promises oceans deep

while tessa might not be fully sold on the excitement that the first game of the season had brought, even she could appreciate the fresh wave of hockey-mania that had filled the town. no doubt it wouldn't die out anytime soon, and she'd almost gotten used to the obsession that people had with the sport. truly, it was a feat to witness, even just the moves the blue hounds were pulling as their practice rolled to a close impressive - and tessa doubted that was only because of her own inability to balance and swing a stick simultaneously while on ice. "i think i missed you at the game a few days ago. although in all honesty, i'm much more excited to see you and the blue hounds on the rink. i know you're going to kill it this season." a bright, encouraging smile lit up her features as she greeted kai. "do you feel prepared? because... not to put pressure on you or anything - i already have some killer victory party ideas."

quite often, tessa found herself exhausted after a day at work. wanting nothing more than to curl up on her couch, no people in sight - maybe a glass of wine and a book in hand or a favorite movie on play. but there were other days when going out, having a drink amongst friends ( or strangers ) was equally appealing, and on those she typically found herself at nicolette's after sam had acquired it, the antiquated interior slowly taking shape into something more appealing than when she'd first moved to montrouge. with the rush of holiday parties and events dying down now that a new year was upon them, tessa had found herself missing the crowd of people and chatter of voices. although perhaps not the act of overseeing an entire event to make sure it ran smoothly, and as she entered the familiar space, she made her way over to the first friendly face she saw ( who admittedly was also capable of pouring a very delicious cocktail. ) "were you working new year's? because i swear - i am wiped out and the year's barely started. it felt like people were going wild at st. agnes - although maybe that's the case every year and i'm just overestimating the chaos."

bundled up and racing home in an attempt to escape the chill that felt almost oppressive now that winter had truly settled in, she'd almost missed the figure sitting in the window of the silver spoon, hunched over a laptop and glowering at the screen. while it wasn't a familiar sight, tessa had the sneaking suspicion that it might not be entirely unfamiliar to astrid - and that maybe a month ago she might've been found in the same position, just in england. needless to say, it felt like a quick detour was necessary, if only to rescue a potential new friend from a look she was sure she sometimes had when staring at a schedule or a request that felt impossible to solve. times when she herself often wished for someone to distract her, if only so her mind could stop dwelling on what she was focused on, and perhaps she'd come up with a solution whenever she returned to it. stepping inside the diner, tessa took the seat opposite to astrid with a warm smile. "i believe it might be time i rescue you from your laptop - it looks like you're having a staring contest and losing. is the editing not going well?"

while years had passed since his own divorce papers had been signed, the memory of what it felt like when it had been fresh lingered. the feeling of searching for someone who was no longer beside you, of a loneliness that was different from the one felt when a marriage was still simply falling apart - and maybe it was different depending on circumstance, but he had to imagine it was hard all the same, especially during the holidays when so much seemed to be family-centric. it left him checking in on millie, perhaps more often than he might've done otherwise. although he enjoyed supporting his friends and seeing what they were up to, and always liked visiting the art gallery, a place so different from his own line of work, that it barely felt like he was doing anything at all. "have you got some new artists in? i don't remember seeing these the last time i came." his eyes squinted, trying his best to read the vision the artist was attempting to convey, even though his ability to interpret was sorely lacking and after a moment longer he turned towards millie, holding out a coffee. "i thought i'd stop by and bring you a boost of caffeine, since i haven't seen you all year. have you been getting off to a good start?"

since the school's production of the nutcracker for christmas, nicolas had heard little else than countless renditions about the show. while he wasn't sure if it was the tutus and visions of people leaping around in magical costumes that had ensnared sofía's heart, or an actual love of dance, it didn't really matter. even if the infatuation only lasted for a couple of months, he'd promised to always indulge the little girl's hobbies and support her in every road she wanted to go down. it'd taken some tracking down - a run in with the production's art coordinator pointing him pippa's direction and he'd been relieved when they'd agreed to meet with him. "my niece is obsessed with you. you're practically a celebrity in our household." he said by way of greeting, a hand reaching out as he introduced himself. "thanks for coming - i'm nicolas rojas - sofía's uncle. i watched a couple of the practices but i don't think we got a chance to meet." there was something familiar about the woman, a faint recognition that didn't want to place itself, but he supposed in a town as small as montrogue that wasn't surprising.

