#╰ ♡ ✧ ˖ 𝑀𝐴𝑅𝐼𝑆𝐸𝐿𝐴 : magic weaved in firelight ┊ ❨ threads. ❩

[fatestln]

⇢ 🔮 STATUS   ﹕ open. ⇢ 🔮 LOCATION   ﹕ hallowed grounds.

with  a  faint  jingle  of  the  bell  announcing  her  arrival,  marisela  pushed  open  the  door  to  hallowed  grounds.  she  was  tired  –  dead  tired,  really  –  but  she  was  certain  it  was  nothing  a  strong  cup  of  coffee  couldn’t  fix.  marisela  had  worked  all  night,  the  end  of  her  shift  coming  with  the  daylight,  and  she  practically  dragged  herself  to  portum’s  favorite  coffee  shop.  she  just  wanted  a  little cafecito  before  trudging  home  to  rest.  the  smells  wafting  through  the  air  were  promising,  to  say  the  least.  marisela  glanced  over  the  menu,  trying  to  muster  the  energy  to  make  a  decision,  but  her  eyes  were  blurring  making  it  a  near  impossible  task.  slightly  defeated,  marisela  sighed  and  stepped  up  to  the  counter  to  make  her  order,  one  hand  rubbing  at  her  temple.  “something  strong,  please.  the  strongest  you’ve  got,”  she  said  to  the  barista,  giving  them  a  tired  but  grateful  smile.  marisela  paid  for  her  order  and  stepped  aside  to  wait  for  her  name  to  be  called.  she  caught  someone’s  gaze,  and  felt  slightly  obligated  to  engage  in  some  small  talk.  “long  night  too,  or  just  an  early  start?”  maybe  small  talk  would  keep  her  awake  long  enough  until  the  caffeine  kicked  in.

[fatestln]

marisela  listened  quietly  as  aeri  vented,  her  face  holding  a  mix  of  empathy  and  restrained  amusement.  she  was  just  as  annoyed  as  the  other  was  at  having  lost  out  on  the  apartment,  but  seeing  aeri  so  animated  and  indignant  almost  made  the  entire  debacle  worth  it.  she  was  sorry  that  she  missed  out  on  whatever  aeri  had  spouted  off  in  korean.  “the  apartment  might  have  slipped  away,  but  at  least  we  met  each  other  out  of  it.”  aeri’s  question  about  her  background  caught  her  slightly  by  surprise,  although  she  kept  her  expression  neutral.  she  hesitated  a  bit,  before  relenting,  the  alcohol  making  her  tongue  looser  than  it  had  been  in  all  of  her  weeks  in  town.  “i’m  from  tacoma,  washington,”  she  admitted,  albeit  a  bit  guarded. “not  exactly  a  magical  haven,  but  you’d  never  know  it  if  you  walked  through  our  forests.”  a  ghost  of  a  smile  snuck  onto  her  lips  as  she  thought  about  all  the  time  she’d  spent  with  her  parents  in  the  forest,  foraging  and  honing  her  craft. “portum’s  definitely  different.  i’ve  never  been  able  to  be  open  with  my  magic  like  this.  but  hey,  home  isn’t  a  place,  right?  it’s  the  people  you  meet  along  the  way?”  her  lips  curved  into  a  small,  knowing  smile  as  she  glanced  at  aeri.

Maybe that was the reason why she'd gotten the apartment in the first place? Granted, Aeri didn't know how curses and blessings worked for witches, her only contact with these things had been due to her family helping others (or, in her father's and grandmother's case, scamming people) with their shaman powers. Her mother, however, had truly helped others. She had blessed families and had gotten rid of strong demons and Aeri couldn't be prouder of the woman. Maybe these things worked like that for witches, too.

"It's really revolting! I just can't believe I wasted my time and effort so that she could... aish... how do you say that—pull the rug from under our feet!" The brunette grunted, then returning to the language they shared. "She stole the apartment from us!" Aeri said the expression in her mother language, as she didn't really remember how to say it in English. At least, not when she was too busy downing another dose of hard liquor. Maybe if her brain were less annoyed, she would remember it.

The young Medium could only hope that Marisela was right and that Portum could really be a home for her. Maybe here, she could be able to understand her powers a little better. "I hope so, Mari. Even if we won't be roommates. At least we got to meet each other, right? Where are you from originally? I don't think you've ever told me."

