mal-mchale

[mal-mchale]

Hercules got her in a way that she knew he'd understand where she was at with her own journey. She'd seen a lot in him running from things through work and the gym that had made her realize she'd been doing the same thing. Now look at him, happy as can be and full of life. It gave her hope for her own future at some point, even if they were completely different people with different journeys to take.

Mal very much glared in the most unamused sort of way at Hercules sounding out Collette's name at her, but she couldn't help the little upturn in the corners of her mouth that gave away the smile hidden underneath.

"Tinder." Mal replied simply. The new age of modern romance seemed to always begin with a dating app. "I was trying to not be such a blatant flirt, but she made it so difficult." She shrugged her shoulders and looked at the sidewalk beneath her feet, "She asked me out to dinner and the rest was dreams and circumstances and a couple more dates. It's a good thing, so I plan on keeping it for the time being." She wasn't going to commit to any labels or anything, but they were having a good time, learning things about each other, opening doors that had been locked up for a while, and just feeling it out. "No pressure, just keeping it casual. I am potentially going to ask her to prom, so that's a step enough."

@kouros-herc

Tell Me Something Good || McHerc

[mal-mchale]

Mal was well and truly happy for the boy. He was a good guy with a lot on his plate. He'd burned himself out over the years and it wasn't really until Arista started hanging around that she saw that little spark and glimmer in him again. Now he was shining brightly, which Mal could really attribute to a reflection of a certain sunshine-y blonde.

"It's honestly not an issue. Everyone's got their own things going on. As long as you make time and keep in contact, it doesn't matter if you two don't leave the bedroom for a week or so." Mal gave a shrug, shit eating smirk on her face as she tucked her hands into her pockets and continued walking.

At the mention of her smiling at her phone, she looked away from Herc, scrunching her face up a bit, "You caught that huh." She couldn't be mad, she wasn't exactly trying to hide it but still, he was just dishing out what she'd just given to him.

"Well, maybe Ris has told you but I've been on a couple dates. That's all." She tried to be very nonchalant about it, but the thought of the person who she'd been on those dates with made an unintentional smile appear on her face. She was absolutely fucked.

"It just been nice. Getting back out there." She felt her heart hammering in her chest a little faster while trying to describe feelings of all things. The Londoner continued, "And well, Collette, she's fit, ridiculously talented, and for some reason is continuously trying to spoil me." It was nice to feel worth spoiling, even if she definitely didn't think it was necessary. "Just, been nice to crack on with someone who seems to enjoy you as much as you enjoy them."

@kouros-herc

Tell Me Something Good || McHerc

[mal-mchale]

Mal enjoyed teasing Herc, really, she was happy for him and she liked his little flustered responses. She could really tell that he cared for Arista.

"I mean, sure, Arista is one of a kind." Both in the streets and in the sheets but that wasn't necessarily something she needed to remind her friend of at this moment. "Gorgeous little ray of sunshine, really."

She let out a little chuckle and shook her head, "No, no. Listen, the beginning phases of relationships are always an adjustment. You two are just enjoying the excitement of being together." She clapped him on the back with a firm grip and a grin, "Twelve, huh? Think someone is infatuated with a certain musician."

She could understand though, that feeling of being a little too interested in what someone else was up to and if you could swing by just to be near them. Most of her relationships started out that way and even now, there was a certain glittery dancer that might be getting to be something. She didn't want to put too much pressure on it though, keeping it casual and cool for now.

"In any case, I'm glad we found the time to hang out outside the gym."

@kouros-herc

Tell Me Something Good || McHerc

[mal-mchale]

Mal and the rest of the firehouse had been a drop off point for a lot of donations and were on standby if any medical or emergency need occurred with all of the unhoused coming by for resources. She was off duty at the minute and had dropped by to see if there was any need for her there given the event being hosted that some college aged kid looking for volunteer hours couldn't handle.

She was not in a hairnet and ladle, but she was carrying a large box full of cans to restock the pantry inside the kitchen.

She gave a nod to Tom, trying not to show her surprise as she hadn't seen him since she'd thrown her support towards him at a prior event. Letting him know she didn't think of him as her enemy. She set the box down on the counter, cans and bottles rattling as she turned and crossed her arms a bit, "You're safe, firehouse did their drop off a couple hours ago. Police Department might still be lurking around a bit though."

He looked okay--well, as okay as Thomas Harrington looked cosplaying as a lunch lady, she thought.

