| ~Hakurei Shrine~ > Patchouli's Scarlet Library |
| [Nanowrimo] Weave the Stars |
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| nintendonut888:
Damn hippies. I was considering just leaving the post there, but that was an interesting chapter. I always love the detail you put into your character's backstories and the nerdy amount of history you insert into your writing. It's fun to see Mari happy, and my only worry is that her creator may soon yank her chain. Spoiler: Maybe with some possibly insane method actors...?! |
| Alfred F. Jones:
No, I really am continuing with this, I promise. I've just been busy volunteering my otherwise NEET time at my local elementary school. This chapter was very fun to write. Some theories will be dashed, others affirmed, and yet others left waiting! Chapter Nine It was afternoon in Mari's apartment, and the young woman lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, slowly peeling off the last bandage she had had to put on her fingers. It was really strange to her to just not do anything all day. Especially coming off a week where she had worked so hard without breaks or stopping. But so it was. But she had been a responsible adult already and she was still reaping the benefits, so there really was not a whole lot to do. She had been told not to worry about the remaining characters: Yuugen Magan, Kikuri, Sariel's second form, and Shingyoku's orb form. She had put finishing touches on all the other outfits she had sewn, since she had done them so quickly that she didn't get to put on as many flourishes as she had wanted. Now she had, and they looked perfect. So that was work. She had also gone shopping for everything she needed in terms of food and apartment maintenance. Then she had cleaned and vacuumed and swept her apartment, and swept up all the bread crumbs the birds in her windowsill always left. She was now running somewhat low on money, which worried her to an extent. She had been eating into her savings this entire time, after all. She had worked very hard back in Lima to get ready for this trip for over a year and a half, tailoring and sewing and resizing everything for as many people as she could reach, and had come to Japan with a surprisingly hefty nest egg. But now... well, she was not scraping the bottom of the barrel just yet, but she'd have to restrict her spending money more than usual. Her rent was still a-okay, but she'd just have to be more careful from now on. Maybe she could get a job here teaching people how to sew, or repairing clothes on the fly... Since Akihiko was working today, she also didn't have a good conversation partner. She was fairly certain she could at least spend her day going to the library, and that she would be fine walking that far on her own, but she honestly felt kind of uninterested in doing much today. What she had done, though, was write her response letter to Isabel. Next to her sister, her words were not nearly as flowery, but she hoped she had done a good enough job. Dear Isabel, I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am glad to hear you are enjoying your time at college, annoying econ majors aside. Every time you write to me, I swear I hear something new and interesting about your life there. Hearing about your workload, though, makes me happy that I only ever bothered with an associate's degree and not a bachelor's, and you're going for your master's. My homework load was never nearly as bad as yours seems to be. That said, I can read between the lines of what you wrote and you're overworking yourself again, aren't you? Seriously, you need to relax more. Please try to get six hours of sleep on average, for my sake if not for your own. I want to make sure my sister does not sleep through her classes or gets drowsy while walking through crowded intersections. And yes, I remember the cave paintings up in Altamira you talked to me about. Prehistoric cave paintings... you know history isn't my thing if it doesn't involve fashionable clothing, but that does sound sort of interesting, I guess... I hope you thoroughly enjoy yourself there up in Cantabria, though. :) I have been reading all the books you sent me, but, yes, you have it. I tend to think it's more of a body chemistry issue than anything, so I have been keeping a good diet for the most part. Your books really have helped, though! I have been trying to slowly change the way I think about my anxiety, and the books you've sent me have given me a lot of good tips in that regard. It really helps that I have finally made a friend here. Mari smiled while writing the next bit. Have I told you about him yet? No, I haven't! So let me tell you about him right now. His name is Akihiko Habara (and that name is in given name, family name order, so his last name is Habara) and he is a med student, but right now he is working in the post office. I ran into him when I was in a really bad situation, and he helped me out. He is very kind, and I think you would like him if you