Regrets Collect like old Friends

[redlightgreenlight]

Who: Valdis and Open with Some Closed
What: Valdis does stuff around the Serena Eterna, feel free to join her
When: January and aftermath of the village
Where: All over
Warnings: In each starter



And all of the ghouls come out to play | Erin | CW: Discussion of the Village

The one person she hasn’t seen since early on is the one person she’s most ashamed to see. With a small knock on her lover’s door, Valdis almost hopes she doesn’t answer, it would give her more time to actually figure out what to say, but she’d apparently been avoiding everyone for three days, and Erin deserves better than that.

“Erin?”

And every demon wants his pound of flesh | Pool | Open | CW: Discussion of the Village

It’s quiet under the water. No one to bother her. No feelings to overtake her own. She can be alone with her thoughts and how her actions at the village had hurt others. For a time it had been fun, and in the end they had won by killing him, but she still feels like she lost. She lost because she stopped paying attention to what mattered.

She releases bubbles from her mouth, watching them rise up to the surface. She’s lost count of the minutes she’s been sitting on the bottom of the pool, but she can see a figure looking down. Probably time to go up for actual air. She pushes off the bottom and swims up to the edge. It’s not that far.

“Hey,” she says after she breaks the surface. “The water is pretty nice.”

But I like to keep some things to myself | Pillow Pit | Open | CW: None

Valdis sits in the pillow pit, leaning on one hip with her feet curled up next to her. She’s reading Sherlock Holmes again, the books she always goes back to. The books she’s read three or four times since she first arrived over a year ago. It’s funny how finding comfort in the small things helps so much.

“You are welcome to come join me,” she says without looking up from her book when someone walks in. “Just no pillow fights.”

I like to keep my issues drawn | Sand Dollar | Open | CW: None
Behind the counter at Sand Dollar, Valdis is perfecting the art of foam. Like actually trying to create hearts and flowers from the foam in the espresso machine.

“Drawing is so much easier than this,” she signs, setting aside something that looks more like a skull than a heart.

“Here,” She shoves it across the counter to whoever happens to walk in. “I promise it tastes better than it looks.”


It's always darkest before the dawn | Wildcard | CW: None
Pm to discuss or just go for it

After the Launch

And I’m Damned if I do, and I’m Damned if I don’t | The Library | CW: None

The Bible, a book of demonology and some script covered in runes lie on one of the tables in the otherwise empty library. Valdis mutters to herself as she reads from another version of the bible, leaning over the other and comparing the two versions before making more notes in some sort of dead language. More pages, absolutely covered in runes and sketches cover every single surface.

“No need to stare,” she says, not looking up to see who has entered.

So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road | Stan the Man | CW: None

Unlike the last several times she’s been in this particular mood, the only thing in her glass is water. The water glass is the only thing she’s even made use of, the bottles of alcohol on the shelves and behind the bar are untouched.

Revelations hangs on her hip, the first time she’s seen fit to carry the sword in months. Somehow it seems the better weapon to use should an attacker show up, a weapon tied to her and her soul in a way no one could possibly understand. Maybe she needs to lean more into who she should be instead of who she wants to be.

With a long sigh, she takes a drink of water, then picks up a small knife and flings it at the mirror behind the bar sink. It shatters into hundreds of shining, reflective pieces, but the tip of the knife stays buried in the wall about half an inch deep.

“Wasn’t even trying that hard.” She says to herself, taking another drink from the glass.

Looking for Heaven, Found the Devil In Me | Wildcard
PM to Discuss or just go for it.

Comments

Pillow Pit

[professionalriot]

The pillow pit is his favorite place to go after he's taken edibles. He lays in there in the dark and listens to music. Which was his plan tonight.

"You got it. No pillow fights."

Ash lingers by the door contemplating if he should just leave. She hasn't reached out. Only talked to him before because he broke in to her room. In the village she didn't come looking for him either. All of these things seem like pretty big, flashing signs.

He plops down in a corner. Headphones on he starts to search for music to listen to.

