A Question of Compromise

LOCATION | The Elysian Casino
DATE | 16th of April 2022
TIME | Evening
ATTIRE | Victoria | Kailani
TOPIC FOR | @Lucas x

To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don't be.
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It wasn't like she hadn't smelled Lucas here. No, she had tried to avoid eye contact and attend other costumers, but if there was one thing she couldn't was avoid him forever, also because he could use their abilities as shapeshifters to get through to her. So finally, after having given him the cold shoulder for a what ten minutes or so, she turned to him, raised her brows a little bit, then picking up a drink and poured it for him, serving it. "What do you want Luc?" She asked and licked her lips a little bit, and exhaled slowly. Because the look on his face told everything, she knew Jack had told. But it wasn't really the issue, the issue was they forgot to see that she was thriving right now, she felt home for the first time in months. Victoria then poured herself a drink knowing she would need it for what was to come now. "Don't you have somewhere better to be, you clearly have been spending time with Rafael," she pointed out being able to pick up Rafael's scent everywhere.

It had frankly been a rollercoaster of a day. Work had been hard, he'd fought with a new teacher who had overstepped and then finally he had found out where Victoria was. After two weeks of nothing. He had rushed downtown, leaving a voice note to Cecilia explaining that he would be home late, biting his tongue knowing that that wouldn't exactly fall in good taste and would possibly be a conversation between them sooner rather than later; yet he knew he had to find Vic. She sounded like she was spiralling and he had to talk to her.
He had arrived at the Casino just to be ignored. Of all the things. Ignored. As if his worry for her had been irrelevant and that she had cast them all aside and frankly that was what angered him most. So he had sat down by the bar, stubbornly waiting for her to make the first move. And the first move she made.
What do you want, Luc?
Luke had luckily learnt to keep his anger at bay and didn't react how he would have done back when they had first met. Instead the clear annoyance rang across in his eyes and he sarcastically raised an eyebrow. "I'm not allowed to check up on you now, is that it? You ghost me for two weeks and all I hear is that you've been breaking into houses and and now work at a casino?" He shook his head. Lucas had a bad history with alcohol, but frankly sitting there in front of his sister, faced with such clear rejection, cleared all hesitation and he took the drink, raising it to her in a sarcastic salute before downing it and placing it back on the table. "And all my worry seems to have been in vain for lo and behold, Victoria Fogerty has found a new family."

She clicked her tongue a little and took a sharper breath in, "oh that is rich coming from you," Victoria shook her head and rolled her eyes at him, as he downed the drink that she served him. Victoria narrowed her eyes a little, "you worry about me? That's nice, it only took you around what... six months before you realized something was off, but we can't all be able to adjust to the proper life, now can we," she clicked her tongue a little and downed her own drink. "If you are here to give brotherly advice, save it for someone who cares. Because I don't, and look at me, I'm finally free," she lashed her arms a bit out to the side. Which was true, she hadn't felt like her old self for such a long time. "Why won't you just let this one go Lucas?" Victoria asked and poured another drink up for herself and took a sip of it. "Is it the running around with Linus and Francis that worries you or Rafael more? Because neither of you decide who I spent my time with," she pointed out and down the drink, placing the glass on the ground. "Go home Luc."

"That's rich coming from me?" He repeated in disbelief. What was happening? Since when was she this harsh to him? Her next words hit a sore spot and he visibly winced at the burning feeling it left. He knew all too well that he had not exactly helped their relationship by immersing himself so intensely in work, but the world seemed to have moved past him so fast that he had only blinked twice and six months had passed. He had been doing good, however, and for the first time in a very long time he felt like he was making a difference. And that had meant putting some of his social relations on pause. Not that he was alone in that fault, he caught himself thinking, as he stared into her angry eyes, feeling his guild fade to injustice. It took two people to keep a relationship and it was not like she had been seeking him out. They even worked together. And she had quit just like that. "Don't take your misery out on me, Vic," he snapped sharply. "If you think it's a painless adjustment you're plainly naive." He could have given up a hundred times the past two years - he could have done like her. He could have gone back to fighting on the streets or stealing from those undeserving of their wealth but where where would that have lead him? At least now he was making a real difference.