met him. He has helped me get out of my apartment and go grocery shopping and to the pharmacy and to the crafts store. Oh! Speaking of the crafts store... yes, that theatre thing seems to have worked out quite well! I went to the crafts store about a week ago to buy up a bunch of fabric for sewing costumes for his play together. Do not worry, I didn't spend any of my own money; he sent me all the money I would need for it beforehand, and it worked out just fine. The only thing I have really had to spend is my time. I really hope everything on their side works out, because as I understand it, I am going to get paid as a percentage based on the total income from the play, so I hope plenty of people come. Oh, and in response to your question, he is the producer, manager, and playwright for a newly formed group, the Shanghai Alice Theatre Company. I know you said you could probably look him up online, but since it is a new group, I'm not sure you'll find much... Anyway, even if it does not work out in the end for whatever reason, I had a lot of fun. As for coming home for the summer months... Mari had had to pause while writing this line, and laid down on her bed to think for a while before returning to her desk to write the rest of the sentence. ... I'm still not sure. I strongly doubt it, though. If this doesn't work out in the end, then I think I would at least like to spend the summer here, burning through the rest of my previously paid rent before going back to Lima, and I don't want to bother with spending money on a plane ticket to come home for two weeks, come back here, and then return home for good after a month. I still have two months of rent, after all. So yeah, definitely go have fun in France with your friends for the summer! And take lots of photos. And bring me a souvenir from there. France is the fashion capital of the world, so I am actually sort of envious of you going there, hahaha. I finally was able to get a library card when I visited the library here with my friend Akihiko, so hopefully I will be able to get myself an email address of some sort. I have never had one before, so no guarantees... but I will try, so you can email me things! And, uh, sorry I say sorry so often. Um... sorry. (Maybe I should just stop here.) (Sorry.) Thank you for thinking about me. I have definitely been thinking of you too. If this theatre thing does not work out in the end and I do not find another job before my prepaid rent ends, I might not even be all that sad because at least I will be able to come home to Peru, and you can visit home at the end of the year. :) I can't wait to see you again. I miss you very much. Love, your sister, Mari Satisfied with that letter, she wrote a truncated version of the same letter to her parents, and for once she was able to leave in the anxiety related portions of it, because it was in the context of them finally easing a little. She did mention getting the valerian root, to further reassure them, though it was now too late to add that sentence to her letter to Isabel. (In the end, however, she went back and added it in as a postscript. Isabel deserved to know, so she could feel less worried about her sister.) She left in Akihiko, as well. She worried that her parents would think of their relationship as romantic somehow and then start encouraging her to go out with him, so she emphasized the platonic nature of their friendship a bit more than in her letter to Isabel. She was not interested in romance, not ever, and neither was Isabel at the moment, and she figured her sister would understand anyway. She also made sure to mention that she was going to try and get a psychiatrist's appointment soon, to get a diagnosis or to show them her preexisting diagnosis of agoraphobia and get a prescription so she could get it from the pharmacy. Just in case. Though, because she had spent so much time indoors as of late, she didn't feel especially stressed out. But she did have to be careful, because what if she had to leave the safety of her solitary apartment for something in a crowded area and Akihiko was not available to provide support? Yes, better to get the medication and have it around and not use it than to not have it and desperately need it. She also told them that she wouldn't be coming home for the summer, because she would be spending that here, enjoying what would potentially be her last months in Japan. Now doubly satisfied, she folded and sealed both letters into envelopes that already had addresses written on them. She would try to walk them to the post office tomorrow. She felt a faint shiver go up her back at the prospect of going out to that place again, since the last time she had gone... No, no, she was not going to let her mind fixate on the idea that she would just have another panic attack if she went. She had read about this in the self-help books. She had to change how she thought of her agoraphobia and anxiety to overcome it. Indeed, she had to believe it could be dealt with