wonderfulworldofmaeth

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

A Bag of Candy

Snow fell in a rampant flurry. The snowflakes clung to one another in chains and merry circles, moving in tandem to shroud the figure moving slowly through the storm. The figure was tall, bundled in fabrics against the harsh elements. The figure was Shuhei Kumagai.

Still to this day, the thoughts cross my mind. They come and go like koi fish in a pond, ever circling within the confines of a place they'll live and die in. Between the decisive steps of my familiar path home, my mind wandered aimlessly. The thoughts would not be banished.

How old was I now? I didn't take note of that sort of thing. I did when I was younger when years, numbers, and time all mattered. I cared about the number of candles on my birthday cake, figuratively of course. I preferred a bag of candy to a cake.

The years mattered then because I was growing out of something. I was waiting for the clock to release me; I was waiting for it to permit me to break free of my circumstances. When I did, then the years didn't matter so much. Especially during my travels, my birthday was more of an afterthought. The sun would be high in the sky and the marsh water high on my legs as I crossed a moor. My toes would sink down into the mud and I would remember suddenly that it was my birthday. Then the simple thought would linger faintly against the chaos it brought forward from my past.

And today, right now, as I walk through this storm I recall one of those years I spent finding what I thought was my purpose. The sun was now the moon, the mud was now snow and I am reminded it is once again my birthday. Years ago, I felt indifferent toward this day. My indifference bothered me. Now that I have grown a great deal and am a different version of myself, I am still indifferent. At least now I am not bothered by such indifference.

I look down at my gloved hands. Between my joint ailment, my profession, and the frigid temperatures, they ached. What a privilege it was to feel. To feel cold, to feel wet, to feel the yearning for warmth. To feel the security and certainty that warmth awaited me at home. What a privilege it is to feel indifferent about my own birthday.

The dead are restrained from such feelings.

I was not one of them yet, but I know many of the dead. I ushered them from this life to the next and there isn't a day that thought doesn't find me. It is especially poignant on my birthday. A celebration of my life.

The faint glow of a lantern in the distance called me out of my thoughts, and back into the storm. My home was not far. My wife lights the lantern in the evenings this time of year since our home in the woods is well-secluded. I have always found my way and the lantern I need not, but she lights it anyway. The gesture reminds me that she is home waiting. My wife, like the lantern, is the beacon I return to.

The paces remaining seemed swift, and I was to the front steps of our home before I found myself traversing back to the darkness of my mind. I found the door to be unlocked—a relief. My hands protested every small movement today, a reminder that many birthdays have passed, whether I joyfully acknowledged them or not.

"Welcome home, darling!"

My wife's light voice was carried on the wafting smell of her cooking. I hung my outer clothes on the coat rack. I watched the snow fall from them. I watched the crystals grow old and die; their graves were only small droplets on the wood floor. None of them had headstones.

I removed my shoes and one step after the other, I was being pulled toward the warmth. Toward the light. I found her standing at the stove, wearing pink slippers and a nightgown that's gradually grown in length since we've been married. By now, it hangs around her calves. I noticed the rip in the hem where our cat likes to play.

She didn't hear me approach, nor did I wait for her to hear. I simply wrapped my arms around her where I could, resting my chin atop her head. Her hair was wet. The sensation was adverse to my flesh, but comforting to my heart. The cold, wet of her hair was so insignificant when held to the warmth that this woman created within me.

"Shu, how was your day?"

She asked me this, turning down the fire. The pan she held was soon placed back onto the stovetop and both of her hands found mine in a tangle on her stomach. I remember a time when her stomach was full, a time when she was hard at work growing our family. I would lift her stomach to bear some of the weight. There wasn't anything to lift now, as that was long ago and our children were now grown.

Sleeping in their own beds, thinking with their own heads.

"It went well. Very busy. I wish I was home."

Her familiar laugh, mischievous and mirthful, stirred within me so much emotion. Often, little gestures such as these called me to willfully forget things that troubled me.

"Well, you are home. Aren't you?"

I smiled for the first time since beginning my journey home. I realized my thoughts had been dreary, as they tended to be on such days like today.

"I am," I answered her, crouching further to rest my face in the nook of her shoulder and neck. I never minded folding myself down to be closer to the woman I loved.

"Well... now that you're home we can have dinner together."

She must have known that was all I wanted. To fill my belly with the craft of her hands and the laughter that she spurred. I gave a pleased nod and took to the cabinets to gather dishes to set the table.

We talked small, about all things. About her things. About my things. About when our children would arrive home from their different places and we would all be together here. As indifferent I was about my own birthday, I always looked forward to the times our family would be in one place. My birthday, coincidentally was one of them.

As I set our places, out of the corner of my eye did I see a paper bag on the counter.

I smiled. I could feel the deep lines in my face crease like well-worn leather. How could I be surprised? Maybe not surprised, just pleased. My wife knew everything about me. I had no doubts she knew the thoughts in my head today. And her remedy was her company and her thoughtful gestures. She knew this would fill me with the contentedness she sought for me. She knew all it took was her love.

And she knew I preferred a bag of candy to a cake.

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

If I wrote a oneshot for something, literally anything, would anybody read it? I might open my inbox for requests again

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

I'm Blue.

