FIRST SPARK | SETTLING INTO A RHYTHM

[interlucere]

WHO: Lucille, and you!
WHERE: Various places around town, focusing mostly around Recollé University and Catmosphere Café
WHEN: Early October, before the start of the infection
WHAT: Lucille is a busybody + a general catch-all. Closed prompts found in the comments!
WARNINGS: None currently!

[ Throughout the first week of October, Lucille does her best to keep herself busy. With all of the mystery revolving around Retrospec, different lives, murders, and any number of other oddities, sitting idle is only going to force her to let the mounting anxiety she’s been feeling get even worse.

She can be found doing the following during this time: ]

A:
[ During the day, Lucille can be found wandering around the Recollé University campus in an effort to locate weird and interesting things. Her current obsession? Locating bizarre statues and trying to interpret what they are. Is she an artist? Gosh no. But does she have opinions about art? You bet! Get ready to hear them if you walk by.

Or maybe you can help her figure out what these are, because she sure has no clue! ]

B:
[ During odd hours of the day (and sometimes, gasp, at night!), Lucille can be found curled up somewhere around the college campus, either dozing off or sound asleep. The common room in the first-year dorms, the library, various places around the student union building; really anywhere she can find a comfortable spot and has a moment to rest her eyes. More often than not, she can be found surrounded in books and notes, pouring over any variety of study materials. On the rare occasion, the small blond may be caught (again, gasp!) not studying, but instead with some massive book in her lap. The guilty pleasure she’s currently reading? Some kind of campy-looking fantasy, or a classic mystery/thriller novel.

She probably shouldn’t be sleeping here, but it’s okay. Probably. ]

C:
[ And on Friday night, Lucille can be found at the Catmosphere Café. It’s been a long Monday to Friday for her, and she needs some time to recharge. What better way to do that than with a bunch of cats! She can be seen trying to get the attention of various furry patrons around the cafe, but some of them seem to be playing hard to get.

Help her make a new friend and she’ll think you’re the cat’s meow! ]

( If you have an idea for a prompt that is not here, hmu at impearls! )

Comments

[megatechbody]

[It's easy to listen to Lucille and Mariko is impressed with the elevator-pitch resume she hears. She nods, mostly to indicate that she's paying attention and once the younger woman finishes.]

I'm impressed. I know a lot of young men and women your age that haven't quite figured out what to focus on. Heaven knows it took me a few extra years.

[She takes a sip of her coffee, mind made up already. Throwing her Murdock's way is probably going to happen sooner or later, though it's nice to know it might actually help her outside of having a friend in a relatively high place.]

Fortunately, you'll find that I prefer to stay light on the formality. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and that's mostly what I'm looking for at the moment.

It's a bit of awkward timing, as my office is undergoing renovations but if you don't mind working remotely then I see no issues.

[interlucere]

[ Lucille keeps her excitement well contained as Mariko praises her. She isn't the type to make lofty speeches about herself, but she does know when she's managed to hit one out of the park. It's just a matter of not seeming too eager.

Although it does surprise her when the older woman decides to move forward sight unseen. Her heart skips, but Lucille keeps it under wraps, the only indication being the way her smile seems to brighten a little bit. ]

I don't see that being a problem. It would actually help me a lot, so I can stay close to campus.

[ Someone pinch her, this is really happening! But there is just one thing that she needs to confirm first. It's silly, but if they are going to work together, Lucille wants to be on the same page. ]

Can I ask you something?

[megatechbody]

[Lucille confirms and Mariko is happy to have the nightmare of finding an assistant over. She's partway into a quick sip of her coffee when she arches a brow at Lucille's question. It's more curious than suspicious, but still seems a little surprised.]

Fire away.

[interlucere]

[ Lucille is ready for this bruise to her ego if it comes to it, but it's probably best that they both be on the same page. She leans forward, hands folded together in front of her. ]

Did you know I was on the app before you agreed to meet with me? I hate to ask, but...

[ Mariko is right—she wants to be taken seriously and judged on her merits, rather than circumstance. ]

[megatechbody]

[Interesting question. It’s just straightforward enough to avoid sounding needy or egotistical and she can hear the underlying question too. Can this be something that just happened and not because Retrospec meddled.]

No. You were actually a surprise. With all this craziness on the app it’s taken me months to even remember I had the ad up.

[interlucere]

[ That answer is enough to placate her, as Lucille's smile shifts into something more relaxed. It's an honest relief, even if it wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world had she been chosen for that reason. ]

I can imagine. I'll be more than happy to help tame some of that around the office— if you'll have me, of course.