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Calamity texts Finley:
hey
rena said i should start with that i dont hate u
cause i dont
im worried about u
Why did you leave the key then?
because it kinda felt like u didnt want me around u
and i was tired and hurt and shit
In the future, when I ask you to leave I don't want you to leave forever.
Just like... a night or two, maybe.
I'm sorry I scared you.
its whatever
i know u didnt mean it
if u still want me around
can i come over?
or we can get ice cream or something if u dont want me at ur place
I want you around.
You can come over.
if ur sure
see u soon?
I'm sure. See you.
Calamity shows up on Finley's doorstep about a half an hour later, slightly out of breath, their sweatshirt tied around their waist in the heat. They text Finley, and finish their cigarette while they wait for zhem to answer the door.
Zhe comes to the door, wearing zher usual mask along with PJ bottoms and a baggy hoodie. Zhe looks... pale, skin clammy. The bestial look is gone from their eyes, replaced with a nervous, uncertain look. But zhe still look... creepy. A little more unnerving than Calamity had gotten used to zhem being. Fin ushers them inside, then heads down the stairs into the apartment.
"How...how are you?" Calamity waits to speak until they're in the apartment, and they hover nervously by the stairs. Maybe keeping a few more steps away from Finley than they usually do.
Finley pauses to look at Calamity for a moment, then quickly away. "I'm okay. I'm still me, by the way. I am now, anyway."
"Mhm. I...I can kinda tell." They offer Finley a small smile. They themself look...surprisingly well given how awful they looked when they limped out of zher apartment a few days ago.
"I'm...sorry 'f I pushed anything, or any'a that shit. I don't wanna make you feel like...more not you or anything. An' I'm sorry I got you all up in my gang shit." They play with the sleeve of their sweatshirt.
Finley's arms cross over zher chest, staring at the floor. "You don't need to apologize for anything. I'm not glad for what happened, but I'm glad I was there to protect you. And you... didn't push. I just wasn't myself."
"...Okay." There's a beat, and they scuff their boot on the floor. "Can - can I hug you? Since you're yourself again?"
Zher shoulders sink, nodding. "Please. I'd like that."
It only takes a second, for Calamity to cross the distance between them, and they pull Finley into a tight hug. "Glad you're back," they mutter into zher shoulder. "'S scary when you leave."
Finley's arms lower and curl around them tightly, holding Calamity close, almost uncomfortably tight. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"I know." They press their lips against Finley's shoulder, and start to slowly sway back and forth as they cling to the Kindred. "Hopefully it won't happen again when we're not ready for it."
Finley closes zher eyes, resting zher head against their's. "You mean... killing? Or frenzying?"
"I mean,"Calamity huffs out a laugh. "Both. An' like...hope I won't have'ta use my fire when you're around, too. You...still thinkin' about learning how to not be afraid of fire and shit?"
Zhe's quiet for a moment, then nuzzles in against them, resting zher head on their shoulder. "Yeah. I've been working on it."
"How's it all going?" Calamity's voice is a little muffled, and they kiss zher shoulder again.
"Slow... But not too bad. I've been.... trying to stay up past sunrise. Introducing myself to fire in small amounts. Some other experiments. I haven't felt that moment of... change, yet. But maybe soon."
"If um...its prob'ly not safe for me to help. After...you know." They gesture. "All'a the shit that happened."
Finley pulls back to look at them thoughtfully. "I trust you. But if you don't want to, I understand."
"I mean...thought I didn't. But...'f I can help you not get...scary like that...?"
Zhe frowns, slipping back a bit. "I didn't get like that because of fire, Calamity. I got like that because... I killed people."
"I mean I...yeah I know. I uh...I ain't seen shit like that before. People killed sure, but...not like that." Calamity dips their head, but doesn't let go of Fin.
Finley is quiet for a few moments, zher body still, not even breathing. "I can't promise it won't happen again... I... I'm going to... try to get better about controlling myself, but..."
Calamity nods. "I'll try not to get you into trouble again. It's...I mean I know it's kinda dangerous for me to be around you, but...'s dangerous for you to be around me, too. Just...different reasons."
