[OPEN] The Joy of Painting

[backwordscompatible]

Characters: Zatanna Zatara | Midii Une | Aya + OPEN
Date: mid-october
Location: Earth Sector
Situation: Pottery Painting!
Warnings/Rating: things might get a little messy....


ZATANNA

[The 19-year-old Mistress of Magic...was not much of an artist. Although, in her defense, she had never claimed to be. Performance was quite different from paintbrushes, and while her sleight of hand was superb, well...]

[Still, she managed about as well as anyone who's last art project involved allowing a former boyfriend to smear her in body paint so she would turn visible again (long story): after about a half hour, she came away with a few simple, yet seasonally appropriate designs on the bowls she's gathered.]

[She also looked quite proud of herself as she held up one of them.]

Maybe I should use these when I decorate the Welcome Center.


MIDII

[A month shy of her 16th birthday, and Midii had already found herself a present. A teapot. Simple, personal, and something she knew she would get a lot of use out of.]

[It was said the custom was meant to be a social event, and yet she still sat a bit aways from the rest of the group. Several small cups of paint scattered around her. A few drops of every color, in fact, and a small, thin brush she'd used to paint dozens of little hearts all over its surface.]

[One for each friend or otherwise familiar face she'd lost. Not just in Keelai, but...before.]

I wonder...if I should make any cups to match.


AYA

[For her contribution for this most interesting cultural tradition, Aya painted...a green turtle. Because of course she did. She was dressed no differently than ever, unaffected by the cooling temperatures, with the only subtle alteration in her appearance being a...small streak of green on the side of her helmet. Darker than the shade of her construct skin.]

I do hope I have completed the process accurately.

While I have knitted articles of clothing before, I have seldom done anything of this nature in the past.

Comments

[unetrustworthy]

[She could not have agreed more at that sentiment, even nodding.]

This world...it really is nice.

Coming here was the best thing that ever happened. The only thing better would be if Papa and Michel and the twins could be here with me too. But...at least I know they'd be taken care of back home.

[purrns]

It really is.

[He has to go home sometime, Paris needs him. But this...this is a goo place to live. ]

And that's a comfort too. Though I do hope they show up one day for you.

[unetrustworthy]

I'd love for that to happen. More than anything.

[purrns]

Well, we can both keep our fingers crossed for that, then.

[He'll wish SUPER HARD for her.]

[unetrustworthy]

What about you?

Who would you wish to see most here?

[purrns]

Well, I have three people from home here already, so that's great.

[Two, but you know, he'll just count his alter ego in there, too. ]

I miss my best friend, Nino. He'd love it here. And...I miss my father, too.

[As aware that he is becoming that his father...doesn't really know how to be one, Adrien still misses him. He's the only family he's got. ]

[unetrustworthy]

[Midii had yet to encounter LadyBug, so she only knew of two: Marinette and the snarky cat boy. But he had no reason to lie to her (that she knew of), so she accepted his count with little question.]''

You and your father are...close?

[She remembered something about him working in fashion. And Adrien being a model.]

[purrns]

[There's a delicate pause here, as Adrien ponders the best way to reply to that without outright lying. ]

I-

Well. He works a lot, so I don't see him as much as I'd like to. He's busy.

[Busy. And intent on keeping Adrien locked up against...he doesn't know what. Whatever his father is so afraid of. ]

But he's still my father, right? I mean. That's something.

[unetrustworthy]

[That...didn't sound very close to her, but Midii was alway willing to offer the benefit of the doubt. After all, she knew better than anyone that it's complicated was often less a status and more a way of life for some people.]

Family can mean a lot, yeah. If they're the kind of family that are there for you.

[purrns]

[It sure described Adrien's life to a T. Could he really say his father was there for him? Not really. He knew the man meant well, but his absence was a continued, aching void. Instead, he thinks of Marinette's parents. Hoe loving they are to Marinette, always there whenever she needed anything. He smiles a little softer.]

Yeah. That's the best. Knowing you can always rely on them, no matter what.

[unetrustworthy]

[For Midii...well, that had been her role in her family. Her mother was gone. Her father was sick. Her brothers were all too little. It had been up to her to do whatever it took to make sure they had what they needed. Her responsibility to take care of them.]

[And then...she came to Keelai. Where, for the first time, there were others looking out for her well-being. People whom she could let take care of her...or even just help a little...without fear of having to betray them later.]

That's...for some people here, I suppose you could say that's what like living in Keelai's like.

Some of us found families. People we could trust. Even...love.

[And that word was NOT easy for her.]

[purrns]

...You're right. I've met people here who are so important to me now. I'd hate to lose any of you.

[Yep, 'you', you're counted in that too, Miss Missy. ]

We make really important connections here, just as important as the ones we make back home.

[unetrustworthy]

[...yeah, okay, he was starting to be counted in her count too. Even though...]

You're so different.

[She said with hints of laughter. As if she were both surprised and amused by this revelation, vague as it was.]

[purrns]

[His laughter is a little confused, but it's still genuine.]

I am? How so?

[unetrustworthy]

[The confusion was understandable; Midii was merely voicing aloud something she'd only recently realized herself. To the point where she was still trying to gather her thoughts to explain herself.]

Most of the boys I've known here...especially the French boys...they were basically one of two kinds of people. Either so quiet that I would have to carry the conversation myself...or so talkative that I spent more time listening than anything. [Enjorlas had liked to ramble. A lot.] And yet, they were still somehow both mysteries.

But not you. You're...calm, but open about things.

[purrns]

Oh.

[He almost looks embarrassed for a moment. He's so used to being polite and perfect that he genuinely struggles to respond to any kind of good feedback that doesn't revolve around accomplishments that are technically his fathers.

He clears his throat awkwardly.]

I...um. Thank you? I never really thought about it like that before.

[He knows a big part of it is that he can be more open here. That he can talk to people and get close to them without worrying how anything he did would reflect on the Agreste name. That name matters exactly nothing here, and that is...incredibly freeing. ]

[unetrustworthy]

...it's a compliment.

[She added with a smile. Just in case he had any lingering doubts; she heard that question mark in his 'thank you']

Most people don't. I guess I'm just used to noticing these kinds of things in others.

[purrns]

Oh...um, thanks. Sorry. I'm not really used to that.

[Actual ones, anyway. ]

That's a really useful talent to have.

[unetrustworthy]

Yeah. I know.

[It was one of the main reasons why she was recruited in the first place. Her keen eye, and her seemingly innocent face. A deadly combination.]