[fatestln]

⇢ 🎃 STATUS   ﹕ open. ⇢ 🎃 LOCATION   ﹕ portum's annual halloween fair.

marisela  had  always  had  a  love  hate  relationship  with  halloween.  on  one  hand,  it  was  fun  to  dress  up,  and  the  magic  in  the  air  was  almost  palpable  –  hidden  in  plain  sight  among  the  lights  and  laughter.  on  the  other  hand,  there  were  so  many  harmful  stereotypes  about  witches  that  ran  rampant  during  the  season  as  well.  when  her  fellow  witches  in  portum  last  year  had  explained  the  annual  halloween  fair,  marisela  was  honestly  hesitant  to  have  anything  to  do  with  it.  however,  once  she  attended,  she  realized  how different  halloween  was  in  portum  in  the  best  way  popular.  so,  this  year,  marisela  was  actually  excited  to  participate  in  the  festivities.  even  went  so  far  as  to  dress  up  like the  love  witch,  although  she  wasn’t  sure  how  many  would  understand  the  reference.  she  wandered  through  the  crowds,  eyes  trailing  over  families,  groups  of  kids  daring  each  other  to  brave  the  haunted  house,  and  vendors  calling  out.  one  such  vendor  was  calling  people  to  try  the  ring  toss  game.  marisela  lingered,  arms  crossed  as  she  watched  the  game  with  narrowed  eyes.  she  tilted  her  head,  calculating  what  the  chances  were–was  it  rigged  or  just  as  impossible  as  it  seemed?  she  stepped  forward  to  take  a  closer  look  and  bumped  her  shoulder  against  someone  standing  next  to  her. “oh,  sorry  about  that!”  she  apologized,  then  gestured  towards  the  people  currently  playing. “thinking  of  trying  your  hand,  or  just  here  to  watch  everyone  else  miss?”

[fatestln]

it  was  almost  closing  time  when  marisela  entered  the  bookshop.  the  dim  evening  light  casted  long  shadows  as  her  gaze  swept  over  the  familiar  shelves.  she  stopped  abruptly  at  the  welcome  she  received  from  her  favorite  bookstore  clerk.  “what  am  i  doing  here?”  she  echoed  with  a  raised  eyebrow.  she  stepped  deeper  into  the  bookstore,  arms  crossing  as  she  walked  towards  liam.  her  voice  was  soft,  but  the  weight  behind  it  still  carried.  “well,  aren’t  you  just  little  mister  sunshine?  you  talk  to  all  your loyal  customers  like  that?”  the  corners  of  her  mouth  tilted  upward  into  a  smirk.  her  eyes  flicked  toward  bellatrix,  still  browsing  in  the  back,  and  then  turned  her  attention  back  to  liam.  as  much  as  they  bantered  back  and  forth,  mari  was  actually  incredibly  fond  of  the  kid.  (  okay  so  he  wasn’t  that  much  younger  than  she  was,  but the  fact  remained  that  he  brought  out  some  dormant  protective  urges  in  her.  )  “i  came  by  to  check  if  that  spellbook  i  ordered  had  come  in  yet.” 

who: liam & marisela @fatestln where: aphelion books

there  was  nothing  more  depressing  than  working  the  closing  shift  on  a  wednesday .  the  crowd  had  already  all  but  disappeared ,  only  old  lady  bellatrix  browsing  the  magical  tombs  in  the  back ,  something  she  did  every  day .  liam  hadn't  had  enough  energy  to  ask  in  the  years  he'd  worked  there ,  but  he  wondered  if  she  was  a  ghost  just  haunting  the  place .  it  wouldn't  be  unlikely. the  bell  rang  as  the  door  opened  and  liam  could  see  a  faint  outline  of  a  woman  walking  in .  before  he  could  push  down  a  groan ,  he  realised  he  knew  the  person  in  front  of  him .  "mari ,"  he  sang ,  voice  just  teetering  on  something  darker ,  "what  the  fuck  are  you  doing  here  ?"  he  gave  her  a  quick  once  over,  noticing  the  lack  of  scrubs  (  or  at  least  that's  what  he  assumed,  because  her  outfit  wasn't  colour  blocked  ) .

[fatestln]

marisela  rolled  her  eyes  at  kareem’s  antics,  a  smile  tugging  at  the  corners  of  her  mouth  despite  her  best  efforts  to  maintain  a  facade  of  indifference.  “don’t  try  to  use  me  to  get  out  of  your  brotherly  duties,”  she  quipped,  choosing  to  avoid  answering  the  damsel  comment  since  she  really  didn’t  have  a  good  comeback.  marisela  gave  him  a  skeptical  glance  as  he  ordered  food,  trying  not  to  look  too  interested  in  the  scent  of  fresh  pastries  that  wafted  over.  “oh,  i promise  you  i  can  be  a  hassle,”  she  raised  an  eyebrow  at  his  smile,  her  own  tone  challenging  and  skating  on  the  very  edge  of  flirtation.  “i  guess  you  have  a  point–everyone  deserves  a  decent  breakfast,”  she  replied,  her  tone  almost dramatically  pensive.  marisela  accepted  the  muffin  and  croissant  with  a  small  nod,  her  eyes  zeroing  in  on  the  croissant  in  particular.  in  truth,  there  was  something…nice  about  the  way  he  treated  her,  although  she’d  probably  never  admit  it.  “thanks,  kareem,”  she  said  softly,  tucking  a  strange  of  hair  behind  her  ear  and  taking  a  bite  of  the  croissant.  warm,  cheesy  and  delicious.  “damn  it,  that  hits  all  the  spots,”  the  witch  groaned  in  satisfaction,  covering  her  mouth  as  she  spoke.  now  that  she’d  taken  a  bite,  she  realized  just  how  hungry  she’d  been.