Finley frowns at them for a moment, then looks down at the floor. "Do you not want to be around me as much...?"
"No, I - fuck, Fin, I didn't wanna leave the other night. At all. I just...didn't know what t'do, with you like that. But I...I wanna be around you 's much as you want me."
"I didn't want you to leave either... I just... I didn't want to scare you more, and I wasn't sure I could... stop myself, from being..." Zhe shrugs weakly.
"I...prob'ly was good. That I left. But...next time I won't leave the key. Just didn't...know, y'know?" Calamity gives Finley a squeeze, and then pulls away, taking zher hand to pull zhem toward the couch. "An' I do now."
"...'F you let me have a key again, I guess," they finish with a small smile - half-joking, but a little nervous.
"It's yours, if you want it back." Finley follows to the couch, watching them. "I want you around, Calamity. You... you make me feel human. And I... need that now. More than I ever have before."
Zher phone does a cheerful chime from inside their hoodie pocket. Zhe looks down, then pulls it out to check and poke at.
"I like bein' around you." Calamity relaxes a little bit when Finley says zhe wants them around. "I do want it back, yeah." They give zhem a small smile, and drops down onto the couch, tugging on zher arm.
Zhe sits beside them, curling into them a bit. "Good." Zhe glances over at them, then rests zher head on their shoulder. "Would you mind if Phaedra came over?"
Calamity pauses thoughtfully, and then shakes their head. "'S fine - be nice to hang out all together." They snake an arm around Finley's shoulders to pull zhem closer, and kick their boots off before tucking them under themself.
Finley taps at the screen a moment, then looks over at Calamity. "Has... the gang been causing anymore trouble?"
"Which, the Yellow Jackets?" Calamity looks at Finley curiously. "Think you scared 'em all off."
"You sounded worried, that they would retaliate..."
"I mean." Calamity grimaces. "They prob'ly will. Haven't yet, I...haven't told the guys yet...I don't want 'em gettin' all up in arms and doin' stupid shit, you know?"
There's another text to Finley's phone: i'm here.
"What... would you even tell them?" Finley frowns, troubled. "They didn't exactly... die normally... And you can't tell them what happened to their bodies..." Zhe glances at their phone, then slips away to head up to let Phaedra in.
"I - yeah. I dunno." Calamity grimaces, and lets Finley go, trailing their hand down zher arm as they go to let Phaedra in.
Phaedra's in her full black Victorian garb, gauzy black veil pinned to her hair, tarot cards in a bag. As she sees Finley, there's a grin, and then her head tilts to one side as she hears a heartbeat. "You didn't mention you have company. Calamity?"
Finley blinks. "Um... I did? I said I was talking to them... But--yeah, Calamity is here. Is that... okay...?"
"...Hi Phae." Calamity waves from the couch. They look...surprisingly okay, given that they allegedly got beat to shit a few days ago. Their eyes are bright, their skin that warm, relatively healthy tan. They do have dark smudges under their eyes, but maybe that makes sense - when do they sleep?
"Good to see you two have kissed and made up. I've been worried about that." She removes her boots, and then her socks, leaving them near the door. "I've been worried about you both."
"Haven't kissed." Calamity scoffs a little, though their cheeks flush slightly. "But yeah, we're good. How you been?"
"It was an expression." She laughs, moving over toward the couch. "I'm okay. Been hanging out with scary people, and doing not-so-scary things. And work, of course."
Finley just looks flustered at the comment--but doesn't say anything. Zhe follows over to the couch, sitting down--reaching for Phaedra's hand after. "I'm feeling better, now. The beast isn't so loud."
"Kinda same." Calamity wrinkles their nose with a laugh, and snuggles up to Finley once they've sat down. "Prob'ly not as scary people as you, though."
"Mmm, maybe. Guy wants to teach me how to drive a motorcycle. Imagine me going vroom." She laughs, allowing Finley to claim her hand and curling her legs up into layers of petticoats.
"I could see you riding a motorcycle. He was going to teach me how to ride one, too. I... haven't see him for a while, though." Zhe stares at Phaedra a moment. "You look really pretty in that dress..."
