[The Arc] Like Water (Open)

Cassandra watched Gwen with a blank stare. As she went on, her new friend slowly raised an eyebrow. She was familiar with arcades... or, tried to be. The appeal of it was largely lost on her. She could do what many of these pixelated warriors could do herself, She... could not drive, but Gwen did not have to know that. She also did not need to know that these games did not matter to Cassandra.

She slowly shook her head, smiling. All she needed to do was ask. "Sure." Cassandra's eyes moved to the corridors connecting the cafeteria to the other facilities within the sprawling Arc. Gwen was clearly familiar with the arcade and where it was. She would need to lead the way.

Cassandra went along with Gwen, weaving through the corridors soundlessly, listlessly. In spite of being like many people that Cassandra had come to know, Gwen was special. It was not something that could be put to words.

When they arrived at the Arc-ade, Cassandra's senses were immediately taken in by... everything. The noises. The lights. It was mesmerizing, in a way. Cassandra did not stop amid her observations, instead following Gwen to the game of her choice. These were games? She supposed that made sense. She did not go to these places for... several reasons.

The girl looked at "Guitar Hero", wide-eyed. It was so... vivid. Listening to it was one thing. Being here, with this thing in her hands... it did not feel as other things did. Cassandra gripped her own guitar weakly, looking to Gwen. She looked... nervous. Meanwhile, Gwen was completely in her element. This looked like a guitar, but it did not have strings, or a pick, or that inner chamber where her brother often lost his picks. "What... do we, do?

Cassandra nodded slowly as Gwen walked her through each part of the controller, and then the game itself. Back home, she was strictly forbidden from playing these things. She still did not understand why. More importantly... she was not home right now. Gwen was here. She could try it now. She fiddled with each button and adjustable piece. The interactions clicked with her instantly. When Gwen took her own stance, Cassandra mirrored it, then looked back at the screen. Her own character... She flipped through them, quickly. Before long, she settled on an adult woman of Asian descent, gripping a sleek black-and-red guitar. She was dressed like she was out of an old action movie. Her hair was cropped short in a butch haircut, and her form-fitting clothing emphasized her curves and fitness in equal measure. Cassandra did not try to read the character's name. SANDRA WU.

Cassandra looked at Gwen, still a little apprehensive. She was... ready?

She was not ready. She was not ready at all. Almost immediately Cassandra could feel her body tensing up. Everything was coming so quickly. The music, the voices, the lights. Cassandra's fingers fumbled on the guitar. She was getting every third or fourth note, at best. She started looking back and forth between her own fingers and the screen. Sandra Wu was not doing well at all. She was not doing well at all. She did not want to be here.

But, she didn't run. It helped that Gwen was not making fun of her. Her brothers were not so merciful... though they were not mean when her big sister was there. She wondered why. This was as far as her mind dared wander - simply trying to process all of these sensations at once was making Cassandra nauseous. At least her face did not betray that... not yet, anyway.

Cassandra barely heard Gwen at first. It was one sound among many others, lost in the cacophony of it all. Then, her sound continued to call out among the reverie. Easier to hear, and to hold onto. Cassandra opened her eyes, just briefly at first. The TV was no longer there. Her eyes were fixed on Gwen's. There was only her, and her words. Cassandra nodded, frowning. The change was almost instantaneous. Her rigor mortis broke with a blur as her fingers stretched across the plastic guitar as if she was in combat. On the screen beyond, Sandra Wu played the last series of notes with perfect aplomb, including a disjointed sound effect to complement the tepid success. Even after the song ended, Cassandra continued to "play" on the guitar, emulating the faded rhythm as if the song had simply started over. A wild grin came over her face, and her body took a much more active posture.

Then, she looked up. Face burning, Cassandra let go of the guitar, causing it to hang taut against her torso. Her expression was caught between a giddy smile and flippant embarrassment. The moment quickly passed. Cassandra moved fast, fast like she had in the race, and awkwardly seized Gwen in a tight hug. Then, she let go, taking a step and a half back, settling her hands behind her back. Cassandra had settled into a soft smile.

"It... makes sense."