Ellen Shirley's tasty pastry Hamper RAFFLE

[k!ah]

The smell of freshly cooked cinnamon buns filled the air, Ellen's frail hands making quick work as she wrapped the rolls in packs of three, humming a song that Arabella used to sing when she danced around the kitchen, filling a silence that danced around the edges, eager to consume Ellen and send her spiralling. If Ellen listen carefully enough, she could still hear the sound of Bella's voice, the way it got higher and higher as her excitement filled her, as she jumped onto the kitchen bench, singing at the top of her lungs. Ellen would have scolded her for being so reckless, trailing dirt onto her work bench. But these days she would have given anything to have the girl here beside her, chirping on about some story that she read, or causing a ruckus, moving around their small kitchen without a care in the world.

The thought causes a lump of emotion to rise in her throat, and she pauses for a moment, gathering herself. Cinnamon buns were Bella's favourite, and it took Ellen a good year before she could bring herself to cook the sweet bread once again, the smell triggering a tidal wave of emotions that would cause her to lose control of her emotions, send her spiralling in a pile of tears and ragged gasps as the pain of losing her only child consumed her. Taking a deep breath, she places two packets into a basket, before grabbing a few of the cookies she had baked earlier, arranging them around the buns. She fills the baskets with a few more fruit flavour sweet rolls, before finishing off with a jar of freshly made jam in each.

Three hampers, each filled with baked goods and freshly made jam are then wrapped in some plastic, a bright ribbon carefully tied around the top to secure the contents in place. They weren't a lot, but they were something. Since Bella's passing, Ellen had made it her mission in life to help those who were less fortunate than herself. Her and Matthew were lucky, their farms were flourishing, and Ellens small bakery at the edge of the district was growing each day.

Pulling out the raffle tickets from her pocket, her lips pull back into a wide smile, they had given her a small booth at the edge of the fair, just enough to display the hampers, which was more than what she needed. Beaming she calls into the buzzing street, "take a ticket and be in the draw to win one of three hampers!" She was sure that if Bella had of been here, just her energy alone would have brought people flocking.

---

OOC

Tickets are free, and a received by posting!

1 post = 1 ticket

At the end of the week, I will allocate you a number and roll a dice and the three winners will get one of the home made hampers!!

[10th retro gm | paxton hayes]

Sawyer

District ten is a lot different than home, and Sawyer isn't sure what to really think. Buildings and alleyways are replaced with farms, ranches, and a lot of livestock. In fact, the only reason Sawyer even came was to District Ten was for a chance to escape from District Nine. He wanted to see more of Panem, and this gave him the chance to.

He's like a kid running through a candy store. There's so much to see, and Sawyer wants to see it all, yet he tries his best to act as though he's calm. Staying in the shadows is important because he doesn't do well in the spotlight. Stepping out of his comfort zone is only needed when his sister asks him too.

So many baked goods cover the streets, and the fresh scent of bread makes his mouth water. He looks at the many pastries before him, and then he places his hand in his pocket knowing he'll never be able to afford them. His sister probably would've suggested stealing something, but stealing something in another district just doesn't interest him.

That's when he hears someone shouting to take a ticket. A raffle ticket is his only hope, and while it's not guaranteed he'll win anything, Sawyer knows anything is possible. He runs past the other stands and finds himself face to face with the lady holding the raffle tickets. "I'll take one." He says as calm and politely as he can. "Thank you."

[[ retro gm ] angel lí ✨]

ludo izar-krane;

I really should be more patient with Dad, but somewhere I just got so angry y'know? And for no particular reason, he's been amazing these past few years. Half the time I'm not even mad at him, I'm just mad and he happens to be there. Katelyn's been driving me insane, the only thing Dad and I seem to be on the same page about is that her attitude has got to go. I'm hardly any better but I've got two years on her, a little more wisdom, and in a way I've kind of always been her Mom.

Guess I'm just tired of acting like a parent now that we actually have one.

