[I: General/Sunday] Go somewhere new. Get some fresh air. Simple enough instructions to follow. And initially, Michelle is ready and content to do just that.
She manages perhaps one hour, tops, before that plan comes crashing down.
And the catalyst for that? Comes in the form of one flower stand she finds herself halting in front of. (And perhaps tripping up any number of people behind her, due to how sudden her stop is.) It’s one of those stands selling flowers at wallet gouging prices, but certainly appears to deliver on their displays; today’s selection comes in the form of hibiscus blooms, all in a dramatic array of colors and patterns. A few even are set under UV lights, to glimmer against black backdrops.
It’s all very pretty. Which doesn’t explain the way Michelle’s eyes narrow, and her expression wars between distaste… and a certain degree of desire.
“So, they decided this was the best time to trot out their bio-organics research?” She frowns at a logo set above the plants. Some sort of stylized crown and eye symbol; it’s almost drowned out by all the blooms. And the fact it’s easy to see as a simple corporate brand, in different parts of town.
“…But.” She finds herself continuing, more quiet than before. “Those flowers are… nice, I suppose.”
With the way she edges towards them, ‘nice’ is a clear understatement.
Try to talk her out of making an extravagant purchase?
[II: Sunday, Opening Ceremony] ((OOC: Warning for Persona 3 brand pseudo-suicide for this prompt.))
Michelle settles back to enjoy the ceremonies, her own spot picked out heedless of the rain and damp. She DOES have a decent umbrella on hand however, to shield herself and anyone nearby from rain, depending on how bad it may get.
But that umbrella gets folded away for a moment, once the fireworks begin; she wants to have a clear view of these. And the flashes of color and light are indeed impressive, and-
Something cold is pressed against her head. It’s a solid weight she carries in her hands, a smooth grip and trigger that fits to the curve of her palm and finger.
She should be terrified of what comes next. There’s no proof that she’ll be sane or survive the mental shock of what is to follow, once she pulls that trigger. But she can feel eyes on her, watching, waiting.
And she isn’t about to let them down. When everything is done, she can say that she didn’t flinch, and she managed to invoke with the tool given to her.
BANG.
Michelle doubles over at the memory, a sick feeling doing its best to settle in her throat. And her heart is racing at a dozen miles a minute and did she really, truly, just imagine putting a gun to her head? And that she was proud of what she was doing?
Compared to that, the eerie glow seems almost common place. Some… some after effect of the fireworks, no doubt. And her own odd moment could be blamed on the noise, perhaps.
That’s what she wants to claim, for now.
“Q-quite… quite the display.” But it doesn’t stop her voice from shaking. She speaks to whoever is closest, and carries a fading ember of that glow. “It brings… many odd things to mind, however.”
[III: During the Week] Despite a rough start to the festival, Michelle seems determined not to remain confused or inactive for long. It’s going to be a common sight, spotting her moving among the arrangements and attractions. And always with a notebook and textbook at hand, for some studying.
…Which, does cause a noticeable stir a time or two when some of her papers get blown free during the parade, and she rushes to catch them.
And perhaps it’s a sign of how unnerved she is, but that distant facade of hers shows a few cracks, as a time or two she offers to use what’s left in her stipend for someone to go on a carriage ride, if they appear to need to relax; sometimes, those small acts of kindness aid her in feeling a touch more at ease, herself.
Finally, there’s the sight of her moving among the sculptures towards the end of the week; sometimes with a school group, other times on her own, and always furiously trying to get a few more notes in.
Michelle Chastain (Mitsuru Kirijo) | OTA | Warning for Prompt 2 and pseudo suicide mentioned there
Go somewhere new. Get some fresh air. Simple enough instructions to follow. And initially, Michelle is ready and content to do just that.
She manages perhaps one hour, tops, before that plan comes crashing down.
And the catalyst for that? Comes in the form of one flower stand she finds herself halting in front of. (And perhaps tripping up any number of people behind her, due to how sudden her stop is.) It’s one of those stands selling flowers at wallet gouging prices, but certainly appears to deliver on their displays; today’s selection comes in the form of hibiscus blooms, all in a dramatic array of colors and patterns. A few even are set under UV lights, to glimmer against black backdrops.
It’s all very pretty. Which doesn’t explain the way Michelle’s eyes narrow, and her expression wars between distaste… and a certain degree of desire.
“So, they decided this was the best time to trot out their bio-organics research?” She frowns at a logo set above the plants. Some sort of stylized crown and eye symbol; it’s almost drowned out by all the blooms. And the fact it’s easy to see as a simple corporate brand, in different parts of town.
“…But.” She finds herself continuing, more quiet than before. “Those flowers are… nice, I suppose.”
With the way she edges towards them, ‘nice’ is a clear understatement.
Try to talk her out of making an extravagant purchase?
[II: Sunday, Opening Ceremony]
((OOC: Warning for Persona 3 brand pseudo-suicide for this prompt.))
Michelle settles back to enjoy the ceremonies, her own spot picked out heedless of the rain and damp. She DOES have a decent umbrella on hand however, to shield herself and anyone nearby from rain, depending on how bad it may get.
But that umbrella gets folded away for a moment, once the fireworks begin; she wants to have a clear view of these. And the flashes of color and light are indeed impressive, and-
Something cold is pressed against her head. It’s a solid weight she carries in her hands, a smooth grip and trigger that fits to the curve of her palm and finger.
She should be terrified of what comes next. There’s no proof that she’ll be sane or survive the mental shock of what is to follow, once she pulls that trigger. But she can feel eyes on her, watching, waiting.
And she isn’t about to let them down. When everything is done, she can say that she didn’t flinch, and she managed to invoke with the tool given to her.
BANG.
Michelle doubles over at the memory, a sick feeling doing its best to settle in her throat. And her heart is racing at a dozen miles a minute and did she really, truly, just imagine putting a gun to her head? And that she was proud of what she was doing?
Compared to that, the eerie glow seems almost common place. Some… some after effect of the fireworks, no doubt. And her own odd moment could be blamed on the noise, perhaps.
That’s what she wants to claim, for now.
“Q-quite… quite the display.” But it doesn’t stop her voice from shaking. She speaks to whoever is closest, and carries a fading ember of that glow. “It brings… many odd things to mind, however.”
[III: During the Week]
Despite a rough start to the festival, Michelle seems determined not to remain confused or inactive for long. It’s going to be a common sight, spotting her moving among the arrangements and attractions. And always with a notebook and textbook at hand, for some studying.
…Which, does cause a noticeable stir a time or two when some of her papers get blown free during the parade, and she rushes to catch them.
And perhaps it’s a sign of how unnerved she is, but that distant facade of hers shows a few cracks, as a time or two she offers to use what’s left in her stipend for someone to go on a carriage ride, if they appear to need to relax; sometimes, those small acts of kindness aid her in feeling a touch more at ease, herself.
Finally, there’s the sight of her moving among the sculptures towards the end of the week; sometimes with a school group, other times on her own, and always furiously trying to get a few more notes in.