Constant Sorrow [Bondurant Clan]

[Brettley Bondurant]

Today was the anniversary of Johnathan Forrest Bondurant Jr.'s Death, every year this day along with the day his father was killed was especially hard on Brett. He woke up, practically breaking down and crying, wanting to just break things. It still wasn't enough time for Brett, and he was starting to think that it would never be enough time, he just wanted him back so bad and would sell his soul to the devil just to get one more moment with Johnny. But he couldn't lose his head just yet, he had to keep it together for everyone else, plus he had much to do today. Travis had an appointment so he could get 'Bondurant' Tattooed across his back just like Johnny, Brett and Karl had. It was tradition and now that Travis was old enough Brett was honored to be doing this tattoo for him.


Also, the Bondurant gang decided to go on a camping trip, country style to remember Johnny and the old times they had back home. So he had to get things going and start his day early, he had no time to sit around and sulk. Besides, Johnny wouldn't want Brett to do that anyways, he would have wanted to get back out there and do what he needed to do. So he packed all his camping stuff and started to head down to the tattoo shop where he had met his younger brother, he loaded Travis' camping gear in his truck and then went in to set up for the tattoo. As time passed by, the tattoo took a good three and a half hours which made Brett have to rush to get the others, Daisy-Mae and Karl.

Travis was lucky, he claimed dibs on shotgun by getting into the car first, Brettley turned and smiled to his brother. He was feeling better already, But Travis had that ability over Brett. It was hard to be sad when that kid, who looked up to him so much was sitting right next to him. Brett never wanted to look weak in front of any of his younger siblings. They started to head over to Daisy's dorm, while he turned on the country music station on the radio at a low volume so they could talk. "Do you miss him Bub?" He asked a little sheepishly,He wondered if it effected the other's as much as it did him. "Well, anyhow...This camping trip should be a blast, right?" He said trying to not sound like such a downer as they were almost to Daisy's place now.

[Travis Bondurant]

This day rolled round every year and it never got easier; Johnny’s death had really taken its toll on the Bondurant family clan. The deaths of both his father and brother had lead to nothing but heartache, pain and separation with the family torn in two resulting in Brettley in the joint. Some years it had felt so bad that he had considered just curling up into a ball and hiding away in the confines of his room until the tears stopped but that wasn’t what Johnny would have wanted – that he was sure of with every bone in his body. Back in Virginia the small brunette boy would get up at 4am and tend to the animals and usual chores finding it easier if his sister and mother didn’t have to worry about anything - the less stress they had the easier it was on them. Finishing up by working on clearing the ground surrounding Johnny’s favourite climbing tree, moving discarded leaves and trimming back the old dead branches and from there he was at the good graces of the ladies of the house.

Not this year. This year was going to be so different.

It’d been just Dais and Travis for so long he’d forgotten how amazing it was to plan a day dedicated to spending time with them as a group - Needless to say this trip was long overdue. Travis had been packed since last night with his fishing gear, camping stuff, tents and the most important of all the equipment instruments all lined up by the door. His Grandpa had left the boys with a harmonica and a banjo both in complete working order. Both Brettley and Travis had been brought up learning the basic string work; it crossed his mind that perhaps Brett wouldn’t want to partake in the festivities but he was determined to get him playing along once more.

Despite the underlying grief and overall reasoning behind their family outing the country boy was excited to be rejoining the gang and to mark the anniversary; he’d finally plucked up the courage to ask his brother to tattoo the Bondurant mark across his back just like his hero. The burning seer of three and a half hours of freshly scarred skin was worth the proud symbol of what it represented and his big brother’s heartfelt smile was an added bonus. Once the remaining trails of black ink had been wiped clear from his red skin and covered in saran and tape Travis leapt into a hug. The close proximity of their embrace allowed Travis to bury his face into Brett’s solid chest inhaling that familiar smell he’d been deprived of for so many years. As he drew away a strong comforting smile crept across his lips as he kept up the unbroken exterior just as he had done every other year for Daisy and Ma.

Travis bounded to the truck claiming the front seat, careful to avoid leaning back on the new ink with the rough voices of Rufus Wainwright and Teddy Thompson’s King of the Road tittering through the speakers as they set off to collect the others. Brett was struggling, it was clear by his unusual quietness and faltering smile but it had been expected. Maybe his happy face was a little too convincing and had caused him to believe that his own little brother didn’t get as effected as he should have. It wasn’t true – Travis just needed to keep on truckin’ or he’d break and cry. “Everyday. It’s be’er with yuh here. Firs’ time in years it feels like it migh’ ge’ be’er.” His hand rocked over to the drivers giving it a firm reassuring squeeze.

