#thread : cass | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

gossipsnake · 1 year ago

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TIMING: February 24, 2024, (the evening of this) LOCATION: Inge's House PARTIES: Anita (@gossipsnake), Metzli (@muertarte) Inge (@nightmaretist), and Cass (@magmahearts) SUMMARY: After learning about what had happened to Anita and that she had been brought to Inge's house to warm up with Cass, Metzli comes over to make sure Anita is okay. CONTENT WARNINGS: None

It wasn’t right. Anita had been hurt, and any reasonable individual would’ve been motivated by panic and stress, guided toward their loved one with such a force that everything stormed out of their path. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for Metzli, who had to usually rely on logic above all else to mimic love. They didn’t know how to feel or what to do or how to process, but they had a location and a place to be, so they drove. And somehow, they’d done so calmly, even if they were going twenty over the speed limit.

By the time Metzli arrived, there was not much they could recall from between their walk from the car and their knock at the door. Nothing else mattered except getting to Anita. They just wished they could have made the moment sweeter with a warm drink or a filling pastry, but that was something they could do another time. Their focus diverted completely to their sister.

“Where was she found?” They rushed inside with a curt nod at whatever invitation they were given, not paying much mind to Inge so they could lay their eyes on proof that Anita was alive. It wasn’t as if she or Inge had any reason to lie. As far as Metzli was concerned, they both had their trust, and had given no grounds for them to not take her at her word. But between someone who thought themself a sibling, and the person they saw as their family, nothing else mattered more than reaching them.

With utmost care, Metzli opened the door and reached Anita in a blink, hovering a hand over her hair. She looked tired and worse for wear, but she was warm and breathing, resting soundly in clothing that looked much too big now. Metzli thought perhaps their mind was playing tricks on them, which would be no surprise. Panic had a way of altering a mind.

Metzli retracted their hand and backed away slowly. “I am here.” They kept their voice quiet, waiting for Anita’s approval to get closer. Their touch would do her no good, considering their lack of body heat, but they still held onto hope that they could offer some sort of physical affection she usually claimed she didn’t need. It wasn’t uncommon for Metzli to find her cuddling up with Fluffy or leaning into their touch. As much as Metzli wanted to, they never picked on her for it, and they especially wouldn’t right then. Not in front of Cass or Inge.

It was important that Metzli find out what was going on as soon as possible. Cass could only imagine the worry they must have felt when Anita didn’t come home. Were they looking for her? Were they scouring the woods, were they searching? She couldn’t imagine they’d be doing anything else, not if they had any inkling that something was wrong. Metzli was proactive, was dedicated, was loyal. And they loved Anita, Cass had seen it. If they knew Anita was hurt, they’d be worried. So they needed to find out right away.

She figured it would be better for Anita to text them, maintained her position practically curled around the lamia as she did so. She kept up that warm-but-not-too-hot temperature, gradually warming herself a little more to make sure Anita got the heat she needed without being too hot. She tried making awkward small talk with Inge at first, but she got the feeling neither of them really wanted that, so she gave it up after a few minutes.

And, when Metzli finally arrived and entered the room, she let the relief wash over her all at once.

She wondered, somewhat absently, if Metzli would display the same desperation if it were her in Anita’s position. She felt guilty for wondering it — Anita was hurt, and this should be about her — but her mind went there all the same. Cass was so used to being an afterthought and, in this moment, Anita was clearly anything but. She thought back to Alex, after she was hurt, to the way she would have done anything to get her out of Rhett’s cruel grasp. Hadn’t it been intoxicating, being the center of someone’s world? Even if only for a moment, even when it was over now? Hadn’t it felt good?

“She’s getting warmer,” she spoke up almost tentatively, like she was no longer sure of her place in this room. Neither Inge nor Metzli had the body heat to warm Anita, so Cass was necessary. She liked being necessary. It meant no one could make her go. “I think it’ll be a while longer before she’s… back to full strength.”

—

They had been at Inge’s place for a little while before Anita had the strength to even send Metzli a message about what had happened. And of course since she didn’t even have her own phone with her she had to rely on using someone else’s to even send the message. It felt like this was becoming a habit, needing help from others, and it made her feel uneasy. As much as she wanted to tell everyone to leave, not because she didn’t want them there but because she felt that her debt to them was growing with each passing second. Debt she didn’t know how to repay.

Just before Metzli arrived, Anita had finally felt warm enough to shift back. While most things in life were aided by being an incredibly large rattlesnake, trying to get warm was certainly not on that list. “I’m gonna get smaller,” she said to Cass so as not to startle the woman wielding that much heat near her skin, “It’ll make it quicker. Warmer blood and whatever.” It took more effort than she was used to but the scales that spread across her body were slowly replaced with soft pink flesh, allowing her to curl up into herself and get herself under the aluminum blanket that the tall stranger had given her.

When she heard Metzli’s voice there was a simultaneous relief and guilt that panged through Anita. She didn’t want to worry anyone… she didn’t mean to worry anyone. There had been nights, plenty of nights, that she didn’t make it home. She usually let them know that was going to be the case though, when she remembered to. “I didn’t mean to worry you,” she offered up. Normally the lamia adored being the center of attention - she thrived on it - but this type of attention, this type of care, felt so foreign to her. She didn’t know how to handle it all.

“I just need to get warm. I already healed the wound.” Nodding towards Cass, Anita agreed, “Will be a while, for sure.” Even if her body got warmed up Anita wondered how long the exhaustion she was feeling would last. “I’ve never… I don’t know anyone who’s ever… guess this is why my father wanted me to stay in the desert.”

She couldn’t recall the last time she’d turned on the heating in her cold apartment, but she had it blasting now. Inge could host, at the very least — it was one of the skills she’d taken with her from her former life. She could fret a little, offer whatever comforts Anita needed while waiting for her to warm up again. In a way, it was good to be on the other side of this: to help rather than to need to be helped.

And though her body ached from all the walking, she got up and moved towards the door all the same when the doorbell rang. Her eyes locked with Metzli, she offered the, “Come in,” required for a vampire and let them burst in. She followed, pushing through as she tried to keep up their pace. “In the Pines. I was astral hopping and I saw her and got help.” This was the second time in a long time where Inge was confronted with the fact that she was limited, that in some cases she was powerless. She had none of the superior healing her vampire brethren had, nor the strength. Not even the bodily warmth to assist Anita. And even though she’d manage to help Anita, she despised the feeling.

She followed Metzli, no longer bothering to keep up with their vampiric speed and leaned on a chair in the living room. What a strange combination of people, two of whom she’d only met rather recently and in very different settings. Inge didn’t question it. Life was spontaneous. And pain connected, that too she knew.

