Estelle's feet began to gently swing in the small space between the stool and the bar counter, her hands moving down to rest softly on her knees. She could not stop moving for one second. It wasn't that she was nervous, it was just something she always did. Fidgeted until someone commented on it, and then she'd get embarrassed and try her best to stop. Estelle turned her body and her head, scanning the bar for a moment. She noticed a man in the corner, leaned against the wall and staring at the pair so intently. For a moment, she considered asking Viona if she'd noticed him, too. She turned back to Viona, a slight look of worry on her face before she shook her head softly as if to clear her mind.

Still, she felt a nervousness creeping into her chest that would be forgotten in a moment. Her little smile returned, albeit considerably less genuine. "Is calling people darling something you've trademarked?" Estelle raised a brow, shifting on the stool once again. Why couldn't she just get comfortable? "That's disgusting. Don't act like we're a couple.. using those silly names." She murmured, shifting her gaze behind Viona for a moment. Truly, she wondered how much of this really was just playful banter. It seemed more serious at times. She tilted her head slightly to the side in contemplation, recalling all of their flirty conversations. Some of them seemed a little too real.

"Joke? I wasn't joking." Estelle's brows furrowed a little, displaying feigned confusion. She was absolutely joking. But she didn't want Viona to know that. No, she wanted this woman to think every word that came out of her mouth was serious. Maybe sometimes she did wonder what it would actually be like if they did end up in bed together. But it was more so a late night thought, not a common one. "You can't call bullshit yet. This night is far from over." Estelle gazed at her with probably the most serious look she's ever given. Now, she really was going to have a fun night, trying to convince Viona she wasn't joking. That was the fun in their relationship.

Her feet were still swinging only slightly, heels together. Things were fun when Viona was around.. at least sometimes. When Viona spoke again, leaning over her slightly, Estelle did not respond back. Her focus settled on the way she licked her lips, and then went back up to her green eyes. Estelle's gaze softened into a mixture of lust and something else unreadable. She'd never met someone so interesting. Never had such an interesting conversation in all her 22 years of being alive. Viona just opened up things she never thought possible. "What if I want the kiss now?" She spoke in an innocent tone, gazing up at Viona.

And then she decided to take it a step further. Estelle moved closer to Viona, leaning in. Bringing their faces way too close together for comfort, her expression dead serious. "I think I deserve it after coming here just for you.." Her gaze shifted from Viona's eyes down to her lips, gently pulling her own bottom lip between her teeth. She really, really just couldn't help herself at this point. And after a moment, she leaned back away, taking on her usual gentle expression and demeanor, no trace of that lust in her eyes anymore. It was a fun little display that maybe she'd take further if she got sick enough of the teasing. Perhaps all she needed was to prove she wasn't afraid to stand up to Viona rather than taking the teasing like normal.

Estelle pushed her feet off the floor, slightly swiveling the stool back and forth. She watched as Viona extended her hand, showing the faint marks of their previous encounter. The little pricks of her teeth no longer remained, but she could easily fix that if she chose to. "Oh, come on, when have I ever been a bitch to you? I'm hardly even mean." Estelle rolled her eyes with an annoyed huff, offended that Viona would even dare suggest she was a bitch. One hand went to her drink, finishing it off with a slight face of disgust as the coffee beans settled onto her tongue. They were gone in a minute, followed by an even more grossed out look. She would've went to spit them out, but that risks giving Viona another thing to tease her about. She needed to stop giving so many opportunities.

"But that means I won't race anymore. Are you saying you don't want me to? That's actually kind of rude, if you ask me." Her giggles returned, a sweet sound that seemed to catch the attention of a few nearby people. After she settled herself, she smiled at Viona. "I'm joking. I don't think you're rude at all." Her smile was much sweeter, and for once, truly and fully genuine. It remained whenever Viona spoke her next sentence and was quickly accompanied by a small head tilt. "..you have everyone at your disposal.. and you want to drag me to a ball?" Estelle stuttered a little, seemingly genuine dumbfounded.

