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Veronica laughed, breathlessly, only glad that Zelda had been the one to pull away because she was pretty sure she was starting to turn blue from lack oxygen. "I'm not complaining," she stated, "I'd never complain about kissing a pretty girl." But she settled in anyway, perfectly happy to just stare at her for the rest of the night. She could memorize the curve of her jawline, the way her eyebrows slanted, her nose, every freckle on her face and it wouldn't be enough.

If she was paying attention, she would notice that Zelda was thinking, worrying about something, but instead she was caught up in her own thoughts about how beautiful she was, like a painting. A piece of art she would never grow tired of. When she spoke again, she wasn't expecting what was said, but she couldn't stop herself from smiling before the weight of the words set in.

"Oh, I know. I'm fucking wonderful." Deflecting with humor, not because the comments made her uncomfortable, but how they made her feel did. Veronica loved attention, positive and negative but especially compliments, but she didn't expect her stomach to flip the way that it did hearing them come out of Zelda's mouth. If she wasn't careful, she would be flustered, and she didn't let herself get flustered. Taking a moment to pause, eyes flickering over her face, she spoke in a softer tone, more honest. "You have meaning too, babe."

The babe was being voiced before she could stop it, but she let it seem intentional, nonchalant. She called plenty of people babe. So why did this feel different? Her heart rate spiked, more than it had kissing her, when Zelda laid her head on her shoulder. It felt so vulnerable, and Veronica felt a knot of guilt settling in the pit of her stomach. Out of all the people she could have gotten wrapped up in... out of all of the people she could potentially hurt... how could she pull Zelda into this? This... mess. This mess that was her. She swallowed, trying to still herself before pressing her lips to the top of Zelda's head, breathing in her shampoo. "Are you okay?"

~

It took every ounce of composure Zelda had to not cry on the spot. It wasn't Veronica's agreement, the smile on her lips, or way she agreed so easily. It wasn't even the way she pressed another kiss to her lips. No, it was the way that Zelda had thought to herself that she could learn to love this. Whatever 'this' exactly was. No-- It wasn't anything. they weren't anything. With that thought though came every possible emotion, flooding Zelda's veins with a toxic mixture of them all. She ogled up at her, glossed eyes threatening to lose their composure. "You're sweet for that," she whispered, lips curved into a saccharine smile.

Zelda let herself fall further back into Veronica's pillows. Stupid pillows that gave her a sense of comfort and security. They shouldn't. Zelda knew she should run, make an excuse up because if she didn't, well...she may never leave. She couldn't let herself fall into that trap. Not when it was Veronica's heart at stake. That should have stopped her from pulling the other woman closer to her. It should have stopped her from pressing her chest against hers, a thin sheet the only thing separating them. It should have stopped her from holding Veronica's face in her hands and kissing her both gently and with passion.

Her lips only parted from Veronica's when she had to gasp for breath. Maybe she was serious when she agreed to kiss her until sunrise. Zelda looked longingly at Veronica, fearing that every emotion giving her turmoil was plastered on her face as much as she had tried to keep them concealed. She pressed her chest against Veronica's more and wrapped her arms around her neck. "You don't have to actually do that, you know." She let out a soft laugh. "Kiss me all night, that is. Sunrise isn't for a while." She pressed a soft kiss on her jawline, letting her lips linger there for a moment before pulling away. "I just want to be close to you."

I just want you to stay.

Zelda couldn't stop her thoughts from echoing in her mind about how desperately she wanted the woman she was lying in bed with. She was so fucked. Absolutely fucked in every sense of the word and it was her own damn fault. Veronica probably didn't feel that way towards her anyways, she told herself. She was so much more than Zelda believed herself to be. She didn't see herself as much. A witch that hid behind working as a maid in a town she hated with no way out. It wasn't ideal for the type of person Zelda was. She always wanted to be something more, mean something more, and maybe she could to Veronica but... Zelda was running out of reasons to talk herself out of this. She looked back up at her, tightening the grip her arms had around her neck.

