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“Catalina? The show-jumper with like 3 gran prix horses?” Eden asked, the notes in her voice lifting in surprise. Almost everybody knew everybody in the equestrian program. Despite having a top-line facility, spots were limited, which meant that there were only a few riders for each discipline. “I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like.” Her eyes widening as she remembered all her past experiences with the show-jumper. They hadn’t crossed paths too often, just enough to give Eden a bad impression, which turned out to be rightly perceived. She was hit with a swift pang of thankfulness that she got along well with all the other eventing riders, from the beginning they had made a pretty nice group. There were three other riders besides herself, two female riders and one male. The two female riders, Jessica Lane and Lucia Fer, were both a year older, whilst Thompson Willards and Eden were sophomores. Eden was already looking forward to seeing them the next day as they had already planned out a trail ride together. The thought of inviting Priscilla out with them rapidly crossed her mind, but she pushed away the thought. She would have to explain the whole situation to them, and she couldn’t do that if her roommate was right beside her. And anyways, Priscilla probably wouldn’t even want to go. The idea of them going for a trail ride still lingered, and Eden entertained the thought that maybe one day they could go, just the two of them. She thought for a second, momentarily perplexed as to why she was so drawn to the idea, why the thought of hanging out with Priscilla both daunted and enticed her. It certainly didn’t help when the stunning girl swayed forward, leaning her elbows over her knees and closing the already slight distance between them. Eden had no choice but to look in her eyes, immediately caught in Priscilla’s seraphic gaze. The blonde licked her lips before sucking her bottom lip between her teeth. She flicked her eyes all over her face, seemingly wanting to study every single detail and feature she would see. The way the light radiated through her hair, creating a shimmer of black and brown hues. Priscilla’s precise eye make up, and the way her lashes doted over her elegant eyes. Her necklaces and how they accented her graceful neck. Eden couldn’t help but take in every inch of the woman in front of her. Her trance was soon broken as the western rider leaned back, ripping open the enclosed atmosphere that had been budding between them. Eden tried to recover quickly, blinking once or twice as she returned from whatever daydream or haze she had been lost in, hoping her stare hadn’t been invasive or maybe even gone unnoticed. She automatically returned the soft smile, again noticing Priscilla’s impressive canines. “I’ll let you know next time.” She responded, a ludic hint in the sound. Was this even real? Was she really making jokes with Priscilla? Eden’s mind was soon occupied by a new thought as the blue-eyed woman readjusted herself, swinging her legs out and letting them hang over the side of her bed. And really, Eden should have expected it. I mean, of course Priscilla would have jaw-dropping legs. She herself knew that riders tended to have pretty damn good physiques, but this was on another level. Her legs, long in proportion to her torso, were incredibly toned and smooth, and for a fraction of a second Eden was tempted to reach out, to gently drag her fingertips across her defined skin. She tried not to stare as Priscilla graciously accepted the band-aid, her palm warm where it had grazed against her roommate’s fingertips. Though she couldn’t help but notice the way her hand articulated, the way the sapphire stone complemented her complexion. “I like your ring.” The blonde remarked, meeting her eyes for just a second before glancing away. However, she pricked her head back up as Priscilla began describing her horse, her flaxen eyebrows raising slightly. “Oh, I know her! Well, I haven’t met her exactly, but I passed by her stall today. She’s right next to Kings.” Eden mused, her expression softening. She couldn’t help but give out a laugh as she watched Priscilla explain the voluptuous size of her mare. “I bet she’s a force to be reckoned with.” She added with an almost purr-like hum, the sound of Priscilla’s giggle making whatever tension she had left ooze away. Priscilla’s eyes seemed to almost glow in the setting sunlight, her freckles ever so slightly more prominent. She always loved freckles, Eden noticed suddenly. She had always been drawn to light eyes too. She began to puzzle the coincidences together piece by piece. Everything Priscilla was, every aspect of her, was like a perfect snare for Eden. No wonder she always felt so vulnerable in her presence, the tension a mix of bitterness and allurement. She didn’t have time to dwell much on the realization, as Priscilla was sitting across from her awaiting an response. “I feel for you. Math is rough.” Eden lamented, genuinely sympathetic. “I have Behavioral Ecology at 10.” She added with a sigh, “What are you studying anyways? I feel like I should’ve asked that earlier.” She asked, leaning ever so slightly towards her. (literally how are you getting these out so quickly?? it takes me three hours to do like 800+ and you regularly get 1000+ out in like an hour lol) Edited at January 6, 2024 04:54 PM by avelexa
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"Yes, her! I think the only time she's shown me any sort of feeling other than like, pure hatred was one night when I was drunk. It was kind of sweet, I was crying so hard that she just let me sleep in her bed and comforted me." Priscilla spoke with a genuine hint of affection for the woman amongst the hatred she felt. Maybe Catalina did sort of like her, but of course she couldn't be friends with someone like Priscilla. As the year had went on, Catalina had grown considerably more friendly, even if she still was a complete bitch. But that night, she was almost certain that Catalina had cuddled her while she slept. Fond memories of the woman were few and far in between, but they were still there. Priscilla had few friends that were western riders, meaning she didn't see them all that often. Kadie Swan, her absolute bestest friend did cutting and reining with her. Since the university was definitely more English based, they combined some of the western disciplines. But that didn't change the amount of people to one. In cutting and reining, it was her, Kadie, Aiden Wolf, Aaron Smith, and Weston McFarlane. They were all older than her. Prisiclla was almost certain that Weston had some sort of thing for her. He was the biggest cowboy you could ever meet. Maybe it was something about her southern origins and that stupid little drawl of hers that really got him going. Weston was very sweet on her, but he put on a hardass attitude to most others. Priscilla had mixed feelings. At one point in time, she thought about pursuing him. The two were still good friends to this day, despite all that had happened last year. Not quite drama, but it was still something she didn't like to think much about. Never once did she let Weston get what he wanted from her, which she wasn't sure if it was a genuine relationship or casual hookups. Either way, she just didn't let him. And then an idea struck her. Instead of staying in her dorm for the rest of the night, why didn't she go hangout with him? She knew he would likely be at a party, but