7 ♣ [TEXT/ACTION FOR GOLDENROD CITY]

[divinitea]

[TEXT]

[Sometime during the day, a short text pops up on the network.]

Tell me about something you miss from home. Something you can't get here.

[Someone isn't having a good day.]

[ACTION]

[Things have been fairly rough for Celes, lately, but she's finally managed to get herself out of the house. It's more for necessity rather than out of desire, however; a horrible discovery early this morning showed her that it was simply impossible for her to remain idle...especially in the face of such a frustrating threat. What was this clearly catastrophe occurrence?

She discovered she's running dangerously low on eyeliner.

So that's why, if you happen to be in the make-up section of the Goldenrod Department store, you'll spot her and her Gothitelle, Victoria, standing in front of a display featuring one of the fancier brands. Celes' face isn't showing much emotion, as usual, but her movements are jerky and her posture is tight. She's frustrated; the day isn't getting any better. She's gone through three testers and none of them are quite right; the fourth one isn't showing promise, either.]

I simply cannot believe they ran out of my favourite brand...none of these ones are quite the same.

[Narrowing her eyes at the thin black line she's drawn on her hand, Celes rubs at it with her finger, pursing her lips as it smudges into her skin.]

Honestly...is this what passes for quality in this place? Pathetic...that saleswoman should be fired.

[Turning around, she lightly tosses the tester back towards the display; it lands neatly back into place with a soft clacking sound, guided into position by her Gothitelle. Looking around the make-up area, Celes rolls her eyes.]

Am I really expected to travel all the way to Celadon City to find it? What nonsense.

[...although...she has heard excellent things about the fashion and shopping in Celadon. Would it be able to compare to Tokyo, though? Hmm...

...well. It's not like she's going to go today, anyway. The thought is...tempting, however; it would likely do her good to get away from this city for a little while.

Food for thought, anyway.

...]

Come, Victoria. Perhaps I'll buy a new perfume.


[OOC: Celes will be wandering throughout the Department Store all day, so you can run into her wherever you like - it doesn't just have to be the make-up section!]

Comments

[diamondo]

[If this had been brought up earlier, Mondo wouldn't have been furious. Celes can't compare her situation to his at all - what he did was an accident and she purposefully had two of their classmates murdered, at least that was his understanding of it. But he's calmed down a lot here and though he does flinch in response to her words, he doesn't leave and actually gives some thought to them.]

...I was really glad when Leon showed up here because I thought "hey, someone who understands what I'm going through". I couldn't really feel the same about you 'cause y'know, Ishimaru.

[He ducks his head, staring down at the panda. It's an effective way to hide his face with his pompadour and something he's far too used to doing.]

I'll never feel at peace with that. I know eventually I'll have to go home and go through it and there's nothing I can do, but every little bit here helps. For every day I don't blow up when something would've pissed me off back then and for every time I can laugh a remark off instead of getting mad... it's a big help.

For me, it really helps have Fujisaki here. It keeps me on my toes, so I don't slip up.

[He pauses, evaluates his words, and then immediately attempts to explain better, looking a bit panicked.]

Ah-- shit, that's... I don't mean it like I've gotta be good for Fujisaki. I mean, I do, but it's not something I feel I'm obligated to do? It's something I want to do. I want to become a better person, no matter what that takes and no matter how long it takes. So I'll do everything I feel like I can do to make that happen.

[...]

Shit, that was a lot, sorry. I don't really talk about this, in case that wasn't already obvious.

[divinitea]

...it's fine. I was the one who brought it up unexpectedly.

[Celes is silent for a moment, staring down at an eyeshadow display but clearly not seeing it; to have the genuine desire to improve himself, even though he knows it will all be pointless in the end...

...she didn't think that such pure selflessness was possible, particularly not from Mondo. Is it Fujisaki's presence that is powering this? Or is it something else...

...]

Such thinking...I'm not sure whether to call it insipid or admirable. Before, I would have easily leaned toward the former, but now...

[...]

...perhaps change is indeed possible, even under our...unique circumstances.

[It's now that Celes wonders if anyone has told him the truth about her...about 'Celestia', and everything she did in that school...]

At least, I would like to believe that.

[diamondo]

[It's surprising that she doesn't call it insipid and even more surprising that she's willing to acknowledge it as a possibility. For the longest time Mondo has refused to even consider that there's more to Celes than what little he's seen of her, but she's just like the rest of them. She's a person too, no matter the reason for what she did.]

Yeah. It's definitely possible. I'm sure of it.

[He grins, though this time there's nothing awkward about it.]

I'm glad to be here, to get some distance from everything that happened - or will happen - there. It's really nice to be able to sort myself out. It's really nice to get to see more of everyone else as well.

[...Even you, if today's any indication.]

[divinitea]

...that's an interesting way to think of it.

[Because really, there are two ways to see this, aren't there? Either as a mere delay of the inevitable, which is her view, and as a second chance to do what cannot be done back home, anymore...

...such disgusting optimism...and yet...]

...you really do see this as a positive opportunity, don't you? This...entire experience. How...

[...]

...I never thought I would say this, but I wish I could think as you do. My goals...they are things I could never achieve here.

[...but Mondo isn't talking about any overarching goals, is he? He's talking about...improving himself, becoming the person he wants to be...

...

...if only she knew who that was, when it came to her.]

As for myself...

[...]

...no. You're...not the person I should be discussing this with.

I don't think you would understand.

[diamondo]

Of course it's a positive opportunity.

[He used to see it as only delaying the inevitable. He was so scared of returning home that he couldn't focus on anything here. He was mad so often and when he wasn't mad, he was horribly depressed. It was a really bad time, but eventually something changed. He's not sure he can point to one specific thing happening, but things started to get better. He's doing well now, so of course he can look at this as a positive experience.]

...Well, even if I can't understand, maybe someone else will. Personally, I found it was better to actually talk this shit out.

[He pauses for a moment, then rubs the back of his head.]

I mean, even this conversation's helped, so... But I dunno, it might just be my way of doing things.

[Celes' words don't bother him any because he's never understood her. He's not expecting miracles here.]

[divinitea]

Your optimism is endearing, if not overly useful.

[Talk about things, is it...who exactly would she be able to talk about all this with, though? The only one who really springs to mind is Kirigiri, but that option is...unappealing...

...]

As it stands, however...I am pleased to hear that you've managed to get some sort of closure, Oowada-kun, if only to spite the 'Mastermind'. Being able to claw your way out of despair is admirable.

Perhaps I will not give up hope just yet.

[Another one of her usual lies, or an rare truth? Who knows....]

[diamondo]

Good, you shouldn't.

[It could easily be a lie, but he's just going to pretend it's the truth and roll with it. Maybe if he pretends hard enough, Celes will give in and give it a try!!

...His hopes aren't high here.]

We're here and the Mastermind's not, so we might as well make the most of it.