Lex Terrae

Hazel Bekket | 27 | Lawyer Sister of Thane Lovell One-shot | Music

[heatherulia]

Yeah, around December I think?   The past few months have really flown by, though.

Oh, please.  Don’t be sorry!  You have a busy work schedule, I totally understand.  I’m doing alright, for the most part.  I can’t really complain.  I do! I still see her, nearly every day.  She’s getting so much bigger.

[lexterrae-blog]

December? Heather, I must be like an ostrich, I swear.  Work has been busy, but it's not as though I moved abroad. I should have picked up the phone to find out how you're doing. 

For the most part? Tell auntie Hazel.. okay, that sounded much creepier than I imagined it to.  Is there anything you need to talk about? Do you want to come by the house later? We can catch up properly.  Are you still happy enough to be with the Hamiltons?

[kieraknightley]

[heatherulia]

Honestly?  Pretty stressful.  You’d think once college was over that I would have more free time on my hands, but I’m finding the opposite is true.

[lexterrae-blog]

College is over? When did that happen? I feel like I've missed so much these past few months. 

It's been such a while since I've seen you. I'm sorry about that, Heather. Are you doing okay, apart from being busy? Are you still minding Julia? 

[lexterrae-blog]

Apparently I've got a great sense of humour for a gal, but should go get my boss...

And how has your day been? 

[lexterrae-blog]

Islands | Nova & Hazel

It had been an age since Hazel had last passed through the doors to Tusckon's. She wanted to pretend she simply hadn't had the time to travel so far from work for coffee, but the real reason was rooted in her mind so she couldn't convince herself. She simply didn't want to run into Amilia right now. It was a shame, because she liked the woman, well, from what little she knew of her to judge. That was part of the problem; she didn't want to know her any better, to see how much nicer or intelligent or funny she was, or to think that they might be friends. It was too complicated. 

Thankfully Tusckon's didn't seem that busy, and either Ami was in the kitchen, judging by the delicious aroma wafting from there every time the server passed through the door allowing it to escape, or she simply wasn't in the bakery. Regardless of where she was, Hazel just couldn't see her right now, which allowed her time to place her order with the waitress and wait, without distraction, by the counter to collect the coffees for she and Nova. 

Nova's office was next door, keeping the coffees piping hot during the short journey. Without real thought, Hazel had gathered the two containers, one in each hand, exiting the bakery. Now, without a free hand, she was realising her mistake. Hazel used the side of her foot to kick against the office door, "Nova, sorry, can you.. I can't open the door."

Nova was another person she didn't know that well, but somehow they managed to gravitate toward one another sometimes. If either of them had time, she imagined they might have made steps toward being friends, for they could communicate naturally. Of course, all they had to talk about so far was varying work related cases the two of them would share. Nova working in an investigative capacity for Hazel, and Hazel advising Nova on legal channels. So far Hazel had managed to pre-emptively hold their meetings at Nova's office, so she could stop into Tusckon's on the way for coffee. Town Hall just wasn't in a good location for caffeine, and it had the added bonus of keeping Hazel in the fresh air as she walked the few blocks over. 

[lexterrae-blog]

EyeonEye | Thane & Hazel

There could never, would never, be a time in Hazel's life where she wasn't thinking about Thane. Not anymore, at least.  She was different now, or pretending to be. Whatever helped her function like a human being, walking amongst all those others who could never know the truth. Maybe she was weak, trying to be someone she wasn't, trying to hide. Or maybe she was strong, only halfway managing to be the person she wanted to be, only capable on the face of it.  Either way, the person that she was now was unrecognisable as the girl who had a brother in jail for manslaughter. It was held more easily as a secret now. For no one could quite recognise the image of the scruffy devastated teenager with that of the polished and composed lawyer. 

There could never, would never, be a time in Hazel's life where she wasn't thinking about Thane. Except for the moment before she was in his presence again. 

It was strange really, how usually she had to bury it so deep in order to keep herself sane, yet for one moment it was as though she had forgotten the very idea of him. It must have been her mind's retaliation for its daily torture, that it was leaving her body, her being, unprepared. 

Her house was as close in evidence to Hazel's true identity as anything could have been. Crumbling down around her ears. The kitchen was the only place with working lights, and even in there the electricity was temperamental. Wooden floorboards cracked and peeling, adding to the cold of the rooms.  It had never really amounted to much in the eyes of others, but to her it was home. It was a house. And she had never lived in a house before this. More than that, it had a garden at the front, just a small one before the gate, and even though the lock was rusted and left open, the gate small enough to easily step over, it felt like her little space. A boundary that would deter unwanted visitors. Even the front door had a broken lock, the key sitting above the door frame anyway, but there were people on either side. And although that had been the case before, long ago, she knew that these people wouldn't sit idly while something happened in their secluded road, and they certainly wouldn't judge the wrong person for it. 

The doorbell didn't work, so it couldn't ring whether it had been pushed or not. Yet something made her get up from the couch in the living room at the front of the house, walking barefoot to the large window and peering out into the blackness of the garden. The moon offered just enough light through the windows for her to navigate her way along, trying to be at an angle to check the front door. There was noone there that she could see, and she could barely remember why she had gotten up to look in the first place.

