stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

cardboard is boring, we brought our matches - look how it burns

If Harley had a hundred dollars every time someone yelled her name, she would be damn close to retirement. That jerk of that vehicle seemed to prompt that exclamation, but the news had simply been enough to cause Harley to quite frankly, lose her shit. She should have been given credit for not veering off the road entirely! The clusterfuck of thoughts streamlined at the speed of light in her mind as the pair chimed together in a burst of laughter. The unbidden sound of it flooded the car, Harley easily regaining control of her vehicle and back within those intended to follow. Hey, Harley was an artist, she didn't have to draw in the lines, why drive in them?

Laughter, it would seem was something the raven-haired woman rarely partook in lately. That very light meant to chase back the dark seemed to be an almost impossible task. That heaviness of the shitstorm that had become her life had only begun to take its toll. What would it be like in a year? Or even years? She would have frowned to imagine the thought of it.

At the very least Isolt found herself a true, rare keeper. Not that Harley would ever admit it to that smug man's face. That he was good for Isolt. But she had to admit, it must have been nice to have someone to chase back that darkness with. A true partner in every sense of the word. Isolt was thriving. It was that thought alone that brought her a semblance of calm knowing she would be ok in the event the wicked vampires finally won. So long as she stayed out of it. That's all Harley wanted more than anything. That daylight ring would only serve to help her.

That was when their conversation shifted to Isolt's pastiness and how even as a vampire and a nifty daylight ring that would hardly be enough to save her from the dreaded pale-girl burn.. "At least some things that will never change in this world!" She smirked, casting Isolt a sidelong glance of mischief.

Their conversation then effortlessly shifted to the topic of motherhood. It was coming and soon. Hell Isolt looked like she could have popped at any given moment. Isolt would make a good mother. There were just some people in this world that just had that gene and Isolt had it. She probably had every last thing in place, state of the art stroller.... And baby clothes and diapers. Shit, life was going to turn upsidedown for her companion.

How calm Isolt had been about it all... at least up until now. That insecurity seemed to all but radiate from her. It was odd to see it upon someone typically confident. Harley grew silent, lowering the song that was playing through the car speakers to listen better. Worry. She worried for her child, as any good mother would. Didn't Isolt know that... that this part at the very least was entirely normal? "Isolt." Harley uttered with conviction and yet a softness. " Trust me.. You already have a one-up on more than half the population's breeders out there. There is no way you are going to mess her up. Forget the vampire shit.. She has you and that's all she needs.. You are still you. If anything... being a vampire.. Makes you more durable so she can have you forever. That's more than most. It won't be a walk in the park.. But I honestly feel like if anyone can do it.. Have that white picket fence and shit... it's you. She's lucky... to have you. No one in this world is luckier, she just doesn't know it yet." She didn't quite expect to be struck with such emotion. Such bittersweet emotion.. That caused her hands to tighten on the wheel and her lips to twitch. Sad happy? Was that even a thing?

Soon Isolt would have yet another reason to bring her joy in this world. It brought Harley a greater comfort knowing Isolt had a family... knowing she would be okay. Even without her. She focused intently on that road ahead. That journey ahead for herself was nowhere near close to the freshly paved one that car drove upon.

Pregnant silence fell between them, Isolt saying nothing more about that life Harley now led and the raven-haired woman decided it bed not to linger upon it. Any of it. Perhaps it was for the better. The less she knew. The better it was. Sterling.. Isolt.. Were better off in the darkness, in fact, they were better off free from her altogether. It caused a lead pit to form in her gut but that was one thing she refused to let go of as selfish as it sounded. At least not until she had no other options. Her violet eyes went distant as the horizon as she took in those newfound sights, her lips forming a hard line as the thoughts she tried so desperately to keep at bay seeped into her mind.

She was going to survive this. She thought with determination. Just how, she wasn't entirely sure. But she had to. She didn't get through those past hardships she had in order to wither away now. She would fight.... And fight and fight some more. She would forge her will into steel if she had to and turn herself into what she had to in order to achieve just that. A world without Tetradore and those diabolical vampires that held her noose-like leash.

They came onto that party store, the two women found it too irresistible to pass up. Harley entirely ignored the less than enthused worker at the front of the store, barging in like she very well knew exactly what she was looking for and knew just how to find it.

Where do we even start? Isolt inquired and Harley had no doubt in her mind what she wanted to see first.
"Oh my friend, that one is easy. Its costumes. The answer is always costumes." The pair walked further into the store, Harley eagerly leading the way as if she knew exactly where she was going. There were some cheesy Halloween decorations including a werewolf that popped up with a terrible growling sound before it howled. Harley turned her head to glare at it, her lip curled slightly. Stupid thing. It caused her to suddenly turn that up-to-no-good gleam within her vibrant purple gaze.

"Hey, maybe you and Damon can pick up roleplaying or something. Naughty doctor... or..." Her voice fell as she continued with Isolt in tow as she wandered into the store.

That was when it was there. That costume.... Amongst all the terribly made, cheesy outfits Harley's gaze widened as they landed on one in particular. There it was... in all its vinyl glory, a t-rex costume. It looked hilarious as fuck and yet there was something about it that endeared the woman. "This is it... I'm buying this.... Fuck I might even wear it all weekend. This thing is amazing. New Orleans might see me coming but they will not be prepared. You should get one too." Mischief trickled within her tone.

"You wanted a last hurrah, right? Will you be my partner in mischief once more? You need to get one too. Or maybe I should pick something for you. Hmmm." A wicked grin tugged upon her lips, knowing the latter would not suit Isolt at all. She rose a brow in clear inquiry as to what she thought knowing quite well that she would not budge on the manner.

Harley Westward