NOT A LOT, JUST FOREVER 𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

not one person in morgan's life has ever witnessed her cry, or at least be vulnerable. she had always been carefree, yet somehow she's got everything together. she's ran tipsy shores well that she can do it with her eyes closed. people could depend on her with anything and everything. she's got it all figured out, regardless of the things she's been through.

but with vida, those defenses seem to easily crumble like a landslide. she should've been more patient, fought through the pain of it all, held on tighter, even when at the moment, she was slowly losing vida, she was slowly losing the fire that sets her soul alight, the person that brought the light in her eyes again after all those years. every tour has put a wedge between the both of them. she shouldn't have such thing get to her. yet here she was now, staring at the love that she lost, and even though it felt like there's always this massive weight crushing her chest, her heart, she couldn't het herself to look away.

not especially when she still loves her.

"vida, stop, please don't say that." morgan rarely pleads, yet those words leave her lips without hesitation, not allowing her ex-wife to talk about herself in that manner. "remember what i told you that day." that day when their divorce became official. "i said i am still going to be in your life, no matter what. i promised, vida. i'm not going anywhere and nothing can change that. not even you." even if it's too late now.

the club owner sniffles, quickly wiping the tears in her eyes before they even fall—she doesn't want to worry vida, especially not right now. "expect me at every session with you from now on." it was not a request, and vida knew that. nothing could ever change morgan's mind, not when it comes to her. "let's see who takes out their card first..." she smiles for the first time today, holding on to her arm as she leads them to her car.

VIDA HAD REMEMBERED A phrase she'd heard once -- almas gemelas, otherwise known as twin souls. she remembers how comforted and lucky she'd felt by the idea that she was able to find her other soul in this life, when some have to search through so many to find them. and yet, part of her had known that leaving palmview grove and living across the world for a year wouldn't do any good. because the tether would always be there. is there any pain greater than when your twin soul wishes to cut the string that ties you two together ( even when the both of you know that much like the tails of some animals -- another will grow back in its place )?

god, she misses her so much. she misses the way she feels in her arms when they used to dance in their kitchen -- the smell of the coffee morgan liked, the smell of the flowers vida brought home when her tours were over. the house that they'd made a home. but, the fear sits in her throat like a boulder on her chest. suffocating. the papers. all she can see are the papers. she can hear her therapist in her ears, explaining that maybe there were times during her tours when things hadn't been fine, maybe vida just hadn't asked.

" i -- " she begins again, trying to collect herself and her words before she speaks again. " i'm sorry. i -- i can't help it. " being the wife of an army sergeant -- it was a lonely life. she understood that now, ironically and sadly enough when their last names weren't hyphenated anymore. " you hadn't heard from me in months -- and the first thing y'hear from me isn't even from me -- it's someone tellin' you i nearly fuckin' died? mierda, i just... " i wish i could have done something. done more when it counted. quietly, she nods. she understands, even if she didn't understand what she did to deserve it. " i know... i know. y'were always stuck with me. but i think y'know that by now. "

every single one? of course, something in vida wants to question it. and yet, she knows better. because if the roles were switched, she would demand the exact same thing in response. to be there, to hold her through the hard things.

lips curl upwards into a tired, yet genuine smirk at the mention of the cards. " i'm agile, darlin'. y'may be a dancer -- " and a beautiful one at that. " but i've got stealth on my side. " the first sign of quiet laughter makes itself known, bringing a certain amount of levity to their conversation. vida's hand rests rather easily on morgan's forarm, almost just as comfortable as when they were together -- which scares her a bit.

and yet, hasn't her life always been improved by leaning into what she fears?

sovaia had only seem him from a distance, sometimes has seen him along the hallways of their loft. she had been suspicious of nico, especially her first time seeing him was when her sister was getting out of his car. she had been protective of her like that, ever since what has happened, she had been a bit watchful. but nobody can blame her the second she and nico had matched on the dating app. sovaia had eyes, which more than just for her talent. she wouldn't deny that she'd already looked at him from head to toe from time to time, had herself wonder about things, and one of them she's told him with a bit of intention behind it.

and now, here he is, on the other side of the door of her workshop, her usual drink in hand, as she requested.

NICO IS A FIRM believer in the idea that there's a fine line between being cocky and observant. thus, he's noticed sovaia watching him -- likely at times when she believes he doesn't. she herself is a beautiful girl, he knows that. strikingly so, if he's going to put words behind it. he's never blamed her for carrying about holly, of course he doesn't. nico had more often than not kept to himself -- a quiet, borderline stoic presence when he's not around individuals he feels comfortable around. he's tall, standing at a solid six foot four, well-built thanks to throwing himself into fitness as many people do when they get sober. but then there was the perspective of intention. very few people really knew why he'd come to town in the first place, and why he was so dedicated to making sure that holly was able to do the same. turn the page.

she seems to be satisfied with the coffee, as he had hoped -- but it does take a second for him to process that she's looking to inspect something else, him. thus, a slow smirk takes formation on his face -- if anything, nico is always going to do what a beautiful woman tells him to do. thus, he outstretches his arms, both coffee's in hand as he slowly begins to turn -- pausing ever so slightly where he believes her eyes will linger. or where he wants them to.

She  popped  another  kernel  of  popcorn  into  her  mouth  one  at  a  time,  slow  and  lazy,  letting  the  salty  butter  melt  on  her  tongue  while  she  mouthed  along  with  the  Galaxy  Quest  dialogue  she  knew  by  heart.  Then  came  the  squeal  —  high-pitched,  sharp,  and  coming  from  Allie’s  room.  Mira  didn’t  even  hesitate.  Spider.  Had  to  be.  Without  a  second  thought  she  bolted  upright,  the  bowl  tipping  over  and  sending  popcorn  flying  everywhere  like  buttery  shrapnel  across  her  comforter  and  the  floor.  She  snatched  one  of  her  worn  sneakers  off  the  rug  and  charged  out  of  her  room,  dark  waves  wild,  heart  already  hammering  on  pure  instinct.  She  burst  through  Allie’s  doorway,  shoe  raised  like  a  weapon,  eyes  scanning  the  walls  and  floor  frantically.  “Where  is  it?!  Where’s  the  spider?!”