Felinis: Hi long time no see... That upload once a month thing I planned for when I got back to school did not pan out well. I forgot October was... October. At SCAD that means midterms followed by final projects. Plus, this quarter has been killer.

Why does it always seem that Felinis finds herself cleaning? She doesn't even like cleaning, but she always does it simply because everyone says she's good at it. Her parents sent a message via every farmer they knew demanding that she marry Yuri because he was a good catch. The lie was exhausting. The one relief was that Felinis's parents did have a strange respect for her independence. They let her be most times, because maybe they were ashamed of Felinis or perhaps they simply didn't want to confront the problems between them.

Either way she knew her parents saw a failure.

Subconsciously she drifts into a fighting stance with her broom and starts swinging it like a sword before quickly returning to work. No need for anyone to see Felinis look like a crazy person. The Blue Collars were on the rise though. They'd taken to publicly throwing food into the streets like rich kings or generous thieves in fairy tales. It made her wonder where these villains got there supplies. The bell ringed on the front of the door and Felinis tightened her grip on the broom but still smiled.

"Welcome to Brave Vesperia. How may I help?"

The woman in front of her looked about curiously before acknowledging her. "I was looking for the leader, one Karol Capel."

"Of course, let me get him." Then Felinis remembered that she wasn't exactly sure where Karol was. If she spent time looking for the young boss that meant leaving her post. Leaving her post meant the customer would not have anyone to help them. Not having any one to help them meant the customer would get angry. If the customer got angry, then they could start trashing the guild hall. If the guild hall got trashed again it would cost even more money in repairs. If the repairs were too high, then they wouldn't be able to afford food. If they couldn't afford they'd starve.

And then resort to cannibalism.

Leaving desk = cannibalism.

Good to know. Although, that might be a bit extreme? Then she did the math again and it added up.

Yeah, she was staying put. When she thought of eating Yuri that wasn't exactly what she meant. The customer was looking at Felinis like she was crazy. "Oh, I'm sorry! I apologize, but Mr. Capel is out."

"Then is Yuri here?"

Felinis shrugs. "I'll ask." She steps backs and bangs on the wall. "Yuri get your ass down here!" Some cherry haired tart, who probably works as a stripper in Felinis's ideal world, is here. Beautiful people can fuck off! Felinis is an unfortunate result of cuteness.

She eventually hears a muffled. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." When Yuri arrives at the bottom of the stares a smile that has Felinis's blood boiling crosses his lips. "Well, of all people."

"Long time no see."

Felinis was just going to assume this was someone important or someone Brave Vesperia met on their adventure. Frankly she just stopped giving a shit when it came to asking by this point. "Is this one of those 'hey, Fel mind giving us some privacy?' moments? Or…"

The woman cupped her chin and Felinis swore there were bedroom eyes afoot. Oh, fuck this shit. If Felinis wanted to watch people flirt with Yuri she'd go to a bar. "Oh, don't mind me. I'm just here looking for skilled workers." They weren't that kind of guild! But, if Yuri were… No, wait, Karol has entered the fantasy. Abort mission! Really, why did all her fantasies go awry in some way or form like that? It was just wrong on so many levels.

"And what would you have in mind?"

"An important shipment of mine needs transporting. With the nature of its contents and the recent problems I feel I need more protection. And like always I'll pay you well."

Felinis narrowed her eyes because she wondered just how well this lady was talking. She coughed, and the woman turned her eyes toward Felinis. "The standard commission rate for the transportation of goods is ten to twenty percent of the total market value of the merchandise. With that in mind would you be able to give me a thirteen percent rough estimate."

"Well aren't you clever." The woman crossed her arms. "A rough estimate for this would be seven thousand."

Yuri whistled. "What are we transporting?"

"Food supplies and gels to Mantaic. It sells higher over there because of the desert climate so it's very profitable."

"What about the people who can't afford it?" Felinis slipped and suddenly felt embarrassed for potentially offending a powerful customer.

"Most of this is actually relief payed by the empire. Only a small portion will ever make it to market and that's why I'm even more concerned about its arrival." Right, they would have pay back the money in full along with suffer the loss in profits.

Yuri just shrugged. "No need to fear. Brave Vesperia will make sure to keep things in line."

"Excellent. We can work out the fine details later. I happen to have another meeting to get to." She held her hand to Felinis and she gingerly shook. "Pleasure meeting you Miss…"

"Felinis, Felinis Feloney."

"Mary Kaufman." Felinis let her eyes go wide. This was the woman who at one point could have been her boss. "I hope to see you around, Yuri Lowell. My door is always open."

"I'll consider it." Felinis might kill something. Or maybe cannibalism had its merits after all… Jeez, it's not like she has anything to gain being jealous. It's not like Yuri liked her and really, she didn't love him. She admired him. Thought he was beautiful and such. Love was a long stretch that Felinis still doesn't believe in. When Kaufman left Felinis found Yuri was snickering at her. "No offense, but jealousy is not good on you."

"I wasn't aware any one could make jealousy look good." She recomposed herself and focused on work. She'd meet with Iris in a few hours for some more training and put any bad thoughts behind her.

"Why do you wear that?"

Felinis blinked at noticed him point at the bracelet on her wrist. "Why do you wear a broken blastia on yours?"

"Touché." Felinis assumes he's dropped the subject when Yuri surprises her. "It's a memento from someone I care about."

"I… I wear it as a reminder." Felinis clutched the broom in her hands tightly. "That I can't go back."

"To him?"

"To anything."

"Well, that's bullshit."

"I knew you wouldn't get it."

"Then explain why you're afraid of guy who dumped you when you were a kid and how that ruined your life. Because you've explained it twice and I still don't get it."

Felinis bubbled with bits of rage. "You wouldn't understand! I have nothing! Have had nothing! Mathias was the only friend I had for the longest time and he was just there to pity me. I'm not strong enough to become an adventurer and fight monsters all over the world. I'm only good at desk work and being babied. And he confirmed it… I'm not like you guys. I'm not a hero or brave. I'm just that guy who mans the desk."

Yuri just sighs at her. Maybe it's pity or disappointment. Maybe he really doesn't get the idea. Felinis wouldn't blame him for any of that. "If you hate all that stuff you should just fix it." Easier said than done. "There's nothing wrong with being ordinary. Not everyone can or should be a hero."

But, Felinis wants to be a hero. She wants to explore the world. She wants to see what the world has to offer. She's just afraid… Of what? Everything and then some. One more month and she should leave… get a new job. Maybe even leave Dahngrest for good. She could get on a ship and head to Nordopolica or maybe Halure. She's always wanted to see it and she could visit her brother. In a sad twist of irony, he might be the only one who could understand. Even just a little.