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Besides the fact that things had been incredibly draining, generally stressful, and altogether much too dramatic for an overly dramatic witch, Belladonna was feeling just the littlest bit sub par. What with all the crazy going on between keeping her boilfriend at a happy stasis and getting her own booth ready for the upcoming Fright Night, the witch just needed a few minutes to herself. And to forget that she still had a paper due for a class, as well as other homework projects, and more prizes to put together and--
"Forests are peaceful. Forests are kind and will relieve me of my worries." She chanted as she made her way across campus toward the forest that skirted the edge of the Monster Dorms.
For a moment she paused and looked up at the building, vaguely wondering if she had any friends in the building. Surely a few, surely someone would chat with her should she want the companionship... But that would require wandering the halls, of remembering all the Monsters she knew (which, admittedly, as of late weren't very many) and essentially bothering them for a spot of conversation. After all her stresses, Belladonna did not feel like adding to anyone else's.

But she also didn't really feel like trekking all the way into the forest just for a sit down. All she needed was a tree to lean against so that she could close her eyes and just be outside for a moment. Just a moment! And there was a perfectly good tree a nice distance from the Monster Dorms, so opting for the slightly lazy option, Belladonna chose that. Quick work was made of the distance between them, as well as the little blanket she spread underneath its shade. Wouldn't want to get dirt or grass all over her skirt, now would she! Seven hells, no. It would have been a travesty to try to wash those stains out, mostly because the witch was rather lazy when it came to her clothing. If the washing machine or a dry cleaner's couldn't fix it, then nothing would.
After that was all done, Belladonna sat on the blanket and let her back rest against the tree. It was a nice day, overcast with just a hint of chill that foretold of the coming holiday. It was nice to know something good was coming in just a month, but a month was an awfully long time for something to go wrong in...

Surely the two girls made a pretty picture, two creatures of conflicting natures, opposite in all things. The green ghoul, normally a ground creature, with her head angled toward the sky, up in a tree. All she had to do was reach out a claw and she could probably brush a cloud away. Alternatively, the witch, red hair all large and vibrant, kept her gaze focused on the grey grass before her. Hands wrapped around her knees as her toes dug down into the Earth, as though she could bury herself for a few days to find her problems all gone.
But as Belladonna lost her focus to the multi-colored grass, a note began above her. It was forlorn, slow and haunting, exactly the kind of song she loved most. The initial note hadn't startled her, but when she really listened, when she put her mind to remembering where she'd heard such a beautiful singing voice before, her heart leapt forward painfully.
A flash of fear struck the witch and for a moment she sat there, arms vice-like around her own knees and bare toes clenched around dirt and grass, frozen in place with a set of musical words.

But the song kept going, and since fear heightened one's senses, her ears opened and she listened. The song was beautiful, truly. But its words seemed to pierce her heart, as though the ghoul in the tree had picked such a melancholy yet hopeful song just for the witch she couldn't have known was sitting beneath her. Maybe it was the fact that the words made Belladonna hurt a little more, or made her feel as though they just had to wait until their metaphoric pumpkin sun rose of this metaphorically too dark night. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the fact that it was Chuppi, dear little Chuppi who had been so sweet and kind and after all their time apart had been on the forefront of the witch's mind enough that she had suffered Insanity tinted dreams about the ghoul, but whatever the reason, Belladonna could not stop the tears that fell from her eyes.
Eyelashes swept down against her cheeks as she lowered her head, letting the sound and words and music flood her heart. For once she didn't sob or choke on her breath, but instead just let those few little tears drops fall from her eyes to the ground.

And when the silence after the last note had died from the air began, when it was safe to move because she knew she wouldn't break, a shaking hand reached up to her face. Belladonna quickly wiped away the tears and plastered a small, if slightly sad, smile to her face. Every time before she had been scared, too frightened of the rejection she felt she surely faced to actually enter into reunions with the confidence that she could handle this. But even if everything fell through, even if Chuppi had indeed grown to hate the runaway witch too scared of death to try to live, Belladonna didn't care. The chupacabra was right here and had just sung a song beautiful enough to make the witch cry, and she wasn't going to give up that easy.
Not anymore.
"I am glad to know you still sing as beautifully, if not more wonderfully, as you did in our first year." Belladonna called up, trying to keep her voice light as she twisted her body around to peer up into the tree, that melancholy smile still on her face.

