Salem Cleared Some Space On The Table For Him And Shook Her Head. "you Weren't Interrupting At All! I'm

salem let out a small chuckle at her response. with all the hand made pottery and jewelry it was understandable to feel a little cautious. "i'm sure you're not that clumsy. but if this isn't really your speed we can do something else maybe? i just thought this would have something for everyone." still being very new to the area meant salem had so much more to explore which made her open to other people's interests and it was nice to be able to make new friends in a different scene. it was a good distraction for her anyways. "seriously i'm open to anything. birdie convinced me to let them teach me about dungeons and dragons and we spent hours the other day playing. at this point in my life im very easily influenced." she said jokingly.

in  all  honesty,  there's  still  quite  a  few  places  aviva  hasn't  explored  yet.  between  working,  and  trying  to  make  sure  her  life  doesn't  implode,  making  sure  birdie  doesn't  kill  anymore  innocent  plants,  or  that  charlie  isn't  rearing  his  big  forhead  back  into  her  life  (  more  on  that  later  )  ,  it's  been  a  bit  difficult  to  go  out  and  do  things.  an  eyebrow  raises  slightly  at  the  sight  of  the  bag.  if  she  was  braver,  she'd  be  able  to  do  the  same  —  but  also,  as  silly  as  it  sounds,  she  doesn't  want  to  intrude  on  her  cousins  house.  it's,  like,  a  respect  thing,  she's  sure.  "i  just  —  i  dunno,  i'm  really  picky,  you  know?"  kind  of.  "and  i'm  afraid  if  i  touch  anything,  it'll  break.  bull  in  a  china  shop  deal,  you  know?"

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   ?   "

Kiana Ledé

status: closed for @vroyales // leia

after spending some time on the tilt-a-whirl and wandering around the grape maze salem convinced leia to tag along with her to the petting zoo. she was shamelessly enjoying every moment of it despite all the kids running around and crowding the area. "there's no way i can leave here without taking one home with me. it isn't fair." salem said while holding the piglet in her arms and gently petting it. "i mean, i could literally just put her in my tote bag right now and go home. do you think anyone would notice?"

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

"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.

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.  "

the reaction didn't surprise her but salem couldn't help but laugh at her response. "milani stop!" she said before playfully rolling her eyes. "not too much okay? he's actually great. i'm just starting to feel like he may be better off without me and my bullshit." salem didn't have the best track record with men, her last relationship was an absolute dumpster fire. traumatizing would be an understatement. "this is going to disgust you but i'm actually so in love with him it makes me want to run away from him you know?" it sounded crazy but it was the truth. she flashed milani a smile at her compliment, "you're sweet. i'm not even sure if i'm in the place to hook up with anyone truthfully but it may be nice to meet some new people while im here."

               those   were   always   such   great   words   to   start   a   conversation.   milani   wished   she   was   sitting   in   a   swivel   chair   so   that   her   turn   towards   salem   had   a   much   more   ominous   affect.   she   settled   for   clutching   her   luke   warm   cup   of   coffee   up   to   her   chest   as   she   watched   salem.   milani   didn't   even   need   to   hear   the   rest   of   the   question   to   give   out   her   very   sound,   thought   out,   and   unbiased   opinion:   "   HELL   yes.   "   there   was   plenty   of   emphasis   on   the   hell.   "   are   you   joking   ?   easiest   answer   i   ever   could've   given.   i   never   understood   what   you   saw   in   him.   or   why.   just   know   that   you   should   get   out   while   you   can.   "   she   concluded,   eyeing   the   dress.   "   honestly   ?   you   could   walk   into   divine   in   a   trash   bag   and   hooves   and   still   get   attention   with   a   face   card   like   yours.   "   milani   said,   playfully   taking   salem's   chin   between   her   thumb   and   index   finger   for   a   brief   moment.   "   but   i   would   go   for   something   shorter   and   boobier.   "

status: open! @valpostart location: casablanca blooms & coffee

it had been a while since salem left the house, she'd been recluse lately for a couple reasons. she was finally to the point where being home was starting to get old and she needed to get out of her head and be around other people. after spending some time out and about (which included spending money on things she didn't need at secondhand style) she found herself at casablanca blooms and coffee. what was supposed to be a quick coffee run turned into an hour of her being scribbling in her journal at one of the empty tables. "if you wanna join me you can, i really could use the company." she said with a smile to the familiar face a few feet away.