tabularasa_rp | [open] a comfort of frailties in me

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[open] a comfort of frailties in me

Who: Rinoa Heartilly + you?
What: catch-all for August!
Where: different places around the Void
When: during August, or the equivalent thereof
Content Warnings: n/a! will update if anything comes up

I ☆ Merlaut Apartments

[ Having spent as much time out near Mortis Lake as she has, it's no surprise that Rinoa is quick to recognize the different silhouette of the cliffs when it appears, the apartment building standing tall against the sky with its many, gleaming windows reflecting the light. At first, she thinks it's probably a hotel, but closer inspection leaves her sighing in relief. Without the fees that a hotel would incur, she can probably set up some kind of home base here. It's not like she needs somewhere to sleep, exactly - that need seems to have disappeared along with all her loved ones when she came to this place. But having somewhere she can at least rest between explorations or whatever else she's doing here? It's good.

It seems she's not the only one with that idea, either. She sees many of the others, friends and strangers alike, flitting through hallways and between rooms.

Rinoa chooses a room on the third floor and opens the door to the worst mess she's ever seen in her life. (And she's been in Seifer's dorm room.) It's with a sigh, and then a smile, that she gathers the creature at her feet into her arms, laughing when it delivers a gentle headbutt to her nose. ]

This is gonna take lots of work, Felix. Are you up for it?

[ Of course, the four-legged, feathered creature isn't likely to be a whole lot of help, but it's nice to feel like she has a partner again. ]

II ☆ Wall Market

[ Even plunged into darkness, this place feels like the seedy side of Deling City, and Rinoa doesn't think she's particularly fond of it. Weirder still, it's tucked into a cave in the depths of the mountain, a cave that she's pretty sure she wasn't there when she first came through the place. It's strange, how this world just seems happy to rearrange itself at a whim, dropping in new places and creatures for them to find. And really, this new place seems like there could be a lot of different things to it. It's just that most of the buildings are empty and those that aren't are hard to maneuver through when the dark of the cave presses in.

She's been in here for a little while now but it seems her eyes can't adjust any further, and she's still not able to see clearly enough to make out the finer details. What she wouldn't do to be able to cast Fire...

Something catches her eye, and Rinoa turns to see... a Moomba? No, not a Moomba. But something very similar. It has a Moomba's overall build, its large paws, and it stands on two legs as it watches her. But the end of its tail looks more like a brush than a flame, even appearing to have paint at its tip.

If there's anyone around, she'll look at them now with a small frown. ]

They're kind of like something from my home.

III ☆ Wildcard

[ This is basically Rinoa's catch-all post for August! She was a little quiet her first couple of weeks here on account of me being busy, although in-character she probably spent at least some of her time waiting around and hoping Squall showed up. Two weeks in, she's realizing that she's gonna need to relearn some of her independence from her friends and loved ones, and just have faith that he'll come to find her when he can.

She'll be spending the month trying to make her new little apartment look nice and otherwise exploring the island with Felix, so feel free to hit her with anything at all, prompt-wise! You can reach me via PM here, or at denouements if you wanna hash it out first, or you can just throw it at me! ]

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[She'd pushed a little, but Parsee was also finding herself more inclined than normally she'd be. People here were ... curious about her. All of them. It was weird. She wasn't sure how she felt about it.]

I am, yes. There were never many of us. Only really big bridges, only if someone performed the ceremony at the bridge, and they had to ask a kami in an old shrine to find out how. We don't share the trick.

[Being jealous of each other, they didn't want more competition.]

They forget about us and we get bored. Then we get jealous of all their happy, stupid lives as they cross their bridge, and eventually? Bad things happen. Right about the time we decide to share the envy or someone sets us off.

But it got to be a problem after a while, and all of us youkai went underground. Nobody remembered us or believed, and it was hazardous for both sides. Funny though. [She snorted.] Youkai are just as good at ignoring me as humans.

