Xanadu Commons

[Hunter (Totally NOT a communist ☭), Mod of Vampirates]

((ya got me there))

[Elizabeth ♛Smart Girls Love Trashy Books♛ , Modess of Pinkness]

Creme hadn't done very much of anything since the Halloween Party. She resigned herself to staying in her bathtub and having Honey deliver her meals from the mess hall, it's all she ever really needed. But eventually she knew she'd have to get over it, she was a mermaid after all, and mermaids didn't mope around. She still had those pesky emotions though, and figured they weren't ever going to go away on their own. Hesitantly, she invited Honey over to her common room to have as deep a conversation as Honey was mentally capable of having about what was going on.

The two girls sat down and Creme explained everything that had happened in detail, finally finishing off with the fact that the events made her genuinely more emotional and she wasn't sure what to do. Mermaids weren't known to have deep emotions, it wasn't in their nature.

"I don't believe that for one second! Mermaids are all as different and vibrant as the Seven Seas!" Honey gasped. "And whoever said emotions are a bad thing? Maybe emoting too much, but...some mermaids I've met here are like me. They're very emotional and see nothing wrong with it!"

"Yes, but...it's hard. It made me more clear-headed but now I feel like I'm at a loss. Like I always have to do what my emotions dictate,"

Honey said nothing.

"But...they're not going away. No matter how much I push them down and down, they keep...."

"Bubbling up! Like bubbles in water!"

Creme looked away.

"Maybe...you can still be a mermaid but have emotions. I could help you try to control them better! I'm amazing at that!"

"No thank you. I don't want to be a blubbering mess like you," She declined sharply. "But...maybe...there's something I can do. They're clearly not going away so the best thing I can do is to learn to control them so I don't become super impulsive or anything,"

"You can start by having a nice cry about Caden! Crying about things always makes me feel better!"

"I already did that," Creme said flatly. "Maybe...I guess I could ask a teacher here. They probably have dealt with stuff like this before." She frowned. "I hope they have, otherwise I'll be really annoyed. I can't be the only person here who's learning to emote!"

"See? Your emotion words are getting so much bigger!" Honey cheered. "Let's go out for one last swim before the water turns cold. Out on the beach, just you and me. Sisters. And we'll take whatever shiny things catches our eyes!"

For once, Creme felt like that would be...nice. Pleasant, even. Swimming in the ocean used to just be something she did because she was a mermaid, but now, she was actually...anticipating it. She nodded.

"Yay! I wanna decorate your tail too!"

"No."

The two girls climbed off their respective couches and went to their separate dorms to get changed into similar bikinis under their clothes, then met up again and headed down to the beach to swim until the sun went down.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

((Aww. I'm curious what kind of guy would go well with creme.))

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

After the success of their first competition or whatever it was called, the cheerleaders collectively agreed to a celebratory slash bonding sleepover. With the advent of most of them gaining boyfriends, even smaller sleepovers had been rare, so that girl bonding time was even more essential. After all, a good team had to be next to family to be a great team.

Aurora was just pleased to be invited, even though she was a part of the team already. It felt rather surreal, mostly due to her low self confidence, that she had even made the team let alone have them warm to her. It made it a comfortable space away from those who made their dislike of her clear. Up until now, she'd never had a group of her own. A friend or so here and there, but she had only grown to the space she'd been given, which under the shadow of her family had felt small. Now without her lineage towering over her, maybe she could do things she couldn't consider before. Things like this, and have people actually enjoy her company.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“You have gorgeous hair.” Anastasia said, as the other girls gossiped about their boyfriends or whatever and she brushed Auroras hair. It was almost like hers, with the exception that Auroras seemed more… real. Slightly more real, anyways. More golden than Anastasia’s. She was only brushing it now because of it, being careful not to hurt her. “Is it naturally this color?”

“You both look like Princesses.” Mavis said, from her sprawled position on one of the couches. She was chewing on some popcorn, just watching everyone when she wasn’t reading. “Like Princess Aurora and Rapunzel.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Thank you," Aurora said, smiling at the compliment. Not that she didn't get compliments, though she frequently missed them, but she always preferred her sister's red hair, wishing she was that exotic herself. "It is natural. One of the few things I got from my mother. Am I to guess that I'm Princess Aurora?"

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“You’re more like Rapunzel.” Mavis said, chewing on her apple. It didn’t slip her mind that both of them were named after Princess, though. Funny. “And Anastasia like Maleficent.”

“Har- har.” Anastasia replied, rolling her eyes. Her own hair had already been brushed and braided- she’d forced Bolt to braid it before she left his room with the promise of meeting him first thing in the morning- and she’d already moisturized and whatever. She was ready for bed- although unfortunately, tonight was little about sleeping.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Maleficent was really cool, but I'm not sure that's the role that fits best," Aurora chimed in, despite not knowing if it was acceptable. Maybe it was an inside joke she wasn't privy to, but it was out and she hoped it was alright. "But if you compare the live action version...maybe."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Or maybe she can be like that live interest from Hercules.” Marcie commented, sitting in one of the cushions they’d sprawled out. “I thought that when we first met.”

“And her boyfriend is definitely a sort of Hercules.” Mavis added, grinning as she sat up and moved so they’d talk better. “He’s too… slim to pull it off completely, though. But he’s definitely got some aura to him.”

