(Untitled)

[itellthetaleof]

Gabrielle liked to think that she was an adaptable person. That she could accept change in the world around her. In fact, she thought that she'd done very well on the island, getting used to all the new things in the compound and the references people made when the talked about the worlds they came from

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[noblerworld]

Normally, Seifer would say the mistletoe was hilarious. As someone who'd yet to be caught by it, he took great pleasure in watching and laughing at those unfortunates who were.

And, normally, Seifer would say crying over anything showed that you were pathetic and weak and deserving only of ridicule. And he did kind of think that, but well he knew Gabrielle was one of Luke's friends, and he'd liked her well enough when they'd briefly met and, to be honest, comforting a crying damsel in distress was something he'd always quite wanted to do.

So, he didn't say anything mocking, for the time being anyway, and just sat down next to her instead.

"Ah, cheer up, man. It ain't that bad."

He wasn't great at being comforting, admittedly, but then he never really tried to be that often.

[itellthetaleof]

"Wait!" She heard someone sit down next to her and Gabrielle's head shot up to warn him not to...but it was too late. She wiped her eyes on the cuff of her sleeve before she got a good look at who had sat beside her. "I appreciate the sentiment Siefer, but I'm afraid now your stuck with me."

She'd met Seifer as he was one of Luke's friends but she didn't know him well enough to talk about why she was crying. She didn't even really know how to explain it anyway so it was just easier to concentrate on the mistletoe, to which she pointed. "Do you know about the magic mistletoe?"

[noblerworld]

"Sure," he replied, he did and he knew there was only one way to be freed from it and that involved getting stuck first. "That's one of the things that ain't that bad."

"Could say you're damn lucky to get a kiss from me, to be honest."

[itellthetaleof]

Well, at least the dark look Gabrielle gave him made her forget for a moment that she'd been crying. "Excuse me? I'm lucky?"

[nohalf_measures]

It's difficult, trying to keep a handle on her emotional state. Beatrice no longer has access to her medications and she can feel herself sliding back, returning to the way she was before. The highs and the lows that leave her worn down and shattered. It scares her more than she wants to admit but for today...well, today she's on a high and she's going to enjoy it. Dressed in period appropriate finery and out to explore this new landscape.

To be honest, she hasn't felt quite this far removed from reality since that month in her early 20s she spent living in the communal house and experimenting with all the various forms of hallucinogens. Difference being she was having quite a bit more sex then, and getting a lot less sleep. She can't quite remember if that was after her first stint in rehab or her second, not that it matters terribly. And to be fair, her wardrobe here is far superior and that has to count for something

[itellthetaleof]

When she heard someone sit down, Gabrielle pulled her face out of skirts and looked up. She looked at the tissue in the woman's hand and wiped her eyes on her sleeve cuff before reaching for it with a watery smile. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

She used it to wipe her eyes again and blow her nose, which did actually help. She felt a bit more put together which was good because she didn't think the woman would appropriate what she had to point out. "I really appreciate you stopping to help a stranger but I'm afraid crying isn't the only thing I need help with." She pointed upwards towards the mistletoe, hoping the woman wouldn't be too upset.

[nohalf_measures]

"I could never leave a pretty lady crying alone on a bench," she replies with a tone that brooks no argument, but with a warm smile that softens the meaning. "What kind of a girl do you think I am?"

Beatrice blinks a few times, trying to work out the significance of the mistletoe before it hits her. She'd heard people talking about it but it hadn't been important so she'd dismissed it. But now it was somewhat coming back to her. Something about...magic? Absurd, whatever it was.

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand. What do you need me to do?"

[itellthetaleof]

The warm smile helped almost as much as the tissue and Gabrielle's smile got warmer in reply. "A very kind one to stop for a stranger. This ghost population just makes things feel so...lonely."

Then Gabrielle sighed as she started to explain, wiping her eyes again for good measure. "It's magic. We won't be able to leave this bench until we kiss. One of the island's tricks, I'm afraid."

[starchilde_lost]

Rachel kinda dug Victorian London. It was dark, a little dingy, and the ghost-people were a little sketchy-looking, but for the most part, she had a handle on things. Mostly, it was just nice to have shops to go in and out of again, to have things to see and explore that wasn't trees or more trees or the occasional cave. (Or Rapture, but that wasn't anything she concerned herself over anymore.) When she didn't have class, she was out exploring, looking for, well, anything. Books, foods, even toys held her fascination as she made her daily strolls through the streets.

Today, however, it was something else that grabbed her attention and Rachel immediately kicked herself for not noticing it sooner. Gabby was her best friend, she should have known something was wrong before she came across her best friend crying on a street bench.