I'm getting taller by the day, almost as tall as Dad, and my bones ache from the growing pains. We're fed enough to keep our stomachs from grumbling but I'm always left feeling dissatisfied. Half the time I make extras just to pile on my plate, meals disappear as fast as I can create them. Kirito's herbal lessons have paid off and I've got a little garden going on near the back porch - the only problem trying to stop Abuelo from pissing in the plant pots when he's drunk - so our food at least has flavour. But my body is never satisfied, always wound up tightly, always craving more.

It's tiring work being fifteen, I'll tell ya that, so I catch wind of the sweetest things I ever did smell and let my tastebuds lead me away from my previous destination. Food is a luxury in Eleven, Dad's always reminding us we used to be orphans with nothing but baked goods and scraps, but here in Ten it seems bountiful. Free food - now that's something I'll never take for granted.

"Me too," I follow a kid who looks like a poster boy for Ten and take a ticket. "What's in the hampers?" I ask, genuinely curious and a little homesick for Persimmon goods.

[djed carnelian . d8m [kap]]

Jackson Bellami

Jackson and his family really didn't have a whole lot. His sister Leah had been saving money for years so that she could treat herself someday, and then didn't quite have enough money to bid for what she wanted in the horse auction. She told Jackson that she could use that money for something else more important instead, since she didn't get the horse, but he insisted that she keep it for herself.

She'd earned it, after all.

Young Jackson Bellami had been working odd jobs on top of his work at the family farm. Even with Cara working as a veterinarian, not a lot of extra cash is to be found in the Bellami household, so they have to be sparing with all of it.

So, when the opportunity to potentially win a basket of food (even if it wasn't healthy food, per say) came along, Jackson knew he had to at least give it a shot. It could really help them get by for even just another week before Jackson started having to pick up more outside jobs that weren't just on the family farm.

He follow suit as to what the two people before him did, and politely requested a ticket.

"I'll take a ticket, please." He said this in an appreciative tone with a gentle smile upon his lips. He was an understanding individual, so if he didn't win, he'd be okay with that, although it would be a bit disappointing.

He hoped for the best.

[ines izar d11a 🖤 cait]

INES

A girl can get lost in a place as big as District Ten.

I don’t have the greatest sense of direction at the best of times – I can thank my orphanage upbringing for that, for never having the chance to roam further than the four walls of my shared room. Reality tells me that Ten and Eleven are probably similar in size, but the Fair makes everything seem bigger and brighter and larger than the life I’m used to.

I like having the freedom to explore. It’s a refreshing change of pace. Amongst the bustling crowds and sounds of the Fair, I feel more alive than I can ever remember. New memories wash over me, and I try desperately to hold onto each one, already anticipating returning home to a cold bed where I’ve been struggling to make my own. I think these moments will make the nights more bearable when I get back to Eleven.

A delicious scent drifts along the wind and I lick my lips instinctively as I latch onto the sensory overload. A small, humble bakery stall is set up at the edge of the Fair, where I can see three generously sized baskets filled with goodies. I hear my stomach rumble as the smell of cinnamon hits me again, as good a sign as any that I should go and investigate.

As I approach, a kind-looking woman handing out small pieces of paper comes into my view. Her voice is soft yet firm as it rises over the noise all around me, announcing a raffle for her baked goods. I approach the stand timidly, eyes wide and excited.

“I know tickets are free, but…” I fumble desperately with the pocket of my dress, self-conscious and acutely aware I’m probably holding up people behind me, which thankfully spurs me on to search harder. Finally, I find what I’m looking for: a small gold coin. It’s not much, but I know the lady won’t mind. It’s the thought that counts, after all – that’s what I’ve always grown up being told.

“I wasn’t planning on buying anything else. I’d love it if you would let me repay your kindness?”

[lyss]

ash owens

Ash Owens had never been able to leave her mother's sight before. Being able to do so in another district was the icing on the cake. When her older brothers volunteered to be the guardians for her and her youngest brother, Bay, Ash knew she didn't have to think twice before saying yes. She hadn't even looked at the event list before leaving, as she was just glad to have time away from home to be herself.

