2513/Stranger Things

Stranger Things
Date of Scene:	26 February 2017
Location:	Hisakata Residences
Synopsis:	Sora treats Ayana nicely. Ayana encourages Reiko to date Ikiko. And Mei might have been wrong?!
Cast of Characters:	Ayana, Sora Hisakata, Reiko Touyama, Ikiko Hisakata

---

Ayana has posed:
It's a lazy Saturday afternoon. Or at least, it's a lazy afternoon for those who don't have schoolwork. Ayana, however, is behind on her homework, and struggling with it as she often is.

Dressed in a cute white sun-dress, with bare feet, the kitsuen is seated on the floor, legs splahed and curled back up so she's sitting on the side of her shins. Her wild hair is splayed out around her like a mane, and her tails--all four of them--are spread out loosely behind her. Before the kitsune is a short table, with her history homework laid out atop.

"Ugh," Ayana mumbles for not the first time. "Why do I have to study history? Who cares what happened in the edo period? Such a dumb subject."

Sora Hisakata has posed:
"Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it." Sora comments idly as she comes in, carrying along with her what looks to be some clean and dry laundry she's gathered from outside. She pauses near Ayana a moment, and then adds, "And the edo period in particular is important because it teaches us the risks of ignoring what others are doing while you go off to do your own thing."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama has been busy. School. A birthday that she downplayed because last year her creepy possessed doll friend attacked it. Then her boyfriend moved away. Then Hiroko and orange disappearing and overall Reiko /needed/ time to sort her head out, because she had to approach this new problem with Sumire back in town with a clear head.

Roy didn't approve of the break. Roy can go stuff and baste himself.

Reiko Touyama approaches the door of the Hisakata household, a tiny koi following her spinning around her waist dizzily. It's been a long while she's checked in with her friends. Not on purpose. Just. Everything has been a mess.

Knock knock. A quick request where Ikiko or Ayana is and she's lead toward's the way. She looks toward's Sora, then over at Ayana, as her tiny koi stops spinning around her and waves it's tiny fin at Ayana! Wave wave wave.

"Ayana-chan! Sora-san!" she says.

A pause.

Something seems off here. She can't quite figure it out.

"Oh are you studying?" she asks with wide eyes.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana's ears fold back at Sora's explanation. "You'd know," she mumbles unhappily, then closes her book sharply. "It's not like I'm ever going to be in charge of armies or big important decisions! I don't see what I can possibly learn from all of this," she whines. A glance up at Sora, witht he pile of laundry, then she mutters, "But I guess it's better than doing cho--"

She cuts off at the sound of Reiko's voice. Glancing up, Ayana's ears perk up excitedly, and her tails all wag in time with her wave. "Reiko-chan, hi! Yeah, I'm supposed to be doing history homework but I hate it."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama head tilts. "What are you studying, Ayana-chan?" she looks between Sora and Ayana. She beams! "Sorry I've been gone for a bit. It's been. Hectic. I needed. Time to get my thoughts together. There's this other new mess with one of my old friends back in Tokyo.. someone who. Was part of the game. So..." she trails off.

"So Edo period? Ohhh!" she tip toes over.

And she looks at the wagging tail.

The black wagging tail. She then blinks a bit. "Ayana-chan...?"

"Where did the orange go?" she asks curiously. It's not quite accusatory, like she was accusing her of 'getting rid of it', more. 'What happened!?'.

Sora Hisakata has posed:
Sora shrugs, she doesn't seem to mind the chores as such, but she isn't in a hurry either, and so she puts them aside. "You're part of the family, Ayana, so decisions you make can influence all of us." Wait, since when did Sora treat Ayana as anything other than an unwanted outsider? This is new. "And I'd rather you not make the mistakes I made."

