Vinyl sits on the sofa, watching her friends play video games and hang out with their new friend Catherine. She chuckles as a "novice" Catherine kicks Derpy, Lyra's, and Bon's butts in Mario Party is enjoyable, though Vinyl takes this match out to grab a drink. She heads back to the kitchen, pulls out her juice box, and drinks it, the familiar taste returns to her, as she sighs. 'Boy the mix is getting better.' She thinks, just as she turns and jumps, as the familiar green eyes of an old friend peer at her through a window. Vinyl looks at the others, who haven't noticed, and sighs. Soon she gives the motion to meet in the back and speaks. "Hey girls, gonna be a moment, uh, left something bad in here." She says, pulling out the trash, which is full of old food she forgot to take out, as they all thank her, as they keep gaming.

Vinyl soon puts a scarf on and takes the trash out, before feeling the presence behind her and turning to see Monika Strange, a transfer student who arrived two weeks before Thanksgiving and saw the old chaos of the Fall Formal and other incidents. Vinyl sighs, recalling she was asked to watch over her. "Okay, what's up?" She asks, as Monika sighs, and speaks, softly. "I had nightmares of, what happened. I thought we could talk." She says, wearing a big sweater, sweatpants, and a hat, though not winter attire. Vinyl sighs and moves closer to her. "We can talk, but I got friends over, so you okay with that?"

Monika seems unsure before suddenly a voice speaks. "Uh, Vinyl, who are you? Oh, Monika, why are you here?" Asks one very unsure Bon Bon, who has a soda in hand. Monika blinks, and sighs, "I realized I was over here a few due to the project in Mrs. Nova's class, and I left my catch-up work over." She says, and while that is true, she already picked it up before. Bon Bon blinks, and smirks, "Oh, well that is fine." She says, as Vinyl sighs, and speaks, "Bon, you know why Vice Principle Luna said Monika moved here was "Not to be asked about." and all? Well let's just say I know why, and she needs comfort from someone who knows what it is like." She says as Bon's smirk falters.

"Oh sorry, well do come here, did you bring a bag?" Monika shakes her head, and sighs, "I just came here, I live close b." She says, as soon Bon nods, she holds the door open for Monika but stops Vinyl, who gives her a look, as Bon shares it. Both nod, and soon follow her in. The others are surprised, though Monika and Catherine look at each other, and say hello. Vinyl coughs, and speaks, "Monika, this is Catherine, she's new in town, and Catherine, this is Monika, she's also new, moved in with her friends recently."

After a few awkward moments, of which Vinyl thanks whatever power for Lyra and Bon Bon's quick acting to help keep things from getting more awkward, they all begin to talk, and make Monika feel calm. Vinyl soon hands Monika a drink, and she accepts and watches their game. Vinyl soon walks away, and calls up a familiar number, as a voice answers. "Vinyl, it is a bit late, what is going on?" Vinyl sighs, and speaks, "Monika came over, she is having nightmares again, I think it got worse for her to come to me this late." She goes quiet, as the woman sighs, and replies, "I see, she'll get her sessions pushed to after New Year, we wanted to see if a new environment away from it all would help, especially after what happened. Thank you for the call, I'm going to check on the other patient and their guardians and friends. But for now, let her spend the night, and know her guardians will be informed of this in the morning. Your lucky I am up late talking to someone or I might not have heard my phone." She says and sounds tired.

"Yeah, I know, but I am glad your up. I'll let you get some rest Miss Widogast." she says, as the woman clears her throat, as Vinyl flinches, and sighs, "Sorry, sorry, Miss Koffmann. I am sorry." she says, as Miss Koffmann sighs, "Your fine Vinyl, it happens. Now good night, and don't stay up too late." She says as Vinyl sighs, "I'll try not to, Night." she soon hangs up, and sighs. She returns to the others, who ask Monika how she is, and Monika tells them she is alright, catching up slowly, and helping Sayori and Natsuki get caught up, especially in speaking English, as she is happy Yuri's father lets them stay here since they been sent here to learn and live in America from Japan.

Catherine then asks an odd question, "So English is your second language?" Monika sighs, "No, my father was English, and my mother was Japanese, I learned both at the same time as a child. They taught me so much really, I wish they were" She stops, and closes up, as this is the first time she let anything be said about her past to new folks. However, Derpy places a hand on her shoulder, and speaks, "Don't worry, your okay, no need to say more." Derpy says, as Monika sighs, and pulls herself together. Vinyl sees her left-hand mime something.

Soon, Catherine speaks, "I am sorry if that brought up bad memories. Though I will say, I would love to learn Japanese." She says as Bon jumps on this, "Oh yeah, French for me." She says as Lyra smirks, "Je t'aime Bon." She says, casually as everyone else looks confused, and Bon blinks. "What?" Lyra smirks, as she leans back, "Learn french and you'll know." She says as Derpy smirks, and Vinyl chuckles, "Well don't say it again, she will use google." Monika speaks, "You know french Lyra? I didn't know you took the class."

