welcome? im apo, im part of the military and am currently stationed in an undisclosed town, im here to help the town and anyone so come to me if you need
i saw some of the others making accounts and they showed me what it was when i asked so im here now and thats like it. yeah.
_____
current timeline: Episode 7 or post finale! Depends on the post
_____
🐎hello! my name is mae my main acc is @palindrme and i run the account! apo is one of my favorites so far in vampires and her character is just so so well built, I really enjoy it.
i also have another rp blog @learnedpet for pyro!
don’t ever be afraid to send asks or follow, i usually follow back rp accs :) i like making friends
my apo might not always be entirely character accurate! but ill give you the just of how ill try to portray them + tags under the cut
_____
Apo
- Not good with social situations, awkward and loses her temper quickly
- Judgemental towards most people, but wants to save or help people regardless of her personal feelings on them
- Scared half the time, full of dread and fear of not being able to see Cherri ever again. Cherri does exist in my portrayal but i am not against ships if i’m reached out to about it first^
- Feels very much like the world is burning around her and she’s covered in gasoline as the flames drip closer
- She’s not immune to vampire propaganda! as they stand she is post ep 7 turning against the vampires, but she is still very much on her own side. She is going to do what it takes to get home now whether that means killing vampires or humans
- Still coming to terms with her identity as a vampire. She is disgusted with herself and the urges she gets but can’t deny how good it feels at times and how easily her body has fallen into it.
_____
as the roleplayer, i do have a few boundaries,
like above, send me a msg if you want to do any ships, or even just have a fun idea you want to do with our characters, worst case i say no
i am however an adult! i will not romantically pair our characters if you are 15 and younger, im not against interacting with you at all, would just really prefer things stay at a comfortable level. this also goes for sexual jokes or innuendos, regardless of if it’s a joke i really do not want to talk about that with people so much younger than me, ty for understanding
and lastly i would prefer a warning if you ever want to go a super super dark direction with our characters! i enjoy psych horror and exploration on mental health/toxic relationships etc but would still want to be told first
Given Apo’s nature most roleplays with her in general are going to have themes of depression, be warned
_____
tags!
- #Apo: EnlistedEpilogue
my all encompassing tag for anything that apo is in, only posts that dont have it will be ooc ones
- #Apo: Blood on Her hands
This will be for my starter prompts, they will always be open unless otherwise specified and can be replied to anytime, i love interaction, please. Respond.
also the starter prompts are usually a bit longer! dont feel pressured by the length of them i dont expect all responses to be that long at all, its just to kinda kick things off :)
- #Apo: Mind your business
Asks tag!
- #Apo: Is this my end?
Post-finale posts :3 if you want to ask or interact w/ her in a specific part of the timeline feel free to specify! Even if I am writing her ep 7 or post finale I am more than okay rping before that point :D
I'm beginning to think v!Cherri's absence in vampires is secretly an elaborate ploy to get me to watch cowboys so that I can actually understand the nature of the relationship I'm rooting so hard for while watching VSMP.
Like, hear me out: v!Cherri is way more open to v!Apo turning her than the other way around. I do not know how much that opinion is influenced by actual clues to her nature that we get in vampires and how much of it I unconsciously hallucinated, but I swear it feels right, but I can't prove it, and I feel like the only way I could possibly figure it out is if I saw how she was in a different series.
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
“I am Cherri’s partner.” They were still happy and well thank you. Apo’s already pissed off expression simply darkened, not pleased with Phil of all people bringing her up. Not with what he did.
The lack of words was probably more angering than anything else he could’ve replied with. It prompted Apo to stand up and roughly dust off her skirt, not breaking eye contact for a moment.
“Not really. I kind of don’t want to talk to you at all.” She wanted to bash his skull in before driving a stake through his chest. But here they were.
She raised an eyebrow, glancing back down where she had been kneeling only a moment ago. “Yep. I was here for them.” She felt it kind of obvious, why else would she be directly infront of them? Talking to them?
She tried. Standing next to Phil, mourning in turn.
It didn’t last more than a few minutes.
“Why’d you do it.” She doesn’t elaborate, Cherri was the only thing connecting her to him. The source of her anger. Apo licked over her fangs in her mouth.
If she were still alive, this would’ve been where she steadied her breathing, thought critically at first about the situation and then let her brain go numb to shy away from the bloodshed her axe committed.
But Apo was not longer alive, so instead she let her nails grow slowly until they were sharp enough to break skin. Her lungs were dead and unmoving. It was almost reflex in the way she jumped, claws aiming quickly for his throat.
Where the sight of violence used to make her throat hitch, it now appeared the best decision she could ever make.
Apo took his surprise to her advantage, ignoring his stance and throwing herself at him recklessly. Both of them had the vampiric strength but she was still quite smaller than the other so it was unlikely to do much.
