ravenfromashes-blog-blog

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

Minori wanted her to... come along? Raven failed to see how Minori would want her to accompany her through the Goddess Festival. Even if they had been living under the same roof for three years, she knew Minori very well and yet, at the same time, she didn’t know a thing about her. She could say what the brunette’s favorite meal was without hesitation-- lasagna--  but she didn’t know a single thing about her past.

“...No,” Raven turned back to her magazine to avoid the guilt with looking at the brunette’s face sadden-- which would definitely convince her otherwise. I don’t even want to go to the stupid festival, why would you think I would want to go with you...

true colors ✿ raven/minori

Minori saw the upcoming festival as a chance to spend time with her friends. Have fun, even. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to really enjoy herself if the redhead didn’t come along. She had grown used to Raven’s presence, quiet as the girl was. She hated to be needy, but she’d hoped that she would at least come along. Sometimes, she worried for the other woman – did she really like spending all that time alone?

“Mhm, haha.  I was hoping you’d come along, though.” She smiles, shrugging lightly. “I mean, I promise I wouldn’t take too much of your time, if you made plans with someone else.”

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

The dandelion seeds within the glassy container entrances Raven. She knows well enough to not touch the object, but it was too beautiful to resist picking it up behind the vendor’s back and turning it around in the sunlight. She should buy this. It's the Goddess Festival and she rarely buys any gifts. It wasn’t too pricey and it's almost perfect.

“Excuse me--”

Her sentence stops midway once she looks at the vendor-- Frey. 

Out of all people, it has to be her.

“...I’m going to buy this,” Raven holds up the necklace, not meeting the green-haired woman’s eyes.

Frey’s Menu

Meg helped me make these. What do you think? They make good gifts for yourselves or your dates, so get them while they last!

Pressed Delphinium Stationery: 300 G

Pressed Narcissus Stationery: 300 G

Pressed Forget-Me-Not Stationery: 300 G

Forget-Me-Not Resin Orb Necklace: 500 G

Wishes in the Wind (Dandelion Seed + Message) Resin Orb Necklace: 500 G

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

Without looking up from the magazine, Raven already knows what expression Minori is wearing just from her tone of voice-- she has that smile, that one she always has when she’s up to something and that annoys Raven the most. 

The answer actually takes a while to come to Raven’s mind. She has barely been looking forward to the Goddess Festival; the requirement to bring a date has made her irritated to go. So she has been trying her best to not think about it the past few weeks, making her days a bit more enjoyable. But now that Minori has mentioned it, she can feel her stomach churn, a too familiar feeling. Why now? And that smile of hers doesn’t make Raven feel any better...

“The Goddess Festival?” Raven finally looks up from her magazine. “I’m not sure about last part... Shouldn’t you be worrying about yourself?” She knows her attempt to make Minori go away is futile, but she tries anyways.

true colors ✿ raven/minori

“Raven. You know what’s coming up, right?”

Minori smiles at her roommate, the kind of smile you’d never expect to hold any harm.  It’s entirely false innocence of course. She’s tried to refrain from being too forward with the redhead, knowing very well she had boundaries – but unfortunately for Raven, when Minori has an idea, she never lets go of it. And this time, this plan is just perfect – there’s no way even Raven will reject it.

“I’ll give you a hint. Starts with ‘G’, ends with cute date walking you home, ideally.” When it comes to the redhead, Minori is the more outgoing one – or at least by comparison. She doesn’t mind Raven’s quietness though, knowing she listens closely. It’s certainly an odd friendship, but Minori is far from minding it.

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

The employee had listened to her question with his full attention. It makes Raven both annoyed and guilty that he seems to have no grudge against her. Why is he so polite? Well, it's his problem, not hers, if he is foolish enough to forgive people so easily.

