“I suppose I do,” Zeues replied thoughtfully, not really having given it much thought before. But Persephone was right. It seemed he was just that sort of person where you either loved him in some form or another, or you hated him in some way. He couldn’t care less about those who hated him. Frankly, it was amusing to him more than anything else, usually. But such polarizing feelings about him, he felt, had to be expected, especially when he was the chief deity. “I’m flattered you think me a romantic,” he replied with a hearty chuckle. “Believe me, I’m more than content with not seeing my brother’s ‘romantic side’. He can certainly continue to reserve that solely for you.”
He feigned hurt, placing a hand to his chest, “You wound me. But I suppose she will have to surprise me, or rather, my host, in due time. Personally, I am not a fan of surprises unless I’m the one behind them.” His shoulders rose and fell at the thought but he soon quirked an eyebrow up at her. “Oh, I’m entirely open to fun,” Zeus replied, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “What did you have in mind?”
"It's hardly flattery; I think it's a much more delicate way of describing you as opposed to the words I have heard others use." Persephone shrugged a little, grinning at his comment, "I'm sure he feels the same about you, but I'm certain you've heard enough about how he feels about you." She thought for a second, pondering over what things they could do with such limited time. "How about we both grab a drink, for olds times sake?" She asked, rolling her eyes as she continued to grin, "You? With your pride, wounded? I'm shocked."
Persephone now was giggling, shaking her head in response, "You can't be selfish, Zeus. You and your host can't be the only ones around here having fun." She brought her hands up to wipe away the excess water droplets coming from her hair, attempting to shield her eyes from the downpour, squinting a bit to look up at him. "Are you going to be alright shirtless, or should I get some ivy and leaves to cover all of your glory?"
“I don’t know yet, there’s a lot of food, maybe on our walk there we can stop and pick something up. I have plenty of things to barter with, and from what I can tell, my host has plenty of money should it be necessary. So I guess, whatever you wish,” he smiled, taking her hand as he started walking in the direction of the cemetery, “Yours is quite beautiful. I think they have a business arrangement of some kind, though I’m not sure it will go farther than that. It seems that he is in the budding of a relationship with a woman who runs a bakery.”
"You always had an excellent palate, so I trust whatever you choose." She said, taking her other hand and patting his arm, "I don't believe you need to stress your host; I'm fine as long as wherever I am, it is by your side." Persephone often kept to herself, not bothering to meddle in the affairs of her host. She nodded, looking ahead and listening to him speak, before suddenly looking back at him with a worried expression. "A woman running a bakery?" Persephone repeated, her brows furrowing and biting her lower lip as she pondered through Gisella's memories. It was futile; there were memories she couldn't see, some too blurry or odd to make any sense. If they did make any sense, it was to her host alone. But even as she searched for some woman running a bakery, she couldn't find any romantic feelings from her host towards his. There was something, but the nostalgic feeling wasn't love. "It's a budding relationship, not a marriage." She retorted, taking a deep breath. There was no use getting angry; their time was already limited. "Do you tell me this to prepare that we may never see each other again after today, or is it to warn me to play nice? I assure you that if it wasn't for me losing control after today, you would need to."
At first she’d thought it was a trick of the light, or perhaps one of those optical illusions that had been so popular during her last host’s time. Then again, the woman sitting under the tree did have a familiar aura about her.
Artemis took the seat. “Permanently contorting a 43-year-old tree to suit your passing whim? I wouldn’t say I particularly enjoyed it any more than the tree did.” Her voice was dry, sarcastic, but her smile took any sting out of her words. “You know, I’m not convinced that’s what being a Nature Goddess is all about. Some of us like to live alongside it, let it do its own thing.” Lanky arms waved in the air, evoking a 70s hippie vibe.
She winked. “Did you see Hades yet? He was absolutely yearning for you. It was kind of gross, actually. If this were a cartoon, he’d have had heart eyes.” She would never understand why people- were they Gods or mortals- would pine after one another like that. It seemed exhausting.
"Nature is a woman, she won't let one little command define her, and she will soon return to normal. No need to worry about her when she already has that taken care of." Persephone crossed her legs and reached over to the menus, passing one over to her companion. "For a nature goddess who claims to enjoy living alongside nature, you sure chose a wonderful lush city to inhabit." She smiled; her response was just as dry and sarcastic. "It's nice to see you again too, Artemis. I hope the city has been just as entertaining for you as it has been for me; How have you been?"
