melody

Pretending to be cool for 27 years and counting. All your life you've never seen A woman taken by the wind Would you stay if she promised you heaven? Will you ever win? She is like a cat in the dark and then She is the darkness.

[adrianrourke]

“Hey mate, I need an opinion,” Adrian said, turning to the person next to him. “What is a good trip to take a three-year-old on, not too far from DC but not too close where I feel like we’re still in the city?” he asked. Despite having lived here for three years since his ex-wife moved them to the nation’s capital, Adrian hadn’t done much exploring. “I was thinking of Philadelphia, but you may know the US better than I do.”

[melodyayers]

“Oh, I doubt it.” Melody admitted, small smile curving her lips. “Way better at getting lost in the city than actually knowing my way around.” She said, then considered for a minute. “There's the place — little over two hours away from D.C. — called Dutch Wonderland. Amusement park, pretty sure all of it is kid friendly, but don’t take my word for it, I have no idea what three-year olds like.” Then, furrowing her brow, she tilted her head. “What was the plan for Philly? Or was Philadelphia the whole plan?” She asked, slight teasing lilt to her voice.

[melodyayers]

Bold what applies to your muse.

PLACE IN SOCIETY

Financial: Wealthy / moderate / poor / in poverty

Medical: Fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged

Class or caste: Upper / middle / working / slave / Unsure

Education: Qualified / unqualified / studying

Criminal record: yes, for major crimes / yes, for minor crimes / no

FAMILY

Married - happily / Married - unhappily / engaged or betrothed / partnered / single / divorced / separated

Has a child or children / has no children / wants children

Close with sibling(s) / Not close with sibling(s) / Has no siblings

Orphaned / adopted / disowned / raised by birth parents

TRAITS + TENDENCIES

Extroverted / Introverted / in between

Disorganized / Organized / in between

Close minded / Open minded  / in between

Calm / Anxious / in between

Disagreeable / Agreeable / in between

Cautious / Reckless / in between

Patient / impatient / in between

Outspoken / Reserved / in between

Leader  / follower / in between

Empathetic / Unempathetic / in between

Optimistic / pessimistic / in between

Traditional / modern / in between

Hard working / lazy / in between

Cultured / un-cultured / in between / unknown

Loyal / disloyal / unknown 

Faithful / unfaithful / unknown

BELIEFS:

Monotheist / polytheist / atheist  / agnostic

Belief in ghosts or spirits: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care

Belief in an afterlife:  yes / no / don’t know / don’t care

Belief in reincarnation:  yes / no / don’t know / don’t care

Belief in aliens:  yes / no / don’t know / don’t care

Religious: orthodox / liberal / in between / not religious

Philosophical: yes / no

OPINIONS

Pro-choice / anti-abortion /  doesn’t know or on the fence

Pro-marriage / anti-marriage / doesn’t know or on the fence

Pro-death penalty / anti-death penalty / doesn’t know or on the fence

Pro-drug legislation / anti-drug legislation / doesn’t know or on the fence

Left wing / right ring / middle / doesn’t know or on the fence 

SEXUALITY + ROMANTIC INCLINATION

Sex repulsed / sex neutral / sex favourable

Romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favourable

Sexually: adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious

Potential sexual partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all 

Potential romantic partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all

ABILITIES

Combat skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

Literacy skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

Artistic skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

Technical skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

HABITS

Drinking alcohol: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

Smoking: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

Other narcotics: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

Medicinal drugs: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

Indulgent food: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

Splurge spending: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

Gambling: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

[melodyayers]

thesasharuvelle‌:

Sasha couldn’t help the laugh that was bubbling up in her throat. She had to admit, the mere image of them getting chased down the streets for saying Beyoncé was overrated was incredibly amusing.  “Why is it that every time someone says they think Beyoncé was overrated they have to defend themselves by saying that she’s crazy talented but not your thing?” she asked with a grin, having noticed a pattern. “As if it’s a crime to not know the entire routine to Single Ladies.”

