Who: Molly Carpenter and Tessa What: Needing a friend When: Wednesday Where: Tessa’s Warnings: Molly Drama Llama Status: Closed
Molly needed a friend. She knew she could always turn to Barry, but he dealt with enough of her crap. She didn’t want to add one more thing to the pile that was her melodrama from home. There was one other person she knew she could always turn to: her boss, Tessa.
Tessa was more than a boss. She was a friend. Molly had reached out to her, and Tessa invited her to tea. She didn’t waste time getting there and knocked rapidly on the door…then hoped Will was dressed.
***
Fortunately, Will was out - because Tessa had shooed him off to run errands. She had a feeling Molly needed privacy and peace, and as much as she loved Will, Tessa knew he wasn't exactly conducive to peace.
She opened the door as soon as Molly knocked, took one look at her distress, and stepped forward to hug her.
***
Molly flinched away initially when Tessa came toward her, but she caught herself a moment later then all but flung herself into her boss’ arms. She’d been getting better about the no touching thing. Right now, however, she was a bit on edge.
“I found out what happens to me back home,” she said in a bit of a whine against Tessa’s shoulder. “I don’t want to go home. Ever!”
***
Tessa held the hug for a moment longer. She had the sense that whether it was by chance or by design, Molly didn't get hugs very often.
“Come in,” she said when she pulled back. “And tell me what happens to you back home.”
***
Molly followed Tessa inside. A quick, nervous glance around let her know Will wasn’t here, or at least could be confined to his room, so she wouldn’t have to worry about awkward teasing. She really wasn’t in the mood.
“I’ve told you about the Faery Courts and that bitch Lea that was teaching me after Harry…”died”.” The quotes could be heard in Molly’s voice. “It turns out that one of the reasons Lea was teaching me was to prepare me to take on the role of Winter Lady as a backup plan. I don’t want to be Winter Lady! They’re all nuts in sadistic ways you can’t even imagine!”
***
The tea was already on the table, steeping in the teapot, so Tessa merely led Molly to a seat on the couch.
She did not know the full context of what a Winter Lady was, or how sadistic they could be, but the distress and panic in Molly’s voice was clue enough.
“And that is what you learned? That you were being trained to become one of the Winter Ladies?”
***
“There’s only one Lady,” Molly corrected. “She’s the younger representation of the Queens. The Queen that Was. The Queen that Is. And the Queen that will Be. Maeve used to be...IS...the Winter Lady. The Queen that will Be. She’s manipulative. Vicious. Narcissistic. Seductive. All of it hidden behind a sweet, pretty face. The mantle made her that way. They all do.”
Molly looked up at Tessa. “Lea was training me not just to get sane and be a better wizard, but to take Maeve’s place if their first choice of replacement didn’t work out. It didn’t and I did.”
***
“Oh Molly.” Tessa ached for this young, strong woman who wanted only to help. It must be terrifying to think of herself as someone who might become manipulative and vicious.
“Are you sure that's what's going to happen? That this...Mantle would make you become the same?”
***
Molly nodded as she forced herself to take slow, deep breaths. In and out. In and out. Oddly enough, one of the mantras Lea the Super Bitch taught her worked in this situation too. Now is not then. Now is not then.
“Those old stories that warn you about what faeries do to humans, what their influence can do...they exist for a reason. They aren’t just fairy tales. Look into the Abyss and it looks back at you. In this case it’s play in Faery’s sandbox and Faery gets inside you.”
She sunk her face into her hands. “Harry has enough trouble not becoming a twisted, vicious killing machine without a conscience because of the Winter Knight mantle which was meant for humans. Taking the title of one of the Queens?”
***
“But he is fighting it?” Tessa asked. She understood Molly’s concern; the other woman was a natural caregiver; to think that she would turn out to be a vicious killer would prey on her mind and sense of rightness.
“I have met the fae in my world,” she continued. “I know how manipulative and vicious they can be. But Molly, you are one of the most conscientious and caring people I’ve ever met. If there is a way to fight, if there is a chance to fight it, I have faith that you would.”
***
If Tessa ever saw how many younger brothers and sisters Molly had, and knew how Molly had done everything she could to help her mom out with them, she’d understand where the natural caregiver thing came from.
“Yeah, he is,” Molly assured Tessa. “He’s doing a good job at it too. It’s easier for him here because the Winter Court isn’t a constant pressure on him.” And he apparently found someone...and yeesh she hoped Murphy never showed up.
She sighed for the assessment, her expression falling as she looked at her hands. “That’s part of me, sure, but there’s a part of me that really is ruthless and unforgiving. The Rag Lady didn’t exactly use non-lethal tactics. I...did things that would not only get me put in jail for a long time, but the Wardens, the wizard cops, would love to separate my head from my body. Literally.”
***
Tessa reached out and took Molly’s hand. “I understand your fear that you might succumb to the influence of the mantle and make decisions that would hurt people. I once had similar worries. I am half-demon, you see. I, too, worried that I would be driven to things that are anathema to my beliefs and values.”
It was not something she spoke much of. Tessa had determined some time ago she would not allow her parentage to define her - but that decision had not been easy to make, nor immediate.
***
Molly didn’t flinch from either her hand being taken or the half-demon thing. She’d known too many people that were half or all something and weren’t bad people. Besides, Tessa had proven over and over that she was caring, sweet and a good friend. And her taste in men was spot on!
She nodded as she gripped Tessa’s hand. “But that’s why I don’t want to go home. I was in the middle of the fight that ends with me becoming the Winter Lady.”
***
“If there were a way to stay here, I think many of us would choose it,” Tessa said. “Jem would become a Silent Brother and be lost to us. For that reason alone, I do not wish to return home. But unfortunately, that is not under our control. I suppose the only thing we can do is enjoy the time we have here. You are not yet the Winter Lady, and you will not be as long as you stay here. But even if you did go home…” She gave the blonde a reassuring smile. “I have every faith that you will be able to retain your conscience and your soul.”
***
Molly hoped she could live up to that. It was a little overwhelming. She gave in to it for a moment, leaning against Tessa with a heavy sigh escaping her. “....I hope so.”
***
Tessa wrapped her arms around Molly. Although Molly was older than her, Tessa felt an almost maternal protectiveness towards the other woman. “In the meantime, don’t let this take away your enjoyment of being here, and being with the people you love,” she advised. “We have a chance for happiness here. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it.”