surprise over referring to herself as some random girl made Gemma chuckle softly. As much as she might not be some random girl to Dino any of his other friends he'd made in the years likely wouldn't know her. Unless he'd talked about times of wild moments with violent sisters and a crazy boy. Did he ever tell anyone he had a younger brother? She idly wondered just how much of a backstory he'd whipped up for strangers. But that thought was pushed aside when he asked about her living here. "Yeah, Gracie and I got our own places at the Heights," she said easily with a soft shrug. Part of her thought of telling him Dane lived here as well but she paused. Would that be too much for him? Would he run if he knew just how close he was to his brother? Gemma decided it was best to keep that information to herself for the time being. [break][break]

When he mentioned not wanting to run into her friends she grinned with a small giggle. "I don't know, I think you'd like meeting my cat Queenie, she's a sassy little thing," she said with a playful grin. When he claimed he didn't have a girlfriend she was both a little surprised and not. It made sense that he might not have felt safe enough to let someone in. She wondered how long he'd run. If he'd immediately settled in los Eurosia or if he'd bounced around from place to place to make sure he wasn't being followed. When he used her full name, or well almost, she couldn't help but giggle again. [break][break]

Once he was in the drivers side she slipped into the passenger. Smoothing the skirt of her dress over her thighs as she buckled in though her eyes became the size of saucers when he brought up her having not only some significant other but a husband no less. Gemma gave a full hearted laugh and shook her head. "God no!" She exclaimed between laughter. Thomas may have wanted something more serious between them but she'd made it clear where she stood on that. As he brought up children though he face did flush a bit of a light pink color. One fantasy she'd always pondered over was being a mom. A couple of little ones running around. Causing trouble and filling her home with laughter and the pitter patter of feet across hardwood. Of course she wouldn't be lucky enough to have girls. No pretty babies to doll up like her mother had done to her and her sister [break][break]

"If you think I'm giving Dane Wayland unsupervised access to any of my future children you've lost your mind," she said playfully. But part of her was kind of serious. Him teaching them to swear was the least of her concerns. "I don't need him teaching them how to make molotovs or how much pressure it takes to shove someone's nose bone into their brain," even as she said it though Gemma couldn't help but smile. She could just imagine Dane crouched down with one hand on her childs shoulder. Them leaning in with eyes full of wonder, absolutely absorbed in every word he said. "But no, no fiance or husband or boyfriends," she said easily. If she was going to be serious enough about something they needed to really know her. Really understand her and what she's been through. She'd always imagined she'd probably wind up with another hunter but most of them were jackasses. [break][break]

"There's few people in this world brave enough to try and tame a Gatsby girl."

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[Ashley Wolfe]

[nospaces]

THERE'S BLOOD ON YOUR LIES

the scars open wide; there is nowhere for you to hide

[break]

[attr="class","kestrelflight-text"]For as long as he could remember, Dino knew he'd wanted kids. Back when he'd been one himself, still young enough to be propped on the kitchen counter by his mother to help her shape cookies or test brownie batter. It hadn't been a fully conscious thought then, of course, but he'd known he wanted that feeling — that warmth that was Mona's soft, loving giggle as she plopped a spoon against his nose or tickled him to distraction when he tried reaching for a fistful of softened butter. [break][break]

Then he'd grown older. Learned who he was and that his life wasn't really his to choose. The Guild had been too busy and demanding. How did one think of starting a family when they did what they did? He knew it was possible — both Warrick and Antonio, as well as many others, had managed it. But then he'd quickly become too sick and pained to imagine something like that was ever meant for him. Not only did he know he was bound to be short-lived in the Guild, but... it had seemed unjust to want something that he was actively destroying for others left and right. And somewhere along the line, he'd realized, too, that any children he had would probably be born Gifted. How responsible was it — how right was it — to bring kids into a world where they'd be hated enough to be picked off like bugs? When their father had killed scores of people just like them?[break][break]

Still, occasionally he wondered if it would be worth it. Now that he was away from the Guild and had lived unharassed for so long. It was only a thought he half-entertained on those nights when his home felt too quiet or when he missed his mother. To have the chance to be the father that his hadn't been. For his children to have the luxury of hating him in normal ways — groaning exasperatedly when he told a terrible joke in front of their friends or only let them stay up a little past their bedtime. Not tattooing them and forcing weapons into their reluctant hands. Not looking at them with only disappointed eyes that'd never once been proud or warm. He'd never make them feel as small as Antonio had. So loomed over and afraid.[break][break]