[mayorcelton]

Honey, I'm Home | Zach and Hazel

[mayorcelton]

”You used your key.” It hadn’t occurred to him until that second as he whispered it to her with an almost sentimental tone. Zach leaned into her arms, hand cupping the back of her head and pulling her closer. He smirked into the curve of her neck, mumbling his response into the brown curls, ”I think you mean ‘evening’. It’s not midnight yet.” The words were ended with light kisses placed on her tender skin, his left hand sweeping away the tangles of hair and letting it fall against her naked back. Her state of undress had barely registered in his mind. That’s not to say it hadn’t caught his attention at some point. The surprise of finding her, draped across the couch in his loft, his home, it had shaken his balance. In the good way, the perfect way. Zach breathed in her scent, the schampoo she used becoming more frequent in his life, as every other aspect of Hazel. As he kept his head buried in the layers of hair and silky skin beneath, he wished for another year with her.

The event planners had encouraged him to write into a lantern of his own, promising to send it off into the sky when the time came, had he already left. Zach had contemplated for a moment what to write. He knew what he wished for. Who he wished for. But as he moved to write it down, Zach knew that his wish had already happened. Hazel had given him a chance, knowing his history. In the end he simply put down ”Thank you” into the lantern.

”How long have you been here?” He asked, beginning to feel weighed down from the way he stood. He went in to kiss her again but noticed her closed eyes, her body slowly becoming heavier with each breath. ”Hey, don’t fall asleep again. We have to watch the fireworks.” Zach smiled, sweeping away some strands of hair falling into her eyes. ”Look, I brought champa-” He stopped, finding an empty bottle on the table behind him as he turned. ”Champagne. Which you won’t be drinking.” With a light chuckle, he grabbed a blanket lying next to her and put it around her prickling shoulders. Turning around, Zach began searching for her clothes but failed to see anything except a coat on the table. His brow furrowed, glancing at Hazel with a questioning look. Did she come here… naked? He refrained from voicing his question, instead focusing on moving into the bedroom for some spare clothes. ”I’ll be right back, okay?” On the way back, he stopped in the kitchen, quickly preparing some coffee to take with him. Distant sounds came from outside, a few of the fireworks were visible as he peered through his window. The clock was yet to strike 12 but as usual, they often began sooner.

”Here you go. Are these okay?” Zach wondered, holding up a pair of sweatpants and a shirt she’d left behind at a previous visit. As he stood there, he couldn’t help but to revert to his old self, questioning why he was putting clothes onto a girl instead of taking them off. The droopy eyes on Hazel tugged at his heart a second later, however, turning his lips into a warm smile as he motioned for her to lift her arms and easing the shirt onto her.

[lexterrae-blog]

"Midnight.." her words still sounded somewhat groggy, sluggish with the alcohol of before. Her brain seemed to be battling with itself these days. Brain and heart maybe, but that was too cliche to fully consider. It was wearing her down, ripples of tension permeating her skin. She was tired for once, usually choosing to avoid the notion and keep as active as she could, avoiding thoughts of her brother and Zach and her debts.. anything that would inflame her weariness and bring it to the surface.

Midnight. New Years. The thought wrestled her heavy lids open again, but soon lost out once more. It was making her nauseous, all the indecisive flutterings as her body debated between wake and sleep. Thankfully he was speaking again, the movement away from her bringing a chill to alert her. With a burst of energy she sorely regretted seconds later, she flung herself up on the couch, turning to sit back against the cushions. Her gaze followed him as he put the blanket around her, "New Years fireworks?" it shouldn't have needed to be confirmed, but the words were making her function better. Hazel yawned heavily, lifting the blanket with her hand to cover her mouth, before tugging it further around her shoulders. "Wait, why aren't I drinking? Not that I like champagne.. but it's New Year so that doesn't matter apparently."

She watched the floor lazily as he exited the room, keeping her attention on the carpet beneath her feet, focused fully on keeping her eyes open. Her gaze drifted back to him when he returned, but as he wasn't below her eye level it was harder to see, lids still drooping. She nodded weakly, releasing her grip on the blanket to raise her arms and attempt to put the shirt on herself. Admittedly, it was mostly Zach managing to dress her, her arms making varying lacklustre reaches and movements that made the task more difficult. She was almost annoyed at herself for how unprepared she was for the night, winding up looking haggard and worn, barely functioning, and at the mercy of a man in this menial task. It also struck her, however, that, apart from her brother, no one had ever looked after her before,  recognised when she needed help. "Thank you" it was almost difficult to say. She didn't like being vulnerable, couldn't imagine that anyone did. Yet she had put herself in this position. 

To Hazel Bekket, it was a weakness to need someone else. It would only lead to their pain or regret; her mother, Thane, Sage.. now Zach? More than anything she wanted to be selfish, to allow it to happen, to let him be there for her until it all fell down. It wasn't in her to do that to him though. She preferred to be the one to suffer, to pretend she didn't. "I should go to bed." she didn't push it far enough to state that she was going home, or to insinuate she wanted him to go with her. She left it there for him to make his own conclusions, at his mercy once more. They both were.

