Thread Back-Up from Discord for the thread "This is a Cup of War"
The FMRP timeline redo of the OG thread featuring the AU scenario
Starring: Aerallis Tithiros & Ellen Bailey
Guest Starring: Ilosti Tithiros & Thora Phrostfur
Written from: 11/21/2020 - 11/24/2020
Total Word Count: 23,668 words.

☠ ❣ Content Warning ❣ ☠

Nothing explicit, but mentions of violence & mature themes throughout

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Ilosti Tithiros:

Bear River, Montana

Sigh. It left her when her eyes rested upon the empty driveway. Her sister wasn't home, likely out running her morning errands to restock the insanity that was her pantry and fridge. Ilosti put her purple cobra in park and turned the vehicle off. Ah well. It was only eleven in the morning, she hadn't had her coffee yet, and Aera's coffee machine made bangin' cappuccino's way better than hers did. 

Pulling her keys from the ignition and getting out, the mage started to thumb through the keys on the ring to find the duplicate for her sister's house - a simple task, given that her sister liked to be as fancy as she did. With her keys, at least. She picked out the one with the skull and shut the car door, stretching with a yawn as she climbed the porch steps.

Letting herself in was easy. Pocketing her keys into the front side of her black leather pants, the Italian made her way into the kitchen. It wouldn't take her long to pull out her favorite ingredients and switch on the coffee maker. A regular cup of joe was turned into a sweet tooth caffeine addict's masterpiece in under a minute. She left the pot on warm, taking one of her sister's thousands of various mugs, to the table with her to sip from after using a tiny bit of ice magic to swiftly cool it to juuust the right temperature.

A thought occurred to her then; downstairs was where Aera kept all of her potions. If she slipped down there to fetch a certain one, she could slip it into her sisters' coffee for a bit of a joke when she got home. Yes. Doing it. Leaving her mug on the counter, the fanged witch left the kitchen and entered the basement.

She made a beeline for the shelves upon which Aera kept her potions, next to a desk lined with ingredients. It only took her half a minute to collect the one she wanted and go back upstairs, closing the door behind her. Now to brew another cup.

Once another cup of coffee was ready, she held the small glass in her hand and unscrewed the top on her way back to the counter. One. Two. Three. Four drops. That should do it. The coffee didn't change color, thankfully. She added a little bit of french vanilla mix into the cup, and stirred it, leaving the small bottle on the counter behind the coffee grains, and the Star Wars mug on the island for her sister to grab. 

Yes. This was going to be perfect.

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen's days off seemed so few and far between these days. Granted, she was on the steadiest schedule she had been on since she transferred into the Bear River Police Department; eight hour shifts, seven hour shifts, nine hour shifts… no more crazy eighteen hour shifts with only a four hour break in between. 

The precinct couldn't have taken much more of the hours or the overtime pay. With the serial killer investigation stalled once again until a new lead or a new body appeared, they were on as few hours per week as possible to still meet the needs of the station. But it meant she worked almost every single day rather than having a day or two off after long hours.

When that rare day off appeared on her schedule, Ellen immediately picked up the phone and called Aera, told her she would be free all day and she was coming over for some R&R. They would eat and watch movies and bad soap operas (Ellen had the uncanny ability of finding one playing on one of the millions of cable channels at pretty much any time of the day) and gossip about whatever they had to gossip about. And drink wine, of course. 

The amount of times now that she'd found herself tipsy at Aera's house started to reach embarrassingly high numbers. What could she say? Italians liked to drink and so do the Irish. Couldn't be helped.

She woke up that morning earlier than expected, having set the alarm to wake her at 10 but finding the clock said 8:30. Ellen stretched and laid staring up at the ceiling. Hmm. She wasn't supposed to head over until around noon. Nine o'clock was a little early to just randomly show up, even if she knew the likelihood of Aera being asleep was very low. 

So she showered, got dressed in her usual lazy day attire of loose pants (too cold for leggings) and a plain long sleeved shirt she would probably throw one of her bulky sweater over later, and went into the kitchen for an early breakfast of pancakes. Pancakes were about all she could cook on a regular basis and have them turn out well without fail, and she ate them regularly.

She ate, cleaned up the kitchen, gave Thorny the kitchen cactus his weekly intake of water, then checked her watch again. Well, she'd successfully managed to kill two hours. That was long enough, yeah? Ellen was impatient to get her girl's day with her best friend started, and Aera wouldn't mind if she were a little early? She sent her a quick text letting her know she was on her way, put on the grey sweater she had worn on Halloween, bundled up, and left, humming under her breath.

When she pulled into Aera's driveway, her eyes instantly went to the van already parked. That's not Aera's… In fact, it looked like it might be… Ilosti's? Ilosti was here? Ellen frowned, wondering whether or not her best friend had decided to take off and leave her sister in her place, again. Aera's car wasn't in its usual spot, so maybe that was the case… but she didn't want to assume until she actually went inside. The front door was open - as usual - and she removed her coat and shoes and followed the scent of coffee to the kitchen.

As expected, there was a lack of one Italian and the distinct presence of another at the table. 

"Oh, Ilosti, hi! I didn't know you were here." Ellen smiled at her and set her purse off to the side on the counter. "Is Aera out? I'm a little early but the door was open, so I thought I'd let myself in." Her eyes moved to the coffee machine, sniffing the delicious smell. Mmm. She hadn't had her coffee yet today.

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Ilosti Tithiros:

"Welcome home!" She called, taking a sip of her drink. Her eyes rolled shut in bliss. Ohohoho, yeeeess! Wherever her sister got her coffee maker, she wanted one. It always made the best coffee and from it, she could make one hell of a hazelnut cappuccino. Just a few more seconds, and then the fun could begin. But there was something odd: Aera didn't say hello back. Footfalls came into the kitchen. "Oh, Ilosti, hi! I didn't know you were here."

Wha- She turned and blinked in surprise. Ellen was here?

"Oh. Good morning, Ellen." She said, setting down her mug, returning the blonde's smile. Why was Ellen here? Ellen said she was early, but the younger sister didn't know anything about her plans with Aerallis. The cop set her things down and asked where Aerallis was. The witch picked her mug back up... and paused, her gaze flicking to the mug she'd left out for Aera.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no. Ellen was here.

She set her cup down and wove around the island, reaching for the other mug. Be cool. Be cool. 

"She's out shopping, but she should be back soon," She said. Wasting a potion, and the coffee, would be a tragic waste... But it would need to be dumped out. She needed to take it to the sink, which was currently behind Ellen. 

Ilosti smiled at the blonde. Manners. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" Being a cop, how could she say no? Besides, Aera's coffee maker was pretty BAMF. And it was still morning. So when Ellen accepted the offer, just as the witch predicted she would, she got up and grabbed one of the assorted, more amusing mugs. "You like it black, right?"

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Ellen Bailey:

Ilosti didn't seem to expect Ellen to show up, either. She probably let herself in, but if she was supposed to be here wouldn't she know that Ellen and Aera had planned to spend the day together? The blonde wondered if Aera invited her to spend the day with them - it was supposed to be a girl's day, which usually Ilosti wasn't involved in, but the more the merrier, right?

Ellen nodded as Ilosti said she was out for shopping. Of course. Probably planning for their fabulous night. And she just had to show up early enough she was still out. Though if Ellen planned to get here around noon, it shouldn't be much longer… she would just make herself comfortable. Maybe chat with Ilosti a bit?

Before she could make any kind of moves away from the counter - and the sink - Ilosti jumped to her feet and snatched the coffee cup that Ellen had been eyeing off the counter. Before she could do more than blink in confusion, the Italian offered to make her a cup of coffee.

"I would love some," She said, and reached out for the cup now in Ilosti's hands - but instead Ilosti moved away from her and grabbed a fresh cup. Ellen looked at the cup Ilosti had left where she had been sitting. So... they were both... hers? "Er... yes, I do."

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Ilosti Tithiros:

As long as she could keep the Star Wars cup away from Ellen, and Aera while the Human was here, that would be a win and she could prank Aera another day.

"One cup comin' up," She said, reaching for the coffee pot. But why was Ellen here? Did she and Aera have another girl's night planned? "Sorry, I didn't know you'd be here or I'd have made you a cup earlier." And she wouldn't have gotten the potion to begin with.

"Is it ladies' night?" She poured a cup for Ellen and handed the mug over to her.

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen shook off the confusion and accepted the new cup with a smile. "Thank you." She sniffed it. Smelled like… french vanilla hazelnut? Yum. She sipped from it, immune to its current temperature after years of drinking piping hot gas station quality coffee. "Yeah. Well, sort of. It's more of an all-day thing this time."

She took several more sips from the coffee, reclining against the counter. "I didn't know you'd be here either. Are you joining us?" Part of her hoped she would say no, only because Ellen was a little possessive of her 'all to myself' Aera time. The three of them hung out all the time; it'd be nice to have some alone time with Aera for once.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

"I kinda invited myself over," Ilosti admitted with an laugh. "I can go after Aera comes in with the groceries." And after she'd poured out the potion-spiked coffee. 

 Aerallis came in with grocery bags magically levitating off to the side. The second she caught sight of her friend, she rushed to the other end of the front room, lowering the bags. The younger sister sighed, cursing under her breath in Italian.

"Hello ladies!" The older sister called, picking up four bags and taking them into the kitchen. "Hi, sis." After she set the bags down on the kitchen counter, the tiny Italian kissed her sister's cheek. "You still need to tell me when you come over," She muttered under her breath. Ilosti just grinned at her, whispering 'sorry'.

Shaking her head, she then went to her friend and gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You're early!" There was a giggle in her throat as she went back to start putting the groceries away.

That was when she saw the Star Wars mug by the fridge. She didn't catch Ilosti looking at her. She hadn't made any coffee since five o'clock this morning, and she'd drained the whole thing in a little under an hour. If she were being honest with herself, she could use another pick-me-up.

As she picked it up, Ilosti uttered a panicked whisper that she didn't quite catch. "Aera, don't!"

Aera took the mug into her hands and took a sip. Mmm. Still warm. And a little too sweet for her tastes. Ilosti must've made it, then. "Thanks for making coffee, Ilosti," She said, taking a long sip. "What?"

The younger sister was looking at her like a deer in headlights. "I, uh- forgot that I used my special syrup for that cup. We should trade, drink this one," She offered, picking up her joke themed mug and holding it out to her sister.

"The chocolate stuff? Mmmm, this one is mine, then," Aera replied, taking another long sip, despite her sister's silent protests.

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Ellen Bailey:

"Ah." Ilosti had come in uninvited. So they were both here when they weren't supposed to be. Ellen at least texted Aera to let her know she was on her way. She never checked her phone for a reply… oops. Luckily, she was saved entirely by the bell; she heard the front door open and turned in time to see Aera enter the kitchen, her arms laden with grocery bags.

"Hey!" Ellen responded warmly, with a little wave. When Aera turned and gave her a quick hug and her usual peck on the cheek, the blonde gave her a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I know. I did text you. I got up way earlier than I planned today and decided to come over to get a jumpstart on our day. I didn't think you'd be out. But luckily Ilosti was here so we've just been hanging around!" She gave a small shrug and grinned in Ilosti's direction.

"Need help putting anything away?" She questioned.

Ilosti seemed to freeze up when Aera reached for the mug that had been set aside when Aera came in. Ellen didn't notice it or the exchange between the two; she drained her coffee mug (yes, she drank incredibly fast) and hip bumped Aera as she automatically went to help put groceries away without needing the question answered.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

Looking between them, all Aera could do was smile. Ellen drained the rest of her coffee and got up, asking her if she needed help putting anything away. After all of the times she'd seen the mage putting things away, she knew where just about everything went now. "Uhm... Yes, actually. If you two could start putting things away while I grab the rest, that would be awesome."

Ilosti shrugged, nodded with a inward sigh, and got up to help. Grinning, Aera downed the rest of her coffee, gave them a thumbs up and rushed off to fetch the rest of the groceries.

