Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Store

[GGJ5]

You can smell the sugar as soon as you walk in, with ice cream flavors as normal as vanilla and chocolate to as varied as Reese's and mint chocolate and Mississippi Mud Pie. They also sell ice cream cakes and pints of any flavor you'd find to name, and have several types of specials and sundaes.

Tiny round, green tables-- only three can fit in the store-- are inside, and a couple just outside the establishment's door, with old-fashioned looking iron chairs about them, where one can eat his ice cream in leisure. Or he could take it out for a stroll around the block if he didn't think it was so hot that the ice cream would soon morph into soup.

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Shelby/Silhouette fun! BIC:

Shelby Wright

Shelby closed her eyes as she walked into Baskin-Robbins, letting the familiar aroma of chocolate and waffle cones wash over her like an old friend. She was still starving after her disastrous encounter with Aidousan at Bubba Gump, and the guilt she felt at her abrupt, rude exit could only be solved with sugar, and lots of it. And I'll bet it still won't help...I do feel bad about leaving like that, but honestly, he was asking for it! Just talking and talking and not leaving me alone--can't some people just take a freaking hint? Or is that not something that occurs in Japan, because I know Yukito has issues with that too, with the whole Erin thing--just because I don't like the 'real' world doesn't mean I don't know what's going on in it.

They were all lying, all of them, I know that now. My stupid mother hen of a sister just can't focus on her own stupid problems, like the fact that Aidousan is obviously in love with her or something and she doesn't even notice...how thick can you get, Cassie, obviously?! If even I'm noticing...Cassie can't mind her own damn business and she thinks she's trying to 'help' me, so she sends in an army of her ridiculous friends--WHO ALL HAVE PROBLEMS OF THEIR OWN, I MIGHT ADD--to 'save' me from myself! First Yukito, then Aidousan...will it ever end? Will they ever realize that I don't want to be saved, that I don't need any rescuing?

Maybe I can see where they're all coming from. They mean well, I guess...and a long time ago I might have done the same thing for them. But this is what I want. Why can't anyone see that?

"Shelby?"[/i] asked an incredulous voice.

Shelby looked up with a start to see her friend Frankie standing behind the counter, staring wide-eyed at her. Fantastic. Anything else you all want to throw my way? Erin? My mom's boyfriend, perhaps? The apocalypse? Anything? She grimaced at her former friend as a smile broke out on the latter's face. "You work here?" she croaked.

"Yeah, just got the job! The pay kind of sucks, but whatever...I love your shirt, by the way, Shelby! I'm sort of surprised to see you, we don't hear from you much outside of school anymore these days--but it's so great to--"

"Medium mint chocolate chip, please."

"Sure, no problem. Hey, Shelby, you sound awful, do you think maybe you should go to the doctor or something?"

"No," said Shelby simply. "Can I just have my ice cream?"

Frankie's eyes widened, and she busied herself at getting Shelby's order. Shelby paid for it and prepared to take the treat and escape, but Frankie held on to it, seemingly determined to coax Shelby into conversation by holding the ice cream hostage. "Anyway, it's great to see you...oh! I'm having my annual end-of-school sleepover on the last day of school, you're invited of course--"

"No thank you," Shelby rasped, taking the ice cream from her shocked friend and heading to one of the tables outside, letting the door to the shop slam shut behind her. She angrily yanked the chair away from the table and sat down, once again reaching for her ipod to shut out the world.

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

The most of the choir stayed inside to eat their ice cream; Silhouette took hers outside, along with three others. Unfortunately, the tiny tables only held three people outside without getting too up close and personal for her taste.