[mayorcelton]

Honey, I'm Home | Zach and Hazel

Three years had gone since he was elected Mayor. Three years of paperwork, press conferences, perspiring and never ending meetings in the Town Hall with his supportive team of council members and colleagues. Three years of being under constant scrutiny as well as encouragement from the residents of Tartarus. But these were the moments he lived for, when those residents displayed such affection for both of their hometown. When families would greet him, take an interest in the political decisions he helped form and show him that his work mattered. That the long hours, huddled over his desk, had meaning. He might be the Mayor, he might have the title, but the families, business owners, Tartarus youth and every other person who chose to live here were the true power that kept this town on its feet. That was really everything Zach had wanted when he entered the world of politics, to be a conduit, a listening ear for them to speak their hopes into. Perhaps his career existed because of his need to prove himself worthy, to show others that his father’s darkness had not transmitted into Zach. Of course, only a small percentage of this town knew the real Celton Senior. Most believed that yes, Zach had grown up to walk in his father’s footsteps, to be an equally valuable member of this community. In reality, Zach spent his grown life sweeping over his predecessor’s violent prints, creating new ones in the process. It was for the better, Zach always thought, fearing that when his father’s true nature was revealed; the others would turn on Zach as well. And Zach wouldn’t blame them.

“Come on! Spill the details, man!” Brent teased, grinning widely at the younger man who simply shook his head. “You’re aware that I have ways of finding these things out, right?” Zach simply responded with a disbelieving look at Brent, chuckling as he took a sweep of his beer. The festivities were in full swing, his Mayoral duties of thanking the Parks and recreation department, along with any other people in charge of the event, was over. “What are you hassling Zach about now?” Daniel walked up to them with Julia draped over his shoulder, not quite asleep yet but slowly getting there. Zach rubbed her back as they got closer, the girl making no movement at the touch, only continuing to breathe deeply as she held onto her father. 

“Zach isn’t staying for the fireworks.” Brent responded before continuing as Daniel looked confused. “He’s got a date. With a girl.” Zach rolled his eyes at the man, wondering why the last part was necessary. Luckily, Daniel decided not to prod any further, simply offering a smile in the Mayor’s direction. “Well, I better take off. Have a great night guys. We’ll have dinner soon, okay?” Zach said and walked off, ignoring Brent’s comment, “Bring your girlfriend!” in the background.

The entrance to the apartment building was empty tonight. He smiled, thinking that Marty had taken the night off for New Year’s Eve. Good for him. It was only 11pm so far. He wanted to make sure to get home before midnight, when Hazel would arrive. As he entered the apartment, Zach hurried with taking off his shoes, throwing his jacket on an armchair in the hallway before walking into his kitchen to fetch a bottle of champagne. Not his favorite drink per se, but the occasion called for it. As he began preparing, an sound came from the living room, stopping Zach in his movement to open the glass cabinet. He turned swiftly, walking softly through the loft, keeping his back against the wall to prevent himself from being seen. A break-in? He thought, confused. The living room seemed to be empty, but the noise continued as he walked inside. 

Zach’s tense frame relaxed considerably when he saw the source of the apparent snoring. He smirked warmly at Hazel, barely dressed - maybe not even barely - fast asleep on his couch. He kneeled down beside her, stroking a lock off hair from the soft skin on her cheek. His hand covered the side of her face as he leaned in, kissing her softly. “Hey, babe.”

[lexterrae-blog]

She couldn't offer him anything, still couldn't quite grasp why they were doing this.. whatever it was. Yet somewhere along the way she had begun to make allowances, behave in a way that portrayed the opposite of how she should be acting. And it wasn't even supposed to be acting. She knew logically that she should have stayed away, or pushed him away, but somehow it was getting more difficult to take that knowing look in his eye when she did. 

And now here she was; letting herself into his apartment with her own key. Her key, which he had given her over Christmas in some aloof gesture that might have seemed more acceptable to logical Hazel, that opened the door to his familiar apartment that was now as easily traversed as her own home. Of course, the fact that she was here alone instead of at the park with Zach, signified that she hadn't quite lost the battle yet; logical Hazel still had a chance. 

Tartarus belonged to him, and he belonged to Tartarus. Hazel didn't know where she belonged, even as she loved the people and the place, it wasn't something she could embrace as true. Not after everything that had happened, and some of the things that were still happening. Those darkened plumes of smoke visible only to those who had been affected by them already, tainted. So she had refused to go to the new years celebrations, citing that it would be awkward and uncomfortable, still having to hide .. things. It was the truth. Only she knew, however, that she hadn't just meant what Zach believed her to mean. Hazel had to keep secrets from him too, to protect him. It made her feel better to think of it as protecting him, then she wouldn't have to consider the concern that crept up on her when she thought of him finding out, finding out and hating her. It would be easier if he couldn't see that she wasn't making a resolution, knowing only too well that the things she had done couldn't be stopped on her own terms. 

It was exhausting, never being able to confess what it was she truly wanted, never being able to spill her words on how corrupt she believed herself to be, how tainted her blood felt, how she wanted nothing less than pulling Zach Celton down with her when the inevitable revelations happened. 

The start of a new year wasn't something pure or magical. It was a reminder of all the bad things seeping past 2012 and piling into 2013, a reminder that nothing would ever really change. 