Ellen passed her on the way out to help, hip bumping her. Rather than laugh at the contact like she normally would, the Italian shivered. She brushed it off as a one off weird thing, and went on.

The Human was outside when Ilosti pulled her aside, urgently whispering, "Aera, you have to send Ellen home. Right now."

"No?" Aerallis arched a brow, seeming almost offended that her sister would even suggest such a thing. Ilosti had been a little jealous at first, but she'd gotten over it. They were friends. "Why?"

The younger gives her a strained look. "Well, I... I didn't know you had plans today, so I thought I'd play a little prank on you."

Aera pauses, narrowing her eyes at her sister. "What did you do?"

Ilosti starts to put things away to keep appearances when Ellen comes back with more bags, keeping her voice low. "I might have spiked your coffee." She admits.

"What?" God damn it, Ilosti. "With what?"

The other mage sends her an apologetic look. "It may or may not have been an aphrodisiac..." She says, biting her lower lip. Aera blinks. An aphrodisiac... In her coffee... That she drank all of... While Ellen was over... Oh. Oh. She was right, Ellen did need to leave, and soon.

"God damn it, Ilosti." The words are a growl. It had been meant to stay inward. It was fine that it had stayed that way. "Why would you even prank me with that?" The older sister hissed, emptying a bag.

Ilosti's only response was a nervous laugh. Fuckin' bitch.

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen paused long enough to pull back on her coat and shoes and made her way out to the car to help bring in the rest of the groceries. She's the kind of person who requires as many bags as possible to be brought in at one time, so by the time she returns, she is ladened with the rest of the bags. Huffing and puffing a bit, as it was... a lot.

She did not notice the siblings whispering together under the noise of the rustling of bags.

"Brr, it's freezing out there! I swear it got colder just since I've been inside," She chirps, stepping between them and dumping all the bags unceremoniously on the counter where the rest of them had been placed.

She brushes past Aera again as she hurries back to the foyer to take off coat and shoes once again. Hopefully the groceries will be put away quickly; the first of their soaps was about to start here soon.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

In total, there were about twenty-five bags full of all sorts of things. Various meats and poultry, vegetables, and so forth. Ilosti helped Ellen put them away and, once they were done, drained the rest of her coffee. Aerallis assisted them once all of the bags were brought in, making a conscious effort not to get too close to Ellen.

Sweet, oblivious Ellen, that went on as usual - brushing against her instead. Electricity shoots through her from the contact, earning another shiver. The older mage cast a glare at her sister, who mouthed 'I tried' and hid from the look.

Ilosti was watching them from the corner of her eye, making idle talk.

"Thank you both," Aera breathed once it was all said and done, nearly reaching for the human's waist and catching herself, placed her hand in her pocket. Don't touch Ellen. Don't. Touch. Ellen. 

"It is getting rather cold, isn't it?" The perfect segue. "I... actually don't feel all that well. I felt it earlier but thought it would've gone away by now, and I don't want to risk either of you getting sick." She sent an apologetic look at Ellen. "I'm sorry, I know that it was supposed to be our day. Can we take a raincheck?" Yes. Send them both home and call Thora over. Maybe.

"I'm sorry you don't feel well," offered Ilosti. You fucking should be, Aera thought bitterly. "I don't get sick easy. I can take care of yo-" 

What? No. "Thanks, but I'd prefer if you went home. Might be best if I go lay down."

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Ellen Bailey:

It took the three of them no time at all to get everything put away once Ellen returned to the kitchen - although, and Ellen did notice this, Aera seemed to be making a conscious effort to stay away from her. At least, it felt a little bit that way? It seemed like no matter what either of them was putting away, Ellen would find Aera on the other side of them room, or sometimes even Ilosti would step between them.

It was a little weird, but Ellen only picks up on it and notes it as a weird coincidence, not that there's anything wrong with Aera.

"You're welcome," Ellen smiled, and moved to put all the empty coffee mugs in the sink. Only to turn around with a startled look as Aera suddenly says that she isn't feeling well. "Oh no!" Oh man... 

The blonde looks troubled for a moment... but only a moment. Then her face lights up. 

"Well, that's okay," She assures her. "I owe you from the other night." 

The nights of the November Massacre, when Aera had performed some sort of miracle on her face. 

"We can still have our ladies day in. We were just going to watch TV anyway. We can still do that on the couch. And I can make some tea and I noticed in the groceries - you've got everything for soup. I can make soup."

Ellen steps forward, reaching out and making to rub Aera soothingly across the shoulders. "I won't get sick either. Come on, let's not call our day short already."

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Aerallis Tithiros:

A slight frown settles across her features as Ellen logics that they can be on the couch. She even offered to make soup. It would be a sweeter gesture if Aera were actually sick rather than trying to kick them both out.

"I appreciate that, b-" She tries to say when the other steps forward, reaching out to rub her shoulders in what she knows is meant to be a soothing gesture. It started as a lazy warmth that was slowly extending its fingers outward. The electricity that sparked from her touch was like oil to a flame, fanning the sensation throughout her torso and arms. 

She forces a smile. Shaking hands pull Ellen's own away from her person.

"You don't know that," The Mage counters. "You don't have to take care of me. I can look after myself." She already feels warm. It's only a matter of time before it kicks in fully. She was a ticking time bomb and if she stayed, Ellen would only be wood to the fire. 

If she insisted on staying... Ilosti needed to stay, too. So she could fix this mess that she'd made. Or at least, keep Ellen away from her.

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen feels more than sees the way Aera goes stiff under her touch. It makes the blonde's soothing smile immediately flinch into one of partial confusion. Maybe she really isn't feeling well... but that's all the more reason that Ellen should stay and take care of her. 

Aera pushes her hand away, but Ellen only makes to grab her hand and nudge her in the direction of the doorway.

"Nope, no, not gonna take that for an answer. I owe you and that's that. Where are you not feeling well? Is it a head cold?" She turns towards Ilosti. "Can you go get some medicine? From the bathroom or wherever it's kept. Downstairs?" Meaning the basement.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

Once again, the human is unyielding, determined to have their day of soaps. Pushing her away only makes Ellen return with a stronger resolve, grabbing her hand and nudging her to the doorway, asking where she doesn't feel well. She tries to pull her hand free, but it's useless. Shit. She sighs, resigning to her fate.

"No... All over..." The last thing she wants to do is say that she's been drugged, especially with that exactly had been slipped into her coffee.

As Ellen asks Ilosti to fetch medicine, Aera glares at her sister again. She better not leave them alone.

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Ilosti Tithiros:

"It's upstairs," She corrects, suppressing the desire to make a basement joke - a running gag now - but that was too much of a low hanging fruit for the moment, even for her.

"I can take Aera to lay down instead. I've been nursing her back to health for years." Rather than go upstairs, the Mage follows them and attempts to take her sister away from the Human's grasp. She'd never hear the end of it if she left them alone.

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Ellen Bailey:

All over...? Maybe it was just because she was cold? But that doesn't seem right; Ellen frowns and shifts her grip on Aera's hand just slightly, pressing her fingers into the wrist to check pulse. Aera's face looks flushed and more like it was a fever... which could explain the whole body aches... what kind of a fever comes on that quick?

"You shouldn't have gone out this morning if you weren't feeling well, Aera," The blonde chides her gently.

Hmm... she could've swore Aera got the medicine for her face from the basement, but she had said it was a special medicine that she had made herself... maybe the more common stuff was upstairs. Still, the blonde shrugs and accepts that answer - up until the sister steps forward and attempts to get between them.

Ellen gives her a strange look and waves Ilosti off. She knows Aera is her sister, but they were both acting like she was on her deathbed and not that she wasn't feeling a little ill. "No, no, I don't know where the medicine is - you do. Plus you know what all she has here. It's just the couch. I can handle it."

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Ilosti Tithiros:

Ilosti pauses at the look. Ellen doesn't understand, but she has a point. She knows where the medicine is. The problem was that there was nothing in the house - to her knowledge - that could counteract the effects of the drug.

For a moment, she considered using magic to make the human go upstairs or anywhere else, really. It would be a quick spell and Ellen would never know. But that was what landed them in this situation to begin with, and Aera didn't like magic being used on her best friend. Which meant... She would have to leave them alone, just long enough to grab generic bullshit for colds and make her way back down.

"Well... Alright," She says, glancing at her sister. Her face is flushed and her eyes were already starting to dilate. She's fighting the effects of the drug. Ilosti needed to hurry. "On it." Without another word, she races up the stairs.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

It was midway through their exchange that she started to feel... too warm. She was aware that it wasn't the house, it was her - the drug kicking into gear. Every inch of her skin felt as though it were on fire, tempered only by the cool of Ellen's hand in her own. The grip changed slightly and fingers pressed to her wrist and she started. If it was if the human had shocked her, but not.

Even through two layers of fabric, warmth spread across the spot then cooled, and goosebumps formed in its place. Suddenly, the image of those fingers tracing circles across her skin caressing that feeling back to life again and again jumped into her mind and wouldn't go away.

Ellen had chided her and her lips pursed with which to speak. Her tongue brushed against her bottom lip, finding that her mouth had gone dry.

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Ellen Bailey:

Satisfied once Ilosti agrees and darts off, Ellen tugs on Aera's hand and guides her into the living room. She sits her down gently on the L shaped leather couch and settles down next to her. Ellen still has her sweater on, but she is chilled from the weather outside, and wraps a cool arm around her shoulders.

She reaches up with her free hand, letting ice-cold fingers touch the singer's forehead and cheeks. Huh... wait a sec... despite how flushed she looks, Aera didn't... feel all that hot. She feels... well, normal, at least to Ellen.

"You don't seem like you have a fever..." The blonde murmurs, her brows creased together in concern.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

She feels herself be tugged into the living room. Once more, the Mage attempts to pull her hand free - but it's a weak attempt. Ellen's cold fingers are the relief from the heat... but it's not enough. Her fingers itch to remove her own sweater, anything to lessen the unbearable warmth flooding her system. 

As they sit, her free hand tugs her sleeve over and off, but without both hands, she's only able to tug it over her head and it settles annoyingly between them. Damn this sweater. Damn this shirt.

Any thoughts of resistance against the aphrodisiac pumping through her system as quickly as her heart could push disappeared as an arm wrapped around her shoulders. She leans into it, eyes glued only to Ellen. The air around her buzzed and hummed with a life of its own. Her heartbeat picked up, a flush settling into her neck. 

There's too many layers and not enough skin exposed. Too many layers between them to find any relief from the heat from anything but the touch of Ellen's fingers. She sees them approach before she feels them. They've been close before, but not like this, and the thought of having her even closer makes the hair on her arms stand on end.

Ice-cold digits touch her forehead and cheeks, sending mini bolts of electricity through her body. Unbidden the fantasy appeared in her mind, Ellen's fingers trailing that electricity elsewhere... Finishing down her back, across the planes of her hips, and into the crease of her thigh. The flush darkens. Aera leaned against the fingers against her cheeks, nuzzling them.

She was only a few seconds away from wrapping her arms around Ellen and pushing her back against the couch, pinning them together. Ellen's touch was the only thing keeping the fire at bay, the only thing keeping her alive and she was sure that her body would combust if that arm and hand were removed again. She wanted that electricity, that life, all for herself and if Ellen wouldn't give it to her she'd damn well take it herself.

Aera was sure that her best friend couldn't breathe either, in all of those clothes, she can tell from the softness of her voice. There was no helping it, they would both choke and burn unless she stripped them both and entangled themselves together, her body was sure of it.

Despite how badly her body screamed from the want to do just that, she still had some control of her mind; what little was left unaffected by the smoky haze that commanded everything else. Small tremors rocked through her form. 

"I - I don't..." She whispered, hoping beyond hope that her sister would rush down the stairs then and separate them before had no control left to stop. "It's really hot." As much as her body would protest, she needed distance. She didn't know how much longer she could hold out.