"Free from what?" He sneered. "Free from someone who loves you? Is that it?" He really didn't understand her anger. Her hostility. It was his time to roll his eyes. Luke raised a hand to the side of his temple to give it a gentle rub.
"Oh, come on! You think I give two fucks about those self-important idiots, Vic?!" He angrily slammed his hand back on the counter. "You wanna play with fire that's on you. What worries me is you disappearing and then greeting me with this insane hostility." His voice raised considerably upon those words, not caring a bit for the few people that turned around to send a curious gaze their way.

She hammered her hands against the counter and leaned a little forward. "You don't get it, do you? Of course you don't," she clicked her tongue a little. "You are not the one who has to live in fear for what comes next. You are the one who gets to feel oh so cosy and warm. I know Rafael loves me, but I don't feel like I belong there Luc," she hissed a little bit and shook her head, "I shouldn't have to justify my actions to you, at least I thought you had understood - but you have forgotten who you were before you got your fancy job and responsibilities. Some of us, we never shed our skin, and we long to go home to a place that we have been exiled from," she clicked her tongue a little bit. "Fucking hell, come here," she hissed at him before walking out the bar, and to the corner of the casino close to one of the outdoor areas, where they at least could argue in peace.

Victoria crossed her arms and looked at him. "Now that you have had two seconds to cool off, please don't talk to me like I'm plain stupid," she clicked her tongue a little bit. Because she was getting real tired of people not understanding her actions, yes Jack wasn't happy about it, but had accepted it. Eric had found it to be the greatest thing she had done in a long time. "Everything alright here?" The siren stepped closer towards the two shapeshifters arguing and tilted her head, "everything is fine Kai," Victoria tried to assure her friend, but it didn't seem like Kailani had any intentions of going just yet.

"How can I get it, if you don't explain it to me!?" He bellowed, echoing her slam of her hands on the wooden counter to push himself up from the chair to lean closer to her as she did to him. "Once again," he snarked at her, this time lowering his voice remarkably and making sure their eyes were locked for her to see just how serious he was. "I didn't come here for you to attack me. Whatever complex you have about me earning a legitimate living; you let that die right now, Victoria.” He meant it. Whatever that was – Envy, jealousy, greed. Wherever it came from, it did not suit her one bit. They had always been happy for each other and the features they’d made. They’d always supported each other. But this, right here? This was a deep dent forming in their rock-solid relationship. “You think I don’t feel like a fucking fraud!? Walking the halls of the academy and living in a dainty house with a goddamn garden, huh?”
He stared at her, a part of him wanting to reach out for her and give her a good shake for her to understand. He had not, in fact come to shout at her – he had not even thought that a possibility. But she had prepared for battle and so a battle she got. But you have forgotten who you were. Luke’s lips parted in surprise, the verbal hit stinging far more painfully than any physical slap. Unbelievable.

His hesitation proved a short mistake, but he understood her need for taking the discussion elsewhere. It would probably not be a great start to her new job if she was shouting loudly by the bar, but in this very moment, Lucas didn’t care one bit for her new job. He was hurt and felt clear unjust that she would replace him so easily. “I don’t think you’re stupid, for the love of God,” he muttered, deeply exhausted by the fact that they seemed to speak over each other’s heads. “You speak as though I am not allowed to change for the better. Do you think I was a good person back then, Vic? That who we were has to be who we are forever? That we can’t learn from our mistakes? You’re better than this, man.” He shook his head at her, feeling deflated by the disappointment, ready to ask another question when a voice cut him off and the disappointment turned to visible annoyance. New family indeed. “Everything is fine,” he repeated, a voice seeping from the bitterness he could taste on the tip of his tongue.

What was it about them and not understanding she needed this. She needed to feel like herself again, gaining some power back. But everywhere she turned people called her out to be selfish, and not herself. Yet, this was the most like herself she had felt in a long time. "I learned from my mistakes," she snarled a little back, because she had. She was done just sitting around doing nothing, if anything Linus had made her confront her fears and realize that there were people who could strike a match against Anthony if it came down to it. With them by her side she didn't walk around looking over her shoulder. Not like she other wise had since back in October. "I am better than this? Bullshit - this is the best I've been for a long time," she pointed out raising her voice just a bit more. "What you want to do in your life is completely up to you, but don't come here and judge me," Victoria added crossing her arms in defense to herself. Kailani narrowed her eyes a little bit, not liking how tense she felt the tension between the two shapeshifters were. But there was also little she could do about it since it seemed to be just them arguing a bit.

