somewhere far away;

Jenna Marx. 20 years. Incoming Art Student. Part-timer at The Shirley Theatre.

[dizzyizzersx-blog]

"I’ll drive. I’m fucking terrible at telling people how to get places."

[jennamarx-blog]

"Alright then. Let's go and hit my brother up now so we could be on our way."

[tysonhart]

1000 years is a really long time. People need breaks. Shit, after age 15 I needed a break.

See, that’s good reasoning, but people won’t get used to it. They’ll always smell it. If you have to say, “But Yolo,” you can whisper it when you go buy adult perfume. Butter, definitely butter. I love butter. Would you rather have the shitty job you had at 21 for the rest of your life or would you rather have 21 babies?

[jennamarx-blog]

Yeah, that's true. It's really nice to get away from life sometimes. You should definitely tell me the conditions first 'cause I obviously just assumed I had to say "but yolo" with an exclamation point. 

What's in it for me with the babies? Does my general life style improve in comparison with dealing with the shitty job? Do I get like benefits or whatever they're called? Do they stay as babies forever?

[dizzyizzersx-blog]

"Of course! Though, you’re not half bad yourself."

"Okay, I feel you. We can totally track that sort of thing down."

[jennamarx-blog]

"Do you wanna drive or should I? Note that I've never been outside Hale other than back home so the chances of us getting lost if I take the wheel is more likely. Not unless you're willing to talk me through the whole thing."

"Cool beans."

[stagrisingfromashes-deactivated]

"Yeah, she’s still a little too small, I think. We tried it out, but it was too wet and sticky for her liking, I think."

[jennamarx-blog]

"Aww, poor baby. Guess she'd have to really stick with the legos for a while. Does she have anything else to play with? If I'd had them with me right now, I'd gladly let her have my dolls. Getting stuck inside's one of the worst feelings I remember as a kid. Especially when I was alone and my brothers all had school. If you don't mind me asking, is she yours?"

[thaismernick]

"You’re kidding me, right?"

[jennamarx-blog]

No, no I'm not. But before anything else, I really can't take you seriously with that thing wrapped around your neck. 

[tysonhart]

As long as I get born where I die, then yes. I’ll live ten 100 year lives. 

Would you rather have to end every sentence with, “But yolo!” or always stick of axe body spray?

[jennamarx-blog]

I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't choose what you did. 

Axe body spray, of course. Did you know that when we get used to a certain smell, it tends to fade? I'd probably annoy the heck out of everyone the moment I step into a room but their brains would tell them to ignore it after a while. So yeah, I'd rather stink of cheap body spray than constantly end a sentence with an acronym used as an excuse to do stupid things. Would you rather eat a stick of butter or snort a teaspoon of salt?

[tysonhart]

Hmm, to each their own I guess. I’d go for the sandpaper.

Hmm, how does it work though. Like, is it kind of like a replay? Do I start back at home and work my way through again? Or do I just get reborn as a baby wherever I died?

[jennamarx-blog]

Understandable. As a baby. Like either you just live one really long life or you live ten relatively shorter ones. 

[tysonhart]

Eh, no. I didn’t say what kind of sand paper. It could be the lowest, softest grade. Hot sauce, even at it’s mildest, is going to be awful.

Hmm. Do I get to comeback as someone different at the end of every hundred years? And do I get a break in between the lives? That all matters.

[jennamarx-blog]

Welp, I expected the worst, I guess. Still, continuous rubbing of sandpaper on buttholes, however soft, could cause a bit of grazing. I have little tolerance for pain on the part of my body with which I'm supposed to feel relief. I stick by my decision. 

You could get a break in between. But you only get to comeback as yourself. 

[tysonhart]

Good choice. Legs as fingers would be a big inconvenience. Imagine trying to type? Or finding gloves? Yikes. Well, I guys jackets would have extra long sleeves. Hmm, would you have feet as finger tips?

Easy, hiccups. I like sneezing. Would you rather use hot sauce as eye drops or sandpaper as toilet paper?

[jennamarx-blog]

Exactly. Hmm, that's a tough one. I mean, if I chose the hot sauce, I'd get more eye damage than I could ever hope for. But with the sandpaper, I'd practically be grazing my skin to an open wound every time I had to poop. I'd rather go blind than get an infection through my ass. 

Would you rather live one 1000-year life or ten 100-year lives?

