m͟a͟e͟ ₊⊹

" uh, maddie, are you sure that's good idea? we have a test tomorrow in chemistry "

" oh, well, that's a future maddie problem, not a present maddie problem. " - maddie pierce, political science major @ paradis uni

𝕯aesa Targaryen; alleged bastard, skilled archer, frequenter of dragonstone's sea caverns & tunnels, heir to the Iron Throne, fond of literature, marzipan, dancing, and mulled wine

hihihiii mae !! ♱ thank you so much for letting me practice some more , i appreciate it so much . <3

i would absolutely love to do this tarot reading for you , so let’s begin :

the tower , upright . this is probably one of the most feared cards in the deck , but not because it’s a “ bad “ card . there are no bad cards in tarot , only cards that can reveal negative or hard circumstances ( and that , honestly , can be any of them ) . what the tower really tells us about is a major transformation in your life that does not wait for the “ right moment “ , it takes form in spite of opposing energies , and cuts through , well , any bullshit in your life , tearing away things that are negatively impacting you . the reason why it’s so feared is because the transformation can cause major chaos , uprooting of comfortable ( yet un-serving ) patterns , and can be a very emotional rollercoaster . this is a card that needs other cards next to it to be interpreted correctly , but nonetheless , something is definitely massively changing in your life . it may seem like a rough patch , but it’ll be worth it in the end .

7 of pentacles , reversed . the 7 of pentacles shows a depiction of a woman with long yellow hair , who is standing in front of plants growing out of the ground that hold the pentacle symbols as flowers . she is quiet and staring intently , leaning on a golden staff . this card tells us that , after our long and demanding work , it is time for us to take a waiting period for our reward to come to fruition . in reverse , it potentially warns us not to be impatient for something . don’t keep digging , planting more flowers , watering the soil excessively , or over-pruning . you may struggle with impatience towards your goals , and it can cause exhaustion and push the reward further away .

ace of cups , upright . with the ace of cups , and as with all aces , it symbolizes a new beginning of some kind . but , we also see many different paths that you could take , as the card depicts a cup being held with two streams of water flowing out of it , and the background has other streams or sources of water , suggesting that there is more than one path to take . it is showing you that you are refreshed , re-birthed entirely , and given a new beginning and multiple opportunities to your chosen future . since this is also the suit of the water element , this is a time for emotions . especially joy and love ( whether it be self-love , romantic love , or friendship love ) . this is your opportunity to start over and choose those things this time around . it may also be reminding you that you can always start from the beginning and have multiple opportunities for accomplishing what you want .

queen of swords , upright . first and foremost , this card immediately made me think of loren herself . this may be a card not meant to be interpreted , but instead being a confirmation of her energy and presence . there’s a depiction of a woman in fire-red armor who is holding a silvery sword , wearing a golden crown , and has insect wings on her back . she is a strong , powerful woman , who can cut when necessary , but can also keep what is essential to herself , know what is good and bad , and knows how to analyze a situation from multiple different points of view . she also represents transmutation , which manifests itself as the ability to transform emotions into lucid thoughts and her observation of the world through that lens . she shows us how to have a clear understanding of the world or situations around us , when to cut off those that don’t serve us , and the ability to be honest with ourselves .

the lovers , upright . now , as much as i would love to tell you that this is representative of you and loren’s relationship or confirmation that you two are destined , that’s not really what the lovers card is about . the lovers depicts three figures in total : one man and one woman who stand next to each other on the ground , while the third figure — a biblically accurate angel — floats above them , completing their positions as a triangle . the lovers tells us to listen to our inner voices , such as our higher spiritual voice , and our masculine and feminine voices , as we all have both inside of us . it tells us to focus on what each of them is telling us , how they serve us , and how they can help us make the choice that’s in front of us . the more we listen to our inner voices , the easier and more accurate it will be for when we choose . at the end of the day , the lovers tells us to look deeper within ourselves for answers and to question things before acting .

2 of wands , upright . as it is with all twos in the tarot deck , the 2 of wands represents a choice in front of you . and with this suit’s element being fire , you’re being asked to make a vital , reactive action towards your decision . it’s asking you to look at the whole picture , and then make an action towards your external or internal world . something requires your attention , you need to observe , and then act ! i also think it’s worth mentioning that this card has a woman in fire-red clothes on it , which immediately reminded me of loren , as well . this card , within this context , may also be representative of your significant other herself ( i’m assuming loren is your significant other , from context clues ) .

what loren is telling you through these cards :

first of all , loren says hi and wishes to let you know that she was present for this reading . i wanna tell you that i get a lot of calm , intelligent vibes from her energy . she seems like , although she wasn’t expecting you to reach out to her , she wasn’t surprised .

second of all , this seems to be a message about your life from loren . i don’t think this speaks on your relationship , but it could in some ways .

