AUDIENCE FOR: Estelle

[guestservices]

this is what you get until you give me a shitpost

Comments

[mustbepurged]

Good idea! Okay, I'll see you there.

[... and a few minutes later, she shows up at the front door!]

[guestservices]

[ sure enough, there's aquila! they give her a little wave and a nod of their head, then offer their arm a bit dramatically. ]

Anywhere you wanna go in specific?

[mustbepurged]

[She takes the offered arm with a grin.]

Oh, that's a tough question...! I never got to go to school before, so everything about this place is so exciting.

[guestservices]

Let's see....

[ they take this in consideration, thinking, thinking - and then snap their fingers! shadows consume them both, and estelle and aquila both get to end up ... at the orchard area, by the pond!

aquila seems pleased with this as the shadows release them both. ]

There. Seems the right atmosphere, huh?

[mustbepurged]

[Wow! Estelle's still not used to the shadow-teleport thing, and she squeezes their arm in surprise as they go.

But she relaxes when she sees where they've ended up, eyes wide.]

It's beautiful! I didn't know there was a place like this on the campus...

[guestservices]

[ they don't seem to mind this too much, at least, and make a pleased noise when they make it to the orchard, in agreement. ]

It's nice, isn't it? Kinda weird for a school, but, hey, can't complain. [ they reach up with their free arm to pluck an apple off of a tree, just because they can, and then offer it to estelle. ] Here.

[mustbepurged]

[She takes it with a smile.]

Is it? Have you been to school before, Aquila?

[guestservices]

Yeah.

[ a beat - she might feel that they wink. ] Maybe wasn't the best student, though.

[mustbepurged]

You weren't a troublemaker, were you?

[guestservices]

[ they put a hand to their heart like "who? me? never" ]

I'm offended!

[mustbepurged]

[There's a pause, like she almost believed that for a moment.]

Come on...

There must have been some subjects you liked, though, right?

[guestservices]

[ they have this very definite air of mischief here, especially when it seems like estelle believed them. don't encourage this behavior.

but, to her question, they get a little more thoughtful. ]

... Poetry. Yeah. Actually, just literature in general. Probably not surprising!

[mustbepurged]

I guess not. -- Oh, right, I told you I'd try to come up with a poem! Don't laugh if it's bad, okay? I'm really rusty.

Here goes...

These hopes that blossom
though frozen in winter's grip
come spring, rise anew

[guestservices]

[ oh...

she can probably hear the smile in their voice as they pause to listen. ]

No - no, it's not bad. 's really pretty, Estelle.

[mustbepurged]

R, really? [she's blushing a little.] I'm glad you liked it. I tried taking some inspiration from the new location...

[guestservices]

[ punches a rock estelle is so cute ]

Yeah, I do. Kinda like that story we talked about last time, yeah? It feels hopeful. Think that's the kind of thing people need.

[mustbepurged]

I think so, too...

Say, I've been wondering... Do you have to wear those veiled hats everywhere? Is that an employee policy, or...

[guestservices]

Haha, you wanna see my face?

[ teasing, playful. but, more seriously: ]

Yeah, it's part of the job. Gotta keep ourselves covered up. Part of the uniform, you know?

[mustbepurged]

Well, yes... Besides, it seems so inconvenient.

[guestservices]

Yeah.

[ they huff. ] I've got a pretty face, y'know. It's a shame.





[ this is

probably a joke? ]

[mustbepurged]

I'm sure you do. [A grin.]

So... how did you get into this job, anyway? Working at the hotel, I mean.

[guestservices]

[ she can't see their face, but estelle might feel the implication of a wink. ]

Eh. Needed to make some cash. You know how it is. [ they wave their hand. ]

[mustbepurged]

They're paying you?

[guestservices]

[


they shrug ]

[mustbepurged]

[????]

...... They're not paying you?