she'll kiss the sky before she's given up;

Every Character I Love: Felicity Smoak (DCU)

Goddamn it, Seth. 

If he paid more attention to what Owen was saying and less about trying to document everything via saphat (or whatever the hell the kids were using these days) then maybe he’d actually remember the important things. Like how Owen had explicitly told him nine times not to try to fix his sister’s porch step without him. 

He hadn’t listened. 

He’d made it worse. 

Both Natalie and Valerie were gone, so Owen had decided to take advantage of their absence and fix the step before they got home (and hopefully they would think it had been Will who had gotten to it and not him). He was pulling up the rotten wood (and the new piece that Seth had tried to instal himself) when he heard a car pull up. 

He turned, rapidly, expecting to see one of the Connors (or one of their no-good exes who liked to hang around) but instead … instead it was Cassie. 

He wanted to bolt, but there was no where he could go before she saw him. It might already be too late. It’d been years since they’d seen each other. They didn’t often run in the same circles, after she’d left him. He wasn’t ready to see her, now. Those last few moments replayed in his head: the ones when she had left him; the ones when she saw him for what he always had been: not good enough. 

He stood up straight, determined to face her as though nothing was wrong. He’d mastered this a long time ago, when his dad would berate him. As soon as she opened her car door, his armor went up. He didn’t let himself think about the past. He didn’t let himself think about how beautiful she was, just now, with the sunlight illuminating her golden curls. He didn’t let himself think about how he had had her once, and how he had lost her. 

She’d spent the day soothing and coddling, biting back snappy retorts as she threatened to tell the guests they were not actually right, but far from it. But those weren’t the kinds of remarks made by good managers. Instead, she’d evaded and soothed and bottled up all her anger. As a result? She was exhausted.

But a good manager’s work was never done. In her haste to leave, Natalie had forgotten her coat and Cassie had decided to just drop it by the house. It was, after all, on her way home.

Which is exactly how she found herself in front of the Connors home. But the man fixing the porch step, well, he wasn’t a Connors. Far from it.

The moment Cassie recognized Owen-- which, unfortunately, wasn’t until after he’d already seen her since when she’d pulled up, she’d been in the midst of an imaginary conversation with one of the more snappy guests from earlier in which she finally managed to tell him exactly what he could do with his comment card --she’d quickly tried to reason whether or not she could back out of there without stopping. Maybe she’d taken a wrong turn? Right into the Connors’ driveway? Oh, that would never work.

She’d have to face him.

That’s okay. She could do this. She hadn’t seen him since their breakup but isn’t time supposed to heal all wounds? All she had to do was put on her big girl panties and get out of the car. Get out of the car. Move your arm. Grab the handle. There you go. Now pull. PULL, CASSIE. There. Good. Now left leg out. And then the right. Good. There. Shut the door.

And then, she looked up. And caught sight of him staring at her. Her heart almost stopped then and there. He looked just the same. She could almost blink and be back in his arms again, everything forgotten.

And then he spoke. And the icy blade slashed through her heart as his harsh words broke through all her defenses. It wasn’t the same. It was never the same. She’d let him go. And now, it seemed, she’d have to prove she was fine without him.

Except she wasn’t. Maybe she’d never be.

“Oh,” was all she could think to say. She studied him, noticing the way time had made subtle changes here and there. His eyes were darker or maybe that was just the light. He looked older, almost worn like he was a boat that had been battered in a storm.

But he was still just as handsome as she remembered. And the butterflies still took flight, doing laps around her stomach at the mere sight of him.

She’d forgotten why she came. With a start, she remembered. “Natalie forgot her coat,” she said lamely. “I know it’s hot and everything but she might need it? It’s supposed to be colder tonight and it’s on my way so I thought I’d drop it by. But if she’s not here I can always give it to her tomorrow. Or I can call her? I knew I should’ve called before I just dropped by. But, like I said, it’s on my way. I thought I’d just drop by and give it back to her. But I’ll just give it to her tomorrow. Or I could leave it with you....”

Nope. Stop. You’re babbling now. Cassie, stop talking.

She came to an abrupt halt, realizing her mistake an instant too late. Why had she asked him for a favor? Why had she babbled? Now he’d know she was nervous. She only babbled like that when she was too nervous to sift through her thoughts properly. Instead, they all just came rushing out her mouth. Much like on their first date....

Tina, yeas, I think that is perfect, actually. With the starter Lizzy did for Owen and Cassie - perhaps, after that run-in is when Cassie comes to the bar and as she drinks she tells Birdie all about it. I think they probably know each other a little bit if Cassie has stopped by the bar before and maybe Birdie has just been uncharacteristically cold toward the girl. However, I’m sure her opinion of Cassie would change slightly if she hears her side of the story too.

So yes, I think this is good. We can either wait to start something with these two ladies after you and Lizzy role-play Owen and Cassie seeing each other again, OR we just have these two girls have a run-in in the mean time. Let me know:)

ANNIE YES THIS SOUNDS PERFECT!!! i can definitely see it being after the run-in with owen i’m currently writing with lizzy!!! that sounds AMAZING. and i think we could go ahead and start these two, tbh. we might not get to the details right away so that’ll give me time to figure them out with lizzy, haha.

