Vee-Vacious!

If there was one thing that May liked in a person it was someone who was easily agreeable! Some people might categorize that as go with the flow to put a more positive spin on it. She smiled, squeezing their arms together and pressing closer briefly in some semblance of a hug.

"Wonderful, let's go!" she said, now having no problems in directing them along the sidewalk into town and the direction of the train station. "And I'm sure there's plenty to know. For instance, I didn't know you had a sister!"

This, of course, was a lie. May had done a deep dive into the grand majority of people her and her sister's ages, knowing that they would be peers. Vee, being her own sister's roommate, had been combed with a fine toothed comb. The last thing May wanted was to send her beloved sisters into a room with some weirdo. From what she could tell, Vee wasn't someone who was going to be cutting April's hair and running off to a sorcerer to hex her– but she also didn't trust people not to do such things. (Especially ones who were assistance to one called Great and Powerful!)

May takes the lead, which Vee is pretty experienced in the von Drakes doing. They had a confidence and self-assuredness that Vee could only dream of. April is who Vee had the most experience with and Vee would say that May's approach was softer and gentler but assured all the same.

It surprises Vee that May didn't know they and Luz were related. Of course, just from looking, you might not think that. They had different origins, but they were siblings all the same.

Maybe Luz and Vee looked like best friends more than anything, that wouldn't surprise Vee. They hung out in Krantz in different areas but often came to visit each other. Actually, at May's prompting for more information, Vee has to think and nearly walks into the traffic if not for May holding their arm.

"Oh, Older. By just a month. I'm adopted, actually, so - um - Luz is a fourth year like me. Some of our American credits didn't transfer, so we stuck it out another year - yay. She and Selene live in the first dorm when you come down the hallway."

Was that too much information?

The light changes and they start across the road.

On the other hand, how many people could say they got styling tips from the Howl Pendragon?

Luz pushed the thoughts away as Vee began to talk again, listening intently when she heard her sibling's reagents hum in that way that meant they needed Luz's full attention. As they spoke, Luz's smile grew. "That's a great idea, Vee!" she said, nodding her head fast enough to threaten the structural integrity of her buns. "You should explore every possibilty! You-" Luz hushed herself when Vee did, hearing the same tap of feet and the heavy breathing of someone who was rushing without running. Luz listened to them go, but when she turned back to Vee, they changed the subject.

Luz pouted at them, but let Vee lead the conversation. Luz knew she could get ahead of herself with this stuff. But Luz would remember (probably) and would bring it up again.

Vee was so brilliant and talented. They deserved every opportunityu to show the world their talent!

"Yeah, I'm always down for a roadtrip! I need some lace for my new Azura jacket anyways."

Still, if Vee withdrew too much, it would worry Luz more.

What would their lives going in different directions be like? One day, Luz wouldn't be a few doors away. Panini would go with Luz and Mama would tell Vee to pursue their dreams. But what were Vee's dreams?

"I also owe you so much fabric glue," Vee says, recalling it for their 3D midterm project. So much. I don't know who I thought I was trying to do a sculpture that included layers of felt, but that past me has been thoroughly humbled."

Vee pauses.

"It's weird to think that we won't be students this time next year. Unless we go to grad school to avoid the real world but somehow I don't think I want to do that. Do you ever think about moving back to Gravesfield?"

Vee was so sweet and cute. They were easy to talk to as well. Plus, they never went against April, which she really appreciated. It made their living space so...peaceful. <3 Not to mention, Vee had connections to people like Howl Pendragon.

So, April was thrilled when Vee had said she wanted April's advice.

From April's perspective, she was a very worldly person, who had experienced a lot in her life. It simply made complete sense to her that Vee would seek her guidance. In fact, it was maybe one of the smartest things that Vee had done since they started rooming together!

"Oh, you know!" April waved a hand breezily through the air. "Classes are classes. They're going fine. I am playing Isemene in Antigone. So that is fun."

