thisisarcanereverie

[thisisarcanereverie]

Repost for good luck

"Dear Infold Gods,

I know I bragged earlier this year when two banners came out and I got the limited time cards in 20 pulls...and I also know that I have paid my price since then with banner after banner of no luck....but I hope I have paid my dues so please....bless me in first ten pulls AMEN!! 🙏🙏🙏"

[thisisarcanereverie]

Who is a better companion in battle? Cause I'm about to reach the five star box and I can get either the foreseer companion or the abysswalker companion and I'm not sure which is better in battle?

[thisisarcanereverie]

"Dear Infold Gods,

I know I bragged earlier this year when two banners came out and I got the limited time cards in 20 pulls...and I also know that I have paid my price since then with banner after banner of no luck....but I hope I have paid my dues so please....bless me in first ten pulls AMEN!! 🙏🙏🙏"

[thisisarcanereverie]

Handmaids Tale Spoilers

Either Lydia is gonna kill herself or she's gonna end up on the wall either way she's cooked.

[thisisarcanereverie]

Ok not gonna lie team, this whole AI stealing works from fanfiction sites like AO3 and basically EVERTHING AI, has worsened my writers block cause it's like, what's the point if some AI is gonna just steal my work anyway to further its algorithm or database. But I'm feeling the manic urge again to write but that nagging voice is saying "the world where you would've succeeded as an artist no longer exists" is playing on repeat.

[thisisarcanereverie]

*sweats profusely* I got the sylus birthday card in 20 pulls (I'm terrified for what the infold gods have in store for me for my current streak of good luck)

[thisisarcanereverie]

You know what is so weird to me

how William Penn is NOT talked about enough.

For those who don't know, William Penn Jr. was basically a Quaker nepo baby in colonial England who often fought for religious freedom with his Quaker buddies. His dad, William Penn Sr. was rich, so rich that the King of England himself King George ll owed HIM money. Now Penn Jr. was a real thorn in George's side, cause on one hand he openly defied the church of england but at the same time he couldn't execute the son of the man he owed money to. Needless to say George was terrified when Penn Sr. died because he didn't have enough money to pay off his debt so when Penn Jr. came knocking he basically said, "listen I don't have your money, but how about I give you a sizable portion of land in the new world and I will have no control over your land so you and your Quaker buddies can do whatever the hell you want there." and Penn Jr. took it. he gathered his Quaker buddies, his wife and children and went to the new world. He named it Pennsylvania (Penn after his father and Sylvania for woods making the state name meaning Penn's Woods.) and called it "the Holy Expirement" making it the first place to have Religious Freedom.

But if you were to ask me on a deeper level I would tell you...

William Penn was actually one of the few Colonists who didn't actively kill the Native Americans and instead traded with them, and defended their rights.

When William Penn got sick and had to go to England for treatment, he left his wife in charge. His wife governed the state for 14 years by herself and during that time she imposed taxes because until that point Penn didn't want to tax the people he brought with him.

How William Penn ran Pennsylvania basically inspired the founding fathers when they were deciding on how to run the country.

William Penn had an interesting life, but he also had interesting wives. His first wife was around his age, was leader of the female group of quakers, and was the daughter of a lawyer/knight who died in battle a few weeks before she was born and her mother and stepfather were the ones to get her into the Quaker faith. Him and Gulielma Springett had 8 children, only 3 lived through childhood and they didn't marry each other for 5 years. They were married the majority of their lives with her dying at the age of 50 of a lengthy disease. Hannah Callowhill was 25 when her and Penn got married (yeah I can't defend Penn on this one but it's not as bad as it could be so there's that) Hannah not only governed for 14 years in total but when Penns first son tried to discard the will, Hannah won that battle in court.

Overall William Penn is a fucking interesting lad and I do recommend searching him up and investigating further if you're into history.

[thisisarcanereverie]

Getting the Caleb Myth in 20 pulls is crazyyy....

I spent the rest of my diamonds trying to get the second Myth card to no avail and now I'm broke and gotta grind for Sylus's birthday. Has anyone heard any rumors over what that birthday banner is gonna be like?

[thisisarcanereverie]

I'm torn, Rafayel isn't my main but I do actually love his character a lot so I am tempted to participate but I am currently so paranoid about whether or not we're going to get a Caleb Myth any time soon.

