*｡ 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 / 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞

He had never felt more useless in his life, a shadow of a shadow of a man. Anyone could take him on, he was no more than a normal mortal soul and for what? When he punched the wall in frustration, he didn’t care who saw him but as tears sprung to his eyes and a cry of pain escaped his throat, he cursed himself. Turning his back to the wall, he slid down it slowly, tears streaming down his face.

“What are you looking at?” He managed, shaking his head at how pathetically not biting those words sounded. He was a grown man for the gods’ sake. This was an embarrassment.

For how many years had Blossom wished she was normal? There had been so many times she had succumbed to the doubt, to the fear, and she had wanted nothing more than to give up her magic for good. Hell, for the last six months, she had pretended to be normal, in a desperate attempt to bury her past. But this? Actually living the reality of being mundane? She despised it. And as she watched this man punch a wall in pure frustration, it was clear she wasn’t the only one living this nightmare. 

“ Like I said lucky, I don’t have any siblings not that i would even know.” He said rather matter of fact, i mean there was no way he could tell her that he was actually a bird that just happened to change into a human. “ I bet they do,  Mal… that’s my best friend and about the closest thing I have to family she drives me crazy as well. Ooo those sound really yummy, I just haven’t had a chance to get out much since we moved here.” He said realizing most of his time was spent running errands for Mal, or playing video games on his xbox which made him realize he needed to get out more or he would go more insane than he already was. 

Diaval smiled a little when she smiled, it was the first person around here who hadn’t looked at him like he was crazy or weird just for looking different. He stood up and dusted himself off, before putting the backpack on. “ Well that’s a very fitting name for someone who is as pretty as a flower. So which way is the bakery? I’m kinda of starving and would love to treat you , to something from it.

She clung to the name Mal, her brain seeming to single it out as someone important, though she couldn’t yet decipher why. It didn’t stir quite the same feeling as her magic danger intuition usually did, but it was similar enough to cause slight alarm. Perhaps this wasn’t immediate danger — Diaval seemed nice enough, after all — but rather information to store for later use. Quick to school her features, she continued as if nothing was amiss. “How long ago did you two move here? I’ve only been here for six months myself. I think I may have had their chocolate croissants almost everyday since then.”

Blossom blushed lightly at the flower comment. For all her intellect and confidence, she’s never known how to react to compliments that weren’t just hey, thanks for saving city again! or wow, your powers are so cool! So she settled on a simple but genuine “Thank you,” before pointing down the street to their left. “Right this way, sir! I promise, it won’t disappoint. And nonsense. This is your very first Serendipity experience, I should be the one treating you, not the other way around.”

“Shit, you’re right…” Ares tried not to get pissed, he really did. If he got mad then they’d follow, he didn’t control that magic. And hell, he really just wanted to get through his workout without dealing with this, but she just had to go ahead and argue. It’s not like he told her to do anything all that hard, not like she’d actually have to try to lift what he couldn’t, she just stand behind him and look pretty. She looked like she could handle that well enough, “Guess I wasn’t asking.”

Still seated on the mat, Blossom considered her options. On one hand, she was already finished with her workout, and there was little in the way of her simply helping the stranger. Judging by the weights behind him, she assumed all he needed was a spotter, which was easy enough. On the other hand, she was thoroughly exhausted. She held no obligation to someone who couldn’t even utter a simple please. Her indignation won out in the end, and she settled on, “Hm. Guess I’m not moving then.” 

She briefly weighed her options, trying to decide whether or not to accept the other girl’s offer. On the one hand, it would be nice walking with someone. If nothing else it would give her someone to talk to, and maybe make her less likely to jump at every little noise. On the other, there was every chance that she might actually be a threat. Cerise knew there were plenty of things worse than her wandering around Porthaven, she’d just been lucky enough not to run into them so far. In the end she decided to trust her gut, and her gut said the woman wouldn’t have made a rookie mistake like sneezing if she were something truly dangerous.

“Sure, uhm, where are you headed?”

Blossom was grateful to have the other woman accept her offer, as continuing to walk in the same direction without speaking to each other seemed like a rather awkward situation she’d rather avoid. “I’m heading about twenty minutes east of here? Near Serendipity Sweets, if you know it.” She paused then, figuring introductions were in order if they were going to walk together. “My name is Blossom, by the way.”