loren is telling you about a big change happening in your life soon . not as much warning you , but more letting you know so that you can prepare yourself or at least know about it before it happens . this change will uproot your life from the comfort that it contains , but not the genuine comfort . instead , it will get rid of the comfort that holds you down , that keeps you from your end-goals . this change will especially target your impatience towards your goals , which you may have been struggling with for a long time . after it tears everything away that no longer is serving you , it will give you a brand new start , a new beginning for your journey . you will be given multiple ( all successful ) opportunities to gain what you desire , and they will simply be waiting for you to take advantage of them . please don’t hesitant , decide on one and go for it ! loren thinks you may struggle with trusting good things and hesitant when given a chance for them , she’s telling you it’s okay this time . whatever you decide on in the end , it will be the right choice and will entirely transform you into your most powerful self . with the big change from the beginning already have happened , it would’ve stripped away all of your thoughts , feelings , and patterns that were holding you back from your true , most powerful form . now , you can fully embrace that as a completely fresh person . with the lovers at the end of the reading ( because i do think the 2 of wands was simply representative of loren herself and symbolized the confirmation of her presence in the reading ) , i think this is telling you that a cycle has been complete and your internal energies have come into complete alignment . you have achieved completeness in your energy , the highest frequency it can be at .

i’m not sure why loren wanted to let you know about this , but there could be many reasons . i didn’t get anything that 100% confirmed that this could relate to your relationship , but i wouldn’t rule it out entirely either . that could be a reason for why loren mentioned this to you and decided for this to be the message she wanted to pass along . maybe the transformation that will take hold will effect your relationship together , and that could be why . maybe it will help you take a step closer to her and see her more often . at the end of the day , you seem to have a very powerful journey ahead of you , and i wish you a fuckton of luck , mae ! lol ! it will not be easy , but it will be worth it , that’s for sure .

hihihiii mae !! ♱ thank you so much for letting me practice some more , i appreciate it so much . <3

i would absolutely love to do this tarot reading for you , so let’s begin :

the tower , upright . this is probably one of the most feared cards in the deck , but not because it’s a “ bad “ card . there are no bad cards in tarot , only cards that can reveal negative or hard circumstances ( and that , honestly , can be any of them ) . what the tower really tells us about is a major transformation in your life that does not wait for the “ right moment “ , it takes form in spite of opposing energies , and cuts through , well , any bullshit in your life , tearing away things that are negatively impacting you . the reason why it’s so feared is because the transformation can cause major chaos , uprooting of comfortable ( yet un-serving ) patterns , and can be a very emotional rollercoaster . this is a card that needs other cards next to it to be interpreted correctly , but nonetheless , something is definitely massively changing in your life . it may seem like a rough patch , but it’ll be worth it in the end .

7 of pentacles , reversed . the 7 of pentacles shows a depiction of a woman with long yellow hair , who is standing in front of plants growing out of the ground that hold the pentacle symbols as flowers . she is quiet and staring intently , leaning on a golden staff . this card tells us that , after our long and demanding work , it is time for us to take a waiting period for our reward to come to fruition . in reverse , it potentially warns us not to be impatient for something . don’t keep digging , planting more flowers , watering the soil excessively , or over-pruning . you may struggle with impatience towards your goals , and it can cause exhaustion and push the reward further away .

ace of cups , upright . with the ace of cups , and as with all aces , it symbolizes a new beginning of some kind . but , we also see many different paths that you could take , as the card depicts a cup being held with two streams of water flowing out of it , and the background has other streams or sources of water , suggesting that there is more than one path to take . it is showing you that you are refreshed , re-birthed entirely , and given a new beginning and multiple opportunities to your chosen future . since this is also the suit of the water element , this is a time for emotions . especially joy and love ( whether it be self-love , romantic love , or friendship love ) . this is your opportunity to start over and choose those things this time around . it may also be reminding you that you can always start from the beginning and have multiple opportunities for accomplishing what you want .

queen of swords , upright . first and foremost , this card immediately made me think of loren herself . this may be a card not meant to be interpreted , but instead being a confirmation of her energy and presence . there’s a depiction of a woman in fire-red armor who is holding a silvery sword , wearing a golden crown , and has insect wings on her back . she is a strong , powerful woman , who can cut when necessary , but can also keep what is essential to herself , know what is good and bad , and knows how to analyze a situation from multiple different points of view . she also represents transmutation , which manifests itself as the ability to transform emotions into lucid thoughts and her observation of the world through that lens . she shows us how to have a clear understanding of the world or situations around us , when to cut off those that don’t serve us , and the ability to be honest with ourselves .

the lovers , upright . now , as much as i would love to tell you that this is representative of you and loren’s relationship or confirmation that you two are destined , that’s not really what the lovers card is about . the lovers depicts three figures in total : one man and one woman who stand next to each other on the ground , while the third figure — a biblically accurate angel — floats above them , completing their positions as a triangle . the lovers tells us to listen to our inner voices , such as our higher spiritual voice , and our masculine and feminine voices , as we all have both inside of us . it tells us to focus on what each of them is telling us , how they serve us , and how they can help us make the choice that’s in front of us . the more we listen to our inner voices , the easier and more accurate it will be for when we choose . at the end of the day , the lovers tells us to look deeper within ourselves for answers and to question things before acting .

