wanderlust

Nerissa Farron selkie, aerialist, dreamer "The rosy fingered moon surpasses all stars. And her light stretches over salt sea equally and flower deep fields." — Sappho, from If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho

[ofnerissa]

fire-birds:

In her eyes, it’s amazing the different way light will reflect off the water—the columns of water that splash out from the fountain in front of them, the ripples in the pool at the bottom. It’s a perfect backlight, Nerissa’s shadow wobbling along in front as Li Hua comes up as she’s called too, reaching for the bottle and tipping the rest of the bottle of champagne down her throat before letting it roll to the ground below them. Everything brighter, the sound of the fountain further off when in reality they were only a few feet away. “We don’t have a camera or a phone though!” She laughs, almost starting to yell, hand catching Nerissa’s arm. “I’ll show you something really pretty, are you ready?” Even in her drunken haze, she reels at the thought of herself a beautiful, thinking instead that the fire of her phoenix form as something so much more exciting, almost majestic, the ways embers will catch in the wind, the view she has from above.

In a moment, she is engulfed in flames and transforms into her phoenix to do a quick, lush twirl in the air before landing again, talons back to legs, wings disappearing, fire receding beneath her skin—doesn’t know if anyone is looking, doesn’t care if anyone is anyways.

Of all the sights she’s seen tonight, Li Hua in flight is - without a doubt - the most beautiful of them all. Although her body is rooted to the ground, her eyes follow the phoenix in the sky, spirit soaring alongside her comrade’s. Only one of them flies, but Nerissa feels weightless too. Breathless, she’s mesmerized at her display - the sheer brazeness of it, the way Li Hua doesn’t care who might be watching...how they can relish in their own beauty. If sober, melancholy might have struck - but she isn’t - and so Nerissa laughs instead, hollering to the heavens. As she lands, Nerissa rushes forward, gushing into a breathless sigh. “Oh - you’re beautiful. Both forms. You need a pay raise.” For the girl matches the beast. And her smile...it could make the stars shine. One eye lands on the fountain and she meets Li Hua’s eyes, bursting into disbelieving laughter. “No way! I’d say I’m like...three drinks away from choosing to flop the way home. They might eat me. People still eat Seals you know...and well...there’s not much difference.” She swings the empty bottle in her hand. 

[ofnerissa]

DATE & TIME: January 15th, 11.39pm LOCATION: Ballroom place STATUS: Closed @anoracle

Stealth, it should be noted, is a hard thing to achieve when you’re at the tipping point between tipsy and drunk, the line between the two blurring. It was only the circumstances - as serious as they were - that was keeping Nerissa together - in a semblance of seriousness. Mind clouded by bubbles (Were they Champagne or Prosecco? Was there a difference?) Nerissa padded forward carefully, one eye on the guards, the other on freedom. Hand reaching backwards, she grabbed Emme close, whispering to her fervently in between giggles. “I feel like we need an epic song. To build up the anticipation. All the best moments have songs.” 

[ofnerissa]

ofhercs:

“Very disturbing.” Lincoln agreed, laughing at her expression and eventually taking a seat near her. Normally, or at least around him, Nerissa tended to be on the bubblier side, and though at first glance she seemed okay, something about her felt a little off - uncomfortable, even.

“Rissa, I’ve been rich and it’s not as great as you might think,” Lincoln said, leaning over and cupping her face in one hand, amusement slowly melting into genuine concern. “What’s making you so nervous? You know nothing bad’s gonna happen tonight, right? You won’t have to do anything you don’t want to do - I won’t let anything happen to you.”

It was a bold promise, but one he intended to keep no matter what.

Fluttering between amusement and terror, Nerissa laughed at his first comment before sobering up for the second, anxiously flattening the palms of her hands. “I’d rather be a rich cryptid than a poor one.” It would open up a realm of possibilities - leaving the circus, buying out everyone elses contracts, purchasing a home (without! a! morgage!), travelling the world - security. A life worth living. Maybe it wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be a damn lot better than this. Nerves easing slightly at his promise, Nerissa reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze to let Link know that she had heard him. That she believed him. Or well, wanted to. “It’s not that. It’s just...this is silly. Really silly.” And it was. But that didn’t make it any less real. “But I don’t know...how to do these things. Dance in the proper way. Or make small talk about the weather. Or just...not look like a fool.”

