hotel jared | blanche, nell, & jared
LOCATION: nell’s greenhouse. PARTIES: @harlowhaunted, @nelllraiser, and @themidnightfarmer. SUMMARY: jared appears in desperate need of shampoo and gets more than he bargained for.
For once, Nell and Blanche were asleep at a reasonable hour. Though...it was more likely to be a nap more than anything else. Both of them were passed out in the bed Blanche had put into the greenhouse, wrapped in blankets with Iago draped over the both of them. But then— there was a familiar little ping on Nell’s wrist where her bracelet was always worn, the one that was connected to the perimeter spell, and acted as a house key. It woke her with a start, her heart already racing in anticipation. What if it was him? Was Montgomery back to finish the job? Her still blurry eyes saw the figure approaching in the darkness, unable to make out anything other than the vague shape of a man. She didn’t even bother to see if Blanche was awake yet, sitting up with a start as a hand filled with magic burst forth from her. It was the same spell she’d used on Kaden, summoning ropes from seemingly thin air to wrap around the victim from shoulders to ankles, the bindings tight as they shackled legs together, and arms to the sides. Her voice was rough with sleep when she spoke, but it was still filled with her iron determination and protective nature, nearly a growl. “Don’t come any closer.”
The next person that told Blanche she needed a nap was going to get a very angry ‘I DID TAKE A NAP’ screamed into their face. She had dozed off, curled up next to Nell with Iago, when Bea’s bracelet pinged. It was hard to get used to that. Blanche stirred, a low groan leaving her before she jolted awake fully. Fuck. Someone had crossed the property line. Thinking along the same lines as Nell, she swung her legs off the bed, ignoring Iago’s wine as she snatched her taser lying on top of her bag, ripping the safety cable out as Nell bound the intruder. A pillow soared threw the air, bouncing off the man’s body as she fumbled for the light switch so they could see what they’re doing. “Listen here, dickwad -” Blanche flicked the lights on brandishing the taser threateningly. “You’re not gunna - oh.” Iago trotted past Nell to go say hello, unbothered by the man’s intrusion. “.... Whoops.”
It was not his smartest move he would admit to himself later. But arriving at the Vural house had never been this treacherous before in his defence. Jared had seen no life in the house and he’d remembered that Nell had mentioned the greenhouse. He’d only just turned his body in that direction when the ropes spouted from thin air and wrapped him up so tightly he couldn’t take even an inch of a step further. He was knocked a little off balance when a soft object hit his chest but he stayed standing as the lights flickered on. Jared squinted at the two standing there and then down at iago. Unable to hold his hands up in surrender, he instead tipped himself backwards and let his ass hit the floor. Eye level with the Baku as it moved forward to greet him. “Bad time?”
Nell squinted against the light for a moment, blinking in confusion as the man came into focus. “Jared?” Her voice was still laced with that groggy quality, trying to make sense of the world. That must have been why it took her a second longer to remember the ropes she’d cast. “Oh shit- sorry.” A snap of her fingers, and the ropes were no more. Still, she couldn’t help the little chuckle of amusement as he seemed to simply accept his fate, sitting there on the ground of the greenhouse. “Sir, have you heard of texting?” she tried to joke. “The Charlie’s Angels were ready to take you out,” Nell teased. “And not on a fun date.” She glanced at Blanche, making sure she was also alright. “Iago likes him, doesn't she? That makes sense. The pillow was impressive, though. I think that would have taken a lesser man down.”
Blanche rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. “Sorry Jared,” Blanche said, before glancing at Nell. “Hey, I was ready to tase the crap out of him too!” As if to prove her point, she waved the taser in the air, before quickly putting the safety pin back in it before someone actually got hurt. Well, this was a mild disaster. At least the only true casualty had been her pillow. She would have to do laundry again after it bounced off him hit the ground. Iago was happy enough to lean against Jared. “Iago does like him, we should have known.” She put the taser back down on her bag concealing a yawn behind her hand. “So, uh, what do we owe this wake up call? The moon doesn’t have an eyeball on it, does it? Because I swear to god, I cannot handle that right now.”
