video, morning; [also action prompt]

[traceofeffort]

So I know everyone's excited about the whole beach trip thing, finals being over, not being dead after a visit from You-Know-Who, but I get to be a special snowflake again. Bitterblue, I know I said I'd bring over the next thing I found, but... I don't think this will fit in a Ziploc bag?

[Lisa reaches out of frame with both arms and picks up... a guitar? No, too few strings. It's a bass, bright red, with a rose design on the neck. She's a little careful with it, in a way she hasn't been with her acoustic guitar before.]

This, more than anything else, I can't have gotten anywhere else. There isn't Roselia merch in this world because Roselia doesn't exist. I am Roselia, as far as our world goes. And this is my instrument. Which still freaks me out a little bit. I... I don't know how to play this. I don't have any connection to it. Even with what little I know, this bass was her everything. But it's just a hunk of wood to me.

[Her gaze sharpens, and her entire expression shifts into something more forward.] I wanna learn, though. It was important to her, and it just feels right to me. I know it's kinda weird, but I'm certain that all of this is happening for a reason. The memories, the Bureau, this. [She motions with the bass as she says that, before slipping the strap over her shoulder, letting her fingers rest on the strings; she reaches out of frame again and comes back with a pick, strumming once and letting the low sound wash over the room, her eyes closed as she seems to feel it running through her.]

That's gonna be a problem for next week's Lisa, though. This week, I've got another song I wanna work on from other-me, and I need to get ready for Elliott's beach trip because I've somehow lived next to the ocean for two years and don't own a swimsuit? That feels like a really dumb mistake on my part and it's one I'm going to go fix... in a day or two, I think. I'm gonna take my guitar with me to the beach, too - nothing says tryhard like a seaside concert, right? This is probably as big a sign as I'm gonna get, so I'm going to put on a little show while we're there if it's not too busy. One night only, but I'm gonna see if I can record it, at least. So... look forward to that, I guess?

[She shakes her head, letting out a breath and slapping her cheeks before smiling wide at the camera.] No, that's not right. Mm! Roselia will be playing a special beach live show this weekend! Look forward to it!

[action, Tuesday-Thursday evening]
[As promised, Lisa is going full mall rat this week, looking for a swimsuit... and assorted other warm-ish weather travel clothes... and now guitar and bass strings. The latter were easy enough to find, but clothing is taking a bit longer for some reason, and Lisa finds herself spending more time than she'd expected looking through racks for just the right thing. She doesn't understand why, but she feels like she'll regret looking anything less than her best, and so she's stressing more than usual over the swimwear department. Hmm, a two-piece, probably, but light colors? Something frilly? Does she have anything else she can even wear over this stuff? Ugh, this trip's going to get expensive. And long.

She can be found outside the coffee shop in the food court at least once per night, taking a break from her own head, small shopping bags on the table next to her but nothing significant. Here she's collapsed into a chair, free arm lolling to one side and head bent at an angle behind the back of the chair. This, incidentally, means she has a good chance to spot anyone walking up behind her.]

Comments

[bearshermark]

That's really cool! Still pumped to see your show!

[traceofeffort]

Mm! I'm excited for this weekend! I mean, beach stuff too, that's gonna be fun. But I've been looking forward to finally getting over myself enough to sing. Thanks for being patient - I feel like I promised that months ago.

[bearshermark]

It's okay. I'm glad we have a good reason for you to make your debut.

[traceofeffort]

I shouldn't have needed a reason. So that's... kind of frustrating. But I'm not gonna dwell on that. I've got a show to prepare for and that's going to take all my attention.

I'm just glad I have a stage for it! I was going to just play for the network, but this'll be more fun.

[bearshermark]

You're too hard on yourself. There's nothing wrong with being nervous.

Happy to provide, though. Let me know if there's anything you need.

[traceofeffort]

I'm getting the sense "too hard on myself" carries across time, ahaha... Well, nothing for it. Just gotta plow through and rock it, right?

If anything comes up, I'll call you. But just this once, I think I'll be okay. Need me to help with anything for this weekend?

[bearshermark]

I'd hate to ask, but love if you could. I didn't realize how much goes into planning a party. Just thought it'd be like hey, let's meet up here at this time and there'll be a fire. But I'm determined to pull this off and make sure everyone has a good time.

[howkickassiam]

York's just returning from out of town and has spent a busy day catching up on housework, which had been left half-done when he'd had to suddenly leave town. He's decided to go grab a cup of decaf to relax with when he spots Lisa. He doesn't know her that well, but they've had a couple of conversations, so he approaches with a "Hey" when he gets a bit closer.

"Mind if I join you?" he adds.

[traceofeffort]

Lisa's rather large plastic glass of tea - extra sugar, easy ice, no lemon why would you even ask that - sits on the table about a quarter empty as York comes up. Draped over the chair still, her head lolling over the back of the chair, she spots him coming and blinks, before attempting to nod. Except it doesn't really work when she's like this, so with a visible effort she straightens up and then turns to face him.

"Sure, that's fine," she answers, with a small smile. "Nothing's gone too wrong this week, so I should be safe to talk to!"

...and isn't that a loaded statement. She slides her small department store bag closer to her, to make a bit more space at the table.

[howkickassiam]

He chuckles a bit at that remark and sets his cup down on the table, then turns the chair around to sit in it backwards.

"Sometimes life feels like that, doesn't it? If it's not one thing it's another."

He takes a sip of his coffee, then stretches his shoulders lightly.

"I've been out of town, so I'm not up on the recent gossip."

