View source for 2499/Not Having A Good Month

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/02/22
|Location=Naru's apartment
|Synopsis=Kukai-in-Lacrima's-body visits OSA-P. If nothing else, Naru is used to being drained. To the point where she can have extensive conversations with Kukai and Kyouko on the best foods for recovery.
|Cast of Characters=127,141,78
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>The apartment sits above the jewelry store, and the stairs to get to it afford a private entrance. Naru's been texting with Kukai, and with Kyouko, and ultimately the decision was made to meet at her mom's place. Where, fortunately, her Mom is out for the evening, and the store is closed. Not a whole lot of extra people around, which is perfect.<br /><br />Naru is home alone just yet, puttering around the kitchen, making herself a coffee and getting a snack. Kyouko's on her way over, and she's honestly not /entirely/ certain that she'll get Kukai, no matter what body he's currently sporting.

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai Souma, trapped within the body of Norie Okana (heretofore referred to as Kukai-N), walked down the street towards the jewelry store and the apartment above it. She hated herself for what she had in mind, for what she was going to do, and how much she was looking forward to it. The growl in her stomach had turned into a steady rumble. <br /><br /> She reached the door to the staircase, and presses the buzzer, calling up to the apartment. "....Naru? It's... it's me. Is it safe to come in?" There is a dead, cold fear in her stomach of anything red right now, because it may be followed up with a dead, cold length of enchanted steel.

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It turns out, in fact, that Kyouko arrives very shortly after Kukai. So shortly, in fact, that even as Kukai-N is speaking into the intercom thing, she walks right up behind him. There is some red- her hair and eyes don't change color when she henshins. But she isn't ''in'' henshin, so it's a lot less red than there might have been. Instead, she's wearing jeans and a black and blue hooded sweatshirt.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hey." Is the greeting she gives to what looks like Lacrima. Her tone is perhaps some combination of wary and impassive. Naru has briefed her on the situation, of course, but she's not entirely sure she buys it. Though she ''is'' pretty sure that she'll be able to tell pretty quickly, because she's had enough interactions with Lacrima, at least, to be pretty confident in her ability to tell the vampire girl and Kukai apart, even if just by their words and actions.

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N leans against the door as she waits for Naru to answer, and doesn't really notice anyone coming up behind her. The sound of a voice behind her practically makes her want to leap up the door, but instead she ends up cowering in the stoop, staring at Kyouko for a long moment. <br /><br /> "...Kyou..ko. Kyouko. Oh. Um. I... did Naru tell you to come over? And explain things? I..." She seems terrified of the red-head, even if she's not as red as usual. "This is not what I wanted to be doing today. Ever."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko regards the cowering Kukai-N with a rather impassive expression. She doesn't look ''pleased'' by any stretch of the imagination, but nor does she look enraged. She isn't in henshin either, which should forstall fears of immidiate stabbing at least. "She told me what was up. I asked to come over." She clarifies. She eyes the apparent-girl for a few more moments.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I can't say I'm happy about the idea." She says, finally, "But if you really are Kukai in there, I also don't want you to.. starve, or whatever. And I figure, at least if I'm here, if something starts to go south I can.. intervene." That's where the potential stabbing would come in, most likely.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Immaterial of the fact that Kyouko has a key, Naru's voice emerges over the intercom only a moment later. "C'mon up you two." She, at least, sounds calm and relaxed about the whole deal.<br /><br />The apartment is as neat and almost sterile as ever. Very few personal items out in the main living area, other than Naru's school books and her sketchbook on the coffee table. There's the smell of coffee in the apartment already. "Either of you want anything? Thanks for coming over, Kukai." Naru looks over, making the effort to use the right name, in spite of the wrong body.

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N looks back at the door as it unlocks, and then opens it, skittering inside and trying to stay away from Kyouko. <br /><br /> She heads up the staircase to the apartment, looking around the sterile apartment, rubbing her head. "Huh... wow, no art or anything? Fun." She shakes her head and then looks over at Naru. "No... I don't get anything good out of coffee now. It sucks, like everything else." <br /><br /> She sits down, looking around the apartment some more, trying not to look at Kyouko or Naru either one.

