you're braver than you think

Haneul had been rearranging the lighting on one of the newer acquisitions when he noticed Odette in the gallery. She had very easily become one of his favourite visitors in Godscobh. It was the way she showed genuine appreciation for the arts, and actually seemed interested in what Haneul said when talking about the artworks. 

Haneul smoothed his emerald scarf and made his way over, a genuine smile on his lips. “Odette,” he greeted warmly, taking in her appearance, appreciating her style. “I was hoping you’d come by sometime this week. We just got a new piece I think you’ll enjoy,” he told her, with a little more excitement than he was meant to show when talking to guests at the gallery. 

“It’s not up yet, but you know, I’m not above giving you a VIP tour of the backroom whenever you have a moment,” he added with a wink. He wasn’t supposed to, but he would do it for his favourite people. The ones who saw the details most people rushed past in the artworks. 

“Have you been well? It’s been ages since I last saw you, it seems.” Haneul wasn’t the most social person himself, so not having run into Odette lately was probably more his fault than hers. “What have you been up to?” 

Tucking her hands into the pockets of her pale pink wool coat, she approached Haneul with a growing smile. "Hello, Haneul," she returned his greeting. He was maybe the person in Godscobh who understood her most, at least when it came to an appreciation for art. She found herself consistently in awe of him—his eye for artistry, the kind of work collected in his gallery, his impeccable fashion sense.

Fluttery excitement stirred in her stomach at the mention of a new piece. "Yes, please." The response came without her needing to think it over. "I have a moment now and I would absolutely love to."

It really had been ages, Odette so caught up in her work she hadn't given herself time to stop by the gallery, but she'd felt its absence in how mundane the rest of her life seemed without her visits, and she'd especially grown to miss her conversations with Haneul.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind lately," she said with a small laugh. "Lots of messes to clean up. But I've been managing alright. And I'm better now that I'm here!" She gestured around her with a flourish and a grin.

"What about you? I love that scarf, by the way. The color is beautiful."

"You know what? If we can pretend to be fancy people for one night, we can also pretend we don't live somewhere that's actively drowning us," Elinor huddled under the umbrella with their friend. Granted, Odette had more opportunities in her day-to-day life to put on something nice and hit the town, she was just a little too modest to make an event of it, "I don't want to this to be a complete bust anyways, I'm sure it'll just be a few minutes and we'll be sipping champagne any minute now."

"You're right. Tonight is all about pretending. We're in Old Hollywood. We're glamourous celebrities, leisurely enjoying a warm evening far away from any hint of rain." She craned her neck to peer over the line in front of them, where she could just make out the people slipping into the club's entrance. "And it looks like this line is starting to move faster, anyhow."

"Could you imagine? If I just hopped on a plane and ended up there overnight?" The red head sips her wine with a smug smirk beginning to grow, imagining the look on ex-friends faces if she showed up again. Unlike Odette, she'd probably revel in the drama, "I'd take you to all the experimental ballet-funk-hip-hop-fusion shows in West Hollywood. You'd fit right in too, tall, pretty. People might even have the decency to wait a week or two before suggesting you get Botox."

Her bashful smile at Harriet's compliment turned into a surprised bout of laughter, more full-bodied than usual thanks to her inebriated state. She waved her hand. "Eh, every time I get online, there's someone suggesting a round of Botox. Par for the course in a world terrified of women aging."

She smiled at Harriet over the rim of her glass as she took another sip. "You know, I wasn't serious, but now you're starting to convince me. Maybe we should just book a flight. Let the people here sort out their own messes for once."

"of course," carmine answered, a touch defensive in her tone. it was more reflex than anything else. she clutched the dishrag tighter, her knuckles turning white, before she loosened her grip and let go of some of that tension in her body.

"i don't have any reason to be unhappy," she answered, closing up a cookie bag that had somehow tumbled open, "isn't that enough?"

How was one supposed to feel about their job, anyway? Satisfied, because you were doing something important, something you knew you could do well? Or were you supposed to feel happy? Was it even possible, especially when it came to the kind of jobs Carmine and Odette had, ones tied to family and expectations?

"Yeah. It does make sense. I mean, I think I feel the same," she said softly. "Sorry if that came across as pushy," she added with a nervous laugh. "You don't seem unhappy to me or anything."

Thea doesn't get overwhelmed. She doesn't. She is organized and efficient with her time. She's always prepared.

Apparently though, something in the universe wanted to challenge her and provided this raid situation that's spiraled out of control. She'd signed off on the raid but only after seeing proposed plans and weighing possible outcomes. She'd thought she was prepared for this fall out.

And yet here she is, seeking peace and shelter in the Olympian Gardens away from the clusterfuck.

She'd finally felt herself relaxing when the voice come. Of course she can't get more time.

She takes a deep breath and looks up at Odette Callaway. Not the worst person to interrupt her but not someone she'd be fine with the interruption.

"It is beautiful," she agrees. "It's good to know we've allocated city funds to the right places."

She nods, maybe a tad too enthusiastically. "Yes! It's a great use of funds."

From Thea's demeanor, Odette's not sure if she should let the conversation lapse into awkward silence, or if she should make an effort. She's always admired Thea, and maybe this is finally the perfect opportunity to start a friendship.

