[The day was average. She was stocking her books, organizing, doing the usual. Not thinking about what she did earlier.
It's been a day.
It's done. You did it. You're waiting judgment.You can't take it back. No matter the anxiety you have. That was when she saw a familiar figure walk in, she saw him this time. It might have something to do with her looking back and forth at the door, half expecting next to all of her nerves. Yet here he was. Here it went. She sat up straight.]
[He sure did do that, not that it calmed her nerves any. This was always so hard for her to do, my god. Her eyes darted to the side, unsure of where he was going. It's not like she's known him for years and years and could pick up his mannerisms like that so easy with confidence.]
Yeah, it might be. It's at least the latest one I didn't feel like throwing away. So...how much does it suck?
[She talks that way as if preparing her walls for something already.]
[Not that he's as well-read as she is, so he doesn't have a lot to compare it to... But what the hell does that matter, anyway?
He turns his head away, always the bashful one when it comes to expressing himself in words rather than actions.]
Even after I read it, I kept thinking about it. It's not like I have the mastery over words that you do, so I can't really pinpoint just what it is it made me feel, but... it did make me feel something. [God, he's getting more embarrassed the more he tries to actually talk about it. ABORT. ABORT.]
[She looked up at him expectantly as he continued talking. It was like he tried to breathe it out in coughs. It came from somewhere and it didn't seem dishonest. Hence the response. It seemed to get to her a bit. Like...so he liked it? He liked it. He liked it.
Someone's not used to this. It wasn't so much self serving, but part of her felt like he wanted to say more. But he was too embarrassed to do so? That made her feel a bit bashful herself really. It looked like a earnest struggle.]
If I were honest, I kind of hoped it would say something. I mean, I kind of have a track record for having what I write be honest and reactionary.
Neither did I, at one point. Of course, I could just start writing more Melody Powers if I feel like I'm getting too sappy.
[Sarcastic honesty, how was THAT? She took another look at the bundle of papers he placed on her desk, her story that she shared that had An Effect. An effect she wished she really did know about to its full extent, but hey...feelings. What Mal was expressing was far more than she could hope from anyone about her writing. It wasn't sappy, it was THERE.]
But, I do honest. It felt the most sincere to me when I wrote it.
Hey, great idea. Have a physical copy to pass to the next pack of feral children so they leave us alone.
[Well, leave him alone. He's still the asshole who dragged Riye into that in the first place. BUT ANYWAY... He leans on the desk, finally looking back at her, examining her face.]
"All of the Kids Get Shipped to Jupiter: A Melody Powers Story". Alrighty.
[She was just going to tuck that story right into her desk all neat and proper.
But once the mention of money came around, now then came something else. She gave a tilt of her head.]
Isn't it obvious? I have an bottomless Koriko debt pit that gets deeper with every coffee and toaster pastry breakfast. If I can write my way out of it, better than retail.
I don't, but it's been the only lifeline I had since coming here. I honestly don't buy most of the stuff around here, but getting by is what I have to do anyway.
[...That sounded. Um. That got really sullen all of the sudden. Enough that she picked up on it real fast. She just had to press a little on it.]
[What the hell else is he going to do, guilt her into staying here? It sounds like she actually has a place to go back to, and he can't begrudge her that.
It's not like he hasn't had to say goodbye before. This time he has plenty of time to accept it in advance.]
But hey, if money works, I don't mind pitching in for both you and Luna.
[She does. She has her college, she had her family, she had Jane. Everything was back home, everything she held dear. But any reflection would tell her that the things that happened here weren't for anything. The pain and the friendships she made have stayed with her against all odds. She could've just went back into old ways and avoided everyone.
That didn't happen.
It didn't happen now either.
She met Mal, Noya, Luna, Chou, Noir...Could she ignore it? No. Not at all.
She made a pause.
Don't act like you're taking any of this for granted. You knew what writing this meant to you other than the damn cash.]
You know, that's not the full reason. A celebratory dinner would have to be in order too.
[This was nice, this was really nice. This kind of support was unlike anything she ever thought she wanted around here. She got it though, from others during this time while she was rattling her brain to try to figure this out.
