[color=red][center][h1][b][s]I SEE YOU[/s][/b][/h1][/center][/color] [center][h1][color=FF1493]Sophia von Zeerover[/color] [/h1][/center] [center][h2][b]and[/b][/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/nrfJdjz.png[/img][/center] [hr] Her patron couldn’t find the wind girl. She couldn’t find the wind girl either. At this point, the pirate felt a lingering sense of frustration, one which had driven her to...certain habits in her off time. Mainly, that of getting some cash and eating a one-girl feast at several places around the city of Penrose. This was to the point that she had already been asked by one restaurant to attempt an ‘eating challenge’ they were coming up with. Something about a ‘five course seafood feast, fried, grilled, and steamed’? Meh, it sounded fun at least. But all of the eating had gotten rather onely. It didn’t feel ‘right’ to her, and the cute lass with the maid costume seemed to be more recently too ‘busy’ as she had put it. Something about ‘attempting to talk to the right people to not die’, but noting that she’d be back in a little bit to talk more to her. To be frank, the pirate did feel a sense of empathy with not wanting to die. She herself had been through it rather soon, just after waking up for the first bloody time. But as much as that wind girl, that “Su” if she heard right, had tried to kill her...the desire to talk to her was oddly there as well. Wanting to understand what was going on, why she had tried to kill her, and all of that. What, or who perhaps, she potentially used to be could be hidden in those answers. Maybe. Right now she knew very little, and her patron did as well for that matter. Not that she blamed the ghost ship too much (if at all), as it did try to help her out of what it thought seemed like a potentially bad spot at the time. Perspective and all of that nonsense. But there was one other thing she wanted to check...well, maybe after lunch. [hider=Untransformed][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wBk6SwF.jpg[/img][/center][/hider] [color=FF1493]”Ey, Giovanni! Got my usual hidin’ back ere’? And how’s the family doing?”[/color] the magical girl spoke, her pirate-y accent still in place, casually waltzing into one of Penrose’s local Italian Restaurants with a beaming smile on her face. An olive-skinned man behind the counter, with a nearly bald head and suave mustache, seemed to perk up at the odd accent that he’d become accustomed to hearing by now. A new customer with good spending, and a seemingly inhuman appetite without weight gain. He’d quickly gotten to talk to her a little, at least about his family’s handmade and passed-down recipes. Was nice to see someone who appreciated the really traditional stuff, made him feel a bit more proud of his work. [color=808000]”Ay, you back again this week already for the second time? Hahaha! Rosa is just about finished with the latest batch of Risotto al Gorgonzola, but she and the children are doing well! Just go ahead and find a seat, my friend, and she will be there soon.”[/color] The headphones and hoodie-wearing girl could only grin back, before walking over to one of the closer empty tables and sitting down. It was a two-person table, but...well, she usually ate alone on days like this. Her patron had more than enough actual cash to frankly last her more lifetimes than she'd want to count, even if he didn’t have the “magic coins” he had later explained to her. Her patron also had other items, but those apparently were rewards ‘for later’ or something? Classes had ended for Amaryllis, and she had nothing to do. It was a novel sensation, really, after all the monster hunts and Soth’s bullshit and make-up assignments the Knight of Rose had to put up with, but, well. It was nice. The sun was warm, the day was still ahead of her. Maybe she’ll go to the library. Curl up somewhere quiet. Read a book. Maybe polish her Sword a bit afterwards. Softly, she hummed, a slight bounce in her step as she passed by an Italian restaurant, an appetizing smell causing her to stop. Looking through the glass, Amaryllis pondered her lunch options, before