Perfect Reine Storm

Marissa Reed || Fifty One || Director at ELLE Magazine || Factionless 

[metamcrphosys]

💓: how does my muse feel about physical intimacy?

mar vc: gross.

No, on a real note: she doesn’t mind physical intimacy in private. As someone who has built up a protective shell around her physical being, as well as a virtual one around her reputation, Marissa isn’t one to share her affections in public. She wouldn’t mind to cuddle or be sweet with someone while she cooks dinner or reads at night, but she’d rather not be forthcoming or public with the information. 

Marissa likes the idea of keeping her life more private now, especially now that she’s divorced and has two relatively young daughters, one still in her care. So does she like physical intimacy? Yes. Would she like it in private? Also, yes.

[metamcrphosys]

( @fallsxplorer​ ) || “just so you know,” marissa begins, looking over the man for a moment, “you’ve got something... crimson... on your shirt.”

[metamcrphosys]

@therealnealxhopper​ // she wants to shove him properly this moment. what was he doing here? marissa stands rooted in the front of the store where she’d just bought some presents for dot. and here was neal... a rubbish person, she noted... coming down the street in broad daylight. “what are you doing here?” she asks, catching his eye. it wasn’t like him, she thought, to be near a store like this. a 5th avenue department store. 

[metamcrphosys]

@inventiveant​ || “oh, CHRIS---” there’s the resounding pop of the bottle. That sound of midnight resounding through New York, the cheers heard from the expansive board room at ELLE where a small party was being held. Where Marissa, who forgot her glasses and somehow during the night lost her right contact lens, was trying to uncork the bottle for their celebration. And who felt the bottle of champagne slip from her hands and angle itself just right to... She’s handed off the bottle to a colleague and has made her way down the steps of the small riser and checking to see if Mr Anton, who had just been hit with a cork cap, was alright. “Christ,” she mutters, checking to see if maybe he’s gotten a concussion then realizing that maybe she shouldn’t because she can’t actually see. “Are you okay?” She asks, looking quite contrite for the mishap.

[metamcrphosys]

therealnealxhopper‌:

@metamcrphosys​

He was surprised to see Marissa out at a bar; a sort of nice bar, but still a bar. Actually, it had a karaoke machine, how nice could it really be. Maybe it was a holiday party for work or something, he didn’t know. He didn’t care. Still interesting to see her anywhere other than her office. And he’d had a few drinks so that just made this more fun. Hopper almost couldn’t help himself as he went over and sat at the high top table with her. “Hey, Ris,“ he smirked a bit. “Question: how much would I have to pay you to get up on that stage and sing a Christmas carol?” 

send me 🎤 for one of our muses to try to get the other to sing christmas carols

Marissa felt like dying of embarrassment. Actually, maybe not so much. Maybe not that much. But she did want to get back at this worm when she was done with this. She’d been convinced to go out with some colleagues as a treat for one’s birthday. Decade party. Marissa had held back on the drinks and mostly spent her time, while not being polite and sociable, thinking about work. The girls went to go sing their best Mariah Carey a bit ago, and now were taking a few pictures with some decor. And Marissa had the time to herself to worry about whatever was wrong with this, that, or the other thing. But peace doesn’t like her much, she thinks. It retreats the moment Neal is there, at the table she had sat alone at for a very specific reason. She eyes him, a glower that tell him she would really love him to be gone at this moment. But when has that ever stopped him. “I’m not much of a singer, Mr Burke,” she says cooly, though she doubts this is the end of it. 

[metamcrphosys]

𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕒 𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕕 ( ᴸᵃᵈʸ ˣ ᴮᵘᵍ )

[metamcrphosys]

queenatta‌:

Atta took the stack from her mother, taking a seat as she did. “Well, thank you for bringing those up.” She started looking at them as she gestured toward the chair in front of her. “If you’re not too busy, feel free to stay for a minute or two.”

“No, not too busy at all,” Marissa says, inclining her head and sitting. She remembered helping pick out these chairs. Nice. “So,” Marissa begins, a smile forming delicately, “how’s the view here?”

