Event Log - Malnosso World

[lucetimods]

Who: Everybody!
What: A field trip for the entirety of Luceti!
When: October 27th, until the end of November 2nd
Where: The Happiest Place on the Moon, Malnosso World!
Summary: So you remember all those times Luceti was transformed into Luceti Land? Welcome to Malnosso World, Luceti Land's bigger, cooler brother. Be sure to keep all hands inside the rides at all times, and refer to your map if you get lost. Trust me, you'll get lost.
Rating: F for Fun!

Comments

[frost_jewel]

[Losing a parent in any way, at any age, is painful. How much worse it must be, to grow up knowing your mother chose to leave you.

Mia stays silent, keeping hold of Pilouette's wrist and palm.]

sorry for the textwall

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette takes a deep breath and exhales slowly before continuing.]

It didn't help that Daddy's always worked a lot, so all the neighborhood kids always asked why I was with babysitters and stuff instead of with my parents. So I started wondering, too. Like, at least my dad would come home, but I wondered why my mother left me. ...Actually for a long time, I've been really mad about her leaving, but...really, my mother was like, kind of cool.

[Her frown deepens just a little, and she hunches her shoulders.]

From what I can remember of her, she was really smart. And she was always so calm and collected. She never yelled or screamed or anything. Plus, she was really successful and had a really great job and everything. My mother...she was one of those people who seemed like they always made smart decisions, you know? So...

[Another pause, a bit longer this time. She's talked about to someone before, but...she's never really gone into detail about it. As Pilouette grew older she tried to ignore what she thought were childish feelings and she's finding talking about it just a bit more difficult than she thought it would be. She keeps her gaze on the floor as she continues.]

So, I thought that maybe I just wasn't very important. Maybe there was just something wrong with me. After all, my mother was really smart. ...And why would she leave me if it wasn't a smart thing to do...?

never never be sorry

[frost_jewel]

[Mia is quiet during Pilouette's story, and for several minutes afterward. How horrible. She just...decided on her own that she wasn't worth enough.

What she finally says still feels a little hollow, because this isn't a situation she's ever come up against before. But she means it.]

Even the smartest, most put-together people can still make poor decisions. [If she can, she'll look Pilouette in the eye.] I haven't known you for very long, but in that time you've been dedicated and considerate and courageous about things that scare you. You learn quickly and you remember things, even in tense situations.

[Mia isn't the sort of teacher to withhold compliments ever, and Pilouette in particular thrives on knowing she's doing well, but this is a long string of it even for her.]

There's nothing wrong with you, Pilouette.

[ribbonbon]

[For a few moments, after Mia finishes speaking, Pilouette sits in silence. Many of those words are ones she never thought would or could be applied to her. But what Mia said last is the part that gets her.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Pilouette."

For so long, she told herself the opposite. "Mom didn't want you, why would anyone else?" "You're not as smart as other people, so just try to do what you can to help." "You can't do much, but try hard and maybe someone will like you anyway."

"There's nothing wrong with you."

Finally getting all this out and having someone she respects so much tell her these things is a little more than she was prepared for today. It makes her feel happy, but at the same time...Pilouette feels a lump in her throat and lets out a quiet sniff, before turning her head away and wiping her eyes.]

Mia, I...I just...!

S-Sorry...Here you are saying a lot of important stuff a-and I like, start crying like a big crybaby or something...!

[frost_jewel]

Well, there's nothing wrong with crying, either.

[Ever-prepared, Mia delves into a pocket and then hands Pilouette a- park-branded paper napkin or two. It's the best she has.]

I didn't intend to bring up such painful memories for you.

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette shakes her head a little, before taking the napkins and wiping her eyes with them.]

I-It's okay. To be honest, like, I've never talked about it like this before...[She manages a tiny smile.] Actually, this is like, the first time I've ever cried about it.

[frost_jewel]

[Then maybe she's well overdue. The train stops, or might have stopped long ago, and Mia stands to get off, holding out a hand to Pilouette too.]

It's important to you to seem strong and useful. Has nobody really ever told you that you are those things without trying?

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette stands as she thinks about Mia's question.]

W-Well...not really. I mean, like I said, I've never really gotten into...that stuff like this. So... [She pauses. It never really occured to her before now, but...] Maybe no one ever thought that kind of stuff needed to be said.

[frost_jewel]

[It's the dinner hour, so the usual bustle of Thrill Land is a bit muted as they step off the train. Once free of the platform Mia turns to Pilouette again and puts her hands on her student's shoulders.]

Do you think you can be through telling yourself that you aren't smart enough?

[ribbonbon]

[She's silent for a moment. Even now, Pilouette knows that there are many people smarter than she is, smarter than she could ever hope to be. However, it occurs to her that maybe that doesn't really mean that she's stupid. To suddenly change the way she thought about herself after such a long time sounds really hard, but...

A small smile appears on her face as she nods.]

Yeah. I...I think so. I think I can do it...!

[frost_jewel]

Good. I'm glad. Let's have a happier dinner, okay?

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette nods, smiling just a little more broadly.]

Right!! Besides, if I have to be stuck in a theme park, I guess I should at least try to enjoy it, huh...?[She's quiet for a just a moment, her smile softening just a little, before adding:] ...And...And thanks, Mia. For everything.

[frost_jewel]

You're welcome.

[Now. Mia has only had 'Thai Food' when Kurt or Teddy orders something like it at Seventh Heaven and she steals a bite, but there's a big sign advertising it on a nearby building.]

What about something like that? Do you have it in your world?

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette looks at the sign, frowning thoughtfully.]

Thai food...Yeah, we definitely have it there, but I've never tried it before. [She looks back to Mia and her expression brightens. After that talks, she's feeling a bit more positive. It probably helps that it's just food they're talking about.] But now's as good a time as any to try it, right? What's the phrase...? Like, no time like the present?

[frost_jewel]

If you'd like to try it then I would too. [With no idea at all what to expect.]

[ribbonbon]

Alright, then!

[As small of a event as it is, Pilouette sees this as an exciting step forward! ...However when they arrive at the venue, she realizes that she...has no idea what anything on the menu actually is.]

O-Oh, um...

[She looks to Mia, a sheepish expression on her face.]

[frost_jewel]

[Mia looks just as confused. They certainly don't make it easy.]

Well this is unfortunate.

[ribbonbon]

Yeah...

[She stares back at the menu again for a few moments.]

M-Maybe if we both just order something at random...?

[frost_jewel]

That could go very well or very wrong. It's probably easier to find something more...simple.

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette nods thoughtfully. This really put kind of stop to the excitement... ]

Yeah, that's like, probably a good plan. Um, any ideas?

[frost_jewel]

The only one I can think of is to go back outside and look for something else. [Mia's still smiling, nodding to the door.] Another try can't hurt.

[ribbonbon]

Right! It might take a while, but I'm sure we'll find something...I mean, this park is pretty big, so it'd be like, hard not to right?

[She begins to move toward the door with a quiet laugh.]

Geez, this almost feels like some kind of weird dinner adventure...

[frost_jewel]

A dinner adventure isn't so bad as long as there is a dinner at the end of it somewhere.

[Though, hungry, Mia is now on the lookout for something still-exotic (to her) and easier to understand: cheeseburgers.]

[ribbonbon]

That's true. A dinner adventure without dinner would be like a story without an ending...or something like that.

[She's...not actually sure if they're really the same thing, but they feel the same to her at least.]

[frost_jewel]

It would mean we end up hungry and I don't know about you, but I'll not take the risk of also being grumpy if I don't have to.