Pinecone Projectile (10) : A strange anomaly has befallen Destiny City. Ordinarily, a falling pine cone would hardly be worth noticing; there are plenty of them littering the city on a daily basis. However, recently some of these pine cones are causing a bit of noise. Scientists are blaming some bacteria in the trees natural sap as being responsible, but some pine cones are falling to the ground and making loud crackling, popping sounds–or worse, exploding upon contact. As if the sound of small explosives aren’t enough, some reports even claim to have witnessed sparks and small fires. You’d better be careful when walking around any areas with trees–and definitely don’t start throwing these just to see what happens!
The chilled winter air bit at Meoldy’s cheeks as she pushed open the stage door and stepped into the theater parking lot. Her breath puffed in clouds before her as she tightened her coat around her, tugging her scarf up to cover her nose.
It was late - again.
The long hours of preparing for The Nutcracker always pushed the design teams to their limits, but this season felt especially grueling. Maybe it was the unrelenting cold since heaters were prohibited in certain areas backstage because they were a fire hazard if left on for too long. Or maybe it was Cameron’s incessant nitpicking in the set design area that had made today feel like three days rolled into one.
Either way, she felt more tired than usual and it was only Tuesday.
She rubbed at her temples, the weight of the day pressing heavily on her shoulders. Cameron’s voice still echoed in her ears - condescending, smug, and infuriatingly persistent. He’d questioned her placement of the snow scene flats, argued about lighting that someone else was adjusting, and even had the audacity to suggest she “smile more” after she refused to humor his latest jest.
It was as if he was determined to make her job as unbearable as possible. However, she did manage a smirk. But, it was more at the idea of Harvey decking him again rather than what Cameron had said.
Melody inhaled deeply, her exhale lingering in the frigid night air.
Despite it all, the stage was beginning to come alive. The sets were nearly finished, and she could already imagine how the theater would glow when the lights dimmed, the music playing as the crowd hushed, and dancers twirled across the stage in outfits she had helped design to fit each of the performers. That thought alone was enough to keep her going.
Ahead, lights flickered to life, the warm glow cutting through the dark parking lot. Harvey. His car was idling near the edge of the lot, and just seeing the familiar silhouette of him in the driver’s seat made her heart ache in a way that was both comforting and a little sad. She could picture the soft smile waiting for her, the way he seemed to know exactly when she’d need to decompress without saying a word which also made her feel a bit guilty knowing that he had also had a long day.
Dragging her tired feet across the asphalt, she opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, letting the warmth engulf her. The tension in her shoulders loosened just enough for her to unwind the scarf from around her neck and settle the folds of fabric in her lap.
Melody knew the day before that she wouldn’t have the energy to prepare food when she got home and did not have an opportunity to go to the store to put something in the crockpot to cook all day. So she’d invited Harvey to go out for dinner, that she’d pay if he’d be willing to pick her up, and now more than ever she was glad he’d agreed.
She leaned her head back against the seat, her lavender eyes fluttering shut for a moment as she let out a long sigh.
“After this production is over,” she murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and hope, “I think I’m going to take a vacation. Something different… not just a short visit to my Wonder.” Her lips twitched into a faint, tired smile. Beautiful as it was, the silence was often welcome, but a bed and breakfast somewhere off in another state sounded like a better getaway.
Maybe a break wouldn’t solve everything, but it would be a good start.
its_ p a o
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2024 7:47 pm
Harvey had found himself stretched pretty thin between the myriad of projects he’d taken on to help with the extra expenses that always came with the holidays. He did this every year, and was used to the increased stress levels and decreased number of hours of sleep, but he wasn’t one to complain about it. Not when he could picture the smile on his loved ones’ faces when they opened up their presents. It was something he very privately looked forward to every holiday season, and probably the only person who knew to look at him while someone opened his gift for them was Melody.