"You don't have to win for me to do that. Sounds kind of nice, actually." She could picture it now. Complaining about whatever Viona chooses to dress her in, saying that the color washes her out. She did like to be pampered in such a way, and didn't get it often. Spending time with Viona.. even pretending to be her date, didn't sound horrible. Her gaze shifted down to Viona's hand, watching as she picked off little bits of fuzz. Estelle was tempted to reach out and do the same, fingertips twitching a little. As usual, she needed to distract herself and do something else with her hands. Both hands went to her hair, beginning to make a small little braid with the front strand.

"Yeah, yeah. I have a life, I can't go to every single race." Estelle glanced up from her litte braid, fixing Viona with an annoyed look. It wasn't genuine annoyance, as she couldn't find it in herself to be genuinely angry or annoyed with Viona. It was odd, but she couldn't help it. With Viona's next words, she sat there for a moment, stunned into silence. Even her hands stopped moving. It took her only a moment to recover from her initial shock. "You know what? I think I have the perfect place for that." She turned, swiveling the chair so her back was now facing Viona. Her hand gathered up her hair, which was surprisingly still soft despite having been so tangled. She pulled it over her chest, then used her other hand to pull down the back of her crop top to reveal the back of her shoulder.

"Right here. I think it's suitable." Estelle shrugged, the tip of her acrylic dug gently into her soft skin. It was an untattooed space, a blank canvas for anything.

Estelle continued to gently chew her bottom lip, mindful not to pierce through it with those sharp teeth of her. She was like a real life vampire. Sharp fangs, and with the amount of blood she's consumed from biting her tongue or cheeks a little too hard. It wasn't uncommon to see her lips a little tore up from her biting them when she gets anxious. Her cautious nibbling turned absentminded as she focused more on Viona again. It was only then she remembered the woman she'd been so bold to sit with earlier, making her snap her head around. Laura was no longer there, but was probably lingering around the club somewhere. She'd have to make a mental note of that. After their little too close for comfort encounter, Estelle found it a little hard to look directly at Viona without unwanted thoughts invading her head. It was really starting to get to her now.

"Nuh-uh. I deserve something after putting up with your bullshit for so long." Estelle retorted, finally shifting her gaze directly back onto Viona. There was a small, ever growing pit of warmth in the bottom of her stomach, unwanted and highly unwelcomed. She'd order herself a few drinks sometime soon, and hopefully avoid Viona after that. She didn't know what personality would come out, and she absolutely didn't want to admit that perhaps she did like Viona in a way she shouldn't. She would never dare to act on her thoughts, though. It was an everlasting internal struggle trying to figure out her real feelings, which shifted constantly.

Some days she absolutely despised Viona with every fibre of her being. Others, she was curious about her and took a more friendly approach. Estelle was never in full control of her feelings, even as a child. "Maybe it's time for you to work for something." Estelle crossed her legs, squeezing them right together. Gotta keep it together. There was no way one drink in a short amount of time was causing a problem so early on. Tattooed fingers glided over her arms gently, feeling the smooth skin under her fingertips. The way Viona never looked away as she ate that stupid cranberry made a small shudder run down her spine, forcing her to break eye contact and squeeze her thighs a little tighter together. Goddamn it. She had to get away as soon as possible before she did something she regretted.

It wasn't really a good idea to come here, but she knew she would enjoy herself. What could go wrong, anyways? Absolutely nothing could. Not now. "Oh? So you admit you like my company?" Estelle gave a few giggles, watching Viona place her head in her hands and drum her fingers over her cheeks. "But maybe it's better for you switch it up a little. Find someone else to harass." Her legs uncrossed, but remain firmly shut. Heels tapping gently against the metal legs of the stool, the sound unnoticed among the loud chatter and music of the club. Her head turned to the side, squinting as some of the neon lights caught in her eyes. The hazy smoke in the air acted as a small cloud of fog, reeking of sweetness and menthol.

Estelle had a pack of cigarettes somewhere in her car. It wouldn't hurt to contribute to the smoke cloud, would it? She never was much of a smoker until she met Jos. As she was turned around and showing Viona that little spot, she was rather surprised to feel the soft fingertips pressed to her shoulder. They lingered for a little too long, causing small chills to run through her body. "Maybe it's just a way to remember you." Estelle shrugged as she turned back around, rolling her shoulders as she let her shirt go back into place. Viona's touch still lingered on her skin, as soft as it had been. Despite Viona's harsh words and teasing, her hands were so gentle. Almost like she was afraid of hurting her.

