the prodigy

kiran manning nineteen, student, intern they/them ❝ Having a soft heart in this world is both ignorant yet incredibly courageous. Ignorant because you allow people to pass through your walls after they’ve hurt you so many times, yet courageous to know that even if they hurt you again, things always get better. ❞

[lesstalkmorehead]

[nadiarousseaus]

Fortunate for her, this was not her first time clicking her heels on the Palace floor. Blessed with an invitation since her acceptance into the Coalition, Nadia found herself an old hat when it came to the infamous ball - the gowns, the spectatorship, the overwhelming feeling of the eyes of the world bearing into the back of your skull, as they watch you glide across the floor.

The evening goes like this - the floor opens to hundreds of the elite inner circles dancing. She is greeted by her hostess, all politeness with kisses on the cheek, both out doing each other when it comes to compliments and niceness. Then, she coos - she marvels at the food on offer, gossips with an old socialite, gives out tips for doing your hair exactly the same as her. Then there are photographs, gilded smiles and careless laughter, the world spinning and she one of its mistresses.

But she did not venture into the Kingdom for her own personal Cinderella story.

Eyes sharpened, they actively hunger for one of two women - so precise in the knowledge of what her task must be. Looping back towards the bar (generously open, she could only assume) she leaned against the mahogany counter, only alerted when someone appeared at her side.

“You go first.”

It cost nothing to be generous.

[kiranmanning]

Kiran’s mind couldn’t help but love the music that was being played; each note sounding better and better in their head. They couldn’t help but thank every soul in charge of the music for the event for gracing Kiran’s ears with something that would calm them down rather than causing their heartbeat to go faster and faster by ruining the ambiance with bad music. Although, if they were to really think about it, it would be an one in a million sort of probability, wouldn’t it? -- A gala, put together by a Royal, having nothing but the best of the best at every aspect of it. 

Maybe Kiran ought to stop over-analyzing everything about the event, just enjoy the sweet champagne, the music and the glowing outfits everyone wore that night -- it was nothing short of a dream worthy review from they own personal perspective. Their judgement wasn’t the best, they weren’t really usual attendees of things like this. 

Whether or not that was a good thing, the jury was still out. Had they been more well versed in movie worthy events, the wonder they felt the moment they walked in wouldn’t be so present, if it would be present at all. On the other hand, if they had been to a few, they wouldn’t look like they were drooling every passing moment. 

It was a complicated situation to debate with their own mind, while excited about the event they would be having the inner debate about. 

Leaning against the bar counter, they chose that spot because a) they wouldn’t be standing in the midst of the room, looking out of place and b) they wouldn’t get in the way of anyone and, if they wanted to order, they could just scoot over, give the person a polite smile and carry on. 

Their plan proved fallible when a somewhat familiar voice addressed them; and as soon as they turned to face whoever had spoken, they realized it wasn’t familiar for the reasons they thought it had been. 

Nadia Rousseau. 

“Oh, hm -- No, I’m not going to order anything. Sorry, I’m probably standing somewhere I shouldn’t be.” Kiran spoke, a nervous smile, followed by a chuckle, escaping their lips. How does one act when they meet an actress they both like and find to be out of this world?

[justicemadisonporter]

She had to hand it to their princess, Adelaide had put up quite an event. To think of how far the young princess had come since the years of her father’s rule was impressive in Madison’s mind. Pulling herself together had shown initiative, and embracing the roles she was born into even more so. Though in Madison’s eyes, it showed equally how far again the girl could fall. But now wasn’t the time to think of such things. 

The best and brightest, the most influential and well known names graced her presence tonight, but there were two that she focused her gaze on. Katherine and Selina still needed to be properly vetted, and as such,  Madison’s keen eye remained on them as they wined and dined through the evening. She was not alone in this endeavor - she knew that plenty of her fellow Coalition members would be here tonight, if not all of them. She had made sure that the invitations were sent out accordingly. The princess could plan the party - but Madison wouldn’t be denied her company. 

Her hand found two glasses of champagne as a waiter passed with the tray, eyeing a potential target. With both in hand, she approached, a smile playing on her lips. “Just who I wanted to see. Champagne?”

