Theresa
◇ 7:30pm...

□ August 22nd was always a special day to Margo. It was a special day, and not just because it was the day the doctors escorted her out of her mother's holiest of holies and into the wide, unbearably cruel world, but it was also the day she'd initially come out to herself. So, naturally, her birthday was as much a celebration of surviving another year as it was a celebration of embracing her femininity and finally shedding the shame that'd lingered behind her ever since early childhood.

▪︎ And, to that end she'd spent the entire day treating herself – and by extension Uri – to charcuterie boards and lobster tails and a day out at the spa. Now...? It was evening, and she had plans with Vi, plans she'd mentioned to Uri days in advance so the sleepy lad could find themself a nook to chill in.

◇ Two glasses sat on the coffee table, alongside several mixers, and a forty of some gin – she hadn't bought it herself, so she'd had no choice in the matter. Hopefully Vi wouldn't mind.
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ Honestly, it had always felt weird being officially older than Margo.
Calling herself 17 and Margo 16 made a curious and weird feeling in her gut- so it was certainly nice for the much loved girl to finally grow up a year officially. 
And of course with birthdays comes the excitement... An excuse to get Margo something nice- a gift without having to make the other feel any guilt, since of course it's an obligation for a birthday.

: ̗̀➛✯ Vi stood in front of her mirror with a quiet sigh, trying to figure out if this outfit was worth the risk- she may as well be looking at a caution sign on the mirror, as it was very much 50/50 on if the combination of blue jeans and the simple pale green spaghetti strap vest would work..
It seemed okay enough- yet Vi still found a way to stress over if it was good enough, rambunctious and self deprecating thoughts told her to cover up more but... She shook her head; she was certain that especially with the heat, it may be rather helpful for a bit of revealing clothes to make an appearance.

: ̗̀➛✯ Though just in case, she stuck a folded up jumper in her bag.

: ̗̀➛✯ Vi looked herself up and down, and once she was finally satisfied, she set off through her dorm door, little gift bag in one hand, a small bag for herself in the other, and a newfound confident bashing against her skull, just waiting to be let out.

: ̗̀➛✯ She reaches Margo's door with a wide smile- of which was still off tempo and crooked, but sweet, and comfortably gentle if you payed enough attention.
She knocked thrice, hands swaying idly
Theresa
○ Three knocks rang out, and in their wake came the shuffling of feet.

◆ "Hey." Coolly welcoming her girlfriend with a faint smile and a casual lazy cadence, her face lit up red as she saw exactly what Vi had showed up in. A pea-toned spaghetti strap top and some blue jeans was a touch more revealing than she was used to, and accordingly she was just a touch flustered at it – *God, she's beautiful,* Her thoughts bounced around in her skull. Rather than look away, though, she spent a moment at the door processing it before gently caressing Vi's face. 

▪︎ She *Was* Beautiful, God damn it, and there was nothing she could do except be enamoured by her beauty.

◆ "Sorry about making you wait at the door, babe, I'm just..." Her words rejoined her after a few moments, honeyed and genuinely warm. "Enamoured. You look, uh... Great. Yeah." With that, she'd let go and step back, gesturing towards the room. It was more or less the same as regular, except there were a few birthday decorations on the wall, ostensibly hoisted up by Uri while she was out and about picking up her charcuterie board. It was pretty modest, pretty laid-back, and very fragrant due to the incense burning in its holder on the table.

▪︎ As Vi walked by, she'd gently smack her butt, and close the door behind them. 

◆ "So, I see you got a little gift." Speaking as she sat down, she'd quickly wrap an arm around Vi's own, clearly in a bit of a touchy-feely mood, despite how desperately she still wanted to be the cool, aloof femme fatale of her daydreams. "Uri also got me a gift... It's actually really pretty, wanna see it?"
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta's face continued to light up when the door open, grinning widely at Margo and leaning forwards. She had hoped that her outfit wouldn't have made anything awkward, and by the way Margo sort of marvelled for a second- Vi figured that she had made the exact opposite effect; relief flooded her for a moment as she half walked in

: ̗̀➛✯ She didn't say anything at first, just taking in Margo's room as usual. The place was becoming far more common for Violetta to frequent, her visits often lasting several hours of talking about nothing important, their meaningless conversations holding place near and dear to her geart nonetheless. Like a christmas tree with only lights; this was all just... So new and exciting.

: ̗̀➛✯ Once she felt a pat, she turned around with a quiet gasp- the audacity of this birthday girl!!!! Violetta quickly then leapt into action, now in the flow of things, pulling Margo down into a tight hug around the shoulders.
"Happy birthday!!" A simple wish, but enough for Violetta to say as her cheek squished against Margo's in the hug.
Pulling away because of the bags wacking gently against Margo's back, Vi gave a subtle smirk and a peck on Margo's cheek as she went to sit down with her lover.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Indeed there is a present for you- though do show me Uri's- I can just imagine theyre amazing at presents." She leaned into Margo's touch enthusiastically, head resting upon Margo's shoulder.
Theresa
◆ "Thanks, babe." 

□ Replying in turn, she draped her arms around Vi's waist and held her close without a care in the world for the bags hitting her hip. Joining her lover after a moment on the couch, she set off getting comfortable and settled in, lightly tangled up with Vi, fingers betwixt each other, cheeks pressed together. This was meant to be a night of romance, of snacks, of card games and television shows and music and cuddles, and she was looking forward to it.

▪︎ She leaned forward and stood up, producing a small paper book from her shelf.

◆ "So, this is what Uri got me. It's a little pressed paper book, right? But..." Opening it up, she sat back down and held it out for Vi to inspect on her own if she wished to. "They got me a little booklet full of magnolia flowers, due to my Intranet handle. I'd be lying if I said I almost teared up when they gave it to me..." Her voice naturally faded, comfortable silence filling in the gaps left behind. "But, what did my favourite girl get me, huh?"
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ Vi was perfectly comfortable to snuggle up to Margo, a small grin befitting her face as she set her bags down onto the floor in front of her; that was just about the only place she could really reach to place them anyways... What with the overly comfortable position she had managed to get herself in. It felt as though she had a cat on her lap, and you don't dare move lest you wake the feline up.
Violetta fought back a sigh of disappointment when Margo proceeded to stand up, despite how interested she was about what Uri got her.

: ̗̀➛✯ Vi flipped through the paper book with a faint smile, looking from the book and then to Margo, she could understand why she loved the flowers so much- they both seemed to give off a similar, safe radiance of beauty and graceful intelligence.
She gently returned the book of flowers to Margo, still smiling subtly
"Uriel seems to really understand you... That's wonderful company to keep, you know" She noted, sitting upright.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Ah- of course." Violetta reached down to her bag again, opening it up and much similarly to Uriel's gift, taking out a booklet. It was a little bigger than A4
"Apologies that it's not all that flashy but... It's personal- which should count for something." A very proud of herself look adorning her face, Violetta handed over the miscellaneous booklet.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Yeah... You know how I never let you look at the paintings i make of you? Well... Its them- just every painting of you in that booklet- there's... Also some candy in the bag- no gummies. I know you hate those."
Theresa
◆ "Can say that again." Margo calmly spoke, gently tapping her fingers against Vi's hip as the shorter lass looked through one of the hand-made gifts she'd received. The intimacy of it all, though, wasn't lost on her... She'd be cherishing this night for a while. She hummed and clicked her tongue against the base of her mouth. "They're a really good friend, in a very different way than my friends were back home. I'm... Not quite sure what I'm going to do when they move out of here, y'know? But also that's a while away, not fuckin' thinking about it tonight."

□ Voice rumbling with youthful confidence and the sort of calm that only a lover's presence could bring, she took a few moments to look down at the sketchbook in her hands. For weeks now, she'd been Vi's muse, an oft-painted subject chiseled right from Scottish stone, but now she finally got to *See* The pieces her girlfriend had made, and naturally she was just a little nervous. It might have just been paintings, sure, but they were *Very* Personal, candid shots of her laid down not ten feet away in Vi's room, in relative silence only occasionally punctuated by casual chatter and looks of admiration exchanged behind backs.

▪︎ And now, she got to see them. She opened the book, and began to gingerly paw through it.

◆ "Jesus, Vi, you... Really get my good side." She chuckled, clearly flustered and trying her best to stay firmly placed in her emotional boots. "I love it, actually... And the candy. Hm..." She dumped the candy out into her lap and picked through the small pile, nodding approvingly at the selection. "Nice. You know me, that's for sure. Then again, I'd hope ya know me, babe... Be a little awkward otherwise."

▪︎ A few moments passed in silence as she continued to pick through the pages.

◆ "But, yeah, I really like it. It's a very pleasant sort of weird seeing my likeness done up with such care, but... I suppose I've just never been this lucky."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "Well... That's hardly difficult when you have a million good sides." Sprawled alongside Margo, she blithely flicked her gaze from her lover's face to the canvases in front of her. There was something strangely congenial about painting your partner in such an intimate light... And there was something even more wonderful about Violetta finally having another muse. When she got transferred to the cradle, the role had been left vacant where her brother and mother once were, and she had to be stuck with pinterest references.

: ̗̀➛✯ and as much as she adores pinterest; it's just not the same as having flesh and blood in front of you- to really study another person's angles, to know where the light hits, where the shadows hide away, and how precisely their eyes glimmer in the lighting.
And with Margo, there was the added romance (and the 'paint me like one of your french girls' jokes, which somehow still gain a reticent chuckle out of Vi). Getting to look at Margo from so many angles, and to solidify her adoration and cherishment in oil and gouache.


