Full Moon Rising

The crimson aura of a sanguine slathered lunar surface cast the world below in it's radiant maleficence. An incandescent pall of dread trembling the sensibilities of those capable of acknowledging the supernatural upheaval which occurs when...a blood red moon, is emblazoned in the night sky. Animals bathed in it's glow become feral and snipe at their owner...ocean tides become turbulent with slamming fury against the piers...the ease with which one would normally peruse these city streets becomes undone the instant your feet hits the graveled pavement and nothing seems familiar anymore. Barren city streets at an ungodly hour allow what seems to be the metropolis' only chance to be blanketed in slumbered silence. Office towers. Monuments to humanities inherent evil and original sin had overshadowed the streets, each one indistinguishable from the other. And where from within the unquenchable avarice of these people flourished in all it's putrefied decadence. Except as if to defy the the essence of order and obedience itself, a clattering shatter of one of the glass-pane windows would shoot fragmented shards outward and surrounded a trench-coated figure immediately following gravity's decree into a 30 story plummet...

???:

The stranger diving head first into death itself, winds billowing through out her trench coat with arms extended to her side as if she were willing welcoming her demise. One hand clenched onto a black briefcase. The other holding, and than pressing the button on, a detonator. An volcanic eruption of flames igniting the floor she had just departed from in a barrage of flame and fireballs...but from within those flames two saber-toothed werewolves were unveiled. Glowing amber eyes, serrated claws reaching downward towards the carefree woman who just than noticed their looming presence. Spinning about in mid-air to face them but with an open palmed extension of her free hand. Two energy glyphs would materialize and shoot crimson blood lances that pierced their wolven hearts and afterward exploded in a blood-splattered gore. Malicious, brutal, and potentially a victory short lived as the sidewalk below was an impending inevitability...before the lady would disperse into a swarm of bats. Fluttering about and gliding down towards the streets below in full control of themselves before they reformed into the woman once again...striking a superhero landing pose on the sidewalk with naught a scratch on her.

Armed police greeting her there having gotten the call and were now shielded behind the doors of their police cars. A fanged grin greeting them in return as she seemingly acquiesced to their insistence of her putting her hands up. And by doing so would showcase her heavenly figure underneath and shock them into a stunned state...but in one hop she was already airborne. Upside-down and spinning in rotations to puncture each cops head with a fresh bullet from her hand gun until she was the only one left standing. She holstered her firearm and and sprinted up the hood of a cop car and into a nearby alley where her midnight black GT motorcycle awaited. In mere seconds she'd be barreling down the highway. Suitcase in hand carrying one half of the Lamia Aeterna medallion. A forbidden relic capable of bringing about untold bloodshed and the return of the world back to a horrific, nightmarish time...when abominations roamed the land and preyed on the weak for sustenance...and those who ruled over all in existence...were Vampires...

???:

"What do you see" A robust male voice spoke. Deep and charismatic through the filter of what sounded like a radio.

"A slaughter." A cool collected woman's silhouette, long coat fluttering.

"Who?"

"Everyone." Blood coated the city street like the aftermath of mid day rain. A fresh thin coat that made everything gleam with a sliced sanguine sheen in the flashing blues and reds of the abandoned police cars. Bodies lay about stuck in a point of time, expressions varying from smug satisfaction of abject horror. Dead where they stood, a work of clean precision with a hold in the chest to puncture their heart. The lingering blood moon made it a telling detail, given what the dark clad woman knew of the suspected perpetrators. This entire thing had been a disastrous bloodbath. The shadow wars were never meant to include those who stood outside the curtains and get time and time again…

"Taint blood scum…"

They brought them into it. Thralls to shield them. Innocence to feed them. They were sloppy self indulgence disease in timeless forms. Rumors of dwindling numbers were of no surprise. While the pack grew and supported one another, the old courts of Dracul's brood were conniving sort that through thirst of blood and power had culled their own numbers far more than any of the human night hunters or her own pack ever could. Universally disposed for the leeches they were, they deserved their seat on the brink of extinction… but some of them still pined for power over this desolate future they carved for themselves.

"What about the two we sent to retrieve the medallion?"

A good question. The raven haired woman turned her glowing amber eyes to the sky, the billowing dark smoke which poured from the crumbled upper floors blotted out the stars. Her nostrils flared as she took in the scents around her. Blood was the most pungent scent here, but there was more. Singed flesh, bullets cutting through the dead. Metal, she rolled her tongue over her lips. Microscopic debris from where bullets hit the cars, possibly from the building. Turning her head to catch the breeze she caught something familiar, giving a few small sniffs as she looked about. Carefully she stepped over corpses on her way past the blockade. Her eyes narrowed as she examined the scene quietly.