Yet, another shapeshifter seemed to have a plan to interrupt the scene by, well one thing was he didn't have anything better to do. And Francis as a matter of fact didn't like seeing Victoria having to go around justify her actions or people trying to convince her to be someone she clearly didn't wish to be. So, watching Victoria argue with the shapeshifter, Francis had gotten up from his seat and just walked almost directly into Lucas, and clapped him a bit on the shoulder. "Oh sorry man, didn't see you there. Too much of a self-important idiot for that," he apologized and walked away again and gone he was in the crowd. Victoria took a sharper breath in and placed two fingers on her nasal spine in a sigh, "and that is what you get from raising your voice in a bar with people like that, he took your wallet didn't he?" It was a classic Francis number, and no way Lucas would find Francis till Francis wanted to be found. "Will you please just go home and leave me alone now? Or anymore life lessons you want to throw in my face?"

Luke opened his mouth to raise his voice at her. What was it she didn’t bloody understand? “I’m not here to jud-“ Ah yes. He should’ve sensed him coming. Ancient shapeshifter. The petiful pat on his shoulder had Luke rebalance on the soles of his feet; discretely loosening his tight muscles, ready to move in case the guy was going to hit him. Instead he passed and disappeared into the crowd.
Even before Victoria had parted her lips to say another word, Luke’s eyes darkened drastically. He reached his right hand to the inner pocket of his jacket, but didn’t need to pat it down to be sure of the missing wallet. He had always been skilled in the art of pick pocketing and although he, according to her at least, had changed, he certainly had the old alertness. Disappointment was an understatement at this point. And that i what you get for raising your voice in a bar  with people like that. Lucas growled from the distaste and turned back to Victoria. “I think,” he said, straightening his back with as much dignity he could muster through his utter hatred for the scenario that played itself around him. And if he had really changed that much, surely he wouldn’t have had to suppress the immediate need to throw a punch “- that the fact that you just let someone steal from me is a pretty clear indication of how you feel about me.” So much for family.

“You learned from your mistakes? These guys will get you killed, Vic. It’s what they do; people like that.” Why couldn’t she understand that the academy would clearly be the safest place for her? Anthony could never get her there. The Elysian and all of the people here were power hungry people that would end up fighting for power and pride, and she would end up in the middle of it.
He threw his hands up, signalling defeat. He felt it though, that glisten in his eyes and heat in his cheeks from being part of something that reminded him of his past. The sadness in his eyes were gone. Replaced by light flickers of playful electricity. “I’m out as soon as the Phoenix gives me back my wallet and my watch.”

She let out a snort, "Fuck you- but oh right, because I was the one hyping him up to cause the action, I'm not in charge here Luc, I'm asking if he did," Victoria pointed out feeling the slight exhaustion of the conversation take over. These guys will get you killed, Vic, she once again rolled her eyes of his idea on how this would end. No, these people couldn't get her killed, Anthony perhaps, but not these people. "Because you were able to keep me safe and sound from the academy, you didn't even realize when something was off," because it was true. No one had noticed, because she was just acting out right? Everyone seemed to forget the trauma she had suffered under while Anthony had taken over Southside, just as much she had been left to her own devices after Rafael had tried hunting Alicia down.

