Salem Giggled At Luna's Response. Most Of The Time Luna Was In Some Sort Of Platform Boot And After A

closed- for @bvlladonnas // esme location - los fantasmas

"if i ask you to make me the strongest drink you guys have here you promise not to ask any questions right?" salem said a bit stressed as she sat down at the bar. she was relieved to see esme was working tonight, spilling her guts to locals would probably be a new low for her. "i did something kinda bad to leon...again." regretfully that was becoming a reoccurring theme in her life. "does it count as ghosting if you just leave early in the morning without saying goodbye? or am i really just a horrible person? i'm the worst aren't i?" she let out a groan before resting her head on her arms.

she pouted briefly after realizing she'd have to wait a little longer to be reunited with her child but seeing boat cat was an added bonus. the orange creature had become like a second child to her. "luna was right with doing that you know. i mean the only reason why we're besties is because you're a negligent cat parent towards boat cat." salem knew referring to the two as besties would make rohan shudder and she couldn't help that she found amusement in getting on his nerves ( it was pretty simple after all ) and she had to admit she did enjoy their back and forth. as he toted the luggage into the car she rolled her eyes at his comment. "i don't need luggage that expensive no, but i can't help that i have nice things." climbing into the passenger seat in an attempt to get out of the cold she continued on. "i was just talking shit really, you know i'm not one to really flex my wealth but it obviously annoyed you and that's enough for me." a laugh falling from her lips. salem knew she should have probably thanked him first before getting on his nerves but it wasn't in her nature to be nice to rohan immediately. she looked over at him as he got into the drivers seat and gave him a small smile. "thanks by the way. i appreciate you offering to bring me home. i got you a really obnoxious gift for the boat also."

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-ˋˏ ‏‏‎ ‎꒰ ‏‏‎ ‎🐚 ‏‏‎ ‎꒱‏‏‎ ‎ ──‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“  yeah  exactly.  you  know.  airports :  those  places  people  notoriously  pick  up  women  and  hate  reading.  that’s  what  all  the  bookstores  inside  are  for.  “  rohan  knows  he  can  be  a  bit  abrasive.  he  knows  he’s  hard  to  talk  to.  he  can’t  help  it,  especially  when  it  comes  to  salem.  she's  so  quick  with  her  own  quips  that  the  back  and  forth  comes  naturally──  and  manages  to  avoid  how  itchy  he  gets  every  time  he  thinks  he's  starting  to  become  friends  with  someone.  his  gaze  follows  her  as  she  peers  expectantly  into  the  back  of  the  cab,  and  rohan  tosses  the  little  paperback  he  was  holding  through  the  open  window  of  the  driver's  side  door.  "  sorry,  i  was  talking  about  boat  cat.  luna  wouldn't  let  me  take  stevie.  "  he  did  try  to  argue  that  it  made  sense  to  get  both  salem  and  stevie  from  valpo  to  viña  del  mar  in  one  trip  ;  unfortunately,  that  did  not  sway  their  opinion.  "  apparently  i  can't  be  trusted.  my  track  record  is  too  poor  with  boat  cat,  whatever  that  means.  "  a  beat  passes  as  he  looks  between  salem  and  her  bags,  an  eyebrow  raised,  but  he  gives  in  easily,  moving  to  pull  open  the  back  door  of  the  cab  so  he  could  put  them  there──  unfortunately  for  him,  rohan  tends  to  be  more  bark  than  bite.  "  do  you  really  need  luggage  that  expensive  ?  i  spent  like,  half  my  life  savings  on  that  boat. unless that was your attempt at a subtle brag ? it doesn't impress me how much money you have, you know.  " 

salem had enough on her plate with her album release looming over her head slated for later this month. her talk with leon allowed her to get everything off her chest but she still was feeling really confused about it all. she hadn't seen him since that night at her place and though she appreciated him giving her the time she needed sort through things she missed him terribly. she'd been sending emails from her phone to her manager and label when she heard a familiar voice. "hey blondie." salem replied with a small smile. "you can sit if you want." gesturing toward the empty chair across from her. she took a sip of her latte and sent off the email she'd been focused on before setting her phone down on the table. "sorry, i'm dealing with all this album release stuff. originally i was just gonna drop it with no announcement or anything but they're telling me i should build anticipation on the internet about it." leaning back in her chair she shrugged a bit. "anyways, how are you?"

