Nova Rhedyn

Instincts | Nova and Zach

Zach kept his eyes on the woman as she spoke, nodding responsively at her words. He figured that he could relate to some extent, he did go overseas for that one year. Hoping to put his childhood behind him, put his father behind him. It didn’t turn out the way he’d hoped but Zach wouldn’t change anything. Had he stayed, changed lives and forgotten about Tartarus, he wouldn’t have met Hazel. The thought sent a chill through him as he pictured a life without her. Of course, if he had stayed in Italy, he wouldn’t have known she even existed. Somehow that was even more terrifying, the notion of not being able to say he’d met Hazel. Kissed her. Held her. It was worth it, worth coming back to this town of hidden memories and constant power play during the years when his father was still around. Zach never really wondered what happened to the man, more to protect himself than feeling indifferent about his whereabouts. He wasn’t truly indifferent, the idea of meeting again was far too terrifying yet engrossing to Zach. He just chose not to give his father any of his time, the man didn’t deserve it. “I guess you can never outrun your past. You just have to keep it with you.” Zach said, implying a sense of frustration behind his smile.

Zach looked up suddenly at her question, wondering if she’d somehow read his mind a second earlier. He motioned as if pondering on an answer. “I think I’d be myself.” Zach said quietly at first. “I’d either go live in my vacation home or, maybe,” He smirked to himself. “Maybe Italy. I like Italy.” He was sure his facial expression revealed something but he chose not to elaborate on it but instead he nodded as to putting a full stop to his answer. “What about you?”

#RP: Zach Celton #event #mayorcelton

She watched the shadows of the mayor's face as he contemplated what she'd said. There was something there she recognized, like a longing she knew too well. At his words she was briefly reminded of Isaac. It didn't matter where she went, he didn't have to be present to be on her mind. She couldn't escape the memories of him any more than she could shake of the memory of the pain. In the moment, it all blended together for her and all she could manage was a small nod. She pushed away a fall of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ears.

"I suppose that's true," she answered with a sigh.

The change in mood was welcome with his answer. A permanant vacation, somewhere tropical and bright sounded like a nice reprieve. But, Nova knew she'd always feel that itch to be doing something, chasing something. It was what led her to her work in the first place. PI work was a good extention of that, even if it wasn't her first choice. She smiled and her fingers worried at a loose stitch on the arm of the chair. "I don't know," she said. "Maybe that's why it's a good question." With a chuckle she looked back to Zack. "I need ideas."

Instincts | Nova and Zach

He gave her a warm smile, noticing the apparent tension disappearing some from Nova’s shoulders. Following her movements, Zach leaned back further into the cushioned furniture. Swiftly crossing his legs, sipping on the drink in his hand. He glanced down at it, hoping it might somehow turn into an alcoholic beverage. It didn’t and he really shouldn’t be drinking before the ceremony. Wanting to be completely present for it. The watch on his arm told him it was only an hour or so left. Zach looked back at the woman, wanting to hear her answer. She seemed nervous somehow, uncomfortable? He couldn’t tell for sure. Zach felt bad, hoping he hadn’t made her uncomfortable when that’s what he tried to avoid.

He gave her a knowing nod towards the end. “Tell me about it. I can’t get one, really.” Zach continued before realizing how it sounded. “Well, I could. But I don’t want to give up what I have now. But I know the feeling. This town is cluttered with baggage, a lot of it’s my family’s.” It was cryptic, he knew that. But something told him she would understand. Besides, from the way she spoke, Zach figured he could refrain from telling his whole story. “I don’t know Keir, personally, but he seems like a really good guy.” He small talked, ignoring his own curiosity of how Nova knew the owner of this yacht.

“Your turn! Any questions?” Zach grinned.

Nova smiled feeling a little more comfortable once she realized that Zach wasn't going to push her to give anything more of her background than she was willing. It was more than she'd shared with most people.

"It's hard," she admitted. "Harder than I thought it was going to be, to just pick up and move somewhere new. It uh-" Nova looked down at the table for a moment, not sure what she could say everything she thought about what it meant to leave the people she knew, and loved- and still find a place she felt like she belonged along the way.

Finally she shrugged the rest of the thought away and looked back at Zach. "It's weird, to feel like you're giving everything up. And then you get somewhere new and realize that you can't get away from everything." She sighed. "That said, I'm glad I found this place. I like living in Tartarus- it feels like I could've always lived here."

She nodded, but chose to ignore his comment about Keir. He was a nice guy, and she was extremely grateful to him for the job that brought her to Tartarus, but she knew better than to give away her work for him. So she smiled and changed her thoughts to something to ask the Mayor about instead. She didn't keep up with all the gossip, and she didn't want to hit him with something that he was likely to avoid answering.

