hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul

[topslug]

Who: Yako Katsuragi and YOU; open to old and new CR alike!
When: Anytime from June 29th to July 3rd; tag as appropriate!
Where: Anywhere in the city, within reason.
Summary: Plagued by sleepless nights and restless ghosts, Yako finds herself making the rounds.
Warnings: To be updated as necessary!

Comments

TIMEY-WIMEY BALL: ENGAGE.

[cursestained]

[Naoya doesn't sleep for reasons that have little to do with active ghosts, but what he does get tends to fall in daylight hours. With as many plans as he keeps going, sleeping loses him time, anyway. A man has to be aware and prepared for anything.

...Even so, he wasn't expecting anyone to visit today. When he opens the door, he's only bothered to find jeans and his haori, staring at Yako for a very long moment.

Right, he'd given her his address. Dammit. At least this body had very few scars on it, relatively.]

...Katsuragi.

[topslug]

[ And the customary bright smile is offered as Yako hefts the bag she's carrying, adjusting her grip. She hasn't had a time to come and visit Naoya again, but she's been meaning to, and this is as good an excuse as any. ]

I'm sorry. Did I wake you up? [ She smiles sheepishly, though she doesn't quite go as far as to scuff a foot on the floor. ] I can come back later, if you want.

[cursestained]

...It's fine. [He takes in her appearance--sleep deprivation. He wouldn't really be one to talk, but Naoya's reasons for it don't have anything to do with overwork, something he suspects isn't true for Yako. So he steps back from the door to let her inside.

Annoyed or not, free food is free food.]

You look tired.

[topslug]

[ She could evade the topic, she supposes, but that only ever seems to be futile as far as Naoya is concerned, so she opts for selective honesty. ]

I haven't been sleeping much. [ As though on cue, she stifles a yawn as she steps into the apartment. She remembers it from her last visit well enough, so she sets the food down on the nearest table, picking a couple of the packed lunches off the top.

On closer inspection, there are signs of healing injuries-- a bruise fading on the side of one cheek, negligible scrapes and scratches on elbows and knees. Perhaps they could have been worse, at some point, but clearly Yako has been putting Naoya's newly-taught healing skills to good use. ]

I figured cooking would tire me out enough that I could get some sleep, but I ended up with more than I could eat. Would you rather have the chicken, or the pork? [ She holds up containers with both, though they're virtually identical in appearance: there's not a lot you can do for teriyaki, as far as color goes. ]

June 29

[troublesmells]

[Larry's at home, alone in his Sector 4 apartment. He's not leaving until he has to go to work, and is warier than usual; every so often his eyes flick toward his windows, and anyone looking at him would guess that he's pretty...wound up, to say the least. Not only because of what had happened a few days before, but also because of what could happen next. This wasn't just some random string of incidents, after all. They had a pattern.

The place is no longer in shambles like it was when AGI barged in, and neither is the guy himself, good thing. However, he's still slightly unsteady on his feet, and his left cheek, fingers and arms remain wrapped in bandages. At least some cuts and bruises are fading away quickly. Relatively quickly.

It's really difficult to paint with bandaged fingers, Larry realizes with a sigh. And without Gellie the vicious genetically-modified attack kitten to randomly scratch or bite him or just yowl for his attention, the apartment was far too quiet.]

June 29

[topslug]

[ Yako can't say she isn't worried about how Larry's holding up after being so thoroughly thrashed by AGI's goons, and so it's why she finds herself in front of his apartment door for the second time this week. The sound of her foot steps coming along are audible long before she actually knocks on the door, which she does, tentatively. ]

Mr. Butz? It's Yako.

[ When he opens the door, he'll find her grinning at him, holding a bag with both hands. She looks a bit pale, and there are scrapes and cuts on her arms and knees-- right now, though, those are hidden beneath a long button-up shirt and leggings. She's used concealer on the bruise on her cheek, but a close look will reveal how its slightly discolored from the rest. ]

[troublesmells]

[Larry puts down the brush and eases himself out of the stool slowly. His steps are abnormal, but he can walk just fine otherwise, and he opens the door. He was about to give her a small grin and say hi when he notices her paleness and her scrapes.

To say that Larry was not expecting this would be an understatement. Did AGI get her too? Did she meet an accident along the way?]

Y-Yako? A-are you okay?

[topslug]

[ The concern is appreciated, but Yako shakes her head and smiles, guessing what Larry might think. ]

I'm fine-- I just haven't gotten a lot of sleep lately. [ The bag is pulled up to get Larry's attention, and she grins at him. ] It seems like I've ended up making a lot of food I can't eat myself, so I decided I'd bring you some.