[outfit]

Over and over again, though, April proved to be a friend to Vee and Vee was really starting to pre-emptively miss not being roommates anymore.

"Yea, I get that," Vee says, though knows classes aren't the same for them. They're down to part time now, seeing as they've fulfilled most of their reqs. Now they were doing The Lucky Cat, Accounting for Howl Pendragon, and some freelance graphic work on the side! Pkus, baseball was starting and Vee missed softball enough to recommit. Even if they couldn't over hand pitch to save their life.

"It sounds fun! I've never been one for the stage, it's really cool that you can!" Vee hopes that sounds like a compliment. "Do you want to be a performer full time after you graduate? Do you think performance is your... I don't know... Dream?"

It's like -- okay... Vee had never dated anyone. Vee had sort of gone on dates, like to Prom with Dev two years ago! But... Vee didn't know if they would ruin their friendship with Dot by even asking! Even IMPLYING! Like, hello!

Alexa, play "Ruin the Friendship" by Taylor Swift, except don't because Vee didn't keep up with Taylor Swift and had NO idea what the song was about.

GAH.

"Hey Dot!" Vee says, catching Dot outside the dorms. Vee's smile is probably all wrong, isn't it? "Um, if you're not too busy, do you want to go grab something from Hatter's or something? I was getting restless studying at the dorms and wondered if you wanted to hang out?"

April lived with confidence, totally self-assured... sometimes risky, sometimes reckless. Meanwhile, Vee wasn't like that. Vee lacked self-esteem, lacked certainty. Was a 'safe' person, never wanting to stray too far from convention and what was stable.

It made this conversation hard, but Vee had offered to get a coffee with April and specifically said that they were looking for advice if April would be so kind as to humor them.

Vee sips on their mocha carefully, watching even April's perfect posture. Vee doesn't know if that comes from her upbringing or her dancer's background.

"So," Vee starts, knowing that maybe this could entirely be a wash or that April might laugh (rightfully so)... "How do you feel... like classes are going?"

Because, yea, Vee doesn't know how to start a normal conversation.

Vee certainly had that trait in spades -- one only had to look at their planner to see that -- but their safety and identity were the exception. Not that Luz didn't understand why or blame them at all, it was just unfair! Vee would be a basilisk their whole life, those limits would exist that entire time too. Luz didn't want them giving up the things they wanted forever.

(She often forgot that technically, those limits existed for her too, now. She was human, but she was also undeniably more in a way she hadn't been before. Could she hide as well as Vee could? Maybe if she had as much practice, but she'd only been a sorcerer for a handful of years.)

Vee knows that being Howl's assistant wouldn't get them through their entire life, but it was one more tether to town that Vee wanted to cling to for as long as they could. Sometimes, Vee thinks about Gravesfield with longing, for old friends and that high school camaraderie. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with Pride U. The truth of it really was... the world was so much more open now. And that... that was scary.

"I feel like I might be looking at this whole thing wrong, too. I mean, you know me. I always have some sort of plan but maybe I'm going into everything too narrow minded. I was thinking about asking some of our friends - maybe - what they were going to do for internships and what they planned on after uni. You know? Or see if any grad students had ideas?" Vee feels silly saying this. "I planned out my whole life without really considering if these things were possible. There must be something I'm missing. Some avenue that I can pursue in a Magick-friendly place."

Vee quiets for a moment as a door down the hall opens. Footsteps... and they disappear as another door opens and shuts.

It's awful to still be afraid. Ben would scold them. Ben was ten-times the survivalist that Vee was. Not that Vee would talk to Luz about that. Vee didn't need Luz to worry about another bask in town on top of literally everything else.

"Hey, I need some new paints actually. Maybe we can hit up that fabric shop too if you want to come with?"