"Dead."

"Silver?"

"Worse…" She scowled, bringing two fingers to the small earpiece. "Magic... We are dealing with a taint blood magus."

"No shit? They are really bringing out the big guns for this. They must really want the medallion."

"...or need it. Dutch, find me everything you can about this thing. It's no coincidence they waited for the blood moon when they are…" The wolfen heroine stood there for a moment staring off into the distance before… "Line?"

"Jesus Christ on a cracker, cut!" The young man hunched in from of a camera, sitting in a director' chair threw his hands up to his face, dragging his fingers down his cheeks. "Wrap it for the day people. We will get this first thing in the morning… right, Ms. Lynch?"

Lucia turned away from the towering green screen , taking a step towards the director with a sour expression on her face. "Listen, I am used to us having reversal runs. We had a cold read, that was it, and now you want me to know the whole damn script inside and out when you keep making changes? The script is fine!" The actress tripped, stumbling forward before catching herself. She glanced back with a grimace. "Sorry Ted."

"S'ok Lynch." One of the police corpses pushed himself up, dusting a bit of powder from their jacket as the sting man made to walk off set.

"Fine... certainly, but I don't do fine. That is why it must be perfect!" The director gathered up his notes, slipping down off his chair. "Knowing the lines of your job, revitalizing this franchise is mine."

"I know… but this script has more dialogue than the last two full moon risings combined. She has never talked this much! You even have me narrating and doing voice over for her thoughts!" Lucia rounded on the director to stand before him.

"This is a fresh take. We want people to know how she thinks. Why she is so troubled! Pull back that veil of mystery to let them see the girl behind the fur and fangs we never have before! People don't want to see some sexed up edgy wolf woman mindlessly slaughtering endless droves of adversaries... They want to feel your emotional flaws and know the weight behind what you do!" The director tugged a few pages from a spiral notebook, holding them out to Lucia. She took them quietly, looking them over. "Things to work on. Hit makeup early, we will get the close now before having to redress the set for these scenes." With that they walked off.

"Prick." Lucia mumbled under her breath, gathering the three pages into a nest like in her hands as she scanned them over. Her brow furrowed at the nonsensical things scribbled here. Throwing her head back she let out a frustrated huff as lights went down around the set. Looks like she was pulling another late nighter. With a growl, she made her way back to her trailer where she could at least get some peace and quiet to work.

"...Magic... We are dealing with a taint blood magus-..." Offscreen, and silently mouthing every word being so masterfully recited by the Full Moon Princess in her natural cinematic element, Paige...or for these filming purposes, Helvetica Blackheart, watched in starstruck awe at the consummate performer that was her wittle wolfie. Lucia immersed herself wholly in the masterclass of acting on display, hands folded together and propped atop her chin in swooning admiration. She'd already finished her dailies for the day on the other side of the studio, now everyone was just waiting on Lucia to nail this scene so they can call it a wrap for the day. Although she opted to skip returning her outfit to the costume and makeup department in favor of catching the lead actress in action. Cloud-9 was miles beneath her in terms of how elated she was to be standing there right now. In a real Hollywood studio and cast into a major motion film intent on reviving the Full Moon franchise and becoming the next big Summer Blockbuster. And not just as the main villains' hench-woman who was in the film just to have a scrappy cat-fight with the main protagonist's love interest in the final few minutes of the film...but as a headlining co-star framed right beside Lucia on all of the movie posters. Hollywood Insider ranked Paige Number 9 on the list of Top Ten Potential Breakout Actresses...and Entertainment Tonight was scheduled to interview her next Thursday~...although she never really liked ET television. AH, she's become a Hollywood phony already. She really is a part of showbiz now~...

But in one grinding halt, Paige's dream life would hit a bit of hiccup as Lucia paused mid-sentence...and flubbed the line. She winced sharply with a blinking eye and gritted teeth, hunching her shoulders as if physically feeling how much that probably stung Lucia's pride. The assortment of extras, camera operators, key grips, stunt-women, and guys from the lighting crew all internally sighed in a joint deflation of the room as the director got up from his named chair to consult with poor Lucia. Shoot...Paige really thought she was going to nail it this time. In truth, she'd heard film production was in danger of being delayed due to prolonged attempts to get the perfect scene. Well, that's what the studio gets for hiring an auteur action film director to helm the franchise. They've been known to be persnickety when it comes to even the most tiniest detail...except, the cast and crew have been shifting some of the blame to the lead actress....Paige overhearing the majority of the rather heated conversation had between the pair with everyone else parting like the red sea for the stewing wolfen, repelling everyone else around her. All others keeping their distance out of either fear of their job or they simply knew better than to approach her when she was in this type of surly mood. In comes Paige merrily jogging up and walking right beside her.

