Ari Writes

This is a rough draft. Please be patient with my creative process as I learn!

[ariannawrites]

Hello and welcome to my page

My name is Samantha but this blog is dedicated to the things I write under my Pseudonym, Arianna Ravenblade.

I used to write a lot of poetry but lately I've taken to writing short stories. Learning to dialogue, scene transition, and drop foretelling clues in my writing.

My latest story is about a female detective, Kallie Mae and her best friend Cassius. They have been delivered a strange package. It is the beginning of their latest magical mystery. I'm planning a small series of stories based around the fictional world the characters live in.

These character's lives and their world are of my own creation and for the record, I do not use AI or generators. The main characters names were borrowed with permission from the parties they belong to.

I'm enjoying the nuances of writing. I always have enjoyed words. The written word in particular.

Thank you for visiting!

••Writer's notes••

Due to the way Tumblr posts, The story starts at the bottom. Hopefully I'll be able to transition to one big post or a link to my collection in it's entirety one day but until then please bear with me.

Please bear in mind that this IS a rough draft. Things like town names, family names, and some places may change or be edited in a later copy.

**Author's note**

I am having a blast creating a world with this story. I hope my readers are as enthusiastic as I am.

[ariannawrites]

Back on the kids' side of the world, Kallie notices a Burgundy Cadillac pull into the parking spot aside Cassius and her Mercedes. The small sticker in the window corner allowed it to be identified as a car from the Organization but the window tint was too dark to make out the driver.

After a few moments, the driver exits the vehicle. He shuts the driver door and opens the back door on the driver side. He steps to the side and out of the door steps a small, dark haired woman. She wore sunglasses and the dark Burgundy skirt and blazer of the Organization. Her hair was neatly parted and every single strand was perfectly sculpted into a low and tight hair bun. Kallie guessed that it probably took a lot of hair gel to style that way. She carried a small briefcase with the Organization insignia. She noted the driver going around the backside of the car and opening the passenger side back door. Out of the second door steps Thomms, their clan representative.

The Organization tended to the needs of several clans all over the world. The clans never had to worry about their bills, money, or groceries. If ever the clan was in need of something, their representative showed up and they were ready for whatever the need may be. The clans were free to tend to themselves, but the villages made it unnecessary.

The Organization had a literal plethora of doctors, lawyers, doctors, and anything else that a person might need during their life. They had villages, care centers, hospital networks, and mental health facilities. Their entire focus revolved around the happiness of their Clans through financial stability.

[ariannawrites]

Chapter Latest

Aunt Kitana finally picks up the opposite side of the phone and Kallie exhales sharply. She leans on the counter and listens intently to her beloved aunt, Kitana spoke

"Child, the information I have on hand is not going to ease anyone's worries. The best advice I could give is to pack your things and your mother and I will ready the guest room of the flat. Can you three still share a room? Oh of course you can."

Cassius paces the small hallway and walks right into Kallie's outstretched hand. She motions for him to settle down and finally, Kallie pulls the receiver down from her ear and wiggles the phone at Cassius. They push the phone back and forth a few times and Cassius finally takes possession. All of this occurred quietly unbeknownst to Kitana on the other side of the phone.

Cassius clears his throat and he automatically softens as he begins to speak. "Auntie Kitana, Beloved Matriarch of the Firehawk Clan, Have I been poisoned? Should I be writing my last will and testament? Dear Auntie, Do you have a cure?" This makes the collective group giggle and the harsh quiet is broken.

Kitana chuckles to herself and she beckons to her sister Ari on her side of the phone. Arianna leans into her sister's shoulder and they cradle the phone between them. Arianna listens as the children of her life, now grown into capable adults, laugh and cajole on the opposite side of the world. The older women listen as the younger ones lightly mock each other and make silly noises. The sound puts a flutter of grief into Arianna's heart and a small speck of hopefulness bloomed at the same time. Seeing the children would be wonderful they decided.