A small smile for Cass. Ariadne’s friend, she assumed. The one she’d asked her not to give nightmares. “Good.” She moved around the chair, sat on its edge, close to the gathering of people in her living room. So filled with life. She found it confusing. “You can stay as long as you need to, you know that.” Not often did she open her doors like that for people, and it wasn’t like Anita and her were as tightly entwined as she perhaps was with Metzli or even Cass — but still. Inge wasn’t going to kick her friend out. She wasn’t quite sure what to say. “It’s … you’re here now, hm? Just focus on getting warmer.”

“Ay, mi hermosa.” Metzli leaned forward and planted an affectionate kiss to Cass’s head, fully trusting that if she was in contact with Anita, then it was safe to do so. Besides, they couldn’t help themself when the person they saw like kin was making them proud. She truly was a hero, and Metzli wholeheartedly believed that’s what she was meant to be. They smiled, “Thank you for helping her.” They didn’t care if Cass would bind them, and some part of them knew she wouldn’t. Regardless, it felt important to express their gratitude, and they turned to regard Inge, who they could see through the doorway to the living room. “And thank you as well, Inge. I…” Tears brimmed their eyes, a few daring to streak down their cheeks as they returned to Anita’s side and sat.

Metzli sniffled and cleared their throat immediately, trying not to feel too embarrassed. Anita likely didn’t have the energy to tease them, but they hoped she might. Anything to further cement that she was still there, and what Metzli was seeing wasn’t just a figment. It was asinine, really. They knew that. So, carefully, they reached forward, placing a gentle hand on Anita’s head for a few moments. They smiled warmly and retracted it before they could undo any of Cass’s hard work. Anita was real. Anita was real and even if Metzli had failed in finding her, she was alive and able to recover.

“I looked for you. Was very scared you were hurt and I am very sorry I could not find you.” The possibility (and really, the inevitability) of Anita dying became far too real, and it choked them. It formed a ball of some sort and it lodged itself in Metzli’s throat. Their leg began to bounce as discomfort overtook them, but they took a grounding breath to keep their emotions at bay as best they could. Some emotion was okay, but they didn’t want to overwhelm Anita or overtake the attention she needed. Instead, they breathed once more, offering Anita their hand, palm facing up.

“I will be here until you can come home then. Whatever you need, hermana. Like Inge say, focus on getting warmer. We will help.”

A warmth that had nothing to do with the magma flowing through her veins filled her chest as Metzli addressed her, and she offered them the smallest of smiles. When they’d first found Anita in the woods, trailing behind Otis and Inge like a lost dog, there had been so much desperation. She’d been so afraid, so uneasy. If anything happened to Anita, she’d thought, and Cass didn’t prevent it from doing so, she was sure Metzli wouldn’t forgive her for it. She was good so long as she was useful, and she’d been useful tonight. She’d used the destructive force of her volcanic nature for something decent, for warmth instead of ruination.

Metzli thanked her, and Cass disregarded it with a shrug. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m happy I could help.” She looked down at Anita with a small smile. “Everybody deserves somebody to help them, right?” It was something Cass desperately wanted, needed to be true. If Anita deserved salvation, if everyone did, didn’t she get to be included in that, too?

She flashed Inge a grateful smile as the mare said they could all stay as long as they needed to. It was funny — she hadn’t liked Inge much at the beginning of all this, but she was grateful for her now. Offering her home not just to Anita, but also to Cass, who she probably still hated, was a pretty heroic thing to do. And Cass would know; she was a superhero.

“So, um…” She shifted her weight a little, repositioning Anita slightly so that they both could be a little more comfortable. “Anybody have any Uno cards?”

—

As much as Anita adored being the center of attention in normal circumstances, these were not normal circumstances. This collection of people surrounding her, from different aspects of her life, all coming together to help her out was not a dynamic she knew how to navigate. But they didn’t seem upset or annoyed, at least not visibly, at needing to tend to the weakened lamia. That felt surprising to her, mostly. Metzli’s reaction, their support, was expected. But the other two, that felt surprising. Not because of who they are or because of anything they had done but simply because having people around to support her was such a foreign feeling at this stage in her life.

The idea of her absence causing Metzli to go out and search for her, knowing that she caused them any amount of fear, only added to the guilt that was cursing her. How many nights had she not come home in the past without letting them know? Did it always spark such a reaction? That wasn’t a question she really wanted an answer to. “Don’t apologize. I shouldn’t have … been out there like that.” She reached out and placed her hand in theirs, keeping it there despite the cold.

She turned her attention towards Cass, who was doing the work of a dozen heat lamps all by herself. “Is this tiring for you?” For all that Anita knew, whatever Cass was, and whatever powers she had, were foreign to her. “Don’t think I’ve played Uno since… college, maybe?” She didn’t wanna make presumptions but it seemed unlikely that Inge had a deck of Uno cards lying around. But Cass was onto something. If they had something to do to pass the time, maybe Anita would feel less guilt, or at least be distracted enough to not think about it for a short while. “Wouldn’t be opposed to playing a game or something, though.”

The scene was a strange one. Inge had people over at her house aplenty, but it was never this kind of combination. Anita in her living room made sense, had occurred before, but Metzli she only knew professionally and then there was Cass, the thief who’d melted her things. Put together the fact that someone was being offered aid and she wasn’t entirely sure if she’d encounter this kind of thing again soon. She gave Metzli a serious look, nodded. “Of course.” It wasn’t like she’d done it for Metzli, but still. She didn’t mind a little appreciation.

Inge remained leaning on the chair until Cass said something about Uno. Now the scene was really becoming something completely foreign. It wasn’t a bad thing, though. She raised up, jaws tight at the movement. “I can find us something. I’ve got a deck of cards, so we can just play crazy eights.” She could host. Though the days of serving guests pickled eggs and vruchtenbowl were over, she hadn’t quite lost that.

She moved away from the three others, feeling strangely out of place. She cared for Anita, certainly, and enjoyed her company deeply — but she and her had never felt this proximity she seemed to share with Cass and Metzli. No matter. It was hardly like she was jealous. Inge opened one of the many cabinets in the living room, most of them filled with various items. Old games from back at home, books and collections, dried flowers and trinkets she intended to do something with, one day. A deck of cards was produced and she returned, pulling an ottoman close to the small gathering. “If anyone wants something to drink, you can help yourself. There’s wine and other things in the kitchen.” No blood, that she only got when she had planned vampire visits. “But for now, I’ve got the deck. Shall I deal?”

Metzli shook their head at Anita and shushed her. “You are strong and your confidence is big. Maybe you make mistake, but you are alive. That is what matters.” They paused for a moment, offering Anita an intimate gesture by pressing their lips to the back of her hand. For someone not normally too keen on touch, it meant a great deal. It was something that required trust and comfort that they had only just begun to understand. “You matter to me. Worry will happen and that is okay. Just shut up and accept.”