She leaned against Margo's shoulder, hands cloaking around her waist as her head sort of perched upon her shoulder- looking at each of the paintings alongside her girlfriend.
"Well... Let's hope I do know you, just don't quiz me." Vi jested quietly, calm in that moment to let the satisying silence go forward.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Well... Now you are this lucky- and as am i. That's cheesy but... Oh well." Violetta shrugged delicately
"It's nice to have a muse again... Especially a gorgeous one- red hair is very fun to paint too... Never dye it black please-"
Theresa
○ And naturally, Margo's face flushed red once again, only hidden by the fact she had part of her cheek pressed into the crown of Vi's head as the pair chatted.

◆ "C'mon, Vi, I don't have *That* Many good sides." She jokingly retorted, laughing softly. "But my ego suuure loves the attention..." She continued, pawing through the sketchbook once more to simply admire and cherish how talented Vi was with a paintbrush. "Anyways, man... It's crazy. The difference between us as artists, that is. You're so damn good with a paintbrush, I'm at best alright with comics, and yet I still feel like i've got so much to learn from you... Is this what relationships are all about? Growing as people together?" Her voice trailed off, the words clearly less of a question that demanded answers and more of a self-centered utterance, a way to remind herself she was still very much figuring out the ins and outs of romance.

▪︎ And thus, she had to be nice to herself.

◆ "We're both cheesy as they come, honestly, so don't worry." She calmly spoke, index finger gently snaking up the waist of Vi's tank top before coming to a rest tracing lazy circles on the bare skin of her hip. "And don't worry about my hair, babe, it'll stay red as long as you want it to, alright?"
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ Vi took a hand to Margo's jaw, squishing it and lightly moving the taller girl's head around- she then nodded, satisfied.
"At least 100 good sides... I hope your ego appreciates it." She noted, grinning daintily.
Moments like this... Where they can joke around, compliment and appraise eachother, all while sounding at least faintly, subtly like teenagers. Teenagers Without the stupid dads and traumatic pasts- just those annoying, cheesy couples that get WAY too close in the literal hallways. Those delirious teens that buy matching rings and go on dates

: ̗̀➛✯ Margo... Made Vi feel normal, even if only temporarily.. Even if only for a moment.

: ̗̀➛✯ "I... Like your art, Margo. It's passionate- you've always sort of adored it, as you could draw what you wanted. I only recently started to like what I paint; that would be because of a certain someone"
Vi swooned, pressing against Margo's side needily. The sensation of being intertwined with someone she viewed so highly set off a bomb in her stomach.
Having been through this stage of romance before, she was enthralled to go through the swooning over your love era all over again, and for someone who cares this time.
"We're young... Everyday is about discovering eachother- ourselves and growing."
She felt herself cringe into her back intestine at her own words- but it was in essence what she believed true. Spending time with one another, finding new ways to hug, kiss, flirt and so on, and so forth... Were all new ways for them to grow in tandem and harmony with one another.

: ̗̀➛✯ What an embarrassing thought to have, however, it was hopeful... More hopeful than she'd ever felt in years.

: ̗̀➛✯ the skin of her waist, speckled with burns and freckles, the sensation of a new soft touch tracing circles upon her skin, like painting a solar system onto the cosmic map of her skin made the short girl jolt and giggle.

: ̗̀➛✯ " Don't... Force yourself to keep it red- you're gorgeous on any colour"
Theresa
○ And, for just a moment, Margo melted, a rare display of her guard fully slipping down into the hands of another.

◆ "Well, I... I guess I'm happy to, y'know. Be the reason you like art again. But also, you shouldn't just rely on me." Casually speaking, she could feel Vi shifting ever closer, wrapping her arms and her hands around the various parts of her body like a monkey. It was a little terrifying, still, being so close and so intimate with someone, but she hid it pretty damn well, keeping her own hands busy scooping cheese from her charcuterie board and lazily exploring the ways in which the skin of Vi's hip dipped and peaked as it moved over the musculature and bone beneath the surface. "Not to be negative, I just... Know it'd rip both of us apart if we ever split up."

▪︎ "Fuck," She uttered, "Why do those words taste so sour...?"

○ A few moments passed, in which time she fully hoisted the cheeseboard onto her lap.

◆ "Want some snacks? I can... Move it if you want a better seat." She chuckled, able to feel her face flushing lightly from how forthcoming her comment had been. Hopefully Vi wouldn't mind a little bit of humour with hot hibiscus honey and freakishly expensive blue cheeses. "But yeah, cringe as it is to say, I think that's... Kinda it. I dunno. I really wish I did, but I don't... Oh well, fuck it. Did I ever tell you why I chose red? It wasn't just because I like the colour red – I actually like greens way more, if you haven't gathered from my camo jacket and shit – but I dunno if i've ever told you."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "Well not just you obviously- but... The entire cradle is just so.. Beautifully dystopian I suppose. Everyone here is pretty too. You're my favourite muse, but Ive painted Gabe a couple of times... That and the outside of the cradle, streets of Isakstad. An industrial area with hidden beauty- the poetically perfect prison."
Such a thing as art was always enough to make Violetta swoon. Was it something she saw herself doing perhaps in a couple years? No. In fact, her foresight hardly imagined anything past next year.
But it was a way of looking at the world, and it brightened the pessimist's view on things just that little bit.

: ̗̀➛✯ the small girl occasionally squirmed in Margo's gentle clutch, the light and feathery touch making her snicker at times in a ticklish frenzy.
She remained in place however, perfectly content with the way Margo memorised the contour lines on the map of her flesh.
She nuzzled her head against Margo's shoulder gently, sighing under her breath.

: ̗̀➛✯ "They feel so bitter because it's... Not something you wish to say, I suppose. Or maybe because it's a negative thought on your birthday- who knows."

: ̗̀➛✯ Vi hoped that area of conversation would just blow over as just another hypothetical, just another unwelcome thought here to crash the fun at the party. She sat a little more upright upon Margo's new line of speaking.
Giving half a smirk to her partner, Vi tilted her head side to side indecisively.
"I'm not huge on cheese and such but.. Well I might just take you up on that second offer" It was difficult to tell whether or not the clumsy words that spilt out of Vi's mouth a lot less smoother than she had intended were purely in jest, or if she was actually open to a change in position.. She may be embarrassed by her own flirting, but the sheepish girl at least had the joy of leaving Margo guessing.
.

: ̗̀➛✯ she shook her head, eyebrows raising on the snib.
"There's a reason? Aha- I just... Sort of assumed you knew it would look good on you."
Theresa
◆ "Gabe, huh...? I'm sure that vain prick loved being painted." Margo laughed, barely an ounce of menace to her voice. "But I getcha. Isakstad's a really nice place, honestly... Lot more greenery than the boroughs, that's for sure. Sure, you had Central Park back home, but other than that...? It all felt like urban oppressive sprawl. Also, for the love of God, be careful out in the industrial areas. Those winged freaks are still loose, plotting who knows what against us..."

□ Picking up an olive and some sort of sweet creamy cheese with a toothpick, she scraped the morsel off with her lips as if she'd done it a thousand times before. Chewing, she leaned her head against Vi's softly, feather touch like the down of the seabirds off of her ancestral home, her thoughts up in the clouds. Romance wasn't *Exactly* What she'd envisioned, but it was still something that she was overjoyed about, no matter how aloof and calm she seemed sometimes. Of course, though, the moment of calm was broken as, once again, one of her flirts got reciprocated when she wasn't exactly expecting it.

▪︎ Naturally, she stiffened for just a second, then let out a surprised noise.

◆ "Jesus, Vi, you keep on catching me off guard." Margo sheepishly laughed, plucking another cube of cheese and holding it up towards her girlfriend's mouth. "I keep on not expecting you to reciprocate my smooth talking, but then you do and my heart swings a kick into my ribs... It's nice, though, I guess. But seriously, you've gotta at least try this. It's a French camembert, it's super creamy and delicious." She'd hold it up for a few moments, after which she'd drop the toothpick, or bite the cheese off herself if Vi turned it down.

-
◆ "So, when I was younger... About eleven? I first came out to myself. Accepted that I was *Not* Cis in the least, started trying new pronouns out, yaddiyadda. Well, part of that metamorphosis of sorts was shedding my natural hair, and I saw on a color theory site that red's kinda this mix of love and war, and... That resonated with me. **I** Am love and war in one, a lover *And* A fighter, and so I chose red as a colour to obsessively dye my hair. Miiight be a touch stupid, but... Whatever."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "Oh absolutely, I chose him because I knew he'd say yes and I was anxious with everyone else. I'm half convinced he might have kissed the canvas when I left" Vi played along, Gabe was someone that she could appreciate, but man... Was he way too self aware about being hot. Maybe Violetta was just jealous of the confidence. Maybe she secretly wished that she could hold herself to such esteem, rather than capping herself at 'average' where she apparently belonged.


: ̗̀➛✯ She looked on in esteem and adoration as Margo scrambled and flustered over simple reciprocation. A calculated risk flew over Margo's head when Violetta dared make a move back, which left Vi suitably astonished when she was hit with that reminder that Margo was so new to this.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, though Vi hardly believed a flirt to be anything worth mocking at all.
Though the cheese offering admittedly threw Vi off.

: ̗̀➛✯ the world's most vague social cue was whalloped right into Vi's stomach, giving her mental whiplash, like an uppercut to the jaw, only worse.
Literally what is she meant to do in this situation, every blaring siren in her head indicates fight or flight, and the little spongebob esque people in her brain's filing cabinet office were running a fire drill in her skull.
The options were clear, yet which one she was to do was not. It was either take the cheese toothpick like a normal person, bite it off the stick how it is, or acknowledge the cheese.
.

