BLOOD CHOKE

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<<run UIBar.show();>>The bitter taste of iron is what wakes you up. Bitter at first, heavy and metallic, thick as it rolls down the back of your tongue. Just a few drops trickling in, until you hear the distant sound of glass shattering-- and then it's a great rush of it, splashing your face and making you recoil inside the small space you're in. Your body feels disconnected, moving sluggish as you blink in the dark. It takes your mind a few seconds to process that you just smashed your hand against stone during your instinctive thrashing, and then the pain comes, lancing up through your wrist and all the way to your shoulder. You mumble something incomprehensible, licking your lips and tasting more iron-- more blood. It drips in through a crack in the ceiling, you can feel it, raising your hand to touch the rough ridge of stone and the sticky warmth of blood gathering along its edge. You open your mouth for it. Slowly, your body starts to feel more alive, more like your own, and you shift awkwardly, trying to figure out what exactly this space is that you're in. Stone on all sides, cold and dark. Just big enough for you to partially roll onto your side, but your shoulders are too wide, trapping you at an awkward, tilted angle. [[You have to get out. ->prlg 1]]

Your own muttering voice echoes back at you, the stone unforgiving as more of your senses return. Your back aches, your head throbs, and each movement grinds the stone against your body, your bones wary and bruised from being confined for so long. Your long nails scrape loudly as you draw your hand down the wall in front of you, and you take a deep breath, bracing yourself before you start to push. Your strength surprises you, the stone groaning slightly as you strain your arms and legs against it. But you have to stop after a few seconds, slumping back and gasping, cold sweat gathering across your brow. You turn and maneuver around to lick at the blood still dripping from the crack above your head. No feelings of disgust or revulsion deter you, just a primal instinct indicating that this is what you need. So you lap it up, ignoring the grainy cold taste of the stone against your tongue. You wait a few more minutes, breathing deep, testing your body, stretching your lungs. You imagine the spongy organ withered and dried out, cracking in your chest as you inhale with your diaphragm. You press your hands against the stone again and start to push. [[Next ->prlg 2]]

The stone shifts this time, and you groan as you twist and press your shoulder against it, lifting it up and revealing a sliver of dim blue light. You gasp as you slump back again, shielding your face with your hands, the light making your eyes ache. But now you can get your fingers through. Your hand curls around the edge, and you pry the stone apart, grimacing as it scrapes loudly and makes the whole space tremble, feeling the vibration through your chest all the way to the roots of your teeth. And then the stone gives and slides away, falling to the ground with an earth-shattering //crack//. [[Next ->prlg 3]]

<<set $cw to false>> <<set $name to "Input name.">> <<set $mc to "">> <<set $gender to 0>> <<set $size to "">> <<set $hunger to 50>> <<set $hunger_feels to 0>> <<set $clothes to 0>> <<set $c_rel to 50>> <<set $clear_rom to false>> <<set $clear_laterom to false>> <<set $c_cruel to 0>> <<set $h_rel to 50>> <<set $hana_rom to false>> <<set $hana_laterom to false>> <<set $h_cruel to 0>> <<set $v_rel to 50>> <<set $val_rom to false>> <<set $v_laterom to false>> <<set $v_rival to false>> <<set $v_hostile to true>> <<set $clear_kickout to false>> <<set $saw_mummy to false>> <<set $askedfood to false>> <<set $ch2_hana to false>> <<set $ch2_val to false>> <<set $hunt to 0>> <<set $ch2_hanakiss to false>> <<set $hand_bite to false>> <<set $ch2_clearkiss to false>> <<set $ch2_hanabolt to false>> <<set $v_slap to false>> <<set $v_scratch to false>> <<set $v_underbooth to false>> <<set $v_hanascratch to false>> <<set $mc_clearbite to false>> <<set $v_clearbite to false>> <<set $mc_vchoke to false>> <<set $oberon_knows to false>> <<set $ch3_hana to false>> <<set $ch3_hana_sex to false>> <<set $ch3_hana_kiss to false>> <<set $ch3_clear to false>> <<set $ch3_clear_sex to false>> <<set $ch3_clear_kiss to false>> <<set $ch3_val to false>> <<set $ch3_val_sex to false>> <<set $v_getout to false>> <<set $v_upset to false>> <<set $v_walkout to false>> <<set $ch3_cuthand to false>> <<set $ch3_burntarms to false>> <<set $v_trust to false>> <<set $v_trust_council to false>> <<set $j_rel to 50>>

Sitting up, you immediately get a sense of vertigo, your mind having convinced you that you were laying upright and not on your back-- you lean over the side and dry heave, your body convulsing painfully as your esophagus burns with nothing but acidic bile. You hang over the edge like that, panting loudly, and once you're sure you're not going to wretch all over yourself, you sit back up and take in your surroundings. Stone walls. Dark stains gathering in the corners, a heavy, dewy smell in the air, and a strange blue light flickering somewhere deeper within the stone labyrinth, illuminating the far wall and casting tall shadows behind you. You are sitting inside a sarcophagus. You haul yourself out, clambering inelegantly to the floor, sitting hard on your ass and leaning back against the cold stone. You study the walls for a moment, but there's nothing but cracks and mold; no other bodies entombed here. Something soaks through your shirt then, and you sit back to see the splash of blood that must have leaked inside. You stand up on shaky legs, turning to get a better look. Broken glass crunches under your feet, and you marvel at how lucky you are not to have shards of it sticking in your ass right now. You follow the smattering of glass and find the bottleneck still intact, the inside stained dark with blood. //Where did it come from?// You walk around the sarcophagus and see heavy chains gathered on the floor. You crouch down and unravel the coiled metal, revealing a heavy, silver padlock, and a broken chain in the middle. You tilt your head, peering down the corridor where the blue light is coming from. It's quiet, though, no movement, and only the sound of your breathing. The chain slips from your fingers as you stand back up, and you head for the corridor. As you pass into the hall, you notice that there is a metal door pushed all the way back against the wall, you assume meant to lock you in. Thick metal bars, you run your hand over it as you walk by, your eyes flitting to the massive lock mechanism at its center. Unlocked, of course. Heading deeper into the corridor, you squint against the light as it grows brighter and brighter-- you realize as you get closer that it's a torch on the wall, blue flame flickering softly, and here, across from the light, the corridor splits. <div id="choice"><<link [[Keep going forward. ->prlg 3.a.0]]>><<set $saw_mummy to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Go left. ->prlg 3.b]]>><<set $saw_mummy to false>><</link>></div>

You keep going forward, glancing down the dark hallway as you walk past, your shadow shivering as you cross in front of the torch. The stone walls are damp, your nails trailing along as you walk, hard to see with the light behind you now. You slow as you come across another room like the one you came out of, though the door here is closed. You think there might be even more, more rooms and more corridors if you keep moving forward, but you pause, leaning forward to press against the metal bars-- and you startle as the door gives, swinging open with a painful squeak of hinges and nearly throwing you to the floor. You stumble inside, tensing as you stare over at the sarcophagus. It looks just like yours. Chains lay across the top, bolted to the floor, but upon closer inspection, something looks a little off to you. You creep around the room, tentatively reaching out to touch the heavy metal links, and your barely have to prod them for the façade to collapse, the chains sliding off the lid and dropping to the floor, and you spot the broken link in the middle, no real tension there to hold the chains in place. You stare down at the cracked stone. Curiosity gets the better of you, and you press your palms against the side of the lid, bracing yourself and then throwing your weight into it, though you try to be more delicate this time, grunting as you slowly slide the lid to the floor. You almost scream when you look down inside. It's not empty-- it is, in fact, very much occupied. A withered, leathery face stares back up at you, eyelids having long since shrunk and receded to expose dried, white crusts where their eyes should be. Their lips, too, receded up past their gums, exposing teeth that look way too large for their shrunken head. Teeth that look... peculiar. They're too long, too sharp, //not human.// You step back, your eyes wide as you stare down at the desiccated corpse. Is that what you looked like just twenty minutes ago? You stare down at your hands, flexing your fingers, watching the dry skin crack over your knuckles, your wrists looking unnaturally thin while your fingernails are too thick and way too long. "What the fuck..." you wheeze out your first real words, your tongue thick and your lips dry, even with all the blood no doubt smeared across your face. You peer back over at the open sarcophagus. You quickly move to reseal it then, staging the room back the way it was, as if no one had ever been here at all. Whoever let you out-- were they checking other rooms? Were they looking specifically for you? [[Next ->prlg 3.a.1]]

You hover under the blue light for a few seconds, finding comfort in it, but eventually you resolve to move forward, breaking from the corridor and heading left. Your hand trails along the wall, feeling your way forward, your own shadow blocking the light from the torch as you walk. Soon enough, you come upon a flight of stairs, steep and precarious, each step so worn down that they appear to sag in the middle, despite being made of stone. You're careful not to slip on the mold as you ascend, climbing on all fours, not trusting yourself to be coordinated enough for such a steep climb. When you finally reach the top, you're greeted by another metal door, sudden dismay nearly overwhelming you as you stare at the familiar massive lock mechanism at its center. "Fuck," you wheeze out your first word, which feels rather fitting to be your first. You approach the door, tentatively reaching out, intending to test the metal bars-- but the door gives away at the slightest touch, creaking open on old, rusty hinges. Did someone leave this unlocked for you? You slip out into a dark space, quickly closing the door behind you, but you take a moment to look over the lock mechanism more closely. It requires a key, and you don't see any way to lock it without it. Hopefully, closing it will be enough to buy you some time. You're not sure why you need more time. You're not sure about any of this, but it doesn't take a genius to recognize that you were locked down there by //someone//. You'd prefer if they didn't find out you were gone. [[Next ->prlg 4]]

You stagger back out into the corridor, retracing your steps back to the blue torch. You're not sure why, but a part of you feels convinced that this is the way out-- or maybe you're just comforted by the light. You stand under it for a few minutes, pacing back and forth along the corridor, touching your face and arms and shuddering at the feeling of your cold, dry skin. Eventually, you compose yourself enough to head to the left. You move quickly now, intent on nothing more than getting out of here, and you come upon a flight of stairs, steep and precarious, each step so worn down that they appear to sag in the middle, despite being made of stone. You're careful not to slip on the mold as you scramble up, crawling on all fours, not trusting yourself to be coordinated enough for such a steep climb. When you finally reach the top, you're greeted by another metal door, and you hold your breath as you reach out to test it-- and it gives away, unlocked, just like the other one. You slip out into a dark space, closing the door behind you, but you take a moment to look over the lock mechanism. It requires a key, and you don't see any way to lock it without it. Hopefully, closing it will be enough to buy you some time. You're not sure why you need more time. You're not sure about any of this, but it doesn't take a genius to recognize that you were locked down there by //someone//. You'd prefer if they didn't find out you were gone. [[Next ->prlg 4]]

You turn to face whatever room you've stepped into, and it's not particularly impressive; old and dirty, peeling paint and chunks of plaster broken on the floor. You slowly pick your way across the room, heading through the next door and quickly closing it behind you. Now this room is a marvel. The ceilings are high, the windows rising on either side made of intricate stained glass, and even the aged, shattered pieces gleam beautifully in the light filtering in from outside. Gold columns connect to massive wooden support beams criss-crossing high over your head, and the ceiling is painted, though you could only guess at what the image once depicted, all cracked and peeling and crumbling into dust. Old, moldy, wooden pews line the room, and you realize that you're in a church. You've walked out onto the dais, the room you came out of tucked away behind the altar. You take a few more seconds to look around, but there's nothing interesting here besides the architecture. No clues, no hints as to what this is and why you were locked up down there. You don't remember this. You wander through the pews and head for the front doors, massive and carved out of a dark, heavy wood. It takes a bit of effort to push your way out, but then you're out. You're on the sidewalk, the church nestled in-between some old, rotted buildings, and there's a huge, collapsing warehouse that grabs your attention a few paces down. This looks like a forgotten, abandoned district, nothing here but corpses. Corpses, like you. Hurrying down the street, you feel exposed, your clothes dirty and tattered and your skin bruised and sensitive to the sudden hot humidity after being enclosed in cold stone for so long. //So long.// How long was it? You glance around at the desolate buildings and empty streets and get a bad feeling. Streetlights flicker weakly, but the sky is clear, the moon guiding your way as you walk briskly through the district. You're a bit dazed as the city shifts around you, the buildings becoming more livable, as well as climbing higher and higher. The city rises before you, bright lights and a cacophony of sound that is absolutely foreign to you. Horns blaring, people shouting and laughing, strange, robotic voices calling out to you as you hurry through the streets. The cars don't look like anything you've ever seen, sleek and fast and terrifying as they whip past you on the sidewalk. Even the people look strange, wearing odd clothes and mingling out on the street. A lot of them are carrying a small device in their hands-- a glowing screen that illuminates their face in the dark. You lived long enough before this to understand the never-ending march of progress. The world can change drastically with just the slightest push-- for better or worse. But //this//.... How long were you in that sarcophagus? You feel sick, breathing hard as you shuffle down some kind of market street, more bright lights and loud people all on their little devices, and the overwhelming smell of //food//. You realize then that you're not sick-- you're hungry. [[Next ->prlg 5]]

You check your pockets, though you aren't sure what you were expecting. There's nothing there, no wallet, no money and no identification for you to look at. You think you should be more disturbed by the fact that you remember so little, that you don't even remember your name, but right now all you can think about is food. You get quite a few weird looks as you loiter around the market, and you do your best to ignore them. Luckily, no one approaches you, and they're quick to look away when you return their stares. You imagine you look just as weird to them as they look to you, so you try not to take it personally. You end up zeroing in on a stall selling large containers of noodles. Your mouth waters as you watch the cook ladle huge clumps of noodles into one of the containers for a group of women. They get about five containers, laughing and chattering as they walk off together, some of them starting to eat as they go while two of them keep their containers in a plastic bag. You're going to get one of those containers. [[Next ->prlg 6]]

You tail the women for a few blocks, trying to be inconspicuous, though they seem too drunk and too absorbed in their food to notice you. Except for one. You wonder if she's the designated driver. She keeps glancing back at you, looking uncertain, though you don't think she mentions you to the others. Not yet, anyways. You bow your head, staring down at your dirty hands, the smell of the noodles still wafting in the air and making you lick your lips. <div id="choice"><<link [[I'm just going to grab the bag and run. ->prlg 7a.1]]>><<set $askedfood to false>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Maybe they'll just give me one if I ask... ->prlg 7b.1]]>><<set $askedfood to true>><</link>></div>

They're drunk, and the one girl is holding the bag with just two hooked fingers, swinging it around as she gesticulates and laughs with the others. You can definitely just swipe it and run. You wait for the other girl-- the one that keeps glancing at you-- to start talking, her attention wavering for a few seconds, and then you lunge forward, running straight for the bag. One of the girls scream, another one smacks you with her purse-- //Ow, Jesus Christ//-- but you swipe the bag, the girl holding it toppling to the ground in surprise as the plastic snaps in her hand. They scream some more, and shout a volley of curses at you, another one hits you with a bag again-- what the hell do they have in those things-- and something gets thrown at you, a brick or rock that thuds against your shoulder and sends you staggering sideways into the street. A car blares its horn at you, and you recoil, barely avoiding a collision as its brakes squeal, but with the car stopped you take the chance to dart across the street, flying down the sidewalk and cutting through an alley, running blindly until you're at least a few blocks over. You start to slow, breathing hard, clutching the containers to your chest like the most precious cargo, and you duck down between two rather bleak looking apartment buildings. At least you won't look out of place here. You crouch down behind the dumpster-- classy-- and assess your catch. The boxes are a little crushed, sauce dripping from the dented lid and down the front of your shirt, but you know it will all taste the same. You pop the first container open and hesitate only for a moment before you grab handfuls of the noodles and shove them in your mouth. //Very// classy. [[Next ->prlg 7a.2]]

You don't particularly like being the source of these women's discomfort, and you don't want to freak them out even more. They seem nice enough... maybe if you just ask? You rub your palm against your forehead, unsure of how you look right now. Blood smeared on your face, your hands covered in grime, and you're wearing weird, outdated clothes that are barely holding together at the seams. Shit. You wring your hands, reluctant, but this time, when the one girl glances back at you, you try to catch her eye, putting on the best, most pathetic look you can muster. She blinks at you, glancing over at the others, and you try to indicate the food containers, nodding at the bag as she keeps glancing back and forth. "Can we help you?" she says loudly then, stopping and crossing her arms. The other girls give her confused looks, until they follow her glare and see you. //Shit.// You feel yourself deflate, taking a step back as they all stare, looks varying from pity to disgust to just plain cruel. "Ah... sorry," you stammer, your voice a dry rasp that makes a few of them wince, "I'm just-- really hungry." You eye the bag of noodles. The girl holding them reflexively moves to hide the bag behind her legs, and you drop your gaze, taking another step back. But-- "Here," one of them says, and she holds her container out for you, looking like she hardly even ate any of it. One of the others chastises her, hissing her name under her breath, but she ignores her. "Here, you can have it," she says gently. "Thank you..." you say slowly, reaching out and taking the container from her, careful not to touch her or get too close. But it doesn't matter. One of them startles-- maybe seeing your face in the streetlight, seeing the blood, or your long nails touching the container-- and she gasps, swinging her purse at you and slapping the noodles out of your hand. "Oh my god," another one mutters, and they all quickly back away from you, one of them immediately pulling out her little device. "W-wait," you stammer, but that just freaks them out more, and one of them grabs a random loose brick off the ground and hurls it at you. Her aim is excellent, and it cracks against your temple and sends you sprawling to the ground with all of the noodles. [[Next ->prlg 7b.2]]

You wolf the first container down, barely tasting any of it, just the sensation of slick noodles sliding down your throat and the taste of heat on your tongue. You toss the container into the dumpster behind you and go for the second one. Ripping the lid off, you bring it straight to your mouth, scooping with your one hand as your stomach continues to be upset with you. How are you still so fucking hungry? You taste meat and vegetables and the saltiness of soy sauce, coughing a bit on a particularly spicy bite. You have to pause a moment, hunched forward, noodles hanging out of your mouth as you cough and hack until your eyes water. And then you keep eating. Finishing the second container, you slump back against the alley wall, panting loudly. You wipe at the back of your mouth, sauce smeared all over your chin, and you groan as your stomach twitches painfully. You curl up, your arms wrapped around your stomach and your forehead pressed to your knees. Maybe you shouldn't have ate all that so fast. You can't tell if the nausea is from hunger or from the noodles, and you just curl yourself even tighter, closing your eyes and trying to breathe through your nose. It doesn't help. You spring to your feet just in time to vomit all over the alley, sagging against the dumpster as you expel all of the noodles you just inhaled. "Fuck you," you gasp at no one in particular. You heave again, and again, and again, and it takes a painful amount of time for your stomach contents to finally empty, leaving you crying and shaking as you slide down to your knees. All of that, and you're still hungry. [[Next ->prlg 7a.3]]

"Hey, you alright back there?" A sudden voice echoes down the alley, and you scramble back, trying to fold your body into an impossibly small shape to wedge yourself completely behind the dumpster. "Hello?" You peek out to see, at first, what you assume to be the silhouette of a man-- but the voice doesn't fit, and as they step closer, their features sharpen in the dim alley light. She's got an androgynous look, a long face with a pronounced jaw line, and short brown hair that's parted in the middle, a messy, bed-head kind of look that falls just below her cheekbones. She's got thick, muscular arms, a wrap of barbed wire tattooed around one of them, emphasized by the rolled short sleeves of her button down, and your mind kicks itself into a whirlwind. Women are allowed to dress like that now? Allowed to //be// like that? You recall the women at the market. Their pretty hair and short dresses. But... //butch//? You glance over at her again, and then realize she's wearing a uniform. Your elation vanishes just as suddenly as it had arrived. //Oh god, please, not a cop//. You can feel your lip curling, shrinking back behind the dumpster again, but she already saw you, and you can hear her solid footsteps approaching. You freeze for a desperate few seconds, clasping your hands together, but as her footsteps get closer you realize there's no chance at avoiding this confrontation. You reluctantly force yourself onto unsteady legs, rising to meet her face to face as she comes around the dumpster, watching with a bit of grim satisfaction as she has to step around puddles of your vomit. The two of you stare at each other for a moment, and you get a better look at her uniform, and while it is the navy blue color that you're familiar with, you're not sure //what// she is. At least you can see now that she's not armed. "You okay?" she asks warily, sizing you up just as much as you are her. <div id="choice"><<link '"Why wouldn\'t I be?"' 'prlg 7a.3.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m fine. Just got a little sick, is all."' 'prlg 7.a.3.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m just fucking peachy."' 'prlg 7.a.3.c'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing.' 'prlg 7.a.3.d'>><</link>></div>

"Why wouldn't I be?" you say, playing dumb. "Um..." she raises an eyebrow at you, glancing back at all the vomit in front of the dumpster. "Not mine," you shrug. "So you're just sitting back here with someone else's vomit?" she presses, and you can see the corners of her mouth turning up slightly, unable to hide her amusement. "Okay, well, what's it to you if I'm back here vomiting? You should mind your own business," you snap, jabbing a finger at her. She tilts her head at you then, her little smile vanishing and her brow furrowing with concern. She steps a little closer, giving you a soft look. You feel a long forgotten emotion ache deep in your chest. "It sounded really bad," she says quietly. "You sure you're okay?" But you don't get to answer that, because you have to turn away to vomit again. [[Next ->prlg 7.a.4]]

"I'm fine. Just got a little sick, is all," you say warily, and she studies your face for a moment, her brown eyes bright as she looks over at you. //Fuck.// Do you still have blood on your face? "Just a little?" she says then, glancing back at all the vomit on the ground. You feel your face flush, and you turn away from her, crossing your arms and shrinking back against the wall. "Sorry," she says quickly. "You should mind your own business," you snap at her, but it's half-hearted at best, and then you just sigh. "Look, I'm fine. Just had to get some fresh air." You glance at the dumpster. "Well... you know." "Right," she says slowly. You both shift awkwardly in the silence. "I didn't mean to embarrass you," she says after a moment. She gives you a soft look then, smiling a little. You feel a long forgotten emotion ache deep in your chest. "I just... It sounded really bad. You sure you're okay?" she asks. But you don't get a chance to answer that, because you have to turn away to vomit again. [[Next ->prlg 7.a.4]]

"I'm just fucking peachy," you say, giving her a look. You're not sure if the bravado comes naturally to you or not, with your personality one of the many things you aren't really sure you remember. And you have to admit, this woman looks like a strong motherfucker. She raises an eyebrow at you, tilting her head to the side. "Just peachy?" she repeats back to you. "That's what I said, isn't it?" you snap, crossing your arms. She crosses hers, too. They're way bigger than yours. She glances back at all the vomit in the alley then, before looking back at you. "You sure?" she asks, a little gentler. "Yes, I'm sure. Mind your own fucking business," you jab a finger at her, but she doesn't even flinch. She just sighs, uncrossing her arms and searching your face. Her brown eyes are bright as she examines you up and down, and you step back a bit, feeling self-conscious. She gives you your space, just smiling softly. You feel a long forgotten emotion ache deep in your chest. "I'm sorry," she says then. "Ah... you know, it's just instinctual, I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she says, gesturing to her uniform as she does. You don't get a chance to respond to that, because you have to turn away to vomit again. [[Next ->prlg 7.a.4]]

You regret standing up to face her like this-- you blanch back against the wall, turning away from her inscrutable brown eyes. She tilts her head at you, studying some of the old blood spilled across the front of your shirt. //Damn.// "It's alright," she says gently, as if she can sense your sudden anxiety. "You just got sick out here?" she prompts, glancing back at all the vomit in the alley. You stay quiet, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. She steps a little closer then, dropping her voice low. "Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?" she whispers. "No," you break your silence, because you feel bad making her think you're out here because someone beat you. You don't know why you're out here. You don't remember. You just woke up. She seems to relax a little then, giving you a warm, reassuring smile. You feel a long forgotten emotion ache deep in your chest. "Do you need some medicine? Anything I can do?" she asks then. You don't get to decide if you want to answer that or not, because you have to turn away to vomit again. [[Next ->prlg 7.a.4]]

You reach out blindly to press a hand against the wall, bracing yourself as you wretch dangerously close to the woman's boots. She sidesteps you, and puts a steady hand on your back, keeping you from collapsing as you-- some-fucking-how-- throw up more noodles. And then you start to throw up blood. Her hands tighten around you as your vomit turns a dark red, and your throat feels as if you've swallowed hot coals. If she wasn't holding you up, you'd be face down in the garbage right now. "You're okay," she's saying, rubbing soothing circles across your back, and you finally stop heaving, leaning into her as you gasp desperately to catch you breath. "Let me take you to the hospital," she says then. "Fuck no," you hiss, blood and spittle dripping down your chin. The last fucking thing you need is doctors prodding and poking at you. What would even happen if they tried to draw blood from a corpse like you? "Well, I can't leave you to vomit your brains out in this alley," she says, exasperated. "Why not?" you snap. You try to push her off of you then-- but not really. You need her arm around you right now. You need her warmth. She gives you a sad look, and then starts to pull you towards the mouth of the alley. "W-wait," you stammer, real fear breaking through your spitefulness, and you shake your head at her. "It's okay," she assures you, "let's just get out of the alley, let's go inside, yeah? I'm a medic, okay? Let's go inside." You swallow loudly, painfully, giving her a long look. "...Okay," you say. [[Next ->prlg 7.a.5]]

You realize you're panting, a horrible sound as she leads you around the side of the building, fumbling with her ring of keys hanging from her belt loop before she manages to open the entrance door. The place is old and more familiar than anything else you've seen tonight. It even has one of those creepy, caged elevators greeting you right inside the door. There's also a little counter and a window built into the wall next to it that reveals an office, but there's no one inside, the lights turned off and the window locked tight. The woman pulls you towards the elevator, using some kind of card to buzz it open and step inside. She grunts a bit as you both stagger back, leaning against the metal grate that lines the inside of the elevator as she steadies you. "My name is Clear, by the way," she says suddenly. She blinks over at you for a moment, before glancing around the elevator. "I figured it would be proper to tell you that before I invite you to spend the night." You let out a wet, raspy laugh, your eyes nearly watering from the pain in your throat. "My name is..." you trail off, your laughter dissipating. You don't remember. Clear looks at you expectantly, but you turn away. The elevator shudders then, and your legs buckle and your stomach turns from the motion as you start to rise. But Clear keeps you upright. [[Next ->prlg 7.a.6]]

You're not sure what floor you end up on, swaying on your feet and just focusing on not vomiting again. Clear guides you through the elevator's giant shutter door and out into a yellowing hallway, all the way to the very last door. She fumbles with her keys again, and then throws the door open dramatically for you. "Come on in," she says, and you do. Her apartment feels a little chaotic, a lot of stuff hanging on the walls-- random paintings, maybe bought second-hand, ranging from novice to expert craftmanship. There's also a lot of books all over the place-- if it's a flat surface, there's a stack of books on it. You notice some clothes thrown across the back of the couch right as you walk in, and some old cups gathered on the coffee table. It's a bit of a mess, and you are amazed by it. Clear ushers you in, giving you a sheepish look before directing you over to sit at a table in the corner. She quickly hands you a small trashcan that she pulls out from under the sink in the kitchen, and you hunch forward in your chair, holding it between your legs and bowing your head. "Do you want some water?" Clear asks. You shake your head. She starts to say something else, but you don't hear her, vomiting into the trashcan. You try your best to keep everything contained inside the garbage bag-- you'll feel fucking horrible if Clear has to clean up any of your vomit. You already feel horrible, if you're being honest. Why did you agree to come up here? "Do you always invite sick strangers into your apartment?" you manage after you finish heaving again. Clear pauses whatever she was doing in the kitchen to look over at you. "Not really. You just looked especially pathetic," she says after a moment. "Ha, ha," you mutter, your face still halfway in the trashcan. [[Next ->prlg 7.a.7]]

"Here," she says then, stepping in front of you and setting a bottle of some kind of toxic-looking blue juice on the table. //What the hell is that...// "I don't want that," you mumble. "Just drink it," she sighs. You give her an indignant look as she walks back into the kitchen. You think she's making herself a sandwich. She pauses for a moment, though, to wander into the front room, and then she starts unbuttoning her shirt. Your face flushes, and you duck down into your trashcan, and when she reappears in the kitchen she's stripped her uniform and is just wearing a white t-shirt. She catches your eye then, reaching for a knife from the wooden block on the countertop. You hear the metal whisper as she pulls it free, and you tense in your chair. But she just turns back to her sandwich, grabbing a tomato and cutting a few slices. You watch her, the flex of her arm, the way her short hair falls across her face, and the concentration stitching her brows as she carefully assembles her dinner. And then you vomit again. [[Next ->prlg 7.a.8]]

This time is worse than the last, all red and dark and thick. Clear comes over to hover behind you, and you know you're going to pass out before it happens, sliding out of the chair to drop onto the floor. "Clear," you call her name for some reason. Her name is all you have-- without your own, it feels so precious to you. Clear says something, a hand on your arm, but you collapse against the kitchen tile, and the last thing you see is her big brown eyes looking at you. [[Next Chapter ->chp1 splash]]

You wake up on someone's couch. You wake up hungry. You hear movement coming from somewhere behind you, and you slowly sit up, ignoring all the various aches and pains and the horrible throbbing in your skull, and instead just forcing your body to turn towards that sound. Clear is in the kitchen. You think she's cooking eggs, the smell vaguely familiar to you. But you're hungry //now//. You stand from the couch, swaying a bit, your body not quite readjusted yet, still recovering from its time in that stone sarcophagus. But eating will help. Clear is oblivious, leaning over the stovetop, and you step around the couch, watching the way her back muscles move beneath her tight white tank top. You lick your lips. She picks that moment to turn around, her eyes widening at the sight of you standing halfway in the kitchen, but then you're lunging at her, grabbing for her throat. She shouts something unintelligible as you slam her back against the counter, the hot pan of eggs clattering on the stovetop from the force of it. Clear immediately reaches for the pan to try and smack you with it, but you shove her sideways, her arm knocking a bunch of shit off the counter as she goes falling back into the table. Somehow, the old wood doesn't break, and Clear is able to roll away from you, making a break across the room for the hallway. [[But you're right behind her. ->ch1 1]]

It takes you a few seconds to recover, your vision blurring and your body going slack, but to your surprise one of the girls comes over and puts a hand on your shoulder, leaning over to look at your bleeding head. You realize the rest of them are all yelling and arguing with each other, their voices slowly clarifying as the ringing in your ears fades out. "Hey," the girl shakes your shoulder, her brow furrowed with concern. You notice a few other people gathering to stare, more devices being pulled out and pointed at you, and you know you need to get out of here. You push her hand away, forcing yourself up onto your feet before immediately losing balance and staggering into the street. The squeal of brakes and the blaring of a car horn makes you recoil, and you barely avoid a collision, though your head is still too foggy for you to really process that. You just make a run for it, stumbling across the street and down the opposite sidewalk, away from all the stares, clutching your head and just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Some of them call out after you, but you ignore it, your pride-- and your head-- already wounded enough. You struggle for a few blocks, lurching down the sidewalk, blood hot under your hand as you press your palm to your temple. You feel a strange mix of anger and guilt; angry at them for hurting you, but guilty for scaring them like that. Of course they would throw a brick at you. Fucking look at you. You shake your head, which turns out to be a bad thing to do after getting a brick smashed against your temple, and you have to stop. Your head spins so fast that you can't tell which way is up or down until you find yourself on the ground behind some shitty dumpster. You don't know where you are, but at least no one is staring at you anymore. [[Next ->prlg 7b.3]]

You manage to drag yourself a few feet so you can slump back against the alley wall, your head tilting forward with your chin resting on your chest. Your whole body aches, a steady throbbing at the base of your skull that echoes up into your temple, and you're //still// hungry. Why did she have to knock the noodles out of your hand, why couldn't she have just bricked you and let you have the damn noodles? You groan, feeling sorry for yourself, sliding down the wall and curling up into a ball on your side. You didn't expect to spend the night sleeping behind a dumpster, but you also didn't expect to wake up in a sarcophagus earlier, either, so you suppose it all balances out. Or something. "Hello?" A sudden voice echoes down the alley, and you push yourself onto your hands and knees, trying to fold your body into an impossibly small shape to wedge yourself further behind the dumpster. "You okay back there?" You peek out to see, at first, what you assume to be the silhouette of a man-- but the voice doesn't fit, and as they step closer, their features sharpen in the dim alley light. She's got an androgynous look, a long face with a pronounced jaw line, and short brown hair that's parted in the middle, a messy, bed-head kind of look that falls just below her cheekbones. She's got thick, muscular arms, a wrap of barbed wire tattooed around one of them, emphasized by the rolled short sleeves of her button down, and your mind kicks itself into a whirlwind. Women are allowed to dress like that now? Allowed to //be// like that? You recall the women at the market. Their pretty hair and short dresses. But... //butch//? You glance over at her again, and then realize she's wearing a uniform. Your elation vanishes just as suddenly as it had arrived. //Oh god, please, not a cop//. You can feel your lip curling, shrinking back behind the dumpster again, but she already saw you, and you can hear her solid footsteps approaching. [[Next ->prlg 7b.4]]

When she steps around the dumpster, you have your back pressed against the wall, and you glare up at her, tensing and ready to run if she tries to grab you. Not that you'll get very far. The edges of your vision are getting dark and fuzzy, and you know you're going to lose consciousness soon enough. But as the two of you stare at each other, you get a better look at her uniform, and while it is the navy blue color that you're familiar with, you're not sure //what// she is. At least you can see now that she's not armed. "You okay?" she asks warily, sizing you up just as much as you are her. <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m just fucking peachy."' 'prlg 7b.4.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m fine. I like it back here, behind the dumpster."' 'prlg 7b.4.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I think I\'m going to pass out, actually."' 'prlg 7b.4.c'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing.' 'prlg 7b.4.d'>><</link>></div>

"I'm just fucking peachy," you say, tilting your head back against the wall as you glare up at her. "Yeah?" she scoffs, shaking her head at you. "Yeah. So mind your own fucking business," you say, though the words start to slur together, sharp pain lancing from your skull all the way down to your legs as you shift against the concrete. She gives you an amused look, and you sigh. "I'm fine, alright? Just leave me alone," you mutter, turning away from her then. She purses her lips, crossing her arms as she looks down at you. "You sure? Is there someone I can call for you, at least?" she asks slowly. "No," you say flatly, staring down at your cracked leather boots. She crouches down in front of you then, tilting her head, her brown eyes bright as she gives you a quick examination. You shrink back against the wall a bit, feeling self-conscious, but she gives you a warm, reassuring smile. You feel a long forgotten emotion ache deep in your chest. "I told you to leave me alone," you mumble, and her smile turns sad. She braces her hands against her thighs and stands back up, taking a few steps back and glancing over her shoulder towards the street. "Look, ah... I don't really feel comfortable leaving you here like this," she starts, but she doesn't get to finish, your head suddenly too heavy for you to hold up anymore, and you teeter forward, sliding down the wall and collapsing against the side of the dumpster. "Woah, okay," she quickly jumps down to help you, pulling you off the dumpster and pressing a palm to your cheek, supporting your head as she carefully sets you back against the wall. Her face blurs in front of you, doubling, then tripling, and the only thing you're really aware of is how warm she is this close. "Come on," she says, grunting as she hauls you up onto your feet. [[Next ->prlg 7b.5]]

"I'm fine. I like it back here, behind the dumpster," you say, and she raises an eyebrow at you. "Really?" You nod slowly, grimacing as the motion makes your head spin for a moment. "And what about that?" she says, tapping her temple with her index finger, indicating your own. "That just for fun?" "Yeah. So fun," you say, and she chuckles. She crouches down in front of you then, and you shrink back against the wall, but she gives you your space, just smiling softly at you. You feel a long forgotten emotion ache deep in your chest. "Well, if this is fun for you, then I assume you're going to say no if I offer to take you to the hospital?" she says slowly. "You assume correctly," you say. "Right. Wouldn't want to ruin the fun," she smirks. Her brown eyes are bright as she gives you a quick examination then. You reach up and tentatively touch your temple, self-conscious about it now with her staring. Most of the blood seems to be dry and sticky, and you stare at your fingers as you roll a glob of it between your thumb and forefinger. "You sure you're alright?" she asks softly, and you drop your hand into your lap to blink over at her. "How about you come inside and just let me clean that up for you?" she says, eyeing the blood spattered down the front of your shirt. Unfortunately, you're unable to respond, your head suddenly too heavy for you to hold up anymore, and you teeter forward, sliding down the wall and collapsing against the side of the dumpster. "Woah, okay," she quickly jumps over to help you, pulling you off the dumpster and pressing a palm to your cheek, supporting your head as she carefully sets you back against the wall. Her face blurs in front of you, doubling, then tripling, and the only thing you're really aware of is how warm she is this close. "Come on," she says, grunting as she hauls you up onto your feet. [[Next ->prlg 7b.5]]

"I think I'm going to pass out, actually," you say slowly, your mind struggling not to jumble the words as your temple keeps throbbing painfully. "Okay. Er, not okay, then. Do you want me to take you somewhere? To the hospital?" she asks. "No," you blurt, because the last thing you need are doctors poking and prodding at you. What would they even find, trying to draw blood from a corpse like you? She crouches down in front of you then, her brown eyes blinking slowly as she gives you a quick examination. You feel self-conscious, shrinking back a bit against the wall, but she gives you a warm, reassuring smile. You feel a long forgotten emotion ache deep in your chest. "I can't let you pass out in this dirty-ass alley," she says after a moment, tilting her head at you. "Don't call the cops," you say quickly. You'd rather her just take you to the hospital. "I'm not going to call the cops," she says gently. "How about you come inside and just let me clean that up for you?" she gestures to her temple, indicating your own. Unfortunately, you're unable to respond, your head suddenly too heavy for you to hold up anymore, and you teeter forward, sliding down the wall and collapsing against the side of the dumpster. "Woah, okay," she quickly jumps down to help you, pulling you off the dumpster and pressing a palm to your cheek, supporting your head as she carefully sets you back against the wall. Her face blurs in front of you, doubling, then tripling, and the only thing you're really aware of is how warm she is this close. "Come on," she says, grunting as she hauls you up onto your feet. [[Next ->prlg 7b.5]]

You decide to stay quiet. You shrink back against the wall when she steps closer, and you turn away, wishing for the bricks behind you to swallow you up. "It's okay," she says gently. For some reason, the way she says it, the way she looks at you, it makes something in your chest //snap//-- and you start to cry. "It's okay," she says again, crouching down in front of you. She eyes the gash across your temple, her brown eyes blinking slowly as she considers your pathetic form slumped against the dirty concrete. "Do you want me to take you somewhere? The hospital?" she offers then. "No," you blurt through your tears. The last thing you need is doctors poking and prodding at you-- just the thought of it almost makes you cry more. What would they even find, trying to draw blood from a corpse like you? "Okay," she raises her hands in a reassuring gesture. "Is there... anyone I can call for you? Anything I can do?" You stay quiet again. She sighs, lowering her hands then, resting her elbows on her knees. "Can you tell me who did that to you?" she asks slowly. You give her a long look then, roughly wiping away your tears with the back of your hand. She slides a little closer, tilting her head at you, but you still can't find it in you to say anything. "Okay," she says then, pressing her palms to her thighs and bracing like she's about to stand, "Okay. How about you at least just let me clean that up for you?" she says, eyeing your temple and all the blood splattered down the front of your shirt. Unfortunately, you're unable to decide if you want to continue your silent treatment or not, your head suddenly too heavy for you to hold up anymore, and you teeter forward, sliding down the wall and collapsing against the side of the dumpster. "Woah, okay," she quickly jumps over to help you, pulling you off the dumpster and pressing a palm to your cheek, supporting your head as she carefully sets you back against the wall. Her face blurs in front of you, doubling, then tripling, and the only thing you're really aware of is how warm she is this close. "Come on," she says, grunting as she hauls you up onto your feet. [[Next ->prlg 7b.5]]

You realize you're panting, a horrible sound as she all but carries you around the side of the building, fumbling with her ring of keys hanging from her belt loop before she manages to open the entrance door. The place is old and more familiar than anything else you've seen tonight. It even has one of those creepy, caged elevators greeting you right inside the door. There's also a little counter and a window built into the wall next to it that reveals an office, but there's no one inside, the lights turned off and the window locked tight. The woman pulls you towards the elevator, using some kind of card to buzz it open and step inside. She grunts a bit as you both stagger back, leaning against the metal grate that lines the inside of the elevator as she tries to steady you. "My name is Clear, by the way," she says suddenly. She blinks over at you, unsure if you're conscious enough to hear her. "I figured it would be proper to tell you that before I invite you to spend the night." You let out a wet, raspy laugh. "My name is..." you trail off, your laughter dissipating. You don't remember. Clear's arm tightens around you, and you close your eyes, letting her think you just passed out again. The elevator shudders then, and your legs buckle from the motion as you start to rise. But Clear keeps you upright. [[Next ->prlg 7b.6]]

You're not sure what floor you end up on, swaying on your feet and trying your best to stay conscious. Clear carries you through the elevator's giant shutter door and out into a yellowing hallway, all the way to the very last door. She fumbles with her keys again, and then throws the door open and you both stumble inside. Her apartment feels a little chaotic, a lot of stuff hanging on the walls-- random paintings, maybe bought second-hand, ranging from novice to expert craftmanship. There's also a lot of books all over the place-- if it's a flat surface, there's a stack of books on it. You notice some clothes thrown across the back of the couch right as you walk in, and some old cups gathered on the coffee table. It's a bit of a mess, and you are amazed by it. Clear gives you a sheepish look as she leads you over and eases you down into a chair at a table in the corner. She leans down in front of you, looking at your temple, and then she turns and vanishes into the apartment. You lean back in the chair, closing your eyes, gritting your teeth against the pounding in your head. "Clear," you weakly call for her, because you know you're going to pass out any second. But she reappears, quickly rushing over to you, carrying a bag of medical supplies. [[Next ->prlg 7b.7]]

"Take it easy," she says softly, setting the bag on the table. She pulls up another chair, sitting right beside you, raising a cloth she must have been carrying to wipe the blood from your face. "Clear," you just say her name again, because it's all you have right now. Without your own name, hers feels so precious to you. "It's okay," she assures you. "I'm a medic, I'm going to patch you up." You feel yourself starting to slide out of the chair, and you try to fight it, you try to focus on her, but your body gives out, and she jumps to her feet to keep your from falling to the floor. Her hand grabs at your arm, and you know she's talking to you, but her voice just fades away, and the last thing you see is her big brown eyes looking at you. [[Next Chapter ->chp1 splash]]

You jump on her back and slam her face first into the door she was reaching for, a streak of blood smearing across the old white paint as she fumbles with the doorknob. You press her into it, one hand tangled around a fistful of her hair and the other pinning one of her wrists behind her back. Before you can bite her, though, she manages to get the door open and your combined weight slams it back against the wall as you both fall through, sprawling across the bedroom floor. Clear scrambles away from you, and when you grab at her ankle she kicks you in the head, hard enough that you see black for a few seconds, her foot slipping free of your grasp. You're not one to give up so easily, though, even as Clear tries to barricade herself in her bathroom. You shove yourself through the door before she can close it, scratching at her chest and tearing her tank top with your grotesque nails. She makes a strange sound, and then you're through the door and your teeth are in her neck. You both crash back into the tub, with Clear taking most of the fall while you land on top of her. Her blood is warm and sweet on your tongue, and you lick at her pulse, ignoring her pained cries as she thrashes in the tub beneath you. <<link [[You just feed. ->ch1 2]]>><<set $hunger +=7>><</link>>

You grab at her hair again, forcing her head back, exposing more of her throat just for you. She whimpers as you bite into her again, and you close your eyes, the hunger twisting in your gut finally rejoicing. You drink and drink and drink. Clear slams something into the side of your head then, and you startle and release her, giving her a baffled look as she raises her fist and slams it across your temple again. <<if $askedfood eq true>>You feel a strange split across your skin, from your temple to all the way back below your hairline, and Clear shoves you off of her then, shouting and running out of the bathroom while you struggle in the tub for a moment. The stitches Clear must have put in your head last night have broken, and you reach up to feel your own blood oozing through your hair. You stagger to your feet, your shoulder colliding hard with the doorframe as you try to follow after her, but she's waiting for you. She raises her arm, holding some kind of canister in her hand, and she sprays something directly into your face.<<else>>The blow dazes you just enough that she's able to buck you off of her and get out of the tub, shouting as she retreats from the bathroom and leaves you struggling back to your feet. When you rush out after her, she's waiting for you, raising some kind of canister and spraying something right in your face.<</if>> [[Next ->ch1 3]]

"What the fuck!" you cry, doubling over and holding your face in your hands. It fucking //burns//, and you can't breath, collapsing back into the bathroom and writhing on the cold tiled floor. "Fuck you!" Clear shouts, and she sprays more of it at you, even as she coughs and hacks and chokes on it herself. "What the fuck //is// that," you wheeze, scrambling back away from her, and she's barely visible through your burning, watery eyes, but you see the shape of her collapse in the other room, tucking her face into the crook of her arm. "Bear spray," she coughs. "What? Bear spray? Why the fuck do you have bear spray!" "Why the fuck did you //bite// me!" You groan, rolling onto your side, your eyes and nose weeping tears and snot as you struggle to breathe. Clear is having just as bad a time as you, vomiting on the floor in the other room as she slowly crawls away. //What the fuck is bear spray?// You grab at the bathroom sink, pulling yourself up and desperately feeling for the faucet. You manage to blindly turn the water on and then you stick your face under the tap, spluttering as you rinse your mouth out and let the water cool your burning face. You aren't sure how long you stay under the water like that, but eventually, your wheezing breaths quiet down, and you're able to actually open your eyes again. You rest your face against the edge of the sink, tears slowly streaming down your face, the taste-- and burn-- of the spray still lingering in the back of your throat, but you think you're through the worst of it. "Clear?" you rasp, turning the faucet off and sitting back against the open door. "Fuck you," you hear her call from somewhere in the apartment. <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry."' 'ch1 3.a'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Look, ah, something\'s wrong with me."' 'ch1 3.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I didn\'t mean to bite you."' 'ch1 3.c'>><<set $c_rel -=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Are you okay?"' 'ch1 3.d'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div>

"I'm sorry," you say weakly. You pull your knees up to your chest, wiping your face against your pants, dawning horror making you shrink into yourself as you realize what you've done. "I'm sorry," you say again. Clear doesn't respond. You blame all your tears on the bear spray, sniffling loudly, and you know you need to get out of here. Did she call the cops? "Fuck," you mutter under your breath, forcing yourself up on shaky legs. <<include "ch1 4">>

"Look, ah, Clear," you say, your voice stuttering, "there's something wrong with me." "Yeah, no shit!" she shouts at you. You grimace, wiping roughly at your face, sniffling loudly in the small bathroom. You notice some of her blood on the back of your hand. You can still smell it, too, underneath the bear spray. //I need to get out of here.// Did she call the cops? "Fuck," you mutter under your breath, forcing yourself up on shaky legs. <<include "ch1 4">>

"I didn't mean to bite you," you say. "No? You just did it //accidentally//?" Clear shouts back. You can hear the contempt in her voice. You sigh, pressing your face into your hands, wiping at the tears still leaking from your eyes. "I'm just really hungry," you say. Clear doesn't respond to that. You tilt your head back against the door, letting out a long, ragged breath. You need to get out of here. Did she call the cops? "Fuck," you mutter under your breath, forcing yourself up on shaky legs. <<include "ch1 4">>

"Are you okay?" you ask. She doesn't respond. "Clear? Are you okay?" Your breath quickens, and you stare down at her blood spilled across the bathroom floor. Fuck. Fuck, what did you do? You need to get out of here. "Fuck," you mutter under your breath, forcing yourself up on shaky legs. <<include "ch1 4">>

You stumble out into Clear's bedroom, coughing as you walk through the lingering remains of the bear spray, waving your hand in front of your face and covering your eyes. You hesitate at the door, looking around the room for a moment-- and you notice the fire escape. Glancing down the hall one last time, you turn and break for the window. But-- When you pull back the curtain and reach for the lock, pain erupts in your hands, the smell of smoke filling your mouth just seconds before your hands and arms burst into flames. You recoil away from the window, a horrible scream tearing itself out of the back of your throat, and you stagger back until you trip over Clear's bed, falling and breaking your horrible scream as you knock the wind out of your lungs. You try to roll around on the floor-- that's what they tell you to do, right?-- but the pain is unbearable. You feel your skin crack and peel and bleed even as you thrash around, the fire creeping up higher and higher until your face starts to singe. And then Clear bursts into the room with a fire extinguisher. [[Next ->ch1 5]]

It's a little ironic as she sprays you down again, though this time it's a relief, the fire puttering out under the gobs of white powder. Once you stop screaming and the flames finally recede, Clear drops the fire extinguisher and staggers back until she's leaning against the doorframe, her eyes wide as she stares down at you. "What the fuck..." she says, and you sit up on the floor, watching the blackened sheets of skin slide off your arms, revealing fresh, bloody skin underneath, glistening with a thick, viscous fluid. The ruined, discarded sheds of skin start to shrivel up right before your eyes, coiling tight atop the carpet until it dissolves into nothing but ash. "What the fuck are you?" Clear whispers. You look up at her, licking your lips. "I'm a vampire," you say, and then you laugh. There's no way to say it without sounding ridiculous. Clear doesn't laugh, though, just staring at you, her hands trembling at her sides. "Clear," you say then, and she takes a step back into the hall. "Wait," you say, "I'm-- I just woke up," you blurt. She hesitates, blinking slowly as she watches you from the hallway. "What do you mean?" "I mean what I said. Last night, I had just woken up. I can't remember my name, I can't remember anything. I just... wandered into that alley." She eases back into the room a little bit. Her eyes are red and swollen, tears streaking her face, a split lip from you smashing her face into the door, and you can see where you bit her on the side of her neck. Her white tank top is drenched with blood all on that one side, shining bright and red across her throat and collarbone, and you force yourself to look away just as the hunger starts to twitch in your stomach again. She slowly reaches down and snatches up the fire extinguisher, pointing it at you as she steps back into the room, watching warily as you crawl back a few feet and press against her bed. "A fucking vampire." <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry, Clear. I really am."' 'ch1 5.a'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><<set $clear_kickout to false>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Last night was a mistake. I shouldn\'t have let you bring me inside."' 'ch1 5.b'>><<set $clear_kickout to false>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"That fire extinguisher won\'t stop me."' 'ch1 5.c'>><<set $c_rel -=3>><<set $clear_kickout to true>><<set $c_cruel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"You shouldn\'t invite strangers into your apartment."' 'ch1 5.d'>><<set $clear_kickout to true>><<set $c_rel -=1>><</link>></div>

"I-I'm sorry, Clear. I really am," you say, staring down at the slimy new skin of your hands. You take a few deep breaths, avoiding her glare, curling up against her mattress as she creeps a little closer. She reluctantly lowers the fire extinguisher, her eyes dark as she glares down at you. "Okay," she says then. "Okay." You peer up at her, and she gives you a weak, uncertain smile. "Just, uh... don't bite me again," she says, and you nod. "I'm sorry," you repeat quietly. An awkward silence falls over you then, and Clear closes her eyes for a moment, a running a hand over her face before pushing it back through her hair. "Your arms," she says after a moment, opening her eyes and tilting her head at you. "Okay?" You nod again. "Yeah. They're okay." <<include "ch1 6">>

"Last night was a mistake. I shouldn't have let you bring me inside," you say quietly, leaning back against the bed with a sigh. Clear purses her lips, shifting back and forth, her one hand flexing around the fire extinguisher. "It's not like I gave you much of a choice," she says weakly, letting out a tight little laugh. You give her a sad look. "Um... It's okay, I guess. You were in bad shape last night. I wouldn't have let you stay out there," she says, lowering the fire extinguisher then. "Just, uh, don't bite me again," she adds quickly. You nod. "Plus, if you stayed out overnight..." she trails off, glancing over at the window, then back at your arms. You nod again. "Are they okay?" she asks. "Your arms?" "Yeah. They're okay." <<include "ch1 6">>

"That fire extinguisher won't stop me," you say, blinking up at her from the floor. "Fuck you," Clear spits, pointing the nozzle at you. "I should throw open that curtain and let you fucking burn." You grimace, turning away, staring down at your hands, at your shiny new skin. "You're leaving. Tonight. As soon as it gets dark, you're out." You just nod, glancing back up at her, watching the muscle in her jaw feather as she looks down at all the ash and blood and vomit staining her carpet. "Fuck you," she says again, just for good measure. Her nostrils flare as you blink up at her, and then she sighs, lowering the nozzle and shaking her head. "Damn," she mutters, running a hand through her hair and grimacing as she stretches her neck, tentatively touching the bite marks you left behind. She looks at you watching her, narrowing her eyes as she glances over your face and then down at your arms. <<include "ch1 6">>

"You shouldn't invite strangers into your apartment," you say. "Yeah, lesson fucking learned," she scoffs, jabbing the fire extinguisher in your direction. "You're leaving. Tonight." You lean back against the mattress, flexing your hand, watching the way your shiny new skin stretches over your knuckles. "Did you hear me?" she snaps. "Yeah. I heard you," you say. "I'll leave once it's dark." You glance back up at her, watching the muscle in her jaw feather as she looks down at all the ash and blood and foam and vomit staining her carpet. "I should kick you out now. Let you fucking burn," she says then, pointing the fire extinguisher at you again. You just blink up at her. Her nostrils flare, and then she sighs, lowering the nozzle and shaking her head. "Damn," she mutters, running a hand through her hair and grimacing as she stretches her neck, tentatively touching the bite marks you left behind. She looks at you watching her, narrowing her eyes as she glances over your face and then down at your arms. <<include "ch1 6">>

"I don't understand," she says then. "How did your arms just heal so fast, but <<if $askedfood eq false>>you were so sick in the alley last night?"<<else>>you were so messed up last night?"<</if>> You hesitate, licking your lips. "Because I just drank your blood," you say simply. Her face goes a little pale, and she lifts the fire extinguisher like a shield. Before she can decide if she's going to douse you a second time, though, a sudden alarm sounds from the hallway, making you both startle. "Oh, fuck. The eggs," she gasps, turning and bolting down the hallway. At least she already has the extinguisher in her hand. You stay sitting on the floor for a few minutes, tucking your head against your knees as the alarm blares through your skull. You listen to Clear clamor around in the front room, and then the sudden silence as she switches the alarm off, your ears still ringing painfully. <div id="choice"><<link [[I feel bad about Clear. I didn't mean to hurt her... ♡ ->ch1 6.a]]>><<set $clear_rom to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I need to get it together. I can't be losing control like this. ->ch1 6.b]]>><</link>></div>

<<if $c_rel gte 52>>You sigh, lifting your head to stare at the doorway, after Clear. You didn't mean to hurt her like that. You remember saying her name last night, how it felt in your mouth, the one thing you can hold on to and remember-- and now you know the taste of her, too. Now you'll remember that, too. You swallow loudly, your skin suddenly flushing hot. Clear chooses that moment to reappear in the doorway, still wielding her fire extinguisher. You find it hard to look at her. She walks over and sits on the edge of the bed, giving you an uncertain look. "Now what?" she says. "Can I use your shower?" you blurt. She blinks over at you, and then slowly nods. "I... guess. You'll just have to reassemble it," she says, gesturing to the open bathroom door and the tub inside. The curtain and the curtain rod all came crashing down when you threw yourself at her earlier, and Clear's bottles of soap and shampoo and such are scattered all over the place. "Okay. I can do that," you say. Clear stands then, walking over to a little closet in the corner and pulling out a fresh towel. She holds it out for you, and you take it as you stand. "Thanks," you say, and she just nods. "Feel free to use my soap and stuff," she says awkwardly then. "I don't want to be rude, but... yeah. Just use my soap." You cringe, your face flushing hot for an entirely different reason this time, and you quickly dart past her and duck into the bathroom, closing the door behind you.<<else>>You frown, lifting your head to stare at the doorway, after Clear. You didn't mean to hurt her like that-- not really. It's just in your nature. You remember saying her name last night, how it felt in your mouth, the one thing you can hold on to and remember-- and now you know the taste of her, too. Now you'll remember that, too. Your frown turns into a full-on scowl, your skin suddenly flushing hot. Clear chooses that moment to reappear in the doorway, still wielding her fire extinguisher. You find it hard to look at her. She walks over and sits on the edge of the bed, eyeing you warily. "Now what?" she says, pointing that nozzle right at your face. "Can I use your shower?" you blurt. Whatever she thought you were going to say, it definitely wasn't that, and she blinks stupidly at you for a moment, before nodding. "I... guess. You have to reassemble it yourself, though, since you trashed it," she huffs, gesturing to the open bathroom door and the tub inside. The curtain and the curtain rod all came crashing down when you threw yourself at her earlier, and Clear's bottles of soap and shampoo and such are scattered all over the place. "Okay. I can do that," you say. She purses her lips, narrowing her eyes at you before she stands from the bed and walks over to a small closet in the corner. She pulls out a towel and tosses it over at you. "Make sure you scrub behind your ears. I can smell you," she says then. You glare at her as she walks out of the room, standing with an indignant scoff and stomping over into the bathroom.<</if>> [[Next ->ch1 7]]

You lift your head then, glaring over into the bathroom, at all the bottles knocked to the floor and the curtain collapsed inside the tub along with the rod, knocked off the wall and tilted sideways. You eye Clear's trail of blood, splattered across the tiles and all over the carpet. //Jesus//. You can't lose control like that again. <<if $c_rel gte 52>>Clear reappears in the doorway then, still wielding her fire extinguisher. She walks over and sits on the edge of the bed, letting out a long breath and giving you an uncertain look. "Now what?" she says. "...Can I use your shower?" you ask. She blinks over at you, and then slowly nods. "I... guess. You'll just have to reassemble it," she says, and you nod. "Okay. I can do that," you say. Clear stands then, walking over to a little closet in the corner and pulling out a fresh towel. She holds it out for you, and you take it as you stand. "Thanks," you say, and she just nods. "Feel free to use my soap and stuff," she says awkwardly then. "I don't want to be rude, but... yeah. Just use my soap." You scowl at her before quickly darting past and ducking into the bathroom, closing the door behind you with an indignant huff.<<else>>Clear reappears in the doorway then, still wielding her fire extinguisher. She walks over and sits on the edge of the bed, eyeing you warily. "Now what?" she says, pointing that nozzle right at your face. "...Can I use your shower?" you ask. Whatever she thought you were going to say, it definitely wasn't that, and she blinks stupidly at you for a moment, before nodding. "I... guess. You have to reassemble it yourself, though, since you trashed it," she huffs. "Okay. I can do that," you say. She purses her lips, narrowing her eyes at you before she stands from the bed and walks over to a small closet in the corner. She pulls out a towel and tosses it over at you. "Make sure you scrub behind your ears. I can smell you," she says then. You glare at her as she walks out of the room, standing with an indignant scoff and stomping over into the bathroom.<</if>> [[Next ->ch1 7]]

You set the towel down atop the toilet seat, putting the curtain rod back up and fixing the curtain, picking up all of the knocked over bottles and placing them back wherever they'll fit. You wipe up Clear's blood with a hand towel, quickly throwing it away into the corner before the shameful thought of trying to suck it out of the cloth can sink in. Then you slowly pull off your dirty clothes-- mold and blood and bear spray and the white powder from the fire extinguisher all clinging to you. You make a disgusted noise as you drop it all into a nasty pile on the floor. You realize for the first time that you're wearing a necklace, a long silver chain with a tiny rose at the end, hanging upside down by its thorny stem. You hold the rose in your palm, tentatively touching the almost miniscule metal thorns with your thumb. You have no memory of it. You let it fall back against your chest, and then you force yourself to look in the mirror. But your reflection isn't quite there. It's blurred, as if someone tried to censor you, your face smeared beyond recognition. You lean closer, but nothing clarifies-- it just makes your head hurt to look at. "Fuck me," you mutter. You drop your gaze then, looking down at your body. Your arms look weird now, the skin from your elbows down all soft and smooth and unblemished. But the rest of your body is still a little dried, your skin itchy and peeling, and you frown at your reflection, though you can't even see her frown back. What do you even look like? [[Who are you?]]

You scrub yourself down until your skin hurts, the water at your feet swirling dark with grime and blood. Clumps of... something... come out of your hair as you wash it, and you just watch it all go down the drain, around and around before it vanishes into the pipes. You keep scrubbing yourself until the water starts to go cold. Then you shut off the shower, the sudden silence ringing in your ears. Climbing out of the tub, you dry yourself off and stand in front of the mirror for a moment, watching the condensation roll across the glass, the shadow of you moving just behind it. You feel a little better now, at least; more human, as ironic as that is. The hunger has fully settled now, too-- still lurking, but at least you've regained control. You sigh, turning away from the mirror then to look down at your clothes in the corner. You don't really want to put those back on. Maybe Clear has something you can wear... <div id="choice"><<link [[I'm bigger than her, but who knows, maybe she has something oversized. ->ch1 8.a]]>><<set $size to "bigger">><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I actually think we're about the same size. She's way more muscular, though... ->ch1 8.b]]>><<set $size to "equal">><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I'm smaller than her, I know at least her shirts will fit. ->ch1 8.c]]>><<set $size to "smaller">><</link>></div>

You're bigger than Clear, but maybe she has an oversize shirt you can wear or something... It won't hurt to at least ask. If you have to, you'll just put your old clothes back on. //Ugh.// You turn towards the door then. <<include "ch1 9">>

Maybe, once upon a time, you were that muscular, too. But being a dehydrated corpse in stone sarcophagus probably didn't help with maintaining that muscle mass. Yes. You'll blame it on that. You turn towards the door then. <<include "ch1 9">>

You're decently smaller than Clear-- certainly she can at least give you a clean shirt to wear. You eye your dirty clothes for another moment before turning towards the door. <<include "ch1 9">>

<div id="choice">[[Wait. I'm not just walking out there in a towel. I'll call her over. ->ch1 9.a]]</div> <div id="choice">[[I'll walk out there. I already bit her this morning, I think we're over that awkward hurtle. ->ch1 9.b]]</div>

You crack the door open, already feeling self-conscious. "Clear?" She doesn't answer right away, but you can hear her moving around. "Yeah?" she calls, just before she steps into the bedroom. She blinks over at the cracked door, and you pull it closed a little more, your face flushing. You think she's blushing, too, her eyes lingering a few seconds longer than they should. "Um. Do you have any clothes I could wear?" you say, staring down at the carpet. "Oh, shit... uh... yeah, give me a second," she rambles, turning on her heel and reaching for the sliding closet doors on the far wall. You watch her dig around, pulling out hangers of clothes and throwing them on the bed behind her. <<if $size eq "bigger">><<include "ch1 9.a.1 bigger">><<elseif $size eq "equal">><<include "ch1 9.a.2 equal">><<else>><<include "ch1 9.a.3 smaller">><</if>>

You wrap the towel tight around you and open the door, stepping out into her bedroom, running a hand over your wet hair and slipping into the hallway. "Clear?" you call her name as you step into the front room, and she's over in the kitchen, putting all the stuff back on the counter that you knocked off earlier. She glances over at you, and then does a double-take, her face flushing red. "Woah, are you okay?" she blurts. "Yeah, I'm fine, I just... do you have any clothes I can wear?" <<if $clear_rom>>She blinks owlishly at you for a moment, and you feel yourself get hot, shifting awkwardly under her stare. "Oh," she says then, and quickly looks away. "Uh, yeah, I should have something," she mutters, moving out of the kitchen and quickly brushing past you. You trail after her, crossing your arms over your chest and shuffling towards the bathroom while she heads for the sliding closet doors on the far wall. She glances back at you then, catching your eye, and she looks for just a moment longer than she should, her eyes bright, and then she turns back to the closet again. <<if $c_rel gte 52>>You feel that familiar ache in your chest-- just like when she looked at you last night. There's a little jump in your pulse, another wave of heat in your face, and you bow your head, hiding your little smile as you lean back against the bathroom door.<<else>>You feel that familiar ache in your chest-- like when she looked at you last night. You watch her across the room, watch as she throws clothes back on the bed behind her, the flex of her arms, the angry red marks on her neck where you bit her. "Clear," you mouth her name. Feeling it on your tongue. You tilt your head, leaning back against the bathroom door.<</if>> <<if $size eq "bigger">><<include "ch1 9.b.1 bigger">><<elseif $size eq "equal">><<include "ch1 9.b.2 equal">><<else>><<include "ch1 9.b.3 smaller">><</if>><<else>>She blinks owlishly at you for a moment, and you tilt your head at her expectantly. "Oh," she says then, and quickly looks away. "Uh, yeah, I should have something," she mutters, moving out of the kitchen and quickly brushing past you. You trail after her, crossing your arms over your chest and meandering over towards the bathroom while she heads for the sliding closet doors on the far wall. You lean against the doorframe, watching her dig around, amused by her awkwardness. You didn't really expect her to react like that. You can't help but smirk. When she finally finds what she's looking for, she turns back to you, and the look on your face just makes her blush more. "Oh, don't even start," she huffs, and you laugh as she holds the clothes out for you. "Just-- take these," she mutters, shoving them into your arms, and she all but runs for the door. But she stops and glances back at you one more time, her eyes dark, and then she closes the door. You stare after her for a moment, before looking down at the clothes in your hands. <<if $size eq "bigger">><<include "ch1 9.b.4 bigger">><<elseif $size eq "equal">><<include "ch1 9.b.5 equal">><<else>><<include "ch1 9.b.6 smaller">><</if>><</if>>

She finally seems to find what she's looking for, a big t-shirt and a pair of well-worn shorts. She brings them over to you, holding them up awkwardly. "Sorry, the shorts are kinda old, there's some... strings...." she tries to pull a few of the fraying seams off, giving you an uncertain look. "It's okay," you say, and she nods, handing you the shirt and shorts through the door. <<if $clear_rom eq true>>Again, her stare lingers, and so does her hand, brushing against yours as you take the clothes from her. She blinks at you, stepping back then and clearing her throat, and you quickly close the door. <<if $c_rel gte 52>>You stare down at the clothes, at your hand where she had just touched you, and you feel that familiar ache in your chest-- just like when she looked at you last night. Your pulse jumps slightly, and you flush hot, a little smile on your lips as you turn from the door to get dressed.<<else>>You stare down at the clothes, at your hand where she had just touched you, and you feel that familiar ache in your chest-- like when she looked at you last night. "Clear," you whisper her name under your breath. Feeling it on your tongue. You turn away from the door to get dressed.<</if>><<else>>You both step back at the same time, and the door closes between you. You stare down at the clothes, the shirt soft and faded, and the shorts thin and stretchy.<</if>> The clothes are simple-- the clothes are strange. The shirt is huge, you imagine it must be a dress on Clear, still falling nearly to your knees. The shorts are a little snug, but they fit and are mostly comfortable, so you'll count that as a win. <<include "ch1 9.c">>

She finally seems to find what she's looking for, a big t-shirt and a pair of little shorts. She brings them over to you, holding them up awkwardly. "I think these should fit..." she trails off, giving you an uncertain look. "Okay," you say, and then she hands you the shirt and shorts through the door. <<if $clear_rom>>Again, her stare lingers, and so does her hand, brushing against yours as you take the clothes from her. She blinks at you, stepping back then and clearing her throat, and you quickly close the door. <<if $c_rel gte 52>>You stare down at the clothes, at your hand where she had just touched you, and you feel that familiar ache in your chest-- just like when she looked at you last night. Your pulse jumps slightly, and you flush hot, a little smile on your lips as you turn from the door to get dressed.<<else>>You stare down at the clothes, at your hand where she had just touched you, and you feel that familiar ache in your chest-- like when she looked at you last night. "Clear," you whisper her name under your breath. Feeling it on your tongue. You turn away from the door to get dressed.<</if>><<else>>You both step back at the same time, and the door closes between you. You stare down at the clothes, the shirt soft and faded, and the shorts nice and stretchy.<</if>> The clothes are simple-- the clothes are strange. The shirt is huge, hanging almost down to your knees, and the shorts are a little big, too, though you can't even see them under the shirt. At least it's comfortable. <<include "ch1 9.c">>

She finally seems to find what she's looking for, a big t-shirt and a pair of little shorts. She brings them over to you, holding them up awkwardly. "I think these should fit..." she trails off, giving you an uncertain look. "Okay," you say, and then she hands you the shirt and shorts through the door. <<if $clear_rom>>Again, her stare lingers, and so does her hand, brushing against yours as you take the clothes from her. She blinks at you, stepping back then and clearing her throat, and you quickly close the door. <<if $c_rel eq 52>>You stare down at the clothes, at your hand where she had just touched you, and you feel that familiar ache in your chest-- just like when she looked at you last night. Your pulse jumps slightly, and you flush hot, a little smile on your lips as you turn from the door to get dressed.<<else>>You stare down at the clothes, at your hand where she had just touched you, and you feel that familiar ache in your chest-- like when she looked at you last night. "Clear," you whisper her name under your breath. Feeling it on your tongue. You turn away from the door to get dressed.<</if>><<else>>You both step back at the same time, and the door closes between you. You stare down at the clothes, the shirt soft and faded, and the shorts nice and stretchy.<</if>> The clothes are simple-- the clothes are strange. The shirt is huge, hanging all the way down to your knees, and the shorts are baggy, too, though you can't even see them under the shirt. At least it's comfortable. <<include "ch1 9.c">>

<<if $clear_rom>>You try not to think about the fact you're wearing Clear's clothes without any underwear. You roll the hem of the shirt between your fingers, glancing in the fogged mirror at your smudged reflection. You wish you could see yourself in her clothes. Does she wear this shirt to sleep in? Or is this shirt just for any strange girl she lets sleep over in her apartment? She must have a lot of girls come home with her. You swallow loudly, letting the shirt slip from your fingers, and you run a hand over your face with a scoff.<<else>>You feel a little weird wearing them without any underwear, but you are definitely not putting //those// back on. You peer down at your pile of old clothes then. You pick up the shirt you were wearing, fingering the tag for a moment. It doesn't really tell you anything-- you don't remember the brand, if you ever even cared about that kind of thing to begin with. Glancing back at the fogged mirror, you have a hard time imagining you were very //fashionable.// But you hoped it might give you some kind of time. An estimate. How long were you in that damn tomb? You sigh, letting the shirt drop back to the floor.<</if>> You finally step out of the bathroom, shaking out your wet hair one last time before wandering out into the front room. [[Next ->ch1 10]]

Clear is back in the kitchen again. You think she's cooking something. You're not sure if it's a second attempt at breakfast or if she's just making lunch now-- you're not even sure what time it is. You glance around the room, searching for a clock. Amongst Clear's weird paintings on the wall, you find a large clock shaped like a kitten. It's a little after one in the afternoon. Lunch it is, then. "Do you want something to eat?" Clear asks just as you take a seat on the couch. She hesitates then. "//Can// you eat?" <<if $askedfood eq false>>The phantom burn of vomit rises in the back of your throat, all those noodles you ate last night making your stomach clench just at the thought. "I... I don't think so," you say slowly. "When I got sick last night, I think it's because I ate a bunch of noodles." You shift on the couch, turning to look back at Clear. "I woke up really hungry. I just grabbed the first food I saw. But..." your eyes flick to her neck. "I wasn't hungry for that."<<else>>"I... I'm not sure, actually," you say slowly. "When I woke up last night, I was really hungry. I hung around this market, a few blocks over," you gesture vaguely, but Clear nods, apparently familiar with it, "and tried to get some food." You pause for a moment. "It didn't go well. You saw the aftermath," you sigh, touching your temple. Clear mouths an //Oh//, giving you a sad look. "But I don't know if I was really hungry for that. Or..." your eyes flick to her throat. "Or for something else."<</if>> Clear's lips press into a thin line. "Right..." An awkward silence falls over the room then. //Oh, god//, you think, looking at the clock again. This is going to be a long, painful afternoon. [[Next ->ch1 11]]

Clear finally seems to find what she's looking for then, holding up a large t-shirt and an old pair of shorts. She brings them over to you, holding them up awkwardly. "Sorry, the shorts are kinda old, there's some... strings...." she tries to pull a few of the fraying seams off, giving you an uncertain look. "It's okay," you say, and she nods, carefully handing the clothes over to you. She sways in front of you for a brief second, and then she steps back and gives you a big, bashful smile. "I'll, ah, let you get dressed," she says, and then she slips out of the room and closes the door behind her. You stare after her for a moment, and then look down at the clothes in your hands. They're simple clothes-- strange clothes. The shirt is soft and faded, and the shorts are thin and stretchy, but despite their strangeness, they're still better than what you had on before. The shirt is huge, you imagine it must be a dress on Clear, still falling nearly to your knees. The shorts are a little snug, but they fit and are mostly comfortable, so overall you'll count it as a win. <<include "ch1 9b rom">>

Clear finally seems to find what she's looking for, a big t-shirt and a pair of little shorts. She brings them over to you, holding them up awkwardly. "I think these should fit..." she trails off, giving you an uncertain look. "Okay," you say, and then she carefully hands the clothes over to you. She sways in front of you for a brief second, and then she steps back and gives you a big, bashful smile. "I'll, ah, let you get dressed," she says, and then she slips out of the room and closes the door behind her. You stare after her for a moment, and then look down at the clothes in your hands. They're simple clothes-- strange clothes. The shirt is soft and faded, and the shorts thin and stretchy, but despite their strangeness, they're still better than what you had on before. The shirt is huge, hanging all the way down to your knees, and the shorts are baggy, too, though you can't even see them under the shirt. At least it's comfortable. <<include "ch1 9b rom">>

Clear finally seems to find what she's looking for, a big t-shirt and a pair of little shorts. She brings them over to you, holding them up awkwardly. "I think these should fit..." she trails off, giving you an uncertain look. "Okay," you say, and then she carefully hands the clothes over to you. She sways in front of you for a brief second, and then she steps back and gives you a big, bashful smile. "I'll, ah, let you get dressed," she says, and then she slips out of the room and closes the door behind her. You stare after her for a moment, and then look down at the clothes in your hands. They're simple clothes-- strange clothes. The shirt is soft and faded, and the shorts thin and stretchy, but despite their strangeness, they're still better than what you had on before. The shirt is huge, hanging almost down to your knees, and the shorts are a little big, too, though you can't even see them under the shirt. At least it's comfortable. <<include "ch1 9b rom">>

They're simple clothes-- strange clothes. The shirt is soft and faded, and the shorts thin and stretchy, but despite their strangeness, they're still better than what you had on before. The shirt is huge, falling down to your knees, and you imagine it must fit like a dress on Clear. The shorts are pretty baggy, too, but you can't even see them underneath the shirt. At least it's comfortable. <<include "ch1 9b fashionista">>

They're simple clothes-- strange clothes. The shirt is soft and faded, and the shorts thin and stretchy, but despite their strangeness, they're still better than what you had on before. The shirt is huge, nearly falling all the way to your knees, and you imagine it must fit like a dress on Clear. The shorts are a little tight but still comfortable, so overall you'll take it as a win. <<include "ch1 9b fashionista">>

They're simple clothes-- strange clothes. The shirt is soft and faded, and the shorts thin and stretchy, but despite their strangeness, they're still better than what you had on before. The shirt is huge, falling down to your knees, and you imagine it must fit like a dress on Clear. The shorts are a little big, too, but you can't even see them under the shirt. At least it's comfortable. <<include "ch1 9b fashionista">>

You try not to think about the fact you're wearing Clear's clothes without any underwear. You roll the hem of the shirt between your fingers, watching the way the fabric shifts as your breasts rise and fall with your breathing. You glance over to the bathroom, but you don't bother with the mirror, your blurry reflection still making your head ache. You wish you could see yourself in her clothes. Does she wear this shirt to sleep in? Or is this shirt just for any strange girl she lets sleep over in her apartment? She must have a lot of girls come home with her. You swallow loudly, letting the shirt slip from your fingers, and you run a hand over your face with a scoff. You shake your head, and then you shake out your wet hair one more time, wandering down the hall and into the front room. [[Next ->ch1 10]]

You feel a little weird wearing Clear's clothes without any underwear, but you are definitely not putting //those// back on. You step back into the bathroom then and peer down at your pile of old clothes. You pick up the shirt you were wearing, fingering the tag for a moment. It doesn't really tell you anything-- you don't remember the brand, if you ever even cared about that kind of thing to begin with. Glancing back at the fogged mirror, you have a hard time imagining you were very //fashionable//. But you hoped it might give you some kind of time. An estimate. How long were you in that damn tomb? You sigh, letting the shirt drop back to the floor. You step out of the bathroom, shaking out your wet hair one last time before wandering out into the front room. [[Next ->ch1 10]]

Clear finishes whatever it is she's making then, walking over to the kitchen table. She has a big salad bowl in her hand, but it looks like it's pasta salad, not... salad salad. You eye the swell of her arm as she holds the bowl up under her chin. Of course she would be eating a giant bowl of pasta. You drop your gaze as she starts to eat, glancing around the room. She seems to have cleaned the place up a little since last night, probably after you passed out. You notice suddenly that there's a large screen in front of you, your strange reflection shifting across the black glass. It reminds you of the little devices you saw people carrying around last night. The same kind of screen-- but this one is shut off. You almost ask Clear about it, but something warns you that it would be weird. Instead, you just ignore it for now, and turn your attention to the pile of books still stacked high on her coffee table. You scan over a few of them, eyeing the cover art, though nothing really jumps out at you. "Lots of books," you say stupidly. Clear blinks over at you, swallowing a large mouthful of pasta. "Yeah... I like to read," she says slowly. She seems embarrassed, staring down into her bowl. "What's your favorite genre?" you ask, though the more covers you glance over the more obvious it is that Clear has a bias for horror. Maybe that explains her rather //accepting// attitude about a vampire sitting on her couch right now. Clear finishes another bite of food and then lowers the bowl to the table. "I like to read a lot of horror," she says, confirming your suspicion. She watches your reaction, and you can tell she's ready to go on the defensive if she has to. This must be a sore spot for her. You find it hard to imagine anyone teasing Clear as she is now, with those arms in your face, but people can be cruel regardless of appearances. "I don't really remember if I was ever much of a reader," you say then. You reach for one of the books, sliding it off the top of the stack on the coffee table. Clear watches you closely as you flip through the pages. [[The words are all gibberish to you. ->ch1 12]]

Your brow furrows. You stop randomly, opening the book and trying to read the page. Some of the words clarify if you look at them long enough, but the rest is all jumbled together. You slide your finger down the page, finding the page number. You can read the numbers. But the words... You snap the book closed. "It's not that bad, is it?" Clear jokes nervously, shifting in her chair. "Sorry," you blurt. "It's not the book." You glance over the stack on the coffee table again, darting along the spines, and the titles seem more obvious to you. But a few of them blur together, just like on the page, the words just colors on a background. "What's wrong?" Clear asks, bracing to stand from the table. "Nothing," you snap. She sinks back into the chair. "You read any romance?" you say then, shifting the conversation back onto Clear. She actually laughs at that. She still seems a little uneasy, giving you a wary look, but then she shakes her head with another chuckle. "No, not much of a romance girl," she says down into her bowl. "And it's not like they really write a lot of romance books for women like us," she adds. You blink across the room at her. "Women like us?" you repeat. She lifts her gaze, giving you a long look, her eyes dark and heavy. She smirks then, looking away, stabbing her fork into her pasta. "Yeah. Women like us," she shrugs. You tilt your head at her, and then lean back against the couch, looking down at Clear's shirt, running your hand over the print before you reach to fidget with the hem. [[Next ->ch1 13]]

Clear finishes eating while you just stare at the books in front of you. You end up picking another one at random, flipping through the pages, but it just makes you more upset. You can't read? Did you forget? Did you never know how to begin with? You set the book back down just as Clear stands from the table and walks to the kitchen to wash her bowl. You slump across the couch then, without Clear to see you, feeling sorry for yourself. "You can take a nap, if you want," Clear tentatively says from behind you. You press your face into the couch's cushioned arm, letting out a long sigh. That's probably a good idea. You'll have to be up all night, trying to find another place to stay. You curl up into the fetal position, glaring at the books one last time before closing your eyes. [[Time passes. ->ch1 14]]

It's already dark when you wake up. You groan, sitting up slowly as your muscles cry out in protest, still sore from the sarcophagus, and now sore from sleeping awkwardly on a couch twice in a row. The screen is actually on in front of you, and as you open your eyes you're assaulted with bright lights and flashing images, people moving across the screen and talking to each other-- but you can't hear them. You watch, enraptured, for a few minutes, until Clear shifts at the table, snapping you out of it as you turn to look at her. She's doing some kind of paperwork, hunched over and reading intently, with the fire extinguisher sitting on the table right beside her. She notices you're awake then, immediately jumping to her feet and snatching for the extinguisher. You raise your hands, wincing back against the couch, but when it's obvious you're not mad with hunger this time, she lowers the extinguisher with a sigh. "Sorry," she mutters. You just nod. You sit back up then, running a hand over your face. Clear watches you. <<if $clear_rom eq true>><<include "ch1 clear rom">><<else>><<include "ch1 clear plat">><</if>>

<<if $clear_kickout>><<include "ch1 clear plat kickout">><<else>>"I felt bad waking you up," she says then. "I figured it would be alright to let you sleep for a little while." "Thanks," you say, staring down at your feet. "Look--," she sighs then. "I kinda expected you to be gone by now." You grimace at that. "But I don't mind it if you need to stay another day or two," she adds. "I mean, I'm the one that brought you in yesterday. I feel... somewhat responsible." "As long as you don't bite me again," she raises the fire extinguisher at you for emphasis. You don't respond for a moment, still just staring down at your feet. You really don't want to take advantage of Clear's hospitality-- especially not after how you freaked out on her this morning. She didn't know what she was getting into when she brought you up here last night. Not even you knew that. But... you have no where else to go. "Hey," Clear prompts you, and you finally look over at her. <div id="choice"><<link '"Thank you, Clear. I don\'t really know what to say."' 'ch1 clear plat 1'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know if that\'s a good idea."' 'ch1 clear plat 2'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m not your responsibility, Clear."' 'ch1 clear plat 3'>><<set $c_rel -=1>><</link>></div><</if>>

<<if $clear_kickout eq true>><<include "ch1 clear rom kickout">><<else>>"I felt bad waking you up," she says then. "I figured it would be alright to let you sleep for a little while." "Thanks," you say, staring down at your feet. "Look--," she sighs then. "I kinda expected you to be gone by now." You grimace at that. "But I don't mind it if you need to stay another day or two," she adds quickly. "I mean, I'm the one that brought you in yesterday. I feel... somewhat responsible." "As long as you don't bite me again," she raises the fire extinguisher at you for emphasis. You don't respond for a moment, still just staring down at your feet. You really don't want to take advantage of Clear's hospitality-- especially not after how you freaked out on her this morning. She didn't know what she was getting into when she brought you up here last night. Not even you knew that. But... you have no where else to go. "Hey," Clear prompts you, and you finally look over at her. <div id="choice"><<link '"Thank you, Clear. I don\'t really know what to say."' 'ch1 clear rom 1'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know if that\'s a good idea."' 'ch1 clear rom 2'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m not your responsibility, Clear."' 'ch1 clear rom 3'>><</link>></div><</if>>

"I felt bad waking you up," she says then. "Kicking you out-- I mean, I figured I could let you sleep a little while before then." "Gee, thanks," you mumble. Her jaw clenches, and she shifts on her feet. Right. You should go. You stand, stretching for a moment, and then you give Clear a long look. <div id="choice"><<link '"Thanks for letting me stay here. And giving me clothes. And for everything else."' 'clear rom kickout 1'>><<set $clear +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Guess I\'ll see you around, Clear."' 'clear rom kickout 2'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link 'There\'s really not much to say. I should just go.' 'clear rom kickout 3'>><<set $c_rel -=1>><</link>></div>

"I felt bad waking you up," she says then. "Kicking you out-- I mean, I figured I could let you sleep a little while before then." "Thanks," you mumble. Her jaw clenches, and she shifts on her feet. Right. You should go. You stand, stretching for a moment, and then you give Clear a long look. <div id="choice"><<link '"Thanks for letting me stay here. And giving me clothes. And for everything else."' 'clear plat kickout 1'>><<set $clear +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Guess I\'ll see you around, Clear."' 'clear plat kickout 2'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link 'There\'s really not much to say. I should just go.' 'clear plat kickout 3'>><<set $c_rel -=1>><</link>></div>

You don't really have much to say. It's best to just rip this bandaid off quick and clean. You give Clear one last look before turning on your heel and heading for the door. "W-wait," she starts, and you glance back over your shoulder at her, "you're just going to leave without saying anything?" "What do you want me to say?" you ask sadly. "I--I mean, you could say thank you," Clear snaps, setting the fire extinguisher down on the table with a loud //thud//. You drop your gaze, staring down at your boots and doing your best to ignore the hollow ache in your chest. Clear just sighs. "Okay. I want to give you my phone number," Clear says then. "I know you don't have a phone, but-- at least this way you can still call me if you have to. On a payphone, or something. Like, <<if $askedfood eq false>>if you end up vomiting blood behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<<else>>if you end up with a busted skull behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<</if>> You watch as she rips herself a scrap of paper from one of the random pieces of paperwork she has scattered across the table, fumbling for her pen before scribbling her number down. "I don't feel right just sending you out there with nothing," she mutters. She walks over to you, holding out the slip of paper. You glance over her shoulder, at the flashing screen behind her, and you wonder what phones are even like now, in this time. You purse your lips, tilting your head, and then you take her number, her hand brushing against yours as you pull it back and tuck the paper into the little pocket inside your shorts. "Thank you," you say softly. Clear steps a little closer then, searching your face, her brow furrowed and her brown eyes dark. "Clear," you say, enjoying her name in your mouth one last time. "Wish I knew your name," she says. Your breath catches as she sways in front of you, her dark eyes darting all around as she studies your face. "I wish I could give it to you," you whisper. Clear leans in haltingly, watching your face all the while, but when you don't pull away-- [[She kisses you. ->clear rom kickout 5]]

"Thanks... for letting me stay here, Clear. And giving me clothes. And for everything else," you add, unable to stop yourself from looking at her neck. She doesn't respond right away, licking her lips. "You're welcome." You turn for the door then, but-- "Wait," Clear says. "Let me... give you my number," she mutters as she fumbles with the extinguisher. You give her a look. "Smooth," you tease, and she rolls her eyes at you. "You know I don't have a phone," you say then, crossing your arms as she rips herself a scrap of paper from one of the random pieces of paperwork she has scattered across the table. <<include "clear rom kickout 4">>

"Guess I'll see you around, Clear," you say, and she raises an eyebrow at you. "That right?" "Yeah. I'll be seeing you," you shrug, and she shakes her head. "As long as it's not behind another dumpster again," she smirks. You let out a dry laugh. "No. I hope our next meeting is... under better circumstances," you say, and you mean it. You give her a little nod then, and turn for the door, but-- "Wait," Clear blurts. "Let me... give you my number," she mutters as she fumbles with the extinguisher. "You know I don't have a phone, Clear," you sigh, crossing your arms as she rips a strip of paper off of some of the paperwork she has scattered everywhere. <<include "clear rom kickout 4">>

She glances back over at you. "I know. But, let me just write my number down for you, and then if-- if you absolutely have to. You have someone to call. <<if $askedfood eq false>>If you end up vomiting blood behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<<else>>If you end up with a busted skull behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<</if>> You lean back against the door, glancing over at the flashing screen as Clear scrambles around for a pen. You wonder what the phones are even like now, in this time. "I don't feel right just sending you out there with nothing," she mutters, snatching up the pen and scribbling her number down. She walks over to you, holding out the slip of paper. You tilt your head at her, pursing your lips, and then you take her number, her hand brushing against yours as you pull it back and tuck the paper into the little pocket inside your shorts. "Thanks," you say softly. She steps a little closer, glancing down at her feet before looking back at you. "Wish I knew your name," she says then. Your breath catches as she sways in front of you, her dark eyes darting all around as she studies your face. "I wish I could give it to you," you whisper. Clear leans in haltingly, watching your face all the while, but when you don't pull away-- [[She kisses you. ->clear rom kickout 5]]

It's a hungry kiss, the kind she must have been thinking about all day, and you reach up to tangle your hands in her short hair while hers grab at your hips and push you back against the door. You taste iron in her kiss, from the split lip you gave her, and you flick your tongue out to touch the edge of it, drawing a small sound out of the back of her throat. She pulls back then, her pupils blown wide as she looks at you. "Are you going to bite me again?" she asks, her breath ghosting over your face. You feel yourself smirk. "Do you want me to?" She blinks slowly, her hands tightening around your hips. "...Maybe," she says breathlessly, leaning back into kiss you some more. Your head thuds back against the door, your kisses turning open-mouthed and sloppy, with Clear's body pressing into you. You slide your hands down from her hair to her shoulders, and before you can really think you reach out to touch the bite marks on her neck, tracing the indentations of your teeth before pressing your thumb against her pulse. "Fuck," Clear groans into your kiss, her body tensing, her hands roughly reaching around to grope at your ass. You tilt your head, deepening the kiss between you, pulling her closer by the back of her neck. Her tongue is warm and slick against yours, and you feel her shiver when she scrapes it along the edge of your elongated canines, another soft sound slipping out of her mouth and into yours. Your other hand slides down from her shoulder, and you finally get to feel one of her arms after admiring them all day, her skin hot under your palm. You trail your fingers up and down as you stroke the thick swell of muscle, and you can feel Clear's smug smile as you do, breaking the kiss between you to look at your face for a moment before leaning in to trail kisses along the curve of your neck. You close your eyes, letting your head roll back against the door, your hand tightening around her arm as she nudges your legs apart with her knee. Your breath quickens and she licks the hollow of your throat, and then slides her thigh between your legs, rolling her hips against you and making you gasp. Clear lifts her head, and her lips find yours again. You suck on her bottom lip, the sweet taste of Clear's blood making your head spin, while she keeps flexing her thigh against you, her hands leaving bruises on your hips as she pushes you down into her. You're breathing hard, moaning softly, and you can feel her smile at your pleasure, one of her hands slipping down and toying with your waistband. "Clear," you moan-- But the sudden sound of glass shattering somewhere in the apartment has you both jumping out of your skin, and she quickly lets you go, her eyes wide as she spins around to look over into the kitchen. [[Next ->clear rom kickout interrupt]]

"What the hell was that," she grumbles, her voice still slow and thick from kissing you. You immediately have a bad feeling, the hair on the back of your neck standing on end, and you turn to the hallway just as a shadow appears along the wall. Instinctively, you grab at Clear's arm, startling her again as she whips her head around to see what you're looking at. The shadow steps out into the room, her features coming into focus in the light. Tall, lithe, pale skin and long, straight black hair, she wears all black, even her lipstick-- even her eyes are black, mesmerizing you as she steps closer. But Clear shrugs off your hand and steps between you, shouting a string of curses at the intruder and bracing for a fight. The woman easily slaps her aside, sending Clear flying across the room, slamming into the couch and flipping over the back as she goes sprawling across the floor. "Clear!" The woman turns to you, but you're already lunging at her. [[Next ->ch1 fight v1]]

You slam into her, your own strength surprising you as she grunts and you both go falling back into the hallway. She crashes into the wall, all of Clear's paintings shuddering on impact, a few of them clattering to the floor. You're back on your feet, but she's just as quick, already bracing for your second strike, and when you barrel into her this time she grabs ahold of your shoulders and throws you sideways, your own momentum sending you into the wall hard enough to break through the drywall. She reaches for your throat, but you twist away, her nails just scratching at your shoulder instead. She follows it up with a swipe across your back, Clear's shirt tearing and your skin splitting as the strike sends you down to your knees. You need to get out of the hall. You need to get some space. You scramble forward, staggering onto your feet and making a break for Clear's bedroom, but the woman is right behind you, leaping through the doorway and slamming her knees into your back, the scratches she left behind making you cry out in pain. You go down hard, the impact of the floor and her weight on top of you forcing the air from your lungs, and your head smacks against the carpet hard enough that you see stars. You see something else, too. The bear spray, just under the edge of the bed where Clear must have dropped it earlier. But you're not sure you can reach it. There's also broken glass scattered all over the carpet, Clear's bedroom window broken open and the curtain torn off, and you know you can reach a small piece of that. <<include "ch1 fight v1 choices">>

"I don't know if that's a good idea," you say slowly. Clear frowns, but you shake your head before she can protest. "After this morning... I don't know--" you cut yourself off, pressing your elbows to your knees and hiding your face in your hands. "I don't know how to deal with this," you say, and you're not sure if you mean the hunger, or Clear herself. Maybe both. "I just don't think it's a good idea, Clear." You glance over at her then, at the fire extinguisher that you know won't stop you if you get hungry again. Clear sighs, setting the fire extinguisher down on the table and walking over to you. You tense as she sits on the couch, and she gives you a sad look. "I'm not going to force you to stay," Clear says, "but I just wanted to give you the option. Even if you leave, you know, you can always come back if you need to." You look over at her, and she smiles softly. "You don't have to deal with it all alone," she says, and she sways a little closer then, your heart skipping a beat. "Clear," you warn her. She immediately backs off, looking flustered, putting some space between you on the couch. "Sorry," she says, running an anxious hand through her hair. "Clear," you say her name again, and she gives you a bashful look. "Let me just say it plainly: It's a bad idea." She blinks, and then nods. "Okay." You slide a little closer to her then, your heart still racing, your breath quick as she looks at you with those brown eyes. "It's a bad idea," you repeat as she leans in. [[And then she kisses you. ->ch1 clear rom 4]]

"I'm not your responsibility, Clear," you say, giving her a look as she frowns over at you. She bows her head, and then nods. "Right. No, I didn't mean it like that. I know-- you're not," she says, fidgeting with the extinguisher before setting it back on the table. She sighs, wandering over to sit on the couch beside you. "I just don't feel right sending you out with... with nothing," she says quietly. "You took care of me last night, you let me use your shower, you gave me clothes," you list it all out on your fingers, shaking your head. "That's not nothing." Clear clicks her tongue at you. "You //know// what I //mean//. You don't even have a phone, for fuck's sake," she says, running an anxious hand through her hair. You purse your lips, turning away from her. "I'm sorry," she says then. "I'm not trying to force you to stay, or guilt you, or anything," she rambles, running her hand through her hair again. "I just... don't want you to end up alone behind a dumpster again," she laughs weakly. "I won't," you say, turning back around to look at her. "Promise?" Clear says, and she slides a little closer on the couch, your heart skipping a beat as she blinks slowly at you. "Promise me." "I promise," you say, a little whisper between you and her. You can hear her swallow, and you sigh her name as she leans in. [[And then she kisses you. ->ch1 clear rom 4]]

It's a hungry kiss, the kind she must have been thinking about all day, and you reach up to tangle your hands in her short hair while one of hers cups your face. You taste iron in her kiss, from the split lip you gave her, and you flick your tongue out to touch the edge of it, drawing a small sound out of the back of her throat. She pulls back then, her pupils blown wide as she looks at you. "Are you going to bite me again?" she asks, her breath ghosting over your face. "Only if you ask me to," you say, and she nods, leaning back in to kiss you some more. You pull her on top of you as you lean back into the couch, and she eagerly follows, her arms caging you in on either side as your kiss deepens. Her tongue is warm and slick against yours, and you feel her shiver when she scrapes it along your elongated canines, her body tensing and another soft sound slipping out of her mouth and into yours. You finally get to feel her arms after admiring them all day, her skin hot under your touch, trailing your fingers up and down as you stroke the thick swell of muscle, letting your hands linger here for a while before you slide them up to touch her back. Your nails pull at her shirt, and then you slip your hand underneath to feel her, just as she rolls her hips down against you, her thigh sliding between your legs. "Fuck," you breathe, startled at your own body's response, desire pooling in your gut as Clear turns to trail kisses along your jaw. "I wish I knew your name," Clear says then, breathing the words into the hollow of your throat. You sigh, letting your head roll back as she licks at the curve of your neck, your nails dragging down her back, leaving angry red lines in their wake. Her lips find yours again, and you suck on her bottom lip, the sweet taste of Clear's blood making your head spin. She keeps flexing her thigh against you, making you gasp softly, and you can feel her smile at your pleasure, one of her arms moving back so she can grab at your hip and press you down against her even harder. "Clear," you moan-- But the sudden sound of glass shattering somewhere in the apartment has you both jumping out of your skin, and she quickly climbs off of you, her eyes wide as she turns to look into the kitchen. [[Next ->ch1 clear rom interrupt]]

"What the hell was that," she grumbles, her voice still slow and thick from kissing you. You immediately have a bad feeling, the hair on the back of your neck standing on end, and you turn to the hallway just as a shadow appears along the wall. Instinctively, you spring to your feet, startling Clear again as she whips back around to see what you're looking at. The shadow steps out into the room, her features coming into focus in the light. Tall, lithe, pale skin and long, straight black hair, she wears all black, even her lipstick-- even her eyes are black, mesmerizing you as she steps closer. But Clear rises, stepping in front of you, shouting a string of curses at the intruder and bracing for a fight. The woman easily slaps her aside, sending Clear flying into the corner of the room, crashing into the table and down onto the floor. "Clear!" The woman turns to you, but you're already lunging at her. [[Next ->ch1 fight v1]]

"Guess I'll see you around, Clear," you say, and she raises an eyebrow at you. "Is that right?" "Yeah. I'll be seeing you," you shrug, and she shakes her head. "No offense, but I don't want to find you bleeding out behind a dumpster again any time soon," she says dryly. "Saying //no offense// doesn't make it any less offensive, you know," you scoff. "Well. Maybe some offense." You click your tongue at her, and she just smirks. Then there's an awkward beat, and you give her one last look before turning towards the door. "Wait," Clear says, and you glance back at her. "Let me... give you my number," she says slowly, setting down her fire extinguisher and grabbing some paper off the table. "You know I don't have a phone, Clear," you sigh, crossing your arms as she digs around for her pen. She glances back over at you. "I know. But, let me just write my number down for you, and then if-- if you absolutely have to. You have someone to call. <<if $askedfood eq false>>If you really do end up vomiting blood behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<<else>>If you really do end up with a busted skull behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<</if>> She finds her pen, scribbling her number down. "I don't feel right just sending you out there with nothing," she mutters, She walks over to you, holding out the slip of paper. You hesitate, glancing over at the screen behind her, and you wonder what phones are like now, in this time. "...Thanks," you say after a moment, taking the paper and slipping it into your little pocket tucked inside your shorts. "Yeah. And I mean, you know where I live, so..." she grimaces. Another awkward beat, and then you turn back for the door again. "Look, just-- if you can't find a place before sunrise, my door is open for you," Clear manages just as you start to turn the doorknob. You glance back at her, giving her a nod. "Thanks, Clear." [[Next ->ch1 fight v2]]

You don't really have much to say. It's best to just rip this bandaid off quick and clean. You give Clear one last look before turning on your heel and heading for the door. "Wait," she starts, and you glance back over your shoulder at her, "you're just going to leave without saying anything?" "Do you //want// me to say something?" you ask. "I--I mean, you could say thank you," Clear snaps, setting the fire extinguisher down on the table with a loud //thud//. You grimace, glancing sideways, and Clear just sighs. "Look. I want to give you my phone number," Clear says then. "I know you don't have a phone, but-- at least this way you can still call me if you have to. On a payphone, or something. Like, <<if $askedfood eq false>>if you end up vomiting blood behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<<else>>if you end up with a busted skull behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<</if>> You watch as she rips herself a scrap of paper from one of the random pieces of paperwork she has scattered across the table, fumbling for her pen before scribbling her number down. "I don't feel right just sending you out there with nothing," she mutters. She walks over to you, holding out the slip of paper. You tilt your head at her, pursing your lips, and then you take her number, tucking the paper into the little pocket inside your shorts. You glance over at the screen for a moment, and you wonder what phones are like now, in this time. "...Thank you," you say then, folding up the scrap of paper and slipping it into your little pocket tucked inside your shorts. "You're welcome," Clear says softly. "And I mean, you know where I live, so..." she grimaces. Another awkward beat, and then you turn back for the door again. "Look, just-- if you can't find a place before sunrise, my door is open for you," Clear manages just as you start to turn the doorknob. You glance back at her, giving her a nod. "Thanks, Clear." [[Next ->ch1 fight v2]]

"Thanks for letting me stay here. And for giving me clothes. And for everything else," you add, unable to stop yourself from looking at her neck. "Yeah. You're welcome," she says dryly, but her eyes are far more sincere. You turn for the door then, but-- "Wait," Clear says. "Let me... give you my number," she mutters as she fumbles over to you. "I don't have a phone, Clear," you say quietly. You glance over at the screen for a moment, and you wonder what phones are even like now, in this time. Clear purses her lips. "I know. But, let me just write my number down for you, and then if-- if you absolutely have to. You have someone to call. <<if $askedfood eq false>>If you end up vomiting behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<<else>>If you end up with a busted skull behind a dumpster again. You can call me."<</if>> She doubles back to the table then, setting down the extinguisher and ripping a strip of paper off of some of the paperwork she has scattered everywhere. "I don't feel right just sending you out there with nothing," she says as she scribbles her number down. "You're a good person, Clear," you say then. She looks up at you, her eyes dark, and she just sighs. "I try to be," she says softly as she hands you the slip of paper. "Thank you," you say, folding it up and slipping it into your little pocket tucked inside your shorts. "Yeah. And I mean, you know where I live, so..." she grimaces. An awkward beat, and then you turn back for the door again. "Look, just-- if you can't find a place before sunrise, my door is open for you," Clear manages just as you start to turn the doorknob. You glance back at her, giving her a nod. "Thanks, Clear." [[Next ->ch1 fight v2]]

Stepping out into the hall, you quietly close the door behind you, letting out a long sigh. You hold the knob for a few more seconds, just standing there with your other hand pressed against the wood, and then you let go and step back, nervously glancing around the yellowing hallway before heading for the elevator. You don't make it far from Clear's door though, before you hear a strange noise. You pause in the hallway, tilting your head, and then you hear the muffled sound of Clear's voice-- is she yelling? You hurry back to her door. You stop short though, straining to listen, your hand hovering over the doorknob. Something heavy slams against the door then, and you jump back, startled, the door shaking from the impact, and then your rush forward and throw it open. Clear is on the floor in front of you, and there's a woman in the middle of the room-- tall, lithe, pale skin and long black hair. She wears all black, even her lipstick, even her eyes, mesmerizing you as she steps closer. She smiles wide at you, familiar long canines flashing in the dark. You're too stunned to do anything for a few seconds, and then you lunge for Clear, grabbing her under her arms and trying to haul her out through the door. But the black-haired woman darts across the room, slapping her hand against the door and slamming it closed, leering down over your shoulder. You drop Clear, but you're not fast enough to spin around before she slashes her nails across your back, Clear's shirt tearing and your skin splitting as she hooks her fingers in your flesh and throws you to the floor, your blood splattering across the carpet. You and Clear both groan, and you can just watch as the woman reaches down and grabs Clear by the throat, hauling her up and holding her in the air as if she weighs nothing. Clear's eyes are wide, looking for you, and she kicks and thrashes and claws at the woman's wrist, but she just holds her aloft, turning to smile down at you. "Get up," she says then, her voice deeper than you expected. When you don't move, she glances at Clear, whose face is turning red and purple, and she flexes her hand around her throat. "Get. Up." <div id="choice">[[Do what she says. ->ch1 fight v2.1]]</div> <div id="choice">[[Try and fight. ->ch1 fight v2.2]]</div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Put her down, first."' 'ch1 fight v2.3'>><</link>></div>

"O-okay," you stammer, holding your hands up as you slowly get to your feet. Her dark eyes track you movements, flicking from your face all the way down to your shoes. The only sound in the room is Clear's choking. "Please," you say softly. She tilts her head at you, then glances back over at Clear. Her body is starting to go limp. The woman gives her one final shake before tossing her across the room, throwing her towards the table in the corner. Clear crashes down to the floor, the table and chairs all scattering around her as she hits them on her way down before slamming into the linoleum-- and she doesn't move, just the rapid rise and fall of her chest as her body struggles to catch its breath. Before you can decide if you want to try and rush over to her, the black-haired woman is on you, her hand seeking out your throat instead. You try to backpedal, but she just shoves you back into the wall, your head snapping back hard enough to break through the drywall. When she lunges, you scramble sideways, her claws catching you across the shoulder and making you gasp. You think about running out into the hall, but you don't want to leave Clear, so you break for her bedroom instead. You run across the front room, attempting to clamber over the couch, but the woman jumps after you, her nails tearing through Clear's shirt and ripping down your back, the force of it sending you tumbling over the couch and onto the floor. "Fuck," you whine, a rush of hot blood soaking your clothes and splattering across the floor as you force yourself back onto your feet. You break headlong down the hallway, colliding with the doorframe as you stagger into Clear's room. But the black-haired woman is right behind you, leaping through the doorway and slamming her knees into your back, the scratches she left behind making you cry out in pain. You go down hard, the impact of the floor and her weight on top of you forcing the air from your lungs, and your head smacks against the carpet hard enough that you see stars. You see something else, too. The bear spray, just under the edge of the bed where Clear must have dropped it earlier. But you're not sure you can reach it. There's also broken glass scattered all over the carpet, Clear's bedroom window broken open and the curtain torn off-- and you //know// you can reach a small piece of that. <<include "ch1 fight v1 choices">>

You glare up at her, licking your lips as you slowly shift your weight back onto your heels. She smirks at you, delighted by your defiance, and when you launch yourself at her she releases Clear so you can go down to the floor together. You slam your shoulder into her gut, tackling her back into the screen, which splinters on impact with a loud //pop//. You both fall sideways, with you falling back on top of the coffee table while she slides down the wall and collapses at the mouth of the hallway. She's still grinning at you, easily getting back to her feet while you wheeze atop the coffee table, rolling sideways to land on your hands and knees on the floor. What the fuck is that coffee table made out of? You try to scramble away before she can get too close, clambering over the couch, but she lunges after you, slashing her claws down your back and sending you toppling over the back of the couch. Hot blood immediately soaks through your clothes and stains the floor beneath you as you push yourself back onto your feet. She stares at you from the other side of the couch, tilting her head as you stagger back against the wall. She looks annoyed while you try to catch your breath, raising an eyebrow at you as you clutch at your back, and she mirrors your movements for a few seconds, as if trying to feint you-- before jumping over the couch and slamming you back against the wall. Your head snaps back hard enough that you break through the drywall and see stars, and she grabs at your face and forces you to look at her. She leans in close, her breath hot on your face, and for a split second you think she's going to kiss you-- you think she //wants// to kiss you. But-- Clear suddenly appears on the other side of the couch, her neck black and purple, but she raises a familiar canister and points it at both you and the black-haired woman. You instinctively close your eyes, which makes the woman turn around just in time to get a face full of bear spray. [[Next ->ch1 fight v2.2 1]]

"Thank you, Clear. I don't really know what to say," you mutter, wringing your hands as she looks over at you. She sighs, setting the fire extinguisher down and coming over to sit on the couch beside you. "Doesn't feel right to just... make you leave. And I don't mind the company," she adds, giving you a little smile. You search her face for a moment, her little smile and soft brown eyes. "You're too nice," you say then. "Is that such a bad thing?" she scoffs, leaning back into the cushions. "It is when you invite a vampire into your apartment," you say, and she chuckles. "Well..." her laughter fades then. "I'm glad I did, anyways," she says. "Even if you bit me," she adds with a little bit of snark. You sigh, shifting on the couch. "Yeah." "Thanks, Clear," you say again. She reaches for a little remote then, pushing a button-- and the screen suddenly bursts with sound, making you jump. "Sorry," Clear says quickly. "I had it muted while you were sleeping." "Right, right," you say, avoiding the look she gives you, and after an awkward moment the two of you lapse into a comfortable silence. [[Next ->ch1 clear plat 1.a]]

"I don't know if that's a good idea," you say slowly. Clear frowns, but you shake your head before she can protest. "After this morning... I don't know--" you cut yourself off, pressing your elbows to your knees and hiding your face in your hands. "I don't know how to deal with this," you say, the hunger twitching in your stomach, as if it's sentient. Maybe it is. Maybe it knows you're talking about it. "I just don't think it's a good idea, Clear." You glance over at her then, at the fire extinguisher that you know will not stop you. Clear sighs, setting the extinguisher down on the table and walking over to you. You tense as she sits on the couch, and she gives you a sad look. "I'm not going to force you to stay," Clear says, "but I just wanted to give you the option. Even if you leave, you know, you can always come back if you need to." You look over at her, and she smiles softly. "You don't have to deal with it all alone," she says gently. You take a deep breath, exhaling slowly. The hunger settles. "Okay, Clear," you say. "But maybe you should keep the bear spray on you, instead of the extinguisher." She laughs, throwing her head back a bit, and then nods. "I'll keep an eye on you," she says, her tone light, but she gives you another nod, her soft eyes going hard. "Okay," you say again. "Okay," she says. Once it's clear you're not going to say anything else, Clear leans back into the couch, reaching for a little remote and pushing a button-- and the screen suddenly bursts with sound, making you jump. "Sorry," Clear says quickly. "I had it muted while you were sleeping." "Right, right," you say, avoiding the look she gives you, and after an awkward moment the two of you lapse into a comfortable silence. [[Next ->ch1 clear plat 1.a]]

"I'm not your responsibility, Clear," you say, giving her a look as she frowns over at you. She rolls her eyes. "You know I didn't mean it like that. I know-- I know you're not," she says with a huff, setting the extinguisher aside with a loud //thud//. She sighs then, wandering over to sit on the couch beside you. "I just don't feel right sending you out with... with nothing," she says quietly. "You took care of me last night, you let me use your shower, you gave me clothes," you list it all out on your fingers, shaking your head. "That's not nothing." Clear clicks her tongue. "You //know// what I //mean//. You don't even have a phone, for fuck's sake," she says, running an anxious hand through her hair. You purse your lips, turning away from her. "I'm sorry," she says then. "I'm not trying to force you to stay, or guilt you, or anything," she rambles, running her hand through her hair again. "I just... don't want you to end up alone behind a dumpster again," she laughs weakly. "I won't," you say, turning back around to look at her. She holds up her pinky then. "Pinky promise?" she prompts. You give her a look, but oblige nonetheless, raising your hand and hooking your pinky with hers. "Pinky promise," you say dryly. Clear grins, pleased with herself, and then she slumps back into the cushions, reaching for a little remote and pushing a button-- and the screen suddenly bursts with sound, making you jump. "Sorry," Clear says quickly. "I had it muted while you were sleeping." "Right, right," you say, avoiding the look she gives you, and after an awkward moment the two of you lapse into a comfortable silence. You glance over to the door, but let out a long sigh. You stay on the couch. You don't leave. [[Next ->ch1 clear plat 1.b]]

"What the hell was that..." Clear mutters, closing her book and glancing around into the kitchen. You immediately have a bad feeling, the hair on the back of your neck standing on end, and-- there. In the hallway. A shadow appears along the wall. Instinctively, you spring to your feet, startling Clear again as she whips back around to see what you're looking at. The shadow steps out into the room, her features coming into focus in the light. Tall, lithe, pale skin and long, straight black hair, she wears all black, even her lipstick-- even her eyes are black, mesmerizing you as she steps closer. But Clear rises, stepping in front of you, shouting a string of curses at the intruder and bracing for a fight. The woman easily slaps her aside, sending Clear flying into the corner of the room, crashing into the table and down onto the floor. "Clear!" The woman turns to you, but you're already lunging at her. [[Next ->ch1 fight v1]]

"Put her down, first," you snarl, and her eyes light up at your defiance. She doesn't listen to you, holding Clear up even higher, and you can see her head lolling back, her lips turning blue and blood vessels bursting in the whites of her eyes. "Put her down!" you shout it as you lunge at her, slamming all three of you back into the front door. She releases Clear then, just to swipe her claws at you, cutting deep across your shoulder as you try to stagger back out of reach. She's locked in on you now, Clear discarded on the floor as she coughs and wheezes, the black-haired woman pushing off the door and lunging back at you. You both go toppling over the couch, with you falling back against the wall hard enough to break through the drywall. The woman is disoriented for a moment from the fall, and you take the chance to try and get to Clear where she's groaning on the floor, but you're too slow, your head spinning from the blow against the wall. The black-haired woman grabs at your legs and drags you back down behind the couch, and she reaches high just to drag her nails down your back, tearing through Clear's shirt and splitting three hot gashes through your skin, blood rushing hot and making you gasp. A desperate kick manages to free you once again, the woman hissing as she grabs at her nose that your heel definitely just broke, and you clamber over the couch, rolling over the cushions and landing hard on the coffee table, knocking all of Clear's books onto the floor as you struggle to your feet. Clear herself is huddled in the corner, and you think about bolting out of the apartment-- but you don't want to leave her. So you rush down the hall towards her room, colliding with the doorframe in your haste. But the black-haired woman is right behind you, leaping through the doorway and slamming her knees into your back, the scratches she left behind making you cry out in pain. You go down hard, the impact of the floor and her weight on top of you forcing the air from your lungs, and your head smacks against the carpet hard enough that you see stars. You see something else, too. The bear spray, just under the edge of the bed where Clear must have dropped it earlier. But you're not sure you can reach it. There's also broken glass scattered all over the carpet, Clear's bedroom window broken open and the curtain torn off-- and you //know// you can reach a small piece of that. <<include "ch1 fight v1 choices">>

<div id="choice">[[Go for the bear spray. ->ch1 fight v1.1]]</div> <div id="choice">[[Go for the glass. ->ch1 fight v1.2]]</div> <div id="choice">[[Just try to buck her off. ->ch1 fight v1.3]]</div>

You only have a split second to decide, and you lash out for the bear spray, your long nails scraping the canister, turning it just enough for you to grab it. You brace yourself and twist hard, turning underneath her as you swing the canister up and crack it against the side of her head, and then you close your eyes and spray it in her face. Closing your eyes doesn't really help, but you hope it's at least worse for the woman as she recoils with a strangled gasp. You keep on her, scrambling after her with the canister, a nonstop continuous stream of bear spray clogging up the bedroom and making you gag. "What the hell," she rasps, her voice deeper than you expected it to be as she spits a string of curses at you. "What the hell is that?" "Bear spray, bitch," you shout, and you spray her again, just for good measure. The crunch of broken glass has you spinning around, coughing and crying and nearly vomiting as you face another intruder, hiding in their hood as they freeze on the other side of the canister. "Don't, or I'll spray your ass, too," you sneer. The black-haired woman is still coughing, curling up on the floor behind you, and you're blinking rapidly, trying your best to keep your eyes open. The person in the hood takes a tentative step towards you, and you spray them in the face. "Ough, fuck!" she slaps the canister out of your hand before doubling over, and your eyes force themselves closed as you stagger back and blindly reach out for the bathroom. You slide along the wall until you find the doorway, stumbling in and catching yourself on the sink. You turn the water on and shove your face under the faucet just like last time. [[Next ->ch1 fight v1.1 1]]

You only have a split second to decide, and you lash out for the glass, your long nails plucking it from the carpet and curling it snug against your palm. You brace yourself and twist hard, turning underneath her as you swipe upwards and slash her across the face, deep enough to split her upper lip and chip the glass against her teeth before she can recoil with a gasp. Her cold blood splatters down across you face, and you scramble backwards across the carpet, your own blood oozing down your arm as the shard of glass embeds itself deep in your hand. The woman hunches over, holding her face, staring down in disbelief as blood pours from her mouth and lip and down over her hands. When she looks back over at you, her black eyes flash, and she smiles a horrible, split lip smile, before lunging after you again. You try get away, to slash at her again, but she easily grabs your wrist, pulling you up onto your knees in front of her. She tightens her hand until your bones grind between her fingers, and you force your hand open until the glass pushes out of your palm and drops to the carpet. You let out a pained groan as she shoves you onto your back, straddling you, all while still holding your wrist up in the air. She pins your other arm to the floor, her long hair falling around you and tickling your face, the steady stream of blood from her lip pooling in the hollow of your throat as she blinks down at you. It gets in your mouth, and you have a weird sense of déjà vu, the rush of something familiar that you can't quite name-- and the hunger in you rises, and the woman smiles wider as you lick your lips. "Do you remember the taste?" she asks, tilting her head, and then she leans back onto your lap and lifts your bleeding hand to her mouth. She licks at the thin skin of your inner wrist, her eyes wide as she drinks from your hand. "It really is you," she says, cradling your bloody hand. You think she's going to cry. [[Next ->ch1 fight v1.2 1]]

You thrash underneath her, twisting around before she can pin you on your stomach, and you start to kick up off the floor, raising your hips and trying to buck her off of you. She's grinning, clearly amused, dropping to her knees and grabbing your face with one hand. Your frantic kicking hardly makes her budge, and she turns your face to the side, pressing you into the carpet before she leans in and bites your throat. You cry out in surprise, going still for a moment, your eyes wide as you try to look at her, but she keeps your face turned away, the carpet scratching your cheek. You stare helplessly at the bear spray, definitely out of reach now. You can feel her teeth in your throat, feel her tongue press against you, and then she pulls her head back, some of your flesh tearing away in her mouth. She swallows loudly, her eyes wide, your blood dripping down her chin. "It really is you," she breathes, her hands tightening around you. "You taste..." she trails off, and you think she's going to cry. There's a sudden, loud //thwack//, and the woman recoils with a yelp, grabbing the back of her head and spinning around just as Clear raises the fire extinguisher to hit her again. "Get the fuck off of her!" she shouts, and she slams the extinguisher across the side of her head. The room goes quiet for a moment, just the sound of your and Clear's heavy breathing, the woman unmoving on top of you and holding her head, her long black hair hiding her face. Clear glances down at you, and then she starts to raise the extinguisher again-- but-- the woman lashes out at her, her nails catching Clear from her chin all the way down across her chest, and she staggers back, dropping the extinguisher before she hits the wall and slides to the floor. "No!" You push off the floor and grab a handful of the woman's long hair, jerking her sideways and throwing her off of you. You stand on shaky legs, ignoring the woman's claws ripping at your arm as you lift her by her hair and swing her around again, slamming her into the wall this time. Blood bursts across Clear's white painted walls, and the woman groans-- and then she starts to laugh. "Shut the fuck up," you snarl, your hand tightening in her hair. You jerk her head back, forcing her to look up at you, your blood smeared all down her chin. "Who the fuck are you?" She doesn't say anything, her black eyes flicking somewhere over your shoulder. The sound of boots on broken glass is the only warning you get before someone grabs you from behind. Your wrists are snatched back, a clump of the woman's black hair coming free as you're pulled off of her, and then you're thrown down to the floor, shards of glass pressing into your stomach as your pinned to the ground, someone's knee heavy on your back. [[Next ->ch1 fight v1.3 1]]

"Fuck me," you whine, rinsing out your mouth and scrubbing at your face. After a moment you sit up, staring down at the running water, and you glance up into the mirror just in time to see the one in the hood lunging for you. Your reaction is too slow, clumsy with the bear spray still clogging your vision, and she grabs the back of your head and slams your face into the mirror. The glass splinters on impact, and you can feel the blood flowing, taste it in your mouth as she pulls you back, holding you by the neck and dragging you out of the bathroom. The black-haired woman is back on her feet, but you only get a split second to look at her before you're thrown down onto the floor. Your wrists are grabbed and pinned behind you, and a knee presses into your back, making you wheeze as you're crushed against the floor. "Fucking bear spray," the black-haired woman is saying. You twist and thrash, but the one holding you just presses down harder-- until you can't breathe, and you have to stop, going limp underneath her. Movement in the doorway catches your attention though, and you strain your neck to see Clear there, clutching her goddamn fire extinguisher. "Get the fuck off of her!" Clear shouts, swinging the fire extinguisher and actually managing to hit the black-haired woman across the back of the head. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to do much, because she rounds on Clear and swipes at her, her long nails slashing her from her chin all the way down across her chest, and she staggers back, dropping the extinguisher before she hits the wall and slides to the floor. "No! Clear!" you gasp, struggling helplessly. "Leave her alone!" The black-haired woman turns to you. [[Next ->ch1 fight v1.1 2]]

She crouches down in front of you, tilting her head, her black eyes red and swollen from the bear spray. She somehow still manages to look intimidating despite the tears and snot, and you shrink into the carpet when she reaches out to touch your face. "It really is you," she says softly. You glare up at her, breathing hard, sweat and blood and spittle hissing across the carpet. She glances over at whoever is holding you down, and gestures for her to stand up. The knee eases off your back, and you quickly take a few deep breaths, before she hauls you up by your arms, your shoulders shifting painfully in their sockets. "You don't remember me," the black-haired woman says then. "You don't remember anything." You don't respond, just curling your lip at her. And then she says your name. <<include "name input">>

<<liveblock>><<textbox "$name" $name "ch1 fight reconvene">><</liveblock>> [[Next ->ch1 fight reconvene]]

There's a sudden, loud //thwack//, and the woman recoils with a yelp, grabbing the back of her head and spinning around just as Clear raises the fire extinguisher to hit her again. "Get the fuck off of her!" she shouts, and she slams the extinguisher across the side of her head. The room goes quiet for a moment, just the sound of your and Clear's heavy breathing, the woman unmoving on top of you and holding her head, her long black hair hiding her face. Clear glances down at you, and then she starts to raise the extinguisher again-- but-- the woman lashes out at her, her nails catching Clear from her chin all the way down across her chest, and she staggers back, dropping the extinguisher before she hits the wall and slides to the floor. "No!" You push off the floor and grab a handful of the woman's long hair, jerking her sideways and throwing her off of you. You stand on shaky legs, ignoring the woman's claws ripping at your arm as you lift her by her hair and swing her around again, slamming her into the wall this time. Blood bursts across Clear's white painted walls, and the woman groans-- and then she starts to laugh. "Shut the fuck up," you snarl, your hand tightening in her hair. You jerk her head back, forcing her to look up at you, your blood smeared all down her chin. "Who the fuck are you?" She doesn't say anything, her black eyes flicking somewhere over your shoulder. The sound of boots on broken glass is the only warning you get before someone grabs you from behind. Your wrists are snatched back, a clump of the woman's black hair coming free as you're pulled off of her, and then you're thrown down to the floor, shards of glass pressing into your stomach as your pinned to the ground, someone's knee heavy on your back. [[Next ->ch1 fight v1.2 2]]

The black-haired woman crouches down in front of you, tilting her head, her black eyes blinking slowly as she watches you. You feel a little bit of satisfaction looking up at the nasty gash across her lip, the wet shine of her teeth flashing in the dark. It also makes her far more intimidating, and you try to squirm away as she leers closer, turning your head, but you're unable to escape her icy touch as she reaches out to stroke your face. "Look at me," she says softly. You glare up at her, breathing hard, sweat and blood and spittle hissing across the carpet. She glances over at whoever is holding you down, and gestures for her to stand up. The knee eases off your back, and you quickly take a few deep breaths, before she hauls you up by your arms, your shoulders shifting painfully in their sockets. "You don't remember me," the black-haired woman says then. "You don't remember anything." You don't respond, just curling your lip at her. And then she says your name. <<include "name input">>

The black-haired woman crouches down in front of you, tilting her head, her black eyes blinking slowly as she watches you. You feel a little bit of satisfaction looking up at her and knowing you broke her nose, an angry gash dripping blood from where her face hit the wall. You try to squirm away as she leers closer, turning your head, but you're unable to escape her icy touch as she reaches out to stroke your face. "Look at me," she says softly. You glare up at her, breathing hard, sweat and blood and spittle hissing across the carpet. She glances over at whoever is holding you down, and gestures for her to stand up. The knee eases off your back, and you quickly take a few deep breaths, before she hauls you up by your arms, your shoulders shifting painfully in their sockets. "You don't remember me," the black-haired woman says then. "You don't remember anything." You don't respond, just curling your lip at her. And then she says your name. <<include "name input">>

"What the hell!" she hisses, letting you go and staggering sideways, grabbing at her face. Your own face burns-- closing your eyes didn't help-- and you double over as you cough violently, your back spasming with pain from the effort. You collapse all the way to the floor, grabbing at your back and contorting awkwardly against the wall. Clear is backing away, her breath still wheezing loudly, wielding the canister like a gun. She sprays the woman again when she gets too close, yelling a string of curses before running back to her room. The woman follows. "Clear," you rasp, and you drag yourself forward, frantically blinking away your tears to try and keep your eyes open. You haul yourself up, rushing down the hall and bursting into the room, colliding with the woman before you can even figure out what's happening. You both trip over Clear on the floor and go tumbling down in a jumble of tangled limbs and horrible coughing. Clear groans, breathing hard and weakly crawling away while the two of you grapple across her bedroom floor. Broken glass from the window crunches under your weight, and you can hardly see what you're doing, the bear spray still fogging your mind as you lash out at the woman and try to pin her to the floor. You both slap at each other, and you try to grab a fistful of her long hair, but she turns her head and sinks her teeth into your wrist. You let out a strangled gasp, immediately trying to pull your arm free, but she holds fast, looking down at you with bloodshot, glassy eyes, her face flushed red and sweating. She starts to drink from your wrist, straddling you and pressing you back into shards of glass, piercing through the open wounds in your back, and you know you've lost the fight. She licks at the thin skin of your inner wrist, blinking down at you, pinning your other arm to the floor. "It really is you," she says, cradling your bloody hand. A few fresh tears roll down her cheek. [[Next ->ch1 fight v2.2 2]]

There's a sudden, loud //thwack//, and the woman recoils with a yelp, grabbing the back of her head and spinning around just as Clear raises the fire extinguisher to hit her again. "Get the fuck off of her!" she shouts, and she slams the extinguisher across the side of her head. The room goes quiet for a moment, just the sound of your and Clear's heavy breathing, the woman unmoving on top of you and holding her head, her long black hair hiding her face. Clear glances down at you, and then she starts to raise the extinguisher again-- but-- the woman lashes out at her, her nails catching Clear from her chin all the way down across her chest, and she staggers back, dropping the extinguisher before she hits the wall and slides to the floor. "No!" You push off the floor and grab for a handful of the woman's long hair again, getting a good grip before she can try and bite you this time, and then you jerk her sideways and throw her off of you. You stand on shaky legs, ignoring the woman's claws ripping at your arm as you lift her by her hair and swing her around again, slamming her into the wall. Blood bursts across Clear's white painted walls, and the woman groans-- and then she starts to laugh. "Shut the fuck up," you snarl, your hand tightening in her hair. You jerk her head back, forcing her to look up at you, your blood smeared all down her chin. "Who the fuck are you?" She doesn't say anything, her black eyes flicking somewhere over your shoulder. The sound of boots on broken glass is the only warning you get before someone grabs you from behind. Your wrists are snatched back, a clump of the woman's black hair coming free as you're pulled off of her, and then you're thrown down to the floor, shards of glass pressing into your stomach as your pinned to the ground, someone's knee heavy on your back. [[Next ->ch1 fight v2.2 3]]

She crouches down in front of you, tilting her head, her black eyes red and swollen from the bear spray. She somehow still manages to look intimidating despite the tears and snot, and you shrink into the carpet when she reaches out to touch your face. "Look at me," she says softly. You glare up at her, breathing hard, sweat and blood and spittle hissing across the carpet. She glances over at whoever is holding you down, and gestures for her to stand up. The knee eases off your back, and you quickly take a few deep breaths, before she hauls you up by your arms, your shoulders shifting painfully in their sockets. "You don't remember me," the black-haired woman says then. "You don't remember anything." You don't respond, just curling your lip at her. And then she says your name. <<include "name input">>

Your eyes widen, and she smiles, nodding slowly. Memories flash through your mind too fast for you to comprehend-- but you see her. You see her, various little moments across a vast expanse of time, different clothes and different hair and different names and different spaces but always you and her. You remember //intimate// moments. Her touch. Her taste. Her fingers in your mouth. She steps closer then, tilting her head, reaching out to hold your face in her hands. "Valentina," you say, the name coming to you from some dark, quiet recess deep in your mind. Her face softens. "You remember," she whispers, her thumb tracing along the side of your face. She lets her hands drop then, and she steps back, slowly looking you up and down. "How did you get out?" You lick your lips, shaking your head. "I... I don't know," you say. "They'll be looking for you," Valentina says sadly. "Who?" She glances sideways then, her eyes flashing. "We should talk elsewhere." [[Next ->ch1 end 1]]

Valentina turns to head for the door, but stops short, her dark gaze falling to Clear's crumpled body on the carpet. She glances back at you. "You fed on her," she says. It's not a question. "You told her." You feel a rush of shameful heat, your face burning as you bow your head. "We do not have many rules, but that is one of them," Valentina says slowly. She prods Clear with her foot, and she groans, clutching at her bloody face and turning away from Valentina's imposing figure. "If me and Hana tracked you here, the others will, too. They'll know you were here," she says, glancing around Clear's trashed bedroom before turning back to her. "They'll know you told her." Valentina reaches down then, easily dragging Clear back over to her and roughly pulling her up by her hair. Clear grunts, trying to push her away, but Valentina is as still as a statue, unfazed, her hand just tightening in Clear's hair. "W-wait, wait," Clear stammers, "I won't tell anyone. Please. Please, I promise. I'll never say a word." Valentina looks amused. <div id="choice"><<link '"Don\'t! Valentina, please."' 'ch1 end 1.a'>><<set $v_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Let her go, Valentina."' 'ch1 end 1.b'>><<set $v_rel -=1>><</link>></div>

"Let her go, Valentina," you warn. Valentina raises an eyebrow, slowly tilting her head at you. "Or what, $name? Are you going to hurt me? You always did like that. Maybe you remember more than you think." You glare over at her, and she just smiles, glancing between you and Clear. She pulls harder on Clear's hair then, twisting her back into an uncomfortable position, Clear's hands grabbing uselessly at her arm. "Please," Clear gasps. You pull against your captor-- Hana-- and you feel her hands flex, but it isn't painful; it feels almost as if it was meant to comfort. "Valentina," she says, her voice a low warning just behind your ear. Valentina's eyes flash, turning to glare over your shoulder, and then she releases Clear, letting her fall back to the floor. "Killjoy," Valentina huffs. [[Next ->ch1 end 2]]

"Don't! Valentina, please," you say, twisting against the hands still restraining you-- but she doesn't give, planting her feet and keeping your wrists pinned behind your back. Valentina blinks over at you, her smile twitching slightly. "Don't. Just let her go," you plead. Valentina tilts her head. "Are you begging me, $name? I always did like it when you begged." You glare over at her, and she just smiles, glancing between you and Clear. She pulls harder on Clear's hair then, twisting her back into an uncomfortable position, Clear's hands grabbing uselessly at her arm. "Please," Clear gasps. You pull against your captor-- Hana-- and you feel her hands flex, but it isn't painful; it feels almost as if it was meant to comfort. "Valentina," she says, her voice a low warning just behind your ear. Valentina's eyes flash, turning to glare over your shoulder, and then she releases Clear, letting her fall back to the floor. "Killjoy," Valentina huffs. [[Next ->ch1 end 2]]

