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"And what makes ya think you're invited to this party, Lav?"

fitting into that narrative, something inside her had pushed her to this door searching for a good time and she was determined to fulfil that - perhaps if she wasn't so miserable then things wouldn't seem as bad and she could continue to run from it all. widening her eyes at the hostility, lavinia tiled her head to the side and frowned. "and why wouldn't i? it's been a while and i know how to have a good time. you don't have to be like that..." even though she wasn't wanted she still wanted to be there... "come on. best behaviour! promise." she held out her pinkie.

"why are you such a genius, oh my god?" her eyebrows raised as her vowels were wide in her stage whisper. luckily, the background noise was enough to prevent anyone in the proximate vicinity hearing it but the mischief now on her face would be enough to give it away. "yes... specifically an emergency not here. okay, okay..." it felt like a spy operation which was ironic as lavinia would never put this much enthusiasm into doing her actual sleuthing 'jobs'.

@laviniafm

looking at the person who had made the sound, lavinia tried to fight off the smirk before looking down to detract attention from others. a few moments later, she picked her head up and looked at the clock. "about half an hour. i did come in earlier today but it doesn't really count." she chuckled. "can you just wait, like, thirty minutes? or... do i have a bad migrane or something?" there were options but it felt like she was already in shark infested waters and didn't want to upset the boat on any front.

Kittiya had severed most of their ties with the elites that they consorted with when they were younger. Quitting the NYC ballet troupe and their hard-earned position as prima ballerina on a rainy Tuesday and never looking back meant closing those doors. It was with a broken heart that they collected the pieces, and buried it with the secret they disposed of in the woods that only two other people on the planet could ever know about, lest they all end up behind bars, eating cheap frozen meals and running laps around a prison yard. But old habits died hard — she still loved a good party, and when she first moved to Vegas, she forgot to watch her fucking back. Imagine her surprise when she found a note on the ground that fell out of her friend's bag after some charity poker night months ago, something about a blown cover. Well, Kittiya figured it out. How can you say that? "You're working for the Vitellis! How fucking convenient that you show up in my life, right when I leave all that shit behind. You don't think that's a weird coincidence? I don't fucking believe in those." A hand clapped against her forehead — it was her own shortsightedness that she couldn't believe. "Fuck you. Why didn't you tell me, then? The Cranes are practically, like, sorority sisters with them." Glowering at the other, she couldn't scrounge up an ounce of sympathy for the waterworks apt to overflow — once she was pissed, there was no return.

everything felt like it was really falling apart - there were now too many pieces scattered of the previous life of lavinia jensen and she wasn't able to stop any of it. "it wasn't like that! had it been like that? did she actually know kittiya because of her cover or was it simply by chance? lavinia tried so hard to remember but she couldn't - maybe she didn't want to know the answer to that. it would have made sense but the woman had trouble recalling her previous actions and she really couldn't remember. realising the other was now talking about the present, lavinia shook her head with even more conviction in her beliefs. "it's not like that - i literally just bumped into you here!" she gestured towards the other as she leaned forward, eyebrows raising so high that they looked like they could spring off her face at any given moment. "it's-" shaking her head, she brought her fingers nervously to her mouth and looked around. "i'm not... it's not-" a groan escaped her as she too brought her hand up to her forehead as her inability to express herself was frustrating her. expressing her feelings in a logical way had always been a struggle for lavinia and this was another example of how she'd not matured as much as she had thought. "i'm not looking to suck you back in, i'm not. things are bad, okay? really fucking bad but please can you keep your voice down or i'll be next." whilst she was being melodramatic, it wasn't too far off probable - an unreliable, useless asset - one with little ties who they could just wipe out. would anyone even notice. "i'm not like them, kittiya... please."

𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 — ( @boneyardstarters )

"yeah, well, don't know what else you can expect, really." there seemed little hope within her. although she hadn't played the game in the smartest way, lavinia knew when she was running out of time. "no, no. nothing stellar but i'd be lying if i said i hadn't had much." raising her eyebrows, lavinia's eyebrows raised. "still - would you like a drink, murphy."

