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It's a long-ass walk, from the bus stop to Phaedra's house. But it's not like Calamity's got a card to connect to any of the rideshare apps that exist, and taxies are expensive as fuck, so. Walking it is. They texted Phaedra when they got off the bus, but it's taken them a lot longer than last time, for them to make the trip.
They give her door a quiet knock, when they finally do arrive.
She answers the door in one of her flowy embroidered dresses, hair loose. "Hey, you look like crap. I am so very not feeding on you tonight. Mostly snuggles, okay?"
They certainly do look like crap, very little color in their greyish cheeks and dark smudges under their eyes making them look more gaunt than usual. But the smile they give her is warm enough.
"Had enough feeding to last me a while, I think. Snuggles sound pretty good though. How've you been?" They step into the house as soon as she lets them, looking around to see if anything's changed. Even in the warmth of the summer evening they've got their hoodie zipped up, and their hands are shoved in the pockets where they usually are.
"I'm okay. Making all the most interesting friends, with people I should be more cautions about."
She pulls them inside, and over toward the couch before flopping herself down on it. "Work's been fun lately, though."
"Oh yeah? What sort'a friends?" They melt down onto the couch next to her with a sigh and immediately take their boots off to curl up.
She wraps herself around them, Blushing herself so she is warm to cuddle against. Phaedra is smol to be big spoon, making her more like a jetpack here.
"Some other vampires, some really not."
The warmth makes Calamity happy sigh, and they snuggle close. "Yeah? I...'m prob-ly making some friends I shouldn't, too." But they don't sounds particularly upset about it.
"Like me and Finley. But it's okay, we're glad to have you." She holds on gently, closing her eyes, one hand petting at Calamity's curly hair.
"Yinz aren't nearly the worst people I fuck around with." They lean into her hand. "Like...we're all dangerous. But you two are nice, at least." They turn to wrinkle their nose at her as they smile.
"We're bloodthirsty beasts, Calamity. We may seem nice, but...don't forget what we are too much. Okay?"
She kisses their ear gently.
They giggle, twitching away from the kiss as their smile widens. Like they're ticklish, or something.
"I know. Least I can defend myself from all yinz, if I gotta. More'n other folx, you know? An'...rather hang out with bloodthirsty beasts than like...people who I gotta hide shit from."
There is a slow smile that grows on Phaedra's face, as one of her hands slowly pans down Calamity's side, testing. Tickling gently.
"On no -" Calamity cuts off with an eep and tries to squirm away, turning to shoot Phaedra an extremely betrayed look. The kind of look you only get when you've just discovered that your friend is ticklish and you're fully intending to exploit that weakness.
She laughs warmly, continuing to tickle, her touch feather-light. "We are predators who will exploit any weakness."
"'S not fairrr..." They're giggling again, helplessly, and ineffectively try to squirm away again, reaching out to try to tickle Phaedra in return. Are vampires even ticklish?
At least when blushed, this one is. She lets out a high-pitched squeal, moving back away from Calamity swiftly.
"Hah!" Calamity grins triumphantly, and keeps up their tickle assault, trying to get into a position where Phaedra can't get to their sides.
She ends up pinned under them in helpless laughter, and eventually stops struggling, looking up quietly.
Calamity stops tickling when Phaedra stops struggling. "I win," they say with a wicked grin. They're breathless and their heart is racing from the exertion, and a moment later they move to let her up.
"Only because I didn't cheat more." She doesn't get up.right away and seems to take a moment to process the situation.
"Are...you okay?" They tilt their head, pausing in the middle of climbing off her.
"Yes. I'm okay. I wouldn't trust almost anyone else doing that, though. I...yeah. but you're okay." It's quiet, subdued, though.
That makes them scramble up and away, and they look at her with concern from the other side of the couch. "Fuck - 'm sorry, I shouldn't've...fuck. Sorry."
She shakes her head. "I'm okay. We're okay. Come back to cuddle? I won't tickle you anymore."
"...You wanna be big spoon again?" Calamity slowly uncurls themself until they're sitting, and scoots back over rather than trying to climb over her legs.
"No, I kinda want to be held now. If...if that's okay? Please?"
"Oh - yeah, totally." A decisive nod, and they shift so they can flop down next to her before tentatively resting their arm on her waist and stomach.
And she curls herself up tightly against them. "Thank you."
