Valerie

“In that case, remind mind me never to say that again.” He rolled his eyes with a laugh. “I wish guys with long hair didn’t look so…. bum-y.”

“Now I’m never reminding you so you forget and say it anyway.” Valerie smiled innocently. “Yeah, I’m not into the scruffy bum look either. Like, have they never heard of shampoo? Or a brush? Maybe they just need a good coach in the ways of proper hair care. Or maybe I need to be looking at different guys.”

Quinn sighed, pinching at the bridge of her nose. “Okay, okay, here’s what we do. If Aoife asks, just deny everything. Tell her that the lady overreacted and you were a bit blunt with her because she was being harsh with you. Besides Aoife is a cool boss, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Every time I’ve heard that line, it was never fine,” Valerie sighed. “But you’re right about one thing; Aoife is a very cool boss. Sometimes I wonder if she’s too cool, but I don’t think that’s a thing. Anyway, yeah, I guess I just won’t say anything unless she brings it up.”

“I kind of miss Ilvermorny, is that just me?”

“Uh, no, definitely not. I hate this whole adult thing. I mean, it’s kinda cool I guess. Sometimes. Mostly I miss seeing you and Blaise everyday.”

“Okay, okay, okay, slow down, repeat it again. What happened, now?”

@valcarter

Valerie huffed, but started over. “A woman came into the store all up in arms about how I sold her a bad bag of chips or something, and I maybe kind of forgot about good customer service for a minute and unleashed the sarcastic goblin that lives in me on her. And now I’m worried that she complained to Aoife and that I might get fired.”

“You know, it’s kind of weird not going to the winter gala,” Lo replied. “I feel like I should be at Ilvermorny right now, at the gala. Do you want to go get get some hot cocoa?”

@valcarter

“Yeah, it’s like, you go to this thing three years in a row and then just stop. Feels weird,” Valerie agreed. “I’m always up for hot cocoa, let’s do this.” 

“Have I ever told you I’m jealous of your hair? Because I’m so fucking jealous of your hair.”

@valcarter

“Mm, probably, but y’know how much I love hearing how people are jealous of me,” Val joked, smiling at her friend.

“Okay, what do you want to do first? You can get first pick.”

@valcarter

“Si, you know I’m terrible at making decisions,” Valerie groaned, taking in all the parts of the festival as she looked around. “Let’s go check out the escape room.”

“Is it seriously the best to be out of school? I kind of hate you, you know - at least for the next eight months.” She grinned. “I just want out.”

@valcarter

Valerie smiled, “It’s the best. Sometimes I wish I was still there ‘cause like now I have to be an adult and existing was way easier when it was at school, and I miss the hell outta the Tarantulas. But yeah otherwise it’s just the greatest. You’re gonna love it.”

“Ooh, I love it when you use your customer service voice with me.” Juni smirked as she walked up to her. “I was bored. Needed to get out of the Inn. What’s going on down here?”

“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind,” Valerie joked. “What’s going on? Well,” she gestured around, vaguely, “Clearly a lot. We’re packed. I haven’t even had time to restock.” The shelves were full. She’d indeed had time to restock.

Blaise chuckled. “Knowing somebody like the back of your hand is one of those perks that comes with being roommates with somebody for seven years.” She couldn’t help but remember all the fond memories she had from The Wolf Lodge over the years. “I swear on Seraphina’s soul, if you choose some Star Wars shit over me, I’m hitting you with this….” Blaise looked around her. “This rubber duck.” The soft plastic toy let out a high pitched wheeze. “Good answer.”

Valerie snorted, “Oh my god, okay, let me just close up and grab my stuff and I’ll meet you outside.” She did just that, locking up a few minutes early. They never got busy this late, so she was sure Aoife wouldn’t mind. At least, she hoped not, but that could be tomorrow’s problem. Meeting her friend outside the store, she smiled, “Okay, since you’re monopolizing my night, what are we doing?”

“I know how they’re made, and I know there are different materials over in Europe. I just don’t know how to actually do it.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s kinda the important part. I don’t personally know any wandmakers or I’d suggest one that you can try to apprentice with or something.”

“Oh! Yes! Happily! What am I playing and when?”

“I need you to Rick Roll Silas. Literally there’s no reason other than I want him caught totally off guard and it’s funny ‘cause that’s such an old joke, who would see it coming nowadays, y’know? Can you do it?”

“I feel like a rotting potato with a shitty sewing machine when I compare myself to her.” Kendall pulled a face. “I hope she does. I’d have to yell at her if she didn’t.”

“I’m glad I can whine about this to you, and you understand and feel my pain. Like, obviously I can’t go to Vi about my woes with her being better than me, and Silas listens when I complain about everything else so I don’t need to pile this on top.” Valerie nodded, “I’d yell with you, honestly. The rest of the Tarantulas probably would, too.”

“Oh yeah definitely,” she replied. “I have to keep my cafe job too. But thing of all the little kid we can spark happy dances into, so they can love dance too.”

“That’s disgustingly adorable, and we need to do this, like, right now immediately. I need to spark happy dances into kids, Vi. We need to get to brainstorming.”

“Annoy Silas? I really don’t think that boy can even get annoyed,” Lo replied letting out a small laugh.

“You’re right. Well, then he can join us. The more the merrier. Or, we can go out. What’re you feeling up to?”