maskormenacelogs | ground sure don't like the way it's treated

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ground sure don't like the way it's treated

WHO: Lapis & Yuri
WHERE: Nonah
WHEN: March 7 (I guess)
WHAT: Lapis doesn't understand footwear, but at least she's getting some mileage out of her Christmas present..?
WARNINGS: None! Will edit if this changes.

[there isn't a lot that really captures Lapis' interest in the city of Nonah in any way that she's willing to admit to, but sometimes even she gets bitten by the urge to wander through the streets. it's easy to excuse the itch with practical tasks - learn the layout a little better, watch people go about their day a little more closely - and so it's with a quiet contentment that she threads her way through the crowded sidewalk.

this is currently familiar territory, which makes it easy for her to spontaneously decide to enter stores she's perused in the past. there's one about a block ahead that usually offers bafflingly human wares, more like a sort of living museum of how complicated the people of this planet could make their lives to someone like Lapis. it's been some time since she'd poked around, so maybe they'd have something new.

but first she needs to gear herself up. without any warning Lapis suddenly folds into a sitting position on the curb, legs stretched daintily before her while she remains steadfastly oblivious to the dirty looks being shot her way by fellow pedestrians. the gem on her back glows bright blue, and she reaches a hand inside it to pull out...ice skates?

no, those are definitely ice skates. and they are apparently exactly what she was looking for, because Lapis allows herself a small smile before setting about lacing them up with the methodical elegance of someone who's gotten a lot of practice at this in.

at least the blade guards are still on?]

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[Yuri has similarly become oblivious to the bitter stares his presence in public places can sometimes garner. Frequently remembered as the vigilante who had inflicted his unforgiving idea of justice upon not only his fellow imPorts, but also the citizens of this world, there are many who still revile him, many whom he is better off pretending do not exist. Life is simpler that way, infinitely quieter and, at least during the day, this allows for him to go about his business mostly undisturbed.

Such a reputation is a double-edged sword, of course. There are times when the haberdashery won't see a customer for a few days to a week, days during which staying open seems pointless. After all, people aren't in any kind of hurry to buy services or wares from a murderer, so he closes up shop early to partake in a little wandering of his own. Most days his excursions are uneventful apart from the errant bitter and resentful stares of those who recognize him, but they've become as common as cracks in the sidewalk and are just as easily overlooked. He's able to purchase groceries without feeling harassed. Has visited his favorite flower nursery to purchase new flowers for his home and place of work. And some days, like today, he's able to observe people, not unlike the gem, as they go about their day-to-day lives, ever vigilant for those who would err on the wrong side of the law.

Which leads, of course, to the benefits of being both feared and hated...benefits that may seem small but whose rewards are not unappreciated in the least.

For example, with just one look Yuri is able to effectively silence a young man on the verge of laying into Lapis for having stopped right in his path—a look that only softens after the stranger makes a hasty about face and crosses to the other side of the street, wanting to put as much distance as possible between the young-seeming alien girl, her shady defender, and him.]

Ms. Lazuli...you're looking well.

[Clearing his throat to alert her of his presence—and unwittingly hint at his amusement at witnessing the way she completes lacing up her ice skates, the very same pair he'd gotten her for Christmas and have no business at all being worn in busy downtown Nonah—Yuri comes to stand next to her upon the curb. For all his calmness, for the easy smile that rests upon his lips, one would never know anything had been amiss a moment ago.]

[Lapis certainly has no idea. she never bothered to scope out her surroundings when it came to that sort of thing - and why should she? it's not like she cared about any complaints that might be leveled her way.

the little cough keeps her from tensing up, and so when Lapis tilts her head upwards in search of the source of that familiar voice her expression is...not quite a smile, but definitely a pleasant sort of neutrality. she's happy to see him, in her own fashion, after all.]

I always look the same.

[not that it prevents her from completely failing to grasp the nuances of his greeting. oh well! she finishes off her second skate with a perky little bow before standing up again, rising...not much higher at his side than she'd been while sitting. oops.

she smooths out her skirt a little, just to be certain, before turning her attention over entirely to Yuri. there was no rush to be anywhere now that she'd donned her VIP pass, after all.]

But it's been a pretty nice day out.

