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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHEERYCHERRY. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.46.820.17 * CHEERYCHERRY has joined 019.46.820.17 <CHEERYCHERRY> It's Riley! <CHEERYCHERRY> Please leave a message! <CHEERYCHERRY>** Please be someone with their priorities sorted out properly!

main: CheeryCherry
anonymous: panthera, aed
retired: gflynn (anon)

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[Trish gets the impression steering this conversation somewhere mundane still isn't helping.

She didn't expect benign speculation about a school she doesn't know in a country she's never been to surprise Riley, of all things.]

Oh, I was thinking something along the lines of cursed energy or attention-seeking. Whichever comes first.

[Maybe both? Haunted buildings are always a popular sightseeing location.

Trish fixes Riley with another look.]

I appreciate that you only seem to assume good intentions. Maybe I'm too cynical.

[ Her lips twitch again. Yep. That's her. That's Riley. Always...positive.

You have to be positive. Or else...everything falls apart.

She's able to form a smile. ]

Oh, I just...don't think anyone would go through all that trouble otherwise, you know? It's not like he's a big, well-known historical figure, right? Anyway, whoever it was made...a sizable donation to help get the school started, so...no one really cared, whether it was true or not.

[Is that true, Riley? Trish feels like, for all her impressive plumage, Riley looks more like a trembling house of cards, and if she were to simply huff hard enough, Riley would collapse under her own weight.

But she does make an acceptable point. Sort of. It's something that invites speculation that could land on two separate theories.

Although it's true that a school doesn't offer too much clout, not unless it was nationally recognized.]

So with enough bribery, the truth doesn't matter at all.

[Cool. She's back to staring at the ceiling instead of Riley, at least.]

You know the town I mentioned, the one where I grew up? The school was a sidenote. In fact, we have more five star hotels than we do schools, since our infrastructure is based entirely on tourism.

[Since Riley mentioned someone presumably rich pouring a large sum into establishing a school...

Well, Lacco Ameno is a celebrity destination thanks to a rich Italian producer, Trish recalls. It's like if the Giles Corey person contributed enough money to jumpstart an entire town. Although the reason for Lacco Ameno's investment is plain to see.]

Is your school prestigious, Riley?

[ Riley's feathers always have a mind of their own. The ones adorning her neck slowly rise as she blinks at Trish somewhat owlishly—how funny, that's not the bird she is. She's...a phoenix, isn't she? To rise from the ashes of failure and defeat, reborn anew...

There's silence for a moment too long, she thinks, a moment she could've avoided if she were only quicker, smarter, better at recovery. Usually she avoids talking about this, if she can't spin it in a positive way. ]

It's...expensive, you know? There's— it's got some really great programs. A lot of kids would love to go there. They give out scholarships for that kind of thing!

[ That doesn't really answer her question. But it's frilly enough that maybe Trish won't notice. It also makes her think of Eva, who...she hasn't really thought of in quite awhile.

...Hm. That's a weird feeling. ]

I don't really think school should be about prestige, anyway, it's...more about what you put into it that determines what you get back! Like...to foster a sense of community!

[Like a phoenix purged in constant flame to rise again and again...though, if Riley asked Trish to guess her animal basis, she'd guess parrot. Not out of any unkindness, but because what other colorful birds are there?

At this point, she's used to Riley's longer stretches of silence, since Riley seems to tread far too carefully no matter the subject matter.

And what comes out of her mouth eventually is a jumble of words. Expensive. Great programs. Great reputation. Scholarships. General enough to apply to any big school. So maybe, it isn't something that unique among the academic world.

However, Riley's addition is interesting, and Trish furrows her brows. Never mind obfuscating, this is...

She's not sure what this is. She hasn't been sure since she started talking to Riley. For everything she learns, only more questions crop up, although the questions themselves are vague, looming at the periphery of her conscience.]

Oh? Is that what you were doing back home, Riley?

[Riley sounded so peppy when she said it, like a cheerleader.

Hmph.]

I suppose that means you got more out of school than I did. You certainly have the energy for it.

[ Oh, just wait until Trish sees her travel form. ...Wait until Riley sees her own travel form. A small little kingfisher, so very fragile.

Her feathers twitch, but the smile on her face remains, perfectly frozen. ]

It's what I was trying to do~! [ A small bit of sing-song. ] I'm a cheerleader. You, uh...get out of school what you put into it, so...

[ She won't say that high school's hell. She won't say that every day she spent in that school felt like swallowing hot coals. She won't say every time she's struggled in a class she's had to pull herself back up, all by her lonesome, won't say the only place she's felt remotely comfortable is the field, is the practice gymnasium, is in a pyramid with her team but even that's been taken away from her now, leaving nothing but a cold-hot pit in her stomach— ]

I try to put in a lot.

[It's true, a kingfisher would be her last guess. Would it be anyone's guess? Who here knows their birds that well, honestly.

Anyways, Trish could laugh about the fact she was right about Riley being a cheerleader, obliquely, if it didn't seem like Riley was ratcheting up the positively positive positivity in a way that is almost too much. Like a cake that's too rich, enough that Trish can almost feel her own tongue burning from it.

But Riley's not saying anything that's untrue, right? Some people genuinely love school, and extracurricular activities, and college prep.

So Trish pats at her knees.]

I see. I can't really relate, but I'm glad you found something worthwhile in it.

[Even if it...doesn't matter here. Except, it can!]

Yours is an attitude that will serve you well not matter where you go.

[ She tries.

She tries, and tries, and tries, until it breaks her—or everyone else around her. ]

Mmm, thank you~ [ Perfect smile. Perfect girl. ] That's really sweet to say.

[ Almost abruptly, she stands. ]

Hey, so... I forgot, I think I should get going? My friend, we were gonna...do a thing, together. If you could just...tell Giorno I dropped by.

[As far as Trish is concerned, this is a good end to a conversation with a girl she beaned with a pillow?

The smile is tight, sure, but she assumes Riley is being awkward about having to leave, when it's really not her fault that Giorno is wandering around and not present for her to talk to.

She waves the harpy off.]

I'll tell him, don't worry. I'm sure he'll be happy to know you stopped by to see him.

[She flops over on the couch again with that.

Her nap was interrupted, you know! See you, space cadet.]

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Riley "if anyone expresses negativity i have to take drastic action" Williams

Be Happy Or Else

Or Else /brandishes knife

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so many wraps this decembers eve