#stella trying to uhaul a few months in... classic wlw

[juliandev0rak]

First Love 🍓💘

Nine: First loves – before any of the M6 did your OC have any crushes/relationships that stood out to them? What happened to them? 

echoes of the past event

@arcana-echoes​

Stella Rosa, she/ her

Center City, Vesuvia 

10 years before the events of The Arcana, Stella is 18

Words: 2339

Warnings: “Someone has to leave first. This is a very old story. There is no other version of this story.” -Richard Siken 

i used the lovely @leila-of-ravens​ city of Umbra as a minor location in this fic! 

The first time she sees Lune is at the market. Stella’s Zia Alessa had asked her to go buy more bread, so she had dragged herself out of bed at the crack of dawn to make sure she got there early enough to get it fresh. The early morning market is usually much less busy, so it’s no wonder that this particular girl sticks out so much. 

Stella is busy weaving through stalls of vendors, trying not to step on the long hem of her dress which was probably a bit impractical to wear to the market. She spots her across the aisle, perusing a jewelry stand. The girl is beautiful, dark hair cascading down her back, blue eyes catching in the early morning light. Stella stops walking for a moment, transfixed as she stares. The girl looks up and meets her eyes and Stella immediately pretends to be interested in the scarves at the stall next to her. 

When she looks up again the girl is gone, so she continues on her path to the baker’s. She arrives just in time to see the same girl from earlier purchasing a loaf of bread. The girl notices and gives Stella a smile, she smiles back in response and goes to order her bread. When she turns around the girl is still standing in the same spot looking at her. Stella doesn’t quite know what to do so she takes her bread and murmurs “Good morning” to the girl as she walks past. 

The girl laughs lightly under her breath and says it back, Stella notices that she has a thick accent of some kind. Before she can embarrass herself more by staring at this pretty girl she leaves the market, headed for home with her bread in tow.  She thinks about the girl all day, the fleeting glimpse she’d gotten of her perfect face, the sweet tone of her voice, the accent she can’t quite place. 

The second time she sees her is at the shop later that week. Stella is bored watching the counter while her aunt gives a customer a reading in the back room when the shop door opens with a slight tinkling noise. She looks up to find the girl from the market walking in and immediately straightens up from her stool and smooths her hair down. 

“Hello!” She says, unable to suppress a smile at the sight of the pretty girl once again in her vicinity. 

“Hello.” The girl greets back, an answering smile on her face. Today she’s dressed in a light blue dress which accentuates her eyes and Stella tries not to blush as she’s caught staring, again. 

“Is there anything I can help you find?” Stella asks, hoping whatever it is will take a while to locate so she’ll get a chance to talk to this girl.

“Well, I was hoping to get a reading, you see. I heard from people in town that you predict the future?” The girl says, Stella is pretty sure her accent is Umbran, though she might be mistaken. 

“Oh, sure! My aunt does most of the readings, she’s with a customer right now but she should be with you shortly.” Stella responds, “I can show you around the shop while you wait?” 

“Actually, I was hoping that you would do the reading.” The girl smiles, tilting her head slightly as she regards Stella. 

“Oh, well I’m still in training actually, my readings aren’t as accurate as my aunt’s.” Stella tries not to get flustered as the girl takes a step closer to the counter.

“I am willing to take a chance on you.” She grins, “You seem like a powerful magician.”

“Do I?” Stella laughs, wondering what would make the girl think that.

“Well you dress like one.” The girl gestures to Stellas dark wine colored velvet dress and cloak. She joins in Stella’s laughter and leans closer to look at her. “Something in your eyes perhaps...”

Stella’s Zia Alessa emerges from the back room then, laughing with the customer as they exit. 

“You’re on the right path, dear, trust yourself!” She says as she waves them out of the door. She turns to Stella and the girl with a bemused expression, quirking an eyebrow up in question. “May we help you?” 

“Yes, I was hoping to get a reading.” The girl explains politely, tearing her eyes away from Stella’s. 

“Of course dear! Right this way.” Alessa gestures towards the back room.

“Actually Zia, she wants me to do it.” Stella explains, hoping her aunt will agree.