[...well, that's as much of a "hello I'm glad we ran into each other" that anyone could reasonably expect from her.]

Of course.

[He acquiesces to keep from dampening her spirits, but the truth is, she's much happier seeming at present than he recalls her being when last their paths had crossed. Back then, when they'd both been standing atop water in the middle of a river, she'd seemed terribly far away and withdrawn. The change, though probably only superficial in nature, is welcome. A not-quite-smile compliments her rather well.]

The day is quite lovely, isn't it? In fact, I dare say it is a little too warm for what you have on your feet, though I'm pleased the skates I gave you appear to be getting some use, if not for what they were intended.

[not what they were intended? Lapis' brows crease gently as her gaze drops down to the skates on her feet, even though she already knows exactly what she's going to see. although she does her best to conceal the bafflement, it's pretty easy to pick it out from the way her answer completely misses the point.]

Sometimes people get upset if I go somewhere without shoes. [why, she'll never knows.] I was going to look around a store for a little bit.

[Unsurprisingly, Yuri takes to Lapis' explanation rather well, as though he completely understands why she resorted to wearing ice skates in order to do her shopping. And perhaps he does understand? A little. It's likely, after all, that Lapis Lazuli doesn't own many (or any?) pairs of shoes. Possible that the skates Yuri had given her were the first pieces of footwear she's ever received let alone owned.]

Store owners often require their customers to wear shoes for their own safety and for the purpose of maintaining cleanliness, and I suppose...ice skates with blade guards, while unconventional, still meet those requirements.

[But she might still receive some odd looks or questions, so Yuri adds...]

Perhaps, if you were intending to do some shopping, a shoe store might be the ideal place to begin looking around? I could accompany you if you like.

[Lapis considers this, although it doesn't take her very long to reach a conclusion. she'd only wanted to pop into the store to look around - so it didn't really matter what store she was looking at, really. and she's fairly certain that the act of doing it with someone else ranks higher on the "social outing" scale than just taking the sights in by herself.]

If you want to.

[well, she's still not quite at a place where she can accept an invitation without giving the other person more power over it. she straightens herself up a little and prepares to walk off before suddenly realizing-]

...which way is it?

[this is off to a fantastic start.]

I would not have offered if I thought your company undesirable.

[Which is not always a compliment coming from someone like Yuri, but at least in Lapis' case the judge's interest in her isn't based on a proclivity for criminal behavior. They are merely similar in their dislike for humanity, and even if their feelings spring from entirely separate places, they are still feelings that build a bridge, however narrow, for understanding between them.]

There are a number of shoe stores we could visit, but...

[Not seeming to mind at all that she is deferring to him in this, he gestures for Lapis to accompany him across the street.]

...I've a particular boutique in mind. It's this way.

[that's not always the case - in fact keeping company for a positive reason, whatever it may be, was almost foreign to Lapis. Homeworld had been about practicality, then of her use as a scout in rooting out the remaining traitors regardless of her thoughts. earth had been a nightmare.

to Lapis, even a small bridge is more space than she's used to. she nods quietly and sets after him without another word, head bobbing up and down at his side with each clunking step of the ice skates.

...well, it's probably too let to tell her to take those off anyway.]

[The aforementioned boutique isn't far from their current position and, despite Lapis being equipped only with a pair of skates upon her feet, the trek there is a relatively quick and uneventful one. The petite gem still draws the attention of a few perplexed passersby, but the hostility she'd been the recipient of earlier seems to have dissipated now that she's no longer blocking peoples' walkway. In fact, she and Yuri are permitted to wander uninterrupted up to the store's front entrance where, through a large window in which several different types of shoes for both men and women are displayed, Lapis' first glimpse of the store's interior can be had.

It seems a quiet shop with a few individuals shopping and a few less holding down the fort: a young woman with red librarian glasses helping people in the aisles; a young man with slicked back hair and a winsome smile at the cash register; and a much older woman flitting between various tasks, a tight bun atop her head through which a pen is stuck, and a clip board in hand.

Holding open the door, Yuri directs Lapis inside.]

After you.

[she lags a little bit, caught up in the storefront display with its dizzying (to an alien) array of goods. how many variations on foot coverings could one species really need? how many could they even come up with? it's a thought that lingers in her mind until she notices that Yuri's already at the door.]

