Vagabond Is You

While Jamie had no one to visit in this graveyard, seeing as his fiancee was buried back in her home town, and his parents had never been properly buried. Yet he missed having a place to come to, to mourn and allow his emotions to flow freely, where it was socially acceptable and allowed for one to do so. He hadn’t really been aware of the cemetery until a co-worker had pointed out where it was and that it was open to anyone. Which meant he did have a place to go. And reflect. The months since he arrived at the island had been quite repetitive and some would even say uneventful. He had not had it in him to really dive into anything here that hadn’t been required or hadn’t had to do with his little sister. Sitting here on a bench, looking out at the headstones, he felt awfully alone. Wondering just how long life would feel like this.. The sound of his name, had the blonde looking up, his eyes locating its source. “Dilara. Hi.” he greeted, locating a small smile. “No, I’m a mechanic. These poor plants would all die on my watch. I ah, recently lost someone and I come here to think of her I guess." 

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Dilara had not been expecting to run into anyone she knew here. How could she expect the cemetery to be populated when the island was still so young? Jamie especially was a surprise. Though he could not have known of her loss, she still was surprised to think he had a loss of his own. “Hello Jamie.” She greeted, giving him a small smile of her own. “I didn’t know you were a mechanic.” Though Dilara didn’t drive anymore, she liked the idea of him being handy. “Well, I guess I’d have to save those poor plants.” A small smile graced her lips but it dissolved into a look of pained understanding. “I’m sorry for your loss. I came here for someone too, I’m getting a bench in his honor.”

Everything felt.. a bit tight and stiff. Truth be told Jamie felt like such a schmuck in this tuxedo he had rented, but he knew he would have felt even worse if he had shown up in anything less fancy. Which meant suffering some hours simply to blend in with the crowd. He suspected that much like him, a lot of the common people on the island would feel out of place and insecure about what they were wearing. Unlike the royal and noble vampires or council members. It was certainly a spectacle. And yet he understood to a degree why. The king had a lot to prove to the rest of the outside world, and showing the island as a success could only be beneficial to their community but also other supernatural kingdoms. 

Still it was odd to be a part of all of this. It was not what he had pictured when Charlie told him she was moving here. Yet he was trying to get better at accepting that life was mysterious and unpredictable. Coming out of the restroom, he was heading back towards the ball room when he collided with someone. About to apologize, he noticed who it was. “Dilara?” He smiled playfully. “We seem to be developing a bad habit. Should stop meeting like this, yeah?” 

@blossoming-dilara​​

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Dilara felt almost a little naked on her own. The event was wide open for the public eye, and she felt a bit awkward about that. As someone who lived obviously much longer than a human, she was used to flying under the radar. Of course she and Gregory had traveled all over the world, but they never stayed in one place too long for someone to notice they weren’t aging, or to get noticed on the world’s stage. Now that the secret of shifters and other creatures was out, Dilara felt exposed. And to be in such a public setting by herself she felt even more exposed. The masks were helping her feel a little hidden, the big butterfly hiding her face, but Dilara still was ready for this all to be over. 

She’d mostly been hanging out on the edges of the party, milling about and even daring a dance with someone earlier when asked. But otherwise she was turning into a wallflower, an almost fitting role given the flowers on her dress. She’d just been turning away from a camera she caught in front of her when she collided into a large form. Hands reached out to steady herself and fell on a familiar chest. “Jamie.” Dilara gasped, not having seen the man much since their one night stand, the one that had been eating her up with guilt. Her face turned red under her mask and she took a step back. “I suppose so.” She fumbled with her words, seeing him just reminded how she felt like she cheated on Gregory’s memory. 

While loss wasn’t uncharted territory for Jamie, the vastly different circumstances made it so that this particular loss was hitting him in a new and excrutiating way. When he had lost his parents, he had lost everything that had to do with a home and a whole family. Their childhood home, their coven, their sense of safety and belonging. Loosing Ophelia had more to do with loosing the future they had planned together. The child they were going to have. The things they were going to do and the places they would visit. All of a sudden he had to start over, and while he was lucky enough not to have to do so entirely alone, having Charlie to lean on and to start over with, it was disorienting. He didn’t know where to start, and so starting at the bottom of a bottle sounded as good as anything else. 