She was a bitch, plain and simple. In that moment, she didn't feel any contrite for it — she was trying to get further from the Vitellis, not closer to them. And if some little weasel was spying on her to run back to them with information, she would sooner play out a recap of what she had done with her roadkill sibling after she floored the gas and tore into them with Romi in the passenger seat. Stopping in her tracks, she whipped her body all the way around, closing an unforgiving grip around Lavinia's wrist and sneering, "Yes, I'm fucking mad — what the fuck, Lav? Did they send you to keep tabs on me or something? You better fucking explain, or you're never hearing from me again. It oughta be good." Acrylics bit into the tender skin of the other's wrist, leering at her like she could rip the younger person's soul right out of her chest if she tried. She knew a couple of ghosts she could contact with a Ouija board to haunt her ass, but she'd give her a chance to come clean if she had something up her sleeve. Letting go of her wrist with a huff, the heel of her hand shoved Lavinia back firmly, snapping, "Fucking get lost, I can wipe my ass with an apology like that. I should've known you were faking it because you're such a fucking try-hard at all those parties."

when lavinia had stopped to talk to the other, she had been aware of the possibility that her presence wouldn't be received well but figured it would be a civil one... things weren't planning out that way. she would frequently forget about her position at both sides of the opposing table because she was far from focused - she had never expected the other to think her presence was some ploy to drag her down. did the other really think that of her? it was only a thought for a second. "no!" a quick protest escaped from her lips as the other's hand wrapped around her wrist. the shock was evident on her face and the harsh contact had triggered the tears to start to well in her eyes. "how can you say that?" nothing made sense anymore, she constantly lost people and now, this confirmed sooner or later, it would end rough for her... quickly backing away as the other let go, her heavy sighs of relief excaped her as her forehead plunged into a deep frown. "i wasn't faking it and not everything is about that." it seemed lavinia jensen was a try-hard with no substance in all aspects of her life apart from the ugly thing she had done and succeeded... "what we had was real-" her mind was running too fast for her own good and the desperation and slight delusion had taken over. "please..." she stressed to the other.

coming into such a crouded area at this time was a bad idea but there had been spaces availble whilst she was in queue, however, those with someone could leave the queue to save a table and left them all occupied by the time she got served - it was another instance of the universe reminding her she was alone. taking her iced coffee, lavinia spotted a seat so quickly made her way towards it. pulling out the chair, she was about to annouce herself to the other, to ask if she could sit down but was automatically met with hostility; she'd make sure to return it. "hi, yeah, this is the only free seat in the place and it doesn't look like anyone's sitting here-" raising her eyebrows, she held the drink up. "-and i've not got it to go, so-" the glass made its way to make contact with the table. "i'd be grateful if you could oh, so graciously let me sit here to finish it." there was a hint of bitterness in her voice. @ofdesertroses

Kittiya was an incredibly forward person. When they were done with something, they'd spell it out plainly. But in the case of Lavinia Jensen, they had let their impulses win, the devil on their shoulder that was always in their ear — calling it a bad thing wasn't entirely true to the tale. They didn't need to continue doing favors for a family that they weren't part of. Would continue to proclaim that they had no interest in, whatsoever, as they stuck their face in rolls of the latest Boo Crew footage or read palms and visions of love and fortune to the tourists who cared to pay the upcharge for the area they were getting it read in. A takeout bag in her arms from a Wendy's to bring back to Aurelia's Trance, she kept walking when Lavinia called out to her, hoping to ignore her like a pesky fly and then she would poof, disappear. Needless to say, it didn't seem to be working when her goddamn voice starting giggling like they were sorority sisters in her eardrums. "I've been busy," Kittiya answered curtly, "There's been a lot of requests for readings, this time of year and all." She smiled — practiced, polished, screaming press release, but to anyone who wasn't borne with a silver spoon in their mouth, it meant nothing. Yet, she couldn't resist being a petty bitch when it favored her. "What, are you tired of playing with your new friends, the Vitellis?"

it had started out as her wanting to prove that she could be useful, not to just her father but to herself. lavinia had been one that had grown up with privilege but she felt far from it now. what had her life had become? she had always been messy but now she was faced with atrocities that she'd never come back from - there was blood on her hands and it had started to play on her mind more and more. what would become of her? was he even one of them? he had to be for the sake of what little sanity she had left. her brow furrowed as kittiya snapped back at her. "you're angry with me..." it was melodramatic for her to voice it as the other didn't seem like the type to care but did she actually know that them that well? "if you must know, i've actually been quite tame." lavinia had to be careful as she hadn't been the most discreet - there were mistakes and it would come back to bite her... it was just a case of when it would catch up to her. the vitellis were not her friends, far from it and they would not treat her as such once they uncovered the truth. "look, i'm sorry, alright? you deserve better than me being a flaky asshole." lavinia sighed. "give me he chance to make it up to you? please" there was a hint of desperation in her voice. it was difficult for lavinia to hold onto friendships, or anything if she were being honest with herself - she ruined everything.

