Pinefall High Dormitory, Common Area
Evening Phase
06.09.1994
Still Sunny in the Evening
There is pride, and then there is pride.
If I sum this to the more…infamous news concerning this man, yes, it is not hard to figure out why he is here.
Too bad. The color he sees is worthless to me. As he is right now, Pyry Leijonamieli is worthless to me. No, how could he compare to the flicker I saw in the fair Lady Cheshire (whose spirited laughter still fills the room)?
A single flicker like the entire cosmos.
Alas, he is still here, and thus he’ll be needed to sustain the lie.
On the other hand, Inacio Ilusão. Artists have their own perception of the world, and a man who has endured the burden of the spotlight has lived in a world of falsities on top of falsities. I am not so arrogant to claim I can see through all the lies of others. Therefore, just by virtue of those words, this young artist might be somewhat worth looking at.
Summoning warmth to my face, I respond to the Portuguese musician with my well-practiced placid smile.
“I am certain everybody here would be grateful for it.”
With that, I move to claim the space offered, turning my perfect smile to…
“Thank you, you’re too kind, Miss…Ubon, I believe? Yes.”
With a move as practiced as the others, my left leg rests atop the right. Minimize use of space; minimize accidental contact. Meanwhile, Miss Cheshire refutes the existence of “butt-fleas”—her body language, however…could it be—no, that’s definitely grasping at straws.
Oh, better seize the opportunity offered.Originally Posted by Adelaide Alvena Cheshire
“Ah, all too pleased to meet you, Adelaide.”
Now’s the time. I turn to my uniquely-haired neighbor.
“As for your worries, Miss Ubon, well…from my understanding, fleas do not have the habit of settling in a specific part of the body, so your ‘butt-fleas’ by now would have become ‘everywhere-fleas’. I do not see you scratching yourself everywhere, so I can confidently ascertain that you are safe.”
I wait her eyes to grow, showing the growing luster of understanding. As understanding shifts into relief, I allow my smile to grow a bit wider, transitioning into a smirk.
“Now, butt-ticks, on the other hand…”
Now, Miss Ubon, do be kind and give me the face I’m looking for.
“They thrive in old vehicles like that bus, especially in these heavily-forested areas of the Pacific Northwest. Sneaky and stubborn little bastards, they are. You don’t feel when they latch on to you, and before you notice—BAM!”
A sudden exclamation, closing the distance between our faces about halfway.
“You have an ugly black bean dangling from your buttock like a big, pulsating wart.”
I take a moment to offer an eloquent wink to the others present. Sakura at the very least looks like the kind of person who could swallow this story whole if I don’t. Actually…
“But I’m sure we have nothing to worry about; it would be unthinkable of a man like Mr. Oceandrop to not follow at least the most basic of sanitary standards in this project of his, after all. More importantly…”
My face turns back to the two celebrities.
“Do you not think we are at a slight disadvantage here? Everybody probably knows who you are, but the same cannot be said of the ladies here.”
I let my affable smile fall on Sakura.
“I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Sakura while on the bus.”
I just need to conjure the right image in my mind to let mirth sparkle in my eyes.
“Allow me to reassert my support to your culinary crusade. I look forward to see what Sakura Tsukioka is capable of. With that said, would I ask for too much if I said I want you to share a little about yourselves? Miss Ubon…”
Naturally, my eyes inevitably seek the worthiest one in the room. Perhaps I am getting ahead of myself.
Perhaps she can indeed give me a hint to the truth.
I am not flawless, and I can’t stop myself. My eagerness drips into my facial muscles, and my smile grows just a little bit wider.
“…Adelaide.”