Also I keep seeing memes about how Rafayel is just as bad as Caleb and Sylus when it comes to stalking, can anyone explain to me why? was I not paying attention? Sometimes I put the game on auto while I go ahead and do chores or what not so I don't really hear the MC's lines.

[thisisarcanereverie]

Biggest flex is that I got the new Zayne card in 1 wish.

Now I'm hoarding diamonds and seriously contemplating getting the 5 dollar a month thing for the daily diamonds cause I feel like infold isn't going to be so nice to me during next banner.

[thisisarcanereverie]

Update: I got 2 and a half right.... I need Season 3 immediately.

Ok School Spirits Season 2 Spoilers Below!

Yeah I don't believe Janet started that fire. I think she was disoriented and confused just like Maddie was, not really remembering what happened properly and Mr. Martin took advantage of it.

Now in one of the episodes, we get kind of a picture of what Mr. Martin's circumstances were before he died. He had a fiancee, he was fired from the school, and it mentioned vaguely about some experiment or project he wanted to conduct tests and collect data on that he was looked down on as a result. so let me tell you what I think happened.

I think Mr. Martin loved his fiancee, I feel like she has something to do with the fire. but ultimately I think Mr. Martin started the fire because this vaguely spoken about project was about the afterlife. I think he intentionally died in that fire and brought Janet down with him on either on purpose or by happy accident. But I also believe the fiancee died in the fire as well. either way Mr. Martin started the fire, resulting in him and Janet dying, now I do think he cared about Janet. if not being obsessed with her as well, just not in a whole romantic aspect. Janet wasn't even 17, her mind wasn't just moldable, but it was also brilliant. She was the perfect partner in this endeavor. someone he could bounce ideas off of and someone to offer a fresh perspective. I feel like just how Mr. Martin was hiding in the scars, his fiancee is hiding in the scars as well.

ultimately I feel like this show is gonna end with Mr. Martin going to hell, or being trapped in his scar. Mr. Anderson's body is too banged up to return to so he'll take over Mr. Martin's spot as the leader of the group. Maddie is going to return to her body, Wally and Charley are going to move on. Maddie is probably going to be on the verge of life and death and end up in the hospital where she meets her dad, who gives her the courage to keep living. Quinn is going to join the support group, and encourage her band mates to join as well. and that's basically it, I can't decide on the fiancee, since we have no clues as to her personality as a character and if I'm right about her hiding in the scars she's probably going to hell with Mr. Martin.

[thisisarcanereverie]

Ok School Spirits Season 2 Spoilers Below!

Yeah I don't believe Janet started that fire. I think she was disoriented and confused just like Maddie was, not really remembering what happened properly and Mr. Martin took advantage of it.

Now in one of the episodes, we get kind of a picture of what Mr. Martin's circumstances were before he died. He had a fiancee, he was fired from the school, and it mentioned vaguely about some experiment or project he wanted to conduct tests and collect data on that he was looked down on as a result. so let me tell you what I think happened.

I think Mr. Martin loved his fiancee, I feel like she has something to do with the fire. but ultimately I think Mr. Martin started the fire because this vaguely spoken about project was about the afterlife. I think he intentionally died in that fire and brought Janet down with him on either on purpose or by happy accident. But I also believe the fiancee died in the fire as well. either way Mr. Martin started the fire, resulting in him and Janet dying, now I do think he cared about Janet. if not being obsessed with her as well, just not in a whole romantic aspect. Janet wasn't even 17, her mind wasn't just moldable, but it was also brilliant. She was the perfect partner in this endeavor. someone he could bounce ideas off of and someone to offer a fresh perspective. I feel like just how Mr. Martin was hiding in the scars, his fiancee is hiding in the scars as well.

ultimately I feel like this show is gonna end with Mr. Martin going to hell, or being trapped in his scar. Mr. Anderson's body is too banged up to return to so he'll take over Mr. Martin's spot as the leader of the group. Maddie is going to return to her body, Wally and Charley are going to move on. Maddie is probably going to be on the verge of life and death and end up in the hospital where she meets her dad, who gives her the courage to keep living. Quinn is going to join the support group, and encourage her band mates to join as well. and that's basically it, I can't decide on the fiancee, since we have no clues as to her personality as a character and if I'm right about her hiding in the scars she's probably going to hell with Mr. Martin.