As the girls argued back and forward about how they were going to take him out, Jared reached out and gave Iago a few gentle pats now that his arms were free. He stayed on the floor for a moment just listening to them before giving a sheepish smile. “I have heard of texting, but I’d already left the house by the time I realized and this was a time sensitive mission. But no the moon is NOT also an eyeball so we’re all good there.” he then grew rather sheepish for a moment. “Came to steal shampoo.” he tells the two girls before the thought of the pillow truly hits him and he looks behind them at the bed. “Are you two… staying in here full time?”
Nell considered her own pillow carefully as Blanche spoke of tasers before playfully launching it at Jared. “I wanted to try- it looked like it was fun. And I know you were about to lay down the law.” A little smirk came over Nell before she teased, “Time sensitive. Has it been that long without shampoo? You’re gross. Why are you stealing shampoo, though?” Then it was her turn to be sheepish as she looked around at the bed, as if she was considering making it disappear. But- well- Jared had already seen it. “I mean- yes? Mostly? But that’s okay! Right, Blanche?” The house was still too littered with memories of Bea, and the greenhouse felt much safer.
Jared was here to steal shampoo? Blanche didn’t have long to feel confused, though, before Jared asked about if they were staying in the greenhouse full time. The greenhouse was Nell’s closet - this was where Nell felt safe right now after Bea’s death, and who was she to say try and drag Nell back into the house that was full of painful memories. She wouldn’t leave her alone, how could she leave her best friend alone? She would stay in silent solidarity until things got all better again. Blanche nodded. “Uh, yeah. I put the bed frame together myself.” With some help from the internet and Nell. Surprisingly, dragging the mattress and the box spring downstairs had been the easy part of it. “It’s alright. The sheets and comforter are new too.” Was she being defensive right now? Shit. She was being defensive right now. She gave a strained grin. “You know, sleeping next to plants is, like, the new in thing right now.”
“Time sensitive because I just sent the kids to their rooms and I don’t want them sneaking out while I’m gone.” He countered, not really paying much attention to his own reasons for being there anymore. “Good job.” he said genuinely if very distractedly to Blanche about her building the bed in there. He gave so little thought to the words before they came out of his mouth. “You should both come stay with me.” There was a good reason not to be in the house clearly, since the both of them were out here, he himself couldn’t really imagine being inside the place at the moment either. But as much as they’d say it was okay, living in a greenhouse wasn’t really the best option. And the words were out of his mouth and he was not taking them back. “Everything under one roof, your own beds, your own rooms. You should both move in.”
Nell’s arms crossed stubbornly, realizing he must be rather one track minded at the moment if he wasn’t paying attention to the pillow she’d thrown in addition to ignoring her questions about shampoo. “But why do you need the shampoo?” she repeated, never one to back down. “It’s true, though. Everyone’s sleeping next to plants these days. Me, Blanche, The Jolly Green Giant...Oprah- probably.” Then she was blinking in surprise once again, not entirely processing what Jared had said. But when she had, excitement was coloring her voice. “What? Like- in the farmhouse?” Normally Nell would have agreed in a heartbeat, but she wasn’t sure of Blanche’s opinion on the matter. After all, she still had the mansion with Nora and Remmy. But Nell also knew that the greenhouse had become something of a safe space for the girl. She couldn't leave her without it. “What do you think, Blanche?”
