Feathers and Flowers: Ep1 (part 1)

It's just one of those days where everything seems to go wrong. But why, of all days, did it have to be this one?

Kaela can't help but think something's working against her. First her phone's alarm didn't go off, then she nearly broke her arm again when she fell on her mad dash to catch the tram. Then she's nearly run over by a horse carriage when the driver stopped his horse a little too late, and she had to ignore his attempts at apologizing because she's late.

And of course, of course the street light turns red when she reaches it, blinking a mocking WAIT across the way as she's forced to do exactly that.

Kaela just barely resists the urge to jog in place, sweat clinging to her forehead. She watches the cyclists and horses file through the street in what feels like slow motion before she chances a look at her phone.

You will arrive at your destination at 11:23 AM.

Kaela chews at her bottom lip; if she keeps up the pace, maybe she can make the tail end of her allotted time; at the very least, convince the interviewer to reschedule.

Finally the light changes and Kaela wastes no time breaking into a sprint. She nearly bowls over fellow walkers in her haste and doesn't dare stop, only throwing a "sorry!" over her shoulder as she runs.

She bobs and weaves through the throng of people milling about their business, dodges another horse and nearly causes a bike wreck, but she can't stop. She's late, but she's so close.

Her phone's notification beep is quickly followed by the chime of her destination met, and for the barest hint of a second Kaela feels relief. But when she slows down, finally takes inventory of where she is, that relief is quickly replaced with confusion.

Trees stand proudly along zigzagging pathways, moss draped over low-hanging branches like fabric. Many people walk along said paths, some jog, others relax against trees or in the expanse of grass. And in the center sits a huge marble fountain, its lapping water adding a soothing element to the canopy of chirping birds and voices, but it does little to calm Kaela's nerves.

She lifts her phone up to take a good long look at its screen, her labored breaths fogging in the cold morning air.

YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR DESTINATION: FLAVOR-FIX CAFE

* Rate your trip! 1 2 3 4 5 *

The marker sits comfortably in front of her. And when she looks up again, her eyes are met with the same fountain she noticed moments before.

A park. The GPS led her to a park.

Kaela: You have got to be-

She closes the app and brings it back up. The marker remains.

She checks for updates before restarting her phone entirely. The marker remains.

She jogs, half-panicked, around the vicinity, holding her phone in front of her as she looks around. There's not a cafe in sight.

And the marker stubbornly remains fixed upon the fountain. You Have Reached Your--

Kaela: (teeth clenched, nearly hissing in frustration) No I have not! Just… please work!

She tries everything she can think of, repeats things she's already done, and still the GPS remains stuck to the fountain.

It's then that the thought of calling the cafe hits her, and Kaela huffs a quiet "oh!" as she fumbles with her phone. She tabs over to her keypad and punches numbers in before snapping it to her ear, and she releases a breath she doesn't remember holding when it picks up on the second ring.

Voice:  Hiya! This is the Flavor Fix Cafe, where you get your fix of your favorite flavor! This is Li! How can I help ya today?

Kaela: H-hello, ah, my name is Kaela? I have an interview today but--

Li: Oooooooh, hey yeah I remember! Gimme just a sec, I'll get the boss on the line!

She hears the phone being placed on the counter as the girl on the other end moves away, shouting a name she can't quite hear. Kaela manages to fight off the urge to pace. She taps her foot instead, teeth worrying at her bottom lip with her eyes clenched shut. The wait stretches into what feels like an eternity, but the silence is soon broken on the end of the line by a rough sounding "Hazel speakin'".

Kaela: (perks up and stares out into the park, her eyebrows furrowed) Y-yes, Miss Hazel? This is Kaela; I have an interview with you today but, ah.. I am running late an-

Hazel: You're more than just late, girl. N'fact I'd say yer wastin' my time at this point.

Kaela: I- (stops her pacing dead, her frown deepening. She barely manages to keep her frustration from seeping into her voice) …I apologize. I am actually trying to get there now but, ah, if it is too late I was hoping to reschedule?

