Scene #2634: Talk To Me?

Owner	Pose
Rashmi Terios	It has been a long, long day, but it's not over yet. The interaction with New Moon, and her Dark-poisoned and bullying demeanor was not lost on Rashmi, nor its apparent effect on Amy. So while Amy said she'd like to just go home... A little gentle pressure to get her friend to join her for post-healing takoyaki seemed in order. Maybe she could help with that, too. It would be nice, if she could. Solvable problems have become almost as good as rest lately. "My treat," she says as the pair of them land in an alley across from the stall. The Veil does a lot of good work, but why strain it more than necessary? They can just be cosplayers out for late-night snacks after all. "So look... I know I was focused on that... whole thing. But New Moon seemed to leave you pretty rough. Talk to me about it?"
Amy Faust	Letting Rashmi carry her down was simpler than trying to land the rocket here. Amy can call the rocket to get her when they return to the dorms. She dehenshins, but when Rashmi ''doesn't,'' and just gives a shrug of 'why not'... Well, okay, they can be cosplayers! Amy rehenshins, ending up in the dragon-knight costume that... Rashmi actually hasn't seen yet! It certainly looks cosplayish. "Well..." she starts, and inclines her head a bit, staring into space and gatherng thoughts. Then she looks at Rashmi, confused and curious. "...Dealing with her isn't rough for you? And it must be for Tuxedo Mask, though for different reasons... but like... I guess you didn't see her fight. She's more powerful than us, like Seriss is. Maybe even tougher than Seriss. She could feel slighted and turn on us at any time. Heck, she was ''genuinely capable'' of believing that... so Catra cut her hair, right? And her revenge was to cut Catra's hair back, understandable enough. But she ''broke Catra's knees'' because she needed Catra to lean over so she could do it right. Partly because Mamoru was there to heal her after, but... she really does believe that's reasonable, right now. Mamoru read her thoughts about it, and I saw his memory of reading those thoughts. So like... she's potentially dangerous." Amy rolls her eyes and takes a breath, anticipating a reply. "'If annoyed,' sure, but I'm someone who annoys ''regular'' people all the time without meaning to. I know better than to think I... can, like, absolutely avoid messing up with her. Heck, she coulda flown off the handle at the suggestion of endangering Wicked Lady, now that I think of it, even though we ultimately didn't push for that. She stayed calm ''that'' time, but..." Amy looks away down at the ground. "...and... it's different, than like, a nice person who's strong but clumsy or something. She's not ''nice'', right now, Dark Energy..." Amy sighs, feeling like the explanation isn't going anywhere. She looks back at Rashmi. "That doesn't make you uncomfortable, too?"
Rashmi Terios	"Oh that is such a cute outfit," Rashmi cannot help but expclaim when Amy decides to re-henshin. And on the walk to the stall, she is listening very well. And it seems a good deal has happened that she didn't know about, if her shock at breaking Catra's knees is any indication. When her hands finally come down from her mouth at that news, there's still more to say. A lot, and a good deal of it has to do with New Moon's absolute capriciousness, as well as her strength. But Amy's bracketing questions are very good ones. "...No, actually... it does bother me. That's why... hm. Okay so-- actually hang on," she says, and turns to the stall owner. "One classic, one cheese, and an apple cinnamon? And whatever she wants." Turns out, 'takoyaki' is actually as variable in Japan as 'bread' is, complete with dessert varieties. Who knew? Once the food is got, she moves away a bit, to allow the conversation to continue. "...So I don't... treat conversations with Dark Lieutenants like I do normal people. That's kind of why I was so focused, because for you it's like being around a bully who is acting like a bullying jerk... For me it's more like a bomb I have to defuse. So I absolutely get how it bothered you, and how you'd feel scared and nervous the whole time. I did too... I just know that there's always a safe path through, you just have to find it. And I was right; if you find a way to make it about how it's good for Wicked Lady, everything's fine." One sauce-covered octopus ball disappears, and she mulls over the topic a bit more. "It always bothers me when I have to deal with people like that. It's terrifying, because they are like an unexploded bomb. But bombs can be defused, y'know?"
