The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box [CLOSED]

[shikisha]

Who: Nonon, Ryuko, and Athena
When: IC: 1/22
Where: Athena's and Ryuko's apartment.
What: Nonon and Ryuko are at a strange impasse. Nonon walks in on Ryuko and Athena having dinner.
Rating/Warning: PG-13 maybe. Talk of violence and nudity possible, there are Kill La Kills here. Stupid teenagers with UST.



[ It's cold out. Nonon ended up staying later at the opera house than she wanted to. She sat in her office for a while just thinking about what the hell Ryuko was talking about.

i dont know what im doing

That's what she had said. What the hell was that supposed to mean?! She kissed her then sped off on her stupid delivery scooter! It made Nonon angry that someone who kissed her had such little conviction!! But at the same time... Ryuko is younger than her, someone she feels like she needs to look out for... even if it weren't for her feelings she is still Satsuki's precious little sister, the one she rebelled against her own mother to get revenge for.and in a way that made Ryuko precious to Nonon too. People near Satsuki just have strange ways of showing their love, and it often has to do with violence.

By the time she leaves the opera house, Ryuko's track jacket zipped up high to keep out the cold of the winter, she isn't sure what the hell she is even going to say. Nonon doesn't know what she's doing either, but she's stubborn enough to make sure she still shows up at Ryuko's and Athena's like she said she would.

And so Nonon is the reason why the buzzer at their apartment goes off sometime after dark, likely when they are just sitting down to eat. A tiny pink girl in Ryuko's oversized jacket, looking like a punk in it and her skull beanie, waiting for someone to open the door. ]

Comments

[dishonorstudent]

[ Not to take anything away from her surprisingly fun time with Nonon, but Ryuko really missed living with Athena again. Things are simple with Athena, even if Athena didn't always make it so when she's internalizing her angst... but that's something they said they would work on. For now, she was just happy to be having a cheap family dinner with Athena again. They've really come a long way ever since the older girl started teaching Ryuko how to cook (and Ryuko messing it up)!

But then the bell rings, and Ryuko is none the wiser because she was starting to forget about Nonon saying she would be coming over. After all, she didn't specify the time and Ryuko was expecting her straight after school, not late in the evening. ]

I'll get it!

[ When Ryuko opens the door and sees Nonon standing there, in her jacket, almost the same way she has left her a couple days ago, her first instinct just made her promptly close the door again. ]

...shit.

[ Shit, shit, shit. Nonon was supposed to be coming over, wasn't she? Okay, Matoi, it's time to woman up... and open the door more gently this time. ]

...Hey!

[psycholawgy]

[ It's not unusual to have a guest over during the evening, though they usually talk about who to expect before the expected actually shows up. At least, that's how they used to do things. Athena doesn't feel like this is some sort of change of anything, so whoever's at the door is probably a surprise visitor. And it must be somebody Ryuko knows, if she's taking that long.

She doesn't get up from her seat, and continues to poke at her food instead. Maybe she'll give Ryuko a minute or two before she gets up to check who it is. She can't hear any screaming, so nothing should be threatening their safety. There's no need to panic. ]

[shikisha]

[ When Ryuko firsts answers the door, Nonon doesn't say anything. The speech she practiced, thought over and over in her head on what she would say didn't come out right away. She had come over to talk though, that was the whole point of this. Well... the other point being that for some stupid reason she really wanted to see Ryuko again, after everything that had happened over the last four or five days since their date. Whether she liked it or not, it ate away inside of her, and it almost felt a little better when she saw Ryuko inside the apartment. ]

.... [ So while the first time Ryuko opened the door she just saw Nonon look fairly neutral, a little serious perhaps but not angry, the second time is different. The door opens again and there is Nonon, her face scrunched cutely like it does when she's made. She looks like she's about to stomp her foot. But for the moment other than the look of anger, she keeps her reaction in check. ]

What the hell was that? [ No yelling, no screaming, she is too focused to be that pissed off at Ryuko. And with her whole "i dont know what im doing" comment on her mind, Nonon just happens to be a little more accommodating than usual.. ] I told you I was coming over, we need to talk.

