It’d been a few months since Vivienne had been at the park; she’d spent Christmas alone by choice. It was her family’s favorite holiday and Viv just wasn’t feeling up to par about it. In the midst of her moping, her phone rang. Cody was on the other side, inviting her to a New Years Eve party. She’d turned him down at first, but he was persistent on making her have a good time. About twenty minutes later, he showed up at her door. 

Once she was ready, they headed off to where the party was located. Cody eagerly grabbed her hand and dragged her forward. Soon, they were dancing and letting loose. Not long after, Cody wandered off to find Abasi, leaving Viv alone. It didn’t bother her since Melisande was there, along with just about everybody else in the park. But she’d stuck by Mel’s side nonetheless until it was about ten minutes to countdown. 

It was another endlessly rainy evening and Melisande was cooped up in Cody’s apartment with a bottle of rose, popcorn, Cody- obviously- and some comic books. She had long ago decided DC was not for her- that whole Joker and Harley Quinn relationship was far too iffy and it had put her off the whole thing- and so was reading something with Captain America in it.

She liked Steve Rogers because he was pretty and full of patriotism and such. Not that she could identify with the latter, but it was still a good attribute, she thought. Though like most men in her life he was far too old for her anyway. 

Even Cody probably was, despite the fact that he acted a bit like a teenage boy sometimes- she’d call the comic books a prime example but didn’t want to criticize since they were quite entertaining. 

But that was besides the point, it was nice here in the warm apartment with a little bit of wine in the system and something not too taxing to read. It felt quiet and magical and mundane all at once. 

When it came time for Melisande to head back to her own apartment to go to sleep, she left with a few more comics tucked under her arm. Or she was leaving, but she lingered in the doorway to say something had had been on her mind for a while.

“By the way, thank you... Y’know, for the comics obviously but uh...” Melisande laughed nervously, noting how the usually musical sound seemed breathless and uncertain like it had escaped without her planning it. She could sing until she was blue in the face but actually expressing emotions was not a strong point- she was so used to having to conceal them, her subconscious had long associated an almost robotic attitude with safety. Safety from the clan, from the people who thought she was too strange to keep around. It was easier just to hide, to  ignore it all.

So now here she stood in a doorway trying to tell her dumb friend that she really appreciated his dumb company and perhaps it was corny but she felt he deserved to hear it at least once and maybe this was the only time she’d be brave- and tipsy- enough to say it. 

“And also thanks for taking me seriously.” Melisande finally managed to start with, barreling on before she could start to feel an idiot. “I know I’m young and I was kinda sheltered and all, but everyone seems to think that means I’m just a... Just some vapid singing fish. And everyone thinks I’m arrogant- I maintain that I’m not, just confident- and they associate that with this coldness and meanness and I like to think I’m pretty kind and-”