Interactions \ Nova. - Tumblr Posts

the reusable cup is warm in her hand as she exits the coffee shop, on her way back to the apartment she shared with apollo when she bumps into his ex-girlfriend. " charlotte, hi. long time no see, " nova smiles, genuinely happy to see the other though it is, admittedly, a little awkward. " how've you been ? " bumping into one another seems to be their thing, though before it was accidental meetings in her kitchen when she couldn't sleep. there'd been many a night they'd found themselves there for prolonged time, though it all seems such a distant memory now. closed ft. @charlottehttp

" so . . . have you ever had any customers pay you a big tip to help end their dinner plans early ? ” curious and planning, parents set to make a stop-off in town and she’s willing to do just about anything to make sure the dinner she’ll no doubt be talked into having with them is as short as possible. the less time spent around them, the better her overall mindset. closed ft. @lcthariox

“ i, uh, actually don’t know how to swim, ” she admits with a tinge of embarrassment. so many things in her life she had perfected, yet a skill that seems so vital was something she’d never even tried, through no lack of her own desire. “ my mother always said that chlorine would ruin my hair. salt water too. i guess in her eyes, that’s a fate far worse than drowning, ” she teases, faint smile as she unintentionally reaches up to make sure her hair is pristine. old habits hard to kick. closed. ft @wanderersfm

she hadn't noticed she was frowning, but when the familiar face comes into view it turns into a smile. a little of her stress elevating it's weight from her shoulders. " long time no see, " she teases in return, pretending to glance down at the watch on her wrist, " it's been about, what, four hours ? so much to catch up on. " for someone who wasn't sure if dance was truly what her heart desired, she most certainly couldn't stop herself from being here. in some strange way, dancing was now her comfort. something she's able to lose herself in for hours on end. and she's good at it too — exceptionally so. just like him. " well, i did hear that they're doing swan lake this year. and i know, i know it's a little overdone, but it's still one of my all-time favourites. " and perhaps one of the most challenging, especially considering the lead role of odette would also require her to take on the role of odile too. " but it all depends on who may or may not put themselves forward for siegfried. " nova gives him a look, her lower lip subtly pouting, hopeful and just a little pleading. it’s a look he’s probably seen a thousand times by now, but she can’t help it. there’s no one she trusts more— professionally or personally.

LOCATION: seaglass dance academy STATUS: closed / nova campbell @dreamerfms

the first dance class back after the summer always seemed to be a silly one for the kids. some may find it surprising, but apollo had a great deal of patience for young kids. after pretty much raising his three younger sisters, he realized kids are just about the only people he did have patience for. so innocent, just doing what they were told. plus, he'd be lying if he didn't think it was a little sweet hearing a bunch of tiny voices shout MR. APOLLO !! every time he entered the studio. he bids his students farewell as he gathers his things. once he's walked out the studio he almost collides with nova. "oh hey," he begins, looking her over. "didn't expect you to be here," apollo jokes. they both practically lived at whatever studio was nearby when it wasn't the summer time. "don't tell me you've already got your eyes on roles for this season?"

she's glad that he sees the amusement in it, seems to take the edge off her own shoulders. her entire existence up until the age of twenty-one had been fully controlled, and it irks her deeply that, despite things being drastically different now, she still holds onto some old habits— like keeping herself pristine even though part of her longs to let go, just a little. " oh, no. no. it's sweet of you to offer, but trust me you do not want to teach me anything. i'm a notoriously difficult student and i will overtake. " a fatal flaw perhaps, that when it came to ability she'd show extreme competitiveness. carved into her from a young age, a deep-rooted need to always be perfect, the best. " maybe i can teach myself, just to say that i could. " glint in her eye is met with mirth, playful in her delivery.

a soft chuckle leaves him , tipping his head to the side as he gives her a playful look . " well , ain’t that somethin’ , " he drawls , his southern twang laced with amusement . " can’t say i’ve ever heard drownin’ bein’ better than messin’ up your hair , but i reckon your mama had her priorities . " he steps closer , his smile warm and easy . " tell ya what , darlin’ . we’ll keep that hair lookin’ pretty , and i’ll teach you how to swim . no need for embarrassment . ain’t nobody born knowin’ how to do it . " his voice softens , the teasing edge fading as he adds , " you just say the word , and i’ll be right there , keepin’ you safe . "

