✦ ・𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒.

[arcanae]

* 𝓐𝐑𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐄, a multimuse blog for hiraethhq. penned by katie. / muse doc

— billie roxas: 26 ✦ she/they ✦ resident ✦ vice ✦ club: server at squeakers (beabadoobee) — carmen valencia: 26 ✦ she/her ✦ resident ✦ vice ✦ jack: bakery stall owner at nocturne bazaar (maris racal)

— esmeralda accetta: 42 ✦ she/her ✦ resident ✦ vice ✦ jack: owner of squeakers (jessica albal)

— frankie astor: 29 ✦ she/her ✦ visitor ✦ vice ✦ jack: owner of inkjection (antonia gentry)

— jade hart (june shaw) : 28 ✦ she/her ✦ visitor ✦ vice ✦ diamond: pop star (madelyn cline)

— kiran dewitt: 25 ✦ she/her ✦ resident ✦ virtue ✦ arbiter: greeter & vocal coach at doug ewing performance hall (charithra chandran)

— lenianna levni: 30 ✦ she/her ✦ resident ✦ virtue ✦ pawn: server at frenchie's (aslihan malbora)

— madeleine gongye: 56 ✦ she/her ✦ resident✦ virtue ✦ caissas (lucy liu)

— matty atkins: 26 ✦ he/him ✦ resident ✦ vice ✦ diamond: streamer/competitive gamer (jack innanen)

— merle vos: 38 ✦she/her ✦ resident ✦ vice ✦ king: head of security/bodyguards (megan fox)

— star (arden akulov): 28 ✦ she/they ✦ visitor ✦ vice ✦ club: server at richard's (natalia dyer)

— unity thales: 26 ✦ she/they ✦ resident✦ virtue ✦ queen: mathematics teacher at hiraeth academy (katie douglas)

— violet vaccaro: 33 ✦ she/her ✦ visitor ✦ virtue ✦ alice ✦ rook: owner of vaccaro museum & gallery (brianne howey)

[gh0st-towns]

Elya started waving her hands wildly not wanting him to get the wrong idea. "No I don't think someone would be mad about it. I just worry about sympathetic choking. I've definitely seen it happen before." She relayed the explanation to him, trying to impart the urgency of not eating a whole banana in front of someone. "I think it would apply to all food like that you know. You can show off to me though! I don't have a gag reflex, so I can't sympathetic choke." She grinned widely, unaware of the implications of what she had just announced.

[arcanae]

There was a beat where Matty was still smiling and nodding because the implication of what Elya had said hadn't caught up with his brain (though in all fairness the hamster was running on that wheel as fast as it could), though when it finally did catch up, Matty faltered. "Oh. That's... mad cool," He managed before he cleared his throat, reminding himself to smile and be normal and not a fucking freak. "I'll keep that in mind for the future. For eating purposes."

[darkenedroad]

Elijah had silently walked Matty all the way to the condo, his hand on his brothers back to make sure he actually got there and didn't run away. Once the doors were closed behind him, he let his hand drop and took his tie off, letting out a sigh.

"I'm not gonna drop it, you're their kid. What kind of parent ignores their own child." He tutted angrily and tossed the tie on a table. "I get why they act like I don't exist, for becoming a Knight but they're the pettiest people I've ever had the displeasure of knowing."

[arcanae]

Matty could usually calm himself down, make some dumb joke to lighten the mood (both for others and for himself), but the subject of his parents—of not being enough for them specifically—it was unbelievably touchy for him. So much that the anger just kept rising—but anger was better than grief and sadness, wasn't it?

"Petty doesn't even begin to cover it, man. It's like—like—" He couldn't even formulate the words, and Matty raised a hand to run through his hair as he looked around wildly before looking back at his brother. "I don't fucking get it. Like, why even have kids? Why... what's the fucking point? Like, if I had kids, if it was me... I'd never let my kids feel like this. Never." The words left his lips as he felt an absence so profound that it felt like a gaping hole in his chest.

[arcanae]

𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝟎𝟎𝟒. — MATTY, a ghost-type gym leader

POKEMON TEAM

Matty had always been drawn to ghost-type Pokémon, and it started with his partner, Gengar (then a Gastly). One day as a child, Matty had wandered off and gotten lost, somehow ending up in a cemetery. He was scared and hid from nearby Pokémon, remembering his brother's warnings about wild Pokémon. As luck would have it, the Gastly he came across was friendly and led him out of the cemetery. From then on, they were inseparable, and Matty realized he wanted to learn all he could about these misunderstood Pokémon.

GENGAR, the Shadow Pokémon (partner)

Ghost / Poison: It apparently wishes for a traveling companion. Since it was once human itself, it tries to create one by taking the lives of other humans.