"Oh man, Rena told me that - 'm assuming it's the same Guy - knows Sledge? Like...lead singer of Forced Femme as Praxis Sledge?" Calamity pauses, and giggles. "You on a bike's kinda hilarious, Phae. Not bad, just...kinda hilarous."
"I've ridden on Sledge's motorcycle. It's even more alive than Guy's." There's a bit of a laugh. "I like Sledge. She's not booksmart, but the things she knows, she knows deep and she loves."
"Sledge kinda... scares me, but she seems nice. She's just... loud. I don't think I could ever drive a bike by myself, but riding with someone is okay."
"Wait you've met Sledge?" Calamity looks starstruck. "Both'a you? 'M jealous as fuck, I been to a couple'a her shows, she's...good. Bet riding on a bike's cool as fuck though."
"It's very cool. Fin, if I get a bike, would you ride with me?" She bats her eyelashes at zhem, a smile on her dark-painted lips.
"I don't... know her well, but I've met her a few times. She's really cool..." Finley gives Phaedra a flustered, shy smile. "Of course I would..."
"You should ask Rena, too..." Calamity teases Phaedra with a grin. "Man, I bet she's cool, though. Rena's gonna try to introduce me sometime."
She nudges Finley. "You oughta talk to Guy sometime. I'm just saying. Okay?"
And then she gives Calamity a thoughtful look. "I doubt there's anything I could do that would be cool to Rena. She's pretty awesome, you know?"
Finley gives her a confused look. "...Why? Is he okay...?"
"Oh, yeah, he's okay. Wants to hang out with us kids more."
"I bet she's come along if you got a bike. An' I bet she'd think it's pretty cool." Calamity bleps. "Guy's kinda creepy as fuck, the couple times I met him. Prob'ly 'cause...he's like really old, right?"
"You're really cool, Phaedra." Zhe nudges her gently. "And you'd be super cool on a bike. Um... Yeah, Guy is super old..."
"Mmm, I'm not sure I'd agree. Guy was born a really long time ago, but he's not that old in his experience. And I think that's part of why he makes a point of hanging out with people like us and Sledge and Rena instead of, like. 'The Adults'. You know? He doesn't compare to people like the Sakima."
A pause.
"...you two really think a bike would impress Rena, huh?"
"Uh huh. I bet it fuckin' would." Calamity grins wide. "'F that's what you wanna do, I mean. Impress her."
"True," Finley murmurs, thoughtful. Then looks curiously for Phaedra's answer.
"...I mean, it might be nice." That's soft and sheepish.
Calamity huffs in amusement, and leans over to nudge Phaedra. "You'n her'd be cute, holdin' hands and shit. 'M just sayin'." They find Finley's other hand as they say it, twining their fingers with zhers and giving it a squeeze.
Finley blinks at Phaedra a moment, then glances down at Calamity's hand. Then back to Phaedra. "Do you like her?"
"I don't really know her. I definitely don't know her well enough to know if she would ever hold hands. I'm interested by her, though. I want to know her more, but I don't get to see her all that much. But...I want her to think I'm cool. Whatever that means."
Finley nods, nudging her. "Then you should totally hang out with her more."
"You totally should," Calamity agrees. "...Bet she'd hold hands with you, too. If you wanted."
"Well. Maybe I will, then. But for tonight, Calamity, can I grab your other hand? And then we'll be a circle."
Calamity sticks their hand out with a grin and a nod, and slides across Finley a little to flop into zher lap. "I'm...mmph. Yinz're awesome. Just...'m glad we're all..." They gesture as well as they can, with both their hands being held.
Finley looks between them a moment, squeezing both of their hands. Calamity flopping across them makes Fin giggle softly. "I'm glad you're here too. Both of you. And... that you're feeling better, Calamity. How are your ribs?"
Phaedra doesn't flop, but leans in to rest her cheek against Fin's shoulder. Congrats, you've got a snuggle.
"Fuckin' fantastic - told you I heal fast." Calamity grins up at zhem, and shrugs. "Don't think they fucked with anything too much, just a lotta gettin' hit at once."
Finley ain't complaining. Zher cheek presses lightly against Phaedra's temple. "I'm glad it wasn't worse..."