But it was such a nice day, and it was really crowded inside. And the sulky-looking girl at that table had seats to spare. Hopefully she wouldn't mind... "Hey, is it cool if I sit here? The whole choir's inside and it's kinda cramped..." Th girl had her iPod in, but it couldn't be that loud. Silhouette stood until she was granted permission-- she'd feel awful if she intruded. So she backed up a little bit so it wouldn't seem like she was being forceful, and she leaned against the shop wall, slowly eating at the melting bits of the vanilla-chocolate swirl ice cream.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

The ice cream didn't taste right to her, or maybe it was the guilt swirling around her head that was producing the bitterness. I didn't mean to snap at Frankie like that...we were best friends for years, and she doesn't really deserve it...and neither did Kagayaki, even if he was acting on orders to impress Cassie. I feel bad, but...why don't they just get the point? Why don't they get it that I don't want to talk? What's so hard about that to understand? No one gets it, Cassie least of all. She's my sister. I've never been closer to anyone than I used to be with her....so shouldn't she of all people be able to understand?

She heard a noise behind her, and she stiffened, refusing to turn around. "Frances Victoria Stewart, I swear if that's you...I don't want to talk to--"

"Hey, is it cool if I sit here? The whole choir's inside and it's kinda cramped..."

Great. It wasn't her and you've made people think you're a total freak. And you've been a total witch to two of your friends, even if they deserved it. Anything else you want to do today? With her foot, she shoved the other chair at the table out so the girl, whoever she was--she still hadn't even turned around--could sit. "Sorry," she croaked after a minute. "I thought you were...somebody else."

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"Frances Victoria Stewart, I swear if that's you...I don't want to talk to--"

Silhouette blinked at that, but mentally shrugged it off. "Hey, is it cool if I sit here? The whole choir's inside and it's kinda cramped..." So she wouldn't seem pushy, since the grouchy girl kind of was... grouchy... Silhouette moved off to the side. Clearly there was drama, and she didn't want to get in anyone's business. Especially someone she didn't know. Grouchy girl needed cool-down time. Hm, ice cream. Cool down... bad, bad pun.

After a minute, the girl shoved her foot at one of the empty chairs and muttered, without even looking, "Sorry, I thought you were... somebody else."

A small smile crossed her face as she sat down. "It happens," she commented, and for a few minutes contented herself with eliminating the melting parts of her ice cream.

Silhouette's thoughts didn't wander far from her table companion, though. She could tell she was sitting with the kind of girl that chose the 'flight' option instead of 'fight', that if she had to guess, the girl spent more time in her room with those buds jammed in her ears than actually socializing with anyone else. And maybe it wasn't entirely by choice.

And maybe it wasn't any of her business, but...

"Who're you listening to?" If the girl answered, they'd probably have something to talk about. If she didn't, well, then Silhouette would know to just let her be.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

Heat rushed to her face as she realized her visitor was not Frankie still trying to make conversation, but some girl she'd never seen before. Awesome. You should have just gotten that ice cream to go and left for home, even if it would turn into soup in ten minutes flat...no, wait. If we're going to get into things I should have done today, then let's just say I should've stayed home. That's what I should've done. None of this would have happened if I'd just stayed where I belong...I wouldn't have gone walking, I wouldn't have run into Frankie and Aidousan, and I wouldn't feel like a jerk.

"Sorry, I thought you were... somebody else."

Shelby focused on her melting mint chocolate chip ice cream as the girl sat down, hoping to finish it and get out of there before any attempt at conversation would be made on the other girl's part. I try to drive people away, don't I, when I do go out? So why is it people seem not to see that? As she brought the spoon to her mouth again, the girl voiced, "It happens," words which Shelby ignored. Freakin' ice cream still tastes weird...but it's not the ice cream, I know. It's me. This is karma or whatever for being a jerk today. Apparently someone up there doesn't think I deserve good-tasting ice cream...

I just need to go home and forget about today.

Shelby rejoiced in the silence that followed for a few moments, letting herself believe for one fleeting second that for just once today she would be able to get through a situation where she was around other people without actually being forced to socialize. Her wish disappeared in a puff of smoke, however, when the girl across from her asked, "Who're you listening to?"

Slowly, Shelby raised her eyes. "L'arc en Ciel. They're from Japan."

That enough to satisfy your curiosity?

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"Who're you listening to?" Silhouette asked casually.

Grumpy girl, apparently, hated casual. She took her time responding, making a show about dragging her eyes up to meet Silhouette and then finally speaking. "L'arc en Ciel. They're from Japan."

