The Melaswen Paradox (Read 329,070 times)

[heroicmuse]

I like seeing Jade have some remorse. I don't think leaving Salem is the best idea. She needs to come to terms with her past.

I wonder who Philip was talking to.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[fluffysmom]

I think Jade could end up in trouble if she leaves town with no real plans and not much money.

I do understand her wanting to make a fresh start somewhere else.

[Kpatch]

I think Eric has a crush on Jade.

Yay, a front-burner story for Philip!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 470

HORTON CENTER
ERIC: What?
JADE: Seriously, why are you so nice to me after all of the things I’ve done to your family?
ERIC: Because, I believe in forgiveness. I can tell that you regret the choices you made, and that you’ve tried to be a better person. Plus, I’d be a total hypocrite if, after all I’d done, I didn’t extend the same gift to you.
JADE: What you did isn’t as bad as what I’ve done.
ERIC: You remember that story I told you about almost killing my best friend?
JADE: Yeah.
There was a brief pause.
JADE: Oh, I get it. Just, stop being nice to me.
ERIC: Excuse me?
JADE: Stop being nice to me.
ERIC: Jade, I can’t. I can’t not be nice to anyone. That’s just the way I am.
JADE: Well, stop being nice to me. I’m not used to it. I don’t know how to act when people are nice to me, and you’ve been nicer than anyone that I’ve ever met, and I don’t deserve it.
ERIC: That’s not true. You do deserve it. I’m sorry to hear that you’re not used to people being nice to you. That’s very sad. That’s why I want to help you, if you’ll let me.
JADE: You can’t. No one can. I just need to leave. Eric, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the last few months, but I have to leave before I screw it up. And don’t try to tell me that I won’t, because that’s what I do. Whenever I have anything remotely good in my life, I always find some way to screw it up. I push people away because I’m afraid. I’m afraid that if they get too close…
Jade took a deep breath.
JADE: If they get too close, I’ll just end up disappointing them, anyway. And I always do. You say it doesn’t have to be that way, but that’s the way it always ends up. It’s better I just leave before I hurt anyone else.
Eric sighed.
ERIC: Where are you gonna go?
JADE: I’ve got an aunt who lives out in Ohio. She’s my adopted mom’s sister. She said I could stay with her for a while. I have a little money saved up, what little Jan didn’t take from me. It’s enough to get me halfway by bus. She says she’ll meet me halfway and take me the rest of the way.
ERIC: And you’re sure this is what you want?
JADE: It’s the way it has to be. You can come say goodbye to Emmy, if you want.
ERIC: Okay.
Eric followed Jade to her room, which was all packed up. Emmy was sitting in the crib that had been given to Jade by the Horton Center.
ERIC: May I?
Jade nodded. Eric picked Emmy up.
ERIC: Hey. Looks like you and your mommy are going on a little trip, huh? Well, I’ll miss you. Be good for your mommy, okay?
Emmy made some cooing noises, one of which sounded like it may have been “bye-bye”. Eric handed her to Jade, who put her in her stroller. Jade sighed.
JADE: Well, this is it.
ERIC: I guess so. I can’t stop you from leaving, Jade, but I do want you to know, if you change your mind, your room here will be waiting for you.
JADE: Thanks. Take care of yourself, Eric.
ERIC: You too. Jade, just so you know, you’re wrong. You aren’t a horrible person. And you’re worth caring about.
JADE: Thank you. Maybe I’ll eventually figure that out. Anyway, I need to go. Goodbye, Eric.
ERIC: Goodbye, Jade.
Eric watched as Jade, pushing Emmy’s stoller, walked out of the Horton Center. Just as she got outside, Jade looked back at it for a moment. Then, she turned and walked away to the bus station.

[heroicmuse]

I don't like this idea of only going halfway by bus. Then what?

That was a nice send-off for Jade. I wonder if she will be back.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[fluffysmom]

Jun 12, 2018 8:22:22 GMT -5 heroicmuse said:

I don't like this idea of only going halfway by bus. Then what?