Valentina gestures at Hana then, and she lets you go, your shoulders rolling painfully as your arms fall back into place. <<if $clear_rom>>You resist the urge to rush over to Clear, eyeing her from where you stand. She stays down on the floor, cradling her head, pressing back against the wall in an attempt to get some space between her and Valentina.<<else>>You look to Clear, but she's staying down on the floor, cradling her head with her back pressed against the wall in an attempt to get some space between her and Valentina.<</if>> "If you like her so much, she's your problem," Valentina says then. "You can keep her. Like a pet," she smirks. "Or you can eat her." Clear makes a strange sound in the back of her throat. "If you don't, someone else will." "Valentina, that's enough," Hana says, crossing her arms with obvious irritation. "Fine," she says, and then she looks at you. "Grab her and let's go." <<if $clear_rom>>You quickly shove past Valentina and drop down in front of Clear, reaching out to put a gentle hand on her shoulder. She flinches, closing her eyes and curling forward, holding her head in her hands. The gashes from Valentina's claws are pretty bad, the entire front of Clear's shirt soaked with blood. The longest one starts in the middle of her chin, curving down along her neck and then slicing deep across her chest. The other two start at her collarbones, and aren't quite as deep, but still hard to look at. The smell of all the blood makes your mouth water. "Clear," you say softly, and she lets out a shaky breath. "I don't want to go with them," she whispers. "Please, I won't tell anyone." She drops her hands then to look at you with those big brown eyes, and you glance over at Valentina, but she just shakes her head. "I'm sorry," you say. "We have to go, Clear," you urge her. Your hand tightens around her shoulder then, and you lean in close, your voice dropping low. "I won't let them touch you again." Clear swallows loudly, one of her hands reaching out to tentatively touch your face. "Okay," she says then. You take her hand, helping her to her feet and then looping her arm around your shoulders and holding her wrist to keep her from toppling over. She makes a sad, pained sound as you wrap your other arm around her waist, and she leans heavily into you as she takes her first step.<<else>>You step past Valentina and crouch down in front of Clear, tentatively reaching out to put a light hand on her shoulder. She recoils, ducking behind her hands, pressing back against the wall. The gashes from Valentina's claws are pretty bad, the entire front of Clear's shirt soaked with blood. The longest one starts in the middle of her chin, curving down along her neck and then slicing deep across her chest. The other two start at her collarbones, and aren't quite as deep, but still hard to look at. The smell of all the blood makes your mouth water. "Clear," you say softly, and she finally looks at you with wide, glassy eyes. "Please, I won't tell anyone. I won't tell. I promise," she rambles, glancing between you and Valentina. Valentina just shakes her head. "I'm sorry," you say. "We have to go, Clear." "No! Please. I won't tell," she repeats, and it's hard to watch her beg, hunched over and bleeding on the floor. "It doesn't matter," Valentina says then. "It doesn't matter if you stay quiet. It //matters// that you know at all." Clear's lip quivers. "I can't leave. I have to go to work," Clear mutters. You try to touch her again, and this time she doesn't flinch, instead just giving you an uncertain look. "It's alright, Clear." "It's either come with us, or wait for some other freak to come in through your window and finish you off," Valentina says. You give her a look, but she just shrugs. "....Okay," Clear finally says. You offer her your hand. You slowly help her to her feet, steadying her before looping her arm around your shoulders and holding her wrist to keep her from toppling over. She makes a sad, pained sound as you wrap your other arm around her waist, and she leans heavily into you as she takes her first step.<</if>> [[Next ->ch1 end 3]]

It's hard for you to ignore all the blood this close. You can feel it, her arm hot and sticky across the back of your neck. You can see it, the way it glistens along her throat as she turns her head, the torn flesh pulling tight across her chest as she breathes. And most of all, you can smell it, emanating from her skin and her soaked shirt, and it smells so sweet. Your hand tightens around her wrist until she yelps. Valentina and Hana stop in front of you and look back-- and Hana grabs Clear while Valentina grabs you, pulling you apart, forcing you to release Clear even as you both protest. Clear manages to get a hold of a fistful of your shirt, popping some of the seams before Hana can pry her fingers loose, and Valentina pushes you back hard enough to stagger. "I want to stay with her, please!" Clear begs, oblivious to the hunger twisting and clawing in your throat. Valentina ignores her, pushing you back again, and you're doubling over, panting loudly and gnashing your teeth, nothing more important to you right now than Clear's blood smeared on your hands. Hana manages to get Clear out of the apartment before you start licking your fingers, at least. Clear doesn't need to see that. Valentina stands over you, watching, before she puts a hand on your shoulder. "You must be starving," she says softly. "Your restraint is as incredible as it always was." When she touches your face, you can't help but lean into it, sensing the blood beneath her skin, feeling the pulse of her slow heartbeat as she presses her palm against your cheek. "Here," she says, and she turns her hand, pressing her wrist to your lips. You're a bit disgusted with yourself, with how easily you give in, opening your mouth to taste her. She doesn't even flinch as your teeth pierce through her wrist, just reaching around to hold the back of your head with her other hand. She's not as sweet as Clear, nor is her blood as warm-- it tastes tart and floral. It tastes familiar. "Only once have I seen another awaken from entombment," Valentina says then, stroking your hair as you drink, "and he ate for days. Gallons of blood." She blinks slowly at you, her brow furrowed as she watches you feed. "We'll get you something to eat soon," she says gently. You keep drinking, eyeing her in front of you, uncertain about the strange feelings resurfacing and tangling themselves up inside your chest. Looking at Valentina, your first instinct is to be angry. To hate her for what she's done. But you're not sure what she's done. Is there more than just her claws in your back? You can't untangle that thread just yet. Maybe you don't want to. She pulls her wrist from your mouth then, and you sigh, wiping your face with the back of your hand as a sudden heat blossoms in your stomach, radiating outwards, pulsing with each beat of your undead heart. "Come," Valentina says, and she takes your hand and leads you out of the apartment. [[Next ->ch1 end 4]]

It's quiet in the hall, and you glance back at Clear's door one last time before stepping into the elevator. It's an awkward ride down, punctuated by the constant metallic rattle of the grate surrounding the inside of the elevator-- but you suppose it's better than silence, or God forbid, //muzak.// Valentina stares at you the whole way down. <div id="choice"><<link '"How did you find me here?"' 'ch1 end 4.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Where are we going, Valentina?"' 'ch1 end 4.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Was all of that really necessary?"' 'ch1 end 4.c'>><<set $v_rel +=1>><</link>></div>

"Was all of that really necessary?" you say after a moment, crossing your arms and giving her a look. She lets out a little laugh, a sound that resonates deep in the back of your mind, but you shake your head before you can get overwhelmed by the familiar echoes calling back at you. "Come on. I know you love the drama," she says, grinning over at you. The expression looks strange on her-- a glimpse past the cold façade she displayed back in the apartment. You give her an indignant huff, and she laughs again, tilting her head back as she leans against the wall. But then she falls quiet, the elevator turning somber as she glances down at her hands. "I missed you, $name," she says softly. "I wasn't sure what I would find here. If you would still be... //you//." "And am I me?" She lifts her gaze to search your face, and then nods. "Yes." "Have you really forgotten yourself?" she asks then, stepping a little closer. You let out a long sigh, leaning back against the elevator wall, bowing your head and grimacing at the pain in your back. "It will come back to you, in time. We need to get you something to eat," she reiterates, giving you a sympathetic look, despite your blood still soaking her claws. "Your body will take some time to readjust. To remember." You just nod. You're not sure if she's trying to convince you, or herself. [[Next ->ch1 end 5]]

"How did you even find me here?" you ask, watching the numbers change above the doors as you slowly descend. "I would find you anywhere," Valentina says simply. You give her a look, and she smiles. "I am your sire," she says then. "I felt you, when you woke up." "Sire?" you say slowly, the word feeling familiar as you say it. "I'm the one who made you," she says. "//Sired// you, into this eternal life. We are connected by blood." She steps closer then, searching your face. "How much have you forgotten?" You shake your head, leaning back against the elevator wall, grimacing at the pain in your back. "It will come back to you, in time. We need to get you something to eat," she reiterates, giving you a sympathetic look, despite your blood still soaking her claws. "Your body will take some time to readjust. To remember." You just nod. You're not sure if she's trying to convince you, or herself. [[Next ->ch1 end 5]]

"Where are we going, Valentina?" you ask, glancing between her and the slowly descending numbers glowing over the elevator doors. "We are going home," she says simply. You scoff, and she just smiles. "I have a mansion, outside of the city. We'll be safe there for a little while." "A mansion..." you mutter, shaking your head. Her smile turns sad. "We lived a lavish life together. Have you really forgotten all of it?" You sigh, leaning back against the elevator wall, grimacing at the pain in your back. "It will come back to you, in time. We need to get you something to eat," she reiterates, giving you a sympathetic look, despite your blood still soaking her claws. "Your body will take some time to readjust. To remember." You just nod. You're not sure if she's trying to convince you, or herself. [[Next ->ch1 end 5]]

The elevator dings then, shuddering to a halt, and your back is jolted painfully by the motion. You take a deep breath, walking awkwardly after Valentina as you exit the elevator into the lobby. It's quiet, just like the previous night when Clear brought you inside, the booth on the far wall shuttered with all the lights off. Valentina reaches back to help you down the little stairs out onto the sidewalk, and you find yourself clinging to her as she takes you down the street to a parked car. You can't say much about these new cars, but you know at the very least that this one looks quite expensive compared to the others you've seen so far. She opens the back door for you, and you find Hana and Clear waiting inside. Hana sits in the middle, giving you a curious look as you slide in. You suppose it's probably a good idea for her to stay between you and Clear. The smell of her blood has filled the car, and you close your eyes, turning to angle yourself as far away from Clear as you can manage, pressing your body against the car door. Valentina gets into the driver seat, the door snapping closed, and the overhead lights dim, all of you sitting in silence while Valentina fumbles around for the keys. "Good thing you don't have any nosey neighbors," Hana says then. Clear makes an annoyed sound, shifting in her seat, and Valentina chuckles just as she starts the car and slowly eases it out into traffic. You glance over your shoulder then and get your first real look at Hana. She's removed her hood, revealing a huge mop of black hair, tight, gleaming curls that fall just past her shoulders. She has warm, black skin and dark, hooded eyes, which are staring right back at you. You can also see she has jewelry on her face-- piercings on her eyebrow, her nostril, and just below her bottom lip. All the jewelry is an industrial black, gleaming in the dark of the car as streetlights flash through the windows. You know you're staring, but you can't help it. Piercings like that were popular amongst vampires even back in the day, but it wasn't something you'd wear //out//. It would attract too much attention. You remember some of the people you saw on the street-- one of the girls at the market had her nose pierced, too. You blink slowly, taking in the rest of Hana's appearance: she's wearing what you could only describe as athletic wear, a big sweatshirt with a hood and soft pants that look like they're the same material. All black, of course. She tilts her head at you then. "Hana," she offers, and you blink again, taking a moment to realize she's introducing herself to you. "Right... $name," you say, testing it out. She nods. [[Next ->ch1 end]]

Silence resumes, and you close your eyes again, breathing through your mouth in an attempt to better ignore the delectable smell of Clear. You think she's actually passed out now, unmoving in her seat except for her breathing. Valentina turns the radio on after a few minutes, glancing in the rearview at the three of you crammed in the backseat. "Valentina," you say suddenly. Her black eyes flick to you. "I have a question," you say slowly. Hana looks at you too, raising a thick brow in curiosity. "You say we have few rules. What are they?" Her gaze darts back and forth, from the road back to you. "It's quite simple, really. Don't get caught," she starts, "don't run your mouth, and don't kill each other. That's it," she shrugs. "And which one of those did I break to end up chained inside a sarcophagus?" You can feel Hana tense beside you. Valentina glances at you again, one last time, but she doesn't answer. She goes back to watching the road, and the silence resumes yet again, just the tinny radio playing quietly as you drive out of the city and leave Clear's apartment far behind. [[Next Chapter ->CHAPTER 2]]

<center> <<if $cw eq true>>[[CHAPTER TWO ->ch2 warnings]]<<else>>[[CHAPTER TWO ->ch2 1]]<</if>> //FIRST HUNT//</center>

<center> <<if $cw>>[[CHAPTER 1 ->ch1 warnings]]<<else>>[[CHAPTER 1]]<</if>> //AWOKEN//</center>

You end up completely absorbed by the screen, even as you fail to process anything that's happening-- just the constant flash of colors and people and voices. It's amazing. After some time, Clear picks up one of the books off the coffee table, flipping through until she finds her spot and starts to read, curling up at the end of the couch. You just keep watching the screen. But eventually exhaustion lulls you back against the cushions, your eyelids growing heavy, and you don't really understand how you're so tired after only just waking up from years of sleep, but you let it come, closing your eyes with a sigh. The sound of glass shattering somewhere inside the apartment makes both you and Clear startle. [[Next ->ch1 clear plat interrupt]]

You stay on the couch, you stay with Clear, and you end up completely absorbed with the screen, even as you fail to process anything that's happening-- just the constant flash of colors and people and voices. It's amazing. After some time Clear picks up one of the books off the coffee table, flipping through until she finds her spot and starts to read, curling up at the end of the couch. You just keep watching the screen. Maybe staying here won't be so bad. Eventually, exhaustion lulls you back against the cushions, your eyelids growing heavy, and you don't really understand how you're so tired after only just waking up from years of sleep, but you let it come, closing your eyes with a sigh. The sound of glass shattering somewhere inside the apartment makes both you and Clear startle. [[Next ->ch1 clear plat interrupt]]

<<run UIBar.stow(true);>><center> <img src="images/bloodchoke text.png" style="max-height: 50vh;max-width: 80vw;height: auto;overflow: hidden;width: auto;"> <<if Save.autosave.ok() and Save.autosave.has()>><br><<link "Resume Game">><<script>>Save.autosave.load()<</script>><</link>><</if>> <br>[[Start|content warnings]] <br><<link "Load Game">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</link>> <br><<link "Settings">><<script>>UI.settings()<</script>><</link>></center>

//by Kit H.J.//

You wake up hungry again. Sitting up in bed, you clutch at your stomach, groaning softly as you slide your legs out from beneath the covers and press your feet into the plush carpet. You're in Valentina's house. Her //mansion//. You stand slowly, grabbing for the massive wooden bedpost as you shuffle along towards the foot of the bed. You immediately notice a platter on the desk by the door, a gleaming silver decanter sat on top with a pair of drinking glasses. You lick your lips in anticipation. You limp across the room, your back still agitated by Valentina's claws, but you're feeling a little better after getting some proper sleep in a bed. //No offense to Clear's couch...// You pause in front of the desk as you think about Clear. You hope she's alright. Unfortunately, you are only fixated on one thing right now, and thoughts of her quickly turn to thoughts of her blood. Clear tastes so sweet. You grab the decanter and pull the stopper off, the smell of blood quickly wafting over you. You pour a generous serving into one of the cups, watching it fall thick and heavy against the glass. [[Next ->ch2 2]]

The decanter clatters as you drop it back onto the desk, raising the glass to your lips and tilting your head back greedily. Not Clear's blood. Not Valentina's, either. It has a briny flavor that makes you hesitate-- but only for a moment. It's room temperature, which you decide immediately that you don't like very much, but regardless you finish the first glass in just two desperate gulps. You pour a second glass. You drink that, too, and then you just drink the rest straight out of the decanter. You grimace as the empty decanter falls sideways across the platter, and you grab at your stomach, hunger twisting painfully and lancing up through your chest. "Fuck," you breathe, catching yourself on the bedpost again. When you lift your head, you notice a vanity on the other side of the room, your shimmering reflection watching you. You close your eyes, and you try to imagine what you must look like. It's hard to picture it-- you imagine two shadows on the wall. You, and the hunger. You have to keep them separated. It helps you stay in control. One holds the key that keeps the other in the cage. If they were to come together-- they would both turn on you. [[A knock at the door makes you jump. ->ch2 3]]

"Yeah?" you say, your voice still low and raspy from years of silence. "You're awake!" Hana says, muffled through the door. "Can I come in?" You glance down at yourself. You're still wearing Clear's blood-stained t-shirt. You probably should have changed before sleeping on Valentina's fancy sheets last night. "Yeah," you say, pulling at the shirt, just to make sure you're properly covered. Well, besides the giant rips down the back... The door swings open then, and Hana gives you a curious look. She glances over at the empty decanter, smiling slightly, reaching over to right it on the platter. "I see you found breakfast," she says with a hint of amusement. You just grunt, sitting back on the edge of the bed and wiping your mouth as she steps the rest of the way in and closes the door. She eyes you, and you eye her, a tense apprehension passing between you. She tilts her head-- she does it in a way reminiscent of Valentina. You wonder if she picked that up from her. "It wasn't fresh, but it's what we had ready here in the kitchen," she says then, and it takes you a moment to realize she's still talking about the blood. <div id="choice"><<link '"You keep blood in the kitchen?"' 'ch2 3.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"What\'s the difference, or is it just the taste?"' 'ch2 3.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"And how do you get //fresh//?"' 'ch2 3.c'>><</link>></div>

"You keep blood in the kitchen?" Hana laughs, and some of the tension eases out. "Yes. Blood bags in the fridge. It doesn't offer nearly as much as something a little more... fresh, but it's good to have it around, just in case." She eyes the decanter for a moment. "It's like a snack. To hold you over between meals." "Right. A snack," you say, and she laughs again at your expression. "Where does it come from?" you ask then. <<include "ch2 4">>

Would you like to toggle on the Content Warnings? With this mode on, you will be given a specific list of content warnings at the start of every chapter. <<link [[Yes, turn on the Content Warnings. ->prlg warnings]]>><<set $cw to true>><</link>> [[No thanks, just take me to the game. ->START]]

<center><b>PROLOGUE CONTENT WARNINGS</b></center> The prologue includes: Blood Vomiting Proceed? [[Yes. ->START]] [[No. ->open page]]

<center><b>CHAPTER ONE CONTENT WARNINGS</b></center> This chapter includes: Blood Vomiting Violence Suggestive content Proceed? [[Yes. ->CHAPTER 1]] [[No. ->chp1 splash]]

<center><b>CHAPTER TWO CONTENT WARNINGS</b></center> This chapter includes: Blood Extreme violence Gore Death Alcohol consumption Suggestive content Proceed? [[Yes. ->ch2 1]] [[No. ->CHAPTER 2]]

"What's the difference, or is it just the taste?" you ask. Hana taps a finger to her chin, and some of the tension eases out then at your question. "Ah... Hunting is very different from drinking out of a juice box, you know?" she jokes. "You get a lot //more// during a hunt. Blood, yes... and flesh and bone and meat." "Right..." you say quietly. Your hunger twitches, shifting low in your stomach, a flash of gore appearing in your mind's eye for a split second before you can shake it away. "The blood," you say then, "where does it come from?" //Who did I just drink from?// is what you really want to ask. The gore hovers in your peripheral. <<include "ch2 4">>

"And how do you get //fresh//?" Hana licks her lips. "I think you know," she says. You do. The hunger twitches then, shifting low in your stomach, a sudden memory of warm blood on your hands and a flash of gore appearing in your mind's eye for a split second before you can shake it away. "The blood," you say then, nodding towards the decanter. "Where does it come from?" //Who did I just drink from?// is what you really want to ask. The gore hovers in your peripheral. <<include "ch2 4">>

"We know a guy," Hana shrugs coyly. You roll your eyes at her. "There are people that work for us. For our kind," she elaborates. "Humans. Daywalkers." You pretend to know what that means. "I thought humans weren't allowed to know?" "Yes and no. These people are under our regulation-- our responsibility. It's a binding contract. They work for us in exchange for their life and protection from other vampires, and it allows us to keep an ear to the ground as well as ensuring that all our secrets remain secrets." "Is that what will happen to Clear?" Hana purses her lips. "That's up to Clear." She tilts her head at you again. "You really have forgotten everything," she says slowly. You frown. <div id="choice"><<link '"Is Clear okay?"' 'ch2 4.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I want to see Clear, actually."' 'ch2 4.b'>><</link>></div>

"Is Clear okay?" you ask, ignoring her comment. Hana leans back against the wall, crossing her arms. She nods slowly. "She's alright. She's tough," Hana raises one of her arms then and flexes it for emphasis, mimicking Clear's biceps. "V made sure she got patched up." "//V// is the one that did that to her." <<if $clear_rom>>"Hm. You're fond of her?" Hana asks curiously. Your frown deepens, avoiding her gaze and staring down at Clear's shirt. Hana hums after a moment, but doesn't say anything else. You wonder how much Clear regrets walking down that alley last night. Guilt weighs heavy on your shoulders.<<else>>Hana hums, but doesn't say anything else. You drop your gaze then, chewing on your bottom lip. You wonder how much Clear regrets walking down that alley last night. Guilt weighs heavy on your shoulders.<</if>> "Where //is// Valentina?" you press after a moment, needing desperately to change the subject. <<include "ch2 5">>

"I want to see Clear, actually," you say then, ignoring her comment. You start to stand from the bed, but Hana just shakes her head. "Can't do that," she says. "You need to eat something substantial first." You glance at the decanter. "That doesn't count," she cuts you off before you can say anything. "Trust me. It'll be better-- safer-- for her." <<if $clear_rom>>You know she's right. Even just Hana's presence-- every time she moves, you can smell her slow blood. Undead blood. If she was living and breathing, warm blood pulsing in her veins, you wouldn't be able to stand it. She watches you closely as you sink back onto the mattress. "You're fond of her?" she asks curiously. You shrug, avoiding her gaze and staring down at Clear's shirt. Hana hums after a moment, but doesn't say anything else.<<else>>You know she's right. Even just Hana's presence-- every time she moves, you can smell her slow blood. Undead blood. If she was living and breathing, warm blood pulsing in her veins, you wouldn't be able to stand it. You sink back into the mattress.<</if>> "Where's Valentina?" you ask then, desperately needing to change the subject. <<include "ch2 5">>

"She's dealing with quite a few //enquiries//," Hana muses. "You've been found out. They know you're gone." "That was quick," you mutter. "Don't worry. V is a real decent sweet talker. Plus, they respect her too much to just barge in here. We have time." "//They//?" Hana sighs, and she pushes off the wall to meander over to you, hopping up on the edge of the bed, the mattress bouncing you both before she settles. You tense a little, some of that apprehension from earlier snapping taut, but Hana seems so relaxed-- despite the fight in Clear's apartment, there's no real hostility from her. Hana also seems a bit more... //personable// than Valentina. It's obvious that Hana is younger, though that doesn't necessarily mean she's //young//. You and Valentina are just very old. Looking over at Hana, she's wearing a little black beanie, her curls fanning out wide just beneath the folded brim. The clothes she has on are similar to what she was wearing last night, though she's swapped the hoodie out for just a grey t-shirt. You also notice, now that she's closer, that she changed her nose ring-- instead of the little black ball, it's a dainty, silver butterfly, sitting lightly on her nostril. [[Next ->ch2 6]]

"//They//," she starts, "are a bunch of old bastards." You raise your eyebrows at her. //Definitely// younger. "They're a //council of elders//," she does air quotes with her fingers. "Unofficial. Just a bunch of real old vampires obsessed with tradition and being in control." She sighs, flopping back on the bed. "There's not a lot of us. They're able to do what they please because of it. Their age grants them privilege." She pauses for a moment. "They're our judge, jury, and executioner." "I see," you say slowly. "They sentenced you," she says suddenly. You turn back to look at her on the bed. You stay quiet, hopeful that she'll elaborate. She sits up on her elbows. "You //really// don't remember anything?" she says. You flop back on the bed with her. "It's strange," you say slowly. "I remember... flashes. I remember being with Valentina. I remember her. But only in images. Snapshots of time." You stare up at the ceiling. "I know things are different. The world, I mean," you turn to look at her then. "There's a muscle memory, I suppose. I know some things intuitively. I'm not sure how. But I know it. The world is different. The car, the house, the city-- all of it is strange. It just feels... off. People were staring at me. Their clothes are strange. Your clothes are strange." Hana nods slowly. "When I saw Clear for the first time-- the way she is. The way she's dressed." You eye Hana then. "You, too. It's different. I-I mean, women dressed like that before, I knew them. I lived for a long time. I know that. I saw things change." You aren't sure what you're trying to say. "Do you want to dress like this?" Hana asks gently. You blink over at her. "Like a man?" Hana laughs. "Like a butch. A stud," she grins. <div id="choice"><<link "It\'s not something I\'ve considered. I was always trying to overcompensate with femininity; it\'s what I thought I had to do, because of who I was. //(This choice tells the game that they were assigned male at birth.)//" "ch2 6.b">><<set $gender to 1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link "It\'s not something I\'ve considered. It was a necessity, at times, to dress and act a certain way. But that was just to survive. What do I actually want? //(This choice tells the game that they were assigned female at birth.)//" "ch2 6.a">><<set $gender to 2>><</link>></div>

"Me and Valentina..." your hand instinctively goes to the necklace you're wearing. The significance of it escapes you, but something tells you now that it's important. "We were always... you know." You say it tentatively, suddenly feeling self-conscious and vulnerable. You roll onto your side, hiding from Hana. Hiding, like you always had to. "It's not like that anymore," Hana says softly. "Better in a lot of ways." "Are you like us?" you ask, your voice small. "Yes," Hana says. You glance over your shoulder at her. She gently reaches out then and takes your hand in hers, her palm cool against your skin. She smiles softly, and you close your eyes if only to stop yourself from crying. "How long was I in that sarcophagus?" you whisper. "A hundred years." It's not Hana that answers. You both bolt up in the bed just as Valentina steps into the room. Hana jumps to her feet, taking a few quick steps back and bowing her head as Valentina approaches you. She's wearing a white dress-- though it looks like a slip, a thin, shiny fabric that clings to her body in a way that leaves very little to the imagination. "It's been a hundred years," she says softly. [[Next ->ch2 8]]

You grimace as you slide off the bed, your back twitching as it brushes against the mattress. You give Valentina a wary look as she studies your face. "People think a hundred years is not a long time for us," she says. "But it is. It's a very long time." She turns then, reaching to gather the platter from the desk, the decanter and red-stained glass. She glances back at you and Hana, holding the platter in her hands, and gestures you to follow her back into the hall. You step out after her, Hana right behind you, and you pull at Clear's shirt again, glancing around as if there was anyone else to stare at you. But it's just you and Hana and Valentina. "Let's get you some clothes," Valentina says, seeming to realize just what you're thinking. She sets the platter down in a random alcove and leads you off in a different direction. "What would you like to wear, $name?" she asks over her shoulder. She turns down another hall and stops in front of a large pair of doors. When she pushes them open, you are immediately overwhelmed by it all-- a massive closet of clothes and shoes and accessories, spanning almost the length of Clear's apartment. Valentina definitely has a bias for black and white, the closet lacking color aside from the occasional red and green, but even that is more than you could have imagined. Valentina takes your hand and guides you through the racks of clothes. "I didn't get to keep your clothes, $name," she says then, not looking at you, her long hair hiding her face. "It was hard for me to look at them." She pauses for a moment. "I bought you new ones, though, over the years. To make up for all the time we were apart." She says it all apologetically, her hand tightening around yours. <div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s okay, Valentina."' 'ch2 8.a'>><<set $v_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"What kind of clothes did I like to wear?"' 'ch2 8.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I pull my hand free from hers. ->ch2 8.c]]>><<set $v_rel -=2>><<set $v_rival to true>><</link>></div>

You eye her for a moment, before twisting your hand free, her nails lightly scraping across the back of your hand as she turns to blink at you, confused. Her dark eyes search your face, both of you suddenly tense in the closet, Hana hovering a few feet behind you. "I see," she says slowly. She draws her hand back, holding it delicately in front of her, her fingers still curling around your phantom hand. You don't say anything, just giving her a look, the pain in your back aching in warning. You aren't exactly //keen// to hold her hand right now. Memories of her churn in the back of your mind-- flashes of her pale face, the light touch of her cold hands, the curve of her teeth as they protrude over her bottom lip just before she kisses you, and violent smears of red-- but those vanish into nothingness before they can clarify, replaced instead by the dark pools of her eyes and the soft red of her mouth, a sudden vision that nearly makes you relent due to its sheer intimacy. There is something here, between you, pulsing and red and instinctual-- it's hard to resist the pull. But you feel your back twitch, you see Clear torn and bleeding on the floor, and a more primal instinct overrides it. //Predator.// She tilts her head, pursing her lips as you watch her watching you. "Her clothes are on the back wall, right, V?" Hana interrupts, stepping between you both and putting a tentative hand on your shoulder. Valentina notices. "Yes," she says, her gaze sliding over to Hana, and then back to you. "Come," she gestures you forward, turning on her heel and heading deeper into the closet. However long you were together before this-- it's been a hundred years. Are you the same person Valentina remembers? You and Hana exchange an uneasy look-- Hana turns away first, her hand sliding from your shoulder, and she quickly follows after Valentina. You do the same. [[Next ->ch2 9]]

"It's okay, Valentina," you say tentatively. "It's just clothes." She tilts her head at you, her expression hard to read. "Of course," she says. You feel compelled to squeeze her hand. It's strange-- how natural it is to hold her. You feel awkward, still uncertain and aching from the pain in your back, still wary of her long nails where they curve around your hand; but the instinctual draw between you is hard to ignore. Memories come in waves; flashes of her pale face and the light touch of her cold hands. You remember the way her canines would sometimes protrude out over her bottom lip just before she kissed you, and you remember the sound of her laugh chiming over everything else– and then violent smears of red, harsh and flinching, but the waves recede before it can fully clarify in your mind, and you're just in the closet again, staring over at her, your hand cool against her palm. If you were apart for a hundred years-- how long were you together? [[Next ->ch2 9]]

"What kind of clothes did I like to wear?" you ask quietly. Valentina gives you a small smile, lightly squeezing your hand. "You always looked so dashing in red," she says softly. "You were practical but sharp." She stares off into the past for a few seconds, recounting memories that are still beyond your reach, her hand squeezing yours again. It's strange-- how natural it is to hold her. You feel awkward, still uncertain and aching from the pain in your back, still wary of her long nails where they curve around your hand; but the instinctual draw between you is hard to ignore. Memories come in waves; flashes of her pale face and the light touch of her cold hands. You remember the way her canines would sometimes protrude out over her bottom lip just before she kissed you, and you remember the sound of her laugh chiming over everything else– and then violent smears of red, harsh and flinching, but the waves recede before it can fully clarify in your mind, and you're just in the closet again, staring over at her, your hand cool against her palm. A hundred years is a long time. How long were you together? [[Next ->ch2 9]]

Valentina leads you all the way into the depths of the closet, a small section at the very back clearly standing out from all the rest-- black and white, of course, but a lot of //red//. //Is red really my color?// There's no mirror for you to check. No reflection for you to see. <<if hasVisited("ch2 8.c")>>Valentina turns to you, smoothing down the front of her silk dress before clasping her hands together.<<else>>Valentina releases your hand then, turning to you and fidgeting with the front of her silk dress before clasping her hands together at her waist.<</if>> "I kept this small space for you..." she trails off for a moment, her gaze hardening as she stares off over your shoulder. "There are clothes from the last few decades, but I've tried to keep it... //modern//." She glances at Hana, who nods an affirmative. "I didn't know when you would rejoin me. But I wanted to make sure you would have something here when you did." You take in the wall of clothes. Stepping closer, you reach out for the first item you see, a nice, plain t-shirt with a breast pocket, and you finger the tag, noting your size and the brand. She's spent the last hundred years buying clothes for you. Your chest tightens suddenly. "What do you want to wear, $name?" Valentina asks again. <div id="choice"><<link [[Something like Clear. A t-shirt or button-up with baggy jeans and big boots.]]>><<set $clothes to 1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Something like Hana. Athletic wear that's loose-fitting and comfortable.]]>><<set $clothes to 2>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I want Valentina to pick something out for me. She should know what I like.]]>><<set $v_rel +=1>><<set $clothes to 3>><</link>></div>

You pull the t-shirt off the hanger, turning it over in your hands. You sling it over your shoulder before reaching for a black button-up, the fabric cool and soft as you roll it between your thumb and index finger. Then you rifle through a low shelf of folded jeans, finding a pair that looks a little looser than the others, the legs long and cuffed at the bottom. Hana is grinning knowingly at you, while Valentina's smile is much more subtle, just a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth. But her eyes give it away, bright and curious as she watches you fumble with the clothes, scanning the shoes tucked away along the edge of the floor. "Um..." you start, but Valentina seems to know what you're going to ask, stepping over to the shelves and indicating a few low drawers built in. "There's underwear in here for you," she says with a nod. You can't help but feel a rush of heat in your face, glancing awkwardly between her and Hana. They seem unfazed, though Hana glances away when she senses your discomfort, clearing her throat retreating a bit through the racks of clothes. "Good choice," Valentina says softly, reaching out to touch the button-up, a strange look in her eye as she studies the clothes in your hands. She pulls back after a moment, her hands clasping together again, and she watches you expectantly. <<include "ch2 10">>

You let go of the shirt, letting it rest back on the hanger, scanning the other clothes before pulling out a light grey t-shirt, cool breathable fabric and a little logo on the breast. You toss it over your shoulder before reaching for a pair of sleek black joggers, soft and stretchy as you test it in your hands. Hana is grinning knowingly at you, while Valentina's smile is much more subtle, just a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth. But her eyes give it away, bright and curious as she watches you fumble with the clothes, scanning the shoes tucked away along the edge of the floor. "Um..." you start, but Valentina seems to know what you're going to ask, stepping over to the shelves and indicating a few low drawers built in. "There's underwear in here for you," she says with a nod. You can't help but feel a rush of heat in your face, glancing awkwardly between her and Hana. They seem unfazed, though Hana glances away when she senses your discomfort, clearing her throat and retreating a bit through the racks of clothes. "Good choice," Valentina says softly, reaching out to touch the soft joggers, a strange look in her eye as she studies the clothes in your hands. She pulls back after a moment, her hands clasping together again, and she watches you expectantly. <<include "ch2 10">>

<<if $v_rival>>"Pick something out for me," you say gruffly, letting the shirt fall back on the hanger and turning back to Valentina. She looks surprised, just for a split second, before she nods, her eyes flashing with a slight upturn of her lips. "As you wish," she whispers.<<else>>"Can you pick something out for me?" you ask, letting the shirt fall back on the hanger and turning back to Valentina. "You know what I like." Valentina raises an eyebrow, looking rather pleased that you've asked, a slight upturn of her lips as she steps closer to you. "I can do that," she says softly.<</if>> You watch as she trails her hand down the long row of hanging clothes, eyeing a few of the shirts before reaching for a dark red button-up, black buttons and black stitching and soft, thin fabric sighing as she pulls it off the hanger. Then she reaches for a pair of tight black jeans, draping them over her arm before reaching for a set of drawers in the corner, set low against the wall. She pulls out a black bra and a pair of black underwear, turning to look at you with a tilt of her head. She hands you the clothes carefully, without a word, while Hana smirks knowingly, crossing her arms and leaning against the far wall with a soft chuckle. "How's that?" she prompts, her hands lingering as you fiddle with the buttons on the shirt. You nod, and she steps back, clasping her hands together again and watching you expectantly. <<include "ch2 10">>

"V," Hana calls from a few feet back, and Valentina glances back at her, then back to you. "Ah," she smiles sadly then. "Right. I'll wait outside." <div id="choice"><<link '"You can stay." ♡' 'ch2 10.a'>><<set $val_rom to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Thanks..."' 'ch2 10.b'>><</link>></div>

<<if $v_rival>><<include "ch2 10.a.1">><<else>>"You can stay," you offer, and Valentina reaches up to run a hand through her hair-- is she //nervous//? She glances back at Hana again, and when she turns back to you she touches her hair some more, twirling it around her finger, and she nods. Hana looks between the two of you before vanishing amongst the clothes. You hear the closet door open and close. Valentina tilts her head, blinking slowly, and then she nods at the clothes in your arms. "Let's see how they look?" she says. You set the bundle of clothes down, giving Valentina a quick, bashful glance before reaching over your head and tentatively pulling Clear's shirt off. You grimace as the fabric pulls at the dried blood and scabs across your back, and Valentina watches your face as the shirt falls to the floor, her brow furrowed with some emotion you can't quite decipher. <<if $clothes eq 1>>Turning towards the set of drawers, you dig through until you find a comfortable black compression bra. You turn the piece of clothing over in your hands, marveling at the design and how different it is from the bras you remember. No girdles, no corsets, no pinching wires or metal clasp. You can feel Valentina's eyes on your back as you pull the bra on. You hiss as the elastic band around the bottom scrapes across your back, and then there's a sudden relief as Valentina's cold hands adjust it for you, her finger slipping under the band and removing the pressure for a few seconds before carefully letting the tight fabric settle. You glance over your shoulder at her, but she avoids your gaze, letting her hands drop as she steps back and you reach inside the other drawer for a pair of underwear. Pulling off Clear's little shorts, you change your bottom half quick, a strange flutter in your chest as you peek back over at Valentina. But she's turned away, fidgeting with one of the other racks of clothes. You swallow hard and ignore her, pulling on the pair of jeans and adjusting the cuffing at the bottom so they fall just right at your ankles. You know you wore jeans before. These were working clothes-- though some of the jeans Valentina has folded in this closet don't look like any kind of denim you've seen before. This pair, though, feels familiar. You grab the white t-shirt, pulling it on over your head, tucking it into your jeans, and then you put on the black, short-sleeved button-up, letting it hang open and stay untucked. You grab a belt off of one of the nearby shelves and cinch that on, too, and then you hold your arms out and try to get a good look at yourself. Valentina is watching you again. She leans in, lightly touching the collar of your shirt, and you shiver as her nails whisper along your throat before she pulls your necklace free and rests it against your chest. She studies the little rose for a moment, taking a deep breath. "You look... handsome," she says slowly. "Do you like that word?" You nod. She steps even closer then, and your pulse jumps, her eyes flicking over your face before settling on your lips. She reaches out and touches your throat again. She lets her hand slide down the thin silver chain, cupping the small rose in her palm. She smiles softly as she rolls her thumb over the pendant, pressing against the small thorns hard enough to leave little white indentations on the pad of her thumb. "I'm surprised you kept this," she says quietly. She's close enough that you can feel the words ghosting over your lips. You don't respond, hopeful that she might say more-- but she just tilts her hand and lets the rose thud back against your chest, her smile fading as she blinks at you, her heavy, hooded eyes unreadable. [[Next ->ch2 10.a clothes1]]<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>Turning towards the set of drawers, you dig through until you find a comfortable black compression bra. You turn the piece of clothing over in your hands, marveling at the design and how different it is from the bras you remember. No girdles, no corsets, no pinching wires or metal clasp. You can feel Valentina's eyes on your back as you pull the bra on. You hiss as the elastic band around the bottom scrapes across your back, and then there's a sudden relief as Valentina's cold hands adjust it for you, her finger slipping under the band and removing the pressure for a few seconds before carefully letting the tight fabric settle. You glance over your shoulder at her, but she avoids your gaze, letting her hands drop as she steps back and you reach inside the other drawer for a pair of underwear. Pulling off Clear's little shorts, you change your bottom half quick, a strange flutter in your chest as you peek back over at Valentina. But she's turned away, fidgeting with one of the other racks of clothes. You swallow hard and ignore her, pulling on the joggers and running your hands across the seams. The fabric is even softer than you expected-- it feels as if you have nothing on. They remind you of long johns... but //fancy//. You fumble with the drawstrings around the waist, pulling them tight and tying them in a sloppy bow. You grab the grey shirt, pulling it on over your head, adjusting the sleeves and pulling at the hem, watching the way it falls just to your waist. Is it meant to be so short? You mutter under your breath, smoothing down the front of the shirt and fidgeting with the drawstring and your poorly tied bow. Valentina is watching you again. She leans in, lightly touching the collar of your shirt, and you shiver as her nails whisper along your throat before she pulls your necklace free and rests it against your chest. She studies the little rose for a moment, taking a deep breath. "You look... handsome," she says slowly. "Do you like that word?" You nod. She steps even closer then, and your pulse jumps, her eyes flicking over your face before settling on your lips. She reaches out and touches your throat again. She lets her hand slide down the thin silver chain, cupping the small rose in her palm. She smiles softly as she rolls her thumb over the pendant, pressing against the small thorns hard enough to leave little white indentations on the pad of her thumb. "I'm surprised you kept this," she says quietly. She's close enough that you can feel the words ghosting over your lips. You don't respond, hopeful that she might say more-- but she just tilts her hand and lets the rose thud back against your chest, her smile fading as she blinks at you, her heavy, hooded eyes unreadable. [[Next ->ch2 10.a clothes2]]<<else>>You pick up the bra that Valentina chose for you, turning the piece of clothing over in your hands, marveling at the design and how different it is from the bras you remember. No girdles, no corsets, no pinching wires or metal clasp. You can feel Valentina's eyes on your back as you pull the bra on. You hiss as the elastic band around the bottom scrapes across your back, and then there's a sudden relief as Valentina's cold hands adjust it for you, her finger slipping under the band and removing the pressure for a few seconds before carefully letting the tight fabric settle. You glance over your shoulder at her, but she avoids your gaze, letting her hands drop as she steps back and you reach next for the pair of underwear. Pulling off Clear's little shorts, you change your bottom half quick, a strange flutter in your chest as you peek back over at Valentina. But she's turned away, fidgeting with one of the other racks of clothes. You swallow hard and ignore her, pulling on the pair of jeans she picked out for you. Black denim, and they're tighter than you're used to-- you know you wore jeans before. These were working clothes-- though this pair is definitely not //that// kind of jean. They come up low on your hips, and you squirm a bit as you zip the fly and button them up. Valentina is watching you again. When you pull the button-up on, she steps close, reaching out to grab the two sides of the shirt from you. You let her slowly button the shirt, her brow furrowed as she concentrates on her task. Her cold hands make you shiver, and she glances up at you, licking her lips. The shirt is big, baggy compared to how tight the jeans are, and she doesn't button it all the way, leaving a deep opening to show your chest and the bra you're wearing. She looks you up and down, pulling the shirt flush for a moment before letting it fall naturally around your hips. "You look... handsome," she says slowly. "Do you like that word?" You nod. Her eyes go to the necklace around your throat then. She adjusts the collar of your shirt, and you shiver again as her nails whisper along your pulse before she pulls at your necklace, her hand sliding down the thin silver chain, cupping the small rose in her palm. She smiles softly as she rolls her thumb over the pendant, pressing against the small thorns hard enough to leave little white indentations on the pad of her thumb. "I'm surprised you kept this," she says quietly. She's close enough that you can feel the words ghosting over your lips. You don't respond, hopeful that she might say more-- but she just tilts her hand and lets the rose thud back against your chest, her smile fading as she blinks at you, her heavy, hooded eyes unreadable. [[Next ->ch2 10.a clothes3]]<</if>><</if>>

"Thanks..." you say, watching and waiting as Valentina and Hana retreat back through the racks of clothes, with Valentina giving you one last look before slipping out into the hallway. <<if $clothes eq 3>>Alone in the closet, you let out a long breath, staring down at the new clothes bundles in your arms. You set them down, picking up the bra that Valentina chose for you and turning the piece of clothing over in your hands, marveling at the design and how different it is from the bras you remember. No girdles, no corsets, no pinching wires or metal clasp. "Huh..." You reach over then and tentatively pull Clear's shirt off over your head, grimacing as the fabric clings to the dried blood and tugs at the hot scabs across your back.<<else>>Alone in the closet, you let out a long breath, staring down at the new clothes bundled in your arms. Setting them aside, you turn towards the set of drawers, digging through until you find a comfortable black compression bra. You turn the piece of clothing over in your hands, marveling at the design and how different it is from the bras you remember. No girdles, no corsets, no pinching wires or metal clasp. "Huh..." You grab a pair of underwear, too, and then you reach over and tentatively pull Clear's shirt off over your head, grimacing as the fabric clings to the dried blood and tugs at the hot scabs across your back.<</if>> "Fuck," you sigh, letting the shirt drop to the floor. You roll your shoulders, flexing your back, scowling at the ache that crawls across your skin. You stare down at the bra, letting out another sigh. This isn't going to feel good. You do your best to shimmy into it without upsetting your back, but the tight band at the bottom makes you gasp as it scrapes over the already irritated scabs. It takes you a few minutes to get it all the way on, panting and sweating by the end of it. Maybe more similar to the bras you remember than you thought... After collecting yourself, you take off Clear's shorts and pull on the underwear, and then you turn to your new clothes. [[Next ->ch2 10.b.1]]

"Stay," you say, and now you tilt your head at her. She purses her lips, glancing back at Hana again, and when she turns back to you her black eyes are hard, and you can see her run her tongue over her teeth as she nods. Hana looks between the two of you before vanishing amongst the clothes. You hear the closet door open and close. "You're teasing me," she says as soon as the two of you are alone. Her voice is serious, and she steps a little closer, giving you a light push back against the wall of hanging clothes. You let the racks catch you, and you lick your lips, holding your new clothes against your chest. You don't really know //what// you're doing. You eye Valentina's claws, her hands on her hips as she glares at you. "Put on the clothes, then," she huffs, waving her hand at you with a snap of her wrist. You do as she says. Setting down your bundle of clothes and reaching over your head, you tentatively pull Clear's shirt off, grimacing as the fabric pulls at the dried blood and scabs across your back. Valentina watches your face as the shirt falls to the floor, though her expression is frosty and hardly sympathetic. Her dark eyes don't stray. <<if $clothes eq 1>>You turn towards the set of drawers, digging through until you find a comfortable black compression bra. You turn the piece of clothing over in your hands, marveling at the design and how different it is from the bras you remember. No girdles, no corsets, no pinching wires or metal clasp. You can feel Valentina's eyes on your back as you pull the bra on. You hiss as the elastic band around the bottom scrapes across your back, and then there's a sudden relief as Valentina's cold hands adjust it for you, her finger slipping under the band and removing the pressure for a few seconds before carefully letting the tight fabric settle. You glance over your shoulder at her, but she avoids your gaze, letting her hands drop as she steps back and you reach inside the other drawer for a pair of underwear. Pulling off Clear's little shorts, you change your bottom half quick, a strange flutter in your chest as you peek back over at Valentina. But she's turned away, fidgeting with one of the other racks of clothes. You swallow hard and ignore her, pulling on the pair of jeans and adjusting the cuffing at the bottom so they fall just right at your ankles. You know you wore jeans before. These were working clothes-- though some of the jeans Valentina has folded in this closet don't look like any kind of denim you've seen before. This pair, though, feels familiar. You grab the white t-shirt, pulling it on over your head, tucking it into your jeans, and then you put on the black, short-sleeved button-up, letting it hang open and stay untucked. You grab a belt off of one of the nearby shelves and cinch that on, too, and then you hold your arms out and try to get a good look at yourself. Valentina is watching you again. She leans in, lightly touching the collar of your shirt, and you shiver as her nails whisper along your throat before she pulls your necklace free and rests it against your chest. She studies the little rose for a moment, taking a deep breath. "You look... handsome," she says slowly. "Do you like that word?" You nod. She steps even closer then, and your pulse jumps, her eyes flicking over your face before settling on your lips. She reaches out and touches your throat again. She lets her hand slide down the thin silver chain, cupping the small rose in her palm. For a moment you think she's going to yank the necklace off of you, her hand curling into a fist-- and then she lets go, the little silver thorns leaving pale indentations in the fat of her palm. The rose thuds back against your chest, and she blinks at you, her heavy, hooded eyes unreadable. "Put some shoes on," she says then, abruptly stepping back and pointing to the row of shoes along the floor. Your jaw clenches, and you stare after her as she starts to meander back through the closet, towards the door. You touch the rose where it rests against your chest. Maybe Valentina doesn't know what she's doing, either. <<if $clear_rom>>You swipe a pair of boots off the floor and roughly pull them on-- and you grab Clear's clothes before quickly scrambling up and following after Valentina just as she reaches for the door.<<else>>You swipe a pair of boots off the floor and roughly pull them on, quickly scrambling up and following after Valentina just as she reaches for the door.<</if>> She gives you one last dark look before stepping out into the hallway.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>You turn towards the set of drawers, digging through until you find a comfortable black compression bra. You turn the piece of clothing over in your hands, marveling at the design and how different it is from the bras you remember. No girdles, no corsets, no pinching wires or metal clasp. You can feel Valentina's eyes on your back as you pull the bra on. You hiss as the elastic band around the bottom scrapes across your back, and then there's a sudden relief as Valentina's cold hands adjust it for you, her finger slipping under the band and removing the pressure for a few seconds before carefully letting the tight fabric settle. You glance over your shoulder at her, but she avoids your gaze, letting her hands drop as she steps back and you reach inside the other drawer for a pair of underwear. Pulling off Clear's little shorts, you change your bottom half quick, a strange flutter in your chest as you peek back over at Valentina. But she's turned away, fidgeting with one of the other racks of clothes. You swallow hard and ignore her, pulling on the joggers and running your hands across the seams. The fabric is even softer than you expected-- it feels as if you have nothing on. They remind you of long johns... but //fancy//. You fumble with the drawstrings around the waist, pulling them tight and tying them in a sloppy bow. You grab the grey shirt, pulling it on over your head, adjusting the sleeves and pulling at the hem, watching the way it falls just to your waist. Is it meant to be so short? You mutter under your breath, smoothing down the front of the shirt and fidgeting with the drawstring and your poorly tied bow. Valentina is watching you again. She steps close and leans in, lightly touching the collar of your shirt, and you shiver as her nails whisper along your throat before she pulls your necklace free and rests it against your chest. She studies the little rose for a moment, taking a deep breath. "You look... handsome," she says slowly. "Do you like that word?" You nod. She steps even closer then, and your pulse jumps, her eyes flicking over your face before settling on your lips. She reaches out and touches your throat again. She lets her hand slide down the thin silver chain, cupping the small rose in her palm. For a moment you think she's going to yank the necklace off of you, her hand curling into a fist-- and then she lets go, the little silver thorns leaving pale indentations in the fat of her palm. The rose thuds back against your chest, and she blinks at you, her heavy, hooded eyes unreadable. "Put some shoes on," she says then, abruptly stepping back and pointing to the row of shoes along the floor. Your jaw clenches, and you stare after her as she starts to meander back through the closet, towards the door. You touch the rose where it rests against your chest. Maybe Valentina doesn't know what she's doing, either. <<if $clear_rom>>You swipe a pair of sleek black sneakers off the floor and roughly pull them on-- and you grab Clear's clothes before quickly scrambling up and following after Valentina just as she reaches for the door.<<else>>You swipe a pair of sleek black sneakers off the floor and roughly pull them on, quickly scrambling up and following after Valentina just as she reaches for the door.<</if>> She gives you one last dark look before stepping out into the hallway.<<else>>You pick up the bra that Valentina chose for you, marveling at the design and how different it is from the bras you remember. No girdles, no corsets, no pinching wires or metal clasp. You can feel Valentina's eyes on your back as you pull it on. You hiss as the elastic band around the bottom scrapes across your back, and then there's a sudden relief as Valentina's cold hands adjust it for you, her finger slipping under the band and removing the pressure for a few seconds before carefully letting the tight fabric settle. You glance over your shoulder at her, but she avoids your gaze, letting her hands drop as she steps back and you reach next for the underwear. Pulling off Clear's little shorts, you change your bottom half quick, a strange flutter in your chest as you peek back over at Valentina. But she's turned away, fidgeting with one of the other racks of clothes. You swallow hard and ignore her, pulling on the pair of jeans she picked out for you. Black denim, and they're tighter than you're used to-- you know you wore jeans before. These were working clothes-- though this pair is definitely not //that// kind of jean. They come up low on your hips, and you squirm a bit as you zip the fly and button them up. Valentina is watching you again. When you pull the button-up on, she steps close, reaching out to grab the two sides of the shirt from you. You let her slowly button the shirt, her brow furrowed as she concentrates on her task. Her cold hands make you shiver, and she glances up at you, licking her lips. The shirt is big, baggy compared to how tight the jeans are, and she doesn't button it all the way, leaving a deep opening to show your chest and the bra you're wearing. She looks you up and down, pulling the shirt flush for a moment before letting it fall naturally around your hips. "You look... handsome," she says slowly. "Do you like that word?" You nod. Her eyes go to the necklace around your throat then. She adjusts the collar of your shirt, and you shiver again as her nails whisper along your pulse before she pulls at your necklace, her hand sliding down the thin silver chain, cupping the small rose in her palm. For a moment you think she's going to yank the necklace off of you, her hand curling into a fist-- and then she lets go, the little silver thorns leaving pale indentations in the fat of her palm. The rose thuds back against your chest, and she blinks at you, her heavy, hooded eyes unreadable. "Put some shoes on," she says then, abruptly stepping back and pointing to the row of shoes along the floor. Your jaw clenches, and you stare after her as she starts to meander back through the closet, towards the door. You touch the rose where it rests against your chest. Maybe Valentina doesn't know what she's doing, either. <<if $clear_rom>>You swipe a pair of boots off the floor and roughly pull them on--and you grab Clear’s clothes before quickly scrambling up and following after Valentina just as she reaches for the door.<<else>>You swipe a pair of boots off the floor and roughly pull them on, quickly scrambling up and following after Valentina just as she reaches for the door.<</if>> She gives you one last dark look before stepping out into the hallway.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 10.a.2]]

<<if $clear_rom>>Hana grins at you as you step out, while Valentina stares at Clear's shirt in your hand. If she wants to make any kind of comment about it, she doesn't, instead just leading you back down the hall to your room so you can put it away. Then she collects the platter from earlier, and the three of you start off through the mansion again. "You look-- great," Hana says, still grinning at you, lengthening her stride just so she can give you a proper once-over. You give her a sheepish nod, glancing down at your new clothes.<<else>>Hana grins at you as you step out, exchanging a look with Valentina-- who is grinning now, too, the weird tension from inside the closet dissipating abruptly. She gathers up the platter from earlier, while Hana gives you a long once-over, whistling low as her eyes roam up and down. "You look-- great," she says, still grinning. You give her a sheepish nod, glancing down at your new clothes as the three of you start off through the mansion again.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 11]]

You follow Valentina down a flight of curving stairs and into a lavish front room, then down another corridor and into a massive kitchen. You wonder if she has servants working here... but something tells you Valentina is not the type to have //servants//. No-- she brought you that decanter of blood earlier herself, and now she carries it over to the sink to wash. Hana ushers you along, to a massive fridge in the corner. "Here," she reaches inside and tosses you a blood bag. You barely manage to catch it with such a short warning, the bag hitting your chest with a wet //slap//. "Have another snack," Hana smirks. "It's too early for a hunt. Drink something to hold you over for a few more hours," Valentina calls over her shoulder. Hana crosses her arms then, eyeing Valentina where she stands over the sink. "Is a hunt really such a good idea?" she asks slowly. Valentina finishes rinsing out the decanter then, turning to look at you both. "She needs to hunt. She needs to remember," Valentina says curtly. "I agree," Hana says tentatively. "But maybe we should start slow. And //careful.//" Valentina's nostrils flare. You have a hard time listening to the exchange, preoccupied with the blood in your hands. You aren't sure how to open it, pulling at the top, until you manage to rip the tab off and open the port. [[Next ->ch2 12]]

"Don't forget to pick out some shoes," she says then, stepping back with a flash of teeth. You touch the rose where it rests against your chest, your eyes meeting for a brief moment before she looks away. <<if $clear_rom>>You swipe a pair of boots off the floor and roughly pull them on-- and you grab Clear's clothes, too, before presenting yourself in front of Valentina again for a final look. She eyes Clear's clothes in your hand for a moment, before letting her gaze roam up and down, your face growing a little hot under her scrutiny.<<else>>You swipe a pair of boots off the floor and roughly pull them on, taking a few steps back and presenting yourself in front of Valentina again for a final look. Her gaze roams up and down, tapping a finger to her chin for dramatic effect.<</if>> "Well?" you prompt, impatient. Valentina nods. "It suits you," she says, smiling softly. "Yeah?" You glance down at yourself, pulling on the shirt, loosening the tuck a little bit. Valentina steps close then and loops her arm around yours, pulling you back through the racks of clothes and towards the front of the closet. She gives you one last little sideways glance before reaching for the door and pulling you out into the hallway. [[Next ->ch2 10.a.3]]

<<if $clear_rom>>Hana grins at you as you step out, while Valentina gestures you down the hall to your room so you can put away Clear's torn clothes. Then she collects the platter from earlier, and the three of you start off through the mansion again. "You look-- great," Hana says, still grinning at you, lengthening her stride just so she can look you up and down. You give her a sheepish nod, glancing down at your new clothes.<<else>>Hana grins at you as you step out, exchanging a look with Valentina-- who is grinning now, too, the weird tension from inside the closet dissipating abruptly. She gathers up the platter from earlier, while Hana gives you a long once-over, whistling low as she nods approvingly. "You look-- great," she says, still grinning. You give her a sheepish nod, glancing down at your new clothes as the three of you set off through the mansion again.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 11]]

"Don't forget to pick out some shoes," she says then, stepping back with a flash of teeth. You touch the rose where it rests against your chest, your eyes meeting for a brief moment before she looks away. <<if $clear_rom>>You swipe a pair of sleek black sneakers off the floor and roughly pull them on-- and you grab Clear's clothes, too, before presenting yourself in front of Valentina again for a final look. She eyes Clear's clothes in your hand for a moment, before letting her gaze roam up and down, your face growing a little hot under her scrutiny.<<else>>You swipe a pair of sleek black sneakers off the floor and roughly pull them on, taking a few steps back and presenting yourself in front of Valentina again for a final look. Her gaze roams up and down, tapping a finger to her chin for dramatic effect.<</if>> "Well?" you prompt. Valentina nods, her eyes flashing as she studies the sliver of skin between the bottom of your shirt and the top of your joggers. It makes you squirm-- in a good way. You glance down at yourself, pulling on the joggers, letting them rest a little lower on your hips. Valentina smirks, stepping close and looping her arm around yours, pulling you back through the racks of clothes and towards the front of the closet. She gives you one last little sideways glance before reaching for the door and pulling you out into the hallway. [[Next ->ch2 10.a.3]]

"Don't forget to pick out some shoes," she says then, stepping back with a flash of teeth. You touch the rose where it rests against your chest, your eyes meeting for a brief moment before she looks away. <<if $clear_rom>>You swipe a pair of boots off the floor and roughly pull them on-- and you grab Clear's clothes, too, before presenting yourself in front of Valentina again for a final look. She eyes Clear's clothes in your hand for a moment, before letting her gaze roam up and down, your face growing a little hot under her scrutiny.<<else>>You swipe a pair of boots off the floor and roughly pull them on, taking a few steps back and presenting yourself in front of Valentina again for a final look. Her gaze roams up and down, tapping a finger to her chin for dramatic effect.<</if>> "Well?" you prompt. Valentina nods, stepping close, hooking her fingers in the belt loops of your jeans. She pulls you close, tilting her head, smirking at you. "I like this," she says, pulling on the belt loops again. "Low rise looks good on you." You swallow loudly, and her smirk grows wider as she releases your jeans to loop her arm around yours, leading you back through the racks of clothes and towards the front of the closet. She gives you one last little sideways glance before reaching for the door and pulling you out into the hallway. [[Next ->ch2 10.a.3]]

<<if $clothes eq 1>>You pick up the heavy pair of jeans, turning them over in your hands. You know you wore jeans before-- working clothes. Though, some of the jeans Valentina has folded in this closet don't look like any kind of denim you've seen before. This pair, though, feels familiar. You ease into the jeans, far easier than the bra, and you adjust the cuffing at the bottom so they fall just right at your ankles. The white t-shirt next, tucking it into the jeans, and then you put on the black, short-sleeved button-up, letting it hang open and stay untucked. You grab a belt off of one of the nearby shelves and cinch that on, too, and then you hold your arms out and try to get a good look at yourself. You wish you had a reflection. You adjust your collar, feeling the necklace underneath and pulling it through so it rests overtop your shirt. You stare down at the little thorns, touching the petals, shaking your head and turning to find some shoes. You swipe up a pair of boots and quickly pull them on, and then you just sit on the floor for a moment, staring down at yourself.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>You pick up the joggers, turning them over in your hands, tracing the seams with your thumb. You pull them on-- far easier than the bra-- and the fabric is even softer than you expected. It feels as if you have nothing on. It reminds you of long johns... but //fancy//. You fumble with the drawstrings around the waist, pulling them tight and tying them in a sloppy bow. Next, you put on the grey shirt, carefully pulling it over your head and adjusting the sleeves. They're a little short, and the shirt just falls to your waist, loose and boxy. Is it meant to be so short? You mutter under your breath, pulling at the hem and fidgeting with the drawstring and your poorly tied bow. You wish you had a reflection. You pull at your collar, feeling the necklace underneath and pulling it through so it rests overtop your shirt. You stare down at the little thorns, touching the petals, shaking your head and turning to find some shoes. You swipe up a pair of sleek black sneakers and quickly pull them on, and then you just sit on the floor for a moment, staring down at yourself.<<else>>You pick up the pair of jeans Valentina picked out for you, turning them over in your hands. Black denim, and they're tighter than you're used to-- you know you wore jeans before. These were working clothes-- though this pair is definitely not //that// kind of jean. You have to jump in place to pull them up, cursing for a moment until you manage to pull them over your thighs. They come up low on your hips, and you squirm a bit as you zip the fly and button them up. Next is the shirt, a soft, light fabric that hangs loose and thankfully doesn't pull at your back. You do up the buttons, but end up opening the top a bit, feeling strange with it buttoned all the way up to your throat. You also grab a belt off one of the nearby shelves, and you don't know if it will really help, but the jeans are a little more comfortable with the belt cinched around your hips. You wish you had a reflection. You adjust your collar, grabbing your necklace and pulling it out from underneath your bra, letting it rest on top in the gap between the two sides of your button-up. You stare down at the little thorns, touching the petals, shaking your head and turning to find some shoes. //Is this really something I would wear? Or just something Valentina //wants// me to...// You swipe up a pair of boots and quickly pull them on, and then you just sit on the floor for a moment, staring down at yourself.<</if>> //A hundred years//, you think. You sigh, pushing yourself onto your feet. "Sure. This is fine," you mutter, smoothing down the front of your shirt one last time. <<if $clear_rom>>You grab Clear's clothes and then turn on your heel to head for the door. You hesitate a moment, taking a deep breath, and then you step out into the hall. Hana and Valentina both turn to look at you, Hana already grinning and clasping her hands together excitedly, while Valentina's gaze goes straight to Clear's clothes in your hand. Then she slowly looks you up and down, tilting her head as her stare lingers on the necklace resting against your chest. She steps closer, opening her mouth as if to say something-- but she stops herself, and just smiles. "Handsome," she says softly. "Is it alright if I call you that?" You nod, fidgeting with Clear's shirt. After a slightly awkward moment, Valentina gestures down the hall to your room, waiting as you put away Clear's torn clothes. Then she collects the platter from earlier, and the three of you start off through the mansion again. "You look-- great," Hana says, still grinning at you, lengthening her stride just so she can give you a proper once-over. You give her a sheepish smile in return, glancing down at your new clothes, reaching up to absently touch the little silver rose.<<else>>Then you turn on your heel and head for the door. Hana grins at you as you step out, exchanging a look with Valentina-- who is grinning, too, slowly looking you up and down. But her smile falters, and she tilts her head, her gaze lingering on the necklace resting against your chest. She steps closer, opening her mouth as if to say something-- but she stops herself, and just smiles again. "Handsome," she says softly. "Is it alright if I call you that?" You nod, fidgeting with your new shirt. Valentina turns and gathers up the platter from earlier then, while Hana gives you a long once-over, whistling low as she nods approvingly. "You look-- great," she says, still grinning. You give her a sheepish smile in return, glancing down at your new clothes, reaching up to absently touch the little silver rose as the three of you start off through the mansion again.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 11]]

"Since when are you the voice of reason, Hana?" Valentina is saying. "We have the council practically breaking down our door, V. If ever there was a time to be reasonable, this is it." "I don't give a shit about the council. They have no authority over me." "Is that what you said last time? Is that what you said to her?" Hana points at you then. You're drinking from the bag, tilting your head back, hungry and greedy and unable to care about how they're both looking at you. Valentina scowls, throwing her dishrag into the sink and striding across the room towards Hana. "Watch your mouth," she sneers, jabbing a clawed finger at Hana's chest. Hana doesn't flinch, but the atmosphere in the room turns foul, with you quickly snapping out of your hunger trance and moving to put yourself between the two women. Valentina's face twitches as you push her hand back, but she relents, stepping away and crossing her arms, her and Hana mirroring each other as they exchange glares. "Tell me about this council," you say carefully, glancing between them, though you direct the question more at Valentina. "The council is just a bunch of old men playing dress up," Valentina snaps, and you find yourself amused-- she could have just called them //old bastards//, too. "We are self-governing. We don't need a //council//. I lived hundreds of years before the council, and I'll live hundreds of years after them, too. I'll outlive them all. Geriatric old fucks," she spits. //There it is.// She lets out a long breath then, you and Hana watching her with raised brows. [[Next ->ch2 13]]

"We've always watched out for our own," she says then, slower, calmer now. "But that's not what they want. They want to control as many vampires as they can, infringing on our lives until we do what they say and act how they want. They say it's for the //greater good// of our kind-- they're full of shit." She pauses, turning away, running her hands through her hair. "They only care about themselves. They'd chain us all up underground if they could." When it's clear she’s not going to say anything else, Hana sighs, leaning back against the fridge. "Vampires have lived independently for a long time. Recently-- the last two centuries-- this 'council' has tried to form here in the States. Older vampires, insisting on //tradition//," Hana rolls her eyes. "They've been obsessed with Valentina for a while-- and you, too." "Why?" is all you manage to ask. "Because we're older. I'm older than most of them," Valentina answers. "They want me to join them. Whether //I// want to or not." "Vampires aren't exactly a cohesive unit," Hana continues then. "There's not a lot of us, and we're scattered all over the world. One vampire could live alone for a hundred years and never meet another like it. The council has been trying to gain control over the populous cities-- like this one." "I came here because this is where they entombed you," Valentina says, turning back to face you again. "Not that they ever let me visit," she scoffs. "But I wanted to be close to you. My presence drew others to this place. There's a decent number of us here now, and it's exactly what the council wanted." Valentina's face twists in disgust. "I refuse to join them." You take a moment to process all of that. Valentina suddenly seems exhausted, letting out a long breath and walking back to wipe down the blood in the sink. Hana watches her sadly. "They have been breathing down my neck since they entombed you," Valentina says quietly, talking down into the sink. "I am afraid of what kind of opportunity they see now in your return." <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t understand. Why entomb me if they want us to join them?"' 'ch2 13.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"They sound like a bunch of pricks."' 'ch2 13.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Should we be worried? Should we be... preparing?"' 'ch2 13.c'>><</link>></div>

"I don't understand," you say slowly. "Why entomb me if they want us to join them?" Valentina stills where she leans over the sink. "Let's not talk about that right now," she says abruptly. "You can't keep avoiding the question. I'll keep asking," you say, but Valentina just shakes her head, throwing down her dishrag again. "We shouldn't be talking about any of this shit right now," she snaps. "It can wait until after you've had something to eat." "Valentina--" "Take her back to her room," she says to Hana, refusing to look at you. Hana nods reluctantly. You glare at Valentina's back as Hana escorts you out of the kitchen. [[Next ->ch2 14]]

"They sound like a bunch of pricks," you say, and Valentina laughs. "Yes. That's exactly what you said, before..." she trails off then, her laughter fading. A tense silence stretches out between the three of you. "A bunch of fucking pricks," Valentina mutters after a minute of intense scrubbing in the sink. "Nothing we can do about it right now," Hana shrugs, pushing off the fridge then. "But it does feel good to call them names," she smirks. Valentina laughs weakly. "I'm not sure what they're going to do. We just have to wait for their response," she says, dropping the dishrag back into the sink and finally turning back to face you again. "Just take it one day at a time. Right, V?" Hana prompts, and you get the feeling this is something she tells her often. "Yeah," Valentina sighs. "Why don't you take $name back to her room?" she says abruptly then. "I need to... take care of a few more things..." she mutters, and Hana just nods. "Come on," she says gently, and you give Valentina one last look before following Hana out the door. [[Next ->ch2 14]]

"Should we be worried? Should we be... preparing?" you say slowly, fidgeting with the blood bag in your hands. Valentina scoffs, though you don't think she intends to be cruel. "There's nothing we could do," she shakes her head. "They could walk right in, if they wanted. That's the kind of power they've taken for themselves." "Well-- but there are people that support us. Which is exactly why they //haven't// just walked in here," Hana cuts in. "It would be a bad look." "You're they're opposition?" you ask in disbelief. Valentina scoffs again. "I'm not anything. I'm just someone that told them //no//, once upon a time," she sighs. A tense silence stretches out between the three of you. "Hana, can you please take $name back to her room?" Valentina says abruptly. "There are... a few more things, I want to take care of..." she mutters to herself. Hana nods, giving you a tight smile. "Come on," she says gently, and you give Valentina one last look before following Hana out the door. [[Next ->ch2 14]]

You walk back through the house in silence, up the stairs and down the winding corridor back to your room. Hana sighs, stopping short in front of the door. "I'm sorry... I'm sure this is... a lot." She hesitates then. "Valentina will come around. This is a lot for her, too," she says. You purse your lips, staring down at your half-empty blood bag. "How does it feel?" Hana asks then. "How does what feel?" you prompt. "Your hunger." <div id="choice"><<link '"It hurts."' 'ch2 14.a'>><<set $hunger_feels to 1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"It feels cold."' 'ch2 14.b'>><<set $hunger_feels to 2>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s just empty."' 'ch2 14.c'>><<set $hunger_feels to 3>><</link>></div>

"It hurts," you say slowly. Sharp pain lances through your stomach seemingly at random, and there's a perpetual, deep ache you can feel all the way through to the base of your spine. //It hurts.// <<include "ch2 15">>

"It feels... cold," you say slowly. It emanates from the base of your spine, through your stomach and into your chest. Icy fingers constricting around your diaphragm with each breath you take, pain prickling just beneath your skin. //It's so cold.// <<include "ch2 15">>

"It's just empty," you say slowly. That's the best way you can describe it-- a void in your chest, expanding with each breath you take, pressing painfully against your ribcage and twisting in your stomach. The open maw of your hunger. <<include "ch2 15">>

"I can't imagine it..." Hana says, studying your face. "But I can see it." She tilts her head, peering into your eyes. "It won't be much longer," she assures you. "I've waited a hundred years. What's a few more hours?" you try to joke. Hana just smiles sadly. [[Next ->ch2 16]]

"I have something for you," she says then. "I meant to give it to you earlier, before Valentina showed up..." She digs down into her pocket and pulls out one of the little devices you saw all those people carrying around last night. "What is this?" you ask as she hands it to you. It's slightly warm, with a smooth glass surface and a few buttons along the side. You push one, and the screen lights up. "It's a phone," Hana says. "Really?" you ask in disbelief. Hana ushers you inside your room then. "Valentina didn't want to give you one yet, but-- you should have one." You set the blood bag down on the desk just inside your room and turn the phone over in your hands. "There's no... numbers?" you give Hana a questioning look. The last phone you remember was a rotary phone. "Let me set it up for you," Hana takes it from your hand, sidling up close and showing you how to unlock the screen. You feel uneasy, looking at all the little icons and words that you can't read. She helps you set a pin for the lock, then shows you how to open it again. You just set it to //123456//. Simple. "All you need to know right now is how to access the phone itself," she explains. "This one here," she taps the little image of a phone, and the screen shifts. "This is the phone application. So you can make phone calls." You just nod, staring down at the device. "The only numbers in here right now are mine and V's. They're alphabetical, see?" She shows you the contact list. You can't read their names. "So you're first?" you ask, a shameful heat creeping across your face. Hana doesn't notice. "Right. Me, then Valentina." Her eyes widen excitedly then. "Here, I'll take my picture. I can add it to my contact and you'll see my face when I call," she grins. <div id="choice"><<link '"Let me take it for you." ♡' 'ch2 16.a'>><<set $hana_rom to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"There\'s a camera?"' 'ch2 16.b'>><</link>></div>

"...Let me take it for you," you say. Hana tilts her head at you, smiling wider, flashing the curved edge of her canines. "Okay," she says. "I'll show you how." She steps closer, shoulder to shoulder, and holds the phone up for you again. She taps the little icon depicting a camera lens-- //duh//-- and the screen shifts yet again, going dark for a few seconds before a live view of your and Hana's feet fill the display. "What the hell," you mutter. Hana grins, raising the phone and pointing it at you. "Whoa, hey, you still show up on camera," she says, surprised. "Is that weird?" "Cameras don't pick V up at all. I just assumed it would be the same for you," she shrugs, peeking around the phone at you. "Why doesn't she show up?" "I don't know," Hana says. "Some undead curse. She's older, so her reflection is completely gone." Your brow furrows, and you hear a //click// as Hana takes a picture of you. "Look," she says, turning the screen back to you. You appear a little more… //solid// than when you look in a mirror, but your face is still just a featureless smear, and you shake your head at her. She giggles at whatever expression you must be making. "Okay, okay, here," she taps the back of the phone then, indicating the little black square protruding slightly from the otherwise sleek device. "This is the lens here. So just point it at me, and then push the big red button." "O-kay…" you say as she hands the phone back to you. You point the lens around the room, watching the feed through the screen, even pointing it up at the ceiling out of curiosity. Then you point it at Hana. [[Next ->ch2 16.a.1]]

"There's a camera?" you ask dubiously. Hana grins even wider. "Let me show you," she says, holding the phone up for you again. She taps the little icon depicting a camera lens-- //duh//-- and the screen shifts yet again, going dark for a few seconds before a live view of your and Hana's feet fill the display. "What the hell," you mutter. "See? This is the lens here," she taps the back of the phone, the little black square protruding slightly from the otherwise sleek device. "So you just point it at what you want to take a picture of. You can also flip it around to here," she taps the front of the phone, "and see yourself." She hesitates. "Well… you know." The camera flips, and you squint as your face smudges across the screen. "Woah, you're still showing up a little bit," Hana sounds surprised. "Cameras don't pick up V at all." "Why not?" "I don't know," Hana shrugs. "Some undead curse. She's older, so her reflection is completely gone." "How old is she?" Hana quirks her eyebrow at you. "It's rude to ask a lady her age," she smirks. [[Next ->ch2 16.b.1]]

There were times where you had to dress as a man-- out of necessity. To get work, to hide. Sometimes you really liked it. You liked how they would treat you, how they respected you, and you liked the power it gave you, the ability to provide for yourself and Valentina in a way you were never able to before. Sometimes you hated it. You're not a man, and the clothes you wore, how you looked-- it shouldn't change that. You're not a man, and you shouldn't have to be to do the things you want. After a while, the two sides started to blur-- which one was the mask, and which one was really you? Valentina would welcome you home either way. You remember that. She could see through it; she always knew it was you. And now… //who are you?// That's the question. "...I don’t know," you shrug against the mattress, glancing over at Hana. "I haven't thought about it. I think-- before, I was too worried about being //found out// for other reasons. I haven't thought about it." Hana just smiles, soft and patient. [[Next ->ch2 7]]

There were times where you had to dress as a man-- out of necessity. To get work, to hide. Your skin crawls as the unpleasant memories stir. So you would wear dresses and makeup and try-- you tried so hard, to compensate for it. You had to trade one mask for another. It was important to you, to be seen in a certain way. You would wear the dress to hear strangers call you a woman, but the dress was //not// what made you a woman. It was never about how you looked, how you dressed-- clothing doesn't dictate who you are, not really. It made you feel better sometimes, though. Sometimes it made you feel worse. Who was the woman-- you, or the fucking dress? Valentina would welcome you home either way. You remember that. She could see through it; she always knew it was you. And now… //who are you?// That's the question. "...I don’t know," you shrug against the mattress, glancing over at Hana. "I haven't thought about it. I think-- before, I was too worried about being //found out// for other reasons. I haven't thought about it." Hana just smiles, soft and patient. [[Next ->ch2 7]]

She blinks at you, tilting her head, the little version of her in the screen doing the same. Hana's image is a little fuzzy around the edges, a slight distortion that seems to get worse the longer she's in the camera's lens-- but she can take a picture, and she can see herself in it. "Are you going to pose for me?" you ask, glancing at her over the top of the phone. She bats her lashes, raising her hands to cradle her face, her eyes bright as she smiles at you. You snap the picture, and then another as she drops her hands and moves into a more candid pose. You take a few more, as she grins and reaches for the phone. "Hey! Only one photo!" she laughs as you dart back, snapping a few more of her before she manages to grab the phone from you as you trip back onto the bed. She falls on top of you, giggling for a moment, her body pressed against yours before she rolls off and starts to swipe through the pictures. You stay back on the mattress, peering up at her as she scoffs at the phone. "I like that one," you say, tilting your head, eyeing the screen and the image of her laughing, her hand outstretched towards the camera. Hana glances back at you, looking a little bashful. "I'll use that one, then," she says softly. You sit back up just as she shows you her new contact, the little picture displayed just above her name. "There. Now you'll see my cute face every time I call," she grins, bumping you with her shoulder. You take the phone from her and struggle through the home screen then, clicking around, enjoying Hana's body pressed against yours as she peers over at you. [[Next ->ch2 16.a.2]]

"There's a few other things I can show you," she says then, reaching over and lightly touching your hand, and you pull back so she can reach the touchscreen. "Here's the camera roll. All the pictures you just took will be here," she says, tapping a new icon. She shows you the weather application, and you watch the radar flash across the map for a few minutes, replaying over and over, Hana chuckling at your amazement. Then she shows you the clock, how to set an alarm-- various things you'll forget immediately. "Oh, one more thing," she says, wiggling beside you as she reaches into her pocket and produces her own phone. "We can message each other, too." You watch as she quickly types something, and then your phone //dings//, Hana's name and little portrait flashing across the screen. You tap the notification, and it takes you into a new application. You blink at the words and the little keyboard on your screen. "You just have to touch the letters," she says, pressing her cheek to your shoulder. "Uh…." you swallow loudly. "I'll just call you, if I need anything." Hana giggles. "Okay," she says. You stand then, feeling embarrassed, and Hana blinks after you, watching as you pace around the room. [[Next ->ch2 16.a.3]]

<<if $clear_rom is true and $clear_kickout is true>>You tinker with the phone for a while-- though mainly you just scroll through the camera roll, glancing between the pictures of Hana and of her in real life, sitting on your bed. And your picture, too-- eyeing your reflection, comparing the two. <<include "ch2 17 c rom">><<else>><<include "ch2 17">><</if>>

"Hana," you say after a few minutes of tinkering, a sudden realization dawning on you, "can you add a number for me?" She tilts her head at you. "Sure. Whose number?" You retrieve Clear's shorts from where you dropped them earlier. Digging into the little pocket, you pull out the slip of paper she gave you. You hand it to Hana. "Clear's," you explain when she gives you a look. "That's cute," she hums, and you roll your eyes. She adds the number, showing you how (you'll forget) and then she shows you the contact list again. "Clear's first now," she explains. <<if $hana_rom>>"And then me," she says, batting her lashes at you and leaning close, mimicking her little portrait-- and giving you a little wink.<<else>>"And then me," she mimics her little portrait, smiling at you.<</if>> "Thanks, Hana," you say, staring down at the glowing screen. "You're welcome," she says. [[Next ->ch2 17]]

You don't know how long you stand dicking around on the phone, but after a while it starts to give you a headache. You set it on the desk beside your slumping bag of blood. Hana is lounging on your bed, watching //television//. You didn't even notice the screen on the wall earlier, when you first woke up. You're not sure what she's watching, but you ignore it, the flashing images only making the ache behind your eyes worse. "You should finish that bag," Hana says suddenly. She sits up, gracefully sliding from the bed. "And I should go check on V…" "Can I ask you something, before you go?" "Shoot," Hana says. <div id="choice"><<link '"Are you and Valentina… together?"' 'ch2 17.a'>><<set $h_rel -=2>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"How long have you and Valentina been here?"' 'ch2 17.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Do you know what happened? To me?"' 'ch2 17.c'>><</link>></div>

Hana points the camera at herself then. Her image is a little fuzzy around the edges, a slight distortion that seems to get worse the longer she's in the camera's lens-- but she can take a picture, and she can see herself in it. She snaps a grinning portrait, and then fiddles with the phone to set it with her contact. She shows it to you proudly. "One more thing," she gives you the phone back and then pulls out her own. "We can message each other, too," she explains. She types on the phone and then yours //dings// softly, her name and picture flashing across the top of the screen. You blink at the words and the little keyboard on your screen. "You just have to touch the letters," she says, leaning over your shoulder. "Uh…." you swallow loudly. "I'll just call you, if I need anything." Hana giggles. "Okay," she says. [[Next ->ch2 16.b.2]]

She shows you a few more things on the phone-- the camera roll, the clock, the weather-- all things you're certain you will forget shortly. You memorize the icon for the contact list, though: a little spiral book, with an old phone on it. That, at least, is familiar to you. <<if $clear_rom eq true and $clear_kickout eq true>><<include "ch2 17 c rom">><<else>><<include "ch2 17">><</if>>

"Are you and Valentina… together?" you ask tentatively. It's been eating at you all day-- you can't get a read on their relationship. You can't decide if it bothers you or not. Hana smirks, and it slowly turns into a wide smile, and then a laugh. "What a question," she scoffs, sitting back on the edge of the bed. You don't back down, crossing your arms as you look over at her. "I mean… have we slept together, is probably the better question. And the answer is yes. But are we together? Not in the way that you're implying," she says slowly. "What the hell does that mean?" "It means that I'm not you," she says with a shrug. "She'll choose you. Even when you were dead in that sarcophagus, she still chose you." You think you detect a hint of bitterness beneath the projected nonchalance. "Does that answer your question?" she says, pushing off the bed and tossing her hair over her shoulder. She brushes past you for the door, and you turn to watch her go. "You know, I was just starting to think-- you weren't what I expected. That you weren't like Valentina. But I guess I just need to give it more time, and you'll prove me wrong," she says, and she doesn't wait for you to respond, stepping out the door and snapping it closed behind her hard enough to rattle the vanity across the room. "...Fuck," you sigh, the television flashing in the corner, and you imagine the people onscreen glaring at you through the glass. [[Next ->ch2 18]]

"How long have you and Valentina been here?" you ask. "Hmm, well, Valentina has been here since you were entombed. So… a hundred years. I've been here… a few decades, I think." "Did she sire you here?" "No," Hana says simply. "No, she didn't sire me. Not like you." You sense something more there, but Hana turns away, staring over at her distorted reflection in the vanity. "No, me and Valentina just sort of… found each other," she says slowly. You wait for her to elaborate, but again, she doesn't. "You know, you're not what I expected," she says then. "Maybe it's too early to say, really… But I thought you'd be more like Valentina." You tilt your head at her, and she laughs. "Yes, like that," she says. "I'm not sure if that's meant to be a compliment or an insult," you say. "Neither. It's just an observation," Hana muses. She starts to make her way to the door then. "You should get ready for the hunt," is the last thing she says before slipping out into the hallway, leaving you alone with the glowing light of the television. [[Next ->ch2 18]]

"Do you know what happened? To me?" you ask slowly. Hana sighs, leaning back against the edge of the bed. "You know I can't tell you that," she says. "That's something only Valentina can tell you." "You don't have to tell me //what// happened, just… if you know," you press. Hana purses her lips, narrowing her eyes at you. "Yes. I know," she says eventually. You let out a long breath. For some reason, it comforts you that someone besides just Valentina knows the truth. "Did she tell you?" Hana pushes off the bed then. "I thought you'd be more like her, you know," she says abruptly. "What do you mean?" you ask warily. "I mean I thought you'd be more like Valentina," she says. "Maybe it's too early to tell, really." She shrugs. "I'm not sure if that's meant to be a compliment or an insult," you say, crossing your arms as she meanders past you towards the door. "Neither. It's just an observation, $name," she says. She reaches for the doorknob. "You should get ready for the hunt," is all she says before slipping out into the hall and leaving you alone with the glowing light of the television. [[Next ->ch2 18]]

You watch the television for a while, despite your headache, entranced just like you were back in Clear's apartment. But eventually, you turn it off, grabbing the blood bag from the table and sucking down the rest of it until the bag collapses in on itself-- though you feel far from satisfied. You just feel the hunger. You curl up on the bed, clutching your stomach, breathing hard and sweating in your new clothes. It's looming over you, a dark shadow on the wall, burning in the back of your throat and twisting in your gut. "Fuck," you pant, closing your eyes and pressing your face into the pillows. It was easier to ignore earlier-- with Valentina and Hana to distract you. But alone, there's no one standing between you and //it//. You thrash around on the bed for an agonizingly long time, tossing and turning and drooling on the sheets. You briefly consider trying to find the kitchen on your own and getting more blood bags, but you fear you may run into someone in the hall-- someone like Clear. Someone //human//. [[You'll kill them. ->ch2 19]]

When Valentina and Hana return to your room later, you're still on the bed, and Valentina has to climb onto the mattress to pull you off. You groan as she helps you to your feet, Hana hovering in the doorway, watching you with wide eyes. "Come on," Valentina says softly, brushing her hand over your face and wiping the sweat from your brow. You feel the slow pulse of her heart as she holds you upright, and you turn your head to stare at the curve of her neck, your lips parting as you remember how she tasted last night. "She looks real bad, V," Hana says quietly, shifting warily in the doorway. "We should take her straight to the hotel." "We're not going to the hotel," she snaps, her hands tightening around you when you try to sway towards her throat. "Are you kidding me?" Hana huffs. "You're going to take her out like that?" "You think you can get her through the lobby like that?" Valentina shoots back. You don't know what the hell they're talking about. You squirm in Valentina's grip, but she doesn't relent, her nails an uncomfortable pressure on your skin even through your clothes. "Let her decide," Hana says then. Valentina gives her a look that could kill. "Fine," Valentina huffs. "$name," she gives you a little shake. "You need to decide." You look between them, licking your lips. <div id ="choice"><<link 'I\'ll go with Valentina.' 'ch2 val 1'>><<set $ch2_val to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link 'I\'ll go with Hana.' 'ch2 hana 1'>><<set $ch2_hana to true>><</link>></div>

"Hana," is all you manage to say. Valentina's nails threaten to puncture as she drags you across the room and throws you into Hana's arms. To say she's //mad// is an understatement. "Go, then. Take her to the fucking hotel," Valentina snaps. Hana wavers for a moment, glancing back and forth between you and Valentina, before she finds her resolve and pulls you out into the hall. Valentina follows close behind, slamming your door closed and glaring after you. "Valentina, don't be like that," you say, which is apparently the wrong thing to say. She stops following you then, standing at the end of the corridor and watching as you and Hana reach the top of the stairs. You can't tell if she's crying, or if it's just the hard glint of anger in her eyes. You have to turn away to make sure you don't fall down the stairs, grabbing the banister while Hana loops an arm around your waist. This close, and the hunger almost convinces you to bite her and end the torture now, but you shake your head, pushing it away-- separating yourself to put it back in its cage. //It would be so easy,// the hunger says. You ignore it. [[Next ->ch2 hana 2]]

Hana stays quiet as the two of you walk out the front doors and into the humid summer night. She gets you situated in the passenger seat, closing your door and walking around to the driver side. You watch her climb in, breathing hard as you twist uncomfortably against your seatbelt. It feels like your skin is trying to crawl off your body-- like your teeth are trying to burrow into your skull. <<if $hunger_feels eq 1>>It aches all the way into your bones, a throbbing sensation that makes your fingers twitch and your back arch, your ribs lancing with pain if you dare to breathe too deep.<<elseif $hunger_feels eq 2>>It's a cold sweat that gathers in the small of your back, a cold pain that creeps up your spine and makes you shiver violently despite the thick, hot air of the car clinging to your skin.<<else>>It expands wider and wider, phantom ribs cracking and splintering to pieces in your chest, broken bone piercing your diaphragm with each ragged breath, and it snakes down your spine, a painful pressure building between your vertebrae.<</if>> Hana turns the ignition, and the rumble of the car makes you wince. She quickly starts to back out, whipping you into the street while grabbing her phone and pressing it to her ear. "It's Hana," she says when whoever she's calling answers. You hear a muffled voice on the other end, incomprehensible mumbling through the phone's speaker. "I need a room ready in the next twenty minutes," she says. She listens to the muffled voice. "Whatever you can get, I don't care. V's not with me," she clarifies. She nods silently as the person talks into her ear. "Okay. Thanks." She hangs up, tossing her phone into the cupholder. You drive in silence for a few minutes. [[Next ->ch2 hana 3]]

"I'm taking you to Valentina's hotel," Hana says eventually. "She owns a hotel?" "Yeah. She married some guy a while ago, some old rich guy whose family owned this hotel chain." "Valentina is married?" you blurt. Hana gives you a look. "I mean, technically, I guess. She killed the guy, though. That's how she got the hotels. It's not marriage, not really. It's just work. It's how we stay alive." Hana clears her throat then. "The people at the hotel are //our// people. They know what we are. It's the easiest way to get a meal without worrying about getting caught," she explains. "They're going to set us up so we can just walk in and go straight to a room." "//Set us up//? What does that entail?" You're curious, but also you need her to keep talking to you. It helps. "It means they're going to put someone in a room for us," she says slowly. She glances over at you, then back to the road. "Usually a bad person. Or someone who knows but won't play along. Or... someone who wants it." She glances at you again, waiting for your reaction. <div id="choice"><<link '"What makes someone a bad person?"' 'ch2 hana 3.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Someone who won\'t //play along//?"' 'ch2 hana 3.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"People want this?"' 'ch2 hana 3.c'>><</link>></div>

"What makes someone a bad person?" Hana barks out a laugh. "Do I look like a philosopher to you?" she scoffs. She shifts in her seat, flexing her hands around the steering wheel. "They're people that have hurt other people. That's as simple as I can say it." You study her profile for a moment. "Predators," she says. "//Those// kinds of people." You glance at your distorted reflection in the rearview mirror. "Yeah. I'm familiar with those kinds of people," you say. "There's a reason for Valentina's reputation. There's a reason people like her," Hana says then. "The judge, jury, and executioner," you muse. Hana turns to look at you, making you squirm as other cars fly past in the opposite direction. "Don't compare her to them," she warns. Another painful moment as she glares at you, and then she turns back to the road. Hana doesn't say anything else, her brow furrowed, and you sink back into the passenger seat, closing your eyes for a moment as the city looms up ahead. [[Next ->ch2 hana 4]]

"People want this?" Hana barks out a humorless laugh. "Of course," she says. "Lots of people fantasize about this kind of thing," she muses. "Like a fetish," she adds, in case it wasn't clear enough. "Of course," you say. She chuckles. "It's not always for that reason," she continues. "Some people just want to die." She says it so casually-- you turn and study her profile for a moment. "It's not always a bad thing, to provide that for someone," she says slowly, glancing over at you. You're not sure who she's trying to convince. "No, I suppose not," is all you say. You lapse into silence then, and you sink back into your seat, closing your eyes for a moment and pressing your face to the cool glass window as the city looms up ahead. [[Next ->ch2 hana 4]]

"Someone who won't //play along//?" you ask. Hana purses her lips, letting out a little sigh. "You know, like we talked about with Clear," she starts. "If she refused to come with us-- she'd probably be poached for something like this. People that find out, and then refuse to cooperate…" she trails off. "We have to protect ourselves." Your brow furrows, and you stare out through the windshield as her words settle over you. "Damn," you say, for lack of anything else. "We have to protect ourselves," Hana repeats. "This city is a salvation for a lot of us. And there are a lot of things that have to happen for it to stay that way." "Us or them," you muse. Hana glances over at you, and nods. You sink back into the passenger seat then as the silence stretches, and you close your eyes for a moment, pressing your head to the glass as the city looms up ahead. [[Next ->ch2 hana 4]]

The hotel is massive, in the heart of the city, surrounded by towering skyscrapers and complexes that make your head spin. You see it long before you reach it, rising high over the streets, and you watch the bright light at the top flashing against the night sky, illuminating the low hanging clouds in an eerie red glow. You find yourself staring out the window, watching the cars and people passing you by. Glowing screens all bid for your attention, flashing pictures and projected advertisements dancing across the smog, pretty women that shout out side effects that make you recoil. There's garbage littering the gutter and choking the alleyways, people loitering in both, waving and yelling at the cars as they drive past. You catch glimpses of tents and bodies huddled in the shadows of the massive buildings, people living bleak lives out of sight, forgotten in favor of the bright glow of screens and televisions, the robotic female voice listing more side effects: //Diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, device breakage or failure, organ damage, heart issues, infection, device migration, perforation, revision surgery, heart attack or stroke, death.// The future is here, and you're living in it. Hana drives through the streets with a practiced finesse, and eventually she eases you into the hotel parking lot, taking a deep breath before cutting the ignition. She eyes you in the passenger seat, tentatively reaching out to put a hand on your shoulder. The touch hurts-- everything hurts, the lights from the hotel, the noise outside, her hand on your shoulder. [[Next ->ch2 hana 5]]

"We're going to walk in through the stairwell," she says then. "Bypass the lobby and get in the elevator on the second floor." You just nod. She glances at her phone, and the two of you wait for the go-ahead message. "This isn't very glamorous," Hana says after a while. "But it's a luxury not a lot of us are afforded. A safe place to eat…" she trails off. "Before I came to the city-- after my sire… left me. I was a drifter. It wasn't safe to stay in one place for too long-- not safe to eat in the same place twice. Especially not alone, and especially not looking like me. You could pass the first two off as animal attacks, maybe, but then people would start to get suspicious." She fidgets with the steering wheel, stroking the leather cover. "I didn't know there were places like this. More people like us," she says. "If you're outside of any of the main cities, you're just fucked. All alone." Her phone dings then. She grabs it from the cupholder, giving you a quick glance before climbing out of the car. She walks around and opens up your door, grabbing your arm and helping you out onto your feet. "Just one flight of stairs. Hold your breath, if you have to," she says quietly. She parked you a good distance out in the lot, and the sound of voices is far away-- but the smell drifts slowly, the smell of sweat and blood and //life//. You groan as she pulls you towards the building. There must be a restaurant or a club on the first floor with the amount of people gathered at the front, a distorted mass of voices and laughter and movement in the dark. Hana leads you away from them, all the way around to the back. She pulls out a card that looks like the one Clear used on the elevator last night. She slides it into a red slot on the plain metal door, and it flashes green, unlocking and granting you entry. You stare at the card in her hand as she fumbles it back into her wallet. Hana shoulders the door open and hauls you inside, and the stairwell is blissfully empty, just the cold concrete and the sterile smell of cleaner as you start your ascent. [[Next ->ch2 hana 6]]

You pause at the door to the second floor, Hana leaning you against the wall so she can peek out into the hall. "Okay," she says after a moment, grabbing your arm, "come on." You can feel her pulse in the palm of her hand, pressed against your forearm, and you feel your breath quicken as the two of you dart down the hallway to the elevator. By some miracle there's one waiting for you, the doors sliding open only a few seconds after Hana pushes the button, and she quickly pulls you inside and punches the doors closed. The elevator is //sleek//. The buttons light up in the corner, almost stretching the full length of the wall. You see now how Valentina is able to afford a mansion. Hana hits the top floor, flashing that card again until the button turns green. The penthouse. Of course. You stare over at her, her hand still on your arm. She pushes some of her curls out of her face, and the movement makes your mouth water, her throat flashing for a brief moment. "$name," she says, her hand tightening around your arm. Don't. //[[Don't, don't, don't-- ->ch2 hana 7]]//

You slam her back against the wall, the elevator shuddering around you, and she tries to twist away, but there's nowhere for her to go. And you're stronger. You get a mouthful of her hair at first, but you don't care, tasting the oil on your tongue before the blood. She makes a soft sound as you break through the skin, her hands grabbing at your shoulders, pressing futilely against your chest. You touch her face, tilting her head back, and she writhes against the wall-- but then she seems to relax, her hands loosening, sliding up to pet your hair. Her blood is fresh and sweet-- crisp on your tongue and sharp against your teeth, and it almost makes your head ache, your eyes fluttering closed as you drink her in. Hana is breathing hard, and you can feel her undead heart beating a little faster in her chest as you press into her, you can feel it jump up into her throat, taste the spike of adrenaline on your tongue. "$name," she says again, whispering it right into your ear. It jars you, for some reason, snapping you back into yourself, and you let her go, staggering back against the opposite wall and covering your face with your hands. Hana leans back, touching her neck, her eyes wide at the sight of her own blood. [[The elevator chimes then. ->ch2 hana 8]]

The doors open-- and there's another door. Hana roughly grabs you, pulling you out into the little alcove and reaching for the second door. She punches in a long code as the elevator closes behind you. The keypad flashes green, and she pushes you inside. There's a woman waiting for you. She seems surprised at your appearance, as if you'd just walked into //her// penthouse, and she quickly stands from the massive, circular bed in the center of the room, wringing her hands and looking between you and Hana. What a sight you must be. You're panting loudly, and Hana lingers back by the door-- locking it with a loud //click//. The woman glances at her for just a moment, but she keeps most of her attention on you, probably due to all of the blood dripping from your mouth. Hana steps up behind you, putting a light hand on your back, though you hardly notice it, your focus zeroed in on the woman in front of you. "Wow," she says softly, still wringing her hands. She takes a few steps back as you slink further into the room. "This is like, real?" she asks, her brow furrowed, looking at Hana when it's obvious you're in no state to answer any questions. "Um…" Her eyes widen as you creep closer, her nervous smile turning into an uneasy look of fear. "Wait," she raises her hands, retreating further into the penthouse. Hana just watches from the entryway as you lunge across the room, grabbing the girl before she can turn and run. You drag her to the floor, grappling for a moment as she kicks and screams, but it's no use. "Wait, wait, wait, I change my mind! I change my mind!" she's shouting at you, slapping you in the chest and across the face, but you just pin her to the floor, your stomach aching in anticipation. //Hungry hungry hungry.// It begs you and begs you and begs you-- and you relent, sinking your teeth into her throat. [[Next ->ch2 hana 9]]

The woman squeals, grabbing at fistfuls of your hair, trying to pull you off of her, her thrashing turning frantic as she starts to wail and sob. You reach up to caress her face, to make her feel better, or maybe to make //you// feel better. Your mouth makes vulgar noises as you drink, lips smacking against her warm, sweaty skin, and you pull at her with your teeth, mouthfuls of flesh and blood filling your throat and spilling over your chin. Her cries start to fade, turning to gargling, wet whimpers, her movements dazed and sluggish. You chew through her vocal cords, peel away strips of flesh and rend through muscle and fat, tendons and veins popping between your teeth. She tastes sweet-- almost as sweet as Clear. You push her head back, lapping at her collarbones, your nails curling against her chest and pressing against the soft skin, tempting you to pull her apart. But the blood keeps rushing from her throat, and you're not going to waste it. You bury your face in it, warm and sweet, your tongue dragging through hot, wet flesh, and you close your eyes as you feed. You feed, and feed, and feed. [[The hunger rejoices. ->ch2 hana 10]]

It's euphoric in a way you didn't expect-- her squirming, her whimpers-- it feels //good//. The experience of holding that power in your mouth. Life or death. You, or her. The taste of fear and pleasure twisting into the perfect palate on your tongue, slow and thick as it rolls down your throat, warming you from the inside out. Eventually, just as the torrent begins to slow, as the euphoria begins to fade, you have to come back up for air. You sit back on your heels, wiping your face with the back of your hand, blinking blood from your eyelashes as you stare down at the mess you've made. The woman is gone-- still and pale underneath you, her eyes are still open and staring at something over your shoulder that you can't see-- but she's gone. Her mouth is slightly ajar, blood welling up in the back of her throat and spilling out to trickle down her chin. The chewed gore of her throat is hard to look at, flayed open and gnawed down to the bone, and you press a hand to her chest, slowly easing back off of her and sitting hard on the floor. You take a few shaky breaths, wiping at your face over and over again, swallowing loudly in the sudden silence. Your stomach rumbles then-- unfulfilled. It wants more. <div id="choice"><<link [[I can't. I can't. ->ch2 hana 10.a.1]]>><<set $hunt to 1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I have to finish it. ->ch2 hana 10.b.1]]>><<set $hunt to 2>><</link>></div>

You shake your head, crawling back across the floor until you hit the bed, and you sit there in a daze, still trying to catch your breath. Movement across the room startles you, and you remember Hana is here with you. She slowly approaches you, lowering herself down onto her knees at your side. <<if $hana_rom eq true>><<include "ch2 hana 10.a.romance">><<else>><<include "ch2 hana 10.a.platonic">><</if>>

You have to finish it. You can't //waste// it. You crawl back over to the woman, still just staring up at the ceiling. You pull her closer, touching her face, your hand hovering over her ruined throat. Then you press against her chest, ripping her shirt before you dig your nails in and pull the flesh apart. Her chest cavity opens so easily for you. The skin tears away, and you tentatively touch one of her ribs, warm and wet beneath your palm. Sudden movement in the corner of your eye startles you-- you forgot Hana was here with you. She moves across the room, staring down at you, and you feel your lip curl as she drops to her knees at your side. You lean over your meal, giving her a warning look, but she's not intimidated. She touches your arm, sidling closer, but you push her back before bowing your head and resuming your feast. "$name," Hana mutters, her hand touching you again, flush against your back. You glance over at her, blinking through the blood and gristle to watch her reach for one of the woman's arms, delicately taking her hand and lifting her wrist to her mouth. Hana starts to feed, too. Her eyes are bright as she bites into the woman's wrist, cradling her hand and pressing against you, both of you hunched together now in a state of pure manducation. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.2]]

It's hard for you to look at her, but she reaches out and gently puts a hand on the back of your head. "$name?" she asks softly. You just shake your head again. She laughs a sad laugh. "I know," she sighs, and you force yourself to look at her then. She blinks slowly at you, her black eyes wide as they flick over your face. You realize she has a cloth in her hand, and she reaches up to wipe some of the blood from your mouth. Her hand tightens around the back of your head, holding you steady as the cool, wet cloth drags along your jaw. You can smell her blood, and it draws you closer to her, and you reach up to lightly touch her throat. <<if $h_rel lt 50>><<include "ch2 hana 10.a.romance.lowrel">><<else>><<include "ch2 hana 10.a.romance.highrel">><</if>>

"$name?" she asks warily. You just shake your head again. She laughs a bitter laugh. "I know,” she sighs, and you force yourself to look at her then. She blinks slowly at you, her black eyes wide as they search your face. You realize she has a cloth in her hand, and she hesitates a moment, half-reaching for your face before she seems to decide against it, and instead just offers you the cloth. You take it from her, swallowing loudly in the silence as she slumps back against the bed next to you. <<if $h_rel gte 50>><<include "ch2 hana 10.a.platonic.highrel">><<else>><<include "ch2 hana 10.a.platonic.lowrel">><</if>>

You trace the curve of your bite, and she drops the cloth to grab your wrist, jerking your hand back and shoving you against the bed. Her jaw clenches, the muscle feathering as she stares down at you, and for a moment you think she's going to bite you, too. But instead she just leans in to lick at the blood that's collected in the hollow of your throat. You grab a handful of her hair, letting your head roll back against the bed, shivering as her fangs scrape across your throat, leaving angry red lines in their wake. She licks your face clean, pressing her tongue against your lips, tasting your teeth-- but she pulls away when you try to kiss her, grabbing the cloth again and roughly wiping at the remaining blood caught in your eyebrows. Then she stands, dropping the cloth in your lap and walking across the penthouse, closing herself up in the bathroom. "Hana," you say, though it's quiet, and you doubt she can hear you. You sink back against the bed, grabbing the bloody cloth and rubbing at your neck, still burning from Hana's teeth. You eye the body on the floor, and you bow your head, a sudden tide of memories washing over you. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. Moments of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. The hunger in you settles then. Unsatisfied; agitated. Your stomach hurts. Hana steps out of the bathroom. She's cleaned all the blood from her throat. [[You stand slowly, clutching the cloth in your hands. ->ch2 hana 10.a.romance.lowrel.1]]

You trace the curve of your bite, and Hana shivers, her hand sliding from the back of your head to lightly touch at your wrist, her thumb massaging against your pulse. "I'm sorry," you say quietly. Hana hums softly, the sensation reverberating through your fingers still hovering at her throat. She leans in then, surprising you as her lips press against yours. She takes your face in her hands, giving you a soft, tender kiss before licking at the blood smeared across your jaw. She cleans your mouth, licking and kissing away all of the blood, and you close your eyes, leaning back against the bed as she bows her head to drink from the hollow of your throat. Her teeth scrape lightly over your skin, followed by her tongue, and you tangle a hand in her curls, muttering her name as she cleans you up. She eventually sits up, kissing you one more time-- slower, longer, her tongue pressing against yours as she tilts her head. Then she pulls back with a sigh, grabbing the cloth from where it fell into your lap, wiping the remaining blood from your eyebrows and gently scrubbing the thicker stains caught in the lines of your face. Then she grabs your hand and pulls you up onto your feet and across the penthouse, into the bathroom. You don't really get a chance to appreciate the size or fanciness of it, too occupied with the blood on your hands and your red, smudged reflection in the massive mirror. Hana turns the sink on and grabs a clean cloth, wetting it under the faucet and then wiping at her neck this time. You grab your own clean cloth, too, washing your hands and scrubbing harder at your face-- scrubbing until it hurts. Hana touches your shoulder, and she takes the cloth out of your hand. "You're finished?" she asks gently, glancing past you and back into the front room. Her hand slides from your shoulder, down to draw slow circles across the small of your back. You nod, just as she leans close, pressing her face into the curve of your neck. "I'll let them know. We should go," she whispers. You glance down at your shirt. "Shouldn't have worn new clothes," you say gruffly. "It's okay. We can change here-- there are clean clothes in the closet for us." "Of course," you sigh. [[Next->ch2 hana 10.a.romance.highrel.1]]

"Clean up," she says, stepping out of the doorway and pointing you inside. "I'll get you a clean shirt." You glance down at your new clothes, the front of your shirt stained dark with blood. Probably shouldn't have worn these… You watch her shoulder past, a tense //pulse// filling the room for a brief moment as her hand brushes against yours. You retreat into the bathroom. You don't really get a chance to appreciate the size or fanciness of it, too occupied with the blood on your hands and your red, smudged reflection in the massive mirror. You drop your dirty cloth on the floor and grab a clean one, staining the faucet with your bloody hands as you cut the water on. You shove your face under the cold stream, and then you scrub with the cloth until it hurts. You sense Hana standing behind you, and you sit up, wiping your face and blinking away bloody droplets of water as you stare at her reflection in the mirror. She holds up a white t-shirt for you, a light hand pressing against the small of your back. "Here," she says softly. "There are clean clothes in the closet for us," she explains. You nod. "Of course…" Hana blinks at you, stepping close, nudging your jaw with her nose as she nips at your throat and licks at a smear of blood you missed. "Change. We should leave," she whispers. You nod again. You <<if $clothes eq 1>>shrug off your button-up and pull off your t-shirt, quickly changing and bundling your two dirty shirts together, tucking them carefully under your arm.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>pull off your grey shirt and quickly change, carefully bundling the damp grey one up under your arm.<<else>>shrug off the red-- now //very// red-- button-up and quickly change, bundling up the blood-stained shirt and tucking it under your arm.<</if>> Hana looks you over, then she grabs your hand and leads you back to the door. "Is that it, then?" you ask, feeling untethered, floating across the floor after her. "That's it," Hana says. She opens the door, and you glance back at the body, unmoving on the floor right where you left it. //Her//, a voice corrects you in the back of your mind. Hana pulls you through the door and it swings closed behind you, locking with that familiar //click//. Hana punches the button for the elevator, and you both wait in silence, her hand still holding yours as she turns and presses her face into the crook of your neck. [[Next ->ch2 hana 11]]

It's a long ride down to the lobby. <<if $hana_rom>>You lean back against the wall, Hana's hand in yours, and you suddenly feel exhausted-- the adrenaline has faded, and you feel the telltale ache of sore muscles, in your arms and legs and back, from being hunched over on the floor. Hana seems just as tired, leaning against you as the elevator shudders downward. You don't get lucky this time, and you stop at a random floor, the doors sliding open and an older man stepping in with the two of you. You feel Hana tense slightly, and you do the same, instinctively wanting to push her away from you-- but when the man gives you a dirty look, you glare right back, curling your lip at him. "What?" you sneer, and he seems ruffled by your bluntness. He doesn't respond, just turning away to smack the elevator button. Hana wraps her arms around you then, and she barely suppresses a laugh, turning to smile into the crook of your neck as you continue your descent. Once you finally reach the lobby, Hana grabs your hand and shoves her way past the man so the two of you get off first. You glance back at him as you go, his face twisted into a disgusted scowl. Your hand tightens around Hana's.<<else>>You lean back against the wall, a sudden exhaustion weighing on your shoulders-- the adrenaline has faded, and you feel the telltale ache of sore muscles, in your arms and legs and back, from being hunched over on the floor. Hana seems just as tired, swaying slightly where she stands as the elevator shudders downward. You don't get lucky this time, and you stop at a random floor, the doors sliding open and an older man stepping in with the two of you. You can see Hana tense slightly, and you do the same, shifting on your feet and crossing your arms. He gives you a dirty look, before turning to the buttons as the door closes. Hana glares at the back of the man's head as you continue your descent. Back in the lobby, you and Hana brush past him, and you can feel his nasty stare as you walk by. You give him the middle finger as Hana pulls you out the door.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 hana 12]]

Hana leaves to fetch you a clean shirt, and you glare into the mirror, still hunched over the sink. You bow your head, staring at all of the blood dripping down the porcelain, and a sudden tide of memories washes over you. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. Moments of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. The hunger in you settles then. Unsatisfied; agitated. Your stomach hurts. "Here," Hana's voice calls from the other room. You push off the sink and glance at your reflection one last time. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.a.romance.highrel.2]]

She offers you a plain white shirt. You <<if $clothes eq 1>>shrug off your button-up and pull off your t-shirt, quickly changing and bundling your two dirty shirts together, tucking them carefully under your arm.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>pull off your grey shirt and quickly change, carefully bundling the damp grey one up under your arm.<<else>>shrug off the red-- now //very// red-- button-up and quickly change, bundling up the blood-stained shirt and tucking it under your arm.<</if>> Hana looks you over, then she grabs your hand and leads you back to the door. "Th-that's it?" you stammer. You feel like you're in a dream, drifting across the floor after her. "That's it," Hana says. She opens the door, and you glance back at the body, unmoving on the floor right where you left it. //Her//, a voice corrects you in the back of your mind. Hana pulls you through the door and it swings closed behind you, locking with that familiar //click//. Hana punches the button for the elevator, and you both wait in silence, her hand still holding yours. [[Next ->ch2 hana 11]]

You slowly start to wipe your face, staring down at the cloth as it quickly soaks through with blood. Hana watches you, and sitting this close you can smell her blood-- it draws you closer, but she sits back and presses a cool hand to your face, pushing you away from her. "I'm sorry," you say. You breathe against her palm, and you just glimpse the sad look she gives you before she stands. "Let's get you cleaned up," she says, urging you to your feet. She pulls you across the penthouse and into the bathroom. You don't really get a chance to appreciate the size or fanciness of it, too occupied with the blood on your hands and your red, smudged reflection in the massive mirror. Hana turns the sink on and grabs a fresh clean cloth from the shelf, wetting it under the faucet and handing it to you. She grabs another one for herself, cleaning the bite you gave her, and you lean over the sink and scrub at your face-- scrub until it hurts. Hana has to stop you, a light touch on your shoulder as she says your name. "Look at me," she says gently. You lower the cloth and blink over at her. She glances over your face, raising the cloth in her hand and carefully wiping away any of the blood and gore you missed. "There," she says, holding your face in her hands for a moment before pulling back. "I'm going to get you a clean shirt-- we have some in the closet here. And then we're going to leave," she nods at you. "Okay," you say. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.a.platonic.highrel.1]]

You slowly start to wipe your face, staring down at the cloth as it quickly soaks through with blood. Hana watches you, and sitting this close you can smell her blood-- it draws you closer, but she quickly sits back and grabs your face with her hand, holding you an arms-length away from her. You breathe loudly through your nose, her hand squeezing your chin and holding your face hard enough that you can feel your teeth cut against the inside of your cheek. Slowly, she releases her grip, once it's obvious you're not going to try and bite her again. She licks her lips, watching you closely, slowly drawing her hand back and rising to her feet. "Let's get you cleaned up," she says then. She hauls you up and leads you across the penthouse and into the bathroom. You don't really get a chance to appreciate the size or fanciness of it, too occupied with the blood on your hands and your red, smudged reflection in the massive mirror. Hana turns the sink on and grabs a fresh clean cloth from the shelf, wetting it under the faucet and handing it to you. She grabs another one for herself, cleaning the bite you gave her, and you lean over the sink and scrub at your face-- scrub until it hurts. "Look at me," she says, and you lift your head from the sink, blinking bloody water from your eyelashes. She glances over your face, raising the cloth in her hand and roughly wiping away any of the blood and gore you missed. "There," she says, holding your face in her hands for a moment before pulling back. "I'm going to get you a clean shirt-- we have some in the closet here. And then we're going to leave," she nods at you. "Okay," you say. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.a.platonic.lowrel.1]]

Hana slips out of the bathroom, and you glare into the mirror, still hunched over the sink. You bow your head, staring at all of the blood dripping down the porcelain, and a sudden tide of memories washes over you. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. Moments of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. The hunger in you settles then. Unsatisfied; agitated. Your stomach hurts. "Here," Hana's voice calls from the other room. You push off the sink and glance at your reflection one last time. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.platonic.highrel.2]]

She offers you a plain white shirt. You <<if $clothes eq 1>>shrug off your button-up and pull off your t-shirt, quickly changing and bundling your two dirty shirts together, tucking them carefully under your arm.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>pull off your grey shirt and quickly change, carefully bundling the damp grey one up under your arm.<<else>>shrug off the red-- now //very// red-- button-up and quickly change, bundling up the blood-stained shirt and tucking it under your arm.<</if>> Hana looks you over, giving you a weak smile before turning for the door. "Th-that's it?" you stammer. You feel like you're in a dream, drifting across the floor after her. "That's it," Hana says. She opens the door, and you glance back at the body, unmoving on the floor right where you left it. //Her//, a voice corrects you in the back of your mind. Hana pulls you through the door and it swings closed behind you, locking with that familiar //click//. Hana punches the button for the elevator, and you both wait in silence, Hana leaning back against the door with a long sigh. [[Next ->ch2 hana 11]]

She offers you a plain white shirt. You <<if $clothes eq 1>>shrug off your button-up and pull off your t-shirt, quickly changing and bundling your two dirty shirts together, tucking them carefully under your arm.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>pull off your grey shirt and quickly change, carefully bundling the damp grey one up under your arm.<<else>>shrug off the red-- now //very// red-- button-up and quickly change, bundling up the blood-stained shirt and tucking it under your arm.<</if>> Hana looks you over, giving you a nod before taking your hand and turning for the door. "So that's it?" you blurt. You feel like you’re in a dream, drifting across the floor after her. "That's it," Hana says. She opens the door, and you glance back at the body, unmoving on the floor right where you left it. //Her//, a voice corrects you in the back of your mind. Hana pulls you through the door and it swings closed behind you, locking with that familiar //click//. Hana punches the button for the elevator, and you both wait in silence, Hana leaning back against the door with a sigh. [[Next ->ch2 hana 11]]

<<if $hana_rom eq true>><<include "ch2 hana 10.b.romance">><<else>><<include "ch2 hana 10.b.platonic">><</if>>

She keeps shifting beside you, closer and closer, leaning in to drink from the woman's throat for a while before returning to her wrist. You don't care. You gnaw on bone, pull apart the soft tissue with your nails and closing your eyes as blood bursts between your teeth. You break through her ribs and tear into the exposed organs, the spongy meat of her lungs and the tough muscle of her heart. Hana touches the back of your neck then, and you see her other hand snake in near your mouth-- too close to your mouth. You bite at her, hard enough that you easily break through the fat pad of her hand and scrape the fragile bones with your teeth. She grabs the back of your neck, letting out a hiss as she tries to pull you off. <<if $h_rel gte 50>><<include "ch2 hana 10.b.platonic.highrel">><<else>><<include "ch2 hana 10.b.platonic.lowrel">><</if>>

Hana touches the back of your neck then, and you see her other hand snake in near your mouth, dipping into the gore so she can pull back and lick it from her fingers. She does it a few times, nudging your face with her knuckles, and then you sit up, swallowing your final mouthful as a sudden serene calmness settles over you. The hunger is satisfied. Hana blinks at you, licking her fingers, and then she offers them to you. She slips them in your open mouth, touching the sharp point of your teeth before pressing against your tongue. She leans in close, smiling softly as you suck her fingers clean. When she pulls them back out from between your lips, she sways in and surprises you with a kiss. You close your eyes as she tastes you, a sloppy kiss before she turns her head and starts to lick the blood from your mouth. She holds your face in one hand, keeping your head still as she drags her tongue along your jaw, before bowing her head to suck gently at your pulse. "Hana," you sigh, and you can feel her smile, the gentle scrape of her teeth along your collarbone followed by the warmth of her tongue. You lean back, reaching up to tangle a bloody hand in her curls as she meticulously cleans you up, licking and kissing away all of the blood and gore. She mutters your name a few times, pressing it into the hollow of your throat, stroking your face while you pet her hair. Eventually, she sits back, looking you over for a moment before she grabs your hand and gently pulls you to your feet, leading you across the penthouse and into the bathroom. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.romance.highrel.1]]

Hana touches the back of your neck then, and you see her other hand snake in near your mouth-- too close to your mouth. You bite at her, hard enough that you easily break through the fat pad of her hand and scrape the fragile bones with your teeth. She grabs the back of your neck, letting out a hiss as she tries to pull you off. You breathe deep through your nose, drinking her blood, even as her fingers start to bruise your nape. She pulls her hand back, and you come along with it, catching yourself against her as she pulls your face right up next to hers. You slowly let go of her hand in favor of her mouth. She kisses you hard, your teeth clicking together before she bites down on your bottom lip with a burst of blood that makes you yelp. You push against her, trying to push her off, but you both roll back onto the floor, and for a moment you think it's going to escalate, your nails digging into her shoulders, her other hand still gripping the back of your neck-- but she releases your lip with a sigh, leaning back on the floor and blinking up at you with a little smirk. She slides her hand from your neck to your face, stroking your cheek, and then she sits up and starts to lick the blood from your mouth. You feel a rush of cool blood down your chin, touching your busted lip for a moment before Hana nudges your hand away so she can lick it up. You're breathing hard, the momentary grapple with her making your hands shake, but you feel a sudden calmness settle over you. The hunger is satisfied. Hana tilts your head to the side, sucking at your pulse before she scrapes her teeth along your throat and makes you groan. You lean back then, reaching up to tangle a bloody hand in her curls as she meticulously cleans you up, licking and kissing away all of the blood and gore. She mutters your name a few times, pressing it into the hollow of your throat, stroking your face while you pet her hair. Eventually, she sits back, looking you over for a moment before she grabs your hand and roughly pulls you to your feet, leading you across the penthouse and into the bathroom. <<link [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.romance.lowrel.1]]>><<set $hand_bite to true>><</link>>

You marvel at the size of it, a high ceiling and modern grey tiling, with one of those massive rain showers in the corner. There are two sinks set into the sprawling white countertop, and Hana turns one of them on for you, reaching for a washcloth and letting it soak before she wipes the remaining blood from your face. You blink over at her, until you have to close your eyes as she scrubs at your eyebrows and the curve of your nose. "There," she says softly, pulling back and setting the cloth on the counter. She takes your face in her hands then, tracing your bottom lip with her thumb, before she leans in and kisses you again. Slower, softer, for longer-- her tongue pressing against yours as she tilts her head. Then she pulls back with a sigh, reaching for the cloth again to wipe away the blood her kiss left behind. She steps over to the other sink then, grabbing another cloth and leaning towards the mirror, tilting her head as she starts to clean herself. You glance over at your own reflection, shimmering across the glass, and then you wash your hands, splashing water on your face, grimacing at all the blood dripping down the porcelain. A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you hunch over the sink. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. Moments of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You lift your head, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.romance.highrel.2]]

"You should change," Hana says then. You cut the water off and glance down at your new clothes. Probably shouldn't have worn these… "There are clothes in the closet here for us," Hana continues, turning her sink off too and reaching for a towel to dry her hands. She's cleaned her face and her neck, still staring into the mirror as she dabs at her throat. "I'm sorry," you say suddenly. She lowers the towel and blinks over at you. "It's okay," she says. You drop your gaze as she steps past you then, hesitating for a moment before you follow. Hana fetches you a clean, plain white t-shirt, and you <<if $clothes eq 1>>shrug off your button-up and pull off your shirt, quickly changing and bundling your two dirty shirts together, tucking them carefully under your arm.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>pull off your grey shirt and quickly change, carefully bundling the damp grey one up under your arm.<<else>>shrug off the red-- now //very// red-- button-up and quickly change, bundling up the blood-stained shirt and tucking it under your arm.<</if>> Hana looks you over, giving you a little smile before grabbing your hand and turning for the door. "Uh, is that it?" you blurt, glancing back at the body on the floor, unmoving right where you left it. "That's it," Hana says. "Someone else will be by to clean it up." "And you trust them?" Hana laughs. "No. But it doesn't matter. We don't exist-- we were never here," she shrugs, and then she pulls you through the door, letting it swing closed behind you, locking with that familiar //click//. Hana smacks the button for the elevator, and then she pulls you close, blinking at you before tucking her face in the crook of your neck. You wait for the elevator in silence. [[Next ->ch2 hana 11]]

You marvel at the size of it, a high ceiling and modern grey tiling, with one of those massive rain showers in the corner. There are two sinks set into the sprawling white countertop, and Hana turns one of them on for you, reaching for a washcloth and letting it soak before she wipes the remaining blood from your face. You blink over at her, until you have to close your eyes as she scrubs at your eyebrows and the curve of your nose. "Messy eater," she tuts. You scoff. She gently dabs at your busted lip, and you reach for her other hand, lifting it up to kiss the bite mark you gave her. She tilts her head at you, and then pulls away, moving to the other sink, leaning towards the mirror as she starts to wipe her own face clean. You glance over at your reflection, shimmering across the glass, and then you wash your hands, scrubbing up to your elbows, grimacing at all the blood dripping down the porcelain. A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you hunch over the sink. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. Moments of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving you before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You lift your head, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.romance.lowrel.2]]

"You need to change," Hana says then. You cut the water off and glance down at your new clothes. Probably shouldn't have worn these… "There are clothes in the closet here for us," Hana continues, turning her sink off too and reaching for a towel to dry her hands. She's cleaned her face and her neck, dabbing at her throat before she examines her hand for a moment. She catches you staring, her black eyes flashing as she drops her hand and brushes past you, back into the penthouse. You follow. Hana fetches you a clean, plain white t-shirt, and you <<if $clothes eq 1>>shrug off your button-up and pull off your shirt, quickly changing and bundling your two dirty shirts together, tucking them carefully under your arm.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>pull off your grey shirt and quickly change, carefully bundling the damp grey one up under your arm.<<else>>shrug off the red-- now //very// red-- button-up and quickly change, bundling up the blood-stained shirt and tucking it under your arm.<</if>> Hana looks you over, giving you a terse nod before grabbing your hand and turning for the door. "Uh, is that it?" you blurt, glancing back at the body on the floor, unmoving right where you left it. "That's it," Hana says. "Someone else will be by to clean it up." "And you trust them?" Hana laughs. "No. But it doesn't matter. We don't exist-- we were never here," she shrugs, and then she pulls you through the door, letting it swing closed behind you, locking with that familiar //click//. Hana smacks the button for the elevator, and then she pulls you close, blinking at you before tucking her face in the crook of your neck. You wait for the elevator in silence. [[Next ->ch2 hana 11]]

"$name," she whines, "please." You glare at her-- but you let her go. She recoils, pulling her hand back to cradle it against her chest. You lick your lips, the taste of Hana adding a pleasant flavor to all of the blood already coating your throat, and you sit back for a moment, wiping at your mouth to catch it all. Hana watches, pouting, still holding her hand to her chest, but eventually she starts to drink from the woman's wrist again. But you stop. You feel a sudden calmness settling over you, the horrible ache in your stomach finally fading. The hunger is satisfied. You crawl back a few feet to lean against the bed, letting out a long sigh. Hana drinks for a few more minutes, and then she joins you, slumping against the mattress and closing her eyes. You sit in silence for a while, both of you just catching your breath. Eventually, Hana groans and pushes herself onto her feet, offering you her bloody hand. You let her help you up, and then she leads you across the penthouse and into the bathroom. <<link [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.platonic.highrel.1]]>><<set $hand_bite to true>><</link>>

"$name," she whines, "please." You glare at her, your nostrils flaring, and when she tries to pull her hand back you shove her to the floor, biting harder and grinding bones between your teeth. Hana gasps, turning away from you, raising her other hand to shield her face and pressing herself back into the floor. You drink from her hand, closing your eyes for a moment-- and you only let her go once the hunger is satisfied. She doesn't move for a while from the floor, even when you crawl back to lean against the bed and catch your breath. Eventually, though, she quietly gets up and crosses the penthouse to close herself up in the bathroom. "Hana," you say, but she doesn't answer. You shake your head, letting out a long, shaky breath. //Damn//. <<link [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.platonic.lowrel.1]]>><<set $hand_bite to true>><</link>>

You marvel at the size of it, a high ceiling and modern grey tiling, with one of those massive rain showers in the corner. There are two sinks set into the sprawling white countertop, and you reach for the first one, turning on the faucet and shoving your face underneath the cool stream of water. You can feel the blood wash away, and you scrub at your face, grimacing as you scratch at the lines of your face, struggling to get the thicker gore off of you. Hana touches your shoulder then, muttering your name, and you cut off the water and slowly sit up. "Look at me," Hana says, and you do. She raises a wet washcloth and holds your face steady with her other hand as she washes the remaining blood away that you missed. You blink over at her, until you have to close your eyes as she scrubs at your eyebrows and the curve of your nose. "There," she says, and you open your eyes, giving her what you hope is a grateful look. She steps over to the other sink then, grabbing another cloth and leaning towards the mirror, tilting her head at her reflection as she starts to clean herself. You glance over at your own reflection, shimmering across the glass, and then you wash your hands, splashing water on your face again, grimacing at all the blood dripping down the porcelain. A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you hunch over the sink. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. Moments of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste– delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You lift your head, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.platonic.highrel.2]]

"You need to change," Hana says then. You cut the water off and glance down at your new clothes. Probably shouldn't have worn these… "There are clothes in the closet here for us," Hana continues, turning her sink off too and reaching for a towel to dry her hands. She's cleaned her face and her neck, dabbing at her throat before she examines her hand for a moment. "I'm sorry," you say suddenly. She glances over at you, her dark eyes flashing. "It's okay," she says eventually. You drop your gaze as she steps past you then, hesitating for a moment before you follow. Hana fetches you a clean, plain white t-shirt, and you <<if $clothes eq 1>>shrug off your button-up and pull off your shirt, quickly changing and bundling your two dirty shirts together, tucking them carefully under your arm.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>pull off your grey shirt and quickly change, carefully bundling the damp grey one up under your arm.<<else>>shrug off the red-- now //very// red-- button-up and quickly change, bundling up the blood-stained shirt and tucking it under your arm.<</if>> Hana looks you over, giving you a weak little smile before grabbing your hand and turning for the door. "Uh, is that it?" you blurt, glancing back at the body on the floor, unmoving right where you left it. "That's it," Hana says. "Someone else will be by to clean it up." "And you trust them?" Hana laughs. "No. But it doesn't matter. We don't exist-- we were never here," she shrugs, and then she pulls you through the door, letting it swing closed behind you, locking with that familiar //click//. Hana smacks the button for the elevator, and then she leans back against the wall with a sigh, massaging her hand. You wait for the elevator in silence. [[Next ->ch2 hana 11]]

You stare at the bathroom door for a moment, before your gaze wanders to the body on the floor. Blood soaks the carpet, your bloody handprints leaving a trail across the floor back to where you sit. You imagine the hunger looming behind you, a long shadow on the wall-- its teeth in Hana's throat. A sudden tide of memories rises then, and they wash over you in a rush. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets– chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. Moments of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The drip of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. Hana steps out of the bathroom then. She's cleaned all the blood from her throat and hand. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.platonic.lowrel.2]]

"Clean up," she says, stepping out of the doorway and pointing you inside. "I'll get you a clean shirt. There's some in the closet here for us." You glance down at your new clothes, the front of your shirt stained dark with blood. Probably shouldn't have worn these… You push yourself to your feet just as Hana brushes past you, and you glance after her for a moment before heading into the bathroom. You marvel at the size of it, a high ceiling and modern grey tiling, with one of those massive rain showers in the corner. There are two sinks set into the sprawling white countertop, and you reach for the first one, turning on the faucet and shoving your face underneath the cool stream of water. You can feel the blood wash away, and you scrub at your face, grimacing as you scratch at the sticky blood, struggling to get the thicker gore off of you. You sense Hana standing behind you then, and you shut the faucet off and blink bloody water droplets from your eyes before you glance at her in the mirror. "Look at me," Hana says, and you do. She grabs a washcloth from the shelf over the counter and sets to work wiping your face clean. You blink over at her, until you have to close your eyes as she scrubs at your eyebrows and the curve of your nose. "There," she says then, and you give her what you hope is a grateful look before she turns away. "Hana--" you say, stepping after her, and she pauses in the doorway. "I'm sorry." She glances back at you, and just nods, before vanishing back into the penthouse. You sigh, turning to wash your hands clean, and then you wipe yourself down with a dry towel, staring at your distorted reflection for a moment. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 hana 10.b.platonic.lowrel.3]]

"Here," Hana's voice calls from the other room. You push off the sink and glance at your reflection one last time. She offers you a plain white shirt. You <<if $clothes eq 1>>shrug off your button-up and pull off your t-shirt, quickly changing and bundling your two dirty shirts together, tucking them carefully under your arm.<<elseif $clothes eq 2>>pull off your grey shirt and quickly change, carefully bundling the damp grey one up under your arm.<<else>>shrug off the red-- now //very// red-- button-up and quickly change, bundling up the blood-stained shirt and tucking it under your arm.<</if>> Hana looks you over, giving you a terse nod before turning for the door. "So that's it?" you blurt, glancing back at the body on the floor, unmoving right where you left it. "That's it," Hana says. "Someone else will be by to clean it up." "And you trust them?" Hana laughs. "No. But it doesn't matter. We don't exist-- we were never here," she shrugs, and then she pulls you through the door, letting it swing closed behind you, locking with that familiar //click//. Hana smacks the button for the elevator, and then she leans back against the wall with a sigh, massaging her hand. You wait for the elevator in silence. [[Next ->ch2 hana 11]]

Back in the car, you both sit for a moment, Hana rubbing at her face as the air conditioning kicks on, slowly cooling down as the car idles. Eventually, she eases the car out of the parking lot, and you head back out into the city, leaving the hotel behind. You lean back in the passenger seat, tempted to close your eyes, but the allure of the bright lights outside keeps you staring, watching the city flash overhead. "Where are we going?" you ask after a while, when you realize you're not going back the way you came. Hana shifts in her seat, glancing over at you. "I want to show you something," she says. "I don't know when we'll get another chance-- I don't know what's going to happen next." She hesitates, glancing over her shoulder as she switches lanes. <<if $hunt eq 1>>"It'll help… after that," she says slowly, and she reflexively reaches up to touch the bite at her throat. "Okay," you say quietly.<<else>>"It'll be something fun. //Dessert//," she laughs dryly at her own joke. <<if $hand_bite>>She glances sideways, licking her lips, touching the bite at her throat and flexing her swollen hand.<<else>>She glances sideways, licking her lips, touching the bite at her throat.<</if>> "It'll be fun," she repeats. "Okay," you say. She glances at you again, and nods.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 hana 13]]

