Stardust

Cleo Lockwood

[clecx]

↳ @emmarcsette

Cleo was looking forward to this coming week. Yesterday had actually been fun with the barbecue though she had been slightly on edge only because the heads still weighed heavily on the town. But, it would make absolute sense to have the event be a way to shed the heavy foreboding tone of the past events to look forward to a bright and united future. This truly was a celebration of the past with the future. It served as a way to honor the foundation of the town but to celebrate a united front with both humans and the newfound supernatural world. Cleo had only lived in larger cities so the quintessential small town founder’s day celebration was one she had secretly hoped of attending for some time now. 

With the parade that morning, Cleo had been along the front lines taking photos as her job assignment from the newspaper. Now she was off duty and was able to enjoy the festivities as a participator. Tonight was the movie night under the stars and it sounded as quaint and fun as the name made it to be. Blankets piled high almost overwhelmed the petite woman while she scouted for the perfect spot. Finally one appeared and Cleo rushed towards it before someone else could snag it. Getting to work Cleo spread out the blankets until they were layered high enough to offer the perfect spot to watch the movie being projected. Now everything was ready, all that remained was her companion joining her. Cleo pulled out her phone and dropped a pin for Emma, shooting her friend a message to let her know she was set up. 

📲[Emma]: Blankets are a go. I’m here and all set up. Can’t wait for you and those snacks, I’m hungry. 

[clecx]

lovetrixiie·:

“ Please, you think a human ripped the heads off three vampires? They’d have more chance of carrying a car five miles. ” Trixie explained as if it was completely obvious. Living as a vampire for almost 500 years would make anyone habituated to throwing around terms for supernatural beings. “ If anything, it would’ve been an ambush by a pack or some nasty spells by a group of witches. ”

Cleo paled a little as the new information was shared. She had not known that the heads had been ripped off, of course the newspaper had not shared that gruesome detail. The papers had only said that the heads had been removed. “They were ripped off?” Her stomach twisted at the mental image. How horrid. “You’re very knowledgable about all of this.” Cleo had no idea how all of this had existed for centuries without human knowing of their existence. It all still felt like a horrible nightmare. 

[clecx]

lovetrixiie·:

“ So who’s the big bad scary wolf in this town? ” the vampire wondered out loud as her fingers delicately stirred the strawberry milkshake with a paper straw. “ Heads don’t just fall off on their own. ” this idea caused her to chuckle in amusement. “ It’s the big ol’ question of who done it. ”

Cleo had been reading the article about the violent and gruesome murders in today’s newspaper when she heard the question. Such a loaded question in this environment. It used to just be a complete figure of speech, but now it was possibly a real option. Wolves, or more precisely werewolves, did exist and one could have done such a horrid deed. “Do you think they know if it was a human or... something else?” How odd it was to figure in the possibility of a supernatural creature doing such a thing. 

[clecx]

romantheenforcer·:

Manythings aggravated the older man, but blatant disrespect to a woman’s choice tosay no tended to be close to the top of the list.  As he intervened in the situation, Roman washighly disappointed when the man quickly backed down with just a littlepressure.  Clearly a boy thinking he wasa man, trying to subdue someone smaller to make himself feel big.  Pity really, Roman needed something torelease all this pent up aggression.  Asthe man quickly hurried away from the scene, he softly smiled towards the petitebrunette.  “Not a problem miss,” heassured the young female.

Whenshe offered him a drink, he took a brief moment to think about it.  On one hand, he came to this place for aquiet peaceful evening to himself to have a couple well deserved drinks.  On the other hand, he just threw out quiet andpeaceful out the door when he got involved. Plus, he was always taught not to disappoint a woman.  “Sure ma’am, how about a whiskey on therocks.”  He responded as he guided herback towards the bar.  “May I ask what broughtyou out here tonight?”

This was exactly why Cleo had taken a self-defense class a year ago, so that in situations like this if the man hadn’t come in to help her, she would have been able to do something. It made her feel a little safer, but it also upset her to know that it was necessary to take such classes because there would always be men like the first man. Cleo was already such a tiny being and would never be confused for being statuesque. But, next to this man she felt immensely more tiny. He had proven himself to be trustworthy with his willingness to defend her when most of the other patrons of the bar ignored the exchange. 

It was exactly the reason she had offered to buy him a drink - a thanks of being an upstanding civilian. Waving over the bartender who now paid attention to her she ordered him his drink and another round for herself. “I was meeting a friend earlier.” She explained and got back up on her stool. “She left and I was trying to finish my drink before I headed back home. Thank you, again. I know I already said it, but thank you.” 

[clecx]

aresyilmcz·:

“It’s only a little article, no need to lose your head over it.”

