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Post by Beriadan on Apr 24, 2023 5:26:59 GMT
So. It was time.
Yoichi had been warned about this kind of place. Shopping malls. Great sprawling hives of scum and villainy. She stood at the entrance as people pushed past her, a forceful wash of bodies, chattering and laughing at unheard jokes. Yoichi swallowed, feeling her body tensing up at the prospect of entering this sacramental place. Still...
She needed supplies. Her mother had left her some money, emergency yen in case she needed to buy some books, or something. Yoichi had put this off for as long as possible, but it became clear that she was going to need a few things. She closed her eyes, and focused. What was the phrase... Plus Ultra, right? Yoichi took a deep breath, and... stepped forward, through the doors and into the madding crowds.
It was, indeed, her personal hell.
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Post by ultralilly on Apr 24, 2023 23:13:57 GMT
Sicily was no stranger to congested areas such as these. Malls were part and parcel of some of the things she had to go through for family. But this time, it was for a loved one that wasn't family. The snake-headed genius of class 1-A had tasked herself with a special project that was two-fold. One was to procure the things she needed to finish her at home project she had been working on in almost total secrecy.
The second was to acclimate to life amongst her peers...other students. Some were fine, others she could not stand. Then again, she never really talked to any of them so how was she to know what they were like? She only viewed their attitude...and already knew the ones that would be more troublesome than others.
What an absolute pain...
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Post by purplepinay on Apr 25, 2023 17:49:22 GMT
Zenjia loved the mall! It didn't matter which she went to, they were all like second homes to her and it only took moments to familarize herself with new malls. It was a great day, a day of relaxation and... No villains this time! She learned her lesson from the last time one would hope at least.
She did decide to go to a different mall from the first time and now all that was left was, what to do first?
Clothes? Accessories? Art supplies? Decorations? She could do them all today! The American dollar went far in Japan and for that, she was grateful. It was a new mall, so she would go to an information stand first and foremost to get the lay of the land.
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Post by Beriadan on Apr 27, 2023 12:55:29 GMT
Horrible. That was how Yoichi would describe her first few moments, fighting against the swarms and tides of people. She felt her heartrate raise, breathing becoming erratic. Stupid little girl! You can't even manage crowds, how can you manage being a hero? Yoichi slipped out of a throng of people, flattening herself against a wall and shutting her eyed, breathing hard. I've never been out of the house on my own. Why did I think I could manage this so easily? There's too many people... too much noise. Is this what it's always like? She tried to focus, running through poems and haikus in her mind until the din faded away and it was just her and her thoughts. Perhaps she should just give up and return to the dorms, but then she wouldn't have anything she had set out to by. Yoichi clenched her fists in frustration.
A world of dew,
And within every dewdrop
A world of struggle.
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Post by ultralilly on Apr 27, 2023 20:41:15 GMT
The swarms were manageable to some degree as far as Sicily was concerned. Nothing she couldn't handle. Then it happened.
She caught sight of someone in a similar predicament but looked to be much more subdued and trapped. Moreover, she recognized them a little from class. This was the one she believed wanted to be number one. If that was their wish, then by all means they should go for it. But Sicily had no such goal in mind. Still, seeing one who wanted to be number one trapped in a situation like this was both funny...and a little pathetic in her eyes. She could have just passed her by like every other nameless face in the crowd. But...she was trying to change who she was.
So she stopped in front of her with an agitated, hesitant look in her eyes. Her twin snakes Avernus and Stella arose to meet the eyes of Yoichi. Say something meaningful. No. Something nice. Something with empathy. "Well, this sucks for you. Need a hand or...something?"
Not perfect but not totally terrible.
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Post by purplepinay on May 3, 2023 10:14:47 GMT
This was great, the variety of stores here was surprising for such a small mall and a game plan was already going through her head. She studied the list of apparel and accessories stores closer than she had done the rest of the categories and it only took moments before she got a rough idea as to how she had wanted to spend her next few hours. There were a few stores she recognized but the majority of it seemed to be primarily Japanese brand stores which she was perfectly fine with. It was exciting and with a massive smile on her face, she had set off!