Hana doesn't take you very far, your destination apparently relatively close to the hotel, still in the heart of the city. She parks you in a reserved spot in some dingy, fenced in lot, letting out a long sigh as the car cuts off. <<if $hand_bite>>"This will be fun," she says for a third time.<<else>>"This will be fun," she says, forcing a smile.<</if>> <<if $hana_rom>>She climbs out of the car and you follow suit, standing just as she comes around to take your hand. Closing the door, she locks it with a little device in her hand, the car chirping behind you as she pulls you across the lot. You eye her hand around yours, glancing around anxiously. "Hana," you say, and she slows until you're walking side by side. "Should we be..." you trail off, looking pointedly at your hands. "It's okay," she says. "You'll see." "I just mean, that man in the elevator..." "There will be more people like him. But there are more people like us, too," she smiles, squeezing your hand, leading you down the street, the sound of pulsing music growing louder and louder as you go.<<else>>She climbs out of the car and you follow suit, hurrying after her as she starts to cross the lot. "Come on," she says, and you give her a look that makes her laugh. She leads you down the street, the sound of pulsing music growing louder and louder as you go. You're still in a bit of a daze after the hotel, and you shake your head, letting out a long breath and taking a look around as you scamper along the sidewalk.<</if>> This place is strangely empty, considering the location, oil slicks shining bright in the gutters, reflecting the light of the overhead lamps and splashing beneath your feet. Uneven cobblestones pave the way into a discreet side alley, hidden behind what looks to you to be an abandoned apartment complex, with boarded windows and collapsing architecture. But you see movement inside-- or maybe that's just all the projected ads catching your eye as they flash across the remaining broken glass in the rotting windowpanes, a glitching shadow across the stained walls. To the right is the source of the music, a much smaller building with a staircase that delves down beneath the concrete, a green light illuminating a dented metal door at the bottom. Hana leads you down the stairs. She knocks a few times, glancing back at you with a tight smile, and then you wait. [[Next ->ch2 hana 14]]

After a few awkward minutes the door opens, a large woman standing in the entrance and blocking your way. She looks mean and annoyed, until recognition flickers across her face, and she smiles at Hana, before glancing back at you. She takes you in, but clearly can't place you-- Hana mutters something to her and gives her a little nod that makes her narrow her eyes at you. But then she steps back, holding the door open and gesturing you both inside. "Enjoy, ladies," she says as you both head in. The place is loud-- it makes your teeth ache, and the flashing lights are hard for you to look at, squinting your eyes as the strobing grows more intense the farther in you get. There's also a thick fog settling across the floor, rising up around you as your feet kick through it and send it swirling around your ankles. <<if $hana_rom>>Hana grabs your hand again, keeping you close,<<else>>Hana suddenly grabs your hand, pulling you close,<</if>> and you are overwhelmed by the mass of bodies down here. There's a dance floor-- where most of the crowd is congregating-- and a massive bar, little tables scattered across the place as well as booths set into the wall. There are a few hallways splintering off in various directions, two of them hidden behind heavy curtains, while the other one has a constant flow of people coming in and out. There are also a few elevated platforms for dancers, though only one is occupied at the moment, a scantily clad woman swinging impressively around the pole, a few people gathered underneath and offering her money. There are //women// giving her money. And there are women dancing together, //dancing// dancing, hands on hips and hands up shirts and kissing and touching and laughing. There are men, too, dancing together, and you feel your hand instinctively tighten around Hana's. You've been to places like this before, you and Valentina-- but the salons were nothing like this. Something like //this// would have been just you and your fellow vampires, and it would have been underground and out of sight. But this is something else. You can sense your kindred here, of course-- but there are people, too. You can smell them, sweat and blood and breathing life. You see the flash of fangs as someone laughs, and feel the pulse of someone's excited heart as they dart by onto the dancefloor. All of these people here-- do they know? An open secret. You keep glancing back and forth, finding new things to look at, and there, at the end of the bar, you see an unexpectedly familiar face, a few seats down from another couple whispering together. Clear is here, nursing a beer all alone. <<if $hunt eq 1>><<include "ch2 hana 14 friendly">><<else>><<include "ch2 hana 14 hostile">><</if>>

You blink some of the fog from your eyes and look back to Hana, who is smiling wide at you. <<if $hana_rom>>"Will you dance with me?" she leans in to ask over the pounding music. Her breath is hot on your face, her curly hair tickling your throat as she blinks at you with those big black eyes. <div id="choice"><<link '"Okay."' 'ch2 hana 15 accept dance rom.hunt1'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I think I need a drink, first."' 'ch2 hana 15 decline dance rom.hunt1'>><</link>></div><<else>>"Do you want to dance, $name?" she asks, leaning in so you can hear her over the pounding music. You glance at the writhing, packed dance floor, then back over at the bar. <div id ="choice"><<link '"Okay."' 'ch2 hana 15 accept dance plat.hunt1'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I think I need a few drinks, first."' 'ch2 hana 15 decline dance plat.hunt1'>><</link>></div><</if>>

You blink some of the fog from your eyes and look back to Hana, who's watching you curiously. <<if $hana_rom>>"Dance with me," she leans in to say it, her lips pressing against your ear and her breath hot on your face. Her hand tightens around yours, and she tilts her head, looking at you expectantly. <div id="choice"><<link '"Okay."' 'ch2 hana 15 accept dance rom.hunt2'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I think I need a few drinks, first."' 'ch2 hana 15 decline dance rom.hunt2'>><</link>></div><<else>>"I'm going to dance," she leans in to say it, so you can hear her over the pounding music. She lets go of your hand then, too, and you glance between her, the dancefloor, and the bar. <div id="choice"><<link '"Can I join you?"' 'ch2 hana 15 join dance plat.hunt2'>><<set $h_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I let her go. I need a drink, anyways. ->ch2 hana 15 decline dance plat.hunt2]]>><</link>></div><</if>>

Hana easily slips through the throngs of dancers, and you're immediately welcomed by the smells of sweat and blood and other bodily fluids, along with the hair-raising sensation of other vampires nearby. You start to sweat, too, the proximity of all the hot, living bodies making your own temperature rise despite your cold, undead nature. Hana seems to find a spot on the floor that pleases her, and she turns to look at you, giving your arm a tug to pull you close. You can feel the heat on her, too, the sweat already starting to glisten across her dark skin, letting your hand go so she can push her curls back out of her face. <<if $hana_rom>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>Hana doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing. She starts slow, smiling at you through her long lashes, and you fumble through the first song-- though you start to feel a faint muscle memory stirring in the back of your mind, and by the second song you're more confident, following Hana's movements closely, her fanged grin pulling you in as you both sweat and pant across the dancefloor. People jostle you around, a pulsing mass of flesh and limbs and hair and sweat-soaked clothes, the smell of smoke and alcohol and musk lingering in your mouth as the fog swirls around you. By the third song Hana has her hands on you, slipping under your shirt, trailing her fingers down your sides, and you return the favor, running your hands up her back and caressing the slick of sweat along her spine. You remember dancing like this. A few people join you, hot human hands touching you as they lean in close, though you pay them no mind, just watching Hana in front of you. She turns around and presses herself against you, reaching with her hands to touch your face, her curly hair making you laugh as it ends up nearly in your mouth, and the sweet oil slicked through it has your head spinning, so sweet and slightly minty, and you lean down to breathe it in along with the lingering scent of her blood, still emanating from the bite in her neck you left behind. Hana sighs, letting her head roll back as your lips brush her throat, and her hands grab at your hair, pulling playfully as she grinds her hips back against yours. You lose track of how many songs you dance through, the faces around you blurring together as people come and go across the floor, the music overhead nothing more than a pulsing rhythm guiding you through the dark. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance before clear rom.highrel 1]]<<else>>Hana doesn't say anything, she just gets right into dancing. She moves quick, smirking over at you as you fumble through the first song, her hands grabbing your hips and pulling you close. She pushes you around, but soon you start to feel a faint muscle memory stirring in the back of your mind, and by the end of the second song you're more confident, following Hana's movements closely and pushing her back, her fanged grin pulling you in as you both sweat and pant across the dancefloor. People jostle you around, a pulsing mass of flesh and limbs and hair and sweat-soaked clothes, the smell of smoke and alcohol and musk lingering in your mouth as the fog swirls around you. By the third song Hana is behind you, slipping a hand up under your shirt, trailing her fingers along your spine and wrapping her other arm across your chest to touch your throat. She pulls you close, and you lean back into her, her lips ghosting the side of your neck as she tilts your head and holds you against her. You roll your hips back, grinding into her, and you can feel her smile, feel the light scrape of her teeth as she opens her mouth for a moment, her breath hot and wet on your neck. She hums softly, nothing audible over the music but you can feel it with her chest flush against your back, and her hand tightens around your throat before she lets go and spins you around, still grinning that fanged grin. There's a wild look in her eye, and you start to move even faster together, shoving against any other dancers that get too close. You lose track of how many songs you dance through, the faces around you blurring together as people come and go across the floor, the music overhead nothing more than a pulsing rhythm guiding you through the dark. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance before clear rom.lowrel 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $hunt eq 1>>Hana doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing. She starts slow, smiling at you through the swirling fog, and you fumble through the first song-- though you start to feel a faint muscle memory stirring in the back of your mind, and by the second song you're more confident, following Hana's movements closely, her fanged grin pulling you in as you both sweat and pant across the dancefloor. People jostle you around, a pulsing mass of flesh and limbs and hair and sweat-soaked clothes, the smell of smoke and alcohol and musk lingering in your mouth as the fog swirls around you.<<else>>Hana doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing. She's slow at first, keeping an eye on you, which makes you feel particularly embarrassed as you fumble through the first song-- but it also seems to make her relax, and soon she's smiling at you, dancing freely as the fog swirls all around you. When the second song start up you're feeling more confident, following Hana's movements closely, and her smile has turned into a big fanged grin, pulling you in as you both sweat and pant across the dancefloor. People jostle you around, a pulsing mass of flesh and limbs and hair and sweat-soaked clothes, the smell of smoke and alcohol and musk lingering in your mouth along with all of the fog.<</if>> By the third song Hana is close, slipping behind you and pressing a light hand to the small of your back. You glance over your shoulder at her, and she blinks at you, tilting her head slightly, a question flashing in her dark eyes. <div id="choice"><<link [[Lean into the touch. ♡ ->ch2 dance before clear flirt 1]]>><<set $hana_rom to true>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice">[[Hold on-- back up. ->ch2 dance before clear no flirt 1]]</div><</if>>

"I think I need a few drinks, first," you say, shaking your head, eyeing the dancefloor with some trepidation. Do you even remember how to dance? This whole place is overwhelming-- your head is pounding, from the music and the lights and all the fog, and you're still a bit wound up from the hotel. You //really// need a drink. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>Hana squeezes your hand, though her disappointment is obvious. "Okay," she says, swaying close again, her lips brushing your ear. "I'll come find you in a bit," she says, squeezing your hand again before letting go and slipping through the crowd. Her tuft of curly black hair vanishes quickly in the dark, crowded club, and you're left standing all alone.<<else>>Hana frowns, giving you an impressive pout. She squeezes your hand and pulls you close enough that your chests bump together, her lips pressed to your ear. "I'll come find you after a few drinks, then," she whispers, and you shiver, watching her as she steps back and lets your hand slide from hers. Her gaze cuts to the bar, and you know she sees Clear there, her eyes flashing before she abruptly spins around on her heel. Her tuft of curly black hair vanishes quickly in the dark, crowded club, and you're left standing all alone.<</if>> You look around for a moment, jarred by a few people hurrying past and laughing loudly, a strange pulse in the air as a new song starts to crescendo through the speakers. You push your way through the hot, writhing bodies, marveling at their closeness, at the way they move and dance together-- men and women and people who look like both and neither. Some of them give you looks as you stare, and a few of them stare back. You follow the length of the bar, moving past the couple leaning close and whispering together, and find yourself standing just behind Clear. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar alone 1]]

"Okay," you say, and Hana smiles, squeezing your hand, quickly turning and leading you into the crowd and onto the dancefloor. <<include "ch2 hana dance before clear 1">>

<<if $ch2_val>>You look around for a moment, jarred by a few people hurrying past and laughing loudly, a strange pulse in the air as a new song starts to crescendo through the speakers. You push your way through the hot, writhing bodies, marveling at their closeness, at the way they move and dance together-- men and women and people who look like both and neither. Some of them give you looks as you stare, and a few of them stare back. You follow the length of the bar, moving past the couple leaning close and whispering together, and find yourself standing just behind Clear. <</if>>"Clear," you lean close to ensure she can hear you, a light touch on her shoulder-- and she startles, nearly spilling her drink in her lap as she whips around to look at you. <<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>You quickly pull back, raising your hands in a placating gesture. Clear blinks at you, some of the tension easing out of her shoulders, and she lets out a long breath, shaking her head at you. "Hey, Clear," you say softly. "Hey," she says, turning back around to fidget with her bottle. You slide into the seat beside her, and she glances over at you, looking you up and down. "It's good to see a familiar face," she says then. "Good to see you're still breathing." You nod with a tight smile, giving her a quick once-over, too. She's still pretty tense, hunched over the bar, her eyes dark and anxious. You notice the split skin along her chin, red and angry, dragging down her neck and vanishing beneath a bundle of bandages around her throat, and she covers it with her hand when she notices you staring.<<else>>You raise an eyebrow at her, smirking as she stares at you with narrowed eyes. "Hey," you say. "Hey," she says gruffly, turning back around to fidget with her bottle. You slide into the seat beside her, and she glances over at you, looking you up and down. "You look... different," she says tentatively. You could say the same for her. She's tense, her eyes dark and shoulders hunched, and you eye the split skin along her chin that drags down her neck and vanishes beneath a bundle of bandages around her throat. She covers it with her hand when she notices you staring. "Wasn't sure you were..." she trails off, gesturing vaguely with her beer bottle. "It's nice to see a familiar face," she adds quietly.<</if>> <div id="choice"><<link '"Are you okay?"' 'ch2 clear bar alone 1.a'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"What are you doing here?"' 'ch2 clear bar alone 1.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"What are you drinking?"' 'ch2 clear bar alone 1.c'>><</link>></div>

"I think I need a few drinks, first," you say, shaking your head, eyeing the dancefloor with some trepidation. Do you even remember how to dance? This whole place is overwhelming-- your head is pounding, from the music and the lights and all the fog, and you're still a bit wound up from the hotel. You //really// need a drink. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>Hana nods, though her disappointment is obvious. "Okay," she says, leaning in close again. "I'll come find you in a bit," she says, giving your arm a light touch before turning and slipping through the crowd. Her tuft of curly black hair vanishes quickly in the dark, crowded club, and you're left standing all alone.<<else>>"Okay. I'll come find you after a few drinks, then," she says with a nod. She gives your arm a light touch before turning and slipping through the crowd. Her tuft of curly black hair vanishes quickly in the dark, crowded club, and you're left standing all alone.<</if>> You look around for a moment, jarred by a few people hurrying past and laughing loudly, a strange pulse in the air as a new song starts to crescendo through the speakers. You push your way through the hot, writhing bodies, marveling at their closeness, at the way they move and dance together-- men and women and people who look like both and neither. Some of them give you looks as you stare, and a few of them stare back. You follow the length of the bar, moving past the couple leaning close and whispering together, and find yourself standing just behind Clear. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar alone 1]]

<<if $h_rel gte 50>>"Okay," you say, and Hana grins, excitedly grabbing your hand and jerking you forward, leading you into the crowd and onto the dancefloor.<<else>>"Okay," you say, and Hana smiles softly, reaching for your hand and urging you through the crowd and onto the dancefloor.<</if>> <<include "ch2 hana dance before clear 1">>

Hana frowns, giving you an impressive pout. She squeezes your hand again and pulls you close enough that your chests bump together, her lips pressed to your ear. "I'll come find you after a few drinks, then," she whispers, and you shiver, watching her as she steps back and lets your hand slide from hers. Her gaze cuts to the bar, and you know she sees Clear there, her eyes flashing before she abruptly spins around on her heel. Her tuft of curly black hair vanishes quickly in the dark, crowded club, and you're left standing all alone. You look around for a moment, jarred by a few people hurrying past and laughing loudly, a strange pulse in the air as a new song starts to crescendo through the speakers. You push your way through the hot, writhing bodies, marveling at their closeness, at the way they move and dance together-- men and women and people who look like both and neither. Some of them give you looks as you stare, and a few of them stare back. You follow the length of the bar, moving past the couple leaning close and whispering together, and find yourself standing just behind Clear. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar alone 1]]

"Okay," you say, and Hana smirks, squeezing your hand again, quickly turning and leading you into the crowd and onto the dancefloor. <<include "ch2 hana dance before clear 1">>

"Okay," you say, giving her a nod, and she gives you one last look before turning on her heel and darting off into the crowd, her tuft of curly black hair vanishing quickly in the dark, crowded club, and you're left standing all alone. You look around for a moment, jarred by a few people hurrying past and laughing loudly, a strange pulse in the air as a new song starts to crescendo through the speakers. You push your way through the hot, writhing bodies, marveling at their closeness, at the way they move and dance together-- men and women and people who look like both and neither. Some of them give you looks as you stare, and a few of them stare back. You follow the length of the bar, moving past the couple leaning close and whispering together, and find yourself standing just behind Clear. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar alone 1]]

"Can I join you?" you ask, and Hana seems surprised, eyeing you for a moment before slowly smiling. "Yeah. Okay," she says, tentatively taking your hand again, and you let her lead you into the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. <<include "ch2 hana dance before clear 1">>

A break between songs and Hana pulls you over to the fringes of the dancefloor, tucking you both back into a dark little alcove. Your heart is racing-- as much as your slow heart can-- and you're both breathing hard, giddy from your dancing. Hana blinks at you in the dark, reaching up to touch your face, her eyes darting back and forth as she traces your jawline, your cheekbone, your brow. <div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her. ->ch2 hana dance kiss v1]]>><<set $ch2_hanakiss to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link[[Wait for her kiss. ->ch2 hana dance kiss v2]]>><<set $ch2_hanakiss to true>><</link>></div>

A break between songs and Hana pulls you over to the fringes of the dancefloor, tucking you both back into a dark little alcove. Your heart is racing-- as much as your slow heart can-- and you're both breathing hard, giddy from your dancing. Hana blinks at you in the dark, reaching up to touch your face, her eyes darting back and forth as she traces your jawline, your cheekbone, your brow. <div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her. ->ch2 hana dance kiss v1]]>><<set $ch2_hanakiss to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Wait for her kiss. ->ch2 hana dance kiss v2]]>><<set $ch2_hanakiss to true>><</link>></div>

Hana sidles up right beside her, startling her as she leans against the bartop with a fanged smile. "Hi, Clear," Hana muses. <<if $hana_rom>>"Hey," she says gruffly, glancing between you and Hana and your entwined hands. <<if $clear_rom>>Her gaze lingers on you for a moment longer, and then she turns back to the bar, taking a long drink.<<else>>She raises an eyebrow at you, but doesn't say anything, turning back to the bar and reaching to fidget with her bottle on the counter.<</if>> Hana lets go of your hand then to attempt to flag down the bartender.<<else>>"Hey," she says gruffly, tentatively glancing between you and Hana. Hana eyes the drink in Clear's hand for a moment, before leaning forward and trying to flag down the bartender.<</if>> "Good luck," Clear smirks. "She's been ignoring me for a while now." Hana huffs, glancing at her before setting off down the bar to order drinks. You watch her go, amused, and you take her place leaning against the counter beside Clear. Clear pays you no mind, staring down at her drink, twisting the bottle in her hands. She's visibly tense, hunched over the bar, her eyes dark and anxious. You notice the split skin along her chin, red and angry, dragging down her neck and vanishing beneath a bundle of bandages around her throat, and she covers it with her hand when she notices you staring. <div id="choice"><<link '"You okay?"' 'ch2 clear bar 1.a'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Busy making friends, I see."' 'ch2 clear bar 1.b'>><<set $c_rel -=2>><<set $c_cruel +=1>><</link>></div> <<if $clear_rom>><div id="choice"><<link '"Come here often?"' 'ch2 clear bar 1.c'>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link '"Come here often?" ♡' 'ch2 clear bar 1.c'>><<set $clear_laterom to true>><</link>></div><</if>>

You can't stand it, nudging her hand away so you can lean in and kiss her. She sighs happily, her hand trailing down the curve of your neck, over your shoulder, down to your waist. She wraps her arms around you, pressing you together, opening her mouth for you as you tilt your head and take her face in your hands. She tastes like blood, and you press her back against the wall, wanting to taste more, her tongue hot and wet as she slips it between your teeth. She moans softly, eagerly angling her head back when you lean in to kiss at her neck, kissing your bite, kissing the hollow of her throat, pulling her shirt down to trail kisses across her collarbone. "$name," she murmurs, and you shiver as she whispers it between you, your own name sounding like a dirty word, and you lift your head to find her lips again, a long, slow kiss before you have to break apart to catch your breath. She's smiling, biting her bottom lip, leaning in to hide her face in the crook of your neck. "I think I need a drink after that," she mumbles, and you laugh. She hums at the sound, pressing her lips to your throat, and you close your eyes, feeling her tongue drag across your skin again. Does the taste of blood still linger on you, too? She pulls back then, blinking up at you, grabbing your hand again and once more leading you out of the alcove and across the club. For a moment you think she's going to start dancing again, but instead she takes you to the bar, where Clear is still sitting all alone. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 1]]

She smiles softly, tilting her head at you, her hand wandering over to lightly touch your lips. Then she finally leans in and kisses you, her hand sliding down to press her palm against your chest, and your eyes flutter close as her tongue drags over your bottom lip, slow and wet before she pushes it into your mouth. She pulls you backwards until she hits the wall, and you press your body into hers, getting a soft little moan out of her as you do. She tastes like blood, and you want to taste more, tilting your head and kissing her greedily, your lips smacking loudly in the dark. She tangles a hand in your hair, her other hand gently cupping your breast, and she pulls on you as if you could somehow get even closer. She tilts her head then, trailing kisses along your jaw, leaning in to breathe in your smell, her tongue hot and wet as she presses it into the hollow of your throat. Does the taste of blood still linger on you, too? "$name," she murmurs, and you shiver as she whispers it between you, your own name sounding like a dirty word, and you let your head roll back as she lightly sucks at your pulse, your arms wrapping around her as she pushes off the wall and cradles you against her. She hums, stroking your hair, pulling back to hold your face in her hands. "Are you thirsty, $name?" she whispers, smirking at you, and you let out a breathless laugh, and Hana leans in to brush her lips against yours one last time. Then she lets her hands slide away, grabbing one of your and once more leading you out of the alcove and across the club. For a moment you think she's going to start dancing again, but instead she takes you to the bar, where Clear is still sitting all alone. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 1]]

"You okay, Clear?" you ask tentatively. <<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>"Feeling better, now," she shrugs, lifting her drink towards you in a little toast. "Nothing a few drinks can't make me forget." You frown at her, and she just lets out a dry laugh. "Don't worry about it," she mutters, her voice bitter, and she takes a long drink, avoiding your gaze for a moment. "I'll be fine." She spins her bottle across the bartop, holding it by the neck, watching the condensation smear across the wood. Then she turns towards you, leaning in close, studying your face for a moment.<<else>>"Ask me again after a few more drinks," she smirks. "I'm sure I'll be okay then." "Clear..." She rolls her eyes at you. "What do you really expect me to say here?" she snaps, shaking her head. "Do you really have to ask me how I feel? How would //you// feel?" She shakes her head again, spinning her bottle across the bartop, holding it by the neck, watching the condensation smear across the wood. Then she turns towards you, leaning in close, studying your face for a moment.<</if>> <<if $clear_rom>><<include "ch2 clear bar rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch2 clear bar plat 1">><</if>>

<<if $clear_rom>><<include "ch2 clear bar 1.c.rom">><<else>>"You come here often?" you smirk, leaning against the bar and tilting your head at her. <<if $hana_rom>>"Don't do that," she scoffs. "Don't-- flirt with me after coming over here holding hands with her." "You don't like her?" you ask. "I don't like any of you," she snaps, though her resolve wavers a bit. "I'm just not interested in getting my throat ripped out because of your vampire dyke drama," she mutters. You raise your eyebrows at her, laughing in disbelief. "Wow." Clear glances over at you, shifting awkwardly in her chair. "I mean it," she says. "Leave me out of that shit." An awkward beat passes, and Clear finishes her drink before letting out a long sigh. She fidgets with the bottle, running a hand through her hair before she glances back over at you, studying your face-- your lips. You see her throat bob as she swallows. But, if she's going to say anything--<<else>><<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>"Jesus..." Clear mutters, and then she chuckles, shaking her head. "I thought vampires were supposed to be charismatic?" "Am I not utterly charming?" you smirk, and she chuckles again. "You're certainly... something," she muses. "Whatever it is, is it working?" you ask. Clear's smile fades, and she purses her lips before taking a long drink. "Isn't your girlfriend going to get mad that you're flirting with me?" she says then. "Valentina is not my girlfriend," you say, though you don't sound very confident, her claws flashing in your mind. You drop your gaze, staring down at the sticky counter. An awkward beat passes, and Clear shifts in her chair, finishing her drink before letting out a long sigh. She fidgets with the bottle, running a hand through her hair before she abruptly turns to look at you, leaning a little out of her chair until your shoulders touch. But, if she's going to say anything--<<else>>"Jesus..." Clear mutters, shaking her head. "You need to buy me a few more drinks if you're going to start flirting with me right now." You raise an eyebrow at her, sliding a little closer. She gives you a look. But you think you see a spark of intrigue in her brown eyes as she looks you up and down from her chair, her head tilting slightly at you. "Is your girlfriend going to get mad that you're flirting with me?" she muses then. "Valentina is not my girlfriend," you say, though you don't sound very confident, her claws flashing in your mind. You drop your gaze, staring down at the sticky counter. An awkward beat passes, and Clear shifts in her chair, finishing her drink before slamming it down on the bartop. She draws a few stares from the other patrons, but she doesn't seem to care. She turns to look at you then, leaning out of her chair, leering down as she licks her lips, her breath thick with alcohol as it ghosts over your face. But, if she's going to say anything--<</if>><</if>> "$name!" Hana's voice makes Clear recoil, and she sits back in her chair as Hana rejoins you, holding a drink in each hand.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 2]]

"Busy making friends, I see," you muse, and Clear curls her lip at you. "Fuck off," she huffs. <<if $c_rel lt 50>>"I'm not in the mood for your smart-ass comments," she says, leaning back to take a long drink. "It was just an observation," you shrug. "//It was just an observation//," she mocks, rolling her eyes. Clear seems to be a mean drunk. You lapse into an awkward silence, studying her profile as she starts to fidget with her bottle again, spinning it across the bartop, holding it by the neck, watching the condensation smear across the wood. Then she turns towards you, leaning in close, narrowing her eyes at you. <<if $clear_rom>><<include "ch2 clear bar rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch2 clear bar plat 1">><</if>><<else>>"I'm not interested in making friends with any of you freaks," she mutters, and then she winces, seeming to regret it as soon as she says it. <<if hasVisited("ch1 clear rom 1")>>"Oh? What happened to you //loving// weird?" you scoff. She winces again. "Come on. Cut me some slack," she says weakly. You do. You don't say anything else, turning away to search for Hana down the bar.<<else>>"I see," you say slowly. She sighs, pressing her face in her hands, leaning her elbows against the counter. "I didn't mean that," she mumbles. She lowers her hands and glances over at you then, squirming in her chair. You just turn away from her, searching for Hana down the bar.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 1.b.1]]<</if>>

"Tell me your name," she says slowly. You blink at her, your brow furrowing in confusion. "I heard them say it. Valentina said it," she says. "But I want you to tell me." <<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>She sways closer, eyeing your lips, her eyes softening as she reaches out to tentatively touch your hand where it rests atop the bar. "Tell me," she says again. "$name," you say softly. She hums, blinking slowly at you. "$name," she says, holding it in her mouth for a moment. She's close enough that her shoulder touches yours, warm and unsteady, and she sighs again, shaking her head. "What a fucking mess, huh, $name?" she picks up her drink again and finishes it off. "But I am glad to see you again, at least." She pauses. "Or maybe I'm just really drunk." She watches you closely, and you can hear her swallow, even over the pulsing music, even over all the overlapping conversations at the bar.<<else>>She leans closer, roughly grabbing at your wrist where it rests atop the bar, her hands cold and clammy from the condensation on her beer bottle. "Tell me," she says again. You lick your lips, studying her face, her dark eyes. "$name," you say slowly. Her hand tightens, and then she lets go, though she stays close, shoulder to shoulder as she returns your stare. "$name," she says, holding it in her mouth for a moment. "Fuck you, $name," she snickers, picking up her drink again and finishing it off. She obnoxiously slams the bottle down on the bartop, swaying in her seat, drawing a few stares from the other patrons. She doesn't seem to care. She glares at you, and you can hear her swallow, even over the pulsing music, even over all the overlapping conversations at the bar.<</if>> "$name!" Hana's voice makes Clear recoil, and she sits back in her chair as Hana rejoins you, holding a drink in each hand. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 2]]

Clear makes a disgusted sound at the drink Hana offers you, and it's obvious why. It could pass for a bloody mary, but you can clearly smell that it's a little more //bloody// than your standard drink. "Gross," Clear mutters. Hana just giggles, sipping on her drink while you tentatively taste yours. It's good-- why wouldn't it be? It's blood. It's also mixed with alcohol, and it makes your eyes water, and Hana giggles again at whatever expression you must be making. Clear slides out of her seat then, wobbling a bit as she hits the ground. "I'm going to the bathroom," she says gruffly, and you watch her walk off, vanishing in a swirl of fog across the club. Hana watches her go, too, still sipping her drink. She looks a little sad, her brow furrowed, and then she sighs, setting her drink down on the counter. "How is it?" she asks you then, gesturing at your bloody glass. You nod, taking another sip. You realize that you're going to get drunk very fast-- a hundred years is a pretty significant tolerance break. And you're not even sure what's in here, mixed with the blood. You lick your lips, setting your glass down, bracing against the bar for a moment. <<if $hana_rom and $clear_rom>>Hana leans in beside you, nudging you with her shoulder. She gives you a bashful look, reaching down to take your hand in hers again. It's especially cold from her glass, but you don't care. You try to be subtle about it, staring over at her, taking in her profile, the little pout of her lips as she sips her drink through her straw. You pull your hand from hers then, watching her gaze flick to you as you push some of her hair back off her neck, tilting your head at her, and she just smiles over her glass, leaning in as you wrap your arm around her shoulders. You know the draw you feel towards her is a bit intense after such a short amount of time-- what can you say? A hundred years all alone leaves someone feeling awfully lonely. Maybe you're just trying to make up for all of that lost time. Hana, Clear-- you like the way they make you feel. Clear doesn't seem to know what to think. But she's not subtle, not now and not when you were back in her apartment. She stares too long, she leans too close. You can hear it in the way her heart pulses. With Hana, though, you try not to think about the fact that she is most likely only attracted to the //idea// of you-- she doesn't know you. No one does, except maybe Valentina. But even then... are you really that person she remembers? All of these people have some kind of preconceived idea of who you are. Hana seems to like that version of you, at least. You suppose only time will tell if she likes //this// version of you, too. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 3]]<<elseif $hana_rom>>Hana leans in beside you, nudging you with her shoulder. She gives you a bashful look, reaching down to take your hand in hers again. It's especially cold from her glass, but you don't care. You try to be subtle about it, staring over at her, taking in her profile, the little pout of her lips as she sips her drink through her straw. You pull your hand from hers then, watching her gaze flick to you as you push some of her hair back off her neck, tilting your head at her, and she just smiles over her glass, leaning in as you wrap your arm around her shoulders. You know the draw you feel towards her is a bit intense after such a short amount of time-- what can you say? A hundred years all alone leaves someone feeling awfully lonely. Maybe you're just trying to make up for all of that lost time. You try not to think about the fact that Hana is most likely only attracted to the //idea// of you-- she doesn't know you. No one does, except maybe Valentina. But even then... are you really that person she remembers? All of these people have some kind of preconceived idea of who you are. Hana seems to like that version of you, at least. You suppose only time will tell if she likes //this// version of you, too. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 3]]<<else>>Hana leans in beside you, giving you a warm little smile before turning to people watch. <<include "ch2 clear bar 3">><</if>>

"$name," Clear says after a beat, and you take a deep breath, glancing back over at her. "That's your name, right?" You nod slowly. "I heard them say it," she says, staring down at her hands. "$name," she repeats it again, holding it in her mouth for a moment. Tasting it. You turn all the way back to look at her again. "It's all a mess, $name," she sighs. She picks up her drink again and finishes it off. "But... I am glad to see you again." She watches you closely, and you can hear her swallow, even over the pulsing music, even over all the overlapping conversations at the bar. "$name!" Hana's voice makes Clear recoil, and she sits back in her chair as Hana rejoins you, holding a drink in each hand. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 2]]

"Do you think Hana is going to order me another drink, too?" she asks abruptly. You give her a look, and she laughs, leaning back in her chair. "I don't think you need another drink, Clear." "Yeah, yeah." She glances over at you again. "You know, I haven't had a drink in years. I'll have to forfeit my pretty little coin." You don't know what she's talking about, and she knows it, letting out a long sigh, resting her head in her hand. "$name!" Hana's voice makes Clear startle again, and she mutters under her breath, glaring over at Hana as she rejoins you, holding a drink in each hand. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar 2]]

"You come here often?" you smirk, leaning against the bar and tilting your head at her. <<if $hana_rom>>"God-- you've been awake, what, two days? You're really playing the field, aren't you," Clear sneers. "Let me be clear: I'm not interested in having my throat ripped out over your vampire dyke drama," she jabs a finger at you as she says it. "No one is going to rip your throat out, Clear," you assure her. You slide closer then, reaching under the bar to put a hand on her thigh. She tenses at the touch, eyeing you and tightening her hand around her bottle of beer. "I told you before. I won't let them." She licks her lips, watching you closely. "I want to believe you..." she says softly. But then she reaches up with her other hand, touching the bite at her throat that you gave her yesterday. The implication is clear. You pull your hand back, moving to turn away, but she grabs your shoulder. "Wait. Can you tell me your name?" she asks. You blink at her, your brow furrowing in confusion. She should know your name, now. "I heard them say it. Valentina said it," she says. "But I want you to tell me." <<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>She sways closer, eyeing your lips, her eyes softening as she gently squeezes your shoulder. "Tell me," she says again. "$name," you say softly. She hums, blinking slowly at you. "$name," she says, holding it in her mouth for a moment. "What a fucking mess, huh, $name?" she picks up her drink again and finishes it off. "But I am glad to see you again, at least." She pauses. "Or maybe I'm just really drunk." She's still leaning over you, still touching your shoulder, and you can hear her swallow, even over the pulsing music, even over all the other conversations overlapping at the bar.<<else>>She leans closer, her hand clenching around your shoulder, and you can feel it through your shirt, cold and clammy from the condensation on her beer bottle. "Tell me," she says again. You purse your lips, studying her face, her dark eyes. "$name," you say slowly. Her hand tightens, and then she lets go, letting her hand drop back into her lap. "$name," she says, holding it in her mouth for a moment. "Fuck you, $name," she snickers, picking up her drink again and finishing it off. She obnoxiously slams the bottle down on the bartop, swaying in her seat, drawing a few stares from the other patrons. She doesn't seem to care. She glares at you, leaning close, and you can hear her swallow, even over the pulsing music, even over all the other conversations overlapping at the bar.<</if>> "$name!" Hana's voice makes Clear recoil, and she sits back in her chair as Hana rejoins you, holding a drink in each hand.<<else>><<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>She raises an eyebrow at you, and then she chuckles. "Wow," she mutters, shaking her head. But she seems to finally relax a little, fidgeting with her bottle, glancing between you and her drink, her brow furrowed as she seems to really contemplate your shitty pickup line. "Clear?" you say, stepping a little closer, and she smiles weakly at you. "Can you tell me your name?" she says abruptly. She reaches out then, tentatively touching your shoulder, her hand cold and clammy from the condensation on her drink. You blink at her, your brow furrowing in confusion. She should know your name, now. "I heard them say it. Valentina said it," she says. "But I want you to tell me." She sways closer, eyeing your lips, her eyes softening as she gently squeezes your shoulder. "Tell me," she says again. "$name," you say softly. She hums, blinking slowly at you. "$name," she says, holding it in her mouth for a moment. "What a fucking mess, huh, $name?" she picks up her drink again and finishes it off. "But I am glad to see you again, at least." She pauses. "Or maybe I'm just really drunk." She's still leaning over you, still touching your shoulder, and you can hear her swallow, even over the pulsing music, even over all the other conversations overlapping at the bar.<<else>>She raises an eyebrow at you, looking rather unimpressed. "Wow. Good one," she says, deadpan, giving you a smirk around her bottle as she takes another drink. You slide closer then, and she narrows her eyes at you. "Are you really trying to flirt with me right now?" she scoffs. "I felt like it was pretty obvious," you say, which actually makes her smile a little. She fidgets with her bottle for a moment, avoiding your gaze. "Tell me your name," she says abruptly. You blink at her, your brow furrowing in confusion. She should know your name, now. "I heard them say it. Valentina said it," she says. "But I want you to tell me." She leers over you then, grabbing your shoulder, and you can feel her hand through your shirt, cold and clammy from the condensation on her beer bottle. "Tell me," she says again. You lick your lips, studying her face, her dark eyes. "$name," you say slowly. Her hand tightens, and then she lets go, letting her hand drop back into her lap. "$name," she says, holding it in her mouth for a moment. "Fuck you, $name," she snickers, picking up her drink again and finishing it off. She obnoxiously slams the bottle down on the bartop, swaying in her seat, drawing a few stares from the other patrons. She doesn't seem to care. She glares at you, leaning in close, and you can hear her swallow, even over the pulsing music, even over all the other conversations overlapping at the bar.<</if>> "$name!" Hana's voice makes Clear recoil, and she sits back in her chair as Hana rejoins you, holding a drink in each hand.<</if>>

The two of you just sit in silence, enjoying your dance break and your drinks and each other's company. The hunt earlier tonight already feels like a distant memory, if you don't think about it too hard. Or maybe it's the drink muddling your mind. You sigh, closing your eyes as the woman's pale, drained face flashes behind your eyes. You suddenly don't really want your drink anymore. Luckily, you don't have to come up with any kind of excuse, as someone suddenly seems to materialize out of the crowd beside Hana, giving you a long look before leaning in to talk to her. "Valentina wants to see us," Hana says to you, though you're still staring at the stranger-- a vampire. They stare back. If you had to guess, they don't like you, with the way their eyes narrow and their fangs flash in the dark. You've noticed quite a few of the vampires here giving you looks-- some are harder to read than others. It gives you a strange, uneasy feeling-- judgement for a past life you can't even remember. "Come on," Hana says then, shooting a warning look at the other vampire before pulling you along and leading you away from the bar. You glance back at the strange vampire, though they're quick to disappear among the crowd, just as quickly as they appeared. [[Next ->ch2 v's room with hana 1]]

"You," is all you manage, nodding at Valentina. She smiles softly, one of her hands loosening to move to the back of your neck, her thumb stroking your nape. "Come, come," she whispers, leading you across the room and shouldering past Hana in the doorway. Hana frowns, closing your door and trailing close behind, glaring after Valentina. You glance back at her, her face softening for a moment as your eyes meet, but then you have to turn away to catch yourself from falling down the stairs, grabbing the banister while Valentina pulls you by your waist. This close, and the hunger almost convinces you to bite her-- the memory of her floral taste making you lick your lips in anticipation. But you shake your head, pushing it away-- separating yourself to put it back in its cage. //It would be so easy,// the hunger says. You stare at the pale curve of Valentina's neck. [[Next ->ch2 val 2]]

Hana follows you both all the way to the front doors, wringing her hands, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Be careful," she says as you step out into the humid summer night. Valentina doesn't respond, and you just catch one final glimpse of Hana's face before the doors close behind you and Valentina hauls you off towards the car. She gets you situated in the passenger seat, closing your door and walking around to the driver side. You watch her climb in, breathing hard as you twist uncomfortably against your seatbelt. It feels like your skin is trying to crawl off your body-- like your teeth are trying to burrow into your skull. <<if $hunger_feels eq 1>>It aches all the way into your bones, a throbbing sensation that makes your fingers twitch and your back arch, your ribs lancing with pain if you dare to breathe too deep.<<elseif $hunger_feels eq 2>>It's a cold sweat that gathers in the small of your back, a cold pain that creeps up your spine and makes you shiver violently despite the thick, hot air of the car clinging to your skin.<<else>>It expands wider and wider, phantom ribs cracking and splintering to pieces in your chest, broken bone piercing your diaphragm with each ragged breath, and it snakes down your spine, a painful pressure building between your vertebrae.<</if>> Valentina turns the ignition, and the rumble of the car makes you wince. She quickly starts to back out, whipping you into the street, glancing over at you with a bright look in her dark eyes. You imagine she would be bouncing in her seat, if she were a little less dignified. "I'm sorry to have made you wait, baby," she says, and the pet name catches you off guard, though Valentina doesn't seem to have even realized she's said it. "But you have to time the hunt right. You remember, don't you?" When you hesitate, she just sighs. "This will help. This-- you cannot forget this. I know it." You drive in silence for a few minutes. [[Next ->ch2 val 3]]

"Where are we going?" you ask, just as Valentina starts to reach for the radio. Her hand pulls back to the wheel, and she glances over at you. "The gated community on the other side of the city," she says. "...Gated community?" you ask tentatively. An instinctive repulsion shudders through you at just the idea of it-- you remember the kind of people that live in //gated// communities. Things have changed-- you've gathered that much from seeing Clear and Hana and even Valentina; a woman, a Chinese woman, all alone in a giant mansion with nice cars and her own money. She claims you lived a lavish life, but you don't remember anything like this; you remember working. You remember barely scraping by. You think back to your conversation with Hana. "I thought it would be different now," you say. Valentina's hands flex around the steering wheel. "Some things change, some things stay the same," she muses. "It's a different kind of gated community-- but it's still the same." You give her a confused look. "You pay a lot of money to get in. The price keeps the //undesirables// out," she explains. "That's how they do it now-- they use their privilege and wealth to separate themselves from everyone else." She glances at you again. "Not much different than before. They just have to be more subtle about it." Valentina cuts the radio on then, just as the city rises before you. [[Next ->ch2 val 4]]

You find yourself staring out the window, watching the cars and people passing you by. Glowing screens all bid for your attention, flashing pictures and projected advertisements dancing across the smog, pretty women that shout out side effects that make you recoil. There's garbage littering the gutter and choking the alleyways, people loitering in both, waving and yelling at the cars as they drive past. You catch glimpses of tents and bodies huddled in the shadows of the massive buildings, people living bleak lives out of sight, forgotten in favor of the bright glow of screens and televisions, the robotic female voice listing more side effects: //Diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, device breakage or failure, organ damage, heart issues, infection, device migration, perforation, revision surgery, heart attack or stroke, death.// You turn your head to glimpse the city of tents beneath the overpass rising high into the city. Some things change, some things stay the same. Valentina maneuvers through the streets, passing you through the dense heart of the city's center and into a more breathable area, the buildings still just as massive and industrial but growing farther apart. And then you reach the gate. Valentina rolls her window down, easing you to a stop in front of the closed iron doors. She pops open the center console and digs around for a moment, before producing one of those cards like Clear had used on the elevator last night. She leans out of the window and waves it in front of a little mechanical box-- and it flashes green. The gates start to open. "What is that thing?" you ask as Valentina eases back into the car. "It's a keycard," she says. "It's just an electronic key." Sure. "How do you have one for this place?" You're curious, but also you want her to keep talking. It distracts you from the monster twisting in your gut. Valentina drops the key into the cupholder, urging the car forward as the gates slowly swing inward. "I married a man for it. I still own a house here, technically," she says. <div id="choice"><<link '"Are you still married now?"' 'ch2 val 4.a'>><<set $v_rel -=2>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"You own a house here?"' 'ch2 val 4.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"How much money do you have?"' 'ch2 val 4.c'>><</link>></div>

"You own a house here?" you ask. You don't know why you're surprised-- she owns a fucking mansion. "I do. The man I married was a rich man, obviously,' she smirks. "His family owned a massive hotel chain. I married him, I was his wife-- and then his daughter. Whatever he wanted me to be." She pauses for a moment, her hands flexing around the wheel. "I killed him once I was in the will. And now it's all mine." She tilts her head at you. "What's mine is yours, $name. It's our house." "I wouldn't want to live here, Valentina," you say, curling your lip at all of the perfect, identical houses and perfectly cut lawns. "I don't live here," she says. "This is where I come to hunt." She slows then, easing into one of the many driveways, and parks the car. [[Next ->ch2 val 5]]

"How much money do you have?" you marvel at the massive houses as Valentina drives slowly down the street. "More than I could ever need," she says. "I married that man because his family owned a hotel chain. I stayed with him long enough to get into the will. And then I killed him." She glances over at you. "Now it's all mine." You watch row after row of identical houses pass by. "I've been able to build a good thing here with that money," she continues. "I share it with Hana. With others, like us," she glances over at you. "And it's yours now, too." "It was… difficult," she says, her voice dropping low. "Without you-- I mean, I couldn't go to work like you. The past marriages allowed me some time, but it was never going to be enough. I did what I had to for that money. I was his wife. I was his daughter. I was whatever he wanted me to be." You can see her hands flex around the steering wheel. "Doesn't matter now. He's dead," she says. The car slows then, easing into one of the many long, curved driveways, and the car lights up as she parks. [[Next ->ch2 val 5]]

"And are you still married now?" you ask. Valentina smirks. "You know I never marry for long," she says. "I'm a widow." She peers over at you, driving slow through the long rows of massive houses. "Are you jealous, $name?" You frown at her, sensing the barbs in her voice behind her teasing. "Hard to be jealous of a dead man," you say. "You used to get so angry with me," she says, ignoring you. "As if I was marrying just for //fun//." She curls her lip. "It was work. It was fucking hard. And I only did it so we could survive." She turns down one of the many identical roads. "And now I have more money than I could ever need, I have a mansion, I own houses, I own an entire hotel chain. And I've done it all so we could stop surviving and actually fucking live." She glares at you. "I'm a widow," she repeats. "I was with him long enough to be his wife and his daughter. I was with him long enough to get in his will and then I killed him." She turns into one of the many identical houses, and parks the car. [[Next ->ch2 val 5]]

Valentina slips outside, and you follow, slamming your door closed and turning to take in the full expanse of the house in front of you. It might as well just be another mansion. <<if $v_rival>>"Come on," Valentina says, reaching out to take your hand. You frown at her, but she just smirks, her cool hand uncomfortably tight around yours.<<else>>"Come on," Valentina says, reaching out to take your hand and pull you close.<</if>> But she doesn't lead you into the house. Instead, you go around, into the backyard, into the shadows. "I've been scoping this couple out for a few months," she whispers. "We'll cut through the back, through the fence, and we can get inside with this," she flashes a key at you-- a real key, not a keycard. "I stole their spare key a while ago. So fucking easy-- under the potted plant on the porch." She rolls her eyes. "They haven't even noticed. Haven't changed the locks." "So? We still can't just walk in..." you trail off, giving her a look. She smirks then. "I'm their sad, lonely neighbor with a dead father. I have an open invitation to come if I should //ever// need //anything// at all." She steps close to you then, letting go of your hand to hold your face, the metal key brushing against your cheek. "My invitation is your invitation," she says, and then: "Hunting with you again… it's like a dream," she smiles softly. You eye the key in your peripheral. "Who are these people?" Valentina tilts her head at you. "Does it matter?" [[Next ->ch2 val 6]]

She pets your face a few times, and then steps back, gesturing you after her. You glance around warily, feeling rather exposed in this new world-- if they have cameras in their phones, surely they have them around their houses? You suppose it's not really a problem. You won't show up on film-- you're just a smear on the lens. Still, you feel tense, nervous as you trail after Valentina. It would be easy for someone to see you lurking around and call the cops. The phones are right in their fucking pockets. And you know rich people //love// to call the cops. Valentina grabs your wrist then, turning to look at you. "Calm down," she says. "You're jumpy. Take it easy." You're not jumpy. You're fucking hungry. You grab Valentina in return, your hands gripping her arms painfully. You lean towards her, but she's stronger, and even with the hunger urging you on, you can't overpower her like this. She keeps ahold of you and pushes you back, restraining you so you just //thud// quietly against the tall wooden fence. "Calm //down//," she repeats. "Breathe through your mouth. It's not that far," she hisses at you. You close your eyes, clenching your jaw and exhaling slowly. [[Next ->ch2 val 7]]

Once Valentina feels confident you're not going to jump her, she drags you off the fence and further into the yard. There's a loose board in the fence, posed perfectly to appear innocuous, but Valentina easily pulls it aside and shoves you through into the next yard. You wait for her to slip through after you, running your hands over your hair and panting loudly through your mouth. She grabs your shirt and pulls you along, hugging the shadows along the fence as you pass through the first yard, the house a dozen yards away with a massive back porch and even a full-sized shed that you sneak behind. The houses are far apart, some of them even having clusters of trees and dense underbrush in between the property lines, and Valentina carefully picks her way through, a trail you are certain she has traversed many times in the last few weeks. You remember hunts like this before. Targeted, planned out. Your age allowed you to go large swathes of time between meals, sustained by blood taken from people that would wake up the next morning sore and confused-- but alive. A hunt was always a big deal, when the time would come. Valentina liked to plan out every detail. Painstakingly deliberate. You were much more of the spontaneous type-- you ate when you were hungry, and that was that. Though you imagine that mindset isn't quite as sustainable anymore, in this new world of cameras and screens and bright lights. Valentina turns back to you then, pressing a finger to her lips. You grimace, closing your mouth and silencing your heavy breathing with a nod. [[Next ->ch2 val 8]]

This house //is// perfect for a hunt. Set back from the road, shrouded by trees on either side, with a little pond built up with rocks and plants to hide behind, and there are no lights in the back-- just the dark and the quiet sound of churning water. You feel your hands start to shake in anticipation. Valentina saunters right up to the back door, peering in through the large windows. It looks like they're upstairs, bedroom lights on and glowing through the slats in the blinds. The television flickers on the far wall in front of you. Not upstairs-- someone is sitting in the dark on the couch, watching something. Valentina grabs you as you approach, pulling you close. "There's two of them, one here, another in the master bedroom, it looks like," she whispers, her lips pressing against your ear. "Take this one first. //Quietly//," she emphasizes, squeezing your arm. You nod. She lets you go and turns to the door, pulling the key out and carefully inserting it and unlocking the door with a soft //click//. The person on the couch doesn't notice. [[Next ->ch2 val 9]]

Valentina slinks inside, and you follow close behind, tensing for a moment as you cross the threshold-- but nothing happens. You and Valentina fan out, taking one side of the couch while she takes the other. You note the kitchen to your right, and the foyer beyond that-- the whole house is open, and you can see the stairs, the front door, a dining room and a massive piano set in front of a bay window. But you don't care about that. You're drooling, the smell of this person's blood filling the room, the sound of their heart beating in your skull, and Valentina isn't fast enough to stop you from jumping over the couch and lunging for them. The man startles, quiet at first, instinctively punching you right across the jaw and scrambling back out of reach of your nails, his eyes wide with shock. But he recovers quickly, just as his shirt tears in your hand, and he shoves you back as he jumps from the couch and runs towards the kitchen with a shout. Valentina barrels into him, and they both go crashing into the television, the house groaning from the impact as the screen glitches out and flashes rapidly in the dark. He kicks her hard in the leg, dropping her to the floor, and then continues his run to the kitchen. You follow close behind. [[Next ->ch2 val 10]]

You're vaguely aware of someone coming down the stairs, their feet pounding the floor in panic, and then a woman screams-- but Valentina moves in your peripheral, scrambling across the floor, and the screaming quiets just as abruptly as it started. You dart through the house, swiping at the man, snagging his shirt again and using his momentum to drag you forward into the kitchen before you accidentally collide with the marble island, grunting painfully as you catch yourself. The man dives across the far counter and pulls a knife from the wooden display block, turning just as you clamber over the island and launch yourself at him again. You slam him back against the counter, the knife plunging deep between your ribs and making you wheeze blood as you both slide down to the floor. You land mostly on top of him, but he just pulls the knife back and stabs you again, below your collarbone and nearly in your armpit. "//Fuck//," you hiss, your nails piercing skin as you grab at his arms, slamming his hand against the cabinet doors until he drops the knife with a whimper, his fingers breaking against the hard wood. Blood oozes down his arm, and you can barely control yourself, biting at his bloody fingers just for a taste. He kicks and thrashes on the linoleum, but you have him pinned, and you release his hand to shove his head back against the floor-- and then you sink your teeth into his throat. He lets out a wet scream before you silence him with your fangs in his larynx, rending through flesh and muscle and cartilage and drinking deep as his blood rushes into your mouth. He slaps his shattered hand against you a few times, bucking his hips to try and throw you off, but you just bite down even harder, tendons snapping between your teeth as his head rolls back against the floor. His breathing is wet and ragged, and eventually he stops moving, dazed and blinking up at the ceiling as you bury your face in his throat. He's warm and sweet, and you drag your tongue through the pulsing gore, savoring the taste of it as you pull him open with your hands. You feed. You feed, and feed, and feed. [[The hunger rejoices. ->ch2 val 11]]

It's euphoric in a way you didn't expect-- his squirming, his whimpers, even the knife in your gut-- it feels //good//. The experience of holding that power in your mouth. Life or death. You, or him. The taste of fear and pleasure twisting into the perfect palate on your tongue, slow and thick as it rolls down your throat, warming you from the inside out. <<if $val_rom>><<include "ch2 val 11.a">><<else>><<include "ch2 val 11.b">><</if>>

<<if $v_rival is true or $v_rel lt 50>>But you don't get to finish your meal. You sense her only a split second before she grabs you, her hand around the back of your neck hauling you up and ripping flesh from you mouth before she slams you back on top of the kitchen island. You groan, clutching at your torso, pain radiating out from where the man stabbed you, but Valentina slaps your hands aside just to dig her nails into the wound. You don't even make a sound, just thrashing on the countertop, and she curls her fingers around the edge of the bloody gash to pull you close, sliding your feet back onto the floor as you gasp painfully. She glares at you, tilting her head, pulling her fingers back and pressing her palm over the knife wound. She's disappointed. You ruined the hunt. "Get off of me, Valentina," you snarl, but she doesn't listen, just pressing her palm harder, deeper, blood squelching loudly while her other hand roughly grabs your shoulder so she can dig her thumb into the other cut below your collarbone. You whine, leaning forward to press your face into the crook of her neck, and she relents a little, pulling her hand from your shoulder to cradle the back of your head. You breathe her in, the smell of blood heavy on her skin, staining the front of her fancy dress, and you tilt your head, brushing your lips across her pulse. She hums softly, leaning back and slowly lowering herself in front of you, lifting up your shirt to kiss just above your navel, and you grab at the kitchen island to steady yourself, staring down at her as blood drips from your chin and into her shiny black hair. You want to grab a fistful of it and throw her off-- but you don't. She trails kisses up your stomach until she reaches the wound between your ribs, her dark eyes peering up at you as she flicks her tongue over it, making you tense against the counter. "Valentina," you breathe, and she just blinks innocently at you. Her hands grab at your waist while she wraps her lips around the bloody opening, and you tangle your hand in her hair as she sucks hard enough to leave a mark. You feel her teeth toying with the edge, her mouth rough against you as she drinks, her nails embedding in the skin just above your waistband. She tilts her head, biting at your side, and you make a strange sound, your body twitching against her, bruising and bleeding in her iron grip. Then she pulls back and stands up, her hands sliding from your hips to your face. She studies you for a moment, her breath ghosting over your lips-- and then she kisses you, pressing you back against the counter and shoving her tongue in your mouth. You wrap your arms around her, digging your nails into her side and down her back, the blood-soaked silk warm on your skin as she holds you against her and drags you down to the floor. She's smiling, you can feel it in your kiss, her teeth pressing against your upper lip as her tongue slides against yours, blood and saliva smearing across your mouth. Her hand presses into your side again, fingering the hole between your ribs, making you convulse and gasp into her mouth, and you can still just feel her smiling. You remember this. Then she breaks away, licking at your mouth one last time before turning to the body on the floor, crawling across the kitchen tile and bowing her head to feed. You lean back against the island, trembling and breathing hard, clutching at your side. <div id="choice"><<link [[Join her. ->ch2 val 11.a.1.lowrel 1]]>><<set $hunt to 1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[No, no-- I can't. ->ch2 val 11.a.2.lowrel 1]]>><<set $hunt to 2>><</link>></div><<else>>Movement behind you makes you startle. You sit up, whipping your head around as Valentina steps into the kitchen. The front of her fancy dress is soaked with blood, clinging to her breasts and stomach and glistening as she breathes, with blood dripping from the hem, leaving a trail across the kitchen tile. She slowly lowers herself to her knees beside you, blinking slowly, watching as you tense over your food and curl your lip at her. She pays no mind to your warning, though, reaching out to put a cold hand on your shoulder. "Let me see," she says softly, fingering the knife wound and making you yelp. You grab at her wrist, but she slaps your hand away, reaching to pull your shirt aside so she can look at the gash just below your collarbone. You're panting, squirming in her grip, but she leans in and presses a light kiss to the bloody opening, her lips cool and soft on your hot skin. You reach up to cradle the back of her neck as she gently sucks on the torn edges of the wound, drinking from you as you slump back on your heels. "Valentina," you breathe, letting your bloody cheek rest against the top of her head, her hair soft and clinging to all the blood smeared across your face. She hums softly, the sensation with her lips pressed against the wound making you shiver, along with her other hand trailing down to touch the gash in your side. Your breath quickens, your hands tightening around her, and she gingerly fingers the knife wound, your entire body tensing as you groan into her hair. "It's okay, baby," she murmurs into your shoulder, and you can feel cold sweat gathering across the small of your back, your body shaking against her touch. She strokes her thumb across your ribs, kisses your shoulder one more time, and then she pulls back, searching your face with half-lidded eyes. You can feel her breath, her lips brushing along your jaw, and you turn your head just enough-- and you kiss her. She sighs, her hands pulling back so she can hold your face, and you suck on her bottom lip, rolling it between your teeth and making her moan. You tangle a bloody hand in her hair, and she pins you back against the island, deepening the kiss and slipping her tongue in your mouth. You remember this. You kiss, blood and saliva smearing across your chin as you both eagerly press against each other, your hand grabbing at Valentina and the warm dampness of her dress, and you can feel her smile, her teeth pressing against your upper lip as she tilts her head. Then she breaks away, licking at your mouth one last time before turning to the body on the floor, crawling across the kitchen tile and bowing her head to feed. You lean back against the island, trembling and breathing hard, clutching at your side. <div id="choice"><<link [[Join her. ->ch2 val 11.a.1.highrel 1]]>><<set $hunt to 2>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[No, no-- I can't. ->ch2 val 11.a.2.highrel 1]]>><<set $hunt to 1>><</link>></div><</if>>

<<if $v_rival or $v_rel lt 50>>But you don't get to finish your meal. You sense her only a split second before she grabs you, her hand around the back of your neck hauling you up and ripping flesh from you mouth before she slams you back on top of the kitchen island. You groan, clutching at your torso, pain radiating out from where the man stabbed you, but Valentina slaps your hands aside just to dig her nails into the wound. You don't even make a sound, just thrashing on the countertop, and she curls her fingers around the edge of the bloody gash to pull you close, sliding your feet back onto the floor as you gasp painfully. She glares at you, tilting her head, pulling her fingers back and pressing her palm over the knife wound. She's disappointed. You ruined the hunt. "Get off of me, Valentina," you snarl, but she doesn't listen, just pressing her palm harder, deeper, blood squelching loudly while her other hand roughly grabs your shoulder so she can dig her thumb into the other cut below your collarbone. You whine, leaning forward to press your face into the crook of her neck, and she relents a little, pulling her hand from your shoulder to cradle the back of your head. You breathe her in, the smell of blood heavy on her skin, staining the front of her fancy dress, and you tilt your head, brushing your lips across her pulse. But then she shoves you away, back against the island and then down to the floor. She stands over you, baring her teeth and flexing her hands. You start to scramble back, but she drops down on top of your chest, pinning you back against the kitchen tile, her nails curling to dig into the knife wound in your shoulder, her other hand sliding slowly over your torso before her thumb presses between your ribs. More squelching sounds, and white spots flash across your vision as she pulls at the gash in your side, the long nail of her thumb dragging through your flesh and slipping deep inside. She shushes you as you gasp painfully, stroking the edges of the wound, swirling her thumb around-- biting her lip as she looks down at you. "//Get off of me//," you hiss again, and you push off the floor, biting at her hand in your shoulder and shoving her back against the kitchen island. The linoleum is slick with blood, and you both slip around for a moment, breathing hard and flashing your teeth. Valentina actually smiles, tilting her head at you, letting out a wet laugh as she sits back on the floor and licks at her bloody hand. "It's like you're a newborn again," she muses. You just glare at her. She turns away then, crawling back to the dying man on the floor, and then she bows her head and starts to feed. You lean back against the island, trembling and breathing hard, clutching at your side. <<else>>Movement behind you makes you startle. You sit up, whipping your head around as Valentina steps into the kitchen. The front of her fancy dress is soaked with blood, clinging to her breasts and stomach and glistening as she breathes, with blood dripping from the hem, leaving a trail across the kitchen tile. She slowly lowers herself to her knees beside you, blinking slowly, watching as you tense over your food and curl your lip at her. She pays no mind to your warning, though, reaching out to put a cold hand on your shoulder. "Let me see," she says softly, fingering the knife wound and making you yelp. You grab at her wrist, but she slaps your hand away, reaching to pull your shirt aside so she can look at the gash just below your collarbone. You're panting, squirming in her grip, and when she leans in to kiss the bloody opening you shove her off of you, pressing back against the cupboards as your <<if $clothes eq 2>>sneakers<<else>>boots<</if>> squeak against the wet kitchen tile. Her brow furrows, and she stares after you, confused by your refusal. "$name?" she says softly, reaching out to touch your leg, sliding a little closer even as you try to maintain the space between you. She leans over you, taking your face in her hands, tilting her head as she looks you over. She eyes the wound in your shoulder again, but she doesn't touch it this time, letting out a little sigh. "You need to eat more. It will heal," she says, letting her hands slide away as she turns back to the body on the floor. You watch her crawl across the linoleum, pulling on the man before bowing her head and starting to feed. You lean back against the cupboards, trembling and breathing hard, grimacing as you reach up to clutch at your aching shoulder.<</if>> <div id="choice"><<link [[Join her. ->ch2 val 11.b.1.lowrel 1]]>><<set $hunt to 2>><<set $v_rival to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[No-- no, I can't. ->ch2 val 11.b.2.lowrel 1]]>><<set $hunt to 1>><</link>></div>

You watch her for a few seconds, glancing down at the blood oozing between your fingers where you clutch your side-- and you start to inch back, retreating along the back of the island, your <<if $clothes is 1 or $clothes is 3>>boots<<else>>sneakers<</if>> squeaking on the bloody tile. The man is still breathing, wet, rasping breaths, his chest shuddering with the effort, his eyes wild and darting around his skull. Valentina is drinking from his throat, but she sits up as you start to move, turning back to watch you with dark eyes. She stares as she drags one of her long nails from the man's neck down over his sternum to his navel, and then she rips his shirt open, exposing his stomach. Then she smirks at you, dragging her nail down his stomach again, across the bare skin, blood welling up in its wake as she easily cuts him open. "Come, $name. You need to eat," she coos, crawling after you, but you shake your head-- you try to stand, but she grabs your ankle and pulls you back across the tile, pinning you to the floor and grabbing your face. She leans in, her brow furrowed, cradling your face for a moment before she reaches to grab at your throat. Her other hand wraps around your shoulder, digging into the gaping knife wound with her thumb, and you lurch against her, both of you slamming against the kitchen island as you grapple with each other. Valentina claws at you, and your teeth snap loudly as she jerks back out of your reach. She smacks you across the face and throws you down to the floor, laid out beside the gurgling body still seeping blood across the tile. Your neck strains painfully as she forces your face against the ground, pressing her weight down on you while her nails prick at your temple. She doesn't say anything. She just holds you there, because she can. Eventually she eases back, holding your chin and turning you to look up at her, your neck and shoulders twitching painfully. She leans in to kiss you once, pushing blood into your mouth, and then she lets you go, turning back to resume her feast. You quickly scramble away, out of the kitchen and stumbling across the living room until you collapse onto the couch. "Not going to let you waste this meal," Valentina mutters, and you sink back into the cushions, listening to the static from the glitching television and the wet sounds of Valentina as she eats. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.2.highrel 2]]

For a while you just close your eyes, listening to the static from the glitching television in the other room, holding Valentina in your arms and feeling her tongue on your skin, until she pulls back and slowly rises to her feet. You peer up at her, and she just smiles, turning and vanishing deeper in the house. You hear running water cut on, and you force yourself up, padding after her in a bit of a daze. She's in the bathroom, rinsing her face and hair out in the sink. "You ruined your new clothes," she says, giving you a look as she washes her hair. You think she's one to talk, her white shift completely soaked red, still dripping on the floor. "I'm sure we can find something here to change into," she muses, straightening up and slicking back her wet hair. She gestures you to the sink, stepping past you and wandering off up the stairs. You stand alone in the bathroom, staring at your reflection. You can't see anything-- just an angry red smear. You pull up your shirt, peering down at that stab wound, touching it gingerly with a grimace. You can feel it already pulling itself back together, all the blood you just drank nourishing your body and allowing it to heal; the wound in your shoulder has already nearly closed up completely. Even the scratches on your back feel //cooler//, the skin no longer tight and angry, the long scabs healing over. You lean over the sink then, squinting as you try to will your reflection into clarity. It doesn't work. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.1.lowreal 3]]

You wash yourself in the sink, your face and hair and hands, all the way up to your elbows, and then you sit there, leaning against the counter, watching all the blood run down the porcelain. "Fuck." A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you hunch over the sink. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. More moments like this of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving you before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You lift your head, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.1.lowrel 4]]

You leave the bathroom and walk upstairs, purposefully avoiding the second mutilated body at the front door as you follow after Valentina's trail of blood. She's in one of the bedrooms, throwing clothes all over the place. She points to a shirt she already picked out for you-- just a plain black v-neck. It's a little big, but you don't care. It feels better than all the blood plastered to your skin. The blood on your pants isn't too bad, a few splatters, and you don't deign it reason enough to change. A thought that should probably disturb you, you think. You watch Valentina start to dig through the closet, and you just stand there, your bloody shirt bundled in your hand. You glance around the room then, eyeing some of the paintings on the wall, and the expensive jewelry on the nightstand. You feel your lip curl, a lingering disgust at this big house and flaunted money. Valentina suddenly pauses for a moment, and you glance back at her just as she peels off her dress, and you're not exactly surprised to learn she's not wearing anything underneath, but your face still burns, and you quickly turn away. You know she's looking at you, and you see her back in the kitchen then, on her knees, her teeth in your flesh. You lick your lips. "How's this?" You turn to see Valentina wearing a long black dress, thin straps and a dangerously low neckline. She spins around, grinning, and then jumps across the room, shoving her soiled dress in your one hand along with your shirt and then grabbing your other to lead you back downstairs. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.1.lowrel 5]]

"Now what?" you blurt as you reach the first floor again. Valentina glances back at you. "Now we leave," she shrugs. You glance around at all of the carnage in the living room, the broken television and drops of blood splattered across the walls and on the floor. The body slumped behind the kitchen island. "Don't look so worried," she smirks. She steps close then, entwining her fingers with yours, and you can't help the way your stare wanders to admire her chest, your hand rising to grab her waist. You want to touch the pale skin at the base of her neckline-- the dip of her sternum just between her breasts. You see her in the kitchen again, her teeth in your flesh-- and you want to bite her, too. "Come on," Valentina breathes, slipping out of your grasp and pulling you through the house and out the back door. [[Next ->ch2 val 12]]

The humid night air greets you in the backyard, the door quietly closing behind you as you retrace your steps from earlier. You glance back at the house one last time, catching a final glimpse of the shattered television flashing through the window, and then it vanishes behind the fake rocks and fake plants and fake pond as you reach the fence. You feel like you're walking through a dream, floating all the way back to Valentina's house. You stare up at the big, dark windows with their fancy shutters before Valentina pulls on your arm and ushers you back into her car. You wonder if she leaves the house empty, hiding the blank walls and gathering layers of dust behind the thick black curtains. You sit in silence as Valentina walks around outside, and you startle when she opens the back door instead of the driver door, tucking away your dirty clothes in the back seat before reaching behind you to pull out a set of plates. She exchanges them with the plates already on the car, hiding the old ones behind the seat again before joining you in the front. You blink over at her, but she doesn't say anything, just turning the car on and slowly easing it out of the long driveway and back onto the street. The drive is slow and quiet, Valentina flashing her keycard again as you leave, and slowly sound returns as you pick up speed and head back into the city. "I haven't hunted like that... In a long time," Valentina says eventually. She sounds wistful, not looking at you, stroking the steering wheel with her thumbs. "I don't have to eat very often. And Hana-- she always just wants to go to the damn hotel." She glances over at you then. "Do you feel better?" <div id="choice"><<link '"No."' 'ch2 val 12.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I feel sick."' 'ch2 val 12.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Yes."' 'ch2 val 12.c'>><</link>></div>

You eat until you're going to be sick, mouthfuls of flesh and blood hot and slick in the back of your throat, soft tissue bursting between your teeth as Valentina forces your face deeper and deeper. But you can't eat anymore. You groan, swaying over the man's flayed corpse, and only then does Valentina let you go. She slides her hand from your neck down your back, leaning in to lick at all the blood dripping from your chin. "Good girl," she says. You curl your lip at her, and she just smiles, pressing her face in the crook of your neck before kissing you again, licking at your teeth and idly touching at the cut between your ribs. You kiss her back, grabbing her by her shoulders and pinning her against the kitchen island, a bitter taste in your mouth as her tongue presses against yours. You bite at her lip, hard enough to make her bleed, and your hands tighten around her for a moment as you consider what would happen if you tore her apart between your teeth. But you let her go, shoving her back against the island again as you stand and stagger out of the kitchen. You stumble through the house until you find a bathroom, and you quickly turn on the sink and shove your bloody face under the water. You consider making yourself vomit, but instinct tells you that it won't matter. Your body won't let you. You rinse your face and your hair and scrub your hands, panting loudly in the massive, empty bathroom. You sit up after a few frantic minutes and stare at your reflection. You can't see anything-- just an angry red smear. You pull up your shirt, peering down at that stab wound, touching it gingerly with a grimace. You can feel it already pulling itself back together, all the blood you just drank nourishing your body and allowing it to heal; the wound in your shoulder has already nearly closed up completely, and the scratches down your back feel //cooler//, your skin no longer tight and painful. You lean over the sink then, squinting as you try to will your reflection into clarity. It doesn't work. You let your head drop, staring down at all the blood dripping down the porcelain. "Fuck." A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you hunch over the sink. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. More moments like this, of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving you before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You lift your head, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.2.lowrel 3]]

"$name," Valentina's voice makes you tense, and you glare over at the doorway as she stands there, watching you over the sink. She steps into the bathroom, her white silk shift soaked through with blood and dripping across the floor as she joins you in front of the mirror. "You ruined your new clothes," she says, tilting her head at you. "Go find something to change into." She reaches out to trail a hand across your back, and you turn from the mirror to look at her, swallowing loudly as she leans into you. You push off the counter, stepping sideways as Valentina lets you go and turns the sink back on, leaning forward to rinse out her long, black hair. You retreat out of the bathroom, running your hands through your wet hair, and you come across the second body near the front door, a woman torn apart by Valentina. You avoid it, turning to the stairs and quickly making your way up and into one of the bedrooms. You dig through the drawers, grabbing the first shirt you suspect will fit-- an oversized black v-neck. You peel off your bloody shirt, wiping your body down with another before pulling the v-neck on. Valentina joins you shortly. You watch her as she steps in and starts to sort through the closet, and you just stand there, your bloody shirt bundled in your hand. She pauses for a moment to peel off her dress, and you're not exactly surprised to learn she's not wearing anything underneath, but your face still burns, and you quickly turn away. You know she's looking at you, and you feel her phantom hands on you again, her lips against your throat-- her hand around your neck. You lick your lips. "How's this?" You turn to see Valentina wearing a long black dress, thin straps and a dangerously low neckline. She spins around, grinning, and then jumps across the room, shoving her soiled dress in your one hand along with your shirt and then grabbing your other to drag you back downstairs. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.2.lowrel 4]]

"Now what?" you ask tentatively, flexing your hand in her grip. She doesn't let go. "Now we leave," she shrugs, glancing back at you. You look around at all of the carnage in the living room, the broken television and drops of blood splattered across the walls and on the floor. The body slumped behind the kitchen island. "Don't look so worried," she smirks. She steps close then, tightening her hand around yours, and you can’t help the way your stare wanders to admire her chest, your own hand rising to roughly grab her waist. You want to touch the pale skin at the base of her neckline-- the dip of her sternum just between her breasts. You taste the blood from her split lip, still lingering in your mouth, tart and floral. You turn your hand, pressing your thumb against her soft peek of flesh, pulling at her neckline as your nail pricks against her breast. Valentina sways forward, pressing herself against your hand, letting out a long breath at your touch, a small drop of blood welling up just beneath your nail. "Come on," Valentina smirks then, slipping out of your grasp and pulling you through the house and out the back door. [[Next ->ch2 val 12]]

For a while you just close your eyes, listening to the static from the glitching television in the other room, holding Valentina in your arms and feeling her tongue on your skin, until she pulls back and slowly rises to her feet. You peer up at her, and she just smiles, offering you her hand. You take it. She leads you through the house, into the bathroom, and she cuts the water on, bowing her head and washing the blood from her face before she starts to wash out her long, black hair. You're in a bit of a daze, staring at her before turning to your reflection in the mirror. You can't see anything-- just an angry red smear. You pull up your shirt, peering down at that stab wound, touching it gingerly with a grimace. You can feel it already pulling itself back together, all the blood you just drank nourishing your body and allowing it to heal; the wound in your shoulder has already nearly closed up completely. Even the scratches down your back feel //cooler//, the skin no longer tight and angry, the long scabs healing over. You lean over the sink then, squinting as you try to will your reflection into clarity. It doesn't work. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.1.highrel 3]]

Valentina stands then, and gestures you to switch places. She lets her hand flit over your exposed stomach, eyeing the wound with concern, but she steps back as you lean over the sink, washing your face and hair and hands, all the way up to your elbows, and then you sit there, leaning against the counter, watching all the blood run down the porcelain. A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you hunch over the sink. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. More moments like this of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving you before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You lift your head, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.1.highrel 4]]

When you step back from the sink, Valentina tilts her head to inspect your work, and finding it satisfactory she sways close to brush her lips along your jaw with a soft hum. "Come on. Let's find some clean clothes for you," she mutters, toying with your blood-soaked shirt. You follow Valentina out of the bathroom and to the stairs, eyeing the second body she tore apart earlier, smeared across the floor in the foyer. You give it one last glance before ascending the stairs, Valentina pulling you into one of the large bedrooms and immediately skipping over to dig through the drawers. You eye some of the paintings on the wall, and the expensive jewelry on the nightstand, your lip curling instinctively. Valentina offers you a plain black v-neck then, and you quickly change, the shirt a little large but better than having all that blood plastered to your stomach. You stand in the center of the room, your bloody shirt bundled in your hand, watching as Valentina starts to go through the closet next. She pauses for a moment to peel off her dress, and you're not exactly surprised to learn she's not wearing anything underneath, but your face still burns, and you quickly turn away. You know she's looking at you, and you glance back, her black eyes catching yours, her mouth slightly parted as you watch her. You lick your lips. "How's this?" She pulls a black dress from the closet, easily slipping it on over her head, with thin straps and a dangerously low neckline. She spins around, grinning, and then jumps across the room, shoving her soiled dress in your one hand along with your shirt and then grabbing your other to drag you back downstairs. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.1.highrel 5]]

"Now what?" you blurt as you reach the first floor again. Valentina glances back at you. "Now we leave," she shrugs. You look around at all of the carnage in the living room, the broken television and drops of blood splattered across the walls and on the floor. The body slumped behind the kitchen island. "Don't look so worried," she smirks. She steps close then, entwining her fingers with yours, and you can't help the way your stare wanders to admire her chest, your hand rising to grab her waist. You want to touch the pale skin at the base of her neckline-- the dip of her sternum just between her breasts. You feel her phantom touch, her hands on you, her thumb in your shoulder, her fingers between your ribs. You turn your hand, lightly brushing the soft peek of flesh, pulling at her neckline, and Valentina shudders, letting out a long breath that tickles in the hollow of your throat. "Come on," Valentina whispers, slipping out of your grasp and pulling you through the house and out the back door. [[Next ->ch2 val 12]]

After a while, she stands, turning to look at you with wide eyes. You sit up, tensing on the couch as she emerges from the kitchen, padding over to you. She offers you her bloody hand, and you tentatively take it. She leads you through the house, into a lavish bathroom, stopping you in front of the sink. She peers over your shoulder, into the mirror, though the only reflection is yours, a red smear blurring across the glass. Valentina reaches around and cuts the water on, stepping up beside you and leaning down to wash her hair in the sink. You just watch, your hands gripping the counter hard enough for your fingers to ache. A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you watch all the blood drip down the porcelain. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. More moments like this, of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving you before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You turn away, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.2.highrel 3]]

Valentina straightens up, her face and hands washed clean, slicking her wet hair back out of her face. She tilts her head at you, gesturing you towards the sink. You wash yourself in the cool water, Valentina hovering, and when you step back she moves in to inspect your work. She nods, and then her eyes wander to the gash between your ribs. You instinctively cover it with your hand, though you can feel it healing, feel it stitching itself back together-- same with your shoulder, the muscle twitching irritatingly as it does. Even your back feels //cooler//, the skin no longer tight and painful, the scabs peeling away. All the blood you just drank nourishes your body; it allows it to heal. Valentina hums, swaying close to brush a light kiss along your jaw. "Come on. Let's find some clean clothes for you," she says, toying with your blood-soaked shirt. You follow her out of the bathroom and to the stairs, eyeing the second body Valentina tore apart, smeared across the floor in the foyer. You give it one last glance before ascending the stairs, Valentina pulling you into one of the large bedrooms and immediately skipping over to dig through the drawers. You avoid looking around, not wanting to see any hint of the life you just took downstairs. Valentina offers you a plain black v-neck, and you quickly change, the shirt a little large but better than having all that blood plastered to your stomach. You stand in the center of the room, your bloody shirt bundled in your hand, watching as Valentina starts to rifle through the closet next. You stretch your neck, twitching painfully at the strain from earlier, still feeling the sharp bite of the kitchen tile on your cheek. Valentina pauses for a moment then to peel off her dress, and you're not exactly surprised to learn she's not wearing anything underneath, but your face still burns, and you quickly turn away. You know she's looking at you, and you feel her phantom hands on you again, her thumb in your shoulder-- her hand around your neck. You lick your lips. "How's this?" She pulls a black dress from the closet then, easily slipping it on over her head, with thin straps and a dangerously low neckline. She spins around, grinning, and then jumps across the room, shoving her soiled dress in your one hand along with your shirt and then grabbing your other to drag you back downstairs. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.a.2.highrel 4]]

"Now what?" you ask tentatively, flexing your hand in her grip. She doesn't let go. "Now we leave," she shrugs, glancing back at you. You look around at all of the carnage in the living room, the broken television and drops of blood splattered across the walls and on the floor. The body slumped behind the kitchen island. "Don't look so worried," she smirks. She steps close then, tightening her hand around yours, and you can't help the way your stare wanders to admire her chest, your own hand rising to roughly grab her waist. You want to touch the pale skin at the base of her neckline-- the dip of her sternum just between her breasts. Your shoulder twitches painfully, and you turn your hand, pressing your thumb against her soft peek of flesh, pulling at her neckline as your nail pricks against her breast. Valentina sways forward, pressing herself against your hand, letting out a long breath at your touch, a small drop of blood welling up just beneath your nail. "Come on," Valentina smirks then, slipping out of your grasp and pulling you through the house and out the back door. [[Next ->ch2 val 12]]

You watch her for a few seconds, glancing down at the blood oozing between your fingers where you clutch your side-- and you tighten your hand over the wound as you push yourself off the island and crawl across the linoleum, joining Valentina where she hunches over the man. He's still breathing, wet, rasping breaths, his chest shuddering with the effort, his eyes wild and darting around his skull. Valentina is drinking from his throat, but she sits up as you join her, dragging one of her long nails from his neck down over his sternum to his navel, and then she rips his shirt open, exposing his stomach. She sways close to you, nipping at your jaw, before turning back to the man dying on the kitchen floor. She drags her nail down his stomach again, across the bare skin, blood welling up in its wake as she easily cuts him open. You want to reach inside, to feel it on your fingers, to taste it-- but Valentina grabs your wrist as you reach out, touching your hand, slowly stroking your arm. She stares at you with her big, black eyes, blinking and leaning in to try and kiss you-- but you pull back, your brow furrowed, <<if $v_rival or $v_rel lt 50>>pain still twisting between your ribs from her touch.<<else>>pain still twisting in your shoulder from her touch.<</if>> "Come on, baby," she says softly, clinging to your arm, her breath hot and bloody on your face. "Don't call me that," you snap at her, and her face falls slightly, her hand tightening around your wrist, but you jerk your hand free and shove her aside, grabbing the still twitching body and pulling it close to you. She watches as you start to eat again, but she doesn't say anything else, nor does she join you-- instead just standing and padding out of the kitchen, back into the living room. You let her go, too occupied with your food-- you slowly open the long gash Valentina made, plunging your hands into the gore, scooping blood up to your mouth, and then you start to pull him apart, hunching over to shovel whatever you can down your throat. You feel the burst of soft tissue between your teeth, your mouth warm and slick, gristle and bone slicing at your gums in your haste. You don't know how long you sit hunched over him like that-- you aren't sure how long you eat. But all at once the hunger quiets. You're satisfied. You swallow your final mouthful and lean back, slouching against the cupboards, taking a few minutes to catch your breath and let your food settle. You suddenly hear the sound of running water coming from somewhere in the house, and you stand, making your way around the kitchen island and crossing into the living room, eyeing the shattered television before you find the bathroom. Valentina is hunched over the sink, washing all the blood from her long hair. You step through the doorway and stare over at the large mirror on the wall, though the only visible reflection is yours, an angry red smear shimmering across the glass. You run your hands over your chest, watching your reflection move with you, and you pull up your shirt, peering down at your stab wound, touching it gingerly with a grimace. You can feel it already pulling itself back together, all the blood you just drank nourishing your body and allowing it to heal; the wound in your shoulder has already nearly closed up completely. Even the scratches down your back feel //cooler//, the skin no longer tight and angry, the long scabs healing over. You lean over the sink then, squinting as you try to will your reflection into clarity. It doesn't work. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.b.1.lowrel 2]]

You watch her for a few seconds, glancing down at the blood oozing between your fingers where you clutch your side-- and you start to inch back, retreating along the back of the island, your <<if $clothes eq 1 or $clothes eq 3>>boots<<else>>sneakers<</if>> squeaking on the bloody tile. The man is still breathing, wet, rasping breaths, his chest shuddering with the effort, his eyes wild and darting around his skull. Valentina is drinking from his throat, but she sits up as you start to move, turning back to watch you with dark eyes. She stares as she drags one of her long nails from the man's neck down over his sternum to his navel, and then she rips his shirt open, exposing his stomach. Then she smirks at you, dragging her nail down his stomach again, across the bare skin, blood welling up in its wake as she easily cuts him open. She slips her hands inside and pulls him apart, and then you turn away, standing on shaky legs and retreating out of the kitchen. She watches you go with a dark stare, but she doesn't try to stop you. You stumble through the living room, past the glitching television, wandering around until you find a bathroom. You slip inside and close the door behind you, leaving bloody handprints around the fancy crystal doorknob. You quickly turn on the sink and shove your face under the water, rinsing your face and your hair and scrubbing your hands, panting loudly in the massive, empty bathroom. You sit up after a few frantic minutes and stare at your reflection. You can't see anything-- just an angry red smear. You pull up your shirt, peering down at that stab wound, touching it gingerly with a grimace. You can feel it already pulling itself back together, despite Valentina's attempts to rip it open-- all the blood you just drank nourishing your body and allowing it to heal. Even the scratches down your back feel //cooler//, your skin no longer tight and painful as the long scabs flake away. You lean over the sink then, squinting as you try to will your reflection into clarity. It doesn't work. You let your head drop, staring down at all the blood dripping down the porcelain. "Fuck." A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you hunch over the sink. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. More moments like this, of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving you before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You lift your head, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.b.2.lowrel 2]]

Valentina straightens up after a moment, slicking back her wet hair, glaring over at you before sidestepping past and back out the door. You watch her go, vanishing down the hall, her light steps fading as she heads upstairs. You take her place in front of the sink, letting the cool water run over your hands before you bow your head and wash your face and hair and hands, all the way up to your elbows, and then you sit there, leaning against the counter, watching all the blood run down the porcelain. A sudden tide of memories rises then, washing over you as you hunch over the sink. They're disjointed, out of order and chaotic, visions of you running through the streets-- chasing someone. Through the streets, through the woods, through an old house. More moments like this of you and Valentina, hunched over and feasting together, a still warm body splayed between you. Other times where you've shared your bed and just had a taste-- delicate and tender and intimate, the woman leaving you before you woke up the next morning, leaving with bruises and bites on her thighs. The rush of blood between your fingers, the warmth of it in your mouth, the sticky feeling of it drying on your lips. This is how you live. Flesh and blood in exchange for eternal life. You lift your head, staring at your reflection again. She can't stare back. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.b.1.lowrel 3]]

You cut off the water and turn to follow after Valentina. You leave the bathroom and walk upstairs, purposefully avoiding the second mutilated body at the front door as you follow after Valentina’s trail of blood. She's in one of the bedrooms, throwing clothes all over the place. She points to a shirt she already picked out for you-- just a plain black v-neck. It's a little big, but you don't care. It feels better than all the blood plastered to your skin. The blood on your pants isn't too bad, a few splatters, and you don't deign it reason enough to change. A thought that should probably disturb you, you think. You watch Valentina start to dig through the closet, and you just stand there, your bloody shirt bundled in your hand. You glance around the room then, eyeing some of the paintings on the wall, and the expensive jewelry on the nightstand. You feel your lip curl, a lingering disgust at this big house and flaunted money. Valentina pauses for a moment in the closet to peel off her dress, and you're not exactly surprised to learn she's not wearing anything underneath, but your face still burns, and you quickly turn away. You know she's looking at you, and you feel her phantom hands on you again, her thumb in your shoulder<<if $v_rival or $v_rel lt 50>>-- stroking between your ribs.<<else>>-- her bloody breath tickling your face.<</if>> You lick your lips. "How's this?" she says, though her voice is so quiet you almost don't hear her. You turn to see Valentina wearing a long black dress, thin straps and a dangerously low neckline. She slowly turns for you, and then she bundles up her soiled dress and gives you one last look before leaving the room. You follow. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.b.1.lowrel 4]]

"Now what?" you blurt as you reach the bottom of the stairs. Valentina glances back at you. "Now we leave," she shrugs. You glance around at all of the carnage in the living room, the broken television and drops of blood splattered across the walls and on the floor. The body slumped behind the kitchen island. "Don't look so worried," she smirks. She steps close then, seeming to regain her confidence, and you can't help the way your stare wanders to admire her chest, your own hand rising to roughly grab her waist. You want to touch the pale skin at the base of her neckline-- the dip of her sternum just between her breasts. Touch-- or maybe you want to hurt her, too. She smirks at your stare, leaning in to breathe against your pulse, but then she slips away before you can decide what it is you really want. "Come on," Valentina whispers, pulling you through the house and out the back door. [[Next ->ch2 val 12]]

You stay in the bathroom for a few minutes, letting the cold water run over your hands until they hurt, watching the water until it runs clear down the drain. Then you turn and open the door, creeping back out and listening closely-- you hear the static of the television, and the distant wet sounds of Valentina still eating in the kitchen. You turn and head for the stairs, avoiding the second body Valentina tore apart, smeared across the foyer, and quickly ascend to the second floor. You wander into a massive bedroom, and start digging through the dresser for clean clothes. You frown down at your soiled shirt-- so much for that... You grab the first thing that looks like it will fit, just an oversized black v-neck, and you peel off your shirt and wipe yourself clean with another, and then you sit on the edge of the huge bed for a moment, running a hand over your face and letting out a long sigh. Valentina finds you like that, padding into the room, her white shift soaked through with blood and dripping across the carpet. She's washed her face, her wet hair slicked back, and she blinks over at you as you tense on the bed. "You should have eaten more," she chastises you as she starts to pet your hair. You just give her a look. She laughs lightly, letting her hand slide away and turning to walk over to the closet. The throws open the doors, scanning the rows of hanging clothes before she starts to pull various pieces out and throw them to the floor. She pauses for a moment to peel off her dress, and you're not exactly surprised to learn she's not wearing anything underneath, but your face still burns, and you quickly turn away. You know she's looking at you, and you feel her phantom hands on you again, her thumb in your shoulder<<if $v_rival or $v_rel lt 50>>-- stroking between your ribs.<<else>>-- her bloody breath tickling your face.<</if>> You lick your lips. "How's this?" You turn to see Valentina wearing a long black dress, thin straps and a dangerously low neckline. She spins around, grinning, and then jumps across the room, shoving her soiled dress in your one hand along with your shirt and then grabbing your other to drag you off the bed and back downstairs. [[Next ->ch2 val 11.b.2.lowrel 3]]

"Now what?" you ask tentatively, flexing your hand in her grip. She doesn't let go. "Now we leave," she shrugs, glancing back at you. You look around at all of the carnage in the living room, the broken television and drops of blood splattered across the walls and on the floor. The body slumped behind the kitchen island. "Don't look so worried," she smirks. She steps close then, tightening her hand around yours, and you can't help the way your stare wanders to admire her chest, your own hand rising to roughly grab her waist. You want to touch the pale skin at the base of her neckline-- the dip of her sternum just between her breasts. Touch-- or maybe you want to hurt her, too. She smirks at your stare, leaning in to breathe against your pulse, but then she slips away before you can decide what it is you really want. "Come on," Valentina whispers, pulling you through the house and out the back door. [[Next ->ch2 val 12]]

"No," you say. Valentina purses her lips, shifting in her seat, and then she sighs. She reaches over to put a light hand on your knee, and you let her, just sinking back against the headrest and staring straight ahead at the city rising before you. Your stomach hurts, and you feel gross-- you feel like you need to take a shower. You feel like that wouldn't be enough. Eventually Valentina pulls her hand back and turns on the radio, drowning out the tense silence with an electronic beat that makes your ears ring. You glance over at her, but her face is unreadable, her eyes hard as she watches the road ahead. <<include "ch2 val 13">>

"Yes," you say, letting out a long sigh and sinking back against the headrest. Valentina smiles softly, reaching over to lightly squeeze your thigh, and you let her. "Good," she says softly, squeezing your leg again before pulling back to turn the radio on. The music pulses through the speakers, an electronic beat that rings in your ears as you stare ahead at the city looming closer. <<include "ch2 val 13">>

"I feel sick," you say. Valentina's jaw clenches, and she shifts anxiously in her seat. "The feeling won't last," she finally says. "It'll pass." You don't respond, turning to rest your head against the window, watching the city as it looms closer. Your stomach hurts, and you feel gross-- you feel like you need to take a shower. You feel like that wouldn't be enough. Eventually Valentina reaches over and turns on the radio, drowning out the tense silence with an electronic beat that makes your ears ring. You glance over at her, but her face is unreadable, her eyes hard as she watches the road ahead. <<include "ch2 val 13">>

The lull of the car tempts you to close your eyes, but the constant flash of lights and sound outside prevent you from giving in, the city getting bigger and louder and brighter, and you find yourself unable to look away from it. "Where are we going now?" you ask after a while, when you realize you're not going back the way you came. "You'll see," Valentina says, giving you a sly smile. [[Next ->ch2 val 14]]

Valentina drives you deep into the city, the sky overhead obscured by towering buildings and massive screens and holograms dancing through the dark, and she ends up parking in a small, inconspicuous lot, surrounded by a worn chain-link fence. You're still in a bit of a daze after the drive, and you shake your head, letting out a long breath as you sit up and climb out of the car. Valentina leads you across the lot, the car locking behind you with a loud //chirp//, and you take a chance to get a good look around, the distant sound of music playing through the dark as you step through the fence. This place is strangely empty, considering the location, oil slicks shining bright in the gutters, reflecting the light of the overhead lamps and splashing beneath your feet. Uneven cobblestones pave the way into a discreet side alley, hidden behind what looks to you to be an abandoned apartment complex, with boarded windows and collapsing architecture. But you see movement inside-- or maybe that's just all the projected ads catching your eye as they flash across the remaining broken glass in the rotting windowpanes, a glitching shadow across the stained walls. To the right is the source of the music, a much smaller building with a staircase that delves down beneath the concrete, a green light illuminating a dented metal door at the bottom. Valentina ushers you down the stairs. She knocks a few times, glancing back at you with a knowing smile, and then you wait. [[Next ->ch2 val 15]]

After a few awkward minutes the door opens, a large woman standing in the entrance and blocking your way. She looks mean and annoyed, until recognition flickers across her face, and she nods at Valentina, before glancing back at you. She takes you in, but clearly can't place you-- Valentina whispers something to her and that makes her narrow her eyes at you. But then she steps back, holding the door open and gesturing you both inside. "Enjoy, ladies," she says as you both head in. The place is loud-- it makes your teeth ache, and the flashing lights are hard for you to look at, squinting your eyes as the strobing grows more intense the farther in you get. There's also a thick fog settling across the floor, rising up around you as your feet kick through it and send it swirling in all directions. Valentina grabs your hand then, pulling you out of the corridor and into the club proper, and you are overwhelmed by the mass of bodies down here. There's a dance floor-- where most of the crowd is congregating-- and a massive bar, little tables scattered across the place as well as booths set into the wall. There are a few hallways splintering off in various directions, two of them hidden behind heavy curtains, while the other one has a constant flow of people coming in and out. There are also a few elevated platforms for dancers, though only one is occupied at the moment, a scantily clad woman swinging impressively around the pole, a few people gathered underneath and offering her money. There are //women// giving her money. And there are women dancing together, //dancing// dancing, hands on hips and hands up shirts and kissing and touching and laughing. There are men, too, dancing together, and you feel your hand instinctively tighten around Valentina's. You've been to places like this before-- but the salons, a hundred years ago, were nothing like this. Something like //this// would have been just you and your fellow vampires, and it would have been underground and out of sight. But this is something else. You can sense your kindred here, of course-- but there are people, too. You can smell them, sweat and blood and breathing life. You see the flash of fangs as someone laughs, and feel the pulse of someone's excited heart as they dart by onto the dancefloor. All of these people here-- do they know? An open secret. Valentina is watching your reaction, smiling softly, her hand squeezing yours back. You keep glancing back and forth, finding new things to look at, and there, at the end of the bar, you see an unexpectedly familiar face, a few seats down from another couple whispering together. Clear is here, nursing a beer all alone. Valentina follows your gaze, before glancing back at you. "Hana must be here somewhere," she mutters. She releases your hand then, stepping in front of you and grabbing your shoulders, sliding her hands up until they're pressed, cool, on either side of your neck. "You should go join your pet over there. Enjoy yourself," she smirks. "I'm going to find Hana-- I need to speak with her," she adds that in a clipped tone, and before you can respond, she turns on her heel and vanishes in a swirl of fog. "Wait..." you mutter, but she's already gone, and you're left all alone in the middle of the club. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar alone 1]]

"What are you doing here?" you ask. She raises her bottle then. "Is it not obvious?" she smirks. "Getting fucking plastered. What are //you// doing here?" <<if $ch2_hana>>You glance back over your shoulder, back at the dancefloor, but you don't find Hana before you turn back to Clear.<<else>>You glance back over your shoulder, over to where Valentina had vanished, then over to the dancefloor, pursing your lips at the wild mass of dancers.<</if>> She raises an eyebrow at you. <<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>"If you're going to ask me to dance, don't bother," she muses. "I'm too drunk for that." You tilt your head at her, and she just sighs. "Look, I'm just-- I'm //coping//, right?" she forces a grin and raises the bottle again, gesturing it towards you in a little toast. "Just leave me to it. I'm going to earn my hangover tomorrow, at the very least." "Clear..." She just sighs again, setting the bottle down atop the bar hard enough to draw a few looks. Then she turns in her seat, looking over at you, leaning in close as she studies your face for a moment.<<else>>"Well what the fuck are you bothering me for, then? I'm not dancing with you," she muses. You scoff at her, taken aback as you lean forward against the bar. "You're drunk already. How many drinks have you had?" "Not enough," she snaps, slamming her bottle down on the bar hard enough to draw a few looks. She shifts in her seat then, letting out a long sigh. She glances between you and the bottle in front of her, and then rubs at her eyes, pressing her elbows to the bar as she takes a deep breath. When she drops her hands, she turns fully to look at you, leaning in close and studying your face for a moment.<</if>> <<if $clear_rom>><<include "ch2 clear bar alone rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch2 clear bar alone plat 1">><</if>>

<<if $clear gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>"Are you okay?" you ask, and she sighs. "I've been better," she scoffs, leaning back to take a long drink. "Glad to be out of that fucking room, at least," she adds. "What do you mean?" Clear side-eyes you. "I was locked in a room, back at the mansion," she says. "Valentina only let me out about..." she trails off, glancing around for a clock that isn't there. "I don't know, an hour or so ago." <<if hasVisited("ch2 4.b")>>"They wouldn't let me see you," you explain. She nods slowly. "Right. Yeah, they told me, too." She licks her lips, shifting in her chair. "But now? You're //all better//?" You don't like the way she asks it, her lip curling slightly around the mouth of the bottle as she takes another drink. "Yeah. All better," you say.<<else>>"I didn't know. I was... dealing with everything else," you say slowly. She lets out a dry chuckle. "Right." She licks her lips, shifting in her chair. "And now? All //dealt with//?" You don't like the way she asks it, her lip curling slightly around the mouth of the bottle as she takes another drink. "Yeah. It's been dealt with," you say.<</if>> She sets her bottle down then with a loud //thud//, getting a look from the couple down bar. She turns towards you, leaning in close, studying your face for a moment.<<else>>"You okay?" you ask. She rolls her eyes at you, and doesn't respond for a moment, leaning back to take a long drink. "Fucking a-okay," she says, slamming the bottle down on the bar hard enough to get a few looks. "Clear..." "What the fuck do you want me to say?" she spits at you. She quiets down though, shrinking a bit in her chair when she notices people staring. "I'm fine," she concludes. She gives you a sideways glance, shifting awkwardly, her shoulders tensing up again. "I'll be fine," she repeats. She spins her bottle across the bartop, holding it by the neck, watching the condensation smear across the wood. Then she turns towards you, leaning in close, studying your face for a moment.<</if>> <<if $clear_rom is true>><<include "ch2 clear bar alone rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch2 clear bar alone plat 1">><</if>>

"What are you drinking?" you ask, and Clear gives you a look. <<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>"Some shitty beer," she says with a shrug. She pauses for a moment, staring down at the glass bottle in her hand. "I'm on Valentina's tab, apparently, so if you're thirsty..." she trails off, gesturing with the bottle. You glance around the bar then. Valentina owns a hotel; does she own this place, too? Clear takes another long drink, eyeing you beside her. "Haven't had a drink in years," she says abruptly. "I'll have to turn in my coin," she smirks. You don't know what she's talking about, and she knows it, letting out a long sigh. She twists the bottle in her hand a few times, before setting it down atop the bar and turning to look at you. She leans in close, studying your face for a long moment, the smell of alcohol heavy on her breath.<<else>>"Piss in a bottle," she muses. "You want a taste?" she waves the bottle in your face, nearly smacking it against your nose. But then she pulls back, making a mock surprised expression, her eyes widening. "Oh! I forgot. You'd rather drink something else, wouldn't you?" she sneers. You're a bit taken aback, leaning back in your chair as Clear glares at you. "How many of those have you had?" you prompt. She rolls her eyes at you. "What the fuck do you care?" she huffs. She sets the bottle down then, hard enough to get a few looks, and then she turns to look at you. She leans in close, studying your face for a long moment, her brow furrowed and the smell of alcohol heavy on her breath.<</if>> <<if $clear_rom>><<include "ch2 clear bar alone rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch2 clear bar alone plat 1">><</if>>

"Tell me your name," she says slowly. You blink at her, your brow furrowing in confusion. "I heard them say it. Valentina said it," she says. "But I want you to tell me." <<if $c_rel gte 50 and $clear_kickout eq false>>She sways closer, eyeing your lips, her eyes softening as she reaches out to tentatively touch your hand where it rests atop the bar. "Tell me," she says again. "$name," you say softly. She hums, blinking slowly at you. "$name," she says, holding it in her mouth for a moment. She's leaning partially out of her chair, her shoulder touching yours, and she sighs again, shaking her head. "What a fucking mess, huh, $name?" she picks up her drink again and finishes it off. "But I meant what I said. I'm glad to see you again." You can hear her swallow, even over the pulsing music, even over all the other voices in the bar. She reaches over then, her hand sliding from yours to slip down under the bar and gently grab at your knee as she tilts her head at you. <div id="choice">[[Kiss her. ->ch2 clear bar alone rom 1.a.highrel]]</div> <div id="choice">[[No-- I can't kiss her in this bar... ->ch2 clear bar alone rom 1.b.highrel]]</div><<else>>She leans closer, roughly grabbing at your wrist where it rests atop the bar, her hands cold and clammy from the condensation on her beer bottle. "Tell me," she says again. You lick your lips, studying her face, her dark eyes. "$name," you say slowly. Her hand tightens, and then she lets go, though she stays close to you, leaning partially out of her chair, shoulder to shoulder as she returns your stare. "$name," she says, holding it in her mouth for a moment. "Fuck you, $name," she snickers, picking up her drink again and finishing it off. Again, she slams the bottle down on the bartop, swaying in her seat, her shoulder still flush with yours as she glares at you all the while. Her one hand slips down under the bar then, roughly grabbing at your thigh, her lips wet and parted as she leans close. <div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her. ->ch2 clear bar alone rom 1.a.lowrel]]>><<set $ch2_clearkiss to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice">[[No-- I can't kiss her in this bar... ->ch2 clear bar alone rom 1.b.lowrel]]</div><</if>>

<<if $c_rel gte 50>>"$name," she says slowly, leaning back in her chair, "can you order me another drink?" You raise an eyebrow at her. "I think they're going to cut me off if I do it," she muses. "You can get one, too. I'm not paying for it, so I don't give a shit." <div id="choice"><<link '"Alright. One more, since you asked so nicely."' 'ch2 clear bar alone plat 1.a.highrel'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I'll order myself a drink-- but Clear doesn't need anymore. ->ch2 clear bar alone plat 1.b.highrel]]>><<set $c_rel -=2>><<set $c_cruel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I should take you home." ♡' 'ch2 clear bar alone plat 1.c.highrel'>><<set $late_clearrom to true>><</link>></div><<else>>"Look," she says then, "//$name//. Either order me another drink or fuck off." That's the first time she's said your name. <div id="choice"><<link '"Fine."' 'ch2 clear bar alone plat 1.a.lowrel'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I'll order myself a drink. Clear doesn't need anymore. ->ch2 clear bar alone plat 1.b.lowrel]]>><<set $c_rel-=2>><<set $c_cruel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"How about we split one more?" ♡' 'ch2 clear bar alone plat 1.c.lowrel'>><<set $late_clearrom to true>><</link>></div><</if>>

You're not sure if it's you, or her, that leans in-- maybe you meet halfway-- but Clear is the one that turns away, her lips brushing your cheek at the last moment, and she sighs, her breath tickling your neck before she pulls back. She squeezes your knee, your thigh, and then lets her hand drop back into her lap. "Sorry," she mutters. "I'm drunk." She gives you a bitter smile. <<if $ch2_hana>><<if $hana_rom eq true>><<if $h_rel lt 50>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you both startle, Clear quickly leaning back and putting some space between you. She stares down into her empty bottle while you turn around to see Hana eyeing you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Come on. I want to dance," she says, without waiting for a response, grabbing your hand and dragging you out of your chair. You glance back at Clear, but she just stays staring down at the bartop. "Hana--" you start, grimacing internally, but she just squeezes your hand, her eyes dark as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. You didn't even get to have a drink. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you both startle, Clear quickly leaning back and putting some space between you. She stares down into her empty bottle while you turn around to see Hana tilting her head at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Do you still want to dance with me?" she asks softly. //Shit//, you wince internally, glancing over at Clear, though she just keeps staring down at the bartop. "Does Clear want to dance, too?" You blink back at Hana. She steps closer then, easing herself into the little space between your chairs, a hand on your back and one tentatively touching Clear's shoulder. "Ah, no, I'm not much of a dancer," Clear rambles, tensing under Hana's hand. Hana gives her a long look, slowly pulling her hand back and turning to you expectantly. You can't say no to those big black eyes, the little pout she gives you, her fangs just peeking out between her lips. "Okay," you say, sliding out of your chair. You glance over at Clear, but she doesn't look at you, twisting the beer bottle in her hands. "We'll be back in a few songs, Clear," Hana says excitedly, and then she grabs your hand and pulls you off into the crowd, towards the dancefloor. You didn't even get to have a drink... [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you both startle, Clear quickly leaning back and putting some space between you. She stares down into her empty bottle while you turn around to see Hana tilting her head at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt," she says slowly. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she still doesn't look at you, resting her head in her hand and leaning her elbow against the bar. "Okay, Hana, okay. Let's dance," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear as Hana grabs your hand. She skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. You feel wound up after that, Clear's breath still lingering hot on your neck-- dancing will help, you try to convince yourself. You imagine your hands on Clear, how she would look dancing in front of you-- and you look back at the bar again, but Clear is gone, her bottle sitting all alone in front of her empty chair. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you both startle, Clear quickly leaning back and putting some space between you. She stares down into her empty bottle while you turn around to see Hana tilting her head at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt," she says slowly. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she still doesn't look at you, resting her head in her hand and leaning her elbow against the bar. "Okay, Hana, okay. Let's dance," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear as Hana grabs your hand. She skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. You feel wound up after that, Clear's breath still lingering hot on your neck-- dancing will help, you try to convince yourself. You imagine your hands on Clear, how she would look dancing in front of you-- and you look back at the bar again, but Clear is gone, her bottle sitting all alone in front of her empty chair. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>"It's okay, Clear," you say softly. You can see her jaw clench, the muscle feathering as she stares down at her drink. Before you can say anything else, she abruptly turns and slides out of her chair, wobbling a bit as she hits the floor, giving you a look over her shoulder. "I need to go to the little girl's room," she smirks, and she quickly scampers off, ducking through the crowd and vanishing in a thick swirl of fog. You're left alone again. "Clear..." you say, even though you know she can't hear you. You flag down the bartender then, and order whatever it is Clear was drinking-- and you sit and wait. But Clear doesn't come back. [[Next ->ch2 bartender v1]]<</if>><</if>><<else>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you both startle, Clear quickly leaning back and putting some space between you. She stares down into her empty bottle while you turn around to see Hana tilting her head at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. You realize she must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina already spoke with her. "Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt," she says slowly. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you, or Clear... wanted to dance with me...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she still doesn't look at you, just shaking her head before resting it in her hand and leaning her elbow against the bar. You glance back at Hana, still looking expectantly at you, clasping her hands together in front of her. //Damn//. "Okay, Hana. I'll dance with you," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear as Hana grabs your hand. She skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. You feel wound up after that, Clear's breath still lingering hot on your neck-- dancing will help, you try to convince yourself. You imagine your hands on Clear, how she would look dancing in front of you-- and you look back at the bar again, but Clear is gone, her bottle sitting all alone in front of her empty chair. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

"Clear," you say, and she quickly leans back, covering her face with her hand. She squeezes your thigh once before letting her other hand slide away back into her lap, shifting anxiously in her chair. "Fuck me," she mutters, leaning against the bar with a sigh. Before you can say anything else besides just her name, she turns and slides out of her chair, wobbling a bit as she hits the floor, giving you a look over her shoulder. "I need to go to the little girl's room," she smirks, and she quickly scampers off, ducking through the crowd and vanishing in a thick swirl of fog. You're left alone again. "Clear..." you say, even though you know she can't hear you. You flag down the bartender then, and order whatever it is Clear was drinking-- and you sit and wait. But Clear doesn't come back. <<if $ch2_hana eq true>><<if $hana_rom>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana purses her lips, glancing at the vacant chair again. "Do you think she would want to dance with us?" she asks then. You eye her for a moment, the implication behind such a simple question making you hesitate. "I don't know," you say again. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Do you still want to dance with me, $name?" she asks softly. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. "Where did Clear go?" she asks. "She just went to the bathroom," you say, shifting in your chair, feeling a little self-conscious with Clear's touch still lingering on your thigh. Hana studies you for a moment, her eyes narrowing, and then she grabs your hand and drags you out of your chair. "Come on," she says. "I want to dance with you." You glance back where Clear had vanished, but there's no sign of her still. "Hana--" you start, grimacing internally, but she just squeezes your hand, her eyes dark as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>><<include "ch2 bartender v1">><</if>><</if>><<else>>"$name," a voice sounds behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina spoke with her already. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you, or Clear, wanted to dance..." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

You're not sure if it's you, or her, that leans all the way in-- maybe you meet halfway-- and Clear's lips are warm and bitter with the taste of alcohol, her kiss sloppy and drunk as she roughly grabs at the back of your neck and pulls you closer, your chair groaning in protest. You feel her teeth click against yours, lancing through your skull, and then she bites on your bottom lip-- returning the favor, you suppose, her own lip still split and swollen under your tongue. You tense in your chair, grabbing at her just as rough, your hand wrapping around her bandaged throat, and you wonder how it would look for you to both go toppling to the floor in the middle of this bar. You think that's what Clear wants-- you can't tell if she's kissing you or fighting you, her hands bruising and her teeth finally slicing through your lip, and you wince, gasping into her mouth before she abruptly breaks the kiss and shoves you back into your chair, slapping your hand away from her neck. You're breathless for a few seconds, reaching up to touch the blood dripping from your lip, and Clear reaches over for her bottle, before she remembers she finished it already. She flashes the empty bottle at you with a mirthless smile. "Sorry. I'm drunk," she muses. Your undead heart is hammering in your chest, and there's a heat pooling in your gut as you prod your bloody lip with your tongue. Clear must see it, her smile widening, clearly enjoying the affect she's had on you. She reaches over to grab your thigh again, higher this time, groping you under the bar. <<if $ch2_hana>><<if $hana_rom>>But then she sees something over your shoulder, and she recoils, letting you go and turning in her chair to stare down at the bartop. You glance over to see Hana standing behind you, watching the two of you with obvious interest. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>She hums curiously as she approaches, eyeing Clear, though Clear ignores her, hunching forward in her chair and running her hands anxiously through her hair. "Do you still want to dance with me, $name?" Hana asks softly, turning back to you. //Shit//, you grimace internally as her eyes focus on your bloody lip, her head tilting slightly, but-- "Does Clear want to dance, too?" You blink down at Hana. She steps closer then, easing herself into the little space between your tall chairs, a hand on your back and one tentatively touching Clear's shoulder. "Ah, no, I'm not much of a dancer," Clear rambles gruffly, tensing under Hana's hand. Hana gives her a long look, slowly pulling her hand back and turning to you expectantly. You can't say no to those big black eyes, the little pout she gives you, her fangs just peeking out between her lips. And, well, you feel a little bad for making out with Clear so blatantly in front of her. "Okay," you say, sliding out of your chair. You glance over at Clear, but she doesn't look at you, twisting the empty beer bottle in her hands. "We'll be back in a few songs, Clear," Hana says excitedly, and then she grabs your hand and pulls you off into the crowd, towards the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>"Am I interrupting?" she says with scathing sarcasm. "Hana--" you start, but then she just grabs your hand, pulling you out of your chair. "Come on. I want to dance with you," she says, and you glance back at Clear, but she's still just staring down at her empty bottle in her hand. Hana squeezes your own hand hard enough to make you grimace, and you turn back to her, her eyes dark as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. You didn't even get to have a drink. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>But then she sees something over your shoulder, and she recoils, letting you go and turning in her chair to stare down at the bartop. You glance over to see Hana standing behind you, watching the two of you with obvious interest. "Sorry," she says slowly. "I didn't mean to interrupt..." She glances between you and Clear. There's something mischievous in her eyes, a hard glint as she saunters a little closer. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "I was just coming to see if you still wanted to dance... Maybe Clear wants to dance, too?" she muses. "It could be fun..." Clear is already shaking her head, still hunched forward and staring down into her bottle. "Ah, no, I'm not much of a dancer," she says gruffly. Hana giggles at her, which seems to make Clear tense even more. "What about you then, $name? Do you want to dance?" she blinks up at you in your chair, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Please?" You glance over at Clear, but she still doesn't look at you, resting her head in her hand and leaning her elbow against the bar. "Okay, Hana, okay. Let's dance," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear as Hana grabs your hand. She skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. You feel wound up after that, Clear's touch still lingering on your thigh-- dancing will help, you try to convince yourself. You imagine your hands on Clear, how she would look dancing in front of you-- and you look back at the bar again, but Clear is gone, her bottle sitting all alone in front of her empty chair. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>But then she sees something over your shoulder, and she recoils, letting you go and turning in her chair to stare down at the bartop. You glance over to see Hana standing behind you, watching the two of you with obvious interest. "Sorry," she says slowly. "I didn't mean to interrupt..." She glances between you and Clear. There's something mischievous in her eyes, a hard glint as she saunters a little closer. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "I was just coming to see if you still wanted to dance... Maybe Clear wants to dance, too?" she muses. "It could be fun..." Clear is already shaking her head, still hunched forward and staring down into her bottle. "Ah, no, I'm not much of a dancer," she says gruffly. Hana giggles at her, which seems to make Clear tense even more. "What about you then, $name? Do you want to dance?" she blinks up at you in your chair, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Please?" You glance over at Clear, but she still doesn't look at you, resting her head in her hand and leaning her elbow against the bar. "Okay, Hana, okay. Let's dance," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear as Hana grabs your hand. She skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. You feel wound up after that, Clear's touch still lingering on your thigh-- dancing will help, you try to convince yourself. You imagine your hands on Clear, how she would look dancing in front of you-- and you look back at the bar again, but Clear is gone, her bottle sitting all alone in front of her empty chair. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>Someone clears their throat, and you and Clear both jump, with Clear recoiling and shrinking back into her chair, staring down at the counter while you turn to glare at the bartender. She smirks at you, swiping up Clear's empty bottle and then turning to meander down the bar. You turn back to Clear but she's already sliding out of her seat, wobbling a bit as she hits the ground, giving you a look over her shoulder. "I need to go to the little girl's room," she smirks, and she quickly scampers off, ducking through the crowd and vanishing in a thick swirl of fog. You're left alone again. "Fuck," you hiss under your breath, glaring at the bartender as she eyes you from a distance. She seems pretty pleased with herself, wandering back over then to lean against the bar in front of you. She's an older woman, short buzzed hair greying at her temples, and you know she's a vampire, catching her fangs flashing a few times while she talking with other patrons at the bar. She must have been turned at an older age, and you admire her lined face and grey hair, as well as the colorful tattoo sleeves she wears on both arms. "Give me a drink," you tell her before she can make any kind of smart comment. She smirks again, and reaches back into the fridge behind the bar, offering you a bottle of whatever Clear was drinking. You snatch it from her, prying the top off with your nails. "Yeah. You're the same as I remember, $name," she muses. "I didn't believe it at first when they told me you were up walking around the land of the living again." You blink at her, peering at her over your bottle as you take a long drink, and her brow furrows. "$name?" she prompts. "I don't know you," you say curtly. "Yes, you do," she says, studying you for a moment. "What, you hit your head or something?" "I don't remember," you say, taking another drink. Your irritation with her has shifted into curiosity, and you both just stare at each other. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You tense in your chair. "What makes you say that?" She grins a fanged smile at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">><</if>><</if>><<else>>But then she sees something over your shoulder, and she recoils, letting you go and turning in her chair to stare down at the bartop. You glance over to see Hana standing behind you, watching the two of you with obvious interest. "Sorry," she says slowly. "I didn't mean to interrupt..." She glances between you and Clear. There's something mischievous in her eyes, a hard glint as she saunters a little closer. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina already spoke with her. "I was just coming to see if either of you wanted to dance with me." Clear is already shaking her head, still hunched forward and staring down into her bottle. "Ah, no, I'm not much of a dancer," she says gruffly. Hana giggles at her, which seems to make Clear tense even more. "What about you then, $name? Do you want to dance?" she blinks up at you in your chair, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Please?" You glance over at Clear, but she still doesn't look at you, resting her head in her hand and leaning her elbow against the bar. "Okay, Hana. Let's dance," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear as Hana grabs your hand. She skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. You feel wound up after that, Clear's touch still lingering on your thigh-- dancing will help, you try to convince yourself. You imagine your hands on Clear, how she would look dancing in front of you-- and you look back at the bar again, but Clear is gone, her bottle sitting all alone in front of her empty chair. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

"Clear," you warn, and she closes her eyes, turning her head with a ragged sigh, her breath tickling your throat before she leans back and covers her face with her hand. She squeezes your thigh once before letting her other hand slide away back into her lap, shifting anxiously in her chair. "Fuck you, $name," she says again, and she turns and slides out of her seat, wobbling dangerously as she hits the floor. She doesn't say anything else, just storms off through the club, vanishing in a swirl of fog, leaving you all alone again at the bar. "I see you're as popular as ever with the ladies, $name," a voice says then, and you whip your head around, glaring at the bartender as she meanders over to you. <<if $ch2_hana>><<if $hana_rom>>Before you can say anything to her, another voice sounds just behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the bartender, then at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. The bartender frowns, and then turns on her heel and walks off. Hana ignores her. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>"Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana purses her lips, glancing at the vacant chair again. "Do you think she would want to dance with us?" she asks then. You eye her for a moment, the implication behind such a simple question making you hesitate. "I don't know," you say again. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Do you still want to dance with me, $name?" she asks softly. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat and ignoring the stare from the bartender, and Hana takes your hand, skipping excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>"Where did Clear go?" Hana asks. "I'm not sure," you say, shifting in your seat, feeling a little self-conscious with Clear's touch still lingering on your thigh. Hana studies you for a moment, her eyes narrowing, and then she grabs your hand and drags you out of your chair. "Come on," she says. "I want to dance with you." You glance back where Clear had vanished, but there's no sign of her still. "Hana--" you start, grimacing internally, but she just squeezes your hand, her eyes dark as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. You didn't even get to have a drink. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>Before you can say anything to her, another voice sounds just behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the bartender, and then the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. The bartender glares at her, and then turns on her heel and leaves as abruptly as she had appeared. Hana steps closer, ignoring her, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat and ignoring the stare from the bartender, and Hana takes your hand, skipping excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>Before you can say anything to her, another voice sounds just behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the bartender, and then the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. The bartender glares at her, and then turns on her heel and leaves as abruptly as she had appeared. Hana steps closer, ignoring her, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat and ignoring the stare from the bartender, and Hana takes your hand, skipping excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>She's an older woman, short buzzed hair greying at her temples, and you know she's a vampire, catching her fangs flashing a few times while she talked with other patrons at the bar. She must have been turned at an older age, and you admire her lined face and grey hair, as well as the colorful tattoo sleeves she wears on both arms. "Give me a drink," you snap at her before she can make any more smart comments. She smirks, and reaches back into the fridge behind the bar, offering you a bottle of whatever Clear was drinking. You snatch it from her, prying the top off with your nails. "Yeah. You're the same as I remember, $name," she muses. "I didn't believe it at first when they told me you were up walking around the land of the living again." You blink at her, peering at her over your bottle as you take a long drink, and her brow furrows. "$name?" she prompts. "I don't know you," you say curtly. "Yes, you do," she says, studying you for a moment. "What, you hit your head or something?" "I don't remember," you say, taking another drink. Your irritation with her has shifted into curiosity, and you both just stare at each other. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You tense in your chair. "What makes you say that?" She grins a fanged smile at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">><</if>><</if>><<else>>Before you can say anything to her, another voice sounds just behind you, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the bartender, and then the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. The bartender glares at her, and then turns on her heel and leaves as abruptly as she had appeared. Hana steps closer, ignoring her, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina spoke with her already. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you wanted to dance with me...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat and ignoring the stare from the bartender, and Hana takes your hand, skipping excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

After a while you order yourself a second drink. You're already starting to feel it-- you suppose a hundred years is a pretty significant tolerance break. That, combined with the residual high from feeding earlier, you're feeling pretty good, despite the empty chair beside you. <<if $ch2_hana>>You glance back at the dancefloor, and glimpse Hana still moving around, just an occasional flash of curly hair illuminated by the bright lights.<<else>>You glance back at the dancefloor, and you think you might glimpse Hana out there, a familiar flash of curly hair briefly illuminated by the bright lights, before she vanishes again. You wonder if Valentina is out there dancing, too.<</if>> You sense someone watching you then, and you turn to see the bartender eyeing you as she wipes down a glass. She's an older woman, short buzzed hair greying at her temples, and you know she's a vampire, catching her fangs flashing a few times while she talked with other patrons at the bar. She must have been turned at an older age, and you admire her lined face and grey hair, as well as the colorful tattoo sleeves she wears on both arms. She sets the glass down then and comes over to you. She leans against the bar, tilting her head at you, giving you a curious look. "Damn. It really //is// you," she muses. "I didn't believe it when they told me you were up walking around the land of the living again." You blink at her, and her brow furrows. "$name?" she prompts. "Sorry, do we know each other?" you ask. "We do," she says, studying you for a moment. "What, you hit your head or something?" "I don't remember," you say, leaning over the bar as the music rises. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You tense in your chair. "What makes you say that?" She grins a fanged smile at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">>

<<if $hana_rom>>Hana easily slips through the throngs of dancers, and you're immediately overwhelmed by the smells of sweat and blood and other bodily fluids, along with the hair-raising sensation of other vampires nearby. You start to sweat, too, the proximity of all the hot, living bodies making your own temperature rise despite your cold, undead nature. Hana seems to find a spot on the floor that pleases her, and she turns to look at you, giving your arm a tug to pull you close. You can feel the heat on her, too, the sweat on her face glistening across her dark skin, her grey t-shirt stained and clinging to her chest. <<if $h_rel gte 50>><<if $ch2_val>>You realize-- too late-- that you're not even sure if you know how to dance. Hana certainly doesn't have any reservations about it-- she doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing.<<else>>Hana doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing.<</if>> She starts slow, smiling at you through her long lashes, and you fumble through the first song-- though you start to feel a faint muscle memory stirring in the back of your mind, and by the second song you're more confident, following Hana's movements closely, her fanged grin pulling you in as you both sweat and pant across the dancefloor. People jostle you around, a pulsing mass of flesh and limbs and hair and sweat-soaked clothes, the smell of smoke and alcohol and musk lingering in your mouth as the fog swirls around you. By the third song Hana has her hands on you, slipping under your shirt, trailing her fingers down your sides, and you return the favor, running your hands up her back and caressing the slick of sweat along her spine. You remember dancing like this. A few people join you, hot human hands touching you as they lean in close, though you pay them no mind, just watching Hana in front of you. <<if $ch2_hana>>She turns around and presses herself against you, reaching back over her head to touch your face, her curly hair making you laugh as it ends up nearly in your mouth, and the sweet oil slicked through it has your head spinning. You lean down to breathe it in along with the lingering scent of her blood, still emanating from the bite in her neck you left behind. Hana sighs, letting her head roll back as your lips brush her throat, and her hands grab at your hair, pulling playfully as she grinds her hips back against yours.<<else>>She turns around and presses herself against you, reaching back over her head to touch your face, her curly hair making you laugh as it ends up nearly in your mouth, and the sweet oil slicked through it has your head spinning. You lean down to breathe it in, your nose brushing the side of her neck. You wonder what she tastes like. Hana giggles, shivering as your breath tickles her nape, and her hands grab at your hair, pulling playfully as she grinds her hips back against yours.<</if>> You lose track of how many songs you dance through, the faces around you blurring together as people come and go across the floor, the music overhead nothing more than a pulsing rhythm guiding you through the dark.<<else>><<if $ch2_val>>You realize-- too late-- that you're not even sure if you know how to dance. Hana certainly doesn't have any reservations about it-- she doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing.<<else>>Hana doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing.<</if>> She moves quick, smirking over at you as you fumble through the first song, her hands grabbing your hips and pulling you close. She pushes you around, but soon you start to feel a faint muscle memory stirring in the back of your mind, and by the end of second song you're more confident, following Hana's movements closely and pushing her back, her fanged grin pulling you in as you both sweat and pant across the dancefloor. People jostle you around, a pulsing mass of flesh and limbs and hair and sweat-soaked clothes, the smell of smoke and alcohol and musk lingering in your mouth as the fog swirls around you. By the third song Hana is behind you, slipping a hand up under your shirt, trailing her fingers along your spine and wrapping her other arm across your chest to touch your throat. She pulls you close, and you lean back into her, her lips ghosting the side of your neck as she guides your head back and holds you against her. You angle your hips down and grind into her, and you can feel her smile, feel the light scrape of her teeth as she opens her mouth for a moment, her breath hot and wet on your neck. She hums softly, nothing audible over the music but you can feel it with her chest flush against your back, and her hand tightens around your throat for a moment before she lets go and spins you around, still grinning that fanged grin. There's a wild look in her eye, and you start to move even faster together, shoving against any other dancers that get too close. You lose track of how many songs you dance through, the faces around you blurring together as people come and go across the floor, the music overhead nothing more than a pulsing rhythm guiding you through the dark.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1.rom]]<<else>>Hana easily slips through the throngs of dancers, and you're immediately overwhelmed by the smells of sweat and blood and other bodily fluids, along with the hair-raising sensation of other vampires nearby. You start to sweat, too, the proximity of all the hot, living bodies making your own temperature rise despite your cold, undead nature. Hana seems to find a spot on the floor that pleases her, and she turns to look at you, giving your arm a tug to pull you close. You can feel the heat on her skin, too, the sweat on her face glistening across her dark skin, her grey t-shirt stained and clinging to her chest. <<if $ch2_val>>You realize-- too late-- that you're not even sure if you know how to dance. Hana certainly doesn't have any reservations about it-- she doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing.<<else>>Hana doesn't say anything, she just gets right to dancing.<</if>> She starts slow, smiling at you through the swirling fog, and you fumble through the first song-- though you start to feel a faint muscle memory stirring in the back of your mind, and by the second song you're more confident, following Hana's movements closely, her fanged grin pulling you in as you both sweat and pant across the dancefloor. People jostle you around, a pulsing mass of flesh and limbs and hair and sweat-soaked clothes, the smell of smoke and alcohol and musk lingering in your mouth as the fog swirls around you. By the third song Hana is close, slipping behind you and pressing a light hand to the small of your back. You glance over your shoulder at her, and she blinks at you, tilting her head slightly, a question flashing in her dark eyes. <div id="choice"><<link [[Lean into the touch. ♡ ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1.b]]>><<set $hana_rom to true>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Hold on-- back up a little. ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1.a]]>><</link>></div><</if>>

"Just give me another drink," you snap, and she smirks, but nods. "Yessir," she says, reaching back into the massive fridge beneath the bar and producing another glistening bottle, popping the cap off in one smooth motion. She slides it over to you, and snatches up your two empty bottles before sauntering off. "Fucking hell..." you mutter, taking a long drink. You glance around the bar then, feeling uneasy, the prickle of eyes burning into your back making you shift in your chair. You stare down at the bottle in your hand, your reflection distorted across the dark, wet glass. You wish you could see it, just to glare at it properly. <<if $h_rel lt 50>>"$name," Hana's voice behind you makes you startle, and you turn around to look at her, a sheen of sweat glistening across her dark skin from the dancefloor. "Valentina wants to check in with us," she says, stepping up to lean against the bar and giving you a little sympathetic smile for the scare.<<else>>"$name," Hana's voice behind you gives you a sense of déjà vu, and you turn around to see her standing there again, looking up at you apologetically. "It's Valentina," Hana explains, stepping up to lean against the bar beside you. "She wants to check in with us."<</if>> "Of course she does," you sigh. Hana reflexively reaches up to touch the bite mark you left behind then, giving you a wary look. You grimace. The bartender is watching you again, too, and you shoot her a look as you slide from your chair. She just smirks. You take one last long drink, slamming it back on the bartop, and then gesture Hana to lead the way, swaying a bit on your feet, your head thrumming from the alcohol still burning down your throat. [[Next ->ch2 v's room with hana 1]]

"Is that right?" you raise an eyebrow at her. "Was I... //popular//?" you smirk. "Oh, //very// popular," she chuckles, pressing her elbows to the bar and leaning close. Her laughter fades then, and she narrows her eyes as she looks you up and down. "You should be careful, $name," she says quietly. "With strangers. And with Valentina," she drops her voice real low for that last part, forcing you to lean even closer, the smell of alcohol and blood on her breath making your nose wrinkle. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name?" a familiar voice sounds behind you, and you get a sense of déjà vu, turning to see Hana standing there again. She's glaring at the bartender, who quickly recoils, sliding off the bar with a strange look on her face.<<else>>"$name?" a familiar voice sounds behind you, and you turn to see Hana standing behind you-- glaring at the bartender. The bartender quickly recoils, from you and Hana, sliding off the bar with a strange look on her face.<</if>> "What are you talking about?" Hana asks with an innocent smile. "Nothin'," the bartender says, "just reminding $name here that she owes me some money," she grins at you with a wink. Hana grabs your hand then, still glaring at the bartender, and urges you out of your seat. "Valentina wants to check in with us," she says to you, and you nod, giving the bartender one last look before Hana pulls you away from her. She watches you go, collecting your empty bottles before turning away and vanishing farther down the bar. [[Next ->ch2 v's room with hana 1]]

"That was a hundred years ago," you scoff. "Yeah, and we live a long fucking time," she says, leaning across the bar. "Come on. Don't be stupid, $name." You scowl at her. "I mean it. Don't be stupid. Be careful," she adds ominously. "We live a long fucking time. We have long fucking memories." She pauses for a moment. "A lot of people remember you." Your scowl deepens. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name?" a familiar voice sounds behind you, and you get a sense of déjà vu, turning to see Hana standing there again. She's glaring at the bartender, who gets a strange look on her face, leaning back behind the bar, away from you.<<else>>"$name?" a familiar voice sounds behind you, and you turn to see Hana standing behind you-- glaring at the bartender. The bartender gets a strange look on her face, leaning back behind the bar, away from you.<</if>> "What are you talking about?" Hana asks with an innocent smile. "Nothin'," the bartender says, "just reminding $name here that she owes me some money," she grins at you with a wink. Hana grabs your hand then, still glaring at the bartender, and urges you out of your seat. "Valentina wants to check in with us," she says to you, and you nod, giving the bartender one last look before Hana pulls you away from her. She watches you go, collecting your empty bottles before turning away and vanishing farther down the bar. [[Next ->ch2 v's room with hana 1]]