Her words had been slightly ominous, even for her. The future held many things, and she wasn't sure if racing was going to continue to be one of them. Estelle didn't get the same enjoyment out of it that she used to. No, it caused more stress and anxiety. Maybe she was just getting older. Estelle listened quietly as Viona spoke, furrowing her brows a little bit. The admission was certainly not something she would've ever expected. "..are you sure I'm a good candidate for that, then? I don't.." Estelle trailed off, at a loss for words. Viona hadn't taken anyone out for that long, and here she was, trying to take Estelle to some ball. And as Viona went on to list qualities she believed to be good about her, Estelle grew even more stunned and confused.

"Viona.. are you.." she trailed off, taking on such a soft tone to her voice like never before, "..trying to say you like me?" It was a soft little meek tone, mixed with confusion. Sure, she was probably making it into something it wasn't. But her confusion was genuine. She felt that warmth blossom throughout her body, warming her chest and her hands and her cheeks. She could see the flash of frustration in Viona's eyes, illuminated by the lighting. The mood had changed drastically, at least to her. She'd never seen even a smidge of vulnerability from Viona, and now that had just changed. And perhaps it wasn't even that. But that's what it was feeling like.

Whenever Viona kept going, Estelle found her bout of confusion fading into something gentler. She couldn't stop herself as she lifted a hand, reaching out to place it on Viona's knee in the most gentle way possibly. Her thumb gave a few soft strokes, eyes never straying away from Viona's. "If it's an invitation, I think I'd love to go outright. I want to see who you really are." Estelle couldn't even place her feelings at this point. Confusion, sympathy, and everything in between. It was such an odd thing for Viona to offer. It was odd for Viona to even offer something! That's what made it even more special. "If it's a date you want, it's a date you're going to get." Estelle offered a little smile, followed by a quiet chuckle. There was no way she was going to race over that and take the risk of not getting to go. Now, her hand slowly left Viona's knee, fingers dragging softly.

"Come on. Pick a new bet, and make it as interesting as possible. Racing has been a little too.. boring as of recent." She was more than a little curious to see what Viona would choose, now that she'd already agreed to attend with her. The tattoo? Thats something she actually would do. Coverups were a thing, and it was a way to prove she wasn't a chicken. "Really? You mean it? Well, shit. My night just got a whole lot better." Truly, it did. If there was one thing Estelle loved, it was dancing. She was a master at the waltz, as well as the tango. Being quick on her feet was what made her so good at such things. The tango was her favorite, such an intimate dance that could be a major key in deciding how she truly felt about someone.

Slowly, Estelle rose from her seat at the bar. "I guess I shouldn't keep you stuck talking to me. You've got a night to enjoy." She offered a little half-smile, gazing at Viona as she took a small step away.

After standing and getting herself situated, she rolled her eyes at Viona's last comment. "Yeah, yeah. I'm trustworthy, have some faith in me." Estelle muttered, already scanning the club for someone particularly interesting. She never usually was so outgoing, but she couldn't spend the entire night bothering Viona. Even if the pretty woman was the sole reason she came here in the first place. "I'll come bother you when I get bored enough." She offered a mischievous little smile, before she turned on her heels and entwined herself into the sea of people. As a smaller woman, it made it considerably harder for her to avoid elbows and being bumped into. Most people didn't notice her until they accidentally stepped on her, or until they looked down.

Estelle never really minded her height too much. It could've been worse. Afterall, her mother was 4'10. A little French woman who's tallest kid was 5'3. Picking her way through the crowd, she started in the direction she last saw Laura. She felt a little bad for just leaving her, but then again, she was a stranger and Viona wasn't. Keen eyes scanned the crowd, eventually spotting the dark haired woman with a few other people. Estelle slowly approached, putting on a friendly smile. The group was absolutely hammered, visible in the way they couldn't keep themselves upright and how their speech was off. Laura was first to notice her, greeting her with a surprised yet grateful smile. "Oh, you did come back!" Laura giggled, gently taking her hand and pulling her close.

