the fire found a home.

          ❛❛ I DON’T DO CONDITIONS, ❞  nala  retorted.  that  was  the  easiest  way  to  get  played ,  taking  vitani’s  word  for  fact  and  agreeing  to  some  sort  of  trade  off.  did  they  think  she  was  born  yesterday ?  it  was  clear  that  vitani  was  here  for  a  reason  -  maybe  they  needed  something  from  her  -  and  nala  would  be  naive  not  to  consider  any  ulterior  motive.  if  it  was  important  enough  to  them ,  any  objection  would  be  a  bluff.  if  nala  had  learned  anything  from  scar’s  rule  of  pride  rock  it  was  to  never  offer  more  information  than  what  was  necessary.  and  she  knew  that  anything  vitani  had  in  that  folder  could  be  fake  or  worthless  to  her  cause.  and  any  condition  they  had  could  be  detrimental.  ❛❛ so  if  you’ve  come  to  play  some  sort  of  game ,  i’m  afraid  i’m  not  interested. ❞

...

“Then let me ask you. As a favor, if this helps you at all.” They placed the binder of papers down in Nala’s reach. The information on the inside was nothing but tidbits of what they’d thought useful, memories they had poured over all night. Vitani wasn’t allowed to ask questions. While she only knew what she heard in whispers, she was around long enough to see things. The family may not have cared about her, but they knew of her blind loyalty. It had been taken advantage of, now it was her advantage. But someone couldn’t win if they only knew one side of the story. As much as Vitani would like to get revenge, Nala stood a better chance. In the end, it didn’t matter how the pieces fell into place as long as they did. Their gaze, unblinking, didn’t waver. “When you burn his empire to the ground, don’t let his wife get away unscathed.” She leaned forward, voice low. “I need you to make sure Zira suffers.”

          NALA WAS GETTING LOST  in  the  details  when  it  came  to  her  search  into  this  maleficent  character.  her  name  was  popping  up  more  and  more  as  time  went  on ,  but  the  girl  still  found  herself  coming  up  short  when  it  came  to  actual  information  on  who  she  was  and  what  her  motives  were.  and  that  was  what  she  was  doing  now ,  hunched  over  her  macbook ,  when  there  was  a  knock  on  her  door.  she  picked  herself  up  and  crossed  the  room  to  open  up ,  only  to  be  met  with  one  of  the  very  last  people  she’d  expect  at  her  door  after  she  so  accusingly  barged  into  theirs.   ❛❛  peace  -  that  is  a  word  you  know ?  ❞  she  arched  a  brow  as  she  examined  vitani  momentarily.   admittedly ,  it  wasn’t  until  she  saw  the  giant  folder  tucked  under  their  arm  that  she  made  the  decision  to  step  aside  and  let  them  in.  perhaps  this  was  a  moment  where  she  should  watch  her  tone.   ❛❛  who  is  this  hostility  directed  towards ? ❞  she  asked  carefully. 

...

“Roughly,” Vitani replied, unbothered by the remark. They would expect nothing less. In fact, she’d be a little disappointed if there wasn’t some banter. Moving inside, she invited herself to a seat; now was not a time for manners, and manners weren’t their thing anyway. “A well deserved target.” A quick sweep around the room to ensure no one else was there, they met Nala’s eyes, hopeful she could see the honesty in them. If not, it wouldn’t matter. They were sure she would still be curious. “You weren’t bullshitting us. I saw Maleficent. Scar really is bringing his business here, isn’t he?” That alone was enough to piss them off. Out of all of the places in the world, why did he have to choose not only the country, the state, but the town she’d been banished to? “I don’t know much. I don’t know if any of it is even helpful. But my knowledge,” they lifted the folder from their lap, “is yours. On one condition.”

Perry heaved a sigh of relief when he saw his friend, flopping down beside him with a heavy sigh. “I just don’t want you to be wandering around drunk and fall in a hole. Broken necks aren’t easy to recover from.”

He paused to look at him, the witch’s hat he was wearing shielding him somewhat from the other boy. He worried about Cae more than he’d ever admit to him and the idea that something was bothering him upset him. “Were you drinking for fun or?” He let his question dangle and then looked to the grave where an old, particularly cranky looking ghost stared back at them.

