Ice Queen

While what had happened that night had hurt Remi, she had understood why it happened. It was a lot to take in. Who thought their ex would wind up being behind kidnappings? Most people wouldn’t want to hear the other side when they learn something like that. “Lyra, you forget I know you, okay,” she said gently. “I knew you’d never seriously hurt me. You were just upset. It was better to just let you get it out than combat you with my flames. That wouldn’t have done any good.” Honestly, black flames at the party? That could lead to a giant disaster. Plus, she didn’t need to give the people of the isle anymore of a reason to be afraid of her.

“I wouldn’t have invited you if it wasn’t,” she reassured. Thinking of being in Icaria’s holding cells made her wince. Not because it was entirely unpleasant, but because the stress around what the mayor would do was chaotic. It definitely frayed her nerves. “I’m glad I’m out too. Now we just have to wait to see what punishment the council gives out,” she said with a shrug. The dancer moved towards her couch, sat down, and then patted the space next to her. “Come here.”

“I suppose, you know me too well.” The blonde replied as she pressed her lips together into a line, and in that moment she missed her best friend more than ever. The two had once been so close, nothing hidden between the two of them, and now - things just seemed so strained, so tense, and she really didn’t like it at all. She wanted her friend back, and in that moment, she promised herself that she would do anything to get back to that point in Remi’s life.

“We won’t let them do anything to you, you know that, right?” Lyra spoke, her eyes on Remi, trying to prove the sincerity of her words. “I’m sure that there is a large part fo the island community who will stand behind you, and won’t let anything happen. We love you, you know. You and your siblings, you have us all.” She smiled, before taking a few small, and tentative steps towards the sofa, and perched down opposite the red-head. “Well, most of us, anyway.”

Noreen raised an eyebrow and snorted a laugh, “Of course she told me, she’s my best friend.” the fact that Lyra thought she wouldn’t know about – well any part of what happened between Remi and Lyra was downright laughable. She was the first to know about their breakup, was told rather quickly what happened after being dropped back into the real world and had always been the one to listen and quietly help Remi through the past 5 years. “I would never just run away from people I care about.” she paused, smirking, “You telling me there are times where you’re in the mood for someone pointing out when you’ve been an asshole?” She asked raising one arm from it’s crossed position so she was cradling it with her hand and flippantly waved it. “I can be nice.” She smiled, the icyness melting from her posture and tone to a more chipper, but somewhat – odd happiness. “How have you been?”

“Of course you wouldn’t. You have no damage at all, and would never let your emotions run you.” Lyra muttered under her breath, before watching the smile don the woman’s face. Instantly, the blonde took a step back and felt her face screw up into a scowl, shaking her head. “No actually, I don’t think that. I prefer your distain being evident on your face, not this creepy smile.” She spoke, gesturing to the woman’s face. “My brother is back now, that’s what matters. I’ll be fine. How was it being trapped away in a void for years?”

There were many people Remi would have expected at her door besides her ex girlfriend. She’d hurt Lyra badly, and she didn’t think she’d have the blonde seeking her out anytime soon. “I — I’m not scared of you Lyra,” she promised as she reached out for the woman’s hand and gently tugged her inside her apartment. There was no way she was going to have that conversation out in the hallway of her apartment complex. “I don’t think you’d ever come here to hurt me. You’ve never intentionally hurt me before. Even when you found out, I could always get out of your ice if I wanted to. You know that.” The whole black flames power of hers combated Lyra’s abilities quite well. They’d never actively used their powers against one another, but Remi knew she could get out of just about anything her ex threw at her. She just never felt in danger enough to do so.

“You don’t have to apologize to me,” she said with a hint of confusion in her voice. “I was part of kidnapping your brother. I didn’t actively do it, but I knew where he was. I’m aware of the pain it caused you. You being angry at me is natural.” Remi didn’t expect or want pity for what she had to do. It was a contract she’d signed long ago. The moment she accepted Nyx’s help, she knew she’d pay back her debt one day. Although, she had no idea how many people she’d have to hurt that she loved and cared for. “Do you want to stay for a bit? I mean, you’ve always been more than just my ex girlfriend, Lyra. I don’t know if we can ever be best friends again, but I do love you and want you to be okay.”

