fast and flighty

PINTEREST | MUSINGS | INTRO | TASKS

[ DA’VINCHI, HE/HIM, CIS MAN ]  —  [ CEDRICK CHANDLER ]  is a grandchild of  [ HERMES & EROS ]  with the power of  [ ENHANCED SPEED & WING MANIFESTATION ] .  they were born in  [ 1998 ]  and have been in nemean lion since  [ 2016 ] .  with the change, they [ ARE TRAINING IN ]  the  [ HERO ]  role which makes sense since they’re usually  [ LIFTING WEIGHTS OR TEACHING YOUNGER NEMEAN LION KIDS SPORTS ] .  if you’d like to meet them try the  [ SUN ]  building .  

“No I don’t.” She wanted to sound hurt or show any sort of emotion, to show Ricki that he was wrong. But it was her lips kept in a tight line and never changing tone that only proved the other to be right. She truly hated it here. She inhaled and slowly exhaled, giving herself time to decide on what to say. An internal battle of admitting that she was wrong and that she didn’t mean it, that she was s*rry for hurting his feelings in that moment, in general honestly. But there was her other side, the part of her that always won and it was the side that ruined everything between the two. It was the part of her that screamed fuck you and not my problem, the part of her that erased the word s*rry from her dictionary, and the part of that caused her to shut down on Ricki when they were getting too close. And it was the part of her that almost won in this very moment, but Alphonsine, being the absolute angel she was(n’t) went down another route. “It was a joke, obviously,” she said, letting out a puff of laughter. It was awkward, though, she was just like that when it came to jokes. “Like I said, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just… playing around.” She furrowed her eyebrows and scrunched her nose, disgusted at her own awkwardness at trying to play something off. It wasn’t an apology but she wasn’t pushing away. Not really. “So… are you going to dance or just stand there all night?” 

Ricki huffs a laugh. He can’t tell it's sarcastic because of how she couldn’t even prove him wrong, or if it’s prideful because he was able to call her on it -- know her like that. Either way, it’s tail-ended by a sip of his drink. He’s at the point he always gets to eventually, when one or the other (usually her) has done something to spoil it and he has to decide when to walk away. Luckily for Alphonsine, Ricki always lingers a little longer than he concludes. Somehow, it’s like he’s always giving her a little extra time to change her mind without even realizing. She never does. Until — “A joke?” His inner thought comes out immediately, surprised and confused. She lets out that weird ass laugh and now they’re both just standing there, awkward, as she tries to explain herself using words that haven’t matched up with her in his head for months. A joke. I didn’t mean it. Playing around. I didn’t mean it. He scans her, quiet, trying to figure out if she’s forreal or not. Kinda wants to sniff her cup, see what she’s been drinking, or call her bluff. But he’s himself, and she’s her, so the corner of his lip curls. “You crack jokes now?” He teases. Something endearing about the way her nose scrunches, kinda hard to be mad. Forgets what they were even going on about. “I dunno Alphonsine, don’t think you ready for me.” His shoulders pop, hands raising to slide him back a little, but that infamous grin sprouts when the chorus rolls around. He’ll dance for her, if she’ll let him. But he’s Big about it, makes it a whole production, and he wore fresh kicks to the ball so it’s easier to slide when he’s dancing around her. Worst part about Ricki is he knows he’s got rhythm, he’s a good fucking dancer, which makes him confident when he trails her in a circle. Back to back, side to side, even looks over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of her until he can face her again. 

If she had kept her mouth shut, maybe the two of them would be dancing right. Maybe, Alphonsine would be able to enjoy herself and not like a stick in the mud. This would’ve been a rare opportunity for Alphonsine to dance with someone, especially when that person was Ricki. A rare interaction that would’ve been filled with laughter, smiles, and closeness. The concept sounded nice and probably would have been until she kept talking. Ricki was closer than ever to her, Alphonsine going rigid because of it… until he stepped back, his entire mood changing in a blink of an eye. “Gods, are you seriously–” She pinched the bridge of her nose. It wasn’t like she said that and truly meant it, it was supposed to be a joke. But jokes were supposed to be funny for everyone involved, and not only that, the idea of leaving Ricki for someone else was still a sore spot. When will he get over that bullshit? She thought to herself, arms folding over her chest. “I don’t understand why you’re so upset about what I said, it’s not like I meant it literally.” 