Perry swallowed and pretended not to see her as he scooted closer to his friend. “It’s a nice night…” he said absently.

“I’ve wandered around drunk by myself plenty,” Caelan remarked, though it wouldn’t help his case if he listed all the things he’d gotten into doing just that. He’d never seriously injured himself, but Perry was not wrong to be looking out for him. It was bound to happen eventually.

“Fun, and or,” he shrugged. Tonight nothing much had been on his mind, he just figured the event would be more enjoyable with a few shots. The fact that he needed those shots to enjoy himself, though --- was that a problem in itself? He’d been relying on not staying sober a lot lately. He was sure he could stop if he wanted to. The easiest truth to accept was, he didn’t want to.

“That handsome and feisty?” Amira questioned. “The vampire might win, but only in changing you. You would be a worthy addition to their undead army.” They saw each other so frequently, it took her a moment to realize they had never had a conversation, a moment, like this before. Just walking, being silly, only the two of them. Even when they were hanging out casually, it was with other people, inhibiting these kinds of random conversations and openness. “Promise me you’ll still be my friend even when you’re a vampire?” She asked, raising a pinky into the air. 

Caelan was nothing like any guy Amira had dated before. At first, in those early stages of her crush, she had been able to use that to explain it away. He was a new friend and a new sort of person and she was curious - but that train of thought had not lasted long. The full weight of her feelings had crashed down on her soon enough and she had struggled beneath them ever since. She might not have been the romantic fool thinking she was already in love - but she couldn’t deny the amount of time spent with him on her mind, the amount of time spent wishing she could talk with him, questioning if she would look foolish for texting him for no other reason to see how his day was going.

“If you have to question whether I’d fight off a monster for you then I have failed you as a friend already.” She laughed softly. “You’re not the only one ready to do whatever they have to keep the other safe. Vampires, ghosts… throw in a werewolf even. I’ll fight him too, if it stood between you and a good day. Amira’s got you.”

...

“I would make a pretty good vampire,” Caelan thought aloud, “who could let such good genes go to waste?” That part was a joke. For the most part. Caelan was certain he wasn’t just delusional, but somewhat attractive. Maybe a little too certain. “Promise.” He wasted no time wrapping his own pinky around hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I can’t let my head get big and forget who I am, I’ll have to make sure I still hang out with a few mortals. Or, you know, you could join the undead army too. We’d never die... or get old and wrinkly.”

His grin faltered slightly, as light as the topic was it got him thinking. “A friend,” he repeated, the question is that all I am to you? almost falling from his lips, but he pressed them together and didn’t let it pass through. What else would she call him? They had never done anything beyond flirting, usually when one was too buzzed to control what was coming out of their mouths. He had neither stated how he felt nor asked how she did, it didn’t change anything, he still had his reasons for the distance; but now he wondered. Was that how she looked at him? Did she genuinely see him as nothing more than a friend? The idea stung, more than it should have.

“You’d have it handled. A werewolf is basically a big puppy, anyway.” A small attempt to continue the conversation, but he was distracted. He’d continue to obsess over it until he asked. “Would I still be your friend if I wasn’t, you know,” Cae made a vague gesture in the air, “just generally a horrible person all around?” She’d heard more than anyone else, when he was forced to share in therapy. She wouldn’t know the extent of his issues, but she knew about his anger, his lack of self control, his graveyard of relationships and the string of broken hearts he’d left behind.

               ADELPHIE’S EXPRESSION SHIFTED TO SADNESS, she hated the thought of anyone being in pain of any kind. Her protective older sister instinct kicked in as she decided she wasn’t happy enough with his answer. She couldn’t live with herself without checking him first for any bumps. “That is some terrible thinking– a full night’s sleep is so important for growth, and– for repair and– okay that’s it! I’m checking sit still.. where is my flashlight…” she mumbled, fumbling around her first aid kit. “Well Caelan i’m Adelphie and you don’t need to apologize but you do need to sit still for me” she began. “Please don’t fuss about the mess its my job to pick it up.”

...