“The aquilegia seeds? ... Okay,” Raven says with obvious disappointment. The marigold seeds were really much prettier, but she doesn’t want to kill them either. She leaves the counter to place the bag of marigold seeds back to where it belonged, quickly returning right after she had. She already wasted enough time wondering about which pack of seeds to bring, so she has to be quick now. She doesn’t want to worry Minori if she was gone too long, either. She didn’t tell her she was going to go shopping.

Raven places all four bags of seeds that she had chosen on the counter. “This will be all I’m taking... What will be the price?”

bad manners || lest & raven

     After that awkward encounter with the red-head, Lest figured that it would be best if he just let her be— as to avoid making a scene. He’s never had rude customers before so this was definitely a new experience and, honestly, he just wished that he handled it properly as to avoid any complaints. Otherwise, he would get quite the scolding from his boss.

     It didn’t take her that long before the red-head approached the counter— carrying the bags of seeds that she held before, as well as the ones that she’d been hesitating over. Could she have decided to get them both, after all? 

     but, as he listened to what she had to say, it seems that she had decided to ask for his assistance after all.

     “Well, Miss, they’re both fairly easy to grow— but, since you said that you’re mostly growing them indoors, I suggest that you take the Aquilegia Seeds. They tolerate almost any conditions under sun or in semi-shade; making them great for beginners.”

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

Raven watches Nami touch her own red hair with uncertainty. Did she make her feel bad? “It looks good on you, though. You look better than you did with long hair,” she says hastily, but when Nami gives her that smile, Raven is relieved to know that she didn’t offend her.

What could make you not feel free?  Raven tries her best not to scowl. Nami is a perfectly normal girl, pursuing her dreams in art. Raven is certain that she doesn’t have to hide from any police or wear earmuffs all the time. She knows it’s horrible of her to feel disgusted at her own friend, but she can’t help the anger rising inside of her. “Y-yeah...” it’s all she manages to say, staring at the flames drawn on the paper.

“Me? I... I work at a carpentry shop... Eveningwood Carpentry. It doesn’t require a lot of thought, so it’s easy,” Raven’s mood sours, talking about her job reminds her to that she’ll probably have to go searching for a new one soon, which she’s not to enthusiastic about. Job interviews were on her list of the least things she wants to do, but it is necessary. Desperate to change the subject-- Raven asks something else. “... Um, how are your...” What would she call them? “... New friends?” 

catching up || nami & raven

Nami brought her left hand up to her hair subconsciously, shrugging.

“It’s out of the way this way.” Her hair had been longer before, but no longer than to her shoulders. Nami gave a sideways smile to Raven at her next words. Raven had always been sparse when it came to talking and when she did speak she always flew through subjects.

“Yeah. It makes me feel better, free even, when I don’t feel as.” The girl tipped the pad towards her friend, flames being created on the paper. “I draw what I see as beauty.” The girl sighed and went back to her work.

“What do you do now a days?”

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

Title: トゥーナ

Pixiv ID: 42071714

Member: suR

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

“...Makes sense,” Raven stared the bench’s surface. Nami had never been the one to stick to big goals-- the familiarity of that sentence almost made her smile again. “I haven’t noticed that, but your hair... it’s shorter.” 

Raven looked at the drawing Nami had in front of her. “So... you’re a painter now,” she observed, “I never thought that you’d become one. It must be enjoyable, though.” Raven wished for that kind of freedom someday. She usually did labor work-- average work that’d blend her in easier. But she always preferred working on the small details instead, she always enjoyed making necklaces out of colorful beads as a child. Raven would love to work at a jewelry shop.  Maybe someday.

catching up || nami & raven

The two redheads made their way to the bench, settling down languidly. Nami returned to her art, flipping to a fresh page now as an idea came to mind. She focused in on her work, though at the same time keeping and ear peeled for Raven’s questions.

“I just went where the wind took me. There were valley and villages. I tried to avoid the big cities though.” She paused to grimace. “The air is took thick there. I couldn’t breath. Too… closed.” She flicked her eyes over to her equally red haired friend, then back to her art. “You’re hair is even longer.”