You give her a look, leaning against the bar to flag down the bartender. Clear watches you with obvious amusement, and the bartender looks weary as she approaches you. "I want whatever she's drinking," you say, jabbing your finger at Clear. The bartender studies you for a moment-- she's an older woman, short buzzed hair greying at her temples, and you know she's a vampire, catching her fangs flashing a few times while she talked with other patrons at the bar. She must have been turned at an older age, and you admire her lined face and grey hair, as well as the colorful tattoo sleeves she wears on both arms. She's still just staring at you. "$name?" she says then. Clear glances between the two of you. "Do I know you?" The bartender purses her lips, considering you for another moment. And then she shakes her head, turning around to grab a fresh bottle from the fridge behind the bar. "Here you go," she says, setting it down in front of you and popping the top off. Then she turns and hurries off down the bar. You watch her go, and then you glance over at Clear, lifting the bottle to your lips and taking a long drink. Clear glares at you. "Okay," she says, clicking her tongue in annoyance, "//asshole//." She finishes what little remains of her drink, slamming the bottle on the counter and drawing a few looks from the other patrons, though she doesn't seem to care. Then she turns, sliding out of her chair, wobbling dangerously as her feet hit the ground. "Where are you going?" you ask, and she just gives you the middle finger, and you watch her wander off, vanishing in a thick swirl of fog. You shake your head, taking another long drink, leaning against the bar with a sigh. You wait for a few minutes-- but Clear doesn't come back. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar alone plat 1.b.lowrel 1]]

"How about we split one between us?" you suggest. "You're going to give me your vampire cooties," she jokes. You give her a look, and she just chuckles. "Oh, sorry. Shhh," she presses a finger to her lips, rolling her eyes. You flag down the bartender, and Clear watches you with obvious amusement, the bartender looking weary as she approaches you. "I want whatever she's drinking," you say, jabbing your finger at Clear. The bartender studies you for a moment-- she's an older woman, short buzzed hair greying at her temples, and you know she's a vampire, catching her fangs flashing a few times while she talked with other patrons at the bar. She must have been turned at an older age, and you admire her lined face and grey hair, as well as the colorful tattoo sleeves she wears on both arms. She's still just staring at you. "$name?" she says then. Clear glances between the two of you. "Do I know you?" The bartender purses her lips, considering you for another moment. And then she shakes her head, turning around to grab a fresh bottle from the fridge behind the bar. "Here you go," she says, setting it down in front of you and popping the top off. Then she turns and hurries off down the bar. You watch her go, and then you slide the bottle across the bartop, letting it sit between you and Clear. She finishes what little is left of her first drink, and then reaches for yours, taking a little sip while eyeing you over the bottle. You watch her lick her lips, and the wet shine of alcohol and the soft red flush in her face along with her unkempt hair makes her look especially charming, and you feel yourself smile at her, putting a light hand on the back of her chair. "Here," she mutters, licking her lips again and handing the bottle to you. She's leaning against you now, tucked under your arm, and she watches as you raise the bottle to your lips. It doesn't taste very good, but you drink it anyways, the mouthpiece still a little warm from Clear. She blinks slowly, her eyes flicking to your throat as you swallow. You watch her watching you. She takes the bottle from your hand then, her fingers cool and clammy from the condensation. "Is your girlfriend gonna be mad that you're looking at me like that?" <<if $ch2_hana>><<if $hana_rom>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" Clear recoils, slipping out from beneath your arm and sinking back into her chair, and you turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Do you still want to dance with me?" she asks softly. You can't say no to those big black eyes, the little pout she gives you, her fangs just peeking out between her lips. "Okay," you say, sliding out of your chair. You glance over at Clear, but she doesn't look at you, twisting the beer bottle in her hands. "We'll be back in a few songs, Clear," Hana says excitedly, and then she grabs your hand and pulls you off into the crowd, towards the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" Clear recoils, slipping out from beneath your arm and sinking back into her chair, and you turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She studies you for a moment, and then grabs your hand and all but pulls you out of your chair. "Come on. I want to dance with you," she says, and you glance back at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. Hana pulls you from the bar and into the crowd, squeezing your hand as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" Clear recoils, slipping out from beneath your arm and sinking back into her chair, and you turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. "Yeah. Okay, Hana. I'll dance with you," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear-- but she just keeps staring at her drink. You let Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" Clear recoils, slipping out from beneath your arm and sinking back into her chair, and you turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. "Yeah. Okay, Hana. I'll dance with you," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear-- but she just keeps staring at her drink. You let Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>"Valentina is not my girlfriend," you say, though you don't sound very confident, her long paint black nails flashing in your mind. Clear just laughs dryly, shaking her head at you. She suddenly seems exhausted then, setting the drink down on the bartop. She turns, slipping out from beneath your arm and sliding out of her chair, wobbling dangerously as her feet hit the floor. "I'll be back," she mutters. "Just going to the little girl's room," she smirks over her shoulder at you. You watch her wander off, vanishing in a thick swirl of fog, and then you turn back to the bar with a sigh. After a while you order yourself another drink. You glance back at the dancefloor, and glimpse Hana still moving around, just an occasional flash of curly hair illuminated by the bright lights. You consider joining her as more time passes. You think Clear ditched you. You sense someone watching you then, and you turn to see the bartender eyeing you as she wipes down a glass. //What the hell is this lady's problem...// She sets the glass down then and comes over to you. She leans against the bar, tilting her head at you, giving you a curious look. "What?" you say, tensing in your chair. "Damn. I can't believe it's you," she says slowly. "You really don't recognize me? It's been a few years, maybe a few more grey hairs," she jokes, flashing you a fanged smile. "I didn't believe them at first when they said you were back." "What are you talking about?" "What are //you// talking about? Did you hit your head or something on the way over here?" "No. I just don't remember," you say, leaning over the bar as the music rises. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You frown. "What makes you say that?" She grins wide at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">><</if>><</if>><<else>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" Clear recoils, slipping out from beneath your arm and sinking back into her chair, and you turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina spoke to her yet. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe either of you wanted to dance with me?" She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she just shakes her head. "I don't dance," she says curtly, staring down at her drink. Hana turns to you expectantly, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Yeah. Okay, Hana. I'll dance with you," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear-- but she just keeps staring at her drink. You let Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

"Fine," you say, leaning against the bar to flag down the bartender. Clear watches you with obvious amusement, and the bartender looks weary as she approaches you. "I want whatever she's drinking," you say, jabbing your finger at Clear. The bartender studies you for a moment-- she's an older woman, short buzzed hair greying at her temples, and you know she's a vampire, catching her fangs flashing a few times while she talked with other patrons at the bar. She must have been turned at an older age, and you admire her lined face and grey hair, as well as the colorful tattoo sleeves she wears on both arms. She's still just staring at you. "$name?" she says then. Clear glances between the two of you. "Do I know you?" The bartender purses her lips, considering you for another moment. And then she shakes her head, turning around to grab a fresh bottle from the fridge behind the bar. "Here you go," she says, setting it down in front of you and popping the top off. Then she turns and hurries off down the bar. You give her a look, and then slide the bottle over to Clear. "Thanks," she says gruffly. She finishes off what's left of her first drink and then grabs the new one, slumping back in her chair with a sigh. "I'm gonna have the worst hangover tomorrow," she muses then. She glances over at you. "Do vampires get hangovers?" Then: "Well, you wouldn't know, I guess. You don't remember." She offers you the drink then. "Wanna test it out?" <<if $ch2_hana>><<if $hana_rom>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Do you still want to dance with me?" she asks softly. You can't say no to those big black eyes, the little pout she gives you, her fangs just peeking out between her lips. "Okay," you say, sliding out of your chair. You glance over at Clear, but she doesn't look at you, twisting the beer bottle in her hands. "We'll be back in a few songs, Clear," Hana says excitedly, and then she grabs your hand and pulls you off into the crowd, towards the dancefloor. You didn't even get to have a drink... [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She studies you for a moment, and then grabs your hand and all but pulls you out of your chair. "Come on. I want to dance with you," she says, and you glance back at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. Hana pulls you from the bar and into the crowd, squeezing your hand as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. You didn't even get to have a drink. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. "Yeah. Okay, Hana," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>But then she shakes her head, pulling the bottle back. "Nah. One of us needs to be able to walk out of here, right?" She suddenly seems exhausted then, setting the drink down on the bartop. She turns and slides out of her chair, wobbling dangerously as her feet hit the floor. "I'll be back," she mutters. "Just going to the little girl's room," she smirks over her shoulder at you. You watch her wander off, vanishing in a thick swirl of fog, and then you turn back to the bar with a sigh. After a while you order yourself a drink. You just get whatever Clear is drinking... though it doesn't taste very good. You glance back at the dancefloor, and glimpse Hana still moving around, just an occasional flash of curly hair illuminated by the bright lights. You consider joining her as more time passes. You think Clear ditched you. You sense someone watching you then, and you turn to see the bartender eyeing you as she wipes down a glass. //What the hell is this lady's problem...// She sets the glass down then and comes over to you. She leans against the bar, tilting her head at you, giving you a curious look. "What?" she say, tensing in your chair. "Damn. I can't believe it's you," she says slowly. "You really don't recognize me? It's been a few years, maybe a few more grey hairs," she jokes, flashing you a fanged smile. "I didn't believe them at first when they said you were back." "What are you talking about?" "What are //you// talking about? Did you hit your head or something on the way over here?" "No. I just don't remember," you say, leaning over the bar as the music rises. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You frown. "What makes you say that?" She grins wide at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">><</if>><</if>><<else>>You don't get a chance to respond, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She ,ust have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina spoke with her already. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you, or maybe Clear... wanted to dance with me?" She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she just shakes her head. "I don't dance," she says bluntly, still staring down at her drink. Hana turns to you expectantly, clasping her hands in front of her. "Yeah. Okay. Let's dance, Hana," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

You give her a look, leaning against the bar to flag down the bartender. Clear watches you with obvious amusement, and the bartender looks weary as she approaches you. "I want whatever she's drinking," you say, jabbing your finger at Clear. The bartender studies you for a moment-- she's an older woman, short buzzed hair greying at her temples, and you know she's a vampire, catching her fangs flashing a few times while she talked with other patrons at the bar. She must have been turned at an older age, and you admire her lined face and grey hair, as well as the colorful tattoo sleeves she wears on both arms. She's still just staring at you. "$name?" she says then. Clear glances between the two of you. "Do I know you?" The bartender purses her lips, considering you for another moment. And then she shakes her head, turning around to grab a fresh bottle from the fridge behind the bar. "Here you go," she says, setting it down in front of you and popping the top off. Then she turns and hurries off down the bar. You watch her go, and then you glance over at Clear, lifting the bottle to your lips and taking a long drink. Clear glares at you. "Okay," she says, and she drops her gaze, her brow furrowed. "You don't have to be an ass about it, you know," she adds weakly. She turns away from you then, sliding out of her chair, wobbling dangerously as her feet hit the ground. "Wait-- Clear, where are you going?" you try, but she ignores you, and you watch her wander off, vanishing in a thick swirl of fog. You frown down at your hands, grimacing internally-- maybe that was kind of a dick move. You just take another long drink, leaning against the bar with a sigh. You wait for a few minutes-- but Clear doesn't come back. [[Next ->ch2 clear bar alone plat 1.b.highreal 1]]

"Alright. One more, since you ask nicely," you say, and Clear grins. You shake your head at her, and lean forward, raising a hand to flag down the bartender. "I want whatever she's drinking," you say, jabbing your finger at Clear. The bartender studies you for a moment-- she's an older woman, short buzzed hair greying at her temples, and you know she's a vampire, catching her fangs flashing a few times while she talked with other patrons at the bar. She must have been turned at an older age, and you admire her lined face and grey hair, as well as the colorful tattoo sleeves she wears on both arms. She's still just staring at you. "$name?" she says then. Clear glances between the two of you. "Do I know you?" The bartender purses her lips, considering you for another moment. And then she shakes her head, turning around to grab a fresh bottle from the fridge behind the bar. "Here you go," she says, setting it down in front of you and popping the top off. Then she turns and hurries off down the bar. You give her a look, and then slide the bottle over to Clear. "Thanks," she says, turning the bottle in her hands. She finishes off what's left of her first drink and then takes a long sip from the new one, slumping back in her chair with a sigh. You study her for a moment, taking in her profile, though she hides behind her shaggy hair, staring down at the counter. "If you have something to say, just say it," she says then, turning to glare at you. You tilt your head at her. "I'm not trying to say anything," you say slowly. "I hardly have any room to judge you, here." She purses her lips, narrowing her eyes at you. <<if $ch2_hana>><<if $hana_rom>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>If she's going to respond, though, she doesn't get a chance to, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Do you still want to dance with me?" she asks softly. You can't say no to those big black eyes, the little pout she gives you, her fangs just peeking out between her lips. "Okay," you say, sliding out of your chair. You glance over at Clear, but she doesn't look at you, staring back down at the countertop. "We'll be back in a few songs, Clear," Hana says excitedly, and then she grabs your hand and pulls you off into the crowd, towards the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>If she's going to respond, though, she doesn't get a chance to, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She studies you for a moment, and then grabs your hand and all but pulls you out of your chair. "Come on. I want to dance with you," she says, and you glance back at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. Hana pulls you from the bar and into the crowd, squeezing your hand as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>If she's going to respond, though, she doesn't get a chance to, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>If she's going to respond, though, she doesn't get a chance to, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>But then she shakes her head, turning away from you with another sigh. She suddenly seems exhausted then, setting the drink down on the bartop. She turns and slides out of her chair, wobbling dangerously as her feet hit the floor. "I'll be back," she mutters. "Just going to the little girl's room," she smirks over her shoulder at you. You watch her wander off, vanishing in a thick swirl of fog, and then you turn back to the bar with a sigh. After a while you order yourself a drink. You just get whatever Clear is drinking... though it doesn't taste very good. You glance back at the dancefloor, and glimpse Hana still moving around, just an occasional flash of curly hair illuminated by the bright lights. You consider joining her as more time passes. You think Clear ditched you. You sense someone watching you then, and you turn to see the bartender eyeing you as she wipes down a glass. //What the hell is this lady's problem...// She sets the glass down then and comes over to you. She leans against the bar, tilting her head at you, giving you a curious look. "What?" you say, tensing in your chair. "Damn. I can't believe it's you," she says slowly. "You really don't recognize me? It's been a few years, maybe a few more grey hairs," she jokes, flashing you a fanged smile. "I didn't believe them at first when they said you were back." "What are you talking about?" "What are //you// talking about? Did you hit your head or something on the way over here?" "No. I just don't remember," you say, leaning over the bar as the music rises. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You frown. "What makes you say that?" She grins wide at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">><</if>><</if>><<else>>If she's going to respond, though, she doesn't get a chance to, a familiar voice sounding over your shoulder. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina spoke with her already. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you, or maybe Clear, wanted to dance with me?" She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she shakes her head. "Sorry. I don't dance," she says bluntly. You turn back to Hana, who has her hands clasped and raised in front of her now. "Please?" "Yeah. Okay, Hana. I'll dance with you," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

"I should take you home, Clear," you say slowly. She tilts her head at you, smirking slightly. "Oh, yeah? Who says I want to go home with you? I'm not //that// drunk," she laughs. You frown, and her laughter softens. She tentatively reaches out, touching the back of your chair before sliding her hand a little higher, her palm warm on your shoulder. "I don't think your girlfriend is going to let me go home," she says quietly. "Valentina is not my girlfriend," you say, though you don't sound very convincing. Clear scoffs, pulling her hand back then. "Maybe you should tell her that, then," she muses. <<if $ch2_val>>You turn away from her, glaring down at the bartop. You try not to think about what you and Valentina just did, but it's hard not to see her bloody face in your mind, hard not to feel her cold hands on you. Your hand instinctively moves to cover the knife would still mending itself in your side. "$name?" Clear prompts, and you shake your head at her. "I didn't mean-- if I just crossed a line, I'm sorry," she says quickly. "It's alright, Clear," you say, letting your hand drop and leaning back in your chair. Clear reaches back out again, though this time she puts her hand on your knee under the bar, and gives you a weak, but comforting smile.<<else>>You purse your lips, and turn away from her. //Maybe I should.// You aren't sure you're ready to deal with all of that just yet. How //can// you be sure when you can't even remember? And who is to say that you don't want her, too? Clear watches you for a moment, before turning back to her drink. An awkward silence stretches between you, before Clear reaches out again, under the bar this time to put a comforting hand on your knee. You tilt your head at her, and she just looks at you, taking another long drink.<</if>> <<if $ch2_hana>><<if $hana_rom>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>But then Clear recoils at the sound of a familiar voice just behind you, quickly turning away and hiding her face in her hand. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Do you still want to dance with me?" she asks softly. You can't say no to those big black eyes, the little pout she gives you, her fangs just peeking out between her lips. "Okay," you say, sliding out of your chair. You glance over at Clear, but she doesn't look at you, staring down at the countertop. "We'll be back in a few songs, Clear," Hana says excitedly, and then she grabs your hand and pulls you off into the crowd, towards the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>But then Clear recoils at the sound of a familiar voice just behind you, quickly turning away and hiding her face in her hand. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She studies you for a moment, and then grabs your hand and all but pulls you out of your chair. "Come on. I want to dance with you," she says, and you glance back at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. Hana pulls you from the bar and into the crowd, squeezing your hand as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>But then Clear recoils at the sound of a familiar voice just behind you, quickly turning away and hiding her face in her hand. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>But then Clear recoils at the sound of a familiar voice just behind you, quickly turning away and hiding her face in her hand. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she's just staring down at her drink. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>Eventually, she pulls back and her hand slides away, and she drops her gaze with a long sigh. She suddenly seems exhausted then, setting the drink down on the bartop. She turns and slides out of her chair, wobbling dangerously as her feet hit the floor. "I'll be back," she mutters. "Just going to the little girl's room," she smirks over her shoulder at you. You watch her wander off, vanishing in a thick swirl of fog, and then you turn back to the bar with a sigh. After a while you order yourself a drink. You just get whatever Clear is drinking... though it doesn't taste very good. You glance back at the dancefloor, and glimpse Hana still moving around, just an occasional flash of curly hair illuminated by the bright lights. You consider joining her as more time passes. You think Clear might have ditched you after that. You sense someone watching you then, and you turn to see the bartender eyeing you as she wipes down a glass. When you catch her eye, she sets the glass down then and comes over to you. She leans against the bar, tilting her head at you, giving you a curious look. "What?" you say, tensing in your chair. "Damn. I can't believe it's you," she says slowly. "You really don't recognize me? It's been a few years, maybe a few more grey hairs," she jokes, flashing you a fanged smile. "I didn't believe them at first when they said you were back." "What are you talking about?" "What are //you// talking about? Did you hit your head or something on the way over here?" "No. I just don't remember," you say, leaning over the bar as the music rises. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You frown. "What makes you say that?" She grins wide at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">><</if>><</if>><<else>>But then Clear recoils at the sound of a familiar voice just behind you, quickly turning away and hiding her face in her hand. "$name?" You turn around to see Hana looking up at you. You note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina spoke with her already. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see if--maybe you, or maybe Clear, wanted to dance with me?" She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance over at Clear, but she shakes her head. "Sorry. I don't dance," she says bluntly. You turn back to Hana, who has her hands clasped and raised in front of her now. "Please?" "Yeah. Okay, Hana. I'll dance with you," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last look at Clear, letting Hana take your hand, and she skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

After a while, you order a second drink. You're already starting to feel it-- a hundred years is a pretty significant tolerance break, after all. That, combined with the residual high from feeding earlier, you're feeling pretty good, despite the empty chair beside you. <<if $ch2_hana>> <<if $hana_rom>> <<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. She tugs on one of her curls, shifting on her feet, stepping a little closer then. "Do you still want to dance with me, $name?" she asks softly. She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. "Where did Clear go?" she asks. "I'm not sure," you say with a shrug. Hana studies you for a moment, her eyes narrowing, and then she grabs your hand and all but drags you out of your chair. "Come on," she says. "I want to dance with you." You glance back where Clear had vanished, but there's no sign of her still. "Okay, okay," you say, and Hana squeezes your hand, her eyes dark as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>You glance back at the dancefloor, and glimpse Hana still moving around, just an occasional flash of curly hair illuminated by the bright lights. You consider joining her as more time passes. You think Clear ditched you. You sense someone watching you then, and you turn to see the bartender eyeing you as she wipes down a glass. //What the hell is this lady's problem...// She sets the glass down then and comes over to you. She leans against the bar, tilting her head at you, giving you a curious look. "What?" you say, tensing in your chair. "Damn. I can't believe it's you," she says slowly. "You really don't recognize me? It's been a few years, maybe a few more grey hairs," she jokes, flashing you a fanged smile. "I didn't believe them at first when they said you were back." "What are you talking about?" "What are //you// talking about? Did you hit your head or something on the way over here?" "No. I just don't remember," you say, leaning over the bar as the music rises. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You frown. "What makes you say that?" She grins wide at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">><</if>><</if>><<else>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina spoke with her yet. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you wanted to dance with me?" She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay. I'll dance with you," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

A brief moment between songs, and you and Hana cling to each other, trying to catch your breath, slowly pushed out to the fringes of the crowd as it continues to pulse around you. Hana reaches up and wipes some of the sweat from your brow, smiling softly as she peers at your face. You think she's going to say something, but at that moment someone sidles up beside you, giving you a wary look before nodding at Hana. They lean in, whispering to her, and she just nods with a sigh. "Valentina wants to see us," she says to you, though you're still staring at the stranger-- a vampire. They stare back. If you had to guess, they don't like you, with the way their eyes narrow and their fangs flash in the dark. You've noticed quite a few of the vampires here giving you looks-- some are harder to read than others. It gives you a strange, uneasy feeling-- judgement for a past life you can't even remember. Hana squeezes your hand then, and you turn away from the stranger, who Hana shoots a warning look. "Come on," Hana says, still a little breathless from dancing, pulling you along and leading you off the dancefloor. You glance back at the strange vampire, trailing behind you before peeling off to the bar. They watch you for a few more seconds, before taking a seat and waving down the bartender. <<if $ch2_hana>>[[Next ->ch2 v's room with hana 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch2 v's room with v 1]]<</if>>

You back up a little, putting some space between you, Hana's hand sliding away. It answers her question, and she smiles, giving you a little nod, and the two of you resume dancing, falling back into an easy rhythm. A few people join you-- humans, you can tell by the heat and the smell-- and they press their hands on you, Hana grinning over at you as she starts to dance with one of them. You wonder if these people have any idea. Some of the looks you see from them, flashing under the lights, tells you that they know-- others, though, seem oblivious, carelessly grinding back against you and Hana, letting you touch their throats, tilting their heads back in invitation. Maybe calling them careless is unfair; maybe this is exactly what they want. You lose track of how many songs you dance through, the faces around you blurring together as people come and go across the floor, the music overhead nothing more than a pulsing rhythm guiding you through the dark. A brief moment between songs, and you and Hana try to catch your breath, slowly pushed out to the fringes of the crowd as it continues to pulse around you. Hana is grinning wide, giddy from the exercise, grabbing your arm as you both sway against the wall. You think she means to say something, but at that moment someone sidles up beside you, giving you a wary look before nodding at Hana. They lean in, whispering to her, and she just nods with a sigh. "Valentina wants to see us," she says to you, though you're still staring at the stranger-- a vampire. They stare back. If you had to guess, they don't like you, with the way their eyes narrow and their fangs flash in the dark. You've noticed quite a few of the vampires here giving you looks-- some are harder to read than others. It gives you a strange, uneasy feeling-- judgement for a past life you can't even remember. Hana squeezes your arm then, and you turn away from the stranger, who Hana shoots a warning look. "Come on," Hana says, still a little breathless from dancing, pulling you along and leading you off the dancefloor. You glance back at the strange vampire, trailing behind you before peeling off to the bar. They watch you for a few more seconds, before taking a seat and waving down the bartender. <<if $ch2_hana>>[[Next ->ch2 v's room with hana 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch2 v's room with v 1]]<</if>>

You lean back against her hand, answering her question, and her touch trails around to your hip, while her other hand grabs at your waist. She hums softly, bowing her head to brush her lips over your shoulder, and you glance back at her, her hair tickling your face, the smell of the sweet oil slicked through her curls making your head spin. You dance faster, closer, her hands on you and your hands on her. You lose track of how many songs you dance through, the faces around you blurring together as people come and go across the floor, the music overhead nothing more than a pulsing rhythm guiding you through the dark. A brief moment between songs, and you and Hana cling to each other, trying to catch your breath, slowly pushed out to the fringes of the crowd as it continues to pulse around you. Hana is grinning wide, giddy from the exercise, holding your hands in hers. You think she means to say something, but at that moment someone sidles up beside you, giving you a wary look before nodding at Hana. They lean in, whispering to her, and she just nods with a sigh. "Valentina wants to see us," she says to you, though you're still staring at the stranger-- a vampire. They stare back. If you had to guess, they don't like you, with the way their eyes narrow and their fangs flash in the dark. You've noticed quite a few of the vampires here giving you looks-- some are harder to read than others. It gives you a strange, uneasy feeling-- judgement for a past life you can't even remember. Hana squeezes your hand then, and you turn away from the stranger, who Hana shoots a warning look. "Come on," Hana says, still a little breathless from dancing, pulling you along and leading you off the dancefloor. You glance back at the strange vampire, trailing behind you before peeling off to the bar. They watch you for a few more seconds, before taking a seat and waving down the bartender. <<if $ch2_hana>>[[Next ->ch2 v's room with hana 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch2 v's room with v 1]]<</if>>

You turn back to Hana just as she pushes aside one of the heavy curtains and pulls you into a dark, quiet hallway. Quiet isn't the right word-- //muffled//. You can hear plenty of sounds in the hallway, sounds of pleasure and pain, muffled behind doors. You pass a man in the hallway, another vampire whose eyes widen in recognition, and he presses himself back against the wall so you have plenty of room to walk by. You turn to stare at him, but he quickly scrambles away, vanishing into one of the other rooms. You reach the end of the long hallway then, a dark, wooden door in front of you. Hana knocks once and then reaches for the doorknob without waiting for an answer. The room is small, just a massive, half-circle booth on one side with a bed on the other, flush back to back-- it's obvious what this room is for. In the booth is Valentina-- and Clear. There's a bit of space between them, Clear looking uncomfortable in the corner, though she seems to relax slightly at your appearance. Valentina tilts her head at you, looking between you and Hana for a moment, and then she smiles. "Are you enjoying the club, $name?" she muses. "Do you own this place, too?" She just smiles wider, before turning to drape an arm around Clear's shoulders, brushing her short hair lazily with her nails. Clear frowns, but doesn't try to push her off. <div id ="choice"><<link '"What are you doing, Valentina?"' 'ch2 v\'s room with v 1.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Why is she here?"' 'ch2 v\'s room with v 1.b'>><</link>></div>

Hana immediately tries to push you back out of the room, gasping at whatever she sees inside, but you shoulder your way in, a sudden spike of panic seizing you at her reaction. The room is small, just a massive, half-circle booth on one side with a bed on the other, flush back to back-- it's obvious what this room is for. In the booth is Valentina, and the familiar sweet smell hits you first, before you even recognize the woman she's hunched over as Clear. Valentina is feeding from her, lifting her head as you shove your way inside past Hana, her eyes flashing as she smirks at you. Clear looks delirious, limp in Valentina's arms, a haze of pain in her eyes as she blinks around at nothing in particular. <div id="choice"><<link '"Get the fuck off of her!"' 'ch2 v\'s room with hana clear rom 1.a'>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"What the fuck are you doing?"' 'ch2 v\'s room with hana clear rom 1.b'>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Clear is //mine//, Valentina."' 'ch2 v\'s room with hana clear rom 1.c'>><<set $c_rel -=1>><<set $c_cruel +=1>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>></div>

The room is small, just a massive, half-circle booth on one side with a bed on the other, flush back to back-- it's obvious what this room is for. In the booth is Valentina and Clear-- you immediately have the image of Valentina snatching her just outside of the bathroom and dragging her back here, and as ridiculous as it seems, you don't think that's too far off from what probably happened. The smell of blood is heavy in the small space, sweet and familiar. But Clear doesn't seem panicked-- she's relaxed, limp in Valentina's arms, a blissful glaze in her eyes as Valentina holds her close and feeds. Clear's bandages are bundled on the table in front of them, and you can see the gnarly scratch down the front of her neck as well as fresh blood dripping down her shirt and soaking her collar. Hana glances back at you, suddenly nervous, and Valentina sits up to give you both a bloody smile. Clear blinks over at you, though you aren't sure she's really processing that you and Hana are in here in front of her. Valentina has her hands up Clear's shirt, blood dripping slowly between them, and you feel yourself tense, narrowing your eyes at Clear, at Valentina's roaming hands. She's watching for your reaction, and you just glare at her, your chest tightening with an old familiar bitterness that seethes out into the room. "Really, Valentina?" Hana says, crossing her arms, and you wonder if Hana is familiar with the same bitterness as you. Valentina just rolls her eyes. "You're welcome to join me," she shrugs. "I know the hotel wasn't enough. It never is," she muses, giving you another gory smile. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Right?" Valentina gives Clear a shake, and she smiles, her head rolling forward lazily as she blinks over at you. "She likes you, you know," Valentina muses, giving you a look that makes you seethe even more. "What are you trying to do here?" you can't help but snap at her, which seems to delight Valentina. "Come on," Valentina coos, ignoring your question and batting her lashes at you. <div id="choice"><<link '"No. I\'m not hungry."' 'ch2 v\'s room with hana 2.a'>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Join her in the booth. ->ch2 v's room with hana 2.b]]>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>></div>

"Get the fuck off of her!" you snarl, lunging across the booth and grabbing Valentina by her shoulders. You easily pull her out of her seat, dragging her back across the table and slamming her against the wall. Hana stands in the doorway, her eyes wide and her hands over her mouth, stepping back as you and Valentina struggle for a moment. Valentina grabs at your wrists, her bloody lip curling at you, but you don't let go, pulling her off the wall just to slam her back even harder, again and again and again. Hana is the one that pulls you apart, finally snapping out of her shock and stepping between you, prying your hands off of Valentina and shoving you back hard enough to send you tripping over the table and back into the booth. Valentina grimaces as she stands over you, reaching around to touch the back of her head, her hand coming away slick with blood. You can see where you dented the wall, splatters of her blood dripping down the splintered drywall. <<if $hana_rom>>Hana tries to coax Valentina back, a hand on her arm and a foot planted between you. "Stop it, V. That's enough," she says, though her voice wavers, glancing between you and Clear and back to Valentina. "You've made your point, okay?" "Don't you lecture me," Valentina turns on her. "I've seen you, too. How you look at her-- how dare you." "Valentina--" Hana starts, but Valentina lashes out at her, slashing her nails across Hana's face. Hana staggers back, that stunned expression on her face again, and she quickly covers her bleeding cheek with both hands, bowing her head and closing her eyes in pain. Valentina is panting, blood smeared across her face and coating her throat, and then she looks over at you as you stand from the booth, a sudden regret flashing across her face. "Hana," she reaches out for her, but Hana turns and bolts out of the room without a word. Valentina looks between you and Clear, opening her mouth to speak, but she just shakes her head and runs after Hana, leaving you alone in the room. You're breathing hard, your hands shaking, and you turn to look at Clear, curled up in the booth, and you quickly rush over to her, putting a tentative hand on her shoulder. She doesn't really react, still in a daze, and you look around for anything to cover the bite wound with, deciding to rip up some of the sheets on the bed before quickly returning to Clear. "Clear," you touch her shoulder again, and she just shakes her head, curling up even tighter, hiding her head in her arms. Her blood is strong, soaked all over the booth, and you can hear yourself panting, your mouth watering at the smell of it, and you back off, turning away from her as you curse yourself under your breath. <<link [[Next ->ch2 v's room bandage clear v1]]>><<set $ch2_hanabolt to true>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><</link>><<else>>Hana tries to coax Valentina back, a hand on her arm and a foot planted between you. "Stop it, V. That's enough," she says, though her voice wavers, glancing between you and Clear and back to Valentina. "You've made your point, okay?" "Don't you lecture me," Valentina turns on her. "You have no idea-- you have no idea!" Valentina stammers, her eyes flashing as she pushes Hana back into falling onto the bed, her head cracking against the far wall as she tries to catch herself. "Fuck," Hana hisses, curling forward and clutching at her head, glaring up at Valentina. She's panting loudly, blood smeared across her face and coating her throat, and then she looks over at you as you stand from the booth, a sudden regret flashing across her face. "$name," she says, taking a step towards you, reaching for your face. <div id="choice"><<link [[I slap her hands away. ->ch2 v's room with hana clear rom 1.a.1]]>><<set $v_underbooth to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I let her hold me. ->ch2 v's room with hana clear rom 1.a.2]]>><<set $c_rel -=3>><</link>></div><</if>>

"Clear is //mine//, Valentina," you warn, stepping into the room and leering over the table. Valentina's smile fades, her eyes hardening as she glares up at you. "You should keep a better eye on her, then," she says slowly, reaching up to stroke Clear's hair. "Anyone could have just snatched her up... you're lucky it was me." "//Lucky//?" you spit, and then you reach down and grab Clear, wrenching her free from Valentina's grasp. She makes a pained sound as you pull her to her feet, grabbing at her throat before leaning into you and hiding her face in your shirt. You pull her hand back, showing your original bite mark, touching it and making her tense. "She's mine," you repeat. Valentina stares at you for a long moment. <<if $hana_rom>>Then her gaze cuts to Hana, hovering behind you, and her eyes narrow. "And what about Hana?" Valentina asks slowly. "Is she yours, too?" She stands from the booth, and your arms tighten around Clear while Hana reflexively moves to cover the bite mark you gave her. That just seems to make Valentina angrier-- and she lunges at you, grabbing Clear, and she bites at her again, before you can grab a handful of her hair and rip her off. She immediately turns to bite at your arm, and you recoil, Valentina throwing herself after you and tackling you to the floor. She bites down hard on your forearm, her teeth scraping bone, and immediately you start to feel a strange tingling in your hand as she punctures something important. You grapple on the floor for a moment, but Valentina easily overpowers you, pinning you against the carpet, your blood splattering all around the room as she pulls and tears at your arm. "Valentina, that's enough! You've made your point!" Hana grabs at her shoulders, trying to pull her off of you. Valentina releases your arm then just to turn on her, slowly standing over you. "Don't you touch me," Valentina spits. "I know you like it. You like her mark. You like //her//. That's why you wanted her to go with you-- how dare you." "Valentina--" Hana starts, but Valentina lashes out at her, slashing her nails across Hana's face. Hana staggers back, a stunned expression on her face, and she quickly covers her bleeding cheek with both hands, bowing her head and closing her eyes in pain. Valentina is panting, blood smeared across her face and coating her throat, and then she looks over at you as you rise to your feet, a sudden regret flashing across her face. "Hana," she reaches out for her, but Hana turns and bolts out of the room without a word. Valentina looks between you and Clear, opening her mouth to speak, but she just shakes her head and runs after Hana, leaving you alone in the room. You're breathing hard, your hands shaking, and you turn to look at Clear, back in the booth and curled up in the fetal position, and you quickly rush over to her, putting a tentative hand on her shoulder. She doesn't really react, in a bit of a daze, and you look around for anything to cover the bite wound with, deciding to rip up some of the sheets on the bed before quickly returning to Clear. "Clear," you touch her shoulder again, and she just shakes her head, curling up even tighter, hiding her head in her arms. Her blood is strong, soaked all over the booth, and you can hear yourself panting, your mouth watering at the smell of it, and you back off, turning away from her as you curse yourself under your breath. <<link [[Next ->ch2 v's room bandage clear v2]]>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><<set $ch2_hanabolt to true>><</link>><<else>> She reaches up then, idly touching her own neck, and you think you can see a few pale scars there, her fingers slowly trailing over her pulse. "You always did like to leave a mark," she says then, and she glances over at Hana, who reflexively tries to cover the bite you gave her with her hand. Valentina just smirks. "You should have listened to me, Hana," Valentina adds ominously. Hana doesn't respond, glancing between you and Valentina, her hand still clasping over her throat. Valentina stands from the booth, and your arms tighten around Clear. But she seems uninterested in her now, still touching her throat, and she steps in front of you, tilting her head. "$name," she says softly, stepping even closer and reaching for your face. <div id="choice"><<link [[I let her hold me. ->ch2 v's room hana clear rom 1.c.1]]>><<set $c_rel -=3>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Push her away. ->ch2 v's room clear rom 1.c.2]]>><<set $v_underbooth to true>><</link>></div><</if>>

"What the fuck are you doing, Valentina?" you say slowly, moving into the room, standing over the booth as Valentina just keeps smiling. "What do you think I'm doing, $name?" she says softly. She cradles Clear against her, reaching up to stroke her hair, touching her face and tilting her chin so she's looking at her. "She's rather handsome, isn't she?" Valentina muses, turning Clear's head back and forth. "She's not a fucking toy," you snap, and Valentina rolls her eyes. "No. She's just a pet," she smirks. She leans in then, breathing Clear in, licking at her pulse, her eyes staying locked on you all the while. "You never liked when I kept pets before," she says slowly, her lips pressed against Clear's throat. "You were always so jealous." She pauses, pulling back, stroking Clear's hair again. "It seems that you still are." "//Jealous//?" you spit the word, slamming your hands down on the table. Clear flinches, but Valentina just glares at you. "I'm not jealous of you. I'm disgusted by you." "$name," Hana gasps then, and you forgot she was even here, her voice small and meek behind you. <<if $hana_rom>>Valentina's gaze cuts over your shoulder as Hana steps closer, and her eyes darken, her hands tightening around Clear. "And what about you, Hana?" she says. "Don't pretend like you don't feel the same." Hana shakes her head, her eyes growing wide. "Valentina, no, I--" Valentina shoves Clear out of the booth then, and you barely manage to catch her before she collapses to the floor. Valentina moves quick, all but launching herself over the table to reach Hana, and you watch as she slams her back against the door, grabbing her by the front of her shirt. You quickly ease Clear back into the booth, though she tries to cling to you, and you're forced to push her off as Valentina starts to yell at Hana. "Look at that," she sneers, digging her fingers into Hana's neck, into the bite you left behind. "Is that why you wanted her to come with you so bad? Did you like her feeding from you? I've seen how you look at her. //You// disgust //me//. How fucking dare you!" "Valentina!" you try, and she lets go of Hana then, turning to glare at you. When Hana tries to step away, she whips back around, lashing out and clawing her across the face. You're all stunned for a moment, Hana staggering back, her eyes wide and her brow furrowed in confusion, and then she quickly covers her bleeding cheek with both hands, bowing her head and closing her eyes in pain. Valentina is panting, blood smeared across her face and coating her throat, and then she looks over at you again as you step closer and pull Hana away from her. You see a sudden regret flash across her face as she stares at you. "Hana," she reaches out for her, but Hana turns, shrugging off your hand and bolting out of the room without a word. Valentina looks between you and Clear, opening her mouth to speak, but she just shakes her head and runs after Hana, leaving you alone in the room. You're breathing hard, your hands shaking, and you turn to look at Clear, curled up in the booth, and you quickly rush over to her, putting a tentative hand on her shoulder. She doesn't really react, still in a daze, and you look around for anything to cover the bite wound with, deciding to rip up some of the sheets on the bed before quickly returning to Clear. "Clear," you touch her shoulder again, and she just shakes her head, curling up even tighter, hiding her head in her arms. Her blood is strong, soaked all over the booth, and you can hear yourself panting, your mouth watering at the smell of it, and you back off, turning away from her as you curse yourself under your breath. <<link [[Next ->ch2 v's room bandage clear v1]]>><<set $ch2_hanabolt to true>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><</link>><<else>>Valentina's gaze cuts over your shoulder as Hana steps closer, and her eyes darken, her hands tightening around Clear. She eyes the bite at Hana's throat, her face twitching before she turns back to you. "You bit her?" she asks abruptly. Hana immediately tries to cover the bite with her hand, but it's too late for that. "You're going to stand there in front of me and call me disgusting after biting someone else?" "V, it's not like that--" Hana starts, but Valentina shoves Clear out of the booth, and you barely manage to keep her from collapsing to the floor, but it doesn't matter-- Valentina launches herself out after her, slamming into you and throwing you back against the wall. Clear crumples to the floor, and Hana jumps back, clasping her hands over her mouth in shock. The two of you grapple for a moment, Valentina's claws scraping over your pulse before she manages to get her hand around your throat. You try to force her to let go, shoving her back into the wall over and over again, but her hand just tightens, your eyes watering as you struggle to breathe. But Hana jumps in, reaching to pull you apart, grabbing at Valentina's hand and doing her best to pry her claws off of you. "Don't touch me, Hana!" she snaps at her, and Hana flinches back, but it's enough for you to wrench yourself free and stagger a few steps away. But Valentina whirls around and lunges after you, sending both of you falling back into the booth. She climbs on top of you, grabbing at your face, forcing you to look up at her. She still has blood smeared across her mouth, coating her throat, and her hair is wild, but she closes her eyes for a moment, and when she opens them again they're sad and glassy, her hand loosening until she's stroking your face. <div id="choice"><<link [[I push her off of me. ->ch2 v's room with hana clear rom 1.b.1]]>><<set $v_underbooth to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I let her hold me. ->ch2 v's room with hana clear rom 1.b.2]]>><<set $c_rel -=3>><</link>></div><</if>>

<<if $hunt eq 1>> <<set $mc_clearbite to true>>It's not enough. Something about Clear's blood-- it's dangerous. It lures you in. She's //intoxicating.// And you're still so hungry. You crawl around the booth, touching the back of Clear's head, grabbing a fistful of her hair and forcing her to sit up even as she whimpers and tries to squirm away from your drooling mouth. "$name," she begs you, pushing your face back as you leer over her. You bow your head, tasting her as you breathe in deep before pressing your lips to her throat. The hunger aches at the base of your spine, pulsing all the way up into your skull, and you drink from the bite that Valentina left behind, Clear's blood warming you up as it blossoms in your chest. Clear lets out a long breath, sinking back into the booth then, wrapping her arms around you and sliding her hands up your back. You release her throat after a moment, sitting up to look at her-- and then she slaps you hard enough that you see stars. You scramble back, clutching your head in your hands, letting out a shaky breath, Clear's handprint seared into the side of your face. "I deserved that," you say weakly. Clear ignores you, touching at her throat with a grimace, before reaching for the cloth you stripped from the sheets and roughly tying it around her neck. She goes to stand then, but immediately collapses against the wall, and you jump to your feet to help her, holding her up as she takes a few unsteady steps towards the door. She gives you a look of disgust, and you think she's going to push you off of her, but then it shifts into a look that makes your heart ache. She turns and leans into you, pressing her face into the crook of your neck, and you wrap your arms around her as she sniffles sadly. "I want to go home," she mutters against your throat. "I'll take you home, Clear," you say softly, pressing your lips against her hair. She shivers, and then nods, and you lead her the rest of the way to the door, but-- The overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you tighten your arms around Clear, backing away from the door as some kind of instinctual warning twists in your gut. It's Valentina that throws it open after a few seconds, her eyes wide and fearful-- not something you would expect to see on her. "What--" you don't even get to ask, she just grabs you and Clear and pulls you out of the room, quickly dragging you down the corridor and shoving you out through a hidden emergency exit tucked behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses, dragging you down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that you have to take one at a time, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind.<<else>>Clear groans, shifting against the booth, and you curse yourself again, taking a deep breath through your mouth and exhaling slowly, and you cautiously turn back to her, gripping the strip of cloth in your hand. "Clear," you say her name again, and she peeks over her arm at you. You offer her the cloth, and she eyes your for a moment before slowly unfurling herself and sitting up a bit. She grabs your arm, sliding close, and you think she's going to cry-- but she doesn't. She touches at her neck with her other hand, grimacing and closing her eyes for a moment, shaking her head just before you press your palm to her cheek. She blinks at you, watching you warily as you raise the cloth to her throat. But then she turns into the touch, her breath on your inner wrist, and she sighs a weary sigh, tilting her head back after a moment so you can tie the make-shift bandage around her neck. Her throat looks painful-- Valentina's bite on top of yours, along with the gash from her claws, the skin is hot and tender under your hand, and you can feel Clear tense up and her breath shorten from the pain as you put some pressure on it. She's looking at you as you finish, still gripping your arm as you pull back and assess your shitty bandage. "Thanks," Clear rasps, and you just nod. You both stare at each other then, a wordless and tense uncertainty coiling in the air between you. But Clear tentatively leans forward, and you take her in your arms as she presses her face into the crook of your neck, and finally cries. "I want to go home," she says quietly, her tears hot on your skin, and you glare at Valentina's blood splattered on the wall. "I'll take you home, Clear," you whisper, rubbing a reassuring hand across her back. You start to stand from the booth then, helping her to her feet, but-- The overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you tense, tightening your arms around Clear and backing away from the door, an instinctual warning twisting in your gut. It's Valentina that throws it open after a few seconds, her eyes wide and fearful-- not something you would expect to see on her. "What--" you don't even get to ask, she just grabs you and Clear and pulls you out of the room, quickly dragging you down the corridor and shoving you out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses, dragging you down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that you have to take one at a time, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind.<</if>> [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

You slap her hands away, but it doesn't matter-- she lunges at you, grabbing you by your shoulders and sending you both toppling over the table again and back into the booth. Clear scrambles back, clutching her throat as she stares over at the two of you grappling-- rather pathetically-- in the small space, until Hana grabs her and pulls her across the room. You manage to get on top of Valentina out of pure luck, the two of you rolling out of the booth and onto the floor beneath the table, greeted by mysterious stains on the carpet that you don't particularly want to think about. Valentina thrashes underneath you, but she's crammed in an awkward position between the bottom of the booth and the base of the table, unable to get any real leverage to fight back, and she stills after a moment, still panting-- and crying. "How could you forget me?" she wails, and you feel a sudden tight emotion in your chest, a rush of heat in your face as your own tears well up in your eyes, beyond your control as you look down at Valentina crying beneath you. "Valentina," you breathe, reaching up to wipe the tears from her face, and she sobs, grabbing your wrist and turning her face into your palm, longing for your touch. You try to ease off of her a bit, but you're trapped by the table, struggling to extract yourself from the weird position you've both fallen in. Hana is the one that pulls the table back, letting you and Valentina collapse onto the floor, Valentina scrambling out from underneath you and pressing back against the booth, hiding her face in her hands. You hold your head for a moment, having smacked it against the bottom of the table in the fight, and you blame the tears on that. Hana drops to her knees beside Valentina, but there's no chance for her to say anything-- the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare at it dumbly for a few seconds. "We have to go," Hana breaks the trance, grabbing you and Valentina, struggling to haul you both up onto your feet. Valentina refuses to budge, but you stand and help Hana pull her up, before turning to grab Clear-- but you shake your head, switching with Hana, Clear's blood too much for you to deal with right now. Valentina doesn't even look at you, just letting you drag her out of the room, following on Hana's heels as she leads you down the corridor and out through a hidden side door, tucked away behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear slips out of Hana's grasp to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop the lot of you. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina seems to snap out of it then, shrugging you off and moving to stand in front of Hana, glaring at the strange man as the silence stretches. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

You tense under her touch, but you don't pull away, glaring into her dark stare as she studies your face. Her thumb slowly strokes your cheek, and she lets out a long, shaky breath, muttering your name again before pulling you into a hug. "I just-- need you, please, $name," she speaks the words against your throat, her head bowed as she leans into you. You reach up to stroke her long black hair, breathing her in, the familiarity of her, comforting now even with Clear's blood clinging to her skin. Clear stares at you from the other side of the room, her hand still clasped around her throat, and you peer at her from over Valentina's shoulder. She turns away first. Valentina pulls back then, still breathing hard, blood dripping from her chin as she looks at you again. She grabs at your arm, pulling at it until she can reach your wrist, and then she raises your hand to her face, pressing your palm against her cheek. She sighs, turning her head, nuzzling your hand and squeezing your wrist until it hurts. She must see it in your face, letting your hand slip away, and she just watches it fall to your side, your fingers flexing-- and she pushes you back to stumble over and drop down into the booth, roughly wiping at her face with her arm, cradling her cheek where your hand had been. Hana and Clear sit on the bed, and you stand in the middle, closing your eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath. Before you can decide if you want to say anything profound, though, the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare stupidly at it for a few seconds. "No, no no no," Valentina blurts, jumping back out of the booth. Hana stands too, her eyes wide and afraid as she pulls Clear up onto her feet. Valentina rushes over to you, grabbing your arm, dragging you to the door. "What--" you barely manage that before you're shoved through the door and out into the corridor, Valentina leading you all down the hall and out through a hidden side door tucked behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you to climb single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. The alley is still and silent, save for Clear's shaky breathing and the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

<<if $ch2_hanabolt is true>>"Valentina," he finally speaks after a painful few seconds, stepping closer, smiling coolly as he glances between you and her. He looks young, but you know that to be untrue, the pointed canines he flashes giving him away. Pale skin and dusty blonde hair that falls down to his shoulders, he wears a pair of reflective sunglasses that immediately pisses you off. "You should clean yourself up," he says with some distaste, reaching down to pull a handkerchief from the inside of his posh, pressed jacket. He throws it at Valentina, but she just lets it flutter to the ground. He clicks his tongue in annoyance. "What if someone were to see the three of you right now? I thought you knew better." "Why are you here, Oberon?" Valentina asks, ignoring his comment. "That's a stupid question, and you know it," he says, his head tilting towards you. "Are you here alone?" she presses. He nods. He gestures at the club then, just as the wailing alarm cuts off. "All of that was really unnecessary, you know. It's just me!" he laughs to himself. Valentina glares at him. He clears his throat then, smoothing down the front of his jacket, stepping a little closer and turning to look at you. "Wow. It really is you," he muses. He turns back to Valentina. "Where's your other one?" It takes you a moment to realize he's asking about Hana. Valentina doesn't respond. "Alright. I see it's the same as it always is with you," he says, rolling his eyes. "I'm not here for you, anyways," and he reaches into his jacket again to pull out an envelope. "This is for //you//," he says, and he offers you the envelope.<<else>>"Valentina," he finally speaks after a painful few seconds, stepping closer, smiling coolly as he glances between you and her and Hana. He looks young, but you know that to be untrue, the pointed canines he flashes giving him away. Pale skin and dusty blonde hair that falls down to his shoulders, he wears a pair of reflective sunglasses that immediately pisses you off. "You should clean yourself up," he says with some distaste, reaching down to pull a handkerchief from the inside of his posh, pressed jacket. He throws it at Valentina, but she just lets it flutter to the ground. He clicks his tongue in annoyance. "What if someone were to see you right now? I thought you knew better." "Why are you here, Oberon?" Valentina asks, ignoring his comment. "That's a stupid question, and you know it," he says, his head tilting towards you. "Are you here alone?" she presses. He nods. He gestures at the club, just as the wailing alarm cuts off. "All of that was really unnecessary, you know. It's just me!" he laughs to himself. Valentina glares at him, and Hana scoffs. He clears his throat then, smoothing down the front of his jacket, stepping a little closer and turning to look at you. "Wow. It really is you," he muses. He reaches into his jacket again, and pulls out an envelope. "I didn't mean to cause such an uproar," he says. "I'm just here to deliver this." He holds up the envelope for a moment before offering it to you.<</if>> <div id="choice"><<link '"Who the hell are you?"' 'ch2 oberon alley 1.a'>><<set $oberon_knows to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice">[[Take the envelope. ->ch2 oberon alley 1.b]]</div> <div id="choice">[[Reject the envelope. ->ch2 oberon alley 1.c]]</div>

"Get off of me," you sneer, slapping her hand away. You buck your hips up, slamming her knee against the bottom of the table and making her gasp, and she tries to grab your face again but you twist away, shoving her back into the table again, hard enough that she folds forward and you both slide down to the floor. You pin her underneath you, even as she slaps at you and thrashes against the carpet, but she's stuck in an uncomfortable position between the booth and the base of the table, unable to get any real leverage to fight back, and she stills after a moment, panting loudly-- and crying. "How could you forget me?" she wails, and you feel a sudden tight emotion in your chest, a rush of heat in your face as your own tears well up in your eyes, beyond your control as you look down at Valentina crying beneath you. "Valentina," you breathe, reaching up to wipe the tears from her face, and she sobs, grabbing your wrist and turning her face into your palm, longing for your touch. You try to ease off of her a bit, but you're trapped by the table, struggling to extract yourself from the weird position you've both fallen in. Hana is the one that pulls the table back, letting you and Valentina collapse onto the floor, Valentina scrambling out from underneath you and pressing back against the booth, hiding her face in her hands. You hold your head for a moment, having smacked it against the bottom of the table in the fight, and you blame the tears on that. Hana drops to her knees beside Valentina, but there's no chance for her to say anything-- the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare at it dumbly for a few seconds. "We have to go," Hana breaks the trance, grabbing you and Valentina, struggling to haul you both up onto your feet. Valentina refuses to budge, but you stand and help Hana pull her up, before turning to grab Clear-- but you shake your head, switching with Hana, Clear's blood too much for you to deal with right now. Valentina doesn't even look at you, just letting you drag her out of the room, following on Hana's heels as she leads you down the corridor and out through a hidden side door, tucked away behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear slips out of Hana's grasp to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop the lot of you. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina seems to snap out of it then, shrugging you off and moving to stand in front of Hana, glaring at the strange man as the silence stretches. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

You reach up and tentatively touch her wrist, her hand cold against your cheek. She lets out a long, shaky breath, and then she curls forward on top of you, bowing her head until she's hiding in the crook of your neck. You glance over at Hana, hovering in front of the booth, and you wrap your arms around Valentina, holding her against your chest, resting your chin atop her head, her hair soft and as cool as her skin. "$name," Valentina whispers then, her breath tickling your throat. "I just-- really need you right now," she says, somehow curling herself even smaller, burrowing against you in the booth. You reach up to stroke her long black hair, breathing her in, the familiarity of her, comforting now even with Clear's blood clinging to her skin. Clear stares at you from the other side of the room, sitting up on the bed with her hand clasped around her throat, and you peer at her from over Valentina's shoulder. She turns away first. Valentina pulls back then, still breathing hard, blood dripping from her chin as she looks down at you again. She grabs at your arm, pulling at it until she can reach your wrist, and then she raises your hand to her face, pressing your palm against her cheek. She sighs, turning her head, nuzzling your hand and squeezing your wrist until it hurts. And then the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to collectively and stupidly stare up at it. "No, no no no," Valentina blurts, jumping off of you and climbing out of the booth. Hana looks just as panicked, her eyes wide and afraid as she hurries across the room and pulls Clear up onto her feet. Valentina grabs your arm, yanking you out of the booth and dragging you to the door. "What--" you barely manage that before you're shoved through the door and out into the corridor, Valentina leading you all down the hall and out through a hidden side door tucked behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you to climb single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. The alley is still and silent, save for Clear's shaky breathing and the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

<<if $hunt eq 1>><<if ($v_rivalry is false) or ($ch2_hana is true)>><<set $mc_clearbite to true>>It's not enough. Something about Clear's blood-- it's dangerous. It lures you in. She's //intoxicating.// And you're still so hungry. You crawl around the booth, touching the back of Clear's head, grabbing a fistful of her hair and forcing her to sit up even as she whimpers and tries to squirm away from your drooling mouth. "$name," she begs you, pushing your face back as you leer over her. You bow your head, breathing her in, pressing your lips to her throat. The hunger aches at the base of your spine, pulsing all the way up into your skull, and you drink from the bite that Valentina left behind, Clear's blood warming you up as it blossoms in your chest. Clear lets out a long breath, sinking back into the booth then, wrapping her arms around you and sliding her hands up your back. You release her throat after a moment, sitting up to look at her-- and then she slaps you hard enough that you see stars. You scramble back, clutching your head in your hands, letting out a shaky breath, Clear's handprint seared into the side of your face. "I deserved that," you say weakly. Clear ignores you, touching at her throat with a grimace, before reaching for the cloth you stripped from the sheets and roughly tying it around her neck. She goes to stand then, but immediately collapses against the wall, and you jump to your feet to help her, holding her up as she takes a few unsteady steps towards the door. She gives you a look of disgust, and you think she's going to push you off of her, but then it shifts into a look that makes your heart ache. She turns and leans into you, pressing her face into the crook of your neck, and you wrap your arms around her as she sniffles sadly. "I want to go home," she mutters against your throat. "I'll take you home, Clear," you say softly, pressing your lips against her hair. She shivers, and then nods, and you lead her the rest of the way to the door, but-- The overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you tighten your arms around Clear, backing away from the door as some kind of instinctual warning twists in your gut. It's Valentina that throws it open after a few seconds, her eyes wide and fearful-- not something you would expect to see on her. "What--" you don't even get to ask, she just grabs you and Clear and pulls you out of the room, quickly dragging you down the corridor and shoving you out through a hidden emergency exit tucked behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses, dragging you down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that you have to take one at a time, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked-- but the man pays them no mind.<<else>>Clear groans, shifting against the booth, and you curse yourself again, taking a deep breath through your mouth and exhaling slowly, and you cautiously turn back to her, gripping the strip of cloth in your hand. "Clear," you say her name again, and she peeks over her arm at you. You offer her the cloth, and she eyes your for a moment before slowly unfurling herself and sitting up a bit. She grabs your bloody arm, sliding close, and you think she's going to cry-- but she doesn't. She touches at her neck with her other hand, grimacing and closing her eyes for a moment, shaking her head just before you press your palm to her cheek. She blinks at you, watching you warily as you raise the cloth to her throat. But then she turns into the touch, her breath on your inner wrist, and she sighs a weary sigh, tilting her head back after a moment so you can tie the make-shift bandage around her neck. It takes you a few tries-- your hand trembles, your fingers stiff and numb and not cooperating, but you ignore it. Her throat looks painful-- Valentina's bite on top of yours, along with the gash from her claws, the skin is hot and tender under your hand, and you can feel Clear tense up and her breath shorten from the pain as you put some pressure on it. She's looking at you as you finish, still gripping your arm as you pull back and assess your shitty bandage. "Thanks," Clear rasps, and you just nod. You both stare at each other then, a wordless and tense uncertainty coiling in the air between you. But Clear tentatively leans forward, and you take her in your arms as she presses her face into the crook of your neck, and finally cries. "I want to go home," she says quietly, her tears hot on your skin, and you glare at the door, at all your blood on the floor-- Valentina's shadow. "I'll take you home, Clear," you whisper, rubbing a reassuring hand across her back. You start to stand from the booth then, helping her to her feet, but-- The overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you tense, tightening your arms around Clear and backing away from the door, an instinctual warning twisting in your gut. It's Valentina that throws it open after a few seconds, her eyes wide and fearful-- not something you would expect to see on her. "What--" you don't even get to ask, she just grabs you and Clear and pulls you out of the room, quickly dragging you down the corridor and shoving you out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses, dragging you down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that you have to take one at a time, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked-- but the man pays them no mind.<</if>><<else>>Clear groans, shifting against the booth, and you curse yourself again, taking a deep breath through your mouth and exhaling slowly, and you cautiously turn back to her, gripping the strip of cloth in your hand. "Clear," you say her name again, and she peeks over her arm at you. You offer her the cloth, and she eyes your for a moment before slowly unfurling herself and sitting up a bit. She grabs your bloody arm, sliding close, and you think she's going to cry-- but she doesn't. She touches at her neck with her other hand, grimacing and closing her eyes for a moment, shaking her head just before you press your palm to her cheek. She blinks at you, watching you warily as you raise the cloth to her throat. But then she turns into the touch, her breath on your inner wrist, and she sighs a weary sigh, tilting her head back after a moment so you can tie the make-shift bandage around her neck. It takes you a few tries-- your hand trembles, your fingers stiff and numb and not cooperating, but you ignore it. Her throat looks painful-- Valentina's bite on top of yours, along with the gash from her claws, the skin is hot and tender under your hand, and you can feel Clear tense up and her breath shorten from the pain as you put some pressure on it. She's looking at you as you finish, still gripping your arm as you pull back and assess your shitty bandage. "Thanks," Clear rasps, and you just nod. You both stare at each other then, a wordless and tense uncertainty coiling in the air between you. But Clear tentatively leans forward, and you take her in your arms as she presses her face into the crook of your neck, and finally cries. "I want to go home," she says quietly, her tears hot on your skin, and you glare at the door, at all your blood on the floor-- Valentina's shadow. "I'll take you home, Clear," you whisper, rubbing a reassuring hand across her back. You start to stand from the booth then, helping her to her feet, but-- The overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you tense, tightening your arms around Clear and backing away from the door, an instinctual warning twisting in your gut. It's Valentina that throws it open after a few seconds, her eyes wide and fearful-- not something you would expect to see on her. "What--" you don't even get to ask, she just grabs you and Clear and pulls you out of the room, quickly dragging you down the corridor and shoving you out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses, dragging you down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that you have to take one at a time, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked-- but the man pays them no mind.<</if>> <<link [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]>><<set $v_armbite to true>><</link>>

You tense under her touch, but you don't pull away, glaring into her dark stare as she studies your face. Clear slips from your arms then, backing away from Valentina until she hits the wall, glancing between the two of you as Valentina strokes your cheek with her thumb, and Valentina lets out a long, shaky breath, muttering your name again before pulling you into a hug. "I just-- need you, please, $name," she speaks the words against your throat, her head bowed as she leans into you. You reach up to stroke her long black hair, breathing her in, the familiarity of her, comforting now even with Clear's blood clinging to her skin. Clear is still staring at you, her hand clasped around her throat, and you peer at her from over Valentina's shoulder. She turns away first. Valentina pulls back then, her breath ragged, blood dripping from her chin as she looks at you again. She grabs at your arm, pulling at it until she can reach your wrist, and then she raises your hand to her face, pressing your palm against her cheek. She sighs, turning her head, nuzzling your hand and squeezing your wrist until it hurts. She must see it in your face, because she loosens her grip a bit, lowering your hand until she can brush your fingers over the scars along her throat. You raise your other hand to touch her there, pressing your thumb into the hollow of her throat, Valentina's breath ghosting over your lips as she leans in until your nail pricks her pale skin. Then the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare stupidly at it for a few seconds. "Oh, no," Hana mutters, and you had forgot she was even in the room with all of you, hovering by the door. "No, no no no," Valentina repeats the sentiment, roughly grabbing both of your wrists and jerking you towards the door. Hana steps out of the way to grab Clear, her eyes wide and afraid as she hurries after you and Valentina. "What--" you barely manage that before you're shoved through the door and out into the corridor, Valentina leading you all down the hall and out through a hidden side door tucked behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you to climb single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. The alley is still and silent, save for Clear's shaky breathing and the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

"Don't touch me," you snap, slapping her hand away, but it doesn't matter-- she lunges at you, grabbing you by your shoulders and slamming you back into the wall. Clear yelps, scrambling back and nearly falling onto the bed until Hana grabs her and pulls her out of reach of your and Valentina's claws and snapping teeth. You grapple against the wall for a moment, until Valentina trips you up and you both go sliding sideways and back into the booth. You hit the table hard, smashing against your ribs, but it stops you short and allows you to end up on top as you both roll from the booth and onto the floor beneath the table, greeted by mysterious stains on the carpet that you don't particularly want to think about. Valentina thrashes underneath you, but she's crammed in an awkward position between the bottom of the booth and the base of the table, unable to get any real leverage to fight back, and she stills after a moment, panting loudly-- and crying. "How could you forget me?" she wails, and you feel a sudden tight emotion in your chest, a rush of heat in your face as your own tears well up in your eyes, beyond your control as you look down at Valentina crying beneath you. "Valentina," you breathe, reaching up to wipe the tears from her face, and she sobs, grabbing your wrist and pulling your hand down to touch her throat-- to touch the old scars you gave her. You try to ease off of her then, but you're trapped by the table, struggling to extract yourself from the weird position you've both fallen in. Hana is the one that pulls the table back, letting you and Valentina collapse onto the floor, Valentina scrambling out from underneath you and pressing back against the booth, hiding her face in her hands. You hold your head for a moment, having smacked it against the bottom of the table in the fight, and you blame the tears on that. Hana drops to her knees beside Valentina, but there's no chance for her to say anything-- the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare at it dumbly for a few seconds. "We have to go," Hana breaks the trance, grabbing you and Valentina, struggling to haul you both up onto your feet. Valentina refuses to budge, but you stand and help Hana pull her up, before turning to grab Clear-- but you shake your head, switching with Hana, Clear's blood too much for you to deal with right now after all of that. Valentina doesn't even look at you, just letting you drag her out of the room, following on Hana's heels as she leads you down the corridor and out through a hidden side door, tucked away behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear slips out of Hana's grasp to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop the lot of you. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina seems to snap out of it then, shrugging you off and moving to stand in front of Hana, glaring at the strange man as the silence stretches. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

You eye Clear for a moment. She blinks slowly at you, a strange look on her face as you step closer and slide into the booth beside her. Valentina grins, delighted, petting Clear's hair then. You can feel Clear's heartrate accelerating, pulsing through the room, her breath quickening as you slide closer. <<if $hana_rom>>Hana hesitates briefly, still standing with her arms crossed as she eyes Valentina, but then she relents, climbing in behind you and pressing close.<<else>>Hana hesitates briefly, still standing with her arms crossed as she eyes Valentina, but then she climbs into the booth, too, sliding in on the other side next to Valentina, pressing against her and blinking over at you and Clear.<</if>> <<include "ch2 v's room with hana 2.b.1">>

<<if $hunt eq 1>>"No. I'm not hungry," you say, eyeing Clear as she pouts at your answer. Valentina tilts her head at you, narrowing her eyes for a moment. "You and I both know that's not true," she says slowly. And she's right-- the overwhelming smell of blood permeating the room has your stomach in knots, an ache spreading from the base of your spine all the way up into your skull. It has saliva thickening in the back of your mouth, your hands twitching anxiously as you stare down at Valentina's bloody face. "Come on," she whispers, smirking at you. "She said no, V," Hana cuts in, and Valentina slowly turns her gaze on her. "And what about you? Did you even eat at all?" she gives her a look. "No. I can tell." Hana swallows loudly, but shakes her head. "$name," Valentina murmurs, shifting in the booth, leaning against the table. //Fuck.// You grab your stomach, closing your eyes for a moment-- but you can't resist. The hunger twists and claws inside you, unfulfilled from your meal at the hotel. You slide into the booth, Clear making a soft sound as you lean in close to breathe her in. <<if $hana_rom>>Hana hesitates briefly, still standing with her arms crossed as she eyes Valentina with obvious disapproval, but then she looks at you and relents, climbing in just behind you and pressing close.<<else>>Hana hesitates briefly, still standing with her arms crossed as she eyes Valentina with obvious disapproval, but then she looks at you and climbs into the booth, too, sliding in on the other side next to Valentina, pressing against her and staring over her shoulder down at Clear.<</if>> <<include "ch2 v's room with hana 2.b.1">><<else>>"No. I'm not hungry," you say, eyeing Clear as she pouts at your answer. Valentina studies your face for a moment, and then unceremoniously shoves Clear out of the booth. She tumbles right into you, laughing loudly, and you grab her arms to keep her from collapsing. She keeps laughing, oblivious to Valentina's sudden anger-- and yours. Your hands tighten around her forearms until she finally stops laughing. Clear blinks slowly, her brow furrowing as she suddenly seems to find some clarity in her situation, and she pulls on her arms, bruising beneath your fingers-- and you let her go after a panicked second, watching as she recoils and drops down onto the bed, climbing onto the mattress and pressing herself in the corner, as far away from all of you as she can get. Hana sighs quietly behind you, but it's enough to draw Valentina's ire. <<if $hana_rom>>She stands from her seat, and Hana immediately tenses, giving Valentina a look. But it's no use. "What's wrong, Hana? I know //you're// hungry. What are you saving yourself for?" Valentina sneers. She taps the side of her neck then, indicating the bite mark you left behind, and Hana claps her hand over it, glaring at Valentina as she leers over her. "I bet you liked that, didn't you?" Valentina says, grabbing Hana's wrist and jerking her hand back to get a closer look at the wound. "Did you like her feeding from you? Is that why you convinced her to go to the hotel with you? So you could give her a taste?" "Valentina," you cut in then, but she ignores you, grabbing the front of Hana's shirt and shoving her back against the closed door. "How dare you. //How fucking dare you//," Valentina snarls, and Hana just glares at her, her nostrils flaring. <div id ="choice"><<link '"Valentina, that\'s enough!"' 'ch2 v\'s room with hana 2.a.1'>><<set $v_slap to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Pull her off of Hana. ->ch2 v's room with hana 2.a.2]]>><<set $mc_vchoke to true>><</link>></div><<else>>She stands from her seat, and Hana immediately tenses, giving Valentina a look. But it's no use. "What's wrong, Hana? I know //you're// hungry. What are you saving yourself for?" Valentina sneers. She seems to notice the bite mark you left behind then, her eyes widening before she turns on you. "You //bit// her?" her voice rises loud enough to make you wince. "Valentina--" Hana tries, but she ignores her. She lunges at you, and there's not really anywhere for you to go-- you hit the wall, and then you both go toppling sideways and into the booth, Valentina landing on top of you and trapping you against the seat cushions. "A hundred years," she says then, grabbing at your face with her clawed hand, your cheeks prickling from the force of her nails, "I've waited a hundred years. For you to bite //her//." Hana hovers in front of the booth, her hands in her hair, looking anxiously between you and Valentina. She says her name again, but still, Valentina just ignores her, all of her attention only for you. "//Say something//!" <div id="choice"><<link '"Get the fuck off of me!"' 'ch2 v\'s room with hana 2.a.3'>><<set $v_scratch to true>><<set $v_underbooth to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s not like that, Valentina, for fuck\'s sake!"' 'ch2 v\'s room with hana 2.a.4'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry. I was just hungry."' 'ch2 v\'s room with hana 2.a.5'>><</link>></div><</if>><</if>>

Clear sighs, leaning back against the booth, letting her head roll back to expose her throat to the three of you. "She's eager for it," Valentina muses, trailing her hand along the curve of Clear's neck, before leaning back in to resume her drinking, staring over at you as she does. You lick your lips, Clear's blood heavy in the air and making your mouth water, the anticipation of it suddenly too much for you this close. You press a hand to Clear's stomach, her body hot and trembling slightly under your palm, and she turns her head to look at you, her lips parted slightly as you lean in, gently licking her pulse. <<if $hana_rom>><<set $v_slap to true>>Hana shifts just behind you, pressing a kiss to the back of your shoulder as she peeks over to watch you and Clear with bright eyes. Clear whispers your name then, and you close your eyes and bite her, her entire body shuddering against you as your teeth pierce her throat. You hear Valentina smack her lips, Clear twitching as she drinks roughly from the other side of her neck, and you caress her stomach, a weak attempt at comfort-- but she seems to like it, letting out a ragged breath and making a little sound of pleasure as you lap at her throat. Hana tugs on your arm then, and you pull back from Clear to look at her, blood still in your mouth-- and you pass it on to Hana in the form of a kiss, tilting your head and pressing your tongue against hers. You can feel some of the blood spill and trickle down your chin, the warmth of it sliding down your throat and making you shiver as Hana touches you under the table, a faint smile on her lips as you kiss. Her hand trails up your leg, slipping between your thighs, and you pant into her mouth, your kiss turning open-mouthed as you forget about Clear-- and all but pull Hana into your lap, straddling you with your arms wrapping around her as she licks the last of the blood from your lips. A sudden cry of pain startles you both, and you whip around to see Valentina biting into Clear's shoulder, glaring at you as she does. Clear tries to push her off, and Valentina lets go just to launch herself over the table at Hana, ripping her out of your lap and sending them both tumbling out of the booth and onto the floor. "How //dare// you!" Valentina is shouting, but you're a bit dazed for a moment, just staring at them as they grapple for a few seconds, and then you jump out of the booth and try to pull them apart. "What the fuck, Valentina," you hiss at her, and then she rounds on you, slapping you across the face hard enough that you fall back onto the table, sliding inelegantly into the booth where Clear scrambles away, pressing herself back into the corner and clutching at her shoulder. "Valentina!" Hana gasps, struggling to her feet, rushing over to your side. You hold your face as you sit back up, your own blood mixing with Clear's in your mouth, the inside of your cheek sliced open on your teeth from the force of Valentina's slap, angry scrapes along your temple from her claws making your eyes water. Valentina is breathing hard, her shoulders rising and falling dramatically as she stares down at you, and there's a flash of regret as she steps closer-- but before she can say anything, the overhead light turns red, flashing erratically, making all of you freeze in place. Valentina is the first to snap out of, swearing under her breath and trying to grab you and Hana, though she only manages to haul Hana out of the booth. You can feel the panic in the air from both of them, and you struggle to slide out of the booth after them, Clear keeping you steady as you clamber onto your feet. "What--" you start, but Hana just takes your hand and pulls you out the door after Valentina, Clear grabbing your shirt and following right on your heels. Valentina leads you all down the corridor together before slipping out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses over her shoulder, and you rush down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you single file, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, and Hana spits on the ground in front of you-- but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill.<<else>>Hana peers at you from over Valentina's shoulder, her eyes bright as she watches you and Clear expectantly. Clear whispers your name then, and you close your eyes and bite her, her entire body shuddering against you as your teeth pierce her throat. You hear Valentina smack her lips, Clear twitching as she drinks roughly from the other side of her neck, and you caress her stomach, a weak attempt at comfort-- but she seems to like it, letting out a ragged breath and making a little sound of pleasure as you lap at her throat. You hold Clear in your arms, one of your hands sliding low to reach under her shirt, her skin warm and slick with sweat. She moans softly, the sound pressed against your hair as she looks down at you, and you pull back, some of her blood trickling down your chin. Valentina leans across then, touching your face, wiping away the spilled blood before she suddenly kisses you. You tense in the booth, but she just pushes more blood into your mouth, and then her tongue, and you can feel Clear's hands touching you as you press against her, while Hana is still watching, her own hands roaming over Valentina in a way that makes you... //jealous//. You grab Valentina and pull her closer, and she laughs into your mouth as she practically ends up in Clear's lap. Clear doesn't seem to mind, watching both of you through a haze, one of her hands sliding up your back to stroke your nape, and you only break the kiss with Valentina to drink more from her, earning yourself another moan muffled against your hair. When you come back up, you glance over to see Valentina and Hana kissing, and you feel a sudden bitterness twisting in your chest, the blood in your mouth turning sour. You look at Clear, caressing her face, and you lean in to kiss her, a surprised sound passing between her lips-- but then she reciprocates, her hand grabbing at the back of your neck again. Now it's Valentina that pulls on you, pulling and pushing you away from Clear with a dark look, before climbing over her and putting herself between you. You feel yourself smirk, and Valentina grabs your face and kisses you again, nipping at your lip and pushing you back against the cushions. You forget about Clear and Hana for a moment, just you and Valentina alone in the booth, her skin cool and soft beneath your fingers, even her silk dress cold as you brush your hand along the hem before reaching underneath to trail light touches up her thigh. You can't say you're surprised to find out she's not wearing any underwear, but it still catches you a little off guard, and you can feel Valentina smile at your stuttering touch. She just hums softly, the taste of Clear still sweet on her tongue as she drags it against yours, slick with blood. You forget about Clear and Hana and the hunt and the horrified face of the woman you killed just a few hours ago, all of it consumed by Valentina in your lap, the familiar rhythm pulsing through you as she rolls her hips and grinds against your hand, gasping softly as you touch her just right-- until the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, all of you breaking apart to stare stupidly up at it. "No, no no no," Valentina says, her hands tightening around you for a moment before she jumps from the booth. Hana climbs out the other side, pulling Clear with her, and you look between them for a moment, too dazed to process what's happening. "What--" you start to ask, but Valentina jerks you up out of the booth and drags you along after Hana as she throws open the door and rushes Clear out into the hallway. Hana leads you all down the corridor together before slipping out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses over her shoulder, and you rush down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you single file, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. The alley is still and silent, save for Clear's shaky breathing and the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill.<</if>> <<link [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><<set $v_hostile to false>><</link>>

You grab Valentina's shoulders and jerk her back, her hands ripping free of Hana's shirt, and she spins around and tries to grab at your throat, slamming you back into the wall where you grapple for a moment, her nails scraping painfully over your pulse. You feel yourself wheeze as she tightens her hand, but you brace yourself against the wall and throw your weight into her, and she staggers back, surprised by your strength, and you throw her down against the booth's table, knocking the air out of her lungs before you climb on top of her and return the favor, wrapping your own hands around her throat. She blinks up at you, her face flushing red, her mouth gasping and still slicked with blood, and something about this feels familiar. Your hands fit perfectly around her thin, pale neck, the slow beat of her pulse in her throat a familiar rhythm against your palm, and even her red face and wide, black eyes-- how many times have the two of you ended up like this? You're breathing hard, your throat bruised and aching, and Valentina thrashes pathetically on the table, which wobbles dangerously-- you think you broke something in the base when you threw her on it. "$name!" Hana grabs at your arm, pulling on you, and you feel your jaw clench, that old bitterness still crawling under your skin. You hold Valentina for another few seconds, her lips turning blue, her nails clawing at your forearms-- and then you let her go, watching her beneath you as she slumps back against the table and gasps for air. She starts to sob then, reaching up to grab at your wrist, trying to hold your hand-- and you let her, a sudden tightness in your chest, a rush of heat in your face as your own tears well up at the sight of her crying beneath you. Uncontrollable-- an old reflex. The table groans suddenly, the only warning you get before it collapses, and you and Valentina fall hard onto the floor, and even Hana falls back, and for a moment you all just lay on the carpet in a daze, Clear watching you all from the bed with wide eyes. Until the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, jarring all of you. "No, no no no," Valentina mutters, covering her face with her hands, while Hana jumps to her feet. "We have to go," she says, grabbing you and Valentina, struggling to haul you both up onto your feet. Valentina refuses to budge, but you stand and help Hana pull her up, though Valentina doesn't even look at you, just moving numbly as Hana drags her out of the room. You hesitate at the door, glancing over at Clear, still huddled on the bed. You offer her your hand. She eyes you warily, but slowly slides to the edge of the bed, letting you help her to her feet. You sling her arm across your shoulders-- this feels familiar-- and quickly step out into the hall after Hana, catching up with them just as she ducks her and Valentina out through a hidden side door behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear hides herself behind you, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop all of you. The alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and there are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina seems to snap out of it then, shrugging Hana off and moving to stand in front of her, glaring at the strange man as the silence stretches. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

"Valentina, that's enough," you say, and you can see her hands tighten around Hana for a moment-- and then she lets go, Hana sliding a few inches back down to the floor while Valentina turns on you. She moves too fast for you to react, slapping you across the face hard enough that you fall back across the booth's table, your head spinning as you inelegantly slide into the seat and slump against the worn leather cushions. "Valentina!" Hana gasps, covering her mouth with her hands before rushing over to you. It takes a moment for your vision to stop doubling, and you grimace as you reach up to touch the side of your face, blood on your tongue from your own teeth cutting the inside of your cheek and angry scratches along your temple from her nails that make your eyes water. Valentina glares down at you, breathing hard, blood still smeared across her face and coating her throat, and she looks wild for a split second, and then there's a sudden flicker of regret as you stare at each other, and she takes a step back, shaking her head. Hana puts a hand on your shoulder, helping you sit up in the booth, an uneasy silence punctuating every squeak and groan of the leather cushions as Hana wraps a protective arm around you. Before any of you can say anything, the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you all turn to stare dumbly up at it for a few seconds-- before Valentina snaps out of it, swearing under her breath and grabbing both you and Hana and hauling you out of the booth. Clear is still huddled in the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest, and Hana glances over at her, then back at you, and then she jerks her arm free from Valentina's grasp to offer Clear her hand. Valentina scowls at her, and drags you out of the room, her hand tightening painfully around your wrist. But Hana follows close behind, Clear's arm slung across her shoulders, and Valentina leads you all down the corridor and out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses, dragging you down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that you have to take single file, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear hides herself behind you, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop all of you. The alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and there are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

"Get the fuck off of me!" you snarl, bucking against the booth and smacking Valentina's knee against the underside of the table. You twist your face free from her nails and push off the booth again, slamming her back against the table before she folds forward and you both slide down to the floor. You pin her underneath you, even as she slaps at you and thrashes against the carpet, but she's stuck in an uncomfortable position between the booth and the base of the table, unable to get any real leverage to fight back. She keeps trying, though-- until her nails scratch across your face, right over your eye, cutting your brow and the fat of your cheek. You recoil backwards, slamming your head against the bottom of the table, crying out as blood rushes into your eye. "$name?" Valentina pants, and then she starts to cry, reaching up to wrap her arms around you as you clutch at your brow. You glare down at her, breathing hard, but you feel a sudden rush of heat in your face as your own tears well up at the sight of Valentina crying beneath you. Uncontrollable-- an old reflex. "How could you forget me?" Valentina wails then, and your heart aches, despite the blood and the pain, your heart aches for her. "Valentina," you breathe, reaching down to wipe away her tears, leaving bloody fingerprints on her pale skin. She sobs, grabbing your wrist and turning her face into your palm, longing for your touch. You try to ease off of her a bit, but you're trapped by the table, struggling to extract yourself from the weird position you've both fallen in. Hana suddenly pulls the table back then, and you and Valentina both collapse onto the floor, though you quickly sit up and cover your eye again, scrambling back against the bed, Clear leaning forward to put a tentative hand on your shoulder. You let her. Valentina sits up against the booth, covering her face with her hands, while Hana drops to her knees beside her. But there's no chance for her to say anything-- the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare at it dumbly for a few seconds. "We have to go," Hana breaks the trance, grabbing you and Valentina, struggling to haul you both up onto your feet. Valentina refuses to budge, but you stand and help Hana pull her up, though Valentina doesn't even look at you, just moving numbly as Hana drags her out of the room. You hesitate at the door, glancing over at Clear, still huddled on the bed, your shoulder still warm from her touch. You offer her your hand. She eyes you warily, but slowly slides to the edge of the bed, letting you help her to her feet. You sling her arm across your shoulders-- this feels familiar-- and quickly step out into the hall after Hana, catching up with them just as she ducks her and Valentina out through a hidden side door behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear hides herself behind you, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop all of you. The alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and there are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina seems to snap out of it then, shrugging Hana off and moving to stand in front of her, glaring at the strange man as the silence stretches. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

"I'm sorry, Valentina," you say, and the words feel familiar on your tongue. Familiar words repeated many times. Familiar bitterness crawling beneath your skin. "I was just hungry." "Oh? Just hungry?" She shoots a glare back over at Hana. "She was just hungry, Hana. Didn't I tell you the hotel wouldn't be enough?" Hana just scowls at her, her eyes hard and glassy. Valentina turns back to you, still gripping your face, shifting to press a knee to your chest, the booth groaning beneath your combined weight. She raises her other hand then, squeezing your jaw until she forces your mouth open, and you squirm back against the cushions, the leather squeaking loudly in the tense silence. "Just hungry? Eat, then," Valentina whispers, pressing her wrist into your mouth. You feel your own lip cut against your teeth first, and then her cool flesh against your gums sends a lance of pain through your skull before she tilts her hand and drags your fanged tooth over the thin skin, reopening the spot you drank from back in Clear's apartment. Blood rushes into your mouth, and you gag at first, convulsing in the booth and bucking against her, but with her knee on your chest you can't do much, her weight pressing down on you and holding you steady even as your legs kick and twitch. You try to grab at her, but she ignores your scratching nails, her dark eyes intent on your face, on her blood trickling out of the side of your mouth as you cough and convulse again. "Valentina, please..." Hana says, anxiously running her hands through her hair, rocking on her feet in front of the door. Valentina seems to ease off then, her weight shifting on top of you, and she draws her hand back, leaving a trail of blood across the front of your shirt. She tries to touch your face, but you turn away, swallowing the rest of the blood in your mouth with a grimace. You can't deny it feels good-- the warmth spreading through your chest, the heavy floral smell of Valentina making you feel light and calm, despite the tremor in your hands as you grasp at her waist and brace to shove her off of you. But then the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all three of you freeze to stare stupidly up at it. "Oh, no," Hana mutters, and Valentina quickly scrambles back, grabbing your arms and hauling you up out of the booth. You don't get a chance to ask what's happening-- she just throws open the door and shoves all of you out into the hallway. "Wait! Clear," Hana blurts, and Valentina scowls, but she steps back into the room and then reappears with a squirming Clear in her hands. She shoves her into Hana's arms, and then grabs your wrist and drags you down the corridor, straight to a side door hidden behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it, out into a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. The alley is still and silent, save for Clear's shaky breathing and the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

"It's not like that, Valentina, for fuck's sake!" you hiss against her hand, and her brow furrows, her head tilting as she glares down at you. "Oh? It's not like that? It's not like that?" she mocks, digging her hand into your face. Her fingers curl, her nails uncomfortable against your skin, pressing the inside of your cheeks against your teeth until you taste blood. "It's not like that, Hana, did you hear?" she sneers over her shoulder. Hana just watches, her eyes wide and glassy. Valentina is breathing hard, trembling on top of you, blood still smeared across her face and dripping from her chin. "A hundred years and you're still just the same," she breathes, and then she lets you go, climbing off of you and out of the booth. You grimace, sitting up and massaging your jaw, Valentina's hand leaving aching bruises. She doesn't say anything else, turning on her heel and shoving past Hana and slamming the door closed behind her. "Fuck," you sigh, holding your head in your hands. Hana seems torn, glancing between you and the door, trying to decide who to side with-- but it doesn't matter, because the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you both blink up at it, staring dumbly. "Oh, no," Hana mutters, rushing over to you just as the door bursts open again. So much for a dramatic exit. "What--" you don't even get to ask, Valentina just grabbing both you and Hana and hauling you towards the door. You realize Clear is still sitting on the bed, watching you all with wide eyes, her face dark in the red light-- and you stop short, making Valentina hiss as you bring everyone to a halt in the doorway. "Clear," you say, and Valentina's hand loosens around your wrist, letting you help Clear up from the bed. "Hurry up," Valentina snaps, and you all spill out into the hall together. You follow Valentina and Hana as they duck out through a hidden side door behind a dark tapestry-- an emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it, Valentina holding open the door and ushering you through. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear hides herself behind you, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop all of you. The alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and there are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina steps past you then and moves back to the front of the group, stepping in front of Hana, glaring at the man while her hands flex at her sides. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

"What are you doing, Valentina?" you ask, narrowing your eyes at her. "Hmm. Your tone doesn't sound very pleased with me," she says slowly. "I thought you'd be happy to see me getting along with your pet." Clear's frown deepens. Valentina sighs then, drawing back and leaning against the booth's table. "I just thought we could all celebrate together-- after a successful hunt. After you, rising again," she says with a smirk. "And Clear here is the perfect, sweet dessert..." she trails off, grinning as Clear stiffens in the booth beside her. Hana clicks her tongue, crossing her arms and giving Valentina a look. She ignores her, instead turning back to Clear. "I know how to make it feel good for you," she says, petting her hair again. She glances at you. "$name can teach you how to like it." Clear just looks up at you, unsure. <<include "ch2 v's room with v 2">>

"Why is she here?" you ask, narrowing your eyes at Valentina. "Well, Hana thought it would be good for her to get out of the house," she smirks, ruffling Clear's hair then. "Isn't that right, Hana?" she asks, but she doesn't wait for Hana to respond. "It's important to take your pet out on walks, you know," she adds, and Clear's frown deepens. "Don't worry, I've been keeping a close eye on her for you. She won't leave, anyways-- you don't want someone else here snatching you up, do you?" she leers over at her. Hana clicks her tongue, giving Valentina a look, and Clear just glares down into her lap. "Come on," Valentina says then, turning back to you. "You know why she's here. Join us in the booth," she says slowly. "We can make her feel good," she adds, reaching over to pet Clear's hair again. She glances at you. "$name can teach you how to like it." Clear looks up at you, unsure. <<include "ch2 v's room with v 2">>

<<if $clear_rom>><<include "ch2 v's room with v 2.a clear rom 1">><<elseif $hana_rom>>"Stop it, Valentina," you warn her. She lets her hand drop, leaning back in the booth to glare up at you. For a moment the two of you just stare at each other, Valentina tapping a long nail against her lips. Her gaze drags from you, to Hana, her eyes narrowed, and then she turns back to Clear, slowly dragging a nail along her scalp. You can see Clear shiver, still looking up at you, shifting uncomfortably in the booth. Then Valentina leans in, pressing her face close to the bandages around Clear's throat, breathing her in and licking at her jaw. You can feel Clear's heart jump, pulsing loudly in the room as Valentina keeps playing with her hair. "You've made your point, V," Hana says with a huff. Valentina leans back, her eyes flashing as she turns to Hana. "My //point//? I just want us to celebrate together, Hana," she says slowly. She stands from the booth then, discarding Clear and rising in front of Hana. "But I suppose you wouldn't like that, would you?" Hana's brow furrows in confusion, and she uncrosses her arms, taking a tentative step back as Valentina leers even closer. "I've seen the two of you together. You just want her all to yourself. How dare you." "Valentina," you cut in then, but she ignores you, grabbing the front of Hana's shirt and shoving her back against the closed door. "How dare you. //How fucking dare you//," Valentina snarls, and Hana just glares at her, her nostrils flaring. <div id="choice"><<link '"Valentina, that\'s enough!"' 'ch2 v\'s room with v 2.a.1'>><<set $v_slap to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice">[[Pull her off of Hana. ->ch2 v's room with v 2.a.2]]</div><<else>>"Stop it, Valentina," you warn her. She lets her hand drop, leaning back in the booth to glare up at you. For a moment the two of you just stare at each other, Valentina tapping a long nail against her lips. Her gaze drags from you, to Hana, her eyes narrowed, and then she turns back to Clear, slowly drawing a long nail through her hair. You can see Clear shiver, still looking up at you, shifting uncomfortably in the booth. "Valentina," you say again, and she sighs. "Stop looking at me like that," she says then, her lip curling in irritation. "It's easy for you to sit there and judge me for being this way. It's easy for you when you can't remember." She stands from the booth, Clear pressing back against the cushions as Valentina slides out to leer down at you. "You're not better than me. You just can't remember all of the horrible things you've done." She grabs the front of your shirt then, shoving you back until you smack against the closed door. You hear Hana gasp beside you, quickly stepping back and covering her mouth with her hands, glancing between you and Valentina, conflicted and uncertain. "Things you've done to strangers, to your friends-- to //me//. Shall I list them out? Shall I //remind// you, $name?" Her hand releases your shirt to snake up and wrap around your throat. You just glare at her. When her hand starts to tighten, you push off the wall and throw yourself at her, sending you both falling back against the booth's table. Clear yelps, quickly scrambling away as you inelegantly slide from the table and onto the leather seats in a jumble of thrashing limbs and snapping teeth. You bite her, she bites you-- blood splatters across the walls, it burns hot in your mouth, and the pain of it all is more than familiar to you. You manage to end up on top of Valentina out of pure luck, the two of you rolling out of the booth and onto the floor beneath the table, greeted by mysterious stains on the carpet that you don't particularly want to think about. Valentina struggles underneath you, but she's crammed in an awkward position between the bottom of the booth and the base of the table, unable to get any real leverage to fight back, and she stills after a moment, panting loudly-- and crying. "How could you forget me?" she wails, and you feel a sudden tight emotion in your chest, a rush of heat in your face as your own tears well up in your eyes, beyond your control as you look down at Valentina crying beneath you. "Valentina," you breathe, reaching up to wipe the tears from her face, and she sobs, grabbing your wrist and turning her face into your palm, longing for your touch. You try to ease off of her a bit, but you're trapped by the table, struggling to extract yourself from the weird position you've both fallen in. Hana is the one that pulls the table back, letting you and Valentina collapse onto the floor, Valentina scrambling out from underneath you and pressing back against the booth, hiding her face in her hands. You hold your head for a moment, having smacked it against the bottom of the table in the fight, and you blame the tears on that. Hana drops to her knees beside Valentina, but there's no chance for her to say anything-- the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare at it dumbly for a few seconds. "We have to go," Hana breaks the trance, grabbing you and Valentina, struggling to haul you both up onto your feet. Valentina refuses to budge, but you stand and help Hana pull her up, before turning to grab Clear, hiding in the corner, her stare wary and unforgiving. You pull her along as you follow on Hana's heels through the door, down the corridor, and out through a hidden side door, tucked away behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop the lot of you. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina seems to snap out of it then, shrugging you off and moving to stand in front of Hana, glaring at the strange man as the silence stretches. <<link [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]>><<set $v_underbooth to true>><</link>><</if>>

You eye Clear for a moment. She blinks slowly at you, a strange look on her face as you step closer and slide into the booth beside her. Valentina grins, delighted, still petting Clear's hair. You can feel her heartrate accelerating, pulsing through the room, her breath quickening as you slide closer. <<if $hana_rom>>Hana hesitates briefly, still standing with her arms crossed as she eyes Valentina, but then she relents, climbing in behind you and pressing close.<<else>>Hana hesitates briefly, still standing with her arms crossed as she eyes Valentina, but then she climbs into the booth, too, sliding in on the other side next to Valentina, pressing against her and blinking over at you and Clear.<</if>> "Hold on, ah-- You're not going to kill me, are you?" Clear asks, squirming in the booth, glancing between you and Hana and Valentina. "Not tonight," Valentina muses. Clear seems to relax slightly, swallowing loudly, staring down at the table as Valentina leans in to sniff at her throat. You wonder what Clear would have done if she had said yes. Clear's blood is already emanating throughout the room, from the bite mark you left her with as well as Valentina's claws, a little taste of what's in store as you reach up then to carefully remove her bandages. [[Next ->ch2 v's room with v 2.b 1]]

"Clear?" you ask her, tilting your head in her direction. She seems annoyed for a moment that you've left it up to her to decide, but then she glances around the room, at you and Hana and Valentina, and then she takes a deep breath, a faint smile on her lips before she suddenly laughs. "I think I'm drunk enough. Sure, why not," she says, though she remains tense as you cross the room and ease yourself into the booth. You can feel her heartrate accelerating, pulsing through the room, her breath quickening as you slide closer. <<if $hana_rom>>Hana hesitates briefly, still standing with her arms crossed as she eyes Valentina, but then she relents, climbing in behind you and pressing close.<<else>>Hana hesitates briefly, still standing with her arms crossed as she eyes Valentina, but then she climbs into the booth, too, sliding in on the other side next to Valentina, pressing against her and blinking over at you and Clear.<</if>> "You're not going to kill me, are you?" Clear asks dubiously. Valentina grins a fanged smile. "Not tonight," she chuckles. Clear just nods, swallowing loudly as Valentina leans in then, sniffing at her throat. The bite mark you left her with yesterday, along with Valentina's claws, means that Clear's blood is already emanating throughout the room, a little taste of what's in store as you reach up to carefully remove her bandages. [[Next ->ch2 v's room with v 2.b 1]]

<<if $hana_rom>>"Stop it, Valentina," you warn her. She lets her hand drop, leaning back in the booth to glare up at you. For a moment the two of you just stare at each other, Valentina tapping a long nail against her lips. Her gaze drags from you, to Hana, her eyes narrowed, and then she turns back to Clear, reaching out to trace a nail along her jaw. You can see Clear shiver, still looking up at you, shifting in the booth. "You like your little pet, don't you?" Valentina muses. Then she grabs Clear by her shoulders and jerks her close, ripping off the bandages around her throat and biting at her pulse. Clear thrashes in the booth, trying to push her off, but Valentina sinks her teeth in deep, her nails pricking Clear's shoulders as she holds her against the cushions. She glares up at you all the while. "Valentina!" Hana shouts at her, though she's hardly deterred, shaking Clear between her teeth, and you jump into the booth, trying to reach around and pry her off, Clear groaning and panting between you. "Get off of her, Valentina," you hiss, grabbing a handful of her hair and jerking her head back. She releases Clear, and then immediately turns to bite at your arm, and you recoil, Valentina lunging over Clear and tackling you to the floor. She bites down hard on your forearm, her teeth scraping bone, and immediately you start to feel a strange tingling in your hand as she punctures something important. You grapple on the floor for a moment, but just like before Valentina easily overpowers you, pinning you against the carpet, your blood splattering all around the room as she pulls and tears at your arm. "Valentina, that's enough! You've made your point!" Hana grabs at her shoulders, trying to pull her off of you. Valentina releases your arm then just to turn on her, slowly standing over you. "Don't you touch me," Valentina spits. "I've seen you, too. How you look at her-- how dare you." "Valentina--" Hana starts, but Valentina lashes out at her, slashing her nails across Hana's face. Hana staggers back, a stunned expression on her face, and she quickly covers her bleeding cheek with both hands, bowing her head and closing her eyes in pain. Valentina is panting, blood smeared across her face and coating her throat, and then she looks over at you as you rise to your feet, a sudden regret flashing across her face. "Hana," she reaches out for her, but Hana turns and bolts out of the room without a word. Valentina looks between you and Clear, opening her mouth to speak, but she just shakes her head and runs after Hana, leaving you alone in the room. You're breathing hard, your hands shaking, and you turn to look at Clear, curled up in the booth, and you quickly rush over to her, putting a tentative hand on her shoulder. She doesn't really react, in a bit of a daze, and you look around for anything to cover the bite wound with, deciding to rip up some of the sheets on the bed before quickly returning to Clear. "Clear," you touch her shoulder again, and she just shakes her head, curling up even tighter, hiding her head in her arms. Her blood is strong, soaked all over the booth, and you can hear yourself panting, your mouth watering at the smell of it, and you back off, turning away from her as you curse yourself under your breath. <<link [[Next ->ch2 v's room bandage clear v2]]>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><<set $ch2_hanabolt to true>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>><<else>>"Stop it, Valentina," you warn her. She lets her hand drop, leaning back in the booth to glare up at you. For a moment the two of you just stare at each other, Valentina tapping a long nail against her lips. Her gaze drags from you, to Hana, her eyes narrowed, and then she turns back to Clear, reaching out to draw her nail through her hair. You can see Clear shiver, still looking up at you, shifting uncomfortably in the booth. "You like your little pet, don't you?" Valentina muses. Then she grabs Clear by her shoulders and jerks her close, ripping off the bandages around her throat and biting at her pulse. Clear thrashes in the booth, trying to push her off, but Valentina sinks her teeth in deep, her nails pricking Clear's shoulders as she holds her against the cushions. She glares up at you all the while. "Valentina!" Hana shouts at her, though she's hardly deterred, shaking Clear between her teeth, and you jump into the booth, trying to reach around and pry her off, Clear groaning and panting between you. "Get off of her, Valentina," you hiss, grabbing a handful of her hair and jerking her head back. She releases Clear, and then immediately turns to bite at your arm, and you recoil, Valentina lunging over Clear and tackling you back into the booth. Clear scrambles out the other side as Valentina pins you back against the cushions, still biting down hard on your forearm, her teeth scraping bone, and immediately you start to feel a strange tingling in your hand as she punctures something important. She lets go after a moment, your arm falling limply out of the booth, and she stares down at you with wide eyes, reaching up to grab your face. "You care about her more than me?" she whispers then. <div id="choice"><<link '"Get the fuck off of me!"' 'ch2 v\'s room with v 2.a clear rom 1.a'>><<set $v_underbooth to true>><<set $v_scratch to true>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"She\'s just my pet."' 'ch2 v\'s room with v 2.a clear rom 1.b'>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Why would I care about you?"' 'ch2 v\'s room with v 2.a clear rom 1.c'>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><<set $v_rel -=5>><<set $v_rival to true>><<set $v_scratch to true>><</link>></div><</if>>

"Get the fuck off of me!" you snarl, bucking against the booth and smacking Valentina's knee against the underside of the table. You twist your face free from her nails and push off the booth again, slamming her back against the table before she folds forward and you both slide down to the floor. You pin her underneath you, even as she slaps at you and thrashes against the carpet, but she's stuck in an uncomfortable position between the booth and the base of the table, unable to get any real leverage to fight back. She keeps trying, though-- until her nails scratch across your face, right over your eye, cutting your brow and the fat of your cheek. You recoil backwards, slamming your head against the bottom of the table, crying out as blood rushes into your eye. "$name?" Valentina pants, and then she starts to cry, reaching up to wrap her arms around you as you clutch at your brow. You glare down at her, breathing hard, but you feel a sudden rush of heat in your face as your own tears well up at the sight of Valentina crying beneath you. Uncontrollable-- an old reflex. "How could you forget me?" Valentina wails then, and your heart aches, despite the blood and the pain, your heart aches for her. "Valentina," you breathe, reaching down to wipe away her tears, leaving bloody fingerprints on her pale skin. She sobs, grabbing your wrist and turning her face into your palm, longing for your touch. You try to ease off of her a bit, but you're trapped by the table, struggling to extract yourself from the weird position you've both fallen in. Hana suddenly pulls the table back then, and you and Valentina both collapse onto the floor, though you quickly sit up and cover your eye again, scrambling back against the bed, Clear sliding off the edge to put a hand on your shoulder. Valentina sits up against the booth, staring after you before covering her face with her hands, while Hana drops to her knees beside her. But there's no chance for her to say anything-- the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare at it dumbly for a few seconds. "We have to go," Hana breaks the trance, grabbing Valentina, struggling to haul her to her feet. You stand and help Clear, and then help Hana pull Valentina up, though she doesn't even look at you, just moving numbly as Hana drags her out of the room. You sling Clear's arm around your shoulders-- //this feels familiar//-- and you quickly follow Hana down the corridor, ducking out a side door hidden behind a dark tapestry; an emergency exit, if the alarm that starts to blare overhead is any indication. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear hides herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop all of you. The alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and there are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina seems to snap out of it then, shrugging Hana off and moving to stand in front of her, glaring at the strange man as the silence stretches. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

"She's just my pet, Valentina," you say slowly, gritting your teeth against her hand. Her fingers curl, her nails uncomfortable against your skin, pressing the inside of your cheeks against your teeth until you taste blood. "Don't lie to me," Valentina warns you. She turns to Clear then, huddled in the corner, pressed back against the wall, her hand clutching her bleeding throat. She's breathing hard, her nostrils flaring as you both stare at her, the smell of her blood filling the room. Hana steps in front of Clear, though, shaking her head and clasping her hands, staring at Valentina with wide eyes. Valentina clicks her tongue, curling her lip at her, and then she turns back to you. "Don't lie to me," she repeats. You can feel her trembling on top of you, blood still smeared across her face and dripping from her chin, warm where it falls across your face. You glare up at her. "God. A hundred years, and you're still just the same," she scoffs, and she finally lets you go, crawling back out of the booth as you sit up with a grimace, grabbing at your bloody arm and flexing your tingling hand. Valentina doesn't say anything else, turning on her heel and shoving past Hana and slamming the door closed behind her. "Fuck," you sigh, holding your head in your hands. Hana seems torn, glancing between you and the door, trying to decide who to side with-- but it doesn't matter, because the light overhead suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you both blink up at it, staring dumbly. "Oh, no," Hana mutters, scrambling over to you just as the door bursts open again. So much for a dramatic exit. Valentina rushes back in, grabbing Hana and reaching for you-- though you smack her hand away, standing from the booth and quickly going over to Clear in the corner. She gives you a wary look, her face pale and her eyes darting around the room, her hand shaking where she grasps at her neck. "$name," Hana urges you, and you put a hand on Clear's arm, gently guiding her out of the corner and after Hana. "Come on," you say, and she just nods stiffly, all of you filing out the door and into the hall. You follow Hana and Valentina down the corridor before slipping out a hidden side door, tucked away behind a dark tapestry-- an emergency exit, if the alarm that suddenly goes off is any indication. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man standing between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear hides herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop all of you. The alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and there are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

"Why would I care about you?" you sneer against her hand. The room is quiet for a moment, Hana watching you with her hands clasped over her mouth, while Clear is huddled in the corner, her back pressed against the wall and her nostrils flaring as she glares over at you and Valentina. Valentina's hand tightens, her fingers curling and pressing the inside of your cheeks against your teeth until you taste blood. Then she lets you go, pulling her hand back to slap you across the face. Hana gasps, and Clear flinches in the corner, and your vision blurs for a few seconds, Valentina's handprint burning into your skin. She slaps you again, though it's not nearly as satisfying with your head angled slightly still from the first one, catching you in your temple, but it hurts just the same. You try to pull yourself together and push her off of you, squirming against the booth, but Valentina keeps you pinned, squeezing her thighs and crushing you between them until you gasp. Then she slaps you again, and again, and again-- until she scratches you, her nails slicing through your brow and across your cheek, blood rushing into your eye as you cry out and finally cover your face with your hands. "Valentina!" Hana seems to realize she should intervene then, jumping across the room and grabbing at Valentina's arms, but she shoves her off, trembling on top of you, reaching out to pull your hands back even as you hiss and try to twist away from her. "$name?" she asks, her eyes wide and glassy, and then she hunches forward, pressing her face into the crook of your neck. She starts to cry, and you blink over at Hana, hovering in front of the both, her hands still reaching out for Valentina-- but you wrap your arms around her, holding her against your chest, your face flushing hot as your own tears start to well up in your eyes. Uncontrollable-- an old reflex. You blink the tears and blood away, swallowing back the lump in your throat, reaching up to pet her long hair. "Valentina," you mutter, and you can feel her breath on your throat, along with the warm tickle of her tears dripping down your neck, and you stare up at the ceiling, thinking that this all feels a little too familiar for your liking. A memory is stirring-- but before you can recall it, the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of you turn to stare stupidly up at it for a few seconds. "Oh, no," Hana blurts, anxiously grabbing at her hair. Valentina sits up, pressing one hand to your chest and wiping her face with the other. She blinks around for a moment, seemingly startled at the presence of Hana and Clear, and then she shakes her head, climbing off of you and clambering out of the booth. "What--" you don't get to finish, Valentina grabbing your hand and hauling you up after her, dragging you out the door, with Hana and Clear following close behind. You follow Valentina down the hall, grimacing against the flashing red lights, before slipping out a hidden side door, tucked away behind a dark tapestry-- an emergency exit, if the alarm that suddenly goes off is any indication. You rush through a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man standing between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear and Hana stop short behind you, and you can sense Clear moving to hide in your shadow, clinging to your shirt while Valentina's hand tightens around yours. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop all of you. The alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and there are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

You grab Valentina's shoulders and jerk her back, her hands ripping free of Hana's shirt, and she spins around and tries to grab at your throat, slamming you back into the wall where you grapple for a moment, her nails scraping painfully over your pulse. You feel yourself wheeze as she tightens her hand, but you brace yourself against the wall and throw your weight into her, and she staggers back, surprised by your strength, and you throw her down against the booth's table, knocking the air out of her lungs. Clear yelps, quickly scrambling out of the booth as you climb on top of Valentina, returning the favor and wrapping your own hands around her throat. She blinks up at you, her face flushing red, her mouth gasping and her teeth gnashing angrily, and something about this feels familiar. Your hands fit perfectly around her thin, pale neck, the slow beat of her pulse in her throat a familiar rhythm against your palm, and even her red face and wide, black eyes-- how many times have the two of you ended up like this? You're breathing hard, your throat bruised and aching, and Valentina thrashes pathetically on the table, which wobbles dangerously-- you think you broke something in the base when you threw her on it. "$name!" Hana grabs at your arm, pulling on you, and you feel your jaw clench, that old bitterness still crawling under your skin. You hold Valentina for another few seconds, her lips turning blue, her nails clawing at your forearms-- and then you let her go, watching her beneath you as she slumps back against the table and gasps for air. She starts to sob then, reaching up to grab at your wrist, trying to hold your hand-- and you let her, a sudden tightness in your chest, a rush of heat in your face as your own tears well up at the sight of her crying beneath you. Uncontrollable-- an old reflex. The table groans suddenly, the only warning you get before it collapses, and you and Valentina fall hard onto the floor, and even Hana falls back, and for a moment you all just lay on the carpet in a daze, Clear the only one left standing-- huddled in the corner and watching you all with wide eyes. Until the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, jarring all of you. "No, no no no," Valentina mutters, covering her face with her hands, while Hana jumps to her feet. "We have to go," she says, grabbing you and Valentina, struggling to haul you both up onto your feet. Valentina refuses to budge, but you stand and help Hana pull her up, though Valentina doesn't even look at you, just moving numbly as Hana drags her out of the room. You reach out for Clear, though she hesitates, eyeing your hand warily before reluctantly letting you take her arm and lead her out the door. You follow Hana and Valentina down the long hallway, before ducking through a hidden side door tucked away behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you all single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- and Hana stops short, spitting at the ground in front of you. A lone man stands between you and the street, blocking the exit, and he smirks at you, tilting his head at your ragtag group. Clear hides herself behind you, and you glance around, uncertain why //one// man is enough to stop all of you. The alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside, and there are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Hana had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. Valentina seems to snap out of it then, shrugging Hana off and moving to stand in front of her, glaring at the strange man as the silence stretches. <<link [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]>><<set $mc_vchoke to true>><</link>>

"Valentina, that's enough," you say, and you can see her hands tighten around Hana for a moment-- and then she lets go, Hana sliding a few inches back down to the floor while Valentina turns on you. She moves too fast for you to react, slapping you across the face hard enough that you fall back across the booth's table, your head spinning as you inelegantly slide into the seat and slump back against Clear and the worn leather cushions. "Valentina!" Hana gasps, covering her mouth with her hands before rushing over to you and climbing into the booth. It takes a moment for your vision to stop doubling, Clear staring down at you with wide eyes, before tentatively reaching out to gently hold your head in her lap. You grimace as you reach up to touch the side of your face, blood on your tongue from your own teeth cutting the inside of your cheek, and you feel a few burning scratches along your cheekbone from Valentina's nails that make your eyes water. Valentina glares down at you, breathing hard, her teeth bared and her hair and eyes wild-- and then there's a sudden flicker of regret as you stare at each other, and she takes a step back, shaking her head. Hana puts a hand on your shoulder, her and Clear both helping you sit up in the booth, an uneasy silence punctuating every squeak and groan of the leather cushions as Hana wraps a protective arm around you. Before any of you can say anything, the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and you all turn to stare dumbly up at it for a few seconds-- before Valentina snaps out of it, swearing under her breath and trying to grab you and Hana, though she only manages to haul Hana out of the booth. You can feel the panic in the air from both of them, and you struggle to slide out of the booth, Clear keeping you steady as you clamber onto your feet. "What--" you start, but Hana just takes your hand and pulls you out the door after Valentina, Clear grabbing your shirt and following right on your heels. Valentina leads you all down the corridor together before slipping out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses over her shoulder, and you rush down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you single file, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, and Hana spits on the ground in front of you-- but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked, but the man pays them no mind, just smirking over at you. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]

There's a delicious anticipation in the air, pulsing with Clear's blood, and she starts to tremble, licking her lips as she watches you peel off the gauze and expose her throat. <<if $clear_rom>><<include "ch2 v's room with v 2.b clear rom 1">><<elseif $hana_rom>>Hana shifts just behind you, pressing a kiss to the back of your shoulder as she peeks over at Clear with bright eyes, watching expectantly. You glance at Valentina, who is watching just as intently, then back to Clear, a sudden rush of performance anxiety making you hesitate with everyone staring at you. But Clear whispers your name, and you close your eyes, bowing your head and breathing into the hollow of Clear's throat, and then you turn and bite her, her entire body shuddering against you as your tongue drags across her pulse. Valentina leans in on the opposite side to bite at the dip of Clear's neck, right where it meets her shoulder, and Clear gasps, twitching in the booth as you and Valentina start to drink. You hold Clear in your arms, letting one of your hands slide low and slip under her shirt, touching the soft roll of her stomach, her skin warm and slick with sweat. She lets out a ragged breath, making a little sound of pleasure as you lap at her throat. Hana tugs on your arm then, and you pull back from Clear to look at her, blood still in your mouth-- and you pass it on to Hana in the form of a kiss, tilting your head and pressing your tongue against hers. You can feel some of the blood spill and trickle down your chin, the warmth of it sliding down your throat and making you shiver as Hana touches you under the table, a faint smile on her lips as you kiss. Her hand trails up your leg, slipping between your thighs, and you pant into her mouth, your kiss turning open-mouthed as you forget about Clear-- and all but pull Hana into your lap, straddling you with your arms wrapping around her as she licks the last of the blood from your lips. A sudden cry of pain startles you both, and you whip around to see Valentina biting into Clear's shoulder, glaring at you as she does. Clear tries to push her off, and Valentina lets go just to launch herself over the table at Hana, and they both go tumbling out of the booth and onto the floor. "How //dare// you!" Valentina is shouting, but you're a bit dazed for a moment, just staring at them as they grapple for a few seconds, and then you jump out of the booth and try to pull them apart. "What the fuck, Valentina," you hiss at her, and then she rounds on you, slapping you across the face hard enough that you fall back onto the table, sliding inelegantly into the booth where Clear scrambles away, pressing herself back into the corner and clutching at her shoulder. "Valentina!" Hana gasps, struggling to her feet, rushing over to your side. You hold your face as you sit back up, your own blood mixing with Clear's in your mouth, the inside of your cheek sliced open on your teeth from the force of Valentina's slap, angry scrapes along your temple from her claws making your eyes water. Valentina is breathing hard, her shoulders rising and falling dramatically as she stares down at you, and there's a flash of regret as she steps closer-- but before she can say anything, the overhead light turns red, flashing erratically, making all of you freeze in place. Valentina is the first to snap out of, swearing under her breath and trying to grab you and Hana, though she only manages to haul Hana out of the booth. You can feel the panic in the air from both of them, and you struggle to slide out of the booth after them, Clear keeping you steady as you clamber onto your feet. "What--" you start, but Hana just takes your hand and pulls you out the door after Valentina, Clear grabbing your shirt and following right on your heels. Valentina leads you all down the corridor together before slipping out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses over her shoulder, and you rush down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you single file, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, and Hana spits on the ground in front of you-- but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill. <<link [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]>><<set $v_slap to true>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>><<else>>Hana peers at you from over Valentina's shoulder, her eyes bright as she watches you and Clear expectantly. You glance at Valentina, then back to Clear, a sudden rush of performance anxiety making you hesitate with her and Hana staring at you. But Clear whispers your name, and you close your eyes, bowing your head and breathing into the hollow of Clear's throat, and then you turn and bite her, her entire body shuddering against you as your tongue drags across her pulse. Valentina leans in on the opposite side to bite at the dip of Clear's neck, right where it meets her shoulder, and Clear gasps, twitching in the booth as you and Valentina start to drink. You hold Clear in your arms, one of your hands sliding low to reach under her shirt, touching the soft roll of her stomach, her skin warm and slick with sweat. She moans softly, the sound pressed against your hair as she looks down at you, and you pull back, some of her blood trickling down your chin. Valentina leans across then, touching your face, wiping away the spilled blood before she suddenly kisses you. You tense in the booth, but she just pushes more blood into your mouth, and then her tongue, and you can feel Clear's hands touching you as you press against her, while Hana is still watching, her own hands roaming over Valentina in a way that makes you... //jealous//. You grab Valentina and pull her closer, and she laughs into your mouth as she practically ends up in Clear's lap. Clear doesn't seem to mind, watching both of you through a haze, one of her hands sliding up your back to stroke your nape, and you only break the kiss with Valentina to drink more from her, earning yourself another moan muffled against your hair. When you come back up, you glance over to see Valentina and Hana kissing, and you feel a sudden bitterness twisting in your chest, the blood in your mouth turning sour. You look at Clear, caressing her face, and you lean in to kiss her, a surprised sound passing between her lips-- but then she reciprocates, her hand grabbing at the back of your neck again. Now it's Valentina that pulls on you, pulling and pushing you away from Clear with a dark look, before climbing over her and putting herself between you. You feel yourself smirk, and Valentina grabs your face and kisses you again, nipping at your lip and pushing you back against the cushions. You forget about Clear and Hana for a moment, just you and Valentina alone in the booth, her skin cool and soft beneath your fingers, even her new black dress cold as you brush your hand along the hem before reaching underneath to trail light touches up her thigh. She hums softly, the taste of Clear still sweet on her tongue as she drags it against yours, slick with blood. You forget about Clear and Hana and the hunt and the horrified face of the man you killed just a few hours ago, all of it consumed by Valentina in your lap, the familiar rhythm pulsing through you as she rolls her hips and grinds against your hand, gasping softly as you touch her just right-- until the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, all of you breaking apart to stare stupidly up at it. "No, no no no," Valentina says, her hands tightening around you for a moment before she jumps from the booth. Hana climbs out the other side, pulling Clear with her, and you look between them for a moment, too dazed to process what's happening. "What--" you start to ask, but Valentina jerks you up out of the booth and drags you along after Hana as she throws open the door and rushes Clear out into the hallway. Hana leads you all down the corridor together before slipping out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses over her shoulder, and you rush down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you single file, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. The alley is still and silent, save for Clear's shaky breathing and the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill. <<link [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><<set $v_hostile to false>><</link>><</if>>

She leans against you, reaching out to desperately grab a handful of your shirt, and you set the bandages on the table before gently touching her face, turning her head so her eyes stay on you. <<if $hana_rom>>Hana shifts just behind you, pressing a kiss to the back of your shoulder as she peeks over at Clear with bright eyes, watching expectantly. You glance at Valentina, who is watching just as intently, then back to Clear, a sudden rush of performance anxiety making you hesitate. But Clear whispers your name, and you close your eyes, bowing your head and breathing into the hollow of Clear's throat, and then you turn and bite her, her entire body shuddering against you as your tongue drags across her pulse. Valentina leans in on the opposite side to bite at the dip of Clear's neck, right where it meets her shoulder, and Clear gasps, twitching in the booth as you and Valentina start to drink. You hold Clear in your arms, one of your hands sliding low to reach under her shirt, touching the soft roll of her stomach, her skin warm and slick with sweat. She moans softly, the sound muffled against your hair as she looks down at you, and you pull back, some of her blood trickling down your chin. Hana is still pressed against you, and she hums, her lips kissing your shoulder again while her hands wander beneath the table, touching you between your thighs, and you close your eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by the the warmth of Clear and the taste of her blood and her skin against your palm-- and Hana's hand making you squirm. Clear raises her own hand to cup the back of your head, urging you closer again for a kiss, blissful and sloppy, and you slowly drag your fingers even higher beneath her shirt as you moan into her mouth, her back arching in pleasure. But abruptly she cringes, breaking the kiss and writhing in the booth as Valentina grabs her and bites down on her shoulder, hard enough that blood spurts across the table and Clear cries out in pain. Valentina glares at you, pulling Clear away, clearly displeased-- but this was her fucking idea. You push off the booth and try to get her off of Clear, and she obliges, letting Clear's shoulder go to instead sink her teeth into your outstretched arm. "//Fuck//, Valentina, what the hell!" you hiss at her, and you can hear Hana saying both of your names, trying to reach around to pry you apart, all while Clear is caught in the middle, panting and groaning and clutching at her shoulder. Valentina's eyes flash, and her glare cuts from you over to Hana. She abruptly lets you go and lunges across the table at Hana, and they both go tumbling out of the booth and onto the floor. "You-- how could you!" Valentina shouts at her. You give Clear a quick once-over before turning to clamber out of the booth, blood gushing down your arm and smearing across the leather cushions. "You and her-- I've seen the two of you looking at each other. How you touch her right in front of me. //How dare you//," Valentina sneers, her and Hana both staggering to their feet. "A hundred years and a fucking human turns your head," she says that part to you. "A hundred years, and you're looking at //her//," she jabs a finger at Hana. "You-- you... you forgot me," she stammers, and for a moment she seems to deflate, until Hana speaks again. "V, please--" Hana starts, but Valentina whips around and lashes out at her, slashing her nails across her face. Hana stumbles back, a stunned expression on her face, and she quickly covers her bleeding cheek with both hands, bowing her head and closing her eyes in pain. Valentina is panting, blood smeared across her face and coating her throat, and then she looks over at you, a sudden regret flashing across her face. "Hana," she reaches out for her, but Hana backs away, shaking her head. Valentina looks between you and Clear, opening her mouth to speak, but-- the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, making all of you freeze. Valentina is the first to snap out of, swearing under her breath and trying to grab you and Hana, though Hana twists away from her, still clutching at her face. Instead, she steps around and helps Clear out of the booth while Valentina drags you towards the door despite your protest. "What--" you barely manage that before you're shoved through the door and out into the corridor, Valentina leading you all down the hall and out through a hidden side door tucked behind a dark tapestry. An emergency exit, since an alarm starts to blare as soon as you step through it. You rush down a long tunnel and up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you to climb single file, and you end up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. The alley is still and silent, save for Clear's shaky breathing as she hides behind you, clinging to your shirt, and the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill. <<link [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><<set $v_armbite to true>><</link>><<else>>Hana peers at you from over Valentina's shoulder, her eyes bright as she watches you and Clear expectantly. You glance at Valentina, then back to Clear, a sudden rush of performance anxiety making you hesitate with her and Hana staring at you. But Clear whispers your name, and you close your eyes, bowing your head and breathing into the hollow of Clear's throat, and then you turn and bite her, her entire body shuddering against you as your tongue drags across her pulse. Valentina leans in on the opposite side to bite at the dip of Clear's neck, right where it meets her shoulder, and Clear gasps, twitching in the booth as you and Valentina start to drink. You hold Clear in your arms, one of your hands sliding low to reach under her shirt, touching the soft roll of her stomach, her skin warm and slick with sweat. She moans softly, the sound pressed against your hair as she looks down at you, and you pull back, some of her blood trickling down your chin. You search her face for a moment, her brown eyes glazed over, her short, little breaths heavy with alcohol and making your head spin. Clear raises her hand to cup the back of your head then, urging you closer for a kiss, blissful and sloppy, and you slowly drag your fingers even higher beneath her shirt as she arches her back with pleasure. But abruptly she cringes, breaking the kiss and writhing in the booth as Valentina grabs her and bites down on her shoulder, hard enough that blood spurts across the table and Clear cries out in pain. Valentina glares at you, pulling Clear away, clearly displeased-- but this was her fucking idea. You push off the booth and try to get her off of Clear, and she obliges, letting Clear's shoulder go to instead sink her teeth into your outstretched arm. "//Fuck//, Valentina, what the hell!" you hiss at her, and you can hear Hana saying both of your names, trying to reach around to pry you apart, all while Clear is caught in the middle, panting and groaning and clutching at her shoulder. But Valentina won't let go, her teeth piercing bone as she bites down even harder, pulling you violently by your arm, before lunging across the table and sending you both tumbling out of the booth. You jerk your arm sideways, smacking her against the bottom of the booth, and you swing yourself around and shove her down to the floor, pressing your arm into her mouth and pinning her head against the dirty carpet. She breathes hard around your forearm, trying to bite you again, but you push your arm back into her mouth until she gags. "$name," Hana whines, standing from the booth and hovering behind you. She runs her hands anxiously over her curls, staring down at Valentina writhing underneath you. You're starting to lose feeling in your hand, your nerves broken between Valentina's teeth, and once you feel partially satisfied with her eyes watering and her choking on your blood, you pull your arm free, grimacing as you sit back on top of her, both of you panting and slick with blood. "What the fuck is your problem?" you finally spit at her, though you make no move to stand. Valentina blinks up at you through her tears, your blood smeared all over her face, her bloody lip quivering slightly. "A hundred years, just for you to come back and have your head turned by a //human//," she sneers, and you shake your head in disbelief at her. But then she seems to collapse back against the floor, closing her eyes for a moment, before all of the tears finally spill over. "How could you forget me," she whispers-- and your heart aches, despite the blood and the pain, your heart aches for her. "Valentina," you breathe, reaching down to wipe away her tears, leaving bloody fingerprints on her pale skin. She sobs, grabbing your wrist and turning her face into your palm, longing for your touch. And then-- the overhead light suddenly turns red, flashing erratically, and all of your freeze. "Oh, no," Hana mutters, and Valentina sits up, pushing you back so she can scramble to her feet. "No, no no no," she repeats the sentiment, grabbing your bloody arm and hauling you onto your feet. You can feel the panic in the air from both of them, and you let Valentina pull you to the door while Hana helps Clear out of the booth. "What--" you start, but you're unceremoniously shoved out the door and into the hall. Valentina leads you all down the corridor together before slipping out through an emergency exit hidden behind a dark tapestry, an alarm immediately sounding to go along with the flashing lights. "Quickly," Valentina hisses over her shoulder, and you rush down a long tunnel and then up a skinny flight of stairs that forces you single file, and then you're up in an unfamiliar alley-- but Valentina freezes, a lone man blocking the way out onto the street. Clear shifts to hide herself behind you, clinging to your shirt, and Hana spits on the ground in front of you-- but otherwise the alley is still and silent, save for the muffled sound of the alarm from inside. There are people quietly pouring out of the club, darting off down the street and towards the lot where you and Valentina had parked-- but the man pays them no mind. You glance around, uncertain why //one// man has brought you to a standstill. <<link [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 1]]>><<set $v_armbite to true>><<set $v_clearbite to true>><</link>><</if>>

After a while, you order a second drink. You're already starting to feel it-- a hundred years is a pretty significant tolerance break, after all. That, combined with the residual high from feeding earlier, you're feeling pretty good, despite the empty chair beside you. <<if $ch2_hana>><<if $hana_rom>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. She tugs on one of her curls, shifting on her feet, stepping a little closer then. "Do you still want to dance with me, $name?" she asks softly. She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. "Where did Clear go?" she asks. "I'm not sure," you say with a shrug. Hana studies you for a moment, her eyes narrowing, and then she grabs your hand and all but drags you out of your chair. "Come on," she says. "I want to dance with you." You glance back where Clear had vanished, but there's no sign of her still. "Okay, okay," you say, and Hana squeezes your hand, her eyes dark as she pulls you onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>><<else>><<if $h_rel gte 50>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<elseif $h_rel lt 50 and $hunt eq 1>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you still wanted to dance...." She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<<else>>You glance back at the dancefloor, and glimpse Hana still moving around, just an occasional flash of curly hair illuminated by the bright lights. You consider joining her as more time passes. You think Clear ditched you, and you think maybe you deserve it. You sense someone watching you then, and you turn to see the bartender eyeing you as she wipes down a glass. //What the hell is this lady's problem...// She sets the glass down then and comes over to you. She leans against the bar, tilting her head at you, giving you a curious look. "What?" you say, tensing in your chair. "Damn. I can't believe it's you," she says slowly. "You really don't recognize me? It's been a few years, maybe a few more grey hairs," she jokes, flashing you a fanged smile. "I didn't believe them at first when they said you were back." "What are you talking about?" "What are //you// talking about? Did you hit your head or something on the way over here?" "No. I just don't remember," you say, leaning over the bar as the music rises. "You woke up-- clean slate?" You nod. "Damn," she laughs then, raising an eyebrow at you. "That //sucks//." You frown. "What makes you say that?" She grins wide at you. "Man, people are gonna be //pissed// at you. And you're not even gonna remember why." She laughs again. <<include "ch2 bartender questions">><</if>><</if>><<else>>"$name," a voice sounds over your shoulder, and you turn to see Hana looking up at you expectantly. She glances at the empty seat beside you, tilting her head, a curious look in her dark eyes. Hana steps closer, and you note the sheen of sweat across her brow, some of her curls clinging to her throat, and she wipes her hand over her face, letting out a long breath. She must have been dancing-- you wonder if Valentina spoke with her already. "Is Clear okay?" she asks. "Um... I don't know," you say slowly. "Would you be?" Hana sighs, bowing her head for a moment. "Are you waiting for her to come back?" she asks then. "I just wanted to see if--maybe you wanted to dance with me?" She blinks up at you with those big, black eyes. You glance back to where Clear disappeared-- and then sigh, turning back to Hana with a little smile. "Yeah. Okay. I'll dance with you," you say, slipping out of your seat with one last quick drink, letting Hana take your hand, still wet from the condensation from your glass bottle. Hana skips excitedly, leading you through the crowd and out onto the dancefloor. [[Next ->ch2 hana dance after clear 1]]<</if>>

You snatch the envelope from his hand. He manages not to flinch, but you can see his face twitch slightly before he smiles. "I would advise reading it //privately//," he says then, giving Valentina a look before smiling back at you. "Noted," you say flatly, turning the envelope over in your hands. You're relieved to be able to read your name, running your thumb over the fancy script before eyeing the wax seal on the other side. You raise your gaze back to Oberon then, still watching you through those stupid glasses. You can see your reflection a little, shimmering slightly against the streetlights that flash as he tilts his head. "I will say," he drawls then, "that it's not an //invitation//. It is simply a courtesy. We will expect to meet with you tomorrow. It's in your best interest to show up." "I take that as a threat?" Valentina asks. Oberon purses his lips. "Well, I just said it's not an invitation," he muses. <<include "ch2 oberon alley 2">>

You curl your lip at him, and ignore the offered envelope. He sighs, shifting on his feet. "Look, this is not optional. It's not an invitation. It's a courtesy, and I advise that you take it," he says then. "Whether you take this or not, they //will// expect to meet with you tomorrow. They will not appreciate being ignored." Valentina is the one that snatches the envelope from him, turning it in her hands and glaring down at the fancy wax seal. "We've given you enough time, Valentina. $name," he adds, and you imagine his gaze cutting to you beneath those stupid sunglasses. "Appreciate the fact that we haven't dragged you back to your sarcophagus already." "Is that a threat?" Valentina asks, raising her dark stare back to Oberon. "Well, I just said it's not an invitation," he muses. <<include "ch2 oberon alley 2">>

"Who the hell are you?" you snap, and you see a crack in his façade then, a little tremor in his hand as he holds out the envelope. He's afraid of you. "You know me, $name," he says slowly. "I forgot," you say bluntly. "Remind me." Oberon glances over at Valentina, and you can see his brows furrow behind his glasses. "She doesn't... She doesn't remember," Valentina explains reluctantly. "I see," Oberon says. "That makes things... more interesting," he mutters. "My name is Oberon," he nods at you. "I'm one of the members of the vampiric council. We've met before," he adds with a tight smile. He rubs the envelope between his fingers, considering it for a moment, before offering it to you again. <div id="choice">[[Take the envelope. ->ch2 oberon alley 1.b]]</div> <div id="choice">[[Reject the envelope. ->ch2 oberon alley 1.c]]</div>

"Is that all?" you cut in before Valentina can snap back. He eyes you for a moment, and then nods. "That's all, $name. I'll be seeing you soon." And then he turns on his heel and walks off, his boots clicking softly on the asphalt, gradually fading away and leaving you all in silence. [[Next ->ch2 oberon alley 3]]

Valentina lets out a long breath, running a hand through her hair. <<if hasVisited("ch2 oberon alley 1.c")>>She glances over at you, before shoving the envelope into your hands.<<else>>She glances over at you, then at the envelope in your hand. You can see her jaw clench.<</if>> "Come on," she says grimly, and she leads you out of the alley and into the street. It's eerily quiet now, no alarm, no music, and the club has gone dark. All you hear are the sounds of cars and distant conversation and the ever-present thrum of electricity. <<if $ch2_hanabolt is true>>When you reach the lot, you stop to help Clear, pulling her close and looping her arm around you again. Valentina turns back to watch you. "What about Hana?" you ask then, glancing between her and Clear. "She'll find her own way home," Valentina says curtly. You don't particularly like that answer, but it's obvious that now is not the time to push the subject. You turn back to the club for a moment, pursing your lips, before wordlessly following Valentina back to the car. You help Clear into the back seat, and then climb in after her, strapping her seatbelt and giving her a quick once over. She's staring back at you, weak but lucid. You wonder what she's thinking. You close the door then, eyeing Valentina as she slides into the driver seat. She doesn't speak, and something tells you that any questions you have won't be answered by her right now. Your mind is kicking itself into a frenzy-- but you stay quiet. You focus on memorizing Oberon's face. You won't forget him next time. Clear shifts beside you then, drawing your attention, and you can tell she's uncomfortable, and you undo her seatbelt for her so she can lay down, wrapping an arm around her and easing her down into your lap. Clear sighs, and you gently tuck her hair back out of her face, her skin hot against your palm. Valentina watches you in the rearview before turning the ignition and lurching the car forward. You glare back. As the car rolls out of the lot, you drop your gaze to stare down at the envelope, at your name, holding it up in your other hand. You glance at Valentina again, but she's watching the road now, the city starting to blur outside as she slowly accelerates past the lot, past the club, past the abandoned complex, and you watch it all vanish through the back window, swallowed up again by concrete and asphalt.<<else>>"Valentina," Hana starts, but Valentina just shakes her head. "Don't." She stops just as you all walk into the fenced in lot. "Take them home," Valentina says to Hana. She doesn't elaborate, crossing the lot then to <<if $ch2_hana>>an unfamiliar car.<<else>>her sleek black car.<</if>> <<if $v_hanascratch>><<include "ch2 over alley 3 hana scratched">><<else>>You all watch her climb in, slamming the door behind her, before tearing out onto the street. "Damn," Hana says, pressing her face into her hands for a moment. <<if $v_clearbite>>"I didn't think it would happen this fast," she adds sadly. <<if $ch2_hana>>You glance over at Clear then, teetering just behind you, and you take her arm and start for the car. Hana wordlessly follows.<<else>>You glance over at Clear then, teetering just behind you, and you take her arm and wordlessly follow Hana to an unfamiliar car, though it's just as sleek and expensive looking as Valentina's.<</if>> You put Clear in the back seat, and then climb in after her, strapping her seatbelt and giving her a quick once over. She's staring back at you, weak but lucid. You wonder what she's thinking. You close the door then, as Hana slides into the driver seat. Your mind is kicking itself into a frenzy-- but you stay quiet. You focus on memorizing Oberon's face. You won't forget him next time. Clear shifts beside you then, drawing your attention, and you can tell she's uncomfortable, and you undo her seatbelt for her so she can lay down, wrapping an arm around her and easing her down into your lap. Clear sighs, and you gently tuck her hair back out of her face, her skin hot against your palm. "How is she?" Hana asks, eyeing Clear through the rearview mirror. "Not great," you say, probably harsher than necessary, but it gets the point across. Hana quickly looks away, reaching for the ignition. As the car rolls out of the lot, you raise the envelope in your other hand, studying the seal, turning it over to look at your name again. You glance up at Hana, but she's intent on the road, both hands tightly gripping the steering wheel, the city starting to blur outside as she slowly accelerates past the lot, past the club, past the abandoned complex, and you watch it all vanish through the back window, swallowed up again by concrete and asphalt.<<else>> You glance back at Clear then, standing cautiously a few feet back, her eyes darting around the lot as if she expects Oberon to jump back out at any moment. Oberon, or maybe Valentina. She catches your eye and steps a little closer, dropping her gaze as Hana starts to make her way back to the car. You and Clear wordlessly follow. Clear climbs into the back seat while you get in the front with Hana. She takes a deep breath before turning the ignition. "We knew they'd get involved soon enough," she says then. Your mind is kicking itself into a frenzy, but you stay quiet. You focus on memorizing Oberon's face. You won't forget him next time. You stare down at the envelope, at your name. You glance over at Hana, then out the window as the car rolls out of the lot. You watch as the city starts to blur, Hana slowly accelerating past the lot, past the club, past the abandoned complex, and you watch it all vanish through the rearview, swallowed up again by concrete and asphalt.<</if>><</if>><</if>> It's a tense, quiet drive back to the mansion. [[Next Chapter ->ch3 splash]]

<center><span style="font-size:200%;">End of Demo</span></center> You've reached the end of the current demo for //Blood Choke.// If you have any feedback or ran into any errors/bugs, please contact me over on the [[dev blog|https://blood-choke.tumblr.com/]]. Thanks for reading!

