(closed for plotted threads)

[sasaeru]

WHO: Ulvida and her merrier friends.
WHERE: around the cities
WHEN: November --> December
WHAT: "didn't you just make a log" you may ask. why, yes, I did, but then I realized I had more than one log planned so there's a catch-all now.
WARNINGS: none! unless you want to avoid Ina11 spoilers.

[STARTERS IN COMMENTS; no open ones this month, sorry!]

Comments

@ ENDOU MAMORU

[sasaeru]

[Well this certainly is the last guy she expected to see. Also the last place and situation she expected to see him in. Ulvida is stopped in the middle of one bright, glittery, cinnamon-and-peppermint-scented store with a shopping basket hanging off of her elbow, other hand holding up an atrociously holiday-spirited knitted sweater. The basket has a box of candy canes in it, among other things, and it's obvious that she's here shopping for holidays.

Aliens can shop for holidays, too.

But her expression isn't festive. Upon seeing Endou her eyes widen in surprise and confusion, and she's at a loss for words. It shouldn't be surprising that they'll end up meeting up, being from the same world and all, but... she never anticipated meeting him without either Gran or Kidou Yuuto around.]

Endou... Mamoru.

What are you doing here?

[She doesn't immediately catch on to how silly that question may be.]

[heartofraimon]

[Endou himself had been studying a few boxed ornaments that were by a tree display, particularly something soccer ball shaped. Out of all the ornaments, it was the one he somehow sniffed out.

Hearing his name he turned to look at Ulvida. His face split into a wide smile as he waved at her.]

Yo, Ulvida. I'm just doing some shopping.

[His eyes fell to the basket of things and sweater she was holding.]

Looks like you are too. Did you come with Gran?

[sasaeru]

[Yo. Did he really just say yo? She's also thrown off by that bright smile of his. It's so friendly, and she feels her cheeks heat up in response because it's nice, to have people being friendly. So she drops the sweater in her basket to free her hand and waves back.]

No, it's just me today. I wanted to get something for--

[Something for him, but it feels a little embarrassing to say so she stops before she finishes the sentence, shaking her head and crossing the space between them to see what he's been looking at.]

Hiroto, [she says, because this is Endou Mamoru who had never called the boy by the alien name and she could never express how truly grateful for that she was, and because the store is crowded enough that nobody would over hear them,] is at work. I didn't think you were the type to shop early.

[heartofraimon]

[Oh right, he could say Hiroto's name normally around Ulvida couldn't he?]

Ahah, yeah, kind of. I did come to shop for them...but...

[Endou looked back at the ornament in his hands. Truthfully he keeps getting distracted by all the bright cheerful everything. Now there's a bunch of decorations he really wants for his home. This place was a trap for people like him. The struggle was real.]

There's just so much stuff and it's so much fun to just look at it all. There's a bunch of decorations I want for my tree now, but I don't think it's big enough to hold them all.

[There was no way he was going to get out of here without buying something. He could feel it.]

[sasaeru]

[Endou Mamoru talking about something other than soccer. It's intriguing, and she watches him as he talks, watching where he looks and how he moves, genuinely curious about how he is as a person now that she has an opportunity to see him as something more than just the leader of the thunderstorm that was Raimon.

Endou Mamoru is... surprisingly similar to her siblings, and that thought makes all this easier.

So there's a ghost of a smile on her face as she leans in and looks at the ornaments again -- of course they're soccer -- and taps the surface of the box with her finger.]

I don't see how any could be more perfect for you than these.

[heartofraimon]

You think so?

[He looks back at the ornament again and tilts it from side to side, examining it. After a moment of deliberation he looks up at Ulvida and grins.]

I just thought it looked cool.

[The simple things right?]

Hey Ulvida, since you're looking for thing for Hiroto, did you want shop together?

[sasaeru]

What?

