[OPEN] We've opened our eyes

[furgood]

Who| Meulin Leijon & Terezi; Meulin and you!
What| Meulin hangs around the commons and then takes Terezi on an ill fated late lunch
Where| Tribute Towers Commons; out on the town
When| Backdated to the Sunday after the medieval ball
Warnings/Notes| None so far

A. Open
Meulin bounces on the balls of her feet, looking around at the magazines spread here and there. She's early for her outing and that makes her a tiny bit nervous. Various tributes and staff might not have been as appreciative of her work as they could be and well--she'd be happy when they were out of the tower.

If her picture hadn't been in there, maybe she wouldn't be so nervous. It was too late either way. There was no time to send a message to meet somewhere else and she was already here. She picked up Celebrus and flipped to an open page.

"Oh yes, tell me what outlandish new styles should be my own, Celebrus. Inquiring minds want to know." She mumbled, louder than she means, and pulls out a pen to take the ridiculous quiz.

B. Closed to Terezi

When she spies the young troll, Meulin pushes off from the wall she'd been propped against, leaves the magazine on a nearby table and starts moving to meet her. A purse is slung over her shoulder and she pauses for a moment to pull out her pen and paper. Her smile is still a little hesitant at the corners, not quite as light as it might have once been.

"I hope you're hungry, I have a reservation made for that weird fish place I told you about. The one where you catch the fish and they cook them. And there's a great place in the District 11 section of the shopping center that does fruit smoothies, ice cream and all that. I asked around for suggestions."

She looks so proud of the research she put into this, be proud of her Terezi. She might be a little awkward around Terezi but there was no excuse not to do things right.

Comments

B

[pythianjudgment]

Terezi shows up with an outfit that's a little more classy than her norm. Apparently casual dress is not appropriate when one has a lunch date with a journalist. Whatever. She can deal with anything as long as it's not the typical Crowning fashion. Her stylist is going to have to deal with the jacket being haphazardly tied around her waist, though. It's way too warm for that. ...The purse can stay, though. She has something important stashed in there anyway.

The moment that she notices Meulin heading for her, the troll girl grins and waves her hand in greeting. She almost starts to say something, and then her memory kicks in. Habit is a hard thing to break. Instead, she reaches into her purse and produces a small grey binder with an olive green stripe. She opens it to reveal dry-erase pages and a few thin markers.

1 4M R4V3NOUS 4ND YOU 4R3 3XC3LL3NT >:]
MY T4ST3BUDS 4R3 R3JO1C1NG 4T 4LL OF TH3S3 D3L1C1OUS PL4NS

4LSO
1 THOUGHT TH1S WOULD B3 B3TT3R TH4N US1NG UP 4LL YOUR P4P3R

Re: B

[furgood]

Meulin makes a wondering noise, leaning in to examine the pages the markers and when her finger touches the marker, it wipes away. Aha! She rubs at a word and grins. What a great idea. She herself still prefers the feel of paper under her fingertips and working with the technology as she must only make her more eager for her notebooks, but this, this is amazing and utterly convenient. She notices the green stripe but doesn't comment on it. Is it because this is strictly for her? Who's to say.

"What a purrfect idea! Thoughtful of you." Meulin tucks away her notebook and waves to the outdoors, "Shall we? I left us some time to walk there!"

[pythianjudgment]

Terezi laughs as Meulin discovered the impermanence of the dry erase notepad. It's sort of like a child discovering a new toy. Very cute. Terezi gives a little curtsy at the compliment, a silent thank you--if not a little bit teasing.

At the suggestion that they get moving, Terezi holds out her arm, elbow crooked a little like she expects Meulin to slip her own arm through. It's a little bit dramatic and silly, but it gets the point across she thinks: Lead the way.

[furgood]

It is a new toy really, but Meulin doesn't take offense at the teasing or the laugh. She's not at all used to the various wonders of the Capitol and she delights in finding each new one.

She doesn't take up her arm so much as gently place her hand there to assist in guiding. Terezi has no problem getting around it seems but Meulin herself appreciates a little help now and then. Maybe Terezi would too. Not that it really seems like more than a friendly gesture.

"Onwards!" And through the door and out into the streets they go. They seem to be meandering towards the more fashionable areas, if one had to guess, but Meulin doesn't seem hurried. It must not be that far off.

"So...You were alright on Friday, I hope? I was at the ball when it happened, I hope you weren't too affected."

[pythianjudgment]

It's not that Terezi needs the help, but if Meulin wants to lead her about, she won't complain. The bit of physical contact is kinda nice, and also a bit of lighthearted silliness. And there's nothing wrong with that, especially these days.