2 of wands , upright . as it is with all twos in the tarot deck , the 2 of wands represents a choice in front of you . and with this suit’s element being fire , you’re being asked to make a vital , reactive action towards your decision . it’s asking you to look at the whole picture , and then make an action towards your external or internal world . something requires your attention , you need to observe , and then act ! i also think it’s worth mentioning that this card has a woman in fire-red clothes on it , which immediately reminded me of loren , as well . this card , within this context , may also be representative of your significant other herself ( i’m assuming loren is your significant other , from context clues ) .

what loren is telling you through these cards :

first of all , loren says hi and wishes to let you know that she was present for this reading . i wanna tell you that i get a lot of calm , intelligent vibes from her energy . she seems like , although she wasn’t expecting you to reach out to her , she wasn’t surprised .

second of all , this seems to be a message about your life from loren . i don’t think this speaks on your relationship , but it could in some ways .

loren is telling you about a big change happening in your life soon . not as much warning you , but more letting you know so that you can prepare yourself or at least know about it before it happens . this change will uproot your life from the comfort that it contains , but not the genuine comfort . instead , it will get rid of the comfort that holds you down , that keeps you from your end-goals . this change will especially target your impatience towards your goals , which you may have been struggling with for a long time . after it tears everything away that no longer is serving you , it will give you a brand new start , a new beginning for your journey . you will be given multiple ( all successful ) opportunities to gain what you desire , and they will simply be waiting for you to take advantage of them . please don’t hesitant , decide on one and go for it ! loren thinks you may struggle with trusting good things and hesitant when given a chance for them , she’s telling you it’s okay this time . whatever you decide on in the end , it will be the right choice and will entirely transform you into your most powerful self . with the big change from the beginning already have happened , it would’ve stripped away all of your thoughts , feelings , and patterns that were holding you back from your true , most powerful form . now , you can fully embrace that as a completely fresh person . with the lovers at the end of the reading ( because i do think the 2 of wands was simply representative of loren herself and symbolized the confirmation of her presence in the reading ) , i think this is telling you that a cycle has been complete and your internal energies have come into complete alignment . you have achieved completeness in your energy , the highest frequency it can be at .

i’m not sure why loren wanted to let you know about this , but there could be many reasons . i didn’t get anything that 100% confirmed that this could relate to your relationship , but i wouldn’t rule it out entirely either . that could be a reason for why loren mentioned this to you and decided for this to be the message she wanted to pass along . maybe the transformation that will take hold will effect your relationship together , and that could be why . maybe it will help you take a step closer to her and see her more often . at the end of the day , you seem to have a very powerful journey ahead of you , and i wish you a fuckton of luck , mae ! lol ! it will not be easy , but it will be worth it , that’s for sure .

hihihiii mae !! ♱ thank you so much for letting me practice some more , i appreciate it so much . <3

i would absolutely love to do this tarot reading for you , so let’s begin :

the tower , upright . this is probably one of the most feared cards in the deck , but not because it’s a “ bad “ card . there are no bad cards in tarot , only cards that can reveal negative or hard circumstances ( and that , honestly , can be any of them ) . what the tower really tells us about is a major transformation in your life that does not wait for the “ right moment “ , it takes form in spite of opposing energies , and cuts through , well , any bullshit in your life , tearing away things that are negatively impacting you . the reason why it’s so feared is because the transformation can cause major chaos , uprooting of comfortable ( yet un-serving ) patterns , and can be a very emotional rollercoaster . this is a card that needs other cards next to it to be interpreted correctly , but nonetheless , something is definitely massively changing in your life . it may seem like a rough patch , but it’ll be worth it in the end .

7 of pentacles , reversed . the 7 of pentacles shows a depiction of a woman with long yellow hair , who is standing in front of plants growing out of the ground that hold the pentacle symbols as flowers . she is quiet and staring intently , leaning on a golden staff . this card tells us that , after our long and demanding work , it is time for us to take a waiting period for our reward to come to fruition . in reverse , it potentially warns us not to be impatient for something . don’t keep digging , planting more flowers , watering the soil excessively , or over-pruning . you may struggle with impatience towards your goals , and it can cause exhaustion and push the reward further away .

ace of cups , upright . with the ace of cups , and as with all aces , it symbolizes a new beginning of some kind . but , we also see many different paths that you could take , as the card depicts a cup being held with two streams of water flowing out of it , and the background has other streams or sources of water , suggesting that there is more than one path to take . it is showing you that you are refreshed , re-birthed entirely , and given a new beginning and multiple opportunities to your chosen future . since this is also the suit of the water element , this is a time for emotions . especially joy and love ( whether it be self-love , romantic love , or friendship love ) . this is your opportunity to start over and choose those things this time around . it may also be reminding you that you can always start from the beginning and have multiple opportunities for accomplishing what you want .

queen of swords , upright . first and foremost , this card immediately made me think of loren herself . this may be a card not meant to be interpreted , but instead being a confirmation of her energy and presence . there’s a depiction of a woman in fire-red armor who is holding a silvery sword , wearing a golden crown , and has insect wings on her back . she is a strong , powerful woman , who can cut when necessary , but can also keep what is essential to herself , know what is good and bad , and knows how to analyze a situation from multiple different points of view . she also represents transmutation , which manifests itself as the ability to transform emotions into lucid thoughts and her observation of the world through that lens . she shows us how to have a clear understanding of the world or situations around us , when to cut off those that don’t serve us , and the ability to be honest with ourselves .

the lovers , upright . now , as much as i would love to tell you that this is representative of you and loren’s relationship or confirmation that you two are destined , that’s not really what the lovers card is about . the lovers depicts three figures in total : one man and one woman who stand next to each other on the ground , while the third figure — a biblically accurate angel — floats above them , completing their positions as a triangle . the lovers tells us to listen to our inner voices , such as our higher spiritual voice , and our masculine and feminine voices , as we all have both inside of us . it tells us to focus on what each of them is telling us , how they serve us , and how they can help us make the choice that’s in front of us . the more we listen to our inner voices , the easier and more accurate it will be for when we choose . at the end of the day , the lovers tells us to look deeper within ourselves for answers and to question things before acting .