"Heeeeey youuuuu~...Oh, don't worry about what that guy said." Paige nudged shoulders with Lucia in a playful manner, smiling brighter and more wholesome than Helvetica Blackheart ever will once the movie releases. "These types of directors will make you wanna pull your hair out if you let them. Their just snobby, perfectionist film geeks who get all finicky if the movie doesn't come out EXACTLY as they want it. But in the end, they just wanna get the absolute best performance out of their actor that they can give, even if it drives that same actor crazy and they never wanna work with them again." Paige giggled from her subpar attempt at humor, piping down for a few more steps when she realized she may have been jabbering again...clearing her throat, and folding her hands behind her...before a light bulb illuminated right above her head. "OH...I know the perfect way to help you get accustomed to the way this guy directs and help you mesmerize those lines...and the best paaart~..." Paige would dart her eyes around their general vicinity as they started walking outside to Lucia's trailer. Once she had the all clear that they were and truly alone, she snuck an arm underneath Lucia's trenchcoat and around her lower back. Hugging them together close enough to have their rumps bounce side by side and practically have them swaying together. "...is it'll involve me and you rehearsing lines aaaaaaall night long. Your trailer, my trailer, your apartment, my apartment. You just pick the place and I'll be their with bells on. Or whatever it is you want me to wear." Paige contently rested her mushed cheek on her wolfie's shoulder, humming blissfully and never looking happier.

The air of irritability Lucia was exuding was nothing really to the raw anger bubbling beneath the surface. She knew better than to let it all come flooding out, years of her private life being open to the world taught her to bottle just the most volatile thoughts and deal with them in seclusion. The actress wasn’t particularly vain, but this franchise was something she had carried on her back for her whole career.

The original Full Moon Rising, she had been included as a box to checked. A character to serve as both a surrogate to bring with the female demographic and eye candy for the guys… and she crushed it, making her character stand out among the rest. The subsequent movies were built off of that and she took the B-movie schlock she was shoveled and turned it into lucrative cult classic gold… for a time. Regardless of that, her character had become a beloved icon of action and horror tropes that stretched far beyond the scope any of them had ever thought it would reach. It was for that reason it inflamed her like nothing else when it was called into question how she played a character she not only helped create, but fully embodied in every way.

At the brush of her shoulder, the raven haired woman’s eyes peered sidelong to the source in narrowed slits. Though it softened a bit at Paige, letting out a weary huff as she rolled her eyes in reluctant acceptance to what she knew was coming her way. She wasn’t really in the mood to humor her co-star today… or most days really. Nearly every interaction between them started off as one with Lucia on the defensive only for Bethany to somehow wear her down to the point of acceptance. She found this exceeding annoying… but honestly wound up appreciated it in the end.

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” Lucia groaned slightly as Pagie rambled, really wishing the other woman would just leave it be. She just wanted to simmer and be mad and this lady had to go and try and apply logic and reasoning to the situation. It didn’t seem fair that she was being expected to accommodate the director’s vision while her life’s work was being trampled by someone trying to reinvent the damn wheel. Shouldering through the side door from the set, holding it open to let Bethany by first. She fought herself the slightest bit distracted by the view… they had really been gratuitous with Helvetica’s costume design. Having to act opposite of her was going to be… odd.

“Eh?” Lucia quirked a brow as she let the heavy door close behind them, making her way into the open air. She made her way towards her personal trailer, figuring Bethany would likely follow if she wanted to continue their conversation. To no one's surprise she did, though when an arm snaked underneath Lucia’s coat and tugged her close, it made the stone faced actress tense up. She didn’t pull away though, allowing herself to be subjected to Paige’s incessant need for closeness with little more than a begrudged huff.

The thought of a late night rehearsal session wasn’t all that appealing after a long day on set, but it was undeniable it was something she needed. If anything had been hurting her for the filming, it had been the last minute script changes and the lack of preparation time she had been given. If nothing else it could help her get over how strange it was to be acting opposite Bethany as well before they shared the silver screen. It hadn’t taken her long to internalize why this would have been a good idea. Then the other woman snuggled up against her following her last comment making it… very suggestive.