The topic of conversation that comes up is a bit of a surprise for Terezi, though. She hadn't thought that Meulin would ask about it. No one else really has. There's a few seconds where a troubling look passes across Terezi's face before she purses her lips together and scribbles out a message on the dry-erase notebook:

1 W4S 4LR1GHT
W3 M4N4G3D TO F1ND OUT WH4T H4PP3N3D 4ND F1X3D 1T B3FOR3 OUR T1M3 W4S UP
4ND W3 FOUND TH3 ON3S R3SPONS1BL3 FOR PUTT1NG US 1N D4NG3R
1 4M SUR3 TH4T TH3Y 4R3 GO1NG TO R3GR3T TH31R 4CT1ONS V3RY SOON
1F TH3Y 4R3NT R3GR3T1NG TH3M 4LR34DY

[furgood]

She meant it more a kind gesture, asking after something that had seemed to affect the Tributes en masse with a somewhat unknown cause. You asked about those kinds of things right? The topic, however, seems to be a sore point and the casual way Terezi speaks of regret makes Meulin wince a little. Of course they would. They'd die probably, painfully perhaps. The idea makes her stomach churn.

"I'm glad you found those responsible. I'm sure the Capitol will set the situation to rights in whatever way they see fit. But you and the other tributes are alright and that's what matters."

That seems like the right answer, she hopes.

[pythianjudgment]

It's easy for Terezi to forget that humans don't take to death the way that trolls do. At first glance, you would think that they would with these gladiator-style death matches... But put it up closer and more individualized, and they still flinch away. Like Terezi catches Meulin doing. She frowns at the response, thinking a moment before rubbing away the words with the edge of her hand. She writes a new one, and passes it to her friend:

SORRY

YOUR3 R1GHT
TH3 1MPORT4NT P4RT 1S TH4T W3 4R3 ST1LL H3R3
4L1V3 4ND W3LL

4ND 1 G3T TO SH4R3 TH1S D3L1C1OUS FOOD PL4C3 OF YOURS W1TH YOU
1 WOULD H4V3 B33N M4D 1F 1 H4D TO SK1P OUT ON YOU TW1C3 1N 4 ROW

[furgood]

Meulin takes the change in topic a little better, smile turning up the corners of her lip in a way that borders on genuine. If she thinks about it too hard, the fact that skipping out would have been because someone was trying to hurt the tribute would upset her all over again. It's so easy to slip onto the new topic, glossing over the implication.

"I wasn't going to skip out on you again either. I purromised Kurloz I'd avoid the tower, since Celebrus came out this morning, and some pawple might not exactly apurrove. But I decided not to worry about it. And it worked out fine! I was left compurrletely alone. Well. Aside from Gary but he seems to find me whenefur I'm there."

She waves her hand absently, what a weird sort of tribute.

[pythianjudgment]

The name 'Kurloz' zaps Terezi's thoughts like a live wire. If she still had pupils, they would have darted up to Meulin and away again, but fortunately she doesn't have to worry about those little details of surprise. It takes Terezi only half a second to remind herself that she's probably talking about the human Kurloz. She makes a mental note of the relation, but doesn't ask about it yet.

Gary is a safer topic for the both of them.

BLUH HIM >:[
1 WOULDNT P4Y H1M TOO MUCH M1ND
H3 1S K1ND OF DUMB
L4ST T1M3 WH3N 1 T4LK3D TO H1M H3 ST1LL THOUGHT TH3 G4M3S W3R3 4 B1G TR1CK
SMOK3 4ND M1RRORS 4ND NO ON3 4CTU4LLY DY1NG
TH3 ONLY TH1NG H3 1S GOOD 4T 1S B31NG 1N D3N14L

[furgood]

Lacking the ability to read into that glance, Meulin shakes her head at Terezi's rather decisive opinion of Gary. Naive, perhaps, but not dumb. Okay maybe a little dumb. She didn't mind people who weren't serious and--well, she was sure that dying had told him plenty about the reality of the Games.

"Not true! He is also fantastic at making up awful ships. For instance, Jason and Wesker. Or was it Jason and Cyrus."

[pythianjudgment]

Despite her opinion of Gary, Terezi laughs at both of those suggestions--the latter more than the former. She quickly rubs away her last message to scribble a new one.

1 WOULD P4Y 4CTU4L MON3Y FOR TH4T TO B3 TRU3
FOR C3RT41N D3F1N1T1ONS OF TRU3

WH4T DO YOU S4Y?
CYRUS 1S H4T3D UN1V3RS4LLY
J4SON 1S H4T3D UN1V3RS4LLY
TH3Y W3R3 M4D3 FOR 34CH OTH3R
L3TS DO 1T

[furgood]

"God I wish I could. I sincerely tried but there was all this talk about ruining the narrative for Jason and that if we were going for a hateship, he has plenty to choose from. Though the magazine said as much."

Meulin puffs out her cheeks in mock annoyance. Her vague attempts were for naught in this case.

"I just wanted to see the fanfiction."

[pythianjudgment]

"Right!" Terezi exclaims with a laugh before she realizes Meulin wouldn't be able to hear that. She doesn't bother covering up her grin and she quickly adds more scribbles to the notepad.

1 COMPL3T3LY 4GR33!!!

M4YB3 1 C4N 1NCORPOR4T3 1T 1NTO MY COM1C BOOK
B3TT3R Y3T
1 COULD WR1T3 TH3 F4NF1CT1ON MYS3LF

4ND 1F 1T JUST H4PP3NS TO B3 SPR34D 4ROUND TOWN..............
OBV1OUSLY N31TH3R OF US H4D 4NYTH1NG TO DO W1TH TH4T

Terezi waits for Meulin to finish reading the note before trying to pass a wink to her.