"Clearly you two need to learn how to defend yourselves. Or run better." And not her, of course.
"Hey, Fin scared almost all of 'em away. I'm uh...thinkin' about looking for shit to wear under my clothes, though. Some sorta somethin 'case this shit happens again. 'Cause I know it will, Yellow Jackets aren't gonna just leave me alone..."
Finley is quiet for a moment as Calamity speaks, then exhales. "I probably should get a sturdier coat to wear, too... Maybe I should ask Guy to teach me to fight, too."
"Calamity, you remember the masked fella from that first run-in with the Yellow Jackets? They've offered to teach me to defend myself. But I've...I may lean into other defense mechanisms, as well. I can get stronger, a lot stronger and faster, if I work with my Beast."
A glance at Fin. "Vigor is a gift of my bloodline. I know it's not my clan's usual go-to."
"...'Ve always been better at runnin' away..." Calamity admits with a huff. "An' I've been workin' on my fire shit, but I don't wanna just be throwin' that around everywhere, y'know? 'S why I got fucked so bad, I...I was afraid to use it. No way to pretend 's not magic."
Finley nods to Phaedra. "I've noticed that you're really strong..." Calamity gets a sympathetic look, letting go of their hand so zhe can rub at their back.
"As if you're not." She laughs. "We're all exceptional."
"Yellow Jacket's literally ran from zhem." Calamity looks up at them, a little starry-eyes. "We'd'a been really really fucked. Was incredible."
"I can imagine it. I'm almost sorry I wasn't there. Almost." She laughs.
"Might not'a fucked with us at all, then. But who knows, they're fuckin' idiots," Calamity scoffs and rolls their eyes. "They're gonna blame me for two of 'em disappearing, definitely. But. 'S whatever, 's how it is sometimes."
"Still, be careful for a while. You're not allowed to get into trouble for a few weeks." She sits up from Finley's shoulder so she can rest her forehead in Calamity's curls, grinning.
"Never plan on gettin' into trouble. Mostly." They smirk, and squeeze her hand. "Trouble finds me an' I just gotta deal. An' make sure I'm with people who can help, or somethin'."
"Yes, like us. Or Rena. Rena would get you out of troubles, too. Probably better than me." She laughs.
"Rena's the type t'get me in trouble - we got into all sorts'a shit together." Their grin implies that it's a good thing. "She uh...you seen her lately? She said she's been losin' track'a days, and I don't wanna like...spread her shit, but...makes me kinda worried."
"...if you talk to her, can you point her toward me? I might be able to help, maybe." Phaedra's blue eyes turn stormy.
Calamity nods, looking a little guilty. "I...will, yeah. You can...tell her I said it, too. Don't wanna blab but I...she's..." Calamity shakes their head. "Kinda thought that her bein'...nocturnal'd help, an' maybe it has, but..."
Finley is quiet through Calamity's praise and starry-eyed look, looking sheepish.
When the topic turns to Rena, Finley is still quiet, looking thoughtful. Zhe pets lightly at Calamity's curls, brushing them back from their forehead.
"I mean, again, I lost track of what days this week I was supposed to work, which is why you have me in a pretty dress tonight, so like. I get losing time, when you live nights."
"She only ever did that when she was using, 'fore she disappeared." Calamity's voice is quiet. "Don't - don't know how much she can do that shit now, but..."
"...I'll talk to her," zhe murmurs softly.
"Oh." Phaedra nods quietly. "Yeah, Fin, you might be better to."
"Thanks. She'll prob'ly be pretty pissed about it, you can tell her I told you. 'Cause I don't think me sayin' anything's gonna do much. Never really did before." Calamity leans into Finley's hand as zhe runs it through their ahir.
Phaedra looks between Fin and Calamity quietly, thoughtfully. "Speaking of people being pissed because someone told a thing..." And then leans in to whisper something to Finley.
"You're welcome. I'm sure she'll be okay..." Zhe blinks, head tilting--then zher eyes crease with amusement, looking down at Calamity mischievously. Then zher hand moves to tickle along Calamity's ribs and stomach.
