#Ember Hearth

[neopoliitan]

Team PECH, the 3rd Year mean girls of  Haven Academy

@mercurryblack, @sustraiii and I have had these characters in the works for a while, but it was only this week that I actually got my bum in gear and did the full write-ups for them all.

#rwby #rwby art #rwby fan art #rwby oc #rwby original character #oc #rwby fanart #art #fanart #Team PECH #Primrose Pearce #Aurora Eglantine #Chantilly Adamus #Ember Hearth

[starrysnowdrop]

Sorry to hear you’re out of sorts. Never good to have a sick house, especially after being emotionally drained. Take all the time that you need, we’ll still be here. Get well soon.

Thank you so much for your kindness and well wishes @ember-hearth!!! 🥰💖 I’m not 100% over my illness, but I’m emotionally feeling a lot better now. Once again, thank you thank you!!!

#ooc #asks and replies #ember hearth

[dragaliareferencearchive]

The Song Burning in the Embers - Genshin Impact

#art references #art reference #screenshot #genshin impact #genshin #The Song Burning in the Embers #fatui harbingers #house of the hearth #arlecchino #the knave #pierro #scaramouche #la signora #il capitano #peruere #crucabena #clervie #dragaliaarchivewebeventsgenshin

[littleblueberryartist]

Thinking about "The Song Burning in the Embers" and just being kind of confused about how Freminet plays into this? He talks about living under the previous Knave before Arlecchino took over but the animation tells us that the children are raised to fight to the death until only one is left, that being implied to have been Arlecchino herself. How did Freminet live through that?

I could potentially see them fighting based on age groups maybe? The kids we see with Arle seem to be around her age and this is doubly so for the confirmed deaths (Clervie and Bulle fruit girl)

If the children are split up by age and fight amongst said split groups when they come of age, that could explain how Freminet survived to see Arle take over. He was simply too young at the time and his group hadn't gotten to the point of fighting to be king.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but the purpose of the house is to supply the fatui with more manpower right? Making all the kids fight until there's only one left feels kind of counter intuitive. The way I see it perhaps it's Mother's own survival of the fittest mindset? I know the Tsaritsa gives each harbinger a lot of freedom in how they go about accomplishing their tasks, and in a very fucked up way this *does* mean that the fatui only gets the best and most ruthless of the lot.

Putting that together with my hc? theory? of splitting the death match by age, having multiple victors via one per age group would also give the fatui a more sustainable supply of soldiers perhaps.

But that's just my own wild speculations lmao we'll see how well this holds up.

#genshin impact #the song in the embers #spoilers #arlecchino #freminet #house of the hearth #speculation #theory #headcanon #aqua's ramblings

[toxictoxicities]

Fixed up the design of my two admins, the first being Unbreakable Hearth for the Heated Radiance local group and the second is Embers Floating in Time who is the admin of Bloom n Flower local group!

#emergence #iterator ocs #rw #rain world #concept art #one day ill do proper refs #toxart #heated radiance #bloom n flower #UH #EFiT #Embers floating in time #unbreakable Hearth #im lowkey thinkin of making Hearths name longer-

[chibiisanii]

If Arlecchino killed everyone in the old House of the Hearth, and Freminet grew up there, shouldn’t he be dead? I don’t think he could’ve run away or escaped cuz Crucabena was the fourth Harbinger, she would’ve sent her soldiers after him. Did he get revived somehow? If so, why didn’t Clervie get revived instead?

#genshin #genshin impact #arlecchino #arlecchino genshin #freminet #freminet genshin #crucabena #peruere #clervie #house of the hearth #fatui harbingers #genshin theory #genshin impact theory #the song burning in the embers

[tremordusk]

“Those who parade their virtues often do the most evil.”

I should know.

I learned this lesson so long ago. When the sun shined brightly at noon hitting the glass tinted windows. Distant laughter of the children running about in the yard would accompany me on those days.

Those were the rare instances of joy- what joy should be. They’d laugh and play and I’d watch them enjoying their blissful ignorance - or their ability to let go of the present reality…just for a moment it was like a salve to an open wound.

