bless your heart

Diana Hartley Republican Congresswoman for South Carolina's 1st District mother. widow. representative. murderer.

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

[ fernando chávez » delivered ] i’m sure she understands that. it’s a one time thing, diana, it’s not going to ruin your ironclad discipline methods. [ fernando chávez » delivered ] then i’ll help her with it sunday morning before i drive her home

[ diana hartley » delivered ] it’s not discipline when i’m not punishing them.  i’m incentivising their schoolwork and responsibility.   [ diana hartley » delivered ] fine, but don’t complain to me when she tries to complain and puppy dog eyes you into continuing the fun you were having because you’re the fun one or whatever.  

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

[ fernando chávez » delivered ] maybe we should listen to what she has to say, no? there must be other options that doesn’t require pressuring her into doing what you want [ fernando chávez » delivered ] maybe let her stay over at my house and i’ll help her with it on saturday night.

[ diana hartley » delivered ] getting her to do her homework before she does something fun isn’t pressuring her into doing what i want.  it’s being responsible.  schoolwork is more important than going to a soccer game and she needs to learn to be responsible. [ diana hartley » delivered ] trust me when i say she’s not going to do it on saturday night after you two do a round trip to new york.  she’ll be exhausted.

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

[ fernando chávez » delivered ] can’t she do it on sunday? let her be excited about this [ fernando chávez » delivered ] that way we can leave pretty early and enjoy the day

[ diana hartley » delivered ] because i know my daughter? she’ll spend all day sunday reliving what happened on saturday. [ diana hartley » delivered ] convince her to do her homework on friday after school and this is a win for us both.  you can take her to the game and i won’t have to worry about forcing her to focus on her homework after you’ve gotten her excited enough for a whole weekend.

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

[ fernando chávez » delivered ] yes [ fernando chávez » delivered ] saturday afternoon. we’ll take the train in the morning, hang around ny, watch the game, and i’ll take her to your house at night.

[ diana hartley » delivered ] alright, but only if she gets her homework done before you leave. [ diana hartley » delivered ] if there’s one thing i know about her, once that happens she won’t get anything done.  she’ll still be flying high from doing something she deems exciting.

[fernandoxchavez]

@dianahartley

[ fernando chávez » delivered ] there’s a women’s soccer game down in ny and i think she could enjoy it [ fernando chávez » delivered ] can i get her for the weekend?

[dianahartley]

[ diana hartley » delivered ] a woman’s soccer game? [ diana hartley » delivered ] from when to when? and plane, train, or car to get to ny?

[fernandoxchavez]

results | fernando & diana

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

Her anger is justified, he has to give her that. This is way worse on her — and her career — than it is on him; like most things are. “It won’t.” But his voice is equally sharp. It feels like throwing blades at her, but he thinks that it’s just a defense mechanism against her words. It doesn’t matter how bad he becomes, around Diana; it always feels that he’s way behind her. “I didn’t plan to tell her anything, I just…” he stops, hesitating.

With a sigh, he confesses. “I couldn’t go there alone, you know? The clinic.” He fears her reaction, because the last time things between them got personal and intimate, he was unfair to her. He dreads the idea that she will be just as bad to him; or knowing Diana, she would be even worse. Still, he owes her an explanation, because their secret is now out there. “And how could I justify me getting a DNA test?” This had been exhausting to him. Why should he put himself to the test? Why couldn’t he just assume that this was just another of Diana’s lies and move on with his life?

He shook his head, and put his hand on the table, reaching for hers, before remembering that he should do that and pull it back, unceremoniously. “Nothing is gonna happen, Diana, don’t worry.” He trusts his sister way more than he trusts anyone else in the world. He chose her specifically because of this anyway. Yet, he can’t complain, because Diana has a point. She has a reason to worry. “Alejandra liked you before, and she still likes you now. We are playing on the same team here.” Deep down, Fernando feels glad that he has something to hold over her head now, a power he didn’t anticipate. She can have Isabelle, but he can have her career. He immediately feels bad about it, and regrets this. “Nothing is gonna change, okay?” he jumps, desperate to change subject. “We don’t need to talk about that anymore.”

