⤿ ♡ introducing mary to @dexxcinesis .
hums the familiar stanzas of old rugged cross as her floral skirt brushes the wooden stairs. the melody a sweet, grounding balm against the heavy weight of the basement air. downstairs, the room always smells of copper and damp earth; a pungent residue of rust and dried blood from the vessels she has had to empty in the name of a higher calling. does not view herself as a monster. she is merely a humble instrument, the lord’s executioner, ensuring the weeds are pulled so the garden can stay pure. after all, the scripture is clear: the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. but the soul currently tied to the chair in the corner was an entirely uninvited complication to an otherwise perfect sabbath evening. hadn't wanted to spill any extra blood, especially since she hadn't yet weighed this particular neighbor in the balances of the almighty. besides, she actually quite liked them. they always kept their lawn so tidy. but when those curious eyes had witnessed her little act of holy justice in the yard, her reflexes took over. she didn't have the room for two bodies in the trunk anyway, so a swift strike to the temple had to suffice.
upstairs, the soundproof walls are currently vibrating with the booming swell of her gospel records, but down here, the silence is thick. carefully steps into the dim light, cradling a mason jar of ice water against her chest. “ my, my, my, ” she coos with a southern drawl that carries the comforting warmth of molasses. a bright smile lights up her face as she watches them blink against the shadows. “ you sure are quite the sleepyhead, aren't you, sugar? ” lowers herself gracefully. floral hem settling around her ankles as she crouches down, hugging her knees to look up at them with that pure, maternal fondness. it is the exact same expression she uses when greeting folks at the church potluck. “ got you some refreshment, my dear. i know that throat of yours must feel like the sinai desert right about now. ” offers an apologetic, soft little tilt of her head, her eyes twinkling with a gentle reproach. “ i am just so terribly sorry about the rough hospitality, darlin’. you truly did startle me, and the good book warns us to stay vigilant, but i’m afraid my hands get a mind of their own when i’m surprised. we can surely get you all cleaned up and comfortable, but we have ourselves a little modern-day reckoning to tend to first, don’t you think? ”
she pauses, letting out a soft, delicate sigh. as the breath leaves her, the warmth vanishes from her eyes entirely, replaced by the cold, unwavering zeal of a judge who has outgrown the need for human mercy. “ now, i do not appreciate a lamb who snoops around my pastures, ” tone dropping into an eerie register. “ proverbs tells us that he who winks with the eye causes trouble, and a prating fool shall fall. you shouldn’t be wandering into places where you haven't been invited, sugar. ” leans a fraction closer. “ so why don't you help me understand what those pretty little eyes of yours think they saw? tell me how that heart of yours interprets the lord’s work, and then from there, him and i will decide what needs to be done with you next. let's start from the beginning, darlin’. the gentleman you saw me with out in the garden... what exactly do you think happened to him? ”