[thisisarcanereverie]

Ok, so I finally broke down and joined you freaks (affectionate) and downloaded Love and Deep space (I saw Caleb and Sylus and drooled)

I'm already level 32....

[thisisarcanereverie]

Something I've learned this past Christmas.

I'm the prettiest cousin.

[thisisarcanereverie]

Welcome to Westview

AN: Happy Halloween yall!

Series Masterlist

Mcu Masterlist

Warnings: angst, slight ooc, 1980's au

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The night before went smoothly after that, once you gathered the necessary cleaning supplies you decided that it was too late in the day to actually cook anything, plus traveling and moving in took a lot out of you already so you ordered take out. Nothing too crazy, just a typical pizza from the local pizzeria and a bottle of water to wash it down. In a couple of days you’ll start your job as the replacement History teacher at the school, so until then you’ve got plenty to keep you busy. From shopping for your new home to social calls. 

You woke up to the sunlight beaming directly onto your face, forcing you to wake all too soon for your liking. You silently noted that the third to last step creaked as you descended the stairs, you’ll probably have to pick up a few “how to” manuals from the library in order to fix it. You were about to enter the kitchen when you almost face palmed yourself, right, you didn’t buy any groceries yesterday and even if you had, you didn’t have a kettle or coffee pot. Groaning you trudged your way back upstairs to get dressed to get breakfast, kettle and coffee pot, the first two appliances you’ll buy for the kitchen. 

After pulling on a sweater and pairing it with high waisted jeans and shoes you once again go outside to walk into town.  

The heart of Westview wasn’t at all far from where your little home sat in the cul de sac, and from the few people bustling about, you were not the only early riser this morning. Stores were beginning to open and you find yourself wondering if the Westview Gazette had opened its doors as well. You decide to briefly check as you make your way to the diner for breakfast. 

You quietly enjoyed the peace and relative quiet that the morning brought, the air was cool but slowly warming up and a light breeze occasionally blew. Puddles from the rain yesterday were still there, though smaller now than before. As you pass the main street across from the Gazebo you could already see through the window pane that Loki was already awake and working. You made note of this as you walked into the diner. 

You ordered two teas and a breakfast sandwich to go and promptly made your way to the Westview Gazette. You felt your heart beat a little faster as you approached the door, ‘was this stupid?’ you silently asked yourself though you weren’t sure how it could be. If anyone else had asked you if it was stupid to bring someone tea as a ‘thank you’ you would tell them no…and yet when it applies to you, it seems, you feel insecure in that stance. With a deep breath and a reassuring thought that this, indeed, was not stupid and walked in. 

The bell attached to the door rang as it opened, signaling your arrival. You took it all in, the dark wooden floors and desks, most had typewriters and papers arranged neatly beside, the newsroom itself was not very big but with the way it was arranged you would hardly notice the lack of space. 

“Janet,” you saw Loki come in from what you assume is his personal office, he had yet to look up from the various papers he was flipping through, “I’ve got some appointments today that I need you to cancel and a phone number to acquire while I–” 

“Hello,” You greet as he looked up and saw that you–in fact–were not Janet, “have I come at a bad time?” he stared for a second before clearing his throat, discarding the papers on the desk beside him. 

“No,” he says making his way over, “no not at all, sorry about that I thought you were–” 

“Janet,” you finished his sentence with a small chuckle, “sorry to disappoint.”

“Not at all,” he smiled, “so what brings you here?”

You hand him the to-go cup in your right hand, “I’ve come bearing a ‘thank you’ gift, for not murdering me and scattering my remains.” 

“Anytime,” he takes a sip, “tea?”

“Yeah,” you say suddenly worried that you got the wrong kind, “it’s just plain black tea from the diner, I wasn’t sure if you were a coffee or tea kind of person–if I got it wrong you can toss it out it’s fi–” 

“No no” he says, “it’s fine truly, it would be rude to throw away a gift.” 

“It isn’t if the gifter says so,” you argue. 

“It’s not how I was raised,” he says, taking another sip while glancing at the clock before returning his eyes back to you, “you’re up awfully early.” 

“I needed to get a few errands done,” you explain, taking a sip of your own tea, “after this I plan to check out this ad in the paper advertising this used car for sale, if it’s functional and still up for grabs I’ll head over there to get it today, if not I’ll just head over to the store and get some things I need like pots and pans and alike.” 

