also, fun fact, "whirlwind" was not the original name of this chapter! i changed it from what it was to what it is now, because i believed this was more fitting. granted, only two people actually knew what this was originally called, so it doesn't matter lol. just thought i'd mention that, for their sake! 😄
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Talia had tried to make an effort to associate herself with the other members of the hotel; Vaggie's visit from the other day had only solidified such a notion. And with Alastor's sudden oddness, she felt almost obligated to do so. Spending extended periods of time away from the library had been slightly unnerving at first, but the interactions had eventually come to outweigh the initial doubt.
Currently, the doe sat in her hotel room with Angel — who had been kind enough to bring Fat Nuggets with him. The little pig was curled up in her lap; at some point, though, the little animal had abandoned her embrace in favor of burrowing himself underneath her pillows. With a little noise of content, the pig's mouth latched onto something, and Talia paused when she realized it was her plushie. Damnit, Nuggs...
The very plushie which she had so fervently attempted to hide from others.
Forcing out the nervous laughter that had bubbled up in her throat, Talia was quick to try and hide it behind her back. As if that's gonna do anything, dumb bitch—
But Angel's expression was soft. "Hey, toots, what was that?" He seemed as if he was fighting back a grin.
Talia's face positively burned, her gaze darting to the sheets below her. An anxious smile plastered itself onto her face, and she hesitantly placed the plushie onto the mattress before them both. "It, uh, it reminds me of my old dog..." she mumbled out, fondness laced within her tone, "When I was twelve, I found a little stray puppy on the streets. Poor thing couldn't have been more than two months old. Picked her up, named her Bailey, and she was with me right up until the day I died."
Laughing softly, Talia reminisced upon that day; a mangy little thing Bailey had been at the time, golden fur dull and matted with dirt and dried blood. Talia had taken pity, scooping up the puppy and hiding her in the fabric of her sweater.
"Oh, sweet girl... I'm so sorry I have to do this to you."
"I hope you're happier with them than you ever were with me."
Shaking her head with a light sigh, Talia allowed her gaze to drift back to Angel. Suddenly, an idea came to mind, and she quickly shot up and rushed over to her desk. "One second!" she called out, shuffling through the drawers. "I have a photo! It's, well, from when I was alive. Thank goodness for polaroids! It's of Bailey and I. The only reason I still have it is because it happened to be on me when..." She paused, choosing her words carefully, "When I died. I know it's here somewhere!"