: ̗̀➛✯ she was visibly uncertain, taking a good couple seconds of clear mental crisis to figure out what the Fuck was going on- or rather, what she was meant to actually do. Her eyes darted from between Margo and the cheese- and after a moment more she had to bite the bullet.

: ̗̀➛✯ still without a word, she just... Half awkwardly leaned forwards and chomped the cheese off the stick. Sorry, Margo if you intended on eating that, but you gotta be a little clear /j
Nodding in approval, Violetta swiftly got to bending her posture to be a bit more coddled into Margo's side, rather than the stoic straight and board like position she had accidentally put herself in.

: ̗̀➛✯ "I see... I should have known there would have been a deeper meaning. That's... Really sweet actually; your journey to self acceptance partially started with well... Your hair. I was considering dyeing mine blue but black hair is a pain to bleach and dye so... God knows."
Vi reminisced, closing her eyes as she spoke.
Theresa
◆ "Fair enough."

□ Rather than twist what Vi had said into a ramble about somehow *Not* Being anxious, she instead was content to let her *Be* Anxious. Life was worrying, and not everyone was enthusiastic about amateur self-portraits, so all one could do was be kind to themself and push themself forward at their own rate. Watching as Vi froze up for a few good moments with the offer of cheese under her nose, Margo genuinely found herself befuddled. What had she done? Was Vi lactose intolerant and trying to find a nice way to verbalize it? Was she just not a fan of the French? These thoughts were all dashed as Vi bit, dragged, and then cuddled up into her side.

▪︎ Crisis averted! Now she could lean forward and grab the remote.

◆ "Fuck, I'd imagine black hair is a royal hassle to bleach." Margo spoke, flicking the TV on and bringing up Disney+. "But, if it's any comfort, your hair's absolutely beautiful as is. I've... Always had a thing for dark hair, and yours is my absolute favourite." Smooth. "A lot of my journey of self-acceptance was just finding a... How do I word this? A brand of transgenderism. Kinda. It's never been so much dysphoria in the way that I want to rip my dick off, or get top surgery, but I always just fucking *Hated* Being seen, or treated, as a man, as some square-bodied bull meant to inherit the Abernathy fortune and business. I... Wanted to be myself. This *Is* Me. I'm happy."

● "Now..." Predictably, she quickly navigated to The Owl House, and brought up the first episode of season 2. "How about we watch some stuff and have a few drinks? Marge came through yesterday with that bottle on the table, and... I was hoping we could drink together. Maybe we'll get to know each other better than we ever could sober, as scary as the thought might be..."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "Yes... I needn't even give it a go to know it would be a pain. I might get some strips in but... If you think it's a look then I'm perfectly content." Watching the TV flicker on in front of her, Vi came up with a mental prediction of what was to come. She could easily guess from the entrance to disney plus that this was an Owl House watch party.
Season 1... Vi had actually enjoyed- despite her uptight view on cartoons, the knowledge that Margo liked it, made the show even more illuminating and full of wonder in her view.

: ̗̀➛✯ she looked up at Margo for a second, catching onto the way the light hit her skin, and casted beautiful shadows upon all the girl's perfections and imperfections, every inch of what she adored to look at.
But now wasn't the time for Vi' internal simping, she turned her attention back to the TV, a subtle attempt at hiding her face having gone a little pink from admiring.
It's so hard being with someone who wasn't just the bare minimum, since now she feels inclined to stare.

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta nodded with a hint of understanding at Margo's trans talk- an insight into the younger woman's thoughts and feelings was always duly noted to Violetta.
"Yeah... Ripping your dick off would hurt..."
Violetta muttered, mostly without thinking; her mind was far more focused on picking apart Margo's reasonings, and forming some sort of judgement or understanding. A jurisdiction that would put into words the feeling in a way that Vi, as a cis woman could hopefully comprehend..
"I... Think I understand. For you, it's more about how you're viewed socially, yes? *You* Know you're a woman, so you're insistent on making sure people view you as such? I hope that makes enough sense."

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta hummed quietly upon her judgement, fiddling with a stray thread of Margo's shirt. She hoped the tall girl didn't mind being leant on- it just sort of felt easier with the height difference.

Vi was happy to shift position if Margo wanted to lean on her instead but... It seemed alright so far.
"Is season two as good as season one?" She questioned, eyebrows raising. As much as she refused to downright state that she enjoyed the show- but god she did... And god did she also lowkey have a thing for Eda. But thats a demon to confront another time.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Sounds good to me, though I do warn you, I don't get drunk easily... Which is likely for the best."
Theresa
◆ "Hmph."

□ A lazy, approving utterance left her throat, barely more than a percussive thump pressed between the different components of her necks. Just as she was willing to keep her head red as long as her girlfriend wanted it, Vi was seemingly willing to leave her beautiful dark locks alone, and that was good news for Margo given her taste in women. Able to feel Vi's gaze tenderly scanning her face, she naturally flushed salmon pink. Who could blame her? She was being admired, gazed at, as a woman instead of a man, and this soft gaze that viewed her as what she wanted to be affirmed to her that she was more than just a faggot in a dress like her father had said so many times.

▪︎ And the affirmations felt *Good.*

◆ "Basically it, I guess." She spoke, grabbing a few different morsels and fixing herself a killer bite of food. "I just wanted to be seen as a woman on my own terms, not by society's. Society at large expects trans women to get all sorts of surgeries, do vocal training, tuck their dicks in, present femme, but that's just bullshit." She continued after she'd chewed and swallowed her bite. "It really is, man... Anyways, season two is even better than season one, in my opinion. It builds upon the first season, and man, does it get *Dark* At times. Or, well, dark by Disney standards. Fuck Disney. Also great, I get hammered way too fuckin' easy, hopefully I won't be too much of a problem to look after."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ and in Vi's mind, Margo was always a girl, did she view it as unconventional? Sure, maybe it was new to meet people like Margo, strange for such a sheltered girl but... Being trans was just part of Margo's beautiful puzzle, no matter how out of the norm it was. 
A childhood of historical texts and more books than one could count had led to at least one thing; normalisation of the different people she was bound to meet. Gay stuff confused her since she related a little too much to it but... Having come across studies of it growing up, trans people never confused or grossed her out, she never had anything to internalise.
She got it. Something about that expression had clicked a little earlier in the last couple months.


"You're right, I think... That and not everyone can afford to put themselves out there right away. I've read some of the statistics as a kid. I wouldn't want to come out either..." Vi reflected, absentmindedly moving away from just the thread of Margo's shirt, to simply fiddling with the area of fabric as she concentrated on conversation.
She hadn't even noticed she was doing it, somehow.

: ̗̀➛✯ she let out an airy giggle, smiling halfly at Margo
"I'm sure you're a bareable drunk, just don't try to throw me or anything."
Theresa
○ [TW: mentions of various forms of parental abuse]

◆ "Oh fuck no." Margo shook her head. Seemingly, Vi mentioning the statistics behind young trans people and their oft-unfortunate fates had struck a still-recovering wound, but unlike the diner she was ready to be truthful about it all. She gently – near demandingly, honestly – pulled herself into Vi's side, tucking her knees into her chest after she'd placed the board back on the table. ||"I... Was actually beat when I first came out to my dad. I was eleven, and... He'd never been the nicest man, but he beat me viciously. Again and again. Once he found out he couldn't beat me back into the closet he basically forgot I exist, the fucking bastard. All because I..." She tightened her arms around her calves, pressing the bridge of her nose between her knees. "Was a disgrace to his public image. *His public image.* I was nothing but a fucking tool to him, Vi..." A sniffle followed. "And even with all the beatings and neglect he couldn't fucking accept that he was in the wrong. That he was hurting me."||

□ With those words, she'd begin to silently cry, leaning herself into Vi's side for a moment before, all at once, the dam broke and the tears came out a deluge. Pained sobs, sniffles, her body loosening up and completely melting into whatever embrace or solace Vi offered, memories of years gone by and abuses suffered flashing through her head like a torturous slideshow of where she'd been, and what had played a part in making her the person she was. Of course, though, as she sobbed profusely and kneaded the material of Vi's top she felt regret, shame, anger at herself for letting her emotions get the best of her, vestiges of male socialization she'd yet to put to bed for good.

▪︎ A few good minutes of crying passed before the tears began to dry up.

● "But, I'm... Sure you didn't come here to *Hic* Hear my sob story. I'm sorry, babe, y-you didn't need to hear that, right?"
Shannon
[similarly also tw for abuse/ableism, only mentioned briefly tho]


Vi instantly scrambled to provide any possible sort of comfort, shoulder to cry on, anything. She had no clue how to respond to this situation, her empathy barrels being sent bare empty at birth.
Sympathy, compassion, they'll work in tandem some form of way..

: ̗̀➛✯ She quickly wrapped Margo into a hug as soon as she realised that the taller girl hadn't in fact pulled herself closer for a kiss, but rather for comfort, to be closer. 
She knew the feeling at least, to have someone you've always at least sort of looked up to, like a father figure to inflict some sort of rage, pain, the lot. And for the first time in a while, a sort of anger fizzled aggressively at her core as her arms tightly held the pent up girl next to her into an embrace that Vi hoped could patch up the dam, even if just for a moment.
Margo... Didn't deserve this.

