[ when elena dreams of pleasure or happiness, it's usually something she wakes up from, completely bereft. when she has nightmares like these, she buries her head in the sand from them, because she can't believe she's this - has to believe there's something other than this. something other than being this way. because she couldn't be capable of it. (she knows she is.)
she notices clay, perhaps because he's inexplicably familiar to her dream-self, perhaps because he's something that doesn't fit in. (she sees those holes at his neck and thinks: he was food, once. he could be again.)
she turns away from the conversation she's having and gives him a smile she knows most men wouldn't be able to refuse: equal parts genuine and interested. ] Hey, you. Why don't you come over here?