CURSOLA, the Coral Pokémon

Ghost: Its shell is overflowing with its heightened otherworldly energy. The ectoplasm serves as protection for this Pokémon's core spirit.

MIMIKYU, the Disguise Pokémon

Ghost / Fairy: A lonely Pokémon, it conceals its terrifying appearance beneath an old rag so it can get closer to people and other Pokémon.

GREAVARD, the Ghost Dog Pokémon

Ghost: This friendly Pokémon doesn't like being alone. Pay it even the slightest bit of attention, and it will follow you forever.

GOLURK, the Automaton Pokémon

Ground / Ghost: Golurk were created by ancient people to protect both people and Pokémon. They run on a mysterious energy.

SABLEYE, the Darkness Pokémon

Dark / Ghost: It dwells in the darkness of caves. It uses its sharp claws to dig up gems to nourish itself.

[arcanae]

where: Beatrice's Purgatory, Condo 2

who: Violet & Christian / @darkenedroad

"The dinner party was nice, right? I mean, I know we didn't cook or anything, but our hosting skills are what really stole the show," Violet explained as she moved around their kitchen like it was her home, busying herself with making a coffee—of course heading straight to their fridge to find the sweet creamer she loved so much that they thankfully kept in stock for her. "You wouldn't believe how hard it was matching those napkins to the—" She paused mid-pour, holding the creamer in her hand still when she finally noticed how Christian was looking at her.

Violet set the creamer down on the counter. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

[arcanae]

where: St. Mary's Palace, Condo 5

who: Matty & Elijah / @darkenedroad

Really, Matty was very, very prepared to put the whole thing behind them. He was doing his best to act normal and act like none of it bothered him like he usually did—smile and push past it, make a joke (usually at his own expense), not talk about it, and feel better even with it simmering in the background, always lingering at the back of his mind, reminding him that the people who should want him didn't want him (and what did that mean for him?)—but of course his brother had been there and he gave a shit and as they walked into his and Bev's condo, Matty finally spun around.

"I said I'm fine, okay? It's not like it's anything new that they'd ignore me in public, right? It's happened before and it'll happen again," He insisted. He couldn't force a smile now, but he could convince Eli to let it go. Right? "Just drop it."

[arcanae]

where: Xcaliber Dome

who: Matty & Danny / @darkenedroad

The moment Matty spotted Danny in the crowd, his face lit up and he immediately moved past everyone to head on over. "My man! Hey, Danny. Glad you made it!" He reached out to dab him up because, yeah, of course he did. They were friends! "Have you had a chance to hang out here yet? Even if you have, I can show you the best things to do—my best friend owns the place." There was a certain amount of pride that Matty felt in saying that.

[strawberette]

Dorian set a hand on Matty's shoulder again, expecting the familiar shape of him and finding something softer and narrower. Yeah... This was going to take some getting used to. "No worries, buddy," he said, giving his shoulder a light pat. "Supportive and objectifying. That's the full Blackwell friendship package." He was joking, mostly, but at least it had been true. Real Matty was still his favorite. Whatever body he happened to be standing in.

At the idea of Lilith cursing Matty continued, Dorian's brows raised. "Can you imagine if Lilith has been trying to bang you this entire time and you've just been ignoring her, so she cursed your silly ass?" he asked, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That would be insane." And unlikely, but Dorian wanted to suggest it anyway. He paused, considering that for half a second longer than he probably needed to. "Actually, don't tell her I said that. I like most of my organs where they are." Dorian looked Matty over again, more critically this time. "Have you tried anything to fix it yet? Or have you just been standing here having yourself a hot girl spiral?"

[arcanae]

That wasn't even a possibility that Matty could entertain. In fact, it sounded so ridiculous coming from Dorian's mouth that Matty couldn't help but laugh in response. "Bro, don't even say that. There's no way. I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm annoying or something," He insisted. It was a pretty common sentiment—unless, of course, he was doing something to make someone laugh, usually making a fool of himself. In those cases, everyone wanted him around.

"Bro... you really think I'm a hot girl?" Was what Matty got out of that, laughing and reaching up as if on instinct to twirl his hair. After a beat, though, he focused. "I mean... not really, no. Except, like, earlier this happened with Sara, too, and I tried to bump into her because I swear it happened after I bumped into her and like, nothing, man. I was still hot."

[ofepiphxny]

Oh, Laurie didn’t realize that diner employed part time nurses too. “Never been fucking better,” she sarcastically replied as she rubbed her temple. Initially, she was trying to ignore the waitress’s rambling but that proved to be harder in practice. Leni eventually scurried off to do her verbally noted tasks. But apparently Laurie’s morning wasn’t meant to run smoothly because it was like she happened to get stuck with the clumsiest employee ever. And that was saying a lot because she had met Jordan. Laurie’s eyes widened as water engulfed the counter and she snatched up her phone fast enough so that it wasn’t affected. “Shit—” she started as water dripped off the edge and onto her lap, prompting her to get off the stool entirely. “Are you for real?”