“I don’t think Bolt would compare himself to Hercules.” Anastasia admitted, slowing down her brushing even if it hadn’t been particularly rough. “Or agree to it completely, anyways. He’s more of a… subtle prince or whatever. And smart.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"I feel like Bolt is one of those love interests from books that think they're dark and scary but are actually teddy bears," Aurora commented. She knew him a little, since they chatted in the library sometimes about books. He always gave good recommendations. She'd mentioned this to Anastasia before to ensure it wasn't weird. "Or maybe just Batman."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Anastasia couldn’t help but to smile a little at that, even if some part of her was annoyed with Aurora and Bolt knowing each other. Not that she was jealous, even if… well, she felt like it was one of those pairings that could very well happen. If they weren’t both in relationships, anyways. Bolt had that over-protectiveness and Aurora was, for lack of better words… in need of being protected. Not to mention she was pretty sure Aurora would have crushed on him in other circumstances. “He’s definitely not Batman.” She said, letting out a snort. “He’d be a Nightwing at best, I think. But as a Prince… Naveen, maybe. Although I mostly say that because I met him when he was in that “womanizer” phase.”

“And he certainly likes the headstrong, stubborn chicks.” Marcie commented, shooting her a smile. If it weren’t because Tiana wasn’t a born princess like Anastasia definitely was, she would have suggested her. “You remind me more of the Swan Princess.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"The swan princess is an interesting pick," Aurora commented, not asking why though she was curious. It wasn't a straightforward story, in her opinion. More like a dramatic intrigue version of snow white, so there has to be a reason for it. Yet even as she was pondering that, she was considering what prince Cole might be like. She could honestly say it wasn't something she'd ever considered. It wasn't even like he was similar to any of the love interests in the novels she read. And somehow, she was perhaps more pleased for it.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“When you see how their relationship started, you’ll get it a lot better.” Marcie assured her, then sighed. “You’re both lucky to be dating someone, regardless of what Prince they’re like. I envy you.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Oh, don't. It's not all cupcakes and roses, but even if it were, you'll have your time," Aurora encouraged. Honestly it was a little surprising to her that Marcie and Mavis weren't in relationships. They were gorgeous and so confident she wished she could be them sometimes.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Oh? Is there some trouble in paradise?” Mavis asked, immediately sitting up and sitting properly. At the topic, the other girls hushed and got close, grateful for something to talk about amongst each other. “Anything you say to us will be kept a secret? So don’t worry about gossip.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Aurora turned a little pink at the immediate attention. It was embarrassing and she hadn't meant for it to stir something so quickly. "Oh, no, everything is fine. Cole is amazing," she said quickly. He was fine, but it wasn't without issues exactly. She started to ask her question since it wasn't like she had anyone to ask freely, not that this crowd was necessarily it, even if all the girls had been nice. It was just still mortifying. "I'm sure it's just me. He's my first boyfriend after all."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“First rule about dating?” Mavis asked, sitting on the floor with some of the girls and propping her chin on her hand. “It’s that you’re never wrong when it comes to stuff like that.”

“Even if it is your first boyfriend. If something feels wrong or weird, it is.” Anastasia assured her, setting the brush aside and pulling her knees to her chest. Gods, how she wished she’d been told that. She’d have avoided a lot.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"I don't know. I just wonder if maybe I'm not..attractive or something," Aurora said. It was the think that she could think of that felt possible. People didn't tend to fall asleep while kissing people they were a attracted to. "Or maybe I'm just not giving him enough chance."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Okay, you’ve got to explain that.” Mavis said, and all the other girls seconded that opinion. “What makes you think that? You’re pretty- definitely enough to get his and other people going. Had he.. told you he doesn’t find you attractive?”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Aurora's cheeks burned with embarrassment, to the point that she missed the compliment and focused on whether she even wanted to say this when she'd gotten herself into this mess. "No! No, he didn't say that. But he... We were kissing and he...fell asleep. He seemed like he'd been into it but then he was out cold." A secondary wave of mortification and maybe a little shame washed over her. And here she was, admitting it to mostly stranger, even if it was her squad. She was still so new that closeness hadn't developed really.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Mavis, Anastasia, Marcie and the entire squad blinked. He’d been turned on and then… nothing? “Maybe he’s a Narcoleptic.” Anastasia suggested, and at the blank stared she received, she sighed. “When people fall asleep randomly. It’s a medical thing.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"I don't think he is. I can't know for sure, of course, but we've been together almost a year and he's never done that. You'd think he would have mentioned it too, after it happened," Aurora said, shaking her head. "He apologized, of course, but that was all. And I've been too scared to try again."

"Oh don't be. Maybe he just took something. Like whenever I take cold medicine, it knocks me right out no matter what," one of the cheerleaders chimed in, hoping to be helpful. There had to be a simple explanation like that because it was just so...bizarre.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“It’s definitely not that he’s not attracted to you.” Anastasia assured her, although she knew she’d be horrified in her position. If Bolt just randomly fell asleep when they were in the middle of doing something- especially during their first times- would have sent her straight to the grave.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Aurora felt a little relief at the assurance. She definitely knew nothing about boys and this deferred to other knowledge. But so many of the cheerleaders looked alarmed or bewildered that something like that could happen. Which either meant she was insufficient or something was wrong with Cole, and she was much more likely to believe the former. "Well thank you, I needed to hear that," she said, looking down at her lap. "It just didn't seem like something that should happen."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Anastasia was at a loss of words to say to comfort the girl, because as vain as it sounded… she’d never been even remotely close to her situation. She needed a change of topic, but she didn’t want to make the girl feel like it didn’t matter.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Well anyway, my hair is done, right? Who is up next?" Aurora asked, seeming to just bounce along. She had practice with making people feel awkward so she developed practice with trying to solve it. Not everyone could do that, but she at least tried. Her problem was not one to dwell on since it wasn't fixable. At least one girl took the hint and went back to what she had been planning to do before, which prompted the few others around her to as well and it trickled from there. Including the one who had been waiting for Aurora to do her hair since earlier. It all went around in circles after all.