Ash had signed up for the hay bale toss and the knife throwing contest, thinking they would be the best events to showcase and test her skills. These events were happening toward the tail end of the fair, meaning that she had a lot of free time on her hands. As she explored the fairgrounds, she couldn't help but be tempted by all of the delicacies being sold. She could barely afford enough meals to last the week, so she knew she couldn't spend any spare change on desserts, despite her insatiable sweet tooth.

Just as Ash was about to quit torturing herself and head back to her cabin, she noticed a small booth filled with sweets at the edge of the grounds. A woman who looked just as sweet as her treats was stationed at the booth, and it looked like she was offering raffle tickets. People started to flock to the booth, and Ash's curiosity made her follow suit. A line quickly formed in front of the woman, and Ash could hear one person after the next ask for a ticket. She had no idea what the raffle was for, but everything lined up at the booth made her mouth water. Ash tried to silence the gurgling of her stomach as she approached the woman.

"I'll take one, please," she said with a nervous smile, hoping she hid her desperation well enough.

[k!ah]

"I'll take one," Ellen turns with a warm smile on her lips, handing a ticket to the boy who thanked her. He was a hungry looking boy and Ellen found herself wanting to just hand the basket to him straight away, to help fill a belly that if she listened carefully enough might even have grumbled. But she knew that she couldn't just hand the baskets out to every hungry child that came her way, if she gave to one, she would have to give to all and she didn't have nearly enough to feed all the hungry mouths that walked past her. Even if it killed a piece of her to hand him nothing but a ticket with the chance at taking home dinner.

"Me too!" Another voice cuts through her thoughts, and she her eyes drift to a girl who looked slightly familiar. Ellen wasn't quite sure where she had seen her face, but when she looked at the girl she knew that she was from home. Ellen gives her a kind smile handing the boy and the young girl a ticket each. "Good luck, my dears," she says, handing him a ticket, "I'll be drawing a number shortly, don't go too far.

Each basket has half a dozen cinnamon buns, a favourite of my daughter- was a favourite- different flavoured cookies- my favourite macadamia- and some of my freshly made jam." She had been making jam for most of her life, using the fresh fruit from the orchards, todays was raspberry.

"I'll take a ticket, please." Another boy requests, smiling at Ellen slightly. Ellen returns the smile, her growing until it crinkles the wrinkles at the corner of her eyes, "of course, my dear." She hands him a ticket, squeezing his shoulder in luck. As she turned away she could not help but wish she had made a few more hampers, disappointed that in the end she would have to let a couple of these kids down.

After a moment another girl approaches, eyes wide with excitement she looked at Ellen shyly, “I know tickets are free, but…" she starts as she reaches into her pocket, pulling out a small gold coin. Ellens eyes dart from the girls face to the coin she held out with a slightly trembling hand and her heart felt so full. Instantly she moved to close the girls hand around the coin, refusing to take the girls money. “I wasn’t planning on buying anything else. I’d love it if you would let me repay your kindness?” The words move her, and she pushed down the tears that welled in the corner of her eyes- god damn, these days she was quite the sook, her emotions so easily stirred since losing Bella.

Sighing, she takes the coin in exchange for a ticket, "you are very kind," she says, tucking the coin into her pocket next to the picture of her Bella. "What is your name? You are from eleven, yes?" Another girl comes up from behind the kind girl, and Ellen hands her a ticket wishing her luck as she let her know that the raffle would be drawn shortly. "You should come by my bakery when you are back home. It's only small, and I couldn't pay a lot, but I could use a hand if you are up for a little extra cash and fresh baked goods." She tilts her head to the side slightly, "or just for a fresh pastry, on the house."

Brushing past her, her gives the girls arm a gentle squeeze, "I'm gonna do the draw now, good luck, hun."

