estoria | ( OPEN. )

[ A : 2/11 ] MY TOWN NEEDS ME
[ let me tell you a story all about how milla's life got turned upside d-- ah, no, you're probably just walking by a bench on the street / in the gardens / wherever there's a place to sit down, said bench currently occupied by a blonde woman staring down at the cerealia equivalent of a 3ds ( Cds? is that copyright infringement? who knows ), mildly focused on whatever game she's playing ( Animal Crossing. Robot Crossing. Alien Crossing?? ).

it's when you pass by that she puts it down beside her for a second to close her eyes, stretch, and when you're finally done passing that bench... she's looking beside her, and -- offended gasp -- it's gone.

( it's not gone, actually, she just can't see it. )

do excuse that blonde woman now grabbing you by the shoulder to turn you around, either looking mildly unimpressed or a little bit angry depending on whether or not she knows you. ]

Do you think I'm an idiot?

[ don't answer that ]

[ B : 2/13 ] PLEASE STOP TALKING TO ME
[ and through the next couple of days, milla's gotten the general gist of what's going on. people can't see certain things... she can't, either, but she hasn't been able to notice any kind of pattern to what exactly she's blind to. it's annoying. it's unsettling.

what does animal crossing have to do with her cooking tools and her shitty romcoms that she completely doesn't own?

she's uncharacteristically getting take-out as she ponders these terrible, terrible thoughts, walking down the street and-- either she just doesn't see whoever's there (if she's talked to your character once or more, and the conversation's been positive) or she just.

flat-out bumps into you, too distracted to catch herself before the fact. enjoy the mcceres all over you now, either way. she's sorry? here, she's apologizing right now-- ]

Are you kidding me?!

[ just kidding, she's already too peeved, adding to her already unlikeable personality. if you're invisible, she's just looking back and forth, incredibly confused. ]

[Things have gotten worse and worse and worse for Abe no Sousei. He hasn't slept in a handful of days now, and it shows; his posture is as straight as ever, but sometimes he lists a little to the side before he catches himself and shakes himself out of it, and there are times when he really is just legitimately staring into space while he half-dozes off while standing up--

But the music is still too loud to sleep, and after a moment he blearily blinks, turns, and runs smack into Milla.

Usually something like that wouldn't throw him off quick so badly, but he's already pretty unbalanced, with the vertigo as it is; he stumbles, and ends up grabbing for her so he doesn't fall, an automatic reaction. He catches her shoulder unlike what certain game scenes would imply is necessary and winces.

augh.]

... Milla?

[ thanks for not repeating the bear paw incident.

i mean, what. she's fine but her dinner's gone, all over the ground, though that's not at all her main concern now. she's upright, and she feels... something on her shoulder. her automatic response is to stumble backwards away from whatever that is, hand moving to the sword on her waist until--

--the voice, and she freezes.

what, what, what. ]

... Sousei? Where--

[ eyes darting, this way and that, around the general area where she heard the voice and felt that grip, but her gaze is never quite focused on him. ]

[He wasn't expecting her to stumble back quite so immediately and fiercely, and for a moment he thinks he offended her in some way (and also almost falls flat on his face when that support is gone, though he manages to catch himself at the last moment). But then it's...pretty clear that she can't...even see him.

???]

Can you not see me?

[A blink.]

I'm standing right in front of you.

[ ha.

ha.

that actually does bother her a bit. things have been disappearing, yes, and it's uncomfortable in a way, but people? no, her eyes are fine, she can see everyone else, and no one except (apparently) sousei has gone missing yet, so...

she shakes her head. ]

Nice try, CERES.

[ they're just making her hear things, obviously!! she's simply going to collect herself, walk forward and then-- pause, before she aims to move right past sousei.

she's not dealing with this. ]

[.... Ah.

Despite his exhaustion, despite the difficulty he's having even hearing her, he can tell from her expression, from her body posture, from everything--

She doesn't believe it's him, and he snorts vaguely.]

Ah... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that that would be your reaction faced with something like this.

Don't sass me.

[ she manages to step right past him before she stops again at the voice, the nagging at the back of her mind continuing to remind her that the issue is probably her, but there's the part of her that doesn't want to acknowledge the issue going

it's just a little trick.

she doesn't turn around, but the fact she's not walking away is sign enough that. yeah. she figures that what she's said is probably not the case. especially since.... he snorted at her....

would ceres's rendition of sousei snort? no, fake!sousei probably wouldn't get on her nerves as much as the current sousei is right now. ]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that that's your reaction towards being made invisible.