Hazel: (there's the sound of rhythmic clicking against the counter, too muffled on the phone to make out) ...no.

Kaela: ...No? (Her voice is breathy with hopeless disbelief, her grip tightening around her phone almost painfully) I-I… Miss Hazel-

Hazel: Yeh, no. Ya wasted enough my time already, waitin' on you. Don't bother comin' in or callin' back unless it's ta make an order. Good day.

The audible click against the receiver feels like a punch in the gut. Kaela stands there, frozen, slowly peeling her phone away from her ear to stare at it with her mouth hung open. Her breath feels caught in her throat.

She said no. She missed her interview. Missed her chance.

Her stomach sinks, dragging her down with it. Kaela slumps onto the ledge of the fountain, slowly processing the reality of her situation.

Her savings are nearly gone. Her farm isn't growing anything. Her arm is throbbing underneath the cast. She missed the only interview she's been able to get in the long, grueling weeks of her job search. It took a long time to find anyone hiring, longer still to convince the cafe owner to give her a chance. And she missed it.

Kaela: (in a hushed, trembling voice nearly swept away in the cool breeze) What can I do now?

For a long while she simply sits, her question hanging in the air, her stare to the ground as blank as her thoughts. Surrounded by the calm tranquil of the town's park, of people walking by and going about their day. Entirely unknowing of her distress.

Kaela curls into herself and tears sting behind her eyes.

Voice: Excuse me, miss?

At first Kaela doesn't budge, almost doesn't register the voice. But when it's repeated again, closer, more concerned, she drags her gaze away from the ground. Her eyes land on a pair of cleats, and she travels the length of legs up and up and up to stare into the owner's face.

A girl - a really large girl - stands before her, looking as if she stopped mid stride and walked backward the moment her eyes landed on Kaela. She pivots when she sees she has Kaela's attention and tilts her head, using one gloved hand to pluck an earbud out of her ear. Her mouth spreads into a warm smile by way of greeting, but it contrasts with the concern in her eyes.

Girl: Sorry. Didn't mean ta disturb ya but... ya look about ready ta cry.

Kaela: O-oh. (She lifts her cast-bound arm up to wipe at her eyes, misses the way the girl frowns at the sight of it) I-I apologize, I-

Girl: Oh no! Don't say sorry! I just wanted to make sure you were okay? (Raises both hands now in submission) But if I'm botherin' ya lemme know; I'll back off.

Kaela: (says in a wobbly voice, half a laugh and half unshed tears) No, you are not a bother. (Looks down at her phone and heaves a sigh) ...Honestly. You are probably the only nice thing that's happened to me today.

Girl: Aw jeez, that sucks. (She takes that other earbud out and places them in her pockets before she stoops to the ground. She plops herself down in front of Kaela, cross-legged and leaning forward, her full attention on her) Had a rough one today, huh?

Kaela watches as the girl situates herself, surprised at the move, and debates if she should even bother the girl with her woes or send her on her way. The fight barely lasts a second: her arm throbs the same moment the girl locks eyes with her, and it easily compels her to speak.

Kaela: ...Yes. I, ah. I am looking for a job. (She toys with a strand of hair, pushing it out of her face) I managed to get an interview at a cafe but... My alarm did not go off and now I am a little lost. My phone will not show me where it is.

(Kaela then deflates, looking down at her traitorous phone again.)

Kaela: Not that knowing will help me now. I missed it.

Girl: (wincing in sympathy, one corner of her mouth quirked) Oof. Whatcha gonna do? Can't ya call and reschedule? The owner should cut ya some slack if ya explained, yeah?

Kaela: (sighs out a bitter chuckle, shrugging her shoulders and keeping her gaze on her phone) I, ah. I did. She… hung up on me.

Girl: What?

Kaela: (the indignation in the girl’s voice is enough to get her to look up. She purses her lips before nodding slowly) She said, ah… she said not to bother coming. (Her eyes dart out to the side, accompanied by a self-deprecating half shrug) Though… I suppose I am late, so--

The girl gestures so wildly with a loud "bah!" that it startles Kaela into looking at her again. Her hands are on her knees now, a scowl fixated to her face as she shakes her head.

