065 x 650 // video

[dignity_misery]

[ The camera is on the edge of a sink, pointed up towards a mirror which leaves Carla's hands free as she slowly runs a comb through long black hair. She's in the process of getting ready, in simple black underwear. She's... an attractive woman, but a little too thin and her skin bears too much of her self-hate. There are also some very large tattoos. A serpent with its tail at her knee, wound around her leg and its head at her stomach. When she turns away from the mirror, the inked spine up her back shows. There is apparently a new piece however, wrapped in gauze around her other thigh, large judging from the amount. ]

It's my birthday.

[ She states this while pulling on a simple red dress, sleeveless with buttons up the center. The pair of dog tattoos may be obvious as she fiddles the garment closed. She cleans up well. ]

Someone needs to take me to dinner.

[ Stated without a shred of shame. She also doesn't seem particularly... excited about the prospect of a birthday dinner either. Her brown eyes never really lift to try to make eye contact with the camera. And not with herself in the mirror either. ]

Comments

video;

[clerical]

[Well, he'll be averting his eyes.]

Is 'happy' too much to wish you?

video;

[dignity_misery]

That's a good question.

[She certainly doesn't feel happy.]

video;

[clerical]

Then I'll wish it anyway. No pressure.

video;

[dignity_misery]

No pressure?

[She might sound a little incredulous.]

video;

[clerical]

It was a joke. [Look, he's helpless here.] You don't often take well to my wanting good things for you.

video;

[dignity_misery]

[No, she doesn't. He's always been a problem for her, a wound whose aches she found difficult to understand.]

I have to make myself happy.

[She's decided against being helped and hoped for. The statement is just a new face to an old philosophy. In the end, however, she doesn't make herself happy.]

video;

[clerical]

Yes. How's that going? [And he risks a glance back at the screen and nods to her bandaged thigh] New work?

[unflagging]

Happy birthday.

[Because he figures the "happy" part will rankle her.]

[dignity_misery]

[She does give him a snide look, but in the end she was the one who announced it out loud.]

I wanted something other than well-wishes.

[unflagging]

But not a gift either, since it looks as though you've already suited yourself in that regard.

[dignity_misery]

[She looks down at the bandages around her leg.]

Do you want to see it?

[unflagging]

Very much so. May I?

[dignity_misery]

[She adjusts the hem of her dress, hitching it over one hip before reaching down to unwind the protective layers of gauze. The gauze is only necessary in the very beginning, it signals how fresh the piece underneath is. As layers of white unwind, they steadily become seeped red. She examines the ropes of gauze thoughtfully when it is fully down, throwing them away in favor of rewrapping it before she goes out.

She tilts the new piece towards the mirror to let him see.]

It took a while.

[spaghettiokay]

Stuck here for your birthday?

That must suck...

[Don't mind him - he's new. And also spent a good deal of time watching you dress before bothering to respond.]

[dignity_misery]

This is the second time, here.

[So she's been here two years, and knows who's new and who isn't. It doesn't bother her to talk to a stranger however.]

[spaghettiokay]

[Two birthdays? That means two years...]

Double suck...

[He sounds nervous.]

Is...everyone here that long?

[Gulp.]

Or longer?

[dignity_misery]

Not everyone, some have still been here longer. Five years is the longest I've heard.

[spaghettiokay]

Five years?

[Someone just went two shades paler.]

Jesus...

[dignity_misery]

[Sigh. It's a bad day for this, but she was once brand new and confused. But things have turned out... uncomfortably well for her. She's remained alive much longer than she ever thought she would. The reality of that is... sometimes painful. Especially on her birthday, when she questions if any of this is worthwhile.]

It's... not that bad. Everyone's really fucking helpful around here.

[saturniapavonia]

Sounds like a reasonable request.

[dignity_misery]

There's not much that's reasonable about me.

[Look, she knows she's a crazy bitch.]

[saturniapavonia]

You want the surf and the turf with two desserts and wine.

[Likely. He's not sure. Well. He is sure that she seems the type to be nuts. And why he decides to talk to her is connected to not seeing much clothes. What a guy.]

[dignity_misery]

[She grins.]

I don't drink, so I'll need an extra dessert.

[She has no shame about blatantly implying all takers would be rewarded with sex........ She's not good at subtlety. Or restraint.]

[saturniapavonia]

Fine.

[Because it really is. That would be the best kind of luck for him right now.]

Where do I pick you up and when, birthday girl?

[dignity_misery]

I'll meet you at the fountain.

[The red dress will be easy to spot.]