VAGABOND

Dilara Alpman Shaw + 89 + Clerk at April Showers Floral + Familiar

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

NAME: Dilara Alpman Shaw AGE: 89 BIRTHDAY: December 1st, 1932 SPECIES: Familiar FORMS: Calico Cat, Fox Kestrel, Lion LOYALTY: Herself SEXUALITY: Bisexual OCCUPATION: Clerk and designer at April Showers Floral POSITIVE TRAITS: Benevolent, Optimistic, Kindhearted, Enthusiastic  NEGATIVE TRAITS: Naive, Melancholy, Escapist, Impatient

When Dilara was born into her coven, she felt a sense at being whole and home. Bright and warm since birth, she easily charmed everyone with her smile and her kindness. Growing up as a familiar, she was taught from a young age that she was here to support and to help witches, and especially her witch. One day she’d meet a witch and they would be bound to each other and she’d be there for them. It sounded like a lovely prospect to Dilara, as someone who gave her heart so easily to others and always wanted to help she liked the noble purpose of being there for someone else entirely. 

When she was 18 she met the person she knew would be her witch. For a few years she had been seeking one out in her own clan, but no one felt truly like the bond was strong enough to officially become their familiar. But when she met him, she knew in her soul that he was her witch. He had been visiting her coven with a few others from his own coven for an alliance meeting. It was instant attraction for both, but they grew close during his visit. When the meetings were settled and an alliance was made between the two covens, she knew she wanted to be his familiar. 

Dilara left with him to return to his coven, and they did the ceremony there to bind them together. Gregory Shaw was everything she had hoped for in her witch. He was kind, intelligent, and he had a desire to travel the world, something that she had always harbored in her as well. They soon left his travel and took to the world. Nowhere was off limits to them, and they never stayed in one place for too long. Wanderlust took a hold of both and the world was theres for the taking. Along the way the two developed a stronger bond, they soon became lovers and Dilara fell head over heels for him. 

Along their travels they were married and she became Dilara Alpman Shaw and it seemed like the world was complete. For decades this is how they lived. The sun shone on them, they could travel wherever they desired, and they had each other. But, clouds always have to cover up the sun sooner or later. 

Dilara knew the moment he had died. She had been at their current home and she was struck with the most heart-wrenching, soul shattering pain she had ever felt. Falling to her knees and crying out, Dilara knew the horrible truth. Somehow, he had died. She would later come to find out that he had been caught in a car accident and died almost instantly. His magic could not have saved him. She could not have saved him. 

With him now gone, she felt this overwhelming sense of loss and emptiness. Familiars weren’t supposed to exist without their witches. She almost died from the grief herself, following the footsteps of many others before her.  But, Dilara pulled herself together and survived because she knew he would want her to carry on. 

Most of the world held memories of him and she wanted to start somewhere fresh without seeing his ghost everywhere. Dilara soon settled on L.A., a place neither had visited in their travels. Settling there, she soon got a job at a florist as a clerk and designer. While being surrounded by supernatural creatures most of her life, she soon came to learn that L.A. was the kingdom of a special group called the Society and the royalty who ruled it lived here. She’s currently staying out of their way for now, the black scar on her left hand marks her as a familiar without a witch, and she isn’t sure how long it will be before she catches their attention. But she came here for a fresh start and to mend her broken and shattered heart, and Dilara intends to do just that, no matter who else is in town. 

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

Dre tapped his chin, eyebrows scrunched as if he was thinking and then nodded with a little laugh. “I think I can wait 15 minutes. Do you need help with anything to close up shop for the day?” He leaned against the counter, propping his chin on his hand and looking up at her, lazily at attention with the corners of his mouth curled into an almost playful smile. If he could help her put things up he would be more than happy, it being in his nature to be genuinely helpful to most he came across, but perhaps not to some of his fanged acquaintances. There was not much he could trust about them, usually quite hesitant in his interactions with vampires. 

.

It wasn’t that long, but Dilara smiled softly as he put on a show of contemplating it. However, she blinked in surprise at his offer. “You don’t need to help out. You are the customer after all.” She was the one working for him, and he was already doing too much for her when he was going to take her to his restaurant and pay her with the food she probably couldn’t afford. “Just relax, I’ll be done soon.” Smiling as she put the iPad away, Dilara started on the duties to close up, wiping down the counters and cleaning up the area she had been working on bouquets earlier. When that was done, she started to sweep the floor, gathering up the petals and leaves that had fallen today. 

