thedeadgirl | Memento Youri

Memento Youri

Memories:

For Sweeney - Laura finds out Sweeney is dead/reaction
For Shaw - Laura meets Sweeney + Ice Cream Truck + Killing Wednesday
For Raylan - Shadow tells Laura that Sweeney has died
For Iris - Rescuing Shadow, kills group of Tech Boy's Children
For Blanky - Laura tries to bring Sweeney back (crypt scene)
For Maggie - Greenhouse-post Sweeney's death and Laura's resurrection

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No one told you where to find him. As usual, it's that annoying light you've been chasing since the fucking beginning of this crazy bullshit story. The same story that feels like it's taken way longer to get through than it should have, and to come to find that it was all for nothing. From the word go, all you've been dealt is the shit cards.

You lay on your side on top of a cement tomb behind the funeral parlour, Shadow less than ten feet away positioned the same and facing you. Getting into reasons you feel the way you do has largely remained avoided. But this is your husband and communication were supposed to be a big staple in a relationship, right?

So here it goes.

"I feel like I want to cry, but I... I can't. And I feel like I want to make things right, but I can't. And I.." By this point, you don't know whether you're trying to convince him more than yourself. "I am not my mistakes, Shadow. I want good things for you, and for me, and for us. But it's just like every time I try, I just... I can't. And I'm... I'm sorry."

You look at one another.

"I don't believe you," he tells you and somehow you expect him to say what he does. "It doesn't matter. 'Sorry' doesn't change anything. If it did, then I'd..."

What? Fucked Audrey on my headstone? Yeah, you know you would have deserved that much.

"You'd what?" you ask, a little impatient.

"Sweeney died last night."

Whatever you thought you expected him to say, this wasn't it. Not even close. And for a moment, you struggle with what Shadow has just told you. No, that's not what he said. It can't be. Your mouth opens and closes, then opens again.

"But h-how?" Suddenly, you can't look at him anymore. Was that because he couldn't handle the guilt of whatever part he played in his death or your own for not returning Sweeney's coin in New Orleans when you had the chance?

Shadow continues. "He came at Wednesday. And uh," he scoffs lightly, but it sounds something more personal. You feel like Shadow had been warned not to do what he ended up doing after all. "I got in the way."

You close your eyes. Why would he lie? Oh, you can think of a few reasons why he would and all of them have to do with his father. So, at that moment, all you can muster at moment is, "Okay," and sit up.

"I didn't mean to. He just..." Shadow tries to explain, but you don't need him to. You know enough now to draw your own conclusions.

"Mr. Wednesday is a psychopath. He is not a mentor; he is not on your team. He had me killed, do you know that? He had me killed to get me out of your way."

It feels like telling him this now is moot, but you continue anyway. If only so you can say to yourself later that you tried.

"He is behind all of this, Puppy. He is the root fucking cause. Listen," you take a step closer. "No matter what, I will always have your back, but you need to seriously re-evaluate who your allies are here. You have to trust me, Puppy."

You wait. For what? You're unsure. Yet, he's taking far too long to answer and you want to believe it's because he's trying to decide how the both of you can get away from all this. But there's also a sense of knowing that's not what he's thinking about at all.

And then he says it.

"Don't call me Puppy."

That's all he has to say for you to know what it means. 'Death do us part' happened the day she was buried and a lucky fucking coin couldn't change that. So, you nod once to concede.

"Okay."

You don't bother trying to change his mind. The way he's looking at you is exactly the way Wednesday told you he felt. You knew the Norse God was right, no matter how much it got to you when he said it. It's over. You step back and posture yourself confidently.

"I'm going to kill Wednesday. Are you going to try and stop me?"

Shadow looks at you, and swallows. "Free country."

You nod, only long enough for it to feel like a proper goodbye before walking away, through the cemetery and back to the funeral home. Rather it was the greenhouse you ended up in more specifically.

When you enter, it doesn't feel like death happened there. Not until your eyes scan the area and are pulled to a dark red puddle of congealing blood on the dirt floor. That's when reality hits. You start breathing faster. Anger and something else that you can't put your finger on take over and before you can catch yourself you toss the table where a dinner party had been planned, sending the dishes, glassware and cutlery with it.

You don't understand why this is affecting you this way. Why there's guilt and disappointment and regret for someone who only ever reminded her of what was keeping her alive? It was always about the fucking coin! And the battle he was owed! This wouldn't be happening if he minded his stupid coin better.

After doing a slow turn, you look up to see her. The one who called you beautiful and who you warned you would kill if she hurt Shadow and who kissed you right after.

"It's you," the greeting prompts you a few steps forward. "Planning on kissing me again? 'Cause I've had kind of a day."

She grins. "My kisses have been known to improve a day," her reply comes with elaborately presenting a red apple in her hand. After exchanging a look, she adds, "If you're looking for the leprechaun, he's in the mortuary, if you'd like to see him."

"Is he dead?" you ask flippantly.

"Yes."

"Then why would I want to see him?"

The woman's head tilts slightly. "My mistake."

She begins to walk across the room and your anger for a certain God is outwardly expressed. "Where's Wednesday?" you ask, moving a step to your left. When you glance down, you notice your boot almost stepping in his blood. As you scrap a small edge away from the puddle a part of you wonders if his blood would work in the potion Samedi gave you.

"You know what they say about revenge," the woman says. "Dig two graves."

The irony is not lost on you and it's almost amusing. "Think I'm going to get deader?"

"Wednesday is not here. I strongly advise Eagle Point, and that you bring power when you go up against that one. He is weakened, but wily." she tells you.

"You seem pretty powerful. You want to help me?" You already know that Wednesday is powerful enough that most of the people following him are not going to sacrifice what they owe him by going against him.

"Thank you for the offer. It is a very tempting one." she goes on, turning and setting the apple she was holding on a nearby surface.

"You don't like him either," you state.

"Is that what your intuition tells you?"

"No, I just know an I'd-like-to-punch-that-guy-in-the-mouth look when I see one."

It's a daring assumption, that's for sure. But the look you get back from the woman tells you that you're right.

"I know where to find you," she tells you before taking her leave.

After some convincing, you decide to go to the mortuary. You're not sure why. Maybe it's some form of forgiveness you need to allow yourself, but as soon as you see his body on that cold slab of metal it's clear that you know what comes next. You know the process and the fluids and everything else that comes after.

With arms crossed loosely, you avoid looking at him at first. When you finally do, you know exactly why you can't let Mr. Ibis and Mr. Jackal have you.

So, you take his body back to New Orleans where you're pretty sure you know someone who can help.

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