Earlier she had ordered a green tea which soon arrived at their table in a few minutes. She thanked and dismissed the server, giving them both a chance to talk and glance at the menu. Taken aback at the mention of Hades and her description of him, Persephone started to chuckle, "I did get to see him, and we had the pleasure of spending time together. I don't know if you too find this problem, but it's hard to interact when I'm busy deciphering which thoughts and feelings are still my own and which one is hers. My host feels rather indifferent towards his host so I guess that complicates a few things."
“I don’t know if I would call it luck, but yes, we have crossed paths already today. It was an entirely boring interaction really. Him pining for you while lobbing insults at me all in one fell swoop.” Zeus shook his head and sighed, disappointed. “Really, you’d think all of that would get old for him by now but some things never change, I suppose.” His broad shoulders rose and fell while continuing to soak in every drop of rain that made contact with his host’s skin.
“I have been surprised by how much of a recluse your host is. It makes me wonder what about her drew you to her. She is very beautiful, I can give her that. But very reserved–far more than my personal liking. No offense.” He smiled a bit and then grinned fully, “That’s to expected. He’s rather charming from what I observed, and have experienced, in a secondhand way. I’ve sensed he enjoys your host’s company as well, which makes me glad for us as I enjoy your kindness and company too.”
"A centuries-old love-hate relationship, huh? You seem to have a lot of those throughout the years." She smiled cheekily, crossing her arms over her chest, "But you've certainly kept a few close to home. Some things certainly never change, no matter how many hosts we go through." As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt her smile falter, gaze going down for just a second. Yes, no matter how many hosts or years; or centuries. "You know you're not the only romantic?" She stated, looking back up again with her usual smile. "He too has his romantic side; I'm just the only one fortunate enough to see it. Have you had the chance to be reunited with Hera in this lifetime? It must be hard separated from one's wife for so long." While she knew all of them had been living different lives, she couldn't help but wonder if he sought at least some connection or familiarity to their old lives. Or if any of them could fully remember their lives before hosts.
Her eyes looked him up and down; this was Zeus, or at least what her memory deemed as him. Over the years, she had long forgotten what she looked like before that it was only a matter of time before she forgot the others. His comment broke her train of thought, causing her to burst into laughter, "No offense taken, if she was to your liking, I might've not chosen her." She teased, shaking her head. Persephone undid her arms and shrugged, folding her hands together and shifting her weight to her left side. "I would think by now you should know the quiet and reclusive ones are the ones you should watch for; they tend to surprise you the most," Her hands gestured him up and down, "Are we going to have some fun, or are you going to stand and bask in the ambiance of yourself in the rain?"
“You know I’d wait for you forever,” he smiled, though Hades rolled his eyes at the mention of his brother. She knew well enough that their relationship was strained at best (especially as his brother was practically known to history at being an idiot - which in a way was vindication as he wasn’t known as anything other than who he tended to be in the long run). Hades smiled at the idea, noticing the way that the leaves changed colors back to what you’d expect in the springtime. “Well, what would you say to a picnic at the Trinity Church Cemetery, it’s one of the prettiest places in the city, they have a cherry blossom tree that I’m sure you could liven up. And get late enough in the afternoon and the tourists start to leave. At least that’s what my host seems to think of it.”
Persephone smiled; he was such a romantic. "As would I, love." She responded, only to stiffen in a giggle as she saw him roll his eyes. Her face lit up with excitement at him mentioning spending time together. If she had to be honest, they could've gone anywhere as long as she could remain by his side. "A cherry blossom tree? How lovely, I would very much enjoy so. Tell me, what's on the menu tonight?" She nodded, keeping herself close to him, "It's been too long since I've seen a cherry blossom; the jungle has its perks but no cherry blossoms and no one like you, either." Her arm came around to wrap around his, keeping their hands together and urging for him to lead them. "You chose a handsome host, and he's left a good impression with mine. He reminds her of something nostalgic and warm. Now I'm not sure if that was honestly how she felt or if it was my aura drawn to yours."
Persephone walked casually down the streets of New York, inspecting the many stores and beautiful items inside. It was a shame her host had come so far and still proceeded to restrict herself, "Well," She said aloud to herself, "I expect a lot more out of you, human." Persephone strutted down the street, stopping into every store and racking up the limit on most of the credit cards she found in her wallet. Eventually, after a few hours of shopping, Persephone stopped at a nearby spot for lunch and to rest her legs. After ordering some food, she tried to take in the ambiance but couldn't help but get annoyed by the beaming sun hitting her.