Laura had gotten considerably more dunk, too. "This is Estelle. That's Riley, Maura, and Zoey. I think?" Laura pointed at each person as she spoke, then fixed Estelle with a highly mischevious look. "We were seeing how many shots we can take before someone taps out. You in?" Estelle took a moment of consideration. Free shots? Until one of these already drunk fools passed out? Good enough. "I'm in." Estelle nodded, earning an excited squeal. They were already on the bad, just on the far side near the corner. A hefty collection of shot glasses were settled on the bar, little amounts of liquid left in varying colors.

Laura gave a slight hand raise to the bartender, waving her over. "Round of your strongest tequila, please? Throw in another for our new friend here." And as soon as they were served, all eyes were on Estelle. Perhaps just to see how she handled her alcohol, perhaps because they were drunk and curious of her. They all took a glass, raising it and clinking them together. Estelle brought the glass to her lips, tilting her head back and downing it with a slight wince. She was really in for it now. She could hardly keep track of time as it went by, downing various shots of different liquor to the point where she felt like it was burning a hole in her stomach.

Estelle was so drunk that it wasn't funny anymore. Her accent, already a tad hard to understand, was nearly intelligible. A slew of words, half in English and half in French, in the most atrocious accent anyone in the group had ever heard. And yet, nobody had decided they were done yet. Estelle had both elbows on the bar, hands in her head as she gazed down at the stained wood. Her entire world was hazy, spinning, and it felt like she was about to fall off of the stool she was on. A warm hand found its way onto her shoulder, prompting her to look up and see who it was. Laura, who was gingerly trying to get her to stand up. Estelle, with the assistance of Laura, somehow managed to stand herself up.

She was like a wobbly fawn on new legs, trying to stand for the first time. Estelle swayed in place, her knees shook and threatened to buckle beneath her. She'd had far too much to drink and there was no going back now. "Come.. on.." Laura grumbled, pulling a wobbly Estelle along with her. She was led to a different area, where Laura put both hands on her shoulders and gazed at her with kind eyes. "Stay. I'll come back." Laura's voice was slightly faded to Estelle, sounding like it was far away. She nodded, watching as Laura stumbled away, leaving her alone for the first time all night. The group had dispersed, every person moving on after awhile.

She didn't even recall the events leading up to it. Estelle blinked a few times, desperately trying to regain her bearings. She turned to the side, trying her absolute best to look for someone she was familiar with despite being told to stay. She hadn't even noticed the incoming danger. Hands wrapped around her waist, and her mind immediately went to Viona. But these hands weren't soft and gentle and warm. This was not Viona. Immediately, she began to twist and turn and try to see who was holding her. But the hands didn't let up. One moved to her shoulder, grabbing harshly and keeping her in place.

It was in that moment that she realized what was happening, despite her drunken stupor. The other hand not on her shoulder shifted down to her inner thigh, creeping dangerously upwards. "Stop struggling." A husky voice murmured in her ear, giving her a sharp knee to the back to force her forwards. Try as she might, Estelle could not free herself. The hand on her shoulder trailed downwards and settled on one of her breasts. Shit. She thrashed in a wild frenzy, the struggle continuing as her assailant continued to force her to walk forwards. Estelle had learned long ago that she could never overpower a man. A feeling of immense dread and fear settled heavily in her chest, a certain doom looming over her.

It seemed everyone around turned a blind eye to what was happening. "Get.. off.." Estelle hissed, words barely coherent. Her voice was full of terror and was shaking and trembling like never before. She was pulled even closer into the man behind her, and felt a breath on her neck as he bowed his head down to her height. "Nobody's going to come save you," he murmured in her ear, grip becoming painful, "and I know that for a fact. Look around. Do these people care?" Before she knew it, his lips were pressed to her neck and that hand that had been trailing upwards reached its destination.

Was this really it? Was this really how she was going to go out? Drunk, afraid, alone, and at the hands of a man. Her breaths were sharp and heavy as she continued her struggle, attempts completely futile. Forced into a quiet, darker corner of the club where nobody dared to look. Her mind was fuzzy, hazy, and seemed to be filled with a fog. She couldn't even tell what was happening to her at this point. She felt the button of her jeans being slowly undone, and it was in that moment where every bad encounter with a man she'd ever had came rushing back, hitting her like a freight train. It was just a constant reminder of her fear and her intense hatred for them.

Estelle was growing tired. She couldn't even keep herself upright, knees buckling beneath her. Despite this, though, she tried her damndest to save herself. Where did Laura go? Was she looking for her now that she wasn't in the spot she was told to stay in? Was this really going to happen? The questions kept coming, filling her head and causing everything to be even more foggy. So much for a good night.

