"Mmmm-hmm, another shot, try to stop the feeling~"
((Florida Riley continued from Excelsior))
Florida made her way through the school grounds, clinging a stack of papers against her chest as she hummed a tune to herself.
It was a delightful little melody she overheard whilst thrift shopping at Crateful Dead the other day. She wasn't familiar with the artist, but they had a lovely singing voice. Really resonated with her.
She crossed paths with a gaggle of acquaintances, offering them a welcoming smile. They didn't smile back - which was fine! It was a chilly day, and she imagined a lot of folk were concerned about what was happening over in LA. It's why she was carrying all these loose papers, feeling determined to help out in any way she can.
With that in mind, she made her way into the English department before entering the library, striding confidently towards the front desk where an idle librarian was doing their best to look busy.
"Hello!" said Florida, smiling brightly as she handed out one of the sheets she was carrying. "I was wondering if it'd be okay for me to leave some leaflets?"
The librarian raised their brow, cautiously accepting the leaflet to take a closer look.
"It's for a local charity event! My relief society class is planning to host a fundraising karaoke evening this weekend, try and raise some money to support victims of the LA wildfires"
The librarian nodded their head, checking over the leaflet to make sure it was all in order. "Do you have permission from...?"
Florida nodded with an eager smile. "Mm-hmm! I was also wondering if you'd mind if I, um... Stuck around to hand them out to folks? If that's alright?"
The librarian looked at Florida, her eyes widening pleadingly. Eventually, the librarian shrugged. "Sure, I guess"
"Super!" Florida beamed, handing over half her leaflets before making her way towards the entrance. She took a deep breath to steady herself, knowing full well that most of her peers were likely to just brush her off.
Okay Florida, you can do this! Most of your classmates probably find charity really boring and stuff, but it's super important that you do your bit to make the world a better place! If at least one person accepts a leaflet, then that's a success!
Excuse me, may I interest you in...?
Mid-January - Open
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Dr Adjective
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[Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s the introduction of Hope Hynes!]
She’d overhead them talking, they’d said it to her parents and thought she couldn’t hear from the other room. Struggled to stay focused, struggled to commit important things to memory. Maybe a result of brain damage, they’d ventured. Hope wasn’t sure if it was true or not, but she had a few ideas of her own.
Firstly, that the things she struggled with just weren’t interesting enough. But perhaps more importantly, had any of them ever tried following along with literal book-learning when simple things they took for granted like turning a page didn’t actually take no time and no thought? In any case, that was what the frustrated young woman blamed as she sat in the school library struggling to get through some particularly dry biology. Struggling to wrap her head around the book’s contents just as much as she struggled with the literal object itself.
So maybe she was looking for an excuse to shift focus when she noticed Florida, her fellow red-headed shorty, talking to the librarian. Not loud per se, but noticeable.
Hope looked up, catching something about charity, wildfires, karaoke. She didn't really have money to offer, and wasn’t much of a singer either, but nonetheless the call to everyday heroism was a strong one. And she really didn’t want to keep beating her head against the paper wall on the table in front of her either.
So up came a distinctly inorganic hand in a little wave. Least she could do was ask about it, might help get someone else to feel more willing to show interest afterwards, might kill a couple of minutes too.
She’d overhead them talking, they’d said it to her parents and thought she couldn’t hear from the other room. Struggled to stay focused, struggled to commit important things to memory. Maybe a result of brain damage, they’d ventured. Hope wasn’t sure if it was true or not, but she had a few ideas of her own.
Firstly, that the things she struggled with just weren’t interesting enough. But perhaps more importantly, had any of them ever tried following along with literal book-learning when simple things they took for granted like turning a page didn’t actually take no time and no thought? In any case, that was what the frustrated young woman blamed as she sat in the school library struggling to get through some particularly dry biology. Struggling to wrap her head around the book’s contents just as much as she struggled with the literal object itself.
So maybe she was looking for an excuse to shift focus when she noticed Florida, her fellow red-headed shorty, talking to the librarian. Not loud per se, but noticeable.
Hope looked up, catching something about charity, wildfires, karaoke. She didn't really have money to offer, and wasn’t much of a singer either, but nonetheless the call to everyday heroism was a strong one. And she really didn’t want to keep beating her head against the paper wall on the table in front of her either.
So up came a distinctly inorganic hand in a little wave. Least she could do was ask about it, might help get someone else to feel more willing to show interest afterwards, might kill a couple of minutes too.
"Hello! Excuse me, would you... Oh, ok, have a nice day!"
Florida didn't initially notice Hope trying to catch her attention, mostly focused on the folk coming to and thro the library's entrance.
A couple people walked past her. Someone even briefly glanced in her direction! But no takers just yet. No matter, she was sure if she persevered long enough, somebody would...
Oh, hello. That was Hope, right? It was easy to recognise her by... Um, by her cool t-shirt, obviously! Was she waving at her, or someone else?