Calamity looks between the two of them, confused and curious.
And then yelps as Finley starts to tickle them, throwing an extremely betrayed look at Phaedra before they curl up to try and cover all their ticklish bits, giggling and flapping their hands at the two of them.
Phaedra, meanwhile, impishly runs a finger up Finley's spine to tickle at the back of zher neck.
This makes Finley jolt, then curl away from Phaedra, which makes them sort of flop over Calamity, giggling loudly. "No!"
The discovery that Finley is also ticklish makes Calamity gasp in excitement, and they grab at zher side, clearly looking to get zhem back. With their other hand they poke at Phaedra, trying to get her back for the horrible betrayal of telling Finley just how ticklish they are.
And then Phaedra's giggling, too. You know, because this is now a free-for-all.
There is... likely some close calls, as Finley flails and kicks--but thankfully doesn't accidentally vigor-smack them too hard. After a minute or so of the free-for-all tickling, Finley curls up defensively. "Okay, okay! I give in!"
Phaedra relents, but mostly so she can curl around Fin. She is the big spoon now.
Calamity pounces on Fin, unintentionally maybe mirroring their interaction the other night, but wraps their arms around them instead of continuing to tickle. They're still breathless and laughing, and drapes an arm on Phaedra too. Calamity is blanket now.
Finley lets out a huff, but seems happy to be curled around and draped over. Zhe shifts to curl into them both, smiling behind the mask. "You two are silly. But I'm glad you're here."
"You'd let yourself get serious and unhappy and never have half as much fun without some silly about to enjoy." She tucks an arm over and around Fin, hugging zhem like an oversized teddy Nos.
"It's true." Calamity draws the word out, and gently noms on Fin's ear. "Bein' silly's like...makes shit bearable, sometimes."
Finley pauses a moment, then laughs. "I probably would, yeah... Before I met you two, I pretty much just... worked and studied. And occasionally played video games."
"Sorry, we're dragging you out and making you have a life, Fin." She grins. "And maybe, maybe, not just us."
"Sounds boring 's shit - gotta get you into more trouble." Calamity grins and pokes at their side again. Not really tickling, but threatening to again.
"Maybe... not bad trouble, but... I don't mind fun trouble." Zhe smiles for a moment, then looks to Calamity. "By the way... You know someone named Qadir, right...?"
Phaedra closes her eyes, sorta burying herself in the pile a little.
"..." Calamity's posture shifts immediately - they pull away from Finley a little, frowning. "Yeah...why?"
Finley blinks at Calamity's reaction, brows creasing with worry. "You don't like him?"
"...'S complicated," they mutter, and bury their face in Finley's shoulder. "How d'you know him?"
Finley pets their curls again. "I met him a week or two ago. He's... not completely human anymore. And is struggling with it. I've been trying to help him."
Phaedra listens without interrupting now, because she has no clue who a Qadir is.
"Yeah I know. He...I didn't know he was here, we...grew up together." Calamity shifts on top of the two of them, getting more comfy. "'S a long story, I...dunno what shit he's goin' through now, but. Tryin' not to care. Ran into him the other day, didn't go well."
"I, um... know. I talked him after it happened. And saw the video online." Zhe's quiet for a moment, then rubs their back. "But... okay. I won't mention him again. Sorry."
Phaedra frowns, gesturing a little at her mouth. "Wait. Fin, is he the one who's psychic, who you mentioned? Who's fascinating?"
Finley looks to Phaedra and nods quietly.
"Why's he fascinating?" Calamity sounds a little nervous.
She gives Finley a look, deferring to zhem.
"He's... well, he's not a vampire. But sort of? He doesn't drink blood, but... I have a theory, that he drains people's life force? He's like... a psychic vampire. I've been doing some experiments with him, to try to figure out what he is and what he can do."
Calamity frowns before flopping back down and burying their head in Phaedra's shoulder. "Huh."
"It's scary to be a psychic out on your own. Scarier if people think they can use you. He needs to not be all alone."
"Sorry... I won't talk about him around you. He's just... having a really hard time, and I thought..." Zhe glances to Phaedra, nodding. "Yeah. Having people who understand him will be good for him."
