estoria | [open] Ain't it great, how we met each other

Entry tags:

[open] Ain't it great, how we met each other

Who: Rise Kujikawa and YOU! Yes, even you.
When: 6/1
Where: Lots of locations, CYA, etc etc.
What: Rise's getting back out in the colony and dragging people along for the ride with her daily routine.
Rating/Warning: Probably not yet.

[Even if by Cerealia standards it's her birthday, Rise doesn't think anything of it. Things are different here and she has a long day ahead of her. But at least it's nice to be on some kind of schedule again and get back to the way things were.]

A.) Catch a glimpse of the hollow world;

[The morning starts early for Rise Kujikawa with a bright and early call for a photoshoot. She never realized that a "sunglasses model" could be a real job but here she is bright and early when the sun is just perfect to capture the product without the glare effect. Did you happen to stumble onto the scene of this shoot? You might find Rise perusing a table of glasses that she's meant to put on her face and she'll turn with a small grin on her face.]

Which one do you think I should start with first?

[Alternatively, later in the shoot she's put on a pair that's a liiiiittle too dark and it makes it hard to see. Sorry if she happens to bump into you on her way to put them back.]

Sorry! Geez, these are way too effective…

B.) Turning misery into meaningfulness;

[Later in the day she's in front of a storefront in the shopping district with a plate of tofu samples. This feels a little more like home, weirdly enough, and even if she's dressed down in a work smock she seems oddly relaxed. She won't hesitate to stop anybody who wanders by, maybe even tapping the shoulder of the person if it's someone she knows (hell, maybe even the people she doesn't know.)]

Free sample? It's fresh…they're trying a new recipe in there. [She has opinions on said-tofu, but collecting information and backing said-opinions is never a bad thing.]

C.) Gaze in fascination so hard;

[Regardless, even if she has a busy busy day she's going to take time for herself even if it kills her. That's what this is about, isn't it? Relaxing, getting back to a normal life after the trauma that came from that weird, dark area. After her shift at the tofu shop she'll even text a few friends.]

Weather's great! Wanna come up?

[Friends who text back will get an answer, but for anybody who…happens…to be prone to being on rooftops they'll find that Rise's dragged a couple of chairs up to the roof of her apartment building, an umbrella tilted just enough for the slightest amount of shade and sprawled out in one of the lounge chairs dressed in a bikini with yet another pair of sunglasses on.]

It's perfect, isn't it?

D.) You know the stake in high stardom is near;

[And so the sun sets. The day goes on, and there's one more shift to take care of in her day before she's satisfied. Anyone in the Entertainment District may find that several colonists are heading for one particular karaoke bar. Entering the bar, you'll find that Rise is at the mic and it's here she's in her most natural environment as she continues her performance. When she finishes the song and the applause dies, she peers around before her eyes land on you, a playful smirk on her face as she speaks into the mic.]

I think it's your turn to sing a song for us! What do you say?

[Looks like the crowd agrees.]

[Or maybe you find yourself at the bar later and she finishes another song. No matter who it is, she'll slide into the seat next to you and she doesn't even appear winded as she speaks up.]

Who knew aliens liked music so much?

E.) Looking so different glaring street light;

[Or you can wildcard her! She can be found anywhere in the above locations, wandering the colony, or maybe you're a friend who happens to bump into her. Bring it on.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And by the time Leon gets up to the roof he'll find that she's still laying on her back with the umbrella angled just enough to cover her face, sunglasses on even as she looks at something on her CereVice. She's in her swimsuit and at some point she's also dragged up a small basket that holds who-knows-what. When she hears the door to the roof open she turns her head, sitting up just a little and lifting her hand in a wave.]

Hey! [She pushes her glasses down just enough to peer at him over the top of them.] I think you were right, a roof garden would be really pretty up here.

[IT'S A ROOF BIKINI BABE. EVEN BETTER THAN A ROOF BASEBALL FIELD!

