Things that remind Serena of Sigefrid

 

January 31, 2022 | Haruka x Sebastian

Haruka had an extra spring on her step when she clocked out of work.  It had been too long since she's been excited to play a racing game at the arcade.  It often felt like work blended into her freetime since she was competing against fans. 

Why would it be different today?  This time she'll be playing for fun against a friend.  No need to sign autographs, take pictures, or try to show off her skills.  Michiru was always bugging her to go out and make friends.  Seems this is a win win situation for everyone. 

Haruka arrived at the arcade at 5:15 PM.  She sent a text to Sebastian. 

"Hi Sebastian n'Serena Morningstar.  It's Haruka.  I've arrived at the arcade.  Are you here?  Ready to challenge me in a race?"

 

Sebastian had been working on something for a... Would he call them a friend?... and had stayed a little late in the office, having forgotten about his plans with Haruka. When he received her text, he texted back simply, "OMW", put his stuff in his red leather messenger bag, and ran out the door. He stayed just within the speed limit and arrived at about 5:30.

He strode in purposefully and looked for Haruka, then decided to shoot her a text.

[Okay, I'm here now. Are you by the bikes or the cars.]

 

[Wonderful! Let's race cars first. We can shift over to motorcycles later.] Haruka spotted Sebastian and waved, hoping it'll help him spot her.

Haruka smiled as they inserted quarters and settled into their seats. The car engine roared. Countdown started. "Ready to have some fun, Sebastian?" Michiru often told Haruka she was reckless on the road. She should see what Haruka is like at the arcade.

There's no thrill if you don't make sharp turns last second. Of course, the race is more enjoyable if Sebastian and Haruka are head to head most of the time. As in most experiences in life, you have to make the start and end count. Unless Sebastian has some tricks of his own, Haruka should gauge what kind of driver he is within the first 20 seconds of the race.

"Ready. Set. GO!"

 

Sebastian grinned as he spotted Haruka and sauntered over to her. He normally didn't carry change on him but this wasn't the sort of arcade that accepted cards, so he'd gone to the bank to get some quarters. He was relieved she wasn't angry about him being late; normally he wasn't.

"I'm always ready for fun," he replied.

The second the race started, they were both off like a shot. Sebastian was a criminal defense attorney in his day-to-day. He'd been picked up on DUIs in law school and had been able to graduate by the skin of his teeth, but ever since his best friend, Trent, had hired him as his startup's lawyer, Sebastian's driving had followed the letter of the law.

But at an arcade, in a race where there were no real-life stakes, he was free to let lose completely. His driving appeared erratic-- drifting in and out of lanes when they *weren't* neck-and-neck, seeming to only make turns at the last second, and a few times it looked like he would crash into something-- but he was actually rather precise. He almost drove like he was trying to lose a tail ("Drive like an idiot," the wisdom went), but since there wasn't terribly much that could be done to that end in a racing game, he didn't quite pull it off.

"Having fun yet?" he asked Haruka as they passed the third checkpoint.

 

Haruka grinned as Sebastian n'Serena Morningstar inserted the coins. It seemed he gathered enough change to check out all the games at the arcade. Of course, they'll mainly stick at this spot. The sign said people can spend 45 minutes max at each game.

"Woah. It seems I underestimated your skills. Have you been practicing racing on your phone or gaming systems at home." Of course she knew he was playing on muscle memory. It takes more than practice to make swift turns without crashing.

"How many times was your driver's license revoked? So far, I've experienced that twice."

She laughed as Sebastian zoomed by. "I am having a blast! About time I faced true competition."

There were two rounds left. Would Haruka remain number one? Would Sebastian beat her top score?

 

Sebastian laughed easily. "I've been picked up for a few DUIs but far enough in between not to have to worry about my license, and all that was back in Boston anyway. I was a bit of a wild card in law school."

He spoke while continuing to maneuver his car. Most of his friends didn't like riding along with him because of how reckless he appeared, so it was nice to let loose for once.