There was a brief period where Alphonsine didn’t get so rigid around him. He hasn’t been this close to her in a minute but he’s practically forgotten when it used to be okay, when the laughing was mutual and not from one or the other. Sucks he can’t even fully enjoy being in her space, what with the way she’s looking at him. He’s also wondering when he’ll get over that bullshit. Sometimes he doesn’t even know if he’s still into her, or if he just wants her to admit it wasn’t one sided. He didn’t think he was coming off that upset and so he tries to play it off, be chill, even shrugs his shoulders. Ricki’s not really a serious guy and Alphonsine knows this but she always has him tight, knows how to irritate him. “I’m s’pposed to know what you mean? You say everything in the same damn tone.” Tries to play it off like a playful drag but yeah, maybe it does show, maybe he is upset. “I ain’t a mind reader, Alphonsine. Say what you mean.” 

you’re insane!!!! AND YOU DIDN’T DO MUCH AND YET!!! INSANITY!!! “Obviously,” she said. “I’ll keep to my promise, Cedrick–” He didn’t trust her and she knew why, though she was too stubborn to absolutely understand why. As if she’ll ever admit to anything, much less to being in the wrong about something. “Just trust me and dance, Gods. If not, I’ll just find someone else.” 

He’s got reasons not to believe her, and even though he knows they’re talking about something stupid - dancing - something about her saying I’ll keep to my promise makes him wanna test her. Cedrick. Can’t help but laugh at that, breathy and short. But he’s thinkin’ he’s gonna dance for her anyway ‘cause that’s the thing about Cedrick, even when he’s fucking with her, part of him’s still holding out. He smiles bright when the next track plays, something fun, and steps a little closer to her. He’s confident; he’s a good fucking dancer. But then that last bit hits. I’ll just find someone else. He stops, suddenly not in the mood for laughing. Hits him again that he doesn’t really matter all that much to her. Why’s that got him feeling so stupid? “It’s that easy, huh?” He nods from his height above her. “One minute you about it and the next, I could be anybody.” Doesn’t even say it like a question, he knows what it is. 

She narrowed her eyes. By now, Alphonsine would’ve walked away, no longer wasting her time on the other. But she was slightly drunk and feeling a bit… nice this evening. “Nor do I,” she said, as a weak counter. The two wanted the other person to dance but refused to give into each other’s demands, how stubborn they both were. “How about this… You dance first and I’ll maybe do the same. Just to prove you wrong of course.” 

He’s a little surprised she’s still talking to him, considering their last conversation and the fact that they’re spitting bull, but he’s not complaining. He can’t remember the last time he’s had her this long at a party. He almost asks if she dances for a price, too, but catches himself. Laughs about it like an idiot. Considers it a second time just so he can see her make that expression she always does when she’s mad, the one where her nose does that little thing, you know? Whatever man, you gotta see for yourself. “You propositioning me?” He quirks an eyebrow, amused. He don’t like the sound of that ‘maybe’. “That ain’t fair, though. How am I supposed to know if I can trust you?” He already took a chance on her once. Look where that got them. 

“Stiff?” She laughed, forced, short, and loud. “I think you’re confusing me for another red head.” Because obviously he wasn’t talking about her ( though, he was right because she was stiff, too much of a buzzkill ). “I said that I didn’t want to dance with you, you can still dance. If you can dance.” 

Ricki lets out a breathy laugh and hums. “Hm. I might be.” He shrugs. It’s not really her business anymore how many red heads he’s got in his line of view. “You could prove me wrong though.” Hopes some booty bouncing music plays and she’s feeling daring. He’s laughing, has been this whole time, drunk enough for that to almost sound like she wants to see him dance. “Nuh-uh.” He grins. “I don’t dance for free.” But he would for a price.

“Oh I can,” she said, like a liar. “I just choose not to.” The only time she danced with anyone, it was with Bleu in the comfort of their apartment. As if she could dance in a public space like this, much less with Cedrick Chandler. “Can you even dance?” 

He’s a little tipsy so he was naturally laughing from the jump, but there’s a genuine rumble that pours out of him. A smile he can’t wipe. She’s cute when she’s cocky, but especially when he knows she’s bluffing. “Now we know your stiff ass cannot dance.” But he’d like to see it. He’ll instigate as long as she lets him. Thinks he’ll do anything with her as long as she let’s him. (Which, notoriously, isn’t long). “I got rhythm but you just said you ain’t wanna see it.” 

