unwritten*

Talia's mouth fell open for a moment, then it promptly closed as her nose scrunched and her head tilted side to side as if she were weighing her options. "I won't bend the truth either," she added with a smile. "Well, duh! We're together. We always have fun together. It's a Yildiz sister takeover. Oooooh, deep-fried Oreos. Please, they sound so good. I need ten right now. I hope that the kernels are different flavors. Likely, they'll just be dyed, but a girl can dream!" Talia rattled off as she walked arm in arm with her sister. "If they don't, I might have to make a complaint." She paused, looking at Kiraz. "Or you! You're better at those kinds of things. I hope the glasses are in fun shapes. I have a little collection going." Talia was a sentimental person by nature. She never got rid of anything. She was sure to keep these light-up cubes for the rest of her life only because she got them on a day she spent with her sister. The memories would be too hard to part with.

"Yeah, yeah I'm likin' it. It's jus' strange, stayin' in one place, not having t' worry about... certain things." Things that would ruin the present vibe, certainly. "And you're sweet. Maybe too sweet." A mischievous glance, a quirked corner of her lips giving away the joke. "Sure you're not gonna lure me to a dark corner on this adventure of ours?"

"Understandable. A lot of people I've talked to have moved around. It's weird to stay in one place and feel safe." Well, as safe as they could be given the current circumstances. Talia had lived in a bubble all her life. She was protected from the horrors of the world, whether done by the hand of someone who loved her or her own blinders blocking out the unsavory bits of life. It wasn't until the hunters attacked on Valentine's Day all those years ago that Talia's rose-colored glasses faltered. It was the first time she had truly come face to face with the hardships that came when you were no longer human.

"Too sweet!" She gasped playfully. "There are no ulterior motives here. I just think life is sweeter when you are. Why not share it with others?" She smiled easily. "I promise I won't. In fact, I'm now going to drag you to the brightest corner known to man. I hope you brought sunglasses."

"I do consider myself very lucky! Except, you know, the sun, but that's why daylight rings exist." She shot Mena with excited finger guns, only feeling mildly embarrassed that she did that in front of the clan leader. Perhaps the sun was already getting to her. Talia gave a gracious smile when the parasol was extended towards her. She scooted to be under the shade. An immediate exhale of relief tumbled from her lips at being out of the sun, even in a small capacity, under a parasol. "Huh, that's so interesting. I think this is a sign I need to do more vamp research because I didn't know that. You learn something new every day! Thank goodness. A dip in the pool sounds amazing. Maybe we can find a place to cool off until the generator kicks in?"

"Winning by default is still a win." Yasin couldn't remember the last time he'd won anything. Board games among the Yildizes were kill or be killed. "Even so, I'm glad to be the favorite." Yasin pushed the door shut behind Talia, scratching along his jaw as he did so, and pretended to think about it. "This look makes me seem all the more dashing, no?"

He stepped back, beckoning. "Now, am I giving you a tour first, or dinner? Your pick."

Talia squealed with delight, holding on to her brother. For a moment, it felt like she had been transported back to childhood. She was four again, small and boisterous and swinging in her brother's arms. She hadn't known heartbreak yet. The world was still beautiful. It was still that, even with pain tainting the edge of her vision every now and then. For a moment, it was nice to live in that rose-colored garden of the past. She had learned to pretend before, perhaps she could do so again.

"Hm, yeah, I guess it is." She beamed, happy to let her brother have this victory. "You always will be." There was a sentimental sadness coloring her tone. It hit her in that moment just how long it had been since she had last seen Yasin. "Yes! Very dashing indeed. I hear beards are in. Maybe we can score you a date." She wiggled her brows mischievously.

"Tour. I need to see where you live immediately." Talia needed to see and make sure her brother's house was decorated nicely.

The coffee cup she had been holding slipped from her grip, clattering onto the floor and she had to move to toss it before reaching for another. Only this time her fingers were shaking. No. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be here. This couldn't be real. Leyla couldn't even run if she wanted to. She couldn't turn invisible and escape the past that had stumbled so plainly in front of her. But she wasn't ready. She couldn't face being called a monster again. Not now. Not here. Not in the home she had created for herself. "I-It i-is a great place for coffee. We're practically known for it?" Leyla attempted to joke, but she was stuttering now, the same way she used to stutter as a child. Their parents had even sent her to a speech pathologist to help her when she was little and it had worked. But, on occasion, that stutter had a way of slipping back out. "W-where- are you from around here?" She asked, despite already being fairly certain that she knew the answer. "And s-sorry! I didn't even ask you what it was you wanted to order?" She asked, though this time when her head lifted she couldn't fight back the thought as she soaked the woman whom had once been her baby sister in, letting the realization settle over her bones that Talia had gotten so big.