[ariannawrites]

Kallie scans the writing on the scroll and then begins reading..

Greetings to you FireHawk fledgling!

By now I hope you have received my amulet and have given it a proper home. The enclosed necklace is a cursed artifact found in a previously unknown Elixian tomb. The tomb contained the mummified remains of the King's High Priest. I heard you were seeking magical items and dug it out of my storage room. I have also enclosed a copy of the scroll that was discovered alongside it. The scroll is currently not translated as the experts haven't cracked the alphabetic code. Please be cautious with these items and contact me upon receiving them.

Love abounds and Light prevails,

Auntie Kitana

Kallie runs to the phone and dials the number of her beloved aunt, holding her breath in anticipation. She waits for a moment and exhales sharply. "Of course I got the voicemail." She hangs the phone up and picks it up once more. She quickly dials a familiar set of numbers and she perks up when her call is answered on the second try.

Kitana waits patiently as Kallie quickly explains the predicament. Kitana asks Kallie to open the small notebook and Kallie motions for Mercie to push the little black leather book across the glass counter. Mercie pauses before she touches the book. She glanced at Cassius who was already picking at the tape around the bandage on his hand.

Kallie impatiently grabs for the book and misses. She swipes a second time and successfully pulls it towards herself. She balances the phone receiver on her shoulder and unties the ancient leather binding.

Kallie carefully opens the hard papyrus pages of the book. The first page had what looked like an introduction page but in a strange script. She carefully opens the next pages and quietly gasps when she finds what looked like instructions for a human sacrifice involving tons of exotic flowers and herbs. She wouldn't have known what the unusual text said except for the incredibly detailed drawings on each side of the page.

She continued carefully turning the pages and gets varied expressions of curiosity and horror. She flips to the second to last set of pages and loudly gasps at a detailed picture of the necklace and a small drawing of a man standing behind a badly bruised and distressed woman. He stands with his arms about her shoulders in the fashion of hanging a necklace about her neck. She held her dress against her in one hand and her other held her hair out of the way.

Kallie flipped the page one more time to a full page of writing on the left and a drawing of two similar necklaces. She sets the book down on the counter so the other two can see the pages of the book as well.

Mercie gasps loudly and Cassius mutters a curse word. Cassius is the first to break the heavy silence, "So I'm cursed now? Is that all?? I've been cursed half of my life anyway." He scoffs loudly and turns and walks towards the back of the shop.

Mercie glances silently at Kallie, still waiting for Aunt Kitana to come back to the phone with her findings.

[ariannawrites]

Kallie glanced at Mercie and Cassius. The tension between them had always ran especially hot. Mercie was beautiful and classical with her style of dress. Mercie had things about her Kallie felt like she could never compete with. Boys fawned over Mercie day and night. Several times a man had promised the world to her, and several times Mercie sabotaged the relationship. She would promise loyalty, only to end up in bed with someone else. Her last relationship ended abruptly, with little answers to what happened on her end. Kallie truly felt sorry for her. It was sad to watch someone she loved constantly hurt themselves. Mercie was unique and loveable, but there was a wall miles high between her and anybody she loved.

Suddenly, Cassius screamed and dropped the necklace. "By the God's, I think it bit me!" Cassius opened his palm a second time and revealed a gaping, 1/2 inch deep and about an inch around circular wound. Blood pooled in his palm as he held it out. "What just happened?" Whispered Mercie, uncharacteristically quiet sounding. Kallie ran around the counter and grabbed an emergency kit from under the cash register. She hopped back over and popped the small plastic box open.

Kallie dug around in the box and placed a roll of gauze, a jar with yellow dust, a small bowl with a mortar, and a small bottle of water on the counter. She began mixing the yellow powder with the water, stirring with the mortar. She grabbed a pouch of herbs out of the box and began sprinkling a little bit at a time into her bowl. She mixed and stirred and quickly applied the mix to a small piece of gauze.