“Didn’t you bring those kinds of things with you while moving?”

“Just a skillet that’s been passed down in the family,” you shrug, “really the only things I brought with me were whatever was in the suitcases you helped me with and a few things I had moved here, like my bed and television.” 

“Not the sentimental type then,” he took another sip. Before you could ask what he meant by that, the ringing of the door's bell alerted you that other people were starting to clock in.

“Well I’ll leave you to it,” you said, “again, thank you for the ride yesterday.” you were about to walk out the door when Loki stopped you.

“Yes?” You asked, his expression unreadable until he cleared his throat and a sort of friendly look came onto his face. He grabbed a small card from inside his jacket pocket and handed it to you. 

“If you need another ride somewhere–or just to chat, my number is on the card,” he says before retracting his hand, “anyways, I’ll see you around then.”

“Thanks,” you pocketed the card carefully, “I’ll see you around.” and with that you finally left, sipping what’s left of your tea before tossing it into the closest garbage bin. You can’t contain the smile on your lips as you think to yourself how hopeful this was. Not just one, but two people have already given you their numbers and you already have a social call to make today with a prospective friend. Not even 24 hours in and you’re already leaps and bounds beyond anything you were there. 

‘I’m doing it mom,’ you thought to yourself, ‘I finally found a place where I might belong.’ 

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You ended up eating at one of the benches at the park before you used the payphone to call the number on the ad. 120 for a 1974 hillman avenger, it wasn’t in the best condition, but you needed a car and where else were you going to get one for that price?

You drove home, happy that you finally have a vehicle so that you can finally get some serious shopping done, like all the things you’ll need from the hardware and appliance store as well as groceries. You liked walking, it was calming and provided some exercise, but there was a limit to how many bags you can physically carry. 

You pulled into your driveway and remembered the commitment you made the previous day with your new neighbor, Wanda. You looked at your watch and saw it was around the time that people normally ate lunch. You exited your car and made your way to her house. You remembered her pointing to the house with the red flowers in the front yard and the number 2800 on it. You noted how clean her yard looked and well looked after her small garden was, and as you approached the gateway you saw bits of lavender and rosemary planted there. You brush past it as you knock on her door, you wonder if you should’ve brought something as you hear rustling from behind the door before it opened revealing Wanda. Her curly hair held back in a low ponytail as a red bandana head scarf adorned her head as well, her high waisted jeans paired with a loosely buttoned white shirt. Now that you see her in brighter lighting, you see just how natural she looked, Wanda just naturally beamed beauty. 

“Hi,” you manage to get out, you see her smile subtly at you as she greets you back. 

“Hello there,” Wanda says as she stands in the doorway, leaning slightly against it. 

“Umm,” you clear your throat suddenly, a little nervous, “if your offer to chat still stands, do you want to grab some lunch with me?” you point over to where your car sat, “I just got the car today so I can drive.” You really hope you’re not coming across weird and are reassured as you see Wanda practically beam in excitement. 

“Absolutely,” Wanda beamed, grabbing her coat before closing the door behind her, “where are we headed?” 

“I was hoping you might make a suggestion,” you walked beside her, “I don’t really know where the best place to get lunch is.” 

“Then let’s head to this italian place over on Shepard,” Wanda decides as she rounds the car to the passenger seat, “most people head to Gem’s Diner around this time so it’ll probably be vacant for the most part.” You nodded as you entered the driver's side, almost matching the same energy as Wanda, and as you put your seatbelt on and started the engine, you started what you hoped to be many afternoon lunches with Wanda. 

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You followed Wanda’s directions and soon enough you end up at this Italian restaurant called ‘Ciao Bianchi’, but according to Wanda, everyone just calls it Ciao’s. It’s quaint but lovely, with red walls and the scent of spices in the air. Already you feel your mouth start to salivate at the thought of some freshly made food. You are sat quickly and order just as fast. 

“So,” Wanda starts as the waiter walks away with your meal ticket, her hands placed under her chin, “tell me about yourself, why did you move to Westview?”

“Oh you know,” you say casually, “a new start and a new life, what about you? You said yesterday you moved here a few years ago.”

“Same thing,” She says, sighing deeply, “I wanted a new life, a new start. I wanted to give my boys something I never had.” 

“Which was?”