A couple of the women he attempted dating in the past two years had had children of their own. And he figured that would be good enough. It'd still be a chance. [break][break]

His grin went playfully awry at the wide-eyed look and full-body laugh that followed his guessing about Gemma's life. With a great exclaim, she shot the idealizations down, answering that there was no hunky malewife to speak of, no children, and that it was ludicrous to imagine Dane would be allowed anywhere near the bunch if there were. Ashley chuckled as he bent at an odd angle to slip into his socks and shoes. [break][break]

"Oh, come on, he'd be a great uncle. The fun uncle. And Molotovs aren't so bad. We got into way worse than that and we turned out... uh," he tipped his head and scrunched his nose. Fine? Well-adjusted? After a quick moment of searching for a word that wouldn't be a lie, he breathed a quiet, defeated laugh and shrugged a shoulder. "Well, we're alive." He followed up with a mockingly serious nod. "Actually, no, you're right. Supervised is the way to go."[break][break]

He leaned back to move her bag from his shoulder to the backseat, then paused to cast her a knowing look when she added that few people were bold enough to try and tame her or her sister. "No truer words spoken. Though I wouldn't say 'tame' or 'brave' are necessarily the right words." He quirked a brow, decidedly unwilling to elaborate as he settled back.[break][break]

"How is Grace?" Ashley asked easily as he pulled out of the gravel parking area and onto the Los Eurosia streets. "And..." he hesitated, knuckles tightening briefly on the steering wheel as he signaled into a turning lane that would head them toward West Hook. He supposed he shouldn't ask about his own family. About Dane. It was probably better that way. Safer. He really shouldn't know. Nor did he deserve to. "Your parents? How are you?" As he waited for the light to change, he cast her another curious look. "What's life look like now, if you're not hunting?"

[break]

Tag: Gemma Gatsby [break]
Yikes, this one's a mess. Give me a nudge for any changes!

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[Gemma Gatsby]

[nospaces] [googlefont=Oswald|Roboto:400,700]

[attr="class","sixShwhole"]

[attr="class","sixShimg"]

[attr="class","sixShoutline"]

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[attr="class","sixShtiny"]TAGGED:

Ashley Wolfe

[attr="class","sixShnotes"]NOTES:

Sorry this kinda went all over the place haha let me know if you need me to change anything!

[attr="class","sixShlyric"]

put your hands up

[attr="class","sixShcred"]SELKIE

[attr="class","sixShright"]

[attr="class","sixShly"]
loaded the bullets with my blood in the rounds

[attr="class","sixShpost"]
For as long as she could remember Gemma always had one dream that left her feeling hollow in the morning. Not in the soul crushing way that her dreams of Dino had. More in a sense of longing. Of reaching for something she was sure she'd never be able to have. Of brown eyed boys running around outside, their muffled squeals and laughter filtering through the back door. Dane and Dino returning home. Dino depositing himself on the couch while Dane ran outside to chase his nephews. Picking them up and spinning them around while Gemma watched from the back window with a smile. Her making dinner for the six of them while one boy ran in with some kind of bug or creature he'd found outside. Grace demanding he take it back outside where it belongs before she kills it. [break][break]

But she was certain that wasn't ever going to be a life she got to have. As long as she had any ties to the Guild Gemma couldn't fathom bringing any children into a world that would hate them. They would likely be gifted like her and their aunt and their grandparents. She couldn't handle the idea of them being hated or killed simply for something that was out of their control. Or having a gun shoved into their hands. Hands too small to hold a weapon properly. Shaking and not being sure if it's from the fear or because their muscles aren't yet strong enough to hold up that kind of weight. Gemma couldn't do that to her children. She couldn't put them through the trials by hell fire she'd gone through. But that didn't stop the dreams [break][break]

"Oh I have no doubt Dane would love being the fun uncle," she laughed. Having some little munchkins to wrestle with. To teach how to fight. To have them call him when they were in a bind and knew he wouldn't judge them for it because he'd done far more stupid things in his youth. As he seemed to struggle to find a word of what they'd turned out to be Gemma turned to give him a waiting, expectant look. Because none of them could be considered fine or okay by any normal kind of standards. Even to some other hunters the four of them had been wild. A force to be reckon with. When he settled on alive Gemma had to bite her tongue. Three of them were alive. As far as anyone else was concerned Dino was dead. Another hunter who'd met an early grave. But she didn't say that. Didn't want to think it. [break][break]