---

OOC

1.  Sawyer (ems)
2. ludo (zoe)
3. Jackson (kaplan)
4. Ines (Cait)
5. ash (Lyss)

HAMPER 1:
bV0IoCZnST1-5
Ines ines izar d11a 🖤 cait

1.  Sawyer (ems)
2. ludo (zoe)
3. Jackson (kaplan)
4. ash (lyss)

HAMPER 2
1-4
Jackson djed carnelian . d8m [kap]

1.  Sawyer (ems)
2. ludo (zoe)
3. ash (lyss)

HAMPER 3
1-3
Sawyer 10th retro gm | paxton hayes

1-5·1-4·1-3

[ines izar d11a 🖤 cait]

INES

I don’t realise my hand is shaking until the woman behind the counter encompasses mine within her own. She doesn’t seem to know what to do, and for a moment I’m scared she’s going to reject my offer, and oh wow how embarrassing that would be for me. I know I’ve not long been adopted but I guess the look of poverty is difficult to erase completely.

Thankfully, she finally accepts the coin with a genuine smile and shimmering eyes. I realise a moment later they’re unshed tears threatening to spill over. It makes me want to hug the sadness right out of her.

If only Nekane were as kind-hearted as her.

No, that’s not fair. Nekane is kind. She adopted me, after all. I think underneath her hurt and toughness she’s a good person. She’s just not a big talker, and that’s okay. I’ve just barely given her a chance to show me who she truly is. Can be. I make a mental note to save some pastries for her, if I manage to win the raffle. Building bridges and moving on and all of that.

A soft-spoken voice brings me back to the present, and I remember to tune in just in time to hear what the lady is saying. “You are very kind. What is your name? You are from eleven, yes?”

I smile shyly, nodding my head at her question, yes, Eleven, before realising the full extent of her words.

My name?

She wants to know my name.

Oh.

“Uhh… it’s Ines.” I leave off my last name and hope she doesn’t ask, sending a silent prayer that there’s enough Ines’s back in Eleven that I can get lost in, steal a new name if anyone comes looking for me. I hope she isn’t the sleuthing type, but she doesn’t seem like someone to go digging around in other people’s business.

But more than anything, I hope Nekane doesn’t find out that I’m no longer a stranger. Even if it is just to one person.

“You should come by my bakery when you are back home.” And it’s probably a bad idea, given what’s happened already in such a short amount of time, but I feel myself nodding again of my own accord, my smile growing with it.

I’ve never had many friends – I’m too shy, too afraid of rejection and making an idiot of myself. Nekane’s still working on enrolling me into a school program, now that I’m no longer being homeschooled at the Orphanage. So I haven’t made many new friends since being adopted. The ones I used to have might as well be strangers now. I know it’s my own fault – I haven’t been back to visit, but that’s the thing about adoption. Once you’re free, you’re free. Orphanages aren’t really places that allow visiting hours.

Most people just never return.

So the lady’s offer is too good to refuse, when I’m just a girl starved of company. Her comment of money doesn’t even reach my ears – it falls somewhere on the ground in front of me, and I don’t bother to pick it up.

“I’d really love that.” I hope my eyes convey how much it means to me, to just be noticed.

I feel a presence approach behind me and take a few steps back, finally, to let more people approach the stand and grab their tickets. I look down at my own – #04. After a few minutes, the baker begins to reach into a small bag and pull out the first ticket.

“Number 4!”

I can’t help but raise my eyebrows slightly – call me a skeptic, but these things don’t happen to me. Luck has never been on my side, but the last month it seems to have followed me around. It’s only a matter of time before it decides to run out.

I guess you can call me a pessimist, too.

Regardless, I walk slowly back up to the counter, selfishly hoping my good fortune might last a little longer. At least until I’m back home. That would be nice.

“Thank you so much!” I gush, accepting the basket gratefully. Even though it’s small, it’s filled to the brim and I struggle slightly under the weight. I clumsily move back to where I’d been standing before and wait for the other two tickets to be drawn, both of which are claimed by two teenaged boys.

I don’t wait to watch them accept their prizes, though. Instead, I turn to move towards two of the girls who missed out on a prize. “Would you like to share? I can’t possibly eat all of these myself!”