You seem formidable, it is true.
Who: Eli and Lara What: Late night shopping Where: A grocery store When: Last night! Status: Complete Rating: Pg13
Lara didn’t know when Sam would be coming, but she knew she’d need to stock up. Her cart was filled with pocky, cake, spices, hot tamales, fresh tuna and salmon, rice and kelp to make sushi from...really most of Sam's favorite foods.
She threw in some things for Dani to cook (really, best room mate ever), as well.
Eli had a list of things that Velma wanted, mostly ginger things. Ginger ale, ginger tea, ginger cookies, “not to die” - well, at least her mother had a sense of humor. The petite girl looked all the more tiny for her dress and combat boots, long hair piled on top of her head.
She looked at the girl as she rolled past, raising her eyebrows. She was wearing boots too, but cargo pants and a t-shirt (this one an archaeological pun saying “Lost in Trowelsation”). “Stomach ache?”
Looking up, the petite girl with the bright blue eyes smiled and shook her head. “No, not me. My mama, she’s pregnant and her morning sickness also seems to be evening sickness. Afternoon sickness too.” She chuckled to herself and smiled at the woman’s shirt. “Are you an archeologist or a gardener?” Were there any other people who used trowels?
“That must be uncomfortable,” Lara decided, glad she’d never been in that position, and perfectly content never to be. “The former.” She looked down at her shirt and straighted it and tugged at the hem. “Though there’s nothing wrong with gardening.”
“I would not know, I have a sunlight allergy.” Eli shrugged,, looking at her feet. “Mama is doing well, though. I think she will be all right, she should be getting through the end of the worst part.”
“There are night blooming flowers,” Lara pointed out, helpfully. She took the sunlight allergy at face value, because vampires, really? “That’s good, though. Are you excited to have a little sibling?”
“Very much. Though not as excited as Papa is.” Eli chuckled. “He is smart, I am like a built in baby sitter.”
Lara laughed. “Willing, I hope?” This girl was adorable.
“Of course. I like babies very much. They are ... cute.” Eli chuckled and moved to put her hair up into a bun. “I think it is funny because Papa was very scared about getting my Mama pregnant, and now they are anyway.”
“It sounds like everyone is happy anyway, and that’s the best thing,” Lara replied. “I never had a sibling growing up. The closest thing is a mate of mine from boarding school, and some friends of ours. “
“I did not either. I am sixteen and newly adopted. I did not think I would find a family again.” Eli found a different kind of ginger tea and snagged that as well.
“It sounds like it ought to be a new experience for you.” She wondered if morning sickness was anything like hangovers, and suggested one of her and Sam’s favorite hangover cures.
“Oh, I do not know if that would work for Mama, but I will tell her.” Just the mention of it might make Velma vomit.
“It is rather disgusting,” Lara admitted. “But it settled my stomach and made the headache go away, so at the time we didn’t really complain.”
“I will suggest it to Papa first. I don’t wish to make Mama barf.” Eli shook her head. She was a dutiful daughter.
“That would be rather disgusting too,” Lara agreed. Barfing sucked. “Is it normal to be that sick?”
“Yes, we checked and her doctor said it was all right. I am glad I cannot get pregnant.” Vampirism had beneficial side effects after all!
Lara had felt the same when she was younger, and she still felt the same, even if she could if she wanted to. But kids seemed like such a huge thing. Not for her. “Well, as long as you’re happy about that?” She hoped the feeling never changed for the girl.
“In adulthood, I could always adopt.” But Eli had the feeling that she’d never want to be with anyone besides Athelstan. And she also didn’t want to burden him in his adulthood with a lover that would always look sixteen. She closed her eyes against bloody tears, knowing they would upset the woman she was speaking with.
“Are you okay?” She put a hand on Eli’s shoulder, not sure if she’d said something, or done something.
“I am fine. Just... it reminded me of something.” Eli sniffled a bit, making sure she was all right before she opened her eyes again.
Lara looked like she was in a very uncomfortable position, and yet was also grateful that the girl hadn’t burst into tears. She wasn’t good with people. “What sort of interests do you have?” That’s it Lara. Small talk.
“Old Norse languages and architecture, religions, ancient poetry.” Eli chuckled. “If I go to college, I want to do a thesis on Skaldic poetry.”
Lara perked. She tapped the front of her shirt. “That’s relevant to my interests, too. We did a few things on that in University. Most of my focus was on Asia, but I’ve spent countless hours studying just about any ancient society I could get my hands on. You should pursue it. If it’s something that puts a fire in you.”