There were various options that everyone presented for entertainment, nourishment, and comfort. Uno sounded interesting enough. If there were only a single item in a game, Metzli figured it couldn’t possibly be overstimulating or incredibly complex. It sounded quiet. Perfect, even. That was probably why Cass suggested it, and they offered a small and gentle smile to her as they gave Anita’s hand one final squeeze. She didn’t need her temperature lowered again.

“Let us play this Uno game and I can pay for pizza if someone will like to order.” They turned their head just in time to watch Inge’s hair bounce around the corner as she mentioned a much more chaotic game. Crazy eights? That is bigger than one. Not by much, but enough. And the numbers were crazy? Metzli couldn’t make sense of it, but before they knew it, Inge provided the group with a deck of cards. They stared at it as if it were as atypical as themself, their back stiffening as they shook their head and responded. “I will watch. I do not want to gamble in your deal.”

Anita asked about her, about her well-being, and it was enough to make Cass’s chest feel warm in the metaphorical sense as well as the physical. She offered the lamia a small smile, shaking her head. “It’s not tiring. This is just… being, for me.” Without the need to maintain her glamour, this was actually less tiring than her day-to-day, even if the glamour only took a very small amount of energy to keep up. Regardless, even if it had been exhausting, she would have done it. Anita was cold, and Cass could warm her. That was all there was to it. It was a simple thing.

She hummed, disappointed but not surprised that Inge didn’t have any Uno cards lying around. It had been something of a long shot, given Inge’s whole ‘fancy lady’ aesthetic. Fancy ladies probably didn’t play Uno, which was stupid. Uno was fun. But, regardless, Cass knew how to work with what was given to her. Metzli wasn’t interested in Crazy 8s, though Anita didn’t seem to mind the idea. Cass considered it for a moment.

“Maybe we can do a round or two of that, then Go Fish?” She looked to Metzli as she said it, brows drawing together in a pleading look. It was an expression perfected from years of making sure everyone felt included enough to stay. If there was nothing for a person to do, they were more likely to walk away. And Cass didn’t want Metzli to leave.

She didn’t want anyone to leave, but Metzli was the only one who really could right now. Anita was frozen in place (though not quite literally anymore), and this was Inge’s house. If she could keep Metzli here, they could stay as they were right now. And Cass liked how they were right now. It felt kind of perfect… or as perfect as anything could be, under the circumstances. “Maybe we could have hot chocolate, too?”

—

It would have been too overwhelming for Anita to take the time to fully process and internalize the amount of care that was being given to her. So she was glad to have a distraction in the way of a card game, no matter what game that ended up being. Something to do other than talk about the situation she got herself in. “Crazy 8’s isn’t all that crazy,” she offered to Metzli in Spanish when they seemed uninterested in playing. She wanted them to have a good time if they were going to be stuck here waiting for her to defrost, but also knew that watching the others play might as well be as enjoyable as playing for them.

Anita was feeling well enough to move her arms a bit, being able to do the absolute bare minimum action for a game of cards. As the cards were delt she reached out to grab her hand, fully accepting that it would be near impossible to keep her cards fully concealed from Cass. “Hot chocolate would be amazing. Especially if you’ve maybe got some tequila lying around to throw in there?” She asked, looking over at Inge. She should have asked Metzli to bring some from home. Even though she knew the science behind it was flawed, there was no denying that a bit of tequila was known to warm just about anyone up. “I think after a few rounds of the game I should be warm enough to head home. I don’t wanna put y’all out all night.”

She looked between the strange range of people and folded down the cards so they could be shuffled and dealt at a later time, “Maybe you can explain the rules to Metzli? It is not so different from Uno.” Inge got up, sure to not touch Cass and her searing skin again. She remembered how she’d burned her once and thought it some kind of metaphor — how warmth could be healing yet also dangerous.

“Anyway — hot chocolate I can do. With tequila. I’ll also order a pizza.” And she’d pay for it. She was a gracious host, after all. It was a fundamental skill for women of her once-caliber. It was one she didn’t mind not having unlearned — though plenty of the other submissive housewife traits had luckily left her. “What kind of toppings do you like?”

Her eyes flicked to Anita, then. “Don’t worry. Neither Metzli nor I need sleep. You are hardly putting me out. You’ve —” Slept over before, she almost added, before remembering herself. Inge smirked vaguely and then gave Cass another one over. She was okay. Even if she’d stolen her bag and burned her hand. “And if you doze off, that’s alright.” She moved to the kitchen to heat up some milk on the stove, feeling a distant sense of a feeling she couldn’t quite describe. Perhaps it was as simple as contentment, but maybe something more rare — a feeling of safety and unity.

They knew what Cass was doing when she made that face. They also knew she was scared that they’d leave, even if that was far from the truth. More than once, she had used it to get her way, ensuring abandonment of any kind wasn’t any option. It was how she operated, experiencing dismissal and loneliness far too long. If given the chance to live those moments again, Metzli surely would’ve given Cass what she wanted without any sort of plea.

They just enjoyed her face far too much to give in immediately. They enjoyed the way she knew a certain look would sway any decision they made. As if Metzli was truly her guardian. “I am staying, mihijita. And I will beat you at this crazy game.�� Gently, they reached over and patted her head, ruffling her slightly and playfully with a small but genuine smile on their face. “I will also beat Anita.” They chuckled, rising to their feet to help Inge out in the kitchen. A room they were comfortable and navigated well in. Never mind the fact that they had no need to eat actual food anymore.

“If you have chocolate that I can melt with the mix, I can help you make it very tasty.”

“Pineapple!” Cass cut in immediately, eager to make her preferred pizza topping known. Normally, she might have let someone else respond first, might have pretended to like whatever the popular answer was, but… she felt comfortable, in this moment. She felt comfortable enough to be a little more of herself, to stop pretending even if it was only for a heartbeat. Later, the mask would slip back on as easily as breathing. She’d cut herself into smaller pieces, something easier to digest. But right here, right now… Cass felt good. And that was good. Wasn’t it?

She grinned a little as Metzli agreed to stay, feeling as though some invisible weight had been lifted. The teasing, too, felt good, felt like something she’d never thought she’d have. “There’s no way you’re beating me,” she shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m totally gonna win. You’ll probably beat Anita, though.” She flashed Anita a grin — a quiet confirmation that she was only kidding, with a question underneath it: is this okay, are we here yet, can we do this?

As Metzli and Inge went into the kitchen, Cass remained with Anita. This was good, she thought. However terrifyingly the night had started out, this ending was good. She wanted more nights like this. She wanted them forever.

—

It was not very often that Anita found herself alone, physically. She usually had some body nearby to keep her company - either a meal or a tryst. Even when she spent time with people she cared about, the people in this room, it was almost always one-on-one. Genuinely, she did not know if that was an intentional doing on her part or if it was coincidental. Laying there, wrapped up in physical and emotional warmth felt so foreign to her. It made her think back to Mexico, before she left home. But even as she let her mind wander back there, as she shuffled through her cards and listened to discussions about pineapple on pizza, Anita was faced with the reality that home had never actually felt quite this warm.