“You deserve this!” She yelled out, keeping in mind the two stakes she had in her satchel incase she did wind up running into someone from her past. They’d be hard to get to if she needed them, but they were there.
Phil hissed, stepping back. He let his own come out as his red eyes hardened. He didn't want to have Cherri on his ass again, but the fight was inevitable
Apo’s face flashed with fury once again, with every step back he took she closed the distance just as fast. “Your face should be a regret!” She growled out.
Okay look she never claimed to be the best at combat talking. Or.. talking in general.
Maybe she should just keep quiet. She slashed forward again with her claws.
Apo took every opportunity she could to swing at Phil, leaving her vulnerable for when he attacked back. They hissed loudly, shoulder reeling back from where his nails had caught.
But even as Apo sat in her home she shared with Cherri, she knew she wasn’t the same woman she left it as.
Vampirism had dug a stake through her, sinking in his claws and taking a chunk out even if they survived. And her Cherri, her beloved, had seen her and smiled.
There wasn’t hate or fear or hesitation in her love’s gaze. There was acceptance and relief and adoration. It was everything Apo could’ve asked for and yet it still felt wrong. She was undeserving of that care. Apo had killed, Apo had turned someone, —willing or not, accidental or not— and possibly worst of all under all of the dread Apo felt she had reveled in the feeling.
Blood still disgusted her, but just as people got the urge to jump off a cliff if they stood too close, Apo wanted more of it.
Apo was aware of this urge, she knew she was changed and… broken. It locked her in her room, staring out the window and trying not to think of the most tempting person in the same small house she sat in.
She wanted so badly to be next to Cherri, spend their freedom together. But more than the want there was terror. For Apo wanted to sink her fangs in and taste that sweet blood just as badly.
- @enlistedepilogue ( 🐎 SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG i was distracted but yayayay!!)
Cherri knocked gently on the door to Apo’s room, nervously shifting her weight.
Apo wasn’t the same, she knew that. But they weren’t a monster, Cherri wasn’t in danger by being in her love’s vicinity… they just had to figure out how to get her to see that.
Cherri’s eyes furrowed in response - no it wasn’t. Next to Apo was the safest she could ever be!
They stopped themself from voicing her (correct) ‘opinion’ and asked another question instead;
“Have you eaten?” It was a simple question, and before Apo had gone to Oakhurst, before she’d changed (not that the change was bad, white hair suited their love! Apo made a very pretty vampire), it wouldn’t have had to be asked, but Cherri knew Apo didn’t want to drink blood, and she knew their lady hadn’t been drinking it as much as they should have because of that.
She couldn’t blame them for that; blood had a very odd taste, almost like metal, from her experience.
Apo shook her head, silent for a few moments before realizing Cherri couldn’t see her. She shuddered, unused to having to separate herself from her love. “No I haven’t..”
It wasn’t like it was a huge issue to get the blood, wildlife was easy game to her dear hunter and Apo had been getting better at chasing herself. But the newly turned found it hard to leave her room, the hunger only intensifying as she refused to step out to satiate it. She was terrified she might lock on to Cherri.
She could say she would never harm Cherri, she wants to believe that. But Truffle was someone she swore to protect too..
Cherri sighed quietly, glancing back for a moment.
Apo wasn’t going to hurt her, she knew that. She knew that better than anybody. But they weren’t going to get Apo to see that stuck behind a door.
“Okay. I’m coming in.” They stated as they pushed the door open, “and before you say that you’re not safe to be around or some bullshit like that-” she stopped.
Apo, her Apo, her love sat staring at her with wide, scared eyes, eyes with dark, tired bags underneath them (had they been sleeping? Did vampires need sleep? They should have checked on them sooner, they should have noticed-) and she looked frail, so, so frail…
Crimson filled up Apo’s eyes. Her hands shook with their grip on the windowsill, rooting herself in place. Breath hitched and her lip quivered as the tears blurred her vision.
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
“I am Cherri’s partner.” They were still happy and well thank you. Apo’s already pissed off expression simply darkened, not pleased with Phil of all people bringing her up. Not with what he did.
The lack of words was probably more angering than anything else he could’ve replied with. It prompted Apo to stand up and roughly dust off her skirt, not breaking eye contact for a moment.
“Not really. I kind of don’t want to talk to you at all.” She wanted to bash his skull in before driving a stake through his chest. But here they were.
She raised an eyebrow, glancing back down where she had been kneeling only a moment ago. “Yep. I was here for them.” She felt it kind of obvious, why else would she be directly infront of them? Talking to them?
She tried. Standing next to Phil, mourning in turn.
It didn’t last more than a few minutes.