[dizzyizzersx-blog]

"Weed? What the fuck is weed? We’re just going for art."

"Like I’m going to turn down anything to do with music. What kind of things do you listen to?"

[jennamarx-blog]

"You're the best, Izzy."

"A bit of everything actually. But I guess I tend to lean on the side of Oasis, Ed Sheeran, Jimmy Eat World, Of Monsters and Men, and American Authors. Among others." 

[tysonhart]

Now, the real question is: would you rather have fingers as long as your legs or legs as long as your fingers.

[jennamarx-blog]

Legs as long as my fingers for sure. I mean, they're easier to live with than having fingers as long as my legs. Can you imagine that? You'd have to take the extra care to pick things up with long, nimbly fingers. But with tiny legs it's cool. If I can't walk, I could easily just take up a wheel chair or something.

Okay, would you rather: have hiccups for the rest of your life or feel like you need to sneeze but not be able to for the rest of your life?

[madameballet]

Portraits || Jenna and Madame

[madameballet]

When her eyes grew comically wide, Madame couldn’t help the little chuckle that passes through her lips. Though, it didn’t pass her gaze when the flicker of pain danced along her features once again. 

She did not know why, but somehow it made her think about her life before Hale. The weather allowed such melancholy as it had already reminded her of the place she was born it. Strange, she thought. Maybe Hale had this charm when it comes to the lost. They always managed to find a home in its crevices.

Madame wonders about the girl’s tragedy. How could something as a portrait of a special person can bring her so much pain. But then her mind wanders to her memories of Richard and suddenly the act wasn’t so foreign anymore. She wanted to ask, but then she was worried she might step on a land mind, and certainly she didn’t want to upset the girl, so she went to ask a question that she thought was safe enough for her.

"Why are you drawing her, then?" She asked, curious as to what the girl has to offer her as and answer.

[jennamarx-blog]

That was a pretty good question, Jenna noted. How she wanted to answer it too but sadly, she couldn't. There was nary an explanation hidden within the recesses of her brain as to why she was still subconsciously hooked onto a former flame. It never happened to Bill, Stacy, or Ambrose, so why now? Except Jenna knew clearly why. The girl brought to life by graphite in the pages of that moleskin sketchbook wasn't just a failed relationship. She was Georgie. A name slightly ludicrous, you just know it was too good to be true. At least the young girl did. 

"We were best friends. Or at least, she was my best friend." she replied, her voice surprisingly calm. "I mean, friends aren't supposed to be lovers right? 'Cause it gets complicated and stuff. But we were. And the complicated thing's just come to bite me back in the ass. Excuse my french." She kept her head low as she spilled minute details to the old lady who was, as she repeatedly reminded herself, a complete stranger.

Mothers (and fathers, and brothers, anyone older than you really) always said not to talk to strangers. But there she was. Sitting cross-legged and fighting back a tear that threatened to fall, reminiscing so discreetly about a life she swore to forget to someone she barely knew, barely even looked at actually. But it was comforting. Maybe it's 'cause she's talking to someone so old and receiving no sort of ridicule. She remembered her own grandmother, bless her soul, who loved her regardless of anything. Not to mention that Gran adored Georgie and loved her as her own too.

She wanted to feel that nothing had changed. That everything that happened was just a nightmare. That she wasn't wiping her eyes in a park as the sun shone high in the sky. That a sketch of her friend wasn't looking back at her the way it did. 

[madameballet]

Portraits || Jenna and Madame

[madameballet]

The answer of the young girl was like a melancholic lullaby that was playing with the wind. It was almost nostalgic, somehow. How the slight rise in octave higher; or the creases in her smile wasn’t stretched like if it was a genuine one. In a way, she was like staring at her own portrait.

It was kind of silly for her to think that way. But she cant really blame her old soul for not believing the girl’s subtle lie. Madame had an inkling as to what was really their connection, and it made her interested on the girl even more.

"Tell me about her, then? She seems special. Mind if I take a seat? These old rigid bones aren’t strong as  they were before." Madame said, a sad small fleeting on her face.