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

“It’s worth it to be a part pooper for some yummy as fuck food. If there is one thing in life that is worth ditching anything for, it’s food.” Dre’s hand rested on the middle of her back, gesturing with a chin tilt at the door to signal their great escape. “You are speaking every bit of the language of my heart, please show me this glory elote before I explode from one more sweaty body grazing me.” He walked out of the party with her, having dropped his hand from her back to start the break in the crowd to create a pathway for her, one hand reached back to rest on her elbow again as a guide. He casually placed his partially finished drink on a random side table before exiting. 

The cooler air hit his cheeks with a welcome smile spreading across face, feeling the weight of social suffocation ooze off of him. It was one thing to be in a hot kitchen with flames everywhere, but a whole gaggle of people always set him on edge. “Please point us in the right direction, young lady; elote, tacos, and coronas await our stomachs.” 

.

Dilara didn’t feel too much guilt at leaving the party early. Unlike him, she was not part of the society and felt no loyalty to stay. Though, she did feel a little guilty for taking him from the party too. Dre acted excited though, so maybe it was alright that she was taking him from the party. “You won’t have to wait long, it’s not too far away.” She smiled, speaking over the music. Together they moved through the crowd, cutting through easily enough without bumping into anyone and soon they were walking outside, the cool night air hitting them both. She took a deep breath, feeling much better since she got out of the party. “Much better.” She breathed, closing her eyes for just a moment before she took stock of the streets.

“This way.” Dilara waited for him to walk with her and she started to lead him down the road towards where the food truck would be just a few blocks away. “That sounds amazing actually, I’m glad we did this. There’s not much else I want right now than tacos, elote and some corona.” The city was alive around them, but it wasn’t as oppressive as the party they had escaped from. But mostly, Dilara was glad to be away from so many witches in such a small space. It had been overwhelming and the pressure on her head was clearing some. “You aren’t regretting leaving with me, right?”

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

Dre’s face turned apologetic when she jumped, mouthing a sorry quickly before she continued to speak. He milled over what she said, actually feeling disappointment turn at her statement, but his eyebrows raised and he shook his head. Mouth tilting towards her ear so she could hear him better, “Please, Dilara, I don’t think you could disappoint me if you tried, you have the right idea, though. Leaving sounds as close to heaven as anyone could get right now.” Dre’s face scrunched as he glanced around the party, watching whatever was going on between all the different species and how they interacted with one another. It was odd, you would have thought that most would not get along, but alas the feigned truce that The Society held probably kept people in line more than he ever knew. 

“What would really be next to godliness right now would be some al pastor tacos and a lime infused corona, honestly.” The feeling of people brushing past him made him feel somewhat tense, and it was the odd thing about these kinds of events. How did they know that a hunter might not sneak in somehow? What if these extravagances is what would be the downfall of them all? He shook the thought, bringing his mind back to the present as he gazed down at Dilara. “Would you want to ditch this neon shit and find a street vendor?” 

.

Dilara knew she scared easily. She always had jumped at the slightest of things. Jumpy, not that it ever ruffled her. Giving him a smile at his apology she shook her head. “It’s fine, I wasn’t paying attention.” He did nothing wrong, she was just a jumpy person. If she were being honest, she thought he did seem disappointed for just one moment. But then a sly grin grew on his lips and she leaned in to hear him over the crowd. All around them people were partying to their heart’s content, which was not a bad thing. She just was not in the mood. “Are you going to try and sneak out early too?” She asked and teased. “I think we might be a pair of party poopers to leave so early.” But, really she just wanted to get out of here. Let the others have the party and enjoy it, she wanted something quieter tonight. 

Her stomach almost growled at the thought of tacos and coronas. The last time she ate felt so long ago and leaving the party to grab some tacos seemed like a good idea. Dilara grinned, her lips tugging upwards. “I like that idea a lot. I know of one truck that usually parks at a street around here. They have some of the best elote in the city.” He had the right idea and Dilara felt like grabbing food was a much better idea than heading home right away. “I’d like to ditch and go get some food.” 

