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A Lot to Learn || @Connie

Her gaze scanned the outlines of Flowerbud with a less-than-enthusiastic glow. It wasn’t often that she got to enjoy the scenery. She had been too preoccupied with a few troubles that hung over her head like a hang noose lately. It was about time that she got out and enjoyed herself (even if she was convinced that she didn’t need a break). Right when her feet hit the downhill gradient of the hill, she just took off running. The wind picked up from behind her and before Claire knew it, she couldn’t stop for anything in the world. 

Now if only Claire’d learn that she needs to keep her eyes on the road.

Crashing into an unfamiliar figure, the books in her hands went flying. Ah, Goddess. Laughing awkwardly, she scattered to pick up the things she sent up in the air and directed her apologetic grin at the stranger. “…Haha… Sorry about that. Really, I am!” 

"I guess I still have a lot to learn.."

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There was a significant difference between the words 'can't' and 'won't'. Claire didn't quite understand why something like that occurred to her, especially since they were ensnared in the spur of the moment. He can’t believe me. Something about that irrationally pricked at her chest. ‘Can’t’ meaning that there was something stopping him from believing her— as opposed to ‘won’t’ which would be a refusal due to his own volition. Whether that obstacle was his obstinacy or her own, however, she was unsure.

Though she stood with her heels drilled into the floor and back straightened out, there was no doubt that she too was shaky at best—in his eyes at least. If that was the case, Claire couldn’t help but blame hers--shoulder the blame for this mess.

How much did she have to do to prove herself?

No. That wasn’t right. Claire rubbed her temples harshly, redirecting her thoughts down the correct path. The real question was ‘How deep was she willing to dig to try and understand them both?’

If it didn’t occur to her back then, it sure was hitting her like a freight train now. Jamie, of all people, was a living enigma, an utter self-justifying narcissus. But to say she understood him would be wrong. She wasn’t any less lost than he was. She didn’t understand herself—not completely at least. She was confident to a fault but when it came down to it, she didn’t know where it all came from. Hell, she wasn’t like this a few years ago, so what exactly were her motives now? Why did she continue to work for something she couldn’t clearly define?

And how much of her was he willing to trust if she was this unsteady in the first place?

It was unsettling to let this thought sink into her system. But her words earlier still rang in her head clear as day.

“It’s you I’m thinking about.” Something about the way it slipped out of her mouth felt right. But at the same time—a hand flew over her mouth out of delayed realization. It might have felt right but dear Goddess above, did she have no tact? The beating of her chest was drowned out by his vigorous kick against the door. If she didn’t know any better, she would have assumed he had cracked a bone or two in the process.

A storm of questions brewed in the pit of her stomach, as mixed emotions and muddled thoughts stirred mercilessly. But nothing managed to sink in as much as the odd sense of relief that enveloped her. If he could stay, it’d give her a chance to sort this all out. She shifted towards a front pew, multiple rows ahead of his own. Her eyes focused on nothing in particular, as she tilted her head up in contemplation. Something. Anything to say right now would be appreciated!

“Then… if that’s the case… Let me keep trying to reach out to you.” Ugh! Was that the best she could come up with? “Frankly, I’ll keep trying whether or not you agree, but—“ She chuckled wistfully, before bowing her head.

“Let me have a chance to try and understand you. Perhaps you’ll believe me then.”

“And if you don’t, then so be it. Perhaps you’ll get to see me as someone other than another selfish stranger.”

Falling over a Cup of Coffee | @Jamie

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"Righhht, tough guy. But, you were moaning about your leg just five minutes ago though." Claire's sapphire eyes went rolling, but she didn't have any other objections for the time being. She had to get to town before night fell or they'd be tangled up in more trouble than she could anticipate. The fireflies were already out and about, coloring the scarlet-hued sky with tinges of yellow. "We'll sit down, when we get there then, okay?"

