Karina thinks that this whole thing is ridiculous.

Okay, so this is what happened. Winter went off to work a few days ago and ended up being away for a whole week, and though Karina didn't mind one bit, she was feeling extremely bored without her favorite human to bother her every second of the day, so she thought it would be a great idea to pass the time by watching The Vampire Diaries (that her girlfriend recommended weeks prior). She was just so curious to find out what happens next in the series while waiting for Winter to return.

But then on one unlucky night, Winter unexpectedly burst through her door like the wild hurricane she is, only to find Karina sitting on the couch with her laptop resting on her lap while the enticing and chiseled face of Damon Salvatore was etched fully on the screen. So Winter, being the drama queen that she is, couldn't help but express her disappointment in a very dramatic way. She went on and on about how she and Karina had promised to watch it together and how the vampire failed to keep it, for almost an hour straight. 

Karina responded with a simple ‘I'm sorry, I didn't know it was ever that serious', so now Winter doesn't go anywhere without that damn garlic necklace hanging around her neck like a ing garland.

It's not even about its possibility of “hurting” her that bothered Karina, but rather the fact that it isn't even real garlic!

It's so ridiculous!

“Winter! Hi! I missed you!” Giselle, Karina knows her as her girlfriend's boss, welcomes Winter with open arms as soon as they enter the conference room in the headquarters.

The human stands there awkwardly, her amused gaze fixed on Karina beside her, who simply raises an eyebrow without saying a word. 

Hm. Interesting bond that they have. Karina wonders.

She has already brought Karina here more than once so it's no surprise to her other colleagues that she's standing right next to Winter like the depressing cloud she is.

After releasing Karina's human from the hug, Giselle eagerly rummages through her bag and presents Winter with a small container, almost shoving it in front of her face. 

“Look, I made you my special garlic bread!”

Karina internally gags.

Today is one of those extremely rare times where Winter actually has to go to the “headquarters” (which Karina genuinely thought was nonexistent until recently) and report to her boss, Giselle. 

She still cannot fathom the fact that her girlfriend's job is actually real. 

It's so… weird.

But whatever. Winter makes a good chunk of money, so there's literally no reason for her to complain.

“Seriously?” the human asks incredulously, at the same time, Ningning, Karina knows her as Winter's best friend and manager, enters the scene with a knowing smirk.

“What? Why?” Giselle asks cluelessly, causing Ningning to let out a snort which earns a glare from Winter.

“Gi, my girlfriend is a vampire.”

Giselle's mouth forms an ‘o' as the sudden realization hits her. “Oh. That's… you were being for real?”  

“Uh, yeah?” Winter retorts as Karina quietly watches them both.

“Is this— wait, hold on.” Giselle straightens her posture, “You're saying that this ball of sunshine right here,” she points at Karina, who is wearing a blank expression on her face, proving anything but, “is an actual vampire?”

“I already told you about her a month ago!”

“I didn't know you were serious! Sue me for thinking you two were only into some inclusive roleplaying!”

“We're not!”

“That's a bummer.” Karina finally joins the conversation.

Winter immediately turns to her with a glare, “Shut it, Buffy.”

“Uhm, actually, Buffy was the vampire slayer. Not the actual vampire.” Ningning blurts out.

That makes the vampire smile. Ever since Winter had introduced them to each other days into their relationship, Karina has always taken a liking towards Ningning.

“Ning.” Winter sighs, speechless. She then shakes her head and faces her boss. “Anyway, I appreciate the effort, Gi, but I really don't want my girlfriend to die.”

See? This is exactly what Karina is talking about. Winter keeps putting on a show of wearing that fake stupid garlic garland, but still manages to make it clear to everyone that she doesn't want Karina to die.

“Oh. Understandable.” Giselle nods, not even surprised the slightest bit. “But why are you wearing a garlic scarf?”

Karina raises an eyebrow, genuinely waiting for her girlfriend's reason. Unfortunately, nothing comes out of Winter's mouth. She just shrugs and simply looks at Karina, her brows furrowed, lips puckered into a pout.

Giselle catches what that means, grimacing as she looks over Karina with concern. “Yikes,”

“Can we just start with the meeting now?” Winter asks her boss.

Before Karina could even see Giselle's response, Ningning clears her thr