he would drop anything for her. Priscilla wouldn't mind having only a few drinks or just catching up with him. She absolutely was not able to sit still in the slightest. Her feet were swinging slightly, her hands made random gestures as she talked or were focused on doing something else. Her gaze was always shifting around the room, or examining Eden. Priscilla gazed down at her lap, where of course, that stuffed cat remained. She reached one hand down to give it a few strokes, enjoying the feel of the soft fur on her fingertips. In the most gentle way, she slowly picked it up and turned to place it back with the others along the wall. Turning back around, she immediately took note of the way Eden seemed almost zoned out while looking at her. And for the oddest reason, it made her feel horribly self conscious. Priscilla normally wasn't insecure about her appearance as a whole, mostly her teeth and some other things. But now? She felt like immediately hiding away and getting out of Eden's view. She looked away, finding herself reaching over to her arm and gently running her nails up and down. Some sort of self soothing method. "Yeah? I promise, it works like magic." Priscilla chuckled, her nails now tracing soft shapes on her skin. A star, a heart, and a cross. The sharp tips of her nails left little white lines in their wake, but none would turn into red marks because she wasn't using much pressure. Her legs continued to swing, casting small shadows onto the floor. Priscilla let her gaze dart from Eden to the window, leaning forwards slightly more to check how the sunset was progressing. No pretty array of colors in the sky yet, only the copious amount of golden sunlight. "My ring?" Priscilla gazed down to the sapphire stone on her ring, and then lifted her hand from her arm. She turned the back of her hand out and extended it towards Eden, allowing her a closer look at the ring. Not up close and personal, but a little more. "Thank you. I got it, and a necklace as a gift from my grandmother." She smiled, reaching that extended hand up to her neck to gently hold the pendant of the necklace between her index finger and her thumb. The color was a violet starbrite sapphire, and in certain lights appeared to be a light lilac color or a darker blue. In a way, it was not very far off from her eyes, which were a constellation of blues. The main shade was a darker sort of color, but the shades of lighter blue overall made them brighter. She liked to stare in the mirror and pick out every little color of her own eyes sometimes. "Oh, so that one is your horse?" Her eyes widened a little, recalling the huge horse that left her stunned. "How do you.. even.." Priscilla gave a little laugh, crossing her feet at the ankles as she swung them. "That horse is a beast. I passed by him this morning and wondered how you could even get on him." Priscilla admitted, cracking something of a genuine smile. "Oh yeah, she definitely is. I have some horror stories about that mare. Won't take anyone but me, she suddenly becomes a bucking bronc the second anyone else even sits on her." Priscilla shook her head, her tone one of pure amusement. She wasn't too sure why Clementine was like that, not wanting to take any other rider. But it made her feel almost a sense of pride knowing she was good enough to be accepted by the horse, since she once was most definitely not accepted. At the mention of Eden's class, her brow raised. What was she majoring in? "Me? Chemistry. It kicked my ass last year, I went back to the dorm crying every day." Priscilla spoke in a half amused tone and half serious. She was fully serious, and made the choice to be a little vulnerable and admit her struggles and feelings to Eden. "It was a struggle to pick between that and psychology. What do you do?" She asked in a curious manner, noting the way Eden seemed to lean in, putting them even closer. She wanted to lean out and touch her, to run her nails softly and gently along her cheek. To look into those eyes of her and count the flecks of yellow. It wasn't necessarily thought in any sort of odd manner. Priscilla was just curious about the woman that she had been fighting for so long. She wanted to explore her, to learn her interests and get aquainted with the small features that someone wouldn't normally notice. Not in a romantic way, but Priscilla found that learning these things about people made her connect with them more. She was amazed at how calm things were going, and for the first time, she noticed that the awkward tension in the air was almost gone. It was like the tension had just melted away and gave way to a sort of calmness. Maybe the two had a way of calming each other down. Maybe they could be each others worst nightmare or a dream come true for each other. But Priscilla doubted she would get the chance to learn if that second part was true or not. Eden was like this fascinating enigma to her. One waiting to be explored and then admired. It was a weird way of thinking, considering the fact she knew she would have to go to great lengths to be able to fully undo the feelings between them. And maybe on her end they would be fully gone, but she wasn't sure about Eden. Priscilla didn't hold grudges, and she wasn't sure if Eden did or not. Her lips parted softly in thought before she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, gently biting down with her canines. They were definitely intimidating for people, especially lovers. Who wanted those sharp fang-like teeth anywhere near their lips, or even their neck? Not many people did. Priscila gently gnawed at the skin on her lips before she realized what she was doing. It was a bad habit and she needed to stop. She released her bottom lip, running her tongue over it to taste if there was any blood. There wasn't any, thankfully. Priscilla took a breath in, leaning a little bit more forwards subconsciously. And as she did so, she could smell the subtle scent of Eden fill her nostrils. That citrusy scent.. and was that mint? Before she could even stop and think about it, she blurted out something that made her feel horribly embarrassed. "You smell really good. Is it a perfume you use? Or do you just naturally smell good?" Her hand immediately went to the bridge of her freckled nose, giving it a small pinch out of frustration. She really needed to stop talking without thinking first. What if she just weirded Eden out by saying that? (mostly it's the fact i haven't had a good rp in the while so i'm very eager to get responses out and continue. lol once im burnt out it'll definitely take a good while for responses to come out. also hehe i just have a lot of experience writing wise so its easier for me to get longer lengths out) Edited at January 6, 2024 07:33 PM by honeymoon
