in the wind of a hurricane.

low like a valley, high like a bird in the sky

"I swear I'm not a wimp when it comes to the heat, but this has seriously been brutal."

When it came to time, summer was the time for Motocross and BMX meets. Having spent the better part of the springtime lumbering up before the heat rolled in, she was at least ready physically. The first one to kick off the summer season? San Francisco, right on the bay and overlooking the famous Golden Gate Bridge. She just wished being close to the ocean meant a reprieve from balmy, West Coast heat, but nope. Fanning herself with a magazine, Sveta glanced at Zora sidelong.

"Okay, I think this is everything."

Talking to herself felt meditative, but Svetlana knew well enough the odd looks it could inspire. But, as someone with Dyscalculia, it could hamper her life in the oddest of ways--such as overlooking an item on the list for a customer that was due to be delivered within the next hour. In this case, it was a delivery; nothing complicated, but Chris had needed some ingredients for another batch that was due. Probably catering a wedding, as June was mobbed with them. Setting everything on the countertop, she offered the man a wry smile.

"Okay, let's take a break for now. I feel like my legs are going to give out."

Setting down her heavy camping pack with a clangor from the pots and pans that swung from metal hooks, Svetlana fumbled for her water canteen and took a brief swig from it. Respiring hard, she couldn't quite handle more than a small mouthful lest she gag. As much as her throat burned and joints ached, they had a bit of a ways to go before they reached the campgrounds. Wiping a few beads of perspiration from her shining brow, Sveta regarded Violet with a quick jerk of her head.

For all her curiosities and distant hope, Sveta had a sinking feeling that an old school, classy bookstore wasn't the sort of place she'd find the latest and greatest books on car mechanics or BMX racing. And it wasn't like she was discouraged from doing as much; every few months, Bob liked to reward his employees with $20 gift cards to local bookstores specifically to update their knowledge, keep current with the dizzying new fleets of cars released to the market. God knew the growing pains they all had when electric cars and hybrids became the new standard.

Still, this was the only bookstore in the area that she could find, as unlikely as it felt she'd find what she was looking for.

Hey all, so I finally have some alternate verses, both of which as quasi-historical. I restructured my Verses page with an Alternate AU section to go alongside the Crossover Verses, and the new AUs are as follows:

Period Drama: Born to poor, working-class immigrant parents from Slovenia and Albania, Svetlana was destined to keep her head down and simply obey orders as they were given. Taking on work as a scullery maid in a wealthy estate, her good nature, honesty, quick wit and tendency to work hard earned her the graces of the ladies of the family, unintentionally become a trusted confidante despite her background. However, not all is well as this trust leads her to be embroiled in power plays and political games that can land her in deadly crosshairs and dire straits. (Note: This AU is intended for Victorian or Edwardian Era/Gilded Age eras, but can be flexible.)

So, thinking more about Sveta and personal habits like hygiene, and frankly? Sveta is a pretty hygienic person. She does all the basics competently enough, like washing and keeping clean, and not letting her hair get greasy; if it weren't for the nature of her job, she can go 2-3 days without washing her hair because of how thick and dry it usually is, but washes it daily because of the nature of her job. She keeps her nails filed short, and body hair may get stubbly at worse.

However, it's the beauty aspect that's lost on her. Given how she was pretty heavily neglected by her parents--and especially her mother--in favor of her exceptional older brothers, she doesn't wear make-up or pamper herself not just because she's a tomboy, but because her mother never bothered to teach her these things. Part of it was coming from a strict Catholic immigrant family, but another part was just being scorned by her family.