Wilted Garden

[setting: the Cafe-Mieke]

*At a table, two people sit kitty corner from each other. One is a 16-17 year old girl with grey, almond-shaped eyes and dark purple hair pulled back into a barely existant ponytail. She wears a black cloak, with a collar that reaches up over her mouth. Periodically, she will bring a plastic cup of grape soda up and sip from it through a bendable straw.*

*The black-suited man next to her is slightly older, but not by much. He has thick white hair, with short bangs and a puffy, also barely existant ponytail. Through tinted glasses, he reads a manila folder. If you were to glance over his shoulder, it would appear to be a mass of total gibberish made up of random numbers and letters. He, however, seems to understand it just fine.*

Girl: *in a quiet, sweet voice* I hope my records are satisfactory, Commander Cheval.

Cheval: I have to say they're... unusual. Your memories were apparently erased twice?

Girl: Yes. The first time, on my request. The second time, on the request of the Piper.

Cheval: *nodding* I can see that here. That doesn't happen often, that the Piper requests something of that magnitude against a person's wishes. Do you know why?

Girl: I'm told it's because I bugged out.

Cheval: ...excuse me?

Girl: *shifting uncomfortably, glancing to the side* I... apparently, I remembered something bad, and I... lost control.

Cheval: Hm. That would explain why you have such a long list of forbidden activities. You're not allowed to kill with thrown objects, you're not allowed to drink tea, you're not allowed to drink wine, you're not allowed to visit Earth, you're not allowed to work with a female partner-- it's a gigantic list of "thou shalt nots"!

Girl: ...I see.

*He looks up from the manila folder at the girl, who is staring directly at him with an indecipherable look. Cheval sighs and adjusts his glasses, looking over them at her with bright, clear blue eyes.*

Cheval: Don't think I'm criticizing you. I also have a ridiculous list of taboos.

Girl: May I ask what those are?

Cheval: To start... I am forbidden to enter a church.

*The girl giggles lightly.*

Girl: What are you, a vampire?

Cheval: Well, maybe I was a cleric in my past life. Things are forbidden to keep the memory conditioning intact. And I'm not inclined to break with it-- obviously, there was a reason I chose to have my memory erased when I came into Rakuen-33. In your case, it's for your own mental stability. In my case, I simply don't know. Something must have happened that was so horrible that I chose to throw out everything and start fresh.

*For a moment, his eyes stare off past the girl, and into the distance, sadly. Then he shoves his tinted glasses back up over his eyes, hiding them again.*

Cheval: So, are you ready for your first assignment? I mean, your first assignment under my direction.

Girl: You still haven't given me my codename, Commander.

Cheval: ...that's right, a new codename for a new life. *He sits back, rubbing his chin with one hand.* You look like... a Thalia.

Thalia: *cheerfully* Then my name is Thalia.

Cheval: I remember when I got my name... I didn't think it matched, but my Commander insisted.

Thalia: I like "Thalia", though. It sounds Greek.

Cheval: *raising an eyebrow* You have a good ear. It's Greek for "blooming".

Thalia: There's only one name meaning that?

Cheval: Well, no, the other is... close, but not as fitting.

Thalia: Do you know what your name used to be?

Cheval: I don't know and I wouldn't ask even if I could get an answer. It's not worth the risk of remembering. *picking up the manila folder* Anyway. Your next target is a difficult one. I'll be accompanying you as back-up, due to the great risk involved.

*He reaches into the folder, rifles through some papers and tosses over a polaroid photograph... of K', in the chapel, looking incredibly pissed at something.*

Thalia: *calmly* I think I'll use a Glock.





So, am I worthy of having stuff thrown at me yet? Email/IM for details on what the shit is going on with Cheval and Thalia. :D