Huh. It really was a small world, wasn't it? She blinked once as his words slurred together sloppily, revealing just who he was. Claire abruptly snorted, breaking out into jingling chuckles. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me! I've been looking for you all along? Well, I guess this is the best way to fall right into your life huh?"

"I'm Claire. Claire Wright! Your.. uh... Career Day hunting buddy. Well, I was supposed to be anyway..." Birthday, huh? Claire felt a twinge of guilt for finding Riley scrawled on the ground on his birthday. He didn't have anyone he could celebrate with? All the scattered alcohol bottles seemed to tell the whole story. "But I guess--"

"I guess we're birthday buddies now, huh?" She flashed a softer smile at the giddy light that danced in his eyes. "Heck yeah! Let there be cake!"

You Can Switch Cake With Beer...Right? || Claire & Riley

"Don’t need a doctor…jus’ need to sit," Riley responded in contempt at the very mention of a doctor. Freaking doctors…always giving him bad news whenever he walked in the door. Spending more than a long time with a doctor after the amputation did not help his thoughts about them…always another surgery and ‘I’ll need to adjust your prosthetic one more time’ and ‘are you sure you’re making the right joint care because you don’t seem responsible enough.’ 

Riley looked at her with a surprised look when she asked her name. Names…? Oh yea…who was she, anyway? Wait…why was she helping him when they didn’t know each other? The hunter decided to not really question it. She looked really nice and pretty, so she wasn’t going to lecture him. Plus, she was going to celebrate with him, right?

"Riley! What’s yours?" the hunter announced a little louder than he had been speaking before, “‘m celebratin’ my birthday…well…guess I am…" His last words were a little subdued as he looked back down to the ground, struggling to make sure that he was stepping on the ground. It made him feel bad to use this woman as a crutch, but with every hesitance that came with his right leg he knew he had to use her. He could only hope that his steps were helping her along.

"Oh! Is there going to be cake?" Riley suddenly asked with a drunken smile, his mood turning another 360 to happy.

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"If you're hurting, we should get you to a doctor, you know." Claire glanced him over, wondering if he was actually hurting or if he was a bit drunk out of his mind. She couldn't look over his leg now that he was basically using her as a crutch, but he wasn't crying out in pain and there were no traces of blood on his clothes. She'd check up on him again once they were in town. Letting out a ghost of a sigh, Claire wondered if he would sober up before they got back.

"I'll treat you to anything you want! Well, as long as you don't burn out my wallet, haha." Claire wondered if she was giving out empty promises again. Agh, this was no time to doubt her own motives; she needed to get him out of this cave no matter what. And heck, Claire was going to do everything in her power to keep this guy company for the time being. Hopefully, if he didn't pass out, Claire could give him the party she promised him. 

"Say Mister, what's your name? What are you celebrating for?"

She managed to lug him slowly out of the pile of empty bottles, half-dragging him onto a clearer path through the leafy greenery. Summer fireflies began to flicker in the evening time air. Hah... it almost seemed as though they were lining the forest with strings of light. Well, it was definitely a beautiful day to be celebrating....even if half the party wasn't sober.

You Can Switch Cake With Beer...Right? || Claire & Riley

Riley let out a dry chuckle at her question, “‘m definitely hurt…my leg’s gone…” He didn’t protest as the mysterious blonde began to lift him up. His arm had just rolled over her shoulders limply as if he had no control at all. However, the sudden realization of not feeling his right leg nearly made him topple over. If it wasn’t for her, he would have definitely toppled over before he even got completely onto his feet. 

As if in a trance, he stared at the leg. It was as if he was confused as to why he couldn’t feel it, but then he remembered again and frowned. Standing, no matter what kind of crutch he had, did seem like a huge victory for the drunken hunter. He felt his lips curl into a smile. He was standing…after drinking so much. Barry didn’t have to come find him…that was good…

"Party for two…?" Riley slurred with a smile, "W-What are we gonna do?" Though his words could be misconstrued as bad intentions, the look on his face was nothing but curious. 