"Because you think he will give you it back?" Victoria blinked a little bit, looking at Lucas as his eyes flickered, she took a few steps closer towards him, "just let me handle this - don't start a fire you can't control," Victoria tried to warn him, because if anything Francis didn't care, maybe she would be able to talk him a little down, otherwise, it would require getting in touch with Linus, and she was rather sure Linus had better things to do than trying to stop Francis from a simple pick pocketing event. "depending on the Phoenix you are trying to get in touch with," Victoria turned her head around, "Linus?" She was surprised for a second, thinking she would have noticed if he was around. The illusion dropped however shortly after, and showing Francis' smug face. "Sorry to disappoint Buttercup, wrong brother huh, only hurts my feelings a little bit," he placed his hands against his chest where his heart was. "Screw you," she rolled her eyes at Francis. Then he threw the watch and the wallet back to Lucas - not that there was any money left- now standing just a bit behind Victoria, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Now go, seems like you are causing more trouble than you are worth by being here," Francis looked into the eyes of the shapeshifter in front of him, letting a chuckle out of the anger that clearly seemed to rush over Lucas, clearly finding it humorous. "Francis, its alright, just go -" Victoria tried to get Francis to leave again. "Just a moment, because if I'm being frank your friend here is acting like a complete fool, so naive to think that he can do any better - and yet, you are just putting her in a box expecting her to be something she isn't, now I'm curious. But shouldn't you want the best for her, clearly she says she is happy here - so why not just accept that and go?" Francis took a few steps forwards almost right up in Lucas' face. "Francis," Kailani raised her voice a little clearly not wanting him to make a scene.

“Vic,” he begged her, his blue eyes seeking out hers. “I am sorry for not having realized how bad it’s been for you.” And he meant that truly and deeply. It was a reoccurring thing lately, the feeling of having let people around him down because he’d been too busy with work. “I really am. You could have come to me. I would have tried to help.”
Luke had not cared one bit for the small amount of cash he had been carrying. He did however care a great deal for a small collection of photographs that were safely stored in one of the inner pockets. One with Noa with her hair in a messy bun, watching TV on his sofa. One of Cecilia hiking in the mountains. One of Vic, Raf, Jack and Luke at the Serpents from years ago when they were still young and naive. He did also, frankly need his drivers license to get back home and would have hated losing that. He caught the two items mid air; not giving the other shapeshifter the satisfaction of searching through the wallet, but instead trusted that his pictures were still there as they would have no value to someone like Francis.
The hand on Victoria’s shoulder nearly made Luke wince. The possessiveness was rubbing him the wrong way and definitely only served as further fuel to his opinion on the Phoenix brother. He accepted his defeat in silence though - what else could he do? - and caught Victoria’s brown eyes to give her a nod of mellow acceptance. She didn’t want him here, so he would go - heavy heart and soul, but at least respect her wish for him to leave.
Until the older shapeshifter seemed to change his mind and start puffing up his chest, that was.

Luke never took intimidation like this personal. He didn’t flinch or move a muscle as Francis moved towards him. Instead he fell calmer than before, the bright sparkles of electricity calming in favour of an icy cold blue. He felt alive.
“Maybe it’s the old age, Francis, but it seems like your hearing is failing you.” The smug face in front of him was so close that he could feel the warm breath, and Luke regarded him attentively. “If you’d cared to listen past the stated fact of you being, in fact, a self-important idiot, you’d have also heard that I’m here to check up on my friend - not to judge her.” The corner of his lips raised in a wry smile. It was a lot easier keeping his cool in front of someone like this; someone he didn’t actually have much respect for. “I think I’ve seen what I need to see, don’t you?” He then finally let go of the Phoenix’s eyes as his gaze dated back to Victoria. “Nice new friends you’ve got,” he commented dryly. “You know where to find me when their fragile egos become a problem, yeah?”

Francis couldn't help but laugh a little bit, clearly not taking any of the shapeshifter's words seriously. "Maybe you should chose your words more carefully next time, because from where I'm standing you just threw them around carelessly," he licked his lips a little bit, then taking a step back the second Kailani yelled his name. Victoria took a sharper breath in and held it there. Francis wasn't a new friend. She and Jack had known Francis and Linus for years, and there was so much more to them than this scene Francis was performing right now. Victoria placed a hand on Francis' as she felt like he might do something stupid. "You heard Kai, she needs you," Victoria spoke a bit more demanding letting Francis sigh and thereby take a few steps back.

