* refreshingly pessimistic.

. ･ﾟ    ┇  ⸢  MIA HEALEY  ,  CIS WOMAN  ,  SHE/HER  ,  MUSE  40 ⸥  ❛   ╾  don’t  look  now  but  NOELLE BECKETT  is  heading  this  way  .  last  i  heard  ,  the  TWENTY THREE  year  old  declared  their  allegiance  to  FACTION THREE  during  the  last  town  meeting  .   it  definitely  makes  sense  ,  considering  the  fact  that  they’re  known  for  being  PERSISTENT  &  RESENTFUL  .  that  being  said  ,  they  can  also  be  quite  ADROIT  &  MERCURIAL  .  i  don’t  know  about  you  but  every  time  i  see  them  i’m  reminded  of  GNAWING THE INSIDE OF YOUR CHEEK TO HOLD BACK YOUR CONSISTENT PESSIMISTIC REMARKS ,  A SMILE THAT IS RARELY EXPOSED BUT CAPABLE OF LIGHTING UP A ROOM , EYES GLAZING OVER MID-CONVERSATION — THE RESULT OF LETTING YOUR THOUGHTS TRAIL OFF ON THEIR OWN AND DONNING A PERFECTLY WORN-IN FLANNEL THAT REMINDS YOU OF YOUR PREVIOUS LIFE .  i’ve  also  heard  they’re  often  referred  to  as  the  ZOILIST  ,  but  that  might  just  be  because  they’re  a  TAURUS  .  something  tells  me  it  won’t  be  long  before  they  start  to  show  their  true  colors  .  wait  ,  are  they  listening  to MAYBE YOU’RE THE REASON  by  THE JAPANESE HOUSE  ?  i  love  that  song  !   ❜  

       noelle doesn’t mind the slight lull that washes over the pair from time to time. eyes study sam intently, intrigued by their sudden fascination with the sun. she almost scolds them for how long they’ve been staring but the thought is interrupted when sam speaks. “ sorry that i’m not entertaining enough for you today ! i’m too busy trying NOT to poke my finger with this needle. ” the annoyance in her tone is feigned, trying to stop herself from breaking into a grin. it only takes a few moments for her self-control to falter, a smile sticking to the corners of her mouth. the creation of new ham brought noelle and sam together — one of very few positives that came to mind when she reflected on the past few months. lately, moments of noelle feeling comfortable enough to let her guard down were rare but with sam, aspects of her former personality began poking through early on. if anyone was worthy of seeing the old noelle around new ham — it was them. “ can you even have a party with just two people ? taking into account that one of them is incredibly sober at the moment. ” her brow quirks in amusement, stifling a laugh when their hips move to whatever chose to play in their head. “ on a scale of one to ten ? a solid nine. if new ham had a dance competition, everyone else would definitely be done for.” she slips the needle and button in her pocket, joining them on her feet. “ so, where’s our party going to be ? and don’t say masons pond . . . it gives me bad vibes. ”

         it’s hard to ignore the commotion from aubrey’s unpacking when sensory overload is kicking in, eventually succumbing to the impromptu break from sewing. eyes narrow at the other’s immediate response, biting her tongue to avoid an initial sharp response. noelle’s mood had soured a while ago but she didn’t want to take it out on aubrey who was seemingly trying to enjoy her day with rocko. “ actually — ” a brisk pause and a sigh. “ i don’t usually talk this much. at least . . . i don’t think i do ? ” there were others in the group who were far more outgoing than noelle — that was her primary gauge at the moment. “ i’ll pretend NOT to be offended if you share something from your basket. i promise i won’t be picky. ”  

       fingers fumble with the current task at hand — sewing a lone button back onto her prized flannel shirt. admittedly, the shirt had seen better days but noelle clung to it like the fabric was imported silk, the item holding far too much sentimental value for her to toss it. her frustration builds as she tries to thread the needle, attention turning to the sun that was now directly in her line of sight. “ is it just me or are the days getting longer ? ” as each day transformed into the next, it seemed as though time seemed to drag on ( or maybe she was finally losing it ) . she laughs but it’s dry and bitter, shaking her head as she rolls the button between her fingers. “ you know, i rarely enjoy watching the sunset anymore . . . just means another long ass day is on its way. ”