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko isn't quite sure whether to feel flattered or insulted by how terrified of her Kukai-N seems to be. Lacrima would have a reason, it's true, but if it's Kukai in there, she wonders what sorts of stories get told about her amongst the Guardians. Part of her is pleased. Part of her is mildly annoyed. Either way though, she says nothing, climbing the now-familiar stairs to the apartment behind Kukai-N, not making any effort to hamper her.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once inside, she casts an eye at the 'girl' as she sits down, but crosses over to give Naru a kiss on the cheek. "I don't get thanks for coming?" She asks, with somewhat sardonic humor, before leaning back on the counter and crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm okay for the moment, thanks."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"My room has the art." Naru explains to Kukai-N as she slips an arm around Kyouko's waist a moment. There's a quick kiss, a soft murmur and then she's heading over to settle on the couch. "Thanks for coming over, Kyouko." She grins to the puella.<br /><br />"So how long has this been going on?" Naru asks of Kukai-N, giving a little shake of her head. "You are /not/ having a good month, are you?"

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N is more concerned with Kyouko's general background as 'ultra-strong murderPuella' than anything he's heard particularly. For now, she sighs and rubs her arms, looking down, knowing why she's here. <br /><br /> "Oh. ...I should've guessed." Kukai-N looks over at the two of them, watching them and envying their closeness. "Oh. Uh? A few days. Not .. long. Too long. Way too long." She looks down at one hand. "I think I liked the month where I died better."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko remains where she is in the kitchen area as Naru moves over to settle on the couch, though as Naru takes the time to speak softly to her, she looks a little more relaxed.. though she still wears a frown, it's more contemplative than angry. She understands ''why'' Naru would want to help Kukai in this way, even if she wishes there were some other way to help instead.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She doesn't interrupt as Naru and Kukai talk, but she does listen. She isn't sure about the whole story- Naru didn't give her details in the text messages they exchange, but she'll either pick it up by listening, or ask later.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Seriously?" Naru blinks at Kukai-N and shakes her head, although what, exactly, she's incredulous about is likely unclear for a moment. "I /swear/.. I am like the only one of my friends who has never been dead. Sheesh."<br /><br />"A few days is probably more than enough to feel like forever. Does Sakura have any thoughts on how to fix it?" Naru comments thoughtfully.<br /><br />A little breath and then Naru gets to the meat of the issue, so to speak. "So how comfortable are you with draining energy? I can just offer you my hand if you'd like. Try and leave me conscious, if you would." She seems quietly confident about the whole procedure. "Lacrima's drain is uncomfortable, but not unreasonably painful." Which probably means it /is/ painful, but she's not going to admit that in the current circumstances.

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N snorts. "Don't look forward to it or anything. It was not good." She leans back against the couch and rolls her eyes. "Sakura collapsed when she tried to fix it. She said something about overworking the card - something silly like that. She went to go rest or something but I'm going to shake it out of her if she won't help soon." <br /><br /> She looks over at Naru and groans. "I'm not comfortable about draining anybody at all. It sucks. But I can do it. And I can leave people conscious, at least. And... ugh. I..." She pulls her legs up under her on the couch. "I don't want to think about hurting anybody..."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's a faint, audible groan from Kyouko at the mention of Sakura and a card being behind this. Of ''course'', she should have guessed. She doesn't actually say anything, but the inarticulate sound of annoyance should make her opinion on the matter pretty clear without the need for words.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Listen," She says, as Kukai-N seems to hesitate and waffle over the idea of hurting people. "If you need to do it, just do it, alright? Naru offered 'cuz she knows she can take it and then you don't have to hurt anybody who doesn't understand. Lotsa things hurt, but are for a good reason- like getting a shot at the doctor, or whatever." Or taking a bullet for your friend, though she doesn't say that out loud. "The sooner you get it over with, the happier everyone will be."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"And as much as everyone hates to hear me admit it.. I'm used to drain." Naru adds to Kyouko's pointed commentary. "If I wasn't comfortable with this, I wouldnt have offered." She holds her hand out in offer to Kukai-N. "You'll feel better, or at least more stable and in control, after you've got a good dose of energy. Starving one's self, food or energy, just ends badly all around."