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

Dre flagged the bartender down, requesting a whiskey on the rocks so that he could meander off to some corner to sip and show face to those who had watchful eyes and took mental tabs. All of the neon was almost giving him a headache already and he hoped the alcohol might soothe the throbbing if he had enough. Perhaps he would even leave early after he gave dribbles of niceties to familiar faces, and flashed smiles to those he wasn’t sure the names of in hopes of not being reeled into any idle small talk. His fingers curled around the cool glass, making his way to a more secluded area. There were many present, some dressed flamboyantly in a way that the creativity impressed him. So many bits and bobs, and perhaps if he had lived a different life he would have been drawn to that for himself as well, but he was more than content with the simple, black suit with embellishments that he hoped fit whatever criteria the Charbonneau’s had described. 

That’s when he saw her, dark hair pinned up intricately and white dress with colorfully tasseled poms that bounced with the slightest of movements. Dilara. The pretty flower lady and it clicked in his brain, that had been what he was feeling. She was a familiar, everything suddenly made sense. Dre’s interactions with the other familiars were sparse, barely passing words and he had never truly focused on them or the energy they gave off. Dre made his way to her, fingers past the loose sleeves of the dress to touch her elbow gently. 

“Flower lady?” he asked, in a teasing voice and a coy smile gracing his lips. “Fancy meeting you here.”  @dilara-alpman-shaw​​

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Dilara regretted coming. She really hated that she had been convinced by someone to try out the neon party when truly she had not been in the party mood. Her mind kept returning to the blood moon that had only happened a few weeks ago. Her behavior then had filled her with guilt and she hated how she’d been forced to move on when she really wasn’t ready to move past her broken heart over her late husband. Dilara had bene taking baby steps in living once more and moving on, but that had been too much and too quickly. Her heart was still broken and she was still in the grieving process. She would have rather stayed home truth be told and already she was searching for the exit. She had just broken off conversation with someone, and now stood scanning the crowd for the way out again. Only one drink in, but already it was too much and she was ready to leave. 

As he brushed his fingers along her elbow, Dilara jumped. The large crowd held many witches, and she was being overwhelmed by them all. It felt like the air was pulsing too much, and someone had turned up the volume too loud. So she didn’t sense Dre because she was surrounded by them. She smiled though, tucking some hair behind her ear. “I didn’t expect to see you here either.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “I hate to disappoint you, but I was actually thinking of heading out.”

[yaziciyasemin]

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

@mooselovesmuffins​

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

“Yes, only as a way to talk about flowers,” he promised, clasping his hands in a praying stance to amplify his promise. “You are paying me back by even entertaining my request for a tip being through food. You are more than welcome to come with me now, and I did bring my car, but we can also walk if that makes you feel more comfortable?” Dre stood up a little straighter and he felt warmth flushing his neck, realizing his words might sound strange to some. “I am just prefacing that because I… I dunno, I think maybe some people, especially women might be against riding in a relative strangers car. Am I talking myself into a hole?” He rubbed the back of his neck, scrunching his nose as he talked. The warmth under his skin and pink skin writing his embarrassment across his features. 

Did she know what he was? He wondered, but he wouldn’t be surprised because he felt there was something different about her, but it was still tickling the back of his mind. It had been a minute since he had sensed a familiar, he knew there were some in The Society, but he had not interacted with them enough in the past few years; keeping more to himself. “Yes, that color scheme does appeal to me quite well. Probably is my favorite color scheme.” 

Dilara sensed the way he was teasing her and her nose scrunched up as she smiled slyly at him. She just didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness and he was teasing her for it! If she kept it about business then at least she could semi pay him back for the food that was going to be more expensive than she usually could afford. “If you say so.” Dilara smiled. Though his offer surprised her, it was welcome to have the choice. Of course, he grew nervous, prattling on and rambling a bit but Dilara lifted her hands and tried to shake it off. “It’s okay, I understand what you mean. But I’d rather walk - but for a different reason.” It was not him being a stranger that stopped her, but the physical car that stopped her. “If you wait 15 more minutes until I get off, I can go with you.” 