Full name: Blue Darren Jones (later changed to Blue Darren Thunderhawk)

Age: 21 years old

Birthday: April 10th

Sexual orientation: Pansexual

Pronouns: He/Him

Familiar: BeeBee the Racoon

Personality:

Likes: Fishing, hot days, cruising around town with the windows down, watching horror movies, spending time with his mom, the color green, lake days with his friends, buffets, paddleboading, riding four wheelers, helping other people, playing basketball, salty food, summer camps, getting high and drunk with his friends, getting tan in the summer, arts and crafts, visiting his sister, late night talks about everything, eating in the car, listening to CDs.

Dislikes: When people yell at him, bland food, picking where to sit on the first day of school, pop music, cleaning up after others, tv static, superficial and shallow people, sand and dirt in his shoes, okra, when people think they know what he's feeling, locker room talk, when people force him to change, sunburns, church camps, hearing strange noises at night.

Abilities: Blue is pretty handy and can fix a lot of things around the house, and often does so when he goes to live with his biological mother. He only speaks one language: Sabran Embrish, but he's trying to change that. He can cook and often makes dinners out of the fish he catches. He's athletic and likes just about every sport you can think of, especially paddleboarding and basketball.

Favourite food: Fish Fry (fully involved)

Favourite drink: Strawberry Lemonade

Favourite flower: Bluebonnets

Appearance:

Height: 5'11 or 180 cm

Weight: 210 lbs or 95 kg

Hair: Blue has long dark hair like his mother, that ranges from wavy to straight. He usually has it tied up in a different style daily, generally opting for ponytails or braids with a bandana.

Eyes: Blue has dark eyes, nearly black. They're inquisitive and kind, sometimes squinting to a close when he laughs.

General description: Blue has a light olive skin tone and tans very easily, which he prefers to do in the summer months. He has his father's large nose, and his mother's cheekbones and strong chin. His eyebrows are rather thick, just a hair away from being too bushy and it takes a lot of effort to keep them tame. His face has some hyperpigmentation around the cheek area because of the acne and eczema he struggled with as a kid. He's able to grow a beard, but he prefers to keep clean-shaven. If anything he lets his goatee grow sometimes. He's been stretching his earlobes since he was about sixteen and has several gauges and piercings he enjoys wearing. He has several tattoos that have various meanings to him as well as some that he's gotten just for fun. Blue likes to stay active, his biceps and back muscles really starting to fill out now that he's older. He always has a content expression on his face, making him approachable to others.

Fashion sense: Blue has a practical fashion sense. He likes denim a lot, and wears it a lot when he works as well as plays. He owns loads of vintage shirts that he's "restyled" with a pair of scissors. Cutting off sleeves and cropping necklines and hems is his favorite pastime. The same goes for his jeans; he does enjoy a good pair of cutoffs. He's never owned a lot of shoes at the same time, often having a couple of pairs of sneakers and a couple of pairs of boots. He's pretty tough on his shoes as he does like to spend a lot of time outside, so he has to get new ones frequently. He has a lot of bandanas and hats and wears one more often than not. In the winter months, he sports his grandfather's fringe jacket or one of the many denim jackets he has. Blue loves jewelry and normally opts for leather or feather jewelry, made by his mother or the people in his community. He's also a fan of DIY crafts so he'll make his own.

A brief look into his life:

Occupation: While living with his mother in Grand Mitoka, Blue started working odd jobs to help with bills and save for a car. He's done plumbing and electrical work, dug wells, and has done various forms of farm work. When he was 17, he finally settled on a job with the Mitoka Sanitation Division. After studying at Mitoka State and at the Vivarium Institutes in Maeth, Blue now works in environmental management, seeing how he could best help his community and environment.

Love interest:

Minerva Migloire

Family and friends:

Steven Jones, father

Winry Thunderhawk, mother

Mckenna Dean Jones, stepmother

Fordham (Ford) Jones, brother

Logan Jones, brother

Celina Davis-Jones, sister

Danisha Davis, mother figure

Kendall Wainwright and Jojo McClanahan, childhood friends

Molly Eustice-Thunderhawk, grandmother

Sili (Songbird) Eubank, ex-girlfriend

Nash Baker and Alex Wang, roommates at MSU and VIT

Miscellaneous facts:

He likes making up stories in his head but he's not super great at writing them down, so he just keeps a list of cool things he thinks about.

He found his pet raccoon, BeeBee, shortly before he moved to Mitoka.

Blue has lived in Sabra all his life and doesn't have a passport (yet).

Blue is an environmentalist at heart and has a passion for sustainable practices and recycling.

Blue smoked his first cigarette at age 10 and he definitely regrets it. He quit smoking cigarettes when he was fifteen but has since struggled with the addiction again.

Blue has been sensitive to paranormal activity, seeing and feeling presences since he was a little kid.

Blue can eat a whole bucket of fried chicken in one sitting. And definitely plans to do it again.

Story:

Blue was born in Brolin, Sabra to mother Winry Thunderhawk and father Steven Jones. He has three older half siblings: Ford, Celina, and Logan. His mother didn't live with his father at the time as he was still married to Blue's step-mother, Mckenna. Blue spent much of his early years between his mother and father's houses until his father divorced Mckenna and married his mother, Winry.

When Winry moved in, there were tensions between her and her step-children, specifically Ford and Logan. Ultimately, it led to a short-lived marriage and a nasty divorce. Due to her personal struggles with substance abuse, Steven won full custody of their son. He even went as far as to threaten Winry, warning her if she ever tried to come back into Blue's life, there would be consequences. Ultimately, the relationship ended with Winry moving back to Mitoka without her son. It wasn't a decision she wanted to make, but with Steven's wealth and connections, there wasn't much she could do to win her son back.