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N looks over at Kyouko and nods at the groan. She feels much the same way. <br /><br /> She looks up as Kyouko starts talking, then frowns. "... yeah. I know. I just hate making anybody feel like I'm hurting them on purpose, even if there's a good reason behind it. I..." <br /><br /> She turns to look at Naru, then lets out a breath. "I understand. Yeah... you're both right. OK." She reaches over, taking Naru's hand, and closes her eyes. "...Drain." Both life and magic energy begin seeping out of Naru's body into Kukai-N, funnelling into the little dark energy girl. She lets out a long, slow breath she was holding and closes her eyes for a moment, luxuriating in the feeling of not being starving anymore. <br /><br /> The drain keeps going for long moments, several long moments, many long moments, until Kukai-N finally jerks herself away, trembling all over. "Mmmph..."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're not hurting them on purpose." Kyouko says, to Kukai-N. "You're feeding to keep yourself alive and sane. The hurting is an unfortunate side-effect. But it ain't like hurting them is the point. That makes a good deal of difference."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then Kukai is taking Naru's hand, and doing her thing. Kyouko's eyes narrow, and there's a tenseness to her body- clearly unhappy with the sight of her love being drained of her energy, but she manages to stay where she is throughout the procedure.. letting out a faint sigh of relief when Kukai-N jerks her hand away on her own before Kyouko has to interfere.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"It's alright." Naru reassures quietly, closing her eyes and taking slow breaths as the icy discomfort of Lacrima's drain is felt again. She doesn't flinch away, no outward signs of it being painful. "You're doing fine, Kukai." She murmurs softly, as it goes on.. and on..<br /><br />Naru manages not to slump as Kukai-N jerks away, her eyes flickering open and she draws her hand back, folding it into her lap before anyone notices that its shaking. "Better?"

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N nods faintly at Kyouko as she talks, hand gripping onto Naru's as she focuses on the drain. The energy does not come easily. In fact, it comes hard, like Naru is naturally resisting the drain. Finally she gets enough and releases Naru's hand. <br /><br /> She shakes her hand and rolls her neck, feeling the constant need for energy gone for now. "... better. I feel like I've been eating beef jerky for an hour. You were resisting me for some reason. I think." She eyes Kyouko. "I'm good now."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko watches intently the whole while, as the drain occurs. It does seem to be lasting a long time. But she makes herself stay still, right where she is, though her expression is far from a happy one.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When it's over, she pushes off of the counter and walks over. She does ''not'' rush, in a way that looks entirely deliberate. She sits down on the couch next to Naru, on the other side from where Kukai-N is, and pulls one of Naru's hands into her own, clasping it in both of hers. She can't give her own energy to replace what was taken, but it seems like maybe she wish she could.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She nods to Kukai-N. "Good."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I.. hunh." Naru frowns a touch. "I wasn't trying to resist. Sorry about that." She leans a little into Kyouko as the girl sits next to her, giving their joined hands a little squeeze.<br /><br />"Beef jerky sounds good." Naru admits with a little grin. "Although I've already experimented with the best choices for food post-drain, and beef jerky isn't it, not for me at least." She is quiet a moment. "How is Norie doing, do you know?"

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N looks at the two of them, then sighs and nods, stretching. "... part of the problem is that I'm having to supply energy to Daichi, and he's not doing good. If I can't change back soon he might... vanish. And that would be bad. Very very bad." <br /><br /> Kukai-N wraps her arms around herself. "And if you say so. I'd be surprised if you didn't do it unconsciously. I don't blame you too much." She frowns more, looking grumpy. "As for Norie? She's... well. She's ok. She went and found Nagihiko, though, and we had a big yelling fit on text. I hope they didn't try any smooching or anything while I was busy. But I bet they did. Dammit."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko quirks a brow at Kukai's words, accepting Naru's lean without comment. She wasn't aware that Charas could just vanish like that- then again, the current situation is hardly a typical one, so maybe she shouldn't be expected to.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, a faint rolling of eyes at Kukai-N's grumping about what Norie is doing with his actual body. "Hopefully neither of them would be that cruel." She says, firmly. "I mean, I imagine it's pretty obvious it ain't you behind the wheel of your body at the moment, if this," A vague gesture at the girl, "Is anything to go by. It should be even more obvious to Nagihiko." She'd like to think that if somebody else was driving Naru's body around, she'd be able to tell pretty instantly, although she also hopes she never has occasion to test that ability.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, a glance down at Naru. "What ''is'' the best choice for food post-drain? I can get it for you."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Vanishing would be bad, yes." Naru agrees as she relaxes into Kyouko, faintly apologetic for the PDA, but not enough to stop. "Why would they be smooching?" She gestures to what Kyouko said. "Exactly. It's fairly obvious with some conversation that you're not Norie."<br /><br />"Well consciously, I wasn't trying to resist." Naru points out. "Perhaps it was unconscious. I've not actually had opportunity to discuss it with someone draining me in a really long time. My last drains were all while I was asleep, via nightmare." The fact that Naru can calmly discuss various aspects of being drained says a lot about her atittudes towards it.<br /><br />"Mmm?" Naru tips her head to look up at Kyouko. "Sugar to start, to combat the immediate crash, then fat and protein to have longer lasting replenshing. Basically almost exactly the same as post-race nutrition, just taken to an extreme. It's why I pretty much always have both energy gels and protein bars in my satchel. I figured ice cream would somehow suffice, and be far tastier than gels."

