( "Contains content that may be offensive to anyone with a brain, conscience, or feelings." - Claire )

Michi and the LGBT Support Group.

Michi, after being confronted about her usage of `POOF`, had been told to seek tolerance help at the nearby LGBTQ center. Needless to say, Michi wasn't happy about this. Half of the meeting had been spent eating doughnuts, balancing on two legs of her chair, and trying hard not to laugh when she heard a guy bring up anal sex.

All eyes turned to her though when the subject of hate speech came up.

"Michi, your friend told me you like to say the word `poof`.. I'm not trying to put you on the defensive or anything, I just want you to know what that word means and why it isn't right to use." The man with the faux-hawk said.

"Poof is poof. It's not like I'm calling people *** or anything. Plus, you're guys -- don't be such a poof about it. Men where I'm from don't get all pissy about these things." Michi replied with an annoyed sigh.

Faux-hawk man did not seem pleased with this. The shorter guy to his right began to speak. "The word is offensive."

Michi didn't give him time to continue. "So the fuck what? I call people stupid and retard all the time, but you don't see retards complaining."

The room went quiet.

"Michi, it's very hard to talk to you right now. You need to know that feelings are being hurt because of the words you use." A blonde woman, who looked like someone Michi's mom would call a `cardio bunny` said.

"Yeah? Well my freedoms are being hurt by you pansy ass people. Seriously, I'm 1/3 gay. I should be allowed to say whatever the fuck I want." Michi is quick to add after. "I ain't no poof though."

Those in the circle looked confused. "What do you mean by.. 1/3 gay?"

"My mom's bisexual." Michi began. "So that makes me 1/3 gay since my dad is straight."

"That.. isn't how it works." Said the faux-hawk man.

"Wouldn't that make her 1/4th?" said a woman in a whisper to another.

"Uh.. Yeah it is? Gay people are born that way, right? So it's in their TNA."

"You mean DNA."

"What-the-fuck-ever. Look, people are born gay so I'm 1/3 gay, deal with it. It's not like I said ****** or something."

If Michi was a smart person and felt the room -- she'd know it was ice cold right now. All eyes seemed to be darting between Michi and the rather muscular looking black man. He had been sitting silent this whole time with his arms crossed.

After some awkward silence, he began to laugh out loud.

* * * * * *

Dear Diary,

I made a friend today. His name is Hunter. I've met tons of manlets in this city, but this guy is around seven feet tall and black.

I bet I get double the street cred now just for knowing him.

He's gay. Said he's into twink-looking white guys. I asked him why and he was all "because white dudes are bitches". I asked if he wanted to go throw rocks at trains with me, but he gave me a weird look. He must suck at throwing rocks. Anyway, I have no clue what a twink is though and Viki doesn't let me use her computer and my phones internet is slow as **** and I'm not waiting 5 minutes for a page to load, so I'm going to text Addie later.

Addie can suck it though, but we're still friends. It's okay for friends to disagree and all that crap.

xoxoxox
Princess Michi

Michi and the Bathtub.

The sound of a key slipping into a lock and a twist of the knob. This was Michi's sign to quickly shut off the television and stand up. She'd grab the pillows she had been resting against and threw them back into place on the couch.

Viki didn't like the couch pillows on the floor, but there weren't any other pillows to rest on the floor with. So, Michi being Michi, had been forced to break the rules. As long as Viki didn't find it? Things should be okay.

Michi sat herself on top of the couch and waited. The sound of keys dropping into the doorside bowl, along with Viki removing her shoes, meant Michi had a few more seconds of being alone in the living room to make sure everything had been perfect.

Crap. One of the pillows were out of line.

Michi leaned to the right and reached out to shove it into place, just in time for Viki to peer over from behind the couch with a most questioning look. Michi spotted this and began to play as if she were stretching. All sprawled out, much like a cat, along with the most fake-yawn she could muster.

All this seemed to do was cause the middle aged Viki to perk an annoyed brow.

"I brought you dinner, go start my bath." she said.

Michi sat up quick. Though in doing so caused the pillow she had been trying to fix to fall over. Good thing Viki turned to enter the kitchen, as Michi scrambled to fix it once more.

"Okay!" Michi exclaimed. Not happily, mind you.

The blue haired girl was on her feet without time to spare. Socks padded across wooden floor to carry her down the hall. She did peek into the kitchen to see what Viki got her while on her way, but wasn't able to see anything.

Viki didn't have much food. She usually dropped some bills on Michi and told her to buy things, but much of the food had been depleted some days ago. This meant Michi hadn't eaten today, while Viki got most of her eating done at the university she worked at. So, needless to say, Michi was hungry.

Michi's stomach growled as she sat there at tub side. The warm water filling the bath. Not too warm though, Viki didn't like that. She'd test the water with a few fingers. Still a little cold at first, then a little too hot. She'd shake off her fingers. Viki wouldn't be entering the bath for a few, so she'd keep it a little more hot; just so she wouldn't complain that it cooled too much while she waited.

Next? Bath salts. Michi took the container and unscrewed it, though being clumsy at times had her doing something not-so-good in this situation. That something being dropping the whole jar into the water with a water splashing ka-thump.

Michi's stomach dropped at that.

"****, ****, crap.." Michi's tone was hushed, as if to make sure her mistake and swearing wouldn't be overheard.

Sadly, the squeaking door of the bathroom door opening hadn't been heard due to her panic, so Michi jumped with fright when she heard a voice behind her say...