As he claimed that brave or tame wouldn't be the right words to describe someone trying to seek out a real romantic relationship with her or her sister Gemma gave him a suspicious and curious look. "And words would you use to describe it then oh great wise one?" Though it didn't seem that was a question that was going to be answered. Annoying. He knew how much it irked her when he did that. [break][break]

"Gracie is...Well she's Grace," Gemma said with another laugh. "She's still wild, she's still a spoiled princess," her tone was filled with nothing but affection. She supposed they would both always be spoiled little princesses. "Mom and daddy are okay too, daddy isn't too happy that I still haven't gotten back into hunting as quickly as he'd hoped," her expression dropped a little bit but she shrugged the feeling off. Her father had thought giving her some time to grieve over the loss of her friend would make Gemma come back renewed. Possibly angrier. But six years later she was still turning down assignments and passing them to someone else. "I'm still pretty sure that's why he paired me with Dane of all people." [break][break]

Gemma sighed as she leaned back in the seat. His question on how life was for her without hunting made her pause. "It's...weird," she admitted with a small laugh. "I don't know what to do with myself most days but it's getting easier, I think," her eyes wandered over Dino. Watching the passing street lights play across his features. "Was it like this for you at first too?" [break][break]

She wanted to tell him about Dane. Wanted to let him know that his brother was alive. That he was alright. "Dane's okay too, by the way," she offered. Still unsure of telling him just how close the two were to proximity. "He's still crazy, he threw me into the fucking ocean the other day," she huffed with a frown that was more affectionate than she was trying to go for.

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she's a sweet six shooter she knows how to get down

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[Ashley Wolfe]

[nospaces]

THERE'S BLOOD ON YOUR LIES

the scars open wide; there is nowhere for you to hide

[break]

[attr="class","kestrelflight-text"]When Gemma phished for some elaboration on his "choice of words" — sounding a bit like she knew he'd remain close-lipped — Ashley only quirked a brow and let a smirk tease at one corner of his mouth. [break][break]

He thought of her and Grace.[break][break]

He'd had the luxury of knowing the both of them much longer than most anyone else. Of seeing bits and pieces of them that they'd not yet decided to hide. Of knowing them before they grew more completely into who they were and being inseparably close to them as they did. He'd seen them struggle and cry as much as he'd seen them scream and kill. He was aware there was far more to them than the faces they put on for others. More than their last name, their pretty looks, their spoiled antics, and who they were to the Guild. [break][break]

But being "brave enough to try and tame a Gatsby girl?"[break][break]

Replacing brave, suicidal was the first word that jumped to mind. Antonio had been quick to put the idea from both his sons' heads, long before they reached an age when their thoughts began to grow less innocent and stupid, boyish desires could tempt a hand to stray where it shouldn't. And they really hadn't needed to be told twice, especially when a person began to notice that boys who broke the girls' hearts — or sometimes just caught their attention, which caught their father's attention — had an uncanny way of turning up missing. [break][break]

Tame was wrong too, obviously. Mostly because it would be impossible. The word made him imagine trying to slip a bridle over the head of a horse that was liable to bite through a couple of fingers. Or similar words like domesticating. There'd be no true domesticating or caging of a Gatsby girl. They'd always be a little feral. Unmanageable and lethal. And why ask them to be smaller? Quieter and more amenable? No, there'd be no taming. Anyone who thought they stood a chance of holding some sort of figurative "reins" over either of them would one day realize the end had always been in the girl's hand instead. [break][break]

Hell, Ashley couldn't even come up with a fitting alternative for the word because nothing fit. There would be no whittling the girls into something someone else preferred. No asking or forcing them to change. There would only be being lucky enough to be someone they were willing to tolerate and love. Not the other way around.[break][break]

He hummed for a considering moment, smirk furthering as he mused. "Ask me later." He said finally, mouth twisting slyly, knowing Gemma was likely to scoff or roll her eyes. Unwilling and sometimes unable to keep her irritation under wraps. Back in the day, perhaps she might have even (only half-jokingly) throttled him (safe driving be damned). He glanced sidelong to meet her gaze and, as he noted the gleam to it, remembered that he'd... sometimes... been just as terrible as Dane when it came to enjoying getting a little under the girls' skins.[break][break]

