HOME | DD

Description
The third picture and chapter in the Black Tear Army saga. Jane Lively. Enjoy.

Jane Lively, Count Phillipe, Ophellia --->
Heather & Laia Caprici -------->
Skull, Jazzie Colton --------------------->

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jane was first afflicted by the Black Tears at twenty five, and had spent the latter half of her life with them. The last two decades were spent doing two things. Jane referred to these two things as “Obsession and Distraction”.

First and foremost came her “obsession”. After conceiving and giving birth to her daughter, Ophellia, early on in her Tear career, Jane spent the years hovering over her baby girl relentlessly; doting on her, watching her, and doing everything in her power (even by cruel means, if necessary) to keep her daughter close to her. She only let Ophellia leave Alcatraz under the strict eye of guards and sorcery, which Ophellia often found a way to dodge. When news hit her that Ophellia had left San Francisco, Jane sunk into a deep despair. Once again, the ones she loved were leaving her. However, though Ophellia was still counted as missing, as was Phillipe, who was trapped in the northern mountains the previous day, Jane’s melancholy appeared to have passed.

Jane’s “distraction” was the previous “obsession” she had in her youth, which was sorcery. In particular, Jane took to studying and unburying all of the secrets of the hidden sorceries of Earth. Also, though not directly related, Jane was also studying the cultures and states of other Tear colonies around the world. The combination of these two researches built Jane a reputation among the non-Tear populace who had the misfortune of confronting her. In many cultures she had become the witch of classic folklore to the area. Jane was now Bloody Mary, Las Coronas, Baba Yaga, Cerci, and several others. Being compared to these famous magical women of history was honorable enough, but becoming them outright tickled Jane with its flattery and fame.

Both Jane and Count Phillipe resided on the island prison of Alcatraz, which they had converted into their own personal armed fortress. Deep within the bowels of Alcatraz, in what may have once been the prison’s convict labored boiler room and furnace, Jane had set up her sorceress’s lair. Heather had asked Skull to take her there when she arrived in town earlier that day. Needless to say, what Heather found was not what she was expecting.

Much like Jazzie Colton before her, Jane Lively bore very little resemblance to the photo of her from twenty five years earlier. While she did appear healthy, (at least as healthy as one could expect from a Tear), and retained her beauty, she also bore physical signs of showing her age. She no longer dressed in the fishnets, latex and pigtails of her youth, now preferring the more elegant dresses appropriate to a woman of her age and station. Her face now had crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, receded cheeks, and the slightest of a furrow in her brow. Her hair, once a dark and shiny black, was now veined and peppered with grey. Though hauntingly beautiful, Jane was still human after all, and was now most obviously a “middle aged” woman.

”Every man, woman, and child within the Black Tears functions on Obsession and Distraction.” Jane lectured, ”Obsession comes from the Tears themselves. The dark emotion chooses a particular trauma within us, then compounds it, building everything we are around it, consuming us in it. Then, when we act upon that obsession, the Tears are fueled further, back and forth. The Black Tears fuel obsession, and obsession fuels the Tears.”

“Miss Lively?” Heather interjected.

“Distraction, on the other hand, is a product of our clinging humanity.” Jane continued, “It is what keeps us alive when the Tears are trying to slowly kill us. Distractions keep us from all committing mass suicide. Our minds find something, anything, to draw us away from our obsessions in an effort to bring us back into the light, even for a little while. It’s why Tears are so occupied with things like sex, music, drugs, or anything else that gives them even a moment of happiness. Those are just the small distractions, however. Larger and longer lasting distractions, like the ones we in the upper echelons have, take years to develop, and usually contain some form of higher purpose, a goal outside of the Tears.”

“Miss Lively,” Heather interjected again, ”are you even listening?”

“No need to lose your patience, girl. I heard you the first time.” Jane assured, “I’m truly sorry to hear about your mother. I honestly expected her to outlive both Jasmine AND myself. Though, in hindsight, I suppose that was asking for too much. Laia was a mobster, after all.”

Jane walked gracefully to Heather and took the photo from her hand, looking at it long and introspectively. ”We were big shit back then, the newest generation of the Darkworld’s greatest heroes. We were so beautiful, and powerful, defiant to everyone, even our own families. If only we knew how things would finally end. The young can be so ignorant sometimes.”

Jane narrowed her eyes, then shot a glance to Heather. ”Ah hell, you most likely went to Jasmine first, didn’t you? That was probably a mistake.”

”What? Why?” Heather nervously protested.

”Sweetie, Jasmine is a soldier.” Jane answered, ”Worse yet, she’s a Colton. Colton’s don’t leave loose ends, and YOU, my dear girl, are a loose end. She came for me once, and now … she’ll be coming for you.”

Jane ceased speaking at that point, her attention now drawn to a large crystal ball in the room. Heather stood up abruptly, feeling as though she had just been cut off from knowing something very important.

”What do you mean ‘she’ll be coming for me?’” Heather asked worriedly.

”It’s time for you to go now, young one.” Jane dismissively sighed, ”Do give my regards to Count Phillipe when you see him again. I sense he just got back into town. Oh, and when you see my daughter, Ophellia, be a dear and pass on a message to her for me.”

”WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘SHE’LL BE COMING FOR ME?!!!’” Heather shouted again angrily.

”Tell Ophellia I’ll be dealing with her transgressions personally.” Jane sighed as a last word. With that, Jane picked up the crystal ball, eyeing it intently, and spoke no further, carrying the orb out of the room and gazing into it as if in a trance.

Heather was left with only more questions than answers. From here … she had no idea where to go next.