OR

Arlecchino recalls the times she spent with Clervie.

#genshin impact #arlecchino #my favorite tragic little gay girls #tragic yuri #clervie #the song burning in the embers #house of hearth #crucabena #writing #fanfic #sapphic #wlw post #wlw #wlw love

[let-it-return-to-the-ashes]

Over fifty posts in on this blog, it’s probably well past the time to post something that isn’t a reblog for once lmao.

And so, behold:

A new fic inspired by @teecupangel ! And this post in particular:

The assumption that Desmond is an Auditore Lovechild??? Leonardo and Ezio both pulling a Shouto Todoroki??? Beautiful.

And so, I present the brainchild that came forth.

Summary:

So…this is how it ends, huh. Alone, surrounded only by the ghosts of humanity’s cruel creators. The end of the line—the end of her bloodline—and everything has come crashing down. To release Juno, who seeks to enslave humanity once more, or to condemn billions of innocents to a cruel, unjust death.

There’s really no choice, isn’t there?

Have a nice timezone

(:!

—Ember

#emerging from my hidey-hole #hearth posts #that seems to fit the ember/ash theme well #teecup_angel #female desmond #auditore lovechild theory #fic link #assassin’s creed #why do I always post the stuff that others are supposed to see at like 4 am #desmond miles #and I wasn’t joking #50+ posts #all of them are reblogs #this is my first actual post #(:

[genuinegirl]

The Outer Wilds planets ranked, by someone who hasn't completed the game yet

(so yeah disclaimer I don't know everything yet but I think I have enough knowledge to rank them. Only minor spoilers ahead, as I don't know the major ones myself haha)

1. Timber Hearth

Pros: happy cozy atmosphere. My favorite music in the game. Bunch of fun tutorial-esque things to mess with. And some fun places like the quantam grove and stuff

Cons: a little bit boring not gonna lie. If you're just wandering around, there's a lot of blank space.

2. Ember Twin and Ash Twin (ranking them together for simplicity

Pros: so much fun lore! And no outright threats that will, like, eat you or something. No matter where you are in the loop, there's something new due to the sand moving around.

Cons: okay so the sand is a little scary lmao. I've almost gotten crushed a few times. And if you're on Ash Twin, it's easy to get sucked away haha

3. Giants Deep

Pros: pretty fun to explore, especially if you're in your ship. Gabbro is my favorite musician (?) They're very chill. Also the Tower of Quantam Knowledge on this planet was super helpful haha

Cons: it is pesky and annoying to be flung into space not gonna lie. And the heavy gravity makes it annoying to traverse once you get on an island.

4. Brittle Hollow

Pros: this planet is very pretty with the crystal-like formations. Lots of good lore here too. Lots to explore!

Cons: it's super stressful to try and find stuff before it gets sucked away lmao. And sure, you can get back pretty easily with the station, but it's still such a hassle! Also the tractor beams (?? No clue what to call them) are iffy and one time they just dropped me (no it wasn't one where you have to choose a path it was straight and I apperantly was looking around too much and whoop there I go). Also Hollow Lantern is so annoying too like chill out man

5. Dark Bramble

Pros: Feldspar can play that harmonica crazy good. Uhhhh I guess the lore of how the bramble killed the planet that was there before is interesting

Cons: ITS SCARY!!!!!!! Even if you know how to navigate to find Feldspar, it's still freaky and foggy and hard to see! The music is creepy too. Literally hate this place because the stinking fish are so evil. Even if the bramble momentarily protects me, they're still there, always... waiting...

And there's my inconclusive list! I'm not sure how close I am to completing the game, but I've explored each planet (maybe excluding Dark Bramble) a decent amount. These might be subject to change. (I also haven't managed to stay on the Interloper for very long (how I was supposed to know you need to down thrust just to stay on it??), although I guess since thats not a planet it doesn't count :)

#outer wilds #timber hearth #ember twin #ash twin #giant's deep #brittle hollow #dark bramble

[undertale-writing-times]

can we get bitty cards for the grillbys?