[kiranmanning]

Dresses flowing, people chatting and glasses clicking were some of the things that had Kiran stop from time to time, just to look around, eyes appreciating what was around them and looking for a familiar face that they could strike a conversation with. They couldn’t have said no to such an event, however, their mind couldn’t help but think of all the work they ought to get caught up with before their break is over. Was it a curse or that constant worry one of the factors that contributed to their good grades? -- Their mind snapped, thinking that maybe that place wasn’t the best to think about those things. 

A voice turned their attention to a woman that was everything Kiran could ever hope to be: top of her field and respected by those that know her name, including Kiran themselves. Kiran turned their body to face Madison, their smile growing big in both relief and nervousness; they just hoped they wouldn’t do something to turn Madison away. “Yes, thank you.” Kiran said, taking the glass and nodding their head a bit. 

Their eyes scanned the room yet again before turning their attention back to Madison, holding the cup with both of their hands as their clutch hung tight under their arm. Kiran pressed their lips together before they spoke. “This gala is amazing. Everyone looks like they’re made of gold.” Kiran commented, words that they should’ve, perhaps, kept to themselves. “How are you feeling?”

[dianawindsor-blog]

It was a night all looked forward to, but perhaps none more than Diana herself — in the past, of course, but tonight, all the more. To watch her daughter so eagerly ignite at the opportunity to make the ball her own, from the guests she selected by hand to the flute of champagne Diana’s lacquered fingers tapped a staccato rhythm against, was all she could’ve hoped for. When held next to the images of that very girl in a pile of silk and lace on the floor, tattered and broken as her demons consumed her, it was little less than a miracle.

It was a miracle Diana wouldn’t take away from her. This was Adelaide’s night.

Her arrival would turn heads — a blessing and a curse she’d long since accepted — and so she’d opted to postpone it as long as she could without drawing suspicion, allowing the Queen in the making to bask in what she’d created for just a few moments longer. Alone, in a room off the hallway that housed the bustling ballroom, red lips sipped from that champagne flute as glassy eyes stared out the window at frosted gardens. The sound of a pair of footsteps behind her caught her ears, head turning to cast the lost body a gentle smile.

“I can promise you, I’m not half as interesting as what’s bound to transpire in the ballroom tonight. It’s a bit early in the night to seek reprieve from it all already, isn’t it?”

[kiranmanning]

Despite the fact that London itself was surrounded by glamorous bright lights and store windows illuminated to display their most expensive products, even if Kiran was in the same class as some of the richest people they have ever met, nothing could’ve prepared them to the gold pained ball room that spread right before their eyes. It was safe to say they felt somewhat out of place, their two piece coming nowhere near the same about of glamour as the outfits of the people around them. 

Glass of champagne in hand, half filled and untouched, Kiran looked around, holding a clutch in their hands -- it didn’t have that many things inside of it, simply their phone and ID, a few sweets in case they decided to gain a sweet tooth in the midst of the gala. It could happen, couldn’t it? Plus, they could feel lightheaded, sugar would definitely come in handy -- not that they didn’t think the Royal family wasn’t prepared, would anything happen to anyone in the gala.

A light buzzing, spreading itself through the fabric of their clutch caused them to jump a bit; perhaps their mind was just a bit too overwhelmed by everything that surrounded them that their thoughts had been abruptly put on pause, enough to make them appear a tad too skittish. ‘Mum’ flashed on the cellphone screen and they knew they ought to pick it up, not wanting to worry her. Looking around, Kiran tried to find a door that would lead them away from the background noise and the music; at the first door they found, their feet led the way and they walked out of the main room, hurrying into another. 

Although, as soon as they saw who stood right in front of them, Kiran froze, clicking the red button as a reflex -- and there they stood, for at least a couple of seconds, before they looked at the floor and gave the Queen the respect she deserved in the form of a small curtsy, perhaps even a bit sloppy. “Your Majesty.” They said, their voice even cracking a bit before they looked up and wore their trademark warm smile. “I doubt that’s true.” Genuine words; she was the Queen of England, after all, and looked quite ravishing that night (as she always did). “Ah, I was just finding a quiet place to take a call. I didn’t mean to intrude, I’m sorry.” I’m sorry? Perhaps a bit too informal, Kiran. A mental sigh played in their head, over and over again.  