June 30th

[bornfromdeath]

[Kimihiko, his case swinging lightly in his left hand, is heading home from work when he sees her across the road. He pauses, surprise flickering behind his ever-present sunglasses before he crosses over to stop her.]

Katsuragi-san? What are you doing?

[Really, that bag was a bit large for anything ordinary - and she looked positively ill.]

You look tired.

[topslug]

Ooe-san. [ Yako bobs her head in acknowledgement, smiling at him, but compared to her usual greeting, it's rather lackluster. If his eyes are sharp, he'll have realized she didn't even register his presence until he came directly into her line of sight. ]

I'm fine, just-- [ Stifled yawn. ] --sleepy. I ended up making a bit more food than I can really eat, so I'm going around and giving them to people-- do you want any? [ She rubs absently at one eye-- the cheek under it sports a healing bruise, and she winces a little as her wrist grazes it. ]

[bornfromdeath]

That sounds good. Did someone hit you?

[A slight pause before he continues.] You look more than just a little sleepy. Come on. We can find a bench somewhere and you can sit down.

[topslug]

No, I-- I fell. [ And it sounds silly, of course, like an excuse someone would make up for getting into a fight. Sadly, in her case, it's the truth.

After a beat, she nods hesitantly. ] That might be a good idea.

Re: June 30th // Funtom Bakery

[topslug]

[ Even when she's feeling tired, a trip to Funtom Bakery always cheers Yako up, so she's decided to drop by to at least sniff appreciatively at the wares. At this point, she's left her packed lunches at the NCC, having stolen away here to pick up some things she can use for Break's teatime snack. The only person she knows who works here is Ritsuka, and he doesn't seem to be around-- but he's probably busy, so she can understand why. Currently, she's holding a pair of tongs and a tray with a couple of pastries on it, and she's walking over to Gilbert.

His face is vaguely familiar to her, but her own exhaustion and their barely existent acquaintance mean she can't place where she should know him from. He might vaguely recognize her from the bake sale and maid cafe, if he dropped by. She comes to a stop next to the sign advertising the new scones, automatically reaches out to put one on her tray... and pauses.

The look on her face, as her gaze drills into the scones, should be familiar to him: the silent, internal struggle of someone

[topslug]

[ Poor, poor Gilbert. She startles when he addresses her, but she's quick to flash him a warm smile-- even if it's a little worn around the edges. Having half your face ache every time does that. ]

I'm looking for some things to bring home later... for tea. [ Now that she can hear his voice, recognition hits-- she's heard him speak to Break on the network, a few times. ] It's for, um, Mr. Break. You're one of his friends, aren't you...?

June 29th

[happyflyingcat]

[Happy was flying around the city in search of Natsu who seemed to have simply vanished into thin air a week or so back. When he smelled a delicious aroma and he realized he had not eaten at all today before he had begun his search. He followed the smell to Yako who seemed to be walking down the street, and being the opportunist he was when it came to food, he decided to try his cuteness tactic.]

Aaaye! Miss Yako? It's me Happy! I was flying around when I spotted you and...

[That's when he noticed she really wasn't looking so good, like she hadn't slept in days]

Aye... are you okay? You don't look so good.

(ooc: I hope that was okay xD)

that works \o/

[topslug]

[ He really is a flying, talking cat. She remembers speaking to him on the network, but seeing him in person is another thing, and for a moment, she just stares at him, and he might have to wonder if his cuteness tactic has worked at all.

... And then she snaps out of it and graces him with a smile. ] I'm fine, Happy. Just a little tired. [ She holds up the bag of food, and her grin grows a little wider. ] I've also been giving these out. Do you want any?

[happyflyingcat]

[He's also blue~]

Aye! I would love some!

[Happy happily grabbed one of the lunch boxes and helped himself to it's contents as he flew next to her.]

So, why are you so tired? Is your mattress really lousy? Or is it something like bad dreams?

[Happy is saying this part in between munches, so some of it might be a little unintelligible]

[topslug]

[ It's just some shrimp and vegetable tempura with rice, though the flavor's surprisingly fine without the sauce. She listens to him as they walk along, head half-tilted and smiling gently.

He gets it right on the last try, and after a brief pause, she nods. ]

I haven't been sleeping well. It's fine, though. [ She smiles, shrugging. ] It gives me time to get some work done.