Shop till you drop

[attractedtodarkness]

WHO: Violet Harmon and Light Yagami
WHERE: Heropa Shopping district
WHEN: Morning of 1st of July
WHAT: All the shopping!
WARNINGS: None, really.

[After a few weeks out of the slammer, things are starting to feel more normal for Violet. With her ability to have income back to normal, she's doing the one thing some teenage girls do - shop. But first, she's looking for one particular roommate in residence #21.]

Hey, Light. What do you feel about clothes shopping?

[Light's been a great support for her since the beginning and even more so during her brief incarceration. This is just one way of showing her appreciation, really]

Comments

[godly]

[He appreciates the sentiment, though unfortunately it isn't quite that simple.]

Not exactly. When I was getting coffee that one day, I ran into another imPort; it was an accident, and he didn't have... complete control of his powers, and he used them on me. The power was guilt manipulation and I felt--

[he frowns, remembering.]

Well, it wasn't pleasant. And it began to make me think: what was I feeling guilty for?

[attractedtodarkness]

[that seems to be an unhealthy trend with people Violet's befriended]

You mean you don't know?

[that's very weird and the only other logical answer was that he has amnesia but it seems kinda crass to suggest that right now.]

[godly]

I-

[He looks at her, uncertain.]

I can't think of anything that warranted that kind of guilt. Maybe it's nothing; maybe their powers induced guilt no matter what you did in the past, even if you were completely innocent of any crimes.

But I don't know. He didn't know either. Does that change your perception of me?

[attractedtodarkness]

No. [it's said firmly. She has dated someone despite knowing about their murderous tendencies. It's not until she learned how deep that rabbit hole went that she broke up with him. It's going to take a lot more for her to change her impression of him]

There's nothing to change. It could just be little things that was amplified. You said that was the guy's power, right?

[godly]

Yes. But he didn't know the details of it. So any possibility is as valid as the next.

[he sighs for real this time. There's relief in knowing that Violet won't think any differently of his person now.

(If only she knew how far down that rabbit hole actually did go.)]

I think the worst part is not knowing. And now he feels bad about it, and...

[he just trails off. He feels a little bad about that too.]

[attractedtodarkness]

[It would be just like her to grow close to someone else with a dark past. She slows so she can walk next to him, watching his expression]

Don't over think it. It'll be okay. Even if it's not, you'll still be okay eventually.

[she's good at comforting]

[godly]

If it's not okay, that means I've got a lot of reevaluating to do about who I am and what I stand for.

[He scoffs a little dryly.]

But maybe you're right. I've been overthinking it too much.

[He just wishes he could shrug it off, but after everything he's been through back at home, seeing how many people died, fighting off suspicion, wanting to prove himself capable of catching Kira... its easier said than done.]

Sorry. I don't mean to be a downer. I'll get over it soon, I'm sure.

[attractedtodarkness]

[Violet doesn't really know what to say]

I hope so. Brooding's my thing. Not yours. [and she doesn't like to see him upset] Who's the other guy anyway?

[godly]

[He hesitates.]

I don't know how comfortable he would be with me telling this story, so--

[He should tell Violet, he decides right then. He's already divulged this much, and it would be remiss not to, after she's already offered her own support.]

Don't tell him I told you, but it was Edgeworth.

[attractedtodarkness]

[that surprises her into silence. She opens her mouth and closes it once before frowning]

Miles? I didn't know he- wow.

[she definitely thinks he's feeling very terrible about it]

[godly]

...Exactly. And you know how he is; he feels like he's to blame, which makes me feel a little guilty. I explained to him that it was an unfortunate accident, but an accident nonetheless. But of course he's just going to be stubborn about it.

[attractedtodarkness]

Of course he is. [that's one guy who's going to be hard to convince] At least he can't use his power on himself.

[godly]

[A nod.] I suppose there's nothing to be done about it for now.

["For now" being the key phrase. He has no doubt it'll come up for discussion again.]

Anyway, that's my tale for the weekend.

[attractedtodarkness]

Yeah. That's some eventful shit.

You sure you still want to go shopping with me? Is stress shopping a thing you do?

[she doesn't want to drag him out to something they both wouldn't enjoy]

[godly]

[He shakes his head.]

No, I want to. I think it's about time for new clothes for me anyway.

[More summer clothes for this weather would be preferable. She may be surprised when she sees his eye for clothes.]

Besides, the distraction is nice.

[attractedtodarkness]

Good.

[She keeps walking with a slight smile on her face. She picked the long way so it's going to be a few more minutes before they get to the nice looking store at the shopping district]

I found the place a few weeks ago. They have some nice summer styles in.

[godly]

[Light follows along at a brisk pace.]

Oh? Did you have something in mind you wanted to pick up?

[attractedtodarkness]

Yep. I want a new cardigan and a couple of tops. I'm getting tired of the ones I picked out before.

[when she was still on a tighter budget]

Maybe a dress if I have enough money left over.

[godly]

All right. I need a few more short-sleeve shirts for the summer heat, anyway.

And, ah -- thanks for listening, by the way.

[attractedtodarkness]

What are friends for? [says the teenager who's not good with friends. Her own words give her pause and she finds herself huffing in amusement]

You know, it's funny. I made more friends here than I ever did back home.

[godly]

You did mention that you were a... a ghost. Was it lonely? Or do you mean even before that?

[attractedtodarkness]

Even before that. I'm different from the other kids so they prefer to bully me. [she shrugs] I get into fights sometimes.

[godly]

Different how?

[Light can imagine, but he can't relate. He had always been pretty popular in school, but only because he carefully cultivated it. To be honest, most of the people around him bored him; he kept friends, but he never seemed to keep them close.]

[attractedtodarkness]

If I knew, I wouldn't be different. I just don't get along with others and I don't care enough to bother.

[godly]

...I can understand that.

To be honest with you, I got along well enough with my classmates. I'd like to think everyone liked my company; but I didn't feel close to any of them, either.