And then at Reiko's question, she shrugs, and glances towards Ayana with feint curiousity.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana rolls her eyes heavily at Sora, but she doesn't say anything. Instead, she just huffs and looks back towards Reiko. "It just vanished, when all the other oranges vanished for a while. And then it stayed gone, and people keep picking on me about it at school." Grumbling quietly she adds, "Among far too many other things."

She sighs, then tosses her pen aisde and draws her legs forward to cross them before her, adjusting the skirt of her sun dress for modesty. "Why're you here? I thought you didn't like us anymore or something since we never see you."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama listens. Wait. That's right. When her Prism broke...

"...That's." she bites her lip. "My Prism shattered. And it took color with it. We learned a lot of things. Like. Color is the flow of imagination and creativity in the universe. And when our Prisms break, the color disappears. And I went into a coma." she says.

She sighs and grumps.

"Sorry... I guess it isn't my fault, but sorry." she says silently. "I can try to put it back..? If you want?" she offers.

Another pause.

"What!? No! Just. So much stuff happened at once Ayana. Misa-chan.. then Haru-kun broke up with me because he was moving away suddenly.. then Hiroko-chan turned out to be Griselda. Then My Prism was shattered and then I needed time to just think." she admits.

"I'm really sorry..." she says quietly. "You and Ikiko still me a lot to me." she says as she looks over to Sora and head tilts. Huh. Wasn't Sora a little.. confrontational last time she'd seen Sora and Ayana together in the same room?

Sora Hisakata has posed:
"That can't be good, did something happen? All the orange came back, right?" She seems a little unsure, as though part of that period is fogged in her memory, and then she adds, "By the way, I think I've located something I can work with to get myself a new magic book. I'm gonna need some help though, do either of you want to help?"

Ayana has posed:
Ayana tilts her head to one side, ear flickering in thought at Reiko's words. "Sorry you were in a coma," she says quietly. "I didn't know." Now she feels bad. "Anyways, I don't want to be orange again. I like being black better. Orange foxes are normal, black foxes are lucky, and this is how I was made. But ..." she trails off thoughtfully, "well, it would be nice if people at school weren't all mean to me." A glance at Sora, meaningfully irritated, then she admits, "It'd help iif some people hadn't stirred up the gossip several months ago."

But she sighs and looks back to Reiko. "Do you have your prism back? I don't know anything about magic so I probably can't help with that, but I don't want you to be without yours. Even if your fishies taste like soap."

Another wrinkle of her nose, and Ayana looks back to Sora curiously. "Help?" she asks. "What kinda help?"

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama nods. "Yes! I have my prism back and it's better! Naru-chan drew us new Prisms! I also have a new form? and I'm a little older in it? And my wand's a scepter now!" she says with wide eyes. She looks to Sora. "New magic book?" she asks.

"Was there an old one?" she asks. "I mean! Sure I can help!" she bounces on her heels a bit with a grin.

Then she adjusts her glasses because they almost go flying with the bounce.

"Right, what kinda help do you need?"

Sora Hisakata has posed:
"Yeah it was evil and got me to doubt everyone and do things I regret, so people took it away from me." Sora explains, sitting down and leaning back against the pile of clean loundry. She then glances towards Ayana, "I'm sorry. I said some things I shouldn't have, and not all of them I can blame on the Umbral Tome's influences." She sighs, "There's a haunted house, it's the last known location of a powerful magic book, and I think the haunting is the book going haywire. I'd go alone, but I don't think I have the strength to go in alone, let alone seal it."

Ayana has posed:
Ayana sighs at Sora. "I can't seal anything," she points out. "That's what Iki-chan does. But if you want me to come I guess I can. I'm not afraid of spooky scary houses, and you're just a weak human now." Pause. "Wait, are we actually going to give you a magic book again? Are you sure this one isn't going to do bad things to you again?"

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama blinks. "Um. If a book made you like bad. Why would you try another one?" she asks as she scratches her head. "Are you sure this one isn't evil?" she asks. She nods at Ayana's assessment which is the exact same as hers.