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"Oh Goddess, you got stuck with my job." Claire wiped the edge of her eyes in a fake crying act. "They grow up so fast." Breaking out in quiet snickers, Claire shot her a curious glance. Angela was a bit tense when mentioning this person, as she subtle shifted her necklace out of sight. "So who'd you need to bail? He must've been important if you were busting your neck for them." 

Rolling her eyes, Claire tried to keep her act up a little longer. "You know, even if you learned from the master, you still have a lot to learn, young grasshopper. Who get's caught after learning from the best!?" Claire shot her a mischievous smirk that could have left anyone a bit afraid. Clicking her tongue, Claire shook her head playfully as her blonde band swept side to side. 

"In fact, you're hiding something right now, aren't you?" Tilting her head, she scratched the back of her neck. "Is it from that guy you bailed?" It must have been. Honestly, Angela was always easy to read when they were younger. Even when she didn't want to be. Maybe it was because she practically lived with Ange for a while as she hid out at Claire's place. Ange's parents were suffocating, to word it lightly. Dreams were hard to come-by in that household, so Ange found an escape elsewhere. And, well, that escape happened to be her.

"Geez, Ange, you make this guessing game a little too easy for me."

Same Old Punch || @Angela

The two dissolved into laughter for a little over Angela’s favorite band. It was always subject to jokes, it was something the brunette was more than used to. Having them come from Claire though, wow. She really missed her high school bud.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down there you Grade A, thug— You what now? You actually got arrested?” 

Angela smiled cheekily as the blonde digested the news. Of course, the smile was soon wiped away and replaced with a palm to the forehead. Damn it. This was what she got for trying to make it like it was just her by herself. Stupid.

"Okay maybe I should explain a bit first. See, technically I didn’t do anything, I just ended up getting wrapped up in someone else’s shit on a complete fluke. Not much of an excuse I know, but well… It was a friend of mine and I tried to bail him out of trouble."

In all honestly, it was a shit excuse. Angela subtly tried to hide that locket hanging around her neck. The last thing she needed was Claire seeing that picture. Goddess, that would lead to a shitstorm.

"But next time I plan on stirring up some trouble, I’ll call you."

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What was your last dream about?

"A train station." Her weary chuckles fell flat for a moment. 

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Tilting her head in concern, Claire held herself steady as he took his hand in hers. Her nose twitched as the sickeningly sweet smell of alcohol bathed the entire cave in intoxicating waves. It was fine, it was fine. He didn't seem like he was going to cause too much trouble. In fact, that wistful look in his eyes made her heart plummet a hundred yards below zero. His grip slipped away soon after, as though he was ashamed of taking her hand in the first place. 

"This isn't the right place to celebrate, bud," She murmured calmly, trying to coerce him into moving elsewhere. Claire didn't exactly know what to say to the rest of his incoherent whispers. "Ah, I'm sure you're fine as you are... " His leg's gone? What could he mean by that? To her, he looked as though he was in one piece. But she could be wrong; hell, he was lying in the middle of a cave entrance drunk. He could have injured himself or worse while intoxicated. "Unless-- Are you hurt?"

"I don't know your name, Mister, but we're getting you out of here!" Gingerly, she moved his bottles aside and shifted his weight onto hers. Flashing him a quick grin, she huffed. "Look, here's a promise, alright? You get out of here and I'll show you the time of your life!" Slinging his arm over her shoulders, she pulled him to his feet. (Thank the Goddess for all that weight lifting over the years.) 

"A party of two is definitely more fun, dontcha think?"

You Can Switch Cake With Beer...Right? || Claire & Riley

Riley stirred at the sound of a voice, though he could hardly tell what it said. The words were numbed, flowing into his ears with syllables that could barely be discerned from each other. He rolled his head around to finally meet eyes to someone who had materialized before him. It took him a few seconds to mash together the words she had spoken, something that seemed harder. His brain was an ocean and he was trying to grasp liquefied information that slipped through his fingers at every attempt.

