2023-06-19: Junk Values
- Cast: Alouette Pommier, Rikka Takarada
- Where: Tsutusjidai - Junk Shop Aya
- Date: U.C. 0097 06 19
- Summary: Alouette runs into Rikka while collecting some junk to work on from Aya. It's the first time they got to chat one on one since the Garuda, and while there's still a long way to go, the progress is notable, as they discuss summer plans and DecuFes.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Junk Shop Aya has been quite lively of late. So many have come together to support it, and it's been a big help to Rikka to have that. She's back to helping out around the shop, as well - she has to take it a little bit at a time, but it's been a good way to help slowly test out the limits of what she can handle.
And so, today sees Rikka wearing the Aya apron. She's currently seated on the couch, but she's not just sitting idly - currently she's refamiliarizing herself with Aya's inventory, getting a better idea of the changes in what they have and don't have since the last time she checked before vacation.
She wants to get back on the counter soon - but before she does, she wants to make sure she knows what's where once again. Still, it's a quiet day, so it's a good time for people to stop by...
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Checking in with the Wadatsumi brought Alouette to the Tsutsujidai area... but she decided to stay and check in at the Junk Shop Aya. Akane did tell her there's some new stock that might be interesting... and she took it as a nudge to go visit.
There isn't anything she's looking for in particular, and she doesn't shop with any particular urgency - simply enjoying looking at all the tech piled in the junkyard.
She makes a few selections herself, mostly microchips and some computers that might not be Junk-aged, but would probably still be hard pressed to find a home anyways. She also came prepared to actually transport the goods, thanks to the Wadatsumi being nearby!
It would be easy to just check them out and go but Alouette found herself lingering for longer than usual... and when she sees Rikka, she's glad she did.
"Rikka...!" She waves, greeting her friend. "I have some items I need to check out, but... I'm not exactly in a rush." She explains, placing the items down on the counter, then moving back to the couch area.
"I should probably ask first, how are you doing? We've had a lot of 'in the same place at the same time'.. but we haven't really had the chance to just... talk about it, either.. It's been so much."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
The sound of a familiar voice draws Rikka out of her work. She looks up and, spotting Alouette, offers her a smile.
"Hey, Alouette." She replies, giving her a small wave in return. Rikka glances toward the items she was holding, looking briefly interested, before looking back toward Alouette. She nods. "I should be able to do that for you when you're ready."
But right now, though, Rikka too is much more interested in having a conversation. She scoots over, making a little more room on the couch for Alouette.
"Yeah, we haven't..." Rikka replies with a nod. It really has been a lot. Even now, some aspects of it still haunt her. She takes a moment to think over the question.
"I'm... a lot better than I was the last time we met. It's been rough, but I've had a lot of support." Rikka replies. "There's still some things I'm working through, but... I'm getting there."
She pauses for a moment, looking over Alouette.
"...How about you?" She asks.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"Thank you," Alouette replies politely when Rikka offers to help her check out when she's ready. It's good to see she's feeling well enough to help with the shop.
She takes a seat on the couch, then, taking in Rikka's response. "I'm really glad to hear you're doing better." She nods, with a smile. "And that so many people have been there to support you. People believing in you, that's what makes you so powerful, isn't it?" She can already notice from her tone of voice and energy level, that she's doing better than she was on the Garuda, and even the post-briefing on the Wadatsumi. "I think I know what it's like. There are some things you've worked through and some things you still can't talk about. I'll be here either way though.. just like everyone else has."
There's a pause in thought of her own, when Rikka asks how she's doing. "I'm doing better, too." She then says, without hesitation. "I've been well-accommodated, given frequent company, and I've been assured to rest. Although..." She looks at all the parts she's set down by the counter for a moment. "...I've felt pretty understimulated too. That's one of the reasons I stopped by the shop, I wanted to be able to work with the things I love again... even if it just means reprogramming some ancient computer your mom doesn't need anymore." There's a long pause again. "...Shutting down the Garuda was really thrilling, but I'm trying to remind myself not every project needs stakes that high."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
"Thanks." Rikka replies with a smile. People believing in her... She nods. "Yeah. I've got a lot of people in my corner. It really... puts everything into perspective. In a good way."
So many hands extended to her, to give her a hand up. It's taken a lot of climbing to get back to where she is now, but even now there's no shortage of those.
She nods, though, her expression becoming just a bit more serious.
"...Yeah. It's rough." She murmurs with a nod. Still, Alouette says she'll be there, and that gets her to smile again. "...Thanks. I appreciate it."
But, as for Alouette herself... It's good to hear her say that without any hesitation.