Mercie pushed Cassius to the counter and began washing and cleaning the wound in his hand. He winced as she poured and tried to pull away once or twice but Mercie held him firmly. The sisters barely glanced at each other as they cleaned the gaping wound, applied the herbal poultice, and dressed his hand cleanly. The entire event lasted about 10 minutes.

Kallie pulled out a pair of long tweezers and very carefully picked up the chain. She places the necklace carefully on the counter and her eyes fall upon the scroll. She studies the wax seal for a moment and then carefully twists the paper, releasing the seal.

[ariannawrites]

When she woke in the morning, Aunt Kitana's house was already bustling with activity. Kallie made her way to the kitchen where she could smell the aroma of breakfast sausage and pancakes. Kitana had a small plate waiting for her on the table with a small glass of milk.

Kallie made it halfway through the pile of food before becoming curious about the visitors with her mother. She asked of them and Kitana told her that they were the social services people.

The guests left and Arianna joined the two of them, baby on her shoulder sleeping soundly after a feeding during the visit. She seemed pleased with the things that they said.

Arianna spoke to Kitana. "They found that man and arrested him this morning. He is in jail until his trial, and the baby can stay with us for now. The caseworker said the only issue that might come up is if Suzie has any living relatives, they could petition for custody. Our organization couldn't find any, so I doubt they can either."

Arianna shifted the baby from her shoulder to a front cradle position and she gently swayed on her feet. Kitana noted to herself that her chosen sister was happier with the baby in her arms. She swore silently to protect her "clan" as the Elders put it.The man in jail was a very dangerous man and if he ever finds out where they took his daughter, he might kill them all.

In the old days it made a lot more sense but by the time Kitana and Arianna were sworn in, the Organization and their customs were mostly by the by. Their family and others in the village endured hardships and wars mostly through the generosity of the Organization. They were taught to do as they were asked and they didn't ask questions. Things were just there when they needed them. Their families were carefully paired and separated according to personal strengths and weaknesses.

The man was dangerous but they had the upper hand. The Organization would back them however they saw fit, from lawyers to security teams if they deemed it necessary. Kitana and Arianna shared a lot more in common than just being adopted by the same family. They were family and family is everything.

[ariannawrites]

Arianna brushes her hair out of her face, still soaking wet from the rain. "Her Mother is dead Kitty and I couldn't give her to that man. I just couldn't. I took her and I ran. I hope he doesn't find us. That man was scary Sister. He made my hair stand up and I couldn't leave this baby there." "Suzie was her mother. She was one of my clients. She came to me for help getting away from him. I went over for a check and Suzie was dead. I don't know if she told him where she was or if he was stalking her. There was a needle and the police will probably rule it a drug overdose but I've been speaking with her almost daily. I didn't know she had started using again. After the baby was born she got help. I helped her get help, Kitty." Arianna breaks down sobbing and Kitana slides a chair underneath her.

Arianna wipes the tears off her face and she continues "I only met the baby's father one time. Suzie was job shadowing and I stopped by to check on her. He was outside of her workplace staring at nothing. He wasn't watching her work, He just stared at nothing. Like he was in a trance or could see something nobody else could see. Dead inside. His aura gave me the creeps. I approached him outside her job and I told him that he was not allowed to be there. He barely looked over at me and returned to his dead stare. I walked back in with Suzie and called the police. I went with Suzie when she asked for a protection order."

Kitana busied herself in the kitchen while her Sister spoke and before long produced a baby bottle. Arianna gathered the baby and blanket wrapping the infant swaddle style. She settled into the biggest of the chairs and began to feed the starving child. She sent Kallie to her closet to get her babydoll clothes, leftovers from Kallie's infancy. Kallie gathered everything and in typical 4 year old fashion, she put it all in a grocery cart toy and dragged it to the kitchen.