"Oh I am not, I learned it from my Grandma, she's from France. I do want to take it, but next year, this year is packed." She says, as the others sigh and nod, with Monika shrugs, "It's not that bad, being busy is fine." Vinyl nods, as Catherine speaks, "I wish to go back to school, my homeschooling was, selective, so I plan to join in the spring semester, and try to make up to be at your year." She says as Monika nods, and Bon speaks, "A big task to take, think you strong enough?" She asks, as Catherine looks, contemplative, before suddenly sitting up, and rolling up her hoodie's sleeve, which shows her toned arm off, as she flexes and shows off her strength a bit. "When I was bored and out of stuff to study, I worked out."

The others nod, as Lyra blinks, and Bon snaps her out of it with a light jab, as Derpy seems impressed, and Monika looks away, both in awe, and blushing. Vinyl chuckles, and sighs, "Hey now, Octavia is probably stronger, she carries a cello around, in one arm, like it's a briefcase." She says as the others nod, and Bon speaks, "Sounds like you know from more than seeing." She says, as Vinyl shrugs, and they all chuckle a bit and soon get back into light talking and game playing.

A bit after 1, they all decide to get ready for bed and pull out sleeping bags, and blankets, and like always, the living room becomes a large fort, with separate sleeping areas, yet again, somehow, Bon and Lyra end up sharing one sleeping bag, though this time they have to give Bon's to Monika, as Lyra's is bigger. The lights are soon turned low, as Vinyl does her nightly rounds, of double checking locks, lights, and also her texts, seeing Octavia wished her good night, and also a message from Yuri, hoping Monika is alright, to which she replies "Yes, she is, just went for a walk to check on me." as Yuri gives a thumbs up, and a "Good Night" as they all get ready for bed, and soon, one by one, the others all fall asleep.

Vinyl waits, and counts, soon as she reaches to 5 minutes hearing their heartbeats enter the patterns of sleep, she moves, and Monika sits up softly. Both like ghosts, quietly make their way in comfy clothing to Vinyl's room and slip inside. Monika sits on the bed, as Vinyl soon opens her mini-fridge, and pulls out a bag, which Monika takes and soon uses a straw to drink up. Vinyl sighs, as she whispers, "So, the same nightmare as before?" she asks, as Monika nods, drinking all of the contents of the bag, as she sighs, crimson staining her teeth, as she places it in the bag Vinyl has, to keep it from being seen, as she'll dispose of this with the others this weekend.

"Yes, Nat's dad, attacking her and Sayori, Yuri jumping in, her..injured..." She shakes, and sighs, "Me, turning her. That's the worse part, not..., not him dying, not the gore, the pain I felt....or me even worried about being discovered. It was what I did, I-" Vinyl places a hand on her shoulder. "Easy, Moni, you saved a life, and luckily Yuri not only survived but can control it. That is only because of your actions to inform the proper people of it, and for a team to help you all. You saved her life, Sayori's, and Nat's life. Now, killing someone is bad, turning someone is worse, but recall, you helped Yuri find balance in her new life."

Vinyl sighs, "I know, our "conditions" aren't the same, but from one Vampire to another Moni, you're not a monster, your just someone with weird powers who did things she regrets, and has paid for them." Monika nods, processing all of this, as she sighs, "Your right, but, will be a while till I, accept that. I won't regret going there that day, I couldn't have survived everything without those three." She says, and sighs, as Vinyl nods, and hugs her, in a comforting manner hopefully. 'Mom, thank you for making me take psychology this year.' she thinks, not sure she was the right person to give this talk to Moni, but glad she knew what she did to help ease her mind.

Monika and Vinyl sit in the dark for a moment, before Moni sighs, "I have to uh...ask one odd question though." she whispers, as Vinyl nods, as she waits for Monika to ask. "Is it normal for, vampires to drink their own blood?" she asks, as Vinyl blinks, and gives a concerned look, 'No, not at all, are you-"

"No no, Yuri is, she, she finds most blood tastes bad, and so we been trying to help her, but, she picks her old scars and sips." She says as Vinyl sighs, "Okay, tomorrow, between me being with friends and helping Cath with something, we need to have a talk with Yuri on that. Cause that is both not helpful, and unsafe, but also unhygienic." Moni nods, as Vinyl sighs, before saying, "But, maybe I can see someone about getting some blood juice for you both." Moni smiles, and sighs, "I would like that, and she hasn't had any." she leans on Vinyl, and smirks, "Oh it will be my treat, for Christmas, just don't tell her parents I spoil you both." She says as Moni nods, and the two sigh, and spend a few moments listening to the world.

That is before they hear movement, and soon see Catherine, groggy and tired, slink away into the bathroom, a smell of blood coming from her. Both look at each other, and nod, ignoring it as they soon sneak past and back to bed, so they may rest some. Vinyl tries and only ends up falling asleep after cuddling Octavia's hoodie she "borrowed" and falls asleep, wondering what tomorrow will bring.

Author's Note

Well, I had an idea, for a new plotline in this complex as-is story, and while I am unsure of how this will be taken, I am taking the plunge to add in Monika and the Dokies, but in a unique way.

Also yeah, Vinyl is basically the Big Sis to all young-blood vampires and is both trying her best and winging it. I hope you all like this shorter chapter, don't worry next time we go back to Sunset, and dive into the major story again. But, sadly that may have to wait, with holidays coming up and other priorities, my publishing of the chapter will slow down.