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

Raven watched Micah near the counter with a deadpan expression. 

“Didja miss me?”

“No,” she answers bluntly. Is she supposed to? She's a little startled to be asked questions right away, but Raven answers them either way.

How are you? “Fine.” Have you been taking care of yourself? “Yes.” I worry about you when I can’t make it. Raven slightly frowns. “I’m perfectly fine when you’re not around.” Your letters are so vague. Her eyes darts somewhere else. That was usually because she barely has time to think of a long reply, but mostly because she doesn’t want to answer it most of the time. It’s the first time he has acknowledged it, though. “...I don’t really have much to say to you.”

If she had it her way, she would’ve already told him to leave, but as always, she reminds herself-- service with a smile. So Raven asked the somewhat obligatory questions. “So... what about... you? How is your day so far...?” She studied her hands.

Usually chatting with customers would be redeemed as unprofessional, but people almost never came when Micah was around-- it was almost like he repelled them away. It’s just small talk, Raven thinks when she gets a little uneasy at the thought of getting fired for this.

go away || micah & raven

Micah strolled down the pathway to the Raven’s work, looking pleasantly enthused. It had been a couple days since he had been able to personally come and speak to Raven. Ever since high school, he couldn’t help but bother the red head whenever he could. Something about her made it impossible for him to leave her alone, even for a day.

With his usual enthusiasm he walked through the door to be greeted with her usual enthusiasm. Raven always seemed off-put but his arrival, but it never put a damper on Micah’s mood. He smiled at her, waving a hand when he spotted her. “Hey, Raven~” he replied, walking to the counter. He leaned on the counter, holding his face in one hand as he looked up at her. 

“Didja miss me?” he teased lightly, knowing the response he would get already. He grinned anyway, prepared for whatever she threw at him. He quickly transitioned to ask more serious questions. “How are you? Have you been taking care of yourself? I worry about you when I can’t make it. Your letters are so vague.” That is, when she answered them. He had a suspicious she threw them out in frustration sometimes.

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

Right after he leaves, Raven quickly sneaks a glance at him. He just returns to his previous spot-- behind the counter-- and didn’t seem to mind her any more. Raven feels relieved, but her guilt still lingers, urging her to apologize somehow. It doesn’t matter... he’ll forget about what happened in a few days.

So then she’s back to deciding-- marigold or aquilegia. She’s not sure how to even raise either of these flowers-- or any of the ones she has so far, in fact-- except for the vague instructions on the back of the packets. Whatever, I’ll just ask him. What harm could it do? Raven thinks as she walks over to the counter.

“Hey...” she places the two packets of seeds on the counter, “which one do you think is better to bring? I’ll keep them mostly indoors... and this is my first time planting them...”

bad manners || lest & raven

     Lest was taken aback at the rude reply that he’d gotten— feeling a bit intimidated as she sent a glare along his way. Was it something he said? He didn’t remember saying anything that could be considered as offensive— so, maybe, it was more because he interrupted her?

     “Ah…right.” He gulped, letting out a nervous chuckle, as he scratched the corner of his cheek. It was then that he spotted the flower seeds that she seems to be debating on getting— some Marigold and Aquilegia seeds. Both are good choices as the two flowers grow on most types of soil and are fairly easy to grow— but, he couldn’t really make any recommendations as he didn’t really know what they were going to be used for and, also, where she was going to plant them.

     and, most importantly, because she didn’t seem like she would listen.

     “Well, if you change your mind, I’ll be by the counter.” He bowed his head as if to excuse himself before returning to his post.

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

“No, no, it’s alright,” Raven shakes her head, “... it makes sense.” She shifts a little, embarrassed, under Nami’s gaze. Don’t stare so much...