“A home.” You could tell she didn’t mean to let that slip as she covers her mouth and her eyes widen, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to get so dark there.” 

“Don’t worry about it,” you assured, offering a smile, “so were you in the foster system or did you just move around a lot?”

“Yeah,” she nods, “me and my brother Pietro, we went in the system after our parents died and we didn’t come out until we were of age.” 

“I’m sorry,” you say automatically, “that must’ve been rough.”

“Occasionally,” she smiles sadly, “at least we didn’t get separated.” 

“So,” you say, “tell me about your brother.”

“Twin,” she reveals, “he’s 12 minutes older, my son Tommy looks just like him, even inherited his mischievous nature.” you were gonna pressure her for further details when you saw a sad smile graced her lips, and decided to leave those details for another day. 

“And Tommy, is he also a twin or is your other boy younger?” 

“Twins,” she laughs lightly, “it runs in the family I guess” 

“Does it run in your husband's family as well?” There was a moment of silence after that, almost contemplative before Wanda spoke again. 

“No,” She said before continuing, “Vision was an only child, but when we found out we were having twins he had been ecstatic. I chose Tommy’s name while he chose Billy’s.” the past tense didn’t slip by you, and by the slight desperate look in her eyes you know already without her having to say, “he even had me time him to see how fast he could wrap a diaper on a baby doll. He would read Shakespeare and sing yakety yak to them, he was an amazing father.”

“I’m jealous,” you admit, playing with the napkin on the table, “it seems like he was a good man.”

“He was,” she smiled before clearing her throat as drinks were brought to the table, you both thanked the waiter, “well,” she started again taking a sip of her water, “what about you, what’s your family like?” 

You had hoped to keep the topic on her but you should’ve known better, after all, you were the newcomer. No one in this town knew anything about you, a mystery that you’re sure the more nosier neighbors want every detail of. 

“I didn’t necessarily grow up with a lot of family,” you said as you also took a sip of your drink, “it was just my mom and I for the majority of it, but she was wonderful. She was a nurse,” more or less, “and an amazing cook, she could make a five star meal out of basically nothing.” You see the gears behind Wanda’s eyes work as she also notices the past tense and bittersweet tone in your voice. 

“What about friends?” 

“I was a bit of a loner,” it was kind of the truth, “but I’m hoping that coming to Westview will change that.” 

“It already has,” Wanda smiled, grabbing her glass and raising it, “to new friends.”

“And new beginnings,” you follow suit, clinking the plastic cups together as you and Wanda chuckle softly at the silliness. 

“So how do you feel about sitcoms?” 

[thisisarcanereverie]

Summary: You don't know what is was about Westview that drew you in, made you want to stay. Something about this town made you want to, made you feel like you belong. It could be because of the charming man who ran the local paper, or could it be because your friendly neighbor? And is there more that meets the eye?

Wanda x FEM Reader x Loki 80's AU.

Warnings: Strong language, angst, pining, smut (chapters vary), fluff, 2nd person POV

Authors note: this is a very diverse reader, meaning that anyone presenting feminine can read her, I don't use any descriptions that describe any physical traits other than what the reader is currently wearing. I've kind of very loosely based this off of Once Upon a Time in the sense of how the characters act and the dynamics in the show. I've written a few chapters ahead of time and they will be scheduled to release I hope within either a week or a few days in between but knowing myself there might be times where it is like two weeks.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

[thisisarcanereverie]

Welcome to Westview

A/N: Hey! it's been a while since I've written anything (writers block on top of various other concerns) and with AAA coming out I've been wanting to write another Wanda fic and I've had this idea for a while now. I've actually written 3 chapters in this series in advance so the updates on this should be pretty consistent.

Link to Series Masterlist

Link to Marvel Masterlist

Summary: in 1980's Westview, you move into town and are quickly meet your new neighbors.

Warnings: Slight Cussing, Loki x Reader x Wanda love triangle

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, they are property of Marvel I do however own the banner down below.

‘This is good,” you told yourself, ‘this will be the new start I need.”  

You count the raindrops that glide down the window pane of your seat on the bus, you still have quite a ways to go yet to your destination and your mind refuses to be quiet enough for you to catch a few minutes of rest. You silently cursed yourself for not bringing your book onto the bus with you instead of leaving it snug within your suitcase. So to entertain yourself you’ve been counting the raindrops as Billy Joel plays softly in the background. In between counting and cursing you’ve been giving yourself small pep talks about how this ‘fresh start’ was going to change everything and be everything you hoped–no– everything you needed it to be. 