As she looked at Veronica there was one thought that crossed her mind. One that made her smile and she failed to keep to herself. "You're unforgettable, V. I hope you know that. I...I hope you know your worth because--" She froze for a moment before swallowing hard. "You have meaning is all I'm trying to say. Don't ever think there isn't someone that car--" She cut herself off again before she made herself look even more of a fool. Zelda looked away but kept her grip around Veronica's neck, knowing if she let go it would be the last time and she wasn't ready for that commitment. Ha, commitment, Zelda thought. Funny what the word means when it results in doing the opposite. She let out a soft sigh, letting her arms loosen until they dropped down, one of her hands moving to rest on Veronica's hip. She rested her chin on the other's shoulder and closed her eyes. "Never mind," she lets out. "This is why you should have just kissed me more. It keeps my stupid mouth shut."

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There was a dangerous undertone to those words, because Veronica knew it wouldn't last. That she wouldn't let it. The illusion she was giving, that she could be a safe place, that she could care for someone without causing them pain... that was all that it was, an illusion. She knew what she was capable of and what she wasn't and this, softness, living in it, she was not capable of that. She was anger, she was violence, and she wasn't willing to change. She wouldn't even know where to start. She was too afraid to give someone the chance to hurt her so she would hurt them first. Ans it was inevitable that someone would get hurt. If her own mother didn't want her, how could she expect someone else to?

Still, Zelda was the last person she wanted to hurt and she could spiral over the idea of that alone, not knowing that she was fighting a similar internal battle. As her mind started to wander into that territory, she bit the inside of her jaw, focusing on the idea of someone worrying she got home safe, thinking of her at the same time she thought of them, lying in separate beds staring at separate ceilings. It was a nice thought, and this moment was a nice moment, if only a reminder of everything she could never have.

"'Til the sun rises," Dusk repeated, a smile tugging at her lips. Maybe there was no harm in this. Maybe she was overthinking things. Maybe Zelda never even considered feeling more than attraction to her, maybe she wasn't even capable of breaking her heart because she didn't have any access to it. For some reason that would sting, but it was probably for the best. "How many hours is that?" She thought aloud, pressing another kiss to her lips before speaking again. "I think my lips might cramp up by then, but I'll give it my best shot."

~

Zelda may be the witch of the two of them, unbeknownst to Veronica and most others, but she was under her spell. It was too late and she wasn't sure she would be able to break it. Not with the way Veronica was entangling her fingers in her hair and telling Zelda she could make her feel warm and secure. The thought scared Zelda. What was going to happen when she felt too warm and secure? She feared that was already happening with the way she felt safe beside Veronica and the warmth of the other's skin against hers was enough to make her melt into the other. Zelda had always kept her heart very guarded, living in Evermore for the majority of her life. As she looked up into Veronica's eyes, feeling complete bliss, she wondered what her sister would think if she got caught up in her own feelings with someone. She shook those thoughts from her head, only ones of Veronica flooding her mind now.

"I will gladly hog the blankets," Zelda said softly, her smile not faltering from her face. She really was too caught up on Veronica and she knew her emotions were getting the better of her that night. The thought of having to cut this off and not ever feeling Veronica's touch, or breathing in the scent of her perfume was almost enough to make her burst into tears right there. The thought hurt and as difficult as it was going to be Zelda knew that after this night she had to disappear from Veronica's life permanently for the sake of them both. She pushed those those thoughts deep in her mind, only wanting to focus on the woman beside her.

"You do make me feel warm and secure," she admitted. "I feel...safe with you." Why was she telling her these things? To get Veronica caught up on herself and only break her heart in the end? "I appreciate you. I always worry about you getting home safe so late when you leave my place too." The hand on Veronica's cheek never faltered, Zelda's thumb rubbing gently against her cheekbone. When Veronica kissed her Zelda quickly got lost in the feeling of her lips. She both loved and hated how perfectly they felt against her own. "Mmm...this. This sounds perfect." She kissed the woman again. Her lips moved slow against hers but pressed into hers with fiery desire. Not necessarily sexual, juts the desire to be around her. To be with her. She pulled away briefly, eyes fluttering open to meet her gaze. "Kiss me 'til the sun rises."