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Ellen Bailey:

Aera looks so uncomfortable that when she starts tugging off her sweater, Ellen moves her arm for just a second to allow her to do so and then picks up the sweater and drapes it over the back of the couch. By the time she glances back to her face - where Aera has leaned in against her fingers, clearly exhausted - she somehow looks more red. And she's looking at her expectantly. 

Ellen's face twists in confusion. What kind of illness comes on as quick as this? And where was Ilosti with the medicine?

Aera is practically rigid sitting next to her, so Ellen shifts her arm so she can push Aera gently down into the cushions while remaining upright herself, perching on the edge of the couch. 

"I just don't get it... you were fine a minute ago..." She mutters, though mostly to herself. And why on earth was Aera so hot? It felt like the normal temperature in here. 

"Ilosti will be back with the medicine in a second, and I'll have her get you a glass of water, too," She soothes her. "In the meantime, just lie back, Aera. You're so tense. Let's just relax and watch TV." Ellen moves her hand away from Aera's face to reach for the remote control on the coffee table.

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Ilosti Tithiros:

Ilosti had half-walked, half-ran up the stairs as fast as she could, trying to keep her footsteps hushed enough so as not to give away the urgency. She sprinted down the hallway, snatching the door to the hall bathroom open. Letting out a breath, the Mage zeros in on the cabinet and yanks it open, eyes skimming the contents. She grabs the basics - Nyquil, Ibuprofen and other fever reducers - and balancing them in her arm, flees the bathroom.

The younger sister was halfway down the stairs when a force grabs her from behind and yanks, hard, dragging her back up the stairs and down the hall. Ilosti squirms, grabbing at her throat and kicking out but there's nothing there to touch or pry off. It's magic, she realizes. Her mouth opens, wanting to yell, to warn Ellen, but no sound comes out. 

The magic flings her into the bathroom and closes the door. She runs at it, hand extended to take the knob again, but she stops short, meeting an unseen resistance.

"Aera!!" She yells it, reaching up to slam her fists against what feels like an invisible wall.

God damn it.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

The moment she has a chance, she removes the sweater. It's momentary relief before her fingers itch to tug off her shirt, but doesn't. The aphrodisiac had completely flooded her body by that point and was working on the last of her brain, and just as Ellen shifted and pushed her down into the cushions, the last of her resolve broke. She uttered a quick spell.

The human started to withdraw her hand, but Aera couldn't let her do that, not for a moment. Aerallis grabbed the retreating hand and tugged, strong enough to bring the human towards her and on top of her. 

"Ellen," Her sultry voice was a hiss between clenched teeth, half a cry and half a moan. This was wrong, she knew it was wrong and she would regret this later but she had no control left, none at all. Ellen was the cure, the pain - the only thing Aera wanted to touch.

Licking her lips, her hands slide up Ellen's sides suggestively, dragging the fabric with it as they moved to wrap around Ellen's waist. She smiled, warm and soft yet dangerously seductive somehow. Her eyes were hooded, pupils now fully dilated and flooded with desire. Her body hummed with their closeness, a fresh wave of heat coursing through her veins and moving straight to her core. 

She didn't wait for a response, threading her legs with Ellen's. One hand moved up the back of the neck to the base of the scalp and her fingers tangled in the cop's golden hair, tugging just enough to make her presence and intent known. If Ellen doesn't fight it, it gives the Mage the perfect view of her neck.

Ellen, poor Ellen, was so confused. She didn't understand. Aera would have to do the understanding for both of them, until she could convince the human that she needed this just as much as the mage did. Her hands, and her teeth, would make sure that that happened. Unbidden, another fantasy struck, of her free hand wrapping around her friend's throat and squeezing, testing the waters. She licked her lips.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen does not expect Aera to move, nor move as quickly as she did. It's so fast and so sudden that the singer reaching out to snatch her hand back and yank meets no initial resistance. Ellen falls over on top of her with barely more than a squeak in shock.

"Aera--" The blonde gasps. Before she can say any more there are hands on her, running up her sides, shifting fabric and... trailing heat in its wake. Her name came out as a hiss between clenched teeth, half a moan and half a cry. If she hadn't seen the Italian's lips move when she said it, she'd have never believed that such a sound had come from her best friend's mouth. 

Ellen swallows past the confusion and slight panic threatening to form a lump in her throat. She tries again to speak, struggling to get her hands to either side of Aera on the couch so she can push herself back up to a sitting position, when one arm has fully snaked around her waist and their legs are tangled together.

"Aera, what are you doing?" Ellen's hazel green eyes search frantically through Aera's dark and hooded gaze. The look there sends a jolt of butterflies through her belly, and the blonde blushes, a light pink flush. She doesn't resist much to the hand in her hair. Just because it's so much to focus on at once. "Hey -- hey -- what is -- are you okay??"

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

Shocked and caught off guard she may have been, but Ellen wasn't fighting back much. She didn't even hear her name cut off into a gasp. All she could focus on was how desperately she wanted to be skin on skin and that there were so many gods forsaken layers in the way.

She could feel Ellen's chest rise and fall rapidly above her own, see the questioning look in her eyes. But she still didn't stop her. It bolsters her drug-induced confidence, sure she was doing the right thing for the both of them. Ellen wanted it too, needed it as badly as she did - she could tell from the flush that had dusted across her face.

To her questions, the Mage's smile grows more seductive - teeth biting the left corner of her bottom lip. What was she doing? What she'd been wanting to do for quite some time now, enacting a fantasy that she never thought she'd see or have the courage to try to bring to life.

"Ellen..." She sighs the name as if it's from a daydream. "You want to take care of me, right?" Aerallis coos, dark eyes drifting from Ellen's own to her nose, her mouth... The noirette's eyes froze there. She'd daydreamed about capturing those lips a hundred times, from a simple peck to over and over until it left them both breathless. But first...

The hand around her waist traces the rim of Ellen's sweater, her thumb hooked underneath to trace the shirt underneath and allowing her knuckle to breeze against the other's skin. She tugs the fabric, pulling it up slightly. What follows is a sultry demand. "Off."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

The blush deepens further as Aera practically purrs her name again. Aera has called her many things in many voices, often lilting and musical, but never like this. And the blonde feels half-frozen from it, like a deer in headlights, confused and... well... embarrassed? Their friendship had always been openly loving and a touch flirtatious, but it had never been anything but platonic.

Yet Aera stares at her with an open and hungry desire and -- Ellen frowns. She stops attempting to pull away and instead cups her cheeks between her warming hands. 

It's hard to tell because her eyes are half-closed and Ellen's shadow has fallen over her, but the blonde could swear that her pupils are blown out and overly dilated.

"Yes, that's what I'm trying to do." She pushes past the butterflies in her stomach and forces herself to ignore the wandering hand and the command. She is still searching her gaze. "Aera, did you - did you take something? Are you high right now??"

Hallucinogens and stimulants are both known to cause pupils to blow out like it appears Aera's are - although Ellen has no idea what drug would cause her best friend to act like this. Did the nightmares finally get to be too much and Aera turned to other forms of relief?

"You can tell me, Aera, I won't get you in trouble. What did you take?"

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

Warming hands cup her face. The human felt so alive, the electricity of her presence running as a buzzing undercurrent in her ears, so loud that she barely heard what the blonde had said. Aerallis's gaze remained glued where they were - upon the mouth that became a frown. Those lips were moving, but not in the way that she wanted or needed. 

Her lips pursed with which to speak, to answer, to say yes. But the words never came. It was a question she wished Ellen had asked before it was too late to stop, because she may have been able to reply and beg for help.

As it were, the mage remained silent, gazing at her with hooded eyes filled with want and need, and waited for Ellen to take hold of the fabric and pull her own layers over her head. Her fingers massaged gently against her scalp, biting her lower lip. Aerallis Tithiros would not be ignored. 

She hugged Ellen closer, arching up against her. Instead of words, she pressed her lips against Ellen's, soft at first. Her legs momentarily untangled from the human's, wrapping instead around her best friend's waist, letting out a gentle hum that was almost a moan. The hand in Ellen's hair tugged again, rougher this time, to tilt her head enough to give the mage all the access she needed.

She nuzzled into Ellen's neck again, but instead of kisses, she gave playful nips. 

"Ellen," Aerallis purrs, fully slipping her other hand underneath the human's shirt, allowing her nails to suggestively scratch the skin of her back. It was too late, far too late to stop. She would beg to take her best friend on the couch if that's what it came to, despite the trembling of her hands. 

"I want you." The words were a whisper against her ear. She shifted their weight suddenly, changing positions - practically straddling the blonde now. Aerallis claimed both of the cop's hands and held her wrists on either side of her head, to pin her. The words rolled off as a thick purr. "Shut up and be mine."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Aera is silent for so long, even opening her mouth with no sound, that it all but confirms her suspicions. Aera is definitely on something... Maybe she had taken it on the way home from groceries? Still, it was a bold move to take whatever knowing Ellen was going to be here all day, and Ilosti was here --

Her thoughts race but before she knows it Aera shifts just a little beneath her, arching upwards, and Ellen inhales a sharp breath through her nose as suddenly warm, soft lips press against hers. She freezes, completely startled, her heart flipping in her chest. She can't move back even if she wants to, with the hand in her hair, but she doesn't try.

A shiver crawls down her spine as the lips leave hers to trace nips down her neck, and there are nails tracing across her back. Ellen is fully capable of stopping her, stopping this; but fight or flight hasn't kicked in and she doesn't want to accidentally hurt Aera. She's not in her right mind.

Ellen only realizes their legs had been untangled when Aera suddenly uses the position they were shifted to around her waist to flip them around. Her wrists are seized, and Ellen has to resist the urge then to fight back, throw her off. In her mental state, she isn't sure what the singer would do. Different drugs can cause different mood swings and there are a lot of things in this room Aera could use to hurt herself or others.

As it is, she lets her wrists be pinned, focusing instead on slowing her rapid breathing. 

"Wait, Aera, hang on, not so fast," Ellen protests, weakly, eyes darting around the room. Her purse is still in the kitchen - if she can get to it there are a pair of handcuffs - but she can't let Aera out of her sight. Also, Ellen has to get to it without alerting Aera to the fact that her firearm is also in there, just in case the drug makes her want to use it.

Where the HELL is Ilosti?!

In the state of confusion Ellen nearly forgets Ilosti is here. She has to help. 

"Ilosti is on her way down. We can't - not here - let's wait for your sister to come down," She says quickly, calmly; then, tugs on her wrists and yells out, "Ilosti! A little help??"

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

Never in a million years would Aera have guessed that Ellen would let her do what she wanted. A part of her expected to be slapped and pushed off, or for the human to have at least fought back against the kiss, against being pinned, against being touched like how the mage was touching her now and perhaps that was what the rational piece of her brain intended just as it gave up. 

This wasn't her! She would never intentionally do this, not to her best friend unless she'd given some reason for Aera to think that maybe she was into this. Which she hadn't, of course.

Ellen's panic was quite clear, cut through the haze occupying her every thought. Not here. Her eyes narrowed. Despite the fact Ilosti had only been gone for perhaps a minute at most, Aerallis entirely forgot that her sister was there or that she even existed until the blonde said her name. But that was fine. Ilosti wasn't going to be an issue. 

A pang runs through her as Ellen tugs to free herself, calling out for assistance... It's swallowed by the haze as it settles back in place. The Italian squeezes her wrists, unmoving. It's too late.

"Ilosti can't help you." They're not a purr, but firm and calm in a tone that sounds annoyed. A frown has etched itself across her features. There was no need to move elsewhere, not right now. But there was the possibility that Ilosti could break the spell and get out of the bathroom, and if she did, she could try to stop her sister. Could try to take Ellen from her, and it was far too late for that. 

Not here, she'd said. Aera might not be able to keep Ellen on the couch forever, but if they were locked away in a room with no way to disturb them…

The noirette sighed and closed her eyes, clearly annoyed with the whole situation of waiting. She rested her forehead against the blonde's. "Okay," She mutters, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. Then she sat up.

