ioduanlogs | If April Showers Bring May Flowers...(Catch-all!)

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If April Showers Bring May Flowers...(Catch-all!)

Characters: Sheena and YOU!
Date: All of April
Location: All of Aifaran
Situation: Hunting for an apartment, looking into opening a Tea House, training, searching for a weaponsmith...you know, the usual stuff.
Warnings/Rating: Sheena. Language. Possibly hitting.

Shark Tank - Open

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. That's the only sound coming from Sheena's table in the cafe as she goes through a stack of papers in front of her over and over. She's read them until her eyes have glazed over and a headache has begun to form, but she still can't shake the feeling that there's something amiss with the proposal that had been given her. Finally, out of frustration, she slaps the last paper on top of the pile and lets out a very loud and frustrated growl.

And then remembers she's not exactly alone. Looking up, she notices other patrons staring at her and she blushes.

"Whoops. Sorry about that," she says, turning back to her "work" and trying to nonchalantly sip her now-cold tea.

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He's Having A Stroke...Of Genius! - Open

Not again. First it had been excited followers of her Xa-Xa account chasing her through the streets of the city. Then it had been the cafe owner not backing down from wanting to pay her for her paintings. Now, she's dealing with a combination of the two. Not only is her following starting to climb again on Xa-Xa, but now she's seeing posters advertising another artist citing her as his "inspiration" all over the place.

But, that's not all. She's received several offers from both public and private galleries for showing of her artwork. Now that she can kind of understand, considering, but why in the name of martel had she received an offer to market her regular attire as a clothing line?

And finally, she's been receiving mail. Lots and lots of mail--from one person. In fact, she's clutching several of them in her hand as she stares at yet another poster declaring her some kind of muse.

"Seriously? All this over a bunch of pictures of flowers?!"

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Preparing for Apartment Hunting - Valdis - Closed

Well, Sheena had finally made up her mind to find her own place. An apartment for her and Tomoya to call their own--sort of. She had hoped to find a place above where she wanted to have the Tea House, but that hadn't worked out too well. Besides, it's nice to literally separate work from home once in a while.

She had found several ads that looked promising and decided to sort through them while having her regular cup of tea before setting off the next day or so with Zelos for the search. Entering the cafe, she passes several tables before stopping suddenly and walking backwards a few steps to get a better look at one of the patrons, her brows rising in surprised recognition.

Dark hair, pale skin, hazel eyes…

"Valdis?"

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Apartment Hunting with Zelos - Closed

Some may wonder why Sheena asked Zelos to help her. Hell, Zelos is probably asking himself that very question. And the answer is very simple, really. Sheena doesn't trust herself to make the right decision--though she may not tell him that. Then again, she may.

From Igaguri to Aifaran, someone else has always provided a home for her--whether it was an inn or housing meant for strangers to a world. BAM! She was there. Even her own home on Atia had been an inheritance. And while she had added her own touch to things, she had never really chosen where she wanted to live.

So, she had decided to ask the one person who probably knows her better than she knows herself. And who probably also has better taste than her. (Two things she admits reluctantly to herself, but no one else. For now.)

Right now, they're in the latest apartment on her list, and Sheena is looking at the closet in one of the two bedrooms. As they move out of the room, Sheena turns to the landlord and asks the question that had undermined the key selling points of the previous apartments looked at, hoping the answer is "yes".

"It doesn't say in the ad, but do you allow pets?"

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Eve's one of the other patrons in the cafe, today. The obvious frustration doesn't go unnoticed, and she sympathizes, really she does. Paperwork is potentially one of the great evils of the world. Under all the ones that have tried to end it.

If nothing else, a commiserating ear probably won't go awry. Eve stands, stretches absently, picks up her own tea and scone, and meanders over to sit down at the stranger's table. "I hear if you set it on fire, all your problems go away," she offers by way of introduction.

Yeah, despite being a ninja trained in stealth, Sheena's definitely not one to hide her more negative reactions: anger, frustration, stubbornness... So, it really is no surprise that someone approaches her. What does surprise her is the young woman sitting down and starting a conversation.