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It would come later, when she wasn't under the other's soft gaze, the regret. The anger at herself for getting too close. It wasn't the first time it had happened, but it always ended in flames; always, with only two exceptions in her life for Thorn and Luna. She had swore they would be her only exceptions. Still, when she realized it, that she was getting hung up on someone, it wasn't hard to cut them off. Block their number, avoid their favorite places, skip town on tour, fill her life with music and groupies and alcohol until whatever she had felt was nothing but a distant, blurry memory. But now, this? She couldn't leave this town, and even if she could, Zelda wouldn't be easy to forget. That was where she had fucked up the most. Letting herself get attached to someone that she couldn't replace with ease. Letting her happy moments start to shape themselves around a person.

She thought she saw something flash in Zelda's expression, but before she'd had time to question if she'd said the wrong thing, given the wrong impression, she was smiling again, and Veronica let herself believe it was alright. What was the harm in one night? Wasn't she already in too deep? "Good. Then I won't have to worry about you getting home safely." A useful excuse, and not a lie... but even more reason she should be questioning herself. Why was she worrying about anyone outside of her best friends? Kissing her back until Zelda pulled away, she laughed softly.

"It's okay. I overheat most nights. You can hog them." Her hand snaking around the back of the other's head, she ran her fingers through her hair, lifting her eyebrows. "I can definitely make you feel warm and secure." She didn't mind the rambling. She thought it was endearing when she went off on her little rambles, filled the silence, distracted her from her own thoughts. Even if she tried she couldn't think of one thing Zelda had ever done or said that had given her a bad impression, which was impressive, with how easily irritated she was. "You're flattering me... but I doubt I can sleep." She was too much of a night owl, as much as she'd like to collapse with her right then and there, it was easier for Veronica to sleep when the sun came up. All of her late shifts didn't help. Pulling Zelda's face closer to hers, leaving a kiss on her lips, she added, "we can do whatever you want. Watch a movie, play games. This."

~

The way Veronica pouted, showing disappointment in her lips leaving hers, made Zelda realize in that moment how deep in she had fell down the hole. For a while falling down had been like a whirlwind of adrenaline and intoxication. When she landed and felt too comfortable it was over for her. Zelda had done nothing but stare in awe at Veronica for a few long moments, wallowing in how perfect she looked and had made herself feel. She couldn't make her escape before the other asked her to stay. Her eyes instantly locked with Veronica's. A small look of panic briefly struck her face as she realized how this was going to go. Zelda was already too attached, what followed would only end in heartache for the two of them. She would disappear as best she could in a town one couldn't leave, hoping the other would forget about her and she was the only one that had to mourn.

The panicked expression on Zelda's face didn't last long though. She could have said no. She could have got up, grabbed her clothes, and left. No, instead she smiled brightly and let herself instinctively settle back into the comfortable position she often took beside Veronica. Her hand raised to gently rest on Veronica's cheek before she leaned in close enough to lean her forehead against the other's. "Okay," she whispered, "I'll stay if that's what you want." Zelda knew she would do anything Veronica wanted if it would make her happy. She knew what this strange feeling in her gut was and why Veronica's lips against her own were enough to make her beg for more. She was being greedy, she told herself. Wanting to be the only person that got to feel the touch and connection she did with the other woman. Her lips pressed against Veronica's again. Longer this time but they also moved slower. Zelda couldn't stop herself. All she wanted was to for her whole entire body and soul to be devoured by Veronica. When she pulled away her eyes gazed into hers. Zelda knew she had lost the game they were playing. It didn't matter tonight though. Zelda just wanted Veronica and nothing else.

"I must warn you though," she began with a slight smirk on her face. "I am a blanket thief. I don't sleep well if without at least three of them. Which...is kind of weird now that I think about it. I just like to feel warm and secure." Her expression began to change into something neutral but with just enough of a hint of longing. "I suppose I'll have you to keep me warm for tonight." She smiled at her again then moved closer, if at all possible. "I'm not very tired though. Maybe a little, but not enough to fall asleep yet. How can I after all? You're too much of a distraction. Far too gorgeous for me to be able to close my eyes." She was beginning to ramble slightly and did not want to make a fool of herself. "Are you tired though?" she asked, genuinely. "I think I would be perfectly fine sleeping if it meant I got to be in your arms."

