( it had dulled but in a good way; he was no longer waxing poetry about how the world was out to get them and how he was a little man being stomped down by the greedy fat cats in wall street. no, instead adam took the time to actually appreciate the little things in life and to find solace in what he had. it was twisted that this was the influence jigsaw had on him but....he supposed it could be worse.
he also had trauma but he'd prefer this. to her movements though, he limped alongside her and made his way into the living room as their cat trailed along, purring against maria's legs before scooting off to the couch. it'd become natural to him too; providing comfort to them both through affection and remaining close. it seemed adam's disappearance had an affect on mr. whiskers as well. )
Well actually here's the funny thing, if I agree to it, it could be.
( this was clearly something serious. once they were in the living room, he fell back onto the couch and let out a soft grunt as he adjusted himself. with the package in his hand, she looked over to maria. )
So here's the thing. I got approached by this lawyer who said he helped this other Jigsaw victim you know? He said the guy's case was fumbled by the cops and he helped get him a good settlement but he had only been missing for a day and ended up having to uh.....well let's say he wasn't injured and left for death for almost a month.
I wanted your opinion on this because it's going to be one hell of a battle. Court visits, gas money, the works. He said this charity would help with the bills until we got our settlement but they can't pay for basic stuff like food or lost wages you know?
[Maria sits on the arm of the couch next to where he was, putting her arm up around him as she looked down at what he had. as she listened, the answer seemed obvious. there was so much Adam was owed for what he went through. nobody had listened to her when she said something was wrong and while Maria's first thought had not been Jigsaw, it seemed obvious now. the police had been wrong and they'd royally fucked up. they must have known they did.
Maria wasn't a legal genius but she thought she knew what an easy win was.
but the problem was this wasn't going to be an easy win now was it? Adam would have to relive how much trauma? and Maria knew she'd be questioned as well. she was part of this as the woman he was marrying, not to mention as the person to report his disappearance. it had been Maria to first notice that Adam was missing and she knew it was easy to point fingers at her. both of their names would be slung through the mud. it was already happening and the court case would make it worse.
but the problem was the lost wages. Adam was being given more opportunity as a photographer due to the publicity but if he had to focus on the case then he couldn't do much work. and right now, Maria was finding it hard to work at all. since Maria had come out as Adam's wife to be, news outlets and weirdos had been camping out at the strip club. it made it hard to work at all. the owner had offered to let her work as a bartender instead of a dancer but it just wasn't the work she knew. when it came to the basics, they'd be relying on Maria and so she knew she'd have to take the bartending job. it was the best she could do because Maria knew how this world worked. Adam's wife being a stripper wouldn't do him any favors.]
Do it. Drain them dry, babe. We know the cops fucked up and they know they did, too. We can make it until you get the settlement. I'll take the bar job to get us by. Tom said the tips can get good so I'll be extra charming.
( that was the problem with justice wasn't it? all the loopholes they'll have to jump through, the victim-blaming [as if it wasn't already happening given jigsaw targeted those he saw didn't value life], and all the scrutiny the two would go under. however the lawyer discussed with him that he'd work it in their favorโ the work they did that society viewed as flaws would be used to explain why the police wrote them off, how despite coming from questionable backgrounds, that they loved and adored each other.
he didn't want to explain to maria just how much would be nitpicked about the two, but he's sure she could see it in his eyes and the way he nervously looked at the package. it was like a bomb was in there, waiting and hiding to explode. )
Well um that's the thing Maria, I don't know if this is good news or not but the charity and lawyer both asked me for a favor....
( speaking of workโ he pulled out a set of photos that were inside the package, finally gathering the strength to open it. on them was a photo of the lawyer and two small children, and the rest were of members of the charity with a set of children who were orphans of some of jigsaw's victims. )
They said that if they're going to help me, they were wondering if you'd be open to working for them as a caregiver for these kids? The lawyer's wife died a few years back and he can't focus on them while he's working my case and the other Jigsaw victim's cases. Same with the charity, they're working themselves ragged trying to help us all out.
Apparently with a certain number of kids and a few courses, you could be given a child care giver certificate. They're willing to pay you of course...