[dishonorstudent]

[ Ryuko just whisper yells back at her. ]

Not for dinner!!

[ And she's wearing that jacket again... Ryuko wonders what Athena is going to think. She doesn't fear disapproval from her roommate, it's quite the opposite actually... Athena would probably support Ryuko's "relationship" to the extreme, before Ryuko can even figure out that it's one by herself.

And to make matters worse, Nonon now just... lets herself inside?? WOW RUDE ]

--Hey! God..!!! I hate my life!

[ She closes the door after Nonon, cursing a little bit more on the inside. ]

[psycholawgy]

Ryuko?

[ May as well get up from her seat at the sudden disturbance. Nonon and Ryuko may have been whispering, but she could definitely feel a sudden change in the mood around the room.

What was up? ]

[shikisha]

[ This is the first time she's been here, but Nonon doesn't seem to mind that she's just walking inside past Ryuko. She doesn't even care to hide her jacket, partly to show Ryuko that she meant what she said when they were texting earlier, and partly because it was damn cold out and the jacket is big enough to be warm.

That voice catches her attention though. She had to know Athena would be there, it is her apartment after all, but somehow she is still a little surprised to see her once she comes into the room where Athena is still sitting. Her eyes look over the food on the table, then back to Ryuko, and Athena again. ]

I'm just here to talk to Matoi. [ She doesn't know what else to say to Athena, thinking it best not to get her involved, but still explaining herself. ]

[dishonorstudent]

[ Ryuko speaks up for Athena, almost a little too defensively. ]

We're having dinner!

[ It's like she's doing everything to avoid this talk even though she knows they need to have it. WHAT IS MATURITY.

Also, she already mentioned dinner a few seconds ago?? This is going smoothly. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ Um???? ]

I can go outside for a second, if that's needed.

[ She at least knows how to show respect to people, so??? ]

[shikisha]

[ Why is this just getting more awkward? Nonon blames Ryuko for that defensive comment of hers. Blames her with a punch on her arm because that's how they show affection, or something. Nevermind that she's still clearly in Ryuko's jacket. ]

No, we can go to her room. [ She turns to look at Ryuko. ] You do have a room, right?

[ Though looking at Ryuko her eyes look at the food no the table, realizing she hadn't eaten anything, she had been working too much to distract herself from thinking too much. She's hungry, either of them could see it. ]

[dishonorstudent]

[ That punch did feel affectionate... which only makes Ryuko's emotions stir further. ]

W-Well, you two can go to whatever rooms ya want, but I'm gonna stay here and eat! Some of us used up a lot of blood this week!

[ NOT DEALING WITH THIS AT ALL, NOPE. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ ... way to be a mature and hospitable host, Ryuko.

Athena tries to clear the air by pulling up a seat for Nonon on the table. Y'all mofos should probably just sit down if you don't want to talk!!!! ]

Let me grab you a plate.

[shikisha]

[ Somehow punching is affectionate. They really are weird. But Nonon glares at Ryuko's respons, half thinking to just grab the other girl by the scruff of her neck and drag her into her room. ...That might have strange connotations though. And really at her height she couldn't do that easily. ]

...You got sucked into ViViD too then?

[ She figures it has to be that, because Nonon herself had a hell of a day; she'd need to find a tailor to fix a few things on her Goku Uniform because of it. Unlike Senketsu her's needed upkeep.

Nonon turns to Athena, offering her a chair, tilting her head just a little. At least one of them were hospitable. But she came to talk to Ryuko... but her stomach is growling... so she just nods, and sits across from Ryuko, trying not to look at her too much.. ]

Ah, thanks. I guess I haven't eaten anything all day except for the candy in my office.