Silhouette didn't know them, but really that wasn't the important thing. The important thing was that if Silhouette talked much more, this girl might kill her with her mind powers or something. It actually made her curious, and she started mulling in her head what the girl's story might be, but said nothing. Clearly, talking was the last thing she wanted. But... then, why was she hanging out in front of a popular shop? A weird twist of a Freudian slip.

Slowly, Silhouette nodded that she'd heard her. "Rainbow," she softly commented in translation from the French, and went back to her ice cream. Making it sound as though that was the end of that, and it would be if grumpy girl wanted it-- Silhouette was open to conversation if she wanted it.

Although she didn't have much time for silent thought, because her phone let out a chirp and Silhouette pressed the speaker against her ear. It was her older sister, Aura. "'Lo?"

"Hey, are you coming?" her sister asked brightly.

"Coming to....?"

"You forgot?" Aura tsked her sister. "I thought we had a date with the Remus Lupins and a coffee."

"Oh, right! Remus Lupins at the library today! I did almost forget... Hey, don't worry, I've got time, I'll be there." She wasn't really into the poor quality of most of the Harry Potter-themed bands, but she liked the fun of dressing up in Potter-chic and the games during the show, and being a volunteer worker at the library, she got to help set up and tear down the 'stage' before and after. "I'm just gonna finish up this ice cream and let the choir know I'm leaving, okay?"

"Okay, but don't forget I claim one of the displays when it's over."

"Right. I'm sure your husband will love a giant cutout of Ron Weasley in your bedroom." They both laughed at that, because she'd do it anyway, and Silhouette hung up. She resumed her ice cream.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

She stared down at the half-eaten bowl of ice cream on the table, watching it turn to soup before her eyes. She didn't want to, but she brought another spoonful to her mouth, wincing a bit at the unwelcome taste. When was the last time I've had ice cream? And that shrimp at Bubba Gump...maybe that's why this tastes so bad to me. Maybe the shrimp wasn't cooked right or something...or maybe I'm just not used to eating like this. Shelby took another bite, her eyes still closed, hoping the girl across from her would think she just had a brain freeze or something.

"Rainbow," said the other girl quietly, causing Shelby's eyes to snap open. She gave a little nod in response, raising her eyes briefly. Is that what it means in English? Hmmm. Interesting. She glared down at her ice cream again, wanting to get up and leave but not wanting to make the physical effort necessary to do so. And then I'll have to walk home...my feet are freaking killing me, why didn't I bring my stupid bike or something?! Or take a cab...or just stay home...

The other girl's phone rang as Shelby forced down another mouthful of ice cream, and Shelby rejoiced as she answered it, saving Shelby from more forced conversation for a few moments. She couldn't help overhearing a bit of the conversation, though..."Oh, right! Remus Lupins at the library today!"

Shelby's eyes widened in spite of herself. The Remus Lupins are in town? No way! Why didn't I know that? That wouldn't have happened a year ago... She felt a little guilty for abandoning her other fandoms in favor of anime, but shrugged the feeling off. It doesn't matter anyway. Still...how could I have missed that?

I did almost forget... Hey, don't worry, I've got time, I'll be there. I'm just gonna finish up this ice cream and let the choir know I'm leaving, okay?" The girl listened for a second. "Right. I'm sure your husband will love a giant cutout of Ron Weasley in your bedroom."

Shelby couldn't help a little chuckle at that as the girl hung up. "The Remus Lupins are in town today? Must have missed that...they're good, even if I do like Tonks and the Aurors better."

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

Silhouette was now prepared to finish her ice cream in silence, wave goodbye to her choir mates if any were still left inside eating, and head out to the library for the show. Even though she would have liked to get to know this silently grumpy girl-- why? because she was a new face to her was all. However, Silhouette's end of the conversation seemed to have peaked the girl's interest enough to get her to talk without snapping at her. "The Remus Lupins are in town today? Must have missed that...they're good, even if I do like Tonks and the Aurors better."

