Breaking Ties: An Ensemble Story (Read 252,156 times)

[Kpatch]

Marissa was really being so honest with JJ. I think she's scaring him off. I do think JJ is going to play a role in convincing Marissa to cooperate more with the police.

I love how Nicole sees JJ as "practically Daniel Jonas' stepson." Good characterization!

I know this wasn't supposed to be funny, but it made me laugh anyway when Roman said: That seems like some kind of psychological mumbo-jumbo, but I know firsthand that Marlena knows what she’s doing….

[fluffysmom]

Poor Marissa. I think she's pushing JJ too hard. I wonder if Hope can convince her to cooperate.

I hope JJ shows up soon. I don't want Nicole working with Jeff. I'd like to see Nicole and Chloe have an honest friendly conversation.

[heroicmuse]

Mar 2, 2015 23:32:11 GMT -5 fluffysmom said:

I'd like to see Nicole and Chloe have an honest friendly conversation.

That's coming...but not for a couple weeks yet.

[heroicmuse]

“Okay, look,” JJ said to Marissa, “I don’t even get why you’re so upset. You said yourself you don’t know anything about me. What the hell do you see in me that makes you think I’m even worth your time?”

Marissa sighed. “I… I dunno. I guess.. your eyes, maybe?”

“My eyes?”

“T-the first time I met you, I saw so much in those eyes… so much passion, yet so kind… like you were at war with yourself… and for some reason that fascinated me… And then there’s your loyalty to your friend… wow, I’ve never met anyone like that.”

JJ shook his head.

“Like I said,” Marissa said quietly, “I see things. But if I’m wrong about any of that, just tell me.”

“You only know what you see in front of you. Paige, she said she wanted my passion too, after she heard me playing the guitar… but it was too much for her to handle, and you know what? I don’t blame her. Marissa, I’ve done things I’m going to regret my whole life… you just don’t know the whole story.”

“Then tell me! Don’t you get it? I want… no, I need to know your darkness. I know it’s scary and it’s weird but I have to… I have to know. Please.”

“Okay.” JJ took a deep breath. “I’ll tell you everything, Marissa, I swear. But just promise me, you’ll listen to it all before you decide about me.”

Marissa nodded.

“Okay.” JJ drank some more water. “Wow, this is harder than I thought it would be. I don’t know where to begin.”

“Well,” Marissa said slowly, “you can start with the answer to my question from the other day. Do you smoke weed too?”

JJ looked down at the table, then back up at Marissa. “Not anymore.” Marissa nodded and JJ asked, “Does that bother you?”

“Nah. I mean, that was never my thing, but if it did something for you, more power to you. Go on.”

“It was stupid, and I never want to touch it again. When I was stoned, it was like nothing mattered, like everything that happened to me was just...okay. And I did a lot of stupid stuff when I was on it. Rory too, but it was mostly my idea. I didn’t just smoke weed. I, uh… I sold it. And other stuff. And, that’s not all. Besides doing drugs, I… I messed with people’s stuff, I broke a lot of things that didn’t belong to me, stuff that belonged to my mom’s boyfriend and his kid, his three year old kid… I broke his train set on purpose.”

Marissa’s eyes widened and JJ said, quickly, “I swear, Marissa, I was a different person then. I don’t do any of that stuff anymore. I know there’s nothing I can say that’ll make it make sense, but I was really messed up after my dad died.” He played with the underside of the table and went on, “You wanted to know about me. Well, now you know.”

“No,” Marissa said after a long time. “This is just the beginning of knowing.” She smiled at him. “If you want to get to know me, too, I can tell you. Ask me anything.”

“I… I wouldn’t know what to ask.”

Marissa sighed. “My life probably isn’t as interesting as yours, but - “

Just then, Hope came up behind them. “I’m glad to see you’re alive and well,” she said to Marissa. Turning towards JJ, she added, “I’m sorry to interrupt, JJ, but I need to borrow your friend for a minute. It’s about her case.”



Eve scowled, but she made sure to wipe the scowl off her face before she turned back towards Jill. “You’re right,” she said, projecting as much sweetness as she could stand. “I just didn’t have the heart to call the police on you, not without giving you one more chance.”

“I knew you’d see it my way,” Jill said. “So I can stay?”

“Maybe. I called a friend who works for St. Lukes. He’ll be more than happy to get you set up with that shelter the church runs.”

“I told you, I don’t want to stay in a shelter.”

