the last capellan augur

kind gestures || accepting

♣ wiping away tears

“It’s okay- it’s okay, love. I’m here,” Cassandra said, sitting up in bed as Shen clung to her. Shen explained the nightmare in a rush- there was fire, then she was cut open, bleeding, and there was a man screaming her name.

…Cassandra knew what she’d dreamt of. But she didn’t want to tell the amnesiac woman just what had happened…perhaps keeping it just a nightmare would be kinder.

She cupped Shen’s face gently with both hands, and wiped her tears away with her thumbs. With a comforting smile, Cassandra whispered softly, "There’s no fire, no one’s going to hurt you…I’m here. I’ll protect you.”

”Yeah, but why me?” Splinter said, pushing the subject farther than he likely would’ve in any other situation “I’m not particularly handsome, or well off, or interesting… I mean except for the memory loss, but you didn’t always know about that. And you… you’re so smart and beautiful and charming and-” He paused abruptly as he stepped outside the bar and was faced with a light downpour.           Initially he wore a contented expression when he found himself in the midst of the bad weather. He always enjoyed rain, even sober, but his opinion on the matter changed when he noticed Cassandra’s disappointed tone.

“Oh! … oh here-…”           Having no problem getting a little wet himself Splinter began dizzily fumbling to free himself from his coat. When it was finally off he motioned like he was going to hold it over Cassandra’s head to shield her, but then he remembered how much taller she was than him.

Giving a meek little chuckle, he simply held the coat out to her instead. “This will keep you dry. And don’t worry, a little rain will help sober me up”

Cassandra’s blush contrasted with her concerned expression. “I think you’re handsome,” she said bluntly. “You’re funny, and smart, and so sweet and kind...I feel comfortable around you in a way I don’t with other people, and you have the most beautiful voice. I...”

The words ‘I love you’ caught in her throat- she was getting carried away again. She could go on all day, but again...he didn’t remember. Instead, she stopped herself, and shoved her hands in her pockets. 

“Oh- you don’t have to...” Cassandra started, when he started to take off his jacket. It wasn’t keeping dry she was worried about- she could do that all on her own. But she couldn’t very well say that, and she didn’t want to turn him down either...

“Thank you,” she said, taking his jacket with a soft smile. She wrapped it around her shoulders instead of using it like an umbrella- she didn’t mind the feel of rain, honestly. 

As they began their walk to the bus stop, Cassandra’s vision went blue, but rather than being an indicator of immediate danger, it was intentional. It was easier to shift into double vision rather than looking for far flung possibilities, and at this point, it was probably more accurate as well. 

♛ a GHOST of a smirk filtered across RED LIPS at hellions words, taking a small step forward, gripping her sword FIRMLY . ❝          touche. we’ll see how PREPARED you are, my dear ..            ❞ she murmured, bolting forward. 

will little else but a maniac grin, hellion charges to meet vivi. cold STEEL met cold ICE, hellion’s swings erratic but powerful- what she lacked in skill, she made up for in BRUTE STRENGTH.

‘what if i fuckin want to’

it’s not like she can really scold them for swearing, most of them got it from her. but...

♛ ❝          i can be BOTH at once. i may be icy but that doesn’t mean i’m not smart && can’t spot clues, halcyon ..            ❞ she muttered, holding an object in her hands with a small frown.

“true,” halcyon admits, placing the clue in a plastic bag- she’d dust it later for fingerprints. “but i have to say, i much prefer it when you’re not a jackass.”

♛ ❝         is that a SWORD ; what is wrong with you hellion ..        ❞ she uttered, clicking her tongue as she conjured a sword made of ICE.

Endings || Accepting

WE ALL FALL DOWN- No one is safe in the end of my muse’s story. Everyone important to the story has perished. This can include your muse or not.

There was no disappearing. Cassandra was always conscious, always aware of what Atlas was doing. 

Atlas wanted her to see what she was doing. 