Lyra was surprised when Remi reached out and pulled her into the apartment, having never thought that she would be near her again after the way that their last conversation had gone. She stayed quiet as the red-head explained that she wasn’t scared of her, and she nodded slowly. “I know, I just... you didn’t, and you could have done, to get out. I shouldn’t have used my powers on you in the first place, that’s not what we do, or how we do things. I just let my emotions get the better of me, as I always do.” She took in a deep breath and stepped in closer to Remi, reaching out and taking her hand once again, giving it a soft squeeze.

“Yeah, I... I’d like to stay, if that’s okay? It took a lot to actually come here, so leaving straight away would be a bit counterproductive, don’t you think?” Lyra let a short and soft laugh leave her lips, attempting to try and lighten the mood. “I love you too, always will do.” She replied softly, removing he fingers from the others now and letting her hand fall back down by her side. “I hated the idea of you being locked up. I’m glad you’re out now.” 

“Oh, well people can always be better on this isle when their feet and lower body don’t get iced to the ground because of psycho ex.” She said between sips, it was still that sickeningly sweet tone. Such a damn lie.  Was it a low blow? Sure, maybe. Did Noreen feel bad about it? Not one bit.  She chuckled, “Oh you know, living in purgatory for the past five years, real interesting place honestly. Got to do a lot. But I wouldn’t expect you to realize I vanished. It’s not like we had talked since you broke Remi’s heart and dipped in the middle of the night.” she shrugged.

“Of course she told you.” Lyra muttered under her breathe as she shifted a little in her position, really wishing that she hadn’t made her way over to the brunette in the first place. She had known it wasn’t going to be a nice conversation. “You were one of the kidnapped? Right, that makes sense, why you’ve not be around.” She spoke softly, before letting a short huff leave her lips. “Are you just going to make pointed little digs at me for this whole conversation? Because honestly, I’m not in the mood for it. I’ll just go if you’re planning to be a bitch for the next half hour.”

It had been a slow day at the shop today so Lachlan was eating his take out when he heard the bell ring when someone walked in. When he looked up to see his older sister he smiled and continued to eat. He was glad he didn’t have to put it down. “You don’t have to get me a wedding present.” He told Lyra giving her a smile. “Not a waffle maker I’ll try to use it and burn the house down.” Lachlan had one talent with food and that was ice cream and sweets. If it had to do with anything he couldn’t handle it. “I did want to ask you something though.” He offered her one of his egg rolls while he ate the other. He had been rather nervous to ask Lyra this for awhile and maybe this was the right time. 

“As far as kids go, they’re not the worst.” Nelly admitted. “But they’re toddlers and that can be a lot to handle. Some days they drive me up the wall. Calliope is a force to be reckoned with that’s for sure.” Once she had started walking there was no more peace in the Wallace house. Nelly squeezed back on Lyra’s hands. “Good, there’s no where else I’d rather be.” She assured with a soft smile. “Just take time, maybe you won’t. But you can’t hold onto all those negative feelings forever, not because of her, but for yourself.”

“I don’t know how you do it, you know.” Lyra replied, shifting a little on the sofa so that she could pull her legs up underneath herself. “Kids, I mean. I can’t imagine having tiny beings to look after, as well as looking after myself and a full time job. You’re superwoman.” She was beginning to feel a little chilly, so pulled the blanket off of the back of the sofa too, and threw it across the two of them - if she was beginning to feel the cold, Nelly had to be too. “I know, I just... no, there’s nothing I can say to that. You’re right, of course. It’s just hard, y’know? It’d be like if you had known where he was and hid it from me, with the added emotions of being an ex.”

Lyra stood outside the door to Remi’s apartment, and she was pretty sure the woman inside would be able to hear how loud her heart was beating. She licked her lips to wet them a bit as her hand hovered over the door, and she took in a deep breathe, as if willing herself to knock. She’d probably been standing there for a good ten minutes before her hand finally rapped on the door, and she started to speak as soon as it swung open. “I’ve come to apologise. Not to hurt you, or scream at you or anything like that. I got your letter and I just-- I wanted to say I’m sorry for the way I reacted.”