He's looking better than he did last time she saw him. Time hasn't healed the wounds, but it's given him some distance to bounce back, and things in the meantime haven't been going so badly for him as they were that day. So he's already much brighter when he walks in, and he only gets even moreso when he gets a look at Rise. To his credit, he makes sure he doesn't stare . . . but he does look. He can't help it. Roof bikini babes.]

You weren't kidding, it really was even better! You tanning? Better out here than in one of those machines, huh?

[He closes the distance quickly and moves to sit next to her. You know . . . it really is nice up here, bikinis aside.]

[It's pretty great, right? She's not even remotely self-conscious about this since she's tanning and she did invite him up. This is different than the Rise he saw in those mirrors. This is a Rise in complete control of everything. She's happy to see him looking more like the first time they spoke and she nods in response.]

Yeah! It's such a good day out, why waste it inside a tanning bed? [She pushes the chair just a bit to allow him to sit, twisting her body on her own chair to keep facing him.] Plus it a great view of the whole residential district. I didn't know it was so big.

[He's feeling a little overdressed himself. Well, it's not actually a beach, though; maybe they should do that next? File that one away for later. There's something bright and warm about the thought, and it's not just the sun.

He plops down beside her on the—floor? Ground? Whatever, the roof—and leans back on his hands, trying to get a good look at both Kujikawa and the view of the colony. It's hard to say which is better.]

It's crazy, right? You think Earth'll be like this someday? It's like some movie you'd see about the future!

[And to be fair? She'd have a pretty hard time saying no to something like that. Summers are all about vacations and beaches and trips with your friends, even if you're stuck on an alien planet. She's leaning forward just a little to stare down at the colony again even as he responds.]

Hmm...maybe! We're already getting a lot more advanced back home but nothing like this! Phones like the CereVice just started hitting the market a few years ago. I sort of hope it does and doesn't shape the future to be like this place. Just as long as we don't have to deal with aliens there, too.

You mean CERES or the normal ones? . . . I can't believe I just called 'em normal . . .

[Walking around the colony is anything but normal, seriously. The alien inhabitants go about their days like anyone else, except for being very obviously aliens straight out of science fiction. Since when did Leon start thinking of that as "normal"?

He feels like the more crazy shit happens once in a while, the more he gets used to the life they all live inbetween. Leon leans with Rise to watch the people, both human and otherwise, wander by down on the streets.]

But I guess it ain't so bad here, except for all the parts that are. Know what I mean? Outside all the crazy CERES crap!

The CERES ones mostly! The other colonists don't seem to be too bugged by us being here. I've worked with some really nice ones, actually. [To her total and complete surprise. It's weird to her that this is normal, too. But then again she's dealt with enough weird monsters to be mildly desensitized to this. She nods in agreement to his statement then.]

Is it weird if I say I actually sort of like it? I've met all kinds of great people here, and there's a lot to do and see! If we could cut out all of the bad parts this wouldn't be such a bad refuge. It sort of makes me wonder if there's any way we can keep this even after we stop CERES from doing all of their really bad stuff.

[Leon nods and leans back harder on his hands; there are buildings even taller than this one not far away, and he follows the lines of them up into the sky (towards the dome, at least; there's always the dome) with his eyes.

What he's considering saying tastes new on his tongue, and it's not something he feels good yet about discussing casually. But . . . it's relevant. Kujikawa already knows the bombshell contained within. And maybe he should get used to thinking about it at this point.

So after a brief silence, he answers, a little haltingly, voice low:]

I . . . y'know, since I'm—not alive and stuff, and there's other people here like that too—I found out from CERES we've got choices and all, but one of 'em's just to stay and live here forever instead of tryin' to go back to our worlds.

. . . So, that means we should definitely try it, right? Like you said! Cut out all the bad parts! It'd be a pretty cool place to live if it weren't for all the crap. And if maybe some of us really are gonna stay here, no one's gonna wanna deal with all that forever.

[Oh. We're having that kind of conversation. She certainly doesn't mind but she watches him from the corner of her eye closely as she considers what he's saying.]