Amy Faust	At being told the cosplay is cute Amy immediately can't help smiling and she fidgets with her fingers together and glances away and the end of her tail is definitely wagging. "Thanks! I mean, it's cosplay, I didn't come up with it, but... thanks!" And through the subsequent talk the lower half or so of the tail ''does'' move with her emotions, drooping, or lifting and wagging, or lashing with worry as she frets. She talks, and they walk to the takoyaki stand, and Rashmi pauses to order. "Umm... I'll try cheese and apple cinnamon too, and uhhhhh... I guesss..." she's looking between mushroom and shrimp ones. "shrimp." She briefly wonders, "Wait, how are you going to--" pay in henshin, but oh right Nicomachaea has her purse/wallet in storage no doubt. Handy! Rashmi explains her own outlook on the interaction while Amy chews on a takoyaki. "I mean, in this case, not exactly a bully, but... she ''could'' bully at any moment." She pouts a bit at the comment about a safe path through. "Easy for you to say. I was ''never'' able to say the right thing to bullies, let alone ones hopped up on dark energy." Make it about Wicked Lady? "You say that. But she could notice that's what we're doing and get mad..." Amy sighs. "Although I guess... during the food fight she and Wicked Lady did show a certain willingness to play along with even ''bad'' acting... so maybe they're disposed to do that, but can I really ''trust'' it?" "Anyway, maybe ''you'' can defuse it... But I'm like... I've got metaphorically clumsy hands. I'm gonna bump the wrong wire." But then she looks less sour and a bit more thoughtful. "...I guess, at least, she's not going to ''kill'' me. And I can get healed up after. It's not like she's going say stuff to make teachers blame me and other students blame me or make fun of me again and again... If I look at it that way, I guess it ''is'' less terrifying than a bully. I mean, can turn off pain..." Though she looks like she finds being beat up distasteful, even if she wouldn't feel the pain. She pops another pastry ball in her mouth while listening to the response. "Huh! Apple cinnamon goes with it better than I'd have thought..."
Rashmi Terios	"I get that too," Rashmi says gently. "I saw you wince when I apologized, by the way... which I probably would have too if it was you saying it. But you gotta remember, Amy-chan... I was bullied a lot too, and my defense was just disappearing into the background. People can't come for you if they don't notice you, kind of thing. But just because it's not healthy, doesn't mean I can't use it. I just have to not believe it, because it's not a true thing. It's just... what you say to someone who's complaining about you needing to interrupt her for your injuries." Shaking her head, she pays due attention to her dessert takoyaki, eyebrows rising. "Wow yeah this is really good... But like... Amy-chan honestly a lot of that fear comes from what you expect to happen based on how it did happen before. And I'm not saying that to say 'stop it,' but I do want you to get out of your own head enough to see a thing for what it is. Because once you understand something, you can face it. And trust me... Dark Generals aren't close to the kind of hurt a memory can bring."
Amy Faust	Amy's mouth twitches slightly when called out on her earlier response, but nods at 'I would have too.' "Vanishing was never an option for me." she notes, bitterly. "Well... maybe it would be now, sort of. I can be small, and maybe quieter, but..." She shakes her head. "Isn't that how you get rumors started about you? That you think you're too good for everyone to interact with, or something..." She looks away, a bit embarassed. "Or is that just in manga. Sorry. There's a pretty good one that uh, like, ''just'' got to the flashback of that sort of thing happening, showing us over chapters how the terrible misunderstandings that set things up at the start happened..." Ahem. Anyway... She looks back at Rashmi. "I don't understand ''regular'' people, and I'm gonna understand a dark general?" She clenches a fist. "That's ''why'' people like that are scary! They understand people, by skill or instinct, better than I ever will! They'll warp social situations with 4D chess moves I can't even see and come out smelling like a rose with them and everyone else convinced they're in the right and that I'm in the wrong! Logic and reason are ''nothing'' to people who've listened to someone like that!" She unclenches her fist and tries to relax slightly. "But... this ''is'' different. I might not convince ''her'', but she wouldn't convince ''you''." She folds one arm across her chest and props her elbow on it, she'd cross her arms but she's still holding the last takoyaki, and looks away again. "But even Tuxedo Mask was convinced I shouldn't have fought her when she demanded Catra to bow before her. He wasn't... turned against me, but..." she shakes her head and frowns. "I don't like it. I don't like that people can do that. Radiant Heart hasn't had people like that. That's part of why it's special. But the rest of the world..." She shakes her head again, "That's part of why I don't have a place out there. I can't deal with this. It's like I'm blind and could step out in front of a car without ever knowing... but you can't get a seeing-eye-dog for this."
