"Aph and I are thinking of getting a pet," Lucinda said as she leaned over the counter.

Katelyn broke into a smile. "Really? What kind? Does your landlord even allow pets?"

The redhead smiled up at the bluenette. "Some. We can't have dogs, and cats need to be approved. We're thinking of a parakeet or a cat."

Katelyn gently placed her prototype crown onto Lucinda's head. "Well, when you decide, let me know. I'm a slut for baby animals." She paused. "That didn't come out the way I wanted it to."

Lucinda giggled and stood up, the metal wires around her head resting in her curls. "I love the crown. You said you're going to add flowers?"

"Flames," Katelyn corrected, gingerly tucking Lucinda's hair around the metal. "It's a commission for a superfan of Wyvern."

Lucinda choked on air, gasping as she laughed. "Wyvern has superfans? I thought no one liked his attitude."

Katelyn snorted. "All his fans are the edgy teens." The crown was pulled of Lucinda's head. "Though some people like the dark and handsome vibe he puts off. Hell, I like the dark and handsome vibe he puts off."

That stopped Lucida from laughing. "Who is your favorite member of the Alliance?"

Katelyn gaped at her, crown set on the counter. "Have I never told you this story?"

Lucinda shook her head. She has a feeling she knew what Katelyn was talking about, though.

Katelyn slid over the counter, legs dangling right next to Lucinda's hands. "Alright, so one day I was walking home, y'know, basic closing night. And as I'm walking home, I feel like someone is following me. Lots of scuttling noises and footsteps." She animated her story with her hands, and Lucinda definitely knew what she was talking about. "So I start to run. This was right after my inflamed tendon surgery though, so I couldn't run that fast. I finally turn the corner, and some creep of a dude puts his hand on my shoulder and tries to drag me away!" Katelyn shook her head. "It was terrifying. I think he was a druggie, as well. Tried to get out of his grip and got shocked. So he's dragging me back into this alleyway, and boom, Illusion is standing right there!"

Lucinda pulled a shocked expression. "What? No way!"

Katelyn nodded enthusiastically. "It was really Illusion! And the guy holding onto me started screaming and swatting at his body, so I knocked him out with a move Nicole showed me." Katelyn sighed dreamily. "Illusion was so sweet. Offered to walk me home and everything."

Lucinda froze. Illusion was so sweet. So sweet.

"So I take it Illusion is your favorite of their trio?" She managed to stutter out, a heat creeping up her face.

"Yep! Even before that incident as well. But she's strong too, like if I didn't know better, I would say super-strength type of strong."

The compliment usually would've made Lucinda smile, maybe blush, but the mention of super strength curbed her blush.

"Well," she said, standing straight and trying to keep up her smile. "Aph sent me to the market for some fruit. Better go get some."

Katelyn waved bye, putting the crown behind the counter. She didn't say anything else, so Lucinda awkwardly opened the door and left.

Only to turn the corner and run straight into Kim.

"Mothershi-" Kim started to curse, only to color bright red as she saw who she ran into.

Lucinda was gaping at the shorter girl, who she had come to know as a sweet type of girl, who didn't curse, and most definitely did not come up with words like-

"Mothershitter?" Lucinda said out loud.

If it was possible, Kim colored even brighter. "Uh."

Lucinda tilted her head back and laughed. A good, hard laugh that erased any dark feeling she had had upon leaving Katelyn. "Well, Hot Chocolate Girl might have a sweet tooth, but she sure has a bitter tongue."

Kim ducked her head. "Uhm, sorry? I don't, ah, usually curse in public."

Lucinda clapped a hand on Kim's shoulder, who in turn stiffened. "It's alright, Hot Chocolate. You should hear Laurance in the kitchen. I didn't even know curses could be combined like that."

Kim smiled. "Oh, believe me, his mouth was just as foul in high school. Sister of his ex, remember?"

Lucinda made a noise of recognition. "I keep forgetting that. I didn't know either of them until college, so backstories were kinda a no-no for us edgy college students."

Kim huffed out a laugh, rubbing her arms with her gloved hands. Lucinda hadn't even noticed, but in the time she'd been in Katelyn's store, the temperature had dropped, despite the sun still shining like the brightest bitch. Fucking Oregon.

"Do you know if Laurance and Garroth have met up yet?" She idly questioned, pulling her coat from around her waist and pulling it on. Her shirt fluttered up in the slight breeze, showing part of her midriff.

Kim ducked her head, shy about something. "No, uhm, I think they have it scheduled for the third? It was the only time Garroth's boyfriend could make it, since he has some really busy work."

Lucinda made a noncommittal noise, nodding slowly. "I noticed you never added my number. Any reason, or just busy?"

Kim's smile turned vaguely panicked and stressed. "My idiot of a brother tossed it into the fireplace as fuel. Thought it was his boyfriend's number from two years ago."

Lucinda's nodding turned faster. "Are you free right now?"

Kim turned thoughtful looking. "I think so. Why?"

Lucinda deigned not to answer, instead taking Kim's hand and dragging her down the street.

"What-" Kim was silenced as Lucinda turned a corner, and suddenly they were surrounded by many, many bright and vivid colors.

"Welcome to my apartment!" Lucinda crowded, stepping up onto the porch. A purple colum stood next to a banana yellow banister,and the door was an eye-offending green.

"You live in the painted flats?" Kim said, obviously trying to recover from the sudden flash of color. "My brothers wanted to live here for the longest time." She paused. "I'm very sorry if this offends you, but how are you affording this? These flats go for around a mil, and you work in a coffee shop."

Lucinda pulled a key from her pocket. "No offense taken. You're right, my main job is at Meteli, but both me and my roommate work for KC."

Kim froze in place, stopping from the step and looking a little... fearful? "You work for KC? Are you a super?"

Fortunately, Lucinda was well prepared to deal with that little question. "Nope. No lucky genes in me. I just help file papers. Same with Aph."

The fear melted off Kim's face as they walked inside, and shifted into confusion when she saw her adoptive brother Vylad on the couch, in deep conversation with Aph.

He looked up, his tan skin contrasting nicely with his tealeaf green eyes. "Sup."

Kim spluttered. The poor girl looked incredibly confused, and with the color she was turning, Lucinda was sure she was about to explode.

"To be fair, I didn't know he was here either." She crossed her arms at Aph. "Send me out for fruit so you can hang with a friend? At least tell me, babe."

Aph laughed, the flush of Kim's face turning more to a violent red. "Aw, sweetheart, if you were jealous, you could've just said."

Vylad looked back and forth between them with raised eyebrows. "So, you two are together?"

The two roommates looked at each.

And positively burst into laughter.

"Ha!" Aph let out a particularly large shout of laughter before socking Vylad in the arm. "Forget I'm seeing someone, dipshit?"

Vylad shrugged. "There's things like polyamorous relationships. Garroth and Blaze were in one for a while." He snuck a glance at Kim. "Remember that?"

Kim nodded. "I remember. I think I still have her phone number."

Lucinda eyed them. "Well, Aph and I certainly aren't together, much less in a polyamorous relationship. I think her boyfriend would love to have two girls worshipping him, though. You should hear how he sounds when they think I'm not home-"

Aph latched her hand over Lucinda's mouth. "There goes your chances of ever dating me, ass."

Lucinda merely raised an eyebrow and licked Aph's hand.

From the squealing Aph made as she ran over to Vylad to wipe Lucinda's spit off, Lucinda would've guessed she never had a best friend when she was younger.

Speaking of younger best friends, Lucinda looked at Kim and smiled. "Welcome to the group, Hot Chocolate."

And the smile that split Kim's face was not one to be forgotten.