thecapitol | So hold my hand

Entry tags:

So hold my hand | OPEN

Who| Meulin, Kurloz; Open!
What| Meulin ogles some Tributes and reunites with an old friend
Where| Tribute Commons
When| May 16th
Warnings/Notes| None right now

A] Main Commons; OPEN

Meulin had taken extra care in dressing this evening. Her skirt was a shimmering teal that clung to her legs, ending just above her knee. Her top was a soft gold muted gold, matte to make her skirt shine. Twin shell combs pulled her hair back from her face and drapped gold chains over the back of her hair. Gold bracelets connected to rings on her fingers. She wasn't ashamed of coming from a District, even if people saw it as lesser, but it would probably be troublesome if no one took her seriously. So it was best to dress the part, even if she wasn't going to a party.

She'd come far earlier than he'd suggested, eager to see the Tributes and perhaps speak with a few if she could. This was more reconnaissance than actually seeking out tributes for interviews but she wouldn't say no. Opportunities didn't just fall in ones lap but it could happen. Maybe.

After judicial thought as to the proper place to watch the elevator, she settled on a couch near the bar. It handily preventing her from walking too far in the too high heels her cousin had foisted on her and well, the view couldn't be beat. She'd never been to the Tower and it didn't disappoint. What a strange sort of place, full of people. Sponsors, she's sure, and several people she recognized from broadcasts and magazines. None came to speak to her but she wasn't surprised. These were all a level above her, a lowly writer, so she wouldn't expect to speak to them. It give her plenty of time and space to mull over a drink and think about the the past few days.

When someone caught her attention, she watched them, trying for subtle but often just staring. She's got a bit to learn about this people watching thing.

B] Main Commons; Closed to Kurloz

At some point, she'd moved to the bar, having decided blatantly staring at people wasn't the best way to make friends. Perched on a bar stool and She'd had much to think about after they had said their goodbyes on the network. Most of it had to do with her apparent status as an alternate to two separate trolls, one of whom had been here before. With each troll that had spoke to her, the likelihood that they were all separately lying became smaller and smaller. Though Terezi hadn't mentioned it all and wasn't she friends with her alter. She laced her fingers together and set her chin on them. And then there was how Kurloz never spoke, never even whispered. Not that she could have heard him if he had, but it certainly felt like he didn't. But he wanted to see her, spoke of her in the same way, like it never happened.

Her gaze slid towards the elevator and back to her drink, smiling faintly. Things could be worse. Much worse. Her eyes closed, only springing back open when the click of shoes on the floor stopped nearby.

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She offers the bag, and Terezi feels like it might be some kind of trap about to close on her hand as soon as she reaches in. She can get new ones, she says... Which means there are still more at the shop. She's almost certain that she knows what Meulin meant to say, but she takes the bag to rummage around in it anyway.

There at the bottom of the bag she finds it. It's an indigo pen with a face that smells so familiar to her, straight down to her bones. She stops rooting for a moment, only because Meulin isn't looking and she doesn't think anyone can see inside the bag.

She doesn't dare touch it. It would be such a stupid thing to ruin her credibility over a pen just because it has her matesprit's face on it. But she wants it, nonetheless, just like she wants every little thing that might remind her of him. Her heart feels a little heavier as she pulls her empty hand out of the bag.

She plucks up the green pen, depositing it into her lap and writes with the teal one again:

TH3S3 4R3 F1N3
TH3R3 1SNT 4NYTH1NG 3LS3 TH4T 1 W4NT 1N TH3R3

And then, just for a change of topic:

TH3Y G1V3 US AN ALLOWANCE TOO
3XC3PT BY 4LLOW4NC3 1 M34N 4 L1TTL3 PL4ST1C C4RD OF F1N4NC14L 1RR3SPONS1B1L1TY
1 C4N BUY YOU LUNCH SOM3T1M3 1N 3XCH4NG3 FOR TH3 P3NS?

She smiles, automatically, no real joy behind it in her eyes. It pulls up like a mask, too eerily similar to the real masks Kurloz wears in that moment. Maybe she didn't see it, or maybe she didn't want it. Maybe she doesn't trust her and who could blame her. Love may be her passion but it's also her business. She's not sure she'd trust herself with those sort of feelings.

If you want!They weren't too expensive.

I know a few nice places, not too expensive. For next time? Not that you have to leave of course! Just set a date and I'll be there!

She certainly can't go today, that's for sure. And it's too late for lunch besides that. But she kind of wants to get to know this troll better. Friend to her alter, matesprit to the traitor, treating her so casually but not at all trusting.

That smile is telling. She can smell all the little subtle differences between a real smile and a fake one. Polite though it might be, there was something that she did or didn't do that Meulin wasn't pleased with. It only confirms to Terezi that she meant her to find that pen... But the why is still out of her reach.

