#cassandra: threads

[waywardesouls]

@lunarcovestarters

OPTION A : Cookie & Cupcake Decorating at Doce

“Y'know,” Stevie begins, holding a knife lathered with frosting as she assesses the cookie she's been decorating. “I'm glad they're providing the cookies, because baking is not my forte. What d'you think? Is the broken heart cookie with blood red icing a little too on the nose?”

OPTION B : Love Sucks

Cassandra had never been one to miss a good party, and she was more than happy to celebrate Meena's birthday, especially in lieu of a holiday like Valentine's. Following the dress code with her own flare for the dramatic, she wore a black lace cocktail dress, and had just taken a glass of champagne from a passing waiter when she caught sight of someone standing near. “Be honest—are you here for the endless champagne, or the chocolate fountain?”

[waywardesouls]

@lunarcovestarters

LOCATION : Just in Bloom, before Christmas Day

“Trees are 50% off!” Laurel chimes as she rights a wreath above the front door to Just in Bloom. Over her shoulder, she tosses a cheery smile to those that approach. A small row of bare Christmas trees line the front of the shop, waiting and eager to be brought home and decorated. “We have some beautiful Douglas Firs left, and a few lovely Pines! This one has a wonderful temperament, very sweet.”

LOCATION : Downtown Holiday Market

Cassandra used to love the holiday season. The chilly weather, the light and decorations, getting together with friends and family over hot chocolate or mulled wine. But now, the snowy streets and holiday cheer only served a a reminder of her darkest moments, and the ones she lost. Normally, she would spend her time holed up in her apartment with a bottle of wine (or two), and while that still sounded tempting, it was also beginning to get a little too depressing, even for her. So, she donned her comfiest coat and began walking the downtown streets without any real destination in mind, only away.

Her wandering feet lead her to the bustling holiday market, and though she hadn't intended to buy anything, she found her curiosity–and penchant for spending–take hold. While perusing, she stopped by a particular stall, marveling for a moment at all the options with muted amusement. “Jeez, they have everything here, don't they?”

[waywardesouls]

closed starter : @icexpackxjc

With the end of the year approaching, much has been on Cassandra's mind. Chief among them was contemplated joining the Lunar Cove pack. She had never intended to stay in town long, but already it was coming up on a year of her residence, and she was becoming less and less inclined to leave just yet, crazy as it sounded to her own ears. After long consideration on her own part, she finally decided to bite the metaphorical bullet and track down JC again—after all, he'd said when they met that he was there to help if it was needed. Now was a good a time as any.

It was lucky for Cassandra then, that she'd bumped into him on her way out of the Daily Drip, steaming latte in hand. “Oh—hey,” Cassandra greeted with a polite smile. “JC right? I've actually been meaning to talk to you.” She didn't know why she suddenly felt so nervous, but Cassandra found herself for the first time a bit terrified he might turn her away. “I know we haven't really crossed paths in a while, but... Are you still the one to talk to about joining the pack?”

[waywardesouls]

LOCATION: Outside of King's Cross Hospital WHO: @lunarcovestarters

Cassandra would have gone to the hospital sooner, but the idea of crossing paths with anyone from the disastrous night prior—of which she knew there must be many, considering the injuries sustained—left a sinking feeling in her stomach. It was her first real experience with any type of preternatural conflict, and the chaos and bloodshed only sent her psyche stumbling through flashbacks of the night of her accident, and all she really wanted to do now is crawl into her bed and sleep for a week or two. But, she knew even with her accelerated healing that leaving her oddly twisted wrist unattended wouldn't be the smartest idea, so she was grateful to the nurse who was able to see her and reset it, stitching up a few particularly nasty gashes while they were at it. Now, sent off with a temporary wrist splint and some eventual new scars, Cassandra is only too happy to head back to the warm bed that beckons, and maybe a drink or two. Only, it seems her thoughts are more than distracted and she does not realize until she's stumbling into another body that she hadn't been watching where her feet were carrying her.

