Imperfect (forGolemGuardian)

[RedShinigami]

The Queen of Hearts sighed and leaned closer to Chris. Yeah it was strange but she needed to be close to someone right now. And being close to Chris, a woman she hated with all her heart a few months ago, felt right. Not in a strange way, but in a good, nice way. She liked it. And seeing Chris reacting to Croissant brought a small smirk to her face. Maybe she and Veronika were'nt that different. The Franco-Austrian had always told herself that but honestly...

After her arm was broken she started to reconsider a few things in her life. Of course she would'nt change from one day to the other but she could start by being decent to a person she not only hurt physically but emotionally too.

She scooted closer while still holding Chris hand and laid her head on the smaller womans as she helped her giving a much needed snack to the poor, starved dog before them.
"Heh...don't think he does'nt get enough he is a wonderful actor, well he maybe has this from his mom.", she said and tone of her voice was calm and soft.

She listened to Chris and nodded.
"Yes... You are right." Suddenly a memory of Eclaire creeped back into her concious memory and tears trickled down on Chris cheek.
Swiftly she turned away and rubbed over her eyes. "Damn allergies...",she said.

[GolemGuardian]

It was a little odd still, the ease between the two of them. As Croissant played up his little begging, making Chris want to ask for a second treat from Veronika only to be told the French bulldog was acting, the rock star was fully at ease. Even back in the bar when the Franco-Austrian came to make her apologize, despite her calm demeanor and attempt to not seem passive aggressive, the snow haired girl was still somewhat on guard for whatever backhanded tact the blond might have. But here, with the two, sitting very, very close to each other - turning Chris' face redder and redder by the second - Chris was able to completely relax. The thoughts of what happened to each other in the ring, of what may or may not have occurred, seemed so distant.

The rock star gave Veronika a little shoulder bump when she turned away from her to hide her watery eyes. "Whatever you say, big, bad Queen of Hearts," Chris teased, petting Croissant's head once more. "I think this little, derpy boy doesn't believe you though." The rockstar lifted the dog, handing him over to his mom so he could try and cheer her back up, act cutely, whatever the dog wanted to do. Chris didn't know what was going on with her acquaintance, but Croissant seemed to be able to disperse those tears, even if would be for a brief time.

[RedShinigami]

Veronika listened to the birds, felt the warm air and the soft tickles of Chris hair on her nose. She felt the hand of Chris under hers. Both hands who had done such terrible things to each other and now were on the soft grass in perfect harmony.

"Shut up.", she just said and looked away. "Why is it that I blow my whole reputation on a little jellyhead like you!", she grunted and wrapped on arm around Chris giving her a noogie. There was nothint brutal, nothing hateful, it felt warm and it felt right.

Veronika smiled as Croissant was handed to her and smooched her little pooch. "This is the only creature on this planet that ever loved me. Neither my father nor my mother really loved me truely. I was just there. And if it had been for my mother... I would'nt. Twice...", she whispered while looking down on Croissant. "Maybe this is the reason I titled myself Queen of Hearts. Because I always wanted to be loved by all...If all would love me, surely my parents would. "

[GolemGuardian]

It was so nice between them. The world also seemed in equal harmony, as the chirping birds and gentl breeze decided to match the calm Chris and Veronika shared right now. Chris could have done without the noogie, but given the fair nature behind it she let it pass with a laugh. "Hey, don't call me a jellyhead. What jelly or jam is white, besides some that has spoiled." She probably misunderstood the ex-dancer's nickname, but she figured whatever.

Though soon things seemed to grow heavy once Veronika started going into her parents and what sounded like her mother trying to abort her twice. That really made Chris feel bad for her. Chris may have lost her parents when she barely count to ten, but she couldn't imagine living with a mother who tried that and likely barely gave a care about her. Her uncle, though a little distant from her, still showed some care. But addressing that at all, trying to comfort Veronika about it, was way beyond her social abilities. All the rocker could think to do was just sit there, and let Veronika speak some more.

Once she was done, unable to think of what really she could say. It was all... a lot. But the little French bulldog seemed to comfort the blond as she spoke. That gave Chris a bit of an idea. "Hey, why don't we go back to the shelter?" She suggested, standing back up. "I'm sure Finella probably is bouncing around between so many puppies back there. I should probably check in anyways. Besides," She turned and held her hand out to Veri, offering to help her back to her feet. "Besides, never hurts to just look at cute animals. I don't know why things went the way they did for you, but I'm sure a dog lover like you will be able to cheer up a bitthere."