She hadn't intended to feel so heavy as she sat on the couch, had in fact planned to be outwardly enthusiastic about the whole damn thing. Soon she had finished the rest of the scotch, draining the last from her tumbler as glassy eyes sought out more, looked for some form of relief or inspiration. She would be majestic, of that she was sure. Appearing to his eyes like someone impervious to the depressant alcohol, glorious with the promise of the unknown future and the potential a new year held. 

Hazel pushed herself from the seat, shrugging off her coat to drape across the table as she crossed to drop the bottle on top. It worked at least a little to make her feel lighter, and hopefully that would increase her relative brightness. Her shoes were toed off at the table, holding on to keep herself steady. The kitchen found itself a resting place for her hair bobble, her dress laying across a surface. And she returned, massaging her cheeks with fingertips and practicing her smile. 

She hadn't meant to fall asleep, hadn't meant to do a lot of things. Always the same. 

Her eyes blinked open, vague visions of the ceiling greeting her. Once her eyelids retreated, she still could not work out the picture before her; where she was, what kind of time it was, what had woken her. The only hint was the warm and cosy feeling that prevented her from shooting up in shock as lips touched her own. She had the lagging feeling that often urged her to stretch her arms immediately after waking, to remind her bones to wake up with the rest of her, but she couldn't find the strength just yet as her hands slowly moved to curl around the shoulders of Zach Celton. "Morning"

[lexterrae-blog]

Intuition | Nova & Hazel

[whatsleftishope]

Nova shook her head.  She didn’t warrant an assistant, or anything more complicated than a written calendar to keep her appointments.  Even with all the technology she had at her fingertips, if she didn’t actually take the time to write something down with her own hands, she would forget it.  It wasn’t a perfect system by any means, if someone caught her without the time or opportunity to write it in her planner, chances were it’d get missed.  So whether it had been she or Hazel that had forgotten, they’d never really know.

“It’s fine.  It’s fine,” she said with a wave of her hand.  ”And please, have a seat.  I was just finishing up and I don’t need to be anywhere for a bit yet.  I’ve got time.”  She pointed to the seat in front of her desk and then walked back to her own chair.  It was an old, beat-up leather chair that creaked when she sat down -  but it was comfortable and she smiled at the sound when she sat.  

The coffee smelled heavenly and she looked up from her seat at Hazel.  ”Plus, you brought coffee, and I’ve yet to turn down a cup from Tuckson’s.”  Maybe it was a little of the old job that had stuck with her, but she’d leased this office space for a reason.  For all the coffee she drank, one would think she’d be better at fixing her own.  She wasn’t.  

Nova piled her pictures to the side of her desk to make enough room that she could lean her arms in front of her.  Looking up at Hazel, she found that her smile stayed easily, more comfortable than maybe it would’ve been with just anyone.  They hadn’t known each other long, nor very well, but Nova liked her and felt like they were similar somehow, both- driven.  

“So-” Nova made a quick note of what picture she’d stopped on and stuck it to the top of the pile- “to what do I owe this visit?”  

[lexterrae-blog]

Hazel smiled, offering a quick "Thanks" as she plopped herself down into the chair across from Nova. Usually she would keep herself straight, posture being something that she allowed herself to be careful with, even back when she had far less reason to be portray correctness. Sometimes though, sometimes it felt as though she could slip just a little, relax and ignore how she should appear, letting herself seem softer, younger, more carefree. Maybe it was the office, not seeming as intimidating as the large boardrooms or high ceilinged workplaces she usually found herself in. No, this was definitely more inviting, but in truth it was probably more the person across from her. Although Nova was probably in a position to know a lot more about Hazel than many people seemed to, about her past, her former activities, family connections.. it didn't concern Hazel. There wasn't sufficient reason for Nova to delve into that area of research, having no substantial connection to the other woman. Yes, the lawyer was finding herself enlisting Nova and her particular skills somewhat frequently since her arrival, but it was easier to ignore as the woman hadn't been involved in this working relationship with her for all that long. 

"We'll maybe have to visit Tusckon's one of these days, reduce the danger of spilling the coffee before we get the chance to drink it?" Hazel raised her eyebrows, obscuring her face some with the cup she tilted to her lips. As invitations went, it wasn't very effective, but at least it should serve the purpose the relay the offer without any pressure or potential for discomfort at a rejection. If she was a kid, she'd have simply asked 'Will you be my friend?' direct and requiring a solid answer; things certainly were different as an adult. Although Hazel found herself sure that she'd never go back to those days if she could help it. 

As an adult, she continued on without waiting awkwardly for some reaction from the other woman. Grasping her drink loosely in her hand she spoke, "I was wondering if you might locate someone for me? I've been working admin on a divorce case and it seems the client's husband decided to skip out so he couldn't be served with divorce papers. He's incredibly wealthy so I'm guessing he just wants to file first, try to keep his money, you know?" she shook her head, pursing her lips. There were an awful lot of selfish people in this area of the world it seemed. "It's not my responsibility, but I suggested you to the case lawyer, and he'd be the one paying your fee. I wanted to check you were interested before initiating contact between the two of you though."

