the warrior whispers

"i am the storm." kassiopea nolle || 26

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

melodywalsh:

date — april 23 location — courtyard status — open

Her name is called, and she forgets that it’s hers. Her name is called, and she waits for the title to come with it: kitchen apprentice. Her name is called, and she wants to pluck it from the King’s lips with her shaking fingers, hide it in the safety of her palm from Silvers and Reds and strangers. Melody Walsh — new blood. But she hardly feels new; she only feels afraid.

Melody looks meekly down at her shoes, hands clasped tightly as her ears grow hot. Her chest trembles with the force of emotions not her own: fear and awe and revulsion, prove yourself, show yourself, be less than what you are. Are they looking at her? Are they waiting for her to become a symbol of a new age? To shout in support of the King, to smile happily at her undoing?

She’s only ever wanted an apron around her waist, the smell of a cake baking all around her, and a hand tightly clasped in hers. But she is alone, and her hands are empty, and the kitchen is faraway. There is no sanctuary left to her; not even her own heart, so bombarded with the opinions of others after the King’s announcement.

Overwhelmed, unable to take it any longer, Melody turns to scurry away. But the crowd is thick and instead, she stumbles straight into the person behind her. “Apologies,” she murmurs, “If I could just get through, please…"

When Melody’s name was called, Kass’ stomach dropped. No, no, no, not her. Not sweet and innocent Melody. Not the darling chef who was the very embodiment of peace. While once Kass had believed that you could do nothing but love Mel, adore the sweet girl with an even sweeter profession, now she knew that the king had - without thought - placed the woman in danger. Kass had to stop her blood from boiling as she pushed through the crowd. 

She caught Melody as she tried to push through the crowd, accidentally stumbling into her chest. “Shh. If you’d like I can help you get through.” Kass wasn’t completely ignorant to her privilege, and she did know that the power of a well-trained glare from her would clear a path if she so wished it. What mattered now though was Melody’s safety and comfort. “I wish to help you return to the kitchens. Is that okay?”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

jacob-riley:

Jacob’s shoulders tensed. Was she mocking him? He knew little, so precious little compared to what he could have learned, or so he told himself. He had cried for days when he had been pulled from school before stuffing the tears away to do the work necessary to keep a family of six fed and clothed. It hadn’t been enough though, not really. Not even with everyone but Sam working whatever jobs they could get their hands on, it was never enough. “Any butcher’s shop should have them, though you’ll have to specify you want them fresh. Or you could hunt for yourself. It would be the best way to know how quickly you’re able to act and use powers.” He didn’t like Silver powers, they had always given him an uneasy feeling and it felt odd to be talking strategy in how they use them to someone who had them.

“If you wish to see them as compliments, then who am I to stop you?” He kept his eyes glued to the page lest he give away the truth of his feelings for her. Not that they weren’t obvious enough to anyone walking by. He had never liked her. He didn’t know what his sister saw in the woman to want to be around her. “It is best to live life without regret, or so I have heard.” But how would he really know? The boy who ran like a coward away from his fate just to shackle himself to a system he hated. The boy who gave his own happiness in exchange for his sister’s. The boy who couldn’t ever seem to open his damn mouth and just tell the girl who had captured his heart how deeply his feeling ran. Who was Jacob to advise a life free of regret when he had so many?

She saw the tension in his shoulders and wondered, almost idly, if their unspoken truce was about to break. She knew that she had privilege, but she wasn’t aware of where it came into play more often than not. Either people were too afraid to tell her when it did, or they didn’t tell her nicely enough and triggered her self-defense and anger mechanisms. Kass had a feeling that Jake would tend mainly to the latter if he ever blew up at her. “Maybe I will go hunting. I think there was someone in the kitchen who was saying they wanted to experiment with game pies anyway.” She paused for a second, almost afraid to give him that slack, before she swallowed. Nah, Kassiopea Nolle wasn’t afraid of anything. “Thank you. It’s a really good idea.”

“Better that way, I guess. Than the idea that you meant for them to hurt me.” But her attention wasn’t really on the words. Her eyes were gazing out the window and her mind was a million miles elsewhere, perhaps in a world where she and Jacob had a chance at being friends. “Then you have no regrets?” She blinked, coming out of her stupor as she looked over at them. “I mean, I try not to either. What’s the point in looking back?” Liar, liar, as if you don’t replay the faces of those you could have saved over and over every night.

