#because they're around the old market district?

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

Hello! First time asking. English ia not my first language, but i'll try. Could you write about the reaction of the m6, especially Muriel, to finding a kid with the same traumas as them, and them adopting them with MC? I especially am curiouse about Muriel with a kid that was taken frim their parents to be sold around.

Thats It, thank you very much, your work os incredible!

The Arcana Mini-HCs: M6 find a child with the same trauma as them

Julian: takes in a gangly teenager he found sleeping in a Temple District library because he was left orphaned and didn't want to be a burden on resources that younger kids could use. empathizes with him SO MUCH and insists on not only taking him in but helping him find his calling and education. he's currently Julian's apprentice in the clinic and has already started calling Mazelinka "Grandma"

Asra: found a kid under the docks who refused to leave because they were waiting for their parents to come back - months after they had disappeared. he helped them leave a letter behind with the address for the shop and asked them to stay with him, since (as he put it) you had too much work on your hands and could use an assistant. they're best friends with Faust and already know multiple pranking spells

Nadia: bumped into a poorly-disguised runaway noblewoman while she was making a poorly-disguised visit to the South End. she knew she couldn't offer to adopt a thirteen-year-old right off the bat, so she invited her to the Palace for a job interview instead and used the opportunity to figure out the situation. now Nadia is her "mentor" (read: guardian) and she has six aunts very eager to spoil her rotten

Muriel: came across a merchant's cart broken down in the woods and found a toddler stowed away in the back. after hearing that he was an orphan from a warzone, Muriel picked him up and carried him home without a second thought. Now he spends his time running and playing in the woods with Inanna and occasionally visiting Auntie Countess and Funcle Asra for school lessons and shopping trips

Portia: started chatting with a little girl selling flowers in the market place, only to find out that she and her orphaned brother had lived together on the streets before he got old enough to travel on his own. she brought her back to have dinner at the cottage, and then to have a sleepover with Pepi, and then to have breakfast. she's officially your daughter now, and Julian still keeps an eye out for her older brother

Lucio: got teamed up with a young mercenary who was clearly lying about his age on one of your jobs. he found out later that he had run away from home after falling in with a bad crowd and losing his parents as a result. he ended up inviting him to travel with the two of you, first as a mentor, then as a father figure, and finally as his legal guardian. he likes pranking the dogs and watching you two bicker

[bbanghiitomi]

| ophelia

synopsis: hyein has a keen eye for observing people as well their energy, you have an eye that can see ghosts. when the child of your parents' friends starts a club, it leads them to you.

— non!idol!student!lhyein × non!idol!student!femreader!

note: implied platonic!

-⁠ᄒ⁠ᴥ⁠ᄒ⁠--⁠ᄒ⁠ᴥ⁠ᄒ⁠--⁠ᄒ⁠ᴥ⁠ᄒ⁠--⁠ᄒ⁠ᴥ⁠ᄒ⁠--⁠ᄒ⁠ᴥ⁠ᄒ⁠--⁠ᄒ

"geez, those girls again? they never get tired of their antics don't they?" you look at your friend — hyunseo as she looks over your shoulders to the abandoned underground hall of your school, you follow her line of sight to see five girls carrying flashlights and lined up on the way to the old exchange student building. "what are they doing?" you ask, hyunseo shrugs and laughs as she scratches her cheeks.

"ghost hunting? i don't know, their youngest member went around convincing others to join." it's getting dark, you finally walk past the old building to the pathway leading towards the main gate of the school campus. you've heard about this gimmick by that specific group of friends, you have found it ridiculous too but decided to just ignore them — it's not like their hurting anyone anyway.

you didn't realize hyein was actually serious about the ghost hunting thing, you've once thought she might have been fooling around and just making things up but she seems to be the person who doesn't lie. she goes around the class even sometimes to the floor beneath your classroom to recruit people to join but they always push her away and say she's absurd.

their friend group is made up of different ages, with hyein being the youngest — she's always the most enthusiastic about their whole gimmick, you've never been interested at all and sometimes would hear her talking about it to some people, sometimes the half australian girl would come to your classroom and converse with her.

actually you've never been interested in hyein at all, maybe she's cool, pretty, and fun but you were always surrounded by the same people and have never tried making conversations with hyein unless for school purposes, hyein has also never approached you about their ghost hunting gimmick, not that you minded it or whatever but you were just a bit jealous that other people seemed more fitting for it other than you.

"wouldn't they get in trouble if they got caught?" you ask hyunseo, who once again shrugs and looks at you whilst you two walk inside the district market. "didn't you know? jiwon who's in the same class as minji said that minji lives in our school dorms so sometimes they go to the suite lobby to kill some time." hyunseo answers, you two live in the same neighborhood — have you mentioned? hyein lives in the same block too?

you often see her playing in their front yard with the same group of people, but you never really see her when you go to school because oftentimes she's late.

"so, they get away from sneaking inside?" you ask, following behind hyunseo who shrugs. "you can say minji is a master at hiding trespassers." you laugh when she says that, you realize how different your friends are with hyein's... they're much more reserved, crazy loud when it's only the seven of you but everyone thinks differently.

you shift your eyes a bit and in the seemingly darkening skies then to the bustling market, you see a ghost nearby — you've had this ability to see spirits ever since you were a child, you've gotten used to it, so much that it doesn't faze you anymore. you feel the cold breeze of the air, everywhere you go— they're everywhere, you hate this feeling but it's been sticking to you no matter where you go.

"you okay?" hyunseo asks, looking back at you and you realize you've stopped walking, all of a sudden in the middle of the crowd. you blink your eyes and shake your head before following. "yeah, i just remembered something." you mutter, smiling at her.

in all honesty, you haven't told any of your friends about this peculiar ability, none of them have took notice of it... you were pretty good at hiding it. on the past few years growing up, you started to get braver when it comes to facing spirits, none of these dead souls know your ability so it was easy to avoid them but then again... you've made it your mission to look for your missing mother and the biggest mystery of her disappearance has something to do with ghosts.

hyunseo and the other girls know you're adopted, it wasn't like you hated admitting it... you've grown to acknowledge that fact quite well and they admire you for that. maybe the worst part of it all was not knowing why your mother left you with a friend.

hyein... knows that too. surprisingly, even with that non-stop running of her mouth, she haven't spilled anything about it to anyone at all.., maybe it's her natural skill to be able to read through someone's experience and understand what they feel.

ophelia

coming home again feels nothing new, you close the door and slowly excuse yourself to an empty living room, they're all currently at work, living you in charge of the house. when your 'mom' comes home late, she makes sure to bring home food and your 'dad' is nice, it's just two of them but it's okay.

the only time ghosts don't bother you is when you're in your room, whether you're sleeping or daydreaming, ghosts cannot enter your room... it's weird but you've never really find out what the reason is.

you hear the distinct sound of car honking, realizing it's from hyein's family and you peek to see hyein dashing to their porch, followed by her angry father who got off the car. you shrug, hyein's never changed... she's totally the same stubborn, nice, hot blooded kid.

it's not like you know hyein deeply but it's also not like you don't at all. you've been living in the same area, both your parents biological or not, like hyein once described it as "uncomfortably close", she might have been overreacting but that's the reason you know hyein almost too much for two kids who don't even talk to each other.

hyein sometimes gives off a vibe of someone who avoids you for certain reasons such as "she might not like me" or "we're very different" both can be true, but unfortunately none of this are. hyein has a different direction to go and that's why you seem to never both cross paths.

the only thing that you wonder about hyein is the reason behind her ghost-hunting activities. why does she do that? why did she recruit people to do that?

you've once thought if the girl ever knew that you could see ghosts, but you never really got the answer.

it's also weird how she tries to recruit people in it, but specifying no actual goal.

you turn your back to the window as you shake your head, erasing the thought of hyein in your head before jumping onto your bed.

ophelia

hyein runs to her room, her father isn't really mad and she knows that. her father doesn't follow her to her room as hyein enters and runs to her computer to immediately contact her friends.

forestry club (science hall building)

minji_kim04: do you really think we'd be able to follow the spirit inside the campus?

minji_kim04: i went around and most entrance are blocked by barricades.

sparkle.grace: don't give up yet.

sparkle.grace: why don't we keep contacting ms. seulgi, she knows this!!!

kitty_k4ng: surely you guys will leave my sister alone eventually.

kitty_k4ng: she sells antique, she doesn't know anything about ghosts.

honey04ever: haha... it's not about seeing ghosts, it's about the camera.

mo.dan_yell: yes! the camera can trace spirits, we've been stuck just at the barricade of the dormitories. i think we can find another way.

honey04ever: yeah, we've gone so far and i would really hate having to go back.

kitty_k4ng: ugh alright, we can go ahead ask her for fortune where it should lead us.

sparkle.grace: great! i'll bring the camera tomorrow and let's meet at kitty's place!

it didn't take quite long the next day, it's raining very hard when the five girls meet at the small village, an antique shop that also provides fortune telling services. the current goal of the team is to find a way to follow the spirit that went behind the school campus, there's no other exit nor entrance that leads to that path, it's an unknown place that is occupied by the school.

"it's raining hard today." minji says, holding an umbrella for her and hanni, danielle sighs and scoots closer to haerin who's holding an umbrella for them too. "but i checked the news, it's supposed to be sunny." she complains.

in this year, there's really no other clear way to know the weather except from the radio or news.

hyein grumbles, holding her own umbrella as they stand in front of the antique shop. "are you guys leaving?" she asks the four girls, who look at each other, each doing their own style of shrugging. "hyein, what's your plan? we're not going to leave you behind." hanni says, looking at the youngest, taller girl.

hyein nods her head, a determined look on her face. "we'll carry on. let's call ms. seulgi!" she says, making her way inside the store.

