Don't You Wanna Feel A Little Beautiful

[Theresa McMasters]

Statements to the contrary, Theresa had changed her mind about a trip to London when she'd caught the news. Now she walking around Maldon, doing mostly window shopping. She stopped in front of a shop window, looking at the contents without really seeing them.

((Open))

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Anything in particular you're looking for?" a voice came from behind.

[Theresa McMasters]

"World peace?" Theresa said, recognizing the voice and glancing over her shoulder with a smile.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"I think you have to go to a larger store for that one."

[Theresa McMasters]

"Yeah, it doesn't seem like the sort of thing they'd carry," she said. "How are you doing?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"I'm...."

She paused.

"I'm alright."

[Theresa McMasters]

"I can't tell if you're hedging or if you're actually alright," Theresa chuckled. "If it's the latter, good for you."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"I think I actually AM ok, though it is hard to tell sometimes.

And you?"

[Theresa McMasters]

"Heading towards fine. College life is rough."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Is it? I suppose, though it could be worse."

[Theresa McMasters]

"Well, compare to high school, I mean. It's a whole different experience."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"I never went to high school, but I remember not fitting in when I was there," she nodded.

[Theresa McMasters]

"So how do you... is this another one of those cosmic things?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"All of the hosts' memories are in here, somewhere," she said, tapping the side of her head.

[Theresa McMasters]

Theresa nodded, sort of making sense of it. "I suppose that gets confusing every now and then."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Not...well, I suppose it can be, when speaking with...people."

[Theresa McMasters]

"All people or just certain people?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Just...people people. It's hard without the common frame of reference. Do you know what I mean?"

[Theresa McMasters]

"A bit," she nodded, "Even we humans have that communication problems when our frame of references don't meet."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"It's like, something you assume is normal might as well be in an alien language to other people."

[Theresa McMasters]

"Yeah, I get that way more than you probably know."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Oh? Tell me about it."

[Theresa McMasters]

"Just petty shit, even by my admittedly low standards, but trying to explain my hobbies to other people. Hell, explaining how my power works is easier than that sometimes."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"What sorts of hobbies?"

[Theresa McMasters]

"Computer games mainly, though I've been doing less of that lately."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Why? Games are an important diversion."

[Theresa McMasters]

"Not as much time and since last summer I kind of hate feeling cooped up too."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Is that why you're out and about today?"

[Theresa McMasters]

She nodded. "I needed to get out of the school's confines a bit. Online shopping just isn't the same."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"What are you buying?"

[Theresa McMasters]

"Nothing yet. Clothes probably eventually."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Would you mind terribly if I tagged along?"

[Theresa McMasters]

"Of course not, I could probably use the company. Anything in particular you're looking for?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Yes and no. I suppose I'll know it when I see it.

It's for a gift."

[Theresa McMasters]

"Sounds good. I should probably hunt down a gift for someone myself, though she's not really a clothes person, so we may swing by a book store."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"That will work, too."