She released her friend's hands, allowing her own to trace over Ellen's stomach and chest, blocked only by the sweater and shirt beneath it. And maybe a bra. Too many layers. The clothes needed to come off. Now. There was too much space between them and not enough room to breathe. She knew that she wouldn't be content until they were molded together in every way physically possible, and that meant no clothes. But it would have to wait. For now.

"Upstairs. Now." Her tone was a mixture of begging and a command. She stood up from the couch, urging Ellen to her feet and keeping hold of her hand. 

Aera would walk as close as she physically could to Ellen without tripping either of them, urging her to a fast pace. If Ellen couldn't or didn't want to move, she would impatiently pick her up, bridal style and rush towards the stairs.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Aera sounds annoyed when she says Ilosti can't help. Ellen swallow the lump in her throat and focuses on controlling her panic response. 

Aera isn't in her right mind. She isn't trying to hurt her. Ellen has seen many of the forms violence can take when someone is under the influence, of alcohol or drugs. It could be much worse. Aera being... horny... was the best outcome she could think of.

Still, it seems to be working - Aera releases her wrists and sits back up, and Ellen is quick to push herself back and scramble out from underneath her as soon as she is given the opportunity to do so.

Ellen smooths back out her sweater and tank top underneath with nervous fingers, willing the heat in her cheeks to subside, and she turns in time for Aera to basically glue herself back to her side.

Ellen only hesitates a moment at the command. "... Okay," She agrees, only because wherever Ilosti is - and where the hell did she go, did she get lost?! - she is still upstairs, because she never saw her come back down. 

Ellen is hopeful they will be intercepted on the stairs or that she can break away once she has Aera barricaded in a room somewhere, where she can't hurt herself or end up in trouble.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

She urges Ellen to the staircase and up the steps, arms draped around the blonde's waist to keep her close. There's no sign of the younger mage upstairs. The light of the bathroom is on but there's no sound, no sign of struggle. Ilosti can't reach the door and the spell cast swallows up whatever sounds she makes. 

Aerallis grins, tugging Ellen around the corner and into her bedroom.

The moment they're through the door, Aera turns and pushes her friend against it until it closes. She locks it, pressing herself into Ellen's form. 

Aerallis wastes no time in closing the distance between them, capturing those honey sweet lips with her own. Her kiss was passionate but ravenous, soft but demanding, tongue tracing along Ellen's bottom lip as though along for entry. Her hands squeeze the other's hips, then slide up the hunan's sides, hiking up her sweater along the way. It didn't matter if the blonde returned it or not; she moaned anyway, rubbing up against her suggestively.

It was true that she'd wanted Ellen all to herself today... and was sure that her best friend felt the same way, but this hadn't been what they'd intended to do with their time. It wasn't something that Ellen wanted, she knew that... it was only something that she herself wanted - no - needed now. It was wrong... and she didn't care. She had the human all to herself. It was up to her to save them both, to stop either of them from burning up, to prevent her own heart from stopping.

She would part just long enough to tug Ellen's sweater over and off of her, if the cop didn't stop her, and fling it aside. Then she would tug her friend forward by the rim of her pants, walking her towards the center of the room where the bed was.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen... underestimates the power of whatever drug Aera has subjected herself to. She makes it up the stairs without running into Ilosti, and sees the bathroom light in the hall is on, even, but before she can continue on towards it the arm around her waist feels like it's turned to iron and Ellen stumbles as she is basically dragged into the bedroom instead.

A string of expletives sound off in her head in the direction of the bathroom - Ilosti if you are in there I swear to God I need HELP - but the blonde has no time to allow her attention to wander. Her back connects with the door and there is an audible click in the lock as Aera practically throws herself at her - and Ellen is too busy trying to gently fend off wandering hands to be able to unlock it again.

"Aera--" Any protest is swallowed by the ravenous lips on her own and Ellen has to seal them to keep the exploring tongue at bay. Her heart is in her throat but it's not... entirely out of concern and worry for what's happening. 

There are small shivers of electricity running up and down her spine that if Ellen didn't know better were the beginning sparks of desire. But they can't be, she's not... she's not attracted to women like that, and this is Aera, of all people. It's just because it's her best friend throwing herself at her and her wires are all getting crossed because of how open their friendship is.

Still, she had to get herself together - Ellen finally moves to push off Aera's probing hands, fending her off from grabbing and pulling off her sweater; even though the blush that that engulfed her face is hot and having the sweater off would be nice, she can't let the singer get any ideas. 

She grips her wrists and holds her hands at bay. "Aera, stop. This is -- we need to stop."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

It was hard to move, the heat was worse than before, but relief flooded her system - followed again by pooling need - at having Ellen so close. 

Her senses were lost to everything but for Ellen's lips, Ellen's body, and she didn't notice her wrists being seized and held at bay - only that being close to her, touching her, ignited pure desire and the urge to never stop. She didn't realize it until she noticed that the tips of her fingers weren't doing as she wanted, weren't where she wanted them to be.

The blonde attempts to keep her at bay but Aera, unable to resist the potion pumping through her system, only presses further, straining to walk the human backwards to where they both need them to be. She mentally whines, though from frustration or from despair, she doesn't know. As if she would stop now, with her skin on fire and her body melting from the inside out. She needed her; Ellen was the only one who could calm the fire. 

"I can't," She whispers, dark voice trembling - both with need and with something else that doesn't quite register through the haze. And it's the truth, twisting through her chest. Aera isn't one to beg, but... She kissed her lips between each sentence, her voice at a near moan. "Please. Let me. Let me take you. All of you. I need it. You're all I've ever needed."

Her wrists twist in an attempt to free herself, just enough to push Ellen back against the edge of the bed and reach to pull her own shirt free. Anything for relief, anything to feel closer to her goal. It wasn't what she wanted, not really. Not like this. But under the effects of the potion, the mage literally had no ability to resist. She was fully convinced in her mind and her heart that she needed, wanted, had to have her best friend in every possible capacity. Right here, right now.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen can't take her eyes off Aera for a moment, can't stop holding her wrists in her hands because the moment she does Aera is back on her again. She knows Aera's strength but somehow this is more than that. Powered by the drug, most likely, but still as much as she tries Ellen can't keep her back pressed to the door. 

It's all she can do to wrestle Aera off her, and somehow they have been twisted to where the bed is dangerously close to colliding with the back of her legs and knocking her over. And she's sure once she's on the bed that is it - game over.

"Aera, this isn't you, I know it's not." Ellen can't hardly get a word in edgewise with the lips on her own. She turns her head away. "I -- I can't... let you, Aera, I'm sorry, I can't. It's the drug, it's not you." 

Ellen plants her feet and uses the one advantage she has over Aera - her height - to yank Aera's arms up over her head. 

"Don't make me pin you, Aera." It's the only warning she's going to give her, because she knows that it's likely that Aera can't stop herself no matter what.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

The blonde doesn't know what she's talking about. She saw everything through rose tinted glasses. She didn't know anything about what Aerallis really wanted. The only reason she didn't know was because she was oblivious - all of their other friends knew and could see it - and she never put her desires to words, let alone action.

"You don't know that," She breathes, low and trembling against Ellen's mouth. The blonde turned her head away and she audibly whimpered. Ellen is in denial. The flush across her face is real, the little shivers were real and she knows it. "It is me." 

Ellen yanks her arms up over her head and she leans against her, practically panting. It was hot. Unbearably hot, and she couldn't be the only one twisting in this fire. 

"Ellen please. Please. It was-" The coffee. The aphrodisiac surging through her system. But her tongue feels thick and dry in her mouth and she twists her hands again, pulling back against her friend's grip. 

"Just tonight. It doesn't... it doesn't have to mean anything." But it would. To Aera.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Where. the. FUCK. is. ILOSTI.

Ellen pants as she holds Aera's arms by the wrists up in the air. Aera has ceased pushing her back and instead leans against her, panting in turn, and has focused on twisting in her grip, which Ellen has had to tighten to keep her own. But she can't bear to use more strength than required; it's not Aera's fault and she doesn't want to hurt her. 

"Aera..." The blonde sighs heavily, exasperated. It's killing her to see Aera like this, to be begging like this, talking nonsense like this is what she wants.

Even going as far as telling her that it was only one night and it didn't mean anything. The blonde swallows heavily. 

"It... it would, though, Aera, you can't just sleep with your best friend and have it all go back to normal." There's no use explaining in her current state but she can't help but do it regardless because of how awful and pitiful the Italian looks right now. 

Not to mention... Ellen isn't gay. You can't count some experimentation as a 15-year-old as indication that you're attracted to women.

She glances towards the bedroom door. Locked, but... if she can distract Aera long enough to get to it and get back out... she can have a second to breathe, figure out what she took, maybe even call someone else for her if times were desperate enough. 

Taking a breath to steel herself, silently apologizing, in a police pincer move, Ellen pulls Aera's arms down and does a sweep maneuver to drop to one knee and drop Aera to the floor. She shoves her away, hard, as she does so, hoping between the shock of being dropped and shoved would be enough to disorient the singer, already high as she was.

Ellen lets go and sprints for the door, hoping to turn the lock and yank open the door all in the same motion before Aera has even realized she's on the floor.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

Aera takes in a hissed intake of air, grunting in frustration. She can't get free; Ellen was using more force and the drug had pacified her own to a degree. Instead, she tries to shift her weight on the human more, wanting to topple her over.

"It wouldn't mean anything to you... And I can forget," She tries again. Ellen didn't swing that way. To her it would be an experiment, helping out. But the mage... There was no telling how she would process it later, or if her mind even would. It was possible that she would suppress it if it were too much for her to handle. 

She doesn't heard the knob trying to turn and meeting resistance. There's a banging on the door but it sounds far away.

She doesn't heard the knob trying to turn and meeting resistance. There's a banging on the door but it sounds far away. 

"Ellen!" It's Ilosti on the other side of the door, banging loudly to get attention. "Open the door! Ellen!!" She was here to take Ellen away from her. 

Aerallis mutters a spell under her breath to block the door just as the blonde pulls her arms down and sweeps her, dropping to one knee. Suddenly her world is flipped around, shoved away with a sound of surprise.

It takes her a moment to gather her bearings, but only a second to notice that another body isn't with her. Ellen. Ellen pushed her. Left her, a silent rejection. 

The heat engulfed her and she let out a sound of distress, desperately clutching at her shirt. It was hot, too hot, she couldn't take it-

"I can't open the door!" Ilosti shouted, loud enough for Ellen to hear.

Aera didn't seem to hear her, pulling herself up. Her head snaps towards the human, heading for the door. Without a second thought, she holds her hand out, chanting; it was a similar spell to the one she'd cast to drag Ilosti back to the bathroom, aimed to pull the blonde back to her. Ellen couldn't leave her like this. She was the only one that could help, she had to stay.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

There she is; she can hear the pounding on the door from the other side, the rattling of a door knob that can't turn because of the lock. Ellen successfully manages to sweep Aera to the floor and shove her away; in that moment of disorientation, as Aera makes a noise in surprise, Ellen bolts for the door.

She reaches it in what feels like mere seconds, not daring to look behind her to see if Aera has managed to regather herself. She grabs the knob, fumbling with the lock, but finds that the knob just... doesn't work. Even after the lock has been turned.

"I can't -- open it either!" She shouts back, twisting and turning and yanking on the knob. What on earth? How did it get stuck? Was it from the other side? Shit shit shit--

And then it happens. Suddenly Ellen's hand slips from the knob as it feels like Aera's arm has wrapped around her middle and dragged her back. Only this force is like something made of steel, unmoving, and as she tries to twist in its grip she finds that it is completely impossible... and that, as she reaches for the arm around her middle, there is... nothing there to grab on to.

Her shock and confusion is so complete as to have rendered her completely silent, nothing more than a sharp inhale. And she is basically thrown back the short distance to Aera once again.