"'Course - I'll always cuddle when you want, silly." Calamity nuzzles the back of her neck and squeezes her gently. "Sorry I made shit weird, 'm glad you're okay."
"You're not the one who made it weird, not really. My asshole uncle made it weird, you didn't know." She huffs.
"Ugh." Calamity shudders in sympathy. "Your asshole uncle is a creep and - he still around? 'Cause...he deserves some shit." They hold her close, almost protectively.
"Yeah, he is. The whole family cult still is. Out on the farm, outside of town."
"...I wanna set him on fire and watch him burn. Slowly. He doesn't deserve a quick death."
She turns her head. "You can want to do that. But if anyone gets to actually kill him, it's me."
They nod. "Wouldn't take that from you. Long's he dies, an' if you change your mind about that 's fine, too. Not everyone wishes death on people like that. But if you wanna kill him, and you want help..."
"Means a lot that you'd offer. I...I've never ever killed anyone, you know. Even as a vampire."
"Me neither. I uh...seen people killed a couple times. Shootouts, a drive-by..." They shift to curl up around her. "'S ugly. An' sad, an'...kinda scary."
She nods a little, nuzzling the back of her head against their shoulder, one hand moving to rest atop theirs. "Yeah. I guess it would be."
"Do it for you, though. Or help you, or be there. Or whatever you want with your uncle."
She nods again. "I need to really think about it. There's..implications to me having not killed anyone, a sort of...hm, how to explain...." She thinks for a second. "...ritual purity in a way that isn't as squicky as that concept being based on virginity? If I kill someone, it will mean I'll be seen a little differently by other vampires who believe the things I do. It's a thing. Not quite like...gangs of vampires, but groups."
Calamity listens quietly, and nods. "Makes sense. There's some'a that around me, too, but...most people wanna prove themself soon's they fuckin' can. Gives you status n' shit. Not in B an' F, we don't fuck with that kinda stuff, but...'s all over the place."
"Did...was there any trouble, with the assholes with the yellow bandanas, after everything we did?" This is soft and unsure.
"Hasn't been, nah. Figured we scared 'em pretty good, yeah?" Calamity gives Phaedra a reassuring smile. "You seen that demon again? Or whatever the fuck kinda superhero thing?"
"Yes. I met with them once more, they might end up teaching me how to fight. Because they cheat. They cheat a lot, and so do I. So I think they might be able to teach me how to use my cheating ways best."
"Oooh. Sweet. You kicked ass, can't wait to see how you can do it even better. An' I mean. I cheat too. Just different."
"I can get even stronger. Physically, I mean. And faster."
"I...can too, kinda? But...'s like I can be stronger, but then I can't move as fast. Or I can like, run or fight for longer, but then I'm not as strong. An' I gotta prep for it, 's not an instant thing. An' nobody's gonna ever underestimate me like they do with you." Calamity grins, like it's a compliment.
"On some level, I hate being underestimated, though. Like people aren't ever taking me really seriously. It's one of the reasons I'm not entirely happy I was made a vampire so young. I'm always going to look this old, no older."
"Makes sense." Calamity nods. "Y'ever think about tryin'a like...dress to make yourself look older? 'M better at goin' the other way, 's useful in court'n shit when I look like a kid."
"Mmm, what, like try to dress more serious? A suit or something? Those look so uncomfortable." She laughs warmly. "I have enough trouble with my work dress and the makeup and stuff."
"No yeah, suits are uncomfortable as fuck," Calamity agrees with a huff of a laugh. "Nah, but like...I dunno. The hippie look's a thing, but...I don't think it's helpin' people take you seriously, prob'ly."
"Mmm. Comfort, or being taken more seriously. That's a real touch choice." She laughs, relaxing further against them, like a Hershey kiss in the sun, melting into a clean carpet.
"There's prob'ly a way to figure out how to do both. Fuck if I know what it is, though..." They nuzzle the back of her neck again. "You...good if I pass out? Been real fucking tired, past few days."
"Yeah. Though I'll need to wake you up before sunrise, so I can go down into the cellar." She nods.
"'S fine." Calamity nods and sighs, giving her a squeeze before starting to relax into sleep. "This was nice. Thanks for inviting me over."
"Of course. I needed to see you for myself. Now sleep. I've got you." Even if right now, she is the held.
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