: ̗̀➛✯ Awkwardly leaving the other girl twisting in her seat to make a more comfortable hug, Vi said not a word yet, simply taking it in, and giving herself a moment for the spiking anger in her stomach to rest, damn it, rest!
Margo didn't need anger right now, that's how Vi took it, at least.. She was happy to let Margo fiddle with her shirt, cry into her shoulder (a little uncomfortable considering the lack of sleeves but... Skin is waterproof at least?) and babble about whatever trouble continued. Vi placed the occasional gentle kiss onto Margo's head while the shushing and reassurance came all the same, periodically to a rhythm.

Stroking Margo's hair with the attempt to alleviate, she felt the same striking rage in her stomach, that made her apoplectic at any mention of Margo's father, and god forbid she have to meet the guy ever... Realistically Vi wouldn't be able to do anything, but man would he get some cold stares!

: ̗̀➛✯ the clearing of the weather to a murky cloudy made Vi a little hopeful, she reached a hand out to clear away any other tears from her lover's cheeks. Her touch lingered momentarily, and she shuffled forward as Margo began to add on some apology that needn't be there. If anyone should apologise, Vi was sure it was herself.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Oh Margo... I.. I think i did... Need to hear that i mean." She looked into Margo's eyes for a fleeting second, eyebrow and a half upturned in concern.
"Margo... I'll never understand what you went through- not fully. Not truly. Even if what we went through was similar- you need to let it out because... Who you are affected things, it wasn't just taking out anger, it was personal to your identity and.. And" Violetta stuttered around the end, stumbling over her words and mouthing about uncertainly for a moment.

: ̗̀➛✯ ||"And no matter how many times I was hit and beat for autism or.. Or for going non verbal,,, and everytime i was simply forgotten about around dinner time- it's just such a similar yet different charge i think...|| I need to be told this, if I want to be an ally and.. Well a good girlfriend, i need to get that... That we're oppressed in such different ways." Violetta finished her little speech with an inhale of air.
.

: ̗̀➛✯ After a couple moments of silence, Vi plucked up the courage to plant a messy kiss to Margo's lips, cupping the woman's face in her hands.
"I... I hope that all made at least a bit of sense as i can be a little incoherent and.. And I'm sorry for bringing up a topic like that on your birthday."
Her own tears had stuck to her eyes now, a few having breached down her cheeks and smudging mascara- hey.. Vi even wore makeup for Margo's birthday.

: ̗̀➛✯ "I... Love you Margo, i really hope you know that- and... And I'm glad you're comfortable telling me this."
Vi shakily expressed, her compsure still only shakily coming back into the picture.
"And i also really hope this wasnt a weird time to say i love you."
Theresa
○ Hands cupped her face to wipe the tears away, its twin-tone skin flushed cherry red, and in that moment a wave of relief washed over her. Maybe it *Hadn't* Been the worst thing to say.

▪︎ [TW: mentions of abuse once again]

□ Of course, though, Vi began to talk on her own afterwards. Initially comforting, she eventually began to break herself, admission of abuses off the back of her autism coming to light, and in that moment Margo realized just how similar an upbringing they'd had. Sure, she knew they were both from extreme wealth and dysfunctional families, but she'd have never hoped to share a history of abuse with her darling girlfriend, and though her heart still wrenched fiercely in her chest as her past continued to play on repeat she couldn't help but raise a hand back to Vi's cheek, just in time for the other to pull her into a messy kiss borne from the throes of baring traumas to each other like wedding vows.

▪︎ And, naturally Margo kissed right back, stomach turning itself upside down as the three words registered in her mind; 

★ *"I love you."*

◆ "I... Guess you – and myself, by extension, needed to hear that." She finally spoke, her naturally husky butch voice even more ragged and low than usual, parched throat scraping every word that left her throat as if it were lined with sandpaper. "I'm so sorry, Vi... I. Kinda hoped we weren't similar in that way. You didn't deserve it. Neither of us did." Her voice dropped to a whisper, twisting her body back into an upright position with dejected shoulders. "Also, I wasn't expecting it, but... I love you too. You didn't mean to remind me, but trauma has a funny way of rearing its ugly head, I guess... Thanks for being there for me. I just hope I'm being there for you in the way you need it."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta's breathing was still shaky, partly from crying a little bit, a little bit because of the partially hungry kiss from mere moments ago, and a little bit from recovering from a very... Overwhelming experience. However, this conversation as much as it drew them closer, made Vi determined to make this birthday pretty fuckin epic. By that she means she wont stop Margo from drinking what she'd view as a 'bit much' and will watch whatever the hell Margo wants. Sounded like a solid deal in her head.

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta leant in for one more kiss, far more fleeting this time, a quick peck on the lips, with far less messy desperation.
"Ehe... Your throat sounds like a desert, you might want to get a drink." Violetta mentioned, the other girl's voice reverberated with a dry and dusty tone, of which the tears had seemingly made possible.
"There's... Nothing we can do about our pasts, but it's good we found eachother... It's good to have someone similar standing in your corner." She gently brushed the back of her hand against Margo's, then reverting to being cuddled into the taller girl's side, giving her lover the impression of an early 1900s aristocrat at the races, woman in arm, cheese in vicinity...

: ̗̀➛✯ "I'm glad you love me too, this means I can say it as much as I want, correct? Nice..." And now with too much power in her hands, Vi's knee bounced excitedly, despite the awkwardness in the back of her skull from the shared cry sesh from moments earlier.
"And of course, you're welcome- it's the least I could do as your girlfriend and all... You've been there in the way I needed since day one, I always knew you were sweet- even since like... When you came to check on me after the break up, that was just so *Kind*, and i thought about that for... A lot longer than I'd like to admit." Vi's hands intertwined, and she squeezed them together absentmindedly as she spoke.
.

: ̗̀➛✯ "But anyways... Do you still want to put on the owl house? If its better than season one then... You've sort of caught my interest."
Theresa
○ Naturally, Margo kissed right back, mouthing some unintelligible nothings into Vi's mouth before letting go.

◆ "Yeah, I probably should, huh?" She hoarsely laughed, relieved to finally feel something other than anger, pain, and shame. Now that she'd finally confessed that dark corner of her past, and been met with love and understanding instead of annoyance and indifference, she felt relieved – no, vindicated – and thus finally felt it appropriate to crack the bottle on the table. "Yeah, I'd... Say so. I guess we needed each other, in a way, man... Also, say it as much as you want, I'll never grow tired of hearing those words from you." 

○ Warmly speaking in a tone she'd never found herself using, she poured about a shot and a half into each glass, filling her glass with orange juice before leaning back with an absent-minded *Pick your poison* In reference to the mixers and crossing one leg over the other in a slightly awkward move. As she did, though, she heard Vi speak, in that same slightly awkward yet genuine voice she had at all times, and the words that floated from her mouth to the other's ear were nothing short of heroin straight to the veins. 

▪︎ Thankfully her face was still red from crying, otherwise she'd be beet red.

◆ "I'll be honest, I... Don't quite remember why I came to check on you that day. We'd maybe talked a few times before then, but we were acquaintances at best, yet I couldn't help but want to check up on you." She hummed, tapping her fingertips against the side of her Garfield-themed glass. "Maybe it was a latent crush, maybe it was divine intervention, but whatever the case, I'm glad I did. I'm glad I met you, y'know?"

● "Also..." A moment followed. "You thought about that for a long time? That's touching, actually."

▪︎ With that, she'd pop on the first episode, and take a sip. What a rollercoaster of a night so far.
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ She raised a brow, and half grinned uncertainly as she watched Margo's concotion of gin with *Orange juice*.
Maybe that was a normal mixture, but the concept of it almost made Vi imagine the cartoonish toxic cloud of a skull and cross bones arising from the glass. But.. Whatever, it was Margo's birthday. Violetta will judge her lover another time, today is not that time, the universe's cruel clockwork can wait up for that moment for now.

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta picked up her own glass, simply adding lemonade. A simple start was her way of life, and there's nothing more classic than gin and lemonade, surely? She took a sip- and the sweet nectar that proceeded to bite her throat with aftertaste managed to make her feel so... *Rebellious*
It made her feel like a rulebreaker in the same way kissing Margo, swearing and the occasional cigarette did, so many simple things that she enjoys that make her stomach turn in excitement. Crazy what spite can do.

: ̗̀➛✯ The concept of it being a latent crush made Vi's already pink cheeks go a little more concentrated red- it was nice to know people fall as fast as she does.
"I considered you a friend at the time- just... Not insanely close so yeah, it was unexpected, but... Thanks, looking back I needed someone on my side. It made me feel very permanent when you visited- like... I spoke to someone and they *Remembered* Me, it made me realise that I'm perceived, and that if i just.. Get out there then i won't sink into the background nearly as much"
Vi didn't mean to drone on, but the ghost of that unsteady and broad smile flashed onto her face for more than just a few seconds.

: ̗̀➛✯ her foot tapped along to the intro of the show, and she fiddled with Margo's shirt as she pressed her body back against her partner- because what is watching a comfort show on your birthday without some warm contact

: ̗̀➛✯ "Eda... Is still in this season, right?"
Theresa
◆ "I getcha." Margo hummed, taking another sip of her admittedly hair-brained drink. "At least, I... I think I do. It's hard to imagine feeling like a shade in the background, given my... Brash, proud self."

□ Casually talking, she set her drink down into one of the cup holders that were installed into each armrest – very handy things, they went – before looking back at the screen. Now, she knew she wouldn't be talking too much, but she also didn't want to bore Vi, so... What did she do? Strike a balance? Intersperse factoids and headcanons between the episodes? Keep her damn mouth shut? 

▪︎ For now, though, she lazily wrapped an arm around Vi's waist. She could get used to this.