She gave him a report on her parents and her sister, and as brief as it was, it sounded like not much had changed in the six years he'd been gone. When she mentioned his brother — and that he'd tossed her into the sea — he forced a chuckle and shook his head. "That... does sound like Dane," he said quietly, taking care to make the words unaffected and absent; as if imagining his brother at the same shore they'd been on only minutes before wasn't worrying. Or that the thought of him, probably cackling and looking smug, as he dropped Gemma into the waves didn't stir a vacant ache in his chest. [break][break]

When Gemma sighed and moved on to how she was doing, Ashley glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Watched her settle in her seat with a small laugh, admitting things were weird but that they were getting easier. He knew how that went. But he couldn't help but briefly recall the tears on her cheeks and the faraway look about her as she stood on the shore, unaware it was him approaching. He had to wonder how much easier things had become. How much could be hiding beneath the small, easy admittance. [break][break]

She turned the question around — asking if it'd been the same way for him — and Ashley took a long moment, blinking absently at the quiet stretch of road before him as he thought the question over. Very quickly, he accepted that her leaving the Guild and stepping off that path was far different than his had been. She still had her family. Her name. The parts of her life that she didn't want to give up. At first — in the beginning — he'd had no room to feel "weird". He'd only been driven by a more immediate, desperate fear to stay hidden. She wouldn't have to experience that part. So he would skip it. It wasn't worth mentioning. Instead, he'd consider the quieter fears that'd come after. When time had passed and he decided he didn't have to feel so hounded.[break][break]

"Uhm... yeah," he started, sipping in a quiet breath and casting her another quick, observant look. "I suppose it was weird." He shrugged and turned his attention back to the road, keeping his tone decidedly light as he continued. "I traveled a lot, obviously. Lots of open roads and mountains. But... it was hard sometimes," he admitted with a soft, barely-there knit to his brow. "To know where to go and what to do. Having choices. Way too many of them, it seemed at times, to really know... how to decide." He breathed a small laugh, a corner of his mouth tugging awry as he recalled poring over paper maps rolled across his car's dashboard. Glancing at Applejack in the passenger seat and asking her what place they should choose next when the time came. Reading out names of small towns and random cities and waiting for her to perk her ears at a squirrel, blink twice, or give him any sort of reaction he could interpret as a sign. "I'd lived my whole life before then following someone else's plan for me, you know? So I didn't really know how to make my own." [break][break]

It'd been difficult, to figure out who Ashley Wolfe was. Who he wanted to be. To truly realize what it meant to leave Dino Wayland behind and accept full-heartedly that it was only himself responsible for what happened to him next. Where his life went (at least up until the past caught up with him and put an end to it).[break][break]

"When I first... really faced that it was up to me, I realized the world was very, very big. And I was really, really small. Insignificant." He cast her a hopeful, somewhat excited look as he stepped on the word, his brow lifting. "And that that wasn't bad. Quite the opposite, actually, it was great. A bit scary at first, sure. You had to wonder, despite the world being so big, if it really had a place you... belonged in it?" [break][break]

He hesitated, realizing in a sheepish instant that he was rambling nonsense and very likely giving her far more than she really wanted to hear. He breathed and settled back in his seat as he rolled to a stop at another red light, giving him a moment's leave to look at her. When he spoke again, it was half-apologetic and half-wondering. "Then I think I finally accepted that I didn't actually have to belong anywhere. That I could just simply exist and enjoy existing without really being meant for anything. And that was really freeing. It was nice. That was when I came here and started actually living."

[break]

Tag: Gemma Gatsby [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes!

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[Gemma Gatsby]

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[attr="class","sixShwhole"]

[attr="class","sixShimg"]

[attr="class","sixShoutline"]

[attr="class","sixShextra"]

[attr="class","sixShtiny"]TAGGED:

Ashley Wolfe

[attr="class","sixShnotes"]NOTES:

Sorry this is kind of a mess lol mostly just a lot of Gemma feelings. Let me know if you need me to add or change up anything at all!