and overcome in the first place. And she was determined to do it. Just then, though, she heard a sound that she hadn't heard in a while, and was not expecting at all. The buzzer for her apartment number. Mari actually stared in stunned silence for a moment after the first buzz, unmoving. Then the anxiety tickled her spine and she swallowed hard. She hadn't ordered any pizza today, so why... She waited until the third buzz to work up the nerve to press the button. ?H-hello?? Her voice was shaky. How embarrassing, to think of yourself as finally confidently moving past your issues and then have a reminder that she was still a pathetic anxious mess of a human being delivered to her front doorstep... ?Yo! Sis, you gonna let me in?? ?S-sis?? Who in the world was this? That was not Isabel's voice... ?Eh? Who are you and are you sure you have the right apartment number?? ?Apartment 49? Saihoshi Mari-san?? ?Y-yes, that is... that's me. Do I know you?? At least now she was more confused than afraid. ?Eh, I thought you knew I was coming? I was sent here by, uh... the head priest.? Head priest? Mari didn't know any.... oh! ?Oh, you are the... t-the person who said-- who the kannushi said--? She stammered, fell over her words before stopping for a moment to untangle her tongue. ?Y-yeah, you've got the right place! Come on up.? She hit the button to admit someone up through the front door. Mari looked around at her room. It was not especially dirty, and looked presentable already. She did throw away the banana peel from the banana she had been eating earlier, and threw her dirty dishes into the sink. She would get around to them later, but right now she just wanted to get them out of the way so her visitor wouldn't see them. She was straightening out the covers on her bed (slightly wrinkled by her lying and sitting on it) when she heard a knock on her door. Right, this was the person the kannushi had told her would be coming by. One of the actresses from the Shanghai Alice theatre troupe, sent to pick up the outfits she had made. She peered through the small peep hole in the door to see who it was. The person was turned away, but she had.... huh. Long red hair, braided, under a black newsboy cap? How very Anne of Green Gables... Mari opened the door. ?Good afternoon.? The person turned around to see her, and then raised a hand in greeting. ?Yo!? She was somewhat taken aback by the person's... demeanor. The person's hair colour. Oh, forget it. She was taken aback by the person's everything. Speaking of... she looked down. She recognized that outfit. ?H-hello. Are you here for the costumes?? she forced herself to ask before she could fixate on the dress that person was wearing. ?Sure am, sis!? The actress held out a hand. Mari looked down at it, and noticed how long the woman's fingernails were. And how... sharp. ?Kaenbyou Rin's my name,? the woman with long braided red hair and nails that looked like claws said with a smile. ?Saihoshi Mari,? she introduced herself. ?Please, come right on in.? She opened the door a bit more, to accommodate her guest walking in past her. |
| Alfred F. Jones:
?Thank you, thank you-- whoa there!? The woman, Rin, had been nodding with approval as she walked in past Mari, but then she had turned to her left and seen the half of Mari's apartment where the mannequins were standing. ?Those are the costumes, yes,? Mari said behind Rin, smiling and feeling somewhat proud of herself for surprising her guest like this. ?Five out of seven of them, in any event.? ?They're fantastic!? Rin said, moving forward. She reached out and touched the silvery wing insignia on the front of Sariel's robe. ?You made these all yourself?? ?In one week, yes,? Mari replied, relishing how amazed Rin's facial expression looked while looking the mannequins up and down. ?And that's not the only thing I've made.? ?Hm?? Rin turned her head to look at her. ?What else did you make?? Mari nodded towards her. ?That dress is one of mine, isn't it?? ?What should I do with the bag of clothes? I guess I can't send that by the regular post.? She froze, remembering. ?O-oh....? ?Would you like to come by and pick them up?? Her arms started to feel cold again. ?N-nnn....? Her apartment suddenly started to feel less cozy, more empty. ?Or could I hold on to them for a bit longer? I hope you don't mind, but I did look around in the bag before I found your card, and I found a few really cute clothes in there I was thinking I would love to use for some performances-- not this one, but maybe later.? ?Y-yes!? She sat up in her chair. ?That sounds excellent, kannushi-san. Please feel free.? Rin blinked, then tugged at her dress. ?You made this?? ?Sure did. About two weeks ago, I lost a bag of sample clothes I had brought with me to an idol agency to try and get them to sign me on as one of their designers. The... the head priest found it, and I asked him to hold on to it for me, and he said that he would love to use some of the clothes he found in there for other