“ maybe, ” nova responds with a soft shrug of her shoulders, “ but you know how it is. take your eye of the ball for a second and there’s someone else there, ready to try and take your place. ” as of right now her competitiveness and strive are still too strong to allow that. besides, aside from some online classes it’s not like she has much else going on. often too consumed by dance it doesn’t give much time for anything else. friends are hard to make, difficult to keep. and while she’s gained a few in their time here, sometimes it still feels like no one understands her. no one except him. apollo. the person who saved her in more ways than he could possibly realize. the easier option, he says. knows it's a joke and yet her smile threatens to falter. focuses hard to keep it in place, an art she's perfected. deep down she knows it shouldn't bother her, tries not to pay too much attention to the potential reason why it does. he's her roommate, her dance partner, one of the only true people she has in her life. feelings are out of the question, a bad idea . . . right ? " oh so you're saying this deal we've got going on is purely convivence for you, because you have no other options ? " she gently teases, slight raise of perfectly sculpted brow. her gaze softens suddenly, often confused by the way he'll sometimes say something that creates a warmth in her chest. " yeah, but you have to admit, " she begins, small step closer, " proving people wrong is one hell of a satisfying feeling. kind of like when i proved you wrong, because i know you didn't think i'd last a week dancing with you. now here we are, and you can't live without me. " there's a proud smile as she reaches out without much though ( something so unlike her, except with him ) and lightly presses finger to his chest.

"i think you're far more ahead than just on top of it," he comments. he doesn't see nova as a glass ceiling breaker, he sees her as the glass ceiling. one that, frankly, is unreachable for anyone else. he'd been dancing for almost three decades, and no dance partner he'd ever had compared to nova. they were all agreeable, willing to let apollo take over, and in awe of his talent. which, was great for his ego, but didn't make him better. and, as a professional dancer, that's what one strived for. his first rehearsal was full of arguments with nova, and they covered all of ten seconds of a dance in the span of an hour. she was challenging and annoying, but deep down, it was what he needed in a partner.

"that's what they call me," he chuckles. being humble was for insecure people, which he very much was not. at least, not when it came to his ability on the dancefloor. "honestly, i think you're the only one who wants me on or off the stage these days. which, is totally fine with me. way easier that way," he says, oblivious to how it could be taken. "you know, you're very much a kill them with kindness type. before you, if a company doubted me, i would simply move on..." there were many dance companies, but only one apollo fairbanks. "i guess everyone can thank you for making me nicer."

" that all sounds amazing, " nova replies, bright smile. " there's something about fall that just makes everything feel so cozy, don't you think ? " the darker nights, wrapping up warm, a greater sense of togetherness. it might just be one of her favourite times of the year. " you can't go wrong with banana bread, but those pumpkin-shaped cookies ? that’s such a good idea. do they come in different designs, or is it just the pumpkins ? because personally, i think little ghosts would be adorable. "

" doesn't it? " hadley smiled at the other. caffeine was honestly one of her daily essentials. at least one cup a day because she needed to be awake. especially when working slightly longer shifts at the bakery. a lot of the items were new things they were trying out and selling to hopefully get the fall vibe going more. " you got it. well. one of my co-workers has added apple fritters to the list, pumpkin pie, banana bread, pumpkin shaped cookies. i'm not sure if any of those spark your interest but i must say... they are SO good. " hadley felt the same way when it came to choosing a dessert. anything with apple or cinnamon and she was entirely sold.