[Endou's invitation gets him wide-eyes surprise. With how cautious Kidou Yuuto usually is about her, she sort of expected the same from him. But... no, this was Endou, wasn't it?

Hiroto was her sun, but Endou was just as warm as one.]

... Sure. Do you need to find presents?

@ WENDY CORDUROY

[sasaeru]

[Today, on her birthday, Ulvida is expecting... nothing. While she certainly didn't forget, she also didn't give it much thought either. Maybe Hiroto will wish her a happy birthday, but she wouldn't mind it even if he didn't. It was just nice being able to be in the sun on the day, not being in Aliea's cold base.

Still, once Hiroto's off at school and all chores are done, Reina carries herself to the Lucky Cat Café to seek out some sweets. She'll treat herself, she tells herself with no small amount of determination. That was difficult for her to do -- things for herself. Today, she'll buy a slice of cake and some tea, and she'll sit at her favorite café, and if she's lucky, she'll have Wendy to talk to. Maybe Maya will be there.

On the morning of November 29, Wendy will be able to find Ulvida sitting at one of the counter seats at the café, a steaming cup of tea in front of her as she nibbles daintily at the slice of cake in front of her. It's not unusual for her to have some tea and get pastries to take home to Gran... but it'll be a first that she buys herself cake, and to eat in at that.]

[hardcorduroy]

(wendy usually tries to keep tabs on her regulars. remember the orders, have 'em set up as soon as they walk in the door. it helps get the line moving quicker and helps give a positive spin on her business skills. she can handle the front of the house no problem by this point.

after the morning rush dies down, wendy wanders into the lobby of the cafe to clean up the usual messes. an abandoned mug, a few bags and wrappers left over, half eaten pastries on the floor from someone's unruly screaming child. it's all taken care of in a matter of minutes, though wendy hesitates on going back when she notices ulvida. while her presence isn't odd in the slightest, the culinary delights in front of her are.

with a little skip in her step to avoid incoming customers, she walks over to ulvida's table with a grin, hair neatly tucked out of her face for once.) Hey, Vida. What up?

[sasaeru]

Wendy.

[She's gotten used to the redhaired girl's presence. Welcomed it and sought it out, in fact, and viewed it as company. It really didn't take long for it to happen; she tried to tell herself it's because she's used to adapting, but as she feels herself sitting straighter, more alert but not alarmed by Wendy's appearance, she knows in her heart that it's because she likes her being there.

That's a scary thought, but not one she'll reject right away. She watches until she's close enough to talk, blue eyes never leaving her.]

Gran's at school. It's the same as usual... I came here to have something to eat.

[hardcorduroy]

(if wendy ever had any inclination that her company wasn't welcome in ulvida's presence, she'd either back off... or get gran to help her make friends with ulvida. the latter would be far more likely to happen.

she simply glances from the cake and back to ulvida, tilting her head a little curiously. the school thing, that's normal. visiting, also normal. what's not normal...) I don't think I've ever seen you have cake this early.

(a short pause.) Or ever, unless I gave it to you.

[sasaeru]

[At the comment, Ulvida drops her eyes to the aforementioned cake in front of her feeling almost surprised. Not at what Wendy's pointing out in particular -- she knew that ordering this case today was a very conscious choice -- but at the fact that Wendy noticed it. She has never experienced someone noticing something like this so keenly.


But now that means she has to actually explain this.

She decides to just pick up the work again.]

I just felt like it today. There's... there's nothing special to it.

[hardcorduroy]

(wendy makes a special point of being able to have customers' orders ready in the shortest amount of time possible. especially anyone during the morning. so if this cake thing is going to be the norm? she'll add it to ulvida's (discounted) order.

and while wendy may doubt the truth behind the cake not being anything special, she's also not one to press on matters. she won't stick her nose into it, not unless ulvida decides to tell her.) I'm glad you decided to treat yourself. You deserve it once in a while, y'know?