[ofnerissa]

fcxxes:

oh, of course he knows. the boy isn’t oblivious to the way nerissa looks at him, to how she holds his arm or wraps hers around his body in the dead of night, pretending to be asleep. he knows shooting stars when he sees them; watches them fall in her eyes when she looks at him. hopeful. bright. 

(you are not the first person to love me, dear girl, nor will you be the first i love in return. do not think yourself special to me. know that when you hand me your heart i will devour it whole. know that when you ask me for mine, i will laugh and place your hand on my chest)

(you’ve rested your head on me before, pressed ears to bare skin. you know better than anyone else that there is no heartbeat there when i am close to you) 

“you’re sweet.” he comments, smile pointed. “and how do you know i didn’t do it for me, nerissa?” 

but greedy hands take the bundles she passes to him anyways, no pause for whether the boy is deserving of her kindness, no hesitation in quick fingers scouring the contents of the makeshift bag. enough for all of them, at least for a night. bright eyes take inventory before snapping back to her, slow smile as he pads back to the girl, almost predatory with his eyes, with the darkness the night drapes over him. 

soren reaches out past the bars of his cage, fingers light as they tilt nerissa’s chin up towards him, thumb lightly grazing lips. from a distance, it is almost intimate. look closer and there is a mirthless glint in the boy’s eyes that suggests it is more mocking than anything. 

“will it? maybe i like my bedsides cold then.” he says softly, voice low. “you don’t have to pretend you don’t want me there, dearest.” 

Not every beautiful thing should be played with. This is a lesson she has yet to learn - one Soren will teach in due course. Some things are not beautiful in the way of ethereal light, but in a radiant darkness, a midnight cloak. But beauty is beauty - and to the naked eye, you could mistake them for one and the same. It is only when your fingertips are singed and your spirit is breaking that you learn the truth. And even then, some people don’t learn. They choose beauty over common sense. 

Or, in Nerissa’s case, believe that the two aren’t mutually exclusive.

It takes her a moment to ponder on Soren’s question - to come up with an answer that can hold its own under the pressure he will place on it. Even in moments of braveness, Soren likes to deny the pure and whole truth. That’s alright. She will see it for the both of them. “Because,” Nerissa begins evenly, “You’re not as wicked as you’d have me believe.” She inhales sharply, afraid of what he’ll say - or what he’ll do.

The silence - painstaking and nerve-wracking - is drawn out, elongated as his deft fingers sort through the package, no doubt judging what tokens she has to offer. Anyone else would say thank you, or at least nod in appreciation - but Nerissa doesn’t expect that, not from him. Soren has never been like anyone else - a breath of fresh air in a dying place. You’ll do anything for a pace of change, even if it breaks you.

When he cups her chin, she tries her best not to melt - to be ivory that can hold its own rather than porcelain that cracks at the first sign of pressure. There’s a familiar glint in his eye, a sadistic twist to his voice. She allows him to indulge, telling herself that he needs this. That she can be that outlet for him. That it’s worth it in the end. Tit for tat. “We both know I’m a terrible liar anyway.” Slipping her fingers through the cracks, she searches for his second hand, rubbing it gently. “This won’t last forever. We’ll be in Vegas soon. Tomorrow. And even Metzger can’t keep you locked up forever.” He could, but Nerissa is choosing believe he won’t. 

[ofnerissa]

codecerberus:

Carter never asks for much. But two years within iron bars was enough to make anyone greedy. His answer is quick, easy; a toothy smirk toying with his features to match. “Definitely a holiday. Maybe to somewhere far off, like Dubai – I’d buy some of you guys tickets too.” Some for he wasn’t the type to offer a gift like this to everyone. Arching a brow, he adds, “And a nice car. I’m getting sick of trains at this point.”  

As the duo wonder down the gilded halls in search of the casino – he realizes. Almost forgets that Nerissa grew up in the circus. “Wait. Do you know what I mean by bluffing in poker? And are you a good liar?” Somehow, he has an inkling that they’ll be losing tonight. (But that’s fine; he preferred that to going back). 

