Felinis: Hi... I'm really sorry the chapter is late. Life just has me tied up. So here it is. I'll try to keep my deadlines. So here's a chapter. It has more traces of plot.
The group came home to Felinis preparing dinner with a smile. They sat down to eat and talked about what they'd learned. Most Felinis had learned from Iris and the merchants. The shops that were hit were all guild business and Altosk and the other groups were going to work to recover what was lost. None of the gald in the shops were touched. It was only the stock which had Felinis wondering.
Why steal products but leave the money untouched? The only people it seemed to benefit were the farmers, but that was a false profit. Nobody wins if food is stolen. It means people start to starve and go hungry.
Felinis stopped mid-bite. The ones who would suffer would be the people who couldn't afford it and hunger is a powerful weapon.
She listened now intently and thought this over. Yeah, that would make sense. "I think that you should check out the soup kitchens." Felinis said offhandedly.
Raven leaned back in his chair. "What for?"
"A fair amount are currently getting bulk donations from various anonymous sources." She took a bite and noted the grin on Judith. She'd probably been thinking something similar.
Karol's eyes narrowed. "Your right. Nobody would support bad guys who steal from the innocent."
"Yep." Felinis said and went on in silence. Fact stands that people hate those that make life harder for them. If a group tried to starve the citizens and take over they'd be overrun in a few years. Anyone who understands war and basic phycology knows that. She finished her last bite and started cleaning up. Tonight, she was far too busy to just spend it staring at Yuri from a distance.
She had more cleaning to do, finances to balance, and anxiety to quell. When Felinis finally finished, she went to bed silently.
A young Felinis sat by the bridge once more. She was staring at the water and reciting formulas for healing spells. Her skill was terrible and akin to a rusted blade. Everyone kept saying she'd get the hang of it soon, but Felinis knew better.
He showed up like he always did.
Felinis didn't need a bell to know he was there. She'd always known when he was coming, because she was always listening for him. "They're never gonna let me leave on a job." She was talking about the fact that her guild apprenticeship was over and not once had they taken her outside the barrier. She was supposed to become a great hero or something like that. That was the dream. But all this had proved was a truth she'd been denying. That deep down Felinis wasn't meant for combat.
Or magic.
Or maybe anything. She hadn't gotten the apprenticeship because of skills, but connections. Her guild had given up on her. Even if they hadn't said so she could tell by how they were slowly pushing her behind a desk.
"Of course they will." He smiled and tried to reassure her, but by now she knew better. "Just wait."
Stop smiling like that! Felinis wanted to scream every time she thought of that smile. Why? Why did he have to keep smiling like that the whole time? Why did he have to wear that same ugly grin when he…
"No, they won't." Felinis grit. She stood and walked away, because she was worried he'd see her cry. The only people who'd seen her cry in sorrow were her family. Frustrated tears aren't real tears. They're born from anger not sadness. "Admit it. I can't fight."
He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, your technique is rough, but you could totally be a strong with practice. Just give it time." He hugged her and Felinis felt the tension leave. "Plus, you're all stressed out cause of your family. Once it cools down it'll be fine."
Was the hug his form of mocking her? Was it? What did any of his acts of affection mean? Felinis shuddered inside when she thought of it. Was it a game? Or was it something even less?
Felinis woke with tears in her dusting her eyes. She hated thinking about him. She hated him. The love she'd felt broke over the years and now it was just a bitter soup that she tasted on her tongue. Whatever. She shrugged it off and went on her day as always.
Right now, everyone was off doing work in some for Atlosk over the underground group of hoodlums. Felinis waited in the front bored, but content. Desk watching was just one of the many jobs she had. She glanced over at the windowsill again. It really needed a fern.
Nothing important happened that day. A few people stopped by to place in job requests and Felinis noted them all and went over the schedules. She prepped dinner since the others wouldn't be back till this evening. Life as a manger was routine and safe which suited her fine. She heard a loud knocking on the front door and ran over.
Who was knocking at this hour? They had a sign and mail slot for a reason. Peering in was Iris who looked at her with a malicious grin. Felinis sighed inwardly. She should have never told Iris where she worked.
She cracked the door open. "What do you want?"
Iris tapped her foot. "Come on, let me in already. I got something cool to tell you."