"But yeah I can help. If it is bad, I have purifying magic!" she beams. "That's what color energy is anyways."

"But, well. Whether you need it or not, we probably want to stop a haywire book before it gets out of the house too." she says.

"Right?"

Sora Hisakata has posed:
"Because now I'm helpless while my family" glance towards Ayana, "friends" glance towards Reiko, "and girlfriend" glance downwards, "protect people, and I'm just sitting here worrying about to make sure they are okay." Sora explains why she wants a new magic book to Reiko, "And this one is supposed to be different, and this time I'm not hiding from people who I am so if I end up being an idiot they'll notice early, rather than when I'm already planning the destruction of all of Tokyo."

Ayana has posed:
Ayana huffs in frustration at Sora, but doesn't argue. "Just so long as Mama and Papa don't find out about it," she grumbles unhappily. "They'd be mad at you for it even if you're doing good things."

She straightens a little, then observes, "We should really take Iki-chan, too. She'll know best if the book is safe. But I'll help you."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama nods a bit at Sora. Those are good reasons, to her. Because you want to help those closest to you! "Right. We'll bag the book, and then make sure it isn't gonna turn you into a monster or make you evil or something like that." she says quietly.

A tiny koi appears next to her head and nods nods rapidly.

"Right, Ikiko-chan should come, too!" she beams.

A pause.

"Where is she anyways?" she asks. "Just out?"

Sora Hisakata has posed:
"Thanks, guys." Sora picks up the laundry again, "I should get this all sorted before mom starts yelling at me." She points out, not seeming to mind too much, "I'll let you guys know when I've got a time planned. I'll need to talk to Jia, too, I shouldn't leave her out of this." And then she wanders off.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana squints after Sora. Being not constantly at odds with her is still abnormal from the kitsune's perspective. She frowns in thought after her, then turns her head to peer at Reiko. "Iki-chan went to the market. I don't know when she's coming home. I think her being gone so long is punishment for me not doing my history homework. But I hate history."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama waves at Sora. "See you again soon!" she says, waving. She looks over at Ayana and smiles as she walks over and sits besides her. "I can help you! I like school a lot." she says. "School kinda keeps my head busy without thinking about home or my parents too much." she admits.

She peeks at the work and head tilts.

"What is it you're having trouble with?" she asks. "What kind of history?" she asks. "I head.. Edo? Mentioned earlier?" she asks curiously.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana gives Reiko a dubious look. "I'm two grades ahead of you," she points out. "I've already failed one grade, I don't think I should trust an elementary schooler to help with middle school work." But then her expression softens, just a little. "But I guess thanks for the offer. I'll do okay. I actually passed all of my tests at least, so I can go on to the next grade this time."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama frowns. "I do a lot of reading and watch a lot of documentaries." she says. "Cuz Grandpa watches a lot of them. She smiles. "But you're welcome!" she says. "But you shouldn't discount my grade." she says meekly.

"I'm near the top of my class!" she says as she adjusts her glasses.

"Someday I'll be /best in school/." she says. "Just you watch." she insists, with sparkle eyes.

A pause. "Still sorry I haven't visited in so long." she admits. "I mean! I came by just for a visit." she says.

She sulks. "No boyfriend or girlfriend thou." she admits. "Which kinda stinks."

"...I wish Haru didn't have to move." she sighs.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana wrinkles her nose at Ikiko's offer, but she doesn't argue for the moment. Instead, she just shrugs a little. "We'll see. I just gotta get through this year. It's almost over."

Oh but the conversation of boyfriends. Ayana leans over to give Reiko a hug, then suggests, "You could ask Ikiko if she wants to be your girlfriend. I know she likes you. But then I'd have to share her and I'm not sure if I'm okay with that. She's a really good girlfriend, though."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
A few blocks away from the local shopping district, Ikiko sneezes. "I wonder who's talking about me," she murmurs to herself.