What... the hell? What the hell? Maybe she was mistaken and - Aera had somehow - grabbed onto the back of her shirt and yanked her? That had to be it. Had to be.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

She never should have fucking left them alone, she chides herself. Okay. No more testing to prank Aera without asking what she was up to that day first, fuck. Or maybe not use certain potions. Maybe. She'd think more about that later. Right now she needed to separate Aera and Ellen before her sister made a mistake that she'd never forgive herself for.

She hears the human on the other side of the door. Good, she was keeping her distance. There's movement on the other side, and it sounds like the blonde has grabbed the knob, the releasing clock signaling the door had been unlocked.

But it doesn't open. Ellen tells her that she can't open it either, and her heart sinks. Aera had spelled the door, she was trying to keep her in there. She jostles the knob but it doesn't budge for her either. Shit. Shit shit.

"Okay, just- Just keep your distance. She's on a really strong aphrodisiac. So --" 

More movement. Ilosti looks at the crack under the door when it sounds like Ellen is pulled away from the door. There isn't another shadow... Did she... Did Aera use magic?

"Ellen?" She asks, knocking on the door. "Ellen, are you okay? Ellen??" Fuck. She has to break the spell. But first - Ilosti makes a grab for her phone, shaking hands thumbing through contacts until her finger lands on a familiar, amber-eyed temptress. It rings twice.

Thora Phrostfur chuckles on the other line. "Thora, thank goodness. Can you come to Aera's house? We have a situation and --" She lowered her voice. "-- Ellen might be in danger."

The phone call concludes a moment later and she focuses all of her attention on the spell barring her from the inside of the master bedroom.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

"Ellen~" The Mage purrs, draping herself over the human as soon as she's within arms reach, and the relief is so instant that she shudders and clings. 

She threads their legs together, an attempt to trap the other.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen doesn't even have a chance to catch her breath. It's as if she blinks and she is on her back back across the room. Aera is on top of her before the blonde even manages to push herself up on her elbows.

She's dizzy and confused, and doesn't resist their legs being tangled back together now that she is back underneath her.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

Idly, her hands slip beneath the blonde's shirt, caressing her skin. Aera sighs longingly, her eyes hooded once more as she forces herself to sit up - just enough to allow her to push both shirt and sweater up, wanting them off. Fuck these layers, they needed to go.

It wouldn't be difficult for Ellen to stop her by grabbing her hands and keeping them still, but if she didn't, the mage would pull them off and toss them aside, finally free of them.

The only thing that would stop her now was force.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen doesn't attempt to stop her, because by the time she realizes what's happening her arms are caught in her sleeves and she can't even flail, because she realizes in the same moment that her legs are also trapped.

"Aera!" She gasps, muffled by the sweater material, until Aera has pulled off both of her tops and left the blonde in nothing but her bra.

She grits her teeth and once her arms are free, she grapples for Aera's hands. To secure them once again. She can at least do that much. What had Ilosti been saying through the door a second ago? A really strong... what?

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

The mage doesn't seem to hear her name from her best friend's mouth, too distracted by exposed skin. It's a forbidden sight. Aerallis bites her lip and whimpers, trembling fingers tracing up the Human's abdomen, her heart fluttering against her ribcage.

Her hungry gaze drinks it all in. Every inch of her skin was a Holy Grail she had to find. She shuddered. Only Ellen could set her heart on fire like this.

Just as her hands begin to swoop around to find the latch barring the rest of her from the mage's sight, she finds that her hands can't move again.

It took her a moment, her eyes focusing and unfocusing, to realize that Ellen had stopped her again. "Ellen..." She purrs darkly, her attention shifting instead to press against the other. The cop has her arms, and though she tries to push back against her hold, they aren't the only things she has to utilize.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen manages to stop the probing fingers just in time, before the hands can do any more damage. There is a heat where Aera trails her fingers that is... pooling an uncomfortable feeling alongside the butterflies in her stomach, and she realizes just as she captures them that she had been on the way to take off her bra too. 

Unfortunately, Aera seems to come to the realization long before Ellen that there is more that she can use beside her hands. Ellen swallows thickly against the lump that threatens to rise in her throat as Aera presses into her, and a shiver traces down her spine at the sound of her name.

She doesn't know what to... do. Aera won't stop but Ellen can't seem to bring herself to use the force that's necessary to make her stop, either. Ellen is only putting enough in to force the worst of it away, although she could push Aera completely away if she really tried. 

"Don't make me, Aera," she begs her in turn, voice low. She can't... give in, not like this, but she doesn't want to hurt Aera either, in the process of shoving her away.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

She feels the shiver run through the woman beneath her and her eyes seem to darken, a purr rolling off of her tongue. Emboldened, the noirette rubs against her with a sigh, lips trailing across nude flesh before settling at her collarbone, leaving a gentle nip. The tip of her nose drags up to the blonde's neck, breathing in her heavenly scent.

Aera leaves a trail of kisses up to her ear, where her teeth find the woman's earlobe and tease it. She knows that it's a spot for some women and, curious to see if Ellen was one of them, listens for any indication that she may be right. If she is, she nibbles before releasing it with a flick of her tongue and makes her way back to Ellen's neck.

Aera doesn't seem to be listening, if she's even capable of doing so at this stage. She also doesn't register that Ilosti is calling out for Ellen for being too quiet, telling her to keep her distance.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ilosti is calling out to her from the other side of the door, faint but loud enough that Ellen can hear it over the purr that comes from Aera's throat. Ellen sucks in air to call back, but before she can there are teeth nipping at her collarbone and instead she sinks her teeth into her lower lip to keep from making a noise. She squeezes her eyes shut and turns her head to the side - which only leaves it open for the kisses trailed up her neck to her ear.

Push her off push her off push her OFF Ellen come ON. It runs like a mantra through her head. Or yell or something at LEAST.

Why isn't she pushing her off? Shoving her away? It can't be just fear of hurting her at this point. It's gone far beyond that.

She manages to choke back the sound that wants to come out as the teeth find her ear, her grip on Aera's wrists lessening. Between fight or flight she never realized there was a freeze option, but that is apparently what's happening.

She can't find it in her to do anything that could actually hurt Aera, which it seems all available options to her would do, and there is a growing heat burning away the bundle of nerves in her stomach, but in the same breath she has to keep fighting her off. Until Ilosti can get the door open.

There is one thing she can try... it takes her a second to find her voice, trying to be loud enough so Ilosti can still hear her and maybe guess the plan.

"Not the floor, please. The bed, Aera." She pushes back against her, arching, hoping to catch the singer's attention and make sure she was actually heard this time. "Bed, please, Aera. Not the floor."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

Ellen isn't responding and she can't hear anything even when she ordered her ear to the door. Her heart and head are pounding. This was her fault and she owed them both an apology, after.

She needs to get Ellen out there, fast. And much to her relief, she's finally successful at shattering her sister's spell.

Ilosti yanks the doorknob as hard as she can, but it doesn't budge. The lock doesn't give. C'mon!! She rams it once, stopping only when she hears a notification go off on her phone. Mute, she pulls it from her pocket.

Oh thank the Gods. It was Thora. She can break the lock. Ilosti fires off a quick text and waits, stepping to the side.

"Hold on, Ellen."

She's not sure if it's more for the human or herself.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

The words seem to fall on deaf ears. They don't appear to register for her... But they do to the one outside. Aerallis arches with her, pushing back against her hands. Ellen wants to move from the floor... Normally, she would agree, but the heat has gone on too long and it would not wait anymore.

Rather than words, she responds by dragging her tongue against the length of Ellen's neck until she reaches the nook connecting her neck and shoulder. Her mouth opens and teeth bite down on her neck, a moan in her throat.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

It doesn't work; Aera doesn't listen, or doesn't appear to hear. The one outside does, though; she can see the door rattle in the frame from being rammed, but it still doesn't open.

As if in response to Ellen squirming underneath of her, the blonde pants heavily through her nose at the tongue sweeping across her skin, and yelps out a strangled hiss as Aera bites, hard enough to leave a mark. A jolt of pleasure spreads warmth across her skin, to her utter shock.

No, damn it, don't feed her mania!

Ellen stops struggling, and with the loss of the bed as an option - intending to pin Aera down under the bedding - she releases her hands to shove at her shoulders, hoping to shove her off.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

The sound of the hiss, strangled though it is, makes her shudder and whimper with need. Intent to leave a mark, to leave a temporary claim on someone that would never really be here, she sucks the skin into her mouth and traps it. Ellen releases her and her arms right themselves on either side of the human, holding herself up slightly.

Hands shove at her shoulder, taking her by surprise. She groans in protest, the force enough to dislodge her mouth from Ellen's neck. Why is her friend fighting her so much? She wanted Aera too, she knew she did, was sure of it, so why?

Her arms attempt to push Ellen's aside when the knob twists harshly, breaking the lock. Thora, clad in a sinfully tight dress, storms into the room with Ilosti at her flank. Powerful arms pull the mage free from Ellen, and Ilosti grabs the blonde's arms, pulling her to her feet and urging her out of the bedroom.

"Ellen!" This time, her voice is a cry. She reaches out for the human, eyes locked on her even with someone else placing her on the bed.

Under the influence of the drug, it shouldn't matter who it is. The second another pair of lips claimed hers, she should've melted into it regardless of who it was. But she didn't, and her chest twisted into knots. The only one that could save her from the fire, the only one that she wanted, was leaving and was beyond her reach. It's enough to cut through the haze for a moment, that it was far more than just any wanton desire.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

"Oh thank goodness," Ilosti muttered, bringing Ellen to her feet. She doesn't say or offer anything else before whisking her out of the room, scooping up the discarded shirt and sweater that Ellen had been wearing and shutting the door behind them. The last thing she hears is her sister struggling against the werewolf, and a cut off cry, both of which seem... strange. 

She offers the clothing back to its owner, releasing her when they've reached the staircase, on the off chance that Aera had broken free and was coming after them. Which... she shouldn't.

"You gonna be okay?" She asks, but her voice is low, brows knitting in guilt.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Thora Phrostfur:

Her eyes follow after Aera's to Ellen. How Aera felt about the human had never been a secret between them. Their entire circle knew it. Everyone but Ellen herself, of course. But hadn't Ilosti said that she was under the influence of an aphrodisiac? She attempts to distract the mage, but it doesn't work. Aera is struggling in her arms before the doors even close. It's clear who she wants. 

 All Thora ever wanted to do was help. That was part of the benefit to their relationship. She sighs and her body shimmers, changing shape and color. It wasn't the first time that she'd pretended to be someone else for Aera, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

"Aera," the voice catches the mage's attention and she stares at what had just been Thora a moment ago, but was now Ellen again. Her eyes smother. "Ellen." It's enough to fool the haze, but not the empty fire engulfing her heart, not enough to unwind the knots in her chest.

Unbidden, tears burn her eyes and stream down her cheeks. Aera knows. She knows that it's not really Ellen, but she gives in anyway, too weak to resist the beautiful, indulgent lie. Thora wipes them away, silent as she lays her partner down. She can be good at this - at being someone else - if that is what the mage needs.

Although she's indulging the ravenous desire brought on by the drug... It feels more as though she's cradling a broken heart in her hands.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

The shove is enough to release the mouth from her neck, but it did little to move Aera herself, who only tries to push her hands away impatiently. But it buys just enough time for the door to crash open and -- Thora rushes in? With Ilosti behind her. Why was Thora here...? 

She doesn't have the time nor the mental capability to question - Aera is dragged away and Ilosti helps her up and pulls her out of the room. Ellen is in enough of a confused panic to follow without question, shivering with the heat from Aera no longer on her, and racing from the room.

She snatches her shirts back when they're offered, hurriedly pulling them back on. Her head begins to ache as adrenaline calms.

"... Yeah," she says after a beat, but her tone is flat with no emotion so there's no telling whether that's true. "Do you know what's happening? And where the hell you disappeared to?"