"unfortunately, the school now owns that place... it's an empty lot, i figured but the only way in is from the school premises, which you girls are not allowed." seulgi says, bringing her hands down to the clothes table, all receiving looks of disbelief from the owner.

"there's no other way? that's impossible." haerin says, seulgi shakes her head, looking at her younger sister. "i'm following the path that the spirit took, that's the only way she went," she informs the girls, she lights an incense and leads the smoke inside the lamp. as the girls watch in curiosity, the light immediately dies down.

"what does that mean?" minji asks, leaning on the table as the other girls wait for an answer. seulgi stands up and walks out of the fortune telling room, surprising everyone.

the girls look behind where the older kang left, hanni scatters to follow where seulgi went. the other girls follow to the entrance of the shop, where surprisingly your adopted mother was standing.

"y/n's missing..." hyein pushes the other girls as she runs to your mom, looking at the older woman with concern written all over her face. "what happened?" she asks, your mom sighs and shakes her head.

"i don't have any idea too, she went out yesterday and hasn't come back at all." your mom says, seulgi nods and leads your mom to the fortune telling room, where the other girls except hyein stayed outside the room.

"do you think you have any idea where she is?" hyein asks, sitting across your mom. seulgi lights another incense, where it stayed in the lamp for a 2 minutes. "she's somewhere in the forest." seulgi says, putting the lamp down as the smoke flies to the south.

"the mountain?" your mom nods at hyein. "yes, the mountain that was once a home to the biggest inn here... i knew she'd be there but the place is too dangerous to visit." seulgi nods and walks over to the door of the room. "it's raining... the water in the mountain." she says, before turning to hyein's direction. "you have the camera right?" she asks to which hyein nods her head immediately.

"yes! i brought it here with me." seulgi walks over to hyein. "tell haerin to follow y/n's spirit... she might have been looking for the same thing your group have been looking for."

ophelia

"are you sure we're gonna continue? it's dark and empty in the mountain." hanni says as she walks in front of minji. "hey, it's alright. haerin has the lamp with her and we're all wearing raincoats." minji tells the shorter girl, looking over to hanni with a small smile. hanni sighs.

"it's dangerous to get wet there, it's slippery and dark. as long as i have the lamp we're going to be alright." haerin says. danielle nods and smiles at the girls. "i really think we should focus on looking for y/n." she says, hyein is walking a lot faster than the others and she they got to the old train station, she immediately turns the power on.

"do you think her friends know she's missing?" hanni asks as they sit on the chairs of the train station, minji standing beside where hanni is. "if her mom announced, police officers would be all over the case." minji answers.

"no they don't. i think her mom keeps it because it's nothing police officers could solve." hyein answers, they all look to each other before haerin speaks. "you know that y/n can see ghosts?" hyein nods, putting an index finger on her chin as she thinks.

"it's obvious when she moves or the way she acts, i just don't have any idea what she's looking for like what ms. kang said."

danielle looks at haerin then back at hyein. "do you know? i think you're really the only one who can sense that. you have such observant eyes."

"if my sister implied that she's looking for the same thing, we might honestly find the entrance to that place where the spirit went to." everyone looks at haerin before the train stops. hyein looks at the other train inside, that must be the train you used to get to the mountain.

danielle, hanni, and minji all brought flashlights while haerin carries the lamp to avoid evil spirits and hyein holds the camera.

the shutter goes off. your traces can be seen on the ground, hyein takes the lead. the camera doesn't guarantee your steps or location but it is useful in tracking spirits as well as scaring them away. it's dark inside the forest, it's raining as well... there are lots of papers scattered on the ground and hyein assumes it's from the old inn nearby just at the entrance of the mountain's shrine.

there's a continuous line of water flowing, it's from the mountain's peak, a waterfall that connects every part of the forest.

danielle picks up a paper from the ground, noticing how it's relatively drier than the ones on the mud. she opens it and reads what is written below. "a black box of coffin in the shrine... under the cave, the water is rising. what?" all the girls look at her and hyein immediately asks for the paper.

hyein looks over the cliff they are standing upon, not too far from them is the old building of the large inn...

helping each other, they were able to get down from the cliff and reach the back entrance of the inn, with deteriorating walls, the inn stands almost unrecognizable from what it looked like before. haerin takes an envelope from her shoulder bag, opening it with your picture and your information... one of the pictures include the inn.

hyein takes a picture of the inn, while minji helps haerin raise the lamp. hyein can sense your trace from the entrance, going to the front entrance of the inn.

hyein screams when she's met with a ghost, backing up and immediately taking a picture before the ghost disappears. the girls all huddle together, with minji standing behind to keep them close. "should we keep going?" she asks, hyein nods and looks at everyone. "we'd be alright at the shrine, it has to be close here." haerin mutters and walks forward where everyone followed.

they were able to find traces of the path that lead to the shrine after multiple turns, picking up pieces of paper until... they reach the shrine but it doesn't look quite right. "is this the shrine?" hanni asks, looking at haerin who looks around and shrugs. "i mean it is, but this might not be it." minji looks at haerin with her furrowed brows. "what do you mean?" the rain starts pouring harder, before haerin sighs and steps on the stairs to the abandoned shrine. "it's the shrine of dolls." danielle says, as she reads the sign above.

hyein blinks and nods. "there's an underground path there, right?" she asks haerin who looks behind to hyein and nod. "i think, it's quite dark out there though. i don't want to risk trying to get in the cave." haerin shakes her head before turning her back on the girls again and opening the door, unfortunately, it's stuck.

"great, let's take a turn." haerin sighs before leading the group behind the shrine where it had a door that was left open wide. it's dark, almost like it was never a place where actual people lived in before. the light source comes from the moonlight, the shrine of dolls in display in front of them

hanni scoffs. "dude, are we really doing this?" she asks as she shifts her gaze away from the dolls. "it won't kill you, don't worry. if we find y/n, she can lead us out of here." hyein nods as haerin says that, looking at the second oldest of the group. "besides, we don't know the way out, we can't go back to the train station. if we're going to die, it's because we couldn't get out of here." hyein deadpans, minji sighs and puts a hand on hanni's shoulder. "it's alright." she whispers.

danielle follows haerin as well as minji and hanni, hyein volunteers to grab the candle from the underground passage after promising them she won't try to find the way to the cave. unfortunately, it's hard to fulfill the promise when your traces allure her to the cave, when she opens the door to the cave, there's water... flooding the area until it all went inside the shrine's underground passage. the water reaches hyein's knees and the cave was brighter than the shrine, every corner had candles and lamps, but other than those hyein's eyes focuses on the black box in the middle of the cave, where water overflows to the ground.

hyein runs to the box and opens it, only to be greeted by a wooden box overflowing with water, until she leans closer to take a better look. hyein shrieks in surprise when a hand comes out of the water, almost enough for her to fall over. hyein hears a gasp as she looks at the box again and sees a girl sitting up, soaking wet and cladded in a familiar set of uniform.

"y/n... y/n!?" hyein shouts as she immediately helps you up, you start to breathe heavily.

"hyein..." you mutter, looking up at the taller girl. hyein sighs in relief, almost like she's about to cry. "oh my god, we found you..." she whispers, full of relief.

ophelia

unfortunately, when you and hyein went back up at the shrine, the four girls are nowhere to be seen. hyein starts to panic as there was no way for her to locate their traces.

"where did they go!?" she asks, looking around. you sigh, shivering before pushing away the strands of hair sticking to you face. "they got lost..." you mutter, walking behind her and you reach for her shoulder. "let's find them." you suggest, trembling due to the cold air.

hyein turns around to you, before taking off her raincoat. "this isn't much but wear it! it's super cold." she says, you look at her and then to the raincoat, before chuckling and shaking your head.

"it's fine..." hyein shakes her head, before walking over to you with the raincoat in her hands. "wear it, please!" she sighs with a worried look on her face, and a pout. "come on, we have a long way to go... can't bring you back to your mom shivering to death." you know you can't win, so you nod and she puts the raincoat on you, surprising you.

"did you get lost your way here to?" hyein asks, you blink your eyes, before nodding. "i... i went the wrong way." you only say, hyein looks confused. "did you get inside the box? what if you drowned?" you look at her before laughing. "the spirits led me there, i've mistaken the doll shrine for the yuukon shrine, and i got trapped." you were able to tell her through your shaking breath and thinking about it now that you're safe doesn't make things less scary.

"you okay now?" hyein asks, you nod.

it was silent, for a while until hyein talks again. "yuukon shrine, you know about it?" hyein asks, after a while of hunting for spirits, hyein might have found the answer to her club's long overdue question...

the forestry club wanted to prove something, aside from plants and animals, hyein wanted to explore more about the mountain's history and it led them here; looking for the story for them to feature.

"we've been looking for it." she adds, you can only give her a short hum. "me too, almost like forever..." you mutter, hyein listens and puts all her attention to your words as you two walk the dark forest. "three years..? yeah, and just as i was about to find it, i got lost and well, it feels like everything i have found have gone to waste." you tell her.

hyein sighs. "it's really hard... i don't want our club to break apart. my only hope is this feature, i need to bring this mountain back to life again." hyein says, her voice filled with determination. you can only give her a meek sigh.

"that's... i hope you can do it." you tell her, giving her a moment of silence... hyein stares at your face, smiling brightly before she nods.

it took you both not that long to eventually find a manor, hyein looks at you and you gesture her to walk first. hyein peeks at every corner she can find, two of you were able to find the main hall of the manor but sadly, the girls were nowhere to be found. "you should get going..." you tell hyein, as you stand behind her. hyein holds the camera and shakes her head, pointing the camera at you before she takes a shot.