◆ "Thankfully, yeah. We watched the entirety of season one the other week, you watched her get spared at the last moment, didn't you?" At least, she was certain they'd finished season one already. "This season really gets dark at points, though... Fucking love it for that."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ soz meant to respond earlier but. I switched on Yakuza. Big mistake ahem anyways. Looking to the side of her at Margo sipping the drink, made her noticeably shudder with a quiet snicker. So gross... So so SO gross, Vi couldnt imagine letting orange juice and alcohol into her system. Even if in theory that was the sort of thing that would be considered actually pretty ordinary, Vi internally thought the mixture was abnormal.
Shes becoming used to the abnormal though.


At the command of Margo's arm draping over her waist like a layer of warm snow, Vi felt the need to snuggle up just that little bit closer, as if now attached by the hip with her lover. Head now on Margo's shoulder, Vi gazed at the TV, ears pricking up as Margo replied to her inquiry of Eda's whereabouts.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Yes yes I was... Just making sure I suppose? Sometimes shows like.. Reset casts I guess." I haven't watched the owl house but sure she saw Eda get spared.
A dry laugh escapes Vi's throat.
"Dark..? How does a kid's show get dark?" This bitch hasnt watched the owl house or steven universe or adventure time or gravity falls or infinity train or-

: ̗̀➛✯ Her eyes lay half lidded in Margo's embrace, such warmth from an idol she holds so dear was enough to put her in a dozey trance, even in early evening. And with the entire night left, maybe it was good for a little bit of alcohol to be in her system, especially if she wanted to finish the owl house (which she did, by the way!). Margo's interests were in essence Vi's interests, in the same way that the short girl was inevitably going to force her girlfriend into watching at Least the first season of Riverdale- Vi was perfectly fine with watching the (admittedly quite riveting) display of the owl house.
.

: ̗̀➛✯ she takes a sip of her drink.
"Forgive me for such *Risqué* Behaviour, but you have very nice shoulders" The risqé part came out half sarcastic, a dozey smile adorning Vi's freckled and scarred face.
Flirting before marriage... The audacity.
Theresa
◆ "Well... By being created by Dana Terrace." A half-second of tension hung, then was snipped by a couplet of laughter. "I kid, it's a lot more complex than that, but basically...? Disney has no dick and also no balls."

□ Chuckling, she took another sip of her drink, a jarringly herbal glass of orange juice that just plain tasted like it'd been randomized, and set it down into the cupholders that had gained Vi's subtle fascination. Something about it all, this awkward seventeen year-old sweetheart being enamoured by a cupholder attached to a *Sofa* Of all things charmed Margo, directly into raising a hand up Vi's side and stomach before pulling her into a playfully sloppy kiss. Of course, her hand ventured just a touch further than it should have, but Margo seemed to gloss over it, or perhaps she was seeing just how close she could get before Vi set the boundary.

▪︎ After all, she was having a drink, with her first girlfriend, in a luxurious rehabilitation centre in Sweden, and her favourite show was on. Life was *Good,* And a possible disappointment couldn't take that away from her.

◆ "Thanks, I... Work on them a lot." Of course, the transphobic devil on her shoulder attempted to remind her that her shoulders were always going to be a tell, and her amused smile took a downturn in tow. "But also... You? Flirting with me? You *Skank.*"

○ And immediately afterwards, she let out a laugh, and leaned her head against Vi's, happy as a pig in shit and just as unenthusiastic about having to move even an inch.
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ As much as she would cease to admit it, Violetta allowed a snicker from her nose at Margo's blunt way of putting it. No dick. No balls. Shes so right. Violetta didnt know much about disney, but she knew enough about corporations to know that the ever beloved animation company probably does some bad shit.
So she took Margo's word for it, half nodding.
"Noted. No dick and no... Balls." A surreal thing to come out of Violetta's mouth of all people, but the repetition stored it in her brain, in the little filing cabinets amongst the folds.

: ̗̀➛✯ In fairness, cup holders were like... MAJORLY cool to Vi, one hand remained on Margo's stomach, while the other was placing her drink into the cup holder with a *Very* Pleased look. No wonder Margo loves to sleep on the sofa so much, she would too if her's was as convenient as this! She slumped back against Margo soon after, the haphazard kiss being met with a display of equal enthusiasm.
Can't say she minded a bit of touch either, her own hands only gliding and tracing mindlessly across Margo's arms and shoulders. It wasn't even Vi's birthday and she was *Still* Practically beaming, just to feel loved like this. Loved like a human, loved like there was no pity at all, no love formed from an apology.
As far as Vi was concerned, she looked at Margo like she puts the stars in the sky, and her lover seems to look on in a similar way.

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta huffed an amused laugh, placing another kiss on Margo's cheek.
"You're no better, you utter harlot." Violetta teased, now side hugging Margo with her head still perched up on the taller girl's shoulder.
Truth be told, Violetta's heart was pumping at the speed of a grade 5 typhoon, something about that sloppy, and disorganised kiss from a few moments earlier had left Violetta even more flustered, her face a bright red.
.

: ̗̀➛✯ "This... Is nice, you know how to plan a birthday i think." Violetta complimented, the familiar sheepish smile on her face.
Brushing her hand against Margo's hair, she stared at the TV with a feeling of unadulterated content. She fiddled with the red locks until her fingers grew tired; the taller girl was just... So so perfect, Margo wasn't even aware of how something as simple as a little extra touch or something as common as a smile could make Violetta wobbly in the knees and fuzzy in the brain.
She never wants this feeling to end.
Theresa
◆ "Aaand no butthole, because they feed on radiation; that is to say, the hopes and dreams of unfortunate animators."

□ A dry chuckle followed as Margo continued to let her hand drift up Vi's torso, eventually coming to a rest a bit beneath her chest balled into a fist. A touch tense, yes, but it was close to Vi's heart, and that plain felt right to the taller lass. Her attention naturally began to focus itself on the show moreso than the company, but after a few moments of silently mouthing every line of dialogue to herself she looked over at Vi.

▪︎ And it was a look of genuine warmth, where a cold glare usually lay. Vi really softened her up, so to speak.

◆ "Guess I did okay for lumping this shit together last night." Margo casually spoke, gently tracing circles along Vi's upper stomach, a rough corner of her nail catching and tugging the material of her tank top without rhyme or reason. "I mean, fuck, I had to order the charcuterie a few days ago, but otherwise...? All improv. Kinda." Silence fell over the couch like a throw blanket, and Margo leaned into the comfortable, quiet embrace as if it were fresh out of the dryer.

◇ She could get used to this.
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "No butthole... Sounds like a very inconvenient, and likely painful way of living." Violetta weighed in, nodding subtly to herself, as if making a mental note of this on her cranium's large whiteboard of information.


: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta's heartbeat rang gently against her chest, and likely delicately against Margo's balled up fist upon her rib. With the world's most chillaxed, dopey smile, Violetta nestled her head against Margo's shoulder again. Any physical touch drove Vi crazy in one way or another, and as much as she adored the closely intimate little thing they had going on here, Violetta needed the odd shuffle and nestle every few moments. She held the fabric at Margo's shirt taut, an item to ground the shorter girl to reality, a cloth that tethered her to the right plane.

: ̗̀➛✯ Every now and then, a breathy giggle or click of her tongue could be heard as Margo lazily traced shapes over her skin, both over the burns and over the smooth.
Having Margo there was helping Vi. Helping her so much, something about the way the redhead held no hesitation to touch her scars, no hesitation to tell Vi just how much she loved her.
Vi has decided she'd probably do anything for Margo. Within reason, one would hope.
"I suppose as you get older it becomes easier to make calm birthday plans. Instead of parties, you start to just do whatever you want to do." Violetta reflected, fiddling with Margo's shirt fabric inattentively.

: ̗̀➛✯ a couple moments of quiet, and Vi is engrossed in the show flickering on the monitor.
"...I like this hunter kid."
Based.
Theresa
◆ "I mean... That was just a saying." Margo let a slightly confused chuckle out. "But yeah, that would be a... Nah, it wouldn't be shitty. No butthole, no shit."

□ Absent-minded ramblings filled the air as Margo settled into quietly watching The Owl House again, for what felt like the millionth time and the first at once. This show, this funky lighthearted horror series, was nothing short of a Bible for her, something to obsessively pore over looking for the tiniest or largest of details, the most boring of fillers and most attention-grabbing of chapter ends equally fascinating and enthralling. All the while, her hands kept on tracing circles on Vi's skin, her demeanour oddly demure and skittish for someone who'd basically come so far off the back of being a halfway-decent flirt.

▪︎ Halfway-decent, however, was only half the battle; one also needed to be able to react appropriately, and somehow she always found herself wordlessly surprised when it was reciprocated.

◆ "Guess so." Margo hummed, flicking the waistband of Vi's bottoms with the lazy flip of her fingernail. She'd grown accustomed to this, letting her hands mess about and explore the parts of Vi's skin that she was allowed to, or could bring herself to graze. After all, Vi was beauty in her eyes, and something inside of her told her she hadn't earned the right to cherish her like that. Self-doubt? Maybe. "Hunter's kind of a weenie at the start. He gets better though, man... Dana actually wanted to both canonize him *And* Lilith as autistic, but Disney... You know, said *Mental illness? In our show? Fuck outta here, man!*" She scoffed and threw her free hand up, also sending her remote soaring through the air and onto Uri's bed. "Fuck. Whoops. Guess I gotta go grab that later."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "Just... Photosynthesis." Violetta remarked quietly, finishing off the streamline of conversation about no dick, no balls, no butthole, no... Happy existence? The ghost of a smile flashed across the petite girl's lips when she considered how bizarre of a conversation that had been- all stemming from the unreliability of Disney..