a short laugh escapes her, more so over how desperate she must appear. old enough to tell her parents she no longer desires to have them in her life in any capacity, yet often when it comes to her mother she still feels partially voiceless. " sadly i don't think climbing out the window would do the trick, but a spill just might. " appearances were everything to the campbell's, there was no way her mother would allow a piece of expensive clothing to potentially stain. nova sighs, clearly trying to shake the weight of it but tension still lingers. " i sound crazy, don't i ? "

               cheeks  suck  themselves,  a  sense  of  confusion  on  her  face  before  letting  facial  features  relax.  “  i’m  —  what  ?  ”  the  question  is  repeated  within  their  mind,  taking  a  moment  to  fully  digest  what  is  being  asked  of  them  before  slowly  shrugging  a  shoulder.  “  like  i’ve  had  women  come  up  and  ask  me  to  help  end  their  date  early,  if  that’s  what  you  mean.  i’ve  come  to  know  many  tricks  to  make  it  end,  including  spilling  stuff  on  said  date,  lying  about  a  family  emergency  and  helping  them  climb  through  the  bathroom  window.  ”

nova smiles softly, eyes scanning the spread in front of her, clearly impressed. “ i have to say, this is really impressive. did someone teach you to cook like this, or is it just another natural given talent ? ” the question is asked with a playful tone. as she reaches for the beansprouts, nova takes in a slow breath, grounding herself in the moment, aware of the faint hum of nerves that still linger in the background when food is involved. but instead of avoidance, she lets herself appreciate the colours and textures— the effort miles put into preparing the meal. " honest reviews only, " she hums, pretending to think it over. nova is a sweet girl for the most part, but she can be critical. sometimes overly so. doesn't shy away from pointing out where things could be improved. however here she finds no faults. " it's a little annoying that i don't have a single criticism. it really is just that good. remind me to never get into a cook-off with you, i don't lose well. "

𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆, open starter location: coral cove, apt. 4a / time: 6 p.m. context: after university, miles stayed in california to pursue baseball professionally. it's been around two (2) months since his return to palmview.

“ thanks for making the time, it's been a minute since i've really been able to cook something homemade.  ”  while he missed his family's cooking, miles was sure he mastered all the comfort foods he could remember from his childhood. being away from home for so long was difficult and being away from everyone he knew growing up was harder.  “ here, have some more of this.   ”  he stirs a spoon to mix the egg with the tofu soup.  “ hope you're hungry—and i take all reviews. ”  he raises a hand over his heart and dips his head in a small bow. between them, there's a spread of sides that included beansprouts and fishcakes amongst other smaller plates.

there's fun in messing up. the idea feels foreign and it's not because she can't have fun, it's because messing up has never been much of an option for her. her instinct is to scoff, to brush it off with somewhat faux confidence she always carries, but there’s a softness in his tone that almost tempts her. but she knows herself, knows she's the type of person who would drive herself insane trying to fix every little mistake. perfect, the word rings in her mind, mothers voice stern and sharp. always perfect. " what, you don't think i could ? " raises a perfectly sculpted brow, playful smirk etching onto mouth. but it's there, behind her gaze, a competitive spark like no other. a fire that burns bright. " swimming is, what ? mostly good breathing, coordination and core strength ? i've already got all three of those. but i'll humour you, just this once, " she adds, an air of teasing. for someone who's never attempted to swim, she's sure got a lot of faith in herself. " how about you tell me what to do, and we'll see how well i can execute it ? "

he leans back with a slow , lazy grin , the kind that seems to say he's already seen through her words , but he’s willing to play along . his eyes spark with a mix of curiosity and amusement , and his drawl adds a casual warmth to his response . “ now , see , that sounds like a challenge . and i never could back down from a good one . ” he watches her , noticing the tension she carries , the weight of always needing to be perfect . “ difficult student or not , darlin’ , i reckon you’d surprise yourself . ” he tilts his head , eyes narrowing just a little as he studies her with that easygoing charm of his . “ overtake me , huh ? i’d like to see you try . but maybe... just maybe , you don't always have to be the best at everything. there’s fun in messing up sometimes . ”