performances.? Mari smiled. ?I'm glad it suits your look.? That was evidently the right thing to say, because Rin immediately turned on her excited mode. ?You made this? Thank you so much! I had been looking for something to wear that was stylish and kind of on the dark side, elegant enough to blend into more serious situations, and I couldn't find anything until I found this dress at the... at the set! Thank you!? Mari was somewhat surprised by how pleased Rin looked, but inside she was bubbling with happiness at being praised. She concealed the blush on her cheeks by glancing to the side. ?But your cute look is not just me. Your accessories work great too. Like the black ribbons on your braids.? Rin tugged at her long red braids. ?I tried to get ribbons that would suit the look...? Mari peered closer. It looked like there were little skulls on the ribbons, in the center. She was a little surprised at how this girl had taken her dark green dress and turned it into... some kind of gothic lolita style, even if she hadn't gone all out with ribbons and frills. She had given it a very macabre look, and while she was mildly creeped out by it, she was definitely appreciative of the creativity involved. Still, she couldn't help but be curious. What was the point of the long nails? And the fangs that showed whenever Rin smiled. Were those fake Dracula-style fangs? Her hair was red, but Rin didn't look like she was anything but Japanese, nor did her words falter like Mari's occasionally did. Dyed, probably. And the almost cat-like pupils? Contacts. She was definitely impressed by the commitment to her look. Then again, they were all method actresses, were not they? Still, it was somewhat offputting to be in the same room like this with someone who had such a serious dedication to her craft that she wore it in strangers' homes. Mari had drifted off. Bringing her attention back to the present, she found Rin standing at her windowsill, observing the birds who seemed to be completely lacking in fear. Indeed, the magpies and crows just cooed at her. ?You feed the birds?? Rin asked, turning her head towards Mari. ?Y-yes, I do,? she replied, scratching her head. ?How could you tell?? ?There are bread crumbs everywhere. You bring them bread, then.? Mari nodded again. ?I do. They are... sort of my cheerleading squad, ahahaha. So I return the favour by bringing them nice things to eat.? Rin nodded, a smirk on her face. Mari turned red again, feeling embarrassment and anxiety like butterflies in her stomach. ?I-is that weird? Or...? ?No, no, not at all! In fact, I approve.? Rin even reached out and touched one of the birds, a crow, and patted its back. ?Anyone who's a friend of crows is a friend of mine.? ?O-oh.? Mari flushed with embarrassment, but the good kind, this time. ?Truth be told, I like magpies just a tiny bit more than crows, but I love crows a lot. They like to cheer me on.? Rin smiled. ?All right, I guess I'll be taking the costumes to the, er, theatre now,? she said, walking back towards the mannequins. ?Indeed. I can't take them myself, so...? Mari trailed off. The redhead turned to look at her. ?Why? Oh, is it because the theatre is kinda far? I can understand that.? ?That, and, well.? Mari looked down. ?I, er... do... badly in crowds.? She held her hands together in front of her. She paused before continuing. ?I hope I didn't inconvenience you too much by having the kannushi send you out here...? ?Naw, that's fine,? Rin replied in her oddly casual style. ?I was going to be in the area anyway. I had some other stuff t' pick up. No worries.? ?That is a relief,? Mari said, releasing a breath. ?I really wanted to bring them to the theatre myself, because I wanted to make sure everything fit absolutely perfectly. But I... I can't do that.? She held her left arm with her right, sighing. ?But I am glad you came. Do make sure to tell me if I need to make any adjustments or refitting with the outfits, as well. It's not like I've seen the, er... characters who will be wearing these.? She very nearly said ?actresses?, but then she thought it would be insulting their commitment to suggest that they were not quite the characters they were supposed to be portraying. For that matter, she didn't know what character Rin was, exactly. There was no one like her in the description for The Highly Responsive to Prayers, so... was she from another play they were putting on at the theatre, perhaps? Yeah, that made sense. Rin seemed to be thinking. ?Adjustments?? she asked after a moment. ?Yeah. Just in case the act-- er... Sariel is too tall for the robes I made for her, or if Reimu is more heavy set than I expected, or something like that. I want everything to fit perfectly, but I won't be able to actually go and see in person, so I'm relying on the kannushi to tell me if I need to change anything.? The red-haired girl fiddled with her fingers. ?Is that... only for these costumes here?? Mari got the strangest feeling that she knew what Rin was getting