Westview had to be everything you hoped it would be. 

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The rain was still coming down as the bus arrived at your stop, while annoying, you were just thankful it wasn’t a torrential downpour. The walk from the stop to your new home while unpleasant, at least wasn’t far, you wore sensible shoes for this very reason. You were the only one that filed out along with two other passengers, a regular looking woman with a blonde bob and the other was someone you hadn’t even noticed before. He had been tall, with dark gelled hair and green eyes that adorned a well sculpted face. He had this aura of refinement that didn’t fit someone who had taken a greyhound bus to get off at a stop in a town that no one has even heard of, in New Jersey of all places. Nevertheless you tore your eyes away from this enigma and continued on your small quest to gather your luggage before starting on your journey to your new home. 

You thanked the driver as he handed you your two suitcases, heavy with clothes and other personal belongings that you had taken with you rather than shipped. Your hands gripped the handles tightly as you took a deep breath, ready to face the journey. However before you even stepped five steps away from the stop you felt a tap on your shoulder and turned around. 

“I’m sorry,” it was the refined man from earlier,  “but do you have a ride?” His voice had a nice timber to it that was attached to a subtle english accent. 

“No I don’t,” You said, “but it’s alright, where I’m heading isn’t far from here.” 

“Let me drive you,” he said, pointing to a sleek black car just two steps away, “my car is right there, there should be enough room for your luggage in the back seat.”

“I’ll be alright,” you tried to assure him but he shook his head. 

“My mother raised a gentleman,” he explained, “if I let a lady walk in the freezing rain she would string me up by the hair on my head.”

“We’re strangers,” you start, “how do I know you’re not some murderer?” You see him smile at that and chuckle slightly before pointing towards the shop close to his car. 

“I’m Loki Laufeyson, I run the Westview Gazette,” he reached out his hand toward you, “and I assure you, as someone whose job is to report the news, Westview is a poor place to commit any crime–especially murder. Everyone and their great Aunts cousin will know the second it happens and know exactly who did it in five. Word travels faster in a small town than the speed of light, it sometimes seems.” You shake his hand, which almost engulfed your own, “and now that we’re strangers no more, may I please take your bags to the car and get out of the rain.” 

You hesitate for a minute as you weigh your options, you either walk for 20 minutes in the rain or you take a chance and trust Loki Laufeyson…

Well, to hell with caution. 

“Ok,” you relented, handing off one of the bags to the dark haired man, “I’m going to trust that you’re not going to dismember and scatter my remains throughout rural New Jersey.”

“I’m honored,” he snags the other one as well, a mischievous smile on his lips, “shall we?” Before you could insist on carrying at least one of your two suitcases of luggage he swiftly grabbed both and made his way to the car. Hastily you followed him, opening the door to the backseat so that he could place the luggage inside. Once done you barely register him moving past. He opens the door to the passenger seat and you hopped in, your hand doesn’t get the chance to reach for the handle before he closes the door for you. You guess he wasn’t kidding when he said that he was a gentleman. 

“Where to?” He asks once in the driver's seat, brushing his dark and wet hair back and putting the keys in the ignition. 

“2803 Sherwood Drive,” you replied as the engine of the vehicle roared to life, “it should only be a few minutes from here.”

“That it should,” he said, pulling out of the parking spot, a moment of silence passed before he spoke again, “so what brings you to Westview, it can’t be for sightseeing, not that there’s much to see. Visiting family or friends perhaps?”

“No,” you respond, “nothing like that. I’m actually moving here.” 

“Why would anyone move here?”

“A new start,” you say absently as you watch the storefronts and townspeople with umbrella’s passing by.

“Alone?” 

You look over to your new acquaintance and see a curious expression, “yeah,” you say, offering a smile, “but that’s not a bad thing, sometimes the best start to a new life is one where you start alone.” 

 “You are a curious person.” You hear him remark as he turns the corner, you see his eyes glance over at you momentarily before turning them back on the road. 

“And you ask a lot of questions.” 

“Part of the job I’m afraid,” 

You see your street come into view, “Pull over to the house with the blue flowers in the front,” you unbuckle your seatbelt as he pulls over and turn to him, “Thank you for the ride Mr. Laufeyson.”

