✧ — ⋆ the universe is shifting

guidelines ✧ muses ✧ wanted plots ✧ wanted opposites ✧ starters

long hours left jude more removed than he'd hoped to be with tala's schooling, and it was a thorn in his side that he hadn't met the person who seemed to have enraptured her with their daily lessons and planned activities. it seemed, at least from the constant stream of chatter that he'd had to listen to, that they were truly something. maybe though, tala was just easily impressed, and the infatuation that had captured her was something that would fade within another month when the start of her school-year was no longer as fresh and shiny. but he was grateful that the impression they'd left so far was a wholly positive one - better to start out the year on a good note than one that felt like an uphill battle. whatever the case, he doubted he'd be as charmed, and jude was grateful that he'd been able to set aside the time to finally have the chance to garner his own impression of tala's teacher rather than rely entirely upon second-hand intel. "it's good to meet you - i feel like you've become rather infamous in my home." his hand extended in greeting, eyes accessing as he took in their form. "i'm jude - tala's dad."

summer sun lit up the boardwalk, mixing with the bright hues of rides and tourists and shops, sparking against the waves until they seemed to shimmer with each lick against the shore. all in all, a perfect day. waving the photo-strip in her hand, tessa's lips quirked up in a grin, "do you think we nailed it, or do you want a re-do? because... dare i say so, but i think we look stunning." for once, there wasn't a plan in tessa's mind, no carefully curated schedule to adhere to. simply the sea-breeze in her hair, the taste of cotton candy on her tongue, and a giddiness that felt unfamiliar but entirely welcome. maybe it was their company, maybe the heat of the day was getting to her, whatever it was, it made her want to cling onto it rather than let it fade away. "that ring toss is calling my name... do you think i'll have any luck? or maybe we could try our hand at bumper cars?"

time had always been theo's worst enemy, simply not enough of it when there was so much more of the world left to explore. but for a moment it had seemed to stop still, lost in a haze of something that felt less like a casual fling and more like a relationship that could actually mean something. maybe that should have been the warning sign he'd missed, a reminder to leave before it could sink it's teeth into him and hurt in the way he was always keen to avoid. after all, if he didn't stick around - he wouldn't get attached, wouldn't leave behind anything that mattered, wouldn't struggle to separate himself when the next opportunity came knocking. and they always did. no point to put down roots when he'd settled for a career that asked him to have none. which was how he found himself at their door, heart a little heavier than he was used to. "i've got a new spotlight i'm supposed to work on. it's for national geographic and they want me to fly out in a week or so." no point in darting around the truth, although he leaves out the part about having looked into local photography, interviewing with the paper in town just to see if he could perhaps have some more time here.

the dress clung against her skin, the tight fit of fabric unfamiliar even if not entirely unwelcome. lyra preferred comfortable - or what others might classify as practical - but sometimes she did put the effort into dressing up, although she doubted that the effect was what it might be on someone else - someone more confident, more at ease in their own skin. "remind me again why we're going out?" was there a hint to the whine in her tone? maybe. lyra wouldn't deny that, but it was tempting to stick around at home rather than go out and risk the embarrassment that so often seemed to come with it. "it's the same story every time - you'll find someone to hook up with or slide into your dms because... well who wouldn't want a piece of you? and i'll be stuck stumbling on my words, doing my best not to become the human equivalent of a tomato." a touch dramatic, but she doubted her words would land if they were more soft-spoken - and here, in the comfort of familiar surroundings and around a person she trusted - it was easy to be entirely herself without overthinking the whole situation. something she wished was true outside of her apartment, but had failed to become a reality.

people looked their best during weddings - maybe that was only natural. decked out in their very finest dresses and suits, hours spent prepping hair and makeup. but that didn't excuse how her gaze lingered, skirting over the other's body in an appreciation that wasn't solely due to the clothes she often so admired. it'd been years since she'd seen them last - she herself had been scraggily and unkempt, a half-formed version of the woman she'd grown into, but they'd turned magnetic, and although her gaze should have settled on their sister - a vision in white, calliope hadn't quite managed to focus. she's tempted to draw her gaze away as their eyes meet, but there's a buzz running through her veins and the liquid courage only the feeling of being lonely at a wedding can bring - and she finds herself drifting towards them instead. "did you pick this out yourself?" a note of teasing glimmers in her voice, accompanied by a smile to soften what she hopes isn't taken the wrong way, "because i don't remember you having this good of taste back in high school."