[attr="class","sixShlyric"]

put your hands up

[attr="class","sixShcred"]SELKIE

[attr="class","sixShright"]

[attr="class","sixShly"]
loaded the bullets with my blood in the rounds

[attr="class","sixShpost"]
Gemma narrowed her dark eyes and poked her bottom lip out in a pout when she was told to ask later. Perhaps when they were drunk, if she remembered then, and his mind wasn't so crowded with purposefully trying to get under her skin. Something he and his brother had always been proficient at. They always knew just the right buttons to push. Just the right words to say or the snarky little smirks to give at just the right time. The only other person in the world who'd ever been so good at knowing just how to irritate Gemma was Grace. And she loved them for it. [break][break]

Even as she'd asked the question though Gemma knew his answer wouldn't be quite the same as hers. Because the way they'd handled things hadn't been quite the same. While Gemma was still tied to the Guild, there were still expectations on her head, she still had her family. Hadn't had to change her name or who she was or mutilate a part of her body just to never have a weapon forced into her hands again. But as much freedom as she had because of who's daughter she was Gemma was still shackled. Still song bird trapped in a gilded cage. No matter how pretty the bars a golden cage was still just a cage. [break][break]

There was an odd mix of anger and relief as he described traveling to different places. Getting to learn things about himself he never got to learn while apart of the Guild. Gemma was happy for him, really she was. But there was a part of her that was still so angry. That he didn't tell her. That he didn't take her and Grace and Dane with him. Or at the very least Dane. That he'd abandoned them in this hellscape so he could go and pretend to be someone else. It was a hard feeling to grasp. Because Gemma didn't want to be angry with Dino. [break][break]

He'd done it. He'd escaped. And he was alive and so much better than he had been six years ago. But anger was the only emotion Gemma really knew how to hold onto. Anger had kept her alive. Being angry had been safer than just curling up in a ball and letting herself waste away. So she took a breath. Let that feeling flow down so she could box it up. Save it for later. She didn't want to be angry right now. She wanted to be with Dino. [break][break]

Though it was when he called himself insignificant that really caught her attention. Gemma furrowed her brows in confusion as she stared at him in disbelief. Because never once in her life had Dino Wayland been insignificant. Neither him nor Dane nor Grace had ever been less than what made up the entirety of her world. They had been her constants. Had watched her grow and learn. Had been there for her failures and her successes. No matter how many times she pushed back against them. No matter how many times she became scared and tried to make them leave before she could get hurt they were there. Dino had never been small or insignificant and Gemma simply couldn't fathom a world where he was [break][break]

But she listened to him as he went on about how he didn't feel he had to belong anywhere. And how he felt he'd finally gotten a chance to really live. What was that like she wondered. Living as opposed to just surviving. She was sure she'd had moments of it. Those warm sunny days spent at the beach with the boys and her sister. Nights spent curled up together under blankets with the soft sound of snoring and Dino's chin tucked on the top of her head. Warm summer afternoons spent in Mona's kitchen with the smell of fresh baked cookies in the air. That had felt like living. [break][break]

When she smiled at him it was full of genuine love and warmth and joy. But there was a sort of sadness in her eyes. A longing of something Gemma was certain she'd never get to have back. She'd never have those days back. She'd never really feel alive again. But god she wanted to. She still dreamed of a big house with all of them together. Just them against the world like it was before. As they reached a stop light Gemma unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over to press a soft kiss against his cheek. Leaving behind a sticky light pink residue on his skin from her lipgloss. [break][break]

"I'm really glad you got that feeling," there was no bitterness in her voice. No malice or anger. Only sincere warmth and joy that he'd gotten to experience life. Really experience it for himself. Not for his father or his brother or her but for him.

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she's a sweet six shooter she knows how to get down

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[Ashley Wolfe]

[nospaces]

THERE'S BLOOD ON YOUR LIES

the scars open wide; there is nowhere for you to hide

[break]

[attr="class","kestrelflight-text"]The car rolled to a stop and Ashley looked at her, half-expecting to find her bored with his rambling. For her to maybe poke a little fun at him for going off on a little, romantic tangent. But she smiled when his eyes met hers and his lip pulled at the genuineness of it. Still, under the warmth and affection she let shine clear, he could see there was something else. Something brewing. He knew where to look for it — how it made itself known, mostly in the barely noticeable disconnect between her smile and her eyes. He'd known her far too long to be unfamiliar with the tells; to be completely oblivious when there was something she was holding back and shoving down.[break][break]

But he wouldn't ask. It would come out at some point, assuming she was still at all willing to share those more vulnerable parts of her. In the past, typically it would boil and grow within her until something made it bubble out more violently than it might have before, or there'd come a quiet moment when he'd prompt it to the light himself, softly imploring. Cautious but unflinching. But... maybe it'd be more difficult for both of them now. He hoped not. Either way, he'd just have to face it when the time came, no matter how it came or how it went.[break][break]