[kiranmanning]

matter of security • kiran&wes

The world would have to invent a whole new kind of facepalm just so Kiran could accurately portray just how they felt about the whole thing; how could they have forgotten a handful of Brighton Pharmaceuticals’ files at their dorm was beyond them and they hated just how big that one mistake had been. Kiran had been so wrapped up with packing to go back to their house to spend the holidays that they didn’t even dream they’d forget something. Thankfully, they had written a note in one of their books, at the end of a chapter they were going to study: “Don’t forget the files”. Their whole system, although seemingly odd to the rest of their peers, worked for them. They would finish studying the chapter and, at the end, they’d be reminded of something they would’ve forgotten about if they had told themselves about it before they filled their developing brain with more and more information.

Now, there they were. Making their way to their dorm to retrieve files that should be with them at all times, they made sure their pace was fast enough so they wouldn’t spend that much time just going through campus to reach the facility’s door. However, when they got there, there was two strange men (which reminded them of those from the X-Files, wearing a dark suit and some impenetrable demeanor). Confused, Kiran looked around the place to make sure they weren’t hallucinating the whole thing (although it would be highly improbable since they didn’t have fever to cause that nor any other reason for them to go through it). Approaching the man, they put both of their backpack straps on their shoulders and shifted them into a comfortable position before speaking. “Good morning.” They spoke, making sure there was a small smile on their face as they spoke. 

Then, they carried on walking. Maybe if Kiran didn’t slow down, making it seem like they didn’t belong there, the men would just let them through without making them feel nervous about something that had clearly not done. However, Kiran was stopped on their tracks by the man that stood on their right. You can’t go through here, the man had told them and that sure as hell had left them more confused than they already were. Kiran furrowed their eyebrows. “What’s going on?” They could help but ask the man, shifting their position to face them completely, their back facing the other

[fares-are-for-tourists]

Natasha was cold, wet, and had just spend the past hour trying to coax someone’s damn cat out of a tree. There was probably a reason she wasn’t exactly fond of cats but in the moment she had to at least pretend to care about the well being of the feline aptly named ‘Snowball’ who found it perfectly alright to spit and hiss at her every time she got close. How anyone could love a ball of anger and fury that wanted nothing more than to sink it’s claws into her she’d never know. As soon as she had caught it by the scruff of it’s back it turned on her and gave her a nice big scratch on her arm. She’d sworn out loud and couldn’t have gotten it back to it’s owner fast enough. This was not what she had in mind when she had started to work at the police department. She was completely convinced that it had been her father’s idea to send her on the ridiculous errand in the first place. Hell, there’s no way she’d put it past him. After all you’d think getting a cat from a tree would be relatively safe.

Thankfully her shift was now over and she could try to put all of the bullshit of the day behind her. Stopping to grab a coffee for the walk back to her apartment, after all it was freezing and not even her coat was helping much after being soaked by the melted snow. With her thoughts taking away a lot of her active attention she hadn’t noticed someone walking much to close to her. She felt her arm being bumped and she felt the smallest bit of a shove that accompanied it. Two people who had been equally as unaware of each other.

Unfortunately for Natasha, it was her injured arm that had been bumped, which still stung even under the coat. She had a quick knee-jerk reaction and the coffee that had once been held in her had was now spilled all over the ground as she let out a slight hiss of pain. Quickly she turned and leveled a glare at the person who had bumped her. “Seriously? Maybe you should watch where you’re going while you’re walking. You’re not the only person around you know.”

[kiranmanning]

The pace in London was faster than it had ever been before. With Christmas right around the corner, the people that decided to procrastinate getting presents were now rushing all over the place to keep up the tradition without fail. If there was one thing Kiran would change about these following weeks would be the confusion of the gift buying; not the gift buying itself for they loved it just as much as the next person but how, sometimes, people forgot about those around them just so they could buy a pair of socks for someone they love. It was selfish and Kiran could only hope whoever ruined a stranger’s day, so they could buy something for someone else, would try and make up for it one way or another. 

Walking down the street, looking as the small snowflakes fell on their black winter coat and on their dark red gloves, Kiran took a sip of the coffee they had just picked up from the first Costa Coffee they saw across the street. The line hadn’t been too long and Kiran would wait for a little while just to get their gingerbread and cream latte, a hot beverage to create a contrast with the cold that surrounded them and everyone that had decided to leave their home to either take a stroll through the streets, do some Christmas shopping, go to work or whatever other million reasons there could be. There was something magical about walking on the streets of London and seeing all the Christmas related things, fully knowing that they would be walking back to their parents’ home and not their dorm room (they adored it but it could get quite lonely sometimes). 