[dishonorstudent]

You serious?! And you give me a hard time for eating burgers!

[ It's like they're already a couple. But... Ryuko presses on. ]

Athena and I got stuck inside some weird turn based game... stupid thing almost killed her! When I figure out a way to get back to that level, I'm gonna finish that piece of shit for good!!

[ Ah, her table manners leave a lot to be desired, too. ]

Later, the next morning...

[shikisha]

[ Sometime (hopefully before Athena wakes up, Nonon and Ryuko sneak into the kitchen after sleeping together in Ryuko's bed. ...Just sleeping mind you! Neither were thinking of going that next step already, just kissing the night before had been momentous enough. Still they had to do something for Athena, and Ryuko said they should make her a big breakfast.

So that's what they did. Or tried to do anyway. Nonon has never cooked for herself, she's a spoiled rich girl from the day she was born, and can just about make cereal or ice cream sundaes, that's it. So she relies on Ryuko to tell her what to do. Ryuko Matoi of all people in charge of the kitchen.

By the time they are done there's likely a giant mess in the sink, far bigger than the things they should have used for eggs and bacon and pancakes, but someone messed up a few times... ]

I can't believe you thought Beethoven was American. Didn't you listen to anything in your classes? [ Whenever Athena comes to join them Nonon is bickering with Ryuko... only she's got the taller girl's arm around her, pushed close to her side as they stand at the stove together... ]

[psycholawgy]

[ Now that things have settled down (???) in Cerealia, Athena continues with her usual morning routine. She got up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready to exercise, and went out to jog around the district by 6. It usually takes her an hour or so to finish her workout, so she comes back to the apartment just in time for breakfast.

She didn't expect anybody to be cooking by the time she arrived, though. What she had planned was that she'd just have her usual cereal. ]

Oh, [ Athena almost stops in her stride when she spots Nonon in the kitchen. She covers up her surprise quickly, though, and she heads to the bathroom to wash up, leaving the door open for them to hear. ] Good morning, you two!

[dishonorstudent]

[ Actually, she thought Beethoven was a dog long before she thought he was an American composer, but that's something Nonon probably doesn't need to know. Nevermind that, Athena seems to be back from her jog and Ryuko quickly scrambles to get everything prepared in time. ]

Shi-- Shit, shit, she's here already? Why the hell didn't you watch the time?

Uh.

Mornin'! [ Ryuko converses with Athena across the rooms while she beckons Nonon to help her finish up. ] H-How was your jog..?

[shikisha]

[ Ryuko had been pissed before at Nonon trying to change her, but hopefully she understood now that trying to introduce her to new things, like teaching her about composers she loves wasn't trying to change who she was... but more trying to share who Nonon was with Ryuko. Not that she would admit that willingly, if she even realized it herself at all.

Once she hears Athena coming in and Ryuko's arm around her loosening she steps a little to the side. She had said before she didn't care if anyone saw them together, but it felt a little awkward. ]

What?! Don't blame me, you were the one who said we had plenty of time!!

[ Nonon hustles to find plates for the table, needing to be corrected a few times by Ryuko to get the right cabinets or whatever. She does call out to Athena to though. ] Yeah, good morning.

[ It's almost amazing to Nonon herself how much she holds back her sharp tongue from Athena. She's not quite as dumb as Ryuko's last best friend. And she... wants to get along with Athena, now more than ever, because she wants to be able to stay over again. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ The sound of water reflecting against the ceramics in the bathroom. Athena washes her face to wake herself up, and the cold water energises her bit by bit. She'd take a shower, but that plan quickly changes the very moment she saw last night's guest was still around. ]

Fine, nothing new...! [ Her voice is muffled by the towel on her face.