Lips parted as an explanation danced at the tip of her tongue, but she just as quickly realized she had none. Brows furrowed in consideration, laugh escaping in the place of actual words. She raised her hands in surrender, leaning back in her seat as she shook her head. “Listen, I don’t make the rules. i just play by them.” She finally said. Chewing her lower lip, she tilted her head. “You know, I’m not even sure when the whole ‘Rise of Beyonce’ thing started. We went from Destiny’s Child is okay — is that a hot take? — to Beyonce being the gold standard and I don’t even know when the epidemic started. Think we’re being brainwashed?” She asked, raising a brow conspiratorially. There was a levity to her tone — but anyone who spent more than ten minutes locked into a conversation with Melody Ayers could easily tug at the conspiracy theories thread until every joking retort unraveled into an absolutely serious theorist. 

[melodyayers]

Melody hadn’t foreseen her end coming by way of a wedding magazine avalanche — but the possibility of Bridal Monthly, Weekly, Yearly causing her demise was ever growing by the day. She had never been one of the girls who fantasized about the perfect wedding — or any wedding at all, if she were being honest. It had never seemed to be in the cards for her. Love had always seemed like some sort of distant concept for Mel, something akin to astrophysics. It was something that fascinated her, but she hadn’t understood it at all. Even at 27 and so head over heels that she could barely form a functional thought around her fiancee, she was closer to comprehending astrophysics. When she’d proposed, maybe her mind had wandered too far into the future. It was easy to picture her life with Sofia. Maybe that’s what had clouded her judgment and kept her from remembering that part of getting married was the actual wedding. 

It hadn’t been until her father asked about the wedding that her mind started to play catch up. Maybe it was her ‘deer in the headlights’ expression that set her father in motion, dragging her down to the nearest bodega to pick up a few wedding magazines. ‘A few’ had turned into so many that Melody had damn near needed a backpack to carry them all back her apartment. As the assortment lay spread out in front of her, she had no idea where to start. She had never felt so woefully unprepared in her life as she flipped through the pages of tropical venues, exorbitantly priced dresses, flower arrangement suggestions. She had wanted to sound like she even remotely knew what she was talking about when they actually started planning — but Melody quickly learned that saying she knew next to nothing was generous. Pulling out her phone, she relented and called her in her favorite reenforcement. If Sofia couldn’t explain to her what half of the glossy pages meant, they could at least try to wade through the wedding mess together. ‘Sofia Acosta, love of my life, my favorite person in the world.’ She fired off, immediately sucking up a sure sign that Melody had been cooped up in some room somewhere for far too long. ‘I’m In desperate need of a break and attention. Please tell me you’re free?’ She sent, trying to not to let her gaze drift back to the magazine stack, as if it were some kind of sentient being that would attack if it were left unattended for too long. 

[melodyayers]

jesse-crimson‌:

As the other took a step away from the edge, Jesse steady himself enough to do the same. He’d had a few close calls wandering around the docks himself, so he knew what it could be like. “Not personally, but i’ve seen it happen before” he commented back. Lack of sleep wasn’t an uncommon factor in accidents around the docks, especially with the early mornings, long hours and late nights. Take a deep breath of relief that they both made it out of that encounter dry, Jesse tucked his hands into the jeans of his pockets. “Don’t mention it.” he assured. “Well I don’t get paid to be the Savior of the Pier, but I do get paid to run around these parts so I kind of feel like it’s only right I help people along the way. Especially the sleep walking types that get a little close to the edge”

There was nothing quite like a near miss with an involuntary swim to wake up a person — except maybe an actual dive. She chuckled, wrinkling her nose as she regarded the stranger. “I’m deciding to believe that you’re not just humoring me on that one.” She mused, hazel eyes trailing toward the water. It looked cold enough to actually make a shiver work its way down her spine. Her smile lingered as he explained his role on the docks, another small laugh escaping her. “You’re might just be the hero San Francisco needs.” She said, expending her hand. “I’m Melody. Insomniac, sleep-walking extraordinaire. And the woman begging you to let her buy you a coffee as a thank you for the whole life saving thing.” 