Oh - thank you.

[she remembers her gratitude this time as she hustles through, not quite chagrined at having kept him a moment or two longer but still aware of the delay. uncertain of where to go next she allows her curious gaze to guide her blocky feet down one of the near aisles. if it's wrong he'll correct her.]

[The young woman (only a handful of inches taller than Lapis) with glaring red glasses greets them as they begin perusing one of the aisles, her smile bright, lips stained the same color as the steel frames surrounding her vibrant green eyes. She introduces herself as Stephanie and offers to help them find what they're looking for, but seeing as how Yuri isn't exactly sure Lapis knows what she wants, and he hasn't any idea himself what might suit her, he kindly dismisses the woman's help, promising that if they require anything she'll be the one whom they ask.

Afterwards, weaving around a bench for trying on shoes, Yuri catches up to the gem. They appear to be in an area with shoes a size or two too large for Lapis' feet, but many of the styles are the same throughout the store regardless of size, so Yuri sees no reason to correct her.]

Do you see anything yet that you like?

[she only tangentially notes the woman (Stephanie? human names were so odd) as she comes and goes, eyes instead trained on the shelves stretching up above and around her. it's easier to treat this like a paired mission than a casual outing - but it also means that she's focusing on on the racks with almost comical single-mindedness.

when Yuri finds her again her concentration is briefly broken, although perhaps that's for the best; it's not like she really knows what she's looking at here. there was a pair that had tentatively caught her eye, however, and so when the question is posed she pulls them off the shelf and presents them with a faintly triumphant smile.]

These look practical.

[Lapis.......]

[Lapis isn't wrong; the shoes she's pulled off the shelf are indeed practical. For someone who happens to be planning to go swimming, that is.]

They might suffice given that your primary concern is assuaging the shopkeepers concerned about hygiene, but... [And, delicately, Yuri plucks the shoes out of Lapis' hands and places them back where she'd gotten them.] They certainly do not compliment your appearance, Ms. Lazuli.

[With a smile and a nod towards the far end of the aisle, Yuri indicates a style that might be more appropriate.]

Now these are attractive and would look very nice paired with your usual style of dress.

[but Yuri, she's always on the verge of going swimming...

she lets him return the shoes to their proper spot on the shelf without protest, but there's definitely a sort of melancholy look cast the forlorn little box's way before she moves on to inspect his suggestion. Lapis really thought she'd gotten it right that time.

her tiny fingers slip around the other shoes, holding them uncertainly against her skirt as she attempts to figure out how these match any better than what she'd chosen for herself. they were both blue, weren't they? it's clear to see that she still hasn't quite grasped the difference even as she valiantly attempts to mask that.

that said, these shoes were...]

Do these lace up?

[she indicates the ribbons trailing off the back with a small flick, working just as valiantly to disguise her curiosity. this was such a silly thing to be interested (to be excited) in.]

[That's different! Sort of.

More importantly, there are more attractive footwear selections available that could accommodate both any shopkeepers Lapis might cross as well as her natural element. There's simply no reason whatsoever she should have to stick something so hideous on her dainty feet! Unless she wants to?

And Yuri really can't imagine why she'd want to, especially after seeing her reaction to the pair of shoes he'd pointed out.]

They do lace up.

[He's not amused by her excitement, but rather...finds it endearing. As someone who also appreciates a fine ribbon.]

You should try them on.

[oh. so she could make a bow at the back to match the one on her top. it was a very little thing, but thousands of years of nothing were excellent teacher in appreciating even the smallest pricks of light.

she nods quietly at the suggestion, already carefully folding herself onto a nearby bench which must ostensibly be for this very purpose. it wasn't like there were enough aisles for people to need some kind of break from the venture through them.]

Alright.

[it feels more than a little funny to have something on her that isn't an extension of her form. the ice skates were large enough that she could imagine them as an enhancer, albeit a clunkier one than even those available to gems back in her own dead time. several times in the process Lapis simply stops and wiggles her feet, frowning down at them in consternation.

but even this doesn't slow her down too much. she shifts her feet to fit into the shoes, unaware of the typical purpose of trying accessories like this on, and winds the ribbons up her tiny ankles with practiced ease. there's a small exhalation from her as she pulls the second bow out big and perfect, a kind of silent satisfaction.

that done, she stands...and can't help but wiggle her toes inside the shoes again. it was just so weird.]