"Can I help dress baby Mama?" "I dress Dolly all day!" Kallie continued to babble about dressing Dolly as Arianna stood and looked at her Sister. "Kitty we have to keep her. You know that the Organization will help us. Like they did before. I'll raise her with Kallie and she never has to know about him. We're her family now. Suzie had no living relatives, that's how she fell into my care. Sisters at the women's shelter called after he abused her the last time. We were all working with her and she had just moved into her apartment with the baby and everything was going well."

Kitana had gathered the necessary supplies on the table for a bath minus the tub and when she got that far, she pulled the door open to the backyard and called Kallie to her "Come little one let's fetch the wash tub. Get your raincoat and rain boots. It's still raining cats and dogs out there." Kallie's eyes widened for a moment, likely at the thought of falling cats and dogs, and then she scurries into action.

With child Kallie properly dressed and at her side, Kitana hurries out the door and squeals of surprise and delight can be heard from Kallie. The two rush off the back porch to the the small shed at the back of the yard and Arianna hears the door bang open and then a few minutes later closed again. Kitana carries Kallie in the tub on the way back to the back to the porch where she keeps a small storage of old towels in a hamper.

Kitana sets the old, steel washtub down and immediately starts drying Kallie while she still squeaks and squeals at the unexpected rain adventure. Kallie grabs at a towel and dabs and pats herself, doing the most a 4 year old can do.

"Take off those soggy boots Miss Kallie and get ready to help us. That little baby doesn't have a Mama like you do. Do you think you could share your Mama with her? I bet that you could teach her lots of things."

"Does that mean I would have a Sister like you and Mama? Because that would probably be okay. I never knew about sisters before. I think that's okay for me."

Kallie scampers inside, and Kitana grabs the tub. She sets it down on the kitchen floor and gazes over the bar counter, heavily decorated with potted flowers and assorted herb pots, to find Arianna and the new babe asleep in the corner. The chair was oversized and worn to perfection. Kitana had been meaning to replace it with something new, but it just hadn't happened yet.

She quietly covers the sleeping mother and child. She says a small prayer over them and ushers Kallie out of the room. She explains to Kallie that after their journey today they must have been very tired and she promised that Kallie could help with the baby tomorrow. She went about the same bedtime routine Arianna usually followed and Kallie fell right to sleep.

[ariannawrites]

Chapter new begins

Cassius is jolted out of his reverie by the shop bell chime behind him. He instinctively reaches for his side arm at his hip in the holster as he turns to face the newly arrived guest. Kallie's Sister Mercie enters the room and the door swinging shut seems to take Cassius' breath with it. Mercie has green eyes, dark brunette hair that flows over her shoulders and beautifully complements her classic hourglass figure. She is smiling and as soon as she notices Cassius she squeals with delight and hurries to set her purse down. She starts talking to Kallie immediately and Cassius takes the opportunity to slide the box over the counter and politely takes the box cutter out of Kallie's hand. He slid the blade under the tape easily and quickly has the box open. Kallie scowls at him as he reaches in and pulls out a wax sealed parchment paper, a small book, a small trinket bag and a necklace.

Mercie makes a grab for the necklace and Cassius holds it out of her reach. "C'mon Cassy I wanna see it!!" Cassius scowls as he dips out her reach. "You know I don't like it when you call me that." He brings the hand with the necklace to rest in front of her face, ready to spring the palm open for her.

Cassius breaks out in a playful grin "Cmon Mercie say the magic word.. Actually say both of them for the unnecessary name comment." Mercie's shoulders sink and she pouts her lip. She gives a dramatic sigh "Please and I'm sorry for the name Cassius Tatterwood, King of the world." She makes eye contact and he uncurls his fingers to reveal a glittery red stone set in gold with small symbols on the left and right sides of the jewel.

Kallie stood to the side of this interaction with a bemused look on her face. Kallie remembers the night her Mother brought Mercie home. Kallie stood as a four year old child in her Aunt Kitana's kitchen when Arianna came in the house. It was dark and storming outside with the rain beating the shutters and lightning crashing. Arianna pulled over her shawl and brought the tiny babe to her chest.