Blue grew up with his siblings, closest to his sister Celina. His two brothers, Fordham and Logan created a strained relationship with their siblings Celina and Blue with constant teasing, exclusion, and bullying. Although Steven didn't outright show favoritism to any one of his children, subtle behaviors and dynamics caused Celina and Blue to feel unwelcome in their own home.

This resulted in Celina reaching out to her biological mother, and willing Blue to do the same thing.

When Blue was fifteen, Celina had convinced him to go live with his mother to escape the discrimination and mistreatment by his brothers. Although Blue was sick of his life, he couldn't help but hope it would improve. However, at the news of his father's engagement to yet another woman, he and his sister Celina thought it was best for him to leave Brolin before the family dynamic changed for the worse.

When Blue arrived in Mitoka, he and his mother got along well. They enrolled him in the local school where he made lots of friends and had the experience he'd always dreamed of. Although he didn't have the luxuries he was used to, he was happy to spend that time bonding with his mother.

When he was old enough, around sixteen, he started working odd jobs during his time there. Eventually, Blue graduated from high school and was encouraged by his mother to attend a university. Through these avenues, he ultimately sets on the path to attend VIT in Esbat, Maeth where he meets his love interest, Minerva Migloire.

@themaethpost

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"Minerva... well it was really nice to meet you. I hope we see each other again someday. Until then, wear that helmet. I'll write!"

-Blue Thunderhawk

Now Presenting: Minerva Migloire, the healer.

Introduction.

Full name: Minerva Aelin Magloire.

Pronouns: She/Her.

Birthday: 13th February.

Sexual orientation: Heterosexual.

Pet: Tackery, the ferret.

Personality.

Birth chart (big three): Aquarius sun, Piscis moon, Capricorn rising.

MBTI: INFJ-T.

Patron Arcana: The Moon.

Upright: Intuition, illusions, crisis of faith.

Reversed: Ignored trauma, going back to one’s old ways, difficult emotions.

Minor Arcana: Eight of Cups.

Upright: Departure, change, and emotional intelligence.

Reversed: Being abandoned, errors of judgement, clinging to the past.

Likes: Art nouveau architecture, vitraux, tiny jars for herbs and spices, having a specific order and place for things, white mushrooms growing from in between cobblestones all over Maeth, the way her curls look when she just wakes up, cutting her own hair, soft breeze in the summer, crunchy autumn leaves at her door, that magical shimmer water reflects due to the sun being right above it midday, sweet treats, dim lighting, walnut oak furniture, being a big sister, when Tack rests on her shoulders like a scarf, folk music at the tavern, cherry blush all over her cheeks, when Soleil asked for bedtime stories, doing laundry and sunday deep cleaning, cooking and storing food for the rest of the week, the way Esbat Capital lights up at night, surprising chemical reactions, riding the train, reading romance books.

Dislikes: Brushing her hair because it destroys her curls, rude costumers that doubt her knowledge and expertise, loud people, when the herbs she ordered are delayed so now she has to rush to make the new batches of oil and ointments, long trips on boats, losing her bookmarks, falling asleep on her couch and not her bed, when the shower water runs cold, not being able to find Tack easily.

Abilities: She’s not great at maths but she really does like the accounting aspect of the shop she runs so she’s great at it. Minerva learned how to play the guitar early on in her life so now she’s a decent player. She’s quick to remember recipes for both food and medicine. Can ride a bike without holding the handlebars and that’s her prefered way of moving around the big city, divination.

Favourite food: Cinnamon rolls.

Favourite drink: A latte, please. Or two. Or three… And it’s only 2 PM.

Favourite flower: Ghost flowers.

Magic: She wasn’t born into a family of witches, so she doesn’t have any nature’s element weilding powers but she is interested in witchcraft, so she studies in her free time about it. So far, the only thing she’s confident in is divination with tarot cards and participates in the pagan festivities but nothing else.

Appearance.

Height: 5’4 or 165 cm.

Weight: 119 lbs or 54 kg.

Hair: She’s got this chocolate brown, curly hair which ends go barely past covering her breasts and she can’t tame it most of the time, partially due to the fact that she washes it and goes to sleep without letting it dry properly first. Not that she cares, she likes the messy look her curls and frizz offer so she just lets it be. Though, you might run into her at Açu’s for some deep conditioner every month trying to force those curls to stay in place.

Eyes: Her eyes are brown, simple as that. It’s a deep, sparkly dark brown. Down turned almond shape that look so sleepy most of the time, you’d think she’s bored talking to you and she might be, but it’s not her intention to let you know that. Long lashes adoring her nostalgic stare only enhanced by a eyelash curler in the morning and not much else. Maybe some sparkly eyeshadow in the corner of her eyes if she’s feeling it.

General description: Overall, Minerva is not someone who stands out a lot. Even so, her beauty is something that might caught the eyes of one or two people while walking to work in the mornings. She’s not someone who wears a lot of jewelry but since her eyesight isn’t the best, she’s always wearing contacts or glasses and that’s something she really likes to play with, so you might see her with peculiar frames at the shop. She’s got veiny hands and most of the time you’ll see her wearing some kind of shimmery nail polish that chips way too easily. Minerva has a few beauty marks all over her body, she likes the one she’s got on her neck near her left ear a lot. Also, yes, that overwhelming scent you’re catching is her walking by. Her perfumes are very intense and sweet.

