"Is it because they technically be in sunlight?" Vera raised their eyebrow. "Well, scary as in menacing but not completely horrific. Vlad the Impaler was a leader of sorts you could say," they bit their lip. "The one who the whole story is sort of based on. "But there's also a lot of layers to the story," they nodded slowly. "I think vampires are more Lestat de Lioncourt and less Edward Cullen. The sparkling seems too obvious, too, doesn't it? I mean most of the time, they're trying to stay inconspicuous," they shrugged.

WHO: Camila and OPEN (0/5)

WHERE: Camila's house, The Coast & Pier

"Okay, please explain to me why Edward sparkles? What vampire sparkles?" Camila scoffed, the book resting on her lap and a cigarette between her fingers. She'd never actually read the Twilight novels until now, only saw the movies, but she was supposed to be trying new things. Pathetically, actually reading a book was a new thing to her. What a waste of intelligence.

Briefly, she looked up from the pages to gaze across the room, raising her eyebrows. "Vampires are supposed to be scary, right? I don't know about you, but if I came across a sparkling vampire, I would laugh. Because who the hell's gonna be afraid of a vampire that sparkles like a Cartier necklace on a sunny day?"

Seemed like a perfectly valid question. Sparkling vampires. Seriously?

And it wasn't the air conditioner or anything, right? Yeah, oof! That does sound a little creepy. Did the hotel give you a backstory about why it's haunted? Because I know that is something that I would like to know, for sure! And they are local too, so a lot of the museums are about the city, which means all the info is just there because it's talking about the place.

You know… I don't really think so? But Mandy might not agree with me! There were a few times where things would kind of move, like a curtain, or we'd swear that a pillow was in a different spot when we came back, but it's hard to tell if it's ghosts, or you're so sure you're going to see ghosts that you're just kind of making up things? But it made the experience all the more fun, if you ask me! The museums are so nice, I like how a lot of them are catered towards just one or two subjects, you learn more, I think, and it keeps your interest!

Yeah, exactly! Haha! You need that balance. That sounds like a lot of fun, honestly. I’m glad you two enjoyed yourselves. What was the haunted hotel like? Was it really scary? I feel like some places really go for it and make it feel spooky and haunted on purpose. I checked out a few of the museums which was really cool!

Nice and relaxing... while they talk about horrible crimes and the terrible ways that people treat each other, but that's besides the point, really! Mandy and I did a few tours that were kind of spooky, between true crime and ghosts, and we stayed in a haunted hotel, too! How about you? I'm going to make us beignets sometime, I'll have my mom refresh my memory on how to do it.

What did she leave behind? Now you've got me curious. I wouldn't really know what younger siblings are capable of, I don't have any siblings. But I do have friends with siblings! I want to know more. I'd love to try some Turkish dishes. Do you have a favorite? I really love baklava, we had a little cafe near where I lived and I was friends with the owner's granddaughter.

It's been three days since my little sister left town and the house is still a mess. Don't get me wrong, I miss her when she's halfway across the world, but I just can't handle walking into a room and finding some random item she's left behind. I'm sure younger siblings just have this magical ability to turn up and turn your life upside down before leaving as quick as they arrive. Oh, and if anybody would like to try some Turkish dishes, please let me know because I've got enough food that could probably feed around eight people. @merrock

Oh yeah! That's a good one to color to. The narration kind of helps with that. How did you like the trip? Did you get into anything big and spooky ooky? I went to one of the museums and the history is so cool! Oh my god, the beignets are my favorite. I wish I could take some home but I ate them almost every day. Especially dipped in raspberry or chocolate sauce? Yum!

I normally color while I'm watching Forensic Files or something, but then I end up distracted, and that might not turn out so well for the picture that I'm coloring in, you know? Don't want to make it look horrible! It's really one of those cities that you go in thinking you're going to do it all, and realize that you've barely done a fraction of it. But you'll love it. Yes! The beignets are so good. They're good anywhere that you go, don't get me wrong, but there's something special about them in New Orleans.

How was New Orleans for you? I had a really good time exploring. I'm not even sure I want to go home, but alas, work calls.

Yes, see! Exactly! You want to make it look as nice as possible, even with how relaxing it is. Put on some music or something and you are all set! Ahh, I'm excited! It looks like such a pretty place. There's so much to see and do, and I honestly just want to try everything. Oh! I am so excited for the food! I remember you mentioned something about beignets right?

You still want your coloring page to look nice when you're done with it, so of course you're going to put some extra work into making sure that you don't miss any spots and you use the right colors, you know? For sure! It takes your mind off of everything else and just lets you relax for a little bit. Who doesn't want to spend their time relaxing? There's so much, New Orleans is one of those places that people think is all about partying and going out, but there's so much history and culture there, too. Not to mention the really good food!

Probably all the history. I've read up on a bit of the background of New Orleans and I think it's so interesting!

I am! New Orleans is one of those dream destinations for me. What are you most excited for?