he didn't expect to see her as soon as he stepped back out of his godmother's place. well, he had done it before to buy groceries and shit, but he never ran into her. and now he's at a coffee shop in line when he turns around for whatever reason, and she's here. she's sitting on a table by herself and leon wonders if he should approach her. he's missed her terribly, but he knew he had to give her space to sort out her thoughts and feelings after everything he put her through. he wouldn't blame her if she still hates him and never wants to see him again. the man really hopes that scenario isn't true. after getting a tall americano, leon walks over to salem and clears his throat so she can look up and find him looking at her with a shy smile. "hi, sal." his voice is soft and his eyes are kind.

@cybermuses

it had been a full week since salem arrived into town. she'd been keeping busy exploring around the various shops and bars, the possibility of running into her ex leon looming over her head in the process. tonight she found herself at los fantasmas, a bar she'd become fond of in her short time here. after spending a good chunk of the night drinking with a few locals she finally mustered up the courage to see leon. she thought about calling him or texting him that she was in town but wasn't hopeful she'd get a response. in his defense though the breakup was pretty bad, she probably wouldn't wanna talk to herself either. in the cab ride over her nerves started to get the best of her and the possibility of leon rejecting her at the door crept into her mind. after stumbling out of the cab and arriving at his door she knocked twice and looked around while she waited for a response. what if he wasn't home? was this a mistake? she thought to herself and not a moment sooner she was surprised as leon opened the door. "um well..." she said stuttering a bit at his response. "i was just casually in the country and thought i'd pop by and say hey." slurring her words a bit as she nervously looked down at the ground.

ten pm. leon sits on the balcony of his godmother's apartment. he faces the ocean and looks at some notes he's written on his phone. mostly lyric ideas. he puts out a half-smoked cigarette when he hears the doorbell. who could it be? he's not expecting anyone. unless it's drew, he probably got accidentally too high again. when leon opens the door, he's surprised to see salem. the woman who broke his heart stands in front of him and it takes him a moment to react. "what are you doing here?" he finally asks.

@cybermuses

KIANA LEDÉ via tiktok . ( ♡︎ )

"so you basically have to pick a class for your character? it's not something that's already set in stone? interesting..." salem replied as she looked over the page a bit puzzled. when she randomly decided to learn how to play dungeons and dragons she didn't realize just how much had gone into it and had to give drew props for knowing so much. "the weird ten sided dice confuses me a bit. how often should you be rolling? would i potentially get sent to jail for speeding like in monopoly? that's really the only board game i've ever played so it's probably not the best comparison." she let out a small chuckle and nodded. "i love kettle corn but i'm not sure if i've ever told you that so don't feel too bad about it." salem smiled reassuringly. "i haven't had a chance to try the churros here but i've heard leon talk about them before. are they really that good?"

when drew first met salem, he never would have been able to guess that their futures would be entwined at all, so sitting with her at his favorite place in chile while she asks him about dungeons and dragons of all things feels like a level of surreal that he's never before experienced except for during a twin peaks marathon. "let's just focus on one character for now," he suggests, sliding a page across the table. "if you want to be an elf than we can go right to your character's class, which is sort of just their job. the basic ones are fighter, wizard, cleric, rogue, and ranger. we're gonna need to roll later, too," drew announces, showing salem the dice he's been fidgeting with for hours now. "and probably some snacks. have you tried the churros here in chile yet ? do you like kettle corn ? i can't remember if i know that you like kettle corn," he confesses to her, frowning apologetically.