" ha ha, " she teases in return, " maybe i just know good food when i taste it, ever thought about that ? " she nods along, listening intently. likes how effortless his company feels. while part of her is always wearing somewhat of a mask except for in the comfort of her own home, she feels mostly herself. " i like the added crunch, " she adds, in reference to the beansprouts, understands what he means about the texture. " it's a nice addition. " she watches as he adjusts food in her bowl, and at his next words she lets out a laugh. " hmm, except for the fact i would win both. i meant it when i said i don't like to lose. i think you might underestimate just how competitive i can be, " she states, glances up at him with a playfully challenging stare, brow raising. it's no lie. failure is a feeling she detests, sends her into frenzy for longer than it should. " no competitions, no. show season is coming up, though. it's swan lake. i'll be auditioning. " is fairly certain she'll land the lead, usually does. " apollo is my good luck charm, " words come out without thought, in no way meaning to sound rude. " or, well, i like to think of myself as his. " her laugh is somewhat nervous, shakes her head. " sorry, that came out wrong. it's just . . . we've been dancing together for years, so . . . but outside support is always welcome. and greatly appreciated. as for cooking, i'll never say no to this. "

“ oh really? not a single bad thing to say? are you sure i'm feeding the right person? you must really have missed me.  ”  he's more impressed with nova than himself. a smug smile finds a way to his lips and he does his best to conceal it by pressing his lips into a thin line.  “ i usually use the beansprouts to help cool down the soup. texture's fun too, especially cause it almost tastes like nothing.   ”  miles uses the opposite ends of his own chopsticks to help push the vegetable under the tofu in nova's bowl.  “ if we had a cook off, we'll also have to have a dance off. then the score would be even. i only win when you do.  ”  another triumph grin before his eyes widen slightly. “ speaking of—did i miss any competitions? i've been so busy.  ”  this time, there's an apologetic look. “ i'll just cook for us for the rest of our lives if i missed any... i'm basically your lucky charm. what would you do without me?  ” 

it's nice to hear, that someone thinks she's irreplicable in a sense, even if it is ( in her mind, at least ) only when it comes to dance. growing up it had never mattered how many awards she won, how man lead spots she landed, how many people she outdanced. nothing was ever good enough for her mother, and her father never said much of anything at all. simply nodded his head in agreement to everything his wife said, paying no real attention. she doesn't quite know what to say, feels a swell of emotion in her throat, always so quick to swallow it back down. " well, you have to say that— " he doesn't, and she knows fine well he doesn't— " but thank you. i know no one could ever take yours. " because it would never be the same, and she would never trust another dancer to handle her body the way he does. to move with her so in the way he seems to do so effortlessly. nova doesn't believe in fate, because to believe in it would prove the world to be rather cruel considering the fate of their pasts, but one thing that almost convinces her it could exist, is the way it feels like they were born to dance together. light laughter echoes, head shaking as she listens. " only you could try and make something better and somehow make it worse, " nova responds, but there's a softens to her tone, teasing weaved between. " no girl wants to hear that, trust me. even if it is friendship based. convenient implies it would also be easy to drop me if i no longer was easy to be around. " he grabs her hand, and she finds it rather silly how her breath seems to hitch in her throat, how overly aware she is of the fact he still hasn't let it go. they'd held hands at least a hundred times on stage, during practise, so why does it feel so different now ? nova blinks, does her best to keep her gaze on him, takes her a beat longer than it usually would to response. " no, " is her honest answer, and she shakes her head again, tender smile as her gaze softens. " and i don't want to tame the dancing beast, " tone playfully mimics, " i like it exactly as it is. " and she wouldn't be here, this version of her, without him.

"trust me, i don't think anyone is capable of taking your place." he doesn't find anyone to be comparable. maybe he's biased ( he's definitely biased ) but there's no one in nova's league. and, should any company or choreographer disagree, it's them with the issue. he thinks the world of nova, likely because he thinks the world of himself and she's the only one with the ability to keep up. plus, thinking of nova and her abilities distracts from the fact that he's only a few years from retirement. there's always teaching and choreographing to fall back on, but the thought of being done with all of this... it's dizzying.

apollo has become a creature of habit. wake up, train, dance, come home, go to sleep, do it all over again. he despised dance growing up, and still has complicated feelings about it to this day. still, how do you just walk away from something you've spent thirty years perfecting? he was a few years older than nova, so she still had that going for her. perhaps that's why he continued to push her. so, he'd still have a dog in the fight even after he was out of the game.