at. ?No. In fact, since I sewed that dress, I'd be glad to help you adjust that one.? She smiled when Rin jerked her head up in surprise. ?There's something wrong with it, isn't there?? ?Y-yeah...? Rin played with the bell on the front of the dress collar. Mari blinked. She hadn't even noticed the bell, on a red ribbon she had tied around the neck. It was like a bell that you'd put on a cat to hear it coming. ?It's a bit too tight.? ?Tight where? Around the waist, or hips, or arms?? Mari was actually totally fine with the prospect of adjusting a dress that she was getting good free publicity with. They were costumes after all. She would, however, have to bring it up later to the kannushi, that she would have to be compensated for the use of her other outfits in the bag that he rescued that day. ?Around the... bust.? Rin scratched her cheek. Mari laughed. ?All right then, I would certainly be willing to adjust in that case. Do you want to adjust it now, or would you like to wait until later? I can adjust it now, if you want, but you would have to give me about a half hour to do so.? Rin was already nodding when Mari continued. ?And you would have to take the dress off.? The red-haired young woman blushed a little. ?I don't mind that, but can I have something else to wear in the meanwhile? It's kind of cold in here.? ?Certainly. And it's, like, 18 degrees celsius in here, how is that cold?? Rin shrugged. ?I guess I'm used to somewhat warmer temperatures.? Huh. Was Rin from a tropical country? Or maybe she was from the south of Japan. Anyway, she nodded towards her bathroom. ?You're welcome to any of my clothes in my closet if you want, but if you want to be nice and warm, you can always take my bathrobe that's hanging in the bathroom. I never actually use it, so it should be clean.? ?That's fine,? Rin said, adjusting her cap. ?Hold on a moment, then.? Mari wondered why she was wearing it indoors, as Rin walked over to her bathroom and closed the door. After about a minute, the red-haired woman inside opened the door a crack. ?Here you go.? She held out the black-green dress she had been wearing. Mari took it from her hand and the door closed again. A few seconds later, Rin emerged in a light pink bath robe, tying it together at the waist. ?So you said it was too tight around the bust?? Mari asked as she took the dress over to her bed. She slung it over her shoulder as she knelt and pulled out her sewing box from beneath the bed. ?Yeah. Not by much, mind, but enough to be somewhat uncomfortable,? Rin replied. ?How loose do you want it?? ?Not very much. Like, enough to accommodate someone who's a bit, er...? The red-haired girl coughed. ?Bigger, up here. But still kinda tight.? Mari sighed. ?Kaenbyou-san, I apologize if I sound a bit harsh...? ?Eh?? Rin asked, blinking at her as Mari turned around with a large sewing needle in her hand. ?But I refuse to be embarrassed about a person's sizes if they have come to me for help. Please, tell me honestly, what is your bust size and how wide do you want me to make the adjustments?? Internally, Mari sighed. This always happened. Why did people get so flustered about their own bodies and measurements? She would never understand this. The redhead stammered, looking down. ?I-I, um....? Mari could be patient. The needle was really just for show, after all. ?I, er.... don't.... know my bust size?? Her face was scarlet. Mari, on the other hand, just blinked. ?Oh. Well, it's a little unusual, but I guess there's nothing wrong with that, inherently.? ?Eh?? Rin looked up to meet her gaze. ?I do occasionally run into clients who are not completely sure of all their sizes. Taking new measurements isn't especially hard, however.? Mari put the needle back into a random spool of black thread, and pulled a measuring tape out of her sewing basket instead. ?May I?? ?Ah, yeah... I guess.? Rin shrugged the bathrobe off her shoulders, wearing only a black brassiere underneath. ?Please don't be shy. This is my job, after all,? Mari said, pulling the tape out. ?I've done this many times before.? Rin nodded as Mari wound the tape around her torso. ?Still, it's kind of embarrassing, to be down to lingerie in a stranger's apartment.? Mari shrugged. ?If I had a proper shop and had a sign outside the door saying 'tailoring and refitting available, walk-ins accepted', would that make you feel better? It's not a big difference.? She held the end of the tape close to Rin's side. ?Is that comfortable? Too tight, or too loose?? ?It's fine,? Rin replied. ?I think I'd like the dress to be just a bit looser than that.? Mari released the measuring tape. ?All right, I can do that. I'll just have to use some black cloth under the armpits to hide the adjustments... since I don't have the original fabric I made that from anymore.? Rin nodded. ?Understandable. Um... can I put the bathrobe back on, sis?? ?Of course.? Mari was already working out in her head where she would have to pull the fabric forward a bit, and what seams to