“That’s good to hear...” she drifts off, it seems like the conversation has ended to an awkward stop-- until the other woman suggests a seat. Why didn’t Raven think of that earlier? “Of course,” she settles herself on the bench immediately. 

After Nami sits on the bench as well, Raven asks her another question, careful to ask her only one. It has almost been a decade since Raven last saw her-- the least she can do now is not overwhelm her with ancient questions. “... So, where did you go after you graduated? I forgot to ask you that-- before you left.” 

catching up || nami & raven

Nami scratched the back of her head and frowned slightly in embarrassment. “Sorry, my memory hasn’t been the best lately. A lot has changed since I left.” The girl looked her old friend over, reviling in a sight she hadn’t seen in years. 

“I’ve been alright. There are always a few bumps here and there.” The red haired girl drew silent, looking behind Raven to spot the bench that her friend had come from. She pointed at it.

“Want to sit?” Nami wanted nothing more than to spend a relaxing time with her quiet friend, reminiscing in sparse words and just being in each others company. Just like old times.

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

“Forget it-- I don’t need your help,” Raven hissed. What was up with his dumb attitude? If he wanted solitude, maybe he should’ve stayed home, not in a public area. Or maybe he was just one of those spoiled brats that thought they owned everything. Either way, Raven hated his awful personality.

“It wasn’t obvious,” she said right away. Raven didn’t know much about technology-- she simply couldn’t afford it. Sure, she sometimes looked over someone’s shoulder as they took out a new, sleek phone, but that could tell her only so much. Those headphones were for... playing sound and music, right? Probably, if he mentioned that he was listening to good music.

Raven stiffened at his use of the f-word. “I just wanted some book suggestions,” Raven’s ice cold glare returned, “but it seems like I can’t even ask that from you.”

[BTTP] Silence || Neil & Raven

“What question?” Neil raised a brow. If she thought he had super hearing powers, she was damn wrong because he couldn’t hear a fly past by with the blaring music of guitar solos. The blond’s red eyes flickered at the same fiery color. He wondered if all red-heads were generally annoying. Not that he was discriminating but he can’t say he was fond over one red-head.

The blond shot a death glower at the other. 

Who does this girl even think she is?

“I was listening to good music if it wasn’t so obvious.” His tongue lashed every bit of sarcasm in his well being at the end of his statement. People like her were always riling him up, what did he do to deserve such attention? 

He hated everyone and made it obvious so can’t he have at least one time he was truly avoided? Those days are over Neil, they were definitely the moment Elli took him under her wing and had to explain over and over for his rough behavior… she wasn’t here though.

Neil could be a complete asshole and have this girl turn away from him in a finger snap. “So what were you asking? If it’s book-related, I’m not a fucking librarian.“

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

Raven goes deeper into the alley, more terrified than before. Although she frequently visited this area, she hated them. It was dark and was the kind of place that’d one would see ghosts. And ghosts, well... Raven didn’t want to think about it. 

“Wait…!”

She is still following me? Raven let out a deep breath of annoyance. She couldn’t quicken her pace due to her weak legs, so the best thing she could hope for was that the woman would lose her stamina and give up. “Why are you running–?!” Raven didn’t intend to respond, but she glanced at the brunette’s silhouette behind her to see how much farther ahead she was.

Not seeing the slippery ice in front of her.

"Argh!” She fell and felt her ankle twist into a severe pain. She quickly attempted to get up to start running again, but she knew that she lost the moment she fell. Turning towards the woman nearing her, the redhead’s eyes were now wide with-- of course-- fear.

BTTP || old wounds

    “Wait…!” Minori was hardly one for going after strangers, but she had never seen anyone look so afraid. She could just barely make out the woman’s shape in the dark. It was as if she was chasing a shadow. Her silhouette swerved suddenly, disappearing between two dark buildings. Minori continued her pursuit, heart hammering against her rib cage from exertion.

