23/Stop and smell the roses

Stop and smell the roses
Date of Scene:	03 July 2023
Location:	Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis:	Hotaru runs into Prismara during an early morning. The two... actually get along. Shorties unite!
Cast of Characters:	Hotaru Tomoe, 79

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Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe was actually a bit early to class today. She'd left early and been feeling... well. Not feeling. FELT. Pretty good today. It wasn't often she felt she had the strength she could walk to school, let alone without requiring someone to keep an eye on her. But this time she had.

She'd given her father a quick goodbye before walking. And now? She was still early. And so, as a few people came wandering into the building, many were still asleep in their dorm rooms. She was one of the few to live off campus, so her entry required her to pass the main courtyard's flowers.

Many of them were blooming and they were, frankly, breathtaking. She heard the headmistress tended to some of them herself. Now, though, she was kneeling in front of them, softly inhaling the scent of the flowers. Letting her worries wash away...

Soon she'd make a move, one way or another. Biding her time was coming to an end.

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
When you're in an unfamiliar place one tends to move toward the familiar. The buildings, the _people_ the clothes, the technology. Prismara Bree looked like a country bumpkin, at least she did in the beginning. Big eyes, mouth set in a line of disapproval, but now? Now she was tending to the familiar.

Prismara BreeAlready in her new school uniform, the crisp and well maintained attire suited for a student who took things seriously, or moderately so. It was new, it was crisp, but she was in the flowers, in the dirt. Her skirt was carefully arranged to not get into the dirt, but her knees were another story. Each flower being given the attention that nothing else was, leaning over and letting her short hair get in her eyes while cradling the individual blossoms. There isn't a care in the world etched on her face, nor regard for that going on around her. Blissful, serene familiarity.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe took a few small breaths, letting the scent of the flowers wash over her... before finally she took notice of someone in the flowers. Was she part of the flower arranging club? Or was she a young member of the gardening staff? She didn't know.

But it wasn't her business. She started to get up, about to pull away and walk off. However, after a moment she paused and looked at the girl again. She... looked young. About the age of a student. Was she a student? Was it okay for her to bother her? What was the point? She was just a...

Hotaru took a slow, deep breath. If she didn't today, then she never would, would she? She was strong enough... So... "H-hello there," she managed to call out, nervously, after a few moments. "Nice... day we're having, isn't it?"

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
Well that wasn't expected. Prismara (Mar) stops what she is doing very deliberately, dusts off her hands, very deliberately, straightens her back. It takes a full fifteen seconds for her to turn toward Hotaru, look at her and respond. Her expression is fairly blank, unreadable. Her voice likewise is fairly even, still her words.

"Good Morrow, kind las-" She stops. Frowns. That isn't how people talk. She starts over,

"Hello. . . " Still frowning like she is trying to work something out but then the rest of what Hotaru says crashes into her like a train. It's small talk, but debatable if Mar realizes that, her face clouds a little.

"Yes, It's fine. The day, that is." Consternation showing on her face, she might be worse at this than, well, her conversation partener. Words failing her she decides staring would be less awkward, so she stares at Hotaru. Still kind of blank faced, having mastered her early frustrations at failing to communicate.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe was trying, desperately, not to squirm. Kiiiind of failing. But trying. Trying to not panic too much. The other girl was staring at her. Judging her. She was judging her, right? Definitely judging her. Judging. So much judging. She could feel it. In her soul. The way it took her so long to turn around. Should she have left? Was this a time for her to leave? Was she just being a bother? Oh, she was just being a bother, she knew it.

AHHHHHH!

However, she managed to keep her face straight. To smile. And when the other girl stood, so did she. Their eyes meeting. She held her bag tightly in front of herself, willing her hands not to shake. "I'm Hotaru Tomoe, nice to meet you. Are you usually here so early?" she asked, staring... at the other girl's chin. Meeting her eyes was a little too intimidating right now.