"I am!" Vera said with a big smile. They remembered Aisha. In a small town, familiar faces were more common than in a big city. You were more likely to see the regulars on a regular basis. "Thank you!" they said with a grin. "I'd love to," they said. "I think so too, it's nice to have that option,"

"Yeah, you're a barista there, right?" she brightened that the other had recognized her, smiling at the compliment. "Why, thank you! I like your outfit too, the whole dark regal aesthetic suits you." she motioned to their ensemble, then nodded. "Did you want to maybe grab a drink with me? Feel like at these things you have to take advantage of the open bar."

Makes things so much better when it's worth the wait. I think humans are mostly impatient and want results quickly. And then they get mad when things don't turn out the way they want because it moved so quickly!

Yeah, and sometimes that's the most gratifying thing: realizing that you waited and something beautiful came out of waiting. It's just that most people have a really hard time seeing that beauty in the long term, and they want the world to be beautiful now.

Me too! I know it doesn't have to be perfect, but that doesn't really help me because I want it to be perfect! Yeah, exactly. I think it's good for taking a break whenever and it's there just for fun, you know? Nice!! I've been reading up on the history of the city and I didn't realize how much there is! But I love it already. Oooh, that sounds very fun. And very you.

They're definitely more challenging, I feel like I always have to sharpen every pencil I own, just to get into the little corners and cracks in the drawings, make sure that I'm filling everything in the right way. But hey, it's still fun. I'd be down with that! Then we can just reach to grab one whenever we need a little bit of stress relief, right? Very much so, I've already been coming up with fun places to go visit and things to do, and Mandy and I are staying in a hotel that's haunted!

Vera had a few things that needed to be dry cleaned. It wasn't usually that they came there, but for some pieces of clothes, the gentle cycle just wouldn't do. They were holding her dress in a garment bag waiting in line to hand it to the attendant. at the counter. "Hmm?" they said with a hum. "Oh!" they blushed, quickly covering their face with their hands. "I'm so sorry," Vera said, not realizing when they brought their dress in, that it included their undergarment half-slip. "So so so sorry... um. Thank you."

who: GUS & OPEN.

where: Get Clean Coin Wash & Dry Cleaners.

when: mid-afternoon in late January.

Gus sat quietly in a corner, watching the other people go about their day. The steady thrum of washing machines and the relaxing hum of the dryers drowned out the outside noise. If it wasn't for his washer machine breaking down, Gus wouldn't have needed to step foot in the laundry mat. But as his luck usually showed these days, the old machine just couldn't take another wash. Gus had been sitting here for almost a half an hour or so before something caught his attention. Moving to get up from the chair he was sitting in, he picked up a few articles of clothing off the ground before finding the person that he believed the items belonged to. "Excuse me, but I believe these are yours." Gus grinned, handing out the garments back to their assumed rightful owner. "Wouldn't want your items to get lost."

I agree! Much safer too, I'm thinking. The coloring books for adults! They have the same feel to it, I guess you could say. Just some of the designs are a bit more challenging. But the kid ones are fun too! Maybe we should keep them on the coffee table or something? That'd be cool, right? You're welcome! Are you looking forward to going back to New Orleans?

It definitely helps, makes life easier when you don't have to fight against snowy, icy roads to get from point A to point B, either, you know? I don't blame you! Are they the coloring books that are marketed for adults, or the ones that are still for kids? I like the kid ones much better, sometimes there are just too many pieces in the adult coloring pages, and I can't make it work. Thank you so much! It was a great birthday!

Good! Are you excited for New Orleans? I've never been!

That works for me! I'm always ready for some fun in the snow.

Makes sense. I like to see change, we want things to change right away but I've learned from school that people just have high expectations. No matter what. And then the learn the hard way that it doesn't really work that way, so they get mad about it.

See, the writing it down is the challenging part for me. I can have ideas, but they will fly out the window. And we as a species want to see results the moment we make a change, that's why we often don't achieve anything at all.

“Well, that part I could live without,” Vera said with a shake of their head. “But the outfits are pretty enough!” they said. They pushed their hair behind their ear and bit their lip with a short shrug. “I don’t really know,” Vee said with a chuckle. “If you go out there I will!”

Like a stooge she craned her head too maybe see what it was Vera saw, "Yeah well aren't we all doomed if history repeats itself?" Taking another sip form her glass, in fact not seeing the romance of it at all. Instead she shook her shoulders loose like a chill had just ran through her body, nodding then out to the spectacle, "You gonna get out there then?"

Vera was still trying to explore around the mansion. It was a very lovely evening and they couldn’t believe how beautiful the decorations were. Everyone was quite dressed up, and they did the same, picking out a dress that was bold and part of the theme. They turned their head and nodded when they heard their name. “Aisha? I remember you from Cobblestone,” Vera smiled. “It’s so pretty tonight, and I love your dress!”

who: aisha & @verachadha

where: royal gala

It seemed easier for Aisha to slip into conversation at the event. Whether it was a compliment, or admiring the various decor together, she was able to catch up with people she knew or didn't. So after taking a glass of champagne from the bar, she approached the other she'd recognized from the cafe. "Vera, right?" she gave a smile, standing by them as she looked out onto the room for a moment. "How are you enjoying your evening?"