[ She nods as she listens, expression serious. It's a lot of information, but it's interesting, hearing about worlds and systems and rituals that are so different from her own. Perhaps it's a good reminder, too, to pay more attention to the little things around her. But honestly... the way that Parsee describes it? It sounds sad. Rinoa's hands fall to her hips, a little frown on her face. ]

I'm sorry.

[ It's a strange thing to say, maybe, for something Rinoa has had no say in, no control over, but it still somehow feels like the right thing to say. It's humans that caused a lot of the problems after all, and while she may not be exactly human herself anymore, it's still a weight she feels belongs to her somehow. ]

I know it's weird being without our, you know, our powers and stuff. But isn't it kind of nice, Parsee? Being here and not having to worry about any of that stuff?

[It both was actually rather tragic in the distant past and in how poorly she managed to associate with others. She never really did a good job compartmentalizing the envy, but others didn't help. Yuugi was... well, she was helpful because she was arguably more stubborn than a rock, and didn't care what Parsee was. Didn't care about anything. Just did what she wanted. It helped break that monotony.

At the same time? The malaise of her life was also self imposed. It gave her power even if she didn't like admitting that much. It gave her control, as she could just slot people into the assumptions she had about them and feel justified in doing so. None of that, however, worked here.]

Eh. You didn't do it, other than obviously being pretty enough to be jealous of. But that's kind of bog standard with me. I always see how a girl's better looking, naturally. [Shrug.]

It's... simpler. And right now, I think I can handle simpler because I honestly don't need to lose it in a fit of jealousy when there's maybe thirty people in the world. Maybe.

[ Maybe it wasn't her fault, but that tendency is still there, that want to apologize, to try and make her new friend feel better in some way.

Surprise registers on her face when Parsee mentions her looks. She knows she's pretty, of course, but she's also a little surprised that someone with the spirit's blonde hair and bright eyes could be jealous of her for it. She's gorgeous in her own way. Although...

Rinoa raises her brows, something playful in her expression as she leans in close, peering at Parsee through the dimness of the cave. ]

You're really pretty too. But it wouldn't hurt you to smile, you know? [ Maybe it's a silly thing to ask of a literal spirit of jealousy, but... she made Squall Leonhart smile; she can make anyone smile; that's what she thinks. ] You should try, Parsee. Even if it's just a fake one!

[At first, Rinoa was leaning in right into her personal space and saying that she was really pretty too. That set off all kinds of warning sirens in the girl's head and she took a somewhat frantic step back, banging into whatever was right behind her. A breath and then a realization. Right. No... not flirting. She was trying to be "helpful" right? That's what this girl did. She was as bad as Cole like that, only more human about it.

A breath and she calmed a little.]

Uh... don't lean in quite like that too much, k? Fine.. I'll try.

[The result was a creaking, slow progression to a smile with an oh so intense gaze from her eye. It had a sort of plastic expression that kind of matched 'I'm going to stab you're not looking and it's making me so happy' in a yandere comic.

She... was not good at smiling, Rinoa.]

[ To be fair, leaning in in such a way would be a natural part of the flirting process, too. But that's not what she's doing right now, not with Squall still very much on her mind. No, this is just about trying to help Parsee feel better about herself, even if such an endeavor may be almost impossible based on who she is.

A moment later though and... well, she's not sure if she regrets it or not. It's a smile, sure, but it's something like how she imagines Ultimecia would smile. Or something. It's chilling, and the girl struggles not to recoil. Her expression forms unbidden into something of shock, and then she schools it back into something more friendly, something gentle. ]

Well, it needs some work... but that was a good start! Maybe we can practice more?

[Her posture relaxed when Rinoa didn't seem to press. The reaction to the smile didn't net any surprise and Parsee's lips turned down to a normal sort of neutral half frown she wore most days. She began to rest there, hands on the side of a counter as she sighed.]

My jaw's going to ache. I'm better at smirking, you know. But I can try some. I just don't usually have things to smile about is all.