Fashion sense: She’s not the most confident person on the planet and tries to hide her figure a lot behind oversized shirts, sweaters and cardigans, though she’s trying to be more versatile. Trousers and comfortable shoes are her best friends but since she’s okay with her lower part, she’s not opposed to skirts (long or short). She likes clean lines, basic pieces that she can mix and match. Also, boots are her soft spot.

A brief look into her life.

Occupation: Minerva is an apothecary, just like her grandma used to be. When her and Soleil moved in with their father to Maeth from Embry, he decided to move in to his old home with his mother that passed away a few months before. This place is like a small building where the first floor is a shop, the apothecary shop where Minerva works and then, the second and third floor is where Soleil and their father live. Two years ago, Minerva moved just two blocks away from them to a small apartment with a gorgeous view, so she’s with her family most of the time.

Family and friends:

Federico Bianchi; step-father.

Reneé Berest; mother.

Simón Magloire; father.

Soleil Beallin Magloire; sister.

Natsu Dunaidh, best friend.

Benicio Melo Teixeira, best friend.

Amaru Ch’aska Noguera, friend and colleague.

Miscellaneous facts:

The love she has for the aphotecary profession comes from her grandma and all the books she left behind that she wrote about making remedies, herbology and holistic medicine.

She’s also incredibly interested in alchemy and psychology but had to study to be a pharmacist in university so she could continue with the aphotecary business and not have anyone doubting her medicine knowledge and recommend another options.

Even though you’ll mostly see her dressed with autumn colors, she’s also a sucker for cerulean, midnight blue, navy and cobalt. No, it’s not just blue.

Hums and talks to herself while working most of the time, since she’s the only one at the shop most of the time. Except for the times Soleil decides to keep her company for a while.

Loves conspiracy theories and is cryptic enthusiast.

Moths are fascinating to her.

Has a soft, breathy voice when she sings while playing the guitar.

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

byōbu-e 屏風絵 - peinture sur paravent - “Lions” de

Takeuchi Seihō 竹内 栖鳳 (1864 - 1942).

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"The Esbat Capitol is one of the most elegant places I've ever seen. It still amazes me, even after all these years. I can recall when I first arrived in Maeth; Ella had shown me the Vivarium Fountain of Fallen Soldiers. What a beautiful and meaningful monument to greet and welcome me into this fairytale city. I still feel how vividly the magic courses through you when you near it. The feeling has never faded."

"Living here is a dream come true. I can't thank enough my sister who has shared her life with me and allowed me to create my own. This place is always a reminder."

-Salice Zieragh Halloway

Now Presenting: Esbat Capital.

Esbat Capital is Maeth’s big, cosmopolitan capital city. Its center is the Cortez Circle, lined with stately Curdic-style buildings and commemorative statues including the Vivarium Fountain of Fallen Soldiers and the VIT, the Vivarium Institute of Technology (third photo) as well as an elegant shopping area. Other major attractions include Sabbat Slendid (second photo), a grand opera house with nearly 2,500 seats, and the modern SAMA museum, displaying maethisse, saudade and atawallpan art.

The National Library of Maeth (first photo) is another focal point, where people from all around the world can get their affiliation card to the library and are welcomed seven days a week from 8 A.M to 8 P.M.

As for the rest of the capital city of Maeth, El Paseo de los Artesanos near the port is a exquisite attraction worth visiting at any time of the day for a magical experience given that it’s also one of the biggest outdoor shopping places as a proper feria consciente and almacenes during the week days.

The Puerto Iluminada amusement park is just next to it, where kids and adults alike can ride on the Fortune Wheel and lots of other wonderful games, enjoying the view at the ocean by being really close to the Prime Grand Port.

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"No tengo sugerencias para ti, sólo una promesa. Una promesa para amarte con todo de mi corazón. Mi Isabella, mi mariposa. A menudo, me pregunto cómo es que tengo tanta suerte, buena fortuna. Incluso hoy, no sé la respuesta. No necesito una respuesta, porque te tengo. Nuesto amor es una cosa imposible. Pero tu lo haces posible."

"Nuestro amor es todo lo que necesito. Eres toda mi vida."

"Te digo, te amo por siempre, mi mariposa."

-Shuhei Kumagai

December 22nd.

The crickets sing along to the the low hum that come from that candle lit kitchen at 11:43 p.m while she busies herself with sweet preparations. The oven, turned off but still warm enough from being used exactly twenty-seven minutes ago, fights off the cold winter night and makes her wipe the windows with her way-too-big sweater sleeves so the fog wouldn’t hide the magical view she has through it while she decorates the small cake with his favourite cake toppings.

It has to be perfect, it needs to taste amazing, at least that what she first thought when she slipped out of his arms in the middle of their sleep and closed the bedroom door as quietly as humanly possible.

She tried the mix a couple of times, adding sugar and vanilla extract when she deemed necessary but nothing seemed quite right, after all, her baking skills aren’t the greatest. Isabella came to the conclusion that the cake tastes decent and rolled with it to not lose any more time.

Three blue candles sit on top of the wooden counter waiting to be placed on the spongy surface. “Three candles for three wishes”, or at least is what her mom always told her and her siblings on every birthday, a nice tradition to bring luck and happiness to your loved ones. And him… Well, he’s who she loves the most.