@ KIYAMA HIROTO

[sasaeru]

[It's not unusual for the two of them to call each other out to meet, so she doesn't question it when Hiroto does it today in particular. She's a little flustered from earlier in the day; Wendy found out what day it was and she got dragged around in the morning. It was... nice. It was fun. And not anything she expected from someone outside of Aliea, or even most people in Aliea. It was only Fumiko who talked to the others on Genesis on their birthdays every year.

She remembered Hiroto's birthday, and she's sure Hiroto remembers hers, too. But when he calls her out tonight, that's not what she's expecting. She says "okay" and gets ready and sets out without wasting time, making her way to the porter at a slight jog with her hair tied back in a tail. It bounces behind her as she trots up to Hiroto at their meeting place, bright blue eyes open wide with curiosity when she slows down to a stop next to him.]

Did you wait long?

[starlinings]

[It was a simple request. "Meet me at the Porter, I want to show you something." Vague enough for her not to suspect a thing, and yet just enough to grab her attention. Ever since his birthday, and maybe even before that, he'd marked today off on his calendar just for her. He's planned this ever since he knew she'd be here for an extended period of time. The only question that remained on what to give her.

It'd taken some time, but if his own birthday was anything to go by, then he knew just what it was.

He's at the Porter when she arrives, bag slung over his shoulder and hair combed as neatly as he could a small part of it brushed out of his eyes. His outfit is...much better than his usual ones, although colour theory still seems lost on the boy. But the most impressive part is his expression, which seems to be more confident than usual.

He wanted to give her a day she wouldn't regret. And for that...]

Mmnn. You're just on time.

We'll be going to Heropa.

[sasaeru]

[He could have told her to come to the Porter without any explanation and she would have come, too. That was in a way the power he had over her, how easily she would follow him wherever he called her, however he called her. If it was his request, there's no way she would turn it down.

Her expression only turns into one of confusion when she realizes that his hair is neater than usual. It's not like how it used to be when he'd flatten down those curls at the end, but it's brushed out of his eyes, his clothes are different, a sort of attention she wasn't used to him paying attention to his appearance, and the hair out of his face draws attention to his expression even more. Confidence. A calm moment in the rich sea of emotions he glided through these days.

It makes her heart skip a beat. She tilts his her head curiously.]

Heropa? What is in Heropa?

[She's going to follow, without a doubt. But now she's thinking? What is in Heropa?

...

... ...

... Endou?]

[starlinings]

[His smile reveals no secrets, a glow upon his face that could rival the sun. He doesn't expect her to be this clueless, really, but then again, it's nothing compared to his own surprise at his birthday plans. Reina's innocent curiosity was far more justified--she was often overshadowed at Sun Garden, and gifts weren't exactly lavished on her like Kira had done for Hiroto.

But he always remembered, and this year, like his, it was going to be just for her.

His hands finally reveal themselves from behind his back, holding a small little bouquet of Forget-Me-Nots, the same colour shade as her hair.]

We'll just have to find out, won't we.

[A hand goes to take hers, offering the flowers out with the other.]

The stars wait for no one but us, after all.

[sasaeru]

[It's like those flowers are a source of light. They brighten her face as he presents them to her, previous confusion washing away immediately. The flowers are small and delicate, the petals tickling her fingers as she takes the bouquet from his hands, and she stands there as he speaks the rest of his words at a loss for her own.

When was the last time somebody gave her flowers? Was it when they were children, when Hiroto would find spring blossoms in the garden? Was it Fumiko who loved making flower crowns? But a bouquet... this might be her first one.

She doesn't hesitate to take his hand, her hand just as warm as her cheeks feel.]

Then lead the way. To where the stars are waiting.

[starlinings]

[He'd been so nervous about the flowers. He knew Reina liked them from years gone by, but there were so many, and the florist had said something about flower language. He didn't quite understand it all, and the booklet with all the intricate meanings often blurred everything into one giant wall of text.