Rage bubbled just below the surface.  He tried to rationalize it, to excuse what he did, like he needed someone there to hold his hand.  He was the one who asked for the test.  If he didn’t want to do it alone then he shouldn’t have pushed for it at all.  He should have either taken her word for it or dismissed her.  At this point, Diana didn’t care which.  All she cared about was knowing it was a secret.  It was safe, but it wasn’t anymore.  Even if his sister had liked her, how much of that would remain once it was confirmed she kept Fernando’s daughter away from him for a decade.

Jaw tight, Diana’s gaze swept over him and she huffed.  “Nothing is going to change.  You’re right.  I’m going to get an NDA drafted for your sister to sign.”  This was bullshit.  The fact that she had to jump through these hoops….it was too much.  “The thing I don’t understand, Fernando, is why did you have to tell her it was an affair?  She knew we were together.  Why didn’t you just tell her i found out after we ended things and wasn’t sure if it was yours or someone else’s?  You did this intentionally when you could have avoided something this damaging getting out.”

That irritation wasn’t going to fade, even when he suggested they change the subject.  There was nothing she could do now to make sure she’d enjoy this dinner and try to be civil with Fernando for Isabelle’s sake, not when her mind was on the press release she needed drafted just in case his sister got pissy and talked to the wrong person.  Lifting a hand, she rubbed at her temple.  “I don’t know how you think we can make this civil if you can’t stop for one minute to think about what this could do?”

[fernandoxchavez]

results | fernando & diana

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

His reply is as dry as her question. “I’m good too.” He  nods, avoiding her eyes, looking down, looking to his side, down at his hands again, searching words to fill the silence that stretches before him. “Working hard.” If it didn’t bother her, it certainly bothered him. He was confident that she would do everything in her power to annoy him and god it was working.

She wasn’t willing to open herself and neither was he. Even though this was perfectly expected, a part of him was still clinging to the hope that they could have solved it magically and would be best friends by now — not that he wanted that. It was the better for Isabelle; he knew that. And for her alone he would have made the effort.

“Listen…”, he begins, rather hesitant. He owes it to her. To make an effort to not be a piece of shit this time. “I’m sorry.” He doesn’t specify for what, but Diana knows; she has to know. “I’m just worried about so many things, and… this…” he gestures at her, but he means more than that. “This has been driving me insane, Diana.” It’s not like he spends his waking hours punishing himself for not discovering it sooner, but how could he?

He takes a deep breath, because he knows that she’ll have a bad reaction to this: “I told my sister we had an affair.” And if he were being honest, she was entitled to. No one deserved to be meddling in their own private business; but if she had known him at all, she would know that he couldn’t keep secrets from family.

Diana was surprised when Fernando apologized.  She didn’t think he had it in him and assumed he was always in the right.  That stubbornness was something she had once liked about him and now it just irritated her.  Still, his effort to apologize for what happened last time was appreciated.  After all, she had tried to open up herself to him and be honest, yet he laughed in her face.  How was that being the bigger person and putting the right foot forward for the sake of their daughter?  Diana wasn’t sure what he was thinking.

However, before she could thank him for his apology he admitted he told his sister about the affair.  What the fuck?  She may have met a few of his family members over the time they were together but this….telling her?  “Why the hell would you do that?” she asked quickly, her tone sharper than she intended.  Did Fernando not realize what anyone knowing about her affair could do to her career?  “You know what that getting out could do to me and you just….told your sister.  And to think I was almost grateful you were apologizing.”  She rolled her eyes.  Was he trying to sabotage her career?  It certainly felt like that.

There was a part of her that wanted to get up and leave.  Clearly he couldn’t respect what she wanted to protect her career and her ability to provide for her children.  Maybe she should have killed him.  That would have solved some of her problems at least.  “What were you thinking?”  Getting up and storming out wouldn’t do any good.  They were stuck dealing with this and Diana hated it.

[fernandoxchavez]

results | fernando & diana

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

He didn’t even notice that he was holding his breath, but the exhale as Diana says that yes, she hasn’t forgotten him is pure relief. An involutary smile pops up, so he looks down at the menu. It has come to the point where he is afraid of showing any kind of emotion around Diana. Lord only knows how she could twist that around and make it a weapon to hurt him.