“Some?” Nerissa picks up on the grouping, turning to pout playfully at him. “So who makes the cut?” It was all hypothetical. They both knew that neither of them would be touching foot in Dubai anytime soon - if ever. But she asked with deadly intent, as if it was within the realms of possibility. Because if you didn’t have that, what did you have? “I call shotgun.” 

The hotel is the palace it describes itself as - certainly larger than anything Nerissa has ever seen (big top included). Dripping in opulence (well...it’s the most expensive thing she’s seen) from top to bottom, she looks around in awe - wanting it all to sink in. It’s only Carter’s question that pulls her away from her longing. Guiltily, Nerissa shakes her head. “I used to play Go Fish with Emme...that’s about as far as my card game experience goes.” She’s seen plenty of poker being played, of course - but it always seemed so...dangerous. And Metzger hated it. “I won’t know until I try.” She was sort of counting on Carter being good enough for them both. “Crash course?”

[ofnerissa]

gigantors:

The utter delight in her expression was near-tangible, worn so readily on her face, so brightly radiating that he had no choice but to feel it too. Had no choice but to let his grin pick up at the corners and little crescents to dip into his cheeks. It was so easy to run away with the fantasy, resign to the idea that they would be free enough to venture on their own, that one day he would be table to take her to the party she envisions in her mind. The fact that such a rose-colored possibility made her so happy was more than enough for Jelani. But it was also a motivator – he simply had to find a way to make it happen. Even if it could never be. “I’ll try not to disappoint.” 

Like a candle blown out, he sees her light diminish all at once. Perhaps it’s his fault. Perhaps it’s the fact that every fibre of his being sees Nerissa as all things delicate and soft in this world, that he didn’t think her capable of rebellion of this sort. That he didn’t see her as the type of person to come up with such a plan, much less co-sign onto it. He watches as the disappointment floods her features, her body stiffening like a board in his arms as they sway still, and instantly Jelani wishes he could just say the right damn thing. But he hadn’t, and now the selves they were just moments ago, they’re gone. Just like that. “I –” he starts, tongue darting out to wet his lips, “I was just…surprised, is all.” This isn’t like you, he almost tacks on, but bites his tongue just in time, because does he know Nerissa well enough to say what isn’t her? He tries to mend with a soft smile, but he’s not sure if it’ll be so simple. She feels bad about the incident on the train, and she believes that this is the way to remedy that – make herself part of a hatched plot for them all to escape. 

“It’s risky,” he warns, a breath of a whisper as he too notices a couple slide in his peripherals. And the last thing he wants for Nerissa to fail, to get caught, to get knocked down a stratum too. His eyes move to the space above her head, then to his left, unsure how to continue. “No–” Jelani says in an instant, shaking his head. “Wait – not no, you can’t do it. No – I don’t think you can’t…” He pauses, then sighs, eyes closing before his gaze dips, voice dipping too so she knows that this time, he’s serious, that he means it when he says, “I know you can do this. Like you said – it has to work. Besides,” he musters a bit of a chuckle then, a reassuring curve to his lips, “–think of all that awaits us outside. It’d be kind of exciting, huh?” 

“Good surprised or bad surprised?” Everything unexpected in life can be sorted into one of two categories - the beneficial and the malevolent, the blessings and the curses. People, as well as things, can fall into either pile. Nerissa desperately hopes its the former. She’s not sure she could stomach the latter, not from him anyway. Not when all she’s ever known from Jelani has been steady kindness and a smile that could light the moon. “But I - “ She can’t take it anymore, the pain etched across his face - guilt flashing in between the curves of his smile, now remade in shyness. Besides, she isn’t mad at the assumption. Not when it bears so much truth. “I surprised myself. I think I’m going to like the feeling.” And then, she returns his smile. But it’s one all for herself, for a girl building her own pair of wings, feather by feather.