A

[a_minute_younger]

From somewhere across the Commons, something thin, white, and shaped suspiciously like an airplane zooms in front of Meulin's face just as she turns down to start going through her magazine. It continues its course in a neat arc until it collides with a nearby chair and crumples into the seat.

Meulin should definitely go see what the hell that's all about.

Re: A

[furgood]

Her gaze snaps to the white object flying in front of her face and slowly follows it to the seat where it ends up. What. What just happened. She looks around once and slowly creeps over to the seat. Was it a secret message? A silly kid? Or just someone who missed?

She picks it up and holds it up to the light to see if anything is written on the inside. Truly, she is the best detective. She'd unfold it but it seems rude to do so without at least checking to see if that's worth her time. Maybe it belonged to a child after all.

[a_minute_younger]

There is definitely something written inside, and in familiar handwriting. The bright yellow highlighter bleeds through the thin notebook paper to the point where just holding it up to the light probably makes it readable, although kind of awkwardly mirrored.

lol hi

So no, not quite the product of a child, but it might as well be. But the question remains: Where is the culprit? He's not immediately visible in this crowd...

[furgood]

She gives it a strange look before the familiarity of the handwriting becomes apparent. So, this is a stranger start to a conversation but she's not entirely sure what she'd expect from him. He wasn't purrcisely what she was used to.

Spinning in place, she tries to spot him. He'd definitely be close enough to see what she did. It was just a matter of spotting him.

Somehow, when she came to the Tower today, she hadn't expected playing Hide and Seek. Teach her to expect anything in particular here.

[a_minute_younger]

Being one of the bigger kids means that Gary isn't too good at your typical variant of Hide and Seek, but he is excellent at moving around quickly and staying just barely out of sight. He gives her the chance to complete a few aimless circles before closing in.

From just behind her, Gary firmly taps one of Meulin's shoulders. Then he ducks around to the opposite side and tries to delicately pluck her copy of Celebrus out of her distracted hands.

[furgood]

His tactic is distressingly effective, given her reliance on sight and touch. She turns to see who it was--though of course it's Gary, who else would it be-- and there goes her magazine. He even manages to take it without her noticing for a few seconds. Her hands are empty and she still has no prankster to show for it.

"Oh--wha--I was almost done with that!"

[a_minute_younger]

Now that Gary is successfully in possession of the magazine, he makes no more attempts to hide. Instead he strides around behind her with his nose eagerly pressed into the page Meulin was just flipped to.

"'Your friend bursts through the door and demands that you attend a party thrown by a famed sponsor of District 4! What do you wear?'" Gary reads off the quiz with wild, dramatic abandon, which he knows Meulin can't hear. Still, he clearly expects her to know what he's doing judging by how he frequently glances up at her to see her reaction and diligently keeps the magazine out of her reach. "Now what did you put here...Penciled in 'Prosthetic cat appendages to threaten all the fish-scaled themed sponsors into submission,' I bet..."

[furgood]

"You know I can't hear what you're talking about, right? Are you just reading my answers?"

The exasperation on her face is real. Her answer for that particular one would obviously be to go find something as ocean themed as possible to represent her District or possibly go pester Kurloz for something but she had had to pick 'Hit the stores for something fabulous with fins'. The answers are very limited after all and each one is transparently geared towards a particular overall option.

[a_minute_younger]

Gary was hoping for a slightly more flustered, dramatic response to his teasing, and while exasperation is good, it's not quite satisfying enough for him to keep going. He huffs, pulls out the highlighter he used to make the first note from his pocket, and starts writing in the magazine so he can show her.

idk maybe
Do you want me to or

[furgood]

Yellow on white isn't the easiest to see on those glossy pages so she has to lean in close to read. She rolls her eyes and looks up at him with both eyebrows raised. Really? She has a younger sister, she is well versed in the silly games younger kids play. Even if he's only four or five years younger.

"I was asking what you were doing! Meowbe is not an answer." She pauses, then smiles, "And no, not purrticularly. My bias will show so clearly."

[a_minute_younger]

And Gary is well-versed in playing the part. Perhaps a little too much. If he wasn't so good at being an annoying younger sibling, perhaps he wouldn't enjoy it so much and would be inclined to do it less. Instead, he searches for the encouragement he needs and is pleased to find it soon enough.

ofc "meowbe" isnt an answer
Thats why I said "maybe" u dork

He gives Meulin just enough time to read that, then spins around and straightens the magazine out to the next page of the quiz.

[furgood]

So rude! He must be delighted when he gets a huff and her hand reaching for the magazine. He turns just before she can snatch it back, much to her frustration, but she doesn't go running around the other way. She can wait for him to let his guard down again. She has nothing but time.

This is a lie, she has places to go soon, but he doesn't know that.

"I don't know what you're hoping to find out. I'm from Four, obviously all my answers are going to point to fish."