“Why’d you do it.” She doesn’t elaborate, Cherri was the only thing connecting her to him. The source of her anger. Apo licked over her fangs in her mouth.
If she were still alive, this would’ve been where she steadied her breathing, thought critically at first about the situation and then let her brain go numb to shy away from the bloodshed her axe committed.
But Apo was not longer alive, so instead she let her nails grow slowly until they were sharp enough to break skin. Her lungs were dead and unmoving. It was almost reflex in the way she jumped, claws aiming quickly for his throat.
Where the sight of violence used to make her throat hitch, it now appeared the best decision she could ever make.
Apo took his surprise to her advantage, ignoring his stance and throwing herself at him recklessly. Both of them had the vampiric strength but she was still quite smaller than the other so it was unlikely to do much.
“You deserve this!” She yelled out, keeping in mind the two stakes she had in her satchel incase she did wind up running into someone from her past. They’d be hard to get to if she needed them, but they were there.
Phil hissed, stepping back. He let his own come out as his red eyes hardened. He didn't want to have Cherri on his ass again, but the fight was inevitable
Apo’s face flashed with fury once again, with every step back he took she closed the distance just as fast. “Your face should be a regret!” She growled out.
Okay look she never claimed to be the best at combat talking. Or.. talking in general.
Maybe she should just keep quiet. She slashed forward again with her claws.
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
“I am Cherri’s partner.” They were still happy and well thank you. Apo’s already pissed off expression simply darkened, not pleased with Phil of all people bringing her up. Not with what he did.
The lack of words was probably more angering than anything else he could’ve replied with. It prompted Apo to stand up and roughly dust off her skirt, not breaking eye contact for a moment.
“Not really. I kind of don’t want to talk to you at all.” She wanted to bash his skull in before driving a stake through his chest. But here they were.
She raised an eyebrow, glancing back down where she had been kneeling only a moment ago. “Yep. I was here for them.” She felt it kind of obvious, why else would she be directly infront of them? Talking to them?
She tried. Standing next to Phil, mourning in turn.
It didn’t last more than a few minutes.
“Why’d you do it.” She doesn’t elaborate, Cherri was the only thing connecting her to him. The source of her anger. Apo licked over her fangs in her mouth.
If she were still alive, this would’ve been where she steadied her breathing, thought critically at first about the situation and then let her brain go numb to shy away from the bloodshed her axe committed.
But Apo was not longer alive, so instead she let her nails grow slowly until they were sharp enough to break skin. Her lungs were dead and unmoving. It was almost reflex in the way she jumped, claws aiming quickly for his throat.
Where the sight of violence used to make her throat hitch, it now appeared the best decision she could ever make.
Apo took his surprise to her advantage, ignoring his stance and throwing herself at him recklessly. Both of them had the vampiric strength but she was still quite smaller than the other so it was unlikely to do much.
“You deserve this!” She yelled out, keeping in mind the two stakes she had in her satchel incase she did wind up running into someone from her past. They’d be hard to get to if she needed them, but they were there.
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
“I am Cherri’s partner.” They were still happy and well thank you. Apo’s already pissed off expression simply darkened, not pleased with Phil of all people bringing her up. Not with what he did.
The lack of words was probably more angering than anything else he could’ve replied with. It prompted Apo to stand up and roughly dust off her skirt, not breaking eye contact for a moment.
“Not really. I kind of don’t want to talk to you at all.” She wanted to bash his skull in before driving a stake through his chest. But here they were.
She raised an eyebrow, glancing back down where she had been kneeling only a moment ago. “Yep. I was here for them.” She felt it kind of obvious, why else would she be directly infront of them? Talking to them?
She tried. Standing next to Phil, mourning in turn.
It didn’t last more than a few minutes.
“Why’d you do it.” She doesn’t elaborate, Cherri was the only thing connecting her to him. The source of her anger. Apo licked over her fangs in her mouth.
If she were still alive, this would’ve been where she steadied her breathing, thought critically at first about the situation and then let her brain go numb to shy away from the bloodshed her axe committed.
But Apo was not longer alive, so instead she let her nails grow slowly until they were sharp enough to break skin. Her lungs were dead and unmoving. It was almost reflex in the way she jumped, claws aiming quickly for his throat.
Where the sight of violence used to make her throat hitch, it now appeared the best decision she could ever make.
But even as Apo sat in her home she shared with Cherri, she knew she wasn’t the same woman she left it as.
Vampirism had dug a stake through her, sinking in his claws and taking a chunk out even if they survived. And her Cherri, her beloved, had seen her and smiled.
There wasn’t hate or fear or hesitation in her love’s gaze. There was acceptance and relief and adoration. It was everything Apo could’ve asked for and yet it still felt wrong. She was undeserving of that care. Apo had killed, Apo had turned someone, —willing or not, accidental or not— and possibly worst of all under all of the dread Apo felt she had reveled in the feeling.