"I'm glad." Rikka replies, pleased. There's that 'although', though, and Rikka follows her gaze over to the parts on the counter before looking back toward Alouette. Feeling understimulated... Rikka nods.
"Yeah, I know how that is. I'm kind of that way, too. I was maybe rushing it a little in getting back to helping out, but I started feeling like I needed to do something. Still... I'm glad we had what you needed. It feels good to get back to doing the things you love." Rikka replies. She smirks, just a little, as Alouette brings up shutting down the Garuda. "That was pretty impressive... but yeah. Sometimes it's the small projects that matter the most, even if the impact isn't as big."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
She smile warmly when Rikka talks about everyone who has her back, reaching out to take her hand. It's a very different perspective from the despair towards the world she expressed on the Garuda. "Exactly. And it's just like Knight said... it's because we took the shot and placed our faith that we're here."
"You're welcome, Rikka." She smiles, when she thanks her. "You're my friend for a reason... through the good times and the bad times." She affirms. "When I was near my breaking point on the Garuda, I told you that you didn't deserve this because at least you weren't born for a world like that." And then she shakes her head, slowly. "I don't think it's the sentiment you need to hear anymore... but rather that we'll be in this together no matter what. I promise that to you."
As for the talk of understimulation... she nods when Rikka explains she knows the feeling too. "It's frustrating, right? Just.. don't push yourself too hard."
This place had what she needed.. she thinks back to the other times she's visited Aya - when she was still getting used to Tsutsujidai, after Bujack was defeated, when she decided to put together Guardienne Aviaire, and when Tsutsujidai became walled off from the world. "Mhm... I've found it's always had what I needed when I was stuck in some way. I have a lot to thank you and your mom for."
Next, she orients back on the Garuda, and its relation to the scale you act on the world. "I think it can be easy to get stuck in the mindset of having to do something grander than the last.. and then usually it doesn't end up working like that after all. Like you said, sometimes the smallest projects have the most love poured into them."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Knight's words... Rikka nods. He was there for them the whole time. Watching and listening, on multiple levels.
"Yeah... definitely." She agrees.
Alouette brings up their meeting on the Garuda, and the words she left her with - and how that's not the sentiment she needs to hear anymore. Instead...
They're in this together, no matter what. Rikka smiles.
"...I feel the same way. Whenever you need me... I've got your back. Like you said, we're in this together." Rikka agrees.
She does nod, though, when Alouette warns her not to push herself too hard, and offers a reassuring smile.
"It's alright. I have mama and Akane looking out for me. They have permission to get on my case if it looks like I'm going too far." She replies - and then seems pleased, as Alouette talks about the store.
"It's no problem. That's what we're here for." She replies. "Mama's always had a knack for gathering things people need. Even if it takes a while for them to get to them."
Alouette's next words make her think a bit, a pensive expression crossing Rikka's face.
"...Yeah. It's a difficult cycle to escape. When you think you just have to keep making bigger and bigger moves, eventually you're going to reach a point where there's nothing left." She replies, shaking her head. "So... yeah. Definitely."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Rikka agrees with her newfound sentiment: Alouette smiles back. "Thank you very much.. I'll be sure to always keep that in mind."
And then Rikka puts forth a very compelling argument. "Oh, that's true. With those two fussing over you 24/7, I don't have anything to worry about." Her smile almost looks more like a grin for a moment.
Rikka's words about the Junk Shop and the things her mom gathers also leads Alouette to consider it over for a moment. "A lot of what's here is unusual.. and having a cafe-junkyard hybrid is in its own right, too. But.. maybe it's all there for a reason, waiting for the right person." Maybe it's no coincidence that this is where Junk itself comes from.
Alouette nods consideringly as Rikka talks about that cycle, and how if it keeps going, there'll just be nothing left. "Right.. you'll just feel empty inside after having nothing more to accomplish. And there's so much more to life than just endlessly grinding out accomplishments. I'm glad I realized that sooner than later."
It's a heavy topic, but it leads Alouette to go into something lighter. "By the way, is there anything fun you're planning on doing this summer once you're ready?" She knows that she and Akane were supposed to go on vacation: she wonders if they'll do anything to make up for it. "DecuFes is coming up... I hope I'll be able to make more of it than last year."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
"Nope." Rikka agrees with a laugh. It's something she appreciates, though, knowing they're looking after her - but also trusting her to take things at her own pace. That's important.
Alouette wonders about Aya, and Rikka nods.