2 of wands , upright . as it is with all twos in the tarot deck , the 2 of wands represents a choice in front of you . and with this suit’s element being fire , you’re being asked to make a vital , reactive action towards your decision . it’s asking you to look at the whole picture , and then make an action towards your external or internal world . something requires your attention , you need to observe , and then act ! i also think it’s worth mentioning that this card has a woman in fire-red clothes on it , which immediately reminded me of loren , as well . this card , within this context , may also be representative of your significant other herself ( i’m assuming loren is your significant other , from context clues ) .

what loren is telling you through these cards :

first of all , loren says hi and wishes to let you know that she was present for this reading . i wanna tell you that i get a lot of calm , intelligent vibes from her energy . she seems like , although she wasn’t expecting you to reach out to her , she wasn’t surprised .

second of all , this seems to be a message about your life from loren . i don’t think this speaks on your relationship , but it could in some ways .

loren is telling you about a big change happening in your life soon . not as much warning you , but more letting you know so that you can prepare yourself or at least know about it before it happens . this change will uproot your life from the comfort that it contains , but not the genuine comfort . instead , it will get rid of the comfort that holds you down , that keeps you from your end-goals . this change will especially target your impatience towards your goals , which you may have been struggling with for a long time . after it tears everything away that no longer is serving you , it will give you a brand new start , a new beginning for your journey . you will be given multiple ( all successful ) opportunities to gain what you desire , and they will simply be waiting for you to take advantage of them . please don’t hesitant , decide on one and go for it ! loren thinks you may struggle with trusting good things and hesitant when given a chance for them , she’s telling you it’s okay this time . whatever you decide on in the end , it will be the right choice and will entirely transform you into your most powerful self . with the big change from the beginning already have happened , it would’ve stripped away all of your thoughts , feelings , and patterns that were holding you back from your true , most powerful form . now , you can fully embrace that as a completely fresh person . with the lovers at the end of the reading ( because i do think the 2 of wands was simply representative of loren herself and symbolized the confirmation of her presence in the reading ) , i think this is telling you that a cycle has been complete and your internal energies have come into complete alignment . you have achieved completeness in your energy , the highest frequency it can be at .

i’m not sure why loren wanted to let you know about this , but there could be many reasons . i didn’t get anything that 100% confirmed that this could relate to your relationship , but i wouldn’t rule it out entirely either . that could be a reason for why loren mentioned this to you and decided for this to be the message she wanted to pass along . maybe the transformation that will take hold will effect your relationship together , and that could be why . maybe it will help you take a step closer to her and see her more often . at the end of the day , you seem to have a very powerful journey ahead of you , and i wish you a fuckton of luck , mae ! lol ! it will not be easy , but it will be worth it , that’s for sure .

A little something

⸺ ꉹ ֪݃. ❝ мιяяσя мιяяσя ση тнє ωαℓℓ , ωнσ'ѕ

݂ ݂۫ ੭੭. 𝄞

. тнє ναιηєѕт ƒαιяєѕт σƒ тнєм αℓℓ? ❞

parts included ݂ ݂۫ ੭੭ details , story i and ii

SEREN ݂ ݂۫ Details ✿ ݂ ݂۫

Seren Zhao is an apprentice archivist and navigator, to a certain extent. Quiet and unassuming, she spends most of her time in her room or sorting through the Astral Expresses collection of records from bygone systems and galaxies alike.

She hails from Hemera ix, a flying ship who's inhabitants has sworn fealty to Idrila, the aeon of beauty and was rescued by the express a week after it's untimely destruction by the antimatter legion.

֯໒ ͚. ི⸺ 𓎢𓎠𓎟 𓎠𓎡 story i.

To even maintain the most banal of courtsies from the citizens of H̶̨̪̣̪̜̗͍͒̄̀̉̅̕ē̶͔̠m̸̢̞̙͍̱̬̹͓̄̒̈͌͐͛ȩ̴̧͎̬̬̰̙̼̻̾̐r̵͍̰̮͔̖̼̣͐͋̅ͅa̷̦̤̲̲̠̥͔̗͇̋ ̴̭̍̑̐̀̽͐̒i̷̡̭̳̘̦͓̙̭͇̒́̋̀̽̓̎x̴͈͉͍̞̞̳͍̠̹̦͂̂̄͌͘, one has to surrender themselves to the pursuit of beauty, beauty being the shallow endeavor to aquire a prettiness that does not transcend beneath the boundaries of flesh and bone.

Seren herself has of course never faced this problem. How could she when she was once the poster girl of the constant adverts for fuller lips, starkissed eyes and lustrous hair that wasn't even her own to begin with. How could she when the resentful faces of the "fallen" gaze upon her, a reminder of the hope that was cruelly stripped away from them by the hands of the echelons of Grimhilde.

Beauty was both a blessing and a curse. For every admiring gaze, melancholy borne from the hatred and jealousy of hundreds would always follow. And even if she was to reach the epitome of beauty, the faces in the portraits shall always morph, encasing her in this neverending cycle of pining after a perfection that would never remain. The system depended on it after all. The beautiful are venerated and the hideous are cast aside.