The fact remained, though, that Sebastian drove wild for fun every once in a while, and Haruka raced cars as part of her day-to-day. While they were neck-and-neck for a while, it was ultimately she who pulled first.

"Good game!" Sebastian said as "Insert Coin" began flashing on the screen. "Do you want to go again or try the motorcycles?"

 

Haruka raised a brow and smirked at Sebastian n'Serena Morningstar' response. "Look at you, being badass. I'm sure it was also a good way to stand out among your peers."

The adrenaline rush can be addictive. Each time, trying to reach for higher limits. What if the next wild activity is the final one? If it is, Haruka hopes she'll go out with a blast. The worst punishment ever is to get in an accident and be put in a comatose/vegetative state.

A good life doesn't have to be a long one.

"Phew, that was a close one." Haruka nearly finishes a minute or two ahead of her competitor. She beat Sebastian by a mere 15 seconds! "Let's try again. I want to know I truly beat you instead of just luck."

January 31, 2022 | Serena's diary

 No one has been around today. Maybe they all think I'm being annoying. I've been left to my own devices before. I didn't like it. Xander hasn't fed for days, once again. Am I not even good for being vampire food? I've also been on standby in case the club needs anything. So far, they haven't. I don't know what to do with myself except keep writing inane rubbish.

Dany was surprising last night. Sometimes he's nicer than others. Last night, he was nice. I don't know how to describe it, but it made me feel a little less lonely. I remembered how we met before. Duckie introduced us. I offered him my best skill, or at least the one people seem to value the most. It didn't go beyond the offer. It's too soon to tell whether I'll regret not following through the moment we met up again. He likes the way I look, or seems to, but when he finds out the truth about me, will he switch to constantly insulting me, like... like some have?

I don't want to think about that. It's heartbreaking.

The only person who hasn't broken my heart yet, out of all my involvements, has fittingly been my husband. But it's only a matter of time. There have been days I've been afraid to go home in case I were to catch him with someone. Hypocritical of me, isn't it? He scolds me, sometimes. For not coming home enough. For spending my time chasing after men who seem to hate me. Okay, so maybe I'm breaking my own heart. Maybe it really is all my fault.

I feel certain Luci has explained why he loves me, but I don't remember, and it doesn't make sense to me why he, or anyone, would. What could anyone possibly see in me, besides my good looks and abilities in bed?

I thought maybe Erik and I could become friends, thought he was over hating me, but apparently that's not the case. He did just get out of the hospital, so it's not like he doesn't have reason to be pissy, but damn, I didn't put him there!

January 2022 | Serena x Sigefrid

 Written 4/11/22 but takes place in January

"Why did you... hide the truth from me?" Sigefrid demanded. Serena thought it was a fair enough question. Actually, she'd been waiting for him to ask.

"Because I had no way of knowing you wouldn't be repulsed," she said quietly but clearly. "Even the vampire I feed, who claims to love me, has trouble with it. My body. I really am sorry to upset you. It's just that I wanted you so damn much. I still want you. And I didn't-- I couldn't take it if00"

He cut her off, seeing she was clearly about to cry. "Why me?" he asked sharply. "You're a beautiful girl. Sort of." Ignoring her clicking her tongue at him, he continued, "You could easily find someone who's into your situation. Why go after me?"

The look she gave him was becoming familiar by now. So sweet and tender, almost like-- no. He shook his head slightly. It couldn't be.

"You'll accuse me of sucking up again, but it's because I find you, specifically you, attractive. No, don't scoff at me, it's true. You're strong. Manlier than anyone I've ever met. You clearly don't let anything stop you." She touched his blade wrist gently for emphasis. "Oh, and the fact that you literally have a weapon as part of your body doesn't hurt. I like your beard. Your hair. Your lips, among..." She glanced downward. "Other things. You fascinate me, Sigefrid."

He couldn't deny that his ego was soaking up the attention. The ghost of a smile twitched at the edge of his lips despite himself.

"You cook good," he offered, shoveling some food into his mouth, relenting a bit just for now. She smiled at him, her eyes misting over.

