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Post by Astrid on Oct 6, 2016 10:33:18 GMT -5
Astrid was walking through the cemetery. Carrying a small bundle of flowers. The cemetery was fairly empty of the living. This is the way Astrid liked to visit her parents. No one knew she was their daughter anymore. As far as she new the gang was still looking for her. But her father and mother taught her well. Survive. Enjoy life if you can. Sitting in front of the headstone of her parents she took a deep breath. It was still hard. Astrid sat a flower in front of the stone. "I'm working on getting an apartment...harder then I thought it'd be...but you guys did it..." she sighed and looked down at the other flowers.
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Post by Ace on Oct 6, 2016 22:07:23 GMT -5
Ace made his way through Queens. Rip had contacted him the other day asking to meet at the cemetery. It wasn't that unusual of a request. The cemetery was a pretty secluded place, and well, Rip visited his cousin's grave rather often. Ace was just a little worried about what exactly Rip wanted to talk about. He hoped the guy hadn't done something drastic again.
He came into the cemetery quietly. "Rest mewn heddwch..." he whispered in respect as he passed several tombstones, searching for the one he and Rip usually met at. His eyes widened in surprise as he spotted a familiar face standing in front of one of the tombstones. He certainly had not expected this meeting.
"Oh bachgen."
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Post by Astrid on Oct 6, 2016 22:45:12 GMT -5
Oh bachgen
Astrid wa standing quietly. She didn't know what else to do. She felt she couldn't show too much if anyone was watching even though her heart ached. She looked up hearing something close to her and her face fell a bit as she saw Ace. That meant Rip was coming around if not already there. She fought the urge to run and casually ran her fingers over the stone before moving on to the next stone leaving a flower there. She had too look like she was visiting the graves of those who had no one to leave them flowers. She was safer that way. "Didn't plan on seein ya here..." she said softly as she plucked some weeds off the grave.
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Post by Ace on Oct 6, 2016 22:56:49 GMT -5
"Didn't plan on seein ya here..."
He cleared his throat softly. "Same here to be honest." He gave her a small smile. "But it is nice to see you again."
He glanced at the tombstone beside her and took note of the names. If he had to guess, this was probably her parents grave. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you." He placed his hand on the tombstone and whispered a soft Welsh prayer for her deceased parents.
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Post by Astrid on Oct 6, 2016 23:06:01 GMT -5
Same here to be honest. But it is nice to see you again.
Astrid smiled a bit. "It's nice ta see you too..." she glanced at him. "Meetin Rip I take...?"
I'm sorry if I disturbed you.
"It's no bother...just puttin flowers on lonely graves..." Astrid said watching him as he prayed. She waited a moment before speaking but her first few words were a little choked up. "Ya know...those two..." she looked down a second. "They were murdered. Middle of the day too...police said it was something vicious. They never found who did it..." she moved to the next grave. "Heard it was gangs..."
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Post by Ace on Oct 6, 2016 23:22:21 GMT -5
"It's nice to see you too... Meetin Rip J take...?"
Ace smiled, relieved that she felt the same about meeting again. He cocked his head some at her question. "How did you know?" he asked curiously.
"Its no bother... just puttin flowers on lonely graves."
"That's real sweet of you," he said quietly.
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Post by Ace on Oct 6, 2016 23:24:59 GMT -5
"It's nice to see you too... Meetin Rip J take...?"
Ace smiled, relieved that she felt the same about meeting again. He cocked his head some at her question. "How did you know?" he asked curiously.
"Its no bother... just puttin flowers on lonely graves."
"That's real sweet of you," he said quietly.
"Ya know...those two... They were murdered. Middle of the day too...police said it was something vicious. They never found who did it... Heard it was gangs..."
Ace clenched his fists ever so slightly. "Gangs..." He scowled at the ground. "They take everyone away from ya." He sighed softly, trying to throw away his negative thoughts. "But... you gotta forgive them... no matter how hard. Holding hate against 'em does no good for you..."