".. You did it again, didn't you? Do you know how expensive that is?"

Michi didn't even want to turn around. Her shoulders were up and her head ducked low. She had been caught between a rock and a hard place right now.

You'll become a strong warrior one day, just like your father and I. Her mother had told her.

Well, this would-be warrior now stood rather scared and unable to face the fear that was behind her. She couldn't get away from it though, so she had to face her fear soon enough.

When she did turn? That came with the feeling of an open palm striking against her right cheek. Her eyes had kept closed, as she knew it had been coming, but that didn't stop the stinging pain that erupted throughout her body.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Michi said rapidly, though the second slap quieted her attempts at seeking forgiveness. She stumbled some from the force behind it, as Viki had been taller and a little bigger than her. Sock covered feet and slick bathroom floor didn't mix -- all things that spelled disaster for Michi as she fell into the tub with a giant splash.

"I'm sorry.." Is all she could say while arms instinctively held themselves before her face.

"Get out." Is all Viki would say after a minute of silence passed.

Michi started to lift from the water, but a hand shoved her back down for another splash.

"I said `get out`."

Michi rose again. Her form trembling as she tried to stand once more. This time she rose fully without meeting with Viki's wrath.

"Take off your pants, I don't want you tracking water through my apartment."

"R.. Right.." Michi said. Her hands, shaking as they were, worked to unhook her belt and allow soaked jeans to meet the floor. Michi stepped out from them, wearing nothing more than her tank top and underwear now.

"The socks too." Viki said.

Michi almost forgot about them, but hurried to peel them from her feet before escaping with a hurry through the door -- a door which Viki grabbed and slammed behind the retreating Michi.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid.." Michi slammed palm against the side of her head. Thirty minutes had already passed since the little event in the bathroom. Michi, still pacing within the kitchen, had finally calmed herself to the point where she could sit down at the table.

Food had already been on a plate, though not unwrapped. It was from the taco place Michi liked. Hunger was an issue, but she wondered if she should even try eating? What if that would piss Viki off even more, after everything that had already happened?

She was a princess of Adenna. Or that's what her mother and the others on the islands told her. She wasn't supposed to live this way. Back at home, before the funeral, she had a proud mother. She had a life where she played and had fun on the isle of the guardians, or pulled pranks on the old crones and the other villagers. But here? This was far too different. Here she had to watch what she said, or else she'd be hit. She'd have to make sure she would do as she was told, or she'd be hit.

Viki took her in when she had nowhere else to go. It's not like she could say no to her. No one else seemed to want her, so she had to take what she had. She never held a job, she never lived a life that wasn't any more than peaceful days on the beach. But here? Things were harder. This whole city was hard.

Hunger finally took the better of Michi and she sat down and began to eat in a hurry. The burrito shoved within her mouth even as she chewed the last bite she taken. Viki was a quiet woman, and it was why Michi jolted when she felt those hands fall upon her shoulders.

"Michi."

Michi knew that voice. Viki was expecting something from her. Expecting that. Her whole body tensed as she felt the woman's hand take hold of her top and begin to peel it from her form. The brush of lips against her now bare shoulder brought a pained grimace over Michi's face.

I want to go home..

Michi and the Letter

Her night out in the cold had come to an end sometime around 5 AM. Viki, unapologetically (which needed to be added), had unlocked the door and slid it open enough to startle Michi awake.

The mix matched blanket made make-shift bed had been Michi's target for the rest of the morning. She huddled within the confines of those multiple blankets until she warmed up enough to do something more.

First on the list? She made sure to do the dishes and finish the laundry. She didn't want to risk Viki returning home again and getting angry.

After that? She ventured down to the lobby of the apartment building.

She felt lucky to take the elevator, as it was out of order the night before, maybe that was a little spark of good luck she needed! Things were looking up!

I'm not a poof by doing this.. Michi thought to herself.

She totally wasn't a poof! This was normal, right? She wanted to make a new friend. Well, do would be friends call each other hot? Michi once said Addie looked nice in her outfit during some Mad Hatter party, but was quick to back it up with `But I'm not a poof or nothin'..`

She had written it in the letter at least once. Maybe that one time was all she needed to get the point across?

The more she thought about it, the more she realized she was reminiscing about the target of her letter; which had been Yasmin. The way she danced and lip synched on the stage, the outfit she wore, everything just seemed to connect so well with Michi that it drew her right in -- like a moth to a flame.

She shook her head then. Shake, shake, shake. Shake out those thoughts! She wanted to just meet her. She knew the woman did a radio show -- exactly, that's it! It was a good way to get Trash some attention on the public airwaves.

"Michi, you're a genius." She said to herself with a happy nod of her head.

Outside of the building she'd go. The mail drop-box had been only a block away, so she got there without much delay. Michi made sure to zig-zag about different puddles; it was like a game of the floor is lava!

It had rained during the night... and yes, Michi sadly had to huddle outside on the porch throughout it, but that was last night! She was trying to be happy and hopeful. Things were looking up. After all -- the elevator worked! Maybe she'll have a string of good luck today.

Michi looked down to the bulky envelope she held as she stopped in front of the mail box. A deep breath taken, held, and finally released only after she dropped the envelope into the box.

"Right," She told herself with a nod. "Today is going to be a good day!"

Michi turned around...

right as a car sped by.

A splash of dirty water met her head on.