Does your character like autumn?

Yes! Spring and autumn are tied for her favorite seasons.

What are their favorite things to do during this time of the year?

It is tradition for the Utoniums to go apple picking, then bake homemade apple desserts together. Apple pies, apple tarts, apple bread pudding — whatever happens to tickle their fancy that year. Blossom has no hand in the baking process, but she loves to hang out with her sisters in the kitchen regardless, catching up with each other as their dad does the brunt work.

Do they view it as more of a spooky or a cozy season?

Cozy season. She enjoys Halloween just fine, but she’s never really gotten into the spooky spirit.

Carving pumpkins or painting pumpkins?

Carving. She’s a terrible with a paint brush, but she can usually carve something somewhat decent with a knife. 

What’s their opinion on the pumpkin spice flavor?

Can’t get enough of it! Call her basic, but she looks forward to it each year.

Apple picking or hay rides?

Apple picking.

How do they dress during the fall?

Blossom dresses fairly similarly to the rest of the year, only with some added layers and tights. She has a cream knit scarf that she adores and wears for most of the season.  

Favorite kind of pie?

It’s a tie between apple and pecan pie. 

The sound of falling rain or a crackling fireplace?

Would it be a cop-out to say both?

Caramel apples or s’mores?

S’mores. She likes caramel apples in theory, but hates how they stick to her teeth. 

Do they stay indoors or outdoors more in the fall?

Fall is usually a busy time for her, so she’s usually stuck indoors doing some kind of coursework. She tries to go outside as often as she can though. The leaves are starting to change in the nearby woods, and she’s been meaning to start going on morning hikes.

What did they dress up as for Halloween last year?

Blossom didn’t dress up last year. She was invited to a few parties, but she was too busy with classes and vigilante work to attend. She probably would have chosen a costume close to her comfort zone though — think Nancy Drew or a March sister.

Thanksgiving plans? Staying home, visiting family, not celebrating, etc.

She plans to visit her dad’s for Thanksgiving. He lives in Porthaven as well and is only about twenty minutes away from her own apartment. Her sisters will most likely be there, and she’s looking forward to having the four of them all under the same roof again.

Do they get excited about football starting up?

Not really, no. Blossom’s never been a big fan of sports.

Watching movies or reading books?

She’ll always choose a good book over a movie.

Which is more enjoyable, a haunted house or a corn maze?

Corn maze. She’s not fond of jump scares, and she finds the decorations and costumes of most haunted houses to be very banal. Corn mazes, on the other hand, are much more interesting. She loves a challenge, and likes to seek out the largest, most intricately-designed ones each fall.

Pumpkin spice lattes or mulled apple cider?

It depends on the occasion. Pumpkin spice lattes are for mornings before a busy day at work. Apple cider is for cozy, rainy afternoons at home.

What autumn scented candles, if any, do they have?

Blossom owns more candles than she knows what to do with. If an autumn scent exists, she probably has it.

Do they decorate their home for fall?

Not really. She’s never been the type to decorate. She’ll sometimes pick up a few mini pumpkins for her doorway.

Is there anything that immediately reminds them of autumn?

A lot of the stereotypical things — pumpkins, caramel apples, crisp leaves, etc. — bt also, the smell of new stationery. Stationery stores put out their best journals, fountain pens, and highlighters around this time, coinciding with the beginning of the school year. Blossom likes to stock up on new journals.

Favorite autumnal food?

Cinnamon rolls are her all-time favorite, but she is very fond of anything baked, sugary, and apple- or pumpkin-flavored. She may be a little too excited for Serendipity to start selling their autumnal treats.

Anything they can’t live without during this season?

Her aforementioned cream knit scarf. It’s incredibly soft and cozy, and she rarely leaves the house without it.

Do they have any fall traditions?

Peering carefully out the display window, she watched as the nightmarish things passed through the streets. Their forms flickered between amorphous silhouettes and inky humanoid figures, malicious grins ever present. In the distance, a dark smoke billowed from what she could only presume was a burning building. If she strained her ears hard enough, she could hear sirens — somehow both clear and muffled, as if her senses were shifting in and out.

