[M][Earth] Of the People

[Victoria]

Victoria swam in and out of a world that she had never dared think of. A throbbing mixture of music and drinks. It was all crammed together into a blur of lights, stuffed into her head, knocked around for hours. It all ended into darkness. Hell, she couldn't even remember how she had gotten here. It took such a blazing effort to open her eyes, they peeled apart in sleepy ache, before a roil of another ache clutched at her. Her hand lifted to show the cup in her grasp, confusion lighting in her eyes, she was groggy and in and out. The item slipped from her grasp and onto the floor.

"Hey, wake up," a hand pressed against her shoulder.

She didn't need the prompt, her stomach did that for them. The hunter sat up with a groan and pressed the back of her palm to her lips. "I...I'm gonna..." she muffled against the skin. It took one more second before feet patted against the floor of the messy apartment and she dived into the bathroom. The would-be party girl dunked her head over the edge of the filthy toilet and upheaved the evenings drinks, or, what had been. It was awful. Victoria had never thrown up, had never wanted to, and now she knew what it felt like.

"It burns!" she cired in auguish and misery.

"Ah, newbies, they make it that much more fun," Haiti chuckled and stretched out his tired limbs. Of all of them, he had been the most excited, the most rowdy.

A splash of water helped to refreshen her, but only just. Victoria was as pale as a ghost, more than usual. She staggered out of the bathroom rubbing at her face. "What did I do..." she whispered hoarsly.

"You partied hard." Haiti lifted his hand, devil horns wiggling.

"You're voice is annoying," she muttered, walking past him in a sluggish maner. The girl slumped down into a seat at the quaint kitchen table, in the shitty chair. Both hands pressed against her brow and she closed her eyes. She felt as if she'd been on a rollercoaster.

"You looked like you were having fun, from what I remember," Jarka commented, sliding a plate in front of the hunter. "You should eat something, it'll make you feel better."

The girl held a hand to her mouth, and muffled, "I don't think that I can."

"Try a bite, please.”

With a sweaty hand, Victoria grasped the fork and carefully scooped up some of the gooey breakfast food into her mouth. Her face contorted, eyes squeezed, and she swallowed hard. Despite the urge to gag, she waited and fought to suffuse the neasea. “It's good...” she whispered. It was good, very good, probably the best food she had ever had. The stuff back on Zone Five was little better than cafeteria goods, even though, she mostly ate fries. This was hearty, flavourful, and made her tastebuds blaze with life.

“Thanks,” the brunette gave a small smile and turned away.

Victoria rubbed her face again and fought down another bite. She had been given a glass of cold water, it eased her pounding head ache. “I'm not used to this...”

“You're such a virgin.”

Victoria looked up in shock at Haiti, he slumped down at the table. “What?” she replied, flustered, red tinting her cheek.

“Haiti!” Jarka turned, a fork in hand, eyes ablaze with only the strength a woman could contain.

“Settle down, homeslice, I'm just saying,” he replied smoothly and leaned back lazily in his seat. A hand gestured toward Victoria. “Look at her, she's finally living it up. What a trooper, take the punches like a pro.”

“I don't know what you're talking about,” she replied, looking down and shovling food into her mouth. Victoria didn't want to talk about parties or virginity! It didn't matter in what context! Jeremy would kill her if he found out, the very thought made her sink further against her seat. Such a night had been unexpected, and, it had...distracted her. Victoria hadn't slept so well, but, now she felt like shit. This was so new and strange to her, the food helped, but she felt so raw and heavy.

“I don't get sick,” she mumbled over the edge of her cup.

“You don't?” Jarka shoved a plate in front of Haiti, slamming a fork down for him. She pinned her gaze on the pink haired girl.

“W-well, you know,” she motioned at her body. “All my wounds are gone from the...speech.” She sighed softly and shook her head from side to side. “Remember what I said, back at the rally, with the cookies,” she said, looking up at the other girl. “I was afraid...of upsetting Roy, you know? I'm different. My body heals itself, I don't get sick, I don't sustain damage. So this,” she made a face and touched her stomach. “Is very uncomfortable.”

“Sweet,” Haiti laughed and dug into his meal. “She really is a virgin.”

Jarka's palm slapped against the kitchen table, but she didn't look away from Victoria, whose face had become the shade of a ripe tomatoe. “Look at it like this, then,” the cook said, smiling with some strange wisdom. “Now you know what happens when you party with this guy.” A thumb was jabbed toward the male, who let loose a burp, resulting in a subtle sigh from both girls.

“Thank you,” Victoria murmured, pushing her empty plate forward. “For...this, and that.” Her blue eyes lifted to take them both in. “I'm not supposed to make friends, but, for you...both, well,” she nodded slowly with her words. “I'd like to break the rules.”

“Yes! Corruption!” Haiti fist pumped the air.

Jarka swatted Haiti lightly against the back of his head. It only resulted in a clear, crisp, giggle from the cherry haired youth across the table. She couldn't heal the wound left behind from Roy's death, but, maybe they could.