2023-03-13: A Tearful First Meeting
- Log: A Tearful First Meeting
- Cast: Rikka Takarada, Shozo
- Where: Tsutsujidai - Junk Shop Aya
- OOC - IC Date: 0097 03 13
- Summary: Following a harrowing event, Shozo returns to Junk Shop Aya in Tsutsujidai in hopes of finding Borr... but instead he meets Rikka, who attempts to comfort him.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
A little while ago, Orie left the shop to go take care of some errands. This means that, ostensibly, Rikka's in charge of holding down the fort right now...
...But, she's not really feeling it today, so instead of taking up her usual position behind the counter, she can instead be found laying across the couch across from it, one hand supporting her head and the other tapping away at her phone.
Of course, if any customers do show up, she'll do the job as requested... but, she isn't really expecting that. So for now, she'll just take the chance to relax.
For those who've come to see the Aya as a safe place, however, the Junk Shop appears as warm and inviting as ever. That's something that's unlikely to change.
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Just outside Aya is a different story, as the sky BURSTS open, a flickering orange arm the size of a semi-truck flinging through. From its hand, Shozo comes tumbling, bouncing on the ground once, twice, three times, before finally skidding to a stop on his rear end. The massive arm loses cohesion moments later, fading into orange light and disappearing as the tear in reality repairs itself.
Sniffling and disheveled, Shozo stands up, dusts himself off, and trudges into the shop. "B-Borr...?" he whimpers, rubbing his nose, alien eyes full of tears as he looks for his friend -- or ANY friend, for that matter.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
For a time, it seemed like it was going to be a normal day of procrastination for Rikka Takarada - and then the sky broke. She hears it and possibly even 'feels' it before she sees it, quickly leaping up from the couch as she does and turning toward the shop window. She catches sight of it just as soon as it vanishes - and then, she sees the small figure it left behind.
She steps away from the sofa, making her way toward the door - just as Shozo starts making his way to it.
Rikka has her concerns, of course - she has no idea what just happened, and there's a strange feeling in the back of her mind she can't place. These concerns, though, are something she can shove to the back of her mind, because this unfamiliar child is crying and asking for a friend of hers. How's she supposed to deal with a crying kid...? She'd feel bad if she did nothing, though, so...
"Sorry, they're not here right now..." Rikka apologizes, hurrying over to him. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Shozo looks up at the unfamiliar girl, wibbling for a moment, before just bursting into tears and hugging her tightly, sobbing.
"I j-just- Mister got killed, and it was my fault, and then my dad... n' then... n'then..." His sobs turn insensate. "Everything's bad n'it's all my fault!"
Despite having bounced thrice on hard pavement, and his disheveled appearance, the boy seemed unharmed, at least, but he was clearly in deep distress.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Rikka freezes up for a second as Shozo hugs her and the sobbing intensifies. And then she exhales and leans down as best she can to be closer to his level, putting one arm around him and gently patting him on the head with the other.
It gives her a good chance to inspect him for injuries, at least, and... he seems okay? Physically, at least.
"Shh... It's alright. Come on. Sit down with me and tell me what happened." She murmurs, before carefully trying to lead him over to the couch where they can both take a seat. "Can I get you anything to eat or drink...?"
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Shozo follows Rikka to the couch and sits down, putting his hands on his knees and looking downcast.
"N-no, thank you... I don't usually eat, unless Borr makes something..." he mumbles, wiping his eyes. He leans into Rikka, looking for some sort of comfort, before actually looking up at her and pulling away gently.
"O-oh, I'm sorry miss, I don't actually know you... My name is Shozo." The poor boy is still trying to be as polite as he can, even in his emotionally fragile state.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
He doesn't usually eat...? That's definitely unusual, but that's something Rikka can unpack later once she's dealt with the current crisis. She just nods. He leans into her - and then pulls away, seemingly as he realises that he doesn't know her.
...He's so polite about it, though, even though he's obviously hurting. It's hard to be upset.
"I'm Rikka... Rikka Takarada. My family owns this shop." She explains, gesturing to the building around them. "Borr's a friend of mine, too. Nice to meet you, Shozo."
"It was kind of a surprise to see you just show up like that... do you want to tell me what happened? It's fine if you'd rather not, too - we can sit here as long as you need."
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Surprise seems to surpass sadness for a second as Shozo realizes who he's talking to.
"You're Rikka!" he cries out, clapping his hands together. "Borr n' Gridman n' everyone talk about you a lot... they say you're really smart n' nice..." His glumness returns, however, as Rikka presses him on recent events.
"Um... There's been a big mean cloud hanging over Earth for a bit, n' I decided to go look at it, but there was a battle, n' a golden lady attacked me, n' then the big mean cloud piloted a Gundam, n' then-" Rather than needing to catch his breath, Shozo seems to get... very slightly overwhelmed with emotion again.