[ayra-chan]

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

jacalynblake:

location ;; outdoors date ;; 04/24, 6:00 a.m. status ;; open

     Jack wasn’t entirely certain if the events from the previous day had actually occurred or were instead a product of her worst nightmare, being called out in front of the people she admired and the ones who admired her for being something different and strange. But she knew it wasn’t a merely a product of an overactive imagination constantly thinking about the worst possible thing that could happen after what had already happened. She knew she had been outed as one of the New Bloods yesterday in front of people who would likely kill her before welcoming her wings with open arms. 

      It was far too early to be awake, but nevertheless, she found herself repeating the morning ritual that she’d been partaking in the past months, though she had had troubles with it during the past weeks. She’d wake up early to gather a few morsels of food and a small bowl of water to take to the cat who had wormed its way into her heart. Jack knew she’d been neglecting the small creature in the wake of what had happened, but she had been trying to avoid everyone. It was difficult to hide wings from people without looking like she had some sort of deformity. But now people knew, and though she didn’t necessarily want to advertise them, it was time to start living. While she still could, at least. 

      “You still love me, right?” she asked the cat, though he seemed more concerned with the food than her. She sighed, sitting down on the ground to wait for the cat to finish. “At least I don’t have to try to hide my wings behind Rahul’s name now.” 

Wings. God, that must be both painful and magnificent. Those were Kass’ thoughts when she caught sight of Jacalyn Blake outside. She couldn’t imagine having done something so immense on her own, and she was grateful to the world that she didn’t have to. But now, despite whatever support Jack might have been getting hiding things before, their wonderful king had exposed her mercilessly and without hesitation. 

“Rahul, huh?” She said as way of greeting. “Figures... They would know the best ways to help you tuck them away. Plus, they have a habit of adoption people into their care.” A light smile, they hadn’t really interacted before, but she wanted her to know not every Silver was a threat, and Kass didn’t intend to be. “I... This whole situation is probably terrifying, huh?” She said as gently as she knew how, sitting down too despite her nice dress and the morning dew. “You probably don’t need the help, you’re probably more than capable of taking care of yourself... but if you do need a hand, or anyone’s giving you any trouble... I’m a castle guard, and a friend of Rahul’s. Let me know, and I’ll do what I can.” She bit her lip. “This is... strange, isn’t it? I just... I don’t know how to help, but I know I can’t just wait for things to go wrong before speaking up so...”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

decadentlonging:

love in action is a harsh and terrible thing compared with love in dreams april 23rd  open

If King Orion had made it his goal to scandalize his nation more and more with every announcement, he could not have been doing a better job of it. A wedding, a decree of total blood equality, and the reveal of everyone within their ranks whose abilities went beyond the normal to boot. This had to be the most exciting random April day in history.

Or perhaps the most terrifying, at least for some. Rahul, whose mind worked like a hand hovering over a chessboard, could not help but see all the possible moves out of the position Orion had just put the entire kingdom in, and none of them were wholly good.

As the speech came to a close and the crowd’s quiet was broken by murmurs and the steadily increasing shuffle of hundreds of shifting bodies, they could only roll their eyes to the heavens as if praying to some forgotten god for patience. “Do you suppose he ever thinks before he makes such monumental declarations?” they asked nobody in particular. The best thing they could do would be to get out of the crowd as soon as possible, maybe track down a few people or send word off to their sister, but in the moment they needed to just stay still and sigh their abject dismay at how the kingdom was headed–not where, for equality seemed like a logically sound decision, but how, for they had been set barreling down a path they were not truly equipped for, with saboteurs still all around.

Kass’ stomach had dropped at the announcement. She had so much faith in Orion, so much belief, and look where that optimism had gotten her. This was the stupidest thing she’d ever heard of, and now there was going to be a reckoning. Standing beside Rahul, it was easy to hear their musings, but there was a fist holding her stomach tight and refusing to let go. People were going to die over this. Civilians. Children. The New Bloods were sure to already be on a hit list of sorts. 

