Liar Liar: Girl on Fire

“Eh, I don’t gamble. I have better things to do. I’ll check that place out though. Thanks!”

“So.” Miu smiles, one hand on her hip. “I take it you gamble a lot? That’s kinda cool.”

“It’s a talent.” Celestia replies in an easy voice, looking down at her scarred hands, admiring her nails for a moment. 

@handsel || starter call

“Hey, wait up!”

“Where’d you get that bitchin’ ring? Did you get it around here? I’ve been thinkin’ about wearing rings.”

“Pardon?” Celestia stops abruptly, turning a neat about-face to look over this stranger. While the language is crass, the compliment makes her smile ever so slightly.

   Arachnids may not to be insects, but all arthropods–a phylum, scientifically, although the sentimental side of Gonta likes to think of them as a great big family–are a special interest of his.

As such, his head turns at the very mention of them. He waits with forced patience until he’s noticed to say or do anything, not wanting to interrupt, and so his relief at being approached is obvious to see.

“Yes! They’re amazing, and I know a lot about them,” he responds with a smile. Not quite as much as bugs, but he’ll have to try his best. “So maybe I can help! With… ah, what is the matter, exactly?”

“Oh, delightful.” Celestia does manage a better smile then, hands clasped and head tilted. Gonta is a familiar face, though she doesn’t recall much of any previous conversations that they might have had. “I have one at home-- Therese is my Chilean rose hair tarantula. She’s quite the little darling.” 

At that, she pulls out her phone, tapping for a moment so she can show the other a picture of the creature, who peeks out of her hiding spot with all the curiosity a tarantula can muster. 

@handsel

“Okay, okay, I got a question for ya: would you rather have everything you eat be too salty or not salty enough no matter how much salt you add? Because just thinking about this question put me in such an inconsolable state, I almost punched my friend for messing with me for it.”

It had taken a line of conversation, and a bit of hunting around to procure Gonta’s name. However, despite her best efforts, actually finding the man so she could observe for herself proved to be a bit difficult. However, that changed when someone nearby seems interested enough when she asks a local about finding a veterinarian suitable for an arachnid. 

So, when the person she’s asking turns out to be useless, Celestia approaches, tilting her head and offering a thin smile. 

☆ . the cat weighs just as much as it looks, and at least he was prepared for it. it was just this big, massive ball of fur that is now chatting up a storm inside his arms. he’s in love with this cat. he’s gonna fucking steal this cat. – okay, he won’t steal the cat, but i guess it gives him a reason to spend more time with his classmates.

while giving the loaf some chin scritches, he gives a small nod of acknowledgement, “i’ll keep that in mind. i like the beefy one anyway. he’s chill. i’ve always kinda considered a pet, but i can barely manage feedin’ and takin’ care of myself, let alone the other person ‘m feedin’, and a pet.” some extra company would always be nice… 

he couldn’t help but to snicker at the face she made when his ‘cat’ friend was mentioned. it’s a confusing situation. “he’s alright. i take care of him and feed him when he lets me. a tarantula, though, might be more up my b– friend’s alley. ain’t a fan of bugs, and especially not spiders. that’s pretty badass though.” 

Beefcake looks content to be swept away, kidnapped to some mysterious realm. Celestia herself wouldn’t allow it, but she seems to trust Leon to hold onto her cat. Her own smile is this fond thing, and she leans forward to scratch Beefcake between the ears, mumbling a few silly things to the cat, before pulling back into herself and looking less casual. Slips like that happen from time to time, but Celestia is quite good at finding herself again. 

“They’re both quite old. I need to take him to a vet, talk about something for his arthritis. Poor darling.” Those cats are her joy, and it’s obvious by the sheen in her eyes. “Perhaps you can borrow Beefcake on a trial basis.”

DRUNKEN CONFESSION.

“I am not who I seem.” Her drunk voice is stale, a dry thing that clangs against a  metal bowl. Soon enough, Celestia laughs, swirling her whiskey and downing another sip.

xxx @handsel

The detective gave a low hum at the sight of those brilliant red hues. His own lingered on the girl’s face before glancing away to focus on nothing in particular. Naturally he noticed someone being watched though it took him longer than it should have. Seems the knowledge was already known. It didn’t surprise him, considering who it was. Celestia, that was her name, right? Probably, as Jin didn’t really remember names much, nor did they interact back home.