"Alright. If you could get a fresh start, go anywhere and do anything else: Where would you go, who would you be?"

Instincts | Nova and Zach

He shrugged while turning his palms up, knowing the investigator was most likely seeing right through him. But Zach didn’t mind, something told him they were both protective of their past and maybe even present. He smirked slightly before settling back into the deep, soft couch. One hand holding the icy glass of lemonade while the other one scratched absentmindedly at his knee. The cool liquid felt heavenly in warmth. It wasn’t humid and the sea offered chilled breezes even inside the yacht, but the suit clinging to his limbs wasn’t the ideal outfit for a hot summer afternoon. Zach made a mental note to go change clothes later on, those rolled up khaki shorts seemed too far away when these dark suit pants gave too much heat. Ridiculous, really. There was no reason for Zach to complain on a night like this. Then again, high temperatures were never good on him.

“I’d say I’m both but if I do ever get a pet, it’d be a dog.” He nodded, knowing he’d always had an easy time understanding cats but his ex-wife’s Mr. Mittens had ruined the illusion of their innocence. If there ever was one. He smirked at the look Nova gave him. “Okay then.” Zach squinted as he thought of what he wanted to know about the mysterious woman. “You’re new to Tartarus, right? Why did you move here?” The words sounded almost accusatory, a strange tone for the Mayor of the town to have. “Not that it isn’t a great town.” He chuckled, attempting to save things.

Nova leaned back into her chair with a chuckle. She could feel herself sinking a little, relaxing- remembering that this was supposed to be a happy weekend and that if she talked to people about something other than work, that would be good for her. After all, isn't that what everyone had tried to convince her to do before? Talk?

She watched Zach with a small smile, as he thought of a question for her, something she was already sure she wouldn't be as ready to answer as she wanted to be. But if nothing else, this weekend- trapped on a yacht with people she didn't know very well- would force her to tell people things about herself that she should be comfortable sharing.

At his question she nodded. She was used to it, but she wasn't used to answering it truthfully- or at least maybe not completely. Nova drew in a deep breath, smile a little awkward as she decided how to answer. She had promised truth after all.

"I am," she said. "I uh- to work." She raised her hands, letting go over her legs for a moment as she shrugged. "I started PI work before I moved here-" she gestured at the room- "Keir actually told me about Tartarus."

Nova sighed a little, grateful for some confidential truths- like clients and work. She continued, "I was ready for a fresh start." She bowed her head with a little nod. Ready wasn't quite the truth- she hadn't been ready for one.

"Well, more like I needed one."

Instincts | Nova and Zach

There was hesitation in the investigator’s movements, leaving Zach wondering what could be the cause for this. He blamed it on nervosity, being in a new environment, strangers everywhere. He might feel perfectly at home in these social situations but everyone can’t. A rectangular window next to them overlooked the water they were moving upon, he squinted as the sun hit his eyes before turning his gaze back to Nova. He nodded in agreement. “Must be nice to have the choice to take this yacht out whenever you want. But it’s far too big for me.” Considering he’d probably spend his time on it alone, with Hazel’s seasickness she would most likely decline any invitation onboard. Perhaps Brent and his family would enjoy it, he thought, getting off topic in his own mind.

He grinned. “Call me Zach! I don’t like titles that much.” Zach leaned down to the table between them, picking up a pitcher of lemonade standing there next to a number of glasses. He shook his head at it, wondering if there was any surface on this yacht left empty. There was a small card next to the drink, encouraging you to drink as much as your heart desires. He chuckled and leaned back. “I’d say I’m pretty much an open book.” Apart from my childhood, family and current love life, Zach thought to himself. Perhaps the book wasn’t as open as he’d first imagined. It used to be, until naivety left him, revealing that others may have hidden agendas. Especially when he became a public figure, though Zach knew there really isn’t anything public about it.

“Alright, what would I like to know…” Eyes surveying the woman with a smirk. She seemed secretive, unwilling to tell him all too much and naturally, he’d respect her integrity. “Are you a dog or cat person?” Zach inquired, displaying full sincerity in his expression, it was the least intrusive question he could muster.

It was kind of surreal to still feel new in town, even if she wasn't really anymore, and sitting across a short distance from the Mayor. And it wasn't work related. Though she had to keep reminding herself of that last part. This wasn't a work trip, this wasn't anything to do with work- though that might've earned her the invite. As she settled into the chair she wrapped a hand over her ankles, pulling them close to her, tucked tightly in the chair.