Finally some recognition traced his features and he grinned at the strange visitor, “Hey there…no need to help me. Just doin’ some celebratin’ ‘n stuff…don’t need help…I can take ‘em…” He mumbled to himself a little longer before his eyes traced the hand that had been offered to him. His calloused hand took hers and held it gently. It was warm…so warm. His eyes lowered and looked ashamed to have even taken the hand.

"I…can’t walk…" Riley whispered sadly, "My leg’s gone…don’t help me…don’t need it…" He pulled his hand away before she could even attempt to pull him up.

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First day of the Fireworks Festival and Claire was already off an about in another town completely. Goddess, if she was such a wanderlust, why did she decide to settle down in such a small humble town smack-dab in the middle of nowhere anyway? Wait. She had dashed into that mess headfirst without thinking, and before she knew it, she was stuck with her choice. Haha, at least she didn't regret it in the long run, huh? Yeah, it was a pretty sweet miracle that things ended up the way they did.

Hmmm, hmmm. Castanet was adorned in ribbons and dashed with a festive aura that seemed to rub off on her. The last time she had visited, she and Ange had quite the reunion, to word it lightly. But this time around, Claire was here to have a little fun, meet some new people and let loose for once.

So where to start? The banners and signs signified that the fireworks definitely weren't going to start any time soon. Pivoting on her toes, she took the entire area in with one sweeping glance and just randomly picked a direction to head in. Well okay, her nose picked her direction for her, hahaha. 

Something smelled awfully great, as a sweet, seafood smell wafted out of a small stall by the beach. With a click of her boots, she was in there in a flash. Her signature smile was out and ready to knock some new people out, while she kept her fiery spirit tucked back in her pocket for a bit. Honestly, she was a tad too excited for all this. As she ducked to look under the booth awning, Claire's voice chimed in. 

"Hi there! Are you guys open for business ye--"

Claire's eyes widened as she witness something that would probably be ingrained in her mind forever. There was a girl dressed in pink talking to her fish balls. Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Well, uh... to each their own? Claire cleared her throat and slowly took a few steps back in retreat. Maybe she should leave the fish ball girl to her own devices.

What a wonderful start to her day. Just wonderful.

Two Wrongs Do Make a Wright // Claire & Maya

"So we meet again, old friends.”

Maya narrowed her eyes at the little fried balls laying innocently in a basket out on the counter. Takoyaki balls. How many years had the recipe eluded her? It was the traditional snack of the fireworks festival; Yolanda must have made hundreds each time the holiday rolled around. And yet never, not once, had Maya succeeded in making a batch. The octopus was cut too large, or the batter the wrong consistency, or maybe there weren’t enough spices in the glaze.

All details she eventually managed to work through.

But the one thing that seemed impossible to get right was the perfectly round shape. Maya had studied the griddle, watched Yolanda, and even set timers for herself, but it never worked! One side would always be cooked too much or too little, the batter would be uneven in texture, and the most frustrating result (besides just burning it completely) was when the balls were too raw and ended up falling apart. Maya would stare at the utter failure before when that would happen, noting how the takoyaki was in pieces… much like her culinary career.

“Stop mocking me!” Maya grumbled as she took the basket and headed out of the inn towards the beach. At least it was a beautiful day. The weather was hot but a consistent sea breeze kept it from being unbearable. The ocean was as blue as the sky, which was crystal clear and would provide a perfect backdrop for the fireworks later that night. Her family’s booth was situated in the sand near some other vendors. Jake was crouched over a griddle, but when he spotted Maya’s pink dress he waved her over.

“Maya!” he said as she set everything down. “Will you watch the booth while I go help your mother and grandmother?” He didn’t wait for her to answer, but he did pause mid-step and call over his shoulder. “And don’t feed the birds this time. We don’t need a repeat of the debacle last year.”

She didn’t even get the chance to defend herself before he was gone. What a meanie! Maya pouted as she grabbed a toothpick and stabbed one of the balls. She lifted it up to her face and glared at it with childish disdain.