Rashmi Terios	"Art imitates life," Rashmi chuckles. "It's never a direct translation, and lots of stuff gets dialed way up for drama. But Amy-chan... I think half the reason you don't understand people is because like... You don't actually question much, when it comes to people. Like you tell me New Moon broke Catra's knees to make it easier to cut her hair and that's completely horrible, but then you tell me Tuxedo Mask said 'hold up' and all I can think is 'Why would he say that?' Because that tells me there's some really weird stuff going on behind all the horrible that would probably make it make more sense. But you think of it in terms of 'he wasn't turned against me' and that tells me that you're not interested in the whys. Which... I mean that's a really really hard road to understand people, if you're not interested in what's going on behind the, uh... masks." Working a little more on her cheese skewer, she tilts her head. "I think you do have a place out there, Amy-chan. But what I think only matters if you can think it too. People are making space for you, you know... Places you could occupy, and be who you are safely."
Amy Faust	Amy raises an eyebrow curiously at the comment that she doesn't question much... but when Rashmi goes 'there must be a reason' she starts looking increasingly worried and scared as Rashmi goes on. Instincts scream to run to safety, but the damned impulse to ''explain'', which has doomed her countless time, is so ''strong''-- perhaps because some part of her has hope that others are ultimately reasonable, but in this case she ''does'' have more information --The explanation spills forth in a desperate torrent of words, "Cutting her hair is a big deal! Nobody can heal ''hair'', And Catra did it, and cut her car, because New Moon reminded her of how she was always treated like garbage in her own world, and it hurt her more deeply than New Moon knows and she overreacted and 'New Moon'' overreacted back, and Tuxedo Mask ''suspected'' Catra was overreacting and ''knew'' New Moon was just trying to cut her hair and communicating it so badly and he wanted it to be over with quickly and I wasted a fifth of Melona's grief seed trying to fight her and, and," it's so uncertain where this conversation will go, she just wants to feel safe again, she steps back and turns away and crouches down with her elbow on her knees and her tail curled around her as best it can, "I can't ''see'' behind their masks! I only know ''this time'' because Mamoru ''told me'' and ''he'' read New Moon's mind! Because he's ''special'', people don't normally ''answer questions'' they say stop bothering me haven't you done enough already! My friends are ''special'' because, because you'll tell me, things like this--" "--but New Moon's not my friend! She's someone from the future who never knew me, one of the senshi who's lived a thousand years in a totally different world or Zoicite's or Jadeite's reincarnation who never knew anything else!"
Rashmi Terios	Where the conversation goes is, Rashmi listens and nods and listens and nods and when Amy turns away and drops to her haunches, Rashmi simply crouches down next to her and hugs the Puella. "So what you're saying is, the most likely explanation is... Catra-chan went on reflex from her hurt and did not stop to consider if she could actually beat New Moon, and Tuxedo Mask was trying to keep you from making the same mistake, and he couldn't. But in the moment, all you saw was 'bad thing happening, must stop the bad thing' and you didn't stop to go 'Can I stop the bad thing?'" Chuckling quietly, she squeezes Amy's shoulders. "And I mean... that's the kind of impulse that makes you really suited to being a mahou, Amy-chan... But y'know? We kinda like you being around, and maybe want you to not consider your life a fair trade for everything? Which is rich coming from me tonight, but like... We were already getting desperate, and stopping her took priority." With that, she tilts her head. "I don't know who New Moon is either. But it honestly doesn't matter, right now. What matters is she's dangerous, and impulsive, more than most. Which means try not to find yourself in situations where you have to cross her until the wedding, at which point we absolutely unload on her and purify her so hard she forgets how to be annoyed at mosquitoes."