There's the quiet hum of music from the speakers, low voices in the intimacy of the style of bar, a private booth not designed to be stumbled into so to speak. It better be good. He holds up a hand, an acquiescence as well as a dismissal. It's fine, he's never been to afraid to tell someone to fuck off himself. They can speak or babble or slur, whatever it is that comes out of their mouth, and he'll make the executive decision as such.

since the note confiming she'd been compromised, lavinia had kept her head down and obeyed instructions exactly as posed, that was until tonight when she was off shift and found herself here. the glamour of it all was extremely hypnotising and it did have the power to make the young woman forget her purpose. even though she was slightly intoxicated, she needed to behave - especially now she was in the presence of francisco vitelli. when she'd caught sight of him, her eyes had widened, she'd stopped approaching the spot. "quiet tonight, isn't it?" the music covered the eerily still atmosphere on this night. a logical explanation was that it was after new year but everything now felt eerie through lavinia's eyes.

He recognized the young face from around the casino — maybe at that charity gala? ( Listen, he actually liked playing the slots or the cards now and then, but he wasn't sucked into the vortex of the gambling blackhole that opened up in Las Vegas — Dungeons and Dragons had already carved out that chokehold for him and he wasn't putting money down on it. ) "I kind of wonder who is. Like, you think they're hiring bouncers?" There were definitely parties that would throw you out on your ass for not conforming to being fancy, but he couldn't fathom that a Halloween party would be half as strenuous. Maybe he was underestimating the zany veil of the city. "So you're still thinking of a costume, too." Why else would she be in the store? Ganon was laying loyally at his feet, waiting for the next command or for him to move on to the next rack of clothes, but no less on alert to continue his duty. Instead, Dustin found himself idling, a finger resting against his chin as he contemplated the stranger's suggestion, giving her a once-over. "I don't know... maybe you could throw something on top to suggest it's a fish? Sequins could pass as scales, I guess." Bright colors and themes were out of his range of fashion — he stuck to alternative and baggy, the more ambiguous, the better. ( He was wearing a festively oversized sweater with a ghost on it, right now, but that was still off-theme for the occasion he was shopping. ) "I'm kind of flyin' solo and I'm not usually solo... in a while, so," he paused, then backtracked to ask, "Sorry... did you say she has a sign about vampires on the front of her store? People here really get in the spirit of Halloween, don't they?" Shaking his head, he pulled another costume on the rack aside, the hanger squeaking as it went against the metal bar holding it. "Oh... you mean, like someone who's been stranded on an island? I was kind of thinking of something a little more... fish-based. You know what I mean? I'll bet all the fish will start looking alike, honestly."

"who is who?" lavinia's brown sunk as the statement troubled her. it wasn't in her sense of her role within the family that she was too far deep in - if she were being honest, she didn't care for her safety - but of what was hiding in the shadows. perhaps they'd take her next, she'd never get the vengeance she craved and it would all be... pointless. she'd misheard the initial sentence and found herself sighing before shaking her head. "wouldn't be the first time for me... but that was at the end of the night - so they say." it had been a very dark time in her life and didn't compare but this was surely a winner? was she comparing her own suffering now on a thermometer design? "yeah, a costume but a party costume, right? a bit of halloween meets rave because then it's a clear signal. i'm thinking if i'm in sequins and a nice little top and pout eyeshadow on my face that i can be a fish, alright? another fish in the sea... another fish at a party." old habits die hard, not that she'd ever have much luck with them as everything always seemed to end in tragedy. "so, if you want fish based, how do you feel about a sequin mini skirt and a little mesh top? or if i can get something better i'll obviously take that but at this late notice... don't think there's much hope." letting out a chuckle and a smile gracing her lips, a shrug of the shoulders followed. "just another fish in the sea."

Turning at the sound of a voice, Cass let out a puff of air that just barely passed for a chuckle. "Right now, all I want is a drink. Then maybe a car to take me home later. After the night I've had, I don't think I'm in the position to be making loftier demands." Though that didn't stop her from thinking them anyways. In truth, she wanted a lot of things: a boiling hot shower, to burrow into the mountain of pillows on her bed, someone'd head on a spike for what had happened earlier that night. But she would settle for a glass of good wine, especially if it would dull the incessant, hurtful chatter at the back of her mind. "Deal, I'll take that trade. At least I'll actually enjoy splitting a bottle of wine with you. Classy is as classy does," the blonde echoed, giving her companion a genuine grin that didn't quite reach her eyes (still a marked improvement over her sour demeanor just an hour ago). "I'm Cass. It's nice to see that someone around here also appreciates the finer things that Vegas has to offer. "

lavinia laughed at the slight mockery escaped the other, at least that's how it had felt hearing it but the blonde's facial expressions said different. "god, where have you been all my life?" smiling, a chuckle escaped her before she started rummaging in her purse for her wallet. "cass-" her eyebrows raised as she nodded. "i'm lavinia, lav - i should have picked vina with hindsight but you can't really change what you've chosen, right?" shrugging with her shoulders, she looked towards the bar. "named after the bully in a little princess, would you believe?" another awkward chuckle followed before she finally turned back to the other. "oh- what type of wine do you like? white, red, rosé? have a certain preference? i don't mind."