Back then she may have been constantly surrounded by a sea of family but they were all so preoccupied with themselves that moments like this - simple evenings - were scarce. Anita smiled up at Metzli when they returned with cups of cocoa and nodded at the indication from Inge that pizza was just a few minutes away. As she took that first sip of the spiked beverage, for a moment the guilt she had been feeling slipped away. For a moment she was just in a living room, playing cards with people who cared about her.

#wild cards #thread #para #metzli #cass #inge #c:m #chatzy #writing #p:cass #p:metzli #p:inge

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heirceleste · 4 months ago

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@wiccawcnder cassidy + prue

the last thing cassidy ever would’ve expected was to settle on the west coast. but there seemed to be magic everywhere here. she’d come out this way for one thing just over a year ago, had started working part time at a dance studio, and ended up fully loving it. now she spent several days a week teaching toddlers and little kids how to do ballet and contemporary dance. cass missed the snow in winter and her younger siblings, but something about the move felt right to her.

today was her day off, and the werewolf was spending it in outdoors. it wasn’t unusual for her to run into kids or parents outside of class, but literally running into a very hot single mom was. “oh shit,” she swore stumbling and skinning her knee as she felt. cursing under her breath, cassidy stood up and turned to face prue with an apologetic smile on her face.

“oh my god i am so sorry ms halliwell,” she apologized quickly, doing her best to save face despite the sweat clinging to her skin and the blood on her knee. “promise i normally look where im going when im out for a run.”

#thinking cass is 30ish here #max 35 #thread: cassidy #wiccawcnder

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bcckmcskcd · 1 year ago

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closed starter for @houseoracastle (cass)

Faris felt sort of listless since his sister's death, and the fact that they couldn't really have a proper burial for her was weighing heavily on him.

"Hey Cass." He was overly familiar with all residence of Huntsville at this point, a bond forged between all of them that was difficult to describe or replicate. "Did the funeral home get hit too hard by the weird water?"

#faris zhao ; threads #faris and cass 1

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faoighiche · 1 year ago

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A Father's LEGacy | Cass & Burrow

PARTNER : @magmahearts TIMING : Current. LOCATION : The Leg. SUMMARY : While Cass and Burrow investigate the leg, Burrow investigates Cass herself. WARNINGS : Under skin.

There was a giant leg sticking out of the ground. Cass wasn’t really sure what to make of that. She’d asked her father, but even he had seemed caught off guard, though he didn’t share Cass’s curiosity. When you’ve been around as long as I have, Cassidy, some things take precedence. You’ll realize that someday. And so, she’d tried to mask her excitement. To make it smaller, to make herself smaller so that she might better fit the image Makaio might want of his daughter.

Still, she wanted to see the leg. She knew he could tell, and she let herself think he was amused by it as she ducked out of the cave one morning. At the very least, she thought he’d probably approve of her choice of company today. From their conversations thus far, Cass got the feeling that her father, like most fae, preferred the company of other fae to anyone else when he wanted company at all. Burrow, she figured, would get along well with him. Burrow was a good nymph, one who did the things she was supposed to do. Eventually, Cass would introduce Burrow to Makaio, and he would approve.

But for now, she was going to touch the leg.

She met up with Burrow in their pre-arranged meeting spot, a precaution Cass had only begun to take since her father’s arrival at the cave. Flashing the other nymph a smile as she got close, she waved. “What do you think about the leg?” She asked in way of greeting. “Do you feel anything from it? Do your parasites? Have the fed on it at all?” Unlike the Abnormality, this felt closer to Burrow’s domain than her own.

Burrow waved to the rocks — jutting structures of the abnormality — and her reflections on them waved back. They cradled the recent oddity: the leg. The leg like a barren tree, whose branches were tipped with claws. Was this another part of the abnormality, piercing through the shell below? Was this one the abnormality wanted to claim, its pieces circling it like teeth? Questions she could not answer because of the humans. They put up fences and signs and demands for payment. She observed the humans — watching their patterns and finding where their numbers were always slim. That is when she returned, chasing the humans who remained with the buzzing of her wasps and the bite of her phantom ticks. Finally, alone. Free to inspect the leg… and Cass.

Burrow knew the stranger lurking in the cave was not a passing visitor. They were still there when she sent her flies in her stead. The flies did not understand language but they did know tone. Cass and the stranger had spoken with gentle words. Their faces had been serene. They were familiar with each other, of soul and body. The stranger was chiseled in Cass’ image, seeping with the same molten blood. Observations implied they were kin, yet why was Cass not rejoicing? It was no secret that Cass yearned for family, so why was this stranger a secret? There must be something she was missing.

A thing Burrow would discover, in time, as she waved Cass closer. “I think the leg is… interesting. I do not feel anything from the leg. My kin have not claimed it.” So large, so inviting, so befitting of homing thousands of her precious ones. Yet it was absent of their pleasant touch. She would touch it for them — determine if it was worthy of their taking. She pried her fingers under the scales, but they resisted her intrusion. Her fingers split into separations that ran down her palms. They extended and curled and lost any memory of joints and bone. They became tendrils that bore into the flesh. It tasted… wrong. A corruption that made her quiver. She leaned forward, licking at what she could of the exposed skin. It gave her a full taste of the disgusting rot. She immediately pulled away, spitting on the ground. “The leg is nasty.” As her tendrils retracted back into fingers, she looked to the bits of the abnormality surrounding them. “You can have it.” Maybe it could give this rotten thing some use.

She hadn’t told her father where she was going, which was rare now. In the beginning, when he’d first arrived, she’d filtered in and out of the cave with little more than greetings and fond words of departure, but lately she’d felt the need to update him in on her comings and goings. She wasn’t sure why, didn’t understand the desire to make sure he always knew where she was. Maybe it had been a few comments he’d made here and there, or maybe she just thought it was what you were supposed to do with your parent. Regardless, she felt a little guilty about the way she’d sauntered out of the cave without an explanation today. Would he be more disappointed in her for that than he would have been if she’d told him where she was headed? He’d like Burrow if he met her, Cass was sure of it. When he was ready to meet people, she thought, Burrow would be the first one she’d introduce him to. They’d get along. She knew they would.

But for now, there was a leg to touch. Cass was more excited about it than she’d been about anything in a while now, especially out in the open where she didn’t feel the need to stifle her enthusiasm. She wanted to see what the big deal was, wanted to figure out how it worked, wanted to know what Burrow knew about it the same way Burrow had wanted to know what she knew about the Abnormality. She liked listening to what Burrow had to say. It was always interesting, even if it sometimes didn’t make sense.