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
The internal conflict in Prismara's mind was not far off from the one in her conversation partener. Where one was sure she was screwing it up, the other was sure she was giving herself away. For an outsider, a foreigner, she doesn't belong here, but she wasn't going to let herself be easily cowed. Prismara was raised for this! She had poise, she composure. So she kept composure! Which.. meant.. she did a lot of staring. Dead fish eyed staring at Hotaru. Like an office worker who left their soul at the door.

"Oh, pleased to meet you," She doesn't bow, just the barest hint of a nod, "Prismara Bree." She says, shortly, as if not entirely certain how to continue the conversation, "Early..."

Was it early? Mara was used to getting up in the morning when there was light, it was cheaper to work with natural light than light candles and lanterns. So to her this wasn't early at all and to be entirely honest the thought people might be sleeping in filled her with renewed consternation.
"What do you mean by early?" She asks with her brow starting to pull downward.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe gave a small smile. Well, she didn't cringe when she heard the name. Maybe that meant she hadn't heard all the rumors about her! That renewed her with a bit of hope. "Prismara Bree? That's a pretty name," she said.

Although, the comment on early made her pause before she glanced around at the occasional students coming in. "I mean... school doesn't start for a while. I... imagine most people would have still been home. Do you live in the dorms?" she asked. "Or do you just prefer to avoid the crowds?" she asked. Well, the other girl didn't seem to think it was early. She must have been an early riser. Maybe one of those girls who got up at the crack of dawn to train, maybe jogging and the like. Wow. She must have been so talented.

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
The consternation seems to fade, she is, it seems being disarmed by Hotaru's natural charm. Rumors what rumors? Prismara seems to be as much a fish out of water, except she's still keeping her expression mastered so it would take some doing to see her for what she is. Since the conversation seems to be flowing, she steps out of the flower patch, careful not to trample any and drops her hands to her sides, her impressive (not at all impressive height, she's actually kind of short) on full display.

"Oh well," She starts,"Yes I do have a space in the dormitory." A frown touches her lips, "And avoiding the crowds has benefits, but I didn't think I was getting up early." Her eyes wander now, to one side and down. It starts to occur to her she isn't doing a particularly good job fitting in.

"If this is early, why are you here?" She asks, taking the initiative to try and gather more information on at least how to fit in, if nothing else.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe was, alas, also tiny as well. That and being a few years younger than the other girl. An underclassman, as it were. She blinked a few times at the way she said she had space in the dormitory. A... weird way to put it. But it was, at least, no weirder than anything else said said. "It's not that early," Hotaru said quickly, worried she might have caused the other girl anxiety. "Just, classes don't start for a while. So most people would likely stay in their dorm rooms. Or only arrive early for club activities," she said.

However, when asked why she was here so early, her smile wavered. "I... ummm... I wasn't... feeling sick... today. So I wanted to walk to class. I left, ummm, early, in case I had any trouble..." she said softly, her eyes lowering.

And now Prismara was going to think she was a weirdo. Sick. Ugh. If only she was a part of some club, she could use that as an excuse...

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
This gave Prismara a lot to think about, also the fact that she wasn't being towered over likely made her more friendly toward her fellow height challenged individual (Stay strong Hotaru!). None of this makes her actually appear more friendly. Also if she was supposed to think something of someone being sickly it was another swing and a miss. Where she came from it wasn't that rare, so to hear someone say it, she doesn't react one bit.

"Well, air helps with not being sick, if leaches are not available and I have not seen any pultrices," Mara babbles a little now, feeling a tiny bit more comfortable with this new found comrade in the height wars, nevermind she may have just said strange things.

