Salem Did Well At Adjusting To Life In Valpo Post Break Up With Leon. She Had A Solid Group Of Friends

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 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.

if you could pick any one of your friends to set you up on a blu date, who would you choose and why?

"probably milani because she's so particular about things that i know she won't set me up with any losers. but she's also so particular in the sense that she would refuse to let anyone near me so i probably wouldn't be on a date at all."

salem cleared some space on the table for him and shook her head. "you weren't interrupting at all! i'm never going to say no to having someone keep me company." she replied with a reassuring smile. "a true artist? that's new....i've never gotten that before but i'll take it." she let out a small chuckle. her definition of a true artist was someone like her personal hero stevie nicks. "not so much a masterpiece, more so a recording schedule and a lot of boring details i have to jot down for this album. i did start writing a song earlier though so i guess we can call that little bit a masterpiece." salem closed the journal to focus on the other. she'd seen taj around before and knew of him but never really had the chance to actually interact with him. "i'm salem by the way. but besides the smoothie what have you been up to so far today? "

taj had hardly left the house in general anyway. between training for his fights as if he was about to be the next coming of rocky by getting up at 2AM and jogging to crashing around 12PM midday for only 1hour close to 2, taj didn't have the most steady of sleep schedules. it was a big part of why he didn't have many friends since moving three years ago. he made the best of his off days, when he knew he didn't have any fights scheduled and tore away from his two bedroom apartment in spite of temptation. he had ended up wondering about almost like a little puppy in search of adventure and found himself at casablnca blooms and coffee. he was actually trying not to be too obvious glancing towards the beauty in the corner just scribbling away in her notepad. he was so bad at approaching people that if she hadn't suggested for him to join her, he probably would've missed the opportunity. taj was a lot of things, shy was around the 20th of them. he got up trying to remain casual and seem not to eager that someone had noticed him instead of blending in with the dozens of faces. the smoothie in his right hand, he slid into the booth across from her. "I didn't want to interrupt a true artist at her work," he smiled nodding at her journal. "creating a masterpiece in there?"

"listen, i can respect the culture but not necessarily want to partake in it okay?" salem responded with a chuckle. "plus i don't care what science says, no amount of alcohol can kill the fact that literal feet were in there." despite the gross display in front of her salem gave birdie a nod in agreement to more wine. maybe it was her buzz or just the fact that she was in birdies company but salem didn't think she'd be enjoying herself this much at a winery. "as long as it's not any of that dry and bitter stuff we tried earlier. merlot was it? way too mature for me, i want something a little more on the sweet side."

" it's grape-treading, salem. it's culture. " birdie says it in a very over-dramatic, matter-of-fact tone, clicking their tongue, " and i don't think any icky foot bacteria can survive during the wine-making process. with all the alcohol and stuff. and they use wine presses now, duh. " a pause, eyes watching the people in front of them stomp away at the grapes in a large barrel. is that a barrel ? trough, maybe ? " that being said, that looks like a textural nightmare, so we're not doing it. more wine, maybe ? " of the not-food variety.

a smile stretched across salems lips as luna sat down. it had seemed like forever since the two last saw one another. she quickly moved her coffee and journal aside to give the other space at the table. before even having a moment to respond luna was yanking their boots off and all salem could do was laugh and glance around the small cafe to see if anyone else had noticed. she loved that luna was random like that. "okay there's not way you haven't broken those boots in yet?" she said with a grin before closing the journal in front of her to give luna her undivided attention. "nope it's fine! plus even if you did i'd just dedicate the page to you and turn it into a happy little memory or something." she sipped on her coffee while leaning back in her chair. "i'm actually gald i ran into you, i think the universe knew that i needed to see someone that i loved. not to be dramatic but i just realized how much i've missed you." salem let out a small chuckle. it was probably a bit dramatic but it was genuine.

               naturally   more   of   a   recluse,   luna   hated   the   days   she   designated   for   being   outside.   she   was   someone   who   much   preferred   the   comfort   of   their   tarantulas,   their   cat,   their   candles,   their   books,   and   ( most   importantly )   their   bed.   they   usually   tried   to   knock   everything   out   in   one   day   which   meant   that   day   had   already   been   piled   high   with   multiple   things:   office   hours   with   at   least   two   of   her   professors   (   but   with   the   way   luna   yapped   it   ended   up   being   four   ),   a   studio   session,   grocery   shopping   (   for   their   apartment   but   also   for   drew   and   rafas   ),   a   library   date   to   check   in   all   their   old   books   and   check   out   new   ones,   and   a   trip   to   casablanca   to   interview   more   locals   on   the   folklore   they   needed   for   their   thesis.   she   nearly   fell   into   blooms   &   coffee,   looking   a   little   worse   for   wear,   when   salem   appeared   like   a   beacon   of   light.                  they   flopped   down   in   the   chair   across   from   her,   their   backpack   too   heavy,   arms   nearly   falling   off   from   the   weight   of   the   books   they   carried,   and   her   boots   untied   and   numbing   their   feet   the   longer   she   stood.   the   relief   was   enough   to   make   them   laugh.   "   do   you   think   anyone   would   judge   me   too   much   if   i   take   my   boots   off   right   now   ?   ⸻   fuck   it.   "   they   sighed,   yanking   the   platform   boots   off   her   feet.   "   i   dress   like   i'm   not   dependent   on   my   feet   to   get   me   everywhere,   this   is   ridiculous.   i   didn’t   mess   up   your   journal   did   i   ?   "   the   worry   struck   quick   as   she   pulled   her   books   toward   her   side   of   the   table.

Kiana Ledé

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?"

status: closed for @bvlladonnas // birdie

"okay so confession..." salem said while dramatically placing a hand on birdies shoulder. "i know i've been pretty open to trying a lot of random shit while being here, but i might have to draw the line at grape stomping." watching on as others participated she scrunched her face up. salem shuddered at the thought of mushy grapes on her bare feet. "i mean, i just don't think i could get behind drinking wine that other people's feet have been in. also is this really sanitary? i know it's tradition but isn't there a more efficient way to do this?"

"shut up." she said playfully at his compliment. salem was surprised at how leon still managed to get her flustered with his words and overall presence. they'd known each other for what felt like forever and her feelings for him completely consumed her in certain moments, this one being one of them. she chuckled at his question "did i make this? no, you're giving me way too much credit now blondie." salem didn't think to make the dish from scratch which probably would have been a nicer gesture in retrospect. "i found this place when i was out a couple days ago having lunch with a friend and saw they had it on the menu. so i figured i'd surprise you with some, i remember you used to talk about it all the time back home in new york." she smiled up at him for a moment, quickly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

leon listens to salem, without interrupting her. the musical genius comment causes him to blush a little, and he watches her set his favorite chilean dish on the kitchen counter. did she make it? when she mentions she's sober, the man nods. her laugh, even her nervous laughter, he thinks it's cute. "you're such an idiot," leon ends up chuckling himself before walking up to her. each step that he takes, he takes it blindly. because he would let her break his heart a million times if it just meant that they'd always go back to each other. he's so in love. he's so hurt. "you actually clean up really nice," the blond teases her, standing so close to her that his heart rate goes up. he can't stop looking at her. his hand on the counter, next to hers, wanting to touch her but unable to do so. the love of his life. eventually, leon looks down at the food, "did you make this?" he asks softly.