"i won't leave without you." she says, you widen your eyes but it softens. "i have to find my mother." you tell hyein but she walks towards you and holds your hand. "let's find her!" you give her a confused look. "but what about your friends..?" hyein takes a deep breath before letting out an airy laugh. "they'll be alright."

"this is the yuukon shrine? it's bright here..." hyein says as she walks beside you, you've been seeing this place in your dreams... a restless dream that haunts you and your mother's spirit that keeps you awake. hyein reads your small gestures, the way your eyes glimmer along the candles inside the shrine.

"i know..." the rain continues to pour, not as strong as before but still can be heard.

"have you been here before? or at least have familiarized this place?" hyein asks, you blink your eyes as you stand at the entrance beside hyein who looks at you endearingly. "i..." you hesitate to tell her the truth and she sees it. "it's okay." she assures you.

"i've been seeing this place in my dreams when i think about my mother, i have so many questions that only this place will be able to answer..." hyein nods and takes a step closer to you. "don't be scared to tell me! i'll keep your secrets, promise." realizing how hyein's knowledge about your family has never been found out by anyone, you knew hyein was trustworthy.

"i know... i just don't want you to worry about it." you look down and hyein continues to look at the way the orange and yellow lights illuminate on your face, she nods in understanding, still holding your hand. "i will of course, but you don't have to think of it like it's bothering me. i mean, i know you and you know me."

ophelia

when you enter, there's a shrine of flowers and charms that are mostly for marriage, the table is decorated by bright candles as well as lamps and incense. other than the bright decorations on the table, you don't ignore the obvious picture frames of your parents, your mother and who you assume to be your father.

"yuukon is a ritual, right? binding souls of the dead and a living person..." hyein says, looking at you as you kneel on the small pillow on top of the tatami mats. you nod as you stare at the shrine, closing your eyes with your hand clasped together. "i use to have dreams of my mother, i don't understand how i got here and where she is." you mutter, hyein sits next to you but not on the small pillow beside yours. "i read it somewhere, this is the house of joining... isn't this where the maidens get married to a living person?"

you nod. "the black casket, my mother sacrificed herself to be with my father and she must be somewhere here, drowning under the mountain's water." you open your eyes to look at hyein, who shifts her gaze on the shrine.

"my father, i have no idea where he might be. my mother left me with my mom and i'm guessing..." you trail your sentence, thinking very carefully. hyein waits before she opens her own mouth. "he might have been the ghost? i wonder, i haven't read something about a man being the ghost."

"my mother sacrificed herself for it to work." you give hyein a small smile before standing up. "maybe after she had me, like a maiden who have fulfilled her duty... she left me with my mom." you brush your hair back before walking towards the exit of the house.

"it ends here, i think. the school now owns this part of the place, i wanted to see it for myself before it disappears." you hear hyein's own steps. hyein looks down on the camera before taking a picture of the shrine, the house and you.

"we can go back now, i feel that they're out of the mountain." you tell hyein and she follows you to the exit of the mountain, passing through a long forest.

hyein walks, with her shoulders slump. "i... wanted the girls to see the shrine." she mutters, you look at her as both of you stand in the middle of the village.

"you can still create a feature out of it." you tell her with a small smile, hyein looks up at you and grins. "i know. i won't give up..."

"hyein! y/n!" you hear danielle's voice coming closer, the four girls all run to you and hyein, immediately they embrace the tallest girl with sighs of relief. "you're back with her..." haerin whispers.

hyein nods at the girls and looks at you. "we found the house of joining... i took a picture of it!" hyein takes the camera and shows the girls, they all huddle up to look at it.

"i should leave now..." you excuse yourself, hair still wet and hyein raises her hand. "wait! let's go and eat first." hyein takes your hand as the four other girls walk their way back to the antique shop.

after that, you decided to join the forestry club and help the girls release their feature for the mountain, eventually being able to help them reach a big population of readers.

[astrid-sama]

Labyrinth of white roses (Effie trinket x fem oc)

Chapter 1)

The harvest

I wake up with the warmth of the sun's rays caressing my face, it's a rare event, usually if I want to sneak away without anyone seeing me I'm forced to get up when there's still the moon in the sky, at first light dawn in district twelve everyone is already at work; today, however, everyone is exempt from work and people sleep late trying not to think that tonight at least two families will mourn the loss of their children.

Today the annual harvest is held, on this day a boy and a girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen will be chosen from each district to participate in the Hunger Games, a deadly game from which only one tribute will emerge alive. At school we kids are taught that the Hunger Games are there to ensure that the Dark Days are not repeated, in reality they are just another way for the Capitol City to assert their dominion over us.

I get out of bed, put on my hunting clothes, kiss my brother on the forehead being careful not to wake him and leave the house as quietly as possible. I arrive on the main road and after making sure that there is no one around I head towards the fence; during the journey I feel my stomach growling, it is normal to be hungry here in district twelve and that is why every day I leave the fence to go hunting, putting my life at risk, between dying of hunger together with my brother and being hanged for betrayal by the peacekeepers I choose the second, it is the least painful option. At the fence I find my friends Gale and Katniss waiting for me, we have been hunting together for more than four years now; the fence should be electrified but here in the twelve there is almost never electricity, one at a time we crawl under the fence taking advantage of a point where it is damaged. According to the Capitol, the fences surrounding the districts are there to prevent wild animals from attacking us, but I think they're there to keep us locked up.

We enter the woods, retrieve our bows and hide among the vegetation waiting for prey to hunt. After almost an hour we have captured three rabbits and a squirrel, we go to hide our bows in an old hollow trunk and start looking for fruit and medicinal herbs; when we have finished the sun is higher in the sky and it is probably just before midday. Before leaving the woods, Gale, Katniss and I take a break sitting on a rocky ledge.

-Girls look what I have here- Gale takes a loaf of bread out of his bag, it seems warm and fragrant, few people can afford such bread.

-But this is real bread! Gale where did you find him?- Katniss said as she grabs the loaf of bread.

-The baker gave it to me in exchange for a squirrel-

-Just a squirrel?!-

I can't help but wonder, the baker is a good person but usually a squirrel isn't enough for a loaf like that.

-Today is harvest day, we are all better-

Gale divides the loaf between the three of us, we eat in silence until Katniss asks a question.

-How many nominations do you have?-

-Thirtyfive-

-Twentyone-

Under normal circumstances a seventeen year old like me should only have five nominations, I have so many because I was forced to trade them for food; my father became ill when I was twelve and died when I was fourteen, but my mother died soon after my brother was born so I found myself having to support both myself and my brother and was forced to apply several times in exchange for food, Gale and Katniss are in the same situation as me.

A few minutes later we set off to return to the enclosure; once we return to the district we go to the black market to barter: we exchange strawberries with the mayor in exchange for a bag of legumes, we exchange the squirrel for matches. After leaving the black market, Katniss, Gale, and I wish each other good luck and part ways.

When I arrive home I find my brother waiting for me, he is dressed in a pair of green jeans and a white shirt, his long black hair is tied in a braid and his green eyes shine with happiness when he sees me.

-Welcome back big sister, how do I look?-

-Elia you are handsome, I bet you will make everyone fall in love with you-

Elia blushes and looks away.

-Big sister it's almost time for the harvest, you should go and change-

I nod, I go to the bathroom and quickly wash both my body and my hair, after drying my hair with a towel I put on my best dress, a light green dress with small white flowers and finally I put on some old brown boots. Elia insists on tying my black hair in a braid like his, when he's finished we go to the square to take part in the grape harvest.

As soon as we arrived we immediately separated, I joined the seventeen year old girls while my brother joined the fourteen year old boys. After all boys and girls eligible to participate have been registered, the harvest ceremony begins; first of all (like every year) the mayor goes on stage and begins to read a long speech in which he explains how the Hunger Games are our just punishment for having rebelled against the Capitol seventy-three years ago; after what seems like hours the mayor finally concludes his speech and gives way on the stage to the Capitol emissary who has the task of escorting the tributes of district twelve to Capitol City Effie Trinket.

-Welcome to the seventy-third edition of the Hunger Games, may luck always be in your favor-

Effie walks very enthusiastically towards the glass bowl containing the pieces of paper with the girls' names written on them.

-As always ladies first-

Effie slowly dips her hand into the glass bowl, pulls out a piece of paper, and returns to the center of the stage; in the seconds preceding the reading of the name of the tribute there is absolute silence.

-The female tribute from district twelve is.... Selene Davidson-

All the girls turn to look at me, some look at me with pity, others with relief. My hands are shaking, my body seems to have turned to marble and even though I know I should go on stage I can't move.

-Darling come here-

Effie Trinket smiles at me and calls me to the stage. I force myself to move and slowly advance towards the stage; I'm trying to hold back the tears, I can't seem weak. Capitol City is watching me.

-And now the male tribute-

I watch Effie take the piece of paper with the name of the male tribute and hope that the name is neither Elia nor Gale.

-The male tribute from District Twelve is... Alexander Morgan-

Alexander is a fifteen year old boy with curly red hair and a weak physique, you can clearly see how terrified he is; once he gets on stage he starts sobbing.

-Now a big round of applause for our tributes-

Nobody claps their hands, silence is the only act of protest allowed. After the harvest we are taken into the courthouse and given some time to say goodbye to our friends and family. I'm sitting on a velvet sofa when the door opens and Elia comes in, hugs me and starts sobbing with his head resting on my shoulder. For a while we remain hugged without saying anything, then Elia dries his tears and begins to speak.