Of course! Thanks for the ask :D

Grillby: If you want to adopt a Grillby Bitty, you have to be very careful with them. They cannot be anywhere with too much water, and you have to normally warn him before you turn on the sink or anything like that. If he gets wet, it causes him damage and he doesn't want to get hurt. I don't think anyone would want to get hurt, to be honest. Anyway! He doesn't talk, like at all, until he really trusts you and even then, they might be only three or four words at a time. If you want to adopt Grillby, he's mostly a bitty that you would have around for comfort, not someone to talk to a lot. Hmmmm he likes pieces of coal as treats, but don't give too much or he could get sick.

Inferno: a lot of girls who go to bars often will adopt an Inferno bitty, and many bars will have one there anyway. He's able to tell if a drink has been spiked, and will warn the person normally before they drink it! Many people like to adopt Inferno bitties because of how pretty their fire is, though most people aren't prepared for his personality. I would suggest only adopting the Inferno bitty if you could handle light bullying and teasing. Also, if you have a Red bitty, they might get along, but he and an Edge bitty would not get along as much.

Hearth: If you want to adopt a Hearth bitty, be prepared for him to start helping you with your money spending! He dislikes to spend money almost at all, and he would help you figure out ways to save! Either through coupons, or from finding good deals. Sometimes he could be a little much, so that's when you tell him to knock it off. They're easily taken care of, but gets lonely if left by himself for too long. If you adopt him, maybe think about buying some of his flares to go along with him? They're like pets to him. They would help out around the house, too! They eat your dust bunnies.

Flare: Flare is a bitty that is easy and hard at the same time. If you allow him to cook in the kitchen, you'll end up with good food, but also a mess to have to clean up. He would also try to get you high/drunk sometimes lol, so if you don't want that, then please, don't think about adopting this bitty. He's playful, teases a lot, and a very pretty color. Though sometimes, he might accidentally go too far with the teasing and it may be upsetting. Once again, if you tell him to knock it off, he will. He's a good bitty! Just a little stupid.

Coal: You can only adopt this bitty if you do well on the test that is given. Coal bitties are very hard to take care of, and only a few are allowed to take care of him. They're very sickly, small, and dangerous because of how violent they can be whenever they're not taken care of. He needs to be fed certain times on the DOT, and if not, he might get sick. Also, no over feeding or there is a chance he could go out. He is also much smaller than the other Grillby bitties. Honestly, I don't suggest anyone to adopt one of these.

Embers: I would suggest only adopting this bitty if you're looking to try to lose weight, or if you're already a health freak. He dislikes the idea of people eating gross 'unhealthy' food, and will refuse to cook it or even be that close to anything he deems unworthy. He's very annoying. Now if you ARE trying to lose weight, then he is very helpful and shockingly sweet about it. I would suggest to adopt a different one, however. There are many cute/pretty Grillby bitties. I would suggest maybe a Phoenix bitty?

Phoenix: With this bitty, he's playful, a little shy, and loves to make jokes and puns. He enjoys making food and will often get you to be his taste tester because he likes to hear what you think. If you want to get him, you could tell how he feels about a lot of things because of the way his color changes to match his emotion. Many people who make treats have one of him because you know if he approves of the treat, then it's good! He's very honest if he likes something or if he doesn't like something and will outright say it normally. The only thing he dislikes is way too loud noises or the vacuum cleaner.

Flash: Adopting a Flash bitty is a good idea and a bad idea all at the same time. A good idea because you get a hard-working friend to help you around the house, but also a bad idea because if you don't give him a job to do, he would give himself a job to do and he doesn't really care what that is. You'd probably get more plants growing because he plants the seeds that you guys get from stuff… and he takes good care of it! But can't do anything, so hope you're prepared to help him with the trees and plants that he's got growing. You might have to do most of the watering since, you know, Flash is a fire monster still.

Pyre: is pretty much just like Coal. He's a bit easier to handle, however. If you have a stove, you could put him into it at times and turn the heat up to help him out. Give him the leftovers from your meal! Or if you accidentally burnt something? Give it to him, and it'll help him out a lot. No more wasted food.