<<link [[Next ->ch2 clear bar alone plat 1]]>><<set $c_rel -=3>><</link>>

<center> <<if $cw>>[[CHAPTER 3 ->ch3 warnings]]<<else>>[[CHAPTER 3]]<</if>> //THE COUNCIL//</center>

<center><b>CHAPTER THREE CONTENT WARNINGS</b></center> This chapter includes: Blood Vomiting Violence Blood consumption Explicit sexual content Homophobia and transphobia Gender dysphoria Mention of sexual assault Discussions of racism Proceed? [[Yes. ->CHAPTER 3]] [[No. ->ch3 splash]]

You stare over at the letter on your writing desk. Leaning back against the bedpost, you cross your arms, glaring at the letter. You can't read it. You've been trying all night, all morning-- but you can't fucking read it. You push off the bed and start to pace. The door is locked-- you already tried to leave earlier, but you're locked in. If you really wanted to, you could easily smash the door apart, but you aren't that desperate just yet. You wander over to the vanity then, eyeing your reflection. You showered when you first got back last night, long enough that your skin was sore from the hot water. <<if $v_scratch>>You press your palms to the vanity, leaning in to peer at the mirror. You can't see the scratches on your face, but you can feel them, slow healing just like the scratches on your back from before. Intuitively, you remember that injuries from your fellow vampires take longer to heal-- and also leave scars. You scowl, though you can't see that, either.<<elseif $v_armbite>>You glance down at your arm then, holding it up and turning it slowly in front of the mirror. Your hand feels a little better this morning, but your reflexes are still a little slow, and your fingers lock up if you hold them in the same position for too long. Intuitively, you remember that injuries from your fellow vampires take longer to heal-- and also leave scars. You scowl, flexing your hand, grimacing at the tightness in your forearm.<<elseif $ch2_val>>You tilt your head, watching your shadow in the mirror, and you reach down and pull your shirt up, tentatively reaching up to prod at the knife wound between your ribs. It's almost closed itself up, but it still aches, especially if you turn too fast or reach too far without thinking. The one in your shoulder, at least, is completely gone now, your skin smooth and unblemished-- as if nothing had happened at all. You jerk your shirt back down then, scowling, though you can't see it in your reflection.<<else>>You tilt your head, watching your shadow in the mirror. You at least feel that your body has almost fully acclimated to your return-- your skin is no longer peeling, and the soreness from the sarcophagus is finally starting to fade, and in general you feel... //spry//. You run a hand over your arm, cool to the touch, and you glance back at your reflection again. It shimmers slightly, and you have to turn away before your head starts hurting.<</if>> You resume your pacing, swiping up the letter for the umpteenth time as you walk past. You bring it close to your face, as if that will help. You //can// pick out a few words, but there's no way to make sense of them all together. //Vampiric.... years.... $name.... escort.... circumstance.// You feel proud for figuring out that last one. You think Valentina's name is here, too, though you're not entirely sure. It looks familiar, though, and you suddenly remember your phone. You pull it out and open the contacts list, comparing the names-- and you're right. Valentina is mentioned here, too. You don't see Hana's name, though. You realize you have a message from her. "Goddammit," you hiss, and you barely resist the urge to throw the phone across the room. You can't fucking read that, either. Suddenly, the door //clicks//, and you spin around as it's unlocked and Valentina steps inside. <<link [[Next ->ch3 1]]>><<if $hana_rom eq true or $clear_rom eq true>><<set $v_hostile to true>><</if>><</link>>

<<if $v_hostile>><<if $v_underbooth>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a loose braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. <<if $v_scratch>>"$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She studies the claw marks across your brow, her hands clenching in front of her, and she lets out a long sigh. But she doesn't apologize.<<else>>"$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She seems uncertain, glancing around the room, avoiding direct eye contact. You wonder if she's embarrassed about yesterday. Apparently not embarrassed enough to apologize.<</if>><<elseif $v_slap>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a messy braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. "$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She seems uncertain, glancing around the room, avoiding direct eye contact-- avoiding the bruise on the side of your face. But she doesn't apologize.<<elseif $v_scratch>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a loose braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. "$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She studies the claw marks across your brow, her hands clenching in front of her, and she lets out a long sigh. But she doesn't apologize.<<elseif $v_armbite>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a loose braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. "$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you-- though it lingers for a moment on the nasty bite on your forearm, and she sighs, glancing around the room for a moment. But she doesn't apologize.<<else>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a loose braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. "$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She seems uncertain, glancing around the room, avoiding direct eye contact. You wonder if she's embarrassed about last night. Apparently not embarrassed enough to apologize.<</if>><<else>><<if $v_underbooth>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a messy braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. <<if $v_scratch>>"$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She studies the claw marks across your brow, her hands clenching in front of her, and she lets out a long sigh. But she doesn't apologize.<<else>>"$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She seems uncertain, glancing around the room, avoiding direct eye contact. You wonder if she's embarrassed about yesterday. Apparently not embarrassed enough to apologize.<</if>><<elseif $v_slap>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a loose braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. "$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She seems uncertain, glancing around the room, avoiding direct eye contact-- avoiding the bruise on the side of your face. But she doesn't apologize.<<elseif $v_scratch>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a loose braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. "$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you. She studies the claw marks across your brow, her hands clenching in front of her, and she lets out a long sigh. But she doesn't apologize.<<elseif $v_armbite>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, clasping her hands in front of her, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a loose braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She takes a tentative step toward you, and you watch her approach, her head bowed slightly as she stands in front of you. "$name," she says, lifting her gaze back to you-- though it lingers for a moment on the nasty bite on your forearm, and she sighs, glancing around the room for a moment. But she doesn't apologize.<<else>>You feel yourself tense as she looks over at you, her dark eyes flicking to the letter in your hand as she reaches up to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. She's wearing a tight black top and even tighter leather pants, her hair pulled back in a messy braid that leaves hair still hanging loose around her face. She tilts her head at you, clasping her hands in front of her and slowly making her way into the room. "$name," she says softly, walking over to lean against your bedpost.<</if>><</if>> "Did you sleep okay?" she asks. You barely slept at all, actually. You got back only an hour or two before sunrise, and you've been tossing and turning since, fitful and anxious. It's late afternoon now, according to your phone clock. "Fine," you say gruffly. She nods slowly, before glancing back at the letter again. She wastes no time. "So. What does it say?" she asks. <<if $v_hostile>><<include "ch3 hostile val opening 1">><<else>><<include "ch3 friendly val opening 1">><</if>>

"You're not going to say anything else to me?" you can't help but snap. She closes her eyes for a moment, before staring down at her hands. "What does the letter say, $name?" The letter crumples a bit as your hand tightens. <div id="choice"><<link '"I can\'t fucking read it."' 'ch3 hostile val opening 1.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice">[[Make something up. I don't want her to know I can't read it. ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.b]]</div>

You hesitate. <div id="choice"><<link '"I... I can\'t read it."' 'ch3 friendly val opening 1.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice">[[Make something up. I don't want her to read it. ->ch3 friendly val opening 1.b]]</div>

You turn away from her, staring down at the letter. //Fuck//. You don't want her to read it. "It's just... I mean, it's an invitation," you say dryly. Valentina waits for you to elaborate, but you just shrug. She tilts her head at you. "When do they want to meet?" she asks. //Fuck.// "Um..." you stare down at the letter. You try to read it. You mutter under your breath, walking circles around the room. "$name?" Valentina prompts, her brow furrowed in confusion. "It doesn't say, actually," you say slowly. "Well, what //does// it say?" she presses. You shake your head. "$name, give me the letter," she says then. You stare at each other for a long moment. You take a step back, but she snatches at the letter, some of the paper tearing away in your hand. You glare at her as she starts to read it. She reads it all silently until the very end. "//...vampiric council still feels it necessary to request a private audience with you at the The Standard tomorrow evening. Midnight. Oberon will escort you from the lobby.//" She scowls. She balls up the letter then, and throws it back at you. The crumpled paper smacks against your chest before falling to the floor. "They want to meet privately," she says slowly. "Is that what you want, too?" You don't respond, staring down at the wad of torn paper. "Meet with them in //my// hotel, behind my back?" she sneers. "No," you snarl, curling your lip at her. "I didn't even read it." She gives you a look. "I didn't read it. I can't." "What do you mean, you can't?" she throws her hands up, flashing her claws. She's getting impatient with you. "I mean I can't fucking read, Valentina," you snap. You kick the letter away, and she watches as you start to pace again. "I can't read. I guess I fucking forgot that, too." She trails after you then, reaching out to put a hand on your shoulder, but you slap her hand away. "Don't touch me," you warn. "You could read before, $name," she tries to say, "I'm sure, with time--" "I've wasted enough time!" you shout at her. She drops her gaze, letting out a long breath as you turn away from her, stomping across the room to drop down on the edge of the bed. It frustrates you, to have forgotten something so basic, but there's also... //everything else.// Valentina said it herself-- a hundred years is a long time. You've missed so much. Too much. The idea of having to play catch up with it all, it makes you feel sick. You've tried not to let it bother you, but the longer you're awake, the more you see-- the city, the club, the cars, the music, the people-- the more it freaks you out. And now you're going to have to waste time learning how to read again, too. You press your face into your hands, taking a deep, shaky breath. As a vampire, you took your time for granted. You had all the time in the world. But now... You think about Oberon. About the council. What if they put you back in that sarcophagus? [[Next ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1]]

"I can't fucking read it," you say. Valentina's head cocks to the side, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asks, reaching for the letter. "I mean I can't read," you snap, shoving the letter at her. Valentina quickly skims it over-- you think that she thought you meant it was written in code, or something. She blinks over at you. "You... You don't remember how to read?" she asks. "That's what I just said," you say, your jaw clenching hard enough to hurt. Valentina studies your face for a moment. "You could read before, $name," she says then. "I'm sure, with time--" "I've wasted enough time!" you shout at her. She closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath as you turn away from her, stomping across the room to drop down on the edge of the bed. It frustrates you, to have forgotten something so basic, but there's also... //everything else.// Valentina said it herself-- a hundred years is a long time. You've missed so much. Too much. The idea of having to play catch up with it all, it makes you feel sick. You've tried not to let it bother you, but the longer you're awake, the more you see-- the city, the club, the cars, the music, the people-- the more it freaks you out. And now you're going to have to waste time learning how to read again, too. You press your face into your hands, letting out a long breath. As a vampire, you took your time for granted. You had all the time in the world. But now... You think about Oberon. About the council. What if they put you back in that sarcophagus? [[Next ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.a.1]]

Valentina gives you a moment before joining you on the bed. She puts a cool hand on your shoulder, and you sigh. "I'll read it for you," she says. You glance over at her, and then give her a nod. <<include "ch3 letter contents">>

She stares down at the letter then, reading a few lines to herself before she starts to read it out loud. "//Welcome back to the land of the living//," she starts, "//To say we are surprised is an understatement.//" She pauses, and something makes her scowl, the paper twitching in her hand. "What is it?" you press. "They're being disrespectful," she says curtly. "As they always are." She doesn't explain, and you think she must skip over that particular line before she resumes reading. "//This is a unique circumstance we find ourselves in. A hundred years is hardly long enough for us to feel that justice has been served.//" Valentina scoffs. "//Valentina insists that she has no knowledge or involvement in your release, and as it stands now we believe her.//" Valentina seems surprised by that. "//However, the vampiric council still feels it necessary to request a private audience with you at the The Standard tomorrow evening. Midnight. Oberon will escort you from the lobby.//" Valentina scowls again. "//Don't be late.//" She lowers the letter into her lap, turning to look at you. "//The Standard//?" you ask. "That's the hotel," she says, standing from the bed then. She starts to pace. "Of course, they want to get you all alone," she mutters. She shakes her head, her braid swinging back and forth behind her. "My instinct is to refuse. But..." She turns away, crossing her arms and staring over at her missing reflection in the vanity. "I don't think we have that option this time." //This time.// "We're going to have to play along. It means something, that they gave us this this letter. I don't think they have any interest in locking you back up, $name." "But?" you prompt. You can sense it hanging in the air. "But. There's no way in hell they're just going to let you walk away." You lean forward, pressing your elbows to your knees and bowing your head for a moment. <div id="choice"><<link '"Did you really have nothing to do with all of this?"' 'ch3 hostile val opening 1.a.1.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"You need to tell me what happened."' 'ch3 hostile val opening 1.a.1.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Your best guess. What do you think they\'re going to want?"' 'ch3 hostile val opening 1.a.1.c'>><</link>></div>

"Did you really have nothing to do with all of this?" you ask slowly, lifting your gaze to Valentina. She sighs. "I wish I could tell you that I did, $name. I wish I could tell you that it was me. But it wasn't." You hesitate a moment. Then: "Did you ever try?" Valentina keeps glaring at the mirror. You don't think she's going to respond, but then she turns around, slowly walking back over to you. She lowers herself down onto her knees in front of you, reaching out to take your hands in hers. You just stare down at her. "There was nothing I could do, $name," she says quietly. "Did you //try//?" You regret asking a second time almost immediately-- she drops her gaze, pulls her hands back, sitting hard on the floor. You can see something painful in her eyes, see it in the way she tenses, her nails curling into the plush carpet. She looks so small, sitting on the floor like that. "There was nothing I could do," she says. She bows her head, staring down at your feet. "The council watched me. Always." Her face twitches then, and the pain and the hurt turns into anger. "It was you or me. And they would have killed you, $name. It had to be you in that sarcophagus-- it had to be you." She stands abruptly then, but you grab her wrist and pull her close. Regret turns spiteful and bitter in the back of your throat. "I get to rot in the sarcophagus while you buy mansions and houses and hotels and fuck other women?" you spit, and Valentina rips her hand free from yours. "You think I wanted this? It //had// to be this way! I didn't want this, I didn't want to be alone, I didn't want to be married to that man!" "What did you want, then?" "What did I want? Do you really have to even ask me that?" she shouts it at you, and then she grabs the front of your shirt, jerking you off the bed and forcing you to stand in front of her. "Do you really have to ask me that?" she repeats, her voice wavering, and for a moment you think she's going to slap you-- but instead she just raises her hand to touch your face. Your jaw clenches, but then you close your eyes, feeling her palm against your cheek. "The council-- this is exactly what //they// want. They want us to fight. To turn on each other," she says then, the words whispering against your throat as she leans in. "Look at me," she says, and you do, opening your eyes as she tilts your face towards her. "I would have freed you a thousand times over, if I could. What I wanted-- I wanted you with me. I wanted the council to pay. I wanted to kill them for what they did to us. I wanted you to watch." She tilts her head, her dark eyes bright as she looks at you. "I still want that. But we don't always get what we want." You close your eyes again, letting out a long breath. Her hand strokes your face, the curve of your throat, down to your shoulder, cradling the back of your neck. "Tell me about the council," you say then. [[Next ->ch3 council expo v1]]

"Your best guess, Valentina. What do you think they're going to want?" you ask then, lifting your head to look at her. She takes a moment to respond, still staring at her nonexistent reflection. "I don't know," she finally says. "They're most likely going to ask you to do something for them. A favor. But I don't know what." She scoffs then, her hands on her hips. "//Ask//. They're going to demand it of you. They're not going to give you a choice." She turns away from the vanity then, pacing back and forth. You keep catching the sweet smell of her shampoo as she walks past. Her braid is still wet, hanging heavy down her back. "What more can they fucking want? They've already taken a hundred years," you snap, pressing your face into your hands. You hear Valentina stop, and then you can sense her standing right in front of you. She gently touches your arms, pulls your hands back and tilts your chin up at her. You swallow loudly, reaching up to touch her wrists. "A hundred years-- it's a lot of time to lose," she says slowly. "I don't know that there's anything I can say that will make that any easier. I don't think there's anything I can say that won't just make you angrier." You close your eyes again, but-- "Look at me," she says, and you do, glaring up at her. "Whatever it is they want from you... I'm not just going to let them take it. Not this time." You exhale, pulling your chin from her hand then. Her eyes soften, and she steps back as you stand, silent as you walk over to the vanity. You stare at your ever shifting reflection, leaning forward to press your hands against the edge of the vanity. You let out a long sigh. "Tell me about the council," you say then. [[Next ->ch3 council expo v2]]

"You need to tell me what happened," you say slowly, lifting your gaze to Valentina. She doesn't respond right away, still glaring at the mirror. "Valentina," you say, pushing off your knees and sitting up straight. You wish you could see her reflection-- her face. She takes a deep breath, reaching up to run a hand through her hair, pulling on her braid for a moment. You stand from the bed, and she finally turns around to look at you. Her eyes are dark, her jaw set-- but her lip quivers slightly, and she has to look away again, staring down at her feet. "I... I can't," she says quietly. You grab her by her shoulders, forcing her to look at you. "You can't, or you won't?" "$name," she says sadly, and your hands tighten. "You need to tell me! I have to go meet with these men and I don't fucking remember them!" Valentina stays quiet, even as you shake her. She looks small right now, in your hands. "I can tell you about them. The council," she says then, blinking over at you. You shove her away, your lip curling in frustration. She staggers back, and then just watches as you pace back and forth across the room. "This isn't easy for me, you know," she says then, and you halt in your pacing, turning to glare at her. She glares back. "Oh, it's not easy for you? It's not //easy//? Maybe you should have gone in the fucking sarcophagus instead, then. It's not //easy//. I just lost a hundred fucking years, but sorry that it's a little //hard// for you!" Your breath is ragged, your hands clenching at your sides, and Valentina closes her eyes, turning away from you for a moment. "I didn't want this. But it had to be this way, $name. They would have just killed you, otherwise. They used us both." She slowly turns back to you, and now its her that grabs you, shoving you back against the bedpost, her nails curling around fistfuls of your shirt. "Yes, it was fucking hard. It was miserable. I hated it-- every minute without you. Every night I spent with that man. It was //hard//. You may have lost time, but I suffered through it. So don't start talking to me about what's easy, $name." The two of you glare at each other once more. Valentina sighs then, her hands slowly loosening. Your jaw clenches as she reaches up to touch your face. "Let me tell you about the council," she says. You close your eyes, letting her hold you for a moment. "Fine," you say. [[Next ->ch3 council expo v1]]

Valentina sighs, bowing her head as she draws her hands back from your face. "There's four of them," she says slowly. "You've already met Oberon." She walks across the room then, returning to the vanity. <<if $oberon_knows>>"And Oberon knows that you don't remember," she says. "But the others don't. I assume Oberon will have told them-- I am sure they will try to use it against you. I suggest you try to convince them otherwise. You //do// remember," she turns to you as she says it. "Oberon is a liar. You don't know what he's talking about." She nods at you. You nod in return. "Oberon is the youngest. He has the most to prove. They won't take him as seriously-- they'll believe you over him." She sighs again. "That's something, I suppose." You quickly file that information away, giving her another nod.<<else>>"As it is now, the council doesn't know that you don't remember anything," she starts. "We should keep it that way. If they find out, they will certainly use it against you in any way they can," she turns to you as she says it. "Oberon may have a suspicion that something is off after last night, but he's the youngest-- he has the most to prove. They'll believe you over him, for now." She nods at you. You nod in return.<</if>> "The other three-- Atlas, Cassius, and Sasha." She pauses then. "Sasha is the only one that uses his true name," she says. "Sasha... is also the one most likely to be sympathetic. If you have to, focus your attention on him." "What does he look like?" "He's taller, and the last time I saw him he wore his hair long, similar to Oberon. Black hair, black eyes, pale skin, freckles." "And the other two?" She takes a deep breath. "Atlas is, in everything but name, the head of the council. He is very smart-- all of them are. Don't underestimate any of them," she adds. "Not even Oberon." She steps closer to the vanity then, leaning forward to press her palms against the pale wood. You watch her for a moment, before crossing the room and joining her, peering over her shoulder at your distorted reflection. Where Valentina should be, there's nothing but an empty void-- just the room reflected back at you. "He is older, in appearance and in age. Grey hair that he's worn in an outdated ponytail for the last hundred years," she snickers a bit. "He'll most likely be the one questioning you at the meeting. The others will follow his example." "And then there's Cassius," she sighs, lifting her gaze then, staring into the mirror along with you. You step a little closer, just behind her, and she glances back at you. "He most likely will not speak with you. I'll be surprised if he's even there." She scowls, turning back to the mirror, her nails pressing against the wood, her knuckles turning white. "Maybe it's a good thing you don't remember. It will be easier for you to face him." [[Next ->ch3 cassius had a brother 1]]

Valentina slowly crosses the room, moving to stand behind you. In the vanity, where Valentina should be, there's nothing but an empty void-- just the room reflected back at you. It makes your hair stand on end, the weird disconnect of her right behind you, but not seeing her. You shiver. "There's four of them," she says slowly. "You've already met Oberon." She sighs, stepping up to lean against the vanity beside you. To look at you. <<if $oberon_knows>>"And Oberon knows that you don't remember," she says. "But the others don't. I assume Oberon will have told them-- I am sure they will try to use it against you. I suggest you try to convince them otherwise. You //do// remember," she tilts her head as she says it. "Oberon is a liar. You don't know what he's talking about." She nods at you. You nod in return. "Oberon is the youngest. He has the most to prove. They won't take him as seriously-- they'll believe you over him." She sighs again. "That's something, I suppose." You quickly file that information away, giving her another nod.<<else>>"As it is now, the council doesn't know that you don't remember anything," she starts. "We should keep it that way. If they find out, they will certainly use it against you in any way they can," she tilts her head as she says it. "Oberon may have a suspicion that something is off after last night, but he's the youngest-- he has the most to prove. They'll believe you over him, for now." She nods at you. You nod in return.<</if>> "The other three-- Atlas, Cassius, and Sasha." She pauses then. "Sasha is the only one that uses his true name," she says. "Sasha... is also the one most likely to be sympathetic. If you have to, focus your attention on him." "What does he look like?" "He's taller, and the last time I saw him he wore his hair long, similar to Oberon. Black hair, black eyes, pale skin, freckles." "And the other two?" She takes a deep breath. "Atlas is, in everything but name, the head of the council. He is very smart-- all of them are. Don't underestimate any of them," she adds. "Not even Oberon." She glances over at her nonexistent reflection then, reaching up to pull at her braid. You instinctively try to watch her through the mirror-- but there's nothing there. "He is older, in appearance and in age. Grey hair that he's worn in an outdated ponytail for the last hundred years," she snickers a bit. "He'll most likely be the one questioning you at the meeting. The others will follow his example." "And then there's Cassius," she sighs, lifting her gaze then, staring into the mirror along with you. "He most likely will not speak with you. I'll be surprised if he's even there." She scowls, turning back to the mirror, her nails pressing against the wood, her knuckles turning white. "Maybe it's a good thing you don't remember. It will be easier for you to face him." [[Next ->ch3 cassius had a brother 1]]

Valentina gives you a moment before joining you on the bed. You tense, turning your head in your hands to glare at her. You shield your vulnerability with a scowl. But you're embarrassed-- embarrassed at the fact that you can't read and that she so easily caught you in your lie. And you're mad about last night, you're mad that she's jealous and you're mad that she doesn't trust you... even though you aren't sure if //you// trust //her//. "$name," she says softly, and you close your eyes, ducking your head again and pressing your palms against your eyelids until you see red stars. Valentina puts a tentative hand on your back. You realize you're breathing hard, your chest tight, and Valentina starts to draw slow circles across your back, her hand cool through your shirt, her touch heavy and deliberate. "$name," she says again, and you lift your head and open your eyes. <<if $v_scratch>>Her other hand reaches up to press against your cheek, turning your face towards her. She looks at the scratches over your brow, and she lifts her other hand from your back to touch the scabs, your eye fluttering closed as she traces the long lines down across your cheek.<<elseif $v_armbite>>Her other hand reaches out to tentatively touch your arm. Her nails lightly skim down the length of your forearm, leaving goosebumps in their wake, and she stops at the bite mark she gave you last night, your eyes closing again as she gently touches it, running her thumb over the curve of her teeth in your flesh.<<elseif $v_slap>>Her other hand reaches up to press against your cheek, turning your face towards her. She eyes the bruise there, along your cheekbone and just beneath your eye, and she lifts her other hand from your back to touch it, her cool palm granting the hot ache some relief. You close your eyes, bowing your head slightly, and despite everything, you let her hold you.<<else>>Her other hand reaches up to press against your cheek, turning your face towards her. She studies it, stroking her thumb back and forth along your jaw, and your eyes flutter close at the touch, your head bowing slightly, and despite everything, you let her hold you.<</if>> "It's okay, $name," she whispers. "Whatever they want from you-- I won't let them have it." "It's all too much, Valentina," you mumble then. She tilts her head at you, her dark eyes making you ache, and then she slides back onto your bed, slowly laying down against the mattress. She blinks at you, reaching back and gently tugging on your arm. <div id="choice">[[Lay down with her. ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.a]]</div> <div id="choice">[[No. I start to pace again. ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.b]]</div>

You let her pull you close, slowly lowering yourself down beside her. You face each other on the bed, and you swallow loudly as she lays her hand on your shoulder. You realize some of her hair is still wet in its braid, the coconut smell of her shampoo washing over you as she shifts against the sheets, her hand stroking your arm over and over again, her black eyes softening as she looks at you this close. Closing your eyes, you let her wrap her arms around you, holding you against her chest, and you listen to the slow, steady beat of her heart. A familiar sound-- it reminds you of all those knotted threads in your chest, and you imagine the single red string tangled around you and Valentina, frayed and messy and bloody-- but binding. It tightens more and more with each passing beat shared between you. Familiar and painful and comforting all at the same time. "A hundred years is a lot of time to lose," she says softly. "But you didn't waste it. It was stolen from you." You tilt your head back to look at her, and she reaches up to stroke your face. "You're here now," she whispers. "And they won't get another day more from you, $name." You close your eyes again, and she holds you tight, your own arms wrapping around her waist. The two of you fit so perfectly together. [[Next ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.a.1]]

You can't-- you just can't. It hurts too much. You shrug off her hand and start to pace once more. She stays on the bed for a while, watching you walk a rut into the floor. Back and forth, back and forth, glaring at the wall or at your ugly reflection in the vanity. Repeat. Eventually, Valentina stands, and she intercepts your path, forcing you to stop. "$name," she says softly, but you just shake your head, shouldering past her. She watches you for a few more minutes, and then she turns on her heel, walking across the room and throwing open the large curtains on the wall. You instinctively recoil, the burn of Clear's apartment still a little too fresh, but the fire never comes. "It's raining outside," Valentina says. You blink over at her, watching as she slides open the glass door and steps out onto the balcony. Rain-soaked wind scatters through the room, dappling the plush carpet, and you slowly approach, feeling a discomfort crawling beneath your skin. But no smoke, no fire. It's dark and grey, heavy clouds cloaking the sun. You step out after her. [[Next ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.b.1]]

You aren't sure how long you lay like that, but eventually Valentina pulls back and slowly sits up, leaning over you, petting your hair and wiping tears from your face that you hadn't even noticed. Then she slides from the bed, walking across the room and picking up the crumpled letter, returning it to the writing desk. You sit up, blinking over at her as she turns back to you. "It's raining outside," she says then. You tilt your head at her. "We should take advantage of the day. Before tonight," she explains. She walks back over then and takes your hand, pulling you from the bed and over to the heavy curtains on the far wall. She pulls them back, and you instinctively recoil a bit-- the memory from Clear's apartment a little too fresh-- but it's dark and grey outside, heavy clouds cloaking the sun, a light rain pattering against the glass. You can still feel it, a faint itch beneath your skin, but Valentina slides open the glass doors and steps out onto the balcony. You hesitate, before following after her. [[Next ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.a.2]]

It's humid, hotter than you'd expect with the rain, but the water feels good, a balm on your frazzled mind. Valentina leans against the railing, peering down at the garden in the backyard. "I'm going to tell you about the members of the council," she says then, glancing over at you as you join her beside the railing. She reaches up and tucks some of her hair behind her ear, tilting her head up and letting the rain fall across her face for a moment. <<if $oberon_knows>>"Unfortunately, Oberon already knows that you don't remember," she starts. "But the others don't. I assume Oberon will have told them-- I am sure they will try to use it against you. I suggest you try to convince them otherwise. You //do// remember," she turns to you as she says it. "Oberon is a liar. You don't know what he's talking about." She nods at you. You nod in return. "It's something we may be able to use against //them//, instead. Oberon is the youngest. He has the most to prove. Turn them against him," she shrugs, as if she was just discussing the rainy weather. "It's something." You quickly file that information away, giving her another nod.<<else>>"As it is now, they don't know that you don't remember anything," she starts. "We should keep it that way. If they find out, they will certainly use it against you in any way they can," she turns to you as she says it. "Oberon may have a suspicion that something is off after last night, but he's the youngest-- he has the most to prove. They'll believe you over him, for now." She nods at you. You nod in return.<</if>> <<include "ch3 council expo v3">>

"There are three other council members. Atlas, Cassius, and Sasha." She pauses then. "Sasha is the only one that uses his true name," she says. "Sasha... is also the one most likely to be sympathetic. If you have to, focus your attention on him." "What does he look like?" "He's taller, and the last time I saw him he wore his hair long, similar to Oberon. Black hair, black eyes, pale skin, freckles." "And the other two?" She takes a deep breath. "Atlas is, in everything but name, the head of the council. He is very smart-- all of them are. Don't underestimate any of them," she adds. "Not even Oberon." She pushes off the railing then, turning to step back inside, out of the rain. You stare down at the garden for another moment, savoring the rivulets of rain dripping from your hair and down your arms, gathering at your fingertips. And then you head inside, too, sliding the door closed behind you. "He is older, in appearance and in age. Grey hair that he's worn in an outdated ponytail for the last hundred years," she snickers a bit. "He'll most likely be the one questioning you at the meeting. The others will follow his example." "And then there's Cassius," she sighs, turning to stare at her empty reflection in the vanity. She pushes her wet hair out of her face, running her hand over her braid, that coconut smell wafting through the air again as she does. "He most likely will not speak with you. I'll be surprised if he's even there." She scowls at the mirror, leaning against the vanity. Her nails press against the wood, her knuckles turning white. "Maybe it's a good thing you don't remember. It will be easier for you to face him." [[Next ->ch3 cassius had a brother 1]]

She glares into the mirror for a long moment. "Cassius had a brother," she says eventually. "I'm only telling you this so you don't mention it. I wouldn't even tell you at all, but I worry Atlas may try to bait you into saying something, and I don't want you to be blindsided by him. Especially if Cassius //is// there." "Had? What was his name?" Valentina tenses. "Julien," she says slowly. She turns to look at you then, grabbing your shoulders tight. "Do not mention him. Do not talk to Cassius." Valentina's hands start to bruise. "Okay. I won't, Valentina," you say, reaching up to gently touch her wrists. She swallows loudly, and then nods, more to herself than to you. She seems to lose focus then, staring off at something that you can't see. A knock on the door jars her back into the room with you. [[Next ->ch3 hana at the door 1]]

It's humid, hotter than you'd expect with the rain, but the water feels good, a balm on your frazzled mind. Valentina leans against the railing, peering down at the garden in the backyard. She turns to you as you join her. "Look at me," she says softly, and you let her take your face in her hands, giving her a wary look. "You're here with me now, okay?" she says. "I know a hundred years is a long time. Trust me, I know." You close your eyes then, feeling raindrops catching in your eyelashes. "But you're here now. And they won't get another day more from you." You let out a long breath, bowing your head in her hands. She wipes the rain from your face, or maybe they're tears-- you can't be sure. "Okay," you say, and she pulls her hands back, tilting her head at you. "Okay, Valentina." She gives you a small, sad smile, and you wonder if there are tears on her face, too. "Tell me about the council," you say then. [[Next ->ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.b.2]]

Valentina nods, turning to lean against the railing again. For a moment, it's just the sound of the rain, drumming against the metal rail, against the glass, and pattering on the leaves down below. "There's four of them," she starts, "including Oberon." She sighs, staring out into the rain. <<if $oberon_knows>>"And Oberon knows that you don't remember," she says. "But the others don't. I assume Oberon will have told them-- I am sure they will try to use it against you. I suggest you try to convince them otherwise. You //do// remember," she tilts her head as she says it. "Oberon is a liar. You don't know what he's talking about." She nods at you. You nod in return. "Oberon is the youngest. He has the most to prove. They won't take him as seriously-- they'll believe you over him." She sighs again. "That's something, I suppose." You quickly file that information away, giving her another nod.<<else>>"As it is now, the council doesn't know that you don't remember anything," she starts. "We should keep it that way. If they find out, they will certainly use it against you in any way they can," she tilts her head as she says it. "Oberon may have a suspicion that something is off after last night, but he's the youngest-- he has the most to prove. They'll believe you over him, for now." She nods at you. You nod in return.<</if>> <<include "ch3 council expo v3">>

You turn away from her, staring down at the letter. //Fuck//. You don't want her to read it. You feel guilty thinking it-- but you don't want her to read it. "It's just... I mean, it's an invitation," you say slowly. Valentina waits for you to elaborate, but you just shrug. She tilts her head at you. "When do they want to meet?" she asks. //Fuck.// "Um..." you stare down at the letter. You try to read it. You mutter under your breath, walking circles around the room. "$name?" Valentina prompts, her brow furrowed in confusion. "It doesn't say, actually," you manage, cringing internally. "Well, what //does// it say?" she presses. You shake your head. "$name, give me the letter," she says then. You stare at each other for a long moment. You take a step back, but she snatches at the letter, some of the paper tearing away in your hand. You dismay as she starts to read, staring down at your feet, your face burning hot with embarrassment. She reads it all silently until the very end. "//...vampiric council still feels it necessary to request a private audience with you at the The Standard tomorrow evening. Midnight. Oberon will escort you from the lobby.//" She scowls. "Is that the part you didn't want me to read, $name?" she asks, taking a step towards you. "A private meeting without me?" "No, Valentina..." you sigh, running a hand over your face. You turn away from her then, glaring at your flickering reflection in the vanity again. "I didn't even read it myself. I can't read it," you finally say. "You-- what?" she asks, and you can hear the paper rustle in her hand. "I can't fucking read," you snap, and you stomp across the room, stopping short in front of the vanity. You press your palms to the wood, leaning heavily against it, bowing your head as you let out a long breath. "I can't read. I guess I forgot that, too." Valentina is quiet for a moment, and then she slowly pads over to you, peering into the mirror. She watches your reflection, and there's a strange disconnect your mind can't quite process, with her standing beside you-- but invisible in the mirror. It makes you feel strange, it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, and you get a rush of goosebumps when she presses a hand to your back. She leans in close to rest her chin on your shoulder, her breath tickling your ear. "You could read before, $name," she says then. "I'm sure, with time--" "I've wasted so much fucking time, Valentina," you sigh, pushing off the vanity, and Valentina lets you go, her hand sliding away as you walk the length of the room to drop down on the edge of the bed. It frustrates you, to have forgotten something so basic, but there's also... //everything else.// Valentina said it herself-- a hundred years is a long time. You've missed so much. Too much. The idea of having to play catch up with it all, it makes you feel sick. You've tried not to let it bother you, but the longer you're awake, the more you see-- the city, the club, the cars, the music, the people-- the more it freaks you out. And now you're going to have to waste time learning how to read again, too. You press your face into your hands, taking a deep, shaky breath. As a vampire, you took your time for granted. You had all the time in the world. But now... You think about Oberon. About the council. What if they put you back in that sarcophagus? [[Next ->ch3 friendly val opening 1.b.1]]

You take a deep breath, staring down at the paper, at all the letters swirling and trembling across the page. You shake your head. "I... I can't read it," you say. Valentina's head cocks to the side, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asks, reaching for the letter. "I mean I can't read," you snap. You reluctantly let her take it. Valentina quickly skims the letter-- you think that she thought you meant it was written in code, or something. She blinks over at you. "You... You don't remember how to read?" she asks gently. "I guess not," you scoff. Valentina studies your face. "You could read before, $name," she says then. "I'm sure, with time--" "I've wasted enough time!" you shout at her. She closes her eyes, letting out a long breath as you turn away from her, stomping across the room to drop down on the edge of the bed. It frustrates you, to have forgotten something so basic, but there's also... //everything else.// Valentina said it herself-- a hundred years is a long time. You've missed so much. Too much. The idea of having to play catch up with it all, it makes you feel sick. You've tried not to let it bother you, but the longer you're awake, the more you see-- the city, the club, the cars, the music, the people-- the more it freaks you out. And now you're going to have to waste time learning how to read again, too. You press your face into your hands, taking a deep, shaky breath. As a vampire, you took your time for granted. You had all the time in the world. But now... You think about Oberon. About the council. What if they put you back in that sarcophagus? [[Next ->ch3 friendly val opening 1.a.1]]

Valentina gives you a moment before joining you on the bed. She puts a cool hand on your shoulder, and you sigh. "I'll read it for you," she says. "...Okay." <<include "ch3 letter contents">>

The sound of the curtain being thrown open on the far wall makes you startle, and you instinctively jump and recoil-- the memory of Clear's apartment still too fresh in your mind-- but the pain of the sun never comes. You blink over at Valentina, standing in front of the glass doors, glancing back at you as she ties back the curtains. "It's raining outside," she says. You cross the room to peer out onto the balcony, dark clouds cloaking the sun, rain pattering lightly against the glass. You can still feel it-- an uncomfortable itch just beneath your skin-- but the grey sky shields you from the fire. Valentina slides the door open and steps outside, and you hesitate only briefly before stepping out after her. It's humid, hotter than you'd expect with the rain, but the water feels good, a balm on your frazzled mind. Valentina leans against the railing, peering down at the garden in the backyard. You close your eyes for a moment, and you feel Valentina straighten up, feel her lean in close. She gently grabs your wrist, turning your palm up, and she holds it out over the railing, letting the rain gather in the lines of your hand. You open yours eyes, turning to look at her. Her thumb strokes the inside of your wrist, and she takes a deep breath, her dark eyes watching the rain drops splashing in your palm. "A hundred years-- it's a lot of time to lose," she says slowly. "I don't know that there's anything I can say that will make that any easier." She draws her hand back then, though you leave yours out to keep gathering the rain. You like the feeling of the warm water spilling between your fingers. "But you're here now. Feel the rain and remember you're here with me now. And we'll deal with the council, and then it will be me and you for another hundred years, and another, and another, and another." You let your hand drop then. "...Okay," you say. Valentina blinks at you through the rain, smiling softly, before reaching out and pushing some of your wet hair out of your face. Or maybe she's crying-- you can't be sure. [[Next ->ch3 friendly val opening 1.b.2]]

"I'm going to tell you about the members of the council," she says then, reluctantly drawing back and leaning against the railing again. You take a deep breath, and you lean against the railing too, the metal warm and slick beneath your hands. <<if $oberon_knows>>"Unfortunately, Oberon already knows that you don't remember," she starts. "But the others don't. I assume Oberon will have told them-- I am sure they will try to use it against you. I suggest you try to convince them otherwise. You //do// remember," she turns to you as she says it. "Oberon is a liar. You don't know what he's talking about." She nods at you. You nod in return. "It's something we may be able to use against //them//, instead. Oberon is the youngest. He has the most to prove. Turn them against him," she shrugs, as if she was just discussing the rainy weather. "It's something." You quickly file that information away, giving her another nod.<<else>>"As it is now, they don't know that you don't remember anything," she starts. "We should keep it that way. If they find out, they will certainly use it against you in any way they can," she turns to you as she says it. "Oberon may have a suspicion that something is off after last night, but he's the youngest-- he has the most to prove. They'll believe you over him, for now." She nods at you. You nod in return.<</if>> <<include "ch3 council expo v3">>

<<if $hana_rom or $clear_rom>>Valentina blinks, and then her eyes narrow, and she looks wary, reflexively putting a light hand on your shoulder as she passes you and starts to walk for the door. But you grab her arm, pulling her back a bit. She doesn't look particularly happy about it, but she takes the hint and lets you step in front of her. You give her a pointed look before opening the door. This is //your// room, after all. <<if $v_hanascratch>>Hana stands in front of you, a big square bandage on her cheek, and she gives you an uncertain smile-- until she sees Valentina over your shoulder. Her lips press into a thin line, and she instinctively raises a hand to cover her bandage, stepping back into the hallway and shaking her head.<<else>>Hana stands in front of you, shifting anxiously back and forth, though she still gives you an uncertain smile-- until she sees Valentina over your shoulder. Her lips press into a thin line, and she quickly steps back into the hallway, shaking her head.<</if>> "I didn't realize she was in there with you," she says. "It's alright," you assure her. Valentina sidles up beside you then, leaning against the doorframe, tilting her head at Hana. "It's about Clear," Hana clarifies, avoiding Valentina's gaze. "She's sick this morning. But she won't let me in." She's holding something in her hand, raising it up for you to see-- she shakes it, and you realize it's a bottle of some kind of medication, the pills rattling around inside. "I thought maybe you'd have better luck with her," she says, offering you the bottle. Valentina takes the bottle from her before you can respond, plucking it right out of her hand. Hana glares at her. "Take this to her," Valentina says to you. She also reaches into her pocket and hands you a key. "She's across the landing, on the other side of the floor. Last door on the left," she gestures you out of the room. You recognize what she's trying to do. You look to Hana-- and she gives you a slow little nod. <<if $v_hanascratch>>She touches her bandage again, but she turns to Valentina, letting her hand drop before she starts to walk off in the opposite direction. Valentina gives you one last look before following after her. You watch them go, fidgeting with the bottle of pills for a moment.<<else>>Her jaw clenches, but she turns to Valentina, giving her a long look before the two of them start to walk off in the opposite direction together. Valentina glances back at you one last time, and you watch them go, fidgeting with the bottle of pills for a moment.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana at the door 1.2]]<<elseif $v_hostile>>You make your way to the door, Valentina trailing just behind you, and you wonder if she's grateful for the interruption. You hesitate only for a moment, and then you open the door to find Hana standing in the hallway, giving you a little smile-- though she falters a bit when she sees Valentina hovering over your shoulder. "I didn't realize she was in there with you," she says, taking a half-step back. "It's alright," you assure her. Valentina sidles up beside you then, leaning against the doorframe, tilting her head at Hana. "It's about Clear," Hana clarifies, avoiding Valentina's gaze. "She's sick this morning. But she won't let me in." She's holding something in her hand, raising it up for you to see-- she shakes it, and you realize it's a bottle of some kind of medication, the pills rattling around inside. "I thought maybe you'd have better luck with her," she says, offering you the bottle. You aren't sure about that, but you take the bottle from her, turning it over in your hand. "It's just some painkillers," Hana says. She hesitates. "We should probably get her some food, too..." Valentina hums. "We can arrange that," she says slowly. She nods at you then. "Her room is across the landing, all the way down the hall. Last door on the left." She pushes off the doorframe, slipping past you and into the hall, before turning back around and offering you a key. You take it, and then Valentina takes a few steps past Hana, before shooting her a look. "Hana," she says expectantly, and you recognize what she's trying to do, you and Hana exchanging a look. Hana hesitates, glancing between the two of you, chewing on her bottom lip, her little fangs flashing in the hall light. She searches your face for a moment-- looking for what, you don't know. Then she nods and follows after Valentina. Valentina puts an arm around her shoulders before glancing back at you one last time. You take a deep breath, watching them go, leaning back against the wall. [[Next ->ch3 hana at the door 1.1]]<<else>>You make your way to the door, with Valentina trailing just behind you, and you wonder if she's grateful for the interruption. You hesitate only for a moment, and then you open the door to find Hana standing in the hallway, giving you a little smile-- though she falters a bit when she sees Valentina hovering over your shoulder. "Oh. I didn't realize she was in there with you," she says, taking a half-step back. "It's alright," you assure her. Valentina sidles up beside you then, leaning against the doorframe, tilting her head at Hana. "It's about Clear," Hana clarifies, avoiding Valentina's gaze. "She's sick this morning. But she won't let me in." She's holding something in her hand, raising it up for you to see-- she shakes it, and you realize it's a bottle of some kind of medication, the pills rattling around inside. "I thought maybe you'd have better luck with her," she says, offering you the bottle. You aren't sure about that, but you take the bottle from her, turning it over in your hand. "It's just some painkillers," Hana says. She hesitates. "We should probably get her some food, too..." Valentina hums. "We can arrange that," she says slowly. She nods at you then. "Her room is across the landing, all the way down the hall. Last door on the left." She pushes off the doorframe, slipping past you and into the hall, before turning back around and offering you a key. You take it, and then Valentina takes a few steps past Hana, before shooting her a look. "Hana," she says expectantly, and you recognize what she's trying to do, you and Hana exchanging a look. Hana hesitates, glancing between the two of you, chewing on her bottom lip, her little fangs flashing in the hall light. She searches your face for a moment-- looking for what, you don't know. Then she nods and follows after Valentina. Valentina puts an arm around her shoulders before glancing back at you one last time. You take a deep breath, watching them go, leaning back against the wall. [[Next ->ch3 hana at the door 1.1]]<</if>>

You stand all alone in the hallway, a sudden exhaustion weighing on your shoulders after that conversation with Valentina. You feel a lack of closure about it, a cold anxiety twisting in your gut, about the things she said-- about the things she didn't say. Or maybe that's just the hunger, already starting to twitch and squirm and //ache//. You shake your head, scowling down at the bottle in your hand. You can't read the label. You should have asked Hana what it was. You see her face in your mind-- a dark look in her eyes, her lips pressed tight, glaring at Valentina over your shoulder. The entire house feels tense around you, the air palpable and almost trembling hot against your cool skin. You can hear the rain on the roof, and it sounds too loud, grating on your nerves as you finally start to head down the corridor towards the landing. You pass by the stairs, glancing over the banister and down into the dark ground floor. Again, you hear the sound of the rain, pattering against the glass windows, pounding through your skull. <<include "ch3 the walk to clears room">>

All alone in the hallway now, a sudden exhaustion weighs on your shoulders after that conversation with Valentina. You feel a lack of closure about it, a cold anxiety twisting in your gut, about the things she said-- about the things she didn't say. Or maybe that's just the hunger, already starting to twitch and squirm and //ache//. You shake your head, your hand tightening around the bottle of pills. You start off down the corridor then, and the entire house feels tense around you, the air palpable and almost trembling hot against your cool skin. You can hear the rain on the roof, and it sounds too loud, grating on your nerves as you walk across the landing. You pass by the stairs, glancing over the banister and down into the dark ground floor. Again, you hear the sound of the rain, pattering against the glass windows, pounding through your skull. <<include "ch3 the walk to clears room">>

The walk to Clear's room reminds you just how big this place is. Your steps echo down the halls, and you can hear Clear before you reach the room. Her retching makes you hesitate, glancing down at the pills again. Will she even be able to keep these down long enough for them to work? You hover in front of her door for a moment, palming the key. <div id="choice"><<link [[Knock, first. ->ch3 clear's room knocked 1]]>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Just open the door. ->ch3 clear's room 1]]>><<set $c_cruel +=1>><<set $c_rel =-1>><</link>></div>

You close your fist around the key and raise your hand to knock. You wait a moment, unsure if she heard you-- and then you knock again. "Clear?" you call out to her once she's gone quiet, leaning forward-- listening. For a while it's just silent, but eventually you hear some shuffling noises on the other side, and then a long pause before you can sense Clear leaning against the door. "$name?" she says softly. "Can you let me out?" She sounds like a child. "Please?" You turn the key over in your hand, and unlock the door. You wait for Clear to open it, though she only opens it just enough to peer out at you. "Clear," you say again, surprised at the relief you feel from seeing her in front of you-- or maybe it's the fact that she even opened the door at all. She swallows loudly, looking you over before eyeing the pills in your hand. She slowly opens the door. She looks worse than you were expecting-- she's pale, her hair oily and plastered to her sweaty skin, with the bandages around her throat stained and peeling off. She's also wearing clothes that are comically too small for her-- they have to be Hana's, a tight grey t-shirt that Clear has sweat though, and sweatpants that end half-way up her calves. You stand in the hallway, unsure if she's going to walk out, or invite you in, or maybe close the door in your face. But she glances down the corridor, back and forth, before gesturing you through the door, and you step inside, her room similar to your own. You walk over to set the pills down atop a decorative stand in the corner, beside a large, fancy looking lamp, while Clear closes the door behind you. It's completely dark in the room, and you consider turning the lamp on, but decide against it. Clear stares over at you, wringing her hands, and then she walks over and cautiously picks up the bottle. <<if $c_rel gte 50>>"I should have brought you some water," you say, and she sighs. "It's okay," she mumbles, her voice raw from the burn of vomit. She pads across the room, to the bathroom, and you trail after, unsure what else to do for her.<<else>>"Should have brought you some water," you say, frowning. Clear just scoffs, annoyed, and the sound is painful and raw from the burn of vomit. You both exchange a look then, but Clear sighs, her hackles lowering, and she shakes her head, padding across the room to the bathroom. You trail after her.<</if>> The bathroom, just like the bedroom, is similar to yours, though not as furnished. More polished and fake looking. But there's a glass on the counter, along with some neatly folded towels and a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste, both still in their packaging. Clear picks up the glass and fills it with tap water, and you watch as she greedily drinks some of it, her throat bobbing and her eyes closing. She gasps a bit as she lowers the glass, grabbing the pill bottle and struggling for a moment before it pops open. You watch her take a handful, and then gulp down more water. She leans over the sink for a moment, and you worry she's going to throw up again, her body trembling slightly as she pitches forward. But it passes, and she swallows loudly, letting out a long, shaky breath. [[Next ->ch3 clear's room knocked 2]]

She's not going to hear you knocking right now, anyways. You turn the key and grab the doorknob, unlocking the door and slowly opening it. "Clear?" you call out to her, the room empty save for the furniture-- she must be in the bathroom. Of course. You take a few steps into the room and your suspicion is confirmed when you hear something clatter inside the bathroom, and then the door slams shut before you can even peek inside. "Clear?" you say her name again, slowly making your way over to the now closed door. She's quiet on the other side. Until she starts retching again. You sigh, glancing down at the pill bottle, and then you reach out and open the door. Clear is hunched over the toilet, but she glances over at you, her eyes wide and angry and painful. She covers her head with her arm as she vomits again, pressing herself around the other side of the toilet and away from you. You set the pills down on the counter, glancing around the bathroom. It's similar to yours, but less furnished, more fake looking. There are folded towels on the counter, a clean glass, and a toothbrush and toothpaste, both still in their packaging. Clear quiets down then, trembling over the toilet, and you can just see one of her eyes through her matted hair, glaring up at you. [[Next ->ch3 clear's room 2]]

<<if $clear_rom>><<set $clear_tattoo to true>>You step a little closer then, reaching out to put a tentative hand on the small of her back. She flinches a bit at first, but doesn't pull away, instead leaning forward against the counter again as you slide your hand up and down her back in what you hope is a comforting gesture. She lifts her head to glare at herself in the mirror, and you step even closer, reaching out to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. She grabs your wrist then, turning to look at you. "You're hands are so cold," she says. "Sorry," you blurt, quickly pulling back, but she shakes her head, her hand tightening around your wrist. "No. It feels good," she whispers. She lifts your hand then, pressing it against her sweaty forehead. You tilt your head at her, watching as she closes her eyes. You draw your hand from her back and press it against her cheek, her skin hot and feverish beneath your palm. She reaches up and touches both of your hands with her own, pressing them flush against her face, and she leans in, ducking into the crook of your neck. You stroke her cheek a few times, and then start to walk her out of the bathroom, back to her bed. You sit her down on the mattress, though she clings to your hands still. She pulls one back, turning it over to look at your palm, and she traces the curve of your fingers with her own, studying your hand as if it was trying to tell her something. "How are you so cold?" she asks. "I'm dead," you say simply. Clear doesn't seem to like that answer, though. "But your heart beats. I've felt it. And you bleed," she says slowly. "I've seen it." "It's //undead//." Clear gives you an exasperated look. "It's like..." you consider your words carefully. "It's like a long, slow death. Forever trapped in that state right before it takes you. My body has grown cold, my heartbeat has slowed, the breath has almost left me... but death never comes." Clear studies your face for long enough that you start to get anxious. But then she lifts your hand in hers, gently holding your wrist and pressing your palm to her forehead again. She relishes your cool touch, and you lean over her, your knees bumping the edge of the bed. "You have a fever," you say. "I have a hangover," she corrects. She lets your hand go then, slumping back onto her pillows. You stare down at her, at her matted hair and her sweaty face and her too small shirt. It's rolled up, exposing her stomach, and you notice she has a tattoo around her bellybutton. A black sun, designed as if it were cut from metal, with hard, sharp edges. It matches with the barbed wire around her bicep. She watches you stare. You glance at her before tentatively reaching out, touching your fingers to her stomach, and she sighs, closing her eyes as you press your palm against her clammy skin, covering the sun, only the longer, jagged flames peeking out from beneath your hand. "Lay down with me," she asks softly. You slowly stroke your thumb across her stomach, pulling your hand back. But just as you start to get into the bed with her, a sharp knock sounds, and you quickly jump back, turning just as the door opens and Valentina steps inside. Clear clumsily sits up, grimacing and clutching at her head as Valentina turns the light on. Hana shuffles in after her, looking a little wary. "How is she?" Valentina asks. "//I'm// fine, thanks for asking," Clear grumbles. She shrinks back a bit though when Valentina looks at her.<<else>>You step a little closer, tentatively pressing a hand to the small of her back in an attempt at comfort. She closes her eyes, leaning forward against the counter again, taking a few more deep breaths. "Your hand is really cold," she says suddenly. "Sorry," you blurt, quickly pulling back, but she shakes her head, reaching out to grab your wrist. "No. It feels good," she says. She lifts your hand then, pressing it against her sweaty forehead. You tilt your head at her, watching as she closes her eyes. Her skin is clammy and feverish beneath your palm. Clear seems to suddenly realize what she's doing then, and she quickly lets go of you, stepping back and staring down at the sink. You slowly draw your hand back, watching her closely, but her discomfort is obvious-- she looks like a cornered animal, trapped in the bathroom. "Here," you offer, reaching over to grab one of the folded hand towels. You run it under the cold water, wringing it out and then offering it to her. Her brow furrows, and she takes it, wiping her forehead before draping it around the back of her neck. She eyes you for another moment before slowly inching past you and exiting the bathroom. You give her a moment before following her again. She sits on the edge of the bed, watching you warily. "How are you so cold?" she asks then. "I'm not that cold," you say defensively. "You just have a fever." Clear rolls her eyes. "I have a //hangover//." You purse your lips. She just looks at you expectantly. "I'm dead," you say simply. Clear doesn't seem to like that answer, though. "But you're not like the vampires in the movies," she says. "You breathe. You bleed-- I've seen it." "It's //undead//." Clear looks exasperated. "It's like..." you consider your words carefully. "It's like a long, slow death. Forever trapped in that state right before it takes you. My body has grown cold, my heartbeat has slowed, the breath has almost left me... but death never comes." Clear studies your face for long enough that you start to get anxious. "What about crosses? Garlic? All that stuff?" she says then. "Do you and Valentina share a coffin?" You cross your arms, clicking your tongue at her. She smiles, amused, and she looks a little bit more like herself for a moment. But a sharp knock on the door makes the smile vanish, and she shrinks back onto the bed as Valentina steps into the room, grimacing and clutching her head when she flicks the light on. Hana shuffles in after her, looking a little wary. "How is she?" Valentina asks. "//I'm// fine, thanks for asking," Clear grumbles. She quickly drops her gaze when Valentina looks at her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear's room knocked 3]]

Clear glances between you, Valentina, and Hana. "Isn't it a little early for you guys to be walking around outside?" she says, and you can feel her stare lingering on your arms. "It's raining. No sun," Valentina says simply. "Okay. And then what?" Valentina looks annoyed, and she starts to speak again, but Hana puts a hand on her arm, giving her a look. "We're going to take care of you here for now, Clear," Hana says. "With the council pulling... whatever shit they're pulling, it's going to be best for you to stay here, rather than the club, or the hotel." She hesitates. "Especially since Oberon saw you last night." Clear glances at you again, then back to Hana. "The council. The council of vampires. Right. Of course," she mutters. Valentina walks over to you then, pulling you aside. [[Next ->ch3 branch choice 1]]

You grab one of the hand towels, turn on the sink and soak it in cold water. Then you walk over to her, crouching down and pressing the towel to the back of her neck. <<if $c_rel gte 50>>She tenses, breathing hard, still glaring at you. But after a few seconds she slowly relaxes, easing back against the tub behind her. You stand back up and grab the glass, fill that with water, and then sit on the floor beside her. You offer her the glass. She eyes you warily, but takes it nonetheless. She rinses her mouth out, spitting into the toilet, and then she drinks the rest of the glass before letting it clatter to the floor. She looks worse than you were expecting-- she's pale, her hair oily and plastered to her sweaty skin, with the bandages around her throat stained and peeling off. She's also wearing clothes that are comically too small for her-- they have to be Hana's, a tight grey t-shirt that Clear has sweat though, and sweatpants that end half-way up her calves. She shifts, trying to hide herself behind the toilet bowl, shaking her head at you. <<if $clear_rom>>[[Next ->ch3 clear's room friendly rom 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 clear's room friendly 1]]<</if>><<else>>She squirms for a moment, but once the cold water starts to take effect she relaxes slightly, easing back against the tub behind her. You stand back up and grab the glass, fill that with water, and then sit on the floor beside her. You offer her the glass. She slaps it out of your hand, sending water splashing across the floor and soaking your pants. You jump up, startled, and she just keeps glaring at you. She looks worse than you were expecting-- she's pale, her hair oily and plastered to her sweaty skin, with the bandages around her throat stained and peeling off. She's also wearing clothes that are comically too small for her-- they have to be Hana's, a tight grey t-shirt that Clear has sweat though, and sweatpants that end half-way up her calves. "Clear, come on," you sigh, picking the glass back up and grabbing another towel from the counter. You throw it down on the floor, letting it soak up the spill, and then refill the glass. <<if $clear_rom>>[[Next ->ch3 clear's room rival rom 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 clear's room rival 1]]<</if>><</if>>

You pick up the glass, refill it, and grab the pills and another towel off the counter, and then return to the floor. "Here," you say gently. She takes the glass, sipping a little, and then sets it aside and takes the bottle, struggling for a moment before she manages to open it. She takes a few pills and pops them in her mouth, greedily gulping down the rest of the water along with it. Water spills out of her mouth, down her chin, and she breathes hard as she shoves the glass across the floor, away from her. You sidle a little closer, raising the fresh towel in your hand, and she eyes you as your other hand moves around to cup the back of her head. You gently wipe her mouth, her face, all while she just stares at you, rigid on the floor. "Okay?" you prompt. She nods. You let your hands drop and lean back, grabbing the glass again and returning it to the counter while discarding the towel in the corner. Then you sit back down on the floor beside her, putting a gentle hand on her back again. She leans against the lip of the tub, closing her eyes for a moment as you start to draw your hand in slow circles. "Your hands are really cold," she says suddenly after a few minutes, opening her eyes to blink over at you. "Sorry," you blurt, and you quickly pull back, but she sits up and shakes her head. "No, no, it feels good," she says, reaching out to touch your wrist. You let her take your hand, turning it palm up, studying it as if it could tell her something. You lay your other hand on her back again, hesitating a moment before you slip it under her shirt, making her shiver. "How are you so cold?" she asks, tracing the curve of your fingers with her own, still staring at your palm. "You just have a fever," you say. "I have a //hangover//," Clear clarifies, rolling her eyes. "And we both know that has nothing to do with it." You stroke your thumb slowly along Clear's spine. "No. I'm dead," you say simply. She doesn't seem to like that answer, though. "But your heart beats. I've felt it. And you bleed," she says slowly. "I've seen it." "It's //undead//." Clear gives you an exasperated look. "It's like..." you consider your words carefully. "It's like a long, slow death. Forever trapped in that state right before it takes you. My body has grown cold, my heartbeat has slowed, the breath has almost left me... but death never comes." Clear studies your face for long enough that you start to get anxious. But then she lifts your hand in hers, gently holding your wrist and pressing your palm to her forehead. She relishes your cool touch, and you lean closer, both of you pressed against the tub. You draw your hand down her back, pulling it out from beneath her shirt, reaching up to touch her hair. You run your fingers through it, pushing it back out of her face, and Clear watches you, her hand tightening around your wrist. She doesn't take her eyes off of you, even when the door opens in the other room and the lamp flickers on, not until you pull your hand from hers and stand up. Valentina appears in the doorway to the bathroom, Hana hovering just behind her, and she eyes Clear on the floor before raising her gaze to you. "How is she?" Valentina asks, flipping the lights on over the mirror and making Clear grimace. "//I'm// fine, thanks for asking," Clear grumbles, struggling to her feet, though she shrinks back a bit when Valentina's stare snaps back to her. [[Next ->ch3 clear's room friendly rom 2]]

You pick up the glass, refill it, and grab the pills and another towel off the counter, and then return to the floor. "Here," you say gently. She takes the glass, sipping a little, and then sets it aside and takes the bottle, struggling for a moment before she manages to open it. She takes a few pills and pops them in her mouth, greedily gulping down the rest of the water along with it. Water spills out of her mouth, down her chin, and she breathes hard as she shoves the glass across the floor, away from her. You sidle a little closer, raising the fresh towel in your hand, and she eyes you as your other hand moves around to cup the back of her head. You gently wipe her mouth, her face, all while she just stares at you, rigid on the floor. "Your hands are really cold," she says right as you finish, pulling back and discarding the cloth in the corner. "Sorry," you say, avoiding her gaze and grabbing the glass to refill. She watches you from the floor, pressed back against the tub, before she struggles to her feet. You shut off the water and turn with the glass in your hand, and hold it out for her. You can't help but compare her to a cornered animal, warily sipping at the water while still watching you over the glass. You can sense her discomfort, taste it in the air with all her other fluids, and you can't really blame her for it. You step back, leaning against the counter, and you let her scurry out of the bathroom, giving her a moment before trailing out after her. She sits on the edge of her bed, setting her glass down on the nightstand, still eyeing you cautiously. "How are you so cold?" she asks then. "Even the glass..." she trails off, glancing at it before looking expectantly at you. "I'm not //that// cold," you say defensively. "You just have a fever." "I have a //hangover//," Clear clarifies. You purse your lips. She waits patiently. "I'm dead," you say simply. Clear doesn't seem to like that answer, though. "But you're not like the vampires in the movies," she says. "You breathe. You bleed-- I've seen it." "It's //undead//." Clear looks exasperated. "It's like..." you consider your words carefully. "It's like a long, slow death. Forever trapped in that state right before it takes you. My body has grown cold, my heartbeat has slowed, the breath has almost left me... but death never comes." Clear studies your face for long enough that you start to get anxious. "What about crosses? Garlic? All that stuff?" she says then. "Do you and Valentina share a coffin?" You cross your arms, clicking your tongue at her. She smiles, amused, and she looks a little bit more like herself for a moment. But a sharp knock on the door makes the smile vanish, and she shrinks back onto the bed as Valentina steps into the room, grimacing and clutching her head when she flicks the light on. Hana shuffles in after her, looking a little wary. "How is she?" Valentina asks. "//I'm// fine, thanks for asking," Clear grumbles. She quickly drops her gaze when Valentina looks at her. [[Next ->ch3 clear's room friendly 2]]

You follow Valentina out of the bathroom with Clear on your heels, and she meanders over to sit on the edge of the bed while you, Valentina, and Hana all remain standing. "Hana is going to take you back to your apartment," Valentina says to Clear then. "So you can get some proper clothes," she glances over Clear's sweat-stained t-shirt. "And she'll take you to the store, too. Get you some food." <<include "ch3 clear's room reconvene">>

"Hana is going to take you back to your apartment. So you can get some proper clothes," Valentina says slowly, eyeing Clear's sweat-stained t-shirt. "And she'll take you to the store, too. Get you some food." <<include "ch3 clear's room reconvene">>

"Hana is going to take you back to your apartment," Valentina starts. "So you can get some proper clothes." She eyes Clear's sweat-stained t-shirt. "And she'll take you to the store, too. Get you some food." <<include "ch3 clear's room reconvene">>

She stares up at you from the floor, pulling her knees to her chest and bowing her head. You cut the faucet and crouch back down, giving Clear a look before you hand her the glass again. She eyes it for a few seconds, and when she raises her hand you grab her wrist, making her flinch. "Drink it," you warn her. She nods. You release her hand, watching closely as she takes the glass and raises it to her lips. You turn and wipe up the rest of the water while Clear rinses her mouth out, spitting into the toilet bowl and wiping at her face. You grab another washcloth from the counter before taking a seat beside her on the tile, watching as she sinks back against the tub and starts to drink greedily, water spilling over her chin and down the front of her shirt. She squeezes her eyes closed, letting out a long breath as she sets the empty glass down with a load //clink// against the floor. You reach out then, pressing your palm to the small of her back. She shivers, hiding her head between her knees. She looks like a cornered animal-- you can sense her discomfort, taste it in the air with all her other fluids, and you can't really blame her for that. You stroke your hand slowly across her back, in the most non-threatening gesture you can manage. "Let me take care of you," you say. Clear lifts her head, her brow furrowed, but she doesn't pull away when you raise the washcloth in your other hand and wipe at her mouth, her eyes dark as she watches you. She swallows loudly, tilting her head slightly, allowing you to wipe at the trail of water down her neck. Exposing her throat to you-- maybe not quite a cornered animal, after all. Your other hand slides up to cradle the back of her head, and you dab the cloth at her sweaty forehead, before letting it drop to the floor. You press your hand to her cheek, feel her skin hot and clammy beneath your palm. "You have a fever," you say. "I have a //hangover//," Clear clarifies. You hum, combing your fingers through her sweaty hair at her nape. "Your hands are really cold," she says then. You purse your lips, pulling your hand back and laying it flat against the back of her neck. She grabs your other one, letting out a breath as she holds it in front of her face. "Feels good," she says quietly. She touches your palm, tracing the curves of your fingers with her own, studying your hand as if it could tell her something. She shifts on the floor, leaning back a bit into your other hand, your thumb stroking her nape again. "How are you so cold?" Clear asks, still staring down at your hand. "I'm dead," you say simply. She doesn't seem to like that answer, though. "But your heart beats. I've felt it. And you bleed," she says slowly. "I've seen it." "It's //undead//." Clear gives you an exasperated look. "It's like..." you consider your words carefully. "It's like a long, slow death. Forever trapped in that state right before it takes you. My body has grown cold, my heartbeat has slowed, the breath has almost left me... but death never comes." Clear studies your face for long enough that you start to get anxious. But then she lifts your hand in hers, gently holding your wrist and pressing your palm to her forehead. She relishes your cool touch, and you lean closer, both of you pressed against the tub. Your other hand tightens around the back of her neck, and you can see her swallow as she tilts back, leaning into your hand, her own hand still clutching at your wrist. You blink slowly down at her, at the curve of her throat, at the whites around her dark eyes as she watches you, fearful and intrigued. You pull your wrist free, touch her face before trailing your fingers down the flushed skin of her neck. She swallows again. You hear the door open in the other room then, and you curse internally, releasing Clear to stand as Valentina and Hana appear in the doorway to the bathroom. Clear stays on the floor for a moment, blinking a few times, touching her throat and leaning back against the tub. Valentina narrows her eyes at her, flipping on the light and making her grimace, before she turns her glare on you. "How is she?" Valentina asks. "//I'm// fine, thanks for asking," Clear mutters behind you, struggling to her feet, though she shrinks back a bit when Valentina's stare snaps back to her. [[Next ->ch3 clear's room rival rom 2]]

She stares up at you from the floor, pulling her knees to her chest and bowing her head. You cut the faucet and crouch back down, giving Clear a look before you hand her the glass again. She eyes it for a few seconds, and when she raises her hand you grab her wrist, making her flinch. "Drink it," you warn her. She nods. You release her hand, watching closely as she takes the glass and raises it to her lips. You turn and wipe up the rest of the water while Clear rinses her mouth out, spitting into the toilet bowl and wiping at her face. You take a seat beside her on the tile, watching as she sinks back against the tub and starts to drink greedily, water spilling over her chin and down the front of her shirt. She squeezes her eyes closed, letting out a long breath as she sets the empty glass down with a load //clink// against the floor. You reach out then, pressing your palm to the small of her back. She shivers, hiding her head between her knees. She looks like a cornered animal-- you can sense her discomfort, taste it in the air with all her other fluids, and you can't really blame her for that. You pull your hand back and stand, refilling the glass for her and grabbing the bottle of pills. You pop it open and shake a few out into your hand and then give them to Clear. She studies the bottle on the counter before taking them, and then the glass, draining it just as quick as the first time. You stay standing, giving her some space, crossing your arms and leaning back against the counter. "Do vampires get hangovers?" Clear asks dryly. You bark out a laugh. "A little harder for us to do. But yes." Clear grunts, unfurling herself on the floor, letting her legs stretch out across the tile as she leans against the tub. She glances up at you, at your crossed arms. "Your hand-- you're really cold," she says slowly. You nod. "Because I'm dead," you say simply. Clear doesn't seem to like that answer, though. "But you're not like the vampires in the movies. You're breathing. And you bleed," she says. "I've seen it." "It's //undead//." Clear gives you an exasperated look. "It's like..." you consider your words carefully. "It's like a long, slow death. Forever trapped in that state right before it takes you. My body has grown cold, my heartbeat has slowed, the breath has almost left me... but death never comes." Clear studies your face for long enough that you start to get anxious. "Huh," she muses. "What about crosses? Garlic? All that stuff?" she says then. "Do you and Valentina share a coffin?" You roll your eyes and click your tongue at her. She smiles, amused, and she looks a little bit more like herself for a moment. But a sharp knock on the door in the other room makes the smile vanish, and she pulls her knees up to her chest again, shrinking back against the floor as Valentina appears in the doorway to the bathroom, with Hana hovering just behind her. She switches on the lights above the mirror, making Clear clutch at her head with a grimace. "How is she?" Valentina asks. "//I'm// fine, thanks for asking," Clear mutters behind you, struggling to her feet, though she shrinks back a bit when Valentina's stare snaps back to her. [[Next ->ch3 clear's room rival 2]]

You glance back at Clear, who quickly looks away, running her hands through her hair. You follow Valentina out of the bathroom then with Clear on your heels, and she meanders over to sit on the edge of the bed while you, Valentina, and Hana all remain standing. "Hana is going to take you back to your apartment," Valentina says to Clear. "So you can get some proper clothes," she glances over Clear's sweat-stained t-shirt. "And she'll take you to the store, too. Get you some food." <<include "ch3 clear's room reconvene">>

"I have to stay here, to meet with someone," she says slowly, her voice low. She seems to debate internally with herself, pursing her lips before letting out a sigh. "You can go with them, if you'd like," she smiles slightly, though it doesn't really meet her eyes. <<if $v_hostile>><<if $hana_rom and $clear_rom>>"Oh? Is that allowed? Am I allowed to look at them, talk to them?" you snap at her, your anger suddenly resurfacing as you look at Hana's bandaged face and Clear's wary gaze. Valentina glances away, pressing her lips into a thin like. "Do whatever you want, $name," she sneers then. "And since you like your pet so much, listen to me. Keep an eye on her. You, or Hana. Don't leave her alone." She steps closer then, putting a threatening hand on your shoulder. "Remember what I said. Know that the council will use her against you, if you let them." She drops her hand and then steps back, Clear blinking at you owlishly, with Hana shifting awkwardly by the door.<<elseif $hana_rom>>"Oh? Is that allowed? Am I allowed to look at her, to talk to her?" you snap at her, your anger suddenly resurfacing as you look at Hana's wary face. Valentina glances away, pressing her lips into a thin like. "Do whatever you want, $name," she sneers then. "And since you like your pet so much, too, listen to me. Keep an eye on her. You, or Hana. Don't leave her alone." She steps closer then, putting a threatening hand on your shoulder. "Remember what I said. Know that the council will use her against you, if you let them." She drops her hand and then steps back, Clear blinking at you owlishly, with Hana shifting awkwardly by the door.<<elseif $clear_rom>>"Oh? Is that allowed? Am I allowed to look at her, to talk to her?" you snap at her, your anger suddenly resurfacing as you look at Clear, sick and wary. Valentina glances away, pressing her lips into a thin like. "Do whatever you want, $name," she sneers then. "And since you like your pet so much," she jabs a finger at Clear then, "listen to me. Keep an eye on her. You, or Hana. Don't leave her alone." She steps closer then, putting a threatening hand on your shoulder. "Remember what I said. Know that the council will use her against you, if you let them." She drops her hand and then steps back, Clear blinking at you owlishly, with Hana shifting awkwardly by the door.<<else>>"Oh? Am I allowed out of your sight? Released from your watchful eye?" you snap at her, your anger suddenly resurfacing as you look at Hana and Clear's wary faces, as you remember your locked door. Valentina glances away, pressing her lips into a thin like. "I am leaving the decision to you," she says curtly. She steps a little closer then, bowing her head. "And , listen-- about your pet," she says slowly, eyeing Clear over your shoulder. "Keep an eye on her. You, or Hana. Don't leave her alone." She puts a threatening hand on your shoulder. "Remember what I said. Know that the council will use her against you, if you let them." She drops her hand and then steps back, Clear blinking at you owlishly, with Hana shifting awkwardly by the door.<</if>> Valentina walks back over to the front of the room, and you look over at Clear, still sitting on the bed. Hana clears her throat, tossing her hair over her shoulder, and she smiles sheepishly as everyone looks to her expectantly. "Um. Whenever you're ready, Clear. I'll wait downstairs," she says, and then she backs out of the room, and Valentina follows her. She pauses in the doorway, though she doesn't look back at you. "The day is yours, until tonight," she says. Then she slips out, and it's just you and Clear again. You stare at the closed door for a moment, while Clear clambers off the bed with a groan.<<else>>She leans even closer then. <<if $clear_rom>>"And I know you like your pet," she says, and you detect a hint of bitterness there, "so you need to keep an eye on her. You, or Hana-- or me," she adds after a moment's hesitation.<<else>>"And about your pet," she says slowly, "you're going to want to keep an eye on her. You, or Hana-- or me," she adds reluctantly.<</if>> "Don't leave her alone. Remember what I said. Know that the council will use her against you, if you let them." You pull back, searching her face, and then you nod. She walks back over to the front of the room, and you look over at Clear, still sitting on the bed. Hana clears her throat, tossing her hair over her shoulder, and she smiles sheepishly as everyone looks to her expectantly. "Um. Whenever you're ready, Clear. I'll wait downstairs," she says, and then she backs out of the room, and Valentina follows her. "Go with them, if you'd like," she says, not looking at you, holding the door open. "The day is yours, until tonight." She slips out, and it's just you and Clear again. You stare at the closed door for a moment, while Clear clambers off the bed with a groan.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 branch choice 2]]

"Well. Good morning to us," Clear scoffs, running her hands through her hair. She glances at you, and then sighs. "Yeah," you mutter. You turn back to her then, eyeing her sweaty clothes and bare feet. "I left the bottle of pills in the bathroom," you tell her. She nods, pulling at her shirt. "I'll let you...." you gesture vaguely, and then drop your gaze and head for the door. Slipping out into the hall, you glance around, though Valentina and Hana have both vanished already. Hana said she'd be downstairs. You can only guess where Valentina wandered off to. <div id="choice"><<link [[I'll head downstairs. I need to get out of the house. ->ch3 clear and hana 1]]>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I want to find Valentina. There's too much that we still need to discuss. ->ch3 valentina 1]]>><<set $ch3_val to true>><</link>></div>

You head back to the landing, walking over to the banister and peering down to the ground floor. Hana is pacing around, and she glances up when she sees you standing there. She smiles a little, halting in her pacing as you descend the stairs to join her. "Are you coming with us?" she asks. You nod. "I need to get out of the house," you say, eyeing the expensive looking chandelier hanging overhead. The mood here is too sour, along with the walls around you feeling a little... //too close//. The memory of waking up in your sarcophagus has been fresh in your mind, especially after being locked in your room this morning. Hana nods knowingly. The two of you wait in a tense silence, Hana eyeing you for a moment before she resumes her pacing and you meander over to lean back against the front door. //God//. You have to get out of this house. Just when you start to get really antsy, Clear appears at the top of the stairs, blinking down at the both of you before hurrying down herself. She's changed into a clean t-shirt and her jeans from last night, and you think she must have showered, her hair wet and slicked back with fresh bandages on her neck. She has a bit more color in her face now, and is starting to look //slightly// better, at least. "Sorry," she says awkwardly as she joins you and Hana. You give her a nod, and Hana smiles. "Ready?" she asks, and you nod again, along with Clear. You hesitate as Hana opens the door, peering out into the rain, the sky dark and the sun hidden behind the clouds. Your skin itches, but despite the discomfort and the humidity, it's pleasant, the air cooler and a slight breeze sending the rain down across the grass. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 2]]

You head back to the landing, walking over to the banister and peering down to the ground floor. Hana is pacing back and forth in front of the door, and she slows a little when you appear at the top, peering up at you. You give her a nod, and then continue deeper into the mansion. You pass by the closet, and assume that Valentina's room has to be around here somewhere. There are various doors all the way down the hall, ending with two double doors at the end, and you try there first, knocking softly. But no one answers. You press your ear to the door, listening. But you just hear the rain on the roof. Stepping back, you walk along the curving hallway to the left, only to find a large lounge room. There's a conversation pit in the middle, carpeted and filled with lush pillows and cushions. There's a pool table on the other side of the room, and a fire place in front of the pit, too. "Jesus," you mumble, taking it all in. Lounge room-- maybe a feeding room. You can imagine how luxurious it would be, tangled together on all the pillows, with Valentina or Hana or Clear. Or all of them. Better than that shitty booth at the club. Your brow furrows then, and you shake your head, quickly retreating out of the room. You glance back down the hall, back in the direction of Clear's room. You assume that must be the guest wing? Is Hana's room over there, too? Or maybe she's over here, with Valentina. You wander to another door, and this time you do hear some movement on the other side. "Valentina?" you call out as you rap your knuckles on the door. [[Next ->ch3 val 2]]

All of you pile into the car, with Clear curling up in the back seat. Hana takes a deep breath, adjusting her seat for a moment, before starting the car and reaching for the gear shift. "I guess we should head to the apartment first?" Hana offers. "And then the store." A beat of silence, and then Clear speaks up from the back. "I don't have my key. We won't be able to get into the building." Hana glances at her in the rearview. "Well. We didn't have a key last time, either," she says with a tight smile. Clear scoffs. "How did you do that, actually?" you ask then, your brow furrowed. "Clear never invited you in." Hana looks a little embarrassed, biting her lip. "I mean... it's an apartment. Clear doesn't //own// it. Her landlord does." You tilt your head at her. "And Clear's landlord is a vampire." Clear makes an indignant sound, and you can sense her sitting up behind you. "Are you kidding me? Isn't that a little too on the nose? A fucking vampire landlord?" Hana giggles at her offense. "A real parasite," she grins, flashing her fangs at Clear, and then she whips you all out of the driveway and and off towards the city. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 3]]

Hana turns the radio on after a while, and the ride helps you relax, the easy sound of the music and the soothing rain pattering against the car-- it even drowns out the city, the lights dull and the holograms flickering in the rain. Unfortunately, you have to abruptly pull off the road, into an alley, Clear hanging out of the car as she dry heaves. You and Hana exchange sympathetic looks, and turn the radio up in an attempt to give Clear a little privacy. "I don't want to go to the store," Clear says then, as she crawls back into the car. She slams the door closed, curling back up in the seat. "We don't have any food at the house, Clear," Hana says sadly. "I don't care. I don't want to go," Clear mumbles, on the verge of tears. She sniffles, scowling, roughly wiping her face. Hana glances at you, and then stares down at the steering wheel. "Let's just get you to the apartment, and then we'll figure it out," you offer, and Clear takes a shaky breath, but nods, eyeing your reflection in the rearview. She keeps staring, studying the weird shapes in the mirror, and then she turns away, pressing her forehead to the window. Hana eases the car back out of the alley, and it's only a few more minutes of driving before you reach the apartment complex. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 4]]

Hana sighs, parking the car in the dirty lot behind the complex. You unbuckle your seatbelt and look at her expectantly. "Maybe I should just go in and let you in through the front door," Hana says then. "You climbed in through the fire escape," Clear says, not really asking. Hana nods. "I can climb. Let's go," she huffs, throwing open her door and stepping out into the rain. Hana meekly follows, and so do you. The rain has picked up a little, and you peer up at the city, the high buildings towering over you, vanishing up into the dark clouds. You both trail after Clear, into the alley-- not the one with the dumpster, but on the other side, the black, metal fire escape drumming loudly as the rain falls. You eye the ladder, a bit too high to reach. Clear turns back to Hana as the two of you catch up with her. "How did you reach it?" she asks. "I jumped," she says. "What?" Clear scoffs in disbelief. But then: "Oh. Right. Vampires," she shakes her head. You watch as Hana pulls her hands out of her pockets and pushes her curls back, before launching herself up, grabbing the bottom rung and easily swinging herself upwards, catching the next rung and the next until she can hook her feet on one. "Damn," you mutter. You glance at Clear, who looks pale again. "Fuck," she breathes. "Be careful," Hana shouts down over her shoulder. "The ladder is really slippery." You never would have guessed it was a problem for her. She quickly climbs up the rest of the way, standing on the first landing, peering down at you and Clear. "Should I just go open the front door?" she offers again. "No," Clear snaps back. She clearly has something to prove. "Boost me up," she says to you. "Clear..." "Come on," she says, lowering her voice a bit. "Just-- boost me. Let me have this." <div id="choice"><<link [[No. Tell Hana to open the front door. ->ch3 clear and hana 4.a]]>><<set $c_rel =-1>><<set $reject_ladder1 to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Fine. Against my better judgement... ->ch3 clear and hana 4.b]]>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div>

"No," you shake your head. "Hana, we'll meet you out front," you call up to her. "Okay!" She quickly turns and starts to bustle up the next flight of metal stairs. Clear glares at you, stomping out of the alley, shoulder checking you as she goes. You scoff in disbelief, hurrying after her-- grabbing her by the arm before you can think about it. Clear's eyes are wide as she looks down at your hand around her wrist. "Let go of me," she says through clenched teeth. "Are you serious right now? Over a fucking ladder?" you snap, and she wretches her arm free, turning on you. "Shut up!" she suddenly shouts, and for a moment you think she's going to throw a punch with her newly freed hand, but she doesn't. "I can climb a ladder, okay!" she shouts at you. "I'm not-- I'm not your fucking pet. I can... I can do things," she stammers then, and then she shakes her head. "Fuck. This is so stupid," she mutters. The two of you reach the front door then. "All of you have just been-- throwing me around since the other night. I feel like shit. I just wanted to climb the ladder." She turns away from you, glowering down at her boots. You're quiet for a moment, watching her profile in the rain. <div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. I get it."' 'ch3 clear and hana 4.a.1'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"It //is// stupid."' 'ch3 clear and hana 4.a.2'>><<set $c_rel -=2>><<set $c_cruel +=3>><<set $reject_ladder2 to true>><</link>></div>

You sigh, running a hand over your face, wiping the rain from your brow. "Fine," you say, and you both move to stand under the ladder. Clear steps close, bowing her head for a moment. "Thanks," she says, just as you link your hands together and hold them out for her. You grunt when she initially puts her weight into your hands, the bottom of her boot wet and muddy, but Clear weighs nothing to you-- you remember how easily Valentina had thrown her around the other night. You still aren't really used to your strength, or even sure of what it is you can do; you're careful with Clear, slowly lifting her up until she can grab onto the ladder, and then you hoist her up a little higher, her feet swinging over your head as she hauls herself up, and you spot her as she scrambles for a moment, until her boots finally find the bottom rung. You can hear her cursing under her breath, and she pauses for a moment once she's steady, before climbing up and joining Hana on the landing. Hana helps her up, beaming at her, and then they both look down at you. "Jump up! It's easy," Hana calls down to you. "//It's easy//," you mutter, shaking your head. You wipe your muddy hands on your pants, stepping back and eyeing the bottom rung. You take a deep breath, and then jump up-- and you grab the bottom rung and carefully pull yourself up, surprisingly graceful as you find your footing and climb to the landing. "See? Easy," Hana says as you slowly stand. You wipe your hands on your pants again, now wet from the rain caught on the ladder. Hana takes the lead again and you all climb the stairs single file, up to the third floor, up to Clear's shattered window. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 4.2]]

"Okay. I get it," you say slowly, your anger simmering down. Clear glances over at you, letting out a long breath. You can't really imagine how she feels-- dragged from her home, locked in a mansion, and then everything that happened at the club. You get it. Climbing the ladder-- a little bit of control. "I just didn't want you to slip, Clear," you say. She nods. "I know." The two of you wait in silence at the door. It takes long enough that you start to get nervous, especially when the rain picks up and you and Clear have to press in close against the front door to avoid the downpour, but then Hana finally appears at the door. "Sorry!" she says as she shoves it open. "I had to wait forever for the elevator, it got stuck or something, I don't know," she gives you a sheepish look. Clear just nods, stepping inside and heading for the stairs. Hana holds the door open for you, and you're grateful for the reprieve from the rain, shaking off a bit and wiping your wet feet before hurrying after Clear. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 4.1]]

"It //is// stupid, Clear," you snap. "Climbing the ladder and breaking your neck won't change anything. It's stupid." "//God//," she breathes, and then she shoves you, your shoes splashing through the puddles on the sidewalk. "Fuck you." You glare at each other, and Clear turns away, crossing her arms and staring at the door. The rain starts to come down harder then, and you and Clear are forced to press in close against the front of the building, waiting for a painful time until Hana finally appears at the door. "Sorry!" she says as she shoves it open. "I had to wait forever for the elevator, it got stuck or something, I don't know," she gives you a sheepish look. Clear just shoves past her though, stomping her wet boots on the welcome mat and heading for the stairs. Hana blinks after her, then turns to you, but you just shake your head, and you both follow after her. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 4.1]]

You climb up three flights of stairs, and when you step out of the stairwell and onto the floor you have a sense of déjà vu, the yellowed walls of the hallway dim and familiar. Clear leads you all to her apartment, opening the door with a long sigh. Stepping inside, you can hear the sound of wind-soaked rain whipping through her bedroom, and she hurries down the hall to the broken window. Clear curses, dismaying at the soaked carpet and shards of glass all over the floor, and Hana trails in after you, her head bowed with a wary look. <<include "ch3 clear and hana 5">>

"Is there something we can cover it up with?" Hana asks, looking guilty and avoiding Clear's gaze. Clear hurries over to her closet, digging around and pulling out a big rucksack, opening it up and removing a sleeping bag and a tent before finding a tarp. She quickly draws it out of the bag and walks it over to the window, before realizing she has nothing to hang it with. "Hold this," she says, shoving the tarp into your hands. She quickens out of the room, and then you hear her rummaging around in the kitchen, and she returns with duct tape. You hold the tarp up over the window for her as she tapes it down, Hana hovering and wringing her hands. Once it's secure, Clear sighs, stepping back and dropping down hard on her bed. "I'm sorry, Clear," Hana says then. Clear just shakes her head. "Can you give me a minute?" she says, and you and Hana retreat from the room, closing the door behind you. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 6]]

Hana climbs up and shuffles through the broken glass, grimacing a bit, and you gesture Clear ahead of you, and she eyes the glass before clumsily climbing up and tumbling through into the room. You climb in after. "Damn," Clear groans at the soaked carpet beneath the window, at all the broken glass and blood staining the room. <<include "ch3 clear and hana 5">>

<<if $hana_rom>><<include "ch3 clear and hana 6 hana rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch3 clear and hana 6 hana plat 1">><</if>>

Hana is quiet as the two of you stand around in the front room. She seems a bit more anxious now, standing in the corner, staring down at her shoes. <<if $v_hanascratch>>She keeps touching the bandage on her face, pulling on it a bit, the gauze dappled dark from the rain. She catches you watching and turns away then, pretending to look at Clear's bookshelf. You sigh, crossing your arms and leaning back against the table.<<else>>She keeps messing with one of her piercings, the one beneath her lip, twisting the little metal ball between her fingers. She catches you watching and turns away then, pretending to look at Clear's bookshelf. You sigh, crossing your arms and leaning back against the table.<</if>> <div id="choice"><<link '"Hana? You... okay?"' 'ch3 clear and hana 6 rom 1.a'>><<set $h_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"About last night..."' 'ch3 clear and hana 6 rom 1.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Any good books on the shelf?"' 'ch3 clear and hana 6 rom 1.c'>><</link>></div>

Hana is quiet as the two of you stand around the front room. She paces around for a bit, before hovering in front of the bookshelf, trailing a finger along the spines. You can't stop staring at the blood spatters on the wall in the hallway, the faded scratches on your back suddenly feeling a little itchy. You force yourself to turn away, letting out a sigh and leaning back against the table. Hana looks over at you. "How are you doing?" she asks then. You're a bit taken aback by the question, giving her a long look. <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know..."' 'ch3 clear and hana 6 hana plat 1.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Glad to be out of the house."' 'ch3 clear and hana 6 hana plat 1.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Just shrug. ->ch3 clear and hana 6 hana plat 1.c]]>><</link>></div>

"Hana?" you say slowly. "You okay?" For a moment she still doesn't look at you, trailing a finger along the spines, chewing on her bottom lip. "Yeah. I'm okay," she says eventually. You tilt your head at her, and she scoffs. "I'm fine. I just feel bad," she says. "About Clear..." she trails off, before gesturing around the apartment, at the fallen wall decorations and more blood on the floor. "About all of this." She hesitates. "And last night..." she adds, her voice small. You push off the table, crossing the room and joining her in front of the shelves. But she shakes her head, shrinking away from you, crossing her arms and walking around to hide behind the couch. "I'm fine," she repeats. You blink over at her, and then quickly look away, a stinging hurt twisting in your chest from the unexpected cold shoulder. Now it's you that turns and pretends to look at the books, though you're unable to read most of the titles, even if you really wanted to. Thankfully, Clear's door opens then, before it can get any more awkward between you and Hana, and she slowly emerges from the hallway, padding over to the kitchen. She's looking for something, and she seems to find it on the tiled floor, reaching down and standing back up with her phone in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 7]]

"Any good books on the shelf?" you offer, and Hana peeks back over at you with a little smile, some of the frost on her shoulder thawing. "She definitely has some... selections," Hana says quietly, her smile widening. You raise an eyebrow at her. "She likes a good sexy book," Hana giggles. Your brow furrows, but Hana shakes her head, still giggling a little. "She has a lot of lesbian literature," she says after a moment, more serious now. She ponders the spines again, humming softly. "You should read some of these," she adds. "Why do you say that?" you ask, pushing off the table then and walking over to her. You hover back a bit, though, uneasy about the topic of books. But you can't deny your curiosity. "I think it would be good for you," she says slowly. "It will give you the language you never had, a hundred years ago." You swallow back a lump in your throat, watching as Hana pulls one of the books down. But Clear's door opens then, and Hana quickly puts it back, giving you a bashful look, darting away from the shelves and trying to look inconspicuous. You turn as Clear emerges from the hallway, hardly glancing at the two of you and just padding over to the kitchen. She's looking for something, and she seems to find it on the tiled floor, reaching down and standing back up with her phone in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 7]]

"About last night..." you start, and Hana sighs, closing her eyes for a moment and running a hand over her curls. <<if $v_hanascratch>>She touches the bandage again, too, her brows furrowed, but she shakes her head.<<else>>She reaches up and touches her eyebrow piercing this time, her brows furrowed, but she shakes her head.<</if>> "I don't want to talk about last night," she says. You purse your lips, tilting your head at her. "Don't look at me like that," she snaps, and then she immediately turns away again, shaking her head. You feel your eyes widen in surprise, and you push off the table and take a few steps towards her, but she just glares at you, retreating from the bookshelf to hide behind the couch. "Stop." "Hana..." "I think Valentina made herself clear last night, $name," she says, her voice hard. You feel the sting of rejection then, a whip cracked across your chest, and you quickly look away. Now it's you that turns and pretends to look at the books, though you're unable to read most of the titles, even if you really wanted to. Thankfully, Clear's door opens then, before it can get any more awkward between you and Hana, and she slowly emerges from the hallway, padding over to the kitchen. She's looking for something, and she seems to find it on the tiled floor, reaching down and standing back up with her phone in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 7]]

You can see from here the screen is cracked, a silver spiderweb across the glass, and Clear sighs again, walking over to the table and reaching for a charger in the wall. You and Hana both watch her, and she grimaces when she looks over at you. "Look, I'm fine packing on my own," she says then. "I really, really don't want to go to the store with you," she explains. "The car already made me sick the first time... I don't want to vomit at the grocery store." Hana scratches the back of her head, considering her for a moment. "I don't know..." she glances over at you. "It's not a good idea for you to be alone, Clear." "Well, tell your landlord buddy not to let anyone else into my fucking apartment then," she snaps. But then she sighs, lowering her head and sitting down hard at the table. Her phone powers back on then, the screen glowing bright, and she presses her elbows to the tabletop, staring down at the device. Hana steps towards you then, nodding you aside. "We can't leave her alone," she says. "But I think she wants to be alone, Hana," you say slowly, eyeing her at the table. Hana purses her lips and crosses her arms. "It's up to you," she says. <<if $reject_ladder1>>Is it up to you? You look over at Clear again. You think about the ladder.<<else>>You sigh, looking over at Clear again.<</if>> <div id="choice"><<link '"Clear, do you want me to stay here with you while you pack?"' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.a'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Why don\'t you go to the store, and I stay here?"' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.b'>><<set $c_cruel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Let\'s just go to the store. She\'ll be alright for a little while on her own."' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.c'>><<set $c_cruel +=1>><</link>></div>

You just shrug. Hana raises an eyebrow, and then lets out a dry laugh. "Fair enough," she says. You take a deep breath, rubbing at your eyes for a moment, but there's not really anything you have to say. It's overwhelming if you think about it for too long, so you just don't. Hana watches you for another moment, pursing her lips together, and you shift awkwardly against the table. You cross your arms over your chest, trying not to feel self-conscious; you return her stare, furrowing your brows until she turns away. //What the hell...// She goes back to studying the books. <<if $v_hostile>>"I'm sorry about Valentina," she says suddenly. Her voice is quiet, and she doesn't look at you again. She glances around the room instead, as if Valentina may hear her somehow. She fidgets with one of the books, hiding behind her curls. "Did she say anything about me? This morning?" she asks. You blink at her, tilting your head, caught off guard by her sudden shift in demeanor.<<else>>"Can I ask you something else?" she says after a moment, though she doesn't look at you again. You hesitate, narrowing your eyes at her, caught off guard by her sudden shift in demeanor-- but then you nod. "Go ahead." "This morning... when you were with Valentina. Um, did she say anything about me?" she asks, glancing around the room as if Valentina herself could hear her somehow.<</if>> <<include "ch3 clear and hana 6 hana plat 2">>

"Glad to be out of the house," you say, and Hana snickers. "That fucking house..." she shakes her head. "I hate it." You blink over at her, though she's back to staring at the books again. Then she sighs. <<if $v_hostile>>"It only gets worse. I thought we'd leave, after..." she trails off, tapping one of the books with her finger. "Well, it doesn't matter now, anyways." She turns to you, giving you a long look. "I'm sorry-- about Valentina," she says then. She glances down the hall, in Clear's direction, and then all around the room, as if Valentina may hear her somehow. She rocks on her heels, bowing her head and fidgeting with one of her curls. "Did she say anything about me? This morning?" she asks. The question catches you a little off-guard.<<else>>"I'm sorry to say it will get worse. I wish we had left, after..." she trails off, tapping one of the books with her finger. "Well, it doesn't matter now, anyways." "Can I ask you something else?" she says after a moment. You tilt your head at her, and nod. "This morning... when you were with Valentina. Um, did she say anything about me?" she asks, glancing around the room as if Valentina herself could hear her somehow.<</if>> <<include "ch3 clear and hana 6 hana plat 2">>

"I don't know..." you say, dropping your gaze to stare down at your feet. "Right," Hana says with a humorless laugh. "I'm sure you're still adjusting after your long... nap," she grimaces. She takes a few steps towards you then, before seemingly changing her mind. She bites her lip, and then turns away, retreating and staring at the books again. <<if $v_hostile>>"I'm sorry about Valentina," she says after a moment. Her voice is quiet, and she's not looking at you. She glances around the room instead, as if Valentina may hear her somehow. She fidgets with one of the books, hiding behind her curls. "Did she say anything about me? This morning?" she asks suddenly. You blink at her, tilting your head.<<else>>"Can I ask you something else?" she says after a moment. You tilt your head at her, and nod. "This morning... when you were with Valentina. Um, did she say anything about me?" she asks, glancing around the room as if Valentina herself could hear her somehow.<</if>> <<include "ch3 clear and hana 6 hana plat 2">>

"What? No," you say. "Why?" Hana just shakes her head. "She told me about the letter," she says, a bitterness in her words that she fails to hide. It seems like she wants to say more, but she lets it hang in the air instead, unspoken. You narrow your eyes at her, and she gives you a sideways glance. "I suppose I should get used to it," she muses. "What's that supposed to mean?" you ask, but Clear's door opens then, and Hana doesn't respond, stepping back from the bookshelf with her hands behind her back. You turn as Clear emerges from the hallway, hardly glancing at the two of you and just padding over to the kitchen. She's looking for something, and she seems to find it on the tiled floor, reaching down and standing back up with her phone in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear and hana 7]]

"Clear, do you want me to stay here with you while you pack?" <<if $reject_ladder2>><<include "ch3 clear and hana 7.a reject ladder2 1">><<elseif $reject_ladder1>><<include "ch3 clear and hana 7.a reject ladder1 1">><<elseif $clear_rom and $hana_rom>><<if $c_rel gte 50>>Clear sighs, slowly looking up from her phone. She glances between you and Hana, her hands lowering and clasping in front of her atop the table. "I know you probably want to go with her," Clear says, and Hana shifts awkwardly beside you. "I'm fine packing on my own. Unless you //really// think someone should stay..." Her eyes dart to some of the blood on the floor, and she shrugs. You hear Valentina's warning in your mind.<<else>>Clear sighs, looking up from her phone and running a hand over her face. Then she glances between you and Hana, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Don't you want to go with her?" she scoffs. "I don't really care what you do, $name," she shakes her head, turning back to her phone. Hana grimaces, shifting awkwardly beside you.<</if>> <div id="choice"><<link '"Then I\'ll stay here with you."' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.a.clear rom 1'>><<set $ch3_clear to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"We\'ll be quick. There and back, okay?"' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.a.clear rom 2'>><<set $ch3_hana to true>><</link>></div><<elseif $clear_rom>>Clear sighs, slowly looking up from her phone. She glances between you and Hana, her hands lowering and clasping in front of her atop the table. "I don't mind, either way, $name," she says then, her voice tired. "I'm fine packing on my own. Unless you //really// think someone should stay..." Her eyes dart to some of the blood on the floor, and she shrugs. You hear Valentina's warning in your mind. <<include "ch3 clear and hana choices">><<elseif $c_rel gte 50>>Clear sighs, slowly looking up from her phone. She glances between you and Hana, her hands lowering and clasping in front of her atop the table. "I don't mind, either way, $name," she says then, her voice tired. "I'm fine packing on my own. Unless you //really// think someone should stay..." Her eyes dart to some of the blood on the floor, and she shrugs. You hear Valentina's warning in your mind. <<include "ch3 clear and hana choices">><<else>>Clear sighs, shaking her head. "I don't care what you do, $name," she says, though the vitriol isn't really there. She just sounds tired. <div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. Then I\'m staying."' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.a.1'>><<set $ch3_clear to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. Me and Hana will go to the store, then."' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.a.2'>><<set $ch3_hana to true>><</link>></div><</if>>

"Let's just go. She'll be okay for a little while on her own," you say. Hana glances over at Clear. "Are you sure, $name?" Hana asks quietly. "She'll be alright," you say. Hana bites her lip, but then walks over to Clear, holding out her phone. "Okay, Clear. Just type in a list for me of what you want," Hana nods. "And put your number in, too. I'll text you, and then you can call me if-- if you need anything," she fumbles, glancing back at you. "She'll be alright," you repeat. Convincing Hana and yourself. Clear quickly types up her list, eyeing you over the phone. She gives it back to Hana before walking over to you. <<if $clear_rom>>"Thanks," she says softly. You nod. She reaches out then, touching your arm, giving you a long, searching look. "Don't take this the wrong way," she adds. "I just... want to be alone. I want to do it myself." "I know," you say. She clears her throat then, glancing sheepishly back at Hana. It feels a little ridiculous to act this way about going to the grocery store, and you can tell Clear feels the same, her face a little red as she turns away and heads back to the table.<<else>>"Thanks," she says softly. You nod. <</if>> "Like Hana said, just call if you need anything. Or if you remember something else you want to add to the list." "Right," she says. "We'll be quick," you assure her. "I know. Thanks," she says again. You search her tired face for a moment, and then turn to Hana, both of you heading for the door. You glance back at Clear one last time, but she's already vanished down the hall, and you just sigh. You and Hana head for the stairs, descending back out into the rain. Hana is quiet, tucking her phone away and ducking her head as you both hurry across the lot, back to the car. You let the rain catch in your hair, in your eyelashes, trickling down your face. You close your eyes for a moment, before climbing back into the passenger seat. [[Next ->ch3 hana 1]]

"How about I stay, and you go? I don't want her to be alone," you say. Hana purses her lips. "So that means I'm going grocery shopping?" she says. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>"Is that alright?"<<else>>"You got a better idea?"<</if>> Hana decides to ignore your question. She steps past you, pulling out her phone as she joins Clear at the table. "Here," she says, gesturing with the phone, "write a list, then." Clear eyes you for a moment before taking the phone from Hana. She quickly types her list out, and then gets up to fetch her keycard, giving it to Hana so she'll be able to get back into the building. Hana stops in front of you on her way to the door. <<include "ch3 clear and hana 8 hana leaves v1">>

Clear blinks over at you, surprised at the question, and then grateful, her face softening for a moment. "Honestly, I don't mind, either way, $name," she says then. "I'm fine packing on my own. I just... don't want to go to the store. Unless you //really// think someone should stay..." Her eyes dart to some of the blood on the floor, and she shrugs. You hear Valentina's warning in your mind. <<include "ch3 clear and hana choices">>

"I don't give a shit what you do," she snaps at you, not even looking up from her phone. Hana's eyes widen, her hands covering her mouth as she glances over at you. You purse your lips, scowling at Clear, but she just keeps staring at her phone. <div id="choice"><<link '"Fine. Then I\'m staying."' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.a reject ladder2 1.a'>><<set $ch3_clear to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Fine. Then I\'m leaving."' 'ch3 clear and hana 7.a reject ladder2 1.b'>><<set $ch3_hana to true>><</link>></div>

"Fine. Then I'm staying," you say curtly, and Clear finally looks at you just long enough to give you a good glare. Hana glances between the two of you. "Okay..." she says tentatively. "So I guess I'm going grocery shopping?" Hana asks, her voice tight. You pinch the bridge of you nose. "You have a better idea?" Hana doesn't respond, pursing her lips and shooting you a look. "Fine," she says, crossing the room to join Clear. "Here, write a list on my phone." You turn away from them, feeling annoyed. After punching in her list, Clear gets up and fetches Hana her keycard, and then Hana heads for the door. She stops short in front of you, giving you another look. <<include "ch3 clear and hana 8 hana leaves v1">>

"Fine. Then I'm leaving," you say curtly, and Clear finally looks at you, just long enough to give you a good glare. "//Fine//. Have fun without me," she sneers. You huff, crossing your arms, and Hana shifts awkwardly beside you. "Are you sure, $name?" Hana asks quietly. "You want to drag her around the store yourself, then?" you snap, and she winces a bit before walking over to Clear. Hana hands Clear her phone, instructing Clear to type out a list, which she does rather aggressively before handing the phone back. She gets up and fetches her keycard, handing that over, too, so you and Hana will be able to get back into the building later. Clear mirrors you then, crossing her arms and scowling, waiting for you to leave. "Here," Hana holds her phone out again. "Put your number in. I'll text you, and you'll have my number, too. You can call if... if anything happens." Clear puts in her number without a word, and then you and Hana head out the door. You don't bother with the elevator, just taking the stairs again, back out into the rain. Hana is quiet, tucking her phone away and ducking her head as you both hurry across the lot, back to the car. You let the rain catch in your hair, in your eyelashes, trickling down your face. You close your eyes for a moment, before climbing back into the passenger seat. [[Next ->ch3 hana 1]]

<<if hasVisited("ch3 clear and hana 6 rom 1.c")>><<include "ch3 hana 1.1">><<elseif $hana_rom eq false>><<include "ch3 hana 1.1">><<else>>Hana continues to be uncharacteristically quiet in the car-- of course, she was also uncharacteristically //rude// back in Clear's apartment, too. Maybe that's not really fair to think. You don't //know// Hana. Maybe she's always like this. You recline in your seat, while Hana flicks the radio on. You steal glances at her while she drives, watching the way she anxiously taps her thumbs against the steering wheel. You sigh quietly then, turning away and pressing your face to the warm glass, watching your breath fog up the window, your cold body against the humidity outside condensing quickly and blurring your view. "$name," Hana says suddenly. You glance back over at her. "Sorry I snapped at you," she says. She doesn't look at you, still staring at the road. "The last few days are starting to catch up to me," she says, shaking her head. Her tapping stops, her hands tightening around the steering wheel. She glances over at you, an internal debate over whether or not she wants to share. You bite back any kind of retort you may have had, watching her in the driver's seat. You give her space. You wait. [[Next ->ch3 hana 1.3]]<</if>>

<<if $hana_rom>><<if hasVisited("ch3 clear and hana 6 rom 1.c")>>"Well. I'll be quick," she nods at you. You sigh, stepping a little closer-- but Hana steps back, shaking her head. She looks... angry. "Hana...?" you say, your brow furrowing in confusion, but she shakes her head again, glances at Clear, and then just bolts out of the apartment, the door snapping closed behind her. The sting of rejection leaves you standing there, just staring at the door for a few seconds in disbelief. You turn back to see Clear watching you, but she quickly looks away, and you feel your face get hot, crossing your arms and ducking your head as Clear walks back down the hallway.<<else>>"Well. I'll be quick," she nods at you. "Yeah. Okay," you say, and Hana sighs then, running a hand over her curls. "Okay," she repeats it back to you, and then she glances over at Clear, and then you again-- and she looks... angry. But before you can say anything else, she just bolts out of the apartment, the door snapping closed behind her. You stare after her for a moment, your brow furrowed, and when you turn back to Clear she looks just as confused as you. You drop your gaze, crossing your arms and ducking your head as Clear walks back down the hallway.<</if>><<else>>"Well. I'll be quick," Hana assures you. "Yeah, okay," you say with a nod. She pauses then, glancing back over at Clear. She seems like she wants to say something, but can't find the words-- she just shakes her head and gives you another look. She looks angry. "I'll be back," she says again, hurrying out the door. You don't get to respond before she snaps the door closed behind her. You stare after her for a moment, your brow furrowed, and when you turn back to Clear she looks just as confused as you. You quickly drop your gaze, crossing your arms and ducking your head as Clear walks back down the hallway.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear 1]]

Eventually, you follow Clear back into her bedroom, hovering in the doorway. She's in the middle of dragging her rucksack across the room, leaning it against the bed, shoving the tent and sleeping bag back inside. She pulls out another bag, a duffle bag, from her closet, tossing it onto the bed. And then she lets out a long, weary sigh. <<if $c_rel gte 50>>"You alright?" you ask. She shoots you a look over her shoulder. "I mean-- do you want some water? Do you have anything you can eat in your fridge?" you press, desperate to do something more than just stand here and watch her pack. She puts her hands on her hips, staring down at the floor. "...Yeah. Can you bring me a gatorade?" You tilt your head at her. "I don't know what that is," you say, embarrassed. Clear blinks at you, and then suddenly bursts out laughing. You frown, but-- then you start laughing, too. Clear crosses the room, a warm hand on your arm as she brushes past back into the hall. You trail after her again, both of you still laughing. <<if $askedfood eq false>>In the kitchen, Clear throws open the fridge, reaching inside and pulling out a bottle of bright blue liquid. It's familiar-- you remember, she tried to give that to you when she brought you back here the other night.<<else>>In the kitchen, Clear throws open the fridge, scrounging around inside until she finds what she's looking for. She pulls out a bottle of bright blue liquid, holding it up triumphantly.<</if>> "This is gatorade," Clear says, waving the bottle in front of you. "It's like... got electrolytes and stuff in it. It's good for when your sick. Or hungover." "Sure," you say. She smiles. Reaching back in the fridge, she grabs a second bottle, and hands it to you. "Oh-- wait, I'm sorry... can you--?" "Drink it?" you finish for her. You turn the bottle over in your hands. "I think so. We can drink alcohol, so... why not gatorade?" Clear chuckles. You fall into a comfortable silence, listening to the rain outside. Clear leans against the counter, and you sit down at the table, opening your bottle and taking a tentative sip. It's sweeter than you were expecting-- Clear made it sound like medicine. But it tastes good. You give her a little nod of approval. The two of you sit like that for a while. It's nice. The rain comes down harder, the wind whipping it against the window, and you hope Hana is having an okay time managing by herself. You drink more of your gatorade, and Clear ambles around the front room, pulling books from her shelf and stacking them on the coffee table, along with a few other random things, you assume to pack. You let her head back into her room on her own, giving her some space, leaning back in your chair and staring out the window.<<else>>You stay out of her way, leaning back against the wall, watching as she wanders over to her dresser, eyeing the dusty little mirror perched amongst all the clutter-- a few wrinkled bandanas, some watches and rings, a few more books, too. She grimaces, touching her wet hair and her bruised neck. She catches your distorted reflection, glancing back over her shoulder at you. Then she backtracks, retreating from the room and back down the hall. You trail after her again, playing the part of her shadow. <<if $askedfood eq false>>In the kitchen, Clear throws open the fridge, reaching inside and pulling out a bottle of bright blue liquid. It's familiar-- you remember, she tried to give that to you when she brought you back here the other night.<<else>>In the kitchen, Clear throws open the fridge, scrounging around inside until she finds what she's looking for. She pulls out a bottle of bright blue liquid, shaking it in her hand as she closes the fridge again.<</if>> She raises the chilled bottle and holds it against her forehead with another sigh. "What is that?" your curiosity gets the better of you. Clear lowers the bottle tilts her head at you. "...Gatorade?" she says, confused. "I don't know what that is," you huff, defensive. "It looks-- radioactive." Clear blinks at you, and then suddenly bursts out laughing. You frown, but-- then you start laughing, too. She opens the fridge again, still laughing, and pulls out a second bottle that she offers to you. "Try it. It's got electrolytes and stuff in it. Good for when you're sick. Or hungover." "Sure," you say, and Clear chuckles again. But then she hesitates. "Can you drink it?" Some of the humor is sapped from the room at the question. She's wary again, watching you expectantly. "I don't see why not. We can drink alcohol. So why not..." "Gatorade." "Right." You turn the bottle in your hands, glancing over at Clear as she twists open her own bottle and takes a long drink. You fall into a tense silence then, listening to the rain outside. Clear leans against the counter, and you sit down at the table, opening your bottle and taking a tentative sip. It's sweeter than you were expecting-- Clear made it sound like medicine. But it tastes good. You give her a little nod of approval. The two of you sit like that for a while. It's uncomfortable at first-- but the rain is calming. It comes down harder, the wind whipping it against the window, and you hope Hana is having an okay time managing by herself. You drink more of your gatorade, and Clear ambles around the front room, pulling books from her shelf and stacking them on the coffee table, along with a few other random things, you assume to pack. You let her head back into her room on her own, giving her some space, leaning back in your chair and staring out the window.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear 2]]

"Yeah. I'll stay with you, Clear," you say, and she nods. Hana glances between the two of you. "Okay..." she says tentatively. "So I guess I'm going grocery shopping?" Hana asks, her voice tight. "Is that alright?" Hana purses her lips, and decides to ignore your question. She steps past you, pulling out her phone as she joins Clear at the table. "Here," she says, gesturing with the phone, "write a list, then." "Thanks," Clear says, giving Hana a little uncertain smile. Clear quickly types her list out, and then gets up to fetch her keycard, giving it to Hana so she'll be able to get back into the building. Hana stops in front of you on her way to the door. <<include "ch3 clear and hana 8 hana leaves v1">>

"We'll go to the store, and we'll be right back," you say. Clear nods. She doesn't say it, but you can see the appreciation in her eyes-- you know she wants to be alone. Even if just for a little while. "Are you sure, $name?" Hana asks quietly. "She'll be alright," you say. Hana bites her lip, but then walks over to Clear, holding out her phone. "Okay. Just type in a list for me of what you want," Hana nods. "And put your number in, too. I'll text you, and then you can call me if-- if you need anything," she fumbles, glancing back at you. "She'll be alright," you repeat. Convincing Hana and yourself. <<include "ch3 clear and hana 8 mc leaves v1">>

<<if $reject_ladder2>>Clear quickly types up her list, eyeing you over the phone. She gives it back to Hana before walking over to you. "Like Hana said, just call if you need anything. Or if you remember something else you want to add to the list." "Right," she says. "We'll be quick," you assure her. "I know," she says. Her anger seems to have shifted into exhaustion, and she just gives you a nod. You search her tired face for a moment, and then turn to Hana, both of you heading for the door. You glance back at Clear one last time, but she's already vanished down the hall, and you just sigh. You and Hana head for the stairs, descending back out into the rain. Hana is quiet, tucking her phone away and ducking her head as you both hurry across the lot, back to the car. You let the rain catch in your hair, in your eyelashes, trickling down your face. You close your eyes for a moment, before climbing back into the passenger seat.<<elseif $clear_rom>>Clear eyes you over the phone, before quickly typing up her list. She gives it back to Hana before walking over to you. <<if $hana_rom>>"Thanks," she says softly, reaching out and giving your arm a soft squeeze. You return the gesture, trailing a light touch along her forearm-- too aware of Hana watching you to do much else.<<else>>"Thanks," she says softly. You nod. She reaches out then, touching your arm, giving you a long, searching look.<</if>> "Don't take this the wrong way," she adds. "I just... want to do it myself." "I know," you say. She clears her throat then, glancing sheepishly back at Hana. It feels a little ridiculous to act this way about going to the grocery store, and you can tell Clear feels the same, her face a little red as she turns away and heads back to the table. "I'll get my fire extinguisher ready, just in case," she says then, glancing back over her shoulder at you. You shake your head with a little smile. "We'll be quick. You won't need it," you assure her. Clear just laughs, and then you and Hana head for the door. You don't bother with the elevator, just taking the stairs down again, back out into the rain. Hana is quiet, tucking her phone away and ducking her head as you both hurry across the lot, back to the car. You let the rain catch in your hair, in your eyelashes, trickling down your face. You close your eyes for a moment, before climbing back into the passenger seat.<<else>><<if $c_rel gte 50>>Clear quickly types up her list, eyeing you over the phone. She gives it back to Hana before walking over to you. "Thanks," she says softly. You nod. "Like Hana said, just call if you need anything. Or if you remember something else you want to add to the list." Clear glances over her shoulder then, down the hall. "I'll get my fire extinguisher ready, just in case," she smirks then. You shake your head with a little smile. "We'll be quick. You won't need it," you assure her. She just laughs. She waves you and Hana off then, and you both head out the door. You don't bother with the elevator, just taking the stairs down again, back out into the rain. Hana is quiet, tucking her phone away and ducking her head as you both hurry across the lot, back to the car. You let the rain catch in your hair, in your eyelashes, trickling down your face. You close your eyes for a moment, before climbing back into the passenger seat.<<else>>Clear quickly types up her list, eyeing you over the phone. She gives it back to Hana before walking over to you. "Thanks," she says softly. You nod. "Like Hana said, just call if you need anything. Or if you remember something else you want to add to the list." "Right," she says. "We'll be quick," you assure her. "I know. Thanks," she says again. You search her tired face for a moment, and then turn to Hana, both of you heading for the door. You glance back at Clear one last time, but she's already vanished down the hall, and you just sigh. You and Hana head for the stairs, descending back out into the rain. Hana is quiet, tucking her phone away and ducking her head as you both hurry across the lot, back to the car. You let the rain catch in your hair, in your eyelashes, trickling down your face. You close your eyes for a moment, before climbing back into the passenger seat.<</if>><</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana 1]]

<<if $c_rel gte 50>>"Then I'll stay with you, Clear," you say, and she seems a little surprised, a soft look on her face that she quickly tries to hide. Hana glances between the two of you. "Okay..." she says tentatively. "So I guess I'm going grocery shopping?" Hana asks, her voice tight. "Is that alright?" Hana purses her lips, and decides to ignore your question. She steps past you, pulling out her phone as she joins Clear at the table. "Here," she says, gesturing with the phone, "write a list, then." "Thanks," Clear says, giving Hana a little uncertain smile. Clear quickly types her list out, and then gets up to fetch her keycard, giving it to Hana so she'll be able to get back into the building. Hana stops in front of you on her way to the door.<<else>>"Then I'll stay here with you," you say, and Clear glances back at you, narrowing her eyes for a moment before nodding. Hana glances between the two of you. "Okay..." she says tentatively. "So I guess I'm going grocery shopping?" Hana asks, her voice tight. "Is that alright?" Hana purses her lips, and decides to ignore your question. She steps past you, pulling out her phone as she joins Clear at the table. "Here," she says, gesturing with the phone, "write a list, then." "Thanks," Clear says, giving Hana a little uncertain smile. Clear quickly types her list out, and then gets up to fetch her keycard, giving it to Hana so she'll be able to get back into the building. Hana stops in front of you on her way to the door.<</if>> <<include "ch3 clear and hana 8 hana leaves v1">>

<<if $c_rel gte 50>>"...We'll be quick. There and back, okay?" you say slowly. Clear actually looks relieved, letting out a long breath as you make the decision for her. "Okay," Clear says eventually. You study her tired face for a moment-- and she gives you an appreciative nod.<<else>>"Fine. We'll be quick, then. There and back, okay?" you say. Clear peers over at you, and then just nods. "Yeah. Okay," she says, and you catch a bit of relief in her voice, her body relaxing slightly in her chair, betraying her previous irritation.<</if>> "Are you sure, $name?" Hana asks quietly. "She'll be alright," you say. Hana bites her lip, but then walks over to Clear, holding out her phone. "Okay. Just type in a list for me of what you want," Hana nods. "And put your number in, too. I'll text you, and then you can call me if-- if you need anything," she fumbles, glancing back at you. "She'll be alright," you repeat. Convincing Hana and yourself. Clear quickly types up her list, eyeing you over the phone. She gives it back to Hana before walking over to you. "Thanks," she says softly, reaching out and giving your arm a soft squeeze. You return the gesture, trailing a light touch along her forearm-- too aware of Hana watching you to do much else. "Like Hana said," you pull back, glancing over at her, "just call if you need anything. Or if you remember something else you want to add to the list." Clear nods slowly, looking between the both of you. "I'll get my fire extinguisher ready, just in case," she smirks then. You shake your head with a little smile. "We'll be quick. You won't need it," you assure her. She just laughs. She waves you and Hana off then, and you both head out the door. You don't bother with the elevator, just taking the stairs down again, back out into the rain. Hana is quiet, tucking her phone away and ducking her head as you both hurry across the lot, back to the car. You let the rain catch in your hair, in your eyelashes, trickling down your face. You close your eyes for a moment, before climbing back into the passenger seat. [[Next ->ch3 hana 1]]

"Then I'm staying here," you say, and Clear glances back at you, narrowing her eyes for a moment before nodding. Hana glances between the two of you. "Okay..." she says tentatively. "So I guess I'm going grocery shopping?" Hana asks, her voice tight. "Is that alright?" Hana purses her lips, and decides to ignore your question. She steps past you, pulling out her phone as she joins Clear at the table. "Here," she says, gesturing with the phone, "write a list, then." "Thanks," Clear says, giving Hana a little uncertain smile. Clear quickly types her list out, and then gets up to fetch her keycard, giving it to Hana so she'll be able to get back into the building. Hana stops in front of you on her way to the door. <<include "ch3 clear and hana 8 hana leaves v1">>

"Okay. Me and Hana will go the store, then," you say. Clear peers over at you, and then just nods. "Yeah. Okay," she says, and you catch a bit of relief in her voice, her body relaxing slightly in her chair, betraying her previous irritation. "Are you sure, $name?" Hana asks quietly. "She'll be alright," you say. Hana bites her lip, but then walks over to Clear, holding out her phone. "Okay. Just type in a list for me of what you want," Hana nods. "And put your number in, too. I'll text you, and then you can call me if-- if you need anything," she fumbles, glancing back at you. "She'll be alright," you repeat. Convincing Hana and yourself. Clear quickly types up her list, eyeing you over the phone. She gives it back to Hana before walking over to you. "Thanks," she says softly. You nod. "Like Hana said, just call if you need anything. Or if you remember something else you want to add to the list." "Right," she says. "We'll be quick," you assure her. "I know. Thanks," she says again. You search her tired face for a moment, and then turn to Hana, both of you heading for the door. You glance back at Clear one last time, but she's already vanished down the hall, and you just sigh. You and Hana head for the stairs, descending back out into the rain. Hana is quiet, tucking her phone away and ducking her head as you both hurry across the lot, back to the car. You let the rain catch in your hair, in your eyelashes, trickling down your face. You close your eyes for a moment, before climbing back into the passenger seat. [[Next ->ch3 hana 1]]

<<link [[Rival poly romance ch2 hana ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $hana_rom to true>><<set $clear_rom to true>><<set $val_rom to true>><<set $v_hostile to true>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $ch2_hana to true>><<set $c_rel to 48>><<set $v_rel to 48>><<set $v_rivalry to true>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $mc to "latine">><</link>> <<link [[Rival poly romance ch2 val ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $hana_rom to true>><<set $clear_rom to true>><<set $val_rom to true>><<set $v_hostile to true>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $ch2_val to true>><<set $c_rel to 48>><<set $v_rel to 48>><<set $v_rivalry to true>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $mc to "black">><</link>> <<link [[Rival poly romance wo Val ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $hana_rom to true>><<set $clear_rom to true>><<set $v_hostile to true>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $c_rel to 48>><<set $v_rel to 52>><<set $v_rivalry to true>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $mc to "latine">><</link>> <<link [[Friendly Clear rom & plat Hana ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $clear_rom to true>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $c_rel to 55>><<set $v_hostile to true>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $mc to "white">><</link>> <<link [[Rival rom Clear & plat Hana ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $clear_rom to true>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $c_rel to 45>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $mc to "black">><</link>> <<link [[Laterom Rival Clear & rom Hana ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $clear_laterom to true>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $c_rel to 45>><<set $ch2_hana to true>><<set $hana_rom to true>><<set $v_hostile to true>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $mc to "white">><</link>> <<link [[Laterom Plat Clear & rom Hana ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $hana_rom to true>><<set $clear_laterom to true>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $c_rel to 57>><<set $v_hostile to false>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $ch2_val to true>><<set $mc to "black">><</link>> <<link [[Rival Clear rom & rom Hana ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $hana_rom to true>><<set $clear_rom to true>><<set $val_rom to true>><<set $v_hostile to true>><<set $v_hanascratch to true>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $c_rel to 48>><<set $v_rel to 52>><<set $v_rivalry to true>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $mc to "latine">><</link>> <<link [[Plat Clear & plat Hana, V rom ->ch3 splash]]>><<set $v_hostile to false>><<set $h_rel to 55>><<set $c_rel to 55>><<set $v_rel to 52>><<set $name to "Morgan">><<set $ch2_val to true>><<set $val_rom to true>><<set $mc to "white">><</link>>

A quiet rustling, and then she opens the door, tilting her head at you. She peeks out and glances down the hall, her brow furrowed. "You don't want to go with them?" she asks. You shake your head. <<if $val_rom>>Valentina drops her gaze and smiles, and she opens the door all the way for you, gesturing you inside.<<else>>Valentina seems surprised, dropping her gaze for a moment, but then she opens the door all the way for you, gesturing you inside.<</if>> The room appears to be a study, bookshelves lining the walls and a large, ornate desk in the middle. There are massive bay windows on the back wall, heavy curtains pulled back and letting the dim grey light from the rainy day outside spill in. You admire some of the antiques Valentina has displayed on the shelves-- you assume a few items she brought with her from home, so long ago now. There's an apothecary chest in the corner, and you are ever so curious about what Valentina could have stashed in there. On the desk you note an antique inkstone, solid lampblack ink slabs, and a fancy bamboo brush pot. Then, of course, is the sleek modern monitor and a touch screen, along with a laptop closed in front of the monitor. There are a few papers and letters scattered about, but otherwise the desk is extremely organized and tidy, just like the rest of the room. The sudden smell of incense hits you then, sharp and sweet, and you turn back to Valentina, watching as she shakes out a match in her hand, the stick of incense glowing softly on the shelf behind her. "It's nice, with the rain," she says then, and she seems shy suddenly, ducking her head and shuffling over to the desk. "I can't believe this place, Valentina," you say, shaking your head at it all-- the books, the antiques, the paintings you only just now noticed, too. And all the rooms you've wandered through, the massive kitchen and the landing and your bedroom and Clear's room and the lounge and, and, and. She sighs, stepping around the desk, tilting her head at you. "Believe it or not, a lot of it was my husband's," she says slowly. "Most of it is-- was. It's mine now." She glances over at you, shaking her head. "A poor attempt at reclaiming something, I guess." "Oh," you say softly, for lack of anything else to offer. You glance around the room again, at the books that you wish you could read, at the pretty Chinese porcelain and antique stationary. She reaches out and strokes the inkstone. "Song dynasty," she says, matter-of-factly. You watch her slowly walk around the room then, trailing her hand along the shelves. "He was a collector. With a taste for Chinese antiques," she curls her lip. "Imagine his delight when he collected me." You feel your skin crawl. <div id="choice"><<link '"Valentina, I\'m sorry."' 'ch3 val 2.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know what to say."' 'ch3 val 2.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Did he know?"' 'ch3 val 2.c'>><</link>></div>

"Valentina, I'm sorry," you say, taking a half-step towards her. She just shrugs. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known," she says. "Neither of us could have known what was going to happen." She tilts her head at you again, and takes the remaining half-step towards you. "I did what I had to. It's done," she says softly. It's hard for you to look her in the eye, but you tentatively reach out, touch a hand to her shoulder, and then you pull her in for a hug. She's stiff at first, but then she wraps her arms around you and returns the gesture. She pulls back quickly, though, suddenly uncomfortable, and she squeezes your arm before she lets go. "...Let's talk about something else," she says, and you nod. [[Next ->ch3 val 3]]

"I don't know what to say." Valentina shrugs. "What is there to say?" She stares up at one of the vases on the bookshelf. "I don't bring it up to guilt you, or-- or anything like that. It's just what happened. And that man lived for a long time." She drops her gaze to glare down at her hands. "At least I got this house. At least I got his money. At least I got to kill him. That's really all there is to say in the end." She lets out a long breath then, glancing over at you. "Let's talk about something else," she says, and you nod. [[Next ->ch3 val 3]]