salem wasn't sure what exactly was in a terremoto but after taking the first sip it already tasted significantly better than the everclear. "this is tasty which is probably super dangerous considering i could easily down like ten of these..." she sipped on the drink as esme spoke and shrugged, not really wanting to admit staying away from him was much easier said than done. "it's just so hard. im very out of sight out of mind when it comes to people but the more im away from him the more i miss him. that's actually super fucked up when i say it out loud isn't it?" taking another sip of her drink she nodded. "honestly? yes but i kinda feel like he's better off without me sometimes. did i mention how amazing this drink is by the way?" salem said slurring her words a bit, her body starting to feel warm from the alcohol.

            esme  has  to  think  about  that  one  for  a  moment.  she  doesn't  think  everclear  is  actually  ... sold in  chile,  you'd  have  to  get  it  from  out  of  country,  "  short  answer ? probably  not.  i'll  make  you  something  tastier,  don't  worry  –  no  promises  it  won't  get  you  just  as  fucked  up,  though.  "  she  slides  salem  a  very  pretty  terremoto,  because  if  she's  going  to  get  her  drunk  she's  going  to  do  it  kindly.  the  look  for  reassurance  has  esme  looking away, unable  to  help  the  little  cringe  she  does  with  her  face,  nose  scrunched  up,  "  i  mean  – will  you  ? you  said  that  last  time.  where  are  we  now ? "  she  leans  against  the  counter,  propping  her  chin  on  her  hands,  "  do  you  want  to  get  back  with  him ? or  was  that  kind  of  a  ...  '  just  for  funsies  '  thing ? "

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.

"well if it's through a rescue then i think it'll be okay! maybe i can make a donation somewhere?" salem said as she gently rubbed behind the ears of a smaller black cat that resembled stevie. she wondered if there was a local animal shelter she could bring supplies to or donate some money to. "see, when i got stevie i adopted her from a shelter as a kitten. i almost ended up taking her and all her siblings but i knew it would be too much." which if you asked salem was probably the best day of her life (hopefully) winning a grammy one day would come second to that though. "so i'd much rather adopt or pick up a stray kinda like boat cat." pausing for a moment, "even though i technically stole her too, but we have a custody thing worked out. wait--how many cats do you think is too many cats? would three make me seem a little crazy?" chuckling at the last part before focusing her attention on an older grey cat wylie pointed out. "he does seem chill. i wouldn't mind an older cat actually they're usually more relaxed. stevie is still so active so maybe he could mellow her out a bit."

"i think so?" wylie never had a pet before jinxx meowsoon - certainly not during their childhood; they took up too much time, according to their mom. and while dogs seemed like - a lot to handle - wylie could do a cat. jinxx mostly just knocked shit over, played with stray feathers, and slept in a sprawled position. he knelt against the ground, scratching behind the ear of an older, scraggily black cat with patches of sparse fur, "like, i think it's like, um - like through a rescue, maybe? so the cats like, get awareness brought to them and then, like - patrons can adopt a cat if they're like - vibing with it? they do it in the states in some places, don't they? i mean, it'd be nice, i think, too - to like, adopt a cat cafe cat. strays are cool, though! my cat's a stray, but like - going through a rescue is good, too. as long as you're like, not paying a buncha money for like - a purebred cat, because i don't know if that's like - the most ethical? i don't know, i know for dogs it's like, really iffy. and i feel bad for the cats with the like, pushed in noses -" they paused - acutely aware of their tendency to ramble on, and the fact that he'd been doing exactly that. "- sorry. anyways - yeah. i think you can - you like this one? he looks, like - cool. chill. epic, maybe."

status: closed for @skidemark // aviva

between the glue and the popsicle sticks salem had a giant mess of a pile sitting in front of her that was supposed to resemble a small house. building one out of miscellaneous items seemed like a fun idea at first but salem quickly realized she wasn't as crafty as she thought she was. "fuck it, i'm officially giving up on this. we can just say my home was demolished." she threw her hands up in defeat and let out a small chuckle. looking over at aviva curiously she noticed the other was hyper focused on her own project. "please tell me yours is going better than mine did?"