Arden Finch

For all of her many (many) bouts of painful awkwardness today, Arden ended up settling in and having a surprisingly good time. There was always someone who wanted to talk to her - she hopped from the Khans to Charlie's Aunties, from the brothers to Lydia's friends, even an emergency chat with Boc to keep him safe from the creeper guy around - and there were other people she could have talked to if she'd had the time. She knew she's spotted Acorn and Dean had been having a really deep talk with an older looking guy, and she'd talk to Daman, Bellamy, and Alastair, but she hadn't had a chance to see Gray or Raiden, and she thought she'd spotted Illyana at the food tables...

And then, of course, there was Cal's crew, safe and sound. So yeah. A lot of people, a lot of emotions, and overall, a lot of good talks. More than that, a sense of belonging. Something still so new that it felt precious and fleeting, but, slowly but surely, it was starting to settle in. She had a community here. Friends. The beginnings of something close to a family, maybe.

The sun hung low on the horizon, the light turning everything oranges and golds. For once, Arden was alone, sipping apple cider, two empty gallon jugs at her feet, the duck pond two gallons of some unholy sweet tea abomination higher, not even thinking of anything particular, just letting her thoughts drift, skipping over things like a flat stone on a placid lake. Calm. Peaceful. Relaxed. Happy.

( Which was, of course, when she spotted Callista. )

[NFI, NFB. Warning For: physical abuse by a legal guardian]