LOCATION && WITH WHOM : : THE PARTY W / @aerialcedrick·

“If you’re looking for a dance partner, I recommend looking elsewhere because I’m not interested. Especially not with you.”

Ricki’s not gonna act like he wasn’t peeping her throughout the night, but when she acts like that he can’t help but laugh out loud. She’s wild. “Don’t act like you can dance.” 

“i’m, like, so good.”  she clinks back a little too aggressively. it’s more of a clunk, really.  “i’m the good-est person here, actually, and you can quote me on that. could a not good person do this?”  juni’s hands move up to twinkle with effect but nothing comes out and the immediate rage that fills her almost makes her lash out in response. luckily, she pulls it back at just spills her drink in a wide arc on ricki’s pants.  “oh. that was there already, by the way. i think you just missed it the first time.”

Ricki’s taken aback by her clunk, makes a face and doesn’t even try to hide it, something akin to THIS. “Who am I quoting you to?” He’s asking genuinely, like, when is this gonna be relevant? He already forgot what he asked her. Ricki’s gaze waits with anticipation, and he’s still waiting, staring at the same spot in the air when he feels the cold liquid hit his leg. He jumps back, “Now what the hell?” Not good-est person behavior, in his goddamn humble opinion. But then he thinks, damn, maybe her good act was helping him find the spill. “Ah, shit, good looking out. Think anybody here got one of those stain cleaning powers?” 

ricki  //  @aerialcedrick·

“fuck! i mean, shit, no. i mean. sorry. i didn’t see you there,”  juniper apologizes in the most polite voice she can muster. this is how normal people talk. gods, what she wouldn’t do to just fist bump so he’d know it was all vibes. but she’s trying to blend in and not get mad for no good reason so she smiles wanly.  “i didn’t get anything on you, did i?”

Ricki’s so tipsy he wouldn’t have even noticed someone bumped into him had Juniper not immediately spiraled into apologies. “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” He says in slow motion. “You good, truly.” But then his brows knit, dunno why it took her three times to say whoops when she could’ve said nothing. “I mean...you good? ...Truly?” He clinks his glass to hers. Don’t know why, just felt right. “Ah fuck, did you?” He looks down at himself, rubbing his hand down his shirt, looking for something that’s probably not there.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” She could hear the shift in his voice, how soft it was compared to before. It was always like that. One minute he was being an ass then the next thing he was switching it up on her. And every single time it made Alphonsine nauseous. She wanted to believe that it was out of disgust, and she really forced herself to think like that, but she knew better. It made her nauseous because of the guilt. It made her sick to her core. She hated this feeling so much. “I did nothing wrong and we both know this.” Because in her perfect little world, Alphonsine never did anything wrong. Ever. She took the wrench, ready to put it back into her bag before she paused, looking at him with narrowed eyes. If she wanted, all she had to do was picture a new shape for her wrench. Maybe something with a longer handle that could hit him without Alphonsine having to move an inch. But she doesn’t, she just looked away from him and down at her bag. “No, it’s because I don’t want to ruin my stuff. Especially on someone like you.” Scrap metal would be better to use but she didn’t have any with her, nor did she any around her. 

Typical response. He practically heard it in her voice before she said it out loud, and that makes him smirk. It reminds him that he knew her once, even a little, even if she tried to fight it. “You don’t listen to nobody anyway.” He replies indifferently with a careless shrug. Ricki never expects to win any argument against Alphonsine but that doesn’t stop him from picking them, which says a lot more about him than it does about her. At her next line, Ricki doesn’t know if they’re still talking about the tools anymore, but knowing Alphonsine she won’t admit to it if they aren’t. “Don’t tell me what I know.” He mirrors her. He says it lightly but he let’s it sit between them for a moment, too. Alphonsine might’ve had a lot of issues with Ricki but that was his biggest issue with her; she tried to act like what he knew to be true had never been the case. It made him feel crazy, but she’s always been good at making him feel a little crazy. He waits, cocks an eyebrow to see if she’ll really do something, and when she looks away his expression softens. Sometimes he wishes he understood her. Just kinda wants it to make sense. The brief satisfaction in her not fighting him fades at her final comment. “Someone like me?” He bites, pushing his weight up to stand again. He tries not to act stung but he’s bad at it. “Psh.” He can’t help but look away. “Your horse high as hell with no damn ground to stand on. You need to get over yourself...forreal.” He backs up, ready to bounce. He’s tight!