That was a nice send-off for Jade. I wonder if she will be back.

Great chapter André DiMera.

Jade's aunt is supposed to be there to pick her up at the halfway point. I'm not sure she should be leaving when she can't even afford a bus ticket to Ohio.

[Kpatch]

Kind of sad that Eric couldn't convince Jade to stay. I hope she'll be back. I hope the Ohio aunt isn't the same one as the cult director from California!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 471

KIRIAKIS MANSION
The next morning, Philip walked into the Kiriakis living room.
PHILIP: Morning.
Victor was already there, reading the paper.
VICTOR: So, you got back last night, then?
PHILIP: Yep. Late last night.
VICTOR: And how was the trip?
PHILIP: It was nice. The ceremony was good.
Victor nodded. Philip sat down across from Victor.
PHILIP: Father, there’s something I feel we should talk about.
Victor put down the paper.
VICTOR: Hm. Well, spit it out.
PHILIP: Unfortunately, I’m only going to be home for a day or two. Some things have come up and...to make a long story short, I have to go away for a while.
VICTOR: Could you be slightly more vague, Philip?
PHILIP: I’m sorry, I just, it’s kind of...a sensitive subject.
VICTOR: A sensitive subject. You know, you and I may not agree on everything, Philip, but at least we should be able to be honest with each other. Now stop trying to dance around the subject and tell me why in the hell you’re thinking of leaving the second you got back.
PHILIP: Look, if I could go into detail, I would. While I was in D.C. for the ceremony, I was approached by a fellow agent. Apparently they have a job that they want me to take.

ALAMAIN MANSION
Nicholas straightened his tie and put on his coat.
NICHOLAS: Ivan, pull the car around, please.
IVAN: Yes, sir.
Ivan went outside. Vivian walked in from another room.
VIVIAN: There he is. You look fabulous, as always, darling.
NICHOLAS: Thank you.
VIVIAN: A busy day, is it?
NICHOLAS: Not exactly.
VIVIAN: Excellent. Then, you won’t mind if I tag along.
Nicholas did a double take.
NICHOLAS: Tag along?
VIVIAN: Well, I thought you would never ask. I’d be more than happy to join you. You know, I’ve been keeping myself at a bit of a distance as of late out of respect, but now, I believe I can be a little more involved in things. I want to see more of the work you do at the company.
NICHOLAS: Aunt Viv, as nice as that sounds, don’t you think you’ll be bored? It’s really just mostly office work.
VIVIAN: Bored? Why, don’t be ridiculous, darling. I could never be bored when I’m with you.
NICHOLAS: I see. Well-
VIVIAN: Unless there’s some reason you don’t want me to be there, of course. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t come with you?
Nicholas took a deep breath.
NICHOLAS: No, of course not, Aunt Viv.
VIVIAN: Ah, excellent.
NICHOLAS: Just so you know, I was planning on having lunch with my new personal assistant. Sort of a get to know your new coworker type thing.
VIVIAN: Wonderful! This’ll give me the chance to get to know her, as well.
Nicholas smiled.
NICHOLAS: Well, shall we depart, then?
VIVIAN: Oh, of course, of course. Don’t want to be late, now do we? You lead the way, darling.
Nicholas nodded and went out the door.
VIVIAN (thinking): Good, this way I’ll get to see for myself if Ivan is right about my nephew’s interest in this woman. And if he is, well, then I’ll just have to deal with it. Don’t worry, Nicky, I’ll save you from yourself

[heroicmuse]

LOL After all these years Nicholas does NOT know how to handle Vivian. This should be fun.

I doubt Victor is going to accept Philip's non-explanations. I'm sure a phone call to someone or other who can find out for him is in the works if Philip doesn't tell him what he wants to know.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[Kpatch]

Bring Vivian to Work Day should be fun!

I'm glad Philip is being honest with his father.

[fluffysmom]

I liked Vivian talking Nicholas into taking her to work.