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama blinks! "Wha!? No! That'd be mean to you and who... who said girlfriends anyways!?" oh god. Did she.. she did. SHE DID OH NO.

Nooooooooo.

She does accept the hug with a huff, as she grumbles. "Besides. I dunno about dating a werewolf. I watched this movie one time that suggests it's a bad idea." she says.

"Like it had this vampire and werewolf thing going on and there was this girl trying to chosen between one or the other?"

"Ugh I'm super glad vampires don't seem to be real at least."

Ayana has posed:
Ayana pokes Reiko gently in the ribs. "You said girlfriend," she points out, undeterred. "And also," another poke, "werewolves are not bad to date. Iki-chan is the best girlfriend ever." Another poke. "And also, vampires are real." Another poke. "And also, it wouldn't be mean to me unless you took her away from me."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama huffs. "I refuse to believe vampires are real!" she insists. A pause. "Wait. Maybe that's where all the donated blood actually goes to and maybe that's why we don't see them!" she says with wide eyes. She huffs and crosses her arms.

"Ugh fine I said girlfriend I guess but I think it was just a slip of the tongue. There's not a lotta girls I like anyways."

She huffs. "Besides I'm sure my stupid fish would just ruin everything."

One appears in front of her and raspberries.

Ayana has posed:
Almost instinctively, Ayana starts to bite at the fish, then pauses short because ew purification fish taste awful. She raspberries the fish back, then looks at Reiko thoughtfully for a moment. A tilt of her head, then she notes, "Girls are better than boys. Boys are stinky and rude. Girls are nice. But if you don't want to like girls I guess it's your problem."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko's koi are soapy tasting, as Ayana remembers and she actually goes to raise her hands to stop her, but Ayana actually stops short of eating it. She giggles. "Don't forget, they don't taste like actual fish." she says. "But like. Could you imagine if they didn't?"

"It'd be like infinite fish. Kinda." she says.

"Like I could just sit back and throw koi at you?" she says.

She head tilts and shakes her head. "I dunno. I think I like both? I mean..." she sighs a bit. "Not all boys are stinky and rude, you know?" she says. "I mean. Some are. Just like some girls are mean and snotty!" she says.

"But. If I was dating a girl. I dunno. Ikiko isn't really my type...?" she says.

"Sporty... and... active. I'm kinda. Artistic and.. I read a lot of books, and study a lot." she says.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana's ears lay back against her head, and she turns to glare at Reiko. For several moments the fox girl says nothing, simply allowing her feral look of disapproval to speak for her.

Then, just as suddenly, her ears pop back up and she looks away.

"That's stupid," she says as she leans forward to leaf through her homework packet.

"Iki-chan is sporty and active, but I don't see what that has to do with anything," she explains. "She is also creative, caring to animals and people alike, kind, thoughtful, and friendly. She also reads," Ayana points out. "And studies very hard. Just because you do not have everything in common does not mean you are not each other's 'type'."

Oh but she isn't done.

"Ikiko is a wolf," she says, "and Ayana is a fox. Foxes and wolves are never friends. In the wild, wolves eat foxes if they are not careful. But Iki-chan is my best friend, and we love each other very much. Iki-chan wears pants and shorts, Ayana likes dresses and pretty things. Iki-chan likes to read and to garden, Ayana likes to cook and to do mathematics. Iki-chan likes to care for animals, Ayana likes to eat them."

She turns to glare at Reiko again, then asks, "Having a 'type' is stupid. You should either like a person, or not. Do you think Iki-chan is pretty? Is she a good friend? Do you like to do things with her?"

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama frowns and shakes her head. "When. I talked to Haru, he knew stuff about koi and water plants. And we spent a whole day just, talking about koi." she says softly. "If I tried to talk about that stuff to Ikiko..." she says. "She'd probably just nod politely a lot." she says. "And that always makes me feel bad, because I dunno what to talk about they might like..."