Blood still disgusted her, but just as people got the urge to jump off a cliff if they stood too close, Apo wanted more of it.
Apo was aware of this urge, she knew she was changed and… broken. It locked her in her room, staring out the window and trying not to think of the most tempting person in the same small house she sat in.
She wanted so badly to be next to Cherri, spend their freedom together. But more than the want there was terror. For Apo wanted to sink her fangs in and taste that sweet blood just as badly.
- @enlistedepilogue ( 🐎 SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG i was distracted but yayayay!!)
Cherri knocked gently on the door to Apo’s room, nervously shifting her weight.
Apo wasn’t the same, she knew that. But they weren’t a monster, Cherri wasn’t in danger by being in her love’s vicinity… they just had to figure out how to get her to see that.
Cherri’s eyes furrowed in response - no it wasn’t. Next to Apo was the safest she could ever be!
They stopped themself from voicing her (correct) ‘opinion’ and asked another question instead;
“Have you eaten?” It was a simple question, and before Apo had gone to Oakhurst, before she’d changed (not that the change was bad, white hair suited their love! Apo made a very pretty vampire), it wouldn’t have had to be asked, but Cherri knew Apo didn’t want to drink blood, and she knew their lady hadn’t been drinking it as much as they should have because of that.
She couldn’t blame them for that; blood had a very odd taste, almost like metal, from her experience.
Apo shook her head, silent for a few moments before realizing Cherri couldn’t see her. She shuddered, unused to having to separate herself from her love. “No I haven’t..”
It wasn’t like it was a huge issue to get the blood, wildlife was easy game to her dear hunter and Apo had been getting better at chasing herself. But the newly turned found it hard to leave her room, the hunger only intensifying as she refused to step out to satiate it. She was terrified she might lock on to Cherri.
She could say she would never harm Cherri, she wants to believe that. But Truffle was someone she swore to protect too..
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
“I am Cherri’s partner.” They were still happy and well thank you. Apo’s already pissed off expression simply darkened, not pleased with Phil of all people bringing her up. Not with what he did.
The lack of words was probably more angering than anything else he could’ve replied with. It prompted Apo to stand up and roughly dust off her skirt, not breaking eye contact for a moment.
“Not really. I kind of don’t want to talk to you at all.” She wanted to bash his skull in before driving a stake through his chest. But here they were.
She raised an eyebrow, glancing back down where she had been kneeling only a moment ago. “Yep. I was here for them.” She felt it kind of obvious, why else would she be directly infront of them? Talking to them?
She tried. Standing next to Phil, mourning in turn.
It didn’t last more than a few minutes.
“Why’d you do it.” She doesn’t elaborate, Cherri was the only thing connecting her to him. The source of her anger. Apo licked over her fangs in her mouth.
But even as Apo sat in her home she shared with Cherri, she knew she wasn’t the same woman she left it as.
Vampirism had dug a stake through her, sinking in his claws and taking a chunk out even if they survived. And her Cherri, her beloved, had seen her and smiled.
There wasn’t hate or fear or hesitation in her love’s gaze. There was acceptance and relief and adoration. It was everything Apo could’ve asked for and yet it still felt wrong. She was undeserving of that care. Apo had killed, Apo had turned someone, —willing or not, accidental or not— and possibly worst of all under all of the dread Apo felt she had reveled in the feeling.
Blood still disgusted her, but just as people got the urge to jump off a cliff if they stood too close, Apo wanted more of it.
Apo was aware of this urge, she knew she was changed and… broken. It locked her in her room, staring out the window and trying not to think of the most tempting person in the same small house she sat in.
She wanted so badly to be next to Cherri, spend their freedom together. But more than the want there was terror. For Apo wanted to sink her fangs in and taste that sweet blood just as badly.
- @enlistedepilogue ( 🐎 SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG i was distracted but yayayay!!)
Cherri knocked gently on the door to Apo’s room, nervously shifting her weight.
Apo wasn’t the same, she knew that. But they weren’t a monster, Cherri wasn’t in danger by being in her love’s vicinity… they just had to figure out how to get her to see that.
But even as Apo sat in her home she shared with Cherri, she knew she wasn’t the same woman she left it as.
Vampirism had dug a stake through her, sinking in his claws and taking a chunk out even if they survived. And her Cherri, her beloved, had seen her and smiled.
There wasn’t hate or fear or hesitation in her love’s gaze. There was acceptance and relief and adoration. It was everything Apo could’ve asked for and yet it still felt wrong. She was undeserving of that care. Apo had killed, Apo had turned someone, —willing or not, accidental or not— and possibly worst of all under all of the dread Apo felt she had reveled in the feeling.
