waiting

Cassandra Guard - 27 - Self-Defense Instructor - Echo Creek Species: Gifted Human Sexuality: Lesbian Pronouns: She/her Favorite Song: mad at god by Sarah Saint James Big Three: Aries sun, Capricorn moon, Scorpio rising

Cass’ temporary frustration with her philosophy was cut painfully short by her incredible deciphering of her mumbling. Rapunzel watched as she nearly spit out her eggs, only saving ruining her plate with a hefty sip of juice. She immediately felt a weight of guilt settle in her stomach, knowing that the explanation would be even harder than spilling the beans in the first place. “No!” she exclaimed, almost immediately as the words came out of her friend’s mouth. “No, we’re not a thing. Not even close. I’ve barely spoken to him since it happened,” Rapunzel admitted, sheepishly picking at her own plate.

“I–okay, well, he wasn’t supposed to come to the New Year’s thing at that club, right? I went with my friend, Dee Dee, and he just showed up, like, right before midnight. I mean, I don’t know when he came, but he found me right before then,” she explained. “I don’t really know what happened, but I kind of gave him a hug when it struck twelve, and I was kind of–what is it called, tipsy? I had some champagne to drink, and I was feeling a little woozy and confident, and I, um … went for it. I didn’t really think about it, it just happened, and then I apologized? I mean, I’m not sorry that it happened, necessarily, but I am sorry that it happened the way it did, and that I just dumped all of that on you right now. Please don’t hate me.”

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Barely spoken to him... Oh boy, take the awkwardness up a few more levels. Living with two people who weren’t speaking... Lovely. She assumed her usual listening position as Rapunzel started explaining further. All the while trying to eject her own feelings from the situation. And the more the conversation continued the harder it became. But what was she supposed to say? No I don’t hate you, I just think you could do way better than Flynn. Maybe someone like me. Definitely not.

Her gaze softened, “Raps... I could never hate you. I-I’m just... Processing. That’s a lot to take in, and I’m sure it’s even worse for the both of you. Do you have a plan? It seems like something the two of you need to talk about.” She takes another drink, “And I’m here to help you figure it out, or whatever you need. You’re my- you’re important to me. No matter what happens or has happened I’ll always be here.”

Raising a brow he didn’t so much as move his hand away. “If you’re watching that much , then perhaps your drink will come next and you can just wait it out. Doesn’t seem like you’re in a rush for much of anything else going on.” Shrugging he looked back down at the drink. “Sure if I was holding the door open for you, but I’m not. I’m collecting my drink.” 

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“Look... it’s kinda been a long night. What makes you think you need this drink right now? You can’t wait long enough for the bartender to make another?” But finally she moves her hand away, gaze narrowing. “You know what, forget it. You owe me.”

Celine was quick to shake her head. “If anything you could have been saving me from disappointment. I honestly don’t know how long that piece of candy has been camping out in my purse. Might not have been all that great, so hopefully the dusk bunnies enjoy a little treat.” The tone of her voice was all Celine needed to hear to nod her head softly. “Well, I have all the time in the world dear if you just need to vent it out and speak your thoughts.” Looking around with a small smile she hummed. “I”m doing pretty great as well. Now that the holiday rush is all over and I can breath again.” 

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Cass laughs quietly, “why do you keep that much stuff in your purse? Surely it weighs a ton.” Surely there were other things that were more important to keep. Then again... Chocolate was a good deterrent from a lot of other things. “The holidays are always bringing out the best and the worst in people. What did you do this year? Get any cool presents?” She paused for a moment, taking a breath. “But thank you. I just... I feel like so many things are changing this year.”

Quiet and uneventful. At least that made one of them. In stark contrast, Rapunzel had not only kissed her best friend and roommate, but Charlie had been acting incredibly strange. She knew she should tell Cass and Flynn more about him, in case he actually was out to hurt her, but something in her told her that she should trust him, and that her roommates would advise the exact opposite. In fact, she knew they would ban Rapunzel from ever going to Wonderland again, if they could help it.