Girl: That's a load of crap! (One hand shoots out to motion at Kaela, both shoulders hunching with what looks like annoyance) Just 'cuz you're late doesn't mean she gets ta be rude! She didn't even give ya a chance!

Kaela: (eyelashes flutter in surprise and she tucks her injured arm against her chest, unsure of how to react) I, ah… i-it's alright. I will just… have to look elsewhere. (A small smile forms on her lips) I appreciate your concern but, no need to be upset for me.

Girl: (shakes her head again, frown deeping, and she crosses her arms) I just... It's not right! Stuff like this makes me so- (She stops herself short and eyes Kaela) Did ya say what the place was called?

Kaela:  (shakes her head with furrowed brows) Mn. It's, ah, The Flavor-Fix Cafe.

Girl: (narrows her eyes and bows her head) That… actually explains a lot. Hm.

The girl stops speaking after that, muttering to herself in a language Kaela doesn't understand. She seems to be in deep thought, statuesque save for the light bouncing of her leg, and all Kaela can do is sit with the newfound silence as she waits. She isn't entirely sure what she's waiting for; the quiet that blankets over them is surprisingly not awkward, but there's a charged quality to it that keeps her rooted in place. Keeps her eyes on the girl.

Eventually the girl raises her head and locks eyes with Kaela, a resolve behind them that wasn't there before.

Girl: Ok. So, I can't promise anything more than this, but… what if I told ya I could get you that interview?

Kaela: (eyelashes flutter with disbelief, her heart speeding up in her chest) I… but how? Why? (She narrows her eyes at the girl, a little suspicious. Her legs shift in preparation to stand) What is it you want from me?

Girl: (remains where she is but leans back, hands held out and fingers spread out in front of her) Nothin'! Honest, miss, I don't want a thing from ya. As for how? Well… (her shoulders shrug and she gives a sheepish grin) I'm… let's just say I got benefits thanks ta my sport.

This time the girl does stand. Kaela watches her pat her pants down and glance at the watch adorning her wrist with a grimace

Girl: Speakin of which, I gotta get to the stadium soon, but my offer still stands. (She turns to Kaela again and nods her head) I can't guarantee ya the job, but I can at least help ya in this way. But only if ya want me to. I'll leave if ya want.

It's Kaela's turn to fall silent. Her eyes bore into the tall girl in front of her, searching for any sign of deceit, of anything that might hint to an ulterior motive. The girl's smile is no longer present, but she stands entirely relaxed, hands on her hips, face open and sincere. Kind.

Kaela looks away, running her uninjured hand across her cast; the last few weeks have been everything but kind to her.

Kaela: …What is your name?

Girl: It's Sakura.

Kaela: (nods her head before turning to look at the girl again. She gets up and walks over to her, standing before her) Then, Sakura? Thank you. Thank you so much.

Sakura: (a blinding grin spreads across her face, eyes squinting. She turns and gestures for Kaela to follow) Don't thank me! You're the one who's gotta impress Hazel.

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND HERE WE ARE! Officially beginning the story of Feathers and Flowers! owo

I originally wasn't gonna post Episode one in parts, but due to some changes I made for a better story flow I figured I may as well post what I have. In fact, depending on how the next part goes, I might just label that on as Episode 2 and go on from there, including making a new piece of art for the cover. But we'll see!

So ye! A proper introduction to Kaela and Sakura! I'm so fuckin' excited ya'll, I hope you like what ya read so far! ;w; More to come soon!

FUNFACTS (which can act as refreshers)!

-Kaela's name is pronounced "Ka-Eh-La". This'll be made apparent next part. ;)

-The town the story takes place in is called Fiverstead, and it's heavily inspired by Savannah, Georgia.

-Many of the characters filling up space are actual characters! Cameoed by the lovely supporters of our community! owo Characters are owned by ScowlingElf, Goldfencer, TheWanderingBard, Wolf227, and Scoobums! Thank you all so very much for allowing me to borrow your characters for the composition! ;w;