“I hate you,” Maya said before taking a bite. As much as she wanted keep her sour expression, her face soon broke out in delight as her mouth burst with flavor. Some drool collected on the end of her toothpick as her eyes slipped shut. If heaven were fried and served as a seafood snack at Summer festivals, this would be it. Finally she swallowed and looked back at the basket.

“I lied,” Maya breathed out. “I could never hate you. But why do you have to be so… so complicated?!” Forgetting that she should probably be saving most of it for the customers, Maya skewered another ball and quickly popped it into her mouth. 

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Another penciled-in cross over her overused map marked her travels. She had an appointment with a certain Riley Sereno for the Career Day Program she had signed up for a while back, but Goddess, was she arriving off schedule. Her boatride had been delayed 2 days and she swore she should have just booked a plane to his place. It was awfully late now but Claire couldn't look back now. She'd just find a place to stay the night after checking in with her new friend, heh. 

Her scratched-up boots thumped softly against the rocky roadways, as she followed the map down through forest and leafy foliage. For a moment her eyes traced the outlines of a cave, but she immediately dropped her gaze once more and kept a move on. But the sight that glazed into her mind made her stop right in her tracks and turn back. If she was seeing things straight, then there was definitely someone lounging around by the entrance. And they seemed out of it for sure.

"Hey! Are you alright there? Did you get lost on your way to Selph--" The stench of alcohol momentarily knocked her off her mental track and the line of bottles the that surrounded him wasn't a pretty sight either. It sent a chill running down her spine for a second, before she shook it off. She swallowed subtly, trying to take rational steps to helping the poor guy. "I'm here to help, alright? The name's Claire Wright and we'll get you to a warm place to rest soon!" 

With a smile plastered across her face, she crouched down to look at him at eye level. Holding out her hand to help him up, she murmured, "So how's about it, buddy?"

You Can Switch Cake With Beer...Right? || Claire & Riley

To most people, a birthday was something held in high regard. It was the holiday celebrating yet another year of life and wishing for another prosperous year. People would gather around, giving their wishes and presents to the lucky person who could happily claim the date as their own. 

Looking up from the bottom of a bottle, Riley could only think of how much bullshit that was. Here he was, stuck inside a cave with only some bottles of beer for company. At some point he had curled up next to this big rock, but he wasn’t exactly complaining. It felt nice to just hold something…even if it was cold. 

Riley suddenly sat up, wondering if there was another bottle of beer left. He forgot how much he had bought before. Not like there was anyone else that could take his beer, so he would know right away if he was out or not. Looked like there was nothing left, so Riley just laid back down with the rock. Looks like the celebration was over for him…

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Claire almost winced as toxic dripped from his very aura and the very essence of his animosity was honed into his harsh motions. Almost was the key word. Tossing insults at her merely bounced off the surface of her mind--or so she wished it to appear. She wasn't indifferent to the matter--no, the wounds dug deep into her skin-- but she could manage the aching without so much as a cringe. For now, at least. But freak wasn't the last of his verbalized enmity. 

As soon as she dropped the word selfish into the mix, even the dimming light from outside could not save them from the darkness brewing from within. Something atrocious seemed to have boiled from his internal demons and spewed out in the form of spot-on retorts. In that very moment, Claire felt as though he had taken the ground from right under her. It was something akin to someone nicking at a central nerve; Claire was starting to crack from within. She would bolster herself the best she could, but obviously, they had both had enough. From the pit of her stomach rose familiar, irrational scarlet wave of anger that washed over her. She tempered the flames ever so slightly as to keep from being hurt in the recoil, but Claire blasted away. 