[arcanae]

"No! I mean, yes?" Lenianna wasn't sure the best way to respond. All she knew was that she'd upset Laurie, and she really, really had to fix it. After a moment of shock passed, she turned and grabbed a rag so she could start drying it up, and then it was a moment later that she needed to get something for Laurie, too.

"I'm sorry!" Gasping, she immediately abandoned her task to find another rag—and then she moved around the counter towards Laurie, holding it out in an offer. "I—It really wasn't on purpose. I'm so sorry. Sometimes I'm clumsy."

[ofepiphxny]

Bringing the yellow glass butterfly a little closer to his face, Jordan studied the smaller details. But he then blinked at Kiran’s comments, turning his head to look at her with matching curiosity. “Oh my gosh, I didn’t think of that. What if they do make some every day?” he echoed, humming in thoughtfulness. “I wonder how long it takes…” The mention of friends made his smile grow and he nodded rapidly. “Yeah! Maybe we can take pictures with all of them too.” Setting the butterfly carefully down, he looked at the other ones. “What’s your favorite color?”

[arcanae]

"They must have to! I can only imagine how many of these they go through in a day," Kiran insisted, though realistically it probably wasn't that much... but they were so beautiful! What if everyone felt the same way they did? They just had to. "Oh! Yellow. I love yellow. Though I love every color, really, especially together. Isn't it just the most beautiful thing to see a rainbow?" She mused, flashing Jordan a smile. "What about you?"

[visenyaism]

I ❤️gossip I ❤️eavesdropping I ❤️asking nosy questions I❤️ looking for and acquiring information. On account of my curious and inquisitive nature #mynature

[nick-nellson]

Clueless (1995) dir. Amy Heckerling

[princessdelacruz]

I love you. In a very uncool, desperate, all consuming kinda way. Voicemails for Isabelle (2026) dir. Leah McKendrick

[arcanae]

continued from here. / @darkenedroad

It seemed at first that he was about to turn on Danny and make an even bigger fuss, though the restaurant started to go quiet as the people around started to notice the confrontation. He cursed, shoving his empty cup into Esme's hands before he turned to leave.

Esme turned to look at Danny. "You really didn't have to—but thank you. Please, let me get you something, on me of course."

[ofenigmas]

It was bewildering, to say the least, to hear Lenianna say exactly what was bothering her. To witness her transparency. It's not as though his childhood friend were known for her deception and lying, only that he found her to be rather agreeable if she thought it would please others. More bewildering is her following reaction, for Lenianna seems to appear equally as surprised by her outburst.

Reuben wordlessly takes the dishes from her grasp and hands them off to a curly-haired young man in an apron. "Lenianna's going on a brief break due to helping a customer with a minor emergency." His lie doesn't falter once as he turns to gently take Lenianna's arm and gestures towards the front door. "I'm not uncomfortable, but I am concerned that you haven't had enough fresh air. Stop apologizing and take a walk with me?" The concern about him leaving goes unaddressed because... well, they'll always have to eventually, won't they?

[arcanae]

Lenianna was equal parts relieved and surprised when Reuben, her dear friend who she still, of course, considered to be her friend and one of her favorite people, took her arm and gestured her towards the door. After all, she wasn't quite sure where they stood anymore—though where Lenianna stood, quite literally, was where her feet were carrying her after Reuben directed her and she followed along without any objection.

The breeze after stepping outside of the diner does feel nice, admittedly, and it does ease her nervous temporarily—though when she looks back at Reuben, she feels that feeling clawing desperately at her throat once more. "I haven't had enough fresh air. I didn't take my break earlier because they needed my help," She supplied. "But I don't think that's why this is happening. I desperately wish that I wasn't just sharing everything on my mind right now but I just can't help it." Desperate for an answer, she looked to him. "Is there something wrong with me? I think there must be. Something new, at least."

[darkenedroad]

"Oh please, just wind them around your finger like so" he tilted his head down and wound one of his own curls around a finger than let it go as it sprung back into shape. "Ta-da."

[arcanae]

"It's not that simple. Maybe you like yours that way, but mine take time. The shape is different—and then that way they look neat," Matty insisted, looking like a grumpy child. "Are we almost there? I'm actually starving."

[darkenedroad]

"You're weird and sound confused." They gave the other a poke in the arm. "I'm glad you think so." Malachi ate their own burger and looked around a couple of times. "Here." Then they offered a napkin.

[arcanae]

"Thanks," Billie reached out and took the napkin, tucking it under their plate as if they didn't need it at that exact moment. Again they took a big bite of their burger, burger juices and mustard and ketchup around their mouth, though they at least had the decency to swallow before speaking next. "You know, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."