But Mal seemed to really be into it, so much so that it made her realize where they were about a month ago. Also just how worth it it was. She ran into someone pretty special.]
Well, writing about dragon slaying does have me craving protein.
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It's been a day.
It's done. You did it. You're waiting judgment.You can't take it back. No matter the anxiety you have. That was when she saw a familiar figure walk in, she saw him this time. It might have something to do with her looking back and forth at the door, half expecting next to all of her nerves. Yet here he was. Here it went. She sat up straight.]
Oh, hey.
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Got that thing you sent me. Is this the one you're submitting?
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Yeah, it might be. It's at least the latest one I didn't feel like throwing away. So...how much does it suck?
[She talks that way as if preparing her walls for something already.]
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[Not that he's as well-read as she is, so he doesn't have a lot to compare it to... But what the hell does that matter, anyway?
He turns his head away, always the bashful one when it comes to expressing himself in words rather than actions.]
Even after I read it, I kept thinking about it. It's not like I have the mastery over words that you do, so I can't really pinpoint just what it is it made me feel, but... it did make me feel something. [God, he's getting more embarrassed the more he tries to actually talk about it. ABORT. ABORT.]
So...! Good job.
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[She looked up at him expectantly as he continued talking. It was like he tried to breathe it out in coughs. It came from somewhere and it didn't seem dishonest. Hence the response. It seemed to get to her a bit. Like...so he liked it? He liked it. He liked it.
Someone's not used to this. It wasn't so much self serving, but part of her felt like he wanted to say more. But he was too embarrassed to do so? That made her feel a bit bashful herself really. It looked like a earnest struggle.]
If I were honest, I kind of hoped it would say something. I mean, I kind of have a track record for having what I write be honest and reactionary.
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[IS HE BEING SARCASTIC? Not this time. But who could blame her for thinking it when he phrases it like that?]
But if it's sincere, it's the one you should enter.
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[Sarcastic honesty, how was THAT? She took another look at the bundle of papers he placed on her desk, her story that she shared that had An Effect. An effect she wished she really did know about to its full extent, but hey...feelings. What Mal was expressing was far more than she could hope from anyone about her writing. It wasn't sappy, it was THERE.]
But, I do honest. It felt the most sincere to me when I wrote it.
So, if you really mean that, then...that's good.
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[Well, leave him alone. He's still the asshole who dragged Riye into that in the first place. BUT ANYWAY... He leans on the desk, finally looking back at her, examining her face.]
So what are you going to do with the prize money?
[She said something about leaving...?]
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[She was just going to tuck that story right into her desk all neat and proper.
But once the mention of money came around, now then came something else. She gave a tilt of her head.]
Isn't it obvious? I have an bottomless Koriko debt pit that gets deeper with every coffee and toaster pastry breakfast. If I can write my way out of it, better than retail.
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You really think the Witch'll be satisfied with just money? ...Well, I'm rooting for you. Nobody should be stuck in a place like this.
[...It'll be a little sad to see her go if she does, though. Ha.]
WOW wow WOWW
[...That sounded. Um. That got really sullen all of the sudden. Enough that she picked up on it real fast. She just had to press a little on it.]
Why do you ask, anyway?
B)
[What the hell else is he going to do, guilt her into staying here? It sounds like she actually has a place to go back to, and he can't begrudge her that.
It's not like he hasn't had to say goodbye before. This time he has plenty of time to accept it in advance.]
But hey, if money works, I don't mind pitching in for both you and Luna.
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That didn't happen.
It didn't happen now either.
She met Mal, Noya, Luna, Chou, Noir...Could she ignore it? No. Not at all.
She made a pause.
Don't act like you're taking any of this for granted. You knew what writing this meant to you other than the damn cash.]
You know, that's not the full reason. A celebratory dinner would have to be in order too.
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Well, keep in mind that I haven't gotten anything yet and I guess I could still get rejected. But what are you thinking?
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[You can't go wrong with piles of meat...]
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But Mal seemed to really be into it, so much so that it made her realize where they were about a month ago. Also just how worth it it was. She ran into someone pretty special.]
Well, writing about dragon slaying does have me craving protein.