Brooklyn was the first. Brooklyn, who Cassandra had promised her grandmother she would protect. Brooklyn, who kept secret Cassandra and Dulcie’s crime to protect her sister. Brooklyn, who greeted Cassandra with a punch to the face upon their reunion.

Atlas slammed Brooklyn’s head against a wall until her skull cracked and her brain bled. 

Keandra was next. Kind, caring Keandra who’d been at Cassandra’s side her whole life, and who knew her better than almost anyone else. Keandra, who believed in Cassandra even when he couldn’t bring himself to believe in anyone else. 

Atlas slit his throat with a piece of shattered glass, then dumped his body at the feet of the Pyrrite Queen who called him her brother.

Then came Jayjay and Owl, who’d found the courage to ask Cassandra if they could change their names to Jaylyn and Owlyn only four years earlier. Jaylyn and Owlyn, Cassandra’s eldest daughters. Jaylyn and Owlyn, who Cassandra loved with all her heart.

Atlas ripped off their wings, then ripped out their hearts.

Then...then came Dulcie, who had already suffered so much at the hands of Atlas. Dulcie, who had lost nearly twenty years of her life in her struggle with Atlas. Dulcie, who had only had three years with the love of her life- Dulcie, who would have made such a beautiful bride. 

Atlas granted her a quick death. She snapped Dulcie’s neck.

Cassandra had seen all of this, knew what her hands were being forced to do. Every death made her scream louder, fight back harder, dredging up strength she did not knew she had left in her to take back her body.

It wasn’t enough.

Last of all was Paola. Paola, who never, ever stopped believing in Cassandra. Who loved Cassandra with every fiber of her being. Who knew Cassandra would hate what she’d become, and as such, tried to destroy Atlas...while she was still in Cassandra’s body.

Every piece of Paola was so thoroughly destroyed that the stubborn soul that had clung to the mechanical body was destroyed as well. 

Paola....Paola’s death sealed Cassandra’s fate. The Capellan gave up entirely- what point was there, when everyone she’d ever loved was gone? The second she let down her guard, the second she stopped fighting, Atlas swarmed around her and snuffed out that vibrant, loving soul.

Splinter looked over at Cassandra as she made her offer. His expression was curious at first, like he was trying to put together what she’d said before he softened into a smile.               “I’d… I’d like that. If it’s no trouble of course.”                  Straightening up, Splinter regained his balance to the best of his ability before moving in the direction of the door, swaying a little but ultimately staying upright.

“Honestly Cassandra, you’re always so nice to me,” he said after a moment of silence, weakened inhibitions allowing him to speak his thoughts a bit more openly  “ever since we met you’ve been looking out for me and-            I don’t know if I’ve told you this, but with my memory problems it’s really meant the world to me… you being here I mean.”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to,” Cassandra said gently.

She stayed close to him, wondering if she should try to help him out- link their arms or something- but ultimately decided against it. He seemed to be doing fine on his own.  

She couldn’t help the soft smile that lit up her face when he spoke again. 

“Well...you mean a lot to me,” Cassandra said honestly. “Being your friend, visiting you at work...it really brightens up my day. So of course I’ll look out for you.”

When they got to the door, Cassandra noticed something that made her stomach drop. “It’s raining,” she said with a sigh. “At least it’s not raining hard.”

        her hands are sweaty as she rubs them on her jeans- she’s no good at this, at any of this, but she wants to be. she wants to good at all of this for her, even if it’s only ever one sided. 

        she can live without being loved. she has been for so long. but living without loving? hellion doesn’t want to go back to that way of living. 

                 “thank you,” she says, eyes averted, voice soft. “for your help tonight.”

        it’s selfish to ask this of her, but even if vivi never loves her hellion still wants to be around her...despite all her changes, hellion is still just as selfish as before. 

“well, it’s not like i can just leave you here,” hellion says, picking up the other capellan bridal style. hellion knows the foot’s headquarters better than anyone on the outside, except for maybe karai. when she’d heard they’d taken vivi…she couldn’t stand by and let that happen.