The world flew by Viona in a haze as she seemed to be everywhere all at once, the woman stuck in a loop between the bar and the dance floor. Her mind was comfortable and empty due to a combination of cocktails and various shots of tequila.There was something delightful about the buzz of the alcohol, about how the only thing she could feel was her heart beating in time to the music that shook the walls around her and vibrated the floor beneath her, nothing else. There was no stress in the absence of reality, and her only priority was to do what felt good in the moment.

Her skin was warm and almost electric to the touch, and there was something enthralling about the way the music seemed to flow through her veins and buzz through her core. She was sensitive and selfish, focused only on chasing raw, unadulterated pleasure that would light fireworks in her belly and cause ecstasy to flood her brain. She was completely and utterly in her element as her body swayed amid the crowd of bodies that were just as hot and needy as her. Like a moth to a flame, Viona Lane could not be stopped, and she would not have it any other way.

“Hey…” A low, masculine voice found it’s way into her ear. As hooded eyes slid in that direction, she recognized it was a man who had bought her drink sometime earlier.

She chuckled at the awkwardness of his introduction. “Hey…” She replied with a snort, “come to to take me up on a dance, darling?” Instinctively, she leaned back into him, and the feeling of her back against his broad, solid chest made her insides tingle.

Receptive hands found their way to her hips, pressing deliciously into the soft skin that was exposed by her low-rise shorts. “If you’ll have me. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Viona snaked an arm behind her and and around his neck, her fingers tangling in dark curls. A low hum escaped her as she turned her head, nose brushing against a stubbled jaw. Lord, he was tall. “Aren’t you precious?” Her smile was as smug as it was sultry, “I’ll think about it…” A content sigh breezed through her lips as her skin began to tingle and desire puddled at her core. “Show me what you’re made of.” She demanded softly, and her feelings were as sinful as they were wonderfully familiar. She liked that.

Emerald eyes disappeared behind heavy lids as she relished the wandering hands that snaked over her creamy skin. She was touched like a goddess worthy of worship, and she was certainly receptive as she found herself lost in the rhythm of it all, as if her body was possessed by something unknown. Would she go home with him? It was unlikely, given Estelle was annoyingly the object of her fixation in more ways than one that night. She hoped to find her later, when they were both boldened by alcohol. At that point, any unwise decisions could be blamed on the alcohol.

She was mid-spin when her eyes opened again, her movements slow and seductive so as to put on a show for her partner, and it was through a gap in the crowd that she saw Estelle in the shadows. It took a moment for her to register, but she watched as the small woman was forced out of her view by a man of unknown origin. Even addled by alcohol, Viona could feel her chest tighten. A series of alarm bells began to ring in her brain, screaming at her senses through her drunkenness with such violence that she did not even notice she had frozen amidst the crowd.

First, there was terror

Viona did not hear the man ask what was wrong, nor did she feel him gently shake her. For several seconds, she could not move, or even breathe, but as soon as Stella disappeared from view, she felt her stomach drop in a way that was suffocating.

Desperation came second.

Without a word, or even a thought, Viona’s fear fueled her as she pushed through the crowd, her sense of urgency telling her to keep the other woman in her sight. Initially, she could not find her, and the realization caused the tall woman to tremble in her leather boots. Fuck. Where was she? Where had he taken her? Frantic, she searched the darkness, imploring her drunken, fuzzy gaze to focus. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the other woman’s thrashing as she was shoved into a dark alcove against her will.

It was then that fury arrived, third and last, and it set her heart ablaze.

As Viona stormed towards the alcove, her muscles were so tense she feared her veins may burst from the pressure. Without a second thought, she snatched a drink out of the hands of a fellow patron, ignoring their cries of protest. The glass was thick and heavy in her hand, the beveled crystal filled with what she assumed was whiskey or bourbon. As the distance between her and the bastard who dared lay his hands on Estelle came to a close, Viona’s arm began to lift and her eyes locked onto her target with deadly aim.

Then, she threw the entire glass at the back of his head, liquid and all.