Asmodeus: Don't adopt him if you're looking for a cuddly friend that would want to talk to you a lot. He is a playful, teasing guy, but sometimes not in a nice way. A lot of the time he sees everyone as someone he can get money from, and at first, you're one of them. It takes a while for him to see that you're really a friend, and not just someone that's taking care of him. If you stick with it, soon, he'll become really friendly with you! Sometimes even coming over to sit on your lap himself. Just, you know, don't push your luck. He is a fire bitty, and they can burn.

#Undertale #Undertale Grillby #Grillby #Underfell #Underfell Grillby #Inferno #Underswap #Underswap Grillby #Hearth #Fellswap #Fellswap Grillby #Flare #Swapfell #Swapfell Grillby #Embers #Horrortale #Horrortale Grillby #Coal #Outertale #Outertale Grillby #Phoenix #Farmtale #Farmtale Grillby #Flash #Horrorfell #Horrorfell Grillby #Pyre #Underlust #Underlust Grillby #Asmodeus

[ask-skull-and-muffin]

The Intro to this Blog!

In a space Between Reality and Fiction, a small, chubby person with short, badly dyed purple hair stands on a stage. They're holding a microphone close, with both hands, speaking passionately. "After a long, arduous journey, we finally did it! I ripped apart realities, created and destroyed in equal measure, just so we could all stand here today! Together!"

Instantly, hands shoot up in the crowd gathered around the stage. The person on stage blinks and points at random, still enthusiastic. "We have a question?"

Simmered Skull does not look one bit pleased, holding his little brother's hand. "Uh, yeah! I-I kinda need to get back to my dimension? My story isn't finished yet!"

The crowd murmurs, mostly in agreement, none of them very thrilled to be here. The person on stage, Muffin, sweatdrops, suddenly confronted with many displeased characters. They push on anyways. "I will continue your stories, don't worry. You won't be here forever. It'll all still be written!"

A few more hands shoot up and Muffin points at Embers Skull. He seems close to tears, his lips downturned and trembling. "What the hell is going on? I was just sleeping and I woke up in this place and-and-"

Embers!Skull begins to sobs and AE!Titled!Skull, who's sat besides him, reaches out and comfortingly pats his shoulder. Muffin blushes pink and cringes, very uncomfortable, but they try to comfort the upset man anyways. "You're in the space between dimensions. Between my reality and your guys' multiverse. That's just what this Blog is. You're able to go home anytime you want to, but I would really like to see you here often..."

Papa!Skull raises his hand next, not waiting to be pointed at, just speaking immediately, near rage. "Where in God's name are my kids?? Get me the hell home."

Muffin flinches back from his rage, nearly dropping their microphone, before ending their speech in a rush. "There's devices in the bags under your chairs! Please just try and honestly answer the questions that appear on them! Thank you!!"

Muffin jumps of stage and attempts to run, as some angry people try to follow them, luckily however, AE!Titled!Fon finds the situation endlessly amusing, so he creates a portal for Muffin to trip and fall into back to hopefully their dimension.

There is a massive uproar and nobody really knows what to do, when Cirro!Skull steps on stage, picking up the microphone with a lopsided smile. "You heard that kid. Grab your devices and get going home if you wanna. The portals are over there. Those swirling, glowing balls of light, you know?"

A sort of understanding sets in. The devices, something like little phones actually, are grabbed and some people go home. Others stay around to chat amongst themselves. There are some promises to see one another again.

In summary! The Ask Box is open!

