milk & honey

Nevaeh tried to hold back but the snort of her laughter fell from her too quickly as she looked at the girl from head to toe and nodded trying to hold back the laughter that was gathering in the base of her throat, manicured fingers reach up as she pushes the strands of brown locks from her vision and clocks her head to the side pursing her lips. 

‘‘Am I really being told my actions aren’t cute by a stripper?’‘ She asks in utter disbelief and shakes her head. ‘’Oh sweetie, what you have to remember is the alcohol that I’m buying in this place and the money I’m spending helps pay your wages even if it’s zero point six pence…all contributes and I might be absolutely slaughtered but at least my clothes are still on.’’ She shook her head as she turned on her heel, which of course caused her stumble slightly and made her way to the bar.

When did customer service because such an effort to get? Yikes. But then again what Nevaeh had to remember was that she’d been out of the game of a normal job for a long time and although she was drunk this early there had been a reason for it….maybe six drinks ago but who was counting? 

Vala laughed a full unbridled laugh as she looked down her nose at the smashed woman. “You really getting something out of slut shaming me?” Vala pushed her hair away from her face, her smile pressed dimples into her cheeks. “You’re smashed in a strip club before five all alone. Huni lets not spilt hairs on whats the most pathetic scenario here. I work for my money and feel no shame in it. The real problem might be your drinking or the crushing shame you must feel every time you think of embracing your sexuality since mine is clearly such a problem for you. 

“Rarely,” Noah chuckled, grinning at Vala. He worked mostly nights and during the day he tries to be with Issa. Sleep was never really in the equation for him. “I hate costume shopping. As much as I love the parties, I hate this part.” He started looking through some racks as well. “Where is this underground party you’ve heard of?”

Vala wrinkled her nose, “The no sleep club- we need a motto or something.” Pulling a unicorn costume from the racks she held it to her frame to get his opinion. “It’s expensive and difficult. I can’t be anything unless it’s a slutty version of whatever- and don’t get me wrong I’m pro hoe but damn it’s cold.” Biting her lip Vala bounced up on the tips of her toes, “It’s in an abandoned part of the subway underground with like circus acts and all that happy shit. It’s going to be twisted though- you need an invite and I got one this year if you want to be my plus one.”

Veronica furiously wiped away the bubbly drink from her phone, careful to get all the little crevices. Her phone was like her baby - as sad as that sounds. “You could have just deleted his phone number. That would have been a sufficient enough plan. And it’s not like you haven’t drunk texted anyone before.”

“And give up on my flare for the dramatics?” Vala scoffed and shook her head. “If it’s broken I’ll buy you a new one with his number blocked.” Vala licked her lips and ran her fingers through her hair. “He’s bad news bears, and we’re talking about you- not me.”

Holly was thankful she’d managed to keep hold of at least two of her dogs, but the fact half of her little pack were currently on the run was enough to send her into a spin. When she heard another voice, though, she relaxed a little, a gentle laugh escaping her as she realised she recognised the other person yelling. At Vala’s words, she shook her head, nose wrinkling. “Way too many,” she answered. “They’re definitely living up to their names today.”

Vala laughed and hooked her fingers through their leashes and pulled the two rowdy dogs away from the tree. Her small frame was being pulled and lead by them back towards Holly. “I can’t imagine having four dogs. I think it’d be like having four toddlers at once.”

JAMIE: Not a fan of the color.

VALA: What color would you have me go with?

Kai squeezed extra tight as Vala wrapped her thin arms around his torso. She was so small his head fit a top hers as they hugged. He kissed the crown of her dark tendrils only to receive a kiss on the cheek from her right after. Laughter erupted from his burly chest, and in a voice that didn’t sound sincere but was he said, “Yeah, I missed you too.” He helped Vala with her coat by putting it away in the foyer’s closet and continued. “Red wine it is ! I am making steak medallions which will be served over a bed of pasta, Gorgonzola, and balsamic dressing. You-” Malachi said with a smile, as he took both of Vala’s hands in his. “-are my guest, and as such won’t have to lift a finger.” Although Kai found many things about her to be entrancing her cooking was not one of them. Not that he minded doing the task himself. “Come on in, though. I’ll pour you a glass.”

Of course he’d been drinking since he got home, so Vala had some catching up to do. After his parent’s accident Malachi found himself drinking more and more often, but he had too many other people on his mind to worry about himself.