“It’s ... yes. Something close to me. I was born in Stockholm, you see. Eli is Swedish for God.” It was also short for Elias, but that was neither here nor there.
She nodded her head. “I’m afraid i’m not up on my Swedish, but ask me anything in Latin or ancient Sumarian and I’m you’re gal. That’s really great, though!”
“I know Swedish, French, German, and English, of course. My family was in the military.” Eli shrugged. “I got to have a lot of immersion in different languages.”
“That’s a really good thing, though. Knowing different languages, and exposing yourself to different cultures.” She knew moving around had to have been hard.
“It’s come in handy very much,” Eli smiled.
“Has it?” Lara wanted to know more, and suddenly, snack shopping was a lot less important.
“I think so. I can ... interpret my dreams a bit better.” Eli winced.
She bit her lip. That dream crap again. Lara leaned back against her cart and rubbed her shoulder absently. “They’re not just ordinary dreams, are they.”
“No.” Eli chuckled. “Certainly not. Do you have them as well?”
“My roommate dreams of being a valkryie,” Lara murmured, and then snapped out of it. “I suppose I do. Nothing extraordinary really. Looking for a long lost Japanese Island, and then got in a shipwreck.”
“That is a bit extraordinary. You do not want things to be too strange, they may end up really happening for you.” Eli shook her head.
Lara’s hand went to the right side of her head before she could stop herself. She half expected to feel blood.
“What happened there?” Eli blinked.
“I..hit my head, when the ship was floundering. I woke up and it was bloody. I’ve got a few new cuts, too.” She was half convinced she’d died, actually. Something had hit her in the back of the head, too, and she hadn’t had a new dream since.
“I am sorry to hear that.” Eli didn’t care to go into what she brought back from her dreams, if only because it was difficult to talk about.
“I just really hope… well there were others on the ship, I worry. I can hardly believe it feels so real…”
“It was. Somewhere, somehow. That is what I think the dreams are - echoes, somehow.” Eli bit her lower lip, glad her fangs were retracted.
“Shit.” Lara laughed. “You know I was all set to accept this other me. She got … better training I think, from my father figure. And to go on digs with her real father. Then the ship wreck.”
“I don’t know if I am much like the one I dream of. Besides the physical. She is much colder.” Eli smoothed out her skirt. “Though she has her reasons.”
“They’re probably good reasons,” Lara replied, a somber note in her voice. She didn’t know where it came from, but it felt like she’d just stepped on her own grave. She decided to change the subject. “I don’t think I gave you my name. I’m Lara.”
“It is nice to meet you, Lara. Latin for protection, yes?” Eli smiled a little. “You seem formidable, it is true.”
“I don’t particularly feel formidable. Awkward and confused, but I’m not really in my element.” She smiled, the expression self-decrepitating. “I really can’t wait to get out in the field. I’ll be more comfortable there. And I’ll have my best mate with me.” Just thinking about Sam made her light up. “She was a film major so we’ve plans for a documentary and youtube channels. I’ve got some good ideas on making it entertaining but still educational.”
“You love her.” Eli smiled. “You glow when you speak of her.”
Lara’s mouth opened and closed, a bit like a fish. “I..well she’s a big part of my life. Like a.. like a sister. She keeps me from drowning in books, I keep her from ending up boozed out and drowning in clothes. Of course I love her.”
Sure Lara. Like a sister.
“Then why are you trying so hard to think of words?” Eli blinked, cocking her head to the side. It was a bit like a cat toying with a mouse.
It was incredibly unnerving. Lara shifted on her feet. “I’m not..It’s complicated. She’s straight and I don’t know what I am.” Had Sam ever brought home a girl? Lara honestly couldn’t remember.
“Sexuality is fluid and less rigidly defined than most would think. But it is really truly up to you if you want to physically express love. You can love her platonically, you know, but you may also love her romantically. It is your heart. Just be sure the people you give it to know that they hold onto it.” Eli smiled, looking down at her cart. “I should get these things to Mama.” She loved sounding cryptic, she had to admit. How fucking vampire was that?
Lara didn’t think any of that helped her dilemma. “As long as I don’t ruin things in the end, I suppose…I hope your mum feels better thanks to all of that.”
“I do too. I think I have seen you on the Valarnet, let me know if it helped at all.” Eli smiled and gave Lara a little wave. “I will see you soon, I am sure!”
“Thanks!” She watched the girl go, and closed her eyes. Shit, she was in trouble.