“Wear some… actual clothes.” She managed to grumble out as her  cheeks took on a light rosy hue. This really provided Lucia with a perfect opportunity to catch up on her work, so much so she couldn’t really pass it up. Reading opposite someone else was always going to be better than pacing her trailer alone and acting to the void. The issue was Bethany no doubt had ulterior motives… was it worth the risk? Yeah, it was. What was the worst that could happen? “Wherever… just not my place. It’s a mess.”

Bethany knew Lucia wasn't "fine." In fact people who usually go out of their way to repeat their insistence about being "fine" are typically anything but. That furrowed brow and intensified focus on the script in her hands made it look less she was attempting to memorize the words on her script, and more like she was attempting to shoot lazer beams straight through those pieces of paper brandishing her dialogue for the scene. One later scene coincidentally enough entailing a fight scene she has with a sentry robot guarding an ancient crypt who actually does indeed shoot lazer beams from their eyes.

But in all seriousness...Beth truly found that type dedication to her acting craft as quite admirable. Ever since they first met up at the airport to catch their flight from Japan to California, Lucia always seemed to have the latest script in her hand or was on the phone with her publicist sorting out her scheduled interviews and magazine covers. As the leading lady, she'll be the one at the forefront when it comes to promoting the movie for the Summer Blockbuster season. And if, Heaven forbid, it tanks at the Box Office, she'd could end up being the one receiving the brunt of the negative backlash. So Beth could see why Lucia may be a wee bit stressed out over what could end up being the defining moment of the rest of her acting career...which was exactly why she needed Bethany around to help her loosen up already~...To relax and stop coming off as someone who should be avoided at all times while on set. And luckily, Beth was acutely familiar with getting the stoic heroine to become all warm and mushy on the inside~...The vampiric actress snuggling up and contently resting her head on Lucia's shoulder for every step of their stride until she perked up from Lucy's response.

"A mess? Well why didn't you tell me, ya big goof? I love rolling up my sleeves and going into Spring Cleaning Mode while listening to my jams from my Ipod stereo~...You just let me know the date and I'll be over with a bag of cleaning products and some yellow latex gloves, ready to spruce up your place in no time. But than can be for another day. For now..." Bethany stepped back and with a flick of her wrist produced her business card in her right hand, afterwards handing it to Lucia which carried her apartment address. "Ta-Da~...Neato, huh? One of my earlier television roles was as a card dealer at a casino being hit on by a British special agent, and a few card sharks they brought on set taught me some tricks in between teaching me how to deal cards. But swing by anytime between say 6 and 7, and we'll get to work on those lines. Gotta run though, need ta return this back to the costume department. Byiieee, ByeByeByeMwah~..." Bethany departed sorrowfully yet longingly, blowing Paige a kiss and a wink before turning around to start walking through the studio backlot. Acknowledging and waving to a few of the extras walking by who played the police she'd previously just shot in the head.

Lucia had a maid once, it was never something she had really gotten used to, but at the time she had a home she was so infrequently that it just made sense to save herself the time of cleaning it herself. That place was purged with her failed career, sold off like many of her assets to keep afloat when things seemed uncertain. She didn't mind. It was a place up in the hills she had only really bought as a status symbol. Stars had to have nice things. Fancy cars, nice homes in overpriced locations. She was done with that stuff now… mostly. She preferred having her own little bachelorette pad. Easy to maintain… though she did a poor job of it still. Bad habits from a rebellious youth. It was fine though, she didn't mind the mess. It was her personal space now, someplace she could unwind and just… be herself. It was her last safe bastion in the world. Inviting Paige inside, even if to clean, felt weird. Invasive.

"I just wasn't expecting company is all." While it was true, she never really expected to host company. It had no real bearing on the fact she loved in her own form of organized chaos. Why make the bed if she was living alone? What was the hamper if not a basketball book for clothes. Sometimes you missed, no biggie. Two sinks in the kitchen, one for washing dishes and the other for the dirty stuff that was too much of a hassle to bother with until the dishwasher could fit a whole load. As tempting as it was to have Bethany on her hands and knees scrubbing the floors it just felt too strange to take her up on it. Their relationship was already weird enough.

Lucia arched a brow as Paige stepped away willingly, coming to stop as she eyed the other woman. The produced card got a slight cant of her head, only slightly more impressed than if the woman had produced a coin from behind her ear. The jaded actress was a far tougher crowd than a children's birthday party that much was sure. "Neato." The wolfen actress muttered, parroting the other woman with her own flat tone, reaching out to take the card in hand. Paige must have worked pretty fast getting these printed for her temporary residence… not a bad quality either. Who was she even giving these to? Lucia's own business cards were just numbers to her side line and her agent, a gestate of the older days where everything wasn't digital.