"I didn't know only damsels in distress got to be escorted home, though." He said while his dark orbs moved from the slight twitch of her lips, one that almost made him think she was about to pout, back to her crystal clear gaze, his hand moving to his chest in some sort of faux innocence kind of way. If anything, given her tough demeaner and the way Marisela was always adamant in telling Kareem that she could handle herself, he wouldn't dare thinking of the young nurse like that. "In that case, do you think I could stop saying yes to my sisters requests for rides then?" Again, Kareem easily plastered that charming smirk on his face. "Seems like a valid excuse to give, doesn't it?" He said as he took a step back to give Mari some space to take her order, after all, he wouldn't be caught dead standing between an exhausted witch and her coffee.

Food was the way to everyone's heart and if that wasn't the case with Marisela, his mother had always said that there was nothing food couldn't cure. Well, maybe death, but he wasn't going to defy Amada Howard on her words. Kareem knew better than that. "If food doesn't convince a tired soul, I don't know what will." The other witch chuckled, before placing an order for a couple of muffins and a buttered croissant with ham and white cheese. He didn't know if Mari would like it, but he was hoping she would. "A hassle? Nah. I never offer things that will be a headache to me, so don't worry. Besides, how can you ever be a hassle to anyone?" The smirk was back on his lips and if he was being honest, his little back and forth with Marisela went beyond the blatant flirting. He actually really did like spending time with her and talking to her.

One of the problems of being everyone's friend was that not many people his age were actually around for deep conversations, which, he actually had with Mari. "Here you go, Miss Not-in-Distress. Everyone deserves a good breakfast after a loaded shift, don't you think?"

[fatestln]

marisela  looked  up  at  kareem,  his  casual,  easy  smile  already  testing  her  resolve.  the  word  ‘beautiful’  slid  off  his  tongue  like  it  belonged  there,  and  while  she  used  to  bristle  at  it,  by  now  she’d  learned  it  wasn’t  meant  to  be  anything  but  kind. “i’ve  still  got  a  few  things  to  take  care  of  before  i  head  home,”  she  replied,  her  voice  holding  a  stubborn  edge  to  it.  what  those  things  were  she  couldn’t  tell  you.  her  name  was  called  by  the  barista  and  she  stepped  forward,  accepting  it  with  a  small  smile.  marisela  turned  back  to  kareem,  her  lips  practically  jutting  out  into  a  pout. “i’m  not  some  damsel  who  needs  escorting.”  he  carried  himself  with  such  calm  certainty,  he  was  frustratingly  hard  to  resist  sometimes,  and  he  wasn’t  pushing  her–simply  offering.  that  made  it  worse  somehow.  she  opened  her  mouth  to  decline  again,  but  his  next  words  cut  through  her  defenses. “something  tasty?”  marisela  echoed,  pressing  her  lips  together,  fighting  off  a  smile. “you  really  think  food  is  going  to  convince  me?”  it  absolutely  was.  her  stomach  almost  growled  at  the  mere  thought.  she  stood  there,  arms  crossed,  as  if  that  alone  would  be  enough  to  keep  herself  from  giving  in. but, truthfully, the  thought  of  walking  home  alone  was  less  appealing  the  more  she  thought  about  it. “okay,  fine,  but  only  because  you’re  feeding  me.  you  sure  it’s  not  hassle?”  the  last  thing  she  wanted  was  to  be  a  burden.

Kareem would have stayed home that morning, but something stirred him awake and kicked out of the house. A feeling, he called. So, here he was, standing in line for his first cup of coffee of the day and it seemed like he wasn't the only one. "Shouldn't you be heading home by now, beautiful?" He asked Mari, hoping the witch didn't mind the pet name that in any way, came in a derogatory way and by now, she would've know that. "If it had been a long night, that is." He added, to let her know that he indeed had paid attention to what she'd said. "Just an early start for me. If you let me walk you home, I'll add something tasty to munch on while we go. How's that?"

[fatestln]