At tenterhooks over his words, Nerissa sighs in relief at Jelani’s I know you can do this, releasing a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. Faith, she learns, is a thing of beauty - especially the confidence of a friend. Friend. The description feels correct...but not complete. Almost as if it’s missing a but on the end. The good kind of a but. Not the Soren kind. And this friend in particular. Seeking to lighten a heavy mood, Nerissa pulls in closer, lips twisted in playfulness. “Worst comes to worse...I’ll step on the guards shoes. No one can hop after you then.” She’s joking. But it would be a sight to see. Eyes glancing over to the window - and the bright lights she can see beyond - Nerissa sighs dreamily. “Maybe we’ll all get lucky.” Cringing at her choice of words, she meets Jelani’s gaze and then rapidly averts it. “I mean...win big. Not...get lucky get lucky although...that is possible too.” She’s rambling. It’s awkward. And she’s not sure why. They’re all adults. Grown ups. Pressing onwards, she allows herself to meet his eyes once more, still swaying. “Where do you think you’ll go first?”

[ofnerissa]

fcxxes:

and she comes, perhaps not fully unwelcome like he usually would consider her, but there’s a faint flicker of annoyance there all the same. 

(give me your heart, but no, not like that - the bruises i leave are not marks of possession, are not a proclamation of a lover’s touch, do not be mistaken - they are red flags, all of them, bright and bleeding)

golden eyes appear in the dark, closer to the edge of the cage than one would expect, shadows sliding off the boy’s face in place of moonlight that only half-illuminates the jagged curve of his lips, cold when eyes recognizes the voice that calls for him. 

“dearest.” he purrs, voice low, fingers wrapped around hers on the cage carefully. encompassing. smothering. “and to what do i owe the pleasure this time? shouldn’t you be sleeping all pretty in your bed? don’t tell me you were missing me on it next to you.” 

Dearest. Later on, she will wrap that word around herself, pretending it’s said with a touch of genuine, instead of the bitterness she knows pollutes everything inside of Soren that was once whole and pure. Even later, days and weeks from now, the word will send shock throughout her - and she will lament the second man who she made a fool out of herself for. But for now, she greets him with a smile made of tenderness and warmth. 

“You’re suffering because you did something brave. For the whole Menagerie. So I figured it was time to try and repay part of that favor.” Nerissa has never been brave. But she has been good. And once in a while, the latter will trump the former - forcing someone to do something outside of their comfort zone. Quickly, she passes a bundle through the bars - food wrapped in blanket upon blanket, stripping them from where ever she could. “There’s enough for everyone.” She adds, before Soren can think to take them for himself. Emme is here somewhere. And Shazi. They deserve this as much as he does. “After all,” She teases, genuinely playful. “It’ll be colder without me beside you.”

[ofnerissa]

ofhercs:

It was nice, feeling fancy for once. He’d grown up around people in suits and sparkly dresses, but somehow, tonight felt different. Tonight felt like a taste of freedom that he’d almost forgotten about since coming to the Menagerie, and he had no idea how much he’d missed it. Still, he couldn’t help but blush a little at Nerissa’s compliment, though he was quick to counter with ease. “Oh, yeah. And before you know it, I’ll have seduced some rich old lady and she’ll take care of me for the rest of my sad, sad life.” He winked as he walked in, only stopping to ruffle Nerissa’s hair. “How’re you feeling? It’s all a little bit exciting, right?” 

Nerissa wrinkled her nose at the vision he painted. “Age gaps are a little disturbing.” She quipped, moving back to sit down. Her feet were already beginning to ache, ankles unfamiliar with being a good few inches higher, soles bent. “Maybe you could persuade someone to Robin Hood the situation though?” Ducking as he moved to ruffle, she playfully batted away his hand. “That took Marcy hours.” It still endeared her to him though. “Make sure you don’t forget about your friends when you’re rich.” Even if unrealistic, it was a beautiful fantasy. “I have butterflies dancing around in my stomach. They are loud.”

[memeagerie]

SEND ME  “  🎨  “  AND I WILL MAKE A VERY POORLY DRAWN POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ABOUT YOUR MUSE [ CLICK TO ENLARGE ]

@ofnerissa

[ofnerissa]

DATE & TIME: January 16th, 1.30am LOCATION: Somewhere on the Strip STATUS: Closed @catalinaccarter & @shahrzada

Weaving in and out, her heart thumped in her chest, a strong residue of alcohol insuring that it was exhilaration and not fear that spread throughout her body. Heels in hand, Nerissa trailed after Shazi, casting an occasional look backwards to make sure they weren’t being pursued. She could have picked out those guards at any time, anywhere. They were, she knew, living on borrowed time. But each moment was beginning to feel like her own slice of forever. “Faster!” She urged, moving forward to Shazi’s side, Catalina on her other. It was fruitless to try and run away - but none of them knew that. Not yet, anyway. Looking back once more, she couldn’t help but giggle, still happy - despite it all.

