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Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
After some texting back and forth, Tommy and Valeria had decided to meet at one of the delis around town for lunch. She was there a bit early, her bike parked at a nearby parking spot, still vaguely within eyesight. She wasn't dressed up too much, she hated dresses, but wore a button up shirt and cuffed jeans. May as well show off that she's gay cause have you SEEN women?? AMAZING!
She hadnt waited on Tommy to order, and already had a BLT sandwich and a salad in front of her. She was watching passerby for what she assumed an older Tommy looked like.
Tommy
Dr. Tommy Shanks walked into the cafe with their poofy pompadour style hair being contained by a few hair clips resembling the blue bonnet flower in their hair.
Their shirt was a blouse with a mountain laurel pattern on it, showing their cleavage.
They wore a professional looking pair of black slacks and three-inch heels with closed toes. Their satchel was on their side like always.
Tommy placed an order for a turkey club and a cola. Once the order was in hand, they pivoted and sought out Val like he was able to see the entire deli without looking around.
"NIna Bonita!" a smile while approaching and putting down the plate and drink.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
Ria hadnt paid attention to the enby when they first entered, but gave a small smile at their appearance. As they approached and called out the nickname Tommy always used, her eyes went wide, and jaw dropped in surprise. A big smile on her face.
She immedietly got up to give them a hug. "Oh my GOD! I hadn't realized that was you!" She moves them back to half arms length to look at the outfit, and first thing to notice was that she was STRONG. Muscled and VERY tall. Best guess was around 6 foot.
"You look amazing chica...chico...what pronouns are we using, lovely? And if I mess them up PLEASE correct me. I do still slip sometimes."
Tommy
"I'm fluid, and feeling they/them today, if that helps," they blushed as they were examined by the 'kid' they babysat.
"I'm not the only one that looks amazing, Bonita. You're gorg. Look at these muscles, and that form? I kept an eye on the tryouts when I was out on digs in the Yucatan and what not."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
"Fluid, I gotcha. I'll stick to English then."
She smiles, which fades. "It's been rough since the tryouts, but yeah... I've tried to keep in shape. Finally getting back to where I can walk on my hands for a while too! Friend is trying to get me to do the human flag again."
She nods to them. "How are all the digs going? I think the old neighborhood finally filled in a couple of the holes." She snickers, entirely joking.
Tommy
"Except in Old Man Felix's yard, right? I swear he's metal detected every spot in the neighborhood, including his yard, ten times. And that was before I left for school."
"DIgs were good... I just got some global journalism notice this week... you would not believe how many iinterviews that I needed to do in the last month or two."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She laughs. "Was that his name? I'd forgotten. But yeah, he definetly did."
She smiles. "I think I can get the picture. During tryouts it was damn near constant. Reporters are annoying, aren't they?"
She looks them over. "How's your papi taking all of this?"
Tommy
"with everything thing that he's going through, I am his good son," they said, with a smile, a sadnessi n his eyes though, "But I managed to get him out of the neighborhood to a house that serves his need and my need both.
"There's pain, there's immobility, there's some memory issues. Neurological disorders are no joke. So I moved home, and am focusing on further research of my previous digs rather than new ones, so I can be here for him."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She grimaces at the son comment. "Yikes...but yeah thats fair. You're strong for that. I'm glad your papi's got you there for him."
She frowns. "Mom moved out of the neighborhood two years ago so...haven't really been there in a while, won't lie. She's still doing all the graveyard shifts so...bit closer to the hospital now."
Tommy
"Well, thank goodness for her and those like her who help keep the rest of us healthy. I'm surprised you didn't get back to training and in the news and all of that, with her literally mothering you."
A laugh and a shake of their head, "You like the flowers? First home and second home. "
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She can't hide the frown on her face. "The next...two years were rough. I'm not sure how much you want me to ruin your image of me to be honest."
She nods at the flowers, a weak smile. "I do like the flowers. Will admit I'm not so much into flowers. They're nice but hey, they belong on a pretty thing like you more than me."
Tommy
This is when the Hubris kicked in. Could they ask and dig into what Valeria meant? Sure. Sure they could. However, they were a Mage and that meant they could do other things.... then a flash of a few of the other faces that have conversed with them about it. And a flicker moved across his face.