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

She said that she was fine in a flat, emotionless tone that Ilosti isn't certain that she buys. But it's the best that Ellen can do for the moment, probably. A sharp exhale escapes her and as she's about to walk downstairs. She pauses mid-step, swallowing thickly. "I got locked in the bathroom, and it took me a lot longer than I would've liked to get out."

Ilosti didn't offer how she's gotten locked in there.

Then she turns, hesitating for a moment. "She's... on a really strong aphrodisiac. I think it lasts a couple of hours," she admits, biting back tears. If she'd left, if she hadn't been here... Aera would never forgive herself, or her, for what would have followed. It could've potentially ruined their entire relationship.

"I'm so sorry, Ellen. I'd... I'd just meant it as a little prank. I didn't know that you were going to be here and I put it in her coffee cup. I didn't want you taking it, and I was trying to dump it out without being suspicious before she got home. And then I couldn't stop her from drinking it... I never meant to jeopardize your friendship with my sister. I'm really sorry..."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen gives her a bewildered look. Locked in the... bathroom? It almost sounds like a bullshit excuse until she remembers how the bedroom door wouldn't open either.

Except Ellen knows there's not anything ordinarily wrong with the doors. They didn't get stuck.

Ellen is silent as Ilosti explains. An... aphrodisiac? She had said aphrodisiac?

"Was it laced with coke, or something?" Ellen snaps, unamused. "I mean Jesus Christ, it's like she went crazy... How is that a prank?"

Not to mention the strange thing with the pull from the door...

The blonde heaves a sigh and hugs her arms across her chest. "It's all right. All she managed to do was bite me. It doesn't... jeopardize anything. And wouldn't have. I just feel... awful that she felt like that."

One hand rubs absentmindedly at her neck, where Aera had bruised her. Ellen glances back at the bedroom door. "What's Thora going to do with her? Should we wait? We just abandoned her in there..."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

No, she wanted to say. Magic. It was a potion. Far stronger than natural aphrodisiacs that humans made by default, and her sister was the best potion maker in the family. Aera had mentioned in passing while selling one to a client that it was strong stuff and not to be played with, but even then, she didn't really consider the extent of what it could really do. The damage it could have done. She's glad that it wasn't Ellen that had drank it instead. That... Could have been soul crushing for Aera when she knew the truth.

"I've never seen it work before. I didn't think she would react to the extent that she did. I just... I thought that she'd call Thora and be done with it like she normally would." Trying to prevent it from going anywhere had been just as a precaution, more for Aera's protection than for Ellen's. Until her sister spelled the bathroom room, and she knew that it was Ellen in danger instead. All she managed to do was bite her? Ilosti blinks but doesn't try to look for it. Ellen mentioned that it was awful to see the elder Italian like that, and she looked at the floor, apologizing again. She hadn't seen any of it, not really, so that wasn't exactly a sentiment that she could fully share. Though if Ellen were saying it... It must've been bad.

"Aera will be fine. Thora's here to, well... Help." She cleared her throat awkwardly, turning towards the stairs again. "We should leave them be til it's out of her system. Um... I know you'd wanted a day with just her, and I apologize. We could watch something downstairs, if you want to wait?" She hopes the offer is enough. Two hours and they could have their day again, Ilosti hoped. She just... Wasn't sure where her sister would be mentally afterwards.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen continues to look unamused, but she doesn't say anything else about it besides a grunt. Ilosti looks suitably upset for having the prank turn into a disaster, and it's clear she didn't know any better. Ellen never would've guessed it, either. Since when did aphrodisiacs make people go crazy like that? It sounds more like a new street drug... but then again, Aera already has a lot of strange, holistic things in her home. Maybe this is one of them. It takes a second for the meaning to click - call Thora, Thora's here to help - and the red flush coating Ellen's face and neck, which had only started to calm back down, flares back to life again. "I didn't know... they were... like that." She replies, just as awkwardly. Ellen has only met Thora in passing before now, but her beauty was unmatched, so it shouldn't be a surprise, but... there is still a small stab of jealousy that follows. Which is both confusing and uncomfortable. The blonde moves to follow Ilosti down the stairs, with a sigh. "Yeah, I should wait, so I can talk with her... let her know that it's okay, I'm not upset at her... and be your backup in case you need it for when she comes down." She gives Ilosti a meaningful look. It's true that Ellen isn't upset, at least for the moment, but she has a lot to process. Even then, it isn't Aera's fault. It wasn't like she took the aphrodisiac on purpose. "... Hey." Once they reach the bottom of the stairs Ellen turns to look at Ilosti again. "Something... weird, happened, when I couldn't get the door open. Aera dragged me back across the room but for a second I..." She frowns. "It was like she wasn't actually touching me. Or like, not even close to me at all. Is that... possible?"

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

She notes the flush return and the just as awkward reply, but doesn't comment. That's right, Ellen didn't really know about them. They weren't anything past friends with benefits from her understanding, and it doesn't feel like her place to tell the blonde that. It was her sister's arrangement, not hers, so she should be the one to explain it if Ellen asked. Thora came around on occasion, sometimes just to hang out and spend time with them but it had usually been... For a purpose, normally involving the dungeon in the basement. Still, it doesn't strike her that Ellen is envious of that - just embarrassed. The friends that had met Ellen and saw how she and Aera were made their guesses, most of which were that it was one sided. The only ones that didn't think that... Were Ilosti and Thora. Ilosti wasn't quite sure; sometimes she swore that there was something there, but couldn't decide if it was just platonic closeness or... If Ellen was in the closet. Thora, however, never commented - something that Kaelene wanted to say was jealousy, but that wasn't right. Either way, regardless of if there had been something... She had a feeling that it would stop here, after today, and hoped that it wouldn't stop Ellen from coming around or being a friend - to the both of them. There's a meaningful look from Ellen afterwards, and she swallows a lump that had formed in her throat. She nods. "Thanks. I'll need the backup, I'm sure." Oh, she definitely would. Aera wasn't going to be pleased, to say the least.

As both women descended down the staircase, a sinking feeling left her feeling antsy; what had Ellen seen? What had her sister done? Had it been obvious, or...? When they reach the end of the staircase, the cop looks at her again. She tells the mage that Aerallis had dragged her back across the room, but it was like no one was actually touching her. Her mouth runs dry. Aera had used magic on her in a desperation to get her back, away from the door.

What... Should she do? Was it appropriate to tell Ellen that it had been magic? That both her and Aera were mage's, and not like the kind from Harry Potter? If she did that, then she would need to explain that the aphrodisiac had been a potion. Shit. Shit. What should she do? She could... Always write it off as Ellen being crazy, but what if at some point they did want to tell her the truth? Making her think she was crazy was... Not the right move. But neither was telling the blonde the truth without her sister being present. What a mess... Ilosti shifted uncomfortably in place, swallowing thickly.

She could... Always write it off as Ellen being crazy, but what if at some point they did want to tell her the truth? Making her think she was crazy was... Not the right move. But neither was telling the blonde the truth without her sister being present. What a mess... Ilosti shifted uncomfortably in place, swallowing thickly. "... Yes." She says finally, opting for what she felt was the best option. "Aera and I can-" No, that wasn't right. "We-" Not that either. C'mon, think. "We're... A little special. I'll... We'll explain it more in detail another time. It's not a discussion that should happen without Aera. Okay? I'm sorry, that must have been... Very strange for you."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen half-expects Ilosti to be able to provide an explanation, or even just a confirmation that what she thought happened, hadn't. If she tried hard enough, she could come up with a couple different reasons why she had been dragged back only to find nothing there. Like, the room was at a slight angle and she fell, or Aera had grabbed her and thrown her but let go by the time she reached for the arm, or she was just mistaken by the feeling of something grabbing her around her middle and it was just the way the back of her shirt/pants had been grabbed that made it feel that way. What she doesn't expect is the flash of the stricken look that crosses Ilosti's face when she mentions it. Ellen waits silently as the questions is processed, folding her arms across her chest again, sensing that there is an answer here after all. She blinks several times as Ilosti starts to explain that yes, it was a possible thing that happened - but then stops herself short stating Aera needs to be there before they can talk about it.

"........ Okay." She sounds dubious, but lets it go as another thing she needs to add to the list to talk to Aera about.

The blonde turns and heads back into the living room, rubbing the bridge of her nose at the headache pounding behind her eyes.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

"Okay." Ellen says after a long moment. Ilosti let's out a breath that she hasn't known she'd been holding. While the human heads into the living room, she returns to the kitchen, grabbing two glasses of water - one room temperature and one with ice. She joins Ellen in the living room, taking her seat on the couch and offering the ice water to her. "So what do you do for your best friend days, anyway?" She asks, hoping the change in subject will put her friend more at ease.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen hesitates, but eventually goes back to settle herself in the place she was sitting before, when Aera suddenly got hit with the aphrodisiac. She accepts the offered water gratefully with a murmured thank you. "It's not really anything special." Ellen shrugs. "Just some R&R. Lazing around. Watch movies, my soaps, gossip, drink a lot of coffee and wine, and eat. A lot." They basically just spent the whole day alone, with just each other, hanging out. Sometimes it was a ladies' night sort of deal, where Aera would surprise Ellen with some wild outing, but that was the gist of what they did. "So it's no big loss this happened. I just like to spend what time off I get with her - with you guys." She sips from her water, finding herself incredibly thirsty. "I just hope Aera isn't too upset... she kept saying how she..." Ellen feels a shiver threatening to crawl down her spine remembering how Aera begged, that she was all she ever wanted, that it was her saying it - so she trails off and clears her throat. "A-anyway. Yeah. We just... spend time together, is all."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

Idle hands were the devil's playground. That had always been her sister's motto. Aerallis was always busy with something, busting her butt for the band, in her garden, making potions - something. The only time she had slow days were when she was exhausted or was supposed to rest, and the people she chose to be around for those times were always close friends - if she chose to be around people at all. Ellen brushed off their day of spending time together as nothing special, but it doesn't sound like nothing. It was quality time, one of Aera's love languages. She's sure that Ellen doesn't mean it the way she said it, and wants to brush it aside as just that when the other trails off. Was she thinking about... Earlier? The mage clears her throat. "Sounds nice to me." She says, "Maybe not wine but why don't we watch a movie or something?"

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ilosti suggests a movie. Not including the wine, which is... probably a good idea. "Yeah, yeah. A movie. Do you have a preference? I'm craving... action. Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Rambo... classic stuff." She knows Aera has access to them all, considering they were some of her comfort movies she would always be down for watching. Ellen reaches for the remote and then curls back up on the couch.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

Truth be told, she didn't have a lot of time for movies. They were usually enjoyed during down time while on tour or at home between albums. By the time that rolled around, Ilosti had already forgotten about whatever films she's watched to watch before. Rambo piques her interest. She doesn't know that one. "I haven't seen Rambo. Let's go with that one."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen nods to herself, navigating to it on the list. "We'll watch the first one, then. First Blood. It's good. Just fair warning, it's a pretty gritty action movie. The villains are pretty awful." It's also only a little over an hour and a half long... but luckily Rambo is a series, and they could keep watching if they need more time.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ilosti Tithiros:

Ilosti huddles against the left couch cushion, taking a sip of water. "That's fine by me. Mess me uuup." She grinned playfully. She was intent on the screen for a time... But occasionally find herself glancing over at Ellen to check on her from time to time.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen chuckles as Ilosti grins, and plays the movie. The older action films are comfort movies for her; she and her mom would curl up together and watch them for movie nights when she was growing up. It was a mother-daughter thing, because her dad didn't like those kind of movies (still didn't). She is staring at the screen, but she's seen it so much that she's not really watching it; rather she looks through it, unfocused, pondering over what had happened earlier, wondering what was happening upstairs, wondering why she was wondering, and only 'tuning' back in when her favorite parts came on. Still, Ellen is simply quiet, fidgeting and picking at skin on her fingers, and doesn't look to be in any particular state of distress.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Thora Phrostfur:

Three hours later, Thora comes downstairs after a shower, completely herself again. She's rolling her shoulder as she heads to the kitchen, grabbing two glasses of water. She can feel Ilosti watching her, but neither of them say anything. There's a movie on in the living room, and she can tell by scent that Ellen was still here... Thora drains one glass, makes another and downs half of it. She sets them down on the counter for a moment, rubbing her neck, then checks her phone - not surprised to see multiple missed messages. But she doesn't respond. That can wait for later. Thora can still feel the soft kisses trailing down to her collarbones from earlier. She can still hear the shivering in Aerallis's whispers, can still feel the weight of her head in her hands, literally cradling a broken heart in her arms as the mage showered love for someone else on her skin. 'I love you, I love you, I love you'. It should disturb her or at least rubbed her the wrong way. But it doesn't. It excites her, to be able to have a change in that regard - to finally have the ability after so many years to take Aera in a way that never had before. Pretending to be someone else for it made it hotter. That wasn't what bothered her. In all of their time together, it had never been like that. The Italian had never cried during or after. She wasn't helping to mend a broken heart. It had just shattered, and she had been the one to try to catch and hold all of the pieces, trying to put them back in place. She'd seen her friend cry before, but not... she had a feeling that it was something deeper than being rejected. Her chest throbbed from the mental image.

