open, catch-all for december (spring)

[irresponsibly]

🎮WHO: Lucia and you
🎮WHAT: Bonus effects, other things
🎮WHEN: Through Spring
🎮WHERE: Throughout the island
🎮WARNINGS: n/a, will add as needed. Plotting is here

a rainy day - 10th

[ Today is supposed to be nice and sunny, and it is on most places throughout the island. Everywhere except the area immediately above Lucia, apparently. Wherever she walks, rain clouds follow up above, and there's a light drizzle that sprinkles down towards her. She doesn't have an umbrella. She just seems to be zoned out, walking to her destination: The library.

She's also trying to look at who's in the area, so as to not get them caught up in the drizzling. She'll make an attempt to swerve out of the way of anyone who's passing by, which looks rather odd. Hm. ]

a teenager - 11th

[ There's a girl, somewhere between 15 and 16 years old, with long red hair roaming around. There are two people who currently fit this description, but the glasses give her away – this is not Diluc, this is Lucia. She's currently sitting under a tree in the shade, somewhere near town, pressing buttons on her phone. There's a disgruntled look on her face. Seems like she can't get something to work.

She ends up looking pretty huffy before she shoves her phone back into her pocket. Then, she rises to her feet and starts speed walking towards the shops. Where is she going...? ]

farming - throughout the month

[ Anyone who's passing by the Lucia-Gentaro forest farm may catch her outside at any given point during the day. She's getting to work on her farm, and there appears to be a small assortment of mushrooms growing! How nice. There's also a small patch of flowers that are also in the process of growing. Seems like things are going decently.

There's also a little calico cat that's roaming around outside, circling around Lucia at times. The cat will let out a little "meow" if she spots a visitor, and trot up to the newcomer. This will alert Lucia, and she'll turn to whoever's at her farm and stand up rather quickly. ]

Hello... Do you need something?

Comments

[irresponsibly]

Good point. Trading crops seems to be the "currency" here, so...

[ But she just wanted to make sure. Anyway, ]

Well, since we're here. Is there anything you want to talk about?

[catarou]

Indeed.

[ Hmm. ]

How are you faring here?

[ He's curious, and... maybe he cares about her well-being. ]

[irresponsibly]

I think...I'm quite happy here, actually.

[ And it's the truth. She really is. ]

How about you? Any luck with anyone yet?

[catarou]

[ He looks pleased at that; he remembers Gaku's words when they'd met. Insecure, that's true. She's not the only one, though, and though it's presumptive to think as much, Gentaro truly believes this place is doing wonders for her.

He lets out a chuckle, shaking his head. ]

No, I... can't say I have. Settling in has taken precedence, but perhaps I will try my hand with someone.

[ Will he, though? Doubtful, but he thinks it would be nice to find someone. Even just for a little while, and he won't have to peel back the layers and layers of lies. ]

[irresponsibly]

[ Something about that makes her worry a little, like Gentaro won't be able to go home for a while, or that he'll be unhappy if he ends up alone – but she could very well just be imagining it. She acknowledges that she's probably worried over nothing, simply because she cares about his well-being, so she keeps those thoughts to herself and decides offering something more encouraging would be nicer. ]

Well...it wouldn't hurt, I think, to try eventually. I think there's a lot to like about you...if that's not...too weird to say.

[catarou]

[ ... Ah.

That manages to catch him off-guard. The tiny bud of guilt that lives in his chest takes root again. It's kind of her to say that, truly. And yet... he doesn't know how to feel, exactly. Guilt, yes. A touch of sadness, because Lucia is kind and he's lied to her this entire time.

He recovers, but the damage is done, because he'd let the mask slip just enough. He offers her a smile and that, at least, isn't a lie. ]

Thank you, Lucia. [ How he wishes he could be what she thinks he is. ] On the contrary, I don't think it is. [ a pause. ] I could say the same about you, too. Had you not been my roommate, I would've had a much more difficult time... even with the spear situation.

[irresponsibly]

[ Ironically, she feels the same way as Gentaro. She's not trying to lie, she's not trying to fool anyone, but she feels like in some ways she has. She's a cursed child for a reason, after all, and once he knows about everything she's done...maybe he'll run, too.

Then again, Gaku didn't. Neither did Noé. Maybe Gentaro will be okay, too. It's why she doesn't comment on that flicker of sadness, though she'll certainly remember it. ]

...You...you really think so? [ She looks sincerely moved by his words. ] Thank you, too, then. I'm glad to hear it. Rooming with you is really easy and effortless...so I'm grateful for that as well.

[catarou]

[ Gentaro's surprised. Usually (for good reason, admittedly) people find him obnoxious, irritating; he invites that intentionally, because if he let anyone in, then it would only backfire. Ramuda and Dice... meeting them had been serendipitous, something he'd never expected, but something he'd found without even realizing he needed it.

The way she looks at him, like she's moved, is something he knows of. The letters in a box back home are proof of that. It's different seeing it in person, though. Gentaro's overwhelmed by the tangled ball of emotions he feels, but...

He's grateful, even if he doesn't completely believe her. Maybe it's just enough, though, to draw a quiet smile to his lips. ]

I appreciate your saying so. [ You would be the first. ] Would you believe it if I told you that I have never had a roommate before you?

[ It's a lie, it's a lie, a lie he'll hold onto until it turns to dust and he can't lie anymore. ]

[irresponsibly]

Really?

[ Sadly, she believes it. Gentaro's lies are so well-crafted and hidden that she doesn't suspect a thing – but she's never been trained in the art of detecting a fib when she's faced with one. She has no reason to doubt him, and for that reason, her expression is one that isn't colored with any sort of disbelief. ]

I feel like I shouldn't, but you're doing great so far. I have no complaints, despite being in the same position as you. It's my first time rooming with anyone.

[catarou]

[ Sometimes, there are lies he doesn't like telling, even if they're told with the best of intentions. Sometimes, there are people he doesn't like lying to, even if it's a white lie that he tells to protect himself.

... Lucia is one of those people, he realizes, but he can't open up. Not now. Maybe not ever. But he smiles all the same, a small thing that's no less genuine. ]

It seems our inexperience has canceled each other out. [ He chuckles. ] But please no, if I can do anything to make you more comfortable or at ease, don't hesitate to tell me. You'll find it's quite difficult to offend me.