deciding to stop. Spas weren’t cheap, after all. She’ll make do with just her Backpack lunch. She turned away, and proceeded to walk off. As the pirate girl let her eyes drift towards the windows, she found herself somewhat surprised to see a...oh! Oh!!! A [b]very[/b] attractive girl looking inside, actually. Not the usual passerby she’d been accustomed to watching walk by on the street here, at least, while waiting for her food here. Hmm...maybe worth a talk? Grinning to herself this time, the hoodie-and-headphones wearing girl got up from her seat, giving a wave to Giovanni to “box it up for me to go”. Then, with her fresh cooked food in a takeout container in a plastic bag and two sets of utensils included, the pirate girl quickly stepped out of the front door and began to run down the sidewalk. She’d seen the cutie at the window walk this way, she knew that much for sure, and her suspicions seemed to be confirmed as she saw that familiar blue hair swishing alongside that [s]overdeveloped[/s] sway of the hips that the cute girl seemed to have. Internally she pulled herself back some, trying to appear more casual and relaxed as she tried to get up to the other girl’s pace. [color=FF1493]”Ey’ there! How ya’ been? Saw ya lookin’ in the window not too long ago, an’ didn’t wanna’ leave a hungry girl in need.”[/color] the pirate girl said, attempting to initiate conversation in...some kind of manner or another. She wasn’t fully used to this, frankly speaking. [color=778899]“Uh…”[/color] was Amaryllis’s response, her face scrunching up in a mixture of confusion and revulsion. This was a girl, but after what Sammy had brought up at the spa, the buxom student [i]was[/i] becoming steadily aware of her own appearance. She could understand that this was a good look for guys to latch onto, but now...better not think about it too much. [color=778899]“Do I...k-know you?”[/color] Her feet began to reposition themselves. If this was too much trouble, at least she could sprint. Sophia visibly seemed to slightly recoil at her own words, internally cursing at herself for such a blunt approach. Dangit all, how was she supposed to approach people decently! She didn’t want to scare this person off, really, she just...wanted to talk to someone she supposed. Er, bombshell looks aside. [color=FF1493]”Ah...sorry, ahm’ not the best at, er, introductions. Mah’ name is Sophia Zeerover, and ah’ just moved in around ere’ a bit ago. Saw ya lookin’ into tha’ Italian place back ere’, like you were a bit hungry and needed a bite ta’ eat. I, ah...I jus’ felt like ah’ should offer you’ somethin’ then…”[/color] The pirate began to stumble into her words, visibly trying to explain things in a better way then she had before. Sophia’s free hand came up without thinking, rustling the back of her hair a bit in a nervous manner as she pulled her headphones around her neck. [color=778899]“Um...ok, that’s, uh...weird to do.”[/color] Not like there weren’t plenty of homeless people hungry or anything. Made Amaryllis feel worse about what she looked like now, but fine. [color=778899]“I’m Amaryllis, I guess. Welcome to...Penrose?”[/color] [color=FF1493]”T-Thank ya’...and...s-sorry. Ahm’ still workin’ on how ta’ approach people, er, round’ ere’...an’ in general. All ah’ know best ta’ try is sharin’ ah’ good, hot meal,”[/color] the pirate said, unaware of the homeless population as much as she was unaware of a proper way to approach people. [color=778899]“Uh...yeah…”[/color] Was that a tinge of sympathy she felt building inside her now? Amaryllis could certainly understand the discombobulation that accompanies moving to a new place with only strangers. [color=778899]“...I guess Italian does sound good, so...uh...sure. Just this once though. And, hm...promise me you’ll volunteer at the Soup Kitchen down by Bourbon Street and West 22nd. They’re terribly understaffed there.”