Noticing the others reaction, Jamie couldn’t help but smirk just a little. “Yeah I am. What might you be?” he asked with a curious look to her, returning her sweet smile with a warm one of his own. She had the kind of smile that made you smile too. Being here, in a place where all species were welcome, Jamie was curious to see who he might meet. Being able to use his magic freely was such a relief, especially after having lived in a small town where everyone watched everyone, feeling like he didn’t dare use his gift unless shut in at home. “That little spell? Its not really a big deal but you’re kind to say so.” he said with a small shrug, his smile turning knowing at her next words. “No harm, no foul.” he assured her. It was hard to tell if she was just as curious, or interested. In his given state, Jamie had to admit he was a bit of both. “Would you let me buy you a drink by chance?” he asked. 

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Dilara may have had many years with Gregory as they traveled the world together and lived out their dreams. But it hadn’t been enough. It hadn’t been enough when he was just going to be ripped away so cruelly from her and she would be left with this never-ending aching and emptiness. Dilara had felt like she was missing her other half, her soul and whole world was gone. The aching loss he felt, Dilara would be able to relate to if she knew the truth about the pain that Jamie was feeling. The pain that drove them both here tonight. While Dilara was looking to find comfort in the bottom of the bottle and perhaps the presence of others, she still wasn’t ready to find comfort in others between the sheets. Not without betraying Gregory’s memory. 

The alcohol already flowing through her veins made Dilara smile at his question. “I’m a shifter.” It was still new to say the words out loud in public and a very crowded place. That idea brought a small giggle to her lips and Dilara smiled wider at him. “I haven’t been around too many witches to see too many spells.” She’d come across them before on her travels, but never in a setting where she could see their magic so easily. “Now you know you have at least one person who was impressed by it.” As his question reached her over the music, Dilara could feel herself swayed to saying yes. The alcohol was making her not want to say no to anything, and she wanted to keep hearing him talk, even if his accent was different. “You aren’t afraid it will end up on your shirt again?” Dilara giggled but nodded and stepped forward. “I’d like that.” 

Who: @blossoming-dilara​

Where: Just In Bloom

The little bell above the door chimed as Alexander stepped into the shop. He had been to the flower shop a few times before, often picking up herbs for Charise when the apothecary was busy. He met Charise quite some time ago, and he was beginning to view her as an older sister and didn’t mind helping her.

Alex stepped closer to the counter, looking over the small list his friend had given him, as he waited for someone to come up to the front. He knew what was needed but it would be a pretty decent sized order. Looking up again, he noticed Dilara walking towards him, and he gave her a small smile. “I feel like I’m always in here now” he said, huffing out a small laugh.

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Dilara had been in the back, taking care of a recent delivery. Each delivery meant a lot of receipts and paperwork to sign, so she had been busy with that and with overseeing the unloading of the truck. They were just unloading the last tray of plants when she turned to go back into the shop, having heard the little bell she kept above the door. 

As she turned the corner, she saw Alex leaning against the counter. Dilara gave a warm smile and returned his wave, setting the clipboard on the counter. “If you show up anymore you might actually start living here.” Dilara teased, her lips tugging upwards even more. “So, what brings you in today?” She noticed the piece of paper in his hands and wondered what new orders Alex would have for Charise today? 

Ellora shook her head, immediately waving off the apology, “It’s okay! And it was empty. So it’s just..shattered glass everywhere.” She gave a wry little smile, being sure to not step around too much, “Really though, I’m fine.” She assured again, “And see? I can just pick up another empty vial to buy.” She tacked on with a smile still on her face, trying to calm the other girl. “Are you okay?” Ellora wondered, honestly feeling bad at how worried the other looked. 

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At least there was nothing in the vial, and Dilara visibly relaxed upon hearing that. She knew of magic, had been semi surrounded by it during her travels, but magic was not her forte. She’d never been close to a witch and the idea of spilling a potion on the floor made her nervous. What if it had been dangerous. “Well, I’m glad it was empty.” She smiled, trying to bite her lip and stop from apologizing again. The apothecary was her biggest customer and she didn’t want to sever that tie.  “I’m okay, nothing injured but my ego I suppose.”