[OPEN] I sing a bitter song

[bostova]

WHO: Yulia Bostova & You
WHAT: Catch-all for pre-campaign all the way up to June 14th (Yes, the first day of classes)
WHERE: Anywhere
WHEN: Anytime
SAFE FOR WORK? Y...for now.
OTHER NOTES: If your character has been in Falner for the past few days/months/years leading up to the first day of classes at Balamb, then feel free to to tag in :) Feel free to reply in prose or action, I don't really care which! Just indicate when the thread is happening :)

a. gisi
Zangyaku's base of operations in Falner; usually, you can find her at an izakaya at the Entertainment District. If she's not there, try the Hot Springs; she usually takes over operations there. If not there, check the Sky Steps, or Sabina's office, or with some of the other Whisperers. Good luck getting her to talk, though.

b. around falner
If she's in the Great Hall, it's usually because of a Hound or two. She doesn't stay too long there, though. She can also be found at the Shatterdome, terrorizing Netsach initiates. If she's at the lake, it's best to leave her alone.

c. shatterdome barracks
She lives on the fifth floor of Zangyaku's barracks. Or, she could be visiting the barracks for Aegis Kai Doru or the Thrones. Who for? Wouldn't you like to know.

d. choose your own adventure
There are a lot of places you can run into Yulia. Pick one and go for it!

Comments

[therealbrianna]

SENT: 3:24 PM
I need a shopping buddy! It's almost Christmas and I've been in Arcadia ALL THIS TIME and I still don't have a gift for everyone on my list in spite of how hard I've been trying to find one for all of the people that I love! ;A;

[ And then: ]

SENT: 3:26 PM
Are you free, please say you're free, I'll treat you to dinner and dessert and drinks and CREY HALP. T____T

[bostova]

SENT: 3:30 PM
Alright. Where do you want to meet up?

[ ....She could use the distraction. ]

[therealbrianna]

SENT: 3:34 PM
I'm moping outside of the Starbucks at Fully Booked along the Strip right now. :( :( :( Huhu, I'll wait for you to come here!

[ ...To be fair, she actually had been shopping. The Zashiki-Warashi attending to her needs have already whisked off her latest batch of gifts. ]

[bostova]

[ She doesn't reply, but heads straight for where Brianna is instead. It takes her a while, but she gets there, dressed nicely. She spots Brianna in the crowded cafe and approaches. ]

Hey.

[therealbrianna]

[ And of course the only other girl in the Hounds is going to totter up on her heels and come right over for a hug and a pout. ]

You're a life savior!

[ Huhubells. ;; ]

[bostova]

[ She smiles and hugs her back. ]

Anything for a Hound. [ Except Josh, because he's dead to her. Again. For now. ]

So. Do you have a list?

[therealbrianna]

Yeah!

[ And now she's going to bounce back to her seat and rummage a bit in her purse for her phone --

-- here we go. She hands it over to you.

Yes, Josh's name is on the list.

Nah-uh, that wasn't deliberate at all!

#INNOCENT... ]

[bostova]

[ She tries not to glare at his name on the list and just ignore it, and gracefully try to avoid him for the rest of the night. The rest of the list, she can help with. ]

Looks easy enough. Shall we start?

[therealbrianna]

[ (As expected! Noting that down.) ]

Yes, please!

[ Hopping back up, and immediately snagging your arm in order to take charge of dragging you both through Fully Booked, and down to the ground floor. ]

Gosh, everything's always so busy at this time of the year.

[ So many people. ]

[bostova]

Christmas in this country is always busy. [ And it starts so early; she never quite understood why the obsession on this holiday was always so hyped.

...She might also have frowned at the crowd(s). ]

Where do we start?

[therealbrianna]

[ Well, since you asked... ]

I'd really like to get something for Josh first! I feel soooo bad that I haven't found a good present for him yet, but he's our blade mate and all!

[ #TOTALLYNOTUPTOSOMETHING ]

[bostova]

[ ...... ]

You can afford to be late with his present, he won't be around during Christmas.

[ If it comes off as cold, it's because Yulia didn't bother hiding her irritation (understatement) at Josh. ]

[therealbrianna]

Well, I know, but I figured that it'd be good to give him something before he goes?

[ Blinking up at with a tiny smile, even if the look in her eyes is sad. ]

Sort of a "It's okay, we still love you no matter what" kind of present beyond a "Merry Christmas" gift?

[ Yep, that was the Signature Brianna Lopez Way of letting you know that she might know much more than she is letting on, and that this shopping trip might not just be about shopping. ]

[bostova]

I'd really rather not. [ Not do this, she means, this... whatever this is you're planning. She's stopped walking, too, because yeah. She should probably have noticed the signs already.

What are you up to, Brianna. ]

[therealbrianna]

I think we should.

[ Smiling still, but now the look in her eyes has gone quiet. ]

You and Josh weren't alone that night.

[ She dreamt of the two of you, and ended up watching you fight. She also ended up watching Josh and Hikaru fight before that. ]

[bostova]

What's there to talk about, then? You dreamt about it, didn't you? You were there.

[therealbrianna]

Well, I can't check up on Josh, and Daddy's... not up to seeing anyone for now. Too messed up.

[ Sounding really, really sad at that point. ]

So I wanted to check up on you.

[bostova]

I'm fine, Brianna.

[ Angry, yes. Fine? Debatable. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ TOTALLY NOTICING THAT.

Snagging both of your hands now, and peering at intently. ]

Yulia...

[ She's worried about you, and you're safe with her. :c ]

[bostova]

[ She sighs (huffs, really) and lets Brianna take her hands. Her lips are in a line and she's looking away. ]

I'm-- [ She sighs again. She can't really keep things from Brianna, because Brianna. ] Fine. I am still a little angry. [ Or a lot. Because Josh. But you knew that. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ "A little" + Yulia Bostova.

Yeah, okay, she gets it. ]

It is frustrating, but... it's not like this situation's easy? I mean. [ In a quieter voice now. ] He lost Davis. And you know how Josh can get when things escalate way over his head.

[bostova]

I know. [ :T ] But he is still an idiot.

[ She pauses as she lets go of one of Brianna's hands, so they can start walking again. ]

Although, I may have overreacted, [ She was irritated and angry and stuff, okay?? ]

[therealbrianna]

[ Walking could be good. ]

It's okay? You care, and I'm pretty sure that even if Josh is compromised, he gets it.

[ This is kind of how you Hounds roll. SO. ]

[bostova]

He did not have to run away.

[ Hikaru being one good reason not to. But what does she know, she's the emotional black hole, remember? ]

[therealbrianna]

He didn't HAVE to, yeah, but that is kind of what he does when he's kind of really overwhelmed.

[ Glancing over at with a rueful look. ]

This is pretty traumatic for him. Dying's never fun.

[ And he's just died again, and lost someone he cared about as a result. ]