[plain text: 'In summary! The Ask Box is open.' Written in bigger Text, coloured red and bolded. /end ID]

#katekyo hitman reborn #khr fanfic #Khr Ask Blog #Silly stories #Khr Guardian Angels #Khr Pathway of Sacrifice #Khr Simmering Embers #Khr Object Permanence #Khr Systemic Disorder #Khr Embers Underwater #Khr A Title to Guard the Strongest #Khr Cirrostratus #Khr Sparking Hearth #khr skull #Lonliest_muffin on tumblr

[areus-in-a-little-cave]

What's something your piglin ocs just love to do. What are their favourite things, what makes them happy 👀👀👀👀👀

hearth really likes telling stories :D he's at that point in life where he's just an old guy who really wants to spread his knowledge into the world :] also he loves sewing!!

alshoat really likes riding striders! she really just loves running around and being active and all that :] also she collects flowers don't tell anyone shhh

#areus rambles #ask #ask box #thank you for the ask! #embers-archive #alshoat #hearth #areus speaks of the ocs

[starrysnowdrop]

I’m always down to see new works from you, and this Ancients Allies AU idea certainly has me intrigued. I, personally, say ‘go for it!’

In reference to this post:

Thank you so much for the encouragement @ember-hearth!!! I am plotting it out as we speak and I have some cool ideas for it me thinks. It will also explore some aspects of the new ship I just embraced because of this crazy dream (don’t worry, Yume x G’raha are not going anywhere!).

But yes, if you Ember (or anyone else) has some ideas for this AU, feel free to send it my way!! Once again, thank you for the encouragement!!

💖

#asks and replies #ember-hearth

[sleepymarmot]

Dunmer love poetry probably compares skin to ash, and eyes to embers

#tes #blah blah blah #it is a cold morning yet i am warmed by the hearth in my room #the fire that burned so hot last night is resting now #and yet there's a playful flicker of light in the embers #i touch the soft warm ash; shall i reignite the flame? #etc etc

[spirit-of-phantom]

MARS THROUGH THE SIGNS AND HOW YOU ACT WHEN ANGRY

aries mars:

- quick to anger, often explosive

- assertive and direct in expressing anger

- may cool down quickly but can hold a grudge

- deals with anger through confrontation and physical activity

- the fire inside is dynamic and intense, appearing as a burst of flames

taurus mars:

- slow to anger but intense when provoked

- displays anger through stubbornness and resistance

- may hold onto anger for a long time

- deals with anger by seeking comfort and stability

- the fire inside is steady and enduring, resembling a smoldering ember

gemini mars:

- expresses anger through words and sarcasm

- quick-witted and adaptable in heated situations

- may not hold onto anger for long, easily distracted

- deals with anger through communication and mental stimulation

- the fire inside is lively and changeable, flickering like a vibrant flame

cancer mars:

- sensitive and easily hurt, leading to passive-aggressive behavior

- tends to withdraw when angry, seeking emotional refuge

- may hold onto anger, especially if it’s tied to emotional wounds

- deals with anger by retreating and nurturing themselves

- the fire inside is protective and nurturing, resembling a warm hearth

leo mars:

- dramatic and expressive when angry

- seeks attention and recognition for their emotions

- may forgive but won’t forget easily

- deals with anger through creative outlets and self-expression

- the fire inside is bold and radiant, shining like a theatrical spotlight

virgo mars:

- internalizes anger and may not express it openly

- critical and analytical when upset

- holds onto anger through perfectionism

- deals with anger through problem-solving and self-improvement

- the fire inside is precise and controlled, like a focused laser beam

libra mars:

- dislikes conflict and may avoid direct confrontation

- seeks harmony and balance in handling anger

- may struggle with decisions when angry

- deals with anger through communication and compromise

- the fire inside is harmonious and elegant, resembling a delicate flame

scorpio mars:

- intense and passionate when angry

- can hold onto grudges and seek revenge

- may express anger through power plays

- deals with anger through deep introspection and transformation

sagittarius mars:

- blunt and direct in expressing anger

- values freedom and may react strongly to restrictions

- tends to forgive and move on quickly

- deals with anger through physical activity and exploration

- the fire inside is adventurous and optimistic, burning like a spirited bonfire

capricorn mars:

- controlled and disciplined in expressing anger

- may appear cold and detached when upset

- holds onto anger but keeps it hidden

- deals with anger through careful planning and self-discipline

- the fire inside is determined and enduring, resembling a slow-burning ember

aquarius mars:

- unconventional and detached when angry

- values independence and may rebel against restrictions

- may detach emotionally to cope with anger

- deals with anger through innovative solutions and detachment

- the fire inside is eccentric and futuristic, glowing like a neon light

pisces mars:

- passive-aggressive and elusive when angry

- sensitive and easily overwhelmed by emotions

- may escape into fantasy as a coping mechanism

- deals with anger through artistic expression and escapism

- the fire inside is dreamy and ethereal, shimmering like a gentle candle flame

© spirit-of-phantom 2024

#astrology #houses #sidereal astrology #aquarius #aries #astro observations #astrology 101 #tropical astrology #astro notes #scorpio #mars #mars through the signs #mars astrology

[perlelune]

Oxytocin | Coriolanus Snow | i.

One act of kindness from a peacekeeper may be your salvation or your doom. Possibly both.

Warnings: NON-CON, Blackmail, District 8 Reader, Stalking, Kidnapping

This is a dark story. Heed warnings before reading under the cut.

𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙

Bitterness burns in your gut as you watch the yellowed pages of one of your favorite books curl and blacken amidst the weak flames of the hearth.

You want to cry. You really do. But it wasn’t the first and it won’t be the last. The winters of District 8 are infamously harsh and long.

You wouldn’t have survived it. So you stare with dry eyes and an empty chest as your childhood memorabilia turns to ash.

A wheezy cough tears through your melancholy. Panic rips through you as you get up and whirl. You dash to a small bed across the room and hunker down near your cousin.

You hold her hand, despising how tiny and feeble it feels in yours. 

It wasn’t always like this. She used to drag you around the cabin, eager to play, her high-pitched laugh bouncing off its molded walls.

Tears you managed to quell before now rush to your eyes.

You cup her face. Sickness has drained the color from it.

“You’re gonna get better, I swear.”

She gives a weary smile, but it’s interrupted by another fit of wet coughs that makes her entire frail frame shake. Your stomach plummets at the sight. Even you struggle to believe the words that crossed your own lips.

Everyday your younger cousin seems worse off than the one before it. Her medicine has long since run out. So has the food. Your modest wages from working in the factory won’t come for another fortnight. And there are little to no wares left to trade in the rickety wooden cabin. 

Nothing except you. 

The mere thought sends a shudder through you.

Though the virtue of some lowly district 8’s guttersnipe isn’t worth much, you bet you could easily find a buyer. A warm body is as good as any after all. Besides, you haven’t missed the lascivious glares wandering your way sometimes when you hasten through the streets of the city at night. 

You shake your head.

No.

While your virtue isn’t worth much in this awful world, you will hold on to it for as long as you can. Some modicum of dignity. Maybe it’s too much to ask for someone like you, too…greedy. But it’s the one thing you get in this life. Your one gift. You belong to yourself and no one else.

“Hungry…” your cousin whispers between pained exhales. The orange glow from the chimney outlines the sickly grayness of her skin and the sweat dotting her forehead.

You squeeze her hand, rubbing her fingers against yours. Maybe some of your warmth will seep into her. You can only hope.

“I know, Tilly… but there isn’t any food left anymore.”

At the mention of food, your shriveled up stomach reminds you of its unfortunate existence. Hunger twists your insides, vicious and relentless. As always.

Determination sparks inside you, tiny embers shifting into a furnace of iron hot will.

You rise to your feet. 

Tilly will not die. You will not die.

You plant a soft kiss on her forehead. Her eyes flutter closed as she drifts away, her glassy gaze finding the cracks and webs scattered across the ceiling.

She seems to look at nothing at all. It worries you. Tilly’s all you have left, the rest of your family having succumbed to disease, failed uprisings or some accident at the factory.

“I promise to bring food, and something to cure your cold.”

A cold. 

Another lie. For her or for you… who knows this time. Deep inside, you’re aware no common cold lasts this long or is this nasty. 

But you cling to the lie. Because you need it. Because without it you have nothing. 