“Get the FUCK away from her!” Viona roared, surging forward as the man lurched, glass shattering upon inpact while the liquor sprayed the floor, creating a spectacle that caught the attention of a few observers. Taking advantage of his falter, she took a fistful of his shirt and yanked him away with a feral snarl, putting herself between Estelle and her assailant. “You barked up the wrong fuckin’ tree, you bowlegged bastard!” She took a step back and a protective arm reached behind her, her body a shield that kept the smaller woman out of anyone’s sight.

At first, he yelled right back. Viona had stolen his prize out from under him, after all. “You bitch!” He bellowed, taking a threatening step towards the pair, “Just what are you going to do, huh? Fuck you!” Viona did not even have time to process him raising his hand before it made contact with her face in a resounding smack that left her ears ringing and her face throbbing in pain. A sound that was a mix between a gasp and a cry escaped her. The taste of blood left a metallic tang on her tongue, and the realization that he had split her lip only made her all the more determined to stand her ground.

Viona’s gaze burned hot with hatred as she steaded herself and stared him down. Her body shook with every rise and fall of her chest, but she did not waver. She couldn’t show an ounce of weakness, not to him. “You heard me! GO!” She yelled, trying her best to create a scene. Men like this didn’t like scenes. Scenes held them accountable for their bullshit. “Before I show you where my fucking boot fits!” Within seconds, she pulled the aformentioned boot off and hurled that at him too. The heel collided against his chest with a satisfying thump, causing him to take a stumbling step back.

It was then the bastard seemed to finally realize he was not going to get his way, not like this, and he took the liberty of cursing her out one, final time before vanishing back into the crowd. Where he went, she did not know, nor did she care. Viona’s world seemed like it was spinning, but her mind was only focused one thing. “Stella,” Her name came out as a gasp as the woman realized she had been holding her breath. She turned to face her, eyes darting over her form as she searched for any sign of injury.

“Stella, are you hurt? Did he put somethin’ in your drink? What happened?” The questions out in a frenzied rapid-fire, concern etched in every one of Viona’s features. “Jesus Christ…” She trailed, swallowing hard as the weight of it all came crashing down on her shoulders. “I…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.” Her voice was soft and genuine as she spoke, with a deep sadness that left a heaviness on her words. Tentatively, the taller woman offered Estelle a hand, fingers gently wiggling so she could take it. “I have you. He's gone now… and he won't be back.”

The hands that held her were so rough. Moving across her body, harsh fingers pressed so deeply into her skin that it made her wince, knowing she'd be covered in bruises the next morning. If she was even alive, that is. She didn't want to see herself covered in such ugly marks, not at all. How funny that the only thought in her mind currently was how she'd look with ugly bruises. She could not hold her fight for much longer. Estelle was too intoxicated, too tired to keep going. She wondered if there was someone watching the whole ordeal, having an internal debate, asking themselves if they should intervene or not. Her hands were on his arms, nails digging in his skin as hard as she could manage.

A faint hiss of pain sounded in her pain, and before she could do anything, she felt her back and head hit the wall with a crack. Oh, god. Was that her bone? One hand was forcefully holding both of hers together, the other returning to its previous spot. She could feel a trickle of blood down her back, making her wonder if she'd put a hole in the wall or something of that manner. Estelle wondered what she'd done to deserve this. She wasn't a mean person, but maybe if she'd been a little kinder. A little softer in her mannerisms. Just as she was finally about to give in and let her fighting cease, there was a sharp yelp of pain and the sound of a glass breaking. Her gaze settled on an approaching, far too familiar figure.

Viona.

As he staggered away and faltered, whirling on Viona, it gave her the opportunity to assess herself. A hand reached up to the back of her head, an instant wave of newfound panic crashing over her as she felt a warm liquid on her fingers. She was bleeding. Estelle could hardly register what was going on before she heard Viona's voice, and then she was pinned between her and the wall. But she didn't care. She couldn't see anyone, and nobody could see her. Behind Viona, she let herself sink back into the wall a bit, giving an immediate wince as her shoulder made contact. She'd been in many scary situations such as this. But nobody had ever stood up for her.