And so, the excitement in her chest bubbled and built as she approached her friend, moving in closer when Burrow ushered for her to do so. She watched Burrow inspect the leg, tried not to make a face as she licked at it. This was part of Burrow’s process, she thought. Still, Cass wasn’t surprised when Burrow proclaimed the leg to be nasty, wrinkling her nose as she leaned in to press her palm against it. “I don’t think I can do anything with it, either,” she replied. It wasn’t stone; that much was certain. “So it won’t help your parasites? Won’t feed them?”

Cass appeared as her usual self: bubbly and bright and blazing. As warm and ignited as the magma hidden below her skin. The stranger, whoever they may be, had no effect on that flame. The appearance of it, at least. Just as the skin hid molten rock, Burrow wondered if that smile hid something else. She knew how easily all things were concealed. Even joys; even troubles. As she looked to the surrounding bits of the abnormality, her swarm of reflections were also familiar. Her dark eyes stared back, steady and without strain. Absent of the failure she was becoming: a parasite who took too much. Death rarely served her, and the death of the salted one was no different. It’s only purpose was to show she was not yet ready to give her parasites their home. She was not the guardian they deserved.

Even as Burrow remembered her mistakes, remembered how she faltered at protecting her kin, her reflections did not betray her. She continued to stare, strainless. Soon, her insides would match, when those feelings drifted back into nothing. Until that peace, she focused on her kin dwelling inside her. What wisdom did they offer? There was a unanimous chorus of hatred and disgust. Bad leg, rotten leg, nasty, nasty, nasty. Such wise words. “No. The leg is… rotten. The leg is disgusting.” She spit away more of its remnants in her mouth. A bath was due in her near future. “My kin would die if they ate the leg.” The leg was useless to them, but it did not mean it was without use. Her eyes flickered back to the rocks, to her reflections, before returning to Cass. “Does the abnormality want the leg?”

Burrow hated the leg, so Cass decided she hated it, too. It was a silly thing, a crutch she no longer needed to lean on. Her father had been trying to remind her of it, when it came to her friends. If they care for you, you won’t need to pretend. You can be who you are, you can be my daughter. If they love you, they won’t leave. And if they leave, they do not love you. It was good advice, but privately, she wondered why he was hiding if he believed it. Privately, she wondered if he feared her friends wouldn’t accept him, if he was just as insecure as she was. If he voiced it, she would have reassured him just as he reassured her. If they like me, they’ll like you, too, she’d tell him. We’re the same, aren’t we? Anyone who loves me should love you, and anyone who hates you must hate me, too. She would have told him this if he’d asked, but he didn’t and so she thought it silently instead. She reminded herself of it, became convinced of its accuracy. If her friends loved her, they should love the man who made her, too. And if they didn’t…

Family was what was important, wasn’t it? And she’d found hers now. Her father wouldn’t leave her, so how could Cass ever leave him? She’d never been the one to walk away before; she certainly wasn’t going to start now.

“Then they shouldn’t eat it,” she replied firmly, because she didn’t want Burrow’s parasites to die. Burrow would be sad, wouldn’t she? If that happened, Burrow would be sad, and Cass didn’t want that. She wanted Burrow to be happy and safe and okay and here. And if the last one felt the most important, she wouldn’t confess to it. It seemed a heavy thing to say. “I don’t know if the Abnormality wants the leg or not. I think… the Abnormality usually wants everything. So maybe it does. Or maybe it thinks the leg is nasty, too.”

Burrow nodded in agreement. An acceptance that brought a frown. “It is unfortunate they should not eat it. The leg could be the mighty host.” Instead, the thing was an apartment full of black mold. All those empty and waiting rooms were stacked coffins in disguise. It was cruel to tempt them all with that buffet of flesh and tissue. So many spoils for so many of her kin — so many that they could never take too much. Which was not a concern, for her kin knew better than to do such a thing. “Perhaps it is for the best. The leg attracts… too many of the humans.” The sight of the humans was a death sentence. They always boasted about helping those poor and sick hosts. What about them? What about her lovely kin? The humans would probably choose this rotten thing over her beautiful worms. No one ever chose her beautiful worms.

“I hope the abnormality does not think the leg is nasty. I hope the abnormality will make the leg useful.” Burrow did not want nature to reclaim it. That rot would return to the cycle, seeping into the soil to sprout more putrid hosts. More cruel things to tempt her parasites. At least when the abnormality stripped the lands into that hungry emptiness, too hungry for her parasites to survive, it was for a purpose. A purpose she did not know, but she hoped to find out.

A discovery that rested in the future. The present offered Burrow a more reasonable discovery: who was in Cass’ cave? A question she wanted to ask outright, but she had learned that secrets were best claimed by delicacy or force. She had no desire to ever harm Cass. So, she would start with a prick. “How is your cave?”

“It seems like a waste,” Cass agreed. It was sad, in a way. There was this thing here, and it was huge. It could feed so many of Burrow’s parasites, could sustain them for so long, but it was inedible. It couldn’t be claimed by her, and Cass couldn’t think of any other fae that could make use of it, either. So, what was it here for? For some humans to set up camp in front of it, charge money to other humans just to touch it? That wasn’t what nature was for. Her father, she knew, would find this distasteful. And so Cass, in an effort to be someone he would approve of, found it distasteful, too. It seemed Burrow agreed, and she was glad for that. It meant Makaio would like her, when it was time to introduce them. “Humans don’t know how to leave things alone sometimes,” she added, wrinkling her nose a little. It wasn’t a stance she used to have, but she was finding she believed in it more and more now.

But maybe there was still some use for the leg. If the Abnormality could claim it the way Burrow’s parasites couldn’t, if it could absorb it and make something of it, wouldn’t that be good? Wouldn’t it be better, at least, than humans using it as a tourist trap? “Maybe it’ll be good for the Abnormality.” Wasn’t that something she wanted? For the Abnormality to have something good?

At Burrow’s question, Cass found herself smiling a little. It was a genuine expression, a happy one. “Great,” she replied, the word just as honest as the smile. She was so happy with her dad in her cave; happier than she’d been in such a long time, happier than she’d thought she knew how to be at all. “It’s been really good lately.”

If only the humans were alone in their harm against Burrow. “The fae also do not know when to leave things alone.” That slap felt crueler, for the fae were things of nature. They followed its call, yet denied her place amongst its cycle. They thought they could tear her out like a weed, but weeds always came back — larger and hungrier. A weed that would strangle them all. No one cares or likes my parasites, that bitter thought returned to her. It had clung to her the day she was born. But as she glanced at her companion beside her, she felt the words shift. “Not many care or like my parasites.” A grievance she never bothered to bring to the fae. What was the point in complaining to the knife? It would not stop it from twisting inside her. But Cass also knew that knife. The two bore twin scars like birthmarks from its cut. They were cousins of that pain, which is why she liked Cass’ company. Shared pain was easier to bear.