By the time she’s done with the decorations the clock marks 11:57 p.m. A sweet message in white cream and sloppy lettering adorns the birthday cake: Happy Birthday Shuhei. His full name, of course, she wanted to draw a heart over the I and she did.

Trembling hands grab the small plate and two spoons, one for each. She would’ve grabbed matches but she doesn’t have anything to hide, not anymore, not to him. He knows her, her abilities, her weaknesses, and he’s always been accepting of them.

Her hips push the bedroom door open slightly and her careful steps make their way to his side of the bed to kneel by his side on the floor, presenting the humble gift she made. Her voice interrupts the quiet of the night for the first time since they decided it was time to go to bed.

“Shu, Shu… Baby.” Not quite a whisper, not quite her normal talking voice, but enough to make him stir and shift under the sheets and covers. Still not a single light, except from the moon shining down on them from their bedroom window. Turning to where her voice was calling for him and rubbing his eyes to see better in the dark, that’s when she gently blows on the three candles and they light up in front of his eyes.

“Isa, wh-what happen- Oh…” A pleasant tone in his sleepy voice once he realises what is happening.

“お誕生日おめでとう, amor mío.” Her pronunciation is definitely a little off but it makes him smile so big. She spend the whole night rehearsing this exact same moment, mouthing the words in Kyoh language to herself while whipping and mixing. She knows saying happy birthday in one’s native language is always heart-warming, and all she wants to do now is make him feel surrounded by love. “Make three wishes before you blow out the candles but don’t say them out loud or they won’t come true.”

Their eyes meet for quite sometime, she can feel him staring straight into her soul, as if he is saying “you know what I’m wishing for” and part of her does, because she knows those three wishes are always the same for the both of them since they met two years ago. To be together, to love each other, to be always this happy.

His warm breath reaches her face and turns the fire into smoke that fills the space between them, letting the moon be the only one to illuminate their faces as they come closer together to seal the wishes with a kiss.

A sweet, short kiss before pulling away for her to crawl in bed on top of him as he fixes himself to rest his back on the headboard so they can be face to face.

“Did you like the surprise? I know it’s late and you wake up at the crack of dawn, and of course, this is not it, you have to open your other gifts but…” Her nervous chuckles get interrupted by one more kiss.

“I loved it, Isabella.” His usual stoic face show such tenderness towards her at all times but something about the way his sleepy eyes are looking at hers melts her heart even more than normal. He’s truly happy about the surprise. His heart beating hard but steady, showing how excited he is. She can feel it, she always does.

“Then I hope you like it even more once you taste it.” Isabella hands him a spoon as the cake sits in between their legs on the bed, and even though now he has his own cutlery, the first piece she takes it’s for him, bringing the spoon to his lips for him to try it. “Be harsh with me, any suggestions?”

He shakes his head and lowers her hand, his fingers intertwined with her long hair as he approaches her lips again, the cream on his lips making her taste the sweetness of it all, not just the cake, to then deepen the kiss more and more as seconds go by, leaving the sweet gift on the nightstand all forgotten about for one much more sweeter.

1:13 a.m finds them all tangled up in their bedsheets breathing slow but uneven, their hairs messy on the pillows and their bodies against each other to keep all warmth they just created in the most intimate and loving way. All the love they made has them thinking how magical is to know those three wishes they keep on bringing up on every birthday, on every fallen eyelash, every shooting star, on every talk to the moon came true, and will continue to be true.

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"Cherry Red. That's what I think of when I see you, Josefina. Drives me mad. You know I like it when you frown at me and tell me to buzz off... it makes you smile when you tease me, huh? Maybe I could see that smile again tonight at dinner, if you'd let me take you? Indulge me one time, mi querida."

-Ray Leguizamo

"Tu egoísmo y tu soledad son joyas en el barro de la mediocridad." — Loco (con tu forma de ser) de Los Auténticos Decadentes.

About Josefina Iacovone.

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"I love life. It's a pain in the ass sometimes but es lo que es, yeah? If you have two legs, use them. If you have one, use it. If you have none, use your arms. That's how I look at everything. If you want to do it, do it. Si quieres tenerlo, tenlo. If you wanna be it, be it. I know I will. Porque esta vida es corta, y quiero vivir, baby."

-Nina Dominga Yanez

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"Everything and everyone deserves compassion. I love that magic provides us a power to do good, to protect, and to make whole... but the real magic is compassion of the heart. Those without compassion know a short, cold life. With my powers of light and love, I hope to spread as much compassion as I am able, and bring joy to those who need it most."

-Marnie Elizabeth Ursil

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

Hi there, I'm Mara.

