"Star-Gazing" [Morning - Shiina - Maria]

Morning

Last night was a tumultuous evening. Maria had wanted to leave for the Research and Development Building ever since hearing about its opening today. But her siblings lacked the interest to go. Some of them rather wear their thumbs away playing their video games and others were busy playing with their friends after school. Honestly, she was really getting worried for their futures at this rate. This was something she would have to fix upon returning home. But in regards to actually going to the R&D building to skip school, that was out of the question for them. On the other hand, her parents were against her going alone. It was obvious what they were going to say about her skipping school for this. After all, the argument last night centered on this.


She found herself at its entrance. Anticipation was welling up inside her. Many had promised that the establishment was worth the trip. Today was her day to find out. But she couldn't keep down the worry about going alone. It was her first time actually going against her parents' wishes and being alone this far away from home and not in school. But maybe it won't be so bad and she was really overthinking it.



Yes, that had to be the case. The Planetarium was just wonderful. She found herself asking many questions of the marvelous displays here and there. It boggled the mind on the extent the human mind is capable of realizing in the material world. It really made her consider her humble background as a daughter of a couple that owned a Mom and Pop shop. Maybe, just maybe she should actually succeed in her studies for once. And maybe she can help make these things too...

As much as she was enjoying this place, it was feeling rather lonely going around on her own. But the young girl just couldn't figure out who to bother and enjoy the scenery here. Perhaps maybe this girl wouldn't mind some talk?

"H-hi. Enjoying your day here?" she softly inquired of a Vivian Oates.

Maybe at best it would be an unremarkable response. But it can't hurt to mingle around with the visitors, right?

There was a kindred spirit. Then again, this place was remarkable.

"Oh yes! It's really far beyond what I imagined," Maria beamed back at her, "I've never seen anything like this before."

The unique environment was breath-taking for Maria. For her, life was just helping out that restaurant and watching over the kids for the most part. Her worldview was smaller than most for legitimate reasons. Coming here seemed to be the best thing ever for her. The possibilities were there, she just needed to reach for it.

"Zodiacs? What are those?" she cocked her head to the side while raising an eyebrow. The girl accepted the flier from her and admired the professional and impressive design. "Mmn... I think you're right on that. It's just that there's so much here."

She was considering the options right now while putting a thoughtful finger on her lip. It was still the morning and there was a lot to look around and enjoy what this facility had to offer. She blinked upon hearing Vivian's suggestion.

"Sure, I would love to. I'm Maria. What do you call yourself?" she asked her with her grin stretching wider, albeit a little bit shakier. She was going with a stranger, but there wasn't really anything wrong with that. She was old enough to take care of herself. Wasn't that part of the reason she was here to prove them and to herself?

"W-wait for me!" Maria followed after Vivian, who seemed to have found someone of interest.

And that someone looked like she had a boyfriend, how nice. Maybe the R&D facility would be a good spot for a date... if she ever had one for that matter. The silverette seemed to be just as old as she was. If she took note of Maria's presence, the girl would only wave and look back towards the display they were both looking at as well.

OOC:

Maria had followed her with the soles of her boots clacking a tad harshly against the floor as she tried to keep up. There! She finally caught up with the older girl, who seemed to be making conversation with this other girl and her boyfriend--who Vivian thought was her brother. They did have the similar hair color, so it was understandable if they were siblings. Maria didn't know if they were a couple either... But then again, there was a considerable age gap it seems.

"Queen?" she found herself raising an eyebrow at Vivian's statement. She didn't look anything like a queen or even a badger. It sounded like she was joking around. So Maria could only nod awkwardly at this, "I... see."

It was better to just accept it and move on for now. Vivian seemed very vibrant as a person. She enjoyed this day a whole lot than Maria was, and this was something the younger girl noticed. Perhaps, she too should take a page from Vivian's book and follow her example. Or maybe not too much, Maria didn't want to seem too weird after all.

"I hope so too, she happily agreed with Vivian and then murmured at an aside, "I wish I had a camera with me right now..."

She had forgotten to buy one of those disposable cameras back in the local market. All that was on her mind was how great or awful the R&D establishment was going to be. And now she was paying for it.

As Maria had just caught up, it looked like introductions were already in place. And this girl, introducing herself as a Tsurinai Shiina, seemed to be obviously Japanese. At least, based on her name and the introduction. While her supposed "boyfriend" was likely a German who worked for her... perhaps a butler? Maria had missed out on the bit where they answered Vivian's question about Jakob's connection with the Tsurinai. The blue-headed girl seemed to be a loss at what to do as she scrambled for some words to come out of her lips.  

"U-uh, um... I'm Maria. Maria Woodsworth, she finally blurted out her own introduction, seemingly squeamish while continuing, "N-nice to meet you two!"

Already in her head, she was trying to calm herself. It was only a small introduction and maybe just hanging out a couple of harmless strangers in a nice place like this. But on the other hand, after introductions were over, Maria was still feeling regretful for not stopping by the nearest convenience store for a camera. Maybe they sold a couple of them at some gift shop here? Did they even have one in a place like this?

"Wh-what?! I can't take this! A-are you sure about this? Isn't this expensive?" Maria started to blabber on as her hands were shaking upon grasping the camera and the SD card as if they were fragile.

Being raised in a lower middle class and frugal family, such things seemed ever out of her reach. She felt like she was going to be stepping into some very unfamiliar territory alright. Was this okay? Maria wasn't sure at all. But, Vivian didn't seem to mind... especially when she was starting to hug her.

"W-wha!? W-where are you touching? she stuttered with her face starting to flush at the intimate contact with her arms outstretched as Vivian embraced her.

She just wasn't sure how to take this. Maybe she should hug back? Returning this kind of intimacy seemed a bit too much for Maria's tolerance, being as innocent as she was. Before she could, the older woman gave a suggestion to actually use the camera. Maria nodded in agreement at this, albeit shyly. But looking back at the dials and controls, she just wasn't sure what to do with it. Especially with a digital camera.

Maria continued to gingerly hold the item as she continued to gaze upon it with caution. Despite Jakob's reassurances, she wasn't quite sure what to think about this. What would her parents think about her? Some random person gave it to her out of the kindness of their hearts? She knew they wouldn't accept that kind of explanation even if it was true. Perhaps she should just hide it elsewhere once she got home.

Maria would find herself allowing Shiina to take the camera again, this time giving her all sorts of directions how to use the little device. She would nod her head at each point as if bobbing it at a rhythm. It didn't seem too hard after all. The girl was pretty much doing the same thing Shiina was telling her to do through her directions. Navigation didn't seem at all difficult either.

"Mmn. I think I got it," she said slowly with her thumbs still pressing upon the buttons and navigating through the digital device.

It was a wonder to her, having had to stick with an old disposable camera for long. Yes, she had her own kind of digital camera back at home, but her father was the one that used it the most when they went out for a road trip. And even outside of those trips, it was rarely used.

Then she finally pressed upon the video recording button in which to a corner of the monitor that a timer was starting to accumulate each past second. Through it, Maria could see Vivian forming a camera frame with her fingers.

"I don't think it's too strange. Everyone can be nice enough to be friends," Maria disagreed gently as she zoomed in on Vivian with a slowly forming smile that was lacking her earlier shyness, "Say cheese, Vivian."