Blood still disgusted her, but just as people got the urge to jump off a cliff if they stood too close, Apo wanted more of it.
Apo was aware of this urge, she knew she was changed and… broken. It locked her in her room, staring out the window and trying not to think of the most tempting person in the same small house she sat in.
She wanted so badly to be next to Cherri, spend their freedom together. But more than the want there was terror. For Apo wanted to sink her fangs in and taste that sweet blood just as badly.
- @enlistedepilogue ( 🐎 SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG i was distracted but yayayay!!)
Cherri knocked gently on the door to Apo’s room, nervously shifting her weight.
Apo wasn’t the same, she knew that. But they weren’t a monster, Cherri wasn’t in danger by being in her love’s vicinity… they just had to figure out how to get her to see that.
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
“I am Cherri’s partner.” They were still happy and well thank you. Apo’s already pissed off expression simply darkened, not pleased with Phil of all people bringing her up. Not with what he did.
The lack of words was probably more angering than anything else he could’ve replied with. It prompted Apo to stand up and roughly dust off her skirt, not breaking eye contact for a moment.
“Not really. I kind of don’t want to talk to you at all.” She wanted to bash his skull in before driving a stake through his chest. But here they were.
She raised an eyebrow, glancing back down where she had been kneeling only a moment ago. “Yep. I was here for them.” She felt it kind of obvious, why else would she be directly infront of them? Talking to them?
She tried. Standing next to Phil, mourning in turn.
It didn’t last more than a few minutes.
“Why’d you do it.” She doesn’t elaborate, Cherri was the only thing connecting her to him. The source of her anger. Apo licked over her fangs in her mouth.
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
Freya walks up behind her, steps not exactly quiet because of the cane she uses. Her injuries from Sidera's flames have healed well, but it seems being cured from vampirism so quickly made her previously injured leg susceptible to getting re-injured.
Freya smiles softly as she settles down to sit on the ground a bit behind Apo, legs folded under her, cane laid across her lap. She doesn't say anything, but... Well, she's fairly open about seeing ghosts, so she thought it might be good to be there for Apo in case needed or wanted.
Freya is easy to notice but besides keeping her visible in her peripherals Apo doesn’t have much of a reason to be overly weary. She nods towards the other, Freya had never wronged her personally.
Ghosts. The idea is laughable but then again Apo has fangs and hasn’t aged past her early 20s in years. She won’t be the one starting that topic of discussion though.
".. It's nice to see you again, Apo. Welcome back," Freya eventually greets with a polite nod to break the silence, "Has everything been well for you?"
At the very least, it'd be nice to talk to Apo again and get to know how they've been in the years since Oakhurst.
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
Freya walks up behind her, steps not exactly quiet because of the cane she uses. Her injuries from Sidera's flames have healed well, but it seems being cured from vampirism so quickly made her previously injured leg susceptible to getting re-injured.
Freya smiles softly as she settles down to sit on the ground a bit behind Apo, legs folded under her, cane laid across her lap. She doesn't say anything, but... Well, she's fairly open about seeing ghosts, so she thought it might be good to be there for Apo in case needed or wanted.
Freya is easy to notice but besides keeping her visible in her peripherals Apo doesn’t have much of a reason to be overly weary. She nods towards the other, Freya had never wronged her personally.
Ghosts. The idea is laughable but then again Apo has fangs and hasn’t aged past her early 20s in years. She won’t be the one starting that topic of discussion though.
SPECIFY WHICH MUSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH IN THIS STARTER.
MUSES IN THIS POST: OWEN, LOUIS, TOWNSFOLK, ANONYMOUS TROUBLEMAKER (ONE-OFF MUSE)
It was a big event. Whenever Louis hosted big events they always had to be extravagant—extravagant and gorgeous. Very fitting for him, Owen must say.
It's been 100 years since Louis properly stepped up as mayor again, and 50 years since Oakhurst was returned to it's former glory. He says 'glory', but all of the souls that were previously in Oakhurst were rotten.
Owen steps up aside Louis, leaning close to him. Louis requested that he came to this event, and he could never bring himself to deny his husband, even though he always gives him the choice to decline.
The lumberjack gives a quick look at the crowd, bowing his head curtly as he wraps his arm around his partner. Usually he would full on hug Louis, but it was a public and formal event.
Louis cleared his throat, gazing upon the crowd. He gave them a warm smile. "Welcome, people of Oakhurst, new and old! It's the 5 year anniversary of when I stepped up as mayor of this town. So, me and my husband have decided to host a banquet!" That was a cover up, but it was still the anniversary—just not a 5 year one, it was the 100 year anniversary.