undo. Thankfully, the dress was dark, so the black would be unnoticeable. ?Also, if you like, you can go ahead and start folding up the costumes I made. I need one of the mannequins so I can fix your dress, anyway.? ?Ah! Yeah, I'll do that,? Rin said, moving behind female form Shingyoku's costume and unbuttoning it from the back. ?You can also take off your black hat if you like,? Mari commented. It did seem a little weird to see her wearing that along with a bathrobe. ?Nah, it's fine.? Rin moved her hand up, adjusting it on her head. ?I like this hat.? Mari shrugged. Rin returned her attention to unbuttoning female form Shingyoku's costume down the back, then pulled it off the mannequin. ?Huh, it's lighter than I expected.? ?Yeah. It's designed in the style of kabuki theatre, so it's easy to pull right off and reveal the next costume underneath.? Mari smiled, pulling at one of the many small knots along the sides. ?See? They come right undone.? ?Wow!? Rin exclaimed. ?That's really neat, sis!? Mari blushed a little, feeling happy butterflies in her stomach. She loved it when other people noticed the tiny details. ?A-anyway, if you want to fold those up, be my guest. Konngara and Reimu Hakurei's outfits are already folded up, right over there,? she said, pointing at the two costumes folded neatly on the floor, at the bottom of Mima's outfit's mannequin. ?And this shouldn't take me more than a half hour. An adjustment like this is no big deal for me.? Rin nodded and went to do that, slowly pulling them off their mannequins and folding them. Meanwhile, Mari threw Rin's dress, one of her earlier designs, onto one of them to hold it in place while she began to undo some seams and adjust others. The mechanics of it were already all worked out in her head. Rin finished folding them while Mari was cutting away at some seams using a very small but very sharp knife, to cut only the threads she had used to sew up the sides. Mari was concentrating hard, so she didn't really take note of Rin, who was polite enough to stay quiet. Out of the corner of her eye, she didn't notice that the red-haired woman sat down next to the windowsill on Mari's desk chair, petting the magpies and crows. She had actually rather enjoyed making this dress, now that Mari saw it up close and personal again. It had been one of her first forays into a darker aesthetic, and she was very pleased that Rin had selected this dress for exactly that reason. The red ribbons around the collar and at the wrists, though, she hadn't thought of herself. Those were Rin's own flourishes, accents on the outfit. She wished she had been the one to think of them, because they made the entire outfit look great, especially with her flaming red hair. Come to think of it, though... Mari paused in the middle of her work. This was a great opportunity to find out something that she had never gotten a clear answer on. She stuck the needle and pin that she had previously been holding in her mouth into her sleeve instead, and plucked up the nerve to strike a conversation. ?Kaenbyou-san,? she said. The red-haired woman seemed to jump a little. Had she somehow come off as scary to her? Or was she just startled after being distracted? ?Yeah?? ?Where exactly is the theatre? The theatre where Shanghai Alice performs, I mean.? ?You don't know where it is?? ?No, I am afraid I do not. I have been told it is somewhat far from here, but that is all I know of its location.? ?Ah. Well, you know where the market district is?? Mari's heart began to sink. ?Yes.? ?It's in that direction. It's on the exact opposite side of town from where we are now, actually.? Mari had only been in that part of town once or twice, on the bus and by train. She was not familiar with it at all, and apparently if she wanted to cross on foot it would take her through the busiest, most crowded area of the city. Fantastic. ?All right. I was just... wondering, I guess.? Mari sighed and went back to her work. If Rin noticed her disappointment, she didn't comment on it, which Mari was grateful for. It didn't take her much longer to finish. She had gotten much faster at sewing over the past week, now that she had shaken off her rustiness with the big project she had done. She sewed up the shoulders back into place, and covered any small holes that would have been left by her pulling out the fabric at the shoulders and under the ampits with black fabric, also sewn in with green thread to resemble the original pattern she had used. ?Kaenbyou-san,? she began again, turning towards her. ?All right, I think I'm done. Would you like to try it on and make sure?? ?Sure would, sis!? Rin smiled as Mari pulled the dress off her mannequin and handed it to her. Rin went to the bathroom with it in her hand, and less than a minute later emerged with the slightly refitted dress, stretching out her arms. ?It fits like a dream!? the red-haired woman exclaimed. ?It's not tight around my chest anymore. Thank you very much.? ?You are quite welcome,? Mari