She could physically feel her heart sinking as the woman spoke. Leyla. It was a beautiful name, but it wasn't the one that lived in her heart. The vampire did her best to keep her smile from wavering. She could feel it wanting to droop in disappointment, but she persevered. It was that same heart that refused to believe this woman wasn't her dear Eda. One never forgets the face of their sister. Her image lived with Talia. It was only at night that she could visit her sister again. It felt like a cruel nightmare to have the face she knew and loved standing before her and have it not be her sister. "Uh, no, it ... it doesn't. I'm sorry."

The clattering of the broken glass is what brought Talia out of her head and back to reality. It caused her to jump a little from how sudden it had been. Immediately, she was moving to help pick up the scattered pieces. It allowed her to keep from staring at the other's face and for Talia to collect her thoughts.”Really? That’s so … so cool!” The nerves were evident in the woman’s tone. Her heart wanted to connect all these little coincidences in hopes they would become the outcome she wanted, but her mind advised against getting her hopes up. "Oh, I'm from Connecticut." Her words were slow, as if she was hoping the recognition would kick in if this was her sister. "Whatever you think I would like! I'm open to anything. I feel bad for even coming in when you're closing. I could just ... I could leave if that works?" She looked up at Leyla once again, their eyes meeting. A look that said 'please be real,' written all over her features.

The chatter of patrons and the hiss of the espresso machine adds a calming ambiance to what an outsider might see as a seemingly awkward conversation, or lack thereof. Felicity idly stirs her drink, the usual black tea with just a bit of sugar, eyes drifting around her surroundings before finally settling on the person across from her with a slight, almost shy smile.

"Hey, uh, thanks again for th' invite. T'be honest, I haven't gotten out much since movin' here, or... spoken t'many people."

The ambiance of a coffee shop always sat well with Talia's spirits. She had become a regular at the daily drip. She knew the baristas by name, always going out of her way to greet them and ask about how their days were, and her order was now remembered. It was the little things that made her heart do somersaults in her chest.

"Please, I'm happy to! If you ever need someone to go on adventures with you, I'm your girl!" Talia was a social creature by nature. She loved being around people. She wilted in solitude. "A new city can be overwhelming, but if you ever need anything, I'm here. Are you liking things so far?"

It was moments like these that made Lupe think that Talia truly was the cutest person she'd ever met. From her big, sparkling eyes, to her perfectly squishable cheeks, to her soft, rounded face that could make anyone melt, she was truly a sight to behold. And Lupe, luckiest gal in the world probably, got to see it up close, including that award winning smile. (And, look, she knew somewhere in the back of her mind that it was probably cruel of her to want Talia and to also not want her too close at the same time. But that was just how Lupe was and she'd made that clear from the very first moment they met).

And, well, fuck it, it was Pride. Lupe wasn't really one much for PDA, but this was a special occasion. She leaned down to press a kiss to Talia's lips before pulling back to smile down at her, too. "I'm glad you're having a good time," she said, "Happy Pride." After another beat, she finally moved back, clearing her throat a little. "So, anything in particular you wanna do? Haven't gotten to do yet? I've got--" she lifted her wrist to check her watch (yes, she had an old fashioned watch. Accessing a phone for the time wasn't always a possibility for her on the job, and it was her father's old watch, anyway, given back to her after his murder case was closed)-- "a little over an hour."

She was naive. There was no denying that fact. However, Talia wasn't naive enough to know what was going on. She had promised herself that she wouldn't get attached. Lupe had even warned her not to. The boundaries of what they were had been firmly established from the beginning. That didn't stop Talia's open heart from wanting more. In moments like this, she could believe that they could be something more. A delusion she knew would never come true. Talia had set herself up for heartache just as she had done many times before. It was her own fault, really, but the pain was bearable as long as it meant Lupe was in her life in some capacity. For now, she could pretend. For now, she would gaze into those warm eyes that shone honey brown when the sun reflected on them. Arms that were strong enough to hold her and ground her and a smile that made her stomach feel like a million butterflies had all hatched at once.

The kiss (a very public one at that!) took Talia off guard for a split second. In no time, muscle memory kicked in, and she melted into Lupe. "I'm having an amazing time." She beamed up at her with a dreamy look. "Happy Pride." She replied, realizing the moment had faded and helped pivot the conversation. "Everything seems too broad, no?" There it was, the ever-looming time crunch. Talia would never diminish Lupe's job. It was important. The work that she did mattered. Talia felt a little full of herself, thinking she mattered just as much, but she shushed those ugly thoughts away. "Everything is out of the question, but what if we went to Banner n' Blade? I want to get a feel for the Ren fest!"