A loud cheer echoed throughout the crowd, and the townsfolk who knew of the vampirism giggled amongst themselves at the lie—it was mainly the people who have been here for around a decade that knew, however there were some new ones that apparently had been let in on the 'town secret'.
All the people who didn't know about the secret gave the people that giggled dirty looks, as if they were being disrespectful—in hindsight, it would've looked like they were.
... However someone in the crowd looked quite peeved. Their hands were balled into fists, and they shoved their way through the mob, looking closely it seemed like they had some sort of weapon in their hand. "VAMPIRE! VAMPIRE THE LOT OF YOU! I KNOW YOUR SECRET, YOU'RE A-" The person was quickly struck down by an old lady, who restrained them with some sewing yarn that she had in her purse.
Now seeing the person shackled, the crowd started booing them—to which Louis tried his best to calm them down, but to no avail. He saw them get thrown out of the horde and firmly grimaced, covering his mouth with his hands. Owen didn't care as much as Louis, but he still patted his husband's back sympathetically.
Louis cleared his throat to gain the attention of the assembly of people, who had just finished dealing with the troublemaker. He seemed much more nervous than he was when he started his speech, "Uhm, thank you all for dealing with that person, even if the methods you used were rather... violent in nature," he winced, "the banquet may begin, there's wine and other things of the sort on the tables placed around you."
Louis did a quick bow, before hurrying himself and Owen off the stage. "Pleasing the crowd is such a tough feat." He muttered, to which Owen gave him a quick peck on the cheek in an attempt to make him feel better, which it did.
The two gazed off into the sea of people, watching them all chatter amongst themselves. Louis offered a hand to Owen, and the two stepped into the crowd hand-in-hand.
Apo winced at the town member who had been quickly shot down by the crowd. It was annoying, just causing her trouble by making such claims. Vampires weren’t real. But nutjobs certainly were.
She stepped out from her post at the edge of the crowd to try and untangle them from the yarn and to tell them to knock it off. Apo had been sent to Oakhurst because of her recent discharge in active duty. It had been a hope that there would be less violence and bloodshed, and Oakhurst needed to be assigned someone in the army to watch over them regardless due to its slowly growing numbers.
While Apo was glad to be in a more relaxed role, it didn’t make the job any easier. She tended to try and keep to herself, standing at the borders and keeping watch at events such as the one she found themself stood in. She did however need to speak with the mayor at some point. Apo wanted to build a watchtower, or at least be able to reside in one of the taller buildings in the town.
After deeming the troublemaker a subdued problem for now, Apo shuffled through the townspeople looking for the mayor, eyes glancing around with a squint.
"I haven't seen you around town before." Someone says behind her. Looking closer, it seems like the person was the one standing beside the mayor. Perhaps his husband?
Owen eyed the troublemaker who was previously tied up, holding back a snicker at them. He noticed their arms were untied, however they were cradling their head like crazy—the old lady who hit them over the head must've had something heavy in her purse to provoke such a reaction.
Owen wasn't necessarily glad that more people were visiting Oakhurst, in fact he would argue that he felt the opposite. He preferred the quiet, where people wouldn't bother him and in return he wouldn't bother them. However, Louis thrives when the town thrives and Owen wants nothing more than to see his partner flourish.
He stared at the yarn in Apo's hand, raising his brow. "I take it that you were the one that untied them?" He gestured to the troublemaker, whom people were still giving sour looks.
Apo sighed, nodded, and balled up the yarn before pressing it into the lunatics hands for them to take care of it.
“Yeah.” She said, stunted before realizing she should explain. “I was sent to like.. watch over the town? By the military.” They patted their pockets for their badge, holding it out in hopes the person would believe them sooner and she would have to do less elaborating.
“I only arrived a week or two ago.” It was a long and quite boring journey. Oakhurst was far out from other parts, isolated in a way that Apo hoped meant she wouldn’t have to deal with many people despite what she was told.
"Ah, I see. Well then." Owen eyed her badge, though he's awfully surprised that the military came to a place like Oakhurst, interesting. Hopefully Louis knows of this new addition. "Have you spoken to Lou- the mayor about this? I would hope so."
Owen clears his throat awkwardly, "My husband is usually the person who welcomes people of notice into town, welcome to Oakhurst." Stars, he is horrible at this 'welcoming people' thing.
He looks around the crowd for a moment, pausing. "Well then, have you gotten yourself checked in at a local inn?" He tilts his head, foot tapping against the floor nervously.
“.. An inn yes.” She skipped past the welcome, clearly this man wasn’t fond of the pleasantries either.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet no, he should’ve been like told I’d be here- but I was just looking for him actually.” Apo didn’t see a reason to lie, if the man —who she assumed was the mayor’s husband based off of his wording— could put her in contact with him that was the searching done.