[RedShinigami]

Veronika did'nt knew why she opened herself so much but it felt nice. She just wanted to try if it did and it was absolutly nice. Her mother always told her that losses have to be punished with hate. Something Veronika had done and it brought her only tears and a broken arm. Now she wanted to try how it was when she showed compassion. Maybe even regret. It was of course all much easier when she was pissdrunk but the night they spent,doing whatever and Chris chasing after her brought things a little into perspective.

She saw the smaller wrestler get up and reaching out for her hand. Even if it did'nt meant much, in this moment it meant the world to Veronika. The only person she ever had spoken about this was Harmonia. Because Harmonia, even if she battled her own demons of insecurity, was the person to go to. She was the mother of the Eagles home and if you had a problem you spoke with Harmonia. When Veronika had her broken arm and locked herself up in her room, it was the Superstar who brought her food, looked for her arm, helped her change. They were friends. Veronika needed a long time to accept this but it was like that.

The Queen of Hearts never had any real friends, only the children her mother allowed her to play with. But they were just as shallow as the rest of her mothers friends. Not that Harmonia was a wildchild but she and the others were'nt on the same level. One evening she was left behind by her so called "friends" and instead met a group of girls that was playing football in the streets. They asked Veronia to join them and even if she was afraid what her mother would say, she joined in. They even had a dog! Veronika spent the whole evening with the girls, talking about things she never had the chance to talk about, petting their dog and drinking soft drinks, for the first time in her life.

Never in her life was Veronika Noir happier. Her knees were bruised, her dress was dirty but finally she did'nt felt like a puppet to dress, she felt like a human being and she felt liked like a human being. The way this girls behaved and were there for each other was almost a culture shock for the girl but she nontheless loved it. Until her mother and her chauffeur finally found her.
This night, after a brutal beating by her mother, she had to spent a whole week sleeping on the attic. But it was'nt that bad. Veronika had tasted the real life and she knew that there was more out there then her mother told her and that made the young girl excited.

Now she was in the wrestling world. There were so many girls, from humble to rich, from big to small. And they all had one thing in common. They wanted to excell in what they did. But what distanced them from the shallow world of Burlesque and the higher class was that the friendships closed here, were much more real and without backstabbing. She had talked to Harmonia who confirmed this view. Both women had grown and Harmonia not just found many friends and a new family, but even the love of her life.

Veronika looked up to Chris and suddenly, without a warning,all of her features lightened up, it was as if some pressure was lifted off of her and when she grabbed for Chris hand a big smile crept over the face of the beautiful woman. Tears were falling down from her eyes. "Thank you Chris. Thank you.", she said and let herself get helped up. They were now eye to eye, Croissant jumping around them, barking happily and Veronika looked deep into the lavender eyes of her former rival. "But, uh don't interpret too much into it jellyhead! Its because I want it not because I have to! But still...I am glad, that we are friends now?", she asked shyly when suddenly there were shouts coming from the door of the shelter.

"WOaaaaaah! Watch out guuuuys!", Finella shouted as she was dragged downwards by a great Dane that ran straight up to Chris. Croissant built himself up and tried to fight the invader but Veronika knew that this would'nt end well. "Croissant, weg da!", she said in german and when the beast ran up to them she pressed Chris onto her, shielding her from the onslaught and stood her ground, looking the big dog in the eyes.
"PLATZ!", she screamed and the big guy immediatly stopped in his tracks, tilted his head and laid down as Veronika still looked him straight in the eyes. Finella who had lost the leash caught up to them and panted. "Phew...thanks Veri, that could have been a mess."
Veronika looked at Finella, still holding Chris before letting go, blushing and then went to shit on Finella in some austrian dialect not even a german speaker would understand but it was clear that she used many colourful words to name Fin while she asked her if she was insane to take a great Dane for a walk without knowing anything about dogs.

[GolemGuardian]

Chris was a social nightmare, she'd never deny that. But yet with Veronika, someone who tried to end the rocker's career and who the rock star had hurt so badly in their final match, there was a touch of naturality to it. She was, like, 23% good at it when dealing with Veronika. Maybe it was she could see the cracks in Veronika now, maybe she was pulling words she would have liked to hear after she lost her parents, she didn't really know. All Chris knew was she had an easier time than normal.

And the sentiment was mirrored, it seemed, as her acquaintance took her hand and stood up with a much brighter look on her face. Lavender met pink, her blush dying to a light dusting now, but still remained before the Franco-Austrian accepted her offer. "Still don't get why you call me that, Veronika." The rock star smiled, letting go of the blond's hand and punching her arm in a friendly manner. But how she ended it, saying she was glad they could be friends, caused the rocker to sputter for a second, turning her back to Veronika. "E-etto... W-whatever, baka." Her blush stared to darken once again, and a little smile spread on her face. She didn't want her friend to know how happy being called that made her.