The baby's clothes were dirty and barely fit. Her small face was tear streaked and red from crying, likely hungry as babes are. Arianna and Kitana laid the blanket from one of Kitana's chairs on the table. Her small frame looked like a doll and Kallie slowly sneaked closer to the strange scene. She managed to wriggle into a chair and intently watched her Mother.

[ariannawrites]

Chapter prev continues

Kitana's sister Arianna looks at her daughter and for a moment she seems sad. Then it struck her what was wrong and she spoke to Kallie "Child will you please fetch your mug and put the special leaves in it..The celebration tea." Arianna waits patiently on child Kallie to rejoin the table with the requested items. She reaches for Kallie's cup and adds a touch of sugar with the sugar thing in the lazy Susan on the table then automatically adds the same amount of sugar to Cassius' mug and stirs twice clockwise and once counter clockwise. An odd gesture for sure but Cassius had turned his focus to the tea in front of him. It seemed if he wanted to get the heck out of here, he was going to have to drink the tea.

Kitana spoke softly to her sister, "No tea for yourself Sister?" Ari glanced at Kallie and replied "Not this time, we just really need to hurry this along right now. " Kitana's eyes widen and she jumps up and hurries the children outside abruptly.

Kitana stood long enough to tell the two of them, Kallie and Cassius, to stay in the side garden and then she flipped the shop sign to "Closed" and shut the door. The suddenness of the door closing abruptly startled Kallie, who was already heading into the fenced in area.

Kallie shrugged off the Sisters and their odd conversation, immediately skipping over to her favorite flowers in the yard. She gave a "come here" wave and Cassius jogged over to her.

"We didn't get to the name part of the talk inside so what IS your name? Does it really start with a C like Aunt Kitana guessed? Why did you come here anyway?" Kallie flitted around and through some of the flowers as she asked these things and Cassius took a deep breath before answering.

"Okay so..My name is Cassius Tatterwood. My dad brought me on some kind of antique hunt. He's always collecting things and we have to hang out in some weird places sometimes. He told me to just mind my own business while he "took care of things". Then I wandered around this place and I saw one of those chicks stuck in a fence."He pointed over towards the chickens gathered in the barn yard. "When I went to help, it wiggled out of the fence and the bigger chickens were staring at me!" His eyes got wide and he put his arms out like a chicken flapping feathers."They ruffled their feathers and started running towards me so I took off and ended up jumping behind a barrel to hide. Your Aunt Kitana came along and pounded her staff on the ground and all the chickens fell asleep!" He stomped his foot on the ground when he mentioned the staff. "That's probably the weirdest thing I've ever seen so I didn't argue with her when she took me inside and I hadn't told her anything yet when you guys came in." He gestures towards the shop and then crosses his arms in an exasperated motion.

Kallie studies Cassius and then tidies up the small bouquet of flowers in her hand. "Aunt Kitana has been working on a new way to keep her chickens gathered up. She put a whistle in the staff that only the chickens hear and you have to be fast with it. Maybe she figured it out while Mommy and me were gone." She handed the flowers to Cassius and smiled. "I can tell you what all the flowers here are called, but I won't cause it's pretty boring. You can be my friend if you want to. I don't have very many friends. I have one more friend that's a boy, he lives in the big brown house on the other side of the barn. His name is Arwyn. His dad goes away and fights wars. We always have a party when he comes home."

[ariannawrites]

11.4 11.6 11.10

Kitana walks back to the now simmering tea pot. She adds a few odd looking leaves to each of the three cups and pours water over them. She grabs two of them by their handles and walks confidently to the table. She sits a cup in front of Cassius and then hers on a small mat in front of her. She sits in her chair and as if on a cue of some kind, the shop bell chimes and a small girl runs down the hall. She can be heard laughing and giggling way before she enters into the room and a young woman follows swiftly behind her. Kitana's face lights up and she claps her hands excitedly. The girl bounces most of the way to the table and then stopped dead in her tracks at the realization that a visitor was amongst them. She freezes in a deer in headlights look and the young woman comes up behind her to put her hands on each shoulder and reassure her that she was okay. The woman guides the girl into a seat at the table and takes the chair beside Kitana and beside the girl. This puts the girl and Cassius beside each other and they both look equally nervous.