: ̗̀➛✯ Honestly, Vi had never had too much of a hankering for cartoons. They felt less realistic, she felt far less attached to the characters, yet... This show managed to drag her in. Maybe it was the way Margo spoke about it as if she was going to leave Vi for Dana Terrace's character writing that made the short girl unconsciously look at it in a better light. Or maybe it was (god forbid) an actually good show that Vi was bound to enjoy.
It made her feel childish almost to enjoy a cartoon at her age, but if it meant she got to cuddle up to a girl with a very satisfying heartbeat rhythm (allegedly, you'd understand if you were in Vi's shoes), then perhaps it was worth embracing that inner child.

>: ̗̀➛✯ the little rustled sounds that emitted as they each fiddled with eachother's clothes was a fuzzy white noise that moved to a near metronomic tempo. It was a joy to know Margo was comfortable with her, and it was a joy for Vi to know that she had gone far past beginning to trust Margo. At this point, she'd trust Margo near her diary and chinchillas at the same time.

Which is a lot, in Violetta's terms.
She gazed at Margo's methodic hand as the taller girl rambled, admiring the tendons and bumps that adorned the taller girl's appendages. She wanted to take Margo's hand in her own, and place delicate kisses against the knuckles but.. For now she must maintain controlled, her partner was busy with that hand. She can be cheesy another time.

: ̗̀➛✯ A gentle frown bestowed upon her features, and Vi shook her head
"Autism... Is kind of common, you'd think shows aimed at a younger audience would want to represent that as much as possible to avoid alienation of peers..." A quiet sigh left Vi's throat, another day, another score of incompetence from a company.
Violetta finished down the last of her drink, beginning to casually repour herself another small glass. Still no orange juice decorated her gin; she couldn't bring herself to attempt the rather absurd (by Vi's standard) mixture.

: ̗̀➛✯ With half lidded eyes, Violetta watched as the remote got launched onto the missing roommate's bed. Her mouth upturned a little bit alongside her eyebrows, and she hugged up just that closer to Margo.. Like a cat sleeping on your laptop, and you don't dare close it in case the feline were to be bothered.
"Grab that later and move from the comfortable position we're in?- might as well wait for the tv to automatically turn off from inactivity." From the way she drummed her fingertips against Margo' side, it was clear that she was teasing, an attempt to fluster and bluster the admittedly adorable girl beside her.

: ̗̀➛✯ she's pulling your leg, Margo... Feel free to get that remote if you wish.
Theresa
◆ "Yeah, exactly." Margo casually spoke, continuing to idly flick at Vi's clothes before reaching out for her own drink. "Like, fuck, if I'd been able to grow up with actual autistic rep on TV, I'd have... Honestly came out a little different. Maybe got diagnosed earlier. Or maybe just realized it earlier. Plus, yeah, like you said, it'd be good for... Hm."

□ *How the hell did she word this?* Was the primary thought in her skull, alongside the creeping realization that she had bit off a bit more than she could chew with these plans. Not because Vi bored her, or annoyed her, and not because she had anything else to do. No, instead it was a creeping sedation that clued her in to one of her quirks, and this realization caused her to stiffen up for just a moment. Then, remembering how abrupt her stiffness had came on, she let herself loosen up, and pulled Vi a little closer whilst draping her drinking hand around Vi's waist.

▪︎ Bam. She knew what she was going to say.

◆ "I guess, like what I was saying, it would normalize autism in those damned impressionable minds kids got. Like, seriously, there's a reason a baby's head is so soft." Margo chuckled. "It's so... Y'know, knowledge can easily be imprinted." She continued, a pipe full of worries bursting in her chest. What if her metaphor hit off the wrong way? What if it made no sense? Thankfully, though, Vi once again shepherded the conversation back towards familiar places – warm places, really.

○ "What, you're saying we're gonna make out until the TV times out?" Sly yet distinctly sleepy, it was clear that somehow, after just one drink, she was beginning to feel it. "Just so ya know, babe, it doesn't time out on its own. But... Hey, I'm down to gamble on the power cutting out."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "Maybe.. I don't know, I was 'lucky' enough to be a stereotypical autistic prodigy child who barely spoke or played so... I got off lucky diagnosis wise I suppose." Violetta spoke, her voice wavering with a giggle at each tap against fabric.
"Even if it's not explicitly stated that they're autistic... I'm sure a couple autistic kids will see themselves in the character... That counts for something." Violetta placed a hand on top of Margo's, thoughtlessly stroking her thumb over the back of the taller girl's hand. Each contact of the skin sent a dull spark through Violetta's system. She could contemplate for hours on the stupid, weird side effects of being infatuated with someone like Margo. With someone that feels just so much larger than life.
She breathed a laugh as Margo paused to catch the reigns back on her brain, the taller girl had gotten ahead of herself, it seemed.

: ̗̀➛✯ Eyebrows raised in surprise when Margo stiffened up for a moment, and for half of a second, Vi had wondered if her lover had just died and entered the rigor mortis stage but... Yeah no, somehow she doubted that would take place over the span of perhaps a couple seconds.
Feeling Margo loosen up again, Vi tilted her head, the small, faint smile masked onto her face, where she wanted to express concern, but lacked the confidence somehow.
"Aha, what was that about?" She questioned light heartedly, a quiet 'ope-' sound bouncing out her throat when getting pulled closer to her partner.
.

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta finished off her second glass, waiting for a short while to pour any more. 
"That's a good, albeit tipsy, way of putting it, yes. Babies have soft heads to protect themselves from damage. They're new parent proof." She somewhat enjoyed- no.. Definitely very much enjoyed these sort of chats with Margo. The shared vulnerability of both sharing things to do with the tism was beautiful in its own way. They made their own harmony from their own experiences and knowledge, bouncing off eachother usually in expertise..

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta leans forward to pour another drink while listening to Margo speak.
Putting it blunt like that caused a pang of butterflies to flutter about in her stomach like tv static, her hands going just that little bit nervously clammy.
However, an unexpected frown came onto the short girl's face, a silent moment of thought washing over her..
*'just so ya know, babe, it doesn't time out on its own'*
Violetta blinked, taking a sip of her drink, before letting a mutter slip from her vocal chords.
"...Something tells me my tv might have comr broken then."
...Whoops.

: ̗̀➛✯ She shakes her head, deciding that the unconfirmed status of her tv was a problem for a more responsible, more mature future Violetta. For now, she wanted to mess about.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Well, it's your birthday, you decide what we do- while watching the owl house of course. Multitasking is wonderful."

Quantity over quality hours sorry /j
Theresa
◆ "Guess so." Margo mulled a thought in her mouth for a moment, deciding on whether to spit or force it down. "I mean, fuck, apparently it's a lot harder for women to get diagnosed as a kid, and given the... Uhm. Dick thing." She spoke with a chuckle underlying her voice. "Why did I describe it like that...? Anyways. Given the fact I was born nerfed, and you were born in God's image, it's kinda funny that you got your diagnosis before me."

□ Raising the glass to her lips, she drank down the herbal juice that apparently offended Vi to no end, and hummed. *This was the life,* She thought, *And it is GOOD.* They continued as her hand draped back towards Vi's waist, the bottom of her glass resting neatly in Vi's lap. "I can already feel myself getting drunk, man, and like... How the fuck? I'm only half a glass – *One shot,*" She exasperatedly spoke, "In, and I'm already feeling tipsy! Fuck sakes... Kinda hate being a lightweight." She trailed off, a little disappointment hanging off like rotted fruit from a branch. 

▪︎ Life wasn't always fair.

◆ "I mean... I'm not gonna say no." She smirked. "But also I really wanna just... Gush over this show and hold you and shit, so... Maybe save the lip for later?"
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "Yes actually it is quite the difficult process" Violetta fiddled with a tassel of Margo's hair for a moment, before stopping and placing her hands on her lap with considerable force. A quiet giggle strolled out of her throat, enough so that the indented dimple appeared beside her mouth.
"It was actually sort of inconvenient to get diagnosed because everyone treats you differently. They babytalk you. But the jokes on them because I know quantum physics and they don't." Her face went almost smug for a moment, a satisfied smile on her face as she shuffled herself back neatly into place.
"And if by born in God's image you mean born under scandalous circumstances then you'd be right."

: ̗̀➛ she takes a swig of her drink, finishing it off and going for just that little bit more. What drew her to it wasnt quite sure, maybe it was just that it tasted almost purely of lemonade, rather than actual alcohol. As if her body filtered it, Vi almost forgot there was gin in it at all.
So far, couple drinks, a face of stone. Vi didn't seem to show any traces of being delirious outside of her usual uncoordinated self (eg. Missing the cup holder and almost dropping the glass onto the sofa, staring off into space, etc etc.) Instinctively, Vi glided her finger around the rim of Margo's glass upon her lap. Warmth radiated off of Margo, leaving a dopey smile on her face as the taller girl's arm blanketed on her waist. 

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta goes from flirtatious to mellow quite quickly upon Margo's request, mumbling out a quiet 'of course' and smushing a kiss against Margo's cheek.
Head leaning against Margo's shoulder again, Violetta's gaze was on the TV once again.
Owl house real.
Theresa
◆ "You too?" Margo calmly replied. "I mean, er. I wasn't born outta wedlock or anything, but... Never mind. I sound like an idiot. I'd imagine being diagnosed made your life harder, but... Hell, you're here, so maybe it just helped toughen you up. Little early for it, but... Life isn't fair."

