Room 504, Thursday Afternoon (After Classes)

[intraspective]

Ino had to admit that, really, she was pleased as anything about the fact that she got to show off her plants and have them be admired by someone who actually knew a bunch about them.

Which would be why she was fussing with her plants, rearranging them infinitesimally while she waited and tried not to look like she was waiting. Luckily, her plants were a rather good distraction.

Even if she was tired, and kinda wanted a nap instead.

[Expecting one, totally open for all. Door is open!]

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[intraspective]

"They're well done," Ino conceded, "but still. Sitting there."

She leaned over, snagging her pillow, and hugged it to her chest. "Sure, let's hear it. I'll do my best."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully, considering how to press forward.

"I've spoken to Hurley about this, so please don't think I've not thought of his feelings, but I want a another girls opinion and... I trust you." A slight pause. "You know that he likes me, and I'm not saying that lightly. And I like him. But... there is the matter of who I am and what will be required of me in the near future. I cannot dismiss my family, nor my obligations to them, and moreover I cannot dismiss the means to an end: my curse."

She hoped she was making sense, and getting to her point.

"I'm afraid to let him get too close to me yet I'm not sure how to go about not allowing this to happen. I like him, but he would never be accepted by my family. I know that must sound terribly snobbish to you. I am from a family who socializes with aristocrats and I will only ever be able to marry into blue blood, and while marriage is something I hope to avoid for sometime yet, it is something I long for if only to rid myself of this curse I was born with." She waved a hand. "I understand how weak I must sound, especially here, considering the acceptance of everyone. But at home, Ino? It is so very much different. I am a freak, a monster, and this is what I will eventually go home to."

Penelope wrung her hands. "I'm not sure what to do with this, with Hurley. I don't want to lead him on only to break his heart and mine in the progress."

[intraspective]

Ino was silent for a long moment, staring over her pillow.

"Is marriage the only way to cure your curse?" The rest, for the moment, she kept her mouth shut on.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She nodded. It was all she knew. What her mother drilled into over and over and over again. It was what was believed, so yes, it was the only way to Penelope.

[intraspective]

She tugged at her hair for a moment.

"Does it have to be for true love?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"He has to love me," she said, frowning slightly. "Or the chance has to be there. He has to be a blue blood."

[intraspective]

"Love love, or like a friend love? Would that work too?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I... think it has to be love love, Ino. In fact, my mother is pretty persistant in that."

Max should have been the one; she wouldn't be going through this now.

[intraspective]

"Okay then," she said, "how does your mom know? If she knows for, like, sure then she's got some sort of proof, right?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"It is the curse and what is states," she replied. "I must find true love with one of my own kind. Only then will the curse be broken."

[intraspective]

Ino squinted at the wording of that.

"Mmmm."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"What, Ino? What are you thinking?"

[intraspective]

"Well," she said slowly, "'own kind'--isn't that a bit vague? I mean, that could mean human, that could mean female, that could mean kind and gentle, that could even mean someone else with a curse like yours."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Not for me no," she replied. "This curse was particular to just my family, the Wilhern's, Ino. There is no room for anything other than what the old witch meant. She cursed the first female, Wilhern heir."

[intraspective]

"Why?" Ino asked simply. "I mean, I'm just trying to understand. People don't generally curse other people for nothing, you know?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Generations ago, a Wilhern heir slept with a Wilhern servant girl. She became pregnant and while this Wilhern heir would have married her, he was laughed at for such a suggestion, so thereafter ignored the pregnant servant girl. She was so overcome and distraught, she tossed herself off a cliff, killing herself and her unborn baby. The witch that cursed my family, was her mother."

[intraspective]

...

"...I don't think it's fair that someone who had totally nothing to do with the situation should have to deal with a curse."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She smiled, a little sadly. "I don't either. When I was born my parents took me to a plastic surgeon to see if my nose and ears could be fixed. They cannot. The tabloids went crazy so my mother decided to hold a fake funeral for me. I was cremated," she smirked, "and so you know the rest. I was raised in my own home, never to see the light of day except shining through my windows. Oh, and of course the numerous suitors that my mother piled upon me."

[intraspective]

"When do you graduate, Penelope? I mean, Hurley knows 'bout this, right?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I'm only a junior," she told her. "Hurley knows... most of it. Not in any detail like I've explained to you. He graduates in May, did you know?"

[intraspective]

Ino made a face. "I try not to know," she admitted. "I'm losing, like, half my friends this graduation."

Graduation sucked.

"But, I mean, if he's graduating this May right, then I'd advise you not to worry 'bout it. No one ever said anything 'bout the person you're dating being the 'forever someone' and it's, like, what? Three-four months? Have fun, don't get engaged in that time, and just let it go. There's all sorts of loves, you know? And if he's leaving, it's a natural ending. Enjoy it while he's here."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry," she comforted, quietly.

And then she listened and nodded and began to smile. "It was what I was thinking but I didn't know if it was fair. If we grow too attached, it will hurt, but it will be a natural ending, just like you said, and I can't hope for anything better than that."

[intraspective]

She was totally just going to pretend graduation didn't exist for a few more months. Denial was excellent.

"You'll have good memories," Ino said supportively, "and know that the fact that you two part isn't because of you, and isn't because of him--just that it was time. It'll probably hurt, but as breakups go it's gentle. You know it's coming."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope sighed in relief, and most of all in a self-satisfaction that enabled her to feel better about the entire situation and that Hurley knew. They could both just enjoy the time while they had it.

"Thank you, Ino. Sometimes a situation is better able to be seen through someone elses eyes."

[intraspective]

She grinned a bit at that. "Well," Ino said, "I totally have no problems listening to other people if they want me too."

A tug at her hair.

"Penelope? You know my crown of flowers on Tuesday? Can I get your opinion on something?"