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“Honestly, I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t hear it first hand. Catalina seems incapable of sympathy.” Eden replied, with subtle hints of sarcasm towards the end. She normally wasn’t a pessimistic character, and usually tried to give people the benefit of the doubt before thinking anything bad about them. It took a lot to get Eden to admit that someone may just be a bad or mean person, even if she was the victim of the damage. Though once she made up her mind about someone it was hard for her to ever see them in a different light. Not just someone she didn’t like, but people she thought were great and lovely too. Eden struggled with trusting people she felt were unpredictable, and accepting that sometimes not everybody is who they seem. It probably explained why Eden wasn’t particularly a social butterfly, despite getting along relatively well with most people she meets. Her eyes observed the woman across from her, frustration ebbing in slightly. She certainly couldn’t make sense of her. They had feuded since they were kids, essentially pretended the other hadn't existed the past year, and in the matter of an afternoon it almost looked like they could be… friends? And the worst part was, Eden was having a good time. The more they talked the easier it became, Priscilla was funny and she enjoyed watching her mannerisms, the way she was constantly moving, all of it leading her to letting down her guard, to not be so innately defensive. It was the way she smiled, with the light reflecting off her eyes, creating a symphony of chromatic shades. The way she traced shapes along her skin, the way Eden’s eyes followed her hands as if under a trance. The way her hair fell, raven-colored with soft curls at the bottom, and the way she played with the curls, twisting them along her fingers. The way she laughed with her smooth, honeyed, addicting, southern drawl. Is this what hate felt like? Was this the way one was supposed to hate someone? She glanced down as Priscilla held out her hand towards her, showing off the well-crafted ring. Eden shuffled closer towards the edge of her bed, letting one leg hang over the side and resting a hand on the edge, resting her weight on it as she inclined to get a closer look at the sapphire. It certainly was a sight to behold, the silver delicately engraved. Her eyes followed Priscilla’s hands as they moved to the matching necklace, holding it out slightly. Eden timidly stretched her hand forward, fingers brushing as she gently rested the pendant against the pads of her fingertips, appreciating the complexity and depth of colors. A rosy hue soon blushed over her cheeks as she realized how close they were, how intimately she grazed Priscilla’s skin, the heat burning her cheeks. She softly let go of the necklace and leaned away with a bashful, half-apologetic smile, rocking her weight back and forcing her eyes down to her hands. She was thankful for any sort of distraction, and hearing Priscilla laugh brushed away some of the previous awkwardness. “Trust me, he’s not as big as he looks. He’s only 16.3! I think it’s that neck of his. He holds it up like a damn arabian.” Eden playfully replied, her voice melding into a low chuckle towards the end. “He definitely took some getting used to though. Going from Quarter horses that felt like boulders on legs to this long-legged dragon was like night and day.” While Eden was thrilled with eventing and quickly fell in love with the discipline only a few years back, there was a part of her that always missed western riding. “You’ll have to show me sometime. I’d love to see her in action.” She added, genuinely interested in seeing the pair work. “Did you break her in yourself?” The blonde gave a wince as Priscilla mentioned Chemistry. Though she loved science herself, being a bio major, she never quite got the hang of chemistry and just one highschool class was more than enough for her. ‘I’m studying Biology, so I totally get it.” Eden replied with an empathetic sigh. “But I’m doing a Zoology focus, so it’s not so much theory- thank god.” The words flowing out in an exasperated tone. “I’ve always wanted to work with animals growing up, even thought about studying sometime like equine management or something, but figured a degree in Biology would probably be more useful.” Her hands fiddled with the largest ring she had, taking it off and on again and twisting it beneath her fingertips. Eden’s face exposed her surprise plainly, eyes widening and a startled laugh caught in her throat. Her eyes crinkled in amusement as Priscilla immediately brought a hand to her face, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Its- uh, it’s my perfume. Probably. It’s like citrus-y and has something else I never quite pinned.” She rambled quickly, biting down on her lip to keep from smiling. “Glad to know it works.” A teasing note slipping through her words. (just wanted to let you know that i’m going on vacation from today until the 16th and i’ll have really limited internet access :( i’ll try to upload whenever i can but they’ll probs be a bit shorter in length, maybe like 500-700ish! once i’m back i’ll be in full swing <3)
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"Trust me, I know. And she always had that damn boyfriend of hers around. The times they thought I was asleep.." Priscilla visibly cringed, her nose scrunching up in pure disgust as she shook her head to try and clear her mind of the memory. All those nights of laying silently in disgust and fear trying to pretend like she's asleep. Nothing traumatized her more than that. Priscilla was ever moving, unable to stop and sit still. The way she constantly shifted, moved her hips forwards or back and swung her feet. She just couldn't help it, she didn't like to sit still. On horses, it was the same way. Shifting around in the saddle, constantly pulling her feet from the stirrups and slipping them back in. Her gaze was focused down on her legs, tracing down a scar on the backside of her calf. It was raised up, a sort of purple in color, as it hadn't even been a year since it happened yet. Priscilla remembered it all too well. It was her most visible scar, so long as she was wearing shorts. You could tell how deep it had been and that she definitely needed stitches, even if she didn't get them. While cleaning out her dorm last year, she had unknowingly thrown away a pair of broken scissors. Too invested in the music to really pay attention to what she was putting in that trash bag. And when she went to pick it up, the bag slammed into her leg... and she let out a noise she never knew she was able to make. Something akin to pure terror and pain. When she was showing her jewelry, she watched as Eden shifted to the edge of her own bed and leaned forwards. And as Eden reached out for her necklace, she felt her entire body freeze up. Her breath caught in her throat, feeling the way Eden's fingers brushed against her throat. Her skin prickled at the areas where Eden touched, giving an odd feeling of warmth that spread throughout. She definitely hadn't been expecting Eden to reach out and take the pendant between her fingers. Since Eden was a leaned forwards and a little down, Priscilla had a view of her from above. It was.. odd, to be able to see the top view of someone. Priscilla gazed down at Eden, their bodies too close for her liking. Or, maybe she did like it? She could see every little detail of her face up close and personal. Every little detail of her soft blonde hair, making her want to reach out and take a few strands between her fingers. As Eden let go of the necklace and leaned away again, she let out the breath she was holding. Both very relieved and very disappointed. On one hand, given her touchy nature and how much she enjoyed the touches, this wasn't a friend of hers. But she couldn't shake the way she kept wanting to reach out and touch Eden, to feel her soft skin to see if it was really as soft as it looked. Her fingertips twitched slightly as she brought back her urges. What had gotten into her? This was a weird new side of her that she didn't like in the slightest. Priscilla hadn't even realized Eden was talking until she heard that little