[/color] [color=FF1493]”Oh! Thank ya’!!! And, ah, I’ll look fer’ tha’ place ya’ just told meh’ about n’ see what ah’ can do. Er...is ere’ any place you’d wanna stop n’ eat at? Ah’ve been lookin’ fer’ something like a park round ere’, but….no luck,”[/color] Sophia said, seeming to perk back happily up at the acceptance of her offered meal...and the at least temporary company for the moment. It had been a lonely enough day as it was, and this was perhaps the highlight of it so far for the former corpse. [color=778899]“Mm...there is one place…”[/color] Waving Sophia to follow her, Amaryllis strode down the busy streets towards a newly-constructed plaza. Strange, white sculptures were placed there, as well as a small infographic talking about who designed the area and what it was supposed to represent, but really, the selling point of the place was that it was relatively far away from the roads and had a bunch of park benches around. No greenery, of course, but well. [color=778899]“It’s a place to sit.”[/color] Sophia looked around the plaza with a small sense of wonder, before the other girl’s words snapped her back into reality somewhat suddenly. The pirate gave a meek nod, before choosing one of the closer park benches and walking over to sit. The bag of fresh hot food crinkled a bit in the girl’s hand as she pulled it up into her lap, with her somewhat nervously fiddling with the handles of the plastic bag as she waited for her new eating companion to sit as well. [color=FF1493]”So, ah…how’s ya’ day been? Er, unless that’s a bad question ah’ mean,”[/color] Sophia said, trying to drum up some kind of small talk. [color=778899]“It’s been...alright?”[/color] Amaryllis struggled to put it into words without spoiling the fact that she fights world-ending monstrosities full-time. Sitting down, she leaned back, planting her hands behind her as she enjoyed the warmth of the sun for a moment. [color=778899]“Things were pretty, hm, crazy for a while, but, well...seems like its getting back on track? You?”[/color] [color=FF1493]”Ah’ suppose things ar’ goin’ well enough so far...no-un’ at some graveyard tryin’ to kil-,”[/color] the magical girl began to say without thinking, before quickly shutting her mouth as she caught herself mid-sentence. A slight panic seemed to show on her face for a second, but as soon as it appeared she tried to push it back down and not blow her cover, [color=FF1493]”Er...what ah’ meant to say is...that ah’ feel like ah’ got more n’ more questions than anythin’ else lately, ah’ s’pose.”[/color] [color=778899]“Yeah, Penrose’s a weird place,”[/color] Amaryllis awkwardly chuckled, [color=778899]“Honestly, if you have a choice, I’d, like, maybe you should move to basically any other town. Except Detroit, I guess. Things get pretty, well, wild.”[/color] [color=FF1493]”Heh...ah’ve known nothin’ but ‘pretty wild’ all mah’ days, so maybe ah’ll fit right in, eh?”[/color] Sophia said as she grinned back a little to the chuckling Amaryllis, though soon after a distinct note of melancholy would work its way into the pirate’s expression as she set the bag of food between them, [color=FF1493]”But it’s all been...isolatin’ in ah’ sense ahz’ well.”[/color] The pirate began to pull out the plastic utensils after pulling down the sides of the plastic bag, setting them on top of the styrofoam food container. The smell of the cheesy tastiness wafted up from the box, along with a bit of steam still trickling out of the sides. The pirate was no longer looking at Amaryllis, however, though she did seem to keep talking to her for a moment as she got the food ready. [color=FF1493]”“Ah’ had no choice bein’ ere’ even, n’ no idea where ah’ should go from ere’. Most direction ah’ ere’ got here was a promptin’ ta’ speak ta’ someone covered in strange goop...who was huggin’ ah’ girl surrounded by cats ah’ve all things. Haha...”[/color] [color=778899]“Uh...huh.”[/color] Was Amaryllis’s response to all this. That was a very specific image, after all. Like, extremely specific. As in, was this just her ego speaking, or was Sophia talking about the crypt, thus outing herself as a newcomer magical girl? [color=778899]“R-right...so, that food ready yet?”