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[waitingforplayer2]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHIAKI NANAMI.

FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX

*** galagamer has joined XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
<galagamer> This is Chiaki Nanami.
<galagamer> I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Comments

[riproduzione]

[ Abbacchio holds the door open, which is odd considering the size of Nanami and how she doesn't really require the door to be held open but, manners. ]

Could have ended up like me, too, or maybe manticore, demon, Nephilim… [ Okay, we get the point. ] I'm glad it worked out for you, but I do think a nymph with wings wouldn't look all that bad if you got to specify the type you wanted — something bug-like rather than feathers, you know?

[ It's kind of hypocritical of him to say so, considering how vague he's been with Mana. Do as I say, not as I do, etc. ]

Do you have a preference of where we start? I know the mall is probably the most obvious choice, but there are some places here in Bavan.

[waitingforplayer2]

Whatever I got would have been good! I've got a lot of monsters to be before I've been all of them!

[ What an odd thing to say! Also, she does appreciate the door being held open; she's not QUITE small enough to slip through this particular keyhole. ]

The mall's fine, I think...! None of my circles are any closer, really, so we can go from here. It's too bad I can't shrink you down with me, or else I could probably fly us both there in no time!

[riproduzione]

You're really going to try out each of them?

[ He knows she's mentioned it, but well… It's a lot of coins for Mana, and moreover it's a lot of changes to go through month after month. The implications that might have on her body, her wellbeing and her mental state, it all sounds like it could be quite troubling. Questioning that isn't his place, though, so he opts to keep his thoughts to himself. ]

Well, there's no saying I can't fly with you, [ a beat, and because he's worried Nanami might actually suggest that they do that, he adds in a hurry: ] I'm not actually confident I could manage that. So, walking it is, I'm afraid. Besides, there are one or two places on the way that we can stop in on before we get nearer to the mall.

[ One such shop isn't too far away, actually. It's a quaint little thrift shop, Abbacchio's been there once or twice and managed to pick up some fairly decent articles of clothing — good quality, reasonably priced for being second-hand. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

Yeah, I am! All twenty-three of them! Isn't that exciting??

[ SHE'S excited at least. Nanami's buzzing around him; she can fly faster, but she's letting Abbacchio lead the way, because she doesn't actually know where the clothes shops around here are. ]

We can stop in one of those places... [ Hold on back up reverse. The faerie suddenly zooms in closer. ] Wait, you can fly??

[riproduzione]

[ Biting his tongue so as not to be a downer on her excitement, he gives a short nod as they walk along the street. Or, try to walk anyway, he comes to an abrupt stop when she flits in close. Really, he can't keep walking into her when she catches him off guard, or it'll be all he's known for. ]

Sort of? Not properly… [ Flying is still a generous description, if he's honest. ] And not really for any extended period of time.

[ Translation: ten, maybe fifteen minutes, tops. Getting from Libeccio to Lake Dala at the start of the month was pushing it, and now he's paying the price — literally. There are aches in places he didn't even know could feel pain. ]

So, uh… Well, getting from here to the mall wouldn't be an option, is what I mean.

[waitingforplayer2]

You can fly!!

[ The little faerie is absolutely beside herself with excitement for him. She zooms around his head in circles a few times, before returning to hover at his shoulder. ]

Abbacchio-kun!!! That's amazing!! I'm so happy for you! What helped? Did you try jumping off somewhere high?

gonna have the dumbo song stuck in my head

[riproduzione]

I guess? [ Explaining that what pushed him to it was Reira's distress probably isn't the best of topics. ] I jumped off a van, so it wasn't that high… I should probably put some money aside to replace it or at least have their roof repaired.

[ In spite of the circumstances, the onslaught of praise has his scales darkening. It's silly, it's such a small thing and yet it's something he clearly struggled with more than he ought to have, for an array of reasons. Finally figuring it out feels good, but stranger still is that others seem to be invested in it. ]

A-anyway, the store is around this corner, near the end of the street.

[ Pointing off towards an upcoming road, and doing his best to divert attention away from himself and his steadily shifting scales. ]

disney stop putting flying songs in your movies, otherwise we'll get dumbo and peter pan mixed up

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She zips around him excitedly. Store or not, she's not going to let the subject get dropped so easily. ]

What was it like? Did you like it? Have you done it again since then??