“I can help her.” He volunteers, too quickly, and then rethinks his offer. “I mean… maybe.” He doesn’t want to make any promises. Sure, he loves the kid, yes, but being around her after her being the center piece of another one of Diana’s lies… That was too much even for Fernando.

“Maybe we should order first.” he asks, gesturing to the waiter to come to their table. He doesn’t wait for a reply from her and just jumps into his own order. He almost wants to ask for red wine, but that could bring back the memories of the night that Theresa died and he doesn’t want to twist the knife even further, even though he’s sure Diana deserves it. “How have you been?” He asks once she’s done, because this could be the first part of the rest of their lives, and as much as he hates it, he knows he has to be civil to her.

There was something almost satisfying about his hesitance to get close to Isabelle.  While she would do anything for her daughter, Diana also knew having Fernando back in her life would make everything that much more complicated.  She didn’t want that, but she couldn’t get out of it either.  She made her bed and now she had to lie in it.

He pushed for them to order, Diana relented.  She knew he wanted to get over with this and throw away pretense.  It was something she could understand, but not when they were meeting in public.  Honestly, Diana didn’t particularly want to see him.  She’d opened up herself to him the last time she saw him and he laughed in her face.  How was that fair?  It was something she’s grappled with for a long time, but if nothing else Fernando’s reaction was enough proof that she did the right thing.

Once the food was ordered and the waiter had left the table, Diana sighed.  “Fine.  Busy, you know, with everything.”  She didn’t want to share the details of her work with someone on the opposite side.  Diana Hartley was a lot of things, but she wasn’t a fool.  Especially now. “How about you?”

[fernandoxchavez]

results | fernando & diana

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

Obviously her reply is very straightforward, and Fernando nods, agreeing, because he didn’t care about what the staff thought of them, but he can’t help but to credit her on it, because it would have been a bad look on them.

Picking up his menu, thanking the opportunity to hide himself behind it. How to talk in a situation like this? It strikes him as odd that once they could sit and talk and don’t worry about it. Now nothing between the two of them seems natural, with Fernando constantly overthinking, expecting another punch coming from the dark. Being with Diana has became the most mentally challenging game he’s ever played. Somehow, that made him on get more engaged with it.

“How is she?” He finally asks. It took him less than five minutes to bring Isabelle — and it’s only fair, because this is all about her. “Has she… asked…“ He’s hesitant, as afraid of her possible rejection as he is afraid of the test resuts, positive or negative. "About me, I mean.” There is no point that she would miss me, he thinks, and then reminds himself of the weeks they spent together, the entire weekends with her at the park, and suddenly he just wants to get over with it, so he can finally treat her like she deserves, like his daughter.

It was awkward.  The tension hung in the air between them and Diana found herself missing the way it used to be, before everything fell apart.  Back before feelings got involved and fear overtook Diana’s instincts.  Oh how different things would have been then.  She’d laid it all out, her heart bare before him the last time they were truly alone and he laughed.  Diana didn’t want to admit that it hurt.

He spoke and there was a bitter part of Diana that wanted to tell him she hadn’t asked at all, that she’d all but forgotten the time they’d spent together.  It wasn’t true.  Isabelle had asked a few times and Diana dismissed her questions, telling her Fernando was busy and would come by when he had more time.  It wasn’t the truth, but did she dare tell her daughter he didn’t want to see her right now?

“She did,” Diana instead decided on, nodding once.  Her blonde curls bounced ever so slightly as a sigh passed her lips.  “She was wanting another Spanish lesson.  Apparently they offer it in her middle school and she wants to take it, but wants to have a head start.”

[fernandoxchavez]

results | fernando & diana

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

He gets there exactly on time, and Diana is already sitting at their table. He made the reservation in her name because that would draw less attention, and this is what they are going for.

Sitting down as he smiles at her, Fernando puts his phone on top of the table, because this is far more important than anything that can come. He takes a good look at her. “You look very beautiful tonight, Diana.” It’s an honest compliment, and he means it. It’s been a couple of weeks since they last saw each other, and it is only fitting that she looks more beautiful than ever.

Selfishly, he thinks that she did it just to prove to him that this doesn’t bother her, that no matter what he throws at her, she can still succeed. But deep down he knows that not all things are about him.