[misstoriaqueen-deactivated20190]

With a coffee in hand, Tori passively wandered through the familiar streets downtown. This was her home - born and raised; she could hardly imagine living anywhere else. The iconic sites like the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf were nice, but it was instead persistent mom and pop shops that gave the city its heart. It was as she passed by an old deli she would visit on weekends in her childhood that she noticed a meter maid making his way down the block. Only one or two cars had been ticketed already, but as he continued, she noticed the meter beside her was beeping quietly. “Oh, hm,” she mumbled as she dug through the bottom of her purse. It would be a shame to leave it and - “There!” - her hand emerged with a handful of change and submitted it. The beeping quieted, the meter maid passing without incident. It was only as she tripped, falling against the car, that a louder beeping began. “Please stop!” The vehicle ignored her - or perhaps didn’t hear her at all - and its screaming persisted. Then it stopped altogether and she wondered - briefly - if it did hear her, until she spotted the owner coming closer. “I swear I wasn’t trying to steal your car. I already have a car - not that your car isn’t nice, too, but uh…sorry.”

[melodyayers]

She would recognize that car alarm from halfway across the city — not just because the sound was absolutely terrible (and it was), but because she’d managed to set the damned thing off so many times that the sound found a way to creep into her dreams. The old Volkswagen Vanagon was a beautiful thing — or, she was sure it had been, back in it’s prime — but the alarm was overly sensitive and the sound wasn’t too far off from alleycats fighting in a metal garbage bin. She only heard the woman pleading with the van once she drew closer, biting her lip in a vain attempt to choke back her laughter. The Vanagon drew quiet, like a child who had been acting out but was suddenly on their best behavior once their mother walked into the room. Melody did laugh then. “Oh, no, she’s absolutely a piece of shit. I love her all the same, but definitely dumpster on wheels.” She admitted, tone playful as she gave the car an affectionate pat. “If you want her, the passenger door hasn’t locked in like, five years. Much easier than way.” She teased before remembering the reason she’d hurried out in the first place after hearing the thing wailing. The meter had totally slipped her mind, and she was absolutely sure that one more citation was all it would take for the fine city of San Francisco to either a. boot, or b. tow her car. Glancing at the meter, an easy smile curved her lips as she nodded toward it. “You do that?”

[trianglemateo]

One had to pass the time somehow, right? Hatching a big plan and putting all the gears in place to eventually pull it off was all fine and dandy, but that still left the odd afternoon with little to nothing to do. And that was when Julian’s fingers started to itch. San Francisco, while not a place he’d ever considered to be his style, came with plenty of culture and the galleries and museums around him seemed to practically scream his name. But, he was trying to lay low and not draw attention on himself by making rash decisions – so instead, he humored himself by messing with the guy who kept setting up shell games near his place. 

Today, he’d played dumb, lost a few games just to get the guy’s confidence up and keep an eye on his technique – and then decided to make this a little more fun for everyone involved. “Hey – bet ten. If you lose, it’s on me,” he offered, quietly, towards the person beside him.

[melodyayers]

It had taken Melody nearly ten years to stop saying ‘hello’ to everyone who stopped her on the street. It seemed that it was easy to take the girl out of the south, but much harder to take the southern hospitality out of the girl. She was sure she’d paid a year’s rent for the man who took up outside the bodega near her first apartment, despite her roommates practically pulling her by the arm from everyone who started a conversation with her. 

So it was with great practice that she passed the small crowd gather around what was without a doubt another ruse. But as far as ways of scamming money went, at least a game provided marginal entertainment. Mel almost made it past  when she spotted the golden retriever on a leash among the audience — for all her effort to block of the strangers of the city, she still hadn’t quite mastered the art of ignoring stranger’s dogs. She scratched the pup behind the ears, gaze passively falling on the game. Hearing a voice, she chuckled. “You his inside man?” She asked, voice playful as she looked back over. Raising her shoulders in a shrug, she muttered. “What the hell. Ten bucks is ten bucks, right?” She said, taking a step forward and nodding toward the guy orchestrating, fishing two five dollar bills out of her pocket and holding them up between her index and middle fingers. “I’ll bet.” 