It was kind of killing her though, Apo shifted awkwardly, putting her badge away after a beat of realization it was just in her hand far longer than it needed to be.
Owen nods curtly. "Alright. Well then, I can speak to him about you and he can set up a time to meet after the banquet is over? I would imagine he's quite busy with the party currently." If he's correct, Louis shouldn't have anything planned for after the banquet. Though he doesn't imagine that the military appearing in the town would be pleasant news to hear, hm.
Owen truly hated social interactions with anyone other than Louis, it's a peeve he's had since 200 years prior. At least this person seems relatively reasonable, "I would like to know your name so that I can relay the information." he says, he would not like to have to describe someone by appearance as if he was a witness in a crime scene.
{ Post finale open starter! Survivors and ghosts more than welcome to interact:3 }
Apo said she would never return to Oakhurst. And truly she didn’t really want to. But somewhere after Apo had told Cherri everything, her partner had insisted on going back to mourn her friends.
Martyn and Ren.. They didn’t even know if the two were made graves. Apo designed a few schematics on the carriage ride over just in case. It had been a few years since she left, since she discarded their militia shield and put Oakhurst behind her as a more-than-morbid unignorable dream.
If she remembered correctly, Pearl and Cleo had stayed behind to rebuild, to live in Oakhurst. Apo didn’t know if they were still there though, plans could change quickly even with the longer lifespan they had been cursed with. A curse Apo was grappling with still, but Cherri had proven to become a big help with that, providing reassuring words and snapping her out of her misery in a way Cherri had been doing since before they fell in love.
Apo missed Cherri, even if she was only leaving her for a short while to revisit her past. Oakhurst. Apo landed out of bat form to walk up to rebuilt gates, everything was much more advanced than it had been left.
She glanced around but didn’t spot anyone at first glance. A relieved sigh, good, revisiting her past didn’t mean she wanted to talk to it.
It didn’t take long to travel out to Ren’s old cabin and spot the militia banners waving in the air, in surprisingly good condition for being out in the elements. Apo kneeled in between them, she wasn’t a religious person and didn’t see a need to pray, but she could wish them well.
“Hi guys.” She said, eyes closed to prevent them from awkwardly glancing around. “Sorry it took me so long to like visit and stuff.” Her hands fiddled with the ruffles on her dress. “I didn’t wanna risk running into Scott again. I’m sure you both get that though.” The joke fell a little flat with no one to reply.
“I am Cherri’s partner.” They were still happy and well thank you. Apo’s already pissed off expression simply darkened, not pleased with Phil of all people bringing her up. Not with what he did.
The lack of words was probably more angering than anything else he could’ve replied with. It prompted Apo to stand up and roughly dust off her skirt, not breaking eye contact for a moment.
“Not really. I kind of don’t want to talk to you at all.” She wanted to bash his skull in before driving a stake through his chest. But here they were.
She raised an eyebrow, glancing back down where she had been kneeling only a moment ago. “Yep. I was here for them.” She felt it kind of obvious, why else would she be directly infront of them? Talking to them?
She tried. Standing next to Phil, mourning in turn.
It didn’t last more than a few minutes.
“Why’d you do it.” She doesn’t elaborate, Cherri was the only thing connecting her to him. The source of her anger. Apo licked over her fangs in her mouth.
SPECIFY WHICH MUSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH IN THIS STARTER.
MUSES IN THIS POST: OWEN, LOUIS, TOWNSFOLK, ANONYMOUS TROUBLEMAKER (ONE-OFF MUSE)
It was a big event. Whenever Louis hosted big events they always had to be extravagant—extravagant and gorgeous. Very fitting for him, Owen must say.
It's been 100 years since Louis properly stepped up as mayor again, and 50 years since Oakhurst was returned to it's former glory. He says 'glory', but all of the souls that were previously in Oakhurst were rotten.
Owen steps up aside Louis, leaning close to him. Louis requested that he came to this event, and he could never bring himself to deny his husband, even though he always gives him the choice to decline.
The lumberjack gives a quick look at the crowd, bowing his head curtly as he wraps his arm around his partner. Usually he would full on hug Louis, but it was a public and formal event.
Louis cleared his throat, gazing upon the crowd. He gave them a warm smile. "Welcome, people of Oakhurst, new and old! It's the 5 year anniversary of when I stepped up as mayor of this town. So, me and my husband have decided to host a banquet!" That was a cover up, but it was still the anniversary—just not a 5 year one, it was the 100 year anniversary.
A loud cheer echoed throughout the crowd, and the townsfolk who knew of the vampirism giggled amongst themselves at the lie—it was mainly the people who have been here for around a decade that knew, however there were some new ones that apparently had been let in on the 'town secret'.
