PROMPTS I’D LIKE TO RECEIVE, PART 1.

Don’t assign me yours.

kiana ledé via instagram stories

the party is crowded and salem is hoping leon doesn't make a huge scene in front of everyone else. she didn't blame him for being upset about the other guy but she wasn't doing it on purpose to piss him off. as she finished her drink she was caught off guard by leon suddenly taking her by the arm and into one of the empty bedrooms. "that wasn't aggressive at all..." she said sarcastically after leon pushed her up against the wall. salem was visibly irritable at how confrontational he was being and looked down at the ground as he spoke to her. "i'm not being mean! i'm just confused as to why you're being so aggressive right now? i wasn't flirting with that guy to piss you off. i didn't even know you were going to be here." she replied in frustration while looking up at him, the two of them being inches apart from one another. drama aside though she had to admit he was looking really good tonight.

her sarcastic words go into him like a dagger. what is she mad about now? "aight," he scoffs. looking around, leon recognizes a few faces here and there. the terrace is basically packed and there's no way he can talk to her right now. not now when his heart is beating faster and his mind takes him to inappropriate scenarios in front of other people. "c'mere," he simply demands as he grabs her by the elbow and leads her inside. the fact that she seems to be doing okay without him is killing him. and she'll regret it. once they reach the stairs, leon basically drags her up to one of the empty bedrooms and locks the door behind him. it takes him a split second to push her against the wall. "stop being so fucking mean to me and look at me. look at me," he insists.

salem let out a small chuckle and shook her head. "i promise it's okay, don't apologize. if i could i'd find a way to bring the band to you." luna's disappointment was valid despite whatever salem had going on. she shrugged a bit at the question. things were weird at the moment between her and leon and it was particularly hard to put into words why. "honestly? things are kinda just...up in the air at the moment i guess?" ( if that's what you would refer to hookups and constant bickering with your ex as anyways ) despite being the one that ended things in a moment of distress she deeply regretted it but had the feeling she'd done enough damage in the relationship. "you'd have to make a salem voodoo doll if that's the case. i'm sad to admit that i'm the fuck up in this relationship and this is now the second time that i left him because i'm just allergic to stability apparently."

               at   the   mention   of   the   way   salem's   life   was   progressing,   luna   felt   immediate   guilt   for   her   pouting.   luna   had   only   been   separated   from   drew   for   a   few   months   and   the   entire   world   felt   like   it   was   coming   to   end;   and   they   hadn't   even   been   together   that   long   before   the   break   up.   leon   had   told   luna   was   that   he   was   going   to   propose.   that   kind   of   unimaginable   love   had   to   come   with   some   unimaginable   pain,   and   there   they   were   moping   about   a   band.   "   i   don't   need   it   more   than   you,   i'm   sorry.   "   luna   conceded,   pushing   salem's   hand   that   held   the   necklace   into   salem's   chest.   "   i'm   just   more   dramatic   than   you.   "   luna   was   probably   more   dramatic   than   the   entire   valparaíso   region,   but   they   didn't   want   to   think   about   that.   "   how   are   you   holding   up   ?   all   things   considered.   do   you   wanna   talk   about   it   ?   i   have   some   voodoo   dolls   i   can   die   the   hair   a   blonde   color   and   you   can   really   let   your   anger   out.   it   really   works.   "   luna   knew   from   experience.

salem could understand why he was so angry but she wasn't used to him being this way towards her. it felt weird and uncomfortable and as she sipped on her water she thought about how coming over was a huge mistake. she was probably better off just hanging out at the bar. "it's not that i don't want to be with you it's just-" she paused for a moment and thought about all the things her and her therapist had talked about after ending things with leon. it was apparent she struggled with stability and romantic relationships weren't her strong suit, unfortunately leon was on the receiving end of her issues. "i'm just really fucked up. i don't know how to say it right now. my head is a mess but i don't enjoy hurting you and you've never been the problem." salem shrugged. she hated that she was drunk right now and that things weren't coming out the way she wanted them to. as he got up and grabbed a blanket from the closet she rolled her eyes. sleeping was the last thing on her mind right now. "i don't want to sleep. i just want to talk to you. stop being so mad at me and just fucking talk to me." she replied in frustration while grabbing the blanket from him and placing it next to her on the couch.

"and you know?" leon looks at her as he sits on the armrest of the couch, alluding to if she at least knows what she says to herself. what's going on. he scoffs with a sad smile as he turns his attention to his hands. black chipped nails that he'd painted for the gig that happened several days before. it's crazy. to really think about how he hoped she'd show up. "a week, huh?" leon bites at his lower lip, "what is it? do you not want to be with me? please tell me straight because i can't keep up with the headfucking, salem. i can't." the blond is head over heels in love with the woman that sits a few inches away from him. but she's been hurting him too much and if it's just because she can't break up with him for whatever reason, at least now he's giving her an opportunity to get out. before she absolutely destroys him. he sighs and runs a hand through his curls. "you should sleep." leon stands up from the couch and goes to the closet on the wall. he takes out a blanket and hands it to salem. it won't be much use with the heat of the summer upon them, but he can be nice and care for her still.

as salem stepped out on the balcony she was taken back by the view. the breeze from the ocean and smell of the beach had her in awe. "i can't believe you get to have this view everyday." she said in disbelief as she sat down and placed her plate on the table. the sound of leon humming to the jazz music was comforting in a way, she'd missed so many little things about him. "i've missed you so much, truly." salem blushed a bit while looking over at him. "i'm just really happy we could do this. i really miss being able to do everything with you." there was a lot she wanted to say but her nerves were starting to get the best of her again. she decided to turn her attention back to the dish and proceeded to eat a forkful. "okay, this is actually pretty good.." nodding a bit before continuing to eat, "but i think i could do without the raisins. the texture is just weird and i've never really liked them anyways."