robin’s  presence  behind  the  counter  was  welcome,  although  she could tell there  was  a  weariness  in  her  bones  that  seemed  to  mirror  marisela's  own,  though  for  different  reasons  she  was  sure.  she  walked  over  and  took  the  seat  robin  offered,  picking  at  her  nails  as  she  waited  for  her  drink.  robin’s  joke  had  her  smiling  despite  herself. “don’t  you  dare  try  to  take  it  away  from  me,  robin.  it’s  all  that’s  got  me  holding  on,”  she  joked  in  return. “nah,  it’s  just  a little fucked.  but  hey,  can’t  say  i  haven’t  pulled  a  few  ill-advised  all  nighters,”  she  said  with  a  nonchalant  shrug.  who  was  she  to  judge,  honestly?  at  the  offer  to  talk  about  her  night,  marisela  hesitated.  she  did  want  to  talk,  but  bearing  her  soul  like  that  made  her  feel  a  bit  vulnerable.  still,  maybe  it  was  the  quiet  atmosphere  of  the  café  or  robin  herself  that  made  her  feel  like  her  secrets  were  safe  to  share  within  it. “long  night  doesn’t  even  cover  it,”  she  admitted,  her  tone  softer. “hospital  was  a  mess,  but  it’s  the  other  stuff,  you  know?”  her  gaze  flicked  up  to  meet  robin’s. “you  ever  feel  like  the  more  you  try  to  fix  things,  the  more  tangled  they  get?”  the  thought  of  that  dark,  magical  debt  tugged  at  the  corners  of  her  mind.  it  was  unsettling,  how  easy  it  was  to  think  of  all  the  things  that  kept  her  running  like  a  hunted  animal.

robin decided to work behind the counter this morning, for the first time in days not being the one to open up shop, the blonde decided to have her little quiet time just making drinks for the customers at the hallowed grounds. she had a long night, called to do justice for the innocent, words she will utter before taking one to a place where they deserve to be. a huge contrast to her nine to five, come to think of it, and sometimes said thought would make her laugh. perhaps it was one of the things why robin was still on her own two feet, being able to live a life she's chosen for someone who isn't there for her to be with anymore. a voice snaps her out of her thoughts, a familiar one, and it looks like she had a long night, too. "i'm starting to think a triple shot won't work anymore, mari." she jokes, turning to give her a teasing smile as she moves on to prepare her drink. "is it too fucked to say both?" she gestures to the empty stool by the counter for the other to sit so they could chat. "you wanna talk about it?"

[fatestln]

at  sebastian’s  startled  reaction,  marisela  gave  him  an  amused  smirk ( if  there  is  such  a  thing ).  her  gaze  followed  his  gesturing  towards  the  barist  and  she  chuckled. “well,  they  may  be  working,  but  you’re  voluntarily  up  at  this  hour.  sounds  like  an  early  start  to  me,”  she  quipped.  she  could  feel  the  weariness  of  a  long  night  caring  for  patients  clinging  to  her,  but  still,  she  offered  him  a  small  smile. “the  graveyard  shift?”  she  echoed,  running  a  hand  through  her  dark  hair. “it  was  a  bit  hectic,  i’m  sure  not  to  dissimilar  to  his  place  as  everyone’s  rushing  to  work  in  the  mornings.”  she  scanned  the  café,  to  the  windows  where  the  first  light  of  dawn  was  creeping  through. “peaceful  and  then  chaos.”

at first, when addressed, sebastian starts. truth be told, he wasn't expecting conversation at this time of day, more used to everyone around at this time being here just for caffeine and then moving on with their day. not that the conversation is unwelcome, but it does surprise him initially. “ i dunno if i'd call it an early start, considering my coworker over there has an earlier shift than me, ” bas says, gesturing at the other barista with a shrug ( and receiving an eyeroll in return ). to be honest, he likes the early morning shifts when he does get them, enjoys seeing the sun rise and slowly filter through the building. it's peaceful, and then the morning rush wakes him right up. “ how was the graveyard shift ? ”

[fatestln]

when  she  saw  hayden  stroll  in  after  what  seemed  like  an  impossibly  early  morning  run,  she  seemed  the  picture  of  discipline. “an  early  run,  huh?”  she  replied,  her  tone  tinged  with  a  mix  of  admiration  and  amusement. “i  think  you’re  one  of  the  few  people  in  this  town  who  voluntarily  gets  up  this  early  to  torture  yourself.”  her  eyes  were  sparkling  with  mischief,  her  words  playful,  though  she  hoped  her  genuine  respect  for  hayden’s  routine  was  evident.  “late  night  at  the  hospital,”  she  confirmed  with  a  nod. “never  a  dull  moment.”  there  was  a  brief  flicker  of  something  darker  in  her  expression  as  she  though  of  the  delicate  balance  between  life  and  death  that  she  teetered  between  every  day  at  work.  the  weight  of  that  responsibility.  the  look  disappeared  just  as  quickly,  marisela  pushing  it  aside  to  focus  back  on  hayden  with  a  small  smile.  “maybe  i  should  take  a  page  out  of  your  book  and  go  for  a  run  one  of  these  days,”  she  chuckled  softly. “although  knowing  me,  i’d  probably  make  it  halfway  and  collapse.  then i’d  be  the  one  in  need  of  a  nurse.”

         since  moving  back  to  portum  ,  hayden’s  made  an  active  effort  to  continue  her  morning  routine  .  although  ,  some  would  probably  think  she’s  insane  for  being  up  so  early  just  to  go  on  a  run  .  but  she  likes  the  peace  that  the  early  mornings  bring  .  the  conclusion  of  her  run  approaches  as  she  slows  down  from  her  running  pace  to  jogging  pace  and  eventually  to  a  comfortable  walking  pace  .  she  takes  a  quick  glance  at  her  apple  watch  ,  nodding  in  satisfaction  at  the  time  it  took  for  her  to  complete  five  miles  .  and  when  her  cool  down  guides  her  to  the  entrance  of  hallowed  grounds  ,  who  is  she  to  deny  herself  a  treat  ?