And this was a genuine question, okay! June had sort of heard of the more obscure~ (June's words, not mine) sexualities and romantic identities. She tried not to judge that stuff —she was very live-and-let-live, let your freak flag wave, etc. But she didn't know if that's what Vee was talking about or if she was like, one of those tortured young persons forever scarred by their parents' divorce.

You know, like June.

Kidding.

Maybe.

June liked dating, but she hadn't actually fallen in love. She didn't think anything was wrong with her; rather, everyone else wasn't good enough. Yet.

Sooooo... what was Vee's deal, especially after that super adorable description of Dot?

"It just sounds like you really like Dot. I think you should ask her out," said June, smiling. (Though whenever June smiled, she couldn't help but look like she was plotting something, just a little.)

Why not falling in love for real? Or why not ask Dot Flutterwing out? Well, realistically it's because Vee didn't know if that's what Vee wanted and didn't want to force Dot along for that adventure. Like, if Vee had asked Dot out and it was going great and then Vee realized that, actually, no???

Vee Anguille just doesn't really date.

Never has, never thought they would...

"I mean, I think she's great but I don't know if I really want to date anyone? Or, if I do, what if it doesn't work out? I don't want to - I don't know - not be friends with Dot anymore because I messed something up, you know?"

They were all nerds like Vee but that was good-- to be expected, really. Nerd love was so adorable. June's eyes glinted as she imagined texting her sisters and asking them who they thought might be the best couple. Vee and Marcy? Vee and Devyn? Or Vee and Dot?

June didn't think Vee and Marcy made sense. No obvious chemistry, and way too similar. She barely knew Dev, and Dot...

Well, June kind of liked Dot. She was more fun than the others. She had attitude.

Vee probably needed a little more attitude.

"Hm? Oh, I mean-- I have a boyfriend," said June, catching herself at the last minute. "He doesn't go here. He's actually a professional golfer. So wait, tell me more about Dot. I think she's kind of hot, don't you?" June pressed, grinning.

Well, it's sort of a mercy.

Vee laughs a little, probably a bit more awkardly than they wanted. "Yea, she's pretty," Vee says, trying to sound totally normal. "I mean, it's so silly, but I don't know -- I think she's got a great personality and we're both sort of into similar Sidney things and other - like - hobbies. And they're just sort of fun to be around. Always generous and willing to be helpful. And really thoughtful. I don't actually spend a lot of in-person time with her, but when I do, she's just sort of radiant? But maybe that's the pixie stuff, aha."

Vala Anguille, shut up.

"But anyways, that's not the point. I don't think it'd work out. I'm not really the fall-in-love for realsies type so."

He had fully assumed that meant they were the first to go. As the one who spent the most time in Spine Brook, it was most likely that they were going to be discovered and killed, before the angry mob formed to hunt down the rest. Apparently, he had overestimated the town's sorcerers.

Or, they had underestimated Vee.

As it turned out, they hadn't been discovered at all. Especially not if they managed to return and live amongst their people. Who had it been, then? Did Kon not cover up their tracks properly? Had one of the Elders slipped in their own age?

Maybe it was something he had done.

It didn't matter, in the end. It had happened. He fully understood the need to become someone else, though he was a bit surprised they had kept the name. That they'd held onto any part of their former identity at all.

While questions roiled on the tip of his tongue, he figured he owed an explanation first. "I got in a fight with one of them. After knocking him out, I took on his form and ID, managing to slip past the rest. Got the first flight to the mainland," he explained rotely, as if explaining a trip to the dentist rather than the most horrific moments of his life. He didn't allow any of it to show.

"What do you mean you were adopted by a coven member? You lived with sorcerers permanently?"

"That must have been difficult," Vee says, feeling a deep empathy for their sibling. "Was it lonely?"

Nez, though, wasn't the sort to talk about himself in these ways. If Nez had a solution, Vee wasn't to worry about him. Still, they did.