[ofnerissa]

DATE & TIME: January 16th, 12:41am LOCATION: Bellagio Fountains STATUS: Closed @fire-birds

Nerissa looked up in awe, captivated by the foundations and their dance. It was like they were alive - thinking and feeling, moving and being. Wobbling slightly in her heels, Nerissa stepped as close as she dared - half wishing to submerge herself in their depths and half wishing for this moment to slow down - and stay still forever. Laughter from behind her broke the spell, but was no less a welcome sight. Li Hua. Ushering her over in a stage whisper, Nerissa waved. “I feel like this is the sort of thing you’re supposed to take a selfie with.” She mused, words slurring slightly. “Or...what’s the one you put the dogs face with? The one that makes you look pretty even if you’re really ugly. Not that either of us are.” Swinging a nearly-empty champagne bottle in her hand (where had that come from?), Nerissa offered the remainder to Li Hua.

[ofnerissa]

gigantors:

Taken aback is probably the first term one would use to describe Jelani’s reaction. Brows shooting up, a semblance of a lopsided grin tugging at the corner of his lips. To say her proposal was unexpected, would be the understatement of the century. Sure, Jelani knew Nerissa and himself were friends, and friends certainly could attend parties together. But there’s a reason her innocent suggestion made the beat of his heart pick up speed in his chest, skipping over itself at the thought of spending any extended amount of time with her. It was as plain and as simple as his not-so-little crush rearing it’s annoying head, only for him to banish it to the back of his thoughts where it belonged. Besides, it wasn’t like the opportunity would actually arise. The jaded thoughts combat his optimism, thoughts of a time far from now when they’re allowed just a little kernel of freedom from Metzger that he might take Nerissa somewhere nice. Where she can drink from a red solo cup, and play beer pong, and tick off all the other things 20-somethings should’ve done. “You’ve got yourself a deal,” he says, anyways, because there’s a part of him that’s so foolishly hopeful, it can’t abandon the idea. 

“Ah- I don’t know about that,” he tips his head to the side, “Maybe you could stand on my feet. It’d be a little closer, I think.” Jelani tries, he really does, but the truth of their frankly, obnoxious, height difference stares him in the face as she tilts her head up to him. It causes him to laugh, not mocking, of course, but in light of what a sight they’d probably be if that happened. (As if they weren’t a sight for sore eyes already.) “Some sisterhood,” he mutters, under his breath, unsure if time and legacy would be enough to withstand discomfort of dangerous shoes. Then again, this came from the boy that ran at a moment’s notice when life became too difficult to handle with ease. Her quick inhale has his brows furrowing in silent question, eyes unable to be taken off her now, should he miss what she’s trying to tell him. Onto her toes, she raises herself a little higher, and Jelani feels the slightest bit more pressure at his shoulders as she moves her lips towards his ear. His hand anchored on her waist, he tells himself is a safety precaution as he leans his ear down closer. Her voice is soft, a breathy dreamy sort of whisper. There’s a plan. To distract the guards. So that we can all sneak out. His eyes widen to saucers by the time her last words are uttered, “You’re serious?” She pulls away, and Jelani disguises his shock from watching eyes by drawing her back into their dance, as if the a beat wasn’t missed at all. “How did you even get roped into something like that? I mean–” he begins, but can’t help as a deep seeded excitement curls around his words, “…Do you think it’ll work?”  

Joy tugs at the corners of her mouth at his agreement, a vibrancy brightening her eyes. In that moment, it doesn’t matter that the chances of that happening are slim-to-none...or that it, in itself, doesn’t actually mean a lot. He said yes. And that was all that mattered. Besides...strangers things had happened, hadn’t they? After all, the Menagerie was about to gets its very first chance to sneak out and enjoy the splendor of Vegas. A few weeks ago, trapped in the gloom of Aladdin’s death, that seemed unlikely, even impossible. Who knew what else the future would bring? You have to look ahead, because there’s no point in longingly staring at the past. “I’ll make sure to hold you to it.”