[elisawarren-deactivated20190302]

With a heavy sigh, Charlie ran a hand through her blonde hair and captured her bottom lip between her teeth. There was a focused look on her face, her forehead scrunched in the middle and her eyes narrowed a little. She was trying to read the article about her brother that her mother had sent her, some analysis about his recent play against the Steelers and truth be told, Charlie didn’t quite care but it was her brother and she was trying to be supportive. “Hey, does he look like me?” she asked, showing the picture of her brother in his Patriots jersey and about to throw the football. “People say we look alike, but I don’t really see it, do you?”

[melodyayers]

Melody had briefly noticed the other’s absolutely puzzlement about whatever had captured her attention — the radio host had nearly dismissed it when the blonde spoke. Leaning forward and squinting at the photo, hazel eyes flickered back up the the woman before returning to the man in question. “I kinda see it. In a 6 foot something, kind of intimidating dude way.” She hummed after a moment, leaning back. “Don’t trust my judgment on that though, I worked with a guy for like two years before I realized it was actually two guys, and I had no idea which was which. Not even related. Neither of them ever corrected me, by the way. Two years, and they both let me call them Dan almost every single day.” Nodding back to the Patriots photo, she tilted her head. “Weird coincidence, or does something about you just scream ‘Patriots’?”

[melodyayers]

sofia--acosta‌:

Suppressed anger seeped into her veins as the tears continued to cascade down her cheeks, leaving behind a charcoal trail of mascara – so much for being waterproof. One year ago, when Sofia had received the initial diagnosis, she remembered her mother giving her a fair dose of a reality check. ‘This is not the end of your world.’ But how could those words ring true when it certainly felt like her world – their world – was ending. ‘There are hundreds of resources for the hearing impaired; we live in such a progressive age where it’s practically at your fingertips.’ It wasn’t an intended joke from her mother, but the thought now made her laugh, only to suppress the choking sound with an onslaught of tears.  Sofia’s frame begin to shiver as Melody pulled away, and if it hadn’t been for her fiancee’s hands holding her steady, the brunette would’ve collapsed on the floor. Certain of it, she wobbled slightly to the side before her teeth clamped into her bottom lip, the sobs vibrated through her body, causing her teeth to chatter. ‘This isn’t fair to you,’ she demanded as her shaking hands forced her to sign slower than usual. ‘I don’t want to exist in a world where I can’t hear your voice; where I can’t hear you say ‘I love you’ to me.’ Just the thought caused a blurring of vision as her thoughts spun out of control. Melody was her lifeline, and as she led her to the couch, Sofia wanted nothing more than to turn and fold herself against Mel’s side, to hide her emotions unlike she’d ever been able to do before. As she lowered herself onto the couch cushion, she turned to the brunette and lifted a shaking hand to her chest, ‘please, I need you.’ 

Melody didn’t think she had room in her being for any more emotions — not until she watched Sofia’s hands, shaking but so deliberate. She was proven wrong rather quickly as shock rolled through her at even the idea that in this moment, Sofia was concerned about her. As she continued, Melody was sure her heart was shattering with each word. Fracturing, pieces of it chipping off and cutting through her. She felt her lower lip quiver as she continued to wage the fruitless battle against her own tears, feeling her own breath catch in her throat. She imagined a world where their roles were reserved — where she no longer got to hear the melodic voice of Sofia Acosta. Music had been the girl’s first love, but she would feel no greater loss than that voice. But she would take it, if she could. She knew that as surely as she’d even known anything — she would take it. She could live without music, if it meant happiness for the woman in front of her. She shook her head quickly. ‘We will never live in that world. There is nothing that will stop me from saying how much I love you. I’ll find a new way to say it. Every day if I have to.’ Her hands were unsteady, and she was sure it hadn’t been perfect, but she desperately hoped Sofia understood.

