hugtopia_logs | [Open] Petals & Pages

♥ Who: You~ (and Vianca)
♥ Where: Shopping District - a new shop!
♥ When: January/February (Lasra/Nalom)
♥ What: Open Mingle Log
♥ Rating: Probably Pretty G

With the coming of Lasra, there was at least one new shop opening its doors in the quiet bustle of the Shopping District! There had been a distinct lack of places to simply sit in that district, but look no further if you were searching for such a spot. There are warm lights on inside, with the sights of large, comfy chairs and couches beckoning from the welcoming windows.

At times, from the same windows, you can catch sight of a pink little girl sitting near the glass, thumbing through an honest-to-goodness paper book.

Walking through the door would earn you a soft greeting. Welcome to Petals & Pages~

It's an Open Mingle Log!!
+ Shop Info is here, plus book requests.
+ Vianca will have her own top-level, and can reply to yours, but this log isn't just for interacting with her!
+ Feel free to use this post for your own plans how you please! The only House Rule is that you gotta sit with someone and get some sweet Dora, it doesn't have to be Vianca~ This includes multiple top-levels if you desire, since the log is for two months.
+ Have! Fun!!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It doesn't last long - maybe just a minute or less - but after that time, Guzma grumbles to herself, frustrated that he doesn't really have anything he can use to write this all down. Better yet, nothing to record it, though he's hoping the communicators have that sort of feature...or he could somehow get a laptop with a decent sound-editing software. That would be a dream.

He idly notices Pyra's stare, blinking a bit and rubbing the back of his neck. He, uh...he's not sure what this reaction is, and his expectations of himself are lower than dirt, so--]

Uh...no good? I mean--uh. I don't really got my laptop here, and it's still just a work in progress... Thought I could recreate them Pokemon Center jingles...

[ A work in progress--... "no good".....?

What.

What?! ]

N-no, Guzma, that was incredible!

[ She starts out with a cheer, then recalling that this place is supposed to be chill, she turns it down a notch, leaning in and lowering her voice. ]

Er, it really was! Is, I mean. [ She beams at him, enthusiastic. ]

That sort of rhythm and melody suits this place perfectly. I had no idea you had this sort of talent!

[Oh. Hm. This is new. Pyra's outburst does get a few disgruntled looks from the others around, but not much else, and if Guzma wasn't already starting to feel weirdly flustered and a bit embarrassed, he'd have half a mind to stare them down in return. His glower is, uh...w-well. It certainly send s a very direct message.

As it stands, he's scratching his cheek and not really meeting Pyra's gaze. Yeah, he's good at music, has been even since he joined Team Skull and eventually became its boss. He can dance better than he can sing, though, so he only thought of this as more of an off-hand hobby that sort of blended into his freestyle.]

Ah...really? I mean, s' not even finished. And I can't do any audio tuning with just my voice, but--uh. I guess? Thanks? [WHAT ARE COMPLIMENTS AND PRAISE?? THOSE AREN'T GIVEN TO HIM REGULARLY.]

No, no, I really mean it. [ Happily, she settles back into her seat, lifting a hand to brush her hair back over her ear. That same hand drops, then, to her chest, curling over where her heart might be as she looks at him. ]

There isn't much of any sort of music in this place, too. Creating something like that, it's sharing a piece of your world, here. A piece of you.

And that piece is very beautiful.

[There's a long pause before Guzma begins to laugh. Loud, sudden, and with a slight tone to it that sounds...manic? Mocking? It's somewhere in between, and he ignores the dark looks people give him for the sudden outburst, touching not his heart, but his stomach with one hand, because his gut hurts from the sheer force of that laughter.

Oh, Pyra...you sweet, summer child. There is absolutely nothing beautiful about any part of him. Hasn't been for a good decade and a half, probably.]

Oh..ahah...wow, that--...whoo. [He wipes at the corners of his eyes.] Dang, didn't think I needed a laugh like that.

[ She waits for his laughter to calm, keeping her smile peaceful. It’s clear that he doesn’t believe her, and the hint of mocking tone within the laughter betrays how naive he thinks of her for it. This. This is fine, too. He can laugh all he wishes at her, so long as he does laugh and smile. She does not mind, so long as he is happy.

How sad, that he can’t see the grace of the (admittedly, just the base beats ) music that he’s produced.

Gently, ]

I’m being sincere, Guzma. Don’t tell me— you think too little of your talent? [ Him and everyone in this place seem to not know or accept how wonderful they are. ]

[It's not his talent, it's himself that he thinks poorly of, only because it was - quite literally - beaten into him how much of a useless failure he was at an early age. He grew up with that, and the bitterness and anger shaped him into...a not very great person. Better now than he was, yes, but a few stray compliments won't change what nearly a decade or two has created.

And having to explain that makes him lean back and exhale, eyes closed and arms crossed over his chest. Here we fucking go - can't people just accept he has low self-esteem and drop the fucking matter? If he wanted to talk about it, he'd be sobbing on the chaise of some shrink's office.]

Listen, girly. I know I got skills, and some'a them I'm proud of, sure, but that don't make me 'good', or even 'great', as a person. I got my problems like the rest'a the people here, and while I appreciate y'all's saying there's something cool I can do - honestly, I do - don't call me something I'm not. [Because you know what? People that are told again and again that they're worthless, and start to actually believe it, get angry and confused when they're told the opposite, because it creates an intense mental and emotional conflict.]

Now, do you wanna hear another one I thought of or not? [Yes, he is deflecting, and deflecting hard, but Guzma's not here for therapy, he's here to relax.]

[ Giving a compliment and telling him that she feels this part of him is good... has upset him, and he all but tells her belief is wrong: don't call me something I'm not. Clearly she has erred, and it warrants an apology. ] Ah... I'm sorry.

[ Thus this is a deflection she will happily oblige. What can she do but go along with his wishes? Although this, too is surprising. ] You've.... thought of another one in just this short time?

[ Holy shit brah-- ]

[Compliments are...touch and go, especially for people that so often never get them. Or only received them from those that were never honest about their intentions. People that needed to sweeten their words, their approach, in order to twist the meaning, or the arms of those they needed to manipulate. It's quite easy to do so, too...for those starved for the validation and care of anyone willing to throw them a bone.

But. Once the damage is done, every sheep looks like a masquerading wolf among the flock.]

I had a backup, yeah. [That's kinda normal, at least he thinks. If the first one is a flop, you pick aspects of it to create something new - evolve it, change it, add and subtract the goods and the bads, or use something completely new. A second draft.] Ready? Here...

[ Listening quietly, she brings a hand to her cheek. This song is different from the first, not only in an overarching melody, but tempo, pitch as well. It's lighter, reminding her of a leisurely stroll rather than simply rest, although she presumes it may be suited for either.

However, she's not sure if he's looking for her opinion. Thus refraining from another compliment, the nod she gives him is pleasant but muted. ] This one sounds... more lyrical than the last.

[Lyrical? Hm...that makes sense, actually, considering he took the initial melody from something that already existed back in Alola. It was a popular jingle, used mostly to promote the beaches and surfing spots, and he altered it - made it more lax and calming...almost like a lullaby.]

Mm...yeah, you're not wrong. Took something from home and changed it up. The original beat's not mine, I just mixed it. Would be better sounding on a computer, since I can't exactly make higher pitched notes with my mouth... [The xylophone and music box notes are, uh...a little difficult for the gruff, low baritone of ya boy here.] Mmrm...guess that's my next endeavor to save up for...

[Open] Petals & Pages - Mingle #1

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cw: mild, very brief mentions of child abuse

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