“Um, yes, it can be. You know, when you say things are fine, but they’re actually kind of not,” she replied, as though it were obvious. Anything to avoid telling the truth. Taking a piece of toast, Rapunzel shoved it into her mouth, hoping that her words would be muffled enough that she could get away with spilling it between bites of food. Maybe Cass would hear something entirely different, but Rapunzel had been honest the whole time! “I kissed Flynn,” she blurted, her words clouded by her chewing but still clear enough to make out. “No big deal, everything’s cool! I told you. This toast is really good, by the way. It’s a new recipe, you like it?”

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“Sure, I suppose that’s a thing. But when you’re just pretending they’re okay that just means they aren’t, hence the fact that they...” She sighs. “You know what, I’ll let it go. Just this once for you.”

After knowing Raps for long enough she’s used to deciphering the gibberish that often comes from her mouth and though she has to listen hard the words still hit her ears. And boy it is the last thing she expects to hear. And as she shovels her egg into her mouth she instantly chokes on it, taking a long drink of orange juice after she gets it down. Hoping it will quell the pain in her throat and the look of heartbreak that is sure to appear on her face. “I’m sorry... What? I think my ears are broken. Flynn!? Are you two like... a thing?” And then something appears to click in her brain. “You... You kissed him first?”

closed starter for @inthewinqs​

Rapunzel was terrified to even look at Cass after accidentally kissing Flynn at midnight once the clock had struck into the New Year. She wasn’t even sure if she could call it an accident after wanting to do it for so long. All it had taken was some liquid courage and the idea of. a new beginning to get her there. She wasn’t sure whether to rip the bandaid, hide it, or wait for Flynn to be the one to tell her. There was no right or wrong answer, but after hardly sleeping on it for an entire night and avoiding her roommate like the plague on the first day of the year, Rapunzel knew when they sat down for dinner together that she couldn’t avoid the subject.

“How was your holiday?” she asked, starting simple. Rapunzel picked at her plate, knowing that she wasn’t going to be able to eat while the knot sat in her stomach, all the way up to her throat. “My night was, um, interesting. Pretty wild, actually. I mean, it was pretty fine up until the last few minutes before midnight! Actually, even those were okay,” she rambled, finally looking up to Cass, across from her. “I think I messed up.”

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Things had been... Weird. Now that Cassandra wasn’t actively avoiding everyone, things had seemed to turn around. Granted, she didn’t expect Flynn to take the initiative to talk to her. But here she was, sitting across from the girl she absolutely adored waiting for her to say anything. “It was fine, pretty quiet and uneventful. How did yours turn out?” Cass swallowed hard as Rapunzel started speaking again, pushing the last of her egg around the plate with her fork. But as the words kept coming out she set her fork back against the plate, eyeing her as the spoke, trying to keep the frown that was forming off of her face. “Raps, I hate to break it to you but things can’t be both not fine and okay at the same time. It just doesn’t work that way.” As they made eye contact her breath caught in her chest for a moment, “what happened?”

who: @inthewinqs​ where: the rapunzel/cass/flynn house

Ella never wanted to overstay her welcome, keeping to herself as much as she could while at the house. She did whatever she could to help like keep the kitchen sparkling and sweet treats in the tin on the counter. These were only small things but it was her silent way of thanking them for every day they continued to let her stay. Not that she hadn’t been looking for a place to work and live to begin her new life apart from the Tremaine name, it was just taking longer than she’d hoped. They’d called her back for another interview at the Lucky Cat Cafe and she thought they might bring her on to help with the kitchen side of things. From what it sounded like they could use more people and she had no problem washing dishes but Ella wouldn’t be complaining if they wanted her to bake instead. It had become something she was quite good at after all those years doing it for the Tremaine’s and she’d come to enjoy it. There were few things that could calm her the way baking and sewing did. “Excuse my mess,” she said as Cass entered the kitchen and she had a few bowls out as she mixed in another egg. “I’m making scones to bring into my second interview, which means I’ll need a taste tester once they’re done if you’re interested.”

