"so You Basically Have To Pick A Class For Your Character? It's Not Something That's Already Set In Stone?

"i'm sure we can find you something! if it's a total bust i'll buy you lunch." salem said reassuringly with a smile. as the two strolled along the market salem nodded at the mention of the group. "i'm not sure if im ready to partake in an actual group thing it seems intimidating you know? i kind of just get really bored and i start doing stuff." dungeons and dragons was probably the most mundane thing she'd been into lately but it was better than any of the chaotic alternatives. "originally? new orleans but i pretty much grew up between there and new york. my parents could never stay still and with the tv show we traveled a lot." it was refreshing to talk to someone who didn't already know much about her. "but i know drew from new york actually. we'd randomly run into each other when our parents would drag us to industry things. seems like the nepo baby pool in valpo is a big one."

she kind of feels a twinge of guilt at the pit of her stomach at the idea of going somewhere else. if salem was enjoying it, they can stay. it's not like it's a big deal — she'll find something of interest eventually. she always does. "no, it's fine. there is some cool stuff here — and we haven't even explored the whole thing." she continues to walk, aviva's head shaking at the mention of her cousin. somehow, that's very on par the birdie, and she didn't know what else she expected. "there's a group around here – i've heard about it, but i've never been. maybe you should ask drew?" is drew the one who does it? no idea, but it seems like something he'd like. or maybe because it doesn't have a ghostface mask .. maybe not. "where are you from, again?"

KIANA LEDÉ via instagram

status: closed for @alkaliineee // solana

salem beamed as she strolled through the vineyard with solana. she couldn't contain her enthusiasm as the two picked grapes and placed them in the basket. "i'm super excited for this, can you believe i've never done a wine tasting before either?" she said to the other. grape picking and creating your own wine was completely different from salem's typical idea of fun but she was quickly starting to adapt to trying new things while living in valpo. "please don't roast me too hard on how little i know about it all." she said a bit embarrassed. "my parents are more of the whiskey in a dive bar types than wine sipping on a vineyard you know?"

"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."

i strive to make my room look like this

"i guess i just figured the person who owned the cafe actually owned the cats as well. maybe they're just loaning their cats to us to distract from the terrible coffee." salem teased while petting a smaller black cat that resembled stevie. "im almost sure im like a cat whisperer because i haven't come across a single one that doesn't like me." chuckling at spencer's comment she looked over at the other for a brief moment. "you could pretend to pass out or something. i'll stash two in my bag while you create a diversion. i just hope you're a cat person because you're definitely taking one of them."

spencer lifted an eyebrow, shrugging at salem, "i mean, what can they do to you? complain because you're giving them a good home? call the cat police? there's probably too many cats to keep track of here anyway." they looked around, a cat perched on the table adjacent to them, "plus, i dunno, they seem drawn to you, they should let you have one free of charge." they stated, "ask the staff which one they like the least, bet they'd let you have that one." they joked, scratching one of the smaller cats behind the ears, "if you decided to opt for stealing one instead of asking, i'll create a distraction for you." they half-teased.

truth is, im a liar….

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

closed - for @divinctions // milani location - secondhand style

"i need you to be honest with me about two things." salem said while picking up a vintage dress off the clothing rack. she needed advice on what to do with her situation with leon and knew if anyone would be straight forward about it milani would. she was blunt in a way that most people typically weren't with salem and she loved that about her. "first off, should i just say fuck it and completely be done with leon?" the subject made her head spin but she knew if anyone would get her together about it milani being the proud misandrist she is would. "also, if i were on the rebound would this dress be slutty enough to get the attention of a cute girl at club divine?"

she playfully rolled her eyes at her friends response. salem couldn't comprehend anyone getting used to being in such unique place, even when she would go visit new orleans she always found something new to be in awe over. "if this is boring you we can do something else? seriously i'll sacrifice the rest of the day hear more of your dungeons and dragons lore." she teased with a playful nudge. "or i could find us a matching bracelet or necklace to solidify our friendship. with all this cool handmade jewelry there's bound to be something. unfortunately for you im cheesy like that."

             the  happy  amusement  on  birdie's  face  is  evident.  her  face  breaks  into  a  bright  smile  when  salem  speaks  to  her,  eyes  scanning  the  bags  she's  presented  with.  birdie  loves  to  see  people  excited  about  chile,  their  heart  bursting  at  the  thought  of  people  loving  their  home  as  much  as  they  do.  she  shakes  her  head,  accompanying  it  with  a  wave  of  the  hand,  "  nah,  be  as  tourist-y  as  you  want,  i  love  it  – i  am  excited  ! "  they  laugh,  "  i've  lived  here  forever ! i  don't  get  as  excited  as  i  did  when  it  was  all  new,  it  happens.  "