However, the hot and cold contrast wasn’t the only thing they had seen. Whereas to some, Christmas is a time to give and adore each other, to others, it’s just another excuse to rush through the day and call it holiday fever. When they saw a girl being bumped into right in front of them and the other person just walking away like nothing had happened, Kiran couldn’t help but frown a little bit, watching as the girl held her arm and hissed in pain and her coffee all over the ground. Walking towards her, Kiran spoke, approaching the girl cautiously. “Are you alright? Do you need anything?” The girl could very well hiss at them as well but they couldn’t walk past without at least trying to help her.

[kiranmanning]

unexpected hello • kiran&maia

@maiaventurii​

Some days, Kiran just needed to hang out with Vienna. The blonde was, maybe, Kiran’s greatest friend at that very moment in their life. However, as they walked towards the Venturi property with a thermos on their hand and bag slung on their shoulder, it was as if their legs wanted to walk even faster just so they could tell Vienna about their day and hear about hers -- perhaps even help her with whatever her mind was filled with that wasn’t good or even remotely nice. That’s what friends did, right? They worried about each other, they looked out for one another and they were there for both the good and the bad times. And, Vienna, deserved nothing but the former. As they walked towards the property, the air around them changed -- no matter how many times they had gone to the Venturi household, the powerful feeling that wrapped itself around Kiran and the vibe they got from every guard in sigh was heavy, as if they had locked a bullseye on their head if they made a wrong move -- they knew it was all in their head though, it had to be. 

Stopping in front of the entrance, they looked at the guard, hoping they would recognize them. “Kiran Manning? I’ve been here before, friend of Vienna’s?” And without a word, the guard stepped to the side and let them in -- it was an awkward encounter, weird and Kiran was more than grateful it had been only a few seconds long. They needed to ask Vienna to at least put a more friendly face at the door, though they then realized it would be counterproductive to have a friendly looking guard at the door, almost as if inviting whoever hated the Venturis to come in and have a cup of tea with them. Honestly, Kiran was just expecting the guard to go through their stuff since they had never seen that one before -- must’ve been a new guy. 

Shaking that though off their head, they closed the door behind them and let their eyes revel on the sight before them -- the house was beautiful, perhaps the most amazing one they’d ever had the pleasure of seeing. “Vienna?” They spoke, the volume louder than usual but not a full on shout. Looking around them, they debated weather to stand there in the hall in the most awkward manner or just go to the living room, wait and hope that Vienna would be home soon. Letting out a sigh (hoping they wouldn’t be imposing on the family), Kiran made their way to the living room and put their bag down next to the couch before they opened their thermos and took a sip of the coffee they had been drinking ever since they left their house. Then, they heard a couple of footsteps behind them, turning around as they took a sip of the beverage.

[wastelandian]

[kiranmanning]

Texts; Vienna and Kiran

Vienna: OH, okay, thank goodness. I thought I flaked out on plans or something.

Vienna: We haven't been together that long, so it's our first Christmas OFFICIALLY together. I just want it to be perfect.

Vienna: Stupid suggestions are welcome.

Kiran: No worries, Vi!

Kiran: Perfume, clothes, a framed picture of you two...

Kiran: I'm not sure what he likes or doesn't like.

[kiranmanning]

Texts; Vienna and Kiran

Vienna: Was I supposed to know you were coming by? If so, I'm so sorry, I am the worst.

Vienna: That's what I should be doing, but I'm still trying to find a present for Carlos -- he's so hard to shop for!

Kiran: No, no! And you are not the worst. I had just decided to come by.

Kiran: What have you given him in previous years? Just so I don't suggest some stupid thing.

[maleki-tahan]

“You would be surprised at the kind of people who would lend you the shirt off their own back and then turn around and find some way to betray you.” He noticed the way Kiran’s smile faltered, though Julian chalked it up to them just feeling insulted that he had insisted a young woman not be roaming around alone. Plenty of feminists coming out of hiding had found a way to scold him for that and honestly he wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised.