This is what Idrila wants, the mother supreme claims as she casts a pious gaze upwards towards the sun. THEY know what's best. For the aeon's creed is their saving grace and defying that would be sanctimonious at best, damning at worst.

Seren disagreed. Beauty cannot shield one's soul from destruction or moreso, the hordes of monsters brought forth by it, breaking mosaics blessed with rosewater. The ship crumbles fragment by fragment until the only thing remaining is a yacht filled with escapee's, Seren being one of them.

Some died, Some were intercepted by the Luofu and joined it ranks from there. Only she remained, clinging onto what was left of a home she has never learnt to love.

When Seren was found by the astral express, Himeko saw not a pinnacle of bygone magnificence but a girl who reeked of vulnerability she tried so hard to conceal.

֯໒ ͚. ི⸺ 𓎢𓎠𓎟 𓎠𓎡 story ii.

Dena Goodmanson, 1988.

my name is rhea, i’m 19 (2007). i love lots of things, i volunteer with rabbits & have a rabbit myself (he’s my baby). disclaimer / byf: im bipolar, have ptsd, ocd, anxiety, and religious trauma. i also have a difficult time with visualization, in its “normal” sense.

"Kylie wait!! You have training today!"

"Oh come on! It's just Tennis "

Who knew bribing a 14 year old with a cat would get her into tennis......sadly till this day she hasn't received the cat yet...

#Tags!

@rumitome @emisasakii @nighttimequietude @notexiszting @hermit-x-la-hedge @b3an-i3 @ineshifts @starxaya @lovlyrealities @sixfeetblw @lz-elvyrion @thecutie @fawnesquee @buriedbymysins @ana-v0id

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ maria l. stewerts && mary kurtis.

ㅤㅤㅤ old best – friends to one – sided enemies. cocky && arrogant x annoyed . trikey variant . two middle – aged women . shared history . silver && gold . ol' gambling partners . ' you missed me , really . ' ' the hell i did ! ' aro / unlabeled 4 bi . brunette x blonde . powerful woman x the only one who can disrespect her ( and get away with it ) .

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤmarch 17th , 1887.

from the outside where maria stood, the bar smelt faintly of cigar ashes, && some sort've fancy liquor. brandy, perhaps? there was nothing but the almost–black sky & faint orange lightning surrounding the place, aswell as a couple've benches that had no true significance, as they we're no different than the ones that we're already scattered around the city itself. there was also the quiet, yet unmistakable, sound of a train off in the distance, aswell as the sound of laughter and talking below her feet. it had only been a few years since maria had left her home down south; though, before this, she had never truly left, having stayed in her state, she simply just drifted from one relatives house to another, saving up just enough cash to get out of there comfortably. admittedly, she wasn't too proud of the strategy, but now — it had all paid off. the young lady had finally found herself up east, right in the northern heart of the bustling city of new york. now, it was a little scary, of course, more–so intimidating, but maria knew it's what she had to do. the last thing she wanted was to stay in that home, with that mother of hers, hell — that city, that state, for the rest of her life. maria was found standing outside of an underground bar, likely filled with either drunken bastards, or better yet, possibly important, powerful, individuals. she saw a couple of cops nearby, perhaps corrupt ones? bribed for a nice sum of cash to stand guard, && lie for whomever may be present in that basement? which — i suppose, wouldn't just be for some drunkards, huh?

she ain't too sure why she's sticking around this bar, just standing outside the place like she's guarding it herself, so she decides to make her position a little less awkward, and light herself a cigarette. although, she notices how the air is getting colder && colder, now having the ability to see both the smoke, and her breath fogging up the air in front of her, and finally considers just heading home — well, not home, exactly, but the little room she's renting at the hotel right across the street. what she doesn't notice, however, is how unbelievably lost in thought she is, until she feels a firm shake on her left shoulder; immediately, she turns around, instinctively reaching for a pistol that ... wasn't there? she looks at the woman who's now in front of her, seeing her instantly raise her hands, one of them holding the almost laughably small pistol in it. the lady had dark brown, just above the shoulder – length curls, && was seen wearing an overcoat, && a long skirt, the dim color(s) indistinguishable in the relativley dark setting. it made sense to why she was dressed in vaguely winter attire, considering it is still rather cold around this time in the city, and still technically winter, after all; though, it is much colder than it was back in maria's home state. despite that, she most certainly wasn't complaining. the lady backed away slightly, claiming to not mean any harm, && just had came tell her she saw the pistol shining off the ground, right near maria, and simply came to ask if it was her's, since she was just about the only person sticking around outside of here, other than the cops, of course. relieved, maria let out a huffed – laugh, clearly a bit embarrassed, and smiled, thanking the woman kindly, somehow not making it awkward, and began to explain how she had just moved here from down south, and was still a bit skittish, && unfamiliar with the place. the lady handed her the pistol, and laughed it off herself, and just like that — the two ladies seemed to hit it off right off the bat, maria introducing herself, && beginning to converse a bit, sitting on the bench just right outside of the bar, before the woman led her inside, claiming she 'knew the place, and was headed there before we spoke'. as they went in, the lady then kindly introduced herself as ms. mary kurtis.