Gemma unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned across the console to press her lips to the side of his face, taking him by surprise and prompting a very instinctual laugh as he lifted a hand to test the feel of lip gloss on his cheek. "I really should have seen that coming," he admitted through a chuckle, warmth evident in the tone of it as he recalled all the birthday mornings she'd peppered him with similar assaults, leaving prints on his skin as she screeched her congratulations and threw her arms around him. At least she wasn't wearing red this time.[break][break]

She said she was happy for him and the sincerity of it, the way it sounded, once again made him ache; a swift, swelling clench in his chest that was more pleasant than painful. [break][break]

"Me too," he said softly, smile reigning back to something more subtle as his gaze flit about her face and the familiar look there. The light changed, changing the muted cast of colors playing across her features from red to green, and he turned his attention back to the road, quirking a brow. "But I believe you owe me twenty-nine more kisses." The grin snuck wider again and he reached for her wrist to give it an excited shake in his fingers. "Because I'm thirty today!" [break][break]

He abandoned the steering wheel for a brief moment to use his other hand to turn up the radio. Then, only a split second later, turned it right back down when the song that blared was markedly uncheerful. Not discouraged the slightest, he lifted both his hands and her clasped arm in the air and began bouncing in his seat to an imagined beat. "It's my birthday!" He proclaimed in a sing-songy lilt, lips pursing playfully while he wriggled. "I made it to thirty! Woooo! Who woulda thought? And we are gonna get wine drunk. We're gonna bake some cookies. We're gonna have a good time. We aren't gonna cry." The car began to veer and he dropped one hand back to the steering wheel, adding in only a slightly more subdued tone: "We're not gonna get pulled over." He had had a few beers at the beach and despite the time he'd spent afterward walking it off, and how sobering meeting Gemma had been, he still wasn't certain he'd blow below a 0.08 if stopped. [break][break]

Still not particularly discouraged, he shot her a cheeky grin and skipped his fingers from her wrist and up into her palm. Let his smile pull just a touch wider than the one before it — let it be more like Dino's than Ashley's — as he slipped his fingers between hers and squeezed. "I'm gonna show Gemma Gatsby my house. And maybe we can dance a little. Laugh like old times. Watch her favorite movie. We can do whatever she wants."



[break]

Tag: Gemma Gatsby [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes!

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[Gemma Gatsby]

[nospaces] [googlefont=Oswald|Roboto:400,700]

[attr="class","sixShwhole"]

[attr="class","sixShimg"]

[attr="class","sixShoutline"]

[attr="class","sixShextra"]

[attr="class","sixShtiny"]TAGGED:

Ashley Wolfe

[attr="class","sixShnotes"]NOTES:

Let me know if you need me to add or change up anything at all!

[attr="class","sixShlyric"]

put your hands up

[attr="class","sixShcred"]SELKIE

[attr="class","sixShright"]

[attr="class","sixShly"]
loaded the bullets with my blood in the rounds

[attr="class","sixShpost"]
At the mention of her owing him more kisses Gemma couldn't help but let her grin become more playful. And as he grabbed her wrist to shake her hand excitedly she couldn't help but let out a bright, joy filled laugh. She owed him so many kisses for all six years she thought he was dead. As his hands were removed from the steering wheel to turn up the radio she pressed her forehead to his shoulder, trembling with soft giggles. Especially as a less than cheery song came over the speakers. [break][break]

As the car began veering slightly she widened her eyes a bit as she looked to the road. "Jesus, Dino!" She exclaimed with a laugh as she held him a bit tighter. "We won't make it anywhere if you crash," she teased as he gripped the wheel again. Gemma was decidedly less worried about them being pulled over but she supposed that was still a valid concern. Once the car was more under control she began peppering more kisses along his cheek. Her lip gloss leaving a slightly sticky lips shaped residue on his skin. Though it lessened with each time her lips pressed against his cheek. [break][break]

They could get drunk and laugh and dance and watch movies curled up on the couch or on a pile of blankets on the floor. Just like they used to. As his smile widened she saw a bit more of the boy she'd known before. The one she'd grown up with and spent years laughing with, crying with, never imagining her life without. With still a few more kisses to go she pulled back just to let him drive so they didn't get pulled over or crash. She settled back in the seat. Buckling herself back in and fixing the skirt of her dress once again. [break][break]

She did reach back to grab her bag and pulled out her phone. If just to play something a bit more upbeat for his birthday.

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she's a sweet six shooter she knows how to get down

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