“I’m glad you’re here.” It’s a fancy restaurant, and it would be a lovely date night between them. If the breast pocket of his jacket didn’t hold a single envelope with the answers he had been desperately searching for. “Should we order dinner?” Or should we just jump to the main course?

Despite already knowing exactly what the results would say, Diana still found herself anxious about seeing Fernando.  Having it confirmed once and for all would be…jarring, to say the least.  It would give him the certainty he was looking for, but what would it give her?  A thorn in her side that would never disappear?  She’d be stuck dealing with him at least until Isabelle was eighteen, and probably even longer.  Not for the first time she found herself wondering why she had told him the truth.  Clearly she’d underestimated his willingness to support a family.

Diana had arrived a few minutes early, wanting to be there first, waiting for him when he arrived.  She felt like it gave her a sense of authority over the situation if she arrived first, as if that somehow controlled what was happening.  It didn’t.  But then he’s there and Diana can’t help the slight upturn on the corners of her mouth.  Despite everything, seeing him walk in like that reminded her of the good times.  It mattered little if the memories were tainted now, at least there had been a time they cared.

“Thank you,” she replied when he complimented her, unsure what angle he was trying to play.  Maybe it was genuine.  Maybe he was lying.  Diana truly had no way to tell.  She couldn’t read him as well as she thought.  He suggests food and she nods.  “I suppose so.  It defeats the purpose of meeting here of all places if we don’t actually eat.  I’d imagine the waitstaff wouldn’t be thrilled.”  Diana couldn’t care less if the waitstaff was upset, but this whole thing needed to be kept quiet.  The best thing they could do would be blend in with the other couples having their nice date nights and enjoying their meals.

[dianahartley]

jovicstjames‌:

“I’d say they’ve bled those two dry. Lennon was the next viable option,” St James mused, “and, besides, in light of the Me Too movement, neither Kennedy nor Dr. King are hardly admissible candidates, are they?” His lips quirked into a momentary grin, too quickly driven away by the cacophony of tires screeching to a halt, horns blaring and expletives being thrown around the streets. It reminded him a great deal of Manhattan, his home of nearly twenty years, and yet he found no homesickness in the fact. 

“It will, eventually. I get the impression you’re a patient woman, Congresswoman Hartley. Tell me, where does one find the patience for this?” He gestured vaguely to the shit - storm on the streets, a playpen of diehard Beatles fans and fanatic gun control activists. “I want to shoot my brains out just thinking about it.”

Diana chuckled lightly, shaking her head.  “I suppose not.  You’re quite right about that.”  It was strange the way society changed and the perception of historical figures was pushed into a modern lens.  People would find problems with most people in the world if they imposed current standards on people from the past, but they were too blind to see the problems with that thinking.

“I’ve raised teenagers, St. James,” she chuckled.  “After doing that then this is nothing.”  It was true.  The amount of chaos in her household was astounding, but she had learned to live with it.  “I think just ignore them and remember that things will eventually blow over.  We may be stuck for a few minutes but soon enough we’ll be on our way.”

[dianahartley]

silassanford‌:

“I absolutely agree with your assessment, though it’s hard to get a word in and say that in between all the liberal guilt-tripping.” The bill was very much: go big or home. And if the president thought he could get away with changes this drastic to such an important issue, Silas wasn’t looking forward to what other bills he might want to roll out. And why not do so? He’s been unimpressed with the Republican push-back so far. Alas, if only he could have control of all the Senate votes. Silas wouldn’t buckle under the pressure, which he couldn’t say for his colleagues. “Well… no one in particular,” he said, because the fact is the whole lot of them were spineless cowards. “But I’m not discounting the possibility. They only need to flip four. I might look at Senator Solis as one of them. He owes Julian Berkeley for getting his NASA bill passed, doesn’t he?” The question is said like he’s looking for reconfirmation for the fact, but he knew it to be true.

Diana scoffed.  "Oh definitely.  Those two are buddy buddy and it’s not exactly ideal behavior for someone like Solis.  He’s not working on compromise.  He’s just....going with what Berkeley wants it seems to me.”  She shook her head slightly.  It was disappointing.  She liked Leon but he seemed too close to comfort with the Berkeley’s.

