"we've been separated for so long i forgot about how bad of an influence you could be on me, mal." salem smirked while grabbing her bag and rummaging through it before retrieving a flask. as teens the two were a public relations nightmare together but salem always felt like mallory accepted her for exactly who she was. despite salem being so reckless at times when they were younger their friendship ended up surviving the test of time. "i filled this up before i left in case there was only wine at this thing. i hope you still love tequila."
taking a sip from the flask salem passed it over to mallory soon after. "you have a point, i guess this isn't the setting for everyone to be in their feelings but i'll definitely take the private show." salem teased. at the mention of leon's name she smiled for a moment and shrugged slightly. "we've never been described as disgustingly cute, more like a tad dysfunctional but i'll take it." the two had been a lot better lately and salem was trying her best to make sure things stayed that way. "honestly? i really didn't think i could either. i even ended things twice but i guess when you know you know. he's also been super patient through my bullshit." her interest suddenly peaked on mallory's romantic life. "speaking of significant others who's your current victim?"
"Don't tell me you're thinking of tapping out this early. The Salem I know would keep going until we're shitfaced." Mallory answers with a pout. She needed the liquid courage seeing as it was her first performance in months. Truth is, Mal already had a bit to drink before she came to the festival. But a little more alcohol never hurt, right? Reconnecting with Salem after years apart brings a sense of nostalgia and comfort to Mallory. It takes her back to the good memories she had back in then. "Salem, baby," she says, taking a second to down her drink before continuing. "Do you know how difficult it is to choose which songs to perform? I wanted to sing 'Tummy Hurts' and 'Snow Angel' back to back, but then I thought, 'this is too sad for the festival'. I want people to shake their asses and have a good time, y'know?" "But I can give you a private show…but I don't think Leon would like that," Mal adds with a chuckle. "Speaking of, you two are disgustingly cute, you know that? I swear, I could never do that."
"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. ❞ ─ ✶⋆.˚
normally salem wasn't one to go out to the club alone ( especially her frequent spot club divine ) but since arriving back in valpo she knew she needed to let off some steam and let her hair down. after about twenty minutes of mingling with randoms and a couple shots with a group of girls she met at the bar salem practically jumped out of her skin with excitement upon realizing nevaeh was the guest dj for the night. 'finally a familiar face' she thought while moving her way through the crowd towards the other's set up. "thank god you're here!!!" salem yelled out to her before embracing her in a tight hug. it was comforting being around nevaeh because the two always managed to have fun no matter what the occasion was and it was just what salem needed right now. "i know! but i got hit with major um...drama i guess you could say when i got back that threw me through a fucking loop but that's another story for later." finishing off the rest of her drink. "how have you been? if you let me linger around the booth tonight i promise not to embarrass you. i actually came alone."
status / closed , ( @cybermuses ) location / club divine
the surprise on nevaeh's features was evident. as a guest dj for club divine's rooftop party, nevaeh hadn't expected to see any familiar face in the audience because she hadn't set out any invites. it was a last minute decision, the previous performer flaking out and other bland explanations nevaeh stopped listening after they told her how much she was getting paid. all that to say, she wasn't expecting to see anyone she knew. especially salem. she thought she'd still be in la. nevaeh was never one to drink while performing so it didn't take long for salem's features to register. nearly ripping her headphones off her head, her squeal echoed through her headphones as she hopped from behind her set up onto the dancefloor and racing at full speed towards her. " no fucking shit, salem ! " nevaeh exclaimed, delighted to see her as she wrapped her in a tight embrace. " you don't know how to call, nobody or what ? "
status: open @valpostart location: el café de los gatos
“so like….hypothetically speaking if someone wanted one of these cats could they have one?” she asked the person beside her while her gaze was fixed on a larger grey tabby cat. salem being at the cat cafe wouldn’t surprise anyone ( neither would wanting to take in a random stray ) and she knew it would have to be one of the first stops she made as soon as she came back to town. as she crouched down to pet it she wondered how much her own cat would object to a sibling. she seemed to do well with “boat cat” after all. “i mean obviously i would pay for it and ask if i could have it but like can the cats leave with human if they want to?”
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?"
"are you okay" no can we change the topic before i start oversharing
if there was one thing salem couldn’t say no to it was a shopping trip. retail therapy had always been her go to no matter what she was dealing with in life. this time around though she was happy to just simply tag along while valentina shopped around for some new clothes. while she waited she scrolled through instagram briefly, a smile stretching across her lips as the other emerged from the dressing room. “you look fucking amazing!” she exclaimed, probably a little too loud in the boutique dressing room. "well...as far as it being too much it really depends on what the occasion is?" not that the other needed a special occasion to wear it anyways. "i also feel like you're technically never overdressed. i think you should go for it." she nodded with approval.
» 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑻𝑼𝑺 ― open ― @valpostart
» 𝑳𝑶𝑪𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 ― plaza de sol
valentina slid back the curtain to the dressing room in one of the local boutiques plaza de sol had to offer, stepping out like a model on a catwalk before striking a pose in front of the other; long limbs on display in a barely there, black, glittering scrap or fabric dress that had been calling her name from the moment she saw it on the mannequin through the front window. “ what do you think? “ while the opinions of others weren’t held in too high of a regard, she would be lying if she said there wasn’t a part of her that craved approval, attention. doing a one-eighty, she turned toward the mirror, dark hues roaming over her reflection as her hands skimmed over her hips, smoothing the second-skin like fabric. “ too much? or just enough? “
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?"
🎈, 🏹, 🔮 <3
🎈 BALLOON — what is something you've created and/or accomplished recently that you're proud of?
"definitely the new music i'm working on. i just wrote a super sapphic love song that's kinda cheesy but cute as hell."
🏹 BOW AND ARROW — if there's something from your past that you'd give anything to go back in time and redo, what is it?
"i' would have definitely put my foot down for more normalcy. i kinda just rolled with the punches as far as how i grew up and i wish i knew what boundaries were so i wasn't so exposed.
🔮 CRYSTAL BALL — what is a core memory from your childhood that you think defines you today?
"well, most my childhood was spent with cameras around me 24/7 so not really having my own safe space growing up made me very adamant in having one as an adult. but I also try to provide that for others if im able to.”