Description
The third picture and chapter in the Black Tear Army saga. Jane Lively. Enjoy.

Jane Lively, Count Phillipe, Ophellia --->
Heather & Laia Caprici -------->
Skull, Jazzie Colton --------------------->

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jane was first afflicted by the Black Tears at twenty five, and had spent the latter half of her life with them. The last two decades were spent doing two things. Jane referred to these two things as “Obsession and Distraction”.

First and foremost came her “obsession”. After conceiving and giving birth to her daughter, Ophellia, early on in her Tear career, Jane spent the years hovering over her baby girl relentlessly; doting on her, watching her, and doing everything in her power (even by cruel means, if necessary) to keep her daughter close to her. She only let Ophellia leave Alcatraz under the strict eye of guards and sorcery, which Ophellia often found a way to dodge. When news hit her that Ophellia had left San Francisco, Jane sunk into a deep despair. Once again, the ones she loved were leaving her. However, though Ophellia was still counted as missing, as was Phillipe, who was trapped in the northern mountains the previous day, Jane’s melancholy appeared to have passed.

Jane’s “distraction” was the previous “obsession” she had in her youth, which was sorcery. In particular, Jane took to studying and unburying all of the secrets of the hidden sorceries of Earth. Also, though not directly related, Jane was also studying the cultures and states of other Tear colonies around the world. The combination of these two researches built Jane a reputation among the non-Tear populace who had the misfortune of confronting her. In many cultures she had become the witch of classic folklore to the area. Jane was now Bloody Mary, Las Coronas, Baba Yaga, Cerci, and several others. Being compared to these famous magical women of history was honorable enough, but becoming them outright tickled Jane with its flattery and fame.

Both Jane and Count Phillipe resided on the island prison of Alcatraz, which they had converted into their own personal armed fortress. Deep within the bowels of Alcatraz, in what may have once been the prison’s convict labored boiler room and furnace, Jane had set up her sorceress’s lair. Heather had asked Skull to take her there when she arrived in town earlier that day. Needless to say, what Heather found was not what she was expecting.

Much like Jazzie Colton before her, Jane Lively bore very little resemblance to the photo of her from twenty five years earlier. While she did appear healthy, (at least as healthy as one could expect from a Tear), and retained her beauty, she also bore physical signs of showing her age. She no longer dressed in the fishnets, latex and pigtails of her youth, now preferring the more elegant dresses appropriate to a woman of her age and station. Her face now had crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, receded cheeks, and the slightest of a furrow in her brow. Her hair, once a dark and shiny black, was now veined and peppered with grey. Though hauntingly beautiful, Jane was still human after all, and was now most obviously a “middle aged” woman.

”Every man, woman, and child within the Black Tears functions on Obsession and Distraction.” Jane lectured, ”Obsession comes from the Tears themselves. The dark emotion chooses a particular trauma within us, then compounds it, building everything we are around it, consuming us in it. Then, when we act upon that obsession, the Tears are fueled further, back and forth. The Black Tears fuel obsession, and obsession fuels the Tears.”

“Miss Lively?” Heather interjected.

“Distraction, on the other hand, is a product of our clinging humanity.” Jane continued, “It is what keeps us alive when the Tears are trying to slowly kill us. Distractions keep us from all committing mass suicide. Our minds find something, anything, to draw us away from our obsessions in an effort to bring us back into the light, even for a little while. It’s why Tears are so occupied with things like sex, music, drugs, or anything else that gives them even a moment of happiness. Those are just the small distractions, however. Larger and longer lasting distractions, like the ones we in the upper echelons have, take years to develop, and usually contain some form of higher purpose, a goal outside of the Tears.”

“Miss Lively,” Heather interjected again, ”are you even listening?”

“No need to lose your patience, girl. I heard you the first time.” Jane assured, “I’m truly sorry to hear about your mother. I honestly expected her to outlive both Jasmine AND myself. Though, in hindsight, I suppose that was asking for too much. Laia was a mobster, after all.”

Jane walked gracefully to Heather and took the photo from her hand, looking at it long and introspectively. ”We were big shit back then, the newest generation of the Darkworld’s greatest heroes. We were so beautiful, and powerful, defiant to everyone, even our own families. If only we knew how things would finally end. The young can be so ignorant sometimes.”

Jane narrowed her eyes, then shot a glance to Heather. ”Ah hell, you most likely went to Jasmine first, didn’t you? That was probably a mistake.”

”What? Why?” Heather nervously protested.

”Sweetie, Jasmine is a soldier.” Jane answered, ”Worse yet, she’s a Colton. Colton’s don’t leave loose ends, and YOU, my dear girl, are a loose end. She came for me once, and now … she’ll be coming for you.”

Jane ceased speaking at that point, her attention now drawn to a large crystal ball in the room. Heather stood up abruptly, feeling as though she had just been cut off from knowing something very important.

”What do you mean ‘she’ll be coming for me?’” Heather asked worriedly.

”It’s time for you to go now, young one.” Jane dismissively sighed, ”Do give my regards to Count Phillipe when you see him again. I sense he just got back into town. Oh, and when you see my daughter, Ophellia, be a dear and pass on a message to her for me.”

”WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘SHE’LL BE COMING FOR ME?!!!’” Heather shouted again angrily.

”Tell Ophellia I’ll be dealing with her transgressions personally.” Jane sighed as a last word. With that, Jane picked up the crystal ball, eyeing it intently, and spoke no further, carrying the orb out of the room and gazing into it as if in a trance.

Heather was left with only more questions than answers. From here … she had no idea where to go next.