chuckle. "Maybe it's just my own height that made him look so much bigger." She shrugged, but her mind was still solely on the way Eden's soft fingertips felt against her throat. She brought one hand up to her own throat, gently running her fingers across the skin in hopes of calming her mind. It definitely didn't work. "I wouldn't mind. It can be.. quite a show, depending on how kind she wants to be that day." Priscilla gave a little smile and shook her head. That damn horse. "I did. I actually wanted a horse the complete opposite of her. But.. I saw her as a foal and fell in love. And never again will I make that mistake." The amount of nights spent crying and banging her head against the barn wall were far too many. She should've known better, but she was young and naive. Priscilla was only 16 when she bought Clementine, after all. Taking note of Eden's little wince as chemistry was mentioned, she couldn't help the curious smile that crossed her face. "I get you. I didn't.. well, I did but I also didn't want anything to do with chemistry. I wanted to be an equine vet." She nodded her head as Eden spoke, understanding the struggle. Her embarrassment was still very much prominent after her little comment about Eden smelling good. Her cheeks a little flushed, avoiding looking at Eden completely. "Yeah? I'd say it works a little too well." Priscilla flickered her gaze back up to Eden, her bout of embarrassment fading away. The look she was giving Eden was a little sultry- and that dark, cat-like eyeliner certainly wasn't helping. It wasn't intentional.. or was it? No matter who she was talking to, her flirty nature would break free eventually. She just couldn't help it. She had to find some way to redeem herself after being embarrassed like that, even if it meant embarrassing Eden or getting her flustered. She knew how to, given the years they spent learning how to piss each other off. But this was a new leaf they were turning over. Which meant that Priscilla definitely shouldn't be trying to do anything like that. Her sultry look faded away into something friendly again, almost just as fast as it had appeared. Priscilla shifted a little more, deciding the position she was in was growing uncomfortable. She moved herself so that she was laying on the bed, on her side facing Eden. Her legs were curled slightly at the knees, her hand was propping her head up. Her other hand moved to her shorts, pulling them down a little as she felt them ride up a little. (you're all good, don't worry!! i hope you enjoy your vacation <33) Edited at January 7, 2024 12:25 PM by honeymoon
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The sound of scuffling fabric brought Eden’s eyes down towards Priscilla’s legs, where she had readjusted herself once more, legs swinging over the side of the bed at a rhythmic rate. Her eyes followed the persistent movement, … an involuntary rise of anxiety budding from deep in her chest. The more Priscilla mindlessly ran her fingers along her skin, or swayed her legs against her bedsheets, the more Eden felt a need to just reach out, gently grab her hands, or rest a few fingertips on her knee. Priscilla probably wasn’t even aware of her fidgeting, Eden herself would get caught in a daydream from time to time and only afterwards become conscious of her finger tapping or leg bouncing. It wasn’t even that the movement annoyed her, but the ever-constant restlessness, the persistent repetition that made her a bit uneasy, setting her anxiety on edge. Just as the swinging of legs had quickly captured Eden's attention, so too did the motion of Priscilla’s hand reaching down, fingertips grazing along the side of her thigh just below her shorts. It was only then that she noticed the large, elevated scar, running jaggedly across the side of her leg. She observed it with intrigue, wondering what could have caused such a deep cicatrix, the question almost taking form before Eden restrained herself. Her left hand instinctively went to her own palm, passing her thumb over the raised skin. The scar ran about 3 or 4 centimeters in length across her palm, the discolored skin noticeably darker, the edges almost aggressive in the way it ties in with the rest of the healthy skin. Eden hated telling the story, which she often did since it was so visible, people frequently asked about it and how it came to be. It had happened two summers ago, one day back in her home state of South Carolina. She had been washing dishes when a large chefs knife slipped out of her hands, and she made the amateur mistake of reaching out to catching it. Of course all she managed to do was slice the palm of her hand open and earn herself an afternoon stay at the local emergency room, but thankfully made it out without requiring any stitches. The would healed harshly though, the skin never quite settling down or fading in color. The intensity of the sunlight radiating through their window had already begun to darken throughout their conversation, subtly growing more red and warm. Eden tilted her head towards the middle of the room, twisting to face the large, double-paned window. Much to her delight, the sky had just begun to erupt into a prism of color, the sun gradually setting towards the horizon. The sky bloomed with oranges and yellow, a few hints of pink where it was beginning to darken to a deeper blue. Early September in the southern United States meant that the days lasted nearly 18 hours, the sun often refusing to set till far past 8 or 9pm. Even with the unbearable humidity sometimes, Eden loved summer. Autumn might rule her heart as her favorite season, but there was an undeniable charm that summer brought along. Maybe it was the weather- the clear skies and delightfully warm temperatures made staying inside unacceptable, and the extra hours gave her even more time to spend with Kings. One of her favorite things though were the bonfires, especially the ones at uni. The riding program always had a huge bonfire party at the beginning of the year to celebrate everyone coming back and the start of another year. Eden wasn’t sure when the date was but knew it was always a day or two after moving day. The blonde felt the heat rise and spread across her cheeks at the sultry look Priscilla gave her, her complexion completely giving away the state of fluster the woman put her in. Her cat-like eyes seeming to pierce right through her, as if prey cornered by a predator. While it wasn’t so easy for Eden to flirt with others, she loved when people flirted with her. She normally reveled in the cat-and-mouse game, the teasing that went along with it. But something about Priscilla’s comment made her tense up in a way Eden wasn’t sure she enjoyed. Priscilla was playing a game that she didn’t know the rules to. She wasn’t even sure what she meant with it. Was she actually flirting with her? Was it just a compliment that had a failed delivery? Was she just being mean and making fun of her? The numerous possibilities flashed in her mind in seconds. Eden was just trying to make do with being on good terms, just trying to accept the fact that she wasn’t a threat to her anymore. Probably. The thought lingering a second longer than the others had. Her brows furrowed, muscles tensing the bridge of her nose as she felt the hairs of her arm stand on edge, quickly brushing her hand down her forearms to get rid of the goosebumps. “I, well- thanks.” The words came out choppy and rough, Eden failing to meet her eyes. (sorry if there are any formatting mistakes!!)
