#{{ ~ interactions. ~ valerie prescott. ~ }}

[wintcrstcrfall]

closed starter for @xlostparadise

Running had never been a particular passion for Valerie, despite that many of her students and patients loved to profess their love for the activity. To her, it had always seemed like a literal depiction of trying to run away from ones problems - and she was everything but someone who did that. Until, as it turned out, she had needed to do it. The gym where she had a membership card to was almost empty at this late hour, which served her purposes perfectly. The blonde started with a light jog, easing her muscles into the action, but as time passed all of her worries slipped to the forefront of her mind. So much that when her leg stepped wrongly, Valerie let out a cry of pain, accompanied by one very ungracious fall to the ground. "Oh, just great," her pain filled voice was much more clear once she pulled the headphones off with shaky hands. Daring to touch her injured foot, a new wave of pain shot through it, causing her to squeeze her eyes shut.

[wintcrstcrfall]

"Are you doubting my capabilities as a psychologist?", the blonde teased, head leaning backwards a little, so she could look into his eyes. Only in those moments did the world around them disappeared. Suddenly, it didn't matter anymore where they were or how she'd felt a moment prior. With Dominic's hands around her it was as if her soul could finally relax. Suddenly, it downed on Val how utterly silly it had been - her, the psychologist, taking such long time to realize what was truly going on between them. Well, at least on her part. Right now, looking into his eyes, she wasn't sure if maybe Dominic wasn't just going along with all of this simply for her sake. Maybe Valerie should've asked and yet, once she opened her mouth, other words rolled out. "Maybe I don't see it that way," the woman said carefully, an uncertain smile on her lips. Her fingers affectionately brushed against the side of Dom's neck. "There's no one else I want to dance with than you. I don't care about the others. Is that a bad thing to say?" // @gcldenhcurs

Despite his annoyances, Dominic would agree to go to any wedding with Val if that was what she wanted. He could see the smile that was plastered on her face and he felt satisfied with contributing to her happiness. Even though he felt some joy at her glee, he still felt the guilt of keeping his other life a secret from her, but it was for her safety to keep her out of it. "Good," he returned a soft smile, Dominic was never a dancer, but his attempt were made to see her smile. "You're going to psychoanalyze them during a three minute dance? I'm impressed, really." It was hard to imagine his childhood friend being that intimidating to someone, especially a stranger. Shaking his head, "you know I have two left feet Val." Dominic never bothered to learn anything of the sort, only what came naturally, "you can definitely do better." @wintcrstcrfall

[lessycusee]

"oh, uh, okay ..." jack says simply, still feeling a little thrown off. he's not used to hearing his name from anyone, let alone a complete stranger. he doesn't bother correcting her that the other hadn't had been his friend, but instead one of his siblings whom he was surprised even remembered his existence, let alone his name. thankfully, he got them to leave him alone quickly - it's not like they ever really gave a shit about him, none of his family did. "not if they don't want to be known." he mutters under his breath in response to her comment before he straightens up a little - looking to her with a raised brow. "well, is there a reason you said my name? like ... do you want something from me?"

❝    i overheard that friend of yours talking to you. i'm valerie, most people call me val. so now you know my name too and we can be even.    ❞    who knows if the other had actually even been his friend, but it's true that she'd overheard. she wasn't eavesdropping, really, she's just observant she likes to think.    ❝    i like to use people's names. it always feels good to feel known.    ❞    

[wintcrstcrfall]

The sip of wine tasted bitter on her tongue, where a moment later it had been so much sweeter. But that was how the human mind worked - the second a weight was lifted off the shoulders, it tricked the body into feeling better, lighter, as if anything was possible in the world. Until another moment passed and... well, his words put her back on the solid ground. And it wasn't that he was cruel; Luke didn't need to be, their reality was cruel enough. "Yeah, I know it's not," the blonde tried to laugh sarcastically, but the lump in her throat was just too heavy. "I think you don't need me to get all into my psychology mood and try to explain what exactly makes you think this way about yourself. What I want to say is... you can't fake this... this thing that we both feel. And it's not healthy to pretend that I don't want to pick up the phone and tell you about something special in my day. Or that I don't think about kissing you, even when it's only the two of us." With a shrug, Valerie took another small sip of the wine. "Is that so wrong?"