[traceofeffort]

"I feel like it's always something," Lisa drawls, with a wry smile. "But maybe that's just me. Anyway..." She sips her tea, sighing. "Let's see. I know there's something with Mr. Fell and Anthony, something happened to Alec and that ended badly; Lord Asshole- ah, sorry, Mr. Martin visited a few of us to voice his concerns with how we're acting and cautioned us that anti-Bureau sentiment will not be tolerated..." She snorts, having been counting on her fingers as she talked.

"Ah, and Elliott's planning a beach party this weekend, which is why I'm here - I need to update my wardrobe a little." She glances meaningfully at the bag still on the table. "Oh, and we all seem to be getting more stuff back, so we're trying to look for patterns, that kinda stuff."

[howkickassiam]

York's eyebrows raise when she mentions Mr. Martin.

"He actually said that? 'Anti-Bureau sentiment'?"

He snorts lightly and shakes his head.

"You'd think they think they created us or some shit..."

That thought is new and he wrinkles his nose lightly. He doesn't doubt that whatever is happening is the Bureau's fault somehow but 'creation'?

[traceofeffort]

"Either that or something pretty close, yeah," Lisa confirms with a sigh. "So they watch the network - which makes sense, but we know for sure now - and they don't like it when we don't keep the company line. That only makes me want to toe the line less, but that's neither here nor there."

She grimaces when he suggests the Bureau'd had a hand in their current situation. "I hope not. I like who I'm supposed to be, but they could have picked something more exciting, y'know? So I don't buy it. I'm too normal for that." She sniffs daintily and turns up her nose, but the effect is ruined when she smirks.

[ashenscipher]

If you know acoustic already, you already have a head start.

It's a lovely bass.

[traceofeffort]

Mm, that's a small mercy. I just have a lot of work to do - at least I could claim she didn't know the guitar, so I had it for myself. But she was... [She struggles to reach for the right words for a moment.] She felt like she was never good enough, but at the same time she was good enough for Roselia, and childhood friend or not they wouldn't have tolerated it if she couldn't keep up.

Thanks, though. Whether it's mine or not, it was special to her, and... it just feels like I need to take care of it, you know? There isn't another bass like this in the world. I could replace it, but it wouldn't be the same. The way it's worn, I can tell it's been loved a lot.

[ashenscipher]

Are you worried you'll break it?

[traceofeffort]

A little bit, if I'm being honest, but I know that's kind of weird. I'll get over it, but more than anything else I've gotten so far I want this to survive. I can get another costume made, or as long as one of these earrings is left I can get a broken one replaced. But another bass won't really sound the same as this one, even if I got the same model.

Or maybe I'm just weird and sentimental. Sentimental for things across space and time that are both mine and not mine at the same time.

[ashenscipher]

This is not weird.

If my viola was stolen or damaged in some way, I would be livid. There would be a scene, as they call it.

[traceofeffort]

[Lisa tries to imagine Bitterblue causing a scene, promptly fails, and laughs brightly.]

Okay, yeah, I think I get that. So not weird. Still sentimental, but that's just my thing, I guess. I don't think I knew you played the viola though? That's really cool! Maybe we can get a band together someday, if there are enough of us to play stuff. [A year from now, when Lisa gets her first memories back of Morfonica and she tries to mentally snap Bitterblue over Rui as the closest equivalent, you'll be able to hear her laughing in Times Square.]

action

[scotch_egg]

[at some point she may be approached by the barista who tells her some strange scruffy dude nearby offered to pay for her coffee. They'll gesture to Alec, who is sitting in a corner, drinking tea and reading And Then There Were None.]

[traceofeffort]

[The move is so unusual, the source even more so, Lisa just stares for a moment, not even thinking that she's being rude. Just... it's strange, and she almost can't process it. But she shakes it off, visibly, after a second, and once she's finished with the barista, she stands, coffee and shopping bag in hand, and walks over tentatively.]

Mind if I join you?

[It must look terribly strange from the outside. It feels kinda strange from the inside. And yet... that's an invitation, right? It has to be.]

[scotch_egg]

[it wasn't exactly but he looked up with a bit of a smile]

My pleasure. [he gestured to the seat opposite him] But I can't say I'll be good company.

[traceofeffort]

[Lisa gently slides into the indicated chair, setting her things down before taking a deep, slightly nervous breath.]

So, ah. First off, thank you for the drink. I've been running around like an idiot trying to figure out what I want to wear for the beach this weekend and it drained me more than I thought. [Sip, sigh.]

But after that... are you all right? I know something happened but not what. I'm not connected to as much of the rumor mill as I thought I was. [But what she is connected to worried her, and her grip on her coffee cup tightens a little.]

[scotch_egg]

I've never really understood that. What does it matter what you wear to a beach so long as it's not... I don't know... a parka or something. [there's nothing judgmental about his tone, he's just making conversation.

He took a sip of his tea and winced a bit]

Ach, don't worry about me. It was just a bad night. That happens sometimes. But I'm fine. Never been better.

[and then to change the subject]

Did you decide what to wear yet?

[traceofeffort]

Well, I mean... part of it's that I want to look good. It makes me feel better about myself, y'know? And part of it, well. I don't actually, ah. Have a swimsuit. So I had to pick one of those out, and there are so many styles there it takes some searching. [She runs a hand through her hair, laughing a bit dryly; that still sounds lame even to her.

Her gaze is a bit more piercing when he says he's fine - being fine doesn't normally turn into a manhunt and a series of chastised people - but she's not gonna call him on it. Not now. Perhaps not ever, but she's still thinking on that. Instead, she just sips her coffee again and nods, brightening.] Mm, I found something, I think. I'm not sure I'm done yet, but at least I'll be okay for this weekend. I'm trying to figure out how much I need to save Elliott now, though. He's not very good at telling people no and it's made his plans a little bigger than he expected.