She WAS waving at her! Oh SUPER!
There was an elated look in Florida's eyes, striding confidently in Hope's direction with a wide grin on her face. She felt all warm and tingly inside, positively thrilled that someone actually wanted to talk to her! It was a feeling not unlike one her mother once described when talking about her mission, about how there were few moments more satisfying than when you first reach out to someone... And they actually stop and listen to what you have to say!
Of course, helping people was a much easier sell. Florida was here to promote a charitable cause, not to encourage spiritual revaluation.
Well... Never say never, but that was very much not her priority at this given moment.
"Hiii Hope!" she began, smiling brightly as she slightly fumbled the leaflets she was clinging onto. "Having a lovely day, I... hope?"
Florida didn't initially notice Hope trying to catch her attention, mostly focused on the folk coming to and thro the library's entrance.
A couple people walked past her. Someone even briefly glanced in her direction! But no takers just yet. No matter, she was sure if she persevered long enough, somebody would...
Oh, hello. That was Hope, right? It was easy to recognise her by... Um, by her cool t-shirt, obviously! Was she waving at her, or someone else?
She WAS waving at her! Oh SUPER!
There was an elated look in Florida's eyes, striding confidently in Hope's direction with a wide grin on her face. She felt all warm and tingly inside, positively thrilled that someone actually wanted to talk to her! It was a feeling not unlike one her mother once described when talking about her mission, about how there were few moments more satisfying than when you first reach out to someone... And they actually stop and listen to what you have to say!
Of course, helping people was a much easier sell. Florida was here to promote a charitable cause, not to encourage spiritual revaluation.
Well... Never say never, but that was very much not her priority at this given moment.
"Hiii Hope!" she began, smiling brightly as she slightly fumbled the leaflets she was clinging onto. "Having a lovely day, I... hope?"
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Dr Adjective
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She'd certainly heard her share of name-related puns, but Florida's was delivered with such charming awkward energy that Hope couldn't help but crack a little smile as it hit her. She reached up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, eyes visibly following the action to make up for a lack of tactile feedback, before responding.
"Yeah! Bit chilly, and, bit... difficult," she tilted her head towards the textbook,
"But otherwise it's been good! What about you Florida?"
Can't just start a conversation without exchanging pleasantries, after all.
"Yeah! Bit chilly, and, bit... difficult," she tilted her head towards the textbook,
"But otherwise it's been good! What about you Florida?"
Can't just start a conversation without exchanging pleasantries, after all.
"Good! Good..." replied Florida, relieved that her accidental pun hadn't set them off on the wrong foot.
"Sooo..." she began, adjusting her bundle of leaflets as she worked up the courage to make her pitch. No use dancing around it forever "This weekend, my relief society is planning to host a Karaoke fundraiser to support victims of the LA wildfires. Just a fun little evening of terrible singing to raise some money for folks in need!"
She took out one of the leaflets and offered them out to Hope, showing the slightest hint of hesitancy as to how best to do so. Should she just hold it out for her to grab, or like... Hand it to her more directly? Or lay it out on the table? However it happened, the handover was inevitably awkward.
"No worries if you're busy or uninterested and stuff, I'm aware it's all a little short notice! But if you aren't up to much this weekend, we'd be delighted if you decided to drop by!"
Florida smiled, her eyes straining a little as she struggled to keep them focused on Hope's face.
Don't stare at her arms, don't stare at her arms, DON'T stare at her arms. Yes, they DO look super cool. No, it would NOT be a good idea to bring that up!
"Sooo..." she began, adjusting her bundle of leaflets as she worked up the courage to make her pitch. No use dancing around it forever "This weekend, my relief society is planning to host a Karaoke fundraiser to support victims of the LA wildfires. Just a fun little evening of terrible singing to raise some money for folks in need!"
She took out one of the leaflets and offered them out to Hope, showing the slightest hint of hesitancy as to how best to do so. Should she just hold it out for her to grab, or like... Hand it to her more directly? Or lay it out on the table? However it happened, the handover was inevitably awkward.
"No worries if you're busy or uninterested and stuff, I'm aware it's all a little short notice! But if you aren't up to much this weekend, we'd be delighted if you decided to drop by!"
Florida smiled, her eyes straining a little as she struggled to keep them focused on Hope's face.
Don't stare at her arms, don't stare at her arms, DON'T stare at her arms. Yes, they DO look super cool. No, it would NOT be a good idea to bring that up!
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Dr Adjective
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That was good, Florida segueing right into the answer saved Hope formulating the mildly-awkward question of hey what was that I semi-overheard you talking about?
“Oh, they probably don’t deserve to suffer my singing after already having the fire, but…”
Hope reached out and carefully took hold of the extended leaflet. Thicker for being folded, it was easier to handle than usually was, but still took a moment’s dedicated focus to stop closing her grip at the right amount. Didn’t want to just crunch it up right in Florida’s face, that’d look pretty bad.