"Gabby? Oh, God, Gabby, it's okay." She rushed to her friend's side and quickly put her arms around her, holding her tight. "It's gonna be okay."

[itellthetaleof]

When she heard the familiar voice call her name, Gabrielle's head shot up. "Rachel, wait! Don't!" But she couldn't speak up fast enough before Rachel's arms were around her and she couldn't stop herself from leaning into the embrace. The tears fell harder for a moment in the embrace of someone she loved, which ultimately helped her pull herself together.

"Oh Rachel," she said as she wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry." For crying on her, for getting her stuck...for not being able to contain herself and causing this situation in the first place.

[starchilde_lost]

"Sorry for what? What's wrong?"

Rachel didn't let her friend go, worried about what exactly had her so bothered that she'd broken down like this. Had she gotten one of those lovely little reminders of home again? Had someone said something to her?

[itellthetaleof]

Gabrielle nodded above their heads towards the mistletoe that now held them trapped on the bench. "I'm afraid we're stuck now."

She paused for a long moment, wondering if she should continue. But this was Rachel and if she could talk to anyone, it should be her best friend. "But," she started softly, looking down at her hands, "That's now why I'm crying. I...This place...I don't belong here."

[usethecompany]

Conversely, Archie did not believe he had ever had a pleasanter experience of the island's unique brand of mischief. This London represented the city during a time in the sailor's future, which made it unfamiliar to a point. But it was comprehensible and familiar to an even greater point. Large measures of societal progress paraded about him, but Archie could fathom the connections, see where the new had replaced the old, rather than be lost in the gaping technological gap. The clothes, the city environment, the foods and voices all spoke to him of home. He could not have been more pleased.

His heart sank however the moment he laid eyes upon Gabrielle. He hurried to his dear friend's side, ignorant of the danger that lurked above them. "Gabrielle," Archie said, concern obviously present in his tone. "What's happened? Are you hurt?"

[itellthetaleof]

At first, Gabrielle was glad to hear the voice of a dear friend in her misery, until she remembered the mistletoe hanging above her. "Archie! Wait!" But it was too late and she gave a soft groan of frustration. This just wasn't fair, to have other people get caught up in her plight.

"No," she said, sniffling as she wiped her eyes. "I'm not hurt. Just..." She looked out at the city and sighed. "Feel overwhelmed by all of this. And I'm afraid we're stuck now." She pointed upwards so he'd know what she meant.

[usethecompany]

Having spent many a year in residence on the island, Kennedy was by now quite familiar with the treacherous magic of the mistletoe that appeared around this season. However, he had not thought to find it out of doors and certainly had not anticipated it being an aspect of Gabrielle's situation.

His gaze lifted to the offending piece of greenery, but his only reaction was a heavy sigh. "All hope is not lost," he remarked, but took a seat beside her all the same. "A kiss shall set us free, if you could stand it. Would you like to be free first or perhaps would you like a little more time to gather yourself?"

[itellthetaleof]

Gabrielle smiled softly in appreciation for Archie's willingness to help her out. "I think I could stand a kiss from a good friend." Then she sighed and sat up, straightening her skirts and rubbing her eyes again. "I think I'm ready to be free. Sitting here longer will only cause me to dwell further."

[percy_jackson]

You would think that, after my talk with Valkyrie, I'd be less distracted. But of course I wasn't. So, I didn't notice Gabrielle until I was almost right up to her. "Oh, hey, Gabrielle--" Then the look on her face made me stop. She looked... frustrated. "Something wrong?"

[itellthetaleof]

Gabrielle looked up at the familiar voice and held up a hand to stop him. "Percy, don't come on any closer." She nodded upward to show him the mistletoe hanging over her head. He might already be in it's sphere of influence but if he wasn't, then she didn't want him to risk it. "I don't want you to get stuck too."

[percy_jackson]

I looked up at where she was pointing, and groaned. "Oh, crud! Not again! We get this every winter!"

Then a part of my mind thought things through. The Island was really having a fun time with me, wasn't it? Complicating my life with Valkyrie and Coraline, and now if I wanted to get Gabrielle out of her predicament, I'd have to kiss her.

Then I looked at Gabrielle, and I realized, what was I thinking? Of course I'd have to kiss her! She was my friend and she was trapped, and I would help her any way I can.

But first I had to clear things with her.

"It's a tradition where I come from," I said. "A rather stupid one. I know how to get you out, and I can help you if you'd like."

[itellthetaleof]

"I was here last winter, I know about the mistletoe." Gabrielle said with a sigh. "And I know how you get out. It's okay Percy, I understand if you don't want too. If you could send someone else my way, I would more then appreciate it." It wouldn't hurt her feelings if he didn't want to kiss her. She'd just prefer he didn't get stuck as well.