Who: Caroline and Marguerite What: Catching up on Marguerite's trip and things with Tyler When: February 20th Where: Restuarant Warnings: Low Status: Partner Thread | Complete
It had been a few days since Caroline had heard from Tyler. Since Valentine’s Day to be exact. Her ex boyfriend had shown up with flowers and chocolate for her, wanting her back. As much as she still loved him, she couldn’t take him back. Whether it was his fault or not he had broken her heart. Caroline couldn’t go through that again. Not to mention everything he had done while his humanity was off. He hurt her friend, had killed innocent people. There was no going back to how they used to be. Not for Caroline.
She went back to her life, focussing on work, spending time with her friends. Which of course meant she wanted to hear about Marguerite’s trip to New York. Plus a girls night out was exactly what she needed. Starting with dinner and of course drinks. “So,” Caroline said taking a sip of her wine. “Tell me all about your trip.”
It had been good to get out of Orange County. True, Percy had been a bit more worried given the whole being shot thing back in January, but all in all the trip had been wonderful. And of course getting to see The Scarlet Pimpernel in concert was amusing and the main reason they had gotten the tickets back in December. Of course, being in New York also meant getting gifts for friends from strictly New York shops because of course she would.
Girl’s night with Caroline was much needed though. She had done her best to be there for the other young woman with everything going on with Tyler but there was only so much she could do. So this would be a good thing. At least she hoped so. Taking a sip of wine herself, the actress smile.
“It was lovely. Cold, which is to be expected, but of course that’s the best weather if you want to go ice skating.” At least Marguerite thought so. She had always enjoyed Bryant Park’s outdoor rink and the kiosks set up around the rink. Food, drink, scarves, jewellery… there was a lot that could be found there and not as populated as Central Park or Rockefeller Center though all had fewer people after the new year.
Caroline nodded as Marguerite spoke about New York. From her time there Caroline knew exactly what she was talking about. “Bryant Park?” she asked with a small smile. Of course Caroline was a sucker for Rockefeller Center but after a year in New York she learned Bryant Park was a better option. A bit less touristy and definitely less crowded. Still she believed Rockefeller Center was something everyone should experience at least once. And of course Central Park, not so much for the ice skating, more just for the park in general.
“I’m jealous,” Caroline went on with another sip of her drink. “I need to get back to New York.” Or just out of Orange County and away from Tyler. Yeah, he hadn’t reached out since Valentine’s Day. But still the fact that she could bump into him at any moment? She wasn’t ready for that. Not to mention that after everything he had put her through she deserved a vacation in general.
Oh there were definitely the more tourist-y type things that should be experienced at least once, but one of the joys of living in New York was figuring out the places that were less likely to have tourists (which okay, New York was tourist central) and all those niche areas that really spoke to you that were off the beaten path, so to say.
“But of course.”
Smiling some, the actress gave a small nod.
“It was definitely nice to be back there, even if it was a relatively short trip all things considered.” She and Percy would just need to plan a longer trip at a later date. Do and see more things. Then again, she also needed to take him to Paris one of these days. Ah, so much to do.
“How about you? How have you been?”
Marguerite knew that things had been...stressful to put it mildly and she had done her best to be there for Caroline throughout it all. Tyler had his humanity back on which undoubtedly made things all the more complicated.
“Better than nothing,” Caroline replied. She was still always one to look on the bright side. And well, no matter how little or much time one spent in New York, it was still New York. Though for someone who had never been there before? She supposed only a few days could be overwhelming. But Marguerite already knew all the best places to go and to take Percy to.
And then the subject was back on her. “I’ve been.. okay.” Because she had been for the most part. Now that Tyler’s humanity was back she didn’t have to worry about what her ex-boyfriend was doing, who he was hurting, torturing, killing. Now she just had to live with all the pain. “Tyler came to see me on Valentine’s Day,” she said sounding more bitter than she meant to. “I guess he just thought he could take me out like nothing happened.”
“Exactly.” Because really, there was part of her that would always belong in New York or Paris. But it turned out, mostly she felt the most at ease in Orange County despite the weirdness. There was just that sense of community, those who understood the Dreams despite how much heartache or pain they could bring.
The bitterness in Caroline’s voice caused Marguerite to quirk a brow. It made sense, of course. Acting like things were just the same. Honestly she was sometimes surprised there hadn’t been bitterness in the Dreams for her and Percy once the truth was revealed. There had been pain on both sides, after all.
“I see…” In regards to the sire bond and breaking up with Caroline? That was something Marguerite could at least sympathize with given her own history of blackmail and the fact the sire bond took all choice away. But everything else? That was on Tyler and so there was a lot to unpack there.
“A misguided attempt at trying to make amends it would seem.” If there was one lesson she had taken from her Dreams (well, one of two), it was the importance of communication. Jumping right back into things without even discussing matters? Well, not a good idea. Not in the slightest.
Caroline was well aware of the fact that she shouldn’t hold the break up against him. He hadn’t wanted it at all. But the pain it had caused her was real. She knew what it was like to lose Tyler twice now. And she never wanted to feel that again. She wasn’t going to put herself in a position for him to break her heart. Even if it meant never being with him.
And even without the break up she could never forgive him for the things he did with his humanity off. She knew he had killed people. And that was strongly against Caroline’s morals. Not to mention the fact that he had attacked Ren too.
“Yeah well,” Caroline began the bitterness still evident in her voice. “There is no going back. Tyler and I are done. For good.”
That was always the tricky part, separating feelings from knowing something on a logical level. And even that took time. That at least could be worked on and through. At least if the love was strong enough. That was what Marguerite believed at any rate. But that was only one small portion of the issue. Honestly probably the smaller one in the grand scheme of things.
So she just swirled the liquid in her glass as she contemplated what to say as the bitterness was easy to pick up on. Though it was also good for Caroline to actually voice her feelings on the matter so it wasn’t like she was going to stop her from doing so.
“I’d say never say never,” What? She really liked An American Tail, “But you’re really the only one who can make that decision for yourself.”
Caroline was pretty confident in her never. There was too much pain between her and Tyler now. There was no going back. “And I’ve decided,” Caroline replied confidently. But that was enough on the subject. Talking about Tyler still hurt.
“So, tell me more about New York. What was Percy’s favorite thing?”
It wasn’t as if Marguerite didn’t understand that there were certain lines that, once crossed, were impossible to come back from, and so as Caroline wanted to move the conversation along? The actress was more than happy to do so. Undoubtedly it wouldn’t be the last time they spoke on it, but for now it was enough.
“Well….” So instead she would just answer Caroline’s question and fill her with stories of the trip for the time being.