"Me, too," Silhouette commented without missing a beat. "But my sister is way more into the whole wizard rock thing than I am. She's the only reason I know who any of them are, beside that I help at the library a lot, and that's where a lot of their shows are, since it's book-oriented and all... If you're not doing anything I can give you a ride there if you want. It's free." She hid her smile behind another bite of ice cream. Maybe this girl was just having a bad day, maybe not. But music and books were good to brighten anyone's day, and meeting new people was good, too.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"The Remus Lupins are in town today?" she asked in spite of the protest that her mind gave. Idiot, this is conversation! We don't like conversation! Shut! Up! Now! "Must have missed that...they're good, even if I do like Tonks and the Aurors better."

This is stupid...you're just gonna end up acting like a jerk again and hurting someone who's just trying to be nice, which is why I need to just walk away now! This isn't worth it!

"Why isn't it worth it, Shelby?" came Al's voice. "She seems nice, and it looks like you might have stuff in common. Why can't you just try talking to her for a few minutes?"

Ah, there you are, Alphonse. Where'd you disappear to?

"You told me to go away, so I did, remember?"

Oh yeah. Sorry about that.

"It's all right. Or, it will be if you try being nice to this girl. Just see what happens, okay? You can go back to being quiet later."

Oh, fine. I should know better than to argue with you, Shelby thought wryly.

Al grinned. "Yes, you should."

"Me too," said the other girl, not seeming to show any animosity to Shelby for the way she had snubbed her just moments before. Shelby gave a weak little smile, ignoring the weird, achy feeling she got in her face as she did so. "Have you heard 'In Which Tonks Loses Her Cool'? That's my favorite, even if I love Snape," she rasped.

"But my sister is way more into the whole wizard rock thing than I am. She's the only reason I know who any of them are, beside that I help at the library a lot, and that's where a lot of their shows are, since it's book-oriented and all..." Shelby gave a little laugh at this. "Was that the Ron Weasley fangirl you were talking to? I used to be one of those too...I thought it would be cute 'cause we're both redheads." She shook her head. "I ended up writing this horrible self-insert fanfiction, actually...it's embarrassing." And so is sharing random facts about yourself to total strangers. You never used to talk this much even before It happened, why am I starting now?!

"If you're not doing anything I can give you a ride there if you want. It's free."

No, I hate social situations, was Shelby's mental response. But to her horror, she heard herself voice. "Sure, if that's okay."

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"The Remus Lupins are in town today? Must have missed that...they're good, even if I do like Tonks and the Aurors better."

"Me too," Silhouette agreed casually. She still wasn't sure that grumpy girl really wanted to talk and didn't want to risk talking so much that she shut herself up again, so Silhouette left it at that.

"Have you heard 'In Which Tonks Loses Her Cool'? That's my favorite, even if I love Snape," she said, voice coarse. Hmm.. okay.

Silhouette gave a quiet laugh. "Yeah, I was at her last show here and we hung out for a bit after her set was over. And... I was one of those people who thought Snape was evil until J K Rowling corrected me, don't hate!" She raised her hands in mock surrender.
"But my sister is way more into the whole wizard rock thing than I am. She's the only reason I know who any of them are, beside that I help at the library a lot, and that's where a lot of their shows are, since it's book-oriented and all..."

She was pleased to hear the little laugh the not-so-grumpy-anymore girl gave at that. "Was that the Ron Weasley fangirl you were talking to?" Silhouette nodded, saving herself from responding verbally by taking another bite of her ice cream. "I used to be one of those too...I thought it would be cute 'cause we're both redheads." Silhouette's smile widened at that. It was cute. And she'd done something similar, once crushing on a character because they had the same birthday. Her companion shook her head. "I ended up writing this horrible self-insert fanfiction, actually...it's embarrassing."

Silhouette shook her head, too, because she was guilty of something very similar. "I tried fanfiction once. With Rent. And I put myself in it, too, for Mark..." She could feel the heat in her face, which now held a faint rosy tint. "Bad thing about the internet is that as soon as you post something, even if you delete it, it might never really be gone. And I so wish that wasn't true!"

Glancing at her mostly-empty ice cream cup, Silhouette stood up and stretched her legs. "If you're not doing anything I can give you a ride there if you want. It's free."

"Sure, if that's okay."