the  gorgon  makes  quick  work  to  enter  the  coffee  shop  and  place  her  order  .  she  leans  against  the  counter  ,  gaze  wandering  as  she  lets  herself  momentarily  space  out  .  at  the  sound  of  marisela’s  voice  ,  hayden  snaps  out  of  her  reverie  .  “  more  of  an  early  start  .  i  just  finished  a  run  ,  ”  she  admits  with  a  light  chuckle  .  “  what  about  you  ? ��late  night  ?  ”

[fatestln]

marisela  raised  an  eyebrow  as  bunny  snatched  the  coffee  with  a  level  of  chaotic  energy  that  disturbed  the  early  morning  quiet  of  the  coffee  shop.  she  leaned  back  slightly,  arms  crossed  loosely  as  she  took  in  their  theatrics,  a  faint  smirk  tugging  at  the  corner  of  her  lips. “you  know,  for  someone  teetering  on  the  edge  of  combustion,  you  manage  to  keep  things  pretty…lively,”  she  remarked,  her  tone  dry  but  laced  with  amusement.  she  cocked  her  head  to  the  side  and  raised  an  eyebrow. “factory,  huh?  must  be  a  new  addition  to  portum.”  the  sarcasm  was  subtle,  but  her  gaze  took  bunny  in  with  a  measured  curiosity.  she  snorted  as  coffee  dribbled  down  their  face,  taking  a  measured  step  back  out  of  the  splash  zone. “it  was  long.  but  hey,  at  least  i’ve  got  a  cup  of  coffee  waiting  for  me  at  the  end  of  it.” it  had  been  one  of  those  long,  torturous  shifts  that  made  you  question  whether  or  not  you  were  still  human  by  the  end  of  it,  but  that  felt  slightly  too  heavy  for  coffee  shop  small  talk. “although,  if  you’re  gonna  implode,  i’d  prefer  if  you  didn’t  do  it  right  here.  i’d  hate  to  have  to  clean  up  after  you.”  despite  bunny’s  chaotic  nature,  there  was  something  about  them  that  felt…familiar.  like  they  were  both  fighting  against  forces  they  couldn’t  fully  control.  maybe  that’s  why  mari  didn’t  exactly  mind  the  disturbance  they  brought  with  them.

it's  never  taken  bunny  long  to  stir  trouble,  cause  mischief;  even  in  a  safe  haven  like  portum.  it's  never  been  a  challenge  of  theirs,  nor  a  goal  set  in  place  -  it  just  follows  them.  has  followed  him  for  so  long  that  he's  not  sure  whether  he's  capable  of  not  causing  trouble.  the  llewellyns  were  cursed,  either  by  madness  or  misfortune  -  and  even  as  bunny  armstrong,  they  just  couldn't  escape  it.  their  gaze  is  sharp;  bruises  like  shadows  against  the  contours  of  their  face  -  eyes  lifting  to  marisela's  with  a  short,  sarcastic  snort.  "wanna  take  a  guess?"  it  feels  like  even  just  their  presence  disturbs  the  very  -  essence  of  the  coffee  shop;  the  harmony.  an  accident  waiting  to  happen.  bunny's  gaze  drops  to  the  barista  at  the  pick  -  up  counter;  snatching  the  coffee  out  of  their  hands  before  they  have  the  time  to  finish  saying  bun-  the  coffee  burns  every  inch  of  his  mouth,  but  he  tosses  the  hearth  witch  a  smile  that's  almost  sardonic,  "needed  a  pick  -  me  -  up,  y'know  how  it  is.  gotta  keep  the  caffeine  jitters  going  -  or  else  i'll  fucking...  combust.  explode  -  maybe  implode.  long  shift  at  the  factory."  there's  not  a  factory  in  portum.  "and,  fuck's  sake  -"  coffee  dribbles  from  the  corners  of  bunny's  mouth  as  they  take  another  long,  barbaric  sip  and  burns  them,  again,  "  -  and  how  was  your  shift  at  the,  uh,"  their  eyes  land  on  her  again;  whether  they're  using  context  clues  or  their  abilities  is  lost  on  him,  "fucking  -  hospital?  eerie  place."