[redlightgreenlight]

She reads in silence, waiting for him to say something that's not him shrugging her off in some way. If he doesn't, well, she still has Max and Erin who love her, as much as the thought hurts. She curls up a little tighter, flipping another page without actually reading what was on the previous one.

[professionalriot]

Ash lays there with his head back for what feels like forever. It hasn't been forever, maybe a single minute. Still, it's killing him. If he were alone he would likely be in tears over what is happening between them.

He's not alone and she is right there. Sure he wishes she would beat his door down. Come find him and force him to talk. That's not who she is though.

Taking a deep breath he decides to say fuck it and just act. He grabs her and pulls her into his lap. Taking the book from her he looks the page over and starts reading it to her.

[redlightgreenlight]

She's so startled by him grabbing her that for a moment she doesn't even react, and it's a moment after he starts reading that she even realizes that she's not breathing. Part of her wants to scold him for manhandling her, but the only thing that comes out is laughter.

And all of the ghouls come out to play

[crushed_pearls]

There's a shock of fear and rage followed near-instantly by the wall next to the door bending out; pain, then, and a sob of agony that floats through the steel.

"...Who is it?" Erin manages through the steel. Her voice is quaking, dazed.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis breathes in sharply at the sound and feel of Erin's pain. She reaches into her pocket and pulls the ring out, she hadn't had a chance to return it and now she needs it, so she slips it on.

"Erin, it's me, Valdis."

[crushed_pearls]

A thunk, against the door. The mechanisms start to engage, and then they stop.

Start.

Stop.

"...I can't open it," Erin manages. Raising her voice is an effort. "I'm sorry. I. I can't. Tell me I bought you the time you needed. That I did something."

"That it meant anything."

And every demon wants his pound of flesh

[hadnoright]

"Usually it's me making everyone think someone's drowning."

Daisy lowers herself down to sit on the edge of the pool, feet in the water. Her swimwear is, predictably, daisy themed, and shows off more old scars than even her usual summer attire. There's a couple around her upper ribs, one from a knife one from a blade, that probably should've killed her.

"Congrats on not disappearing on the way back to the ship." Which is about as close as you're going to get to a 'nice to see you back' from Daisy.

[redlightgreenlight]

"As long as I don't inhale, I can stay down there for a solid while."

Valdis smiles at the almost friendly greeting, swimming to the edge of the pool and pulling herself up to sit on the edge.

"Thanks, congrats on not vanishing while I was gone."

[hadnoright]

"Pretty sure I only breathe out of habit." That's the thing about being only nominally alive. She's not sure she'd even starve if she stopped eating real food. "It's nice down there. Quiet."

Blocks out some of the constant din. After three weeks of the ship being comparatively quiet, it's tempting to sit down there for a long, long time to get away from the noise.

"Really started thinking he'd got rid of you all. About... two weeks in."

pillow pit

[maximumcake]

"Not even a teeny tiny pillow fight?" Max asks in his best attempt at cheerful carelessness. Not that it will work on her. Not when anxiety bubbles in his belly like a pot about to boil over.

"Can I come cuddle?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis puts down her book the moment she realizes it's Max. She should have found him sooner, but he hadn't even texted her. Still, she should have reached out immediately after seeing Ash.

"Of course, my love." She holds out her arms. "I'm so sorry, I haven't been feeling well."

It's still no excuse to not find him, maybe most of it is shame for missing his birthday, but he would never hold that against her.

[maximumcake]

"I tried to message you but when you didn't answer I... I wanted to let you have some space." Because he didn't want to accidentally make it about him again.

Now he comes to take his place beside her, laying on his side facing her.

"I heard a little bit about what happened from Ash. He was really scared I was going to be mad at him. I was just sad... for both of you. Do you want to talk about it?"

I like to keep my issues drawn

[stainedglass_stainedfaith]

Abe wants nothing more than a drink at one of the bars, which is exactly why he finds himself at Sand Dollars. Keep himself to smaller vices.