"Okay, first of all," she grabbed Lucas by the wrist to pull him with her outside, once again she didn't feel like this was the scene for their conversation. "They are not new friends. They have been friend's of both Jack and myself long before I even met you. Second of all, I'm not going to have you make me chose between them or you." She warned him there, because she wasn't going to chose. She had explained to Rafael that she had needed to find herself, that she was tired of feeling like she couldn't be alone home, or stay in the darkness without the fear of Anthony suddenly showing up. And here, she knew Anthony feared Linus and Francis, even River, and Anthony would be a fool to come into the bar with Bast even Lucille being near. She felt safe here. "If you cared so much about where I've been the last couple of weeks, why didn't you just ask Noa. Eric knows - it's not like you don't have the resources - its just easier to pretend there isn't a problem," Victoria let go of Lucas' wrist and narrowed her eyes a little bit. "Anthony took everything from me, that is what you don't understand. And I finally feel like I'm getting some of my power back, I'm getting me back - and I haven't felt like me in a long time now Luc, and it's nice. So, just let me have it okay, let me have my freedom."

There was really nothing to do but smile sheepishly at the older Shapeshifter. His eyes lowered to Victoria’s hand on Linus’ shoulder before nodding solemnly. “I can assure you my words are always carefully considered,” he replied mildly, flashing another overly-sweet smile, purposefully letting the sarcasm shine through his eyes.
Luke tilted his head, furrowing his eyebrows at his old friend. “Hey! Don’t you dare second guess that I have been worried!” He snapped at her, his eyes expanding in confusion as to why she would ever doubt that. “It’s not like Noa has told me that Eric would know, Vic. You upping and leaving the academy has had consequences for me too, you know. I’ve covered most of your hours - so let me know if you’d like to know how your students are, mh? They’ve been asking about you. At least now I know what to tell them.”

“It’s fine, Vic,” he told her, his voice low and deflated, as she grabbed hold of his wrist and he let her drag him outside. And it was, he supposed, fine indeed. She had moved on. She had taken matters into her own hands and put her trust in someone else than him, and she felt free. He could not possibly do anything to ruin that, but, thinking to himself, he also could not entirely support it. These people were criminals and she was on a path he could not approve. He did think her better than the girl he’d met all those years ago, who had been squatting in rich people’s houses and stole to get by. His own morale had not changed towards the unjust inequality of the world - he still felt that - but his ideals had changed. No amount of petty crimes could ever make a difference. “It’s fine.” He assured her, a small smile managing to pry his lips. It never really reached his eyes though; they shone from heartbreak and the heavy chest he felt from seemingly losing a close friend. She only loosened her grip slightly before he pulled down, pulling his hand back and away from her. “You seem to have already made your mind up about my thoughts on this - wrongly so, I’ll add - so there’s not really a point in going back and forth on it. I’m not judging you,” he underlined, catching her eyes to make sure she understood. “I’m not trying to compromise your freedom or your safety. I’m not here to tell you what to do or who to be. And I’m not here to ask you to chose me over anyone else. I don’t know what to tell you for you to understand that.”
If anyone had been quick to judge tonight, he thought, it had been her. In defence mode and with a gang behind her.
“I hope I’m wrong about these people,” he added, pinching his lips together into a fine line before nodding to himself.
And that was all he could say really before turning around, placing both his hands in his pockets and leaving the Elysian Casino behind with his best friend in the doorway. And he didn’t have the heart to look back at her.

//out <3

Victoria took a sharper breath in, holding it there, it wasn't fine. None of them felt fine about this outcome of their conversation. But when was the last time they truly had had the time to express anything at all? She snorted a bit when he added he didn't judge her, it sure felt like it. "Whatever," she exhaled a little not buying it completely. "Maybe don't come and disturb me at work next time?" Victoria suggested and raised a brow a little bit. He had mentioned her students before, well yes, she had the last couple of months since December to be fair been in and out, not focused, scared, running her mind over all places - till what was it the end of March where she had told Juniper she was done - okay she had said it in a more polite way. But no, she hadn't run it by Lucas. Because well to be fair, she had tried to avoid any outcome like this one.

"You are," she replied back to him, she knew these people wouldn't be the death of her, how could they be when they had brought her back to a state of mind where she felt alive? Where it felt like she finally could breath again. Then she just stood there while he walked away, just turned around, making her just wait. Like she was waiting for him to turn around and give her at least a small wave or smile. Nothing. Not once. Victoria folded her lips together and let out a sigh, then heading back inside once Lucas was out a sight. What a mess.
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Out <3