1 H4V3 SCHOOL DUR1NG TH3 W33K
SO M4YB3 SOM3 T1M3 N3XT W33K3ND?
1 W1LL F1ND 4 T1M3 WH3R3 MY 3SCORT DO3SNT H4V3 SOM3TH1NG PL4NN3D
OR 1 W1LL SK1P SOM3TH1NG TH4T 1S NOT V3RY 1MPORT4NT

More likely the latter than the former. With mandatory schooling during the week, all of her residual free time has been invaded by the interviews and parties and appearances that were previously scheduled during that time. It's suffocating and frustrating, but she doesn't dare play hookey.

She nodded, well aware of how busy people could be in the Tribute Tower. It seemed like they were constantly coming and going. Always another thing to go to, another interview, a million things that needed to be done. She'd heard about their schooling but hadn't given it much thought. It must be similar to the things she learned growing up, full of one sided stories and not a lot of information one might actually use. But it gave her a way to move the conversation along from the failure with her pens.

Is school as boring as I remember? It's all important but I always wanted to be outside, you know? Cooped up in a room isn't fun at all. Maybe if they had taught it outside!

What sort of food do you like? Or would you like to pick our restaurant of choice. I'm easy!

Edited (FAILURESSSS) 2015-05-21 17:03 (UTC)

TH3 CL4SS3S 4R3 NOT T3RR1BL3
NOT 4S 1NT3R3ST1NG 4S 4LT3RN14N L4W
BUT 1 WOULD NOT C4LL TH3M BOR1NG
4ND TH3Y L3T US OUTS1D3 FOR R3C3SS!
TH3R3 1S 4 V3RY PR3TTY G4RD3N TH4T W3 C4N RUN 4ROUND 1N
UND3R SUP3RV1S1ON OF COURS3

TH3Y 4LSO H4V3 SP34K3RS TH4T COM3 TO T4LK W1TH US SOM3T1M3S
W3 H4D 4 P34C3K33P3R 4ND 4 V1CTOR FROM S3V3N SO F4R
TH3Y W3R3 BOTH V3RY 1NT3R3ST1NG

She neglects to mention the strange juice, which she discovered the first day. It tasted weird and made her head feel light. That scared her enough that she hadn't taken even a sip of it again. She still accepts it gratefully, but it sits on her desk unopened. Hopefully she hasn't given them any reason to want her to drink it.

4S FOR TH3 K1ND OF FOOD 1 L1K3
TROLLS 4R3 M41NLY C4RN1VOROUS >:]
BUT 1 W1LL 34T 4LMOST 4NYTH1NG
1 H4V3 4N 4CQU1R3D D13T

Ohhh so like mine. Minus the pretty gardens. That meowst be a Capitol thing. But I'm sure the curriculum is similar! I shall have to take your word on Alternian law. Though law was never my thing.

She shrugged. It always sounded complicated to her. But she notices she didn't quite answer everything.

Did you want me to pick then :33

It's good to know that the Tributes aren't the only ones with mandatory propaganda lessons, but Terezi didn't really think otherwise. She would honestly be surprised if the Capitol wasn't trying to brainwash the citizens as well as their newer guests.

Meulin's offer to choose their lunch location is met with a exasperated huff of a sigh--exaggerated for maximum effect, of course.

1 W4S TRY1NG TO 1MPLY TH4T 1 4M 4 V1C1OUS 4L13N
WHO ONLY 34TS M34T
4ND TH4T 4LSO YOU SHOULD PROB4BLY B3 CONC3RN3D
B3C4US3 YOU 4R3 4LSO M34T

BUT HON3STLY TH4T JOK3 1S K1ND OF OLD
4ND NOT N34RLY 4S FUNNY 4S TH3 OR1G1N4L UPRO4R 1T C4US3D
YOU C4N P1CK WH3R3V3R
JUST 4S LONG 4S TH3Y H4V3 FRU1T SMOOTH13S

She snorted, then laughed and tried to cover it with her hand. Not lady like in the slightest and she had to at least pretend embarrassment.

Oh I'm sorry.
Oh nooo don't eat me vicious troll who gave me a napkin hat for I will merely taste of fish and cake.
Wait. Not cake. Something horrible.
Is that better?

Fruit smoothies. Interesting choice.

Terezi smiles a little wider at the laughter that her joke garners. For a moment, she think the human is very pretty. She smells a lot better--a lot brighter--when she laughs like that. It's a shame that she seems embarrassed about it.

1 N3V3R H4D F1SH B3FOR3 COM1NG H3R3!
1T 1S 4 W31RD T4ST3 BY 1TS3LF
W1THOUT SOM3TH1NG 3LS3 HORR1BL3 4DD3D TO 1T >:P

WH4T 1S SO 1NT3R3ST1NG 4BOUT FRU1T SMOOTH13S???

Meulin pulls down another napkin, absently folding it in her lap as she leans in to read what Terezi wrote. She grins, laughing again as she pulls the pad back to her lap.

Really? Nefur? What a thing you missed.
Though they eat it weird here at times. There's a place where you can catch it and have it cooked for you, which seems like a silly thing. I did that all the time, you know?
Novelty.