"I hope the offer stands for former Village folk, but I'll understand if not. It's not a place that inspires much kindness, much as it wanted to paint itself that way."

He steps up to the counter, does not reach for the cup. "Now that I can do so, I'd like to say that my name is Abraham Cook."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis glances back at the man, he's not someone she remembers, but there were so many unimportant faces back in the Village that she may have seen him and just forgot.

"The Eterna is a place of second chances," she says, though no smile accompanies it. "It's...nice to meet you, Abraham. My name is Valdis."

[stainedglass_stainedfaith]

"Valdis," he repeats. "Likewise, a pleasure."

He picks up the cup, commits the name to memory. "It was an incredible thing you all pulled off, over there. I never thought that man would ever actually get what he deserved."

Post Launch - The Library

[professionalriot]

Dressed in jeans, a tee shirt and an oversized, cozy cardigan he stands in the doorway of the library sipping from a to go cup of coffee, made the Irish way. Look, the last six weeks have not been easy, and that coffee might really just be whiskey. The view is great though. He loves watching her pouring over the books. The way she smells, the sounds she makes, he's completely content to stand there and just watch.

In his other hand he does have an actual coffee meant for her. "I'm not staring." Leaning over her he sets the coffee down. His lips brush the side of her neck. "I was playing out a very sexy librarian day dream in my head."

His eyes drift over the books and the writing, all of the runes and sketches. Taking a seat next to her he scoots his chair in.

"That," He taps a finger over something she has written. "has another slight variation in the translation. Do you have a pencil I can use?"

Re: Post Launch - The Library

[redlightgreenlight]

"I was a history teacher once," she teases, not looking up from her work, even when he kisses her. "It would certainly help more if any of this was nonfiction."

She glances at the runes, shaking her head as she hands him a pen

"Everything has a variation in translation."

She turns away to lean against the table, still holding one of the bibles, but she puts in down in favor of the book on demons.

"Are you even going to ask what I'm doing?"

[professionalriot]

"A history teacher, huh?" Ash leans forward and writes down the other translation on the paper. There is a smirk at her calling these books works of fiction. He props his head in his hand and watches her. "Maybe you can tutor me privately. Later."

Picking up one of the books he makes sure he doesn't lose her place before he starts to thumb through the book.

"Of course I am going to ask. Are you going to tell me?"

He's hoping she will talk to him. When she had been reading a book on necromancy it had to do with taking care of Harvey.

"So." He nudges her foot under the table. "What are you doing?"

So here's to drinks in the dark

[decohere]

"Did it look at you funny?" Ava asks wryly, taking a seat. She immediately slumps against the countertop.

[redlightgreenlight]

"Hey."

Valdis feels how Ava looks, but it would be unladylike to slump against the counter, as much as she might want to, she has to carry her pride as long as she can.

"I spoke with the Captain, he seems to think we're all doomed."

Except him, he just gets to be enslaved again.

[decohere]

"Yeah," she figured the subject of their imminent invasion is as impossible to escape as their actual attempts to escape...

Ava casts a glance toward the sword Valdis carries. "You're not going down without a fight though, hm."

Library

[theotherright]

Arthur raises his eyebrows in surprise. Then he laughs dryly.

"I won't, then."

[redlightgreenlight]

Damn. The last person on the ship she wants to see. If she weren't wearing the ring she would have been alerted by the acrid taste of his soul, but no. At least he doesn't smell as rancid as he feels. But maybe they can have a real conversation if she can't sense his angry vibes.

"Careful," she says, not looking over at him. "The place is a disaster."

[theotherright]

Thanks Valdis, he loves you too.

"Yes," he says, bland as a grey rock. "I've not been able to find anything specific."

Presumably she didn't see his impulsive attempt to order a shelf, which turned into more... shoving books randomly onto the shelf so that they at least wouldn't be on the floor. He wishes he could tidy with any kind of efficiency, without needing someone to waste their time standing there giving directions. But he keeps that thought to himself. He's sure Valdis would find some way to tell him it's selfish.

"What would I be staring at, anyway?"