(no subject)

[stopinthenameofawe]

Who: Melissa Lyre, her double, and whoever runs across her.
What: Melissa's at work, but she also seems to be wandering around the city. And something is... different.
When: Sunday, all day
Where: Either at the station (for the original), or pretty much anywhere around town.

a. (Mirror)
Melissa seems to be out and about today, but something isn't quite right. Even something as simple as the way she walks is a give away- instead of standing tall and alert and pretty much constant people watching, the woman is much more subdued in her posture, head down and-- reading a book?! What.

b. (Original)
Alternatively, Melissa can be found in the station, as outwardly straight-laced and businesslike as normal. Though, if anyone would talk to her even for a moment, she'd be just as smug and coy and whatever else you want to describe her with as her friends are accustomed too. But then what was going on with her earlier...?

Comments

[flamberge]

The oddity of book reading Melissa doesn't get to Karl that much when he spots her. Reading, never a bad thing. Melissa seems educated enough to partake in a book from time to time. What makes Mr. Midlife Crisis walk over is the reading while walking aspect.

"Walking around while not paying attention to your surroundings isn't wise." This is coming from personal experience. Lots of personal experience. More experience will likely come, too, considering the bad habit of doing so with his phone that's developed as of recently. Running into things and people isn't all that fun. Sparing someone from it can only be called a good deed.

i don't have any icons for her acting like this...

[stopinthenameofawe]

"Huh? Oh." Melissa looks up, clearly a little startled. It's with an odd hint of nervousness that she tucks her hair behind her ear, avoiding eye contact with the man at all costs. "I guess so." Her posture is reserved and withdrawn, not to mention the fact that even her voice seems quieter than normal. Maybe she's not feeling well?

ahaha I CAN PICTURE IT THOUGH

[flamberge]

The oddity of this behavior throws Karl completely off guard. Movements like that, the posture and the quiet voice: all just so very unlike the strong and vocal woman. To say it's concerning would be putting it mildly. "Are you feeling all right?"

XDD

[stopinthenameofawe]

"Yeah, I'm fine." But her posture and way of holding herself isn't changing. In fact, all she does is pull out a bookmark to keep her place in the book, a little hunched over as if trying to make herself smaller.

[flamberge]

The hunching over only increases the possibility of something bad having happened. Karl's small concern quickly grows. Something to get this behavior out of Melissa has to have been serious indeed. "You're behaving oddly. Did something happen?"

[stopinthenameofawe]

In response, Melissa merely looks puzzled, tucking her hair back ever so gently again. "No? I don't know what you're talking about." And she really doesn't seem to.

[flamberge]

Misinterpreting a response like this could happen to anyone. It does to Karl, with him assuming the puzzlement is less not knowing and more a not wanting to talk. Silence follows, with a studying stare, before he sighs. No point in forcing someone to speak who does not want to. "I won't pry if you do not wish to tell me, but know that the offer you proposed goes both ways."

[stopinthenameofawe]

Melissa clearly has no idea what's going on in this conversation. "Um... ok, sure," she replies, glancing down at her book. It's kind of awkward, actually, the way that she doesn't seem to know whether to keep talking or go back to reading.

[flamberge]

Needless to say, the indecisiveness between what to do doesn't help in lessening Karl's concern. Super worried friend remains worried, but knows how annoying prying can be when unwelcome. Right now, it's most definitely unwelcome given this behavior. Even so, he'll just double check one more time, "You're certain you'll be all right?"

[buildyourworld]

He was heading toward the nearest bread shop to grab something light when he noticed her familiar figure. Even if her posture is uncharacteristically somber, that's not the reason that has Eugen stops walking in total shock.

The world must be coming to an end. The snake didn't end it.

But Melissa will.

Melissa reading a book.

He must be hallucinating, even if the sun is still bright and he's wide awake. For a second, he fails to react but after managing to reign the shock in, he stops right in front of her and asks with a grin, "Don't read and walk, Lisa. What's gotten into you?"

[stopinthenameofawe]

Melissa jerks up, clearly not having seen him. How would she have, with her nose in a book. "Oh, sorry. I guess I got caught up in it." She's smiling, but it's a little shy and unsure. Not to mention the fact that she's apparently enjoying a book. Something is definitely going on here, but Melissa, quiet as she's being, doesn't seem to realize that.

She'll glance down at her book once she's done talking, marking her place if Eugen looks like he's going to keep talking.

[buildyourworld]

Okay. Something is definitely wrong. That expression should never be on her face. Not since she told him about her first girly crush. This now, is simply wrong in every possible way. His brow furrowing tight, Eugen pauses to observe her, a little alarmed with her sudden interest in books. "Are you... alright?"

[stopinthenameofawe]

Her expression turns a little puzzled, nervously tucking her hair behind her ear. "Um, yes? Why wouldn't I be?" Geez, Eugen, maybe something's wrong with you.

[buildyourworld]

"..." Her reaction is so out of character that Eugen instinctively steps back, alarms blaring in his mind. What's going on? Is something wrong with her? Is the modification changing her? The frown tightens as he grips the strap of his sling bad. "Who are you?"

[stopinthenameofawe]

Ok, now she looks really confused. "Um, Melissa?" No seriously what are you talking about. "Are you ok?"

[buildyourworld]

Now he's confused. This is certainly not standard Melissa's response. That would be along the line of - 'Of course this is me? What have you been smoking? Geez!' - and not this reaction. Never mind that she's actually reading a book in the first place. "If this is your idea of an elaborate prank, I swear I will slap you, Lisa."

[stopinthenameofawe]

Melissa frowns, withdrawing slightly into herself. No, normally she would laugh at that proposal, not this. "I'm not doing anything!" She looks kind of upset, honestly. "Seriously, are you alright?"

[detectivetroll]

That... is not the Melissa he's used to. It's the subdued part that worries him, because now he's wondering what the hell happened. He head over, falling in to walk beside her and lightly bumping her shoulder with his. "That doesn't look like the Kama Sutra."

[stopinthenameofawe]

Melissa didn't see him coming, so she stumbles a little ungracefully at the bump, but she catches herself. The surprise, however, comes purely from his words. "Why would I be reading that?" she asks, sounding rather scandalized.

[detectivetroll]

Nick laughs. "What, because you've already read it so many times it'd be pointless? I'm actually pretty impressed there, I almost believed that scandalized bit."

[stopinthenameofawe]

"No. I wouldn't even touch that book." Yeah, she's still staring at you like you've grown an extra head, Nick.

[detectivetroll]

...well now Nick's returning that stare right back at her. "Okay, Mel, the joke's not funny anymore. Now you're starting to weird me out."

[stopinthenameofawe]

"Joke?" she echos, still confused and still pretty withdrawn from Nick, clearly not a fan of this conversation. "What are you talking about?"

[detectivetroll]

Seeing her withdrawn from him... actually hurts, a little, he's kind of surprised to realize that. "Are you okay? Look, whatever it is, you know you can tell me, right?"

[stopinthenameofawe]

Melissa is clearly not following the thread of this conversation at all, and she rolls her shoulder back a little uncomfortably. Not to mention all the other nervous gestures like messing with her hair and pretty much just keeping close to herself. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"