While Dilara knew he was a witch, any specific element was more than she could sense. Even with her heightened senses for witches currently while she was a familiar seeking a new witch, she still couldn’t tell elemental preferences. Only that he was a witch with the near neon flashing sign that seemed to surround him. In fact, she had chosen the colors from the details in the back of the photos. There seemed to be hints of red and she wanted to play that up more. “I’m glad to hear that.” Dilara meant it too, she was glad she happened to land on his favorite colors. 

[thenordroom]

A plant-filled home in Berlin | photos by Caroline Reichel

THENORDROOM.COM - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - FACEBOOK

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

Dre shook his head, holding his hands up, “i have no problem being able to pay for the arrangements, and being able to provide a free meal. It is the least I could do to show my thanks for your expertise. It could be thought of as a part of the consulting fees, or if you were to feel that would be too much, as a tip.” He turned his attention back to her descriptions, focusing on the flowers she was already showing him. 

Body language matching hers, leaning down on his elbows with his head tilted as she flipped through the varying arrangements. He liked her ideas, nodding in agreement. “White is elegant and clean looking, especially as the main focus, but do you think that maybe some darker colors for a contrast would look nice? Yanno, I can plate a dish, but this… Goes way over my head.” Dre let out a chuckle, his cheeks tinging pink as he scratched the back of his head. He thought after so many years, this would come easily to him, but really, he always left it up to the professionals. 

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Bitting her bottom lip, Dilara tried to decide what to do with his offer. She knew normally she wouldn’t be able to afford his restaurant based on the interior alone. But, he was being so kind and he kept insisting, she didn’t want to upset him. “I suppose - only as a way to talk about flowers, alright? I want to be able to feel like I’m paying you back for your kindness.” She gave him a soft smile and glanced at the clock. “I get off in 15 minutes. Maybe I could go with you now if that works?” 

Now it was her turn to share her own screen and Dilara was more than happy to show him the white flowers she was thinking of. “Oh yes, there would be other colors. But white might be the dominant one to match the elegant materials you are using in the rest of the restaurant.” She glanced up and smiled softly to read his expression before flipping through more. “Maybe red or orange as another color? Even some yellow too. What do you think of that color scheme?”

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

Dilara’s Neon Party Outfit

@hollywoodundeadaesthetics

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

Dre dropped his hand from hers after their formal greeting, a warm smile lighting up his face. “It’s nice to meet you too, Dilara.” He brought his attention back to his phone, pushing it towards her so that she could take a better look. “I know that sometimes a picture can be worth a 1,000 words, but if it would help with visualizing, you could always come to Lux – of course, dinner, lunch, or whatever you’d like would be on the house and whatever you want, even off menu. I can take care of it personally, and it can also give a good idea during peak times if arrangements would, or wouldn’t get in the way.” 

Naturally, his body language matched hers, leaning against the counter, his head tilted down to see if the shots he had gotten of the restaurant were good enough for a visualization for what she might need. 

“Nice to meet you too.” Dilara kept her smile warm and turned her attention back to the phone. Already ideas were forming in her head of what would look good in his restaurant. But, at his offer she looked up in surprise. “Oh, you don’t have to do that! It looks so expensive and you’ll already be paying me to make the arrangements.” Dilara blushed slightly, embarrassed that she most likely wouldn’t be able to afford his restaurant. The offer was nice, very generous and kind, but she felt like there was no way to repay him.

Leaning her head down again, Dilara reached for a tablet the shop had that had photos loaded of bouquets they made as well as every type of flower they had so she could show him what it looked like when saying names. “Maybe something highlighting calla lilies or amaryllis or even orchids? White might be a good focus color to not overwhelm the classy decorations you already have.” She offered and flipped through the images to show him the flowers.

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

“Let’s start from scratch, I think. I have pictures of the inside of the building, what has been done in the past, and such like that on my phone for some inspiration, I suppose, but… Sometimes I just like for a fresh set of eyes to look at a flowerless place and go ham with ideas.” Dre took his phone from his pocket, opening up the photo album so that he could show her the setup of the restaurant. 

“So, this is for Lux, I am the owner and frequent the kitchens, and shit– my name is Dre Palmer, I probably should have said my name before going on a spiel, my bad. It’s nice to meet you…” he trailed off, extending his hand so that she could tell her his name before he just started talking her ear off. 

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Dilara nodded along, keeping her smile polite and friendly as he rattled on. It was nice to see him so enthusiastic about not only where he wanted the flowers, but the flowers as well. Leaning over the counter a little, she looked over the phone as he started going through the photos. The restaurant seemed high end and already she was thinking of some flowers and arrangements that would look nice there. 