[outfit]

@sailor--thomas

One More Try ~~ [Tomal]

[mal-mchale]

Mal couldn't help the smirk that crossed her features at Collette's words, their breathing regained and the air around them grew hot with anticipation. She didn't hesitate to put her arms around Collette as the hand came to the back of her neck, the touch sending a fuzzy sensation down into her shoulders. Her strong hands moved down along Collette's body, feeling the red lingerie waiting for her through the silken material that wrapped it up from view.

"Oh but I do love making you beg," She murmured with the curve of her smirk, words laced with want as she pictured all the ways she could do so.

However, the second option took her attention away from it as she took it as the go ahead to ramp things up a little more. She did recall Collette mentioning something of sheets and lighting, being the reason they'd stopped without finishing their activities at the event. Without much pause, her hands slipped down to Collette's ass to easily lift her up like just another barbell at the gym and keep her legs tucked around her waist. (It was a bit like blowing her own trumpet she had to admit, but why not use all the tools at her disposal.)

"I plan on finding your lipstick on anything but those lips." She whispered and leaned up to kiss her, lips capturing her bottom lip and pulling away, teeth grazing her lip to punctuate the sentence. Though her mouth and eyes were a bit occupied at the moment, her feet felt their way through pillows and around couches as she walked in the direction that she'd assume Collette's bedroom was.

@collette-richards

Second Course || Malette

[mal-mchale]

♥ 572 likes

malmchale15: The whole Prom Queen nom situation was the surprise of my year, so thanks Swynlake. Good luck to everyone out to snatch that crown 👑💅

[mal-mchale]

Planning for Prom || Malette

Summary: Mal drops by unannounced at Collette's apartment to ask a question...

@collette-richards

[Read here]

[mal-mchale]

Mal's eyes lingered on the hand that touched hers, still not pulling back or away with every little bit of those layers that of Collette was revealing. She gave a little shrug, calm and cool demeanor still there after the other woman listed off a few more qualities, "Maybe you're just emotionally unpredictable because no one has tried to figure you out just yet and see all those layers."

As Collette shifted and their knees brushed, Mal's eyes caught the flash of red that peaked beneath her outfit. It both ignited that little bit of desire as her imagination drifted back to behind the curtain, but also touched her in a way. Collette had done all this for her. Not just the lingerie, but ordering all this food and decorating and making her feel at home in a place that very much wasn't hers. It was thoughtful, and, just as she'd promised on their first date, she'd set out to spoil her. Something Mal hadn't really allowed herself to be in a long time.

"Dangerous? Well, I think everyone could use just a little danger." She gave a sly little wink, squeezing her hand back. There was something about Collette that always pulled her in, she understood exactly the feeling of making it easier to stay than run because that's what she was feeling as well.

"Hmm, what happens next..." Mal began with a playful smile, pretending to mull over the ideas in her mind, "What was it you said to me last time? 'Light the match.' Could be the most reasonable course of action for the next step." She rolled up onto her feet a bit from the pillow she'd been sitting on, hand momentarily slipping from the other woman's and shifting over to Collette's side of the table so that there wasn't an obstacle between them now, knees pressing into the plush rug beneath them as she tucked her fingers under the dancer's chin so their eyes met, deep hazel into blue. Though Collette had threatened to be in Mal's lap in the next ten minutes, Mal decided to make the first move instead and cut out that extra wait time.

"You're incredible, I'm sure you know." Mal breathed out, lopsided little smirk appearing on her face, a rush following through her chest as she leaned in, "I'd much rather stay than run." She echoed the sentiment from moments before and captured Collette's lips in a kiss.

@collette-richards

Second Course || Malette

[mal-mchale]

Mal felt like she was trying to protect the ember of a flame from going out, like the smallest breath would extinguish the fire that could be built from that small glow of vulnerability. She wasn't trying to rush her thoughts with this or not sit in her feelings, she felt she sort of owed Collette's vulnerability that bit of respect, "Well, I think I can handle some mess."

She easily, without much thought slid her hand across the surface and intertwined their fingers, her thumb brushing along the back of the other woman's hand. Just listening to her own list and filing it away for her own notes later.

As the silence draped over them, Mal just listened to the ambient noise beyond Collette's apartment window on Main Street, all kinds of things happening and going on, but the only place she wanted to be right now was here.

She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face and the slight tinge of a blush too. Her eyes moving from Collette's to the table and then back up as if that could slow down that soaring sort of feeling in her chest that ramped up faster around her. She replied, echoing the sentiment, "Thank you for having me, in not just the polite guest sort of way."