They really give us that choice? [Part of her wants to ask "why would anybody do that" but he's made it clear from the beginning. "Since I'm not alive."] I never knew that, but if they keep talking about our worlds being destroyed maybe that's their way of trying to say we could make something new here. There's nothing wrong with trying. And...I bet you aren't the only person who would want to stay here forever. What would you cut out first?

My eyes, I guess—

[Oh, man. That sounds so much grosser than he meant it. What the hell, CERES, this is your fault for making it like that! He half turns to Rise, lifting up one hand with an awkward laugh.]

—I didn't mean it like that! No way! I mean the implant things! The part where they're always watching us, y'know? Who'd wanna live in a place where you can't even go to the bathroom without some aliens seeing everything you see? Talk about messed up . . .

[He puts his hand back down on the roof, but doesn't turn away from her again. Now that the ice has been broken on the topic, it feels—okay. He can handle this. He's not freaking out, he can look at her like normal. That's a relief, honestly.]

But I haven't actually decided yet. There's other stuff you can do if you're—dead. I talked to Mosley about it.

[It did sound pretty gross and she even goes as far as to look at Leon over the top of her glasses with an expression that blatantly says "really?" But okay. She can understand that.]

It is pretty weird. I don't mind people watching me when I'm performing but I'm still getting used to knowing other people are watching all the time. I don't get why they'd want to anyway. What do they really think we're going to do if they look away?

[But it's a pretty heavy topic, and she's navigating it as well as she can. This is important to him.] You don't have to decide right now what you want to do. We should just be taking all of this one day at a time. It's a lot less stressful, I think.

[He nods along; his thoughts exactly. That feels good, too. There's always that nervousness buzzing in him, that he's going to say the wrong thing and come off stupid or weird . . . but that's starting to fade off around Kujikawa. Maybe it's a side effect of having already hit rock bottom around her, huh?]

Yeah. Yeah, I know! I've gotta talk to Togami and Kirigiri about stuff too . . . ah, it's all totally complicated! Sometimes I just don't wanna think about all that! Most of the time, actually. You can't blame me, right? But—whatever! I can deal with it.

[And he kinda believes it, too. He can. One day at a time, even though this is fucked up. He smiles at her a little more quietly than usual, warm rather than bright.]

And I think about that too, the creepy CERES stalking crap . . . they can't be watching us all the time. Right? Like, how many people would they even need on the cameras to monitor every single one of us every second of every day? It doesn't make any sense!

[Togami and Kirigiri aren't names she recognizes at all (even though she's met Togami and kind of thinks he's an intriguing sort of jackass, but whatever) but she can guess that they're people from his world. And in knowing that, it's nice to know that he trusts her enough to be able to talk about things like these.]

Makes sense to me. If I were making a really big decision, I'd want to talk to Yu-senpai, too. I don't think anybody would really blame you for not wanting to think about something like that. Just promise me something though. Promise me you'll know you don't have to deal with this by yourself.

[Look, friendship and bonds and strength drawn from companionship is very important to her. She notes that the smile is a bit different, even if she can't exactly draw why. Oh well. Something to maybe think about later.] They can't be watching us if they want to keep things running in the colony. If they had so many people watching us all the time how would anything else get done? Are we the only people with the implants, or do the aliens have them too?

I dunno . . . I wondered about that too. Where do all these people who ain't us even come from?

[He says it distractedly, though. He's still thinking about what she said—that he wouldn't have to deal with it alone. What's she offering there? Why? She's so nice, so sweet. Maybe she's the kind of girl he always thought an idol like Maizono would be . . .

Ugh, that's a bitter-tasting thought. Time to cast that one aside. Why think about Maizono right now?

He goes back to watching the sights off the edge of the roof, cheeks slightly pink. That stupid thought aside, he's pretty touched by her even saying something like that.]

—You're really sweet, you know? That Yu-senpai you mentioned, that's the guy who got on me over the network 'cuz he was protective of you, right? . . . I can see why he would be!