□ Self-assured in that one truth about life, she polished off the rest of her drink, and set the glass down onto the cupholder the best she could with Vi tangled up in her arms. Part of her wanted another drink, but she also didn't want to move. Who could blame her? She was comfortable, she had her favourite show on, her favourite gal curled up in her arms, and a smorgasbord of food on the table. After a few minutes of comfortable silence she cracked out a groan and leaned forward, pouring herself another drink.

▪︎ Hopefully she wouldn't be a total disaster by the end of the night.

◆ "Honestly, though?" She spoke after a few minutes. "I don't *Know* If I even want to be diagnosed officially. Sure, I'm rich beyond words, but... If it makes your life harder as a kid, what the hell does it do to you as an adult? Maybe I should just keep it a little secret... I dunno."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta chuckled quietly at Margo's little muddle, her leg bouncing up and down gently.
"Local wasian child being a russian government man's firstborn daughter. I was to be not seen or heard." She seemed to be half joking, that or she wasn't too upset about being swept under the rug for all that time.
"Yeah but... It's a privilege to have proof i suppose." The small girl mewled quietly, a delicate hand resting atop Margo's. Stifling a giggle, Vi was amused by the difference between their two hands, one much larger and rough, one much smaller and frail. Vi wondered if one day Margo would let her paint her nails... A doubt clawed at her mind, but she'll ask another day anyways.
"I think at that age i didn't need to be toughened up but... Things worked out I suppose. You're right that not everything is fair, whatever butterfly effect led me here though, I'm thankful for." 

.

: ̗̀➛✯ she watched Margo indecisively swipe another drink, and the corners of her lips remained raised into a humoured smile. Violetta knew damn well that Margo would be a trainwreck by the end of the night, and she knew damn well that unless Vi *Also* Ended up a disaster, that she was to be the one to sort the taller girl out. Forcing her to brush her teeth, get some goddamn pyjamas on and go the fuck to sleep once it gets too late...
She was pleased when Margo sank back into the girl's touch, returning to a tangle of limbs, hair and affection. Fervently, she swung a leg over Margo's, as if to intertwine her dearly beloved, like tree roots tangle amongst eachother under the dirt to keep strong.
: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta hoped Margo had got the message, the message being that she was now trapped into the embrace for now, that and the message that Vi was actually *Loving* The show...
What better gift could an autistic person wish for than someone thoroughly enjoying their comfort media?

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta hummed quietly under her breath.
"I'd recommend giving it a go. If you need to use it as a reason and someone bugs you for proof, that way you have it. And you don't particularly *Have* To tell jobs and people about the diagnosis I don't think... I usually avoid it anyways."
Theresa
◆ "Right, I sometimes forget you're part Korean." Margo admitted with an amused huff. "But shit, even with life being hard at home – for both of us, really – look where we've ended up. We're in a Swedish juvie watching The Owl House, drinking gin and juices, and cuddling. I couldn't ask for a better end result of years of trauma and neglect, myself..."

□ Falling back into comfortable silence, Margo leaned forward with an awkward motion and a groan to plant a kiss atop the crown of Vi's head. Lips met hair, and whatever sort of shampoo she used spat aromas back into her mouth, some muddy combination of vanilla and an herb she couldn't quite place her finger on.

▪︎ Then again, compared to herself, Vi's hair felt and tasted healthy. Only God knew how much damage – if any – years of obsessively dyeing her hair had done.

◆ "Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Just to have it around, more or less... Not that I want to go around saying I'm autistic; lots of stigma and harmful shit around it." She let her discontents roll off her tongue like rose thorns given life, piercing and curly. "But maybe it'll come in handy one day. I dunno. Also what kinda shampoo do you use?"
Shannon
"Crazy what great things the domino effect of putting yourself in a coma does~ did I ever... Actually tell you that's how I got here?-" Her voice turned questioning, a tilt motion swaying on her head

: ̗̀➛✯ Vi had a few more drinks in those moments of silence, a breathy giggle releasing from her throat. Violetta leaned her head into Margo's kiss, the several drinks finally making even a small dent into her.
Granted, she had had a big dinner so... She was at least sentient. The short girl mumbled something incoherent about not having anything else to drink, and traced her fingers along her girlfriend's stomach.

: ̗̀➛✯ "...It's good to uh.. Test the waters about people, if they seem chill with the tism then... Tell them. The stigma sucks, and I doubt it'll change." She seemed equally as upset to have to even humour the idea of 'testing the waters'. At what point was it decided by the cruel hands of the universe that she had to change herself as a human to cater to fussy allistics? She detested it.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Alpine Organics elderflower shampoo and then Organix Vanilla Silk shampoo and conditioner... I double shampoo. Weekly hair masks also."
Mfw both of my ocs have hair routines.
"You can.. Borrow some if you like, it's in my top drawer in the shower bag."
Theresa
◆ "No shit." Stunned more than mocking, she wasn't sure she'd heard right. "You didn't put yourself in a fuckin' coma, did you? Why, babe? What even got you sent here?"

□ At ends hesitatingly brash and honeyed with concern and elderflowers, Margo's body stiffened up just a touch in reaction. Come to think of it, she'd never even *Thought* Of asking about it. Was it just an understood thing that she didn't have to talk about it if she didn't want to? Or was it hesitance, not wanting to risk scaring her away even after so much had happened between them?

▪︎ Not even God knew.

◆ "Yeah, I just... Hate that it's even a fuckin' thing." She spat in discontent and malice. "But I guess we just have to live with it. Deal with it. Power on. Also noted; did I ever mention I've still been using two-in-one? I just. I dunno what ones are good, and I don't want garbage cluttering my damn dojo. Recommendations would be sick, dear."

▪︎ An amused giggle left her throat. She's fucking *Whipped,* Folks.
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "Honestly? I actually do not remember why. I never had the intent of going in a coma, I was just testing my migraine powers on myself. I knew they made me sleepy and I think I just wanted a reason to nap without scolding." Violetta recalled with a slight thoughtful frown, that familiar look flashing over her face when she was deeply thinking. Trying to remember an almost unfamiliar segment of her life required at least a little bit of extra energy.
"It was about.. A little over a week? Granted, I was very refreshed afterwards. Did you know you can still hear everything around you when you're in a coma? It doesn't feel long at all though, it's very disorienting." 

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta was very much a dont ask dont tell person. Lots of things like this, she would happily tell someone like Margo, just... Not unprompted. Her hands continued to dance circles on her beloved's torso, the facial expression on the short girl's visage shifted back to a more calm disposition.
She was alright with what Margo had done to get here, almost encouraged it, in fact. Yet... She worried at her core if the taller girl would be frightened of Vi. She stressed internally that Margo would think that Vi was dangerous, and would cease to trust her.
However, she was far too tipsy to care about *That* Line of thought.
"But anyway, I was sent here on the notion that I was a hazard to myself and others. All that over wanting a nap." She rolled her eyes, her hands making their way to the edge of Margo's shirt; they fiddled with any loose threads, and twirled the fabric between her fingers like a needle through a sewing machine.
.

: ̗̀➛✯ Vi nods at Margo's comment
"Just the society we live in I suppose..." She mumbled, nuzzling her head back into Margo's shoulder with a charmed snicker.
"Two in one? God, babe that is sad. Estrogen changes your hair, you know? I've done my research- two in one works but it won't bring out your hair's full potential-" Violetta cut herself off from a ramble about haircare, tapping the taller girl's abs to ground herself.
She goes a bit pink when remembering that the other girl had muscle, and stops tapping.

: ̗̀➛✯ "I'd recommend alberto balsam shampoos. They smell good, and have conditioners too."
So real.
Theresa
◆ "Yeah, I... I've heard that." Margo murmured, hesitance lacing her voice. "It's a freaky fuckin' thought, I'll admit. Being out like a light yet still lucid is... Weird. But, the human brain's all sorts of weird."

□ Conflicting emotions and thoughts welled up within her as she spoke. Did she show how concerned she actually was? Or did she hold back, so as to not risk seeming *Too* Worried? Whatever the case, she took another sip of her drink and opened her mind up to the suggestions her girlfriend was giving her for haircare and whatnot.

▪︎ That, and she melted just a touch as she could feel Vi tapping at her abs and toying with the hem of her shirt. Now *That* Was a sensation she hadn't grown used to yet.

◆ "Yeah, I mean, shit... I noticed the change in texture, but I kinda just never bothered to research. I dunno, I guess with how regimented my life usually is I didn't want to make my showers any longer?" She spoke, a pang of uncertainty tangled in her throat. "Not sure. But... I suppose I'll give those shampoos a shot. Thanks. Any idea if they do a colour-safe version?"
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ "It's very strange to say the least but... I don't know, I wasn't too frightened because I think I knew I'd wake up somehow." Violetta shrugged idly, her shoulders rolling in place.
This wasn't something she'd admit to so openly sober to be fair, yet Vi spoke on the experience with confidence and nonchalance. Was this a regular occurance in her life? Probably not, yet she managed to somehow make it seem like it was.

: ̗̀➛✯ Violetta noticed Margo melt into the smaller girl's touch, and decided to mess around with this information. Delicately, Vi grazed the back of her hand over Margo's abs through the shirt, not really giving it much important thought as her attention shifted back to the TV, the stroking being a background thought.
"It shouldn't take much longer to use the right shampoo." Vi went to say something, before abruptly stopping midway through the first word, like a computer tab randomly closing.
"I... I uh almost went to say I can help put it in for you but no. No I can not." She gently wacked herself in the head, embarrassed by her confession of thoughtless, dumb ramble.

: ̗̀➛✯ "But anyways... I think they're all colour safe but I might be wrong... Must be difficult picking out the perfect shampoo with dyed hair... Maybe I'm lucky with dark hair to avoid the struggle and fuss."
Theresa
◆ "Right."