[fatestln]

marisela  offered  the  woman  a  tired  but  genuine  smile  as  she  met  her  gaze. “you’re  spot  on.  another  long  shift  at  the  hospital,”  she  replied  softly,  her  voice  steady.  the  air  of  exhaustion  lung  to  her,  but  the  smell  of  coffee  wafting  throughout  the  shop  was  starting  to  help  already.  the  cozy  atmosphere  of  hallowed  grounds,  morning  murmurs  blending  with  the  hiss  of  the  espresso  machine  –  gave  it  the  feeling  of  it  almost  being  a  sanctuary  of  sorts. “sleep  schedules  are  overrated,  anyway,”  she  said  with  a  smirk  and  a  half-shrug.  the  woman  introduced  herself  as  verena  with  a  warm  smile  that  made  marisela  willing  to  continue  the  conversation,  even  if  she  was  dead  tired.  “marisela,”  she  said,  introducing  herself  in  return  and  offering  a  small  nod. “nice  to  meet  you,  verena.”  the ‘thank  you’  was  unexpected  in  this  context  and  had  her  flustering  slightly.  marisela  was  prepared  for  acknowledgement  and  appreciation  when  she  was  at  the  hospital,  but  everywhere  else  she  felt  almost  blindsided  by  it.  “oh,  thank  you,”  she  cleared  her  throat  and  pushes  her  hair  behind  her  ears. “some  nights  it  feels  like  we’re  just  spinning  our  wheels,  but  i  like  to  think  we  make  a  difference  in  the  long  run.”

dear FATESTLN ;

it was early , or really late... ver wasn't sure , but either way she was glad her favorite caffeine haunt was open 24/7. even on warm mode , her laptop shined brightly in her chosen corner , and opp- it was already time for a refill. she stood and got in line , placing one of her many refillable cups on the counter and waiting patiently. the baristas knew what she liked -- an iced dirty chai , in spite of how cold it was at this time of morning. a beautiful woman in scrubs had come in , and ver was reminded once again how big portum seemed to be. every day , a new face for her to learn and love. she smiled warmly , " oh , i'm not sure. i guess technically an early start? my sleep schedule is all out of whack. . . but for you , i'm guessing a long night? i hope the caffeine helps. i'm verena , it's really nice to meet you! thank you for whatever work you put in at the hospital , if me assuming is correct, " and she paused to gesture at the uniform, " i'm sure it's hard work. "

[fatestln]

marisela  fought  the  smile  that  threatened  to  break  out  onto  her  face  at  calahan’s  musings.  “you  don’t  look  bad,  cal,”  she  said,  shaking  her  head. “you  just…look  like  someone  who’s  been  up  longer  than  necessary.”  it  was  true,  calahan  had  a  ghoulish  handsomeness  to  him  that  made  it  hard  for  him  to  look bad  in  her  opinion.  she  thought  back  to  their  late-night  talks  back  at  the  hospital,  where  she  first  got  to  know  him.  even  as  a  chaplain,  calahan  had  always  had  a  presence  about  him–and  an  ability  to  calm  others  that  she’d  never  quite  seen.  at  the  mention  of  her  … favorite  book  clerk,  marisela  chuckled.  “i’m  sure  liam  will  appreciate  the  gesture,”  her  eyes  sparkled  with  amusement. “though,  if  you really  want  to  spoil  him,  maybe  skip  the  macchiato  and  go  straight  for  a  hot  chocolate.  trust  me,  post-night…fun,”  she  paused  to  wiggle  her  eyebrows  playfully. “he’ll  thank  you.” marisela  tilted  her  head  to  the  side,  pondering  over  cal’s  comment  about  the  ‘living.’  he  made  comments  like  that  often  as  if  ‘life’  was  something  that  had  slipped  away  from  him  entirely,  and  while  marisela  knew  that  was technically  the  case,  seeing  calahan  do  all  these  little  things  for  liam  seemed  to  show  more  life  than  many  of  the  people  she  knew.  “but  it’s  sweet  you’re  doing  this  for  him.  meanwhile,  i’m  just  trying  to  make  it  home  to  my  cat,” she  joked.

calahan  often  tried  to  sleep  as  long  as  possible  to  keep  up  appearances,  to  spend  the  majority  of  the  night  beside  his  warm  partner,  watching  every  twitch  and  moan,  every  sleepy  movement.  it  was  fascinating.  the  vampire  could  sleep,  but  he  didn't  need  to  — much  like  food,  it  was  something  grey  and  unnecessary  that  had  long  since  lost  its  magic.  kissing  liam's  head,  slipping  away  into  the  morning  light,  he  had  decided  to  surprise  his  boyfriend  with  a  morning  pick - me - up.  a  much  needed  dose  of  sugar  and  caffeine  to  replenish  the  poor  boy  after  an  involved  night  together.  “neither.”  he  turned  away  from  studying  the  board  of  options.  what  on  earth  was  a  macchiato?  “why,  do  i  really  look  that  bad?”  calahan  liked  marisela,  a  nurse  he  remembered  from  his  time  at  the  hospital.  it  had  been  an  easy  life  —  a  chaplain,  visiting  those  that  were  about  to  meet  their  promised  death,  reassuring  them  that  it  was  a  good  thing,  that  they  were  about  to  find  a  peace  he  had  never  been  granted  —  and  he  would  have  stayed,  too,  if  the  haematologists  hadn't  stared  scratching  their  heads  and  wondering  where  all  the  blood  bags  had  disappeared  to.  it  was  convenient,  but  empty  from  the  goodness  calahan  needed  from  a  fresh  feed  — like  fast  food  or  a  gas-station  hot  dog.  the  nurses  that  frequented  night  shifts  had  easily  become  close  friends, people he could rely on for good conversation and biscuits.  “liam  is  still  asleep  back  home.  i  thought  i'd  be  a  good  boyfriend  and  come  and  get  a  coffee  for  him  before  he  wakes  up.  i  forget  how  long  the  living  actually  need  to  sleep  for.”