Other planets probably. [She knows it wasn't a real question but she can't help but answer anyway as she looks down at him. When he speaks up again, she blinks in surprise. That's...not really what she had been expecting, even though it's nice to hear.]

...thanks. [There's a soft smile, even moreso when Yu's mentioned.] Senpai's someone who knows me better than anyone else. Even after everything we've gone through together he's always going to be a little protective that way. [Even if he doesn't love her the way she wants him to, he loves her. She's finally coming to terms with that and learning to figure out what it really means.] I guess I'm a little protective over the people I care about, too.

[And somehow, that now currently includes Leon. What a world.]

Everything you've gone through . . .

[Well, he'd seen—whatever that was. The girl in the mirror, who wasn't Kujikawa, but was . . .

She must mean that, but he still hasn't been able to even begin to figure out what the hell that was all about. And it's not his business, right? But it's obviously important, and whatever it was, her back-home friends went through it too.

He watches her out of the corner of his eye, trying to decide what to say. Change the subject? Ask about it? Is that pushing too much? Or—]

Just so you know, you look better in this bikini than that mirror girl did in hers.

[NAILED IT.]

[You know. If it were any other girl they'd probably be really offended. As it stands though it's Rise and instead she looks at him for a moment before she gives him a little bit of a pouty look.]

You really think so? [A glance down.] I mean mine aren't really that big...and my curves aren't that enhanced either. [Despite that though she doesn't seem too bothered.] But I like it. I like the real me. So...that's actually kind of sweet. Thanks!

[Good job, Leon.] I hope there're more chances this summer to wear it. There's a pool and stuff here isn't there? Maybe make a beach in ViViD and take a real vacation.

There's a whole water park! It's definitely that kinda weather now! . . . Not that the weather here really changes . . .

[He looks up, up at the dome. He can't even be mad. He'd wonder when he finally gets to be not trapped under a dome of some kind in his life, but it's not like being outside of it is very appealing on this planet. He'll take the temperature control for now, thanks.]

So I guess I meant it's that time of year. Whatever! Summer's still summer no matter where you are, you've gotta embrace it!

[It's his favorite season, after all, and even thinking about it gets him a little pumped, his voice rising a little above and beyond in volume and energy. He hasn't felt like that much lately. It's nice . . .

He looks back at her, definitely just at her face this time, despite the subject matter:]

Hey, I like the real you too, so that makes two of us. Curves and all, ha ha! Size isn't everything! Nothing's "everything" when it comes to girls . . . that's part of the charm.

I think I could get used to constant sunshine. It used to rain a couple of times a month back home so this is a nice change. Yang told me about the water park when I first got here. I keep meaning to check it out but other things keep getting in the way. [You know, like creepy labyrinths and stuff outside of their walls.

But his enthusiasm's contagious.] Summer's still summer! It was still spring back home and now it's getting closer to summer for real. I can't believe it's June already. [She doesn't mind the examination, if only because it's a strange and nice new feeling to have someone new tell her these things. It's a little over the top but Leon's personality seems to be that way. And he's right. Nothing's everything. Despite that, she can't help but tease him a little.] But I bet you say that to all kinds of girls, don't you?

Not every girl!

[He laughs. But he's not going to deny, either, the way he is about girls—or used to be, anyway. It's getting hard to tell at this point if he still is; a five month dry spell for him is a hell of a lot. Blame all those "other things" that keep getting in the way, yeah. (Or maybe he's lost his touch; he worries about that a lot. But he's got to admit the insanity of this whole situation is a very likely suspect there.)]

And it's still totally true no matter what! I don't need to tell you you're gorgeous, right? Actually, pretty sure I already did . . . and just then too. Oops?

[So nevermind! But hey, it's true, and it's not like he actually feels bad about making that known. There's absolutely no shame or apology in the way he grins over at her.]

Anyway, back home—

[And this is another one of those times where he starts talking without thinking. His plan was to mention what season it was back home . . . but then he realizes he doesn't know. He cuts off, debating on how to backtrack that.