“People literally lost their heads. People were decapitated and then the heads were displayed. That is not normal, I feel like I’m in some kind of horror movie I can’t wake up from.” 

[clecx]

romantheenforcer·:

@clecx

The delicate notes of the bluesmusic could be heard outside the brick building.  Roman approached the man scanning ID cardsand pulled out his wallet and flashed his identification assuring the man hewas of drinking age despite having a full white beard.  As he entered, he noticed there was a cloudof smoke filling the air.  Odd, but he hadto admit he loved the mist of second hand smoke floating through the building,the scent of ash and tobacco infiltrating his sense of smell.  Just the scent alone sent a sensation throughhis body and the cravings itched away at him.

Roman took a moment and scannedthe place to get his bearings, the music halted for a brief time as the jukeboxswitched records.  Taking a place at thebar, he hunched over and ordered a well deserved whiskey on the rocks.  The week took its toll on him, the days hadbeen long, but the nights were full of terror. Just as he ordered his second drink, he heard a fellow patron startingto get uppity with a young woman minding her own business.  At first, he ignored the situation at hand itwas not his battle to fight.  Yet, theman became more obnoxious when he refused to accept the word no.

“Fuck,” he grumbled under hisbreath as he placed his hands on the bar to push himself off the stool.  Walking up towards the man, he grabbed him bythe shoulder.  “The lady clearly is notinterested.  Why don’t you leave heralone?”  Honestly, his temperament wasrather calm compared to usual.  “Why don’t you mind your own business old timer?”  The younger man said as he turned to faceRoman.  Chuckling, he nodded hishead.  “Here’s the thing, one of twothings are going to happen here.  One,you are going to apologize to the lady and walk out on your own accord, or twoyou are going to apologize to the lady and I am going to escort you out and itis not going to be pleasant.  Your choiceson.”  Roman stated as he squeezed theman’s shoulder roughly, digging his fingers deep into the man.  “Fine,fine I’m sorry.”  He said as hejerked from Roman and quickly took steps back from them.  “You alright Miss?”

Cleo enjoyed this bar most of the time, it was near her apartment so she didn’t need to uber far after the night was done. And best of all, it was calm enough here for a casual drink without it being a wild and obnoxious scene. Sometimes it was much needed to have the chance to relax and enjoy your drink without loud pounding music or sweaty barely clad bodies pressing against you. Just earlier that evening, she had enjoyed a drink or two with a friend from Boston who was in town for a few days for business. The friend had just left, but Cleo decided to stay for one more drink before she headed back home. 

It was always such a treat to see what her friends were up to. Her move from Boston had been so sudden and abrupt some friends she hadn’t even gotten a chance to say goodbye to. But, her boyfriend had jilted her and had embarrassed her past the point of being able to stay in the same city as him. She had to get a fresh start before she let herself fall victim to the madness of pain, stupidity and pity. Cleo was halfway through her drink when a man who had clearly been more determined to throwing back a few drinks wandered over to her. It was the same routine. What’s your name, babe? What are you drinking? But Cleo wasn’t interested. Not in the slightest and though she politely tried to tell him to leave her alone, he didn’t seem to get the hint. In fact, he seemed even more adamant about bothering her the more she said now. When he reached out and grabbed her arm, Cleo made a small cry and stumbled from her barstool. 

It was at that moment that another man - a much larger man came towards them. At first the sight of him made her nervous. How could she deal with two men who wouldn’t leave her alone? But he quickly established himself as trying to help her. She stood in the spot where she had clumsily stumbled from her stool while the much bigger man forced the man to apologize and leave her alone. Chocolate orbs watched him leave before she returned to her savior. “Yes, I’m alright. Thank you for that.” She smiled. Honestly, Cleo was grateful. She wasn’t sure what would have happened if he hadn’t helped her. “I really appreciate it, much more than you know.” How could she repay him? “Can I buy you a drink as thanks?” 

[clecx]

spencersabahi·:

Spencer jumped as his name was called loudly from across the bar, head jerking towards the noise. For a moment, he blinked, not sure who it was calling for him, but then his frown cleared as his eyes lit with recognition. Coffee shop girl. Who seemed to even remember his name. Her joke make him wince, offering a weak smile.  “Nope. Just uh- just coke,” he said, holding up his glass as example. “Funny running into each other again.”

It was very hard to forget the name of the man who spilled hot coffee all over you and gave you a minor burn. After all, it was hard to forget such an event. Chocolate orbs hazed with alcohol lit up a little at the recognition in his gaze. Of course her joke was in poor taste, but the alcohol loosened her words considerably and she was indeed happy to see him. Clearly his spilling on her did not damper her view of him in the slightest. “I’m so glad to see you again!” She laughed and couldn’t help but feel giddy. “Do you have anything else in that coke? You should. It’s a bar crawl after all!”

