#jamila.

[strcinedhecrts]

@eatabug

LOCATION: afterglow trauma wing, jamila's room. FOR: benny muñoz.

FRANKLY, JAMILA REMEMBERS VERY little about what happened. she's been and out of sleep for god knows how long -- visions occasionally coming back to her like repetitive slaps to the face. as much pain as she feels, with the various gashes an bites all over her body and a throbbing headache, perhaps the most painful thing was not knowing if her people were okay. where was benny? santi? fallen? damien? kodi? were they all dead? was she dead, and this was the start of her personal hell? the thoughts come every time as she opens her eyes, not understanding very much of what is said to her. all she knows is the worry, flooding back like it was the first time she had woken up all over again.

then come the nightmares. the face of that sweet little boy, so scared when he was separated from his mother. the sounds of screams all around her, the pang in her heart as she sinks against the nearest tree -- the little boy walking towards her with a bunch of uniformed medical professionals. her vision blurred, not knowing if she'd have the strength to make it.

despite having experienced the same jolt of fear several times before -- it hits instantly as she opens her eyes, hand flying to her chest as a subconscious reminder that she is in fact, breathing. but this time is different. it's benny. he's here. despite all the anguish that afterglow had caused him, he was here, for her. " ben... benny.. " she croaks, realizing how long it's been since she had actually said a word ( she had been communicating with the nurses through hand gestures ).

of course she goes to jolt upwards -- that is, until the gash to her side bites right back, causing her to fall backwards on the bed and let out a noise that can only be described as a cross between a whimper and a groan. jamila had been laying still for so long, that she hadn't quite understood the true extent of her injuries.

intense bruising. various cuts and gashes. several lacerations across her arms, shoulders and stomach. a bite to the shoulder that had just missed her axilary artery. a black eye that was now becoming a deep shade of royal purple.

severe, severe blood loss.

and yet, she was alive.

her mouth opens as she tries to speak again, throat dry as sandpaper as she struggles. that is, until she's able to get a few words out. he's at her side now, a hand reaching up to touch his face without even thinking. and yet, she still pauses.

" a... are... you okay? what... wh -- what happened? "

[strcinedhecrts]

@folliesofmiceandmen

LOCATION: afterglow trauma wing, jamila's room. FOR: damien rush.

FRANKLY, JAMILA WAS GETTING sick of being in this room. every face besides her friends from the outside who came to visit was foreign, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain for every single one of her caregivers. even if they hadn't been amongst those who hurt benny directly, caused him any sort of pain -- they remained complicate in the system in her eyes. she blamed them all. and yet, she knows it's best for her to bite her tongue. smile and nod, remain mute. until she's back on her feet, until she has the chance to never come back here ever again. of course she feels it, the worry for her father. if they genuinely know where she is, where she lives. thankfully, some friends have been watching over him. taking turns sitting with him, keeping him safe.

and yet, she still had not received word from several individuals -- leaving her to do nothing but fear the worst. that is, until one happens to turn the corner... with a cast on? of course her body goes into overdrive, trying to sit up.

" d -- " she begins, voice weak. however, she's unable to say anything else before she loses herself to a coughing fit.

once she returns to normal again, her eyes continue to remain soft and worried -- always thinking for everyone else outside of herself. that was one thing the two of them had always had in common. soon enough the waitress finds herself speaking again, voice still horse.

" what... what in gods name happened to you? "

[strcinedhecrts]

@folliesofmiceandmen

LOCATION: red line diner. FOR: damien rush.

FRANKLY, JAMILA FOUND HERSELF behind the walls of the red line more so than she did her own home. she had to get by somehow, didn't she? work until her bones felt weighted, until they were sore. but then, it wouldn't be long before she found herself doing it all over again. damien was a nice guy. she had heard whispers of the jackals and their work -- but had yet to meet one before him. after all she had been through in the early years of her life, she was always surprised by the amount of dependable people she had come to know. those she had come to trust. perhaps it's why she had found herself staying for so long. not seeking a higher, "better" job -- she was simply happy where she was. and the smiling faces of her regulars made it all worth it.