Delight morphs into amusement at his next words, eyes flickering down to look at his shoes. A part of her is tempted to take up his offer - to make them both laugh uncontrollably. In the privacy of the train, she might have. (But why would they dance there?) But out in the open, with the eyes of the room on the pair of them, it’s best not to. After all, she doesn’t want to draw too much attention to themselves - and raise suspicions when it’s her turn to distract the guard later. Best to play it safe. “Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s gala approved behavior.” Old farts. 

Anxiously breathless, Nerissa waits for his reaction - soaking up his changing emotions. Shock and surprise. Happiness and excitement. The wondering of someone thinking...just maybe... But what she doesn’t expect is the way his voice deepens on the word ‘you’ or how it hurts her so much, as if someone struck her in the chest. They continue to dance, but Nerissa is a statue in his arms, trying her best to shake off what she knows - logically - isn’t a slight. After all, she surprised herself by agreeing. But perhaps she had deluded herself into thinking Jelani saw her somewhat differently...that he saw her for what she could be, not what she was. Silly girl. Silly girl. Silly girl. "I was asked to.” She answers timidly. “And after what happened on the train - I want to do my bit - “ Her voice falters as a couple come uncomfortably close to them, within hearing distance. Instead, they sway in silence, Nerissa biting her lip. They pass.But she’s anxious to hurry along from that topic, to return to their earlier selves, the ones who were happy and joking and light. “It has to.” She pauses. “You don’t think I can do it?” It’s important that he does. She couldn’t have told you when, but somewhere along the way, Jelani’s opinion mattered. It meant everything.

[ofnerissa]

anoracle:

There’s no way to imagine a world without Nerissa; she doesn’t want it anyway, not here, not in some other kinder universe either. She’ll always think of them together, instinctively and by choice, by need, for her to be someone that’s never lost. There’s mutual care and love in held out hands, in the eyes, unquestioned, unwavering, a constant among all the places they’ve left behind.

So when hands meet, when it all disappears, there’s far more reasons for the images that roll over her to leave something burning on her heart, tunnel vision panic, the way fear twists the air, gives it a scent. When visions are still triggered from somewhere deep within by touch, when all she can be aware of now is the image she’s given no warning for. W

hen Nerissa sits on the roof, it’s beside a girl with a sudden white-eyed gaze. It’s a blurry picture, as if viewing the world through a dirty glass, but what she can see is red. Red. Wet. And a woman she would know blind, by her presence alone. 

Red. An aching. Felt. Wounds with knives, and she feels them too, in her skin, even as she can’t reach out to them, even as she can’t move. Nerissa. 

Red. The way pain is all heartbeat and no breath.

‘Sounds like a plan to me.’ Is what she wakes up to, and when Emme returns from the vision, it’s bolting upright, with her hands searching her body for the pain, for the wounds with knifes. Willing herself back to reality, to reach out and try and tell what’s real when it’s hard right now, when all she can think to do is find Nerissa, forgetting she’s beside her because of all the noise in her head. When she turns, it’s with the panic of loss, it’s reaching out even as the touch is what triggered the vision. It’s looking at Nerissa with a half-there gaze, but as if she’s looking at a ghost. Not knowing if she can share the dream.

Nerissa has known Emme enough to know her inside out, the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. She can pick out Emme’s distinctive smile anywhere. Likewise, she can see when she’s on the brink of tears. Or when anger pulses through her veins. So, when Emme goes glassy eyed, distant, Nerissa knows it’s because she’s travelling. Her body is here, but her mind is somewhere in the future, delicate fingertips taking shards to construct a whole. Patient, Nerissa sits still - eyes trailing her slender frame - waiting for it to pass.

Sympathy pulses through her, the Selkie reaching out to stroke her arm, to offer whatever comfort she can. They all have burdens, weights that anchor them down - but none are as strong as Emme’s. From her expression, Nerissa can tell this one was particularly bad. “Hey - “ She begins, her tone soothing. “It’s okay...you’re here. It’s okay.” Truth be told, she doesn’t know that. She has no idea what she saw. And she isn’t sure she really wants to know. But what else do you say? What else can you say? “Do you want to talk about it?” The offer is always there. Perhaps she’d press a little harder, be a little more terrified - if she knew the vision of rouge pain concerned her. 