[lexterrae-blog]

Rising Tide | Zach & Hazel

[mayorcelton]

The complexion of Hazel slowly turned more pale, the lips blending into her skin tone in a familiar way. He furrowed his brow, back of his hand going up to check the temperature of her forehead. “Well, you don’t have a fever.” Zach stated with a sigh, wanting desperately to help her but not knowing how to without stepping over any boundaries. He reached for the fridge she’d just shut close and pulled out a bottle of water, getting a hold of a clean glass from the newly finished dishwater. He glanced up at her, waiting to see if she made any objections. For all he knew, she didn’t even drink bottled water. But she remained still, worryingly still, her eyes focusing on the floor. “Here, drink this.” Zach held up the glass in front of her. 

“She told be a few weeks ago. The whole thing was kept hidden from everyone. We should probably ask her for some advice about staying under the radar…” Zach smirked, the corners of his mouth slowly going downwards as she spoke. “A date?” He asked with an unusually light tone, now breaking the eye contact to place the bottle back into the coldness. “It’s Leonard. You know, Aden’s neighbor?” He couldn’t help but to chuckle, the pair seemingly perfect yet so unexpected in every way possible. Thankfully, the background check he hired Nova for turned out clean, apart from a few arrests in his youth. Which Zach more or less expected for a man with his character.

[lexterrae-blog]

His hand going to her brow made her feel worse again. It was odd silently hoping for him to stop touching her. A few months ago, and sometimes more recently, she had noted that was what she hoped for, but never truly what she wanted to happen. This time, however, she wanted him to stop so there was no more to encourage his memory of how awful she looked, nothing more to encourage a want to distance himself from her. Yes, because in that logical part of her brain; she focused on the fact that he was clearly only interested in her physically. Or at least that what she still forced herself to believe. 

Her stomach lurched again. She waited a moment, grasping the glass and holding it to her dry lips before taking a sip. The liquid felt heavy as she drank, seeming to tug some on her insides, and she found herself taking a few deep breaths as she listened to Zach's voice. "Weeks?" Her voice seemed less clouded anyhow. "How long has she been with him?" Hazel didn't know whether to broach the subject of having Leonard checked out, and maybe if she hadn't felt so poor she might have told him. "I just found out it was that Leonard." It was so strange to once again be connected to Betty's life. Although she had tried, would continue trying, they had never really returned to a place where the older woman would allow Hazel access to her state of affairs. "Yes, a date." She was going to expand on it, really, but then she was forced to shuffle into another position, sitting up some ready to move. "Can we.. I mean, I have to .. go, elsewhere." Hazel stood up straight, taking a shallow breath this time to test her ability to move without consequence. "Or are you going to continue your evening?" she raised her eyebrows, finally looking to his face again. "Maybe your date is waiting for you?" There was no sharpness to her tone, it was almost too casual, as though she wasn't truly interested in an answer. Of course she was. It just wasn't an accusation, or a way to target them both.

[lexterrae-blog]

save the date | Hazel & Ace

[detectiveacemarna-blog]

Well, this was a fucking first. Besides the fact that Ace was actually in a suit, a far cry from his usual leather jacket and jeans, he had much bigger problems to deal with. He’d heard about the wedding something like a week ago, or maybe it was longer since he really hadn’t had any intention to go. That was the same time that the town lawyer, Hazel Bekket, had approached him and asked him to go with her. Besides the fact that free booze wasn’t something Ace Marna was willing to – or able to – turn down, she’d also offered him something else: Money. That was Ace, all business. At the very least it offered him a break from the usual boring shit that the Tartarus P.D. was always taking care of. For a weekend he wouldn’t have to worry about old ladies calling just to chat or overprotective parents calling him twice in one hour to report their kid was missing and then calling back to apologize, since little Billy had been in the back yard the whole fucking time. Even a weekend of not getting laid was better than that.

When he got on board, he was actually impressed by the boat. He couldn’t remember the owner’s name, though he was sure he’d probably heard it a thousand times, but as far as Ace was concerned, it might as well have belonged to any rich asshole in Tartarus, since there were easily a few dozen of them. All that aside, the place had turned out well, and it was a welcomed change from spending the evening at the Red Door. His prep-work for all this had been minimal. Sometime last night after packing his one shabby bag with whatever it was he figured he would be needing, he had ran the background check on the groom that Hazel had asked for. He wasn’t sure what she had expected him to dig up, and the whole thing had been far less interesting than he had hoped, just a few parking violations and a speeding ticket or two. The only thing of note that came up at all was an outdated drug possession charge from back when he was in high school. Ace had taken the whole sheet off the printer, “Leonard Rodriguez, Model Fucking Citizen,” and threw it in his back pocket. Step two was finding Hazel.

Fuck it, step two was getting a drink. Spending this weekend sober was something Ace was very unwilling to do, and finding Hazel, and handing over his useless background check, would be a lot easier with an elevated blood alcohol content. When he found the bar, he was more than happy to find that neither Ebony, nor her older sister – whose name Ace couldn’t fucking remember – was working. He wasn’t really in the mood for drama, and he definitely wasn’t in the mood to be trapped on a boat with it for a few days. He grabbed a beer and looked around. There were a lot more people than he had expected, since he didn’t even know the bride or the groom apart from hearing her name once or twice at the town hall. Maybe they had met, he didn’t know. But this was a big fucking event. Marriage. It just seemed like such bullshit. Not that Ace could commit to one girl for more than an evening, let alone a lifetime. But Ace set aside his anger when he finally found her. She was looking rather lost, and he was sincerely hoping that she wasn’t looking for him. He grabbed his beer and walked over. “Happening party.” He smiled. At least he hoped it would be.