But maybe it's all right not to, even if it's awkward, and raises some questions.]

—actually, I dunno what time of year it was, when . . . stuff happened. When I was last home before coming here. But that's not important! All I was gonna say about it is that it's definitely weird! It makes stuff like birthdays pretty complicated, right? But I'd take summer all year 'round if it was up to me.

That's what they all say. [It's easier just to casually trade little quips like this instead.] I mean you don't need to tell me, but I can't stop you if you do anyway! [She drops the act almost just as immediately and there's another look of sincerity crossing her features.] ...it is really nice of you to say though. I mean it.

[She knows her looks are above average, but she also likes to believe she and Leon have a friendship that's based on more than her idol status or her looks. Those are the ones she values the most. She can't help but give him a curious look when he trails off to "stuff happened", and she has to wonder if it's because he died so young or because of something else. She doesn't press though. With someone like him, she's learned that she just has to wait a bit and he'll spill on his own.]

I think it's about as complicated as you make it. It's spring back home, but it's June here. And funny you should mention that...if we're going by Cerealia's time, it's my birthday today. [Surprise.] I'm celebrating most of today around my work schedule.

Hey, what?! You serious?

[Whatever else he had in mind to say, he gets distracted from by that. That was the last thing he was expecting when he brought it up casually! What are the odds of that?]

I had no idea! What're the odds?

[He even says that out loud.

Then, after a brief pause, it strikes him that that's a question with an actual answer:]

. . . I mean, I guess they're 1 in 365, right?

[He thinks, anyway. Statistics isn't his strong point. Anything involving math isn't his strong point. Anything involving . . . school at all . . .

But he's at least not sure what else the answer to that could be, unless it involves some arcane overly complicated formulas that might as well be magic and that seems stupid anyway. And it's not important! What's important is the birthday girl!

So after that aside, he shakes his head and shoves away any thoughts of anything mathematical, beaming over at her instead.]

Heh, forget it! That's awesome! You should've said, I would've done something special for it! Who cares if it's complicated, what matters is it's an excuse to celebrate and get special treatment for the day! You're even working today? That oughta be against the law!

I think those are the odds, but I'm not too great with math. [She throws in a playful wink anyway because she can understand his sentiments. She's keeping her gaze on him and even if she acts fairly upbeat and happy she's not entirely ecstatic like one should be on their birthday.]

Really? That's so sweet. [That at least renders a more genuine response.] You're spending time with me now aren't you? That totally counts for something. I've worked on all of my birthdays since I was younger. At least I'm not on a tour this time. This is about as special as it can get. [There's a pause.] If you want to make it up later though I wouldn't say no.

You mean after work?

[Like, going out after work? That kind of thing? He leans over a little closer, just a tad, waiting for what he hopes is confirmation of how he took that.]

I'm pretty sure I could find some way to celebrate with you, yeah. You've gotta take advantage of free time when you've got it! Man, working on your birthday . . . if you ask me, being famous oughta be about doing what you want.

[This is a guy who clearly has absolutely no idea what idol culture in Japan is like. To him, idols are just cute celebrities who get to live his idea of the celebrity life.]

Yeah! [Wait.] Oh wait, no...I work at the karaoke bar tonight for a couple of hours. It's busy tonight so I'm on request. But...maybe a different day? I mean unless you want to go out at 1am but not a lot's open around then.

[She's put Thought into this.] Believe it or not, my free time here is more than the free time I have back home now. When I took a break last year I had way more time to spend with my friends and--["Solve murder mysteries and jump through TVs"]--take care of some other stuff. But now that I'm working on my comeback I need to use all of the time I can to practice and everything. I'm used to being busy and…the competition's tough.

[She could tell him all about the competition and about Kanami and about people watching her every move and reporting it and letters from fans and pressure--but she won't. She's better about being open about it, but Leon doesn't deserve to deal with that.] Even with all of that? It's exactly what I want. I want to do these things! But…sometimes it's a little easier not being famous here.

[open] Ain't it great, how we met each other

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