"How's to-" looking up from the card, Paige was already hurrying off. She stood in silence, taking in the sight of her as she left, and what a sight it was. A few other passerbys stopped to meet as well, catching a good glare from Lucia as the other woman faded from view. With a soft with she moved back towards her trailer to get changed.

---

Lucia:

She was later than she had wanted to be. The sun had already begun to set lining the clouds in a smokey wash of vibrant reds and oranges. Her time in Japan had been a fun reminder of what city streets could be like without endless bumper to bumper traffic and the endless honking of horns and casually tossed swears across lanes of traffic. Was it sad there was a comfortable familiarity in being cooped up in a stuffy car for far longer than she should have needed to be for such a short distance? If she ever ventured out here again she would have to drive herself… maybe rent a motorcycle for the rest of her stay stateside so she could go riding like the old days.

From where she stood on the curb, the actress eyed "Sunset Palace Apartments", the modest complex the business card had led her too. It wasn't really what she expected, which was a rather broad spectrum. She could have seen Paige living in a more gaudy location, spotless decorum while mingling with other wannabe big names trying to impress just as she had done early in her career. Likewise she could have seen the other woman in a dumpy motel with pink flamingos dotting the overgrown rock beds that passed as landscaping. This was a pleasant middle ground. Close enough to a main road to catch the noise readily, but calm otherwise with active and pleasant people walking about.  

She followed a cemented path down and around a central office with a "Closed" sign hanging in the window under which a small display of business hours were listed. Bulletin points about the complex were plastered all over the neighboring window, she found herself walking slower to read through them to know what she was in for.
Pool.
Gym.
One to four bedroom apartments.
Pet friendly… under which there was a sign that declared in bold letters "NO DOGS ALLOWED" followed by a photocopy print of the townships noise ordinance. She grumbled softly, flipping the  sign the bird with a waved finger as the wolfen actress strutted by with a chin raised high in humoured defiance.

Lucia stepped down into the small driveway that veered towards the building proper, crossing through a small staff parking area. It gave way to another sidewalk adorned by short neglected hedges at the base of a black barred fence. Walking the parameters she finally reached a gate which overlooked a central pool area that served as a commons for the complex on its face were several signs. Rules for the pool. Lifeguard hours…. They sure did love their signage. There was a small key card lock here and on testing the gate was indeed shut. Eyeing the lock she followed a small bar and that connected to the keypad to a small key that services the door closed. Reaching up and over the gate she pressed it down, able to push the door open and let herself inside. It was likely a security measure for children so they couldn't invade the pool, no match for a woman grown.

She hopped a corner of an empty but result mulched flower bed, making her way into a dummy lit overhang that fed into the open air stairwell. Hiking her small sling backpack up along her shoulder again she took the stairs two at a time, reaching the second floor. After a brief pat down she found the business card, slightly wrinkled from time in her pocket and not nearly as clean looking now after only a day's time. She seemed like she was in the right place. Traveling along the length of the open balconies that bordered apartment rooms she followed the numbers one way before turning around to go in the other direction, where she needed to go. Counting down the numbers and peering to the card, she eventually stopped at the supposed right place.

It looked like all the rest. Hard to tell that it was Bethany who lived here. It wasn't as if she was expecting spiked collars and while to be strung about or anything but it was all just so normal, unlike her co-star. Just one more glance at the card to double check. She was stalking. Why? She wasn't sure. Slipping the card into her pocket the mat at her feet finally caught her attention. "Welcome. Hope you brought wine." She shifted softly, now all but certain this was Paige's place. Unfortunately for her, she hadn't brought wine. Just a few things she kept in her sling bag and the latest version of the script. Whoops. Reaching out she moved to knock her knuckles against the off white colored door.

Entertaining guests had been a delightful pastime for Bethany ever since first inviting a gaggle of her acting school girlfriends over to her apartment for what was meant to be a dutiful line-reading of their latest scripts. Although more often than not, those script copies would wind up settled aside on the dining table the further night the progressed and once they'd gotten their proverbial drink on. Wine glasses being sipped with gossip aplenty being bandied about amidst raucous laughter and good times generally had by all. Although that was without a doubt a profoundly difficult time in her life from the lack of steady workflow, low-income housing, and overall doubt as to whether her acting career would ever pan out in the long run...Bethany still looks back fondly on those days when she was hosting events with friends and like-minded actors sharing in eachother's passion for the arts. Of course, having officially made it as a big time Hollywood actress now (in her mind), Paige is able to look back on those days more fondly than if she had never managed graduate past the status of a mere understudy...but tonight Bettie could sharpen her hosting skills once again, and for company who deserved her absolute best.