But after a description of what the girl meant to him, the florist had said these were the one, and that no matter what the flower language said, she would absolutely adore them.


She was right.


Their walk into the Porter takes them to Heropa, the warm breeze a welcoming feeling compared to the nipping cold of of up North. Hiroto certainly doesn't mind, his eyes closing as he smells the sweet sea air. His hand might be tugging hers a little more urgently than she's used to, but rest assured it's out of sheer excitement as they aim for the boardwalk. With the amber glow of the sun setting over the horizon, they should make it just as darkness starts to creep in, the streetlights already flickering on as they walk past.]

Just a little further...

@ AGENT TEXAS

[sasaeru]

[One would think that, being the cool-headed vice captain of a team of invading aliens, Ulvida is someone who does not back down or get intimidated by anything. And truly, back in her world, there was very little that could shake her up. Upset, true, but there was nothing scary about Endou and his team or the adults she dealt with on a daily basis. But the fact is that, especially thrown into this new, unfamiliar, and much larger world full of dangers and strangers, she's always skittish.

Her sister and father were warm presences in her childhood, but the general rule was that children had to behave or else they'd get scolded. She worked very hard not to get scolded, and some of those old habits creep back out. She noticed that to be polite, people in America held open doors for each other.

So today, when she sees an adult reaching for the door of the Lucky Cat Café at the same time as her -- or nearly, because even her shorter arms will reach for that handle first -- she acts fast. Not to run away or push past the woman, but to grab the handle and hurriedly yank the door open, stepping out of her way and standing up straight to hold the door for her. Because that's the proper way.]

... You can go in first, [she remembers to say.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ Venturing to the Lucky Cat has become a tradition even in Cass' absence. Too many of those she knows end up there at some point or another never mind the two employers she has that tend the counters. Coming here, buying a coffee, and occasionally hanging around had become a good way to keep a pulse on imPort gossip straight from their own mouths.

When she parks, she's on autopilot as she heads for the door, her helmet still on. It's when the hand darts in front of her to open the door that Tex pays the young woman more attention. Someone familiar, at least in passing although Tex can't recall a name to put to a face. An employee? It would explain the woman's urge to beat Tex to the door handle.

She pauses after she steps inside to stare back at the other woman. ]

You work the door here?

[sasaeru]

[Belatedly, she realizes she might be rude. She knows her demeanor is more surprised than simply polite. She's still trying to school her expression to go back to its neutral state; right now, her eyes are wide, her eyebrows high up on her forehead, and her lips pressed together. Her raised eyebrows knit together before she can fix her face, though, this time out of confusion.

She can't read the expression of the woman behind her helmet, but she can still hear her voice. At least she can understand her, and she doesn't sound too angry. She's still on edge though.]

Do I--? [what does that even mean] I don't. I only come here as a customer -- is that a position that they hire for?

[failureisntachoice]

[ The girl almost looks like a deer in headlights. Tex could remove her helmet and make it easier on her, but a little harmless fun of keeping someone guessing never hurt.

She keeps her tone even as she replies, ] I don't know, you'd have to ask the person in charge. Some places do. You know you don't have to rush the door to get it first, right?

[sasaeru]

[As far as Ulvida is aware, this woman in front of her -- if it's even a woman -- is a literal cyborg. Better-made than the soccer robots that guarded Aliea, better-made than the training program that was set up for Epsilon. A robot. A computer. But a really smart one; those appeared in books and movies she heard about when she was younger.

She frowns a little. In order to defend herself from her own nervousness, she turns to her usual tactic: amping up the Aliea.]

On Earth some say it's rude to push past another just to get through doorways first. That it's an act of politeness to hold the door for others. Wendy Corduroy has not mentioned such an occupation.

[failureisntachoice]

And it's not rude to hurry to the door to get there first? [ Throwing it out there though she's unconcerned. How old could this kid even be? Ther's something more important that's caught her attention. ]

Earth? So this isn't the only planet you've been to?