leon chuckles at her words. he's always liked that she can drink as much as him, and party as much as him. "i'm not gonna quiz you right now, but beware because i might later," he teases back. after she's plated the food, the blond nods and they make their way to the balcony. "if you hate it, there's more for me, so it's a win-win situation," he chuckles and sits down on one of the chairs. the night is beautiful and the ocean waves crash no far from them. there's a jazz song playing in the beach restaurant across the street and leon immediately recognizes it as a duke ellington one. he softly hums as he sets his plate on the table. "i've missed you, sal," the man finally says, looking over at her. she's the person he wants to see every day. the one person he trusts with all his joy and all his darkness. it makes him sad that she could just decide one day to end things and leave him a mess. he hopes this time she won't leave. not again. not a third time.

"i'm not working on anything special at the moment. i was just trying to de-clutter my brain instead of my usual avoidant behaviors. the biggest perk about finally leaving the house so far has been running into you though." salem replied with a smile. it was nice seeing esme in a normal social setting, typically she was feeding salem drinks los fantasmas. "not dead just....dead adjacent i guess?" she teased. "i'm okay though, i needed some time to rot and not be around people. i am sorry i've been ghost. but more importantly how are you?"

             ꒰ა  ♡  ໒꒱--— the  sight  of  salem  is  a  welcome  one;  esme  hadn't  seen  her  in  a  minute,  and  while  she  had  reached  out,  she'd  always  been  a  proponent  of  "giving  people  their  space".  she  knew  salem  would  come  back  out  into  the  land  of  the  living  when  the  time  called,  but  that  didn't  mean  she  missed  her  any  less.  her  smile  is  bright  as  she  slides  into  the  seat  across  from  her,  burgundy  nails  tapping  against  the  coffee  she  cradles  in  her  hands  (  snickerdoodle  coffee  with  cinnamon  and  two  extra  sugar  packets  today  ),  "  watcha  workin'  on  ?  long  time  no  see,  thought  you  died  or  something.  "

her gaze was focused on an older calico cat as sade spoke. the other's comment raised excitement in salem's plan for another fur child. "please don't tell me that...then i'll have to be inclined to take one home and explain to stevie why she suddenly has another sibling." as the cat climbed into her arms she smiled up at sade trying her best to be normal. "you're not really supposed to pick one per say. you have to let the cat come find you. it's what the cat distribution system is all about after all. stevie was a kitten on the streets of new orleans when i found her." she let out a small giggle as she stroked the cats fur completely in awe of the different color patterns on it's fur. "if i could take all these home with me i would but my apartment would look like this cafe. i'm too young and hot to be the seven cats lady yet. but one more won't hurt right?"

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏────────────────────

-ˋˏ ‏‏‎ ‎꒰ ‏‏‎ ‎🪐 ‏‏‎ ‎꒱‏‏‎ ‎ ──‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎sade  knows  you're  not  supposed  to  pick  them  up.  you're  supposed  to  let  the  cats  come  to  you.  but  they're  so  cute  !  and  fluffy  !  and  salem  wants  one  (  and  sade  thinks,  with  a  face and a voice  like  that,  salem  should  get  whatever  she  wants.  )  surely  one  little  squeeze  wouldn't  hurt.  .  .  reaching  her  hand  up  to  scratch  her  finger  against  the  chin  of  a  particularly  affectionate  tabby,  she  glances  down  towards  salem──  who  seems  to  be  pouring  the  same  affection  over  a  different  kitty.  "  aren't  they  rescues  ?  "  she  wonders aloud,  "  i  think  that's  the  whole  point  !  but  how  are  you  supposed  to  pick  which  one  you're  going  to  take  home  ?  "  captain snuggles  would,  probably,  not  appreciate  a  large  feline  friend  in  the  house.  he's territorial. it  doesn't  stop  sade  from  wistfully  hoping  she  could  also  take  one  of  them  with  her,  too.  "  wouldn't  you  feel  bad  about  leaving  all  of  the  others  here  ?  " 

salem didn't know the person throwing the party too well but the invite was extended after meeting a couple nights ago at one of the local bars. she didn't think about this person possibly knowing her ex or him being in attendance either, that was the first mistake she made that night. she'd been drinking and mingling throughout the night with strangers trying her best to take advantage of being in a new place. most of her time in valpo so far consisted of meeting new people and doing things she normally didn't get a chance to do. she started chatting with this guy about music and the two were seemingly hitting it off until a familiar voice interrupted the conversation. unsurprisingly it was leon and he was pissed. "fantastic." she said sarcastically while the other walked off leaving the two alone. "well, i was flirting with that guy and trying to have a conversation. please don't make me hire security in a completely different country."

house parties. house parties are great when you're trying to forget about the girl who keeps breaking your heart. and so leon took a shower, put on his black pants and tight tank top and left the apartment to go party at one of those houses up in the hills. it was all fine, he was a little drunk and a little high and he was honestly having a good time. but then, he saw her. he tried to avoid her, and it worked for a while. and now that he goes outside for a cigarette, leon sees salem all over some other guy he doesn't know. just flirting and laughing. this makes him so mad. "excuse me," he says as he approaches the pair. his stare is so apparently intimidating that the other guy leaves. "what are you doing?" he asks salem.

@cybermuses