[closed]

[viperess]

Who: viperess & springful
When: 11/02 (OOC)
Where: Apartments, then Shopping District
What: Rider takes Sakura for a day out. No senpais allowed.
Rating/Warning: N/A

[After the arrival of Archer and these recent messages, Rider can see Sakura isn't exactly in the best of moods. Shirou tries to help but...well Shirou can be reassuring but he doesn't always inspire much confidence. Particularly in a situation like this. Rider is hardly the expert on cheering people up and lifting moods, but she thinks Sakura might need some time away from Shirou and to be with someone she still trusts.

With that thought in mind she approaches Sakura's room of the apartment they share with Shirou and knocks.]

Sakura, it's Rider. May I enter?

Comments

[springful]

[Things have indeed been stressful for Sakura as of late. She tries to put on a good face and not think about it too much, but that can only help for so much. The moral of this story is that senpais are nothing but trouble, do yourself a favor and never get one.

So, being a bit exhausted and feeling generally out of it with all this, she's surprised when she hears Rider's voice.]

Sure. Give me just a second. [She stands up from where she was sitting and quickly moves to open the door.]

[viperess]

[Rider waits in silence until the door is opened.]

May I come in? I won't ask for much time.

[Asking to come in feels so strange, but she figures that if the war is over and Sakura no longer sees her as a Servant, then she should be polite and ask for permission to intrude.]

[springful]

Oh, of course! Please, come in.

[She stands aside so Rider can come in, and she'll shut the door once she's inside. It feels a little weird to her too, and honestly she wouldn't mind if Rider simply acted as before. It's not much of a problem if she asks for permission instead now though, so she doesn't mention it.]

Is something the matter?

[viperess]

[She comes in, moves out of the way of the door and stands near a wall. There's not much surprise that Sakura assumes something is wrong - they can read one another very easily. It's the sort of bond they share.]

Sakura, I am concerned for your well-being. Ever since Archer and Rin have arrived, you seem stressed.

[She hasn't met Rin yet, but she wouldn't be very good at what she does if she hasn't taken notice.]

[springful]

[Briefly, she considers trying to play it down and say everything's fine, but it's Rider that she's talking to. Even if she wanted to, she knows that Rider would see through it very easily. That's how much they understand one another.]

A little bit, yeah. [She sighs, trying to put on a good face, but she does look kind of tired.] It's been a lot to process. Senpai's been having a hard time as well with it, but there's only so much I can do for him. I guess all of that is catching up to me.

[viperess]

...Sakura, if I may speak out of term, you needn't concern yourself with this. It seems Archer takes issue with him, but not with you.

[...But that's just the way she is, isn't? Taking on the burdens of those she cares for as her own.]

[springful]

You're right, but... [How could she possibly leave Shirou to take care of it on his own? He's done so much for her, and she wants to be able to do the same for him.] Still, I can't leave it alone. After all, Senpai's pretty hopeless on his own.

[viperess]

[A small smile twitches on her lips at Sakura's comment.]

He can be, yes. [She thinks he is good-natured, but that isn't the same as being wise.] If that is how you feel, I will leave the matter alone.

However, it may be best to step away from here for a day. If only to clear your mind...I would like to help you with that as well.

[This is her roundabout way of saying "will you go out for the day with me."]

[springful]

Stepping out for the day... Yes, that sounds like a good idea. [She gives a wide smile. Relaxing for just one day should be fine, and she can tell that she needs it too.] What did you have in mind?

[viperess]

There is a shopping district in this place. You mentioned before I should try human clothes, so I thought we go together and I could ask your opinion. We could also get something new for you, if you wish that.

[springful]

Maybe we'll find something for the both of us then. There's probably a lot of different kinds of clothes there, so hopefully you'll find something you like.

[viperess]

[She nods.]

Also...let's keep this secret from Shirou until later. I rather he not interfere today and you know how he can be.

[springful]

[laughing lightly] You're right. We can just have a "girls' day out" together!

[This is probably more a phrase she overheard from somewhere else rather than something she ever actually experienced herself. It always sounded like fun when people talked about it, so it should be, right???]

[viperess]

[She smiles a little, not exactly getting the phrase either but understanding the meaning.]

Should I wait for you to get ready? I can be outside.

[springful]

[She nods.] I'll be ready in just a minute.