While she admired Zeus' forwardness, Persephone herself didn't wish to draw attention to herself. But the heat was annoying, and she hated being hot; the underworld was always so serene and comfortable, she never had to worry about things like this down there. She let her arms rest in her lap as she crossed her legs, tilting her head slightly just enough to make one of the trees and its branches extend towards her. Now the sun wouldn't bother her, and she could enjoy her lunch, smiling up at the tree. Persephone went to glance back down at the menu, pausing when she noticed she had an audience. "I couldn't help but notice you saw my magic trick; did you like it?" She asked, offering the open seat next to her to them.
It took him a few seconds to realize that while the host looked familiar, the spirit was one that he had been looking for the entire day. He lit up, taking her extended hand and kissing her palm. “Persephone,” he smiled at her, refusing to let go of her hand. There wasn’t enough time left in the day, which meant he had to take advantage of what they had. “I’ve been looking for you most of the day,” he admitted, the joy in his voice showing that he was excited to see her. It wasn’t surprising that he found her in the park - his wife was one who was in her element when surrounded by nature.
It would be too much if Persephone got her hopes up, but his response quickly reminded her that this wasn't just her imagination playing games. She smiled at her beloved, relishing in the warmth his hand offered while gazing at him lovingly. Her other hand came up to cup his cheek and stare more directly into his face, "I'm sorry, love, I hope I didn't make you wait too long." She responded, smirking a bit, "Was Zeus not entertainment enough for you before my arrival?" Persephone enjoyed teasing him. The happiness from seeing the man she loved causing the trees to color-change back to their flourishing green instead of autumn colors. She leaned in closer, pressing her forehead against his chest and feeling her heartbeat increase. While her husband did give her butterflies in her stomach, Persephone had a feeling the nerves were primarily from her host. She wouldn't pay too much attention, her husband was finally right in front of her, and she wasn't going to waste their limited time together. After shaking her head, she looked up to make eye contact, "Time is our enemy, but tonight we may use it as our ally; how should we spend our time together?"
Zeus smirked, quickly realizing that his passerby wasn’t a stranger at all, but a familiar spirit dwelling in a _gorgeous _host. He smiled, “Why thank you,” not caring if her remark was intended as a sincere compliment or not. Something about her air of being told him that dwelling inside this beautiful being was none other than Persephone. Giving a small chuckle, “Well Hades should be thrilled you’re here. Hello, Persephone.” Remaining unbothered by the rain falling down his face and the rest of him, he merely grinned and shrugged at her question.
“I really am,” he finally replied. “How could I not? It’s beauty and cleansing.” Lips stretching into a toothy grin, he faced her fully. “And how are you, my dear? Fairing well in this new era?”
His cockiness was unbecoming to many except, she had found it rather entertaining through the years. Life could get pretty dull pretty fast when you're allowed to have as many lives as they did. She would never openly admit he was a great source of her amusement; that might rub off on the wrong person. Persephone smiled, nodding upon his recognition, "Have you had the luck of running into each other?" She asked, chuckling a bit, "I'm sure he was just as thrilled to see you too."
At the mere mention of his name, she felt a familiar burning heat up her cheeks. "I haven't been so lucky in finding him, and it doesn't help that my host is a sheltered thing either." Persephone scoffed, crossing her arms while inspecting him up and down before spreading her arms and doing a 360 for him. "I'd say I'm fairing nicely as well, although, with so much to experience, I wish there was more time to take advantage." She responded, "If memory serves me right, my host sees yours in a favorable light, so you too must be doing fairly well, Zeus."
New York City had so many souls and yet finding Persephone seemed like it was a near impossible task. He missed her - as was expected with how long their souls had been apart. It had been hard enough when she had been allowed to go up from the Underworld during the Spring and the Summer - but now with years between meetings, whenever their spirits were able to take control - it almost seemed like it was torture.
He had dressed himself in a suit - black of course, completing the look with a black shirt and tie. It had been his aesthetic the last few times that he had taken control - a timeless look that still clearly stated who he was. That was if the mortals knew enough to pay attention.