that little casino – bar they met outside of would then become the same place that maria stewerts && ms. kurtis would spend many of their evenings. in private, mary would show her the ropes, the little tricks and cheats at poker && blackjack, to guarantee, or atleast encourage a nice, hearty win. although, it did take maria a little while to catch on. now of course, maria had played cards && poker for just about her whole life, whether it be w/ her family, or old friends back home, but despite all of this, she still found herself a bit uncertain in her abilities, usually just watching ms. kurtis, && the other players from the bar. she grossly envied the individuals around her, seeing their gold, && diamonds, and status, and visible wealth, aswell as the confidence that oozed from the men and women around her, no matter if they're at the tables, or the bars. after the life that she's had, there was nothing in the world she wanted more than to be just like them. she wanted the money, along with the generous amount of skill they clearly had. she watched, and watched, and watched — until she was finally ready to play against them. she had a little chunk of cash that she still had leftover from moving here, at first, her plan was to just keep renting that hotel room, && finding herself a job and saving up until she had enough to get a little place of her own, but ms. kurtis kindly let her stay with her instead, and with a little encouragement, she decided to finally gamble it off, having nothing to lose; 'cept for about 15 dollars, of course.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤjune 14th , 1892.

a little over 5 years later, and maria has found herself in a much different, & much better position than she was back then. mary && her had moved around the country a couple've times now, usually following wherever is hot, & bustling in the gambling scene. they had gone from new york, to chicago, even back down into the southside, which didn't last too very long, after maria had a run–in with an old family member. and now, they had finally found themselves out west. maria has a small reputation now, known for her slightly cocky — but charming, concealed nature, her observance, her genuine love for the game, and of course, her hard–earned skill. mary, on the other hand, was truly starting to consider settling down. a couple've months after moving out west, she had found herself a man that she planned on marrying. her being 31, and maria almost being 30, she almost felt that it was time they both went ahead and settled down a bit. besides, she had been in the business years longer than maria had. now, maria on the other hand, couldn't disagree more. she felt more like she was just getting started, going out every night, like it was nothing. she didn't nessacarily mind mary wanting a different life, but she knew that if she was really gonna go through with this, && get married, and hell — maybe even have kids of her own, she knew she couldn't just stay with them. even if mary said she wouldn't mind it, she knew that nobody would take kindly to that. after all, mary's 'soon–to–be' husband didnt like her all that much anyway, and the feeling certainly was mutual. the night of their wedding, maria said her congrats, && goodbyes, and finally decided to go ahead, && go off on her own. her and mary kept in contact as much as they could, until they slowly drifted apart, due to their now, much different lifestyles; && mary with her husband.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤmarch 14th , 1899.

it's almost the 12–year anniversary since maria first got into the gambling business, and ever since she's been on her own, without mary, she's been a whole different type of woman. cocky, arrogant, grandiose, but still charming enough to not be seen as downright evil — right? wrong. by quite a few, she is seen as just that, thanks to the things she call her 'charisma && charm' alone. however, she has made quite a name for herself in the gambling scene, just like she'd always wanted, having been in it for over a decade now. nowadays, she's seen in not very impressive outfits, though, when you take a closer look, you can see shes decorated in lots of gold, having atleast two gold teeth, customized golden guns && knives that costed god knows what, && even golden spurs. it doesn't take a genius to know what type of woman she is off the bat; 'charismatic', conceited, && unbelievably full of herself. after all these years, maria has finally embraced the gambling sharp lifestyle, finding herself time && time again, participating in the same debauchery with the same sort of people she envied all those years ago. though, these days, despite what some folks may say, she doesn't go as often as you'd think, typically going to the parlor only when she needs money rather than every single night, probably just so they can't say she's greedy, huh? well, if theres one thing maria knows, it's that they're gonna say that anyway; they've got the right to. one day, around 5 pm, she had just gotten off her new job down at the doctor's office; just a little day job, she only got it cause she didn't wanna seem too suspicious, after that little run–in with the law she had, not too long ago. after all, she hasn't been in this town, valentine, for too long, and she most certainly doesn't wanna tarnish her reputation, just yet. as she walked into the parlor, maria saw a face she'd never thought she'd see again. 'mary goddamn kurtis'. she looked different, older, they both did. her once shoulder–length hair now cut short. the two women are both well into their thirties now, && it had been atleast 7 years since she last even saw that face, but she could recognize it in less than a heartbeat. though, the look on mary's face was that all but happy to see her, wearing a visible scowl, while maria on the other hand was grinning ear–to–ear, like a damn fool. still unknowing, albeit unquestioning, to how mary even found her here, or got away from that nagging, do–gooder husband of her's for half a minute, mary walks up to maria, grabbing her by the sleeve of her white button–up blouse, and dragging her out of the parlor silently.

once they're out of the parlor, mary drags maria to the back of the building, and before maria could even begin to ask her how the hell she even found her here, mary swiftly pulled out a small pocket knife and held it to her throat, holding her against the cold, hard brick wall. genuinley surprised, maria's eyes widen a bit, though her smile doesn't falter, only growing. mary begins to ask her one simple question, " what the hell have you been gettin' yourself into for the past 7 years, maria stewerts? " maria stutters for a moment, a small huff leaving her lips, but she then begins to mutter, " ain't been doin' nothin' different from when we we're back in the city, mary. " mary's hold on the knife grows stronger, pressing it slightly deeper into her neck. " bullshit! i've heard all about what you've been doin', you no–good, arrogant son of a bitch. " mary has more than a right to be angry, maria truly has been nothing more than a self – admitted criminal degenerate for the past 7 years. after a little more back–and–forth, defiance, && petty arguing, mary pulls the knife away, slipping it back into her pocket with a sigh, though the hatred–filled look in her eyes stayed on the blonde–haired woman. relieved, and honestly a bit entertained, maria laughs, and begins to say, " well, i see you've finally gotten a lil' edge to ya', mary! "

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ maria l. stewerts && mary kurtis.