“That guy over there,” he voiced quietly with a small tilt of his head, violet orbs focusing on someone nearby. Not quite suspicious, but enough to draw attention. “Don’t think ‘s particularly dangerous, though..if I remember right, ya don’t mind that, do ya?”

It’s impulse that makes her nearly snarl at the figure that’s lurked too close for too long. She’s used to being stared at, and doesn’t particularly mind. After all, she’s an odd looking sort, and well, Celestia appreciates the particular attention that she can claim for herself. Her skills warrant this, after all. 

“I see,” her voice is curt, bright eyes locking on to the figure who’s doing a terrible job of being subtle, now that she’s managed to make decent eye contact with him. “Shame, there’s such a lack of competency in the world nowadays. You could see the fool a mile away.” 

“I’m aware.” She speaks in a low voice, turning around once so piercing eyes can track over the other’s face. Celestia Ludenberg does not miss out on much. 

Late Night Wanderings

“Who? Me?” She tilts her head, and gives this stranger a serene look. The smile she offers is painted on, much like what a doll has. Celestia is good at those sorts of games, and adjusts her stance so she’s standing proud and tall, a knife hidden in her sleeve.

Late Night Wanderings

“I’m sure you do, Togami-kun.” Celestia speaks gently, holding off that note of sarcasm that threatens to make this less friendly. So, she manages a small laugh, and folds her hands together.

…Yeah, this girl definitely didn’t need her help. Kaede could tell that this girl was a survivor. Poised, calm, collected. She reminded her a bit of Maki Harukawa. The way she seemed to be in utter control of herself. Was she… used to this sort of thing? On one hand, it was a better option than losing it. It was the only reason Kaede hadn’t allowed herself to break down. She didn’t want to inconvenience those who could fight.

On the other hand,it was kind of… sad. Maybe the pianist was too hopeful. She wanted everyone to be happy. To live their lives. She was rather naive, when it came down to it. She was still struggling to come to turns with that fact. No point to it, at the moment. She should focus on her survival first.

“…Right,” she agreed, watching the other girl swiftly handle the… creature. It was still hard to process that this was… happening. That it was real. “Thank you…,” she tented her fingers together, “I’ll try not to get in your way.”

Admittedly, Celestia isn’t feeling her best. But, she’s trying her best. It’s luck that’s made sure she hasn’t been hurt, but she’s still a decent fighter, moving with grace despite her unconventional weapon. Blunt weapons, and the display of strength they require, aren’t typically for a dainty sort like her. But, when she made due, she continued with an old habit that didn’t die, not even hard. 

“I doubt you will. You look petrified.” Her voice is steady, Celestia turning to look at the stranger with a glimmer of a smile. When her sleeves call back, there are visible burn scars, the odd lines on her fingers from her time in capture. She is no stranger to the odd. 

@handsel

      There was something about her… she looked dark. She felt like some of the others at the institution Michael grew up in. She felt dark. But she was young, and it was Halloween, and Michael was ready to kill.

  He’d spent an hour or two watching her, observing her graceful way of moving, the way she looked on at others like she was better than them. Perhaps she was, in some ways. She was beautiful, and she stood out from the crowd of teens in short skirts and low-cut tops. The children wearing over the top costumes looked out of place, but her, in her elaborate outfit, she looked like she belonged on Halloween night as much as Michael did. 

  Finally he decided he was done watching. She turned a corner, and Michael was there. If she didn’t pay attention, she would walk right into him. She wouldn’t see him until it was already too late. Until his knife was held above her head, ready to strike.

Celestia Ludenberg, above everything, is observant. She is a master of trickery, of the strange and the unusual. She’s the sort to keep poison in her pockets, bits and pieces of witchery. Above all else, she is crafty and oh so dangerous. It is because of that, that she hides a weapon in the folds of her dress, that metal headed hammer that she’s used to kill men before. 

She plays no games, shows no fear. And so, she shows none as she moves through the crowd, hair pinned and no layer of her skirt out of place. 

And because she is observant, Celestia Ludenberg sees that knife, and the man wielding it and steps back, offering a smile that’s halfway to a sneer, a hand drifting to her skirt to ready the weapon. A small step back, but she doesn’t scream for help, doesn’t panic or do as most young women might. Instead, she speaks, curt and annoyed.