[metamcrphosys]

raspywaddler‌:

Donald smiled brightly at her. “That’s always good. Though I think it would be a bit funny to see two moms just going at each other in the middle of the community building,” he said. “Still, not boring is good though.” He rose an eyebrow. “Thankfully teenage boys aren’t usually too picky and just eat whatever is in sight. Imagine having three at once! The grocery bill is astounding. I suppose I can take those off your hands though. You look like you’ve got your hands full. Do you need help carrying some stuff?”

“It’s happened before,” Marissa affirms. “Something about some sort of family feud. So pre-disposed. But it did happen.” She laughs at the memory. Even just the memory. “Oh, well, teenage boys. Haven’t really had them. Two girls, though. But... you know that.” She’d heard a few times about Chanel. That’s an exaggeration. Before Atta, it was Marissa who was trying to compete. But she thought that they were pretty fair about it. (By the business standards.) Still the thought of Dot’s former classmates did cheer her. “You know, I hadn’t thought of the grocery bill. Perhaps I should.” She hold the snack box out to him, which actually involved holding the books as well. And he offers to help. And she’s a little surprised. She would have thought he might not. So... she smiles and nods and says, “If you wouldn’t mind, actually?” And she’s grateful to not have to walk too too far with books and snacks in her arms.

[metamcrphosys]

therealnealxhopper‌:

She offered him a seat? She actually offered him something. He squinted at her, a bit of a smirk across his face. “Look at you being hospitable. What a strange twist,” he chuckled, taking a seat. His leg started bouncing the moment he did. Shit. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees to keep his legs steady, clasping his hands together. He rolled his eyes when she said she wasn’t answering that. Oh the things he could say about Atta, but he’d save all that for another day. That’s not what this was about. That wasn’t the type of leverage he needed right now. “Okay, but this wasn’t really about what’s going on between us. I’m talking about some weird messages where someone’s like, making you choose something or else something bad happens? Or all that gossip shit that’s been going around. I…” he sighed, leaning back in the chair again, running his hands over his face. “Look I know I sound crazier than ever, but there’s some weird fucking shit going on and I would really prefer for it to not get any weirder. I don’t really have any questions. I just… I don’t even fucking know.” He realized why he was there, and it made him want to punch himself. She was in a position where she’d listen to him. Even if she didn’t care what he had to say, at least she was someone he could complain to. Which was shitty of him, he knew. But hey, whoever said he wasn’t a shitty person?

Marissa wishes he’d stop baiting her. Wishes he would just shut up. He tells her and talks to her about all those worries that have been bottled up since--she’s like to think--the beginning of last month. It’s been a bit insane, hasn’t it? “You don’t have a rival for my favorite blackmailer, if that’s what you mean,” Marissa responds, her tone even and a bit sardonic. And he’s off again. About the details. The worries, the fears. And Marissa’s surprised he’d come to her, who openly despises him, to talk to. Didn’t he have any other person to whine to? Or... she supposed it would be some sort of redeeming quality to open up to her. He’s done... he’s trailed to his last point, and Marissa pointedly looks at him before doing him the decency to look away and let him just be for a moment. And so they sit in silence.

“It’s a bit of a conflict of interest to be blackmailing your therapist,” Marissa says casually after they’ve sat for a bit. “But I’ll let it slide this once.” She’s not planning on getting up, but she has an urge to fidget so she starts spinning a pen between her two fingers. “What then. Are you trying to cross out suspects now? So what can I do for you? You’ve knocked me out already, I assume. And I want to say you already had me out before you got here.”

[metamcrphosys]

dottiescout‌:

Dot couldn’t help but smile with her mom. “It isn’t cool at all. In fact, if I see anyone from school I might be ridiculed forever. But I also don’t care. The Blueberry Scouts might be my high school past, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to handle bullies.” She folded her headphones away. “Let’s go to the mall or something.”

For a small moment, Marissa wasn’t sure if Dot would want to go out to the mall or something--venture into public--with her. Her mother, who was both very well known but often not well enough to be recognized. Her mother who tried to be on the edge of all things fashion but not at all with the kids on... anything. But then Dot surprised her somehow and Marissa beamed. “Ah, then I shall try not the embarrass you too badly should it come to that.” She nods at Dot’s suggestion, grateful for some time. “That sounds great. Grab your coat? It’ll be cold today.”

