Seven

[properwhitemage]

It's such a pretty day out. I think I'll go draw some pictures!

[Porom has found some sidewalk chalk and is industriously working away on the sidewalk. Most of what she's been doing involves flowers and bunnies, but there's also an unfinished tower in blue chalk that she adds to every so often.

There's also a picture of a smiling policeman and mayor

Comments

[roundhousekicks]

[O hai Porom. Chie's just gonna check out your handiwork. And... maybe just ignore the policeman and mayor.]

Hey... nice drawings. Is that a bunny rabbit?

[properwhitemage]

[That's okay. The policeman and the mayor are a red herring to divert attention from the tower postmodern symbolism. Or something.]

Uh-huh! Don't you think he's cute, miss?

[roundhousekicks]

Yeah! He's adorable! ...You don't have to call me miss, though. My name's Chie.

[properwhitemage]

Thanks! And it's nice to meet you, Chie. I'm Porom.

[roundhousekicks]

Nice to meet you too.

[And Chie's just gonna crouch down to drawing-little-kid-height.]

Hey... mind if I draw a little, too?

[properwhitemage]

Of course not! [She smiles and pushes the box of chalk towards her.]

How long have you been here?

[roundhousekicks]

Only a few days now. How about you?

[Chie's not much of an artist, but she's gonna go ahead and pick up the blue and red and get to work. Always give it your all, right?]

[properwhitemage]

Nearly two months now--I found myself here in the beginning of July. What do you think of it?

[Porom keeps working on the critters, but watches what Chie draws curiously.]

[roundhousekicks]

It sucks.

[Stated with a rueful little grin. Subtle as a boot to the head, that Chie. As for her drawing, it's slowly but surely turning into some kind of strange cross between Humpty Dumpty and a Pokemon.]

[properwhitemage]

I wouldn't say that. [Looks disapproving at the language.] But it isn't very nice beneath the surface, no.

[She watches Chie draw some more.]

What's that?