It was odd, really, to feel even a semblance of safety in a moment like this just because of one person who intervened. The sound of a harsh slap and a cry filled her ears, followed shortly by yelling and more yelling. Estelle wanted to cry. To curl up on the dirty floor of the club and just cry until she couldn't anymore. Did she really even deserve this? Or was the universe just playing a sick joke on her? She was a believer that everything happened for a reason. And yet, she couldn't come up with any sort of reason for why such a vile thing would be occurring. She seemed to blank as time passed, blocking everything out. The yelling, the loud music that vibrated her chest and ribcage. The only thing that remained was the red-hot pain that seared through her back and her head.

Finally, it seemed like it was all her. She hadn't managed to register what Viona was saying yet, and it scared her even more. Like a hurt puppy, she cowered down even more. There was a look of real, genuine fear in her eyes. She was scared of Viona. Scared of anything and everything. Finally, her words seemed to register. The look of fear faded somewhat, but was still very prominent. As Viona offered her hand out, Estelle immediately flinched away, wincing like she was bracing for impact.

But it never came. And that seemed to calm her.

Without even thinking, she immediately pushed herself off of the wall and wrapped her arms tightly around Viona's waist. Her hands were clasped around her lower back, her face nuzzled into her chest. And that was when the tears finally started. Her bloodied hands smeared on Viona's skin, but she didn't care much. She needed the comfort. "I.. I don't.." she trailed off, stuttering with a meek and shaky voice, "I don't know. It just hurts." Her voice was muffled by Viona's skin. Her head was throbbing, only contributing to her tears that now soaked Viona's flannel. After a moment, she pulled her head away but kept herself tightly pressed to Viona and wrapped around her. She couldn't let go.

Estelle looked up at her with those teary eyes, her mascara running down her cheeks. It was then that she noticed Viona was bleeding, too. One hand unclasped, leaving the taller woman's back to move up to her face. Estelle ran her thumb over Viona's lip, gazing up at her with so many emotions. Fear. Worry. Regret. "Oh, god, you're hurt. I'm sorry. I'm.. sorry. I should've just... just.." Estelle trailed off, bottom lip trembling. She wasn't sobbing quite yet but she was getting too damn close to it. The world seemed to be spinning even more, and Viona's face looked so blurry through the tears.

Estelle let go of Viona, taking a wobbly step back that almost resulted in her tumbling over. She felt bad. Really bad. Viona had invited her here to celebrate her win, and this is what happens? She didn't quite care about herself at the moment, too focused on the woman in front of her. Their mixed blood was now on her trembling hands. Her own blood was on the floor in small droplets. "I.. can't be here anymore. I need to.. to..." Estelle couldn't even finish her sentence. She reached a hand up to wipe away some of her tears, smudging her mascara and smearing some of the blood onto her cheek. She was a mess. An absolute, complete and utter mess.

Estelle was deliriously intoxicated, and on the verge of a total shutdown. She was a sensitive woman and events such as this totally fucked with her entire sense of being. Her gaze was settled on Viona, feeling so horrible over the whole ordeal. It's not like it was her fault, either. But in her mind, it was. She shouldn't have got that drunk. The only thought on her mind should've been her own safety, not drinking so much. She desperately wanted to wrap herself around Viona and sob into her chest like there was no tomorrow, but she felt so horrible. Her trembling little hands were folded loosely in front of her, nails digging into her own skin now.

She was so incredibly grateful for Viona.

Estelle couldn't even tell her left from her right at this point. Between the fear and adrenaline and the alcohol coursing through her body, her state was increasingly deteriorating. Her hands gently released one another, and found her arms. In a desperate attempt at self-comfort, her hands gingerly rubbed up and down her arms in such a delicate way. She'd be fine in awhile. But for now, she was the furthest thing from it. Her chest rose and fell in a rapid way, her breathing short and uneven. The hours to come would be horrible for her until she eventually sobered up and calmed down, but she'd manage. Looking up at Viona, she could only feel an immense amount of guilt as she saw the taller woman's injuries.

Estelle didn't care about her own. That was her problem to deal with later. But she felt so, so horrible that Viona had been hurt in the whole ordeal. She'd already regretted pulling away from Viona so soon, missing the feeling of her warm body so close. Her warmth and gentleness was highly comforting. "I can't not worry.." Estelle whined, shifting her weight onto one of her feet. It was true. Now that she saw the damage inflicted on Viona's lip and cheek, it was all she could focus on. Even if Viona tried to reassure her, it wouldn't work. She took a small step closer again, not wanting to keep the distance between them. She just couldn't bear it right now.