That soon turned into a mistake, as Fin and a big dog came from nowhere and charged right at Chris. The next thing she knew, the Great Dane had stopped on command, the wolf following shortly after out of breath, and she was wrapped protectively in her newly dubbed friend's arms. Any progress to calm down her blush was reversed, locked in place among the warm embrace. Thankfully it lasted shortly, Veronika feeling just a touch less embarrassed than the high flyer was. Or she couldn't wait to tear into Fin for what had happened there.

After the girl had finally stopped speaking German to the Austrian, Chris slapped her cheeks to try and return to her nice and snowy complexion before turning around with a stern expression. "Oi, Fin. What's with the big boy here?" It was her time to get a few verbal licks in, and hopefully there wasn't a blush on her face to ruin any edge her scolding had. "You better not have adopted him already. I told you we'd only consider the little pups that were there. We can't really fit someone so big with you, me, and Tania living in the apartment."

[RedShinigami]

"Because you look like ..."
Veronika could'nt finish her sentence when loud barking could be heard and Finella was dragged outside by a great dane of all breeds! Veronika shielded Chris who seemed totally stunned and ordered Croissant to not play the hero and take cover because this was an opponent that was too big for him, like 100 pounds too big. The Queen of Hearts chewed Finella out in german while the Wolf answered the same way, their dialects so thick that not even a german teacher would have been able to deduce what they say.

But it seemed that Finella was saying sorry a few times, scratching the back of her head while holding on to the dane. Croissant had run to Chris and stood protectivly before her, growling at the bigger dog, ready to protect his new friend with all his awesome Frenchie powers! Finella looked at Chris and then gave the Dane a hug while the happy dog licked over Fins face. "I was on my way to the puppies but then I saw Stanley here and I had to show him to you! His heartless fucking family left him here because he grew too big for them.", she said and smiled at the dog.

Veronika sighed. "Do you want to kill her? She literally could right that thing to the ring." Come one, I have to go inside for some business anway." "You coming, Chris?", she said shaking her head and turned around. Finella tilted her head while still holding Stanley. "What the fuck was that about? Who is this? And what did she do with Veronika?", the Hellraiser asked as Croissant jumped around Chris legs, not wanting her to stay behind. He had taken a shine on her and wanted her to be around him and Veronika all the time! Stanley panted, his tongue was out of his mouth and when Chris came closer he took a big lick from her chin up to her forehead , making FIn laugh. "He loves you already!". she chuckled and followed the Queen of Hearts, Chris and Croissant following them. "But yeah...you are probably right. I just feel so sorry for the big guy."

[GolemGuardian]

Chris just stood back as the two Austrians spoke German to each other, so fast and their accents thicker than probably the thiccest girl in LAW that even if the rocker spoke German she doubted she could keep up. All she could gather was Veronika seemed to be chewing Fin out while her sister apologized. Croissant stood between his new friend - she guessed that was how he saw her - protectively, as if he had a chance against the Great Dane with over a hundred pounds on him. A pup after her own heart, it seemed, since Chris so far in her career had also mostly fought girls bigger than her. "Uh, good boy," Chris said hesitantly, unsure if she should commend the little dog or if that might be a bad idea.

Eventually the two stopped their teeny squabble, with Fin explaining why she brought such a big dog, Stanley as the wolf clarified, to her. It was kind of a sad story, but the rocker didn't show a crack in her now neutral features. "Maybe his old family just didn't have room for him? Like they either they didn't expect him to get so big, or maybe they had to downsize their living space due to sudden events. Ya know, kinda the same problem we'd have if we adopted him." She did show a little surprise when her newly dubbed friend decided to defend her, verbally instead of physically this time, before going back towards the shelter. She was just as surprised as when the blond did so back in the bar. It was something to still get used to.

"She told me in confidence, but she's actually her good twin, Fury. The real Veronika is pr-" Whatever joke she was about to make was interupted. She had started walking forward to join Fin before walking into the shelter, only for the great dane to suddenly got up to Chris' shoulders and licked the entire side of her face, causing her to freeze in place and shiver. "Ebrbrbrbrbr..." Was the only reaction she could make while her sis laughed. After a little glare to her, the rock star, Hellraiser, and two dogs all finally followed behind the former dancer.

As Chris finally entered the place, she looked around at all the animals. Some looked happy, some sad, and others just curious. The rocker took her time whilst Fin likely kept going, bringing Stanley back to whoever let her take him out. "There's.. a lot of animals here, huh?"