You can't see me, but I am here and visible.

[Ah, he sounds so sure....]

...I can't hear you very well, also. You will have to speak up for me to be able to hear what you're saying.

[It says a lot about Sousei's experiences here that that's delivered so simply, completely unsurprised. But then, he's seen all of these issues going on around them (except Milla's) and now that he does, he just......has to bite back a sigh.

For him, it's his hearing.

For her, it's her sight, isn't it?]

[ are you serious. are you kidding her right now, weren't they supposed to be done with this stuff when that old nosy lady shoved herself into the head honcho position.

she turns to face him. or, well, where she thinks he is and... rubs her eyes, squints. heaves a deep sigh.

what does sousei have to do with animal crossing, cooking tools, and shitty romcoms she totally doesn't own... ]

All right. Then I'll just stand here and nearly yell at someone I can't even see. That won't make me feel like an idiot. [ mumbled, almost. really, everything's put her in a terrible mood, but this is sousei so. she can't just walk away. a little louder, then: ] HOW'S THIS?

[ aaaaaaahhhh. ]

[This is utterly ridiculous, and even Sousei feels a little self-conscious about it. Milla's not quite looking at him, and she's raising her voice, and he can hear her now but it's...

He huffs vaguely, and it's both an amused and an irritated noise all at once.]

I can hear you, yes. We just look and sound completely ridiculous.

[ don't you be amused or irritated in her direction when she's looking like an idiot for you, abe no sousei....... ]

I don't-- [ ah, no, that's too quiet. ] --I DON'T NEED YOU TELLING ME THAT.

[ why does she bother. really, why does she bother. her look of frustration is replaced, however, with a sudden revelation. ]

BUT NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE, YOU CAN DO ME A FAVOR.

Edited 2015-08-03 01:46 (UTC)

[Okay, so they look and sound ridiculous, but he is immediately more serious at that, quirking an eyebrow slightly.]

What is it?

[It doesn't really matter what it is, honestly.

After everything Milla has done for Sousei, there's really no chance he won't do what she asks.]

[ FOR DROPPING MY DINNER ON THE FLOOR... she'd start, but this is something that wasn't his fault so she can't entirely blame him. so instead, her first words, a slightly disgruntled and quieter (still loud, yet not so loud): ]

I CAN'T SEE ANY OF MY COOKING UTENSILS.

[ and while some people would expect this to be followed with the milla equivalent of "SO MAKE ME A SANDWICH", she instead follows that with: ]

... I WANT YOU TO GUIDE ME THROUGH THE KITCHEN.

[ this is a horrible idea.

like the dumbest, dumbest idea, blind cooking, but she kind of needs the stress relief and sousei's already seen her blunder enough that she's. somewhat comfortable with the concept of him potentially being there if she accidentally chops her finger off.

of course she doesn't know that sousei falling asleep standing up is completely possible at the moment. ]

[This is a terrible idea, and he's not afraid to say so, eyes widening a little despite himself.]

There is no way I will be able to guide you through your cooking competently. [He has learned the basics from Milla, sure, but he doubts she's intending to make something super basic.

And he knows that cooking is how she deals with stress, and... and damn, she must not be able to see her cooking implements, but...

... Ugh.]

... So long as you are aware that this is a terrible idea... [...he'll give it a try...]

Edited (icon what) 2015-08-03 02:42 (UTC)

[ wow, whipped.

no, really, milla didn't actually expect him to agree so easily to the idea... mainly because she knows just how bad of an idea it is.

but he's agreed. ]

YOU DON'T NEED TO DO-- [ why is this so much effort cough cough ] --much. TELL ME WHERE EVERYTHING IS, AND MAKE SURE I DON'T SET THE PLACE ON FIRE BY ACCIDENT. SIMPLE.

[ that's not much, apparently.

... now, at a normal level, as this question is a little embarrassing: ]

Where's your arm?

[ outstretching her hand. she wants to make sure he doesn't run after he realizes what a terrible idea this is (not that she thinks he will, but the insurance when your cooking mama partner is invisible is nice). ]

[shut up.......

and make sure she doesn't set the place on fire??? Now he's a little alarmed. This is going to be more dangerous than he thought, isn't it.....he frowns slightly, but before he can say anything, she's asking something else (that he doesn't catch over the ringing music in his ears) and then she's outstretching her arm.

He's not prepared and he doesn't know what she wanted, so in a twist of fate in this stupid thread, she's the one who jabs her fingers into his chest.

Thankfully, it's less embarrassing this way.

