NEPENTHE | SUCCUBUS | WC: 903

"Hello Sally, love of my life, my one and only—" Gianna trailed off as Sally looked over at her, eyes red-rimmed and puffy like she'd been crying. "Sally, love? Are you alright?"

"Ah— yeah. I'm… my uncle passed away," Sally explained, returning Gianna's immediate embrace. "We didn't… we didn't know each other that well, but he took me in after my parents died. He wasn't… he wasn't that great of a person… but he took as good of care of me as I think he knew how. I don't know why I'm so upset at this."

"You're on break, right hon?" Gianna asked. "Alright, Sally. Wasn't he the last of your family, except Percy? That's a lot to lose. I think, if you grew up with him, there's every reason to grieve. These things don't always make sense, you know."

"You are not good at this," Sally sniffled, wiping at her face.

"Well… I haven't had any family die. Mostly because I don't actually know any of them. Succubi don't really… we don't do family, I don't know how I can help you. I will say that there's no 'right answer' for when to grieve and mourn, though," Gianna offered. "Hey, why don't I take you on a date? Get your mind off of this?"

"Oh, Gianna…" Sally laughed wetly. "That sounds nice, actually. I have a couple hours left."

"I'll come back after, then," Gianna promised, a mischievous grin creeping onto her face. "You okay with anything?"

"I'll regret saying yes… but yes."

"Alright. Sally, love, give me a good hug, there you go," Gianna squeezed the other woman, lifting her off her feet with a startled laugh. "Now, you know I adore you, you know I love you, I just want to remind you that you can call or ask me anything, and I'll do my very best to help you, alright? Hey, if I can't help out, I'm sure we could harass Ahmed into helping. Ooh, Ahmed or any of those gods who you've got hanging around."

"I don't have any gods hanging around me," Sally denied. "Not anymore, at least."

"Can I remind you of that zduhać that hangs around?"

"Ziven is hardly a god."

"Oh, if not him, then, what about that god of his? Dogoda? Or the pretty sylph who hasn't figured out mortal clothing?" Gianna teased. "Admit it, Sally, you attract gods."

"Hardly. Go on, I've got things to do," Sally shooed Gianna away, and she left with a laugh, pulling her phone out of her bag as she went, dialing the number by memory.

"Hiya, Ahmed," Gianna called through the phone. "You got a moment to give me a wish?"

"Gianna? You don't usually ask for wishes," Ahmed replied, voice muffled and distracted. "And I don't just give wishes on command."

"Yes you do, you're a djinn. Isn't that your job?"

"My job is something like protecting or eradicating humanity and being a cyclone of fire," Ahmed muttered. "What do you want?"

"I just want to know what the best thing to do for Sally is. Her uncle died and she's grieving unexpectedly," Gianna explained. "I flirt with her a lot, but we don't actually talk about our emotions that much."

"Oh, that's easy to answer, no wish required. Just give her company," Ahmed answered. "Maybe drive her to pick her kid up, take them to an ice cream store or a drive next to the coast. You've got a nice car, find a good album, play it and drive. Give her some time to chat."

"That's so simple, though," Gianna complained. "Are you sure she doesn't want something nice? A new dress? A pretty necklace?"

"When have you ever seen her wear jewelry other than that ratty necklace Percy braided her? Or the similarly disastrous bracelets?" Ahmed asked with a laugh. "She doesn't want something fancy. She hardly lets me buy take-out for them."

"She wears those fun earrings," Gianna denied.

"Yeah, those are made by her friend's kid, she's trying to start a custom earring business," Ahmed said.

"Sounds queer," Gianna snorted. "Such a simple woman. Every day I fall more in love."

"You're hopeless," Ahmed informed her. "Just take her and her kid on an adventure, get them ice cream. That's what she'd enjoy most, and you know it."

"I know it," Gianna echoed regretfully. "Ice cream and an adventure it is. Hm, do you think I could pick Percy up from school without her?"

"That sounds terribly close to kidnapping. Have you ever met the kid?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Yeah okay, I'll just go take Effie's car," Gianna decided.

"Iphigenia?"

"The one and only. Alright, thanks, Ahmed, I should never have called you, I wanted to get something fun," Gianna muttered, hanging up without a second thought. She really should have. As much as she adored Sally, and she really did, the woman had no real sense of fun. Sally's defense was always that Gianna just hadn't 'grown up enough,' to appreciate calm picnics and quiet hikes, but Gianna did like those. She just liked partying and shopping more. Besides, she was nearly three times Sally's age, she was more 'grown up' than the other woman.

"Fuck, I'm a child," Gianna groused. "Gods, I just want to do something nice for her for once, instead of just buying fudge and overpaying. She can't really be happy just with company, can she?"

a/n: happy thanksgiving to anyone who celebrates!