( there was a reason he wasn't more bitter and angry, that his emotions now were more just concerned about her and her thoughts about all of this. in spite of the harshness and cruelty society had shown them both surrounding this case, good people had come forth from the woodwork and seemed genuinely vested in helping them both. they'd heard about it allโ from maria being unable to work her job due to the creeps and media attention, the way the media slandered her as a 'gold-digging prostitute' who had adam wrapped around her finger, and the like. )
You can say no anytime Maria, you know this shit is rough...I don't blame you if we need to step back and go at things slowly.
[Maria had already been nitpicked. had already had her name dragged through the mud even before Adam became some commodity for surviving Jigsaw. she was absolutely positive that if she had not been a stripper, maybe someone would have listened to her concerns about Adam. but no, the police had decided to harass her at her job. purposely ask her for lap dances so they could make some big joke of how she had been crying at their station about her missing boyfriend and would be grinding on them that night.
but with the request to help with this charity, well, what looked better than her helping with kids? and Maria did love kids even if she had never seen herself having any (it just never seemed like something that would be for her). she had always gotten along with them, though. always been able to talk so easily with them and keep them entertained when nobody else could.
and she did need a job. justice took so long, too long, and who knew how long it would take until Adam got the justice he did deserve?]
Hey, when I said I'd be your wife that meant saying yes to all this. Every last rough bit. [her lips went to his forehead and she smiled.] And I'll do anything to help you. Including playing glorified babysitter. A job's a job, right? And it's for a good cause. Not like my career is going so well for me right now anyway. Wasn't ever much of one. So I'll do it. Let them know.
( it was far too much for him to find the right words to express the gratitude and overwhelming feeling of hope he felt right now. he'd never been good at expressing himself, with the most of his emotions finally breaking through in those final moments he was in that room with lawrence. only now in the presence of maria that he found himself truly feeling positive about things. all the complaints he'd rattle on about, all of the bitterness he had towards society and the way they'd put down the little man [him], had eroded away in that moment.
he found himself smiling at herโ a nervous expression though because he wasn't sure if this was too much for her. if these requests and all of the suffering she'd gone through because of him was too much. was it even okay to ask her to do this?
yet....he decided to take a chance. )
Maria....
( he sighed a bit, enjoying the warmth of her lips on his forehead before he brushed his nose gently against her own. )
[to Maria, it didn't feel like he was asking for too much. if anything it felt like this was the least she could do for him. Adam had already gone through so much and it hardly seemed like this was very much. she'd sold her expensive things off to help with bills and that money was already running low. you could only depend on charity for so long until you had to give back.
well now was her chance.
and all she could remember was praying at night, begging anything or anybody that would listen, that she'd do whatever she could to have Adam back with her. here he was. if the price was babysitting some kids then that was an easy price to pay.]
Probably fucking some fameseekers. Girls would be eating you up. [she's just teasing though she is sure there is some truth to that. she kisses his lips softly.] But you're stuck with me forever.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
he also had trauma but he'd prefer this. to her movements though, he limped alongside her and made his way into the living room as their cat trailed along, purring against maria's legs before scooting off to the couch. it'd become natural to him too; providing comfort to them both through affection and remaining close. it seemed adam's disappearance had an affect on mr. whiskers as well. )
Well actually here's the funny thing, if I agree to it, it could be.
( this was clearly something serious. once they were in the living room, he fell back onto the couch and let out a soft grunt as he adjusted himself. with the package in his hand, she looked over to maria. )
So here's the thing. I got approached by this lawyer who said he helped this other Jigsaw victim you know? He said the guy's case was fumbled by the cops and he helped get him a good settlement but he had only been missing for a day and ended up having to uh.....well let's say he wasn't injured and left for death for almost a month.
