whether you fall means nothing at all.

[Action]

[In the item shop, there is a derpy blonde girl. She appears to be considering a hat.]

... ... oh, it's so cute... [She sighs, wistfully.] If only it weren't so cold out...

[... this does not appear to be stopping her from looking for a hatbox to take it home in.

As always, Shirley, your taste in "fashion" remains questionable at best: outright tacky at worst.]

[Voice]

For those who aren't aware, Stella -- [There's a soft sigh as Shirley turns away from the view of the journal.] Stella Coolidge was sent home in the chaos last week. Fenimore, Walter, and I will be taking care of Sophie now.

There weren't any letters, but... I'm sure that she would have wanted to let you know that she... that she truly cherished her time in Luceti. And that the bonds she forged here meant the world to her.

Thank you for listening. And -- I'm sorry.

[Action]

[After making her announcement, Shirley can be found outside House 34. It looks like she came outside to weed her rather neglected garden and to let Sophie have the chance to play outside; between the earthquake and the nasties running around, it's gotten a bit overgrown. She's made significant progress so far, considering the large pile of weeds she's accumulated.

Right now, though, she's taking a break to play with Sophie. They're kneeling next to some upturned soil in a corner of the yard, and are patting it gently into a little pile. As they do this, Shirley is singing a gardening song she learned from a dear friend back home:]

Let us take a little seed... plant it gently; water it well... little seedling, nestled in the ground, grow up safe and sound. ♪

[Action]

[Today, Shirley has spent a large amount of the day fretting. Because today? Today is the day of her (practice) date with Sokka. She's managed to keep this date a secret from her housemates, but it's kind of hard to hide the fact that she's been fussing over her clothes and hair all day. She's finally settled on this dress, and tying all of her hair back in a single loose braid down her back.

Her various excuses for this sudden change in appearance? It's been hot out lately. A change in appearance is nice every once and a while. She just felt like it. Whatever the excuse, she's very obviously trying to downplay it has something normal and inconsequential.

Right now she's sitting on the front porch of the house, "reading" a book of poetry. However, she seems to be glancing nervously towards her journal (which is siting casually next a half-drunk glass of lemonade) or up the street more then she seems to be reading her book. This is, of course, because she's waiting for Sokka to pick her up --

Not that she wants her housemates to know. ... the idea of them finding out just seems more grief then it's worth, especially since it's just going to be a practice date.]

[Voice // Courtesy-filtered at House 33]

Umm... are any of you home, right now? This is Shirley, from House 34... I think I've, um... found one of your Poke-ey-mahns? Is that it?

[Action]

[If you're anywhere near the southern part of the river, you may encounter this strange sight: a tiny girl with, well... faintly glowing blue hair walking side-by-side a giant turtle who's taller than her by two inches.

The girl will, from time to time rub her forehead as if she has a headache; the turtle in question looks as apologetic as a giant turtle can.]

No, it's okay... it's not your fault. I, um... I should have been paying better attention... [She smiles, awkwardly.] I'll be fine.

[It appears that Shirley has, quite literally, run into one of the wayward Pokemon whilst swimming. Good thing she has a little waterproof bag for her journal that she brings with her when she goes swimming.]

[Voice]

Umn... this may seem a little odd, but would anyone be interested in some peach pie? There were some lovely peaches at the grocery yesterday, and I just had to make something... except I've made far too much for our house, and I'd like to share.

[Action]

[After making her post, Shirley can be found walking around town with a large basket on one arm, filled with delicious-smelling boxes of peach pie. You know you want one. And, if you're someone she even vaguely knows, she will be hunting you down and giving you a pie.

You simply have no choice in the matter.]

[OOC: This post is future-dated to tomorrow for plotting purposes :|b]

[Action]

[Sometime this morning, Shirley "casually" mentioned to Stella that fresh fish from the large lake would be "so nice," especially if it were brought back at around suppertime. Stella, of course, agreed with a wink and a nudge and left Sophie with Shirley.

Now that it's about dinnertime, Stella is due home any minute now, and Shirley is just about finished with tonight's dinner. Now that the evil ele-tric oven has been thoroughly vanquished through experience, she has the table set for a lobster and clambake dinner; in the kitchen, Shirley is just pulling the pan out of the oven, looking pleased with its contents. The centerpiece of the table happens to be a cake, which has been quite literally covered in strawberries by Shirley's over-enthusiastic assistant of the day, Sophie.