Nothing to wake up for, nothing to go work another unending, grueling day at the textile factory, nothing to suffer another day in the hell that District 8 is. 

A few minutes later, you’re at the door. 

Outside, the winter winds swaddle you in their cool embrace. White clouds surround you as you unleash a deep breath. Through the thin soles of your shoes, you can feel the icy stones with each step. You slither through the narrow alleys, hood low on your brow as you ponder the plan you hatched less than an hour ago. 

It’s beyond stupid. You could get thrown in jail if caught. Or worse. 

But what else is there to do? 

You’re past the age to sign up for tesserae, and you’d never subject your cousin to the disturbing possibility of being chosen in the next reaping just to fill your stomach. 

You finally reach the grand marketplace. It’s crowded with folks, like every morning. You remain hidden by a brick wall, a strategic spot where shadows engulf you, where you can survey the place as you wish. The perfect way to begin enacting your stupid plan. 

Anticipation has your fingertips twitching against the stones.

You note how easy it’d be to mingle with the crowd, how some of the merchants don’t keep a perpetual eye on their wares.

And most importantly, you note the lack of peacekeepers. You squint, seeking a glimpse of the terrifying blue uniforms. Disbelief flutters through you at the realization none of them is here.

Such a chance never presents itself…yet it’s prancing right before you today. 

As your eyes land on a luscious spread of colorful fruits sitting on a stand a few feet away, your mouth waters.

How easy it would be.

When’s the last time you ate anything solid? You can hardly recall.

Slow, ginger steps drag you right before the stand. Busy chatting with a customer, the merchant doesn’t see you. 

Hope blooms inside you. This is your shot. You just need to be quick, so quick he won’t even notice before you’re long gone.

Your tremulous hand creeps out of your coat. The uproarious drumming of your heart fills your ears, louder as your fingers get closer to the tantalizing skin of the fruit.

Just a few inches. 

“What are you doing, little bird?” 

Startled, you release a sharp breath. Long, pale fingers cinch around your wrist, causing you to drop the fruit. It hits the wet cobblestones with a soft thud, sending your hopes crashing down alongside it.

You whirl to the stranger beside you.

“You little thieving whore…”

Numb with fear and shock, the merchant’s irate curses dwindle to a faint echo. 

The stranger’s towering frame forces you to lift your gaze to the sky, and you are met with eyes bluer than its expanse. 

Lost in his unsettling stare, you take entirely too long to notice his uniform. The gear is unmistakable. You have threaded your fair share of the fabric over the years, sewn hundreds of uniforms just like the one before you.

A peacekeeper. 

A wave of snow ripples through your back. 

Your entire body turns to stone in his grip, your eyes as wide as plates.

This is exactly what you feared would happen. And now it has.

As stormy irises take you in, you see your miserable life melt in a smoldering sea of blue.

Run.

It’s the only thought in your head as you jerk your hand away from his fingers.

Your body leaps into action, adrenaline pumping through your veins. White puffs of your short breaths flow around you as you dive into the nearest dark alley, hoping to disappear through a drain hole and lose your pursuer. 

But you don’t get far. 

Only a few minutes into your panicked race, the hard sole of a boot connects with the back of your knee. A shriek of pain tears from your throat as you tumble to the floor. 

Wincing, you lift your head.

The tall, lanky figure of the peacekeeper looms over you. Your chest seizes. He holds up the bright red fruit you tried to steal in his right hand. Sunlight limns his frame, threading silver in his white hair, making him appear almost angelic.

How deceptive when he is your doom.

If it weren't for him, you’re convinced you’d have gotten away with it. 

“Hey, I think you forgot this,” he deadpans.

Your brows knit at his casual tone. You wonder if he’s toying with you.

“Please, I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

Mirth illuminates his cerulean gaze as he scoffs, “So you meant to pay?”

Unsure what to respond, you choke on your words.

“I…”

Silence expands, its oppressive weight clogging your airways. 

You could lie, or try to. But he saw you, stopped you. He knows exactly what you attempted to do.