Shadows twisted up out of the ground wherever his feet touched, whisping off of his person to an invisible wind from underneath his umbrella. He had hoped that he would get to take the mortal’s dogs to a park - the fact that the three reminded him so much of Cerberus made him miss his own pet - but it seemed like his brother had other plans. Or really, destroyed everyone else’s. As usual.
Passing by one of the many jewelry stores in the city (there seemed to be so much more than he expected) he reached into his pocket to find a diamond necklace had ended up there. It wasn’t a surprise, the world’s riches had always been attracted to him - and as he controlled them it just was as easy as breathing was for a mortal to take what he thought was beautiful. “Would you happen to like this?” he asked, holding out the necklace to a passerby, “I have no use for it, I have plenty more like it.”
When Persephone had awoken that morning, she was in denial at first of having control. The only thing that helped her realize it was true was the whimpering of the small dog by her bedside as it looked at her cautiously. "What's wrong, Pom? Shh, it's our secret." She smiled, rubbing his head reassuringly and heading into the bathroom to wash up. After dressing in a dark auburn turtleneck with a black mini skirt, black stockings, and open-toe heels, she helped herself to some herbal tea while going through some of the things in her host's home. A notebook which she assumed was a journal or diary of some sort had fallen by her bedside, and she bent down to pick it up, skimming over the half-written page.
"She was excited over Luis giving her his number?" Persephone asked aloud, making a face, "I did not choose her as my host for her to spend her days getting excited over a phone number." She shook her head and closed the book, tossing it on the bed and finishing her drink. Pom looked at his leash, and she nodded in acknowledgment, getting him ready and heading out the door. After a short walk, she intended to try to explore the city or find out more about the woman she had chosen as her host. But the beauty of seeing the leaves already begin to change for the season distracted her.
When the leaves would change, that meant she got to go home. That she got to return to him, be with him, see him. How long had it been since she was able to touch or talk to him? It would be hard to remember the last time or even think of where to start, and unfortunately, she had the most non-sociable host- so it wouldn't be a walk in the park. There was an idea, a walk in the park. As she made her way towards the park, she paused, seeing someone offer her something. "It's beautiful, but I can't..." She responded, halting and losing her train of thought as she looked at him. "Are you...?" Her hand reached out, hesitating to touch him as if he would disappear if she did, "It has to be..."
Upon awaking in his host’s body, Zeus took his time admiring the physicality of Quinton’s body. It was a little bit more slender than he liked but he was comfortable enough. Twisting and flexing in front of a mirror, he gave a satisfied nod and then dressed for the day. Well… he mostly dressed himself, donning boxer briefs and one of Quinton’s dark, designer business slacks, he opted to go shirtless.
“I’ll never understand the purpose of shirts in everyday, weather-friendly life. In fact…” he spoke to himself before stepping to the large, glass penthouse windows, spreading his arms out. In a matter of seconds, the warm NYC day turned dark grey with clouds. Thunder growled and lightning flashed across the sky. After a satisfactory smirk, Zeus made to leave the penthouse, taking the elevator down. He continued enjoying the two more rumbles of thunder as he carried on outside, padding barefoot across the cool, marble lobby floors. By the time he was outside, smatterings of rain were swiftly changing into an outright downpour.
Stepping out onto the concrete sidewalk, Zeus titled his head back, relishing into the fast-arriving storm. Carefree and full of pride, he took a walk down the street, unfazed by onlookers. He even grinned to a few of them, asking one in passing, “Isn’t it a glorious day?”
Imagine her surprise when her eyes opened, and she saw the ceiling of her room, tilting her head oddly before forcing her body up. Her eyes looked over the room, and she tiptoed over towards the window, glancing down before noticing the mirror next to her. She looked herself up and down with a small smile growing, "I have control..." Persephone whispered, the sound of an animal whimpering behind her breaking her train of thoughts. She walked over to the dog, glancing down at it and merely putting her finger over her lips, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to your human... I need her just about as much as you do, right?"
Persephone walked past him and into the bathroom to wash up, stepping out and into the closet to pick her outfit for the day. "Hmm," She spoke aloud, checking out the clothes, "All that I have tried to give her, and she still plays it safe?" Although not impressed, she settled on a dark auburn turtleneck with a black leather pencil skirt, black stockings, and a pair of open-toe Louboutin's that was to the back of the closet. After taking the dog for a walk, Persephone decided to spend time exploring this city. Every new era had its perks, and she was eager to see what was different and unique with this one.