Talia looked up at her sister with big, brown eyes. A sweet smile on her face as she mustered up all the innocence she had in her body. "I would never lie to you." Which was true, even if Lupe wasn't in the equation. She couldn't lie to them even if she tried, which she has! "Evet! Oh! and popcorn. I saw they had every color of the rainbow. I must know what all the flavors are. Do you think they'll have drinks as big as our heads?" She squealed with delight, all too happy to spend the evening with her sister. The world was their oyster, and the Yildiz sisters were going to have the time of their lives.

He was finally here. Lunar Cove.

It was surreal.

It was exciting.

It was...almost too much to bear, but tonight, he'd have a little help. One of his beloved sisters was on her way over, and after so long apart, he was looking forward to the quality time. (To his shame, Yasin could not remember when they were last in the other's company.) At the sound of a knock, Yasin moved to open the front door, then his arms.

"Well?" He asked Talia. "Aren't you going to come in and hug your favorite brother?"

Talia couldn't believe her luck. After being reunited with her sisters, she never imagined that Yasin would ever find his way to Lunar Cove. It had been years since they last spoke. Not her choice, but life had a funny way of working out. She didn't know how to explain the vampire of it all to her older brother. It was only when she moved to Lunar Cove that she accepted her transformation. Talia wasn't sure if Yasin would be okay with it after everything that happened in their childhood. She wasn't going to worry about that. Nope! Her brother was here, and the Yildiz family felt complete once more.

When Yasin's front door opened, Talia squealed with joy. Her arms wrapped around her brother's frame and pulled him into a tight hug. It all felt so familiar. Like home. She hadn't realized how much she missed this until her throat tightened with emotions she couldn't quite dissect. She cleared her throat to keep her voice from wavering. "You're my only brother, silly! So you're my favorite one by default." She sent a secret apology to Ken. He was her favorite brother-in-law. "But look at you! It's really you! Oh my goodness, look at your beard!"

@taliayildiz

"Hi! I'd say welcome to the Daily Drip, but we're actually just closing up," Leyla flashed the girl at the door of the café an apologetic smile. The brunette before her seemed awfully familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it as to why. She must've seen her in the neighborhood or something. Maybe she lived around Sunny Harbor. "I could get you something for the road though? A coffee? We have some scones left over that I could honestly just throw in for free at this rate, given how it is the end of the day and all... I'm sorry, do I know you?" She blinked over at the brunette before her again as if to check. "I'm so sorry if we met before and I'm totally blanking. It's just that you seem really familiar and yet I can't seem to put a name to the face? Is that awful? Should've just pretended I remember it until it naturally comes up in conversation?"

Talia felt like a tornado had swept through her life ever since she came to New York. Her life was in shambles for quite some time. She had been picking up pieces here and there, finally putting things back together. The cyclone had picked her up and placed her in a new city. She felt like Dorothy Gale without the fun sidekicks and cute dog to keep her company. She was alone, scared, and worried she might have lost someone she had grown to care for. Another person to add to the last. Talia hoped she wouldn't have to add anymore. She knew that stores were closing. Talia didn't want to enter the Daily Drip. She felt so bad for walking in after hours, but she needed something to satisfy her hunger. "I'm so sorry! I know you're closing. I promise I'll be super kick I-" When she walked into the store, she was greeted by a face that she had only seen in her dreams. A wave of memories washed over her like sunlight. Warm and comforting. A hand she missed holding for so many years. A body that lay next to her under the covers, giggling when they were supposed to be sleeping. Talia chalked it down to hallucinations. Wishful thinking that she'd ever find her sister again, but something in her heart tugged at that hope. It screamed at her, saying that she wasn't wrong. "I .. you look very familiar as well. What's your name? Maybe we've met before?" Please, don't let her be wrong. Her heart wouldn't be able to take it if she were wrong. "My name is Talia Yildiz. I'm new to town. Very new. I came here a few days ago, actually. I just, uhm, I was told this is a great place for ..." the word stuck to the tip of her tongue, refusing to move. "For coffee. I was hoping to get some for the road if that's okay?"

Leaning over, Lupe wrapped her arms around Talia from behind, pulling the girl off her feet and twirling her around. "Guess who," she grinned against the side of her head. She loosed her arms enough for Talia to turn around and face her, beaming down at the younger woman. Before she could say anything else, Lupe dangled a water bottle between them. "I know vampires can't get heat stroke, but just in case they suddenly can, please take this top shelf bottle I brought just for you."

While Lupe had not agreed to specifically accompany any one person to the festival, she had asked Talia to meet up with her once she was done making her rounds as a volunteer. With how hot it was out that day, several water booths had been set up, and Lupe had been tasked with making sure they were all kept well stocked, while others ran the booths themselves. (Like Efe, who she'd seen running one nearby the Town Green).