So instead of stating your case, you bolt to your feet. Ignoring the needles pricking at your knee where he kicked you, you attempt to flee again.

This time it’s barely seconds before he catches you.

He picks you up and slams you against the wall with frightening ease. Fighting him would be for naught. There is no strength left in you. Still, you try.

The pitiful attempts to claw at his bicep leave the peacekeeper unfazed.

His deathly grip on your neck doesn’t relent.

“Where do you think you’re going, birdie?”

“Please, my cousin needs me.”

He studies you and your stomach sinks at how empty his eyes are. An errant tear makes a slow descent down your cheek.

He plucks it, the soft pad of his finger tracing the salty trail.

“Stop crying. I’m not like them. You can trust me.”

“You’re a peacekeeper,” you retaliate, forehead creased in confusion. Peacekeepers exist to enact the Capitol’s will by any means necessary. Their name couldn’t be more misleading, as peace is rarely how they go about solving an issue. 

The blond’s cheek flares ever-so-slightly.

To your utter shock, his hold on your neck slackens.

You gulp a wide lungful of air, rubbing your throat where he held so tight. It’s sore. You wouldn’t be surprised if it were to bruise the next day. 

“My name’s Coriolanus. What’s yours?”

While he backs away, he’s still crowding your space in a way you don’t like. 

Stubborn lips remaining sealed, you glare at him. He steps away from you.

“You don’t want to say?” The corner of his plump lips twists upwards. “I’ll keep calling you bird then, since you keep trying to fly away from me.”

You gasp when he suddenly tosses the crimson fruit in your hands.

“Eat.”

His steely inflection is more order than suggestion. You scowl down at the fruit. Every cell in your body longs to take a bite of it…but you don’t.

“What?” you reply dumbly.

It has to be some kind of trap. Is the apple even safe to eat? Maybe this peacekeeper is the sadistic type and he wants to watch you wither in agony for his sick pleasure.

Still, the longer you peer at the luscious, colorful flesh of the fruit, the more your stomach growls, begging you to just take a bite even if it means running headlong towards your possible death.

Coriolanus heaves out a deep sigh.

“I can tell from the way you were eying that apple earlier that it’s been a long time, right?” he guesses, all too accurately for your liking.

His gaze holds yours.

“I know what it’s like to be hungry, sweet bird…” You go statue-still as he bends over to whisper in your ear, “So hungry, you’d do anything for it to stop.”

The faint scent of roses tickles your nose. You smelt it once before, on a lavish dress you spent hours sewing meant for one of the fancy ladies at the Capitol. You recall shoving the tiniest piece of the silk in your pocket and smelling it every chance you got. But the nice scent quickly faded.

Yet that same scent, that crisp, delicate, slightly dizzying aroma…It clings to the boy in front of you.

You glower at him.

“How would you even know? You’re one of them.”

His jaw ticks as his eyes flicker.

“Eat,” he insists, this time more firmly.

Your insides wrench. You could fight him on it, again. But you have an inkling that this boy, this Coriolanus, usually gets his way.

So you bite into the apple. 

The sweet juice that coats your tongue and chin afterwards is heaven. The savors explode in your mouth. You could weep. It’s been an eternity since you ate something this fresh and delicious.

But once you realize his curious stare is on you, you stop eating and hastily wipe your mouth and chin. 

“See? Isn’t it better?” he inquires smugly.

You don’t tell him how good it felt, especially after so long. Days, maybe weeks. You don’t know anymore. Every day tends to blend into the other here.

Instead, heated words pour out of you.

“Why are you helping me?”

He shrugs. “Why not?”

You don’t like his cryptic demeanor. Nor his nice smell. Nor his striking eyes. Nor his sharp, handsome features.

Everything about Coriolanus seems so out of place in District 8.

After a few minutes of silence, he nods and walks away.

“See you around, sweet bird.”

A shiver travels along your spine.

You wish for the opposite, to never ever see him again. And though the words never escape the confine of your lips, it’s as if he could hear the unspoken venom sizzling the tip of your tongue.

Coriolanus smiles at you as he leaves.

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