Only to pause for a moment, a vision of snakes coming into her vision. She recognized her! From the entrance exam! She... was talking to another... Yoichi? She may have only met her once but that expression and stellar hair was not one that was forgotten. Two spicy individuals to be sure.... she thought about walking past them, there was no need for potential drama to ruin her day but... she couldnt fight that urge to socialize, even with the two (at least from her perspective) most stuck up people shes met so far.
She quickly made her way towards the pair of them, waving her hand and smiling as she approached them
"heeeyyyy!!! Fancy seeing the two of you here! Wassup peeps, hows it going this fine day?"
She asked as she met up with the pair of them. She would have to tread carefully but there was nothing wrong with a little friendly conversation
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Post by Beriadan on May 3, 2023 11:19:56 GMT
"Well, this sucks for you. Need a hand or...something?"
As if this day couldn't get worse, Yoichi recognised the voice of Sicily through her shut eyes. Now she had an audience to her panic attack, someone who had been plenty vocal during their lessons together. She cracked open one eye, peering at the girl with eyes that glistened with the promise of tears.
"I'm fine!" she snapped, feeling the weight of words that came from her mother, "I don't need anyone's help!"
And it just got worse, as now the girl from her detention had arrived. Yoichi buried her face in her hands, sliding down to a squat against the wall. She shouldn't have left the dorms, should have listened to her mother... she didn't deserve to be here, didn't deserve to spend what meagre money her mother had gifted her!
"Just... let me die here, in peace. I'm not cut out for this..."
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Post by ultralilly on May 3, 2023 23:56:13 GMT
For a brief moment, Sicily swore she saw someone else in those eyes of Yoichi's. As a result, she was taken aback by the face Yoichi made followed by the snap. Then a smug, sneer crossed her face. When Zenjia chimed in, Sicily answered without breaking the glower she had over Yoichi. "Apparently, Future Number One Hero who promised to clear all obstacles tripped over one." she sighed as her twin snakes shook their heads as if pitying Yoichi with their tongue flicks. "Though I can't throw stones...the crowds are a bit much...but should be nothing for someone who's already decided on a lofty goal that requires them to be in large groups of people."
Sicily shrugged and shook her head. "Honestly, now I'm starting to think you were just putting on a huge front back in class and were just picking fights if you let something like this make you want to die." Her smug look morphed into one of concern as she brought her hair down near Yoichi. "No hero is an island...just take the help." It was difficult to discern whether her tone was agitated or worried. She even looked to Zenjia and jerked her head as a motion to come over.
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Post by purplepinay on May 16, 2023 3:04:23 GMT
Zenjia could read the room immediately even if she wasnt privy to the words that were exchanged between the other two. Yoichi being on the floor was like a big red sign even without scicily's nudge. The look of a person who was getting beat up was familiar. Mental or physical didnt change ones body language.
"hey girl! Need a hand? Its actually a strength to ask for help when you need it! I think we all know how hard it can be to ask"
She would offer with wagging eyebrows. She wouldnt smother the girl, she didnt need her to retreat futher. Maybe being friends would be possible with this girl though she could recognize it may take time and paitence. Good thing persistence was her middle name!
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Post by Beriadan on May 16, 2023 11:40:23 GMT
No Hero was an island. It's strength to ask for help.
Yoichi slowly looked up at Sicily, across at Zenjia. Her eyes were blistering, but faded and foggy like they would swell with tears at any second. But she rose to her feet, face falling beneath her dark, thick hair. Her posture was anxious, curled into itself, arm across her torso protectively.
"Truth is... I don't know how to be around people. I've never been somewhere so busy."
She spoke to her feet, not making eye contact with the others. It was as if she was letting out these toxic inner thoughts, releasing them onto the world so they couldn't corrode her heart any longer. Yoichi took a deep breath, feeling stupid and worthless and totally, utterly overwhelmed.
"If I can't handle this, why am I even bothering? It's like I was trained to do this thing for my whole life and now it turns out I barely know a quarter of what it is... I just wanted to buy some clothes."