Full name: Mara Evangeline Gaia Gabris

Age: 24 (Would be 32)

Birthday: May 16th

Sexual orientation: Heterosexual

Familiar: Odysseus the Mustang

Personality:

Birth chart (big three): Taurus Sun, Gemini Moon, Aries Rising

MBTI: ESFP-A

Patron Arcana: The Star

Upright: Hope, Faith, Rejuvenation, Healing

Reversed: Hopelessness, Faithlessness, Despair, Despondence

Minor Arcana: Nine of Swords

Upright: Fear, Isolation, Breaking Point

Reversed: Recovery, Coping, Finding Hope

Likes: The color orange, watching the wind kick up dust devils in the desert, fine jewelry, braiding other people's hair, when people make her laugh, roasting marshmallows, flowers of all kinds, putting new horseshoes on her horses, riding in the bed of trucks, cow print, going out dancing, square-toe boots, getting drunk off three shots of Jameson, equating strength with beauty, smiling, barbecues, the month of May, when people compliment her, the way her skin looks when kissed by the sun, shopping at the farmer's market, painting her nails, experimenting in the kitchen, the way her key ring jangles on her hip when she walks, wearing cute clothes that make her feel feminine, brushing her locs, Cole teasing her when she can't say his last name right, pound cake, Summer, playing cards, doing her makeup in natural light, when Cole takes off her cowgirl boots for her, watching the sun rise when she's rounding up her cattle, sleeping with the window open, when people request personal deliveries from her farm, the sounds of the desert at night, riddles that she won't guess, when dogs chase cars, fishing, holding hands in public, giving gifts, feeding her chickens, showing off how well she can whistle, hugs, do it yourself renovations on the house, evening rides with the love of her life.

Dislikes: Washing dishes, blood blisters, using spurs on her animals, baked beans, when people expect more out of her than she feels like she can give, the end of summer, eating the same thing every day, taking animals to the slaughterhouse, when people frown at her, waking up before the rooster, unwanted touch, standing at the market all day selling things from the farm, people who cheat during games, rope burn on her hands, dust storms that ruin the crops, people calling her ditzy even though she knows she's not that smart, the feeling of someone leaving her behind, herself without her locs, hauling water from the river, when people tell her she's lost weight, when she has to get feisty for her voice to be heard, replacing her favorite jeans because her thighs chafe too much, when her family yells at her for making a mistake, convincing others she's soft and deserving of love, the feeling of regret.

Abilities: Mara is a very skilled cowgirl. She can ride horses very well and knows a lot about the upkeep and care of farm animals. She can lasso and whistle and tie a lot of knots. She's pretty handy, able to fix little things around her house and farm. She's very in tune with nature and has a natural sense of direction. Mara also likes to garden and has a green thumb which helps a lot when you grow up on a farm. Mara is also really good at cooking and baking.

Favourite food: Tater Tot Casserole with Cheese and Sour Cream and Bacon

Favourite drink: Sweet Tea with a slice of Orange

Favourite flower: Somraldic Poppy

Favourite place: Under a Somraldic Sycamore in the arms of her love

Magic: Mara is a Prairie Maiden, one of the native witches of Somrald. The magic can be either hereditary, obtained if you complete a special ritual, or you are ordained before you're born. Although she's not as devout as other witches in practice, she often prays and gives offerings at her altar for the Maiden of the Valley, the feminine spirit that watches over Somraldic people, specifically women. Her magic is emotional, providing peace and comfort to the people around her through her touch and her words. She also has a lot of empathy for others as well as animals due to this gift. Mara was also born as one of the Maiden's Messengers, a woman blessed by the Maiden of the Valley with the power to change form into that of an animal. Mara's animal spirit is a Red-Tailed Hawk.

Appearance:

Height: 5'11 or 180 cm

Weight: 217 lbs or 98 kg

Hair: Mara has long black goddess locs that she's been growing since she was a young girl. They're waist-length now and she loves to put charms and weave prairie flowers in them. She often does different styles with her locs, wearing a bandana on her head or tying them in ponytails under her cowgirl hat. In her last few years of life, she cut them, revealing shoulder-length dark bouncy curls.

Eyes: Mara has black eyes, like most people in Murik Valley. They're some of the biggest, sweetest eyes you'll ever see. She has long lashes and always lines her eyes with makeup before leaving the house. She's very expressive and sweet and you'll often find yourself softening under her gaze. One bat of her eyelashes and you'll give her anything she wants.

General description: Mara is tall and curvy. She's strong from all the physical labor she does. She carries her weight in her arms, stomach, hips and legs. Her hourglass shape is accompanied by the cute pudge of her stomach that can be seen when she wears the low-rise jeans she loves. Her face is sweet with round cheeks and a soft jaw. Her lips are quite full and she has dimples when she smiles.

Mara is a free spirit. She loves adventure and feeling alive. She loves experiencing new things and going to new places. She's family-oriented, as Valley folk tend to be, however, she's got a wanderlust that can never be satisfied. If she loves you, she loves hard and you'll know it. She's loyal and dutiful to the people she loves. She's quite responsible when it comes to work, but she loves horsing around and having fun. Mara can be a little forgetful, but if it's important, she'll get it done.

Fashion Sense: Mara is always wearing Western clothing, but she still likes looking nice. A good pair of body-hugging bootcut or flare jeans are her go-to, with a nice belt, no matter the occasion. If she's working she'll wear a henley or collared shirt to protect herself from the elements. If it's cold she'll wear a denim jacket with a fleece interior. She's also got chaps and a few vests she'll wear depending on her work day and the weather. If it's a day of leisure, she'll opt for those jeans paired with a fashion top or a low-cut shirt that shows off her full figure. She loves ribbed tops or henleys, but it's always a scoop neck. Mara never leaves the house without her boots. She's got several pairs, some simple for work, some snazzy for going out. She's always wearing gold or turquoise jewelry and never leaves home without a few prairie charms.

Mara also likes dressing up sometimes. She'll wear a dress with a plunging neckline and some decorative boots. It's very rare you'll see Mara in a pair of heels, but she loves how pretty they make her feel.