-Win big sister and come back to me, I know you can do it-

-Elia I-

-No Selene don't say you can't win, you are an expert hunter you know how to use a bow and knives perfectly and you also know both edible and medicinal plants-

-You're right, I promise I will do everything to come back-

I try to sound confident but in reality I don't think I have much chance of returning home, after all what can a weak little girl from district twelve with a bow (if there is a bow) do against a volunteer from district one who weighs twice as much as she. A short time later, peacekeepers arrive and take Elia away and let Gale and Katniss in in his place. We hug each other, resigned to the idea that this will be our last meeting.

-Guys remember the promise we made to each other, don't let Elia die of hunger! Take him with you into the woods, teach him to hunt, please don't abandon him-

Some time ago the three of us had made a pact, if ever one of us was chosen as a tribute the others would be taken care of by his family.

-Don't worry, we'll take care of Elia, you think about winning-

-Certain-

A short time later the peacekeepers took Katniss and Gale away, I was escorted out of the courthouse and taken to the train that would take me to the Capitol City.

This is the first chapter of my fanfiction "Labyrinth of white roses", I will publish all the chapters of the fanfiction on Ao3 with the name "Labyrinth of white roses".

These are my fanfiction characters created with artificial intelligence:

Selene

Elia

Alexander

[chaosandcrimson]

no way is that IRENA HARKER.. they're a 54-year-old HUMAN notoriously known for being DEMANDING & DISDAINFUL but there are some people who have seen them being ASTUTE & ENTERPRISING. if you ask me, they remind me a lot of the knowing smirk you throw your husband when you walk into a party together, wearing power suits and looking great doing it, and running your family like it's a business, but that could just be because they're considered the IRON LADY around town. just keep an eye on them & see if their true colors shine through..

So I told you none of it was accidental And the first night that you saw me nothing was gonna stop me I laid the groundwork and then saw a wide smirk On your face, you knew the entire time You knew that I'm a mastermind

OVERVIEW

Name: Irena Anastasia Harker (née: Kučera)

Nickname(s): Anya (only by Quincey)

DOB: May 7, 2070

Age: 54

FC: Rachel Weisz

Height: 5'6"

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Occupation: Chief Marketing Officer at OmniCorp Holdings

Relationship Status: Married to Quincey Harker

[+] astute, composed, enterprising [–] authoritarian, demanding, disdainful

BIOGRAPHY

Irena Kučera was born into a nice family in the middle district. The eldest of two, she knew from a young age who she was and where she wanted to be, and that drive toward success determined almost all of her choices.

Bright and ambitious, she managed to convince her parents to pay for her to attend school in the upper district, where she made a point to become friends with all of the right people. She excelled at networking, and by the time she was in college, she had successfully become one of those people herself—someone who others sought out because she had the right social connections.

After graduating, she landed a job in the marketing department at OmniCorp Holdings, and through a combination of her own merit and her contacts in the company—including being close friends with the future CEO Aulia Dasai—she quickly managed to work her way up the corporate ladder.

It was at an OmniCorp function that she met her future husband Quincey Harker. He may not have come from a prominent family, but what he lacked in social connections he more than made up for in shrewd intellect and sheer drive, and it didn't take her long to decide that he would be the perfect partner for her.

They had a plan for their life, and they were equally relentless in executing it—up to and including the creation of their son Quill. It was not a part of their plan for her to get pregnant while in the process of creating him, but they were nothing if not adaptable, and she agreed with her husband that a little healthy competition was good between siblings. It didn't hurt to have both an heir and spare.

Her mindset changed once their son Lio was born. Whether it was because he clearly took after her, whereas Quill took more after Quincey, or because actually carrying him to term herself made her feel more connected to him, was difficult to say. Either way, he was her favourite, and she didn't even try to hide it.

Lio was her baby boy, and she was absolutely livid when Quincey decided to replace his hand with a cybernetic, causing a rift in their relationship that almost ended their whole marriage. In public, they were still together, but in private they were leading entirely separate lives. It wasn't until Lio assured her that he was fine with what happened that she finally made up with her husband.

Her and her husband remain very involved in their children's lives. Lio being her favourite makes her less inclined to discipline him, but the flip side of that is that she is overbearingly protective, and has a lot of opinions on his personal life.

MISC

She speaks several languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Slovak.

[flastar13]

In an au where Coriolanus is president and looking for his ex-girlfriend:

Coriolanus running to hug Lucy Gray: Lucy Gray❤️ my love, where were you?

Lucy Gray tied to a chair after being taken from her idyllic home in the woods by violent peacekeepers: What do you want now, you narcissistic, murderous asshole🤬?

Coriolanus😭: Why do you treat me like this my singing bird, I just want you to love me?

Lucy Gray😡: You tried to hunt me in that forest as if I were an animal, you betrayed your best friend causing his execution and let's not forget the countless atrocities your government commits.

Coriolanus😧😃: That was because you dared to end me through snake mail🐍, Sejanus was for the welfare of the nation😇, the same as the other sacrifices I had to make, so as your president 😎 I demand your gratitude and affection.

Lucy Gray 🤬: Fuck you Coriolanus, I would never share a zoo cage with you again.

Coriolanus 🥺: You're rejecting me, well I'll have to send multicolored adult snakes the size of a person to the next tributes of district 12 again. Do you remember them are the same ones that I threw your handkerchief to so that they would become familiar with your sweet scent? That's why I had to be a peacemaker in that horrible district.

Lucy Gray😰: Coryo... They're just kids... You can't do that...

Coriolanus🤔: What would sweet Maude Ivory be if she were harvested? Or Del Covey if a mysterious bomb went off in her house?

Lucy Gray😡: Don't mess around like my family, BITCH.

Coriolanus😌: What if all the mines in the 12th district are closed along with the black market? After all we count on District 5 for power.

Lucy Gray😭: Coriolanus please stop, they are innocent people and the 12th district was never my home, I was just trapped there by the war.

Coriolanus😈: And do not think that I will allow you to abandon me again, I will throw you in a cell in the prison of the presidential mansion in front of a huge television screen where you will see how people suffer because of you, until you are begging to be my girlfriend again.

Lucy Gray: You're married!

Coriolanus😒: Yes with Livia but I haven't seen her since our arranged wedding. So if you come back with me I'll give you all the first lady rooms and let you sing in the Pluribus culb, but if you need more time to think about it I respect that and I'll cut the food budget for District 12.

Lucy Gray 😭: It's okay Coriolanus I'll do what you want but don't hurt anyone.

Coriolanus👿: Is that all you have to tell me after so many years? After I send my best men away from the cover of civilization? After poisoning the entire cabinet to find you? After putting aside my busy schedule to see you? Officer execute order 66 in the district...!

Lucy Gray 😭🥺: Wait Coryo my love, I love you, you are a sweet cake with cream and as pure as freshly fallen snow Do you want to be my boyfriend again?

Coriolanus 😢: That was so sweet but it's not enough 👿 officer execute...

Lucy Gray 😫: I'm yours, only yours!

Coriolanus 😳: Really? I own you?

Lucy Gray 😭😫: If Coryo you are my owner, I belong to you just as you belong to me, it is written in the stars. Do you remember?

Coriolanus😍: Yes! 😏 Prove it.

Lucy Gray gives him the most passionate kiss of her life.

Coriolanus😍: Perfect my love (He proceeds to untie her but places a golden slave collar around her neck that will warn her if she leaves the presidential mansion without permission) now let's take a bath together like in the old days and then we go to my room to get catch up on my bed, then you have to prepare for your interview with Lucky Flickerman for your return and your duties as a mentor to the District 12 tributes.

Lucy Gray proceeds to cry uncontrollably as Coriolanus hugs her, comforts her, and inadvertently injects her with some kind of aphrodisiac.

[amar-means-moon]

So this is an attempt at something I had in my mind a few days ago. I know a lot of people don't like OCs, but for me, it's a small escape from reality. (Please don't make fun of me😔✋️) Also, this is my first time trying Tumblr, and I have no idea what I'm doing.

Anyways, if you read this short story, thank you very much🫶

The restauration of Shiganshina District was difficult. Nearly everyone has died, letting only a few chosen alive. Even they can't decide if they can say that they're happy about living. How could they, after everything that they saw and learned?

That's what Jane thought, anyways. She knows Shinganshina like the back of her hand, even better than Eren, Mikasa and Armin. This is normal, because she has lived there longer than they did. More or less 13 years.

But now, everyone was tired and night was rapidly approaching. All of them needed rest. That is when Jane suggested spending the night at her old house, the one in front of Eren's. She was happy to see it still standing, even if it was very dirty and dusty. But she didn't care about cleanliness now, and apparently, so did Levi.

Once she touched the doorknob, she remembered how familiar this feeling was. Jane was almost moved to tears, feeling her eyes tear up. In her memories of this fateful days a few years ago, her family had left the door wide open trying to flee. The wind must have closed it, stealing the task she, her mother, her father or her brother were supposed to do.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped inside her all too familiar living room. One only had to turn their head left to see the small kitchen, as it was literally situated inside the living room.

Small house.

But it seemed smaller than how she remembers it.

"I'm home..." she whispered.

The rest of the small group entered after her, Hange closing the door behind her.

"It's been so long since I've been here." Said Eren in a louder voice.

Jane didn't answer and just stayed put, looking around. The people surrounding her seemed to disappear, and she imagined her mother baking bread to sell it in the market. Then her father, sitting at the table and either repairing some kind of wood instrument or creating one from scratch. She could imagine her brother barging in from the front door, ready to mock her again.