Her head tilts up ten minutes later at the sound of footfalls. Aerallis had come down the stairs, dressed - unfortunately - in comfort clothes, a black sweater and matching sweatpants. They don't say anything as the mage goes to her side, accepting the glass of water when Thora slides it towards her. She hooks an arm around Aera's waist and kisses her head. "Do you need me to stay?" She whispers and the other shakes her head. "Alright. I'll be around if you need me to come back." The Italian nods. "Thank you. I'll walk you outside." The pair walk to the door, and Thora pauses to say goodbye to both Ilosti and Ellen before they exit.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

Aera comes back in alone, letting out a deep exhale. When she turns, she sees that Ilosti and Ellen are watching one of the Rambo films and she swallows. Ilosti is watching her and she doesn't have enough energy to glare. She makes her way over to the couch, away from both of them, and settles without a word. Her sister looks at Ellen, shrugs, and then back at her. Aera does her best to ignore it. It isn't til several minutes after that she speaks. "Ilosti, when this is over, you can go home."

"Oh um, okay, are you-"

"You can go home after," She says again, more firmly. Ilosti doesn't ask again, and nods with a simple 'okay'.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Nearly finished with the second movie before something stirs upstairs. Ellen's attention immediately snaps to the doorway as Thora appears and then disappears into the kitchen. Aera comes down the stairs a few moments later, not looking in their direction. Ellen exchanges glances with Ilosti. Everyone is silent, and it's an awkward silence in that the pair of them are waiting for the other to speak first. There are a murmur of goodbyes as Thora pauses to say bye before leaving - Ellen doesn't look at her as she says it - and when Aera returns, she still doesn't speak. The blonde nods slightly to Ilosti's shrug when she meets her eyes - to show she's on the same page - and settles back into an uncomfortable silence to keep watching the movie. Unlike Ilosti, though, Ellen doesn't stare; only turning her attention to her when she finally speaks. It's not lost on Ellen that it's Ilosti who's instructed to go home. Not her. Ellen shoots Ilosti a commiserating look, and then clears her throat. "I... can go too, if you want." An offer, that if Aera doesn't want to talk about it right now, that they don't have to. Although Ellen would rather stay and clear the air, at least.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

For a moment after Ellen speaks, she's silent. She doesn't want to talk about it, would rather pretend it hadn't happened, but knows that Ellen may want to... And it was best to get that over with today rather than later.

A sharp exhale leaves her. "You can stay. But I understand if you'd like to take a raincheck for another day."

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Aera's silence stretches on for a little longer than Ellen would like, but it's better than an immediate, agreeing response, so she waits.

"Well, you know..." It feels so awkward, like she's walking on eggshells, but Ellen tries really hard to keep her tone light and normal. "I... still want to have our day if you do. So..."

She shrugs. She doesn't get much time off, neither does Aera, so every bit of it is precious. Despite how awkward things might be right now.

(And honestly, she thinks, it was probably a good sign too that all she was doing was kicking Ilosti out. Unless it just meant she was going to tear into her when Ellen isn't here.)

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Aerallis Tithiros:

Ellen still wanted to have their time together, and she was on the fence. Of course she wanted to spend more time with her best friend, but after... All of that... Aerallis isn't sure if her heart can take it or not, especially not after whatever little chat they were going to have. And even so, why isn't it Ellen that doesn't want to talk about this? Why hadn't she left? Why was she still here? She'd almost- she nearly- How was she so... Collected? Her head felt like a fucking mess. She doesn't look at Ellen when she replies. "I'm okay with that." She said quickly, not wanting the blonde to think that she didn't want to spend time with her. Even if it was half a lie, because she didn't want to talk about what had happened earlier. Didn't even want to think about it. And she'd put it off for as long as she possibly could.

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Ellen Bailey:

Aera doesn't look at her, but she says okay, so in the end that's all that matters. Ellen glances at Ilosti again, with a tiny shrug. That's about the best they could hope for, right?

It doesn't appear like Aera wants to talk any more, so Ellen doesn't try to talk anymore and just settles in to finish the last 10 minutes or so of the movie that's left.

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Ilosti Tithiros:

The younger mage shrugs her shoulders slightly after Ellen does, and falls silent for the rest of the movie. She thought that maybe Aera would be jumping all over her after coming downstairs, but she didn't want to discuss it anymore. Which means, she realizes with her heart in her throat, that her sister will tear into her later when they're alone. When the credits roll, she rises and stretches. She says goodbye to Ellen with a hug, and starts to do the same with Aera when she sees the older staring daggers at be her. She knows better than to go closer. "See you later, sis." Aerallis looks back at the screen. She doesn't offer to walk her out. Doesn't even say 'goodbye'. The only acknowledgement Aera gives is a grunt. Ilosti lets out a long exhale, says bye and leaves.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

"You can start the next one," She says before hearing the cobra start and pull out of the driveway. The Italian doesn't move from her spot. The longer it could be put off, the better.

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Ellen Bailey:

She offers Ilosti a goodbye hug, but can't help the small, sympathy grimace when Ilosti tries to say goodbye to Aera and the sister just glares at her. Doesn't even say bye. Ellen knows the sisters' relationship well enough to know that is bad. Ilosti does deserve it... But still. Ouch. Ellen isn't even given a chance to turn back to Aera and do more than take in a breath - just to ask her if they even can talk about what's happened - before Aera cuts in. The blonde pauses for a moment, with her mouth open, before she slowly closes it and reaches back for the remote. "... We don't have to talk about it." Ellen wants to look at her, but she doesn't, keeping her eyes down as if she is studying the remote's buttons intently. "But I wanted you to know that I... I'm not upset at you, in any way. I didn't want you to think that you hurt me or that I was weirded out, or..." She shook her head. She had been mulling over what to say for the past few hours and it still didn't sound right when she actually says it out loud. "I know you didn't want to do it and you had no choice. It wasn't your fault. You didn't hurt me. And I'm sorry that I didn't try harder to stop you and you were in pain, and... Yeah. That's all I wanted to say." Ellen swallows and clears her throat, and then navigates through the menu for the next movie. Hesitating only long enough to see if Aera wants to use that as a segue to speak before she starts it.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

Ellen hesitates and she drags in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "... We don't have to talk about it."

"Alright. You can start the next movie then," Aera says quickly. She doesn't want to hear what comes after. That she's not upset with her, and wasn't weirded out. 

What the fuck did that mean??

"Ellen..." She says lowly. But the other continued, saying she knew she didn't want to and it wasn't her choice.

Shut up, Ellen. For fucks sake, shut up, Ellen.

Didn't hurt her, she said. Thank God for Thora, and for Ilosti taking responsibility. If it weren't for them... She would've forced it. She wouldn't have been able to stop, and Ellen, poor Ellen, wouldn't have used the force she needed to stop her. If she even could.

"Ellen!" She says sternly. "I'm glad that you're okay, but let's... not talk about it right now."

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen actually winces at the sharpness in Aera's tone. The message to SHUT UP couldn't be more clear. Short of actually saying it. She sighs, quietly. Well, that was the majority of what she wanted to say... Whether Aera wanted to hear it right now or not. She had said it. It was up to Aera if she wanted to hear it. She doesn't vocalize any further, silently pressing play on Rambo III and curling back up on the couch. It feels weird not having Aera curled up next to her... But given the circumstances, Ellen only glances between the empty space and Aera before turning her gaze back to the TV screen.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

She hates this. Hates seeing Ellen wince. Hates seeing her far away, silent and tense and awkward, while starting the next movie in the lineup. Hates not being close to her, like they normally would be - a secret bliss for the Italian. But right now, that would be be wrong. It was hard to chose between what she wanted and what was right, and what she wanted was to pretend that everything was fine and curl up with Ellen. Drink wine and laugh. Her heart squeezes in her chest, so hard that it's hard to breathe, and she's not sure if it's worse to do there right thing. Or what feels like the right thing. They watch the film in uncharacteristic silence, the space between them a heavy, prickly blanket of unease. When it's over, she takes another sip of water and for a moment, is quiet for the credits. Then she clears her throat. "Food?"

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen hates it too. Hates that Aera has withdrawn in on herself and is shutting out any feeble attempts from Ellen to reach out. If it had been anything else that happened, Ellen would have tried harder to bridge that divide that seems to have opened between them - either offering or even moving closer on her own accord. But as it is, she knows Aera is upset and vulnerable and despite how much she wants to do all that, she doesn't want to push too hard or too far and make her best friend feel worse about what's happened. She hates it, but she swallows her instincts to resolve the tension between them and lets Aera dictate when they start. (At least, until Ellen can't take it anymore. Which they aren't there yet.) She forces herself to focus on the movie. It's a good distraction until it ends, at least. Ellen looks over at the cleared throat. It's a single word, but it's better than nothing. "Sure. If you're up for it." She smiles, encouragingly.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

"I'm always up for food," Aera chuckles, as if it were obvious. Really, she could go for some wine; the potion isn't in her system anymore, it should be fine, but... No, it should be okay. She could keep her distance just fine. "You mentioned soup," It was one of the last, unfuzzy things that she remembers."Is that what you're in the mood for?"

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen hesitates. "Er, no, the soup was because you said you weren't feeling well..." Although, isn't she still not feeling well now? Just in a different way. "It's, uh, one of the few things I can make outside of pancakes though soooo if you want to sit this one out I can still make it for you?" Ordinarily Ellen is allowed to help but otherwise isn't usually allowed to cook for Aera because of the few instances where she may have set the pan on fire. Which is also why Ellen has so rarely offered. She looks hopeful, maybe even a little eager, that in this rare case Aera may actually agree. It's just soup, after all.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

It's... a nice gesture, but not one that instills her with a lot of confidence. Sitting out would be nice, though, just for today.

"... Are you going to set the pan on fire again? Or burn the water?" Aera deadpans. Letting Ellen in the kitchen, to cook, seems like a bad idea. Maybe with supervision...

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Ellen Bailey:

Oof. "No." Ellen sounds sheepish, but is quick to come to her own defense. "Those were both unfortunate and isolated incidents. I can handle soup. Even I know that much."

She will casually not mention the chopping involved, as she has already demonstrated she is capable of wielding a knife safely enough multiple times in Aera's presence. But it's not exactly a vote of confidence that Aera always feels the need to watch to make sure she doesn't accidentally cut herself. Or chop off a finger.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

"Okay..." She doesn't sound convinced, at all. She lives and adores Ellen, but didn't trust her in the kitchen but herself. "We'll trade jobs for today, then."

Then she quickly adds, before Ellen can celebrate, "But if anything burns, you're back on chopping duty."

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Ellen Bailey:

Aera sounds dubious, but Ellen does not give her a moment to change her mind. "Okay great, you wait here, I've got it!" She jumps up and rushes to the kitchen, feeling determined. Ellen may not be able to comfort Aera using the usual methods, right now, but being able to cook for her when it's usually the other way around... the blonde is eager to make this a success.