“Still, I’m not the type to leave a young person without much of a hope. Where are you headed perhaps I could walk you there and make sure no one else decides to soak you down without permission.” They were young, maybe a university student if Julian was any good at aging someone based off their looks, and looking so eager that for a moment Julian thought of Marcus. His brother had always been amazing at anything he set his mind to making Julian trail behind and work harder than ever just to keep up. Though it used to bother him as a child, Julian found himself waking up every morning wishing for just one more day of going head to head with his brother trying to be the best. Never had he been better than when Marcus was succeeding right alongside him, but that would never happen again.

[kiranmanning]

Kiran had a hard time believing the man’s words, an analogy about people betraying others when they’d just made a sacrifice for them. It just didn’t sit well with them -- even if they weren’t blind to the ways of humanity, just hearing that someone did that to someone else was like a mythical tale to them; people talked about it but it was just something that didn’t exist (although it did and was pretty obvious to most people). Of all the things Kiran sought to comprehend, the human mind was perhaps the most complex thing to grasp in her small hands -- there was the stereotyped reaction and thoughts, written down in psychology books. However, they don’t believe that everyone’s mind follows those words and, between a formula to discover a new type of medication and a trip down someone’s mind, Kiran would perhaps choose the former if they were looking to just discover something new for the greater good and the latter if they were up for an adventure.

“Perhaps, but I believe that only a small percentage of people would do that.” They spoke, looking at the man with a renewed smile on their face. Kiran truly believed what they had spoken -- some would deem it as being too naive and others would maybe look at them with pity while others would wish they could think like that. 

After they had tried to dry up at least a part of their wet clothes, they looked at the handkerchief and pressed their lips together as they looked at the soggy and dirt mess it had become; then, they looked at the man apologetically. “This got way worse than I thought it would. I can have it cleaned and I’ll give it back to you, I’m so sorry.” They spoke before the man’s next words were spoken. Kiran looked at her things and then at the man, thinking for a few seconds if they should head towards the library or just go to Brighton Pharmaceuticals -- they always kept a change of clothes there. Maybe they hadn’t imagined themselves keeping a fresh shirt under their desk and it was actually something that happened and they would be warm again in no time. 

“Well, I was heading to my college’s library but I think I’ll just head to work instead. And, I wouldn’t want to impose, it’s probably the opposite way of where you were heading.” They didn’t distrust the man, genuinely not wanting to become a bother.

[lilliana-brighton-deactivated20]

@kiranmanning

Dressed in a red suit with white trim, bag slung over her shoulder, the CEO looked less like Father Christmas and more like a shunned reality TV star. When meeting with the family of her brightest prospect of future employees, Lilliana had taken the idea of don we now our gay apparel a bit too seriously. She could not care if she were ruining the clean lines of her outfit with the lumpy, overly decorative Christmas jumper. The important thing was that she would be seen as a average person, or as average as Lilliana Brighton could be deemed. She hoped that she would not be too much of an inconvenience for the Mannings. The email she had sent to Kiran stated that they would be visiting their parents for dinner this evening. Rather than ask too many details, the blonde’s mind reeled with possibilities of how she could surprise them.

Standing in front of the house, Lilliana reached out to ring the bell. She had not paid anyone a social visit in ages. Everyone knew that should they need her, all they had to do was call. She always would make time to lend a hand; however, that usually meant that the woman had little free time of her own. Between work, social events, and the Coalition, Lilliana’s schedule often required her to block out time for sleeping weeks in advance, not that she ever truly stuck to her schedule. Life was far too unpredictable for such a thing. With a few minutes of no response, Lily knocked on the door again. “Mr. Manning? Mrs. Manning? Kiran? Are you there?” She shifted the bag from one shoulder to the other, attempting to look into the house. Hopefully she would not be stuck on their doorstep for much longer.

[kiranmanning]

Kiran loved Christmas time -- it was as if the city of London completely transformed into something magical; the lights illuminated the streets even more and the snow made all the roads seem like they lead to a winter wonderland (and not the one at Hyde Park with the skating rink and everyone dying to fall on their bums and laugh at themselves along with their friends and family -- it was a very nice scene, almost as if taken right out of a movie. It was a special time of the year and Kiran was one of those people that completely grew weak at anything that was related to it. Was she ashamed? Not in the slightest; no one should be ashamed of things they liked, unless they were really bad and hurtful towards themselves and other people but that wasn’t something they’d like to think of. They had promised themselves that their mind would only be filled with joy and perhaps a little bit of nervousness -- after all, it’s not every day that they have their potential future boss dining over at their place. Hopefully, they wouldn’t say or do anything to ruin the evening. 