A hand landing on her shoulder brought her back to reality.

"Jane, you ok?"

She turned around only to be met with Levi's gaze. Jane nodded before hesitantly answering.

"Yes... Yes, I'm ok."

Venturing further into the small living room, she invited the rest of the scouts in.

"Make yourselves at home. There are two bedrooms upstairs: one with two beds and one with a bigger bed."

Making her way upstairs, she turned around.

"If you need anything, Eren, Armin or Mikasa know their way around here."

With this, she went to venture into the second floor. There were only two rooms here, the one she shared with her brother and her parents' bedroom.

Jane entered the slightly bigger bedroom, the one her parents' used to share. The bed was neatly done, curtesy of her mother. She approached the small table situated at one of the corners and went through the scattered papers.

A lot of them were drawings made by her father: sketches of her younger self with her brother, portraits of her mother (which perfectly catched her beauty), a lot of random pieces of paper with inscriptions on how to repair a violin and many more. All of them belonging to her late father.

She took most of the papers and exited the room, heading for her own bedroom. Well, it wasn't hers alone, as much as she used to beg her parents to make it hers once her brother had left to become a scout. Jane couldn't help but smile at this thought. "Oh, the irony. The whole house is mine now, I guess." She said to no one in particular.

Entering the room with the papers still in hand, she glanced around. Her brother's side of the room was mostly empty, aside from his bed. He took most of his stuff with him once he moved out. Her side, however, was a bit more messy. Some of her old dresses lay on her bed, with some music books left and right.

Jane delicately placed the papers on her bed and opened the small wardrobe. Her father had made it. Once opened, the closet showed some dresses, a pair of shoes and a few of her brother's shirts. But that was not what she was looking for.

At the corner of the closet, right there on the floor, was her violin. The one her father made for her 18th birthday. He had spent a whole year making it.

Finally, she could play again.

She took the instrument in her hands and started tuning it.

Downstairs, the remaining scouts were sitting on the dusty floor, chairs, table or on the small wooden couch. Levi was very intently looking around, imagining a much younger version of Jane growing up here.

Good, she didn't have the same childhood he had. Or to say it better, she had one. She deserved one. The captain was about to follow her and check up on her when he heard a sound.

"What's that?" Asked Hange.

Armin smiled fondly, as if remembering a long forgotten memory.

"That's the sound of Jane's violin. She always tunes it before playing. It's been so long since I heard it... I remember how she kept telling us that she will become the best violinist ever."

Eren then chimed in.

"She never let me touch it! I could have become a maestro if she taught me."

"I think it's better that she didn't let you play. You would have broken our ears." Replied Mikasa.

They all started to laugh and chat, reminiscing the past. This, Levi thought, was better than being gloomy. He sat back down on his chosen chair, awaiting the music when he remembered something from a few years ago.

It was at one of the many funerals the scouts held for their fallen soldiers. The one where Elio (Jane's brother) and his fiancee were buried. Levi was fond of Elio, he had only been nice and sincere with him, and he was in the training corps with Erwin, too.

And now, he was dead. He was supposed to build a family with his fiancee. How cruel the world was.

Hange was standing next to Jane, a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you need anything? To make you feel better?" She had asked that day.

Usually, when asked this question, the person wants their loved ones to come back to life.

But she didn't say any of this. Squeezing the betrothed rings of her brother and her was to be sister-in-law, Jane looked at the tombstones with a blank expression.

"I want to play on my violin. The one dad made me."

Hange didn't know how to answer to this and just squeezed Jane's shoulder.

Why Levi was remembering this now, he did not know. Was this the violin she had talked about that day?

Then, she started playing. Everyone fell silence as the first note resonated through the empty city. Never had Levi heard such a melody. It was filled with so many emotions: rage, sadness, grief, relief, happiness. Everything, all at once.

Some people, like Sasha and Connie, were crying. Some, like Mikasa and Armin, closed their eyes and enjoyed the music. Levi just stared at the stairs in front of him, where the melody came from. He listened to every note, focused on every emotion that poured in every note.

Jane played a few songs before stopping completely. He looked around the room to find half of the group asleep. Hange was looking at him from the corner of her eyes before turning to face him.

"You should go see her. I don't think she wants to be alone right now."

He nodded and headed upstairs. He entered the smaller room and found her sleeping on a messy bed. Probably hers, Levi guessed. The violin she used was carefully placed back in its case and he knelt to close the lid. He looked at some of the papers that were neatly placed near the violin before putting them back down. Levi then made his way towards her sleeping figure and gently sat down on the edge of her bed.

Only once he got close to her did he see the tears adorning her usually smiling face. Carefully, Levi pushed some hair that fell down on her face and wiped the tears away. Jane did not move at all, probably because she was just as tired as the rest of them.

It would be a lie if Levi said he wasn't fond of her. He was. He just didn't want to get attached to her only to potentially lose her to some random titan. He didn't know if he could bare losing someone else because Levi had already lost too much.

Isabel and Farlan.

Petra, Oruo, Eld, Gunther.

Mike.

Heck, even Kenny.

And now Erwin.

Not to mention all the other soldiers who died in battle.

Lying down next to her, he could hear how some people headed towards the other bedroom to sleep, while some made their way here.

From their footsteps, Levi concluded that the people sleeping next to them were none other than Sasha and Connie. As usual, they were arguing about something: this time it was on who would sleep on which side of the bed.

Levi sent them a glare to shut them up, and they did before laying down and closing their eyes, each facing a different direction. Taking the sleeping girl in his arms, he closed his eyes, falling asleep.

Tonight, he thought, he was allowed this moment.

[wcrriorhearts]

She hates it here. Posy wants nothing more than to return home, but instead finds herself stuck in District 2 in the clutches of her older brother, who has taken in the three younger siblings in the wake of their mother's passing. Instead of moving back to their home, he has forced them to uproot and fit into his life, which the eleven year old understands to some degree, but still hates. He keeps preaching that there is nothing left for them in 12, but he fails to understand that it doesn't matter to Posy. It was home and now it is gone, just like their mother. Every good and happy memory she's ever had was back there. Now it feels like she lost everything once again, only this time more profoundly than during the war.

School is another sore topic in their household. At the moment, Posy is the only one who actually goes at times. The boys refuse and only pretend to go, because they think it's a waste of time and they're old enough to find work. Posy disagrees and only skips school, because she feels inferior to the other children. Everyone here seems much more educated than a poor little girl from 12 who went to a mediocre village school for most of her life and whose education was heavily impacted by the war. They don't know what it's like when chairs in the classroom remain empty after a harsh winter, because their occupants have not made it. They don't know what it feels like to starve, or to freeze in their own homes. Posy feels much older and younger than them all at once.

It is market day and she has once again dropped out of school earlier, because she felt sad all day and could not concentrate. She told her teacher she was feeling ill and was sent home, but strolls through the stalls now instead. It looks a little bit like home and it makes her heart ache, but also comforts her. They have markets in 12 that she used to go to and is determined to see again soon. Her eyes roam over the fruits and vegetables offered, before they linger on someone who is selling strawberries. It takes her a long moment to recall who the person might be, but then her face lights up and she hurries over. "Madge! You're Madge Undersee, aren't you? You're from home", she says excitedly, albeit a little confused, because word went around saying that Madge was killed during the war.

@forgaeven asked for Posy

[happy-hermit]

HELLO I WASN'T EXPECTING SO MANY OF YOU DKJSKD THANK YOU OMG <33

Okay very long incoherent ramble incoming I haven't figured everything out yet so here's just the general idea :)

Okay so basically the setting is a sort of like. Medieval setting where magic also exists! Ren is the king of the land which isn't plot relevant at all but it's relevant in my heart ASJKDKJS. Grian is a just sort of a traveler. He hates staying in one spot for too long so he's always hopping from village to village getting into trouble, the usual Grian stuff you know. He's best friends with Mumbo, who's a big name in what i'm calling the industrial district. He's a redstoner, which i'm thinking is a type of like. technology based magic. So he and Grian communicate on ye olde FaceTime via redstone/magic crystals, which is a very new technology that he's basically beta testing on Grian because what else are friends for.

ANYWAY akjsdkjs so Grian is a traveler. Pearl is his sister, also sort of does the same thing except she's been into sailing lately, so Grian can't exactly send her mail. Her address is perpetually changing. But he misses her and wants to check in on her SO he has to go to a wizard to help him send a message :) Just so happens that the next village he stops in knows of one close by...

Enter Scar :D He lives in a tower sort of on a cliffside by the ocean (dramatic flair). He's a good bit away from the village but close enough to walk, other than that he's pretty isolated. The village people act a little weird about him, like he's some kind of mysterious shut-in, or a hermit (hah), so when Grian knocks on the door he expects like. Some old and grumpy magic user telling him to get off his lawn. And it's Scar. Neither old nor grumpy, and in fact he is delighted to have a visitor.

Grian explains what he wants to do and asks what the price is, expecting like. diamonds or emeralds or his soul or something. And what Scar asks for is flowers. Grian is a little worried he's being scammed but ultimately goes through with it. Grian writes a letter and Scar conjures a bird to carry it safely to Pearl, and Grian goes outside and walks a bit until he finds some flowers to pick, and he brings them back to Scar. Scar pretty much lights up when he sees them, and the moment he touches them they get more vibrant and alive, so Grian figures out that he's nature-aligned (which just means he's got a natural talent for nature magic) which is weird because apart from the flowers Grian just brought there just. aren't any plants in his house. But he shakes it off and goes back to the village to stay in his little rented room.