“I wish someone had stopped him.” She says, her jaw tense and her hands in fists. “We have to protect who we can.” Because that’s where her mind jumped to. Melody had been named. Sweet Mel who couldn’t hurt a fly. What if she became a target? What if Silvers decided to eradicate the “new”? “Rahul, we have to find a way to place contingencies ourselves where we can.” And she looked up at them with lightning in her eyes, letting him know in no uncertain terms that neither they nor she could afford to sit idly by in their privilege and watch and wait.

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

jacob-riley:

“So education is poor for everyone. It’s hardly a revelation.” Another thing flawed with our country that so many praise, he thought to himself. He wasn’t foolish enough to speak it out loud. Thoughts like those remained either in his own mind or spat like poison between clenched teeth to Galen in the stables. Not to anyone else and nowhere else and certainly not to a Silver like Kassiopea. “I didn’t say it would be easy. I didn’t even say it would be successful. But it would have been a way to use your powers to heal rather than hurt and, though I certainly ave no experience in it, I should imagine the greater trained and honed powers are, they easier they would be to use. It could be a skill tried in feats on animal carcasses to perfect it. Not that that would change much now as you’re home from war.”

“I believe you are placing words into my mouth mi’lady,” he said evenly. He did of course. He thought her arrogant, he thought her privileged, he thought her far too opinionated. And no one in court could contest her beauty. But saying any of it would be a mistake. He looked down into his book again as he spoke, “From our last conversation it was your decision not hers that sealed that fate.”

“I suppose it isn’t for you. You seem to know everything.” Kass’ voice was light, almost joking, because she knew for certain from Jacob’s gripes that things were not easier in the least for the Reds. “No, so few end up with the education they really want.” It was the smallest sting, the tiniest note, but it was disheartening to realize that she couldn’t do this even if she wanted to - cauterize wounds, restart hearts - because she was far from the battlefield. Home from war was such a strange phrase to her. Was she truly home? At times the front felt more like home than the marble palace with its restrictions and rules. “Perhaps I’ll try. Animal carcasses, huh? Where could I find a steady supply of those?”

“I was just asking,” She replied back just as steadily. And she’d assume it to be true until he corrected her. “I’ve been called worse. Arrogant and vain? Why, it feels almost like a compliment.” It’s not like I don’t have much to be proud of. She thought quietly. Though it confused her as to why this Red’s opinion mattered so much to her. Not that Red opinions didn’t, but because she tended not to hang on the negative thoughts of people who disliked her for things she couldn’t control or envied her for the things she could. Still, there was a sort of hurt that she could feel from Jake that made her wonder at times if he was truly angry with her or if she were just an outlet, a scapegoat, for all the things he did dislike. “And I do not regret it.”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

octavianrhambos:

“Love to,” he quipped, squeezing her welcomed hand in his tightly as she pulls them toward the dance floor. He’d been rather distracted tonight and in general as of late, hasn’t had as much time for the things he loves. Like Kassiopea, the bright, incandescent sun to his dark side of the moon. Her smile could part the seas and her cascading curls could send trees crashing down in their wake. For as long as he can remember, she has always been a force to be reckoned with. Lightning dances and crackles along her fingertips, ready to ignite and strike whatever and whomever she desires. But what he’s always loved most about her is her restraint. Her ability to sniff out the goodness in a person and focus on that rather than their flaws. Man’s inherent nature is to destroy and Kassiopea’s has always been to brighten. At least for Octavian. He’ll always see her as such anyway, despite her fists forged from iron and her steel-encased heart.

They reach the middle of the crowd in a matter of seconds and he comes to a halt, yanking lightly on her arm to spin her around. His eyes widen when she finally faces him and he extends his arm to wrap around her torso, resting his palm gently but firmly against the small of her back. “Where have you been all night? You look flushed,” eyebrows raised, his lips slowly twist up into a smirk.

His smile felt like the battlefield to her, beautiful and fierce and certain. It was a different kind of home than Theo’s... Theo was the safety of a hearth, the warmth of a quilt... But Tav? Tav was all of her desire to fight and conquer and win. He was the same side of the coin to her, and while he may have seen her as a sun, to her, he was much of the same. She was sure she was the darkness, and he was the moon. She couldn’t think anything but that perhaps they were both set to destroy, but Tav... Tav taught her that she was never alone. He was always there with her through the animal instinct and destructive impulses telling her she was beautiful and cared for and that he was right there with her. Her iron fists would always fight along side his and her steel heart would always have an opening for him.

