Imperfect (forGolemGuardian)

[RedShinigami]

Finella looked at her sister and smiled. "Hey, one step after another. I know Veri grew quite fond of you over time. Give her and you some time. Deep within her the evil Queen of Hearts has a big heart herself.", she said before Stanley pulled her inwards. "Uwaah, Stan waiiiiit!", the Wolf screamed.

Veronika and Chris now were in the same room. The Franco-Austrian did'nt meant to be so harsh to Chris, but when it was about dogs and how to treat them she could become, well a bitch, no pun intended. Croissant was well behaved, he did'nt mind the other dogs barking and growling at him as Veronika looked through the cages. Why did she even do that? She loved dogs yeah, but only bred ones. She was traumatized enough she did'nt need another psychological wrackage at her side. "Ugly, ugly, my god where did they get you from?" she said. Of course she did'nt meant it that way, in fact she loved each and every one of these mutts but what had kept her from being truly happy all this time, the curse of her mother, still was very active in her. Searching for perfection, searching for the best.
"I did'nt want to be so loud.",she said while being back to back with Chris. "Th-Th-Thank you for that outside.", she mumbled, swallowing her pride again. She had thanked Chris before but this was on a high of hormones, flooding her body. Now she was Veronika Noir again and really struggled with minor things like saying sorry and thank you.

[GolemGuardian]

When Chris entered the shelter, her heart sank. So many of the animals looked so sad. She hadn't expected everything to be sunshine in here, but this was worse than she imagined. How many of them had similar stories to the great dane that charged her minutes ago? Or were animals saved from off the streets? Or whatever other sad story the rocker couldn't think of?

Eventually she ended up back to back to her frival - rifriend? - a light blush following Veronika's words, remembering the handholding and the nice, comfortable air around the two of them. "M-mm.. You're...welcome. It was... nice...." She quietly uttered quietly. Lord knows Fin already had enough ammo to tease Chris with, having a nice moment with the ex-dancer definitely would only make it worse.

Speaking of the wolf, where did she go? She knew Stanley pulled her away a bit ago, but she hadn't heard a peep from her since. "Um, you didn't happen to see where the irresponsible pup got dragged off to, did you Veronika?"

[RedShinigami]

"Who do you mean? The Dane or the Austrian?", she said and suddenly a laugh escaped her throat. An honest laugh, not coated in poison and bile as she stepped over Chris like on a doormat. It was a laugh of the real Veronika, the one who did'nt act like a Tsundere on Ecstasy but like a decent human being.

She blushed again and shook her head. "Anyways I gotta go now. Take my adress of the breeder and..." Suddenly Veronika stopped. She just had reached the last cage as Chris could hear a sudden whimper. Veronika stood before a puppy that looked up to her while croutching in the last corner of his cage. It was a mutt like the others but what stood out was that it was missing an eye. And as Veronika examined him more, a paw. "Oh... Eclaire...", she whispered and tears ran down her cheeks.
The puppy growled a little and looked away as one of the caretakers walked in an in and sighed. "Believe me Miss, you don't want him. He just came back from his third family. He just can't fit in." Veronika did'nt look at her. "What happened..." "What happened was a human who never should have had a dog. But today everyone can have a dog sadly. This little guy knows nothing but grief..." Veronikas heart jumped a beat. "I must have him." "Uh, did'nt you listen to me Miss, he is a lot of work.And most likely it will add up to nothing, as sad as I am to say that..." Veronika came closer and went down on her knees. "May I get to him?", she asked. "Sure but I would'nt recommend it. The last person who went into his room was bitten very badly." "I don't care.. Let me to him.",she said and the employee rolled her eyes." Sure, I am just working here for 20 years, what do I know?", she said sarcastically.

Veronika got up and looked at Chris, tears in her eyes. "Would you help me, please?", she said and again, this was honest, real and filled with all emotions Veronika just went through.