[lexterrae-blog]

The decision she had been tormenting herself over; whether to follow the staffer who had her bag, or politely greet people; had been made for her, as soon as she heard the familiar voice. The reason Ace was even here, supposedly with her, was much more important than either of those options. And there was the small matter of having to pretend she was more than just passing acquaintances with the man, in order to allay any suspicion, that called for her attention more than anything else right at this minute. 

"Bitchin' in fact" she nodded to him before smiling warmly. "I have to warn you that I'll be touching your arm a lot this weekend, I've heard that's appropriate flirting behaviour for wedding dates." Hazel settled her hand on his arm as though in evidence, moving slightly closer. "Thanks for doing this. I get suspicious when anyone wants to commit to someone" she rolled her eyes. 

Hazel had commissioned Ace to look into the groom for her, unaware that she already knew him some at the time. It was Aden's neighbour, Leonard, but she had never been aware of his surname and simply hadn't made the connection. Plus, it all seemed a bit sudden. She knew Betty would have kept it secret from Hazel, but she was also sure the woman wouldn't have been capable of hiding it for more than a few weeks. Zach would surely have let it sleep, and Holden definitely would have revealed it to Hazel. 

"I know I'm taking up a whole weekend of your time, so I really appreciate this." she had been surprised when the policeman had accepted her offer to accompany her. It had been made in a rush, when she realised that she would have to attend, and it seemed logical that she would have any pertinent information on the groom before the marriage would happen. Still, it was rather odd to be at the wedding of someone who didn't like her, in the company of someone she barely knew. 

[lexterrae-blog]

Rising Tide | Zach & Hazel

[mayorcelton]

Knowing it was most likely angering Hazel even further, he simply nodded in that sympathetic way; briefly overlooking that she was an adult. “This doesn’t seem like the ordinary awkward-social-event syndrome. You sure you’re not just seasick?” Zach continued to speak, ignoring his confusion over why Hazel’s presence was news to him. But since when weren’t his secretary conniving against the two of them. Apparently witnessing the two kissing openly in his office hadn’t been proof enough that maybe, just maybe this was genuine. He huffed a laugh internally at Betty before Hazel began to speak again. “We should probably close the fridge cause it might melt.” 

His concerns were seemingly unheard of, instead he settled where he was, smiling at the woman in front of him. Without others convincing him otherwise, Zach had always thought of himself as a shallow, incapable of forming attachments romantically. But now, after meeting Hazel and having to prove himself worthy, having to fight for her attention - perhaps only in his own eyes - she’s brought up other traits. The ones hidden deep down, scared to surface in fear of being pushed down again with force. His father’s diminishing words echoing through his memories, assuring him that they were weaknesses. But now as he saw Hazel, nothing could make him see anything but light. Bright, warm light. 

“I did know that.” He chuckled. “Let’s get you some Coke, I hear it’s good for nausea. You want some?”

[lexterrae-blog]

Almost mechanically, Hazel pushed the door to the fridge closed, lazily removing her foot from its path as she did so. She shook her head, slow heavy movements, until even that proved too much for her. "I think I'll just sit here. If the room stops bobbing, I can go to sleep." 

There was so much he didn't know about her, and so much she didn't know about him. Like how "I'm allergic" seemed like such a grand gesture, such a revelation to admit to him. Mind you, there were also things she didn't know about herself, like how she had just found out leaving dry land didn't agree with her. She didn't know who she was, not at all. Hadn't ever really known. 

"Did you know about the wedding?" concentrate on the words, stare at his hand against the floor tile, do not throw up, "She invited me yesterday. I think she was hoping I wouldn't be free, but I couldn't let my date down. That was the first I'd heard of it, her getting married. Didn't have a clue. Apparently Betty's good at keeping secrets when they're her own." Hazel managed a meek smile, although didn't quite direct it to Zach, more his arm. 

"I don't even know who she's marrying. I tried to come out for dinner earlier, just to do some recon, but I .. well I was preoccupied."

[lexterrae-blog]

Rising Tide | Zach & Hazel

[mayorcelton]

With the exception of Zach and a group of people he’d been spending the evening with, the boat had quieted down; including the propeller. They had come to a stop a few miles away from the coast of Tartarus. The city line could be seen in the horizon, its lights reflecting in the small amount of clouds forming above it. Knowing that he needed to get up at a reasonable but early hour tomorrow, Zach excused himself from the table, placing his hands on Betty’s shoulders, who was still awake along with her fiancé. “Don’t stay up to late now, alright?” He said to the bride before exchanging looks with her daughter Andrea who nodded in agreement. Their voices slowly turning into murmurs as he walked off. Careful not to make too much of a fuss as he navigated the dark halls, he decided to make his way to the kitchen, always needing a glass of water by his bedside. 