A particular chair at the head of the table has been decked out in orange and gold streamers, with a small present from Shirley and a card from Sophie sitting to the right of it. Shirley walks back into the dining room, places the clambake dish to the left of the cake as the right side is taken up by a nice fresh loaf of bread and a bowl of scalloped potatoes.

Shirley nibbles the forefinger of her left hand thoughtfully as she surveys the scene, trying to see if she's forgotten anything. Sophie, who had toddled from the kitchen with Shirley, looks up at her aunt and mimics the gesture by placing her forefinger over her mouth. Shirley looks down at her and smiles.]

Well, what do you think? Do you think your mama will like it? [Sophie nods energetically, before reaching up towards Shirley, who reaches down to pick her up.] Well, how about we wait for her outside? She should be home any minute now...

[And so that is where the two of them end up: a small bench in the front yard, waiting patiently for Stella to come home.]

[Action]

[The past few days have been hard for Shirley, with Senel being sent home. She's spent most of her time with Stella, helping out as much as she can; she's very worried about her sister.

But her own head and heart are a bit of a mess. So, to clear them out, she's changed into one of her Ferines dresses to go for an swim; it's been too long since her last one that she can remember before the cold weather in the fall really set in. Unfortunately for her, it's still a little too early for swimming: the water is still quite cold.

So here she is, standing ankle-deep in the river near the bridge between House 33 and Community Housing Building 5, staring pensively out at the water.]

["Written"/Accidental Voice]

[Lying on top of the pages of an open journal, are two sheets of paper. One has a recipe for chocolate and the second has a recipe for peanut butter filled chocolate eggs. They appear to have been copied by hand from recipe books in the library; in the margins, there are careful calculations to expand these recipes to suit the needs of Molly's easter egg hunt.]

Oh, this stove... [There's the sound of a clunk, and then running water.]

[Action]

[Amidst the doom and gloom of the thunderstorm, Shirley is trying to work out a test batch for the candy she decided on for Molly's Easter Egg Hunt. Unfortunately, things are not going so well: due to her terrible and horribly unfamiliar electric stove, she's burned a perfectly good pot of chocolate.]

Oh, this stove... [With a sigh, she takes the ruined pot of chocolate off of the stove and moves to the sink where she can clean it and try again.]

[Action]

[This past week has been a very confusing one emotionally for Shirley. First off, her feelings for Walter seem to be taking her in an Awkward Direction; a few days ago she was kissed by people because she gave them flowers; and now Stella and Sophie are staying at the house for reasons neither Stella or Fenimore will fully explain to her.

Clearly, there is only one course of action for her to take: to just spend some time with her best friend, talking about things. Normal things. It's not like she's going in there with the intent to talk to her about boys or seek romantic advice, oh no.

She's just coming with an offering of jam tarts and milk because she enjoys Fenimore's company, that's all. It'll be like a sleepover! ... except that they both live in the same house. However, in the spirit of such an event, Shirley is wearing her nightgown with a shawl over her shoulders because it's still a bit chilly out.]

Fenimore? May I come in?

[Voice]

[On the morning of the 25th, the voice function of Shirley's journal clicks on. The viewfinder shows the overcast sky; wherever she is, it's outside. While Shirley herself can't be seen, her voice can be heard quite clearly.]

So... I stand like this? And -- hold my fists like this... hmm... Should I say it like that too?...

[A pause, as she considers.]

Hoo? [There is the sound of a dull thud, as if she struck something.] ... ow. Er... hah! [Another thud.] Ow... Um... eat this! [A third thud, thus one louder than the other two, resulting in a pained yelp from Shirley. Whatever she's hit, she's hit it too hard.]

... Nala, you are so kind and gracious. Please spare me a little of your strength?

[Action]

[Outside of House #34, near one of the wooded areas, is Shirley. She's wearing one of Senel's Alliance Marine uniforms as well as a pair of his bracers that she stole borrowed; they're both much too big for her, and she seems to be having some trouble with the weights.

But that's not stopping her from awkwardly imitating Senel's fighting stance and throwing what may be the most pathetic punches at a tree that Luceti has ever seen. She'll occasionally stop to heal herself when she hurts her hands from punching too hard.]