[fatestln]

marisela  smirked  to  herself  as  she  glanced  at  the  game  and  then  back  at  the  man. “well,  i’d  hate  to  ruin  the  mystery  for  you,”  she  began,  a  hint  of  a  playful  challenge  sparking  in  her  eyes. “but  i’ve  seen  even  the  cockiest  lose  a  few  coins  here.”  the  brunette  crossed  her  arms,  shifting  her  weight  as  the  sounds  and  lights  of  the  fair  shimmered  around  them. “it’s  all  in  the  wrist,  though…or  so  they  say.” marisela  took  a  step  closer,  tilting  her  head  thoughtfully  as  if  inspecting  the  game. “but  who  knows?  maybe  you’ve  got  luck  on  your  side,”  she  added,  her  gaze  drifted  back  to  him  with  an  amused  glint.

there's nothing kai doesn't enjoy about the festival. while the seas and oceans will always feel true to him, there is so much above the surface that the merman has always loved. the pure joy that seems so linger in the air ( along with the smell of fried foods ) is a favorite of his. even the groans from those missing the ring toss still have laughter hidden in their tones. he almost doesn't notice the other backing into him; a rarity since he always notices a face as pretty as his. her apology is met with a smile and quick wave of his hand, dismissing the need for one. �� a little of both. feeling out just how difficult it is before i make a fool of myself. ❞ underselling, kai planned on doing much better than those before.

[fatestln]

marisela’s  gaze  softened  as  she  caught  the  nervous  energy  the  young  werewolf  was  radiating  like  static  in  the  evening  air.  she  tilted  her  head,  her  usual  smirk  easing  into  something  softer  as  she  tucked  her  hands  into  her  pockets. “nah,  you’re  not  the  only  one,” she  said,  her  voice  taking  a  similar  gentle  tone  to  the  one  she  used  with  frightened  patients  at  the  hospital.  “between  the  costumes,  and  the  smells,  and  everyone  acting  a  little  extra  for  halloween,  it’s  enough  to  make  anyone  wanna  vanish  for  a  bit.”  her  eyes  scanned  the  area,  spotting  a  quieter  stretch  of  the  fair  near  the  boardwalk. “there’s  a  spot  over  there,”  she  said,  nodding  her  head  towards  it. “not  exactly  a  grand  escape,  but  enough  to  catch  your  breath  without  bumping  into  someone  every  five  steps.”  marisela  paused,  giving  the  boy  a  playful  smile. “if  it’s  not  too  much  company,  we  could  walk  over  there  together.  i’m  not  much  for  games  tonight  either.”

jasper  hated  it.   already  they  had  counted  three  ‘ werewolf ’  costumes  —  the  furry  masks,  the  ripped  shirts,  the  blood  around  their  mouths  —  and  each  time  the  frightened  cub  had  flinched  and  quickly  changed  direction.  he  was  there,  in  part,  to  accompany  koda,  the  vampire  that  had  become  his  boyfriend  only  three  weeks  ago  and  yet  had  changed  their  entire  life  completely.  for  the  first  time,  jasper  felt  loved.  they  felt  safe.  they  felt,  finally,  as  though  their  father  couldn’t  touch  them,  as  though  he  would  be  torn  limb  from  limb  if  he  tried.  ripples  of  anxiety  clung  to  jasper  —  he  knew  that  they  always  would  —  attached  like  limpets  to  the  underside  of  an  old  ship.  even  if  they  were  pried  away,  they  would  leave  a  scar  on  the  hull  ;  how  many  more  scars  could  the  youngest  finch  take? a  bump  threw  him  back  into  the  real  world,  out  of  his  thoughts,  jerking  them  back  to  reality.  jasper  gasped  and  fumbled  to  grab  the  phone  that  had  fallen  into  a  pile  of  orange  autumn  leaves.  “no,  no,  it’s  okay  —  don’t  apologize,”  they  babbled,  wiping  dirt  from  the  screen  and  pocketing  the  thing,  “i  —  um.  no,  actually,  no.  i  wasn’t  going  to  …  i’m  not  very  good  at  games.  i’m  actually  —  ”  they  took  a  deep  breath,  centering  himself,  spine  straight  and  eyes  wide  like  a  trapped  bird.  “  —  i  was  just  looking  for  somewhere  quiet  to  get  away  from  all  of  this.  it’s  …  it’s  overwhelming,  isn’t  it?  or  am  i  the  only  one  that  thinks  this  is  a  little  much?”