She wiped her eyed with the back of her sleeve, then snuck a glance at the other first years. She looked angry, but internally, like a furnace of inner hatred boiling away.
"Go ahead and think I'm stupid or immature. The girl who wants to be Number one... she can't even go shopping without falling to pieces! The rest of the class will love this... they all hate me already, now they can laugh at me too."
She gave a deep, shivering sigh. Yoichi was not, at this particular moment, okay, but there was an honesty in her eyes. She wasn't doing this for attention, or to catch them off guard. Here was Gozen Yoichi, stripped down to the bone, raw and vulnerable for the world to see.
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Post by ultralilly on May 16, 2023 21:35:34 GMT
When she recalled her first impressions of Yoichi, Sicily saw someone vying for attention and too eager to prove to the world they were going to be at the top and crush everyone in their way. Someone who acted out of immaturity and didn't know what kind of world was out there. They could take it on and be stupid and bullheaded about it. They could do it without any help and by pushing folk away. But this little show of emotions and vulnerability lent credence to what Yoichi was really about and that maybe, just maybe, they were like her in some sense.
It was a humbling sight to behold. Sicily was caught unawares and self-reflected on a couple of things. Just a week or two ago, she would have laughed and chastised Yoichi rather harshly. She definitely would have told everyone about how imperfect she was. But then she would have to do it all to herself first. Looking in the mirror was difficult. Seeing someone who was likely pushed to be an overachiever like herself made her see someone like her own mother holding the keys to a cage. A cage in which they were trapped.
Only right now, Sicily's cage had its door wide open.
She stepped forward with a calming sigh. Avernus, the scarlet-eyed of her two largest snakes, tapped its snout to Yoichi's forehead moments before Sicily's hand came down on her shoulder. In a dulcet tone, she would speak "Know what I hate? Seeing people like this." she gestured with her other hand to Yoichi's entirety. Her eyes went searching for something in her own thoughts and her mouth just relayed said thoughts."It just reminds me when I had to just do as I was told and one little mistake felt like the end of the world. I'd get told things like 'you're meant to be perfect now we have to start over', 'oh you weren't on timing with this step, do it over again...and again...and again....', or 'is this how you think the world is going to treat a flawed mess...i'm doing you a favor...'..." she started to shake as she had to relive that entire moment and recited it, getting more and more unstable with every passing word. "....' you think I'm terrible? Oh, wait until you get out into the world! One mistake and they will eat you alive and you'll bring nothing but shame on our name and then I'm going to have to take time to painstakingly put you through more. Oh, are you crying? It's supposed to hurt. No one said being perfect was easy! We're going to do this again until you get it right. You want sleep? Earn it! It's because of you that she's.....!'....."
Sicily's hand were wrung. Her teeth bared. Her eyes contracted. An indelible fury was surging through those veins. The golden-eyed STella nudged Sicily who calmed down the moment she went to look back at Yoichi. Her features greatly softened as she let out a sigh. "...it's easy when all you get is disapproval to turn to a life of solitude. I...see that in you. If I was still worried about what they thought, yeah I'd be tearing into you about now to establish dominance or whatever it is people in power do when challenged..."
"All I can say is...do a little each time. You don't have to be great at it immediately. I'm still learning myself. But if you still feel like you got to do it quicker...you can try counting on me because I know what that kind of stuff is like...and I can try helping best I can. Neither of us is gonna be perfect at it but never not try. All I needed was a push and...I was able to just break free..." she paused, let go of Yoichi's shoulder, tooka few steps back then looked to Zenjia. Then down at the ground. Was that good? Did she say the right things?
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Post by purplepinay on May 25, 2023 21:59:31 GMT
Zenjia would just slightly widen her eyes. What did she just walk into? Well, it really only took a moment for her to realize that yoichi was having a nervous breakdown in front of her but there was still the inital shock from it all and it... opened up some kind of event in sicilys own life but... she was trying to be nice.
Zenjias facade would remain the same, if not a bit softened as she took a seat next to the sobbing girl, patting a spot down for the snake girl to sit and chill with them
"Nah, i think you're just human. You defintely arent stupid and immature.... giiiirrrllll, i've seen way, way worse. "
She mentioned with a grin.