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If Veronica stopped to think about it, she would realize just how deep she was in. With everything that was going on around town, with Thorn being back and not knowing what she had gone through (or if it would happen again), she was distracted enough that she didn't have to mull over how she felt or didn't feel. So, she enjoyed Zelda's presence, it wasn't the end of the world. Once everything calmed down she would be met with something akin to dread, the only emotion that accompanied the jittery feeling in her stomach, the realization that she could not stop herself or someone else from getting hurt because she'd let it go on too long, she'd let it go too far. But now? Tonight? All she was allowing herself to think about was how pretty she was as she leaned in to meet her lips, the warmth of her palm against her cheek.

"Boo," Veronica sighed, pushing her lower lip into a pout as the other woman pulled back. It wasn't that she didn't want to be alone, she wasn't particularly bothered by being alone... but she didn't want to be without Zelda. All of the warning signs should be flashing in her mind, but she refused to acknowledge their existence. "Or... you could stay," she murmured, letting the words come out before she could stop them, deciding not to sit in the regret yet. She could ignore their implication for one night just as she was ignoring everything else, including the small voice telling her this was going to come back to bite her. "Save yourself the energy of getting dressed."

Closed starter for: @partialdarkncss Location: Veronica's place

Zelda would not deny she enjoyed her steamy nights with Veronica. She might deny how frequent they were becoming though. Tonight she had chose not to think about that and focused on the woman lying beside her on bed. Nights with Veronica always ended fairly routine for Zelda. She'd experience a...pleasurable sensation over and over until she was gasping for breath. It wasn't usually long after she composed herself that she would grab her clothes, say her goodbyes, and leave. It was about that peak time that Zelda knew she should go home. When she rolled over on her side, elbow supporting her as she rested her chin on her hand, and looked at Veronica she could not help the bright smile that took over her lips. "It's late," she said softly. "I should go home." There was an instinct that took over Zelda as she moved closer to the woman and leaned in closer to her lips. It was a new instinct and it made Zelda freeze in place just as her lips brushed against Veronica's. When had it become routine to keep giving goodbye kisses and long for more time with the other? Zelda didn't really want to leave. Not one bit. She was desperate to hold Veronica in her arms and feel calmed by the scent of her perfume. Zelda knew these emotions stirring in her were not ones she should play with. This was the last night, she told herself as she pressed her lips to Veronica's. She had to distance herself for both their sake. Zelda knew attachment only lead to disaster and Veronica deserved better than what Zelda could ever give her, despite how much she wanted to and would do for the woman. When she pulled away, hand resting gently on Veronica's cheek, her lips lingered for a few extra moments that were both too long and not long enough. Zelda's smile returned as she opened her eyes and looked into the other woman's. Lost in the moment for a moment Zelda moved to sit up. "I have to find my clothes first..."

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She was trying not to ask too many questions, to make Thorn feel like she was being judged or cornered... but Veronica was worried. Her friend was back, but at what cost? What had she been through? Settling into the empty seat by her side, she only hummed in response; she was partially there to keep an eye on Thorn for her own sake, partially because her fear of abandonment was at an all time high and she didn't think she could handle her disappearing for a second time.

"Tough shit, here I am" Matching her friend's motions, she linked her own arms in front of her, trying not to stare too hard. She didn't know what Thorn was going through, and she wasn't going to push to find out, but she did want her to know she did not have to go through it alone. "I'm not babysitting you. Maybe I just had to see for myself you hadn't fallen off the face of the earth again."

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Ever since Thorn found herself back in Evermore she had done all she could to not be inside. Sleep was a foreign concept; she didn't even like closing her eyes for more than a minute because each time she saw that cage. She honestly had no idea how long she'd been trapped, how much she screamed, or why she was suddenly let out. She didn't eat much because everything tasted like that horrible slop they fed her to keep her alive. She really didn't understand why they kept her alive...

The park was one of the only places she felt like she could breathe at right now. She just sat on a bench and stared into the night sky, grateful she was even able to see the stars again. She figured it was only a matter of time before one of her girls found her. She hadn't really been saying anything to either of them. She didn't even know what she could say. Feeling the warmth of Dusk next to her, she sighed, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back. "I'm fine, V. You didn't have to go looking for me."