[/color] The hoodie-wearing pirate girl stopped for a second, blinking as she came back down to earth, before letting out a small sigh and reaching over to the food. She popped open the lid, revealing a stunning sight for the eyes and palette: [hider=Deliciousness Ahead] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/dTDZ382.jpg[/img][/center] [/hider] A steamy container of what looked like rice, covered in a gooey, ooey, and cheesy-looking sauce sat before the two girls’ eyes. Topped with a bit of what Sophia assumed to be scallion, or just green onions cut up, but overall cooked to perfection with the handicraft and love of good home cooking. Even now, however, she couldn't properly understand why she was so drawn to the dish, even as it sat steaming in front of her. [color=FF1493]”Sorry fer’ spacin’ out there, ah, Amaryllis,”[/color] the pirate sheepishly said, rubbing the back of her head lightly with her right hand before returning to the food in front of them. She handed one of the small, thin plastic-bound packets of cheap (also plastic) silverware to the other girl, before popping the other package open for herself, [color=FF1493]”Giovanni’s wife makes ah’ great batch o’ this stuff, says it’s a family recipe er’ kids and a lotta’ regulars love. ‘Risotto Gorgonzola’, ey’ call it.”[/color] [color=778899]“Mmm, smells good,”[/color] Amaryllis said, noncommittally. She couldn’t really tell what was supposed to smell good or not, but at least it seemed like something that was nice. Tearing open the package of utensils, she took a spoonful of the creamy rice and ate it. Was hard to tell if this was revolutionary cooking, but it was certainly something new. She chewed a few times, nodded. [color=778899]“I...guess I can eat this. I-it’s good.”[/color] [color=FF1493]”Mmm!”[/color] the pirate girl let out, after getting her own spoonful into her mouth, chewing happily as she let the flavors sink into her taste buds. Then eventually she came around to swallowing it before looking to Amaryllis once more, initially happy until the other girl’s words sunk in a bit, [color=FF1493]”Ah...sorry. Ah’ know it isn’t fer’ ever’one, ah’ mean….maybe shoulda’ brought ah’ pizza instead…”[/color] [color=778899]“N-no, it’s not, like, bad,”[/color] Amaryllis said quickly, shaking her head, [color=778899]“It’s just...interesting. I like trying out, uh, things I wouldn’t? eat normally, so...it’s edible and new so its good?”[/color] [color=FF1493]”Oh! Ah’, thank ya’...”[/color] the pirate girl said, quickly trying to backpedal to avoid making the girl feel guilty any more than she’d seemingly accidentally done so far. After taking a couple more bits of the delicious rice-like dish, the girl took a moment to try to better collect herself and find a bit more of her...chill? She hoped it was some form of chill, at least, [color=FF1493]”Tryin’ new things doesn’t hurt, ah’ s’pose. Though speakin’ ah’bout that sorta’ thing, ya’ got any hobbies?”[/color] Amaryllis stayed silent for a bit, semi-automatically spooning herself more of the creamy risotto. Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies...between schoolwork and magical girlwork, what did she really have time for? [color=778899]“I...um, watch TV shows? And…”[/color] Did it even count? [color=778899]“I do some sorta sword fighting, too. You?”[/color] Sophia felt something light up inside of her at the mention of ‘sword fighting’. If nothing else, ah, as a magical girl she did have a melee weapon...but not a sword. Blast it all. But it felt very pirate-y, very...fitting, even as an idea. Maybe she could find a fine blade somewhere to deck herself out with? [color=FF1493]”Ah’ wish ah’ had a sword, ta’ do some fightin’ with. Jus’ an axe ta’ practice with, i s’pose. Would love ta’ find ah’ blade out ere’ that’d fit in mah’ hands though, haha!”[/color] the pirate magical girl admitted with a grin and a hearty laugh, leaning back a bit more on the bench’s back as she thought about the matter, before looking back once more, [color=FF1493]”...But ah’ don’t got much in tha’ way ah’ve hobbies myself, wanna’ find some new un’s though.”