[clecx]

↳ <@spencersabahi​

Cleo was enjoying the bar crawl. It had been a little bit since she had let herself go and let loose. While she was tiny, Cleo knew that her tolerance level was very low. So, it wasn’t such a surprise to see the girl with red cheeks and a wide grin on her face with only a few drinks in. She was heading back towards the bar when she saw a familiar form hovering just by it. A wide grin spread over delicate features and the tiny tipsy made a beeline for him. “Spencer!” She cried out, wanting to hug the man in her giddy state. “Promise me you don’t have any coffee this time.” Features scrunched up into a mock scowl but she was past the point of being able to be serious and she started laughing. 

[clecx]

↳ @silasowens

Cleo had not been paying much attention to her surroundings. There was just so much on her mind to preoccupy her conscious thoughts. Her mind whirled with all the things she had to do before she could even think of going to bed as well as an idea she was playing with for a series she could do herself to put up in a gallery show. Standing on the corner waiting for the light to change, Cleo’s lips moved silently sometimes as she rattled off her to do list in her mind. When it turned green to cross, a familiar shape walked right past her. At first, Cleo didn’t recognize him. But as the streetlamp shone down on her, she was hit by the sudden realization. Silas Owens. Picking up her speed, she started to chase after him before she could think how incredibly stalkerish that was. “Hey! Wait!” She called out and ran after him, avoiding the path back to her apartment. “Silas?”

[clecx]

zachary-blake·:

“I’m sorry.” Zachary smiled apologetically as he took a step back from the girl. She seemed freaked out- and, from the smell that was coming from her- he wouldn’t have been surprised if she had no idea what he actually was. Or that the supernatural even existed. “I wasn’t really expecting anyone to be around at this time of the day. After last night, nevertheless.” He pointed out. She wasn’t really supposed to be here, either- doing whatever she was doing. It was only a moment later that he frowned, a little. Pictures? Had she seen anything? Had she seen him turn? Then again, if she had, she would be handling this a little worse. “What have you seen around here?” He asked, trying to play it all off to curiosity. Perhaps she had seen something he’d missed. “I do have a home- just, you know, a jog gone wrong. Mixed with curiosity, and all.” He smiled sheepishly, trying to play it off as he glanced around for his clothes again.

As he stepped back she felt a small breath of relief course through her. Cleo was on edge when anyone she didn’t know got too close, especially a man who was double her height. Though she was aware the supernatural now existed, it was still such a hard pill to swallow. How did one accept something that sounded like it came out of a horror movie? Perhaps that was why she still assumed everyone was human until proven otherwise. “That was why I came out here.” She explained and her fingers played nervously with the camera strung around her neck. “I knew the light would be good and I would be able to get pictures before too much cleanup happened.” Did that sound selfish? She hoped not. Cleo tilted her head down towards the screen when he spoke once more. “I got a few good photos I think. Some of them are pretty haunting. But, I don’t think I’ve seen your shirt. Though, I can go through the photos if you want? Or... maybe buy you a shirt?” She asked, still wondering if indeed he was homeless. “Are you sure?” Cleo asked as her eyes searched his features until she flushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me to ask.”

[clecx]

aubreemerson·:

“I never said it was a joke darling.” The brunette said as she crossed her arms over her chest and smirked slightly at the doe eyed girl.”I’m just talking to talk, but who knows, we barely understand our own earth — what created it and what will end it. The craziest of beings exist, those who can kill others with a flick of her hand. For all we know, this could be because of one of them. I don’t think we’re in the position to say what’s real or not anymore. Don’t you think?”

Cleo bit back a retort since the tension seemed to rise a few degrees. She wasn’t one to try to start a fight, so she would seek to ease the tension instead. “I think it’s the Big Bang, but as much as we have proof supporting that I guess we can never know for sure since no one was there and no one will ever be able to witness that.” Chocolate orbs clouded over with doubt. “I don’t know about that. I mean, it’s crazy enough to fit in with how this year is going, but I mean - I know I’ve seen the things on the news and everything. But it still feels like one big joke. Monsters like that can’t really exist, right? Except for they do. Honestly, I feel like I’ve fallen into a coma or I’m having a really bad dream.” 

[clecx]

spencersabahi·:

“Sure, thanks,” Spencer tipped his head gratefully, deciding not to argue with her any more about who was to blame. It seemed foolhardy when he knew it was his fault, and she was the one injured. She couldn’t know either that he had ever chance to be aware. His senses were magnitudes better than they had been, and he still couldn’t pay attention. “Spencer. Sorry to meet you like this,” he raised his hand to offer it to her automatically, then dropped it when he realized hers were occupied. “Let me buy your coffee. I think I need a new one anyways.”

