#fatestln

"I think this could be the one, El." Skylar whipped around to face her sister just as soon as the realtor was out of earshot. They were standing in the middle of what Sky considered a beautiful kitchen. The younger Finch was wearing a giddy smile. She was almost bouncing on her heals, she was so excited. "I mean, did you see the garden? And that little window seat? It's the perfect size for us." She figured she would have to do a little convincing. But really, the house spoke for itself.

"Well? What do you think?" Skylar leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed over her chest as she stared back at Eliana with an expectant look. Obviously, the only possible answer here was YES. She knew there was the issue of money — but for Skylar...it was sort of a non-issue. She was happy to foot the bill.

Skylar liked to consider herself a planner. A strategist, even. But the truth of it was - she'd changed. Skylar was a creature of impulse now. Both could be simultaneously true, she supposed. Skylar had been strategic about putting herself through vet school. She'd been calculated about escaping their father. She was a survivalist at heart.

Much of the same could be said about any of the Finch siblings. They were a smart bunch. But these last few years, Skylar was about as easy to pin down as the air itself. She was running. But Skylar didn't like to talk about the heavy.

She'd done a lot of traveling and often, she hardly knew where she would be sleeping next. But that kind of life could be so lonely. It wasn't sustainable in the long run. She missed her siblings. So when she heard the lot of them had settled in Portum, she and her dog weren't far behind.

"Ellie-belly! I know what you're thinking. What's my favorite sister doing at my hotel at such an hour? How did she find me? Why didn't she call first? How come she's got so many bags with her? All valid questions. Anyway, move out of the doorway. I'm coming in."

That night was still somewhat hazy in her memory — distorted by the sensation of poison, of something so holy and violent piercing her skin, of the shock that followed in all the people in that room. She can remember the terror, the dread, the rage, but the names are hard to place, and the faces only half-formed when she thinks back to everything that happened at Inkantations. It wasn't personal. Rather, it was one of those horrific inevitabilities of Ester's first real brush with death, of the first time she'd ever needed to consider her own needs above those dying around her. The first time somebody had to hold her hand, and not the other way around.

But how could she forget Marisela? How could she forget the face of the witch who'd burned so bright that night, who'd protected so many but had seemed so... pained herself. And how could Ester forget the woman who'd destroyed the very weapon that had hurt her? Or the nurse she'd seen a few times over these last few days. Ester had to hope a friendship was brewing, something worthwhile in the wake of so much misery.

"Do you like flowers?" she asked, on what might've been the third day in a hospital bed. Even though she still looked awful, Ester's mind had settled into becoming just as restless and chirpy as ever. "Because I'd quite like to get you some. To say thank you, but I know not everyone likes them as much as I do. Even the dead ones,"

It was one of the few things helping her stay entertained: imagining what flowers she was going to get for her friends. Ester wasn't a florist, but she couldn't stop fantasising about bouquets of dried up blossoms, and perhaps the alure of getting to create her own for the people who had been there to help her.

✝     ———- The wind howled and moaned outside the humble coffee shop, traveling across vacant streets in a hurry, tussling with the occasional tree and bush it found along the way. Darkness seeped into every corner, and the road stretched endlessly ahead like an invitation; the skies looked bleak, dreary, like a bad omen.

adelaide hadn't come across many nymphs or oracles in portum, yet. those who could truly understand her magic and how to use it. the books that juniper lent her had been helpful, but the hybrid liked a hands on approach and learning on the spot. witches seemed to be her best bet, and while she had two very good friends fully capable with their own magic, it was nice to get some help from a few with some experience in powers close to hers. working with theo was slowly helping her connection with plants blossom ( pun intended ) so she couldn't help jumping at the chance to ask marisela if she wouldn't mind talking to her about her magic and her penchant for healing, specifically. she gets there in time to meet the other leaving for her shift, and hands over a small wax bag with a pastry in it. ❝ it's the least i could do. ❞ a tiny show of good faith; however, she wishes it was beignets and makes a mental note to make some for others. ❝ has it been busy in there lately? ❞ she couldn't imagine this fog was easy to maneuver for all. even with the heightened senses she was supposed to have, apparently, she wasn't quite attuned with it and the fog certainly. made things more difficult for her.

adjusting to a new place was stressful. adjusting while the town was in a panic over a recent murder was a whole different kind of stressful. it was good his recent employee seemed to have a few close to her in town. ❝ how's training going? ❞ kai needed a distraction from more death talk and work was perfect for that. not the type to coddle his manager or employees, it was good to get an update on eliana's progress since she started.