She settled into the couch beside Sofia, glad for the solid surface beneath her. Watching the last words, she signed slowly. ‘I’m not going anywhere. I promise.’ She promised, saying the words as she signed them. In every way she could think of to say it in that moment, she needed to follow through on. As she moved closer to the other, arm going around her shoulder and gently pulling her back in. She remembered the day Sofia got her diagnosis — how broken they’d both felt. Melody had never been a bitter person, but she had felt bitterness that day at the injustice of it. She had heard ‘bad things happen to good people’ a million times, but it had never really meant anything to her. Maybe it had been a passive cynicism from a woman who had always considered herself to be an optimist. Things just happened, and being angry about it was a waste of energy. The universe was in turn kind and cruel, and life was about adapting. But a year ago, adapting proved to be far for difficult than changing her standard route to work because her exit was closed. It was a challenge she was more than willing to rise to in a way that hadn’t seemed challenging at all. She enrolled in ASL classes the moment she got home after that visit. She worked on her penmanship, which had always been hurried and sharp. She learned to slow down her speaking, a challenge for the girl who grew up in a house of nine people, each always fighting to get a word in. They were relearned behaviors, but she had never for a moment considered an alternative. 

She wasn’t about to start considering one now. She gently ran her fingers through Sofia’s dark hair, the only gesture that managed to calm Melody down when she was staring down a canyon. With the index finger on her other hand, she lightly tapped a pattern on her fiancee’s thigh. One tap, pause. Four taps, pause. Three, pause. Her own little I love you in a world of firsts.

[melodyayers]

sofia--acosta‌:

Sofia hadn’t been sure how she’d arrived back at her apartment from the doctor’s office, or even the route she’d taken behind the wheel of her car to get there. She didn’t remember taking the elevator nor did she recall stumbling down the hallway toward the door, tears blurring her vision with each step until the distance was merely a kaleidoscope of shapes and dull colors. Once she was locked behind comfort of the apartment door, a loud, hollow scream escaped her lungs and she collapsed against the wall, and eventually stumbled to the couch, burying her face into both hands. Luna was at her side in a matter of seconds, pushing her cold nose into the brunette’s hand, clearly confused to the sobs that replaced her usual happy demeanor. Sofia wasn’t one to get upset often, but today was a different story all together.  The next minutes stalled in her mind as her thoughts drifted to her fiancee, Melody, and what this meant for her. What this meant for the rest of their life together. Sure, a year before when Sofia was officially diagnosed, neither knew much about the disease. Hell, even for Sofia – who studied diseases for a living – couldn’t quite grasp the physiological changes that were occurring in her body. And everyone had their own take on the disorder, it just depends on who you asked.  Her body quivered with each shallow breath she inhaled, and the ringing in her ears grew louder – maybe, just maybe, it was her own defense mechanism: the louder the ringing, the less she could hear her own cry for help. The sound of a key turning in the door did not phase Sofia, nor did Luna’s barking, for she couldn’t hear the sounds, but when she felt the warmth of Mel’s hands against her arms, she turned towards the older woman and folded into her arms, tears staining her shirt in a matter of moments. She wanted to apologize for dragging Melody into this mess, for letting her fall in love with someone who was physically broken. But words couldn’t part her lips as she remained in her embrace.

Had she heard the sobbing before she approached the door, Melody would’ve been struggling to fight back her own tears before she even reached the landing. She had two seconds of strength — two seconds to channel every bit of toughness she had, and hold it like a lifeline that could get them both to the shore in the biggest shore they had ever endured. The moment Sofia folded into her, though, Melody felt that pillar of short-lived strength crumble. The other woman’s sobs into her shoulder were enough to leave her eyes stinging, no matter how hard she tried to hold back. The instant her heart broke, she felt an anger that would never had a place to go. Toward the universe to being so cruel to a person who had only ever shown kindness? To the doctors who only managed to dole out bad news and more questions? At herself, for not being able to fix it? She so desperately wanted to make this better that she could feel the want building inside of her, like it were a tangible thing that if she just reached deep enough, she could manifest it into reality. 

She squeezed Sofia just a bit tighter in that moment, a brief moment of helpless reassurance. She rubbed the her back, feeling each and every heaving breath beneath her hand. Melody only moved her hand to quickly wipe away her own tears that had managed spill onto Sofia’s shoulders — she’d been so focused on the other than she hadn’t noticed that they had finally broken free. Fearing that it would be like a levy breaking, releasing a deluge she wasn’t sure she could rein in. Melody only shifted from her own comforting gesture to quickly wipe the tears away with the back of her hand. 