[GolemGuardian]

Chris smiled at Veronika's teasing question, once again hearing that heartfelt laugh. Not a trace of the woman who tried to break her legs, of the bitch who humiliated her and tried to ruin any faith people had in her skills, could be heard. "Well, I did say irresponsible. I'm sure Stanley, as mature as he seems to be, is somewhat responsible." The rocker mostly joked, as the Hellraiser seemed to reel in her wild side when she was asked to. Finella still had her antics, partially the reason Chris had agreed to come to the shelter in the first place, and she was still learning. But she was trying, and that was something Chris liked.

After giving her own little laugh, the tiny girl turned to say good bye to Veronika as it seemed she wouldn't stay, only to see the Franco-Austrian entranced with the last cage. A whimper followed as Chris joined her, squatting down alongside her friend to look at the little guy. It was a little puppy, missing its right eye and one of its paw. She heard the name Veronika said, turning towards her. "Naming it? I thought tha-..." Her tease cut short as she saw the girl's eyes leak. It was similar to earlier, when the two had locked eyes ever so briefly when they first arrived. It could only lead the rock star to one conclusion, and choose to shut her yap.

A worker came over, causing the little puppy to growl and turn away. 'Guess the little guy has some trust issues,' she thought as Veronika and the worker talked. Soon enough Veronika was given permission from the sarcastic employee, and the woman asked Chris to come in with her. The snow haired girl sighed, looking into the cage of the distrustful little pup. Part of her feared what such a little guy would do to her if he had bit someone else, given how nervous she'd be in there. But the other part, the part that more emotional part, could see just how much Veronika needed her to be a support for her.

"...OK." She turned to the caretaker and gave them a kind smile. "Thank you for this. And sorry for her, um, current state." Chris stepped aside so the employee could let them in. She'd follow behind Veronika, waiting to see how things would play out.

[RedShinigami]

A lot had happened between Veronika Noir and Chris Yukine. Pain, hate, tears. Both had made mistakes but Veronika, even if her inner voices constantly said otherwise, knew that she had started this. And what had it brought her? A broken arm, months of inability to wrestle and depressions. Veronika knew she could'nt change her attitude from one day to the other but she could try. And who better to try it on then on the person she had given such a hard time. Veronika had sought Chris out, unsure what she really wanted out of it. But now she was sure. She wanted to try and become Chris friend. It worked with Harmonia and the really difficult Finella. Veronika never had real friends, her mother had forbidden it.

But instead of becoming socially akward, Veronika just became cold, arrogant and brutal. Like every kid that was abused at home she let her fear and anger out on others, bullying people who were weaker and smaller then her. Soon she was feared and every Burlesque Group knew how hard it was to work with the Franco-Austrian, even if she was a true talent. She even started fights with her fellow dancers. There was something in Veronika that had to get out and when she found wrestling, there was something she could shine and dominate. The lights of the arena and the ring became her stage now and she played the main role. Always. Whenever she entered the ring, she was the star, no one else.

And if someone tried to prove her otherwise she would beat them down with all her hate and distain she had in her, not accepting someone equal or even better. Like Maman said...if some bitch seemed to have better chances, destroy her... Veronika shoved this aside. Since she started wrestling, since she met the Edelsteins, everything was easier... She had moved in with the other Austrians in this big mansion and with time she accompined them and her friends, Sheila, Gil and now Molly, to trips, shopping sprees and everything Harmonia planned for them all. They also had a "Family Dinner" each sunday, something Veronika really got to appreciate as her arm was hurt. Hell, even Karl Schneider became like a big brother for her. The Queen of Hearts had opened her heart and in turn, the love she so desperatly wanted came to her. Harmonia, Finella, Karl. They all held together like a family, a family Veronika never had.

It was always her and her dogs. Croissant she owned for two years now and she wanted to get him a little brother or sister to play. Of course only a wellbred Frenchie could do, like Croissant himself. But then she met Chris and Finella and followed them into the shelter, taking a look at all the dogs that were kept here. She tried to tell herself that she did'nt care. It was sad, yes, but she only would take a perfect one, a perfect bred, perfect from head to paw, perfect, perfect,perfect....

Veronika, you have to be perfect. Nothing else in life counts.