Taken aback slightly, Sheena can't help smiling at the comment. "I thought of that, then I realized there'd be another problem: replacement paperwork!" she says, laughing. Sighing a bit contritely, she meets the woman's gaze. Nodding towards the woman's food, she continues.

"I'm sorry if I bothered you during your meal."

"It's fine." Eve waves it off. "Food tastes just as good at this table as that one. If you don't mind, anyway."

Always pays to be polite. And she was kind of curious about what sort of evil paperwork sparked that reaction. "What did the papers do to you today?" With a gesture of her scone before using it for the purpose it was baked for.

Sheena shakes her head. "I don't mind at all. I could use a break." And maybe a refill on her tea. "My name's Sheena Fujibayashi, by the way."

Glancing at the offending pile of papers, the ninja says, "Confused me. Or rather, made me suspicious. Someone wants to invest in my business, but there's something here that just doesn't seem right." She pauses. "He had wanted me to sign immediately, but I wanted to look things over first..." She trails off and changes the subject.

"How's the scone?"

Valdis had been beyond relieved to find coffee at Klaus' cafe, but she still enjoyed tea every once in awhile, especially as a break from her job and hunting for her own place to live. She disliked having roommates.

She looked up at the questioning tone, a smile spreading across her fair features, "Sheena, it's nice to see you again."

Anani took this moment to leap up onto the table and head straight for her tea, but Valdis grabbed him before he could taste it.

Yep. That was Valdis, all right. Just how many people had returned? Or was it stayed? Sheena really wasn't quite sure, but that doubt didn't keep her from returning the smile with a grin of her own.

"Same here! I've been seeing quite a few people from bef--" She broke off as the other woman's tea came "under attack" and chuckled.

"Well now, I don't remember this guy!" She held her hand out to him. "Let me guess. Summoning?"

Valdis smiled at Sheena as Anani squirmed in her arms, still hoping to get to the tea.

"Anani?" She replied, "No, he came to me back in Keeliai and the Dreaming saw fit to send him to me here as well. Aside from being a menace to society, he's fairly normal."

She tipped her head, "How have you been?"

"Hello, Anani," Sheena says in greeting. "I take it he likes tea?" Yeah, she had caught his original beeline for the cup.

"That's how Tomoya came with me!" She pauses. "I don't think you ever met him. Right now, he's with some Aifaran children playing." He had done it in Keeliai, so why not do it here?

In response to the question, she chuckles lightly. "Overall, okay. But I'm also surprised at how many people from Keeliai are here!

"How have you been doing?"

"He like things that are sweet," Valdis replied, still holding onto him, "Which is normally why I go for coffee, but not many places have that around here."

Valdis nodded, "The Dreaming seems a fickle thing, and as annoying as he can be, I am glad he is here. And...it's nice to see familiar faces, it doesn't feel so much like starting over again."

She sighed and allowed Anani to wiggle out of her arms, "I'm doing alright, still feeling a bit lost and trying to get my feet under me again."

Anani, meanwhile, had decided that Sheena was more interesting than the tea and had walked across the table to say hello.

"He has good taste," Sheena replies with a chuckle. She reaches out to pet Anani, then stops. "May I?" She perks up at the mention of coffee. "Oh! I found a place that has it. It also has iced coffee." She tells Valdis where it is. "Have you ever had iced coffee?"

She gives the woman a flat look. "'Fickle' is an understatement," she says dryly. "But, I'm glad things worked out." Sort of. "I'm glad to be seeing people I knew back then, but...I keep expecting to see Tu Vishan, too, you know?"

So, chalk another one up in the "feeling lost" column.

"But, that doesn't mean I'm keeping still," she continues, welcoming Anani with a wave. "I'm thinking of reopening the Tea House and am looking for an apartment. How about you? You thinking of joining the Sentry?"

Anani doesn't even wait for Valdis to offer permission, he shoves his head under Sheena's hand and purrs. Valdis shook her head, a small smile on her face. The cat truly was ridiculous.

"Yeah, but I'm sure this place has some virtues," she replied, "As for iced coffee, yeah, I have. I think you should reopen the tea house, I know Anani would like that."

She looked up, "I'm looking for an apartment as well, and I've already joined the Sentry, they came to me actually. Not sure taking orders is my strong suit, but it's working out so far."

