Serenia

a mixed bag of slice-of-life and fantasy

Buuuump

a mixed bag of slice-of-life and fantasy

looking again! ^^

The ties that bind (Serenia/Freedom)

“You’ve always been a nerd,” the Georgian said with a laugh, though it was not unkind. It was something that had brought them closer and made her feel more comfortable with him while she was trying to hang out with his older brother. “I’m glad to see that some things don’t change.” The events of the day still lingered in her mind but it was easier to push them aside while she could reminisce about something else. “I guess Juntao had to keep the company while you travelled down here.” Elodie wondered if it had been Kaz’s decision to come back down here or if his older brother had simply told him to do so. She wanted to ask if he was happy – if they were both happy – but refrained barely. Tucker moved to her legs, pushing against them almost in a cat-like motion.

“Katie was sweet,” Elodie said, her fingers tapping on one mug as the coffee continued to brew. “But they weren’t happy. I think Tyler wanted kids, and she didn’t. I’m actually planning on buying soon, since the clinic is finally taking off. You think that everyone would want a vet finally in this small ass town, but…” She ran a hand through her blonde hair, laughing slightly as she turned to Kaz. “I guess my prices had to be adjusted for people to want to come. I mean, it’s a dog friendly town so it isn’t like people don’t care about the pets.” Her fingers shakily picked at the skin of her cuticles, hearing the bubbling brew still behind her. They were slowing and she turned back to the coffee pot, pouring the nearly boiling liquid into the mugs. She pulled at one of them, black and strong, before placing it on the table for Kaz.

Ellie moved to the refrigerator and pulled out creamer, a sweet vanilla that would not require any additional sugar, before taking that and her own cup to sit on a marble table beside a comfortable leather couch. Her blue eyes moved over Kaz, seeing a look of confusion that prompted her to continue to watch him. He was just as attractive as ever, especially in the suit he’d come into town in. And she hated him for it; would she have felt better to see him fat and ugly? In fact, he almost looked a little too skinny, at least compared to when she’d last seen him. All of the baby fat had left his face, and she doubted it had stayed on any other part of his body. She blushed and went to pour her creamer into the coffee and put it to the side.

She took a sip, testing the temperature, and turning her head when Kaz moved towards her. Ellie’s brows furrowed as she looked at Kaz’s features, unsure what had set him off. His smile didn’t look quite right but she would let it go for now. “It’s not that special,” she said, still looking at him and trying to figure out if it was just stress of today or from the phone conversation he’d had. “Just takes a lot of work, probably the same as being a CFO or anything else.” Elodie wanted nothing more than to reach out and grab Kaz’s hand, although she simply used her free hand to wrap around the mug. She took a sip of the coffee and groaned slightly at the temperature. “Are you okay?” she asked finally, hoping she didn’t make this reunion any more awkward than it already had been.

The ties that bind (Serenia/Freedom)

You're fine! Don't worry about it ^^

The ties that bind (Serenia/Freedom)

Elodie could only stand gaping at the body beneath her as Tucker continued to bark, though the sound still sounded muted and far away. She hadn’t even heard Kaz’s voice scream out for her, barely registering as his hand pulled at hers. Instead, her eyes remained locked on the awkward, frozen angles. From here, she could almost see the gaping mouth that was kept open in a silent scream by rigor mortis and eyes that wouldn’t close without a fair bit of manipulation and strength… She didn’t hear the man’s words at her side as she was tugged away, pupils dilated with fear so large that the blue irises barely shown even in the bright light of the day. The woman forced one foot in front of the other, tumbling over herself nearly as Kaz continued to take her back to her Jeep.

Her eyes finally moved up to the Japanese man as he continued to speak, his calm voice almost enough to soothe her quickened heartbeat. It was nearly palpable through her chest and, soon, it would make her breathing uncontrolled. She took a few deep inhales, holding them for as long as possible in an attempt to calm herself. Elodie nodded and gripped Kaz’s hand more firmly. It was going to be impossible to forget the horrible sight that had been displayed in front of her, no matter how much she prayed or wished for it. Still, the woman knew that he was just trying to be nice and supportive. “It’s just around the old store,” Elodie said shakily, regaining some semblance of control and taking her hand from Kaz’s.

She dug the Jeep keys from her pocket and unlocked the car, climbing into the front seat clumsily and rummaging for her phone. She quickly dialed 911, unaware that perhaps Kaz was doing the same thing, and sat down on the leather seat. While the police arrived, Ellie leaned forward and placed her head on Kaz’s chest as if the last few years had never happened. She listened to the police, who seemed nonplussed at the presence of a dead body, and gave up what information she could. She only nodded once more as they were assured the case would soon be resolved. Tucker had finally made it back to the Jeep, his brown tail wagging as if nothing had occurred.

It wasn’t as easy for Ellie to return to normal, however, and she took up Kaz’s offer. She hadn’t wanted to initially, considering she didn’t want to answer any questions Tyler might have, but it would at least give her peace of mind to spend time around him, normalizing her grip on reality. “Yeah, sure. I’m sure Tyler would love to say hi to you.” It was a meager attempt at humor, knowing that her brother had quite the unsavory opinion regarding Kaz. She slipped the keys into the ignition before shakily climbing to her knees, opening up the back door so Tucker could jump in.

Once the dog was settled, Elodie shut him in and moved to the passenger seat, quickly moving back into the Jeep. She wasn’t in the right state to drive back, no matter how short of a drive it was. “He lives on Thoroughbred Way,” she said, leaning her head back against the seat and sighing. She ran her hands over her thighs, trying to clear her clammy palms, before she turned her head to look at Kaz. “I’m sure Juntao is worried, especially if he’s called twice,” she said, trying to divert her thoughts away from the dead man they’d seen minutes earlier.