"Did he know?" you ask. "Did he know, what? That I hated him? That I was a dyke? Or that I was a vampire?" she muses. "He knew enough, especially once the council got involved." She pauses, staring up at one of the vases on the shelf. "He knew. He ignored it, for the most part. I'd arrange... food... on my own. But I'd have to bring it home, occasionally. He saw it. And when he started to age and I didn't-- well. We could only pretend for so long. Of course, he liked that. He liked how I looked on his arm. He..." She trails off then, glaring down at her hands. "Let's talk about something else," she says then, and you nod. [[Next ->ch3 val 3]]

"The meeting," you offer. "Tell me about the meeting?" Valentina nods slowly, leaning back against the desk and staring down at her heeled boots. "Right. They'll be here soon, actually," she says, running a hand over her hair. "You may have met one of them last night," she says. "The bartender, at the club. Her name is Joan." You remember-- butch woman, older, short grey hair and lots of tattoos. "She's not very happy with me right now," Valentina says with a tight smile. She crosses her arms, sighing again. "I own the club, but Joan is the one that runs it-- and all the others. She's mad that I didn't tell her about you-- that you'd be there. And then Oberon showed up..." she trails off, waving her hand. "Her and her partner, Lucky, are coming by, probably just to chew me out," Valentina scoffs. "I'm sure she'll ask about Oberon. And you," she says. You must be making a face, because she pushes off the desk then, twirling her braid around her finger. "Joan knew us. She knew you. She's an old friend. And she doesn't have any reservations about speaking her mind to me. I appreciate it, actually," Valentina muses. "I own the club, but it is hers." She pauses then, smiling coldly. "I own a lot of things that aren't really mine." You frown at her, but she just shakes her head again. "Come on. Let's meet them in the foyer, like proper ladies," she smirks, turning for the door. [[Next ->ch3 val 4]]

Your timing couldn't be more perfect, a little tone sounding through the house as you and Valentina cross the landing and descend the stairs. Hana is gone, and so is Clear, and the house feels even larger without them. You hang back as Valentina approaches the front door, suddenly nervous. Valentina seems relaxed, though, so you try to emulate her, running your hands over your hair a few times and exhaling slowly. Valentina dramatically turns the doorknob and throws the door open wide, and standing in the doorway is the bartender and another woman you don't recognize. But you know she's not a vampire. And she's not a human, either. You feel your hackles rise, eyeing her as they both step into the foyer, exchanging pleasantries with Valentina. Her and Joan are both wearing cowboy boots and wide-brimmed cowboy hats, dripping with rain. Only Joan takes hers off, politely holding it low in front of her, clasping it in both hands. She looks about the same as you remember her last night: jeans and a black button-up with the sleeves rolled up, showing off her tattoos and her tanned, sun-damaged skin, which is a curious thing to see on a vampire. Despite her hat, her short, clipped grey hair is a little wet, shiny and spiky as she runs a hand through it. But the other woman is the one that has your attention. You have hers, too. She must be Lucky. You both size each other up, your eyes roaming from her cowboy boots to her leather jacket up to her hat. She has long, dark brown hair, pushed back behind her shoulders and frizzy from the rain. Her skin is a cool brown, and her eyes are dark, glowering at you from beneath her hat. She puts her hands on her hips, and you cross your arms, standing up straight and meeting her glare. She has a way about her-- it unnerves you a bit, to not know who this is. What she is. Does she know you? Do you know her? Is she another name, another face, forgotten in your hundred years of stone cold death? [[Next ->ch3 val 5]]

"$name," Valentina says, her voice sharp, and you're forced to look away from the woman, turning to Valentina as she walks back over to you. She grabs your elbow, pulls on your arm until you uncross them and then ushers you to join the three of them. "You'll have to forgive her. Her memory... it's coming back slow," Valentina says, and Joan nods, narrowing her eyes at you. "Joan," she says, offering her hand out to you. You take it, her hand cold and calloused. "$name," you tell her. She smirks. "I know." Valentina turns towards the other woman then. "This is Lucky," she says. "Her and Joan run the club together, and a few others in the city." Lucky doesn't say anything, unmoving for a moment, until she offers you her hand, too. You take it. Lucky is warm, her hand rough and strong. "Either of you like a drink?" Valentina asks then, as you and Lucky let your hands drop. "Please," Lucky answers, her voice just as rough as her hands. Joan shakes her head. You watch as Valentina flutters over to a cart near the hall that you hadn't noticed before-- was that always there? Did she bring that out from the kitchen earlier? She pulls out a decanter and a few glasses. The amber liquid she pours into the glass has a spicy smell, detectable even from a few feet away. She offers the glass to Lucky, who takes it with a deep bow of her head. "Thank you," she says. "So... would you ladies like to take a seat?" "No, Valentina," Joan sighs. She seems exasperated by her hospitality. "We're just here for a quick talk. An exchange." "Mmm. And what kind of exchange is that?" Lucky sips on her drink, while Joan twists her hat in her hands. Valentina turns away from them both, pouring another glass for herself. She takes a long drink before looking expectantly at Joan. "You know why I'm here, Valentina," Joan says. "The bar was dead for the rest of the night after that shit. And you and I both know it's going to be dead tonight, too, and for the rest of the week. You've gone and spooked everybody." Valentina clicks her tongue, shaking her head as Joan glares at her. "So what do you want me to do about it?" Valentina says, glaring over her glass. Joan pinches the bridge of her nose for a moment. Lucky keeps sipping her drink, seemingly amused by Joan and Valentina's back and forth. "I need you to pay me early," Joan finally says. "And add a little extra, to make up for this shit." "Ah. There it is. Always about the money, Joan. You never want to talk about anything else, these days." "Yes, Valentina, it costs money to run your fucking clubs. And you just lost me a lot of that money." "//Me//?" Valentina scoffs, holding her drink high and crossing her other arm over her chest, giving Joan a look. "You, and //her//," Joan jabs a finger at you. "You should have warned me about her. What the fuck were you thinking, bringing her there last night? What the fuck were you thinking, risking everything?" <div id="choice"><<link '"//We// didn\'t lose you any money. That was Oberon."' 'ch3 val 5.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Watch where you point that finger, Joan."' 'ch3 val 5.b'>><<set $j_rel -=1>><</link>></div>

There is one thing that you do remember. You don't need to see your face to know it. This place-- this country. It looks different, but you remember. You lean forward, your palms pressed to the counter on either side of the porcelain sink. You can see the color of your skin, smudged across the tooth-paste stained glass. You remember more. Here, in America, they call you... <div id="choice"><<link [[...white. ->ch1 7.1]]>><<set $mc to "white">><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[...Black. ->ch1 7.1]]>><<set $mc to "black">><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[...Middle Eastern. ->ch1 7.1]]>><<set $mc to "me">><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[...Indigenous. ->ch1 7.1]]>><<set $mc to "indigenous">><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[...Asian. ->ch1 7.1]]>><<set $mc to "asian">><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[...Latine. ->ch1 7.1]]>><<set $mc to "latine">><</link>></div>

No, that much you cannot forget. Simple, but it grounds you for a moment in this unfamiliar bathroom inside this unfamiliar apartment. But the longer you stare at your featureless reflection, the more that newfound tether starts to unravel. Was there a time before this place? A time where you would have called yourself something else? A time where it would have meant something more to you than just //other people's// perception. Before the tomb-- before this curse. Your lips curl back, a flash of white teeth across the glass. You turn away. You turn to the tub. You fumble with the shower head and the knobs for a bit until you figure out how to turn it all on — this, at least, is still the same, another feeble tether reinforcing the first— and then you step back and wait for the water to heat up. You watch as your blurred reflection is slowly consumed by the steam creeping across the glass, and then you slip into the shower. [[Next ->ch1 8]]

She returns eventually, walking back over to join you at the table, dropping down hard in the chair across from you, and she reaches for her phone, still on the charger. You eye her as she unlocks it, watching as her pursed lips turn into a frown, her eyes lowering to stare at the old wooden tabletop, setting her phone down a little harder than necessary. "What's wrong? You were looking at it like that earlier, too." Clear shakes her head. "It's nothing," she says after a moment. She looks uncomfortable, fidgeting with her hands on the table. She glances at you, seeming to debate whether or not to continue. "...Do you need to call someone?" you offer. "No," she says, dropping her gaze. "You don't have to worry about that." She doesn't say anything else for a few minutes. You wait. "I guess I should let my job know, anyways. I'm supposed to work tonight. A twelve hour shift at the station," she sighs. "They're going to be pissed." "What are you going to tell them?" "That I'm sick? I don't know. They won't care. I figure it doesn't really matter." She glances at you. "I'm correct in assuming I won't be working there anymore?" "I don't know. For now..." You remember Valentina's words. "For now, no." Clear closes her eyes, rubbing at her temples. "Maybe try telling them it's a family emergency. You have to travel, or something," you offer. Clear opens her eyes and scowls at you. "I don't have any family." You wince. "I don't have any family. They disowned me. Don't have any friends. All I have is this fucking job," she snaps then. You aren't sure what to say to that-- if you're being honest, a part of you is relieved. If no one is looking for her, no one will find //you//. <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know what to say, Clear."' 'ch3 clear 2.a'>><<set $c_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Well. At least that makes things easier for us."' 'ch3 clear 2.b'>><<set $c_rel -=2>><<set $cruel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sure you have //some// friends..."' 'ch3 clear 2.c'>><<set $c_rel -=1>><</link>></div>

"...I don't know what to say, Clear," is all you manage. The truth, you suppose. Clear closes her eyes again, pressing her face into her hands. "I don't expect you to say anything," she says eventually. She lets her hands drop, and then she stands from the table, so abrupt that her chair scrapes loudly across the floor, making you both grimace. "I need to pack," she announces, turning for the hallway. <<include "ch3 clear 4">>

"Well, at least that makes things easier for us." <<if $c_rel lt 50 and $ladder_reject2>>"Oh! Good. I'm //so// glad it helps," Clear spits, standing from her chair and slamming her hands down on the table. You glare up at her, and she glares back. "You're such an asshole, $name," she says. Then she shakes her head, pushing off the table and turning towards the hallway. "I need to pack."<<elseif $ladder_reject2>>"Oh! Good. I'm //so// glad it helps," Clear spits, standing from her chair and slamming her hands down on the table. You glare up at her, and she glares back. "You're such an asshole, $name," she says. Then she shakes her head, pushing off the table and turning towards the hallway. "I need to pack."<<elseif $c_rel lt 50>>Clear glares at you across the table. "Why do you have to say shit like that?" she snaps. You frown at her, but feel yourself fumbling a bit with the hurt look she gives you. "I'm just saying what's true," you huff. "Right. Of course," Clear rolls her eyes, and then she stands abruptly, her chair scraping loudly across the floor behind her. "I need to pack."<<else>>Clear gives you a look that immediately makes you regret saying it. "I-- I just mean-" "I know what you mean," Clear snaps. She closes her eyes for a moment, exhaling through her nose, then she stands abruptly, her chair scraping loudly across the floor behind her. You stare up at her for a moment, until she opens her eyes. Then you look away. "I need to pack," she says.<</if>> <<include "ch3 clear 4">>

"I'm sure you have //some// friends, Clear," you say, finding it hard to believe otherwise. Unfortunately, it is definitely the wrong thing to say, Clear's face screwing up and turning red as she glares at you across the table. "Fuck you, $name," she snaps, slamming her hands down as she stands and sends her chair skittering across the floor. You glare up at her for a moment-- but then you look away, your face flushing with embarrassment. "I need to pack," Clear announces after an awkward moment, pushing off the table and turning towards the hallway. <<include "ch3 clear 4">>

<<if $clear_rom eq true>><<if $c_rel gte 50>><<include "ch3 clear high rel rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch3 clear rival rom 1">><</if>><<else>><<if $c_rel gte 50>><<include "ch3 clear plat 1">><<else>><<include "ch 3 clear rival 1">><</if>><</if>>

"Clear," you blurt, standing with her. She gives you a hard look as you come around the table. "I'm... I'm sorry," you say softly. "Yeah. Me, too," she sighs. She glances around the room then, taking a step back, and she sniffles a bit, shaking her head and roughly wiping at her face. "Clear," you say, tentatively reaching out for her. "It's fine," she mumbles. "I'm sorry, it's fine." You touch her shoulder, and she shudders, bowing her head as you step closer. You raise your other hand, pushing her still-wet hair back out of her face-- and then she shoves your hand aside just so she can hug you, grasping desperately at your shirt, begging to be held. You wrap your arms around her and do just that. "I'm sorry," she says again. "Why are you apologizing?" She shakes her head, and you close your eyes, Clear's body warm against your own. When she pulls back, she slowly blinks at you, her eyes drawn to your lips, and your arms tighten around her for a moment, her breath in your mouth-- fresh and minty, a sharp hint of acidic burn. Your one hand wanders to the bandages at her throat. But then she jerks back and pushes you away. "I need to pack," she says again. She swipes up a few books off the coffee table, a few knocking to the floor in her sudden frantic state, and she even drops one as she hurries down the hall. You pick it up for her. [[Next ->ch3 clear high rel rom 2]]

"Clear," you blurt, standing with her. She gives you a hard look as you come around the table. "I'm... I'm sorry," you say softly. "Yeah. Me, too," she sighs. She glances around the room then, taking a step back, and she sniffles a bit, shaking her head and roughly wiping at her face. "Clear," you say, tentatively reaching out for her. "It's fine," she mumbles. "I'm sorry, it's fine." You touch her shoulder, and she shudders, bowing her head as you step closer. You raise your other hand, pushing her still-wet hair back out of her face-- and then she shoves your hand aside just so she can hug you, grasping desperately at your shirt, begging to be held. You wrap your arms around her and do just that. "I'm sorry," she says again. "Why are you apologizing?" She shakes her head, and you close your eyes, Clear's body warm against your own. When she pulls back, she slowly blinks at you, her eyes drawn to your lips, and your arms tighten around her for a moment, her breath in your mouth-- fresh and minty, a sharp hint of acidic burn. Your one hand wanders to the bandages at her throat. But then she jerks back and pushes you away. "I need to pack," she says again. She swipes up a few books off the coffee table, suddenly looking frantic, dropping one as she hurries down the hall. You pick it up for her. [[Next ->ch3 clear plat 2]]

"Clear," you blurt, standing with her. She gives you a hard look as you come around the table. "I'm... I'm sorry," you say softly. Clear's jaw clenches, and then she lunges at you, shoving you hard. "This is all your fault!" she shouts, rushing over and shoving you again. You let her, staggering back until your heel hits the couch, and you catch yourself on the armrest. "This is all your fault!" Clear leers over you, grabbing your shoulders and shoving you down onto the cushions. "Do something!" she yells at you, grabbing the front of your shirt. You stand from the couch, and when she tries to shove you back down again you grab her wrists and free your shirt, rushing the both of you across the room, slamming her back against the bookshelf, knocking the wind out of her and making her yelp. A few books tumble to the floor, falling open at your feet. Clear twists her arms in your grasp, writhing back against the shelves, her eyes dark and her nostrils flaring as she tries to catch her breath. "This is all your fucking fault," she says again, and you nod. "I know." She stills then, swallowing painfully, your breaths intermingling as she pants loudly. She smells like toothpaste and spice, her hair still smelling strongly of shampoo, still wet from her shower and the rain outside. "What is it that you want me to do, Clear?" you say, your hands tightening around her wrists. "You want me to bite you? Hurt you?" She narrows her eyes at you, curling her lip in a sneer. And then she tilts her head back, exposing her throat to you. "This is what you want?" you ask. She doesn't move, still breathing hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly. You can sense the adrenaline, pulsing in her blood-- and the desire. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom 2]]

Clear goes into a frenzy, pulling clothes out of her closet, throwing them onto the bed into a messy pile before turning around and shoving them into her duffle bag. She grabs another pair of boots and sets them by the bed, and then a jacket and a few pairs of jeans that she can't quite fit into the duffle. She shoves them into the top of the rucksack. You glance down at the book in your hands then-- and startle, the cover depicting two women in bed together. And one of them... has fangs? You try and fail to read the title. You can't read it, of course, but you're also far too enamored by the cover. Books like this had to be hidden-- bound in decoy covers. But here it is in your hands, bold and brazen. <<if hasVisited("ch3 clear and hana 6 rom 1.c")>>This must be what Hana meant by //a good, sexy book.// <</if>>You trail your fingers over the worn spine, flick through the pages. You stare at the woman with fangs again. Is she meant to be a vampire? [["What are you looking at?" ->ch3 clear high rel rom 3]]

Clear suddenly lunges at you, snatching the book out of your hands, her face flushing red. "What the hell," she stammers. "What's your problem? Are you just going through my shit?" "You dropped it in the hall..." you say, and she takes a step back, clearly flustered. You think she's going to smack you with the book for a few seconds, but instead she turns on her heel and flutters back over to the bed, shoving the book into her bag. "Clear-" you start, and she glares at you. "I didn't mean to... I just saw the picture, I can't read it," you blurt. "What are you talking about?" she snaps "I..." you falter, shame making it hard for you to find the words. You're not thrilled to be making the confession for the second time today-- it's not any easier. "I can't read it. I can't read." Clear blinks at you, her brow furrowing. Some of the anger in her face softens slightly. "You... can't read?" You shake your head. "At all?" "If I stare long enough, some of the words start to make sense. But... it's hard." "Can you read the cover?" she asks, pulling the book back out of her bag and holding it up for you. You feel your face get hot. "Um..." you stare down at your hands. "It was just the picture that I saw. The teeth-- that's why I was looking at it," you say. Clear stares at you for a long moment. "You're so... weird," she says. You give her a look, taking a step back in offense. "Sometimes you're fucking terrifying," she says slowly. "Sometimes the way you look at me makes me fucking crazy. And then other times... you're so meek. You seem so... young. Unsure of yourself." "I'm plenty sure of myself," you say, feeling defensive. "You were looking at a picture of two women having sex?" she presses, disbelieving, waving the book in front of you. "Don't fucking patronize me," you say then, jabbing a finger at her. Her jaw clenches, and she taps the cover, shoving it in your face. "It's called //Girls Who Bite//," she says. "It's lesbian vampire erotica." Then she throws it at you, and it //thumps// against your chest before falling to the floor. You both stare at it, landing open on a random page. <<link [[Next ->ch3 clear high rel rom 4]]>><<set $c_read to true>><</link>>

There's a sudden hot tension in the room, Clear raising her gaze to look you up and down, and you can feel her heart-rate jump, her jaw clenching again as your eyes meet for a moment. "Vampire erotica," you say. Clear's blood pulses as her face flushes. You step over the open book then, stepping closer, and Clear backs up into the wall, her eyes darting over your face as you lean in. "I'm plenty sure of myself, Clear Rivers," you say slowly. You press your palm to the wall behind Clear's head then, pinning her in place, your other hand reaching out to touch her face. You do it slowly, cautiously-- unsure if she's going to shove you away again. When she doesn't-- when she leans into your touch, when she whispers your name, you close the remaining space between you, your bodies aligning perfectly together as you press into her. She's warm, and you can smell the spicy scent of her shampoo still clinging to her wet hair, closing your eyes for a moment as your lips brush along her jaw. Her hands find your waist, and then you turn your head and kiss her, her hands tightening as she eagerly reciprocates, opening her mouth and letting you suck on her tongue. Clear is so warm-- her body pressed against you, her breath, her lips, her tongue, her blood. Warm and alive. You move your hand off the wall and grab at a fistful of her wet hair, some of the cold water seeping out between your fingers and dripping down your arm, and Clear gasps softly as you roughly pull her head sideways, peeling away her bandages, exposing her throat and the angry red bite marks and the long hard scabs that vanish beneath her collar. You can feel her tense, but you lean in and kiss them gently, breathing in the sweet smell of her blood-- but you don't bite her. Her skin is hot and painful, scorching against your cool lips, and you trail kisses along the curve of her neck, until you're in the hollow of her throat, her breath panting softly against your hair. You feel her swallow, feel her tense against the wall, her heart racing-- the sweetest sound, the rhythmic //thump//, //thump//, //thump// of desire. You pull her collar down, kissing just below her neckline, but you feel a sudden hesitation from her, her hands tightening in a way that you don't think she intended for you to notice-- and you pull back to look at her, her eyes half-lidded but wary. "Do you want me to stop?" you ask softly. "No..." she says, glancing sideways. "But I want to keep my shirt on." "Okay," you say, and you feel her relax, licking her lips as she reaches out to cup your face in her hand. "Can I take off your jeans? Can I put my mouth on you?" you ask, breathing against her wrist. Clear doesn't answer right away. You start to think that maybe you should back off, or let her lead instead; you know how women like her are. But-- "Yes," she breathes, stroking your cheek with her thumb. You search her face, her big brown eyes, and she nods, her hand trailing up to press against your crown-- to push you down to your knees. You let her. You think she likes it this way-- more in control, her hand in your hair to pull you around as she pleases. You blink up at her, your hands resting on her hips, toying with the bottom of her shirt. "Can I touch your stomach?" you ask. She nods. [[Next ->ch3 clear high rel rom 5]]

You slip your hands beneath her shirt, pushing the fabric up a bit so you can kiss the little swell of stomach overtop her jeans, the start of her happy trail tickling your chin as you do. <<if $clear_tattoo>>Clear's tattoo around her belly button draws your attention, and you trace the sun with your tongue before kissing her navel, your fingers curling around the top of her waistband, Clear's hand tightening in your hair as her back arches slightly.<<else>>Clear has a tattoo around her belly button, a jagged, black sun-- you imagine it being cut out of metal, sharp edges and black ink, similar to the barbed wire around her bicep. You kiss the sun, your fingers curling around the top of her waistband, Clear's hand tightening in your hair as her back arches slightly.<</if>> You hum softly, unbuckling her belt, pulling the leather free in one motion and letting it fall to the floor. You undo the button, the zipper, and slowly pull her pants down, gathering at her ankles, and you press a kiss to her inner thigh, your hands sliding back up to run over her briefs, caressing her through the thin fabric while trailing more kisses along her thigh. She squirms a bit, kicking her jeans away, angling her hips and spreading her legs, letting her head roll back against the wall as your mouth moves higher and higher until you're kissing her underwear, your hands wrapping around to grab her ass and hold her close. You can hear her take a deep breath, your face pressed against her crotch as you stroke the length of her opening through her briefs. Her breath quickens, and she peers down at you, her pupils blown wide and her lips wet and parted slightly as she watches you. You turn your head, your lips against her thigh again. "Do you want me to be like one of the vampires in your book, Clear?" you ask, the question ghosting over her warm skin. "Do you want me to bite?" "//Yes//," she whines, pulling on your hair, and you slowly open your mouth, your fangs scraping over the soft flesh of her thigh. You listen to her body, feel it throbbing under your tongue, and you're mindful of the large artery running just along the muscle, ignoring the visceral hunger that twists inside-- you restrain yourself, bite carefully and suck gently, closing your eyes as Clear moans and her sweet blood fills your mouth. This time, there's a little more to her taste-- her blood growing familiar to you now, with more flavor, more nuance. Flavor is perhaps not the right word for the things you can decipher in her flesh and blood; you can't marinate your dinner in //loneliness// or //resentment//. But that's what you taste in Clear's blood-- you taste it, and you can feel it. You imagine Clear staring down at you and seeing a reflection like the one you see: familiar but distorted. Hard to look at. "Fuck," Clear breathes, and you reach up to touch her as you drink, pulling her underwear aside, welcoming the wet heat of her on your fingers. She doesn't push you away, but she can't look at you, her head turned away and her face flushed red. "Clear," you say her name against her thigh, and she exhales slowly. "Clear," you say again, and you bite her harder, making her gasp, and you say her name for a third time, wet and slow with her blood in your mouth. Finally, she looks at you. She watches you drink, watches you touch her, and this time she doesn't look away. Your lips smack around her thigh, and the hunger claws desperately in your stomach-- but you're hungry for something else, now. You release her thigh and jerk her briefs down, leaning in to smell her cunt, your hands sliding up her thighs to grab at her hips. She's breathing hard, her hand so tight you can feel hairs tearing from your scalp, but you don't care. She stammers your name as you run your fingers through her tight curls, finding and parting the lips between her legs and giving her an open-mouthed kiss. You tease her swollen clit with your tongue, and she moans softly, her body twitching back against the wall, and you keep one hand on her hip to steady her while your other grips at her thigh. You lap her up, tasting her, nudging her clit with your nose, burying yourself in her heat as she moans and whispers your name. Your hand slides along her thigh until your find your bite, hot blood spilling over your hand before you press your thumb against the wound, making her twist in pleasure and pain, your other hand moving to part her lips again-- so you can taste more, touch more. You want to touch her inside, but your nails are too long, and you dismay at not being able to feel her clench around you when you make her come. But you can still feel her with your tongue, feel the swelling blood indicating her pleasure, and you relish the taste of her, the way she drips wet into your mouth. She grinds down on your face, your chin slick as you work against her, and you feel your own arousal at this blissful loss of control from her, opening your eyes so you can see it in her face-- and it's Valentina that stands over you, her mouth open as she pants softly, her long hair falling across her breasts as she tilts her head forward and curls her nails along your scalp. You almost say her name, grabbing roughly at her pale thighs, making her smile her wide, fanged smile as she jostles back against the wall-- but it's Clear's voice, it's Clear's moan, it's Clear's body flushed hot beneath your touch-- it's Clear standing over you again. You pull back for a moment, startled, licking your lips and glancing around the room. There's no one else here. [[Next ->ch3 clear high rel rom 6]]

"//Fuck//, $name," Clear groans, twisting in your hands, and you don't leave her waiting, squeezing your eyes closed and tightening your hands around her thighs. //Clear's// thighs. You kiss her a few times, and then your resume your earlier urgency, moving your tongue quickly before wrapping your lips around her clit, sucking gently, her body tensing over you. She's close. You devote yourself to that. Her back arches, and you run your tongue over her again, letting her push you into her, fucking her with your face, your nose and your lips and your chin and your tongue slipping inside for a final feverish moment before you return your attention to her clit-- and Clear throws her head back as she comes, silently except for a sharp intake of breath, just her body trembling and twitching before she suddenly folds forward and hunches over you, grabbing fistfuls of your shirt, pressing her face into your hair. You wring everything you can out of her, keeping her in your mouth until you're sure she's thoroughly spent, and then you draw back, long strings of saliva and cum stretching between you. You stroke her thighs, press a sloppy kiss to the bloody bite, running your hands up and down along her legs, feeling the softness of her body, her hair, and the way the muscle trembles as she tentatively shifts her weight off of you and leans back against the wall again. You wipe your mouth with the back of your hand, licking your lips, savoring the final taste of Clear-- for now. You blink up at her, pulling a few hairs from your mouth as you slowly rise to your feet. She reaches out to pull you close, touching some of her blood on your face before her lips find yours, kissing you fiercely. You hope she can taste herself on your tongue. Clear presses a hand to your chest then, starting to push you back, still kissing you as she does. You can feel the hunger in her now, with the way she nips at your bottom lip, the way her thumb traces the curve of your breast, the way she roughly pushes you down onto the bed and straddles your lap. <<link [[But then someone knocks on the door. ->ch3 clear high rel rom 7]]>><<set $ch3_clear_sex to true>><</link>>

You and Clear freeze, both of you turning to stare through her bedroom door, into the hall. Neither of you move, Clear still pinning you to the bed, neither of you even breathe, waiting-- and then you hear Hana's voice, muffled behind the door and just barely carrying through the apartment. "It's me! Let me in!" she says, and you can imagine her standing in the hall, leaning back dramatically against the door. "Fuck," you sigh, sinking back into the pillows. Clear looks annoyed, shaking her head and sitting back on your lap. Her hand half-heartedly trails down your stomach. Hana knocks again, and Clear swears. You sit up, and Clear scrambles off of you then, both of you finding your urgency at the same time. Clear darts off down the hall for a moment, and you start to follow her, until she comes running back, carrying a small black bag in her arms. She glances at you as she slips back into the room, looking at your shirt. "You have blood on your collar," she says, cursing again. She turns to her closet and grabs a random shirt, throwing it at you before she hurries into the bathroom. She jerks open that black bag, setting it down on the floor-- a medical bag. She has all kinds of supplies in it, bandages and even sutures and long, thick needles. You remember she's a medic. She glances over at you, staring through the door from the bedroom, and she smiles a little, shaking her head. "You better go let her in before she climbs through the window again." //Right//. [[Next ->ch3 clear high rel rom 8]]

Clear closes the bathroom door while you quickly change your shirt, wiping your face off with your own before pulling Clear's on<<if $size eq "bigger">>-- a little tighter than you'd like, but it will have to do for now--<</if>> and you run your hand over your hair a few times as you hurry back down the hall. In the kitchen, you wash your hands and splash some water on your face, shaking your head and slapping your cheeks. "//Hello//? Anyone home? Let me in, please! Or else!" You let out a long breath, and then you finally unlock and open the door. Hana stands there, a hand on her hip, frowning. She narrows her eyes at you, glancing over your face, eyeing your shirt. Then she brushes past you and into the apartment. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return 1]]

The smell of fried food wafts in after Hana, and you realize she's holding a greasy brown bag in her other hand. She walks over to the table in the corner, dropping the bag, turning to look at you. "Where's Clear?" she asks. "In the bathroom," you say, way too eager, and you wince internally. <<if $hana_rom>><<include "ch3 clear rom hana return rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch3 clear rom hana return plat 1">><</if>>

Hana tilts her head, eyeing your shirt again. She notices all the books scattered on the floor behind you. She sits down at the table, drumming her fingers against the old wood. She glances down the hallway, then back to you. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>And then she abruptly stops her tapping, her hand flattening against the table as she lets out a long sigh and slouches back into her chair. <div id ="choice"><<link '"...How was the store?"' 'ch3 clear rom hana return rom 1.a'>><</link>></div> <div id ="choice"><<link '"What\'s wrong, Hana?"' 'ch3 clear rom hana return rom 1.b'>><</link>></div> <div id ="choice"><<link '"If you have something to say..."' 'ch3 clear rom hana return rom 1.c'>><</link>></div><<else>>"Did you two have fun while I was gone?" she says then, her eyes flashing as she props her chin in her hand, leaning her elbow against the table. <div id ="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know what you\'re talking about."' 'ch3 clear rom hana return rom 1.d'>><</link>></div> <div id ="choice"><<link '"If you have something to say..."' 'ch3 clear rom hana return rom 1.c'>><</link>></div> <div id ="choice"><<link '"Did //you// have fun at the store?"' 'ch3 clear rom hana return rom 1.e'>><</link>></div><</if>>

Hana tilts her head, eyeing your shirt again. And then she notices all the books scattered on the floor behind you. She sits down at the table, drumming her fingers against the old wood. She glances down the hall, then back to you. She's smirking slightly, a glimmer in her black eyes that you definitely do not like. <div id="choice"><<link '"Shut up."' 'ch3 clear rom hana return plat 1.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"What are you smiling about?"' 'ch3 clear rom hana return plat 1.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[She doesn't know anything. Just be normal. ->ch3 clear rom hana return plat 1.c]]>><</link>></div>

You release one of her wrists, pulling your hand back to touch her face. You remove her bandages. She bites her lip as you trace the scabs along her neck with a cold, steady finger. "This is what you want?" you ask again. Then you sink your teeth into her throat. She thrashes back against the bookshelf, more books scattering across the floor, and you close your eyes and drink deep. You relish her thrashing, her panting breaths and pained groaning, the way the scabs split beneath your teeth, the warm trickle of blood spilling down your chin. She tugs on your shirt, tries to pull you closer, urging your bodies to press together. You oblige, feeling Clear's warmth, her breasts pressing against your own, the shelves creaking ominously as they take Clear's weight. This time, there's a little more to her taste-- her blood growing familiar to you now, with more flavor, more nuance. Flavor is perhaps not the right word for the things you can decipher in her flesh and blood; you can't marinate your dinner in //loneliness// or //resentment//. But that's what you taste in Clear's blood-- you taste it, and you can feel it. You imagine Clear staring at you and seeing a reflection like the one you see: familiar but distorted. Hard to look at. When you pull back, when you force yourself to stop-- long strands of blood and spit drip from your mouth, both of you panting loudly and clinging to each other. The hunger twists painfully in your stomach, begging for more, but you push it down, swallow your last mouthful, bow your head and breathe hard into the hollow of Clear's throat. She rips her other wrist free from your hand then, and she pushes off the shelves, grabbing your face and kissing you ravenously, her tongue in your mouth and her blood smearing your lips. You stumble back until you slam into the coffee table, tripping and falling all the way to the floor, and you drag Clear down with you. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom 3]]

You grunt as she lands on top of you, warm and heavy, her lips immediately finding yours again. It quickly turns sloppy-- loud, wet sounds in the quiet apartment, and for a moment the two of you wrestle on the floor, though you humor Clear more than anything. You know how women like her are when it comes to this, and you concede, laying back and letting her straddle you. It's the least you can do with her blood in your mouth. Now //she// has //you// pinned, and you smirk up at her, closing your eyes as she leans in and sucks on your pulse, your hands grasping at her thighs. You reach for her shirt then, eager to take it off, but she suddenly recoils, snatching your hand back with a shake of her head. "My shirt stays on," she says, a little breathless. You nod. You and Clear are the same kind of woman, after all. Maybe your reflection isn't as distorted for Clear as you think. She blinks down at you, pressing a hand to your chest and sitting back a bit, her lips red and kiss-swollen. She shifts, and then slowly crawls back until she's between your legs. You sit up on your elbows, your mouth open as you look at her, hunger twisting low in your belly. Clear licks her lips, and reaches for your belt. <<if $gender eq 1>>[[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom g1 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom g2 1]]<</if>>

When she looks down at you, when her hand brushes close to your crotch, you feel yourself suddenly freeze-- a sudden realization, a memory. It's too late for you to stop her from seeing. You wonder if she's already felt it. Does she know how different your body is from hers? The last time you kissed like this-- did she notice it? You didn't even think about it then. You didn't remember that it mattered. But you remember now. Clear seems to sense your sudden panic, the way you're tensed on the floor beneath her. You can throw her off if you have to-- it would be easy for you to hurt her, if it comes to that. You aren't sure why you're so afraid. "$name," she mutters, reaching up to stroke your stomach for a moment. You swallow loudly. You realize you're starting to shake, trapped underneath her, and she gives you a nod-- she knows. You let out a long breath, and she sways forward then, and kisses you slowly. Less the //I want to hurt you// kisses like before, more of an //I understand// kiss, her hand trailing up your stomach to gently cradle your face. She lingers, a few more soft kisses, and then she leans back. Hand splayed on your stomach again. And then she reaches for your belt. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom g1 2]]

You feel your heart quicken in your chest, your nails scraping over the carpet as she rips your belt away, as she starts to undo your button and zipper. She pushes your shirt up, leans down to kiss your stomach, her tongue snaking out and leaving a glistening trail around your navel. Her fingers curl around your waistband, but she slides back up, leaning over you, nudging between your legs with her knee. You inhale sharply, opening your mouth for her as she leans down to kiss you again. You grab a handful of her wet hair, a bit of water seeping between your fingers and dripping down your arm and making you shiver. But every other part of Clear is warm-- her body, her lips, her tongue, her blood. Warm and alive. Clear kisses you and kisses you, her tongue dragging slowly against your own, hot and wet, her head tilting slightly to taste more of you. Her hands touch your stomach, sliding up to grope you through your sports bra, and you open your eyes to watch her, her thumb rolling over your nipple, the fabric between you and her touch making you squirm. She caresses you, pulls at your bra, teasing you until you bite down on her lip, and now it's her that gasps, and then she kisses you even harder, wet and messy with blood. She starts to move lower, kissing your throat, pushing your shirt up more to kiss between your breasts. Her hands trail down your side, grasping at your hips as she kisses her way down your stomach, leaving shiny, bloody lip stains across your skin. "Clear," you moan, and you feel her smile, and then she sits back and jerks your pants down, your underwear, pulling them low around your hips, half-way down your thighs-- low enough to be out of the way. She peers down at you, pressing a palm to your stomach, leaning her weight on you as she bows her head and spits between your legs. She spits on her hand, too, peeking up at you through her damp hair, and you can see how hungry she is, her eyes flashing as she slips her hand low and slowly caresses your cunt. You're hungry, too. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom g2 2]]

You stare at her hands, and then up at her, your nails curling against the carpet. Your anxiety spikes-- along with your desire-- as she slowly frees your belt, and undoes your button, and pulls down your zipper. She checks your reaction, blinks at you, her eyes half-lidded and hungry. You're hungry, too. When she leans in to kiss you again, her hands pressed against your lower stomach, you bite down on her lip, maybe because you're scared, or maybe just because you're hungry. Clear gasps, and then she kisses you harder, her body trembling along with yours as you suck greedily on her bottom lip. Her hand reaches between your legs. She touches you through your jeans, first, her hand flexing around the length of you, and you start to pant as she rocks her body against you. You're kissing slowly now, your hands fluttering up to touch her arms, feel her warmth and her muscle. Every part of her is warm-- her body, her lips, her tongue, her blood. Warm and alive. She pushes your shirt up then and reaches down into your jeans, into your underwear, and she touches you, and you break your kiss to sink your teeth into her neck again. She cries out, and it turns into a low moan, her weight pressing against you for a moment before she pulls herself free from your teeth and scrambles back, down between your legs again. You sit up, one hand reaching out to grab at her hair, and you watch as she pulls your pants down below your hips and takes your cock in her hand. She bows over you, spitting on you and down into her hand, her saliva falling slow and warm, and she licks her lips as she starts to move her hand up and down, peeking up at you as your hips twitch reflexively. On the floor with her like this-- it feels quick and dirty and delicious. And, to be fair to you, it //has// been a hundred years since anyone has really touched you like this. When she puts her mouth on you, you slump back against the floor, your eyes fluttering closed and your hand tightening in her hair. Her other hand slides up your stomach, pushing your shirt up higher, groping you through your bra, her thumb grazing your nipple-- the fabric between you and her touch driving you mad. Her mouth is hot and wet around your cock, her tongue flicking over you just right, her hand wrapped around your base, and when she starts to bob her head, when you hit the back of her throat, your back arches and you moan her name, loud enough that you cover your face with your hand as your whole body burns hot. Her other hand starts to slowly trail down your stomach then, and she tugs playfully at your happy trail before reaching low between your legs. Her fingers find your sensitive spot, and she lightly pushes against it as she keeps moving her head, slowly taking you deeper and deeper. She makes a sound in the back of her throat as your hand flexes in her hair, and her fingers start to massage a little faster, a little harder, with the apartment growing fuzzy around the edges, your breath hitching as your body winds tight. You close your eyes for a moment, and when you open them again-- it's Valentina's black eyes peering up at you, her black lipstick smearing as she takes you in her mouth. You startle, staring at her long hair wound between your fingers, at her nails curling around your thighs. You squeeze your eyes closed again, though you're unable to resist the image of her there between your legs, even as you shake your head and mutter Clear's name. When you open your eyes this time, it's Clear's mouth around you, her warm hands touching you, her brown eyes looking up at you, enraptured. "Clear--" it's all the warning you can manage before you come abruptly in her mouth, making her gag. She takes it, though, her eyes watering as she keeps looking up at you, and she slowly draws back, swallowing before gasping loudly, breathing open-mouthed and leaving a thick trail of saliva between you. It breaks once you pull her up by her hair, falling across your stomach wet and glistening as you push off the floor to kiss her fiercely. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom 4]]

You reach up, touch her neck, a little trickle of blood still flowing from the fresh puncture wounds, the scabs raw and bloody. She tenses under your hand, sighing into your mouth, and you tilt her head back to kiss her throat, your lips cool against the hot, inflamed skin. Clear wraps her arms around you, making soft sounds as you lick and kiss at her pulse, and you almost start to tug at her shirt again before you remember. Instead, you pull lightly on her hair, something you've noticed she definitely likes-- the little moan you get out of her proof enough-- and your other hand goes to trail touches up her thigh. You start to reach for her belt then, too, start to consider all the ways you can spread her open and make her scream your name. But someone knocks on the door. You and Clear freeze, your eyes cutting over to the front door. Neither of you move, tangled on the floor together, neither of you even breathe, waiting-- and then you hear Hana's voice, muffled through the door. "It's me! Let me in!" she says, and you can imagine her standing in the hall, leaning back dramatically against the door. "Fuck," you sigh, bowing your head and pressing your face into the crook of Clear's neck. Her arms tighten around you, and then she laughs, low and dry. She touches your face, nudges your jaw as she presses her lips to your ear. Hana knocks again, and Clear nips at your earlobe. "You owe me one," she murmurs, and then she stands slowly, offering you her hand. You look at her for a moment, and she purses her lips, narrowing her eyes and lowering her hand slightly, and you think she's going to let it drop. But she doesn't. "Come on. You need to change your shirt," she says. You roughly pull up your pants and then take her hand, letting her help you up. You clumsily rebutton your jeans and fumble your belt back on while Clear hurries over to the kitchen, picking up a little black bag from the floor by the table and then ushering you down the hall. Hana knocks again, though you can't hear what she says this time, but you find your urgency then, rushing into Clear's room and pulling off your bloodstained shirt. Clear runs to her closet and grabs a random shirt, throwing it over at you, and then she bolts over to the bathroom, pulling open that black bag-- a medical bag. She has all kinds of supplies in it, bandages and even sutures and long, thick needles. You remember she's a medic. She glances over at you, staring through the door from the bedroom, and then she turns and slams the door in your face. //Right//. <<link [[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom 5]]>><<set $ch3_clear_sex to true>><</link>>

Your hips twitch against her hand, and Clear licks her lips, leaning close to spit a little more, a long strand of saliva suspending for a moment before finding its mark, and a few of her fingers tentatively slip inside-- only for a moment, only to tease you, only to draw your wetness out and slick her touch. Her thumb flicks over your swollen clit, and you close your eyes, sinking back against the carpet, your hand blindly reaching out to grab a fistful of her hair as she situates herself between your legs. She strokes your clit a few more times, and then she puts her mouth on you, burying her face deep and dragging her tongue deliciously through your heat. You're already starting to tremble, on the floor like this-- it feels quick and dirty and delicious. And, to be fair to you, it //has// been a hundred years since anyone has really touched you like this. Touched you inside. Your hand tightens in her hair as her tongue moves faster, her head bobbing as she moves up and down, vulgar sounds coming from between your legs as she fucks you. She slips a finger inside, and then wraps her lips around your clit-- and you open your eyes to look at her, but it's Valentina between your legs, not Clear. Her black eyes watch you intently, her black lipstick smeared across her mouth, her long claws curled around your thighs. You tip your head back, blinking up at the ceiling before squeezing your eyes closed. But even with your eyes closed, you still see her, lingering between your legs. "Clear," you mutter, opening your eyes again. And it //is// Clear between your legs, it's Clear's mouth on you, her finger curling inside of you, and it's her name you cry out again as you come, your hips bucking as your body clenches blissfully. You say her name a few mores times even after the release-- just to be sure, just to remind yourself-- and then you fall limp against the carpet, draping your arm over your face for a moment. Clear pulls back slowly, panting over you and licking at your thighs, and you tug on her hair, pulling her up to your mouth and kissing her fiercely. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival rom 4]]

You quickly change your shirt, wiping your face off with yours before pulling Clear's on<<if $size eq "bigger">>-- a little tighter than you'd like, but it will have to do for now--<</if>> and you run your hand over your hair a few times as you hurry back down the hall. In the kitchen, you splash some water on your face, washing the remaining blood from your mouth, bowing your head over the sink and slapping your cheeks. "//Hello//? Don't make me come in through the window again." You let out a long breath, and then you finally unlock and open the door. Hana stands there, a hand on her hip, frowning. She narrows her eyes at you, glancing over your face, eyeing your shirt. Then she brushes past you and into the apartment. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return 1]]

You clear your throat, eyeing Hana for a moment. "How was the store...?" you try. "Boring," Hana sighs. She kicks her legs under the table, glancing around the room. "I think you had more fun than me," she muses. "I don't know what you mean," you say, quickly turning away and reaching to pick up some of the books off the floor. You carefully put them back on the shelf, thankful for the task allowing you to avoid Hana's mischievous look. "You know that's not going to work on Valentina," she says then. You shoot her a warning look. She leans back in her chair, crossing one arm over her chest, tilting her head at you. "I'm just saying," she shrugs. Your jaw clenches hard enough to make your teeth ache. Hana just looks you up and down. You can tell by the look in her eyes that she's enjoying herself. She turns the greasy bag in her hand then, pulling it open. She peeks inside, digging around and pulling out a single french fry. She sniffs it cautiously, before taking a little bite. <<include "ch3 clear rom hana return plat 2">>

"Shut up," you huff. "I didn't say anything," she grins, twirling one of her curls around her finger. You just click your tongue, turning to pick up some of the books off the floor. You carefully put them back on the shelf, thankful for the task allowing you to avoid Hana's mischievous look. "How's the packing going?" Hana asks innocently. "Just fine," you say, slotting another book back in place. There's an awkward beat between you, and then: "Valentina is going to be able to tell, $name," Hana says. Her voice sounds like that of a child about to tattle. You pause for a moment, staring down at the books in your hand. You glance back over your shoulder at Hana, and she just shrugs before turning her attention to the greasy bag on the table. She opens it, peeking inside and pulling out a french fry. She sniffs it cautiously, before taking a little bite. <<include "ch3 clear rom hana return plat 2">>

"What are you smiling about?" you huff. Hana just smiles wider. "Nothing," she says innocently, kicking her legs under the table and glancing around at nothing in particular. She twists a curl around her finger, her eyes eventually falling on all the books on the floor again. "Did you have a good time while I was gone?" she asks then. You give her a look before turning to snatch up some of the books. You carefully put them back on the shelf, thankful for the task allowing you to avoid Hana's mischievous stare. "Valentina is going to be able to tell, $name," she says then. Her voice sounds like that of a child about to tattle. You pause for a moment, staring down at the books in your hand. You glance back over your shoulder at Hana, and she just shrugs before dropping her gaze to the greasy bag on the table. She opens it, peeking inside and pulling out a french fry. She sniffs it cautiously, before taking a little bite. <<include "ch3 clear rom hana return plat 2">>

"You should try one," Hana says casually, as if she didn't just imply something dangerous between you. "You'll make yourself sick," you say bitterly. Hana rolls her eyes. "Not if you just eat one. Come on. Aren't you hungry, after that...?" You cross your arms and glare at her while she grins. "No, I can smell it. I can smell her. I know she tastes good," Hana muses. "Hana," you snap, and she laughs. "So sweet... Why not add a little salt?" she waves her fry in the air before popping it in her mouth. You clench your jaw, glowering while she just smirks. "Come on. Try one," she goads, and you sigh, walking over to the table. She holds a single fry out for you. You take it from her, hot between your fingers. You take a tentative bite. It's good-- but not as good as Clear. Hana seems pleased, giving you a nod and closing the bag back up. Some of the tension in the room dissipates. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return plat 3]]

"Fast food is good for hangovers, supposedly," Hana explains. "Okay," you say. You pause for a moment. "Do you spend a lot of time with humans?" Hana leans back in her chair, giving you a curious look. "Not as much as I used to," she shrugs. "They're fun..." she smirks again. "But sometimes it feels a bit too much like playing with your food." When she says it, you want to feel disgusted-- but you don't. You know there is some truth to her words. It is what it is. She glances away then, pursing her lips. "I don't know. I like them more than Valentina does. At the club-- I like drinking with them, dancing with them, taking care of them sometimes... I like fucking them," she says it matter-of-factly, the teasing tone gone from her voice now. "It's easier when they don't know," she says. It sounds like a warning, her gaze flicking down the hall towards Clear's room. You give her a long look. "When who doesn't know? Them, or Valentina?" Hana drops her gaze, turning away from you. "I'm not going to tell her," she clarifies then. "But I won't have to. She //is// going to know. And it'll be just like last night at the club." You don't respond to that. You walk into the kitchen, pressing your hands to the edges of the sink, glancing down at Clear's shirt. Another band t-shirt. You touch the print, licking your lips, taking a deep breath. The rain has slowed slightly, and you lift your head, staring out the little kitchen window and watching the water race down the glass. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return plat 4]]

"Is she sick again?" Hana asks after a while. You're pacing back and forth in front of the bookshelf, and you stop at her words, shifting anxiously, glancing down the hall towards Clear's door. "I'm not sure," you say weakly. "I'll go check on her." You hurry down the hall, feeling a cool draft coming in from the broken window. <<include "ch3 clear rom aftercare 1">>

<<if $c_rel lt 50>>"Clear?" you step into her room and walk over to the bathroom. "You alright? Hana brought some food for you." You wince, staring down at your feet. //Fuck, this is already awkward.// Now that the adrenaline has worn off-- and your libido-- you aren't really sure where you and Clear stand.<<else>>"Clear?" you step into her room and walk over to the bathroom. "You alright? Hana brought some food for you." You shift nervously, a sudden apprehension squeezing tight in your chest. Did you cross a line? Did you push her too far? //Fuck.//<</if>> "Come in," her voice is gruff through the door. You blink, surprised, and you hesitate a moment before reaching for the doorknob. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom aftercare 2]]

"What's wrong, Hana?" you ask, and she gives you an absolutely scathing look in return. "Do you really have to ask?" she snaps. "I can smell you. I can smell //her//." You blink, taken aback by her vitriol. And then you scowl. "What the fuck do you care?" you sneer, surprising yourself. But you're annoyed by her attitude, whatever this hot and cold bullshit she's trying to pull. Hana looks away, abruptly ripping open the brown bag and reaching inside. She grabs a fistful of french fries, and you watch as she starts eating them one by one. "You're going to make yourself sick," you say bitterly. "What the fuck do you care?" she retorts. You click your tongue, and you have to turn away to keep yourself from potentially throttling her. You start to pick up some of the books off the floor instead, grateful for the task to distract you from her. You slot a few back onto the shelf, before letting out a long sigh. You close your eyes, reaching up and touching the print on Clear's shirt. Another band t-shirt. You can smell her, too. You open your eyes and glance back at Hana. She's just eating more fries, digging around in the bag and avoiding your gaze. You frown, returning your attention to the bookshelf. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return rom 2]]

"...How was the store?" you try. "Boring," Hana mutters. You realize that she's //pouting//. "You got everything off her list?" you prompt. "Yeah. She's basic," she says. You purse your lips, crossing your arms and narrowing your eyes at her. Hana stares back. She turns away and rips open the brown bag then, slumping in her chair and pulling out a handful of french fries. You watch as she eats them one by one. "You're going to make yourself sick," you say. "Who cares," she scoffs. "Yeah. //Who cares//," you sneer then, surprising yourself. But you're annoyed by her attitude, whatever this hot and cold bullshit she's trying to pull. Hana ignores you, sinking even deeper into her chair. You start to pick up some of the books off the floor then, grateful for the task to distract you from her. You slot a few back onto the shelf, letting out a long sigh. You close your eyes, reaching up and touching the print on Clear's shirt. Another band t-shirt. It still smells like her. You open your eyes and glance back at Hana. She's just eating more fries, digging around in the bag and avoiding your gaze. You frown, returning your attention to the bookshelf. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return rom 2]]

"I don't know what you're talking about," you say innocently. Hana rolls her eyes. You feel yourself smirk then. "Jealous?" you prompt. She glares at you. "That's cute," you muse. You can see the faintest smile tug at the corner of her lips-- but she shakes her head, leaning back in her chair. "Jealous of a human? Jealous of your dinner?" she scoffs. "That's all she is, you know." When she says it, you want to be angry-- but you feel an inkling of truth her words. A part of you believes that. Hana looks away then, her eyes downcast. You give her a long look, but she avoids it, fidgeting with the brown bag in front of her until she opens it up and fishes out a handful of french fries. You watch as she starts to eat them. "And what are you, Hana?" you finally ask, tilting your head at her. She ignores you. You turn away then, reaching down to pick up the scattered books off the floor. You take your time slotting them back onto the shelves, a tense silence stretching between the two of you. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return rom 3]]

"If you have something to say..." you warn, and Hana just rolls her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself," she huffs. The two of you stare at each other for a moment, Hana's eyes narrowing before she abruptly looks away. She rips open the brown bag then, slumping in her chair and pulling out a handful of french fries. You watch as she eats them one by one. "You're going to make yourself sick," you say. She doesn't respond, and you scowl at her, annoyed by her attitude, whatever this hot and cold bullshit is that she's trying to pull. You turn on your heel and stomp over to the bookshelf, reaching down and gathering up all of the books still scattered across the floor, grateful for the task to distract you from her. You slot a few back onto the shelf, letting out a long sigh. You close your eyes, reaching up and touching the print on Clear's shirt. Another band t-shirt. It still smells like her. You open your eyes and glance back at Hana. She's just eating more fries, digging around in the bag and avoiding your gaze. You frown, returning your attention to the bookshelf. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return rom 2]]

"Did //you// have fun at the store?" you retort, bristling at her smug look. Hana just laughs. "Yes. I do enjoy wallowing with the humans from time to time. I'm sure you understand," she says. The two of you stare at each other for a moment, Hana's eyes narrowing before she abruptly looks away. She rips open the brown bag then, slumping in her chair and pulling out a handful of french fries. You watch as she eats them one by one. "You're going to make yourself sick," you say. She doesn't respond, and you scowl at her, annoyed by her attitude, whatever this hot and cold bullshit is that she's trying to pull. You turn on your heel and stomp over to the bookshelf, reaching down and gathering up all of the books still scattered across the floor, grateful for the task to distract you from her. You slot a few back onto the shelf, letting out a long sigh. You close your eyes, reaching up and touching the print on Clear's shirt. Another band t-shirt. It still smells like her. You open your eyes and glance back at Hana. She's just eating more fries, digging around in the bag and avoiding your gaze. You frown, returning your attention to the bookshelf. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana return rom 2]]

It's awkward in the front room, Hana still sat at the table while you lean back against the kitchen counter. You wring your hands, glancing anxiously down the hall towards Clear's room. "Is she sick again or something?" Hana says after a while. You think she may have eaten most of the fries in the bag, and you expect //her// to be sick herself soon enough. "I'm not sure," you say. You push off the counter then, stepping past the table and hurrying down the hall. <<include "ch3 clear rom aftercare 1">>

"You're going to make yourself sick," you say. You're leaning against the kitchen counter now, and Hana is still eating french fries at the table. "Worry about your human. She's been in there a long time-- are you sure //she's// not sick? Again?" Hana retorts. You frown, shifting anxiously. "Let me go check on her," you mutter, pushing off the counter then and hurrying down the hall. <<include "ch3 clear rom aftercare 1">>

<<if $c_rel lt 50>>You slip inside, and Clear is sitting on the closed toilet, her medical bag open on the floor at her feet. She's touching her neck, holding a towel against it. "Fuck. Is it still bleeding?" you quickly rush over, dropping to your knees beside the toilet. She sighs. "I feel weird," she says softly. "What do you mean?" "I don't know. I just feel... bad." You purse your lips, looking her over. You shouldn't have bit her. Not when she was already sick this morning. You put a tentative hand on her thigh. "I shouldn't have--" "I wanted you to," Clear cuts you off. She sighs, bowing her head. You sit back on your heels, biting your lip, your hand still resting on her leg. "Next time, I'll take care of you," you say then. She raises an eyebrow at you. "I mean-- you should rest after. If I'm going to bite you." "Oh, I get it," she says after a moment. "Like aftercare?" she muses. "Yeah. Aftercare." You shake your head, standing then. "I'm sorry, Clear," you say-- and you hesitate, Clear's accusation still a little fresh for you to be apologizing again. You quickly glance away, glaring at your reflection in the mirror. "Once we're back at the mansion, you'll be able to rest properly. And Hana brought you some food." "Right," she says grimly. She wipes her neck then, and reaches down for her bag. You watch as she stands and looks into the mirror, bandaging herself, her brows knit in concentration. Her tongue sticks out a little between her lips. It's cute. "I owe you one," you say softly. She glances over at your reflection in the mirror. "Yeah." You step close, standing behind her and bowing your head slightly. You breathe her in, closing your eyes, reaching out and touching her waist. Holding her. "I'll take care of you," you say then. She finishes wrapping her neck, taping the edges down before she turns around in your arms, blinking slowly at you. She raises a hand and touches your face, your hair, trailing a finger along your jaw. You turn your head to kiss her inner wrist, bruises forming from where you held her earlier. Your arms tighten around her. "Okay," she finally says. You let her go then, stepping back and watching as she turns to pack up her med bag. She glances at you as she closes the bag up, before slipping past and walking back into her bedroom. You trail after her, helping her with her bags, slinging the rucksack over your shoulder while Clear takes the duffle.<<else>>You slip inside, and Clear is sitting on the closed toilet seat, her medical bag open on the floor at her feet. She's pulled on some underwear, but she has a towel pressed to her inner thigh, damp with blood. "Fuck. Is it still bleeding?" you quickly rush over, dropping to your knees beside the toilet. She sighs. "I feel weird," she says softly. "What do you mean?" you try not to let your dismay betray you. "I don't know. I just feel... bad." You bow your head, a rush of shame making it hard for you to look at her. But you put a tentative hand on her uninjured thigh. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have--" "I wanted you to," Clear cuts you off. She sighs, turning away from you. You sit back on your heels, biting your lip, your hand still resting on her leg. Then you reach out and take the towel from her, and she lets you. She watches as you stand, walking over to the sink, rinsing the cloth out and letting it soak with cold water before crouching down in front of her again. You glance at her before leaning in to lick at some of the dried blood, cleaning the wound, licking carefully until the bleeding slows. You press the cloth down then, letting the cool water replace your tongue, and Clear sighs, putting her hand over yours. She closes her eyes, and you press a light kiss to her knee. "Next time, I'll take care of you properly," you say softly. "Next time, we'll go slow." Clear opens her eyes. She pets your hair, and nods. "Next time," she says, a little smile on her lips. You lean in then, between her legs with your hands on her hips, and give her a gentle kiss. She hums softly. You help her stand, and head back into her room, grabbing her jeans off the floor. Clear bandages her thigh, and you can tell it's uncomfortable as she pulls on her pants and cinches her belt-- but then one of her hands wander down, brushing the spot through the denim. She peers over at you as she does it, and you feel hot as she looks at you like that, touching your bite that only the two of you know about. Clear smirks, and then brushes past you into the bedroom. You trail after her, helping her with her bags, slinging the rucksack over your shoulder while Clear takes the duffle.<</if>> <<if $hana_rom>>[[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana talk rom 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana talk plat 1]]<</if>>

"I got you a burger and fries," Hana announces. "And a drink, but I forgot it in the car..." Clear seems confused, her brow furrowing as she blinks down at Hana in her chair, at the bag suspended in her outstretched hand. "Thanks," Clear says, and you can tell she really means it. "I did eat a lot of the fries, too..." Hana cringes a bit as she admits it, shooting you a look before quickly glancing away. But Clear just laughs. "S'alright," she says. She gives Hana a long look then. "You're sweet," she adds as she slides into the chair across from her. Hana looks at you again, then back to Clear. "I'll take the bags out," Hana suddenly blurts, jumping from the table and snatching up the duffle bag, nearly knocking Clear's food out of her hand in her haste. "Woah, okay," Clear says, leaning out of the way as Hana slings the bag over her shoulder. "I'll help," you cut in, getting a dark look from Hana. Clear sits awkwardly between you as she unwraps her burger, the greasy paper crinkling loudly before Hana turns on her heel. You grab Clear's rucksack, giving her an apologetic look over your shoulder before hurrying out the door after Hana. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana talk rom 2]]

The two of you carry it all out into the front room, and you drop the ruck on the couch while Clear sets the duffle bag on the table across from Hana, who perks up at the sight of the both of you. "I'm alright," Clear is saying as you straighten up. "I was just changing out my bandages," she tells Hana. Hana doesn't push it with Clear, instead nodding and then offering her the greasy brown bag. "I got you a burger and fries," she tells her. "And a drink, but I forgot it in the car..." Clear seems confused, her brow furrowing as she blinks down at Hana in her chair, at the bag suspended in her outstretched hand. "Thanks," Clear says, and you can tell she really means it. "I know what you humans like," Hana smirks as she says it, and you scowl while Clear just chuckles, oblivious. "You're sweet," Clear says, pushing her duffle aside and sliding into the other chair. Hana blinks at her, though Clear doesn't notice the look, too busy digging hungrily into the bag. You and Hana both watch her as she pulls out a large burger and some fries. But then she glances at you, then at Hana, shifting in her chair, looking a little uncomfortable as you both just stare. "I'll take the bags out," Hana blurts, standing from her chair. "I'll help," you say. "It's fine," Hana retorts. "No, I'll help," you insist. You and Hana glare at each other for a moment. Clear unwraps her burger, the paper crinkling loudly in the awkward silence. Hana huffs, snatching up Clear's duffle off the table while you grab the rucksack. Clear eyes you over her burger as she takes a bite from it. You think she's too hungry to really care about whatever spat is going on between you and Hana right now, so long as you leave her alone to eat. You turn on your heel and head for the door, and Hana trails close behind, the keys jingling in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana talk plat 2]]

Clear goes into a frenzy, pulling clothes out of her closet, throwing them onto the bed into a messy pile before turning around and shoving them into her duffle bag. She grabs another pair of boots and sets them by the bed, and then a jacket and a few pairs of jeans that she she shoves into the top of the rucksack. You glance down at the book in your hands then-- and startle, the cover depicting two women in bed together. And one of them... has fangs? You try and fail to read the title. You can't read it, of course, but you're also far too enamored by the cover. Books like this had to be hidden-- bound in decoy covers. But here it is in your hands, bold and brazen. <<if hasVisited("ch3 clear and hana 6 rom 1.c")>>This must be what Hana meant by //a good, sexy book.// <</if>>You trail your fingers over the worn spine, flick through the pages. You stare at the woman with fangs again. Is she meant to be a vampire? <<link '"What are you looking at?"' 'ch3 clear plat 3'>><</link>>

Clear suddenly lunges at you, snatching the book out of your hands, her face flushing red. "What the hell," she stammers. "What's your problem? Are you just going through my shit?" "You dropped it in the hall..." you say, and she takes a step back, clearly flustered. You think she's going to smack you with the book for a few seconds, but instead she turns on her heel and flutters back over to the bed, shoving the book into her bag. "Clear--" you start, and she glares at you. "I didn't mean to... I just saw the picture, I can't read it," you blurt. "What are you talking about?" she snaps "I..." you falter, shame making it hard for you to find the words. You're not thrilled to be making the confession for the second time today-- it's not any easier. "I can't read it. I can't read." Clear blinks at you, her brow furrowing. Some of the anger in her face softens slightly. "You... can't read?" You shake your head. "At all?" "If I stare long enough, some of the words start to make sense. But... it's hard." "Can you read the cover?" she asks, pulling the book back out of her bag and holding it up for you. You feel your face get hot. "Um..." you stare down at your hands. "It was just the picture that I saw. The teeth-- that's why I was looking at it," you say. Clear stares at you for a long moment. "It's.... it's lesbian vampire erotica," she stammers out. "It's called //Girls Who Bite//." She taps each word on the cover as she says it. <div id="choice"><<link '"You like to read vampire erotica?"' 'ch3 clear plat 3.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"So you //do// read romance."' 'ch3 clear plat 3.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Hmm. That explains some things about you."' 'ch3 clear plat 3.c'>><</link>></div>

"You like to read vampire erotica?" you ask. Clear's face flushes red again. "How interesting..." you say, and she scoffs indignantly, pulling the book back and hiding the cover against her chest. "I-I'm not-- no comment," Clear blurts, turning away from you and shoving the book back in her bag again. You grin wide at her, and she narrows her eyes at your teeth, before swallowing loudly and brushing past you and walking back to the closet. She mutters under her breath, pulling more clothes off the hanger, hard enough that the hangers snap back and rattle in the closet. Despite her embarrassment, the mood has lifted slightly, and you walk over to the bed and start folding Clear's clothes for her, a little smile on your face. After a moment she joins you, tucking the now folded clothes into the duffle bag. You can sense her looking at you, glancing at you while you pretend to concentrate on folding more clothes. You glimpse the cover of the book again, as she rearranges the contents of the bag. "You have any more books like that?" you ask, smirking slightly. "You're making fun of me," Clear says. She's avoiding you now, turning away, and your smirk fades as you set aside the clothes and take a step after her. The mood sours again. "No. I mean-- it is funny. But I'm not laughing //at// you," you say quickly. "I think it's kind of cute. Endearing." You can see the tips of Clear's ears are still a little red. You step closer, and put a hand on her shoulder, which gets her to turn around and look at you. She doesn't say anything, though, too embarrassed-- or maybe too ashamed. "Clear," you say softly, and she sighs. "Not a lot of people see my apartment," she says suddenly. "I mean-- I told you, I don't have friends. I wouldn't normally keep a book like that out on the coffee table, but..." She shrugs half-heartedly. "Sorry. This is fucking embarrassing. All of this is fucking embarrassing," she says, and she takes a deep, shaky breath, staring down at the floor. "You should have gone with Hana. I wish you had gone with Hana." Your brow furrows, and your hand tightens around her shoulder. <<if $clear_laterom>>"...But I wanted to be with you," you say. Clear shakes her head, and so you continue, "I like learning more about you. I like knowing that you read vampire erotica. //Lesbian// vampire erotica. I like that you had it sitting on your coffee table. I like you, Clear. I think other people like you, too." She doesn't say anything, still staring down at her feet. "I like how you dress and how you wear your hair and your tattoos and your lesbian sex book. Maybe it is embarrassing, maybe it makes it hard to find friends, maybe it's lonely, but-- it's nothing to be ashamed of, Clear." You take her face in your hands then, her eyes widening for a moment as you force her to look at you. Clear reminds you... of you. <<include "ch3 clear plat i know how it feels">><<else>>"You know I couldn't leave you alone," you say, and she just frowns. You tilt your head, studying her face for a moment. Clear reminds you... of you. "Is it embarrassment? Or something else?" you ask then. Her glare snaps back to you. "I think there's a reason you don't have people over at your apartment," you say. "A reason why you think you don't have any friends." "Shut up," Clear says, pushing your hand away. <<include "ch3 clear plat your family">><</if>>

"Hmm. That explains some things about you," you muse. Clear's face flushes. "I mean, you're awfully accepting," you say, and she scoffs, shoving past you and stuffing the book into her bag. "Especially considering... all the //biting//." You watch her back as she ignores you and starts to aggressively fold clothes on the bed. You step a little closer, tilting your head and leaning in just over her shoulder. You can feel her tense, her hands fumbling with her clothes, and she turns slightly to glare at you. "Stop it," she warns. You smile wide, flashing her your teeth. You can't help but tease her, not when the material falls so easily into your lap. But-- "//Stop//!" Clear turns around and shoves you away from her, and your smile vanishes. "Clear-" "Stop, just stop! This isn't fucking funny, okay?" You think she's blinking back a few tears. "I don't want you to see that, I don't want you to see my books, or my-- my clothes," she blurts, throwing a shirt she had been folding to the floor. "I don't want you here!" You bow your head, feeling chastised. "I wish you had gone with Hana. You should have gone with Hana," she says, pressing her face into her hands. <<if $clear_laterom>>"...But I wanted to be with you," you say. Clear shakes her head in her hands, and you press on, "I like learning more about you. I like knowing that you read vampire erotica. //Lesbian// vampire erotica. I like that you had it sitting on your coffee table with all your horror books. I like you, Clear. I think other people like you, too." She doesn't say anything, still hiding behind her hands. "I like your clothes-- I like how you dress and how you wear your hair and that you had a lesbian sex book sitting on your coffee table. Maybe it is embarrassing, maybe it makes it hard to find friends, maybe it's lonely, but-- it's nothing to be ashamed of, Clear." You reach out and pull her hands away then, pressing a palm to her cheek and forcing her to look at you, her eyes widening as you step close. Clear reminds you... of you. <<include "ch3 clear plat i know how it feels">><<else>>"You know I couldn't leave you alone," you say, and she lets her hands drop just to frown at you. You tilt your head, studying her face for a moment. Clear reminds you... of you. "Is it embarrassment? Or something else?" you ask then. Her eyes narrow dangerously. "I think there's a reason you don't have people over at your apartment," you say. "A reason why you think you don't have any friends. A reason why you don't want me to see these things." "Shut up!" Clear snaps. <<include "ch3 clear plat your family">><</if>>

"So you //do// read romance," you muse, and Clear scoffs, shoving past you and stuffing the book into her bag. "Well-- //erotica//. Horror, and erotica..." you say slowly, turning around to stare at Clear's back as she aggressively folds clothes on the bed. "My kind of girl," you smirk. You can see the tips of her ears turning red. You step a little closer, tilting your head and leaning in just over her shoulder. You can feel her tense, her hands fumbling with her clothes, and she turns slightly to glare at you. "You like vampires, Clear?" you ask. "Stop it," she snaps. "Don't be embarrassed," you smile your fanged smile. "I like them, too." She turns all the way around then, pushing you away from her. "This isn't fucking funny for me!" she suddenly shouts. Your smile vanishes. "I don't want you to see that, I don't want you to see my books, or my-- my clothes," she blurts, throwing a shirt she had been folding to the floor. "I don't want you here!" You bow your head, feeling chastised. "I wish you had gone with Hana. You should have gone with Hana," she says, pressing her face into her hands. <<if $clear_laterom>>"...But I wanted to be with you," you say. Clear shakes her head in her hands, and you press on, "I like learning more about you. I like knowing that you read vampire erotica. //Lesbian// vampire erotica. I like that you had it sitting on your coffee table with all your horror books. I like you, Clear. I think other people like you, too." She doesn't say anything, still hiding behind her hands. "I like your clothes-- I like how you dress and how you wear your hair and that you had a lesbian sex book sitting on your coffee table. Maybe it is embarrassing, maybe it makes it hard to find friends, maybe it's lonely, but-- it's nothing to be ashamed of, Clear." You reach out and pull her hands away then, pressing a palm to her cheek and forcing her to look at you, her eyes widening as you step close. Clear reminds you... of you. <<include "ch3 clear plat i know how it feels">><<else>>"You know I couldn't leave you alone," you say, and she lets her hands drop just to frown at you. You tilt your head, studying her face for a moment. Clear reminds you... of you. "Is it embarrassment? Or something else?" you ask then. Her eyes narrow dangerously. "I think there's a reason you don't have people over at your apartment," you say. "A reason why you think you don't have any friends. A reason why you don't want me to see these things." "Shut up!" Clear snaps. <<include "ch3 clear plat your family">><</if>>

<<set $ch3_clear_kiss to true>>"I know how it feels," you say slowly. "I live with it, too." "Fuck you! I'm not-- I'm not ashamed," she hisses, and she grabs your wrists, jerking your hands back-- and then she kisses you, her hands squeezing your wrists hard enough to bruise. You close your eyes and kiss her back. She releases your wrists to roughly grab at your waist, and she pushes you back until you hit the wall, her body pressing against yours as you tilt your head and deepen your kiss. She prods at your fangs with her tongue, and you open your mouth wider for her, one of your hands reaching to tangle in her hair and urge her on. But then you hear someone knock on the door. At first, it doesn't deter either of you, kissing hungrily, Clear's hands trailing up your sides while your own hand tightens around a fistful of her hair, making her gasp into your mouth. Another knock, and Hana's muffled voice, barely carrying through the door and into Clear's room. You break apart, Clear breathing hard, her hands still gripping you in a way that is both pleasurable and painful. "Fuck you," she says then, and she pushes you back against the wall as she steps away, your hand dropping to your side. She runs her own hands through her hair, still wet and now a little tangled from your desperate grabbing, and then she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. Her eyes soften, for just a moment, before she leaves the room to answer the door. You stare after her, reaching up and touching your lips. <<include "ch3 clear plat 4">>

"I'm right?" you prompt. "You're ashamed. Is that what your family taught you?" Clear slaps you then, though nowhere near as hard as you know she could have. You take a step back, turning away from her, pressing a hand to your cheek. She stares at you in shock, glancing down at her open palm. "I didn't mean to do that," she blurts. She clenches her hand into a fist. "But fuck you for saying that." You bow your head, just as surprised as Clear. Why did you say that? You feel a vague memory stirring, something painful clenching in your chest. Yes. Clear reminds you of you. "I know how it feels," you say quietly. "I live with it, too." "Fuck you," she says again, and she goes to shove you, but her heart isn't in it. She grabs at the front of your shirt, glaring down at her fists. You let her hold you like that, and when she hugs you, you let her do that, too, wrapping your arms around her again just like before. "Fuck you," she mumbles. "I know. I'm sorry." You aren't sure how long the two of you would have just stayed like that-- but eventually someone knocks on the front door. Clear's face hides in your shirt, and you feel her sigh, her arms loosening slightly. She pulls back, and you put your hands on her shoulders, both of you staring at each other for a moment. "Um, thank you," Clear says quietly. "And fuck you, too." You smile weakly. "I know." She leaves the room then to go answer the door, and you take a deep breath, closing your eyes and running a hand over your face. <<include "ch3 clear plat 4">>

You wonder if Clear has ever been around other people like her. She has the books, she knows the culture, she dresses in a way that would leave no room for doubt. But she's so lonely. It makes your heart ache when you look at her. [[Next ->ch3 clear plat 5]]

You hear the door open in the other room, hear Hana's voice loudly declaring that she's brought Clear some food, and you grab Clear's bags and step out into the hall, joining them both as they sit down at the table in the corner. Hana eyes you over Clear's shoulder as you approach, a strange look on her face that you can't quite decipher. Dropping the bags on the couch, the smell of fried food wafts over you, and you see Clear digging around in a greasy brown bag, pulling out a little container of fries and a wrapped burger. You and Hana both watch. But Clear hesitates, glancing at you, then at Hana, shifting in her chair, looking a little uncomfortable as you both just stare. "I'll take the bags out," Hana blurts, standing from her chair. "Good idea," you say, picking the rucksack back up and slinging it over your shoulder. Hana frowns at you. "I can carry them out, $name," she says. You hand her the duffle bag. Her frown deepens. You glance over at Clear as she unwraps her burger, the paper crinkling loudly in the awkward silence. It's obvious something is bothering Hana-- she was angry when she left, and she's still angry now. You give her a long look, nodding towards the door, and she sighs then, brushing past you with the duffle. You and Clear exchange a look over her burger, and then you follow after Hana, the car keys jingling in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear plat hana talk 1]]

You take the stairs, both you and Hana stomping childishly all the way down. Out into the rain, across the lot, to the fancy parked car. Hana unlocks the trunk and it opens on its own, which annoys you, the door slowly rising with a loud automated beep. You throw the rucksack in, and then Hana drops in the duffle before pressing the button on the car keys again, the trunk slowly creaking closed. You scoff, grabbing the lip of the door and slamming it closed instead. "You're going to break it," Hana warns as you wipe rain from your hands. You wince, studying the back of the car for a moment. You're getting worked up for no reason. You don't want to be angry, too. "Hana," you say then, turning towards her. "What's going on with you right now?" <<if $hana_rom eq false>>"What's going on? What's //going on//?" Hana suddenly shouts. "I've been relegated to fucking chauffeur duty, that's what's going //on//." "Well, I can drive if you'd like. A few car crashes to invigorate the soul," you scoff. Hana glares daggers at you. "No. Valentina would have my head for that. God forbid you break a nail or something," she says. She continues before you can respond, jabbing a finger at you through the rain. "You're back and it's all Valentina cares about. You're //all// she's ever cared about." Hana takes a deep breath, pushing her frizzing hair back out of her face. "You know what she asked me this morning? She asked me to go in your place. To see the council. She's just //so// worried. But not about me, apparently. I'm fucking disposable now." Her hands ball up into fists. "And you don't even give a shit, you don't even remember her, but she'd still throw me away just like that!" She slumps back against the car then, her hands grabbing at her hair as she bows her head and sniffles sadly. "This is just like before. And I'm going to be all alone again," she says quietly. <<if $clear_laterom>><div id="choice"><<link '"This does not have to be some exclusive situation." ♡♡♡' 'ch3 clear plat hana talk 1.a'>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><<set $poly to true>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link '"This does not have to be some exclusive situation." ♡♡' 'ch3 clear plat hana talk 1.a'>><<set $vh_poly to true>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><</link>></div><</if>> <div id="choice"><<link '"Hana, I am not here to replace you."' 'ch3 clear rom hana talk plat 2.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"None of that is //my// fault."' 'ch3 clear rom hana talk plat 2.c'>><<set $h_rel -=2>><<set $cruelty +=1>><</link>></div><<else>>"What's going on?" she repeats the question as if she didn't understand it, but the look on her face let's you know that she did. She paces a few feet across the wet asphalt, staring down at her shoes, before finally turning back to you. She doesn't look angry anymore-- she looks defeated. "This morning," she says. "When I spoke with Valentina." She takes a deep breath, looking up at you and blinking through the rain. "She asked me to go in your place. To the meeting tonight," she says. "She's worried what they'll do to you. But not to me, apparently," she adds bitterly. She walks back over to the car then, opening the passenger door and taking a seat halfway inside, as if Valentina's request has become too heavy for her to carry. "I don't think Valentina realizes what she's asking of me." You take a step towards her, and her gaze snaps back to you. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says then. "I'm used to being disposable. I'm used to being replaced. I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She frowns down at her hands. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" <<include "ch3 clear plat hana rom talk no cup">><</if>>

"This does not have to be an exclusive situation," you say slowly. "No one here is disposable, Hana." "What?" Hana blurts, her brow furrowing as she blinks over at you. Whatever she expected you to say, it was not that. You take a little step towards her, tilting your head to peer through her curls. "Are you... talking about me and Valentina?" she asks. <<if $clear_laterom>>"And why not Clear, too?" you shrug. You fidget with your shirt, glancing back and forth between Hana and your twitchy hands.<<else>>"I am," you say.<</if>> Hana frowns then. "You're serious?" she scoffs. "You think it's //that// simple? Do you even understand what I'm really saying?" <<if $mc is "white">>"Why not?" you say, shaking your head at her. "Because I'm not like you!" she shouts.<<if $clear_laterom>> "I'm not like you. I'm not like Clear."<</if>> She gives you a long look then, exhaling slowly. "No, I don't expect you to understand. None of you can." "Hana-" "Shut up," she snaps. "Just-- listen to me. I've lived a long time, too. And I'm used to being thrown out. Disposable. The //second choice//," she sneers that part at you. "I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She sits up a little straighter, leaning against the car door. <<if $clear_laterom>>"You and Clear, you and Valentina<<else>>"You and Valentina<</if>>-- well, this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises over the rain as she flashes her fangs. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. I'm here, too." She takes a deep breath before suddenly lunging from the car and roughly grabbing your face. You let her. "You want me to join you <<if $clear_laterom>>and Valentina? That other white woman, too?"<<else>>and Valentina?"<</if>> she says, her voice softer now but just as sharp. "Do not expect me to degrade myself for it. I won't do it, not for you, not even for Valentina. I won't let you or her use me as a fucking stand-in. Do you understand //that//?" You meet her steely black glare with you own. "Yes, Hana," you say. "I understand." She lets you go then. She slowly leans back, her eyes narrowed, studying your face. "Good," she says. She gives you one last look before turning on her heel and heading back through the parking lot. You stand in the rain for a moment, massaging your jaw where her fingers dug in. You glance up at the darkening sky, and then follow after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>She gives you a long, searching look. "You have to understand what I'm saying. No one else does. But you-- you have to understand," she says. You can't tell if there are tears in her eyes or if it's just the rain. She pushes herself off the car then, reaching out to take your hand, holding it in front of her, studying your pale palm before turning it over as you curl your fingers into a fist. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "That was all they would let us be. Don't you remember?" You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you remember. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for many others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. Hana's hand tightens around yours then. "If you're really asking me to join you and <<if $clear_laterom>>Valentina, you and that white woman in there<<else>>Valentina<</if>>-- just know that I won't degrade myself for it. I won't do it for Valentina, and I won't do it for you. I am not your stand-in, I am not an afterthought. I can't, $name. I have lived in your shadow long enough." Her eyes are steely black as she glares up at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. Her grip slowly loosens, and her hand slowly slides away from yours. She sniffles, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says to herself, and she gives you one last look before she turns and starts to make her way back through the lot, back to the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go, massaging your wrist where her fingers dug in. You glance up at the darkening sky, and then follow after her.<<else>>"I think I do, Hana," you say slowly. She glances over at you, studying you through the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, when you stood before the mirror. A sudden memory returns to you then— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "This world of yours, with you and Valentina-- well, it's my world, too," Hana says then. "I'm here, too. I refuse to let you come here and take it from me, $name," she says slowly. "I have lived in your shadow, I have been the //second choice//, I've been the maid and the servant and the chauffeur." She scoffs, shaking her head. "Valentina doesn't understand it, when she asks me to go in your place. And apparently, neither do you. You do not understand what you're asking of me. To join you and <<if $clear_laterom>> her and that white woman in there.<<else>>her.<</if>>" She swallows loudly then, her eyes a steely black as she glares over at you. "If that's what you really want, just know that I won't degrade myself for it. I won't let you use me as a fucking stand-in, as an afterthought. Do you understand //that//?" You force yourself to hold her glare. "Yes, Hana," you say. "I understand." Hana's eyes narrow, studying your face, a roll of thunder in the distance just to punctuate the moment. "Good," she says. She gives you one last look before she turns and starts to make her way back through the lot, back to the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go, massaging your jaw where her fingers dug in. You glance up at the darkening sky, and then follow after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear reconvene]]

When you and Hana get back inside, Clear has already finished eating. You don't judge her for that-- you're hardly one to judge //anyone// when it comes to eating-- plus, you don't even know when the last time was that she even ate at all. She's still sitting at the table, but she looks up at you and Hana expectantly as you re-enter. "Are we ready to go?" Hana asks. "Um," Clear hesitates, glancing down at her hands. "Am I going to lose my apartment?" she says. You look to Hana. "No, Clear," Hana assures her. "Don't worry about that." "Don't... don't worry?" Clear scoffs, shaking her head. Hana drops her gaze. "I just mean-- we're not going to let you lose your home. This place will be waiting for you." Clear hesitates again, but then nods. "Okay," she says. She stands from the table, discarding the now empty brown bag into the trash, and then sighs. "Let me just grab a few more things," she says, and you and Hana both nod. [[Next ->ch3 clear 5]]

You don't do anything-- you just let her be angry. She shoves you again, and you lose your balance, fully tripping over the coffee table this time, but you catch yourself on the couch again. And Clear drags you back up again, pulling at your shirt, her fists hitting against your chest before she throws her weight at you and you both go all the way down to the floor. You bounce off the couch, knocking the coffee table askew as you go rolling and grappling across the carpet. The two of you go at it for a few minutes, kicking and hitting each other, knocking over a coat stand and even more books when you bump into the bookshelf-- but you let her push you around, for no other reason than to let her get it out of her system. "Clear," you grunt, gritting your teeth as she shoves you back against the floor. She ends up on top of you, straddling your waist, one hand still curled around a fistful of your shirt and another grabbing at your face. She's breathing hard, her chest heaving as she glares down at you, her eyes glassy with tears. "This is all your fault," she says again. "I know," you say. <<if $clear_laterom>>Her hand loosens slightly then, and she swallows loudly, her touch turning softer as she blinks the tears from her eyes. "Do you feel better?" you ask. "No," Clear sobs, and then she curls forward, tucking her face in the crook of your neck. You wrap your arms around her, slowly sitting up and sliding sideways so you can lean back against the couch. She cries quietly, her tears warm as they press against your throat, and you close your eyes, your chest aching as she shakes in your arms. "You can blame me, Clear," you say softly. "You can hate me, if that would at least make you feel better." She doesn't respond right away, taking a few steadying breaths before she leans back in your lap. "I don't hate you," she says. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.a laterom 1]]<<else>>Her hand tightens around your face. "You're just not going to do anything?" she spits at you. "What is it that you want me to do, Clear?" She blinks down at you, swallowing loudly. And then she suddenly leans in and tries to kiss you. <div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her back. ->ch3 clear rival 1.a.1]]>><<set $ch3_clear_kiss to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice">[[Push her off. ->ch3 clear rival 1.a.2]]</div><</if>>

You narrow your eyes at her, and when she tries to shove you for a third time you grab her wrists and rush the both of you across the room, slamming her back against the bookshelf, knocking the wind out of her and making her yelp. A few more books tumble to the floor, falling open at your feet. Clear twists her arms in your grasp, writhing back against the shelves, her eyes dark and her nostrils flaring as she tries to catch her breath. "This is all your fucking fault," she says again, and you nod. "I know." Clear glares at you, tears in her eyes as your hands tighten around her wrists. "Let me go," she says weakly. "Is this not what you wanted?" She curls her lip at you, turning away, but you can still see the tears spilling over. "You should be careful. Not every vampire is as forgiving as me," you say slowly, releasing her wrists then. She slumps back against the shelves, roughly wiping her face with the back of her hands, and then she shoves you out of the way, retreating down the hall and slamming her bedroom door closed. You sigh. <div id="choice">[[Go after her. ->ch3 clear rival 1.b.1]]</div> <div id="choice">[[Leave her be. ->ch3 clear rival 1.b.2]]</div>

<<if $mc is "white">>"I'm not sure I can understand, Hana," you say slowly. That makes her laugh. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"No. You can't. None of you can." She stares down at her wet shoes. "Valentina-- when she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends."<<else>>"No. You can't. None of you can." She stares down at her wet shoes. "Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends."<</if>> Hana stands then, stepping sideways and closing the car door. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she cuts you off. "Don't apologize, don't-- just don't." She rubs at her eyes for a moment. "I love Valentina. I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, dropping her hands and reaching up to press a palm against your cheek. You blink, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. "Just... remember that. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes a dark steel as she peers through the rain. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." "Okay," she says. "Okay." Then she lets you go, giving you one last look before turning and making her way back through the parking lot, back to the front of the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>You don't respond right away, your jaw clenching hard enough that your teeth ache. There's something else, too, an old pain deep in your chest-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. A pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you can never forget. "Of course I understand, Hana," you say softly. She swallows loudly then. "I've always had this doubt," she says, "with Valentina. I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You take another step towards her, and she blinks over at you, fidgeting with a loose string on her shirt. You wish you could dispel her doubt-- but you can't remember. And you feel it, too. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She stares down at her wet shoes again. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur. Clear is hardly the first white woman I've had to drive around," she shakes her head. "You understand," she adds in a whisper. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly at Hana's words, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "$name," Hana says softly. She pushes herself off the car then, tilting her head at you. "I do love Valentina," she says. "And I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, slowly raising a hand and pressing a palm against your cheek. Your brow furrows, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I won't degrade myself for it. Not for Valentina, not even for you. I have lived in your shadow long enough, $name." Her eyes are steely black as she stares at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. You turn your head slightly, tucking your face into her hand, brushing the slightest suggestion of a kiss against her palm. "I understand," you mutter the words against her skin. She pulls her hand back slowly, sniffling quietly, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She gives you one last look, then starts to make her way back through the parking lot, back to the front of the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<<else>>"I understand more than you know," you say carefully. She glances over at you, studying you through the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "We've been cursed since the start, haven't we?" Hana muses then. A sudden memory returns to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. Hana shakes her head, staring down at her shoes again. "Valentina-- she doesn't always understand it. <<if $v_hanascratch>>When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends."<<else>>When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends."<</if>> She pushes herself off the car then, tilting her head at you. "I do love Valentina," she says. "And I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, slowly raising a hand and pressing a palm against your cheek. Your brow furrows, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. "Just... remember that. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes a dark steel as she peers through the rain. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." "Okay," she says. "Okay." Then she lets you go, giving you one last look before turning and making her way back through the parking lot, back to the front of the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear reconvene]]

"No?" you ask. She shakes her head. "No," you repeat. You reach out and touch her face, wipe away some of the remaining tears. "I'm sorry," you say softly. She lowers her gaze, swallowing loudly. "Yeah. I know." Clear reminds you... of you. Or at least, what you can remember. It makes it hard for you to look at her like this. "I don't hate you," she repeats then. And then she kisses you. Your eyes widen in surprise, but then you let them flutter close, and you grab at Clear's thighs as she keeps kissing you. You can taste her tears, spilling into your mouth, along with her tongue as she prods eagerly at your fangs, rocking forward and pressing you into the couch. Your hands grip her tight, and her own hand grabs at your face again, bruising your jaw and tilting your head back as she deepens the kiss. You think maybe you should push her off of you-- you should stop her before she regrets this later. But a part of you wants this too much. She's so warm pressed against you-- her body, her lips, her tongue, her tears. All of it warm and alive. You run your hands up her thighs, grabbing at her hips, pulling her even closer, and she bites your lip in response, drawing blood and surprising you both. She suddenly pulls away then, much to your dismay, licking her bloody lips. Her eyes are wide and red, and she sniffles a few times, wiping her face with the back of her hand. Her other hand still holds your face. She touches your lip with her finger, staring at your blood as it spreads beneath her fingernail and drips down towards her hand. "I didn't think I could make you bleed," she says softly. You lick your teeth, glancing between Clear's swollen lips and your blood on her hand. But she doesn't taste it. She abruptly stands, and walks over into the kitchen, leaving you alone and dazed on the floor. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.a laterom 2]]

You let her kiss you. And you kiss her back. You grab at her thighs, her own hand gripping your face like a vise as she breathes you in, dragging her tongue over your bottom lip before prodding at your fangs, and you open your mouth wider for her, her tongue slick and warm in your mouth. Everything about Clear is warm-- her body pressing down on you, her hands, her lips, her tongue, her tears. Her blood. Warm and alive. She abruptly sits back up, leaving you panting on the floor, her hand still holding you in place. She watches you, her eyes bright, enjoying depriving you of that warmth. You could take it, if you wanted to. But you wait for her, her hand slowly loosening, sliding down to wrap around your throat. Your undead heart races just beneath her palm, but her hand stays loose, sliding lower until her palm is pressed flat against your sternum. "Do you feel better now, Clear?" you ask softly. Clear licks her lips, and then abruptly stands, leaving you alone and dazed on the floor. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.a.1 1]]

"Clear," you grab her shoulders, holding her still. She glares down at you. She slaps your hands away then and abruptly stands, walking across the room and into the kitchen. You stay on the floor for another moment, taking a deep breath and smoothing out all the wrinkles on your shirt. "You'll regret it, Clear," you say over your shoulder. You stand, turning to face her, but she has her back towards you, standing over the sink. "I don't regret it," she says then. "I don't regret letting you in. I just..." she trails off, bowing her head over the sink. You take a half-step towards her. She glances back at you, her eyes dark, and she sighs. "It's hard," is all she says. Then she turns the faucet on, splashing water in her face. You feel an ache in your chest, from Clear's fists or maybe something else. You glance around the apartment then, small and lonely. Clear reminds you... of you. Or at least what you can remember. You eye all of her books, the television, all of the artwork hanging on the walls. It's a lonely life for women like you and Clear. At least you had Valentina. You start to pick up all the books off the floor then, the downed furniture, returning the coffee table to its rightful spot. You tidy the stacks of books, set the coat hanger back up, and slide the couch back over slightly. You turn back to Clear then, still standing over the sink. She cuts the water off and turns around, and you both just stare at each other. You wonder if Clear sees the same thing that you see, when you look in the mirror-- a distorted reflection. Hard to look at. Someone knocks on the door before either of you can say anything. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.a.2 1]]

You hear the faucet turn on, and you slowly sit up, smoothing the wrinkles from your shirt and wiping the remaining blood and tears from your chin. Then you stand, and you start to pick up all the downed furniture and books off the floor, returning the coffee table to its original position along with the stack of books. You turn back to Clear then, still standing over the sink. She cuts the water off and turns around, and you both just stare at each other. You wonder if Clear sees the same thing that you see, when you look in the mirror-- a distorted reflection. Hard to look at. Someone knocks on the door before either of you can say anything. "It's me," Hana announces from the hall. Clear dries her hands and then tosses the towel onto the counter, crossing the room and unlocking the door. She steps back as Hana bustles inside, and the first thing you notice is the smell of fried food wafting in with her. She carries a greasy brown bag in her hand, which she sets on the table before glancing between you and Clear. The look on her face is indecipherable. You imagine your face is the same. "This is for you," she says to Clear, gesturing to the bag. "Oh," Clear says as she closes the door. She takes a second before turning around, rubbing her hands over her face, and then she walks over to the table with Hana. "Thank you," she says, taking the bag as she sits down. The silence in the apartment is oppressive. The entire room seems to curdle, soured by its inhabitants, and Hana doesn't help, clearly angry about something. She was angry when she left, and she's still angry now, crossing her arms and eyeing you across the room. Then she turns to Clear, watching as she pulls a wrapped burger and a container of fries from the bag. "I'll take the bags out," Hana declares. "I'll help," you say, desperate to get out of this fucking room, the throbbing in your busted lip making your head spin. You get a dark look from Hana, but she doesn't argue. She takes the duffle bag and you grab the rucksack, glancing over your shoulder at Clear. You both stare at each other again. And then you follow Hana out into the hall, the car keys jingling loudly in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival hana talk 1]]

You take the stairs, both you and Hana stomping childishly all the way down. Out into the rain, across the lot, to the fancy parked car. Hana unlocks the trunk and it opens on its own, which annoys you, the door slowly rising with a loud automated beep. You throw the rucksack in, and then Hana drops in the duffle before pressing the button on the car keys again, the trunk slowly creaking closed. You scoff, grabbing the lip of the door and slamming it closed instead. "You're going to break it," Hana warns as you wipe rain from your hands. You wince, studying the back of the car for a moment. You're worked up. You take a few deep breaths, running a hand over your face. "Jesus, did you two kill some guy or something while I was gone?" Hana muses then. You drop your hand and turn on her. You're too worked up. "What's your problem, Hana?" you snap. <<if $hana_rom eq false>>"What's my problem? You're my fucking problem!" Hana erupts then, her voice carrying even over the sound of the rain. "I mean, look at this," she scoffs, gesturing at the car. "Relegated to fucking chauffeur duty. You're back and it's all Valentina cares about. You're all she's ever cared about." Hana glares at you, breathing hard, pushing her frizzing curls back out of her face. "This morning, she asked me to go in your place. To see the council. She's just //so// worried. But not about me, apparently. I'm fucking disposable now." Her hands ball up into fists. "And you don't even give a shit, you don't even remember her, you're out here fucking around with some human!" She slumps back against the car then, her hands grabbing at her hair as she bows her head and lets out a long breath. "This is just like before. And I'm going to be all alone again," she says quietly. <<if $clear_laterom>><div id="choice"><<link '"This does not have to be some exclusive situation." ♡♡♡' 'ch3 clear plat hana talk 1.a'>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><<set $poly to true>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link '"This does not have to be some exclusive situation." ♡♡' 'ch3 clear plat hana talk 1.a'>><<set $vh_poly to true>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><</link>></div><</if>> <div id="choice"><<link '"Hana, I am not here to replace you."' 'ch3 clear rom hana talk plat 2.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"None of that is //my// fault."' 'ch3 clear rom hana talk plat 2.c'>><<set $h_rel -=2>><<set $cruelty +=1>><</link>></div><<else>>"What's my problem?" she repeats the question as if she didn't understand it, but the look on her face let's you know that she did. She paces a few feet across the wet asphalt, staring down at her shoes, before finally turning back to you. She doesn't look angry anymore-- she looks defeated. "This morning," she says. "When I spoke with Valentina." She takes a deep breath, looking up at you and blinking through the rain. "She asked me to go in your place. To the meeting tonight," she says. "She's worried what they'll do to you. But not to me, apparently," she adds bitterly. She walks back over to the car then, opening the passenger door and taking a seat halfway inside, as if Valentina's request has become too heavy for her to carry. "I don't think Valentina realizes what she's asking of me." You take a step towards her, and her gaze snaps back to you. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says then. "I'm used to being disposable. I'm used to being replaced. I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She frowns down at her hands. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" <<include "ch3 clear plat hana rom talk no cup">><</if>>

You hear the faucet turn on, and you slowly sit up, smoothing the wrinkles from your shirt and wiping the back of your hand across your mouth. Then you stand, and you start to pick up all the downed furniture and books off the floor, returning the coffee table to its original position along with the stack of books. You glance around the apartment then, small and lonely. Clear reminds you... of you. Or at least what you can remember. You eye all of her books, the television, all of the artwork hanging on the walls. It's a lonely life for women like you and Clear. At least you had Valentina. You turn back to Clear then, still standing over the sink. She cuts the water off and turns around, and you both just stare at each other. You wonder if Clear sees the same thing that you see, when you look in the mirror-- a distorted reflection. Hard to look at. Someone knocks on the door before either of you can say anything. "It's me," Hana announces from the hall. Clear dries her hands and then tosses the towel onto the counter, crossing the room and unlocking the door. She steps back as Hana bustles inside, and the first thing you notice is the smell of fried food wafting in with her. She carries a greasy brown bag in her hand, which she sets on the table before glancing between you and Clear. The look on her face is indecipherable. You imagine your face is the same. "This is for you," she says to Clear, gesturing to the bag. "Oh," Clear says as she closes the door. She takes a second before turning around, rubbing her hands over her face, and then she walks over to the table with Hana. "Thank you," she says, taking the bag as she sits down. The silence in the apartment is oppressive. The entire room seems to curdle, soured by its inhabitants, and Hana doesn't help, clearly angry about something. She was angry when she left, and she's still angry now, crossing her arms and eyeing you across the room. Then she turns to Clear, watching as she pulls a wrapped burger and a container of fries from the bag. "I'll take the bags out," Hana says then. "I'll help," you say, desperate to get out of this fucking room. You get a dark look from Hana, but she doesn't argue. She takes the duffle bag and you grab the rucksack, glancing over your shoulder at Clear. You both stare at each other again. And then you follow Hana out into the hall, the car keys jingling loudly in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival hana talk 1]]

"It's me," Hana announces from the hall. Clear dries her hands and then tosses the towel onto the counter, crossing the room and unlocking the door. She steps back as Hana bustles inside, and the first thing you notice is the smell of fried food wafting in with her. She carries a greasy brown bag in her hand, which she sets on the table before glancing between you and Clear. The look on her face is indecipherable. You imagine your face is the same. "This is for you," she says to Clear, gesturing to the bag. "Oh," Clear says as she closes the door. She takes a second before turning around, rubbing her hands over her face, and then she walks over to the table with Hana. "Thank you," she says, taking the bag as she sits down. The silence in the apartment is oppressive. The entire room seems to curdle, soured by its inhabitants, and Hana doesn't help, clearly angry about something. She was angry when she left, and she's still angry now, crossing her arms and eyeing you across the room. Then she turns to Clear, watching as she pulls a wrapped burger and a container of fries from the bag. "I'll take the bags out," Hana says then. "I'll help," you say, desperate to get out of this fucking room. You get a dark look from Hana, but she doesn't argue. She takes the duffle bag and you grab the rucksack, glancing over your shoulder at Clear. You both stare at each other again. And then you follow Hana out into the hall, the car keys jingling loudly in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival hana talk 1]]

You stare down at your hands for a moment, flexing your fingers, still warm from Clear's living flesh. You slowly walk down the hall, standing behind the door for a few minutes, listening. You can hear her through the wall, in her closet, pulling clothes off the hanger. "Clear," you say softly, knocking gently on the door. She pauses. "Fuck off," she says. You press your forehead to the door. <<if $clear_laterom>>"Clear, I don't want to fight with you," you say. "You can hate me, I guess. You can blame me. But I don't want to fight." There's a long silence on the other side, and then the doorknob turns, and you pull back as Clear opens the door. "I don't hate you," she says. Her jaw clenches, and she wrings her hands awkwardly. You take the chance and push yourself into her room. She quickly backpedals, watching you warily. But you reach for her hands, and she stiffens as you take them in your own, pulling her close, lifting them up to examine. You can see the bruises already forming on her wrists. "No. You don't hate me," you say slowly. "You're too lonely for that." She scowls at you. "//This// is what you want, isn't it?" you say, turning her hand in yours, leaning in to press a kiss to her inner wrist. You feel her heart race beneath your lips, the bruise enticing you to almost open your mouth and taste her. But you don't. Clear doesn't move for a few seconds, and then her hand clenches into a fist, and she steps close, reaching out to touch your face. You glance up at her, trailing kisses down her arm now, her breath hitching as you press your tongue into the crook of her elbow. You raise your head, your breaths intermingling, Clear blinking slowly at you. You wait for her, licking your lips, parting them slightly, swaying close. But Clear suddenly pulls herself free, and you let her go, watching as she scrambles back and bumps into her dresser, clutching her arm to her chest. You both stare at each other for a moment, and then you turn and leave, closing her door behind you. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.b.1 laterom 1]]<<else>>"Clear, I don't want to fight with you," you say. "You can hate me, I guess. You can blame me. But I don't want to fight." There's a long silence on the other side, and then the doorknob turns, and you pull back as Clear opens the door. "I don't hate you," she says. Her jaw clenches, and she wrings her hands awkwardly. "No?" you say, tilting your head at her. "No," she sighs. She keeps fidgeting with her hands, and you can see bruises forming around her wrists already. You reach out, and take her hands in yours. She stiffens, but doesn't pull away. You touch her aching wrists with your cool hands, a gentler touch, and she shivers, eyeing you warily. "I'm sorry," you say softly. She lowers her gaze, swallowing loudly. "Yeah. I know." Clear reminds you... of you. Or at least, what you can remember. It makes it hard for you to look at her like this. Instead, you glance over at the messy pile of clothes she's thrown haphazardly onto her bed. "I'll let you pack," you say then. Her hands reluctantly slip from yours. "Okay," she whispers. You step back into the hall, and Clear slowly turns back to her closet. At least she doesn't slam the door in your face. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.b.1 1]]<</if>>

You stand at the end of the hall, staring at Clear's closed door. You decide against following her. You can take a hint. Instead, you turn and examine the bookcase, and then set to work returning all of the scattered books on the floor back to their rightful spot on the shelf. As you do, you notice a tiny display among the many rows of books. You finish cleaning up, and then take a closer look at it. You can't read any of it, but you can tell it's a collection of pamphlets, booklets, and stickers. The pamphlets are similar to the kind of thing you would have seen a hundred years ago. Passed between trusted hands, slipped under doors, or left in public to force others to acknowledge your existence. You wish you could read them. You wonder how often Clear gets to talk to other people like herself-- she doesn't seem to hide it, and with the way she looks, there's no denying what she is anyway. But you can tell that she's so damn lonely. No friends, no family. You remember that. You lived the same. But at least you had Valentina. Clear doesn't have anybody. Except for you, now-- but you glance down at your hands, imagine the bruises taking shape on Clear's wrists, and you wonder if that's really any better. You shake your head, your gaze flicking back to the bookcase. You reach out and take one of the pamphlets then, hiding it away in your pocket, and then you retreat across the room and take a seat at the table. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.b.2 1]]

You retreat back to the front room, taking a seat at the table in the corner. You idly touch your lips, savoring the lingering taste of Clear, the rush of blood bruising her wrists making your mouth water. Clear reminds you... of you. Or, at least, what you can remember. You glance around her sad, little apartment then. You eye the bookshelves, and you notice a tiny display that draws your attention. You stand from the table, crossing over to get a closer look. You can't read any of it, but you can tell it's a collection of pamphlets, booklets, and stickers. The pamphlets are similar to the kind of thing you would have seen a hundred years ago. Passed between trusted hands, slipped under doors, or left in public to force others to acknowledge your existence. You wish you could read them. You wonder how often Clear gets to talk to other people like herself-- she certainly has the literature, and with the way she looks, there's no denying what she is. But she's so damn lonely. You remember that. You lived the same. But at least you had Valentina. Clear doesn't have anybody-- except for you, now. You turn to stare down the hall at her closed door, a sudden ache in your chest, and you long to run back down the hall to her, to hold her and kiss her-- to taste her, if only she'd let you in. You shake your head, your gaze flicking back to the bookcase. You reach out and take one of the pamphlets then, hiding it away in your pocket, and then you set to work picking up all the books off the floor. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.b.1 2]]

It's not long before Hana returns. You're seated at the table again, keeping watch, when she knocks on the door. "It's me!" she announces loudly from the hall. You glance back towards Clear's room, before standing slowly and walking over to the front door. You unlock it, opening it wide and stepping back as Hana bustles inside. You catch the scent of fried food wafting off of her, and you see she's carrying a greasy brown bag in her hand. She walks over to the table in the corner, dropping the bag, turning to look at you. "Where's Clear?" she asks, giving you a cool look. "Here," Clear's voice comes from the hall, and she appears then, carrying her bags across the front room before dropping them all in a pile on the couch. She eyes you warily before turning to Hana, who is holding out the brown bag for her. "Brought you some food," Hana says curtly. "Oh," Clear blinks, clearly caught off-guard. "Thanks, Hana." Clear takes a seat at the table, digging around in the bag, pulling out a container of fries and a wrapped burger. You and Hana both watch. But Clear hesitates, glancing at you, then at Hana, shifting in her chair, looking a little uncomfortable as you both just stare. "I'll take the bags out," Hana blurts, turning for the couch. "Good idea," you say, grabbing the rucksack before she can, easily slinging it over your shoulder. Hana frowns at you. "I can carry them out, $name," she says. You hand her the duffle bag. Her frown deepens. You glance over at Clear as she unwraps her burger, the paper crinkling loudly in the awkward silence. It's obvious something is bothering Hana-- she was angry when she left, and she's still angry now, with her short words and curled lip. You give her a long look, nodding towards the door, and she sighs then, brushing past you with the duffle. You and Clear exchange a look over her burger, and then you follow after Hana, the car keys jingling in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival hana talk 1]]

You retreat back to the front room, taking a seat at the table in the corner, staring out the window again. You glance around her sad, little apartment after a moment, and there's something familiar here-- something in all the empty spaces. The small table, the lonely indent on one side of her couch, the dirty dishes in the sink that are just enough for one. You turn your attention to the bookshelves, and you notice a tiny display among the rows of books. You stand from the table, crossing over to get a closer look. You can't read any of it, but you can tell it's a collection of pamphlets, booklets, and stickers. The pamphlets are similar to the kind of thing you would have seen a hundred years ago. Passed between trusted hands, slipped under doors, or left in public to force others to acknowledge your existence. You wish you could read them. You wonder how often Clear gets to talk to other people like herself-- she certainly has the literature, and with the way she looks, there's no denying what she is. But she's so damn lonely. You remember that. You lived them same. But at least you had Valentina. Clear doesn't have anybody. Except for you, now-- but you glance down at your hands, imagine the bruises taking shape on Clear's wrists, and you wonder if that's really any better. You shake your head, your gaze flicking back to the bookcase. You reach out and take one of the pamphlets then, hiding it away in your pocket, and then you set to work picking up all the books off the floor. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival 1.b.1 2]]

It's not long before Hana returns. You're still at the table, keeping watch, when she knocks on the door. "It's me!" she announces loudly from the hall. You glance back towards Clear's room, before standing slowly and walking over to the front door. You unlock it, opening it wide and stepping back as Hana bustles inside. You catch the scent of fried food wafting off of her, and you see she's carrying a greasy brown bag in her hand. She walks over to the table in the corner, dropping the bag, turning to look at you. "Where's Clear?" she asks, giving you a cool look. "Here," Clear's voice comes from the hall, and she appears then, carrying her bags across the front room. You turn, intercepting her, taking the bags as she eyes you warily. You can tell she was crying, her eyes ringed with red, her face tired as she reluctantly hands the bags to you. "I brought you some food," Hana cuts in curtly. "Oh," Clear blinks, clearly caught off-guard. "Thanks, Hana." "And I'll take the bags out," Hana says, reaching to take them from you. You narrow your eyes at her, her expression indecipherable as she tries to pull the duffle out of your hand. You let her take it, but you keep the rucksack. "Lead the way," you say. Hana frowns. "I can carry them out, $name," she says. "I'll help," you insist. It's obvious something is bothering Hana-- she was angry when she left, and she's still angry now, with her short words and curled lip. You give her a long look, nodding towards the door, and she sighs then, brushing past you with the duffle. You glance over at Clear, who is watching from overtop her burger. Her brow is furrowed, but when she notices you looking at her she quickly drops her gaze, shifting in her chair. You sigh, following after Hana, the car keys jingling in her hand. [[Next ->ch3 clear rival hana talk 1]]

"This does not have to be some exclusive situation," you say. "What?" Hana blurts, her brow furrowing as she blinks over at you. Whatever she expected you to say, it was not that. You take a half-step towards her, and her brow furrows even more. "Are you... talking about me and Clear?" she asks slowly. You tilt your head at her. "I am," you say. Hana frowns then, her hands balling up into fists again. "Well, I'm talking about Valentina!" Hana shouts. "I'm talking about you and Valentina and me! //Me//!" She presses a hand to her forehead as she shakes her head and closes her eyes for a moment. "Don't you get it?" she asks softly. <<if $mc is "white">>"I'm not like you. I'm not like Clear," she says. She gives you a long look. "No, I don't expect you to understand. None of you can." "Hana-" "Shut up," she snaps. "Just-- listen to me. I've lived a long time, too. And I'm used to being thrown out. Disposable. The //second choice//," she sneers that part at you. "I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She stands up a little straighter, blinking rain from her lashes. "You and Clear, you and Valentina-- well, this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises over the rain as she flashes her fangs. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. I'm here, too." She takes a deep breath before suddenly stepping close and roughly grabbing your face. You let her. "You want me to join you and that other white woman in there?" she says, her voice softer now but just as sharp. "Do not expect me to degrade myself for it. I won't do it, not for you, not even for Valentina. I won't let you use me as a fucking stand-in. Do you understand //that//?" You meet her steely black glare with you own. "Yes, Hana," you say. "I understand." She lets you go then. She steps back, her eyes narrowed, studying your face. "Good," she says. And then she turns on her heel and starts to make her way back through the lot. You stand in the rain, watching her go, reaching up to rub your jaw where her fingers dug in. Then you glance up at the darkening sky, and follow after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>"You have to understand what I'm saying. No one else does. But you-- you have to understand," she says. You can't tell if there are tears in her eyes or if it's just the rain. She reaches out and takes your hand then, holding it in front of her, studying your pale palm before turning it over as you curl your fingers into a fist. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "That was all they would let us be. Don't you remember?" You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you remember. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. Hana's hand tightens around yours then. "If you're really asking me to join you and that white woman in there-- just know that I won't degrade myself for it. I won't do it for Valentina, and I won't do it for you. I am not your stand-in, I am not an afterthought. I can't, $name. I have lived in your shadow long enough." Her eyes are steely black as she glares up at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. Her grip slowly loosens, and her hand slowly slides away from yours. She sniffles, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says to herself, and then she gives you one last look before she turns and starts to make her way back through the lot, back to the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go, massaging your wrist where her fingers dug in. You glance up at the darkening sky, and then follow after her.<<else>>"I think I do, Hana," you say slowly. She glances over at you, studying you through the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, when you stood before the mirror. A sudden memory returns to you then— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "This world of yours, with you and Valentina-- well, it's my world, too," Hana says then. "I'm here, too. I refuse to let you come here and take it from me, $name," she says slowly. "I have lived in your shadow, I have been the //second choice//, I've been the maid and the servant and the chauffeur." She scoffs, shaking her head. "Valentina doesn't understand it, when she asks me to go in your place. And apparently, neither do you. You do not understand what you're asking of me. To join you and that white woman in there." She swallows loudly then, her eyes a steely black as she glares over at you. "If that's what you really want, just know that I won't degrade myself for it. I won't let you use me as a fucking stand-in, as an afterthought. Do you understand //that//?" You force yourself to hold her glare. "Yes, Hana," you say. "I understand." Hana's eyes narrow, studying your face, a roll of thunder in the distance just to punctuate the moment. "Good," Hana finally says. And then she turns on her heel and starts to make her way back through the lot. You stand in the rain, watching her go. The rain starts to come down harder. You glance up at the darkening sky, and then follow after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear reconvene]]

"None of that is //my// fault, Hana," you say. <<if $mc is "white">>Hana looks shocked for a moment-- stunned by your words. And then the shock turns to anger. "Yeah. I should've known you'd say that," she says bitterly. "And what is //that// supposed to mean?" you retort, recalling her comment back in Clear's apartment. "Just say it, Hana. Say what you mean." "What I mean is that I'm not like you!" she shouts, throwing her hands up. "I don't expect you to understand. You can't. None of you can." She glares over at you. "It's so easy for you to shrug off all the blame. You think you and I are the same because we're both vampires? Because we're both dykes?" "Hana-" you start, but she cuts you off. "Shut up. Listen to me. I've lived a long time, too, you know. I've been the maid, the servant, the chauffeur. //The second choice//," she sneers. "Because people like you didn't allow me to be anything else." You grimace. "Yeah. You get what I'm saying now, don't you?" Hana laughs bitterly. "You and Clear are hardly the first white women I've had to drive around and buy groceries for." She shakes her head then, closing her eyes for a moment. "You and Valentina-- this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises over the rain as she flashes her fangs. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. I'm here, too. I want Valentina to care for me, too." You and Hana stare at each other. "Okay, Hana," you finally say. She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair again before scrubbing them over her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she glares at you. Then she pushes herself off the car, brushing past you and and starting back for the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>Hana looks shocked-- stunned by your words. But that shock quickly turns to anger, and then hurt. "How could you say that?" she asks sadly. "Don't you understand what I'm saying? No one else understands-- but you. You have to understand." You don't respond right away, your jaw clenching hard enough that your teeth ache. There's something else, too, an old pain deep in your chest-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. A pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you can never forget. "Of course I understand, Hana," you say. She swallows loudly then. "I've always had this doubt," she says, "with Valentina. I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You take a step towards her, and she blinks up at you, wringing her hands. You wish you could dispel her doubt-- but you can't remember. And you feel it, too. "When she puts her hands on me sometimes..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She stares down at her wet shoes, at the little puddles of rain scattered across the asphalt. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "You understand," she adds in a whisper. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly at Hana's words, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "I know, Hana," you say again. "I understand." It means more when you say it the second time. There's a relief in Hana's eyes then, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. She pushes herself off the car, taking a step towards you, slowly opening her arms, and you respond in kind, taking her into your embrace. You hold her close, wrapping your arms around her shoulders, breathing in the familiar smell of her hair. Neither of you say anything else-- you're not sure there is anything else to say. You both understand it without words. Eventually, Hana slips out of your arms with a long sigh. She gives you one last look before she turns and starts to walk back towards the apartment complex. You stand there in the rain for a moment, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky, and follow after her.<<else>>Hana looks shocked-- stunned by your words. But that shock quickly turns to anger, and then hurt. "That's not what I'm trying to say. Don't you get it?" she shakes her head at you. "No. You don't get it," she says bitterly. "You and Valentina. You don't get it," she repeats. "It's so easy for you to shrug it off. //It's not your fault//," she sneers. "Who cares, as long as it's not your neck they're stepping on, right?" "Hana-" "Shut up," she snaps. "Listen to me. I've lived a long time, too. And I'm used to being thrown out. Disposable. The //second choice//," she spits. "I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She eyes you for a moment then. "Surely that much you can understand?" Your jaw clenches. "Yeah. I can." A heavy silence passes beneath the rain as Hana contemplates her next words. "Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... " she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She stands up a little straighter then, blinking rain from her lashes. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps, cutting you off again. She takes a long look at you then, studying your face in the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "Cursed from the start," she mutters. A sudden memory comes to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "You and Valentina-- well, I'm here too," Hana says then. "This cursed world-- it's my world, too. I just want you to remember that. Remember that I'm here, too. And I want you to remember what it is you're asking of me. When Valentina asks me to stand in your place. Remember what you're really asking." You stare at each other for a moment, and then you nod. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair before scrubbing at her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she peers over at you. Then she pushes herself off the car, brushing past you and and starting back for the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear reconvene]]

"Hana, I am not here to replace you," you say. "No, of course not. You couldn't. //I// replaced //you//." Hana sighs again, lifting her gaze and blinking rain from her eyes. "Don't you get it?" she asks softly. "Hana. I am //not// here to replace you. I am not going to just let Valentina throw you out," you press. Then: "Do you really think she would do that?" Hana bows her head again. "I don't know," she mumbles. She sniffles, wiping rain from her face with the back of her hand. "She's different with you here. I don't know what that means for me." You take a tentative step towards her then, and she blinks over at you, her eyes dark and sad. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says slowly. "I'm used to being thrown out. I'm used to being replaced. I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She searches your face for a moment. <<if $mc is "white">>"I don't expect you to understand," she says. "None of you //can// understand it. But I refuse to let you or Valentina do that to me again, after all this time." "Hana..." "Don't," she shakes her head, pushing off the car then. "Just-- don't say anything. Don't apologize, don't give me that look. Just... remember this." She stands up a little straighter, blinking rain from her lashes. "This is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises over the rain as she flashes her fangs. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. You and Valentina-- well, I'm here, too." You stare at each other for a moment, and then you nod. "Okay, Hana." She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair again before scrubbing at her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she glares at you. Then she pushes herself off the car, brushing past you and and starting back for the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>"Don't you remember? How they used to treat us? How they //still// treat us? Or have you been blessed to forget that?" You bow your head. "No. I could never forget." It was the first thing on your mind when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hands, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "Do you really think Valentina would do that?" you repeat your earlier question, though you aren't sure what you're asking anymore. Hana is quiet for a moment, just the sound of the rain drumming against the car behind her. "I don't know," she repeats her earlier answer. "I could never tell, if she would treat me a certain way because I wasn't you-- or because I was me." You close your eyes with a grimace. You hear Hana's sneakers crunch over wet asphalt as she takes a step towards you. "There's always that doubt." "I know," you say, opening your eyes. You and Hana look at each other again for a long time. You wish you could remember more. You wish you could dispel that doubt for her. But you feel it, too. "I know, Hana," you say again. It means more the second time. There's a relief in Hana's eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. She takes another step towards you then, slowly opening her arms, and you respond in kind, taking her into your embrace. You hold her close, wrapping your arms around her shoulders, breathing in the familiar smell of her hair. Neither of you say anything else-- you're not sure there is anything else to say. You both understand it without words. Eventually, Hana slips out of your arms with a long sigh. She gives you one last look before she turns and starts to walk back towards the apartment complex. You stand there in the rain for a moment, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky, and follow after her.<<else>>"I suppose you can understand that, to a certain extent," she says. A heavy silence passes through the car as Hana contemplates her next words. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"But Valentina-- when she hits me..." she says slowly, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"But Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She stands up a little straighter then, blinking rain from her lashes. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps. She takes a long look at you then, studying your face in the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "Cursed from the start," she mutters. A sudden memory comes to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "You and Valentina-- well, I'm here too," Hana says then. "This cursed world-- it's my world, too. I just want you to remember that. Remember that I'm here, too. And I want you to remember what it is you're asking of me. When Valentina asks me to stand in your place. Remember what you're really asking." You stare at each other for a moment, and then you nod. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair before scrubbing at her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she peers over at you. Then she pushes herself off the car, brushing past you and and starting back for the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear reconvene]]

You and Hana take the stairs down, with Hana taking them two at a time, and you stomp after her, calling her name in annoyance; but she ignores you. She barrels through the door and you follow right behind, grunting as you barely catch the heavy metal door and stop it from slamming in your face. "Hana!" You run out into the parking lot only to see her vomiting between the cars. You slow, letting out a long breath. All the fries she ate come back up, half-digested and splattering across the wet asphalt. You grimace, pulling Clear's rucksack all the way onto your shoulders so you can free your hands and hold Hana's hair back. She makes a pathetic little sound as you join her in the rain, gathering her thick curls in your hands and pulling them back out of her face. <div id="choice"><<link '"I told you."' 'ch3 clear rom hana talk rom 2.a'>><<set $h_rel -=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re alright."' 'ch3 clear rom hana talk rom 2.b'>><<set $h_rel +=1>><</link>></div> <div id="choice">[[Don't bother-- just hold her hair. ->ch3 clear rom hana talk rom 2.c]]</div>

You don't say anything, though you do press a hand to her back, trying to comfort her as you hold her hair. Someone eyes you as they walk to their car, but they're too worried about getting wet in the rain to care too much, hurrying past and slamming their car door close. You guide Hana away from them, towards Valentina's fancy car across the lot. At least the rain is washing the vomit away. You lean Hana against the car, taking the duffle bag off her shoulders and the keys clenched painfully in her hand, and you open the back, tossing in the bag and the rucksack beside the bags of groceries before returning to Hana. She looks at you warily, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She turns away from you then, opening the passenger door and reaching inside the car for something. She fishes around in the glove compartment for a moment before standing back up with a hair tie in her hand. Her curls are big and frizzy in the rain, and she lets out a long sigh as she ties them back. You just watch. She ends up reaching back in the car again, pulling out a soft drink in a giant plastic cup. The drink for Clear, you assume, but Hana drinks it now, rinsing her mouth out and spitting at your feet. She closes her eyes and holds her stomach for a moment, sliding back and sitting halfway in the car, the door swinging wide as she drops into the passenger seat. "Hana, what's going on?" you press once you're sure she's not going to throw up again. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana talk rom 3]]

<<if $h_rel gte 50>>"I told you, Hana," you say sadly. You're sure she doesn't need to hear you say that, but you're also not really sure what else to say. She keeps her head bowed, dry heaving now, leaning into you as she sways on her feet. Someone eyes you as they walk to their car, but they're too worried about getting wet in the rain to care too much, hurrying past and slamming their car door close. You guide Hana away from them, towards Valentina's fancy car across the lot. At least the rain is washing the vomit away. You lean Hana against the car, taking the duffle bag off her shoulders and the keys clenched painfully in her hand, and you open the back, tossing in the bag and the rucksack beside the bags of groceries before returning to Hana. She looks at you warily, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She turns away from you then, opening the passenger door and reaching inside the car for something. She fishes around in the glove compartment for a moment before standing back up with a hair tie in her hand. Her curls are big and frizzy in the rain, and she lets out a long sigh as she ties them back. You just watch. She ends up reaching back in the car again, pulling out a soft drink in a giant plastic cup. The drink for Clear, you assume, but Hana drinks it now, rinsing her mouth out and spitting at your feet. She closes her eyes and holds her stomach for a moment, sliding back and sitting halfway in the car, the door swinging wide as she drops into the passenger seat. "Hana, what's going on?" you press once you're sure she's not going to throw up again.<<else>>"I told you," you say, letting out a loud sigh. Hana lifts her head slightly to glare at you, and she pulls her hair from your hands and staggers away across the lot. She nearly collides with a stranger, who pushes her away from them as she mumbles a few thick apologies, and you quickly rush over and push them back before you can think about it. Hana grabs your arm and stops you from following after them as they scramble away to their car, shouting at you before slamming the door close and glaring through the rain-streaked windshield. "Stop, $name," Hana whines, tugging on your arm. You let her lead you away, though you watch over your shoulder as the person reverses out of their spot and quickly drives out of the parking lot, their tires squealing against the wet asphalt. Hana has to stop, your attention snapping back to her as she retches loudly, but when you try to hold her hair again she shakes her head and stumbles away, catching herself on Valentina's car. "Leave me alone," she blurts, hiding behind her curls, big and frizzy in the rain. You purse your lips, reaching out to take the keys clenched painfully in her hand. She lets you have them, and you take the duffle bag off her shoulders, too, walking around and opening up the trunk. You throw the bag and the rucksack inside along with the groceries, slamming it close and turning back to Hana. She's hunched against the car, stroking the wet metal. She moves away as you rejoin her, reaching for the passenger door, leaning into the car and digging around for something. She finds what she's looking for in the glove compartment, standing back up with a hair tie in her hand. She lets out a long sigh as she wrangles her curls and ties them back. You just watch. She ends up reaching back in the car again, pulling out a soft drink in a giant plastic cup. The drink for Clear, you assume, but Hana drinks it now, closing her eyes and holding her stomach for a moment before sliding back and sitting halfway in the car, the door swinging wide as she drops into the passenger seat. "Hana, what the hell?" you press once you're sure she's not going to throw up again.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana talk rom 3]]

"You're alright," you say, holding her hair in one hand and reaching with the other to stroke her back. She just mumbles something incomprehensible, turning to tuck her head against your stomach. Someone eyes you as they walk to their car, but they're too worried about getting wet in the rain to care too much, hurrying past and slamming their car door close. You guide Hana away from them, towards Valentina's fancy car across the lot. At least the rain is washing the vomit away. You lean Hana against the car, taking the duffle bag off her shoulders and the keys clenched painfully in her hand, and you open the back, tossing in the bag and the rucksack beside the bags of groceries before returning to Hana. She looks at you warily, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She turns away from you then, opening the passenger door and reaching inside the car for something. She fishes around in the glove compartment for a moment before standing back up with a hair tie in her hand. Her curls are big and frizzy in the rain, and she lets out a long sigh as she ties them back. You just watch. She ends up reaching back in the car again, pulling out a soft drink in a giant plastic cup. The drink for Clear, you assume, but Hana drinks it now, rinsing her mouth out and spitting at your feet. She closes her eyes and holds her stomach for a moment, sliding back and sitting halfway in the car, the door swinging wide as she drops into the passenger seat. "Hana, what's going on?" you press once you're sure she's not going to throw up again. [[Next ->ch3 clear rom hana talk rom 3]]

Hana takes a moment to respond, drinking slowly from her cup, staring down at her wet shoes. She looks defeated. "This morning," she says eventually. "When I spoke with Valentina." She takes a deep breath, looking up at you and blinking through the rain. "She asked me to go in your place. To the meeting tonight," she says. "She's worried what they'll do to you. But not to me, apparently," she adds dryly. She pulls on her straw, swirling the ice around and scraping plastic on plastic. "I don't think Valentina realizes what she's asking of me." You take a half-step towards her, and her gaze snaps back to you. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says then. "I'm used to being disposable. I'm used to being replaced. I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She frowns down at her hands. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" <<if $mc is "white">>"I'm not sure I can understand, Hana," you say slowly. That makes her laugh. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"No. You can't. None of you can." She sets her drink down then. "Valentina-- when she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends."<<else>>"No. You can't. None of you can." She sets her drink down then. "Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends."<</if>> Hana stands then, stepping sideways and closing the car door. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she cuts you off. "Don't apologize, don't-- just don't." She rubs at her eyes for a moment. "I love Valentina. I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, dropping her hands and reaching up to press a palm against your cheek. You blink, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. "Just... remember that. When you're fucking that other white woman in there while I buy her groceries. When you and Valentina are in your room together and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes a dark steel as she peers through the rain. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." "Okay," she says. "Okay." Then she lets you go, giving you one last look before turning and making her way back through the parking lot, back to the front of the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>You don't respond right away, your jaw clenching hard enough that your teeth ache. There's something else, too, an old pain deep in your chest-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. A pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you can never forget. "Of course I understand, Hana," you say softly. She swallows loudly then. "I've always had this doubt," she says, "with Valentina. I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You take another step towards her, and she blinks over at you, fidgeting with the cup in her lap. You wish you could dispel her doubt-- but you can't remember. And you feel it, too. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> Her hands tighten around the paper cup. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "You understand," she adds in a whisper. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly at Hana's words, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "$name," Hana says softly. Hana sets her drink down then, the ice sloshing loudly as it slots into the cupholder. She stands slowly, stepping sideways and softly closing the car door. "I love Valentina," she says. "And I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, slowly raising a hand and pressing a palm against your cheek. Your brow furrows, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I won't degrade myself for it. Not for Valentina, not even for you. I have lived in your shadow long enough, $name." Her eyes are steely black as she stares at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. You turn your head slightly, tucking your face into her hand, brushing the slightest suggestion of a kiss against her palm. "I understand," you mutter the words against her skin. She pulls her hand back slowly, sniffling quietly, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She gives you one last look, then starts to make her way back through the parking lot, back to the front of the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<<else>>"I understand more than you know," you say carefully. She glances over at you, studying you through the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "We've been cursed since the start, haven't we?" Hana muses then. A sudden memory returns to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. Hana shakes her head, staring down at her shoes again. "Valentina-- she doesn't always understand it. <<if $v_hanascratch>>When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends."<<else>>When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends."<</if>> Hana sets her drink down then, the ice sloshing loudly as it slots into the cupholder. She stands slowly, stepping sideways and softly closing the car door. "I love Valentina," she says. "And I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, slowly raising a hand and pressing a palm against your cheek. Your brow furrows, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. "Just... remember that. When you're fucking that white woman in there while I buy her groceries. When you and Valentina are in your room together and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes a dark steel as she peers through the rain. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." "Okay," she says. "Okay." Then she lets you go, giving you one last look before turning and making her way back through the parking lot, back to the front of the apartment complex. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Then you glance up at the darkening sky and follow after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 clear reconvene]]

You've all piled back into the car. The rain is a torrential downpour, completely obscuring the view through the windshield until Hana flicks the windshield wipers on full blast. You watch them frantically sweep back and forth across the glass, squeaking slightly from the effort. The drive back to the mansion feels shorter than it did this morning, and soon enough you're pulling into the long driveway, welcomed home by the bright lights on the front porch. "I'll get the groceries, you take her bags," Hana says, and you nod before ducking out into the rain. Clear makes a beeline straight for the porch with her smaller bags, her laptop-- she had to explain what that is to you-- and another duffle bag, while you grab the rucksack and larger duffle out of the back. Hana loads up her arms with groceries, and then you all hurry inside, the mansion startlingly quiet after the roar of the rain. Hana heads straight for the kitchen, though Clear hesitates, glancing back at you. "I'll take your bags up," you nod. She hands you the smaller bags, giving you a grateful look. <<if $ch3_clear_sex or $ch3_clear_kiss>>She lingers a moment longer, a light touch on your shoulder, something unspoken passing between you before she follows Hana into the kitchen.<</if>> You head for the stairs. [[Next ->ch3 valentina after ch route 1]]

Thankfully Clear's bags weigh nothing to you-- you know she brought a lot of books. Reaching Clear's room, you nudge the door open with your foot. You set her bigger bags down at the foot of her bed, and carefully lay her laptop bag on the mattress. Stepping back into the hallway, you take a quick look around. You wonder if this is the guest wing. Is Hana's room on this side, too? You don't like that thought. You walk down the long corridor, towards the landing. You can still hear Hana and Clear downstairs in the kitchen. You keep walking, past the closet, past your room, too. "Valentina?" you call out. You don't realize you're saying her name until it's said, and you glance back down the hall towards the landing-- but you want to see Valentina. <<if $hana_rom or $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>No matter your time spent with someone else, there's still a part of you that wants to see //her//. A compulsion-- a scab you can't stop picking at.<<else>>It's a compulsion-- a scab you can't stop picking at.<</if>> There are a few closed doors beyond this point, but you hesitate to snoop. You're drawn to the large double doors all the way at the end of the hall– the master suite, you assume. "Valentina?" you say it again just as a door opens to your left. You turn, Valentina standing in the doorway. She's changed clothes, wearing a dress now with a tight corset that makes it very hard not to stare. "$name," she says. She glances over your shoulder, back down the hall, giving you a questioning look. "They're downstairs," you say. She nods, stepping back and gesturing you inside. [[Next ->ch3 valentina after 2]]

