text, un: bellabelle

[doreimi]

Hey, maybe this is going to sound like kind of a silly question, but — does anybody have any advice for staying focused while studying for exams? I really don't remember it being this hard! I mean...sure, it's been a really long time since I've had to study like this, but it shouldn't be that tough to pick up again, right?

Though I guess I ought to know better than to try to study during Cordis, but...

Well, my plans to study during Sanguis kind of got...interrupted! So now here I am, going over everything, and I keep getting sidetracked by one thing or another. Half the time I want to get up and eat, and then other times I want to lie down and take a nap...ugh!

But I really need to stop letting so much time go to waste. I made a promise to myself that I was going to do this! And I've worked this hard already for months and months, I can't trip at the finish line now!

Jeez, maybe I ought to borrow some catnip from the cafe and sprinkle it on my books, I bet I'd pay attention to them then.

(This is actually my first time being a cat for Cordis — I guess you could say it's pretty im-purr-essive that it hasn't happened before now! Especially what with owning a cat cafe and all. I just wish it weren't so distracting!)

Comments

un: tigerpoet

[tigerpoet]

As a teacher and a Cordis, I feel like I should have some advice for this, but all I can really say is to have a ready supply of snacks with you as you study so that you don't have to interrupt your work when hunger strikes.

[doreimi]

I tried for a while to bribe myself! You know — read a page, eat a snack, that kind of thing. But I really wish I could just sit and read without having to stop so much!

text | un: fantasma

[teaserving]

hey so
you ok now?

[doreimi]

Full height, full possession of my senses, thank goodness. I'm back to trying to study for entrance exams.

Um...thanks. For, uh, for taking care of me the way you did, with no warning or anything.

[tigerpoet]

I don't think that's possible under Cordis. But it could always be worse? You could have Iris.

[doreimi]

Is Iris a lot worse? I mean, I've heard stories, but...

[teaserving]

it's ok
you were a really cute kid just like i thought you'd be

so
what were you trying to achieve with that drink anyway?

[tigerpoet]

From dealing with my friends who are Iris, I feel confident in saying you wouldn't be getting any more done than you are now, at least.

[doreimi]

...Okay, don't laugh, but...

...

I kind of...grabbed the wrong one. I didn't mean to drink it, I was up early to study and I wanted something with some pep and...I guess I just wasn't really paying close enough attention.

Embarrassing, right?

[doreimi]

Mm, I know people can sometimes change their moonblessings — that happened to one of my close friends — but I'll just have to keep hoping that I don't wind up an Iris before I finish exams! That'd really be frustrating, when I'm so close!

[tigerpoet]

I had no idea that could happen...

What year are you in, if I may ask?

[teaserving]

i mean sure
but why did you have something like that to begin with

[doreimi]

Yeah! It was really weird, for a while we were both Cordises, and then one month he changed during Sanguis instead! It was so bizarre.

Oh, and I'm — um. It's...sort of complicated. Back home, I never got to finish high school, so when I got here, I thought...

Maybe this will sound silly. But I thought it'd be nice to know whether I could've gotten into university. You know? Even if I never got to go. At least I'd know I was good enough to have made it. So that's what I'm studying for, is...I guess you could say the equivalent of that.

[doreimi]

Oh. Well...because Lumi said it could go the other way, too. You know, older?

I just thought I might want to know, sometime. Just...for curiosity.

[teaserving]

oh
i get it

do you wanna talk about that?
like
privately

[doreimi]

...Yeah, I think so. Hang on.

[And now we're private!]

There we go.

[tigerpoet]

That's not silly at all. I'm glad you have the opportunity here to do the things in Prismatica that you never got a chance to do.

I'm the same way, really. Except not with studying, but with things like ice skating and such.

[doreimi]

Oh, yeah? Did you want to be a famous ice skater or something?

[teaserving]

[And in turn, Abbacchio switches it to audio.]

Hey, sorellina.

I'm gonna guess you wanted a preview of what could be if you hadn't been eighteen years old for the past several years?

[tigerpoet]

Nothing as extreme as that. I was very sickly when I was alive, and I spent most of my winters in the hospital and staying inside as much as possible. It's only as a - ghost, I suppose? - that I've been able to try things like learning to ice skate.

I know it's not nearly as important as something like going to college, but it's something I was never able to do in my lifetime.

[doreimi]

Hi, Niichan. Thanks again for being a great babysitter. I guess I'm rubbing off on you or something!

[...]

That's not the only thing I bought from Lumi, either. He had something that he said would let me change how I looked, and I got that, too. But...yeah. I just thought maybe sometime I'd want to try to see who I would've been.

...And hey, maybe it would've turned out that when I'm older I'm ugly and sag-faced! Then it would've been a good thing I never grew up...ha...

[doreimi]

...Winters outside aren't a lot of fun even when you're a ghost, believe me. I mean, sure, you don't get cold, but it's still pretty terrible.

Is that what you've decided to do while you're here, then? Have experiences like that?

[teaserving]

Well, I did think a bit "aw shit what would Reimi do" and did my best. In retrospect, I really shouldn't have fucked up your appetite with cupcakes, but you were too cute to refuse.

[Right. This topic. He kind of wishes he was with her right now for this conversation.]

You? With that face? Hell no. You'd have guys tripping over themselves for you.

...I get wondering, though. And wanting to know. [He won't get to grow old with Avdol, after all. So he does get that.] You know what's stupid? There was an enemy user who had the ability to make people older. Too bad he couldn't be less of a jackass and maybe show you, huh?

But honestly. ...No one could blame you for wanting to know. I'm sorry it didn't work out like you wanted.

[tigerpoet]

I fell enough times on the ice to know that my particular variety of ghost can still get cold. But I still had fun.

Among other things. I'm able to teach again - I missed working with students.

[doreimi]

Aw, that's okay. It's like you told me that one time, I guess I really am the cute face nobody can refuse!

[She laughs softly.]

That's a pretty weird Stand. I guess he probably used it in a bad way, huh — making everybody too old to fight, or something like that?

My friend Yukako-chan told me there was a Stand user in our town who could change your looks, and help you find love. She got her face changed around and everything, trying to get the guy she liked to notice her. Kinda makes you wonder where Lumi gets his stuff from, huh?

...I try hard not to think of it as something I missed out on. That future I would've had. But sometimes I can't help it. You know, things like...I guess my high school boyfriend married somebody else. I guess whatever job I would've had was filled by someone different. Like there were holes where I would've fit, and they closed up without me.