𝓡𝑒𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓃

Hand tightly gripping the bar top, the redhead watched as the man she assumed to be her would be attacker hit the floor. Even in her foggy state, the sight gave her the barest hint of a short lived smile. Pain of others always had that effect. “Venus,” she offered up her name to the stranger, finding his eyes. “Did he drug me?” Given she’d been staying sober tonight with little more than a soda, she had to assume that was what she was feeling.

Johanna didn’t even need to look at herself to understand the meaning of his questions. Not when it had become such a constant symptom of her ongoing battle with her own mind. “I don’t want to, but I don’t entirely think that what I want matters anymore,” she admitted. But then, hadn’t she wanted her memories back up until the point at which they’d begun to return? One of those be careful what you wish for situations.

“I’m a pirate. Stealth is more necessary with that than certain people would seem to believe,” she answered with a shrug, trying to hide the smile at knowing she still had that skill despite its lack of use in Auradon. “Let’s start with if you’ve ever been to White Cap Bay. I know it’s where your mother’s from, but if you’ve never been there yourself, I don’t think you’ll be able to help me.” 

“No! Stay back!” Fear had been a constant companion for the young ghost as of late. To varying degrees, sure, but always present. Not just for what the next onslaught of memories might hold, but for what might happen where she to lose control of her powers, such as was happening at this very moment. “Please, I need to be alone. I can’t stop it!”

Studying the jar, Eden made no move to accept it, skeptical of the magical fire within and of the witch who’d crafted it. Perhaps their crews were sharing an alliance at the moment, but that didn’t automatically gift the other her trust. “Two things. I’m not heading back to the ship, so you may want to deliver that yourself if you think it necessary. Though I wouldn’t expect an overly friendly greeting. And second, mermaids and magical fire don’t exactly mix well together.” The redheaded pirate’s nature, despite her own dislike of it, had never been a secret on the Isle. Not when she had been willing to use what abilities the barrier had left her in order to protect her crew when needed. “I’m fairly certain the strength of ice is of common knowledge.”

“I’m not drunk,” Venus protested, sounding every bit the over intoxicated stereotype despite her lack of any alcohol intake. She’d never been one to drink the day of or night before a shoot or a dancing gig, and she certainly hadn’t broken that personal rule tonight. Still, she took the seat and drank down half the glass of water in hopes it would help pass the effects of whatever was happening to her. “I don’t want to stay here.” Not when she wasn’t feeling herself, and definitely not when that feeling left her afraid.

“No, I don’t smoke and I like to keep my head clear,” she answered. “Thanks though.” Neither had been a habit she’d ever picked up, choosing to deal with her stress in a more physical manner. One that often left cuts or bruises, but was effective nonetheless. Not exactly the most accepted in Auradon. “I just need to find a pool without chemicals in the water.” She’d found out the hard way about her allergy. Even the thought had her itching.

“No. You don’t have a sister. You stopped having a sister the day she was shipped off to the Isle of the Lost.” It didn’t matter what excuses or lies (as that was how Venus perceived them) Remy produced. She had abandoned Casia, and that was a betrayal that the Heart simply couldn’t forgive. “She’s my sister now, and far better off iff you ask me.”

As soon as he heard the familiar voice, Venus began to relax. Yes, the fear still lingered, but there was also a sense that she would be safe regardless of what was happening because Katherine was there. Terrifying to most, the Mim had never served as anything other than a calming presence to the youngest Heart in her rare moments of panic. A rarity that had always made the emotion that much more intense for the young woman. “Just one, but you’re really fuzzy, Kitty Kat,” she murmured, holding the other’s arms for added stability. The second question earned only a weak nod. “Take me home? I wanna go home.”

Hands tangled into her hair as Johanna tried to hold off the frightening scenes of her life before death. Regardless of her lack of need to breathe, it was an act that was becoming harder and harder to do as she became lost in herself. “Katherine, no...” One of the few friends she’d made in Auradon, the ghost couldn’t bare the idea of harming her. She also knew she wasn’t likely to be able to convince the other to leave. “They won’t stop! Get somewhere safe!” An almost order given just as her eyes took on a glassy, white appearance. In the next moment she was screaming for help from those who weren’t even there, trapped in a memory she was being forced to relive.

Was it really manipulation when the result was pleasing to both parties? Even so, she didn’t mind it when it meant spending time with the other. “A weakness I am more than happy to have exploited. Especially when I already have a coat on reserve that needs to be picked up. Long, faux fur in my favorite shade of red.” And high end, of course. “I say we shop first so we can find the perfect outfits, then we can head back to my place to change for our night of chaos.”

“I guarantee you’re wrong about that,” she bit out in response, eyes narrowing as she did little to hide her disgust. She’d spent years doing her best to avoid the man so consumed by his own ego that he truly couldn’t see his many, in her opinion, faults. “I’m a bloody pirate,” Eden stated, a fact she was proud of. “On her crew in fact, and I’d say we’re far more responsible for the amazing person she’s become, in spite of the emotional and mental toll being your child had on her.” It was hard to keep her hatred of the man hidden. Not when she loved Ellie as her own sister and had been forced to witness the harm Gaston had caused the first mate.

“Still a hell of a lot better than most of the people I know,” Eden pointed out. Though given she’d essentially grown up in prison, the lack of competition couldn’t be all that shocking. “You’re right, and I wish I’d had someone like you around to tell me just that when my father was feeding me the opposite.” Sadly she’d only joined Leland’s crew after the seeds of self hatred had been planted. Otherwise they likely would’ve been able to prevent her monster complex. “But I’m glad I have you now. Late or not.”