DONT CALL ME OUT LIKE THIS

[riproduzione]

[ Abbacchio tries to keep up with her movements, in the end, it's easier to let her do as she pleases. ]

It was… [ A pause, long enough that it won't go unnoticed. ] Fine. I wasn't really thinking much about whether it was enjoyable or not, though, there were— That's not important. [ Conveniently, Nanami is so small he doesn't have to worry about being caught avoiding eye contact! ] Only a little… And it was much shorter distances. I think I might've pushed myself too hard the first time.

I AM CALLING US BOTH OUT SHSHSHSH

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Hmm? He's hiding something about the experience-- well, whatever, not her business. ]

Did you get hurt? You'll probably get better at it the more you practice... I've been flying a lot since I changed!!

sobs

[riproduzione]

[ Head moving from side to side, he makes a non-committal sound. ]

Not exactly. You ever do exercise for the first time in a while, and your muscles ache afterwards? It feels kind of like that.

[ He scratches at his jaw lightly, aching muscles from lack of exercise are another thing he's familiar with in general. A lot of his old routines have fallen by the wayside since he arrived in December — it's hard to really keep up with some of them when your body literally isn't made for them. ]

So, you're right, practice will definitely help. As long as it's done with adequate breaks, proper warm-ups and cool-downs.

[waitingforplayer2]

Oh, of course! That makes sense, I guess. You just gotta exercise them!!

[ The faerie finally flits to his shoulder to settle down, sitting on it as they enter the store. They're immediately bombarded with noise and color - a bit overwhelming to the little faerie, but having Abba as a grounding point underneath her is already helpful. ]

Um, what should we look for first?

[riproduzione]

Mm.

[ The topic is effectively dropped as they enter, and Abbacchio scans around the aisles and racks that have all been laid out and organised neatly. ]

Everyday essentials, firstly, would probably be best, though we should keep an eye out for anything that looks particularly warm. Good quality coats that keep the wind out, too.

[ He thinks, at least. Ryslig's weather is wholly unfamiliar to him, he arrived in the worst of it last year and barely coped. It only seems worse, now. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ They approach the first rack, and Nanami takes off again, hovering just above his shoulder. ]

Hats!! They need hats. You look for coats, I'll be right back.

[ Off she zooms!! ]

[riproduzione]

[ Nanami gets an approving nod, calling over to her as she flutters off. ]

Hats, or ear muffs, scarves too! They can be wrapped up around ears if needed and might cover possible changes in ways the others might not.

[ In the meantime, he does as instructed, picking his way through a rack of coats and jackets, other assorted kinds of outerwear. Pulling one off the rack, he holds it up — it looks like it might fit Emporio, it's a navy blue in colour and has a fleece lined hood. It gets draped over his arm as he continues to push hangers around the rack, glancing around now and then to keep an eye on Nanami. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Some poor shopper is startled enough to drop their bags when Nanami suddenly seems to materialize out of thin air, reaching for a hat. It takes the bug girl longer than she meant to take, to help the wary human gather their bags, and then to grab two big and fluffy hats off the shelf.

Then she jogs back over to Abbacchio, still at full height. ] I found some-- oh, SCARVES!! [ In her confusion, she forgot to look for them. Around she turns, peering out of big compound eyes to figure out where the scarves are. ]

[riproduzione]

Ah, sorry, scusa.

[ He's following after her, careful as he goes so as not to knock the shoppers over with his wings, else they'll be joining the contents of their bag on the floor. Her enthusiasm nonetheless brings a quiet smile to his mouth as he plucks the hats from her grasp before she runs off in search of scarves. ]

We should look for ones that aren't too short… [ Fingers glide over some of the scarves on display; testing the texture to see if they're the itchy kind of wool or not. ] What colour do you think we should pick?