"-and it's the other way too? Like. If Ikiko started talking to me about dogs, I... wouldn't know what to say and it'd just be. Nervous stammering. While I flail for my phone trying to look stuff up..."

"And I like Ikiko! and you!" she says spreading her arms wide.

"It's just sometimes I'm a shy nervous wreck. I used to be that a lot before I met Mei. I guess... I'm less so now..." she says.

She kind of sulks.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana rolls her eyes. "Ikiko talks about dogs all the time, and I don't understand," Ayana explains. "I hate dogs. Dogs still hate me. I have never met a real dog that actually liked me." She wrinkles her nose in distaste. "But if Iki-chan wanted me to know something, I'd listen and appreciate her telling me. Or if I wanted to know something to impress her, I'd go research it and bring it up with her later."

Ayana shrugs, then pokes Reiko gently in the tummy. "Stop being nervous," she says, then reaches up to chuck Reiko gently under the chin. "And s top thinking Iki-chan isn't interested. She likes all animals. And a lot of plants. And I like plants, too, because I like to cook."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama sighs a bit and she's poked in the tummy and her chin is chucked as she huffs. "This spring my koi pond is gonna be done. The enclosure is done. The only thing to do is to prepare the water and let it acclimate and get it right, which can take a bit. Also letting the plants root so the koi can't just dig em back up easily. Cuz they like to root around the bottom." she says.

"Grandpa's gonna take me to the koi breeder soon, too. He knows one from his time in the army-- well. He became one. After the army!" she says.

She sighs a bit.

"Just. Stuff's been bothering me which wouldn't make me good company anyways on like a date? Like. Sumire is back in town. She was part of our game, too..." she says.

"Which means she's the Purple Keeper. And..."

"Well I tried to tell her about this but she wouldn't believe me. I even transformed and she thought it was just a costume and make up and stuff." she sputters.

"Well I dunno. Maybe I'll try it." she says.

"I mean. She's gotta be okay with it too."

"I mean. A couple dates couldn't hurt, could it?" she asks. "Like! I can get free tickets to any of Sumire's concerts!" she says. "She's The Indigo Angel Tenshi! An idol singer!" she says. A pause.

"Does Ikiko even like that kinda music..." she thinks.

She ughs and just slumps forward against Ayana. "So things are better with you and Sora...?" she asks.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana listens, ears twitching to and fro independently and interestedly. She doesn't interrupt; merely listens politely as Reiko explains her current frustrations. When Reiko leans against her, Ayana's ears both straighten up suddenly, and she puts her arms around the smaller girl. For a moment she looks uncertain of herself, but then she shifts her weight a little, and pulls Reiko in to a legitimate hug.

"You don't have to date Iki-chan," Ayana points out gently. "I'm just saying that your criteria for what makes a good girlfriend or boyfriend is stupid. But also, I'm telling you that if you want to take Iki-chan to a date, I'll only be a little jealous. I want her to be happy, and you to be happy."

Of Sumire, she knows nothing, and so she says nothing. Instead, she dwells on the question with Sora, eyes drifting towards the room the darker Hisakata disappeared to. "I'm not sure," she admits. "Maybe."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama enjoys the hug. It's been a terrible few months. Hugs make everything better.

"Well I know I don't. But it might be fun." she says. "But eh, we'll see. But you're right. I don't have to." she says. "I just know that she's special to you? and like saying straight no kinda feels like a putdown too." she admits.

"Putting people down can be lame even when you don't mean it."

"I miss Mei-chan... if she isn't back by the end of this year I think I might finally just kinda give in to my parents wanting me at Infinity." she says.

"There I can take Art as a major and have classes around that." she says.

