I8DT - Mind the Baby

[Claire McKenna]

"Neither was the rabies vaccination I gave you that night," Claire says.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria arched an eyebrow, then chuckled. "Well, rabies I can't catch... did you at least give those snotty werewolves a good poking too? That'd be justice..."

[Claire McKenna]

"Oh, I made sure they got all their shots," Claire says.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Good. That's some consolation at least," Victoria said with a smirk.

[Claire McKenna]

"So, I got a personal question," Claire asks, "If you don't mind."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Darling, I think we're past the point where you have to ask if you can ask me something," Victoria said with a faint smile.

[Claire McKenna]

Claire nods, "It's pretty apparent why I'm all 'rarrr no dating'. But why are you kind of..."

Claire waves her chopsticks around, "Gods, I knew this was going to come out weird. Libertine? Is that a safe and non-offensive word?"

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria smirked slightly. "Promiscuous? Unrestrained? Hedonistic? A complete and unrepentant slut?" She shrugged, not making eye contact. "Well, why not?"

[Claire McKenna]

Claire shrugs, "I guess that's fair."

"I was just wondering if you were personally opposed to monogamy or just having a good time until you found someone more permanent."

[Victoria Valentine]

"I'm not opposed to it, no. It's just something that I haven't had any means of attaining," Victoria answered. "And in the meantime, I'm not going to not live just because no one is right for me."

[Claire McKenna]

"Makes sense," Claire says, focusing on her food.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Not that I haven't tried," she muttered, more than a little bitterly.

[Claire McKenna]

"Bad experience?" Claire asks.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria shrugged. "I'm a twenty year old slut who's a single mother. Is there any other type of experience for there to be?"

[Claire McKenna]

"I don't know," Claire says, "...I guess not."

She pokes at her food with her chopsticks, "I'm sorry."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria shook her head. "Don't be. I don't even know what's wrong with me, usually I'd have pushed the conversation to some fun direction or other."

[Claire McKenna]

"Maybe you just want to talk to someone without glossing over the bad stuff?" Claire suggests.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria shrugged. "It isn't going to change anything."

[Claire McKenna]

"It might change your outlook."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria scoffed. "How. Make me realize what a horrid bitch I am? Preaching to the choir, darling."

[Claire McKenna]

Claire shrugs, chewing on a piece of chicken.

"...My parents locked me away for most of my life," Claire says, "They weren't abusive. Just really, insanely overprotective."

"It really fucked me up," Claire said, "I know I didn't do anything wrong, but I still feel guilty all the time. Like something is wrong with me. And I hate them for that."

Claire smiles softly at Victoria, "Sharing that with you doesn't change anything. But it does make me feel a little better somehow."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria was quiet for a minute. "Well, maybe I just like being a slut. Not everyone has to be fucked up like you."

[Claire McKenna]

"That wasn't my point," Claire says, "I mean...I'm sorry if I sounded like..."

[Victoria Valentine]

"..That I'm really just some delicate little flower who just needs to understand myself better? No, maybe I'm just a bitch who knows how to get what she wants from people."

[Claire McKenna]

"Or maybe you're just some stupid little girl that doesn't even know when someone's trying to be her friend," Claire snaps back.

[Victoria Valentine]

"And maybe you're a lonely little shut-in who'll latch onto the first captive audience you can come across," Victoria snapped back.

[Claire McKenna]

"Well, maybe you wouldn't be such a captive if you kept your legs shut," Claire says, standing up.

[Victoria Valentine]

"One of the advantages of things not burning off if they get between them," Victoria shot back, standing up too.

[Claire McKenna]

"You're right," Claire says, "They stay with you long enough to finish the job and then leave."

[Victoria Valentine]

"At least they know when to leave," Victoria answered acidly.

[Claire McKenna]

"Don't worry, I get it," Claire says, heading for the door, "Have fun with your miserable little life."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria listened to the door slam, swallowing and wiping at her eyes. Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid... she thought as she gathered up the food to put into the fridge. Vivien thankfully didn't wake up when the door to Victoria's room slammed a few minutes later, nor did she wake to the quiet sobs that could faintly be heard shortly after.