Her laugh echoed as he spun her into his body, her eyes shining up at him. She blushed a little more at his smirk, and at the admission that was going to come from her. “Theo told me he loved me. Genuinely. Romantically. He... kissed me.” She picked her chin up, daring him to mock her, her pride refusing to allow her to be ashamed of that. Not when it brought her so much joy. “But... he was not the first person to tell me he loved me. You’ve been saying it. For years. And... I always laughed. I never thought you were serious. So... now I’m asking. Are you... Were you serious?”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

theosgreco: 

It was odd how certain people possessed such powerful abilities. Kass could suck him up in a storm with she wanted to. She could strike him with lightning, send a hail storm on him, send a tornado his way, or do any other savage thing to him. Likewise, he could crush her with his strength like he did to so many out on the battle field. It was weird to look at the reds, all powerless and normal, and think that they were the odd ones out despite the fact that their blood had been around for years longer than the silver blood that coursed through his veins. 

Yet, he felt more vulnerable now than he did around her or anyone else’s powers. He grew up around powers. He witnessed fire coming out of one’s palm, plants growing an immense speed, items floating just due to the control of someone’s mind. He wasn’t phased by the weird abilities anymore. But raw, real emotion? It was something he didn’t grow up around. He was taught that Greco men don’t worry about feelings and that they should focus more on the war and their strength. He wasn’t like the rest of them, he felt the intensity of emotions enough for the rest of them. It was just hard to know how to handle it. He never got to the point where the feelings stopped overwhelming him. He didn’t know if he would ever get to that point.

Somehow he found people who could lessen his pain. His time at war seemed like a dream. He remembered vaguely what happened every time he stepped foot onto a battle field, yet he remembered vividly falling into Tav and Kass’ embrace after as they stroked his hair and relieved his pain. They took care of him, and it was something he didn’t really think he needed until it happened.

Theo felt tears well up in his eyes when she confirmed that she felt the same way. He just never expected that from anyone—let alone someone like Kass. He let a smile fall on his lips as she felt his curls. They were getting long again. He had to get her to trim them sometime. It was an odd moment for Theo. A man who hid behind his fears, who refused to tell his dad the real truth about what h e was like, was acting so brave in that moment. He blamed it on the quiet and the vulnerability the mirror room brought as well as the high energy of the ball that surrounded them for his risky moves. In another time Theo would not have told Kass he loved her in fear of being rejected. In another time he wouldn’t have thought to kiss her, but clearly this wasn’t another time as Theo moved closer and connected her lips with his.

How could she hurt him? She couldn’t. She couldn’t harm her wonderful, sensitive, beautiful best friend. Maybe that’s what love was. Maybe it was aching at the mere thought of bringing someone pain. Maybe it was choosing pain for yourself, restraint for yourself, over the slightest harm to another. After all, wasn’t that what she was doing here, in this damned capital, far from the action? Theo was happy here. Theo was far from his demons. It did not matter that Kassiopea was back where her own demons lived as long as Theo never had to face his again.

She knew that admitting to his emotions was hard enough, but for something this big... Kass had always just thought she’d have to figure it out first, or Tavvy... or it would just be some grand, unspoken thing between them all. She never in a million years thought that her brave poet, her sensitive warrior, would be the one holding her close and confessing things with the utmost vulnerability.

She should have seen it coming, it had been in his eyes, but the smallest gasp of surprise left her mouth just before his own lips descended. It hadn’t been the first time they’d kissed, but the last time had been so long ago that she’d desperately missed the taste of it. Finding his mouth, feeling his love, in many ways, it was like coming home at the end of a long day to a home cooked meal and a warm fire. It was comfort and safety and certainty. I’ve loved you for so long, and everyone knew. We both knew. And yet no one said anything.