□ What did one even say to that sort of information? She wished she knew. Something about the concept of a comatose brain being aware enough to hear what was going on around it, or to perceive that eventually the dream would collapse and spit the spirit out was enough to make Margo's spine shiver. Or, it would have been if Vi hadn't been thoughtlessly dragging the back of her hand, diminutive and soft, along her abs. Clearly, she'd never felt the touch of a woman before, and so as her partner teased her lightly she tried her best to come up with a smug retort.

▪︎ Did she though? *Did she?*

◆ "I. I mean... Shit, I don't *Have* To be naked, I'm sure I could just. Sit in the tub. Not that... I'd want you to. Obviously." The words awkwardly tumbled out of her mouth as if it were a bingo machine with a hole in one side, spitting out nuggets of thought that honestly should have remained thoughts. "Fuck. Brain's not working with me; too busy dealing with you admiring me." Half smooth comment, half terrible flirt. Good thing she'd already won Vi over, huh? "I'm just gonna shut up about that. Anyways, it's a real hassle, that's for sure. At least, it was a hassle to find two-in-one that *Didn't* Rip the dye out of my hair like bleach. Maybe that... Alberto Balsam? Balsa? Whatever its name is, maybe it'll do a better job with my hair. I dunno."
Shannon
: ̗̀➛✯ It was almost a little funny to watch Margo struggle with Violetta's teasing flirts. Almost funny. She soon stopped dragging her hand across the redhead's torso, instead nestling into Margo's side once more.
Almost funny lost it's meaning as Margo sputtered out a lost response. Violetta let out an above whisper of a giggle, her eyes creasing and her dimple indenting her cheek. 
"Sit in the tub?- like a baby in a sink?" Violetta teased, containing another giggle behind her grin. A tender blush wandered over her cheeks as she found herself in a moment of entertainment. Not that Margo didn't entertain her usually! Far from it!- she just... Doesn't nearly laugh as much as she should- yet here Vi was, giggling like a toddler that just fell flat on their face.

: ̗̀➛✯ Margo certainly was lucky that Violetta was already stupidly head over heels for her. Like a teen girl in a romcom, Vi found herself making an awful lot of internal fuss over Margo's impression of her. She was at that stage where looking anything other than flawless in front of Margo was actually *Jarring*. Deep down, she knew the redhead couldn't care less, but... Ugh, she couldn't explain her need for perfection, as it cannot be expressed correctly in words, it was simply a vivid feeling of wanting the best for Margo, and thus having to be the best.
However, She'll be around Margo in her pyjamas and unbrushed morning hair in about a month, no doubt about it.
She scooped her arms around Margo, now sidehugging the taller girl.
"I cannot do anything *But* Admire you" She mused, comfortably adjusting herself to look at the TV better. Even with meaningless flirtations and conversation, Violetta was following the plot with great intrigue.. It would take a lot for her to ever admit her surprising captivation with this show but... Maybe someone could torture the confession out of her one day.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Yeah... I think I'll keep my hair black for now. Both because I know you like it and for convenience." Taking her arm away from her partner's waist for a moment, Vi fiddled with a strand of her dark hair, before nodding.
"It like... Makes your hair look softer, I believe.."
Theresa
◆ "Yeah, like... A baby." Margo sheepishly uttered, totally embarrassed at how quickly she melted into nonsense around Vi. Wasn't she supposed to be cool and collected? "Don't... Mind me. Brain's short-circuiting; maybe it's the booze..."

□ *Or, maybe you're just violently gay,* Her thoughts reminded her soul, reaffirming that for how desperately she wanted to be the cool, collected sort she was generally far more malleable and weak-willed when it came to Vi. If anything, she could have been told to kill again, and she would have, if the words came from Vi's mouth, and perhaps that was unhealthy. Perhaps it was unhealthy, but she didn't particularly care. Love made a gal do some stupid things, and it wouldn't have been her first time making an attempt on someone's life.

▪︎ But, was it worth it? Absolutely not. She let the thought slide away as another compliment hit her ears and lit her face up like a traffic light.

◆ "Hmph, guess I cut a good figure, huh?" Half self-assured comment, half tease, she took another sip of her drink. By this point she was already warm inside, both from the gin, and from Vi's continued physical and verbal flirts. If it were physically possible, she'd already have been emanating steam from her eardrums. "God knows I hit the gym for a reason, babe. Originally it was to get stronger, but now...? It's so I can carry you around, and look damn fine doin' it." She chuckled. "But... Do what ya want with your hair. I'm not gonna control you; shave it all off if you want, it's up to you."

▪︎ "It's up to you..."
Shannon
YIPPEE response is. Half done but ive got 3 rps to do so 😼 real soon gay ppl will exist

: ̗̀➛✯ Well luckily for Margo's criminal record, the likelihood of Vi asking Margo to kill for her right now was... Quite low, after all, Vi is all for handling her own dirty work.
Not that she actually like... Has any illegal business to deal with, but even so. She did however love the way Margo melted into a malleable clay around Vi's meek influence, it was a very new and exciting feeling to be treasured like this; the best part? It's wholly mutual. She herself was reduced to butter in a pan when Margo spoke a certain way, smiled that smug look and cracked her knuckles.
Right now however? Unaffected.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Yes in fact, you do" She nudged the taller girl, glancing at her other half with an eye that glimmered with adoration, even the clouded over orb managed to land on Margo like she was light in a dark winter night, or like how a star stares at the moon, envious yet smitten with it's confident size.
And honestly? While the flirts were probably partly due to the whole drinking thing, there was no hiding that it was an attempt at self assurance, that mixed with a tad bit of gin going straight to her head was enough to get her flirting with Margo like either one of them was gonna die the next day.
Cheeks rosey with flustered glee, she took one more swig of drink that she had sworn not to have. Unruly teenage defiance bubbled in her chest, a strange, yet welcome sensation.

: ̗̀➛✯ Head plonking back onto Margo's shoulder, her hands toyed with eachother as a hum of agreement arose from her throat.
"I doubt you'd need to get strong to pick me up, you're definitely serving though." Did Vi seriously just say serving? Yes. Yes she did, those sorts of slang terms had been coming up more and more often recently, as... Strange as it likely was to hear, she was loosening up. Things were getting just that bit more familiar for the short girl.

: ̗̀➛✯ She snickered, jolting her head a little bit in the act.
"I'd rather die than shave my head. I'd look like... I don't know, an egg I suppose." Head still perched atop her lover's shoulder, she swayed her hips on the seat a little bit, then rejigging her position to be just that little bit more comfortable.
The confirmation of it being her choice... Was pleasant actually. After years of obedience and demand, a little bit of freedom was nice to have in mind as she let out a hushed yawn. A gentle thump is made as Violetta leant more fully onto Margo's side, attention still on the screen even in her serene lethargy

: ̗̀➛✯ "Up to me... I like my hair... I might invest in different nail polish though soon..."
Yippee
Theresa
◆ "Hmph."

□ A self-assured grunt rang out from her throat, after which she took a good sip of her drink. Really, it was more of a mouthful than a sip; a good gulp of gin and juice. Setting her drink down into a cupholder, she shifted about in response to Vi also shifting around, letting her guide the whole cuddle pile thing they'd gotten themselves into. *This was the life,* She found herself thinking through a light haze of adoration and alcohol, *And I'm going to miss this when it's done.* 

▪︎ What a glum sorta thought for a cuddle pile.

◆ "Serving." Half surprised, half confused, Margo couldn't help herself from laughing softly. "You been on Twitter recently? You're talking like it." She continued, the cadence of her voice lazy yet bright. "But shit, that's fair. I was actually bald once as a kid; lost a bet, had to shave my head. Fuck, I hated that... Also is it a weird time to say I never really messed around with nail polish when I was still figuring myself out? Because if not, I guess you might as well get an extra bottle."
Shannon
And thats how she was happy to stay, Vi's arms remained wrapped around what she could only assume was Margo's waist, her face pressed sleepily against the root of her beloved's arm.

: ̗̀➛✯ "Mmmyep. I like twitter, there's so much animal crossing content." Vi eagerly spoke through janky mumbles, her words blending together like a thick paint.
"You with a shaved head... I bet you managed to make it look cool. Like some kind of trendsetter... Transsetter..." Violetta's words were still forcing half successfuĺly through her lips in jumbled and mixed speech; a quaint smile washed over her face.

: ̗̀➛✯ By the second half of the sentence, Vi had perked up a tad, like a dog before an imminent walk.
"Are you implying that... I'm welcome to do your nails?" Vi questioned, fruitlessly attempting to hide how borderline ecstatic she was to so much as daydream the event.
Theresa
◆ "Huh." Margo let out a mildly surprised utterance, barely more than a throat-hum. "I... Kinda threw that out as a joke, but I guess it was on the nose. Neat."

□ Tapping her fingertips against Vi's abdomen, she let out a satisfied hum. As far as 17th birthdays went, this had been pretty damn good, and it was only going to get better as time went on; or, at least it'd get better until she was piss drunk and making a fool of herself, possibly in horribly embarrassing ways. Shoving that thought to the side, she reminded herself that she was in accepting, understanding company, and she could afford to be a little more genuine, a little less hidden.

▪︎ After all, what kinda relationship was it if she had to hide who she was?

◆ "I promise ya, I looked awful." She laughed, trying not to come across as dismissive or hateful. "Like, my head shape just... Doesn't work for that sorta shit, babe. I looked like an uncooked fuckin' drumstick sans bone. Also... Yeah. That's exactly what I'm saying. I'll wait here if you wanna go grab yours."