“Call me Loki,” He says as you were about to exit you hear him speak, “you never did tell me your name.” 

You smile and introduce yourself before finally exiting the car fully, quickly you grab your two suitcases and close the door before he has the chance to do it for you. You get a few steps in before you hear him again, you turn and see he’s rolled the window down. 

“By the way,” you could barely hear him, the rain getting heavier now, “I like your name.” You smile and wave him goodbye, as he does the same. You turn and walk the rest of the way to the front door where you set one case down the fish the keys from your jacket and then enter. You close the door as you hear Loki driving off, you then lean your back against it as you turn on the lights. 

The home you’ve bought for yourself wasn’t large, two bedrooms, one to serve as your office and the other as a bedroom. It was a little outdated in terms of style, but it had a sunken living room that you couldn’t help but love and exposed brick. The walls were a kind of orange yellow that you were sure were because of cigarette smoke, but once you’ve washed the walls you’ll decide on what color to paint them. White was timeless and versatile but something like a burnt orange or muted brown was calling out to you. You would probably head to the hardware store this weekend and check it out, either way despite the shag carpeting and nicotine stained walls, this home of yours had great bones. For some reason the thought of the renovations and hard work on making this place your own filled you with both dread and anticipation. 

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The movers had arrived not long after you did. You hadn’t brought much from your old home, having sold most of it, just the couch, tv, and a few other necessities like your desk and bedroom set had survived the great purge along with a few photo and record albums. You’ll buy another record player and picture frames at a later date, along with other decorations like vases and end tables and other necessities like pots and pans and basically everything else. You sold enough at a decent enough price to afford to do that without dipping into the money you’ve earned writing freelance. 

It hadn’t taken long to get settled in, maybe two hours at the most with the most difficult part being getting the bed upstairs and into the bedroom. But once that was done the rest went smoothly, you paid the movers for their services and went about making a list of necessities for your new home with the top ones to be bought immediately like cleaners and alike along with purchasing a vehicle of your own. Most immediate errands can be run on foot but the others required a vehicle–specifically–a vehicle with a large trunk. 

You drew back the thin curtains that the place came with and let the sunlight bleed through, the previous storm having passed a little bit ago and as you looked at the sky and assumed that the worst had passed and doubted it would rain again for the rest of the day. So you grabbed your suitcases from the kitchen and made your way upstairs to quickly change into a different outfit, not particularly wanting to wear the still slightly damp clothing you’ve traveled in to run to the store. You changed into a plain shirt with jeans and a jean jacket, you slipped on your shoes from earlier and grabbed your house keys before exiting. 

You no sooner reached the end of your walkway when you heard someone calling out. At first you weren’t sure if it was for you until you saw the mess of light auburn curls attached to a–frankly–beautiful woman. You waited until the woman caught up with you, which wasn’t long. 

“Hello there,” She said, extending her hand, “I’m Wanda, your neighbor, I would’ve come out sooner but you seemed busy and I didn’t want to bother.” 

“Oh,” you shook her hand, “it wouldn’t have been a bother.” 

“Yes it would’ve,” she smiled, “I get how hectic moving can be, I moved to this slice of heaven a few years ago and I’m still rummaging through a few boxes.” She retracts her hand, “anyways you probably have somewhere to be and I’ve got to get back inside before my boys decide to burn down the house, I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood and if you need anything just holler.” Wanda reaches out to you with her other hand which you only just notice holds a scrap of paper with a series of numbers written elegantly in red ink. “This is my number and again, if you need anything like a cup of sugar or just someone to talk to I’ll answer.” 

“Thank you,” you said, carefully tucking the number safely into your jean pocket, “I’ll definitely call, I don’t really know anyone here so I hope we can be friendly.” 

“I hope so too,” she smiles, “well I don’t want to keep you too long, if you have time tomorrow I have the day off so drop by and we can talk.” 

“That sounds good,” you smile, somehow already excited for tomorrow, “I’ll see you then!” 

“See you!” 

And with that you both parted ways, with you glancing back momentarily before continuing on your errand, less than twenty four hours in and you’ve already made some progress in building a new and better life than the one you’ve had before. 

You glance momentarily at your hands and swear that this time it will be different, no one will know here, and news of you will not travel this far. You will have a better life, you swear it.