Welcome back, Kirisame. [OPEN]

[a_digital_witch]

CHARACTERS: a_digital_witch and YOU!
LOCATION/SETTING: The Quad
DATE & TIME Tuesday, all day after classes
WARNINGS: none expected (will update if needed)
SUMMARY: Marisa is out and about the dorms after classes. She may live in the South Quad, but she has friends all over the dorms, so who knows where she'll be (possibly even her own room

Comments

Patchy's Dorm~

[verrouillefille]

Patchouli was just happily laying about in her room, reading one of her many many new books. It had been a wonderful summer. And... it had given her a lot to think about. The rivalry between The Digital Witch and the anonymous hacker was becoming... strange. Mostly because of her own relationship with Marisa. That care package... She knew she was likely to get a visit from Marisa soon.

[a_digital_witch]

Sure enough, the Digital Witch was on her way to Patchouli's room. In her uniform skirt and blouse, Marisa was also wearing a leather Indiana Jones hat and a curious little necklace she'd picked up before heading to America. She didn't exactly need it anymore with access to her tower again, but it was pretty and she'd gotten in the habit of wearing it.

Laptop bag on her hip, she situated her hat properly before knocking on the younger girl's door. Then she leaned against the frame and waited...

[verrouillefille]

"The door is unlocked," came the familiar voice from within.

[a_digital_witch]

Letting herself in, Marisa closed the door behind her and flashed a charming grin at Patchouli.

"Figured I'd knock instead of just barging in," she said with a wink as she crossed over to where the girl was. Laptop bag was removed and set down before Marisa plopped down next to the other girl. "Whatcha reading?"

[verrouillefille]

Ah, she couldn't help but smile. It as so stupid, but the reaction just game so naturally to her... "You should know."

[a_digital_witch]

"I thought you would've finished it by now," Marisa said, leaning close to look at the book. She'd been a bit worried about shipping it overseas given the book's age and state, but she'd paid enough to make sure.

"I'm glad it made it in one piece. Thought about getting some restoration done on it, but that would've taken way too long. And I wanted it to be a surprise," she said, glancing up from the book.

[verrouillefille]

"I've been going back and forth to it..." She didn't want to really read it when other people were around. Which was silly, but she felt that way none the less.

"Thank you. I hadn't expected it at all."

[a_digital_witch]

Reading it around others could've lead to questions Patchouli might not have had the answers to. Or not wanted to give out the answers. "I'm glad you like it. I came across it and the book practically leaped into my arms telling me it belonged with you. And I know better than to argue with books when they get that insistent. No need to upset the literary gods like that."

Keeping the page Patchouli was on marked with her hand, she flipped to the table of contents and ran her finger down it. "The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall is my favorite in this volume. Berenice gave me nightmares for days when I read it. Can't, uh, make myself read it again. Is it the uncensored version or the reprint in here?"

[verrouillefille]

"I haven't quite gotten that far just yet, but you'll be the first to know. I find Poe's works fascinating..." Patchouli really did love the book. She'd done a bit of under the cover with a flashlight reading as well.

[a_digital_witch]

"Definitely wrote some interesting things, especially for the time. Big inspiration to so many later writers. You can see Jules Verne got some of this from Hans Pfaal."

Marisa let the book rest back where Patchouli had it before digging in her bag. Out she pulled a plain jewel case with an unmarked disc in it and a few doujin. "This disc's a collection of all the music we focused on while on Mr. D's trip. A lot of variety so you might find something you like."

She then held the doujin out. "Not sure if doujinshi are your thing or not, but if any of these interest you, take 'em. I warn you, there's some questionable and adult content in some of them, but the art is amazing." She shrugged. "I bring these back after every trip back home for Floe, but she... ah... didn't come back this year. No sense in them going to waste."

[verrouillefille]

Floe was gone... Patchy figured that was best not to dwell on. "How was the rest of that holiday for you, anyways? I saw the performance you and the others did on television..."

[a_digital_witch]

"Oh, you did?" Marisa scratched her cheek in embarassment. "Mr. D. went and sprung that on us. I, uh, hope it was okay."

She started fiddling with the flash drive on her necklace to have something to do with her hands. "It was a blast, ze. I hadn't been to America since I was little. Mom was American," she explained and then quickly moved from there. "Gods, I got into so much trouble a few days - or would've if Mr. D. wasn't so cool."

[verrouillefille]

"I've never been to America... I've only read about it in books, really. Same with a great many places. I've always wanted to go, but for obvious reasons, travel is difficult for me."

[a_digital_witch]

"Oh yeah..." Marisa thought for a moment before winking. "Difficult, but not impossible, ze. Just means you gotta find a way to accommodate. There's too much out there to see in the world to let your limitations dictate your course in life."

Her eyes lit up with an idea. "Come with me when I go back to Tokyo next break. In October? It'll be just in time for Dai Ginza Matsuri and Kiku Kuyo. So much to see... even a golden dragon flying through the fall sky. The festivals are something you just have to experience."

Her words then caught up to her and a bit of color touched her cheeks while she idly played with the end of her braid. "That is if, um, you're interested in, you know, that kinda thing and wouldn't mind hanging out with me for... two weeks."

[verrouillefille]

... Patchouli blinked.

"No, I definitely don't see anything like that happening. Especially in the fall. There are a lot of foreign allergens in the air. It could turn out dreadful."

[a_digital_witch]

Marisa practically deflated. She let go of her hair and then looked down. Gods, she was such a freaking idiot. Why did she even--? And yet...

"Just because it could doesn't mean it will. Sometimes you just gotta take a chance."

She started gathering her things up, feeling really awkward and worried she was going to make an even bigger fool of herself.