you don't know me

Stepping out of the bathroom stall, she didn’t even see the girl before she flipped her long mane of hair, no doubt trying to get some volume back. Cursing out loud as the dark locks whipped her in the face, Willow looked to see it was Cleo’s little sister. Once her gaze was no longer blurred “Mimi.” She spoke, her voice even as she looked her over, then moving forward to wash her hands. Willow hadn’t been close with Cleo on the Isle, in fact she had ignored most people that weren’t Hook, Kaela or Siren. So she wasn’t sure what Mimi was like as a person, but if she remembered correctly, she and Cleo weren’t close. “I didn’t even know you were here. Maybe next time check that the stalls are all empty before you start throwing your hair around.” @mimithefirst​

Her mind even suggested it might be love, but she squashed that thought before it was even fully conceptualized.

Regardless of what she was feeling, she knew she missed Cleo and she knew she had to make an effort to mend whatever they were. The costume Cleo had still made for her while they had not been speaking was kind, and Willow needed to extend an olive branch. She knew that. Sadly it took a good three months to come to that realization. But better late than never, right?

Heading to Cleo’s apartment, the fae took a deep sigh as she got to the door. Knocking softly, her body was buzzing with nerves. It wasn’t something she felt often, usually her body was filled with much stronger emotions that any nerves were quieted quickly. But not today. Today she was a ball of fears and anxiety. When the door finally opened, the blonde’s face fell. She took Cleo in, could spot the difference in the woman’s appearance almost instantly, and wondered what had been going on in her life to cause her to look so... well tired. Willow knew she wasn’t the only factor, but she suspect she could be one of them. “Uh, hey.” She offered the awkward hello, not feeling comfortable just walking into Cleo’s home unless she was invited. “Do you have time to talk?” @cleopatradevil​

Siren: I can introduce you to contacts but you have to build a rapport. You don't just go out and they pay you cash and all is fine. It usually starts with gifts. High end designer bags, shoes, spa days, shopping sprees etc. You make them believe they're investing in you as a date. If you're gonna be on their arm than they can pay for everything that entails.

Siren: as the "relationship" develops, so does the wealth. That's when you mention needing tuition money or being short on rent. Men wanna be saviors. It's a power complex. They wanna believe they hold all the cards and by buying you things or giving you money they are in control. It's not true. We just manipulate this idea. You always have the choice to walk away.

Siren: I got to having a dude pay my rent month to month pretty fast but I was also raised with all the tools I needed so, thanks to Ursula I guess.

Siren: You're hot and I know you're a bad bitch so you'd be fine but, it's not for the faint of heart. You have to sacrifice personal connections. Even the coolest of BF's & GF's will get pissed @ you being at the beck and call of older powerful men.

Cleo: [...]

Cleo: [...]

Cleo: i know it looked great on you.

Cleo: shit always does.

Cleo: i've been living.

Cleo: how about you?

Willow: Same. Just, trying to get through this shit one day at a time.

Willow: I might be wrong, but you do that whole sugar baby thing, right?

Willow: How'd you get into all that?

Willow: So I got that halloween costume.

Willow: You didn't have to make it, but thanks. It was beautiful.

Willow: [...]

Willow: [...]

SYDNEY: Being a stripper would be exhausting I think. Phone sex operator though, that could be something.

SYDNEY: Honestly? No. I may very well be the most drifting under the radar VK here at Auradon. It's all just...there.

SYDNEY: What about you?

WILLOW: About the same,

WILLOW: Yesterday the idea of being a stripper passed through my head.

WILLOW: Also considered phone sex operator...

SYDNEY: Yeah, that didn't seem like an injury that would be easy to miss.

SYDNEY: I'm fine, you know, just doing classes trying to figure out what's the end game after all of this. like...what are we actually supposed to do here in Auradon.

SYDNEY: yeah, I get that.

SYDNEY: glad the healing is going fine though. that's good, really good.

SYDNEY: of course.

SYDNEY: honestly, how are you doing in general? like past all of that stuff, how has Auradon been?

WILLOW: Thanks. It's as good as it can go. You know. Not like I'll be able to fly again, but at least it won't hurt like a motherfucker when I move my wings.

WILLOW: Eh. Feeling kind of lost, honestly. Hook works a lot. And I haven't spoken to Cleo in a while which feels, weird. I'm trying to find something to do. I quit Tiana's because fuck privileged college students and their inability to tip. I'll figure it all out though. You know me, I'm adaptable.

SYDNEY: hey...I know this is super weird, but I figured I would check up on you. see if you were okay

SYDNEY: well, as okay as you can be. like...have you healed up alright?

WILLOW: Gonna be honest. I'd be better if people stopped bringing it up.

WILLOW: They're healing fine. It's gonna take some time. Wings are delicate and all that shit, so if I move too quickly the damage can be worse.