She grabbed a small bite to eat and shopped for a bit, stopping by a nearby corner bookstore that had caught her attention. Persephone wasn't one to check the forecast, and that was the last thing on her mind when it was already such a beautiful day. But when she felt the first few drops, her eyes looked away from the window display to the sky. "This couldn’t be...?" She asked aloud, standing in the open to feel the droplets. None the less, she smiled, closing her eyes and letting the water cover her until someone caught her attention as they spoke, making her look towards the voice with her eyebrows furrowing up a bit. It sucked sharing memories with another soul, and while her human host's brain was telling her one thing, she knew and sensed another. "Exceptionally glorious, although if you wanted to draw any more attention to yourself, I don't think you could've possibly considered a better way." She responded, looking back up to the sky, relishing in the feeling of the water on her skin, "You’re really enjoying yourself I see, Zeus?”
“I’m sure that she would have been,” Luis stated, though with how little he knew about Gigi’s family, he wasn’t going to ask much about it. There were lines that you didn’t cross with business partners - even if they were also friends.
“I sure hope not, I’ve worked hard to make sure people don’t want to talk to me,” he dryly said - it was simultaneously a joke and completely serious all at once. “But I am sure that your plants are excellent conversationalists. But you’re welcome. Don’t make me regret it.”
He was a man of few words, or at least that is what she thought. She was surprised at his statement and couldn't hide the tiny smile, "Thank you," She responded, "That means a lot, even if she didn't." Even if he chose to be quiet afterward, she hung onto the words he said and imagined them coming from the family she had left.
Gisella gave a half-grin, unable to contain the small laugh that came out, "You can't honestly feel that way, can you? I know people can be..." She paused, struggling to find the words, "Annoying... but to have a few, family or friends, to share it with, wouldn't that be worth a try?" Her finger came up and tapped on her chin, pondering a bit, "The plants were my only friends growing up, but I remember my father telling me no one is truly born into this world alone. Everyone has someone, even the guy who preaches of the apocalypse every day on the train." She realized her blunder quickly, waving her hands in front of her to stop herself, "Sorry, you didn't ask for all that," Gisella apologized, "I promise you won't regret it."
Quinton chuckled, “Well in that case, save it for when you really need it.” He held his phone out at a ‘new contact’ screen and once she took it, he waited patiently until it was returned to him. “Just after lunch would be great. A post-lunch delivery would undoubtedly work best for her. And it will give you a little bit more time since this was a rather last minute request.”
Moving away from his sexual escapades, Quinton listened to her talk a littel about where she previously lived, unable to hide the surprise from his face. “Wow. I can’t imagine what that must have been like. I had always thought that most of the people who lived in the Amazon were indigenous to the region. Moving from one continent to another would be a culture shock to anyone, but a move like that must have been difficult.”
Gisella smiled, making a mental note of what time he would like the flowers brought to him. Her relationship with her brother was complicated at best, so seeing Quinton, let alone anyone bonding or speaking fondly of their siblings, was bittersweet. It was just another order for her, yet she knew that she would be spending extra time on this one. "I'll be sure to get that to you as soon as I've completed it," She responded, "You must have a great relationship with her; I don't know of too many brothers who gift their sisters bouquets unless it's for a special occasion."
She sighed, nodding her head in agreement, "I never got around to asking my parents why they moved us into the jungle or why they felt the need not bring my brother as well." Gisella had hit the ground running since leaving home; hearing him say how it must've been difficult struck a chord. But she shook it off quickly and shrugged, "Leaving wasn't hard; the decisions I had to make afterward were." She straightened up, changing the subject as she put her hands together, "Anyways, I do have some orders to get to, but I'll be sure to have that out to you soon, and I promise you, she will love it."
Q. If your character’s in a bad mood, do they prefer to be left alone or have someone try to cheer them up?
A. Gisella prefers to be alone. Her parents believed in letting their children sort out their emotions so they rarely bothered her unless she asked and that’s how she liked it.
Q. How do they deal/have they dealt with conflict in their relationships with others, past or present?
A. She really hasn’t had to deal with a lot of conflict since she rarely interacted with anyone but her parents. You can say she can be calm and assertive during conflict, keeping her cool since that’s just the type of person she is.