After he poured Vala a glass of red he returned to the stove top, tending to the medallions and pasta noodles. “So,” Conversation flowed easily between the two of them, no matter how much time had passed. Malachi felt at ease in her presence. “How ya been?” He glanced back over his shoulders to flash a smirk at the petite brunette in his kitchen. “School going well? You’re…” A beat of silence passed. He acted as though the food required too much of his attention but really he just didn’t know how to ask what he wanted to. “..happy?” 

The tightness of his hug flooded Vala with memories and desires. She was reminded of why she cared for Kai in the first place, reminded of that no matter the time a part she never failed to drop whatever she was doing whenever he called. Tonight was no exception; she had, had a date. A nice guy from school in her study group. He wanted to own his own business one day and Vala thought that made him interesting, that his smile lit up a room but the moment Kai came home the other man paled and she knew nothing could compare. She hoped he meant it, that he had really missed her; though she wished the circumstances for her return were different. Shrugging out of her coat she frowned for less than a beat when he didn't notice the outfit; more important things on his mind, she had been naive to think an outfit could be enough to distract him from the terrible aching he must have been feeling. Vala's features lit up looking up at him, her hazel orbs lifting to his, "I accidentally start one kitchen fire-" She teased a fond memory despite the fire. "It smells delicious." She affirmed with a tilt of her head, her lashes fluttering down against her cheeks a moment as she nodded and followed after him.

Wrapping her fingers around the glass of wine Vala pressed it to her lips and took a large drink, her eyes stayed on him as he moved about the kitchen and she wondered what he must have been feeling and even more she longed to make it all better and felt a tug against her heart knowing that was the one thing she couldn't do for him- only time could heal.  Vala drummed her fingers against her glass. " School is-" wrinkling her nose she took another large gulp, "I think I'm going to change majors again."

ABOUT:

The first twelve years of Vala's life were a stretch from perfect; her small family was on their way to pick up their eldest son from a sleepover. However, a horrific car accident instantly killed her father and her mother later died from complications due to the crash and the premature labor of Vala. Vala's brother being only seven years older than his sister the two were placed in the foster system as there was no family able or willing to take the pair.

The fostering system worked diligently to keep them together, and for years they bounced around homes; some families offering to adopt Vala only to change their mind when a younger infant came along or when the agency attempted to place both children together. It was a long road for Vala, and it was only getting started. The homes ranged; some were wonderful havens, a reprieve away from the woeful excuses the system had placed them in before. However, the last residence was by far the worst.

Vala was ten years old and a handful, pushing buttons because she could to get a rise out of the particularly abusive man who she'd come to know as Dave.  Dave was a "functioning" alcoholic who liked to hit on little girls, to belittle and mock Vala whenever she cried, to force her into cruel and unusual punishments while his wife insisted her unruly and "bratty" behavior warranted it. However, one day he was going too far. Shaking and tossing Vala's small body to the point it looked bleak for the little girl and her older brother in a fit of rage and in an attempt to protect Vala snapped and murdered Dave.

Just shy of eighteen the eldest Hale was tried for manslaughter as an adult; the plight of the underprivileged kids lost to a broken system.  He was charged with fourteen years in a prison near the max sentence, and the only safety Vala had ever known was taken from her in a flash.  However, things made a small turn around, a well-off aunt who had previously been unable to care for Vala and her brother heard news of what had happened and took Vala into her home officially adopting her at just barely eleven years old.  Her new life was a good one, in a nice neighborhood with picket fences and neighbors, she couldn't help but love.

It was almost enough to take away the sting of losing her brother, but sometimes it's too late, sometimes there is too much damage that no amount of normalcy will ever make it go away.  Vala grew up wild, flirtatious and in need of constant affection and thus surrounded herself with a slew of "friends" and became known as quite the party girl. She spent her nights using her fake I.D to get into clubs and her weekends partying with friends. By the time she was eighteen she had perfected sneaking out of her families home, and one fateful night tragedy unfolded. Experimenting with drugs her friend Naomi O.Ded and in a frenzy of fear and panic, Vala attempted CPR, cracking her friend's ribs and being the ultimate cause of her death. It was ruled an accident, and no charges were brought against Vala, but the death of Naomi has haunted her ever since that fateful day.

PERSONALITY:

JAMIE: I... think you sent this to the wrong person.