“Tell him I say hello,” she said, offering Kaz a small smile before turning her attention to the flashing trees on the road. Soon enough they found their way to Tyler’s house where she’d been staying.

“I, uh… I don’t have a place at the moment.” Her eyes moved up to run over the light blue, two story house that was certainly too large for just Tyler. “He doesn’t mind the company, or so he says. He’s dating someone, but it isn’t serious. Got divorced a few years ago… Katie Engles, if you remember her. Pretty little thing. Anyway. This is where I’m at now. I don’t suppose I have the real authority to bring you in, but…” Elodie shrugged as she opened the door, then Tucker’s. He ran towards the front door, but not before stopping and urinating on some budding bushes. “Come in. Least I can do if fix us up a cup of coffee. God knows I need it.”

She shut the door to her Jeep and moved to unlock the house, having not seen Tyler’s patrol car in the driveway. She wondered, briefly, if he had been called out to study the remains but tried not to linger there for long. Elodie opened the white door, showing a modern and open living room that also held a kitchen. The inside was sleek and not too crowded, allowing Tucker to easily romp through the area. She put on a pot of coffee as soon as she could, inhaling the rich aroma as it brewed. Her slender fingers moved to gather two simple, white mugs. “How do you take it?”

The ties that bind (Serenia/Freedom)

No problem! Enjoy yourself d:

The ties that bind (Serenia/Freedom)

Elodie hadn’t really bore any ill will towards Kaz’s father apart from disappointment that he didn’t care for her. It was almost hypocritical due to the fact that her father didn’t exactly care for Kaz, either. Neither had her mother, and she assumed that neither of them knew that the younger Ujohiri was back in town. No doubt when news hit, they would be texting and calling her, having her thrown into some type of work where she wouldn’t see the outside of either the clinic or their house for days. A blush rose on her cheeks as his words pulled her back to the present, blonde hair whipping around her face to hide her expression as the wind picked up.

“I don’t know, Kaz,” she said with a laugh, shaking her head as she fought the memories back down. “I don’t remember much about high school anymore.” That was a bold-faced lie, but for the purpose of this conversation she would continue to say so. There were plenty of things that she did want to say, though none of them were kind. Kaz’s father would never have allowed him to pursue any dream that didn’t include finances or medicine… it seemed that he’d gotten his wish. Ellie continued to swing herself as he spoke of what his occupation now was, and it took a fair bit of restraint to keep from snorting. Of course he and his brother had taken over the company, just as their father had wanted.

And she remembered Juntao more than she cared to admit. It had been him, not Kaz, that Elodie had first been attracted to. He was the older, handsome foreign-looking boy that moved in near her and nearly everyone had been obsessed. In fact, her friendship with Kaz had been mostly formed due to wanting to be close to his brother. Instead, the exact opposite had happened. She’d fallen hopelessly and deeply in love with the man to her side. It had been years ago, but the hurt and heartbreak he’d left her with still lingered. She turned her head and rolled her eyes at his comment regarding better alternatives.

It hardly seemed like she had been a better alternative. He was CFO of a company, for Christ’s sake. She was a vet, but that paled in comparison the successfulness of the Ujohiri brothers… at least at this point. “I accept your apology,” Elodie started hesitantly, turning to look at him with bright blue eyes. Could she be friends with the man who had completely and utterly ruined her as a teenager? “I won’t promise anything,” she continued, pushing blonde hair behind one ear. “But I’ll – “ She heard Tucker barking from afar, causing her brows to furrow. Her gaze searched the field ahead before she turned back to Kaz. “I’ll try.”

The Shepherd kept barking and Ellie sighed, bracing her hands on her thighs as she rose from the swing. “Fucking dog,” she said with a soft smile, her way of an apology. In truth, she was pleased that something had drawn her away from her high school sweetheart. She didn’t have anything to say to him and truly just wanted to process the information, the news that he was back. Elodie offered him another smile as she moved towards Tucker, who continued to bark. “I’ll be right back.” The next thing she knew, she was standing at the edge of the forest and looking up a hill. “Shh,” she hissed loudly, beginning to become irritated with the sound.

It wasn’t like Tucker to bark continuously, but he was known to do it on occasion. If he’d found something he wanted to play with, there was no shutting him up. Elodie hiked up the hill, clicking her tongue for the dog to return to her side. However, all color drained out of her cheeks when she looked down to see what Tucker was barking at.

It was a body, face down in the mud. The odd angle made her immediately gather the person was dead, joints unnaturally contorted… Ellie heard a loud, shrill scream and realized belatedly that the noise had erupted from her own mouth. She clasped a hand over her lips as tears began to well in her eyes, wanting to move. The woman wanted to move away, but her feet were rooted firmly on the ground and unable to walk away. Tucker continued to bark loudly, though it seemed muted while in her state of shock. “Kaz?” she called loudly, her voice shaking with fear.

The ties that bind (Serenia/Freedom)

I'll probably just introduce the body, then give it a few more posts until something else happens. Maybe that way the two of them have something to bond over.

Not that a murder is something to bond over, but Ellie would have more of a reason to see Kaz if he experienced the same thing she did, if that makes sense? Like comfort wise?

The ties that bind (Serenia/Freedom)

I wonder if it would be appropriate for Tucker to stumble on a body at this point? :X

The ties that bind (Serenia/Freedom)

Unfortunately I work all weekend. I’ll try to get you replies but no promises!