[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/1trNZ24.png[/img][h1][color=fdc68a]&[/color][/h1][img] https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/654438713455149084/873479307715051540/image.png[/img]
[sub][color=goldenrod]Interaction[/color] | Kassandra / Mirage
AKA [@Mistress Dizzy]
[color=goldenrod]Location[/color] | Happy Harbor Mall
[/sub][/center][hr]
Materializing near the building’s entrance, Kila looked up and around. High ceilings with skylights, advertisements on banners, television screens, store fronts, and many people cycling through. The warrior felt the need to study possible escape routes, but resisted the urge. He needed to be ‘normal’, he wasn’t on the field. The young man was here to enjoy his downtime, he supposed. Still, just to be sure, he looked behind him to look outside the transparent glass doors. 

Confirming where they were in the city, Kila turned to look at the companion that remained, as the others that tubed already started wandering. [color=goldenrod]“We should look at the map of stores to confirm where we want to go…”[/color] Was his suggestion, though, he didn’t wait long before his steps carried him forward towards the triangular pillar. He had been to malls before when his Amai took him shopping when they had been reunited. Some things between them remained similar, he learned. 

Kassy was craning her neck to look up at the high ceilings. She was still getting used to human architecture. This place was no palace, but it was still nice to look at. [color=orange]“This is almost overwhelming.”[/color] She murmured, trying to get her bearings. In the end, she wound up following Kila, who seemed to have some sense of where to go.

Leaning over the map, she realized there were far more shops than she could get to in a day. Forever 23, Dillan’s, Marcy’s, what exactly did these shops carry? A quick peek through the window confirmed. Mostly clothes, it seemed like, which didn’t bother her. She liked looking at pretty clothes and expressing herself in that way.

[color=orange]“Well, it looks like the others have gone.”[/color] She looked apprehensively at the crowds. [color=orange]“M-may I stick with you? I don’t want to be alone here.”[/color] Kassy did not so much as peek at Kila’s face during her request, her eyes downcast and looking at his very white shoes.

Kila’s eyes scanned the layout provided by the map, taking mental pictures of the number and name correspondences. He was like a machine, or, perhaps more like the general that the Red Lion was trying to mold him into. He picked a strategic route to get to the store of his choosing. When met with her question, he was silent, looking over to her. The way her eyes aimed towards the ground made him flatten his lips some. Her disposition seemed to appeal to him for some reason, and he saw no need to say no.

[color=goldenrod]“Yes. Just be sure to keep up.”[/color] Kila answered, a corner of his lip upturned in a smile. 

Kassy nodded, but still did not look up. However, her body language relaxed considerably. [color=orange]“I can do that.”[/color]

To be honest, she still wasn’t sure what to make of Kila. He seemed so serious, and was obviously skilled if his battle with Black Canary was anything to go by. She felt like he could have made the Justice League proper if not for his age. But he was stuck here with people like her. Strange.

As they walked, Kassy looked around at all of the different stores. She made a mental note of those that seemed interesting, those she might visit on another day. Her fingers traced the outline of the little plastic rectangle in her purse. A ‘credit card’. She had no idea what it meant and had been too nervous to ask Red Tornado when no one else had seemed confused.

[color=orange]“Hey Kila? What is a ‘credit card’?”[/color] She winced slightly, looking off. [color=orange]“Please don’t think I’m stupid. I’ve just never heard of it. What is this little bit of plastic supposed to do?” [/color]

[color=goldenrod]“It pays for objects and services. It should come with a pin number, though with some of us being less informed about it than others, these cards may not require such.”[/color] Kila kept it simple, [color=goldenrod]“And, you must know, I don’t think you’re stupid at all. You’re actually quite sharp.”[/color]

Kassy nodded, thinking over his explanation. [color=orange]“I suppose it is easier than carrying a lot of coins around.”[/color] Then she paused, the rest of his sentence having turned over in her mind.

[color=orange]“Wait, you think I’m smart?”[/color] Now she was looking at him, illusion-coated brown eyes wide with confusion. [color=orange]“Really? Why?”[/color] The blunt question was less compliment seeking and more answer seeking, as if she couldn’t quite fathom what he could possibly mean. Kila didn’t look in her direction just yet, eyeing their path.

[color=goldenrod]“I have learned a lot from you in today’s training. You’re resourceful and sharp-witted. You wasted no time in completing the tasks given, and showed no hesitation when faced with a sudden tragedy. It takes someone smart to have those qualities and use them effectively.”[/color] He turned his eye to look at her as he finished.

