the flame is gone; the fire remains

The way I see it, you should live every day like it's your birthday.

[blondierosebourne]

I didn’t grow up here, no.

[valgoodwin]

Where do you come from?

[blondierosebourne]

Valérie?

That’s — a really pretty name.

[valgoodwin]

Thanks! And - I'm guessing the accent's not local?

[blondierosebourne]

I’m Alexis, by the way. Most people just call me Alex, though.

[valgoodwin]

Nice to meet you, Alex. I'm Valerie, but pretty much everyone calls me Val.

[blondierosebourne]

Even if you could, I wouldn’t let you. Sometimes, you’ve gotta give a little kindness back to the world without asking for anything in return.

[valgoodwin]

... I'll keep that in mind.

[blondierosebourne]

It’s fine, honestly. I’d have been a little miffed if some strange blonde lady was following me home too.

I figured it might be important; plus, those things aren’t exactly cheap. But, really, it was no big deal!

[valgoodwin]

Can I do anything in return? 

I owe you, seriously.

[blondierosebourne]

Pinky swear I’m not a stalker! You just dropped your iPod — here.

[valgoodwin]

What, ohmygod- thank you!

Sorry about the 'tude, I've been on edge lately but- ah, God. Thank you so much; losing my iPod would be like losing a limb.

[thealaurynchippendale]

[dillon-carter]

Probably not, but it does seem like you’re pretty damn paranoid. Needless to say, no one is following you around Ms. Valerie.

[valgoodwin]

I d- oh. 

Oh. Sorry, thought you were someone else.

[valgoodwin]

Fury

The blue lights were burning brightly, and she could do nothing but stare as she found herself carried into it; fire licking up her skin and gaining ground in her hair. She felt nothing.

It didn't hurt, not one bit - she could see the way it worked on her skin, the way it left her slowly turning into ash. Skin peeling off like she was shedding scales, and yet... If she tore at it..

Something hiding underneath, as blue as the fire itself; crisp and bright and sinister. 

She couldn't even feel it when she let her fingers dig in to rip away huge ugly flakes of soot-stained skin, the blue veins beneath pulsing. Soon she would be nothing but the ashen, burnt skin and the blue monstrosity hiding under it, but Valerie kept peeling at it; kept ripping the skin off. It had begun itching. Instinctively, she knew that if she just let it be, it would start hurting. 

In a moment of desperation, she dug too deep, and she felt a sharp stinging pain run through her. She couldn't get the skin off soon enough, and it made her feel it all at once-

the fire still burning her, the way the blue flesh underneath was pulsing like an open wound, her nails sharp as claws as she clawed herself to pieces-

She woke up screaming.

[valgoodwin]

I do know my way home, you know. No need to follow me to make sure I get there, I'm not that airheaded.

[badboybellanger]

Val, we have to face the facts: it’s too late to save the poor guy.

[valgoodwin]

Eh, you could try! 'sides, no harm in the thing living in the attic! Smell won't hurt anyone.

[badboybellanger]

It smells like rotten milk and stale poptarts.

[valgoodwin]

Well, uh.. Handwash it? Give it a rosy scent? Or, no, don't; might be best to avoid anything scented if it's already got some kind of "odour".

[badboybellanger]

Swore I got rid of this damn thing the last time I cleaned the attic…

[valgoodwin]

You shouldn't get rid of it! It's cute.

[holywatercannothelp]

I’m pretty sure that’s not how fun works, Val.

[valgoodwin]

Hey! I make it work, and it works just fine!

[holywatercannothelp]

Do you ever take time off to have fun, Val? You should.

[valgoodwin]

I don't take time off to have fun, I have fun when I have time!

[holywatercannothelp]

You should be there. Didn’t anyone invite you last night? 

[valgoodwin]

Uh. Don't think so, no? I couldn't have gone anyway; late shift.

[holywatercannothelp]

Do me another favor and when Eric mentions mixing tequila, pineapple juice and Jell-O into a giagantic mixing bowl to eat, remind me not to do it.

Actually. I can’t actually figure out if it was worth it yet. So maybe hold off on that other favor.

[valgoodwin]

I'll keep that in mind if I'm there.