She lost time then, holding the woman she loved like she could somehow shield her from the rest of the world. Maybe it had only been seconds, but each one had seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Time had no right to move slowly when each moment contained so much pain, she thought bitterly. A quick sniffle, a deep breath, and she stepped back, hands on her fiancee’s shoulders to steady her. ‘I love you,’ she signed, lips moving with the still fairly slow words. ‘We will get through this. I’m here. Every step of the way.’ She finished, only then gently using her thumb to wipe a tear from the raven-haired girl’s cheek. She hated the warmth she felt trailing down her own, fleetingly wondering when they’d had a chance to sneak up on her again. So much for being a pillar of strength. With a gentle guiding hand, chewing her own lip as if that were some sort of effective defense against the potential onslaught of her own tears, she guided Sofia to the couch, barely resisting the urge to pull her back in. Melody was afraid if she did, she would never be able to let go. 

[melodyayers]

When she said her shift was almost over, it hadn’t exactly been a lie. She was on the schedule for another three hours — but the message from Sofia had let Melody unable to think about anything else. So she called her managed, made up a half-thought out excuse, queued up enough songs to buy whatever poor soul was covering her enough time to arrive, and she left. Her hand remained on her phone, barely fighting the urge to check in on the other woman she was only minutes from seeing. It was a fear that never entirely dissipated for her — that one day, the news would come that Sofia’s hearing had gotten worse. Melody had spent hours and hours poring over articles and scientific journals about Meniere’s disease, but anticipating the blow on made it harder to bear when it landed. She thought they had more time. Sofia deserved more time. Her fingers impatiently drummed on the Vanagon’s wheel, Melody starring at the car ahead of her life sheer willpower alone could shift traffic. Out of sheer frustration, she parked the car, slinging her bag over her shoulder (and slightly wincing against the sound of glass clanking — she wouldn’t decided it a drink tonight meant wine, or whiskey, and she’d been in no mood for taking chances), and started on foot. She was close enough anyway.

As she reached Sofia’s door, she gave a light tap against the wood with her left hand and she fumbled for the keys with her right. The tap served only to announce her presence to Luna, who was always so quick to let Sof know there was a visitor. Almost the moment she finished her third knock, she’d inserted the key with a slightly shaking hand and opened the door. Mel didn’t say anything as she gently lowered her bag to the ground, quickly closing the distance between her and Sofia, enfolding the other woman in a hug she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to release. 

@sofia--acosta

[maverickbennett]

Work had Jesse on the boat docks off Pier 39, a few vessels in need of minor repairs and patch ups. He loved that he got to do what he enjoyed away from most of the crowd where he could just mind his own business. He’d just finished replacing some faulty parts in an old fishing boat, and was off for a lunch break before starting his next job. But as he walked along the docks towards the pier, he’d noticed someone up ahead slowly but surely walking on an angle towards the water. The docks not providing the railing that the pier did, once your foot went off the edge you were in for a swim. Not entirely sure what was distracting the other, Jesse picked up into a run, as the other ventured dangerously close to the edge. He put himself between them and the edge just in time. “Cutting it close there” he commented, balancing himself as the heels of his feet hung over the edge. “You good?”

[melodyayers]

The recommended seven to ten hours a night had been a pipedream for Melody for at least ten years — two jobs and million things she would rather be awake for, sleep fell fairly low on her list. Most days, her erratic schedule was no problem. Today, though, she fell prey to daydreaming more than she would like to admit, thoughts idly wandering to anywhere and everywhere but being present. On her way home, she decided on a detour. The pier had always been her favorite part of San Fransisco, and she was long overdue for a visit. Music too loud in her headphones and her attention waning, she hadn’t noticed quite how close she was to unexpected swim. Not until there was someone between her and the water. “Jesus,” she muttered, pulling out her earbuds and snapping out of her own reverie. She took a surprise step back, shaking her head. “Yeah, all good. You ever sleep walk with your eye open?” She asked, tone playful as she scratched that back of her neck, offering the other a tentative smile. “Thanks, by the way. They pay you to be the Savior of the Pier, or is it a volunteer gig?”