Kitana breaks the silence by speaking to the table "I can see that everybody is a little nervous so let's introduce ourselves. My new friend here has just narrowly avoided a chicken flogging by sheer chance, having run past my shop at the moment I was going to get started on the gardens. I haven't learned his name yet but I bet it starts with a C."

Kitana gestures to the woman to read the notebook and the woman slides the book around to herself. She quickly reads the words and closes the notebook. Kallie wiggles until she is deeply settled into the cushions and Cassius looks towards the door. He was considering running as fast as he could from this strange situation but as the thought occurred to him, Kallie spoke up and broke the silence.

"Auntie Kitana did you know that today is my Celebration Day? Mommy said that 8 years ago today Spirit told her my name. She says I'm still too young for a Celebration Party but in a few years I can have all my friends come over and eat all the food they want to! She said I get to put my name in the family book at the party with a big feather pen!"

"Yes that's all true child. There's more to it than parties, but that's not for a name day. Ari, darling sister of mine, would you show the children outside? I believe you came for a reading correct? Drink your tea and let's get to it."

Kallie's mother Arianna was a quiet beauty. She was blonde, with blue eyes that could gaze into the soul of a person. She was charming and she carried a quiet energy that made you feel safe. As a child, Cassius was thrilled when they spent time with Kallie's mother. She was funny and she could always tell if you needed to talk about anything at all.

[ariannawrites]

The notebook..

Kitana sat next to Cassius and opened her notebook to the last page written. The page was written in cursive and in inks of different colors. She flipped the page to the backside where a small list was noted.

October 30

1 harvest tea leaves

2 count incense for sale

3 water side garden

Under all of these mundane tasks, written in a shiny ink, were three words

The city boy.

The last words were written sideways and across the task list like the writer was in a hurry. Kitana sat and let Cassius process the fact that he had been saved from a chicken flogging by someone that knew he was coming today. Cassius didn't even know that he was coming to the village until his father woke him and forced him to go along with him.

"Spirit told me a boy from the city would be coming today. My niece will be along to show you the village shortly. Kallie is an excellent guide. I think you two will get along just fine."

[ariannawrites]

Chapter Two

"Unexpected Visits."

While Cassius reminisced in his silent reverie of the past, Kallie searched for a box opener. She turned to her left and opened a cabinet. Trinkets of all kinds fell on the counter and to the floor. He picked up a few glittery butterflies flittering in place and Kallie sat a small paper contraption in his hand. At first glance, the object was a box. When Cassius scrutinized the box, it seemed to be a small cage. Puzzled, Cassius glances at Kallie. "They're enchanted for children's parties and family tyings. The spell is woven into the paper keeping box. It was one of the first enchanted things my Aunt Kitana showed to me."

Cassius has known Kallie since his 11th Celebration day. He knows when she speaks of her Aunt Kitana she means her Mother's closest Sister, Kitana Firehawk. Kitana was a community leader and an Elder of their Clan. Cassius met Kitana by accident when he was trying to escape from a flock of angry chickens.

Kitana stepped in front of Cassius as he ran past her towards the barn. The barn was located on the Firehawk family farm in the small village outside of town. The village had a few small shops, a general store for basic goods, a small jewelry store, and Kallie's family shop. Kallie's mother Arianna and her sister Kitana had what can best be described as a magic shop in disguise.

The shop at its forefront sold herbs, flowers, and potted plants. They sold bouquets for family tyings and would cater flowers for parties.They sold incense, magic preparations, crystals and tarot readings for an exclusive group in the back of the shop. Eventually they bought out the antique store in town and they began searching the world for magical items.