She chuckled. "Alright, Zach." And she laughed again, a quiet, shy thing- when he suggested his life was an open book. No public official she'd met yet could say that and had it be completely true. In fact, her entire life had been built up in a way to teach her that no one, could say that and always mean it, all of the time. She wished she could say that about herself even some of the time. Although wasn't that what she'd moved here for? A new start.

"I'll remember that," she said, trying on her best serious investigator expression.

Surprise lit in her eyes at his question and she leaned forward with a giggle and shook her head. "Cat or a dog person," she mused and rolled her eyes.

"Dog, I suppose. You?" She leaned back into her chair and pulled her legs close again. Nova sighed and shook her head again. She shoved her hair out of her face and looked at Zach with more serious expression. Without waiting for him to answer back she narrowed her eyes and said, "No, really. What do you really want to know? I might not be a completely open book-" she flashed a brief smile- "but if you ask, I'll answer it."

Instincts | Nova and Zach

Unknowingly, he kept his warm hand against the fabric on her arm. “Good to see you too. Did you just get here?” Their position was forced to break as a giggling couple made their way down the hallway, pushing Zach against the wall. He smirked at them, their intentions more clear than they knew. He took the interruption as grounds for walking further away from the cabin doors. Motioning for Nova to shadow him as he moved into a lounge area around the corner. Once he’d waited for his company to take a seat in one of the large, bone white divan, Zach leaned back in the furniture mirroring the first. “This boat is huge. Honestly. I don’t know how it all fits inside. Must be some kind of magic.” Zach grinned, genuinely surprised at the magnitude of Keir’s yacht.

“You have no idea.” He laughed, knowing what a good fit Betty and Leonard were. With the same fondness of prying and spreading rumors, even with the right intentions, Zach felt assured the couple would find happiness together; be it at the expense of others.

“I just realized I know hardly nothing about you.” It dawned on him, they had only been focused on her work and Betty. Yet, Zach could see a possible comrade in the brunette sitting in front of him. “What’s your story?”

#RP: Zach Celton #event #mayorcelton

Politeness pretended not to notice the weight and heat of his hand on her, but she was still thankful when a couple passing through the hall gave them to separate. It wasn't exactly awkward or unwelcome, but she didn't know him well enough for it to be comfortable. Still she smiled at him, happy to know someone on board, even if she didn't know him particularly well.

Nova followed him into the room around the corner, one she'd passed just moments before. The chairs looked comfortable, and she was ready for a little rest after her time looking around the yacht. As she sat, she chuckled. "Yes, it's much larger than I imagined. I think I'll still get turned around this weekend. And I know I must have missed some room, some where." She hadn't been lazy in her investigation of the yacht, but it was very large, and she had no real reason to pry, aside from her own curiosity.

She tucked her legs under her in the chair and used that moment to look away. She didn't share a lot about herself, after all what there was to share wasn't interesting. Or she didn't think so. And she didn't like to think too much about it.

With a coy smile she said, "I could say the same about you Mayor. Aside from the title, of course." Nova wasn't in the habit of opening up to new people, but Zach was charming and he'd asked, which was a lot more than other people in town had done since she'd moved. She shrugged. "What do you want to know?"

Instincts | Nova and Zach

Perhaps it was unlike him to have arrived at such an early time this morning but Zach did feel a sense of responsibility. For years, he’d grown to see Betty as the mother he never actually had. She’d been a part of town hall since anyone can recall, maybe even longer than his predecessor. Despite Zach’s reckless behavior during both his time as a campaign worker for his father and his own election, Betty had seen something in him that many others rarely did. She saw through him and found her own way of showing him that she cared. She played a big part in his maturity and confidence in what he did for a living. Without her guidance and perhaps harsh ways, Zach might’ve acted differently once he was given the position of power he was in.

“You look beautiful.” Zach whispered, resulting in a stern look being sent his way. Which soon left room for a genuine smile on Betty’s lips, the rare kind. With a few strokes along her arm, he left Betty alone with her daughter. Just as he turned away from the door, he bumped lightly into a brunette. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Placing his hand on the woman’s shoulder, he recognized her. “Nova? Hey- what are you doing?” Zach said, partly laughing. She seemed to be scoping out the hall, truly filling every misconception you had about PI’s. “So, thanks for looking into the groom, I really appreciate it.” His words were quiet, careful not to let Betty hear them through the door.

In her investigations- no, her completely normal and rational look-around the yacht to become accustomed to where everything was, Nova had only seen a few other people. Most of them, by their clothing, were working. In fact, she was pretty sure she'd passed the same deckhand three different times. She shrugged it off and tried not to look like she needed directions anywhere. By now, that was the truth, she had most of the layout down. Not that she hoped to need it for anything other than getting from place to place.