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Priscilla's gaze flickered over to the window, noticing how the sky was a burst of oranges, yellows, and hints of pink. It was a rather stunning sight, but the only thing going through her mind was Eden. How long had they been talking now? They'd practically spent the whole day talking, and it didn't even feel like 10 minutes. It was better if she showered and turned in for the night before she kept Eden up all night talking. She'd wait for one of their long pauses of silence to take the chance to go. Her nails lightly drug up and down her skin, feeling the smoothness and softness of it. She took good care of herself, always making sure she had only minor flaws. Keeping her skin soft was just one step of many in her daily routine. Of course, since she was back at the university, she'd have to start cutting it down. Hour long showers were not an option here even if they had their own bathroom. It was shared, and Eden needed to use it to. Priscilla couldn't hog it the way she did at home. Her gaze was focused solely on the window, watching as one side of the sky displayed an array of pastels and the other was fading into a deep blue. The stars would be out soon. If there was one thing she loved about the change of seasons, particularly summer to winter, it was the stars. They were always the brightest in the winter. Priscilla loved winter, she loved snow. But growing up in Georgia, she didn't really get to experience it. One time, her family took a trip up north one winter just so they could all experience snowfall. It was one of her fondest moments, throwing rock-hard snowballs at her siblings. Priscilla was the oldest of four, so of course they all teamed up to beat her. But did they? Absolutely not. Aside from riding horses, she played softball for a long time. They didn't stand a chance against a softball pitcher. Her nails dragged up and down her thigh, applying small amounts of pressure on specific points. Often times she wished she could give herself massages the way she could for other people. With the way anyone reacted, she knew they must feel incredible. But nobody ever necessarily offered, and she wouldn't go see a professional masseuse. It just wasn't for her, she needed someone trusted to do it. Her gaze had drifted back to Eden, subconsciously eyeing her up and down. Letting her gaze take from head to toe. Not in a judgmental manner, but rather admiring. She couldn't help it. In her opinion, even if she didn't want to admit it, Eden was a pretty girl. Too pretty for a 'straight' girl like Priscilla to be looking at. It was almost second nature for her to check people out in the most obvious way, but she mostly did it to men and the occasional woman. It drove men crazy, she wasn't sure about the effect on women. Priscilla could easily see the effect her sultry gaze had on Eden. The way her cheeks turned a little redder, the look in her eyes. It brought lazy smirk to Priscilla's lips as she admired the view. Maybe she could let herself mess with Eden.. just this once. Just like old times. She pulled her bottom lip between her sharp teeth, fighting back all sorts of flirty comments and looks. She watched as Eden used her hands to smooth down her forearms, then shifted her gaze back to her face. Priscilla still had that glint in her eyes, subtle, but it was there. "Of course. Well, I think I'm gonna go have a shower. Unless you want one first?" Priscilla offered her a smile as she slowly began to sit up. She sat up straight on the bed before she moved to swing her legs over the edge of the bed, not waiting for an answer. She'd just gather her things for now so she wouldn't have to do it later. Usually she didn't like to shower after people, but she wouldn't mind to see if Eden's soaps smelled similar to her perfume. Priscilla matched her soaps to her perfume, so maybe Eden did the same. She moved to the very edge of the bed, moving to gently get off of it. Once off, it was then she realized something. Eden would be seeing her bare faced, in pajamas, with wet hair. She wasn't so keen on Eden seeing her in that state, but she wasn't going to sleep in makeup and her dressy clothes. Priscilla brushed it off and approached the small dresser provided on her side of the room, rummaging through it for a moment. Pulling out some pajama shorts and some random comfortable shirt. She made sure to quickly tuck her undergarments between the shirt and shorts, making sure they were hidden from Eden's view. The last thing she wanted was for Eden to see those. She'd already made up her mind to not be flirty, to spare Eden from that. And that included not flashing such things to her. Priscilla had already put her things in the bathroom, her array of vanilla or floral scented soaps. Mostly vanilla, since she liked to layer her things to get her desired smell. A little bit of strong floral perfume, and some sort of musky vanilla was all she needed. Approaching her bed again, she turned her back to Eden as she set her clothes down onto the bed, now tasked with finding her phone. It was just next to her on the bed. Where could it have possibly gone whenever she moved? Priscilla was always losing the damn thing and could never find it. One time, she'd put her phone in the fridge instead of the milk, and the milk on her nightstand. That was a very confusing thing to see, especially when she didn't even remember taking the milk out of the fridge. With an annoyed sigh, she peeled back her covers again, rummaging through them until she felt the phone. She felt it, but where was it? A little more rummaging and some annoyed grumbles, and she managed to pull it out after being tangled in all of her blankets. How in the hell did she even manage to get it there? (you're all good! i didn't see any :) ) Edited at January 8, 2024 05:24 PM by honeymoon
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“Uh, nah. Go for it. I’ll go after you.” Eden managed to voice out calmly, creasing her lips in a civil half-smile to the other rider. “Thanks though.” She added the last comment hurriedly, a genuine softness in her voice this time. While she wasn’t necessarily sure what to make of their relationship or situationship yet, the blonde appreciated how much of an effort Priscilla was making. Even if it didn’t last. It was certainly more than she ever thought they could manage. But still, Eden pondered, what could they really expect at the end of all this? To really become friends? Sure, their rivalry had seemed paramount when they were younger, and they each had certainly done wrongs against the other, but nothing too life-altering. Nothing that couldn’t be forgiven. Sometimes Eden wonders what her life would’ve been like had she never switched to English, where her riding career would have taken her, but the thought of never meeting and owning Kings usually pushes away any remorse. While she could start to make peace with the idea of healing old wounds, living with Prisiclla was a whole other territory that Eden hadn’t even considered. The afternoon they spent talking had settled some of her initial nerves of just being around her rival, but the mention of grabbing a shower rapidly reminded Eden that this context was not temporary. Eden was never keen on the whole roommate thing to begin with, she even debated ameliorating up to a singular dorm but a quick comparison of the room fees shut that idea down. Despite being a middle child with two brothers, Eden