Kallie's sister Mercie was gifted the antique shop on the day of her 22nd Celebration day. Mercie was always very business minded and she loved traveling to find antiquities. Cassius had a minor crush on Mercie as children and still loved her odd, unique personality. It was a vast difference from her sister Kallie but he couldn't help but be drawn to her. As a child Mercie was quirky and outspoken. She was a lot different from most shy village girls. They all just wanted to squeal and run whenever he tried to talk to them.

The flock of chickens chasing Cassius were a special breed of banty rooster that Kitana had bred and then trained for parcel delivery. Kitana thumped her Oak staff on the ground and the flock slowed and fell asleep one by one. Cassius peeked around the rain barrel he had taken cover behind and slowly crept back into Kitana's view. Kitana wasted no time in hurrying to Cassius and gently guided him into her shop and into the private sitting area in the back.

Kitana motioned for Cassius to sit at a circular table with a trio of mismatched outdoor chairs gathered around it. Child Cassius chose a tall, rounded high back wicker chair with an oversized orange cushion. Kitana wasted no time in gathering her reading cards and setting down saucers for tea. She reached into an overhead cabinet and grabbed a jar of fragrant lavender tea and a tea strainer along with a small notebook.

*Added Mercie Intro 11.27.23

[ariannawrites]

For those following along..This Kallie's car

[ariannawrites]

Chapter One

"The delivery."

Cassius stands outside of an old worn down building on the Main street of their town. He has an appointment with his lifetime best friend, Kallie Mae.Her 1981 Mercedes Benz station wagon sits in front of her shop. It's a beautiful, classic car in near mint condition. The car has original paint in a teal blue color called "Dolphin". Kallie's mechanic keeps the engine running perfectly. For some odd reason, Kallie and her car are perfect for each other.

Cassius glances down by the bottom of the door and notices Kallie's latest U Smile Shipping delivery. Cassius opens the door and Kallie's antique shop bell announces his arrival. He calls out to her, but no one answers. He heads to the back of the building where Kallie's storage room is located. He hears Kallie's frenzied rummaging and calls to her. "Kallie there's a delivery outside, Do you want me to bring it in?"

Kallie crashes to the floor in the back of the room. Cassius stands at the doorway and smiles to himself. She brushes off the dust from the mountain of boxes she's been going through. "That delivery was supposed to need a signature. Let's get me out of here and go get it." She climbs over a few boxes and hops over the rest.

Kallie dusts herself off as she walks and Cassius follows behind her. Her sandy blonde hair is pulled up in a messy bun and tendrils lay on either side of her face. She stands a little taller than most women due to her height of 5'9". She has always been super thin and she carries herself like a fearless warrior. She is an artist when she has time and a pretty good one to be honest.

Cassius exits the short, dingy hallway just in time to see Kallie set the package down on her shop counter beside her cash register. He rounds the counter to stand on the customer side and stands opposite her. His gaze falls on the picture collage on the wall behind Kallie's register area.

Several pictures feature the two of them, most of them are from the festivals they attended together. In one of the bigger photos in the middle of the frame, the oldest photo among the bunch, Kallie has a feather boa draped over her arms and her novelty glasses spell out the words "Happy New Year". Cassius has his arm over her shoulder and they are smiling at the camera. His messy blonde hair that was an argument point with his father has gotten shorter and darker through the years. He eventually grew past the dorky glasses his father insisted on and got contacts for daily wear.

He fell quiet as Kallie searched for her boxcutter. A lot had changed between the young child Cas and the tired man that stood in the shop. Mostly his job in the city as a detective had worn him down and he was tired of the monotony. The day to day, staring at the same 4 walls, taking the same boring complaints and booking the same frequent fliers of the county jail.

His job had finally driven him to the company of his best friend, Kallie. Her presence was necessary for him to feel sane sometimes. It had been too long between visits anyway. He was happy to be with her.

**Added descriptive sentences 11.6.23

**Added new paragraphs 7.8. 7.15.24