#• logan iyande → INTERACTION 003 •

[carmenhearst]

The phrase might not have conjured any thoughts at all were it not for the blush that spreads across Logan's features, a visual that causes Carmen's lips to press into a line, head bowing in an attempt to hide her amusement and save the other girl from further embarrassment. There's a moment of quiet while she processes the words, the still existing discomfort that lingers between them and she nods, understanding Logan's need to get away to focus. "Of course." She lifts her face once more, giving a smile that's somehow forced and genuine in the same instant. "Good luck, Logan."

End.

“maybe i don’t want to mix business and pleasure.” she didn’t think about the weird sexual connotation of the word pleasure until she said it out loud and felt that telltale embarrassing warmth spread across her face. “uh, i mean, i take my part time jobs very seriously.” and she was being distracted from another potential one as they spoke. “so probably should be spending my time preparing to be the very best mascot i can be.” it was the kindest dismissal she could muster, some impulse to stay aloof still remaining. “wish me luck?” aaaaand there it went.

[carmenhearst]

It's the first time in a long time that she's seen it, that genuine smile spreading across Logan's features, and the ache in her chest is immediate. She didn't realize how long it'd been or how much she'd missed it until she was faced with it again. There's a part of her that wants to return the smile, to get lost in it, in the moment, in them, in what once was — but reality did what it tended to, came crashing down around them and left guilt nipping at her again, like their opposing social standings were her fault or something that could be helped. "Or perhaps it'd be quiet enough for you to consume them in your downtime." Words that even she knew were optimistic but how else could she let Logan know she felt she deserved better? "Two birds, one stone and what not."

she would like to be unaffected, unamused, but she smiled despite herself. "thanks. i've been practicing. i hear there's a big market out there for professional mascots." it's as much as a career path as anything else she had in mind right now. "nah, seriously though. jobs don't grow on trees." wow, was that her mom's voice coming out of her mouth? "if this one pays well it'll be easier to fit it in with my hours at the gym. besides, if i worked at a bookstore i'd probably just like, buy a ton of books." and then what's the point of the paycheck?

[carmenhearst]

The desire to speak that's cut short means they both know the words aren't meant to cut as they do, yet they do nonetheless, the knowledge that Logan is stuck forever with the impression that Carmen saw her in a lesser light than actually she did a sting that wouldn't go away — but Logan moves past it so she does as well. "Perhaps you should consider cheer then. I know the skirts aren't great but I have to imagine they beat a stuffy mascot. Plus that was a very beautiful high kick." A smile, a joke she hopes Logan will accept before features falter. "That doesn't mean you don't deserve something you enjoy." Something better, something more worthy of her time and talent.

"maybe you misread me." she heard the double meaning in her words only as she said them, and she opened her mouth to walk them back before closing it again. the two of them didn't need any more apologies. "i'm highly spirited. go ogden. woo sports." she punctuated her dispirited cheer with a little high kick. "i don't know. a job's a job." some undertone of stubbornness made her defend the job she didn't even want just because carmen thought she couldn't do it. "maybe i have some hidden mascot skills i'm gonna uncover."

[carmenhearst]

Carmen knows what had been said in their last interaction, that Logan made it seem they could move past the pain she had caused — she also knew that it wasn't the truth, that even if they both wanted it, it wasn't so easy. And yet, dismissing her felt even harder for Carmen, felt impossible. "Can't say I ever took you for the mascot type." Even behind a mask, she knew Logan preferred a world that was quieter, that was calmer, than what such would entail. "I picture you more in Rumi or Athena."

as if logan's life couldn't get any worse. it was one thing to humiliate herself in front of a bunch of strangers who would likely forget her the minute she walked away, as people were apt to do with logan. it was entirely another to humiliate herself in front of her hot ex-girlfriend she still could hardly speak to. "uh, that's not even that much," she lied through her teeth - this dumb shit paid $18 an hour to walk around? that's wild. "i might actually just pack it in then. head on home."

[carmenhearst]

It wasn't the ideal place to be, especially not given the familiar face spotted among the crowd, the familiar face that Carmen still felt immense uncertainty around, but it's no surprise that after being asked, she'd happily volunteered to stay after and offer her assistance. "I believe I heard mumblings between fourteen and eighteen. Though I also didn't hear that from anyone official so...don't give my words too much weight."

who: open

where: ogden mascot tryouts

you've gotta be kidding. when her supervisor at the gym had asked if she might be interested in picking up some extra cash in the fall semester, logan had thought she meant adding another shift. but as she stared into the eyes of a decapitated oggie the ocelot she considered whether she needed a job at all or not. "how much did they say this paid again?" on second thought, at least no one could see her face.