Silhouette smiled. "If it wasn't okay, I wouldn't have asked." She tossed her cup and spoon away, then turned to the redhead. "You want me to throw that away for you or you can bring it in the car if you want? Oh, and I hope it's okay with you-- I only have a permit right now so I gotta find someone with a license to come with us, is that okay? Just so I won't be paranoid of the police the entire way there. I promise it won't be weird."

She pulled her keys out of her pocket and motioned to Tonya, one of her fellow choir members, who had ridden with her to the ice cream place. "We're going to the library now," she called, then turned back to the redhead. "Oh, my gosh, sorry, I'm taking you and didn't even tell you my name. I'm Silhouette."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Yeah, I was at her last show here and we hung out for a bit after her set was over. And... I was one of those people who thought Snape was evil until J K Rowling corrected me, don't hate!" Shelby let out a weak laugh at this. "I did too, for a while, but he's kind of impossible to hate even if you didn't know all the background information, isn't he?" Tonks and the Aurors were here too? When was that? Why didn't I know about it?

"But my sister is way more into the whole wizard rock thing than I am. She's the only reason I know who any of them are, beside that I help at the library a lot, and that's where a lot of their shows are, since it's book-oriented and all..."

"Was that the Ron Weasley fangirl you were talking to?" Shelby asked before launching into a two-second overview of her Ronald Weasley fangirl phase, complete with mention of her disastrous fanfic and several open mouth-insert foot moments. God, why am I being so friendly? What, she mentions Harry Potter and the fact that I fail as a Wrock fan and suddenly I'm spilling my secret fictional crushes out to her? God, I do need to go home...I think the heat's getting to me or something. Yeah, that's got to be it.

"I tried fanfiction once. With Rent. And I put myself in it, too, for Mark..." Shelby smiled. "Awww, good for you. Mark doesn't get a lot of love in the Broadway community...I always felt bad for him because he didn't even end up with someone at the end. He's such an adorable dork."

"Bad thing about the internet is that as soon as you post something, even if you delete it, it might never really be gone. And I so wish that wasn't true!"

Shelby gave a shrug. "Yeah, it sucks...but I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think. I mean, you didn't, like, throw canon out the window or type in gruesome chatspeak or something, did you?" Okay. Socializing, while pleasant, is not good for me. So stop, now, before bad things happen. Okay? Sound good? Let's do that.

But before she knew it, she had accepted an invitation to go see the Remus Lupin's with Chatty Choir Girl. What? How did that happen? What am I doing?! "Sure, if that's okay." Shut up!

"You want me to throw that away for you or you can bring it in the car if you want?" Shelby looked down at the mint-green ice cream soup in her cup and shrugged, handing it to the girl with a small smile. "Oh, and I hope it's okay with you-- I only have a permit right now so I gotta find someone with a license to come with us, is that okay? Just so I won't be paranoid of the police the entire way there. I promise it won't be weird." Shelby just nodded, wondering if it would be possible to run away while the girl was busy finding someone who could legally drive. I know this is gonna be a bad idea...

"Just try it, Shelby, please? At the very least, you'll get to see a band you like."

Shelby sighed. Oh, fine, Alphonse! she thought huffily. But if anything goes wrong, I'm blaming you.

"We're going to the library now," Chatty Choir Girl called to someone Shelby couldn't see. "Oh, my gosh, sorry, I'm taking you and didn't even tell you my name. I'm Silhouette."

Silhouette? Now that sounds like a name that belongs in a Harry Potter fanfiction. Shelby gave a half-smile, standing up and sticking her hands in her pockets. "Shelby."

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"We're going to the library now," Silhouette called to Tonya, who smiled with a nod and dropped her leftover cone into the garbage can nearby.

"Oh, my gosh, sorry," Silhouette immediately started to apologize the moment she realized her social error. "I'm taking you and didn't even tell you my name. I'm Silhouette."

She pulled the keys out of her purse and gestured to the 1990 gold Ford Taurus. A total reject vehicle by most's standards, but it worked perfectly well, and something about old cars appealed to Silhouette. (Plus, the car her dad had been saving for her to drive, a lovely green 2007 Volkswagen, had gotten trashed during Katrina.) The Potter fangirl stood up, hands in her pockets, and smiled a tiny smile before voicing, "Shelby."