Her breath came in soft pants when she finally pulled away, but she kept her forehead tilted forward against his, smiling brilliantly. “I love you.” She said finally, her heart in her throat, and her voice fond but exasperated. “Idiot... Wasn’t it all obvious?”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

jacob-riley: 

“It does when it’s a discussion about your upbringing. Regardless of what you want to do, you were raised to do very different things so I would have expected it to have been taught,” he countered. At this point he was arguing for the sake of arguing. Silver education wasn’t what he believed. It hardly had any baring on his life. He could see her point about the fighting though. Things were violent and they happened fast. Still…. His eyes narrowed as he lost himself to the thoughts in his head. “Well, though electrically based, electric is extraordinarily hot. Theoretically–though, admittedly only in theory and it would hardly be easy finding a wiling test subject–you could use lightening to cauterize wounds. One white hot light use to seal off the pathways for blood and keeping people from bleeding to death. Difficult,” he pinched his brow trying to picture the logistics of it, “certainly. Plausibly not even possible. But worth a shot if they’re going to die anyway.”

His eyes flicked to hers and he caught the look on her face feeling almost unnerved. It didn’t seem right that she was smiling quite like that. He pulled his knees up higher as though he could hide behind them. “The Greek figure was beautiful, but vain and arrogant.” He looked at her eyes level but didn’t point out that he felt perhaps they fit her a bit too aptly. His eyes flicked down to the drawing. “I suppose.”

“It wasn’t.” She muttered sullenly, unable to openly admit that he had a point. “It’s just what education your parents think you ought to have to succeed in life. I could recommend things to my parents but at the end of the day, it was up to them.” She kept her tone carefully neutral, not wanting to let her bitterness show. Let him wonder whether or not Kassiopea Nolle was a grateful daughter. Some people were still on the fence about her, after all, not sure what to make of the girl who dressed like a lady but fought like a ruffian. Maybe she was lucky and he was one of them. “... I... I don’t think... That’s a lot of responsibility on the battlefield. When everything’s happening so quickly, to try to experiment cauterizing wounds... I don’t know how to both survive and win battles and do that. On an off chance.”

“Beautiful, vain, and arrogant... Is that how you see me, Mister Riley?” She said, her eyes soft and dancing. She’d been called worse. Never mind why this Red servant’s opinion mattered so heavily to her. Never mind that the way he had tucked himself tighter had her suppressing laughter. “From what I remember, she was also a queen... Well, I suppose my mother had high hopes for me.”

[xpi3tian]

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

stxneskin:

Valeria nodded, in complete understanding of the other woman’s words. She wasn’t sure she’d last a day on the front line. And personally, she’d argued against pulling the best fighters off the front lines to protect to nobles. Valeria was more than sure the small, but dedicated, group of guards already stationed at the palace would be more than capable of taking care of the influx of people. Besides, it wasn’t like the nobles in Archeon were defenseless. They had powers even scarier than Kassiopea’s own. But like a good guard after she’d been over ruled she’d staid mute on the subject. “I must agree with you. I too would feel like a fish out of water if our roles were to be reversed. Hopefully Crownstrial will end soon and you can return to a sense of normalcy.” And Valeria meant that.

“Hmm. Perhaps.” Valeria shrugged. “I’m not sure these rooms are quite so black and white as we’d like them to be. Between the designers and Ori-Our King I’m sure there’s a hidden meaning for us to find. But what that is here is rather beyond me.” She chuckled and shook her head, allowing herself to admire herself briefly in a nearby mirror. She was beautiful tonight, her mother’s ladies had worked over time. Cocking her head to the side, hair falling gracefully over her shoulder as she did so, Valeria spoke her mind, at ease with the young woman. “Pardon, but I’m not sure I believe you Lady Nolle.”

Valeria was brilliant in her field, and Kass respected her immensely, especially since she’d gone through much of the same discrimination and criticism as she had. In a way, Val felt like a sort of kindred spirit. Maybe she wasn’t a soulmate the way Theo and Tav were, but there was definitely an understanding between them that had Kass smiling brighter than normal. “Imagine me, defending, Valeria. It’d be horrible. I’d be off, racing after the intruder just for a bit of the action and leave my charge totally exposed. I couldn’t do it. No patience.” Her wish had Kass beaming even wider. Normal. God, what she wouldn’t give for that.