Once she was satisfied Talia had drank enough, she leaned back. "Having a good time so far? Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

Talia didn't need to see who was behind her to know that it was Lupe. The arms around her waist were familiar. Arms she had come to know. Arms she had come to adore being in. The vampire giggled and immediately turned around to face Lupe, her face beaming. In all honesty, Talia was amazed that she had convinced Lupe to come out with her at all. Her 'friend' was always so busy. Most days were filled with empty promises. The hopes of seeing Lupe more than once. Talia knew that this was all her own doing. She was the one who set her expectations too high, only for them to fall. It was a vicious cycle, but she couldn't seem to get out of it. Dare she say she was comfortable if it meant that she could be with Lupe.

"Thank youuuu, you're so sweet," she replied in a sing-song tone, taking the water graciously. "oo, yes, I would hate to be the first vampire to ever get heat stroke; that would be so embarrassing." Now she wondered if it was possible and what other odd things could happen to vampires. Stranger things had happened.

She took a few gulps of the water, letting out a small 'aahh' for dramatics, then smiled back at Lupe once again. "Yes! Everything is so amazing. It's better than I ever imagined it would be. No, it's okay. It wasn't too long. Just a healthy amount of wait."

"Happy Pride!" She exclaimed as she blew a handful of confetti over her sister's way, thankful for a day of partying, drinking, and celebrating. The parade and bar crawl seemed to be just what she needed to get herself out of the funk she had been feeling ever since she had turned herself into a werewolf. And she wasn't exactly mad at getting to spend some time with her sister either, seeing how neither of them had much time to hang out since she had arrived in town. "Though, you're not allowed to ditch me to go make out with some Deputy or anyone else until the parade is over," She warned. Her nose scrunched up as she thought back to the sight she had been subjected to during Capture the Flag.

Talia laughed, bright and bubbly, as confetti came her way. She was on a high after the sporting games. Pride was the cherry on top of winning. The city was bustling, alive, and carefree for the first time in a long time. For a moment, Talia could forget the events from a few months ago. It all felt like some twisted nightmare now that she was walking in a dream. "Happy Pride!" She beamed, hooking arms with her sister as they walked. "What! I would never ditch you." As much as she liked Lupe, her sisters always came first. Kiraz and Leyla were everything to her. "Not even for a very pretty deputy. You have my full attention. So, what's on the agenda?"

"It's bloody hot here, isn't it?" Meena sighed under her breath as she met the other vampire's gaze from where she was standing out on the street with one of those electric fans working over time in her hand and a parasol over her head. "How are you holding up, love?"

Talia loved the sun. She was the sun's biggest fan most days, but in this moment, she felt like a melting popsicle. Her baseball cap could only shield her so much from the sun. She could feel the humidity begin to frizz and curl her hair up. Talia regretted getting ready now that it was all coming undone. "I don't think I've ever sweated this much in my life," she whined, drama turned up to a ten. "Are you doing okay? Do you need water or anything?"

Talia giggled and shook her head. "Not quite! It's an expression when people find stray cats." She held the kitten out a little closer to Ignacio. "Or should I say when cats find people." She smiled as the little kitten purred in response to the affection it was receiving. She swore her heart could have burst from her chest at any moment. "Jean-Claude! What a sophisticated name for a handsome gentleman of a cat! Oh, I understand. It's the circle of life, you know? Cats chase birds!" She did, however, feel bad for the birds in that moment, even if it was a natural part of life. "Please! I would absolutely love that! They can be best friends!"

"Yes, it seems like you have been," Brie took a small step back as her fellow vampire held the cat out to her. Thankfully, Talia had been the one to be chosen and not her, but she also wasn't about to touch the little thing in case. Lady would hardly be happy if she came home reeking of another animal after all. "Should we not call someone? Like a vet or a shelter?" Or animal control? She wondered only to quickly shake her head at the mention of co-parenting. "Oh no. All yours. They're adorable, don't get me wrong. But Lady would be furious if I were to parent anyone else and definitely a bath. Maybe three," Brie decided, being able to smell the little hairball all the way from there.

"It's like this thing people made up for when they find random cats! It's a place, an idea that sends your forever cat your way." It was hard to explain what the cat distribution center was. At first, Talia had believed there was an actual center that gifted cats to people. "I have been. I've waited for this moment all my life!" She beamed at her friend with such childlike excitement. She had longed for a pet of her own for so long, and now she had one. It felt like the stars had aligned for her in that moment. Her smile faltered a bit. Those were all logical steps to take when finding a lost kitten. However, Talia wanted to be selfish just this once and keep the sweet baby for herself. "I think taking him to the vet would be the best option. Just to make sure they're all good." Talia hoped to herself that no chip would be found. "That's fair! I would hate to get you in trouble with Lady. That betrayal would be felt forever. They do need a bath, don't you, you cute little stinky butt?" She lifted the kitten and cooed at it.