“…I think I’m free!”
Using her other hand to adjust the leaflet in her grip, Hope quickly scanned for details.
“Wish I’d known sooner, I could’ve asked Alexis to put something in the paper…”
“Oh, they probably don’t deserve to suffer my singing after already having the fire, but…”
Hope reached out and carefully took hold of the extended leaflet. Thicker for being folded, it was easier to handle than usually was, but still took a moment’s dedicated focus to stop closing her grip at the right amount. Didn’t want to just crunch it up right in Florida’s face, that’d look pretty bad.
“…I think I’m free!”
Using her other hand to adjust the leaflet in her grip, Hope quickly scanned for details.
“Wish I’d known sooner, I could’ve asked Alexis to put something in the paper…”
"You are?" went Florida, almost confused that Hope actually seemed on board. "Oh, super! That's great!"
She almost found herself glancing at Hope's arms again. Come on Florida, try to focus on her face! Like her eyes, hone in on her eyes! Those big, round eyes...
The leaflet itself was well-made, insofar as printing quality at least. Light blue with a single fold, the inside mostly consisting of a non-alcoholic drinks menu and a several paragraphs of text explaining the ongoing situation in LA. Though perhaps most distinct of all was the cover...
Florida beamed brightly, looking rather proud of herself. She helped put it together, after all.
"Aah well!" she shrugged at the mention of putting it in the paper. "It was a little last second, but... There's always next time!"
Her smile dissipated slightly. "Uuh, I mean... I-I sure hope there isn't another, like... Big tragic disaster type-thing anytime soon... youknowwhatImean"
She almost found herself glancing at Hope's arms again. Come on Florida, try to focus on her face! Like her eyes, hone in on her eyes! Those big, round eyes...
The leaflet itself was well-made, insofar as printing quality at least. Light blue with a single fold, the inside mostly consisting of a non-alcoholic drinks menu and a several paragraphs of text explaining the ongoing situation in LA. Though perhaps most distinct of all was the cover...
Florida beamed brightly, looking rather proud of herself. She helped put it together, after all.
"Aah well!" she shrugged at the mention of putting it in the paper. "It was a little last second, but... There's always next time!"
Her smile dissipated slightly. "Uuh, I mean... I-I sure hope there isn't another, like... Big tragic disaster type-thing anytime soon... youknowwhatImean"
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Dr Adjective
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Hope looked back up, a smile lighting up her face. Defuse the awkward, make it normal again. Poor Florida looked so flustered, like she was worried she’d offended somehow.
“Next time you have an event on, obviously!”
In any case, just showing interest and engaging was the main point here even if she couldn’t make it. Be the first to step up, then it’s normal to follow. Hope set the leaflet down by the edge of the table, so it’d be easier to retrieve later.
“But yeah, I’ll be there if I can, thank you!”
“Next time you have an event on, obviously!”
In any case, just showing interest and engaging was the main point here even if she couldn’t make it. Be the first to step up, then it’s normal to follow. Hope set the leaflet down by the edge of the table, so it’d be easier to retrieve later.
“But yeah, I’ll be there if I can, thank you!”
Florida's smile brightened. "Sounds great!"
She felt a renewed confidence brewing within her - someone was actually interested! HURRAY! If she could get one of her classmates on board, who knows how many folk will be interested by the end of the day?
"Well, I best go back to handing these out" she continued, holding up her bundle of leaflets. "See you this weekend! Maybe? Hopefully! Pun not intended!"
On that note, Florida waved fairwell and slipped away, returning to her prior spot to continue handing out fliers.
"Hello! Would you like to..."
((Florida Riley continued in The Mormon Karaoke Thread))
She felt a renewed confidence brewing within her - someone was actually interested! HURRAY! If she could get one of her classmates on board, who knows how many folk will be interested by the end of the day?
"Well, I best go back to handing these out" she continued, holding up her bundle of leaflets. "See you this weekend! Maybe? Hopefully! Pun not intended!"
On that note, Florida waved fairwell and slipped away, returning to her prior spot to continue handing out fliers.
"Hello! Would you like to..."
((Florida Riley continued in The Mormon Karaoke Thread))
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Dr Adjective
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Hope gave an enthusiastic nod, mirroring Florida's excitement more subconsciously than on purpose. How could she not? She seemed so sincere, so stoked to do something nice for people. That's the exact sort of energy Hope wanted to see more of in the world. Heroism!
"Good luck!" she replied, waving her off. Well, waggling one arm back and forth. It got the message across.
Speaking of luck, Hope turned her attention back to her studies, muttering to herself that she was going to need some of it herself if she was going to properly internalise what she was reading...
[Hope, less.]
"Good luck!" she replied, waving her off. Well, waggling one arm back and forth. It got the message across.
Speaking of luck, Hope turned her attention back to her studies, muttering to herself that she was going to need some of it herself if she was going to properly internalise what she was reading...
[Hope, less.]