Eve laughed. “You are so much like me that it’s just like looking in a mirror. My Paige wasn’t planned, you know. But as soon as I found out I was pregnant with her, I understood that it wasn’t just about me. There was another little human being in the picture, and I just couldn’t keep doing these awful things to myself and not be able to provide a life for her. Now you may not want to stay in a shelter, but your baby will thank you someday for giving her a better start in life than you would have on the streets. And incidentally, my friend is the kind of priest who doesn’t take no for an answer, so you’d better pack your bags.”

Jill got up as quickly as she could in her condition. “I have something to do,” she said, “but I’ll be back later and I’m going to expect a copy of my key.” She swung her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door. “Oh, Eve?”

“What?”

Jill’s eyes were steely. “You don’t want to mess with me. I don’t look like much, but I’ve been on the streets long enough to know what you have to do to survive.” She left, slamming the door behind her.

[André DiMera]

I'm really glad that J.J. finally opened up to Marissa. Marissa's right, though, they're only just beginning to scratch the surface. I know that neither one of them is ready for it yet, but I'm hoping that, at some point in the future, they'll end up together.

[Kpatch]

I think JJ thinks his crimes and misdemeanors are unforgiveable.

Jill should listen to Eve. She's Eve in 20 years.

[fluffysmom]

I'm not sure Eve will get rid of Jill so easily.

I'm glad JJ opened up to Marissa. They both need a friend.

[heroicmuse]

“So what did that lawyer dude want?” Kurt asked Rory. He and Rory and Bev were sitting perched on the top of a park bench, sharing a joint.

Rory giggled as he took the joint from Kurt. “Can you believe it, man? He’s gonna take my case in exchange for me emptying the trash. I’m gonna be a janitor.”

“What a loser,” Bev said. “Of course he’s associated with JJ, so he’s bound to be.” She took a puff from the joint and held her breath for as long as she could before letting it out. Coughing, she passed the joint back to Kurt and said, “If you ever get arrested again, don’t send JJ to tell me.”

Rory scowled. He had hoped JJ would be here by now, and he hated that Bev was so anti-JJ these days. “Maybe I should send a real prize like Cole.” Kurt laughed at that, but Bev’s eyes widened. “Shut up about Cole,” she said. “I’m done with him anyway.”

“Yeah, right,” Rory said, “and JJ’s mom’s through with Dr. Dan.”

“Hey,” Kurt said spacily. “Why are you two so mad? This is supposed to be fun.” He took another hit off the joint. “You’re really… you’re really gonna be a janitor?”

“I don’t have a choice.” Rory giggled. “JJ went and hired me a lawyer behind my back, so I guess I got a job out of it.” Bev started to walk off. “Hey!” Rory said. “Where are you going?”

“Somewhere where nobody’s going to kill my buzz. If I hear JJ’s name one more time…”

“It’s like Betelgeuse,” Kurt said. “Maybe if we say it enough, he’ll show up. RAWR!” He jumped at Bev playfully.

“Not funny,” Bev said, “but pass me the joint anyway.” Her phone buzzed; she pressed the button to silence it, scowling, as she took the joint from Kurt.


Eve was sitting on the couch drinking a glass of wine and worrying about Jill when Eric knocked on the door. She sighed as she went to get the door.

“Thank you for coming over,” Eve said. “I’m afraid the girl has up and left, but if you come in I’ll tell you the entire story, and maybe there’s some way you can help.”

“I think I can spare a few minutes.” Eric came all the way in. “Are you all right, Eve? You seem flustered.”

“It’s sweet of you to ask, but I’ll be fine. Would you like something to drink?”

“Water, please,” Eric said as Eve took out a second wine glass. She pouted but she filled the glass with water from a pitcher that she got out of the fridge. As she handed him the water, he said, “Now, what happened?”

Eve sipped her wine. “A couple months ago I tried to help this poor homeless girl turn around. You know, I went through my rough period where I lived on the streets and I don’t want anyone else to suffer the way I suffered, so I thought I was doing a good deed by giving this girl a little bit of money to get back home to her family. Only it completely backfired, Eric, and I mean completely, to the point where I think she might make my life--and Paige’s--a complete nightmare.”

“Does this have something to do with the danger you said you were worried your daughter was in?”

“In a roundabout way. You see, when Paige decided she wanted to move into the dorms, I put out an ad for a boarder. I wasn’t expecting to get any responses until the end of the week--in fact, I was toying with the idea of having you take some photos once Paige emptied her room this afternoon. Anyway, this girl--the one I told you about that I was trying to help--somehow she got wind of the fact that there was an empty room for rent. Now, she’s shown up here twice and both times I’ve tried to kindly direct her towards St. Luke’s shelter, but she won’t have it. And she’s got a baby on the way and everything, and she’s convinced her best option is to stay here.”