[Yuri observes quietly as Lapis slips her feet into the shoes and winds the ribbons up her calves. As mesmerized as she appears to be, she no doubt misses the contented smile he wears as her toes wiggle, for this business of spending time with her has become something he enjoys. Doing such mundane things like skating and shopping hasn't become regular enough that he anticipates the excursions, of course, but it has become a sort of welcome interlude in his otherwise very orchestrated lifestyle—a break in patterns and thoughts that exhaust him in his endless pursuit of their accomplishment.

He almost envies her the freedom, but the knowledge that she is weighed down by her own burdens is a reality that cannot be ignored, and he doesn't envy her the difficulties that are in store as someone from another planet being stuck on one as rotting as this.]

They appear to be quite the charming fit.

[He extends his hand as if expecting her to lay her own in his.]

May I?

[there's a certain way that Lapis regards the outstretched hand, a rise and compression of her shoulders that hints at some weightier meaning tied up in the gesture. her lips tug into a gentle frown and her own fingers twitch at her side, unsure of what to do.

it's all in her head. Lapis knows this with absolute certainty - humans can't fuse, even if any of them had some vague inkling of what that was in the first place. to recoil from such a simple action, even in the form of brief hesitation, that was weakness. every second she was still motionless was allowing Jasper some small victory over her.

that was unacceptable. whether he actually wanted it there or not, Yuri will find a small blue hand resting in his now. she refuses to give Jasper a win even in her absence - and more importantly, she refused to assign that same level of fear to anyone she'd come to care for in this hell of a world.]

...yeah.

[Lapis' hesitation is met with the gentle clasping of her hand as she lays it to rest in his, and with his fingers curling around her much smaller palm...Yuri twirls her on the spot. Slow and deliberate so that he might examine the way she moves in the shoes on her feet, to see for himself if she displays any physical signs of discomfort...unrelated to whatever thoughts had zipped through her mind just now.]

You seem troubled.

[Of course he had noticed. How could he not?

And while it might have been more polite not to pry, Lapis wasn't exactly going to any great lengths to hide her suddenly somber demeanor.]

[she moves naturally, spinning in place with all the delicate precision of someone who has danced these steps many times before. her other arm arcs out in search of further guidance for the dance, willowy little body tilting onto one leg.

Lapis' mind may be unquiet, but she's committed to this communing. in some ways it's easier to speak like this than through her words - and she knows how to move even as she sifts through her own thoughts. it's something more than instinct now.]

It reminded me of something in my own world.

["it" she says, like Yuri will instantly know that she means his outstretched hand. it's an assumption that for once may actually have some basis in reality.]

Do you dislike dancing?

[It's rather too intimate for his liking, but until Lapis had seemed at war with herself over taking his hand, Yuri had believed that a brisk twirl couldn't be seen as anything other than harmless.

Why then, if he'd been wrong, had she taken his hand anyway? It's a curious question, and one he ponders as he watches her intently, his concentration unbroken even as Stephanie blinks at them from the end of the aisle before moving along again. What weird customers. Cute, but very, very weird.]

Or perhaps it's something else?

[He releases her hand after a moment, pleased with how well the shoes appear to fit her, but less so with the direction their conversation has wandered. Nevertheless, he finds himself wanting to know more, in particular if Lapis will share.]

[she brushes into a small curtsy upon release, the movement unfolding without any conscious thought. her mind is somewhere else, caught halfway between the instinct to plan the lines of synchronicity and the memory of the last hands to hold her like that. it's an unforeseen blessing to have something else to push her response back even for a moment.]

It's about control.

[tiny hands scurry across her skirt, spreading it out to a perfect smoothness once more. Lapis had already stumbled through explaining fusion once - it was difficult to get humans to understand, even more so without the ability (or desire) to simply show them. how, then, could she find the words to make Yuri see all the weight a simple outstretched hand held?]

It's...different, for gems. We can use dancing to do more than humans can.

[a decent start, at least. something she can build up with should her thoughts continue to serve her.]

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ground sure don't like the way it's treated

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