[/color] The pirate girl took another couple of bites of cheesy risotto, letting the hot food slide down her throat with a satisfied sigh afterwards. [color=FF1493]”Hmm...ya’ said it’s ah’ weird stuff place round’ ere’. Ah’, got any stories ta’ tell bout’ it all? Mah’ own story bout’ at’ goop girl n’ cats is odd enough, ah’ believe, ev’n took place in what ah’ think’s a graveyard wit’ a hole in tha’ sky er’ somethin’ similar.”[/color] The pirate girl let out another laugh after speaking, not much believing a regular person to believe her tale to be more than just a strange dream. Nothing but one, anyways. But maybe this girl had heard of some other odd things going on around here. Even if just rumors, Sophia felt it’d be better to investigate them later in magical girl form if they seemed interesting enough. Could pass the time, killing monsters or finding hidden treasures or such. [color=778899]“Uh...huh.”[/color] Amaryllis blinked. Like ripping off a bandaid. [color=778899]“You’re a magical girl.”[/color] [color=FF1493]”...Eh?!”[/color] Sophia said, blinking in sheer surprise at the rather...blunt statement that had been handed out to her. No one had accused her of such, she’d just confirmed it as a dream before. Even Rosa and Giovanni’s kids had taken it as a crazy but entertaining dream like their parents had thought of it, unless…,[color=FF1493]”Look, lass, ah’ don’t know what ya’ thinkin’, callin’ meh’ that and takin’ mah’ silly dream like at’ an’ sayin’ such crazy thin’s!”[/color] What was that saying Giovanni’s kids had said? “Takes one to know one”, or something? Yeah. The pirate girl felt that applied here right now. [color=FF1493]”...But at this venture, yer’ statement could beh’ turned round’ back at ya’ too n’ turn, Amaryllis, if ya’ gonna’ say at’ much ta’ meh’.”[/color] [color=brown][i]’CREEEEEEEAK’[/i][/color] Sophia’s patron ‘shouted’ into her mind all of a sudden, causing her to grasp her head in surprised recoil. The message, however, felt like something to the end of ‘of course you dummy, she’d accuse you of that because she was actually there’. Rude. [color=778899]“I mean, yeah, I, sorta like, I mean, basically I’m fine with that? You’re a magical girl, ok. Soth is a thing you encountered.”[/color] Amaryllis nodded, fully convinced now. [color=778899]“So you’re with Beacon or something? Transferred? Or what. Heck of a thing to stumble on for your first day, really.”[/color] [color=brown][i]’CREEEEAK, CREEEAK CREEEAK RATTLE.’[/i][/color] [color=FF1493][i]’Argh, not now ya lectrurin’ mother! I get tha’ point, ah’ll stop tellin’ tha’ bloody story fer’ now on!’[/i][/color] Sometimes that ghost ship was so lecturing...but at least it bloody well cared bout’ er’. She appreciated that quite a lot. But if this other girl wasn’t being hostile, then at least it was good, right? Maybe?...Maybe. She could work with ‘maybe’, or else fight her way out of things again like last time. [color=FF1493]”Ah...dammit all, patron’s givin’ me tha’ lecture. I suppose ya’ get tha’ same once in a while, or somethin’?”[/color] Sophia admitted finally, rubbing her temple as she looked back to Amaryllis with a mixed look of exasperation (mostly aimed at her own patron), and some...actual relief of all things, [color=FF1493]”And ah’ suppose tha’ fact ya’ not trying ta’ kill meh is a good sign, at least. Ah’ actually woke up under ah’ sheet fer’ tha’ first time in tha’ middle of it all. Had a maid-y lass next ta’ meh, chain-y arm latchin’ isself’ ta’ meh, a ghostly ship takin’ in mah head about a ‘Soth’, an people askin’ meh’ questions. Then ah’ get a proddin from that blasted arm ta’ talk to some lass coated in goo, who was huggin’ ah’ lass with cats around er’. Ah’ go ta’ talk to em’, then some wind-usin lass rips me away n’ tried ta’ murder meh in cold blood. Then only fer’ er’ ta’ disappear before ah’ can ask a question at all, and tha’ other lass was gone by tha’ time ah’ got back too. It twas’ more than ah’ hell of ah’ thing ta’ stumble on, it was tha’ most blasted day ah’ve seen. And it was tha’ day ah’ was apparently ‘born’ too, of all thin’s. So who were yeh’ at that blasted scene?”