#vida | conversations.

[dilvtedd]

@palmviewstarters

LOCATION: the beach, early morning FOR: open!

THERE HAD BEEN A time when the idea of getting out of bed too early felt like a struggle, like there were weights attached to her body. and yet, as time moved forward, time really did heal certain wounds. not all of them, but it was a start -- as her therapist would say. she started taking beach runs the more she got used to her prosthetic, knowing to stay closer to the packed sand closer to the water -- but on this particular day, the sunrise was just so striking. it had been distracting to stay on her path but she had done it. and yet, the woman found herself seated on a towel nearby the ramp leading one back to the land. " didn't expect t'see you out here this early. " vida eventually speaks. her gaze doesn't appear angry, no. in fact, it's more surprise than anything -- considering she usually finds herself in calm, quiet isolation. the woman takes a swig from her water bottle before she speaks once more. " i just finished my run, if y'wanted to be alone. "

[dilvtedd]

@ziss0u

LOCATION: outside of vida's physical therapist, midday FOR: morgan ackerley

WHEN MORGAN HAD FIRST requested that she attend vida's upcoming physical therapist appointment, there had been something within her that made her feel like she couldn't breathe. not because she wasn't comforted by morgan being anywhere she was ( in fact, this had been something that she had felt so deeply that it scared her at one time ), but because she was worried that what she was likely going to see would make her view her ex-wife differently. because when it came to what happened, vida was so, so fucking angry. because for so many years -- the army had been her entire life. and yet, she knew when it came down to it, she would have made the exact same choice, no matter what the outcome would have been. even if it meant she would never come home.

every time she leaves the office, it's never their fault -- but vida always feels smaller. like a stepstool has been removed from underneath her feet, and she's been sent tumbling to the ground. thus, she appears a bit sheepish as she pauses in her stride -- pressing her back against the brick wall as she closes her eyes. when she opens them again, morgan is still staring back at her. " you're sure that wasn't too much? " the woman asks just as she had before, trying to calm her heart rate. " i don't want y'to feel like y'have an obligation to come with me. "

[dilvtedd]

@sunshinesfm

LOCATION: electric lights FOR: hadley okoro

VIDA HAD ALWAYS BEEN god-awful when it came to dating apps. frankly, it had nothing to do with the women she matched with -- mainly she'd define it as a mixture of terror and just simply being distracted. she was constantly at work, her head down every chance she got. it was what she had to do to keep her place and its lights on. on this particular night she'd been at the front of the club letting people in -- when her eyes lock with a familiar face, her hardened security guard persona immediately softening. " oh my gosh -- hadley, right? " the woman says, gesturing her in. she's sure a beautiful woman such as herself has plenty of other people to talk to. and yet, vida can't help but feel bad. the universe doesn't revolve around herself anyway. " 'm sorry 'bout that stupid app... i'm such a chicken when it comes to all that. i feel like a fish outta water. " how does she explain herself without overexplaining herself too much? her other coworker seems comfortable where he is, so they can continue their conversation. " but it's nice t'see you in person. "

[dilvtedd]

@ziss0u

LOCATION: tipsy shores dance hall. FOR: morgan ackerley.

IS IT THE SMARTEST thing -- to find yourself perched on the same stool repetitively of your ex-wife's establishment? some may say no, but as they liked to say -- they were different. right? and yet, there's a fire in her stomach every time she watches morgan -- and she can't help but relish in the pain. at least she still gets to be near her at all. thus, instead of letting the jealousy she feels when someone gets too close eat her alive, she wonders if she can drown in the whiskey she's drinking. this is her punishment. she notices a well-dressed man near her -- talking, laughing. fuck. to keep herself from raging, she runs her fingers through her hair to remind herself she's still here and in her own body before she takes perhaps a bigger swig than she should. one would think that it should burn, but it oddly doesn't. morgan is at her side the next time she looks up, and vida can't help but cough before putting her mask back on. she could be simply just socializing with patrons, for all she knows. " i hope i'm not bein' a buzzkill. " vida laughs quietly, her face flushing before she looks into her empty glass again. once she realizes she currently has no liquid courage to fall back on -- her eyes meet morgan's once again as the song changes. it's out of character for her as she offers her hand, but morgan has always been her favorite and only dance partner. " may i have this dance, darlin'? "

[dilvtedd]

@lionheartcds

LOCATION: The paradox, late night. FOR: alistair slater.

SELF-SOOTHING HAD ONLY become a common occurrence for vida since she returned home from her final tour. it made the what ifs quieter -- only when they were particularly loud. like tonight, when she finds herself at one of the many bars in town after a particularly rough day at work. and yet, it's like she never quite clocks out. she can smell some bullshit threatening to boil over in the corner of the bar when a group of what she could only assume to be frat brothers in the corner of the room raising their voices. not ready to fight anyone else, but each other. thus, she's quick to beckon alistair over -- who she's seen around this bar plenty of times before. " y'might wanna get that pack of wild idiots under control... " the woman mutters under her breath before she takes a sip of her whiskey. " i'm sure neither you or your employees are interested in cleanin' up blood tonight. "

[dilvtedd]

@strynights

LOCATION: electric lights, evening. FOR: marisol navarro.

BLEARY EYES WERE NOW brighter thanks to an energy drink vida had buried deep within her bag -- but it was pretty damn hard to ignore how pitiful the younger gentleman within her range of sight looked, trying to catch the attention of the young woman that clearly wasn't interested. she'd seen the type before. the entitled jerk-offs who had the same amount of luck with women as certain basketball players did when it came to foul shots. as if vida needed another reason for men to stay far away from her... the list was already oh so very long! and yet, it's when the man steps closer to the younger women that vida interferes. " alright buddy -- it's kinda gettin' sad watchin' you faceplant as hard as y'are. consider this a mercy warnin' -- fuck off, o te vas a la calle. " even if vida is only on shift a couple of nights a week, her white hot stare is well known. thus, the man backs off with an expression that only could be described as sour milk. " y'alright, darlin'? " the woman questions, eyes following after the man making sure he stayed the hell away. " i can still throw 'im out, if y'want. here -- next two drinks on me. "