She could only roll her eyes because if she did anything else, she might get in trouble. And Alphonsine was trying really hard to be on her best behavior right now. “Yeah because you knocked into me.” Alphonsine always made sure to take care of her tools, she learned that from her grandfather. And because this was her first set that she bought with her own money, they were extremely important to her. So to have someone like Ricki who didn’t seem to care one bit, all of this was a joke to him. Out of everyone you should know how important this means to me, she thought to herself, words that she couldn’t say out loud. Words that held some feelings to them, baggage from the past. Baggage that she’ll never pick up. Instead, she picked up her tools, putting each piece back into her bag and avoiding all eye contact with the other. “Watch it before I hit you with this.” Bolts sat in her hands, not exactly a weapon but with powers she could make it into something. When he crouched down, Alphonsine went rigid for half a second, eyes flickering up to look at him. “I would be pissed if you didn’t help me seeing that it was your fault this happened.” 

“Aye, be careful...” He sounds genuine, voice softer than the taunting he threw her way moments prior, but that dangerous smirk pokes into his cheeks -- “roll your eyes too hard they might roll outta your head.” If that was the truth then at this point Alphonsine would be blind, but he figures she kind of already is since he’s standing right here and she’s always looking past him. Never quite at him. Not the way he looks at her, at least. “Maybe you knocked into me. Shit can’t be your fault, too?” He shrugs, unfazed, and by now already moving towards her to help her. Doesn’t mean for it to sound loaded, he’s mostly joking and there’s no malice in his voice, but it’s not like that was never an issue between the two of them. Apparently, not an issue Ricki minded enough to stop coming around, but one he tells himself to justify why shit went south between them. Right now Ricki’s glad he’s got great thighs, strong motherfuckers, his bodyweight resting on his toes as he tries to hand her one of the tools he picks up. He’s not attentive enough to notice her tighten, especially not when she’s always like that around him nowadays. He’s too busy noticing the way her tools feel in his palm, finger running down the side of the metal, thinking ‘bout how she was probably using them just this morning. Been a long time since he’s been this close to her. Might have to knock shit out her hand more often. She threatens him and he huffs a laugh, finally looks away from the wrench and back at her, handing it over, waiting for her to take it. “You not gonna do shit ‘cause you a punk.” He teases, lips pursing playfully, but he’s a little scared of her. Thinks she might do it, too, thinks she probably will, and he’s alright with that. They fight about nothing anyway, at least now they might have some beef they can put a name to. “You would be pissed either way.” 

She was without Bleu today, the tiny robot staying in her apartment to watch whatever children’s show was on. Was it My Little Pony or Paw Patrol, Alphonsine couldn’t remember. All she knew was that her robot loved it and wouldn’t budge from the couch if it was on. So she left him at home, not like she really needed him. She was able to do today’s orders on her own. On her way to the Forge, her attention was entirely on her phone in one hand as her other hand held on tightly to her tool box. It should’ve been a normal day for her, well, until he showed up. Luckily, her phone didn’t go fly from her hand but her toolbox did and that killed her more than anything else. “Are you fucking serious?” Alphonsine whipped around, eyes falling on the other. “You did that on purpose.” Fuck his warning. “Don’t try to blame me for this. You were the one who crashed into me,” she said with the roll of her eyes, bending down to pick up her toolbox. “Heroes these days, always crashing into people. How can we trust you to save others when you’re all like this?” 

It’s lowkey wrong the way his lips twitch into a smile the minute she’s cursing at him. He knows they both know he did it on purpose but what about it? It’s not like Ricki’s ever hid his motives with her, in fact, he always tried his best to be upfront with Alphonsine. Figured she was someone who would respect that, no bullshit. Maybe that’s why he goes out of his way to fuck around with her so much now, knows she’ll hate it. “Never, why, what’s up?” He taunts, coolly nodding his head at the ground where her tools sprawl out in the sun. “You dropped something.” Her hostility doesn’t bring down his mood. Sometimes it doesn’t really matter what she says to him because she looks so pretty when she says it. “I warned you. Maybe you should have better reflexes, shit. All that sitting around rubbing metal, you not quick enough on your feet.” If she’s going to come at the heroes, yeah, he’ll call the tech students lazy, whether he believes it or not. But regardless of having it out for Al, Ricki never really wants to see her mad, just borderline frustrated. When he bends over his expression softens a little, and he stops whimsically jogging in place to crouch and pick up a wrench. “Bet, let me help then.” Good deed or possible recipe for disaster.