Bettie swishing and swaying hips matching the rhythmic cadence of the hit single being sang through her aforementioned Ipod Stereo on the kitchen counter behind her, confident enough in her own vocal range to be singing right alongside the pop-star immensely more qualified to be doing so. The boiling pot on the flaming stove before her taking up the majority of Beth's concentration anyway as she began sprinkling herbal seasonings here and there. All to help accentuate the taste of the Puttanesca sauce she intends to serve atop the pasta and chicken parmigiana on tonight's menu. What Paige's friends considered to be her best meal, and what she'd been slaving all this time over. Even going so far as to make a side-trip to the supermarket before coming home after a long day on set. Preparations so far having all gone according to plan though with her apartment cleaned up after a quick shower, vacuuming and dusting the hard to reach spots. All in preparation for her beloved, cuddly wuddly, wolfen princess of her heart-"Wolfie!!! I mean, Lucy!!!" Bettie balked from noticing Lucia on the widescreen television screen in her living room, unaware of the security camera currently catching her reading Beth's door mat. Bettie lowering the heat on her sauce and turning off her stereo before making a sliding dash to her front door aided by the fluffy socks she was wearing. Masterfully putting on the brakes before right in the nick of time and opening her front door before Lucia could even knock.

Paige:

Azure eyes sparkling in delight from witnessing her scrumptious wolfie actually had her doorstep and breath deeply inhaled, Bettie's restrained glee became emphatically less so as she sprang into her cherished sweetheart's arms and embraced her like she wished she always could. "You caaaame~...ThankyouThankyouThankyou~...We are going to have a night to remember~..." Beth snuggling up crimson cheek to cheek with Lucia and adoring every sensation of wherever their skin made contact, giggling girlishly as she flexed her not insubstantial muscles into this cuddling embrace turned bearhug. A mushed swell to their squished breasts as Paige playfully kicked her foot up behind her before suddenly remembering she had food cooking, the domme perking up and tilting her head back so she could look right into those lovely golden eyes of hers. "Oh, Oh come on in...Dinner's almost ready. Hope you like Chicken Parm~..." Bethany smiled wholesomely and wiggled their noses together in an adorable Eskimo kiss before finally relinquishing Lucia and re-entering her apartment. Waving her guest inside the hallway where a scrumptious aroma could beckon anyone with a sense of smell inside.

A rather short hallway coming to an abrupt but visually appealing end. What with there being the sliding doors to the terrace, and where one could appreciate a full-view of the sparkling pool Lucia had snuck through earlier. To Lucy's immediate right would be another hallway and the kitchen beside it where Paige was humming along and continued her cooking process, to Lucy's left would be the living room here the security feed explained how Paige was able to know her wolfen princess was at the door. But more importantly, at her feet would be a black and white cat staring up at Lucia from her pillowed basket.

???:

Lucia had a small snicker to herself, closing her eyes as she took in these last few peaceful moments on her own to mentally prepare for whatever resided beyond this threshold. There was much to consider, between these two actresses in particular. The wolfen actress still recalled their first meeting outside the arena where a spat over clout devolved into petty squabbling and bravado laced challenges. She had hated the woman back then and for some time after the humiliating defeat she had suffered at her hands.

Now? Bethany might have been the closest thing she had to a friend these days… Which in the grand scheme of things was rather sad. Before their most recent acting gig the two had only really spoken at length one time at some random convention but it had been enough to endear the other woman to her a bit. She had this nauseating sort of optimism that helped to shine in a few rays of sunshine in on the brooding cynicism that had long since enshrouded most of Lucia’s life. She was sure that if she was still seeing a therapist, they would have told her this sort of human connection was good for her.

With a small flick of her wrist she aimed to knock on the door only to feel something off, a soft muted feeling against something cushy and fuzzy. She had already instinctively gave it two light taps with the back of her knuckle before opening her eyes to see Bethany standing before her where the door had been a moment before she had been lost in thought but with the back of Lucia’s fist nestled up against her bosom. She recoiled with a grimace, any sort of apology she might have tried to utter was drowned out by a yelp as the other woman nearly tackled her off her feet on the open air walkway.