I wanted your opinion on this because it's going to be one hell of a battle. Court visits, gas money, the works. He said this charity would help with the bills until we got our settlement but they can't pay for basic stuff like food or lost wages you know?
no subject
Maria wasn't a legal genius but she thought she knew what an easy win was.
but the problem was this wasn't going to be an easy win now was it? Adam would have to relive how much trauma? and Maria knew she'd be questioned as well. she was part of this as the woman he was marrying, not to mention as the person to report his disappearance. it had been Maria to first notice that Adam was missing and she knew it was easy to point fingers at her. both of their names would be slung through the mud. it was already happening and the court case would make it worse.
but the problem was the lost wages. Adam was being given more opportunity as a photographer due to the publicity but if he had to focus on the case then he couldn't do much work. and right now, Maria was finding it hard to work at all. since Maria had come out as Adam's wife to be, news outlets and weirdos had been camping out at the strip club. it made it hard to work at all. the owner had offered to let her work as a bartender instead of a dancer but it just wasn't the work she knew. when it came to the basics, they'd be relying on Maria and so she knew she'd have to take the bartending job. it was the best she could do because Maria knew how this world worked. Adam's wife being a stripper wouldn't do him any favors.]
Do it. Drain them dry, babe. We know the cops fucked up and they know they did, too. We can make it until you get the settlement. I'll take the bar job to get us by. Tom said the tips can get good so I'll be extra charming.
no subject
he didn't want to explain to maria just how much would be nitpicked about the two, but he's sure she could see it in his eyes and the way he nervously looked at the package. it was like a bomb was in there, waiting and hiding to explode. )
Well um that's the thing Maria, I don't know if this is good news or not but the charity and lawyer both asked me for a favor....
( speaking of workโ he pulled out a set of photos that were inside the package, finally gathering the strength to open it. on them was a photo of the lawyer and two small children, and the rest were of members of the charity with a set of children who were orphans of some of jigsaw's victims. )
They said that if they're going to help me, they were wondering if you'd be open to working for them as a caregiver for these kids? The lawyer's wife died a few years back and he can't focus on them while he's working my case and the other Jigsaw victim's cases. Same with the charity, they're working themselves ragged trying to help us all out.
Apparently with a certain number of kids and a few courses, you could be given a child care giver certificate. They're willing to pay you of course...
( there was a reason he wasn't more bitter and angry, that his emotions now were more just concerned about her and her thoughts about all of this. in spite of the harshness and cruelty society had shown them both surrounding this case, good people had come forth from the woodwork and seemed genuinely vested in helping them both. they'd heard about it allโ from maria being unable to work her job due to the creeps and media attention, the way the media slandered her as a 'gold-digging prostitute' who had adam wrapped around her finger, and the like. )
You can say no anytime Maria, you know this shit is rough...I don't blame you if we need to step back and go at things slowly.
no subject
but with the request to help with this charity, well, what looked better than her helping with kids? and Maria did love kids even if she had never seen herself having any (it just never seemed like something that would be for her). she had always gotten along with them, though. always been able to talk so easily with them and keep them entertained when nobody else could.
and she did need a job. justice took so long, too long, and who knew how long it would take until Adam got the justice he did deserve?]
Hey, when I said I'd be your wife that meant saying yes to all this. Every last rough bit. [her lips went to his forehead and she smiled.] And I'll do anything to help you. Including playing glorified babysitter. A job's a job, right? And it's for a good cause. Not like my career is going so well for me right now anyway. Wasn't ever much of one. So I'll do it. Let them know.
And you? Full steam ahead, babe.
crawling back to this months later โก
he found himself smiling at herโ a nervous expression though because he wasn't sure if this was too much for her. if these requests and all of the suffering she'd gone through because of him was too much. was it even okay to ask her to do this?
yet....he decided to take a chance. )
Maria....
( he sighed a bit, enjoying the warmth of her lips on his forehead before he brushed his nose gently against her own. )
What would I do without you? Seriously?
also coming back to this months later โก
well now was her chance.
and all she could remember was praying at night, begging anything or anybody that would listen, that she'd do whatever she could to have Adam back with her. here he was. if the price was babysitting some kids then that was an easy price to pay.]
Probably fucking some fameseekers. Girls would be eating you up. [she's just teasing though she is sure there is some truth to that. she kisses his lips softly.] But you're stuck with me forever.