Who, despite the fact that they lived together, he found he’d been missing quite a bit recently. Between their busy schedules for the holidays, they hadn’t spent as much time together as they normally did. It wasn’t so bad that he thought he needed to really comment on it–he had a feeling things would go back to normal before long–but he felt it. So when she invited him out for dinner, tired as he knew he would be, it was a no-brainer. He even left a bit early, so by the time he parked at the thear’s lot there was still a half hour before he knew Mel would come out. The man wound up dozing off, thankfully stirring just as she stepped outside.
He turned the car on, and glanced over when she eventually slid into the passenger’s seat, smiling the usual small, soft smile in greeting as she made herself comfortable.
“Yeah?” he asked, waiting for her to buckle up before putting the car into reverse. “Thinking somewhere tropical to get away from the cold? Or some cozy winter wonderland that’s just not here in the city?”
Slhanyume
itspao_
Witty Punching Bag
Offline
Shanyume
Anxious Friend
Offline
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2024 3:55 am
Melody buckled her seatbelt and held her hands in front of the heaters. Although she hadn’t been outside long enough for her fingers to become frigid, the warmth spread over her palms, and she let out a contented sigh.
She hummed thoughtfully as she considered the two options. “You know,” she said, glancing at Harvey, “sometimes just being in the car with you feels like a getaway.” Her eyes flicked back to the window as he shifted the car into reverse and backed out of the parking spot.
“Somewhere tropical sounds tempting though. Sunshine, beaches, and drinks with little umbrellas.” A small laugh escaped her. Drinking wasn’t normal for her, but she'd make an exception for a vacation like that. “Though… I don’t think I’ve packed for a swimsuit weather trip in forever.” However, she kept one in her subspace pocket for the occasional wonder visit to the sandy shore on Einhornhöhle.
Her lips curled into a teasing smile as she turned toward him. “A cozy winter wonderland though- that’s got potential. A lakeside cabin in the mountains, or a place near ski slopes.” Not that she knew how to ski or snowboard, but that was what instructors and bunny hills were for, right? “Bonus points if there’s a fireplace with cocoa or smores and, I don’t know, a cheesy jigsaw puzzle waiting for us to finish.”
She reached over, nudging his shoulder gently. “As long as I’m with you, I would be happy with either option. But, if you’ve got a preference, I’d like to know your thoughts.”
xxits_ p a o
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 6:50 pm
”You’re probably the only person in the world that feels like that when I’m around,” he said with a light chuckle. It was a well-established fact that he was far from personable with the general public, and the only exceptions were the three women he had in his life–his mom, his daughter, and Mel. “Everyone probably thinks my being around is some level of hell on earth.”
Honestly, he could hardly blame them. Not that he cared what they all thought, anyway, so the idea of changing for their benefit was, to him, ridiculous.
He pulled them out of the parking lot soon enough, glancing over as she laughed. Immediately his mood lightened, and he found himself slightly more energized. He'd always enjoyed the sound of her laugh. And then she nudged him, and he let out another little chuckle, his smile widening however slightly. “You know, you don’t need to butter me up for me to wanna go on a vacation with you, right?” he said, teasing slightly in turn.
“Between those two, I think I’d prefer the winter wonderland.” More excuses to get cozy by a fire or wherever else. There was a pause before he added, “But like you, I’d be happy either way as long as we’re together. So. Take your pick.”
Slhanyume
itspao_
Witty Punching Bag
Offline
Shanyume
Anxious Friend
Offline
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:56 pm
Melody hummed thoughtfully.
If she wanted a warm retreat, her Wonder was always an option too. They could set up camp either on the soft sands of the sun-kissed beach or in the meadow of purple flowers that they had discovered the first time she brought him to Einhornhöhle. There were no cozy homes or soft beds to rest in, yet she had never seen a storm darken the sky, and not once had she seen nor heard a single insect.
A far cry from a trip to Hawaii, but much more budget-friendly for sure.