A brief look into her life:

Occupation: Mara works with her father on their farm. Her duties include cattle wrangling, milking the cows, feeding the chickens and pigs, slaughtering livestock, tending to their farmland, and a world of other things. There's a lot that goes into having a farm. She does most of the intensive labor with the help of whoever they can afford to employ since Myvern is not able to handle most of that labor due to his illness. Mara also dedicates a portion of her life to the Maiden of the Valley as one of her Messengers. Whatever duties the Maiden calls her to do, she will see in a dream, a vision, or a sudden compulsion.

Love Interest:

Cole Berlusconi

Family and friends:

Myvern Gabris, father

Eleni Gabris, mother

Persephone Gabris, little sister

Tiana Samaras, aunt

Clio Mallas, aunt

Pollyanna Evander, best friend

Nazir Circe, close friend

Olympia Mathison, Castor Bedlam, Jason Karras, friends and colleagues

Tomás, Matías, Marcos, and Emilio, acquaintances she met in Maeth

Isabella Ziergah, friend

Hercules Argo, husband

Bree Argo, daughter

Miscellaneous facts.

Mara is insanely strong. She can't quite tear an addressbook in half but she can make a rip.

Mara never saw herself settling down with a man in a traditional sense, but adventuring and traveling all over the world doing new things with the man she loves, and only after that settling down.

She's always wanted a house with a whole wall made of windows.

Mara's love languages are gift-giving and acts of service.

Mara has a few tattoos, most of which she's gotten in honor of the love of her life. The tattoos include a spaceship, an 8 ball, and an oak tree. Her others include a horseshoe on her wrist, a feather on her forearm, and a bull on her shoulder.

Mara is a lively and adventurous girl, but she's almost always been held back by her family.

Mara can shotgun a beer in record time and its one of her favorite party tricks

Mara can drive both a manual and an automatic transmission vehicle and she teaches her friends how to drive. She taught Cole how to both drive a car and ride a horse.

Mara struggled with her self-esteem as a child, in large part because of her family.

Mara has a younger sister who ran away when she was fifteen and Mara was sixteen. This affected Mara in a lot of ways. She hardly likes to talk about it.

Mara has a complicated relationship with her family, but nobody seems to really ever see her side of the story.

Mara meets Cole one summer when they're 18 years old. They fall in a love so deep and intense the relationship sustains long distance for three years, until Mara's family pressures her into marrying someone else to save their farm and livelihood.

She has never loved anyone more than she's loved Cole Berlusconi.

"When you're here with me, I like to think everything's gonna work out. I love you."

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"Matías... that's a beautiful name. The name of an angel. All these wonderful things about you, I want to know like the back of my hand, like the words to my favorite poems. I want to write poems with you, on you, because of you. My Matías D'Angelis. My love from another life."

-Yasue Kumagai

Matías D'Angelis, the librarian.

Full name: Matías Gabriel D’Angelis.

Age: 32 years old.

Birthday: 23rd November.

Sexual orientation: Pansexual.

Pet: Juno, the black kitty.

Personality.

Birth chart (big three): Sagittarius sun, Scorpio moon, Gemini rising.

MBTI: INTP-T.

Patron Arcana:  The Hermit.

Upright: Soul-searching, introspection, being alone, inner guidance.

Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal.

Minor Arcana: Six of Cups.

Upright: Revisiting the past, childhood memories, innocence, joy.

Reversed: Living in the past, forgiveness, lacking playfulness.

Likes: Tea enthusiast, patchwork quilts made by his grandma, salamander stoves, when books are well-lived (coffee stains, worn out pages, annotations), open windows in every space he is in, black and white checker tiles on his bathroom, when Juno sits on his chest and purrs, thunderstorms, mint chocolate in every single way it could be ordered, blue soft cotton shirts, reuniting with the guys for friendly football matches on Fridays, when schools have a Library day and all the little kids say hi to him, the private section of the library where he only has access, knuckle and jaw kisses, foot massages, ivy growing on the side of his building, sealing cards with fancy wax, cooking for his loved ones, sunbathing at the river, brown corduroy jackets.

Dislikes: The sound of the kettle when the water is boiling, having to make his bed in the morning, when Juno climbs the trees near his balcony to sleep and has to wait for her to come back home, abrupt change, being so swamped in work he doesn’t have time to see his loved ones, the fact that his grandma is way too old now, when people lose their library card and has to do all the paperwork again, being late to things, bad grammar, feeling like he’s losing a debate.

Abilities: He’s a great swimmer and knows how to knit even if he doesn’t want to admit it, he’s incredibly good at crosswords (maybe because he spend his whole life with his nose in books), knows how to recycle paper and turn it into beautiful notebooks where we lays down different play plots ideas he wants to full-on write but is too afraid to actually do it.

Favourite food: Milanesas a la napolitana.

Favourite drink: Mint Iced Tea.

Favourite flower: Calla lillies.

Appearance.

Height: 6’1 ft or 185 cm.

Weight: 163 lbs or 74 kg.

Hair: He’s got dark brown hair with truly defined curls that he styles with a bit of hair wax, only a little bit, just for his curls to hold on for the entirety of the day. It’s a lot of hair but it’s not long per se, just really shaggy all over.

Eyes: His kind, sleepy, black eyes are so soft letting everyone see how he spend all night reading instead of getting a good night’s sleep. He also has dark circles under his eyes but his smile always hides them. A few wrinkles appeared when he turned 30 but they’re not super noticiable. 