"I just usually get up this early and happen to enjoy flowers." She says as if finally circling back to the early questions of why she is here. Oh and if you weren't sure where the flowers are (they're obvious) she gestures with an opened palm at them. There, all confusion cleared up.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe stared at her for a few moments before, very softly, she began to giggle. "O-oh. Oh my gosh. Leeches. I-I thought you were serious! Hee hee, you're so funny," she said happily, covering her mouth with her hand. "A-and no. Sometimes. It is nice to be able to walk around on a day like today. The flowers smell wonderful and the morning dew is so pretty, the way it makes the flowers almost glimmer in the early sun," she said, still lightly giggling... before her giggles began to turn into a cough. She felt a rush of panic when she covered her mouth. No no no no no. Please no. Not now. Please not now. She was having such a good time! she was enjoying herself! Please, please...

Thankfully, after a few moments, the coughing faded and she, mercifully, didn't collapse.

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
Right a joke, she was joking hah hah hah, not at all serious, a nervous smile touches Mara's lips, the first smile and it's a nervous one. More so when Hotaru starts coughing after the very normal explanation of enjoying the sun. But the conversation is broken by the coughing and for a moment Mara has to wonder if she should be doing something. She does, do something, that is she sniffs around Hotaru. Miasma? Bad smells? Can't smell anything. Nothing. Prismara looks a little troubled but then the coughing stops and all is well.

"The flowers should help with that," Mara offers, supremely unhelpfully, as if pollen and allergies weren't a thing, or at least not a thing she seems familiar with. Again awkwardness reigns supreme.

"So then are you living in the dormitories as well?"

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe blinked a few times before shaking her head. "O-oh. No. It's just... sometimes I ummm... just get sick sometimes. I'm fine though. Really. It's... it's okay. I don't know if the flowers here are medicinal. Though... I guess I have heard that some flowers can help with certain allergies." She had no idea if that was true, but she'd heard it, maybe, somewhere. Possibly.

"It's... it's not allergy related, though. I'm just... sick. Is all. It's not contageous," she said quickly.

"I don't live in the dorms, though. I live with my father. He works in the local area, so it was only natural I came to this school." Though... odd how she got an invite so incredibly quickly, she hadn't even applied. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from? Your name is very pretty, but I can't place the origin."

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
There is a moment where Prismara stares, largely due to the fact that she has no idea what Hotaru is talking about. Contageous? Alergies? There is a temptation to disagree, but then again she's the fish out of water. Cautiously she smiles, like she understands and decides to hold off on (change subject) from the question about where she is from.

"I'm not sure what you mean by that, of course I wouldn't catch your cough if I have not been in the same miasma.." Prismara looks uncomfortable as she shifts, almost as if she's hoping Hotaru will fill in what she is missing. She can't ignore the question completely, where she's from that is, that annoying question, so she tries to shift to the second part, "My close associates call me Mara."

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe stared at her in bewilderment now. "I... what? Miasma?" she asked. "Like... a fog? What does-- oh! OH! N-no! It's not chemistry related! I swear!" she said, sounding almost panicked. "It's not, I'm just... weak," she said softly. "I've been weak for a while now. There's nothing... no... chemicals or..." she trailed off, her cheeks burning now.

Stupid, stupid. STUPID! She was so STUPID! Now the girl probably thought she was some kind of weird freak who just... ugh. UGH! She wanted to kick herself, her shame flooding her eyes. "I... I'm sorry, Bree-senpai. I... I should go. It... it was really nice to meet you. Sorry," she said softly before she turned and started to go towards the school.

So stupid. Why did she have to say THAT?

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
"Wait, hold on," Mara says while hurrying to catch up. Despite the awkwardness of their converastion, the older (but tragically same height) girl doesn't seem to pick up on it. She quickly matches pace with Hotaru and looks over at her, "You should not be ashamed of the challenges you have that are unique to you. In a way they are your strength. When someone who hasn't suffered like you falls they won't be as good as rising as you are. "

She tries to give a look of encouragement as she, a perfectly able lass, tells a lass with a disability to be proud of it. Probably wouldn't go over very well in other company, but alas, Prismara might just be a little dense. Meanwhile she seems intent on keeping pace with Hotaru, where ever she is going.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe hesitated when she was asked to stop. She glanced back at her, her mouth falling open slightly. People didn't usually...come after her. So she couldn't help but smile. Though the things she said...

