maskormenacelogs | things just happen so much don't they

[no one asked for this to turn into Archie trying to coax an irate cat down from a tree, but i guess here we are, because Cecelia still lingers in her spot, leery and hardly compelled to move.]

Throwing them out is quicker.

And less efficient in the long run!

[he calls back up to her, then looks over to darin. his expression isn't crossed with exasperation like it was before, just curiosity and concern.

quieter, so cecelia can't hear:] What's up?

[Quietly, as he turns the foundation over in his hand.]

You ever hear of make up or any other consumer product making it to market without proper testing before?

Only sketchy companies and very rarely...

[he leans over to get a look at it.]

I wonder what drew her to it...

Oh, I don’t know. A SALE?

[keen hearing, y’all!! she scowls from above.]

This isn’t complicated, is it? Idiots buy awful product from snake oil salesmen all the time! [arm wave.] Behold: an idiot!

You're not an idiot, Cece. The point I'm trying to make is, doesn't OTO have a lot of money in different companies?

We already know they have no qualms roping in innocent civilians into their vendetta against us. What if they're releasing untested harmful, potentially lethal products onto the market. Things that people from other worlds might not know about or understand, in an attempt to hurt us. Hell, this could be something released under the guise of an imPort owned company just to discredit us.

Might be worth looking into.

Let's not jump to conclusions until we figure out what the mystery allergen actually is.

[he's not disagreeing with darin, though. he sits in the couch, looking over some of the other ones.]

An' you ain't stupid! This just happens sometimes. You think I got my waterproof facepaint right on the first try? I'll tell ya, I didn't quite end up in A&E but it was close one time.

[...]

Hey, can I keep the silver glittery eyeliner?

[wait what.

incredulous:] Wait, why is makeup suddenly a murder conspiracy? Wouldn't that mean other people are blowing up like toads, too? It's not like I bought any of that from a peddler in a secluded alley or anything!

[just a sketchy beachfront stall!]

It could just be a test to see what they can get out. Something small, innocuous. Could be something in the makeup itself.

[He shrugs.]

It's a thought. Things have been especially quiet the last few months, so I wouldn't be surprised if something just started cropping up now.

Oof. Don't tempt fate. I think this is just a run of the mill allergic reaction, though. Not everything is the OTO. If you think like that, you'll drive yourself mad.

[a glance over to cece with a grin, clapping her shoulder lightly.]

Good t'see you join us, lass. Now, do you have a notepad around? The stuff that made you puff up could be in any hygiene product, so it would be best to catch it as early as possible. Last thing you want is gettin' some scented shower gel with it in.

[...

he's just gonna... take that glittery stuff. she didn't say no.]

[she clutches the railing very tightly while receiving the little pat of recognition, bristling like an irate cat.]

Darin has, like, twenty notebooks strewn about everywhere at a given time. Just use those. [because like hell anyone's touching hers!]

I'm just more concerned about this stuff being released untested.

[Darin grabs a notebook off of one of the end tables.]

Here, you can use mine. It's fine.

Cece...if this whole thing bothers you, you don't have to hang around. I'm alright now. I'm sorry if I frightened you.

It happens sometimes, on this bitch of an Earth. Capitalism encourages cut corners, so that's what must've happened here. I doubt they're the only company who does this, either. Many of them test on animals or pay off review sites to say their products are better than they actually are. Greed poisons the mind.

[archie holds a hand out for it as he reads over the components of the makeup. most of it he recognises as stuff that kicks around his own favoured brands, but... some of it is new.

he doesn't comment further, deciding to shut his big mouth and let darin and cece work it out, if they need to.]

[who even is this pirate guy. talking about socioeconomics with a pirate accent. with a weird beard.

weird begets weird, she supposes: Darin's as weird as they come.

she pries her eyes off the pirate to give Darin a sullen look.]

Just throw the lot out, alright? Pretend it didn't happen and I didn't almost fake-murder you. It'll be better that way.

Also? Don't tell Allura or Fuu or Hikaru, either. That'll be best, honestly.

Cece, come on, it's gonna take a lot more than crappy, untested make-up to bring me down. No one's blaming you for anything here.

And we should at least tell them to be on the lookout for it. I won't tell them what happened but...the more people we can protect, the better, right?

Mm, your faux pas is safe with me, lass. This whole medic thing requires some secrecy-- people gotta know they can trust you, aye?

[...]

Look if you don't want any of these anymore, I'm takin' them all. I ain't wasting this good concealer.

[she squints at Archie. wasting it? just throw it out, you idiot! gods! why does everyone always drag things out and make them complicated?! to make her suffer? to make her suffer. specifically her, as a target of suffering.

without looking at Darin:] You tell them, then. I'm not going to get side-eyed for being the one who brings death traps into the house, okay? Consider lesson learned! I guess!

[beat.]

...I didn't learn anything. But whatever.

[archie stares cece dead in the face and takes some of the make up, unscrewing it and starting to apply it.

he will have smoky glittery eyeliner and he won't die. just try and stop him.]

[Darin watches this with dead eyes and a distant stare. He's not surprised. Not even a little bit. He's seen the shit you wear, Archie.]

Listen, Cece, why don't I stop by later and we'll talk after I see Archie out and clean up a bit.

Okay?

[weirdo...he's a weirdo.....

Cecelia does a bit of a double-take to peel suspiciously squinting eyes off Archie (it's like losing a staring contest YOU MADE HER LOSE, DARIN) to glower at Darin. she lifts her chin up now.]

I don't see what's left to talk about, honestly. But if that's what you want.

There's plenty to talk about, [he says, pulling out his comm to use the blank screen as a mirror.] s'not my place to press, but how badly you put yourself down for a simple mistake and seem to be convinced that people will find out and ridicule you says quite a lot. Don't even know if I can call it a mistake, actually, seein' as you didn't make Darin's genetic makeup and give him allergies.

Almost done, then I'll scarper.

things just happen so much don't they

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sry ant i just gotta

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