I'm pleasantly surprised that Philip told Victor that much.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 472

ALAMAIN INDUSTRIES
A short time later, Nicholas, with Vivian and Ivan close behind, got to work. He spent a few minutes showing Vivian around, and then they came to his office.
NICHOLAS: I know you saw it before, at the opening, but I thought you might want to spend more than a few minutes.
VIVIAN: Oh, Nicky, it’s marvelous! I love what you’ve done with the place! You used that professional decorator I told you about, didn’t you?
NICHOLAS: I did, yes.
VIVIAN: Well, it definitely shows. You’ve even got your father’s picture on the wall. The placement of it is perfect! Lawrence would be so proud!
NICHOLAS: Thank you.
VIVIAN: Ivan, get us some tea, would you, my dear?
IVAN: Of course, Madame.
NICHOLAS: Nothing for me, thanks, Ivan.
Ivan nodded and walked out.
VIVIAN: Well, this is most lovely. Look at you, my dear boy, running your father’s company. I am so proud!
NICHOLAS: Thank you.
A moment later, Hadley walked in, carrying two coffees.
HADLEY: Good morning, Mr. Alamain. I’ve got your morning coffee. Black, with two creams, as always. Oh-
Hadley looked up.
HADLEY: I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you had company. I really hope I’m not disturbing you.
NICHOLAS: No, of course not. I didn’t know I’d have company, myself, until just this morning. Which, is absolutely fine, of course. Hadley, this is my aunt, Vivian Alamain.
VIVIAN: His favorite aunt.
NICHOLAS: Yes. Aunt Viv, this is my new personal assistant, Hadley Cassius.
HADLEY: Nice to meet you.
VIVIAN: You as well. Nicky tells me that we’re having lunch today. I am most looking forward to getting to know you.
Vivian shook Hadley’s hand and smiled. Nicholas noticed that her smile was a little too kind.

KIRIAKIS MANSION
VICTOR: They want you to go on a mission? Haven’t you done enough for them already?
PHILIP: I want to go on it.
VICTOR: And just what is this mission?
PHILIP: I can’t tell you that.
VICTOR: Hm. I see. Well, in that case, I guess I’ll just have to call my ISA contact. Perhaps they’ll tell me about this mission they’re forcing my son to go on.
PHILIP: First of all, no one’s forcing me to do anything. I volunteered because I want to go. Secondly, you can put your phone away, ‘cause I’ll tell you. I cannot give you specifics, not exactly. But the basic mission is a search and rescue. And part of the reason I took it on is because it’s personal. For me and for Maggie.
VICTOR: Maggie? What on earth does an ISA search and rescue mission have to do with Maggie?
PHILIP: More than you’d think. It seems a relative of hers went missing several months ago. The ISA have been trying to find her. They have her location, but because of extenuating circumstances, they can’t go in unless it’s undercover. I volunteered to be the one to go in.
VICTOR: That’s preposterous! If one of Maggie’s family had gone missing, don’t you think I’d know and that I’d use all of my resources trying to track them down?
PHILIP: The thing is, you already did use your resources, and they came up dry. That’s why the ISA has gotten involved. Apparently, after your guys came up with nothing, Maggie went to John and Steve to ask if there was anything they could do, and they got the ISA on the case.
VICTOR: Ah. Yes, there was one person that we weren’t able to get. You mean to tell me that you’re going to go looking for Melanie Jonas again?
PHILIP: You said it, not me.
VICTOR: Are you out of your damn mind?

[Kpatch]

Victor's reaction was priceless. I could hear the whole thing.

And I could picture Nicholas's offices. Love that there's a picture of Lawrence on the wall. Can't wait for lunch!

[heroicmuse]

I agree with Kpatch. Victor's reaction was so authentically Victor.

Nicholas seems to be aware that Vivian is up to something re: Hadley. This should be interesting.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[fluffysmom]

I liked Victor's reaction.

I'm enjoying Vivian's visit to the office.