The name Lux didn’t mean anything to Dilara, but she hadn’t been in town that long and looking at the inside, she knew it wasn’t a place she could afford to casually go to either. “Dilara.” She spoke looking up from the phone with a smile to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Dre. I’m Dilara.” 

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

lawyer-feldrurth​:

dragon-kaindrorrenth​:

dilara-alpman-shaw​:

He chuckled when Feldrurth gave a complaining noise about his lack of focus on her, quickly turning his gaze back to her. He silently conveyed what he didn’t say in words. That she was the only one who truly mattered to him, that he loved her, only her. Still, it was hard for him not to be curious about the familiar as well. “I know,” he hummed to the other dragon. “But she’s… eager to please.” A smirk brushed over his lips at the memories of his previous encounter with the other girl. He might not have recognized her from her looks, but the moan had reminded him of who she was. “Perhaps we should let her play?” He knew Feldrurth wasn’t fond of being with anyone who wasn’t a dragon, but perhaps, with the moon, he might persuade her…

@lawyer-feldrurth​ 

The dragon gave her own soft noise at him when he shared that all too knowing gaze with her and the dragon felt herself remove her claws from him, stowing herself on her possessiveness “But she’s a disgusting mammal…” The dragon huffed snootily as she continued to grind herself down on the male. The red head huffed at him and she looked down on him with heavy eyelids. “How eager to please she said after a moment as she considered his words. She’d already degraded herself once with a witch. What more harm was a small familiar going to do on a night without rules.

@dilara-alpman-shaw​

Dilara was aware they were talking about her, but she was only half paying attention. She felt outside her body, watching them fucking and watching the moonlight spill over them while she was gloriously effected by the moon’s power. But the words eager to please did penetrate the fog and Dilara moaned softly, nodding eagerly and stepping closer to them, drawn in by their spell. “I’m eager.” She whispered, only half aware of what they were discussing, but she was eager. She had been eager all night long as she was effected by the moon for the first time. 

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

dragon-kaindrorrenth​:

-

He chuckled at the moan that left her when he touched her wrist. It was safe to say she was definitely wound up, on edge, if such a simple touch could make her moan. It made it all the more fun to toy with her, knowing how much power he held over her in that moment. He let his hand trail up her arm again, and then down the side of her breast, following its curve. His thumb brushing over her nipple, he hummed when he found it hard, pinching it between his fingers. “Is this what you want?” he asked, even if he already knew the answer - even if she might not know it herself, too hazy to fully understand what was happening. With his other hand, he reached down to cup her between her legs. “Or perhaps, this?”

Dilara was entirely on edge, riled up beyond belief and in a state she had never been before. The moon was having a strong effect on her, and even his slight touch on her arm was enough to send a wave of desire through her. The moan came out quick and she could not stop it. But as his hand continued to go further, touching her arm, her breast, her nipple Dilara moaned again only to let out a sharper noise when he pinched her nipple. Dilara was riled up enough that she almost was pushed over the edge right then. She was trembling, putty in his hands and melting just by his simple touches. “Yes - please.” She moaned, the desire reaching a fever pitch. As his hand gripped her between her legs, she jutted her hips, the moaning becoming louder. “Please - yes, yes.” 

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

drexelpalmer​:

Dre felt like spicing up the floral arrangements at Lux, being bored with the scheme that had been designed by the previous flower shop he had frequented. With the turnover rates of artists and the quality of their flowers it had been a surprising let down from the previous interactions he had. Alas, that is what happens in LA, and he had heard of a floral business named April Showers Floral, deciding he would give them a try. 

The bell dinged upon entry, his eyes scanning the shop before resting on the clerk at the counter and he smiled at her. Dre walked up and rested hands on the counter, drumming his fingers absently. “So…” he glanced to see if there was a name tag on her shirt then back up to her face, his cheeks warming slightly, “I was wondering if you knew if there was anyone I could talk to about perhaps some arrangements for my restaurant.” 