The Queen of Hearts shook her head. "Shut...up...", she said loud enough for Chris to hear. The small dog with three paws and only one eye started to growl as the Queen of Hearts came closer. "Shhhh...", she said and slowly got to her knees. "It is ok....it is ok...mon petit...", she whispered and stretched out her arm. "Look...", she whispered as she pointed to a still prominent surgical wound. "I know what you have gone through...", she whispered but the dog still got into the corner and growled. "Easy...", Veronika smiled and came slowly closer, stretching out her fingers.

"Easy...I am you friend...", she whispered and the dog start to whimper before his nose started to twitch and then it sniffed at Veronikas hand. "Thats good...wait...", she said and grabbed for her purse where some treats for Croissant were hidden. She took one of the small cookiebones and placed it before the dogs nose. "Good...for you, eat. Its good.", she whispered carefully and with slow, careful movements, never leaving Veronika out of its sight, the small dog sniffed at the treat and quickly grabbed it before retreating to the corner. "Good boy...", Veronika smiled and then looked back to Chris. Her eyes were full of tears. "Come, come here...", she whispered and waved her hand.

[GolemGuardian]

Chris came in with Veronika into the little puppy's cage, growling at the two of them. It definitely had a few issues and was no doubt defensive around anyone. Chris didn't register what the Franco-Austrian first said, until she began getting closer and closer to the nervous animal. The snow-haired high flyer was in slight awe as her former tormentor slowly approached him. That quickly changed when Veronika whipped out a surgical scar on her arm to the little guy to try and get him to trust her.

The rock star's stomach dropped, remembering just what she had done to cause it. The anger and frustration she felt towards the former dancer for what she had been put through, the red cloud that blinded her and blocked out the woman's pleas. All Chris wanted was for the woman to suffer as she had, to repay her in kind as she tried to end her career. She was humiliated, beaten and nearly broken.

It was a dumb choice. In the end she broke Veronika's arm, the 'snap' of her bone haunting her for months after. The rocker may have won the match, but she still lost overall. That was how she viewed it no matter how many interviewers tried to frame it as 'well deserved punishment.' Veronika was the one whose career ended up on pause for so long, all because Chris had sunk to her pety level.

Though they met and the two apologized for their actions towards one another, the rocker admitted she couldn't forgive her rival that easily. She would give her the chance to earn forgiveness, but that was the closest the two came. Even if that was what she decided, the bad taste in the rock star's mouth over it always remained. She hoped one day an understanding and forgiveness could finally happen between them, but it would take a lot of work from both of them.

She snapped from her thoughts as Veronika called her over to the corner, noticing how the adorable, cyclonic puppy stayed in its corner and chomped on what she guessed was one of Veronika's dog treats. With a quick shake of her head, trying to forget all that for now, she mirrored what she saw her friend did, trying to be as careful and silent as she could.

[RedShinigami]

The dog chewed on its treat as Veronika sat next to him and when Chris approached her as invited, Veronika took her hand and brought her down with her. They sat down, close as outside again and Veronika put another treat in Chris hand.

"Just like before.", she said and suddenly Chris felt arms wrapping around her but not in a cruel a bearhug but in a warm embrace as the Queen of Hearts put her head on hers. "When I was twelve a brought a dog home. He was so cute, even if he missed an eye. I did'nt care. I loved him. I named him Eclaire. You know, like the pastry. When my mother found out she wanted to punish me, the only way she could...", her voice grew cold and bitter. " Eclaire just wanted to protect me and bit her, not even hard. Just a warning...he wanted to save me. He loved me too. My mother... ", her voice broke. "My mother kicked him, I screamed, we need a vet, but my mother took Eclaire and our butler killed... Him... And she taught me... Not to be imperfect...imperfect...imperfect...",she whispered when suddenly all dams broke.

"I could'nt protect Eclaire. I was not strong enough. I was a failure... Mother was right... Eclaire, Eclaire, please forgive me...", she cried and held on to Chris for dear life.
The little mutt looked up to the two girls in his cage and came closer first sniffing Veronikas hands around Chris midsection before he gave it a small lick...