Raising her gaze from the floor, she finally caught the eye of her ex girlfriend and took in another shaky breathe. “I’m really sorry, Remi.”

@obscuritas-est-lux​

Luke couldn’t help but let out a bellowing laugh at the woman’s reaction once he realized what was happening. He’d just gotten off of work, and must have forgotten to take his badge off when he got to the park. Holly was off doing her usual business of exploring and bothering the squirrel population, which left Luke to his own devices. He’d seen the woman having the picnic and his curiosity had gotten the better of him when he stopped to ask what she was having. “Grape juice, hu?” he spoke, recovering from his laugh. “Well lucky for you i’m off duty. Also as long as you’re not- you know, streaking through the park or causing a scene of some kind, I don’t think anyone will have a problem with your… grape juice,” he smirked. At her offer he considered it, “Only if you don’t mind the company, of course. My previous company seems to have left me for the chunky grey squirrel over there,” he teased, pointing about a 100 yards away where Holly was chasing it up a tree.”

“By all means, feel free.” Lyra felt herself relax as the policeman explained that he was off duty, and she sunk back against the bench a little, a smile toying on her lips. “I don’t think I should drink all the grape juice myself anyway, or the streaking might happen.” She joked playfully, offering the bottle over to him. She had a straw in it, she was classy of course, so all he would have to do is remove the straw to take a sip. Her eyes were drawn over to the dog that was barking up at what she assumed was the squirrel in the tree, and a short chuckle left her lips. “Cute dog. The squirrels on the island though are too smart, I think, for her to get them. They’re some oddly intelligent breed.”

Noreen had just gotten her coffee when she heard an eerily familiar voice. One she hadn’t heard in ages. One she had done the best to avoid despite living on the same isle. She sucked in a breath plastered on a fake smile and turned, coffee in hand, to look at Lyra. “Lyra.” She said, almost nice-sounding but with a hint of pure anger. “I heard an icy heart lived on the isle. Didn’t realize it was you.” She said cocking her head to one side with a smirk. She took a sip of the coffee and raised her eyebrows. “How are you?”

Well that was deserved, that was for sure. Lyra bit down on her lip for a moment, deciding not to bite back at the woman, it just wasn’t worth it at this point. Noreen disliked her, and that wasn’t going to change any time soon. “I’m all right. I mean, as all right as anyone can be on this island. What about you, it’s been a long time.”

@divine-conquer​

@luciferpens​

“I really didn’t know until I came back this last time and when Lachlan wasn’t around I didn’t want to drop in on you when you were hurting so bad. It was better to be here as your cousin than to add any more misery to you.” Not that Aisling thought either of her cousins would care that they were biologically half-siblings as well. Her dad had hid it not to hurt them specifically, that was something she knew without a doubt. “Okay good, I was so worried you’d hate me when I didn’t know. I just hope when Lachlan gets back he’s alright with it too. Not that I think he won’t be. It’s Lachlan, he’s alright with nearly everything.” She missed him and she knew that Lyra did as well. Aisling refused to believe that he wouldn’t come back soon and this nightmare would be over. “I feel so much better now that you know.”

Nelly snorted, looking around at the mess Lyra had left. “I suppose I can help you out, but you’ll owe me. I expect free babysitting in the future.” She chuckled. “I mean that sounds like a plan to me. The outside world is lame anyway.” She reached over to pat Lyra’s leg. “I’m sorry, hun. We don’t always know people as much as we think we do.”

“Ugh, I know, it’s a tip. Too much going on.” Lyra sighed, and she then nodded, forcing a small smile onto her lips. “You got a deal, you know I love the girls. It’s a win win for me.” She teased the smile instantly faltering though as she twisted on the sofa, turning to face Nelly properly. “I just... I don’t trust easily, but always thought she would be someone I could rely on.”