[viperess]

[She nods and vanishes from the room, going into spirit form. Easier than using a door really.]

[springful]

[Now that's the Rider she's used to... Okay no, but after a few minutes Sakura comes out ready to go!!]

Well then, let's be on our way.

[viperess]

[Rider is waiting in the living room, not certain if she should sit or stand and choosing the latter out of indecisiveness. Proper behavior is still awkward for her, now that she is less a Servant and more a resident. It was easier to know how to conduct herself when she had that role.

So when Sakura comes out she nods a little, not at all different than how she is now and walks ahead to open the door for Sakura. Luckily she blends into this strange world in her clothes, but she knows Sakura and Shirou would like her to adapt to a more casual style. She wants to try, at least for them.]

[springful]

[Sakura heads out the door, waiting for Rider too naturally, but with that they're off to their First Shopping Trip Ever. It's kind of exciting when she thinks about it like that, even though this is supposed to be so she can relax.]

Are there any particular kinds of clothes you're interested in trying out, Rider? [She's still not super familiar with all the stores here, but she figures that she'll at least know one or two they can go to first if Rider wants to look at something specific.]

[viperess]

[Rider looks around, not certain about the tastes of these fashions. Clothes here are not very...modest in taste. In fact most of the clothes don't even look like clothes. She doesn't have much of a problem with it, but to blend in with humans it would be easier to be more conservative in her choices.]

I would like to try finding something modest. It will be easier to blend into society that way, I believe.

[springful]

[Looking around too... Yeah no thank you. If Rider really wanted to wear something like that, she wouldn't stop her, but she's glad she's not interested in them either.]

You're right. Clothes like these might be in fashion here, but I think most people would find it a little... odd. [To say the least.] There should be a store with more normal clothing around this area...

[Walking off to something that's more or less the Cerealia equivalent of Gap??? THAT WORKS RIGHT.] Here.

[viperess]

[Wow it's so. Not-Gap.

Rider nods and follows Sakura, opening the door and letting her in first.]

The way this place pushes promiscuity onto everyone is odd. I don't think many people who were taken here are interested in it. [Not that promiscuity bothers Rider, but even this place can be a bit much sometimes.]

[springful]

[Buys Rider a sweatshirt that has NOT-GAP emblazoned on the front. BUT HEADING INSIDE NOW...]

I don't understand it either. It's fine if people are interested in that, but when they try to push everyone into partaking regardless of their wishes... [The smh is strong basically. On the definitely not promiscuous side though, there's a few mannequins up ahead wearing your standard Gap-like clothing i.e. nice and clean but boring tbh.]

What do you think of these?

[viperess]

[She looks at the mannequins (look through her blindfold as usual) and makes a gentle hum. The turtleneck looks nice and a simple pair of pants would go well with it. She has no desire for anything flashy or eyeshocking really. It's easier to blend in if she looks plain and that works better for her needs.

She picks up a turtleneck folded onto the table next to the mannequins, the same kind shown on display, and shows it to Sakura.]

I think this will work well for my needs. ["I like it" basically.] Let's find something for you now.

[springful]

[So in the end Rider picked something similar to what she last saw her in... It's probably natural that that should happen, but she thinks it's kind of funny anyways.]

I'm sure you'll look good in it. [Since she already knows!!] Okay. Hopefully there'll be something nice for me as well.

[viperess]

[She isn't sure why Sakura seems amused, but she won't question it. If Sakura is happy that's good enough for her.]

Let's go further in then.

[She'll lead the way as they go further into the store, but the next mannequins they'll come across are wearing this and this and even this (arm attachments excluded thankfully.)]

...Not this way. [She turns around to block Sakura's view, even if it might already be too late, and tries to push her away from the display.]

[springful]

Ah...

[It's too late. Sakura saw The Things, and it's all too late now!! Love is over. She follows Rider, disheartened, and mumbles quietly to herself:]

I thought I could trust this store... [The betrayal cuts deep.]

[viperess]

[Oh no Sakura no...]

Let me pay for my clothes and we'll go find a place to eat. You can decide where. [She'll even eat food with you Sakura to make up for this.]

[springful]

Are you sure? You don't have to eat with me, so... [She doesn't want to waste Rider's time!! Honestly, she'd offer to pay for Rider's clothes too as a gift to her, but she's pretty sure her Servant would turn it down.

She'll have to think of something to get as a gift another time!!]