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It wasn't what she had came here for — at least, not consciously. If she took a moment to think about it, Veronica would fear she was using Zelda somehow, but she had wanted her company. It wasn't just her lips or her hands that interested her, though she wouldn't deny they were quite nice, it was her. Her personality, everything about her. She just liked being around her, no matter what they were doing. She made her feel safe and warm and while that was something she would stress about if she let herself think about it, there were too many other things to worry about at the present. How she may feel or may not feel was temporarily on the backburner.

She might've had a remark to throw back at her, but Zelda's lips were on hers before she could really process the words, and Veronica wasted no time kissing her back hungrily. She couldn't remember how long it had been since she'd touched her, but it felt like far too long as she felt her hand now on her leg, her body pressed against hers. "I'm happy to help you too," she murmured, letting herself get lost in the moment, a whine leaving her lips when Zelda broke the kiss.

"So cheesy." She laughed, though if she was being honest, the feeling was mutual. "I don't need wine," Veronica decided, stealing another quick kiss from the woman before she let herself wander to her chin, hovering above her jawbone. "Not as long as you keep touching me." Placing a few soft kisses on the side of her face, she lifted her head again, pulling Zelda's lips into her own, one hand on her face, the other moving to Zelda's inner thigh.

~

Zelda knew there was going to be a shift in the air with the way Veronica's eyes glanced over her face. The hint of a smile was enough to confirm what was next to come. Not that Zelda was complaining, she had said she would do anything to help her. When Veronica's hand pressed against Zelda's face a smile fell over her own features. "Is that what's going to help you?" Zelda drawled out. Her hand went to Veronica's side, trailing down until it rested firmly on her hip. With her other arm she draped it around the woman's neck. "If I'm so good at helping you then your wish is my desire," she said just above a whisper before pressing her lips to the other woman's.

Zelda's hand snaked around Veronica's waist to tug her closer. She pressed her chest against the other's, heated lips still against hers. Zelda only pulled away to look her in the eye. Her forehead was pressed against hers and her heart was already pounding faster. "I want to help you just as much as you want me to," she stated. She moved her arm from around her neck to rest her hand on the side of Veronica's thigh. Her lips pressed a gentle kiss to her neck, just beneath her jaw, letting it linger for a moment before she pulled away.

The thought of wine had been long forgotten until Zelda caught the scent of the alcohol on Veronica's breath again. "You wanted wine," she murmured. "Me too, but...I think I could get drunk off the taste of you alone." A mischievous smile rested on Zelda's lips as her eyes look up to gaze into Veronica's. "I don't need alcohol to know you're enough to satisfy the craving."

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It was almost hard to know if she was hurting. In a way, it wasn't like Veronica's friend was missing, it was like a part of her was missing. It had been so long since she was without Thorn and Luna; the only highlight of being stuck in Evermore was the fact that they were stuck together. While she would claim she wouldn't wish that fate on them, a selfish part of her argued that she would, that she had to, because she didn't know how to get by without her best friends. They were the only family that she had, they were the only people in this world that she had ever truly loved. Not knowing where one of them was... and most importantly, if she was okay... she could hardly face it, so she didn't, not really. She ignored it, tucked it away, ran from it until it found her cornered in her bedroom on a dark night and choked her with grief.

"That's what I'm best at," she mumbled, a sad attempt at a joke... but it was true and anyone that knew her at all knew it. She wasn't the kind of person to open up about how she felt, she was the type to ignore it and punch a hole in her wall. Blinking her tears away, she willed them to stay gone; crying wouldn't fix anything at all. "Wine would be good." It wasn't like it would make her situation worse. She hadn't drank that much yet, and she was so used to hangovers this point. It just felt easier to face everything she was trying not to feel when there was a buzz in her system.

As she spoke, Dusk's eyes flickered over her face, the smallest of smiles tugging at her lips. That was why she had come. Even without realizing it, she knew the woman would make her feel better. She was adorable as she rambled, trying to make things better, and her wanting to was enough. They both knew this situation was out of her hands, both of their hands. The only way she knew how to deal with the ache was to pretend it wasn't there and if anyone could make it easier to pretend, to forget, it was Zelda. "Then help me," she murmured, lifting her hand, palm pressed against the side of her face. "You're always so good at helping me."