The abnormality, too, was a cousin. A fellow taker. A fellow thing feared and misunderstood. Even its name showed that nature: abnormality. Burrow nodded in agreement. She also wanted the abnormality to have something good, even if she did not agree with its tastes. The rot still stung her tongue.

The stranger did not seem to sting. Their presence had not tainted the sanctuary of the cave. Perhaps they even enhanced the experience. So, why were they absent from Cass’ lips? People always liked to babble about good things; sometimes Burrow could not get them to stop. What was she missing? She must prick further — pry underneath and seek her entry. If only the act was as easy as the metaphor. Her tendrils were made to take the spoils of blood and chyme, not of knowledge. Her tongue hesitated as she selected her words. “Are the things that are inside your cave also ‘good’?”

Cass knew, better than most, how true Burrow’s words were. She’d been cast out by fae — the same fae who had cast her father out a generation before her. The sting of it hurt worse than the sting of the humans who were afraid of her, because weren’t fae supposed to get it? Cass met other nymphs who loved people just because they were fae, nymphs like Teagan who called her cousin and were overjoyed at the sight of her, at the feeling of butterflies in the stomach that came with seeing someone like you. That hadn’t been Cass’s experience for the longest time. And it hadn’t been Burrow’s, either. Selfishly, she found some comfort in that. She wasn’t the only one who’d been cast out — Burrow had, too. So had Makaio. And if she loved the both of them, didn’t she have to admit that this meant the person being cast out wasn’t the problem? If Burrow and Makaio were good, didn’t that make Cass good, too?

“I like your parasites,” she said, and she meant it. “I care about them.” She cared about them because Burrow did, because when something was important to someone you loved, you made it important to yourself, too. Cass would love what Burrow loved. Cass would love what Makaio loved. And, in return, both of them would love Cass. Wasn’t that the only thing she’d ever really wanted? Wasn’t this town good for giving it to her?

Burrow’s question was a little confusing. Cass wasn’t sure she understood the phrasing of it. She’d grown used to Burrow’s careful way of talking, the way she chose her words. There was always some comfort in it, in a way, because it was so entirely Burrow. The question was confusing, but Cass untangled the words in her mind with a concentrated furrow to her brow before nodding. “Yes,” she said. “Things that are inside my cave are also good. There is nothing bad inside my cave. There were before, when the crystals and goo were all over, but not now. Everything that’s inside my cave now is there because I want it there, and it’s good.”

It was still so strange to hear that. That a fae of all things cared about her kin. As the years threw more bile upon her from what were supposed to be her family, Burrow yearned for apathy. At least then, the weight of the pile would not grow. She never expected a fae to want to remove that weight. She stared at Cass, a smile forming hesitantly. A smile that never truly formed, because the weight was still there. It would always be there. Why did it have to be there? Cass made it look so easy. She said the words so effortlessly: I care about them. She had yet to know Burrow for a full year, yet cared more than those who had been there since her birth. Why did it have to be there? Even in such a happy moment, the bile ruined it. The fae, as always, ruined it. They had left their stain on her — one she did not know how to remove. Her smile twitched, unsure of what to do. She looked back to the leg.

The stranger possessed none of that complexity. They were not tainted. They were good, that was no longer a question. Burrow needed to meet this stranger: the reason for her friend’s smile. Such a secret should be shared, indulged, and enjoyed. Had it been kept from her because of her nature? Cass knew she took what she wished, but in this instance, her hands did not ache to claim. The stranger would not know her taking. They would not know what it meant to be chosen, completely, by her vines. They would not know how her vines were only satisfied when they took everything, even life. No. The stranger made Cass happy, so their presence was more useful in the cave. “I assume that means the fae in your cave is the good presence? I saw them, when…” I took the life of the salted one. I took more than I meant. I took more than I needed. “... I needed to see you.”

It was selfish, but there was some part of Cass that liked the fact that Burrow, like her, had been cast out from the aos si she’d been born into. She’d never say it aloud, never voice the terrible thought, but it lurked in the back of her mind all the same. She’d never had someone who understood her experience the way Burrow did and now, with both Burrow and Makaio in her life, she had two people who got it. She never thought she’d be so lucky.

So… she didn’t panic the way she probably should have when Burrow revealed that she knew about Cass’s father in her cave. If Burrow understood her, and her father understood her, didn’t it stand to reason that the two would understand each other, too? Of all her friends, Burrow was the one Cass most believed Makaio would get along with. Burrow knowing about him was definitely a shock, but… maybe not a bad one. Cass glanced around carefully, looking at the leg for a moment. Could it hear them? She pulled Burrow a few steps away just in case. “You can’t tell anyone,” she said lowly. “But… he’s my dad. He found me a little while ago. He’s been looking for me all this time, you know? He’s a good presence. Definitely. And he — I really think he’ll like you, too. He’s just… not ready to meet anyone yet. I think he’s scared of people, a little.”

He’s my dad. Burrow had suspected. The two had been weathered by the same winds, formed by the same lava that still glowed through the cracks. It was so obvious. Yet, despite the logic and previous assurances, her chest seized at the reveal. Her mind flashed with images — faces that clung to her like a stain. Sneering, frowning, glances away, all carved into the folds of her brain. Expressions that did not match what she had seen in the cave. The stranger, the father, had looked to Cass with full attention. He had not looked away. He had not ignored. The connection to Cass frayed a bit at the edges, for they were not as similar as she had once believed. Cass’ father wanted her — Cass’ father was good. It was correct to have kept this all a secret, because she did want to take. She wanted to claim that love of a father. She wanted to know how it felt.

Burrow could bind him. She would bind him. Tie him to herself, with the same bow she was joined to Cass. Then, the two of them would be cousins again. They would share. A rare blessing from one who only took for herself, but she made exceptions for her kin. The claws of her past no longer pierced her chest. It returned to its proper time, releasing her to her usual calm. All the while, she continued to stare, strainless. “Ok. I will not tell anyone.” She only had Teagan to tell, and it would still be a time before she rejoined the nix. Her vines had tasted the sweetness of nymph’s blood — they might crave more. But the father was made of the same molten rock as his child. Burrow may try to take his heart, but never his body. He would be safe. They would both be safe. “I want to meet him.”

Something flashed across Burrow’s face, and Cass felt her heart fracture just a little. She knew that Burrow had issues with her own father; she understood that. But part of her had thought — had hoped that Burrow would be happy for her and the relationship she was building with hers. Weren’t friends supposed to be happy for you when it came to things like this? Weren’t they supposed to laugh when you laughed and cry when you cried? Cass shifted her weight, uncertain as she held her breath and waited for Burrow to speak, waited for her to prove that she was still a friend, even if the feelings were complex.