"Oh, you... you're my Nina Bonita, always. You're a gorgeous Latinx and I'm proud to call you my friend. And just wait, you and I can get all dolled up sometime and go to the club..."
Flicking a crumb off of their plate, they looked up, "So... Vincent?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She grimaces, but lets it drop for now. "Heh well...I may not get dolled up. I like being more butch honestly, other lesbians tend to take notice." There was a wink.
She nods. "Yeah so Vinny. You said a club right? I fucking hope he didn't scam you."
Tommy
"Anyone can get dolled up. Ken's a doll, and so are many other dolls...." a blush, "And I do like me some... nevermind."
A tilt of their head, "Not scam, not like that at least. Charmed. Nearly got in my pants... but not scammed. Learned things about him that I didn't like though.. has he or anyone else ever mentioned...dietary changes recently?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She chuckles. "Yeah yeah I gotcha. Hes got a partner now, longest I've known him have one, I am just hoping he-" she stops, a million looks on her face. She follows it up with a "what...like vegan or something?" Its not very convincing
Tommy
Now, now is when they cheated. The Truth was part of who Bones was, and they adopted a stance that made them look more fluid, even while sitting. In fact, it'd be hard pressed to say that they're the same person, if they weren't sitting in front of Ria....
Tommy
...they continued the discussion as if nothing else was going on, magic and all, "Waffles. They seem to eat a lot of waffles now."
Mentally they use the connection into Ria's mind to bring up the thoughts regarding Vincent over the last month.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
Val looks confused, looking down at her plate. "Um...hasn't mentioned waffles to me?"
Inside their mind was a few spaced images at first. Early December getting to hang out with him a tad, but more so Alice. Late December not seeing him at ALL and being worried...and then beginning of the year, New Years Day actually, seeing him at McDonald's, learning he was a vampire, comforting him, bring worried. So many thoughts.
"So...what the fuck are you doing Tommy? You're acting weird."
Tommy
"McDonald's? A Conversation there?" they said simply, to get her words on it, while also now pulling up what she knew about vampires as a whole.
Their fluidity in their thoughts, their movements, and their desire for Truth were all in the lead now. It was Bones, not Tommy, sitting there.
"I said, different parts of the same club, hm? I can't say all the truth yet, but I will when I can, I just want to make sure you're safe."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She freezes. "How the fuck did you..." she looks around the deli, at the other people.
"Just...gah can I have one normal meal with a friend this week? I don't want to talk about that here."
She knows very little, she knows Guy and Vincent are Vampires, that she's a ghoul. GUY'S Ghoul. She knows she's stronger and hardier now, and addicted to Vitae. She knows they can't eat without throwing it back up (but garlic is ok!), sunlight hurts them, and the vague words 'Ordo Dracul'.
Tommy
"Oh... Nina Bonita..." they sighed, and reached out a hand, the mental connection dropping.
A shake of their head before speaking, "You are in the community, now. So am I, in a different way. Hold on a second..." magic dropped around them, and to the outside world, the light and sound were that of an ordinary conversation, while they could look for the truth.
"I'm sorry babygirl. I'm not a vampire or part of their organization. I do a different sort of trick. I use magic. I do things that are imossible to the normal mind. For example, I read your mind."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
Val flinched, not taking the hand. "Can you shut- oh...are you the wizard Vinny talked about?"
She frowns, looking down, then processes the conversation. "Hey wait...why did you read my mind? Get out of there."
Tommy
"Probably. He knows others, maybe, but I'm the one he asked on a date. He's also tasted my blood."
He held up his fingers, letting raw electricity jump to and fro before letting it go.
"I also... I think I'm alos bound to another one of the Vampires. Not a ghoul, my soul won't take that. But I've drank once."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She grimaces. "I...gotcha. Vinny hasn't tasted mine...hell i wouldnt be surprised if someone has though and I just don't remember...what do you mean your soul won't take it?"
Tommy
"My magic is part of my soul. It changed when I learned how to do real magic. It won't let most other things happen to me like that... but some of the issues are still present, if that makes sense.