It was late and she was tired because Blanche wasn’t processing what Jared had said properly at first. She looked between the two, confused, and she realized that Jared and Nell could probably see the steam coming out of her ears. Stay with Jared? Nell liked that idea. She clearly wanted to go. “Okay,” Blanche found herself saying. She rubbed the back of her neck, and quietly wondered if that meant she was going to be cockblocking if she went, but decided that she didn’t really feel like getting murdered by Nell. She thought of Remmy and Nora - she was really only home during the day now. Nora had told the ghosts to stay out of her way, but she could still feel them there… It was better now, though. But Nell still needed her, and if Blanche was being completely honest with herself, she still needed Nell too. “I can stay for a little bit, yeah.” What difference did it make anyway? The greenhouse versus the farmhouse. And it would probably be far more comfortable than sleeping in the greenhouse anyway. “Are you sure you don’t mind me going too?” Blanche asked, suddenly, looking at Jared. They had only just stopped talking about the weather. Her temporarily crashing could be weird. “And Iago?”
“I’m gonna be strapped for cash for the month, unless I can flog something. Found out I was running low on some things a little too late. Figured you’d sub me in exchange for being invited for when calving season starts.” Jared looked between the two and nodded. “Yeah in the farmhouse.” and then waited for Blanche like Nell was. It was maybe an odd invite for her, considering they’d only just gotten the deeper understanding of each other that Nell and Jared had shared for seven years or so, but he didn’t retract it. They were both living in the greenhouse, they both needed a place to go. Somewhere with hopefully better memories or even just a neutral space, and he could provide. He had ample room for all of them. “Everyone’s invited.” he says seriously, giving Iago a few more hearty pats before finally getting to his feet and lifting the two thrown pillows into his arms. “You can come to stay a little while, or you can come to stay for more than that. I have so much spare house it’s unreal. No house rules, just a few farm things we’d need to talk about. Mostly safety stuff Nells knows already.” His eyes found Nells and he smiled before looking back to Blanche. “What do you say? We can go now, give you a better night's sleep since I ruined it?”
“Yeah...Yeah, I could do that!” Nell agreed readily, as if she wouldn’t have given him whatever he needed in a heartbeat in the first place. “The calves!” Her excitement was nearly palpable, it having been quite some time since she’d been around for the season. “Blanche, the calves are cute.” She was doing her best to seem neutral, not wanting Blanche to feel pressured or obligated, but Nell was also unable to contain herself when calves were mentioned. Jared was right about the safety situation, though. Thankfully, Blanche had been coming into her own with the sparring they’d been working on, as well as her telekinesis. Of course, Nell would prefer Blanche not have to use that, but it was good to know she wouldn’t be defenseless. And the thought of having two of her best friends under one roof? Even if it was temporary? That was more than enough to bring a bright grin to her lips. “I could grab the stuff- get Greg and Taki ready to go, too.” Taki who had been sleeping for the entirety of this conversation suddenly decided to crack open his fiery eyes, considering Jared with his always judgemental gaze. “If you want- I mean,” she said, looking to Blanche again.
“We can sub you for whatever you need,” Blanche agreed, looking between the two. Nell seemed so excited, especially about the calves. It made Blanche smile. She could stay for the calving season. That would be fun. And she truly didn’t mind. Her opinion of Jared was always good, even if she could never think of anything to say to him before the other day when she burst out about the supernatural, but now it was only improving. He was kind, clearly, and he just wanted to make Nell feel better. She nodded to Nell. “Yeah, yeah, I want to go. That sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun, with the kids and what not,” she shot as she grinned at Nell. “I like calves too. They are cute. But - uh, I’ve never really lived on a farm before, I don’t really know how to milk a cow. Is that okay?” Blanche was suddenly concerned that she was going to be more of a nuisance than she was going to be helpful. “And Iago’s really clean, honestly! She just, uh, may want to snuggle at odd hours, but I’m sure that’ll be okay... Right?” Blanche said brightly, fighting back another yawn.
Jared grinned when Blanche said she was willing to come. This smile only to be replaced by one of very mild horror at the thought of Blanche trying to milk anything on the farm. “Oh haha we’re not a dairy. First rule of the farm, Nell knows all too well. Just don’t really get close to anything. If possible, take the path furthest from the kids unless I’m around.” He explained with a nervous laugh. “That’s the main one. But we can talk particulars later.” He gave Iago a smile and shot Taki a familiar respectful nod. “Everyones invited as they are. Seriously, no house rules. It’s just been me at home and I’m not worried about any of that.” The stifled yawn caught Jareds attention and he jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I can go and you can both get some more sleep until later this morning. Or you could both get in the truck and we can go snooze at the house and sort the rest out later?”