"Accidentally?" Mal questioned teasingly, before adding in a mock authoritative tone of how she sounded when she was in her firefighter uniform, "Well, I'm prepared for any and all emergency and accidental situations. My lap is currently unoccupied."

That desire to be close to and hold her had never left since the last time they'd ended up with Collette in her lap. She was itching to have it happen again, and this time behind closed doors, they didn't need to rush it along.

It was also in this time, that Mal realized that the need wasn't all sexual, as much as that was a part of it, a portion of it was just the nature of a cuddle, the feeling of someone warm against you that you liked that you knew the echo of the imprint of their touch would linger on your body even if skin wasn't touched. She just genuinely wanted to be around her, she would be lying if she said she wasn't crushing pretty hard on the girl.

@collette-richards

Second Course || Malette

[mal-mchale]

Mal and Herc had finally managed to organize a little outing, just the two of them, out to NTO. A new sporting goods store had opened up out there and being that Swynlake didn't have much in the way of selection of fitness equipment and accessories outside of the gym, Mal thought it would be worth going to check out.

She strolled along the streets of NTO with Herc, mostly just itching to pry a little info out of the boy. Figure out how well things were going between her two friends. It seemed like he and Arista had been doing well, at least from what limited times she'd been able to hang out and talk to Ris. The whole surprising her on V day was a very good move, she felt pretty proud of her gym bud.

"So, on a scale from 1 to 10, how obsessed with your girlfriend are you, really?" Mal quipped with a grin, looking up at him as they walked along the pavement. She liked to give him a little bit of a gentle ribbing, nothing too bad, "Because I swear you two are basically attached at the hip lately, lucky I even got you away today."

[outfit]

@kouros-herc

Tell Me Something Good || McHerc

[mal-mchale]

Tell Me Something Good || McHerc

[mal-mchale]

"Seems I am at the top of the list then." Mal quipped despite herself, but it was just a reflex really to speak so the beating in her chest could figure itself out. She did pay attention to the moments afterwards like it was in slow motion, the grape, the mood of the room, it moved in a gradient right before her eyes. The masks were loosening bit by bit.

The quietness of her voice made her lean in just that little bit more, whether it was to actually hear her better, or to step into the moment she was having and be part of it.

She waited to speak, trying to be there with her rather than listen to wait for her turn to speak. And as she listened, it was as if Collette knew what words to slowly curl her tendrils up under Mal's brick and mortar facade, taking root and forming cracks that would only continue to grow.

The fire fighter thought a second out loud, "Non captionable things..." she began, pressing her lips together in concentration, pausing a moment to try to figure out how to begin, "I'm confident in that public version, or I was for about two years. Now I feel like people just expect things of me without really understanding me." She gave a slight little shrug of her shoulders, "I made her, me, to protect me, until I was ready to put myself back out there again. All fun, no strings, get what you see and nothing else. It took a while to figure myself out, but I think I'm in a much better place than where I started."

She could feel that urge to pull back and not come out any farther, but she still continued, checking things off as she spoke them like a bulleted little list in her head, "If you want to know me, I'll answer whatever you want me to, I don't intend on lying." Her eyes met the other woman's gaze, "Let's see, I make a pretty great breakfast (according to my roommate). I'm very superstitious." It was hard not to be, honestly. "I dislike mint chocolate chip ice cream, it tastes like toothpaste. I love winter."

She stopped after that, offering a sheepish little grin, "And, I want to know you too." She admitted, breathing it out like a sigh of relief, "Don't misunderstand me, I very much like the dancing and showmanship I've seen thus far, but I think the mind and heart behind all that is something worth exploring a little." A sly smirk forming on her mouth as she thought about their time behind the curtain, just how much showmanship she'd been given. She reached for her own grape and chewed on it, sitting back a bit again, feeling a bit of weight floating off her shoulders.

@collette-richards

Second Course || Malette

[mal-mchale]

This is what Mal was keen on seeing. The girl behind the rampant sex appeal and being fit as fuck, because as far as Mal was concerned, that shiny lure was already incredibly enticing, sparkly and sequined. The real question was was there enough bait on the hook for her to bite and get reeled in. (She was beginning to think so).

Her lips curved into a bit of a smug smile, not a large grin but one that liked the idea of Collette writing her name down in those planners, making time for her, making her a priority on her list. It felt nice to be seen like that.

"Oh? Anyone I know?" Mal coyly responded, playing dumb for a second, head tilting with a smile as she looked at the other woman across from her. She didn't miss the fact that Collette had used her favorite color, one she'd asked her about when they'd last seen each other. "I could always audit your list for you, help you figure out who you should prioritize at the top of that list."