Sheena didn't mind the cat's straightforwardness. In fact, she was immediately scratching the cat behind the ears and along the chin, encouraging the cat to continue purring.

"Some virtues?" Sheena replied curiously. "Are you saying Keeliai didn't have any? Or that the Dreaming doesn't?"

Still stroking the cat's chin, the ninja looked down to speak to the animal. "Would you like that, Anani? I can make sure you get served your favorite tea." She's not joking, either.

Sheena's eyes widen. "You, too? I'm guessing you're having some trouble?" After all, she said "looking" not "found". Then she shook her head and chuckled. "You've already joined the Sentry? Why am I not surprised?" She paused. "Were you with them when they were asking people about fighting techniques from home?"

"Aifaran," Valdis clarified, watching her cat make an utter fool of himself by flopping over onto his side and rolling onto his back, inviting belly rubs.

"Not trouble, exactly. I just need to decide which location I prefer. Being with the Sentry does offer some perks in that way." She smiled, "I joined before then, but there aren't many special techniques that I can teach them. Magic on my world cannot be taught."

"Hmmm. Because of the temples?" She was actually curious, since as far as she can recall, temples weren't exactly common back on Tu Vishan.

And she would just encourage the cat's behavior by giving in to that invitation--knowing full well that it was a trap.

Sheena let out a short laugh. "I wish that's all it was for me. I won't live in a place that won't allow pets--no matter how independent Tomoya is. He's not living out there by himself!" Yeah, she was pretty adamant about that.

Once again the ninja shook her head. "Wait. They didn't keep asking you about them? They wouldn't leave me alone after I told them what I could."

"I'm not a huge fan of organized religion," Valdis replied, "God and I don't exactly see eye to eye on a few key points and his followers aren't much better."

Not that she had actually spoken to God himself, she wasn't sure she could survive his presence.

"Anani has charmed several landlords," She said, smiling briefly, but it faded with her next statement, "Several of my abilities aren't common knowledge, and I would very much like to keep them that way."

"Ah. That makes sense." She knew a few people who shared that low opinion. One in particular, and she really couldn't blame him, since he and others were nothing more than pawns on a chess board.

Sheena's opinion on religion, however, would remain her own for now.

"I can imagine," the ninja chuckled, still scratching the cat's belly. "I hope Tomoya can do the same. After all, he charmed an entire school once!" She was actually pretty proud of the little animal for that. Then she was shaking her head.

"I totally understand. There are a few techniques that are exclusive to my village, and I'm not about to share them with anyone. Kind of spoils the 'surprise' if you do."

Surprise in battle, of course.

Zelos is definitely asking himself why Sheena asked him to help her. Hell, he's asking himself why he agreed. Apartment hunting is exactly as boring as it sounds, only it comes coupled with frustration -- whenever you come across a place you might actually want to live in, there's always something that says you can't. It's too expensive. It's too far away from everything. Someone else already snatched it up. They don't allow pets.

"Come on," Zelos cuts in, already anticipating an answer of no. "Sheena's basically a pet! If you're gonna let her live here, you might as well let a little furry thing live here too, right?"

Honestly, the question of why he agreed never occurred to Sheena--even in light of the growing frustration at losing out on place after place. Although, in hindsight, it probably will--especially in light of the comment he had just made.

Normally, she'd hit him upside the head without thinking and give her usual warning, but this time, her eyes narrow and she just glares at him.

"Is that so? I'm a pet? And just whose pet am I, Zelos?" While the words and tone are angry, there's a tiny little something close to evil humor in her gaze.

Oh, crap. Is this one of those things Zelos shouldn't be making jokes about? She didn't hit him, and that's... not a good sign. Damn it. Damn it, what does he do here.

"... your own?" he answers, very very carefully. She could be joking, but she could also be legitimately angry. Better safe than sorry. "Your own... person, that's what I meant. Your own queen! Queen Sheena, with suitors lining up around the castle to be on your leash."

Somebody stop him.

When is joking about someone being someone else's pet ever been a good thing? Especially considering what they had gone through on their world?

And Sheena's learned a few things over the past several years--one of them being that not hitting can be a much better reaction. Keeps people wondering and off-balance. Like now.