When she heard voices, she slowed down, curiosity winning out over rationality. Some things she really couldn't just turn off. She jumped as the door next to her opened and Nova couldn't move out of the way quickly enough to avoid running into a broad-shouldered someone. He reached out for her shoulder and she smiled as the momentary surprise faded and recognition dawned.

"Mayor Celton," she said. "It's good to see you. I-"

She chuckled. "Couldn't help myself. Just having a look around."

Having employed her himself not that long ago, Nova knew anything else she said was just going to seem like a lie. And she shrugged. It's not like there was anything wrong with just taking a look around after all. Still her cheeks burned and she hoped they weren't as red as they felt.

"Oh. No problem, I'm glad to know that everything has worked out so well, so far." She waved a hand. "And that I'll be here to enjoy the wedding. Seems like they'll be a good fit for each other."

Instincts | Nova and Zach

Perhaps it was unlike him to have arrived at such an early time this morning but Zach did feel a sense of responsibility. For years, he’d grown to see Betty as the mother he never actually had. She’d been a part of town hall since anyone can recall, maybe even longer than his predecessor. Despite Zach’s reckless behavior during both his time as a campaign worker for his father and his own election, Betty had seen something in him that many others rarely did. She saw through him and found her own way of showing him that she cared. She played a big part in his maturity and confidence in what he did for a living. Without her guidance and perhaps harsh ways, Zach might’ve acted differently once he was given the position of power he was in.

“You look beautiful.” Zach whispered, resulting in a stern look being sent his way. Which soon left room for a genuine smile on Betty’s lips, the rare kind. With a few strokes along her arm, he left Betty alone with her daughter. Just as he turned away from the door, he bumped lightly into a brunette. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Placing his hand on the woman’s shoulder, he recognized her. “Nova? Hey- what are you doing?” Zach said, partly laughing. She seemed to be scoping out the hall, truly filling every misconception you had about PI’s. “So, thanks for looking into the groom, I really appreciate it.” His words were quiet, careful not to let Betty hear them through the door.

In her investigations- no, her completely normal and rational look-around the yacht to become accustomed to where everything was, Nova had only seen a few other people. Most of them, by their clothing, were working. In fact, she was pretty sure she'd passed the same deckhand three different times. She shrugged it off and tried not to look like she needed directions anywhere. By now, that was the truth, she had most of the layout down. Not that she hoped to need it for anything other than getting from place to place.

When she heard voices, she slowed down, curiosity winning out over rationality. Some things she really couldn't just turn off. She jumped as the door next to her opened and Nova couldn't move out of the way quickly enough to avoid running into a broad-shouldered someone. He reached out for her shoulder and she smiled as the momentary surprise faded and recognition dawned.

"Mayor Celton," she said. "It's good to see you. I-"

She chuckled. "Couldn't help myself. Just having a look around."

Having employed her himself not that long ago, Nova knew anything else she said was just going to seem like a lie. And she shrugged. It's not like there was anything wrong with just taking a look around after all. Still her cheeks burned and she hoped they weren't as red as they felt.

"Oh. No problem, I'm glad to know that everything has worked out so well, so far." She waved a hand. "And that I'll be here to enjoy the wedding. Seems like they'll be a good fit for each other."

Instincts | Nova and Zach

Keir's yacht. Well it wasn't an unfamiliar site, but still an impressive one. Nova wasn't really sure about this whole wedding business. All she'd done was some basic legwork on the groom, and despite what she knew about him, she didn't really know him. And she didn't know the bride well enough, except in passing at the Mayor's office. It seemed weird then to be packed and heading on board a yacht to spend the weekend for their wedding.

Truth be told, unless it was for work, Nova didn't get out much. And as much as she'd like to think that was fine, that it worked for her... she was kind of looking forward to the chance to try something different.

She pulled her bag along behind her as she headed for the boat, no- yacht and smiled, enjoying the nice day. At least the wedding had that going for it so far. If it held up, no matter what the wedding was like, it was bound to be a decent weekend. Even if it just meant laying in the sun, enjoying the weather.

As she boarded, she scanned the deck for anyone she recognized, worried she'd arrived too early. It didn't seem like it, and soon someone was leading her to her room where she quickly stored her things and headed back out to investigate the yacht. She might be ready to relax for the weekend, enjoy her time away, but instinct told her to look the place over first, just to be on the safe side. Nova started in hall outside the cabins, to make sure she could find all the exits if she needed to.

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Intuition | Nova & Hazel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#lexterrae #RP: Hazel

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Intuition | Nova & Hazel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#lexterrae #RP: Hazel

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