Blood Feud

All In

"Like, you really haven't given it any thought?" Laura asks while snuggled up to Carmilla's side on her couch.

"No, cutie, I can confidently say I have not given this any thought," Carmilla replies, amused at Laura's huff.

She sits up and Carmilla whines at the immediate lack of warmth. "You've never thought about whether unicorns are ostracized by horses for being different? Like, we always talk about how magically unique unicorns are, but we never think abut the social implications."

Carmilla furrows her eyebrows together. "You're rapidly losing me in this figure-8 train of thought."

Laura waves her hand dismissively. "Forget it." She leans back, pressed against Carmilla's side.

For about two seconds .

She pushes herself back up, leading to a long sigh from Carmilla.

"But have you thought about whether a unicorn even knows if it's a unicorn? Like, you know how we technically see our noses all the time, but our brains don't register it? What if unicorns don't know they have a horn? And they like, show up to a watering hole and all these horses are like 'yo, look at that freak over there' and the unicorn is like, 'why are they buggin'? ... And it-it's b-because it can't see its own horn?"

Carmilla takes all this rambling in and narrows her eyes. "Laura... Are you nervous about turning again tomorrow?"

Laura sighs and grabs a pillow, hugging it close to herself.

"I already told you, Mattie and I set up the soundproofed university library basement. Complete with a sturdy thick-barred cage, and beds, and cookies. And a couch for me to stay with you."

"I know, and I am so, so grateful," Laura says without hesitation. "I'm sorry, I think, there's the whole mess that happened last time and I'm still getting used to feeling on edge and overheating and shaky."

Carmilla frowns. "You mean, your second time turning, and you're not already an expert? What kind of amateur are you?" she teases.

Laura chucks the pillow at Carmilla, who catches it with a smug grin.

"I'm serious. Thank you for helping me through this," Laura says sincerely. "I'll try to stop with the crazy rambling."

Carmilla hands Laura the pillow back and chuckles. "Don't you dare. It's part of your charm."

"I've got charm?" Laura asks, batting her eyelashes.

"Don't get it go to your head, creampuff," Carmilla snaps.

Laura's phone rings and she stares at the caller ID with wide eyes.

"Your dad?" Carmilla asks.

Laura shakes her head and turns the phone so Carmilla can see it too.

"Oh, hell," Carmilla grumbles.

Laura takes a deep breath and answers it.

"Danny! Hi!" she greets, her voice shrill and nervous. "... Uhm, no, I didn't forget tomorrow's the full moon."

Her eyes widen.

"Well, I don't think me coming back to HQ is necessary. I mean, I already made arrangements for tomorrow night."

Carmilla strains her ears and can hear Danny's surprise. " Oh? Are you sure it's secure? " A pause. " I just... don't want you accidentally roaming the streets and attacking some human. "

"It's secure," Laura replies. "I'd trust this plan with my life."

Carmilla smiles at her and Laura grins back.