[ofnerissa]

DATE & TIME: January 15th, 08.49pm LOCATION: The Party STATUS: Closed @karileex

Heart heavy in her chest, Nerissa backed up against the wall, wishing herself into the smallest ball. She had been a fool, to think she could do this...that she could be here - among these people - without panicking. All the wonderful things she had thought at the beginning of the night twisted around her, a dagger made up of her own hopes and dreams. Closing her eyes, Nerissa tried to unsuccessfully calm herself. When she opened them, she realised she wasn’t alone. Kari. Breathless - but for a different reason this time - Nerissa smiled shyly. “Oh - you look beautiful.”

[ofnerissa]

codecerberus:

The world’s a cruel place, he once told her. But it’s easier to forget that, basking in neon lights and surrounded by an array of other escapists, glowing with wonder. Carter is still nowhere near as idealistic as Nerissa, one should not forget that. But his smile reflects hers better here, for who couldn’t be happy with freedom? If even for a few hours?

A crooked smile toys with his lips as he nods at the hotel up ahead, Caesar’s Palace. “That hotel there, the one that looks like a glitzy Rome? ‘Heard they have shops and a casino.” Even if they walk out empty handed, it was still a stroke of luck for them to afford pretending tonight. Pretending to be human. “What would you do if you won a whole lot’a money in there?” If it was that easy, he wishes he could be foolish enough to spend it on a jet. To get the hell away from this captive life of theirs.

Caesar’s Palace. The name rolls off her tongue, feeling wholly appropriate for the people they are pretending to be tonight. With a nod at Carter, they set off in that direction. They have nothing to lose - and everything to play for. Allowing the atmosphere to soak into her bones, Nerissa looks everywhere - soaking it all in. She doesn’t want to forget a thing. It’s only Carter’s question that roots her back down, reminding her of their situation. She’s determined to help both of them let go. “Well, first of all - I’d throw it all up in the air. Or - ooh, I’d bathe in it. That’s what rich people, really rich people, do.” Cliche’s aren’t cliche’s when you’ve never tasted how dumb they truly feel. “Maybe buy a house or two. Or a yacht. Or a plane. Big enough for all of us. Or well, you can pretty much buy anything, right?” Approaching the door, Nerissa sticks her head in the air, refusing to not be allowed in. “How about you?”

[ofnerissa]

DATE & TIME: January 13th, 11.41pm LOCATION: Stratum 3 Cages STATUS: Closed @fcxxes

Growing up, you learn that only evil things go bump in the night. The darkness, they say, is the realm of all creatures monstrosity. But what they don’t tell you is that the purity of night provides the greatest disguise - and that under its cloak, you can do perform of heroism. Padding across the train carriages softly - having discarded her shoes for silence - Nerissa pauses, mistrusting the ease its taken her to get here. A trap? Is a guard waiting in the dark? To capture those who would only help? She might never know. So she pushes forward, anyway. Scurrying, her eyes search for the end cage in the dark - she came to help them all, but its his fingertips she’ll press the food into. He risked his neck - and his pessimism - to help them all. It’s only fair she repays the favour. Her voice a whisper in the dark, she curls her fingers around the bars. “Soren?” Are you there?”

[ofnerissa]

DATE & TIME: January 15th, 07.21pm LOCATION: The Train STATUS: Closed @ofhercs

She was a fraud. A delicate beautiful pretender. Butterflies danced inside of Nerissa’s stomach - the Selkie unable to determine whether they came from a place of nerves or excitement. Maybe it was both. That was possible, wasn’t it? Marcella’s work done - she stood alone, waiting to be called into the fray by Metzger. And who knew what would happen then. A rap at the door distracted her, snapping her mind out of the pit it had been falling into. Sliding it open, she sighed in relief at the person’s identity, greeting him with a wide smile. Scanning his tux, she laughed. “You’ll have all the guests weak at their knees.” She teased, opening the door wider to let him in.