The kitchen was chaos; maybe it was Kiran’s fault, for wanting things to be good and go well when Lilliana came to dine with them but, then again, they didn’t mind the mess -- between laughs and their mother teasing their father about him not knowing how to wield a knife just as good as he was with a paintbrush. Those moments made Kiran’s lips smile brightly, seeing that perfect frame happen right in front of her eyes -- their parents were happy and Kiran was glad that they were, after all, both their mother and their father deserved a good enough life after the sacrifices they had put themselves through for Kiran to have the life they had now. Christmas songs echoing through the house, it wasn’t a surprise when they realized that they hadn’t heard the knocks on the door and, when they heard Lilliana’s voice, it was as if their heart stopped for a bit right before they rushed to the door and opened it with a nervous yet big smile on their faces. It was an understatement to say that Lilliana looked amazing. “I’m so, so sorry. We were finished up dinner and we got totally caught up on it. Please, come on in.” Kiran spoke as they stepped aside to let Lilliana win.

[seer-cressida]

Bethany couldn’t stare at her computer screen any longer, nor could she sit through another lunch with London’s latest sensation talking about a viral video or a provocative dress that was making headlines. She needed an escape. Air. So she tucked everything back into her bag, excusing herself from the office, not that anyone was really paying attention.

There was something calming about the way the world flew by in London. Everyone was a story - a million stories - just flying past her at each turn. She could write for an eternity and still never finish speaking the words that fell from their lips. She smiled at the thought, willing it to be so, if only to escape the pages of the Culture section. 

“I’m sorry to bother you, but do you have a tissue or something you can give me to try and dry myself up?”

She blinked, staring at the person before her, trying to register that this was an actual human and not a story in flesh form. 

“Oh,” she said, a moment too late. “Yes, of course,” Bethany dug through her purse, pulling out a packet of tissues, smiling apologetically. “This is the best I have, I’m afraid. I think it would probably be best if you got somewhere warm, though. At least until you dry off. Which way are you heading?”

[kiranmanning]

Surely, if someone was next to them (whether they were friends, colleagues or classmates) they would instantly call Kiran crazy -- far too trusting of strangers for they didn’t see the bad in people, instead choosing to wear rose-tinted glasses wherever they went, anywhere in the beautiful country they are proud to call home. To them, there was no need on seeing the world without a little bit of color, defying what society might’ve implemented as an unofficial rule. 

Either way, their mind would oftentimes be filled with facts and things they needed to do, written on a mental list that never seemed to grow any shorter (though, if it was their fault or just the way things were for them, it was a mystery not even Einstein himself could solve), to even worry about distrusting everyone they found on the street.

A sigh of relief escaped their lips as they put their hand on their chest (perhaps a bit too dramatic, but sometimes the human mind would give muscles the weirdest orders) and let out a nervous chuckle. “Oh, thank you so much.” Kieran said as they took a couple of tissues and began to try and dry themselves up a bit. 

However, their movements came to a halt when they heard the blonde asking a question and only started up again once it was Kiran’s chance to talk. “I was heading to the library, at my college. I doubt that’s warm enough. Don’t worry, though, I’ll figure something out.” They said.

[aubriellenadir]

She was still learning. Her growth had been stunted once in its entirety, whatever stretching she may have done towards a good, wholesome self blocked by her own malformed thoughts. She still cared too much what other people thought and spent more time staring at ceilings thinking about what they wanted rather than what she did, but she was improving. Her worth was no longer shaped by the hands around her – though she still watched them carefully, and bent herself into the motions they seemed to be signing. It was a habit, and habits were hard to quit – that’s why people died of lung cancer, and why women broke their hearts on the sharp curve of a beautiful man.