You're both silent in the car. Hana turns the radio on, a soft song playing along with the rain drumming across the windshield, and you watch the water race across the glass, the windshield wipers squeaking softly as they slowly swipe back and forth. Hana seems anxious, shifting in her seat, tapping her thumbs against the steering wheel, her eyes constantly flicking to the rearview and side mirrors. You tilt your head towards her, earning yourself a quick look that she tries to hide. "You don't like driving in the rain?" you offer. You wouldn't, either. You don't think you'd like driving these new cars very much in general, to be honest. Hana hesitates, pursing her lips. "It's not that," she says eventually. You recall how anxious she looks back in Clear's apartment, too, hovering in front of the bookcase. "What is it, then?" you ask. Hana takes a deep breath. She keeps tapping her thumbs against the wheel. "The last few days. They're just finally starting to catch up to me, I think," she says carefully. "This morning..." she shakes her head. Her tapping stops, her hands tightening around the steering wheel. She glances over at you, an internal debate over whether or not she wants to share. You give her space. You wait. [[Next ->ch3 hana 1.2]]

"I can't really tell you anything. It's not really that I //remember// so much as I feel like I remember." Hana raises an eyebrow. "I don't remember the specifics. I couldn't tell you how we met, or her birthday, or anything like that. Hell, I don't even remember my own birthday," you scoff. "But intuitively-- my body remembers hers. The feelings are there. They don't always feel like my own. But I know her, and I can't quite separate myself from that. When I look at her, I feel..." you trail off, unsure how to finish the sentence. Hana is quiet, her eyes intent on the road. "Do you remember how she treated you?" Hana asks quietly. Your brow furrows. "I don't think it was always very nice, if that's what you're asking," you say dryly. Even now, your back itches from her phantom claws, and you shift slightly, grimacing at your smudged reflection in the side mirror. You don't say the second part out loud, though, which is that you're starting to suspect it was a rather //mutual// relationship. You glance down at your own claws in your lap. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"What about you?" you ask, lifting your gaze to the bandage on her cheek. She glances at you, and then back to the road.<<else>>"What about you?" you ask, though it's hard to look at her when you ask. She just glances at you, and then back to the road.<</if>> Hana is quiet for a while again. Eventually she pulls out of the main drag of the city and guides you into a large, concrete structure, with rows and rows of cars parked side by side sprawling in front of you, rising for multiple levels, all packed as Hana drives you up, up, up, searching for a spot. You stare at it all, even quieter inside now without the rain drumming on the roof, and you feel sick from the //excess//. <<link [[Next ->ch3 hana 3]]>><<set $ch3_hana to true>><</link>>

Hana parks the car, everything going quiet as she cuts the ignition. "This morning," Hana says then, "when I spoke with V. She asked me to do something," she hesitates again, glancing over at you. "The council meeting tonight-- she asked me to go in your place," she says. "She's //so// worried about you," Hana continues. "Worried about what they may do to you. But not to me, apparently," she sneers the last few words, sitting up straighter and gripping at the steering wheel again. She swallows loudly, glancing over at you. "I've always lived in your shadow, $name. But this-- I can't do this. Not if I'm going to be relegated to the //second choice//. The disposable one. Your damn //chauffeur//," she slaps her hand against the wheel, a sad little //beep// ringing out and echoing off all the concrete. <<if $hana_rom>><div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t need to worry about that, Hana."' 'ch3 hana 3.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"You are not the second choice."' 'ch3 hana 3.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I would never ask that of you, Hana."' 'ch3 hana 3.c'>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link '"I would never ask that of you, Hana."' 'ch3 hana 3.d'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"None of that is //my// fault."' 'ch3 hana 3.e'>><</link>></div> <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>><div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t really think this has to be an exclusive situation." ♡♡♡' 'ch3 hana 3.f'>><<set $poly to true>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t really think this has to be an exclusive situation." ♡♡' 'ch3 hana 3.f'>><<set $vh_poly to true>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><</link>></div><</if>><</if>>

"You don't need to worry about that, Hana," you say. "No?" she scoffs. "That's easy for you to say. You're the one she cares about. You're all she's ever cared about." She shakes her head, gripping the steering wheel with both hands. "I was your replacement, $name," she spits then. "What am I supposed to do now that you're back?" She glares over at you. "Do you even understand what I'm saying?" <<if $mc is "white">>You hesitate. "I'm not sure I can understand, Hana," you say slowly. "No," she laughs bitterly. "No, you can't. None of you can." She squeezes her eyes closed for a moment, shaking her head. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"Valentina-- when she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand, either. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand, either. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She takes a deep breath. "I've lived a long time, too, you know. I've been the chauffeur before. I've been the servant and the maid, too. It was all they allowed me to be," she says, her lip curling on the word //they//. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she cuts you off. "Don't apologize, don't-- just don't." She rubs at her eyes for a moment. "I love Valentina. I think I want to love you, too." She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She draws her hand down along your jaw, and you open your eyes again. "Just... remember that. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes black steel as she peers at you in the dark car. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She lets her hand drop then. "Okay," she says. She grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>You don't respond right away, your jaw clenching hard enough that your teeth ache. There's something else, too, an old pain deep in your chest-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. A pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you can never forget. "Of course I understand, Hana," you say softly. She swallows loudly then. "I've always had this doubt," she says, "with Valentina. I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You turn towards her, and she blinks over at you, wringing her hands in her lap. You wish you could dispel her doubt-- but you can't remember. And you feel it, too. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She grabs at the steering wheel. Her lifeline. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "You understand," she adds in a whisper. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly at Hana's words, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "$name," Hana says softly. She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. You wish you could hold her right now. "I do love Valentina," Hana says then, her words whispering over your lips. "And I think I want to love you, too." Her hand strokes you jaw, and you open your eyes, reaching up to lightly touch her wrist. She feels warm, somehow. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I won't degrade myself for it. Not for Valentina, not even for you. I have lived in your shadow long enough, $name." Her eyes are steely black as she stares at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. You turn your head slightly, holding her wrist still, brushing the slightest suggestion of a kiss against her palm. "I understand," you mutter the words against her skin. She pulls her hand back slowly, sniffling quietly, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She grabs the keys then, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<else>>"I think I understand more than you know," you say carefully. She glances over at you, studying you through the dark shadows of the car. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A sudden memory returns to you then— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "If you understood, then you wouldn't tell me not to worry, $name," Hana says then. "Maybe you do understand, to some degree. We've been forced into similar roles, I suspect. Chauffeur," she gestures half-hearted at the steering wheel. "Servant. Maid. We were both cursed, even before the fangs." A heavy silence passes through the car as Hana contemplates her next words. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"Valentina-- when she hits me..." she says slowly, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps. Then she sighs. "$name." She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. You wish you could hold her right now. "I do love Valentina," Hana says then, her words whispering over your lips. "And I think I want to love you, too." Her hand strokes you jaw, and you open your eyes, reaching up to lightly touch her wrist. You can feel her slow pulse. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. "Just... remember that. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes black steel as she peers at you through the dark. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She slowly draws her hand back. She feels warm, somehow. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She grabs the keys then, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana 4]]

"I would never ask that of you, Hana," you say. <<if $mc is "white">>"I'm not so sure," she says quietly. You sit up straighter then, leaning forward in your seat, but Hana just shakes her head. "You don't //get it//, $name." She sighs, pressing her forehead to the steering wheel. "You and Valentina. You don't get it," she repeats, her voice muffled, her face hidden by her hair. She slouches back into her seat after a moment, taking a deep breath. "I've lived for a long time, too, you know. I've been the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She glares over at you. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"Valentina-- when she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She grabs the steering wheel again. Her lifeline. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she cuts you off. "Don't apologize, don't-- just don't." She rubs at her eyes for a moment. "I love Valentina. I think I want to love you, too." She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She draws her hand down along your jaw, and you open your eyes again. "Just... remember that. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes black steel as she peers at you in the dark car. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She lets her hand drop then. "Okay," she says. She grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>She's quiet for a moment. "I want to believe that," she says eventually. She sighs, slumping forward and pressing her forehead to the steering wheel. Another little //beep// as her forehead inelegantly smacks against it. "Sometimes, I have this doubt. With Valentina," she mumbles, sitting back up and slouching into her seat. "I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You turn towards her, and she blinks over at you, wringing her hands in her lap. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She grabs at the steering wheel. Her lifeline. "But you-- you understand. You understand what I'm saying?" she asks softly. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hands at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "$name," Hana says softly. She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. You wish you could hold her right now. "I do love Valentina," Hana says then, her words whispering over your lips. "And I think I want to love you, too." Her hand strokes you jaw, and you open your eyes, reaching up to lightly touch her wrist. She feels warm, somehow. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I won't degrade myself for it. Not for Valentina, not even for you. I have lived in your shadow long enough, $name." Her eyes are steely black as she stares at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. You turn your head slightly, holding her wrist still, brushing the slightest suggestion of a kiss against her palm. "I understand," you mutter the words against her skin. It means more the second time. She pulls her hand back slowly, sniffling quietly, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She grabs the keys then, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<else>>"I want to believe that," she says quietly. "But I just can't, $name." She sighs, slumping forward and pressing her forehead to the steering wheel. Another little //beep// as her forehead inelegantly smacks against it. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says, her voice muffled and her face hidden by her hair. She slowly leans back, slouching into her seat. "I've been the chauffeur before. I've been the servant and the maid. It was all I was allowed to be." She glances over at you. "I suppose you can understand to some degree." A heavy silence passes through the car as Hana contemplates her next words. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"But Valentina-- when she hits me..." she says slowly, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"But Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She grabs the steering wheel again. Her lifeline. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps. She turns to really look at you then, studying your face in the dark car. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "Cursed from the start," she mutters. A sudden memory comes to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "$name," Hana says softly. She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. You wish you could hold her right now. "I do love Valentina," Hana says then, her words whispering over your lips. "And I think I want to love you, too." Her hand strokes you jaw, and you open your eyes, reaching up to lightly touch her wrist. You can feel her slow pulse. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. "Just... remember that. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes black steel as she peers at you through the dark. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She slowly draws her hand back. She feels warm, somehow. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She grabs the keys then, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana 4]]

"You are not the second choice," you say, but Hana just scoffs. "Don't be stupid, $name," she says, giving you a withering look. You frown. "You're all she cares about," Hana says then. She searches your face for a moment. "You do realize I was just your temporary replacement? I've always known that, even when I thought you were as good as dead. I knew... I knew your ghost would always be between us." She sinks back into her seat. "And now you're back." "Well, I could go back into the sarcophagus, if you'd like," you say flatly. <<if $mc is "white">>Hana scowls. "God, you don't //get it//, $name," she hisses. "You and Valentina. You don't get it," she repeats, smacking her hand against the steering wheel again. She avoids the horn this time. "It's so easy for you to make jokes," she says, shaking her head. "Well, I'm not fucking joking. Listen. I've lived for a long time, too, you know." She glares over at you. "I have been the second choice. I have been the chauffeur. You and Clear are hardly the first white women I've driven around," she says, and you grimace, shifting uncomfortably in your seat. "I've been the servant, the maid, the help. I've done it all, because that's all I was allowed. The second fucking choice." She takes a few deep breaths. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"Valentina-- when she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She grabs the steering wheel again. Her lifeline. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she cuts you off. "Don't apologize, don't-- just don't." She rubs at her eyes for a moment. "I love Valentina. I think I want to love you, too." She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She draws her hand down along your jaw, and you open your eyes again. "Just... remember that. When you want to make //jokes//. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes black steel as she peers at you in the dark car. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She lets her hand drop then. "Okay," she says. She grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>Hana frowns. "That's not what I want, $name," she says quietly. "I just..." She sighs, scrubbing her hands over her face for a moment. "You understand what I'm saying, don't you? No one else does. But you-- you have to understand," she says. You don't respond right away, your jaw clenching hard enough that your teeth ache. There's something else, too, an old pain deep in your chest-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. A pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you can never forget. "Of course I understand, Hana," you say softly. She swallows loudly then. "I've always had this doubt," she says, "with Valentina. I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You turn towards her, and she blinks over at you, wringing her hands in her lap. You wish you could dispel her doubt-- but you can't remember. And you feel it, too. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She grabs at the steering wheel. Her lifeline. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "You understand," she adds in a whisper. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly at Hana's words, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "$name," Hana says softly. She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. You wish you could hold her right now. "I do love Valentina," Hana says then, her words whispering over your lips. "And I think I want to love you, too." Her hand strokes you jaw, and you open your eyes, reaching up to lightly touch her wrist. She feels warm, somehow. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I won't degrade myself for it. Not for Valentina, not even for you. I have lived in your shadow long enough, $name." Her eyes are steely black as she stares at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. You turn your head slightly, holding her wrist still, brushing the slightest suggestion of a kiss against her palm. "I understand," you mutter the words against her skin. It means more the second time. She pulls her hand back slowly, sniffling quietly, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She grabs the keys then, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<else>>Hana scowls. "That's not what I want, $name," she says bitterly. "You don't get it. You and Valentina. You don't get it," she repeats. "I //get it// more than you think," you say, crossing your arms defensively. "And yet you make jokes!" Hana shouts. "Well, I'm not fucking joking." She sits up in her seat, staring at something you can't see through the windshield. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says, turning her glare on you. "I've been the chauffeur before. I've been the servant and the maid. The //second choice.// It was all I was allowed to be." She drops her gaze then. "I suppose you //can// understand to some degree." A heavy silence passes through the car as Hana contemplates her next words. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"But Valentina-- when she hits me..." she says slowly, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"But Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She grabs the steering wheel again. Her lifeline. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps. She turns to really look at you then, studying your face in the dark car. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "Cursed from the start," she mutters. A sudden memory comes to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "$name," Hana says softly. She reaches out, twisting in her seat, pressing a palm to your cheek. You close your eyes at the touch, leaning across the middle console. You wish you could hold her right now. "I do love Valentina," Hana says then, her words whispering over your lips. "And I think I want to love you, too." Her hand strokes you jaw, and you open your eyes, reaching up to lightly touch her wrist. You can feel her slow pulse. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. "Just... remember that. When you want to make //jokes//. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me." You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes black steel as she peers at you through the dark. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She slowly draws her hand back. She feels warm, somehow. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She grabs the keys then, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana 4]]

"I would never ask that of you," you say. <<if $mc is "white">>"I'm not so sure," she says slowly. You sit up straighter then, leaning forward in your seat, but Hana just shakes her head. "You don't get it, $name." "Hana-" you try, but she cuts you off with a huff. "Listen to me," she says, "You don't //get it.//" She shakes her head again, her hands tightening around the steering wheel. "I'm used to this kind of shit. I'm used to being disposable. //The second choice.// I've been the chauffeur, the servant, the maid," she gestures all around the car. "You and Clear are hardly the first white women I've had to drive around." You bow your head with a grimace. "You don't have to //ask// it. I can see it on your face. You and Valentina. You have no idea what you //ask// of me, you have no idea how it feels. None of you do." Hana takes a deep breath then. She rests her head in her hand. "You're all she cares about, you know. All she's ever cared about. But this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises as she flashes her fangs in the dark car. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. I'm here, too. I want her to care for me, too." You and Hana stare at each other. "Okay, Hana," you finally say. "Okay," she says. "Okay." Then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>She's quiet for a moment. "I want to believe that," she says eventually. She sighs, slumping forward and pressing her forehead to the steering wheel. Another little //beep// as her forehead inelegantly smacks against it. "Sometimes, I have this doubt. With Valentina," she mumbles, sitting back up and slouching into her seat. "I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You turn towards her, and she blinks over at you, wringing her hands in her lap. "When she puts her hands on me..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She grabs at the steering wheel. Her lifeline. "But you-- you understand. You understand what I'm saying?" she asks softly. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hands at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "I understand," you say. "I understand, Hana." It means more when you say it the second time. There's a relief in Hana's eyes then, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. She reaches out then, grabbing your wrist, lifting your hand onto the center console. Her touch lingers on your wrist, but then she takes your hand, squeezing it tight, just for a moment. Neither of you say anything else-- you're not sure there is anything else to say. You both understand it without words. Eventually, Hana lets go with a sigh. Then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<else>>"I want to believe that," she says quietly. "But I just can't, $name." She sighs, slumping forward and pressing her forehead to the steering wheel. Another little //beep// as her forehead inelegantly smacks against it. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says, her voice muffled and her face hidden by her hair. She slowly leans back, slouching into her seat. "I've been the chauffer before. I've been the servant and the maid. It was all I was allowed to be." She glances over at you. "I suppose you can understand to some degree." A heavy silence passes through the car as Hana contemplates her next words. "But Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me..." she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She grabs the steering wheel again. Her lifeline. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps. She turns to really look at you then, studying your face in the dark car. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "Cursed from the start," she mutters. A sudden memory comes to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "You and Valentina-- well, I'm here too," Hana says then. "This cursed world-- it's my world, too. I just want you to remember that. Remember that I'm here, too. And I want you to remember what it is you're asking of me. When Valentina asks me to stand in your place. Remember what you're really asking." You stare at each other for a moment, and then you nod. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair before scrubbing at her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she peers over at you. Then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana 4]]

"I don't really think this has to be an exclusive situation," you say slowly. "There's no need for a //second choice.//" "What?" Hana blurts, her brow furrowing as she blinks over at you. Whatever she expected you to say, it was not that. You lean against the middle console, tilting your head in her direction. "Are you... talking about me and Valentina?" she asks. <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>"And why not Clear, too?" you shrug. You fidget with your shirt, glancing back and forth between Hana and your twitchy hands.<<else>>"I am," you say.<</if>> Hana frowns then. "You're serious?" she scoffs. "You think it's //that// simple? Do you even understand what I'm really saying?" <<if $mc is "white">>"Why not?" you say, leaning across the console again. "Because I'm not like you!" she shouts.<<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>> "I'm not like you. I'm not like Clear."<</if>> She gives you a long look then, exhaling slowly. "No, I don't expect you to understand. None of you can." "Hana-" "Shut up," she snaps. "Just-- listen to me. I've lived a long time, too. And I'm used to being thrown out. Disposable. The //second choice//," she sneers that part at you. "I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She sits up a little straighter, grasping at the steering wheel. <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>"You and Clear, you and Valentina<<else>>"You and Valentina<</if>>-- well, this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises in the dark car as she flashes her fangs. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. I'm here, too." She takes a deep breath before suddenly lunging across the console and roughly grabbing your face. You let her. "You want me to join you <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>and Valentina? That other white woman, too?"<<else>>and Valentina?"<</if>> she says, her voice softer now but just as sharp. "Do not expect me to degrade myself for it. I won't do it, not for you, not even for Valentina. I won't let you or her use me as a fucking stand-in. Do you understand //that//?" You meet her steely black glare with you own. "Yes, Hana," you say. "I understand." She lets you go then. She slowly leans back, her eyes narrowed, studying your face. "Good," she says. And then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, massaging your jaw where her fingers dug in. You follow after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>She gives you a long look then. "You have to understand. No one else does. But you-- you have to understand," she says. You can't tell if there are tears in her eyes or if it's just the dark playing tricks on you. She reaches out and takes your hand then, resting it across the middle console, studying your pale palm before turning it over as you curl your fingers into a fist. "I'm just so used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "Those were the only roles available to people like us. Don't you remember?" You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you remember. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. Hana's hand tightens around yours then. "If you're really asking me to join you <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>and Valentina, you and Clear<<else>>and Valentina like that<</if>>-- just know that I won't degrade myself for it. I won't do it for Valentina, and I won't do it for you. I am not your stand-in, I am not an afterthought. I can't, $name. I have lived in your shadow long enough." Her eyes are steely black as she glares over at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. Her grip slowly loosens, and her hand slowly slides away from yours. She sniffles, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says to herself, and then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, massaging your wrist where her fingers dug in. You follow after her.<<else>>"I think I do, Hana," you say slowly. She glances over at you, studying you in the dark. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, when you stood before the mirror. A sudden memory returns to you then— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "This world of yours, with you and Valentina-- well, it's my world, too," Hana says then. "I'm here, too. I refuse to let you come here and take it from me, $name," she says slowly. "I have lived in your shadow, I have been the //second choice//, I've been the maid and the servant and the chauffeur. I refuse." She scoffs, shaking her head. "Valentina doesn't understand it, when she asks me to go in your place. And apparently, neither do you. You do not understand what you're asking of me." She swallows loudly then, her eyes a steely black as she glares over at you. "If that's what you really want, just know that I won't degrade myself for it. I won't let you //or// Valentina use me as a fucking stand-in, as an afterthought. Do you understand //that//?" You force yourself to hold her glare. "Yes, Hana," you say. "I understand." Hana's eyes narrow, and she leans close across the middle console, her breath on your lips. "Good," Hana finally says. And then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, and then follow after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana 4]]

"None of that is //my// fault," you snap, shaking your head at her. <<if $mc is "white">>Hana looks shocked for a moment-- stunned by your words. And then the shock turns to anger. "Yeah. I should've known you'd say that," she says bitterly. "And what is //that// supposed to mean?" you retort, recalling her comment back in Clear's apartment. "Just say it, Hana. Say what you mean." "What I mean is that I'm not like you," she says, reaching out and grasping at the steering wheel again. "I don't expect you to understand. You can't. None of you can." She glares over at you. "It's so easy for you to shrug off all the blame. You think you and I are the same because we're both vampires? Because we're both dykes?" "Hana-" you start, but she cuts you off. "Shut up. Listen to me. I've lived a long time, too, you know. I've been the maid, the servant, the chauffeur. //The second choice//," she sneers. "Because people like you didn't allow me to be anything else." You grimace. "Yeah. You get what I'm saying now, don't you?" Hana laughs bitterly. "You and Clear are hardly the first white women I've had to drive around." She shakes her head then, closing her eyes for a moment. "You're all Valentina cares about, you know. All she's ever cared about. But this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises in the car as she flashes her fangs. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. I'm here, too. I want Valentina to care for me, too." You and Hana stare at each other. "Okay, Hana," you finally say. "Okay," she says. Then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<elseif $mc is "black">>Hana looks shocked-- stunned by your words. But that shock quickly turns to anger, and then hurt. "How could you say that?" she asks sadly. "Don't you understand what I'm saying? No one else understands-- but you. You have to understand." You don't respond right away, your jaw clenching hard enough that your teeth ache. There's something else, too, an old pain deep in your chest-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. A pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you can never forget. "Of course I understand, Hana," you say. She swallows loudly then. "I've always had this doubt," she says, "with Valentina. I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You turn towards her, and she blinks over at you, wringing her hands in her lap. You wish you could dispel her doubt-- but you can't remember. And you feel it, too. "When she puts her hands on me sometimes..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She grabs at the steering wheel again. Her lifeline. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "You understand," she adds in a whisper. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly at Hana's words, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "I know, Hana," you say again. "I understand." It means more when you say it the second time. There's a relief in Hana's eyes then, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. She reaches out then, grabbing your wrist, lifting your hand onto the center console. Her touch lingers on your wrist, but then she takes your hand, squeezing it tight, just for a moment. Neither of you say anything else-- you're not sure there is anything else to say. You both understand it without words. Eventually, Hana lets go with a sigh. Then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<<else>>Hana looks shocked-- stunned by your words. But that shock quickly turns to anger, and then hurt. "That's not what I'm trying to say. Don't you get it?" she shakes her head at you. "No. You don't get it," she says bitterly. "You and Valentina. You don't get it," she repeats. "It's so easy for you to shrug it off. //It's not your fault//," she sneers. "Who cares, as long as it's not your neck they're stepping on, right?" "Hana-" "Shut up," she snaps. "Listen to me. I've lived a long time, too. And I'm used to being thrown out. Disposable. The //second choice//," she spits. "I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all." She eyes you for a moment then. "Surely that much you can understand?" Your jaw clenches. "Yeah. I can." A heavy silence passes through the car as Hana contemplates her next words. "Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... " she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She stands up a little straighter then, blinking rain from her lashes. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps, cutting you off again. She takes a long look at you then, studying your face in the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "Cursed from the start," she mutters. A sudden memory comes to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "You and Valentina-- well, I'm here too," Hana says then. "This cursed world-- it's my world, too. I just want you to remember that. Remember that I'm here, too. And I want you to remember what it is you're asking of me. When Valentina asks me to stand in your place. Remember what you're really asking." You stare at each other for a moment, and then you nod. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair before scrubbing at her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she peers over at you. Then she grabs the keys, giving you one last look before slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. You sit in the silence for a moment, before opening your door and following after her.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana 4]]

You walk a few feet back, jarred by the sudden expanse of concrete after being in the car-- the sounds of crunching wheels on asphalt and slamming car doors echo off the walls, and you scramble aside as a car eases past you and Hana, the lights blinding in the dark. Hana glances back at you, halting so you can catch up with her. "What is this place?" you ask, and you feel a bit guilty for asking it after your exchange in the car. It feels insignificant in comparison. "A parking garage," Hana says. You blink. You did know that-- you've just never seen one quite like this. So... large. Industrial. "It's connected to the main city complex," she explains. "The market, the theatre, the mall, and a bunch of other places through the downtown area." "Oh," you say, for lack of anything else. "From here, we'll be able to take an elevator straight to the market," she says. You just nod. You suppose it must be rather convenient to have everything connected like this, even if it's ugly. Another car slowly passes by both of you as you walk, and it freaks you out-- you don't like these new cars. They're too big, too loud, and most of them are driving too fast. At least they can't speed through the garage. Hana leads you to this supposed elevator. The garage is open, and you can see the city outside, the huge breezeways and tunnels that connect the buildings in the area, and a large square down below that reminds you of the street market where you saw the noodles vendor that first night. The elevator is behind two massive, poorly painted doors, and there are stairs, too, that lead down to the square. You and Hana wait for the elevator. [[Next ->ch3 hana 5]]

Inside, the elevator is damp and dingy, overlapping wet footprints slicking the floor as you and Hana step inside. You notice that the buttons have little logos printed alongside the numbers for each level, and one of them depicts a loaf of bread, a tomato, and lettuce. That's the one Hana pushes. The ride is slow and shaky, and you stop on the next level to let more people on, but eventually the doors open and Hana grabs your wrist, pulling you out with her. You walk down a long breezeway, lights and advertisements flickering across the glass along with the rain, and it makes your eyes hurt. You're grateful for Hana's touch to anchor you. Eventually, you make it into a large market area, and Hana grabs a small cart at the front, letting your wrist go and briskly walking deeper into the store. You're immediately overwhelmed. The place is pretty crowded, with people queuing up at the front for coffee, orders being shouted out as a barista works behind a long counter. You watch them for a moment, before quickly hurrying after Hana again. The store itself is both similar and different-- the structure is the same, it's a //grocery store//, not much can really change, even in a hundred years. But everything still feels... //off//. There's so much of everything. And there are so many people, so many screens and phones and voices all overlapping at once. "Here," Hana says then, shoving her phone into your hands. "You can be in charge of the list." Your mouth goes dry. <div id="choice"><<link '"Um... okay."' 'ch3 hana 5.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Hana... I can\'t... I can\'t read it."' 'ch3 hana 5.b'>><<set $h_read to true>><</link>></div>

"Um... okay," you say for some reason. You stare down at the words on the screen. //Fuck.// You and Hana navigate the produce section as she picks up some apples, mangoes, tomatoes, and a few avocadoes. It takes a few minutes just to walk through the rows and rows of cardboard displays. Hana drops the bag of avocados into the cart and then looks expectantly at you. "Uh, bread," you guess. You can see the bakery from here, and you're certain that it has to be on the list, anyways. Humans like bread. Sandwiches, and all that. Hana nods, and the two of you make your way to the bakery. "Did she write what kind?" she asks, and you shake your head. "Hmm. Well, if I had to guess, I'd go with whole grain..." Hana muses, grabbing a loaf from the rack. You're sweating, despite your cold blood, and you distract yourself by looking at all the doughnuts and muffins. You feel sad, suddenly, and you wish you could enjoy one without making yourself sick. All of this feels like a unique type of torture for you, for any vampire. Someone suddenly bumps into you then, or maybe you bump into them, and you nearly drop Hana's phone, tripping forward and catching yourself on the bakery display. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" the person says, and you just give them a glare. Hana steps closer, too, putting a hand on your arm, and the person scoffs, recoiling, before scurrying away. Hana searches your face for a moment. "What's next?" she asks. You stare down at the list, tapping her screen to keep it from turning off. You stare, and stare, and stare, but none of the words clarify for you. "$name?" Hana presses, though her voice is gentle. Her black eyes soften slightly, and she squeezes your arm. "What's next?" "Eggs," you guess. That's a food staple, surely it's on the list, and the dairy section is right across from the bakery. Hana nods slowly, gesturing you along. She seems to be familiar enough with the store, which intrigues you a bit-- you wonder what she could be buying here for herself. Drinks, maybe. Or maybe she entertains her own humans from time to time. [[Next ->ch3 hana 5.a.1]]

"Hana, I can't... I can't read it," you say, staring down at the words on the screen-- incomprehensible. You aren't thrilled to be making this confession for the second time today; it's not any easier. "You... what?" Hana blinks at you, confused. "I can't read it," you hiss under your breath. "I can't read. I forgot how. I forgot, with everything else," you say. She takes the phone back from you then, avoiding your gaze. She turns to the produce displays beside you, grabbing a few apples and mangoes and some tomatoes, stuffing them into a little plastic bag and then setting them in the cart. "I'm sorry, $name," she says then, taking a deep breath and glancing down at the list. "Um, well, the bakery is right over there so we can grab bread next," she says quickly, pushing the cart along over to the bakery. You trail awkwardly behind her. She grabs a loaf of bread and some bagels, and you're sweating, despite your cold blood, and you distract yourself by looking at all the doughnuts and muffins. You feel sad, suddenly, and you wish you could enjoy one without making yourself sick. All of this feels like a unique type of torture for you, for any vampire. Someone suddenly bumps into you then, or maybe you bump into them, and you nearly trip, having to catch yourself on the bakery display. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" the person says, and you just give them a glare. Hana steps closer, too, putting a hand on your arm, and the person scoffs, recoiling, before scurrying away. Hana searches your face for a moment. "She wants cream cheese and eggs," she says then, gesturing you towards the back wall of dairy products. You just nod. Hana seems to be familiar enough with the store, which intrigues you a bit-- you wonder what she could be buying here for herself. Drinks, maybe. Or maybe she entertains her own humans from time to time. [[Next ->ch3 hana 5.b.1]]

Hana grabs a massive carton of eggs, gently setting it down before looking to you again. "Pasta," you blurt, recalling the large bowl Clear ate back in her apartment. Hana nods. You pass through a few rows of massive fridges then, frozen food that you could never even imagine stacked on shelves within, and your hand tightens around Hana's phone. Your anxiety from this morning is returning tenfold, and you feel exposed in the bright artificial light overhead-- left behind as the world leapt forward. You think people are staring at you, like that first night when you climbed out of the sarcophagus, in your old, dirty clothes. You suddenly grab Hana, making her startle. "I need to go to the bathroom," you lie, shoving her phone in her face. "...Okay," she says, blinking at you, taking the phone back. Hana's brow furrows, and she steps close, touching your arm again-- but you shrug her off, turning on your heel and bolting for what you hope is the front of the store. Thankfully, you spot the sign hanging from the ceiling, the two stick figures depicting //Man// and //Woman//, and you make a beeline for it, shoving your way through the crowd and ignoring the dirty looks sent in your direction. You all but barrel through the door. [[Next ->ch3 hana 6]]

At the very least, the public bathrooms look like how you remember. Unfortunately, you've hardly taken a step inside before someone is yelling at you. "You're in the wrong room! This is the //lady's// room!" a woman shouts at you, fuming in front of the sinks. You're caught off guard, glancing down at yourself as if you expect to see something different than what you know is already there. "Fuck off, lady," you snap. That catches //her// off guard. She recoils, clutching her paper towel in front of her chest as if it were a shield. But she stands her ground. "You're in the wrong room!" she shouts again. Her voice grates your already frayed nerves, and you press your palms to your temples, ducking your head and taking a deep breath. "You can't be in here! Women //only//!" She fumbles in her little purse then, pulling out her phone and pointing it at you. //Jesus Christ.// She's recording you, or taking your picture. The flash going off lets you know it's the latter. "I am a woman, you dumb bitch," you sneer. You can smell her blood, hear her heart hammering in her chest. She's afraid of you. It makes you laugh, which only makes her heart race faster, her eyes wide as she takes another picture of you. You realize then your face must be distorted on her phone screen, and she tries again, the light blinding you for a third time. You feel what little patience and grace you had remaining vanish with a fourth flash. You curl your lip back, and you lunge at her, releasing your teeth and claws-- you don't hold back, your jaw stretching wide, your fangs elongating in the buzzing fluorescents over the mirror. She yelps, staggering back into the sink, fumbling her phone and then running for the door. You follow close behind, hissing and spitting at her, and when she throws open the door you grab it and jerk it shut, grateful for a latch that you quickly use to lock yourself inside. "Bitch," you mutter, wiping your mouth. You grimace as your fangs recede slightly, your gums aching. The stench of her fear hangs heavy in the air, even over the usual smell of piss and shit in a public bathroom. You sigh, pressing your forehead against the door and closing your eyes. <<link '"$name?"' 'ch3 hana 7'>><</link>>

The two of you make your way over to the eggs, and you glance over at the rows and rows of massive fridges, frozen food that you could never even imagine stacked on shelves within, and your hands clench into clammy fists. Your anxiety from this morning is returning tenfold, and you feel exposed in the bright artificial light overhead-- left behind as the world leapt forward. You think people are staring at you, like that first night when you climbed out of the sarcophagus, in your old, dirty clothes. You suddenly grab Hana, making her startle. "I need to go to the bathroom," you lie. "...Okay," she says, nodding slowly. Hana's brow furrows, and she steps close, touching your arm again-- but you shrug her off, turning on your heel and bolting for what you hope is the front of the store. Thankfully, you spot the sign hanging from the ceiling, the two stick figures depicting //Man// and //Woman//, and you make a beeline for it, shoving your way through the crowd and ignoring the dirty looks sent in your direction. You all but barrel through the door. [[Next ->ch3 hana 6]]

Hana's voice sounds from the other side. "Hana," you say, relieved at her familiarity. You unlock the door and open it for her, and she quickly slips inside. "What happened?" she asks, her eyes wide. "She said I was in the wrong room," you say weakly. All your fight leaves you then, replaced with mortification and a headache. Understanding flickers across Hana's face. "I see," she says sadly. "Come on. We need to leave-" "But what about Clear's groceries?" you try. "It's okay. Let's just go back to the car for now, and then we can figure it out," she assures you. You swallow loudly, glancing around the bathroom as if it will give you a better solution. "Okay," you sigh. [[Next ->ch3 hana 8]]

The two of you slip out of the bathroom together, Hana holding your hand. You notice your cart pushed aside against the wall, but Hana leaves it there and hurries the two of you along. You can actually hear the woman somewhere nearby, shouting at some poor manager, probably-- there's an employee hovering nearby in a green apron, too, but they don't say anything as the two of you leave, just giving you a sympathetic look before walking off in the opposite direction. You manage to make it to the long breezeway, and the two of you pass by a hustling security guard, your hand tightening around Hana's. But he doesn't pay any attention to you, vanishing through the doors and into the market. The rain is coming down even harder, distorting the advertisements on the glass, and you bow your head, an ache just behind your eyes making it all hard to look at. Back in the elevator, and then finally back in the parking garage. It's quiet between all the concrete. Hana unlocks the car and opens the back seat for you. "Here. You can lay down in the back," she offers. You climb in with a sigh, feeling like a scolded child, left in the car because you couldn't behave in the store. Hana leans against the open door, peering down at you. She hands you the keys then. You give her a confused look. "I'll go back for the groceries," she says, gesturing the keys at you. "If you want to turn on the radio, or if it gets too hot you can roll the windows down..." It is a little warm in the car, but you'll tolerate it. You don't want to turn this thing on. Hana sighs then, staring down at the ground for a moment. "I'll be quick," she finally says. "Okay." You hesitate. "I'm sorry." Hana gives you a sad smile. "You didn't do anything wrong, $name," she says. And then she closes the door and walks briskly out of sight, back towards the elevator. [[Next ->ch3 hana 9]]

"//Fuck//!" you shout it in the confined space, leaning forward and hiding your face in your hands. You should have stayed back with Clear. Your shame is immense, your chest tight and your eyes burning. Especially after what Hana just said to you before this, and now you've left her to be your personal fucking shopper, because you can't control yourself. You groan into your hands, rocking back and forth, letting yourself be pathetic for a moment before slumping back into your seat. But a part of you wishes you had done more. You should have bit the bitch. Give her a real reason to be scared. You close your eyes, your head pounding. A sharp twist in your stomach lets you know the hunger agrees with you. "Fuck," you hiss again, kicking the seat in front of you. You wait for Hana to return. [[Next ->ch3 hana 10]]

She is quick. Hana knocks on the window about twenty minutes later, startling you. You sit up, blinking through the glass at her, opening the door just enough to hand her the keys. The trunk opens, and you sit staring straight ahead as Hana loads the bags into the back. The trunk slowly closes, some automatic mechanism, and you watch Hana come around the front. She gets into the driver seat at first, glancing back at you in the rearview. But then she climbs back out, and joins you in the back. "Hi," she says. "Hi," you say. She takes a deep breath, sinking back into her seat. "How are you feeling?" <div id="choice"><<link '"Bad."' 'ch3 hana 10.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Better."' 'ch3 hana 10.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Just shake your head. ->ch3 hana 10.c]]>><</link>></div>

You just shake your head. Hana gives a half-hearted chuckle. "It's overwhelming," she says then. "The grocery store. All of it. I should've known it would be a lot for you." <<include "ch3 hana 11">>

"Bad," you say. Hana hangs her head, picking at a loose string on her sweatpants. "I should have figured it would be overwhelming for you," she says then. <<include "ch3 hana 11">>

"Better," you say, though it's not very convincing. Hana sighs. "The grocery store kinda sucks," she says then. "It's always overwhelming, even for me, and I'm used to it..." she trails off, seeming unsure of her point. "I should've known it would be... too much." <<include "ch3 hana 11">>

You don't remember if you were ever the kind of person to get //overwhelmed//. You stare straight ahead, glaring at the concrete wall in front of you. You imagine the younger version of you, before the sarcophagus, watching you with disgust. "And I said that shit in the car right before we went in-" "Stop," you say. You shake your head. "What you said needed to be said." Hana is quiet for a moment. "That woman was still screaming in there when I went to checkout," Hana says then. You can hear the smile in her voice. You turn towards her, raising an eyebrow. "You scared the shit out of her," she giggles. "Good," you say. <<if $hana_rom>>[[Next ->ch3 hana rom 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 hana plat 1]]<</if>>

<<if $ch2_hana>><<include "ch3 hana full rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch3 hana kiss rom 1">><</if>>

"People like that-- if only they knew. They're always afraid for the wrong reasons," she says. "If only I had gone in there with you. Two dykes in the bathroom with her and she would have started having heart palpitations," Hana grins. "She kept trying to take my picture," you say. Hana's smile fades slightly. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>"I'm sorry, $name," Hana says softly. You sigh, letting your head drop back against the seat, staring up at the ceiling. "It's all so... strange," you say. "I don't remember everything-- the little details, I don't remember my birthday or my hobbies or what clothes I liked to wear. I don't remember what I thought or how I felt." Hana waits for you to continue. "I have this disconnect from the person I was and the person I am now. I don't know how different they are. And then there's other people-- you and Valentina. Clear, too. That woman in the bathroom, everyone else. The way they perceive me versus what I am." You swallow loudly, letting your head roll forward again. "I don't know how to... fill these gaps." You raise your hands in front of you, bringing them together, interlocking your fingers so your hands are grasping at each other. "I don't know who I am." You take a deep breath. "Maybe that woman was right. Maybe I was in the wrong room." Hana stares at you for a long, quiet moment. "But you chose that room for yourself," Hana finally says. "Did you hesitate before stepping inside?" You shake your head. "Did you even have to think about it?" "No. But maybe I should have-" "Why? To make that woman feel better? To make her //comfortable//? And would you feel comfortable in the men's room, instead?" You shake your head again. "There you go, then," Hana shrugs. You frown at her. "Is it that simple?" "Why does it have to be complex?" she retorts. [[Next ->ch3 hana plat high rel 1]]<<else>>"I'm sorry, $name," Hana says softly. You sigh, letting your head drop back against the seat, staring up at the ceiling. "It's all so... strange," you say. "I don't remember everything-- the little details, I don't remember my birthday or my hobbies or what clothes I liked to wear. I don't remember what I thought or how I felt." Hana waits for you to continue. "I have this disconnect from the person I was and the person I am now. I don't know how different they are. And then there's other people-- you and Valentina. Clear, too. That woman in the bathroom, everyone else. The way they perceive me versus what I am." You swallow loudly, letting your head roll forward again. "I don't know how to... fill these gaps." You raise your hands in front of you, bringing them together, interlocking your fingers so your hands are grasping at each other. "I don't know who I am." You take a deep breath. "Maybe that woman was right. Maybe I was in the wrong room." Hana stares at you for a long, quiet moment. "But you chose that room for yourself," Hana finally says. "Did you hesitate before stepping inside?" You shake your head. "Did you even have to think about it?" "No. But maybe I should have-" "Why? To make that woman feel better? To make her //comfortable//? And would you feel comfortable in the men's room, instead?" You shake your head again. "There you go, then," Hana shrugs. You frown at her. "Is it that simple?" "Why does it have to be complex?" she retorts. [[Next ->ch3 hana plat rival 1]]<</if>>

Hana is quiet again, but you can see her staring at you in your peripheral. "I tried to catch up with you," she says eventually. "But I figured chasing you when you were already running-- well, too fast-- would only make things worse." You don't respond, wincing internally. You forgot about that. Too fast-- no wonder everyone was giving you weird looks. Hana shifts then, sliding closer. No middle console between you this time. "If I'd been in there," she says slowly, "we //really// could have scared her, then." You smile, her shoulder bumping against yours. <<if $h_rel gte 50>>"I don't think you're scary," she says softly, bumping your shoulder again. You tilt your head, Hana's curls brushing against your cheek. She leans close, and you feel a moment of confusion, and then it shifts into something else, a sudden rush of heat lancing up your spine. "No?" you say. "What am I, then?" Hana blinks slowly, reaching up to trace your bottom lip with her finger. "Your fangs are still out," she says. "What am I, Hana?" you ask again. She answers you with a kiss.<<else>>"I think you're scary, too," Hana says then, almost a whisper. You tilt your head, Hana's curls brushing against your cheek. She leans close, and you feel a moment of confusion, and then it shifts into something else, a sudden rush of heat lancing up your spine. "Is that right?" you say. Hana blinks slowly, reaching up to trace your bottom lip with her finger. "Your fangs are still out," she says. "You're afraid of me, Hana?" you ask again. She answers you with a kiss.<</if>> She kisses you and kisses you, before turning her head to trail more kisses along the curve of your neck, and you inhale sharply as she caresses your face, licking and sucking gently at your pulse. "Hana," you breathe, swallowing loudly as she keeps kissing you. "$name," she mutters back, her lips still pressed to your throat. Her hand trails from your face, along your neck, across your chest. She slides it slowly down your stomach, down to your belt buckle. You tilt your head, your eyes half-lidded as you look down at her, your breath mixing with hers as she pulls back to kiss along your jaw. As she starts to undo your belt, you close your eyes, feeling that familiar heat again, gathering low and crawling up your spine. But after a moment, you open your eyes, finding a sudden clarity, glancing through the front windshield and staring at the concrete wall in front of you. It's dark in the parking garage, and there are cars parked on either side of you, blocking you in and shielding you from any passersby... hopefully. You realize you don't care. You just want her to touch you. <<if $gender eq 1>>[[Next ->ch3 hana full rom g1 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 hana full rom g2 1]]<</if>>

Hana unbuckles your belt and pulls it loose, but when she reaches for the button on your jeans you suddenly recoil, an abrupt realization and a flood of painful memories jarring you and snapping you out of your eagerness. Hana blinks, quickly pulling back as you press yourself against the car door, as far away from her as you can get. "$name?" she asks softly, and you swallow, twisting in your seat. You don't know why you're so afraid-- you're stronger than Hana. You could overpower her, easily. You eye her for a moment, reflexively reaching for the door handle. <<if $h_rel lt 50>>Maybe she's right to be afraid of you, the same as that woman in the bathroom.<<else>>Maybe she //should// be afraid of you, the same as that woman in the bathroom.<</if>> "I'm, uh-" you stammer, uncertain and reluctant to say it out loud. Your body is different than hers. You had forgotten that it mattered. Blissfully unaware-- until right now. You suppose it's better that you remembered before she reached her hand down your pants and found out herself. You pull your legs up onto the seat then, pressing your knees to your chest-- hiding yourself. Hana tilts her head at you, searching your face. "$name," she says slowly, "do you remember, when we were laying on your bed together yesterday?" You narrow your eyes at her, nodding warily. "You asked me if I was like you and Valentina." She sighs, glancing down at her hands for a moment. "I'm like you. I'm just like you." You blink slowly, watching as she slides closer again. "When I was a human, I lived as woman. No one knew," she says. "Even back then, no one knew, before..." she gestures at her teeth. "It was when I changed-- I was... well. They found out." She's quiet for a moment. "I'm like you," is all she manages to say. "I'm a woman like you." <<if $mc is "white">>"This is the curse you and I have in common," she adds quietly.<<else>>"More than one curse we share," she says quietly.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana full rom g1 2]]

You let her pull your belt aside, watching as she deftly unbuttons your pants with one hand, before lifting your shirt up to touch your stomach with her cool fingers. You wrap your arm around her shoulders then, pulling her close, and you can feel her smile as she presses more kisses to your throat, her teeth scraping your pulse while she trails a finger in slow circles around your navel. You reach over with your other hand then, touching Hana's neck, brushing your thumb over your bite mark still fresh in her throat before sliding lower-- but she pulls back and stops you before you can reach between her legs. You blink at her, at your wrist in her hand, and she shakes her head, dropping her gaze for a moment. "Sorry," she says softly, pressing her face into the crook of your neck. "It's okay," you say, and your voice is thick from her kissing you, but you clear your throat, shifting in your seat, slipping your hand free from hers to reach up and pet her curls. "I won't do anything you don't want me to." Hana is quiet for a moment, her other hand resting on your stomach. "Right now I just want you to kiss me," she says then, and you oblige, closing your eyes as her lips find yours, your hand tightening in her hair. [[Next ->ch3 hana full rom g2 2]]

You slowly let your feet slide back to the floor, and when Hana leans in again you don't push her away. She kisses you softly, and you sigh, closing your eyes, leaning back in your seat again. You pull her into your arms, letting her climb into your lap. You just want to hold her. Your kisses feel different now-- an understanding in them that only the two of you can know. She hunches over you, her curls brushing the ceiling-- it's a good thing this is a big, fancy car. Big, fancy back seat. Lucky you. She slowly eases her weight into your lap, and your arms tighten around her, your chests pressed together as your kiss deepens again. Your hands slide from her back, trailing down her sides, to her thighs on either side of you. She hums softly as you squeeze them, and she rolls her hips and grinds down into your lap, her breath quickening and ghosting over your lips. You tug at the bottom of her shirt, slipping your hands underneath the fabric and touching her stomach, and she breaks the kiss with you to lean back, letting your hands slide up to touch her breasts. She watches you, her wet lips parted slightly as she rests back against the front seat. One of your hands caresses her stomach, and the other you touch her through her sports bra, gently cupping her in your palm before teasing her nipple with your thumb, pinching her through the thin fabric-- and you feel the metal piercing roll between your fingers, making her gasp a little and arch her back. She closes her eye then, exhaling slowly, before she reaches for your pants again. She carefully unbuttons them, watching you as she does, waiting for your reaction. But you don't stop her this time. She slowly pulls down your zipper, and then trails her fingers through your happy trail, pushing your shirt up and exposing your stomach. She toys with the waistband of your underwear, biting her lip, and then she pulls it aside and takes your cock in her hand. You take a deep breath, sinking back into your seat, both of you adjusting your positions slightly as Hana hunches over you. Your hands find her thighs again, and you hold her tight as she touches you, her dark eyes watching your face intently. She leans in and kisses you, hungrier this time, her tongue slick against yours. She sucks on your bottom lip, her hand moving slowly as she starts to stroke your cock, and your hips twitch in your seat, your breath hitching as she nips at your lip. She tilts her head, kissing lower, kissing your pulse again, pressing her tongue to your throat, making a soft sound as she tastes you. You can feel her fangs, the pressure of them pricking against your neck making you //ache//. You ache for her to bite you, and you ache for her hand, your hips bucking again involuntarily. "Hana," you breathe, and she sits back, licking her lips as she blinks down at you. She lets you go and reaches for her own pants, a loose pair of black sweatpants that she easily rolls down below her hips. She reaches into her underwear and touches herself for a moment, watching you as she does, and then she leans forward, one hand pressing back against the seat behind you while her other hand takes both her cock and yours together, holding them flush as she strokes them simultaneously. She rubs them together, rolling her hips down and thrusting against you, into her hand, and she kisses you again, panting softly into your mouth. Your hands are no doubt bruising her thighs, and you release one of them to reach up and touch Hana's neck, brushing your thumb over your bite mark, still fresh in her throat from yesterday, your nail scraping lightly over the thick scab, making Hana gasp again. You want to bite her so bad-- but Valentina's face flashes in your mind. Hana notices your sudden hesitation, pulling back and tilting her head at you. "You want to taste me," she mutters, and you shudder against her breath ghosting over your lips. "Lick your mark. Taste it," she whispers, letting her head roll to the side. You groan, pressing your thumb against her pulse before leaning in and replacing it with your tongue, pressing it into your bite, easily splitting the delicate scabs and rewarding yourself with Hana's delicious blood. [[Next ->ch3 hana full rom g1 3]]

Hana lets go of you then to cradle your face, your eyes fluttering close as you drink from her. You're careful with your mouth, with your fangs, not wanting to do too much damage-- not wanting to be obvious when you face Valentina later. Your other hand moves from her thigh to her cock, and now it's you that touches her, caressing her gently and making her squirm in your lap. You almost whine when she sits up, arching your back in your seat as Hana touches her neck, staring at the blood before she puts her fingers in her mouth. She moans as she wets her fingers, licks her palm, spits in it-- then offers it to you. You lick her fingers, sucking on them for a moment before she returns her hand to your cocks, nudging your own hand out of the way. You close your eyes again as she starts stroking in earnest, her hand slick and inexplicably warm. You like feeling her pressed against you, both of you in her hand. She runs her thumb over your tip-- soft, wet touches from her fingers and the warm pressure of her cock against yours, held deliciously in the palm of her hand. You close your eyes, panting loudly in the car, the world growing fuzzy around the edges as your body winds tight under her touch. In your defense, it's been a hundred years since anyone has touched you like this. You try to resist, digging your heels into the floor, gripping Hana's thighs, as if you could forcibly prolong it. "Look at me," Hana says then. "Open your eyes, $name. Look at me." You obey, opening your eyes and peering up at her-- but it's Valentina that you see in your lap, and it's Valentina's hand that suddenly grabs at your shirt collar, pulling it aside as she leans in and bites you, her teeth sinking deep into your shoulder. You come with Valentina's teeth in your flesh, and only after do you see Hana again-- her hand still stroking you until you grab her wrist and whisper her name. She releases your shoulder then and kisses you, your blood mixing with hers still in your mouth. You blink a few times, and then squeeze your eyes shut, though Valentina's presence lingers. Your kisses are sloppy, your mind in a thick fog of pleasure and confusion, with your body spent beneath Hana's. She rests one hand on your lower stomach, her other still gripping your shirt, but she lets go to wrap her fingers around the back of your neck, petting your nape and making you shiver. "Hana," you murmur her name again, just to be sure. She smiles, rocking slightly in your lap. "Hana," you whisper one more time. For a while the two of you just exchange lazy kisses, tangled in the back seat, and you think you may have stayed like that all day if not for the car beside you suddenly unlocking, the loud //beep// echoing through the parking garage and making you both recoil. Hana gasps, and quickly wraps her arms around you, giggling as she hides you beneath her body and her curly hair. You hold your breath for some reason, and you wait until you hear the car door open and close to exhale, all while Hana keeps giggling. You hear the car start, and then the sound of tires crunching over concrete, and then Hana leans back, touching your face for a moment while her other hand presses against your chest. Then she climbs off of you, tucking herself back into her sweatpants, but you reach out and touch her thigh, tilting your head at her. She didn't finish. But she just smiles, nudging your hand away. <<link [[Next ->ch3 hana full rom g1 4]]>><<set $ch3_hana_sex to true>><</link>>

Hana climbs through the middle and into the front seat then, reaching into the glove compartment, and she drops back into the backseat with a bundle of napkins in her hand. She wipes off your stomach, leaning in to kiss your neck as she does, and she wipes off her one hand before folding the napkin up and tucking it into a little trash bag hanging from one of the front seats. Now you tuck yourself back into your jeans, zipping up your fly and quickly buttoning them, glancing out the car window warily. Hana sidles up next to you, leaning into you, and she pets your hair, watching you closely as you cinch your belt. "How are you feeling now?" she asks, and you let out a breathless laugh before kissing her again. You almost fall back into your shared rhythm, your kiss deepening, Hana's hands touching you, but she stops herself, breaking apart and sitting back with a sigh. "Clear is probably missing us," she says then. "And the frozen food is probably melting..." she adds sheepishly. You clear your throat, sitting up in your seat. "Right." Neither of you move to climb out of the back seat. Hana reaches for your hand, entwining your fingers, leaning back in to rest her head on your shoulder. You turn and press a kiss through her curls. Hana squeezes your hand, and then slides out of the car, and you do the same, both of you moving into the front seats. Hana eases in behind the steering wheel and you drop into the passenger side with a heavy sigh. [[Next ->ch3 hana rom 2]]

The two of you remain in contented silence on the way back to Clear's apartment. You watch the city pass by, struggling to get your bearings-- but you haven't been able to really figure the city out yet. You do see the hotel in the distance, the flashing lights fading up into the clouds and the now nearly-black night sky. Hana slows suddenly, and you turn to look at her questioningly as you pull off the road into a parking lot. "I thought we could stop and grab Clear some hot food," she says then. "And some coffee, if you'd like," she adds. The smell of fried food hits you as she says it, and you peer through the wet glass to see the bright lights of a fast food joint. Hana gasps then. "Oh, you've never been through a drive-thru!" You raise an eyebrow at her. "Didn't have those until the 1940s. Only carhops," she muses. "It's easy. We won't have to go inside, we just drive up to the windows and give them our order." You peer over at her, charmed by her excitement. "Want a coffee?" she asks. You nod. A mechanical voice crackles as Hana rolls down her window, wincing at the rain falling into the car. She gives them an order, and adds to coffees at the end. Hesitates. Adds one more. Then she drives forward, pays at the next window, and picks up the food at the second. Hana hands it to you for safe-keeping. [[Next ->ch3 hana rom 3]]

She starts to move her other hand again, touching the top of your jeans, pulling your fly down, and you deepen your kiss, tilting your head and pressing your tongue against hers. You can feel her fangs, the pressure of them pricking against your lips making you feel //hungry//. You ache for her to bite you, and you ache for her hand, your hips twitching in your seat as she toys with the waistband of your underwear. "Hana," you breathe her name into your kiss, and she smirks as she slips her hand down your jeans, stroking your clit with her thumb, the touch agonizing through the fabric of your underwear. The rest of her hand curls lower, the slightest pressure on your opening-- but still your underwear between you. Hana breaks your kiss then, sitting up a bit so she can look down at you, at your exposed stomach and your open legs. She's breathing almost as hard as you, taking pleasure in your anticipation, biting her lip as she moves her hand in slow strokes, once, twice, three times before sliding back up to your stomach. You turn your head to stare at the curve of her neck, and you think about biting her-- but Valentina's face flashes in your mind. Hana notices you staring, tilting her head at you. "You want to taste me," she mutters, and you shudder against her hand as she reaches down into your underwear and finally touches you-- skin on skin. "Lick your mark. Taste it," she whispers, and you groan as her fingers trail through your hair, tracing the lips between your legs, her thumb touching your clit again. You lean in and press your tongue to her pulse, press it into your bite, easily splitting the delicate scabs and rewarding yourself with Hana's delicious blood. [[Next ->ch3 hana full rom g2 3]]

Hana's breath catches in her throat, and you almost whine when she pulls her hand back. She sucks on her fingers, wetting them for you, saliva dripping from her hand and across your stomach as she reaches back down and starts to touch you in earnest. You have to pull away from her throat, to stop yourself from biting down in your ecstasy, panting loudly in the small car as her hand rubs relentlessly against your clit. "Fuck, Hana-" you barely manage the words, writhing in the seat as she leans over you, her one hand moving low to slip a few fingers inside, curling slowly, deliberately, while her other hand keeps rubbing tight, rhythmic circles that have you gasping. Hana's eyes are bright as she watches you, her lips parted slightly, saliva still dripping from her chin. Your own face is smeared with her blood, and you lick your lips, the sharp taste of it elevating your pleasure, and you press yourself back into the seat, your eyes fluttering close as you're already nearing your climax. In your defense, it's been a hundred years since anyone has touched you like this. You try to resist, digging your heels into the floor, as if you could prolong it. "Look at me," Hana says then. "Open your eyes, $name. Look at me." You obey, opening your eyes and turning to look at her-- but it's Valentina beside you, not Hana, and it's Valentina that leans in and bites you, her teeth piercing through your shirt and sinking deep into your shoulder. You come with Valentina's teeth in your flesh, the car rocking slightly as she thrash in your seat, gasping as Valentina's hands don't stop, not until you grab her wrists-- and then it's Hana again, releasing your shoulder and kissing you, your blood mixing with hers in your mouth. You blink a few times, and then squeeze your eyes shut, though Valentina's presence lingers. Your kisses are sloppy, your mind in a thick fog of pleasure and confusion, your body limp in your seat. Hana is hunched beside you, one hand resting on your stomach while the other draws back to touch your bloody shoulder. "Hana," you murmur her name again, just to be sure. She smiles, pressing herself against you. "Hana," you whisper one more time. For a while the two of you just exchange lazy kisses, tangled in the back seat, and you think you may have stayed like that all day if not for the car beside you suddenly unlocking, the loud //beep// echoing through the parking garage and making you both recoil. Hana giggles as she slides back to sit properly in her seat, and you scramble to button your pants and buckle your belt before the owner of the car shimmies past your window. They only give you a passing glance before climbing into their car, and you hide your face in your hands while Hana keeps giggling. <<link [[Next ->ch3 hana full rom g2 4]]>><<set $ch3_hana_sex to true>><</link>>

You hear the door close, and then the sound of the car starting, tires rolling over gravel, and only then do you lower your hands with a wary sigh. Hana sidles up beside you, leaning against your shoulder, pressing light kisses against your throat. "How are you feeling now?" she murmurs, and you let out a breathless laugh. You almost fall back into your shared rhythm, your lips finding hers again, Hana's hands touching you, but she stops herself, breaking apart and sitting back with a sigh. "Clear is probably missing us," she says then. "And the frozen food is probably melting..." she adds sheepishly. You clear your throat, sitting up in your seat. "Right." Neither of you move to climb out of the back seat. Hana reaches for your hand, entwining your fingers, leaning back in to rest her head on your shoulder. You turn and press a kiss through her curls. Hana squeezes your hand, and then slides out of the car, and you do the same, both of you moving into the front seats. Hana eases in behind the steering wheel and you drop into the passenger side with a heavy sigh. [[Next ->ch3 hana rom 2]]

<<if $h_rel gte 50>>You close your eyes, leaning back into your seat, and Hana slowly works her way back up to your lips. You cradle her close, wrapping your arms around her shoulders before sliding your hands down her back. It's cramped in the car, your elbows digging into the upholstery, but you don't care. This close, you can smell Hana's blood, smell the oil in her hair and the lotion on her skin. You push her back against the car door, and she makes another sound that has that familiar heat twisting up your spine again. You forget about your panic in the store, the woman in the bathroom, the city and all the flashing lights. You just keep kissing her, and she keeps kissing you, sucking on your bottom lip and dragging her hands down your back, tracing the marks left behind by Valentina. But when you reach to grab her thigh, she turns away, breaking the kiss and avoiding your touch. She grabs your wrist, breathing hard as she stares down at your hand. "Sorry," you say quickly, just as breathless as her. "S'okay," she says, licking her kiss-swollen lips. She smiles, still holding your wrist, and you lift your hand up and slowly turn it in her loose fingers, until it's you holding her wrist, bringing it up to your lips. You can feel her slow pulse, feel the blood beneath your fingers, feel it just beneath her skin. Hana watches you, her eyes half-lidded, her hand relaxed as you press a kiss to her palm. You move down, your lips brushing along her inner wrist, and you open your mouth, pressing your teeth against her-- but you don't break the skin. Then you bow your head, drag your tongue up the length of her arm before sucking gently on her wrist. She shivers, licking her lips again, her hand opening to caress your face. Her hand slides from yours as she leans in to kiss you one more time. Slow and deliberate, her hand stroking your neck, it draws a low moan out of you before you can stop yourself. And then she sits back, letting her hand drop, tilting her head at you. "How are you feeling now?" she asks smugly. You laugh, pressing your face into the crook of her neck. She pets your hair, and then sighs. <<if $gender eq 1>>"I want to tell you something," she says then. You lean back, and Hana blinks slowly at you, biting her bottom lip. "I wanted to tell you yesterday-- when we were sitting on your bed together," she says. "You asked me if I was like you and Valentina." You nod. "I'm like //you//," she says. "The same kind of woman." Your brow furrows, and you sit up a little straighter. <<if $mc is "white">>"This is the curse you and I have in common," she adds. "This feeling," she presses her palm to her chest, "is one we can both understand."<<else>>"More than one curse we share," she says quietly.<</if>> "I've been stealth for a long time," she explains. "Even before..." she gestures at her teeth. "I've always lived this way. But I've been cornered in a bathroom more than once, just the same." You gape at her for a moment. You lived the opposite. Pretending to be a man-- that was your stealth. Though there are many that would not call it //pretending//. But you know you are not a man. The thought comes so easily and so clearly to you that you can hardly believe you let that woman in the bathroom make you doubt. "Thank you for telling me," you say softly. Hana smiles. Then she leans in and kisses you again. Different from the first-- softer. You take your time. Hana hums, and the two of you reluctantly break apart. "We probably shouldn't keep Clear waiting much longer," she muses. Your arms tighten around her, and she giggles. Neither of you make a move for the front seats, with you hiding your face against Hana's throat again. But eventually, you untangle your arms from around Hana, and you both force yourselves to climb out of the back, with Hana sliding in behind the steering wheel and you dropping into the passenger seat with a sigh.<<else>>"$name," she says, "I am sorry. It's fucked that happened to you." She hesitates a moment. "I've been cornered in plenty of bathrooms before, too." You take a deep breath, squeezing your eyes shut. "It's alright," she murmurs. The two of you just sit like that for a few minutes, holding each other. "Clear is probably waiting for us," Hana says eventually. Your arms tighten around her, and she giggles. Neither of you make a move for the front seats, your face still hidden against Hana's throat. But eventually, you untangle your arms from around Hana and you both reluctantly climb out of the back, with Hana sliding in behind the steering wheel and you dropping into the passenger seat with a sigh.<</if>><<else>>You close your eyes, leaning back into your seat, and Hana slowly works her way back up to your lips. You cradle her close, wrapping your arms around her shoulders before sliding your hands down her back. It's cramped in the car, your elbows digging into the upholstery, but you don't care. This close, you can smell Hana's blood, smell the oil in her hair and the lotion on her skin. You push her back against the car door, and she makes another sound that has that familiar heat twisting up your spine again. You forget about your panic in the store, the woman in the bathroom, the city and all the flashing lights. You just keep kissing her, and she keeps kissing you, sucking on your bottom lip and dragging her hands down your back, tracing the marks left behind by Valentina. You let out a long sigh, shivering in her arms, breaking your kiss to press your lips to Hana's throat. You can feel her pulse, feel her blood, feel her take a few quick breaths as you drag your tongue along the curve of her neck and nip at her ear. Saliva is thick in your mouth, the hunger awakened alongside your desire, and you imagine sinking your teeth into Hana's throat. You wonder what she tastes like. Hana's breath pants against your hair, and you kiss her pulse, dragging your teeth over the soft skin before sucking gently-- you don't actually bite her. You don't draw blood. But you imagine it, pressing your tongue into the hollow of her throat, your hands sliding down to grab at her hips. But when you reach lower-- when you grab for her thighs, she stops you, leaning back and grabbing roughly at your wrists. You quickly move off of her, giving her space, swallowing loudly and bowing your head. She keeps ahold of you wrists, and she licks her kiss-swollen lips, blinking at you in a daze. "Sorry," you say softly. "S'okay," she breathes, squeezing your wrists. She lets you go, sitting back up to kiss you again. Softer this time, your hands in your lap as she cradles your face before one hand slides down to stroke your neck, and you moan softly, your breath catching in your throat. And then Hana sits back, letting her hands drop, tilting her head at you. "How are you feeling now?" she asks smugly. You laugh, pressing your face into the crook of her neck. She pets your hair, and then sighs. "$name," she says, "I am sorry. It's fucked that happened to you." She hesitates a moment. "I've been cornered in plenty of bathrooms before, too." You take a deep breath, squeezing your eyes shut. "It's alright," she murmurs. The two of you just sit like that for a few minutes, holding each other. "Clear is probably waiting for us," Hana says eventually. Your arms tighten around her, and she giggles. Neither of you make a move for the front seats, your face still hidden against Hana's throat. But eventually, you sit back, and you both reluctantly climb out of the back, with Hana sliding in behind the steering wheel and you dropping into the passenger seat with a sigh.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 hana rom 2]]

The food smells so tempting-- you get that same feeling you had earlier at the bakery in the market. But you know you'd only make yourself sick if you tried it. Hana seems to sense your melancholy. She's sobering up, too, pulling into Clear's apartment complex and tensing in her seat. You suddenly feel a spike of anxiety-- you hope Clear's okay. You've been gone for a while... You and Hana hurry across the lot, Hana pulling out the keycard and swiping the two of you through the door. You clutch the hot brown bag in your hands, shielding it from the rain, and you duck inside after Hana, following her up the stairs. The farther you get away from that quiet space you and Hana created in the car, the more anxious you get. You're worried about Clear, and the reality of the looming council meeting has brought you crashing back down from your temporary high. You walk briskly down the third story hallway, leading you and Hana straight to Clear's door. You knock. It's quiet on the other side, and you glance back at Hana. You knock again. <<link '"Clear?"' 'ch3 hana reconvene'>><</link>>

"Damn," you hiss, knocking a third time. Hana shifts behind you, reaching for the doorknob. It's locked. "Clear," you call again. Now you grab the doorknob, rattling the lock. You'll break it if you have to. But-- The door opens, and Clear stands there, giving you a slightly bewildered look. Her hair is sticking up in all directions, and you let out a long sigh. "Were you sleeping?" Clear nods. She steps back then, opening the door for you and Hana. You step inside, noting Clear's rucksack and a second bag piled on the couch. You turn back to her, remembering the food you're carrying, offering her the brown bag. "Hana's idea," you say as she blinks down at it. You think she might still be half-asleep. She closes the door and then takes it from you, blinking a few more times. "Thanks," she says. "Everything okay while we were gone?" Hana asks as Clear walks over to the table. Clear just gives a thumbs up. You and Hana end up taking Clear's bags out to the car for her while she eats, the rain coming down harder, both of you hurrying across the parking lot in the dark. [[Next ->ch3 hana 12]]

<<if $gender eq 1>>She sits up a little straighter then, leaning towards you. "It's happened to me before, too, $name," she says. <<if $mc is "white">>"This is the curse you and I have in common," she adds. "This feeling," she presses her palm to her chest, "is one we can both understand."<<else>>"More than one curse we share," she says quietly.<</if>> Your brow furrows as you stare at her through the dark shadows of the car. She nods. "I wanted to tell you yesterday-- when we were on your bed. When you asked me. If I was like you and Valentina." She glances down at her hands. "I'm just like you. The same kind of woman." "Oh," you say. Hana raises an eyebrow at you. "I've been stealth for a long time," she says. "Even before..." she gestures at her fangs. "I've always lived this way. But I've been cornered in plenty of bathrooms, just the same." You gape at her for a moment. You lived the opposite. Pretending to be a man-- that was your stealth. Though there are many that would not call it //pretending//. But you know you are not a man. The thought comes absolutely clear to you then-- no hesitation. Perhaps Hana is right. It does not need to be so complex. [[Next ->ch3 hana plat high rel 1.1]]<<else>>You stare down at your hands, picking anxiously at your cuticle. You know Hana's right. But it doesn't make it easier to ignore other people's perception of you-- of what you //should// do, how you //should// look. You wonder if it was this hard for you back then, a hundred years ago. What bathroom did that version of you use? Did they have to think about it, too? "$name," Hana says gently. You blink over at her. "Sorry," you say, for lack of anything else. "It's okay," she assures you. "Come on. Let's go get Clear and go home." You nod. You don't know that you'd call the mansion home-- but you'll take it for now. You and Hana climb out of the back seat and move into the front, with Hana sliding in behind the steering wheel while you drop back into the passenger seat with a sigh. [[Next ->ch3 hana plat 2]]<</if>>

You stare down at your hands, picking anxiously at your cuticle. You know Hana's right. But it doesn't make it easier to ignore other people's perception of you-- of what you //should// do, how you //should// look. You wonder if it was this hard for you back then, a hundred years ago. What bathroom did that version of you use? Did they have to think about it, too? "$name," Hana says gently. You blink over at her. "Sorry," you say, for lack of anything else. "It's okay," she assures you. "Come on. Let's go get Clear and go home." You nod. You don't know that you'd call the mansion home-- but you'll take it for now. You and Hana climb out of the back seat and move into the front, with Hana sliding in behind the steering wheel while you drop back into the passenger seat with a sigh. [[Next ->ch3 hana plat 2]]

The two of you are quiet on the way back to Clear's apartment. Quiet, but comfortable. You've calmed down a bit now, with Hana's presence, and you listen to the radio, watching the city pass by. You struggle to get your bearings-- but you haven't been able to really figure the city out yet. You do see the hotel in the distance, the flashing lights fading up into the clouds and the now nearly-black night sky. Hana slows suddenly, and you turn to look at her questioningly as you pull off the road into a parking lot. "I thought we could stop and grab Clear some hot food," she says then. "And some coffee, if you'd like," she adds. The smell of fried food hits you as she says it, and you peer through the wet glass to see the bright lights of a fast food joint. Hana gasps then. "Oh, you've never been through a drive-thru!" You raise an eyebrow at her. "Didn't have those until the 1940s. Only carhops," she muses. "It's easy. We won't have to go inside, we just drive up to the windows and give them our order." You peer over at her, charmed by her excitement. "Want a coffee?" she asks. You nod. A mechanical voice crackles as Hana rolls down her window, wincing at the rain falling into the car. She gives them an order, and adds to coffees at the end. Hesitates. Adds one more. Then she drives forward, pays at the next window, and picks up the food at the second. Hana hands it to you for safe-keeping. [[Next ->ch3 hana plat 3]]

Hana reaches out then, putting a hand on your shoulder. "Thank you for telling me," you say quietly. She smiles. You think you might cry. She squeezes your shoulder, and then sits back, reaching for the door. "Come on. Let's go get Clear and go home," she says. You nod. You don't know that you'd call the mansion home-- but you'll take it for now. You and Hana climb out of the back seat and move into the front, with Hana sliding in behind the steering wheel while you drop back into the passenger seat with a sigh. [[Next ->ch3 hana plat 2]]

The food smells so tempting-- you get that same feeling you had earlier at the bakery in the market. But you know you'd only make yourself sick if you tried it. Hana seems to sense your melancholy. She's sobering up, too, pulling into Clear's apartment complex and tensing in her seat. You suddenly feel a spike of anxiety-- you hope Clear's okay. You've been gone for a while... You and Hana hurry across the lot, Hana pulling out the keycard and swiping the two of you through the door. You clutch the hot brown bag in your hands, shielding it from the rain, and you duck inside after Hana, following her up the stairs. The little moment of calm you managed in the car has vanished, your anxiety returning as you hurry up to the third floor. You're worried about Clear, and the looming council meeting is starting to feel a little too real with the dark night sky outside. You walk briskly down the third story hallway, leading you and Hana straight to Clear's door. You knock. It's quiet on the other side, and you glance back at Hana. You knock again. <<link '"Clear?"' 'ch3 hana reconvene'>><</link>>

You've all piled back into the car. The rain is a torrential downpour, completely obscuring the view through the windshield until Hana flicks the windshield wipers on full blast. You watch them frantically sweep back and forth across the glass, squeaking slightly from the effort. The drive back to the mansion feels shorter than it did this morning, and soon enough you're pulling into the long driveway, welcomed home by the bright lights on the front porch. "I'll get the groceries, you take her bags," Hana says, and you nod before ducking out into the rain. Clear makes a beeline straight for the porch with her smaller bags, her laptop-- she had to explain what that is to you-- and another duffle bag, while you grab the rucksack and larger duffle out of the back. Hana loads up her arms with groceries, and then you all hurry inside, the mansion startlingly quiet after the roar of the rain. Hana heads straight for the kitchen, though Clear hesitates, glancing back at you. "I'll take your bags up," you nod. She hands you the smaller bags, giving you a grateful look. You head for the stairs. [[Next ->ch3 valentina after ch route 1]]

The room appears to be a study, bookshelves lining the walls and a large, ornate desk in the middle. There are massive bay windows on the back wall, heavy curtains pulled back revealing the dark sky outside. You admire some of the antiques Valentina has displayed on the shelves-- you assume a few items she brought with her from home, so long ago now. There's an apothecary chest in the corner, and you are ever so curious about what Valentina could have stashed in there. On the desk you note an antique inkstone, solid lampblack ink slabs, and a fancy bamboo brush pot. Then, of course, is the sleek modern screen, similar to the television mounted in your room, though this one is far smaller and held up by a thin plastic stand. There are a few papers and letters scattered about, and a forgotten empty mug, but otherwise the desk is extremely organized and tidy, just like the rest of the room. The sudden smell of incense hits you then, sharp and sweet, and you turn back to Valentina, watching as she shakes out a match in her hand, the stick of incense glowing softly on the shelf behind her. "It's nice, with the rain," she says then, and she seems shy suddenly, ducking her head and moving over to the desk. Valentina runs a hand over the ink slate as she walks past. "Song dynasty," she says. "Isn't it lovely?" she strokes the stone again before lifting her gaze back to you. "This is all your collection?" you ask, glancing around the room, at the various objects displayed on the shelves. "No. It was my husband's, actually," she says slowly. Something about that makes your stomach drop. She must see it in your face, smirking darkly. "Yes. He had an interest in Chinese antiques. I'm sure you can imagine his excitement when he managed to collect me." <div id="choice"><<link '"Valentina, I\'m sorry."' 'ch3 valentina after 2.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know what to say."' 'ch3 valentina after 2.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Did he know?"' 'ch3 valentina after 2.c'>><</link>></div>

You consider mentioning what Hana told you about their conversation this morning. But you decide against it, for now. "How was the meeting?" you offer instead. Valentina sighs dramatically. "Not great," she muses. She purses her lips, glancing over at you. "Do you remember Joan?" she asks. You shake your head. Valentina closes her eyes for a moment. You think she's disappointed. "Joan is an old friend," she explains. "You might have even saw her last night. The bartender?" she says. "Yeah, I saw her," you nod. Older woman, butch, short hair and tattoos. "She runs the club for me. Well, more than just the one. Her and her partner, Lucky," Valentina says. "After last night, she demanded to meet. She was angry– that I didn't warn her you were coming. And then, Oberon showed up…" she trails off. You must be making a face, because she pushes off the desk then, twirling her braid around her finger. "Joan knew us. She knew you. Like I said, she's an old friend. And she doesn't have any reservations about speaking her mind to me. I appreciate it, actually," Valentina shrugs. "I own the club, but it is hers." She pauses then, smiling coldly. "I own a lot of things that aren't really mine." You frown at her, but she just shakes her head again. "Come," she says then, slipping past you towards the door. "I want to show you something." [[Next ->ch3 valentina after 4]]

You follow her into the hall, to the looming double doors. She opens both doors with a grand gesture, turning slowly and hiding halfway behind one of them, looking at you expectantly. Stepping inside her room, you marvel at the size of it, particularly her bed. It looks old and expensive, with a huge fancy headboard and massive wooden posts that hold up a thick, red velvet curtain, which hangs closed except for the end of the bed-- a little window that feels too intimate for you to look inside. You turn to the rest of the room instead, and note a big vanity along the right wall, way bigger than the one in your room, with a proper chair and lots of makeup and accessories and other random bits scattered across it, though the mirror is covered with a sheet. Next to that is the door to the balcony, and there's also a fancy dresser and an armoire, and on the other side, a set of couches and a table between them. There's a writing desk in the corner, too, of course, with one of those rolling covers. It's closed, with a lock on it. Valentina's room also has a fireplace, and your gaze is drawn there, to the mantle-- to the painting hanging over it. You recognize Valentina right away, she's what drew your attention. Her hair is cut in a bob, styled in the sculpted waves that were popular back then, and she's wearing a traditional Chinese dress-- you forget the name. She's sitting in the foreground, her hands in her lap, and there's something about the way her face is painted, you can't help but stare. The look behind her eyes... you wonder how the artist managed it. For a moment you think the person standing behind her must be Standard, but you know that can't be true after what Valentina just told you. She wouldn't keep a painting of him. <<link '"$name?"' 'ch3 valentina after 5'>><</link>>

You glance back at Valentina, still standing in front of the open doors. She steps closer as you turn back to the painting. "Do you remember?" she asks. "Do you recognize yourself?" Valentina steps even closer, just behind you. "You dressed up for this. You pretended to be my husband. It was right before... everything happened." You swallow loudly, staring at yourself. //Husband.// Your hand is on Valentina's shoulder, or rather, at the base of her neck-- almost scandalous for a painting like this, the way the tip of your middle finger rests in the hollow of her throat. You're wearing men's clothes, and your hair is very short, or maybe you have it tied back somehow, you can't tell for sure. Unlike Valentina's stare, your eyes are downcast slightly, looking at her. A knit between your brows. You step a little closer, peering up into your face. Your lips are slightly parted, and you can see your teeth-- the slightest suggestion of fangs from the artist. Just enough to make an onlooker pause for a moment. "I don't remember," you say quietly. Valentina stays quiet. <<if $val_rom>><<include "ch3 val after rom 1">><<else>><<include "ch3 val after plat 1">><</if>>

<<if $ch3_hana_sex or $ch3_clear_sex>>Then she steps around you, standing in front of you-- in front of the painting. Her eyes are dark as she studies your face. "You don't remember," she repeats sadly. "Was I really your husband?" you ask, glancing at the painting behind her again. "Sometimes," she says slowly. "We were never married officially. But we would pretend." <<if $ch3_hana>>You remember the woman in the bathroom. You feel a lump forming in your throat.<<else>>You blink up at her, an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach.<</if>> "And now? Am I still your husband?" you ask slowly. Valentina's eyes flash, her head tilting as she looks down at you. She reaches up and takes your face in both hands, her palms cool and her nails curling along both cheekbones. "You can't even remember," she says. "Not even with this in front of you." "You say it as if it's within my control," you say, prickling defensively. "Was it within your control earlier?" Your brow furrows. "What-" "How can you still be my husband when I can //smell// her on you? Or was that not within your control?" Valentina's hands tighten around your face. Then she pushes you away, her nails leaving stinging red lines down your cheeks. At least she didn't break the skin, this time. "Valentina-" you try again, but she just cuts you off. "You should go eat something. You'll have to leave for the hotel soon," she says flatly <div id="choice"><<link '"I want to remember, Valentina."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.a'>><<set $v_upset to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re right. I\'m not your husband."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.b'>><<set $v_getout to true>><<set $v_rel -=5>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Fine."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.c'>><<set $v_rel -=1>><</link>></div><<else>>Then she steps around you, standing in front of you-- in front of the painting. Her eyes soften as she studies your face. "You don't remember," she repeats sadly. "Was I really your husband?" you ask, glancing at the painting behind her again. "Sometimes," she says slowly. "We were never married officially. But we would pretend." <<if $ch3_hana>>You remember the woman in the bathroom. You feel a lump forming in your throat.<<else>>You blink up at her, an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach.<</if>> "And now? Am I still your husband?" you ask slowly. "You can be my husband. You can be my wife, now, too. You can be both." "What if I don't know?" Valentina takes your face in her hands. "I don't want you to think I'm a man," you say, the words tumbling out suddenly. "I don't think that, $name." She blinks slowly at you, stepping even closer. "I see," she says slowly. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I understand you, $name." You swallow loudly. It feels like something heavy has set itself on your shoulders. "$name," she repeats, tilting your chin up and forcing you to look at her. "I understand you," she says again. "And I am going to help you remember." You close your eyes as she kisses you. This, you do remember. Your body answers intuitively to hers. These feelings are already there, even without the memories that founded them. You ache for Valentina. Her lips are soft, and you note a bitter taste of alcohol-- she must have been drinking earlier, maybe with Joan. She tilts her head, and you wrap your arms around her, wanting her closer. <<if $ch3_clear_kiss or $ch3_hana_kiss>>But Valentina breaks the kiss before it gets too desperate, leaning back, blinking slowly at you. "Do I kiss better than her?" she asks softly. "W-What," you stammer, caught off guard. Valentina's hands tighten around you for a moment, before she lets go. "Do I kiss better than her?" she asks again. <div id="choice"><<link '"Yes."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.d'>><<set $v_rel +=2>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Valentina... I..."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.e'>><<set $v_rel -=2>><<set $v_getout to true>><</link>></div> <<if $hana_rom>><div id="choice"><<link '"Do //I// kiss better than //her//?"' 'ch3 val after rom 1.f'>><<set $v_getout to true>><</link>></div> <</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"It doesn\'t have to be like that, Valentina."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.g'>><</link>></div><<else>>It gets desperate rather quickly, and you stagger a bit as you both push and pull at each other. You let your hands roam, from Valentina's waist to her hips then up her back and down again. She hums softly at the touch, and soon you have her pressed back against the wall, her hand tangled in your hair and her other one grasping at your waist. She breathes your name, nipping at your bottom lip, her long nails pressing into your shoulders as she holds you. "You always come home to me," she says then, speaking the words into your kiss. "Always," you whisper, and she shivers, before reluctantly breaking apart. She takes your face in her hands again, stroking your cheek with her thumb. She leans back in and kisses you one more time-- soft and quick. "You need to eat something before the meeting," she says then. "We'll have to leave soon." You close your eyes. "$name," Valentina urges you to look at her. You sigh, opening your eyes again. Valentina's brow furrows, and she looks... nervous. You think she's going to say something, but she doesn't, just reaching for your hand and pulling you back through the double doors and down the hall towards the landing. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom friendly 1]]<</if>><</if>>

<<if $ch3_hana_sex or $ch3_clear_sex>>Then she steps around you, standing in front of you-- in front of the painting. Her eyes are dark as she studies your face. "You don't remember," she repeats sadly. "Was I really your husband?" you ask, glancing at the painting behind her again. "Sometimes," she says slowly. "We were never married officially. But we would pretend." <<if $ch3_hana>>You remember the woman in the bathroom. You feel a lump forming in your throat.<<else>>You blink up at her, an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach.<</if>> "And now? Am I still your husband?" you ask slowly. Valentina's eyes flash, her head tilting as she looks down at you. She reaches up and takes your face in both hands, her palms cool and her nails curling along both cheekbones. "You can't even remember," she says. "Not even with this in front of you." "You say it as if it's within my control," you say, prickling defensively. "Was it within your control earlier?" Your brow furrows. "What-" "How can you still be my husband when I can //smell// her on you? Or was that not within your control?" Valentina's hands tighten around your face. Then she pushes you away, her nails leaving stinging red lines down your cheeks. At least she didn't break the skin, this time. "Valentina-" you try again, but she just cuts you off. "You should go eat something. You'll have to leave for the hotel soon," she says flatly <div id="choice"><<link '"I want to remember, Valentina."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.a'>><<set $v_upset to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re right. I\'m not your husband."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.b'>><<set $v_getout to true>><<set $v_rel -=5>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Fine."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.c'>><<set $v_rel -=1>><</link>></div><<elseif $hana_rom or $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>Then she steps around you, standing in front of you-- in front of the painting. Her eyes soften as she studies your face. "You don't remember," she repeats sadly. "Was I really your husband?" you ask, glancing at the painting behind her again. "Sometimes," she says slowly. "We were never married officially. But we would pretend." <<if $ch3_hana>>You remember the woman in the bathroom. You feel a lump forming in your throat.<<else>>You blink up at her, an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach.<</if>> "And now? Am I still your husband?" you ask slowly. "You can be my husband. You can be my wife, now, too. You can be both." "What if I don't know?" Valentina takes your face in her hands. "I don't want you to think I'm a man," you say, the words tumbling out suddenly. "I don't think that, $name." She blinks slowly at you, stepping even closer. "I see," she says slowly. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I understand you, $name." You swallow loudly. It feels like something heavy has set itself on your shoulders. "$name," she repeats, tilting your chin up and forcing you to look at her. "I understand you," she says again. "And I am going to help you remember." You realize she's going to kiss you. <div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her. ->ch3 val after plat 1.a]]>><<set $v_laterom to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Turn away. ->ch3 val after plat 1.b]]>><<set $v_rel -=2>><<set $v_getout to true>><</link>></div><<else>>Then she steps around you, standing in front of you-- in front of the painting. Her eyes soften as she studies your face. "You don't remember," she repeats sadly. "Was I really your husband?" you ask, glancing at the painting behind her again. "Sometimes," she says slowly. "We were never married officially. But we would pretend." <<if $ch3_hana>>You remember the woman in the bathroom. You feel a lump forming in your throat.<<else>>You blink up at her, an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach.<</if>> "And now? Am I still your husband?" you ask slowly. "You can be my husband. You can be my wife, now, too. You can be both." "What if I don't know?" Valentina takes your face in her hands. "I don't want you to think I'm a man," you say, the words tumbling out suddenly. "I don't think that, $name." She blinks slowly at you, stepping even closer. "I see," she says slowly. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I understand you, $name." You swallow loudly. It feels like something heavy has set itself on your shoulders. "$name," she repeats, tilting your chin up and forcing you to look at her. "I understand you," she says again. "And I am going to help you remember." You realize she's going to kiss you. <div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her. ->ch3 val after plat 1.c]]>><<set $v_laterom to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Turn away. ->ch3 val after plat 1.d]]>><<set $v_rel -=2>><<set $v_getout to true>><</link>></div><</if>>

"You know what? You're right," you say. "I'm not your husband," you spit the word, jabbing a finger at her. Valentina just slaps you. It snaps your head to the side, and you close your eyes, breathing through your nose. Your jaw clenches, your teeth grinding together hard enough to hurt, along with the handprint burning into the side of your face. When you open your eyes, Valentina is backing away from you, her eyes wide, and it makes you even angrier. "Don't look at me like that," you growl. "You're the one that fucking slapped me, you bitch." "Get out," Valentina says. "Get out!" She can't kick you out, no matter how loud she yells-- it doesn't work like that with other vampires. But still, the curtain around her bed billows out, the glass windows rattle in their frames, and the open doors shudder behind you at her words. "Get out!" She's crying now-- tears of blood. Your anger subsides then, replaced with a sudden panic. "Valentina-" "//Get out//!" She grabs something off her vanity and hurls it at you, and you duck out of the way, glass shattering against the wall behind you. Your anger returns tenfold. "Fuck you!" you shout back as she throws something else at your head. You slap it aside, glass exploding against the side of your hand, little pieces of it raining down on you and scattering across the plush carpet at your feet. "Get out!" Valentina wails. You shake glass and blood from your hand, and you finally relent, as the entire mansion trembles, the doors in the hall opening and slamming closed over and over, the lights flickering overhead, a loud ringing in your ears as Valentina wails and wails. You run out of the room, and the doors slam closed behind you, and the mansion abruptly falls silent. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.b.1]]

"I want to remember, Valentina," you press, side-stepping her and blocking her from the doors. She scowls at you. "I want to see you. I can't stop myself from thinking about you," you blurt suddenly. "I have these feelings, when I look at you, I can't understand them. I can't understand them, I can't close that gap between me and him," you jab your finger at your portrait. "I don't know if I want to still be like him." You hesitate. "I thought about you when I was with her. I imagined you in her place. My hands... I have these... fucking phantom limbs that ache to hold you, Valentina, but I can't fucking remember how!" Valentina's eyes fill with bloody tears. "I-- what," you stammer, grabbing her shoulders, but then you let her go just as quick, staring at your hands as if they had struck her. "Why are you bleeding?" you whisper. Valentina shakes her head, roughly wiping at her eyes, smearing red across her pale cheeks. All she can do is kiss you. She grabs the front of your shirt, pushing you towards the bed, and for a moment her blood on your lips is all it takes for you to relent. But she keeps crying, even as she straddles you, and her hands shake as she pulls at your shirt. "Stop," you grab her wrists, breaking yourself away from her kiss. "What are you doing?" "I'll be better than her," she whispers through her bloody tears. "I'll help you remember." "Valentina, stop it," you say, your voice wavering, your own tears burning behind your eyes. "Isn't this what you want? You'll do it with her and imagine me there but you don't want it now that I'm right in front of you?" she slaps her fists against your chest. You grunt, slamming back into the mattress, the wind knocked out of you for a moment as she hits you again and again. "I don't understand! I don't understand why you can't remember!" Valentina wails. "I don't understand what you want from me!" she yells that last part up at the ceiling. "Haven't I given enough? Why can't you just let her remember?" She wails again, pressing her palms flat against your chest as she cries over you. "Valentina, stop it, please," you say, trying to sit up, and she abruptly falls quiet, blinking down at you. And then she vanishes, the curtain around the bed suddenly billowing out and the open doors shuddering in her absence. "Valentina!" you struggle to sit up, pressing a hand to your sore chest. But the room is empty, and the mansion is silent. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.a.1]]

"Fine," you snap, throwing your hands up. Valentina says nothing else as you turn on your heel and storm out of the room, slamming the doors close behind you. You aren't really sure if you're justified in feeling angry-- but you are angry. Is it cheating if you can't remember her? Is it cheating if you think about her while you're fucking someone else? Is it cheating when you still come crawling home to her in the end? You already know the answer, and asking the question doesn't make you feel any less shame. The shame doesn't make you feel any less anger. "Fuck," you sigh. "//Fuck.//" You pace the landing a few times, staring down into the foyer, trying to compose yourself. "Fuck," you say, one final time, before you descend the stairs and head for the kitchen. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.c.1]]

You don't see her again before leaving for the council meeting. You hide in your room until Hana has to retrieve you. Your hunger aches, but you ignore it. It makes you disgusted-- you just see Valentina's bloody tears and it makes your stomach twist into knots. It only gets worse as you and Hana descend the stairs together, as the realization that you're really going to see the council //right now// settles in. It's still raining outside, and it's colder now, making you shiver as Hana opens the door. You hesitate, glancing back over your shoulder, up the stairs, to the landing. But there's no one there. You sigh, following Hana out to the car. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.a.2]]

Once again, you climb into the passenger seat while Hana slides in behind the steering wheel. Hana fiddles with the dashboard, turning on the heat, even though neither of you really need it. She turns the radio down a bit from earlier, the music a quiet hum beneath the rain. "She's angry with me," you say, because you can't stand it. "I know," Hana says. Your head snaps around as you turn towards her. "Did she talk to you?" Hana shakes her head. "No. I just... I heard you." You grimace. <<if $ch2_clear_sex>>"I suppose you tried to warn me," you say with a dark laugh. Hana stares at her hands around the steering wheel. "Sorry you have to drive," you say then. "It's okay, $name. I'm not going to make you walk." You clear your throat. "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her eyes wide, and she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<<else>>"I suppose I should have expected that. After last night," you say bitterly. You study Hana's face in the dark. "Are you okay?" Hana nods. "I'm okay," she says softly. You take a deep breath. "Sorry you have to drive," you say. Hana shakes her head. "It's okay, $name." "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her eyes sad. But she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 1]]

The hotel is busy. Hana offers to drop you off at the front, but you decline, letting her park while you psych yourself up. "Do you want me to come inside with you?" she asks. You can hear the nerves in her voice. It doesn't help with your own. "No," you shake your head. "They made it pretty clear they want it to be //private//. Just me." "Okay," she says quietly. "I'll be right here," she assures you then. "You have my number. If you need me in there-- just call." You nod. Then you climb out of the car, slamming the door shut and hurrying across the big lot through the rain. It's whipping across the concrete and between the cars, wind howling through the city, and you duck under the awning at the front with a loud group of drunk humans. Most of them are smoking, wearing fancy clothes and expensive looking jewelry. Some of them give you looks as you slink past and head inside. The lobby is massive, more groups of humans congregated together, and you see the front of a high-class restaurant as well as some kind of lounge. The sound of music carries up a large flight of stairs, and you wander over, peering down into the basement level. It looks like a theatre, or a stage, or something-- you aren't sure, and you don't get the time to look. "Good evening, $name," you hear Oberon's voice, and you turn just as he seems to materialize out of the crowd. "You're late," he adds. You can feel the condescension in his tone, even in just those five words, and it takes a tremendous effort to bite your tongue. But you manage it. You just give him a nod, and he turns and gestures you along, leading you through the bustling lobby, past the entrance to that fancy restaurant and bar, and down the long hall to the elevator. [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 2]]

"Fuck," you hiss, cradling your bloody hand, half-running down the hall. Hana appears at the top of the stairs just as you reach the landing, her eyes wide. You see Clear a few steps behind her, too, but you ignore both of them, storming past and going straight to your room. You slam the door close, just to show Valentina you can do it just the same, the walls shaking for a moment, the mansion groaning from the abuse. You cross your room straight into the bathroom, lifting your bleeding hand into the sink. You pull the chunks of glass out of the fat of your palm, letting the pieces clatter down into the porcelain, and then you slap the faucet on and let the cold water rinse away the blood. You watch as some of the smaller scratches pull themselves closed, an uncomfortable, itchy feeling in your hand that makes your fingers twitch. But the deepest cut-- the one along the side of your hand-- doesn't close all the way. "Fuck," you say again. You fumble for a towel, wrapping it around and around your hand as tight as you can, and then you just wander back out into your room, dropping down hard on your bed. You don't move from that spot until Hana retrieves you for the council meeting. <<link [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.b.2]]>><<set $not_husband to true>><<set $ch3_cuthand to true>><</link>>

It's late when she knocks on your door, and your hunger has started to ache, a dull pain that radiates up your spine, but you ignore it, forcing it down. It makes you disgusted-- you just see Valentina's bloody tears and it makes your stomach twist into knots. It only gets worse as you and Hana descend the stairs together, as the realization that you're really going to see the council //right now// settles in. It's still raining outside, and it's colder now, making you shiver as Hana opens the door. You hesitate, but you don't look back. If she's standing there, you don't want to see her. You just follow Hana out to the car. Once again, you climb into the passenger seat while Hana slides in behind the steering wheel. Hana fiddles with the dashboard, turning on the heat, even though neither of you really need it. She turns the radio down a bit from earlier, the music a quiet hum beneath the rain. "She's angry with me," you say, because you can't stand it. "I know," Hana says. <<if $ch2_clear_sex>>"I suppose you tried to warn me," you say with a dark laugh. Hana stares at her hands around the steering wheel. "Sorry you have to drive," you say then. "It's okay, $name. I'm not going to make you walk." You clear your throat. "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her dark eyes unreadable, but she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<<else>>"I suppose I should have expected that. After last night," you say bitterly. You study Hana's face in the dark. "Are you okay?" Hana nods. "I'm okay," she says softly. You take a deep breath. "Sorry you have to drive," you say. Hana shakes her head. "It's okay, $name." "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her eyes sad. But she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 1]]

Clear and Hana have just finished putting away the groceries. Hana is perched on the counter, while Clear is doing something over the stove. Hana tilts her head at you, but you just shake your head. You walk over to the fridge, grabbing a bag of blood. And then your retreat upstairs. You resist the urge to look back over at Valentina's closed doors, instead just walking with a purpose straight to your room. Once you're alone, you rip open the bag, quickly draining it and throwing it to the floor. You start to pace again. "Goddammit, Valentina," you mutter. Why did she have to do this now? You feel like you're going to be sick. You don't want to go to this meeting. You were able to ignore it for most of the day-- but it's so close now. You don't want to go. You run through the names of the council members in your head then. Oberon, Atlas, Sasha, Cassius. //Oberon, Atlas, Sasha, Cassius.// You keep pacing. You try to remember. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.c.2]]

You pace in your room until Hana has to come retrieve you. It's late when she knocks on your door, and your hunger has started to ache despite your bag of blood, a dull pain that radiates up your spine, but you ignore it, forcing it down. It turns your stomach into knots. It only gets worse as you and Hana descend the stairs together, as the realization that you're really going to see the council //right now// settles in-- there is no miracle that will stop it from happening. It's still raining outside, and it's colder now, making you shiver as Hana opens the door. You hesitate, but you don't look back. If she's standing there, you don't want to see her. You just follow Hana out to the car. Once again, you climb into the passenger seat while Hana slides in behind the steering wheel. Hana fiddles with the dashboard, turning on the heat, even though neither of you really need it. She turns the radio down a bit from earlier, the music a quiet hum beneath the rain. "She's angry with me," you say, because you can't stand it. "I figured," Hana says, not unkindly. <<if $ch2_clear_sex>>"I suppose you tried to warn me," you say with a dark laugh. Hana stares at her hands around the steering wheel. "Sorry you have to drive," you say then. "It's okay, $name. I'm not going to make you walk." You clear your throat. "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her dark eyes unreadable, but she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<<else>>"I suppose I should have expected that. After last night," you say bitterly. You study Hana's face in the dark. "Are you okay?" Hana nods. "I'm okay," she says softly. You take a deep breath. "Sorry you have to drive," you say. Hana shakes her head. "It's okay, $name." "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her eyes sad. But she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 1]]

"Valentina... I..." you stammer, and she steps back then, her lip curling in warning. "It's an easy question, $name," she says slowly. You glance sideways, shifting uncomfortably. Valentina glares at you. When you still don't answer, she suddenly grabs your face, pushing you back until your back slams against the wall. "Valentina," you hiss, but her hand just squeezes your jaw painfully. "//Yes// or //no//, $name," she snarls. You breathe hard through your nose, your own hands roughly grabbing at her wrists. Valentina's face twitches, and then she lets you go, shoving you back into the wall, her nails leaving stinging red lines down your cheeks. At least she didn't break the skin. "Get out," she says then. "Valentina, come on," you scoff. "Get out!" she shouts. She can't kick you out, no matter how loud she yells-- it doesn't work like that with other vampires. But still, the curtain around her bed billows out, the glass windows rattle in their frames, and the open doors shudder behind you at her words. "No!" you shout back. "You kiss with too much teeth!" "//Get out//!" The lights overhead explode then in a burst of sparks and heat. You throw your hands up, darting back, hissing as your arms are singed. You stagger away into the hall, slapping at your burning flesh, the doors slamming close behind you, and the mansion falls quiet. <<link [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.e.1]]>><<set $ch3_burntarms to true>><</link>>

"It doesn't have to be like that, Valentina," you say. "Like what?" she asks innocently, tilting her head at you. "Like... like you against her," you explain. <<if ($clear_rom and $hana_rom) or ($hana_rom and $clear_laterom)>>"Like you against //everyone//." "//Everyone//?" Valentina retorts. You force yourself to hold her glare, giving her a little nod. "Hana //and// that fucking human?" she snaps. "Valentina-" She turns away from you. "Valentina, please," you step after her as she starts to walk towards her vanity. "I need you, too." She spins around, her eyes wide and angry. "//Need// me?" she sneers. "Is that why you come crawling back here to collect me as your //third//?" You take a deep breath. "Valentina, I'm trying. I'm trying to figure it out. The feelings I have for you-" you falter, glancing over at the painting, at your portrait. "There's this space for you here," you say slowly, ignoring your leering face and pressing a hand to your chest. "Hana and Clear-- they can't fill that space. Only you. I'm asking." Valentina sniffs indignantly. You reach out and take her hand in yours. She stares down at your hands linked together for a moment-- but only for a moment, before she pulls away, her black eyes darting frantically around the room.<<elseif $hana_rom>>"I... I mean, you like her, too, don't you? She's been with you a long time." Valentina sniffs indignantly. But she seems to really consider your words for a moment. "You have to always come home to me," she says softly, brushing out a crease in your shirt. You raise your hands wide. "I'm here now, aren't I?" You let your hands drop, before reaching up and tucking some of her hair behind her ear. "We both are. Me and Hana," you assure her. Valentina sniffs again. And then she ducks back, evading your touch, her black eyes darting around the room.<<else>>"You should give her a chance." "A //human//?" she scoffs. "Wasn't I human once?" Valentina's eyes flash dangerously. You feel yourself tense. "What are you trying to say, $name?" "I'm just asking you to give her a chance," you say softly. You can see her jaw clench, and then she sniffs indignantly. "I don't care if you want to fool around with some human," she says-- despite it being very obvious that she cares deeply-- "as long as you always come home to me." You raise your hands wide. "I'm here now, aren't I?" You let your hands drop, before reaching up and tucking some of her hair behind her ear. Valentina sniffs again. And then she ducks back, evading your touch, her black eyes darting around the room.<</if>> "Valentina," you say softly, but she shakes her head. "You should have something to eat. Before the meeting. You'll have to leave soon," she says then. "Valentina-" you try again, but she ushers you out of the room. "Go eat something," she says, abruptly closing the doors in your face. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.g.1]]

"Do //I// kiss better than her?" you say with a smirk. Valentina narrows her eyes at you. "You're avoiding the question," she says. "So are you." She suddenly lunges at you then, grabbing your face, pushing you back until your back slams against the wall. "Valentina," you hiss, but her hand just squeezes your jaw painfully. "It's a simple //yes// or //no//, $name," she snarls. "Let go of me," you snap, breathing hard through your nose, your own hands roughly grabbing at her wrists. Valentina's face twitches, and then she does let you go, shoving you back into the wall, her nails leaving stinging red lines down your cheeks. At least she didn't break the skin. You breathe hard through your nose, your own hands roughly grabbing at her wrists. Valentina's face twitches, and then she lets you go, shoving you back into the wall, her nails leaving stinging red lines down your cheeks. At least she didn't break the skin. "Get out," she says then. "Valentina, come on," you scoff. "Get out!" she shouts. She can't kick you out, no matter how loud she yells-- it doesn't work like that with other vampires. But still, the curtain around her bed billows out, the glass windows rattle in their frames, and the open doors shudder behind you at her words. "No!" you shout back. "You kiss with too much teeth!" "//Get out//!" The lights overhead explode then in a burst of sparks and heat. You throw your hands up, darting back, hissing as your arms are singed. You stagger away into the hall, slapping at your burning flesh, the doors slamming close behind you, and the mansion falls quiet. <<link [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.e.1]]>><<set $ch3_burntarms to true>><</link>>

"Yes," you say softly, and Valentina smiles, licking her lips-- licking her teeth. She raises a hand, touching your face again, tracing your bottom lip with one of her long nails. Then she leans in, tilting your head back to kiss your throat. You close your eyes again, exhaling slowly, impatient as Valentina kisses her way back up to your lips. This time, you do get desperate, your arms wrapping around her again, taking a few unsteady steps as you both push and pull at each other. She breathes your name, nipping at your bottom lip, her long nails pressing into your shoulders as she holds you. "You always come home to me," she says then, speaking the words into your kiss. "Always," you whisper, and she shivers, before reluctantly breaking apart. She takes your face in her hands again, stroking your cheek with her thumb. She leans back in and kisses you one more time-- soft and quick. "You need to eat something before the meeting," she says then. "We'll have to leave soon." You close your eyes. "$name," Valentina urges you to look at her. You sigh, opening your eyes again. Valentina's brow furrows, and she looks... nervous. You think she's going to say something, but she doesn't, just reaching for your hand and pulling you back through the double doors and down the hall towards the landing. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom friendly 1]]

Hana and Clear fall quiet when the two of you enter the kitchen. Valentina is still holding your hand. She marches over to the fridge, throwing it open and grabbing you a bag of blood. You glance over at Hana, perched on the counter, and then Clear, who you think is boiling eggs on the stove. "Here," Valentina says, pushing the blood into your free hand. Then she tows you back out of the room without a word to the others. She takes you back upstairs, and you quickly drain the bag. In her room, she takes a seat at the vanity while you start to pace. Now all you can do is wait. You're grateful for Valentina's presence, even though she won't answer your questions. You still feel reassured, at least a little bit-- she //knows//. You go over the council members with her again. You try to ask more questions, and she continues not to answer them. Eventually, you go quiet. You just pace. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom friendly 2]]

It's late when Valentina finally stands and stops your pacing. Your hunger has started to ache despite your bag of blood, a dull pain that radiates up your spine, but you ignore it, forcing it down. It turns your stomach into knots. It only gets worse as you and Valentina descend the stairs together, as the realization that you're really going to see the council //right now// settles in-- there is no miracle that will stop it from happening. Hana meets the both of you in the foyer along with Clear. Valentina grabs you by the shoulders then, turning you to look at her. "Hana is going to take you. But I'll be close by. We'll meet at the club after," she says. Your jaw clenches, and you nod. Valentina is reserved in front of the others, but she gives you a long look, and then steps back, nodding at Hana. And then you're off. It's still raining outside, and it's colder now, making you shiver as Hana opens the door. You hesitate only for a moment before following her out to the car. Once again, you climb into the passenger seat while Hana slides in behind the steering wheel. Hana fiddles with the dashboard, turning on the heat, even though neither of you really need it. She turns the radio down a bit from earlier, the music a quiet hum beneath the rain. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom friendly 3]]

"Sorry you have to drive," you say. Hana lets out a dry laugh. <<if $hana_rom>>"It's okay, $name," she says, and the smile she gives you calms you slightly. You reach out then and take her hand. Her smile fades slightly, and she blinks slowly at you. She pulls her hand back, reaching for the gear shift. You take the hint, sinking back into your seat. You should have said something in the kitchen, with Valentina-- you know she enjoyed rubbing it in Hana's face. Hana slowly reverses you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road. Then she grabs your hand out of your lap, entwining your fingers together, pulling your hand across the middle console to rest atop her thigh. She doesn't look at you, watching the road, but she squeezes your fingers, her eyes dark as you drive back into the city.<<else>>"It's alright, $name. I'm not going to make you walk." Hana hesitates then. "It's better this way, honestly. Valentina shouldn't... shouldn't be around the council right now. Or ever, really." You glance over at Hana, but she doesn't elaborate, just reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 1]]

"Fuck," you gasp as you keep slapping at your arms, half-running down the hall. Hana appears at the top of the stairs just as you reach the landing, her eyes wide. You see Clear a few steps behind her, too, but you ignore both of them, storming past and going straight to your room. You slam the door close, just to show Valentina you can do it, too, the walls shaking for a moment, the mansion groaning from the abuse. You cross your room straight into the bathroom, lifting your blistered arms into the sink. You slap the faucet on, letting the cool water run over the burns, flexing your hands against the pain as your skin starts to slide off and cling to the porcelain. Just like when your arms burned in Clear's apartment, you watch a new layer of skin quickly reform beneath all the blood, and you grit your teeth at the uncomfortable itch that penetrates all the way to the bone. "Fuck," you say again. You keep your arms in the water until your hands start to go stiff and numb from the cold. Your fingers shake slightly as you fumble the water off, and then grab a towel, drying your arms, your lip curling at the strange new flesh. You wander back out into your room then, dropping down hard on your bed. You don't move from that spot until Hana retrieves you for the council meeting. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.e.2]]

It's late when she knocks on your door, and your hunger has started to ache, a dull pain that radiates up your spine, but you ignore it, forcing it down. It makes you disgusted-- you just see your skin in the sink and it makes your stomach twist into knots. It only gets worse as you and Hana descend the stairs together, as the realization that you're really going to see the council //right now// settles in. It's still raining outside, and it's colder now, making you shiver as Hana opens the door. You hesitate, but you don't look back. If she's standing there, you don't want to see her. You just follow Hana out to the car. Once again, you climb into the passenger seat while Hana slides in behind the steering wheel. Hana fiddles with the dashboard, turning on the heat, even though neither of you really need it. She turns the radio down a bit from earlier, the music a quiet hum beneath the rain. "She's angry with me," you say, because you can't stand it. "I know," Hana says. <<if $hana_rom>>"I suppose I should have expected that. After last night," you say bitterly. You study Hana's face in the dark. "Are you okay?" Hana nods. "I'm okay," she says softly. You take a deep breath. "Sorry you have to drive," you say. Hana shakes her head. "It's okay, $name." "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her eyes sad. But she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<<else>>"Sorry you have to drive," you say then. "It's okay, $name. I'm not going to make you walk." You clear your throat. "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her dark eyes unreadable, but she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 1]]

You take a few steps back into the hallway, running your hands over your hair. "Fuck," you sigh. "//Fuck.//" Turning away from the double doors, you slowly make your way to the landing, composing yourself before you head down the stairs. Clear and Hana have just finished putting away the groceries. Hana is perched on the counter, while Clear is doing something over the stove. Hana tilts her head at you, but you just shake your head. You walk over to the fridge, grabbing a bag of blood. And then your retreat upstairs. You resist the urge to look back over at Valentina's closed doors, instead just walking with a purpose straight to your room. Once you're alone, you rip open the bag, quickly draining it and throwing it to the floor. You start to pace again. "Goddammit, Valentina," you mutter. Why did she have to do this now? You feel like you're going to be sick. You don't want to go to this meeting. You were able to ignore it for most of the day-- but it's so close now. You don't want to go. You run through the names of the council members in your head then. Oberon, Atlas, Sasha, Cassius. //Oberon, Atlas, Sasha, Cassius.// You keep pacing. You try to remember. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom 1.c.2]]

You close your eyes as she kisses you. This, you do remember. Your body answers intuitively to hers. These feelings are already there, even without the memories that founded them. You ache for Valentina. Her lips are soft, and you note a bitter taste of alcohol-- she must have been drinking earlier, maybe with Joan. She tilts her head, and you wrap your arms around her, wanting her closer. <<if $ch3_clear_kiss or $ch3_hana_kiss>>But Valentina breaks the kiss before it gets too desperate, leaning back, blinking slowly at you. "Do I kiss better than her?" she asks softly. "W-What," you stammer, caught off guard. Valentina's hands tighten around you for a moment, before she lets go. "Do I kiss better than her?" she asks again. <div id="choice"><<link '"Yes."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.d'>><<set $v_rel +=2>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Valentina... I..."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.e'>><<set $v_rel -=2>><<set $v_getout to true>><</link>></div> <<if $hana_rom>><div id="choice"><<link '"Do //I// kiss better than //her//?"' 'ch3 val after rom 1.f'>><<set $v_getout to true>><</link>></div> <</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"It doesn\'t have to be like that, Valentina."' 'ch3 val after rom 1.g'>><</link>></div><<else>>It gets desperate rather quickly, and you stagger a bit as you both push and pull at each other. You let your hands roam, from Valentina's waist to her hips then up her back and down again. She hums softly at the touch, and soon you have her pressed back against the wall, her hand tangled in your hair and her other one grasping at your waist. She breathes your name, nipping at your bottom lip, her long nails pressing into your shoulders as she holds you. "You always come home to me," she says then, speaking the words into your kiss. "Always," you whisper, and she shivers, before reluctantly breaking apart. She takes your face in her hands again, stroking your cheek with her thumb. She leans back in and kisses you one more time-- soft and quick. "You need to eat something before the meeting," she says then. "We'll have to leave soon." You close your eyes. "$name," Valentina urges you to look at her. You sigh, opening your eyes again. Valentina's brow furrows, and she looks... nervous. You think she's going to say something, but she doesn't, just reaching for your hand and pulling you back through the double doors and down the hall towards the landing. [[Next ->ch3 val after rom friendly 1]]<</if>>

"Valentina," you say softly, turning away from her hand, from her kiss. Valentina blinks at you, and then slowly lets her hand drop, pulling her other one free from your grasp. "Do you hate me, $name?" she asks quietly. "No, Valentina," you say. You don't hate her-- you don't know how you feel. Her breath quickens, her brow furrowed and her hands balled into fists at her side. "So what's wrong with me then?" She takes a deep breath, retreating a few steps back. "Why do you like her but not me? Is it-- is it because of Standard?" "What?" you ask. And then you feel revolted by the implication. "No, Valentina, no," you quickly reassure her. "I don't-- I don't care about him." "Then why won't you kiss me?" You try to reach out, putting your hands on her shoulders, but she slaps you away. "Don't touch me," she snaps. She sniffles loudly, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. "Just get out. Get out!" "Valentina-" you try, but she cuts you off. "Get out! Get out!" She can't kick you out, no matter how loud she yells-- it doesn't work like that with other vampires. But still, the curtain around her bed billows out, the glass windows rattle in their frames, and the open doors shudder behind you at her words. "//Get out//!" The light overhead pops with a wave of sparks and heat, and you barely manage to dodge out of the way, scrambling back into the hall-- and the doors slam close behind you, and the mansion falls silent. [[Next ->ch3 val after plat 1.b.1]]

"Valentina," you say softly, turning away from her hand, from her kiss. Valentina blinks at you, and then slowly lets her hand drop, pulling her other one free from your grasp. "Do you hate me, $name?" she asks quietly. "No, Valentina," you say. You don't hate her-- you don't know how you feel. Her breath quickens, her brow furrowed and her hands balled into fists at her side. "So what's wrong with me then?" She takes a deep breath, retreating a few steps back. "Is it-- is it because of Standard?" "What?" you ask. And then you feel revolted by the implication. "No, Valentina, no," you quickly reassure her. "I don't-- I don't care about him." "Then why won't you kiss me?" You try to reach out, putting your hands on her shoulders, but she slaps you away. "Don't touch me," she snaps. She sniffles loudly, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. "Just get out. Get out!" "Valentina-" you try, but she cuts you off. "Get out! Get out!" She can't kick you out, no matter how loud she yells-- it doesn't work like that with other vampires. But still, the curtain around her bed billows out, the glass windows rattle in their frames, and the open doors shudder behind you at her words. "//Get out//!" The light overhead pops with a wave of sparks and heat, and you barely manage to dodge out of the way, scrambling back into the hall-- and the doors slam close behind you, and the mansion falls silent. [[Next ->ch3 val after plat 1.d.1]]

"Fuck," you breathe, staring stupidly at the closed doors. And then you turn and half-run back down the hall to your room. Hana appears at the top of the stairs just as you reach the landing, her eyes wide. You see Clear a few steps behind her, too, but you ignore both of them, storming past and going straight to your room. You slam the door close, just to show Valentina you can do it, too, the walls shaking for a moment, the mansion groaning from the abuse. You cross your room straight into the bathroom, throwing yourself against the counter and bowing your head over the sink. "Fuck," you say again. You feel disgusted, but you aren't sure why. With yourself, with Valentina. With Standard, for what he did to her. You slap the faucet on then, splashing water in your face. Your hands are shaking slightly. You wash your hands for some reason, and then your face, and you keep the water running until your hands start to go stiff and your nose hurts from the cold. Your fingers are still trembling as you fumble the water off, and then your grab a towel, drying your arms before wandering back out into your room. You drop down hard on your bed, and you don't move from that spot until Hana retrieves you for the council meeting. [[Next ->ch3 val after plat 1.b.2]]

It's late when she knocks on your door, and your hunger has started to ache, a dull pain that radiates up your spine, but you ignore it, forcing it down. It just exacerbates your disgust, twisting your stomach into knots. It only gets worse as you and Hana descend the stairs together, as the realization that you're really going to see the council //right now// settles in. It's still raining outside, and it's colder now, making you shiver as Hana opens the door. You hesitate, but you don't look back. If she's standing there, you don't want to see her. You just follow Hana out to the car. Once again, you climb into the passenger seat while Hana slides in behind the steering wheel. Hana fiddles with the dashboard, turning on the heat, even though neither of you really need it. She turns the radio down a bit from earlier, the music a quiet hum beneath the rain. "She's angry with me," you say, because you can't stand it. "I know," Hana says. <<if $hana_rom>>"I suppose I should have expected that. After last night," you say bitterly. You study Hana's face in the dark. "Are you okay?" Hana nods. "I'm okay," she says softly. You take a deep breath. "Sorry you have to drive," you say. Hana shakes her head. "It's okay, $name." "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her eyes sad. But she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<<else>>"Sorry you have to drive," you say then. "It's okay, $name. I'm not going to make you walk." You clear your throat. "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her dark eyes unreadable, but she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 1]]

"//We// didn't lose you any money. That was Oberon," you snap, and she rolls her eyes. "Oberon, who only showed up because of //you//," she says. "I can't believe you would bring him right to our fucking doorstep, Valentina," she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose again. "What the fuck were you //thinking//?" "I was thinking that it would be nice for her to get out after being in a fucking sarcophagus for a hundred years, Joan!" Valentina suddenly shouts. "I was thinking that it would be //nice// for her to see some familiar faces, to see a //friend//." Joan's face twitches, and she turns away then, bowing her head a bit. Lucky awkwardly clears her throat. "Look..." Joan starts, "calling me and her //friends// is being a bit generous, isn't it?" Valentina curls her lip at her. "And I know you're meeting with the council tonight. You accepted their invitation," Joan gives you a dirty look then. "And if you don't want everyone else to know, too, then you'll get me the money I'm asking for," she turns back to Valentina as she says that last part. [[Next ->ch3 val 6]]

"Watch where you point that finger, Joan," you warn, and she frowns at you, but her demeanor changes slightly-- she drops her hand, shifting on her feet, giving you a long, wary look. Lucky awkwardly clears her throat. "You shouldn't have come last night," Joan says then, speaking to you, though her voice is tight and careful now. "Especially not with the council acting the way they are. Especially not with what we've been working towards." She takes a step towards you then. "I know you're meeting with the council tonight. And if you don't want everyone else to know, too, then you'll get me the money I'm asking for," she turns to Valentina as she says that last part. [[Next ->ch3 val 6]]

Valentina tilts her head slowly, her dark eyes flashing. "Is this-- are you blackmailing me, Joan?" Joan's jaw tenses. "I'm asking for us to have a civil exchange," she says carefully. "You think I //want// to meet with them?" you say then, and Joan grimaces slightly. "I just woke up-- they're forcing our hand." "I know," Joan sighs. "But you can't blame people for being nervous. We've managed to keep the council at bay for a long time, now--" "//We//?" Valentina spits then. "No. //Me//. I've done that." "Valentina..." "I've done-- everything. I've done everything." Joan falls quiet then, looking chastised. Lucky shifts uncomfortably. "I've done everything. And I have never missed a payment, Joan. I thought we were friends. I have never given you a reason to pull this shit with me-- to doubt me, after everything." "Maybe not you," Joan says slowly, quietly "But //her//," Joan at least doesn't point at you this time. "//She// changes things, Valentina." "Get out," Valentina snaps then. "Get out. I'll get you your fucking money. However much else you want, too, I don't care. Just get out!" Joan purses her lips, glancing between you and Valentina. Vampires can't kick out other vampires. When Valentina steps close, Lucky gets between them, and she shoves Valentina back, making her nearly stagger into you. <div id="choice"><<link [[Kick them out. Forcefully. ->ch3 val 6.a]]>><<set $j_rel -=2>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Calm Valentina down. ->ch3 val 6.b]]>><</link>></div>

You catch Valentina and pull her behind you-- and then lunge at Lucky. She immediately tries to disengage, raising a placating hand, but you don't care. You ram into her, though Lucky is strong-- not human. Her drink is knocked from her hand, glass and alcohol shattering across the floor, but she manages to stay standing. She tries to wrap her arms around you, to grapple you, but you grab one of her wrists and throw her over your shoulder, slamming her down onto the floor-- you barely miss the broken glass. Her cowboy hat rolls away, and she glares up at you with gold, wolfish eyes. You realize what she is, then. Joan grabs Lucky and quickly pulls her away from you and up onto her feet, swiping her hat back up as she stands. "Get out," you warn. Lucky doesn't say anything, bowing her head slightly and retreating, but Joan spits at your feet before throwing open the door and storming out. Lucky trails after her, leaving the door hanging open, rain whipping into the foyer for a few seconds before you slam it closed. You lean against the door, clenching your teeth, and Valentina's hand on your back makes you sigh. <<if $v_rel gte 50>>"You okay?" you ask, pushing off the door and turning to her. She nods. "Should have mentioned about Lucky," you say then, giving her a look. She just shakes her head, wrapping her arms around you suddenly. You realize then just how upset she is, hiding her face in your shirt. You sigh again, holding her against your chest. You hear a heavy thud, and look down to see the glass Valentina had been holding roll across the floor, joining Lucky's spill as her hand grabs at your shirt instead. "Come on," you say softly, and you guide her over to the stairs. She doesn't say anything, so you just take her back to the study, though you pause in the hall, glancing over at the big double doors. "Is that your room?" you ask, and she nods. She slips out of your arms then, taking your hand and leading you over to the big doors. She pushes one open, pulling you in after her. The room is huge, and the bed in the middle is //massive//. It looks old and expensive, with a huge fancy headboard and massive wooden posts that hold up a thick, red velvet curtain, which hangs closed except for the end of the bed-- a little window that feels too intimate for you to look inside. You turn to the rest of the room instead, and note a big vanity along the right wall, way bigger than the one in your room, with a proper chair and lots of makeup and accessories and other random bits scattered across it, though the mirror is covered with a sheet. Next to that is the door to the balcony, and there's also a fancy dresser and an armoire, and on the other side, a set of couches and a table between them. There's a writing desk in the corner, too, of course, with one of those rolling covers. It's closed, with a lock on it.<<else>> "You okay--" you start as you turn to her, but she's kissing you before you even realize what's happening, pushing you back against the door. "Valentina," you breathe, turning away, and her hand tightens around your shoulder, but she backs off, staring down at the floor. She lets you go then, and abruptly turns on her heel, hurling the glass she was still holding and shattering it across the far wall, more alcohol spilling across the floor, mixing with Lucky's drink. She heads for the stairs then. "Valentina," you call after her, but she doesn't stop, and you take a deep breath before following. Up the stairs, across the landing, down the hall. She leads you to the big double doors all the way at the end. For a moment, you think she's just going to slip inside and close the door in your face-- but she waits for you, glancing back over her shoulder with a dark stare. Stepping inside her room, you marvel at the size of it, particularly her bed. It looks old and expensive, with a huge fancy headboard and massive wooden posts that hold up a thick, red velvet curtain, which hangs closed except for the end of the bed-- a little window that feels too intimate for you to look inside. You turn to the rest of the room instead, and note a big vanity along the right wall, way bigger than the one in your room, with a proper chair and lots of makeup and accessories and other random bits scattered across it, though the mirror is covered with a sheet. Next to that is the door to the balcony, and there's also a fancy dresser and an armoire, and on the other side, a set of couches and a table between them. There's a writing desk in the corner, too, of course, with one of those rolling covers. It's closed, with a lock on it.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 val 7]]

You catch Valentina and pull her close, giving Lucky a warning glare that has her raising her hands and bowing her head. Valentina looks like she's going to throw her drink at Lucky's head, so you quickly pluck it from her hand, tightening your arm around her and shaking your head. "This //exchange// is done," you say. Joan scowls at you, crossing her arms, but Lucky puts a hand on her shoulder. She returns her glass to the cart then, and ushers Joan to the door. But Joan looks to you one last time. "Be careful with the council tonight," she says slowly. "Just-- be careful." You hear the sincerity in her voice, and you narrow your eyes at her. She glances at Valentina, giving her a curt nod, and then her and Lucky head out the door, rain whipping through the foyer for a brief moment before the door closes behind them. <<if $v_rel gte 50>>Valentina turns in your arms then, wrapping her own around you and pressing her face into your shirt. You sigh, setting her glass down beside Lucky's, tilting your head to try and look at her. "I'm sorry," she says, her voice muffled by the fabric. "I didn't think... I didn't think Joan would act like that." She pulls back a bit, reaching up to touch your face. "What's her problem with me?" you ask. Valentina's lips press into a thin line, and she sighs, dropping her hand and hiding in your shirt again. She's actually upset-- very upset. "Come on," you say softly, and you guide her over to the stairs. She clings to you as you walk, and you glance back over at the door for a moment. Your arms tighten around her. She doesn't say anything else, and you take her back to the study, though you pause in the hall, glancing over at the big double doors. "Is that your room?" you ask, and she nods. She slips out of your arms then, taking your hand and leading you over to the big doors. She pushes one open, pulling you in after her. The room is huge, and the bed in the middle is //massive//. It looks old and expensive, with a huge fancy headboard and massive wooden posts that hold up a thick, red velvet curtain, which hangs closed except for the end of the bed-- a little window that feels too intimate for you to look inside. You turn to the rest of the room instead, and note a big vanity along the right wall, way bigger than the one in your room, with a proper chair and lots of makeup and accessories and other random bits scattered across it, though the mirror is covered with a sheet. Next to that is the door to the balcony, and there's also a fancy dresser and an armoire, and on the other side, a set of couches and a table between them. There's a writing desk in the corner, too, of course, with one of those rolling covers. It's closed, with a lock on it.<<else>>Valentina pushes you away then, shouldering past you without a word and heading for the stairs. She pauses at the bar cart, though, and suddenly grabs it and throws it down onto the floor, knocking the bottle and glasses to the floor, both shattering loudly and sending alcohol seeping across the fancy tile. You close your eyes for a moment, letting out a long breath. "Valentina," you try, but she ignores you, leaving her mess and stomping up the stairs. You walk over and right the cart, setting her glass down amidst all the broken pieces. Then you follow after her. Up the stairs, across the landing, down the hall. She leads you to the big double doors all the way at the end. For a moment, you think she's just going to slip inside and close the door in your face-- but she waits for you, glancing back over her shoulder with a dark stare. Stepping inside her room, you marvel at the size of it, particularly her bed. It looks old and expensive, with a huge fancy headboard and massive wooden posts that hold up a thick, red velvet curtain, which hangs closed except for the end of the bed-- a little window that feels too intimate for you to look inside. You turn to the rest of the room instead, and note a big vanity along the right wall, way bigger than the one in your room, with a proper chair and lots of makeup and accessories and other random bits scattered across it, though the mirror is covered with a sheet. Next to that is the door to the balcony, and there's also a fancy dresser and an armoire, and on the other side, a set of couches and a table between them. There's a writing desk in the corner, too, of course, with one of those rolling covers. It's closed, with a lock on it.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 val 7]]

Valentina's room also has a fireplace, and your gaze is drawn there, to the mantle-- to the painting hanging over it. You recognize Valentina right away, she's what drew your attention. Her hair is cut in a bob, styled in the sculpted waves that were popular back then, and she's wearing a traditional Chinese dress-- you forget the name. She's sitting in the foreground, her hands in her lap, and there's something about the way her face is painted, you can't help but stare. The look behind her eyes... you wonder how the artist managed it. For a moment you think the person standing behind her must be Standard, but you know that can't be true after what Valentina told you earlier. She wouldn't keep a painting of him. <<if $v_rivalry eq true or $v_hostile eq true>>"Do you recognize yourself, $name?" Valentina says, and you almost startle-- you forgot she was even here. "You dressed up for this. You pretended to be my husband. It was right before... everything happened."<<elseif $v_rel gte 50>>"Do you recognize yourself?" Valentina says, and you almost startle-- you forgot she was even here, that you're holding her hand. "You dressed up for this. You pretended to be my husband. It was right before... everything happened."<<else>>"Do you recognize yourself, $name?" Valentina says, and you almost startle-- you forgot she was even here. "You dressed up for this. You pretended to be my husband. It was right before... everything happened."<</if>> You swallow loudly, staring at yourself. Any thoughts you had about the little altercation downstairs are dashed, your mind scrambling as the painting leers down at you. //Husband.// Your hand is on Valentina's shoulder, or rather, at the base of her neck-- almost scandalous for a painting like this, the way the tip of your middle finger rests in the hollow of her throat. You're wearing men's clothes, and your hair is very short, or maybe you have it tied back somehow, you can't tell for sure. Unlike Valentina's stare, your eyes are downcast slightly, looking at her. A knit between your brows. You step a little closer, peering up into your face. Your lips are slightly parted, and you can see your teeth-- the slightest suggestion of fangs from the artist. Just enough to make an onlooker pause for a moment. <<if $val_rom and $ch2_val>>[[Next ->ch3 val full rom 1]]<<elseif $val_rom>>[[Next ->ch3 val kiss rom 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 val plat 1]]<</if>>

<<if $v_rivalry or $v_hostile>><<include "ch3 val full rom rival 1">><<else>>"$name," Valentina says gently, and you realize you're squeezing her hand too hard. She pulls you close then, forcing you to turn away, to look at her. She raises her other hand to press her palm against your cheek. You close your eyes as she leans in and kisses you. Her mouth is warm from the alcohol, the taste lingering as she traces your bottom lip with her tongue. She turns her hand in yours, intertwining your fingers, her other hand sliding from your cheek, along your jaw, to curl around the back of your neck. "Will you take me to bed, $name?" she asks softly between kisses. You open your eyes, pulling back just enough to look at her. She returns your stare, searching your face with her dark eyes. You tug on her hand, walking over to the massive bed, to the curtained dark beneath the canopy. You think that this is hardly the time-- you should ask more questions, about Joan and Lucky, about the club and the hotels, about Standard and the council, about everything-- but you think it wouldn't be so bad, just for a moment, just the two of you. Maybe it will even help you remember. You kiss her at the foot of the bed, and Valentina takes a deep breath, releasing your hand to grab at your hips, her body pressing a little closer. You wrap your arms around her, cradling the back of her head, deepening your kiss into something a little more desperate. There's an uncertainty between you, but despite it all, you can feel yourself getting hot, your body responding regardless-- already aching for her. She breaks apart from you then to take off her shirt, taking a deep breath as she lets it drop to the floor. You eye her small breasts, the curve of her hips, the soft little swell of her stomach. She reaches for your shirt then, too, and you let her pull it off over your head, swallowing loudly as she looks at you, and then she pulls off your bra. She reaches up and touches the little rose hanging around your neck, before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss just below the hollow of your throat, her tongue wet and warm as she tastes you for just a moment. Then she steps back, taking off her boots and undoing her leather pants, peeling them off and crawling onto the bed. You do the same, kicking off your shoes and discarding your jeans, slowly climbing in after her. It's dark beneath the canopy, just the soft grey light spilling in from the foot of the bed. Valentina is laying amongst the pillows, and you join her, easing yourself down beside her. <<link [[Next ->ch3 val full rom 2]]>><<set $ch3_val_sex to true>><</link>><</if>>