[RedShinigami]

Veronika chewed Finella out because when she hated one thing then it was disrespect to animals. Veronika at an early age had grown to appreciate animals, especially dogs, over humans. They loved and cared without wanting anything in return. And for girl, so starved of love like Veronika, dogs always were the best companions. After her mother had attempted to kill her a second time, finally her father showed some responsibility and took the girl in. There the hurt and traumatized child came in contact with Werner the german sheperd. A very well bred, highly intelligent dog that was the keeper of the house and when Veronika moved in, the dog immediatly made it his purpose to protect the girl. Veronika finally had found a friend and she and Werner remaind close until his death eight years later. Veronika was 20 by this point and decided that she finally wanted a friend of her own and so Croissant came into her life. Veronika, due to her experiences, would always hold dogs over any human. This was one of the reasons why she was rather unsociable with other people. But since she met the Edelsteins and had this waking call by Chris Yukine, things got better into this regard. Veronika felt that she finally had friends and even if she could bitchy from time to time, she managed to get better.

But when Chris mentioned the reasons for giving the great Dane away to the shelter, Veronika turned around, her face growing red. "What?! Are you just reasoning with those assholes who left this poor dog here? He is getting too big? Oh no, who would have thought that a Great Dane would become SO big. Thats ok they did'nt knew that, mabye they have better luck with the next one! And if not? Pfff, who cares, what are shelters for, huh? Oh no Chris, there are no reasons to give your dog away. Look at Croissant. He loves me, he loves me with all his heart, loves me despite my flaws, hell he would'nt even care about my flaws..."
She picked up her dog and kissed him, making Croissant lick Veronikas cheek. It was a strange site, seeing this woman who presented herself so proud and distainful in the ring here with a dog who licked her cheek. There was truly more to the appearance then it seemed.
"Imagine your parents just felt that they had'nt time for each other anymore because of you and decided to throw you into a foster home or worse, leave you alone in the woods or the highway. This is how they feel!", she said and tears ran down her cheeks. "I hate them. I hate all of them. Who do this to this poor creatures. So if you want to adopt a dog, you will be his family. Be really sure if you want him or what went down in our final match will be nothing compared to that what I do to you two if you ever give up on your new friend.", she said and stomped inside the shelter.

Finella looked at Chris sighed. "I know I am in no positionto say that after what happend between you too...but be easy on Veronika. She too had a hard life. From early age her crazy mother, who wanted to abort her by the way, until Veronikas dad found out, wanted her to be what she never could achieve. Veronika was forced on crazy diets, she even developed bulimia, she was kicked, abused, struck and had to spend entire nights in the cold and dark attic of her mothers home when she did'nt live up to her expectations. She forced her worldview into Veronika, be the best, fuck the rest. Oh and about the dogs...when Veronika put in a stray dog, wanting to keep it, her mother had it killed. That was a year before she tried to kill Veronika again. The crazy bitch is in an asylum now. But what happened to you in the ring was the seed this woman sowed into Veronika. Harmonia needed quite some time to get to her but ultimately she opened up to us. You don't have this info from me ok?", she said and laughed when Stanley gave Chris a big lick. "Haha, ok come drool face let's pick a best friend!", she said and took Chris hand leading her inside. There Fin brought Stanley away and saw a Veronika who shook her head. "Oh no, no...look at all these mutts...", she said.

[GolemGuardian]

Chris thought her explanation was reasonable. Mostly the life change one, but all it seemed to do was set off Veronika. "I'm just saying you don't know their circumstances. Just because the family left him doesn't mean they did it because they wanted to." But it seemed her words fell on deaf ears as the Franco-Austrian stormed inside the shelter. That probably undid most, if not all, the bloody progress they had just made. And the end of that sentence, saying how she'd become the dog's whole world if she let Fin adopt one of the puppies, solidified her fear about it again. She had gotten a little more at ease when she petted and fed the little bulldog, but the reality Veronika spoke of made her tense up again.

Then Finella decided to speak now, giving the high-flyer the full backstory. Or at least all she knew, if there were holes. Chris' pale face somehow grew paler after hearing what her mother had done to her, which sounded like she was treated like a doll that could be tossed aside whenever rather than the human girl she was. That seemed even worse when the wolf mentioned a little dog, one that was killed just because it was itself. Because it wasn't perfect, from the streets. At least that was how she inferred it, after remembering how the tanned middleweight laughed at her for looking at a mutt. One with 'no lineage' and wasn't 'pure breed.' A lot made sense, and ultimately Chris just felt like a bigger asshole than she had ever before. Only distracted by the big, slobbery kiss Stanley gave her to her sister's amusement. "Bleh... Fine, we'll go in and LOOK at them, OK?"

She followed inside, seeing Veronika shake her head as she looked around. She said nothing to her, instead looking at all the animals there were. She couldn't just talk like nothing happened out there, and so she'd instead pay attention to the 'mutts.'