He subconsciously rubbed his heart and said another prayer for the couple.
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Post by Astrid on Oct 6, 2016 23:34:12 GMT -5
How did you know?
Astrid let out a small laugh. "Didn't think ya would come ta Queens after our lunch." She smiled as she say another flower down. "But I guess it wasn't all bad...right?"
Thats real sweet of you
"Nah...I just think everyone deserves a little bit a love now and then..." she said softly looking back at him.
Gangs...They take everyone away from ya. But... you gotta forgive them... no matter how hard. Holding hate against 'em does no good for you...
Astrid nodded some. "Yeah...easier said then done..." she looked down and moved to pull more weeds. "They had a kid. Ya try tellin that kid ta forgive the people who destroyed their life. Something like that doesn't just go away..." Astrid said making sure she didn't let on that the kid was her. "Poor kid though...heard that the kid found her parents...neighbors called the police but the kid was gone fore they got there...hope the kids alright..." she said staring at the wall. It felt like such a lie. Hiding who she was. What had happened. But she had to live...she promised them that much. Lying was the only way. It was hard. Hiding how much it hurt her. No one could know though...as far as anyone knew Astrid Valentine was dead. That's just the way it needed to be.
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Post by Ace on Oct 7, 2016 9:48:29 GMT -5
"Didn't think ya would come ta Queens after our lunch. But I guess it wasn't all bad...right?"
Ace cocked his head to the side. "Naw, you weren't bad at all. But I am surprised you would think I wouldn't come back here after that... After all, I did say see ya later, didn't I?" He gave her a small grin. "I hate goodbyes, you know."
"Nah...I just think everyone deserves a little bit a love now and then..."
He shrugged as he reverently ran his hand along the tombstone beside him. "You don't have too... that's what makes it so nice of you when you do do it."
"Yeah...easier said then done..."
He nodded, still looking down at the tombstone closer to him. "Yeah... but you're only hurtin' yourself more by not tryin' to forgive."
"They had a kid. Ya try tellin that kid ta forgive the people who destroyed their life. Something like that doesn't just go away..."
Ace winced ever so slightly. "Well... I might not exactly of had my parents killed by a gang. But I had my parents taken away from me..." He stared hard at the ground now. "I blamed alot of people. Was angry. It messed up my life and Lottie's..." He glanced up at Astrid. "And you're right, somethin' like that doesn't just go away, but you can make that feelin' against others in here." He pointed at his heart. "Doesn't make things go away... but it'll release alot of weight off ya and give you more of a reason to move on."
"Poor kid though...heard that the kid found her parents...neighbors called the police but the kid was gone fore they got there...hope the kids alright..."
He nodded and silently said a prayer for the child of the deceased couple. "Poor girl... I hope she's all right."
Ace rubbed his face with his hands, trying to erase any signs that there were tears in his eyes. He didn't need to be thinking about that right now. Astrid needed him in this moment... and soon Rip would need him.
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Post by Astrid on Oct 7, 2016 10:40:07 GMT -5
Naw, you weren't bad at all. But I am surprised you would think I wouldn't come back here after that... After all, I did say see ya later, didn't I? I hate goodbyes, you know.
Astrid smiled softly and nodded. "Yeah I guess ya did didn't ya?" She looked back at him.
You don't have too... that's what makes it so nice of you when you do do it
She shrugged a bit. "It just isn't fair one person getting everything...everyone needs and deserves even a little bit of love and kindness..."
Yeah... but you're only hurtin' yourself more by not tryin' to forgive.
Shrugging a bit Astrid looked at the grave in front of her. How could she forgive the people that betrayed her father...the people that had hunted her for so long..