“Oh, well that’s fine of course! Just be warned that Stella is a bit new at this, if you’re not satisfied I’d be happy to do another reading afterwards.” Alessa smiles. 

“Wow Zia, thanks for your faith in my abilities.” Stella says, voice laced with sarcasm. Her aunt laughs and waves her on towards the door. 

“You’ll be fine, cara. Just remember what I’ve taught you.” Alessa pats her shoulder and heads towards the other corner of the shop to tidy potion ingredients. 

“Well, uh right this way then!” Stella says, trying to be confident as she ushers the girl into the reading room.

“Your name is Stella?” The girl asks as she takes a seat in the chair Stella pulls out for her.

“Yes, what’s your name?” Stella says, “It’s uh, it’s for the reading of course. I need to know your name for the reading.”

“My name is Lune.” She replies, and Stella grins.

‘What a pretty name!” Stella exclaims, trying to distract herself by reaching for her aunt’s tarot deck.

“It means ‘moon’ in Umbran.” Lune smiles, “That’s where I’m from.” 

“I’ve never been to Umbra, but I’d like to travel someday.” Stella responds, “My name means ‘star’ in Venterrean, that’s where I’m from, Venterre.” 

“A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” Lune says, “Well, Stella, let’s see what the stars have in store for me.” 

“I’ll do a three card spread, representing your past, present, and future.” Stella explains as she sets the three cards down, blushing for the thousandth time in the last five minutes. She’s done plenty of readings for customers before, but never one she’s wanted to impress so much. She tries to remember her Zia’s teachings and quiets her thoughts, trying to focus on the voices of the arcana.

“The Tower.” Stella says, flipping over the first card. “Your past was marked by chaos and constant change, you didn’t have much stability.”

“That does seem accurate to my past, my family has moved many times before, my parents don’t like to stay in one place. It makes it hard to get to know anyone.” Lune comments, her expression pensive and a bit sad as she meets Stella’s eyes. “I hope we stay in Vesuvia for a while.” 

“The Star.” Stella turns over the second card, she looks up to see Lune smiling at her and ducks her head to hide another sudden blush. “Uh, in the present you are feeling a sense of hope and renewal, like anything is possible.” 

“You didn’t cheat and put that one in there, did you étoile?” Lune grins, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

“Why, were you hoping I did?” Stella returns the smirk, using the cards as an excuse to lean closer over the table. 

“Hmmm... perhaps I was.” Lune leans closer too, her head nearly touching Stella’s. “Well, what does my future hold for me?”

“Let’s see,” Stella turns over the final card, “Oh, Death.” 

“Well that doesn’t seem very promising.” Lune laughs, not seeming startled in the least.

“Well Death doesn’t represent a physical death, it’s more of a sign that something is ending or changing. Death asks you to allow those changes rather than fighting against them, it’ll be better for you in the end.” Stella explains, keeping her eyes on Lune while she talks. Lune nods and sits silently for the moment, absorbing the information.

“Well, if my present is marked by The Star, our meeting seems destined.” Lune says, picking up the card to inspect it more closely. 

“Do you have any questions?” Stella asks, trying to come up with a way to prolong this moment.

“Yes. When do you get out of work?” She grins, reaching out to place The Star card in Stella’s open hand.

“Whenever really, my aunt is very nice that way.” Stella shivers as Lune lets her hand linger in hers. 

“Well then, Stella, shall we go out and explore the present?” Lune asks, her eyes trained to Stella’s. 

“Like, on a date?” Stella replies, instantly cursing her forwardness. Lune might’ve just been being polite. She’d thought Lune was flirting at times, but maybe she hadn’t been? Had she misread the signs?

“If you would like it to be.” Lune stands up, still holding Stella’s hand in hers. 

“Very much.” Stella smiles and allows Lune to pull her out of the backroom.

Stella spends the evening showing Lune around the city, Lune’s warm hand never leaves hers. They visit all of her favorite places and grab dinner from one of the stalls in the shopping district. The night ends at a park near the Temple District where they set up a picnic. Stella transforms her cloak into a blanket, much to Lune’s astonishment and delight, and they sit for hours as they talk about their lives, where they’ve been and where they want to go.