replied with a smile. ?Though I only have two questions now.? ?Oh? Shoot away, sis,? Rin said as she went back to her chair to pick up the outfits. ?Question one. How did you get all the way over here from the theatre? I'm curious, since I'm wondering how to get over there myself someday. To watch the performances, you know?? ?Oh, you should definitely come watch,? the redhead said with a fanged smile. ?And I actually came over here on my bicycle.? ?Bicycle?? Mari blinked. ?Well, it's not really a bicycle,? Rin said, walking towards the door. ?It's got a wooden cart attached to the back of it. I was already in the area to pick up some other things, like I said, so I have the cart with me. And a cloth bag in there to carry groceries, but I'm gonna put the clothes in there instead today.? ?Ah. And here I thought you were going to stuff them into a backpack, like I tend to do with my things,? Mari said as she opened the door for her guest. ?No way! I wouldn't like them to get all wrinkled.? Rin winked as she walked past Mari, flashing her a V sign. ?Leave it to me! I'll make sure everything gets safely there.? Mari smiled. ?I am grateful for the reassurance. Oh, and the second thing I wanted to ask about,? she said as she closed the door behind them and walked with Rin into the elevator. ?Huh? Go ahead,? Rin said as the doors closed on them. In the small closeness of the elevator, Mari asked her question. ?Why were there so many small little burn marks on your dress?? Rin seemed to freeze up. Mari pretended not to notice, and instead kept on going. ?There were all sorts of little singes all over the fabric. Like... exactly the kind that you would find if burning ash were in the area, wafting around.? Rin was staring ahead, determined not to make eye contact, apparently. Mari leaned forward a bit and forced her to see her eyes, and spoke in a low monotone voice. ?Just where exactly have you been taking the dress I made that you borrowed, Kaenbyou-san?? |
| Alfred F. Jones:
Rin couldn't escape Mari. Not in here, not for two more floors down. And for once, Mari was thinking in the elevator about something other than if it was going to run out of air. She was thinking of the work she had put into the dress, and how Rin didn't seem to notice it. “I-I, ummm....” Rin couldn't meet her eyes, and looked up instead, at the corner of the elevator cabin as if that held the answer she sought. “I... tend to wear this dress a lot to work...” “And where do you work?” Mari asked, narrowing her own eyes. Even she was really surprised at how she was acting and how naturally this was all coming to her, but no one damaged her beloved dresses like that with no good explanation. “A furnace? A coal shoveler?” Rin swallowed. “I work in, ah... a... close to what you said, actually.” Mari noted that they had reached the bottom floor now. She had one second to force out a good answer. “A... crematorium, I guess you could call it.” --oh. Well, that... was an explanation that made sense. “A crematorium,” Mari repeated, deadpanning. This time it was not intentionally freaking Rin out. She was distracted by the idea of someone wearing a nice dress like hers to work throwing dead bodies into fires. “Y-yeah! It's not.... I know it's not your usual kinda job, but yeah! And, well, I wear this dress because... it looks kinda dark, doesn't it? P-people always appreciate it when funeral workers look as somber as they are.” “... I see.” And the door finally dinged open. Rin practically leaped out of the elevator and out to the front doors that led to the street. Mari followed her. Right outside her apartment, Mari watched as Rin unlocked the small chain that held her bicycle in place. Indeed, it was not actually a bicycle; it was more of a... not a tricycle... but whatever you called a bike with a cart in the back to hold things. She was impressed by how big it was and yet how Rin apparently managed to drive it down these streets. “That looks sort of heavy,” Mari commented as Rin was putting the clothes away into a cloth sack. “W-what does?” The red-haired woman asked, still looking sort of nervous. “The big old cart you have there. And the, uh...” Mari peered closer. There was a long box in the back covered with cloth of its own. Was it a... coffin? “... cargo,” she said, trying to be as tasteful and vague as possible. “I guess... but, you know, I'm in pretty good shape,” Rin said, flexing her bicep through the dress with a wink, laughing a little too loudly. “I suppose you'd have to be. Say, I think I have a third question,” Mari said, taking another step closer. Rin seemed to shrink back a little. “Y-yeah, sis?” “Is the acting thing... er, I mean... I'm sorry to have you break character like this, but your character works in a crematorium, then? Or do you work in a crematorium, and act for fun?” The redhead blinked. “N-no, I really do work in a crematorium.” “As a character?” “... yeah. I do.” “Ah...” Mari nodded. “Then I can't say I'm happy about the singe marks, but