“ oh, shit– i'm so sorry— ”

[waywardesouls]

option a:

Things were out of control—and Cassandra Lin did not like feeling out of control. At least, that is, in a way she did not cause herself. The moment she felt her nails and canines lengthening, the bones and muscles of her face shifting to accommodate something more primal, more monstrous, she knew something was most undeniably wrong. Cassandra didn't like to half-shift if she could help it; she didn't like the feeling of hair—fur—sprouting from places it shouldn't, or teeth too big for her mouth, or claws that would rend her fashionable clothing to tatters if she wasn't careful, much less her own skin. Control over that aspect of her abilities took blood, sweat, and tears, and she was not pleased at that control being severed.

But it seemed she was not the only one to be losing control over their more magical faculties; around her were wolves in various stages of shifting, vines bursting forth from the ground and toppling structures or tripping fleeing festival-goers, lightning striking indiscriminately, and suddenly portals with equally confused and fearful individuals passing through—and some that seemed downright threatening. A rushing body knocked into Cassandra's shoulder, causing her to let out an oof that tapered off in a displeased growl. “Watsch it.” Sharpened canines garbled her speech as she went to reach out to steady the other, only stopping short to keep her claws from slicing them with a curse. “You oh-kay?”

option b:

“Oh God, oh God, oh God–” The words were an anxious chant under her breath as Laurel tried valiantly to dodge incoming bodies, weaving through the sea of strangers fleeing the campground. Each step she took, vines and brambles and long, tendril-like grass grew to snag and catch unwitting individuals. “Shit– sorry!” She called as she saw one of her vines succeed, a poor soul getting their ankle caught and falling hard in the dirt. Laurel made an anxious sound in the back of her throat, shifting her weight from one foot to the other before finally backpedaling and helping the other to their feet. “I'm not doing it on purpose, I swear.”

[waywardesouls]

CLOSED : @sawyergrady LOCATION : Cassandra's townhouse

“Good, you're here,” Was her greeting as Cassandra all but dragged Sawyer across the threshold into her home. “A new episode of Love Island UK aired last night and I've graciously waited for you to come over to watch it. Did you bring snacks?”

[waywardesouls]

CLOSED : @cantfightmoonlight (Leyla & Cassandra) WHERE : elevator in the Emerald Hotel

Cassandra didn't often find herself at the Emerald Hotel, but she'd been in the company of a particularly charming faerie for most of the night and was only finding her way home now, the next day, slipping out of their room unnoticed. What she hadn't been planning on was the elevator to jolt to a halt in between floors, effectively trapping its occupants inside. “You've got to be shitting me,” She muttered as the emergency lights game on, feeling her heart sink to her stomach even as she felt little to no surprise at her and the other rider's predicament. “Of course this happens. Because why wouldn't it?” She grumbled to herself while pressing the emergency call button and speaking to the operator. Luckily for them, they wouldn't go plummeting to their death any time soon—however, unluckily, there was a city-wide power outage which meant emergency services might take a while to get to them. “Great. Well, looks like we might be here for a minute.”

[waywardesouls]

closed starter : @dhruvxmehta

location : woods, first full moon of the new year

Cassandra had gotten used to spending her full moons alone. In fact, most times she preferred it—being around other wolves without the ability to communicate with them made her uneasy, and it was easier to steer clear of more populated areas. After the disaster that was New Year’s Eve, she especially wanted some distance. It was simple enough to have an awoober drop her off in the same part of the woods she always ventured, far enough away from where she could scent pack members frequenting, and remote enough that there was a slim chance she would be bothered by anyone else.

For the first few hours after shifting, she simply stretched her legs, sniffing around without wandering too far from where she’d stashed her clothes. While she had spent enough years as a werewolf that the full moon no longer forced her fully feral, she was susceptible to bend to more primal impulses—such as chasing a careless rabbit through the underbrush. She darted after it, prey drive heedless of the distance put between her and her starting point, but stopped abruptly at the sudden sound of a twig snapping underfoot—a foot that was neither hers nor the rapidly escaping rabbit’s. Silently, Cassandra sniffed the air, only to turn and meet the form of another wolf. Instantly, her hackles raised and ears flattened, her head lowering as her lips pulled back in a warning growl. This wasn’t a wolf she recognized at first glance, and she was ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.