Canon update catchall (cw: violence, possible murder talk)

[writeastherain]

OTA
[Aimee can be found spending time on different levels, taking on a couple of cases. None of her targets are that much of a threat. On the other hand…

Maybe it’s a belligerent civilian who’s having a bad day and is taking it out on a Fallen Star. Maybe someone just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up between Aimee and her target.

Either way, she’s slipped between herself between them, holding a knife that reflects the light like water. Her smile is detached and doesn’t meet her eyes.]

Please leave. I don’t want to make a scene if I can help it.

[And then in the same breath, she spins around to face the Fallen Star.]

Are you okay?!

Closed
[Mind reeling from what she’d read, it didn’t take long for a deep exhaustion to sink into Aimee’s bones. One thought sticks out to her despite the fatigue: she can’t let Karin see her like this. After everything…

She has to protect Karin. Her friend’s light burns hot and this place is unpredictable. She won’t allow anyone or anything to extinguish her light.

Sending her friend a text informing her that she might work overnight on a particularly tough case, she crashes at the Shrine of Curiosity until the exhaustion subsides. When she finally returns to their apartment over a day later, she’s all smiles and has groceries.]

Ms. Karin-san! Are you there…?

Comments

[myturf]

[ Things had been quiet. Karin was completely wrapped up in taking care of the MirrorMe reflections, in helping out and taking care of Yayoi... that before she knew it, she hadn't seen Aimee in a bit.

There wasn't much worry there. She was probably doing her own thing, that's about it, right? So when she finally noticed, she received the text explaining where she was. Working on a case, huh?

When she hears her friend's voice, she takes note almost instantly. Coming from the couch, she holds up a hand. ]

Hey. [ A beat. ] Busy one, huh?

[writeastherain]

[Aimee's face lights up when she sees Karin, her smile becoming more genuine. The last thing she wants is for Karin to worry. She starts putting away the groceries, occasionally glancing back over her shoulder.]

Mn, I really wasn't expecting it to be this challenging! I'm sorry for neglecting you... I bought some ingredients! Is there anything in particular you want me to cook?

[myturf]

C'mon, "neglectin' me"... I ain't like a cat you stopped payin' attention to.

[ She just chuckles, leaning against the wall. ]

Feel like makin' katsudon?

[writeastherain]

That's true. [She smiles. She needs Karin more than Karin needs her.]

Katsudon sounds good! I like the difference in textures...I never had anything like it before.

[myturf]

Still. Good t'have you around. It gets kinda borin' not havin' you around here.

[ You're getting a pat on the head, Aimee. ]

Really, though? You ain't had katsudon? We're gonna have t'change that, then.

[writeastherain]

Ah-

[She throws the leek in her hand out of shock, her eyes lighting up from the praise. The pat on the head just leaves her useless.]

I’ll be careful to create extra trouble for you! We wouldn’t want you bored…

Would you mind taste testing it? I just realized I wouldn’t be the best judge of how it should taste.

[myturf]

Creatin' trouble? Not a fan of just lookin' for it? Either works for me.

[ She chuckles a bit, nodding her head. ]

Yeah, of course. Wish I could've remembered this one recipe from back home, but, sure you've got your own style.

[fallmushrooms]

Aimee?

[Velda was about to run before she showed up, but looking at her face, the knife, the switch of demeanour... Something is seriously up, and Velda can't bolt, whether because she's worried or curious or what.]

Is that you? I mean, it looks like it's you, it's probably you, but we did kind of just go through this whole thing last month with people who looked like us and were part of us technically but just the stuff we didn't want to be and some of them were pretty different and I'm pretty sure you weren't like this before but maybe I might be wrong? But yeah, I'm okay! Just -- I don't get these people, that's all.

[writeastherain]

[Aimee herself is more preoccupied with Velda’s safety that she doesn’t register her rambling at first. She stares, a bit bewildered, and then just…laughs in relief. The knife loses its form and reverts back to water droplets that fall to the ground.]

Please don’t ever change, Velda. [Said fondly.] Are you sure that you’re okay? Maybe I went too easy on them…

[fallmushrooms]

No way, it worked! I mean, they gave up, right? And I don't want people trying to kill someone just for being a jerk. We kind of have enough of that going around, right?

[She nervously tugs on a piece of her hair.]

Are you doing okay?

[writeastherain]

But we don’t know if they won’t just find a different Fallen Star to harass. …Have you encountered much conflict recently?

[Oh. She’s worried. Aimee smiles warmly, hoping it will put some of Velda’s nervousness at ease.]

