queenofheartsrp | 4th ❄ [video]

[anyone in or around the Monsigny Apartments might smell something nice that isn't cigarette smoke for once. It's the smell of something baking.]

[the Vine seems intrigued by the source, which happens to be Claire in the kitchen, her hair pulled back neatly. The mirror rests on the open windowsill, showing her placing a steaming pie on the table, hands covered by oven mitts. She tugs them off and sits down before it with a long sigh.]

[her expression can't be seen--she hasn't glanced at the window or noticed the mirror. But her voice and posture speak for themselves; she isn't her usual cheerful self.]

Maybe tasting it will help...

Veigue...I hope you and your friends are safe. And Mother and Father...please don't worry about me. I'm as all right as I can be, after all. Everyone I've met here has been kind.

[she makes a movement similar to tucking her hair behind her ear--if she had human ears, that is. As is, the strand just falls down again to hang by her face. She looks bewildered for a moment.]

Oh...that's right.

[she shakes her head, and with that catches sight of the mirror. Her expression struggles between dismay and embarrassment, and she stands hastily]

...--excuse me.

[and with that, she retreats back into the kitchen and out of sight.]

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[The smell of something baking draws Reno out of the room where she was lurking and toward the sweet scent. Once she arrives, she sticks her head into the kitchen, taking note of both the pie and its baker. Reno isn't the most empathetic person, but even she can tell something's up with Kitty. Then again, she's also not the most comforting person, so she doesn't ask her what's wrong. Still, her tone is more gentle than usual when she speaks.]

Hey. Whatcha doin'?

[trying not to cry, actually, and she scrubs at her face hastily. She's just a homesick teenage girl right now.]

Oh...I was baking. You can have some if you'd like. It's peach pie. A favorite of mine.

[Hmm, girl feelings. That's not good. Girls shouldn't be looking like they're about to cry, especially not Kitty. Reno takes a moment to muster her ability to have an actual conversation with a girl. She can do it! She used to talk to Cissnei, and she talks to Elena sometimes, when she's not too busy annoying her.]

Peach pie, huh? Looks pretty good.

[Reno comes the rest of the way into the kitchen, crossing the floor.] Can't have any with you lookin' like that, though. What's got my best girl down? Don't cry, Kitty. I'll get the shoes out of my bed, I promise.

[yes, girl feelings. You know how it is.]

Thank you...though there's a woman in my village who makes a much better one than I do.

[she musters a smile, and a small laugh.]

Oh, it's not that. I'm just missing home a bit, that's all. I've been away a long time.

[Reno wouldn't know, she doesn't have feelings. None at all. Absolutely not.]

You're probably just saying that 'cause you're modest. Anyway, even if it's true, I bet yours'll be the best someday. You'll take that woman out. [Reno seems to believe that pie-making is more fiercely competitive than it actually is.]

Yeah, I feel ya there. I kinda wish I was home, too, even if it's shitty sometimes. But don't worry, Kitty, I bet you'll be back with your family and your fake brother soon. I heard that when we go back, it's almost like no time's passed. I showed up here before Rude, and she said that I wasn't missing at all. Well, first she said that the president threw a party cause I was gone, but I knew that was a joke. He loves me.

[she just looks bemused. Reno says some pretty abrasive things sometimes, but Claire can't ever get mad at her for it.]

It's not a competition. When she bakes pies, the whole village comes together and eats them. It's a time for community. I'm happy to learn from her.

No time has passed...?

[she straightens, blinking a little. This is the first she's heard.]

Is that possible? Well, I suppose anything is, here.

[Reno scratches her head. Sometimes she really doesn't understand Claire's world. A big village pie party? That sounds--so lame. She wonders if people in the little villages in her own world do that kinda shit. If so, good thing she was born in the city.]

We don't do pie parties where I'm from. I'm sure yours is good enough. Smells good. Pie's pie, right?

That's what I heard. So you'll probably go back to right when you were. No problem. [Reno tends to hit Reeve up for info, and then she tends not to actually tell other people what she knows.]

[Reno would probably find everything Claire does for fun "boring", admittedly.]

That's a relief...I don't want to be gone even longer than I need to be.

[She sure would. They have extremely different definitions of fun.]

Yeah, while you're here, you should have all the fun you want, doing chores and uh, making pies and-- [It really does sound lame.] --whatever the hell else you wanna do.

Sounds like chores and pie is what you do at home too, right? Working on the farm, you said.

[she smiles ruefully.]

Well, yes. Sometimes I look after the younger children or spend time with Monica...she's a friend of mine.

I do enjoy taking walks here. The scenery is new, and there was even a beach.

You can do that stuff here--there's probably some stupid kids around, and you've got me and Rude to hang out with. What's better than that?

I didn't care for that beach. [Reno sniffs. She doesn't miss it much.]

You should eat some of your pie. That'll cheer you up.

[she shakes her head a bit.]

Oh...that's right. You got sunburned. I'm glad my medicine helped.

[she obeys, getting some plates and utensils, and cuts the pie into slices.]

Would you like some, too?

Yeah, that stuff was pretty good. Then Reeve came and cured me, so no big deal. [She shrugs.] I did look hot in my bikini, and there were some good looking girls, so it wasn't all bad, but I won't be taking any more naps in the sun anytime soon.

Sure, I'll try it.

Cured you? How did that work? [she laughs quietly.] I've never met anyone like you, you know. You admire everyone and never settle on a single person.

[she slides a plate and a fork over to her roommate, taking her seat again.]

Reeve's got Materia, it's this magic stuff that can--do different things.

I wouldn't say I admire everyone. In fact, a lot of people piss me off. [Though she grins.] But there's a lot to admire about some people, or at least a couple things.

[Reno wastes no time digging in to the pie before her.] Hey, not bad.

Oh, magic...there's all different kinds here, I'm not sure I'll be able to remember all of it.

[another laugh; she's starting to relax a bit, finally.] Is your temper really that short? I meant physically. You seem pretty concerned with appearance.

[at the compliment, she smiles fondly.] Thank you.

There's way too much magic here, if you ask me.

[She smiles.] I can be a real asshole. And I like hot girls--and guys. Most people care a lot about appearances. If they tell you they don't, they're probably lying. Trying to make themselves look good. [Not that Reno thinks that makes anyone look good.]

[She eats another mouthful of pie.] I bet yours is at least as good as that other chick's.

[Claire sighs a little, tapping her fork against her plate.]

You don't need to flatter me, you know.

Who, me? You ought to know me better than that by now. I never flatter anybody. I say what I mean, all the time. [Unless what she means is something nice or emotional, but the thought of something like that doesn't even cross her mind. Instead, she eats more pie.]

Then I'm glad you think so highly of me, but you can't really compare things you haven't tried.

[she says it lightly, with a small laugh. Her melancholy is lifting slowly; she's not the type to stay down, but her stay has been wearing on her.]

It's good that you enjoy it, though. I'll make more some time.

4th ❄ [video]

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