He has to stay in the village long enough to get a response back from Pearl, so he has to visit Scar every few days to check! Cue awkward bonding moments and the forming of a friendship while they wait for the magic mail service to make the rounds. Finally he gets a response from Pearl and of course has to write her back. And of course has to wait for her response to that, and eventually it's just a thinly-veiled excuse to keep hanging around Scar KADSJJKD

Mumbo notices on one of their ye olde FaceTime calls that Grian's been in the same spot for like. way longer than usual. And he starts teasing him about it. ("Did you meet someone?" "...Well." "YOU DID?!")

So they're both falling in love, but Scar is. clearly nervous about something, hiding something. Grian tries to be patient but he's also worried and horribly curious. He invites Scar to walk through the market or the meadow or stargaze multiple times but Scar always looks guilty and scared and makes some random excuse. Grian's confused and a little hurt but is now fully invested in the health and wellbeing of this silly little wizard so he sticks around.

So things are sort of at a standstill. Until one day after a few days away Grian visits Scar again to find him fully panicking and freaking out, and he tells him that Jellie hasn't come back in a few days, and he begs Grian to look for her, telling him he'll do anything if he does. So Grian calms him down and promises to look for her, even as he's wondering why Scar isn't, and he asks if Scar wants to come with him but Scar just shakes his head through his tears and Grian leaves it alone.

He goes and looks for Jellie and finds that she's been "adopted" by one of the village families that thought she was a stray. Grian buys her back from them and takes a very grumpy Jellie back to Scar, who is just. so incredibly relieved and he cries into his cat for a while. Eventually Grian can't help himself and gently asks him why he didn't go look for her himself. Why he didn't leave.

Scar seems to resign himself to something, and he looks up at Grian with dull eyes and a sad smile. "I can't."

Grian asks him what that means. Scar demonstrates by standing up and trying to walk out the door. Glowing purple shackles appear around his wrists and neck, chains connecting back into the tower and fading into the walls. He steps back inside and they disappear. "I can't."

He explains that someone has trapped him here. That they think it's handy to have a wizard at the ready whenever they need one. That they force him to do magic for paying customers but that he never sees a penny of the profits. He doesn't have plants in his tower because he has not been allowed outside in years.

(i haven't decided who the evil person should be yet sdjskj please help.)

Anyway :) Grian starts feeling very, very murderous :)

[ask-skull-and-muffin]

Goodnight Story #5

[plain text: "Goodnight Story #5" Bigger and in cursive text /end pt]

It's one of those rare days. All of Kyoya's subordinates are busy with orders and chores, so shopping falls on him. Now this rarely happens, because he would really prefer avoiding crowds, but they desperately need food, cleaning supplies, bandages and more rubbing alcohol.

So Kyoya bites the bullet, puts on some regular clothes, grabs his shopping basket, pockets his wallet and leaves the mansion. He goes by foot, because the weather is nice and he'd wanted to check out the rooftops anyways.

Nothing is going on. There isn't even the odd mugging, so Kyoya truly has no excuses by the time he reaches the shopping district. He sighs heavily, jumps down onto the street and quickly slips into the nearest store, just to dodge Yua's, whom is out patrolling. Just as Kyoya told her.

It's just... she wouldn't recognize him immediately in these clothes. So she'd try to punish him for parkouring around, which would be very awkward. Because she'd immediately be apologetic and then everyone would be staring at them and.... It'd just feel odd.

Kyoya shakes the thought out of his head, takes a look at the shopping list Tetsu wrote and goes about the store. He gradually collects everything on the list, even buying some tea and sweets that weren't listed, because he knows they'll be running low again soon.

Then he takes the stuff to the cashier, pays what he owes and goes to leave with a very brief goodbye. Of course it can't be that simple. The cashier recognizes him just in time to make trouble. The middle aged lady practically beams at him. "Oh! Hibari-kun- I didn't recognize you for a second."

Kyoya gives the lady a flat stare and it does nothing to dampen her mood. Even his disinterested voice does no damage to this herbivore's sudden, bright mood. "That's the point of not wearing my uniform."

The lady laughs and grabs ahold of his basket, pulling at it with her smile turning strained. She still sounds bright and there is nothing hostile about her, which is just his luck, honestly.... There is no plausible deniability to be found here. "Come here. You get a discount for that-"

Kyoya doesn't budge, feeling somewhat flattered, but really he's more uncomfortable with the other herbivores staring like they're starting to. So he twists his basket out of the lady's grasp and waves her offer away. "No. Maybe next time."

The lady makes a noise a bit like a whimper, barely stopping herself from stomping her foot like a petulant child. Herbivores are very strange sometimes. These ones especially. "Okay but you've got to actually take it next time-Ah, have a nice day!"

Kyoya hums something like a response, quickly leaving that store and walking to the nearest pharmacy. Two people almost collide with him as he walks, yet still by the time he reaches the pharmacy, his hands are barely shaking. Okay. He can do this...

Luckily the pharmacy isn't very crowded and the pharmacist he pays does not recognize him at all. He manages to leave that building without further incident, but next on his list... The farmer's market. He's been dreading this one the most...

It's absurdly crowded and noisy and the moment Kyoya goes within earshot, he actually flinches. Why do they always have to shout like that?! Goddamn...

Kyoya shakes his head and tries his best to focus on the list instead. He finds a path through the crowd to buy what is written down. And for a while that goes... Fine. He's not feeling okay, but it's fine.

But then a godforbid familiar voice calls out to him and the sweet old lady from the bakery down the street practically hunts him down. She beams at him too, but it's hard to focus on that with so many people moving around them. "Kyoya-kun! Oh it's been ages! How have you been, sweetie?"

Kyoya clenches his hands to the handle of his basket, trying his absolute best to focus. He is not okay, but that's not how this social interaction is supposed to go, right? How does it go again-? Wait-Yes! He does remember! "I'm fine. And you?"

The sweet herbivore, Kamei-san if he remembers right, immediately starts telling him some kind of story of what happened in the bakery the other day. Kyoya barely listens to her, because everyone around him is talking and its incredibly distracting.

Someone mentions his name a few paces behind him, but they're talking about another Kyoya, because that's a common name. It still makes him frown and look. And then Kamei-san knows what's up. She immediately seems very apologetic and Kyoya doesn't really listen anymore. "Oh dear-I forgot you dislike the market. Come on, there's a more quiet spot over here."

Kyoya shakes his head, clenching and unclenching his hands a bit, because he wants to feel the comfort of steel right there. Preferably as he drives his tonfa into someone's stomach. He can't attack anyone unprompted here though. That would cause a mass panic. Which is messy to clean up to say the least!

Kamei-san reaches out to grab his arm so he takes a step back, shaking his head faintly and easily rejecting whatever she was trying to do. "No thanks. Goodbye."

Kyoya doesn't even turn around, he just walks past Kamei-san, shoving past some people, so he can break into a sprint when there is a bit less crowding. Some people shout things after him, but he is very much just trying to get the hell away from that suffocating place.

He can breathe easier again when he ends up on the nearest rooftop, far away from the crowding and most of the noise. After a second, he checks his list again and shrugs off the last few items he didn't get. Someone else will have to find the time to buy those, because he is going home. Right now.

.... Gods he's exhausted. It's really time for a good nap. But first he goes home and puts the shopping he did do away. Tetsuya is overjoyed to see him back, but Kyoya shoves past him too. He needs to go be in his much more quiet and peaceful room...

Kyoya really hates shopping... But he did his best today. And nobody got hurt! That's worth something, right?

[captainseaweedbrains]

Hi!

I've seen you mention a few times that you work at a library. I'm currently applying to work as a library assistant and one of the questions on the application is "how would you promote your favourite book?" If you've got the time would you be able to give some pointers and insider knowledge on how best to do that?

thank you in advance!

Hello there! I do. I am a Children's Services Librarian. Readers' Advisory (a fancy term for recommending reading materials) is super easy and comes rather naturally when you truly think about it! It's very conversational with a little bit of detective work.

To help answer the question on the application, it's best to think of the story in the most basic format: genre, plot speed, characters, and character relations. These are all things people consciously and subconsciously look for when trying to decide on a book. I'll use The Hunger Games as my example:

If you are looking for a book that you absolutely cannot put down, I recommend Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy. It is a fast-paced, fight-to-the-death type of story that focuses on Katniss Everdeen, the narrator, having to fight in a death-match game in order to get back home to her family (pacing, genre). Each chapter ends like a TV episode, which is why I absolutely couldn't put this book down (pacing)! There's also a forbidden romance going on between the action scenes because the boy from Katniss' home district and Katniss begin to grow closer as they fight for each other's lives in order to get closer to winning. The only catch is that only one can make it out alive (character relations). So if you also enjoy stories about teamwork in order to survive, this is a great story to look into (genre, character relations). I'm not a huge fan of action-based stories, but I loved every minute of this book and its following books because ultimately it focuses on Katniss' internal struggle to survive and the things she will do for those she cares about--her family, old friends and new (character).

This type of recommendation describes what the book is about, why I really enjoyed it, and using phrases like "I normally don't like xyz but this book became a huge exception" also can let patrons know that just because they *normally* don't like action stories, doesn't mean they won't like this one. It makes them more open to trying it out because you are using your own experience to confirm this statement. Also using words and phrases like "fight-to-the-death" and "forbidden romance" are marketing ways to make them want to read it.