So she'll just stand there, watching him with that same expression as he digs himself in deeper and deeper, while the landlord looks on in amusement. And Sheena plans payback for later.

"So, Zelos," she says when he finally stops, "need a hand getting yourself out of that hole you just dug?"

"The great Zelos Wilder," Zelos says, as dramatically as he ever has, and then he stops. He looks at the landlord, then at Sheena. Then he deflates. "... probably needs help," he agrees. "Sorry."

Note for the future: no jokes about pets. He can manage that, right?

"Yeeeessss?" she draws out when he stops, her arms folded across her chest, and her expression unwavering. What he does and says next, however, surprises her and she lowers her hands in disbelief. She also looks at the landlord, who is still smiling.

Did he just apologize? Well, now...

Finding her voice, she shakes her head and says without any rancor or trace of evil humor, "That's okay. Sometimes we all say something without thinking. I mean, I should know," she concludes with a self-deprecating shrug, offering him a verbal hand and olive branch.

And if he slips again, she'll just remind him not to. In her own Sheena way, of course.

Edited 2018-04-22 21:12 (UTC)

This is getting way too real and it's making Zelos uncomfortable. See, this is why he avoids apologising. It's very confronting.

"Okay," he says. "Whatever. Thanks. Does this mean you're going to be allowed a -- a, uh, small furry animal that doesn't have to be kept on a leash if it doesn't want to be?" He grins. "Or are you having second thoughts now?"

Sheena, on the other hand, isn't uncomfortable. Confused, yes. Uncomfortable, no. She's still trying to figure out what exactly happened when he starts speaking again.

"'Whatever?' Tch!" She shakes her head in disbelief at the perceived dismissal of her comment. "You're welcome, but you might want to watch what you say next time. Unless you want to make me hit you?"

Hey, this time, it's an actual warning!

His first question makes her look towards the landlord. "I don't know. Am I?" His second question get answered before the landlord can even reply.

"Do you really want an answer to that?" Because she may be having second thoughts about something else right about now.

Don't worry, Sheena. Zelos acts like an ass not because he doesn't care, but because he cares too much.

He laughs, then raises his hands in a belated gesture of surrender. "Sorry!" he says quickly. "Sorry, sorry, please don't hit me, I'll be as good as you want me to be."

He closes his mouth very dramatically and clasps his hands behind his back. See? He's on his best behaviour. No more interrupting from him.

She's not worried; she's just confused. She knows he can care about people, and has seen him be nice to others, but when it comes to her, the one he's usually a jerk to?

Having that side of him directed towards her is very confusing.

Of course, confusion is quick to change to suspicion because of his actions, and she looks at him for a moment through narrowed eyes. "You mean without having to wrap you up in one of my ofuda?"

She waits a few moments to make sure he stays still before turning back to the landlord--who is still wearing a grin. And who tells Sheena that yes, she can have a pet--as long as it's not too large. Sheena reassures her he's not and the landlord goes off to get the paperwork. Beaming, Sheena glances back at Zelos before taking a few steps away, her back to him.

"So, uh, Zelos... Want to do me another favor?"

[ ooc: Image to help with Ofuda comment. :D ]

Well, Zelos is about to say, if that's what you're into...

... but something tells him this isn't the right time, and those aren't the right words to say pretty much ever anyway. See, he can learn. Sort of. Sometimes.

And now Sheena has an apartment.

"Sure," Zelos says, then thinks again. "Wait -- it depends. You don't want me to help you find another apartment, right? If I have to look at one more of them without either of us getting it..."

Honestly, Sheena's kind of expecting him to say something close to that, but once again, he surprises her.

And truthfully...with the terrific mood she's in, who knows how she'd respond? Hitting or as a joke?

They're both learning. And growing up.

"Nope! Too late! You said yes!" she laughs--probably making him worry. For about a minute. Then she's shaking her head. "Nothing like that. I'm keeping this place." She looks around happily before looking at him, slightly embarrassed.

"I need to decorate it, though, and I want Tomoya here while I do it. Do you think you can stay with him?"

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If April Showers Bring May Flowers...(Catch-all!)

Shark Tank

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Preparing for Apartment Hunting

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Apartment hunting!

OMG I can't stop laughing!

GOOD

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