in bloom.

@hertestrings

If she ever wanted to make a list of places that weren't the worst to clean, the aftermath of the Ethereal Ball would probably make an appearance. It's not like it's a creepy old attack full of cobwebs and horrible bugs. And it's not like it's the chapel of the convent where she grew up where everything has to be put back exactly in the correct place and how is anyone ever supposed to remember all that. It's not like it's stupid, stinky Perne's hideout either where there is also the threat of horrible bugs.

There aren't going to be any bugs here, right? This was a beautiful, magical ballroom just the other night. Bugs don't like beautiful, magical ballrooms do they? Of course not. Tina lifts a hand from the handle of her broom to wave that thought far, far away.

"This isn't so bad, you know!" There's another girl here helping to clean up, too. Tina doesn't know her or recognize her but that doesn't matter. It's pretty boring keeping all of her thoughts inside when there's someone else around who she can subject them to. "Like we can like remember all the fun stuff we did or whatever. You know like right over there is where I um I mean that other girl with different green hair swiped that champagne flute and the whole tower fell down. I can't believe they just left the glass on the floor."

What does bother her is the fact that she's cleaning up for a party she didn't even have a chance to attend. An especially grand party, from the sound of it: the Ethereal Ball. She can imagine it now, handsome lords and beautiful ladies dressed up to the nines, dancing to orchestral music and eating only the finest cuisine that can be offered, laughing and making merry and finding love in places they didn't know to look. And apparently, it was even flower-themed! At the mere picture of it in her mind, she clutches the handle of the broom she's holding so tightly that her knuckles go white. Faye has always been a jealous, bitter girl, and that's certainly no different now. The more reasonable part of her knows that she's never been a partier; she probably wouldn't have enjoyed it, even if Alm were there… And yet, she still finds herself adrift in dreams that she knows will never be. Stupid, frivolous ideas that a grown girl like her has no business having.

She lets out a long-suffering sigh and resumes sweeping. Just focus, don't think about it, just think about getting this done so that you can go back to your room.

But, of course, things are never that easy, are they?

The other student who's accompanied her here, tasked with the same thing, opens her mouth to speak… and keeps speaking! Faye doesn't think she recognizes her, but that's no surprise, given that she's only been at the Academy for a few days now. She briefly pauses her ministrations to stare blankly at the girl. Honestly, she had gotten so absorbed in her own anguish that she had completely forgotten her presence.

We can remember all the fun stuff we did, she says, and Faye bites down on her tongue, hard enough to taste her own blood to keep herself from snapping at her. It's not her fault, she doesn't know, but all her words do is serve to rub salt into the wound.