It was difficult to keep her face in that same kind but neutral pose, as though this were just a simple day, a simple encounter. Nothing dramatic or potentially melancholy, like the thoughts that rampaged through the witch's mind. Pink eyes followed the smaller ghoul's movements and hastily she rose to her feet as Chuppi jumped. Belladonna had to whirl around to face her, but it was with a soft warmth in her heart that she looked upon her old friend.
Or, hopefully old friend. As of yet things had gone smoothly where old acquaintances were involved, but not everything went easy. Not everything fell into place or did as it was told, as Belladonna well knew. So though she took a breath and kept her fists unclenched, she still steeled herself for the inevitable hurt that was surely to come.

"It is so good to see you again." Belladonna offered with a stronger smile, because that was true. To look upon the ghoul, to ascertain her safety and know that she was alright, unharmed and not in the clutches of something worse was comforting enough that for a moment the witch thought Well, its alright if she hates me. At least she's alright.
But, ever one to want more, Belladonna knew that alone wouldn't be enough. And neither would her small, introductory sentence. Maybe not much about Chuppi had changed on the outside, but an internal change showed through stark and clear. Yet, where could they go from here?
If she were to comment on the chupacabra's appearance, it might be balked at for Chuppi was always sensitive about that. If asked how things were, it would prematurely open the floodgates of grief and hurt. If this exchange went even partially how it ought, they would both have to explain where they'd been, what they'd suffered, what pain and torment and eventual hope they'd endured. Uncertain, Belladonna let herself openly bite her lower lip for a fraction of a moment before she gestured to the ghoul.

"I love what you've done with your hair!" It was said as happily and lightly as she could muster, which wasn't even close to her normal chipperness.
That was mostly due to the fact that Belladonna's Insanity tinged dream, after the initial shock of meeting Chuppi unexpectedly, she had commented on her hair. The witch had even touched the braid, both ghouls happy to be with the other. It was a little disheartening then that now they were both so uncertain, both so scared and afraid of what was to come.
In hope of diffusing this, Belladonna offered her a bright smile that she wanted to be the break in this melancholy barrier.

As if she hadn't cried enough in the past few months, the moment the syllable of her name began, the witch let out a choked laugh. Tears flooded her gaze, but she stepped forward and opened her arms to the chupacabra none the less. There was no place she could really hold onto her, so Belladonna did the best she could and just put her hands anywhere and pressed her tight. It was a bit like holding a small child with a thorn bush attached to their back, but a few slices or cuts were more than penance enough for getting this sweet, precious monster back in the witch's life.
"Oh Chuppi! I am so glad you're safe!" The witch cried against the ghoul's hair, getting that all wet on its own. "I have missed you so much, you cannot even begin to imagine! So much has happened and I was so worried but now-Oh, now!" There was no way she could finished as she instead shook her face into those dark locks and just held her as happily as she could.

Yet the witch was curious, she had to be certain of so much that after a minute of just letting them both cry their fears out, Belladonna pulled back just the slightest so she could slide down to her knees before the chupacabra.
"I am so, incredibly sorry for my disappearance. There was no one I was scared of leaving more than you, but here you are and you're safe and--" Belladonna's words stumbled then, a hand crossed over her mouth to cover the strangest little half-gasp before she hurried on in her speech. "You are alright, aren't you?" Pink eyes were wide with worry, but before Chuppi could answer the witch grabbed her close against, this time able to actually give the ghoul a proper and decent hug.
"I have missed you so, so much!" Belladonna whispered to her, not even bothering to be ashamed for how easily she had cried. Maybe finally she could learn to stop being such a water works now that her very best friend was safe and sound and here with her.