Estelle was beginning to feel her skin crawl, and felt as though she was covered in dirt and grime. There was no visible markings yet, but she could feel them. Feel them on her hips, her arms, her shoulders and even her chest. Her inner thighs. Every spot that he touched had been rough. As Viona made the comment that she was bleeding, all Estelle could do was nod her head meekly. And as her tears were wiped, it was in that moment that she truly realized she was safe. Viona wasn't going to hurt her or let anyone else hurt her again. She let Viona take her hands, feeling the soft and tender circles rubbed on her palms.

"My head." Estelle responded softly, not fully aware if it was from just her head or her back as well. That was a pretty nasty sounding crunch she'd heard as soon as she hit the wall. She turned her head to the side a little, unsure if there was much visible blood or not. She could feel it, though. On her upper back and the back of her neck. It hurt her so deeply to hear the desperation and tenderness in the voice of her rival, who'd only ever spoken to her in sharp tones and teasing that sometimes took it too far. She refused to let go of Viona's hands now that she had them, wanting to hold on for just a little longer.

Estelle could only keep telling herself how preventable this was. Now she'd ruined Viona's night and she was almost certain of this. Whenever Viona scanned over her and began to apologize, she shook her head softly. One of her hands gently moved up to Viona's wrist, using gentle strokes as she rubbed it. "Sorry? Viona.. I don't.." she could hardly finish her sentence, words a jumbled mess. But she forced herself to continue. "Oh, ma chérie, you helped me. Not harmed me." The words of affection had slipped out so fast she didn't even notice she said them. Not that she cared, anyways. She needed Viona to know how much she was truly appreciated.

Estelle felt so horrible for making Viona think any of what happened was her fault. She had made the conscious choice to come to this club with Viona, she wasn't forced into anything. Estelle slowly looked down as Viona mentioned trying to get her home. The last thing she wanted right now was to be alone. She could always call Jos, she guessed. But was that the person she really wanted with her in her time of need? But whenever Viona brought up her own home, Estelle immediately shook her head 'no.' There was no way she was going to invade Viona's personal space like that. "It's okay. I couldn't ask that of you.." Estelle responded softly, unsure of if Viona would really take no for an answer.

Truthfully, she wasn't entirely comfortable with going back to Viona's condo. She was already too stressed out, and being in a new and unfamiliar place would put her mind into a total shutdown. But it seemed like she didn't have a choice as Viona pulled out her phone, presumably finding a ride there. She was about to speak up and fight the idea once more before Viona tugged on her hand, forcing her to walk. She had no choice to obey. She was in no position to be fighting someone else. The first thing the woman noticed was Viona's uneven gait, and it finally registered in her head that Viona was missing a boot. Did she miss that part?

"No.. I don't need anything." Estelle muttered softly. Her hand was now firmly laced with Viona's, too afraid to let go. As they made it outside, she was immediately grateful for the change of pace. The humid summer air, the sound of frogs and crickets in the near distance. The comfortable humming of an air conditioner somewhere. Estelle couldn't help but cling onto Viona now, nuzzling herself close to her side. Pressed into her like some sort of lost puppy seeking shelter. Now side to side like this, it was then she realized the true extent of their height difference. It fascinated her drunk mind and gave her something to think about other than what happened.

Estelle glanced up, and then down. And it was then that she finally noticed that the button and zipper of her jeans were undone, and her jeans were tugged slightly down her hips. They were already low rise to begin with, but now she felt so much more insecure and exposed since she noticed it. Her hand left Viona's, immediately going to fix it. She fiddled with the button, trying her damndest to get it back in place. Once her jeans were pulled up as far as they could go, and were buttoned and zipped up again, she felt better. But she still felt so exposed, and she wished she chose a different outfit. Estelle tried her best to pull her crop top down more and cover the rest of her hips and stomach.

There wasn't really much she could do about that. Estelle's hand found Viona's again, lacing their fingers together. "Thank you." She spoke so softly as she tilted her head, gazing up at Viona. The action hurt more than anything, causing her to immediately wince. But Viona deserved a genuine thank you, and the smaller woman was going to return the favor one day. She was going to make sure Viona knew just how important she was to her now.