[jennamarx-blog]

Jenna hadn't known what to think as the older woman sat herself beside her. If she was being completely honest, she'd have preferred to be left alone with her memories. She didn't like talking about Georgie to anyone in Hale. Not even her brother. It almost always choked her up and is counterintuitive to her main reason for moving to town. The old lady didn't know that though. If anything, she just knew that Jenna drew people and that Georgie was just a friend (unnamed). How she knew that the redhead drew people though was something curious. And she'd be lying if she thought she wasn't intrigued albeit suspiciously. 

Scooting a little closer to the side of the bench so that the old lady had more room, Jenna bit her lip, unsure how to answer her question without saying too much. What had she gotten herself into? "Special is a pretty accurate word to describe her. Three years ago I would have told you that it was an understatement. I guess it probably still is but that's because she's more than special to me." Her eyes grew wide as she realized what she'd just said. "I mean- uh, who am I kidding? We used to be together." That didn't go well as planned. Subtlety was never her specialty. 

[madameballet]

Portraits || Jenna and Madame

She had taken to heart what the doctors had said the last time she was at the doctor’s and had promised herself not to spiral down into the depths of depression just because the life she knew was once again slowly being pulled away from her. She wanted to stay strong.

Madame Estera found herself strolling along the carefully cut grass of Harrelson Park. She was this close to going barefoot because she wanted to feel the way the grass would tickle the soles of her foot but opted for sandals instead. She knew that if a student of the university saw her prance around the park in barefoot, the whole school would be in chaos.

The breeze was fresh enough for it to remind her of Poland, with so little memory she has. Her stroll seems to take an interesting turn when her gaze was caught by the subtle yet vibrant red of a girl drawing at the park, her expression sullen, yet contented. Madame had seen this girl a few times before, right in that very spot where she’s drawing right now. She had a glimpse of what the girl was drawing a couple of times in the past, and had found that she was drawing portraits, albeit she was not near enough to determine any refined features.

A smile graces her wrinkled lips. “Who are you drawing this time, dearie?” She says on a whim.

[jennamarx-blog]

Jenna only had two places to be when she wanted to trade the brush for a pencil. And with the sun out and about for the first time in a couple of days, she chose sitting on her spot at Harrelson Park over coffee at the Serafim. She liked to think she'd had too much caffeine the past week anyways, a bit of nature and fresh air was a good change. Finding the solitary bench in which no one seemed to take an interest in, she plopped herself on one side, crossed her legs, and took a good look at the muse around her.

Children, parents, elderly couples, dogs, etc. There were countless sources of inspiration but none that fit right. The girl found herself just staring at everything else until she'd begun to get stares herself. That wasn't good. She'd probably squinted at the kids too many times again. The parents must think she contemplated a kidnapping. Twirling the graphite stick in her fingers, she resorted to winging it and just drawing her way out of probable false accusations. Who knows, maybe letting her hand run free would create something cool.

It was before she added shading to the sketch when she thought she heard a question directed towards her. Her head shot up at once to meet the old lady smiling at her. She looked around to see if the woman was in fact talking to her before staring down at the portrait she absent-mindedly sketched. Jenna surprised herself as she took into account who exactly it was she had drawn and a small tinge of pain shot back like a bullet. "Oh, uhm, a friend. Just a friend." 

[stagrisingfromashes-deactivated]

"I’m fine with it, it’s just Lexi who was excited to go to the park today." He gestured at the toddler in his arms. "I suppose it’s another afternoon of building imaginary animals with legos, which isn’t necessarily bad, but Lexi isn’t going to be to happy about having to do her second choice."

[jennamarx-blog]

"Oh, I see." Jenna nodded, looking at the little girl. "Maybe you could introduce her to playing in the rain. That's always fun. The rain isn't too hard anyway. Then again, she looks a bit too young for that sort of adventure." 

[willslance]

I-I.. I don’t know. I thought everyone but me was into that thing. I guess not. I thought-I thought it would make a good conversation topic?

[jennamarx-blog]

I'm pretty sure only a handful of people here are really into the sport. And that the sudden enthusiasm is really because of the home team playing surprisingly better than expected. Or at least, that's how I think it is. I wouldn't really know. Sports is something I'd rather stray away from.  

Well, you got me talking at least. 

[willslance]

I’m not really into the whole FIFA thing, but can you tell me again who that Perez guy is? Wait, I’m not sure that’s his name.

[jennamarx-blog]

I know just as much as you do, dude. You'll have better luck knowing more about the Perez's in the soccer world with those guys hogging the TV. Why the sudden interest anyway?