“What about the other three?  Any ideas?  I can see about talking to people but the Senate is more your turf than mind.”

[dianahartley]

jovicstjames‌:

OPEN STARTER / cbcstarters.

                    The streets of D.C.  were swarming with tourists, and the occasional local, clawing their way through the crowds to catch a glimpse of the woman who’d inspired inexpressible interest and unfathomable vitriol in the 70s as she made the short walk from her limousine to the Four Seasons lobby. As deliberation on the Disarmament Bill roused a similar level of clashing opinions, long - time activist Yoko Ono made the trip to D.C. to advocate on behalf of gun control – harnessing her own husband’s death to stake her claim. iI wasn’t altogether unusual to see a celebrity in the city, though hers was a presence that made waves - and made it near impossible to hail a cab.

Glancing to another victim of the pandemonium, Luka lent a sympathetic look.  ❛  Almost forty years since Lennon’s death, and we’re still splitting hairs over the same argument.  ❜  He pocketed his phone,  eyes narrowing in thinly - veiled annoyance,  ❛ Hell – we’ll be waiting all night at this rate.   ❜  

Celebrities using their platform.  It was something Diana understood and expected, but it had been a thorn in her side since becoming a politician.  things only got worse the more hotly debated the topic was.  In  a lot of ways there was nothing more divisive in America today than Berkeley’s fucking gun bill.  Irritation flared up whenever they tried to make things personal.

Thankfully, hearing the comment caused a chuckle to fall from her lips as she glanced towards the source.  “Oh of course not,” she replied, rolling her eyes.  “They pick a good story and beat a dead horse for as long as humanly possible.  I’m surprised they’re not trying to use Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr too.”  It was bad enough they used Wright when Theresa Wright had seemingly intentionally remained moderate on gun control.  This didn’t feel like the right first legislation to try and honor her legacy.  Though it was perfectly clear Berkeley had no interest in honoring it.  He wanted to step on her grave to launch his own legacy.  It was something Diana could respect, but it was tactless.

“One way or another it’ll be done soon,” she sighed.  “At least then the chaos will ease up.  It’s a three ring circus around here.”

[dianahartley]

silassanford‌:

Silas would have opposed any gun bill on principle (well, you know, since his base did). But this bill was quite far-reaching, though he imagined that the new president wanted to make the most of Theresa’s assassination. He’d do the same in his position. However, since they were on opposite sides he was going to do everything in his power to see to it that this bill was put out of its misery. “Why compromise if he thinks that bringing up Theresa Wright’s death every time it’s mentioned will get it shoved through?” He made an off-hand gesture, shaking his head. The opposition in the House was a lost cause; the Democrats had the majority. “Let him be foolish.” Silas welcome idiocy, at least when it was from the opposition. “In the Senate, we won’t let this stand.” Though he’s been disappointed by his fellow Republicans. More than usual, that is. Where was the grand outcry?

“Will it though?  He’s not honoring the woman’s legacy by shoving through gun reform to honor a woman with moderate views on gun rights.”  She honestly couldn’t understand where the logic was in that thought process.  Something less comprehensive could have worked without much argument.  Hell, even Diana might have supported something much less comprehensive.  However; the problem was just how far reaching this bill was.

Tapping the cap of her pen on the paper, Diana sighed in exasperation.  “Thank God,” she told him. “I’m holding you to that.  The House is a lost cause with their majority.  I suppose it’s about keeping the swing states in line now.”  Thank god for the NRA.  That funding for campaigns was tempting enough for even the most moral politician.  “Have any of those in the Senate looked like they might break ranks?”

[fernandoxchavez]

results | fernando, diana.

[dianahartley]

fernandoxchavez‌:

He gets there exactly on time, and Diana is already sitting at their table. He made the reservation in her name because that would draw less attention, and this is what they are going for. 

Sitting down as he smiles at her, Fernando puts his phone on top of the table, because this is far more important than anything that can come. He takes a good look at her. “You look very beautiful tonight, Diana.” It’s an honest compliment, and he means it. It’s been a couple of weeks since they last saw each other, and it is only fitting that she looks more beautiful than ever.