"Nothing wrong with striving for number #1. We've all got a long way to go, and we all have personal shortcomings to overcome. What you can't do is try to do everything by yourself. We all need friends and rivals to push us to be the very best"
She continued, leaning back on her hands seeming relaxed despite the tension in the air
"the mall is like a happy a place, somewhere i can go to remove myself from the stress of everything. What about you two? Everyone needs a safe place to just be"
She would look at the pair of them inquisitively. She figured it would be difficult for at least one, or maybe both of them but that was the point. To move their mental energy away from the stressors around them and to think of something that gives them peace
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Post by Beriadan on Jun 1, 2023 8:41:41 GMT
Yoichi flinched as the hand came down... but it wasn't the usual motherly strike she was used to. This was friendly, understanding. Sicily and Zenjia's words came from a place of care, and in the former's case seemed to be glaringly similar to Yoichi's own personal thoughts. Slowly she raised her head, staring up at Sicily with a soft, yet focused, gaze.
"A little bit at a time..."
She stole a look at Zenjia, wiping away the last of her tears. Yoichi felt stupid, but at the same time a cloudbank was parting. Something shone through... was this the dawn of something called friendship?
Slowly she rose to her feet, pushing herself up even as Zenjia sat down. Yoichi took another deep, shivering sigh.
"I never chose solitude..."
She let her shoulders droop slightly, then raised her head. Yoichi's eyes hardened, clenching her fist in determination, strength. She thought of her happy place... but these two had given her strength, just enough for her to want to try again.
"If this place is supposed to be happy, then I won't be deterred!"
Yoichi pulled a list from her pocket, all the things she wanted today. With each moment she was becoming stronger, it seemed, but then she looked at the other two. Looked meek.
"But... I could do with some help, if you wanted to?"
Her cheeks flushed, and that vulnerability was edging around the corners of her voice. Yoichi may not admit the hardships she had gone through, not to these two, not yet, but... it was apparent in the way that she was in this moment.
The list was eloquently written, in Yoichi's immaculate, flowing type.
-Hair products. I need shampoo, conditioner. Do they make them scented?
-Clothes. I need my own style. I require tops, skirts, socks, underwear. Do i need a jacket?
-DvDs. Those hologram discs Kachiya showed me. I want pro-hero activity and achievements. Are there any of Nocturne?
-Tea. I miss green tea in the morning. What other flavours?
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Post by ultralilly on Jun 15, 2023 22:06:26 GMT
Sicily breathed deeply. It was a start. Least they admitted they needed help. Instead of poking her finger in that wound, Sicily instead peered at the list.
"Hair products...might not be my strongsuit. All these guys need is water and a few aloe and lime-infused rinses and they remain clean." she gestured to her snakes who displayed the sheen on their scales proudly. "Clothes on the other hand I can probably guide you in the right direction. And tea as well, obviously." mumbling the last portion off-handedly.
She didn't know much on the DvD front. While she knew of them, she hadmostly viewed things through streaming services and tried to steer clear of hero media as most had Silverbright products as ads in them or were adorned by heroes. Therefore, it made watching them sick to her stomach.
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Post by purplepinay on Aug 7, 2023 4:26:00 GMT
Zenjia perked up as Yoichi pulled out a list, snatching it out of Yoichi's hand as she looked over her immaculate handwriting letting out a long whistle as she admired her penmanship.
"girl, this handwriting is true art, I'm jealous"
She would note, giving Yoichi a wink before continuing, instantly having jumped up, ready to go on a shopping spree
"I can't help you with the tea but everything thing else, giiirrrllll"
She paused dramatically, doing a sassy snap
"I got you covered, a'ight? This hair would never be tamed without a little bit of product. And, you should definitely get a jacket. It helps to finish out an outfit"
She noted as she started bounding off, looking to make sure she was being followed
"Before we start, I got a few questions I gotta ask. What's the first word to pop into your head? Favorite color? Tough or sharp? Modern or traditional? Dark or light?"
She would ask, waiting barely a second between answers as the three of them explored the mall
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