Q. Who or what is your character currently proudest of? Why?
A. Gisella’s proudest moment was coming to the states and opening her shop. Her parents dreamed of coming to the states to offer a better life for their family but were unable to. She’s felt it was her duty and what she owed her parents to make their dream a reality.
Q. Explain why your character has moved to/stayed in NYC?
A. Her family had begun to do work for the Cartel, putting them in dire danger. After her father’s supposed ‘suicide’, Gisella destroyed what was left of their inventory and fled to the states so as to not lead trouble to her Grandparents and brother. Since moving here, she’s worked hard on establishing a life here so that she can bring them here to safety.
Q. If your character was having a bad day, which of these would they prefer as a means to cheer them up? Their favorite dish, a massage, or some space?
A. Definitely some space. But the chance at tasting her favorite dish from childhood would definitely cheer her up faster than her own thoughts.
Q. What usually jump starts their day? Coffee? Exercise? A Shower? Breakfast? Or something else entirely?
A. Showers, breakfast, and watering her plants is how she jumpstarts her day. But it is never complete without her talking to her parents photo in the morning and catching up on her week with them as she goes around her home getting ready with Pom.
Q. Does your character thrive in order or chaos?
A. She thrives in both and has always been able to adapt to her surroundings quickly. Hence why she didn’t have a mental breakdown leaving the Rainforest for the city.
Q. Would your character say that their parents were/are good at being parents?
A. They were wonderful parents. There was never a moment where Gisella didn’t feel the love and support from her parents and she’s forever sympathetic of the hard lives they lived to give her a better one.
Q. What scares your character the most?
A. That the reason her mother passed was because she was too late to save her and that she may never be able to see the family she left behind again or help them.
Q. What did the last relationship your character was in teach them?
A. Gisella has never been in a relationship herself but she learned from her parents early on that she didn’t owe anyone anything in life. Her knowledge was hers alone and she could use it for whatever purposes benefitted her. While she knows her parents expected her to use it more to earn herself a better more richer life, Gisella has spent a lot of time trying to find out how to help people instead.
Q. If your character could choose 1 superpower, what would it be and why?
A. To be able to rewind time. Gisella never got to say goodbye to either of her parents and she resents the life they were resorted to living. If she could go back in time, give them a better life, and help her mother before she got sick it would be enough for her.
Q. What’s something people often misunderstand about your character?
A. Her farm life. Since she came to the states and told people she was raised on a farm, she realized people have a vision of what they expect a farm to look like or how farm life should be.
Q. What is something your character tends to procrastinate on?
A. Her orders for her shop. While she’s always on time with her deliveries, she will procrastinate often till the last minute in doing them just because she’s often attached to all the plants and flowers she has in her shop.
Q. Where does your character like to go/what does your character like to do for inspiration?
A. Her rooftop garden since she made sure to inspire a lot of it’s decoration on what her home looked like growing up, or at least as close as she could good get it.
Q. Does your character usually follow their head or their heart?
A. Gisella struggles with this every day and while she wishes to follow with her head she most definitely follows with her heart.
Q. Who or what brings your character the most joy in their life today?
A. Her corgi Pom. He is her only real live companion besides her plants and was a gift from her grandparents back home.
Q. Does your character have a hero or someone they admire or look up to? If so, who and why? A. Her mother. Since Gisella was young her mother never made her feel like the world was cruel or deceiving, just the few people in it. Her Father felt different but thanks to her Mother, she wasn’t scared to begin living life when the time came for her to leave the only home she’s ever known for a future she knew nothing of.
Q. Is your character much of a reader? If so, what author(s) do they like?
A. Yes she is. There wasn’t much to keep her entertained in the jungle so Gisella spent most of her time reading whatever books her parents brought back or already had. It is a mixture between both Miguel de Cervantes and Emilio Pradas.
Q. Does your character like surprises? How do they tend to react to surprises?
A. She does not just because surprises for her in the past meant sudden change and only really brought chaos to her life. If she can avoid a surprise nowadays she tries her hardest to and if she can’t avoid it completely, she will find a way a sneak out of the situation without anyone knowing.
Q. Is there anything that your character collects? If so, what is it/what are they?
A. Handmade poisons. Gisella has had plenty of time to study many plants from all over the world and had some brought to her shop where she was able to create poisons from them, many of them banned her in the states but that’s Gisella’s secret to have. In addition to making the poisons, she also makes antidotes and keeps them locked in a small refrigerated room in the back of her shop.