"I-- What the hell are you going on about? You never asked, sure, but no one ever just asks when they've already buried themselves alive!" Claire lifted both hands near her head and shook them violently, as though he had blown her mind to smithereens with his despicable squabble. "What did you want me to do? Leave you to your own devices as you wallowed in your damn God-complex? Ignore you when you were on your knees, in grotesque pain from a mental breakdown? Turn my back on you in the rain on that hazy summer night to drown? I can't belie--" 

"Never ONCE did I ever give a DAMN about you or your shitty— your shitty promises." Something, for the first time in ages, made her heart plummet into a cold vacuum. Her blind rage was attenuated with another emotion so despicably familiar. "I-- I can't believe you." She murmured through the chill that blanketed the church. The rest of her words were lost, as the warm colors of her rosy cheeks drained from her face. He could accuse her of not caring? After all this time, he could still manage to do that? She choked on an overwhelming desire to throw up, yet there was nothing in her system but cold, hard doubt.

She did care. She did do it all for him. Why were his accusations hitting so close to home if she knew she wasn't thinking of herself here. She did care. She did do it all for him. She... did care? She did do it all for him? His words struck a chord within her that she had not realized was there. Or maybe she knew exactly what chord he had struck but she had hidden it away behind so many curtains of denial that she had forgotten it was there. Did she care? Yes, she did; why the hell was she questioning her own motives? Did she do it for him?

“Like you ever actually gave a damn about me.”

"I DID," her voice boomed throughout the church to answer her own doubts and his accusations.  "I--" 

Some kind of accomplishment? Was this all she thought this was? Was she squeezing the life out of this "do gooder" status in order to gain some self respect? The more he pushed for this stand, the more she seemed to be dancing in limbo. Never once had she ever felt so vulnerable, so naked until she was under his judgmental, crystal glare. His bloodstained hands didn't register until he was almost out the door. I don't need you. I don't trust you. You're just like everyone else. He had nailed her right into a coffin. And he walked away as though he was dusting her off his goddess-damned rainbow poncho.

As suffocated as she felt, Claire would have weakly tried to catch up to him, had the storm not stopped him in his tracks. In a godsend (or, would you consider this a devilsend?), he was stuck with her once again, this time under the walls of the Goddess. No one was getting out of here until they faced the truth and nothing but the truth. His back was turned towards her, as he stared out into the howling winds and rampant rain. It was almost like how he was when they first met. And to think, one of the first things that stood out to her was how he seemed different from the rest. She could almost laugh bitterly at this turn of events. How ironic.

She stood by the stairs of the altar, looking off to trace his figure with her eyes. She refused to be afraid of this man who had stripped her pride and confidence down to a sliver. She refused to have him turn away now without understanding her perspective. If she looked away now, if she doubted herself, she'd lose him in every respect. She had already lost most of it, if not all, in his bout of anger, but she refused to stand down. If she looked away now, if she doubted herself, she'd lose herself in every respect. 

"I won't take that back. I won't, you know. You're selfish and I refuse to rescind the truth. But I do admit... I am just as selfish as you are," her steps began to close the distance between them. "I'm just as selfish. I doubt my motives and force myself into situations I don't belong. I want to believe in change, Jamie, that everyone can change. I want to believe in it so badly." 

"Hell, I can't pretend like I'm perfect. But I know for a fact that in the moment when I'm faced with the decision: to help you or leave you be..."

"It's you I'm thinking about."

Claire's sapphire eyes bore into his back, as she waited for some type of response. "Now you don't need to believe me just yet. It's hard to suddenly believe the bastard who seems to doubt herself right and left. But I believe me. I believe that doubt is only human, and when it comes down to it, you're bound to make the decisions that are the most honest."

"When it comes down to it, I'm thinking of you." 

Falling over a Cup of Coffee | @Jamie

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Did she expect any less? No, honestly, this was all she could have wished for. Claire had that small inch of hope that maybe things hadn't changed too much... Maybe they could get back on track after all these years. It felt the same but Claire honestly couldn't fool herself for long. The past was long gone and she hadn't bothered to dig it up.

So why did she yearn so much for it now? Bah, all this internal conflict trash was going to rupture her brain. It was best to bury her contradictory thoughts alongside her memories... and live in the present. Right here and right now, this was who they had come to be. Claire Wright and Angela Roberts.

