[center][h2][i]That Goth [color=PeachPuff]A[/color]sian girl
&
[color=#bd71e8]…[/color][/i][/h2][/center]

Su had told Helga that she needed to use a restroom before leaving the Keijo arena, and to tell her what happened when she got back. But in truth Su wasn’t really interested in the competition. Having been both a competitor and a spectator, she could safely say there was nothing about the ‘sport’ that interested her. It only served to degrade everyone involved. Su had also fibbed about her intended destination. She had left to go sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in. This made for a much better atmosphere for thinking. 

The past few hours had been quite the ride. It was her relationship with Helga. Helga seemed to be in high spirits, but Su was having doubts. She knew she loved Helga, but she was worried about how much her life was going to change on account of letting her know. Would Helga grow tired of Su as the years turned to centuries? What if she really was cursed and Helga died during the vacation? Would they start sleeping in the same room now, and would Helga’s body heat make it too hard to sleep at night? But before this post could delve into the kind of debauchery expected of BP’s posts, she got a visitor.

[color=#bd71e8]“Something troubling you?”[/color] 

Su closed her eyes. [color=PeachPuff]”I really don’t feel like talking right now.”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“That’s fine, I can be the one who talks. So long as you listen.”[/color]

Su didn’t look, but she could hear the sand shuffle under Veronica before she sat down. With a sigh, she turned her head away. [color=PeachPuff]”Aren’t you worried about someone figuring out the connection between us?”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“I think that’s probably one of the worst kept secrets in Penrose.”[/color] Veronica sighed and leaned back onto her elbows. [color=#bd71e8]“Have you been enjoying your vacation? ”[/color]

Su looked at Veronica out of the corner of her eye. She was wearing the same swimsuit she came to the island in. [color=PeachPuff]”I’m concerned for Penrose, Boteg in particular.”[/color] She looked back out at the ocean. [color=PeachPuff]”But I’m starting to become accustom to my surroundings. I haven’t seen Mika much, but she seems happy. Lupa seems like she’s enjoying herself as well.”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“And Helga is happy too, right?”[/color]

[color=PeachPuff]”Yea.”[/color] Su didn’t doubt the claim. She was sure Veronica had heard everything she told Helga. It wasn’t like she was trying to keep it a secret. That didn’t mean she was comfortable talking about it. [color=PeachPuff]”I trust you were able to make the vacation worth your while somehow?”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“Oh yes.”[/color] Veronica grinned. [color=#bd71e8]“No one has an idea what a boon this has been to me. Without the Mint to bar my progress, I’ve established connections in days which would have taken me months if not years.”[/color] She turned to Su. [color=#bd71e8]“I’ve been able to learn a lot about everyone here, and am aware of what my next action should be once we get back to Penrose.”[/color]

[color=PeachPuff]”Good for you.”[/color] Su stretched out her legs and laid her hands in the sand. [color=PeachPuff]”Was there something in particular you wanted to tell me? ”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“Nothing important.”[/color] Veronica’s smile only grew as she gazed into the infinite blue. [color=#bd71e8]“Someone got me thinking about twenty years ago.”[/color] Veronica took one of her hands and stroked her cheek. It was on the side that Chloe had kissed her on.

[color=PeachPuff]”I see. ”[/color] Su lifted her fingers to her lips. [color=PeachPuff]”Me too, actually.”[/color] Su thought back to her Keijo match. She had kissed Chloe on the cheek before retreating. [color=PeachPuff]”By any chance, did you start thinking about it because of Chl-”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“Who it was isn’t important.”[/color] Now it was Veronica who was refusing to make eye contact. [color=#bd71e8]“The important part is that it has caused me to reevaluate a fundamental law of our world.”[/color] Veronica continued to caress her cheek. [color=#bd71e8]“Love is not a myth, it may yet exist.”[/color]

[color=PeachPuff]”I would hope so.”[/color] Su couldn’t help but chuckle. [color=PeachPuff]”I won’t lie, I half expected you to just come over here and tell me how foolish I was for telling Helga I loved her.”[/color]

Veronica remained silent for a moment before speaking again. [color=#bd71e8]“I should warn you love is rare. [i]Very[/i] rare.”[/color] She turned her head to face Su. [color=#bd71e8]“People who wander for what they search for are quick to misidentify their quarry.”[/color] She dropped her brow. [color=#bd71e8]“Kimble thinks she loves Alicia, but that’s simple infatuation born from a desire to please the person who saved their life. Penny thought that she loved Thalia, but that was just a depressing duet between two narcissists who didn’t want to be alone. I would pity Chloe if she took her romantic pursuits seriously. I’m not convinced what Alexander and Lily has is anything more than a shallow high school romance. Need I even mention Mika’s ‘love’ octagon? I refuse to speak of Regina and Annabelle. That barely counts as friendship.”[/color]

Su closed her eyes and sighed. She hardly expected a motivational speech from Veronica. Was that wine on her breath? Best to just play along. [color=PeachPuff]”I’ll be honest, I was unaware there was so much misplaced emotion on this island.”[/color] Su opened her eyes. [color=PeachPuff]”I noticed you left Helga and I out of your rant.”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“If I had, would it have swayed your mind?”[/color] Veronica rose to her feet. [color=#bd71e8]“The existence of love does not invalidate what I’ve been saying all these years. I still think the best thing one can do is form a series of relationships which are mutually beneficial regardless of what happens. If your love is part of a mutually beneficial bond, I see nothing wrong with it.”[/color] She folded her arms behind her back. [color=#bd71e8]“But thinking that you can share in someone’s emotions so deeply that you can feel what they feel is dangerous. The fact that love exists isn’t wonderful, it’s frightening, particularly that you might have it.”[/color]

Su remained in her spot in the sand. [color=PeachPuff]”Um.”[/color] She nodded. [color=PeachPuff]”Right, well, thank you for the warning. I’ll make sure Helga and I have a mutually beneficial relationship.”[/color] 

[color=#bd71e8]“Good.”[/color]

Su blinked as Veronica walked out of sight. She had heard about Veronica being on the island, but had never expected the former coin broker to approach her least of all to offer a warning. But the more Su thought about it, the more sense it made. Who else would try to scare you out of your newest relationship other than a former girlfriend?