cherished her own space and solidarity from time to time. Having a roommate was like a specter that threatened to disrupt the carefully curated equilibrium of Eden's domain. The uncertainty of living with Priscilla gnawed at Eden's core. Her sanctuary, once a haven of unbridled freedom, now felt invaded by the looming presence of another. Eden grappled with the idea of relinquishing control over her personal space, an unsettling prospect that triggered a cascade of uneasy emotions. The prospect of compromising her solitude, of adjusting her routines to accommodate a new presence, especially to one with whom she already had difficulty just looking into the eyes of, fueled a quiet resistance within her. She had habits that she was sure would end up annoying Priscilla to no end, and it was likely that there were things about Priscilla that would inevitably bother Eden aside from all the other factors. Eden frequently studied at night, furiously scribbling away notes or making flashcards. She had a habit of losing her earphones, meaning she listened to music on her phone more often than not. Sometimes she let laundry build up far more than she should, and there was always a graveyard of coffee-stained mugs that would eventually occupy a corner of her desk. She bit her lip, brows furrowing in thought as she considered all her bad habits, wondering which of all would be the one that leads to an argument. Eden watched as Priscilla forged around her bedsheets for her phone, finding the thin device after a moment and going into the shared bathroom. She laid back on her bed with a heavy thump, hands covering her eyes. In any case, this was going to be a long year. She patted the area around her, soon finding her own phone somewhere swaddled beneath the fuzzy throw blanket. (Sorry it's so short! I'll be back to the regular stuff tomorrow <3)
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Once she managed to find her phone, she was off to the shared bathroom without another word. Priscilla shut the door quietly, leaning her back against it with. heavy exhale. One of her hands went to her hair, her nails digging softly into her scalp as she gazed down. Her clothes were tucked under her arm. She had a feeling that no matter how hard she tried to better things, they would never quite become friends. And that was okay with her. She just didn't want them both to continually harbor those ill feelings they had towards each other. After a moment, she regathered herself and pushed herself off the door, moving to place her clothes down onto the sink counter. Her phone was among them, nestled carefully on top of the shorts she chose. A thought crossed her mind. Should she play music? Normally this thought wouldn't have even crossed her mind, as it was almost a foreign concept to not play music in the shower at this point. Would it make things more or less awkward? Priscilla unlocked her phone, pulling up her music app. She'd rather not have Eden hear the entirety of her shower, given how thin the walls were in the dorms. She settled on a random playlist, consisting of a few different bands and artists that she thoroughly enjoyed. She hit shuffle and placed the phone back down on the counter before starting up the shower. The song that played first was not the one she had been expecting, and it caused her to pause for a moment. Honeymoon by Lana Del Rey was definitely among her favorite songs, but she wasn't quite sure if the song was.. appropriate for Eden to be hearing. A romantic song like that wasn't the best option here, but oh well. Prisiclla shrugged it off before she made a neat pile of her clothes, placing the worn ones on the other side of the sink from the clean ones. As she stepped into the shower, she was oddly quiet with her actions. The song filling her ears was definitely calming her nerves a fair bit, allowing her mind to finally have a break from all the thoughts of Eden. As soon as she stepped into the shower, though, she was hit with a wave of harsh nausea and light-headedness. It forced her to sit down on the small shower bench, her head in her hands. Of course. The only thing she'd eaten was some little breakfast from a random gas station very early in the morning. Her entire world was spinning as she became dizzy, and she wondered if she'd have to shower sitting down the whole time. Priscilla slowly stood up, leaned against the wall for support. She definitely needed to eat something, no matter what it was. Before long, the scent of vanilla and a hint of delicate florals encased the bathroom, adding to the almost serene feeling. Priscilla was at peace with her choice of music and the familiar scents, her mind completely at ease. Although, even if she'd like to, she couldn't spend hours upon hours in there. She quickly finished up and shut off the water, grabbing one of the towel that had been hung up. They were soft and fluffy, a pretty pink in color. Leave it to the university to provide cute towels rather than anything else. While she did have a very extensive hair care routine, she managed to cut it short somehow. In due time she was dried and dressed, taking a moment to wipe away some of the steam on the mirror with her hand. And that's when the peaceful feeling faded. Priscilla paused her music, gazing at herself in the mirror. A feeling of looming dread crept back into her chest before it crawled down to her stomach, settling itself there. She felt almost disgusted by the thought of Eden seeing her in this state. Priscilla pulled down on her shorts a little, almost beginning to regret the choice. Even if they were by far her most comfortable pajama shorts that she slept in almost every night. They were loose and flowy, a pale grey with cat designs. Of course they had some stupid little design like that. Her shirt was oversized and black in color, with the logo of some random feed store from back home on it. It covered the top of her shorts, leaving a small amount showing. Priscilla felt odd without her makeup on, since it was a big comfort to her. Oh well. You couldn't always be as comfortable as you wanted to. She neatly folded the towel she used and placed it in the hamper in the corner of the small bathroom, as well as her clothes. With her phone settled in the pocket of her shorts, she took a deep inhale and gently begin to turn the door knob. Once the door was open, she was hit with the subtle scent of Eden. It mixed with the vanilla that flooded from the bathroom, and oddly enough, it calmed some of her nerves. Priscilla quietly shut the bathroom light off and closed the door, her footsteps soft as she made her way back over to her bed. She considered putting a different pair of socks on, but decided not to. Priscilla settled herself back down on her bed, running her fingers through her wet hair. She was still dizzy, her brows furrowed slightly as she tried her best to keep herself upright. She really needed to develop better habits, like eating regularly even if she didn't feel hungry. It wasn't uncommon for her to end up in this situation simply because she forgets that she needs to eat. After a moment of trying to calm her dizziness and nausea to no avail, her gaze slowly trailed to Eden. Priscilla gently shifted her position so she was on her side, propped up by her pillows. Laying down didn't seem to help the best, either. "I think I'm going to head to the dining hall. I'll wait for you, if you'd like." She spoke softly, her hand moving up to rub her temples gently. Her gaze drifted to the window, seeing that the sunset was gone. But it wasn't too dark yet, it was that odd time where there was still some light. Civil twilight, was it called? She could never figure out if it was civil twilight or something else, despite how many time she's looked it up. The dining hall was open until 11 PM so there definitely was time. She knew there wouldn't be many people there at this time, only the ones in her same exact situation. (it's okay! when you get back, i have some possible drama i'd like to suggest <3 )