And she joins them at the kitchen counter once she's wiped the water off her face, and the sweat on her back. ]

Do you two have plans for the day? [ There's a slight emphasis on "plans", and a subtle eyebrow raise at Ryuko's direction. Of course, she's curious. It'd be great if they clued her in, too. ]

[dishonorstudent]

[ Athena would probably have to be a little more direct than that!! Or maybe Ryuko's just being a shy little shit about it. ]

Actually, we were hopin' today would be all about you. We made you breakfast. [ They tried, rather. ]

And... we're really sorry...

[shikisha]

[ Once the plates and utensils are on the table she finds her way back to Ryuko's side. She isn't going to say anything unless Ryuko is... or Athena just asks her directly. Mostly because it's Ryuko's best friend, she should say it. ]

Wait, all day?! [ Nonon looks incredulously at Ryuko for a moment, before just turning back to Athena. ] ...Yeah, all day.

[ She adds on to Ryuko's apology: ] Even though it was mostly Ryuko's fault.

[ She uses "Ryuko" instead of Matoi for the first time ever in front of anyone else. ]

[psycholawgy]

Thanks.

[ That was for the apology, not for the food. She'd normally say "you didn't have to" in circumstances when somebody would apologise to her, but what happened the night before really did make her feel uncomfortable. She had just moved back into her apartment and it would've been nice to actually stay there under her own roof and relax, but that wasn't possible. She had only started to be with Ryuko again, too, only for that transitioning time to be interrupted by the same person Ryuko stayed with for a period of time. So it was pretty disrespectful to her. And only a little bit insulting.

This is all awkward to her, too. But she won't ask. Not yet. And she may as well change the subject quickly, too. ]

I need to go to work today, but-- [ her eyes move to look at whatever it is they're making? made? w/e. w/e. ] breakfast sounds great.

[dishonorstudent]

[ YOU COULD HAVE JUST GONE TO YOUR ROOM ATHENA, GOSH.

Ryuko senses a little awkwardness from both girls, and almost feels like this is karma for the way she behaved last night. She's not here to argue with them, however, so she just crosses her arms and decides to take whatever shots they want to throw at her. Enjoying a nice normal day would be nice, because who knows when the next distressing thing is going to happen, such as Archer moving in, people being hurt in some CERES tour or Ryuko being incarcerated soon. ]

L-Look, you both know I'm not the best with manners and stuff, but... I guess it was mostly my fault. [ Cut her some slack, she's the youngest and stupidest, sob. ]

I guess ya wanna know what it was all about, huh.

[shikisha]

[ Hey she did text Athena they were sorry last night, why did they need to apologize more? ...Nonon isn't very nice, but she's still trying for Ryuko's sake.

Nonon turns to look at Ryuko, her eyes open wider, listening. The fact that she does willingly take the blame makes Nonon feel a little bad about leaving her out there to hang by herself. Nonon knows she caused the trouble for Athena too, seeing how she just showed up and started yelling. So she helps Ryuko a little, stepping besides her, her face just a slightly flushed. ]

We're dating. [ She steps in and finishes Ryuko's thought before Athena can ask. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ Athena tries to remain as calm as possible, though she can feel her heart is racing. Maintaining a straight face is pretty difficult right now, but she manages to do it, save for the occasional twitching. ]

No wonder.

[ She's in more shock than that, but the more she thinks about it, the more the pieces fit together. No wonder Ryuko moved in with Nonon for a while, and it makes sense for Nonon to be speaking about Ryuko almost all the time whenever they talked. ]

That's great, [ she says, grinning at Ryuko. This isn't the time to flip out now and go "I KNEW IT!" or mention how suspicious she's been. ] I guess you do know about what it's like to like somebody, huh?

[dishonorstudent]

[ wow Nonon, what happened to letting Ryuko break the news!! ]

T-That's... I-I mean, I guess I do now... it's still kinda hard to explain in words, though.

[ If she had to explain it, she still wouldn't know why she likes Nonon in a different way from how she loves Athena, or how she shares a deep bond with Senketsu, or whatever special thing she had with Mako. There are different ways to like a person, and she's still trying to process it as best as she can. ]