“I see. So you thought maybe I could convince her of what you could not?”

“It was probably dumb, but I panicked, and I didn’t know who else to call. I mean, I really don’t want to call the police on her, though I will if I have to. You know they won’t care about getting her and her baby the help they need; they’ll just stick her in a cell for a few days, and then back to the streets.”

Eric nodded. “Well, I don’t really have any affiliation with St. Luke’s anymore, as you know. But I do know a few people who work for the shelter. I’ll see if I can get you some information to pass on to this girl the next time she shows up at your door.”

Eve’s face fell as Eric got up. “Leaving already?”

“I’m afraid I have another appointment. But don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten that I owe you a night out.” Eric put his hand on the doorknob, then turned back. “I do want to say one more thing. I hope, Eve, that this experience hasn’t turned you off from trying to do the right thing. I think it’s wonderful that you want to reach out to this young girl, and other girls like her. If you’d like, I can put you in touch with the volunteer coordinator at that shelter--maybe you’d like to reach out to others in similar circumstances.”

“I don’t know,” Eve said, playing up her hesitation to make it look more endearing to Eric. “After what happened with this girl, I’m not sure I’m good for much of anything.”

“I can assure you that that’s not the case.” Eric’s phone beeped. “I really do have to run, but let’s talk soon.”

Eric left. Eve closed the door and threw herself against the wall. I really must be losing my touch, she thought. Either that or all those years in the church has made Eric Brady immune to flirtation.

[fluffysmom]

Bev doesn't want to talk about JJ or Cole.

Eve may get desperate since Eric wasn't as helpful as she'd hoped.

[unavitasegreta]

Even I was buying into Eve's fake falseness and for flirtation Eric truly must be impervious to it!! I can't wait to see what Eve does now. I love so much that Jill is in this story. Throwing away her character was such a mistake on the show.

[Kpatch]

That scene with the stoners was so vivid. I bet Bev is getting a call from Cole. I loved how Kurt told them to lighten up. Sheesh. They were depressing me too!

Eve is so good at weaving a tale. I mean YOU are so good at weaving a tale. Great story!

[heroicmuse]

When they got tired of the park, Rory took Kurt and Bev to Horton Town Square. The people milling around seemed to amuse him. “You know what’s great about this square?” he said, laughing. “You can come here every day and never see the same people twice.”

Bev giggled. “And if we’re lucky there’ll be some drama.”

“Save the drama, it hurts my head,” Kurt said, spacily. “Ooh, the square’s spinning.” He grabbed onto a wall to balance himself. “Shouldn’t it be a circle?”

“Here,” Bev said. “Let’s sit down and rest a minute.” She and Rory helped Kurt onto a bench. “I never knew your brother was such a partier,” she said to Rory.

“Yeah,” Rory said flatly. “Hey, who’s that?”

Bev looked. Cole was coming towards them. He was holding a bouquet of flowers tightly in one fist. She could feel her high shrinking to nothing. “Nobody important,” she said, and tried to laugh.

Rory laughed for real. “It’s Cole, isn’t it? What’s he doing with flowers?”

“I dunno. Is there any way we can scram?”

Rory glanced at Kurt, who was leaning back on the bench, staring at something in the sky that only he could see. “Nah, he’s out. Don’t worry, though. I took that robber when I was more buzzed than this. If he starts anything…”

“Bev!” Cole said. He glanced at Rory and Kurt, his eyes narrowing. “So this is what you’ve been doing instead of taking my calls. Hanging out with these losers.”

“What do you want, Cole?” Bev tried to sound stronger than she felt. Cole glared at her; she swallowed a fit of giggles at how ridiculous he looked.

“Um,” Cole said, “I was going to give these to you and apologize for the other day, but if you’re going to act like you deserved the way I treated you, forget it.”

“Yeah,” Rory said, advancing towards Cole. “Forget it, dude.”

“I guess you liked that jail cell,” Cole told him. “Can’t wait to start something so you end up back there, huh?” Rory started to make a fist but Cole went on, “Go ahead and punch me. When the cops come, I’m sure they’ll love to bust you for whatever you’ve got on you.” He laughed.

“I’m not a fighting man,” Rory told him, “so why don’t you go ruin someone else’s high?”

“I don’t think so.” Cole turned towards Bev. “So what’s it going to be, Bev? Me, or this loser?” He moved closer to her and said in a low voice, “I’ll make up for what happened the other night if you ditch them.”