Selfishly, he thinks that she did it just to prove to him that this doesn’t bother her, that no matter what he throws at her, she can still succeed. But deep down he knows that not all things are about him.

“I’m glad you’re here.” It’s a fancy restaurant, and it would be a lovely date night between them. If the breast pocket of his jacket didn’t hold a single envelope with the answers he had been desperately searching for. “Should we order dinner?” Or should we just jump to the main course?

Despite already knowing exactly what the results would say, Diana still found herself anxious about seeing Fernando.  Having it confirmed once and for all would be…jarring, to say the least.  It would give him the certainty he was looking for, but what would it give her?  A thorn in her side that would never disappear?  She’d be stuck dealing with him at least until Isabelle was eighteen, and probably even longer.  Not for the first time she found herself wondering why she had told him the truth.  Clearly she’d underestimated his willingness to support a family. 

 Diana had arrived a few minutes early, wanting to be there first, waiting for him when he arrived.  She felt like it gave her a sense of authority over the situation if she arrived first, as if that somehow controlled what was happening.  It didn’t.  But then he’s there and Diana can’t help the slight upturn on the corners of her mouth.  Despite everything, seeing him walk in like that reminded her of the good times.  It mattered little if the memories were tainted now, at least there had been a time they cared. 

 “Thank you,” she replied when he complimented her, unsure what angle he was trying to play.  Maybe it was genuine.  Maybe he was lying.  Diana truly had no way to tell.  She couldn’t read him as well as she thought.  He suggests food and she nods.  “I suppose so.  It defeats the purpose of meeting here of all places if we don’t actually eat.  I’d imagine the waitstaff wouldn’t be thrilled.”  Diana couldn’t care less if the waitstaff was upset, but this whole thing needed to be kept quiet.  The best thing they could do would be blend in with the other couples having their nice date nights and enjoying their meals.

[dianahartley]

speakerfrederiksen‌:

Daniel’s eyebrow shot up as the woman speculated on how the dearly departed would have felt about this issue in light of how she was killed. He wanted nothing more than to ask her if she’d ever actually had a conversation with Theresa, an actual one, not just some bullshit handshake and couple sentences in passing by at a political event. But he swallowed that urge in favor of civility. “I agree with you, there are plenty of other issues to tackle. Anything you’ve got in the works that you’d like to run past me?” Or was she just bitching about how slow things were moving on the bill without having something of her own she wanted to introduce.

For a brief moment Diana wondered if Daniel’s shock was the fact that she’d mentioned Theresa or a reminder that no, his precious late POTUS had not made any strides or even spoken on the issue of guns in America.  Regardless, Diana offered him a small smile, her typical southern charm well at play.  “As a matter of fact,” she replied cheerfully.  “I’ve been hearing some rather distressing stories from constituents back home in South Carolina,” she began.  Not wholly the truth.  Diana heard things through staffers who fielded the calls, but the point still stood, and if she was able to get the bill off the ground that would be a good photo op to reach out to them.  “Our current human trafficking prevention laws are not stringent enough or clear enough in identifying it.  There are women and girls, I’ve heard their stories.”  She shook her head slightly.  “I’m hoping to introduce a bill revising the current human trafficking laws and would hope such a thing could see some bipartisan support.”

[dianahartley]

annekane‌:

“Very beautiful,” she agreed, besides for the history.  The ugly story of how D.C. ended up with a canvas of pink for a month each year.  Red mixed with white far too well.  “Oh, how nice!  I used to take my kids to see them, too.  How old is your daughter?”  A genuine question, something to remember about the Congresswoman and sate her own curiosity.  Everyone loves talking about their kids.

“I went to see them in late March this year, after I got back from Paris,” she’d seen them alone.  A time to clear her head and focus on her looming promotion.  She changed exhibits, looking over something about the Revolutionary War.

Diana smiled sincerely when the question was posed.  “Eleven,” she explained.  “She’s my youngest.  Her siblings are less interested.”  Though Savannah liked them too.  Her middle daughter was often lost in the shuffle and would rather spend time with her friends than her mother. Teenagers.

“Paris?  That’s lovely.  I’ve always enjoyed Paris in the spring.”  She’d been a few times, especially when she was younger, before marriage, work, and children began consuming her life.  Maybe she should consider going back sometime soon.