Claire's mind clanked away as Angela corrected her honest mistake. Staring Angela straight in the eye, Claire smirked with a retort of her own. "Oh come on, Ange. 30 Seconds to Mars? They've been like that for years! You'd think they'd be closer to the darn planet by now. 20 Seconds seems more like it." She couldn't help crack a laugh at Ange's tastes in men. Sure things had changed, but they didn't seem to matter at all when it came down to it.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down there you Grade A, thug-- You what now? You actually got arrested?" Her eyebrows shot up in utter confusion as Ange tossed some unexpected news, to word it lightly, straight at her. Angela's eyes lit in subtle amusement, so obviously something wasn't as she made it out to be. "So it was some kind of gag arrest, is that what you're telling me?" 

Shaking her head in exasperation, Claire rubbed the spot right between her eyebrows. "Goddess, Angela. How could you have gotten caught if those were gag police? Yeah, I'm definitely coming with you next time, pfft. With me there, there'd be no way you'd leave a trace."

Same Old Punch || @Angela

Funny after so much time had passed, they seemed to have stayed the same. A pang of regret shot though Angela’s body as she remembered all the time they had gone without so much as speaking. High school was rough all around, but at least back then they had each other to count on until Claire had suddenly dropped off the earth. 

She hadn’t even bothered trying to find out what had happened. 

The blonde’s voice cut though her thoughts, depressing as they were, and brought a bit of light into the place. “Simple, but this place definitely screams ‘I’m Ange Roberts and I’m ready to rock and roll!’” Some things never changed, did they? 

"Did you really expect any less?" Angela laughed. It was true, as simple as her home was, it resonated with her personality. 100% Angela Roberts. 

"Ok you did not just say 20 Seconds to Mars.” Angela gasped in mock offence, her usual smirk fluttering in soon after. “Yes I still love those bands, just not as obsessively as I did back in high school.” She paused for a thought. “Except for when it comes to Jared Leto. He’s still hot stuff.” Taking her usual perch onto her the island counter between her kitchen and living room, Angela only shrugged when Claire asked her next few questions. 

"Erm, not a whole lot until recently." She coughed, this was gonna be good. Or it would be, who knew. "I actually got arrested at this Spring Fair. It wasn’t legit or anything but they were pretty determined to put u- I mean me in." The brunette flicked a bit of hair away from her face. "Next time I’m being chased around by cops, I’ll call you though. Make it just like the old days."

[newoldconfelicitous-blog]

The mines gradually shifted into view, as Claire lugged along in comfortable company. She tried to wrap her head around the situation Gray had at home, but she had offered him all the solutions she could come up with already. All they could do was keep on trekking forward in their lives and maybe, just maybe, Saibara would slow down for Gray to catch up. If Saibara refused, it didn't mean Gray had to stop moving forward. 

She nodded in quiet understanding as he complained about Saibara's weak justification. They had a perplexing connection tying them together but the bridge between their mutual understanding wasn't as strong as what either of them wanted. "Just keep on moving forward, Gray. Only time will tell, right?"

Claire signaled him forward in unbridled excitement, as she strolled into the mine's entrance. "Flowerbud's got that 'infinite possibility' feel to it, you know?" She murmured distractedly as she pulled out her trusty upgraded hammer. "It's just full of colorful people and all these new experiences that they don't have back here. And tool sorcerers. Don't forget the sorcerers." Claire chuckled in faint amusement.

"Eh? What do you mean? A bottomless bag sure helps a girl out when she needs it, haha! Unless..." She threw him a mischievous side eye before pacing herself faster into the depths of the cave. "...You're afraid I'll out mine you and bring back more ores! In which case, I'll take that as a challenge!" With a bold grin and eyes that sparked at a challenge, she brought down her hammer.

A Friend || @Gray

[newoldconfelicitous-blog]

For someone who swept her past under a rug, Claire couldn't help feel as though things were falling right back into place again. It was as though nothing had changed, like Ange said before. But they had been apart for so long now, past the years in high school where everything was... simpler? Actually, things was so much more complicated back then now that she thought about it. She felt a heavy stone of regret plummet into the sea of her thoughts, as painful memories rippled for a moment's notice.