[metamcrphosys]

queenatta‌:

@metamcrphosys​

Atta sighed, looking up from her computer as she heard the door open. She smiled gently, standing up from her desk, she’d been raised to be respectful. “Mother, as much as I love seeing you, I don’t need you to keep watch over me.”

Marissa gave a look of mock disapproval. “Well, lucky for you, that’s not what I’m here for,” she informs her daughter. “I’ve actually come with some proofs from downstairs. They’re trying to decide the layout of the Winter Essentials article. Which is a bit amusing as there is glitter on the board table downstairs.” She slides the proofs to her daughter, still kept all neat and nice in their folios and laminations.

[metamcrphosys]

raspywaddler‌:

Donald hadn’t expected the director of Elle Magazine to just approach him. He wasn’t wowed or anything. Daisy was the heir to Chanel after all. Though he wasn’t sure where he was standing with her at the moment. Things with them always ended up getting complicated. Donald knew that there was no other woman for him but her though. Just talking to Marissa made Donald feel like he was sleeping with the enemy. Daisy and Atta were rivals yet here he was face to face with the latter’s mother because her younger sister was friends with his nephews. “Just Donald is fine. No need for formalities.” He offered her a sweet smile. Donald wasn’t much of a ‘community day’ kind of guy. He didn’t even know there was a community day going on. The only community day he knew of were the ones in Pokemon Go, which he briefly played. “No, I’m just coming from down the block to pick up my paycheck,” he told her. Donald looked up at the sky. “Yeah, it’s not too cold out today or breezy. It is a shame that it’s getting darker so early though.” He brings his attention back to her and smiles. “Oh, I don’t want to take your treats. If your daughter doesn’t like them though I suppose it would be rude of me to decline.”

“Oh, alright. Just Donald,” she says... then clarifies, “Donald, I mean.” She smiles at him, readjusting the box in her arms. “Oh,” she replies, nodding again. “Well, it was pretty calm today. No big events. No parents fighting. But it wasn’t boring, at least.” She smiles widely at that. You never knew what would happen as a parent or alum parent of Wishing Well. Marissa shrugged a bit. “Dot can be picky. If you don’t take them, they have a 68.72% chance of getting tossed. So if you think the triplets want them, they’re all yours. I’ve got some jelly beans, some goldfish crackers... oh. Trail mix. There’s a bunch in here.”

[metamcrphosys]

therealnealxhopper‌:

He chuckled dryly. “Yeah, it’s alright. Guess it’ll have to do since I can’t imagine it’s too discreet if you come to my neck of the woods,” Hopper said with a grin. She got so mad with him, it was almost a little fun. He nodded as she talked about work. Work he really didn’t care about. His leg is bouncing. A combination of the drugs in his system and the little bit of nervousness that he wouldn’t admit he had. “Yeah, it’s a lot.” He nodded more when she confirmed that she hadn’t told anyone. “Good. That’s good,” he said. “I’m not underestimating you at all. I just know there’s a lot of shit flying around and hitting the fan right now, and this is the last thing I think either of us wants to worry about getting out.” Hopper rolled his eyes a bit. “Well, hey, I trust you just as much as you trust me, so do with that what you will.” He couldn’t say he felt better, but there was a little bit of a weight lifted from his shoulders. “But, good. And you don’t think any of your people who’re involved told anything?” he knew this paranoia was stemming from all the wrong places but he couldn’t help it. He hated this. “You or any of your girls gotten weird shit? Letters or messages?” he asked, knowing if he said it the wrong way she’d probably take it as a threat or something. “Anything asking you to, like, do things or something bad’ll happen?”