"N'... N' Mister got his head crushed trying to protect me..."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
So they've mentioned her - and it sounds like he's met everyone else. Rikka smiles.
"That's me. ...They really said that?" She confirms. It's good to know they talk so highly of her - not that she doubted they'd say otherwise.
Shozo continues, speaking of a battle that happened - and Rikka grimaces. There's an ill feeling in her stomach, for his sake. What does she even say to that? She takes a deep breath and then, wordlessly, wraps an arm around his shoulders and hugs him tight for a moment.
"...I'm sorry you had to go through that. That's... awful." She says, shaking her head. "...You were... just in the wrong place at the wrong time. That isn't your fault, and I'm sure he wouldn't want you blaming yourself for it, either."
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Shozo immediately resumes sobbing in Rikka's arms, the comfort breaking the mental dam he's trying to keep up.
"N-n' then, when I tried to walk home... My... My dad..." The sobbing begins to quiet, but the shaking starts a moment later. He can't even form the words -- he's terrified.
"M...Mister saved me from him and pulled me out here, but... his recovery is going to take longer now..." OK, this Mister isn't dead at least- was he the glowing giant arm? He nestles into Rikka's side, gripping her hand to try and steady his nerves.
"He keeps... dying, n' I killed him again, n' my dad is right, I'm a monster..."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Shozo continues. Rikka frowns a little as he mentions his dad - and then 'Mister' comes up again and Rikka has to do a mental double-take. So he didn't die...? She puts that out of her head for now as she feels him nestle in and grab for her hand. She lets him take it, giving his a gentle, reassuring squeeze in return.
...So, 'Mister' did die, in a fashion but can recover - or maybe that's just a child's rationalizing... Something's definitely going on here, but for now she just decides to focus on what she can understand.
"You're not a monster." Rikka assures. "And you weren't the one who killed him. If it's anyone's fault, it's your dad's. I'm sure he wants you to blame yourself, but..."
She doesn't know who his father is, but she already feels like she doesn't like him.
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Shozo's breathing slowly calmed a bit as she squeezed Rikka's hand.
"I am a monster..." he whispers quietly. "I just don't want to be an evil one..." He gulps and rests his head on her shoulder.
"Both of my fathers just want me to be an extension of them..." Whatever that implies, the genuine fear in his voice indicates that it's probably worse than him just joining the family business.
"Mister helps keep them out of my head, but he's still recovering..."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
That's another thing Rikka has to process. He is a monster - but he doesn't want to be an evil one. That... explains all of the strangeness, she supposes - and not needing to eat. She's seen too much by this point to be able to dismiss the statement completely.
Either way... he's obviously distressed. Human or monster, it doesn't matter to her.
"That's... not fair. That should be your choice to make." Rikka replies with a frown. "I'm sorry. I'm here for you, alright? And I'm sure Gridman and the others would be, too."
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Shozo freezes a bit, looking down at his hands, and for the briefest of moments, his fingertips sharpen.
"That's what I'm afraid of..." he whispers, sniffling.
"My dad showed me doing... terrible things..." The tears start to flow again. "I don't want to do them..." He looks up at Rikka, his alien eyes staring into hers.
"How do I make sure I get stopped if I do...?"
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
...This really is an awful situation. It might be a bit beyond her - but she's the one here now, and she's the one he's asking.
"I'm sorry." Rikka repeats in a murmur. How to make sure he gets stopped... Honestly, she's not sure she can of anything definite, but there is one thing that comes to mind.
"...Find people you trust. Me, Gridman, Borr... others, too. You shouldn't have to deal with this alone. If you ever feel lost or afraid, let us know. Just try not to forget you're not alone, okay?" She says. "If something happens to you, we'll be there to pull you out of it."
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Shozo doesn't have much to say as he cuddles into Rikka's arm, clearly finding her a comfort. He's stopped crying, and though he isn't smiling yet, his breathing has calmed.
"Thank you, Miss Rikka. You're as good as Borr n' Gridman said you were." He slowly sits up and wipes his face again, sniffing.
"Could you please call Borr? I'd like to be picked up, and I don't have a phone." Such a polite little boy.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
He's stopped crying, and his breathing has calmed... That's good enough for now. Rikka knows that sometimes, that's the best one can hopeful - especially when dealing with the sort of things he is.
"No problem. Glad to help." Rikka replies, smiling down at him. His eyes are a little red... is that just because he was crying...?
...
"Sure, I can do that." She says. It takes a bit of doing to retrieve her phone because she doesn't want to jostle him too much, but once she does she starts to navigate through her phone.
He really seems to have a lot of trust in Borr... This might be a surprise to some, but it isn't at all to Rikka. She's seen how fiercely protective the smallest of the Neon Genesis Junior High Students can be. If he's with Borr, then he'll be in good hands.