"you've seem to have taken offense to my use of the word EASY," he replies with a shake of his head. despite growing up surrounded by girls and women both at home, at school, and at dance, apollo was very bad at understanding them. "what's wrong with something easy and convenient?" nothing in apollo's life had ever been easy or convenient, so finding something that was both was a breath of fresh air. "trust me, i had plenty of other options. if anything, you're the only one brave enough to stick around." he grabs her hand off his chest, slowly bringing their hands down in between them, but hasn't let go. "and, yeah, maybe i didn't think you'd make it-- but that wasn't you, that was my history. but i'm glad you feel accomplished. do you feel like you've tamed the dancing beast?"

nova’s gaze softens at his sheepish smile, a hint of empathy flickering in her eyes. often times things come out of her mouth in ways she doesn’t intend, years spent not quite knowing how to navigate connections with people, especially not friendships. until a certain age, all she knew was competition, comparison. this all still feels new to her. “ the auditions are closed, but you can definitely come to opening night, if you want, ” she responds, her voice gentle, quick to offer an encouraging smile in attempt to lighten things. when he shows her the email, her heart sinks for him. nova is never quite sure if ballet is what she would have chosen to do if things had been different, but it was her thing and without it ? well, she dreads to think. can't fathom how it must feel for him to essentially be told he can't compete until further notice. " wow, that . . . i'm sorry, miles. that must be a lot to come to terms with. " nova pauses briefly, another spoonful of soup. " have you been yet— to a therapy session ? "

mostly herself is good enough. miles can sense that there's an unspoken comfort. it's a feeling they share. most times, around nova, it feels like all of his edges are softened. but that's mostly because she shows up with a sense of grit that is beyond his own. “ dope. can i come to the audition or is it more private?  ”  while her words initially make him feel like he striked a nerve, she's quick to reassure him.  “ of course, never meant to overstep.  i guess for me, luck hasn't really been on my side. but it's also my own fault...  ”  a sheepish smile appears. his right hand reaches for his phone. there's an official email from his coach. “ i'll be around for another minute. a good while.  ”  miles doesn't mean to sound disappointed but the way his brows furrow fail to support his forced smile. nova understands him in the sense that they're both competitive. they have things they're great at and things they do to support their livelihood. miles however, always finds that his temper is his greatest flaw.  “ no games for me until i do like... 'x' amount of therapy. they're put me on a hiatus but the internal paperwork called it a suspension. so... i'll be here and i'll be able to show up for anything.  ” 

                " climbing out the window would be obvious, and i fear would only make matters worse in this case. i do that, she shows up at my door. i've done a good job of keeping her out of my space, i want to keep it that way. " because it finally feels like she can breathe, think for herself, figure out her own life plan. " she gets something spilled on her and has to sit there looking anything less than perfect ? she's out of my hair until the next time she passes through town. " there's a relief in being told she doesn't sound crazy, a sigh quietly escaping. already she can feel a familiar tenseness wash over her. can't wait to get the entire thing over and done with.

                “  climbing  out  the  window  wouldn’t  help  but  spilling  some  wine  on  someone  would  do  the  trick  ?  ”  growing  up  in  a  well  known  family,  elena  knew  enough  about  appearances,  however  the  de  lucas  were  vastly  different  than  most  families  —  supporting  their  children  no  matter  what.  allowing  elena  to  wear  a  crop  top  and  ripped  jeans  to  a  nice  establishment  because  they  were  feeling  confident,  or  going  to  a  family  reunion  in  a  stained  t-shirt  and  shorts  for  comfort;  never  having  to  worry  entirely  about  the  opinions  of  others.  “  no,  you  don’t  sound  crazy,  it’s  just  a  different  hierarchy  of  avoidance  that  we  have.  ”  they  state  with  a  chuckle.

