poor unfortunate soul

URSULA VANESSA BROWN ---> 30 --> STORE OWNER --> ECHO CREEK

Species: Cursed Seawitch Sexuality: Heterosexual Pronouns: She/Her Favorite Song: The Lighthouse by Halsey Big Three: Scorpio sun, VIrgo moon, Leo rising

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“So you know what it’s like to be thrown at the wolves?” He asked, tilting his head in curiosity. “Surviving wasn’t the hard part. It’s living with these scars that don’t quite heal.” Blaise admitted, words that only enough alcohol could pull out of him. He took another swig from his glass, looking back at her. She seems nice, polite even. “Echoing thoughts in my head, from stupid gossip blogs, from the words of my brothers, from the disappointment look on my mother’s face….” He sighed deeply, placing his finger on his forehead. “And Megara, the quiver of her lips when I broke her heart again. It doesn’t stop, doesn’t it? Or am I just being chatty to a stranger?” He chuckled, trying to find humor in his pain. “I’m not usually like this, I’m sorry you had to find me this way.” Blaise took a cigarette from his pocket, smoking once more to pass the time.

“You can stay, or not. Like you say, whatever you want.” He answered, attempting to blow the smoke away from her. “So, what are you? And why are you looking for loners? With a face like that, I don’t think you’ll have much trouble finding what you want.”

-

“Honey, I’ve been through more than anyone else in this room, I promise.” Abandoned by her parents. Exiled. Cursed. Doomed to rot at the bottom of the ocean. Vanessa only knew the wolves. She just chose to come back at it all swinging. The world wanted her to be a villain? Fine. She would be better than any villain they had ever seen. Most of her methods were slower in pace, but that was because her master plan needed the time and attention she has given it. Of course, that was neither here or there at the moment. Blaise Lumiere could not even begin to understand the monster he was speaking to, and she knew she would never be able to explain it to him or anyone else. He was too hung up in his heartache to think logically and while Vanessa found it utterly pathetic, she supposed she could have some fun with him. “It doesn’t ever stop, no. Those scars never go away. That is why they are scars, dear.”

She shrugged. “I have no problem getting attention anywhere I go,” she said honestly. “The real question should have been if I was seeking it for real or if I was intrigued enough to take a chance on you.” She winked at him. “I suppose we will never ever know, darling.”

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“Lost soul?” Blaise chuckled, taking a sip from his glass. He figured that was ironic. His girlfriend literally lost her soul, and there he was trying to do the same. It was difficult to navigate a life that kept knocking you down, and though he was known for his grit in challenging situations, Lumiere was a sensitive man, and it got him. The gossip blog still bites him — all the time. “Work with that?” He inquired, his gaze drawn to her. He was doubtful about the pretty little lady in front of him. It took him a moment to realize that she is a pretty little lady, which made him immediately yield and move quite a few inches away—a safe distance in case he was being watched yet again. “Look, I don’t know what work you mean, but being seen with me definitely won’t be good for you… and well, me, but I’d focus on you right now.” He already had an awful reputation, so another mudslinging attack wouldn’t hurt as much. She seemed to be nice, but Lumiere wasn’t really looking for trouble at this point. It comes unexpectedly, so it’s best to avoid the possibility at all costs.  “I’m no good with small talk, it’s been quite a ride with me, which I think you would know.” He didn’t really have much to hide from people at this point. Lumiere raised his glass and curled his lips into a slight smile to acknowledge her presence before focusing back on the drink at hand. ”Cheers.”

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Vanessa let a laugh slip out. She hadn’t intended to sound so amused at his self-wallowing, but she was genuinely tickled. He thought his reputation was bad? Hers was for sure worse. That was, her true reputation. Anything she had on the surface was nothing compared to her reputation in the sea. She supposed she could understand that is must sucked not being able to just change his appearance and start over somewhere new, but thankfully she never had to worry about that herself. She toasted with him, an amused look never leaving her face. “Well, I would say that I’m perfectly capable of handling myself and my reputation. Everyone’s been through hell....how you come out of it? Well, that’s your battle honey, not mine. Everyone has people who don’t like them too. I’ve been fine with that since....well, since forever. I didn’t really get much of a choice.” She sipped at her drink. “Anyways, I can go if I’m not wanted company. I am sure there is some other loner drifting near the bathrooms or something I could bother. Or I could just go to a different bar. Nothing is ever too complicated, sweetheart.”

Vanessa didn’t normally see young men in her shop. She didn’t really fit their demographic and that was fine because she found them to be especially annoying most of the time. When this guy first came in, she watched him expectantly, but all he did was browse the many jars and various objects her store had to offer. All she knew of him was that he was a part of the scandalous drama that was circling Animania, but she hadn’t dealt with too many people trying to reverse their gossip. Maybe he was one of those people, maybe he was just a fool who wandered into the wrong shop; regardless, Vanessa gave him her best smile. “What can I do for you, sweetie?” she asked curiously, her voice so sweet it was dripping with honey. “Are you lost?”

“And what do I owe the pleasure?” Vanessa asked as a familiar flame of hers entered her shop. She was just closing up, but she had left the door open just in case a last minute client wanted to stop by. She hadn’t expected to see Jack; it had been a while since their last encounter and she was starting to wonder if he finally banged that girl he liked or something, but she wasn’t heartbroken over it. She had been plenty busy herself and she wasn’t going to seek him out because she wasn’t the type to seek anyone out like that if it didn’t benefit her. As cute as he was, he was another distraction, and she could not be bothered by those most of the time. “Are you trying to make a deal with a demoness? I didn’t think there was anything you wanted that you couldn’t just take.”

This was hurting Eric’s head. Hurting either woman was inevitable at this point, whether he wanted to or not. What Ariel was telling him made more sense, especially with how Vanessa’s reputation was a bit tainted, until she said the words that were part of the song that he’d once heard. “Wait, how did you know that? Part of your world. That’s … what?” he asked, putting a hand to his forehead. His head hurt. Nothing made sense anymore with either of them, and all Eric wanted was the truth. 

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Vanessa crossed her arms over her chest. Her spying on the little mermaid paid off and she had to reward her boys handsomely for doing their best job. “How do you think, Eric? I told you....you’re making the wrong person out to be some enemy. There’s your proof. What more do you want?” She was seriously debating letting him give up again. If this wasn’t enough to keep the guy on her side, then nothing was and she needed to start moving on Atlantica tonight. 

“Because you still believe this other girl over me?” Vanessa spoke slowly. She wanted to come off as a mixture of hurt and sad, so she was being careful with what she let slip off her tongue. “I told you, Eric,  I’m not going to compete for you to believe me when I’ve already opened up to you. It’s really hurtful and I don’t understand why you can’t see that.” @ericccoulter

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Vanessa stated simply, neither smiling nor frowning. She of course knew exactly what Ariel was talking about, but she wasn’t going to let her know that she did. That would blow her entire cover and as far as she was aware, she had no proof that she made the same deal with Ariel twice now. “I gave you your voice back that you tragically lost. I don’t know why you’re out to get me so badly. I thought you wanted your voice back? Anything that has happened since is not on me if you made a deal with someone else before me. I’m just running my shop and doing what I have to do to keep a nice home and food on the table.” @ocnsdaughter