It is definitely easier doing Readers' Advisory when you can ask a person what it is they're looking for (e.g. What kind of stories do you like? Fast-paced? Slow? Books centered around internal character drama/character-focused or do you like it when it's more plot-heavy and the characters have to figure out how to stop the problem? Do you like when there's a romance in your story? Or no romance at all?). This is what I mean when it's more of a conversation because you ask and then follow-up questions will be based from patron responses. Since you are likely writing this out, I recommend trying to sell it by focusing on the things I mentioned above with reasons why you enjoyed it.

As a Children's Librarian, a lot of the patrons I talk to are more interested in the fast-paced, fight-to-the-death storyline than they are with the romance (which is what I am *personally* more interested in). So I know not to go heavy on the romance. But to others, (like me lol) the romance is key. So when writing your answer out, think about the type of patron you're most likely going to interact with and consider what they may like. That may also give some guidance on what parts you want to really highlight.

If that last paragraph frustrates you in the slightest, disregard it and just focus on what you like and imagine you're writing out those little rec cards you see at book stores. That's basically what it is, because the goal is to get that person to check that book out.

I hope this helps! Good luck on the application process. Let me know if you have any more questions. :)

[vh-rp]

Arlathan

Imagine a city woven from nature and magic — sky-high crystal spires that reach towards the clouds. These spires have an ethereal glow, reflecting the vibrancy of magic all around us. Platforms and bridges that float, defying gravity to connect to the spires and ensure that there is a labyrinthine network high above the lowermost floor of the Arlathan Forest. Polished stone, shimmering crystal, these floating platforms and bridges are organic forms, alive and shifting as the forest changes. Elven magic isn't just for decoration; it infuses itself into the very fabric of the city. Vines crawl up buildings, leaves pulsating with bioluminescence. Waterfalls cascade down the side of the spires, the flow controlled by subtle arcane energies.

Libraries whisper and gardens bloom around the books and scrolls, protecting them, seeing that they're kept safe. Some flowers in these libraries and archives even have writing on the petals, as if scribbled there by the hand of an Elf. But it's just how they grow.

Arlathan was never a monolithic city. Here and there, the influences of other races can be seen. Human artistry is very popular among the elves in this modern time, and dwarven craftsmanship — especially regarding weapons and armor — can be seen everywhere. The districts of Arlathan are many, and the cultural implications of these races coming together over the years is clear to see.

Children run through the streets of Arlathan, playing with luminescent butterflies conjured from magic itself. Magic is everywhere. It isn't just a tool. It's part of everyday life, and the elves of old know this. The elves who are just learning their heritage, or perhaps they're creating a new legacy, will come to know this, too.

And if you hear a humming, hum along. Arlathan is connected to every elf, to all magic, and to nature above all else. The city's hum can be heard in moments of total silence.

And maybe… just maybe, staying in this great living organism where magic is everywhere, you might get a bit of magic to experience for yourself.

Arlathan & The World:

This is a short list indicating how other countries are seen by Arlathan.

Orlais:Neutral; because of Orlais' alienages. Ferelden:Neutral; because of Ferelden's alienages. Antiva/Rivain:Distrust; Antiva is a threat to Arlathan's independence. Starkhaven:Neutral; due to lack of interaction. Tevinter:Distrust; Tevinter is a threat to Arlathan's independence.

Active Trade & Guilds:

Author's Note: These guilds are open to be played; and if interested in heading a guild, just contact a staff member via the ticketing system.

The Merchants Guild: This is a relatively new guild within Arlathan, most likely headed by the Arlathan Tallam. The Merchants Guild operates the large, open-air market in the centermost point of Arlathan, where visitors and citizens alike can shop for Elvish crafts or other rare goodies that may not be easily accessible to the nation.

Trade Exports: Arlathan's main trade exports are Elvish jewelry; Old World Poisons; rare plants (mainly those that are extinct in today's world)

[little-froggie-enclosure]

Writing Sample

If ever Trish was asked what her most important memories were in the future, forty years in the future with grandchildren on her knee, she would reply the frost on the grass outside of the capitol in the early morning, when the early spring sun first crept up over the distant mountains. Because in that moment, whether aware of it or otherwise, her life was being set in motion. And its revolutions would not stop for years to come.

She would remember the cold smell in her nose, the wet smell from the rain the night before, and the way that, somehow, inexplicably, the cold seemed to seep away the closer the farmer's wagon she'd paid to take her along the merchant's road drew to the walled city, a vision in pale carved stone, depictions of nymphs emerging with cupped hands towards the sky from the ramparts. She would remember the silver, gold and blue banners with winged steeds flying on spires, the gilded soldiers stationed like a tableau, looking down, watching attentively. "Not much father." The farmer said over his shoulder as he wound the reigns of his stout highland pony around his wrists. "Now, I know you said you wanted t'go straight up n' look for a job at the castle, see what need they've got for botanists an' the like but…trust me on this one, hit the market stalls firsts. The sweets buns that old lady Mabry makes…Nothin' compares 'em when they're fresh. Trust me, lady." The woman, already grown in her own right peered up from beneath a handsome but modest straw hat, decorated only with a few fabric flowers and an olive green silk ribbon. She pushed her glasses up her sloped nose, nodding receptively at the farmer's suggestions as she admired the city gates. They were adorned presently in cascades of roses, falling like brambles curtains around massive columns. The farmer pulled off to the side of the Queen's Road, Trish paid him, bid him good day and set off.

Indeed Domum Caelesti was a city that felt beyond Trish's station. Certainly, she'd visited the Summer Court's Ghrian Baile in all its tree'd foundations and vine curtains, but that'd been more of a natural wonder than a city. The faeries were nothing like the denizens of this rich kingdom, a hub of commerce, a thriving melting pot of culture and refinement. Even in this lower tiered merchant's district, there were pockets of green, gated by swirling reliefs, and filled with flowers, trees, shrubs and pathways. They felt like constructions of wilderness, but Trish found them beautiful none the less as she sat with a sweet bun covered in honey glaze, and ate it out of its newspaper wrappings.

By the time Trish reached the High Street in the inner ring, close to the Gilded Palace, she felt her tartan skirts and straw hat and frizzy braid were awfully plain. Every other woman wore lace and jewels and silk. Every man wore smart suits and handsome hats, and boutonniere's made from fresh seasonal flowers. Her presence turned few heads, save for the occasional glance, but by and large, Trish clung to her shoulder bag, put on imaginary blinders and tamed the trepidation thundering away like a bird in panicked flight in her chest.

And then at last…the palace. The armed guards, the courtiers flitting in and out, the servants in higher volumes, visible in windows, walking along high walk ways, gardeners trimming and refining everything into perfection- this was a world where class distinction existed, and lines seemed to shy away from blurring. Trish swallowed deeply, set her round, blue eyes on the front gates, and started up the steps. "You can do this, Trish…" She whispered to herself "A job. You can find a job."

[otoseyir]

Michigan becoming a hub for artificial intelligence inventions

Michigan has the largest number of artificial intelligence and machine learning patents issued in the Midwest since 2010 with the Detroit area ranking among the top nine regions for innovation across the country, according to a new report. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area had 896 AI patents issued, making it the ninth-most innovative U.S. metro, according to CommercialCafe, a commercial real estate Internet listing service. While Silicon Valley in California far surpasses any other metro area for AI patents, metro Detroit held its own on the list largely because of the presence of the automotive industry and related suppliers, in addition to the growing startup network in Detroit, the report said. "Because the U.S. is home to several global leaders in both automotive and key automation technologies, markets like the Detroit metro area are intriguing to both investors and innovators worldwide," the October report said. "With nearly 900 AI and ML patents at the close of 2022, the Detroit MSA ranked as the ninth-most innovative metro in the U.S. — and continues to show that the Motor City inventive spirit remains strong." The companies topping the list of AI/ML patents were Ford Global Technologies with 321 patents, GM Global Technology Operations with 296 and Magna Electronics with 53 patents issued. Specifically, CommercialCafe cited the partnership between Google and Ford Motor Co. to convert the 105-year-old Michigan Central train station and surrounding neighborhood into the Michigan Central Innovation District as a hub for mobility and entrepreneurship. As part of the mobility-focused, smart city project, Google agreed to provide cloud technology, as well as work force development training to high school students and job seekers in the Detroit area, the report said. In addition to Ford, General Motors and Stellantis have established mobility and software engineering projects in Michigan in recent years, bringing Silicon Valley closer to home, it said. Ford could not be reached for comment. A GM spokesperson said the company was unable to comment on patent filings or their intended use "due to the competitive nature of the space." A growing startup center Alan Taub, director of the University of Michigan's Michigan Materials Research Institute, said an increased interest in startups is also leading to a more competitive mobility market, which is why Michigan is seeing more AI patents. "The technology revolutions of connected vehicles, self-driving vehicles and electric vehicles are moving at an unprecedented rate for the industry," Taub said. "And with the introduction of new startups, all of a sudden intellectual property moved from sort of the bare minimum to a major part of the strategy of companies. … I think if you just do a historical look at the number of patents around mobility, it has skyrocketed, because they're much more valuable, and it's a much more hyper-competitive space." HostingAdvice.com, a web-hosting information site, recently ranked Detroit as one of the top 13 cities drawing startups away from Silicon Valley. Detroit ranked No. 6 on the list, citing the city's economic resiliency after the 2008 financial crisis and the city's business-friendly tax environment. In the 2022 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome, an innovation policy advisory and research firm based in San Francisco, Detroit was ranked the No. 1 city in the U.S. for emerging startup ecosystems. Henry Liu, an engineering professor and director of Mcity, UM's mobility testing facility, said AI is becoming an essential part of autonomous vehicles. "AI is going to transform every aspect of mobility, not only just the vehicle, but the infrastructure, the manufacturing of the vehicles, and in service to people," Liu said. A typical use of AI in mobility is in self-driving vehicles. Liu used the example of a Tesla, which has eight cameras and 12 sensors that feed information about the traffic, pedestrians and other vehicles to the control system. In the past, the development of…

[chaosandcrimson]

no way is that MARISOL DE LA LUNA.. they’re a 20-year-old HUMAN notoriously known for being ANXIOUS  &  INSECURE but there are some people who have seen them being COMPASSIONATE  &  HUMBLE.  if you ask me, they remind me a lot of the rhythmic tapping of a pen against the desk, the pastel colours of a sunrise, and long days handing out flyers to people passing by, but that could just be because they’re considered the ICON OF REBELLION around town. just keep an eye on them  &  see if their true colors shine through..