[supcrnovarecords-blog]

“Okay hold on,” Sasha chuckled, holding a hand up in the air, as if to say okay, wait. “In my personal opinion, Beyoncé is just a bit overhyped. I’m not trying to start an argument, but come on. I’m not saying she’s not talented, because she definitely has a good voice and clearly also an amazing stage presence, but I wouldn’t go and fall on my knees for her, screaming and crying because she performed while she was pregnant. I could give you an entire list of artists who deserve more attention, but they don’t get it because people are too busy going crazy over her.” The actress paused, clearing her throat as he sat back in her seat. “Is this the moment where I’ll be sitting here by myself in a second?” she joked, a grin now tugging at her lips.  

[melodyayers]

“Ooh. Hot take. I like it.” Melody mused, then leaned slightly forward, resting her chin on her palms before continuing on in a stage whisper. “Careful. You are two seconds from getting us chased through the streets. I’m talking full on torch and pitchfork mob chased. And these shoes were not made for running. This Melody was not made for running.” She added, though a small grin curved her lips. “If you tell anyone, I’ll absolutely deny it, but I think you’re right. Hella talented — but not necessarily my thing, you know?” The radio host chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re safe — for now. Come for Britney though...” she warned, though it was clearly an idle threat, if her lingering grin was anything to go on.

[melodyayers]

text ➝ Melody

Sofia: Okay.

Sofia: It's bad. 85, 25. And it's not coming back.

Melody: Did they say what happened? Some kind of trigger? Or if there's anything they can do?

Melody: Jesus, sorry, that's so many questions. You're a warrior, you know that? And I love you.

[melodyayers]

text ➝ Sofia

Sofia: I need a drink.

Sofia: Just finished at the doctor’s appointment, I’m going home instead of back to work. Are you at the station?

Melody: My shift's almost up. Give me 15 minutes and I'll be at your place.

Melody: How bad is it, Sof?

[amirakemal]

     »                        DATE: JANUARY 14TH, 2019.

          The young woman was more or less minding her own business when she took note of somebody yelling ahead of her; fingers waving around and pointing in the general area as he was clearly frustrated. Or intoxicated. Or perhaps, both? “Any idea what he’s yelling about?” She questioned, as crowds began to form, though most people were generally just going about their daily routine, so it was more to anybody in passing or who were curious to see what was happening.

[melodyayers]

Melody was well aware of the yelling man — she crossed the street to avoid him just moments ago, and had been trying to hang back the best she could. At the question, she chuckled, looking over at the other woman. “Depends. Two blocks ago he was telling me my soul was in danger,” she mused, wrinkling her nose. “Something about end of days, error of my ways. I didn’t ask many follow up questions. Sounds like he’s got a new target though.”

[melodyayers]

Sofia

Caught completely breathless every time she saw her girlfriend, tonight certainly was no different. Melody had a way of making anyone feel that they were the only one in the room, the lone person who had captured her attention, and from the moment they met Sofia had been immensely aware of her presence. “Well, yes…but it’s also so you don’t have to wait out in the hallway as if we’re newly dating.” A mused expression coated her features as the conversation turned onto why the hell Mel was acting so sneaky, and just like that, she was overcome with the joy of her girlfriend’s persistence in ASL classes. Sofia had taken years of ASL to complete her foreign language requirement in college, and fell completely in love with the unspoken language. So much that she received a minor in the art. So, when she’d found out nearly a year ago that she was losing her hearing and there was not a single thing that could be done to stop the progression, she had dusted off her old textbooks and reviewed, and she was damn-near fluent in the language.  ‘We both know you’re not good at keeping surprises,’ Sofia signed in return, mere moments before she was shooed off to grab her coat. A coat? In San Francisco? What on heaven’s earth could they possibly be doing that required a coat? Sure, Sofia owned a few, but that was mainly due to the time she spent in DC with her parents, and there was no sense in getting rid of them. Especially when the brunette loved to travel. Melody was her first love, but traveling was a close second. To Sofia, there was no greater joy than discovering a hidden part of the world, to learning of different cultures and the people who inspired them. And, thankfully with her salary, it provided some cushion for travel.  A moment later, after she’d dug to the depths of her coat closet for her red pea coat, Sofia found her way back to the door where Luna was waiting with Melody, the four-year-old German Shepherd eager for an adventure. “Not today, girl,” Sofia laughed while slipping into her coat. “You can take the night off.” With a wave of her hand, a gesture that Luna would recognize as one to lay down on her bed, the dog disappeared. Just as Sofia turned to find her girlfriend, she closed the door behind her, glancing down the hallway at the woman who was terribly eager, with one foot on the step. ‘The roof?’ She signed in question, but quickly followed behind, and was soon taking the same steps carefully. “You’ve been so quiet all day, I should’ve known you had something up your–” The moment the door parted and the rooftop was visible, her jaw dropped and a loud gasp parted her lips. The light from the sky was nearly gone from the setting sun, but the twinkling lights lit up Sofia’s eyes. “Mel, what is this? Oh my god, this is beautiful.” 