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For Raps she had tried to be welcoming. But instead she had found herself out of the house more and more recently. It didn’t help that she was distracted with her own set of issues. But here she was, stepping into her kitchen realizing what she had been doing all this time. Avoiding, she had been avoiding facing this new figure... alone at least. “No, no...” Cass waved a hand, “well, no to the mess, I mean. I’ll help if you really need it but Raps is much better at that stuff.” She hopped up onto an unoccupied counter, tilting her head to get a view of Ella at work.  “Interview, huh? Are the scones to win points with the boss? Or are they testing your skills?”

[closed starter: @inthewinqs​]

When Cass walked into the room Pascal realized that he hadn’t talked to her since Ella had moved in. They actually hadn’t seen much of Cass recently- at all. He called out to her from his spot on the living room floor, back leaning against the couch. “Cass! I don’t see you for ONE second and our whole world has changed!” They jump up from the floor and jog over to the kitchen. “Maybe we should do a sparring lesson soon. Get out this bad energy.” Pascal finds himself at a loss of what to say to Cass. It’s been too long since he talked to her, but he second guessed himself before asking if she’s been alright. What if he oversteps? Then she never talks to him and is banned from the apartment, indefinitely. He blinks himself out of his thoughts and smiles warmly at Cass. “Or… we play a game. We take turns asking each other a question. Yes or no answers only.” 

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It feels like she’s been home maybe once in a blue moon. Or perhaps moonstone was a better word for it. She chuckled to herself, darting from her room to the kitchen for a drink. It’s only then she’d noticed - rather heard the visitor. Live in? Did Pascal live here too now? It wouldn’t surprise her. Wasn’t the house full enough with the new girl moving in? With a mouthful of water she stands there, nodding slowly along as he continues to talk. Finally she swallows, letting their words hang in the air for a few moments. A game. They aren’t her favorite thing in the world, but perhaps she could humor him just this once. Half a shrug rolling off of her shoulders she finally breaks the silence. “I think I can handle yes and no. But -”

Swirling a straw around his drink he laughed a little to himself. There were so many pranks or off things he could to tonight to make the year start on a good foot. The scratching under the surface wanted to come out, but he knew this wasn’t the time and place. Which just meant numbing it all down with whatever he could get his hands on. He didn’t expect a hand under his own thought when he reached out for the drink placed on the counter. Not moving he just turned his head to the other. “I’m pretty sure I was here first and that’s mine.” || @inthewinqs​

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New year, same old drinking habits. Was there really a better way to bring it in? It was sure to help her racing mind that was her new constant as of late. Though it only took a hand on hers to jolt her out of the cycle she had been running through. With a look of slight irritation she turned to face the intruder, debating whether to grip the drink tighter or drag her hand away. “I’m pretty sure we’ve been here the same amount of time, I tend to take notice of the people around. Does the phrase ‘ladies first’ not exist in your world?”

Having a child meant any purse you had came with toys, or snacks. It never failed, it was almost like it’s own little magic bag with the way it never ended. Even if Celine cleaned the bag out before leaving she’d find something. Today’s treasure just happened to be a few peanut butter cups. Which.. were always the best surprises to find when it was candy she was hoarding from Chip. Doing her best to not make a mess of any of the foil wrapper she hummed to herself, already thinking about the taste before she felt someone bump into her from behind, watching the chocolate roll under a table. With a long sigh she pulled it together to face the other. “Everything alright?” || @inthewinqs​

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Things had been a whirlwind recently. She just couldn’t get her brain to slow down, no matter how hard she tried. No matter how much training she did or how many lessons she gave. She felt herself growing distant, losing touch with those who mattered. And with her attention elsewhere, clearly, it was no wonder she found herself in such a predicament. With her eyes on her phone she barely recognized Celine as she knocked into her, eyes jumping from her phone to the chocolate. “Oh... Oh shit. Look, I’ll get you a new one that hasn’t been offered to the dust bunnies.” She smiled meekly, “things are great.” But her voice falls flat. “Here’s a better question. How are you?”