“Geh.” Lucia turned her head, features wrinkling as Bethany nuzzled cheeks with her, leaving the wolven actress to struggle off balance against someone with far better footing than her.  On her back foot, quite literally, she put her hands on the other woman's shoulders for support to keep from falling. “Hey Beth.” She choked through grit teeth, forced to weather the embrace until her friend relented.

When she finally was set free, it took a fumbled step to steady herself, quickly removing her hands from Bethany’s shoulders in a clean break. She was left visibly red faced and flustered by the exchange, most of all the seemingly innocent and cutesy rubbing of noses that was far more intimate than a big welcome hug. Her brow was furrowed, as it often was when dealing with the other woman’s hijinks, and her lips were tight in a near pout in that look of conflicted judgement. That still didn’t stop her from taking in the sight of the other woman as she turned and sauntered off.It was so weird to see her… so normal.

“Yeah of course. Who doesn’t like chicken parm… ‘sides the chickens or vegans.” Lucia muttered as she slipped through the doorway with creeping caution, half expecting to set off some sort of trap just beyond the threshold. When nothing clamped down on her leg or shot her from afar, she straightened, taking in the sight of the place. Simple, pleasant, most unexpected from someone as loud and brazen as Bethany was. Not that this was a bad thing.

“Guess I’ll get this.” With a snort, Lucia reached back to close the door behind her, flicking the small lock on the knob out of habit. She stepped down on the back of her heel, wiggling her foot out of one of her boots then did the same for the other, kicking them lightly to the side along where other shoes were left by the door. She wasn’t about to clomp around in someone else's apartment. Footfalls muted with her socks she stepped out past the entryway, curiously peering off in the direction her hostess hadn’t gone. She arched a brow at the readily displayed camera feed on the screen, giving a small snort at that. It explained a lot.

“Smells good by the way.” The scent had caught her nose almost immediately. It had been awhile since she had had something home cooked. Lord knew she wasn’t the sort to deal with all manner of pots and pans herself. If it couldn’t be thrown in a microwave or an oven for X amount of time, it was likely too complicated to be worth the effort. Besides, that's what eating out was for, especially now that she had some extra money laying about. After she had just begun to follow after into the kitchen when something made her ear perk.

Glancing back she saw a small fluffy bundle on the floor, huddled in a pillow. A kitten. Of course Bethany would have a cat. Lucia lifted her head slightly, chin raised as she stared down the bridge of her nose at the small critter giving the living floofball a good hard stare. She didn’t approach, keeping a healthy distance between her and it as if allergic to cuteness. She folded her arms, remaining stoic before the beast, leaning slightly to one side to call back over her shoulder in a raised voice. “What’s its name?”

The commonly quoted adage about one's living quarters offering a perfect encapsulation of the mind and personality of its occupant was indeed on full, uncompromising, cat-meowing display once Lucia would venture inwards. A lava lamp bubbling through translucent liquid on a stand beside the modest-sized flat-screen T.V. with a yoga mat stretched out in front of it, colored lightweight dumbbells strewn around the mat for easier access whenever Bethany performs her early morning yoga stretches and exercise routines with zen-like breathing to help her achieve absolute oneness within herself~...a morning ritual that Bethany can attest to putting her in the right frame of mind and mentally strengthens her resolve for the trials of the day. And a ritual she stringently adheres to even moreso nowadays what with this being her big chance at a Hollywood debut and all.

Hectic and disordered though it was, one could take notice that it all seemed to be geared towards the greater purpose of providing venues with which to express creativity. An electronic keyboard with a sheet of scribbled over music notes, a water-colored painting of subpar quality hung upon the wall with Bethany's name cursively written in the lower right-hand corner, a karaoke machine mercifully unplugged for now with a ten-speed BMX bike propped against the railing outside on the terrace. Each and every item possessing an assuredly long-winded story behind it involving friends of hers and spur of the moment impulses. And contributing to what was a homey and comforting aura of relaxed warmth. Although Paige's bedroom appeared inexplicably divergent from the rest of the apartment, it's door only left slightly ajar and adding an air of mystery to what could be behind it...

"Oh, thank you so much~...Buh-leive me when I say it's gonna taste just as good as it smells~..." Paige remarked to the wolfen actress behind her as she began putting the finishing touches to the main course for the night, unknowing of Lucia having closed the door behind them. Although her gratitude for Lucia's compliment could have very well been for that act of kindness as well. "Hope you didn't have any trouble finding the place. Oh, you can take your shoes off wherever, and make yourself at home." Paige flicked her hand about behind her as she added herbal seasoning's atop the cheese coating the sumptuous chicken slathered in sauce with an aroma that could water any palette. Lucia's question did however catch Beth's attention as she peeked behind her before merrily sauntering over towards the wolfen and cat in a deadlocked staredown.