nova watches him for a moment, eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she considers his words. letting go isn't exactly in her wheelhouse. the idea of messing up for fun ? that's about as foreign to her as swimming itself. but dax has a way of talking that makes it all sound so simple, so easy, like none of it could possibly go wrong. besides, she supposed the act of trying alone would be a subtle f-you to her mother, something she finds rather exhilarating at this point in her life. soft smirk soon edges into the corner of her mouth. " do you always talk so poetically ? i'm starting to think you should reconsider your career path, you know. life-coaching may be your real calling, " she teases, tries to distract from the hint of tenseness that lingers in her shoulders. " but okay, i'll bite. but you won't see my laughing off any mistakes because i don't plan on making any. " nova steps closer to the water’s edge, her posture straight and sure, perfected act of confidence so strong even she barely notices the nervousness that lingers beneath. but it's there, like a small wave in her tummy. " so, what's the first step ? " she questions, toe dipping into the water. it feels nice. not too warm, not too cold. just right. with a quiet sigh, she moves further, stops and turns to face him when the water reaches her knees. " is this the part where i flop back, learn how to float ? "

he  leaned  back  against  the  weathered  wooden  railing ,    the  late  afternoon  sun  casting  a  warm  glow  over  the  water .     his  drawl  rolled  easily  off  his  tongue  as  he  replied ,     “     well ,     sugar ,     it  ain't  just  about  breathin'  and  strength .     it’s  about  lettin’  go  a  little ,     too .     i  promise ,     messin’  up  is  part  of  the  fun     —     like  findin’  a  hidden  treasure  in  a  pile  of  old  junk .    ”     he  could  see  the  playful  smirk  tugging  at  her  lips ,     that  competitive  spark  flickering  in  her  eyes  like  a  flame  eager  to  ignite .     “     and  who  said  i  didn’t  think  you  could  do  it ?     ”     he  continued ,     tilting  his  head  with  a  teasing  grin .    “     i’m  just  tryin’  to  keep  you  from  overthinkin’  every  little  splash  you  make .     the  water’s  meant  to  be  playful ,     not  a  battlefield .     ”     he  stepped  closer ,     his  voice  lowering  to  a  more  earnest  tone ,    “     how  ‘bout  this ?    you  humor  me ,     and  i’ll  make  sure  we  keep  it  fun .     i’ll  guide  you  through  it ,     and  you  can  show  me  how  fiercely  you  can  kick  and  glide .     if  you  mess  up ?     well ,     we’ll  just  laugh  it  off .     life’s  too  short  to  drown  in  perfection .     ”    his  eyes  sparkled  with  mischief  and  warmth ,     inviting  her  to  dive  into  a  new  experience .    “    so ,     whaddaya  say ?     let’s  see  what  kinda  magic  happens  when  you  let  loose  a  little .    ”

she knows it's true, almost feels bad questioning it at all. he has no reason to lie to her, isn't the type to make empty reassurances. but sometimes she needs it. not often, not always with words, but sometimes. over the years there'd been a lot of growth within her, a lot of hiding behind a perfectly curated confident disguise. but beneath the surface was still a girl who'd spent so many years of her life being told that if she didn't almost destroy herself trying to be the best, she could easily be replaced. it's why she doesn't know half efforts, doesn't know how to partake in something without leaving a tiny little piece of her soul in it. and maybe that's the reason she feels so vastly incomplete. but he looks at her and it's like he sees her, really truly sees her. nova thinks he might just be the only person who ever has. how do you not cling to that ? " they won't get the chance to, " she insists, as if it's known fact. if he's forced to retire first she isn't sure what it'll mean for her, but it certainly won't be paired dancing. " i don't trust anyone else, " and she doesn't just mean in the world of ballet, but that she keeps to herself, " i only trust you. " he full names her and her smile grows, soft laughter sounded. but it threatens to catch in her throat when he leans in close, and she couldn't tare her gaze away even if she wanted to. " oh, you're full naming me now ? it must be serious, " she teases, and she dares for a moment to leans in further, let her forehead press against his for a few fleeting moments. it's supposed to be a playful move, but she feels betrayed by the way her heart rattles in her chest like a bird trapped in a cage, desperate to be set free. but again, it's pushed down. forces herself to keep her eyes on his despite the split second temptation to glance down to his lips. " i believe you, and i promise i'll never doubt you again. " with the words out, she pulls back. not too much but enough to ease some of the tension that she's convinced is only felt by her. " and what version of you do i get then if not the beast ? " there's a brief pause. " because you're stuck with me long past then. "