As if all that wasn’t bad enough, she was without powers too. Her magic had certainly suffered from underuse in the past few months, but she could always feel their presence — the undercurrent of energy pulsing through her veins, the ice cold mist residing at the base of her throat, the sixth sense that always alerted her when things were just slightly wrong. All that had since been stripped, leaving behind an emptiness she had never felt before. For all those months she had wished she could be normal, this was not what she had expected it to feel like. And, of course, the one time she couldn’t defend herself was when all hell had broken loose. 

“Thanks, but,” Korra snapped back, then turned. 

Suddenly, she realized that the numbers she had been entering were not her pin, in fact, but the code that her apartment complex gave her to access the building. She put her hand up to her forehead. Her brain was so fried from the last couple of days that she couldn’t even remember her PIN number. She sighed. 

She turned back to the girl, “You wouldn’t happen to know any place nearby that sells food for cheap and lets you pay with card, would you?”

Korra hated to admit this but she was desperate. And making an enemy out of every current citizen who resided in this town didn’t seem like the best start to her new life. She ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her face, and fantasized about the protein bar at the bottom of her suitcase in her apartment.

Blossom shrugged, not bothering to say any more to the visibly aggravated stranger. She had only spoken up to save her the trouble, but if this girl wanted to have her card eaten by the ATM, then that was her own prerogative. Besides, if said card did get swallowed, she’d leave the ATM and Blossom could finally make her own withdrawal. It’d be a win-win. For Blossom, anyway.

Still, she kept a watchful eye on the stranger, not eager to be caught off guard again by any further outbursts. Luckily, none came, and instead the girl was turning around and asking Blossom for help. At that, Blossom found herself presented with two viable options: (1) scoff and let the girl fend for herself, or (2) give in and help out somebody in need. The first was admittedly temping, as the girl in question seemed to have no regard for public property or manners. The second was simply the good samaritan thing to do — and if Blossom was anything in this world, it was a good samaritan. 

Confident the weights were secured to the bar, Ares took a seat on the bench, casting his gaze around the gym for a spotter before settling on someone that seemed to be between workouts. He was sure he wouldn’t need one, he knew his body and its limits better than anyone, but the damned gym had its rules, “Hey, you, get over here!”

Resting on the mat, Blossom struggled to catch her breath. It usually took a lot more to get her worked up, but she was painfully out of practice. Even with her enhanced stamina, she knew she had pushed a little too hard — her muscles would be screaming tomorrow. 

The sound of someone shouting caught her attention immediately, and she was surprised to see the owner of the voice looking directly at her. Hm, how rude. With narrowed eyes, she remained seated and simply assessed the weights on the bar. “That’s now how you ask someone for help.”

Caught off guard, it took a moment for the other girl’s words to sink in. She knew spacial awareness had never really been her ‘thing’, but it seemed like every other day somebody was sneaking up on her without even trying. But that was a problem for Future Anna to consider! Right now, Present Anna grinned as she thought of her art history professor’s reaction if he could hear her. She doubted he’d like someone making light of his job, but…she wasn’t wrong, “It definitely beats trying to sit still for two hours! And the text books don’t really do them justice…”

Blossom nodded in agreement. Sitting still wasn’t usually a problem for her, but she could rarely make it through a two hour lecture without disagreeing with something her professor was saying. “They really don’t. Textbooks can be so biased and politicized, you know? It’s kind of a shame.” The pursuit of knowledge was so tainted by personal agendas that Blossom often felt it was more beneficial to view the sources on her own. “Are you here for a class then?”

As embarrassing as the encounter was, Cerise knew it could have been so much worse. A complete stranger, that wasn’t about to murder her, had really been the best case scenario. Sure, it was unfortunate that anyone now knew her voice could get that high, but at least she didn’t know what she was. A werewolf being afraid of the things that go bump in the night was about as ironic as it got. And her family would never have let her live down not knowing someone was that close behind her.

“Yeah…yes, I’m alright…” Now that her heart rate was slowing down to something a bit more normal, at least. And she supposed she was just as much to blame for the girl’s own scare. Most people didn’t expect screams in the dead of night whenever they sneezed, “Sorry I startled you too.”

no talking in the library // blossom

Ben hated his major. He loved his major, but he hated his major. There was, in his opinion, no reason his professors had to assign so much reading before each class. I mean, it’s not like anybody ever finished it. Well, at least Ben never finished the readings. 