"I'll cook for you anytime," she whispered.

January 30, 2022 | Serena's diary

 How is it that Sigefrid can hold me and kiss me so nicely at night but be so cruel during the day? Luci doesn't understand why I insist on maintaining a relationship with him. Are we in a relationship? Skorpa and Dany seem to think so. But he barely touched the food I made for him, and he seemed so resentful when I asked him to eat. Of course, I did later find out Erik and Skorpa were in the hospital. Dagfinn is recovering from a punctured lung. Harley is sniping at Sigefrid about everything, which is adding to Sigefrid's stress, and when he's stressed, he's mean. I really don't like Harley.

Dany has night terrors. I told him Trent used to have them too. What I didn't tell him was that I did too, more recently but still years ago. When Trent dropped out of grad school, I had them every night that I wasn't completely blacked out. But when I was, I would wake up in bed next to someone who kept me safe. Luci. But it's a lot to explain, which is why I didn't try to climb into bed with Dany.

I like Dany. Not as much as the men I'm actually involved with, but with different timing, who knows? He likes me, too, or at least, he's flirted. I rebuffed him for Sigefrid's sake. Again, I don't know if I should consider Sigefrid my boyfriend, but better safe than sorry, right? Which, paradoxically, is why I can't tell him how I really feel about him. It's bound to scare him off. But I've done everything I can to make it clear that my utmost loyalty is to him, including pretending I didn't care that my friends were hurt.

I can be honest here. I was out for blood the moment Sigefrid got hurt, and I grow hungrier for it the more I learn about my friends' injuries. I've been training with Maze and Duckie to learn how to dual-wield Millie and Tillie. I want to help. I want to fight. I want to kill. But I also want to buy them a proper safehouse or two. Somewhere a bunch of bikers would never be expected to live, a gated community, maybe in the Hills. No HOA, but possibly a thriving Nextdoor community on neighborhood watch. It would be a lot more secure and a lot harder to hit.... Don't get me wrong. I love the clubhouse. It's my favorite place in the world now. But it's not safe. If anything else were to happen to anyone but especially Sigefrid, I couldn't live with myself knowing I could have provided a resource but never offered because I was afraid of hurting someone's pride. Maybe I'll ask Roulet about what's on the market that could accommodate all the charters currently in town.

January 28, 2022 | Dress Up Dagfinn

 

"Oh look, it's almost time to play Dress Up Dagfinn again!" Sebastian cackled merrily.

"Ok sense when did I become everyone's Ken doll!?" ~Dagfinn

"Are you a Ken doll?" Sebastian asked him. They'd always gotten along, but he couldn't resist needling his friend a little. "Allya hadn't mentioned. But you look good in anything and you have the confidence to pull it off, so why not?"

"..... Now you're talking to Allya? Sense when?" Dagfinn replied in a tired voice though he did manage a small smile.

Sebastian's eyes widened for a moment. Had he, as he was now, talked to Allya? He didn't remember.

"Might've crossed paths once or twice," he said lightly. "Seriously, though, man. You don't have to wear them if you don't want to. Just figured I'd lighten the mood."

January 27, 2022 | A Woman’s Husband Is Her Heaven

 

SERENA

"Unless that woman's name is Freya, apparently."

 

FREYA

 "He IS my Heaven...that's why I am so damn mad at his actions thus far!" She grumped softly. "I love the stupid, old man....why are we constantly fighting?"

 

SERENA

hehehehehe, "stupid old man".

 

FAUSTUS

"I'm not the one starting the fights."

 

SERENA

"Oh my gosh, you IDIOT! You should know how to END THEM, though!"

 

FAUSTUS

"How am I meant to comprehend the trappings of a woman's mind!?"

 

TRENT

What's funny is that you're both seeing men in their 40's and you're both grumpy about the way they act.

 

SERENA

Okay, but my husband is nice. The man in his 40's whom I'm seeing... less so, except when we're in bed together. He holds me so close and kisses me so hungrily 🥰 I just wish he could be sweet to me during the daytime, too 🥺