“That’s fair. Though you should at least get in the habit of watching the local news, if anything just to know what’s going on around the city,’ Luis shrugged. He couldn’t be bothered with national news - truthfully to him it just seemed like it was asking for him to get angry. “It is a shame. I heard from my Tia stories of her and my mother when they lived in Mexico as children, and the fact they came to the states for a better life, there’s days it seems like things are just as bad here as they were there. Just hidden behind the glitz and glamour of the city.”
“Luckily those freezers also have a backup electrical system just in case the power goes out,” he chuckled, though he was optimistic that wouldn’t be a problem. “It’s fine just….” he took the card out and a pen from his pocket and wrote his personal cell phone on the back of it, “Just don’t give the second number out or you’ll lose your business with the funeral home.”
She nodded, taking his advice into account. Gisella had to remember that you didn't have to rely on word of mouth for news anymore; you could turn on a TV here. She tilted her head to the side and leaned against the counter, smiling a little, "I used to beg my parents to allow me to attend school in the city, and they used to tell me the same thing. The glitz and glamour may look enticing and more favorable, but that didn't mean it was. My father wasn't too happy when I left for school, but I'd like to think my mom would've been proud."
Gisella tried her hardest to contain the excitement she felt seeing him write his number, though her expression fell at hearing his last comment. She made a hand gesture around the room and then back at him, one of her eyebrows raising in his direction. "With all due respect, Luis, you don't give me the impression that I'll have too many people bothering me for your number. And not to mention, have you seen my only companions?" She asked, pointing towards the many plants around them. "I assure you though-, I have no intention of giving it away. Not, after all, it took me to get it from you in the first place. But, I thank you for giving it to me" Her smile spread, and she took the card with more genuine enthusiasm than she needed.
“That’s certainly way of finding an an upside to this conversation,” he admitted with a small chuckle.
With a harmless roll of his eyes, Quinton explained, “As lovely as your stationary is, putting your number into my phone so that I can text you the address is just a bit more environmentally friendly.” He knew there were times where he used paper products but he tried to be consistently conscious in following through alongside his eco-friendly app. Considering her offer, he glanced upward in thought and then said, “Yes, that would be great. About what time should I be expecting you?”
Quinton shrugged a bit, “That’s understandable. You’re not the first or only person to feel that way.” When hearing her question about him and his debauchery, his jaw stiffened a moment, but he forced himself to relax. His mind instantly went to his parents and the many lectures and passive aggressive remarks they would make regarding his sex life and non-committal relationships. “Spectacularly,” he replied with a sliver of venom in his voice. Needless to say, he wasn’t particularly interested in talking about it; there wasn’t shame for him but he also wasn’t big on talking about it with just anyone. Thankfully, they didn’t have to stay on the subject and he made an effort to listen to her. “The Rainforest? As in the Amazon?”
She mocked offense and jokingly put her hand to her chest, shaking her head in response, "Sir, I'll have you know this isn't just any old stationery. I make it myself from recycled dead plants because while your apps may seem environmentally friendly, these phones are most definitely not." She glanced down at his phone for a bit, as if expecting it to do something before taking it and eventually entering her number. After a bit of pondering over his question and returning his phone, she responded, "I'm an early bird; I can have them delivered to you before lunch or after if you have a preference."
Gisella half expected him to have a cheeky response but hearing his one-word answer surprised her. She struggled with reading people, but she could tell this was not a topic he wanted to keep delving into, and she would respect that. "Uh... yeah, that one exactly." She responded dismissively with a small smile, rubbing the back of her head. "I know it's not a usual upbringing, but it was... it was a peaceful upbringing, I guess you can say."
It was strange befriending someone who was in it for the friendship and not some sort of hidden agenda or interest. Call her jaded but Davina’s lack of good luck when it came to meeting others made her the somewhat callous person she is today. However, upon meeting Gisella, all of that shed and she felt the need to not only become her friend but to be protective and since the slight shift in her abilities, that sense has grown in magnitude. “It’s not a problem but I appreciate and admire your humility.” It truly was an impressive trait. Her brothers could learn a lot from this woman.