Ben’s phone vibrated, another notification from a group chat. (The one thing Emrys University could boast about more than their incredibly diverse students was their students’ weird obsession with group chats.) It was a notification for his Asian Studies course - EAST3462B, specifically - the exact course he was trying to study.

He checked his phone.

Daphne: Did anyone understand the weird tangent about Li Bai? Do we have to know that for the online quiz?

Ron: I think there’s a quizlet online.

Mabel: Guys!! That’s cheating.

And then so on and so on, and as Ben scrolled, he found a link to the quizlet with all the answers. He shut his book. He needed a break from school work and he may have just found a way out of another week’s assessment.

Leaving a mess of books, papers, and highlighters at his lone table, he wandered to the vending machines near the staircase. He inserted a few dollars in, trying to get a kit-kat bar, as his phone rang. He checked the caller ID: Max Tennyson, his grandfather. 

“Hey, is it an emergency?” He said, rather loudly, as the machine dispensed. his candy. He grabbed it, unwrapped it, and took a bite.

Blossom typically worked in one of the back rooms of the library where they stored most of the records that had yet to be appraised. She preferred it there. There was a large window that overlooked a small garden and people rarely came in and out to bother it. It was quiet and free of distractions — in other words, it was perfect for someone like her.

But, of course, both Robin and Mitch had called in sick that morning — she had a sneaking suspicion they weren’t actually sick, but she couldn’t actually prove that — and there were at least ten carts of books that still needed to be shelved. Her boss had moved her from the back room (where, y’know, she did her actual job) to take over the clerical duties, insisting that there was no one else available to do it. (She had to resist an eye roll at her boss’s reasoning, since she’d been subtly hinting that they needed to hire more staff for weeks.)

“Yeah , it’s okay though I’ll get a new eventually I’m sure of it. And your sister? So you have siblings, lucky I’m a … well a only kid yeah. But thank you means alot.”  He said feeling kinda of bad for telling her a white lie, but he needed to make her believe his picket pocketing story otherwise she would ask to many questions. 

Diaval waited for her answer , and thought about what Maleficent would say about this she would be furious he hadn’t gotten more info from her or stolen something of importance to use for ransom. He wasn’t all bad , he just made stupid choices because the one person who gave him freedom could also take it away. And even though Diaval enjoyed being a bird, he did like being a human sometimes as well even if most of them were dumb as rocks. “ Oh no it’s no hassle at all, it would honestly be my pleasure. And i have heard of it, haven’t had the chance of actually going yet. Oh an before i forget more of my manners I’m Diaval, and you would be?” 

“Yup, two sisters,” she explained, failing to mention that the three of them weren’t actually related. The same magic did lace their DNA though, and that came pretty close in her book. “They drive me crazy — Barter especially — but I gotta love them. There were definitely times growing up where I wished I was an only child though. And as for the bakery, you’re missing out! The chocolate croissants are to die for.” She was genuinely shocked to hear that he had never been. Serendipity had been one of the first places she’d sought out when she arrived six months ago. Now, with her new apartment just around the corner, she frequented the place almost daily. 

Blossom was a bit taken aback at his introduction, more embarrassed at her own lack of manners than his, but gave a bright smile anyhow. Mysterious bag now mostly forgotten, she was internally glad to finally make new friends. Meeting people —outside the necessity of school and work — was something she’d been putting off since she’d moved. “Blossom. Pleased to meet your acquaintance, Diaval.” 

norman really should have remembered that most students come here to study, but as soon as he was out of high school he’d forgotten how stressful it could all be. he had stopped thinking about it all and now he was paying the price. at the soft sound of her voice, norman smiled weakly. “oh no you- you don’t have to move your stuff, I can just take the seat. you look busy, I- i was just thinking about sitting and reading, if that’s alright.”

“Oh, it’s no problem at all,” she reassured, her notes now neatly collected into two piles. She did feel a bit guilty for taking up such a large space, especially with how coveted seating seemed to be during the cafe’s rush hour. “It’s probably time I take a break anyhow. I can only take so much eye strain.” She laughed lightly, the sound coming out slightly more awkward than intended, though she hoped it was enough to convince him that it really wasn’t a bother.