Well... I might not exactly of had my parents killed by a gang. But I had my parents taken away from me...I blamed alot of people. Was angry. It messed up my life and Lottie's...And you're right, somethin' like that doesn't just go away, but you can make that feelin' against others in here. Doesn't make things go away... but it'll release alot of weight off ya and give you more of a reason to move on.
Astrid looked down. "I'm sorry...it's not easy loosing your parents..." she looked over at him. Astrid listened to him for a moment. "It's not hate and anger in here..." she patted her chest over her heart. "Its pain...sadness...regret..." Astrid looked down and wiped her eyes quickly. Why wasn't she home to try and save them? Why didn't she know what had happened? Why was she left alone like this? Did she do something wrong? Her anger had faded a long time ago and turned to these feelings. Her parents killers were still alive. Living happily with their families why she was left alone. Probably forgotten at this point. She looked over at him and noticed the tear tracks on his face before he wiped them away. Astrid pulled out a flower and brought it over to him. "Sometimes even the little things help...may seem silly to some people but flowers remind people they aren't forgotten..." she gently took his hand and put the flower in it.
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Post by Ace on Oct 7, 2016 10:59:51 GMT -5
"Yeah I guess ya did didn't ya?"
He smiled and nodded. "An' I don't go back on my word."
"It just isn't fair one person getting everything...everyone needs and deserves even a little bit of love and kindness..."
He nodded again in agreement. "Yeah... everyone deserves kindness."
That was practically his life's motto. It was probably why almost everyone liked him so much.
"I'm sorry...it's not easy loosing your parents..."
Ace shrugged, forcing back emotions that threatened to pour out. "Nothin' ta be sorry about," he said softly. "It happened so long ago... Nothin' could have stopped it. Just learned to move on in their memory."
"It's not hate and anger in here... Its pain...sadness...regret..."
He gave her a small, sad smile as he shook his hand and placed his hand over her heart. "Pain, sadness, regret... those are still feelin's you have towards others and yourself." He nodded towards the graves. "Feelings that loved ones might be holdin' for these here." He pulled his hand back. "It's hard, but I don't think our loved ones that have passed on would want us ta hold onto those feelings. We gotta move on and realize sometimes things happen for a reason and that maybe we should have done somethin' back then..." He rubbed his eyes quickly. "But that don't change things now, and we just gotta learn from that and move on for our sakes and the sakes of our dead. I don't think my parents would want me carryin' guilt all this time..." He chuckled a bit. "I know my momma was always sayin' how she wanted lots of grandkids once I was old enough ta have kids." He looked over at Astrid. "One day, even though she won't be here... I'm gonna somehow make that wish of hers come true."
"Sometimes even the little things help...may seem silly to some people but flowers remind people they aren't forgotten..."
He gave her a small smile and accepted her flower. "Yeah... but sometimes the small things mean somethin' a whole lot more."
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Post by Astrid on Oct 7, 2016 12:06:11 GMT -5
An' I don't go back on my word.
"Good ta know." She smiled softly before looking down.
Yeah... everyone deserves kindness.Nothin' ta be sorry about, It happened so long ago... Nothin' could have stopped it. Just learned to move on in their memory
Astrid nodded a bit. It was true. Everyone needed a little kindness. "It may have been a long time ago but it canatill hurt."'
"Pain, sadness, regret... those are still feelin's you have towards others and yourself. Feelings that loved ones might be holdin' for these here. "It's hard, but I don't think our loved ones that have passed on would want us ta hold onto those feelings. We gotta move on and realize sometimes things happen for a reason and that maybe we should have done somethin' back then...But that don't change things now, and we just gotta learn from that and move on for our sakes and the sakes of our dead. I don't think my parents would want me carryin' guilt all this time...
Astrid nodded softly. It made sense but still...it seemed so hard to just move on.
I know my momma was always sayin' how she wanted lots of grandkids once I was old enough ta have kids." He looked over at Astrid. "One day, even though she won't be here... I'm gonna somehow make that wish of hers come true
Astrid smiled a bit. "Ya gotta have a good date first." She laughed softly.