    At the mouth of the alley, she hesitated. Alleyways. It just had to be the alleyways. She could hardly make out what lay between the two close buildings – the light from some far-off street lamp was extremely weak – but she knew for a fact that thugs and other shady characters were more than likely to be here.

    But she couldn’t lose the girl. Minori steeled her nerves. Her breath was coming heavy, billowing out in the form of fog. She went after the elusive girl once more.

    “Why are you running–?!”

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

CURRENT BALANCE: 2000G

+2000G (PAY CHECK)

NEW BALANCE: 4000G

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

"H-Here." He mumbled and held out a flier towards the woman," S-Seems they have a good selection of furniture or something there, maybe a sale. I-If you want, y-you can keep this to check it out sometime."

“Hm?”

No matter what time of the day it was– Raven always hated to be pestered by annoying salesmen. But this particular man seemed to be awfully nervous, like this was his first time trying to sell something. Either they were desperate for employees or they think emotional manipulation will work, Raven thinks, stone-faced. 

But… a sale for furniture? And maybe this was his first time at work. Raven thought back to her first days working at a cafe, and despite the great job she had done, she was a nervous wreck as well. “I’ll think about it,” she said, taking the flier. 

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

“...So you do remember me,” A very small smile appears on her face-- to know that Nami does remember her is extremely relieving.

It's nice to speak with her old friend again. Usually asking “how are you” didn’t ever matter back then, but now, strangely, it does. “I’ve... been good,” Raven says. “And you? It’s been a long time since we have last spoken...” 

The redhead grew quiet, her social skills hasn’t changed a bit since she had left high school.

catching up || nami & raven

Nami glanced back up quickly, brush halting mid-stroke. She blinked twice, then her eyes widened. “Raven…?” Her eyes swept over the girl but just the hair was her give away. No one had long flaming red hair like Raven did. The traveler quickly grabbed her things and stood up. “Raven, it is so nice to see you! It’s been so long, how have you been?”

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

Maybe she should just go along with marigold in the end, but... Raven sighs in frustration. These are just a pack of seeds, she reasons, and she could buy the other seeds some other day. So--

“Do you need any assistance?”

“I don’t need your help,” Raven snaps instantly, her icy eyes giving the stranger a cold glare. But she realizes her harshness right after the words had slipped out of her mouth-- how rude she must seem to the young man now. And in fact, yes, she did need help, but as if he was going to help her after viewing her hostile behavior.

She looks away from his face before any more guilt can surge into her. The redhead knows she should apologize-- but she doesn’t. Raven pretends to occupy herself with looking at some labels, hoping he will leave quickly.

bad manners || lest & raven

     Another busy day at work, it seems, as customers went in and out of the shop— from people that he knew and recognized to new faces that he’s yet so see— and, honestly, Lest couldn’t be happier. Perhaps, the reason for this was only because the demand is high this time of the year but, still, it gave him a lot to do and that was good enough for him. After all, it was really boring whenever there weren’t any customers and, well, he’s learnt to look forward to guessing which flowers the customers would choose to purchase.

     Although, so far, he’s yet to be correct.

     “Please, come again.” The blond bowed his head lightly before waving goodbye to a regular who seemed to have purchased some Pink Cat flowers this time— instead of his normal purchase of Charm Blues. Oh well. He’ll guess them right, eventually.

     It was when most customers had left the shop that he’d come to notice a certain red-head at the corner of the shop, carrying a few bags of flower seeds with her. She seemed to be debating on which flower seeds she should get, probably, because she was trying to stick to a budget— a feeling that he knows all too well.

     As there were no other customers at the moment, he figured that it wouldn’t hurt to leave the counter for a while to try and assist her.

     “Good Morning, Miss.” He greeted, a small smile on his face. “I see that you’re having trouble deciding which flower seeds to get. Do you need any assistance?”

[ravenfromashes-blog-blog]

She built her walls so high Not so someone could climb them But so no one could find her

myapologiesformyheart (via wnq-writers)