“It’s a full moon tonight.” Stella notices as they’re packing up to leave. 

“Oh, it’s lovely isn’t it.” Lune says, staring wistfully up at the moon, “It’s so bright.” 

“It’s not half as lovely as you.” Stella flirts, a smile on her face as she looks at how beautiful Lune is in the moonlight. Lune takes a step closer until the two of them are face to face and Stella’s breath catches in her throat.

“I know we’ve only known each other for a little while but may I,” Luna says, reaching a hand up to gently tuck a strand of Stella’s hair behind her ear, “That is- can I-” she leans closer, nose to nose with Stella.

“Yes.” Stella sighs, “Please.” closing the centimeter of distance between them with a kiss.

The next few months are wonderful. Lune comes to visit Stella at the shop every day and their relationship continues to grow. They go on dates around the city, gondola rides and trips to the theater. Soon enough Lune and Stella become as inseparable as the moon and stars. After only a month of dating Stella tells Lune that she loves her, and Lune returns the sentiment. Things are moving fast, but they’re young and in love, enjoying the present just as the cards had told them to do.

All too soon, things change. Lune comes to the shop in tears one afternoon, her father had announced that the family is moving again, back to Umbra where her father’s business is located. They’re leaving in a week.

The girls are heartbroken, just when things had seemed so right everything went wrong. Stella swears they’ll make it work, they can send letters and travel to see each other, but Lune isn’t so sure.

“We’re so young, Stella. I don’t want to hold you back from all that your life has to offer.” Lune cries, “Umbra is so far away, and I won’t be able to see you. You deserve better than that.”

“We love each other!” Stella argues through her tears, “I’ll wait for you, until we can be together again.” 

“I don’t want you to have to wait for me, ma chérie.” Lune sighs sadly, “Maybe it’s best if we both try to move on with our lives.”

“I don’t want to move on,” Stella says angrily, “I want you.” 

“I know, but we can’t. I have to leave and you can’t come with me.” Lune frowns, “And it wouldn’t be fair to either of us to keep holding on.” 

“Stay here, in Vesuvia.” Stella pleads, “You could live at the shop!” 

“I wish I could stay, but I want to go to school and there’s no university in Vesuvia.” Lune shakes her head slowly, “It just makes sense for me to leave with my family.” 

“Are you breaking up with me then?” Stella asks bluntly, angrily wiping away tears. Lune pulls her into a hug and they stay like that for a few minutes, both crying and comforting each other. Stella knew the answer before she asked, but it still hurts to hear it.

“Yes, I think so.” 

The last time Stella sees Lune is at the docks. She’s gone to say goodbye, even though she’d considered staying home out of anger. She knows she’ll regret not seeing Lune one last time. 

“I’ll write to you,” Lune says, holding Stella’s hands in hers, “I want to know what you’re getting up to.” Stella simply nods in response, it’ll be a while before she feels ok enough to write to her. 

“You’ll be ok, I know it.” Lune leans in to press a kiss to Stella’s forehead. “You’re going to do amazing things someday.” 

Stella watches as she boards the boat, she stays until it’s disappeared beyond the horizon line. Lune waved as the boat departed but she couldn’t bring herself to wave back. She thinks bitterly of the reading she’d done all those months ago that had predicted this very outcome- change has come and the only options are to accept it or to let it pull her under.

Many years later Stella finds an old love letter under her bed in the shop, it’s signed from someone named “Lune” but she can’t remember who that is. She’s nearly brought to tears anyways, old hurt she doesn’t remember the cause for brought to the surface. The words of the letter are sweet, written in silvery ink with random phrases in Umbran throughout. Whoever wrote the letter must have loved her a lot, she thinks, it’s a pity she doesn’t know who wrote it anymore.

#arcana eotp #apprentice stella #friendly reminder that stella is bisexual hehe she got cursed to end up with lucio but her options are endless #we gay keep scrolling #stella trying to uhaul a few months in... classic wlw #poor baby stella don't worry