The thought of Blanche trying to milk anything was….truly horrifying, but also amusing that she’d asked in the first place. So a soft smile found its way to Nell, as she finally stood from the bed, Taki meowing in objection as she picked up one of the blankets to wrap it around her shoulders. She was about to say that they could start now, wide-awake not that her excitement had gotten the best of her, and always ready to take off with any idea that came her way. But it was impossible to ignore Blanche’s yawn, so she brought herself back to Earth, remembering how often she requested her friend to sleep. “Later is good,” Nell affirmed with a nod. Meanwhile, Taki rose from the bed to brush up affectionately against Iago, curling his tail around the Baku, still making eye contact with Jared as if to say you wish this were you. Nell dipped forward to scoop the Ovinikk up in her arms, already beginning to try and get a feel for where Greg was so that she might get him to the truck as well. “You’re sure about this...right Blanche? And you too, Jared? You guys don’t have to do this.”
Blanche was trying to figure out the logistics in her head, but all that was in her head right now was something akin to a flaming dumpster. Oh god, maybe she really did need sleep. She felt a little bad because Nell was clearly bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go, but the thought of shutting off the lights in the greenhouse and getting a few more hours of sleep was a little more attractive. Surely after she got drunk the night before, Morgan and everyone else who told her she needed a nap would can it, right? Regan wouldn’t have to threaten to send Adam after her, thought that thought was still really funny to her. Iago whined slightly as Taki was scooped away from her, and went to go nuzzle Jared, she looked at Nell and nodded, covering her mouth as she yawned again. “I’m cool with it,” she affirmed, glancing at Jared. “So long as he is. And he’s serious that I don’t have to milk anything.” She was starting to wonder though, farm animals couldn’t really be that dangerous, could they? Then again, knowing her luck, she would probably be the one to be mauled by a cow.
“No milking.” Jared repeated firmly before getting a little excited himself. There were going to be people in the house. Actual talking people. Not just his animals when he left a door open. It would take a lot of talking through later, and an awful lot of reshuffling of the house (or rather just himself) but it’d work out great in his opinion. So he herded the girls towards the truck, snatching their blankets from the bed to go along with the pillows he was still holding. Ushering them into the backseat he pushed the pillows in and threw the blankets over their knees. He might be fully awake and in clothes, but the girls had been asleep. They would be more likely to catch a chill. Once they were in he hopped into the driver's seat and looked back at them. “Anything last second or can it all be grabbed later today?”
It suddenly occurred to Nell that...she’d been assuming Jared had mentioned the true nature of the farm when he and Blanche had their share-fest. As she sat there, comfortably burrito’d in the blankets, she emerged from the cocoon for a moment to say, “Jared did you...tell Blanche about the...farm?” Certainly he’d know what she meant, right? But she did a quick, mental check as Jared asked if there was anything else they’d need. Taki was warm in her lap, and she’d Summon Greg once they were at the farm. It was easier than making sure he stood still in a truck, anyway. “You’ve got everything though, right?” she asked Blanche. “Iago’s snug?”
Blanche let herself be herded to Jared’s truck, only semi aware that this was how people got kidnapped. But, like, Nell trusted Jared, so it was fine. Well, probably, at least. She shuffled into the back seat, Iago following and wedging herself into the most comfy position on top of her and half on Nell. “‘M snsdjg,” Blanche said unintelligibly. Her head lulled to the side, gently against the truck, and she was almost out. Iago followed suit, curling up into Blanche with a loud sigh, nuzzling her. “D’you think …. Grocery…” And then she was out for good. Her train of thought would return in the morning, and Blanche would figure it out then. Now it was time to appease everyone who had told her to sleep.