The following is a collaboration between
Sharkdragon96 and
Zombiesplitter53.
INT. Hallway - Night.
Jessica walks up to Anna, Ayame, and Persephone' s room, still in her nurses uniform.
She llighty knocks on the door, a cautious smile on her face.
Persephone walks up and answers the door.
PERSEPHONE
"Oh... It's you!"
Persephone greets Jessica with hint of distaste.
JESSICA
"Oh, hi! I didn't know you were in this room too. Is Anna here?"
PERSEPHONE
"No, and I don't know where she is at the moment either. Try coming back later or something."
Persephone shuts the door.
Jessica starts to leave, then turns back, lightly knocking again.
JESSICA
"Persephone...do you mind of the two of us talk?"
Persephone gives a disgruntled sigh and opens the door.
Giving Jessica a faint stink-eye.
PERSEPHONE
"What exactly is there to talk about?"
JESSICA
"Listen, Persephone, we got off on the wrong foot, and I know it is all my fault. Can we start over? You seem like a nice person, and I'd hate for you to stay mad at me."
Jessica extends her hand.
Persephone stares reluctantly at her outstretched hand.
PERSEPHONE
"I don't know, that was pretty crumby what you said the other night."
A worried look crosses Jessica's face.
JESSICA
"Oh dear, I'm sorry. Was it what i said about Ayame? Or did I say something bad while I was drunk? Damn, I always do this!"
PERSEPHONE
"It was what you said about Ayame!"
Persephone briefly glances down at Jessica's uniform.
PERSEPHONE
"You know... for people who like to keep things private you really suck at it."
Jessica looks genuinely apologetic.
JESSICA
"You're right, and I owe you and her an apology. But when you and that other woman, Jasmin I believe, snapped at me, I just blurted it out. I was just curious. Ayame talked about this person she liked. It's as if she were describing a beautiful diamond, someone that made her whole. I let my curiosity get the better of me, yes I know that isn't a proper excuse, but I'm only human."
Persephone crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow.
PERSEPHONE
"Why all the curiosity exactly? What business is it of your's who she likes?"
Jessica scratches the back of her head.
JESSICA
"Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't have many female friends. Guys are easy, with most of them fawning over me because of my body, in the hopes of getting lucky. Women, on the other hand, find me creepy, what with my fascination with emotions and my tendency to read people without intending to. I guess I just got over zealous, but I really am sorry."
Jessica looks at Persephone with pleading eyes.
Persephone gives her an understanding look.
PERSEPHONE
"I guess I see where you're coming from. I kinda tend to feel more comfortable around women for... similar reasons I suppose."
Jessica smiles.
JESSICA
"Well, you are very lovely. I'm sure you have to beat the guys off with a stick."
Persephone smirks.
PERSEPHONE
"Eh, not often. I usually try to keep a low profile. Though I did wind up beating some sense into this one creep from the research staff."
JESSICA
"Oh, so that was you. He made a pass at me too, I was somehow able to restrain myself, but I warned him he was going to be a creep to the wrong girl, and then he would be sorry. I'm glad I was right."
PERSEPHONE
"You should've seen him during the hearing that took place afterwards. That pervert squirmed like a salted leech when we exposed him!"
Persephone's smirk fades.
PERSEPHONE
"You said you had a fascination with people's emotions. What did you mean by that exactly?"
Jessica looks hesitant.
JESSICA
"Um...well, its complicated. I have a...neurological condition called color-graphemic synesthesia. It causes me to see colors in various places. Letters and numbers have their own colors, and I actually learned how to spell based on these colors. Particular individuals also have they're own colors, and when people vary in their emotions, it causes they're colors to change, such as getting lighter or darker, or changing tone."
Jessica looks away.
JESSICA
"As a child, the other kids would mock me, call me a freak, a witch. I had two choices, really. Either hate my condition, and me along with it, or embrace it. So I decided on the latter."
PERSEPHONE
"That's bizarre, but kind of awesome. I take it Ayame is one of those individuals?"
Jessica smiles.
JESSICA
"When Ayame talked about the person she loves, her color flared like a sparkler on the Fourth of July. I haven't seen something like that in a long time, and I just wanted to know who it was. Then, the other night, when I mentioned Ayame's feelings, everyone fluctuated a bit, but your color in particular flared, meaning you were either upset about the news...or worried about something..."
Jessica returns to her pleading look.
JESSICA
"Please forgive me. If I could turn it off I would, but its involuntary. The only way to turn it off is to keep my eyes closed. I hate people constantly thinking I'm trying to invade their privacy!"
Persephone sighs.
PERSEPHONE
"Look, there's nothing wrong with who you are. Honestly I never even knew there were people that could do what you just described! My only issue is that you flat out shared that personal information with everyone at that party. I understand there are things that are out of your control, but that wasn't."
Jessica nods.
JESSICA
"You're right. I promise I'll keep my mouth shut from now on. And I won't pursue the subject either."
Jessica, looks away suddenly, and rubs her eyes.
JESSICA
"I (sniff) I have to go. It was good talking with you."
Persephone heads back and is about to close the door when she turns back to Jessica.
PERSEPHONE
"Hey, you may have messed up, but you really don't seem like that bad a person. I apologize for my behavior earlier, I just want you to know if you need an extra female friend to talk to I'm here."
JESSICA
"Really?"
Jessica turns back with a smile.
JESSICA
"Thank you! I'd love that!"
She blushes a bit and calms down.
JESSICA
"I mean...thanks. Tell your roommates I said hi."
PERSEPHONE
"Sure thing."
Jessica takes off with a wave, a slight skip in her step.