This town is fake but you're the real thing Breath of fresh air through smoke rings Take the glory, give everything Promise to be dazzling

OVERVIEW

Name: Marisol Selena de la Luna

FKA: Marisol Selena Reyes Ortega

Nickname(s): Mari

DOB: January 7, 2104

Age: 20

FC: Isabela Merced

Height: 5'1"

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Bisexual

Occupation: Student (Cybernetics) / Activist

Relationship Status: Single (Closed)

[+] friendly, compassionate, humble [–] anxious, insecure, naive

BIOGRAPHY

tw: teenage pregnancy, anxiety

Marisol was born to a single teenage mother in the lower class district. Her mother, Celia, was 17 years old at the time of her birth. She has never met her biological father and she frankly does not care to either.

At the time, her uncle Gizmo was only 6 years old. He was more like a sibling to her than an uncle, and if asked, she will say that they're her big brother.

Her mom met her stepfather, Cal, when she was 3 years old. That is the only dad she's ever known, and the only one she calls her dad, because he is the one who helped raise her. They also welcomed her little brother, Felipe, into the family when she was 5 years old. He's a little shit, but she loves him to death.

She was diagnosed with ADHD shortly after starting school. Her parents helped her set up regular routines and reminders to help her with her day-to-day life, and that made a difference, but not enough for her to stay on top of things. She started struggling with anxiety because she felt unable to function properly.

At first, she was treated for her anxiety, until another doctor pointed out that she was likely to feel better and fare better long-term if they instead treated the root cause. Her family was no longer struggling financially, at least not as much as they had been when she was born, but they were by no means wealthy. And drugs aren't cheap, especially when you need to take them regularly. (And when the company who makes them have a monopoly on the market.)

She was offered a spot on a clinical trial for a cybernetic enhancement that replicates the effects of both slow release and instant release Adderall without the need for the drug itself. It helps her ability to focus in general, while also giving her an extra boost when needed. It is also completely intuitive; once she had the procedure, she didn't need to do anything other than maintenance.

It was relatively straightforward, it drastically improved her quality of life, and the cost to maintain it is manageable. However, unlike a drug, she cannot simply ween herself off it if she no longer wants the treatment—or the association with the company who produces it. And because it was a clinical trial, the expertise in maintaining it has not yet spread extensively outside the official channels.

Her experience with her own enhancement, as well as the experiences of other people around her in the lower class district, is what made her interested in both cybernetics and activism. She studies cybernetics at the university, where she has become a prominent participant in student-driven activism.

Her work has made her a familiar face within the activist group at large. She is very honoured to be considered a rising star, but also intimidated by the idea of people seeing her as a leader, when she's not sure that's who she wants to be.

In spite of her role, she has befriended and developed a crush on a boy named Jaiden West, which is... Unfortunate for her, seeing as he is very much entrenched in the corporate life that she is actively and openly opposing.

MISC

Because her dad works at the university library, she spends a lot of time there and even has a part-time job doing miscellaneous administrative duties.

[successionmanga]

Chapter 3

Orcelita is pissed.

Not only is his brother apparently dead but he's just been told by the elder's son that he's going to be the council's puppet. The son says "Bro, chill...we're just doing what's best for the country.". So Orcelita finally shouts out his name (Kiliko Lagen) and demands to know why he's treating the royal family like this. Kiliko smugly leaves, saying that Orcelita is cranky and needs his rest. Before he can fully exit, Orcelita asks about Belca. Kiliko says they couldn't find him despite looking. Outside the room, Kiliko tells the guard with him he assumes he died due to all the blood found at the landing site, his body clearly having been eaten by beasts. Clearly a massive inconvenience, Kiliko orders the guard to find out if Belca's personal belongings are on the black market or are being sold in antique shops. If he is alive, he needs to be captured immediately before he starts saying shit. Prince Orcelita is not to be let out of his room. Taking out a poison, Kiliko cryptically states that while things didn't work out with Hector, there's a chance Orcelita could still be put under their control.

Meanwhile, our special guy Belca is recuperating under an unfamiliar ceiling in a dirty room somewhere. Belca wakes up thinking that he fell asleep in Ossan's barracks before he remembers what happened. While he's trying to figure out how he's still breathing, Ego comes in with breakfast! It's bear! Beary delicious!

Belca demands to know where he is before he feels a jolt of pain from his bandages. Ego tells him not to move around too much, saying it's a miracle he's still alive. He says the bear, as in the bear he is being served to eat for breakfast right now, cushioned his fall and he should eat it to show proper respect for its sacrifice. Belca is worried about Orcelita but Eco (Now going by Eco because I've apparently misread his name) introduces himself instead, saying he rents the cabin they're staying in during the winter and he works as a scholar and a bard. Eco asks his name, causing Belca to realize that 1) Eco doesn't know who he is and 2) that means he's not back in the palace. Belca tries to ask where he is but both are interrupted by guards knocking on the door, demanding to search the cabin.

They say a rebel, using the name of Prince Belca, has fled to the mountains and he stole treasure from the sacred tombs. Eco tells Belca that they're in the town district of the Royal Tomb's Palace Vila, specifically the mountain outskirts near it. Belca figures the elders haven't found him yet...but they're looking. And they'll use any method they have to make sure the secret he and Orcelita found out stays buried.

The guards burst in...to find an empty room. Eco and Belca are hiding in the storage and the guards begin their search. But on the bright side, Eco thinks this event will make a good song!

Belca points out that the guards are naturally gonna check a fucking closet but Eco tells him to be optimistic. The guards promptly find the closet and open the door...only for an old man to jump in and yell at them, demanding to know why they're breaking into his house. One guard angrily says not to talk to them like that only for the old man to snap at him to fix his damn door. He then goes on a rant about how because of the guards' deer hunt, his livelihood is ruined. The mice are breeding, the sprouts are being eaten up...the guards are too uncomfortable to talk back to him. They leave and tell him to keep an eye out for the felon, with the old man still shouting at them to fix his door.

With the fuzz sent packing, Eco formally introduces the old man to Belca as Gramps. Gramps happily says he just finished winter preparations a bit ago and is heading off to the countryside to stay until spring. He says Belca seems chill so he can stay until his wounds heal. Belca asks if anyone is taking this seriously; he is literally being chased by the king's men. Gramps says them mountain folk are different from lowlanders; they're not as softheaded. When spring comes, summer follows. That's the way things are. Nature is different from humans, who change their choices again and again. That's why they (mountain folk) can't be sure if the people on top knows what's right. And that' exactly why Belca should think for himself and make his own decisions.

Belca says Hector used to say something similar. Gramps smiles and tells him to get better soon so that he can show Hector that lively face of his again.

So Gramps leaves, telling Eco to take care of the cabin. Belca thinks about how Hector took on the council and lost. But it's not just him: Orcelito, Belca, even their father...they can't get out of the cage they were put in. Eco has more bear though! But Belca isn't hungry...ah well. Eco says it can't be helped. Belca is a prince after all.

He knows who he is. And he especially knows he's third in line to the throne. Belca shoves him away, accusing him of actually being up to something while demanding to know who he is. Belca says he's nothing but a nuisance in the castle and he's a wanted criminal now. Not only will the guards kill him, they'll kill Eco too if they find out he was harboring him. Eco denies trying to do anything but Belca ain't hearing it, saying if his only choice is to live or die, he should have died when he fell off the cliff. Eco tells him to calm down, asking if he already did his best to improve his situation. Belca stammers over his words and Eco smiles, saying that he knows he did nothing to begin with. Belca says what does he know...before Eco wraps his hands around his throat and pins him to the bed, saying if he's serious about what he said before he can give him what he wants right now.

He even apologizes for unnecessarily treating his wounds, not wanting to delay his trip to the grave. He also tells him it's useless to resist in his current condition so just let the sweet grip of death take him so he can bury him in the area around the cabin so the guards will never find him. Belca is just going to let himself be killed...before he flashes back to Orcelita, remembers him trying to save him and realizes that his dumbass of a brother will never let himself be a puppet for the elders, which leaves only one fate for him...

He suddenly punches Eco off of him, deciding he's sick of letting people die.

Eco is nursing his sore cheek but laughs, betting on Belca not really wanting to die. He apologizes for trying to strangle him to death in order to illustrate a point and goes off to chop wood. Belca isn't sure if Eco was really trying to kill him but rationalizes that if he wanted to, he would have done so before. He wants to see Orcelito (gonna use that name for him; the manga I got goes back and forth) but he remembers Eco's words: "You did nothing to begin with.".

He gets up, gets dressed, eats his bear and leaves behind a note before exiting the room before Eco comes back in. Eco reads that Belca thinks he's creepy but he did help him out so he owes him. He paid for the clothes he took with some earrings.

The chapter ends with Eco realizing in comical horror that Belca is heading down the mountain in that condition.