“I get a full night’s sleep. Occasionally.” Even if he wanted to deny her worries, he couldn’t; he knew he wasn’t being healthy, not in one aspect of his life. Emotionally, physically, mentally. Staying up too late, staying out too long, surrounding himself with the wrong people and ignoring the voice inside of his head. “What are you checking?” His eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “Why do you need a flashlight? Sit still for what?” She sounded like a nurse now. That made him nervous. “Well, miss Adelphie, I will leave you to it, then. I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t really wanna clean up anything anyway.”

“Anything, you name it.”

Down, girl… Amira had to chide herself at his words. He was drunk and exuberantly so at the moment, his words a potential by-product of that heightened happiness he felt, but that did not stop her heart from jumping into her throat, her face to flush as he looked down at her. But it happened so often and she waited for the sober moments where he might say something like this to her… but he was sober less and less frequently instead.

“I have no doubt you would punch a ghost for me. What about a vampire, though? Do you got my back up against a vampire?” She smiled, turning back to face him as she walked, just in time to watch him finish off the flask. She gave an inward sigh - it wasn’t exactly how she hoped to keep him from drinking more, but she supposed it was no longer an issue for this night. “Just so we are clear,” Her smile was wide as she gazed back his direction and walked, “The moment the ghost laid hands on you, I would be in there with you.”

“I can’t just let you fight them alone.”

“You know, I’d try, but that vampire might be able to take me.” Even with a healthy sized ego like his, he knew his limits. “What am I going to do if they sink their teeth in me? I’m fucked at that point. Don’t get me wrong, I’d keep swinging, but that one might be a lost cause.” He slipped his hands in his pockets as he matched her pace, feeling a slight chill in the air; maybe it was just a reaction to the alcohol making its way through his body. He didn’t feel wasted, but his mood was definitely artificially lifted. Not that he minded at the moment. Even if he was sober, he’d be happy to be around her.

There was something about Amira he just couldn’t shake. His attention leapt around a lot. He could never focus on one person very long. She’d been on his mind since the day he first saw her, though. Would that change if he made a move? If she was no longer out of his reach, would he keep wanting her? That was what he was afraid of. He’d love to stop and kiss her right there. But feelings always seemed to get involved, tangled and hurt, and the last person he wanted to hurt was her.

“Oh, yeah? You care about my safety that much?” He grinned. “That warms my heart, ‘mira. If I was a ghost or vampire, I don’t think I’d wanna mess with you.” Good thing he wasn’t.

Kieran was not used to people just approaching him in this town. So he had to recover quickly from the other approaching him. “I don’t have a lighter either but,” he snapped his fingers to make the green fire. “I can still help.” He offered the opened box of cigarettes with his other hand, “Do you need one?”

...

“Sweet,” Caelan grinned, pulling a slightly bent up Newport out of his pocket. “Oh, no, I’m good! Thank you, man, but I won’t bum your cigarettes too. I bought a new pack earlier, but they were... useless without the light. Losing it is just my luck.”

            ❝  OH ,  COTTON CANDY !  i  used  to  hate  it  as  a  child ,  my  fingers  would  get  all  sticky ,  ❞  a  slightly  embarrassing  fact  that  the  princess  shares  with  a  laugh ,  thinking  of  it  as  no  more  than  a  memory  from  her  childhood .  though  she’d  always  enjoyed  the  family  visits  to  elias ,  her  younger  self  was  never  a  big  fan  of  cotton  candy  or  anything  that  made  her  feel  dirty .  ew .  ❝  you  didn’t ?  but  that  only  means  you  get  to  experience  more  &  more  of  all  a  fair  has  to  offer  now  that  you’re  a  grown  up !  i  find  that  some  things  are  better  enjoyed  as  you  get  older ,  ❞  even  at  events  like  this .  ❝  say ,  what’s  your  favorite  game  or  attraction  so  far ?  ❞

...

“I can see how that is an unfortunate side effect,” Yara admitted with a giggle, her eyes falling to her own now sticky fingers. “You’re right! It’s probably even more exciting because it’s all new to me. I can’t believe there are people that come to events like these every year. Um, I haven’t played many so far, I’ve been running my booth. But I really want to check some out. Do you have any suggestions? I like the target based ones, I’m actually kind of good at those. Especially if there are water guns involved.”