"...*giggle*...THIS ferocious feline is named Hercules~..." Bethany introduced her beloved pet while plucking him out of his basket and raising her upward until Herc was face-to-face with Lucia and blocking Beth's face entirely. And who suddenly began to speak? "ROAR, Behold The Mighty Hercules. I was a gift bestowed upon my master from a friend of hers in acting class in Tokyo after her own cat had kittens. And now I protect my master from dastardly intruders or the stray mouse that thankfully haven't cropped up since we moved in. ROAR~..." Beth practicing her voiceover potential as she gently bobbed up Hercules in front of Lucia. The actress smiling wholesomely throughout before abruptly handing Herc to Lucia so she could go turn off the stove and begin preparing their dinner plates upon the kitchen counter with chairs encircling it. Herc meowing adorably while patting her kitten paw on Lucia's nose, her chicken parm meanwhile being served up with a tall thin glass of red wine right beside it.

The offer to make oneself at home had always been a strange one to her, applying a vague burden on the guest to try and get comfortable while not inadvertently messing with something they shouldn't. When she was just starting out in the business and found herself floating in more haughty acting circles that was often the case. "Come in, make yourself at home… not there the rug was just cleaned. Don't sit there, that couch is just for feng shui. Don't touch that it's an antique." It was like walking through a post war minefield nobody bothered to disarm for social credibility. The offer came across a bit more genuine from Bethany both in her voice and just how Lucia knew she was from their past interactions. It still made her hesitant to settle in or inadvertently do something to offend her… there was no doubt cultural differences she was unaware besides normal faux pas.

"No trouble. Just had to commit a bit of trespassing is all. Didn't see a way around through the lot so I made my own way through the pool." She called back to her distant hostess, taking a moment to halfheartedly gather her boots up where she kicked them up. A few nudges with her foot and they sat beside a pair of Beth's, one upright and the other tipped over on the side. Good enough. As long as nobody was tripping over them, right? That was when she moved to wonder only to be met face to face with a fireball in a basket and the unspoken rivalry between wolf and feline had been ignited.

"Looks a little wimpy to be…" Lucia was cut short by Bethany slipping past, watching as she reached down to the cat. The wolfen actress leaned herself away making a face as the furry creature was lifted up, expecting her co-star to try and get her to hold it. "Don't…" Then "Hercules" began to speak… a brow furrowed as she just stared at this yawning, pawing kitten, listening to whatever this voice the other woman was putting on. As awkward as it was adorable it left Lucia at a loss of what to say. The tight folds of her crossed arms loosened, looking away in a moment of solid contemplation over the fact she asked for this meeting. When she caught the movement of Beth peering out from behind the cat though she looked back, throwing on a grin just to please. For an actress, it was a bad job at faking it, looking more like she was grimacing at gunpoint than having the time of her life.

"Eugh…" Lucia was taken aback by Hercules being thrust upon her, inadvertently taking the feline out of sheer reflex of something being handed to her. The sense of regret was immediate, holding the squirming, mewling bundle of fur at a weird angle, unsure of what she was supposed to do with this. The actress went cross eyed for a moment when it booped her with its tiny paw.  Her nose wrinkled and wiggled, giving the animal an incredulous look. Lucia shifted her arms, moving it away from her a bit as if the kitten were a bomb that might explode any moment. Socks softly shuffling after Bethany hoping this was a temporary thing she had just with takes for holding. The obvious thought of just putting the cat down never seemed to cross her mind, this entire experience so far was just bombarding her with things, she wasn't thinking straight.

Lucia lingered in the archway between rooms watching Bethany set out the food and drink, clutching her house cat still. Feeling her sling bag start to shift, she gave a shoulder a hard jerk to hike it back up, getting a loud meow from Hercules in the process at being jostled. She had never got the chance to really set it anywhere before being burdened by this little beast who was now squirming and pawing at her. With narrowed eyes she stared down at it,  as if trying to understand someone speaking to her in a foreign language, attempting to unearth a universal understanding between them.

Clarity came with a blink of her eyes and a snicker, leaning over to lower the cat go about a foot off the floor. "Be free" Lucia muttered under her breath as she gave the kitten the lightest of swings, releasing it out into the floor with some momentum. She and Hercules both seemed relieved by this turn of events as she watched the kitten scurry under the table as it was being set.