the slow-ease back into real life that seemed to have overtaken most of montrouge could not be found in the hospital - the same hustle that he'd grown accustomed to over the years greeting him as nicolas stepped through the familiar doors. illness and accidents didn't take a day off, and although he was a bit early, there was the familiar temptation to make his way straight to the trauma center and get a head-start. but instead nicolas made a brief detour, stopping by the department that he likely visited the most frequently outside his normal rotation, although typically as a concerned parent more than anything else. with a sharp knock on cordelia's door, he made his way into her office. "i promise i'm not coming to bother you about sofía. she's been kept bundled up and miraculously survived without catching any stray cold. probably thanks to that flu-shot you gave her." a smile crept on the corner of his lips, taking in the paperwork and notes that took over cordelia's workspace. "i hope you managed to take some time off for the holidays?"

he'd never normally consider himself the sentimental sort - his house was ordered, work-station sanitized, no room for frivolous clutter. but some things had changed, and almost 6 years into living in montrouge had left him with a house that was slowly becoming overcrowded. boxes of toys and clothes that sofía had outgrown, a garage with packed away containers he hadn't brought himself to open since he'd gone through his brother's home and packed up the pieces, those little knick-knacks that you acquired through simply living. likely an afternoon worth of cleaning things out wouldn't make much of an impact, but the start of the new year had left nicolas craving a bit more order. "pretty sure it was unfair of me to bribe you with tea for this - even if i have yet to fully understand the obsession." he greeted declan with a smile, gesturing for him to step inside. "it might not be spring yet, but i figured the new year's just a good a time as any to start getting rid of some of these old things. maybe i can donate some for the thrift market?" the prospect of going through even some of the boxes had seemed daunting, and when declan had offered his company, nicolas had been grateful for the idea of having moral support ( and likely a fellow parent who could advise him on what childhood artifacts were important to keep and which would only be thrown out in a few years time anyways. ) "did you manage to have a good start of the year?"

do  you  know  TESSA MARIN  ?  she  is  that  EVENT PLANNER  that  works  at  ST. AGNES  …  no  ?  really  ?  i  hear  they  are  responsible  and  gracious  but  i’ve  also  seen  them  being  reserved  and  meticulous.  they  have  been  around  town  for  TEN  of  their  THIRTY-THREE  years  of  age,  and  whenever  i  see  them,  i  am  reminded  of  a binder crammed to the brink with notes, details scribbled in the margins, and sticky notes with reminders plastered over pages + heels clutched in hand as the party ends + a lifetime of keeping the peace, watching others, and trying to curate happiness.  they  even  look  like  that  GRETA ONIEOGOU  and  i  remember  hearing  history of man by maisie peters  blaring  out  of  their  earphones  that  one  time.  do  you  know  who  i’m  talking  about  now  ?

do  you  know  NICOLAS ROJAS  ?  he  is  that  TRAUMA SURGEON  that  works  at  ST. LAURENTIUS  …  no  ?  really  ?  i  hear  they  are  assertive  and  resourceful  but  i’ve  also  seen  them  being  rigid  and  calculating.  they  have  been  around  town  for  SIX  of  their  FOURTY-FIVE  years  of  age,  and  whenever  i  see  them,  i  am  reminded  of  a longing for home that never quite feels fulfilled no matter all your accomplishments + traces of blood that linger and haunt long past any physical evidence has been cleaned away + echoes of a child's laughter that promise an unsteady peace .  they  even  look  like  that  SANTIAGO CABRERA  and  i  remember  hearing  butchered tongue by hozier  blaring  out  of  their  earphones  that  one  time.  do  you  know  who  i’m  talking  about  now  ?