Yet there was something deeply comforting about the idea of a home warmed by a hearth. The thought of curling up beside Harvey on a plush couch, a shared lap blanket draped over them, soft music playing in the background… maybe reading a book on her Nook while he worked remotely for a few hours, possibly even just the two of them enjoying a warm Tom and Jerry or Hot Toddy- it all stirred a longing in her. A need for peace, for a break from the constant movement and noise of the theater.
“When we get home, I’ll see if there are any B&B’s just outside the city.” A little staycation. A quiet escape, close but private, with the same crisp winter air. That would be enough.
its_ p a o
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:04 am
The view on the drive home was curiously picturesque in that lonely, wintery kind of way. Barren trees towering over snow-covered grass lightly littered with fallen pinecones, wet pavement with small piles of snow lining the streets, and while certain streets were well lit others were dark save for a bit of moonlight and maybe the occasional lamppost. Given the hour there weren’t many people out and about, which suited Harvey just fine. Behind the wheel, he sort of hated pedestrians.
Okay, maybe not just sort of.
And maybe not just when he was behind the wheel…
But he was getting a little better about that.
“Cabin, maybe?” he offered, glancing over with his usual little smile. “Just the two of us on a midweek getaway?” He carefully brought the car to stop as the next light turned red, and he was about to say more when a series of loud BANGS off to their right cut him off. Instinctively he turned the wheel away from the sound and slammed on the brakes, sending the car sliding off toward the left turn lane a few feet further than was ideal.
Thankfully there was no one else around and they were already slowed down quite a bit so, besides a horribly jerky stop, it…wasn’t bad.
Or at least, it could have been a lot worse.
Harvey unbuckled and turned to Melody as soon as the car came to a stop, heartbeat thundering in his ears and a quiet panic in his eyes as he looked her over for signs of any kind of injury.
Slhanyume
itspao_
Witty Punching Bag
Offline
Shanyume
Anxious Friend
Offline
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2025 11:53 pm
Melody’s breath caught in her throat, her entire body tensed as the car jerked to a sudden stop. The sudden noise, those sharp echoing bangs, had sent her heart slamming against her ribs, a frantic beat that hadn’t quite settled.
A shaky exhale left her lips as she scanned the street outside, her mind scrambling to process what had just happened. What the hell… Fireworks? Gunshots? Something else entirely, maybe? Whatever it was, it had been close… Too close.
One hand clung tightly to the door handle, while the other was pressed flat against her chest, as if she could steady the erratic rhythm beneath her palm and sooth the harsh ache. Her wide lavender-colored eyes flicked to Harvey, searching his face even as she fought to pull in a full breath.
“I-I’m fine, just startled” she said quickly, catching the worry in his expression. The sight of which twisted something in her chest in a way entirely separate from the lingering adrenaline. “Are you ok?” she asked, brow furrowing as she reached out, resting a hand lightly against his arm. His pulse likely hammering just as hard as hers.
its_ p a o
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2025 2:54 pm
His breath still came shaky even after he saw that she was awake and responsive, and she confirmed that she was alright, so all he managed at first was a nod to her question. The contact helped to ease him, and once he felt a little more stable he followed it up with, “Yeah, I’m okay.” It was weak but true enough.
Lights in the rearview pulled his attention off of Melody, and he glanced toward them and slowly he processed that there was someone trying to pass by. “Hang on,” he murmured, then focused on getting out of the way. He flicked on his hazards, then slowly maneuvered the car over to a parking spot off to their right. His shock turned to irritation as he worked, and by the time they were settled he was absolutely seething. Almost as soon as he put the car in park he unbuckled and got out of the car, not at all processing the very sudden change in temperature from the warmth of the car to the frigid cold outside.
“The <********> was th–” he started to say, when another BANG cut him off. Rather than surprise him for a second time that night, it drove his anger even further. The sound drew his eyes to the trees that lined the sidewalk, and he eyed them curiously before making his approach.
As if to answer his question, a pinecone fell almost in slow motion, from one of the trees, and upon impact caused a mini explosion where it landed.
