Lights, Camera, Orc-tion!

Epilogue

Avicia sighed as she stared around the empty apartment, hands on her hip and a critical look in her eye. Armed with a magic eraser and a shopping bag, she cleaned up scuffs and picked up the stray bits of trash. It was strange to think that three months ago, she was sitting in her apartment, fretting over the premiere.

It didn't take long for the concept of 'living together' to crop up between herself and Kahdreg. To be fair, she didn't really leave Kahdreg's apartment after they'd reunited. It made sense to move in together. Finding a suitable place to live - especially one with enough closet space for Kahdreg, Avicia, Bellamy, and Kay - had been another headache, though. One which Avicia was happy to not relive.

A soft knocking caught Avicia's ear as she finished making a round in Kahdreg's living room. "Coming!"

Placing the eraser and trash bag on the floor, Avicia padded to the front door and flung it open. She was expecting the person on the other side.

What she wasn't expecting was how average they'd look.

Kallinaera Virlee, dressed in fraying jeans and a tee-shirt and hoodie, her dark blue hair pulled back into a simple ponytail. She didn't even wear make-up, except foundation. It seemed, without her expensive products, her hair had lost a little luster and she was breaking out a little. Of course, perhaps that was a manifestation of the stress she was under. From what Avicia had heard through the Follywood grapevine, the Virlees had not been kind to Kalli.

But, Avicia had to admit even when the siren was dressed grungy, there was some damnable grace and elegance to her.

At the very least, the siren had the sense to look awkward when Avicia opened the door. "Is Kahdreg here?"

"Afraid not, Miss Virlee. I'm doing the handoff," Avicia replied with a professional smile. She motioned to the large box, sitting a little bit in the living room. "Feel free to double-check everything's in there."

"Understandable," mumbled Kallinaera woodenly as she headed toward the box. Crouching down and opening the flaps, the siren's expression creased. Though her eyes looked over the items, Avicia doubted she registered them. For some reason, Avicia felt as if Kallinaera were lost. Before Avicia could dwell on the curious thought, the siren asked, "So, um, the apartment's pretty empty."

"We moved recently." Avicia continued to smile, but she couldn't keep an edge from her voice.

"We?" Kallinaera's eyebrows furrowed, clearly not able to put two and two together.

"Kahdreg and I," Avicia explained, slowly and pointedly.

"Oh, right, right," Kallinaera mumbled, shaking her head as she grabbed the box. Once she stood straight and hefted her belongings up, the siren eyed Avicia quietly. Avicia waited, raising her eyebrows expectantly. "Avicia, can I say something?"

The usage of her correct name threw Avicia for a second. All the same, she narrowed her eyes and gave a one-shouldered shrug. "It's a free country."

"You ruined my life." The words shot from Kallinaera's mouth, not exactly heated with rage. As if realizing how what she said sounded, the siren verbally fumbled. "I mean... I know I made a lot of choices that ruined my own life, but you were the catalyst of it."

Avicia crossed her arms, her expression unimpressed.

"And I'm saying this to blame you or guilt trip you. Just..." Kallinaera continued to bumble through whatever soliloquy she had planned. Her grip on the box adjusted and readjusted. "A lot has happened and I'm trying to understand. It's... still a struggle."