General description: Even if he tries to hide his slender body with his clothes because he’s not that proud of his lack of muscles, his back is well defined and big, just a bit bony, but its decorated with a ton of little dark freckles that also appear in his chest, legs and arms. His most noticiable feature is his beautiful roman nose and that well-defined jawline. His eyebrows are kind of bushy but he combs them with a little spoolie brush his grandma gave him, and a few freckles appear all over his face when summer arrives and sun touches his face. He’s got veiny (cold) hands.

Fashion sense: Matías really likes layering. White or back cotton shirt, button up shirt, some dress grey or black slacks and Oxford shoes are his go-to outfit for work, depending on the weather he would usually wear a cardigan or a turtleneck sweater too. He would never leave without his watch on his left wrists and he isn’t that much of a fan of jewellery. Another outfit that’s pretty common for him is his soccer attire, jersey and sport shorts with his worn out cleats. In the privacy of his own home is very rare for him to wear a shirt and he prefers to walk around in his comfy blue square-pattern cotton pants.

A brief look into his life.

Occupation: The National Library of Maeth is gigantic to say the least and he’s been working at this place for the past ten years or so, he doesn’t even remember anymore. They have different sections and long, long corridors full of knowledge and fictional stories with space to sit down and read for hours. He’s the one to go for recommendations, to find an specific book or to check one out. Remember, you only have one month and it has to be returned in perfect conditions!

Love interest: 

Yasue Kumagai.

Family and friends:

Elsa Torrente D’Angelis, grandmother. 

Sergio D'Angelis, father.

Paz D’Angelis, half sibling. 

Juan Cruz D’Angelis, half sibling.

Anshelinah Circe, best friend.

Tomás, Marcos, Cole, Shuhei, Emilio and Draigh, his friend group.

Fiorella, Josefina and Dario, co-workers.

Miscellaneous facts:

He baby-talks ridiculously to Juno. It’s super embarrassing. 

He’s a tea connoisseur. Has a big box with different flavoured teas from all over the globe.

Surprisingly, he loves to go on outdoor adventures even more so if it means he’ll get to jump down big rocks to a body of water or zip line from mountain to mountain. 

He likes to visit his grandma at least once a week, whenever he can at least to say hello and drink a cup of tea with the lady.

He wants tattoos but is afraid of needles and sharp things. 

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"Oh baby girl, these are too hot. What I gotta do for you to make a matching one for me and Sisi? I think all three of us would be pretty stunning in something like this. The boys couldn't take us anywhere. Mi amorcita talentosa."

-Anshelinah Circe

📸 Isabella Zieragh: her best outfits for Soda Stereo's tour.

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

I'll Wait For You in Moonlight

Salice waited, watching the moonlight dance on the water of Lover's Lake. She'd returned to her best friend's house, where she'd been living, filled a basin with water, and taken a rose bath. She smelled of spring and looked like summer in a dress as white as a lamb. She'd prepared herself beautifully like she would meet god.

Tonight, she just might.

The moonlight washed over her like a milky drape, and it was this image that Thomas saw first as he approached her.

It wasn't but a few hours earlier that he'd gotten the courage to right what was going to be the most devastating wrong of his life. Laying next to the woman of his dreams in the St Augustine grass, he made the decision to call off the marriage he'd been dreading for months. The one-sided promise he'd been agonizing over.

"Breaking a one-sided promise is self-preservation."

Salice had never been so right. Then again, when Thomas thought about it, he couldn't ever recall a time when she was wrong.

When he saw her here, waiting for him in white, Thomas couldn't believe his eyes. He's struggled for so long to see clearly, to see something that wasn't an unattainable fantasy in his dreams. But he was looking at his fantasy now and it had finally become a reality.

"Salice?"

She turned, her dark curls tumbling down her shoulders, left bare by her romantic dress. Her green eyes were home.

"Thomas... I waited, just like you said."

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"I was so incredibly happy to plan this dinner to celebrate you. I hope you're okay with that. I know you're reserved, love, but you have so many people who love and care about you! They all came to bring you gifts and express how much good you've done in their lives...

That's what you do. Good. You're helpful and kind and strong and truly a pillar in Maeth's community. The whole town appreciates you. And I'm so proud of that. Proud to call myself your wife.

You do so much for others, so I am happy I can be the one who loves you and takes care of you when you need me. Everyone may adore you, but don't forget I'm the one who loves you most of all.

Happy birthday, Thomas. Here's to today, and many more beautiful tomorrows with the man I love more than life itself.

Happy birthday to you, my one and only love."

-Salice Halloway Zieragh

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"Good morning, my love. As I kiss you awake on this day, this very special day, I'm reminded how lucky I am to have you. I love you more than anything in the world, and today, on your birthday, I'll remind you of that. More celebrations to come, just you wait. But in the meantime, I'll make your favorite for breakfast and we can eat in bed, mh? With that something else you like too."

-Salice Halloway Zieragh

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

"Matty! You found a fox? Oh, I'm coming over right now. Use your phone to call Ophie, we have to meet him! We promise not to bother him if he's sleeping. Que pequeño... Oh I love him already. Okay, on my way."

-Anshi

"Found him crying when I was walking home from Tom's house. He had splinters in his paws but it's all been taken cared of, so I guess.. Welcome to my new roomate?"

📸 Taken by Matías D'Angelis.