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Eden’s head pricked up slightly as she heard music being played from the bathroom. She wasn’t surprised, who doesn’t put music on when they shower? But she thought she recognized the first few notes. She closed her eyes, trying to focus and maybe identify the melody muffled by the sound of the shower stream. Her eyes sprung open as the lyrics of the song came running through her mind, a self-satisfied smile lightly marking her face at being able to figure out the song. At least she’s got good taste in music. The thought lingered momentarily, wondering what else they had in common. Certainly a love for animals, that was already obvious with the horses, but they both were cat-people, or so Eden assumed, based on Priscilla’s bedsheets and stuffed animals. Did they have the same taste in movies? Same hobbies? She considered the idea that maybe they were more similar than she had initially ever assumed, but it didn’t make them identical. They were practically polar opposites in personality. Eden had always admired Priscilla’s confidence, her ability to outright confront anybody and everyone who doubted her. Her ability to overcome bad situations rather than sit and simmer over every interaction, as Eden did. She was especially jealous of the way Priscilla forgave so easily, when warranted. It seemed as long as the apology was genuine, Priscilla had no problem moving on and never held grudges. The sound of the door turning brought Eden back to the present, and she realized she hadn’t even heard the shower turn off. The smell of sweet florals wafted from the bathroom, she unconsciously took in a deep breath, savoring the botanic scents. There was something else there too- was that vanilla? The syrupy perfumes mingled wonderfully, how had Eden never noticed them before? The soft sound of footsteps drew her gaze up towards her roommate, her eyes subliminally running up and down the depiction in front of her. The image almost caused the blond to cock her head in intrigue. The version of Priscilla standing in front of her wasn’t any different than the Priscilla she had known all her life, and yet there was an underlying shift. Even in her cat pajamas and black shirt, she was still as eye-catching as ever, that was just an intrinsic part of Priscilla. But there was this new guilelessness to her. It drew Eden in more than ever, the mix of scents luring her closer, her presence perhaps feigning a certain unguardedness, creating a cocktail of curiosity and an innate need to deconstruct her former rival. Eden just couldn’t make up her mind about Priscilla. Everything she knew about her made the blond want to keep her distance, but there were these fleeting moments, where she felt almost intoxicatingly bewitched, like she’d follow Priscilla anywhere. It took Eden a moment to even register what Priscilla had said, and it was only then did she notice that neither of them had had dinner. The hours had passed by far faster than she had realized. “Sure, that’d be great. I’ll just be a second, I promise.” The words came out soft and earnestly, the notes just rasping at the end. She scuffled towards the edge of her bed, swinging her legs over the side before hopping down. She made her way over to the wooden dresser, where of course all her clothes were already divided and diligently organized. Eden pulled out a large dark blue tank top, one she had stolen from her older brother and fit in perfectly in that over-sized way she loved, before grabbing a pair of dark grey joggers. Her undergarments and socks she tucked in last, layering it between her clean clothes. Just as Priscilla had done, all of Eden’s bathroom essentials had already been moved into the shared bathroom, the large sink luckily offering enough storage space underneath for the two of them. There was still a light layer of steam clouding the mirror when Eden closed the bathroom door behind her, she could just barely make out the hand-swipe that Priscilla had made. The floral scents were even more potent there, she was tempted to try and discern which flowers made up the composition before remembering that Priscilla was doubtlessly starving out there waiting for her, and she quickly readied the rest of her things. Running a hand through her hair, she figured she’d probably be fine to stretch it one more day before washing. Eden grabbed her mint soap and facial cleanser before hopping into the shower, which she had already turned on to warm up a few moments before. She made quick work of her routine, which was already cut a few steps short by skipping hair washing. Before long she was wrapping the soft fluffy towel around herself, if there was one thing the university did right, it was the towels. They were better than the ones Eden had back home. Standing in front of the large mirror, she managed to scrunch some leave-in conditioner into her blond mane, hoping to secure some decent waves for the next day. While she wasn’t big into makeup, skincare was something Eden was at least attempting to keep up with for the sake of her future self. She might not understand everything and what it was good for but at least she was trying, right? She spread a light serum before going in with a night-cream, giving it a second to dry before finally getting dressed. Her socks were one of her favorites, a pair of ankle-cut with a fox face printed on each side, so it looked like the fox just poked its head out when wearing shoes. Her signature bottle of perfume stood prominently atop the marble counter, almost demanding to be applied. She held the glass container in her hand, fleetingly recalling her previous conversation, before spraying a light layer of her trademark scent, before adding in an extra final spritz, just for good measure. The light citrus already making her feel more composed. Eden took one last glance at the mirror, impulsive grabbing one of her only lip glosses and applying a thin layer, the gloss tinting her lips an ever-so-noticable blush hue. She tucked all her belongings back under the sink, tossing her old clothes into the second empty hamper that sat in the corner before gently opening the door back into the dorm. She nervously met Priscilla’s stark blue eyes, taking in a quick half-breath, a thousand thoughts ran through her mind as she considered what to say. Why was she overthinking so much? This was simple! “Ready to go?” She managed, after faltering for a couple of seconds longer than necessary. She crossed her dorm to her desk, grabbing her essentials like keys and wallet before realizing she was still barefoot, besides her socks. Her pair of worn Adidas sneakers were the closest shoes she had to her, so she slipped them on, not bothering to undo the laces. (yes do tell! i was going to mention this earlier with the post but it totally left my mind- but i thought the whole drunk confession thing could happen at the barn bonfire?)