@wintcrstcrfall sent: ❝ i know our relationship is supposed to be fake, but i can't help what i feel. ❞ luke & valerie!

luke swallows hard, avoiding the other's gaze as he struggles with the confession. feelings, it wasn't supposed to happen. not between the two of them. this whole relationship, it was all for show. for people they hardly ever saw, to get them off their backs... well, it started out that way anyway. now, even he couldn't deny that somewhere along this damn fake act they had going on, dynamics had shifted into something more real. ❝ it's just not a good idea, val. ❞ he says finally, a lump forming in his throat. ❝ it's not going to be worth it, with me. i fucked up enough times to know that it'll always end the same way. ❞

[wintcrstcrfall]

For a short, embarrassing moment, Valerie thought that mercifully no one had seen what had happened. Those hopes lasted no more than a few seconds, when a male voice reached her through the fog caused by the pain. "Y-Yeah, yes...", she was quick to try and reassure just as a new wave of pain shot through her leg and she was forced to grit her teeth. Even then, a small noise of pain escaped her. The blonde was so preoccupied with worry about her leg that she barely registered that the man was now lifting her up, then moved to a nearby bench. In a response, Valerie let out a huff of pain. It was only then that she made an attempt to look at the man that had come to her aid. His voice, offering a joke as a way of distraction, was soothing, just as his smile. The blonde found herself forcing a smile in return. "Well, here goes my hope to become the next pageant queen of America." Val made an attempt to move her foot a little bit but failed, instead grabbing the man's hand for emotional support. "Should I go to the hospital? What do you think?" // @xlostparadise

Once Elijah saw the woman on the floor, he carefully set down the weight in his hand before he rushed to her side to offer her some help. “Hey, you good?” he asked, his worried eyes looking her once over just to make sure she was okay, besides the obvious injury to her foot. At that moment, Elijah was more concerned whether she had hurt her head or not when she had fallen from the treadmill. “Here, c’mon. I got you.” Hesitant at first, he helped the helpless woman, and with his strength, he lifted her up and planted her on the nearby bench. Compared to what he regularly lifted, she weighed next to nothing. “Dang, that was a nasty fall. Luckily, I don't think it was bad enough to break a leg. They might have to amputate your foot though,” he joked before shaking his head and smiling a little. Maybe some comic relief would take her mind away from the pain. @wintcrstcrfall

[wintcrstcrfall]

She hadn't expected, not in her wildest dreams, that he would agree for a dance. Maybe finally, after so many years, she knew just the right way to act - a mixture between hope in her eyes and a slight tease tucked at the corners of her mouth. Or maybe, today she was just lucky. Usually, Valerie didn't mind weddings, yet in time they had started to become a little bitter. She was still happy for the couple, of course she was, and yet that didn't prevent a slight pain to overtake her. When that happened, she always went out of her way to find him. Her best and only friend. "Yes! I am happy," the blonde added with a bit too much enthusiasm for it to be completely true. But now that his hands were around her, she was feeling a bit better, as silly as that was. They weren't teenagers anymore, yet that feeling still stayed whenever she was around Dominic. "No, actually, they are all terrified I'll try and psychoanalyze them." The bitter truth was hidden behind just the right amount of self-irony. "Plus, no one can compare to you and your dancing skills," Valerie added, hands slowly wrapping around his neck. "Don't pretend you hate it!"

open to: @wintcrstcrfall, f muses 30+ muse: dominic murphy, mechanic in a motorcycle gang plot: he's been hopelessly in love with his best friend, but for her sake hasn't said anything to protect her from his world and has been doing his best to keep her at a distance to avoid his feelings.

"Fine, I'll dance," he groaned as she pulled him onto the dance floor, something he had avoided all night with her. A wedding was meant to be a happy occasion, but it always filled Dominic with dread. Another night of pining for someone who didn't need it, "happy?" He smirked, looking down at her, "aren't there other suitors for you to twirl you around?"