“I don’t know about the designers, but it would be such an Orion thing to do to leave layers of meaning in a maze of mirrors. Probably something about looking without to see yourself within or other nonsense.” A beyond pleased look came to Kass’ eyes when Valeria called her out. So few people tended to, especially not politely. Either they were too afraid to let her know when they thought she wasn’t being honest or they were too vindictive, wanting to rub her nose in the fact that she was lying and they found out. “Lady Macanthos, I think I really like you. And you had best believe that.”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

theosgreco:

It was weird to think about him in high school versus him now. The people he hung out with, his tastes, they all changed. Some aspects of him were the same, but overall he’s changed from his teenage self. It was odd to think he was going back to that time of his life. He was going to be able to see friends he hadn’t talked to in years as well as new friends he made after graduation. Kass and Tav. The two people he never would’ve expected to get along so well with. He was just a small theatre boy who would’ve laughed at the thought of befriending someone as sporty as Tav or Kass. 

Theo was cleaning his glasses when he heard a knock on the door. Placing his glasses back on, Theo wandered over to the door and opened it. He beamed when he saw it was Kass. He lit up even more when he saw the ice cream in her hand. “Of course gorgeous. Anything for you.” He said, motioning for her to enter.

Kass entered the room, but not before leaving a soft kiss in that slight dimple in his cheek. She leapt onto the bed like she belonged there, smiling tenderly at him from the sheets. Pulling out the pints, she put his beside her before cracking open her own and grabbing a plastic spoon from the bag as well. “You ever think we’d end up there?” She asked, liquor flavored ice cream already in her mouth as she blinked happily up at him.

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

stxneskin:

Valeria had been itching for a reason to back out of her current conversation. There was only so much gushing about children she could take and she was pretty sure she’d seen the same picture of the man’s kids at least three times in the span of the conversation. Congrats. Valeria had no idea what to say. She’d barely know the guy in school to begin with. Her fault for asking if he was in her tenth grade Algebra class. So when she heard a familar voice call out her name she was quick to end the conversation and turn around to face the woman, a smile on her face. She’d worked with a lot of people but it was this woman that stuck out to her the most. The one she’d have working for her any chance she got, if she had her way of course.

“Kassiopea! Goodness it feels like ages since we last talked.” Her smile was genuine, both because she was excited to see her and because she was away from that man. “That little thing? Psht. If he’d been any sloppier I almost could have let the local police handle things. But you know how they are these days.” She laughed and held her hand out. “Last I heard of you were out east taking down one of the most wanted men in the world!”

Kass resisted both the urges to salute and hug, one too formal and the other not formal enough. It was strange to have found someone else who understood what it was like to claw your way to the top, especially one that came from the same background. “That’s my fault. I can only write so many letters when I’m out there, and now that I’m back, I honestly hate emails.” Her own grin was wide and untamed. Valeria and her had always been an easy fit in terms of conversation and companionship. While she could never be Tav or Theo, Kass could imagine their trio being a quartet if only Val had come out to the front and stayed more permanently.

Waving away the modesty, Kass shook her head. “Ok, but don’t act like that take down was one in a million for you. More like you’ve done a million by now, and they can’t all be so... mediocre? Dull or tame seems almost disrespectful.” She shook her head. “Nah, that’s the newspapers looking for a sensation. It was just an uprising with a rebel leader that was causing pain in the region. And I know it was badass, but he sure wasn’t worldwide wanted.”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

When: May 7th Where: Theo’s Room Status: Closed to @theosgreco

Thelonious Greco, who would have thought we’d end up here? Kass thought to herself as she swiped her credit card through at the till in the little corner grocery by where they were all staying. Who would have thought that they would have been best friends? That some how that soft-spoken theater kid and the girl who was a cheerleader on the seasons when she wasn’t on the football field would have anything in common? Even if they didn’t have too much overlap before, nowadays, she and Theo along with the third part of them - Tav - just seemed to click. It was so easy and effortless, and just the thought of her best friend made her want to smile.