"Well, I'm still up for that, if he's in for my particular brand of weird." She lets out a warm bubbly laugh.
"He's...we...'s whatever," Calamity mumbles. (yinz are welcome to empathy!)
Phaedra looks Calamity right in the eyes quietly, turning the full force of her worst care bear stare on them.
Finley watches Calamity a moment, then glances towards Phaedra uncertainly. Then looks to Calamity. "Ember... did he... hurt you?"
Calamity can avoid the care bear stare by carefully not looking at Phaedra, but they can't avoid both that and Finley's question. "He - ratted us out." They exhale heavily. "Not on purpose, but it got back to my folks, an'..." a gesture. "'S why 'm here, mostly."
"Ratted you out...?"
“So he’s someone you’re blaming for when it all came tumbling down, even though your folks wouldn’t have been okay no matter how it came out and you know that deep inside already. He just makes a safer target to hold it against, he represents that moment in your life, to you.”
Oh there’s the Phaedra callout of the night.
"Oh..." Finley's shoulders sink, brows knitting.
Calamity sits up abruptly, their eyes narrowed at Phaedra. "...He outed us. We kissed and he couldn't keep his fucking mouth closed about it. Fuckin' stupid kid shit, didn't even mean nothing," they snap, immediately on the defensive.
"How... did he rat you out? It was an accident...?"
“You wouldn’t care this much if it didn’t mean nothing at all. He still makes you have feelings, even if they’re heated ones.” She reaches out to touch the tip of Calamity’s nose.
"He let somethin' slip, I dunno." Calamity pulls away from Phaedra's finger. "My folks would'a found out, sure, but. Not then. They didn't even give me a choice - an' I went'ta him after an' found out he's the reason. 'Cause he can't keep a fuckin' secret."
"...I'm sorry that happened," zhe murmurs. "I'm sure he didn't mean to cause you so much pain, though... He seems really nice..."
“You don’t think it’s possible he learned from that experience?”
"Yeah well he fuckin' did," Calamity mumbles at Finley, and crosses their arms. "I don't fuckin' know, left all that shit when I came here. Don't have'ta think about it, an' I don't really care."
"...Okay," Finley relents, head dipping. "I'm sorry for bringing it up."
“...I don’t even need my tarot cards to call bullshit on that. It is going to matter, and it’s going to fester like a splinter over time.” She shakes her head.
"...I mean 's always mattered. I still hate him for it." The heat in Calamity's voice has started to die down, replaced by bitterness.
"Phaedra... is right. Maybe... you two should... talk," Finley says hesitantly, trying to hug Calamity closer.
“Calamity...” She sighs and then gestures them closer. “It’s been really hard on you, everything that’s happened since you left your home.”
That's all it takes for Calamity to flop back down on the two of them with a huff.
"Yeah so? Lotta people have hard lives. 'S not home for me anymore, anyways. An' I dunno how talkin' to him's gonna do shit, you saw what happened last time."
Finley squeezes around them tighter, nuzzling zher cheek against their's. "It's okay. This is your home, now."
Phaedra nods quietly. “Home is where your heart is. Isn’t that what they say?”
Another quiet huff, and Calamity nods as they relax into the two Kindred.
"Yeah. Guess it kinda is. You uh...you can keep talking to him or whatever, Fin. 'S whatever. I just..." there's a beat, and they sigh. "You're my friend too, even if I gotta share you with someone I don't like." They offer up a small smile.
Phaedra relaxes somewhat at that declaration, a smile coming to her face.
"You're my best friend, though." Finley nods. "But thank you. I appreciate it."
Calamity hums quietly and gives Finley's cheek a kiss.
"Best friend's a pretty big responsibility..." they joke quietly.
“I’m sure you’re up for it, Calamity.” She chuckles.
"Yeah... you not up for it?" Finley gives Calamity big doe eyes. Zhe'd likely be pouting, if they could.
"I'll figure it out." They reach out to boop Finley gently on the nose.
“You’ll have help. I’m pretty sure Finley is your best friend. That’s how these things work, right?”
"Good." Finley giggles. "And yeah... I'm your best friend too, right?"