perhaps it was projection when she'd brought it up - it had happened to her and an awful ex boyfriend had ended up dead. she had carried on but lavinia jensen had lost even more fragments of herself that night and there wasn't much more for her to lose. still, the young woman being interested in what azazel saw wasn't feigned. when an explanation didn't follow, her follow up questions never came. she never wanted to press but it would make her look suspicious, perhaps more akin to that shop lady who had the 'no vampires' sign in her window - there was such a thing as bad attention and she couldn't draw any more eyes towards her or peak suspicions further as she had already been compromised. this was a revenge plot because they had taken him away from her but she had also taken someone away from other people too so it was already far too messy for her to wrap her head around it. was it going to be worth the danger? the answer terrified her. "the less i know, the better, or at least the better my sleep pattern will be... honestly - that casino is draining." 'normal' work talk to deflect was always in her playbook. "some of the characters i get in there... give me all the strength and pray i get a good night's sleep tonight, that's all i'm saying."

Trust him to leave costume ideas down to the last minute — and naturally, Khadroma was hankering for something that would loosely match with their child's outfit ( and truth be told, the outfits tailored for kids this year ranged from the cheesiest hogwash he had ever seen to downright adorable, and nowhere perfectly in the middle for a five year old who was more interested in the Milkyway Galaxy than Power Rangers. ) He had been turning the racks over, minute by minute, passing over anything that didn't fit the theme of a watery... creature, and he was seconds from giving up. "Hey, just asking for a second opinion — do you think I'd get kicked out of a Halloween... ocean theme if I can't find anything good and bring... a gag flower that shoots water out of it pinned to my shirt, or something? I could even dress it up like Little Shop of Horrors... too off-theme?" he asked of the nearest customer in the store who was also looking through costumes, the mall alive and thriving with people walking through, shopping bags in hand. Before long, it would be dressed up in holly and reds for Christmas, and everyone would be rushing for their year-end gifts. "Or... something that has bigger feet than all these fish? I kind of have... embarrassingly big feet." Letting out a soft sigh, an easy-going smile assumed his features. "An event that's more... open like this should be plenty laidback, don't you think? I'm sure most people are hoping to swoop in for free booze or something, but I'm curious how they'll make it water-themed. It's to our advantage to be surrounded by all this sand, at least? Oh, I could be a mummy."

if it wasn't for the fact that lavinia was supposed to meet a 'friend' here at the pop-up, she would have never come at all. people proved again and again that they were nothing but disappointments... but why hadn't they turned up? had it been something she'd said, done? did they know? all of the options haunted around her brain before she just simply had to break off from it and immerse herself in the pop-up. naturally, she'd gravitate to someone who was being silly and from what she could see, a tad resistant to the ocean theme. "i mean... i'm not going to be the one throwing people out of the party." the woman raised her eyebrows and lifted up her hands in surrender before letting a few moments pass and letting out an amused hum. "i personally would love to see that costume in action. honestly, i'm also a bit shit at dressing up." that was rich considering she did it on the daily but being poorly undercover was a lot different to fancy dress - if she could dress like them and call it a day it would be so much easier. "would a blue sequined top count? i have one of those and i'm pretty sure that casual edge boutique would have a skirt i can match it with in an off sense but it's halloween so... plus the... interesting owner has written 'no vampires allowed' outside so she is fully embracing the season." so may times lavinia had walked passed with the need to quiz that woman but it would be too obvious and she seemed far too volatile - someone with loose lips... "ooh! or you could do the whole what would you take with you if stranded on a desert island plus things to cross the ocean?"

"but-" lavinia continued as she furrowed her brow. "i know you say you had a psychotic break, right but you saw something..." it had come from azazel's own lips, not her and her curiosity had peaked but her fear would always reign supreme. "i always think folklore is true, though how it's interpreted could be a debate." mythical beings or stories to personify the human experience that would befall all? lavinia perhaps wasn't the brightest on her feet but it was striking her now that she read far too much of this stuff. "sorry." she shook her head as she retracted not wanting to flag herself. "i shouldn't really pry but i guess i'm a bit on edge with... everything!" she would leave out the personal parts.