<<if $v_rivalry or $v_hostile>>Valentina grabs your wrist then, forcing you to look away from the painting as she turns in front of you, wrapping your arm around herself and pressing her back against your chest. She lifts your hand up, almost mimicking the painting for a moment, your fingers brushing against her throat. You blink at the back of her head, hesitating for a moment-- before you close your eyes and breathe her in, the smell of coconut in her hair and the thrum of her blood in her throat. Valentina urges your hand up to her mouth, kissing your knuckles, and your arm tightens around her. The tension Joan's visit has turned into something else between the two of you, alone in this room, in the gaze of your former selves over the fireplace. You feel the scrape of her teeth, and you open your eyes, pulling your hand back before she can bite you. She turns in your arms, taking your face in her hands, her lips parted slightly and her fangs visible over her bottom lip. "Are you hungry?" you ask softly. "Something like that," she says. She leans in, one of her hands sliding from your face to hook around the back of your neck, pulling you close-- pulling you in for a kiss. She hums, her lips urging yours to open, and your eyes flutter close again. This feels familiar-- your body intuitively answers to hers. Valentina's hand tightens around your neck, her other hand grasping at your shoulder and pushing you towards the bed. The back of your knees hit the mattress, but you stop yourself from falling onto it, clinging to Valentina as your kiss deepens. The two of you push against each other, your hands rough around her waist while her hands tighten even more-- until her nails start to puncture, making you pull back with a hiss. She chases after you, though, biting down on your lip and jerking you around, away from the bed, and you trip over your own feet as you untangle yourself from her and tear your lip free. You collide with the vanity as you backpedal, the mirror wobbling dangerously beneath its sheet. You lift your hand and cover your bloody mouth, glaring over at Valentina, who just tilts her head at you. "What the fuck is wrong with you," you snap at her, wiping your lips with the back of your hand. Valentina takes a few steps back, her eyes going wide, and your body is reacting before you can tell it to stop-- again, it responds intuitively to hers, and you lunge across the room at her. You grab her by her arms and slam her back against one of the massive bedposts, her eyes squeezing shut as her head cracks against the hard wood, the velvet curtain shuddering from the impact. She lets out a pained breath, twisting in your grip, and the smell of her blood is what jars you to stop-- you let her go and quickly retreat towards the fireplace, while Valentina flinches and scrambles back onto the bed, vanishing into the dark shadows beneath the curtain. You stare after her, the red glint of her black eyes blinking slowly at you from the dark, her knees pulled up to her chest. You turn away after a moment, instinctively looking to the vanity, for your reflection-- but the sheet hides it, shrouding your distorted face from view. "What the fuck is wrong with you," you ask again, though Valentina doesn't answer, and neither do you. <div id="choice"><<link [[Fuck Valentina. Leave. I need to get out of here. ->ch3 val kiss rom rival leave 1]]>><<set $v_walkout to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[No-- no, I didn't mean to do that. ->ch3 val kiss rom rival stay 1]]>><</link>></div><<else>> "$name," Valentina says gently, and you realize you're squeezing her hand too hard. She pulls you close then, forcing you to turn away, to look at her. She raises her other hand to press her palm against your cheek. The tension from earlier has turned into something else between the two of you, alone in this room, in the gaze of your former selves over the fireplace. You close your eyes as she leans in and kisses you. This feels familiar-- your body intuitively answers to hers. Her mouth is warm from the alcohol, the taste lingering as she traces your bottom lip with her tongue. She turns her hand in yours, intertwining your fingers, her other hand sliding from your cheek, along your jaw, to curl around the back of your neck. She pulls you closer, and your kiss deepens. You feel the scrape of her teeth, a sharp bite to her kiss, and she breathes a soft sound between your lips as your arm wraps around her, your hand tangling in her hair as you grasp at her braid. You want her even closer, your other hand tightening around hers. A few thoughts flitter in your mind-- this is a bad idea. You should be asking questions, about Joan and Lucky, about the council, about //yourself//-- but maybe this will help. Valentina knows you. She can help you remember. You're breathing hard through your nose, you and Valentina melding together in front of the fireplace, and you have to break apart as your head starts to spin, taking deep breaths and pressing your forehead against hers. You release both her hand and her braid, reaching up to cradle her face-- and you're startled by the warm wetness of tears, Valentina sniffling quietly as she bows her head. "Hey," you say softly, stroking her cheek, pulling back and giving her some space. She stares down at her feet, grabbing at your wrists and holding your hands in place, and the silence stretches, punctuated by more of her sniffling and the rain on the roof. <div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry..." Okay, this //was// a bad idea.' 'ch3 val kiss rom high rel 1.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"Come on." I guide her over to the bed.' 'ch3 val kiss rom high rel 1.b'>><</link>></div><</if>>

<<if $v_rivalry or $v_hostile>>"$name," Valentina says then, grabbing your wrist and forcing you to turn away from the painting. She raises her other hand to press her palm against your cheek, her touch colder than you were expecting. There's a distant emotion that stirs in your chest when she looks at you like that, and it confuses you-- this emotion that lacks the memory that founded it.<<else>>"$name," Valentina says then, and you realize you're squeezing her hand too hard. She raises her other hand to press her palm against your cheek, her touch colder than you were expecting, and she forces you to turn away, to look at her instead. There's a distant emotion that stirs in your chest when she looks at you like that, and it confuses you-- this emotion that lacks the memory that founded it.<</if>> Alone in her room, in the gaze of your former selves, Valentina pulls you close. She stares down at your hand in hers, and then her gaze flicks to your lips, and you know she's going to kiss you. <div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her back. ->ch3 val plat 1.a]]>><<set $val_laterom to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Turn away. ->ch3 val plat 1.b]]>><<set $v_walkout to true>><<set $v_rel -=3>><</link>></div>

Valentina grabs your wrist then, forcing you to look away from the painting as she turns in front of you, wrapping your arm around herself and pressing her back against your chest. She lifts your hand up, almost mimicking the painting for a moment, your fingers brushing against her throat. You press your face into her hair, hiding from the painted stare, nudging her braid and breathing her in. Your arms tighten around her, and she sways for a moment, urging your hand up to her mouth. She kisses your knuckles, and then opens your palm up, kissing the tip of your index finger. You close your eyes, pressing your lips to her nape, scraping your teeth along the back of her neck, making her shiver as she puts your finger in her mouth. The tension from your little confrontation downstairs has turned into something else between the two of you, alone in this room, in the gaze of your former selves over the fireplace. Valentina sucks gently on your finger at first, before dragging it across her teeth and taking it between her fangs. You tense a bit, feeling the faintest prickle of pain, but she doesn't break the skin. You're getting hot, her tongue soft as she swirls it around the tip of your finger, and you reach around with your other hand then, the sudden urge to touch her too much for you to ignore. There's no way you're getting your hand in her tight leather pants, but touching her through the leather is almost more satisfying, a sensation that has both of you breathing hard. Valentina leans back into you, letting your finger go to reach around and grab at your hair. She turns her head enough so you can kiss her, your other hand still stroking slowly. "Take me to bed," she murmurs, and you don't need to be told twice. This is probably a bad idea-- bad timing, bad idea to rush into this with her. You should be asking questions, about Joan and Lucky, about the hotel and the club, about Standard and the council, about everything-- but you think it wouldn't be so bad, just for a moment, just the two of you. Maybe it will even help you remember. The two of you pause at the edge of the bed, Valentina's hands grabbing at your hips as you lean in to kiss her again. It's starting to get a little desperate-- her, or you, or both of you, pressing into each other, opening your mouths, licking at her tongue before she sucks on yours. She breaks apart then to pull off her shirt, taking a deep breath as she lets it drop to the floor. You eye her small breasts, the curve of her hips, the soft little swell of her stomach. She reaches for your shirt then, too, and you let her pull it off over your head, swallowing loudly as she looks at you, as she pulls off your bra, too. She reaches up and touches the little rose hanging around your neck, before pushing you back onto the bed, hard enough that you bounce against the mattress for a moment. It's dark beneath the velvet, and Valentina stands silhouetted at the foot of the bed, pulling off your shoes and then reaching for your belt. There's an uncertainty between you, but the anticipation is heavier, an ache low in your stomach-- a different kind of hunger as your body intuitively answers to hers. <<link [[Next ->ch3 val full rom rival 2]]>><<set $ch3_val_sex to true>><</link>>

She roughly pulls your belt off, throwing it over her shoulder to the floor, and then she tugs down your pants, pulling you towards the edge of the bed for a moment before you grab at the bedding to hold yourself in place. <<if $gender eq 1>>You have a few memories come to the surface then-- painful ones. Not with Valentina, but it still makes you hesitate as she pulls off your jeans, feeling self-conscious and exposed. Your bodies are different. You had forgotten that it mattered, but the memories remind you now. It does matter to some. Not Valentina, though. She knows you. She's seen you and touched you. She touches you now, trailing her nails down your thighs and making you shiver. Leaning over you, she kisses your stomach, kisses you through your underwear, her hand cupping you for a moment as she peers up at you. Your hands tighten around the blankets, and she stands back then, kicking off her boots and then reaching to undo her leather pants. It takes her a moment to peel them off, and then she climbs onto the bed with you, climbing on top of you, trapping you between her legs. You touch her thighs on either side of you, leaning back against the pillows, admiring her as she sits up on her knees and presses a hand to your chest. Her nails are a delicious pressure against the soft skin of your breasts, and Valentina keeps her hand there as she leans in to kiss you again. You barely resist the urge to flip her onto the mattress, to pin //her// beneath your hands, to touch her like she's touching you. A part of you knows that's how it is-- that's how it //was//. The other part of you knows something is different, now. If you flip Valentina, you'll be crossing a line. And there's a third part of you, wound tight with anxiety, uncertain about being handled like this; but it's Valentina. She knows you. And you want her to do it. You concede to her, and let her lead. [[Next ->ch3 val full rom rival g1 1]]<<else>>She lets your jeans fall into a heap on the floor, and then she leans forward, touching your bare thighs, her cold hands making you shiver. She drags her nails down slowly, goosebumps prickling your skin in their wake, and then she crouches down to kiss your stomach, your hips, pushing your legs apart, trailing kisses along your inner thighs. She presses a hand flat against your lower stomach then, turning her head and kissing your underwear. She blinks up at you, tracing a lazy circle around your navel with her nail, and she sucks softly on your clit, making you twitch and curse the thin fabric between you and her tongue. She drags her nails down your thighs one more time before standing back up, kicking off her boots and undoing her leather pants. It takes her a moment to peel them off, and then she climbs onto the bed with you, climbing on top of you, trapping you between her legs. You touch her thighs on either side of you, leaning back against the pillows, admiring her as she sits up on her knees and lays a hand on your chest. Her nails are a delicious pressure against the soft skin of your breasts, and Valentina keeps her hand there as she leans in to kiss you again. You want to flip her onto the mattress, to pin //her// beneath your hands, to touch her like she's touching you. A part of you knows that's how it is-- that's how it //was//. The other part of you knows something is different, now. If you flip Valentina, you'll be crossing a line. And there's a third part of you, wound tight with anxiety, uncertain about being handled like this; but it's Valentina. She knows you. And you want her to do it. You concede to her, and let her lead. [[Next ->ch3 val full rom rival g2 1]]<</if>>

For someone who is so cold, you feel incredibly hot, sweating as Valentina nibbles on your lip, her other hand slipping low between your thighs and making you twitch. You feel something warm then, a salty taste between you lips, and you quickly pull back, looking up at Valentina-- it's hard to see her, the backlight from the room spilling in through the curtains and casting her face in a dark shadow-- but you can see the tears. "Valentina," you say, your voice a little ragged as she keeps stroking you through your underwear, but you prop yourself up on your elbow, reaching to grab her arm and pull her back. She shrugs you off though, her brow furrowed, tears dripping hot on your chest as she keeps you pinned to the bed. "I missed you," she says then. "I missed you, your face, your smell, the taste of you. I missed holding you and touching you," she whispers it all, bowing her head slightly. She pulls her hand back and starts to rock her body against you, grinding down into your lap, and you inhale sharply, grasping at her hips with rough hands. She lowers herself on top of you then, kissing your neck-- biting down, breaking skin, a rush of blood staining her sheets. She's still grinding against you, her breasts pressed against yours, her entire body enveloping you as her hips move faster and she drinks roughly from your neck. You're panting hard, from the pleasure and the pain, Valentina's cunt warm and wet against your cock, soaking through your underwear as she presses into you. You're getting lightheaded, your hands bruising her hips, and you mutter her name a few times until she releases your throat. You blink up at her, watch the rapid rise and fall of her breasts, your blood glistening across her chest and dripping from her chin. She's still crying. You sit up then, wrapping an arm around her, reaching up to wipe her tears away. She presses her face into your neck, licking at her painful bite, and you turn your head slightly, her own neck offered to you then. You bite her, too. She moans softly, grabbing at your hair, letting her head roll back. You suck at her throat before trailing bloody kisses down the curve of her neck, down to her breasts. You take one of them in your mouth, soft and cool, her nipple hardening as you flick your tongue over it and suck gently. Her hips twitch in your lap, her hand tightening in your hair, and you close your eyes, focusing on her, her breast slipping from your mouth as you move to give attention to the other. Your fangs prick against the soft skin, and Valentina pushes herself into your mouth until they puncture. You hum, your lips still pressed against her, the floral taste of her blood filling your mouth. You trace your tongue around her nipple, prod at the bloody bite, your mouth smacking from the sudden wetness, blood trickling down your chin. Valentina pants loudly, her nails dragging along your scalp as she grabs at more of your hair, and her other arm wraps around you just so she can leave long scratches down your back, slicing the old scabs she left behind that night in Clear's apartment. "Fuck," you breathe, releasing her breast then as you gasp against the pain. She lets go of your hair to cradle your face, holding you against her bloody chest, and you close your eyes for a moment, letting her lower you back onto the bed again. She leans in and kisses you, swapping blood, before sitting back in your lap. [[Next ->ch3 val full rom rival g1 2]]

In the dark she looks so young, her face soft and round, even with the knit between her brows as she looks at you. Her cheeks still glisten slightly, but if there are anymore tears they've disappeared beneath all the blood. Her braid is falling out now, too, long hair hanging around her face and across her shoulders, and she licks her lips, raising a hand and pushing some of the blood-soaked hair back out of her way. She reaches for your underwear then, and pulls it off. When she climbs back on, it's skin on skin, and you touch her stomach, letting your hand slide low, to caress her, to feel her heat, and she lets out the quietest whimper, letting you touch her for just a moment, your thumb stroking her clit-- before she pulls your hand away. Her grip is tight, your wrist aching in her hand, and she guides it up to her throat instead. Urging you to grab it. She starts to grind her hips again, and you can feel yourself building up, especially with her wetness on your cock and lower stomach, with her looking down at you through half-lidded eyes. "Fuck, Valentina," you sigh, and she squeezes your wrist, urging you, reminding you. You wrap your hand around her throat. You feel her swallow, and then she nods, taking a deep breath as she quickens her movements, her thighs flexing on either side of you, her velvet lips teasing your cock as she pushes down harder, more deliberately. You want to feel her inside, with your cock, or your fingers, whining softly as she presses her one hand against your chest, shifting her weight onto you, your breath shortening just as hers does, as your hand tightens with her urging. She uses what little breath she has to whisper your name, and she leans back then, her nails scraping down your chest, down your stomach, until she takes your cock in her bloody hand with fast, slick strokes between rubbing you against her cunt. You're not going to last much longer with her on top of you like this. And, to be fair to you, it //has// been a hundred years since you've done this. Valentina just knows exactly how to touch you, exactly what you like-- you're at a disadvantage. Your hand tightens a little more. Valentina's face is turning red under all the blood. She's still looking at you, her mouth open slightly, and her hand is moving even faster, her thumb teasing your tip for a moment, and you grunt without meaning too, your hips bucking against her, your body aching for release. She lets go of your wrist then, confident in your ability to do what she likes, and she reaches for your breasts, groping roughly, pinching your nipple as she pumps her other hand, and it all overwhelms you at once-- the feeling of her throat in your hand, the rhythm of her body moving on top of yours, the perfect way she touches your cock, the sharp pinch of her nails on your nipple-- and you cry out her name as you come, Valentina gasping as you release her throat in your ecstasy. You come on her hand and up onto your stomach, and she keeps pumping until you have to beg her to stop. She sways overtop of you, lightheaded and her face flushed, her mouth dripping blood and saliva onto your chest until she climbs off and collapses onto the bed beside you. You prop yourself up on your elbow after a few faint seconds, turning to lean over her, petting her braid. "Okay, baby?" you say without meaning to. Valentina doesn't seem to notice, or if she does it doesn't matter. She turns to look at you, her head still resting on the pillows. The red is draining from her face as she catches her breath, and she reaches out to touch your bloody throat. You're still a little foggy, the room fuzzy around the edges, but you put your hand on her waist, trailing your fingers slowly down the curve of her hip, down her thigh-- but she shakes her head, stopping you again. "Just hold me, $name," she whispers. You blink at her, and then nod. You pull her close, rolling onto your back so she can rest her head on your chest. You keep petting her braid, and you press a kiss to the top of her head, closing your eyes as she settles against you. You listen as her breathing steadies, quieting as the rain outside grows louder in the silence. [[You fall asleep. ->ch3 val full rom rival 3]]

You wake up, blissful and groggy. It takes you a moment to remember where you are, though-- first the sarcophagus, then Clear's couch, then your room. Valentina's room. The curtains are nearly pulled closed around the bed, except for a little sliver of warm light that spills in, illuminating your naked body. You roll over, but it's just you in the bed. "Valentina?" you say, your voice thick with sleep. You push yourself up, rubbing at your eyes, and slide towards the light, pushing the curtains open so you can sit on the edge of the bed. Valentina is sitting at the vanity, the warm lights over the mirror glowing through the sheet draped atop it. It's still raining, you can hear it now without the muffle of the curtain, and you think you hear a distant roll of thunder rattle the garden and the trees outside. Valentina stares at the sheet over the mirror and brushes her hair, a little messy and slightly wavy from being in her braid. You watch her for a moment, and then lean forward, bowing your head and bracing your hands against the mattress, letting out a long sigh. Your bare feet brush against the plush carpet, but you stay seated on the edge of the mattress, staring down at yourself. There's a good amount of blood-- and other fluids-- dried to your skin, and you run a hand across your chest, touching your rose pendant for a moment. You kind of like it. You scratch a nail against the dried crust of blood along your collarbone, watching it flake away and flutter down your breast. "Are you angry with me?" Valentina suddenly asks. You blink over at her, instinctively looking for her reflection in the mirror-- but the sheet hides it. Or rather, it hides the mirror. There is no reflection. "...Why would I be angry?" you ask, your brow furrowing. Valentina pauses in her brushing, but she still doesn't look at you. "About how I touched you," she says slowly. "That I didn't let you touch me." You stare at her for a few seconds, both of you silent and still. "No, I'm not angry," you say. You aren't really sure why you would be. "If I wanted you to stop I would have told you." //I would have made you,// you think, but you don't say it. You let it hang in the air between you. Valentina just stares down at her hands. "I'm not angry," you say again. "Okay," Valentina sighs. She resumes brushing her hair. Your gaze goes to the painting then. Did that version of you get angry? Or was this Standard that made her so afraid? "Valentina," you say, and she stops her brushing again, tilting her head slightly. "Was I your husband?" you ask. [[Next ->ch3 val full rom rival 4]]

For someone who is so cold, you feel incredibly hot, sweating as Valentina keeps kissing you, nibbling on your lip, her other hand slipping low between your bodies intertwined, her knuckle rubbing through your underwear and making you twitch a bit. You feel something warm then, a salty taste between you lips, and you quickly pull back, looking up at Valentina-- it's hard to see her, the backlight from the room spilling in through the curtains and casting her face in a dark shadow-- but you can see the tears. "Valentina," you say, your voice a little ragged as she keeps rubbing you through your underwear, but you prop yourself up on your elbow, reaching to grab her arm and pull her back. She shrugs you off though, her brow furrowed, tears dripping hot on your chest as she keeps you pinned to the bed. "I missed you," she says then. "I missed you, your face, your smell, the taste of you. I missed holding you and touching you," she whispers it all, bowing her head slightly. She pulls her hand back and starts to rock her body against you, grinding down into your lap, and she inhales sharply as your hands roughly grab at her hips. She lowers herself on top of you then, kissing your neck-- biting down, breaking skin, a rush of blood staining her sheets. She's still grinding against you, her breasts pressed against yours, her entire body enveloping you as her hips move faster and she drinks roughly from your neck. You're panting hard, from the pleasure and the pain, Valentina's cunt warm and wet against your stomach, and you angle your hips upward, trying to give her //more//, more for her to rub herself against, more pleasure from your body. You're getting lightheaded, your hands bruising her thighs, and you mutter her name a few times until she releases your throat. You blink up at her, watch the rapid rise and fall of her breasts, your blood glistening across her chest and dripping from her chin. She's still crying. You sit up then, wrapping an arm around her, reaching up to wipe her tears away. She presses her face into your neck, licking at her painful bite, and you turn your head slightly, her own neck offered to you then. You bite her, too. She moans softly, grabbing at your hair, letting her head roll back. You suck at her throat before trailing bloody kisses down the curve of her neck, down to her breasts. You take one of them in your mouth, soft and cool, her nipple hardening as you flick your tongue over it and suck gently. Her hips twitch in your lap, her hand tightening in your hair, and you close your eyes, focusing on her, her breast slipping from your mouth as you move to give attention to the other. Your fangs prick against the soft skin, and Valentina pushes herself into your mouth until they puncture. You hum, your lips still pressed against her, the floral taste of her blood filling your mouth. You trace your tongue around her nipple, prod at the bloody bite, your mouth smacking from the sudden wetness, blood trickling down your chin. Valentina pants loudly, her nails dragging along your scalp as she grabs at more of your hair, and her other arm wraps around you just so she can leave long scratches down your back, slicing the old scabs she left behind that night in Clear's apartment. "Fuck," you breathe, releasing her breast then as you gasp against the pain. She lets go of your hair to cradle your face, holding you against her bloody chest, and you close your eyes for a moment, letting her hold you like that, your back twitching uncomfortably. When you open your eyes, she's peering down at you, stroking your cheek. In the dark she looks so young, her face soft and round, even with the knit between her brows as she looks at you. Her cheeks still glisten slightly, but if there are anymore tears they've disappeared with all the blood. Her braid is falling out now, too, long hair hanging around her face and across her shoulders, and she licks her lips, raising a hand and pushing some of the blood-soaked hair back out of her face. [[Next ->ch3 val full rom rival g2 2]]

She repositions herself then, climbing out of your lap and turning you around, pressing your burning back against her cool skin, her breasts slick with blood as she pulls you up so the back of your head rests against her shoulder. She leans herself against the headboard, the pile of pillows scattered carelessly around you, and she hooks an arm around you and touches your throat, tilting your head back so she can kiss her bite. Her other hand slides down your stomach, toying with the waistband of your underwear, which she unceremoniously rips off, pinching you for a delicious moment before the fabric tears easily in her hand. It leaves you a little breathless, grabbing her wrist and whining softly when she doesn't touch you right away. She nibbles at your earlobe, and then trails a few kisses along your jaw, until she's at your throat again. She scrapes her teeth over your pulse, tugging at the puncture wounds and making you cry out. Her hand starts to slide low again. Her other hand goes to one of your breasts, cupping gently before she pinches your nipple between her fingers, and you glance down as she reaches through your curls to find your sex, tensing as her nails brush against your opening. But she doesn't try to slip inside. She just caresses you slowly, drawing a long sigh out of you, and then she raises her hand to your mouth. She's still kissing your neck, and she whispers against your skin, dragging her tongue upwards-- and you open your mouth for her, sucking on her fingers, long strands of saliva suspended between your lips and her hand when she draws back. She lowers it straight between your legs. You're already panting, trembling in anticipation, pressing back against her as she starts to rub her hand over you. "Fuck, Valentina," you moan, her breath hot on your neck, her other hand groping your breast again. You try to resist the tension twisting in your gut, but your body is already aching for the release, and you dig your heels into the mattress, as if that will help prolong it. To be fair to you, it //has// been a hundred years since you've done this. Valentina just knows exactly how to touch you, exactly what you like-- you're at a disadvantage. Valentina's other hand suddenly grabs at your chin, turning your head to look at her. Her dark eyes flash, and she urges your mouth against her neck, sitting up behind you just so you can get the angle right, her hand slowing for an agonizing moment. "Bite me," she whispers, and you do, sinking your teeth into her throat for the second time. She lets out a soft sound, her hand starting up again, working faster against your clit, and her blood in your mouth elevates the sensation, her head bowed over you, her long hair tickling your breasts-- it intensifies all at once, and you come with a thrash, still holding her throat between your teeth. She moans softly, but she keeps stroking your clit until you have to let her go and beg her to stop. She slumps back against the headboard, and you go limp against her, both of you panting loudly. It takes you a moment to recover, and then you quickly scramble back, pulling Valentina off the headboard and laying her down on the pillows. You lean over her, touching her neck, your eyes wide at all the blood. "You okay, baby?" you ask, and you don't even realize you've called her that. Valentina doesn't notice, either, or if she does it doesn't matter. She lets out a long breath, blinking up at you, and she nods, nudging your hand aside to touch the rough bite. You push some of her hair back out of her face, and you rearrange the pillows and help her get comfortable. You sit beside her, leaning over her, pressing a hand to her stomach then. Your hand starts to trail down, stroking one of her thighs, before you reach to touch her-- but she stops you, grabbing your wrist and holding tight. She shakes her head. "Just hold me, $name," she whispers. You blink at her, and then nod. You wrap an arm around her and pull her close, rolling onto your back so she can rest her head on your chest. You reach up and start to pet her braid, and you press a kiss to the top of her head, closing your eyes as she settles against you. You listen as her breathing steadies, quieting as the rain outside grows louder in the silence. [[You fall asleep. ->ch3 val full rom rival 3]]

Valentina looks... young. She blinks over at you, her face round and soft in the dark, even with the knit between her brow. She reaches out, trailing a hand down your side, her nails making your shiver. You sit up and lean over her, caressing her face before kissing her again. "Will you be gentle?" she asks suddenly, breathing the words into your kiss. You pull back, surprised by the question. Valentina and //gentle// aren't exactly two things you associate together in your mind. If you're being honest... you were expecting //her// to hurt //you//. "If that's what you want," you say, resting a hand on her stomach. You stroke her cool skin with your thumb, and she shivers. She nods then, sitting up, and you sit up with her. "Be gentle," she says, leaning in to kiss your throat. You wrap your arms around her, and she climbs into your lap, your hands sliding up her back and pressing her close. Her lips find yours again, and for a while the two of you just kiss, moaning softly, your breasts pressing together with her hands on your shoulders, Valentina rocking gently in your lap. You start to kiss along her jaw then, the curve of her neck, tracing one of her collarbones, pressing your tongue into the hollow of her throat. She sits up slightly, grabbing at your hair, and you trail kisses down to her breasts, before taking one in your mouth. Soft and cool, her nipple hardens as you flick your tongue over it and suck gently, blinking up at her as she breathes your name. Her hips twitch in your lap, her hand tightening in your hair, and you close your eyes, focusing on her, her breast slipping from your mouth as you move to give attention to the other. Your fangs prick against the soft skin, and Valentina pushes herself into your mouth until they puncture. You hum, your lips still pressed against her, the floral taste of her blood filling your mouth. You trace your tongue around her nipple, prod at the bloody bite, your mouth smacking from the sudden wetness, blood trickling down your chin. Valentina pants loudly, her nails dragging along your scalp as she grabs at more of your hair, and her other arm wraps around you just so she can leave long scratches down your back, slicing the old scabs she left behind that night in Clear's apartment. "Fuck," you breathe, releasing her breast then as you gasp against the pain. She lets go of your hair to cradle your face, holding you against her bloody chest, and you close your eyes for a moment, letting her hold you like that, your back twitching uncomfortably. When you open your eyes, she's peering down at you, stroking your cheek. You notice tears on her face. "Valentina," you say, but she shakes her head, pulling you back in and kissing you. Her blood slicks your tongue, and she tastes it hungrily, slowly leaning back onto the bed and pulling you on top of her. She reaches between your legs then, stroking you for a moment, and you inhale sharply, your hips thrusting into her hand involuntarily. "I missed you," she says then. "I missed you, your face, your smell, the taste of you. I missed holding you and touching you," she whispers it all, staring up at you. She slides her hand back, trailing it up your stomach, touching your breast, before wrapping it around the back of your neck. "I think I missed you too," you say. "I missed you. I missed you even though I couldn't remember you." [[Next ->ch3 val full rom 3]]

You lean to the side then, propping yourself on your elbow. Valentina watches you as you reach around, cupping her bloody breast before trailing your hand down her stomach, through her pubic hair, finding her heat between her legs. Her breath quickens, blinking up at you, your head bowed as you take her breast in your mouth again. You caress her opening, pressing your thumb against her clit, and she whimpers softly, your lips smacking as you worship her breast. You trail your fingers low again, slipping them inside, to tease her, just to get them wet-- your nails are too long for much more than that, anyways-- but she grabs your wrist, quickly pulling your hand back. You let her guide your hand back to her clit. You get the message. You close your eyes, rubbing your hand in slow circles, your fingers slick with her-- blood and her wetness. Valentina opens her legs a little wider, one of her hands coming up to cradle the back of your head. As your hand starts to move faster, she tugs at you, pulling your mouth from her breast to kiss you-- and to bite you. She bites your bottom lip, and then nudges at your jaw until she can reach your throat. You groan loudly, her teeth piercing through your skin and spilling blood across her fancy sheets. Hunched over her, most of it spills down her chin, her throat, across her chest. You feel yourself getting lightheaded, but you focus on her, on her body, on the little moans and whispers she presses into your blood as you touch her. You feel her trembling, and she releases your throat then, slumping into the pillows, her back arching slightly. "Bite me," she whispers at you, turning your head towards her again. Your fingers press against her, tight circles that make her say your name over and over again-- and she begs you. "Bite me, $name, please. Please." You oblige. You sink your teeth into her neck, pressing your tongue against her pulse, your hand quickening as she gasps and writhes underneath you. "//$name//," she moans, and you feel her body clench, her thighs snapping closed around your hand. You still immediately, releasing her throat and peering down at her. Her eyes are closed, and she's breathing hard, her breasts glistening with blood as they rise and fall frantically. You ease your hand out from between her thighs-- normally, you'd wring it all out of her, every last scream and moan, but you fear that Valentina might break if you push her any farther. Instead, you lightly rest your hand on her stomach again, drawing little circles across her skin with your finger. She slowly lets her legs relax, and then she opens her eyes to look at you. "You okay, baby?" you ask, calling her that without realizing it. Valentina doesn't notice either, or if she does, it doesn't matter. She nods, reaching up then, wrapping you in her arms and pulling you close, holding you against her chest. You listen to the slow beating of her heart, closing your eyes for a moment. Valentina ends up falling asleep like that. You don't think she means to, but when you feel her arms loosen, her breathing slow to become almost imperceptible, you carefully sit up, peering down at her. Last night, at the club, she wasn't like this, she wasn't... hesitant. She was riding your hand in front of everyone. But maybe that was the difference. She seemed uncertain here, just the two of you. Did it feel different? Did //you// feel different? You carefully push some of her hair out of her face. You know she's been hurt. By Standard. By you. You just can't remember. You feel your jaw clench, glancing towards the end of the bed, to the painting on the wall of you leering down at her. You lay back down beside her, taking her in your arms. She stirs slightly, making a soft sound, rolling over and tucking her face against your chest. You close your eyes. [[You fall asleep. ->ch3 val full rom 4]]

You wake up, blissful and groggy. It takes you a moment to remember where you are, though-- first the sarcophagus, then Clear's couch, then your room. Valentina's room. The curtains are nearly pulled closed around the bed, except for a little sliver of warm light that spills in, illuminating your naked body. You roll over, but it's just you in the bed. "Valentina?" you say, your voice thick with sleep. You push yourself up, rubbing at your eyes, and slide towards the light, pushing the curtains open so you can sit on the edge of the bed. Valentina is sitting at the vanity, the warm lights over the mirror glowing through the sheet draped atop it. It's still raining, you can hear it now without the muffle of the curtain, and you think you hear a distant roll of thunder rattle the garden and the trees outside. Valentina stares at the sheet over the mirror and brushes her hair, a little messy and slightly wavy from being in her braid. You watch her for a moment, and then lean forward, bowing your head and bracing your hands against the mattress, letting out a long sigh. Your bare feet brush against the plush carpet, but you stay seated on the edge of the mattress, staring down at yourself. There's a good amount of blood-- and other fluids-- dried to your skin, and you run a hand across your chest, touching your rose pendant for a moment. You kind of like it. You scratch a nail against the dried crust of blood along your collarbone, watching it flake away and flutter down your breast. "Are you angry with me?" Valentina suddenly asks. You blink over at her, instinctively looking for her reflection in the mirror-- but the sheet hides it. Or rather, it hides the mirror. There is no reflection. "...Why would I be angry?" you ask, your brow furrowing. Valentina pauses in her brushing, but she still doesn't look at you. "I fell asleep," she says quietly. "So did I," you say. "I'm not angry, Valentina. I wouldn't be angry at you for that." She stares down at her hands. "Okay," she says eventually. She resumes brushing her hair. Your gaze goes to the painting then. Did that version of you get angry? Or was this Standard that made her so afraid? You don't need Valentina to do anything she doesn't want. You are fully content with her pleasure alone. Watching her unravel beneath your touch-- the arch of her back, your name moaned on her lips. She gives just as much as you. "Valentina," you say, and she stops her brushing again, tilting her head slightly. "Was I your husband?" you ask. [[Next ->ch3 val full rom 5]]

You glare at Valentina, hiding in the dark, and then you turn on your heel, barely resisting the urge to rip down that fucking painting as you storm out of the room. You slam the door close behind you, hard enough that the entire mansion seems to shake, the chandelier over the landing swaying ominously as you stomp back to your room. You slam that door, too, just for good measure. You reach up and wipe the blood from your chin, licking your teeth and shaking your head. <<if $v_hostile>>The smell of Valentina's blood still lingers, and you feel a moment of uncertainty-- of fear. You shouldn't have pushed her like that. But she shouldn't have bit you. In Clear's apartment, last night at the club, even just now, with Joan and Lucky-- Valentina is always fucking provoking someone. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" you mutter again.<<else>>The smell of Valentina's blood still lingers, and you feel a moment of uncertainty-- of fear. You shouldn't have pushed her like that. But she shouldn't have bit you. In Clear's apartment, with Joan and Lucky, even at the club, you know she was trying to get to you-- Valentina is always fucking provoking someone. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" you mutter again.<</if>> And that fucking painting. That painting got under your skin. Valentina called you her //husband//. That's why she's treating you like this. //Like a man//. Like Standard. You turn to the vanity then. Pressing your palms to the counter, you let out a long breath, glaring into the mirror. "Come the fuck on," you hiss. You want to see your face. Is that painting true to life? Are you a man? Are you a woman? You don't want to ask out loud. You're afraid of what Valentina's answer may be. Your hands clench against the vanity, your fingers curling and your nails scraping against the shiny wood finish. You push back, standing up straight, before you throw your fist at the glass, and it shatters over you into a dozen little pieces, scattering across the floor at your feet. [[Next ->ch3 val kiss rom rival leave 2]]

"Why-- why the fuck do you do that," you breathe, pressing your face into your hands. You can hear the rain coming down harder on the roof, and the room suddenly feels enormous, the storm outside far too loud. "Don't you like it when I bite you?" Valentina asks quietly. You drop your hands and take a tentative step towards the bed. Valentina doesn't move, still watching you from the dark. You creep to the edge, press your palm to the mattress, and she watches you climb in, the curtain fluttering close behind you. You both stare at each other for a moment, before you lay down on the bed beside her. She slowly unfurls herself, stretching her legs out and easing herself onto the pillows, both of you facing each other, your breaths intermingling in the dark. "I have to make sure that you're real," she says suddenly. "What?" You search her face as she shifts even closer. She raises a hand, trailing her fingers along your jaw before she gently touches your swollen bottom lip. "I have to touch you... taste you. Hurt you," she whispers. "I have to make sure you're real. That this isn't all a dream." You blink slowly at her, Valentina's hand still cupping your face, her thumb running back and forth across your lips. "Dream, or a nightmare?" you ask with a bitter smile. She doesn't like that comment, frowning as she props herself up on her elbow. She keeps touching your face, stroking your jaw as you peer up at her. You sigh, reaching up to lightly touch the back of her hand. "I'm real, Valentina," you say. She takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. You reach up to pet her braid, and she slowly lowers herself back down onto the bed, rolling forward to rest her head on your chest. She wraps her arms around you, closing her eyes as she takes another deep breath, and you do the same, shifting against the pillows and holding her close. <<if hasVisited("ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.a")>>For the second time today, the two of you just lay together. This time, though, you're out of rhythm-- her heart beats a few seconds later than your own. A stuttering //thump-thump, thump-thump//, and the smell of her blood. It's overpowering, with her head tucked beneath your chin, and you avoid the spot as you keep stroking her braid, the trickle of blood along the back of her neck begging for your attention.<<else>>You can smell her blood, overpowering with her head tucked beneath your chin, and you avoid the spot as you keep stroking her braid, the trickle of blood along the back of her neck begging for your attention.<</if>> You didn't mean to shove her that hard. An unwanted thought needles its way into your mind, and you imagine if Lucky had shoved her any harder, if she had fallen back and hit the stairs-- you see more blood on the fancy tile floor in your head. No, instead of Lucky, it's just you. You and your hunger. You glance over Valentina's head, and there's a darker shadow beneath the velvet with you, hunched in the corner, watching. You'll blame that for now. You can deny it as long as you can't remember. [[Next ->ch3 val kiss rom rival stay 2]]

"I'm sorry," you say, swallowing a thick lump in your throat, and you pull your hands free from hers, a sudden panic gripping tight inside your chest. You barely manage to stop yourself from running for the doors, backpedaling instead until you bump into her vanity. "$name," Valentina says, shaking her head and trailing after you. She reaches for your hands again, grasping desperately, and you let her take them, staring down at her long nails curled around your wrists. "It's okay," she assures you. She reaches up and touches your face, her hands cool against the heat of shame burning your skin. You glance up at that painting again. At yourself, leering down. Valentina turns your face away from it just like before. Her brow furrows, studying you, her eyes still glassy with tears. "It's okay," she says again. She gently pulls on your arm, pulling you over to the bed. You resist at first, uneasy, that panic still coiling tight in your chest, your body on fire in the worst way. She sits on the edge of the bed, grabbing at your arm with both hands. <div id="choice"><<link [[No-- no, I need to get out of this room. ->ch3 val kiss high rel 1.a.1]]>><<set $v_walkout to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[...I sit with her. ->ch3 val kiss high rel 1.a.2]]>><</link>></div>

"Come on," you say, pulling on your arms and guiding Valentina over to the bed as she clings to your wrists. You sit her down on the edge of the mattress, crouching down in front of her, reaching up and wiping her tears away. "Why are you crying, Valentina?" you ask softly. She shakes her head, closing her eyes for a moment. You feel a lump forming in your throat, and you stand back up, moving to sit beside her on the edge of the bed. You stare down at your hands in your lap-- and then Valentina's hand as it reaches out to take hold of one of yours. "Why are you crying?" you ask her again. She's quiet for a moment, before leaning close, her hand tightening around yours. She just shakes her head. She slides back onto the bed then, still holding your hand, and you hesitate before crawling after her. The both of you lay side by side on the bed, <<if hasVisited("ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.a")>>just like this morning, only this time you face Valentina in the dark.<<else>>your head resting on one of the cool pillows as you face Valentina in the dark.<</if>> "Valentina, please. What's wrong?" you try again, your voice a muffled whisper beneath the velvet curtain. She shakes her head again. "It is not so easy as to just speak it into words," she says then. You take a deep breath, sliding a little closer. Valentina's eyes glint red in the dark. You wonder if yours look the same. She reaches out, touching your face, tracing the curve of your jaw, her nails ghosting along your lips. "I never thought I'd kiss you again," she finally says. "And now, you're here right in front of me-- but still I feel like it's not real. I don't know how to tell if this is real. That this isn't just a dream." "Dream, or a nightmare?" you ask, which Valentina doesn't like very much. Her brow furrows, her hand laying flat against your cheek. "I'm real, Valentina," you assure her. She props herself up on her elbow then, leaning over you. Blinking up at her, you feel one of her tears fall across your face, just before she kisses you again. You can taste the salt in her kiss. It's chaste, compared to what the two of you just did in front of the fireplace, and she pulls back after a moment, stroking your face again. She takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. You reach up to pet her braid, and she slowly lowers herself back down onto the bed, rolling forward to rest her head on your chest. She wraps her arms around you, closing her eyes as she takes another deep breath, and you do the same, shifting against the pillows and holding her close. [[Next ->ch3 val kiss high rel 1.a.2 1]]

The pain surprises you-- from your knuckles, spiking up through your wrist, all the way to your shoulder. Blood runs between your fingers, and you pull back as your breath quickens, red splattering across the floor and staining the carpet. "Fuck," you breathe, rushing over to the bathroom. You lift your hand and hold it over the sink, clenching and unclenching your fist. You stare down at the glass protruding from your flesh, and you watch as it's slowly pushed back out, clattering down into the sink as some of the gashes close themselves up, an uncomfortable itch in your hand as your skin pulls itself back together. The deeper ones don't heal. You glance around the bathroom, cursing under your breath, reaching blindly for a towel. You rinse the clots of blood into the sink, and then pull out the remaining glass before wrapping your hand up tight. You leave the water running as you wander back out into your bedroom. You find yourself standing in front of the balcony door, pulling the curtain back and peering outside into the rain. It's getting darker now, long shadows in the garden as the sun starts to set behind the clouds. You fumble open the sliding door and step outside. <<link [[Next ->ch3 val kiss rom rival leave 3]]>><<set $ch3_mirrorhand to true>><</link>>

There's a chair on the balcony, and you drop down into it, propping your elbows on your knees and still clutching at your hand. You take a few deep breaths, closing your eyes and feeling the rain as the wind whips it across the balcony. You press your face into the plush towel wrapped around your hand, breathing in the smell of cloth fibers and laundry detergent. You can smell your blood, too, but it is wholly unappetizing to you. Old pennies and rust-- it makes your stomach twist. "Damn," you sigh, slumping back in your chair and staring out into the garden. You force yourself to clear your mind. You don't want to think about anything. Not Valentina, not Joan and Lucky, not the council or the hotel or Standard-- not that fucking painting. You just sit and watch the rain, watch as the sky slowly grows dark around you, a small lamp flickering on overhead and illuminating the balcony. You sit there until your clothes soak through. [[Next ->ch3 val kiss rom rival leave 4]]

The sound of a car approaching down the long stretch of road is what finally spurs you to return inside. You stand, carrying the now wet and heavy towel still wrapped around your hand, and slowly slide the door open, slipping back into your bedroom. The water is still running, and you head into the bathroom, unraveling the towel and letting it fall to the floor. You rinse off your hand, grimacing as you stretch your fingers and pull clumps of fibers out of the dried, sticky blood. You cut off the faucet and then strip your wet clothes. You avoid looking into the mirror. Luckily you brought a few outfits in from the closet last night, and you walk over to them now, hanging on a clothing rack tucked back along the far wall. You pull on the first thing you see, and then pull on a good pair of boots for all the rain and the mud. When you step out into the hall, you half-expect Valentina to be waiting for you. But it's empty. Clear and Hana's voices carry through the mansion as you approach the landing, the front door closing just as you reach the top of the stairs. You catch a glimpse of the two carrying bags of groceries towards the kitchen. You note that the spill from earlier, along with the drink cart, has been cleaned up and put away. You glance over your shoulder, towards Valentina's room, but her doors are closed. [[Next ->ch3 val walkout hana talk 1]]

You descend the stairs, a chill crawling up your spine and making you shiver as the cool, humid air from outside washes over you. It's completely dark now, the rain glinting across the dark glass as you eye the windows on either side of the front door. Wet footsteps lead your way to the kitchen, where you find Clear unbagging the groceries while Hana leans against the counter, drinking coffee from a paper cup. You catch the smell of fried food as well, and note a greasy brown bag sitting atop the island amongst the other bags of groceries. Hana notices you first, blinking slowly, and then giving you a nod. Clear is intent on her task of unloading food into the fridge. "How was the store?" you ask, and Clear startles a bit, getting an amused smirk from Hana as she takes another long drink. Clear straightens up, stepping back from the fridge and looking over at you. "Fine," she says curtly. You frown, crossing your arms, but Clear ignores you. She looks far better than she did this morning, at least-- she's clearly showered, the dark circles under her eyes faded and some color returned to her cheeks. She rummages through one of the bags before turning back to the fridge. The room seems to curdle then; no reprieve from the collective bad mood of its inhabitants. Hana is still watching you from overtop her coffee cup. Her eyes are narrowed, a curious expression on her face that you can't quite decipher. "What's that look for?" you challenge her, unable to restrain yourself, the calm you found on the balcony already slipping through your fingers. Hana doesn't answer, just pushing off the counter and setting aside her coffee before striding for the door. "I'll fetch your bags, Clear," she says, ignoring you just the same as Clear. "I'll help," you retort, which gets you an annoyed look from Hana. Clear just grunts an affirmative, her brow furrowed, oblivious or perhaps just uninterested in being caught between the two of you. [[Next ->ch3 val walkout hana talk 2]]

You and Hana step out into the dark and the rain, Hana spinning the car keys around her finger. You wait for her to open the trunk, which is automatic, slowly swinging upwards with a loud beep. How irritating. Hana grabs the duffle bag and the large rucksack, shouldering them both as you just stand there. "Hana," you roll your eyes at her as the trunk starts to slowly, mechanically, grind shut. "I don't need your help," she says, and she goes to shove past you, but you stop her with a hand on her arm. For a moment you think she's going to swing the duffle off her shoulder and smack you with it, but she doesn't. "What's wrong?" you press. "Did something happen?" "I could ask you the same," she says. You deflate a bit, your hand still aching from the broken mirror. She seems to notice it at the same time that you think it, her dark eyes glancing down at the cuts across your knuckles. Of course she noticed it-- she can probably smell it. You pull your hand back, a rush of shame forcing you to duck your head as she searches your face. She sighs then, shaking her head. "Nothing //happened//," she says. "Not in the way you're thinking, anyways. It's fine, $name." "But something's wrong," you insist. Hana looks at you, the rain misting quietly and dusting your fresh clothes, your already wet hair starting to feel even heavier in the humidity. Hana's frizzes out, her curls growing bigger, her skin glistening in the dark. <<if $hana_rom eq false>>"What did Valentina tell you while I've been gone?" Hana asks then. You don't really think she expects an answer, because she continues quickly, her hands visibly tightening around the duffle bag's strap. "Did she tell you what she asked me this morning?" You blink, and then shake your head. Hana scoffs. "No. Of course she didn't." She takes a half-step up the driveway, then back towards you, biting her bottom lip. "This meeting tonight, with the council. She asked me to go in your place," she says. "She's just //so// worried about you. About what they'll do to you." Her lip curls. "But not about me, apparently. I'm disposable, now." She slumps back against the car then, her hands grabbing at her hair as she bows her head and lets out a long breath. "This is just like before. And I'm going to be all alone again," she says quietly. <div id="choice"><<link '"I would never ask that of you."' 'ch3 val walkout hana talk 2.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I am not here to replace you, Hana."' 'ch3 val walkout hana talk 2.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t really think this has to be an exclusive situation." ♡♡' 'ch3 val walkout hana talk 2.c'>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><<set $poly to true>><</link>></div><<else>>"What did Valentina tell you while I've been gone?" Hana asks then. You don't really think she expects an answer, because she continues quickly, her hands visibly tightening around the duffle bag's strap. "Did she tell you what she asked me this morning?" You blink, and then shake your head. Hana scoffs. "No. Of course she didn't." She glances up the driveway, then back towards you, biting her bottom lip. "This meeting tonight, with the council. She asked me to go in your place," she says. "She's just //so// worried about you. About what they'll do to you." Her lip curls. "But not about me, apparently. I'm disposable, now." Hana blinks rain from her eyes, staring down at her wet shoes. "I don't think Valentina realizes what she's asking of me." You take a half-step towards her, and her gaze snaps back to you. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says then. "I'm used to being disposable. I'm used to being replaced. I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. Clear is hardly the first white woman I've had to drive around. I've done it all." She frowns down at her hands. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" <<include "ch3 after val hana rom talk">><</if>>

<<if $mc is "white">>"I'm not sure I can understand, Hana," you say slowly. That makes her laugh. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"No. You can't. None of you can." She sets her drink down then. "Valentina-- when she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends."<<else>>"No. You can't. None of you can." She sets her drink down then. "Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends."<</if>> Hana stands then, stepping sideways and closing the car door. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she cuts you off. "Don't apologize, don't-- just don't." She rubs at her eyes for a moment. "I love Valentina. I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, dropping her hands and reaching up to press a palm against your cheek. You blink, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. <<if $ch3_val_sex>>"Just... remember that. When you and her are fucking and I'm left to go buy //groceries//. When the two of you are in your room together and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me."<<else>>"Just... remember that. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me."<</if>> You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes a dark steel as she peers through the rain. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." "Okay," she says. "Okay." Then she lets you go, giving you one last look before turning and making her way back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<<elseif $mc is "black">>You don't respond right away, your jaw clenching hard enough that your teeth ache. There's something else, too, an old pain deep in your chest-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. A pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you can never forget. "Of course I understand, Hana," you say softly. She swallows loudly then. "I've always had this doubt," she says, "with Valentina. I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You take another step towards her, and she blinks over at you, fidgeting with a loose string on her shirt. You wish you could dispel her doubt-- but you can't remember. And you feel it, too. <<if $v_hanascratch>>"When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<<else>>"When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks."<</if>> She stares down at her wet shoes again. "I'm used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur. Clear is hardly the first white woman I've had to drive around," she shakes her head. "You understand," she adds in a whisper. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly at Hana's words, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "$name," Hana says softly. She pushes herself off the car then, tilting her head at you. "I do love Valentina," she says. "And I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, slowly raising a hand and pressing a palm against your cheek. Your brow furrows, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," she repeats. "But I won't degrade myself for it. Not for Valentina, not even for you. I have lived in your shadow long enough, $name." Her eyes are steely black as she stares at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. You turn your head slightly, tucking your face into her hand, brushing the slightest suggestion of a kiss against her palm. "I understand," you mutter the words against her skin. She pulls her hand back slowly, sniffling quietly, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She gives you one last look, then starts to make her way back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<<else>>"I understand more than you know," you say carefully. She glances over at you, studying you through the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "We've been cursed since the start, haven't we?" Hana muses then. A sudden memory returns to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. Hana shakes her head, staring down at her shoes again. "Valentina-- she doesn't always understand it. <<if $v_hanascratch>>When she hits me..." she trails off, reaching up to touch the bandage on her cheek. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that slap than what she intends."<<else>>When she puts her hands on me... last night..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends."<</if>> She pushes herself off the car then, tilting her head at you. "I do love Valentina," she says. "And I think I want to love you, too." She steps a little closer then, slowly raising a hand and pressing a palm against your cheek. Your brow furrows, slightly taken aback by the gesture, rain trickling between flesh on flesh. "I want to love you, too," Hana repeats slowly. "But I will not degrade myself for it. Not for you, not even for Valentina." She takes a deep breath, and slowly draws her hand down along your jaw. <<if $ch3_val_sex>>"Just... remember that. When you and her are fucking and I'm left to go buy //groceries//. When the two of you are in your room together and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me."<<else>>"Just... remember that. When you and Valentina are in your room together, and I'm left outside. When she asks me to stand in your place. Remember that. Remember what you're really asking of me."<</if>> You feel her hand curl slightly against the side of your face, her fingers digging in, just enough for you to know that she has claws, too. You tilt your head at her, her eyes a dark steel as she peers through the rain. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." "Okay," she says. "Okay." Then she lets you go, giving you one last look before turning and making her way back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<</if>> <<if $v_walkout>>[[Next ->ch3 val walkout end 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 val stay end 1]]<</if>>

"She didn't tell me about that, Hana. I would never ask that of you," you say, shaking your head. <<if $mc is "white">>"I'm not so sure," she says slowly. You give her a look, putting your hands on your hips, but Hana just shakes her head. "You don't get it, $name." "Hana-" you try, but she cuts you off with a huff. "Listen to me," she says, "You don't //get it.//" She shakes her head again, glaring up at you. "I'm used to this kind of shit. I'm used to being disposable. //The second choice.// I've been the chauffeur, the servant, the maid," she gestures over her shoulder at the car. "Clear is hardly the first white woman I've had to drive around." You bow your head with a grimace. "You don't have to //ask// it. I can see it on your face. You and Valentina. You have no idea what you //ask// of me, you have no idea how it feels. None of you do." Hana takes a deep breath then. She rests her head in her hands. "You're all she cares about, you know. All she's ever cared about. But this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises as she flashes her fangs in the dark car. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. I'm here, too. I want her to care for me, too." You and Hana stare at each other. "Okay, Hana," you finally say. "Okay," she says. "Okay." She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she glares at you. Then she pushes herself off the car, brushing past you and and starting back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<<elseif $mc is "black">>She's quiet for a moment. "I want to believe that," she says eventually. She sighs, running her hands over her face, pushing her curls back and sniffling quietly. "Sometimes, I have this doubt. With Valentina," she mumbles, letting her hands drop against her thighs. "I can't tell-- if she treats me a certain way, because I'm not you, or because I'm me." You take a step towards her, and she blinks up at you, rain drops caught in her eyelashes. "When she puts her hands on me..." she trails off, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She stands up straight then, closing her eyes for a moment. "But you-- you understand. You understand what I'm saying?" she asks softly. You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you understand. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hands at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "I understand," you say. "I understand, Hana." It means more when you say it the second time. There's a relief in Hana's eyes then, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. She reaches out then, grabbing your wrist. Her touch lingers on your pulse, but then she takes your hand, squeezing it tight, just for a moment. Neither of you say anything else-- you're not sure there is anything else to say. You both understand it without words. Eventually, Hana lets go with a sigh, pushing herself off the car and starting back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<<else>>"I want to believe that," she says quietly. "But I just can't, $name." She sighs, slumping forward and pressing her face into her hands. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says, her voice muffled and her face hidden by her hair. She slowly leans back, slouching back against the car again. "I've been the chauffeur before. Clear is hardly the first white woman I've driven around. I've been the servant and the maid. It was all I was allowed to be." She glances over at you. "I suppose you can understand to some degree." A heavy silence passes between you as Hana contemplates her next words. "But Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me..." she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She glares over at you. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps. She stands up, leaning forward to really look at you then, studying your face through the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "Cursed from the start," she mutters. A sudden memory comes to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "You and Valentina-- well, I'm here too," Hana says then. "This cursed world-- it's my world, too. I just want you to remember that. Remember that I'm here, too. And I want you to remember what it is you're asking of me. When Valentina asks me to stand in your place. Remember what you're really asking." You stare at each other for a moment, and then you nod. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair before scrubbing at her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. Her eyes are black steel as she peers over at you. Then she pushes herself off the car, brushing past you and and starting back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<</if>> <<if $v_walkout>>[[Next ->ch3 val walkout end 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 val stay end 1]]<</if>>

"I am not here to replace you, Hana," you say. "No, of course not. You couldn't. //I// replaced //you//." Hana sighs again, lifting her gaze and blinking rain from her eyes. "Don't you get it?" she asks softly. "Hana. I am //not// here to replace you. I am not going to just let Valentina throw you out," you press. Then: "Do you really think she would do that?" Hana bows her head again. "I don't know," she mumbles. She sniffles, wiping rain from her face with the back of her hand. "She's different with you here. I don't know what that means for me." You take a tentative step towards her then, and she blinks over at you, her eyes dark and sad. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says slowly. "I'm used to being thrown out. I'm used to being replaced. I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. I've done it all. Clear is hardly the first white woman I've had to drive around." She searches your face for a moment. <<if $mc is "white">>"I don't expect you to understand," she says. "None of you //can// understand it. But I refuse to let you or Valentina do that to me again, after all this time." "Hana..." "Don't," she shakes her head, pushing off the car then. "Just-- don't say anything. Don't apologize, don't give me that look. Just... remember this." She stands up a little straighter, blinking rain from her lashes. "You're all she cares about. All she's ever cared about. But this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises over the rain as she flashes her fangs. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. You and Valentina-- well, I'm here, too." You stare at each other for a moment, and then you nod. "Okay, Hana." She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair again before scrubbing at her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she glares at you. Then she pushes herself off the car, brushing past you and and starting back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<<elseif $mc is "black">>"You understand what I'm saying, don't you? Don't you remember? How they used to treat us? How they //still// treat us? Or have you been blessed to forget that?" You bow your head. "No. I could never forget." It was the first thing on your mind when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hands, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. "Do you really think Valentina would do that?" you repeat your earlier question, though you aren't sure what you're asking anymore. Hana is quiet for a moment, just the sound of the rain drumming against the car behind her. "I don't know," she repeats her earlier answer. "I could never tell, if she would treat me a certain way because I wasn't you-- or because I was me." You close your eyes with a grimace. You hear Hana's sneakers crunch over wet asphalt as she takes a step towards you. "There's always that doubt." "I know," you say, opening your eyes. You and Hana look at each other again for a long time. You wish you could remember more. You wish you could dispel that doubt for her. But you feel it, too. <<if $ch3_val_sex>>Even after-- even after you and Valentina in bed, even after her holding you and kissing you. There's always that doubt.<</if>> "I know, Hana," you say again. It means more the second time. There's a relief in Hana's eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. She takes another step towards you then, slowly opening her arms, and you respond in kind, taking her into your embrace. You hold her close, wrapping your arms around her shoulders, breathing in the familiar smell of her hair. Neither of you say anything else-- you're not sure there is anything else to say. You both understand it without words. Eventually, Hana slips out of your arms with a long sigh. She gives you one last look before she turns and starts to walk back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<<else>>"I suppose you can understand that, to a certain extent," she says. A heavy silence passes between you as Hana contemplates her next words. "But Valentina-- when she puts her hands on me..." she says slowly, rubbing her arms for a moment. "She doesn't understand. There is more in that touch than what she intends. There is more to every ask than she thinks." She stands up a little straighter then, blinking rain from her lashes. "To all the world, I was born cursed. So were you," she says. "They stripped me of my humanity long before I started drinking blood. People look at me and see only one thing. They're more afraid of my skin than they are of my teeth." "Hana..." "Don't," she snaps. She takes a long look at you then, studying your face in the rain. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. "Cursed from the start," she mutters. A sudden memory comes to you at Hana's words— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "You and Valentina-- well, I'm here too," Hana says then. "This cursed world-- it's my world, too. I just want you to remember that. Remember that I'm here, too. And I want you to remember what it is you're asking of me. When Valentina asks me to stand in your place. Remember what you're really asking." You stare at each other for a moment, and then you nod. "Okay, Hana," you say. "I will." She takes a deep breath, running her hands through her hair before scrubbing at her face. "Okay," she says, letting her hands drop. She's breathing hard, her eyes black steel as she peers over at you. Then she pushes herself off the car, brushing past you and and starting back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<</if>> <<if $v_walkout>>[[Next ->ch3 val walkout end 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 val stay end 1]]<</if>>

"I don't really think this has to be an exclusive situation," you say slowly. "What?" Hana blurts, her brow furrowing as she blinks over at you. Whatever she expected you to say, it was not that. You take a half-step towards her, and her brow furrows even more. "Are you... talking about me and Valentina?" she asks. <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>"And why not Clear, too?" you shrug. You fidget with your shirt, glancing back and forth between Hana and your twitchy hands.<<else>>"I am," you say.<</if>> Hana frowns then. "You're serious?" she scoffs. "You think it's //that// simple? Do you even understand what I'm really saying?" <<if $mc is "white">>"Why not?" you say, tilting your head at her. "Because I'm not like you!" she shouts.<<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>> "I'm not like you. I'm not like Clear."<</if>> She gives you a long look then, exhaling slowly. "No, I don't expect you to understand. None of you can." "Hana-" "Shut up," she snaps. "Just-- listen to me. I've lived a long time, too. And I'm used to being thrown out. Disposable. The //second choice//," she sneers that part at you. "I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. Clear is hardly the first white woman I've had to drive around. I've done it all." She stands up a little straighter then, pushing her wet curls back out of her face. <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>"You and Clear, you and Valentina<<else>>"You and Valentina<</if>>-- well, this is my world, too. My curse, too. I was cursed-- cursed twice, cursed three times! Humanity was never mine, even before this," her voice rises over the rain as she flashes her fangs. "They called me a mongrel. It wasn't until after I grew the teeth to match that they finally saw me-- called me by my name. And now, I refuse. I refuse for you to come here and take that from me. I'm here, too." She takes a deep breath before suddenly lunging at you and roughly grabbing your face. You let her. "You want me to join you <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>and Valentina? That other white woman, too?"<<else>>and Valentina?"<</if>> she says, her voice softer now but just as sharp. "Do not expect me to degrade myself for it. I won't do it, not for you, not even for Valentina. I won't let you or her use me as a fucking stand-in. Do you understand //that//?" You meet her steely black glare with you own. "Yes, Hana," you say. "I understand." She lets you go then. She slowly steps back, her eyes narrowed, studying your face. "Good," she says. And then she turns on her heel and starts to walk back up the driveway. You stand in the rain for a moment, massaging your jaw where her fingers dug in. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<<elseif $mc is "black">>She gives you a long look then. "You have to understand. No one else does. But you-- you have to understand," she says. You can't tell if there are tears in her eyes or if it's just the rain. She reaches out and takes your hand then, holding it in front of her, studying your pale palm before turning it over as you curl your fingers into a fist. "I'm just so used to being the second choice. I'm used to being disposable. And then driving Clear around today-- I spent years playing the maid, the servant, the chauffeur," she shakes her head. "That was all we were allowed to be. Don't you remember?" You bow your head. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, standing in front of the mirror. Of course you remember. And you thought about it again, when Valentina brought you to her //mansion// the other night. What tall steps Valentina has taken. What necks has she stepped on to take them? There's a reason it was so hard for the two of you-- living the double life that you had to, even as a vampire, even after decades of never-ending life. Vampirism here in the States wasn't the same gift for you and her as it was for certain others. You and Valentina were outsiders. Stripped of humanity from the start. "We've been cursed for a long time, haven't we?" Hana muses then, as if she was reading your mind. She tilts her head, and the way she looks at you-- it makes you ache. Deep in your chest, it's something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. A pain you could never forget. When Valentina turned you-- the memory comes suddenly, faded and distorted by time and the sarcophagus, but you remember. You remember being angry. //How could you prove them right?// You stare down at your hand in Hana's, at your long, dangerous nails. You imagine them slick with blood. Is this what you wanted? //That// memory still eludes you. Hana's hand tightens around yours then. "If you're really asking me to join you <<if $clear_rom or $clear_laterom>>and Valentina, you and Clear<<else>>and Valentina like that<</if>>-- just know that I won't degrade myself for it. I won't do it for Valentina, and I won't do it for you. I am not your stand-in, I am not an afterthought. I can't, $name. I have lived in your shadow long enough." Her eyes are steely black as she glares over at you. "You understand," she says. "Yes, Hana. I understand," you say softly. Her grip slowly loosens, and her hand slowly slides away from yours. She sniffles, and there's a sudden relief in her eyes, a brief moment where the weight of a hundred years is lifted from her shoulders. You can help her carry it, now. "Okay," she says to herself, and then she gives you one last look before she turns and starts to make her way back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go, massaging your wrist where her fingers dug in. Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the mansion, and you hurry after her before the thunder can follow.<<else>>"I think I do, Hana," you say slowly. She glances over at you, studying you in the dark. There's an ache, deep in your chest when she looks at you like that-- something far beyond anything you've felt thus far since your awakening. An indescribable pain that's been with you long before you grew fangs; a pain carried in your blood, in your bones. You recall that moment back in Clear's apartment, when you stood before the mirror. A sudden memory returns to you then— it’s a faded, distorted thing, nearly lost to the years and the sarcophagus— but you remember. When Valentina turned you. You were so angry; had she asked? Did you ever even want this at all? //How could you prove them right?// You asked it over and over. Disgust coils in the pit of your stomach like a viper-- you aren’t sure who it’s for. "This world of yours, with you and Valentina-- well, it's my world, too," Hana says then. "I'm here, too. I refuse to let you come here and take it from me, $name," she says slowly. "I have lived in your shadow, I have been the //second choice//, I've been the maid and the servant and the chauffeur. I refuse." She scoffs, shaking her head. "Valentina doesn't understand it, when she asks me to go in your place. And apparently, neither do you. You do not understand what you're asking of me." She swallows loudly then, her eyes a steely black as she glares over at you. "If that's what you really want, just know that I won't degrade myself for it. I won't let you //or// Valentina use me as a fucking stand-in, as an afterthought. Do you understand //that//?" You force yourself to hold her glare. "Yes, Hana," you say. "I understand." Hana stands up straight, stepping close, until you feel her breath on your lips. "Good," she says. Then she turns on her heel and starts to make her way back up the driveway. You stand in the rain, watching her go. The rain starts to come down harder. You glance up at the night sky, and hurry after her.<</if>> <<if $v_walkout>>[[Next ->ch3 val walkout end 1]]<<else>>[[Next ->ch3 val stay end 1]]<</if>>

The rest of the night is spent waiting. You try to check in with Clear, but she is wholly uninterested in talking. She's bottled herself up, a storm cloud raging over her head, and she leaves the kitchen once she's finished unloading her groceries. Hana takes Clear's bags straight upstairs, and you wait for her to return. You wait for Valentina. But neither of them reappear. With the council meeting looming over you, you feel betrayed by all of them, closed up in their rooms while you agonize over the things you cannot remember. Valentina acts as if you are the one turning on her-- but how many more times is she going to scratch you in the back? Eventually, you return to your room, resisting the urge to look down the hall at the double doors; instead you just shut yourself inside and start to pace. You keep pacing, back and forth, until you have to stop. You can't stand your reflection every time you turn around. You have to cover your mirror. You look around, debating stripping the sheets from your bed-- but instead you settle on a towel from the bathroom. Your vanity is smaller than Valentina's, the towel covers enough. You drape it over the mirror, obscuring the lights along with your reflection. And then you start to pace again. You go over the members of the council-- you have to memorize them. Oberon, Atlas, Sasha, Cassius. //Oberon, Atlas, Sasha, Cassius.// You keep pacing. You try to remember. You pace in your room until Hana has to come retrieve you. [[Next ->ch3 val walkout end 2]]

The rest of the night is spent waiting. You try to check in with Clear, but she is wholly uninterested in talking. She's bottled herself up, a storm cloud raging over her head, and she leaves the kitchen once she's finished unloading her groceries. Hana takes Clear's bags straight upstairs, and you wait for her to return. You wait for Valentina. But neither of them reappear. With the council meeting looming over you, you feel betrayed by all of them, closed up in their rooms while you agonize over the things you cannot remember. Eventually, you return to your room, though you hesitate just long enough to glance down the hall at the double doors all the way at the end. And then you duck inside and start to pace. You keep pacing, back and forth, until you have to stop. You can't stand your reflection every time you turn around. You have to cover your mirror. You look around, debating stripping the sheets from your bed-- but instead you settle on a towel from the bathroom. Your vanity is smaller than Valentina's, the towel covers enough. You drape it over the mirror, obscuring the lights along with your reflection. And then you start to pace again. You go over the members of the council-- you have to memorize them. Oberon, Atlas, Sasha, Cassius. //Oberon, Atlas, Sasha, Cassius.// You keep pacing. You try to remember. You pace in your room until Valentina has to come retrieve you. [[Next ->ch3 val stay end 2]]

It's late when she knocks on your door, and your hunger has started to ache, a dull pain that radiates up your spine, but you ignore it, trying to force it back down. It turns your stomach into knots. It only gets worse as you and Hana descend the stairs together, as the realization that you're really going to see the council //right now// settles in-- there is no miracle that will stop it from happening. It's still raining outside, and it's colder now, making you shiver as Hana opens the door. <<if $v_rivalry or $v_hostile>>You hesitate, but you don't look back. If she's standing there, you don't want to see her.<<else>>You hesitate, but you don't look back. You're too much of a coward to see if she's standing there.<</if>> You just follow Hana out to the car. Once again, you climb into the passenger seat while Hana slides in behind the steering wheel. Hana fiddles with the dashboard, turning on the heat, even though neither of you really need it. She turns the radio down a bit from earlier, the music a quiet hum beneath the rain. <<if $v_rivalry or $v_hostile>>"She's angry with me," you say, because you can't stand it. "I figured," Hana says, not unkindly. <<if $hana_rom>>She hesitates a moment, before reaching over to put a reassuring hand on your leg. You welcome the touch, laying your hand atop hers. She strokes your thigh a few times with her thumb, before pullling back with a sigh. <</if>>"Sorry you have to drive," you say then. "It's okay, $name. I'm not going to make you walk." You clear your throat. "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her dark eyes unreadable, but she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<<else>>"I think I hurt her," you say suddenly, because you can't stand it. Hana peers over at you through the dark. "$name..." "I don't mean to. I just... I can't remember." You turn to Hana then, shaking your head. "Sorry you have to drive," you say then. "It's okay, $name," Hana says gently. <<if $hana_rom>>She hesitates a moment, before reaching over to put a reassuring hand on your leg. You welcome the touch, laying your hand atop hers. She strokes your thigh a few times with her thumb, before pullling back with a sigh. <</if>>You clear your throat. "Well, let's go, then," you say after a moment. "Don't want to be late." Hana looks over at you, her black eyes unreadable, but she nods, reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 1]]

Valentina grows heavier on your chest, her breathing evening out, and you glance down at her, almost peaceful in her sleep-- she almost looks human. You swallow loudly in the silence, your hand trailing down her braid one last time before you press a finger along the glistening trail of blood, swiping up to her hairline. You bring it to your lips, taste her while she sleeps. You glare into the dark before rolling over, puling Valentina along with you. On your side, you curl around her, pressing your face into her hair. You think you should wake her up, ask more questions about Joan and Lucky and the council, ask more questions about //yourself//. But you don't want to know. You just close your eyes, and try to sleep. [[Next ->ch3 val kass rom rival stay 3]]

You wake up, groggy and with a slight headache. It takes you a moment to remember where you are-- first the sarcophagus, then Clear's couch, then your room. Valentina's room. The curtains are nearly pulled closed around the bed, except for a little sliver of warm light that spills in, illuminating you and Valentina, fully clothed and laying atop the blankets. You sit up slowly, rubbing at your eyes, careful not to disturb Valentina beside you. You turn towards her, her face deceitfully young in sleep. Her braid has fallen loose, her hair spilling across the pillows, and you take a moment to tuck some of it back behind her ear. Then you slide along the mattress, nudging aside the curtain and biting back a groan as you sit on the edge of the bed. Valentina's vanity glows with a soft light, muffled by the sheet draped over the mirror. Otherwise it's dark, and you can still hear the rain outside. You glance around for a clock, but don't find one, so you stand with a stretch and tiptoe across the room. You don't find a clock, but you find yourself stopping short in front of the painting over the fireplace. You stare up at yourself, your brow furrowed, a strange feeling twisting in your gut. <<link '"What are you thinking about?"' 'ch3 val kiss rom rival stay 4'>><</link>>

Valentina turns sharply, walking away from you and across the room to her armoire. You stand stupidly in the middle of the room, unsure what else to say, unsure why you ever even said anything at all. You glare up at the painting. "I know you're not a man, $name," she repeats then. "And you don't have to explain yourself to me. I know you. I understand you." You watch as she pulls off her blouse, wrinkled from laying on the bed. She starts to change, and you lower your gaze with a sigh. "What time is it?" you ask, desperate to escape this conversation you started. Valentina eyes you as she pulls on a complicated looking black dress with a built-in corset. She doesn't seem too keen on letting it lie, but eventually she just sighs, too. "We'll have to leave for the hotel soon," she says. You cross the room then, reaching for the corset ribbon. Valentina lets you take it, pulling her messy braid aside so you can cinch it tight. Muscle memory guides your hand-- you've definitely done this too many times to count. Valentina looks beautiful. She frees her braid then, letting her hair fall across her shoulders. "Hana is going to take you," Valentina says then. She's staring down at the floor, brushing her hair with her fingers. "To the hotel. I think it would be best to make myself scarce until it's over-- to avoid... any misunderstanding. I'll be nearby, but you won't see me." You secure the corset and neatly tie it in a large black bow. She turns to look at you then. "I don't want you to go in alone," she says, her voice wavering. She reaches up to brush her fingers along your jaw. "I'm... I'm worried," she says quietly. "Just go along with whatever they say. Don't-- don't try to argue or antagonize them." <<include "ch3 val stay questions">>

You shake your head at Valentina, and then turn on your heel, ducking away from that fucking painting as you bolt through the double doors. You run down the hall, across the landing, straight to your room. You barrel through the door, cringing when you accidentally slam it harder than necessary, and you stare down at your hands, shaking your head again. "What's wrong with you?" you hiss. You can still taste Valentina's tears, still see her glassy eyes in your mind. You stagger over to the vanity then. Pressing your palms to the counter, you let out a long breath, glaring into the mirror. "Come on," you plead. You want to see your face. Is that painting true to life? Are you a man? Are you a woman? You don't want to ask out loud. You're afraid of what Valentina's answer may be. You're afraid of her tears. Your hands clench against the vanity, your fingers curling and your nails scraping against the shiny wood finish. You push back, standing up straight, before you throw your fist at the glass, and it shatters over you into a dozen little pieces, scattering across the floor at your feet. <<link [[Next ->ch3 val kiss high rel 1.a.1 1]]>><<set $ch3_mirrorhand to true>><</link>>

You let her pull you close. You let her guide you to the bed, slowly easing down beside her, careful to keep some space between you-- a gap between your legs that seems far greater than it really is. Valentina still has one hand on your arm, keeping herself anchored to you. "Why are you crying, Valentina?" you ask. She's quiet for a moment, before leaning close, her hand tightening around your arm. She just shakes her head. She slides back onto the bed then, pulling on your arm again, and you hesitate before crawling after her. The both of you lay side by side on the bed, <<if hasVisited("ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.a")>>just like this morning, only this time you face Valentina in the dark.<<else>>your head resting on one of the cool pillows as you face Valentina in the dark.<</if>> "Valentina, please. What's wrong?" you try again, your voice a muffled whisper beneath the velvet curtain. She shakes her head again. "It is not so easy as to just speak it into words," she says then. You take a deep breath, sliding a little closer. Valentina's eyes glint red in the dark. You wonder if yours look the same. She reaches out, touching your face, tracing the curve of your jaw, her nails ghosting along your lips. "I never thought I'd kiss you again," she finally says. "And now, you're here right in front of me-- but still I feel like it's not real. I don't know how to tell if this is real. That this isn't just a dream." "Dream, or a nightmare?" you ask, which Valentina doesn't like very much. Her brow furrows, her hand laying flat against your cheek. "I'm real, Valentina," you assure her. She props herself up on her elbow then, leaning over you. Blinking up at her, you feel one of her tears fall across your face, just before she kisses you again. You can taste the salt in her kiss. It's chaste, compared to what the two of you just did in front of the fireplace, and she pulls back after a moment, stroking your face again. She takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. You reach up to pet her braid, and she slowly lowers herself back down onto the bed, rolling forward to rest her head on your chest. She wraps her arms around you, closing her eyes as she takes another deep breath, and you do the same, shifting against the pillows and holding her close. [[Next ->ch3 val kiss high rel 1.a.2 1]]

Valentina grows heavy against your chest, her breathing evening out, and you glance down at her, almost peaceful in her sleep-- she almost looks human. You swallow loudly in the silence, still slowly petting her braid, a repetitive, comforting motion. You stare up at the curtain hanging overhead, before glancing down at the opening at the end of the bed, at the painting peeking through. You see Valentina's tear-streaked face in your mind, see her face as if it was painted that way a hundred years ago with you leering behind her. You see Lucky shove her again, and you imagine if she had fallen back onto the stairs; blood mixes with her tears as her pale, painted face looks at you in the shadows. You squeeze your eyes closed, rolling over then and pulling Valentina along with you. On your side, you curl around her, pressing your face into her hair, breathing her in, feeling her heartbeat against your chest. <<if hasVisited("ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.a")>>This time, though, you're out of rhythm-- her heart beats a few seconds later than your own. A stuttering //thump-thump, thump-thump//, and the taste of her tears still lingering in your mouth. You just close your eyes, and try to sleep.<<else>>You can still taste her tears in your mouth, and it's hard to focus on anything else-- but you will yourself to sleep.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 val kiss high rel 1.a.2 2]]

You wake up, groggy and with a slight headache. It takes you a moment to remember where you are-- first the sarcophagus, then Clear's couch, then your room. Valentina's room. The curtains are nearly pulled closed around the bed, except for a little sliver of warm light that spills in, illuminating you and Valentina, fully clothed and laying atop the blankets. You sit up slowly, rubbing at your eyes, careful not to disturb Valentina beside you. You turn towards her, her face deceitfully young in sleep. Her braid has fallen loose, her hair spilling across the pillows, and you take a moment to tuck some of it back behind her ear. Then you slide along the mattress, nudging aside the curtain and biting back a groan as you sit on the edge of the bed. Valentina's vanity glows with a soft light, muffled by the sheet draped over the mirror. Otherwise it's dark, and you can still hear the rain outside. You glance around for a clock, but don't find one, so you stand with a stretch and tiptoe across the room. You don't find a clock, but you find yourself stopping short in front of the painting over the fireplace. You stare up at yourself, your brow furrowed, a strange feeling twisting in your gut. <<link '"$name?"' 'ch3 val kiss high rel 1.a.2 3'>><</link>>

You glance over to see Valentina perched on the edge of the bed. When you don't respond, Valentina stands, padding across the room as you turn back to the painting. She stands just behind you, and you can feel her stare, catch her dark eyes watching you in your peripheral. "When I kiss you, does it feel the same as it did back then?" you ask. Valentina takes a deep breath. "I don't know. You are different, in some ways," she says slowly. You give her bitter smile. "How am I different?" Valentina eyes the painting. "You called me your husband earlier," you say then, when she doesn't answer. She turns to you, blinking slowly. "Yes," she nods. "Is that still true? Is that why you were crying?" Valentina steps closer then, putting a light hand on your shoulder. "I'm not sure I understand what you're asking, $name," she says softly. You aren't sure, either. "Do I still have to be your husband?" Valentina takes your face in her hands. "You can be my husband. You can be my wife, now, too. You can be both." "What if I don't know?" She tilts her head, her eyes softening as she steps a little closer. "I don't want you to think I'm a man," you say, the words tumbling out suddenly. "I don't think that, $name." "I don't want you to cry when we kiss, Valentina. I don't want you to feel like that," you breathe, bowing your head and hiding from her stare. She doesn't respond to that right away, but her hands stay steady on either side of your face. "I see. I //do// understand," she says slowly. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I understand you, $name. My tears are not the kind of tears you think." You swallow loudly. It feels like something heavy has set itself on your shoulders. "What time is it?" you say then, needing to escape the conversation you started. Valentina seems reluctant to let it lie, but she eventually she lets her hands slide from your face, and she takes a half-step back. "We'll have to leave for the hotel soon," she says slowly. "You should eat something before." She crosses the room then to the armoire in the corner, pulling it open and grabbing a complicated black dress off the hanger. It has a corset built in, and as she changes out of her wrinkled clothes, glancing back at you as she does. She doesn't have to ask; you stand from the bed and join her, helping her lace up the corset. She grabs her hair and pulls it aside, holding it in a bundle over her shoulder so you can cinch it tight. Muscle memory guides your hand-- you've definitely done this too many times to count. Valentina looks beautiful. She frees her braid then, letting her hair fall across her shoulders. "Hana is going to take you," Valentina says then. She's staring down at the floor, brushing her hair with her fingers. "To the hotel. I think it would be best to make myself scarce until it's over-- to avoid... any misunderstanding. I'll be nearby, but you won't see me." You secure the corset and neatly tie it in a large black bow. She turns to look at you then. "I don't want you to go in alone," she says, her voice wavering. She reaches up to brush her fingers along your jaw. "I'm... I'm worried," she says quietly. "Just go along with whatever they say. Don't-- don't try to argue or antagonize them." <<include "ch3 val stay questions">>

You close your eyes as she leans in, your hand tightening around hers. Her lips are soft, and you can taste the alcohol she was drinking downstairs, her tongue dragging slowly along your bottom lip. She tilts her head, opening her mouth for you, and you start to kiss her back. It's intuitive. Your body responds to hers. Her one hand slides along your jaw until she reaches around and curls her nails around the back of your neck. You grab at her waist, urging her even closer, the two of you melding together in front of the fireplace. Her long nails press against your throat, and she starts to push you towards the bed. When the back of your knees hit the mattress, you resist, inhaling sharply as she nips at your lip. "Are you starting to remember?" she breathes. "Are you coming back to me?" She lets go of your hand then, grabbing at your face and pushing you back. She blinks slowly at you, licking her lips, and then she forces you back onto the bed. "Valentina," you warn. She stops, confused. "Is this not what you want?" You pull your face free from her hand, glancing sideways into the dark, the velvet curtain shifting slightly from your weight on the bed. "I don't know what I want," you say. "I don't... I don't remember." She climbs off of you, standing at the end of the mattress. "Can we just lay down together?" she asks softly. You realize then that maybe she doesn't know what she wants, either. You glance over at the painting behind her. You think about Standard, and the things //he// wanted. "Yes," you nod at her, forcing yourself to ignore your face leering down on the wall behind her. "Lay down with me." [[Next ->ch3 val plat 1.a.1]]

<<if $v_rivalry or $v_hostile>>You turn away again, away from her hand and her kiss. Valentina blinks at you, and then slowly lets her hand drop, pulling her other one free from your grasp. "Do you just fucking hate me?" she asks.<<else>>You turn away, away from her hand and her kiss. Valentina blinks at you, and then slowly lets her hand drop, pulling her other one free from your grasp. "Do you hate me, $name?" she asks quietly.<</if>> "No, Valentina," you say. You don't hate her-- you don't know how you feel. Her breath quickens, her brow furrowed and her hands balled into fists at her side. "So what's wrong with me then?" She takes a deep breath, retreating a few steps back. "Is it because of Standard?" "I-- what? What does Standard have to do with anything?" you say, shaking your head. She crosses her arms over her chest, holding herself as she paces in front of the fireplace. She doesn't explain, and you scowl at her and at that fucking painting. "You're the one calling me your //husband.// You're the one treating me-- different," you stammer. She halts, turning to look back at you. "If anyone is involving Standard, it's you," you say, jabbing a finger at her. "I'm not him. And I'm not //him//, either," you say, turning your finger to your portrait. Valentina's eyes fill with tears. "You were my husband," she says. "You were! Before him-- it was you. And now, now, you can be my wife!" She rushes across the room towards you then, grabbing at your hands, clasping them in her own. "You can be my wife instead. Please, $name," she pleads. "It's different now. You can be my wife if you want. Whatever you want." "Valentina..." She suddenly falls quiet, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. She squeezes your hands, and then lets go. "Get out," she says then. "Get out of my room." "Valentina-" you try again, but she cuts you off. "Get out! Get out! //Get out//!" She can't kick you out, no matter how loud she yells. It doesn't work that way with other vampires. But still, the mansion shakes-- the curtain billows out around her bed, the windows rattle in their frames, and the doors throw themselves open behind you. The light overhead pops with a wave of sparks and heat, and you barely manage to dodge out of the way, scrambling back into the hall-- the doors slam close behind you, and the mansion falls silent. [[Next ->ch3 val plat 1.b.1]]

Valentina slips through the curtain, crawling up the bed alongside you. You both lay back on the pillows, facing each other, your breaths intermingling in the dark. Valentina just stares at you. "Is this real?" she asks suddenly. You sit up on your elbow, leaning over her. She just keeps staring at you. "I'm real, Valentina," you say. "Do you hate me?" The question takes you aback. "What? Why would you ask that?" She sniffles quietly. She doesn't respond, instead reaching out to touch your face, then your shoulder, tugging gently, urging you to lay back down. As you lower yourself back down on the pillows, Valentina slides closer, resting her head on your chest and wrapping her arms around you. You do the same, holding her in your arms, reaching up to pet her braid. "This is real," you whisper to her. [[Next ->ch3 val plat 1.a.2]]

Valentina grows heavy against your chest, her breathing evening out, and you glance down at her, almost peaceful in her sleep-- she almost looks human. You swallow loudly in the silence, still slowly petting her braid, a repetitive, comforting motion. You stare up at the curtain hanging overhead, before glancing down at the opening at the end of the bed, at the painting peeking through. Valentina's pale face watches you. You squeeze your eyes closed, rolling over then and pulling Valentina along with you. On your side, you curl around her, pressing your face into her hair, breathing her in, feeling her heartbeat against your chest. <<if hasVisited("ch3 hostile val opening 1.b.1.a")>>This time, though, you're out of rhythm-- her heart beats a few seconds later than your own. A stuttering //thump-thump, thump-thump//, and the question of hate still lingering in the dark. You just close your eyes, and try to sleep.<<else>>The question of //hate// lingers in the shadows with you-- it's hard to focus on anything else. But with Valentina's heart beating alongside your own, you will yourself to sleep.<</if>> [[Later... ->ch3 val plat 1.a.3]]

You wake up, groggy and with a slight headache. It takes you a moment to remember where you are-- first the sarcophagus, then Clear's couch, then your room. Valentina's room. The curtains are nearly pulled closed around the bed, except for a little sliver of warm light that spills in, illuminating you and Valentina, fully clothed and laying atop the blankets. You sit up slowly, rubbing at your eyes, careful not to disturb Valentina beside you. You turn towards her, curled up in the fetal position. Her braid has fallen loose, her hair spilling across the pillows, and you take a moment to tuck some of it back behind her ear. Then you slide along the mattress, nudging aside the curtain and biting back a groan as you sit on the edge of the bed. Valentina's vanity glows with a soft light, muffled by the sheet draped over the mirror. Otherwise it's dark, and you can still hear the rain outside. You glance around for a clock, but don't find one, so you stand with a stretch and tiptoe across the room. You don't find a clock, but you find yourself stopping short in front of the painting over the fireplace again. You stare up at yourself, your brow furrowed, a strange feeling twisting in your gut. <<link '"What are you thinking about?"' 'ch3 val plat 1.a.4'>><</link>>

You glance over to see Valentina perched on the edge of the bed. When you don't respond, Valentina stands, padding across the room as you turn back to the painting. She stands just behind you, and you can feel her stare, catch her dark eyes watching you in your peripheral. "You called me your husband, earlier," you say slowly. "...Yes," Valentina says, sounding uncertain about this line of questioning. You close your eyes, taking a deep breath. When you open them, you swear the old you in the painting is staring back, just for a moment-- before their eyes snap back to Valentina. "I was your husband," you repeat. Valentina steps up beside you, tilting her head. "You used that word specifically. I was your husband," you say. "You were," she says. "When we could pull it off, we would pretend. Husband and wife." You drop your gaze, staring down at your hands. "Do I still have to be your husband?" "Do you even want to be here with me at all?" she asks. You close your eyes again. "I don't know," you mutter. "I don't know, I'm trying-- I'm trying." You point up at the painting. "I don't know who that is, Valentina. How am I supposed to know-- who I am? What I am?" Valentina swallows loudly. She steps closer then, putting a hand on your shoulder. "You can be my husband. Or you can be my wife, now, too." "But I don't know," you all but plead. "You don't think I'm a man, do you?" you blurt then, the words tumbling out all at once. Valentina's brow furrows, her hand gently squeezing your shoulder. "I know you're not a man, $name," she says softly. You want to believe her. "And you know I'm not //him//?" you press. "$name-- Of course I know that!" Valentina snaps, pulling her hand back and shaking her head at you. Her face twitches, and there's a sharp twist of shame in your chest for thinking Valentina even capable of the comparison. Valentina turns sharply, walking away from you and across the room to her armoire. You stand stupidly in the middle of the room, unsure what else to say, unsure why you ever even said anything at all. You glare up at the painting. "I know you're not a man, $name," she repeats then. "And you don't have to explain yourself to me. I know you. I understand you." You watch as she pulls off her blouse, wrinkled from laying on the bed. She starts to change, and you lower your gaze with a sigh. "What time is it?" you ask, desperate to escape this conversation you started. Valentina eyes you as she pulls on a complicated looking black dress with a built-in corset. She doesn't seem too keen on letting it lie, but eventually she just sighs, too. "We'll have to leave for the hotel soon," she says. You cross the room then, reaching for the corset ribbon. Valentina lets you take it, pulling her messy braid aside so you can cinch it tight. Muscle memory guides your hand-- you've definitely done this too many times to count. Valentina looks beautiful. She frees her braid then, letting her hair fall across her shoulders. "Hana is going to take you," Valentina says then. She's staring down at the floor, brushing her hair with her fingers. "To the hotel. I think it would be best to make myself scarce until it's over-- to avoid... any misunderstanding. I'll be nearby, but you won't see me." You secure the corset and neatly tie it in a large black bow. She turns to look at you then. "I don't want you to go in alone," she says, her voice wavering. She reaches up to brush her fingers along your jaw. "I'm... I'm worried," she says quietly. "Just go along with whatever they say. Don't-- don't try to argue or antagonize them." <<include "ch3 val stay questions">>

You rush back to your room, barreling through the door before stopping abruptly in front of your bed. "What am I doing? What's wrong with you?" you hiss. You feel sick, unable to shake Valentina's tearful face from your mind. You shouldn't have said that about Standard. You are sick with yourself. You stagger over to the vanity then. Pressing your palms to the counter, you let out a long breath, glaring into the mirror. "Come on," you plead. You want to see your face. Is that painting true to life? Are you a man? Are you a woman? Who is it that you'll see in the mirror? You don't want to ask out loud. You're afraid of what Valentina's answer may be. You're afraid of her tears. Your hands clench against the vanity, your fingers curling and your nails scraping against the shiny wood finish. You push back, standing up straight, before you throw your fist at the glass, and it shatters over you into a dozen little pieces, scattering across the floor at your feet. [[Next ->ch3 val plat 1.b.2]]

Valentina sets her brush down and finally turns around to look at you. You feel self-conscious for a moment, sitting naked on the bed like you are, until you realize Valentina is still naked, too. "You were. When we could pull it off. You were my husband and I was your wife." She follows your gaze to the painting then. You take a deep breath, biting at the inside of your cheek. You remember how Joan looked at you, what she said. "Is that what I am?" "It's what you were," Valentina says slowly. "I'm not sure what you are now." She stands from the vanity then and pads over to you. She looks beautiful. "I'm not sure, either." She stands in front of you, between your knees. You blink up at her. "Does the question have to be asked?" she says gently. "It seems to matter to most." "It doesn't matter to me." "But I'm not a man," you say, defensive, avoiding her gaze as she reaches out to take your face in her hands. "I don't want you to think that." "I don't think that," she says softly. "Why would I be angry?" you press then. Valentina seems reluctant to explain. "You didn't always like it back then," is all she says. She's still holding your face in her hands, tilting your head back as she presses her knees against the mattress. "Do you remember?" she asks. You don't like //this//-- a disconnect from you and your body, a lack of autonomy due to the shadows obscuring your mind. The looming label of //husband// obscuring it all even further. "I... I don't," you stammer. "It scares me, too," she says softly. You swallow loudly. It feels like something heavy has set itself on your shoulders. [[Next ->ch3 val full rom rival 5]]

"What time is it?" you say then, pulling yourself out of her hands and sliding down the edge of the bed, needing to escape the conversation you started. Valentina lets her hands drop, and you think you may see more tears in her eyes, just before she quickly turns back to the vanity. She stares at the covered mirror for a moment before answering. "We'll have to leave for the hotel soon," she says slowly. "You should clean up, and eat something before." She crosses the room then to the armoire, pulling it open and grabbing a complicated black dress off the hanger. She pets the fabric, holding it against her, trailing a finger up the corset boning. She pulls it on, and then glances back at you. She doesn't have to ask; you stand from the bed and join her, helping her lace up the corset. She grabs her hair and pulls it aside, holding it in a bundle over her shoulder. She must have showered or bathed, clean of all the blood and fluids, her skin cold and smooth and unblemished. "Hana is going to take you," Valentina says then. She's staring down at the floor as you finish lacing her corset. "To the hotel. I think it would be best to make myself scarce until it's over-- to avoid... any misunderstanding. I'll be nearby, but you won't see me." You neatly tie the large black bow on her back. She turns to look at you then. "I don't want you to go in alone. But right now we aren't in the position to refuse or challenge them." She reaches up to brush her fingers along your jaw. "I'm... I'm worried," she says quietly. "Just go along with whatever they say. Don't-- don't try to argue or antagonize them." <<include "ch3 val stay questions">>

She sets her brush down and finally turns around to look at you. You feel self-conscious for a moment, sitting naked on the bed like you are, until you realize Valentina is still naked, too. "Sometimes," she says. "When we could manage to pull it off. We would pretend." She follows your gaze to the painting then. "But was I your husband?" you ask again. "I'm not sure I understand what you're asking," Valentina says. You aren't sure, either. "Do I still have to be your husband?" Valentina stands then, and pads over to you. She looks beautiful. "You can be my husband. You can be my wife, now, too. You can be both." "What if I don't know?" She sits down on the bed beside you. "I don't want you to think I'm a man," you say, the words tumbling out suddenly. Valentina lays a gentle hand on your thigh. "I don't think that, $name." She pauses for a moment, angling herself on the bed towards you. "I see. I //do// understand," she says slowly. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I understand you, $name." You swallow loudly. It feels like something heavy has set itself on your shoulders. [[Next ->ch3 val full rom 6]]

"What time is it?" you say then, needing to escape the conversation you started. Valentina seems reluctant to let it lie, but she eventually slides her hand away and stands back up. "We'll have to leave for the hotel soon," she says slowly. "You should clean up, and eat something before." She crosses the room then to the armoire, pulling it open and grabbing a complicated black dress off the hanger. It has a corset built in, and as she pulls it on she glances back at you. She doesn't have to ask; you stand from the bed and join her, helping her lace up the corset. She grabs her hair and pulls it aside, holding it in a bundle over her shoulder. She must have showered or bathed, clean of all the blood and fluids, her skin cold and smooth and unblemished. "Hana is going to take you," Valentina says then. She's staring down at the floor as you finish lacing her corset. "To the hotel. I think it would be best to make myself scarce until it's over-- to avoid... any misunderstanding. I'll be nearby, but you won't see me. We'll meet at the club, once it's all said and done." You neatly tie the large black bow on her back. She turns to look at you then. "I don't want you to go in alone. But right now we aren't in the position to refuse or challenge them." She reaches up to brush her fingers along your jaw. "I'm... I'm worried," she says quietly. "Just go along with whatever they say. Don't-- don't try to argue or antagonize them." <<include "ch3 val stay questions">>

"That's up to them," you say, narrowing your eyes at her. She frowns, shaking her head. "I'm serious, $name. Please," she says weakly. She takes your face in her hands then. "Please, for me." Your jaw clenches, and you cast your gaze down to the floor. "Okay," you say reluctantly. <<include "ch3 val stay 2">>

"Is there anything else you can tell me?" you ask, tilting your head at her. "Nothing that I'm strong enough to say," she whispers. Your chest aches. "Okay," you say. <<include "ch3 val stay 2">>

"I won't," you say. Valentina smiles weakly, taking your face in her hands. "It'll be alright," she says, more to herself than to you. <<include "ch3 val stay 2">>

<<if $ch3_val_sex>>Valentina releases you then, stepping back and turning towards the vanity for a moment. She glances over at your discarded clothes on the floor, then back to you. "I'll go fetch you some clothes. You can clean up in my bathroom," she says, gesturing towards a door you never noticed on the far wall. "And then you need to go eat something," she adds. You just nod as she crosses the room and slips out into the hall. You eye her vanity, and the sheet fluttering slightly from some unseen ventilation. You look down at your naked body, then to the hidden mirror, then to the painting above the fireplace. You step towards it, staring up at yourself again. Your eyes narrow. You study the slight fangs the artist gave you. Then you turn and walk into the bathroom. [[Next ->ch3 val stay 2.a.1]] <<else>>Valentina releases you then, stepping back and turning towards the vanity for a moment. She glances back at you, then back to the shrouded mirror. "You should go get something to eat," she says. You eye the vanity over her shoulder, the sheet fluttering slightly from some unseen ventilation. You nod then, though you aren't sure she can see you. But you can take a hint. You give her one last look before turning for the doors and slipping out into the hall. [[Next ->ch3 val stay 2.a.2]] <</if>>

You wash up, and quickly change, Valentina laying the clothes out for you on her bed. You aren't sure where she's vanished off to, so you wander out to the landing, and you hear voices drifting up the stairs, and then the sound of the front door closing. You reach the banister just as Clear and Hana vanish beneath your feet, walking towards the kitchen. You can hear the rustle of bags as they carry the groceries in. You're surprised they've just returned-- though you still aren't sure what time it is, or how long you and Valentina were together in bed. You head down the stairs, trailing your hand along the carved wooden railing, and then following the familiar voices to the kitchen. They fall quiet as you enter, both Hana and Clear turning to look at you. Clear is stashing the groceries in the fridge, maneuvering food around bags of blood, while Hana is leaning back against the counter, drinking coffee from a paper cup. "Welcome back," you say. Hana just gives you a curt nod. Clear glances over at you, and then over to Hana. "Where's Valentina?" Hana asks. "Not sure," you say. She hums, narrowing her eyes at you, giving you a slow up and down. "What?" you say, prickling at her scrutiny. She hops off the counter then, glancing over at Clear. "I'll bring in your bags, Clear," she says. "I'll help," you say. Hana gives you an annoyed look, but she doesn't argue. You both leave the kitchen, stomping your way to the front door. [[Next ->ch3 val stay hana talk 1]]

It's quiet downstairs, even the rain outside feeling quiet and far away down here on the ground floor. You make your way into the kitchen, once again marveled by the size of it. It triggers some memory, of working in an industrial kitchen, all brick and stainless steel, with the ever present smell of bleach and hot oil. You think you may have washed dishes, once. Standing in front of the fridge, you fidget with the cool handle before pulling it open. You aren't sure what you're expecting to find inside-- besides blood. There's less than you were expecting, a single shelf lined with bags, but the other shelves are empty save for what looks to be a bottle of coffee creamer and some alcohol. You pull one of the bags out, turning it over in your hands, taking a moment to examine it. But it's unlabeled. A mystery donor. Are they still out there, you wonder? Or was this their final gift to you? [[Next ->ch3 val stay 2.a.3]]

"What's wrong?" you say, as soon as the two of you are outside. It's still raining, and it's dark outside, just the too-bright lamp over the porch casting a pale light across the front yard and down the driveway. Hana keeps walking towards the car, and you hurry after her. "Hana," you press. "Seems like you and Valentina had a nice //talk// while we were gone," she says then, stopping abruptly and turning on her heel to glare up at you. You nearly collide with her, and then you scoff. "Are you jealous?" Hana curls her lip at you. "What did you //talk// about, $name?" she says. "Did you talk about me? Did Valentina tell you what she asked me to do this morning?" You blink, wiping rain from your brow. "No, she didn't," you say slowly. "No. Of course not," Hana sneers. She takes a half-step up the driveway, as if she plans to go back inside without explaining. But then back towards you, biting her bottom lip. <<if $hana_rom eq false>>"This meeting tonight, with the council. She asked me to go in your place," she says then. "She's just //so// worried about you. About what they'll do to you." Her lip curls. "But not about me, apparently. I'm disposable now." She slumps back against the car then, her hands grabbing at her hair as she bows her head and lets out a long breath. "This is just like before. And I'm going to be all alone again," she says quietly. <div id="choice"><<link '"I would never ask that of you."' 'ch3 val walkout hana talk 2.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I am not here to replace you, Hana."' 'ch3 val walkout hana talk 2.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t really think this has to be an exclusive situation." ♡♡' 'ch3 val walkout hana talk 2.c'>><<set $hana_laterom to true>><<set $poly to true>><</link>></div><<else>>"This meeting tonight, with the council. She asked me to go in your place," she says. "She's just //so// worried about you. About what they'll do to you." Her lip curls. "But not about me, apparently. I'm disposable, now." Hana blinks rain from her eyes, staring down at her wet shoes. "I don't think Valentina realizes what she's asking of me." You take a half-step towards her, and her gaze snaps back to you. "I've lived a long time, too, you know," she says then. "I'm used to being disposable. I'm used to being replaced. I'm used to being the chauffeur, the servant, the maid. Clear is hardly the first white woman I've had to drive around. I've done it all." She frowns down at her hands. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" <<include "ch3 after val hana rom talk">><</if>>

"Are you starting to remember more?" she asks after a while. "About Valentina." You sigh, leaning back in your seat. <<include "ch3 hana 2">>

"Are you starting to remember more?" she asks after a while. "About Valentina." Your narrow your eyes, tilting you head at her. <<include "ch3 hana 2">>

Hana glares after her, wiping at the bloody scratches across her cheek with the back of her hand. She mutters under her breath, before turning on her heel and stomping across the lot back to her car. <<if $ch2_hana>>You glance over at Clear then, teetering just behind you, and you take her arm and quickly follow after Hana.<<else>>You glance over at Clear then, teetering just behind you, and you take her arm and wordlessly follow Hana to the unfamiliar car, though it's just as sleek and expensive looking as Valentina's.<</if>> You put Clear in the back seat, and then climb in after her, strapping her seatbelt and giving her a quick once over. She's staring back at you, weak but lucid. You wonder what she's thinking. You close the door then, as Hana slides into the driver seat. Your mind is kicking itself into a frenzy-- but you stay quiet. You focus on memorizing Oberon's face. You won't forget him next time. Clear shifts beside you then, drawing your attention, and you can tell she's uncomfortable, and you undo her seatbelt for her so she can lay down, wrapping an arm around her and easing her down into your lap. Clear sighs, and you gently tuck her hair back out of her face, her skin hot against your palm. "How is she?" Hana asks gruffly, eyeing Clear through the rearview mirror. "Not great," you say slowly. "What about you?" The longer you look at Hana's eyes in the rearview, the more distorted they become. She doesn't answer you, finally looking away and jamming the keys into the ignition. As the car rolls out of the lot, you raise the envelope in your other hand, studying the seal, turning it over to look at your name again. You glance up at Hana, but she's intent on the road, both hands tightly gripping the steering wheel, blood smeared across her knuckles. The city starts to blur outside as she slowly accelerates past the lot, past the club, past the abandoned complex, and you watch it all vanish through the back window, swallowed up again by concrete and asphalt.

<<if hasVisited("ch3 val stay 2.a.2")>>It's late when she knocks on your door, and your hunger has started to ache despite your bag of blood, a dull pain that radiates up your spine, but you ignore it, forcing it down.<<else>>It's late when she knocks on your door, and your hunger has started to ache, a dull pain that radiates up your spine, but you ignore it, trying to force it back down.<</if>> It turns your stomach into knots. It only gets worse when you open the door and see Valentina, her eyes bloodshot and lined with red. She was crying. Maybe she was waiting for you, too. "Are you ready?" she asks softly. She doesn't want a response-- she just steps through the doorway and embraces you, burying her face in your shirt. You barely have time to react, as she takes a deep breath, breathing you in, her arms squeezing you painfully tight just for a moment-- before she steps back again, clearing her throat and smoothing down the front of her dress. "Come," she says, slipping back out into the hallway. Hana and Clear are waiting for you both down in the foyer. "Hana is going to take you. But I'll be close by. We'll meet at the club after," Valentina says then, putting her hands on your shoulders. Your jaw clenches, and you nod. Valentina is reserved in front of the others, but she gives you a long look, and then steps back, nodding at Hana. And then you're off. It's still raining outside, and it's colder now, making you shiver as Hana opens the door. You hesitate only for a moment before following her out to the car. You climb into the passenger seat while Hana slides in behind the steering wheel. Hana fiddles with the dashboard, turning on the heat, even though neither of you really need it. She turns the radio down a bit from earlier, the music a quiet hum beneath the rain. [[Next ->ch3 val stay end 3]]

"Sorry you have to drive," you say then. <<if $hana_rom>>Hana glances over at you. "It's okay, $name," she says softly. You feel a little awkward, unsure where the two of you stand after your earlier conversation and your day spent with Valentina. You tentatively reach out, resting your hand on the middle console. Hana eyes it for a moment, before reaching for the gear shift instead. That's fair. You sink back in your seat, turning to stare out into the dark as Hana eases you back out of the driveway and onto the rain-slicked road. Then she grabs your hand out of your lap, entwining your fingers together, pulling your hand across the middle console to rest atop her thigh. She doesn't look at you, watching the road, but she squeezes your fingers, her eyes dark as you drive back into the city.<<else>>Hana lets out a dry laugh. "It's alright, $name. I'm not going to make you walk." She hesitates then. "It's better this way, honestly. Valentina shouldn't... shouldn't be around the council right now. Or ever, really." You glance over at Hana, but she doesn't elaborate, just reaching for the gear shift, easing you out of the long driveway and onto the rain-slicked road.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 1]]

Leaning back against the polished counter, you pull open the port, sniffing cautiously. You remember the briny taste of the blood you drank yesterday. You take a tentative sip-- it's not the same. It's not much //better//, though, either. You close your eyes and just brute force it, downing it as quickly as you can. Your stomach clenches, and then relaxes, and despite the bad taste you feel an immediate relief. You hear the front door open then, just as you drain the bag, and you turn to see Clear and Hana shuffling inside, with Hana's arms loaded up with plastic grocery bags. They leave a trail of wet footsteps through the foyer, Hana's sneakers squeaking across the linoleum floor as she steps into the kitchen. Clear is carrying a small duffle bag and a messenger bag, held protectively in front of her, blocked from the rain. They both don't really seem to notice you until they're fully in the kitchen. Hana sets the grocery bags on the island, shaking out her wet hands before glancing over at you. Clear eyes the empty blood bag in your hand. "Hey," you say. "Hey," Clear says. Hana gives you a long look, but she doesn't say anything. You put your drained blood bag in the sink, and then move out of Clear's way as she starts to unload the groceries into the fridge. You look down at the little bags she set aside in one of the island's chairs, and then turn back to her. "Is that all you brought?" Clear glances over her shoulder at you, but Hana answers first. "No. The rest of her bags are in the car," she says curtly. You blink over at Hana, and the room seems to curdle then, soured by the glare Hana gives you in return. "I'll bring in the rest of your bags, Clear," Hana declares then. "I'll help," you say. Hana scoffs, crossing her arms and shouldering past you. You both leave the kitchen, stomping your way to the front door. [[Next ->ch3 val stay hana talk 1]]

"You made the right choice, coming to see us," he says as you wait for the elevator to arrive. "We'll see," you mutter. He doesn't respond to that, and the elevator chimes after a tense few seconds, the doors slowly sliding open, and you move back as a few hotel guests shuffle out. You and Oberon step inside, and he quickly closes the doors before anyone can join you. There has to be a private elevator to the penthouse-- you wonder if they just don't want you to see it. Oberon flashes a card against the elevator panel, and the light flickers green, locking you into your ascent. <<if $oberon_knows>>"We'll start with introductions. I've already informed the others about your... memory problem," he starts after a few quiet minutes, and you shake your head. "I remember," you say simply. He frowns at you. "Is that right?" "Yes. I know who you are," you say, tilting your head at him. His face twitches slightly, and you imagine his eyes narrowing behind his sunglasses. You wonder what you must have done to make him so afraid of you. "How did we meet, $name?" he asks then. You just give him a wide, toothy smile, and it has the desired effect. He turns away, glaring at the elevator door, and you continue your rise in awkward silence. It's a relief when you arrive, the elevator shuddering to a halt, with Oberon straightening his jacket and his sunglasses before running a quick hand through his blonde hair. You can't help but smirk.<<else>>Oberon stands on the opposite side of the elevator, fidgeting with his glasses. There's an obvious unease radiating off of him, and you find yourself wondering just what it is you've done to make him so afraid of you. Valentina said he was the youngest. The others most likely won't be as //demure// as him. A few quiet minutes stretches into a long, uncomfortable silence, but at last you arrive, the elevator shuddering to a halt, Oberon pushing his sunglasses high up his nose and running a quick hand through his blonde hair. You can't help but smirk at him.<</if>> [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 3]]

<<if $ch2_hana>>The doors slide open then, revealing the familiar alcove, and Oberon hurries to the second door, hastily punching in the code. The door unlocks with another flashing green light, and he holds it open for you. You hesitate for a brief moment, the pale, dead face of the woman you drained last night flashing in your mind, and you half-expect to see blood still smeared across the floor, staining the carpet, soaked into the bathroom floor. But the penthouse is clean and bright and plain, all white and grey and open windows, heavy rain streaking across the clear glass, and you can see the city outside, far beneath you, the lights partially shrouded by smog and dark clouds. Your gaze darts around the room, searching for red, for any evidence that you were here at all-- but you just find three men staring back at you.<<else>>The doors slide open then, revealing a small alcove and a second door. Oberon hurries over to it, and you follow, glancing back as the elevator closes behind you. Oberon hovers over a small number pad, and you watch him type in a long code, before it flashes green and the door unlocks. He holds it open for you. The penthouse is impressive mostly in size-- but it's plain, white and grey and too bright. Massive windows surround you on either side, heavy rain streaking across the clear glass, and you can see the city outside, far beneath you, the lights partially shrouded by smog and dark clouds. You note the large circular bed in the center of the room, more boring grey and white furniture, and then your gaze finally settles on the three men staring back at you.<</if>> You recognize Atlas first, standing at the center, visibly older than the other two. He has tanned skin, sunspots and handsome wrinkles on his face and grey stubble along his jaw-- and the grey ponytail that Valentina warned you about. While he himself is not familiar to you, his clothes are. He wears a full brown tweed suit, that wouldn't have looked out of place a hundred years ago. Red tie, red pocket square. To the right must be Sasha, tall and thin and pale and the only one with a little bit of a smile on his face. Despite that, he seems rather intense, his features sharp and... //wolfish.// You can't decide if the smile is friendly or just a show of teeth. He wears all black, skinny black jeans and a black t-shirt and silver chains around his neck. Lastly, you realize the third man must be Cassius. He's farther back, leaning against the dresser, and you think he looks the most human out of all of them. He's wearing jeans and a flannel, rolled up to his elbows, and he has messy, curly red hair that almost falls down to his shoulders. His green eyes give him away, though, unnerving if you look at him for too long-- less green and more //clear//, leeching into a dark brown color that surrounds the edge of both irises. His face is unreadable as he looks over at you. You don't recognize any of them-- but standing in front of them, something stirs in the back of your mind, and a sudden anxiety tightens in your gut. You feel nauseous, a sickly crawling sensation beneath your skin, a cold sweat prickling the back of your neck. You hope they don't notice. Oberon locks the door behind you then, and you feel your hackles raise fully. Atlas finally smiles. [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 4]]

"I'd say it's good to see you, $name, but we both know it would be a lie," he says with a dry laugh. "It's a... //surprise//, to see you." <<if $oberon_knows>>"Likewise," you say slowly. Atlas grins wider. He has a forced transatlantic accent to match with his little tweed suit, and his smile annoys you. "No, I imagine it must be much worse for you," he muses. He glances over at Oberon then. "I thought she couldn't remember?" Oberon purses his lips. "She couldn't. But I suppose Valentina must have jogged her memory." Atlas shakes his head, tapping a finger to his chin. "Hmm," he hums, stepping a little closer to you. "I bet Valentina liked that..." he smiles. You just narrow your eyes at him. "But a hundred years is a long time. So let me ask: do you still trust her? Do you trust the story she's told you?"<<else>>"Likewise," you say slowly. Atlas grins wider. He has a forced transatlantic accent to match with his little tweed suit, and his smile annoys you. "Well. I imagine it must be much worse for you," he muses. He takes a few rambling steps in your direction, tapping a finger to his chin as he looks you up and down. "A hundred years is a long time," he says then. "A long time to be asleep. A long time to reflect," he tilts his head. "I am curious to know if you've had any.... change of heart." He paces back and forth in front of you. "Let's not beat around the bush. This is about Valentina," he finally says. "I am curious to know what she's told you." He pauses for a moment. "Do you still trust her, as you did back then?"<</if>> They all look to you expectantly. It's a good question. Do you trust Valentina? <div id="choice"><<link [[I don't. But I'm not going to tell them that. ->ch3 the hotel 4.a]]>><<set $v_trust to false>><<set $v_trust_council to false>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I don't, and I'll tell them so. ->ch3 the hotel 4.b]]>><<set $v_trust to false>><<set $v_trust_council to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I do, and I'm going to make that very clear. ->ch3 the hotel 4.c]]>><<set $v_trust to true>><<set $v_trust_council to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[I do, but I'm not going to let them know that. ->ch3 the hotel 4.d]]>><<set $v_trust to true>><<set $v_trust_council to false>><</link>></div>

You don't even bother to respond, just crossing your arms and glaring over at Atlas. To your surprise, he doesn't laugh or smirk-- in fact, he looks almost //sad//. "Really?" he says slowly. "Not even a sliver of doubt, after all this time?" You purse your lips. You're not going to give him what he wants. You'll be a united front with Valentina against him, regardless of what you really think. You're not going to let him weasel his way into your head that easily. He studies your face for a long time. "You had years to think about it. Didn't you ever wonder how it was //you// that ended up in that sarcophagus instead of her?" You clench your jaw, glancing around the room. Cassius isn't looking at you, but Sasha is, his head tilted to the side, a curious look on his face. Oberon's stupid glasses just show you your own distorted reflection. You feel vulnerable here, with your lack of memories. You can't answer his question in any way that matters. So you think back to what Valentina said this morning-- //it had to be this way.// Uneasy, you shift on your feet, swaying back and forth as Sasha and Atlas watch. "It had to be this way," you repeat her words to them. "And let me guess. Valentina is the one that told you that, too?" Atlas shakes his head, giving you a pitying look that you do not like. "You are one loyal dog, I'll give you that." You scowl at him. "Atlas," Sasha warns suddenly, his voice startling you. It's soft, a heavy accented lilt that you can't place in your scattered mind. Atlas just scoffs at him. "What? Barks like a dog, bites like a dog..." he muses. Sasha frowns, glancing over at you, but he doesn't say anything else. "Does she put a collar and leash on you, too?" he laughs. "Your type like that kind of thing." "//Atlas//," Sasha finds his voice again, and Atlas raises his hands and laughs. Your own hands are balled into fists at your side, your nails digging into your palms, and you feel an angry heat in your face, your jaw clenching and unclenching over and over again. "Alright, alright," Atlas chuckles. "Just a joke! Come on. Let me ask you something else. The hotel. What did she tell you about the hotel?" He gestures around the room as he says it. [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 5]]

"No," you say slowly. "No, I don't." Atlas actually looks surprised-- and then she smiles. "But I don't trust you, either," you clarify. He laughs. "Good! I wouldn't expect you to." He studies your face for a moment, leaning in close. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions. But first, let me ask you, what did she tell you about the hotel?" [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 5]]

"With my life," you say, crossing your arms as you glare over at Atlas. To your surprise, he doesn't laugh or smirk-- in fact, he looks almost //sad//. He sighs, shaking his head. "Really?" he says slowly. "Not even a sliver of doubt, after all this time?" He studies your face for a moment, leaning close. "You had years to think about it. Didn't you ever wonder how it was //you// that ended up in that sarcophagus instead of her?" You clench your jaw, glancing around the room. Cassius isn't looking at you, but Sasha is, his head tilted to the side, a curious look on his face. Oberon's stupid glasses just show you your own distorted reflection. You feel vulnerable here, with your lack of memories. You can't answer his question in any way that matters. So you think back to what Valentina said this morning-- //it had to be this way.// Uneasy, you shift on your feet, swaying back and forth as Sasha and Atlas watch. "It had to be this way," you repeat her words to them. "And let me guess. Valentina is the one that told you that, too?" Atlas shakes his head, giving you a pitying look that you do not like. "You are one loyal dog, I'll give you that." You scowl at him. "Atlas," Sasha warns suddenly, his voice startling you. It's soft, a heavy accented lilt that you can't place in your scattered mind. Atlas just scoffs at him. "What? Barks like a dog, bites like a dog..." he muses. Sasha frowns, glancing over at you, but he doesn't say anything else. "Does she put a collar and leash on you, too?" he laughs. "Your type like that kind of thing." "//Atlas//," Sasha finds his voice again, and Atlas raises his hands and laughs. Your own hands are balled into fists at your side, your nails digging into your palms, and you feel an angry heat in your face, your jaw clenching and unclenching over and over again. "Alright, alright," Atlas chuckles. "Just a joke! Come on. Let me ask you something else. The hotel. What did she tell you about the hotel?" He gestures around the room as he says it. [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 5]]

You don't respond, glancing around the room. Atlas nods slowly. "You have doubts," he says. "That's good." He searches your face for a moment. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions, too. But first, let me ask you, what did she tell you about the hotel?" [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 5]]

Valentina didn't tell you much of anything about the hotel-- only about Standard. "I know it's hers. I know she married for it," you say slowly. Atlas waits for you to continue, but you don't really have anything else to offer him. "Did she tell you anything about her husband? Eugene Standard?" When you hesitate, Atlas glances back and exchanges a look with Cassius. "What sob story did she tell you, $name?" You feel your face twist into a sneer, but he just shakes his head. "Valentina is not the helpless woman she portrays herself to be. Standard was no good man, I'm not arguing that-- but //she// chose him. She hunted him. We brought her all sorts of men to choose from, better men, //good// men, and she chose him." You tense as he steps closer. "What are you talking about?" "This hotel isn't //hers//," he says then. "It's //ours//." [[Next ->ch3 the hotel 6]]

Atlas sighs, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette case. "We aren't the bad guys, here. //You// broke the most important rule we have. You got the punishment you deserved for that," he says. "Once you were entombed, Valentina was all alone. //We aren't the bad guys.// We made sure she was taken care of." "By marrying her off to a man?" you spit at him. He shakes his head, pausing for a moment to light his cigarette. He doesn't offer you one. "It was Valentina's idea," he says, exhaling each word with a plume of smoke. "She claimed it was something the two of you had done a few times before." You want to argue instinctively, but there's not really anything you can say to that. If you weren't passing as a man, Valentina was marrying one-- or at the very least going home with one so you could sneak in and rob them later. The memories come to you disjointed and hazy. It's not so much that you remember exactly how it went-- just that you know that's what you did. You think about that painting in Valentina's room. You could have married her as a man, but it wouldn't have done much. Holding down a long-term job wasn't an option-- people got suspicious if you hung around for too long. They either thought you were a gay man or they realized the truth-- that you weren't a man at all. Between jobs, when it got rough, Valentina would be the one to pull you out. A few weeks, a few months. And then the two of you would kill him and take everything you could carry-- to sell, to keep. To keep yourself clothed and fed. It was not glamorous. Your memory gets fuzzier the more you try to remember, especially later-- right before your entombment. But you remember that painting. You afforded that. You and Valentina had finally gained a foothold. Other vampires knew your name. //Humans// knew your name. The two of you were climbing the ladder-- until... //[[What the hell happened? ->ch3 the hotel 7]]//

"$name?" Atlas prompts, jarring you from your thoughts. You shake your head, quickly glancing around the room again, at Atlas and the other three, all watching you. "Yeah. It's something we did before," you say, and you catch Cassius' look of disgust over Atlas' shoulder before he turns away. "We did what she asked of us, $name," Atlas says slowly. "I imagine you did, too." Your face twitches. "What is it that you're implying?" you say. Atlas sighs loudly. "I used to think it was you that was running the show," he says then. "I used to think it was you, forcing her to do the things you wanted her to." You swallow, an uneasy feeling creeping beneath your skin, that goddamn painting still in your mind. "But after we put you in that sarcophagus-- it was so obvious, then." He looks sad as he watches you. "She used you, just like she's using us, now. It's what she //does//, $name." You don't respond. Atlas takes your hesitation as agreement, but you aren't sure what it means just yet. "I've had a lot of time to think about it," he says with a coy smile, taking a long drag from his dwindling cigarette. "I always considered us friendly competition, you know. Back in the day. You, Valentina, Joan..." he trails off for a moment, lost in memories. "I suppose that was my mistake. I was naive. We were all pretty young back then, compared to you and her," he muses. "There was nothing friendly about it." //You, Valentina, and Joan.// "The way I see it, Valentina saw us as a problem. And you, too, apparently. You were her only equal, after all." Sasha shuffles a few steps back then, drawing your attention. He looks uncomfortable. "We know she lied about Julien," Atlas says then. Your mouth goes dry, and you resist the urge to look to Cassius. "Julien... We knew him. For //years//. He was never that kind of man. He was a //good// man." He pauses, finishing his cigarette then. He lifts his foot and stamps it out on the heel of his shoe, flicking the butt away into a nearby garbage can. "I think that's why she chose him. She thought he was weak for it, an easy target. She lied about him, she got you riled up-- and boy, were you riled up." His voice turns hard, sneering the words as he glares over at you. "She got you to do what you did. And then she let us clean up the mess. She brought us together, and took you out of the picture." You're shaking your head, and he nods in return. "Yes," he presses. "The more time passes, the more I'm sure of it. She replaced you so easily with that other one, the younger one. The weaker one-- Hana. Come on, $name." He leers at you then, throwing his hands up. "We're all losers, here. The only one that won is Valentina. You can't deny that. You've seen her mansion, her house in the suburbs, her clubs all over the city, this fucking hotel!" Atlas closes his eyes then, exhaling slowly. "But now you're back. And I know she didn't account for that." <div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re full of shit."' 'ch3 the hotel 7.a'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"...Are you the one that woke me up?"' 'ch3 the hotel 7.b'>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link '"So what now, then? Why are you telling me this?"' 'ch3 the hotel 7.c'>><</link>></div>

"You're full of shit," you say. Atlas looks annoyed for a moment, but then he turns away, walking farther into the room, peering out one of the windows. "I know it's difficult to accept. She stole a hundred years from you. More than that," he glances back at you. "We tried to get to you first, when you woke up. But it was so-- unexpected." He shakes his head. "And now she's doing it again. Her claws are in you, $name. She's going to take even more this time, and I can't promise it will be the sarcophagus waiting for you at the end." You bare your teeth at him, at Sasha and Cassius and Oberon. They all just stare. Atlas turns around eventually, walking back over to you. <<include "ch3 the hotel 8">>

"So what now, then? Why are you telling me this?" Atlas sighs, turning away from you then, wandering over and peering out of one of the windows. "I'm trying to warn you, $name," Atlas says slowly. "She's sinking her claws into you again. Valentina has already taken a hundred years from you. She's going to take even more this time, and I can't promise it will be the sarcophagus waiting for you at the end." You bare your teeth at him, at Sasha and Cassius and Oberon. They all just stare. Atlas turns around eventually, walking back over to you. <<include "ch3 the hotel 8">>

"...Are you the one that woke me up?" you ask slowly. Atlas barks out a laugh. "No, $name," he says. "I am not going to lie to you. I never really considered it an option. You've been dead to me since we closed that sarcophagus." You glare at him. "We did try to get to you first. You were spotted pretty quickly in the city by some of our people. We tracked you to that apartment complex," he says. "But I decided to wait. I wanted to see what Valentina was going to do. I wanted to see if she had something to do with it." He shakes his head. "Far as I can tell, she was just as surprised as the rest of us." "Who did it, then?" you press. "Hm. That is the question," Atlas muses. He reaches into his pocket again, pulling out his cigarette case. He fidgets with it, then puts it back in his pocket again with a sigh. <<include "ch3 the hotel 8">>

"Listen. I'm going to cut right to the point, here. None of us here feel that your sentence was served. We can't just let you walk free-- it sets a bad example. And, to be frank, you don't fucking deserve it, $name." Your face twitches as he leers closer, instinctively flashing your fangs at him. He ignores it. "So what we're asking you to do here is to fill the vacant spot you left behind. Join the council-- put your name alongside ours. We'll be stronger together, against her. We can be free of her, if we work together." Cassius pushes off the dresser he's been leaning against this entire time, standing up straight and watching you. "And, look at it this way-- it is doing you a favor. Keeps you out of that sarcophagus. And you'll thank us later, once we get you out of Valentina's claws, too." He offers you his hand then. <div id="choice"><<link [[Shake his hand. ->ch3 shake 1]]>><<set $shake to true>><</link>></div> <div id="choice"><<link [[Refuse. ->ch3 refuse 1]]>><<set $shake to false>><</link>></div>

You stare at his hand for a long moment. And then you reach out and shake it. He breaks into a big smile. Cassius scowls over his shoulder, while Sasha still just looks uncomfortable. "Good choice," Atlas says, squeezing your hand before letting go. You don't know about that. You're not sure how much of a //choice// it is when you're backed into a corner with four men leering at you. But you do want to hear more of what Atlas has to say. <<if $v_trust eq true>>Valentina won't tell you-- maybe Atlas will.<<else>>You don't trust Valentina. And she won't tell you shit, anyways. Maybe Atlas will.<</if>> "You can be our man on the inside, $name," Atlas grins. "I know Valentina and Joan are up to something. They are going to ruin our entire operation here in the city-- they are reckless and uncivilized. Unauthorized hunting, mingling with humans and //wolves//, embezzling from the hotel. They put our entire community at risk." Something about the way he says that makes you grimace. What community do you and Atlas truly share? "They've been taking even more money than usual. And Valentina hides it away from us-- only she can access the Standard funds." His smile finally fades then. "We put in a lot of work here, $name. We maintain this hotel, and the others like it. We keep our people fed and safe here all while Valentina blows money on her little degenerate fetish clubs," he spits. You take a step back, narrowing your eyes at him. He seems to realize his faux pas and he takes a deep breath, adjusting his tweed jacket. "We can discuss this more later." He smiles again. "For now, you shouldn't keep her waiting." "And what do you want me to tell her?" you ask carefully. Atlas shrugs. "Tell her whatever you want. I see no point in hiding it." You glance around at the other three. They don't seem to have much to add, aside from Cassius still glaring daggers at you. [[Next ->ch3 shake 2]]

Atlas holds his hand out long enough for it to become painful. But you don't take it. "Come on, $name," he says softly. You don't budge. He lowers his hand with a sigh. "I told you this would be a waste of fucking time," Cassius spits then, all of you turning to look at him as he takes a few stomping steps and jabs a finger at Atlas. "Put her back in the fucking tomb where she belongs." "Cassius--" "//Atlas//. Put her back in the tomb or I'll put her in the ground myself." You take a half-step back as Cassius stomps even closer, and Oberon shifts nervously behind you, the sound of his sports jacket rustling reminding you of his presence. Sasha just gives Cassius a cold, withering look, and then he shakes his head-- the only warning you get before Cassius lunges at you. He easily shoves Atlas aside, and his quickness surprises you, his claws too fast for you to avoid. He catches you right in the throat, ripping you open and splattering your blood on the bright white floor. The sight of all that blood-- of your blood-- awakens something in you. A piece of you, remembered. You can't help but grin as you strike back. You slash your nails across his face, slicing through the bridge of his nose and splitting both of his lips as he staggers back. You almost gouge one of his eyes, too, but he's smart enough to duck his head and avoid it, his brow taking most of the damage instead. His clear eyes glare at you, but you throw your weight against him and send him crashing back into the dresser, knocking over some glass sculpture that shatters into a million pieces across the floor. Cassius quickly seems to realize his mistake-- he is no match for you, not even after a hundred years. You throw him to the floor, onto the shattered glass, his face gushing blood everywhere. Your own blood, too, seeping through your shirt, running down your arms and dripping from your fingers, onto your shoes, across the tile and staining the carpet. The damage to your throat is significant, but it's nothing like what you're going to do to Cassius. Atlas tries to grab you then, and you can feel in his grip that he's stronger than Cassius; he's older, you're more evenly matched. You turn on him, and Atlas tries to calm you down, his grip slacking for a moment, and it's all you need to throw him against the far wall, more glass shattering deeper in the penthouse as the walls tremble from the impact. Your focus snaps back to Cassius then, as he tries to scramble back across the floor, glass scraping under his boots. You grab at one of his ankles, pull him close and grab a fistful of his ginger hair. Déjà vu makes you hesitate for a moment, memories stirring just beyond your reach. A tease-- you've done this before, haven't you? [[Next ->ch3 refuse 2]]

"I'll escort you back down to the lobby," Sasha offers then, clearing his throat. "No," Atlas says. "Cassius will escort her down." Sasha frowns, and you give Atlas a look, but he just smiles. He reaches in his pocket and hands you a business card. "We'll be in touch," he says. Cassius brushes past him then, walking over to the penthouse door. You find yourself glancing over at Sasha-- but he looks away, turning towards the windows. Once again, you have no choice. You follow Cassius out to the elevator, Oberon closing the door behind you. Standing in the little alcove, Cassius pushes the call button. You start to sweat, all alone with him. [[Next ->ch3 shake 3]]

"I have a lot of respect for Atlas," he says then. He speaks in the kind of tone that sets your teeth on edge-- casual, but with a threat laced through each word. Flaunting his power in this small space with you. He has his arms crossed, watching the digital sign above the elevator change numbers as it slowly rises up to the penthouse. "That respect is the only thing keeping me from putting you back in the ground." He turns to look at you then, blinking slowly. "Maybe he's right-- maybe Valentina used you and my brother just the same." He pauses as the elevator chimes. "But it's my brother that's dead. So you can see how I don't much care about //your// side of things." You stay quiet, stepping into the elevator after him. The doors close, and you're enveloped by the hum of the fluorescent lights. Cassius doesn't speak the rest of the way down-- not until the elevator slows to the ground floor. Then he puts a hand on your shoulder. "I'm not the same kid I was a hundred years ago, $name," he says. "Watch yourself." He squeezes your shoulder until something pops beneath your collarbone, and you hiss in pain, recoiling from his outstretched hand. You glare over at him, but the doors open to a little crowd of hotel guests. "Ladies first," Cassius gestures with a smirk. You shove past him, and past the drunk humans in your way, and when you glance back at the elevator he's gone. The crowd trickles in, the doors close, and you're left alone in the lobby, a heavy sense of dread settling itself on your aching shoulders. [[End of Demo]]

You press Cassius's face into the floor, into the glass, dragging him through it, leaving thick trails of blood across the white tile. It takes both Atlas and Sasha to pull you off, and they're only successful because you're losing too much blood. You're panting, open-mouthed, blood trailing from your lips and your gaping throat. Atlas tries to restrain you, but him and Sasha don't seem to be on the same page, and Oberon is too busy cowering in the corner to help. You twist free from Sasha, and push Atlas away again, just as Cassius rises to his feet. His face is a gory mess, pieces of glass jutting from his cheeks and glittering in the the overhead light, and you smirk at him, a dangerous satisfaction warming your gut as you take in your handiwork. Sasha and Atlas both stand between you, and you sway a bit, pressing a hand to your throat, though it hardly slows the rush of blood that spills between your fingers with each slow heartbeat. You need to get out of here. "Stop-- stop it!" Atlas bellows. "Are we not civilized!?" You blink at him, and Cassius bares his teeth. You turn on your heel and run for the elevator. Cassius tries to catch you, but Atlas restrains him. Oberon tries to restrain //you//, snapping out of his cowering and intercepting you right before the penthouse door, but Sasha pulls him off of you and all but shoves you out of the room, the lock flashing red as he slams the door closed behind you. The sudden silence in the little alcove makes your ears ring, and you stagger over to slap at the elevator buttons, your other hand still desperately trying to hold your throat together. Your blood smears across the wall, and you hear scrambling on the other side of the door, Cassius's muffled shouting-- but the elevator is waiting for you, the little chime sounding just as the doors slide open. You stumble inside, quickly pushing the button for the doors to close. "Fuck," you let out a wheezing laugh, leaning against the wall as the elevator begins its descent. You can't stop laughing. You watch the red numbers change above the door, and you lick your lips, staring down at your hand, wet and gory with Cassius' blood. You lean back against the wall, taking a deep breath. You can't stop laughing. [[End of Demo]]

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