[/color] [color=778899]“The lass coated in goo,”[/color] Amaryllis replied drily, taking another bite of the risotto. Would have been nice if there was something to wash it down with, in retrospect. [color=778899]“Coincidences, huh.”[/color] [color=FF1493]”...Well, this is ah’n awkward meetin’ then. Ah, ya pulled off tha’ goo look well, er…honestly, though, ah’ feel glad ta’ have finally met ya’, Amaryllis,”[/color] the pirate said, attempting to salvage her words...but in the end merely gave up and just admitted what else she could. She was glad to have finally met someone from that blasted day, one of the two people she’d wanted to find again and try to talk with, [color=FF1493]”Er, ask me anything ya’ want, ah’ mean, if ah’ can answer. Ah’ll also get ya a drink n’ dessert afta’ this, mah’ treat fer...not bein’ very good with describing ya. And fer making this awkward...”[/color] [color=778899]“I’m sure I did,”[/color] Amaryllis laughed. [color=778899]“Had people bothering me on the streets even when I looked like I took a dive in the sewers.”[/color] She chewed on the plastic spoon, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, as her countenance slowly shifted back to normal. [color=778899]“Um, there’s no need to be so...generous though. Sorta feels like, gosh, no offense, but like you’re buying me off? Something like that...anyways, would largely be nice just to know, like, where you stand on the magical morality scale of things? Penrose sorta has a whole range of em n all…”[/color] [color=FF1493]”Well, ah’ just wanted ta’ try ta’ make things up to ya’, since ya’ been kind enough ta’ listen to mah’ big mouth jabber on, haha!”[/color] the pirate girl said, letting out a small laugh afterwards, before shifting back into a normal sitting position grabbing another spoonful of risotto, [color=FF1493]”Frankly, ah’ don’t ave’ any clue what’s goin’ on. Ah’ dont ave’ no interest in killin’ innocent people, er’ stamping tha’ place up like whatever appened’ back ere’ when ah’ woke up. Ah’ aven’t even ad’ anyone ta’ really talk to bout’ any ah’ this anyway, not since...wakin’ up back ere’, really. Maid lass said she was busy ‘tryin not ta die’ fer tha moment, and ah’ve been alone since jus’ eatin’ at places n’ tryin’ ta’ figure out what in the blazes is goin’ on round’ ere’. And, frankly, what ah’ am...well, what ah’ used ta’ be, er somethin’.”[/color] [color=778899]“Oh, uh, it’s not really that big of a problem if you talk a lot...otherwise, we’d just not be talking, so...y’know.”[/color] Amaryllis shrugged. [color=778899]“But, like I sorta implied earlier, Penrose is basically...super crazy? Would be nice if you helped stop the craziness from now on. And did volunteering, I guess...you don’t have any documentation, right? No, uh, ID or anything like that?”[/color] [color=FF1493]”Nah’, ah’ don’t ave’ anythin’ like at’. But helpin’ keep thin’s less crazy round’ ere’ would be ah’ pleasure, soh’ ah’ll take up yer’ offer on that,”[/color] the pirate girl said, after taking a minute of silence to think about the matter, piping up in a very casual tone of voice, [color=FF1493]”But in return, ah’d like ta’ talk to ya’ bout’ what’s been goin’ on round’ ere’, get caught up n’ all of at’. And ey’, maybe talk sum’ more with ya’ if ya’ willin’ tae’ do at’. Cause ah’ find mah’self likin’ tha’ cut of ya jib, Amaryllis!”[/color] It was really rather nice to find another magical girl, preferably one who got to a point but wasn’t trying to impale Sophia herself with it. That particular individual, however, she still wanted to find and talk to. Even if she had to tie her down and slap her silly to get her to calm down first. But feeling satisfied with the topic at hand, the pirate girl stuck a hand out to Amaryllis with a wide grin on her face once more. Amaryllis extended her hand as well, not too certain about it all. Her grip was rather flimsy in the end, and by the time it was over, she nodded slowly. [color=778899]“Uh, sure, well, to start from as far back as I remember…”[/color] She coughed once, cleared her throat, and closed her eyes. [i][color=778899]“The first major event began on a weekday morning…”[/color][/i] Retrospectively, she shoulda got a bottle of water after all.