"Yeah. Everything here is something that was discarded, but it still got fixed up and ready to be passed on... I guess that's something I appreciate a little more now." Rikka replies consideringly. She leans back in the couch a little, looking up to the ceiling and then at the store around them before her attention returns to Alouette.
"I'm glad, too." Rikka offers with a smile.
With that, though, they move onto a lighter topic. Anything fun for the summer... She thinks about that. And DecuFes, too...
"I don't have any big plans right now, but I think... I think I'd like to show Akane DecuFes this year." Rikka considers. "If she's interested."
She remembers last year's vividly - how it lead to Akane's big declaration of war, and everything that ensued. Akane had said she wasn't even sure that she'd enjoy it...
...But in the end, her decision to try it anyway lead to a lot of personal growth. And, admittedly, a pretty enjoyable time. She'd like to give her a chance at that experience, too.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"It's nice. If even literal junk gets that type of care and love, I don't think anyone's place is to be alone." She says that, but then she pauses for a moment. Her thoughts turn to Leina, of course, convinced she's to be alone in suffering as penance for the sins of those in power - a momentary frown, and then hope that the sentiment will be there for her too soon.
And then she turns her attention back to Rikka, who's feeling good enough to smile about the idea of DecuFes.
"Oh, that's a great idea," Alouette encourages Rikka. "It would probably be better in short bursts," She considers, "But I think she'd have fun if she tried. And I mean... she definitely won't complain if you're there with her." A little teasing smirk emerges on her face.
"Honestly, I wasn't even particularly sad about missing last year's at the time because I thought it'd just be miserable. But I did have a lot of fun in the Millympic games, so I'm willing to give it a chance this year, at least." Even if they didn't win in the end, it remains one of her most fondest high school memories.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
"I agree, but you probably already figured that..." Rikka replies with a smile - though she catches the brief frown soon after. She can take a guess at what she's thinking. Leina... she's been on everyone's minds, after all.
But right now... Rikka nods, as Alouette offers a suggestion.
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. I wouldn't want to overwhelm her." Rikka considers... and then she laughs, just a bit sheepishly, at Alouette's light teasing. "Y-yeah. Probably not."
The Millympic Games... Rikka remembers them fondly. That was a pretty big moment for her. But the idea of getting into the cockpit again... Will she be ready? Will she be able to handle it?
...Well, she still has time to decide. She doesn't have to place the full burden on the Rikka of Right Now.
"Yeah, I had a great time there, too. We were up against some pretty incredible competition..." Rikka recalls, then smiles. "Whatever you decide to do this year, I hope you enjoy it."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"Mhm.. I think the events usually get posted ahead of time, so it might be worth marking down a few early so you and she both know what you're getting into." Alouette suggests, in terms of avoiding overwhelming Akane.
As for Rikka's slightly flustered response, well.. Rikka and Akane's vulnerability to teasing about the other is one thing that hasn't changed.
"We really were," Alouette agrees, reminiscing about the Millympic games. "And it was so close too!"
She hasn't fully decided what she'll do, but... "Well, this time you should have a lot more options for teammates... it probably wouldn't be hard to drag Namiko and Hass onto a team now, for example. But no matter what side I'm on, it'll be a fun time~"
She can understand Rikka might have her own worries about this, too.. so she adds, gently, "The same goes for you, too. Whether you're participating or just cheering everyone on... I know everyone would be happy to see you there."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
"Oh, you're right, good idea." Rikka considers. "I'll be on the lookout for that..."
It'd be nice to go over it together anyway, so that they're sure to hit the things they'd both enjoy.
"Yeah, it was..." Rikka replies. "I learned a lot. And in the end we did get the prom held here which worked out... fantastically, for us."
She still vividly remembers their dance - and the moment they shared later.
Alouette says they'll have more options, and Rikka nods.
"Namiko and Hass..." Rikka replies consideringly, and then nods. "Yeah, I'm sure it will be."
...But, Alouette offers her gentle reassurance, too. Rikka is taken a bit aback... but then, she smiles gratefully.
"...Thanks. I appreciate that..." She replies. The sentiment... it really means a lot to her.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"Gosh, yeah.." She nods, about prom being held here. "Definitely couldn't ask for a better second place prize." She adds, with a smile.
She sees Rikka pause, taken aback and worries for a moment, if she said the wrong thing or came off too strong until...
"You're welcome.. I don't think any of our friends would disagree on that."
Her smartphone beeps out a helpful reminder, next. "My shuttle will be here soon, so I should probably get those checked out." She stands up, slowly from the couch.
"I'm really glad we could talk though... and I'll definitely be sure to keep stopping by. Oh, and tell your mama I said hello!"