apollo rolls his eyes as nova seems to dismiss his comment. he knows her well enough to know she struggles with her confidence and the relationships she builds, but he'd hope that by now, she'd know him well enough to know he doesn't say things he doesn't mean. one thing apollo was really good at was KEEPING HIS MOUTH SHUT, so the idea that he'd lie, even to make her feel better, was almost insulting. he waves it off with his hand. "don't start that-- when have i ever told you something i didn't fully believe? in fact, some have called me too honest." perhaps he had enough arrogance for the two of them, because the next words to leave his lips are: "oh, i know. god bless the man who tries to take my spot next to you on stage." it's not even his fault. this many years in, he's seen nova attempt to dance with different partners, and it's never worked out. whether she'd like to admit it or not, she clearly found it EASIER to be with him as well.

"novella campbell," he starts, leaning in so their foreheads are mere inches apart. he makes sure he's looking into her eyes before speaking. "my life is EASIER because you are in it, and you'd really be pulling the rug out from under me if you left it." at the end of the day, nova was the only person outside of his family who really knew what was going on within his family. apollo didn't even want it that way, but when his mother came to surprise him at a performance, there was no avoiding the subject. nova had recognized her immediately for who she was-- song na-ri, esteemed dancer of her time and not the mother of apollo fairbanks. just the look on nova's face when she'd connected the dots was etched into apollo's memory. he felt he had no choice but to come clean. now, he can't imagine nova leaving his life. he had been open with her, and she had made it easy. she listened, she seemed to understand, and she didn't judge. why test the universe by admitting it again when he'd already hit the jackpot of responses? "you hear me? this beast is yours until his retirement."

nova lets out a soft chuckle, smile warm as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. it's nice that he's so interested. she appreciates it. friendships are still a new thing for her to navigate, but since being in palmview, a number of people have made it feel a little easier. miles very much included. " miles, i haven't even had an audition yet. once things are actually in motion, i'll get tickets for you. don't worry, i'll secure you a good spot. " with a content belly, her spoon is discarded into her bowl, full attention on him now. she feels flattered, really, that he feels able to share such a thing with her. wishes she knew the right thing to say, something helpful. tries her best anyway. " well, showing up and saying nothing is still a step in the right direction. you can't be expected to just . . . let it all out, right away. it takes time to get comfortable talking to someone like that. " flicker of empathy behind her gaze, and if she was bigger on physical touch, maybe she'd reach out and squeeze his hand. but she isn't. " you're not raining on any parades here, " she insists, nodding when he suggests they take a walk. " yeah, that'd be nice. it's a good day for it, and maybe some fresh air will clear that head of yours. "

“ i'll be there, i promise. do you know where? and where the best seats would be..? ”  leave it to miles to bombard nova with his questions. always safe than sorry, he drums his fingers along the edge of the table.  “ making your way up, i see. i'd like to be there for all the wins.   ”  he wasn't sure what to expect but he knew the email would change the current mood. it's information received and passed, regardless. “ i'm really working on it. i went to a session and didn't say much. i'm sure they passed on the notes to my general care doctor. it kind of sucks to be there a lot. ”  there's an attempt to search for the words to describe what he was feeling. nothing really comes to mind, just that he wishes he could've brought back better news. maybe he could have if he had a bit more self-control. but that was a longstanding issues and at the very least, loved ones knew that he wasn't aggressive until provoked. “ raining on parades could be my new hobby, ” he jests. “ i'm alright though. looking at this as a reset. and some practice with media training. ”  ... “ would you want to go for a walk after this? ”