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

29th

[ribbonbon]

[Having just been puttering around, looking at things, she turns when she hears Mia's voice. Pilouette begins heading toward her to meet her halfway.]

Mia...Um, is everything okay?

[With the way Mia seemed to be trying to catch up with her, she figures whatever it is must be important.]

29th

[frost_jewel]

Yes, things are fine! I just wasn't sure I'd be able to catch you.

[The purpose for the sudden chase:]

Have you eaten yet?

29th

[ribbonbon]

Oh, uh, no, I haven't. A lot of the stuff at those food stalls in the park just looked like, so greasy and icky...

[All the one she saw, anyway. A sudden realization comes to her and she smiles.]

Oh! um, did you want to eat together?

29th

[frost_jewel]

If you don't mind, I would love to.

[She isn't too fond of the "park food" either.]

29th

[ribbonbon]

[Pleased, Pilouette claps her hands together and grins.]

Of course I don't mind! I've spent most of my time wandering around by myself, so having some company would be like, totally awesome!

29th

[frost_jewel]

Good. Just promise we'll find a real restaurant or something like one, instead of one of those little wheel-carts with an umbrella.

29th

[ribbonbon]

Like, totally. Those stands are so gross... I heard there was a buffet in the casino, but...

[Pilouette frowns thoughtfully. Even if she is eighteen now, she still feels like she's too young to get into a casino.]

29th

[frost_jewel]

Oh, I'm a bit tired of being there, too. Let's find something new and exciting.

[Which is why she's headed for the train to Thrill Land. The rides aren't on her list of favorites but there were some restaurants there - as long as they don't ask for money, or they take casino tokens instead...]

29th

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette follows Mia closely.]

New and exciting, huh? [An uneasy little laugh.] This place is more creepy than it is exciting if you ask me...

29th

[frost_jewel]

Part of me is pretending very hard not to notice.

[By some miracle, they end up on the train car alone; either the hour or the intensity of Thrill Land has conspired in Mia's favor.]

May I ask you something, Pilouette?

29th

[ribbonbon]

[When Mia asks, Pilouette straightens up a little bit, wondering what her question could be.}

Oh, uh, sure. Go ahead.

29th

[frost_jewel]

Who was it that told you that you aren't very smart?

[She remembers, and she still doesn't believe it.]

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette wasn't exactly expecting that. She tenses for a moment and frowns, before she unthinkingly begins to fiddle with her hair.]

...I told you. I just kind of...came up with that on my own. I-I guess I was just kind of a weird kid or something.

[For a brief moment, she glances off to the side. It's not so much that her answer isn't truthful as it is that she doesn't usually go into the reasons behind it. It's...not exactly a pleasant subject.]

[frost_jewel]

[Sitting next to her like this, it's hard to miss all of her little clues about the extent of the truth. Mia takes the wrist of the hand fiddling with her hair, gently pulling it away.]

I still don't believe it's really true. What made you ever think so?

[ribbonbon]

[At this point, Pilouette's pretty sure she can't get out of this. Her shoulders slump a little bit and her expression grows just a little more anxious.]

I-It's kind of a long story. Um...A-Are you sure?

[frost_jewel]

Yes. I am sure. Take your time.

[She was so convinced at such a young age. There must be more to it.]

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette exhales, her gaze moving toward the floor as she tries to figure out where to start. She thinks for a moment before speaking.]

Well, when I was really little, my parents started to fight a lot and they ended up getting divorced. My mom moved out, so it was just my dad and me. Plus... [She pauses again, briefly.] ...My mom gave up her rights as a parent, so as far as the law is concerned, she's not even my mom anymore. I actually haven't seen her since then.

[Of course, that in and of itself, isn't where her issues stem from, but...Pilouette stops for a moment, just to kind of figure how to say it all.]

[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.