#gunnun

@gun-nun

It always looked so easy in her books.

Dia has begun exploring magic more and of course she’s read piles of books regarding the matter. The only problem now is actually applying it. She practiced on her own at the Villa and manages to control water at a beginner’s level. The next step would have to be using it... when she actually needed it.

Not too long ago, she ventured to Leuda Mines, frightened but curious if she can push through this. She’s wise enough not to go too deep and only encountered a few Goblin Snipers, but even those were stronger than her. Not to mention magic in Leuda was so... weak. Especially underground. What little control Dia had of her magic, she seemingly lost.

Arrow upon arrow, Dia could barely block the attacks and only finished off one out of three monsters. It was her cue to retreat when she could feel exhaustion catching up to her. She ran up to escape, leaving the mines behind her, the sounds of the Goblins still fresh in her ears.

Just when she was finally about to reach the exit of the mines, a stray arrow passes by her, missing her only by a an inch. It grazed her ear, and she can feel something dripping, but she couldn’t panic. Not yet.

“Stay back!” She turns back and shouts, her arms held close to her chest. It was better to see where the arrow was coming from instead of letting herself be vulnerable. Maybe she can intimidate the Goblin now that she was closer to the exits and out of their territory. “I...I am armed!” And ready. 

@gun-nun

Kana’s seen a ton of stalls during the founding celebration, but this has got to be the most interesting of the bunch. He’s seen her a few times in passing while at the church and she already had that strong vibe going on with her. What Kana didn’t expect was that same nun actually having a booth to show off her strength. That’s golden!

Now if only he wasn’t broke.

“Hey Battle-Sis. Interesting booth you got there.” Lack of funds aside, Kana was incredibly interested to see if how he’ll fare with arm wrestling with her. Maybe she’ll give him a pass if... “Say... you seem like a prideful chick, how about instead of money, we waver our prides instead?”

@gun-nun

Being a young woman, there were many things that Maya wanted. Cute clothes, fun adventures, and most importantly, LOTS of delicious meals. And what did all those desires have in common? 

They cost money. 

Maya flopped onto her stomach, her feet hanging off the end of her bed as she opened up her purse. Guh! After her first month of living on her own, her wallet was as empty as her stomach. Why did take-out from all the yummy places have to be so expensive?! She’ll barely be able to afford rent at this point! Truly tragic. But, wallowing around at home just wasn’t Maya’s style. What could she do outside of her job that could earn her some extra pocket cash?

“Something that people would want to buy...” Maya spoke this out loud, rolling onto her back. She watched the ceiling fan above her spin in around and around.

…And around.

…Round.

Like cookies!

In one motion Maya shot up, her entire face aglow with an idea. Less than two hours later she was outside her apartment, a little sign hung over her head.

COOKIES FOR SALE!

The perfect afternoon treat.

Maya drummed her fingers on the table, waiting for anyone to stop by. But it seemed like one glance at the snacks made people walk faster rather than slower. Ugh! That was so unfair! Sure, they were a little darker than what you would find in a bakery… They weren’t equally sized, or shaped, and even she couldn’t tell the difference between the chocolate chips and the oatmeal anymore… But that’s just because they were homemade! You couldn’t expect factory perfection from something that was put together with loving, human hands.

Hm. Looks like she’d have to be a bit more… aggressive bold.

“Excuse me!” Maya leaned forward, waving down the next woman who happened to pass by. She put on her biggest smile, the one as warm and sweet as the cookies coming fresh out of the oven. 

◤ Sebastian finds himself more and more in love with the Arcadian landscape. Even in winter, the island thrums with more life than Leuda can muster up, but that’s probably just because he can feel the energy in his veins. Snow crunches under his feet as he wanders through the bare woods, living out that loner/wander aesthetic. ◢

◤ The only thing Leuda has on Arcadia is the technology. Seb can’t live without internet, so his jaunts to Arcadia are mainly for when he’s willing to unplug, now. At first he thought so much time spent would be boring, but he’s had his fair share of excitement. And mystery, today, when he hears something. Singing, in a raspy voice that travels through the trees. It feels like something out of a video game. ◢

◤ And, of course, you have to follow stuff like that, until it brings you to a clearing, to a completely normal looking woman, and you end up just as intrigued as you are disappointed. ◢

◤ “Uh... Did I just walk in on another ritual?” Like that’s the right thing to say. Yoba, help me. ◢

@gun-nun;

【✝】~ As part of her work for the church, Lara would often be tasked to travel around Arcadia -- and even other places outside of the island -- to spread the word of the Gods to any and all willing to listen and accept such grace into their hearts. Sometimes she went alone, though those occasions were few and far between as she normally had a partner accompanying her.

That partner being Aurelia, an older and more experienced nun. One who was experienced not only in holy duties, but in far more worldlier aspects as well. In comparison, Lara led a very sheltered life, and often relied on the other woman’s support and ‘street smarts’ whenever they ventured out.

She was distant, though, and almost always quiet, which made the trips a bit lonely. But that never stopped Lara from treating her kindly, or attempting to reach out to her in the best way she knew how.

Every single time they went out for missionary work, Lara would always ask her how she’s doing. Sometimes she would get silence, others she would get a nod. But no matter what she got, she did not grow discouraged, and she never let it stop her from trying again the next time. This day had been no different.

As they walked along streets lined with holiday lights and coated white with snow, with the howl of cold wind and the distant singing of Christmas carolers in their ears, Lara turns to her companion with a smile.

No matter what it was, or how well she tried to hide it, Mary’s mother always managed to wheedle whatever was troubling her out into the open during their weekly phone call. Try as she might to refrain, for fear of worrying her parents, the truth eventually came out about the injury she incurred-- confessing more easily than she might have to keep from admitting to what had truly upset her about the incident; that it prevented her from attending the Winter Masquerade.

Mary’s parents loved her, beyond a shadow of a doubt, but they had never really understood her-- and some part of the young woman feared a well-meaning lecture on the event’s ultimate lack of importance, which she didn’t know if she could handle on top of the heartache.

After the call concluded, she indulged in a few quiet tears-- tentatively awaiting the promised arrival of Aurelia, the kind nun who had helped her, to change the dressing on her wound. In the meantime... she would read.

◤ The phrase ‘You look like you just saw a ghost’ always used to amuse Sebastian because people have plenty of different faces they would put on when they saw a ghost. ◢

◤ His just happens to be raised eyebrows and rapid blinking. ◢ 

◤ Going to Arcadia is, of course, habit by now. But enjoying the architecture has come on only recently-- probably from his domestic side becoming more and more interested in having nice-looking surroundings or a majestic-ass place to live or whatever the fuck. Churches, those are usually pretty. He’s not a religious man, but he can appreciate that whoever builds those things has the right aesthetic in mind. ◢

◤ They also have ghosts, apparently. But she’s not a ghost... Just someone he wasn’t sure he would ever see again, considering the abruptness of her departure and how she’d seemingly just left things behind like she wouldn’t be coming back. ◢

◤ Aurelia. He’s talking about Aurelia. She’s outside the church, supposedly about to leave? Or maybe enter... But Sebastian can’t hold himself back from inconveniencing her for a bit. ◢

◤ “D’ya want your ax back?” Really, that’s all he had to ask-- they weren’t particularly close, but he always felt bad for taking that surprisingly valuable tool. ◢