[fatestln]

marisela  was  knocked  back  slightly  at  the  collision  and  instinctively  reached  out  to  steady  herself,  grabbing  onto  the  other’s  extended  arm.  she  was  momentarily  caught  off  caught  by  the  rambling,  but  when  her  brain  caught  up  an  amused  smirk  worked  its  way  onto  her  face.  marisela  released  their  arm,  and  glanced  at  the  other  patrons  of  the  stand.  “a  little  tongue-tied  there,  huh?”  she  teased,  flicking  her  gaze  between  the  stranger  and  the  ring  toss  game. “but  if  it’s  any  consolation,  i’m  not  exactly  known  for  my  stellar  aim  either.” marisela  watched  silently  as  the  other  players  continued  to  miss,  tilting  her  head  slightly  and  considering  her  options. “yeah,  i  think  i’ll  give  it  a  shot,” she  replied,  nodding  toward  the  game  before  turning  her  attention  to  the  other  again. “care  to  join  me?  might  as  well  we both  risk  our  dignity  together.”  marisela  stepped  towards  an  empty  spot  along  the  booth  and  looked  over  her  shoulder  with  a  slight,  daring  smile. 

their attempt at wolverine's signature style has already given up on its battle with thick, naturally straight hair. this leaves strands of freshly dyed black flopping right into dark brown eyes. a nuisance and a half, making alex use a combination of sweat and product to slick it back and away. they really wish they'd brought one of their baseball caps. alas, they'd forgotten the existence of trucker caps and decided such a look was more along the lines of peter parker. a rookie mistake. one they're trying to remedy in preparation for the ring toss game when a shoulder jostles them out of their thoughts. considering they're built like a brick shithouse, the contact does little to move them. alex does, however, shoot out an arm in case the other person loses balance. there's no physical contact, but the limb is extended in offering regardless.

"you're alright!" voice is a low, thickly accented grunt that trails off into a sharp swallow at the sight of a red dress and pretty eyes. after being reduced to silently gaping for a moment, alex clears their throat and aimlessly waves their other arm in the direction of the game. "no! i mean, yeah! i mean, uh... maybe?" c'mon dude, get your shit together! "yeah." they laugh. "everyone's aim sucks!" a sharp glare is tossed in their direction by one of the players, making pale ears redden. "no offense! mine sucks too! i'd do way worse than you!" swallowing down further rambling, alex hunches their shoulders and steps aside.

"sorry, did you fancy a go?"

[fatestln]

with  a  raised  eyebrow,  marisela  watched  aeri  down  her  shot  with  a  knowing  smirk.  they  were  relatively  new  friends,  but  she  couldn’t  help  but  be  impressed  at  the  way  the  girl  was  holding  her  alcohol.  she  could  feel  the  frustration  rolling  off  her  in  waves,  and  marisela  felt  just  as  incessed.  the  injustice  of  the  whole  situation  was  still  fresh  in  both  of  their  minds.  “no,  you  totally  have  every  right  to  be  angry,”  she  countered,  leaning  back  in  her  chair  and  crossing  her  arms. “that  old  hag  practically  cursed  the  walls  with  her  whining  and  somehow  she  gets  the  place? it’s  ridiculous.”  marisela  poured  herself  another  shot of whiskey,  they  had  asked  the  bartender  to  leave  the  bottle  so  they  could  serve  themselves.  she  knocked  back  her  own  drink  before  pouring  another  one  for  them  both.  “still,  i  think  portum  has  a  way  of  giving  people  what  they  need,”  she  mused,  swirling  the  liquid  in  her  shot  glass.  at  least,  that’s  what  she  was  hoping.  she  hadn’t  expected  to  end  up  in  portum,  but  from  the  sounds  of  it  that  was  usually  how  it  worked.  marisela  shook  her  head,  physically  preventing  her  thoughts  from  straying  to  the  reason  she  was  in  a  new  town  to  begin  with. “we  won’t  be  at  that  motel  forever.  the  universe  has  a  way  of  balancing  things  out,  even  if  it  takes  its  sweet  time.”

starter — aeri jeong

SETTING: the old haunt ; evening AVAILABILITY: closed starter for MARISELA LEON | ( @fatestln )

— · flashback thread · —

"Seriously I can't believe that old hag was the one who got the apartment." Aeri wasn't knowing to be that vocal about things, or... maybe she was more known to be more prone to write spiteful things than saying them out loud, but it seemed highly unfair that someone who had spent the entire visitation complaining about everything under the sun, had been the one to end up with the apartment. So yes, Aeri was fuming as she downed another shot of whiskey. She had been raised on soju and makgeolli, so her alcohol intake was quite high. "Sorry, I know I shouldn't be this angry, but, I'm tired of living at the motel at the end of the street. If we were living somewhere else in the world, I'd probably be fearing being killed by a serial killer or something right now."