21 [action, Malnosso Land]

[frost_jewel]

[On day one, Mia fights just as hard as any other resident of house sixteen, sure in her heart that they are all being taken for some kind of punishment, for retribution. She doesn't know where that idea comes from, but it lives a life of luxury in the dark corners of her mind. Injured and disoriented upon arrival to the moon, she helps Katara for a while before doing what she can to find and assist her housemates, and her friends. This is the moon. There was a draft here, one she remembers very well and would prefer not to mentally revisit if she can help it. Other people surely feel the same, and maybe she can help them instead.

On day two her only venture out of her villa in the daylight hours is to the pool. The absence of her power is absolutely flooring and awful. That night, though, a friend or two lures her to the casino and its allure of all manner of games of chance. Not a hearty gambler, but familiar with the idea, she'll win a respectable pile of tokens by the end of the evening, and offer to give some to almost anyone who looks like they need them.

Days three and four see her exploring the parks; though her stops in Bubble Land and Junior Land are brief, it gets her out of the villa and away from any tension building around Loki's presence combined with the visible presence of his and Rogue's relationship; on the afternoon of the third day she seeks out Billy and Teddy specifically, to bring them something. And check up on them. Leaving Luceti didn't mean leaving their problems behind. The fourth day takes her to Thrill Land first, for a very significant amount of time. Though she departs that morning by herself, anyone else visiting that park should be able to spot her blue hair waiting in a line somewhere. A timid line, for a thrill ride park. Get her to something bigger and better.

After an encounter with Halloween Land's zombies, though, she keeps closer to "home" for the remainder of their moon vacation - home, and back to the casino. There are all these rumors, and she's off to investigate first; later, on one of the latter two days, she enters the back room to test her luck with something valuable.]

Comments

[frost_jewel]

I did at first. The way anyone would hate a situation where they can't find any control. [Back to thoughtful frowning, Mia looks around at their too-stimulating landscape, ending with meeting Walter's eyes.] Now, I can't say I hate our village, or even our captors all the time. It's hard...for me to hold onto hatred for anything, because doing so isn't very helpful.

[There's more to it, but Mia already has a problem with wordiness around Walter and she catches herself at it this time.]

[blackteriques]

[It's hard for me to hold onto hatred.

He frowns as those words pass Mia's lips, his brows knitting together with a brief moment of guilt. Hatred was one of the only consistent things he had in his life, and letting go of it even a little left him feeling rather hollow.]

Then ... how do you feel about it, now?

[frost_jewel]

Helpless.

[With it, Mia deflates, hands folding in front of her and shoulders dropping.]

The one thing I really do hate. Some days I feel like every step forward is in the wrong direction.

[blackteriques]

Or in no direction.

[He certainly wasn't any help with the pessimism, was he? That just bred a small amount of frustration, and he clears his throat to distract himself.]

...So let's not do that, for at least today.

[frost_jewel]

If there is a way to keep from doing it, then I'll take it.

[Even if it means, just for today, pretending life is simple.]

[blackteriques]

[An opening. He recognizes it, intends to pursue it, but there's still that hesitation to act in a way that's still so unfamiliar to him. He looks to Mia quietly, contemplatively, before averting his eyes downward and slowly taking her hands into his own.]

Then let's go.

[frost_jewel]

Go? [Touched, she looks at their hands first, surprised into a smile.] Where do you want to go?

[blackteriques]

Anywhere is better than standing around. [He frowns, glancing at their surroundings in search of something in particular.] I remember seeing maps of the park locations somewhere.

[frost_jewel]

Then first, we should "go" find one of those maps.

[blackteriques]

[He nods in agreement, relaxing a little more at the idea of looking around with someone else. There was always that feeling of safety in numbers, even in a supposedly "fun" setting like this amusement park.]

Did you happen to look at the maps yourself?

[He picks a direction that takes them a little further into Bubble Land.]

[frost_jewel]

No, not very closely. I'm a bit...out of practice, with maps as it is. [They aren't her strong suit, either, particularly garish colorful icon-littered ones like these.]

Did you? I know this is an unusual environment but at least one of us ought to be able to make sense of it...

[Heavily implying that she can't, and they'll be done for if he can't, either.]

[blackteriques]

Not really. I was in a bad mood getting dragged out here to begin with and I didn't feel like wandering around for awhile.

[Rather bluntly honest about what he's been up to the entire time they've been stuck on the moon.]

I can read a map, but I would have much rather have been able to fly and take in the lay of the land that way. [That was a much more natural course of action for him.]

[frost_jewel]

If it's anything like the last time, there isn't much to take in outside of this compound. [Mia reaches for one of the maps as they pass a map kiosk, handing it over without even unfolding it.]

[blackteriques]

[He takes the map from Mia when she offers it, opening it up and raising a brow at how big it is when it's unfolded. He stops walking so he can properly read, drawing a finger to the section they are in.]

It's still disturbing that they've made a replica of the village here.

[frost_jewel]

I'm not sure if the more realistic parts are worse than the unusual ones yet.

[blackteriques]

The whole place is disturbing simply because it seems like it's uninhabitable outside of this dome.

[frost_jewel]

Well- well yes. It's the moon. Unless...the moon in your world is inhabited? We have legends about an ancient race that resides on the moon, but-

[Now that she's seen the real thing, it seems less than likely.]

[blackteriques]

I'm actually not sure about that. Some place must be inhabitable beyond my world though; that's where the Orerines came from.

[He studies the map, shaking his head at the sections. He really doesn't see the point of visiting any of the areas...]

[frost_jewel]

You don't look too excited about the map.

[She'd love the idea of just doing something relaxing, but out of respect for Walter's potential fun, she doesn't say so.]

[blackteriques]

[Potential fun is a pretty alien concept to Walter. When he sighs, a bit of his exasperation is audible.]

I don't see any reason to look at these attractions. If I want a thrill, that's easier accomplished somewhere where I can swim or fly.

[...]

I'd rather be trying out what they might have to eat in this park.

[frost_jewel]

[Swimming.

Now that sounds worthwhile.

But no, he's hungry, and the map has a neat little list of available food - questionable as some of it might be.]

What do you like? I could eat, too.

[blackteriques]

Seafood. Pastries. Desserts.

[...He's a little surprised how easily he admits to his cravings, especially where sweets were concerned. But it's comparatively more pleasant than looking over the map, which he starts folding up.]

You?

[frost_jewel]

Oh, dessert sounds like a great idea. [She'd no idea Walter was so fond of sweet things.] But not a seafood pastry.

[blackteriques]

[He brightens when Mia agrees with his idea, glancing down at the map he had folded up before tossing it back towards the directory.]

Not a sweet seafood pastry, at least.

[Savory ones were another matter.]

[frost_jewel]

Definitely not. [Other kinds of seafood pastry sound just as questionable from establishments like this, but if Walter wants one, she won't stop him.] ...I didn't think about how much I missed fresh fish from a wood oven until now. When we go back, I'll have to try to make some.