A faint shine came from the open door as he closed in. Zach turned the corner to enter the kitchen, almost jumping when he saw the figure leaning against the fridge. “Haze?” He inquired with an incredulous tone, it wasn’t the person he’d expected to find; he wasn’t even aware she had been invited. His confusion quickly turned into worry as he shuffled over to the woman. “Are you okay? Did something happen?” He stood up on bent knees, hand holding onto Hazel’s upper arm as the other stroke at her cheek. 

[lexterrae-blog]

"I'm stuck on a boat with Betty all weekend, you do the math." She hadn't meant to sound so dry as she responded, but it was a reflex, to avoid seeming vulnerable. She was fairly sure he could feel the cold sweat on her brow, and that was adding to her anxiety. This was not a good look, and certainly not one she wanted Zach to see her wearing. It would no doubt be an image to repel him next time they were together. Hazel lifted her hand to grasp at his, pulling it away from her face before dropping it. 

In the back of her mind she had known that Zach would be here. There was no way Betty would get married without him present. In all her years of working with them both, Hazel couldn't decide whether Betty behaved as a surrogate mother or a jealous ex. Between the retching and the foetal position, she simply hadn't had time to consider that he might not realise she was onboard, or why she was now, as he had entered the kitchen, driving herself crazy over the fact she shouldn't need to know his every move, shouldn't be surprised that she hadn't been in his presence so far. And then he had moved to her with concern and she had focused instead on how she didn't want him to see her like this. 

Her gaze rose to look at his face, still seemingly wondering about her current position. "It's soothing." she inclined her head to the fridge. "I just needed to cool down some." Hazel licked at her dry lips, quickly attempting to change the subject and remove his focus from her, "How are the festivities going?" Her brow crinkled some, "And did you know Betty was getting married?!" her voice was only slightly shrill but still her words didnt fully finish, the words cracking and losing her voice at the end.

[lexterrae-blog]

Rising Tide | Zach & Hazel

They had been at sea for a few hours now. Hazel had no idea how far out they were, or even what direction they were headed. She had been shut up in her cabin almost the entire time the boat had been moving.. not that it had ever been stationary. In truth, she had been fine when they were tied to the marina, and the nausea had struck only when they moved outside of its confines, so she was assuming her issues had more to do with the absence of land. Of course, she had never been on a boat before to test this theory. She had, in fact, never left ground in a vehicle. She wasn't really focused on the idea of sinking to the bottom of the Ocean, so it didn't feel like a fear induced state. Whatever was causing it; the results were unpleasant. Darkness had descended and she was still rooted to the bathroom floor in her shared cabin. Luckily her bunkmate hadn't needed to spend any time in the room to witness this scene. 

Twenty minutes had passed since a spiking urge to throw up had assaulted her, and with a growling stomach, she figured it was safe enough to scout for some food so she actually had something to bring back up again. Charming. Plus it would be nice to find a change of scenery, scope out where she would be spending the weekend. Not to mention there might be some kind of miracle pills available to prevent her from feeling so washed out. At least the many doors scattered along the length of the yacht were keeping her focused enough that she had forgotten to feel as terrible as she probably looked. After a few failed attempts, including planting her ear to the doors and listening carefully for snoring, she found the door leading into the kitchen. 

Water first. She made her way across to a fridge, pulling it open to search for any bottles; unsure whether the sink was strictly for cleaning water. The cold air from within was doing wonders to soothe her warm face, and she found herself sitting down on the floor beside the open door. 

[lexterrae-blog]

save the date | Hazel (open)

Hazel was fairly sure she should be writing in to the Tartarus Sceptic to proclaim she had endured two out-of-body experiences this weekend alone. The first had been on Friday afternoon when Betty had casually dropped into conversation that she was getting married, and, oh yes, would Hazel like to come? Betty at least followed the question with information that supported the idea that she wasn't currently harbouring an alien parasite controlling her actions, but that she had caved to the wishes of her grandson and invited her coworker. And the fact she had invited her the day before they were due to leave on a weekend wedding expedition.. that made it even more believable. Betty was quite obviously hoping for Hazel to be busy and unable to attend, having done her part in inviting the woman. Unfortunately for her; Hazel also had a weakness for the wishes of Colin Sanders, and though she didn't want to shadow Betty's wedding in any way, she somehow convinced herself that she would be stealthy at avoiding the bride to be. 

It was some plan, given the fact they were both going to be trapped on a boat for three days together. At least Hazel would get to see Colin, and could keep him occupied while Andrea helped her mother prepare for her nuptials. In the end, it had been spur of the moment so she couldn't really attest to her logic. And now, here she was. Out of body experience numero dos. Standing on the deck of the .. well she couldn't call it a boat now.. the bigass yacht thing? Hazel smiled gratefully and thanked the member of staff who relieved her of her luggage. She hoped it was a member of staff anyhow, now that he was carrying her messenger bag away across the deck. All of her clothing for the weekend was in there, some lady products just in case, money just in case, books so she could lock herself away from Betty and do paperwork if needs be. 

Hazel huffed out a sigh of frustration, gaze following the deckhand before realising she should probably be following him physically, rather than standing on this big deck looking lost. Crap. 

