Chocolate 27; Pistachio 3
Author: Marina (this is what I would like my author tag to be, please)
Story: Shifts universe (pre-Tremors)
Challenge: Chocolate 27 (determination), Pistachio 3 (ceremony)
Toppings: Whipped Cream (Oriana is nine and then fourteen), Cherry (present tense)
Word Count: 629
Rating: PG
Summary: Oriana always thought weddings were supposed to be happy times.
Notes: My first post! Since Oriana is a pivotal character in this universe, I thought a good starter would be a look into her background and why she became the person she is.
(Shifts is a collaboration between me and niee87. Tremors is the prequel that features most of the supporting cast and takes place five years prior. Summary/pitch to be written and linked to later. Probably.)
It’s her wedding day, but Joy isn’t smiling.
Even though she’s only nine, Oriana has been to a lot of weddings. She usually doesn’t like them because there aren’t any kids her age, except her brother, who doesn’t count, and because she has to sit very still for a long time and not make any noise. She likes this one, though. They’re having it outside, at her aunt’s house, and it’s what her mother calls a civil ceremony, so it’s shorter. The flowers smell so nice, the cake tastes really good, and she has a pretty new dress to wear.
But Joy isn’t smiling. Oriana thought brides were supposed to, but her cousin hasn’t smiled once yet. She might even have been crying at one point, but she must have stopped pretty quick, because her eyes are dry when the man performing the ceremony says “man and wife,” and she and Rupert turn to face the family.
After the cake, Oriana finally gets her chance to give Joy a hug. “Thank you for coming, Ori,” Joy says. “Was it boring?”
“No.”
“Aww, you can tell me. I didn’t like weddings when I was your age, either.”
“It wasn’t too boring. I like your cake and your dress.”
She finally smiles, but it’s a tiny one. “I do, too. Thank you.” Looking up, she nods, and Oriana looks that way too and sees that Rupert has gestured for Joy to join him. “I hope I’ll see you soon, Ori.”
“We’ll visit,” Oriana says, already planning to ask her parents when they can take her. Her cousin nods and walks away.
That’s what she realizes that Joy isn’t the only one not smiling-none of the adults are, except for her Uncle James, Joy’s father. It’s clear that he couldn’t be happier, but it’s not his wedding. Oriana doesn’t understand it at all.
***
She doesn’t see much of her cousin after that. When Joy’s son is born, they visit, but after that she disappears and they have no idea where she goes or how she’s doing. They worry for a little while, but soon enough Joy’s absence fades into the background of their lives, and they move on. By the time her fifteenth birthday begins to approach, Oriana has all but forgotten about it.
Then Rupert calls to tell them that Joy and Derek have drowned, and her world erupts into chaos.
Aunt Claudia is so upset that she becomes too ill to go to the funeral. Oriana stays with her so the rest of the family can go, and one of the first things she notices is that her aunt has reacted much more strongly to her daughter’s death than to her husband’s. “It’s my fault,” she keeps saying, when she thinks Oriana can’t hear her. “I shouldn’t have let James do this to her.”
Worried and confused, Oriana tells her brother about it. “You didn’t know?” Eleazar asks, surprising her. “Joy and Rupert’s marriage was arranged by Uncle James. Joy never wanted it. The reason she went missing is because she ran away.”
The pieces begin to connect in her head. She remembers that Rupert was once James’ intern, who went on to become the vice-president of a major company. She also remembers that Rupert, like her uncle, her parents, Eleazar, and herself, is an active magic user. “That’s horrible,” she whispers, suddenly understanding why Joy didn’t smile at her wedding.
And then she remembers something else. Before his death, her uncle had begun introducing her to business friends of his, people who have sons her age, and who are probably also users. Now she knows why.
Rot in hell, Uncle James, she thinks, furious. I’m not going to let what you did to your daughter happen to me.
Story: Shifts universe (pre-Tremors)
Challenge: Chocolate 27 (determination), Pistachio 3 (ceremony)
Toppings: Whipped Cream (Oriana is nine and then fourteen), Cherry (present tense)
Word Count: 629
Rating: PG
Summary: Oriana always thought weddings were supposed to be happy times.
Notes: My first post! Since Oriana is a pivotal character in this universe, I thought a good starter would be a look into her background and why she became the person she is.
(Shifts is a collaboration between me and niee87. Tremors is the prequel that features most of the supporting cast and takes place five years prior. Summary/pitch to be written and linked to later. Probably.)
It’s her wedding day, but Joy isn’t smiling.
Even though she’s only nine, Oriana has been to a lot of weddings. She usually doesn’t like them because there aren’t any kids her age, except her brother, who doesn’t count, and because she has to sit very still for a long time and not make any noise. She likes this one, though. They’re having it outside, at her aunt’s house, and it’s what her mother calls a civil ceremony, so it’s shorter. The flowers smell so nice, the cake tastes really good, and she has a pretty new dress to wear.
But Joy isn’t smiling. Oriana thought brides were supposed to, but her cousin hasn’t smiled once yet. She might even have been crying at one point, but she must have stopped pretty quick, because her eyes are dry when the man performing the ceremony says “man and wife,” and she and Rupert turn to face the family.
After the cake, Oriana finally gets her chance to give Joy a hug. “Thank you for coming, Ori,” Joy says. “Was it boring?”
“No.”
“Aww, you can tell me. I didn’t like weddings when I was your age, either.”
“It wasn’t too boring. I like your cake and your dress.”
She finally smiles, but it’s a tiny one. “I do, too. Thank you.” Looking up, she nods, and Oriana looks that way too and sees that Rupert has gestured for Joy to join him. “I hope I’ll see you soon, Ori.”
“We’ll visit,” Oriana says, already planning to ask her parents when they can take her. Her cousin nods and walks away.
That’s what she realizes that Joy isn’t the only one not smiling-none of the adults are, except for her Uncle James, Joy’s father. It’s clear that he couldn’t be happier, but it’s not his wedding. Oriana doesn’t understand it at all.
***
She doesn’t see much of her cousin after that. When Joy’s son is born, they visit, but after that she disappears and they have no idea where she goes or how she’s doing. They worry for a little while, but soon enough Joy’s absence fades into the background of their lives, and they move on. By the time her fifteenth birthday begins to approach, Oriana has all but forgotten about it.
Then Rupert calls to tell them that Joy and Derek have drowned, and her world erupts into chaos.
Aunt Claudia is so upset that she becomes too ill to go to the funeral. Oriana stays with her so the rest of the family can go, and one of the first things she notices is that her aunt has reacted much more strongly to her daughter’s death than to her husband’s. “It’s my fault,” she keeps saying, when she thinks Oriana can’t hear her. “I shouldn’t have let James do this to her.”
Worried and confused, Oriana tells her brother about it. “You didn’t know?” Eleazar asks, surprising her. “Joy and Rupert’s marriage was arranged by Uncle James. Joy never wanted it. The reason she went missing is because she ran away.”
The pieces begin to connect in her head. She remembers that Rupert was once James’ intern, who went on to become the vice-president of a major company. She also remembers that Rupert, like her uncle, her parents, Eleazar, and herself, is an active magic user. “That’s horrible,” she whispers, suddenly understanding why Joy didn’t smile at her wedding.
And then she remembers something else. Before his death, her uncle had begun introducing her to business friends of his, people who have sons her age, and who are probably also users. Now she knows why.
Rot in hell, Uncle James, she thinks, furious. I’m not going to let what you did to your daughter happen to me.