Shaking her head to clear the haunting thoughts, she followed Angela's lead back into her comely home. It had the air of a house that had gone through heavy weather and turmoil, but something about it seemed a little bit like home. "Simple, but this place definitely screams 'I'm Ange Roberts and I'm ready to rock and roll!'" Claire's snickers seemed to complete the place; it was as though all it needed were a few celebrating old friends.

"Okay, but you're not Ange unless you've got a few tracks from Apocalyptica or 20 Seconds to Mars lying somewhere... I need my proof, haha!" Joking aside, Claire wondered if Angela had grown out of those bands. Ahhh, there was no way, right? If anything, it was fun playing detective while catching up with her. It made the whole 'jolly ol' memory road' thing less solemn and more... like old times.

"So how have you been? Or should I ask, how much trouble have you gotten into without me?" Faking a pout, Claire murmured jokingly. "Invite me next time! Who'd get you out of jail otherwise?"

Same Old Punch || @Angela

Claire’s laugh and Angela’s smirk seemed to go hand in hand with each other, just like it used to be way back in high school. The two of them really did get into trouble, though Angela seemed to get landed in detention more often than not. Not enough to get kicked off the Track team but… 

Well, you get the idea.

They really got into trouble together, getting into fights and all sorts of other crazy things. They were delinquents together in high school, with Angela usually stealing and Claire hacking into school systems to make sure the brunette stayed on the Track team, they were a dangerous duo, with a lot of memories crammed into those few years they spent together. 

"Got some time to spare for an old friend?"

Angela’s smile mirrored that of Claire’s. “Heck yeah. I always do. C’mon, we should co inside. It’s more comfortable there.” The brunette began to make her way over to the small ranch house and waved her old friend over. It was time to catch up.

[newoldconfelicitous-blog]

[TRUTH]: What kind of animal do you feel you connect with the most?

"I think I'll have to go with... horses! You have to have a certain bond between you and a horse before you can ride him, you know? It's a sort of slow-blooming loyalty anyone would want, heh." Claire scratched the back of her head, attempting to hold back from the typical 'I connect with all my animals' response. Choosing one over the others was always such a bother.

"Domino and I got pretty close over the last year! He's been with me through thick and thin and pulls through when you need him the most." Claire suddenly stopped in her tracks. Taking long strides in the opposite direction, she waved farewell with a smile dashed across her face. "Um, sorry about that, but I need to get going! I've got to see if they still have animal treats in stock!"

[newoldconfelicitous-blog]

Adjusting the straps of her rucksack for a moment, Claire waited for him to catch up. You know, for such a down to earth kind of guy, he seemed as though he had his head stuck in the clouds. Maybe he had too many things buzzing around at the moment...

"A genius, huh? That explains a lot..." Claire never really questioned where Saibara got his skills until then. She always supposed that it was purely from years of experience. If he really was a genius, it'd explain why he was so hard on his grandson. Being born top class definitely gave you higher expectations. "Y'know, even geniuses have to start somewhere." Claire murmured her incoherent, broken-up thoughts under her breath.

"Uh, I mean, that would explain why he's so hard on you all the time. Being a genius would mean he's forging items on a whole other playing field..." Claire quickly tried to piece together her thoughts to make some sense for the poor guy. It was a good thing Gray could keep up with her; sometimes she beat to her own drum without any consideration for the people around her. "Anyways, he'd probably grab at any type of ores he could get, you know? So then it'd be a win win! I could get some ores to ship off and you could bring some home to Saibara."

"Yep! I've got all that covered, thanks to this rucksack I bought over at Flowerbud," Claire paused for a moment to point her thumb back at her trusty bag. "Mineral Town rucksacks can barely carry a thing! I think Flowerbud's using sorcery to make these things bottomless." She was kidding of course, but that didn't stop her from wondering... 

A Friend || @Gray