“Awh Bubber, yuh go’ no idea. I gotta surprise fuh yuh. Jus’ yuh wait!”

[daisy-mae Bondurant]

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Constant Sorrow
How do I live without the ones I love?

They said time healed all wounds. Well, if that saying was true, then time stood still for this morose family. The small dorm seemed hushed, somber. Appropriate for the occasion. It had been this way in this family for... well, the blonde haired teen sighed. She couldn't even remember how long it had been since his death, now. Four, maybe five years, she guessed. The smell of pie lingered, left over from the night before, eyes and cheeks red and puffy from tears shed earlier this morning. Daisy hadn't been as close to Johnny as Brett had, but he'd been her family and thus, she took it hard. "I love yuh too, Ma. Brett 'n Travs are a-waitin' downstairs. I'll call yuh when I get back, I promise." She spoke softly into the phone, hanging up and wiping her eyes. It was hard to tell that this girl, in her plaid shirt, light wash torn jeans and brown leather and suede lace up ankle boots, was the same girly girl seen before. Her hair, instead of done in it's tidy bun or left down to it's own devices, was pulled into a single braid and the song "Daddy's Hands" were blaring from their speakers on top of her dresser. The only amount of femininity in this girl today was the small pink bow earrings, a pale pink, and that was it

She knew this camping trip would be fun -- it was never a dull moment with the Bondurant boys -- but she didn't think it would be the same. She longed to go back to the days when Johnny was still alive, when they could shoot their BB guns at cans and squirrels, and when none of them had kids. Not that she didn't love her neice and nephew, and wasn't excited for the baby on the way, but she just missed her childhood. Daisy sighed a little and slung her backpack, stuffed with all her necessary camping needs plus some basic baking mixes that she would attempt to bake on their camping trip, before grabbing the three left over pieces of cherry rhubarb pie. Her mamma had taught her that recipe, the first she ever learned. A small smile lightened the blonde's face. What a disaster that first pie had been. But the boys, not wanting to harm her precious feelings, had ate it all up and asked for seconds. Only now, now that she was older, could she truly appreciate what her boys did for her. She didn't mind that they were so protective over her -- they just wanted to make sure she was safe.

Daisy glanced around her dorm and nodded to herself, shutting down the lights and locking the door behind her before heading down the stairs, careful not to trip lest she drop the cherished cherry pie. Though her first had been a disaster, this one was the best she'd ever made. And, as she'd been using the family recipe for years (and had even adapted it to add her own, personal flair), that had to be saying something. The teen sat down on the steps of her dorm building, bag over her shoulder and platter in her arms, three forks sticking out of her pocket as she waited for her brothers to show up. She heard, rather than saw, them approach and stood, nodding to herself. That was right -- Travis was getting the Bondurant brand today. It must have taken longer than expected -- she didn't understand how it could take so long for just some lettering, but this was Brettley's thing and that was that. Though she had never understood the need for tattoos, she could understand the heartfelt ones and it even made her envious. She wasn't ready, not yet, and she'd certainly want to get something small for her first one, but she hoped that it wouldn't be too long before she, too, could accept the needle and receive the Bondurant brand. Maybe a little different, though. More feminine.

She slung her bag into the back of the truck before opening the shot gun seat, leaning in to kiss her Travis's cheek and, leaning carefully over her brother much to his annoyance, then kissing Brettley's cheek. She placed the platter between the two boys, feeling as if she were placing a mouse among cats, before placing the forks beside them. "Eat up, bu' save th' last piece for Karly. 'N I called mama today -- she sends her love. Yuh should call when we get back, yuh know. 'Specially you, Brett. She misses yuh." The blonde stated before slipping into the back. "How'd th' brandin' go?"

notes awww sadness Outfittag kam and letsy words 700+

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[Brettley Bondurant]

It was true, Brettley did need to call his mother a little more often, and maybe even go visit her with the kids, he had just been really busy lately with work, the twins, and kodi it was a lot to balance for him but he made it happen. "Yeah, I'll probably go over there with the twins after we get back." He said with a nod. As Daisy got in and Set the pie in between the two brothers, Brett quickly snatched the plate up and gobbled one whole piece of pie as fast as he could, of course getting red goo all over his shirt and face and having golden crumbs everywhere.

"Nope, it's my pie....Travis gets none." He said as he stuck his tongue out at his brother, He hadn't got to be the big brother bully in quiet some time, so he decided while they waited for Karl to walk from his dorm to get there that he would pick on little Travis. As he saw his brother lunge for the pie Brett held a fork in his hand tightly. "If you touch my pie, I WILL end you." He said as he made a jabbing motion towards Travis. He then held the plate of pie out the drivers window so he would have a harder time trying to grab it, especially since Brett had such long arms.