ㅤㅤㅤ old best – friends to one – sided enemies. cocky && arrogant x annoyed . trikey variant . two middle – aged women . shared history . silver && gold . ol' gambling partners . ' you missed me , really . ' ' the hell i did ! ' aro / unlabeled 4 bi . brunette x blonde . powerful woman x the only one who can disrespect her ( and get away with it ) .

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤmarch 17th , 1887.

from the outside where maria stood, the bar smelt faintly of cigar ashes, && some sort've fancy liquor. brandy, perhaps? there was nothing but the almost–black sky & faint orange lightning surrounding the place, aswell as a couple've benches that had no true significance, as they we're no different than the ones that we're already scattered around the city itself. there was also the quiet, yet unmistakable, sound of a train off in the distance, aswell as the sound of laughter and talking below her feet. it had only been a few years since maria had left her home down south; though, before this, she had never truly left, having stayed in her state, she simply just drifted from one relatives house to another, saving up just enough cash to get out of there comfortably. admittedly, she wasn't too proud of the strategy, but now — it had all paid off. the young lady had finally found herself up east, right in the northern heart of the bustling city of new york. now, it was a little scary, of course, more–so intimidating, but maria knew it's what she had to do. the last thing she wanted was to stay in that home, with that mother of hers, hell — that city, that state, for the rest of her life. maria was found standing outside of an underground bar, likely filled with either drunken bastards, or better yet, possibly important, powerful, individuals. she saw a couple of cops nearby, perhaps corrupt ones? bribed for a nice sum of cash to stand guard, && lie for whomever may be present in that basement? which — i suppose, wouldn't just be for some drunkards, huh?

she ain't too sure why she's sticking around this bar, just standing outside the place like she's guarding it herself, so she decides to make her position a little less awkward, and light herself a cigarette. although, she notices how the air is getting colder && colder, now having the ability to see both the smoke, and her breath fogging up the air in front of her, and finally considers just heading home — well, not home, exactly, but the little room she's renting at the hotel right across the street. what she doesn't notice, however, is how unbelievably lost in thought she is, until she feels a firm shake on her left shoulder; immediately, she turns around, instinctively reaching for a pistol that ... wasn't there? she looks at the woman who's now in front of her, seeing her instantly raise her hands, one of them holding the almost laughably small pistol in it. the lady had dark brown, just above the shoulder – length curls, && was seen wearing an overcoat, && a long skirt, the dim color(s) indistinguishable in the relativley dark setting. it made sense to why she was dressed in vaguely winter attire, considering it is still rather cold around this time in the city, and still technically winter, after all; though, it is much colder than it was back in maria's home state. despite that, she most certainly wasn't complaining. the lady backed away slightly, claiming to not mean any harm, && just had came tell her she saw the pistol shining off the ground, right near maria, and simply came to ask if it was her's, since she was just about the only person sticking around outside of here, other than the cops, of course. relieved, maria let out a huffed – laugh, clearly a bit embarrassed, and smiled, thanking the woman kindly, somehow not making it awkward, and began to explain how she had just moved here from down south, and was still a bit skittish, && unfamiliar with the place. the lady handed her the pistol, and laughed it off herself, and just like that — the two ladies seemed to hit it off right off the bat, maria introducing herself, && beginning to converse a bit, sitting on the bench just right outside of the bar, before the woman led her inside, claiming she 'knew the place, and was headed there before we spoke'. as they went in, the lady then kindly introduced herself as ms. mary kurtis.

that little casino – bar they met outside of would then become the same place that maria stewerts && ms. kurtis would spend many of their evenings. in private, mary would show her the ropes, the little tricks and cheats at poker && blackjack, to guarantee, or atleast encourage a nice, hearty win. although, it did take maria a little while to catch on. now of course, maria had played cards && poker for just about her whole life, whether it be w/ her family, or old friends back home, but despite all of this, she still found herself a bit uncertain in her abilities, usually just watching ms. kurtis, && the other players from the bar. she grossly envied the individuals around her, seeing their gold, && diamonds, and status, and visible wealth, aswell as the confidence that oozed from the men and women around her, no matter if they're at the tables, or the bars. after the life that she's had, there was nothing in the world she wanted more than to be just like them. she wanted the money, along with the generous amount of skill they clearly had. she watched, and watched, and watched — until she was finally ready to play against them. she had a little chunk of cash that she still had leftover from moving here, at first, her plan was to just keep renting that hotel room, && finding herself a job and saving up until she had enough to get a little place of her own, but ms. kurtis kindly let her stay with her instead, and with a little encouragement, she decided to finally gamble it off, having nothing to lose; 'cept for about 15 dollars, of course.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤjune 14th , 1892.