“Honestly? Keep representing your business effectively. It’s success is ours after all. More yours of course.” Davina flashed her a genuine smile and then looked down at the citations along with the list Gigi had provided her with. “No, no its fine. Functional but maybe if you had it all on one page, you’ll be able to look up the rules without going crazy.” She sets everything over to the side and decides that business can wait. They’re both hungry and her friend has a shop to run.
Davina chuckled and moved to sit where Gigi had directed her to. Her brow arched in genuine interest at the mention of herbal medication. “Oh, that is going to be a hit for sure especially here in New York. And I can’t wait to be one of your first customers.” She leans back and crosses one leg over the other all the while smiling. “My life is no where near as exciting as most believe.” A chuckle escapes her lips.. “In fact I’m too much of a workaholic according to my siblings. But I’ve been attending so many charity events and wrapping up the mess the prior DA left before me. Not to sound cliché but this city really did need cleaning up.”
Gisella smiled, relieved to have someone else's input besides that of her dog. It was the comment about her humility that made her feel slightly guilty. Since she had first arrived, Davina was kind enough to help without expecting anything in return or having any ill motives. She never pressured or forced Gisella to open up or divulge too much from her past, something she was rather thankful for but found herself feeling wrong. When Gisella came, there had been a few demons she had been more than happy to leave behind and bury them in her past. It was moments like this where she questioned if not being wholly truthful was worth losing the image her friend had of her.
She smiled weakly, shrugging, "I grew up in a jungle on a farm; functionality wasn't this hard last time I remembered. But my parents always dreamed of owning a store here; I'm more than happy to work hard on making this a realization for them." Her eyes wandered, glancing over from the plants to the decor then back to her friend. "Have you ever had a moment that felt so wonderful you for sure thought this couldn't possibly be true? This place is mine."
Her hands came up and clapped together, grinning with excitement, "I'm so glad to hear your opinion; I'll be sure to make you something extra special." Gisella had ideas but refrained from speaking on them at the moment; instead, she reached and grabbed hold of Davina's hand and held it, shaking her head. "I can never thank you enough for all that you've done for me, but what your siblings see as you being a workaholic, I see someone who has a passion and ethic for change. You've done a rather fantastic job and you shouldn't feel guilty for the time spent getting you there. Just remember to take a break once in a while, okay?"
Though Quinton was smiling, his brows furrowed again, “Alright you’ve lost me: how did we get from talking about your shop front issues with the City to Mother Nature and male bias?” He chuckled once but truly couldn’t figure out how that leap had been made.
Watching her produce a pen and a pad of paper, he didn’t know if she was going to jot down his order. When she instead asked for his address, he reached in his pocket for his cell phone and said, “Why don’t I spare the paper and text it to you?” After guiding his thumbs across the screen for a moment, Quinton handed over his phone with a new contacts tab open. “Go ahead and put your number in.”
“Welcome to New York,” Quinton said with a shrug, barely able to stifle another chuckle. “Not to disregard your upbringing by any means, and hearing that you were raised in a rural area doesn’t make you all that unusual, but you’re living in one of the busiest and most popular cities in the world now. Debauchery’s not really a foreign occurrence here, or most large cities. Some people prefer not having strings attached. It’s easier, while still getting the…gratifications some people might be after.” Pausing a moment, he then asked, “Out of curiosity, what sort of work do your parents do?”
Gisella smiled and shrugged at his question, "I have no idea; at least we know we can talk about a wide variety of topics though, I don't think I have shared a dull conversation with you." Her smile faltered, backing up when he put the phone in front of her. There were a few things Gisella struggled with; technology had been one of them. She had years to practice, but old habits still died hard with her, and simplicity was still her go-to.
"Is my stationery paper not to your standard? I know it’s a little outdated but I like the personal touch." she joked, chuckling nervously, "Oh yeah, texting..." Gisella smiled and took his phone, entering her information for him and sliding it right back. "Since I'm headed to your home anyway, would you like me to bring the order for your sister along with me?"
She paused, her brow furrowing a bit. "I can tell; the last two and only dates I've gone on seemed to think I was interested in such relations. Not that temptation isn't there; I just haven't met anyone who's made me act upon it. Besides, how's that debauchery worked out for you?" Their topic was not something Gisella intended to divert into her past; she hesitated on responding to his question. "They were farmers... occasionally picked up some odd jobs, but we kept to ourselves in the Rainforest. It would take us four hours to drive into town; we only ever visited twice a month for supplies or if there was a special occasion or holiday."