When she did, when she agreed not to tell anyone and requested to meet Makaio, it felt like the world was righted. Cass smiled, relief flooding her. It had only been a moment. It had been a moment of uncertainty, but Burrow was happy for her. Burrow was happy for her, and her other friends would be, too. They would rejoice with her. Makaio would come to dinner at Metzli’s, would watch movies with Ariadne. She could have both. She would get to keep both. This was proof of that. “Let me ask him,” she said softly. “Let me ask him, and then you can meet him. He’ll like you. I know he will.” Makaio would like Burrow and Burrow would like Makaio and Cass would have her cake and eat it, too. It would be good. Everything would be good. She knew it.

Burrow liked the way Cass smiled. She had tried to mimic it before. Her own never matched its brightness, still flickering at the edges. Still, she did try. At the sight of a new one, her lips curled like its echo. Small, faded, and distorted. “Ok. He will like me.” By the power of their words, the ones who spoke the truth, it would be true. That truth eased her. It meant the bind on him would settle easier. She preferred when the hosts did not struggle. “I think I will like him.” A statement she never thought she would utter, back when she believed Cass’ family was much like her own. The type to scorn their own blood for the crime of existing. But the stranger in the cave was nothing like the ones who had left her, writhing in the muck of humanity. They were in the muck together, shielded by their stones. They had made their own sanctuary. It seemed almost too good to be true. But Cass assured her that the stranger was good — that he would like her. So, she believed it. Everything was good.

#wickedswriting #thread #thread : cass #ft. cass a.#under skin tw

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mothersmaeve · 9 months ago

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closed starter for @waitingward location: the gym idr its name

The very last person Maeve ever would have expected to find a permanent part of Rapunzel’s never life was her very own daughter. It had been twenty something years since she had chosen the sundrop over her daughter and left without a single word or explanation. Twenty something years since she had watched her little girl call out for her from afar before riding away into the night, never to return. Or well, that’s probably what Cassandra thought had happened at least. Truth be told she had returned, attempting to collect the girl and bring her back to the tower - but it had been too late. She had already been brought into the arms and protection of the very man in charge of attempting to find Gothel and bring the sundrop baby back to her original family. Of course, Maeve could have found a way around it - could have figured out some sort of plan to get Cassandra back without giving her identity away or getting caught - but it was too big of a risk. Even the smallest possibility of being taken in, of losing her connection to the sundrop, was too much to chance. So she did what she’d come quite good at doing over the past two centuries, she let her daughter go. The love and care she felt in her heart for the girl was instead all placed into Rapunzel. Over the years from time to time she still had the odd passing thought of the girl, but nothing stronger than what she had for any of her other children. At this point in time Maeve was a master at loving and letting go, truly able to simply release the pain that had once come with losing so many people she held dear. It helped, of course, that she never had to see any of her children or former partners again after she left them.

Which was why this felt far harder than it should, seeing Cassandra again. She had made her peace with leaving the girl behind and had thought their paths would never cross again, yet here Cassandra was - all buddy buddy with the girl that had replaced her. Making simply ignoring her no longer an option. Maeve needed another way or connection into Rapunzel’s life. The thief she called a boyfriend was hardly going to be the answer, Gothel already well aware that the chances of getting him on her side were slim to none. So the roommate and newfound best friend was the next best move. Only, she had no idea how much Cassandra actually knew. How much had the blonde told her? Would she recognize Maeve right away as the woman who had kidnapped her friend? Would she remember her beyond even the events of the last two years? How much did she retain from the years they had spent together in their little cottage? Had she repressed or ignored it all in favor of her life and father? It was terrifying not having the answers to any of her questions, but Maeve was determined to carry on regardless. Figuring out how much the girl remembered and what she knew would be easy enough. A simple first meeting would tell her everything she needed to know.

The gym was hardly a place Maeve ever bothered with, the magic of the sundrop keeping her in her perfect shape regardless of how much or little she worked out, but after a few days of watching her daughters from afar it appeared to be the best place to approach Cassandra without risk of Rapunzel being around as well. As she made her way slowly over towards the corner of the gym that the younger girl had been working out in, Maeve put on a perfected air of confusion as she looked around, a small frown playing out on her face as if she had no clue what she was doing. “Excuse me?” she asks, turning to finally look Cassandra head on, waiting to see if she had any type of reaction. “I don’t mean to be a bother, but this is all just so confusing. I’m normally just a treadmill kind of gal, but I’ve heard this is what really burns off the fat and thought I should give it a try - but I just have no clue what I’m doing. And you looked like practically a professional doing it a minute ago. Any chance you could spare a moment to give an old lady some pointers?”

#closed starter #skip the drama ; stay with mama ;; threads #cass #AGAIN SO LONG IM SORRY ITS JUST SETTING IT UP

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menodoramoon · 7 months ago

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Post-Date Auction || Mooncakes

CHARACTERS: Cass Hamada, Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

SUMMARY: Following Moon winning a date with Cass at the auction, Cass lets out some building feelings. Menodora feels rejected. A rift ensues.

SETTING: Nov 16, 2024, Outside Amy's Auction

@auntcass-hamada

Read Below ~

Cass Hamada

Cass had entered the auction mostly on impulse (as so many of her decisions were), but once she did, she'd gotten excited by the idea. Her other dates might not have gone well, but this was a great way to meet someone new! Not just her at work and covered in flour, but looking like a person that someone would actually want to spend time with!

The bidding started, and she was delighted to see some familiar names and some new ones. This was going to go great!

Except...then her friends stepped in. And bid higher. And higher. The new names fell away, and instead it was only Franny, Reza, and Moon going around in circles. She should probably find it sweet. Instead, all she felt was disappointed.

Didn't any of them believe she could handle even one date?

Biting the inside of her cheek, she was trying to keep it together when she heard the winning bid. 500 pounds. 500 pounds? Seriously? That was...that was ridiculous. That was so much money from someone she saw whenever she could for free. Why would she do that?

No wonder no one else had stuck around. Who had that kind of money? Could she blame them?

She needed some air. Or she would say something that she regretted later. Grabbing a glass of the wine that had been provided, she headed outside to try and calm herself down, not realizing that anyone might have seen where she was going.

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

A date with Cass! This was fantastic! Moon already has some ideas that she'd need to run by her best friend but the idea of it was exciting and Moon was thrilled!

It was strange, almost. Moon didn't fully understand the concept of bidding on dates, but with Cass, it was as if it *sort of* clicked. Who wouldn't want to bid on a date with Cassandra?

In a way, Moon might have selfishly thought it was a grand gesture. Moon valued her friend a lot, and getting to spend time with her was worth so much to her. Definitely more than £500 but she did have to be a bit normal about it.

"Cass!" Moon had called when she saw her friend, only Cass was headed for the exit. Moon frowned to herself, confused. Did... What? Had someone hurt Cass's feelings? Had Moon done something wrong?