"I did," Vee admits, before realizing to swap tongues. "I did. I was adopted by one that was sympathetic to basilisks. He didn't care what I was, he'd defected from The Coven System and found a life with a Mundus." It felt weird to explain this. This had been Vee's life for so long, yet, Vee could never forget where they came from. And who they lost, even if the memory of Nez's face -- true face -- had become blurry over time.

"They were nice, but I know not all were that way. If I'm honest, I figured, it was my best chance. And if it didn't work out, I could always run again. You know us... always running."

It wasn't entirely incorrect, though.

"Oh wonderful! We have a great deal of charmed jewelry but if you're looking for something more specific, I did just go through and charge many of our crystal carvings to add to their potency for spellwork or drawing in a certain energy." He knew that he probably sounded like a shill but he genuinely believed that any of the above could be helpful.

Martin saw the way Vee glanced at his bracelet but thought nothing of it. He wore an impressive amount of jewelry, changing it out on a whim each day. Not only did he need to carry all of them around but he had learned how to enjoy accessorizing. "Oh! Of course! How kind of you. How is that going, by the way? Enjoying the work?"

"Oh, yes! I mean, it's daunting. Howl really is a Great and Powerful Wizard, so there's a bit of imposter syndrome there. But overall, they're great! It's an honor," Vee says, earnestly.

"I think I should get something for Howl, but I don't want to look like I'm being - I don't know - unprofessional?" Vee doesn't really know how their relationship worked. For the most part, it was professional. Vee was sent invoices. Vee sent back itemized financial reports. "So I guess I'll stick with the charms then. So, I guess for one, I'd like one for protection! I don't know much about crystals--" (Other than a general taste) "--so I could really use your help, Mr Martin. And then there are a few others, but I guess I have to focus so I don't get too off track."

Because of course the Great Wizard Howl Pendragon had an annual style guide. Yes, they kept their wardrobe mostly black, but each year they focused on different cuts, silhouettes, and materials — and that made the occasional pop of color even more eye-catching.

“I’ll also forward my invoices,” said Howl. “Just so we’re not totally off-track here. I did hire you because you were the best mathematical and financially minded of the candidates. I shan’t get too distracted by the potential wardrobe makeover.” 

Mmmm. Vee needed this to go well, and besides, they didn't want to let Howl down! Howl had chosen Vee, so Vee had to be the best they could be for them.

"Well, I'll appreciate any input you have for me all the same!" Vee says, brightly and cheerfully. Despite their anxieties, they really were excited to be in this position and felt honored to do so. "And I can have a weekly report for you then? Or would you like them on a more or less frequent basis?"

And sure. Valid. June actually didn't do a ton of dating in high school either, between tennis and some horseback riding (their boarding school had stables). But hook-ups? She had plenty of hook-ups.

"Totally," said June. No reason to tease Vee about it, not when she had a more important follow-up...

"What about now, though?" June grinned. "Do you like anyone?"

Vee does hope that tangent is over, but then comes a question Vee didn't -- and never did -- know how to answer. They hesitate.

"Well, I don't know," they answer honestly, "I mean. Maybe. Sort of? I don't know, I don't think I've ever had a crush on anyone, I've just sort of had people that I've wanted to be really close friends with. Like, there's Marcy Wu, right? We have an art thing going on, but it's like -- I want to be her friend! Not like, date her. And there's Devyn Morey, who I went to Prom with once, but it was as friends. I think Dot Flutterwing is super sweet, but it's not like I want to go out? But these are all people I'd want to be really close with."

Vee was just describing friends, weren't they? Sort of. Strong friendship feelings that made Vee want to dissolve sometimes because of how strong they were.

"But what about you, June? Anyone you've got your eye on?"

Leaning against the counter, Riley began to tap their fingers across the top. "Okay, scratch everything I already said because now I gotta try that lychee thing. Any chance you can give it a hint of, like, lemon or lime, though? Need a hint of sour added in."

"How are things at the house?" Vee asks as they work. "Anything exciting coming up for you?"