"And if Mei ever comes back I can switch back easily enough! It's not like I can't ace Seishou's stuff already." she says.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana's nose wrinkles a little more at this, but she doesn't explain it. Instead, she just continues to hug the orange-haired girl, thoughtfulness in her expression. Quiet reigns for a long few moments, and then Ayana leans down to kiss Reiko gently on the cheek. "Do what makes you happy," she explains. "That's what Iki-chan always says. So if going to Infinity will make you happier then you should do that. Besides, Saito-senpai used to work at Infinity, and he's the only boy I know who isn't a stinky jerkface."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama head tilts, she doesn't know any Saito-senpai. She didn't know Kunzite by that name. She still thinks. "It just depends. Being around Mei makes me happy... but she's off trying to find her mom..." she says. "I text every night! We talk. I think she misses here too, but she misses her mom more." she says.

"I mean that makes sense. Just. Kinda wish she was back here, too." she admits.

"So in the meantime I guess I can make... mom and dad happy..." she sighs at this. "-and finally accept the enroll after I get back that letter again. Like every grade." she says.

A pause. "But I thought you said all boys were stinky!" she says. "See, there can be exceptions!" she insists.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana sighs and pats Reiko on the head. "Saito-senpai is different. He's technically a boy, but I don't think he's like other boys. I watched him die," she explains, "and when he came back, he smelled very different. Like roses and loam. Like sunrise and hardwood. He smells like growing things. Like life itself. I have never smelled a person who smells anything like he does. I don't think he's entirely human. So then he's not really a boy. He just sorta resembles one."

Ayana wrinkles her nose in thought, then asks, "So if you're going to go to Infinity, does this mean we won't ever see you after school again? What about your friends? All the other color peoples?"

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama sighs and nods. "You're right on that." she says. "I mean Hoshi and Kaeru. Sumire goes to Verone because she's a rich person and her mom wants her to go to a rich person school." she rolls her eyes. "Hoshi-chan's a rich person and SHE goes to public school!" she huffs.

"I just. nrg."

"I just really miss Mei-chan......." she admits.

"She left me in charge and wanted me to try to keep the Prisms from who they belonged too and I failed that AND let Griselda smash my Orange Prism." she says.

"I bet she's disappointed in me for that. She'd had noticed.".

"I want to see her write again and I wanna draw what she writes!" she says.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana tilts her head a little, then squeezes Reiko one more time. "Maybe she has learned that you can't run away from this," the kitsune observes. "Maybe she wouldn't be disappointed after all. After all, the bad guys are real and really scary and keeping them from their crystals actually makes the bad guys more powerful, right? So ... you need their help, and Mei was wrong."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama sighs. "Sumire's gonna hate it when her Prism finally activates." she says. "She's.. very... um. She's kinda confrontational?" she asks. "Like the kinda girl who puts up a sweet front but then she's yelling when she doesn't get her way. She really is still a good person just..." she sighs.R
"Maybe you're right!" she says.

"I mean. Mei-chan would had told me if that was the case." she says.

"I mean. She knows about Momo at least and she didn't yell at me. She actually /called/ over that one though instead of text." she admits.

"But yeah. Griselda is getting scarier now I guess." she sulks.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana pets Reiko's head a little more, then doesn't stop at just one pet; she keeps petting, like an owner soothing an animal. Like Ikiko soothing Ayana. "I don't know her," Ayana says, "but it sounds like your friend is not stupid, like me. She probably understands." Obviously she must mean Mei, not Sumire. "And the other one sounds like she is stupid like me. She'll figure it out eventually. But you should stop being so nervous and beating yourself up. It doesn't help."

Reiko Touyama has posed:
Reiko Touyama sighs and gives a series of nods. "Yeah you're right. I'm a leader, I should act like it! Well. I try to." she says as she sighs. Then her phone rings. It's kinda like a splashing water sound. She answers.

"Oh, okay Grandpa, I'll head home!" she says.

"Dinner's almost on, I should go." she laments.

"I'll try not to be a stranger anymore!" she says. "Now that things have calmed down..." she says.