This was just how it was when they were younger, always picking on each other, pulling pranks and stealing each other's stuff. Except Johnny was the biggest bully, being the oldest and all, and he would be doing things like this to Brett. Then Karl would come around the house always, and he was the one closest in age to Brett and he would often be on Brett's side, and Johnny would have Travis on his side since he was a baby. Leaving Daisy to shake her head at the boys and go find something to do with Mamma. Living with a house full of boys was probably quiet hectic but they all had lots of fun memories together.

[Karl Spencer Bondurant]

" I love you too beautiful..." Karl said to his amazing girlfriend as he was about to leave. He was really feeling uneasy about leaving his pregnant girlfriend alone while he went camping with his cousins, he hadn't left her side longer than a few hours the whole time she's been pregnant, and now she was due in a few months and he couldn't break the thought that something might happen to his love and his unborn son. "Mm...Honey I don't wanna leave you, you sure you're gonna be okay?" The young soon to be father asked his girlfriend. "Okay, I'll go...remember if you need anything call one of the boys." He said with giving her one last kiss goodbye as she pushed him out the door.

He waved goodbye as he left their apartment and blew her lots of kisses as he started to walk down the pavement. He would try to listen to his girlfriend and have a good time and not worry. He really needed a night to just take a break and have fun, since they baby's due date was getting closer and closer he was getting more and more nervous.

He noticed Brett's truck as he walked down the street. But he saw Brett holding out a plate of what looked like pie out his drivers window. He smiled and decided he would be up to no good and snuck up by Brett's window and snatched the plate of pie seeing as him and Travis were fighting over it. Karl gobbled up the next biggest piece and then threw his stuff in the back and got into the car. "That was delicious..." He said as he put the plate on the center console, leaving Travis the smallest piece and he chuckled a bit. He took the seat next to Daisy in the back and watched Brett laugh and stop fooling around to start up the truck again, then Karl quickly put on his seat belt before they started moving again.

[Travis Bondurant]

It wasn’t long before Daisy finally surfaced from the building with eyes defined by a prominently puffy red. It was hard to see his twin being so sombre and it broke his heart that his brother was on the break point. His family were spiralling into turmoil and he was almost powerless to stop it. The best he could do was offer up a little smile and offer to carry them when they were too weak to walk. That was where this trip came in - He hoped it would help to remind them that although the day was about remembering a history that even to this day still hurt and would never be far enough away, that they were all still family and they would still pick each other up and keep them moving. That was what families were there for after all.

Travis mirrored his sister’s kiss as she leaned in with his arm instinctively wrapping round her soothingly in a momentary hug. He was forced to almost inhale her white blonde hair as she crossed over him to reach Brett, pretending to choke on it playfully. The fragrant scent of pie wafted in as she set it down beside the pair of them. A few seconds passed he prepared himself with eyes flickering over the pie and then back up to his brother’s greedy eyed intent. It resembled an old western duel but instead of guns they had forks which in all honesty was still as effective as any other projectile object if you threw it hard enough.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten!

The draw was on but beaten to winnings with the plate hailed far out of his reach leaving the boy to clamber after it frantically. “No fair! C'mon!” Travis watched the pie disappear into his mouth, messily splurging out its gooey red insides. Even just seeing it was making his belly gurgle hungrily. “Yuh already ate yuh bit! Tha’s mine!” He complained despite the wide smile that was planted across his face. Everything that Brett did reminded him of the old days; the headlocks, the playful banter and even the stealing the bigger bit of pie right down to the way he called him bubba. In truth, Travis was just happy to have his family back together – even if he was subjected to a little light bullying.

Travis scrambled over his big brother his hand flapping out of the window to grab at the plate only to have it stolen from his grasp. “Kaaaaaaaaaaarl! Tha’ were my bit!” He slumped back into his seat folding his arms across his chest with a pout, eyeing the piece they’d left him with as it was thrown back into the space beside him. Once one whole minute had passed he set about picking at his pie, offering some on the fork to his sister through the gap in the seats.

With everyone strapped in ready and the music blaring ready for their road trip sing-along. The Bondurants were on their way. Officially they were going out into the middle of no-where, with barely any phone signal, no civilisation for miles, just them and the outdoors like they used to experience as kids. They’d set up a little campfire to keep them warm and bottles of moonshine to keep them warmer still.

Everything would be perfect, even if Johnny wasn’t there in the flesh.

[santa claus]

To: Travis Bondurant
From:Anonymous

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One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand to be understood. Thanks for listening! XOXO
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