Midna Arvantis - D8

Every so often a Capitol merchant appears at the doorstep of a shop called "Scales." He walks in with expectations and walks out with a suitcase full of fabric and snake skins. That's our set-up; the Arvantis family business. We're the "snake people," as the folks say. It's not a bad thing, we're just a bit quirky and a little more adventurous than your average family. What's most important is the business we got going. Snake skins aren't a common thing in The Capitol, that's what the merchant says. There aren't enough woods around their lands, and all the engineered mutt animals don't have the "natural" skin they're looking for, so they rely on the districts instead.

Good thing we're here.

I was raised into this family business. My daddy and my Pa have been running it since before I was blessed on their doorstep. They taught me all the basics about catching snakes, building traps, skinning, and sewing. Sewing always seemed like such a lady-like thing to do, but they reassured me that most people in the District knew how to sew. It's part of our market. We mass produce clothes and sheets and all that comfy stuff, and we couldn't just live off of snake skins. There just aren't enough snakes in the woods to allow that, even after we breed them. The little "snake farm" we got isn't enough, so I sew the fake stuff. It's not real snake skin but it has the same pattern and colors. If you ever walk into the shop, you'll find me in the corner hunched over my little work station, making all those fabrics. Gloves, scarves, you name it.

I'm not a pushover, so don't expect any discounts. Nice guys don't get perks from the likes of me. My daddy always taught me how to be assertive and strong-willed, because one day I won't be living in our little house on the edge of town. They say one day I'll have my own house, maybe my own family. I could get married and have children. I could do whatever I want, but the point is that one day I'll be independent. I won't need their resources and they won't be needing mine. They prepared me for that life. They said always be polite to strangers that don't give a bad vibe; don't let anyone take charge over me unless it's an authority; be selfish every once in awhile, because there aren't enough selfless people in the world to make it safe. They've always got a mouth full of advice, even if you don't ask for it.

I think part of it is because we're known as an oddball family. Two dads and an adopted daughter hunting and breeding snakes for their skin? Not exactly normal, so people pick on us sometimes. It also doesn't help that I'm not the least bit lady-like. Boys expect me to dress pretty and sit up straight and bat my eyelashes at them. No sir. The only time I dress in a skirt is special occasions. Reapings, birthdays, funerals, parties, and I only own about one dress and two skirts. Three blouses if I count the snakeskin one I made. I'm used to being outside wearing T-shirts and long pants to keep out the mosquitoes, so I just wear those around to stay comfortable. During winter when I keep my hair long, it's usually in a braid or a ponytail. I cut it for the summer season to keep the sweat out of it.

Can't say that I care whether or not people like it. My Pa taught me a very important lesson when I was little: my opinion is the most important. If anyone has a problem with my pride, then they can take it up with me. I'm plenty of bark and bite combined. I wouldn't say I'm tough enough to last in a fight, but I'm not afraid to try.

If I can handle snake bites, I can handle you.

There is a downside to not having as many friends as I want. I like to camp outside the house sometimes just for the heck of it, but it's no fun to do it on my own. When there's fireflies roaming about I want someone there to catch them with me. I've got a few friends here and there who come over to study with me. Can't stay that school is a big priority though. I'm only there because I have to be. I already know what I'm gonna be doing for a living, so getting the best grades isn't my goal. Still, that's my excuse to get people over to the "weird snake farm." Some of them are intrigued. The other ones get creeped out when I show them Ditzy, my pretty angel. She's a little white snake that I couldn't bear to put down, so I keep her in a habitat I made. I've got little traps outside to catch mice for her - alive, of course. Snakes like to hunt.

One fault of mine that I'll admit is my inability to cook a homemade meal. The best I can get done is beef stu with vegetables. My daddy has always been good at preparing a home cooked meals, but Pa could never match up. Neither of them are my real dad but I'm more like Pa in that way. We just watch my daddy and try to wing it ourselves later. He'll try to fry some meat and I'll try to bake dessert. I'm getting better at it, I just need practice. And skills. It's frustrating, but it's one of the ways we bond. I don't have brothers or sisters and I don't know who my biological parents are, so they're the most important people in my life.

Nothing's gonna change that.