In fifteen minutes, she was standing outside his room at the hotel, knocking, plastic bag in hand with one bottle of rum and two pints of ice cream inside. Cookies and Cream for him, and Urban Bourbon Ben and Jerry’s for her. As if she weren’t getting boozy enough before the reunion. When the door swung open, she smiled tenderly, always able to be soft and, at times, a bit shy, for him. “Hey there, handsome. Let me in?”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

When: May 7th Where: Hotel Lobby Status: Closed to @stxneskin

It had only been the briefest of glances, but it was enough to recognize the woman whom she had admired from afar for quite a while. Their paths had crossed once when Valeria had decided to evaluate a terrorist threat on the front herself, but past that, she could only follow her briefly made friend through newspaper clippings and online articles when she was of half a mind to google her. All in all, she saw much of her own ambitions in Valeria, while she’d craved more of the dirt and grime, she also could see herself happy in a more private sector the way the Macanthos woman was doing with her security firm. After all, Kass couldn’t be in the war forever. Even for her, it would be ideal if one day she could either walk away, healthy and whole, or there would no longer be a war to fight.

“Macanthos!” She cried out in greeting, raising her hand as she approached the other woman. “God, it’s been too long, hasn’t it? Last I heard of you, you were busy spoiling a bomb threat in DC. Isn’t that right?”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

melodywalsh:

It was human to run from disaster — but the sight of Kass reminded Melody of the times she had wholeheartedly welcomed it into her heart. There was beauty in understanding the chaos of letting someone in, and loving them regardless. And so Melody had cared for Kass, when they were young and bright-eyed; she’d been as beautiful as she was now, all these years later. Her eyes as dark and tempting as ever, the promise of an adventure tucked within. “My savior,” she said warmly, stepping into Kass’s arms without a hint of doubt. She held on for a beat longer than necessary, tightening her grip around her to emphasize how good it was to see her again. It didn’t matter, that Kass was close to her husband (if you could still call him that) — it didn’t stop Melody from thinking dearly of Kass, who had shown her how to step into the fire and come out alive, even stronger for it. “I haven’t seen you in ages.” Her lips pressed against Kass’s cheeks fondly before Melody stepped away from the hug and glanced over her. “You look as gorgeous as you always have. Some things never change.”

Kass felt nothing but warmth and adoration as sweet little Mel, wonderful successful Mel, stepped into her arms. She nuzzled her cheek slightly against the girl’s temple before squeezing back just as firmly. There was the sweet scent that she’d become so familiar with over the course of high school. So floral and clean and fresh. Just as Mel was so pure... at least, most of the time. “Well I’ve seen you loads. Your show takes up half my DVR just because I hate deleting episodes.” She laughed fondly, blushing a bit at the soft press of her lips to her cheek. Tucking a strand of hair back behind Mel’s cheek, she scrunched her nose. “You’re one to talk, superstar, but I guess I know you looked this stunning even without a stylist. How have you been?”

[kassiopeanolle-blog]

melodywalsh:

date — may 6 location — plaza hotel status — open

The years had been kind to her. Her baby face had sunken in some, lending to her the wisdom that age often bestowed (asked for or not); her humble beginnings were nowhere to be seen in the elegance of her posture, the self-assured slope of her smile. And still, her heart fluttered. The years, it seemed, had turned on themselves. She was sixteen again, surrounded by people who knew her only as Mel, the soft-spoken girl who ducked her head shyly every time she laughed. To assuage her anxiety and distract her lips and hands with something to do, she reached for a flute of champagne. The glass had barely touched her lips when the entire room brightened, and she recognized a familiar face. “Hi — you came, too. I was worried I wouldn’t know anyone here.”

Kass had worn something simple and striking to the little reception that was being held in the hotel. Not a skirt, she wasn’t in the mood, but dark denim jeans, a loose tank top, and a leather jacket, aviators perched on her head as she wandered into the space. Any other reunion, she ought to have been the most brilliant success story. Top marks graduate of West Point, served with distinction overseas... But it seemed Nortan only served out celebrities in its graduating classes, and she was one of the lesser remarkable people by far. Her brothers’ daughters and sons had already asked her to collect as many autographs as possible. The families of the people here would likely have had no clue who she was. But then, like a breath of air to whoosh away any insecurity, Melody Walsh appeared before her and a bright, slightly mischievous twinkle appeared in her eye. She’d always loved corrupting the sweet girl... but she knew her through a different lens now. Through the lens of the wife of the man who’d stood beside her on the front lines. That meant off limits. “As if I’d leave you to the circling sharks, Mel.” She held out her arms for a hug. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”