saveyourbrain | this is a [test] of the emergency broadcast system

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this is a [test] of the emergency broadcast system

TEST DRIVE MEME

> The Park. Man, what a nice day out. Why not enjoy it? I'm sure -- shit, yep, there's some echo monsters.
> The Mall. Exactly what it says on the tin! Dodge the hordes of teenage mallrats or take part, whichever suits your tastes.
> Rainy Day. Agh, it's fucking awful out. And is it raining those vermilion things?? Now you've got an Echo to contend with on top of everything else. Find some shelter, quick!
> PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HOW FUN
> The most horribly kitschy Arts and Crafts Fair you can imagine.
> Wild Card! Make up your own.

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Lily gave a long, slow blink as she looked over the drawing. She then smiled and pulled her head back a bit. She always was impressed with her sister's skill at this sort of thing, but something about that in particular stood out as interesting in a way she couldn't quite place her finger on.

"Fancying yourself some sort of superhero now, Jasmine?"

Jasmine smirked, and then chuckled a bit.

"You've found out my horrible secret. Now I have to destroy you."

She lowered the picture, closing the book and tucking it under her arm. "I don't know, it just came to me on a whim. Thinking I should have made her look a bit darker, to be honest."

"Clearly, I should have kept my mouth shut," Lily replied with a brief bit of amusement. She took a brief pause at the second comment, but just smiled and reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind her own ear.

"I'd say I prefer the lighter look. It suits you better."

"Aw come on, sis," she said. "I have an image to maintain."

She reached down to pick up her bag, putting the sketchbook inside it. "Anyway, let's get going. You can tell me all about the new friends you're making and I'm not while we shop, or something."

Lily gave her a concerned look, feeling a slight churning in her stomach as she heard those words. She knew Jasmine had some difficulty putting herself out there, and that was something she had been concerned about... Whereas Lily had spent extra time at school with said friends, rather than heading straight there as promised.

"I'm sorry," she said, and gave a sigh. "I didn't mean to be late... Someone had needed some help understanding something from math class, and..."

She frowned.

"I should have at least called you."

"... Calm down, sis. I'm not mad, or anything."

It was partly a lie, but the fact of the matter was, it was something Jasmine kept in the pit of her stomach rather than stew over openly. At least, at this present point in time.

"I was joking, you know? A little self-deprecation. Also, I learned a new word. 'Self-deprecation.'"

As often the case would be, Lily was quick to jump to her sister's defense or aid. As such, even a hint that she may have upset Jasmine was cause for her to start apologizing. This was very far from the first time she had ever done this, and it very well would not be the last. Yet, Lily bought her being sincere in her response, and smiled lightly again.

"Okay, okay... I'm getting ahead of myself, clearly," Lily said. "But... I'll make it up, anyhow. Lunch on me?"

Jasmine grinned.

"Now you're speaking my language. It has to be a place that serves food that's particularly greasy and covered in cheese. Nothing super healthy or whatever."

"..."

Lily's expression flipped back around to a frown again, this time slightly disapproving.

"Honestly, Jasmine, you could really stand to eat better--"

She stopped herself and bit her lip. She did just say it was her treat. And it had been her that was late.

"But... I suppose if I'm treating you can choose whatever you'd like. This time, okay?"

Edited 2013-12-02 03:48 (UTC)

"Mine is an evil laugh," Jasmine replied. "I am laughing right now. Ha ha ha."

She elbowed her sister in the side, before she started walking.

"Come on, you can make whatever you want for dinner, and I won't complain. I may even help you!"

Lily followed after her, smiling once more.

"Good to hear, there's some produce I need to pick up on the way home," she said. "But I guess splurging on that sort of junk isn't ... terrible ... some of the time..."

"Mm," Jasmine replied, not really wanting to debate this. Lily was just trying to do what was best for her, after all.

"... so, uh. What were you and your classmate up to? It wasn't a boy, was it?"

Lily began speaking without thinking.

"It was in fact a--"

She then promptly stopped once the inference sunk in.

"No, no, no... Jasmine, it was nothing like that. A friend is struggling a bit in math, and with college entrance coming up, the teacher asked me to go over some stuff with him. He thought it might ... help me focus a bit more on it, as well."

"... I see."

Jasmine felt a little bit guilty, and sighed, looking down. "Sorry... I didn't realize that was it... and I guess I may be a little bit paranoid about someone stealing you a way before you have to go to college..."

Lily stopped in her stride, falling several feet behind her sister. That churning feeling had returned.

"No, that..."

She put a hand to her forehead, and took in a breath.

"Jasmine, listen. It won't be that bad, you know? I'll probably be going to the city college, so... it's not like I'll be far. Especially since Father seems to have finally settled in here."

"... I know," Jasmine replied, stopping and staring at the ground.

She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes again.

"I just... want to make the most of the time we have left, you know? But... I can't hold you back, either. This is our first real chance to make friends, and... I can't really keep you from that, can I?"

Lily stepped up beside her, reaching out and attempting to slip her arm through her sister's, linking them. She tried for a reassuring smile, and went on.

"Yes it is, and you really do need to try that more, you know? But don't forget that you are my best friend, and nothing can change that. You're not holding me back from anything, but make sure not to hold yourself back, too."

Edited 2013-12-02 04:44 (UTC)

Jasmine gave her sister a small smile, before taking Lily's arm in return.

"Best friend, huh? Well, I won't complain about that... and I promise, I'll at least try to be more social..."

She smiled a bit wider. "You know, we should pick up a movie to watch with dinner. I mean, you need to relax a bit after all that math, right? Maybe we can even get dad to come up for air while we're at it."

"I do wish you would, Sister," Lily replied. "I do worry about you when it comes to that. It's no good to just be going about things at your age by yourself... well, when I'm not there, anyhow."

She looked up, noticing they were nearing eating establishment they'd been heading towards. Certainly, she was hoping her stomach churning earlier was just her own nerves, right about then.

"...what do you think he'd even want to watch, though?"

"Yeah yeah... it's not my fault, though, you know. Everytime I'd meet someone who isn't a vapid waste of space, I have to move. And that just starts the cycle over again..."

She blinked. "... I dunno. We tried to get him to watch Indiana Jones once and the whole time he kept telling us how everything in it was wrong."

Jasmine sighed.

"You're right, though. You know, sometimes I think we don't really know him that well at all..."

Instinctively, and without much thought regarding it, she tightened the link between their looped arms.

"Yes, I know... He just-- you know he loves us, Jasmine. I think he just has a hard time relating to two girls, and... we've always been well off enough, which is more than a lot of people can say nowadays."

"... I know. And to be honest, I can't imagine growing up without him. I just... wish things were better."

She sighed, and took a deep breath again before looking up.

"... Oh. We're here already..."

She tugged at Lily's arm.

"Come on... I want to get the biggest, messiest burger I can stomach. And you're gonna watch me eat it."

Edited 2013-12-02 05:14 (UTC)

Lily tried to be dignified and ladylike, but she visibly blanched at the prospect. She gave an over exaggerated, animated sigh.

"Oh, if I must. But don't come crying to me if we have to bust out the antacid when we get home."

"You're just jealous because I'll be having something good."

Then, laughing, she moved to pull Lily inside the restaurant with her.

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