All the people who didn't know about the secret gave the people that giggled dirty looks, as if they were being disrespectful—in hindsight, it would've looked like they were.
... However someone in the crowd looked quite peeved. Their hands were balled into fists, and they shoved their way through the mob, looking closely it seemed like they had some sort of weapon in their hand. "VAMPIRE! VAMPIRE THE LOT OF YOU! I KNOW YOUR SECRET, YOU'RE A-" The person was quickly struck down by an old lady, who restrained them with some sewing yarn that she had in her purse.
Now seeing the person shackled, the crowd started booing them—to which Louis tried his best to calm them down, but to no avail. He saw them get thrown out of the horde and firmly grimaced, covering his mouth with his hands. Owen didn't care as much as Louis, but he still patted his husband's back sympathetically.
Louis cleared his throat to gain the attention of the assembly of people, who had just finished dealing with the troublemaker. He seemed much more nervous than he was when he started his speech, "Uhm, thank you all for dealing with that person, even if the methods you used were rather... violent in nature," he winced, "the banquet may begin, there's wine and other things of the sort on the tables placed around you."
Louis did a quick bow, before hurrying himself and Owen off the stage. "Pleasing the crowd is such a tough feat." He muttered, to which Owen gave him a quick peck on the cheek in an attempt to make him feel better, which it did.
The two gazed off into the sea of people, watching them all chatter amongst themselves. Louis offered a hand to Owen, and the two stepped into the crowd hand-in-hand.
Apo winced at the town member who had been quickly shot down by the crowd. It was annoying, just causing her trouble by making such claims. Vampires weren’t real. But nutjobs certainly were.
She stepped out from her post at the edge of the crowd to try and untangle them from the yarn and to tell them to knock it off. Apo had been sent to Oakhurst because of her recent discharge in active duty. It had been a hope that there would be less violence and bloodshed, and Oakhurst needed to be assigned someone in the army to watch over them regardless due to its slowly growing numbers.
While Apo was glad to be in a more relaxed role, it didn’t make the job any easier. She tended to try and keep to herself, standing at the borders and keeping watch at events such as the one she found themself stood in. She did however need to speak with the mayor at some point. Apo wanted to build a watchtower, or at least be able to reside in one of the taller buildings in the town.
After deeming the troublemaker a subdued problem for now, Apo shuffled through the townspeople looking for the mayor, eyes glancing around with a squint.
"I haven't seen you around town before." Someone says behind her. Looking closer, it seems like the person was the one standing beside the mayor. Perhaps his husband?
Owen eyed the troublemaker who was previously tied up, holding back a snicker at them. He noticed their arms were untied, however they were cradling their head like crazy—the old lady who hit them over the head must've had something heavy in her purse to provoke such a reaction.
Owen wasn't necessarily glad that more people were visiting Oakhurst, in fact he would argue that he felt the opposite. He preferred the quiet, where people wouldn't bother him and in return he wouldn't bother them. However, Louis thrives when the town thrives and Owen wants nothing more than to see his partner flourish.
He stared at the yarn in Apo's hand, raising his brow. "I take it that you were the one that untied them?" He gestured to the troublemaker, whom people were still giving sour looks.
Apo sighed, nodded, and balled up the yarn before pressing it into the lunatics hands for them to take care of it.
“Yeah.” She said, stunted before realizing she should explain. “I was sent to like.. watch over the town? By the military.” They patted their pockets for their badge, holding it out in hopes the person would believe them sooner and she would have to do less elaborating.
“I only arrived a week or two ago.” It was a long and quite boring journey. Oakhurst was far out from other parts, isolated in a way that Apo hoped meant she wouldn’t have to deal with many people despite what she was told.
"Ah, I see. Well then." Owen eyed her badge, though he's awfully surprised that the military came to a place like Oakhurst, interesting. Hopefully Louis knows of this new addition. "Have you spoken to Lou- the mayor about this? I would hope so."
Owen clears his throat awkwardly, "My husband is usually the person who welcomes people of notice into town, welcome to Oakhurst." Stars, he is horrible at this 'welcoming people' thing.
He looks around the crowd for a moment, pausing. "Well then, have you gotten yourself checked in at a local inn?" He tilts his head, foot tapping against the floor nervously.
“.. An inn yes.” She skipped past the welcome, clearly this man wasn’t fond of the pleasantries either.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet no, he should’ve been like told I’d be here- but I was just looking for him actually.” Apo didn’t see a reason to lie, if the man —who she assumed was the mayor’s husband based off of his wording— could put her in contact with him that was the searching done.
It was kind of killing her though, Apo shifted awkwardly, putting her badge away after a beat of realization it was just in her hand far longer than it needed to be.