In this brave new world, Cleo defaulted back to her preconceived notions of people in the fact that they were indeed humans. It still seemed like an unbelievable thing that monsters from movies and books existed amongst her. Part of her accepted it because it was yet another crazy thing in the year 2018 that was past the point of her even being surprised anymore. But another part refused it. How could such a thing be true? Such creatures were fake. Therefore, she never once assumed Spencer was anything but human like herself. Besides, what was the point in blaming him or making him feel bad? He clearly showed signs of remorse for the accident and it was in fact an accident. Yelling at him or making him feel even guiltier would not heal the burn on her stomach. Cleo gently kept the ice wrapped in the towel pressed against her skin as it worked to numb the pain and soothe. “Nice to meet you, Spencer, though I do wish it was under better circumstances.” She let out a small nervous giggle. Smooth, very smooth, Cleo. “I mean, if you want.” Chocolate orbs flickered desperately with humor. “As long as you promise not to spill this one on me too.” Anything to relieve the tension. 

[grantivre]

[clecx]

spencersabahi·:

“Ah- okay. One sec,” Nodding, Spencer turned towards the counter, and the staff that weren’t bothering to hide they’d been watching. “Hey, uh, some ice maybe?” He leaned over the counter to ask, and round of blank expressions before one of them seemed to realize he was talking to them, and jumped to help. “Thanks,” he said, accepting the towel she’d found to wrap around the ice. It looked clean, at least, and at least it was better to try holding onto a handful of napkins and melting ice. Still, he inspected it dubiously on the way back, before handing it over to the girl he’d poured his coffee on. “Here. Again, sorry. I wasn’t watching.”

The wadded up napkins were terrible for such an occasion. They did nothing but irritate the already painful and sensitive skin. Well, this was probably the most clumsy thing she had ever done. This was a day to go down in the personal history of evidence she had no grace whatsoever. The ice was a godsend and Cleo took it gratefully. “Thank you.” Gingerly the cool press was applied to her skin. A hiss of pain filled the air between them. Slowly though it soothed her skin and she kept it gently pressed against her exposed midriff. “It’s okay, it’s as much my fault for being a complete klutz and running into you.” She pressed a stray hair behind her ear to hide her pain. “My name is Cleo by the way, what’s yours?”

[clecx]

addilynyxrke·:

“Do you mind just..–” The cans of paint in her hand teetered slightly as she pointed out the other still some feet away on the pavement by her car. It’d been second nature for her to put her hand up to help with the clean up after the storm. The extensive water damage done to some of the buildings around shocked even her, and that was hardly the worst of it. “Could you grab that and bring it upstairs? The elevator isn’t working and the stairs..– well they really suck, but there’s food and beer upstairs if you need something to sway you a little.”

Cleo had been one of the lucky ones. The storm of biblical proportions had ravished destruction on the town and its residents were slowly healing once more. Her own apartment had suffered little damage beyond minor water damage. Though, she knew she was one of the lucky ones since some had lost their whole home and even their lives. Cleo had been working for the local papers, taking photos of the damage for articles. Her walk home was interrupted by the request. “Oh! Of course!” Cleo flushed slightly with embarrassment at missing her struggle before she brought it to her attention. Quickly, she grabbed the can and followed her. “Let me get the door for you when we get to your apartment.” She smiled. 

[clara-haskell-blog]

[clecx]

spencersabahi·:

The slow reveal of red skin drew a sympathetic hiss from Spencer. In less than a decade, he was already able to forgot how fragile humans were. His whole life, he’d been what people had called cautious. Even before he’d been bitten, Spencer could count his serious injuries on a singular hand. Now, he had no idea what the limits were to his healing and he never intended to discover it. What coffee he’d managed to spill on himself had stung for a moment, but then mostly Spencer had forgotten about it entirely. “That looks like it hurts,” Spencer frowned, dragging his eyes up to meet hers to stop himself from staring. “Shit. Let me get you some ice.”

Cleo couldn’t bring herself to get angry at him since every action of his portrayed just how sympathetic and sorry he was for the accident. He certainly felt bad and she was not going to make him feel even worse when it had been an honest mistake of the two of them simply crashing into each other. The angry red burn did sting in pain and Cleo could assume it would hurt her for a few hours. But, upon further inspection she was relieved to see that the burns were not too bad and would heal just fine. The piping hot cup of coffee had just done a job on her. “It does.” Cleo told him with a slight hiss of pain. “But, it will heal. It is only a minor burn.” The offer of ice was a godsend. It sounded wonderful - more than wonderful in fact. “Yes, please.” Cleo tore her gaze back to him. “Thank you, ice would help.”