Though he's still pretty ????]

What are you doing?

[So he's confused. One minutes he was minding his own business, chewing some gum and humming a tune he's toying with in his head, next some angry blonde turns him around and asking if he thinks she's an idiot.

He has half the mind to respond with a smartass remark, but it was too easy even for him.]

I-I'm sorry?

[ an apology. that means he's admitting it, isn't he?

not that the sorry does anything to placate her, as she's still got her hand on his shoulder, and she's still staring him right down. ]

Are you? [ yeah, she doesn't buy it. a slight narrowing of her eyes, a flat: ] Then give it back.

[ as she lifts her other hand, palm up to indicate he should deposit her game right there. yeah, do it. it was you. ]

[Even more confused. Give what? He sees her open her palm out to him and, he will probably get into even more trouble, he places his hand on hers.]

Uhhh....Pardon me but, what is it I'm supposed to return?

[If he's being hit on, this is the most convoluted pick up line he's ever going to hear.]

What are you--

[ what is he supposed to re-- the combination of his putting his hand on top of hers and still acting like he has no idea what she's talking about just--

--she takes her hand back like he's got a particularly bad case of cooties. ]

--Don't do that again. Just give me back what I was using and put down over there, obviously [ aka what is right there, currently closed, on the bench that she's not gesturing to ] and I'll ignore this urge to hit you.

[ not hit on you, HIT YOU. ]

[Okay, less confused now. Now he sees what's going.]

Miss, whatever you're looking for, I don't have it.

[He raises his arms so she could get a good look at him. Sure he's wearing a hoodie, but the pockets on him don't indicate that there's anything there that would impy that there is content inside. He looks to the bench and....well...]

I have a question. What is it you're looking for exactly?

[ yes, she's looking at his pockets, and anywhere he possibly could've hidden her 3ds but-- nothing. apparently.

as she continues to scout him (also moving forward to put a hand in his pocket, sorry buddy), she answers his question. ]

Asking doesn't make you less suspicious. [ a mumbled "nothing there" as she moves onto the next pocket. ] My game system. There, I answered, now you have one less excuse to fall back on.

[ hand out of that pocket. ]

Is there a hidden compartment in this thing?

[ it's a hoodie, milla. it's just a hoodie. ]

A game system.

[He gives a dumb-founded looking stare at the bench where the what he thinks the item in question is.]

You mean a game system like that over yonder?

[Totally not thinking you're dull Milla.]

[ over where-- she turns, of course, immediately to where he's referring, thinking maybe someone had put it back or he'd put it back or--

--nothing. it's not there. and then she's stepping away from searching him, giving him a glare. ]

Your "what did I steal" excuse was better than that.

[ way, way better.]

I don't know what kind of people you usually rob that that works on them, but there's nothing there.

[He does not have the patience to deal with this. He huffs in annoyance and immediately walks over to the consoles, picks it up, and shoves it right into her hand.]

Lady, I don't know what the hell is going on with you, but you shouldn't just accuse people of being thieves just cause you misplaced your game.

[And please, he only steals from the mob or bad cops. Sometimes good cops if the need is great.]

[ it isn't as if leia is paying much attention. the past day or so has been all about getting from point a to point b, and it's a miracle she manages this much. getting out of bed and moving about feels like a chore, and having mcceres being spilled all over her... well, it doesn't make things better or worse.

she just blinks, looking down at her wet clothes that feel like ice (just like they did before).

it's not until milla cries out that she reacts, however sluggishly and belatedly. ]

Milla! S... Sorry... [ her voice shakes, a shiver running down her spine. ]

[ that was cold. that was cold, and that was solid, and that was leia's voice. also her food's gone but that's a bit hard to focus on when you've got the mystery of "what was that" standing right in front of you.

milla blinks, trying to get around the oddness of this situation but-- she can't. ]

It's--

[ it's fine, is the automatic reaction, but there's nothing? no one? there for her to say her dull "it's fine" to.

sorry, leia, milla's going to outstretch a hand in your general direction as she tries to figure out where exactly you are. ]

--They made you invisible too?

[ as she recalls... leia's shivering, and shaking, and. everything else, all she can say for sure is that that's ceres taking things a bit too far. ]

[ it's not the first time she's seen it. the empty eyes looking right through her, the eyes that widen at her voice, ever searching. not that milla can see it, but she frowns. ]

No... [ it's the answer to her question, but then she continues: ] Not you, too. IV c... can't see me either...

I don't want to be invisible.

( OPEN. )

MILLA

b...

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