Blossom’s movie soundtrack, except that movie is set in the early 2000s and the soundtrack only features female pop stars.

Blossom lives in a small one bedroom apartment. She rarely has company and spends most of her day in classes or at work, so it’s the perfect size for her. It does feel a little crowded with more than two people though. 

It’s a twenty-minute walk from the university, a five-minute walk from the library, and just around the corner from Serendipity Sweets Shoppe. She didn’t choose the apartment specifically for its close proximity to the bakery, but it wasn’t not a contributing factor... Her sweet tooth is a dangerous thing, and a small box of cookies or chocolate croissants can always be found on her kitchen counter.

Speaking of kitchens, her kitchen isn’t even pictured in the graphic because it’s barely touched. Really, it’s only there for the aesthetic. The toaster and microwave are her best friends, and she’s only willing to fire up the stove if it’s for a cup of tea. She’s well-acquainted with all of the restaurants within a ten-mile radius and has a kitchen drawer reserved specifically for take-out menus. 

She’s thought about adopting a cat, but she doesn’t think she spends enough time at home to be able to care for one. Instead, she has a small collection of houseplants, all named after famous literary figures. Ophelia the peace lily and Tolstoy the rubber fig are her favorites.

Her apartment is immaculate. If it weren’t for the piles of books around the place, it wouldn’t seem like anyone even lived there. She sticks to a very strict cleaning regime: Mondays are for dusting, Tuesdays are for vacuuming, Wednesdays are for decluttering, Thursdays are for tending to plants. Every other Sunday is reserved for deep-cleaning the bathroom. “Organized environments make for organized minds,” or something like that.

There isn’t much when it comes to decor. Her furniture is made up of natural wood and fifty shades of beige. She has a few knick knacks that she’s collected over the years and some photos of family and friends, but that’s about it. Some may call it boring, but she’s always favored practicality over style. 

dumb ATMs // open

Korra was frustrated. The last forty-eight hours had not been good for her. Having just moved to Porthaven, she had spent the last forty-eight hours traveling, moving her stuff into her apartment, and trying to get adjusted. Yet, Korra couldn’t get adjusted. Maybe she was just being headstrong, but the pressures of everything felt heavy on her head. She had left her family, her community behind to come here, all to find someone who could help her hone her powers of controlling air. (Maybe, Porthaven’s reputation of accepting all people - mystique, supernatural, or just plain old mundane - had also influenced her choice - not that she would ever admit to it, though.) 

Now, however, it was morning and Korra was tired and Korra was frustrated. She had spent her last twenty-bucks on dog food for Naga, her best friend and white labrador, and now she seriously needed cash. She needed to start getting her life in order: she needed a job, a mentor, and most importantly, a bite to eat. The coffee shop that caught her eye only took cash, so here Korra was, fighting with an ATM. (She would love to say that her hatred of technology was rooted in  something deep, as if perhaps her magical abilities made her turn away from tech - but no. She just was bad at all things technical and truly struggled with the patience to learn.)

No matter how many times she inserted her PIN number, the machine would reject her card. She hit her fist on the screen. “Stupid fucking thing!” She shouted. She hadn’t even realized the people around her staring. She let out a huge sigh and kicked the machine, hard. Yes, patience was something Korra seriously lacked.

Blossom waited patiently in the ATM line, more focused on her phone than anyone around her. Scrolling mindlessly through Instagram, she wasn’t in any particular hurry. Her sister had recommended a new cafe for her to try, her classes for the day were over, and she figured she could use the afternoon to finally check out the cafe for lunch. The only problem was that the place only took cash, and the person currently occupying the ATM was taking an abnormally long time to make her withdrawal. 

Blossom knew how finicky these machines could be — she’d even had a similar situation just a few months ago when she’d first moved — so she was sympathetic to the other woman’s situation. What she wasn’t sympathetic to, however, was the temper tantrum that erupted. The initial bang of a fist crashing into the machine caused her to jump, and she nearly dropped her phone in the process. Once she realized what was going on, Blossom had to suppress an eye roll at the unnecessarily violent display. When has punching your problems ever been the solution? “Hey, just so you know, this ATM swallows your card if you insert the wrong PIN more than five times. Maybe call your bank instead?”