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Priscilla figured she should probably look at least a little more presentable, but there was no point after she was already showered and dressed in her pajamas. It certainly wasn't like her to be caught in such a state, especially not out on campus. As Eden agreed to her suggestion, she nodded and watched her get up to go over to her dresser. She looked away after that, moving to roll over flat on her back with a soft huff. Her hands went over her chest, rested there neatly as she gazed up at the ceiling. What an odd day. Once she heard the bathroom door shut, she turned her head slightly in that direction. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to put at least some of her makeup back on? It's not like she had to do her usual eyeliner, false lashes, anything like that. She didn't know who would be wandering campus, or who would be found at the dining hall. Priscilla sat up and made her way off of her bed, approaching the makeup vanity that was on her side of the dorm. She sat herself down on the little stool, feeling the plush cushion sink down beneath her weight. Priscilla grabbed the little remote sat neatly on the vanity and turned on the lights surrounding it, immediately wincing as the blinding light filled her eyes. Her eyes were already very sensitive to light, and the color of them didn't help. After a moment of adjusting, she reached out for her mascara that was sitting on one of the shelves, neatly lined up with everything else. Priscilla then reached for the eyelash curler, as well as her liquid eyeliner. She wished she just wasn't so self conscious and that she could go do something as simple as visit the dining hall without having to look put together. Every student in the university would be in the same boat of exhaustion soon enough and nobody would really care about how they looked. But Priscilla did, of course. She leans in closer to the mirror centered in the vanity, using one hand to use the eyelash curler. Next, a thin layer of mascara, not the usual few coats she likes to do for extra measure. And now came her favorite part; the eyeliner. Priscilla untwisted the cap and gave a few gentle strokes to the side of the container to remove the excess from the wand. The outline came first, and then the delicate little strokes as she filled it in. While Priscilla greatly preferred to do reverse cat eye, she couldn't be bothered to put that much effort in. So, she settled for a simple cat eye style with the inner corners. Years of experimenting and trying different styles made her an expert at getting the perfect, crisp lines. After a moment, she blinked a few times and then reached for her lip gloss. It was a pale pink, a little shimmery. A few soft strokes, and then she closed all of her things and put them back neatly. Priscilla turned those bright lights off again, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the dorm again. Hearing the shower shut off, she took the moment to pick out a pair of shoes. Among the various pairs of heels, boots of all types, and some sneakers, she managed to find her sandals. Priscilla slipped them on and then leaned down to do the clasp, making sure it was snug around her ankle. Upon bending down close to her feet, she realized the pretty red nail polish on her toes was beginning to chip. They were due for a fresh coat of polish sometime soon. As she heard the bathroom door open, she stood herself back up and turned to face Eden. Priscilla was immediately hit in the face with the scent of citrus and mint, causing her to pause and blink a few times. It wasn't bad, but the intensity and suddenness of it was almost an assault on her senses. Almost. "Mhm." Priscilla responded with a soft hum, continuing to breathe in that intoxicating smell. She grabbed her wallet that was tucked into the drawer of her bedside table, slipping the wrist strap around her wrist. She had a habit of often losing her things, so she just took a keychain holder and stuck it on her wallet to keep everything in one place. Priscilla would normally opt for her purse but it felt too excessive to be taking on a short little walk to the dining hall. Priscilla took a few subconscious steps towards Eden, wanting to be closer to her and smell that citrusy scent. Now a little too close to Eden for comfort, she began to wonder what it'd be like to embrace her and bury her nose into her neck. Would her scent be the strongest there? She didn't plan on finding out, even if she did want to. Priscilla backed up a little to put some more space towards them and then turned to the door. "I wonder if they'll have anything decent." She murmured, mostly thinking aloud. Priscilla wasn't much of a picky eater at all, but she was simply a little cautious when it came to school food. It was always a big hit or miss. It would either be the best damn thing you'd ever eaten, or the worst thing. Priscilla strode over to the door, leaving a few drops of water on the floor in her path. Her hair was still wet and gradually soaking the back of her shirt. In its wet and unbrushed state, her hair was considerably much more wavy and very prominently curled at the ends. It would remain that way until she went through the struggle of brushing it straight in the morning, or just gave up and let it stay in its natural state. Priscilla turned the door knob and carefully opened the door, then turned back to Eden for a moment. She moved to the side, and held the door open for her. It wouldn't kill her to be a little polite, especially if she was trying to change Eden's opinion of her. It wasn't that she wanted them to be friends but rather anything other than rivals. If you could even really call it rivalry anymore. What they did as petty children and teenagers shouldn't necessarily determine their feelings as adults. Maybe that was just her opinion. (we could do that! i introduced a guy in one of my earlier posts, and was honestly kinda considering using him as a drama point. he could definitely get a little too flirty or handsy with scilla at the bonfire, and she could either reciprocate it or be like uhh no. either way it could probably trigger eden to confess? also i may or may not have him be at the dining hall)
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