Yeah... but sometimes the small things mean somethin' a whole lot more.
Astrid smiled. "It makes all the difference sometimes..."
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Post by Ace on Oct 7, 2016 13:01:45 GMT -5
"Good ta know."
"Yeah, I do my best not ta go back on my word, and I'm grateful ta say that I haven't ever gone back on my word yet."
"It may have been a long time ago but it canatill hurt."
He nodded, glancing at the tombstones around him. "It will always hurt to lose someone close to you..."
"Ya gotta have a good date first."
Ace gave her a sheepish look. "Yeah... gotta find the right girl." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "One of these days, I'll find her. But now, I gotta take care of Lottie until she's all set."
"It makes all the difference sometimes..."
He carefully tucked the flower in his pocket. "Yeah... it really can."
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Post by Astrid on Oct 7, 2016 14:49:54 GMT -5
"Yeah, I do my best not ta go back on my word, and I'm grateful ta say that I haven't ever gone back on my word yet.
"Good." Astrid said with a smile. "That's important ya know."
It will always hurt to lose someone close to you..."
Astrid nodded some trying to hid her pain. Hints could be seen on her face. "Yeah..."
Yeah... gotta find the right girl. One of these days, I'll find her. But now, I gotta take care of Lottie until she's all set
"You'll find her eventually...what it's suooosed ta be is like they complete you...understand and just...they fit you..."
Yeah... it really can.
Astrid pulled her hand back slowly. Her face a slight blush. She didn't know what to say. Words had left her mind. What should she say? She should speak but words didn't come.
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Post by Ace on Oct 7, 2016 16:01:40 GMT -5
"Good. That's important ya know."
He returned her smile. "I know, it's very important to me. I want to be someone that people trust."
"Yeah..."
Ace pursed his lips, noting some pain on her face. She may have never said it, but he had a feeling that he was right about the couple being her parents. It made sense to why she acted the way she did.
"You'll find her eventually...what it's suooosed ta be is like they complete you...understand and just...they fit you..."
He found himself nodding again. "Yeah, that what my parents would always say." He smiled. "And I know they can't be wrong."
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Post by Astrid on Oct 7, 2016 17:31:36 GMT -5
I know, it's very important to me. I want to be someone that people trust.
Astrid nodded. "I think ya got that covered. Everyone loves ya." She said before looking down.
Yeah, that what my parents would always say. And I know they can't be wrong.
"Course not. They can't be wrong. Its what my parents said. Course they said ya just know. I find that a little hard. How can ya know that ya love someone from seeing them for the first time. I think ya gotta get ta know them. who they are and such. But one way or another you'll know." She said quickly before pulling another flower out. "One for Lottie too." Astrid smiled softly.
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Post by Ace on Oct 8, 2016 9:18:15 GMT -5
"I think ya got that covered. Everyone loves ya."
A light blush covered his face. "Ah well, I don't know about everybody lovin' me, but I do try."
"Course not. They can't be wrong. Its what my parents said. Course they said ya just know. I find that a little hard. How can ya know that ya love someone from seeing them for the first time. I think ya gotta get ta know them. who they are and such. But one way or another you'll know."
He nodded. He certainly agreed on that. It was hard looking for the right girl. He had meet girls that seemed nice and thought he might be able to love. But of course, date night always proved him wrong. He had decided that now... it was just better to wait. The right girl would come along eventually. He just had to wait.
"One for Lottie too."
Ace smiled. "Thanks. She'll love it."
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Post by Astrid on Oct 8, 2016 10:34:51 GMT -5
Ah well, I don't know about everybody lovin' me, but I do try.
"Ya know ya do. Everyone is always saying how great you are. If ya don't know ya are crazy." Astrid smiled some as she gently touched her parents tombstone.
Thanks. She'll love it.
