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?"
as salem plucked a few grapes off the vine she chuckled at solana. the age difference between the two of them seemed to slip her mind until it was mentioned. solana always reminded salem of a big sister no more than a few years older than herself. "you talk as if you're like....prehistoric babe. you're still pretty young. there's no real reason why you can't go on a bar crawl with me or be backstage at a concert." giving the other a playful nudge. she didn't have many older friends but it was refreshing to be around new people with different hobbies than hers. "i'm just now getting into it really and the most i know is that i hate those dry bitter red wines." she scrunches her face up at the thought. "i just don't have the taste palette for it honestly. whats your favorite?"
the joy radiating off of salem was infectious, and the slight ache in solana's cheeks from smiling so much was proof of that. " oh, super believable. " the comment accompanied by a soft bout of laughter. " now don't get me wrong, that's not a dig about who you are as a person. " she told her, plucking a few more grapes from the vine before tossing them into her basket. " you're young, there are way more fun things to do at your age. " truthfully, she would have been more surprised if she was a wine connoisseur. " i know i didn't do my first wine tasting until i was at least your ago. i just didn't have the palate for it back then. " now having a glass at the end of a long day was one of sol's preferred ways to unwind. at the admission, she rested a hand on salem's forearm, giving her a faint shake of her head. " i would never. "
cybermuses by mar. she/her. 29. est. dependent muse for VALPOHQ.
˖ ✶ ˙ ˖ ✶ salem west - INTRO. PINTEREST. ˖ ✶ ˙ ˖ ✶
"you can never have too many crops! i practically live in them when the weather is warmer plus you can make them work with almost anything." salem nodded in agreement. it was typically the most normal day to day things like a shopping trip with a friend that made her feel content. though she was slightly distracted from her own personal relationship drama she truly was enjoying astrids company. "a crop top with low rise jeans and a faux fur coat is very it girl of you...look at you turning into an insta baddie on me!" she let out a giggle at the thought. "actually, i think it's criminal we have to do brat summer in the freezing cold but props to you for keeping it alive." salem could feel astrid's slight judgement from the sweaters but she couldn't blame her. truthfully she needed to put something slutty on and hit the club. "it's just leon he'll be fine." she replied dismissively before changing the subject. "this is more important anyways. i should ditch the sweaters shouldn't i?"
⋆.˚ ❝ ok… on-trend is always a plus.. i don’t know.. i’m already pretty fond of crops — my ass does look great though. ❞ she trusts salem’s taste, it was impossible not to when the woman looked and dressed as well as she did. with one that spent most time prioritizing comfort over necessarily looking her best these trips always felt just a bit wasted on astrid but she did love finding club outfits that toed the line of being just a bit too much. was this so different? it was just a little brighter out. ❝ y’know what ! screw it. i’m getting these jeans if nothing else these would kill at the club. a faux fur coat… i just got this new crop that’s practically a bra at this point… i’ve been streaming 365. whatever ! ❞ she tosses a shrug at salem, grabbing the additional pants hanging in the changing room and shuffling out as she riffled through the clothes she’d already tried on — picking among the tops she was surely going to keep; her eyes falling on salem’s collection. ❝ ok your turn ! what are we looking at… are those all sweaters ? and please feel free to pick up, well unless it was a scammer i guess. ❞ ─ ✶⋆.˚
kianalede: Somebody fix my strap pls
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 ? "
"you mean to tell me this entire time i didn't have to pay you to get encouraging words from you?" salem teased as esme sat down in the seat across from her while quickly making space for the other. "i promise you're never intruding on me. i don't mind one bit! plus it gives us a chance to catch up somewhere else that isn't a dimly lit bar for once right?" she chuckled before taking a sip of her coffee. salem nodded as esme spoke about what she'd been up to, a bit taken back that her favorite bartender was no longer at los fantasmas. "wait you're at catch now?! any reason specifically or did you need a change of scenery?" she asked curiously. "i'll come to any bar to see you, that's never an issue. i've dealt with worse people before."
꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ --— " you know, i'm proud of you. and i can promise i mean it, because i'm saying it without you giving me money. " esme sends salem a smile, settling into the chair across from her. she sets her back on the lone third chair — she figures she'll be here for a while, might as well get cozy. " do you mind me sitting with you for a bit ? i don't wanna intrude. just glad to see you alive and not a corpse in your house, y'know ? " the ribbing is gentle, and she nods while sipping her coffee. " needed a recharge — trust me, i get it, you don't have'ta be sorry. i'm good, actually ! oh, that reminds me — got a new job. i work exactly one day a week at catch now, so you're gonna have to make the trek out if you wanna see me. i understand if not, though, sometimes those people suck. "
"okay, we can talk about it tomorrow." she said quietly while quickly wiping the tears from her eyes. salem watched leon as he walked out of the living room before shutting the light off. her mind was racing for what felt like hours. she couldn't sleep and for some weird reason, maybe out of habit, found herself knocking on the bedroom door. "can i come lay with you?" she asked after peaking her head in the door. leon was half asleep and told her to come in. salem crawled into bed with him and cuddled up against him. it was comforting to be this close to him again and all she wanted was for things to go back to normal. "im so sorry for how much i've hurt you." she wasn't sure if he was awake or not but she needed to get it off her chest. "i don't want things to end and how much i love you actually terrifies me. but i don't know how to be the person you deserve..." she turned to him and realized he was sound asleep. salem ran her fingers through his hair and kissed his forehead gently. she turned back around to cuddle against him before eventually falling asleep.
when morning rolled around salem was woken up by the sunlight peaking through the curtains. she looked around the room and then over to leon who was still sleeping. her hangover was raging and the thought of the inevitable talk they were supposed to have made her stomach turn. she got up out of bed and quietly tiptoed out of the bedroom slowly closing the door. leaving this way probably wasn't the best decision but she felt like there wasn't much left for her to say anyways and she truly was tired of hurting him and that's what the end result would be anyways. so she grabbed her shoes and her bag and left the apartment.
this is too much. he hates seeing her so heartbroken. absolutely destroys him. but at the end of the day, he really can't be just a punching bag. he has a lot to think about. "i can't do this right now," he looks down at her with tears bubbling in his eyes. the fact that she can't promise not to break his heart again, it kills him. and he wants to trust her. they both bring so much baggage into this relationship. but he sees himself in her, and it really feels like she's the only one who understands him. the only one for him. she's his soulmate. "i'm going to bed," the man says. he presses one hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her in somehow. "the bathroom's that way and the kitchen's stocked. we'll continue this tomorrow, okay?" it fucking hurts to pull his hand away, and it hurts even more to leave her in the living room as he goes to the master bedroom. he just wants to hold her, fuck her, make her feel good and trust her to not fuck him up again. is that really possible? leon takes off his shirt and climbs into bed with just sweatpants. he scrolls through his phone for a few minutes, but he can't concentrate on anything. so, he switches off the light of the lamp on his nightstand and tries to sleep.