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N hmms and then glares, sideeye, at Kyouko's rolling eyes. "I don't know how they would be. This is the first time Norie has had an actual body in months or more. I hope they aren't doing anything, but I can't help but expect the worst right now." She sighs and then nods. "Well they told each other what was going on. And they told Kunzite and.. and some other people. I forget all. I'm going to wake up in a couple of days and Airi and all the other new folks are going to know what's going on. I'm going to be infuriated if they embarrass me like that." <br /><br /> She glances over at Naru and then shrugs. "I dunno why they'd be smooching but... and yeah. I guess it was unconscious. You didn't act like you were fighting. So..." <br /><br /> Kukai-N looks over and peers at Naru's bag. "Do you carry that sort of thing around normally?"

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Smooching takes two people," Kyouko points out, then, with a faint shudder, "Unless you're Unmei. My point is just that just because Norie might be out of control doesn't mean she can do whatever she wants." A shrug, and then she looks down to Naru. Leaning hardly even counts as PDA, but it's true that they are generally not the most publically expressive of couples.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You have ice cream, then?" Kyouko infers from Naru's statement, and after a moment disentangles herself, settling Naru against the couch before walking over to the freezer in the kitchen to check for the existence of ice cream. She looks back over her shoulder as she does so. "You want some, too?" This, to Kukai-N.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It goes without saying that Kyouko would be having some.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Yes." Naru nods to Kukai-N at the question about if she carries gels and protein bars with her normally. "Always. Generally that combination means that I can make it back here, or to ECFH before I pass out. Passing out on public transit sucks." Her tone says that she speaks from experience. She moves as Kyouko untangles herself, resettling back on the couch in the other girl's absence, willing to let Kyouko fetch the ice cream. "Thanks, love." She calls over.<br /><br />Ice cream is present. Two flavours even, mango and vanilla.<br /><br />"Who is Airi?" Naru asks, a little furrow of her brow as she tries to put names to people. "Do I know Airi?"

:'''{{#var:141|Sky Jack| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai-N hmphs, then growls as she mentions Unmei. "...I don't think she's out of control. Just... happy, for once. I hope she's willing to switch back." She grumbles and then looks up at the two of them as they walk around. "No... actually, I should be going. Thank you Naru. I appreciate this." <br /><br /> Kukai-N shrugs. "Airi's a new Chara Bearer. It's a long story. I'll tell you more later. For now you should rest. Have a good evening..." She heads for the door, letting the couple have their night.

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Being willing shouldn't have anything to do with it." Kyouko points out, as she gets out the ice cream and starts scooping it into a couple of bowls. "You can't just escape your problems by foisting them onto other people."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She glances up as Kukai-N starts to take her leave. "Good luck." She doesn't say anything else- she knows Naru will offer more help if it's possible to give.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She returns to the couch with two bowls of ice cream, one for her (all vanilla) and one for Naru with some of each. Sitting back down next to her, she passes the one over before looking up one last time as Kukai-N exits. "Goodnight. And.. I'm glad Naru was able to help you." She offers a smile to Naru at the same time, along with the ice cream.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she digs in.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I agree with Kyouko, there's not much in the way of 'willing' here, when it's putting things back to how they should be." Naru explains as she accepts her ice cream.<br /><br />"I'll look forward to hearing it, later." Naru agrees on story time being later. Rest, and ice cream, are understandably appealing. "If you need more, let me know. I will say no if I can't spare it, don't fear that. Good night, Kukai."
}}