I am pleased by your dedication to the craft. If you do end up burning it at some point, though, I'd be more than glad to sew another one if you commission me.” Rin gave her an awkward smile. “I'm sorry I burned it a little, sis. I'll take better care of it.” Mari heaved an exaggerated deep sigh. “That is... really all I wanted to hear, Kaenbyou-san. Thank you very much for everything.” “You take your outfits very seriously!” The redhead replied with a smile as she put one hand on her bike's handlebars. “No worries, sis, I totally understand. And thanks for adjusting my dress.” The black-haired seamstress nodded and stepped back, seeing that Rin was ready to leave. “You're welcome. Drive safe, Kaenbyou-san. Or, er... bike safe. Yeah.” “Thank you much! Hope ta see you around, sis.” Rin waved as she hopped onto her bike and began to ride away. Mari waited until she rode out of sight, then she walked down two blocks to pick up new videos to watch, since she was already out here. And also a sleeve of cookies. Always cookies. She tossed two of them onto the ground for the crows and ravens that hung out near the entrance. Then she went back upstairs to her apartment and gave bread to the magpies and ravens on her sill. “So what did you think of her?” Mari asked, sitting down as they pecked at the bread. They responded with cooing. She patted one of the magpies' heads. She was so happy they were comfortable with her presence. They were adorable. They had also been comfortable with Rin's presence, too, which had been surprising and nice. “She did get along with you guys,” she said aloud, “and she was... kind of weird. But nice in the end.” She nodded to herself. “Though, I probably should have asked while I had the chance, but I got distracted by the singeing...” Mari touched the seat she was sitting on, and between her fingers, she pinched some hairs that were too short to be from her head, and too dark to be from Rin's red braids. “Just why did the inside of her dress have so much cat hair?” End of Chapter Eight Rin is just a really big cat lady, Mari, don't even worry about it. Anyway, some end of chapter bonuses, to make up for the delay in updating! Name: Mari Saihoshi Full name: Maria Soledad Saihoshi de Almanza J: Saihoshi Marisol, 祭星 マリソル Age: 20 Birthday: 7 April 1976 (Aries) Blood Type: A Height / Weight: 157cm (5'2”), 55kg Function: Pro seamstress Name: Isabel Almanza Full name: Isabel Amasifuen Almanza A: sometimes she writes her name “Isabel Almanza” in Arabic as ألمانز إيزابيل to screw with people, because she wanted an intimidating-looking way to write her name along with her sister Age: 20 Birthday: 25 December 1976 (Sagittarius) Blood Type: O Height / Weight: 172cm (5'6”), 58kg Function: Super university level archaeologist (in training), general know-it-all Name: Akihiko Habara Full name: Akihiko Habara. Asavasopon was his father's last name, but he was not around to give it to him. J: Habara Akihiko, 刃薔薇 明彦 Age: 21 Birthday: 29 February 1976 (Aquarius) Blood Type: B Height / Weight: 180cm (5'9”), 80kg Function: Basketballer, postal worker, med student Akihiko's last name having that specific kanji for Habara is a short little tale all to itself because I could NOT think of a good family name for him and eventually just decided to take the name from the writers of one of my favourite films, Hula Girls: [20:37] <Sakura-Rurouni> Right I need a last name for this dweeb too [20:39] <Sakura-Rurouni> gah I hate creating characters [20:39] <Nadeshiko-Matsuri> what's a fun word that goes with suffering [20:40] <Sakura-Rurouni> I dunno, I don't think "Meguca" is a valid Japanese last name [20:43] * Sakura-Rurouni looks up some Japanese films she enjoys to see cast lists [20:44] <Sakura-Rurouni> "Habara" sounds good as a surname, let's go with that [20:44] * Nadeshiko-Matsuri is looking up words for pain and suffering [20:44] <Nadeshiko-Matsuri> none of these sound appealing [20:45] <Nadeshiko-Matsuri> oh [20:45] <Nadeshiko-Matsuri> so I typed in habara and looked up some of the kanji options [20:45] <Nadeshiko-Matsuri> http://i.imgur.com/hqLHpOW.png [20:45] <Nadeshiko-Matsuri> that's so fucking metal [20:46] <Sakura-Rurouni> wat [20:46] <Sakura-Rurouni> okay hell yeah then [20:46] <Sakura-Rurouni> I just stole the name from one of the writers of Hula Girls [20:46] <Sakura-Rurouni> that was a good movie [20:47] <Nadeshiko-Matsuri> :D [20:48] <Sakura-Rurouni> that writer's name seems to have boring old kanji, but we'll give him "Blade Rose" [20:48] <Sakura-Rurouni> because YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH |
| Iced Fairy:
Kitty~! *Iced moves far away enough from Orin to get back brain power* An excellent chapter and an interesting but very well thought out choice. Orin's got transit abilities, the skill to keep herself hidden, and several reasons to be wandering about the city. The interplay was amusing as well. Now the question is 'where from here?' |
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