20. [mostly action]

[frost_jewel]

[Mia has been through a lot recently. The invasion wasn't so terrible, but its aftermath and the information surrounding it dealt a blow she still hasn't been able to face properly. Then, some of her dearest people went on a mission that continues to tear them apart inside - and may do a similar thing to all of them in due time, depending on what happens as a result. Then she became, briefly, herself but a few years younger, which might sound like a reprieve but was really just a way of delaying the inevitable backlash. Mia knows better than to think that that might be the 'punishment' coming to them after aiding in the implementation of a shift explosive.

In all that time, the way she interacts with people shifted, too. She is as friendly and welcoming as ever, but in some places more...distracted-seeming, perhaps, or carrying an air of professional civility instead of closeness. If anything, her tenure as pre-adventure Mia only reinforced her ability to stand at that distance.

Things haven't much calmed down, but she can't think of a time better than the present to take care of some things she's put off since the invasion happened. Shuffling them all around her work schedule means it happens at odd hours, but that's just how things have to be. She seeks out specific friends of hers, and stops by the plaza clinic to see who might be around. It isn't her usual routine, but she also goes to the cafe - though hardly a coffee drinker - for a change of pace. The gallery too.

Sometime in the afternoon, she finds a quiet corner to attempt to send a filtered message to Luceti's newest in-world resident, without knowing exactly how:]

Could we speak about a few things in person?

[It might work, it might not.

No matter how that turns out, as night falls she'll skip training, opting to visit the beach instead. To walk along the water with her bare feet in the sand and...hope that helps, somehow.]

[[ooc: Building walls with lego-bricks made of words, around here. Go nuts! Just not totally nuts.]]

Comments

[prims]

[ Prim is never hard to find. She likes to spend time at the clinic, these days - she's not officially on the roster, but she goes there to learn from those who are, when they can spare the time to teach her, or to read textbooks in the waiting area when they can't, studying as best she can.

She'll look up with a smile for Mia, though. ]

Hey - are you on shift today?

[frost_jewel]

[Mia's gotten used to seeing Primrose pop up at the clinic; eventually she might kick the habit of calling her Rosie.]

Hello. I am, but I don't expect it will be very busy. [Though she hasn't made any kind of formal agreement about teaching her, Mia certainly doesn't mind.]

[prims]

Well, I hope not - at least, nothing happening, so...that's always nice.

[frost_jewel]

Nice, and quiet. Are you here to do something specific today?

[prims]

Not really. I just wanted to do some studying, and I figured I could do that here just in case any extra hands were needed. ...Or in case I could look in on anything that does come in.

[lostinmyway]

[Grune isn't particularly one for coffee, but today she also can be found at the cafe--it's such an interesting place! When Mia comes in, she isn't doing much of anything besides taking up a seat, but as soon as she spots her friend, over she comes with a big smile.]

Hello, Mia! It's nice to see you.

[frost_jewel]

Grune! [Mia is genuinely startled to see her.] It feels like it's been ages, doesn't it?

[Here is someone she's always happy to see, and even now she puts on a pretty good face for it.]

[lostinmyway]

[Which Grune misses due to being a bit muddled--as usual.]

Do you think so?

[frost_jewel]

I wouldn't have said so otherwise. Do you come here all the time?

[action]

[endgames]

[Up until last year when he was hospitalized, Shikamaru would take the clinic over the Battle Dome any day. He's warmed up to it since, but thanks to recent events... well, he's back here to say the least. He'd been seated for about two minutes, wondering who's working here today, when Mia comes in and he jerks minutely in surprise.]

Oi. I thought you worked at the other place?

[action]

[frost_jewel]

[His presence surprises her too. With everything going on, she doesn't know where he stands - and she may never - but at least she knows she can count on clear-headedness from him.]

I do. I also work here, a few days, when I can. I thought you visited the other place.

[action]

[endgames]

Only because after last year, it seemed stupid to keep avoiding it. If I get a scrape, it's less of a walk to come here though, and I like it better.

[action]

[frost_jewel]

A scrape? Did you hurt yourself?

[She knows he preferred Ino, or maybe Hinata, and so she keeps herself from moving any closer yet.]

[savedtheworld]

[There's a monk having a quiet evening at the beach himself, clad in a simple t-shirt and shorts. It's just a spot he's chosen for some solitary wandering after dinner. Right now, he's quietly drawing shapes in the sand with a stick, not yet noticing Mia's approach.]

[frost_jewel]

[She recognizes Aang first by his blue markings; the Lucetian clothing throws her off only for a moment. Not wanting to disturb him, she walks along with only a glance or two. He seems to be thinking hard just like she is, and to get in his way would be-

Well it is partially what she wants people to do, isn't it?

So perhaps...just a bit of a splash-]

[savedtheworld]

Whoa! [He takes in the splash with a giggle, not seeming very disturbed at all. He turns to face Mia, and with a wave of his hands, sends one splash her way while grinning in unspoken greeting.]

[frost_jewel]

Ah-! [She can't repel it the way Aang might, so she accepts her wet skirt and turns to face him.] That's cheating.

[ voice ]

[liaising]

...Certainly. I would love to. Do you have a favoured place to meet?

[ voice ]

[frost_jewel]

No. Somewhere private will do. Thank you.

[Already, Mia doesn't know where to begin.]

[ voice ]

[liaising]

A walk, then. A walk that we can talk during. A...what's it called? Walk-and-talk.

[A pause.] Meet me at the bridge to the west of town.

[ voice ]

[frost_jewel]

[Walk and talk. Maybe it would all be easier that way, with movement to occupy the energy that would otherwise make her fidget.]

I will be there.

[Probably not before Carol arrives, but it won't take her long.]

[snikting]

[The beach is nice. Coming back to the teleporter to find Wolverine smoking a cigar is probably less so nice.]

Got ya.

[It's an accusation, yes. But not much of one. Much as he'd love to chew people out for missing training, he kind of missed a month of actually leading it. Puts him in a sore position to land accusations.

But for his part, he's enjoying the calm ocean wind, even this far up the beach.]

[frost_jewel]

[It is a surprise, to be sure.]

Hello, Logan. [She doesn't look guilty. Not really.]

[snikting]

Seems the group keeps shrinkin'.

[Rogue wasn't even bothering to show up anymore. And now Mia...]

Somethin' I ought to know about?

[frost_jewel]

[Logan isn't the first person to whom she would think to spill her troubles.]

I'm no good at all for training when I'm distracted and unfocused. You've seen what happens then.