Bev glanced at Rory, then back at Cole. “I-I’d like that,” she heard herself say. Her ears were ringing and she was feeling pleasantly buzzed now; why let Rory and Cole ruin it when she could keep the peace just by going with Cole?

“Bev - “ Rory said.

“Guess you don’t own her like you think,” Cole said. He put his arm around Bev. “Come on, baby, let’s show them what freedom looks like.” He and Bev walked off.

Rory glanced at Kurt, who was still staring at nothing. He elbowed him. Kurt sat up. “What...what’s the matter?”

“Way to back me up,” Rory said. “Now we’ve lost Bev to that idiot Cole again, and you can bet that’s not the end of trouble with him.”

Kurt giggled. “What, do you...do you like her?”

Rory plopped himself down on the bench. “Gimme what’s left of that joint,” he said. “All this just ruined my high.”


JJ glared at Hope. “Why?”

“Remember what we talked about,” Hope told him, making him feel like he was about five years old.

JJ crossed his arms. “Fine, but maybe later you can explain why you’re getting my mom all riled up.”

“I’ll be happy to explain why I felt a need to talk to your mom,” Hope told him, “when I’m done here.”

Marissa touched JJ’s arm. “It’s all right. We seem meant to have this conversation in pieces, but sooner or later we’ll get it all in.”

JJ’s phone rang. He glanced at the display, then picked it up. “Nicole! Hey, I’m on my way. I’ve got something for you.” He walked off, still talking on the phone.

“Can I sit down?” Hope asked.

Marissa shrugged. “Do I have a choice?”

Hope took her time pulling out her chair. Marissa glared at her. Hope said, “You’re angry. I get it. But why?”

“Take a guess,” Marissa said. “Look, I didn’t ask to be attacked, Detective Brady, but since I was, I’d appreciate it if you’d just do your job and catch the guy who did it. Instead, you’re calling me constantly and chasing off my friends so that you can ask me a bunch of useless questions and arrest random people who have nothing to do with what happened.”

“Believe me, this isn’t fun for me. I am so sorry you were attacked, and I wish there was something I could do besides continue to hound you.”

“Yeah, well, it happened.”

“Yes. It did, and that wasn’t your fault, but your reaction to me is on you. I know that it’s stressful for you to continually deal with this investigation when all you want to do is forget what happened. But the more you cooperate, the more likely it is we’ll actually catch this guy.”

Marissa’s eyes widened. “Do you even have a suspect? Besides Rory, I mean?”

“We’re not pressing charges against Rory, partially because of your statement.” Hope sighed. “And yes, we do have another suspect in mind, but we don’t have enough evidence to even make an arrest.”

“I don’t suppose you can give me a name.”

“What good would that do? We can’t arrest him right now, and if we do make an arrest, you really might have to view suspects in a lineup. I can’t prejudice your responses by giving you extra information.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Hope smiled slightly. “You know, Marissa, I didn’t just come looking for you because I needed your help with this investigation. I was worried about you.”

Marissa’s face hardened. “Well don’t! I keep telling you, you’re not my friend, and you’re not my mother either.” She sipped her coffee as she tried to get back in control of herself. “Just… just ask me your questions and I’ll answer them.”

“It’s not so much questions this time, Marissa, as it is a request.”

Marissa crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows at Hope.

“I’d like you to participate in something called cognitive reenactment.”

“What’s that?” Marissa asked wearily.

“Basically, we’d act out what happened to you. We’d go to your room and one of the officers will pretend to be your attacker. The idea is that by acting it out, you’ll remember something that can be helpful for us.” Marissa’s eyes widened and Hope said, “I know the idea can be upsetting. Dr. Evans will be there too. She wants to make sure that you--and the other victims as well--are okay throughout the entire process.”

“And this is really the only way you can catch the guy who did this to me?”

“Detective Hernandez is looking at putting some undercover officers in the dorms, but honestly, this is our best shot.”

“I’ll think about it,” Marissa said.

“That’s all I ask. That and please, from now on, answer the phone when I call.” Hope got up. She watched Marissa as she walked away. Marissa took out her phone and played with it, but didn’t call anyone.

[gapeach]

Bev needs to watch herself before she gets in more trouble than she can handle. Sure hope that Hope got through to Msrissa!

[Kpatch]

I feel bad that Bev seemed to think she had no choice but to accompany Cole. He is bad news. Him and Jeff both.

Personally, I think Marissa should say no to the reenactment, especially being in such a fragile state. I would think Marlena would recommend against it. But for the drama factor, yeah, she should do it. LOL.

[fluffysmom]

I don't know how much more Marissa can handle.

I don't think Bev felt she had much choice about leaving with Cole.