He’s making her nervous. Him standing there, having so much more energy than she has. Marissa was so used to at least having some permanent aura, but Neal’s. He’s standing in such a way, without trying, that he’s irritating her. She wants to tell him to get out, but he knows how well that will go. And she’d rather not. Especially with just how nervous he is making her. “Would you like... to have a seat?” She asks him, rubbing her temple. If the constant noise around her wasn’t causing her headache, Neal himself certainly was. “Sure...” She’s not convinced that he hasn’t lapsed in his judgement of her. He’s the sort that would lapse, wasn’t he? “I don’t know,” she says. She isn’t dismissive, but she is truthful. She’d like to think her people... employees... were loyal to her. But ultimately, Marissa had no absolute power over them. “I really can’t say. And as for my girls? I’m not answering that, Hopper.” This was one of the issues she was not going to debate him on. “I’m not bringing the girls into this, thank you.” She’d laid down that rule before, to moderate success. Sometimes it was discarded, sometimes she stood some ground. “So your next question, then? Since you really want to pursue this line of questioning.”

[metamcrphosys]

sirenscng‌:

“But binning it is wasteful.  I don’t want to waste food.  It’s not like I took a bite out of it.  I tore a tiny little piece off, it’s still a good muffin,” Lorelei argued shaking her head.  “It could have been useful, you could have eaten it and still gotten your blueberry scout a new muffin.”

“See, I’m not much a fan of having food thrust into my hands with the expectation that I will eat it. Actually, with everything that’s happened this past month, I’m not sure how many people want random offerings.” Marissa crosses her arms to the young woman, irate. “What was wrong with the muffin anyways that you didn’t want it?”

[metamcrphosys]

dottiescout‌:

Dot loved her mom very much. She was an admirable business woman and mother and she was lucky to have her in her life. That being said, her mother was a busy woman and Dot learned early that the only way to not get upset by that is to keep busy herself. Everything she did was purposeful, even the stupid things. Like having her headphones in and pretending to listen to music as she ate breakfast, only to look up and give herself away when her mother offered a day with her. It was safe to say she was stunned and she didn’t know how to respond right away. “Are….you sure? You don’t have any meetings or stuff like that?”

Marissa looked surprised for a minute, but figured it was only a fair response. Marissa was often preoccupied, if not physically, then in thought. She shakes her head lightly. “No, no meetings. No meetings. No obligations. Just time with my Dot if she wants to spend the day with me?” She says, her smile growing. “Is it still cool for teenagers to spend time with their parents? I don’t know if that’s a thing or not.”

[metamcrphosys]

inventiveant‌:

Flik had just climbed out from under one of the desks to grab his screwdriver so he could open the computer up when he heard a woman’s voice.  He turned around and saw Marissa Reed.  In his shock he dropped his screwdriver narrowly missing his foot.  “Ms. Reed, I um…” he said losing his train of thought and momentarily forgetting what he was going to say or what he was doing in there.  “I’m uh fixing one of the computers.  No I’m not on break right now but if you need something I can put this off.”

“Oh, no. You keep doing what you’re doing. I’m just trying to escape my incessantly ringing telephone. And getting some coffee. You know, the corporate dream.” She raises the coffee cup, a styrofoam cup with a little paper sleeve, to him. “How’s the tech? The... computer and all those things I, an old person, don’t understand?”

[metamcrphosys]

@raspywaddler​ // Marissa was a firm believer in community involvement. She’d enjoyed coming to class bake sales and sports events and dances and she made as much time as possible to do those things with Dot. (As possible being very key to that statement). Marissa had just finished a library event, one which entailed her helping sort donated books because she wanted to know what books kids liked and also so she could maybe find a present for Dot in the upcoming season. The day was turning dark earlier, no thanks to shifting clocks and such. Time travel should be possible, she thought. Just not via daylight savings. As she walked out onto the sidewalk, a crate of books and snacks in her hands, she ran across someone she’d seen at least a few times in passing. “Oh, Mr--” had she forgotten the name? “Mr Donald?” She knew that much at least. Was it Duckington? Dot had mentioned some Duckington triplets at one point, but she knew they lived with an uncle, and she’d hate to misuse a name. She didn’t think he was coming from her event. But community building was apparently a thing and library events weren’t the only activities offered. Actually, did the triplets still go to school there? Dot was younger than them. She tried to push those thoughts away. She managed an entire magazine for years and right now, after 7 hours sorting books, she was tired? Incredible. She’d flagged him down, she might as well say something. “Hi, are you-- are you coming from community day? Lovely day, isn’t it? Except for the darker sky, maybe. Care for some snacks? They sent them home with me but I don’t think Dot likes these types.”