"I love you, Nina Bonita. You know this. And now that you know me, and my truth, in more ways than one, let me know if you need help."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She shakes her head. "No, none of this makes sense Tommy. But I'm trying to make it make sense, k?"
She shakes her head. "I have someone helping me...frankly...it feels like maybe I don't know you. And you don't know me. Not anymore. Im not the same little girl you babysat."
Tommy
"I'm not that guy either. But I understand all the changes are hard. I've just found more of the truth in me. THe offers there, but there won't be anything I'll do to force you to talk to me. And I swear not to do magic on you that would invade your privacy."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She shakes her head. "You just did that Tommy. But yeah...seems we are different people now."
She sighs, defeated. "Theres things you should know about me Tommy. Not just...being a Ghoul for like a week now."
Tommy
"I did that, but I won't further, is my point. I was worried and with your facial reactions, it made me worry more...magic can solve everything, even though it shouldn't. Sorry," they slunk back down into Dr. Shanks, a shake of their head.
"Feel free to let me know, but don't feel that you have to do it either. Obviously you don't know me anymore, like you said."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She sighs. "No no...you should know...but yeah, sometimes magic shouldn't solve everything."
She pauses. "I'm a drug addict. Ex now...sorta? After shattering my knee I turned to whatever I could get my hands on...I missed the high of being a gymnast so whatver was closest was good. Coke, alcohol, sex...whatever was closest." She frowns. "I was clean 6 months. Now theres Vitae. You said you've had some so...I wanted to ask...is it better than the others? Will it fuck me over too? Vinny seems to think so."
Tommy
"Any addiction is a bad addiction. Yes, it will fuck you over. The emotional connection might also fuck you over. But Guys a decent guy, for Kindred and Human terms."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She sighs. "I figured as much. He seems decent. He gives me good vibes...well I kinda suck at vibes nowadays."
Tommy
"So.. one thing I do now, with magic, is be literally fluid with my gender. You'll probably see me masc, femme, enby, whatever. Something you need to knwo about me so it doesn't shock you, I guess."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She nods. "Ok well...I gotcha. Just tell me how you feel each day. Can I call you 'they' to other people then?"
She shrugs. "I've had hook ups with a few trans women so...I'm easy. Whatever makes you comfy."
Tommy
"I mean... I become that gender entirely..." and sudddenly they were in their full femme form, though their hair stayed the same to keep the clips in place.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She nods. "No...I figured thats what you meant. Or something similar. What makes you comfy?" She seems to get the gender stuff quite easily.
Tommy
"Pronouns as presenting, or any if referring to me when speaking to others if I'm not present," back to the masc form, "So, you're lesbian, hrm? I'm sorry I wasn't there when you came out."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She nods. "Ill do that then."
She shrugs. "It...took me a while to figure it out. It was after breaking my leg." And while I was an addict was silent.
Tommy
"Well good for you. I had my first lesbian experience last month..."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She smiles. "And how did it go? Was she cute?"
Tommy
"Very cute. She's a walking valkyrie with a heart of gold. She ... yes it was good."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She smiles. "So tall strong ladies, got it."
Was she a tall, strong lady? Yes. But it was clear she was thinking of others and trying to avoid suggesting it in public.
Tommy
"Also, lithe, cute ones... it's kind of connection based. Or new experience based or something... I don't know. It's all pretty new to me."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
Val bites her lip, her 'thinking face'. "Well if its experiences you're looking for, I know I'm younger but can I offer some advice?"
Tommy
"Always Bonita."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She points at them. "Take care of yourself, and don't let people walk over you. If there's ANY bad feeling, stop. You are worth more than your parts, k?"
She shakes her head. "Made that mistake. Sex can be an addiction too. And it can be anyone that takes advantage of you. Don't let them. You always have the choice to just...get up and leave. Especially since you're a badass wizard, k?"
Tommy
"Hey, I didn't go on a date with Vinny for just that. And there's other situations too. And yeah, anyone tries to do something without permission and..."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
She nods. "And you're worth more than your parts, yes?" She presses that one hard.
Tommy
"We all know my worth has always been in my brain," they reply, teasing.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz
Val rolls her eyes. "Just promise me you will make sure anyone you hook up with will respect you, ok? If they don't...dump their ass, k? I didn't and it made me feel like shit for a while."
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