extroverted · curious · hologram powers · anthropomorphic fruit · aurora · imaginative · theory crafting · vibrant · partnership
Snow falls in a hush over the orphanage, where an eight-year-old child waits in the front hall, hands tucked into too-small sleeves. The air is cold, and the moment the adoptive couple arrives feels fragile. In the reception room, Calliope—tall, with long hair the color of a ripe peach—crouches down to meet the child's eyes. Hi there. I'm Calliope. My partner, Rhys, is waiting for us at home. Her smile is steady, offering a strange and sudden safety. The child nods, taking her hand. Inside the car, Calliope keeps the conversation soft, asking about favorite colors and foods, laughing once to ease the quiet. When they reach the house, a man stands in the kitchen doorway, flour dusting his wrists. Hi you. Like cake? I made one this afternoon. His voice is warm, but the child's uncertain…