[ She can't help but laugh at that, and that gentle smile becomes in turn something playful and amused. ]

I can't say that that surprises me, you know. But I think you could learn to have a really amazing smile, if you tried! And I don't mind helping you.

[ Being in this place, without the magic that influences Parsee to be who she is... maybe it'll be good for her? Rinoa can't really help but hope. Despite what the spirit said on their first meeting, she really does seem like a nice person, under the layers of grumpiness! ]

[Ngggggh. Not that funny! ok, it was hilarious, but grrr.]

I mean, I'm not that surprised that you're trying to help because of course you are. But do you really want to see me smile that badly?

[She sighed, dragging her fingers though her hair. yeah, this place was probably going to be good for her, but it was a long work in progress.]

[ Rinoa's grin only broadens at the question. ]

Of course I do. I guess you could call it a hobby?

[ A talent, too, but she's not about to tell that to the girl who's jealous of everything. ]

I made the grumpiest guy in the world smile, once. If I can do that, I can teach you to smile too.

So I'm a hobby and a pasttime am I? Great. Good to know. [She gruuuuuunted so hard at that and sighed.]

Wish I could have an attitude like yours.

[Don't worry. She'll find reasons to be jealous anyway. It was natural.]

[ This time, she laughs. ]

Maybe, yeah! But I only choose people who I think can actually do it. It wouldn't be a very good hobby if I failed all the time, right?

[ Maybe someday she'll find the courage to tell Parsee that an attitude like hers isn't always as great as it seems, either... ]

And just what makes you think you're capable of pulling it off with me, I wonder? [she grumped and harumphed a little, raising one eyebrow at Rinoa. Man, she was seriously cocky wasn't she? But trying to convince her to give it up wasn't likely to happen anytime soon. That much was clear either way.]

Fine. I know better than to try and stop you guys by now.

[ Rinoa grins, and nods at Parsee. It may not have been a particularly happy-sounding agreement, but it was an agreement nonetheless. She'll take it! ]

If I've done it before, I can do it again, right?

[ There are no guarantees, of course. That's just how the future is. But if she doesn't try, then there's no chance at all! ]

So... until next time, you should keep working on your smile. Okay?

Sure thing. I'll just keep stretching my face muscles, just for you.

[That smile's even worse than the last, Parsee. Seriously!]

You're as bad as Yuugi sometimes you know that?

[ Okay, so... still a lot of work to do. At least Parsee is smiling of her own accord now, even if it's still incredibly creepy.

But the other's comment pique's Rinoa's curiosity. ]

Who's Yuugi?

She's this Oni. handles the streets near where I live back home. I guess... you'd probably say she's a friend. Most people would assume that. She's a pushy drunk who spends time bugging me and doesn't take no for an answer much. She's not terrible, but she's really stubborn at times.

[That was about all they had in common. She was a boiterous loud drunk who had a lot more in common with Zel than anyone else, but she definitely didn't give up on Parsee.]

[ Should she be insulted, being likened to a drunk? Maybe, but Rinoa can't help but laugh regardless. Stubborn, doesn't take no for an answer... Rinoa might not be a drunk, but otherwise... yeah, she can see why Parsee might liken her to Yuugi.

And it's a good sign, right? If Parsee thinks of the oni as a friend. She grins. ]

Then I guess you and I are gonna be friends, Parsee. You're just gonna have to accept it, okay?

[Hey, at least yuugi was a good sort of drunk, right? Oh well She snorted and gave her a little glare before shrugging and sighing.]

Apparently, I'm stuck with you around yeah. I'm getting used to it gradually.

Good.

[ Rinoa smiles. ]

Anyway, I'm gonna try to get a little closer to the Moomba things. See how similar they are to the ones at home. I'll see you around, okay?

[ Undoubtedly to bully her further, of course. ]

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[open] a comfort of frailties in me

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I've been waiting months to use this demented icon...

my. my heart...

^-^

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bringing this to a wrap!