Felinis let her in and escorted her to the back. Iris took a seat while Felinis continued her prep work on the meal. "What's up? Did you finally find Ace?" Iris was taking a break from stalking her current target because the man was currently lost somewhere in the forests around Dahngrest. Iris searched when she could since it had been two weeks and she worried for poor man.
"Nah, he's still lost." Iris said. "But, looks like the color guys donated a ton of food towards the local soup kitchens."
"Why are you telling me?" Felinis said raising her brow.
"Cause the guy working at one was Bae." Iris cheered. "I'm like daddy please. He's a butt, but totally my type."
Felinis blanched. "I will never understand you."
Iris grinned. "I also got a look at you know who. Not bad, but way too fem for me."
"You just can't understand the beauty of subtle androgyny. The way perfection can be found in one that's features gleam like shining blade in the moonlight." Felinis quipped.
Iris rolled her eyes. "I will never understand you." They both laughed and talked a bit before Iris got serious. "look, it's your life, but you may wanna seriously think about getting out of here. If that group comes here, you'll be in trouble."
"I know. But, if I suddenly skip they might think that's weird and start looking for me. Plus, somebody will go digging through my past and then I'll have to explain how I'm a fucking crazy person. They'll lock me up and then I'll never have happiness."
"I thought you gave up on happiness?" Iris said sarcastically. "I mean that's why we're friends."
Felinis sighed and steadied her nerves. "I can't go just yet. But, I will soon."
"Is that a promise?" Iris asked. She nodded. Felinis wasn't going to stay longer than needed. She just needed to figure out where she was running to this time. She'd go boy hunting sometime soon. Felinis felt vile. It used to be hard to drop her affection and run, but now it was easy. Too easy. "Great, maybe this time you'll actually date someone."
"Like you've had better luck!" Felinis screeched. Iris teased her again about trying to date Yuri, but she brushed it off. Felinis knew her place and it wasn't next to Yuri. Her place was the side character in stories that people struggle to remember the name of. She was a small smudge in his life that he'd quickly forget about.
Felinis liked people who would ultimately see her that way because, it meant their life was above hers. That they would shine like stars. So, she never found it her place to try and go after them. In the past, she tried, but now it was mostly out of habit. Yes, Felinis could never date her ideal.
Nothing comes after a dream after all.
Iris left after some time and the rest of the guild came home. "Welcome back." She walked up to Karol and handed over papers that needed his attention. "Here's your paperwork, Karol."
Karol thanked her and went to look them over. Judith asked her about her day and Yuri and Raven just gave quick hellos. It was strangely normal despite knowing that bad things were conspiring in town. But, that was just a part of it all.
"So, the kitchens are well stocked I take it?" Felinis said to Judith.
"Yes. It appears it was all anonymously donated." Judith hissed.
"Were you able to return it?"
Judith crossed her arms and sighed. "No." Felinis nodded. If Altosk and Brave Vesperia started taking food even if allegedly stolen from the populace it be bad news for everyone. It's best to figure out their goal.
"Blue chokers." Felinis muttered. "That's been bugging me for a while."
Judith nodded. "It's an odd symbol to choose."
Felinis chewed the inside of her cheek and ran her hand on the wall. "Oh, I get it! They're the Blue Collars." Judith raised a brow. "Like the blue-collar workers."
"So, you think they're trying to get sympathy from the working class?" She said. "That would make sense. With blastia gone things have gotten a lot harder for working class citizens."
Felinis nodded. "If the group really wanted to overtake Altosk and stay in power they'd need a good reputation. Members will probably start spreading rumors everywhere."
"You're pretty smart."
She laughed and rubbed the back of her head. "I just understand a bit about phycology." Plus, stalking folks sharpens one's insight. "I'm sure you pretty much had that figured out."
"Yes, but still, your intuition isn't half-bad." Felinis couldn't stop herself from feeling the teensiest proud. "Maybe you should try showing that off."
What was that grin for? "What do you mean?" Felinis tilted her head to the side in confusion.
Judith chuckled. "Just that you might impress someone special." Judith walked off and Felinis followed.
"What do you mean by that?" She panicked.
Judith just rolled her eyes. "Just that you're not as subtle as you think."
Felinis: I'm really not a subtle person.