Her tiny voice made Silhouette smile. "Cool. Nice to meet you, Shelby. Let's go," she gave a nod to the door she was holding open for her as Tonya slipped into the front seat. "Shelby, this is my friend Tonya. Tonya, this is my friend Shelby." She smiled at them both before assuming her place behind the wheel.

"Hey," Tonya said, turning back to look at Shelby. "Are you gonna hang at the library with us?"

"Sure is," Silhouette answered for Shelby. Shelby didn't seem to be a big talker, at least with people she didn't know, anyway, so she took the moment to answer for her, leting Tonya know subtly that her new friend wasn't one with the gift of gab. "Shelby, did you go to Phoenix Rising a couple of years ago?" she asked, referring to the Potter con that they'd held in the city the year after Katrina, so aptly named for both the city and the bird coming "out of the ashes" so to speak. Silhouette hadn't gone-- she wasn't that interested, but her Aura and her husband had gone, and flooded Facebook and MySpace with the videos and pictures from the weekend event. "I didn't go, but my sister did," she explained. "She went as Bellatrix, of all people, with her husband as some random minor character I can't remember.... it was an interesting pair to say the least."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Cool. Nice to meet you, Shelby. Let's go, Shelby, this is my friend Tonya. Tonya, this is my friend Shelby." Shelby gave the smallest of smiles to this new person, a little amused. Friend? Already? Going a bit fast for me, Silhouette-the-Mark-fangirl. Just a little fast. I don't do the whole friendship thing. Not anymore. Not if I can help it. Let's just go with acquaintances for now.

"Hey," said the new girl as Shelby climbed into the backseat of the car, stowing her messenger bag on the seat next to her. "Are you gonna hang at the library with us?"


"Sure is," Silhouette said before Shelby was forced to respond with anything more than a nod. "Shelby, did you go to Phoenix Rising a couple of years ago? I didn't go, but my sister did. She went as Bellatrix, of all people, with her husband as some random minor character I can't remember.... it was an interesting pair to say the least."

Shelby gave a tiny chuckle. "Sounds awesome. Yeah, I went, but just for the first day, I was busy the rest of the con. I totally conned by sister into going too. She was Ginny, but I think I had more fun than she did." A little smile came over her face at the memory of having to drag Cassie to the con, only to have her sister surrounded by a bunch of instant new friends in no time flat. "She really just liked interacting with all of the other random cosplayers and didn't do a whole lot of anything else. I was Coriander, my OC that I mentioned." She stopped talking, wishing she hadn't told Silhouette any more about her OC than she had to. Now she's gonna ask a bunch of questions and I'll have to answer them and this was such a stupid idea to begin with...I just wanna go home now.

"No turning back now, Shelby!" Al's voice was triumphant. "You're already in the car!"

...I hate you.

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"Shelby, did you go to Phoenix Rising a couple of years ago?" Silhouette asked, pulling out of the parking lot. She knew Shelby wasn't a talker-- that much was clear, but she figured it would be a safe subject. "I didn't go, but my sister did. She went as Bellatrix, of all people, with her husband as some random minor character I can't remember.... it was an interesting pair to say the least."

Silhouette's theory proved right. Shelby gave a little chuckle from her seat. Score. "Sounds awesome. Yeah, I went, but just for the first day, I was busy the rest of the con. I totally conned by sister into going too. She was Ginny, but I think I had more fun than she did."

Silhouette smiled, guessing that she could probably identify with Shelby's sister at a convention pretty well... it was just something that seemed totally out of her element and maybe a little overwhelming. "She really just liked interacting with all of the other random cosplayers and didn't do a whole lot of anything else. I was Coriander, my OC that I mentioned."

"OC?" Tonya asked, looking over at Silhouette for an explanation. "What's a--"

"Original character," Silhouette clarified, then with a knowing smile added by way of explanation, "Aura." And to Shelby, "That's my sister's name, by the way. What's your sister's name, Shelby?"