[lexterrae-blog]

Intuition | Nova & Hazel

[whatsleftishope]

Nova had stayed up late the night before, working on some pictures.  Then, eager to look through them, she’d woken earlier than usual and headed into the office.  She hunched over her desk, ignoring the ache in her back.  At the sound of someone at the door, she jumped a little at the noise, and was momentarily grateful that who ever it was couldn’t yet see her embarrasment.  It was bad for business if she jumped at every small noise.  The honest truth was that it was far, far better than it used to be, but she still wasn’t good at surprises.

Working next to Tusckson’s had dulled that a little, being able to hear the door open and close over and over everyday was helping.

Nova heard her name and popped up from her chair, fueled by nervous energy at the interruption.  She peeked through the crack of the open door and smiled at Hazel on the other side, coffees in hand.  Grabbing the door, she pulled it open to let Hazel inside.

“Hazel!  Good morning,” she said a little breathlessly.  Her smile was tentative, but she was pleasantly surprised to see the other woman.  ”I wasn’t expecting you, was I?”  She did a quick mental check of her appointments and couldn’t remember making one with Hazel- not that that meant she hadn’t.  

She waved Hazel further inside.  ”Come on in, have a seat.”  Hurrying around to her desk and shuffling a batch of papers and pictures off to one side, she added, “Let me just make some room.”

[lexterrae-blog]

Hazel huffed out a "thank you" as Nova let her pass into the office, for the heat was now burning her fingertips from contact through the little cardboard sleeve. "You weren't." she set the containers down, one after the other, onto the free space on the desk. "You weren't?" her brow furrowed as she looked to Nova in confusion. Her hands smoothed at the material of her trouser legs, in an attempt to lose some of the heat she could still feel burning. 

"I remember telling Holden I was going to phone you to schedule a meeting,  but I don't remember actually doing it. So we'll go with you not expecting me." she inclined her head some to her shoulder, brow smoothing out as she moved away from the desk. "I'm sorry. Are you busy? Do you need me to come back some other time?"

Hazel hadn't actually known Nova that long, but somehow she felt comfortable enough with her to be more casual than professional on her visits, even under the guise of work. In fact, she could probably have done with bringing the files along on the case she was asking Nova to follow up on, but instead she had brought coffee, an indication of Hazel's attempt at friendship if ever there was one. Coffee had spent many years being a sign of affection from the lawyer. High praise indeed for someone she barely knew. 

"I'll write it down next time, so I remember to okay the visit with you. My memory's been a bit scattered lately." her expression apologetic, she held her hands up offering an admission of guilt. This day had already been evidence of her rattled mind. There hadn't been a moment to pass where she wasn't searching for some misplaced document, or calling Holden to her office to repeat a question she had already asked him. 

[mayorcelton]

nothing but heart | zach and hazel

[mayorcelton]

“It can’t be that hard, can it?” Zach asked nervously, the question not as rhetorical as it might’ve seemed. With her hand still clutched securely in his own, he walked through the kitchen opening. Unwillingly he let go of Hazel, reaching down to his bottom cabinet for the water kettle he should have. After a moment of rooting into the back, Zach pulled out silver coated machine. “Surprisingly, it’s not black.” He attempted a joke, knowing that the room they were in contained mostly black or grey electronics to match the coal colored cabinets and detailed hardware. Once the kettle had started humming, he spent a minute or two figuring out where he’d put the tea. His inability to find things in his own home was laughable. Yet understandable, considering how little time he spends here. Normally the frige, freezer and sometimes stove and the oven were the only parts he frequently used. Breakfast was mandatory for him, knowing that work would drain him otherwise. 

But the other meals of the day were rarely eaten in his loft. “We should make dinner here sometime.” Zach suggested before realizing he’d used the term ‘we’. “I mean, I should use this kitchen more.” The water had settled, no longer boiling. “So, what kind of tea would you like?” He grinned sheepishly at Hazel.

[lexterrae-blog]

She settled her palm, that was now losing heat outside of the confines of Zach's hand, against the worktop, pushing down to lever herself up and back to sit atop the counter. She promised herself she would ignore that need to be active and simply observe this time, watching the scene before her unfold from her perch. Hazel kicked her heels lightly back against the drawers of the counter she was on, "You really should inject some colour into your life. I don't think another shade quite cuts it." she narrowed her eyes at the offensive kettle while Zach plugged it in. "Maybe some pink, or yellow." She glanced around the room, noting, not for the first time, how uniform it all seemed, how sterile. There was no real personality evident. 

"I want to see you" her legs ceased their swinging, coming to an abrupt stop inches from the counter-face until she drew them back against it. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be saying things like this aloud, but she was going to keep going, at least explain what she meant. "Whenever you've been out of town and I've been here, it's as if I could be anywhere. In some hotel room somewhere, house-sitting for a stranger. There's nothing to tell me you live here." Hazel pursed her lips, fingertips tugging at the hem of her shorts leg. 

The kettle boiled, allowing her to snap out of her daze, conflicted by what she was saying. "That sounds good." She looked up at him, able to lift her head and let him see her face again. "Though don't tell me you can cook. I've yet to see if you can make tea." she smirked at him as she hopped down from the counter to search in a lower cabinet for the tea she had bought. It also allowed her to have her back to him, so she wouldn't have to conceal her expression underneath a planted fake.