Astrid smiled. "Good. Maybe next time ya can bring her and we can do this together." She smiled a bit.
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Post by Ace on Oct 8, 2016 10:50:53 GMT -5
"Ya know ya do. Everyone is always saying how great you are. If ya don't know ya are crazy."
Ace laughed softly. "Ah well, guess I must be crazy then."
"Good. Maybe next time ya can bring her and we can do this together."
He smiled and shrugged. "Maybe. I'll try to convince her ta cross the Hudson for a visit."
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Post by Astrid on Oct 8, 2016 12:49:58 GMT -5
Ah well, guess I must be crazy then.
Astrid laughed happily. "But good kind of crazy." She smiled up at him.
Maybe. I'll try to convince her ta cross the Hudson for a visit.
"Well if ya ever get her ta come ya know where to find me." Astrid said with a smile. She looked at her feet then back up. "Ya gotta go see Rip soon?" She asked a bit nervously. She was worried. If Rip came here and saw her in front of her parents graves she didn't know what would happen. Rip was smart...he would probably figure it out just like Ace had already probably figured out.
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Post by Ace on Oct 9, 2016 11:59:20 GMT -5
"But good kind of crazy."
He grinned. "Yeah definitely the good kind."
"Well if ya ever get her ta come ya know where to find me."
Ace nodded. "I hope it'll be soon. I'm sure Lottie will love you."
"Ya gotta go see Rip soon?"
He pursed his lips some. "Uh yeah... he asked me to meet 'im over here. Should be here soon."
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Post by Astrid on Oct 9, 2016 12:32:51 GMT -5
Yeah definitely the good kind
Astrid smiled as she watched him. He had a nice smile.
I hope it'll be soon. I'm sure Lottie will love you.
She nodded. "I hope so. Wanna make the trip worth it ya know?"
Uh yeah... he asked me to meet 'im over here. Should be here soon.
"I should get moving then..."Astrid quickly looked at the headstone of her parents before moving on. She saw a small stone with the name Key scratched into the stone. Astrid knelt down and brushed it off a bit. Wasn't there a kid named Key that hung around Rip? She pulled a flower out and gently laid the flower on the stone. A kid shouldn't be in here. "It's ok now..." Astrid whispered gently.
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Post by Ace on Oct 9, 2016 12:40:45 GMT -5
"I hope so. Wanna make the trip worth it ya know?"
"Oh it'll definitely be worth it," he assured. "She just needs to get over gettin' seasick."
"I should get moving then..."
Ace bit his lip and shrugged. He didn't mind Astrid staying, but he didn't know how Rip would feel about it.
"It's ok now..."
He raised an eyebrow as Astrid knelt down beside a small stone. Wasn't that tombstone...
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Post by Rip on Oct 9, 2016 12:54:45 GMT -5
Rip stalked into the cemetery. The boys at the lodge had been unusually good so he was feeling rather uneasy. It was odd for them to be so well-behaved. Just to stay on the safe side, he wandered around to make sure no one saw him enter the cemetery.
He spotted Ace at once and hurried toward him, but his mood was soured in a flash.
"Don't touch that!" he snarled, quickening his footsteps towards the newsie kneeling beside his makeshift stone. It wasn't the best made one, but he did his best on it. He also kept the little area tidy. It was the only empty place that they could give him. It was too small to bury his cousin, but enough to make a small memorial and he wasn't about to let someone touch it.
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Post by Astrid on Oct 9, 2016 13:04:40 GMT -5
"Oh it'll definitely be worth it, She just needs to get over gettin' seasick.
Astrid smiled a bit. "We can go to my work again. Can have lots of tea." She smiled.
Don't touch that!
Her eyes widened and moved back from shock landing on her bottom and dropping the rest of the flowers. Astrid felt her heart sink and looked up at Rip. She clenched her jaw as emotions came up. He was the reason Darcy ran off. Astrid moved to stand up. She didn't know what to do.
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