And you just said you were a meat eater, though, with a varied diet. I wouldn't expect fruit smoothies to be a must have

There's still a number of napkins on Meulin's head, but Terezi doesn't bother replacing them when she pulls one off. Napkin fashion is a transient fashoin. Instead she sniffs at the new delicious writing on the paper... and she smiles. It's the kind of smile that's a little tight around the very edges, still meant in amusement but with an underlying cynicism.

N3V3R N3V3R!
F1SH 4R3 G3N3R4LLY FOUND 1N TH3 W4T3R
4ND S34DW3LL3RS DO NOT L1K3 WH3N L4ND DW3LL3RS 1NFR1NG3 ON TH31R W4T3RS
1T G3N3R4LLY L34DS TO 4 LOT OF SCR34M1NG 4ND D34TH

4NYW4Y 1 S41D TH4T TROLLS W3R3 M34T 34T3RS
WH3N YOU 4R3 T1NY 4ND DO NOT H4V3 4 LUSUS
YOU L34RN TO 34T WH4T3V3R 1S 34S13ST TO F1ND
YOU 4LSO L34RN TO L1K3 TH3 TH1NGS TH4T YOU DO F1ND
4ND FRU1T 1S V3RY F1ND4BL3 >:]

It's an odd sort of smile and she ponders it while Terezi writes. She doesn't quite get why but it colors her whole expression enough to make it seem off. Not quite happy. Meulin wonders why.

The words don't shed much more light on things, just explanations. Explanations Meulin is happy to pounce on.

I'm partial to the sea myself but you can fish in rivers you know!

I suppose it is! We had lots of berries at home. Strawberries and raspberries sort of grew wild once you got further away from the shore. I've kind of grown fond of figs and pineapples while I've been here though.

I think there's a place that does just smoothies but we should purrobably have real food instead. Unless you want to hit that place and meowbe a fish place?

Edited 2015-06-11 19:12 (UTC)

SUR3 W3 C4N H1T WH4T3V3R YOU W4NT

1 W1LL B3 YOUR HUMBL3 3SCORT 4S W3 S4UNT3R 4BOUT TH3 C1TY
3XC3PT M1NUS TH3 HUMBL3 P4RT B3C4US3 1M FUCK1NG 4W3SOM3 >:]

Terezi goes to hand back the notepad, but stops and scribbles another note in addition to that one:

OK4Y BUT F1RST YOU H4V3 TO T3LL M3 WH4T F1GS 4R3
THOS3 SOUND R34LLY W31RD >:?

Meulin laughs again as she pulls the notepad close again. Her words are accompanied by a little drawing of a fig that really just resembles a head of garlic or a very wide teardrop.

It's a fruit! The taste is hard to describe. You just have to try one! Taria hates them though so you might not like it.

I'm purretty sure it should be the other way around. With the escort thing!
Except of course you've been here longer.

Terezi sniffs critically at the drawing, but that doesn't really tell her what a fig is or what it tastes like. This is not going to be an accurate estimation. She scrunches her nose skeptically, then goes to reply:

1 H4V3 B33N H3R3 1NCR3D1BLY LONG!
1N TH1S W31RD C1TY 4NYW4Y
YOU H4V3 B33N ON YOUR W31RD HUM4N WORLD LONG3R TH4N 1 H4V3
W1TH YOUR W31RDLY COLD SUN 4ND YOUR W31RDLY COLOR3D TR33S
4ND YOUR W31RDLY COLOR3D P3OPL3
D3L1C1OUS BUT W31RD

Meulin take the skepticism as a confirmation of her utter lack of skill with regards to art and artistic pursuits and soldiers on. It's nothing she didn't know already.

Says the troll from a species who is all one color! At least on the outside.
We change it up ;33

But you've been in the Capitol longer than I have.
So I guess you win this round of

of whatever this is.

Edited (whoops) 2015-06-30 01:58 (UTC)

H3Y W3 H4V3 D1FF3R3NT COLORS!
SORT OF
TH3R3 4R3 V4RY1NG SH4D3S OF GR3Y
4ND 4LSO WH3N W3 G3T OLD3R OUR SK1N G3TS TH1NN3R
K1ND OF L1K3 HUM4NS
4ND OUR BLOOD HU3 1S 4 L1TTL3 MOR3 NOT1C34BL3

BUT 1 W1LL T4K3 MY V1CTORY OF WH4T3V3R TH1S 1S
1 W1LL T4K3 1T 4ND LORD 1T OV3R YOU
B3C4US3 TROLLS 4R3 OBJ3CT1V3LY 4 B3TT3R SP3C13S 4LL 4ROUND

Terezi finishes up handing that statement over to Meulin with a cheeky grin, as if to say that there's no way she can possibly refute that with her silly human logic.

Meulin reads it over, gasping in fake shock at the assertion and shaking her head very slowly. How rude, how rude. How baseless, really. If she really cared, truly cared, there were rude things to say about that, but she doesn't. So she pulls the pad up close and scribbles back, tongue poking out her teeth in her concentration.

Hardly true!
Humans are meowch better obviously!
Fur instance, we have fruit smoothies and things like that!
And colored pens.
And
...

Lots of stuff! Plus we come in hair, eye and skin color variations!

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So hold my hand | OPEN

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