~

"I know," Zelda responded a little too quickly. "That doesn't mean I shouldn't have tried. I should have checked on you. I should have came to you. I know that--" Zelda presses her lips into a thin line. "I can't imagine how you feel right now. I...assume... that you're hurting." The woman chose her words carefully as she spoke. How was the supposed to tell Veronica she knew how badly she hurt? She couldn't just brush it off as random intuition when it was more than that. Zelda may not have been having clear visions but her intuition was strong enough to know when something was wrong without being told. Granted, Zelda did know the situation at hand but even before Veronica had banged on her door she knew that something was wrong. The feeling in her gut almost always confirmed what was true before being told.

Zelda continued to hold the other in her arms, tight enough to let the other know she didn't want to let go. Reluctantly she pulled away from the embrace to look Veronica in the eyes, her deep browns gazing into the other's. "You don't ever need a reason to show up at my door at nearly two-thirty in the morning," she told her without so much as looking at a clock. "I don't care what time it is. I'd rather you come here. I'd rather you come to me than isolate yourself and let all of these emotions fester and build." An almost forgotten glass of wine crept back up into the back of Zelda's mind. "I don't know if you want-- Maybe it's not a good idea but..." Her brows creased and she wanted to kick herself for being the worst conversationalist in the world, which was a bit of an exaggeration. "Do you want a glass of wine?" she finally blurted out. "I have other stuff. Or water. Whatever you want." It was late but Zelda rarely was asleep before the sun crept onto the horizon. Nighttime was when she thrived most and felt most at peace. "Maybe not. It's late-- not that I mind!" She had already smelled the light scent of alcohol on Veronica's breath but she could tell she wasn't drunk. Maybe there wouldn't be any damage done, but she wasn't trying to encourage the woman to drink her sorrows away either. She was trying to offer as a distraction.

Zelda let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh. "I'm sorry. I try to be decent at these things but...as you can tell my thoughts aren't always conveyed through my words." She offers Veronica a small smile. "Why don't you just stay? We can talk all night if you want. Or, we don't have to talk at all. We could sit in silence if that's what you need and I would happily sit with you." Maybe, seeing as Zelda had a poor habit of rambling. "Okay, maybe not complete silence because we both know I fail miserably at the quiet game," she said trying to make a lighthearted joke. Anything to make Veronica laugh or smile was worth doing to Zelda. "I can't help you if you don't tell me how, V. And I can't help if you won't let me."

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"I wouldn't have answered," Veronica admitted, her voice hoarse and matching the hushed tone of the other woman's. She didn't mean it as a personal slight. Veronica hadn't answered anyone outside of Luna, the one person she could not shut out even if she wanted to. She knew that her best friend was hurting, too, and she refused to put her own weight of the ache on her, though she knew she could feel it. The three of them were so intertwined at this point she was sure that wherever she was, Thorn could feel it, too — them missing her. It was somewhat of a comforting thought, though she could only hope that Thorn was still around to feel anything. If something happened to her, something permanent... or if they never got answers... Dusk couldn't imagine growing old without her girls by her side. They may not have been her sisters by blood but for all intents and purposes they were. They were the only family she had left, related or not.

Melting into the second embrace, pulled into the house, she let herself breathe in Zelda's scent, let her eyes close and imagine this would do something... that something as gentle as a hug could be healing. When things went wrong she resorted to anger, her hurt always came out as anger, clenched fists and screaming and breaking things. But it had been long enough now, she had been angry enough that the fire had all but dwindled out. She didn't feel numb, not quite. She just felt... sad. "I don't know," she admitted, frustrated at the tears that sprang into her eyes. "I don't know why I came here. I guess I just—... I don't know."

~

There was an unsettling feeling resting on Zelda's shoulders. People were missing, yes, but it was something else. It was more than just a gut feeling. Something was wrong. She knew the intuition wasn't about Helena and when she heard banging at her door so late in the night Zelda didn't even flinch. She opened the door almost immediately because she knew a storm was coming. Coming face to face with a clearly distressed Veronica caused concern to wash over her face. Zelda had seen the list of missing people. She had seen the posters of familiar faces plastered all around town and one of those people happened to be the lead of the Hex Girls. Seeing her friend so upset, Zelda didn't say a word she just pulled her into her arms and embraced her tightly. Veronica was safe, that much was clear as it was relieving. What wasn't clear had been her visions. It was as if they had a filter over them that clouded the images. She'd been in this strange...brain fog funk for a while and was determined to clear the clouds in her mind.