She sets her glass down, ignores the few people who try to catch her attention, and walks hastily after her friend, almost breaking into an impulse to run.

"Cassandra?" Moon asks, just past the doors. It's brisk outside, a little chilly. The air is tense and awkward, stiff beyond the normal November weather. "Cass, are you... Alright?"

Cass Hamada

Oh. For once, she didn't want to see Moon. She wanted the air and her wine until she could calm down and pull herself together, go back to being the person everyone expected of her. It was hard when her feelings were all over the place, when they were sparking outside of the comfortable tracks she kept them on to get through the day.

"It's fine. I just need a moment. I need some air." She tried to sound normal, but she was almost positive she failed.

She'd never been good at that kind of thing.

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

Aha. No. Cass had absolutely failed the performance check. Moon opens her mouth to say something and stops. Thinks about it. Doesn't.

"Erm, okay. Well, I can just stay over here if you want to talk to someone. Or..." She stops, leans up against the wall. Silently, though her mind is racing.

Cass may not have been good at regulating her tone, but Moon has never been good at comforting anyone. It's one of those things she's always recognized as a weakness.

So it's quiet. Near silent. Moon staying... And more importantly... Moon not leaving.

Cass Hamada

See, the problem with staying was that Cass would end up talking. She wouldn't be able to stop herself and she knew it, which was why she'd tried to leave first.

But this was the problem with trying to put guardrails on her responses to manage her ADHD and the emotions that came with. They could only do so much, and it only took the right combination of events to overload them.

"I just - I don't know what I'm doing wrong."

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

Cassandra + 'doing anything wrong' did not make sense to Menodora. Cassandra couldn't do anything wrong in Moon's eyes, which is why Cass's statement catches Moon off guard. She turns, almost sharply, with questioning eyes.

There was hurt in her friend's face and Moon didn't know any way to assuage it, mostly because she didn't know what wasn't right.

"What do you mean, Cassandra? You're not doing anything wrong. At least, I don't think so."

Cass Hamada

Cass turned around sharply, glass nearly sloshing with the motion.

"Well, I must be doing something wrong. I mean, I know the last few dates I've been on haven't been great. But I didn't realize that it was so bad that my friends would literally team up to make sure that I didn't meet anyone new. If I'm that hopeless, I'd rather one of you just say something to me about it!"

Which maybe wasn't fair. She hadn't told anyone she was thinking of doing this until after she'd already signed up. But she didn't feel like being fair right then.

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

She hadn't expected this. And she hadn't known about Cass's feelings. Such a thing -- "What are you talking about, Cass?" Moon asks, a slight feeling of dread pooling in her stomach. Was it because Cass was angry with her?

Moon hadn't conspired with Cass's friends. Franny and her weren't close, and she barely knew Reza outside of the name. She thinks. See! That's how close they were.

"I've never thought you were hopeless, Cassandra. I thought--" but she wasn't thinking, was she? Cass wanted a real date, not one with her friends. Franny and Reza bidding just encouraged Moon further, she thought it was alright. Had they all had it wrong?

"That's not it. I swear that's not it. I hope you know that I'd be honest with you if I thought ill of anything you did."

It comes out just slightly haughty and Moon internally winces. Gods, could she please...

"I'm sorry, I thought you'd think it was sweet. I'd never try to sabotage you, at least on purpose."

Cass Hamada

Cass hears the stiffness, that whiff of authority that Moon carried but almost never used around her. Or maybe that was Menodora coming out.

She never did just call her Cass.

"But I'll spend time with you anytime! I mean, I know I get busy, but I am trying, and somehow you've missed a bunch of my texts so I've barely heard from you, but I know how things get sometimes and we could figure that out. I do try." The last sentence came out just a little bit desperately because she was always trying, and never seemed to get it right.

"But I said in the little thing that I wanted to make a new connection. I wanted to meet someone. Maybe we'd only be friends too, maybe it would be bad, but wasn't the whole point of this to try? But with the three of you bidding, how could anyone afford that? No wonder no one else tried! Who can keep up?"

She knew Moon's bid hadn't been the highest there, but the money still felt staggering. She'd never been able to be casual about 500 pounds. It was something carefully budgeted for, planned spending, or she'd end up in the kind of debt she couldn't afford. And they'd been playing with money like that like it was nothing.

Because it was nothing to them. She was the one who didn't fit with that.

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

It doesn't go unnoticed, Moon knows. Menodora knows. Her brief lapse of earnest discussion. The way her defenses draw up a more withdrawn version of herself. She tries to shake it. Tries to not make the same mistake she made with Stella. Stella.

One crisis at a time, Menodora...

Moon bites the inside of her cheek. Cass was right. They could hang out anytime. They could talk, they could text. But Moon's been hiding out in her apartment like a coward or taking walks at inopportune times just to avoid other people. She kept her head down, tried not to engage with anyone for the most part. Why? Because she was scared. Because she was ashamed of herself! And now she'd made a faux pas that has Cass annoyed with her. Irritated with her. Mad at her.

Moon doesn't understand but she wants Cass to know that none of it is her fault. Then again, it seems she already knows. The guilt rises in Moon's throat like phlegm, like some horrible feeling she needed to get out.

Sure, Cass wanted to make a new connection. Moon should have realized, she should have left it alone. If it was Franny or Reza, it would have been the same, wouldn't it? Franny or Reza would have made a better situation out of this. Moon can't manage it.

She hates herself in this moment. As the words come out.

"I didn't realize this would be so troublesome for you," Menodora says tersely, her voice coming out slightly strained. "I thought it was a nice gesture but clearly not. I apologize, I don't know how to make it right. If you want to have more blind dates I can do my best to facilitate but what's done is done and I don't have the ability to fix this tonight."

She bites hard on her upper lip, just short of drawing blood. It wasn’t hard though. They were chapped already from the change in weather.

"Consider yourself free of the obligation to have a date. We'll schedule something another time when you want to. I'm sorry this turned out this way, Cassandra. I'll do my best to rectify it. But it's not within my power tonight. Anything else? Or shall I leave you alone?"

Cass Hamada

Cass watched as the woman who was her friend transformed into someone stiff and distant and horribly polite. The words were an apology but everything else felt like a wall because none of it was right but she didn't know what right was. Which was the whole point!

She didn't want Moon to find her blind dates because that made her feel too pathetic and desperate. She didn't want to be 'troublesome' but somehow she was always trouble when she let herself go.

She wanted Moon to talk to her because it felt like something else was wrong, but she didn't know how to ask for that now that she'd ruined that too.

Her emotions felt stupidly huge with nowhere to go.

All she could say was, "Being with you isn't an obligation. It isn't supposed to be one." But the rest of her words were too tangled in her chest to figure out, so instead she did what she often did in fights like this.

She turned and fled, running back inside, wine glass abandoned on a ledge nearby.

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