Yeah, they were kind of insensitive. Especially considering the girl didn't know her. But considering she was used to being called 'freak' or worse, being told to not be ashamed and to take pride she could bear this burden wasn't so bad. Besides, it wasn't that different from what Takashi said. Even if the girl didn't understand entirely how it applied as Takashi did.

"Thank you. That's probably good, then. I fall a lot," she joked, giving a rarely seen smile to the other girl. "Do... you like it here? In Radiant Heart Academy, I mean?"

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
A complicated question is pushed fourth that causes Prismara to halt. Did she like it here? She never really thought about it. This time her composure doesn't protect her from displaying exactly the sort of unsure questing her mind goes on for an answer.

"It's an obligation," she starts as if it's a safe beginning place but also doesn't explain very much.

"And I'm still new here, I suppose I Did not think about it. Do you like it here?" Then, "How long have you been here?"

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe blinked a few times. "An... obligation?" she asked. "I... guess I can understand that. We... all have obligations we have to do, even if they're things we'd rather not, don't we?" she asked. Things... that were scary. Worrying. Frightening. That might hurt others.

Did she like it here? Honestly... "Some days, I do," she said softly. Most days, though, she felt like an outcast. Unwanted. Something nobody wanted around. Somedays she felt it might be better if she disappeared. But... but she was certain that wasn't true. Some people wanted her here. Her daddy, certainly. And it wasn't like... her existence was bad in and of itself. And if she learned to control whatever was inside her... surely she could earn the right to exist. "A few years, now. Though we've gotten a lot of transfers lately. I guess it's just a really busy time for the academy. Perhaps they're having a review coming up. Apparently people from all over the world have been joining. From france, Italy, America, I hear there are even some from Bovaria." She, admittedly, didn't even know where that was.

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
"I don't know where that is," Prismara admits, but doesn't admit to which one she doesn't know where is. The answer? All of them. Some basic geography would be helpful for someone like her, but it's probably the sort of things the schools expect you were taught a long time ago.

"A lot of transfers? That is good to know." Mara replies mystesriously now.

"What is bothering you on the days you don't enjoy this school so much" Being not completely dense and picking up on the implied 'but'

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe nodded. "Yeah, me either. I really should look it up. I imagine it must be pretty hard for that student, being so far from home. There's... a lot of students I imagine that can be hard for. I'm just one of the lucky ones to be lucky, I guess," she said with a light chuckle.

She cringed when she was asked WHY she didn't like it."I...uhhh... I'm... known to be a bit... s-strange, Bree-senpai," she said nervously. She didn't want to say how strange. That she'd done htings like heal one student and freaked them out. Then her seizures... "It can... be... difficult sometimes. Feeling like... the one nobody wants around," she admitted.

"N-not that I'm complaining! Just... the way things are sometimes. I'm still lucky for many, many things. I... shouldn't... object to this one, small thing."

It was then the bell went off and she looked up. "Oh dear. I'd better head to class. I don't want to be late. It has been great speaking with you, Bree-senpai. Welcome to the school and I hope you have a great time here," she said with a smile, before turning and... walking off quickly. She didn't want to risk running and having another incident...

Prismara Bree (79) has posed:
The explanation doesn't clear anything up for Mara who just sort of stares, she's been doing that a lot lately, especially to this poor girl. But luckily the bell is there to break her out of her fog.

"Class," she repllies, looking about as excited as someone being led to an execution. She gives a nod, having not realized that they spent all of her morning time with the flowers talking about other things, but then again maybe she met someone she could actually relate to? Mara wasn't sure so she sort of gives her polite farewell,

"Farewell." She's simple like that.

And just stares after Hotaru leaving. "A waste of time," she murmurs to herself under her breath before heading to class. She had at least didn't have to use a lot of the weird techonology, it was something to look forward to and a glance over her shoulder indicated perhaps she would try to find the comrade in shortness again sometime.