Her heart was racing, pounding so hard that Veronica could surely hear it as she just held her, maybe a little too tightly. She could smell the alcohol on the other woman but that was the least of her concerns. "Why are you sorry?" she asked just above a whisper. Zelda pulled away just enough where she could place gentle hands on Veronica's cheeks. "I'm the one that should be apologizing...and telling you I should have called." Sorrow took over her expression and an almost heartbreaking frown hung on her lips. "You know you don't ever have to apologize to me or call. I don't care what time it is, if you're at my door you're coming inside." And on that topic Zelda dropped her hands to grab Veronica's to pull her inside. The woman locked eyes with her, guilt starting to encompass her gut. "I'm so sorry, V. I know you're hurting. I know you're scared. If it had been Helena I--" Zelda didn't even want to think of what she would have done. She shook her head and embraced her again, holding on tightly. "I'm glad you're safe. I wish... I mean-- I-I'm just trying to say I know you miss her and I...I can't imagine what that feels like." Her lips fall silent for a moment as she bites the inside of her cheek. "Anything you need just tell me and it's yours."

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"You couldn't have seen it coming," Dusk was quick to state, her tone cutting a little harsher than she had meant. She couldn't sit quietly by while someone blamed her best friend, even if it was herself. Not to mention there as a ball of rage heavy in her chest, waiting for any reason to burst out. Inhaling through her nose, she leaned back against her chair, staring at Luna.

There was nothing they could do. She knew it, as much as she didn't want to admit it. Thorn was gone, just gone, like she'd never been there to begin with. "Just promise me you won't go off and disappear too." It wasn't something she could really expect her to promise, seeing as none of them knew what was going on, but... "If you do, I genuinely might start committing mass murders."

to say luna was losing it was an understatement; two of her best friends just GONE without a fucking trace. pacing back and forth, practically carving a pathway into thorn's rug, luna chewed on the tip of her thumb, heart beating like an unsteady kick drum, feeling each pulse of the organ as it made her ribs vibrate. " i don't know , " she replied, words tight, not even able to bring herself to look in dusk's direction in fear that she'd burst into hysterics.

" i mean . . . for fuck sakes, dusk. i know thorn wouldn't just up and leave us , and i know that — that we don't know anything about this whole situation but . . . maybe it's my anxiety or something because i can't help but feel responsible. i know that's — god, i know that's unrealistic but, i've never felt so out of control in my life. i don't know what to do. i don't even know where to start. "

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LOCATION: zelda's place FOR: @ncttheprincess

Veronica was... spiraling. The real question was, when was she not? But it was getting bad. She'd called out of work too many days to stay holed up at home, typing and backspacing strings of pissed off texts to send to Thorn that she knew weren't fair. Even with her deep seeded abandonment issues, there were two people on this goddamn planet that she knew wouldn't leave her like this... and one of them was staring back at her from the missing posters plastered all over town every time she dared to step outside. She was not drunk, but she was certainly buzzed, or she never would have ended up outside of Zelda's, banging on the door and hoping against hope she was home. Her options for company were pretty limited, but something in her was desperate to see her, to make sure she was okay despite her name not making the list. "I should've called," she realized aloud when she was face to face with the other woman. "Sorry, I was just... fuck, I don't know, sorry."

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LOCATION: thorn's room FOR: @wildcstwinter (luna)

Maybe she was delusional — Dusk had felt her friend pulling away, but she had refused to voice it. She kept it to herself, all bottled up with everything else, tried to convince herself she was being ridiculous. But now she wondered. Was there something she didn't know? This felt too similar to being left in her mother's rearview mirror. As much as she liked to believe Thorn wouldn't leave them behind... what if she would?

