#euceleste

VED: hey, celeste?

VED: it's me, ved.

VED: i sent you...something. did you get it?

          his  head  feels  clearer  than  it  has  since  before  halloween  (  thanks  entirely  to  a  stay  in  hecate  housing  and  subsequent  three  hour  phone  call  with  his  mother  ),  but  despite  sun’s  best  efforts  at  fighting  through  the  brewing  clouds  there’s  still  lingering  tiredness  that  dulls  usual  enthusiasm  such  a  visit  would  normally  bring.

          that,  and  how  he’s  painfully  aware  of  the  silence  since  his  return,  unanswered  messages  from  both  celeste  and  izak  an  uncharacteristic  cause  for  concern.   steeling  himself,  hand  raises  to  heavy  door  knocker,  the  sound  it  makes  echoing  inside  a  toll  that  only  heightens  his  apprehension.

          ❛   so  i  heard  a  rumour              ❜   there’s  no  greeting,  no  warning  to  his  sudden  invasion  of  her  space,  drink  set  down  and  leg  crossed  over  thigh  in  the  spare  seat  as  if  he’d  been  there  all  along,    ❛              that  you’re  dating  boy  wonder.   so  does  that  make  you  girl  wonder,  or  does  that  not  count  considering,  y’know...   ❜

          two  fingers  crawl  along  the  precipice  of  cup  lid,  while  the  other  palm  mimics  an  explosion   (   with  added  sound   ),  hand  celeste  toppling  off  the  side.   the  grin  he  gives  afterwards  is  innocent  enough,  but  there’s  a  sharpness  to  it  that  tells  of  history  etched  in  their  bloodlines,  in  a  rivalry  shared  between  parents  and  their  children  that  extends  to  the  two  at  the  table.

the alert had caught him at home, half-considering an early end to the night now that his main company was occupied elsewhere. but, the moment jasper learns of the fire, he’s up and out the door with his phone to his ear, ringing celeste’s number. 

he’d like to think that the group -- and man -- he’d left her with would take good care of her, but there’s no guarantee and he would never forgive himself if something happened after he’d left. so, he sets out a path quickly, sighing when he gets her voicemail for the second or third time. this time, he decides to leave a message, just in case she checks her phone during the chaos. “’ey cel -- just saw the news about the fire and am headin’ back to the house to check on ya. let me know if you’re all good, okay?” 

          it’s  as  he’s  making  a  beeline  for  familiar  copse  of  trees  to  sit  and  have  lunch  that  samson  spots  her  and  his  course  immediately  shifts  direction,  the  smile  on  his  face  one  of  genuine  warmth  at  celeste’s  presence  ;  their  friendship  had  blossomed  in  the  months  they’d  taken  to  working  on  the  injuries  caused  by  zeus  together,  and  he’s  come  to  enjoy  her  company  outside  of  the  professional  setting  of  being  her  healer. 

          ❛   hey             ❜   headphones  come  to  rest  around  his  neck  as  he  calls  out,  halting  a  few  feet  away  with  a  small  wave  in  order  to  grab  her  attention,   ❛   this  seat  taken  ?   ❜