Getting into a revealing dress, apparently.

“You don’t think this is … bit much?” you ask Eva as she helps you with the dress. “I want to look like I’m giving in, but I feel sort of hooker-y in this.”

“It’s a very pretty dress,” Eva answers, her voice muffled by the pins she’s holding in her mouth. “Just hold still. You want this to fit real precise, or else you’re boobs are just gonna’ be aaaalllllllll over the place.”

“I can kind of see both my entire nipples from here, yeah.” Looking down, the pattern on the dress reminds you of half-bloom flowers. Thicker, deep red fabric laces them together at strategic points, which is why you’ve more or less turned off your “human,” for the moment. It’s easier to stand still if you don’t breathe. The sheer, lighter material that comprises the rest of the dress is basically see-through, which you have mixed feelings on, but you trust Eva’s judgement for. “Jesus Christ, I’m so fucking nervous about this.”

“You’ll do fine. Just remember what Kenneth said to do, stay focused, and we’ll help you through this. I’d be doing this if I could,” she says as she stands, moving the dress up, then stitching carefully so the thicker material pulls up and covers your nipples … though, you note, not a ton else. Where were you supposed to wear this, even? You didn’t buy it for THIS, that’s for sure. “Don’t let that bitch win, and we’ll all feel a lot better when it’s over. Okay?” You nod, holding still otherwise as she finishes fitting you.

“Thank you,” you tell her, turning to face her as she puts away the sewing tools she just adjusted your outfit with. “I don’t know how I’d be doing this if it wasn’t for you.”

“Poorly.” She grins. “Probably dead. But I’m still here. And once we fix this, we can hit looking for Savina harder. Unless you’ve given up on that?”

“No! No. Just distracted.”

“Fair. Tentacle sex hellbeasts wearing hyper-bitch skin do sort of pull focus,” she says with a displeased wrinkle of her nose. You smile at the expression, finding it unbearably cute and silly. You wince, and feel yourself sinking when Eva looks at you quizzically for it.

“Before I go … we should talk,” you sigh, sitting down on your bed.

“Ooooooooooookay … we’re not dating, but I feel like you’re about to dump me all the same,” she tries to joke, sitting on hers and facing you.

“I … Andy told me … when I gave you my blood … this is harder than I thought.” You know Andy said not to say anything, but you can’t stand hiding this from her. She deserves to know how bad you fucked up. She deserves to know the reasons behind her actions and emotions. “When a vampire gives someone living their blood, it … bonds them.”

“You were already my best friend, sweetie, that’s kind of in the cards already.”

“Yeah, but Andy told me more than that, it makes them … subservient. Changes their priorities to you. And I didn’t know before it was too late, but … I think I did that to you.”

“Jaq, I don’t feel any different,” she responds with a shrug. “I mean, I’m sort of pissed off you’ve known this for … a few days?” You nod. “And you didn’t tell me right away. But it really … I feel fine. Same as I did before, besides the whole super-strength thing and the rush when you let me drink. Nothing in my head feels like it’s working different, though.”

“She also told me you’d say that, that ghouls always say that, and that trying to prove to them that they’re being manipulated tends to end up with them hurting themselves, which is why I was trying to keep it a secret. I … I was so scared I’d tell you, and you’d try to prove it, and then something bad would happen.”

“I really think you’re worrying over nothing, babe,” Eva says, getting up to put her coat on. “Maybe I’m immune. Or you can’t do it. Or it only goes up to a level I’m already bought-in to you at.”

“… you know I have to still consider that you are, right?” you ask morosely.

“Why … would that matter, exactly?” She pauses, then you see her eyes go wide. She doesn’t speak for a few seconds, and neither do you, both just processing the tension in the air. “I … I’m really not, Jaq, but I … I understand why that’s important to you. If there’s a safe way I can prove it to you, let me know. Because I know I’m not, and I want you to know it, too, but I’m not gonna’ do anything crazy. I promise.”

“And I’m not going to stop supplying you, either,” you continue, which at least seems a little bit relieving to her. “I mean, it feeling good aside, it makes you tougher and stronger, and if you’re going to be here no matter what, it just seems … a lot safer.”

“I … don’t disagree,” she concludes steadily, clearly putting up an effort to not respond too intensely. “Like I said, I don’t want to get hurt. I just will if I have to so I can help people. Especially you, but not because of magic. Because you’re my best friend, and I love you, and I’d hate to have to deal with you dying a second time. So, you act how you need to, I’ll act how I need to. Fair?”

“More than.” You want to feel relieved, but your head is swimming about what she thinks she realized, if you broke something in her, what other bad, shitty thing you did to your best friend. “Alright, you go meet up with Kenneth and Andy and start that ritual thing. I’ll head out in twenty to give you time to start before I make my move.”

“Absolutely,” she agrees, then leans up and pecks your cheek. “Don’t worry, you’ve got this.” You nod, not feeling that’s entirely right, but let her leave without further incident. You stare at the door until your alarm buzzes. It’s time to go. You crack your neck, stand, and drift out into the moonless night to whatever fate has in store for you … and everyone else on campus.