a little over 5 years later, and maria has found herself in a much different, & much better position than she was back then. mary && her had moved around the country a couple've times now, usually following wherever is hot, & bustling in the gambling scene. they had gone from new york, to chicago, even back down into the southside, which didn't last too very long, after maria had a run–in with an old family member. and now, they had finally found themselves out west. maria has a small reputation now, known for her slightly cocky — but charming, concealed nature, her observance, her genuine love for the game, and of course, her hard–earned skill. mary, on the other hand, was truly starting to consider settling down. a couple've months after moving out west, she had found herself a man that she planned on marrying. her being 31, and maria almost being 30, she almost felt that it was time they both went ahead and settled down a bit. besides, she had been in the business years longer than maria had. now, maria on the other hand, couldn't disagree more. she felt more like she was just getting started, going out every night, like it was nothing. she didn't nessacarily mind mary wanting a different life, but she knew that if she was really gonna go through with this, && get married, and hell — maybe even have kids of her own, she knew she couldn't just stay with them. even if mary said she wouldn't mind it, she knew that nobody would take kindly to that. after all, mary's 'soon–to–be' husband didnt like her all that much anyway, and the feeling certainly was mutual. the night of their wedding, maria said her congrats, && goodbyes, and finally decided to go ahead, && go off on her own. her and mary kept in contact as much as they could, until they slowly drifted apart, due to their now, much different lifestyles; && mary with her husband.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤmarch 14th , 1899.

it's almost the 12–year anniversary since maria first got into the gambling business, and ever since she's been on her own, without mary, she's been a whole different type of woman. cocky, arrogant, grandiose, but still charming enough to not be seen as downright evil — right? wrong. by quite a few, she is seen as just that, thanks to the things she call her 'charisma && charm' alone. however, she has made quite a name for herself in the gambling scene, just like she'd always wanted, having been in it for over a decade now. nowadays, she's seen in not very impressive outfits, though, when you take a closer look, you can see shes decorated in lots of gold, having atleast two gold teeth, customized golden guns && knives that costed god knows what, && even golden spurs. it doesn't take a genius to know what type of woman she is off the bat; 'charismatic', conceited, && unbelievably full of herself. after all these years, maria has finally embraced the gambling sharp lifestyle, finding herself time && time again, participating in the same debauchery with the same sort of people she envied all those years ago. though, these days, despite what some folks may say, she doesn't go as often as you'd think, typically going to the parlor only when she needs money rather than every single night, probably just so they can't say she's greedy, huh? well, if theres one thing maria knows, it's that they're gonna say that anyway; they've got the right to. one day, around 5 pm, she had just gotten off her new job down at the doctor's office; just a little day job, she only got it cause she didn't wanna seem too suspicious, after that little run–in with the law she had, not too long ago. after all, she hasn't been in this town, valentine, for too long, and she most certainly doesn't wanna tarnish her reputation, just yet. as she walked into the parlor, maria saw a face she'd never thought she'd see again. 'mary goddamn kurtis'. she looked different, older, they both did. her once shoulder–length hair now cut short. the two women are both well into their thirties now, && it had been atleast 7 years since she last even saw that face, but she could recognize it in less than a heartbeat. though, the look on mary's face was that all but happy to see her, wearing a visible scowl, while maria on the other hand was grinning ear–to–ear, like a damn fool. still unknowing, albeit unquestioning, to how mary even found her here, or got away from that nagging, do–gooder husband of her's for half a minute, mary walks up to maria, grabbing her by the sleeve of her white button–up blouse, and dragging her out of the parlor silently.

once they're out of the parlor, mary drags maria to the back of the building, and before maria could even begin to ask her how the hell she even found her here, mary swiftly pulled out a small pocket knife and held it to her throat, holding her against the cold, hard brick wall. genuinley surprised, maria's eyes widen a bit, though her smile doesn't falter, only growing. mary begins to ask her one simple question, " what the hell have you been gettin' yourself into for the past 7 years, maria stewerts? " maria stutters for a moment, a small huff leaving her lips, but she then begins to mutter, " ain't been doin' nothin' different from when we we're back in the city, mary. " mary's hold on the knife grows stronger, pressing it slightly deeper into her neck. " bullshit! i've heard all about what you've been doin', you no–good, arrogant son of a bitch. " mary has more than a right to be angry, maria truly has been nothing more than a self – admitted criminal degenerate for the past 7 years. after a little more back–and–forth, defiance, && petty arguing, mary pulls the knife away, slipping it back into her pocket with a sigh, though the hatred–filled look in her eyes stayed on the blonde–haired woman. relieved, and honestly a bit entertained, maria laughs, and begins to say, " well, i see you've finally gotten a lil' edge to ya', mary! "

ON THE STREETS OF MESA CALIDA

Priscylla Cerisette Kerosene’s street style! ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

The streets of Mesa Calida, Priscylla’s small hometown, are often graced by her eccentric sense of style and vibrant personality. Paparazzi frequently capture her wandering through town with a bouquet of fresh flowers in hand, an ancient astrology book tucked beneath her arm, a drink in one hand while listening to music through her wired EarPods, going for a run in a sports bra, shorts, and heels, or devouring a francesinha from her favorite local restaurant. No matter what she’s doing, her effortless presence and distinctive fashion make her instantly recognizable.

With her colorful, whimsical style and blithe yet intimidating presence, Priscylla looks as though she were pulled from the pages of every flower child with a rock-and-roll soul’s favorite magazine. Her everyday style mirrors the same eclectic, expressive spirit found in her filmmaking and music ─ blending dreamy nostalgia, symbolism, and bold individuality into something unmistakably her own.