Mel flashed her a grin, raising her eyebrow. “And let the neighbors think we’re too mature for 2 a.m. booty calls? Absolutely not. I won’t stand for it.” She teased, trying her best to feign sincerity. In truth, Melody had never been the best with keys — or remembering she had them. She’d taken to hiding her own apartment after one particularly long night explaining to the San Francisco P.D. exactly why she had been breaking into her own apartment at three in the morning. ‘I’m an occasionally irresponsible bartender with irregular hours’ hadn’t been quite as convincing as she’d hoped. Even when she did managed to remember her keys from point A to point B, she still let them slip her mind once she reached her destination. 

The other woman’s smile was almost enough to steady her still-buzzing nerves — almost. She watched Sophia’s hands carefully as she signed back, jaw falling open in feigned hurt — though the attempt was almost immediately marred by her smile. 'That hurts,’ she returned, though it clearly did nothing of the sort. Melody could fail at every other surprise event she tried to plan in this lifetime and the next, as long as this one worked. She hadn’t allowed herself to really consider the possibility that this could all go terribly — her fingers involuntarily twitched toward her coat pocket where the last step in her grand plan was neatly tucked away. Instead, she let her hand fall (slightly clumsily) to her side, making a vain attempt to mask the gesture by impatiently swinging her arms and bringing her hands together. She never had been someone who could stay still, and she desperately hoped her nerves could almost be mistaken for her usually fidgeting. 

When Sophia resurfaced, so did Melody’s smile. She resisted the urge to speak, positive that the moment she did, everything would come pouring out. Instead, she nodded, lower lip pulled between her teeth as if that could somehow prevent the deluge of words from escaping her. Taking Sophia’s hand into her own as she ascended they took the stairs, she only fell back after opening the door. She waited for the raven-haired woman’s reaction, hearing little more than her own heart hammering in her chest as she let her hand fall away and into her own coat pocket. As she closed her fingers around the box, she took a few short steps forward, breath barely returning as she saw Sophia’s smile. Golden eyes darted toward the city skyline, but she would’ve been hard pressed to look anywhere but at the other woman in that moment. “I’ve never actually seen snow. Not in real life, anyway. And if there’s anything I’ve learned from the most amazing person I’ve ever met — she’s this brilliant, determined, gorgeous woman, I think you’d like her,” she started, wrinkling her nose and offering Sophia a smile. Melody took a breath, focusing on those dark eyes she’d fallen in love with the first time she saw her before pressing on. “... it’s that if you want something, you make it happen. And if you’re anywhere near as lucky as I am, you get to share it with the person you love. The person who makes you believe in snow in California and that maybe magic is real after all, and that even the worst days are not that bad because you still get to see her smile.” She was rambling. Really rambling. She really should’ve planned this better — for a woman whose first job was speaking for the timed breath between songs, you would think she would have found a more concise way to ask the question that was practically burning through her. With a nervous smile, only briefly chewing her lower lip as she lowered to one knee. “I never knew I could love anything or anyone the way I love you. But I’m going to be really selfish here and ask for a lifetime of firsts, and to be by your side while you take over the world.” Mel finally closed her fingers around the box, slightly trembling hand opening the box. “Sophia Grace Acosta, will you marry me?”