There was something different about the woman in front of him, and it was on the tip of his tongue but he couldn’t recall. He had never seen her before from what he could remember, but he studied her face while she responded, trying to figure out what he was missing. @dilara-alpman-shaw​

That morning she had just finished up the order for 100 bouquets for table centerpieces for a wedding. The order had been for 50 tall and 50 short and they had gone over the specifics with the bride, even going through many mockups before picking the ones she liked. Dilara was feeling accomplished, it had been a big order and she was glad to see them shipped off to the venue earlier that afternoon. 

As the bell dinged, she looked up with a smile and let the man approach the counter. She knew he was a witch. Before her own witch had died, she could always sense witches as like all familiars, but now it was like they walked around with giant neon signs over their heads and carried this huge aura of magic. Sometimes it was oppressive and Dilara would feel overwhelmed if she was around too many witches. “You can talk to me about that.” Dilara told him with her usual kind smile. “Do you have any specific flowers in mind, or would you like to start from scratch?” 

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

[dilara-alpman-shaws]

mooselovesmuffins​:

Nikolay glanced over at the familiar woman. She seemed different since the last time he saw her. Was this what marriage did to oneself? The ultimate tie of commitment. He began to wonder if she had kids with her partner. What had she really been up to since the last of the letters he ever received from the woman. “Yes, I’m a guard… you’re probably wondering how in the world I ended up taking on that job, but at least it pays the bills and I get to wear a nice suit all day?” Nikolay gave a shrug, he was unsure what he really wanted in his life but the current job that he had gave him a sense of stability. He was loyal and would have done just about anything to ensure the safety of the estate and its members. “ I left about five years later? I can’t recall… things got messy”He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, it felt like he was hiding some details out.

He held her hands as she spoke, his gaze focused on Dilara. “Life just throws us all over the place doesn’t it.. I’m glad to have stumbled across you today, maybe its a sign, or perhaps its just a lucky day” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. He had not expected the oncoming flood of tears from Dilara. It broke his heart to see her crying. “Whats wrong—“ Nikolay asked as he was quick to comfort her. He opened his mouth in attempt to say something, but was left in utter shock when he saw the black marking on her hand. “Dilara … you could’ve died” He stated as he held her scarred hand close to him . “I’m so sorry for not being there for you”He felt a sudden wave of guilt. He should’ve been there to protect her and ensure that she was doing alright. He moved his hand and leaned in pressing his forehead against hers as he held her close. “I’m glad you’re okay now at least, I don’t know what I’d do without you here”He told his childhood best friend, not being able to swallow the fact that she nearly died with her witch. His phrase hinted more than friends as he still loved Dilara even if she did run off with another stupid witch that should have been him instead or at least he truly wished so. He gently ran his hand through her hair and sighed “I’m glad you came to Hollywood… theres plenty of things to do and see. Lets promise to stay more in contact?I can take you to the Hollywood sign?”Nikolay said wanting to change the stressful subject and lighten up the mood. He wasn’t going to pry and question how her husband had died as she had been through enough already. @dilara-alpman-shaw

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Dilara was still in awe of the chances of running into Niko again. It had been almost 60 years since she last saw him and she had been sure she wouldn’t see him unless she went back to New York. Which, she had considered going back after Gregory’s death, but she was too overwhelmed by returning back to her coven when she left with a witch who now was dead. In a way she felt like she had failed. But here was Niko! A tie to her past, the man who had been her best friend before time and distance pulled them apart. “Do you enjoy your job at least?” She asked, tilting her head with a smile. 

For almost a year now, she’d been carrying the grief of Gregory’s death, it was not new to her. But hearing Niko ask where Gregory seemed to bring it all out in a new wave. The tears came hard and fast, and Dilara moved closer, seeking the comfort he was offering her. Words weren’t needed as she showed him her hand and he knew exactly what it meant. He held her closer, and Dilara sobbed against him, the crushing weight of her grief getting to her. “I should have died.” She choked out, the guilt of surviving when he died got to her. He didn’t need to apologize, Gregory’s death had nothing to do with Niko and it wasn’t anything he could have stopped. Still, she let him hold her closer, and Dilara melted into the touch and felt the grief come out of her like a dam. “I’m glad you’re here.” And it was the truth, having him here when she needed support was the best thing. The tears still flowed, she still cried softly, but she was lulled a little by having Niko comfort her. “I’d like that.” She murmured through her tears, wanting to spend time with him now that he was here.