Unfortunately, she may have been a bit too eager. She is good at making soup, she would swear it on her life, but as familiar as she may be with Aera's kitchen she isn't familiar in actually cooking in it, as Aera would ordinarily shoo her away any time she tried to help. She is able to chop all the ingredients for a vegetable soup, nice and easy, but when it comes to actually simmering the broth and seasoning it...

Jumpcut to 20 minutes later, Ellen removes the lid from the pot to find a blackened, congealed sludge of... something that was supposed to be vegetable soup. There is a black crust along the edges and the thing pulses like it is some sort of sentient, malformed creature - until she turns off the heat, at least.

Ellen contemplates the disaster, one arm crossed over her chest and the other hand brought to her chin, pondering with a small grimace. At least it... didn't catch on fire. Or if it did, it had all been contained underneath the lid. So it... didn't... technically burn, right?

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Aerallis Tithiros:

Before she can follow, the blonde darted into the kitchen, leaving the Italian blooming after her. When she'd offered to cook before, she hadn't been that eager. She's still not confident. Something tells her that it's a bad decision. Ten minutes in, she ventures into the kitchen and grabs an entire bottle of wine imported from Italy. No glasses, just the bottle. For her nerves. There's no sign of burning, and it doesn't smell awful, so... So far so good? Aera uncorks the bottle and returns to the living room until the time comes when the smell from the kitchen isn't... Appetizing. What is she doing in there? "You okay in there?" She calls out, curious. For extra measure, she takes a swig from the bottle and waits.

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen startles from her reverie at the call from the living room. "Uh..." The hesitation in the response was too much of a giveaway for her to even try to lie. This was... unsalvageable. The blonde's grimace deepens as a bubble floats to the surface of the concoction and pops.

She slowly sets the lid back on the pot and moves it off of the cooling burner. Aera had come in some time ago and taken an entire bottle of wine with her. Ellen wishes she had an entire bottle of wine in this moment. She would need to wait for it to cool some and then dump the whole thing in the trash. And start scrubbing the pot if there is some miracle at saving it.

"Well it didn't burn but uh... I don't know if this is, uh... soup. It's more like a... pudding." She finally, slowly, calls back.

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Aerallis Tithiros:

"Pudding? What-" Gods have mercy. Somehow, someway, Ellen had found a way to mess up soup. "Hold on." Maybe she could save it. Maybe it would taste okay, at least. Those thoughts die when she opens the pot and sees the monstrosity that the blonde has made. It looks as if she'd messed up a potion and summoned some sort of gel creature. That... definitely can't be salvageable. She wouldn't even waste her time. Aerallis gives Ellen a 'how did you do this?' look and moves the pot to the counter to cool. Okay. No more cooking unsupervised for Ellen. She pulls three cloves of garlic, carrots, celery, a bottle of lemon juice and fresh parsley from the fridge and then gets potatoes, a can of diced tomatoes, a can of corn, kidney beans and bay leaves from the cabinet. "Get out the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and olive oil. Then help me chop these." She says, pulling a steel knife from the knife block. Aera starts to chop up the vegetables on a wooden cutting board. "I'm not going to cook for you, but I will give you directions. Cool?" She pauses for a moment, and kneels, pulling a large dutch oven from the bottom cabinet. The mage sets it on the stove.

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen knows there is no hope, and so doesn't even try to hide or conceal what's happened. She only steps back with a properly chagrined look and tries not to feel the total 'WTF' look Aera shoots her way.

"I promise this has never happened before," She mutters, her only defense. Maybe... whatever it is that caused the strange thing with the doors, and her getting pulled, is what did it. Yeah. Must be.

She is forced to admit defeat and allow Aera into the kitchen, if either of them want to eat anything, any time soon. Wordlessly she does as instructed, grabbing the required items and moving her designated items to her cutting board from earlier.

"Okay. Fair. Sorry," She adds, because it feels necessary to add an apology.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

"It's fine. Different stove, different tools." She says, resuming chopping up stuff. Once everything is chopped, she starts giving Ellen directions; onion and garlic to cook for eight minutes. Celery, carrots and potatoes for five minutes after, stirring often. Add the seasoning, cook for one more minute. Aera pulls up a chair at the island, drinking from the wine bottle as she plays a mobile game til Ellen has done as she instructs. "Add broth, water, tomatoes, corn, beans, bay leaf, and several grinds of pepper." Another pause. "Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and simmer it, covered. Set a timer for 35 minutes. In twenty minutes, do a taste test."

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Ellen Bailey:

Aera says it's fine, but it doesn't feel like it's fine. But it's probably just because she's extra sensitive right now. 

Still, Ellen only nods. If there's one thing she's good at: it's following directions. And she does so, to the letter, aside from a few moments where she gets lost or confused and Aera has to remind her.

As promised though, Aera stays out of the way and lets Ellen do it. The blonde notes how she's drinking straight from the bottle the whole time, though. Ellen stays quiet outside the communication between the instructions. Guessing this isn't an invitation to have a conversation. And she doesn't ask for any of the wine herself; Aera probably needs it more.

The soup comes out tasting excellent in comparison to... whatever disaster Ellen's work created. And when the timer dings, it's ready to serve in all its glory.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

By the time the soup is done, the Mage has made a little more than halfway through the bottle and the kitchen, she notes, smells amazing. Yes, that's what it's supposed to be. When the timer dings, she stretches and gets up to get silverware, telling Ellen to get bowls.

"Do you want to eat in here or in the living room? I don't care which." Aera sets the silverware aside, waiting to either make herself a bowl or for Ellen to hand one to her.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Ellen gets down two bowls and fills one up before passing it over.

"Here's fine," She says, with a small smile. Partially because Aera can't use a movie as another excuse in here, right? Ellen is willing to suffer through the awkward silence if that's what it takes. 

She picks up a spoon Aera set aside and heads to the table with her own bowl, before going back to get a glass of water.

She'll give Aera a few minutes of silence so they can eat. She's sure she's starving, since it's past dinner at this point, after 3 movies in a row. But Ellen isn't going to wait forever for her to broach the subject. There's a list of things on her mind and one of them is going to get talked about sooner rather than later.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

As tempted as she is to retreat to the living room by herself, she doesn't. She takes the offered bowl and takes it to the table, sitting on one end. Her stomach growls rather than rumbles as she does so.

She'd been ignoring her hunger for the better part of an hour, probably longer, and she doesn't wait for Ellen to join her at the table before she digs in. It's delicious. Of course it is.

Maybe Ellen will remember it, or parts of it, the next time she makes soup.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

Aera tried to sit herself on the other end of the table, and while Ellen let her have some space, she stubbornly parked herself only a chair space between. It's more than normal, but probably not as far as Aera would like, right now. Ellen doesn't care.

She waits the amount of time she told herself she would, digging in to the soup herself. There is no attempt made to break the silence. Fine.

Casually, with the spoon halfway to her mouth, Ellen asks, "So, are you and Thora together?"

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Aerallis Tithiros:

Aera is mid bite when the blonde speaks up. And of all the things she could've said... That's her first question?

She shouldn't have been surprised, really. It was the safest one to ask. The mage chews and swallows before responding.

"No, we're not," She says, amused. As if that would ever happen.

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen finishes the spoonful up in the air and tilts her head. Aera sounds amused when she responds, like the idea is ridiculous.

"Casual, then?" She says. Friends with benefits? Booty call? Their relationship must be known enough that Ilosti called her - Ellen is no detective but there's no reason for Thora to have shown up at all unless Ilosti called her.

This day was supposed to be their day, together. Unless Thora just so happened to drop by totally out of the blue. Unlikely. So Ilosti calling her was the only option. Ilosti knew to call her.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

Aera takes another bite, using the soup to soothe the lumps that want to form in her throat. She never really wanted to discuss her relationship with Thora with her, but she doesn't have any reason not to. It wasn't a big deal, and not a secret either. It just hadn't come up before now.

"Friends with benefits," She confirms. 

It's been that way for years, on and off - whenever they were in the same area. They both liked it because it was easy, and were both rather private people.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Ellen Bailey:

The blonde hums in acknowledgement. She likes to think the small wound of jealousy is because Ellen has been single and without a FWB for years, and not for any other reason. 

"I wondered... because I thought maybe the reason you're avoiding talking about this with me was because you thought you had cheated on her. But. Guess not."

She sets her spoon down and sits back in her chair. 

"Outside the obvious that it was a shitty prank Ilosti tried to pull and you didn't deserve to go through that... I'm not upset. So talk to me. Why are you?"

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

The first thing that comes to the forefront of her mind is how ridiculous that statement sounds. She doesn't hold anything against Ellen for thinking it of course, but still. Aera keeps eating, hoping that it's done. It's not. She takes another bite and sighs, setting down her spoon. Why is she upset? Because it had made her crazy, and Ellen might not know it, but if they hadn't been stopped, the human would've gotten hurt. She'd have never forgiven herself. It could've ruined their entire relationship. And... It cemented that there really was no hope. Her love was one sided and would never bare fruit. And her heart ached, for all of those reasons.

"... Why aren't you?" Aera counters. "I could've hurt you, Ellen. If they hadn't been there..."

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Ellen Bailey:

"Why aren't you?" Her friend shoots back, and Ellen blinks, frowning. Could've hurt her... "Because it's... I knew you were on something immediately. And anyway, you couldn't have hurt me even if they hadn't shown up."

She fidgets with her spoon for a second. "I'm a cop, Aera. I know how to subdue an assailant. I wasn't... I didn't really try to stop you. If I had, this would be a totally different story."

She looks up from the soup, hoping to catch Aera's gaze. "And I'm sorry for that. I thought I could get you locked into the room without having to pin you. But then the thing with the door and the --..."

Ellen shakes her head, as if to rid the thought. Later. "Beside the point. If that's why - because you think you could've hurt me - I'm not some fragile flower, Aera. I didn't want to hurt you. And you didn't hurt me." She rubs absently at the spot on her neck where Aera bit her, a hickey low in the crook of her neck hidden by the tank top and sweater.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Aerallis Tithiros:

"You don't know that. The only reason that I didn't is because you didn't - which, I'm surprised you didn't push more." Ellen hasn't known her for years, she doesn't know what the mage is capable of - physically or otherwise. And likewise, she could say the same for the cop.

But unfortunately, being a cop wasn't a trump card against magic - something that she would have used more of in order to get what she wanted. But her friend doesn't know that she's not human, doesn't even know that magic exists, let alone the possibility of what it could do and all of the terrible ways that really could've gone.

However, she notes that Ellen mentions the door but doesn't follow up on it.

She loved Ellen. But the potion had made her crazed. She'd have done anything. Anything. "You couldn't have hurt me. I'm not a fragile flower, either. But what if I had? It would have ruined our entire relationship and I would never forgive myself, or Ilosti, for it. What then, Ellen? I'm too pretty for prison." It was an attempt at a joke, but a bad one, to lift her own mood. It didn't work. Because it was a lie. She had been hurt. She was still hurt. And she wouldn't, couldn't, say why.

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Ellen Bailey:

Ellen... doesn't know why she didn't push more, either. She chooses to believe it's just because she didn't want to hurt her best friend, high off some drug she didn't know she'd taken.

"I do know that." She is firm, resolute. "I wouldn't have let you hurt me or yourself, if it got that far. Which it didn't. And we can't go on 'what if's."

She chuckles despite herself at the lame joke, clearly made to try to lighten the mood. She is gentle as she responds, "Don't speak for me, Aera. If we're talking about things that didn't actually happen... It wouldn't have ruined our relationship. And I wouldn't have reported you. You weren't yourself. I know that."

Ellen reaches out across the table, palm up, an invitation. "It's just... you're upset and I want to help, and you won't let me, because I was the one who was involved. I don't want you to shut me out. Please, Aera... how can I help you? If not fix it, at least feel better?"