What remained of the napkin she had been ripping at fell to her pants, tiny little fluttering pieces of thin paper. So, breaking into your recently declared missing friend's place wasn't the brightest idea, but it felt... necessary. She had hoped to find some sort of answer there, a reasonable explanation, a hint. Her attention moved to Luna, who she had called the second her mind was made, her eyes still trained on her lap. "Where do you think she is?"

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"Yeah, here's the thing, Salgado... I'm not all that social. I don't like people. In fact, I kind of fucking hate people most of the time." And it was only getting worse the longer she worked in the bar industry. But, on the other hand, she also kind of fucking hated being alone all the time, too... "Of course I'm boring. I'm stuck in a dead end town with nothing going on. I used to be the life of the party, but now there's no party."

"Getting old? You ain't old, maybe you're just boring." Luis replied, guessing she was probably couple years older than him, but he had long since decided that getting old wasn't going to stop him from having a good time. If he lived that long. "I don't know, Santos, seems like a you issue. There are plenty of old people out there with social lives better than this."

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"Okay, Luna, listen. I get not wanting to text first. But this—" she gestured to the other woman, whose look was not the problem, but the whole general vibe. "This is so much worse, babe. I'm saying this as not only your friend, but your sister, your girl, your soulmate unless this fucker plans to step in and ruin that." She was joking. Mostly. The idea of Thorn and Luna having longterm partners wasn't exactly comforting with her whole heap of abandonment issues therapy had yet to solve... but she didn't actually think she was about to be left in the dust over this obsession. "What was so special about him, anyway?"

" that's the problem , dusk. i HAVE his number. i literally have it. he has MINE. this is the whole issue i'm having. " luna rambled, smacking her palm against her forehead, feeling more humiliated than ever. this was so unlike her — and maybe this was all coming as a desperation to get laid — but she could not stop thinking about him. or that kiss. or the fact she had literally been dancing on him like rent was due and he had offered to pay it. for fuck sakes. " i was the opposite of shy. maybe i should have been more shy because . . . it literally felt like the opening scene to a porno , v. the issue is ; i refuse to text him first. absolutely refuse. like i'm gonna drop to that level of desperation for a man i met once— please."

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"I mean it's a bad idea," Veronica shrugged, swishing the remaining liquid in her glass as she stared at her friend, a smirk outlining her lips. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Luna, Dusk loved bad ideas. "I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you too harshly." She had seen Veronica at worse, much worse, she was sure. "Remind me again why you didn't just... ask for his number?" Leaning back on the barstool, she quickly added: "And don't dare tell me you were shy. I don't buy it."

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" what do you mean that's a bad idea ?? " luna groaned, head rolling back, sliding her empty glass across the bar as a theatrical pout ornamented her features. she had dragged dusk out to try and find her host mystery bar man again, and luna was growing a bit restless — a bit desperate. she hadn't seen his face; which either meant he wasn't here, or he had gone with someone else. her fascination with this stranger was getting fucking pathetic. " fuck — it does sound desperate, doesn't it ?? who even am i anymore. . . ?? all of this over a MAN ?? pathetic. i'm embarrassing myself, dusk. THIS is embarrassing."

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She only hummed in response, knowing there was absolutely no point in trying to convince him when her lost status was so clear. Her feet remained in place as he began to walk, only willing them to move when he spoke again. "You know what," she began, somewhat drunkenly stumbling after him, "that is sad, isn't it? Fuck, I hate getting old. The social pool just gets worse and worse."

"Unfortunate." He quipped back, both meaning it and not. Dusk was hot, that much was clear, but the bitchy look that gave off an air of being lost? That wasn't a good look - pun intended. "Oh, that's why? Right, right...not lost at all." Luis flashed her a knowing smirk before he started walking again, not stopping for long to see if she fell into step with him. "What's sad, Santos, is that you're all alone on a Friday night."

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"This is just my face," she stated, eyes narrowed, unwilling to admit there was anything wrong... aside from the near-heart-attack. "But, if you're heading back to town, I can always accompany you. Not because I'm lost, just because you look lonely, and that's actually kind of sad."

"A heart attack? Nah, that's not my style." Either when it came to violence or...other things. Her hiss did nothing to deter him as he strode up to her, smug smirk always on his lips and easy to bring back if it ever slipped away. "You lost, Dusk? Or do you always have that look on your face?"