[GolemGuardian]

Chris followed Verokia's instructions as she kneeled down next to her, smiling as the little guy took the treat. Lost pieces or not, he was still an adorable puppy. It also helped distract her from the warm embrace that made her feel all kinds of fuzzy. What also ended up helping was the blond's story, the kind hug turning into an anchor of Veronika's trauma that swept at her.

Tears spilled from the Franco-Austrian, causing the tiny rock star to move her arm around Veronika to let her head rest against her shoulder. It sounded horrible, so much so saying 'I'm sorry' just sounded like it wouldn't be enough. Which meant the social inept Chris was at a real loss at what to say. Or should she even say something? Sometimes just being there helped more than words could.

But a savior came from the little dog, coming back up to them and giving an attempt to comfort Veronika. The rocker smiled gently nudging her friend to look at the adorable mutt. "I can't begin to imagine what someone like that did to you." Fin painted her a picture of it earlier, but the rock star still couldn't fathom it. "But what I can say is that bitch - pardon my French - got what was coming to her. Even if she only got off with a dog bite."

Chris slowly reached out to Veronika's hand around her waist, gently guiding it so the little guy could nuzzle and continue his comfort kisses. "You were a kid. Even if your mother wasn't the queen of bitchdom, I doubt you could have done anything anyways. Besides, what's wrong with being imperfect? This little guy seems pretty happy about it." The dog's tail slowly began to wag, as he kept trying to console Veronika. "So don't ever think she was right, OK? If you do, that's how you let your trauma win." She may have quoted some of the self-help books her uncle gave her to address her own tantrumming, traumatized self, but they did ring somewhat true. She just had to hope Veri listened.

[RedShinigami]

Veronika Noir, noble Queen of Hearts, the perfect human specimen if ever something like that existed sat in a dirty cage, leaning on to the woman who had broken her arm and for whom she only had hate in her heart six months ago.

She would laugh if she was'nt so overwhelmed with emotionas right now. She never had told Eclaires story to anyone except her therapist and even to him after long protests. Here, being with this beautiful little puppy all of it just spilled out of her. The weeks she had spent in her room, having a broken arm, feeling humiliated and broken had changed a few things in the Queen of Hearts. She listened to Chris words and tears welled up in her eyes.

"You are such...a nuisance you know that? Since I met you my life is nothing but fucking confusion and disaster!", she said, scolding the whitehaired girl with harsh tone. Even the dog who had come nearer went back into his corner at Veronikas outburst. And when Chris was ready to call it quits she got hugged tighter as she felt Veronikas lips on her cheek.

" Thank you.", she whispered and held her tight, not as brutal as in their match but genuine and full of love. She held her tight and when the puppy appeared again she let go of Chris and looked at the poor little thing.

"Oh, bonjour moi petit.", she whispered and it tilted its head. "Hallo, kleiner Freund...", she added and the puppy gave a soft bark. "Yes, I like german more too.", she chuckled and slowly came closer to the little pupper, reaching out and patted his head. "Shhh, shhh...", she whispered and finally the puppy licked her hand again.
"Imperfect puppy meet imperfect Veronika.", she smiled and then got hold of the little guy, lifting him up.
"Welcome to the family... Champagne...", she whispered while tears were running down her cheeks.

[GolemGuardian]

Chris wasn't a therapist, and she'd never try to pretend she was. She barely remembered her own shrink when her uncle forced her to attend after he pulled her from her school. Heck, she couldn't even say if she still recalled what he had said to her. The little rocker was just doing what she could think of to be the bigger woman for the taller woman.

When at first it didn't seem to work, Veronika chastising her and calling her a nuisance whilst she still cried. "Fine, guess I-" She was cut off as the Queen of Hearts wrapped her arms around her in an affectionate hug, and received a kiss on her cheek and a thank you. "O-oh, um.. you're welcome.." Her cheeks took on a rosy hue after the show of affection whilst the little puppy came back over and the two bonded.

She almost missed the little smile on the tanned woman's face or the newly dubbed Champagne's joy and licking at Veronika's face. "Champagne.. That's a cute name." Chris leaned back, letting the two have their moment before they finally left the cage. "By the way, what did you say to him in there? He seemed to really like it, whatever it was," she asked as she looked around trying to find where Finella got pulled off to.