[waitingforplayer2]

[ It's a good thing her wings are folded away right now - delicate as they are, they'd be more liable to get hurt than really inconvenience someone else. ]

Rainbow! That way whatever their favorite color is, it'll be there. [ And she picks out several - two for each of them. ]

[riproduzione]

Might be hard-pressed trying to find rainbow scarves…

[ He looks, but there doesn't seem to be any in a full spectrum, not unless they want to buy a handful of different coloured scarves and stitch them together to make one — and he doesn't say that, because he imagines Nanami would want to — what he does do, is pull up a couple of simple patterned ones, though, holding them up for Nanami to inspect. One in dark vertical stripes, and the other is a brighter plaid. They're sort of in colours that might suit their intended owners. There's an extra in his hands though, this one has a hat attached, and he holds it towards Nanami. ]

This would suit you.

[ Whatever she has planned next is a mystery to him, but she should be warm, too. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

Oh...!!

[ She drops what she's doing and puts it on to try it out. ]

It's beautiful... thank you! [ She's definitely walking out with this one. ]

Have you tried anything on yet?... [ They're not shopping for themselves, but... it's worth asking! ]

[riproduzione]

[ He snorts, an amused little sound, because it seems very much like Nanami to make that sort of assessment about a scarf and hat set. He was right, though, it does suit her. As to her question, though, he shakes his head. ]

Me? No, I have most of what I need for this weather. And I don't think there's an awful lot in here that would account for, you know, the wings and tail. Most things I need to have custom fit around the back now… lots of ties and snaps. Why, you see something?

[ Unless Nanami has found the holy grail of Lizard Footwear, because he misses shoes. So much. Do you know how miserable it is, when you can't wear shoes and also the floor is covered in snow and ice? It's awful. He can't see that happening here though, and so he's picturing a scarf or maybe some silly ear-coverings, given that that's what they were looking for. Whatever Nanami has in mind, it can't harm to humour her, seeing as how they're not in a hurry, at least. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

Yeah! There was a-- hold on.

[ She shrinks down again and flits halfway across the little store - her new scarf and hat go with her.

A few moments later she returns, holding something on a rack that shrank with her - and when she grows back to full size again, she holds the garment up for Abbacchio to try. ]

I think this would stay out of your way!! [ It's a dark dress - simple and modest, and also backless; so it won't get stuck on his wings. The build is large enough to accommodate his bulky gargoyle form. ]

What do you think?

[riproduzione]

I'll… be here. [ As if he's going anywhere else. That she's able to fly off like that, shrinking down and having whatever she grabs do the same is a blessing, he won't lie. Navigating the aisles of the small store with his size is nothing short of a nuisance.

He's stood with his bundle of scarves and such in his arms when she returns, and he sputters as she holds up the dress. She's right about one thing; it wouldn't get in the way. Sure, he's played with clothing to create a more androgynous silhouette. Even in his teens he remembers idly flipping through his mothers' issues of Vogue with more interest than was probably suitable, and looked on in fascination as the musicians he liked, and their fans blurred the lines of what was socially acceptable. All things considered, it is a nice dress — matched to his typical dark style of clothing — but, well, it's a dress. ]

… I don't think it would fit, and it would be a shame to have it get torn.

[ A half-hearted gesture to the pointed spikes on his shoulders, scales across his face and neck starting to darken. The back is entirely exposed too, a benefit in movement but, he's been keeping the ugly scar across his torso covered more or less the whole time he's been here… Nanami might be one of the few people who has seen it, back in Lake Dala. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Nanami falters, considering. He's right; the spikes might tear it if the two of them aren't careful. ]

Well, we could go to get it tailored, or reinforced! But I think it's your size... [ She holds it up to the gargoyle to check. ] Yeah. It'll fit, I think!

[riproduzione]

[ That's the logical conclusion. Of course, he should have expected it would be, he's known Fugo for how long? He shifts as she holds it up, the fabric looks like it has some give to it, but seems like it would be something that hugged his figure. ]

… You don't think it would be, you know—

[ Hesitating, he trails off. Would it be wrong? Someone like him, wearing something like that. He's seen others here wearing skirts or dresses, or, rather brazenly, nothing at all. Long hair and make-up, they've always been a form of rebellion for him; they're comfortable, even, but is this a step too far? Giorno's worn dresses. Hell, Bucciarati wore delicate lace pieces under his suits. ]