On the subject of lists though, Mal had had somewhat of a girl kissing list in her notes app, but she didn't think that was exactly something you brought up on a 2nd date. She barely looked at that section anymore anyways, she had something else to look at now.

"I do admire your life organizing skills though," she said in earnest, eyes meeting Collette's, where blue grey and light hazel crossed paths and though sometimes looked intimidating, were warm and inviting with a hint of sincerity, "Even if it does make you have twelve planners."

She reached for another grape, popping it into her mouth and chewing it, eyes glinting with mischief, "So this girl kissing list, is it a 'to do' list or are we keeping count? Because I think we've," she motioned between the two of them, "got a fair amount already, though I'd be more than willing to add more. I am a 'special thing' after all."

Yes, it was a little bit goofy of her to say, but she found herself letting that guard down a little bit every time Collette came through. Most people knew her as a very serious firefighter or competitive athlete or prolific, sexy, girl kisser. But if you peeled back that thin little film of banter, professionalism and sexual tension, you got a much more carefree and playful Mal McHale, who wasn't name brand Mal McHale (TM).

@collette-richards

Second Course || Malette

[mal-mchale]

Mal let out a chuckle, "Sounds like a good idea to me. Although, I do think people like a little novelty. A lot of bakeries have their own little gimmick, at least, that's the sort of thing I've seen around London. I feel like as long as you don't go savory or use too much artificial flavoring or something, cupcake flavors are pretty forgiving."

She briefly wondered how the cupcake shop back home was doing, if her mum had been there recently, but that was neither here nor there. "Red velvet sounds nice though. Might have to get one myself." Maybe she'd get one for Maddy too, if she hadn't already been by the booth herself.

@it-is-your-destiny

Piece of Cake ~ [Open]

[mal-mchale]

NAME: Mallory "Mal" McHale

HOMETOWN: La Cuidad de Rosas

OCCUPATION: Blacksmith

YOUR WISH: To be a successful, renowned blacksmith in Rosas

WHAT YOU GAVE UP: The first horseshoe she ever made, which she considered lucky and what gave her hope through her apprenticeship.

YOUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE: The blacksmith is so well known and busy that there is very little downtime and Mal does not have much free time at all to do anything else but fill orders. A real wrench in her social life.

LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Loyalist

BIOGRAPHY:

All Mallory McHale wanted was to make her family proud. They all had been farmers and tradespeople, masters of their craft for one reason or another. All they wanted to do was to see her succeed at what she wanted.

So why not wish for it when you turn 18?

Mal gave up her most prized possession of her past, for a chance at her future.

The wish was granted, orders were being filled, business was booming, everything was great!

Until it wasn't.

The constant orders that came through made Mal work much longer hours than she'd ever dreamed of having, making finding anyone who could withstand her long nights at the forge and constant deals short in supply. Her family who supported her through it all grew tired of the constant excuses for not making it to family events and celebrations. The Forge needed to be tended to, she couldn't let it run cold.

Mal was happy, she was, but she was also deeply lonely.

Until she came along. A surprise to say the least. A woman who set Mal ablaze so hot she thought her metal would crumble, nerves of steel brittle and that layer of rust chipped away and shined like new.

It isn't clear how long they can continue meeting in secret while the suitors line up and orders keep knocking at her door, but Mal isn't ready to let this forge grow cold.

[mal-mchale]

Collette could say a lot of things, act a lot of ways, but what she couldn't hide was that blush that bloomed through her cheeks as she thought of her answer.

It was a broad question, could've been taken in plenty of ways. Some would spin it back around at her, some would morph it into a way to flirt, and some, like Collette, would actually open up and let Mal peek into their lives a bit. That last opinion was the one she'd been hoping would happen.

"I don't think I've ever wanted to sit in a tub of honey, but you do make it sound inviting." Mal teased gently in response, her own hand reaching for some fruit to chew on. "Definitely strike me as a luxurious bath kind of woman."

The planner bit though, she'd file that away in her little folder for Collette that seemed to grow with each conversation they had. "Do you use all of them? A planner for every subject?" She was curious, but truthfully, she found it pretty cute that Collette was so into organization. She added afterwards, fond smile growing on her face, she wasn't trying to make fun, just sort of where her mind went, "Do you have a planner to keep track of your planners?"

She leaned forward (albeit not in the smoothest manner due to her swimming in pillows), voice slightly hushed as if it were a secret, "Am I in your planners?"

And she realized in that moment, that she hoped she was.

@collette-richards

Second Course || Malette

[mal-mchale]