He didn’t sport wings for the very reason that he knew it was a touchy subject, but he didn’t know how to tell Beatrice it probably wasn’t a good idea. It was Halloween after all, he was sure that she wasn’t the only one wearing some type of wings. “i don’t blame you, shit was fucked, but you’ve probably heard enough about it.” Sterling said with a simple shrug, flagging down the bartender as he heard her drink of choice, “A whiskey and a tequila, chilled.” He spoke smoothly before his gaze shifted back to see her looking over to where Beatrice was mingling, already knowing what had to be going through her mind. Sighing under his breath as he nodded slowly, “I know, I was kind of worried about that but it’s hard telling her no. I opted out of the whole….wing situation, but, I’ll let her know you aren’t pleased with it.” The male informed her before the shots were placed in front of them and he handed it to her, nodding over to the bartender to add it to his tab. “Here’s a peace offering though, for her mistake. If you need anything else, let me know, although I’m not sure what I could offer.”

“I have heard all about that. It’s why I’m not talking about it anymore. Only so many times people can tell you shit is fucked before it get’s redundant.” And, as if it wasn’t obvious, talking about it was how you remembered it. Willow was not trying to remember it. Hence the numerous drinks. When Sterling ordered her another drink, she at least forced a smile on her face and sent it his way. As if to try and say thank you. Of course that thanks was gone shortly thereafter, and replaced with a scoff. It’s hard telling her no? Bitch, if you really wanted to say something, you’d say it. Your girlfriend isn’t that scary. “Yeah, you do that.” Once the new whiskey and the shot of tequila was placed before them, she took the shot first and tossed it back without issue. She was trashed at this point, she wasn’t even feeling any burn she might feel from the alcohol when sober. “Hmm there’s plenty of things I could think of. Many of them include some light maiming of a girl who is about as intimidating as a fucking chihuahua.”

After getting Cori all settled in for her set Hook took some time to mingle. Which really meant he got himself a drink and found his favorite fairy. He could tell by the slight flush of her cheeks that she was definitely a few drinks in. He was going to have to catch up. Eyeing her as she leaned forward, making not of just how well her costume fit her he grinned. “With an outfit like that how and I say no.” he brought the bottle of beer to his lips. as he leaned back in his chair. “You’d make a good pirate and you’d definitely keep the captain happy,” there was a flirty tone laced in every word. He knew that she’d been having a hard time lately. But he figured if he just carried on like they usually did, it would be better for her. He just wanted to keep her smiling. He’d seen her cry far to much lately.

Her smile grew larger at his words, and while the blonde knew they were in public, she couldn’t find it within herself to care. Fuck all these people, right? The people who thought ‘oh the poor fairy with the broken wings, can’t fly anymore. If that was me, I would’ve been more careful.’ People who reduced her to what she could and couldn’t do. Or more specifically, what her pixie dust could do. She drowned out those thoughts by finishing off her drink, then getting up off the bar stool and walking the few inches to where Hook was seated. “We all know I can keep the captain happy.” She leaned in and kissed him, probably a bit more sloppy then she intended but she was also incredibly drunk. “I can easily lock that bathroom door...” The women’s bathroom in the Snuggly Duckling was incredibly impractical, what with the lack of stalls and only a single toilet and sink. It took forever to actually use it if there was a line. But it also had just enough room that you could fool around in it without knocking into walls or porcelain sinks unless you wanted to.

Of course Sterling had been at fight night, on the Isle he was there pretty much every time, gambling and winning himself a pretty hefty amount of money. The little taste of home was nice, but damn did it get nasty, and he couldn’t help but feel a little for Willow and her wings. But that was fight night, it was dirty and ruthless. As Triss and him got to the Duckling, he made his way to the bar and spotted the very fairy that seemed to be a hot topic, “Glad to see they didn’t have to take you away in cuffs for murder.” He joked, light heartedly of course as he motioned to her, “What are you drinking? I’m getting your next one.” Sterling really wasn’t the type to dress up crazy on Halloween, just matching whatever Triss wore, simple glitter on his bare torso and under his eyes.

@willowdoe​

Willow was almost finished with her whiskey when she heard a voice behind her, and his words made her tense if only for a second. Every time someone brought up Fight Night, she relived the whole exchange. And while she understood most people were trying to be sympathetic... how about they just don’t? “Yeah it almost happened. Still might if I lay eyes on that bitch ever again.” Willow shifted her gaze towards Sterling, blue eyes narrowing as she took in his outfit. She wasn’t quite sure what he was attempting to be, but parts of the “outfit” looked eerily familiar. “Whiskey.” She murmured, then looking past him and at the girl he had come with. She took in the wings and her eyes rolled so deeply they almost fell out. “Tell your girlfriend her costume is offensive as fuck while you’re at it. Yeah?”