I love that idea!!!! tbh I feel like kara probably got the manager position b/c she had been there the longest as a waitress and the current manager left suddenly or was fired and they were in panic mode when they promoted her and I think that she got some manager training, but it was rushed and basically she wasn’t really prepared for it and, I can see her going to Cassie for help in some situations!?!?!? Like “help how do you handle x???”

but anyway, i feel like cassie has been a manager for a lot longer than kara has and back when she was a manager (not kara’s but still one) I feel like kara was sooo intimidated by her and yeah, thought she needed to get a life and probs didn’t really talk to her much if she could help it, but then after a) owen and b) kara became a manager, she realized that cassie wasn’t so bad and then they became friends???

I can see them having started being friends after a manager’s meeting that kara came to late b/c she got lost and when she showed up she probably said something she meant to be funny/an ice breaker but it sounded really sexual or something and got the look of disapproval from their boss and then she def accidentally spilled her drink all over herself and possibly cassie, too, but then they went to the bathroom together to get cleaned up cassie made some comment to kara about how their boss can be an ass and not to worry about it and idk instant friends. okay wow that got out of hand bUT THIS OR SOMETHING LIKE IT???

OKAY BUT I LOVE ALL OF THAT. and, tbh, i feel like cassie was kind of boring back in the day and didn’t really go out of her way to make friends with ANYONE at the hotel. and after owen, i think she thought that she’d been right all along and she shouldn’t have relationships with people outside of work but, also, i think she saw that it might be better to have someone who has your back. so in some ways it made her stricter but it also mellowed her?? if that makes sense?

CASSANDRA “CASSIE” LLOYD / emily bett rickards

Relationships: (sister:) Rachel Lloyd, (best friends:) Karen Reid, Elaine Burrows,(former employee/ex-boyfriend:) Owen Selznick, (employees:) Natalie Connors, James Shaw

Age: 27 Occupation: Manager @ the Sheraton Hotel Description: Cassandra’s always been a serious workaholic who strives for nothing less for perfection. She can be intense and her employees feel a combination of fear and respect for her. She makes it clear that she is not their friend, but she’s a good boss who inspires the same kind of work that she expects out of herself. Her “no friends in the workplace” rule was thrown out the window, however, after she hired Owen Selznick. The two of them started dating and had a really good thing, until Cassie realized it was getting too serious for her and interfering with work. After that, she dumped him and he went back to being unemployed. Surprisingly, Cassandra really knows how to have a good time outside of work. She loves to let loose and party when she can. Cassie still wonders if she did the right thing in dumping Owen Selznick. Two years later and she still has feelings for him. But he seems to hate her and she knew that breaking up with him crushed him. Part of her wants to reach out to him again, but part of her realizes that it’s best if she just moves on. Will she ever be ready for a serious relationship? And won’t she just hurt him all over again?

so before owen happened, i think cassie was better about being friends with people outside of work but then after owen, she put that wall up and now she’s not quite as close to any of them?? so maybe natalie and cassie were pretty great friends before owen but after he left, it put a strain on their relationship? so maybe they’re still friends but not as close as they once were? and i don’t think cassie offered anyone a reason for her breakup, even owen??? so she was probably really vague about it and even more closed off?

Oh, yeah! I think they would def at least know each other. Valerie used to work at the pancake place that’s literally right across from the Sheraton and she used to bring Natalie food all the time.

Hmmm, as for how long Cassie & Owen dated? IDK? I feel like it wasn’t that long, b/c I see their relationship kinda taking them both by surprise by how fast it moved? So maybe only a couple of months?? I don’t think that Valerie ever got all of the details of the breakup b/c Owen’s not really a sharing kinda guy, but I do think that she could tell that he was hurt. Still, I think it’s obvious that Owen still carries a torch for Cassie and I think that Valerie might think that it was actually something Owen did to cause the breakup lol. So basically, idk that that would hurt whatever relationship they have/didn’t have haha.

I do also think, tho, that their relationship would be dictated by the kind of relationship Natalie/Cassie have, too?

the pocahontas is right across the street??? OH MAN. THIS IS RELEVANT TO MY INTERESTS BECAUSE NOW I FEEL LIKE ALL THE SHERATON PEEPS GO THERE REGULARLY.

.... anyway, oh! i totally feel you. i definitely think cassie was immediately super frightened and rAN FOR THE HILLS. so i would definitely agree it was probably only a couple of months. and i def could see owen not telling anyone about it. precious bby. he needs all the hugs <3333

but yeah! i feel like colin would def send all of the tourists who are looking for a place up to the sheraton (also he’d be a nerd like “yeah, tell the manager colin adams sent you” ~enjoys sounding important~ #facepalm

yes!!!! so yeah colin has been working at the mini golf since forever. i feel lik ehe started working there like his junior year of high school and never really left (like he should be at least the assistant manager by now but … he’s not. he’s too focused on his writing career to care about climbing the ladder at work tbh) but anyway, so he’s been working there for a really long time at this point, so that def should work! 

And oh my goodness. If people do say Colin sent them Cassie is probably like “oh he’s very important. What an honor for you to have met him.” And the people are probably like “???????? doesn’t he just work for the minigolf” But Cassie is totally solemn and won’t say anymore about it, hahaha.

i need to run this by lizzy, but i feel like birdie and owen have known each other for a bit, but they aren’t the type of friends who hang out all the time. what lizzy and i did decided is that owen basically ended up telling birdie everything over drinking, while she just listened. so birdie does know all the ins and outs of the relationship cassie and owen had. however, i think before the break up that these two probably got along real well and didn’t mind each other. i don’t think they went out of their way to hang out, though. 

BUT SORRY I’M AN IDIOT. And almost made you stop your comments, hahaha. Anyway, ahhh! Yes. Maybe these two actually knew each other at school?? Cassie was really smart and had great grades and was probably in all of the AP classes and such.