"Mhm." Calamity's sigh is content as they nod, and they twirl one of Phaedra's curls idly around their finger. "Don't let any'a the guys know, they'll be super jealous." It's clearly a joke, by the way they're grinning. "They...were okay to you when you were there, right?" Their brow furrows slightly. "Figure you woulda said something if they were really shitty or anything."
Phaedra’s quiet, watching the other two interact and not interfering, though she seems quite content to let Calamity play with her hair.
"They... weren't really nice, but they weren't mean or anything. Um. Mostly just suspicious of me? But Rena was there so they mostly just talked to her."
"M'kay." They seem satisfied with that, and they lapse into silence for a few moments.
"'M glad I'm here," they finally say. "An' that yinz are, too."
“I’m glad to have these nights with you each and you both. You’re the closest thing I have to a family.”
Finley pauses, looking at Phaedra for a moment before leaning in to kiss her--well, sort of. Zhe still has the mask on. "You're like family to me, too."
Calamity giggles quietly at the masked kiss. "I got like...two families now. 'Cause I gotta include the guys. 'S more'n I ever thought I'd have here, ever."
And Phaedra leans in to kiss Calamity on the lips next. It's a gentle, chaste sort of kiss, but no less loving for it.
"Do... you really see them as family?" Zhe asks softly.
Cal goes very still, blinking in surprise at the kiss, but they don't move away. They give Phaedra a quiet smile, before nodding to Fin.
"Yeah...? 'Course I do." Calamity looks a little confused as to why it's even a question.
"Family's a weird word anyway, I think, for me and Calamity to use. We make it mean something for us, that it didn't back when it was all about blood."
Finley watches the kiss a moment, then focuses on Calamity. "Okay... I'm... glad you have them, then."
"Fin, what was your family like? Your birth family, I mean. I don't remember if I've ever asked."
"They... they're fine, I guess," Finley murmurs. "They never were mean to me or anything. But... we don't talk anymore..."
"Because of what you are now?" Phaedra looks up to make very direct eye contact.
Zhe nods slowly, frowning. "Mm... yeah... They... think I've... had some psychological break or I'm on drugs or something. I disappeared for a year, and I couldn't... tell them what happened, so I had to lie. After being such a perfect kid in their eyes for forever, it was... too much for them to take. I'm just... a disappointment to them, now. But it's... for the best, for us not to talk."
"...well, you have us. And I'm proud of you and all you do." A glance to see if Calamity is asleep. "Guy's thinking of growing his and Sledge's pack, by the way."
"...Thanks," zhe murmurs softly, nuzzling into her. "Oh?"
"Mm. He talked to me about it, after taking me for a ride on his bike."
"Did... he invite you..?"
A nod, and then a smile. "He's planning on talking to you about it. I told him I wasn't going to join without you."
Zhe blinks a few times, eyes widening. "Really...?"
"Yes, really." She reaches out to touch Finley's cheek lightly. "He was planning on talking to you before I said that, just so you don't think it's my idea. And Rena as well. But if you're not in the pack, I don't belong there."
"Oh... Phaedra..." Zher eyes soften, arms shifting to wrap around her to squeeze, nuzzling zher cheek against her's. "I'll do it if you're with us. But belong with you, too."
"Also, I'm sleeping over today. I bet you probably figured that already, but might as well make sure you know."
Zhe giggles, nodding. "I'm glad. Do you want some more comfortable clothes to change into? Not that I don't like you in this dress... You look really pretty..."
"Something comfier would be nice, yeah. I love this dress, though. It makes for a nice change." She carefully disentangles from Calamity and stands. "...I wonder how you'd look in a dress...."
"Help yourself to whatever you want. Um, pjs are in the second drawer down, in the dresser." Zhe blinks up at her. "...I... can wear a dress, if you want...?"
"I'm just curious. You don't have to do it, unless you want to." She slips into the bedroom to change, leaving the door cracked open so they can continue to talk, though she does face away from it as she changes into whatever the cutest pajamas available are.
"Maybe..." Zhe murmurs, thoughtful. There are lots of cute pajamas to choose from--mostly cute animal and cartoon prints.
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