So, she had given a thought to not-caring as she straightened up and looked fully to the stranger, but it simply wasn’t in her nature. – But that made the smile and soft tone all the more relieving. Her lips pulled apart. “Oh, it’s nothing – just something small.” The embarrassment waned as she flushed out of a newer, sweeter feeling of approval. “But I’m flatted to have surprised you so thoroughly.”

[kiranmanning]

Everything about the blonde screamed warmth to Kiran; perhaps it was just the way she looked or the softness of her expression that made them think like that but, in the midst of the grey weather and the coldness (of both the wind and the people walking through the city), it was quite refreshing to see someone so at ease with being nice to strangers. The girl was doing something against the teachings of society that claimed that those who kept their need to smile to themselves were the strong ones and Kiran would be lying if they said that that hand’t made them enjoy the yet short conversation they were having with the girl. Everything around them seemed to slow down but they knew it was just a trick of the mind; it was a slow moment on their otherwise busy mind and, even if they weren’t completely relaxed, or anywhere near it, they would make the most of it.

Kiran shrugged a bit, looking at the coin and then back at the blonde, keeping the smile on their face. “It’s like Van Gogh said -- Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” The young mind could remember the most random things -- they blamed their curiosity and their ability to find the most incredible things while doing research for their papers. The ever growing internet web just made that that much more possible. “I’m Kiran, by the way. Might be weird to just keep giving you compliments and not even say my name. I don’t want to come off as weird.”

[islawestin-deactivated20160108]

        Disappointment. A word that haunted her at every corner of the city of London. Inside the coffee shops she frequented in the morning, her apartment tucked in less crowded streets, and markets offering fresh fruits and vegetables. Her father gave her the definition of the word before he handed her a warm blanket to sleep well at night. Instead of drinking in the calcium from the poured milk, she took the nutrition of the word. That word, disappointment, might as well be her middle name. Even closer to her than before. Isla learned that she held high responsibility to not shamble the Westin family name, to not disappoint those around like her grandfather did once upon a time as a politician who was not capable of such job, and now she held more. Do not disappoint her father still, Nathan’s last breath, and her loyalty to Coalition. Disappointment.

        Right now, she did not want to disappoint her desire of doing well for the Coalition. Always manipulating the mind of future generations for their cause, their cause to bend the world, she also chased after prospects. Future members of Coalition with Isla’s name printed behind their back: Made in Oxford; not China. Kiran was a product she was trying to piece together and make stronger - more durable. A product she was expecting to bring great revenue. A huge profit. 

        “Sorry for not being a norm by carrying tissues. I don’t cry often.” Isla attempted to joke, which was rare around students. She tried her best to display a more serious demeanor around them to not be fooled as kind and a friend but instructor. Though, around them, it was different. She had to keep them closer than the rest. Kiran and Katherine. “If it’s revising you were up for, I can help with that task. I may know a thing or two about writing the perfect paper.”

[kiranmanning]

Standing in front of Isla Westin was confusing in Kiran’s mind, even if their thoughts raced all the time, making connections fast -- sometimes it became a bit too overwhelming when in the same mix of their fear of letting people down. The woman oozed confidence laced with an intimidating posture, it was impossible for the young mind to keep itself relaxed when there was so much at stake; it was something that their mind kept telling them: do this and this or else everything will be washed down the drain, be attentive or else you’ll miss something and ruin your chance... so many things echoing in their mind, Kiran could swear they lost focus for a second.

Kiran’s lips pressed together into small smile, hoping that Isla hadn’t noticed anything -- she couldn’t have, she would just think Kiran had the worst attention span ever. “Not crying is totally fine, though. Everyone deals with things their own way.” They said and then mentally slapped themselves -- although they didn’t see crying as a weakness, they knew that some people might; perhaps their words would be seen as understanding rather than seen as Kiran completely tripping over their own words.

“Really?” They spoke, surprise and excitement slipping through that single word. Then, they rested their hands on their hips and tried to pretend that one word hadn’t left their lips on an impulse. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to impose. I’d think you’re much too busy and I wouldn’t want to keep you.”

[kiranmanning]

Texts; Vienna and Kiran

Vienna: Hey, Maia said you came by to see me. Sorry I missed you!

Vienna: What's up?

Kiran: I did and it's fine, Vi, don't worry!!

Kiran: Present wrapping and drinking tea, what else?

Kiran: What about you? How're things?

[entertainingtheidea-deactivated]