I’m fine. I just don’t like seeing my friends suffer. What are you up to? How have you been?

[fallmushrooms]

Um... to both of those, just at MirrorMe's tower last month. It was really different from how it ran last year, but we were still basically... you know, facing stuff we were afraid of about ourselves. Except this time there were fewer literal mirrors. And a lot more climbing. Or flying.

[writeastherain]

Oh, that. [It’s said flippantly.] Did your other self try to kill you?

[fallmushrooms]

I think they kind of all did. Uh... are you okay? Did you fight one of those or something?

[writeastherain]

Ah…Velda-san! I’m terribly sorry I wasn’t there! Are you okay?!

Hm? [She smiles easily.] I’m fine. If I had one, I didn’t know about it. I’m more worried about you!

[fallmushrooms]

No way, I'm fine! Really!

[She waves her hands and laughs nervously.]

I think in the end we just... kind of had to try and deal with our problems. Since the whole Rumour was playing on stuff we didn't like about ourselves. And then keep going through the tower to help other people with theirs. It was all kind of weird, but at least we did something good, and that works, right?

[writeastherain]

[Knowing that Velda is okay, Aimee is able to relax a little and laughs shyly in relief.]

I’m glad you’re okay. But I hope it helped, because I think you’re great as the person you are. I don’t want my friend to feel like she has to deny parts of herself- sorry, that’s probably overstepping, isn’t it? [Her chest feels a bit tight. Had anyone run into her floor by accident? Had they seen the sides of her even she couldn’t acknowledge? She’s too afraid to ask, but it sounds like Velda avoided it.] These Rumors tend to feel pretty invasive. I kind of hate them?

[fallmushrooms]

...heh, thanks. [She rubs the back of her head.] Me too. I don't know how the Facility knows everything about us all the time, but it's seriously messed up no matter what they pull out to do.

[writeastherain]

Mn! [She clasps her hands together, sparkles appearing around her.] I agree. Let’s kill them.

[fallmushrooms]

Uh. Are... you okay? You have been really different lately. Like. Murdery different?

[writeastherain]

I’m- [The question catches her off guard again. She stares blankly at Velda, eyebrows pinched in worry. Her palms feel cold with anxiety.]

I’m fine… I’m sorry. I didn’t- [Waving her hands nervously.] I was joking! Kind of. They’re bad guys. I’m sorry, did I scare you…?

[fallmushrooms]

It's -- it's okay! Sorry! [She waves her hand in front of her face.] I just kinda started worrying with all the, uh, everything. I swear I didn't mean to offend you or freak you out, I know it happens a lot anyway...

[writeastherain]

You didn’t offend me! [She squeezes her eyes shut.] You’ve never offended me. I’m sorry…I’m just a bit out of it. I guess we’re both worried…

[fallmushrooms]

[Velda breathes in and out slowly. She shakes her head and tries to amile back.]

Sorry, Aimee. It's okay, really. Do you need any help or anything? I seriously didn't mean to upset you or anything.

[writeastherain]

[She opens her eyes slowly.] You…you didn’t. I’m sorry. Oh! How about we change the subject? Have you done anything fun lately?

[fallmushrooms]

[Velda bites her lip, looking at Aimee with concern, but...]

Uh... there's some fun rides and stuff in Wonderment? And we're coming up on Curiosity month, and last time around, we got to go on an excursion outside the city. So I'm betting we're gonna get to do that again!

[writeastherain]

Is there anything outside the city you liked seeing? I thought it was dangerous out there…?

[fallmushrooms]

It was actually a pretty nice forest last time! Aside from the Rumour monsters, but I think the whole point was fixing it to make it safe again.

[writeastherain]

[She forces herself to smile.] How lovely...

[fallmushrooms]

...I mean, you don't have to come or anything. Did I say something?

[writeastherain]

What...?

[Her eyes widen and face pales a little. She would rather be in a scary forest with her friend, then alone out in the city. Had she said something wrong?]

N-no. I thought-

[She must have reacted the wrong way, again/ And here her friend was, unhappy and uncomfortable. But of course that would happen. Velda is a nice, (kinda)normal girl.

Aimee has no place here.

Her smile becomes shaky as she breathes a nervous laugh and turns away, not wanting her to see her worry.] No...you didn't! Sorry, I just remembered all my food is expired and I should go fix that! I'll uh...see you later!

[fallmushrooms]

[Blink. Blink, blink.

...She must've scared Aimee away. Of course. Aimee's been acting weird lately, she must be sick of Velda. She's normal, always felt uncomfortable about magic, does she even want to be near her at all?]