Amy Faust	Surprise hug! But a welcome one. And not really a surprise if she thought about it, but she's not modeling Rashmi right now, she's freaking out. Amanda stiffens, and then relaxes, and then leans into Rashmi, eyes a bit watery when instead of 'you should know better' she's told it makes her a good magical girl, and they like having her around, and she hugs Rashmi back. And just, is quiet a moment as she calms down. "...But that's ''why'' it is." It surprises her, how almost-crying her voice sounds. But she has to press on. "I wasn't s'posed to ''get'' this, but I'm really good at it, or really suited for it anyway, but not for... I can't... I can't do that stuff, and you have to to be in the world. So of ''course'' to save any of you... All I have is to live at Mamoru's apartment building because he's so generous. You... you're gonna... you're gonna fight to change the world, and Usagi's gonna be a mom, you have to..." she sobs. "I'm trying. I'm trying not to bother New Moon. She keeps ''showing up'' and I'm around Mamoru and I don't know what she's gonna do it's not like ''I'' control if she does something I gotta stop." She unhugs, and steps back, and pops the last takoyaki ball in her mouth so she can drop the stick and conjure a handkerchief to blow her nose in.
Rashmi Terios	"Amy-chan," Rashmi says gently. "You could. You really could be out in the world, no matter what happened before. You've been beat up so hard because the world isn't built to be helpful to you, and it's gonna be hard to move past that... But you can. You have a second chance and that's so unbelievably rare and miraculous and even if you don't think your own life is worth fighting for I do and I'm gonna fight like hell until I don't have to. Until you're ready to fight for you too." Another squeeze, at which point Amy moves away and Rashmi looses her grip to let it happen. "So... be more tactical (strategy) and not tactical (weapon) please? That's all I'm asking."
Amy Faust	...even if you don't think your own life is worth fighting for I do and I'm gonna fight like hell... Amy's struck speechless and can only almost-sob a couple more times. She doesn't know what to say to that. Start by being more tactical. "...I'll try. I'm not.... I can't think about it right now, this minute I mean, but... but... it doesn't have to be alone, right? Can we also plan ''around'' me being bad at this?" She wipes her eyes. And looks into Rashmi's. "Thank you. I... it means a lot. To have someone say... to hear that. And... and I guess Mamoru was saying that too, with his offer..." She's going to have to fight so hard, and not the kind she's good at. It sounds so overwhelming and monumental she can't imagine succeeding. Maybe things will be easier -- in some ways -- because she's a cute girl this time, but she can't help but feel that might be ''worse'' in its own way, knowing ''who'' she is mattered so little... ...But ''who'' she is is enough for Rashmi to fight for. And her friends, too. And if ''that's'' true... maybe the cute girl thing just is an advantage? Like being good at (some) math, or perfect pitch, or magical powers. Some people are shallow, but maybe not the whole world... And if it ''does'' put her in a better situation, she can be aware of that and fight for those who don't, and be kind... It's starting to sound good, in this moment, but will it hold? She'll see. And how does she comunicate all that to Rashmi... She blinks and shakes her head a little. Rashmi has ''probably'' started answering the question she just asked. "I'm sorry, I just... I was thinking. about... I'm still new at picturing a future. Can your dream just be to be a nice person and have friends?" She shakes her head. "Sorry, I... thank you." Now standing, she steps forward and hugs again. "''Thank'' you. I'll... keep trying." After a moment she lets go and if allowed steps back. And easier or not... "I'll... I guess I'll have friends... I don't have to do it alone, it's easier to stay in touch now than it was, and I'm closer to you all than anyone I knew in high school..." If the fade doesn't take that... Oh wait, if she forgets magic she'll be a different person anyway and it won't matter to her. "So... it... will be different, maybe..." She smiles embarassedly, "I'm sorry for being such a dummy. I'll probably still be... it's hard to change. But I'll work on it. And I'll... right," She holds a hand to ehr chin thoughtfully, "How ''can'' we take me crossing New Moon out of... make it less likely, even if I ''can't'' read her? The wedding's pretty soon. I could stay on campus until the wedding, except for magic emergencies?"