on this particular day, she'd found herself fighting a losing battle against their coffee machine, an ancient hunk of junk. jamila had been able to fix it before -- with a little tender love and care. but now, it seemed that nothing would be enough. with a grunt of dissatisfaction, she made her way into the kitchen -- hands covered in a mixture of grease and very old coffee grounds. " damien! " she calls out as she rounds the corner, little awareness of if he's mid-conversation. " the damn coffee machine finally shit the bed, i think. " she shakes her head, making a beline for the sink to clean herself up. the kitchen is hot of course, a sauna in her eyes. the sounds of fryer oil and crashing pans are things she can drown out quite easily now -- the usual accompaniment. " tried to make a pot and the damn thing started leakin' out the bottom. "

[strcinedhecrts]

💭 jamila + benny

Send 💭 for something my muse wants to say to yours, but won't.

if you asked me to marry you tomorrow, hell, even today — prolly wouldn’t even let you finish the question. i’d say yes. i love doin’ life with you. in every capacity, there’s no rush. but i’m with you forever no matter what.

[strcinedhecrts]

💭 jamila & santiago

Send 💭 for something my muse wants to say to yours, but won't.

you have not just been my family, but have welcomed me into yours — without even hesitatin’. your kindness, your selflessness, it’s inspirin’ t’me. i only home i can leave half the mark on this world i know you will.

[strcinedhecrts]

@eatabug

LOCATION: the diner, following jamila's diner shift, afternoon FOR: benny muñoz

JAMILA HAD NEVER THOUGHT outside of her father, she'd ever come home to anyone else. hell, she never thought she'd consider home to be another human being -- but the sparkle in her eyes as she catches his gaze could tell anyone passing by that she wouldn't have it any other way. very rarely had they left each other's sides since the moment they were released from their shelters -- in fact, in the first night they had reunited, jamila's arms had barely left him. like if she let go, he'd somehow fade away again. it's part of what makes it so difficult to go to work in the initial aftermath, despite the smiling faces who she knows will be waiting for her. and yet, when she leaves out the employee entrance -- and there he is, her heart nearly leaps into her chest that feels almost girlish, a bashfulness she thought was only reserved for one's teen years. even after two decades. " y'got my schedule committed t'memory there, darlin'? " jamila hums in her low appalachian drawl, stepping closer with a confidence she isn't quite sure she fully feels. in fact, she feels like she's been hit by a truck after the day's madness. lips soon press to his cheek. " not that 'm complainin', heavens no. i love it. but what i don't love is that y'somehow manage to look handsome as ever -- and i prolly look like i got run over by one'a the farmer's tractors. "

[strcinedhecrts]

@dishaunt

LOCATION: red line diner FOR: georgie wallis

OF COURSE, ANY FAMILY of demi's was absolutely family of hers. that was something jamila believed to be far from debatable. thus, when georgie started as a waitress at the diner, jamila was quick to show her every rope she could remember in her nearly two decades at the diner. what to do when the coffeemaker decided to throw a fit in the middle of a rush. which regulars would likely give her a hard time, and to never let them get to her. where the cleaning supplies were. which one of the cooks would make you a plate of fries if you batted your eyelashes just enough. jamila had just pulled a double following the end of their lunch shift, and even if she felt like her body was vibrating -- you couldn't quite tell. she had always been good at that, keeping it together. of course they helped prep for dinner, but the moment their relief showed up, it clear both were ready to head out the door. " say, georgie, wanna go get a drink? on me. thought it might be fun to decompress after all'a that... " it had been busy, certainly, most folks likely having little energy to cook in the aftermath of the blizzard. everything just felt heavy.

[strcinedhecrts]

TEXT TO ✉️ DAMIEN RUSH

JAMILA: please don’t tell me you’re out there playing hero right now [ failed to send ]

JAMILA: you better stay your ass inside [ failed to send ]

JAMILA: are you okay?? is lorelei with you???? [ sent at 3:00 pm ]

JAMILA: demi’s with me [ failed to send ]

JAMILA: i think the service is out [ send at 3:01 pm ]

JAMILA: oh so that sent of course it did [ failed to send ]

JAMILA: you’ve got to be kidding me [ failed to send ]

JAMILA: demi’s here with me, we’re at the compound [ sent at 3:03 pm ]

@folliesofmiceandmen