"I... Um, well.. That is a rather long story I'm afraid." With a hand the witch gestured to the blanket under the tree, only a few steps away from them. "We shall sit and share our stories." Belladonna offered with a smile, before she quickly pressed a quick kiss to the chupacabra's forehead. It was the most dramatic form of affection she could conceive without actually holding the ghoul like a doll.
Gently the witch ushered the smaller ghoul to the blanket, where Belladonna rustled around in her skirts for a moment before she produced a lace handkerchief that she offered to Chuppi. It was a small gesture of comfort, not much but still something.
While Chuppi's English might have been rusty, the little Spanish the witch had learned was altogether nonexistent. All she was able to catch were the words that sounded similar, and father, but what her father was she simply didn't know. Despite that, Belladonna was glad to know Chuppi had at least been home with her family, where she was mostly likely safe. Maybe they would touch on that when they explained their lives, of what had happened to them since their last encounter.
And while the initial fear of rejection had passed, another one took its place. How long had Chuppi been involved with the school before she returned to her family? It was The Island that had sent Belladonna cowering, but what if Chuppi had been braver, stronger, more foolhardy? It was a harrowing thought, one that nearly stopped the witch's next question. But curiosity was a heady thing and she asked it nonetheless.

"We have so much to catch up on! Would you like to go first, or shall I?" More than the fear of what Chuppi had suffered, while horrid enough, was the thought that maybe Belladonna couldn't help. What if, after all this time, her comfort and patience had run out?
With a sudden determination, the witch refused to let this be an issue. No matter what Chuppi said, no what she'd suffered, Belladonna would hold her hand or comb her hair and do what she could to help. She had done this countless times with others, and she could more than adequately bestow that same kindness to the chupacabra. After all, how many times had they shared companionship and love between the other? Surely, that would be enough to help them through this difficult and oddly frightening time.

Like a fussing mother, Belladonna couldn't help but smooth the ghoul's hair back, or help wipe away a stray tear from her cheek, or even just place a hand somewhere on her, just to make this encounter real and concrete. A look of worry crossed her face that she quickly morphed into a smile, for Belladonna didn't know who should start first and was thus almost tempted to begin. But a spot of red on the edge of her vision caught her eyes and instead she quickly hopped to her knees to reach forward for the fallen thermos. With a smile she handed that to Chuppi too.
"Is this one new?" She asked innocently, hoping against hope that it was and she wasn't about to ruin this whole conversation with her insensitive inability to notice minute differences in thermoses. Maybe she'd have to work on that skill at a later date, when she had the luxury of such a thing.

A warm smile and a soft nod were the initial response, the agreement that yes, Belladonna would tell her story first. It was not something altogether too happy, but it was also not the horrifically sad tale it had once been. Uncertain really where to start, Belladonna took a breath and let it out in one quick puff.
"When we went to The Island... Back at the end of our first year... I died there, and I don't know how I made it back to Amityville. But it hurt so much and was so frightening... That I just gave up. I... I could not justify to myself that living my life required me to leave my room. So I stayed there..." The witch furrowed her eyebrows as she idly picked at the picnic blanket underneath her. It had been a lonesome existence, constantly afraid and continually tormented with the idea of death. "But then I took my exam to become a Knob and I passed... Enough to get the teacher's pin. And then... I just kind of... Fumbled around for a while. I bounced between here and home and couldn't really find my place."
Both her hands rose in the air in a sign of momentary defeat, but thankfully, the story started to pick up from there.
"But I finally made it back to Amityville, just as everyone was at the Four Clans Islands. After they came back, I took some classes and reconnected with some friends... I started seeing a boil... Quite often." Momentarily her cheeks flushed and a soft smile touched her face. "And now we're dating, actually... I think part of the reason I've come back is because he's been through so much... And I have hardly been through anything at all. I was being a coward and he was being so brave... But, I am back now. I haven't been much help, I've been still so scared but its been easier." Her smile grew more, still a little sad, but a bit brighter. With a sudden laugh she waved at Chuppi, suddenly excited.
"I don't know if you know him or not, but maybe you do. Its Mortimer McNeal!"

Somehow, the story had gotten shorter as she kept explaining it. It hurt less and less to speak of her time afraid and alone, of her time away, mourning her own mortality. Already it seemed so long ago, starting to fade like a wound finally healed up into a scar. Maybe one day she could stop having to speak of it, stop having to recant it over and over. Even now it didn't even ache so much as it seemed a weakness, but one that had become smaller.
"You're turn." Belladonna told her with a smile and a touch of hand to Chuppi's knee.
It was odd, but it felt so wonderful to just be close enough to touch the ghoul. After so much time, certain that she would never see Chuppi again, or if she did it would be with a bitter taste in her mouth, Belladonna could not express her sincere happiness at having this precious creature back in her life.