[color=goldenrod]“That’s why.”[/color]

Kassy blinked, feeling her face heating. There was a large part of her mind fighting against the compliment. Was he lying? No, he had no reason to. If he thought she was stupid, he probably would have just said so. His explanation did make sense, even if she couldn’t quite see those qualities within herself. 

[color=orange]“Oh.”[/color] For the briefest moment, she met his gaze. A faint, but definitely visible smile crept onto her face. [color=orange]“I- I did what needed to be done in the moment. It wasn’t really something I thought about. Talon needed help, so… so I helped.”[/color] She rubbed the back of her neck, mussing her thick curls. Her embarrassment was obvious.

[color=orange]“Thank you. I… I appreciate the compliment.”[/color] More than she could express. Sure, Green Arrow had said something earlier, but it was so different coming from one of her peers. Her smile had brought a tingling feeling in his chest, and his eyes cut away quickly. Was this another of those instincts from earlier? He couldn’t be sure. It didn’t feel as though there was any danger near. Yet, why did he want to run?

He kept steady, thankful to Iwisa for instilling will into his spirit. He wasn’t sure of what to say after that, though he nodded in her acknowledgement. The focus on the odd feelings in the moment almost made him absentmindedly wander from his set path. Kila came to an abrupt stop, looking up the escalator. 

[color=goldenrod]“The store I’m wishing to go to is on the second floor…We take the escalator up.”[/color]

Kila had stopped so abruptly that Kassy nearly bumped into him. She looked at the strange mechanical stairs in front of them. [color=orange]“Hm. That’s fine.”[/color] Double-layer markets would be so much easier if she could swim up instead of walk. Things were so much simpler moving in 3 dimensions. She eyed a few people stepping onto it, and then hesitantly stepped up after Kila.

[color=orange]“What will humans think of next?”[/color] It was a rather elegant solution to the fact that humans - most of them anyway - could not fly up, or swim. She chuckled softly, wondering what other inventions were waiting for her to see.

[color=orange]“So, what store are we going to, anyway?”[/color]

[color=goldenrod]“According to the guide, it is called the Charleston Music Center…I did not think to bring any of the instruments I have at home…So, I want to see what they have.”[/color]

Kassy perked a bit at hearing that it was a music store. She adored music of all sorts, and sort of missed it. While she didn’t have any instruments of her own, she had been to many concerts underwater. It was the one thing she splurged on when saving up to leave home. Still, what a surprise that Kila played! She wanted to say that she sang, but the words stuck in her throat. He probably wouldn’t care.

[color=orange]“What instruments do you play, Kila?”[/color]

[color=goldenrod]“I have done drums for ceremonies and such, Ambuya says that I have a talent for strings. I am not the greatest at it, or very high level yet, but it at least brings me peace of mind…At the home of my amai, I have amassed a small horde of suchlike instruments.”[/color] Kila paused. [color=goldenrod]“Do you play?”[/color]

Kassy’s gaze faltered back to her shoes. [color=orange]“Me? N-no, I don’t play.”[/color] Her voice dropped to a low mumble, and she sped through the next words. [color=orange][sub]“I… I um… I sort of like singing but I’m not good at it so don’t expect much of me.”[/sub][/color] Her cheeks flushed. That had been difficult to admit. Singing practice was difficult when you spent your life trying to go unnoticed. So far only the fish and coral had heard her singing voice, and that was probably not going to change anytime soon. 

Kila took particular note of the quick silence of her voice pattern. Clearly the subject must have been sensitive for her. While normally he’d look to prod the lack of confidence to bolster it, something told him not to do so. The girl had barely spoken in the week leading up to this day. The fact that she was willing to open even if only  slightly surprised him…He didn’t want to scare her off.

[color=goldenrod]“I see.”[/color] He left it be, content enough to keep quiet until they made it to the store. 

It was actually a lot larger than it appeared outside. One side had a wall of guitars of varying types, another with shelves of tools for instrument maintenance. It seemed they had almost every instrument one could think of somewhere on display. Kila’s eyes seemed aglow with a bit more excitement than his expression usually displayed. With no need for a prompt, he started to wander about inside.

Kassy’s eyes widened as she saw all of the instruments on offer. Despite not knowing some of them, she did at least know the categories based on looks. There was even some strange electronic music pouring in from the rooftop. Slowly, she left Kila’s side and started to browse. 

Kila was like a kid in a candy store, not even knowing where he’d start or what he’d like to try first. His head turned to see about asking Kassandra, but she wasn’t there. Instead, his glance caught her on another side of the store, peering at a piano that was on display. Another smile crept to his face as he tried not to let his eyes linger for too long.

This turned out being more fun than he thought…