"So, what brings you out here today?"

The thunder initially makes Sophia jump. She'd been so engrossed in the food and the conversation with Odette that she hadn't even realized that it had started to rain. And only once the thunder is shaking the restaurant and the lights are flickering on and off does she realize that they're caught in the thick of it. She had seen rain on the forecast this morning, but she hadn't paid it much mind. She didn't think it'd be this bad.

She laughs at herself for being so skittish over something as simple as the weather. It's childish, of course, but she can't help but tuck her feet up underneath herself on the booth she and Odette are seated at. It's not that she's really afraid of the storm, it just caught her off guard, startled her, so she'd like to recover a bit.

"Looks like we might be stuck here for a little while. I didn't bring an umbrella." She smiles as she says it, hoping that her heart will settle from the start it got. And hoping that everyone caught outside in the downpour finds a dry place to stay warm too.

She's growing a little tired of this particularly stormy winter, especially considering this isn't the first time this month that she's found herself in a restaurant during a storm, the threat of losing power looming with each flicker of the lights.

"I'm not even sure an umbrella would do much in this weather," she says with a dubious look at the rain coming down so hard it was creating a sheet of white outside.

But she doesn't want to focus on the scary weather outside, for both of their sakes, so she smiles and says, "Well, if we're both going to be stuck here for a while, I'm glad it's in good company. We're all the entertainment we need."

"Because I have been nothing but a bitch to you since the day we met?!" She fires back, the words spitting out of her involuntarily, hot and molten and burning from her mouth. Her tone is incredulous and full of complete and utter disbelief. How difficult was it to understand this simple fact? How hard was it to take the hint that, no matter how ugly of a person it made her, Hannah just couldn't stand Odette Callaway?

She takes a few steps back from her, only barely avoiding the debris on the floor, holding out her hands as if to show that she has nothing in them. She's grateful that they're the only two in the studio right now; the concept of any of her students having to see this was beyond mortifying. And all this over something as painfully simple as a broken figurine. Yes, it was just a stupid little decorative piece she kept in the lobby. But it was one of the first things she bought for this place, and the fact that the little pink ballerina was now shards of translucent glass on the floor was more upsetting than she realized.

She's being ridiculous and she knows it. It's just stuff. And Odette is trying to be helpful. The sweet girl is trying to fix things, even when it wasn't her fault that it fell. But that only incites further anger from Hannah. To be so... fucking... perfect. She grabs ahold of her hair to stymy the childish petulance.

"Because I don't have anything to offer you. Because you have everything and I have nothing. What the fuck do you have to gain from helping me?" She's being unfair again. And so mean. And she knows it. But she feels almost blind with envy. Odette Callaway didn't have to worry about a stupid little cheap figurine. Odette Callway barely had to worry about anything at all.

But as she looks at the shards of pink glass scattered across the floor and Hannah's growing distress, she recognizes that this is about more than her. She won't make this worse by getting upset in return. Instead, she takes a calming breath.

"Hannah, I'm not trying to gain anything from you. I don't expect anything from you. I can tell you're upset, and I just want to help. Please." It's not entirely true. She does want something from Hannah: for her to like her, but she won't admit that out loud.

"Oh god," Harriet rubbed her temples, already feeling the aches grow in her bones from the oncoming storm, "I hope the power doesn't go out, it'll be a nightmare getting home."

It would already be a nightmare, considering the dinner invitation with Odette included a nice, relaxing bottle of wine that was slowly emptying itself beside their table. Harriet didn't usually let herself get a wine buzz while out and about ( she had an image to maintain, of course ), but it was nice spending time with Odette after she'd helped so much in the press. And lord knows Odette needed a night to blow off a little stress too; the red head sort of liked seeing the usually pristine woman get a little looser and have fun.

"One day, I'll take you out the LA bistros. The people there can't drive in the rain like this, but the food makes up for it."

@swanprncess

"Please! We should just take a plane there tomorrow. I'm getting a little tired of the weather here. And all the drama. Maybe it's time for a vacation."

Odette wasn't actually one for spontaneity, or shirking responsibilities, but it was a nice thought: that they could abandon the wreckage from recent events, escape the miserably cold and rainy weather for somewhere warmer and sunnier, and spend a few days just relaxing and eating good food.

Adam's taken to coming to the theater again and finding people who would appreciate it to come with him. Reconnecting with Odette made her the obvious choice for such outings and so here they are, box seats watching the show

He smiles at her reaction as the curtain closes for intermission, the applause quieting to the hum of conversation and shuffling.

"Well, I only have vague memories of this place but it does seem to be in better shape than it was. Did they renovate it recently?"

She's so glad she's found someone who appreciates this experience, too, and she turns to Adam with an elated smile at his response. She's been following the renovation process, even chipping in with the fundraising, so she's thrilled to have a chance to talk about it.

"Yes, they did! It's been quite the long and meticulous process. They wanted to make sure every decision was about restoring it to its former glory, not modernizing it." She points above them. "You see those gold-leafed arches? Artists had to hand recreate all of those intricate stencil patterns. It's absolutely incredible, the detail and artistry that went into every inch of this place."