Rashmi Terios	"Amy-chan," Rashmi says, standing when Amy does and smiling gently, "if it's a dream that gives you hope, it's a good dream. And dreams can change, when the one you've been holding onto has done its job. You just gotta keep reaching as high as you can. Because good friends? They'll pick you up so you can take hold of them." As Amy comes in for another hug, Rashmi chuckles. "And everyone has a weakness we can plan around. For you, it's reading people. That's okay. If it becomes really important and I can help with that, I will. It takes a lot of practice and trial and error anyway, so nobody's expecting you to flip over and be perfect at it." When asked how to handle New Moon, Rashmi frowns, thinking deeply. "Well... Honestly you're gonna hate it, because -- and I say this with love -- you have the strongest 'someone is wrong on the Internet' reflexes I've ever seen. But remember; you've proven you're not gonna be able to take her. So just... speak positively of Wicked Lady if you can't get away, and it's okay to be afraid of her. Heck, being terrified of Joker was probably the biggest thing that allowed me to survive dealing with him. Big Dark Energy likes to be the heavyweight, and it costs nothing to let them think that."
Amy Faust	Everyone has a weakness we can plan around. '''''That's okay.''''' Amy's costume-tail starts wagging again. She doesn't even stop smiling when told she has the strongest 'someone is wrong on the Internet' reflexes Rashmi has ever seen, because it's true and if the downsides of it can be planned around, maybe it can also be a strength? She nods along at speak positively of Wicked Lady, and-- Show fear. A memory from a story. A wise, smart teacher telling a hero she once admired that he must learn an important lesson: ''Lose.'' Her smile stops. Her tail stops. She doesn't like digging into that sort of energy. Say anything, plead that you're sorry, to make them stop... She hasn't had to go to that headspace in a long time. But it's for magic villains this time. And she can... work on having a way to approach it. She stares into the middle distance with a serious expression. Serious. Grumpy, but not frowning. Maybe a hint of sadness or disdain. And then is suddenly normal again, "How was that, did I look defeated and pathetic enough?" she asks cheerfully, as if it's a game, a mood she's leaning into to offset thinking about the suckier parts of this. Also she might want to practice in front of a mirror or something.
Rashmi Terios	"...It's a good start," Rashmi says with mild amusement. "Definitely don't want to go overboard, though, just... like you're tip-toeing, so you don't wake up something big and mean. Or you don't want a bomb to go off! Just remember, no matter what you're trying to make them think... Dark Energy doesn't have anything to say that'll be good for you to hear. Especially about you. So when Dark Energy is talking about you, it's not worth hearing." Rashmi falls silent for a bit, then nods slowly. "Dark Energy is the comments section of WeTube."
Amy Faust	Not worth hearing. Amy nods. Although she suspects in the moment words will get to her anyway. Rashmi draws an analogy. But it's not just an analogy. "We ''fought'' that monster. Back around like... Valentine's?" She has a thought. "...Did we make sure it's ''entirely'' off our phones?" Then shakes her head. "I'll try to remember that. Um. Again, thanks for being understanding. Hopefully... Hopefully it won't come up. New Moon isn't going to kill me, at least. Wicked Lady... doesn't want that, fortunately."
Rashmi Terios	"Yeah I remember," Rashmi says, closing her eyes. "Trust me... that's not one I'll ever forget, and I'm... kind of sure? it's off my phone? I know Nicomachea did a pretty thorough scrubbing when it was done." When Amy thanks her for being understanding, Rashmi chuckles. "I mean, you're welcome, but like... You're my friend, Amy-chan. If I can't be understanding for my friends, what right do I have to say that it's important to me?" Patting Amy's shoulder, she gives the smaller mahou an encouraging smile. "You'll figure it out Amy-chan, how to live in the world. You've got people to help you, and you've got time to learn now."
Amy Faust	You're my friend, Amy-chan. Smile. Wag. Amy can't help hugging her again, tightly this time, grinning and nodding and just. Happy. Minutes ago she wanted nothing more than to run away, but Rashmi reminded her. Things are so wonderful now. It's easy to forget sometimes. And there's a lot to figure out. And trials and tribulations mundane and magical to come. But right now, she can just. Feel this.